A/N: Razic is the language that the Cult speaks, just so you know when you get to the part mentioning it. It will be called this until the language written onto Raven in Birthmark is named in the series.

Chapter 3: Explanations

(Michael)-

He had always found group speaking slightly unpleasant. Speaking projects in school would make him nervous sometimes. But compared to his current confrontation those were nothing.

"Healed? Uh… no, you must be mistaken. See, look! My leg! It hurts! Ow." Well, that wasn't bad. He probably believed it…

"Uh-uh. When I checked you last night, you couldn't walk without a limp. You just came running down the hallway."

Shee-it…

Looking beyond Cyborg, Michael's discomfort was intensified. Seeing the other four Titans behind Cyborg was definitely not helping. Robin stared at him questioningly. Raven and Beast Boy were shaking their heads. Starfire was looking… disapproving, but in an innocent way.

Glancing around once more at the group, Michael said "Heh. Guess I have a bit of explaining to do, don't I?"

(Raven)-

"Well, yes, healing is included with my other powers. I can achieve full health rather quickly," Michael explained to the grouped Titans. After bumping into Cyborg in the hallway, the team and Michael had retreated to the common room for his explanation. He had filled the entire group in on what he had told Robin, and was now continuing with a list of more specific powers. "Flight is also something I can achieve, but not for a long period of time. To sum everything up, really, my powers are a lot like hers, only a bit more specialized towards combat."

Raven looked up to see Michael pointing towards her. Her face did not betray a hint of the indignation she felt at being pointed to, nor did it show the perplexity she felt. His powers like mine? Interesting… She stared at him thoughtfully, mentally re-evaluating him.

"Actually, our powers could very well stem from the same source. I just have… permission from the top floor to use them." Michael smiled at his own wit.

This time, Raven's eyes narrowed. "Permission? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, the Bible states that magical powers are sinful. Therefore, explicit permission would be needed to use them, would it not? That is what I have. Permission."

Would it have been possible to close her eyes and still glare at Michael, she would have done it. "You actually believe that collection of trash?"

Pure shock registered on Michael's face. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it. Raven watched as the familiar battle to control one's anger played itself out within Michael. Looking down for a moment, then up again, Michael finally found the words he was looking for. "I can't say I'm surprised to hear you say that. I ask, though, that you not repeat that around me. After seeing what I have seen in life, there is no denying the truth of the Bible."

Clearly not finished, Raven continued. "So you're saying that an angel has come straight out of the blue and smacked you in the face?"

This only brought a small smile to Michael's face. "In a manner of speaking."

This definitely cut off her next remark. Who is this guy? she asked herself. For the next few minutes of conversation, Raven excluded herself from all but listening. Mulling over his last comment, Raven could not decide on what the strange boy had meant. For the second time that day, Raven found herself looking over what she knew of him. She took in his appearance first, to look for any obvious details. His hair was a natural dark brown, worn long but brushed back to appear short, running down the sides of his face to about ear level in front.. His eyes were even darker green, almost black. His cheekbones were just short of being high and angular, and his cheeks curved gently down to a slightly prominent chin. His attire consisted of the white tank top Beast Boy had loaned him, as well as the khaki pants he had worn on the day Cainis had appeared.

Michael stopped speaking when he noticed Raven studying him. He raised one eyebrow, then allowed a small half-grin. Idiot. He probably thinks I was checking him out.

(Michael)-

Was she just checking me out? Michael thought to himself. Shrugging it off, Michael turned back to Robin, finishing off the details of his abilities. "Altogether, the reason I wanted you to think I was still injured was so that I could train my powers more. I haven't seriously used them in about a year."

Robin, one hand resting on his chin thoughtfully, finally came up with a response. "Well, it would have been nice if you had told us this sooner. We could have helped you some. Maybe even brought you with us last night."

Confusion entered Michael's brain. "Last night? You mean you guys weren't here that entire time?"

"No, we left when you were asleep. We've been out all night."

"Was it Cainis?"

"We think it was. Or at least Raven does. All we found when we arrived at the scene were about fifteen or so bodies, and a mark in the solid concrete in the shape of a sword blade."

Raven brought herself back into the discussion. "Exactly as it was in my vision."

Michael turned to her, asking, "Vision? What happened?"

Clearly, Raven still did not want to speak to him, but she told him of the fleeting image she had received while meditating. "Now was anything too offensive about that?"

"Lots," Michael said brushing her off. "Well, I guess this means I have to tell you more about me."

Robin looked disbelievingly at Michael. "There's more you're holding back?"

