Disclaimer: Still don't own Teen Titans.

A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews so far. I've really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope you've all enjoyed reading it. Thanks again for the reviews. I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to review this little story. I know that sometimes it's hard to review, for one reason or another… maybe you don't really have anything to say, or maybe you don't want to put yourself out there like that.

I'll admit that I used to read stories and not review because I didn't have an account, and then later because either I thought I didn't have anything worth saying or because I didn't really know what the person wanted to hear. Well, just to let everyone know, I just like knowing that there are people out there reading, and if there are people out there who don't like this story, I'd like to know what I can improve on. Anyway, to everyone who reviews, thanks, you guys are amazing. To anyone who doesn't, please feel free to. I'd really appreciate it.

So, does anyone have it figured out? Let me know if you have a guess. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Today's Poll: Is it really a wonderful gift?

Demon Hunters

Chapter 20: A Wonderful Gift

Raven decided to meditate in her room while Beast Boy and Cyborg argued over the cooking. The Hunters had left her with an ample amount of demonic power, even though the exact terms of where they would go from here were unclear. Raven didn't want to depend on their supply; that would be like a drug addiction.

But it didn't hurt to experiment with the power she already had.

She closed her eyes and went into trance almost instantly. It was so easy, now that her emotions were gone. She looked at the power she had, and for the first time, it all seemed so beautifully clear to her. Without any emotions to pull her in one way or another, she could calmly use the power for whatever she wanted without any danger of losing control.

She reached out with her concentration to use her power. As soon as she touched it, she felt an overwhelming rush of power. It was there, just waiting to be used. No distractions, just absolute control.

There was an uncertain knock on her door.

Raven held her breath. She wasn't in the mood for company right now. She reached out with her magic and felt a solid wall of cheer that was just thinly veiled by nervousness and… terror?

Surely I'm not that scary, Raven thought, but she didn't feel the wave of irritation that usually came with knowing her teammates regarded her as some sort of monster. And since she wasn't as nervous as she usually was when Beast Boy came by her door, she said, "Come in."

The door slid open and a familiar green figure stepped in.

"Is anything uh… wrong, Raven?"

Raven shook her head, prepared to brush him off, but something in his eyes stopped her.

Genuine concern, she thought weakly, sinking to the bed. He's terrified of making me mad, but he still cares enough to try to reach out to me…

"You know I can't get angry any more," she reminded him, with a slight smile. "What are you afraid of?"

Beast Boy cringed. "Old habits die hard."

"And you're in the habit of fearing me?"

Beast Boy shrugged. "Maybe. But it never stops me from knocking."

Raven didn't quite know what to say to that. Instead, she held up her palm. "Here, watch this."

With a thought, she twisted her demonic power into the form of a raven. It fluttered on her fingertips, then pecked at her thumb.

"Woah. Cool. Could you always do that?"

"No. I've never had such complete control over my power," Raven said, still watching the little creature.

"So… you have control because you lost your emotions, right?" he said uneasily.

"It's a wonderful gift, really," Raven said with cool detachment. She closed her fist and absorbed the power back into her. "Complete control over my demon half and at such a small price."

Beast Boy touched the side of her face. "Is it worth the cost?"

"Yes. Of course it is." She turned away from him. "They were right about me, Beast Boy. The Hunters said I was a danger, and I was. I could have lost control at any time. I could have killed all of you."

"But you didn't," he protested.

She shook her head. "Just because it hadn't happened yet didn't mean it wasn't ever going to. How could I take that terrible risk? I endangered all of you, every single moment."

"Raven, you need to trust yourself. You never let it get out of control."

"It doesn't matter now. Now I won't ever lose control. And I can do so much more, now."

"You mean in fights?" Beast Boy frowned. "Is that all you care about?"

"I can help you more, now," she said quietly. "I can protect you."

"But you can't care."

"No." She looked down. "No. And I'll probably never be able to again."

"Raven, we'll get your emotions back. Somehow."

"That's a lie, Beast Boy. Or it's a hell of a lot of optimism. It doesn't matter. It's better this way."

"We'll go to those Hunters and make them-"

"They don't even know what happened. They have no idea how to help me."

"Then we'll-"

"It's better this way," she said firmly, looking him in the eye.

He looked away. "Raven… no…"

"For your own good, Beast Boy, leave," Raven said.

She saw the tears in his eyes as he left, but there was nothing in her that could care.

"You should stay away from me," she whispered to her empty room. "You'll only get hurt."

From the wounded look in Beast Boy's eyes, Raven could tell that he was already hurt by her odd behavior. "But what about you?"

"Beast Boy, from now on? I can't get hurt."

"But Raven, I-"

"For your own good, Beast Boy, leave," Raven said. She saw the tears in his eyes as he left, but there was nothing in her that could care.

He left. The door hissed shut behind him. Raven sat on her bed. She wasn't sad, but somehow sorrow drenched her, and her body knew enough to cry.