Disclaimer:

I do not own the teen titans.

Summary:
"And the only time she touches the ground is when that little bird… dies."
What happens when a certain bird falls to prey? Will she once again take flight? Or disappear into the night?

Raven centered fiction.

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CHAPTER SEVEN
The Recollection

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RECAP:
She yawned. "I'm off to bed. So tired. Is there anything you need me to do?"

Slade turned his glance from the treasures.. there was so much, he was amazed at what she acquired in one night. "No. You're excused."

"Thank you." Then she disappeared.

---

She looked at the girl in front of her. She watched as the figure fingered their luscious dark colored hair. Who is this girl.. why can't she remember.. what's there for her to remember?

Raven titled her head to the side as she stood in front of her full length mirror. She was only wearing her boyshorts and laced bra. She had just taken a shower, and when she walked by, her reflection seemed to fascinate her. Slade had yet to tell her of her history before she met him, saying that it was the past and the past should be forgotten. It had made sense to her.

It had been another month since her last fight with the titans. Usually, when she purloined something, they were either too late to get there, or they didn't even arrive at all for the alarm didn't even go off. Most of her act larcenies, it was quiet, graceful, full of confidence, no alarms would blare, only if there was a human to interrupt, and those would be the only times the titans would come.

But she was growing bored. It was close to midnight, and she was in black silk pajama pants and a laced tank. She was flipping through a Museum Magazine, various newspapers and magazines were scattered on her bed. She was looking for something to.. borrow. Of course, she wasn't exactly the type of person would return it.

---

Robin sat there, squirming every few seconds in his uncomfortable wooden chair. He frowned, why he had agreed to this in the first place, he didn't even know. His lack of patience did it! Damn annoying people.. He looked at his communicator, ten to midnight. He sighed, this was going to be a long night.

FLASHBACK

"Please titans! It would mean so much to us if you could just stay one night. Just one! That's all we ask of you!" The manager of the Artifacts was practically begging. The Ravager would steal practically every week, sometimes even twice or four times.

Robin sighed, this person had called them up, and was begging for at least one of them to stay the night. They were worried that because of the new artifact that they had acquired that The Ravager would quickly strike once they got word.

And they were right.

---

A gasp was heard from Raven's room. Inside, she quickly sat up, newspaper in hand, 'Good God! Finally!'

She murmured the article, "Jump City's Finest Museum; Lucia Le Fox, named after one of our great founders, had presented their new exhibit and main source of visitors, 'ANTE MORTEM', meaning 'Before Death' in latin. Archeologists had found this particular scroll in caves by the dead sea. It is rumored to have mysterious powers. But none have witnessed so while handling the parchment. The above photograph is mostly likely the closest you will see it. For the managers have been very protective of it lately, the press had said they will lower the security measures as soon as things do not go wrong for a the few first days. - The 'Ante Mortem' was found with a small ring around the parchment, no one had yet to slide it from its protection."

Raven hmmm'ed, "Dead sea huh.. I don't have a souvenier from there yet."

Still in her sleeping clothes, she teleported downstairs with the article, looking around, she frowned when she saw no one. Taking a step from the main hall, she was suddenly in the office. 'Nope, not here either.. Damn it.' Sighing, the wings of large raven disappeared from the floor.

"Ah! I finally found you!" Slade slightly flinched at this, he didn't plan anything tonight, did he?

"Child, next time you plan on disturbing me, do it so quietly." Raven murmured an apology and took a few steps from the middle of the room, quickly reappearing next to him.

"Look what I found." She handed him the article, fully aware that Slade would understand her meanings.

Slade took it from her arms, raising an eyebrow as he did so. He read it silently and looked up at her.

"You wish to purloin this certain scroll?"

"Yes, sir." She said with a grin. 'Please, please, please.'

"Why." It was more of a command, than a question.

"Because it appeals to me, and I desire it." Silence followed, and he laid the article on a nearby table. The computers silently blinking near him.

"Robin will be there. -" At her look of confusion, he continued, "He is guarding the exhibit for only tonight. A request from the museum. The article says that it might have powers, do not underestimate it. You're fully aware of what is capable in this city."

