Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.
A/N: X Acheron X, congratulations for being the first to review my story! Thank you for the kind comment. KhmerGurl113, I'm thrilled that you like the story so far! I hope you keep reviewing! T-Birds-AM, I hope you like the other chapters as well!
Crouched in her room, a teenage girl bawled alone as tears smeared her face. Her hands, which she balled into fists, rubbed her azure eyes. The solitary girl rubbed her nose on the pillow of her bed. Mother, I wish you were here with me. I feel so lonely. She blew her nose on a handkerchief and did not appreciate the fact that loneliness was her only companion.
Curled in a fetal position, the girl replayed her previous dream in her mind, wincing at the details:
Her mother, Artemis, and her father, Tucker, were screaming at each other again.
"I can't believe you did that to me!" the girl heard her mother bellow, waving her arms above her head in disgust.
Tucker retorted in as much distaste, "Well, too bad, my wife, because what's done is done. She's my daughter now, too!" He stabbed a finger in his buff chest.
Artemis groaned and paced back and forth while she grasped her long, ashy hair. "I wish none of this ever happened. Ruth shouldn't have been born. I almost went insane when I was pregnant with her."
Rolling his eyes, Tucker commented, "You're just weak, woman. All women are weak." He paused. "I just hope our little girl doesn't end up the same way, or I'll take matters into my own hands." He clenched his fists.
Alarmed, Artemis warned in a livid tone, "Don't you DARE hurt her, Tucker!" She inched closer toward her loathsome husband.
Three-year-old Ruth cowered in the corner, still watching. She never loved her father. A disturbing aura of evil surrounded him whenever she came near. He even frightened her at times. His eyes seemed to redden often, and he possessed an odd preference of heat. He would activate the heater despite the steaming weather outside. However, Ruth feared her demonic father at this moment the most.
"Stay away from me, Artemis," ordered Tucker. "Ruth's mine."
"NO! Do you have any idea how much all of this hurt me!" Artemis' shrill voice echoed in Ruth's ears. She planted her feet before Tucker and stared, wide-eyed, at him, expecting a reaction. "I almost killed myself, for Pete's sake!"
Ruth sensed the pain in her mother's voice. It was unbearable, yet she remained glued to her spot.
Tucker scoffed and smirked.
Enraged by her undesirable husband, Artemis emphasized her groan and stomped toward the next room in a vicious mood.
Tucker, whose own ferocity burst through him, snatched his wife's arm by the wrist and wringed it behind her back. Artemis howled, like a fox caught in the keen teeth of a hidden trap. "That's no way to treat your husband!" roared Tucker, slapping Artemis with the back of his hairy hand.
Artemis whined again, feeling the numb, red mark embedded in her cheek. The pain surged through her face and fogged her vision. Tucker's unmerciful laughter rocked the ground.
I don't want to be here, Ruth thought. Gazing at her mother's face screwed in agony, she suddenly felt guilty.
Tucker released Artemis, letting her collapse onto the stiff ground as a mass of blue with a sickening thud. Combing his orange hair with his beefy fingers, Tucker twirled around, fixing his glowing eyes on his meek, little daughter.
Ruth pressed herself harder against the wall, wishing to dissolve in it, as she watched her dreadful father advance toward her with a sneer. She breathed in short gasps.
Tucker's hand shot forward and clutched Ruth's upper arm. He hissed in her ear, "You WILL belong to me, my daughter…"
The sound of his voice sizzled Ruth's ear as she felt his fingers dig into her fragile skin.
In the next instant…
"Hey, Raven, whatcha readin'?"
A curious voice broke Raven's beloved silence. A vein throbbed in her forehead as her eyes looked up to find Beast Boy staring at her like a puppy. In fact, he was one. Preferring not to answer, Raven ignored him until Starfire joined in.
"Yes, friend Raven. Please inform us on the details of the book you were 'worming' as Beast Boy calls you…a 'bookworm'," she added in a sweet, high-pitched voice.
Scowling, Raven pulled her blue hood over her head and shook it. "I'd rather not." She closed the thick cover of her small book, pushing it against her chest as if she were guarding a bar of gold. The edges of the book felt delicate under her fingers.
Beast Boy pleaded, "Oh, COME ON, Raven! I wanna know what's in your creepy, little books!" He tried to snatch it away from her.
"Hey!" yelled Raven, tightening her grip on her possession. "Stop it, Beast Boy!"
