Fallen Darkly

K.Blacre

Common Knowledge

Robin awoke and stretched out before tossing aside the blanket and climbing out of bed. He pulled on his usual clothes and walked out of the room. He looked at the doors of the rooms of his friends. Szephyn's door was open. He went to it and looked inside. Szephyn wasn't there. The bed looked like it hadn't been touched. Robin shrugged and walked out. He decided to check on Raven. He went to her door and lightly knocked. No answer came. He knocked again and still nothing. He sighed and opened the door a crack. The light was out, the room cast in darkness. He opened the door a bit wider and saw something he thought he'd never see. There, on the center of the bed, lie Raven wrapped in Szephyn's arms. He grinned and closed the door.

"Oh, I got you now!" Cyborg yelled. Beast Boy's face was a huge smile. Starfire sat in between them.

"Hey, guys." Robin said. Cyborg looked at Robin for just a moment before he heard a crash. He looked back at the screen and saw his side flashing red. Beast Boy's side was flashing the word "winner."

"NOOOOOOO!" Cyborg yelled. Beast Boy's smile grew wider, if that was possible and Star gave him a high-five.

"Yay!" She cried. "That was a fabulous battle! Shall you do it again?" Cyborg looked at BB as if he could burn a hole right through him.

"So tell me, Cy, who's got who?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Where is Raven?" Starfire asked. "Have you seen her this morning?"

"I just went and checked on her. She's still sleeping."

"Still sleeping?" Cy and BB said in unision.

"Yeah. Szephyn crashed in her room."

"Why did Szephyn crash in Raven's room?" Starfire asked.

"He fell asleep in there, Star." Cyborg said.

"Wait, Szephyn was in Raven's room?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yeah."

"I guess everything's okay then."

"How is everything okay?" They looked toward the doorway and saw Raven walking into the kitchen.

"Uh, the game." BB quickly covered.

"Right." She started some water in the kettle and sat down at the table. Szephyn came into the room and sat down at the table across from Raven.

"Rae, you wanna play the game with us?" Cyborg asked.

"No thanks."

"How 'bout you, Seph? You wanna play?" He smiled and looked at Raven. He then rose and walked into the living room.

"Sure." The kettle whistled. Raven got up and walked to the stove, pulling out a teacup then pouring water into the cup. She pulled out a tea bag and dipped it into the water. She turned back toward the screen. In the next hour, two games had been played. The first one, Cyborg had won. The second, victory went to Szephyn, who was now deemed by the Titans, Seph.

"Hey, who's up for going to the mall?" Robin asked. The room was full of talking. They quickly got ready and were off.

About five minutes into the mall, BB and Star ran off. Robin and Cyborg went to the arcade a bit later. Szephyn, who had attracted much attention from other girls, and Raven walked around the mall, trying to think of something to do.

"So, this is where people from Earth spend their time." He said, looking around at all the people.

"Pretty much." Raven replied, her voice not changing a bit.

"Is there anything to eat around here?" She took his hand and led him through the crowds to the food court. He looked around at the different foods and stopped. "Hey, there's Beast Boy and Starfire." Raven looked and saw the two at the Pizza Hut area. She saw how they held hands in the line. She then looked down and saw that her hand was still in Szephyn's. She rubbed his hand with her free hand. He looked at their hands and smiled. She felt the corners of her lips tug. She smiled slightly. A power surge suddenly swept through her body. It felt dark. It pulled on her. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted. Szephyn quickly caught her, his arms darting around her waist. Starfire and Beast Boy had seemed to notice because they ran to Szephyn's side while people began gathering around them. Beast Boy pulled out his communicator and got ahold of Robin and Cyborg. Szephyn felt something deep inside him. His eyes turned black, his knees buckling.

"Wow!" Cyborg said, quickly catching the fallen elf. Beast Boy took Raven.

"What the hell happened!?" Robin yelled.

"She fainted!" Beast Boy said. "Then Seph fainted. That's about it!"

"They must be connected. Their bodies and minds must be connected." Starfire said.

"Let's get them back to Titan's Tower, fast." Robin said.

"Yeah. This dude only looks light." Cyborg said, shifting Szephyn in his arms.

Szephyn groaned, opening his eyes slowly. He looked around. He was back in the infirmary. He sat up. Raven was on the bed next to his, her eyes still closed. Her heartbeat was faster than normal. Seph swung his legs over the edge of the bed and touched his bear feet to the floor. He walked to Raven's side and took her hand. It felt cold to the touch.

"Come on, Raven. Beat that bastard. Don't let him win." He said softly.

"I can't." She whispered.

"Yes you can."

"But it's so hard."

"You're awake." He turned and saw Cyborg walk in.

"How long was I out?"

"Nearly five days. You spoke while you were out, you and Raven did. When her heartbeat began to fade, yours would beat faster. Sometimes you'd thrash. You even cried." Szephyn looked at Raven. "Maybe, if she told you something, it's time to tell us." Szephyn nodded.

"She was told that I'm the other half of her soul." Cyborg's eyes became as large as softballs.

"That explains a lot." Szephyn turned around and looked at Cyborg.

"I need to go to her. She needs help."

"The only doorway into her mind is lost."

"Maybe not." Szephyn turned to see the glowing girl standing in the corner. Cyborg took a step back. "Do not fear me. I mean to help. I can take you into her mind to end the battle there. But just Szephyn alone will not be enough."

"I understand." Cyborg said. "Szephyn, bring Raven into the living room." Szephyn lifted Raven and followed Cyborg.

Robin, Star, and BB sat worried as hell in the living room. Cyborg came in and they all looked up. Following him were Szephyn with Raven in his arms and the girl. They gasped.