"Yes, sir." She was grinning like a child, this was a rare thing, when she could choose her own target and having Slade to actually accept her request. "If that is all, I will be on my way." She was quickly covered in her ebony power, and her Ravager outfit had materialized on her.

Slade nodded, "Make sure your ear piece, sheath, and bo staff are with you. You seem to have forgotten them on your last mission."

"Understood."

"You are excused." She nodded and turned around, quickly appeared at the other side of the room, where a lighted wall stood. Various weapons on hooks, guns, knives, swords, bo staffs, and gadgets, smoke, flash and gas bombs, grapples, and other things. Raven usually didn't need these, but if were the paper was true, and it had powers, she didn't know what it could do. But she only regarded it has a rumor.

Readjustting the strap so that he crossed her chest diagonally, she moved it so the compartments were on her back. Grabbing her black sheath from a shelf, she slid it into her back. She added her bo staff to the strap also. Grabbing a compartment belt, she tied it to her waist, filling her empty compartments with various gadgets and needed items. Small marble sized, smoke bombs fell in one pocket, flash bombs in the other. Getting a grapple, 'Heh, swinging around building like Tarzan, only Birdy does that.' None the less, she tucked that in a compartment. Loading herself with other usefull items, she was ready to go.

Slade had made her do multiple missions without her powers, it took her a while to get used to it, because of her unconscious teleports and such. But she controlled it.

Jumping up and down for a couple seconds, to make sure everything was secure and didn't make noise. Satisfied, she quickly teleported to the roof of the museum. The cameras zooming their way toward her, but saw nothing, she had already fazed through the floor.

---

After a few minutes she had finally found the exhibit, though not exactly in front of it, just the room. Fazing through, she stayed in the shadows, catching sight of Robin's head dropped to his chest, rythmitic breathing showing that he was asleep. His arms crossed his chest. Of course it was a little past one in the morning.

Cameras that were in the room were quickly covered in film except for one, letting Slade have his late night view.

Ravager inwardly chuckled as she made her way towards Robin, he hadn't even showed a sign of consciousness. 'And here I thought Birdy was a light sleeper.'

Standing in front of him with her arms folded against her chest. Silently mocking him with a grin. She thought of a way she could wake him up..

'Hmm..' Silently putting a shield around the walls, as to no interruptions and sudden visits from rotating guards.

Biting her lip in anticipation of his reaction, she backed a couple feet from him, and cupped her hands over her mouth. Taking a deep breath.. "TITANS GO!"

She down right laughed when he fell off his chair, and quickly standing up as if something bit him, bo staff drawn and looking around frantically. She watched as his eyes finally fell on her, confusion written on his face, and then realization.

He swung his staff at her, having no room to run, since they were only a few feet from each other. She simply stepped back and raised a shield from one wall to the other, his staff collided with it with a sharp 'bang'.

Growling, he continued to hit the invisible barrier multiple times, finally giving up, he banged on it with his fists.

"What is this Ravager!" He had already alerted the other titans with a push of a button when he had woken up.

Ravager only smiled, "It's called the 21st century, Birdy." Robin quickly assumed that it was technology, since he saw no sign of power from her.

Walking backwards, the lasers were still a good fifteen feet away from her. Her hands were folded against her back, her shield following her, but still covered from wall to wall.

Robin, with a glare that could kill, matched each step she took, knowing that the barrier was only the same.

The titans ran in at this moment. Confused as to why Robin was just walking at her. Shaking their heads, they took their stance next to Robin, readying their weapons.

He shook his head, "Barrier." He then knocked at it to prove his point. At this time, Ravager had already stopped, a foot away from the lasers that were currently moving synchronized with each other.

"Friend Robin, can we not just attack this barrier?"

"No, I already tried that Starfire. It should expire soon." Still assuming that it was some sort of electronic shield.

"Dude, why is she just looking at us?"

"Yeah, man, why doesn't she make her move?"

Hotspot had to stay at home due to some injuries he had gotten earlier that day, without their usual telepathic healer to fix them all the time. It was like this since she was gone. Some days, one of them would stay home, unable to fight due to their condition.

At this comment, Ravager stepped closer to the barrier, staring Robin down with a smile. "Bye, bye, Birdy." With this, she kissed two fingers and pressed it to the glass. Grinning, she turned around, facing down the unseen lasers.

