Yes! I finished!
To AntimatterManticore: Thanks! You've given me many points to ponder as the story progresses!
Keep reviewing, guys (and girls, if so you prefer)!
Okay, here's what's going on: Raven's having issues, the Titans are going with the first could-be truth they encounter, and Robin's trying to make it all right again. So, here goes.
God bless!
Chapter Three
Personal
Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg all waited anxiously for Raven's return to the main room. She'd have to eat or something eventually, didn't she? But they'd been waiting for almost two hours with no results. Their attempts to remain calm during such a time seemed fruitless. Starfire twiddled her thumbs. Cyborg stared into space. Beast Boy laid on the couch, sprawled out and with a pillow covering his face. Robin paced.
After he had read to them from his Bible, the others had all had their questions and doubts, but he had not. The readings had only strengthened his sense of truth, and so he had flipped pages, found answers, promised that he'd find what the true meanings were and alert them later. For almost two hours, they had discussed and thought and shared. Not once during that time did they see Raven or hear her in any part of the Tower.
Finally, he decided that something had to be done. He couldn't just let her be. He had to at least try to give her a push in the right direction. He looked back at the grim faces of his teammates and friends. For a moment, he wondered if they truly believed him or if they were joining him because he was the only one with a plausible answer. He shook his head sadly.
"I'm going to talk to Raven," he said, watching their heads bob in acknowledgment. With that, he turned and made his way through the long halls, looking for a particularly dark door. When finally he reached it, he raised his hand to knock.
"Go away, Robin," her monotonous call came. Robin, who had yet to knock, dropped his fist to his side.
"Raven, couldn't we just talk? Maybe if you'll just-"
"NO!"
Robin stood silently for a moment, dumb with shock. He needed to talk to her, but how could he if she was unwilling to listen.
"Raven, you don't have to believe what I say, I just want you to listen with an open mind and a willing heart." He paused. When no response came, he continued. "We're all hurting right now. I think we're all shocked at what's happened. But this is no time for you to be as selfish as to lock yourself in your room and close yourself off from the rest of us. You need to try to share your pain. Yes, I know you need to control your emotions, but it never hurt to share things among friends in a terrifying time like this."
The silence continued to play out on the other side of the door for a few moments. Then, Robin heard shuffling, and the door opened in front of him. Raven stood before him, hood drawn, and seemed to have been crying; her eyes were slightly red and puffy. She looked at him with a look in her eyes that foretold woe and panic mixed with sorrow.
"I'm sorry. I know this is probably wrong. What is it?" she asked.
Robin looked past her to where a small clock stood on a bedside table. Almost five hours ago the disappearances had come to pass. It was time he shared with Raven his knowledge.
"Let's go to my room."
They began to walk through the corridors silently, Raven looking straight ahead, but Robin hardly looking where he was going at all; he had to figure out how he was going to get his point across to her without pushing her off an edge.
They finally arrived at their destination. Robin opened the door and stood clear for Raven to pass. She crossed the room, and then sat on the bed. Robin picked up the Bible from the desk where it had previously been left. He then sat next to Raven.
"Do you promise to approach this subject with an open heart?" he asked. He hoped with all of his being that the answer was now different than before.
She nodded. "Yes."
Robin sighed, then opened the thick volume to where he'd started with the others; the prologue to Revelations. He went over the points he found most interesting, and then explained to her exactly what it all was trying to say. He led her through the life of Jesus, then to the aftermath, and finally on to how church life was supposed to be in the modern age. He told her about his church history, and how truly awful he felt now. When he finally ended, she sat speechless, hood still drawn and looking down at her folded hands.
"Well?" Robin asked. Didn't she have questions bursting in her mind too? He did, and that must mean that someone who had no idea what all this was about surely should be in more dire need of knowledge on this topic! Why didn't she respond?
"Well, I'm glad you've finally begun obsessing over educative topics," she said, obviously trying to avoid the main issue. Robin felt as if he were about to implode.
"Do you have anything you want to say, ask, hear, anything?" he pressed.
The girl took a deep breath. She was apparently not going to be able to stall any longer. "All right, I'll tell you my story. No, not my life history; that's something I really don't want to touch on." She looked into his masked eyes imploringly, searching for any hint that he had anything to say to that. When no response came, she went on.
"Robin, do you know what I am? I am a half demon," she said. He didn't look startled, for he'd known this before. He actually looked as if he had expected this to come up. "I've heard many of these stories, too. Do you know what I've learned from them? That I am an enemy of your God. How do you expect me to accept into my life a God who will not accept me?" she demanded.
"Raven," Robin said, "All of those left on this earth are going to suffer equally, and those who follow God may possibly be in for worse, but in the long run, even the Christians that die in this time will go to Heaven. If someone who hasn't accepted Christ yet will be cast into eternal suffering. I thought I had it made, living a hero's life. But I'm no better off than you are right now. All I can do is try to make things right with God again. Maybe I've still got a chance."
"Did you not hear me? I'm your enemy in this battle! What do you think God wants with me?" she cried, standing and facing him. Her eyes blazed with anger and hurt, and her fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
"Maybe you should ask Him that, Raven," he said calmly. He looked directly at her, showing that he was going to be as patient with her as was possible.
Then, for the first time in a long while, Raven lost control. She broke down. she fell to her knees, sobbing and gasping. A lamp exploded on the other side of the room. The alarm clock shattered, sending gears and broken pieces everywhere. Robin panicked. What was he supposed to do now?
"Raven!" he cried.
Suddenly, it all stopped. A very spent Raven pulled herself up to lean on the bed, breathing heavily and letting tears flow openly. Her brows furrowed, as if she were trying very hard to control too powerful emotions. Finally, her eyes opened.
"Robin," she said, her voice soft and exhausted.
"What?" he asked, not sure of what to do.
"My father has been trying to take over the world for ever. He must be an agent of the one you call Satan. If what you're saying is true, things just got personal."
Ooooooooh! Keep reading, I just got ideas.
PS- yes, I do make this up as I go. Meaning: I figure out what's going to happen next when I'm typing. :)