Authors note: I'm back! And chapter 5 comes with me, thank you all your reviews were great. So I decided to hold this chapter back just to spite you all Ha! Ha! Ha!, and just so you know we animals have great patience so I can wait forever. But enough of my sadistic mockery on with the chapter.
Chapter 5:The tiger and the raven
Raven stood at the huge window of the living room staring out into the blackness, looking for the familiar glow of headlight or the sound of an engine that usually announced Tobias's return. She was beginning to fear the worst Tobias had never been in a fight before, much less one against the H.I.V.E but he just ran off before anyone could stop him. She turned from the window to look at her fellow Titans, they lay about the room bearing expressions to match her own.
Finally they herd it, the sound of the bike ripping through the still night, they all ran to the window to see. All that was visible was the single headlight and it was moving at an incredible speed, the engine cut off and was replaced by screeching brakes and they could just barely make out the shape of Tobias carrying some sort of burden. In a matter of seconds the elevator opened and he rushed out ignoring the others completely he ran to the medical room, Beastboy looked to the others.
"Dude! Was he carrying Jinx"? He asked, the others all nodded and went after Tobias, they found him in the med room Jinx laying on a table as he kicked and shouted at a machine, trying to start it up.
"Damn it! How the hell do you get this thing to work"? He screamed, Cyborg walked over and pushed a big green button marked "on" Tobias glared at him "thanks" he said as the machine started up. On the screen was an x-ray of Jinx's head, "good no severe brain damage, the fracture doesn't go through the skull" he was only talking to himself as he wrapped a large amount of bandages around the unconscious girls head.
"Um Tobias" Robin said "why is there a dangerous criminal on the medical table"? He asked, Tobias didn't respond but continued his work silently, finally Robin could take it no more he grabbed Tobias by the arm and spun him around. "What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, Tobias's eyes locked onto the secretive whites of Robins mask and bored right through them into the reality beneath.
"Saving my girlfriend" he said in a slow monotone voice that sent tremors through the minds of the Teen Titans, one mind in particular just couldn't handle what it was trying to comprehend so it shut down out of the stress. Tobias saw Raven falter and start to fall, faster than anyone could follow he caught her in his arms before she could strike the tile floor, lifting her gently he carried her out of the med bay and up to her own room. When he reached her door he felt her stir in his arms so he hurried to open the door and place her on her bed, before he left he couldn't help but look at her she was beautiful in every detail from the fine curves of her small body, to the gorgeous features of her exotic face. She lay there in he usual assortment of clothes that so perfectly matched his own that he finally had to admit what he had been trying to deny since he first laid his feline eyes on her...he loved her. But before he could think to do anything she began to wake and he was gone like a wolf in fog.
Raven opened her eyes slowly as her brain tried to compute what had happened, she remembered standing in the med bay watching as Tobias attend to that little bitch Jinx then he said, he said, she couldn't even bring herself to repeat it. It was then she realized where she was she was in her room!
"How did I get in here?" she asked out loud climbing off her huge bed, she remembered falling but never hitting the ground someone had caught her probably Cyborg, he was always there for her no matter what. She decided to go and thank him she could use some comfort right about now, she found him in the garage working on that car of his as usual he looked up when he herd her.
"Hey Raven" he said slowly so as not to upset her, after Tobias carried her off everyone just kind of split trying to forget what was going on under their roof. Raven walked over to where he was working,
"Thanks Cyborg" she said in her usual timid voice she used when she was trying to be nice or considerate.
"For what?" he asked, she looked at him confused
"Didn't you take me up to my room?" she asked him perplexed, Cyborg shook his head in denial
"No that was Tobias, he caught you before you were half way to the floor I've never seen him that worried as he ran out of the room with you in his arms". He said, Raven snorted
"He was probably just worried about leaving his precious little Jinx" she said bitterly, Cyborg just looked at her for a second he new she liked Tobias and he was sure Tobias liked her just as much, he wasn't about to play cupid but he saw no reason to make Raven hate Tobias when he could prevent it.
"Actually Rae Tobias didn't go back to the med bay, he's downstairs in the training room with Robin and their either working their assess off, kicking the shit out of each other, or both". He said going back to work "but if you want my opinion, you really need to talk to Tobias". Raven watched him work on his car for a little bit longer then decided to go talk with Tobias, sure enough she found him in the training room with Robin just like Cyborg said. She walked over to him, he was doing a one armed handstand on the gymnastics bars with his eyes closed. Not wanting to wait for him to notice her she used her powers to wrench him off the bar and levitate him down next to her, he opened his eyes and not a bit of surprise came to his face when he found himself floating upside down in front of Raven.
