--A Raven's Sacrifice--
Disclaimer: I don't own everything except the plot. Now, on with the story!
"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!" the alarm sounded as a red light flashed on and off.
"Titans, trouble!"
"You're doing a wonderful job in stating the obvious." An unblinking Raven dryly commented.
"Why, thank you."
Robin rolled his eyes at the violet-haired girl.
"What is the matter, friend Robin?" enquired Starfire, who had just drifted in upon hearing the alarm.
Beast Boy groaned.
"Aw man, don't tell me it's another robbery!"
Cyborg stormed in.
"This better be good. Bird-brain, I was.." He stuck out his thumb and index finger- "this close to beating BB's high score on the Game Station!"
"Dude!" The green changeling huffed. "So not!"
Cyborg rolled his eyes. "So too!"
"Break. It. Up." Raven hissed, voice dangerously low. Her face was twisted into her trademark glare. Beast Boy and Cyborg knew better than to mess with that.
"The sooner we get there, the sooner we can kick their butts, and the sooner we can go about our business. So. Shut. Up!" Raven continued.
"Uh-h, y-yea-h-h." Beast Boy gulped.
"Alright. Finally. Star, you carry Cyborg since it's only a few streets away, so we wont need the T-car. Everyone else, you know the drill." Robin commanded in his leader-tone.
"Aye-aye, cap'n!" Beast Boy stood to mock attention.
"Lets rock."
Starfire smiled. "Let us partake in the kicking of butt! Am I correct?"
"Yeah, Star."
"Joy." Raven's monotone once again stopped the flow of nonsensical blabbering. "Now are we going or what?"
With that, she jumped onto a black disc of magic and made her way to the robbery.
A green hawk sped after her, followed by Robin, Starfire and Cyborg, Robin using his grappling hooks to swing himself from building to building.
"Titans, go!"
The hawk morphed into a wolf, crouched, sleek and silent. Starfire tensed, emerald starbolts at the ready. Robin took a fighting stance, poised with his trusty Bo staff in his hands.
"One…." he counted under his breath. "Two…three."
Exactly on cue, the door to the jewelry store burst open, revealing a gang of youths, one of which was carrying a sack of precious stones and gems.
"Shoot, it's them!"
Cyborg smirked.
'Dang straight."
Beast Boy just snarled, exposing vicious canine teeth.
"Titans, go!"
Soon, the robbers were all tied up.
"That was easy, dude!" Beast Boy joked.
"The police will be here any-
"Let them go, or the girl gets it." A suave voice cut Robin's firm one.
They turned to the sound of the voice.
"Raven!"
She struggled against the hold of one of the robbers, a muscular one at that, with a gun pressed to her head.
"You…" she hissed dryly, gritting her teeth. "Are…touching…me…I warn you…" Her monotone held a tinge of disgust and panic.
"Enjoying it? No?" He snickered menacingly. "Well, little lady, how about…" His eyes lit up as he slid his hands up and down her petite frame. "Now.." a growl filled with lust escaped his throat.
Beast Boy growled along, trembling with rage. He didn't like this one bit. He was touching her. There seemed to be a monster in his chest, roaring, snarling, twisting his insides, at the scene before him. Let go of her…before I inflict some serious bodily harm just below the belt. His eyes flashed.
"I…warned you…" Raven choked on a gasp as he rubbed her abdomen.
Her eyes flashed. She struggled against his hold…but inside, she was struggling for control. No…Rage was…overpowering her.. she must …not let…no!fight it, damnit!
"Azarath…" she started.
"Not a word, lassie." He snapped. He pressed the gun closer to her head. "Not unless you want your pretty little brain to be blasted out onto the street….although before that, I'm gonna have some fun with you first." He sneered at her.
His hands roamed freely, touching her…in places…
"You know, for a superhero, you're hot." His voice husky.
Raven felt rage win the battle inside her.
No! She frantically thought. No! She fought to regain control of her body.
Too late.
Her eyes glowed red with demonic power. Rage had completely overtaken her.
"No more Miss Nice girl.." She sneered.