"There's a lot I'm holding back, but it's mostly my past for right now. Actually, what I'm about to tell you is a prophecy which includes Cainis." He paused for a moment to gauge the others reactions. All appearing curious, he continued. "The prophecy, as far as I can tell, says that Cainis will return from his earthly prison to bring back a… well, I guess I should say the Cult." Again he paused.

"'The' Cult? That sounds kind of presumptuous to call yourself something like that," Robin said.

"Well, if anything, they earned it. They were powerful about three years ago, before they… disappeared."

Robin lifted his eyebrow. "Holding back more?"

"Well, yeah. It includes a piece of my past I'd just as well forget." Michael quickly pressed on before Robin could reply. "Anyway, with Cainis' power, the Cult would be able to literally open a small hole, possibly a dimensional rift or something crazy, in the Earth. This would effectively release a small portion of the demons in hell. Or something like that."

"Needless to say, not a good situation," Cyborg understated.

"Yeah, pretty much."

Robin leaned back in the couch, obviously coming to some sort of decision. "I guess that settles it then. You obviously have some talents the team could use, and pending the testing of those talents, I think we can say you're part of the team."

This definitely surprised Michael. His head shot slightly backwards, and his eyes widened considerably. "Hm. Didn't expect that."

"Well, we could certainly use someone who knows at least a little about our newest foe. It's also the least we could do after the incident."

Well, I had been doing well… Michael's smile turned sour at the mention of his parents' death. After a brief silence, he said, "That reminds me." He might as well have added 'stupid.' "When can I go to my house and pick up some stuff?"

Robin instantly realized his mistake. "Uh… well, whenever you want. I'm sure that Cyborg would be more than happy to drive you over there right now if you wanted."

The smile had completely faded from Michael's face, but thoughtfulness was prevalent instead of depression. Obviously trying to divert his mind elsewhere, Michael said, "Yeah, I'd sure like to decorate my new room."

Robin smiled. After a few more minutes of conversation, the group dispersed, each going off to pursue their own duties and pleasures.

Walking down the hallway, Michael heard a muffled yell. "HEY! WHAT THE… WHAT HAPPENED TO MY NEW SECURITY CAMERA!" Grinning impishly, Michael ran towards his new room.

For the next few days, Michael trained and studied as much as possible. He wanted to know everything he could about his new friends, though he would never tell why. Beast Boy and Cyborg were his only real, living outlets of information available to him. Robin and Raven mostly stayed to themselves and Starfire wasn't very much help when it came to research.

The few times that Michael did get to speak with Robin, though, were very helpful. Robin told Michael about some of the Titan's missions, and about Terra. Michael had heard of Terra and her betrayal, but beyond that, he had not personally seen her. Possibly as a result of that betrayal, Michael found he never really heard much about the main strengths and weaknesses of the team. Trust would be hard fought, apparently.

(Michael)-

Setting down the last trinket upon the surface of his desk, Michael stepped back to admire his handiwork. After traveling to his house and delivering to the Tower all the stuff that he wanted to keep, he had begun decorating his room. A bookcase filled with random fiction tales stood on the same wall as the door, next to a dresser with a bookstand on top. The book stand held the Bible snuggly open to the Luke book. His bed stretched from the corner of the next wall, ending next to the desk he just finished decorating. Drawers and cupboards took up the rest of that wall, and the majority of the wall opposite him as well. The fourth and final wall was cluttered with other knickknacks and boxes, and a few paintings and posters graced the top portion. The middle of the room was empty, allowing room for Michael to practice.

Sitting down at his desk, Michael opened the scroll he had been studying earlier that day. It was written in Latin, but he could read the majority of it. When he came to a passage that was indecipherable, he simply checked the English version lying open to his right. Every now and then, he would move over to his Bible and check a few pages.

Yawning suddenly, Michael pushed his chair away from the desk. Hunger clawed at his stomach, and he couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed a break.

Moving towards the kitchen with the English text in hand, Michael didn't even notice Starfire until she was right in front of him. Apparently, though, she noticed him,

"Oh, Michael, you must try my glorious Glorfnar!"