"I take it you want to talk to me?" was all he said, she nodded and not letting him down she teleported them to her room, once there she sat down on her bed leaving him suspended in mid air his feet on the ceiling.
"I think this is a good place to start" she said, Tobias couldn't help but smile,
"So do you do this to all the guys you bring in here or am I just special?" he asked a little laughter in his voice. Raven smiled too unable to be mad at the boy she had intended to strangle,
"Or your special all right" she said flicking his nose hard, he tried to clasp his hand to his face but they were clamped hard to his sides.
"Ooowww! No fair I cant even defend myself!" he yelled his laughter drowning out the pain, Raven laughed too
"That's the idea" she said flicking him again but this time she lost her concentration and Tobias fell to the floor, he lay there in a crumpled heap not moving or breathing. Raven jumped off her bed and kneeled down beside him "oh god Tobias are you ok?" she said shaking him a little, his eyes snapped open and the next thing Raven knew was she was on her bed having the life tickled out of her.
"Im just fine" he said as his fingers dug into her sensitive ribs, Raven couldn't stop laughing and she couldn't get away from Tobias's strong grip, finally after what seemed like an eternity he let go and climbed off her. "Now Raven what have we learned about teasing the animals?" he asked playful grin on his face,
"Not to do it unless there completely helpless" she answered laughing, he shook his head shaking with mirth.
"Exactly" the two of them sat in silence fora few minuets then Tobias decided to ask Raven something that had been on his mind "Raven why did you pick a black cat when you designed my costume?" Raven blushed a little
"well to be honest with you I got the idea from a dream I had about you and its not a cat it's a tiger" she said.
"In this dream is there a red tiger too? One that tries to kill you but a black tiger stands in its way so the red one kills it?"he asked yellow eyes wide with concern.
"Yes" Raven nodded slowly "but how did you know that? I never told anyone else" she said eyes as wide as Tobias's
"I had the same dream Raven right down to the part where that devil broke my spine!" he said, Raven stared at him in disbelief
"It was you" she whispered, he nodded
"Yes, I was the tiger and no one hurts someone close to a tigers hart without having to go through an angry beast first." Tobias finished his side of the story but muttered "and go through me he did" fortunately Raven didn't hear him,
"You gave your life to try and save mine" she said "why?", this time it was Tobias's turn to blush.
"Well because I-I...I love you" he said and at that moment every tiny shattered piece of Ravens long broken hart glowed with an energy more powerful than all he fathers black evil as it mended itself with those three little words. All her anger and hurt forgotten Raven flung herself onto Tobias hugging him to her with all her might,
"I love you too Tobias" she said actually crying as she clung to him, Tobias hugged her back running a hand through her silky violet hair.
"You do? You really do?" he asked, he didn't need her to answer the look in those amethyst eyes was more than enough for him, but suddenly she pulled away
"What about Jinx?" she asked hesitation returning to her voice, Tobias didn't even need to think about his answer
"Forget her, im not going to spend my life with a criminal when I can spend it with you" he said with complete honesty "I only started seeing Jinx because I thought I had no chance with you" Raven knew he wasn't lying so that made her gilt twice as bad.
"Ok if you can be honest with me ill be honest with you, you deserve to know the truth about me. Im-im half demon!" she waited for him to recoil in disgust or push her away or do something to crush her dreams again but he didn't, instead he pulled her closer to him made her look into his eyes and said
"I don't care". Her expression filled with wonder as the words washed over her filling her with a sensation she had longed to feel, like she belonged.
"You don't care?" she said, he shook his head, "Tobias you are a tiger, you're my tiger" she whispered more tears filling her eyes.
"And I'll never leave your side, I'll always be there to catch you Rae, no matter what the cost I will never let you down".
Robin closed the door to the infirmary after making sure Jinx was still out cold, when he turned around he found Blackfire standing behind him.
"Hey Robin" she said in her normal mischievous voice as she took a step towards him, he took a step back,
"What do you want Blackfire?" he asked shortly turning to go, she flew in front of him blocking his way.
"Why do you have to be such a prick wonder boy?" she asked, he looked at her like she was crazy,
"Im not being a prick im being cautious after your last visit how can you blame me?" he said. She shrugged
"Fair enough, have you seen my sister?" she asked changing the subject, Robin pointed down the hall
"Have you tried her room?" he said as he walked passed he down the hall. In the living room he bumped into Beastboy who seemed to be thinking!
"Beastboy you ok?" he asked shaking the furry green shape shifter roughly, beastboy jumped
"Huh? What? Oh I was just trying to think of something to do to Blackfire that bitch just made fun of me for being green and furry!" Robin laughed,
"Beastboy everyone makes fun of you for being green and furry" he said giving his friend a playful shove, Beast boy suddenly got an evil grin on his face.
