Seven Years' Bad Luck in One Day
Review Responses:
Kare-San: Glad you liked the fic. I will link to the fan art you did in an author's note before the story. The title of the fic you mentioned was "A Woman Scorned". I like that fic as well.
She-Who-Snogs-Weasly-Boy: Yahs!
Chica: I'm glad you like it! I try to keep people in character; it's rather tough at times.
MoonHawke: Lust might be in there later. I liked that scene as well, I'll update again soon!
TrigunChic: Yes, it was a long time to update. I'm trying to work on that. Glad you like the fic.
Change-Of-Heart2: I'm glad you like it, and good luck with Pathology.
Nightwish13: You're welcome. I enjoyed writing it.
JulesFire: I'm glad the story makes you happy! Your millions of Rob/Star kiss fics are great fun, I had a great time reading them all.
Raidersrule76: Yeah, a song stuck in your head could mess things up. Glad you liked it anyway.
Alpha-331: Glad you like it!
P90Wraith: Updates will hopefully be faster.
John Steppenwolf: Quite a long review. Being called the best is always quuite a compliment. I'm glad you liked it. I like the way the emotions react as well.
WarPrince2000: Glad you liked it, this update is faster than the previous. Hope you like it.
A/N: Here's the next chapter! It's not quite as long but I like it. Also, there is fanart for the Beastboy/Raven(s) sleeping scene from chapter three, by Kare-San. Please go check it out!
www. deviantart. com/ deviation/ 13014415/
Simply copy and paste that into the address bar of your browser, and remove the spaces. It's a good work, click on the image for a larger (huge really) version. I love this work, so thanks to Kare-San!
Anyway, on to the fic.
The rather large group trudged down the long corridors of Titans' Tower, slowly making their way towards the containment cells. Normally walks through the corridors were accompanied by laughter and lighthearted chatter, but today the mood was a little more somber, since no one looked forward to interrogating two violent facets of Raven.
Robin looked at the floor as he walked, his mind preoccupied. Raven was a dangerous teammate. He had trusted her for some time; she had been a member of the team since the team's inception. Still, he hadn't known of her... unique heritage until today. Malice had been a relatively simple matter to subdue, and Hatred had fallen for some other-worldly trap, but Rage was still out there, and anyone who could defeat Cyborg and Raven together so quickly was a foe to be reckoned with. If Raven herself ever turned against the team, who would be able to stop her?
Robin was lost in thoughts when Raven's voice cut through his shell. "Robin."
Robin turned to regard the girl, who's voice was once again hard and steely. "What is it, Raven?"
Raven looked at him skeptically. "Why did you order Beastboy to stay here with me? You know I could have taken care of myself."
Robin cocked an eyebrow. "Ordered him? What do you mean?"
The young empath furrowed her brows. "He told me you told him to stay and take care of me, because I looked sick."
Robin ignored Starfire's giggling as she listened in on his conversation. He shook his head. Beastboy was such a coward. "I didn't order him. He stayed here against my orders to chase Hatred."
All of the Ravens stopped walking. Normally, just Raven would have been noticeable enough, but when over half of the footsteps in the hallway were coming from Raven and her emotions, the effect was immediate. Raven's mind turned over the idea. Beastboy had stayed for her, but not because of an order. He'd wanted to be alone in the tower with her, he'd wanted to take care of her. Not just her emotions, but Raven herself. Bravery was grinning, the new knowledge adding to her already high confidence level. Wisdom had her eyes closed, chastising herself for not realizing this sooner. Happiness and Love just smiled at each other, both feeling quite smug about the situation. Fear pulled her hood down over her eyes, scared by the weird way everyone was staring at Raven. Worry just wrung her hands, unsure of how Beastboy would feel now that his secret was out.
Raven turned towards Beastboy, a strange look on her face. Normally, she would have simply raised an eyebrow, the normal, dead look in her eyes showing her irritation. This time her face was softer, and she had a small smile at the corners of her mouth. "Beastboy... is this true?"
Beastboy couldn't fight the redness in his cheeks, but grinned anyway. "Um... yeah. Sorry about lying, I just thought you would be mad if I stayed behind. I know you don't like people helping you."
