A/N: Wow…I am loving the feedback I'm receiving…just makes me wanna burst with happiness!
Mysti-eyed:: Thanks, I am trying my hardest to keep everyone in character but I have the most fun with Beast Boy just trying to think of a witty remark for him to say. As for what Slade did…I figure it will be revealed around…chapter 7, but don't quote me on that because I'm not too sure.
Cygnus de hielo: Thanks! I don't care if you're like a day or too late! I don't think I'm very good with all that angsty stuff, but thanks anyway. Someone mentioned that I have a talent when it comes to writing humor, which I like writing a lot more.
Chica De Ojos Café: Hey I know my Spanish! It took me a while to actually grasp what you're name meant. It occurred to me once I saw the awesome review you left and smiled…I was like, hey, her name means 'Girl of eyes brown' if you want the direct translation or simply girl with brown eyes. I said to myself, "Wow Amber…if you get any slower then we're gonna have some problems." Anywho, ignore and get to that chapter you've been waiting for! Btw, I loved your review…it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside….and for chapter 3…I honestly don't know what when wrong…a chapter 3 hadn't even been created yet…maybe the site had a malfunction?
Tikigrl: Tsk, tsk. A magician never reveals her secrets, something Raven once said. Except I'm not exactly a magician although I know some awesome magic tricks…but that's totally off topic. What I was going to say was that I am a fanfiction writer and like all writers and magicians they never reveal anything to the audience. SO, with that said you're just going to have to continue to read to find out. And by all means, let all your other friends know.
Wrathchild:: I'm glad you're a fan of long chapters because this one is pretty long (sorry Chica De Ojos Café)
OtakuaIways:: I hope this is soon enough for you…you were so adamant about it, lol.
Lain the Fluff-Master:: You're right, Beast Boy is awesome. I just don't like him with Raven, lol. I just watched the Employee of the Month Episode featuring our favorite little changeling. It was so funny, with the cows and the evil tofu—'cuse me I meant evil 'newfu'. But anyway BB was hilarious as usual. Him and his poor moped…I feel so sorry for him. Anywho, keep those reviews coming in an orderly fashion.
Renderedvoice: Aah! That's exactly the point I'm trying to make! I'm glad you approved the balls part…I had to chuckle a bit myself when I corrected it. And yes, I went over this chapter and tried to get any and all grammatical errors…tell me if I succeeded.
Mirumo: Thanks for the compliment…and I'm pretty sure you didn't have to wait that long.
Raven of the Shadows Azerath: Well, you have this chapter and I'll try to get the one after this one out as soon as possible.
CelticHeiressFiona : Here's that update you wanted. Enjoy it!
Kiersten: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and I love Robin and Raven pairings too. Robin and Starfire together just makes me feel queasy. I don't anything against Starfire exactly…she's just to preppy and annoying you know? That's why she grates on my nerves.
Jordan: You'll have to continue to read to find out what Slade was holding. Sorry about the grammar thing…there is a reason it's not my favorite subject after all. Oh I love English, but grammar just makes me shudder. However, I used spell check and checked it myself and after that I used it again…just to make sure. If you find a major mistake this time I'm eat my computer monitor and then where will we be? Update-less, that's where! Lol, keep reviewing!
Cherry Jade: Here's that update you wanted, all for you! Well, not really but if it made you feel special then keep believing that, lol! I agree with you on that one though. Robin and Starfire just seems too cliché, you know the team leader hooks up with the pretty, innocent one of the group, puh-leaze! Don't make me hurl. Raven and BB…that just seems downright unbelievable although I can stomach them together more than I can Robin and Starfire.
Thanks for all the reviews…I loved them all!
Disclaimer: You Starfire/Robin and Raven/BB fans are soooooo lucky that I so do not own that show….so damn lucky. -
Hell's Fury: The Beginning
Chapter three: Humorous Interlude
By: Amber Myst
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
-Evanescence
Robin sighed, the teen leader running a hand through his wet hair. He had just stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. After a three hour training session, he smelled bad, and was just as sweaty; hence, his five in the afternoon shower.
He needed to release some tension and anger, and training seemed the best way to do it. He winced though as he now thought back on the condition he left the training room in…it looked like a tornado ripped through it. Cyborg would blow his top; he did after all have to construct the practice bots and all the other machinary that was used to hone their skills.
