Disclaimer:I don't own Teen Titans. 'Nuff said. Nor do I own Good Morning Beautiful.
Warning: If Cy seems OOC, it's not my fault. Blame my muse, Ryena. Apologies in advance, because this is a shorter chapter; it served one purpose but needed to be here anyway. ...To make it stand still... is a line break.
Pairings: The final one is hinted/comes into view this chapter.
Chapter Four: Reliving Pain
Cyborg, a.k.a. Vic Stone, sat in front of the TV, devouring popcorn by the handful. After working all day at the mechanic shop, he was ready for some relaxation. No one knew him here, and that's how he wanted it. The Titans were behind him- and he wasn't going to think about that if he could help it.
The piece of junk he had salvaged from the junkyard and turned into a high tech TV flashed to the news report; the reporter looked into the camera, face serious. "In other news, after a period of unrest and unchecked crime in Jump City, it appears that at least some of the former crime fighting group, the Teen Titans, are back. Today members identified as Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy and-" The phone rang. He picked it up, not bothering to check caller ID as he stared at the TV. The Titans? Back? But-
"Cy? You there? Listen, man, I got a call-" It was Bumblebee. He interrupted her talk.
"Turn on the TV." There was a pause and then the brunette's voice came into both ears:
"Fifteen villains and wanted persons were turned over to police from Gotham City's Jail by the four. However watchers reported that the member gone the longest, Raven, did not use her trademark powers." The screen flicked to an observer's videotape. Robin was there, along with a green T. Rex (Beast Boy, Cyborg thought vaguely) and the purple clad Starfire hovered, blasting the bad guys with her 'bolts. Robin was sane, that much was clear from what glimpses he caught of the whirling figure. Jerkily the camera zoomed to focus on someone on top of the nearest building. It was Raven. She did nothing, but stood stone still, only her hands moving. They balled into fists as the noise level peaked, the wind blowing her hood down so they saw her bite her lip, concern plain on her revealed face. A breath later Beast Boy must have flown up, for he entered the picture, changing from a raven to a human. The two exchanged words and then Star joined in, taking Raven's hands. The camera pulled out as police cars zoomed to the heap of criminals. It followed Star holding Raven and Beast Boy in pteri form taking Robin. All this happened in the space of seven seconds. Cyborg heard a quick intake of breath on the line even as he stared at the TV.
What the hell was going on?
He muted the sound as Bumblebee's voice came back on.
"Oh-what have I done?"
"Bumblebee, what are you talking about?"
"Listen, Sparky. Someone rang me on the communicator today. When I picked it up, I saw Raven. From what you said- and I heard- I thought she had killed off a Titan and –well- I said some really bad things. Crap… Cy? You there? Cy?"
"Get ready, Bee. I'll be over tomorrow at dawn. We're going to see what's up in Jump City." Bumblebee looked at the phone as the click signaled Cyborg had hung up. She hoped he knew what he was doing. When he had come to her the first time, he had been a wreck. It had taken every moment since then to get back to the 'original' Cyborg. Biting her lip, she hesitantly picked up the Titan communicator and clipped it to her belt, next to her B's. She was going to have to come up with a hell of an apology.
...To make it stand still...
"Azarath, Metrion, Zint-"
"Friend Raven?" Raven opened her eyes. Starfire stood in front of her, puzzled lime eyes watching her. "Why do you meditate, even when your powers are gone?"
Raven sighed slightly. "Because, Starfire, even though my powers are gone, that doesn't mean my feelings aren't. And," she added after a moment, "force of habit." Star nodded.
"I see. Would you like to come to the night feast once you are done?" The empathic teen shook her head.
"Not now… maybe later." Star nodded once more and turned.
"All right." As the Tameranian walked away, Raven returned to her thoughts. What she had told Starfire was true: her feelings were still there. Fear for her friends, relief that they were fine. Anger, that she could do nothing. Emotions not completely under her control worried her. Last night, after the battle, she had stayed up late, meditating for a long time. With a sigh the violet eyed girl rose. Her concentration was broken; it was doubtful she could get the rhythm right again.
The hallways were dark. Raven tightened her jaw, refusing to let the fresh fear take over her again. Walking towards the elevator, she froze. Someone was there, in the shadows. Her eyes widened, as she saw the flash of light on metal, and someone advancing towards her.
"SLADE!" She screamed, backing into a wall. Her body tensed but the black fire didn't come, and fear gripped her in a paralyzing vice. Thoughts ran through her head in a millisecond.
How? – He's come back for me. – No – He'll kill me – Oh God Oh God Oh God – RUN- Hide! – Don't let him near me again – NO – The dark – Oh God – Why? Hasn't he tortured me enough? – Please – Help – Slade.
"Raven!" The three who were downstairs burst from the elevator, surrounding the trembling girl and ready to fight.
Then a red light come on just as the hallway lights did. Cyborg stood in the hallway, watching them with unreadable eyes.
"Is that anyway to greet an old friend?" There were gasps and they relaxed. Robin stepped forward.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Bumblebee moved out from behind Cyborg, hands on her hips as she shrugged.
"Of course not." Her eyes looked for Raven. "Cy's got a good point. What's wrong with her?'
