Fighting on the Edge

Part II - End of Innocence

Sorry about the wait. Exams-blah. Ah at least they are finally over.

Chapter Four

The Prophet Said.

She lay gazing up at the dull ceiling, her violet eyes fluttering as they darted from one grey panel to the next. Her body was laced with cool sweat, her throat was red raw. Wiping the dark clumps of hair from her moist forehead, Raven wondered if she was coming down with something. Wouldn't that be great, she mused sarcastically. On top of everything else she could look forward to a week of bed rest in the infirmary. Not to mention she was famished. Starfire had try to temp her earlier with an bowl of what Raven could only describe as behind the couch leftovers. She smiled politely and told the alien girl that she wasn't hungry. Now she was. Her empty stomach rumbled furiously. Rolling onto her side Raven was met with the blank stare of the bedside clock. Tiny black hands indicated that it was late. Later then Raven had first perceived.

"Damn." Her voice croaked. Not that she wanted to sleep anyway. Her dreams were haunted by the apparitions of Jericho or that demonic creature. She shivered at the thought of them. No, the demon was a dream, nothing more. Jericho was….She didn't know what it was, but she was sure that it wasn't dream. 'Like he was reaching out me…' Raven considered the possibility for only a second, before screwing up her face. "Why do I keep torturing myself?" She demanded aloud. "Am I ever going to get a good night sleep again?"

Of course the issue of Slade was never far from her mind. Her beating was still fresh, her body still sore. Struggling to pull her chest upright, Raven tried to sit up while she coolly tried to solve the mystery of Slade's anger towards her. The image of the madman seated in the dark depth of his lair, carefully and callously plotting his next move, sent a twinge of fear pulsating under her breast, rippling across her aching flesh. Nevertheless her thoughts continued to swell over the topic. Slade will never leave us alone. The words cut through the girl like a cold blade. She knew it was the truth. Not until they killed him, or worse….

Why does he want to harm us? What have we done? Such sorrow in Ravens thoughts felt almost alien. Gathering herself, Raven disregarded their distress. Slade doesn't need a reason. He's a psychopath. The man has become obsessed with us and he isn't going to rest until he has achieved his goal. Until he has annihilated us.

Why? Why is he obsessed? The tiny voice crept up again.

Raven allowed her mind to wander in search of an explanation. First it had started with Robin. Why? What was it about Robin that made him so desirable to Slade? And why didn't he destroy Robin and the rest of us when he had the chance? There had to be more then what meet the eye. She sighed. I guess only Slade has the answers…..but do I really want to know them?

With Robin's rejection of Slade, his goals had changed. Now he want the entire team wiped out, and so he had set his sights on Terra. Poor, pathetic Terra who couldn't control her incredible powers. So desperate to be loved and wanted, she had risk the lives of the Titans, the only people who had ever cared for her. But thankfully she had turned on Slade at the last minute.

We thought she had killed you. Looks like we were wrong.

Raven mentally searched the data for clues, but none presented themselves to explain his new behaviour.

Slade is unpredictable. I guess its not surprising that he would single us out. Just like Robin and Terra, it's now my turn …..

It was then that the door to the infirmary swung open. In stumbled Beast Boy with a steaming mug held tightly within his paws. His emerald eyes shone as they fell upon the dark enchantress, yet his goofy grin was absent . In its place hung an unusually sombre expression, which strangely made him seem more mature. Without a word he ushered the mug into her palms. For some reason Raven didn't like to see him this way. It wasn't Beast Boy. But she tried to think nothing of it. He was probably just worried. That was all.

"Herbal tea?" she smiled. "No one knows me better then you." Taking a small gulp, she paused observing that her lover was watching her every movement. A twisted grin curled the ends of her pale lips. "What?"

That seemed to snap him out of his trance. "Nothing." he mumbled, focusing on his feet. "I was just thinking how tired you look, that's all." His cheeks were blushing. "Why don't you try sleeping."

Raven shook her head. "I've tried. But I just can't…..I keep having these dreams." Instantly Raven regretted letting that slip. Yes they had agreed not to have anymore secrets, but Raven didn't see the need to trouble Beast Boy. He was already worried enough as it was.

