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Seeing Beyond The DarkChapter Six: Worth
"No, It's love."
Raven blinked. "Love…?"
Nairu offered her a sad smile. "Yeah. Or a spoken profession." She spoke softly. "How can you feel something you have abstained from for years?"
"She's got a point there, you know." Seki agreed.
Raven lowered her gaze. Love…Could she not love? –no, probably not, huh? "Do you think I'll manage something like that? Love…I can hardly stand friendship…"
"I know." Nairu sighed. "but…but you're my friend."
Raven only nodded. "I guess…but how can I love? Tell me. I know very few people. And none of them are really…that special…"
"I understand it's difficult…but you know we can't live-like this—not for forever. We can't live being chased every minute of our lives. I'm very much sick of it. Can't you find someone…anyone? I'm sure…"
Raven shrugged. "How hard can it be? The only people I know is…you, Seki, Ralph and Stafire, Beastboy, Cyborg and Robin." She gave out a small, uncharacteristic and blank chuckle. "…That's only seven of people."
" Well, let's start crossing out, eh? Just for fun. Not like you can be lesbian or anything, so that's me and Star of the hook. And," She added, shooting Seki a sly look. "not like Seki and Ralph…well, hey, they're both all right, but really?"
Seki coughed. "Shut up. And no, of course not. I doubt Ralph has any…feelings either. Besides, the guy's just a joke."
"As much as I appreciate all your help, you're just making it worse."
Nairu smiled. "Come now. That leaves Beastboy, Cy and Rob. Go ahead, choose one.:
"Ugh…" Raven waved the thought away. "As if that was ever possible. Beastboy, first of all, won't take me seriously. Then Cyborg, uh, I don't know…then Robin…The guy's a mystery.
"It won't be that bad. Cyborg or Robin? Hmm…I'd rather Rob." She gave her a small wink.
Raven almost blushed. Except she doesn't. So she didn't. "This is…ludicrous. They're both so very far away…"
"That's it." Seki snapped his fingers. "You go on with your girl talk, but I'm out of here." He gave them both a curt nod and exited.
"Okay, bye." Nairu waved at him shortly. "Well, anyways, you have a lifetime to try."
"I don't know…I can always just live with the curse. I can die, not much problem. Death is but another step, afterall. I can accept death. Love is a different thing."
"If you ask me, I'd rather you live. Life should not be taken so granted, especially by you. Maybe you could meet someone new."
""Or not." Raven shuddered to think of it. "I think I don't have the schedule for meeting up with people."
"WELL, it isn't that hard. Cyborg or Robin. Falling in love is easy, you know. Afterall…you gve the Ethrium to Rob, right? You trust the guy…that's something. It's nearly New Year, you know. Five more days. Maybe you could have a new relationship next year." She said suggestively.
Raven stared at the ceiling blankly. "With Robin? Honestly, I don't know. He doesn't seem…interested in me. Starfire, more like. I don't even want to talk about it anymore." She sighed. "Too tired."
Nairu shrugged. "But Faith is Love…"
o
"You sure you know where you're going? We've been walking and talking for hours." Robin muttered.
"Sure I do, Robin. This is quite a big kingdom and at this time of the year, it's very crowded. That's why it's better we use the alleys."
Robin flung his hands in the air. "Okay, fine. What do you mean, at this time of the year? It's nearly New Year, I know. Is that it?"
Ralph turned sharply on a corner, leading them to a maze of inter-crossed alleys. "Have you not heard?" His voice sounded surprised. "No. Yes. Well, maybe. More like, people flock here because she is back. Where have you been?"
Robin followed him. " How about, 'somewhere miles away'? Who exactly is 'she'? Popular airhead model or something?"
Ralph rolled his eyes, not that Robin saw him anyway, because Robin only stared at his back, there was space only for one person to fit through at a time. "Not a snob, of course not. She's the princess. A good friend of mine too. She just recently arrived here, after so many years…"
"Most princesses are always greedy and evil, aren't they? Except for those fairytale dramatics."
"Not really. I think she'll stay here for quite some time. There are bands out there for her head, so it'll be more safe for her here."
"If she doesn't live permanently here," Robin was confused. "Then where does she live? Isn't she suppose to stay here and rule the kingdom and stuff?"
Ralph laughed out loud. "No, no, no. That's where our little minister kicks in. Well, he's not really our minister or royal or anything, just someone who runs the whole kingdom. Lord Seki. Personally, I rather do not like him. He's mean sometimes. Often, actually. So the Princess goes on long journeys all the time."
"Her parents don't mind? Lucky her."
"Nah. They passed already." He replied frankly, a note of bitterness in his voice.
"Oh…Um, isn't that dangerous, all the traveling?"
"That's why she returned, see? But she's strong anyway. Quite powerful. And humorless."
