MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Nyahaha, exams are over, and our remaining days are just fun, free periods, loads of free ice cream. For what? Go figure.
I'm sorry for taking such a long time to update, but this vacation at least gave me sometime. Haha—I confess that almost every chappie, so I think you must be used to it by now…
I just wrote this one sooner than expected because of X-mas, other fics, and most of all, REVIEWS inspiration and motivation! XD Please review! Not to sound like a review-obsessed authoress, but the more reviews, (most probably) the sooner updates (and also probably longer ones!) Haha…
I'm pretty hyper today. Even though it's past 10:30…haha…anyways, to the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. But am a big fan of the series! XD
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention these in the other chappies, but this is an AU fic. Partially because I don't have access to knowledge of their pasts, history and backgrounds. So yeah, Raven's background has gone down the drain and has been remade! Haha So don't be surprised because there's a big twist in this chapter! And things start to make more sense! XD
--Yume
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Seeing Beyond The Dark
Chapter Four: Twists and Secrets
ooooooooooo
Raven watched from above the stairs as Robin held her present. She sighed.
He was the Titans Leader. He could keep it safe. So why the doubts?
"Hey, Rave." A voice called. She blinked, focusing her gaze on her best friend , Nairu. She stood at the foot of the stairs, a frown on her tight lips. She had a gray trench coat, a black sweater, denim pants and a rough pair of boots on. Her pale-blond hair was tied in a usual braid, standing out the dark suit.
"What?"
Nairu spun around, walking to the door slowly. "Come on. We have to go."
"…Right now?" She asked, her face unreadable.
Nairu nodded. "Now. He said at Christmas. You know how strict he is about time."
Raven didn't bother to answer her. She flew down the stairs, hiding in the shadows as she crossed the room. She didn't know why, but she felt…that she wanted to stay. Never mind that Starfire was singing at the top of her lungs some crazed native song, or BeastBoy and Cyborg were fighting again, or that Robin closed his hands over his ears in exaggeration. She felt…she could belong here.
You must be kidding yourself, a voice in her head said. She was quiet, pulling her hood over her face and she crept quietly beside Nairu.
Right, as always. She belonged only to the clan. But…
"Wait a minute." She called.
Nairu spun around. "What is it?"
She shook her head. "Nothing really. I just…want them to know. We can't just leave here and let them be worried sick."
"Not like you getting emotional."
Raven glared. She grabbed a piece of paper and pen in a nearby side-table, quickly scribbling in it.
Titans,
Have to leave on short notice. Don't expect me soon. Gone long time. Maybe weeks, or years. And Robin, remember what I wrote on the paper.
,Raven
She left it at the table and ran hurriedly back to Nairu.
She glanced at Nairu, who pressed a small button at the wall. The door opened easily and quietly. Raven followed her silver-eyed friend outdoors.
"Merry Christmas," She said before the door closed behind her.
ooooooooooooooooo
Raven entered the dimly lit room, walking with Nairu side by side. A shadow came out of nowhere and sharply blocked any further entrance.
His voice was unusually low. He wore a dark cloak, outlining his bright red eyes behind his blue hair. "Password?"
Nairu held up her hand, and immediately, a marked slowly formed at the back of her hand. It was simply a crescent moon. "…Darkless."
The man grinned. "Nairu, haven't seen you in a while—and Raven. Long time no see." He said. "Come on in,. The Master is quite irritated, but as always, laughing. Nonetheless, we haven't had a meeting for about half a year, so it wouldn't surprise me if some are missing."
"Seki. Heh. Yeah, but why Christmas?" Nairu smiled.
Seki shrugged. "How should I know?" He backed a little, enough to let them in.
Nairu and Raven proceeded along the familiar room: the room of mirrors. But the mirrors that hung on the walls and the ground (basically, there was no ground; just a huge strong and flat mirror that they stepped on) didn't reflect their images. No, they were just black, but with the right spells, they could but show only so much more.