Thinking of an idea, she got out a special gas bomb and turned her head to the side, speaking to them, but not looking at them directly, "I suppose it would be odd for your little alien, always asking questions as to why I'm dodging unseen forces, so this is for you Oh dear Star."

Starfire was confused as she watched Ravager dropped something small on the ground, but also watched as red lasers came out from the wall, moving in a pattern, as to not hit each other.

"Friend Robin! There are streams of red coming out of the walls!" She said horrified, Robin only sighed.

"Dude, Star, those are lasers, they don't actually hurt, they're just sensors. Those are lasers.." He pointed beyong the sensors to lasers that looked like from their training course.

"I see, thank you Friend Beastboy." He nodded, and crossed his arms, waiting as Robin said. He might as well watch. 'Nothing better than watch a skin tighted female thief bend and do flips.'

Everyone looked at him as if he had three heads.. He chuckled nervously.. "Umm.. I guess I said that outloud.." He was hit upside the head by Cyborg.

"Yeah, you did." They all turned her eyes on The Ravager, who was already half through the sensors with catlike grace. They watched as one almost caught her head, but she quickly bent over, but another one was about to cross her stomach, so she did a one hand, handstand, her legs and one arm, completely straight.

Finding a way, she ended the course with a handless cartwheel. Starfire Oooh'd at this.

She stood there for a moment, looking around her. They wondered what she was doing.

'Hmm..' Ravager had noticed the sensor pads on the floor, she eyes the real laser guns that was on the wall. There were only two. And coincidently at the same spot as the other, only across from the room. She rolled her eyes, 'How idiotic.'

She crouched for a moment, bending her legs. The titans were confused as to what she would do, she couldn't possibly jump the twenty feet between her and the exhibit. But instead, they watched as she jumped ten feet into the space, quickly landing, and jumping again, but straight into the air. Small holes were in the ground at where she had stood only a moment before.

They watched as she gained at least thrice her height, going as tall as the guns, her body turning into a ball at the top, like an upside down yo-yo, and she quickly landed.

It all happened so far, they wondered about the laser, they looked at the guns, and figured that they shot at themselves.

Ravager walked to the boxed exhibit and stood a three feet from it. She stood there for a couple minutes, disabling the alarms and devices using her powers.

But from the titans view, it just looked like she was staring at it.

Finally satisfied, thinking she had everything, stepped closer to it, and a blinding white light filled the area as Raven was blasted back by the force of it. The titans were covering their eyes, but a huge blast was heard from behind them. The light disappeared, and there Ravager was, embedded into the middle of the wall with a huge crater around her. She grunted, as she fell three feet toward the ground. The titans were too shocked as to why she was all the way over here, but they weren't even touched.

"Dude.. we were so lucky that barrier was there, or we would have ended up like that.." Everyone was still speechless, looking at the Ravager who was on her hands and knees breathing hard.

Robin shook his head, "Titans!" Everybody got their weapons ready, aiming at the thief.

She grunted and got on one knee, then on both feet. She growled as she took the person nearest to her, grabbing Cyborg's outstrech cannon arm, she slammed him into the wall hard, making another crater next to hers. Cyborg didn't even fall yet when Ravager dodged Robin's bo staff, and grabbed Starfire's leg, pulling it from underneath her, earning a shreak from the victim. She swung her once, and let go, aimed at beastboy, they both slid across the floor, toward the door they came from. Side stepping a punch, she turned around to face Robin, her fist already en route to his face, immediately breaking his nose. It all happened so quick, that Cyborg had just now fallen down from his crater. Robin stumbled back, holding his bleeding nose.

"Stay out of my way." He heard her growl. Walking away from them, she silently raised another shield. He ran after, not seeing the shield, and immediately bounced back, falling on the ground.

"Real smart, Wonder Boy." Ravager retorted, her back still facing him. She walked back to the exhibit. The blast had disabled the sensors and other security systems. Yet.. when she looked at her target..

It looked as if white electric flamces were dancing, taunting her, mocking her. She growled as reached the barrier.

Slade watched, never had they encountered this, he already did some computer hacking and noticed that they were not security.. His eyes widened when he found out that it was the scroll that was activating it. It was as if it was reacting to Raven's demon side. 'Interesting.'

