Chapter Two: Return
"B-but…You're supposed to be dead…" Beastboy stammered, having reverted back to his normal form.
"Well…Surprise?" Before anyone could react she was hugging Beastboy. "I'm so sorry…" She murmured, tears trickling down her cheek. "I wish I never worked for Slade." Beastboy could do nothing but pat her awkwardly on the back.
"It's okay." Cyborg said. "Everything's all right."
"Yes! We are so very happy you are back!" Starfire clapped her hands together and glomped' Terra as she pulled away from Beastboy.
"It's great to be back." Terra said weakly, rubbing her eyes.
"How did you come back?" Robin asked, arching a brow.
"I don't know." Terra replied. "There was this weird feeling like I could do whatever I want and then I was just free! It was so strange."
Her friends started crowding around her, chattering excitedly, especially Beastboy. Throughout this whole thing Raven was silent. How DID she come back? Was it the work of Trigon?
"Yo, let's celebrate!" Cyborg cheered, interrupting Raven's thoughts.
"Yeah!" Beastboy agreed. "Tofu eggs for everyone!"
"There is no way we're eating tofu eggs!" Cyborg's and Beastboy's usual argument ensued and Terra laughed. She walked over to Raven as Robin and Starfire watched Cyborg and Beastboy fight.
"Hey, Rae." Terra said quietly, sidling up to her. Raven really wished she would change her clothes. Her slave outfit brought back horrible memories.
"Hm." Raven glanced at her before turning away.
"Are we still friends?" Terra asked, rubbing her arm.
Raven looked at the blonde. Her answer was slow and indecisive. "I don't know." She said at last.
Terra stepped back, her blue eyes wide. "I-I understand." She said, her face flushed.
"Look, it's not like I don't like you. It's just that…I don't know if I can ever trust you again." Raven told her, wrapping her deep blue cloak around her.
"O-Oh…Okay…" Terra forced a smile.
"Food is ready!" Beastboy announced, carrying towards them a plate of pancakes.
"Thanks." Raven said dryly, showing she didn't care. But Beastboy didn't seem to notice. His eyes were on Terra.
"Um…Maybe it would be better if I changed clothes." Terra suggested, motioning towards her ripped outfit.
"Your room is still there." Robin told her, his mouth filled with food. But Raven knew Robin. She knew he was worried and wary, wondering whether Terra would backstab them again. Could she be trusted? As Terra left, the Teen Titans quickly gathered together.
"Should we let her stay?" Cyborg asked, his robotic eye analyzing the area.
"She seems like she feels guilty." Starfire said.
"But she could be lying again." Raven warned, narrowing her eyes.
"Dude, we can totally trust her!" Beastboy protested. He loved her more than ever.
When Beastboy said that, it was like a knife, plunging through Raven's heart. She staggered back, holding her hands to her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to keep focus. She knew that was Beastboy said didn't seem to mean anything on the outside, but on the inside, her heart was being ripped out.
"Raven, what's wrong?" Robin asked. His brows were wrinkled with worry. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Raven replied hurriedly, backing away. "There's nothing wrong!" But now her friends were looking at her with concern.
"Raven, you can tell us! We're your friends!" Starfire insisted, taking a step forward.
"I-I got to go!" And with that, Raven tore away from her teammates, flying off to her sanctuary; her room. She could hear them calling for her to come back, but she wouldn't. Not with Terra around. But unfortunately, it was not to be.
"Raven?" Terra was dressed in a small black tanktop with baggy khaki shorts and her usual goggles. "Is something the matter?"
Suddenly, uncontrollable rage took over Raven, she couldn't stop herself. She could feel Trigon seeping through her mind. "Stay away from us…" She hissed, her eyes flashing red for just a moment. "Or else…" She stormed off into her room. The door slammed shut behind her with a hiss.
"W-what?" Terra just stood there with wide eyes, running her fingers through her golden locks in shock.
Raven threw herself upon her bed, sobbing. How could this happen to her? She thought for once she was happy, but then everything came crashing down. It was like they purposely waited for the peak of her life to come and ruin it for her. Raven hiccupped, her short purple tresses falling around her face. "Why?" She demanded, between sobs. "Why does it have to be this way? Why can't they leave me alone?" Before she knew it, she had cried herself to sleep.
"And then she started telling me to leave you guys alone. As if she was going to hurt me if I didn't." Mutters aroused Raven from her sleep as she blinked blearily.
"Uhh…?" She groaned, and shook her head, trying to wake herself up fully. "What's going on…?" She trailed off; listening to the words that were spoken on the other side of her door.
"I can't believe she would do such a thing. Raven's not like that." Robin's voice of reason.
"But, you know how she gets when she's angry! And she admitted she didn't trust Terra!" Beastboy, always standing up for Terra.
"We mustn't get angry with Raven. Perhaps we should ask her if she did this." Starfire, always hopeful.
"Yeah, man. Raven always waits and watches." Cyborg, the one who's trying to take the sides of both.
"But!" Terra insisted. "It's true! She did say that!" Raven could imagine her now, her fists clenched, and her blue eyes narrowed with indignation, bristling.
"Look, Terra. It's not like we don't believe you. It's just that this doesn't sound like Raven at all." Robin tried to tell her without hurting her feelings.
Terra was silent. "Alright…" She said at last. "Go ask her." A knock came, before another, and then another. Raven sat up, unsure of whether to open the door. Should she? She didn't have to, if she didn't want to. But then again…
Raven floated towards her door and it slid open a crack, revealing a bed-ridden iris. "What do you want?" She snapped. She could see her friends clustered together and then Terra, a little ways off.
"Raven?" Starfire was the first to speak. "Did you…threaten Terra?"
Raven slammed the door shut for a moment, before coming out with her hood pulled over her face and her eyes blazing. "It wasn't my fault… I couldn't help it." Was all Raven replied.
She knew Terra wanted to say something.
"But dude! That wasn't right!" Beastboy told her, his arms crossed against his chest. Cyborg had his large hand on the smaller boy's shoulder, as if to control him.
And there it was again, that stabbing pain in her heart. Her teeth gritted and she tugged her hood lower. "It's really none of your business." She replied angrily. She could feel the tugging to lose control but she struggled to control it. Her teammates instinctively stepped back, knowing how out-of-control her powers could get. "I'm FINE." She reassured them though they knew she was lying.
"Raven…" Robin began, reaching out to touch her.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Raven cried out, her eyes glowing red. Light bulbs exploded, glass bouncing against the walls. She flew out of her room, down the hall, and out of the large T-Shaped tower. Rubbing her hands against her eyes, she sobbed quietly. She stared up blearily at the starry sky as the small lights winked at her knowingly.
"I can't control myself anymore…" She murmured, floating amongst the dark clouds. As if to prove her point, angry black hues crackled around her fingers and she gasped. "W-What…?"
I can help you, Raven…Please, let me…