"You want to talk about it?"

Raven stained her smile. "No. That's okay." she sighed trying to change the subject. "I've been distracting myself with Slade…"

Immediately Beast Boy broke in. "You shouldn't worry yourself about him. I'm going to make sure he pays for hurting you." He snarled.

Raven couldn't help but giggle. Gar looked so adorable when he was trying to be aggressive. And in her honour and all. So sweet. Catching sight of his arched eyebrow, she swallowed her laughter. "I can take care of myself….but thank you for your concern." She leant towards him, placing a warm kiss upon his right cheek. Soft fur stroked her pale skin. Tenderly she nuzzled herself next to him. "As long as I have you, I know I'm going to be fine."

Miraculously his grin rippled across his mouth. "Yeah. I know. Its cause of the ears. Chicks dig the ears!" He wiggled them for good effect. Raven giggled again. She never wanted this moment to end.

Beast Boy touched her face lightly. "Its late. You should sleep."

She nodded, feeling a tremor of unhappiness. She didn't want him to go. She wanted them to be together. The feeling was ludicrous, yet it was strong. As if this might be the last time she would look into those glistening green eyes. Definitely ridiculous she decided. With a nod she let go of her lovers hand.

He beamed. "I'll bring you breakfast in bed!"

Stepping out into the cool hallway, the young man closed the door quietly behind him. But not before he took one long lingering glance at Raven. I just want to keep her safe. Yet underneath everything he knew how strong Raven really was. Even after all she had been through, she was still standing. It was simply amazing that they were still together. When Raven had revealed her darkest form, Beast Boy had thought that he had lost her forever. Flashbacks of the evil Raven flickered in the back of his mind. His heart broke the first time he gazed upon her. What if this is it? He recalled thinking. What if she never knows exactly how I feel? But that was in the past. That creature wasn't Raven. Raven was back with him, giving his life meaning once more. He swore that as long as they were still breathing, that he would never allow them to be parted.

Sheepishly wandering down the empty hallways, Gar crept into his messy bedroom, a slight smile pasted on his face. He was ignoring the strange tingle that had appeared from no where, creeping across his flesh. Collapsing on his bottom bunk, Beast Boy closed his eyes, peacefully awaiting slumber that would never come. The tingling grew more intense, so fervent that is quickly numbed his body. His body seemed to shudder at its own accord as if Gar was suffering from a seizure. Jerking upwards, Gar felt his body rise and hurled him across the floor. A groan slipped from his mouth. What the hell is happening? his mind demanded.

Curling into a ball upon his floor, he lay still awaiting the fit to past. But the pain had only just begun. His green flesh contracted, sending a ripple throbbing down his spine. Then his skin stretched, as if something were fighting to get free. A yelp dangled from his mouth. He would have screamed louder, yet he did not seem to have the energy. He already knew what was happening. He was shape shifting. Something he had done a hundred times before, yet why was this time so different? Why did it cause him so much pain.?

The ache became unbearable. Gar thought for sure that he was going to past out, yet he didn't. There was a spark of ecstasy, tiny but there. God, was part of him enjoying the pain?

The forced shifting continued. Beast Boy found his body taking the shape tiger, then moulding straight into an eagle, from that to dog and so on until the shifting gradually came to a halt. Gar hugged himself even tighter, unsure of what to make of it. His skin felt as it had been put through a stream roller.

"What the hell just happened?" he breathed aloud after finding the energy to speak.

"You're maturing." A smooth voice sent chills down his spine. Lifting his head slowly, he caught sight of a tall youth standing by his open window, curtains blowing furiously. He was suited in a dark blue armour with a dark red sash tied around his waist. What struck Gar the most were those two preternatural blue eyes glistening from within under a thick layer of brown curls. Something so cold, so daunting about them as if they could see right through him. The creature shivered.

"Who are you?" The croaking of his voice prevented it from sounding as threatening as Beast Boy would have liked.

"The Ravager." He answered. "But just think of me as a messenger Logan."

"How do you know my name?"

The Ravager continued to grin. "I know a lot about you then you think."

