Chapter 42

Hello every body, I just real quick wanna take a small pole. I've been playing with the idea of branching out with my OC Lolita bleak. Yaknow Raven and Klarions child? (For those who aren't familiar with her read dark beloved) anyway, so I've been wondering how many people actually enjoy my Lita fanfictions? I've currently got two of them out one 'loli-mischief' and another 'phantom caster' as well as the dark beloved sequel 'invasion of the blue rafters' all of these are currently in progress, some further along than others. So anyway my question is would you guys like to see more Lolita bleak? Or more Raven Blu? Personally I enjoy writing for both. In fact I have a mountain of ideas to type for both of these characters (including one where they interact with eachother) post you comments in the reviews so I'll know. That way I can get as much of the OC stories you love to you. Now ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

Memories. When you boiled it all down that's the one thing people have in this world. No amount of repression, hypnotism, or magic can make you forget them. No matter how much you wish you could. Raven twisted and turned on her cot that night. old memories flooded her dreams. She had had nightmares before, sure. Ever since arriving at Arkham she had been plagued by nightmares of her past. They were one of the many things that drove her to get better. They reminded her of the things she had done, and showed her what could happen if she didn't turn over a new leaf. They were frightening, traumatizing even. That night Raven dreamt of her family, before she met Zatanna, before they even moved to Gotham.

Raven was fifteen, and had lived out in the country up until then, good old Elizabeth West Virginia. Probably the smallest town she'd ever known. The only things in the town were the school (middle and high) the local library (which doubled as the high school library) and a dollar store. Ravens father worked at the local plant on an assembly line, while her mother was a stay at home mom. Back then her mother actually gave her the time of day. Things were better then, even though Raven was still a loner even then, she still had her mom. Things changed however when the plant made her father to a different branch, forcing them to move to Gotham. That's when things changed. With the faster pace of the city life her father would come home late, and her mother trying to keep up with their new suburban neighbors, Raven spent most of her high school years alone. Then came the bullying, starting with Nancy Kesha, Raven never understood why Nancy targeted her, perhaps it was a class thing, maybe it was the fact that she had moved from West Virginia to Gotham, or maybe it was her alternative style clothes (which soon turned gothic). Whatever it was it made Raven's high school life a living hell.

However despite that she had always loved the city life. There were more people and she was able to get lost in it all. She could disappear into the crowds of people and do what she wanted, unlike when she lived in the country. She also loved being within walking distance of everything, and that Gotham had so many wiccan magic shops, and book stores. Even though most of the school either ignored or teased her, she still managed to make one friend. Marry. Sure she was a creature of the light—meaning she wore light colors, and preferred pop music—but she was still a good friend. Probably the only friend she'd had in a while. They had met in chemistry class a year after she had moved to gotham. It had been Mary who had started it all. It was during an assignment, everyone had paired off with each other Mary had sat down next to her and said 'Hey, you wanna be friends?'

Raven had just shrugged her off the first time. However she was persistent; every class, every lunch break, every moment of free time they had, Mary had continuously bugged Raven until finally she gave in. It may not have been the most normal way to start a friendship, however, Raven couldn't have been any happier. Mary knew her inside and out, she stood up for her when Nancy Kesha and her clones would corner her—not that Raven had any problem with standing up for herself, but having a friend her up was a good feeling—and she was always there to talk to, and Raven in turn was there for her. There was this old saying; 'opposites attract.' and in Raven and Mary's case, it was very true. They were inseparable.

However as it turned out, Raven didn't know anything about Mary. She didn't know who she was, who she really was. Zatanna Zatarra. A super hero. The one thing Raven wanted to be more than anything else; a user of magic. Mary had always joked about how magic was just a fantasy, and she teased Raven about chasing after something that wasn't real (lightheartedly teasing), and Raven was none the wiser. Until HE came into her life. Klarion.

He had showed Raven it was real, and that she was a perfect candidate to use it. And use it she did. She used it to free herself from the people who made fun of her. She even found love, Klarion had been the first boy to give her the time of day, he had given her more than just magic, he had given her real love. Or so she had thought. All those times she had thought he loved her, he was just using her. Building up her magic so that he could take it away from her. So he could abandon her. Memories of all the times he had been affectionate, all the times he'd been adorably jealous, or possessive and pouty. All lies. Everything was a lie!

~0~

When Raven awoke the next day she could feel her cheeks were wet with tears.. that dream—though not traumatizing—was terrifying. She looked to Cherie who looked up at her with his head titled in a questioning manor.

"Another stupid dream." She said answering his unable-to-be-asked question. "think I should tell Dr. Leland about them?"

silence.

"I think I will, just not today." Raven said sitting up. She smiled: today was the day. Today she'd be leaving, getting out of arkham. No more padded rooms, no more streightjackets—though she hadn't worn one since her first few weeks—and no more idiot/insensitive guards. Raven was leaving and she wasn't going to be looking back. A new day. A new beginning.