"She's right, B.B.," Cyborg nodded at the mirror from the driver's seat, gazing at his goofy friend. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you guys were acting like a couple." Cyborg hooted with his eyes clamped shut, and he nearly bombarded an ice cream truck.
At Cyborg's statement, Robin frowned. He did not know why; it was an instinct, he guessed. Looking at the mirror, he laid his eyes on Raven from beneath her cloak and focused on the past adventures he had with her. Ever since the prophecy of Raven's birth, Robin's rare bond with his dark friend strengthened. He had felt an urge to chase her fears away, and whenever he did, he experienced an unbelievable feeling that he could not describe, no matter how much he tried. However, since Raven's cleansing of her devilish father's evil, her need for Robin seemed to diminish.
We're just friends, Robin sighed. And besides, I have Starfire, he thought, grinning at his alien friend's obvious yearning for him. Nevertheless, a trace of doubt swirled within his mind.
Disturbed by the awkward silence, Cyborg's eyes darted from one titan to the other. Mustering his singing voice, he screeched:
When there's trouble you know what to do…
Call Cyborg!
He can shoot a rocket from his shoe…
'Cause he's Cyborg!
Beast Boy guffawed, leaning forward with his hands on his belly, and cheered, "Go Cy…go Cy…" He continued to chant and shoot his fist in even intervals into the air.
"Yes, Cyborg. Is it not your birthday, too?" chimed in Starfire.
Cyborg raised an eyebrow and bit his lip until his laughter wore away. Beast Boy, on the other hand, whom had not accomplished self-control, erupted with immense chortling that he almost choked on his own saliva.
"Uh…not exactly, Star," Robin noted, shooting a cold glare at Beast Boy. "It's just an expression that means, like, 'You rule', or 'You're the greatest'."
"Oh!" Starfire realized. "Then Robin, I believe that it is your birthday today."
Robin smirked at the cheerful alien. "Thanks, Star."
From under her hood, Raven could not resist eavesdropping on the conversation. She would never forget the bond she and Robin had. Knowing that he was her guardian, Raven had felt unnaturally secure to the point that it startled her. Thinking about the dark and distinguished Boy Wonder unlocked odd feelings inside her, but she always concealed them.
Impatient, Beast Boy inquired, "Are we there yet?"
"Almost," Cyborg ensured. "I bet we'll be there in about a half hour."
"A half hour! What am I supposed to do until then!" demanded Beast Boy. He intertwined his arms across his chest and frowned in his seat, lowering his eyebrows.
"Hey, B.B., how about playing somethin' on your GameMaster?" his robotic friend offered.
Delighted, Beast Boy exclaimed, "Oh, yeah!" and pulled a rectangular gaming device from his pocket, punching away at the buttons, eyes glued to the screen.
Finally, I can return to my story, Raven thought, relieved. She looked at Starfire, whom was preoccupied with examining the material of her seat. She pulled out a sample, rubbing it between her tanned fingers and sniffing it. Turning toward her book, Raven opened it while her eyes surfed through the words:
In the next instant, Ruth broke away from the horrid dream and sat cross-legged on her bed.
Filling her lungs with air, she recited, "Sohtinz Noirtem Htaraza," feeling peace envelop her body. Ruth's fears about her father escaped, leaving her spirit tranquil. "Sohtniz Noirtem Htaraza," she repeated, savoring each exotic word.
Hearing a knock on her door, Ruth ushered the person in.
"Good morning, Ruth," a feminine voice called. Ruth opened her eyes to find her mother standing before her like a tall, elegant flamingo.
Ruth answered, "Good morning, mother," in a polite tone, smiling.
Sitting at the edge of her daughter's bed, Artemis said, "Ruth, I'd like to give you something." She held out a silver chain with a red jewel on it, clasping it around Ruth's wrist. "It's a bracelet that you can use to help you cleanse your mind."
Ruth admired the jewelry and graciously thanked her mother.
Raven read more about Ruth and her mother until the T-Car halted before a fine, snow-topped mountain. Trees littered its base, as well as a slithering river, and a waterfall raged on the side. Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Robin marveled the sight. While they peered, gawky-eyed, at the majestic formations of the area, Raven sulked deep in her cape.
"Guess what, guys!" Cyborg shouted, a sparkle in his eyes like the T-Car headlights. "We're here!"
With him leading the way, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Robin charged toward their dream vacation, cheering like ignorant hillbillies.
Turning around, Robin summoned, "C'mon, Raven! Don't miss out on all the fun!"
Sure…this is going to be loads of fun, Raven's sarcasm blurted.