Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
…..
The season of autumn was falling over Jump City.
Beast Boy ran around Titans Tower, looking for the perfect Halloween costume through the rubble that was his bedroom. Starfire was making some sort of celebratory fall pudding in the kitchen. Raven walked by the training room to see Robin and Cyborg sparring around mid-afternoon. Furious fists rushed everywhere. The punching bag flew off the hinges and headed straight for her. Her black energy stopped it inches from her face and Cyborg smiled guiltily."Sorry, little lady. I didn't see you there."
She never looked at Robin. "It's fine."
"Did you want to spar with us?"
"I was passing by."
She left before Robin could say anything, the sound of his voice would make her face turn a nasty red color. Raven made her way into the kitchen for some tea where the Tameranean popped out of nowhere, squealing, "Friend Raven, would you like to try my Pudding? It has the yams that are fried, peppers, vanilla iced cream, the sauce of tomatoes, and some delightful-"
Raven cut her short, turning her back to her, "No, thanks. I'm not that hungry."
The alien girl looked disappointed.
"Maybe later then." She floated over to Beast Boy with his head was under the couch.
'You think you're upset with me now, Starfire... wait until you find out I've got the hots for your boyfriend.'
She picked up her horror book from the counter and sank into a particularly comfy cushion in the front room, her concentration fixing on the novel and nothing else. Raven was like this for a good fifteen minutes before a sudden presence bent over her shoulder and a voice asked rather loudly in her ear, "What'cha reading?"
She let out a very Starfire-like screech and fell out of her seat. Beast Boy let out a laugh. "Whoa, I scared Raven! Ha!" The remote control hit him in the head and he yelped, "Hey!"
Starfire commented nearby, snacking on her confection, "You deserved the beating, Beast Boy." He made a face at her and extended a hand to the fallen Titan.
"Wanna hand up?"
"No," she muttered.
"I'm sorry, Rae, seriously. It's not my fault you're a scaredy-cat. By the way, can I borrow that book after you're done? I wanna get into the Halloween spirit."
She said monotonously, her eyes glowing white, "How about I just haunt you while you sleep? That should give you lots of scary thoughts." He raised his eyebrows at the obvious threat and her eyes returned to normal. Reluctantly, she took his hand.
Her hand froze up in his grip and her mouth gaped open. She stared sightlessly ahead. Beast Boy waved his free hand over her face.
"Earth to Raven? Yoo-hoo?" Suddenly, his face changed, too.
They were both staring at something terrible that no one else could see. Starfire sensed something was amiss when they didn't respond to her calling for them and took off quickly to find the others. Raven awoke from her daze with a great shudder and small moan. She saw Beast Boy lying on the floor beside her with his eyes shut.
As the rest of the Titans burst in, she slapped his face lightly. "Beast Boy, wake up."
He groaned and opened his jade green eyes to meet a calm, sallow face above his.
"Raven…" he murmured, "what was that? Why did... I never wanted…"
"It's called a vision, and I'm sorry you had to see it."
Their friends silently and stonily observed as Beast Boy's shoulders began trembling and the normally reserved girl gave genuine consoles to him.
Robin asked as soon as he got a chance to be alone with Raven.
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure." She shook her head, asking herself, "When have I ever been?"
"You mentioned a vision..." he said. "You both saw something?"
"He saw what I saw. What I've always known. Destruction, death, fire, and blood. All of the things I was told that I'd do." She gave him a fleeting look. "It's coming soon."
"What is?"
Robin had to strain his ears to hear her answer, "My destiny."
…..
'How do I stop him? Can I even stop Trigon? Why can't I think straight?'
Thoroughly aggravated, Raven stormed up to the Titans Tower rooftop. She destroyed an antenna nearby with her powers and sat on the edge of the roof, cross-legged and meditating.
'Azarath….Metrion…..Zinthos… ...Robin…'
He was a few feet away watching her. She lost concentration and fell out of sight. Raven heard him yell her name as he raced over and prepared to throw himself off the building to save her. Surrounded by black energy, Raven appeared in front of him and said bleakly, "Is this important? I already have a lot on my mind."
He skidded to a halt and put away his Bird-a-Rang, still unnerved. "I-I was just seeing how you were. Was I interrupting something?"
