Disclaimer: like I keep saying, don't own'em
A/N: 4:35 am in the morning … tired … night … enjoy … (yawns)
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Most Known Unknown
((--Later That Night--))
((--9:45--))
"You sent the letter? Already?"
Raven nodded to answer Robins question as she sipped a bit of her herbal tea, her violet hair pulled up and held with a clip, shrugging off the odd looks she was getting from Beast Boy and the obsessive looks she was getting from Starfire. (The alien wanted to so badly to play with her now very long hair) yet Raven ignored them all as she got up from her spot on the stool, "Yes, if my mother received the letter on time I'll get a reply any day. In the meantime, all we can really do is wait."
Robin sighed and shrugged, still not liking the idea that she was once again going off on an adventure with the Goon-Squad (his new name for the trio Raven had associated herself with). Shaking his head he returned to his paper, "Whatever you say Rae."
"Mew!" Raven looked down at Francesca and raised a brow when the nightstalker rubbed herself up around her legs, weaving in and out; the sorceress bent over and picked up the cute little nightstalker. Taking her on her journey back to her room while petting the little creature. Francesca purred in her hold, even meowed and urged her within the mind to go a certain direction in the Tower. "Mew!"
Raven raised a brow at the nightstalker's urging and felt that she was leader her towards the training room … where Rorek and Kenneth's aura was the strongest. Malchior was back in the Ops Room sucked into a video game spat with Beast Boy and Cyborg. So she was free from the dragon's possessive clutches and decided that it couldn't hurt to follow Francesca's pleading. Still holding the cute white cat-like creature, Raven carried her all to the way to the Training Room where she was shocked to see Kenneth and Rorek going at each other's throats. Yet even more shocking was the fact that Rorek as actually going Hand-to-Hand Combat.
Kenneth flipped back as Rorek came at him on the offensive, then pushed off high in the air, he maneuvered his body like a graceful cat and smirked when he came back at Rorek in a drop kick. The wizard glared and jumped back then shot forward, throwing his body in a powerful round house, Kenneth ducked down and swept the floor from under Rorek. Rorek corrected his fall and braced his wrist as he landed with one hand, then flipped back and stayed crouched on the ground, now on the defensive as Kenneth attacked ruthlessly.
Francesca jumped out of Raven's arms and watched her master with an excited smile. Raven just observed their moves and characters, already knowing that Kenneth had diverse and very different styles that he could switch on and off at will alone. That skill was the one that threw Robin off of him; it was how Kenneth was able to always be a step a head of the Titan Leader.
The thief was unpredictable.
Even for Rorek who practically studied every art there was in the world! Panting and trying to keep up with the thief, the wizard dodged, ducked and blocked, then countered a swift upper cut. Yet Kenneth faked him out, the upper cut suddenly turned into a different styled art and in one fluid motion the thief slid up close and broke Rorek's guard without even trying. How'd he … Smirking at the wizard's shock, Kenneth chuckled, "Think fast."
Rorek never knew what hit him when Kenneth vanished from sight and pain shot up his chin, nearly biting his own tongue off, Rorek was lucky he gritted his teeth before Kenneth dropped down and kicked upward. Throwing him high into the air and far out of reach, the wizard landed hard upon the wooden floorboard, bounced and skidded ever so slightly till he stopped. Resting on his side, Rorek groaned and slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, Raven walked briskly up to his side and knelt next to him, "You okay?"
Rorek looked up and was caught by surprise to be staring back into narrowed demonic violet eyes that gazed upon him in concern and amusement all rolled into one and suppressed quite nicely. It wasn't something the wizard was ready for and stuttered, "Oh … uh … Mis-Miss Raven, wha – uh – what are you doing here?"
"Watching you get your ass kicked," Kenneth grinned and caught Francesca when she jumped into his arms and scurried up on top of his head. The white nightstalker watched as Raven helped Rorek up and smiled triumphantly that her master had beat his opponent. Even if that opponent had been the man that saved her from imminent death back on Azalon. The thief snickered and walked up to the two, crossing a good ten feet that Rorek had flew, "man Rorek, stick to spells and charms pretty-boy, fighting hand-to-hand isn't your thing."
