Disclaimer: No I don't own anything.
0 0 0
Best Friends and Blackmail
One collective breath later..
Raven was still standing in the kitchen, black enegry crackling around her. She was aware of everything around her, hieghted senses did that. Just as easily as she pushed the air from her lungs she pushed her power from her body, she wasn't taking any chances. Sensing her fellow comrads was something she could do, and the five year friendship she held with them made it alot easier. Over the years they had formed a bond, they were like family, and nothing could tear it apart. Raven took another breath, her mug still clutched within her grasp, and she sent her powers out like a wave through the tower.
There was nothing on the lower floors of the tower, nothing unusual happening in the basement, garage, or evidence room. Cyborg, she found was in his room, hooked up to his computer. Everything was well and normal with him, and with that done she pushed upwards. Through the other floors, the training room, which took up almost a whole floor, and a few empty rooms. As Raven looked through the rooms with her powers she couldn't help but notice that the Titans had alot of extra space.
Her powers surged through Beast Boy's room, not sensing anyone, Raven pushed the worried feeling down and pressed on. It only took her a moment to find him, in the bathroom. More specifically, in the tub but there was someone else there. Raven focused her powers on finding out who it was. It only took a few moments, it was Aqualad in two inches of water and Beast Boy was curled into a ball on his chest. Both where fast sleeping like babies. This puzzled Raven, she always figured that BB was more then a lady's man, but that's wasn't what was bothering her. What puzzled her was why Aqualad was there in the first place.
Raven stood there, eyes glowing white, as she tried to answer the quesion formed in her mind. After a minute of rolling it around she came to a conculsion. Well, really, she remembered what he was doing here, Speedy and Aqualad popped by for a surprise vist. The boys had went out for a drink the night before. Raven shook her head at herself, and smiled slightly, scolding herself for jumping to a conculsion so fast. Now that she had figured out why Aqualad was there, she returned to her search. 'Might as well check up on everyone else' she thought to herself as she pressed on.
She pasted her room, not excepting to find anyone in it (There better not be', she thought to herself with clenched teeth), since she was standing in the kitchen, but she checked it out anyway. It never hurt to be sure, to double check, something she learned from thier fearless leader. More like something he drilled into each of thier brains until it became second nature. Next came Robin's room, him and her where on the same floor, Starfire was on the floor above them, three doors to the right of Robin's door. (Beast Boy was a floor below Robin and Raven, and Cybrog was on the main level.) Hoping to make this easier Raven pushed some of her power through the floor to check out Robin and Star's room at the same time.
Raven was only able to figure out that there was two people in Star's bed, and one in Robin's. She only assumed that Robin was in bed with Star, and Speedy was in Robin's bed. If only she didn't hear the swish of a door, only stayed a second longer, then she would have found out that Robin was infact in his own bed. But back to the swish of the door, she sucked in a quick breath her powers pulled in with it.
"Yo, Rae!" A deep voice shouted.
" 'Afternoon Cy."
She said as she turned to face her 'big brother'. Cybrog was her senoir by two years, making him the oldest. (Star was only a few months younger then him) Nothing really changed about the metal giant, he was still a hybrid, half man half machine. His human features looked older, and his cybernetic half was updated with the latest features and still gleamed blue and chrome. Raven leaned against the sink, as Cybrog began to make some 'breakfast'. Soon enough she zoned out, a new question formed on her mind.
She knew why the boys where sleeping late, but it didn't explain why Star was still in bed. The goth thought back to the night before, the two friends went on patrol together, stopped a robbery, along with a few other minor things. Nothing to big where it would have wiped them out. And Raven knew for a fact that Star was sleeping by the time Raven went to bed, which was well after midnight. Raven, much like Robin, gives one last swept over the tower before she goes to bed. Only thing is no one knew about it, everyone was sleeping and if they weren't she would wait until they were sleeping before she went to bed. None of this helped to answer her question.
"Heeellloww.. Earth to Rae?"