"She does sound snobbish. Humorless…"
"I suppose for some people she might sound so," They now exited out of the alleys, rounded off another corner and we're exposed to fresh air. Robin shut his eyes quickly; the sudden light blinded him. "Now, we're here."
Robin shook his head and slowly opened his eyes. "Where exactly is here?"
Ralph grinned. "The palace. I live here actually."
"Well…wow, I guess. Judging from your clothes, I already figured that." Robin pointed to his designer shirt and leather jacket. " But what are we doing here?" Robin shifted his vision to the huge castle, its grey bricks leveled evenly to form the walls, and French double doors. It's size was gigantic, Robin's sight could not view the ends of the castle that were really far wide.
"Well, since I'm such a nice guy," He said. "And you're new here, I'll give you free tickets to the best hotel in the entire kingdom."
Robin grinned too. "You will? Thanks so much!…So where's the hotel?"
"You're so naïve. You're looking at it, stupid. I meant, the palace!"
"Live…in the palace? Cool! I really appreciate this and—"
"Okay, okay, I'm no good at mushy stuff. "
"No one will mind me here?"
"No, you're—from now on—under my protection. Consider it a privilege. As my friend of course. We are friends, right?"
Robin nodded eagerly. "Very much friends. Hey, maybe I'll get to see the princess," he joked. "And see if she's really a snob…Haha…I'm really dreaming, aren't I?"
"Depends. You can really see her, if you want. Now come on."
"Seriously?" Robin followed him through a side, to a small, cubic-like square at the right, that was attached to a metal structure that went all the way up to the top floor and had small bridges that connected it with the palace. Further along was a huge garden where a lot of people with frilly dresses and luxurious-looking tuxes stood and sat and chatted.
As they neared the structure, a shadowed-form walked from a nearby oak-wood door, as if expecting them. The cloaked man approached Ralph and whispered something to him. "Password?"
"Darkless." Ralph replied. Except Robin couldn't really hear them because they were speaking in such low voices that were barely whispers. The cloaked man nodded and drifted away.
Robin caught up with Ralph. "What was that all about?"
The other man just shrugged it off. "Nothing, just security gibberish." They stopped before the cubic-like that were twice they're length and about seven feet wide.
"What is this?" Robin asked.
Ralph slipped his hand into a small square the size of a legal-size bond paper, which, Robin realized, was a scanner that scanner for handprints. Tight security. But a bit more loose than he expected…
"Elevators. Lots of them in the castle, if you don't like traveling through stairs. But unfortunately, they need handprints. Guests aren't registered, so…yeah…"
"That's okay." Robin said hastily as they entered the lift. It was covered in a dark-tinted glass, and you could see your reflection everywhere. It was sort of…creepy, in its own way.
Ralph reached out again, and buttons came out from nowhere. They were obviously floors and levels. He pressed one and withdrew his hand, and the buttons disappeared.
"Why aren't we going through the front door?"
"They announce your entrance there. Name, then title. This here is a sort of, secret entrance only some can use."
"But why not just the front door?"
Ralph glanced at him and grinned. "Less flashy."
o
Seki stopped short of the T-shaped tower. So this was where the Ethrum was. Finally, his days of search were coming to an end. And about time too.
Raven did mention something about the Titan Leader, and he was told that this was where he lived.
"Typical. Literally a T-shaped one." Seki drawled. What else did he expect?
He also heard there were other three people here: a changeling, a cyborg (literally) and a girl from another planet. A bunch of freaks. He rolled his eyes. "This would be an easy catch."
With a smirk, he raised his hand and pointed at the tower, watching smugly as his minions of the clan Exe crept quietly inside and started the abduction. It would be quick, much quicker compared to how many years he spent waiting for the throne…
o
"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then no problem." Nairu replied smoothly.
"…that's over, at least." Was Raven's only reply.
Nairu sighed. "This is gonna get more boring than it is."
"That's why I left. There's nothing to do here. At least not really."
Nairu nodded and pulled her long sleeves up to glance at her wrist watch. "I say, we're in time for lunch. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning, you know. It's unhealthy for a princess."
Raven shrugged. "I don't really care."
Nairu only smiled and dragged her halfway through the whole palace to the dining room on the first floor.
o
"He what!" Beastboy demanded at noon the next day.
"It says so here." Cyborg flung the piece of parchment at Beastboy's feet. "Read it for yourself."
"But he cannot have…he cannot have…left us…" Starfire sobbed.
Beastboy bended and picked the letter up, and read it. He paled and froze. He narrowed his eyes and shoved it at the dining table angrily. "…Stupid, stupid Robin."
Starfire didn't even want to read it. "But why…why would Robin do such a thing…?"
"To find Raven, or so it—" Cyborg paused when an idea struck him. His conversation with Robin the night ago flooded to him. Then…then it was him…
"What?"