"No …" the wizard smiled weakly his jaw still in pain from the kick, yet still taking his loss gracefully. Satisfied that he at least worked the thief close to exhaustion with the way he tried to hide his hard breathing and heaving chest with deep breathes. "I suppose not … good match though. However, I am most curious, how'd you break my guard?"
"Break your guard?" Kenenth snorted, and took another deep breath, wiping his sweat off his brow with his shirt, as he chuckled, "It was never there! I'm a man of opportunities, I see an opportunity I take it."
Raven scoffed, "Go figure."
Kenneth raised a brow and smirked, "Oh, so you think I'm just blowing smoke? Unclip the cape girl and come to the dance floor, show me what you're made of."
"I only came to drop off Francesca, I never came looking for a fight," Raven sneered, "besides it's late, working out this late at night doesn't do much to get the body to unwind and relax for some much needed sleep."
"Forget that!" Kenneth grinned and jerked his head to the wide open room, "Come on, just for fun, it doesn't have to be me. It could be with Rorek, I don't care I just want to see what you got."
A hand to her shoulder and with one glance to Rorek, Raven knew she wasn't getting out of their challenge with that sneaky smile of his. No longer was it charming, sweet, and nice, it rivaled Malchior's especially since his ice-blue eyes had the power of changing gears, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to side with Kenneth here Miss Raven, what's the harm in a little friendly challenge?"
"Yeah," Kenneth snickered, "especially that little explanation you and Malchior gave about your new look, getting stronger because it's your "coming of age" in the demon blood? Bull! I know there's another reason for it, you guys are just to shy to say it."
Rorek glared warningly at Kenneth along with Raven, but the wizard was faster to react and slapped the human upside the head, "Personal matters you don't need to get into Kenneth, why don't you just drop it?"
"What?" Kenneth chuckled and moved away in case the wizard decided to hit him again, "I can't help the obvious. It's only since her and Malchior got together that her power's been growing, I bet if you fought against the dragon he'd be stronger to! These two aren't only swappin' spit, but power! I'm not stupid."
"Kenneth," Rorek warned, but stepped down when Raven spoke up.
"No, Rorek," Raven sighed and rubbed the side of her head with an exasperated frown she glared at the ground thoughtfully, "he's actually right … since Malchior's species still faintly runs on animal instinct and I've tamed my demon side enough to submit to my human blood at will. With every … I guess you can say intimate interaction we have with each other there's going to be an exchange in … well … many things, till it's with out a shadow of a doubt that we're owned to one another."
"Owned?" Kenneth gave Raven a scrutinizing look, "Why that word?"
Raven gulped and tried to hide a blush that rose onto her cheeks, "Um … well … it has to do with instinct, it's all about instinct where a demon or a dragon is concerned … our customs on courting a mate are quite similar … if not nearly the same as any other creature like us. Almost … um … primal … you understand?"
Kenneth blinked blankly, "Primal? You mean … territorial?"
"Yes – uh – NO!" Raven quickly corrected but cringed at her lack of words to put what her belief and what her costume was, "Well, sort of, I think … look at it this way, when a demon or a dragon mate – with anyone … it's for life. No excuses, because you each had already traded vital information about the other without meaning to. Like weaknesses, you could know your partners weakness and no one else could even though they never told you, so then it becomes your duty to protect them with your life. Get it now?"
The thief looked up to the nightstalker upon his head who mewed and jumped to the ground, absentmindedly Kenneth brought a hand up to scratch his head and shrugged, "I guess … but, whatever, that solves your change in style. Now! Let's get on the court I want to see you fight!"
Raven sweat-dropped, So much for my lessons, looking to Rorek, the wizard placed a hand on the small of her back and pushed her forward, "Come, come now Miss Raven, it's not so bad. Who would you like to challenge?"