Raven's smile grew a small, almost unnoticeable amount. She shook her head, slowly. "It's ok that you stayed. I don't mind you helping me. Thank you."
Beastboy grinned. Happiness giggled, and Love sighed contentedly. Her voice sounded silvery and calm, as it always did. "Do you see? Things like that are what makes us love him so much."
Beastboy blushed, but still grinned playfully at Raven. Raven, on the other hand, looked down and away, moving so that the darkness from her hood would cover the blush on her face. Why was she blushing like some twelve year old that just got asked to a dance? She was older than that, she had trained her entire life to keep her emotions in check! How could such a small thing as her emotion admitting to loving Beastboy make her blush so much? He already knew that Love loved him; nothing new was being revealed. Robin's wry grin reminded her that some people hadn't heard this before.
"Wonderful! Raven, your emotion has spoken well!" Starfire's eyes glittered with happiness; her longtime suspicions, she felt, had finally been verified. "I am most happy that my friends have found love!"
Robin was mildly tense. The last time anyone had teased Raven about this, she had summoned an emotion that was intent on destroying the team. His hand subconsciously moved towards the explosive discs on his belt. Suddenly, Wisdom caught his eyes from across the room, and shook her head slightly. He relaxed a little, affected by the inexplicable power in Wisdom's suggestions.
Despite the worry in the room, Raven only smiled, the rarity of the event only adding to it's beauty. She looked at Starfire, silent for a moment, as if carefully weighing her words. "Love loves Beastboy. I consider Beastboy a friend; a close friend, but a friend nonetheless."
This was enough to make Beastboy smile in earnest. He nodded, and Raven turned pointedly, continuing down the hallway. After a few knowing looks, the rest followed her, each considering the new knowledge. Beastboy was grinning from ear to ear. He could have been disappointed that Raven hadn't agreed with Love wholeheartedly, but instead he was just happy that she had gone so far as to call him a close friend. Starfire's smile had not dimmed, nor had her excitement waned. She was thrilled that Raven, whether she would openly admit it or not, had at least some feeling for Beastboy. Starfire believed that everyone deserved a happy ending, and she could see that Raven and Beastboy were heading inexorably towards happiness.
Robin and Cyborg were both just thinking of ways to tease and irritate Beastboy and Raven about this after all the current mess was over. They were friends, of course, but by no means immune to teenage ribbing.
Raven, as well as her more rational emotions, were busy considering the future. Raven had told the truth, she was not in love with Beastboy. She had considered him just as distant a friend as the rest of the Titans, until today. Now, she felt much closer to him, simply because he had been paying so much attention to her. Not only because of that... She sighed inwardly, though she outwardly looked just as impassive and deadpan as normal. Her rationalizations were not helping. The fact was that she was beginning to become attracted to Beastboy, and she had no idea why. True, he had been very attentive today, and very caring towards her and her emotions, but that didn't account for her sudden attraction to him.
Raven mused to herself. Was the attraction really so sudden? She had never admitted to herself before that she was attracted to anyone, let alone Beastboy. Still, she could remember, now that she allowed herself to think of it, several instances where there had been something between them. Glances held too long, desperate smiles from Beastboy as he tried to appease the irritable empath, jokes told to her despite her apparent lack of interest, his care after Malchior's departure, his protection of her from Adonis, the many times they had assisted each other in combat, the tearing and aching feeling she had felt when Terra had threatened him underground, while under Slade's control.
Raven suddenly was aware of Wisdom walking next to her. The emotion cast a glance into her eyes, its own eyes showing the depth of its thoughts. Raven felt as if she was being examined, as if in that one look Wisdom had come to know everything she was thinking. Wisdom spoke quietly, audible only to Raven, even in the crowded hallway.
"Admit it. It will become easier to deal with if you at least admit it."
Raven glared at the emotion, who only watched her, undaunted by the unspoken threat. Perhaps Wisdom was right. Perhaps admitting to the emotion would make it easier to control. She searched her mind, opening as best she could, allowing any thought that had substance to enter. Did she love him? Could she love him? He was kind, she had felt... jealousy... when Terra was here... did that constitute love? No. However, perhaps, there was something there. Not love, but... something.
