Two Birds With One Stone
Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Teen Titans. No matter how well I write them. Or whatever. The term "Sister-in-God" was borrowed from Tad Williams. I did not create it.
A Note: It was called to my attention that perhaps I have been referring to the impending evil here by the wrong name. I am aware that Scath is just another name for Trigon. However, I choose to use "Scath" for two reasons. One: I did mention that this story is slightly AU. "Scath" here is more of a "He-who-must-not-be-named" deal in my story. That will be explained. Second reason is: sometime before I started watching Teen Titans and looking for information about them – Raven in particular – I started writing a book. It is now the bane of my existence. Anyway, I used the term "trigon" in my story to refer to people who had committed serious crimes and were thus branded with a black triangle mark. So I prefer to use Scath here for now.
I was dreaming when I wrote this/ So sue me if I go too fast
Chapter Two: Raven
She entered as quietly as the other woman. She wore a white dress of the same length and a cape with a hood that covered her eyes. A sort of garnet pin held the cape together, and in one hand she carried a small sort of knapsack. Robin was determined not to speak to her. Either she had the same thoughts or she was just quiet by nature, because for several long moments she just stood there. It almost made him angry. Her certainly didn't want her there, and if she didn't want to be there, she should leave. But at the same time he could feel her gazing at him intently. As though she was looking into his soul. It was a most uncomfortable feeling.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she dropped the knapsack. It hardly made any noise touching the tiled floor. She put up a hand and removed her hood to reveal a heart-shaped face as pale as the moon framed by long, violet tresses. Her eyes were very much like the other woman's, large and dark, the same color as her hair. Resting in the middle of her forehead was a small garnet-colored gem.
"What is your name?" he asked. He had only been thinking the question since she entered the room, but only just heard himself asking it.
"Raven," she said simply. Her voice was not like the other woman's, light and sweet. Hers was dull and monotone, as though she felt speaking a pointless task.
Another long silence filled the room as Robin regarded her, now having a name to put to the bane of his existence.
"So quiet. At least the children will be well behaved," came a voice from the doorway. Robin shot Alfred a look that plainly said the butler had crossed some line. A moment later the door closed and they were alone in silence again.
She withdrew something from her cape. A black feather.
"If you put this under your pillow when you sleep, I'll be able to protect you from nightmares," she said, holding it out. He took it wordlessly, although he would have liked to tell her that he didn't need her to protect him from anything.
"Let me heal you," she said.
"What?"
"You have some bruises and cuts. I can heal them." She said it as though she spoke of picking a bit of lint off of his shirt.
"Heal?" Robin's eyes narrowed behind the mask.
"Did Sister-in-God not tell you of my powers?" again, her words came without emotion.
"No." He guessed that Sister-in-God was the woman who had come before. She certainly hadn't spoken to him, and Bruce hadn't bothered to say anything other than why Raven would come.
"I'm not full Azarathian. I have other powers."
"And healing is one of them?"
"Yes." She put out a hand and touched his arm. He was momentarily alarmed by the gesture, but then her hand began to glow softly in a pale blue light. He could feel the cuts and bruises evaporating. Naturally, he wanted to ask how she'd done it, but his pride would not allow him to speak anything else.
"I believe a thank you is in order, Robin," came a voice from the doorway. For a moment, he thought Alfred had returned. But when he looked up it was Bruce standing there.
"Thank you," Robin muttered under his breath.
"Mr. Wayne," Raven gave a curtsey. Again, all without emotion.
"Miss Roth. I apologize for Robin's behavior." Robin flinched. Bruce was disappointed with him.
"You need not apologize," she replied, a shadow of a grin on her lips. "I know he doesn't hate me. Merely the idea of me."
"And what is your opinion on the matter?" Bruce asked gently.
"When I was born the monks of Azarath told me what my destiny would be. At the time, Robin was not mentioned. I was trained to hold back my emotions because they are the key to my powers. I never thought of what would happen should the diviners find the man I was to marry. It wasn't important to me." She paused. "I will not force him to marry me. No one will." The last was almost an order to Bruce. She turned to face Robin. "I only hope that you will fly with me when I need you."
There was a long silence.
"That woman you call 'Sister-in-God'," Robin began, breaking the silence, "Told Bruce that I would play an essential part in Scath's downfall."
"Yes," Raven answered. "In my vision-dreams you and I are searching for him. Searching for a way to destroy him."
"We will," he said after another long silence. "But I will not marry you."
"I'm not asking you to."
Bruce, sensing a sort of unspoken truce between them, said, "I will have Alfred prepare a room for you, Miss Roth."
She picked up her things and followed him out, leaving Robin to ponder some things as he absentmindedly stroked the black feather.
Writer's note: Thank you all so much for the reviews. So now we've introduced Raven. In the next chapter, Robin will learn more about Raven's powers.
Go review already.
Signed,
The Writer, you fools