Crow
Chapter4- Go to hell Go directly to hell do not pass go do not collect the teen titans
(XD it's raining and I was playing monopoly…oh and thank the new hit counter for this update I was gonna wait longer to put it up but seeing as the hits jumped to 50+ when I only expected at best half that I think you deserve the next chap a lil early.)
Starfire was getting worried Crow and Cyborg had not returned for some time now and the news crews had retreated when Slade made his appearance but what really bothered her was she had heard a massive sonic boom and right after it a few stations went totally dead and only static was on the channels.
"oh man what could have happened?" Beast boy wondered also worried he was freaking out things had never been this serious before. The closet they'd been was the whole Terra thing…
Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door.
Starfire hurried to open it.
Cyborg half walked half fell through the door his power cells were drained and it had been a long walk on badly damaged circuits.
"Cyborg!" Beast boy and Starfire both cried simultaneously
"A few moments later they had him hooked up to a socket and he was charging which probably wasn't the best idea while he was damaged but it was all they could do.
He awoke an hour later and Crow still had not returned.
"Hey Star he's awake!" Beast boy called out Starfire came overand sat beside him. "Cyborg please…tell us what happened. Crow still has not come back." She said her expression grim.
"wow…I must really be looking bad if even star is looking all doom and gloom…" Cyborg started
"We went to the battle as planned…Crow decided we were going to help out Marona it made sense seeing as we couldn't have fought both her and Raven, and Robin. She agreed easily enough…it kinda struck me as odd…but what did I care as long as she helped right? With her help Crow was able to knock out Raven leaving Robin totally on his own…until Slade showed up…one he was there…the first thing that happened is I got nailed…wound up having a building fall on me." He told them
"What happened after that?" Starfire urged him on.
"I'm not too sure I could hear the fight I heard her scream out Crow's name…then a little after that I managed to dig myself out I heard him call out to her and when I looked Slade had her I mean he really had her…She was burning and everything he let her drop like a rock…He left after that picked up Raven and Robin and he was gone.Crow caught her and put out the flames but the damage had been done she had some last words and then….she was gone." Cyborg told them Starfire gasped and all BB could say was "dude…slade killed her?"
"Yea…Crow kinda lost it after that…I dind't know it before but from their talking at the end I figured out they had a history…apparently she was his girl." Cyborg explained
Starfire was even more shocked Crow had said his fiancé…wait he had also said Marona was already dead. Now it made sense.
"I see…so she was his…fiancé he told me of…" Starfire whispered
"What? You knew?" Beast boy asked
"I only knew that she had died…but he also said Marona was already dead did he not? I just put it together with what Cyborg told us." She explained.
"but wait… what happened to Crow?" She asked turning back to Cyborg.
"I dunno…he seemed to have lost it if you ask me… He snapped at me when I tried to talk to him told me to just go…so I did after that all I know is something big took out downtown and I don't mean like rubble…I mean It's gone nothing but a crater." Cyborg told them
"no…he didn't he couldn't have…"Starfire said in disbelief.
"I'm afraid so Star…when I looked it was the same energy as he and Raven use only He could have done it since by then Raven, Robin and Slade had left." Cyborg said
Elsewhere
Crow was heading towards the Tower determination in his eyes he had no idea what would happen and he didn't care just it would end one way or another soon…He wasn't going to hold back anymore all the safety's all the limits he'd put on himself to restrain his power to protect those around him were falling apart now he didn't care who got hurt just as long as he made Slade pay. That was all that mattered.
He was flying at the tower leaving darkness behind him. Slade was waiting for him on the roof. The massive form of a Crow appeared and Screeched it was quite similar to the Raven that Raven made. Suddenly Slade realized something.
"It's not her……oh this is rich."He said to himself
"What're you blabbering about Slade?" Crow said coldly
"I just figured out the truth…we've all been lied to…YOU are the one who destroys everything not Raven…she's just the trigger…You're both parts of a gun aimed at the heart of the world She's the trigger and you're the bullet in the chamber the rest of us are just extras." He said casually.
Crow actually smirked "Good then no one will care that you died first." He said forming the same whip he'd used inside beast boys mind. And he also formed a sword in the other hand.Their fight began with Slade using the now all to familiar fire blast. Crow with his power no longer bound to protect everyone else unleashed a wave of darkness from his own body stifling the flame and shrouding Slade in Darkness
"Well that's a nice trick" Slade said trying to remain confident but his new discovery only proved he could not win.
Crow's whip lashed out of the darkness and piece by piece ripped off Slade's armor leaving behind only a battered masked man.
Slade tried to fight back but every attempt simply met with air it was like the darkness was alive and keeping him from doing any real harm. He couldn't even use his flame power every time he manifested it seconds later it would be put out by an unseen force.