"I... I don't love him. However, perhaps I can see... loving him in the future." Her voice was quiet, uncertain, and meek. A very unusual voice for the normally confident and dark empath. The brown-cloaked figure nodded, smiling, and withdrew wordlessly. Apparently, Raven had pleased her emotion. She looked up. They were at the door to the holding cells. She stepped aside, and allowed Robin to press the switch to open the door. She knew how much being the leader of the team mattered to him.
The door slid open at his command, revealing the two emotions glaring from their cell. They had a look about them as if they had just finished talking, and were not pleased about being interrupted. A red mark across Hatred's lips denoted the place where Starfire had placed the tape, but it was gone now. Both of their faces had four eyes, simply glowing red slits in the blackness under their hoods. It was unnerving to face them. Robin's own eyes narrowed. He hated interrogations; they always brought out the worst qualities in him. Also, he couldn't imagine Raven's most negative emotions opening up easily.
Robin stepped up to the cage as the rest of the group quietly followed him into the room. He stared coldly at Hatred and Malice, trying to read their demonic expressions. Their glowing red eyes stared back angrily. Robin spoke, trying to intimidate the two into compliance.
"Hatred, Malice. You both know that it is impossible to escape from this cage. You also both know that even if you did, you could never defeat all of us." Robin let the words hang in the air, hoping that the futility of their situation would lead the emotions into talking. It didn't. They still stood, silently mocking him with their eyes. Robin was unused to this silence from captured criminals. Usually they fought and howled, trying to escape incarceration. It was unnerving.
"Malice, tell me what you were doing at Saint Wallace's Cathedral."
Malice's lips moved into a sly grin, her eyes glowing brightly. "Robin, tell me if they were able to save the civilians that had accidents due to my actions."
Robin scowled. "Yes, they were able to get everyone stitched back up. Now, answer the question."
Malice still grinned. Robin felt a slight tug at his mask, and then it was torn off of his face, and fluttered gently to the ground. Malice's evil smile widened at the prospect of spreading hidden information. "Blue."
Starfire squealed in delight, happy to hear the answer to a question she'd had in mind for a long time. Robin simply growled as he knelt and retrieved his mask, reapplying it before anyone besides the emotion saw his face. It was more a force of habit than out of any real necessity. Malice was being uncooperative on basic principle, it seemed. Robin decided to try his luck with Hatred.
"Hatred- oomph!" Robin was flung powerfully back and across the room from the spark of telekinesis generated by Hatred. Starfire was immediately by his side, holding him with her eyes glowing green in anger. Raven immediately blasted Hatred with black power, knocking her against the back wall of the cell. Malice, to the surprise of the others in the room, also held Hatred against the back wall, her voice icy and angry.
"Hatred, we are in no position to fight. Rest now."
Hatred's inhuman eyes flashed angrily, but she slowly stood and stopped attacking. Robin walked back to the cage, not too badly harmed by the attack. He was about to speak again when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Wisdom's piercing eyes staring into his.
"Robin. They will not respond to you. Think."
Robin furrowed his brows at this question of authority, but upon thinking he realized that he had been going about this all wrong. He grinned slightly.
"Beastboy. Let Bravery go and see if you can get these two to open up a bit more."
Beastboy looked worriedly at Bravery, who grinned lopsidedly at him, and allowed him to let her sink to the floor, sitting on the ground, without the strength to stand. Beastboy also glanced at Raven, who's face looked grim. She only nodded to him, but he could see the concern and worry in her eyes. He looked around the room. This interrogation was not going well. Starfire looked like she was about ready to tear Hatred apart, her eyes and hands glowing with barely controlled starbolt energy. Cyborg wasn't chomping at the bit, but his arm was in cannon form, and he was watching everything carefully. Fear was hiding behind Love and Happiness, who were still smiling at him despite the poor circumstances. Wisdom was watching the events in the room carefully, even while returning to Worry to ease her concerns. Robin was standing by the cage, looking quite angry. Beastboy walked over to the two evil emotions.