"Hey, she's a good guy." Cyborg said. She smiled.

"Yes. My name is Khystarah. I am Raven's mother. I can open a doorway into Raven's mind to end the battle there, but I will need all of you to help me." Starfire smiled.

"I would be honored to help save Raven." She said.

"Me, too." Robin said.

"Count me in." Beast Boy replied, a grin on his face.

"Well, that's settled. I can awaken Raven for a short time but she will be weak." She then turned to Szephyn. "You can make her stronger and she you."

"She told me."

"Yes. But in order to become strong enough, you will need to join in both body and mind. She is powerful, but hardly enough to destroy both Trigon and the demon princess. With the both of you joined and mine and the Titans' help, we should be able to defeat them. However, if you both join and she dies, you die. It works in the opposite, as well."

"It can make us stronger. We don't really have a choice."

"How long can you awaken Raven?" Starfire asked.

"No more than three days. Maybe less if I awaken her too late and her body is worn." Szephyn looked down at Raven. Her breathing was shallow. He looked up at Khystarah. She nodded. "Lay her on the floor." He bent low and carefully laid her out on the carpet. Khystarah walked to Raven's side and put her hands out above her. Her hands began to glow gold, then Raven's body took on the aura. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around. She carefully stood up, Szephyn right by her side. She took his hand, drawing him closer. She paid no attention to anyone else but him.

"I want to go to my room." She said softly. He nodded.

"Alright. I'm taking her to her room." He braced her with his arm and led her out of the room.

Raven sat down on the bed and looked around the room as Szephyn turned on the light. He walked to her side and sat down. She leaned against him, closing her eyes.

"I'm so tired." He kissed her forehead.

"I know. We're going to go help you in a few days. Right now, you just need to rest. Let your body relax." He put his arms around her, looking down into her face. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head up. He pressed his lips to hers. She lightly pressed back. "I'll be right here for you, Raven. I...I love you. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Tears rolled down her cheeks as the lamp exploded. Neither one could help but smile.

"I...love you, too." She said quietly.

"I was hoping you'd say something along those lines." She smiled a little more and kissed him again. He pressed against her, pushing her back until she hit the pillow. He pulled off her socks and cape as she worked on his shirt. He shrugged it off, pulling it from its tucked position in his pants. Next came off his belt. His hands traveled up to her shoulders, pulling the leotard sleeves down her shoulders. He pulled back from the kiss to take a breath and pushed off his pants. She pulled her arms from the sleeves of the leotard, letting Szephyn push it lower. As soon as it was off, he tossed it aside. (AN: Do people have underwear beneath leotards?)

Raven pulled him back into the kiss. He took her lips willingly then pushed lower. His hands went under her lower back, arching her toward him as his lips traveled down her chest and to her stomach. Her hands went into his mass of mid-night blue hair, pulling lightly as he went still lower. She moaned quietly, as quietly as she could anyway. As soon as he was underneath her belly button, he pulled off his underwear. She pushed him off and went in for another kiss, lowering herself on him. She didn't hesitate. With one swift movement, he was fully inside her. Pain shot through her but she ignored it. He took her hands in his and guided her. She felt his mind guards drop. His entire life flooded her. His first look at life, being cast aside at five for having dark powers, being taken in by dark elves, falling in love and losing the girl to death.

The loss of his innocence, the death of his adoptive parents, him nearly taking his life, and then him meeting her. All his feelings for her washed over her. He loved her, was scared of and for her, envied her for having people that cared for her. The climax washed over them both and she weakly fell on him.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you." He whispered back.

Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg sat in conversation, had been since Szephyn took Raven to her room. Khystarah kept her distance from them all. Her mind was focused on her daughter. A smile swept across her face.

"They have joined." The talking ceased and four pairs of eyes landed on her. "Their souls are whole." The boys sat in wonder while Starfire smiled.

"What?" They asked in unision. Starfire looked at them.

"Raven and Szephyn have joined in body and spirit."

"You mean, Raven..." Beast Boy shivered at the thought.

"Well, our little Raven's growin' up." Cyborg said. Robin just grinned.

"As soon as the both of them are ready, we leave. It would be best if you all prepared your bodies. You will need the strength."

"Well, you guys heard her." Robin said. "Let's get started."

The next two days went by with little interferrance from Szephyn and Raven. They kept to either her or his rooms, coming out long enough for bathing and food. Most of their time consisted of preparing their minds and keeping up with their love affair. Starfire and Beast Boy also grew closer. Many kisses came outside closed doors. They spent most of their time together but broke to train. Khystarah had left for the few days but returned on the morning of their journey.

"Are you all ready?" She asked. All six of them nodded. "Take each other's hands." They joined hands, keeping the grip tight. "Bring around a circle." They formed a circle and Robin and Szephyn, who were the last two of the chain, took Khystarah's hands. She began chanting silently. It steadily grew louder. They all felt as if they were being pulled from their bodies. The world around them vanished. Titan's Tower no longer stood around them. This new world was dark. Only Raven seemed comfortable. Then they knew. They were now in Raven's mind.

Author's Note: Okay, so this was probably the longest chapter I've ever written. I wanted to leave off in a good place and this is better than any other I can think of. So, Raven and Szephyn have joined. You know more about Szephyn and BB and Star are most definitely together. Sorry if I didn't follow totally through with the summary. I tried the best I could but I write as I go along. The keys do the talking. So, what'd ya think? Leave any questions or comments and I'll explain either in the writing or directly. It depends. Anyway, here's the tenth, yes tenth, chapter. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading and reviewing.