Raven had slid down the wall, holding her face in her hands. Beast Boy knelt in front of her, gloved hands holding her wrists as she sat, hood over her face. Ragged, heart breaking whispers came from her hidden face. "Don't- don't touch me. Leave me alone- why the hell are you doing this? Haven't you hurt me – them, enough? Go away. Don't hurt me- LEAVE ME ALONE! Bastard! Stop! Don't even- get the hell away from me! Get off! Stop – let me go! Let go, you son of a bitch! Let- AHHHHH!" The piercing scream tore from her throat, ending as suddenly as it had begun. She thrashed, twisting and struggling against some unseen force as the others watched, stunned. Then, as the scream died from her lips, her hands dropped, Beast Boy having drawn his away once she started talking. The hood had fallen off of her head when she was twisting and now the hallway light shone dully on her empty eyes. Her head rolled to a side, grey skin almost transparent in the bright light.
"Raven?" Beast Boy whispered fearfully. Starfire grabbed her wrist, fingers searching for a pulse.
"She is alive," came the answer in a moment. "But not conscious." Beast Boy picked her up, cradling the limp teen, the anger directed towards Cyborg a bonfire in the green irises. Then, passing coldly by the two newcomers, he carried her to her room.
"What just happened?" Cyborg looked from Robin to Starfire. Starfire had her 'thinking' face on.
"Oh… Perhaps when she saw you and thought you were Slade-" She turned to Robin. "Maybe something like the dust you breathed that made you see Slade?" Robin nodded slowly.
"That seems the most likely answer, though I don't want to know what he was doing to her if that was the case. For now, we need to watch her- make sure nothing else reminds her of him. As for you," he said, turning to Cy, who looked confused. "We need to talk. Star, fill Bumblebee in while I explain what happened to Cyborg." The team leader walked to his room, leaning up against a wall as Cyborg stood opposite him.
"Look, man, I turn on the TV yesterday and hear that the Titans have gotten back together. And Raven was with you- what the hell is she back here for? Where's Terra? And what was with the freak out?"
"The Titans are together again, Cyborg. Look, remember after Raven attacked Terra and left, we thought it was her betraying us? Turns out Terra was behind it all. When Raven left, Slade captured her. And… well, he did some really bad things to her." He paused, then sighed. "That's too mild. Slade beat her, breaking her mind and spirit like he broke her bones. I know he did because I felt recently healed breaks when I fought her. I doubt there's a bone in her body he didn't break at some point, then healed to break again." Robin pushed down the anger that rose for his friend as he made himself speak. "He raped her. I think the trauma of it shattered her powers; at any rate he most likely kept her drugged until she wasn't a threat. It's something he would do. He had left her to die when Beast Boy found her. They came to us and Raven snapped me out of whatever I was in. And then we broke up a fight yesterday…" Robin looked at Cyborg.
"I had no idea. Man, Slade needs to get knocked down. For good." He cracked his knuckles, a building anger rising in his face. Robin didn't say anything for a moment, and then nodded. The two walked back to the main room, once again at ease with each other, having found a base to stand on.
...To make it stand still...
Raven groaned, opening her heavy eyes and then bolting upright, gasping for breath as sweat rolled down her face. Slade's mask leered at her, hands reaching to- A beam of moonlight pierced the nightmare and reassured her that she wasn't still in Slade's clutches. Taking a deep breath, she blinked. What? It was her room… and there was someone else there. Confused, she glanced over to the end of her bed.
Beast Boy sat, back against the bed, mouth slightly open and breathing softly. Why was he here? Then she remembered: the hallway, seeing Slade walking menacingly towards her, grabbing her, reliving the first night she had had a clear mind, realizing what he was going to do, fighting, screaming as- She cut herself off right there. He's gone. And Beast Boy is here. As if that thought had been a cue, he stirred, opening his eyes and turning to look at her.
Good morning beautiful
How was your night?
Mine was wonderful with you by my side
And when I open my eyes and see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day
"Rae?" He asked sleepily. Raven smiled at him wearily.
"What are you doing here, Beast Boy? You should be in your own room, getting a good night's sleep."
"No… gotta… watch over you…" His voice trailed off. Her heart reached out to him.
"Go back to your room, Beast Boy." He shook his head, sleep washing back over him.
"Watch… Rae…" He blinked slowly and then closed his eyes, head resting on the bed. In a second he was at least half asleep. He must have slept there all night, and she knew from personal experience that it was very uncomfortable. Rising quickly, she pulled the cover off her bed and bent down, wrapping it around him. Barely awake, he tugged it- and her- closer. She pitched forward slightly, caught off guard. Beast Boy buried his face in her hair, inhaled and then let Raven go. Wondering why he did that, she was answered by his groggy whisper.
"Smells like lilacs…" With a soft smile for the teen who was helping her so much more than he knew, she climbed back up onto her bed, pillow beckoning.
"Good night, Beast Boy." As she drifted to sleep, Raven knew she heard a muffled "'Night, Rae."
He put me in my old room, she thought sleepily. And somehow, it felt right.
A/N: Hmm. Not much to say... Except that, again, this was primarily a filler chapter. Some Beast Boy:Raven fluff, if it amounted to that...
Yaa: Once again, I was so excited when I read your review- THANK YOU. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that. I try and update every three days, usually in the evening. Sorry for making this a short chapter, and thus getting you to the pain faster- but the next part really had nothing to do this what so ever, so I cut it off. I do try and put more into it when I type it up, so there is some good news: Chapter 5 is at least two and a half back-to-back handwriten pages long, which, in my tiny print, adds up to about four/five when typed. And I'll add more, so hopefully it will be the longest chapter yet. Cyborg doesn't exactly yell at Raven- but it's just as bad- or worse. I'll update soon, I promise!
Jackdaw: Yeah, I know, right? Well... her trials aren't over yet.