CHAPTER 8 - BEGGING

"You'll never get Raven!"

"I think you'll find I will. You see dear boy, she loves you. And people, even powerful demons will do anything for the one's they love, even die!"

Tarot had held Robin captive for about twenty minutes now as he stood on the highest point on the cliff top, the welcoming breeze swaying through his hair. Robin lay beside him. As soon as Tarot had landed on the cliff top, he'd thrown Robin to the floor and shot him in the shoulder, weakening him extremely.

Robin contemplated his last point. Raven loved him. The dark sorceress incapable of love… loved him. And he loved her back, always had. But his feelings had grown during Trigon's conquer. He never knew he could get so worried about anyone like that, when Raven sacrificed herself and lost all hope. The feelings he'd had at that moment were indescribable. Pain, hurt, confusion, sorrow, anger… love. All the emotions he was feeling now, Raven couldn't feel. But she loved him. And… would die for him.

"I won't let Raven do it! She's not gonna die because of me!" Robin shouted in pain, grasping his bleeding shoulder.


Raven grew more anxious the closer she got to the cliffs. She knew Robin wasn't in danger… he couldn't be… Tarot wanted her life… not Robin's.

'I love him. I never thought I could… but I do.'

With this new determination, Raven flew even faster towards her destination.


"It's been 10 minutes! We gotta help her!"

Beast Boy and Cyborg were monitoring the computer back at the tower. On the screen was a purple 'x', indicating where Raven was.

"Beast Boy. She's not even there yet. Calm down, our girl will be fine." Cyborg said reassuringly. But Beast Boy was unconvinced.

"Dude! Rae is just waltzing out there with no back up and a killer tattoo on her body!"

Cyborg sighed. "Do you not think I know that man! But we're her back up. We have to let her go alone, but we'll be there in a flash if anything happens. Don't worry."


Tarot circled Robin, glaring at him spitefully. "The weak deserve to die."

Robin was enraged by that, and painfully stood up.

"Raven is anything but weak! How dare you say that about her. She had accomplished so much and fought endless battles and has proven herself to be one of the strongest and hopeful people I know! You're the fucking weak one! You turn up in Jump City out of the blue, and cause a stranger to suffer! Raven has been dying because of you! And I'll be dammed if she dies. SHE'S NOT WEAK!"

Tarot wasn't taken aback by Robin's speech. He'd heard the stories about Raven's past, one of the reason's he was so proud of the tattoo on her back. He would be a hero in the villain world for destroying the girl who defeated the most powerful demon in existence.

"If you ask me, you're the one who's weak." he replied as he aimed the gun again.


Raven stopped. Her heart stopped. Her mind stopped.

"Robin!" she screamed as the sound of a gunshot filled her ears. Now with anger and fury to big for words to even begin to describe, she shot off towards the cliffs, finally seeing what happened. Robin was lying there, 2 bullet wounds encrypted in his body, one in the shoulder and one in the leg.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE! IT'S ME YOU WANT!" Raven screamed as she dived and pushed straight into Tarot, nearly sending him off the cliff.

Tarot regained himself and shot some magic towards her, which she dodged with ease, then she was about to release some of her own magic, when a small voice behind her stopped her.

"No Raven! Don't break your promise." Raven turned to see Robin looking at her with fear in his eyes. He wanted desperately to help her, but couldn't.

"Ah Raven. So glad you could join us." Tarot said smugly, looking at the girl as if she was scum. "You are about to witness the destruction of your boyfriend!"

Raven turned to face Robin. He lay there, bleeding, not at all worried about his own injuries, but about her. All the emotions coming from him were overwhelming. It was unbelievable that someone could learn to love her, the spawn of evil, an unsocial and emotionless half demon.

"If you hurt him I swear!" Raven threatened Tarot, who merely smirked.

"You'll what? Young one you are in a moral dilemma. One strike of your magic and you will meet your end. Would you sacrifice everything for that pathetic waste of…"

"SHUT UP! I LOVE HIM! I LOVE ROBIN MORE THAN I'VE EVER LOVED ANYONE!"

Raven was doing her best to keep her emotions and magic in check, but she was breaking, she could feel it. Robin, hearing her words, felt his heart skip a few beats. She loved him back… wow. That's all he could think of. That was, until Tarots gun was pointed at his head and he heard a female gasp.

"Please. Don't hurt him!", Raven begged the villain. "Please!"


"Friends, 20 of the minutes have gone. Surely we must assist!"

Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy had nervously and anxiously been watching the computer screen. Both of their friends were still alive, but as the minutes ticked away, they grew more anxious to help.

"Argh I can't stand this! Why ain't we out there?" Beast Boy shouted, getting agitated.

"Because… this is Raven's mission." Cyborg sighed, his eyes never leaving the computer screen.


"Please! I'll surrender… just… don't hurt him."

Raven lowered her head and walked towards Tarot. She could hear Robin calling her name, but she blocked it out as she came face to face with the villain.

"Drop the gun. And you have my word." Raven cried, her emotions being pushed to their limits. Robin felt the pressure from the gun leave his head as Tarot let it drop to the floor. Raven, using her last bit of power, went up to Robin.

"I'm sorry." Raven whispered in his ear, and then kissed him on the cheek, and walked away.

"Azarath…"


"Okay it's been 30 minutes. Lets go y'all" Cyborg ordered them as Starfire grabbed him by the shoulders to fly him to the cliffs, and Beast Boy transformed into a hawk, following after them.


"Metrion…"

Raven fell to the floor in pain, her back glowing an evil red as she struggled to stay conscious.

"RAVEN!" Robin screamed. Tarot stood there, laughing.

"Zinthos…"