Except... she wasn't 'her' anymore.
Black light enveloped him and wrenched him away from her.
"Let get…dirty." Rage hissed, cackling madly.
"Azarath." She rose into the air.
"Friend raven!"
"Aww, dear, Raven's not here anymore!"
Black light flowed from her hands and shot towards the light that was enveloping him. On contact with it, lightning flashed inside the sphere. Black lightning.
The man convulsed in pain. If any, Rage got happier.
"Metrion."
The lightning flashed harder. More intently.
"Raven, snap out of it!" Robin yelled. The rest watched in horror as Raven lost control.
Now the man was screaming, shrieking in pain.
"Zinthos!"
The lightning grew bigger…and bigger…flashed brighter…
He wasn't screaming anymore. Wasn't moving….
"Raven! STOP!" Beast Boy shouted. " Raven! RAVEN!" He ran forward changed into a hawk and landed on her shoulders.
Red eyes changed back to violet ones. Raven gave a small gasp, fell, and collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. She shakily got into a kneeling position.
"Robin…" she started weakly, and coughed, eyes downcast.
"Robin…" she gestured to the lifeless body on the pavement.
He felt for a pulse. He had one. Damn. He should have died, he thought. Poor Rae..
"He'll live." He stated sourly. "What.. about you?" He ventured, slowly.
Raven just stared with a blank look on her face.
"Beast Boy…I could've...killed you…I did…I did…that!" Raven whispered, unbelieving, in her usual monotone.
"Don't blame yourself, Rae. He was the one who started it." Cyborg looked disgustedly at the man.
"Yes, friend Raven. You did it by means of protection." Star's emerald eyes gleamed with suppressed anger. "If I was you, I would have done the same thing!"
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Rae." Robin repeated.
Beast Boy didn't say anything. He dropped to his knees beside her on the cold, hard pavement. His friends used words to soothe people…he used touch. Besides, as Raven has said one day…he didn't have the brains to do 'that sort of thing.'
She was shaking uncontrollably, her familiar blue hood and cape askew.
He had no words.
He reached out and rubbed her back soothingly.
Tears were forming at the corner of her eyes.
"How…could…I…" she gasped, her voice still the same, but shaking.
He gathered her in a hug. She needed one. She could kill him later. Her arms encircled him as she returned the hug, surprising him and even surprising herself. She squeezed her guilt and disbelief into him, burying her head into his shoulder, trembling. He was still rubbing her back soothingly in circles, softly, gently.
"Shh, Rae……shhh…it's ok…" He comforted her. No words.
She wouldn't cry…he knew that. She was Raven. The strong one.
His warmth flooded her, calmed her, soothed her. To think, Beast Boy, of all people…she couldn't help it. Her mouth curved upward in the tiniest of smiles. A light pink flush stained her pale cheeks. This felt…good…
He somehow managed to reach for her cloak which had fallen off her shoulders and reattached it, letting the hood fall across her face. He knew she would want a bit more privacy when they got up.
The other three watched with knowing smiles.
"Who would have thought.." Cyborg mused. "BB and Rae…hmmm…"
"Thanks…BB." She whispered as he helped her up.
"No problemo- Hey, did you just call me BB?" he teased.
"What if I didn't?" She returned his smile, albeit with a small one, and jumped onto a black disc to make her way to Titan's Tower.
Thoughts swirled like whirlpools in her head….
She shivered when the full force of what she had done hit her like a ton of bricks.
That could have been anyone, she realized. Robin….Star….Cyborg… she shuddered.
Beast Boy…
She gasped. She didn't know why…but the though of that happening to the little green changeling was more than she could bear. Butterflies exploded in the pit of her stomach, but not the ones that gave her a nice feeling…these butterflies gave a feeling of dread, at the mental image of him lying on the cold, stone, pavement.
Still….
Unmoving…
No! Her head whirled in panic. Why was it affecting her so much? She nearly fell out of the sky in her dizziness.
It could have happened…
To anyone…
I should have known better. I should have known…
…I'm a half-demon, damnit…
I'm…dangerous…
I'm…putting my friends in danger…
My friends…
She was at Titan's tower.