Crow brought Slade to his knees and approached him slowly the footsteps rang out ominously in a world where there was no other sound it seemed the only sounds that were permitted were the ones Crow allowed. He stood over slade sword raised
"do it…" Slade said quietly shamed by his absolute defeat
"Have you nothing to say for yourself?" Crow asked
"What for? Begging is pointless you are the destroyer…and even If I win Raven will become the destroyer either way I die and I die soon." Slade said
"remorseless creature…" Crow said he was about to bring the sword down when another Screech was heard this time is was Raven she appeared next to him.
"Crow." She spoke
"Raven" He replied
"Free them" Crow commanded looking down at slade
"No" He retorted
"Then die."Crow said
"Then they'll be soulless shells without direction." Slade said
"Then suffer" Crow said
"Do your worst" Slade taunted
"How about being eaten alive…slowly…by a flock of birds?" Crow said
Slades eyes widened "you wouldn't you're not that cruel you don't have it in you."
"Don't I? I am the Destroyer remember? And you killed my wife." Crow said Marona might as well have been his wife they acted as if they were married though they never went through the formality of it he had cared for her deeply perhaps she was right and it wasn't love but he did care and watching her die hurt.
Slade could only sit there in shock 'his wife?' he thought realizing just how deep he had dug his own grave. Crow manifested a flock of crows to peck at him they ripped flesh and ligaments.
"Arrrrghhhh Alright….alright" Slade finally screamed out and Crow called off the birds being eaten alive bit by bit was a torture even Slade could not endure Raven cold as she was now felt pity for her master reduced to such a pathetic state it was sad to watch and she could do nothing he gave no order so she would do nothing, except one thing.
She dispelled the world of darkness they had been in Robin was waiting he started to move until he saw slade then thought twice.
Slade chanted some incantation and the two enslaved titans were freed from the control of Slade however the darkness remained in them for it had always been there he just forced it to the front.
"Good boy…now go to hell" Crow said a large Crow manifested and Carried slade off through a fiery portal.
"Be seeing ya." Crow said as he passed through screaming all the way.
He didn't bother to speak to either Raven or Robin he just left them there on the roof confused He disappeared for awhile after that he didn't show up again until that night he made an appearance at the hotel to tell Starfire and the others they could go home.
"the knock came as a total surprise by now they had given up hope of seeing crow again but there he was he was hugged by Starfire who simply glad he was still alive.
"Crow! Where have you been? Cyborg told us everything and that downtown was destroyed and that you did but you didn't did you?" She was talking rapidly and beginning to cry.
"Slow down…hmm…let's see…Yes I did wipe out the down town area…and after that I killed Slade. You can all go home now…" He said his voice was low and tired he sounded deeply depressed.
"But what about you? You said 'you all' not 'we all'" Cyborg pointed out
"Yea…that place…it's not my home I don't have a home anymore I lost my home when my parents died…and Marona…the first time much the same way as this city has lost it's downtown." He told them
"You mean…Azarath is…" Cyborg started
"yes…it's gone…all of it…and I did it…just as I did here...I can't stay I don't belong here I don't belong anywhere I am the true destroyer I've known it all along but I never wanted to believe it…the proof is in my history all my life everything dear to me has suffered and been destroyed if I stay here the world will always be in danger I don't know what will set me off again…I limited myself…sealed away most of my powers to keep this sort of thing from happening but when Marona…." He trailed off and looked away from them.
"Say no more…we understand but Crow the world will be in danger no matter where you go as long as there are people and you exist so why not here?" Starfire asked
"Because of Raven…she'll hate me…and I can't handle that right now please..don't tell her about Azarath…I want…I want to do it myself one day…I have to go…I have to seal it again." He said but found he couldn't pry Starfire off him.
"No don't go…you saved…you saved our lives all of us…we owe you a debt we can probably never repay and you've saved the world today…just stay here." She pleaded
"I can't I told you…Raven…" He started but she cut him off
"Raven, Raven, Raven there is more to the world than Raven" Starfire said still crying.
"Perhaps you're right…but Marona is dead…and I have nothing what is there for me to care for? No one and nothing." he said Starfire let him go she was hurt basically he had just said he didn't care about anyone including her.
"So…us…you're friends we are meaningless? Am I meaningless too then?" She asked
"ugh…that's not what I…." He started
"Then you will stay." She said cutting him off she sounded determined. Crow Sighed
"Alright…I'll stay." He said finally
"Glorious!" She almost yelled clinging to him once more.
"ugh…how do I get myself into these situations all the time?" he wondered aloud.
"Man you're just talented I guess." Cyborg spoke up
After that they headed to the tower Raven and Robin were waiting
"You're back" Raven said standing she was glad to see the others especially Crow she had to find out what had happened earlier. Both her and Robin couldn't remember much of anything that happened while they were in Slade's control only bits and pieces that didn't make any sense. They'd spent the entire day trying to piece things together but to no avail.
