Chapter 4: Investigation

Vic and Kori, better known as Cyborg and Starfire in disguise, continued their trek through Jump City. Cyborg had memorized all the people who had told the two disguised Titans that had said they disliked or didn't trust Raven, and he gulped at the length of it. Raven wasn't popular; not at all popular.

"I believe it is time we head back to the Tower, friend Vic," said Starfire.

Cyborg smiled back at her. "Agreed. We don't want to leave B and Rae together for too long."

"I will be able to fly us home, but we shall need to take off the faces of others."

Cyborg chuckled. "Yeah. Just go ahead and slip that ring off."

They both took off the rings and their two forms fizzled slightly before changing back into the orange alien girl and the half man, half robot of the Teen Titans.

Just as Starfire was about to lift Cyborg up and fly him back to the Tower, a man turned the corner. He had jet black hair and wore a business suit with a red tie. As soon as he saw Cyborg and Starfire, his face reddened in anger.

His wife, a black-haired woman who stood next to him, saw this and tried to calm him down and steer him off in another direction. The man however marched towards Cyborg and Starfire aggressively.

"You!" he yelled angrily.

"Can we be of assistance to you sir?" asked Starfire.

"You, Teen Titans! Calling yourselves heroes! You're nothing but a … but a… couple of kids messing around with superpowers!"

"Did we do anything to offend you sir?" asked Cyborg, being sure to loom over the man as best he could.

The man was unphased. "If you were real heroes, you would have saved my son!"

The wife tried to pull him away, but the man would have none of it.

"One of you has healing powers, and you can't even heal the sick!" he continued, pointing his finger. "If it were up to me, you'd suffer just like he did! Especially that girl with the healing powers, she'd pay first."

"What was your name sir?" said Cyborg calmly as he struggled to keep an angry Starfire at bay.

"Jim Newman. And don't you forget it. One day, you'll remember it more than any other name in the who's who."

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Robin walked through the prison corridor, various super-villains were held in cells either side, and even Robin couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the jeers that every single one of them gave him. He didn't show it though. He knew better than that.

Raven had taken down many criminals, but only five major villains in Jump City Jail would still hold a grudge. Robin dismissed Cardiac and Overload as simply being too stupid to possess Raven and that left three on his list: Adonis, Doctor Light, and the Amazing Mumbo.

He reached Mumbo's cell and looked in at the long-nosed old man sitting inside. The old man sat down-heartedly slumping in his seat.

"I thought you were only blue when you had your wand," said Robin.

Mumbo looked up and sneered. "Very funny Robin. What does the Boy Blunder want with me now?"

"What do you know about Raven?"

Mumbo stood up and walked closer to Robin. "My old assistant, eh? What's wrong with her? Someone hung her up by the ears?"

Robin just looked at Mumbo, determination showing through his mask.

"I don't know a thing Robin. But now I know something's up and it would only delight me in making it worse."

"I've got my eye on you Mumbo."

"Maybe you should be keeping your eyes on Raven. You never what she might do…"

Robin reached through the bars, grabbed Mumbo and slammed him up against the cold steel of the prison bars. "You do know something! How?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets," Mumbo sneered.

Robin grunted and pushed Mumbo back into his cell. Then he turned away, letting his cape swirl around him. Robin grunted as he was sure he heard Mumbo mutter: "Have a nice 'knife'."

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Raven sat on the couch and downed her fifth mug of coffee. Her bloodshot eyes darted around the room as Beast Boy filled up her jug of coffee.

"Rae? Are you sure this is a good idea? You need rest."

"I can't fall asleep. What if…?"

"I know, Rae. Just… don't blame yourself."

"What happens next Beast Boy? I could hurt someone else… or you."

"We'll be fine. It's you we're worried about."

Beast Boy's communicator interrupted the moment by beeping the familiar rhythm. Beast Boy pulled it out and looked down into it. Robin's face illuminated the circle.

"We need to talk," said Robin. "Alone."

Beast Boy nodded. "I gotta…"

"I know," said Raven. "Go already."

"Lay back and rest. You don't need to fall asleep to relax," Beast Boy said before walking out of the room.

Beast Boy flicked open his communicator. "Ok. What's up?"

Robin's face lit up half the screen as Cyborg's and Starfire's faces filled the other.

Robin started it off. "Raven's not popular here at the jail, even among the guards."

"Same here," said Cyborg. "There are several people in town who don't like her at all."

"What about Malchior?" asked Robin.

"It seems normal, but I'm no expert on creepy magical books."