"—It's my fault, dammit. My fault Robin left. I told him. I don't know what came over me, but I did…"
"Told him what?" Starfire asked in a clearer voice as she wiped her tears away with a kerchief.
"That he had to stop moping. I told him he had much better things to do. Like finding Rave…it's all my fault..." Cyborg explained dejectedly.
Beastboy and Starfire were both quiet as they mourned in their sorrow.
Perhaps, Starfire thought, it was Cy's error. Or perhaps, it was what Robin wanted all the time…
o
Robin marveled at the paintings as they passed. They looked ancient and expensive. Some were of what looked like the Queen, with hair the color of faded violet. Just like Raven's, he found himself thinking. Her eyes were a dark, warm brown and she smiled sweetly in the painting. But despite that, she looked tired. He then remembered Ralph said she had passed away already.
It must be really bad for the princess, with both parents gone…
"This area is under the left wing, and most pictures here, as I think you noted, are of the Queen's, before and after she married the King." Ralph pointed to another painting, where the Queen sat on a beautiful white horse, her face younger and considerably fairer.
Robin nodded and the turned along a corner, and descended down on marble stairs.
Ralph stopped as they reached the last step. "I suppose the princess should be at the dining room by now…you want to go meet her and we'll eat lunch, or unpack first?"
"I don't know, but I think I'd rather unpack first…" Robin replied.
"Sure. How long are you staying anyway?"
"I'm just looking for a friend of mine. I know it's improper of me to be here, so maybe just one night—"
Ralph shook his head. "No, by all means, you are my guest. Let me rephrase the question. How long are you staying in Ahluind?"
"…Today's…Friday, right? If not over the weekend, then around at least next week or until I find my friend, I guess."
"Then be free to stay here!"
"No, really, it's alright. I'll just find an inn…"
Ralph put an arm around him and grinned. "Stay! It's really boring here, I'm in dire need of a companion."
Robin laughed.
"So that's a yes?"
"Yes."
o
Cy froze.
His eyes widened as they fell at the hundreds of men, all dressed in black with their faces covered with a thin dark cloth. They seemed to be humungous, with big muscles and broad shoulders, easily towering over Cyborg.
He had no time to catch his breath when hundreds of them poured in, with one charging him straight.
He pulled back. "Oof." He was knocked out as one of them caught his waist in a ferocious charge and gripped, sending the duo to the floor.
"The boy. Robin. Find him." He heard an odd, serious voice…that was happy, if he was mistaken. But he had no time to ponder over it.
Cyborg was unconscious even before he hit the floor.
BAM!
Beastboy stopped in mid-spoon. He arched his brows. "What was that?"
Starfire replied unsurely, "It sounded as if someone was falling hard."
Beastboy shrugged. "I'll go check it out." And it never occurred to him that as he went, he was falling according to the plan of Exe. Which is to separate them as much as possible and attack them differently. That way, they are taken out much faster and more efficiently.
He pushed his chair on its back legs and stood up unceremoniously. Annoyed but slightly worried, the changeling hurried up to the front door where Cy went to answer the doorbell earlier.
But CY was not there. The door was left open.
"That isn't like him…" Where is he?
When Beastboy spun back around, the corners of his eyes caught a lying figure not six feet away. The light reflected his armor, gleaming blue. But before he could move, he saw an entirely different shape. A dark flash that tackled him ruthlessly to the floor.
He was dragged down and his breath was knocked out from under him. His eyes watered as he felt a sharp pain at his arms and ribs. Then, he heard a bone crack.
The last of his view settled into his unconscious friend. "…Cyborg…"
o
"….Excuse me, Her Highness," The messenger said politely, bowing a little.
Raven raised her violet head. Nairu answered for her. "Yes, what is it?"
He s stood straight as he was taught to do and spoke clearly, "A new location of Exe has been recently found. Along the south central, there are local rumors of members there in one of them buildings.
"Where is Seki?" Raven asked.
"With all your respect, he left for more pressing matters just a while ago. In his absence, I send the message to you, Your Majesty."
"Well then, " Raven said with a frown. "Proceed with standard procedure and send a tracking and hunting team down there. Clear?"
The messenger nodded and bowed. "Crystal." He then turned and left.
Meanwhile, Nairu sighed. "This might be another trap."
"…I know."
"Then you're falling right for it—again."
Raven shooed her head. "We cannot risk it." She forked the grilled meat. "If the rumors hold true."
"But so far, it has not. This can only go so far, Rave. We are losing men. This situation is slipping out of control."
"No, Nairu. It's still in our hands if we play the cards right. We still have our advantage."
Nairu smiled. "Ah, Robin."
They had no idea that the said teen was happily unpacking his clothes a story above their floor level, just about ready to join them.
A/n: Shorter than previous chappies, but long in general. Only four more chapters! Expect an update at least once every 3 weeks and the max is once per two months. Faster when summer comes, of course
Would appreciate if you reviewed.