They could smell the usual incense on the air, the strange fragrance of…flowers—something Raven kept suggesting to The Master they change. But he didn't seem to be bothered by Raven's complaints.
The room came to an end, they crossed the double doors to the other threshold, sighing in relief as they exited the room of mirrors. It wasn't a safe nor comfortable place to be. Mostly because even if you can see using the mirrors, it can be used vice versa; Others can see you.
"Raven."
She nodded faintly to the man that greeted her. Her gaze wandered about the room. It was the same as ever.
The whole place was decorated with silver and gold, with long, royal red curtains draped by the windows, touching the ground. The windows were large, framed with gold, showing the never-ending and well-kept lawn outside with its small luxury tables, 'where probably on of those freeloaders are sitting with their legs crossed' Raven thought ruthlessly.
Across the five windows at the left was a fireplace where a warm fire settled, a rich red rug covered the marble floor, and a long couch faced the fire. Bookcases and shelves were at the corner. Large wooden cabinets stood firmly at another corner north of the room. Chandeliers, about three of them hung from the ceiling, lighting the room. There were about at least eight different doors that led to different locations, all double doors carved with a creepy glaring eye.
The wall was a spotless white, also where painting of meadows, and abstract things. One especially big one was at the center of the left-wall. A family painting where Raven sat with a grim frown at the center.
A king-sized four-poster bed decorated the northern-center, with its transparent draping and a two-foot tall soft mattress that dipped down where Raven sat, pulling her cape off and picking another one from the stand nearby. It was a richer one, colored with a deep violet, and its collar had golden stitches like the hems. She pulled it around her neck, standing up at the same time when the double doors opened.
"Princess!"
Raven flinched. "I told you, call me Raven."
The Master only grinned sheepishly. Despite his title implying he was an old gruff man, he was actually only a few years older than herself, with long, raven-hair flowing freely behind him, and a handsome face. "Then call me by my given name. I'm weary of that title. Besides it implies I'm old." He chuckled.
Raven only glared at his humour. "…it means disrespect, Master."
"And calling you by your name is disrespect as well, Your highness."
Raven didn't reply, and he knew he won their small battle of names. He laughed at the thought. He earned another glare from the dark princess.
"Stop it you two," Nairu commanded at their childishness, but her eyes were dancing with laughter. "Now, Raven and Ralph." She added when they started on to a glare-fight.
Ralph pulled away from her glare and chuckled all the more. "Okay, okay."
Just then, the double doors opened again, welcoming another presence.
"Seki." Ralph called. He was the one at the Room of Mirrors earlier. This time, his cloak was gone, and he wore a royal suit, complete with a silver brooch. The light refreshed his face, and his devilish looks were more apparent than ever. He smirked.
"At your service, angel."
Ralph shrugged. "More like demon, with that look always trying to kill us all."
Raven ignored him, but Seki laughed alongside Nairu.
"Don't looks so grim, Princess. It makes you look older." Ralph said, another smile in his face.
Raven flushed, ever so slightly, when Nairu and Seki laughed their heads off again. "Can we go to more pressing matters now?" her voice pierced through their laughter.
"You're a killjoy." Nairu replied.
"I know."
ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Robin laughed merrily as one of the puppies ran at Beastboy's loose grip, sending the whole room into chaos as it jumped all over the pizzas and the softdrinks and trashed about the torn Christmas wrapper.
"Ack!" Beastboy cried when a slice of pizza went straight to his face. The small puppy blinked innocently, its tail ready to swipe another slice. He pried it off nonchalantly.
On another note, a loud laughter shook the air when another puppy licked Cyborg's face. Starfire was meanwhile patting another one of them, squealing at its impossibly large eyes, that reminded him of Beastboy…wait…it was green! And suddenly, Beastboy was missing, and the green puppy was now throwing pizza slices to the poor puppy that hit Beastboy before.
