Chapter 3:
Brewing It Up Inside The Mind
The next evening, Raven was relaxing herself in a hot bubble bath before she dressed up to go to the ball. But it didn't help her a bit to forget about what Beastboy had said to her last evening. 'Falling in love with Robin. How could they possibly think of something sickening like that!' Raven talked to herself. 'I mean all we have in between is just a friendship – nothing else. Beastboy must have read my diary while I was writing on it and must have caught the wrong end of the stick. But what can I do? Even I should find out a way of expressing my frustration like everyone else – At least in the form of writing down. Is it my fault that Robin's the only person who could understand me out of all the nut cases in this tower?' She continued. 'And how can I possibly ever fall in love with him? He's already got Starfire' she paused. 'But what about my dream? Well it was just a dream! Dreams aren't reality! At least I don't think they are. But even Beastboy sensed that I was being too emotional than I used to be. Can they be feeling something I haven't felt myself? Oh, just cut the crap out! What the hell is wrong with me? Okay just relax. All you've got to do is to keep away from Robin as much as possible and act normal. And if anything is really wrong with me, then there's only one way of finding out' she took a deep breath and waved her hand in front of her. The small mirror, which was the portal to her mind, appeared in her hand.
She placed her hand on the glass plain of the mirror and whispered 'Azerath Metrion Zinthos' She took away her hand and saw the wrecked and spooky path, which was situated nowhere. But it was empty. 'Happy? Timid? Sleepy? Brave? Anyone? Where is everybody? I want to talk to you!' she said. Brave, wearing her green robe appeared in front of her. 'What's happening? Where are the others?' Raven asked her brave self. 'Well, there's something you should know. New versions of you are forming inside your mind and we were in the forbidden chamber waiting for them to turn into their complete selves. As I'm the brave, the others sent me to tell it you' Brave said with a hint of pride in her tone. 'Okay now you're sounding like Proud' Raven said. Brave raised a brow. 'Never mind' Raven said. 'But, new versions of me? How could that happen? I mean I've never heard of it' she asked. 'It's because it had never happened' Brave said. 'You had corners in your mind, which you had never explored. Once you started doing so, new versions of your emotions started to form inside your mind' she finished. Oh boy, this doesn't sound good. Raven thought to herself.'And who exactly are forming? You said "them". So how many new ones are forming?' Raven asked. 'Two. But who they are, I dunno. We have to wait until they have fully achieved their shapes' Brave said. 'Well at least can you tell me the color of their robes so I could figure out what they might represent' Raven asked. 'Well, one is purple and the other is something like lilac' Brave answered. Oh dear, please don't let it be passion and love. Raven thought to herself. Then Happy appeared beside Brave wearing her usual pink robe. 'Guys, I've found it' Happy said. 'What?' Raven and Brave asked together. 'What the new versions of your self represent' Happy said turning to face Raven. 'Well go on' Brave said. 'I think the purple robe represents passion and the lilac robe represents love' Happy said. 'What?' Raven asked. 'No way' Brave said. 'It's just a guess okay. Since you, or we, to be more precise, haven't explored the emotions of love and passion, I think the new ones definitely represent those two. I learnt it from Smart' Happy explained. 'Well I don't believe you. It just can't turn out to be that way' Raven said. Proud appeared next wearing her yellow robe. 'You can't keep running away from the truth forever dear' she said. 'Whatever' Raven said and waved her hand in front of the mirror again. The vision of nowhere disappeared and the glass returned back to its normal non-magical-like self.
'No it's not happening' Raven said to herself and came out from the bathroom wearing her white bath towel. 'I mean it just can't. I don't believe that darn idiot Beastboy's revolting ideas are turning out to be true. I can change it. It's all in my mind and I'm going to stop their formation no matter what it takes. Well, all it takes is to control and ignore my emotions' she sighed and looked at her dress which was lying on her bed. She has bought it after her little shopping spree in the mall with Starfire. She put it on and checked her reflection from the mirror. 'This dress seriously needs to be patched up' Raven told herself. 'I mean just look at it' She was really disgusted about her dress. It was a tight-fit and was black; that was no problem of course but it exposed too much of her body. It was strapless and the deep and broad pointed-cut neck barely covered even half of her chest. And above all, it had slits on either of her sides' upto her waist. The only thing she liked about it was the brooch of black and white stones at the mid-point of the deep-cut neck, which slightly covered her cleavage. 'If any guy stares at my breast I'm going to kill Starfire. If it weren't for her, I never would have bought this dumb dress' She sighed and came out of her room. She took the lift to go down to the hall where the others have agreed to meet around 7.30.