Puzzlement flashed across Michael's face for a brief second before his arm was nearly yanked off by Starfire. Floating like a rag doll behind the ecstatic alien, a look of resignation set itself. Starfire set him down in the kitchen, before a grotesque collection of colored meat-looking shapes. Michael again looked puzzled when some of the pieces started to wiggle, one even jumping. That's… Interesting…

Right before Starfire was about to scoop a gigantic bowlful down his mouth, Michael saw Raven walk across the room and through the door, a book open to a prophesy. At first glance, Michael noticed that he recognized the language. Excusing himself politely from the table ("Uh… I'm sorry, I'll have to try it later. I feel… uh… not hungry right now…") he jogged through the door out into the main hall, just in time to see Raven turn the corner to her room's hallway. He picked up the pace and nearly ran into her as he dashed around.

Raven turned to Michael, annoyance plainly set into her features. "What do you want?"

Michael was taken aback by how frustrated she seemed. "Well, I noticed that you were reading something in Razic. I was just curious what it was, since not much text is written in it."

Raven looked down towards the book, a blank expression replacing her hostility. "It's… a prophesy. I think that it might be related to this demon we're fighting."

As she was saying this, Michael looked down at the book, reading a small portion of it. "…will burn, Flesh will become stone, The sun will set…" Before he could read on, Raven shut the book, slamming the pages together.

"You don't need to read it."

"What's wrong with me reading it? Maybe I can help you find the connection. I am good at this stuff. Heck, I can even speak the language you're reading."

Raven again radiated hostility. "I said you don't need to read it," she said, anger obviously being held back only by sheer force of will."

But now Michael was beginning to lose patience. "It's just a prophecy! How bad can it be? I mean, it's not like the world could come crashing down because of it, or that it's something personally about you!"

Raven almost instantly sobered up at this. "Yes. It can, and it is." At this, Raven sprinted into her room, locking the large stone door behind her. Michael stayed staring at the door for another moment, then walked off, pondering just what she meant, as well as what that prophesy said. Well… I guess I'll have to find out for myself… He smiled deviously, then returned to his room, forgetting about his earlier hunger entirely.

(Raven)-

Flopping herself down onto her bed, Raven fought for control of her emotions. How had he guessed what the prophesy was about? He couldn't have read that much about it! Fighting back tears, her eyes traveled to the calendar on her wall. Simple, with no pictures, the calendar told her all she needed to remember. Three days… Three days until it begins… Laying her head down again, her thoughts returned to Michael. How did he guess it? How can he read Razic? There is far too much that he hasn't told us about himself. Although she didn't distrust him for some odd reason, she didn't like it that he hadn't revealed a lot about himself, either. Of course, it had taken a while before she had learned much about any of the other Titans, but still she was wary of another betrayal. If she couldn't find out more about this strange boy, she would have to take drastic measures. Like search his room for answers. And it's the perfect time, too. He's already moved everything in. I'll just have to be stealthy.

(Michael)-

Returning to his room after yet another outing (sans Starfire and food), Michael sat at his desk chair to contemplate what he had just learned. After a brief conversation with Beast Boy, whom he was becoming good friends with, Michael had learned something strange about Raven. On the other hand, though, it did explain a lot.

"So how is it that Raven got her powers?" he had asked Beast Boy, both of them working out in the weight room.

At this, Beast Boy had set down his jump rope. "Well, I'm not all the way sure… But if I had to guess, I'd say it's from her father."

Perplexed by this, Michael had asked, "Her father? Have you met him?"

Beast Boy suddenly smiled, switching into storytelling mode. "Yeah! This one time, Cyborg and me had to go into her room for something. I forgot what it was… but anyway, when we got in there, some weird purple magic mirror thing sucked me and Cy into Raven's mind! We had to fight off hundreds of these killer black bird things, and I met the different parts of Raven's personality!" With a few embellishments, Beast Boy outlined to Michael his adventures within the mind of Raven, finally ending with their encounter of Raven's Rage personality, and it's transformation into her father.

Setting his alarm for eleven pm, Michael finalized his plan for that night. Sneaking into her room isn't a bad idea. If she finds me in there or wakes up, I'll just say I was looking for the bathroom!

Putting in a Creed CD into his CD player, Michael set it to turn off in thirty minutes. Should give me enough time before eleven to get ready for my raid. As Torn came on, Michael's mind drifted away into sleep, readying itself for the night.

Four hours later, Michael awoke to his CD player playing the song Bullets loud enough to wake him up. Brushing his hair quickly to keep it out of his face, he touched his hand to a light bulb, concentrated, and disappeared.

(Raven)-

Waking up at about eleven pm, Raven made her final preparations for her trek into Michael's room. Fixing her jewel onto her forehead and joining her cloak together with a larger one, she turned to her door. Eyes glowing white, black shadows covered her body from the outside in. She melded through the floor, beginning her silent trek to Michael's new room.