On the Back of the Turtle - Believe it!
"Where did the Slushee machine go?" Raven asked as she returned, wearing her cloak over bicycle shorts.
"I traded it for a magical sword," Xander told her. "They were out of beans."
Hippolyta laughed and Raven felt the corners of her mouth twitch.
"Once the sun comes up and the stores open, I'll buy another one," Xander told Raven.
"Ok," she said, offering a shy smile as she realized she didn't have to hold her emotions in to keep her father from taking her over. "How... why...," she trailed off, unsure of how to phrase it. "You know about me and how to separate me from my father."
"There are many, many realities out there," Xander told her. "You'll learn things you never imagined by traveling with me."
"He'll reach out for me again when I return," Raven said sadly, knowing she couldn't stay free of his influence forever.
"A lot can happen in a year," Hippolyta said.
"And there are places where you can be cleansed of any demonic taint," Xander assured her. "Every day we go someplace new, someplace no prophecy was ever written about."
"Three hundred and sixty five swings of the hammer to break my chains," Raven said in wonder as she realized the truth of his words.
"And it only takes one blow in the right place," Xander agreed.
"You've given me more freedom as your prisoner than I ever had while I was free," Raven said.
"I know the feeling," Hippolyta said, thinking of how light she felt without a crown.
"I've always had to keep myself under control, showing no strong emotions or even letting myself feel too deeply. I'm not sure what to do, it's so overwhelming!" Raven said.
Xander turned to Hippolyta. "Emotional overload, best cure for that... take her to the bathhouse and teach her to masturbate."
"What?!" Raven exclaimed in shock.
"She's never done it. It was too dangerous before," Xander explained to the Amazon Queen.
"It does help," Hippolyta agreed. "Well, as my master commands," she said with a smirk that made Xander quickly cross his legs.
"What?" Raven asked as Hippolyta took her hand and led her off.
Roughly half an hour later, a series of black explosions took place over the island like a photo negative of fireworks obscuring the stars. Hippolyta returned shortly thereafter.
"I think she has the hang of it," she said. "I can't believe the poor girl had never..."
"I know," Xander agreed. "Yet one more crime to lay at Trigon's feet."
"Remind me to pray to Priapus at sunrise. I'm sure he'd love to provide some vengeance for this one."
"Will do," Xander agreed as a companionable silence fell.
"Hades take it," Hippolyta cursed. "I want a slushee."
Xander laughed. "In the morning, my queen."
**Mid Morning**
Xander scanned the mainland, ignoring the explosions of darkness over the island. "Tech level is pretty low. I may have to make a blender and just buy some juice."
"What about ice?" Hippolyta asked.
"Cryo-vision," Xander replied. "I have no idea how it works, just that it does."
"Makes as much sense as heat vision," she points out.
"True," he agreed. "I figured it's psionic in nature, but I haven't figured out how to check yet."
"All that matters are the end results... slushees!" Hippolyta assured him.
"I'm going to check out the mainland to see if I can procure a suitable replacement," Xander assured her.
"Do you mind if I come?" Hippolyta asked.
"Feel free," Xander said. "I'll need to carry you unless you can swim that far through."
"Flying sounds like fun," she said. "Should we get Raven?"
Xander turned and scanned the island. "Let me go check." He jogged to the bathhouse, pausing to admire the work the Teen Titans had done on it; it was really quite impressive. "Raven, do you want to come to the mainland with us?" he called out, ignoring the squeal from the startled girl as she'd been too distracted to notice his approach.
"Give me a minute," she called back embarrassed, before she recalled he could probably see, hear, and smell what she'd been doing from miles away… then she was even more embarrassed. Fortunately, her years of training in self-control allowed her to recover before her powers lashed out.
"Ready to go?" Xander asked, as Raven came out in her bicycle shorts and cloak.
"Where are we going?" she asked, just before her stomach growled. "And is there food?"
"We're going to make contact with the locals to see if we can procure a new slushee machine or something similar. I can make ice, so all we really need is a blender and some fruit if it comes to that," Xander explained. "And yes, I can find some local cash and get us breakfast."
"That sounds like... fun," she said thoughtfully.
"Either that or a huge disaster," Xander agreed cheerfully. "Let's go find out which it is!"
Raven's lips twitched into a small smile she was probably completely unaware of, as the two floated down to the beach.
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"Catch," Xander told Raven, tossing Hippolyta towards her before he vanished in a burst of speed.
"Well, that was rude," Hippolyta said as Raven caught her.
"I sense a great deal of fear and bloodlust," Raven said, the empath stretching out her senses to find what had caused Xander to rush off.
"A battle?" Hippolyta perked up, a sword appearing in her hand. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" She sprang out of Raven's arms and flew off.
"What?!" Raven asked, wonder what had just happened before quickly flying after her.
Typos by: Ordieth