They were already there when she arrived. The boys wore black tuxedos, and Starfire in her glamorous tight-fit red dress. It had a broad and deep square-cut neck and was smocked with silvery thread on the front. It had long flared sleeves and a silvery glittering leather belt. Decent, Attractive and ideal – unlike my own stupid dress. Raven said to herself and joined her teammates. 'Oh hello Raven' Starfire greeted her. 'It's wonderful to see you. And your dress, it looks most perfect on you' she said with a smile. Robin who suddenly noticed Raven, turned his gaze at her and examined her from top to bottom. 'You look beautiful' he said as if he was lost in some kind of a daze. Cyborg punched Beastboy from the elbow. 'Yeah, thanks' Raven said coldly and shot Beastboy a nasty look noticing the elbow punch he received from Cyborg. 'C'mon y'all. We don't wanna be late for the ball do we?' Cyborg said. The titans followed him upto the T-car that was waiting for them outside. Robin and Starfire took two back seats next to each other and Beastboy took the one in the front with Cyborg which left Raven the one next to Robin. Oh brother, why do I always end up sitting next to him? Raven thought to herself and took the remaining seat.
Cyborg drove them swiftly upto the Jump City port. And through out the whole journey, Raven could swear Robin was staring at her from the corner of his eye. They arrived at the port where a giant of a cruiser ship stood on the Pacific Ocean decorated festively to suit the occasion. 'So, that's where the ball's going to be, right? On a ship' Beastboy asked. 'Why else did you think we'd be invited to the port?' Cyborg asked. A young man, probably from the Youth Services Association greeted the Titans when they boarded the ship. 'Good evening. You must be the Teen Titans of our city. Please follow me to the lounge. The ball is about to start' He said and guided them to the spacious and magnificent lounge of the ship. A red carpet lay over the polished wooden floor and several tables covered with white clothing and a lighted candle in the middle, stood in front a wide wooden platform. The platform provided the dancing space and a band was getting ready to supply music to the night. Apart from superheroes, teens were there too. A young woman in a stylish deep blue dress came upto the titans to greet them once again. 'Hi! I'm Miranda Sanders – the chairperson of the Youth Services Association. You must be the Teen Titans of Jump City itself. Such an honour to meet you' she said and shook hands with the five of them. 'Please follow me. Your table awaits you there' she pointed to a table right next to the Titans East. Bumble Bee waved at Cyborg noticing him for the first time and he waved back with a smile. Starfire took her seat next to Robin, Beastboy and Cyborg next to him and Raven in between Cyborg and Starfire. I don't want even to have a glimpse of him. All I want is to make Passion and Love to stop forming inside my mind. Raven thought to herself.
Miranda walked upto the platform and cleared her throat. 'May I have your attention please?' She called to the microphone. 'Dear Teens, Super heroes and heroines, welcome aboard for this glorious event of celebration' she started her welcome speech. 'As the chairperson of the Youth Services Association, I, Miranda Johnson, have encouraged my colleagues to organize this small revelry in tribute to our dear super heroes who protect our world from evil, twenty four seven risking their own precious lives' she continued. 'And she calls this small' Beastboy said from the corner of his mouth. 'On this night, I want you all to think as one. A hero or not we might be in our daily lives but tonight we shall all feel the same – longing for the thirst of love, longing for the thirst of passion to be satisfied. So without much further ado, let music take control' Miranda finished and bowed to the audience which was followed by a huge round of applause. The music band started playing "Love Song" by 911.
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I'm home again
'Wanna dance?' Robin forwarded his hand to Starfire. 'It would be my pleasure' she said and they walked to the dance floor along with many other young couples that were getting up from their seats to make way for same destination. 'Hey Sparky' Bumble Bee was standing next to Cyborg. 'I thought you said I was your date for this ball' she said. 'Oh I'm sorry. Do you want to dance?' he asked getting up from his seat. 'I thought you'd never ask' Bumble Bee said and took his hand happily to go to the dance. Raven stared at Robin for a moment. I have to admit he's a really good dancer. And that black tuxedo looks really cute on him. She thought to herself. Suddenly Robin's eyes met hers and he gave a small smile. Raven turned her gaze as quickly as she could without even bothering to return the smile. What's wrong with me? She asked herself.
A/N I know this chapter is too short. But I'll try to make the next one longer. I promise. And please, please, please review.