Chapter 8

Geo-force walked through the hallways of Titans Tower, his heart filled with uneasiness.

It had been a week since he had arrived in Jump City, a week since he had met Beast Boy and gotten his permission to stay at the tower. A week since he had agreed to spy on the Titans... Bryon tries to put that out of his mind and concentrate on the task at hand.

He was coming down a hallway towards his destination... towards the one place in Titans HQ that put fear into the bravest heart,a place where shadows ruled, a place filled with darkness and mystery...

...he was heading for Raven's room.

Geo drew in a sharp breath as he arrived at her door. Although Bryon had been living here for week, he had yet to really talk to the mysterious dark-haired beauty.

He'd been enchanted by her when he first arrived, and had hoped to get to know the beautiful angel of Darkness better. But she always seemed to never be around. The prince wondered if that was accidental, or on purpose.

"Why do I always fall for the bad girls?" The young prince thinks to himself. Bryon was sure Raven would probably respond to him by ether throwing a harsh remark at him, or throwing him out the window. (Depending what kind of mood she's in).

And yet, Bryon wonders if maybe under that harsh, gothic exterior, there isn't a very different Raven on the inside. "Yeah, right Bryon. Dream on." He thinks to himself.

Geo stopped in front of her door, and nervously began to knock. The door quietly slid open halfway, and their stood Raven behind it.

"Yes?" She spoke harshly. "What do you want?"

Bryon drew in a breath. "Lady Raven, I know of a Markovian Coffee shop nearby where depressing poetry is recited. Would you do this prince the honor of escorting you there tomorrow?"

She stared at him for a moment. "You're the one who has been leaving those flowers and poems in front of my door every day, aren't you?"

Geo nodded.

Raven stood there in silence for a few minutes, before replying. "Very well, Geo. I will go with you tomorrow. Now please, leave my room..." She muttered as she shut the door.

"Thank you, my lady Raven." Geo-Force started to walk down the hall.

Inside her room, Raven was furious with herself. How could she had agreed to out with that... that foolish prince? She barely knew him!

Although she didn't sense any hint of evil from him as she had from Terra, He was still the brother of the girl who betrayed the Titans. Still, he was the first guy to treat her like she wasn't creepy, except for Melchior...

Melchior. The mere thought of his name made Raven furious! She became so angry, a glass raven on her dresser shattered. Calming herself down she sat down and began to meditate. She hoped she wasn't making a mistake...

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The next day, Raven stood in front of the cafe that Byron had spoke of. She had decided to meet him there, instead of spend a few minutes of awkward silence.

She placed her hood over her face as she usually did, and drifted to avoid the oncoming raindrops. Her Pessimistic side began to take over her as she listened to the calm pellets. No... Raven thought randomly, as she awaited Byron's arrival.

Raven!" Bryon called out to her enthusiastically. He was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, instead of the yellow Geo-force suit. "Glad to see you, milady."

Raven looked down at her usual attire, and then up at Byron. "Guess I should have gone a little more casual." She muttered as she fluffed her cape out. "And I told you, call me Raven."

She looked up at the Cafe, then at Byron, "Well I don't think we're supposed to hang out here all day." She said sarcastically as she moved towards the door.

The prince held the door for her, and they went inside. It was dimly lit, with a few Goths and poetry types scattered here and there. They found a seat near the stage.

"How about some tea to start with?" The prince asked her.

"Acceptable..." Raven muttered as she surveyed her surroundings. The Atmosphere was very much like Raven's own mind, she was certainly comfortable here.

She still had her hood over her head, and finally decided to take it off. Her dark hair glinted in the light, and she watched Byron walk off, getting them their tea.

Bryon came back with the tea and sat down. He took a sip. "The poetry readings should begin soon" He looked towards Raven. The light from the flickering candle on the table reflected in her deep eyes.

The prince couldn't help but admire the dark angel's beauty. Snapping back to reality, the Prince asked her. "So, are you fond of this type of poetry?"

Raven sipped her tea elegantly as she tried to ignore Byron's gaze. She wasn't very familiar with him, not that it was a bad thing. Raven understood he wasn't evil. But she had no true knowledge of who Byron was. But then again maybe that was the point of "going out".

She placed her cup down upon the table, and finally, responded to Byron's question, "I am fond of this type of feeling" She said flatly, "Some may ask, happiness, and joy is a feeling, why do you take the side of sorrow, and anguish?"

Raven began to tinker with her cup as she spoke, "My answer is simple, happiness is something you can feel all the time, something you can even fake. Sorrow... is just real... and inside everyone of us. It's something that shouldn't go on ignored." She said, finally finishing, and looking up at Byron.

"What type of poetry do you admire?" She asked.

Bryon took a sip, thought for a moment, then responded. "Sorrow is indeed a part of us, and cannot be ignored. To deny sorrow is to is to deny reality. But joy is also a part of us. It easies sorrow's sting, making life more bearable. Happiness is the counterpart to sadness, one without the other is like night without day. If you do not know the height of joy, how can you ever fully experience the depths of sorrow?"

Bryon took another sip. "This is my favorite type of Poetry, by the way. This ,and the old Markovian ballads."

Raven nodded towards Byron's statement. What he spoke was no lie, but Raven believed that she had already passed that stage. "I have already felt the height of joy Byron... I do not wish to feel it again... unless it would turn out for the best."

