"Nothing compares to you, no matter where I look, no matter what I do. Because that Garden of Eden you took me to, is now overgrown. And the love I've known, is gone without you.' - Lucie Silvas

CHAPTER 5 - TALKING

Cyborg and Robin made their way back to the tower. It was a tense atmosphere in the T-Car. After everything they'd just heard their minds were racing. Was Raven gonna die? Was he lying? They both knew the answer to that one, no. While Cyborg looked calm and collected, Robin looked angry mixed with guilt. They made their way over the bridge and parked in the garage, where Beast Boy was waiting for them. The looks on their faces painted a clear enough picture.

"Bad news I presume." Beast Boy whispered.

Cyborg looked down, confirming Beast Boy's thoughts.

"Is she gonna…" Beast Boy began.

"Not if I can help it!" Robin shouted, still angry. A tear fell down his cheek.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Cyborg asked him putting a hand on his shoulder.

"No, I'm fine." Robin replied, wiping the tear from his face. He walked out of the garage and made his way to the infirmary. When he got there, he saw Starfire sitting next to Raven.

"Friend Robin! You have returned. Did you follow the lead and find it?" she asked in her usual confused and loopy tone. Robin didn't want to answer.

"Star, I need to talk to Raven alone. Cyborg is talking to Beast Boy, he'll fill you in." he replied sadly.

Starfire took Robin's advice and left him and Raven alone. Robin looked over at Raven's bed. Nothing had changed since he'd left her just over an hour ago. She was still lying there surrounded by wires and beeping. He didn't want to worry her, but on the upper hand she may know more about these tattoos than he did, and he was hoping she had some knowledge on Vanaveah to help him know how to save her. He sat on the chair next to the bed and stared at her. She was beautiful, even in her current state. Secretly, Robin had always liked Raven more than he let on, they had a bond after all. After the Trigon scenario a while back, they'd grown to trust each other more than ever, and Robin didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. He tapped her shoulder, trying to wake her. When she didn't awaken, he called her name and she slowly awoke from her slumber. She removed the oxygen mask and looked at Robin.

"Robin?" she whispered.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, then realising it was a pretty stupid question.

"Better." she smiled trying to hoist herself up from her laid down position. Robin helped her.

"Beast Boy said you'd found a lead or something? I can't remember." Raven questioned wondering where he'd gone.

Robin lost eye contact. "Yeah, we found out why you've been collapsing." he said guiltily.

Raven looked at him and knew that what he had to say was bad news. But being a brave fighter, she smiled and demanded an answer from him.

"Before I tell you, do you know anything about Vanaveah?" Robin asked. Raven looked confused.

"A little. Why?" she replied.

"It's Tattoo Tarot who's being hurting you, and he's from Vanaveah. After you collapsed healing Starfire's arm, Cyborg found something…" Robin thought about saying exactly what, but didn't want to worry her. "… so we went after him and he told us everything."

"And?" Raven said.

"I don't want you using your powers anymore Raven." he whispered.

Raven looked into his masked eyes. They looked guilty, sad and angry, a side of him she hadn't seen since she sacrificed herself to Trigon. But, surprisingly, Raven wasn't having any of it.

"Why not Robin? What aren't you telling me?" she asked.

"Look Raven. I know what's going on and I don't want to tell you. But you must promise me you won't use any of your power until we find a way to help you!" he said holding her hand.

"Robin. Tell me what you're hiding." she said sternly.

This wasn't going how Robin had planned. He thought Raven would be weak and unable to fight back and ask questions, but she'd recovered from earlier and wanted to know all. He was getting angrier every minute.

"NO RAVEN! I CARE ABOUT YOU TOO MUCH TO TELL YOU! JUST DON'T YOU DARE USE ANY OF YOUR POWERS UNTIL WE SAY IT'S SAFE! NO LEVITATING! NO HEALING! NO SPELLS OR INCANTATIONS! NOTHING!"

Raven was startled into silence. Robin couldn't believe he'd lost it like that. Raven looked scared of him. He reached out to her but she moved away. Robin took a deep breath.

"Tattoo Tarot said that if you use your powers, you'll… die."

Robin had been wondering since he'd found out the news how Raven would react. He expected her to be scared, but she wasn't. In fact, she seemed in denial.

"Vanaveian's are best known for lying." she said nonchalantly.

"So, you're willing to take a risk that big just to see if that fucker is lying!" Robin said astounded.

Raven was becoming distressed. Robin put the mask back on her face and checked her temperature. She was burning up. He altered the fluid levels.

"Raven please calm down. This is why I didn't want to tell you." Robin begged.

Raven lay back down and removed the mask. "I'm not scared Robin because you won't even tell me why. I was meant to die when I became the portal, but you saved me from Trigon, and if it's that bad or if something happens, I know you'll save me again." she said breathlessly.

"Just promise me Raven. Let me and the others do some research and help you. Just don't use your powers."

"I promise." she said even more breathlessly putting the oxygen mask back on once again. There was a knock at the door and Cyborg appeared.

"Hey. I just came to check you're okay." he smiled.

Knowing Raven couldn't reply, Robin answered for her.

"She's having difficulty breathing. But, I told her most of the story. How we found Tattoo Tarot and what he told us, but I didn't talk about…" Robin cupped one hand around his mouth and mouthed to Cyborg "…the tattoo…" then went back to speaking normally, "… and she's understood that I've forbidden her from using her powers for her own good." Raven wanted to butt in and ask what Robin had mouthed to Cyborg, but felt too weak to do anything. She looked at Cyborg who looked a little confused, but delighted that Raven was out of danger in the long run.

"Did you say short of breath?" Cyborg double checked, increasing the oxygen.

"Yeah." he replied.

"That should do it then." Cyborg smiled.

They all looked at each other as silence filled the room.

"Raven, we'll be back later. I'll make you something to eat. There should be some leftover Chinese if Beast Boy hasn't eaten it all by now." Cyborg joked. Raven nodded and done a thumbs up sign. Robin leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"See ya later." he smiled, and he left the room, leaving Raven to wallow in self thought.


When they were out of ear shot, Cyborg started a conversation. "Why didn't you tell her about the tattoo?" he asked.

"I don't want to worry her. I just said that if she uses her powers then she'll die. I also asked her about the realm Vanaveah and she just said that the people who live there are known for lying." Robin replied convincing Cyborg that keeping Raven in the dark was the best thing for her right now, even though she was on the road to recovery. "Did you tell the others?" he asked.

"Yeah, and they didn't take it too well, especially Star. She's making some sorta pie to ease the pain or something, I didn't stick around!" Cyborg smiled.

They both arrived in the Control Room where Starfire was indeed cooking and Beast Boy was watching television. They both looked sad.

"Hey guys." Robin said and they looked around.

"You tell her?" Beast Boy asked.

"Not the whole story, but enough of it." Robin sighed. The team was in low spirits and he wanted to cheer them up. "How about we catch a midnight movie? It'll cheer us all up a bit." Robin suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Glorious idea friend Robin!" Starfire said excitedly throwing the cooking mixture in the bin.

"How about Raven?" Beast Boy asked.

"She can come too but we'll have to keep an eye on her, she isn't out of the woods yet." Robin said.

"I'll go and tell her and see what she says." Cyborg said, walking out of the Control Room and heading to the infirmary. He knocked on the door.

"Raven? Are you awake?" he said through the door. There was no reply. He called her name again and there was still no answer, so he opened the door.

"What the?" Cyborg gasped.


Thanks for reading this chapter. Chapter 6 will be along soon. Love Hollie xoxox