A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N:

Titans, Act Two, Scene Three

Raven gleefully collapsed into the living room sofa. She took several deep breaths and was finally able to let down her mental defenses and relax. All the petty jealousies, meaningless joys, inane worries, and hormonal lusts of teenage life were a constant strain on the empath, bombarding her at every turn. The dark haired girl closed her eyes and sat upright, folding her legs under her as she began her quiet meditative mantra.

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos," she breathed softly and more and more slowly.

Raven suddenly felt a light touch on her tight shoulders. Thumbs pressed softly along her trapezius muscles as fingers folded over the top.

"Just relax, Raven," a soft boy's voice said soothingly. "It's me."

"R-Robin?" she cooed.

"Yeah."

Robin softly massaged Raven's knotted muscles. She smiled shyly, and prayed he didn't see the mad blush that colored her usually pale cheeks or hear the excited catch in her breath. He was close enough to scent her lavender perfume. She felt his breath on her neck as he worked his thumbs across her muscles like a sculptor smoothing clay.

Raven purred contentedly, "Oh, Robin…"

"Raven?"

"Yes, Boy Wonder?"

"Raven, are you feeling okay?"

"Heavenly, Robin…"

"Okay… I just thought I heard you call my name."

Raven fluttered open her eyes and looked around the room. She sat bolt upright and snatched the throw blanket, hurling it over her shoulders like her cloak. She hid under a makeshift hood, trying desperately to conceal her embarrassment. The young witch looked over and saw Robin in the winged back chair, reading his history book, with a very confused, near dumbfounded, expression on his face.

She jumped to her feet and flew out of the room.

…..

"Titans, trouble!"

Beast Boy stretched across the sofa. He overdramatically yawned and smacked his lips together. "Dude, what's your deal? It's just Doctor Light and some blue guy."

"Yes, have we not defeated him time and again?" Starfire asked.

"That's not the point," Cyborg said, crossing his arms.

BB lazily got to his feet. "Okay, okay. Let's go take him down… take four hundred fifty three."

Soon the Titans were airborne. Star flew ahead, with BB, who transformed into an immense flying dinosaur, carrying Cy. They sped over the bay toward the Dayton Optics plant.

"Light must be after the mirrors they're grinding for the new space telescope," Cyborg deduced.

"We shall save the mirror and vanquish our luminous foe!" Starfire said coldly. Her brow furrowed with determination as her eyes glowed brightly. She spotted the break in and zoomed for the opening.

The grinding room was uncharacteristically dark. The only light was the glow of Starfire's and Cyborg's eyes. The massive technological Titan shifted his eyesight to infrared and scanned the room. Star's eyes gave off so much energy they were like flares.

BB shape shifted into a wolf and sniffed the air and back to his normal form.

"Blue dude!" he yelled.

Cyborg balled his fist, activating the arming sequence of his sonic cannon. "Show yourself!"

"So you're the Teen Titans. I can see why Dr. Light was afraid of you. I have to admit, you are impressive." The voice was gravelly, high pitched, and filled with arrogance. "But you are no match for the genius of Doctor Drakken!"

Phosphor flares erupted around the three Titans. Cyborg's flare shields dropped automatically, but BB and Star were both blinded. The green Titan rubbed his eyes and the willowy alien squinted, her eyes glowing green. Cy aimed at the blue coated villain.

"BB! Down!"

Beast Boy transformed into a snake as Cy's sonic blaster fired. The energy bolt screamed at Drakken, standing perfectly still. His squinty eyes narrowed even more and a malicious grin spread across his thin lips.

The blast deflected off a hidden force field.

"Damn!" Cy grunted.

"I think you already know him," Drakken said, his voice filling with a perverted joy. "But let me introduce to you the new, and improved, Doctor Light!"

The force field shifted into a bright yellow beam hammering the Titans' defenses. BB and Star were thrown in opposite directions. Cy prepared himself for the hit, but slid back ten feet. The beam coalesced. It stood. It took on a human-like form.

"Oh, no," Cyborg groaned.

Star took to the air, summoning her starbolts and surrounding her hands with green energy.

"Dude! It can't be!" BB cried as his vision finally cleared.

Dr. Light slowly rose. His hands curled like claws. His eyes glowed horribly.

"No joke," he growled. "Not anymore…"