"Kenneth," Raven sneered, "somebody has to knock his ego down a notch or two."
Rorek chuckled, "Fine by me, I'll cheer you on the entire time."
Raven offered Rorek a rare smile and nodded, "Thanks."
Rorek winked and looked up to Kenneth, "You heard her Kenneth, looks like she'll be taking you up on your challenge."
The thief flipped into the middle of the training room and sank into a fighting stance; hyper and ready to go after his earlier battle he called Raven up, "Think you can take me? Tell ya what, I'll make it easy for you, instead of sparing if you can pin me down three times you win."
The sorceress unclipped her cape and tossed it to the side, Francesca caught it in her teeth and bound off after Rorek who took a post up against a wall, crossing his arms over his chest watching the up coming battle with great interest. He looked down at Francesca who curled Raven's cape up and laid in the middle of the "nest" comfortably watching the sorceress take up her place. Sinking into her own battle stance, Raven shot Kenneth a chilling smirk, "Whatever you say thief, you go first."
Kenneth raised a mocking brow, "Nah, ladies first."
"After you," Raven snickered, and Kenneth's fun was slowly turning to suspicion, there was something fishy about this challenge. Did he just set himself up for some kind of trick?
"Hold on," both combatants looked up to Rorek who walked into their field with a smile, "you know what? I think Kenneth should sit this one out, I feel like redeeming myself."
Raven raised a brow, "Excuse me … do you mean to challenge me? I already called on Kenneth."
"Yeah man, what the hell?" Kenneth growled
Rorek shook his head and pointed to Raven, "You're going to cheat, I can tell."
The sorceress blinked, "What?"
"Don't give me that look," Rorek warned playfully and looked to Kenneth, "trust me, just step this one out. Miss Raven, do you mind?"
Raven looked from Rorek to Kenneth, then back and narrowed her eyes, That's right … he shares a heart with Malchior … does that mean he gets stronger with Malchior? Well … that's not fair, feeling slightly uneasy about the fact that she wasn't only sharing her power with Malchior, but Rorek unconsciously. Raven took a deep breath and steeled her nerves when Rorek's ice-blue eyes stayed on her as Kenneth moved off to the side and he took on his own stance.
Pride.
Raven had pride … and she wasn't going to back off, taking up this new challenge she trained her face into a passive expression as Rorek gave out his terms, "All out, no charms, spells, powers. Understood?"
"Whatever you say," Raven nodded, I feel funny … I've hardly ever saw Rorek's style in any battle … Raven wouldn't admit it, but it wasn't a "funny" feeling she was getting, it was a nervous feeling, because she hardly knew what to expect from Rorek. He was supposed to be a good guy that turned out to be a bad-guy that still had a cheerful gentle personality. Who was he? What was he? Raven saved the questions for some other time, letting doubts fill the head was never good before a fight. That much every serious fighter knew all to well.
Kenneth shivered and looked down at Francesca, Is it just me or did it just get cold? The air did change, it still held that playful aura, but in a way it took a more serious turn and it only broke when Raven disappeared from her spot and charged Rorek was when the battle began. Kenneth gaped, Holy shit! Rorek wasn't that fast before! The frickin' guy was holding back with me! That's it! I'm calling a rematch!
Enraged that he was ripped off, Kenneth scowled, but couldn't help to be impressed by the speed, it was hard to watch the two with their blurred movements and it wasn't some DBZ rip off either, they were taking the fight all over the court! With Raven surprisingly matching Rorek blow for blow, and countering here and there. The demoness threw a punch and as Rorek sidestepped it she twirled to the side in order to dodge an axe kick and crouched low to swipe him off his feet. The wizard leaned back and flip kicked her chin. However Raven was fast enough to roll away and jump back to get some distance.
Rorek followed after completing his flip and ruthlessly went on the offensive, Raven gritted her teeth and tried hard to keep up with his fast moves, and a chance to switch her defense to offence and found it when she spotted an opening. Taking it she spun around and cried out when she sent a powerful round house to the side of his head. Rorek caught her ankle, but she didn't stop there, throwing another punch to his face, with his free hand he caught it and she smirked. With the leg that held her up she jumped and kicked him in the chest.