Rae blinked, suddenly falling back to reality. Her question was still unanswered, amethyst eyes were cleaned of all previous confusion. She walked to the table. Taking her seat she looked back up at Cybrog, who was making waffles. He piled them high on his plate and walked over to the table to sit across from Raven.
"So as I was saying..I noticed you're wearing that West Coast Choppers shirt I got you." He said with and couldn't help but beam. Cybrog remeber the way Raven's eyes lite up when he gave it to her a few Chirstmases ago.
"Yes, well I do like the shirt, and I adore Jesse James." She said with keeping her voice monotoned, but she couldn't hide the soft sparkle in her eye. Cybrog got her hooked on 'Monster Garage', 'Junk Yard Wars' and shows like that. But she wasn't obsessed with cars like Cybrog was, the gleam in her eyes was more for the time she spent with him then anything else. His smile grew, if that was even possible, and shoved a fork load of waffles in his mouth.
"So you guys have fun last night?"
He only nodded in respone, swallowing and took a swig of Oj. Raven wondered if he even chewed his food. "You betcha we did. All got hammered, all 'n all don't remeber too much of what happened after Beast Boy dragged Aqualad up onto the bar top to dance with him."
Raven grinned, recalling the two boys and what she had seen eariler.
"Hey remember two Christmases ago when Beast Boy got drunk on eggnog?"
"You mean that time when he got into Star's closet and crossed dressed?" Cybrog asked, more waffles being washed down by Oj.
Raven nodded.
"Oh yeah, I remember that one, still got the pictures." She raised a brow, she couldn't recall taking pictures. Cybrog just tapped the metal side of his face. "Built in camera."
"Record any of it?"
Cy nodded. "Yeah, taped him dancing with Robin in that floor length pink gown."
Raven grinned again as she reached across the table and grabbed his glass of orange juice. She took a sip, finishing it, Cybrog glared at her. Raven went back to thinking about what he had just said, and used her powers to get him another glass of Oj. Beast Boy had asked Robin to dance and lucky for the rest of them Robin had accepted, telling them that it was all for blackmail.
"Moving on, if you where so wasted, who drove home?"
"Speedy."
"You mean you let him drive the T-car?" She sounded slighty appalled, Raven was just as over protective of that car as Cybrog was. After all she did help him build it.
Again Cybrog just nodded. "Yeah,..well.. kinda had to..." He said sounded disappointed. "I mean he was the only one who didn't get drunk." Cybrog shrugged lightly. "Even traffic light couldn't walk straight." He added as an after thought.
Cybrog could have sworn she looked shocked, but it was gone too fast for him to tell. Raven just leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn't help but think about the contest they had not that far back. It was between her and Robin, to see who could drink who under the table. Beast Boy took bets, Cybrog and Beast Boy put thier money on Raven. Star put her money on Robin, and was his personal cheerleader. They sat across from each other, taking shot after shot. That night Irishmen where put to shame, as empty bottles piled around them. The mintue he passed out, she took one last shot and then joined the passed out bird on the floor, declaring herself the winner,
"You're thinking about the contest two weeks back, ain't cha?"
"How'd ya know?"
"Lucky guess." He turned his human eye to her, and he now had a smug look on his face. "You know, you guys are PAAAARTY ANIMALS! Seriously, man. We should get you two drunk more often." Now Raven was shocked, he was sure of it. Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide. He could only imganie what was going in her mind but, he was sure she was finding out the best way to kill him. Cybrog didn't care though, it was well worth it.
"Nothin' like blackmail little lady." He teased
"CYBROG!" She roared "I'm gonna KILL YOOOU!"
A deep hearty laughter was only ment with the soft sounds as Raven collioded with the chair that Cybrog was just sitting in.
0 0 0
"Azarath... Metrion... Zinthos..."
She chanted over and over again, her voice nothing past a whisper. Raven had calmed down since "breakfast" with Cybrog, he hadn't been seen by her since. With the tower so empty and quiet she sezied the opportunity. And that brought her to where she was now, floating a few feet in the air infront of the the main window of the rec room. The afternoon sun bounced off her skin, basking her in a golden hue.