At the middle of all the commotion the Teen Titan Leader. He sweatdropped.
"You all love the puppies don't you?" He shouted.
They all shouted in cheers, even Beastboy, who was now practically strangling the pup.
"Just please, don't kill them!!!!"
"Way ahead of you, mate!" Beastboy yelled. Star and Cy had to double team on him just to pull him away from a blue puppy…Robin remembered it had white fur just a while ago…
"Just…let me…have one swack...just a small one…at that impossibly stupid dog…" Beastboy struggled, but to no avail.
"I'm going to need chains soon." Cyborg said with effort.
Beastboy pouted, then turned rather coldly to Robin. "You do think that that puppy is impossibly stupid and impolite and wild, don't you?"
"…They are my Christmas present. And there's no way to answer without at least one of you—puppy included—barking angrily at me." Robin replied diplomatically with a slight smile.
They were interrupted, however, when Starfire screamed when a puppy—the same one—started biting her Santa-costume.
Cyborg rolled his eyes. "I think I'm gonna be needing two chains in this case."
"Stop it, you lot." Robin finally said with a grin. " Beastboy was going to return me my present now."
"Perhaps a corpse would be a better substitute." B.B. replied just as he slipped under Cyborg's hold and chased after the puppy.
"Oh no, you don't. We do not promote killing and death here. Get your ass back here. And give Robin his present!" Cyborg yelled, chasing after Beastboy.
"Unless you want to buy purchase him a new one. One less hazard and with more polite manners." Starfire cried, running alongside the Beastboy with the puppy chasing after her. Add: Puppy, Beastboy, Cyborg, Puppy and Starfire equals total chaos!
And Robin was still standing at the middle. He sighed exasperatedly. He ran a hand through his hair and with the other hand he easily grabbed the now refreshed, white-furred puppy Beastboy was chasing, effortlessly.
"Hey, no fair!" Beastboy cried. " I was a centimeter away from catching that devil's reincarnation of a dog!"
Now it was Robin's turn to roll his eyes through the dark-tinted shades he now wore instead of a mask. "More like a meter."
At the background, Starfire screamed again, when the puppy caught up with her, now flying in the air with only its mouth biting Star's jacket to hang on.
"You know, I should have gotten you the fat ones. They are slower and dumber." Beastboy said.
"Emergency: A damsel in distress currently needs our help." Cyborg replied.
The three then ran after Starfire.
oooooooooooooo
Raven looked at the three of them evenly.
Nairu, Seki and Ralph. The three people she trusted the most.
…well, maybe except for a certain raven-haired boy way back to a certain tower to whom she now trusted with the world. But she didn't like the sound of that. Especially since the Titan Leader wasn't really particularly close to her at all…
She sighed warily. Nairu was first to look anxious.
"Anything wrong, Rave?"
"Nothing in particular. I'm just tired." She replied evasively.
"Come on, tell old Ralph here." Ralph said, then added, "I meant, young Ralph. Tell young Master Ralph."
Raven didn't reply, just closed her eyes and gathered herself together.
Ralph narrowed his eyes. "It's…it's the Ethrium, isn't it?"
Raven blinked. "…no…well…actually…yeah."
"You…you did take my advice, didn't you?" He asked slowly, as if talking to a child who could not understand.
"So?" She snapped.
He, however, only sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. God only knows what more danger if you keep it here with us."
She glared at him.
"Well, then. Tell me now what the hell is wrong, since we're quite short on time. We have to go soon. So go ahead and tell me so I can actually serve you as my job requires, and give you my 'wise advice'"
"Thanks, but no thanks. Your advice last time didn't really suit me well, considering I'm practically miss-i-don't-have-a-lot-of-people-whom-i-can-actually-trust-save-you-three, now am I? So I doubt you'll help this time."
