Chapter Eight: Healing
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans and I never will. A genius owns them! (Obviously not me! LOL)
Gar looked around the new territory that Rage of all… emotions had transported them to. It looked like the roof of Titans Tower but the sky was black like the rest of Raven's mind.
At the other end of the roof there was a large archway. In the middle of the roof there was another emotion in a silvery cloak. She was floating in mid air like she was meditating
"Hello Garfield." she said as the group approached. Gar cocked his head slightly
"Um… hi. Uh who are you exactly?" the emotion smiled
"You will find out soon enough. I will be tested greatly in the next few months." she paused then shrugged "But it will all be worth it in the end. Now come. There is not much time. We must talk to Knowledge then visit Peace and fix this problem."
Gar and Raven's emotions followed the silver emotion through the large archway. Instantly Gar's animal senses were flooded with the smell of paper and ink. The room was filled to the ceiling with books! There were hundreds of shelves lined with them and another hundred were scattered around the floor.
Then a large ladder rolled into view, with a yellow cloaked emotion riding it. Large wire rimmed glasses were perched on her nose making her violet eyes seem twice as large
"Garfield!" she exclaimed jumping off the ladder and running over to him. She hugged him tightly laughing happily
"Nice to meet you too Knowledge." Gar choked out. The emotion dropped him and a red blush spread over her face as she straightened her glasses
"I apologize. It's just so nice to finally have met you." she looked at the emotions that had trooped in behind Gar and smiled
"Happy, Bravery, Rage, it's nice to see you here as well." the silver emotion smiled at Knowledge who just nodded in response
"So, Timid told me that some of your books are starting to disappear. How can I help?" Knowledge's smile turned into a slight frown
"So far it's only been unimportant books and memories but some of the spell books are starting to waver. I need you to wake up Peace. Ever since Cameron attacked us she's been in such a deep trance that neither I nor Wisdom, who is gone at the moment, have been able to wake her. After her territory you will meet up with Rude and after that is the forbidden door."
"So we have to wake up Peace?"
"Yes."
"Okay, just through that door right?" Knowledge nodded and jumped as several small books disappeared from their stacks. She pushed her glasses up further on her nose and sighed
"I would help you but I have to protect Raven's important memories and her knowledge of magics. If you will excuse me." she leapt back up onto the ladder which rolled away with a loud clattering sound. Gar looked back at the four emotions who all started for the far doorway. He shrugged and followed them.
Cyborg sighed wearily as he walked into the main room. It had been six hours since Gar had brought Raven back to the Tower and her condition had improved only slightly. She still wasn't floating but her heartbeat and breathing had steadied and were regular.
Robin was sitting at the bar with Starfire when he came in. They both looked worried and in Robin's case a little frantic
"Cyborg, has Gar been with you at all?" he asked. It took the electronic teenager a moment to process the question. He was exhausted and needed to sleep for about a week
"No, he left about seven hours ago. I thought he was down here with you guys." Starfire shook her head, her orange hair flying in all directions
"Gar was down here for a little bit. Then I believe he talked to Robin after I left. When I returned he was gone." Cyborg cocked an eyebrow at Robin
"What'd you two say?" he asked. The masked teenager sighed and collapsed into a chair heavily
"Basically it started out civil then we both got mad and he stormed out."
"So we don't know where he is?" Cyborg questioned. Both his teammates shook their heads and he opened his mouth but Robin answered his unspoken question
"We looked everywhere. His old room, the roof, the gym. Everywhere I could think of." behind them the doors slid open quietly but no one noticed
"We need to find him before he takes off again. I can't let him slip away like that again."
"Robin you need to take a minute to think about this. None of us are really sure of what happened to… Gar before we met him. We basically know he got sick which made him turn green and gave him his powers. We also know his parents died in a boating accident. We don't know anything other than that."