As Raven sat in her cell and waited for the guard or whoever it was that was going to be releasing her from her cell, she thought about what she was going to do first. Probably get some real food, and by real food she definitely meant junk food; A bacon cheeseburger sounded really good. That was probably what she missed most—aside from talking to her familiar—junk food. In Arkham they'd been served a bland variety of the major food groups. Sure there was cake or pudding, but it was mostly sugar free.

"It's settled Cherie," Raven said holding the white and black cat to face level, "When we get outta here I'm going to the nearest Burger joint and getting a double cheese with bacon."

Cherie only flicked his tail in response. Clearly not sharing in his partner's thrill of junk food. Unlike Raven Cherie Curie had been snacking on the local rat population that decided to make a home in Arkham. He preyed on any and all rodent that dared enter his master's cell. He also made sure to never leave the cell. Too many crazies who got their thrill in killing felines.

"Good to see you're making plans." A familiar and unwanted male voice said . Raven slumped as she lowered her familiar to her lap and saw Nightwing standing before her.

"Don't you have a life?" Raven groaned, "Oh wait, you're a grown man dressed in spandex. so...no."

Nightwing pursed his lips unamused by Raven's not-so-clever joke. "I'm just here to make sure you don't try any last minute escapes."

"Why would I try to escape on the day I was being let out?" Raven quized holding cherie up to her face again, "Not so bright is he Cherie?"

"Meow."

Nightwing rolled his eyes, "I also came to make an altercation to your collar."

Raven's brows rose at this, "Altercation? Like what?"

"You're moving from Arkham into a type of house arrest." Nightwing began, "So tracking for one."

"Kay and for two?" Raven asked, her voice slightly boredering on excitement. Leland had promised to look into allowing her to speak to Cherie again. She hoped to that was what the masked hero was going to say next. Instead Nightwing stood aside and allowed the men in uniform unlock her cell door.

They led her to Dr. Leland's office. Where Leland explained to her the parameters of Raven's release; Raven would be attending weekly sessions at Dr. Leland's Gotham Office, and with a little progress and good behavior those weekly would turn into monthly and then maybe yearly. Raven would also have weekly check-ups by either a member of GCPD or Nightwing. She would also have to stay at a halfway house for girls until she was able to find a job and pay for her own home, and even that would have to be within the inner city Gotham district. (which solved the finding a home issue.)

"Also Raven, I looked into your request about the inhibitor collar." Leland said, Raven perked. It was the real moment she was waiting for. The one thing that would make this a great start or a hard start toward her path to true freedom.

"And?" She asked impatiently. She wanted to talk to Cherie so badly. She didn't realize how much she took hearing his voice for granted until the day the ability was taken away—not that she would ever tell him that—no way she could rough it out until the collar was taken off.

"It can be done." Leland began. Raven felt she was about to burst into a joyous frenzy. She was so happy to hear that she could be able to talk to Cherie again. However Dr. Leland's tone sounded like there was a catch.

"But...?" She asked, sensing a catch.

"You get one chance at this Raven." Nightwing chimed in. Raven leered, he had been so quiet the entire time that she had forgotten he was in the room, "If I or anyone in the GCPD thinks your using what little magic you have to stir up trouble, that privilege will be taken away. Understand?"

Raven rolled her eyes, "I'm not a child, so don't talk to me like I am."

She didn't much appreciate hearing that from him. Had Leland told her Raven would have probably been a bit kinder toward it. Truth was however, she still didn't like any of the masked heroes. Nightwing especially, because he was so close to Zatanna, and was probably keeping an eye on Raven for her. Since Zatanna couldn't do it herself.

"He's right Raven." Leland said, "I can't do anything for you if the GCPD or the justice league have any reason to believe you did something wrong"

"So do you agree or not?" Nightwing asked Sternly. Raven squinted her eyes angrily at him.

"You ask me that like I have a choice." She hissed.

"You always have a choice Raven." Leland said, reminding Raven of Ivy. "And you'd better work on that anger too. We talked about this."

Raven closed her eyes and sighed. "If it means I can talk to Cherie, fine. I agree to your terms."

"Alright then, all that needs to be done now is for me to sign the paperwork." Leland said with delight. And with that Raven was home free...well sort of.

Short chapters are short. Sorry about that. However I am working on the next chapter as we speak. So no worries! More to come in the next chapter. It'll be rather light filler with Raven finding her place in society again, mixed it with a dash of fluffy feelings and a sprinkle of Psychological warfar as Raven struggles to stay calm and sane among the others at the boarding house. Also did anyone catch my references to other fanfictions? If you did awesome you read my other YJ stuff. If not that's fine. I'm just curious. See you later armadillos—unless I see you first. HAHA REVIEWS KEEP THIS STORY ALIVE!