"Starfire..,you tell them I'm going to bed." Crow said finally with the pressure off him he could rest it was well into the A.M. now and he wanted to get some sleep before the sun rose.
"Me? Why me? You should…" Starfire started but when he turned to look at her his face showed how tired he was everything was finally getting to him he knew this was coming and he hadn't wanted to be here when it hit he was already thinking about Marona again…and since the denial stage had been either extremely brief or skipped entirely and Rage had passed since he sent Slade to hell where he belonged, depression was setting in as he now realized she was really truly gone and wasn't coming back this time. He wouldn't get a third chance to try and save her. There would be no more of their petty arguments no more watching her play with the wind. It was all gone now…in his mind he was all alone. Although he was among others he was alone in his suffering and guilt he was alone in the knowledge he possessed of what happened to Azarath he was alone when it came to Marona…and he was totally utterly alone now in his own world as he slunk sleepily to his room while he heard Starfire begin to tell the story with Cyborgs help she would probably sugar coat it and he wanted her to Raven would regress into a deep dark little hole if she found out just how much she changed.
He got to his room and found his earring laying on the floor it was alone in the middle of the floor though there were other things around it. It alone stood out to him it reminded him of himself the story of his life really always alone well…after raven left. Then he had Marona but she never really filled the gap she tried hard and did enough to satisfy him but somehow it kept going wrong like when she changed herself to be more to his liking. It turned out he didn't like that at all. He laid down still clutching the earring he decided not to put it on just yet but just to hold it as he .lay there he felt a draft and remembered there was a hole in the wall. With a sigh and an annoyed grunt he flung random objects until they filled the hole.
"At least…I didn't have to get up…"He said aloud looking at the dresser and bookshelves that now blocked the hole though books were now scattered across his floor and a mess had fallen out of the drawers of the dresser and finally he got to sleep……for about 2 seconds or at least that's what it seemed like. A scream was heard and possibly another explosion though it was somewhat quiet for an explosion or maybe his senses were just dulled due to lack of sleep.
Now he was getting angry "I just wanted to sleep is that so much to ask?" He groaned.
In a wave of his cloak and a flash of black he was standing in the living room once more and yet again chaos had erupted. He stood there quietly for awhile. As Starfire seemed to be fighting someone who looked much like her they were shouting what he assumed to be insults in their native language. Black and green starbolts were flying everywhere yet the others seemed to be mostly staying out of it probably because it was personal. He noticed an odd trend they would talk in English except when they insulted each other he wondered why it was people always resorted to their native language when it came to insults. But he wonder about it later he wanted sleep and he couldn't get it as long as they were making racket.
"All I wanted…." He began quietly so quietly no one even heard him
"was to get a little sleep…." He was slightly louder but still no one heard him.
"so can I get…" he rose to normal volume but because of the fight he was still unnoticed
"A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET! DOES IT EVER QUIET AROUND HERE!" He yelled everything stopped and black fire turned to look at the new voice.
"well what do we have here?" she asked confidently Crow's hood was still up so she couldn't see his features but she did notice the similarity between him and Raven. She almost giggled
"…copycat much?" She asked looking between the two of them "the blue cloak thing was so old when Raven did it now you're doing it too?" She said laughing
Crow didn't speak but just glanced toward the kitchen and a few seconds later pots and pans were flying at Black fire's head.
Raven too had entered into this now that she'd been insulted. The combined efforts of both of them produced far more objects than Blackfire could shoot or dodge and she wound up getting nailed more often than not.
"Ooooowww owowow ow ow ow ow ow! Okay okay I give! I'm sorry!" She yelled out diving behind the kitchen counter.
"geez…maybing pissing the two of them off wasn't the best Idea….should've stuck to just kicking Starfire's butt…." She mumbled to herself. She suddenly realized the objects had stopped coming after her.
"So…umm…truce?" She asked cautiously poking her head out of her hiding spot.
"Whatever….I'm going to bed" Crow said disappearing just the same as he always did.
"Why did you come back?" Starfire asked
"Well I DID say I'd be back didn't I?" Blackfire answered
"Sister….why do you hate me so? I do not understand…did I do something wrong?" Starfire asked looking down
"Well…you did betray me for starters…" Blackfire began
"Betrayed! You were the one who tried to frame ME for YOUR crime!" Starfire retorted angrily.
"Ok…so maybe that wasn't the best way to go about things…but You were supposed to help me out!" Blackfire said
"help?…but I could not…it would have been…" starfire was suddenly cut off
"Breaking the law…yeah yeah I know." Black fire stated making a face.
"But Star if it had been the other way around I would've let you go." She said
"If you had just asked for help maybe I would have too." Starfire said starting to walk away.
