Alright now! I know I left on such an evil note there in my last Author's Note. Just so people don't get mad at me, the two people are revealed here in the beginning of the chapter.
Also, I have an important announcement at the bottom!
Mailbox Time!
TheBeastAndTheDemon139: Again, sorry it took so long. I'm hoping you'll like this chapter as much as the last one.
HornedGoddess: Your begging worked! Here's the next chapter to what you say is my best work ever! Thanks again for that wonderful compliment!
RPGPersona: I think so, I'm not entirely sure. I think his enhanced eyesight and reflexes from his animals would make him a very talented artist. Wrote out that one scene in more detail below. And yes, I reveal who exactly Robin is kissing. That picture there at the end, pure inspiration. Although I think Foamsatmouth inadvertently helped out with the way he's been having the two interact in his fics. So if you want to blame anyone for it, blame him.
Foamsatmouth: You can blame yourself for that scene there. You're making so many funny scenes in your stories, that I had to try something to top it. Although your last ending to 'The Color Purple' may have made it a vain attempt. And for Beast Boy's sake, I hope Raven opens up more before she ever finds it. It'd be bad if her main protector was to die.
Bluedog197: Dude! I so haven't heard from you in a while! I guess it's because I did so much work on other fanfics, but still! Great to hear from you! And yes, I think the Beast is far more intelligent than what people make it to be. And personally, it's been awhile since I actually tried to build up the relationship between these two. So I decided to start the story at a point where there feelings for each other would still be developing. I'm hoping you'll like this chapter as well though!
Thedas743: Heh, sorry about the evil note. I just couldn't resist. Glad you thought the first chapter was better than the Prologue! I'm hoping you'll also like this one!
Guest: Sorry about that, even though I've been writing for a while, I'm still prone to making mistakes. Did I do better with it in this chapter? I'll have to read through my last chapter some other time to try and find those sentences.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, or The Justice League.
Chapter Two: I've Got No Strings On Me
Down in the Main Ops Room
The bottom of Cyborg's jaw was resting on the floor. His regular eye was bugging out in its socket. His cybernetic eye was somehow defying reality and was doing the same thing. All the blood had drained from his face. He had also somehow forgotten how to breathe.
That is literally how shocked he was. Both the cybernetic, and organic parts of his brain tried desperately to process the sight going on right before his very eyes. A sight he had thought he would never have lived to see in his life.
Cyborg scanned the two people... yep there wasn't anything wrong with them. As far as he could tell. There was no outside influence like Brother Blood's mind control acting on them.
He did a thermal imaging. Just to make sure it wasn't just a pair of holograms. Yep, both showed up in his thermal vision. In fact, the temperature radiating off the two was slowly starting to go up and up from their little... activity.
He quickly tried his night vision. Just in case he thought he was seeing things in the dark. Nope, they were still sitting there. Full on kissing each other in the bright light of the room.
Finally, he pinched the human part of his left arm. The number one way to see if you're dreaming or not. Cyborg gritted his teeth as he did so, since his metal fingers gave a stronger pinch than that of a normal human. Sure that he wouldn't be in dream land anymore, Cyborg looked up at his two teammates again.
Yep, Cyborg's fearless leader and one of his little sister figures was still sitting on the couch. And yes, they were indeed kissing each other. As they had been for the past five minutes.
And they were looking very, very, very into it.
Seeing that it was indeed happening, and seeing that every method that would prove it otherwise failed to achieve that, a smile came onto Cyborg's face. His jaw retracted from off the floor. His eyes turned back to normal. And yes, he started to breathe again.
It was actually happening. They had actually finally broke the tension that had been in the Tower for years! They had finally admitted what had been obvious for so long! Even before the team had first formed!
'Well, It's about time you made your move Boy Wonder. It has only been what, two years since we saw your obvious feelings towards each other man?' Cyborg thought amusedly to himself.
It seemed like the close end of the world scenario had finally knocked through Robin's thick skull. Who knew that's what it would take to get him to open up to his emotions?
Cyborg started taking pictures with his robotic eye, just to make sure this memory would forever stay in his cybernetic systems. Where he would be able to both forever cherish the moment his two friends got together, and to blackmail his leader at any time in the future. It was more than likely to be the second most of the time.