She stopped tinkering with her cup, and let a small smile spread across her face. "I believe I've read an excerpt from the Marvokian Ballads." She said.

Bryon replied "I see. They are beautiful, are they not? Ancient poems that speak of the triumphs and tragedies of an age gone by;

A single tear
is but a drop
in the great ocean of sorrow
but within each tear
is held all the loss
of yesterday and tomorrow.

Of course, it sounds far better in original Markovian. The English version is but a pale imitation."

Bryon took another sip. "I leered such poetry when I was growing up in the Royal Palace. My tutor believed that a prince should be well versed in the poetry and lore of the people."

It was then that a woman dressed in black came out onto the stage, and began to recite a poem. The dark, melodic lines played upon the ears of the listeners like a sad, haunting melody. Bryon closed his eyes and let the words sink into his very being.

Raven absorbed the words into her mind as if it were immortality, seeping into her pale skin. Her emotions whirred to life, and she felt a soothing sensation in her mind. How she loved this feeling of peace. As the poem finished, Raven offered Geo a small smile.

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And so it continued. For the next several weeks, Geo and Raven visited the cafe whenever the Titans weren't busy on a mission. They listened to poetry, and even occasionally got up on stage and recited it themselves.

As time passed, Geo began to notice Raven becoming more and more relaxed around him. Something more than a friendship began to grow between the two.

Then, one day when they were at the Cafe, Bryon asked a question that he probably shouldn't have. The prince had heard from beast Boy about the Dragon who had tricked and betrayed Raven, breaking her heart.

Thinking she may want to talk about it, Geo looked up at her and asked. "Raven do you wish to speak about... Melchior?"

The name rang through Raven's ears relentlessly. She Male thingyed her head in a very firm way, and glared at Byron,

"Never speak his name in my presence!" She hissed as she a few glasses at the other tables exploded. "I do not need to be reminded about the past... I have no wish to!" She added, pulling her hood over her hair, her face disappearing under her only shield.

She sent a cold gaze towards Byron, and began to walk out of the cafe, in a firm, yet elegant matter.

Bryon waited until Raven had left the cafe, then followed her outside. "Raven, wait!" He put a hand on her shoulder. "I know he hurt you, I know he tore your heart in two, but don't push everyone away... don't push me away...because of it."

Bryon took her by both shoulders, and looked straight into her eyes. "Melchoir was false, he wasn't real... but I am real, Raven, and I won't let you be hurt again. Please, Raven... please..."

Raven still angered, glared back into Byron's eyes, "Are you saying that I am holding onto the past!" She yelled sending a few street lamps off.

"Are you assuming that I am allowing something like LOVE interfere with my heart! Are you calling me weak!" Raven spat as her voice began to grow more hoarse, a car flew across the street, and into a metal pole.

Raven's eyes began to glow red, but suddenly, Byron's warm gaze, and words stopped her. She began to calm down, and then muttered, "No... no you don't think I'm weak... But I think I am..."

Raven whispered as she dropped down to her knees. Her hood stayed over her head, and her dark hair wrapped around her face. Raven stared down at her legs, in complete silence. The only thing she let out was silent tears that fell from her eyes, and onto her legs like the snow.

Bryon kneeled beside Raven, and put his arms around her. As raindrops fell like the tears of angels from the murky evening sky, The Prince tried to comfort the dark maiden.

"I do not think you are weak, lady Raven. You are far stronger than I ever will be." He pulled her hood back and gently ran a hand through her hair.

Raven continued her waterfalls of silence as Byron comforted her, she had never cried before, she never thought she would. However the feeling was overwhelming, and as she cried, she felt as if the tide was washing her memories away. Finally, she spoke, "I'm sorry Byron, I never meant to hurt you..." She said, her words a bit croaked.

"It's all right ,you didn't hurt me." Bryon looked down at her. "Raven, give me a chance. I'll wash the pain of the past away, as the evening tide washes away the sand. I care about you more than anything. Open your heart one more time, and I'll make sure you are never hurt again."

Raven's mind began to speak to itself at Byron's words. She wanted to, but didn't want to. She didn't need to or want to... the same things kept on popping up, it was a battle that she had to win... and now.

She still kept her head down, and stared at her legs, which were beginning to soak away her tears. Her answer finally came out, however in a form Raven had not expected. She quickly fell forward, and hugged Byron tightly, "My heart is always open..." She whispered softly.

Bryon held her. As the clouds briefly parted, the moonlight cast it's gentle glow on the two rain-soaked figures standing in the street.

After a few minutes, Bryon gently raised her chin, and planted a deep kiss on her lips. Raven's first kiss sent a strong surge of emotions through her, and her outfit turned pure white for a few moments before returning to it's regular dark shade.

Just as they pulled apart, a beep came from both of their Titan's communicators. Geo-Force groaned. "No, not now.."

"Duty Calls..." Raven said, standing up, and clearing her face.

Bryon frowned. "Oh well, it was fun while it lasted." As they took off into he night sky, Geo-force flew closer to Raven than before... VERY close. "I hope we get to do this again soon."

As they flew across the sky, Raven gently ran a hand across his cheek. "Do not fear, Bryon Markov. We will have other chances."