"I know Cyborg. But I can't just let him go free while we figure out what's going on." behind them there was a snort. Everyone turned around quickly, Robin nearly falling out of his chair in the process. Gar was leaning against the counter a tired look in his once happy and care free green eyes
"Where have you been?" Robin demanded after regaining his seating on the chair. Gar walked further into the kitchen looking around before answering him
"Around the Tower. I told you Robin. I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure that Rae's okay. But after that…" he paused as if he had suddenly remembered something. Everyone stared at him. He quickly tucked his hands into his pockets but Cyborg thought he saw his right hand glowing a red color
"After that I'm outta here." he finished. Robin stood up angrily
"No, you're not." Gar raised an eyebrow as if he was amused
"And how are you going to stop someone who can turn into an ameba and slid through the walls?" Robin had no answer. He just stared at the changeling angrily. In the living room the doors opened again and a familiar cloak entered the room
"What is going on in here?" Raven demanded. Gar looked up and squeaked slightly
"Rae. What are you doing up?" the girl snorted
"I refuse to stay in the med center when I'm fully healed and capable. Now what is going on?" Cyborg sniggered behind one hand
"Yep, she's alright." Raven rolled her eyes and glared at Robin
"What is going on here?"
"Raven, I think you should go up to your room and get some rest." above him a light bulb crackled with dark energy
"No. I want to know what's going on." Gar smirked but it died when the girl suddenly turned on him "And don't think you're off the hook. How many times have I told you not to go into my room? I ought to through you out myself for doing that!" she yelled. Gar leaned back slightly as the girl ranted on and on by the time she was done he was almost touching the floor
"Well if I hadn't you'd still be in a coma." he responded. Cyborg noted that a little of the old spark in his eyes had returned when Raven had come into the room
"And that reminds me," she slapped him lightly across the face "stay out of my mind!" Raven yelled. Gar just shrugged
"It was the only way. By the way…" he paused and a light blush crossed his face "Your new emotion is quite nice." Raven's face turned to one of confusion but before she could do anything Beast Boy had pulled his 'turn into a bug and escape' trick and was gone from sight.
Robin ordered that the whole city be searched along with the caves. But by the time they got there everything was gone and it looked as if no one had ever lived there.
Robin punched the wall angrily when they found the empty cave. Before he could do it again though Starfire had grabbed his fist
"Stop Robin. If we want to find Gar we must let him come to us." Cyborg nodded
"Star's right Rob. We gotta wait him out." Robin finally agreed but he didn't miss the look of hurt that now haunted Raven's eyes whenever she passed the room that was marked
BEAST BOY
Two months later the Titans hadn't seen hide or hair of Gar or any kind of oddly colored animals. Robin felt as if the team was falling apart. They still worked well together- in battle. Once they were home it was a whole different story.
Raven wandered the halls with a spacey look on her face as if she was detached from the world. Starfire tried to cheer everyone up but her efforts did nothing. Soon she to was depressed and spent much of her time making things in the kitchen. Cyborg threw himself into his mechanical work. He had even accepted a job in town, working on cars and various electronics. His boss was very understanding and always let him take off when the Titans needed him. Robin worked for hours searching for any sign of Gar or Cameron. Of course he found no trace of the changeling or the strange man who had caused so much trouble. But that all changed.
The Titans were called out because of a disturbance in the local park. It was the same park where they used to go to for picnics and free days.
It was raining and the sun had set when they reached the park. The tip had reported a suspicious figure lurking around the park after dark and it was beginning to worry the police so they called in the Titans to stake out the area.
Robin agreed to the assignment and soon his team was placed around the park watching for any strange activity
"This is pointless. No one's coming." Raven's monotone said over the communicators. There was some static then Starfire chimed in
"I agree with Raven. The rain is beginning to thicken and I fear a storm may start up."
"Ya Robin, we should go in before something bad happens."
"No. We're going to stick it out. The police are counting on us." in the background he heard Raven mutter something in her native Azarathian. Then there was a gasp
"I see someone. He is entering the park from the woods." Starfire's voice chirped softly. Robin instantly was on guard. A large figure was entering the park. Suddenly he stopped and looked around
"I know you're here Titans." a familiar voice sounded. Robin jumped out of the tree he had been hiding in and his team followed suit. Starfire jumped out of a nearby tree and Cyborg came into view from the woods. Raven appeared behind the figure after slipping through the playground tunnel in a black vortex
"Who are you?" Robin demanded. The figure chuckled and looked around the circle. He was dressed in a deep green cloak much like Raven's but the hood was purple. He was wearing black boots with steel toes that were eerily similar to Robin's. A pair of black gloves without fingers covered his hands as he pulled them out of the cloak
"Someone you know very well Robin." he responded
"What do you want?"