Yet before she could execute such a move he spun her around and threw her across the gym, Raven corrected her flight naturally with no powers and landed crouched on the ground. Claws instinctively digging into said ground to stop her skidding and helping her push forward in a charge. Rorek watched carefully and dodged every attack she threw at him, until he caught one of her punches and spun her around, executing a sort of semi dance move by grabbing her free hand as well and twisting it behind her. She cried out and gritted her teeth when he applied pressure, "I knew you'd cheat."
"So … you did to," Raven growled at his smug smile, "you weren't going all out with Kenneth."
"He's human and hardly knows how to tap into his full potential," Rorek shrugged, "it wouldn't have been fair."
Raven huffed and grunted when he applied pressure, "Just don't let him hear that, or you'll be in a world of pain! HHAA!"
Taking control of the position Raven flipped Rorek high over her head and while still in the air she jumped up after him and punched him down hard, pushing him further to the ground. Rorek grunted and when she tried to drop kick him he grabbed her ankle and changed positions. With her on the bottom, it took only a second until they hit the ground; Raven absorbing the extent of the fall, but hardly letting the pain get to her she threw Rorek off her and flipped to her feet. Turning around to see Rorek coming after her, once again forcing her on the defensive. Raven broke free, but in one fluid motion Rorek dodged her attack and wrapped his hand around her neck and jerked her back to the ground.
"AH!" crying out when her head hit the hard floor board again, Raven snarled and with one hand gripped Rorek's wrist so hard her claws were digging into flesh as he immobilized her and made sure she couldn't move.
Triumphant Rorek grinned and chuckled, "Looks like I win."
Raven huffed, panting and trying hard to control her breathing from the harsh session between her and him she growled her own chuckled fanged grin, "I'd take another look at your position Rorek … cause from my view point … looks like I'm the winner here."
Confused for a moment, Rorek stilled when he felt something poke at his chest and looked down at her free sharp-clawedhand, in a stabbing like pose, Rorek knew for a fact that claws on demons and dragons weren't something to mess with. Looking down at Raven he nodded his head acknowledging her point, "Impressive. You learn fast how to use your newfound weapons. Did Malchior teach you?"
"I'm not helpless, I can handle myself," Raven growled, "now get up, it's a stalemate."
"I take it you don't like loosing," Rorek chuckled as he let her up and helped her to her feet.
The sorceress sighed and snorted, "Not very fond of it, no."
"Kick ass!" Kenneth laughed, "Shit! That was off the hook! I didn't know the Ice Queen could move like that. Who taught you?"
Raven faulted in step and looked up to Kenneth trying to cool her self down and wipe off the sweat from her face and neck. Debating whether or not she should tell Kenneth where she learned her skill she gulped and sighed in defeat, "Azarath … Prince Miles, it started as a game between us two and soon enough it turned into full blown late night training sessions every time he came back from his discipline at the Academy and I returned to from my Academy."
"Late night?" both Rorek and Kenneth questioned suspiciously, Raven growled and sneered.
"Nothing happened. It was just training … and a little bit of conversations, but that's it."
Kenneth snickered, "Suurree."
"Shut-up," Raven snapped and stormed out the training room without bothering to pick up her cape. It was late, and she was tired, plus she knew she would be hurting in the morning. Rorek had given her a real work out in their battle … but Kenneth had given her a real headache.
Combinations she really didn't need.
Tiredly she made her way to her room and grabbed her towel walking into her private bathroom (another feature she placed within her room when she switched the Titan Tower renovations) she stripped off all her clothes and pulled off her hair tie. Stepping into her shower she turned on the hot water and let the shower head soak and massage her tense muscles from her fight. Smoothing back her hair she sighed and began to lather up the soap to scrub away the filth and sweat. Rinsing herself off she lingered in the heat of the hot steaming shower and sighed relaxingly.
