Disclaimer. As usual. I do not own…(insert show/characters etcetera here)

Chapter Five: Family Feud

Robin didn't like sitting around and waiting.

Unfortunately…

He had been in the forest for almost two hours now, deep enough into the wood that he couldn't hear the echoes of battle any longer. The only thing that kept him there was Raven.

She still hadn't woken up. Every so often, she would stir, but that was all—no other movement. Robin didn't like that, either.

The quiet was pressing in on his ears, creating an infuriating buzzing which hammered relentlessly against his skull.

Then, with no warning whatsoever, a sizzling black spear of power shot right towards the two.

Grabbing Raven, Robin leapt into the air. Behind him, the tree they were sitting in front of shriveled into a blackened stump, and the air was suddenly thick with the stench of death.

Above the two superheroes was evil cousin no. 3…a girl (Must be Circe, thought Robin) with shining golden hair and hard gray eyes was glaring down at them in a way with suggested that a frown had never been absent from her face.

"Let me guess. Monologues, right? My idiotic cousins have a habit of doing that. Me, I cut to the chase." With that, she hurled another bolt of black curse.

There wasn't time for Robin to move.

If the other Titans (plus Kiyu and Rei) hadn't showed up a split second before the curse hit, Robin and Raven would have been a pile of soot on the ground.

"You are so lucky," Rei growled, "That we got here."

Robin shot her a glare from behind his mask. Kiyu glared at him. Cyborg glared at all of them.
"Ok, why are y'all standing here fighting, when you should be out there fighting!"

Robin nodded. "Right. Titans, G-"
Rei and Kiyu stepped in front of him. "NOT you. As I said before, you have to get Raven out-"

"-Of here. Yes, you have said that before. Several times. And now I have something to say. I can't run away while my friends are fighting these-"

Rei raised an eyebrow. "So you're going to let Raven die?"

Robin stared at her. She smirked, challenging him. I have a feeling Robin would never abandon Raven. Actually, I know he wouldn't. Her smirk widened.

"I am not going anywhere."

Everyone stared in Raven's direction. The girl had awoken and struggled to her feet.

Circe didn't stare. She glared.

"One thing I have always loathed about you, Blackbird, is your annoying determination."
"Don't call me Bl—that name!"

"I'll call you whatever I want, Blackbird!"
Raven was shaking with fury. "SHUT UP! Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!"

There was a crackle of energy and Circe was knocked out of the air.

Robin leaned over to Rei and asked, "Why does she hate that nickname so much?"

"Because of whom it's used by. It's also kind of insulting. According to them, she doesn't deserve to be named such a dark, magical bird, Raven. They—as in Circe, Larel, Hiss, and Hiyd—used to call her Mockingbird, but they regretted it."

The girl pointed to Circe's arm, where a long, black scar ran from her shoulder to the tip of her index finger.

"Raven did that?"

"Yep. I was there. Not pleasant. They've all got one. Larel has the biggest, though. He started it."

The sorceress turned to glare at the two. "What are you two whispering about!" she saw what Robin was staring at and slapped her hand over her arm (though it didn't help much seeing as how long the scar was).

Kiyu laughed. "What is it, Circe? Worried they'll see your scar? Hate to tell you this, but it can't be that easy to hide…"

Her cousin screamed in rage. "I'm going to kill you, you little power-snitching—!"

But then her face cleared. "Actually, maybe I'll have some fun first…"

At the same time, Rei and Kiyu leapt into the air. "Guys, you might want to get out of the way…"

"…Because whenever she says that…"
"…It can only mean trouble!"
"Cut that out!" yelled Beast Boy, holding his head again.

Suddenly, there was an explosion of blinding yellow light, and Circe screamed. Robin found himself instinctively grabbed for Raven, his eyes narrowing against the blazing flash.

Beast Boy gasped.

"Terra!"

Ooh…cliffhanger ending. Overdone, yet so classic.