Once again, Raven stood in front of the barrier, that continued to flame upward. She glared at it, her hands flowing with power, though the titans could not see this, who had already stood up from their attacks, rubbing various limbs, bruises already forming. The girl could sure had strength.

She readied her hands to the barrier as if pulling open a stuck elevator shaft. Slowly and surely, she stuck her fingers in, feeling the electricity surge through her, she only tightened her jaw. Grabbing at what she could with her power hands, with her strength, she started to pull it apart.

The titans were awed at this. There, they could see some sort of white flamed electric barrier that seemed to shot up to the ceiling, yet you could still see the scroll, which had magically, fazed through its box and was just simply floating above its carrier. And just earlier, it had reacted to a touch with such a blast that sent this same thief back 50ft. And yet she was now touching it. They were confused as ever. At her way of stealing it, and the actual scroll. They knew it couldn't be security, Robin had already informed them that it could be the scroll's powers.

They watched as The Ravager stuck her fingers in and pulled at the barrier.

Raven grunted at the strength of the barrier, pulling it to get it wide enough for her to fit through, she stepped inside, her one hand releasing the barrier, letting it the white shield close around her once again leaving a small spot that her hand had touched, her power fighting against it. But as soon as her foot had touched the guarded ground, electric white flames rose from the ground, and filled the closed in area.

She gritted her teeth, as a pained filled scream fell from her mouth, her head tilted back, the titans heard her scream, though it wasnt as loud because of her grinding. The ribbon to her mask was flying upward, one of Raven's hands was still holding on the the small gap she had made. Her other trembling arm, reached for the scroll. Her fingers brushing against it.

They watched as her body trembled against the white electricity that was dancing on her skin, incricling her waist, her arms, legs, everywhere. It was like death vines.

Finally grabbing the scroll, she backed against the barrier, the eletricity burning her back more. Though the white flames touched the scroll, it seemed to cause no harm. As though it was harboring it in its safe embrace. Turning around, she grabbed the other edge where her other hand was holding a small hole in the barrier, and pulled.

The titans watches as she pulled at the barrier, trying to escape, cackles of electricity screaming pain. Starfire watched her grind her teeth in pain, Beastboy watched as she widened the hole, Cyborg watched as Ravager quickly stumbled out and the barrier disappearing from the lack of their sacred scroll. And Robin watched as she fell on her stomach, smoke literally coming from her body.

Her suit had various scorched holes, the skin exposing, red, fleshy and burned, almost already peeling. Her whole back from where she had leaned on the barrier, the part of her suit that covered it, was completely gone, her back bleeding and burned. Pieces of a burnt sheath and a bo staff laid on the ground where the barrier had been.

What they didn't notice, that their barrier blocking from her to them was gone. Her power of the shield had gone when the second time she was electrocuted.

"Umm.. Friends.. do you not think she had.. died..?"

"Dude.. that was.. like.. totally cool... like it came out of a movie.."

"Rob, man, we need to check if she has a pulse."

He nodded, "Alright titans, lets go check her out, then we can get an ambulance and be arrested."

They all walked toward her, they froze when she groaned, pushing herself from the ground, scroll still in hand.

"Don't think it's going to be that easy to get me Birdy.." She talked calmly, though a hint of pain in her voice.

She struggled to get up, the titans were already in attacking formation.

She stood up straight and took a deep breath, she was numb all over. Though her healing powers and not yet to work on her.

The Ravager just stared at him, her jaw locked as she spoke, "As much as this night was fun.., I do believe I must be going.."

"Titans Go!" They all charged at her quickly, and but she was faster and threw a smoke bomb to the floor, and quickly teleported.

The smoke cleared and the coughed.

"Damnit!" Robin threw his bo staff to the ground, frustrated.

"She was weakened! We could have gotten her!"

"Dude.. can we just go home.. I'm so tired.."

"Yes, Friend Robin, I do believe I have a fractured ankle." Robin looked at her at this, he noticed she was just floating. He sighed.

"Yeah man, we'll get her next time Rob."

"Fine. Titans, lets head home."

