Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans or DC comics. This fic is purely for pleasure and not profit.
AN: This is set during the fourth season episode "The End Part 2".
Title: To Touch the Devil
Theme: 25. To touch the Devil is to die (dying from bliss)
Summary: Robin can't help but think about Speedy as he wanders through the destruction of Jump City.
The city is a wasteland. I've never seen such complete and utter destruction in my life. I make my way through the silent streets and with each step my senses are assaulted with horrors that I can hardly comprehend, that I don't comprehend. My mind, trained by Batman himself, subconsciously takes in every little detail but all my eyes see is his face, Roy's face. It's strange that his face is the only thing I can think of at a time like this. Each frozen figure I pass has Roy's face. I know I'm hallucinating, I have to be, he's not really here and none of these people look a thing like him. It's the end of the world and all my fogged superhero trained mind can think of is Roy's fate. Were he and the other members of Titans East frozen in stone like everyone else. There is no doubt in my mind that whatever Trigon did affected not only Jump City but the rest of the world as well.
I should be worried about Raven and if it is possible for her to even survive what had happened to her. She had protected me, why would she protect me? I have impressive abilities for a human but I'm not Superman. I'm not even Batman. My eyes travel to the blood-red sky and I realize that even if Raven had saved Superman instead of me he still wouldn't be able to do anything. I can't do anything against a demon who turned the earth into an extension of hell in mere moments. I should be worried about the other Titans, did they survive as well or was I the only one that Raven was able to protect?
My hands are shaking and I lean against the desolated husk of a building. I can't do this by myself, I can't do anything. I couldn't protect the city I had sworn to protect and I couldn't protect the people I love. What good is all my training if I can't protect the people most important to me. Roy's face flashes in my mind followed by the faces of Bruce, Alfred, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy and countless others that I've known in my life, that I knew in my life. They could all be dead right now and I might be all that if left. The thought of being alone terrifies me and my hands start to shake harder. I don't want to be alone.
A shadow passes over me and I force myself to snap out of the near hysterical state that my mind had started to slip into.
"Whose there?" The shadow passes overhead a second time and my eyes follow it. Inside I'm rejoicing that something has seemed to survive. The shadow lands and I realize that it's a Raven. A Raven.
"Raven?" I speak the girl's name and the bird takes flight. The mere thought of being alone again sends spears of panic deep into my gut and I begin chasing the bird. As I move I realize that she is leading me somewhere. When I reach the top of the tower like structure she has guided me to I can't help but drop to my knees as I stare out over the utter destruction that surrounds me. I can't change this. Why did she bring me here? Why did she leave me alone again?
The idea that I shouldn't be kneeling at the edge of a destroyed structure registers seconds to late as the concrete under my knees gives way and I scream as I'm pitched forward. The images of my friends and family flash through my mind with the image of Roy lingering the longest. I truly believe I'm going to die as I fall forward and all I can see is the ground as it starts rushing upward to meet my face. At the last second something grabs my arm. My eyes snap upward and I note with relief that it's Cyborg. He quickly hauls me back up and I stand on shaking legs as Starfire joins us. She immediately wraps her arms around me and the whole time she holds me I allow myself to pretend that her embrace is the embrace of another red-head with bright green eyes. She finally lets me go and I realize that Beast Boy had arrived while Starfire had been clinging to me, while I had been thinking about Roy.
I feel only slightly better knowing that I wasn't the only one that Raven had protected. She protected us for a reason and together we just might stand a chance. I also know all too well that we could die if we attempt to fight Trigon. It's a chance I'm willing to take though, if it means that I have a chance to save Roy, and Raven, and Bruce, and everyone else that is important to me. I realize that I have to convince the others to keep trying as well.
"As long as we are still here we have a chance. And that's why we're going to keep fighting." I hold my hand out and pray that I inspired them enough that they are willing to keep fighting. "For Raven." I want so desperately to say Roy's name instead but I know the archer's codename only holds significance for me. My words have the desired effect and one by one my friends extend their hands and place them over mine. As they do so each of them speaks those two words. "For Raven." My words have become the mantra that they will use to continue fighting. I have my reason to keep fighting and now they have their's as well.