He dressed in a royal blue T-shirt and gray sweatpants…he didn't plan on doing anything soon anyway just lie around the house until Raven felt like showing up. After all, she did say she was going to tell them what in the hell was going on with her. Besides, she had to eat didn't she?
He thought back onto last night and shuddered involuntarily. He had never seen Raven that vulnerable before, and it scared the hell out off him. She looked so frightened and never, never in a million years would he have ever thought that Raven would shed a tear…he could hear Raven now proclaiming, 'I don't do tears.'
And especially not in front of the team, and that scream…every time he thought of it he shuddered. Never had he ever heard anything that sounded remotely like hers. It almost sounded like damned souls screaming in agony as they writhed in eternal pain. Robin twisted his lips wryly. No need to get all dark, and Edgar Allen Poe like…he was beginning to sound like Raven's poetry books.
When that same scream awoke him, he could have sworn his heart jumped right out of his chest. The whole way to Raven's room, all he could hear and feel was his heart pounding in his ears and blood rushing away from his face. Hell, he wouldn't have been surprised if he was paler than Raven. And then to get there, thinking the worst…well nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Raven. Crying…his Raven…was in pain and she wouldn't let him help!
He scrubbed a hand over his face tiredly. "I need some rest." He mumbled before plopping down on his bed, although he did not intend to go to sleep. He hadn't slept in about 24 hours. Not since Raven's scream woke him. He could not fall asleep knowing that Raven was suffering the way she was. Her face kept replaying in his head over, and over again until he could not get any resemblance of peace. Besides, he was afraid that if he fell asleep then something even worse would happen to Raven. Therefore, he spent the whole night lying on his bed with his heart in his throat, thinking the whole time of Raven.
He cared for Raven…he knew that much, and it was more than a 'sibling' type love too. However, he did not know what to do about it. He was hoping it was just a silly little crush, like the one he had on Starfire. He hoped that it would disappear after a while, the same way it did with the beautiful alien, but he knew it probably wouldn't. Not until he knew how she felt.
Luckily, he and the team kept themselves occupied, there seemed to be a string of break-ins through out the city and it kept them occupied all day. It was not as if they were too difficult, it was just that there were a lot of them. They didn't even dream of going to awaken Raven. The only one who did not know was Starfire, who Robin had to inform gently. Then he had to hold her down from flying off to see Raven immediately. He knew she needed her rest and explained it to Starfire. Starfire was a lot more subdued because of it, he didn't want to see her smile dim, especially when they all could use a little brightness but she had to be told.
Fighting today without her by his side made him realize how important Raven was to the team, and how much she was needed…and wanted. Once the fighting was over, they trudged home, tired, weary and yet somewhat satisfied. They really worked off all their extra energy and anger. Everyone except him. That was the sole reason he participated in such a strenuous training session in the first place. Training worked like nothing else to make you so engrossed that you had no room to think of anything else.
He stared at the ceiling, an ennui expression dominating his features. He was bored out of his mind. He resulted to counting the little bats carved into a monotonous pattern on his ceiling. He blinked once. "Were those always there?" He mused aloud, before rolling over to glance at his clock. It was 7:00. It must have been lost in his thoughts for about 2 hours.
It was almost dinnertime and his stomach growled reminding him of that simple fact. He pulled himself from bed, wandering from his room and into the kitchen to see what was being prepared. No one was there. His sharp eyes picked out a note hanging from the fridge and snatched it, quickly looking over the contents.
Hey Robin,
We went to grab a pizza and did not want to disturb you or Raven. We'll bring you guys some slices back.
Love: Starfire, metal butt meat-eater, and BeastDude.
Robin shook his head and laughed. Apparently, Beast Boy wrote this while Cyborg was not paying close attention. He pulled open the refrigerator and looked in at the contents. He physically blanched when he saw the blue fuzzy food. "Eck…" He pushed past the moldy food and looked towards the back, there the food was black. He gagged before hastily pulling his head back out… "Ew, someone gag me now." He sighed the smell was horrendous. "I've lost my appetite."