"Since when is it against the law to visit a park? I've done nothing wrong. Broken no laws." Robin growled under his breath. It was true; this strange figure hadn't done anything. At least not yet.
As if reading his thoughts the figure chuckled and leaned against a metal post that held up a wooden bridge
"Of course… I may break a law right now." before anyone could react he had lashed out and kicked Cyborg straight in the jaw. The cybertronic teen was thrown backwards smashing into a swing set. The figure smirked satisfied that Cyborg was knocked out
"Titans Go!" Robin ordered.
Raven lifted herself into the air and began tearing park benches and quite a few large stones at the figure. He just flipped out of the way and smirked looking totally at ease
"That all you got, witch?" anger burned through Raven's veins and she lashed out with a whip of black power. It wrapped around the figure tightly
"Not even close." she hissed. Robin and Starfire ran up accompanied by a dazed Cyborg
"Raven, don't hurt him." Robin warned. The girl nodded and tightened her hold on the figure. Suddenly a wave a pink energy slashed through her whip. Raven grunted as her power dropped away and she flew backwards a few inches.
Jinx, Gizmo and Mammoth stepped out of the shadows. The figure whirled around as if he was surprised to see them
"I told you to stay put until I needed help." he growled. Jinx smiled playfully
"You did need help silly."
"No I did not. Now stay back, I will not risk you three bumbling idiots messing up my mission." Jinx snorted but obeyed and stepped back slightly.
A few yards away the Titans were regrouping and Robin was giving orders
"Cyborg and Starfire go for the HIVE. Raven and I will take this other guy down. Titans move!"
Starfire lifted herself and Cyborg up into the air soaring over the cloaked figure and landing in front of the HIVE. The boy didn't seem fazed at this sudden change of pace
"Attack pattern Delta!" Jinx yelled throwing pink hex balls at the hovering Starfire. The alien threw Cyborg into the battle and quickly was engaged in air combat with Gizmo.
Raven and Robin eyed the cloaked form in front of them. Raven could sense emotions coming off of him in a cloud. Anticipation, adrenaline, thrill, and wariness
"Hiya!" Robin yelled charging head on. The figure side stepped easily leaving the Boy Wonder stumbling into a fountain as he tried to regain his balance. A deep chuckle came from under the purple hood as he watched Robin try to quickly jump out of the slippery fountain without much success
"Cute trick. My turn now." the figure whirled around and was met by a large raven of black magic. Its two white eyes were mere slits as it looked down at its prey
"Meet my soul self." Raven's voice rumbled from somewhere nearby. The figure was encased by the raven's wings and he felt as if he was falling
"It makes you live your worst fears." Raven said from her position outside the black prison. Robin was now engaged with Mammoth confident that Raven was capable of handling the mysterious person. Raven smirked in satisfaction as muffled screams came from inside her soul self. Then a pang of familiarity shot through her. Thoughts raced through her mind and she realized the figure had used her soul self to access her mind
"Get out!"
"Raven! Stop! Let me go!" the figure's voice rang through her mind "Please. Let me go. I beg of you, let me go!" for some reason Raven obeyed the pleading voice and her soul self retracted back into her body. The figure slumped on the grass, on his hands and knees breathing heavily. She approached him and he looked up.
The hood fell back as he did and Raven gasped. The figure pulled the hood back over his face quickly and ran past the HIVE who were merely keeping the Titans at bay
"Get back to base!" he yelled. Jinx nodded and threw down a large pink hex ball. The light blinded all the Titans and when they looked up all four of the villains were gone
"Who was that?" Cyborg wondered aloud. Raven said nothing, she was trembling all over
"I don't know. Let's get back to the Tower. I think we've had all the excitement we can handle for one night."
Raven got into the car and stared ahead in shock. Those eyes, so full of fear, rage and guilt. He didn't need to explain anything. Raven had understood his silent plea.