"Why did you not ask friend Raven?" asked Starfire.

"She's really stressed. She used her mirror…"

"And?" asked Robin.

"There's someone inside her. But she can't tell who."

"Dang it," said Cyborg.

"Where is she now?" asked Robin.

"She's in the main room, drowning herself in coffee."

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Raven lay her head back on the couch. She felt her eyes start to close and jerked herself awake, but her eyelids only grew heavier. She couldn't hold them up anymore. She closed her eyes, curled up on the couch and fell asleep.

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"So do we have a list of top suspects?" asked Robin.

"Keep Malchior and the Puppet King on there," said Beast Boy.

"Already done that. I've also added Adonis, Doctor Light and Mumbo, but I want to keep Mumbo at a higher priority. He knows too much."

"Understood," said Cyborg. "Put Jim Newman on there from us."

"Do not forget the receptionist at the station of police," said Starfire.

"Right. Yeah… What was his name?"

"I believe it was Dennis Silversmith."

"Jim Newman and Dennis Silversmith," Robin repeated. "Got it."

"You might wanna put Gizmo, Jinx and Mammoth on there too," said Beast Boy. "Considering they were so close to the start of the explosion."

"Good idea," said Robin.

"OK. I better get back to Raven. She probably needs more coffee. "

"You show those coffee beans, B!" joked Cyborg.

Beast Boy scowled.

"Everyone head back. We'll be there in ten minutes," said Robin.

"K. Later," said Beast Boy, switching off his communicator and walking back to the main room.

The massive door of the room slid open, revealing an empty room with Raven's coffee mug spilt all over the floor. "Raven?" he questioned.

He heard something and he spun to the side, just in time to see Raven's fist collide with his face.

He fell to the ground with a groan and Raven stood over him, a blue sheen in her eye for a moment before it disappeared.

"No…" Beast Boy muttered.

Raven smiled.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Beast Boy.

"I have my reasons. You should understand them," said Raven in her own voice, but it was out of her monotone and didn't suit her.

Beast Boy grunted.

"Say goodbye to your precious Raven," Raven said as she walked away from Beast Boy towards the kitchen.

"No!" yelled Beast Boy, trying to tackle her from behind but missing and sliding along the floor.

"I know you can do better than that," said Raven.

Beast Boy growled then leaped to his feet. He swung with his fist, but Raven blocked it. Raven swung and he dodged it. Before long, the two were a full-fledged fistfight across the main room of Titans Tower.

Raven swung at Beast Boy and he flipped onto the top of the couch to avoid her blow."This isn't about you!" yelled Raven.

"If you involve Raven, you involve me!"

"That's right. You love her, don't you?"

Beast Boy remained silent. It was incredibly odd to have Raven tell him he loved Raven.

Raven yelled angrily and hit Beast Boy hard across the face; he fell off the couch and sprawled out across the floor, near Raven's spilled coffee.

"You can't stop me," said Raven. "Not this time." She smiled menacingly and turned towards the kitchen.

She pulled out another sharp knife, and drew back her sleeve. She laughed once before the door sprang open, revealing Cyborg and Starfire.

Quicker than a flash, Starfire had flown towards her and knocked the knife clean out of Raven's hand. "Exit my friend now!" the Tamaranian yelled. Raven struggled against her, but was no match for Starfire's strength. Starfire drew back her hand and hit Raven in the chest, quite lightly, and Raven went flying backwards, slamming hard into the fridge.

Cyborg ran over to a stirring Beast Boy and helped him up. "You OK, B?"

Raven stirred as well and clambered to her feet.

"Friend? You are well! I am very sorry for my hitting you," said Starfire embracing Raven.

"You…? Oh, no…" Raven muttered, coming to terms with what had just happened and seeing Beast Boy on the floor with a large bruise on his face.

"What happened?" asked Cyborg to Beast Boy.

"Raven… She fell asleep and then… she…"

"She what?"

"She beat the crap out of me…"

Cyborg couldn't help but smile, but Raven felt the tear in her eye and pulled up her hood before she ran out of the room.

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A few hours later, a knock came at Robin's door. He sighed and being taken away from his work, then walked to see who it was.

"Raven?" he asked confused.

"Robin. This is getting out of hand. I need your help. And I need it now."

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The plot deepens... Hehe... I love cliffhangers... Thanks for reviewing guys.. Glad you like it. 'Til next update! Cheerio!

NEXT:- Raven goes to Robin for help. But things go from bad to worse when tragedy strikes...