RR76: All A/Ns will be saved till the end of the story.

Yes, I see the irony in that statement.

For the longest time, there was nothing. Nothing but white. White light, coating everything, every inch of the city.

And then there was silence

1:11 PM

The doors of Titan's Tower swung open. In limped six figures, all bruised, all beaten...all victorious.

Raven, with her leader's cape drawn closely over her nude form, quivering, yet standing on her own, slowly paced her way into the main hall of the Tower. Her friends, respectfully hanging to the back, followed after her.

The doors to the Tower closed. Fluorescent lights blinked on overhead, bathing the occupents in light. Tired and battle-worn, the six of them breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was over, at last.

Beast Boy was the first to speak. "Is there anything we can get for you Raven? Food, tea...anything?"

The girl shook her head slowly, shivering under her minimal clothing. "N-no, thank you..."

"You sure?" Cyborg asked. "Anything you want, we can get you."

Beast Boy snapped his fingers and turned to his comrades, his trademark grin plastered on his face. "Hey--what about pizza? Nothin' says 'Yea team,' like a plate of veggie pizza!"

"And nothing says 'Shut the hell up Beast Boy,' like a lead slug up your--"

"I just-" The argument ceaced abruptly as both participents locked their eyes on Raven. "Just...want to go to my room. Slip into something a little less naked." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and fled the room, heading for the elevator.

With Raven gone, the four remaining Titans fixed their gazes on Carson. With a nervous chuckle, Carson spoke. "I, uh, suppose you guys want an explaination."

The others gave no reply--their eyes spoke volumes.

"Guess that's a yes," Carson sighed. "Best I get started then."

"You all know what happened two years ago. I came back here and made certain that Terra was good and dead." A muscle in Beast Boy's face twitched at the memory, and Cyborg gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"With her gone, I made my exit. Unfortunately, my...employer...skipped out on his end of the deal. After that I was set upon by two of your guys. Beast Boy suffered, Raven defeated me." He considered for a moment. "Absorbed would be the correct word, I think."

"Anyway, so for the next year, I was more or less nonexistent. Three months and fourteen days ago, though, my conciousness reasserted itself, in no small part due to Cassius Pavayne's influence. With him in the picture again, I weighed my options, and figured that stopping Pavayne from his Ascension was more important than whatever revenge plan I had thought up. The rest," he finished, "is history."

"That's not all," Robin pressed. "You're not giving us the whole story."

"What do you want, a sworn affidavit?" Carson snapped. "That's how it went down, Robin. I don't care what the hell you think, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."

Robin briefly considered pursuing the issue further. Instead, he heaved a sigh and collapsed in one of the chairs lining the entrance hall. "So what now?" he asked. "Do you leave quietly, or do we have to throw you out on your ass?"

"I'm for that last one," Beast Boy interjected.

"As am I."

"Ditto."

Carson glared at each of the Titans individually. "If you want me gone, I'll leave. If you want to make an issue of it--and I KNOW you will--I'll defend myself. Honestly though, I don't see why it should come to that."

"Really," Robin snapped, leaping back to his feet. "So let me spell it out for you: You lied your way into our home and tried to murder us. You've killed God-knows-how-many people, and you have an FBI profile the size and volume of Paris Hilton's vagina, and yet you have the audacity to come back into our home expecting forgiveness.

The remnants of Carson's calm demeanor began to melt away. "It's only fair. After all, you were worshipping Terra within hours of her trying to kill you all, and all she did was save an empty city."

"That city is our home!" Starfire was on her feet now, eyes blazing.

"And that girl," Carson said coolly, returning her gaze, "is your friend. Do the math ladies and gentlemen, and whatever the hell Beast Boy is, which is more important?"

"As if you honestly cared about her," Robin growled. His gloved hands balled into fists. "All you want is your fucking money."

"All I want is to be on my way." Carson's face was set in thin frown, his rage barely contained. "I don't want to have to put another bullet in your girl, but if you make me--"

In the blink of an eye, Robin lashed out with his right fist and smashed Carson across the jaw. Starfire's eyes and hands were blazing green, with Cyborg and Beast Boy right behind her, ready to pounce on Carson in a heartbeat.

To their immense shock (and on some level, disappointment) Carson didn't make any sudden movements. His repitoire of weaponry went unused. He simply laughed softly. He brought his head back to eye level, fixed his gaze with Robin's once more, and said "You hit like a girl."

In a quiet voice, so that only he and Carson could hear him, Robin played his hand. "At least I can keep one."

Snap.

Carson's left fist buried itself in Robin's stomach, and his right caught him across the cheek, sending him to the floor clutching at himself. A lithe Starfire hurled a pair of starbolts in his direction, with Cyborg's sonic cannon discharging moments later. Carson ducked under the starbolts, rolled away from the cannon, and drew his revolver, setting Starfire's head firmly in his sights.

"Obviously, this is a bad time."

All eyes turned to the stairway, where Raven, in her normal garb, stood wide-eyed, jaw slightly agape.

Carson's mouth worked itself open and closed, trying to come up with an excuse.

Starfire's eyes faded back to normal.

Cyborg powered down his cannon and looked away in embarrassment.

Robin moaned and clutched his stomach.