"Hey if she's sticking around and Tobias is too they both have to be initiated right?" Robin nodded
"Yea I guess your right" he said, Beastboy continued his scheme
"Well I just thought of something that will wipe that cocky smile off her face, why don't we just you know make them duke it out"
"You mean make them fight each other?" Robin asked, Beastboy nodded still smiling evilly "you know that's not half a bad idea" Robin said "ok lets do it"
"When?" asked Beast boy
"Tomorrow morning, we'll give them time to rest and get ready, oh this is going to be good" the two of them spent the rest of the afternoon thinking of match types.
Raven had decided to take Tobias shopping, on their way out they passed Robin and Beastboy who were sitting at the coffee table whispering to on another. Outside the climbed onto the motorcycle and took off for the mall when they got there Raven pulled Tobias around to different stores making him try on all kinds of different clothes. In the beginning he had been wearing his costume minus the mask, and now he left the last store in a new mesh shirt this one had holes in the sleeves for his thumbs, a pair of long baggy shorts with studs all over them and held up by two studded belts crossed like an x on his hips, and a pair of heavy black work boots. His hair was wet and parted like he had just been out in the rain and on Ravens recommendation a silver ring set with a red stone now protruded from his freshly pierced lip. Raven just couldn't keep herself from staring at Tobias's chiseled body through the tight mesh shirt she was taking side glances at him every chance she got.
Finally through shopping they decided to get something to eat, Raven convinced Tobias into taking her to her favorite café which was located conveniently in the mall. When they got there a blond girl at the register called over to Raven,
"Hey Raven, your usual lonely table in the far recesses of the restaurant I presume" she said as Raven went over to her. Raven smiled,
"Actually Jessie I brought a friend with me today" she said to the girl who looked over Ravens shoulder at Tobias,
"Wow! Well I'll just show you two to a table and pretend this is normal Raven behavior" she led them to a table at the far side of the café where they sat in silence for a little while as they waited for their food. After a while Tobias broke the silence,
"So any good movies out that you might want to see?" he asked not sure of any real topic to go on, she thought for a moment,
"Well the grudge looks pretty cool" she said "you know, it's the one about the house and the murders and the kid who acts like you would if you were small" she added with a slight smirk, she'd been wanting to say that since she saw the preview and the ghost kid meowed like a cat.
"Hey" Tobias said "I do not meow" his face was a picture of pure indignity but Raven only laughed,
"Maybe not but I bet I could get you to purr" she said with a sly smile, Tobias choked on nothing and turned slightly red, he was saved from further embarrassment when Jessie came back with their orders
"Ok here you go" she said putting the plates down in front of them, when she handed Raven her food she mouthed "he's gorgeous" at her and it was Ravens turn to go red in the face. The food was good and they ate it slowly to savor the flavor, when they finished they figured it was time to go home so they grabbed their bags and headed out to the bike, when they got outside it was pouring down rain and they had to rush for the motorcycle and race home they burst through the door and collapsed on the couch laughing. When the laughter subsided the two of them stared at each other Raven slowly reached up and removed the glasses from Tobias's face so she could see into his celestial eyes. She was entranced by their yellow shine and she found that her face was almost touching Tobias's, their lips met softly for a few seconds before they broke and leaned back to meet gazes once more.
"Wow" was all either of them could say, for Tobias this kiss had been all ecstacy and loving passion, for Raven it had been the first time in her life she had ever been kissed and she had loved every short second of it. Tobias was about to move in again when everyone else flooded into the living room,
"There you are Tobias "said Robin "want to come train with me ?" he asked, Tobias nodded and with one last look into Ravens eyes he got up and followed Robin into the training room, Cyborg and the others sat down on the couch next to Raven.
"Hey Raven you've got to hear the plan Beastboy and Robin cooked up" said Cyborg, Raven looked over at him "were gonna have a good old fashion one on one slug fest between Blackfire and, you'll love this one, the man-beast Tobias!" Cyborg stood up and held his hand out for Beastboy to smack. Raven raised an eyebrow,
"Your joking right? You cant seriously expect the two of them to just go at it just because you told them to" she said, Beastboy smiled over at her
"Way ahead of you Raven we've got it all figured out" he said
"What have you got planned?" she asked him, but he wouldn't say the only thing he would tell her was,
"You'll see in the morning".
The next morning Raven woke up early as usual, she completed her normal tasks of showering then dressing and finally going up to the roof to meditate. When she reached the rooftop she found Tobias already there doing what looked like some sort of slow motion martial art. He was dressed in only his baggy long shorts and his hair was tied back in a semi short ponytail, she watched as he moved slowly, his feline body bending and twisting as he took up different positions.