"Azarath... Metrion... Zinthos..."
Raven was in a trance, deep within her mind. Daily meditation, just because she had a better hold on her emotions didn't mean she stopped meditating. Music played in the backround, a mix she made. It was mainly J-Pop and J-Rock, but she stopped hearing it long again. The music barely made a ripple on the surface of her deep abyss. Everything was calm and peaceful, but some where she knew this wasn't going to last for long.
"Azarath... Metr-"
There was a loud noise, one that cut her abyss like a hot knife through butter. It caused Raven to fall to the ground with a soft 'oof', but she quickly stood wanting to know what knocked her out of her trance. That question was quickly answered, the blinking red lights and the beeping noise told her what was up. Raven, literally, ran to the nearest computer. Hoping, praying to get there in time.
"Titans!" -It seemed as though she was too late- "Trouble!"
Yelled thier fearless leader as he ran, more like tumbled, down the stairs. Raven bit back a smirk, and quickly turned the alarm off. With a few taps on the keys she knew what had set off the alarm, it was nothing more then a robbery. 'Honestly, can't the cops do anything?' She asked herself as the rest of the Titans came running to the rec room.
"Titans! G-"
"No." She cut him off.
"Yo Rob, I seemed to have missed the memo, when'd ya cha that bright uniform of yours?" Cybrog asked. Drawing Robin's, and everyone else's attention to what he was wearing. Nothing but boxers, Batman based none the less. His eyes narrowed into a glare as everyone chuckled a bit, and he was about to say something when Raven cut him off again.
"Look, it's nothing big. Star and I can handle it. I want the rest of you.." She looked at Robin, Beast Boy, and Aqualad ".. to go back to bed, or lay down, something. I'll deal with you three when I get back." Robin looked as though he was about to protest. "Understood?" She asked staring directly at Robin, who seemed to have given up.
Beast Boy and Aqualad where already making thier way back to Beast Boy's room, leaning on each other for support as they walked along. Raven watched them for a moment, musing to herself about how 'cute' it was. Robin walked, slowly, to the couch and picked up a remote and clicked two buttons. The shades shut and the music Raven was just playing clicked off. Speedy followed Robin, Cybrog left to go train, that left Star and Raven to go deal with the problem.
"Speedy?"
Masked eyes meet masked eyes. "Yeah?"
"Where'd you wind up crashing last night? I know the cot's not all that fun to sleep on, but it's better then the floor."
Speedy seemed to think for a a few seconds, but Robin didn't notice. " I crashed on the couch."
If Robin didn't have the massive hangover that he had he would have picked up on Speedy's hesitation. It was a sure sign he was lieing, but Robin barely heard the respone he was already slipping back to bed. Against all his better judgement.
0 0 0
It was nearing two when the two girls were flying back home. It was a simple break in, some locals trying to pull one over the Titans, it didn't work. As they should have known, but it still took longer then Raven would have liked mainly because Starfire was so distracted. It caused them, not only to take longer then was needed, but it caused Star an ingury. Nothing to major, just tobbled out of the sky and landed into a wall. The normal for one of the Titans.
Raven sighed as her feet touched down on the ground infront of the door, she reached for the knob but was pulled back. She was now facing what seemed to be a confused, and upset Starfire. She kept the groan to herself, she knew she should have checked Star over to make sure she was alright but Star insisted she was fine.
"Come on Star, let me have a look."
"No friend Raven, I wish to have a 'girl talk'."
"Star can't this wait?"
"No, Raven I'm afraid it can not."
"Then come on.. to my room."
Raven grabbed Star's arm and they were engulfed in black energy, standing in her room a moment later. The goth took a seat on her floor, and Star joined her. This wasn't the first time Star and her had some 'girl talk', she just hoped she wasn't asking for anymore sex tips.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm am not sure, but how does one know they are in love?"
Raven raised her brow, confused that Star would want to know this. After all she had Robin, they loved each other.