Gar felt the rage rise up within him. "You know nothing." He hissed.

The boy's face never faulted. "Don't try to act tough with me. Of all the Titans you're the weakest."

Beast Boy's mouth fell open. "That's not true!"

"Yes it is." The Ravager curled his lips as it he was enjoying seeing Beast Boy's torment. "You're not as powerful as Raven, or as intelligent as Robin, you're not as innocent as Starfire or as strong as Cyborg. Where do you fit in the group? Ah yes the joker! Villains beware." He mocked.

Beast Boy felt a fire lit within him. "Shut up!" he roared. "Shut up and leave me alone!"

The Ravager shook his head. "I can't do that Logan." His expression became serious. "You're changing Logan. You're not a kid anymore. You're maturing."

"Are you saying I'm going to change?" Gar's mouth hung open. "Into what?"

The Ravager simply smiled. "What you were born to become. Tell me, didn't you ever wonder how you, a mere child, could have survived such a deadly disease when others could not?"

"My father save me." The mutter brought back the memories he had thought he had dealt with. They're dead. Gone. Never coming back. He took his eyes of the Ravager, only for a second, but that was all that was needed. Turning back to the window, Gar found only his reflection staring back. The Ravager had vanished….

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It started with a fire.

At first Jericho didn't know where he was. The smoke didn't help. Blocking his mouth with his sleeve, he charged down the narrow corridor.

I don't even know where I'm going. He thought. Gasping for air he shoved two huge doors at the end of the corridor open. They revealed a wide courtyard. Immediately he dashed out, coughing hysterically. Collapsing upon the cement ground, Joey shut his eyes trying to focus on his breathing and make sense of what had just happened.

Azar!

She was still inside! Staggering to his feet, he scanned the burning wreckage. How did it start? Had she gotten out in time? Where was she? His mind was whirling. What am I to do? He debated going back inside, but decided against it. What good could I do? Jericho thought bitterly. I don't even know if she still in there….

The roar of the blaze held the boy memorised as he watched the building slowly rot away under the brilliant orange flames with no sign of Azar. He hovered between emotions, restricting his actions. How did the fire start? Accident? Intention? As Jericho searched for answers, he became away of a feeling of anxiousness within the pit of his stomach. Move, his brain seemed to be commanding. Obedience, he leapt across the terrace, just as a dark figure darted towards him. Joey had but seconds in which to inspect the mysterious attacker as she prepared her next attack.

A girl, quite tall, about his age, draped in dark green. She wore a black mask similarly to that of Robins, he noticed. But what stood out the most about her was her perfect white hair, tightly plaited down her back. With a series of graceful movements, the girl landed beside Jericho, a sliver blade pointed at his throat. He trembled, aware that he should attack her, but his body has frozen. Some things he just couldn't forget.

As the blade pierced his flesh, instincts took over. The girl was propelled away with a large shove. Seeing her struggle to her feet, Jericho attempted to kick the blade from her hand. As if she had foreseen the move, she dodged at the last second, tripping Jericho as she span her leg across the ground. Feeling the air pasting from his lungs, Joey looked up to see the girl positioning the dagger above his heart.

"Trust me, this isn't personal." There was something familiar about her voice. Strangely calm. But he could place where he had heard this before. His memories were disjointed, flowing into one another.

"Sure looks personal to me." The Ravager appeared from the shadows taking both the girl and Jericho by surprise. She paused mid motion of slaying Jericho. Enough time for the Ravager to tear across the pathway towards her, taking her down with one swift movement. There was cracking of bone as her body struck the pavement. There she lay, perfectly still. Jericho was too full of happiness to notice. As was his concern for Azar pushed far from his mind.

Grant!

Tears were welling up in his eyes as his arms clasped around the waist of his older brother. I'm dreaming. I must be. But I don't care.

"There, there." Grant stroked the younger boys golden curls. "Its alright. Everything's going to be alright now that I'm here. C'mon. Lets take you home."

With mother?

Grant grinned as he took his brothers hand, casting one last pitiful glance at his fallen adversary. "No. To your real home of course. To Titans Tower."

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