A soft 'humph' was heard from the entrance and Robin's head lifted up startled to spy Raven, who cleared her throat and tried to appear somewhat detached, although she failed. He watched as she stood there hesitantly, watching him warily. She was probably embarrassed from what happened last night. Therefore, they would take things slowly until she felt comfortable around him again. He closed the refrigerator and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest.
He smiled warmly at her. "Hey Raven." He watched as she watched him with a hooded expression although she did nod to acknowledge that she did indeed heard him.
"Hi." Her voice still sounded hoarse and he realized that she also noticed because a hand flew to her throat self-consciously as she cleared it again.
He was not going to push her about last night. She would reveal her secret in her own time; in the meantime, he had something else planned… "Raven?"
"Hmm?" She asked before skirting around him to prepare her tea. He noticed that she gave him a wide berth, as if trying to avoid any contact with him and he almost growled in frustration. How was he suppose to her to confide in him if she kept up this nonsense? Honestly, she was acting like a skittish lamb and he was the lion.
She also evaded his searching eyes as she busied herself with making her tea, adding a teaspoon of honey, and blending them smoothly together. She took her tea and was about to leave when Robin halted her.
"Raven…can we talk?" He asked, with an almost pleading quality to his voice. "Please?"
She considered saying no but then she stopped as a scene from last night flashed before her eyes.
"Please…" she whispered, as she clenched her eyes shut so she wouldn't have to see the worry and consternation in their eyes, pleading with her to confide in them. She wouldn't be able to protect them if she did. "If you cared…you would leave me alone right now…please."
She sighed before giving into his request…he did do as she wanted after she asked him to. She could tell he was wary about leaving her alone but he did realized she needed time, and it made her respect him all the more. She would return the favor so she went to the table to sit down, before slowly sipping her tea. "I'm all ears."
A brilliant smile spread itself slowly across Robin's face and she almost smiled herself. It was damned contagious. Besides, she was just content that he was happy. Not to mention he was all the more handsome when he smiled. Raven blinked twice…and shook her head. That was just plain weird. However, she had been having all sorts of 'weird' thoughts about the Boy Wonder currently beaming down at her.
"Here's what I've been thinking, you seem to know a lot about me right?" He watched her nodded warily. After all, she had been in his mind once and so they had developed a small bond. Of course, Raven seldom mentioned it.
"So it's only fair you answer a few of my questions." He watched her tense and grip her ceramic cup tighter. "But once you do, you can ask anything of me." He added quickly. "And you don't have answer anything that's too uncomfortable for you…deal?"
He saw her face flicker with uncertainty before she stood. "Robin…"
"Please?" He pouted, as he pleaded, giving her a look only rivaled by Beast Boy's small, helpless kitten routine.
Raven sighed. She may have been able to resist Beast Boy's face but not Robin's, especially since the recent stirrings in her emotions for him. She dropped back into her seat, resigned to a round of '21 questions.' "How many questions is a few?"
Robin cheered silently over his victory before sitting down across from Raven. "Maybe twenty-five? Does that sound reasonable?" He asked. The immense glare she shot at him answered that question.
"Ok, then how about twenty?"
"Ten," she declared. "And those two absurd ones you asked before count, so you're now down to eight."
Robin shot her a dirty look before settling down comfortably, with his elbows resting on the table, and his chin in them as he stared at her, grinning. 'She's so beautiful.' He mused. He shook his head. How could he think that? Well it was true; denying it would be like saying Slade was his lover. Just the thought made him shudder and cringe inwardly, wanting to castrate himself for even thinking it. However, it did get his point across quite nicely, if not a bit -well more than a bit- disturbingly.
She shifted a bit, uncomfortable under his soul-searching gaze, her eyes looking everywhere but at his. A few more uncomfortable seconds passed before she growled annoyed and crossed her arms. "Well?"
Robin shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He leaned back, and propped his feet up on the table, balancing his weight on the back two legs of his chair and frowned mockingly. "So Raven…if that is your real name."
Raven rolled her eyes as his silliness. "Is that a question?"
He quickly shook his head. "Nah…I'm going to ask a few personal questions…start off easy, and then work my way up."
Raven nodded. "Whatever…"
"So, what's your favorite color?"
Raven choked on her herbal tea, trying not spray it across the table as she sputtered. "What?"
"You heard the question, Raven."