Eyes closed she tilted her head up and let the hot water run down her body for a few more minutes before she turned off the shower and got out, grabbing her towel and wiping herself off. Once she was fully dried she wrapped the towel tightly around her body and walked to her door, but stopped when she heard commotion in her room. At first fearful of the intruder because of her state of dress – or lack there of – and no aura to sense she gulped. Stepping back, she gritted her teeth and her second instinct kicked in, annoyed that there was an intruder in her room she growled and stalked her door.
Slowly sliding it open she peered around her room and raised a brow when she saw nothing … but on closer examination movement to her right towards her bedchamber caught her attention. Expecting the worst and powering up, she paused in mid silent chant when she realized what was making the noise. Her cartooned raven statue upon her shelf was spinning out, but what had disturbed it in the first place? None other then Malchior himself, clumsily having hit the contraption he stilled when he felt Raven's power charged dangerously high.
Slowly turning around to see her clad scandalously in a towel, hair wet obviously having just stepped out of the shower he heard her within. Her violet eyes boring into his ebony metallic "seemingly innocent" eyes, busted the dragon shrugged, "What?"
"What?" she mimicked crudely and angrily as she stepped out of her privet bath fully still glaring at him and crossing her arms over her chest. Though Malchior couldn't help to chuckle at the sight, somehow, Raven always managed to look pissed off and pull it off nicely even if she was dripping wet and wrapped in nothing but a towel. That was talent, especially when she trained her voice to be harsh, "You're asking me what?"
Malchior sighed and walked away from her bedchamber, "Okay … so you caught me guilty as charged within your living quarters. Can you forgive me?"
Raven sneered and backed up with a warning hiss at his intimidating approach, it boiled her demonic blood. Yet, ironically, the only reason she didn't slaughter him right at that very moment for entering her room was because of her demon side. It recognized Malchior as her "mate" and settled a bit, but was still uneasy with his dominating aura. The one thing that demons don't like to be, is dominated, it takes a lot of work and trust – especially for female demons – to open up to any other male. Plus … he had to be strong enough to subdue her.
A secret Raven buried deep within her mind for the safety of her teammates and herself.
It was the secret to Raven's power, where she denied there was anyway to stop her if she lost control, there was one way, and that was if an equal, if not even more so powerful male got a hold of her. Pure skin on skin contact. No exceptions. Which would be another reason she didn't like to be touched much, because she didn't want to be subdued. Or in this case, when she fell asleep with Malchior and they both weren't dressed properly, skin on skin. It gave Malchior a chance to have complete power over her, and like the explanation she gave Rorek and Kenneth, that Malchior was more prone to internal instincts that influenced Raven's appearance greatly since she wasn't in the right state of mind to fight back and her demon blood was already up.
It was almost inevitable for her to change that night.
So remembering she was only in a towel Raven growled, "Why are you in here?"
"Well … just thought I could pay you back for worry about me last night … plus … I do feel like we haven't had any time together today. Wouldn't you agree my dear?" he stretched the words suspenseful with a grin as he reached out and had his claws trace her face until it stopped just under her chin. Feeling her skin smooth from her shower, Raven, with her increased sense – even touch – suppressed a shutter when she felt his dangerous claws.
She never knew a touch could be magnified just with her demon side.
Malchior ran his tongue along his fangs, more trained in his natural abilities then she was rather enjoying the play of emotions on her face as she tried stay mad at him, but was failing miserably. Especially with his kiss, at first soft and sensual turned deep and daring when his little demoness ran her hand up his chest and around his neck. Pulling him down onto her while snaking her clawed fingers into his newly cut hair and gripping it, earning a rather loud growl from the dragon when she pulled on it gently. Evoking her into a dominating war where each was careful of the others' fangs but still demanding.
Raven's logic thought was out the window.