"I'm sorry to break your speech momentum, but you aren't Raven. Can you just tell us what's wrong with the Ehtrium?" Nairu's eyes narrowed. "You did give it to someone trustworthy…?"
"As I said, and awfully tired of repeating, Yes."
"Who did you give it to?" Seki asked suddenly.
A long silence followed the question. Raven only stared, and stared with blank eyes at nothing in particular. Should she tell them? She didn't even notice when Nairu slowly slid beside her, the mattress didn't dip down, mostly because she was petite and underweight.
Ralph was now seated at a nearby lounge chair, leaning back with closed eyes. Seki merely leaned at the wall and crossed his arms.
If anything, the safest place for anything to be, would be at Robin's hands. She didn't know why she trusted him so much—perhaps it was her instinct, or her respect towards their leader, or perhaps there was a certain something about him that not many people had—but she did. He had her trust…but did she have his?
Out of nowhere, a sudden complex came to her mind. Robin didn't even know what this was all about.
If he were to know… She mused silently. Would he accept my trust?
Then, she suddenly wondered why she even gave something as important as the Ethrium to someone who she only knew…in a general sort of way. Robin was a leader, a respectable person, and…her friend.
Ralph's voice broke her silent reverie. "Are you going to tell us or just stare?"
She blinked. "…No and no, to both questions." She said firmly. "We should go." With that, she stood up, with the grace she usually had but tried hard to keep from the Titans. If they were to know…
Nairu was, again, first to follow her, immediately by her side as she opened the double doors to another room. One filled with crowds of endless people, and loud cheers.
Seki looked annoyed, but followed her outside anyway. Ralph was positively beaming as he waved at the people.
Seki could only guessed ever-single day why he was the Master, and doubted his wisdom otherwise.
oooooooooooooooooo
Cyborg slammed the door tightly, locking them all in the cupboard.
He, Star, Robin and B.B all squeezed themselves, catching their breath when the unmistakable screech came amid the silence.
"Am I correct to assume they are…err…rubbing their claws on the door?" Star asked.
Beastboy flashed an impatient look. "I told you we should've just smacked them for good back there."
Robin only shook his head. "Are they my Christmas presents or your new co-animal punching bag for training?"
Beastboy grinned. "Both. Hitting two birds—or dogs, rather—with one stone."
"Well, they sure act more like hellhounds to me."
"Oh, that. Well…they are, actually."
"They are??!"
Beastboy grinned again. "They're partially. They come from a long line of hellhounds, but are mixed with some sort of other race that looks cute and timid. So they look cute and timid, but act fierce. How's that for hybrid, eh?"
"Honestly!" Robin shouted in exasperation. "They are my puppies now--"
"…They have stopped rubbing their claws on the door." Star interrupted.
Indeed, the noise subsided, and the only sounds were their voices against their harsh and quick breathing.
Beastboy put on his trademark grin again. "Right again, Rob! Your responsible so go peek and see if they're still there."
Robin scowled. "No way. Why don't you do it?"
Beastboy opened his mouth, but Cyborg spoke quickly, a smirk on his face. "Hey, Star, I think I hear rats somewhere."
And true enough, there was a squeaking. Only Starfire didn't seem to realize that Beastboy was gone and a green rat which was making the noises replaced his spot. "There are?!" Her eyes went wide. She ran straight for the door.
Behind her, the three boys laughed their heads off.
"Guys…Honestly, though, we shouldn't be laughing, because we just pulled a prank on a girl, don't you think?" Robin finally asked when the anger subsided. "Maybe we should check on her? She hasn't come back for quite some time. And it's awfully quiet."
"What do you think happened?" Cy asked.
"Have no idea. Hey, Rob…"
"Yeah?"
"What you said a while ago…"
Robin looked confusedly at Cyborg. "About the laughing thing?"
He shook his head. "No, after that."
"'Maybe we should check on her?'"
"No! before that."
"'Guys…'?"
"After, after!"