"What are you color blind now?" She gave a small smile. "Well that would explain the mystery of your costume. I always wondered if you had a serious fashion-deficiency, you got dressed in the dark, or if you just couldn't see the blinding colors you wore."
Robin glowered at her scathingly. "Hey! You're one to talk Goth girl."
Raven laughed at that. "Honestly, you look like a traffic light gone awry."
Robin's irritation melted away with her laughter. "Eh. Stop avoiding such a simple question, I wanna know the truth."
Her face turned beet red and she looked to the side, as she mumbled her answer, her eyes downcast.
From her reaction, he knew it was good. He heard the two colors that screamed 'Raven' but he didn't quite catch that last one. Robin grinned as he leaned closer to her and sang out, "I can't hear you!"
"I said purple, black and…" She mumbled the rest.
"One more time Raven, and try not to mumble."
"I SAID BABY BLUE!" She yelled vehemently, before she gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth, not believing she just screamed that out.
Robin guffawed as he held his constricting sides, wheezing for breath. Raven frowned dejectedly before just settling to glare huffily at him.
"Yeah, just laugh it up Bird Boy." She muttered. She didn't even have tell him. After all, she could have just told him a lie, especially since the question made her so uncomfortable. But the thought of lying to Robin made her feel even more uncomfortable and so she resigned herself to spilling some of her secrets. Honestly, she didn't even know why it bothered her so much but she suspected it had something to do with the image she kept. How could people properly fear and respect her enough to keep their distance if they knew things about her that were not defined as 'Raven' like?
Soon, he had to stop laughing so he could breathe, a few chuckles escaping occasionally. "It wasn't really all that funny." He tried to smooth her ruffled feathers. "I was expecting some deep, dark secret like your favorite color was pink or something."
A look that could only be described as pure, unadulterated horror plastered itself on Raven's face. "You-you're kidding right? Oh God, don't make me hurl." She gagged.
He laughed again. It felt good to able just to laugh with Raven again. He missed it, to be honest. Well, it didn't happen a lot so that is why he cherished it even more when it did.
"Next question," she persisted. True, she knew that they would soon get more serious but for now she could enjoy the time she spent laughing with Robin. 'Laughing with Robin.' That was something she thought she would never do.
"Ok, keep your panties on." Raven snorted and blushed a little at his use of words.
"How do you know I'm wearing any?" She asked disdainfully.
Robin's jaw unhinged and he twitched, his eyes widened to their fullest extent and even then, growing wider. Just picturing a panty-less Raven, had him drooling and ready to fall into a pleasure-induced coma.
Damn those teenage hormones.
Raven laughed before she noticed the look on the Boy Wonder's face. His eyes seemed to fill his face and she could see his tonsils. In addition to that, there was that little problem concerning the continuous stream of drool emitting from his mouth to pool onto the table.
She looked a bit disgusted before waving her hands in front of his eyes. "Eww…Hello? Robin…anyone home?"
That disgust turned to concern when she did not get a response, did the thought shock him that much? She was wearing underwear of course…she had only meant it as a joke. 'Maybe there's a good reason I don't joke much.' She thought with dry amusement, before she snapped her fingers a few times, trying to get the Boy Wonder's attention.
When nothing else worked she kicked the legs of the chair he was sitting on out from under him.
Robin didn't know he was falling until he hit the ground, his head bouncing off the linoleum floor. He yelped in pain and then turned to glare at Raven, who was laughing her head off. She was aware of the table floating and she tried to calm herself. The laughing subsided and as it did, the table landing back on the floor.
"Was that necessary?" He asked sourly. He felt his head gingerly and winced at he felt a bump raising. His scowl deepened.
"Was that a question?" She committed the priceless look on his face to memory before muttering her words and allowing her powers to soothe the headache she did not doubt he had and the bump he was sporting. "There."
Robin was still glaring at her although the pain in his head was gone and Raven rolled her eyes. "Want me to kiss and make it better?" She asked dryly. 'He looks so cute pouting like that.' She almost giggled but then caught herself. She rolled her eyes, 'honestly Raven, get a hold of yourself.'
The Boy Wonder shook his head. "Whatever…" He muttered as he was trying to clear his head. When it did not work, he sighed. "What were we talking about?"