"What are you talking about? Don't you love Robin?"
Star looked down at her lap, then looked back up at Raven and shook her head lightly. "Is it not possiable, that we were wrong? That everyone was? Maybe I never loved Robin.." She trailed off at Raven shaking her head.
"No Star, I know you loved him. Empath here."
Star sighed. "Maybe I have fallen out of love."
"Why would you think that?"
"Raven can one fall out of love?"
The birthday girl nodded a 'yes'.
"How does one know?" Star pressed on.
Raven sighed, and took a deep breath, she wasn't the best one to be asking this."Remeber how you felt about Robin in the begining?" Star nodded. "How just being around you made him happy? How you worried about him all the time? How you felt that he was a part of you, how made you complete.."
"Yes friend, I remeber all this."
"Well do you feel that way anymore?"
Star sat there for a few mintues, thinking. "No-" She stopped herself, trying to find the right words. "I still care for him, I just don't want to be with him..? Does that make sense?"
"Yes Star, it does. You still care for Robin and love him, just not in the same way anymore."
The alien looked confused. Raven took a deep breath. "You think of him as a brother, not a lover."
"Oh I understand, now. Thank you friend." She was back, that chipper and overly happy girl that Raven had come to know and love.
Raven stood up, and offered a hand to Star. The two girls walked out of her room, and parted to go their different ways.
"Star?" Star turned around to look at her dark friend. "Don't string him along. He really cares about you." Star looked confused, but then she understood. She nodded, and walked towards her room. Raven was heading down stairs.
0 0 0
"Dude, man.. ow.. my head." Whined Beast Boy, who was sitting at the table, head resting in his arms. Aqualad sat next to him, arms crossed over his bare chest head leaned back eyes closed.
"BB, we know how you feel. We all drank as much -if not more then you." Spoke the fearless leader, who was sitting on the counter. He was awake now, and didn't remember asking Speedy where he slept. He slutched forward, hot mug of tea in his hands.
"Speedy, remind me again why aren't you hung over?" Asked Aqualad not bothering to open his eyes.
"Because, who'd watch over you dopes? Didn't want any of you to disgrace the Titan name." He said with a smug look.
Each one of the remaining Titans glared at him, then gave up. It hurt too much to glare.
Beast Boy groaned again. "It feels like I got hit by a bus.."
"I've been hit by a bus, this hurts worse." Robin stated.
"I'm never drin-" Beast boy started to say.
"Drinking again?" Raven finished for him, as she stepped into the kitchen. "You said this last time you drank to much. Look where it got you."
"Well.. I.. " He looked like a lost puppy.
"Alright boys line up." She rubbed her hands together. All of them looked at her, she sighed. "You want to feel better or not?"
Beast Boy was the first in line, just about jumped from his sit. Raven shook her head at him, and placed a hand on each side of his head. Blue energy surrounded her hands, and with in a few moments she was done. Next came Aqualad, with come coaxing from Beast Boy. Who proved that it worked, and he felt nothing by jumping around and yelling, which caused the rest of them to cringe in pain. The two of them soon left to get dressed and save what they could of the day. Robin still didn't move from his spot.
"What's the matter Robin?" Taunted Speedy, he said nothing just sipped his tea. Raven sent him a glare, and told him to get out without the words.
'You just had to go and ask him infront of Speedy! Didn't you!' Raven scolded herself. She sighed, she knew Robin wouldn't take her help so easily, he was just as dense as she was. She also knew that he was on edge lately, as if he was excepting something bad to happen. Raven didn't question him because she felt it too, but now she was wondering if she should have asked him. Grabbing her own mug she went to make herself some tea.
Raven's mind went back to the conversation with Starfire earlier, she looked at Robin and bit her lip. She didn't plan on saying anything it wasn't her place. 'Besides Star never said she had fallen out of love with him' She thought to herself as she sipped her tea. 'She was just asking about falling out of love, she could just be confused.' Once again she sighed.
"Let me help you."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm fine."
"No you're not. You're lieing."