"'We just pulled a prank on a girl'? What is it?" Robin asked, now a bit impatient.
"That's it—GIRL."
Beastboy looked at him, then Robin and back again. "If you have something to say, just say it, man."
"Girl, girl, girl!" He cried, wringing his hands in vexation.
Beastboy looked at him oddly. "…Is this charades or guess-what-you're-trying-to-say? Because my guess is…womanizer?"
Cyborg shook his head. "Don't you get it?"
"How about…opposite sex, and mostly hates rats…?"
Cy slapped one hand at his forehead. "Girl—Starfire—RAVEN."
"Geez. You could've just said so." Beastboy said. "Where is she, by the way? She was there this morning, right? And Nairu's not here too…"
By instinct, Robin's hand shot up to a small necklace hidden beneath his shirt. His other hand, however, slid to one of his pockets, where it clutched a small, crumpled paper. Protect it with your life.
"They…must be upstairs. Let's go. I think those puppies are gone for now."
And so they got out, one by one, with Cyborg as their lead. Surely enough, the room was deserted, save for a happy Star who sat down merrily in front of the TV. She turned when the door creaked, and smiled warmly at her fellow Titans. "The danger has left the vicinity."
"Thanks God." Was the first thing Beastboy said.
Robin eyed him warily. "Anyways, have you seen Raven and Nairu?"
Starfire shook his head. "No, they weren't upstairs when I checked for the dogs…I have not seen them, not since this morning, I am afraid."
Robin sighed. "Where are they…?"
"…Hey, Robin! I think you might want to see this…" Cyborg's face called from near the entrance door.
"Huh? What is it?" he ran to them, along with Starfire.
Cyborg picked up a small paper, torn around the edges, obviously from a bigger piece. He held it out for them to see. It was Raven's note.
"…Oh my God…"
Titans,
Have to leave on short notice. Don't expect me soon. Gone long time. Maybe weeks, or years. And Robin, remember what I wrote on the paper.
,Raven
"YEARS??!" Beastboy cried.
Despite the cries and yells, and Starfire's sobs, Robin stood immobilized, numb to the core. His eyes wandered to the end of the note. What she wrote on the paper. Quickly, his hand consciously grabbed the one in his pocket.
She was…gone…just like that…
"Raven…Why have you given this to me?"
He could not know that in another place, Raven was asking the very same thing to herself too.
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There! A BIG plot twisting point! Since I was inspired by some fanfics, I wrote out longer chapters, much longer, even though they seem short (9 pages! My usual was six!). And now, since I got the plan well figured out, I'll post faster updates ( as long as you review, o' course!)! XD
Here's my general summary for next chapter: We find out a little bit more about Raven's past AU. And of course, what does Robin do amid the oblivion? The only thing seemingly rational: Find a reason for it.
I bet the Master wasn't what you expected, huh? Hehe. I have three OCs so far. I know it's a lot, but I'll have one more to add. As so many authors quoted before, "Dun like, dun read".
…And of course, your reviews keep me going. So, REVIEW, and I shall keep this long-chappie consistency and update faster.
I really do need your opinions. So far, I'm getting discouraged, then motivated, and then disheartened again. Maybe that's why I keep re-writing this chapter. Anyways, REVIEW! And I'll give you a zafara plushie! grabs a zafara plushie sack from neopets Not that I really have a single one, LOL.
I almost forgot. The personal replies!!!:
Mariko: The first three were certainly boring, weren't they? sigh plot point here, though, so I think it'll be better from here on.
Missy: Thanks for the review! XD
Lessa-13-2004: Here's the update! Thanks, that encouraged me somehow!
Jessica: First of all, thanks for reading the story, but as many authors say, dun like, dun read! I don't know what your problem is with Rob and Rae, but if you would, just find another story.
Inchantris Z:…thanks.
Strixvaria: thanks too. Here's the next chappie
There we have it. I'm done! XD
Yume