Author's note: I do not own any of these characters. So there, you can't sue me, at least I don't think you can, if you can please I ask you nicely not to. Special thanks to Gregory McGuire and DC Comics, those nice people who aren't going to sue and who truly do own these characters.
Raven was lost in her book. That was the only way to describe the feeling she got when the world swam around her and formed the scenes that were unfolding on the page. She liked this particular image that the author had conjured.
The victim lay bleeding, the murderer standing over her with a dripping knife. Raven was no more than eyes on the wall. She knew that this helpless lump of flesh had called the cops, but could they save her? The tension grew. The deranged man struck again, this time in a spot that could not heal. The knife pierced her heart and he gave it a cruel twist, the girl screamed then moved no more.
Then there was a knock on the door. Were the cops here? There it was again. Then Raven realized that this was reality, some one was knocking on her bedroom door. Not that of a hidden cell deep below the city. She put the book down and hoped that there was a good reason for this interruption. Her telekinesis opened the door and there stood Starfire hiding something behind her back.
"What?" she asked, her tone just slightly flatter than usual.
"I have discovered the most wondrous play thing in Friend-Cyborg's garage!" she produced from behind her back a miniature-welding blowtorch.
"Starfire! No!" the violet haired witch demanded. She held out her hands making it evident her friend was to forfeit the item.
"Observe!" Star lit the torch and blue flame shot out of the nose.
"Starfire that's not safe." Raven insisted. Star fire's face fell and she moped away.
"If you insist I shall return it."
The door shut behind Star and Raven returned to her book.
The sound or rats echoed around the hollowed cavern. All else was silent now that the woman's screams had ceased. Then as in answer to the killers rising joy a siren cut—
"Raven… I need a favor." Beastboy called in a pleading voice.
"Go away." She instructed.
"Puh-leas? Rae come on. This time I promise it's important." He brought begging to a whole new level.
Raven got up once more and this time opened the door herself. "You had better have a good rea--" she stopped short when she saw how he was dressed. The Changeling was wearing a toga and a purple head wrap.
" I need to barrow your crystal ball." He beamed at her from under his stupid gypsy costume.
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." She gave him a withering look and shut the door.
Then as in answer to the killers rising joy a siren cut the silence. He let out a maniacal laugh and glanced over his shoulder. The entrance was a long way from his little cage. He could escape through the hid—
"Rea, You seen that green little idiot?" Cyborg inquired just beyond the door.
"For the love of Azar! I'm not here!" she answered.
"Oh come on how'm I supposed to buy that." But by that time he was talking to an empty room. Raven's portal was just closing up behind her.
Elsewhere just before Raven disappearing act
"The way I see it you're just over worked." Boq informed his friend across the table. The Munchkinlander sipped his mineral tea.
"Now he's getting around to our way of thinking." Crope Smiled.
"Next you know he'll be skipping work himself." Tibett agreed.
The short man spun too fast in his chair to quite his ruffian friends, if they agreed with him right then there was no way that he could convince Elphaba to ask for an after noon off and come to the pub. And really she had so much on her mind. As it was he did spin to fast and he tipped right over the armless chair and became a tangle of yellow hair and arms and legs and other various parts. For the most part the tearoom preferred to avert their gaze from this group's table, but with Boq's display of unique lack of acrobatic ability, every one turned to stare. Even Elphaba laughed.
The green girl smiled brightly and really it was something that she did so rarely that the rest of the group looked at her as well. Her small pointed chin thrust out and her beakish nose turned upward and she laughed. She then realized that every one was staring at her and quickly became embarrassed. Her emerald skin dulled and tinted just the faintest touch of red. She truly made for an interesting observation. Her laughter halted and she ducked she hurriedly threw her hood around her face and mane of long black hair.