Chapter five
As soon as the door opened, so did a fountain of memories. Raven shuddered and closed her eyes. She'd revisited this place in her dreams. Or was it her nightmares? She was never quite sure anymore. Her world seemed to fade into a blur until she couldn't quite make out reality.
But this. This was all too real, and Rae took a deep breath as Cy smiled down at her.
"You alright?" he queried. She smiled reassuringly.
"Yeah, just a bit…dazed."
It was oddly reminiscent of the entrance she had with Starfire on her last day as being a titan.
Robin rounded the corner. He too had changed, looking taller and stronger, just as Starfire had described him – when she saw him as Nightwing.
Raven pulled her hood down. "Hello, Robin."
"Raven!" Robin laughed. "Wow. Cy, you really know where to go shopping – this almost looks like the real Raven!"
"I thought so," joked Cy, smiling and folding his arms. Raven looked blankly at them, then allowed a small smile.
"I must have changed for you to say that," Rae admitted, chuckling. "But at least you recognised me. That's a good sign."
A blur of purple, later, Raven was pushed over.
"What the—"
"Raven! Friend! Oh I am so overjoyed to see you! How wondrous!"
"Star," Raven choked out, her eyes wide through shock and mild suffocation. "Hey."
The Tameranian had a new beauty - a mature one - and she had grown more slender and elegant than ever.
"Did you cure yourself?"
"Um," Raven looked at the two curious boys then back at Star, who raised her eyebrows as she stood up.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I did."
Raven rose unsteadily to her feet, dusting her white cloak. She looked up at the wide jade eyes which examined her. Starfire clasped her hands.
"Oh it is most wondrous, now you are back! I have missed you!"
"It's good to have you back Raven," admitted Robin, smiling. "Things weren't the same without you."
Raven gave a small smile, her heart beating faster. "Um, guys, there's something I need to say. I'm not staying. I ran into Cy completely by accident. It might not work me staying here so I…"
She trailed off seeing the look of shock and sadness on Starfire's face, and incomprehension on Robin's.
"But Raven! You just arrived! Why must you leave?" Star stammered out, tearfully.
"Because…I do," Raven answered, feeling stupid. There really was no reason for her to leave. "I left before and that's no reason for me to assume I can waltz in and out as I please."
"What are you talking about? You're part of the team. Always will be!" Robin exclaimed, looking at her kindly. Raven gave him the tiniest of smiles. Already they were winning her over. She tottered.
"Look, can we just make a deal here? I'll stay for a bit. But if it doesn't work out, I leave. And no arguing, alright?"
The three titans looked at each other and shrugged then back at Raven and nodded.
"Alright," Robin answered on behalf of them all. "That sounds fair. In the mean time, you'll be wanting this back."
He handed her the communicator and she looked at it, holding it as if it were priceless. "Thanks."
"Welcome to the team."
A few hours passed in the main room, as the four titans sat sprawled across the sofas, talking.
Robin, staring at Raven in awe, let out a small sigh. "It seems that your trip was a fulfilling one."
"Yes, truly it is so," Star agreed, giving a winning smile. "You have mastered your powers! That is worth talking about, yes?"
"Yes," Raven nodded, her folded legs unfolding as she looked down to the floor. "It was difficult. And I don't know how it's going to figure. But I feel stronger, more able. And that's something."
"Rae, I know I've asked all this before," Cy cut in, as Raven looked inquiringly at him. "But why did you leave?"
"Yeah, you never did say," Robin frowned. "And Starfire never would tell."
Starfire shrank away from the boy wonder, and looked at Raven. "It is not my place to tell you what does not belong to me."
Cyborg smiled at Star. "Yeah, but now you won't have to. Raven's secret – Raven can tell us."
"Why do you need to know?" Raven asked, sensibly. "What was, was. What is, is. And there is no way you can change the way things are, even if you wanted to."
The two boys looked both baffled and hurt. Raven relented.
"Look, I appreciate your sympathy, I really do. But there isn't anything you can do about this problem. It's something I had to work out on my own and—"
There was the excited chatter of voices in the hallway, and Raven stopped dead. The others looked towards the doorway expectantly.
"That film was awesome!" came Terra's voice from the hallway. Raven shuddered.
"Totally!" agreed Beastboy's voice. They were getting closer. Raven braced herself. A million voices muttered in her ever changing mind.
'Azarath Metrion Zinthos.'
'You can do this.'
'It's out of your hands.'
But she couldn't stop herself from shaking inside. What would he say when he saw her?
Anything? Nothing?