"Uh... hi. I'm not really good at this whole interrogation thing." Beastboy scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Well, that's obvious." Malice's voice, despite her taunt, was lacking the cold, icy edge from before. Hatred and Malice both walked over towards Beastboy, standing at the edge of their cage.
Beastboy didn't really know how to proceed. They seemed to be listening, which is more than he could say for Robin's interrogation. "Hmm... I guess I just kind of wonder why you guys are attacking random buildings. I mean, I know you are Malice and Hatred, but shouldn't you just be attacking us, not a Cathedral, Museum, and dump?"
Malice and Hatred looked at each other, then closed their eyes. When they opened them, they only had two eyes again, though they still glowed red. Hatred's voice was thick with hate, but it was quite obviously not directed at Beastboy.
"We did that because He ordered us to. Everything we do is because He orders us to. I hate him." The capitalization of 'He' was obvious from her voice.
"We were collecting things. Necessary components." Malice's voice was softer, but still by no means kind.
"What were you collecti-" Robin's voice was cut short again, but this time by Wisdom's hand over his mouth. She looked to Beastboy.
"Continue."
Beastboy grinned lopsidedly at the sight of Robin being silenced by Raven's emotion. He turned back to the emotions. "Um... what he said. Or, was going to say. What did you need the components for?"
Hatred's body was encased in a small outline of black power as she spoke, her anger barely contained. "For Him, who else? His only desire is to claim Raven and come into this world. He hates the prison He's in, just as much as I hate the one I'm in."
Beastboy pitied Hatred. Even as much as he didn't like Raven's 'evil' emotions, he knew that they were just as much people as Timidity or Brave, and he didn't like to see them caged like this. He also knew, however, that it would be foolish to let them go. He was curious, though, as to what the two emotions had done while no one was watching. "So... uh... I guess I'm kind of wondering what you two talked about before we all got here."
Malice looked over at Hatred, then back at Beastboy. "Since we are in no position to refuse, I will recount what has happened."
Flashback Flashback Flashback
Malice sat in the cell, half-heartedly tugging at the cables around her and getting angrier and angrier at this incarceration. She had only been here for a few minutes, but it was already grating on her nerves, and the compulsion from Trigon was still there; she had to leave and bring the component to him. Still, no matter what she did, the bars and cables held firm, and were even warded against her teleportation. She was stuck.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a young, orange alien girl. Starfire, of course. She was carrying Hatred, bound with the same type of cable as Malice was, and with the addition of a piece of heavy tape across her mouth. Starfire carried the unconscious emotion over to the prison and opened the door. Before Malice could even react, Hatred was already inside and the door closed, with Starfire smiling sweetly from outside.
"Do not worry, Malice-Raven, it will not be long before you inside Raven again! We are trying our best to help you!" Starfire's voice was happy and light, despite the fact that she was talking to an enemy.
Malice grinned slightly at the naive girl. "The correct way to say that is 'Trying the best are we to help you.' I just wanted to help you with your grammar."
Starfire nodded, memorizing the words. She was happy that even an evil emotion like Malice would assist her when she made mistakes with English grammar.
"Very well. Thanking the most am I to you for helping with my grammar." Starfire thought the way that Malice had told her to speak was a little strange, but if it was the correct way to speak, who was she to argue?
Malice just grinned and nodded. It wouldn't be long before Starfire spoke like that to someone, and then she would feel like an idiot. It was a simple thing to do, but Malice reveled in any ability to cause other people suffering. Suddenly, a ring came from Starfire's belt, her communicator beeping. She answered it, then smiled as Robin's face appeared.
"Star, we're heading back to the tower. We'll be there soon, just calling to make sure you got back with Malice." Robin's voice sounded irritated, and she could see that he was on the R-Cycle.
"Being the happy because calling me you are, Robin!" Starfire was really getting the hang of this strange grammar that Malice had introduced her to.
Robin raised an eyebrow, noticeable even through the glass of his helmet. "What? Star, I know you can speak better than that. Who taught you to talk like that?"
Starfire suddenly realized what had happened, and turned red from embarrassment. "Robin, I am sorry. Malice taught me, and I see now that she was lying. Please, hurry back to the tower."
