Whee! I finally got my ass on the computer! My mom grounded me ; Eh heh. Anyway. Enjoy Chapter 8. It's all rawr and stuff.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans in any shape, way, or form. This story, however, is totally pwned by me. Because I just rock like that.
"But friend Cyborg, surely you have found Raven by now!"
Starfire wrapped her arms about herself, one hand on the opposite elbow, as her bright emerald eyes studied her shoes. "The signal used to track her comes from her cloak," Cyborg muttered as he typed something into the computer in the main room. "And it hasn't moved from the spot where we checked for her last week. She's not wearing it, so there's no way to track her." Robin frowned as he stared at the red dot on the screen. "I still can't believe Raven..." he murmured, trailing off, his bright eyes narrowing behind his mask. "She hates Slade. I would have never expected her to run off and help him." "It's not like she wanted to," said Cyborg, frowning as well as he clicked on part of the screen. "She was blackmailed, remember?" Robin nodded, looking over as Starfire let out a small whine. "What if Raven is in danger?" she wailed. "She could be lost, or scared, or hungry, or hurt, or being forced to do terrible things, or-" She stopped as Robin rested a gloved hand on her shoulder. "She'll be fine," he said. "This is Raven we're talking about. She'll be okay."
Now I just have to convince myself of that.
They were also talking about Slade. They had all seen that Raven could do some serious damage to Slade, but Robin also knew what their nemesis was capable of. Truth be told, he didn't know what would happen.
"Does anyone know what's going on with Beast Boy?"
Cyborg's voice interrupted Robin's thoughts. The Boy Wonder shrugged and looked over at Starfire, who had her hands clasped over the stone in her neckplate. "He has been undoubtedly upset lately," she said quietly. "But I do not know why." The three of them looked at each other for a moment, then dropped their gazes, all thinking the same thing.
What the hell happened?
Suddenly, a blaring noise sounded, and the room flashed red. The Titans looked up, their eyes darting to the screen of the large computer.
Slade.
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Raven's eyes glowed brightly for a moment as she returned to her human form, shifting from the dark raven. She glanced around her, then closed her dark eyes for a moment before opening them again.
"Get going."
The deep voice echoed in her ear, and Raven was tempted to reach up and tear the speaker from her ear. "I am," she growled, folding her arms across her chest as she strode quickly down the sidewalk. People stared at her oddly as she passed them, and she glared in return before she rose up about twenty feet in the air. Her eyes glowed again as she raised one arm, palm-up, in the air.
"If you don't wish to die, I suggest you move."
As her hand glowed obsidian, the people below screamed, and immediately began to push each other out of the way in a desperate attempt to escape from the floating girl's attack. Raven lowered her arm, stretching it out straight in front of her, and an apologetic expression passed over her pale face as a dark aura sprang from her hand, blasting a large hole in the wall of the bank. The people inside stared at her blankly for a moment before they all ducked to the ground, covering their heads with their hands.
"See how they cower, Raven? They're afraid of you. Use that to your advantage."
Raven frowned as she walked into the bank. She wasn't really going to take anything. She just needed to get their attention.
And something told her she had it.
"RAVEN!"
She stared at the ground for a moment before she turned slightly to look at her friends, then dropped her gaze, unable to look at their stricken faces. "Friend Raven, please stop!" Starfire cried. "We will not fight you."
"Raven, attack them. Now. Or the books are gone."
I'm sorry.
Raven squeezed her eyes shut as she heard the metalic clink of Robin's shoes on the floor, and felt his hand on her shoulder. "Raven, we'll help you," he said. "Whatever Slade has, he won't give it to you. This is just another one of his tricks!" Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy stepped closer to her, and Raven's eyes flashed open, revealing two bright, glowing orbs. "This is the only choice I can make," she said quietly, before Robin became encased in a dark aura, and was flung against the opposite wall. "Robin!" Starfire yelped, flying over to him. "Raven, stop it!" Cyborg yelled. "This isn't you, we know it's not!"
"Snap out of it!"
"Please, Raven! We will help retrieve whatever it is that Slade has taken from you!"
"The fireplace is just a few feet from me, Apprentice. If you do not do as I say, the books will be thrown in."
I'm really sorry.
Raven shot a jet of darkness towards Cyborg, who was flung back from the impact. She turned as she saw Starfire flying towards her, her eyes glowing a bright green. She paused once she was about ten feet away, and for a moment, the two girls floated in the air, staring at each other. "Please, friend," Starfire begged. "I do not wish to fight you, but I will if I must." Raven said nothing, but suddenly a black, raven-shaped aura sprang up from behind her, and launched itself at Starfire, who let out a small cry as it struck her down.
I'm sorry!
Raven looked down at the ground, then looked over towards the bank entrance.
Beast Boy was still standing there, just glaring at her, his emerald eyes narrowed. When he spoke, it was in a soft voice, but it shook with anger. "You know, Raven," he growled, "I thought you were different. I thought you were better than her." Raven's eyes widened as she stared at him. "I just want my home back," she whispered hoarsely, clasping her thin hands together. "You already have a home!" Beast Boy yelled, his gloved hands curling into fists. "Why do you need your old one? You would attack your friends, just so you had a new place to live? What's wrong with you?" Raven trembled at his words, and she landed on the ground, wrapping her arms around herself. "If I had Azarath, I could help people," she said quietly. "I could make up for everything I did." "So you're going to hurt people to help people?" Beast Boy cried, waving his arms in the air. "You really are stupid."
I'm so sorry!
Raven's dark eyes widened at her friend's words, and she backed up a few steps away from him before she turned, and ran. An ebony swirl appeared on the wall of the bank as Raven ran through it, tears blinding her.
I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry!
I'M SORRY!
... I'm sorry.