Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or any of the characters. But the story idea is mine!
A NEW WAY OF SEEING
"Ha! Beat you again!" Cyborg crowed triumphantly.
"You wouldn't if you'd stop cheating!" Beast Boy retorted.
"...Okay. That was low."
Robin interrupted before a full blown war started. "Okay, Titans. Time for combat training."
The two boys reluctantly turned off the Gamestation. Starfire looked at her three friends. "But where is Raven?" she asked. "We cannot train without her."
Robin thought a moment. "I think she's on the roof. Wanna go get her?"
"I'll go." Beast Boy started out the door.
"Okay. Meet us outside."
Beast Boy waved a hand over his shoulder in agreement. Once out of the room, he broke into a jog. He wanted to get to the combat field soon, and Titans Tower, for reasons beyond his understanding, had no elevators.
He was almost to the staircase that led to the roof when he passed by what used to be Terra's room. He ignored it and kept moving, but still felt his heart begin to throb with a dull pain. Actually, it was more his pride than his heart. Since she left, he ha realized that he had never really loved her. It had only been a crush. But it still hurt. It wasn't very pleasant to basically be told that you weren't loved. Would never be loved.
Beast Boy poked his head through the door and looked around the roof. He spotted Raven easily. She was levitating near the edge repeating her mantra. He really hated to interrupt her. She always got angry when she was interrupted, even though she would never admit it.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos. Azarath, Metrion, Zin—"
"Raven?"
Raven opened one eye and looked at the green shape shifter. "What do you want?"
Beast Boy rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Um...Combat training. Out on the field."
"Oh. Fine." Raven slipped out of her meditating position and floated off the roof to the ground without looking back.
Beast Boy watched her go, glaring at her back. "Oh, sure. No, no problem. Happy to help. What was that? Yeah, of course I'm coming. Your concern is touching." He blew out a frustrated breath, then changed in to a hawk and followed her to the field.
Three hours later, the Titans limped in, each nursing various strains and bruises from their workout. All except for Robin.
"Good workout, team!" he declared, flopping easily onto the couch.
Beast Boy glared at him. "Dude, doesn't he ever get hurt?"
Just then, the Titans alarm sounded. Robin, being the only one who was able to move faster than a crawl, rushed over to the computer. "Trouble in Sector Twelve," he announced, now in leader mode. "Let's go, Titans!"
A group groan followed this request.
Robin sighed and glared at the team. "Come on. You've all fought with worse before."
Reluctantly, and with many winces, grumbles, and evil eyes at their leader, the Titans went after the trouble.
Slade watched from the highest plateau as the Teen Titans sped straight for him. They were still a ways away, but he could see that all but Robin were moving with slightly less agility than usual. Behind his mask, Slade smiled grimly. How convenient, he thought.
Terra, his new apprentice, flew up on a boulder and landed next to him. "Are they coming?" she asked anxiously. "When will they be here?"
"Patience, Terra," Slade soothed. "Everything is going as planned. I assure you, nothing will go wrong."