Starfire turned off the communicator, embarrassed. She glared at the grinning emotion in the cage. Starfire turned sharply, a "Hmph!" escaping her lips, and walked out of the room angrily. Malice just smiled at the flawless execution of a simple, malicious prank, and then looked down at Hatred. Malice sharply kicked the unconscious emotion, hoping to elicit some response. When there was none, she knelt, then turned, so that her bound hands were near Hatred, and healed the emotion slightly, just enough to wake it.
Hated coughed, then caught her breath through her nose, since her mouth was covered in tape. Malice stood, and drug Hatred to standing with her powers. Hatred glared at her through red eyes.
"So, you failed too, did you?" Malice grinned as she asked the question.
"Mmgpml." Hatred spoke through the tape, to no effect. She sighed through her nose.
Malice smiled. A chance to do what she did best. "One second, I'll have that tape off in no time."
Hatred squeezed her eyes shut as Malice slowly, cruelly, and painfully peeled the tape away from her lips, using her powers. A full 30 seconds later, the last bit of tape tore off, and Hatred opened her eyes, angry, but unable to really do anything against the emotion. Trigon forbade it.
"I did not fail. I simply... got distracted when I arrived at the tower." Hatred's voice sounded strange at the end of that sentence, as if she wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Got distracted? How did you get distracted?" Malice's eyes narrowed. She only tolerated deception from herself.
Hatred's eyes flashed. "Some sort of spell. I tried to kill them, I tried. They were all just sleeping there, all of the emotions, Raven, and... Beastboy." When Hatred said his name, something in her voice betrayed the reason she had not killed them.
"You didn't kill them because you couldn't kill Beastboy? Oh, this is... this is great. Heh. Hatred, the very embodiment of the emotion of hatred, can't bring herself to kill a hero like Beastboy." Malice grinned madly, loving the obvious confusion and turmoil in Hatred.
Hatred glowed with black energy. "I know! I know I couldn't kill him! Help me find out why! I should be able to kill him, to hate him. But I can't!"
"Well that should be obvious. You can't hate him because you like him." Malice smiled cruelly.
Hatred's voice got a lot angrier. "Like him?! Are you out of your mind? I'm Hatred, I can't like anyone. I don't even like you, and we used to be the same person!"
Malice's grin spread wider. "You are a terrible liar. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love him."
Hatred glared angrily at Malice, her eyes burning with hate. "I don't love... I don't even like... I hate..."
Hatred was silent for a few seconds. "I hate this."
Malice smirked. "I love it. Look at you, you are so torn inside and confused that you have no idea what to do. Just because Raven loves him, you can't hate him. It's great!"
A rare smile crept across Hatred's face. "If I can't hate him because Raven loves him, then you can't hate him either."
Malice's gloating stopped immediately. "That's impossible. I'm not subject to the same pathetic urges as you are. Look at you, all confused! I love him!"
Malice's eyes widened. "IT! I love IT!"
It was too late, it had already been said. Hatred's smile grew into a laugh, a sick, evil laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. Her laugh chilled even Malice's heart.
"I may not hate him, but you love him. You weak minded fool! I'm surprised He even bothers controlling you. Not Beastboy of course, I meant Tri-"
"Don't say His name!" Malice's eyes flashed in anger as she stopped Hatred's word with telekinetic power. "He seems to be ignoring us here, don't provoke Him by speaking His name!"
There was silence in the cell for a few moments, as both emotions waited for the compulsion from Trigon to overwhelm them again. As the seconds passed, they both became convinced that he thankfully had not heard them. When Hatred spoke again, her voice was quiet, but full of anger.
"I hate Him. I hate everyone, but more than anything, I hate Him."
Malice also spoke quietly, her voice laced with hatred. "I do as well. Even with my tendency towards malicious acts, I will never mentally control someone. It's a pain I know too well. It's why I pity Terra."
Hatred shrugged. "I hate Terra," she stated simply.
Malice looked at Hatred half-heartedly. "You would. Still, I think that-"
The door slid open, to reveal Robin and the others.
End Flashback End Flashback End Flashback
Beastboy grinned at Raven's embarrassment. He didn't intend to be mean, but her face when Malice told them that Hatred couldn't hate him was priceless. She had since returned to her normal, deadpan look, but he was still grinning from what she'd looked like. Love was also smiling, but only because she could tell that Beastboy was finally getting the hint about the way Raven felt deep down.