That was quick…
Her friends arrived, one by one.
"Time for dinner." Cyborg commented.
"Tofu stir-fry, anyone?" Beast Boy asked.
"……."
"Erm..Never mind I asked…"
"I'm not hungry."
Everyone turned too look at Raven, who got up from her seat, chair scraping across the floor.
"I think I'll just meditate for a little while."
She gave a small, reassuring smile to everyone at the table.
"Don't worry so much. I'm fine."
She made her way to her room, lounging in the darkness and comfort that it offered. She got into a cross-legged position, ready to meditate.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos….Azarath Metrion Zinthos…."
"Raven, snap out of it!" Robin yelled. The rest watched in horror as Raven lost control.
Now the man was screaming, shrieking in pain.
"Zinthos!"
The lightning grew bigger…and bigger…flashed brighter…
He wasn't screaming anymore. Wasn't moving….
"Raven! STOP!" Beast Boy shouted. " Raven! RAVEN!" He ran forward, changed into a hawk and landed on her shoulders.
"Ah!" Raven yelped in fright, back in reality. No..she did that…
Could have been…anyone…
Cyborg…Robin….Star…
Beast…Boy…
I'm too dangerous…to stay here….
Could have been….anyone…
I'm sorry, guys….
She nodded, grimly to herself. She had only one option…to save her friends…Beast boy…
I'm sorry.
Only when darkness enveloped their side of the world in a soft blanket did she leave the confinement of her room. A white note lay on the fluffy pillow of her ready-made bed. She glanced around her room, one last time.
Goodbye.
She had a knapsack on her back, and nothing more. Her clothes…money…one book or two…
She stole out, noticing the beautiful full moon tonight, almost as if it was leading the way for her, lighting a path away from her friends, away from Beast Boy…but still, a beautiful full moon in its right.
Bitter sweetly beautiful.
"Raven?"
She gasped. "Beast Boy? What are you doing down here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Rae. Where are you-
His eyes caught sight of her knapsack. He understood.
"Rae…don't…please…"
She sighed. This was going to be tough.
"BB…"she said softly. " I'm dangerous. Everyday, I'm putting you and the others in danger…I could kill you all…I love you all too much for that to allow it to happen. I have to leave.."
"Rae! Please…" He begged, nearly crying. "You're not dangerous…You have to stay, Rae! Please!"
"Don't cry for me, BB, I'm not worth it."
"Raven…"
"Look at me."
She placed her hands, softly on his shoulders and gently turned his head to hers.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do, Rae…" He whispered. " I love you…"
"Then BB, if you love me…"
"Let me go…"
"Raven…"
Beast Boy gathered her into a hug. No words….
No words…
"BB…I love you too…"
"Rae…promise me you'll come back…"
"I don't know, BB, I don't know."
If she didn't have a heart of stone, she would have died at the look he was giving her. No…she must be strong…for Beast Boy…for her friends…
They moved closer, and Beast Boy captured her lips with his, gently caressing her lips in a soft, first kiss.
Fireworks exploded…as they were supposed to…
Loud yet silent…
As the waves roared and crashed onto the shore…but there was no wind…
The feeling was like the darkest of dark chocolate-
Sweet, yet-
Bitter…
Bittersweet…
Oh, the irony of it all…
The waves still crashed as they moved apart.
A first kiss, with a love they never knew…
But the first kiss meant-
Goodbye.
No words.
Nothing needed to be said.
He understood.
She understood.
As she melted the night, she stole one, last look at him.
He caught her gaze, silent, understanding.
They smiled. They would love each other no matter where the other was.
It didn't matter that she didn't promise to come back…
Because he knew she would.
And that was more than he could ask for.
He would be right here, waiting…
Even if she took forever.
"Goodbye…" they whispered, together, to the wind, knowing that the other could hear.
"Goodbye…"
A/N: Hope you liked it: My first ever TT fanfic. Please review, flame, make a comment whatsoever, I'll appreciate it! Thank you!