Raven's jaw dropped. "Maybe you hit your head a little too hard?" He just glared at her and she sighed. "You were asking me questions…"
He snapped his fingers, remembering. "That's right…next question." He racked his brain before coming up with the next one. "Is purple your real eye and hair color or is that a very convincing hair dye and contacts?"
Hey it wasn't too creative, but he did want to keep a sense of levity within the conversation and make Raven comfortable. The best way to do that seemed to ask her retarded questions.
She narrowed her gaze at him, before turning her head to the side haughtily, crossing her arms. "No comment."
Robin chuckled. "You can't do that!"
"And why not?"
"Because!" He was at a lost of words and so just stuck his tongue out at Raven immaturely, surprising himself more than Raven.
Raven rolled her eyes as the very 'UnRobin' display. "Yep, that's the always the reason."
"Seriously. Anything is better than 'no comment.'" Robin prodded at her, lifting an eyebrow.
"I plead the fifth." Robin was caught between a growl and a chuckle, both combining to become a grunt. He shook his head. "Raven…" He growled.
"What? It's perfectly constitutional."
"I give up!" Robin grumbled. "That question is to be postponed until further notice…I will get my answer!"
Raven smiled. "Keep dreaming, Boy Wonder." She then began to examine her nails boredly, tilting her head from side to side, as if trying to determine something. "Next question?"
She murmured in her monotone voice. "I need to file my nails."
"What do you really think of Beast Boy?" He tried. Those two always seemed to be mortal enemies but they had their moments. They liked each other more than they put on. Him and Raven had a more mature friendship; her and BB just seem to be more playful…well Beast Boy was playful. In Raven's case, he wasn't too sure what was better. He wanted to see where Beast Boy stood. He also wanted to see where he stood. He shook his head. He shouldn't care; it was not as if they were competing for Raven's affection anyway…so okay, he had concluded that he was sexually attracted to her and to be honest, who wouldn't? He was a normal—well as normal as being a teenage superhero went—guy with teenage hormones, which was perfectly comprehensible. She was sexy in a dark, forbidden way, and the form-fitting leotard simply was not helping at all. 'She should try a different outfit.' He thought to himself. A small voice in the back of his head added, '…like nothing at all.'
She looked pensive for a second, as she bit into her lip. "Well, Beast Boy is…umm Beast Boy."
Robin rolled his eyes. "NO really!"
She shot him a dirty look and he sighed, as if he were dealing with a stubborn three-year-old. "Trying tell me something I don't know!"
She sighed, before crossing her legs. "BB can be…annoying at times."
Robin smirked. "That's the understatement of the year."
Raven grinned. "OK, he can be very annoying most of the time! Nevertheless, he can also be nice at times…sweet almost. He can also be funny once in a millennium." She shook her head and snorted in disbelief. "I can't believe I just said that!" She shot Robin one of the iciest, threatening glares he had ever seen in his life. Not even Batman's was that bad. Okay, maybe he was exaggerating, but it was number two on his list. "You tell a soul I just said that, even your diary, and believe me, when I get through with you'll think that Slade was only half as bad as the Easter bunny, savvy?"
Robin gulped nervously as Raven was enshrouded in a black aura. "S-savvy!" He was too intimidated to be insulted she implied he kept a diary.
"Good." She smirked smugly, before continuing. "He's never serious…and it's weird because I kind of admire him because of it, but other times it annoys the hell out of me." She glanced at Robin. "Do you understand?"
Robin thought it over and nodded a bit. "In a way."
"Good, then explain it to me." She said seriously.
Robin laughed. "I guess it's because he can express what you can't. Because of your powers, you can't let loose, and express your feelings as much as Beast Boy does. In a way, your jealous because he can do what you can't, but after a while, it gets on your nerves because it's the opposite of who and what you are. I can't picture you acting as retarded as BB does." He nodded sagely once he was done as he considered what he just said. "Makes sense."
He looked over a Raven and she was staring at him with an enigmatic look on her face. When he looked into her hooded eyes, he saw they were full of several ambiguous emotions. "What?"