Still, Beastboy couldn't help but pity the emotions inside the cage. They were still people... sort of. Not only that, but it didn't really seem like their fault that they had torn up those buildings, they were under Trigon's control. They seemed a little more mellow now that they had been talking to him for a while, and their eyes were... fading. They were more like normal eyes now, just with bright red pupils instead of Raven's normal violet.
"Robin, I think we should let them out. They seem to hate... uh... Raven's Father even more than we do, maybe they can help." Beastboy grinned at Robin, knowing already what the boy's answer would be. Hatred and Malice, surprised by Beastboy's suggestion, looked at the green boy with astonishment. He trusted them?
Raven narrowed her eyes. Was he out of his mind? She looked around at the others. Wisdom was frowning, obviously not too keen on the idea either. Robin and Cyborg both seemed to be thinking the same thing Raven was. Starfire was still holding two glowing starbolts in her hands, more than likely still angry at Hatred for blasting Robin earlier, and Malice for tricking her. Fear was hiding behind Worry, who was wringing her hands and staring with concern at Beastboy, who was altogether too close to Hatred and Malice for her liking. Bravery was grinning from her spot on the floor, trying to muster up the strength to fight if Hatred and Malice got loose. Raven turned back to Robin as he spoke.
"Beastboy, I don't think that's a good idea. We can't trust them as long as they are being controlled by-"
"But they aren't being controlled anymore." Beastboy looked at Malice when he spoke.
Hatred and Malice's eyes widened, and they looked at each other. It... was true. They couldn't feel any compulsion from Trigon. He must be ignoring them because they were worthless when they were in prison. Raven's eyes widened too. He was right; there was no way Trigon could control all three emotions, now that they were actually real people as well. Beastboy was actually being intelligent. Raven was impressed. It was strange, seeing him in a different light like this. Now that she had allowed herself to see his good qualities, they just kept appearing. Had she been missing something for this long?
"C'mon, you guys have a choice. You can't just let him control you like this. You have to fight it!" Beastboy's voice was serious and there was a fierce look in his eyes. The Titans knew why. They remembered the last time he'd spoken like this. Beastboy had seen another girl being controlled.
When Hatred and Malice turned back to face the rest of the group, their eyes were normal. They looked like Raven's eyes, just a deep violet, not even a speck of the evil red that had pervaded them previously. Starfire gasped in surprise, not expecting such a strange turn. Robin's hand tightened on his bo staff, suspicious of a trap. Raven and her emotions knew what had happened, and each thought silently of Beastboy's effect on Hatred and Malice. It was amazing. He had freed the emotions from Trigon's control, and it had only taken him a few minutes to do it. Raven had been trying to be free of his influence her entire life.
Robin took his hand from his staff, which was still latched to his belt. He wasn't a trusting person usually, but today was turning out to be anything but the usual. He walked cautiously towards the cage, looking the emotions in the eyes. There was something there, a certain desperate hope, that made him feel as if they were telling the truth, that perhaps they were free of Trigon after all. He stepped up to the cell door, next to Beastboy. Surprisingly, both the emotions were looking at him and not being angry. His voice was cool and collected as he spoke.
"You are free of him? You are going to help us and fight against Rage?"
Hatred stayed silent, but Malice spoke for the both of them. "Yes, we are finally free. For the first time I can remember, I can't feel his influence on me; I don't feel my body moving by itself." A smile crossed her face, making her look almost... normal.
Hatred almost smiled at Beastboy. "As much as I hate working with these others..." Her voice faltered. She finished quietly. "Thanks, BB."
Malice looked around at the group of heroes before her. "We will help you against Trigon."
The word was out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying. After it had been said, however, it was too late. The room's lights went out; an evil blood red glow filling it instead. It seemed that Rage had finished part of the summoning, as Trigon was growing stronger on this world. Hatred and Malice both held their heads in pain, as they felt his control slipping back into their minds. They fought, and having a taste of freedom made their fighting all the more fierce. They would never allow themselves to be controlled again.
