All right, I admit it. I wrote a RavenBB shot for the Just Another Moment collection. I know, I know. But it's not real heavy on the romance, just slight. It is my own account of Trigon's defeat and consequently does not follow the series at all. So don't flame me saying that this is not what happened. I already know.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Or Slade. Or the random places he keeps popping up.
It's Not Doomsday Yet
Slade had been back for a while, but Raven still felt sick when she saw the birthmarks burn crimson first on her arm, then creeping along her torso and legs. All the Titans bore witness to the look of fear and horror twisting her features. "It's happening, isn't it?" Robin's question was rhetorical; every one of them knew what was occurring.
"The end of the world," she answered. It was official. Trigon was coming for her and there was nothing she could do.
"We will not let them take you, friend!" Starfire proclaimed.
"Yeah!" Beast Boy added. "It's time to kick some ugly demon butt!" The empath inwardly smiled sadly. They were so devoted.
"We're not giving up without a fight." She glanced up at her leader and her friends.
"Thanks." The humanoid nodded.
"He's going down."
"Oh am I?" The familiar cold voice chilled their blood. He emerged from the shadows, mask half lit. One symbol decorated the two-wone cover; a sign that perfectly matched the brands now covering Raven's body. "It's time, my dear. Your destiny has arrived." The last statement ended with a horrible mocking laugh that rang hollowly through her head. Then it came. The sensation of losing control. She could feel Trigon surging forth, trying to take her over. Her body rose, hanging in suspension above the ground as a powerful wind whipped her hair and cloak. Lavender turned to white, then red as the demon finally appeared.
"Raven," he boomed. "The time for the prophecy has come."
"No," she whispered, turning away.
"You have no choice." Trigon's voice was replaced with echoing silence. She had tried so hard to fight him, but now it didn't matter.
"The army is ready," Slade declared. Fiery soldiers rose in front of them as far as the eye could see. They seemed to taunt the five heroes, advancing on them slowly.
"Titans," Robin yelled. "Go!" Somehow, seeing them fight for her gave Raven the strength she needed. Four red eyes gave way to two violet orbs, the scarlet marks no longer visible. She stood up quickly, launching herself into the air before her father could react.
"Demon-child!" he shouted. "You are fated to end the world, and end the world you shall!" Not if she had anything to say about it.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Immediately, several of the warriors were engulfed in a black aura and slammed into the ground. Trigon seemed merely amused. He chuckled.
"My daughter thinks she can fight me. How cute." With a vicious swipe of his hand, the sorceress was down. "Fight that." A viridian hawk landed beside the fallen girl, switching quickly to a boy of the same color.
"Raven?" He shook her gently. "Wake up." Slowly, she turned over to face him. He stared into quadruple blazing eyes. "Raven!"
"Get away from me, Beast Boy." Her voice had gone to a deathly hiss.
"I'm not gonna just let him do this to you!" She shook her head.
"I don't want to hurt you any more than I have to."
"Well…if the prophecy goes according to plans, I'm gonna end up dead, right?" The empath nodded reluctantly. "So, if you're killing me anyway, why not hurt me first?" It was amazing that even in dire situations, he could find a joke. "Seriously Rave, there's still some hope." Now his smile was grim. "It's not doomsday yet."
"How can you say that?" she asked. "Look around. If this isn't doomsday, I'd like to know what is." He did what she said, his eyes quiet when they returned to her.
"C'mon Raven. You can't end the world."
"He's right, Beast Boy. I have no choice."
"But once everything is destroyed and we're all dead, I'm really gonna miss you." Her eyes cleared, becoming amethyst once again. He grinned. "Like I said, it's not doomsday yet." She gave his hand a shy squeeze. His smile was brief. "Let's go." The two of them flew to conquer the flaming army alongside their friends. Suddenly, the enchantress remembered.
"My emotions!"
"What?" BB yelled back, dodging attacks at the same time.
"My emotions! I need them to defeat him!"
"Gotcha!" He bounded off towards the tower, leaving four Titans battling Slade's soldiers.
The changeling searched Raven's room. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Where the hell is that thing?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he remembered, going over to the black chest against the wall. "The Beast is hot." He examined himself for a moment before being pulled into Nevermore.