She stared at him as if she were looking into his soul. "Hmm, you feel the same don't you?" She murmured to himself. Maybe he understood her more than she gave him credit for, or maybe he just felt the same. He was, after all, Robin, the Boy Wonder, and the protégé of the great Batman. If he were to indulge in something too juvenile, everyone would think he had lost his mind. He was the Teen Titans' leader; he was always serious, nagging at them to train, to keep the tower clean. He was only seventeen but he acted as if were their father. Didn't he ever even want to act his age? Maybe it just wasn't his status as the Teen Titans' leader, maybe it had something to do with his past.
She snorted lightly. Maybe Batman had rubbed off on him just a little bit too much and she was thinking too hard.
Robin was slightly perturbed at her staring and made an offhanded comment. "What, do I have something on my face? Or maybe I'm just so hot you have to stare."
That question shook Raven from her reverie as she replied deadpanned. "Or maybe, you're so grotesque that you look like a freak show and I just can't pry my eyes away."
Robin's cocky smirk almost faded away at that. "Hey!"
Raven smirked. "Well then. My next question is what do you think of me?"
Her smirk slid from her face. "Humph, I so do not have to answer that question."
"You don't answer and I'll…" Robin frowned. "Well, I don't know what I'll do yet, but it'll be bad!"
"Oooo I'm shaking in fear." She said humorlessly.
"You promised to answer all of my questions!" He argued angrily. He didn't even know why he wanted to know so badly. "I didn't know you were the type to not keep your promises Raven."
"Fine whatever," she grumbled, yet she didn't look at him. "Where do I start?"
She stood up and started to walk away, and Robin almost protested when she turned around and walked back towards him. She repeated the action and Robin realized that she was pacing, with her hands clasped behind her back and her head directed towards the ground. He watched as her cape billowed out behind her as she walked and then mold itself to her lithe body like satin as she whirled around again. Did the question really make her that nervous. "I didn't know you paced." He stated simply.
She turned her head towards him curiously. "I don't." She stopped and looked down at herself. "I was, wasn't I?"
Robin shook his head, a small sardonic smile gracing his lips. "And I thought I was going crazy."
"Hey, if I'm going off the deep end it's YOUR fault." She glared at him before plopping back down into her chair, her legs crossed as she began to fidget nervously.
Raven…nervous? 'Nah,' but the proof was right in front of him. "Well?"
Raven glanced at her fidgeting hands. "Well, I respect you, obviously as a leader and a friend. Sometimes you can be a little too serious, but that's to be expected and I don't mind it, really. I think you're one of the bravest, if not the bravest person I've ever met." She blushed slightly, and looked up at Robin, who was staring intently at her. His masked eyes met her violet ones and he looked down, averting his gaze, his face slightly red. Raven looked at him incredulously, was he blushing? Well, she was too but only because she was revealing how she felt about him. If anything, he should be smug, not blushing…unless he felt something for her. Her eyes widened, and her lips twitched, dying to bloom into a smile.
"And you're intelligent, and your determination blows even me away sometimes…you can be a bit 'obsessive' at times, but that's what makes you…you, you know?"
A small frown marred Robin's face, his brow furrowing together. Raven smiled wickedly, before rising from her seat and walking over to stand behind Robin. If he noticed, he didn't show it. She bent over a bit so her lips were right by his ear.
"You're also very sexy…you wouldn't believe the sheer number of fangirls you have." She purred into his ear, her voice was a seductive whisper, full of dark promises and made him shiver with desire. Robin jerked a bit at Raven's hot breath blowing into his ear.
"Raven…" He murmured huskily, not thinking as he turned his face up towards hers expectantly. Since her lips were right by his ear, when he turned their lips brushed lightly. At that light touch, electricity seemed to explode through their bodies, sending a delicious, tingling sensation through every limb.
Raven's eyes widened. If all that sensation came from that kiss, if you could call it one, then she couldn't imagine how it would feel to go… farther…she let the thought wander into dangerous territory. Robin's wide eyes seemed to reflect what she was thinking.
Before they could find out, the other titans burst into the room, causing Raven to jerk away from Robin. Thankfully, the other titans seemed not to notice the close moment between Robin and Raven.
But they all stopped short at seeing Raven. The tension in the room was so thick that it was almost tangible, silence permeating throughout the room.
"Friend Raven," Starfire was the first to break the silence. "Are you better?"