Beast Boy just looked at Raven, ears drooping.

Carson broke the silence. "To hell with this, and to hell with you all." With a last quick glance in Raven's direction, he turned and strode out the front door. A moment later, a flash of bright orange illuminated the dimly lit tower interior, and he was gone.

Raven folded her arms under her breasts, frowning. "You realize, each and every one of you owe him your lives right now, right?"

Her friends could come up with no answer.

Exasperated, Raven, sighed and turned. "If anybody has anything to say, I'll be upstairs."

Starfire leaped to Robin's side and helped him to his feet, letting him lean on her for support. "Shall we pursue him?"

Robin gazed out the open doors. "No...no, let him run. Let him hide. It's only a matter of time 'till he gets what's coming to him."

Disengaging himself from Starfire, he turned and made his way up the stairs. "He's got all the time in the world."

1:41 PM


Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos...Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos...Azarath--

"Umm...hey."

Raven's eyes opened. "Funny. I didn't notice you come up." A cool breeze blew her hair past her face, and she pulled her cloak closet for warmth.

With an almost comical air of nervousness about him, Beast Boy walked carefully to Raven's side. "I, uh...something Carson said before the end of the battle...that if we got you back, your powers might not be..."

"Intact? It's okay, really." Raven looked up at him and smiled a genuine smile. "They'll come back to me in a few weeks...deadly emotions at all. I'm just enjoying the time I have without them."

Beast Boy took a seat next to her, legs dangling from the lip of the Tower's rooftop. "C'mon Raven, I've seen you smile before."

"Not just that." She touched his cheek and he turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. "Once they come back, I'll be the same Raven I was before, with the sarcasm, the dark poetry, the hideous gemstone..."

"Don't be like that." Beast Boy nervously edged himself closer to Raven. "Part of the reason I was so, um...attracted to you...was that additude. You're a mystery, Raven. I liked that."

Raven's smile returned. "Thank you. You're sweet."

Beast Boy mirrored her expression. "Besides," he said, tenderly stroking Raven's forehead with his forefinger, "I always thought the gemstone was cute."

Raven chuckled. She couldn't help it.

Beast Boy laughed again. His eyes were still locked with hers.

The two inched together. Their eyes closed again.

Their lips met. And slowly, savoring the moment, they shared their second kiss. It was different from the first, the one they had shared in the confines of Raven's subconcious. The first was rushed and ill-timed, due to the rigors of battle. This one, they would savor. After all, they had all day.

They parted, after what seemed like hours, and Raven, to Beast Boy's surprise, huddled next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, letting him draw her closer into his embrace with his arm.

They were like that for a long time.

"Raven?"

"Mm?"

"Remember how you promised to take us out for pizza?"

"Mm...maybe later."

"Moment, don't ruin. Check."

Raven smiled again. Pizza could wait. They had all day.

For now, she was happy. They were right, Robin and Cyborg and Starfire...and Carson...things had turned out perfectly.

And for the first time in one hundred and three days, Raven was perfectly content.

She had all the time in the world.

"In other words," It said, narrowing It's eyes, "you failed me."

Krull Kullen bowed his head further. "I...I offer penance, my lord."

"Penance?" It spat the word like a curse and stood upright from It's throne. "You ought to lay down your life."

"I..." Mustering his courage, Krull Kullen swallowed and said "It could not be helped, milord. Even without the power of the Gem and the Hellgod at his disposal, Cassius Pavayne is--"

"Excuses," It snorted.

"--a difficult opponent. And especially with the child free, I don't think that--"

"Child?" It looked down at Krull Kullen with curiosity. "Explain."

Krull Kullen blinked in confusion. "The...the child, milord. The vessel for the Hellgod."

It's eyes widened briefly, and It looked up from It's groveling servant. "Vessel for the Hellgod..."

And just like that, It's mood completely changed. "Rise, my servant. You need not die."

Krull Kullen, confused but no less pleased at this development, stood and beheld his master once again. "Milord?"

"You have brought me good news," It said casually, taking It's throne once more, "and I do appreciate good news now and then, especially in these times. So in light of these developments, coupled with a lack of decent help nowadays, you have earned your life back, as well as a place as my right hand. Is that clear?"

Krull Kullen, giddy, smiled a toothy, demonic smile and nodded. "Aye, milord."

"Excellent." It folded It's hands together, contemplating. "Now, leave my sight. I must think on this."

Not wanting to push his luck, Krull Kullen turned and marched out from the hall, letting the door slam behind him.

The lord of that great hall closed It's eyes, It's mind swimming with thoughts. So many developments. So much to handle.

But It could work through it. It had planned this from the start. And It would surely not be disappointed.

After all...It had all the time in the world.

RR76: This story was published on July Seventh, 2005. It took exactly one year, two months and twenty-three days to complete, due to my laziness between chapters 12 and 13. It was typed on three different computors in three different houses, and has seen two different color schemes of the logo.

Damn, I'm good.

It has been my extreme pleasure to bring this story to you, and I thank you for reading it. The next in the series will be up in mid-October.

Once again...thank you to everybody for making this story a success.

And MOD, if you're reading...thanks to you too. You've brought a smile to my face.

-RR76
11:53 PM
9/30/06