"What are you doing?" she asked him after a while, he didn't open his eyes as he answered
"Its called Tai-chi" he said "I come up here and do it every other morning before your all awake, and on the opposite days I do yoga". Still not opening his eyes he gestured to his left "there's herbal tea in that thermos, I hope you don't mind but I took it from your stock", Raven went over to the thermos and poured herself some of the tea. She couldn't quite place it but there was something different about Tobias this morning he seemed more distant more serene and all together more beastile. It was as if he was disconnected from the material plane and off in some other world perhaps that forest from their dream,
"Your meditating in your own way aren't you?" she said, he nodded finally stopping his exercise
"I was in the forest, I was standing in the same clearing as our meeting reflecting on what it meant. I go to that place often I always have even now after the incident it still provides me with a feeling of calm serenity". The two of them spent the next hour sitting side by side on the roof edge until Cyborg called them down for breakfast, in the kitchen there was a lot of talking going on about random things that really didn't matter in the slightest way. When breakfast was done Tobias and Blackfire were herded up to the roof where they stood looking confused as Robin started talking to them about some sort of initiation fight.
"Its simple, the two of you have to duke it out until I decide one of you has had enough and is unable to continue, then and only then will the match be over and the door opened" he finished with a smirk. Blackfire looked at him like he was crazy
"Hold up you cant honestly expect me to fight this guy I'll tear him limb from limb, and what do you mean the door will be opened? What door?" at that moment a huge cage dropped from nowhere enclosing both Tobias and Blackfire.
"There now you have no choice but to fight" said Robin still smirking, Tobias didn't seem phased by the current situation at all, in fact he grabbed the chain links of the cage and tested their strength.
"Nice tough with the cage" he said approvingly, Robin laughed
"Yea Cyborg thought you'd like that little addition" he said "now just to be fair your weapons have been banned Tobias your to fight as you are" Robin said, Tobias looked down at himself still dressed in his black stud covered shorts with no shoes or shirt.
"Dude, my glasses are gonna fall off"he said but Robin had ir covered, he pulled out a pair of goggles like the ones Riddik wore in pitch black,
"I took that into consideration and whipped these up last night" he said passing them through the steel mesh of the cage.
"Perfect"said Tobias putting them on "ok Blackfire lets get cracking" he took a few steps backward until he was backed into a corner, blackfire did the same opposite him. She cracked her knuckles in a cocky attempt at intimidation,
"Don't worry I wont mess up your face pretty boy" she snickered, Tobias smiled which in it self was pretty intimidating. He leaned his head from side to side cracking it twice, then he rolled his shoulders letting them crack, and finally he cracked his knuckles and exploded out of the corning at an incredible speed had Blackfire not been as experienced in fighting as she was he would have finished the fight the second it started. Luckily she flew up and over his head, but Tobias was a born fighter and the exotic anatomy of his body made the impossible, possible he ran up the cage wall and back flipped out into space smashing into the unexpecting Blackfire who flew off into the cage wall. Tobias landed in a crouch on the ground before spinning around and delivering a hard dropkick to the falling alien sending her smashing back into the steel mesh, he walked over to the limp form of his opponent who sprang to her feet uppercutting him in the process. Tobias flew up into the air and before he could twist himself into a more aerodynamic position he was speared by a flying Blackfire who drove him up into the cage roof, the wind knocked from his body Tobias fell to the rooftop and lay sprawled on the ground unable to move. Outside Raven ran to the cage side then looked over at Robin pleadingly, Robin shrugged his shoulders
"He has ten seconds to get up or he loses" he said, on the ground Tobias stirred and slowly pulled himself into a sluggish crouch Blackfire began to close in on her wounded prey, in truth she wasn't in much better shape this guy was tough no one had manhandled her like that in a long time. Tobias saw he through blurred vision he had to act fast or he was finished, he sunk into emptiness letting his subconscious take control he saw the shape of Blackfire moving in, the pain was gone, the world was in slow motion as he sprang off the floor and grabbing her around the back of the legs he lifted Blackfire off the ground then whipped her back onto the cement roof. There was a sickening thud and Blackfire lay absolutely still, Tobias regained his grasp on reality and with it came pain unlike any he had felt before his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed in a twitching heap on the cold roof. The last thing he remembered before darkness took him, was hearing his lover scream.
A.N: there you have it, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter it was pretty intense for me to write but it was great all the same. Im really sorry if you feel it wasn't worth the wait but it was let me know and I'll try to post chapter 6 fast, but no promises I've still got school to think about even though id much rather read your great reviews. (Nudge, nudge)