Raven examined the question. Was she better? Her…chat with Robin had definitely made her feel better, there was no doubt about it. She no longer felt so alone and frightened, but whether the feeling would remain or not would be seen only later tonight. She favored Starfire with a small smile and nodded. "For now."
"Glorious!" Starfire rushed to hug her, and Raven was afraid that she might have broken a few bones.
Beast Boy grinned stupidly before walking up to Raven. "Sooo, if you really are better…than you'll play Murder Fest 5000!"
Raven shot him an emotionless glance. "Beast Boy, I didn't play it then and I won't play it now…not even to save your life."
Beast Boy pouted and Cyborg laughed. "That's sounds like Raven alright."
After that comment, Cyborg sent Robin a meaningful look and indicated that he should follow him. They both left quietly and the only one to notice their egress was Raven who was now being assaulted by Beast Boy and Starfire.
They walked into a dark corridor and once they were away far enough not to fear any intrusions or eavesdropping, Cyborg confronted him. "So, did Raven say anything about last night?"
Robin sighed heavily and shook his head. "No, although we did talk a bit."
"Damn," Cyborg swore. "I had suggested the rest of us go out and eat, to leave you and Raven sometime alone. I figured if anyone could get her to open up it would be you."
Robin looked surprised at Cyborg's intuitive. "Good plan…we were getting somewhere though." Robin blushed slightly as he thought back to the moment before the titans burst in. Did that mean Raven liked him as much as he liked her?
"We'll just have to try again later." Cyborg announced before turning to Robin. "I bet you're hungry."
Robin nodded slightly. "Did you get the pizza?"
Cyborg nodded. "Yeah, we got it. By the way, what did you and Raven talk about?"
Robin grinned and his shoulders shook with suppressed mirth. "I plead the fifth."
At the weird, questioning look Cyborg shot him, he let his laughter break free. "It's perfectly constitutional."
Raven sighed heavily as she was introduced to a familiar, monotonous scene. Flames, shadows, screaming, death, agony, pain.
After that talk with Robin, she had resolved to deal with Slade, once and for all. She would not allow him to hurt her; not anymore…she had to be strong for the sake of her friends. The night's actions showed her how much her friends truly were worried for her. She squared her shoulders as Slade appeared.
"Slade." She narrowed her eyes as she declared, "I won't let you hurt me anymore…I'm through with you."
Slade did not say a word; his one eye was narrowed dangerously as he walked towards her steadily. Raven stood her ground as she glared at him defiantly, although every echoing sound of his boot against the ground made her pulse quicken with something akin to fear. After last night...Raven wasn't prone to upsetting Slade but she did also realized that she needed to take a stand...for her own sanity if not for her friends.
He stopped into front of her, glaring down at her mockingly, a sneer in place on his face. "So, you think you can beat me? Is that it, Raven dearest?"
Raven's eyes darkened, before glowing red briefly. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She roared in absolute rage as she launched herself at him. Only her mother ever called her that.
Raven was taken completely by surprise when she passed through Slade, hitting the ground hard, on the other side of him. She coughed at the dust that flew down her throat and she clenched a rock in her hand before whirling around and throwing it at him with all her strength. The stone flew through him and smashed into little slivers on the stone behind him.
Her eyes widened. Slade was unsubstantial; he could not hurt her anymore! A feeling of immense relief and jubilation swept through her, as she glowed with a black aura, which leapt and flashed like fire. She stood slowly before letting her mirth take over, laughing bursting forth. Her laughter rang throughout hell, bouncing off walls, and the flashing flames cast upon her laughing visage created a picture of absolute evil.
'So she is her father's daughter,' Slade mused as several demons shied away from the slightly demonic laughter of the young half, demoness.
Raven calmed down, but the smug grin never left her face. "Slade, you have no more power over me. You can't hurt me anymore."
"That's what you think."
Raven looked at Slade in a bemused fashion, regarding him as one would a much younger sibling that just said that grass was purple and the sky was green. "Is that so?"
"You'll find out soon enough Raven, dearest." With that said, he was outlined with a bright, neon orange, the color of flames, before gradually disappearing.
Yep, that was chapter 3, some happiness and humor among the angst. But don't worry angst lovers! There's more in the future! REVIEW PEOPLE!Spread your wings and fly…Butterfly