He finally turned to look at her, his best friend. Raven had been there for Robin more time then he could count, whether it was in battle or defending him. When the other's questioned him about who he was, about his mask, she was there. She told them to back off, that he'd tell them in his own time. Of course Raven already knew the answers to most of the questions the other Titans wanted to know, but she still told them nothing.
"Of all people, I thought you'd understand the most." There was a bitter edge in his voice.
"You're a hyprocrite, you know that! Who was the one who always told me I didn't need to rely on just myself? Who was the one who always told me that 'we're your friends'? That we're there for you, always there to help?" Raven didn't need to raise her voice, she got her point across.
"I'm different."
"Bullshit Robin, bullshit. You're just like the rest of us, you have needs and wants. You have feelings." He seemed to wince at that part. "Whether you like it or not."
He glared, and glared hard, but she wasn't going to back down. Raven understood that Robin didn't want to seem weak, that he needed to be strong. He tried to surpass that fact that he was only human, he didn't want to endanger his friends. His loved ones, an innocent. Raven took a step forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Who resuces the hero?" She spoke softly, calmly and with compassion. "His best friend does."
Robin looked down at Raven, and realized how much of a jackass he was being. He sighed, she was right, she always seemed to be right. If anyone, Raven understood him the most, the two of them were so alike. They just clicked, it might have taken awhile but they became friends and were closer to each other then anyone else on the team. Even Robin and Star didn't share this bond, then again they had a different bond. Robin never wanted to chose between Star and Raven, he didn't think he could.
He sighed, and lowered his eyes, beaten. Raven reached her hand up to his head. Robin felt the pain melt away, the pounding in his head slowly stopped. He never felt better.
"Thanks Rae." He said once she dropped her hand and went to pick up her tea. Robin turned to leave, he planned on getting dressed and training for a few hours.
"Robin?" He turned at the door. "Promise me something." He raised his brow. "You'll always come to me for help even when you don't want to. Even when you think you can handle it on your own. Promise me that you'll always remember that I'll be here."
Robin looked a bit confused but he brushed it off, Raven always had a reason for doing, or saying what she did. If he didn't understand now he's understand later. "Always.. I promise. You're my best friend."
He smiled, and she smiled back, then he was gone. Raven sighed and sunk to the floor, a splitting headache was staring and suddenly she was tired. Sometimes healing came with a bit of a price. Raven's eye caught the calander right before she phased through the floor. 'Some birthday..' She though bitterly to herself as she fell onto her bed.
0 0 0
Author's Note: I know, I know it took me a long time to get this out. There's no excuse. This chapter is boring, there's no way around it. This is going to be a short story only about a chapter, maybe two more. But there will be a sequel about what happens when Rae turns eighteen. Now, that's going to be fun to write. Next chapter's gonna be filled with drama-cheers- The next chapter will not take so long to write, I have almost this whole week off from school. Yeah for testing! So that means I'll have the computer to my self for most of the day (and night) so I'll be able to write more. Keep Reviewing.
Thanks to: FrostedFlake, softballitan009, a reader nacolie,UnBeasuSestLeve, Raven Biggest Fan,YingxYang, Rinagurl13,Ravens-Rage, and anyone else who I missed.
Kimbothebimbo731: Yes, it is a Rob/Rae story
Sheraven: Thanks for the tip, I went back a removed all the author's note. You're right it did make me sound like a giggly girl.
The Good within the Darkness: Yeah, I'm a really bad speller. And I don't even have a spell check to help me.
Kate Van Helsing: Yes, I love that show. Never seen Chainsaw Massacre either. Star isn't going to end up with Beast Boy, she has someone else.
Dark Weezing: I went back and added more to the first chapter, and fixed the spelling. Even though it's now too late, I hope you had a good Chirstmas and New Year.
Umbro Draco: I know it took awhile to update but this chapter wasn't working for me, and it was just boring to write.
Red X's Raven: It's suppose to say "cush" pillow. It's this like stress relief pillow that's fun to play with, and really comfy.