The metal door slid open. Terra walked in first. She, as with all of the others, had changed. Her long hair had grown to her ankles almost, and she had changed her outfit to a small skirt – similar to Starfire's – and a black top with long brown gloves. The goggles were still in their prime spot.
She span around, lifting her hands up high in a sigh before turning to the others. She stopped dead as her eyes paused on Raven. The look passed between the two girls could have turned the room to ice. The feeling took over the atmosphere, and time seemed to stop.
They were all rudely awakened as there was a thud.
"Ow, T! What's the deal dude!" came the complaining from behind her. Terra took a sidestep, as Raven fixed her eyes upon him.
He had grown taller, more muscular, more mature and especially more irresistible.
She gave her smallest of smiles. "Hello Beastboy."
And as an afterthought: "Terra."
Beastboy stood there, stopped in space. His eyes widened, and he looked as if he was gasping for air.
"H-hi," he managed, eventually.
Raven looked him directly in the eyes, determined not to be afraid.
Terra gave a falsely sweet smile and ran up to the goth girl, breaking the moment. "RAVEN! How've you been?"
Raven turned her attention unwillingly towards the blonde and looked at her with a blank expression. "I'm alright. And you?"
"Yeah, we've been great!" exclaimed Terra. Raven groaned inwardly. They were a 'we' now?
"Just chillin', fightin' crime! Where've you been?"
"Away," Raven stated, standing up. She turned to the other titans. "I'll be upstairs. In my room…is it still my room?"
"Nothing's been moved," reassured Robin. "So feel free."
Raven nodded gratefully and left the room, gliding smoothly past the others and past Beastboy, who could do nothing but watch her.
"Beastboy! What's the matter with you!" Terra demanded loudly. The boy jumped.
"Oh, sorry, heh, my mind was somewhere else!" he answered running over to her as she grinned smugly.
Raven pretended not to see, but the all too familiar ache came back and she cursed herself over and over.
'One day,' she thought. 'One day.'
-
I know, I know. This story is pretty angsty at the moment. PLEASE HOLD ON TILL THE NEXT CHAPTER! Lets face it, you all know it's coming. But if you don't read then you won't get all the lovely fluffiness will you? (:
Also, just to be really random, I thought Starfire was really cute in this chapter. Bless her heart! She really was pleased to see Rae, and as much as it had hurt her over the years, kept the secret. Sweet, eh?
Anywho, the moment you've all been waiting for (or not, lol)…Replies:
Gladdecease: Lol, glad you liked it. And Cyborg is pretty stupid, he doesn't really get the whole love thing properly. His idea of paradise is a can of polish and the T-car, let's face it, eh? Tho' sometimes I can't resist pairing him up, he must get lonely ): Anyway, Love may be blind. But where is love? And does it truly exist? Well, I'm starting to lose faith, and at this point in the story, so is Rae. Keep reading! (:
DarkRavenna: Hehe, did you not read chapter four then? Well anyway, try to read this one! I read your story and it rocked my socks, when will you be updating? (: Your reviews always cheer me up, thank you for making my day complete! (:
Moonchild10: Hehe, don't mention it – I love repling to reviewers. It's my purpose in life! (not really, but I still like it.) Anyway, yeah, Starfire's puddings of whatever appear in almost all of my stories, simply because I think she's hilarious with them! Cy's lines make me laugh my toes off at times. Like in Bunny Raven, where he's wearing the pink tutu? I laughed till I was nearly sick! Ahhh, simple things please simple minds! (:
Greenlobster7878: Keep that feeling, it's what the faith is all about! Ja! (:
Porymon: Um okay, I think I get what you mean – but that's coming later. I'm not rushing this story! (:
Jackdaw: Hope you liked the chappie.
Toast: 2 inches of snow. 2 INCHES. I hate england -.- Anyway, glad you're liking the story. Constantine? What's that about then?
Spiritual-s: Wahah! Thanks (:
Lyzz2nwn:grabs you and huggles you lots: YOU DON'T SUCK! You're cool, and you review my story. I love my reviewers. :gives you sugar and stuff that's happy: (: Your story really touched me. I know the feeling totally over and over. Been hurt so many times I'm sick of it. :sighs: Also, never ever apologise for what you write on my review. I'm happy to hear you out and send you cookies. Check out my RxBB boards on my profile page, the link is there somewhere! Ja!
Eww she's back: I sense some sarcasm in your tone…hmm…thanks for the review anyhow. (:
Thanks to everyone who reveiwed. Happy to hear from you all! You make my week!
:Hugs:
xChibix