"You were," she said nonchalantly, tightening her grip on her cloak as a high wind picked up. It ruffled Robin's already unkempt hair.
He went back to the rooftop entrance. "Okay. Sorry." Raven raised her dropped gaze, her voice carrying through the fall wind.
"Wait…"
He had a foot in the doorway when he heard her say cogently, "Robin, wait."
She seemed out of place in the scene he surveyed, her dark form against the golden sunrise, a cheery blue opposing her solemn lavender, her skin glowing healthily when the light hit her cheek. Raven tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "In order for me to be at my best against Trigon and Slade, I must have a clear mind and conscience. So there are thoughts I need to get rid of."
Robin returned to her side, giving her his complete attention. "Like what?"
"I've been confused for a long time and I've had countless mental battles within myself to try to figure this out. I've been afraid of the truth…"
"I'm not getting you," he admitted.
Her face remained blank but her eyes were sending out all kinds of messages to him. Instead, she looked out to the blinding ocean.
"I don't know how, and frankly I don't care, but I like you. I like you more than a teammate and a friend. There is some dark quality in you that draws me. You are my greatest source of strength and the only one here who understands me. You don't think my... freakiness is negative and I know what struggle is like for you." She allowed herself to stare at his mask for a second. "I mean no ill will to Starfire... but I don't think she would be able to understand what I do about you."
Robin didn't move and she wasn't about to invade his brain to find out what he was thinking.
His aura was pulsing heavily. It was almost suffocating.
Raven faced him, sounding truly upset and befuddled, "Just tell me... why did you kiss me that night when you have everything you could want? What did you see in me that you liked?"
His face was emotionless as hers. "Kissing another girl that isn't your girlfriend is poor judgment," Robin said.
"I'm already loving how this is going…" Raven's sarcasm didn't seem shake him and he sighed, letting his gloved hands rest on her shoulders.
"You're a wonderful person, Raven. Everything you told me is what I've always thought… but to act out on those feelings seemed…"
"Forbidden," she finished quietly, avoiding his eyes.
Robin inclined his head. "You may be part demon, but I've seen good and beauty in you. More than once, you've proven to everyone that you are capable of becoming someone important and reliable. You may have the power to become evil and destroy the world... but you've said yourself that that's not what you wanted. You made your own choice, and the things I've seen in you... I liked. A lot."
Her cheeks burned brighter. "…I'm not entirely sure if this is just a..." Robin's face broke into an actual smile.
"I think there's only one way to settle this."
Raven glanced at his lips before submitting herself to a need inside her. She was surprised to find Robin kissing her back with the same desire. They broke away, gasping for robbed breath. Raven stepped away from his grasp on her shoulders, silently willing the heat on her face to go away. But what made her smile was to see the same color glowing on his features.
He rubbed his neck, slowly. "Um, yeah. I think that speaks for itself."
"What about Starfire? I don't-"
"This will have to wait until we stop Trigon." Robin gestured to the door. "Do you want to come back inside, it's getting cold."
Raven walked past him, nudging his hip, surprising him. "Sure, Boy Wonder."
He chuckled, shutting the door behind him.
A few hours later, Cyborg came up to see recreation chairs and the tower's roofing obliterated.
…..
A/N: OMG. Over 100 reviews, and I have the BEST reviewers in the world to thank for it! You guys, everyone who reviewed my chapters, rock beyond belief. Ray1, ChErRyBlOsSoMs-FlOwErOfDeAtH, sealed flame, Dreaming Fae, watergoddess08, Chica De Los Ojos Café, Emmery, evilsangle, moon-struckperil, , and Cherry Jade have the dedication to the next Chapter Twelve! About time Cupid smacked those two on the head! The question on everyone's mind is…what's Star's reaction gonna be?
Sealed flame: No, I didn't really say when, did I? This is what happens when you are scatterbrained. ;) Let's just assume that they were dating but didn't really make it public. That help some?
Dreaming Fae: What kind of help do you need? Cause I'd like to help you. Just tell me how to contact you.
Watergoddess08: To be completely honest, I'm not sure. My mind is kinda warped. lol. That's why we all love BB, because he can't shut it.
Emmery: New reader I presume? You must have a sugar cookie.
Cherry Jade: Yes…very awkward. Heh.