Robin backed away from the cage, where both emotions were glowing red now. Wisps of unintentional power releases were beginning to flash through the diffuse glow. Beastboy was holding on to the cell bars, gnashing his teeth as he tried to stay where he was. Starfire was holding Fear and Worry, who had clung to the first person they had seen. Wisdom was shielding her eyes with her arms, and shouting for Beastboy to back away, but the sound was lost in the maelstrom of power.
Paper was flying through the air, and parts of the walls were being torn away as the chaos in the room expanded. Everyone backed further from the cage, instinctively shielding themselves from the flying debris and flashes of dangerous black power coursing through the room. Hatred and Malice had their eyes squeezed shut, trying to concentrate on defying Trigon's will in this chaos. Beastboy was shouting, trying to keep them them from giving in, but he couldn't be heard over the noise of tearing metal and ripping circuitry from the walls. He fought to hold on to the cage's bars, ignoring the pain caused by the debris and sharp black energy flying around him. He hated to see women controlled, especially Raven.
Malice fought hard inside her mind, forcing herself to resist the impulses forced upon her by Trigon. She could feel Hatred beside her, could telepathically hear her fighting as well. They were losing. He was simply too strong. Malice would never surrender, however. She heard something from outside of her mind, something familiar. Snatches of a voice. Beastboy. She forced her eyes open, willing to risk a slight loss of concentration to see what was happening. She saw him; he was holding to the cage, a fierce look in his eyes, shouting incomprehensibly in the chaotic din. Her eyes widened as she saw the many cuts and bruises on his face and body, caused by the release of powers and the flying debris. They were hurting him.
Malice called to Hatred telepathically, and Hatred opened her eyes as well, seeing Beastboy. He was watching them, unsure what their worried expressions meant. Malice could feel his mind, she could sense that Trigon's attack on them was weakening him as well. If this kept going, Beastboy could suffer permanent damage to his mind. She felt strange... protective. It wasn't a feeling she was used to, but she could tell that Hatred felt it too. Perhaps it was due to his trust of her, perhaps it was something deeper, but they couldn't hurt him. Even if it meant losing to Trigon, they couldn't hurt him. The wall of the room had cracked. Not much, but enough to allow for teleportation. She looked at Hatred, and Hatred nodded.
The two emotions looked towards the barely conscious Beastboy, who was still clinging to the cage. They spoke quietly, but for some reason it pierced the chaos.
"I'm sorry..."
The emotions closed their eyes, and teleported away. The chaos in the room immediately ended, Trigon's reason for causing it gone. Beastboy stared at the space where the emotions had been. He couldn't protect them. They were gone. He sank to the floor, feeling unconsciousness flow over him. He dimly heard voices, saw Robin's face. Robin was trying to wake him. Raven was there... she looked worried. He tried to tell her he was ok, but his mind couldn't focus. His mind slipped the final imperceptible bit, and he knew no more.
Robin held his fingers against Beastboy's neck. "He has a pulse, but it's faint. We need to get him to the medical room immediately."
"On it." Cyborg lifted Beastboy carefully, then turned to leave, but was stopped by Wisdom.
"There is a faster way." Wisdom took Beastboy from Cyborg's arms, and promptly disappeared; teleporting herself and Beastboy to the medical bay. It was a long walk, but Raven knew the medical procedures, and so Wisdom would as well. Still, the remaining Titans ran towards the Med Lab, Starfire carrying Worry, who was crying too hard to walk on her own.
Robin turned towards Raven as the group hurried down the staircase. "Raven, what happened back there? How can we combat Trigon if he won't show himself here?"
Raven's demeanor was dark, and when she spoke, there was a hint of tears in her voice, though she tried to cover it up. "I don't know. I hope that repairing the mirror and bringing my emotions back into me will help, but I don't know..."
The group moved in silence for a few moments. When Raven spoke again, her voice was quiet. Quiet... and scared.
"He... He's going to be alright, isn't he?"
A/N: A shorter chapter than the last, but still a good one in my opinion. Beastboy is injured, and Raven is finally beginning to understand how much he really means to her. Thanks for all the reviews of this fic, it's nice to see such a positive response! Until next time!