Reason couldn't stop Lust even if she tried, because Lust was being fueled by her demonic desire. Every touch, every scent, every sound was so strong that it was driving her crazy, with what she knew she would have stopped Malchior from doing before her demon blood surfaced she allowed for him to do. Just to get that feeling, to keep that fire within her body burning as he moved backwards, hands wrapped around her waist leading her back to her bed. He apparently forgot how big it was and tripped onto it.
Raven landing on top of him, pulling away from him Malchior got a good look at what he was doing to her. Where she said her demon side was tamed to obey her human blood, he grinned when he saw her violet eyes already turning scarlet around the rim of her pupils. Right now her human mind was being smothered out, and Malchior couldn't have been happier when she straddled his waist growling with a hungry look. Surprisingly without any hesitation Raven continued their little war, even more so aggressive, Malchior rolled them so she was pinned onto the bed.
Digging her claws through his shirt and piercing flesh when she felt him taking control, Malchior pulled away and bared his fangs warningly at his defiant Raven. It didn't hurt, if anything it just further pushed Malchior to have her submit to him fully and completely. Itchy hands traced up the back of her thigh all along her curves and pushed the towel higher, gripping the hem he had the mind to yank it off, but the unthinkable happened. A sudden flash of white light exploded on the bed above them. Shocking the two, Malchior grabbed Raven and pulled her away from the odd light.
Dizzy from the sudden change in mode and shock of going from demonic lust to hitting reality, Raven gulped and shook her head to try to come down from whatever high Malchior put her on. She looked up to the defensive dragon and trailed his eyes to see what it was he was looking at so intensely she gasped, Can it be …
A small portal hole forming on top of her bed!
Pushing passed Malchior to watch her question being answered when through the small portal hole a rolled up piece of parchment was spat out and she caught it in mid air. Eyeing the note she looked down at the portal the size of a Frisbee and watched it close up, leaving her room quiet once more. Raven turned her attention to the note and blinked, Well … that was quick … Arella was never one to waste time I guess … pulling the string that held the parchment together apart.
Still in her towel, Raven sat upon her bed and looked up to Malchior who raised a brow at the piece of paper that had disturbed Raven and him. He snorted at it and asked, "What is it?"
Raven unraveled the rolled up letter and gaped as she read the first line, then looked up at Malchior, their earlier episode having already been thrown out of her mind as she responded quietly, "It's a letter from Arella … Azarath."
--
(still sleepy, talks to readers in her sleep) Heh … real mood killer … heh … sooo tired …
Rorek: (finds cimple laying on her keyboard sleeping and raises a brow when he spots a lemon in her left hand) hello … what's she doing holding a lemon
X: Uh … Rorek, man, that's a lemon, put it down you don't know where's it's been
Rorek: (looks blankly at the thief, then the lemon, then back up at the thief and is enlightened but annoyed and throws it at X) You're just sick you know that, sick!
X: (shrugs "innocently") what? I call it as I see it … a lemon. Ice-tea anyone?
Rorek: What in the bloody hell was she doing holding a damn lemon when she never even wrote one?
X: Making lemonade?
Rorek: … X … don't talk. Just … shh, you're not making any sense.
X: You can't blame a guy for trying, the way I see it she tried.
Rorek: (too himself, but aloud to the people) Hmm … I think it's foreshadowing … but then I could be wrong.
X: Whatever, just don't go into Malchior's dressing room I think he convinced Raven to "rehearse" again.
Rorek: Conniving dragon.
X: l8er daze people (waves the lemon in front of people's faces) you know what they say, life gives you lemons squeeze it right back in the bitch's face.
Rorek: I thoughtit was; If life gives you lemons you make lemonade?
Me: (shoots up from her keyboard and reaches for the pillow on her bed and flings it at the chatter boxes) Can't a girl get any damn sleep! Shut the hell up! God!
X: Hey! Ya laze ass don't be throwing things at us when you've been doing your job as you slept.
Me: Whatever, but just do my job somewhere else, I'm tired … gods … L8er daez everyone, hey … wait a minute … who the hell took my damn lemon!