"well…I'm asking now." Blackfire said suddenly.
"what?" Starfire asked turning around
"I'm…in trouble again…and you're the only family member left that'll even speak to me anymore." Blackfire said
"You should have thought about that before you chose a life of crime." Starfire lectured
"Yea yeah…but it's a bit late for that now….look a deal went bad, real bad a bunch of friends of mine wound up dead the guys who did it are after me now if it were just the galaxy police or something I'd handle it on my own but these guys…they're something major…"
"I'm sorry but we cannot help you…we have…our own problems right now much bigger than what you're dealing with." Robin cut in.
"you don't say? I noticed that big hole in wall on the side of the tower." Blackfire stated
"Black Fire…please…it is possible that it may not be safe here…."Starfire began
"what could possibly put me in danger if I'm staying here? Besides either way I'm in danger if I go so I'm staying whether you like it or not." Blackfire said crossing her arms.
"Well….for starters there's two people living here that could potentially destroy all existence on this planet and possibly more…and second there's an evil force out there trying to make it happen and we don't know where it is or even what it is." Raven told her not caring what Blackfire thought just simply wanting her to go away.
"….oooookay…" was all blackfire could say with an odd look on her face.
"long story and we're not explaining it" Robin added
"Fine" Black fire said now sitting on the counter she had previously been hiding behind with her legs crossed one over the other.
"But the fact remains either way I'll still be in Danger and if I don't stay here I'd also be in danger of running into those guys right? So what's the harm in me being here? From the sound of things you'll be needing an extra hand anyway and I can't have this planet blowing up or anything with me on it…not to mention my mon…er I mean…stuff" She cut her self off with a warm smile obviously fake but it worked on Starfire at least
"Sister do you truly wish to help us?" Starfire asked hopefully with hands clasped In front of her. She had that starry look in her eyes as if envisioning some grand fantasy.
"Uh…yea…sure…jus don't do that anymore, it's weird." Blackfire said shrinking away from her sister.
"So…anyone are to explain?" Blackfire asked still somewhat lost.
"Later…Starfire you show her to a room I think we all deserve a little rest for now." Robin said yawning.
"Alright fine by me…" Blackfire said with a shrug.
In his room Crow was laying in bed only find now he couldn't sleep he was still tired dead tired even just sleep wouldn't come he silently cursed Starfire and her sister for keeping him awake. Now his mind wandered and he began to wonder if he really belonged here…but why not? After all Raven was here his only remaining connection to his past. Aside from his earring and that picture, which now that he thought about it Raven still had. There was one other thing…but he dared not use THAT.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of his door opening but he didn't turn to see who it was he figured Raven would be the only one to just walk in. since his back to was turned to the door she couldn't see that he was still awake.
He heard something being placed on his dresser "Thanks for bringing it back" He spoke up without turning around
Raven jumped a little she was surprised he was still awake.
"it's yours…you don't need to thank me I just wanted to look at it for awhile…" Raven said for some reason looking away.
"Raven…" He said sitting up.
"yes?" She asked turning toward him
"I uhm…oh nevermind.." he said with a huff.
"What is it?" Raven sat on the edge of his bed concerned
"it's just…I might be needing your help…" he said quietly
"Help?..with what?" she asked confused
"I…when I…lost control…and sent slade to hell…that…wasn't me…it was someone else." He said
"someone else?" Raven was at a loss for what he was trying to say
"What I mean is…something…I locked away…something bad that I've kept deep down below everything in the void of the back of my mind…it broke free…and I don't think I can contain it again and even if I could it'd never really be as far away as I want it to be."
Crow turned to face her and now it was apparent that symbols similar to the ones that had been branded on Raven were appearing on his face. One on the forehead one on either cheek.
"Crow…" She said softly. "what can I do?" she asked after a moment
"I hate to ask this of you..but I need you to go inside my head again…like before back in azarath…I know it wasn't…" He was cut off silenced by her hand. She shook her head
"no…it's fine…I'll do it we have to seal it back again or everyone is in danger right?" she said
"But…last time…" he began.
"Forget last time…Crow we're going to need each other if we're going to get through this…so I can't just turn my back to you now and tell you to deal with it on your own despite what happened before…" She said calmly.
"But…if we fail…you'll either be trapped or become tainted…it could get inside you too…" he said worried.
"and if we don't even try it'll take you over and we're all going to wind up like slade or vaporized into nothing." She retorted. Crow sighed knowing she was right.
"Now let's begin…" She said getting into a meditation position except her forehead resting on Crow's
End Chapter 4
Okay okay…short chap compared to the last one but hey…not everything can be THAT long. Relax you'll find out what happens and more importantly just what's inside crow's head but in the next chapter! I'm also thinking about writing a couple of alternate endings for this a bit early ne?