---

Ravager weakly teleported to where Slade was. Slade turned to her, many parts of her suit was burned off, scorch marks on the edges. The skin was practically peeling already. He frowned at her state, but noticed the scroll in her hand.

"Report."

"Mission.." She grunted, "Successfull." She let out a breath.

"Critical burns, will need to meditate." She gritted her teeth. She will not show pain. Not weakness. She limply threw the scroll to Slade, who easily caught it.

Slade watched her, he knew she didn't like to show weakness, especially if she was in pain. He frowned, and sighed, he knew she could easily heal that, it just might take a while. But he saw the determination in her stride as she was electrocuted. He was damn proud none the less.

"You're excused."

She disappeared into the floor.

---

Falling into her bed, she groaned and ripped the mask off her face as she gritted her teeth from screaming, she could just feel the skin on her face peeling as she took off her mask. 'Damn it..'

Darkness consumed her as she fell into a state of unsconsciousness.

Her body slowly lifting itself up from its place and healing.

---

Robin growled as he exited his bathroom, everyone went to bed already. Damn it! Why couldn't he catch her! She was just like.. No. She couldn't be like him. But.. she was. Just like Slade.

He laid in his bed, on top of the blankets, bathed in darkness. The only light coming from the bathroom, the door partially open. He had just finished taking a shower. He was clad only in his pajama pants. Only that. No mask. He already locked his room, and his teammates know not to disturb him when he's frustrated.

Droplets of water still clung to his chest, his hair all over the place, he had placed his towel under his head to soak up most of the water. He didn't plan on sleeping soon anyway, though it was a bit past two.

A sighed after a couple minutes, standing up, he headed to the kitchen.

After he made himself a cup of instant hot chocolate, he walked back to his room, taking a sip, he put it down on his desk and sat down, thinking of doing some research on Ravager. He sighed after a couple minutes and gave up. The computer was hurting his eyes. Robin just sat back in his chair and thought, his arms folded against his chest.

---

Raven slowly opened her eyes as her body settled unto her bed. She looked at the clock besides her. A little after two. She bit her lip, thinking what had happened tonight.. that shock.. it just.. She sighed heavily and looked down at herself, her suit was torn, but her burns were gone.

She went in the bathroom to take a quick shower, she was still tired. And she wanted to do something tonight before she went to sleep.

---

She got out of the shower dressed in her deep, deep, purple silk pajama pants, and a laced blank tanktop. She wore black, thin, socks that barely reached her ankle.

Sighing, she was about to reach her bed, when she stopped. Something tugging at her mind. Biting her lip, 'I..have to know.'

She fazed through the floor.

---

He looked at the clock.. two-fortyfive.. sleep was taking its toll on him. He could barely keep his eyes open. He sighed and dropped face down on his bed, quickly realizing he couldn't breathe that way, he turned his head to the side and hindered between consciousness and sleep.

---

Robin was almost, almost, almooooost, on the verge of sleep, his mind still quietly conscious, his bathroom light already off, but the full moon shown through his wall sized window.

He thought he heard someone, and he slowly opened his eyes.

---

Raven decided to come here.. as herself. Not as Ave. Not as Ravager. But as herself. Her amethyst eyes looked about the room, she just had to know.. blowing some air out of her face, she silently walked to the side of the bed, looking at him.

She stayed this way for a few minutes, 'I.. I can't be her..'

She frowned, as she watched him slowly open his eyes, he stopped half way, his eyes swimming in sleep.

And then he whispered. She quietly gasped. 'No..how does he..I.. no..'

---

"...Raven...?"

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Authors Note: Uhhhhhhh, I so have chapter eight ready, but I just need to actually write it. I'm so sorry if this is short. Anyways! A whole day! (frown) It always takes me a whole day to write a chapter, because I keep going on and off.

Anyways, next chappie will just be about Robin's POV and such, but after that.. is the good part..

The end is coming soon. / Sorry if this story is so darn short. I'm mad at myself too.

Sigh. I really do love your reviews.. they're very inspiring. Thank you. Seriously. I'm so grateful to have you guys.

Reviews and feedback from readers, are like.. crack to heroin addicts. We really love it. Thank you.

Oh, and ideas are welcomed of course. But chappie eight is going to be all Robin.

Hearts, Ist.