The demoness' mind was shockingly desolate when he arrived. "Damn you Trigon," he cursed quietly.
"Hiya Beast Boy!" Happy bounced up and threw her arms around him. "You made it!"
"Hey, uh…listen Happy. Raven needs you – all of you. We have to help her." She giggled, still hugging him.
"I know. We were waiting for you." He glanced around as emotions came from all directions to stand around them. "Okay!" Happy sang. "Everybody's here!" This time, it wasn't just Beast Boy going out the Forbidden Door. Now he was accompanied by several brightly-cloaked feelings all passing through the mirror and congregating in the black space that served as Raven's personal shelter.
"All right," Bravery declared. "Let's go beat this demon up." The group launched out of the tower, racing for their master. She had managed to hold her own, but everyone saw the relief in her eyes when she spotted them. Instantly, the emotions swarmed around her, levitating in a rapid circle. There was a flash and Trigon's daughter stood as tall as her sadistic parent, clothed in white.
"You will not win." Her classic monotone rolled out like thunder. Where is everyone else? the transformer wondered. Hearing noise, he rotated, seeing the remaining three trapped in a cage of fire.
"Yo, B-man! We need your help!" For once, he merely nodded, without the sarcastic remarks.
"Friend Beast Boy! You must find Slade!" The Tamaranian's eyes were wide with worry. Beside her, Robin's mask had narrowed drastically. The shapeshifter scanned the area.
"If I were an evil, satanical, cowardly, Titan-hating insect named Slade, where would I be?" His eyes moved up to the catwalks criss-crossing high above. Morphing into a falcon, he took off for the miniature suspension bridges. Once there, his keen vision flicked across the shadows. A slight movement caught his attention, prompting him to resume human form. "Man, I can't see anything up here."
"And that's the way I like it." The animal boy spun around. "Why hello, Beast Boy. Nice of you to notice me."
"Leave my friends alone!" the vermillion teenager snarled.
"Where's the fun in that?" The mask shielded a sneer. "Surely you wouldn't want to crash my party."
"That's exactly what I want!" An emerald lion charged the villain, who simply brushed it aside with a rush of flame. Again and again the scene replayed until finally BB was forced to revert to normal shape. He crouched on the walk, feeling the planks sway beneath him, fury in his eyes. "Dude, that is so not cool."
"Of course it's not. But only because you are inferior." In that instant, a giant explosion radiated through the premises. Both Titan and bad guy fought for their balance as the hanging paths shook and rattled. Slade's body lifted from the wooden slats, reminiscent of how Raven looked earlier that night. His limbs shot straight out, perpendicular to his torso as Trigon's influence was extracted. Scarlet flame flowed from his armored appendages, drawing them taut. At last, he managed three words. "It-can't-be."
Beast Boy smirked. "Then why is it happening?" Without waiting for an answer, he leapt to the floor, disguised as a cheetah, then a great horned owl, settling lightly on the stone. Standing up, he ran for the fiery prison, just in time to see it disappear from around the team.
"Way to go, man!" A heavy metal hand clapped onto his shoulder, almost buckling his knees.
"Nice work, Beast Boy," Robin nodded.
"Oh friend Beast Boy! You have triumphed!"
"Well," he grinned sheepishly, "that explosion kind of did it." Then he remembered. Fighting Slade had taken his attention away from the demon and his daughter. "What about Trigon? And Raven?" Cyborg pointed.
"See for yourself." Trigon was gone, he had left no traces. His offspring lay curled on the floor, returned to normal size. Her cloak draped around her, pure white. Cautiously, the changeling approached and laid a hand on her side.
"Raven?" She shifted, sitting up slowly, allowing the support of his arm. "Are you okay?" She nodded.
"It's over, Beast Boy. He's gone." The faintest hint of a smile appeared on her face. He responded with his own brilliant smile.
"We won." Her fingers curled around his, tightening briefly as they stood to join their friends. Twin violet moons glowed beneath her hood.
"Yes," she agreed. "We did."
See? It wasn't horrendous. At least I don't think so….Please review anyway, even if it made you cringe.
xxRavenStar