Boy did Cyborg get a lot of pictures.
After he was done with that, Cyborg just stood there. Waiting for the new happy couple to separate so he could give them both his famous 'It's about time.' Without ruining their little moment.
Another five minutes passed. Followed by, yet, another five minutes of lip lock between the two. Making about fifteen minutes from the time they started. And that was followed by… you guessed it, another five minutes.
'Um, don't those two need to breathe at some point…' Cyborg found himself thinking. As he became uncomfortable with watching his two friends lip lock for so long. He wasn't even thinking about his new treasure trove of blackmail at this point. He instead was starting to get a little grossed out by the long, long, long display of affection.
'Maybe that end of the world scenario went too much to their heads man…' Cyborg thought.
...
'Yo Rob! If you don't separate from her soon, I'm going to have to ruin your moment!'
Cyborg kept on staring at the two, noting that it didn't look like they were going to stop any time soon. He let out a small groan. He didn't want to do it, but he prepared to just shout out what he wanted to say. Not caring how pissed off the two would be for butting in on their freakishly long moment.
Then Cyborg's eyes widened yet again at the sight of his sister actually deepening her kiss by putting her very long cat like tongue inside Robin's mouth. He let out a groan of happiness. Or suffocation. It was kind of hard to tell at this point to the robot.
Still, that did it. 'Okay, screw saying anything period man! I'm out of here!' Cyborg abruptly turned around, picked up his rather large plate that had his meaty meal on it from off the counter, anderan out of the Main Ops room at breakneck speed. Not a good idea for someone who just inhaled enough meat to feed a small army.
When he got a certain distance away, he had to think to himself. 'Gosh! Now that is an image I'll never be able to get out of my mind! I just hope they don't do the nasty while on the couch in there! I'd have to get us a new couch if that happened!'
He ran in stunned silence all the way to his room, the meat plate still in one hand. While his other hand slid his door shut, and activated the lock as quick as he could.
He then put the remaining meat right where it belonged. His stomach.
Finally, he set himself on his charging table. He wasn't going to come out again anytime soon. So he felt that he should just get himself charged up and wait for morning to come.
Before he completely shut off for recharge mode, Cyborg made sure to cut off the security feed from the Main Ops room. If those two did do the nasty while they were still in there, then he didn't want to see it while he was in sleep mode. Since his dreams consisted of the security camera feed in the Tower.
He hoped it would be awhile before he had to wake up again.
About ten minutes later, the two Titans in the Main Ops room finally separated. Robin was breathing in and out rather heavily.
He was thanking his lucky stars that he had trained under Batman in many areas. Including holding one's breath for a long period of time. Thus, to allow himself enough time to escape underwater traps, or to infiltrate an enemy base through a source of water. Otherwise, he very well might have passed out from lack of oxygen. Or died for that matter. But who cares?
She was breathing in and out rather heavily as well. Although it was more likely to be from the passionate kiss than the loss of air problem. Her people could easily go for a long period of time without having to breathe.
Both of them were gazing into the other's eyes. Well, besides the fact that Robin was still wearing his mask. But you get what I mean. The two let the silence stretch out between them for a moment.
Robin finally spoke. "I guess, that's what I wanted to tell you... before Slade cut off our moment back there… and before I went into hell with him. And almost died bringing Raven back, along with several other things. So I understand if you might not feel the same way. But I had to let you know I love you." He said out loud, a little sheepishly at that. He was a little embarrassed that he had allowed himself to actually get so emotional. Batman wouldn't have been very pleased with him.
But with the end of the world having almost happened, and the fact that he thought he could have never seen her again. Well, that stuff does tend to make most people throw caution right out the window and find the courage to admit to the scariest of things for them.
Still, Robin had just told her that he loved her. And then basically forced his lips on hers. Sure, it had lasted probably a good thirty minutes, and she had gladly reciprocated it. But he was still nervous that she didn't feel the same for him? Why would she love him? She was considered royalty where she came from. And he was nothing but a mere circus brat. A circus brat who had been adopted by the coolest multi billionaire superhero ever, but… he still felt he wasn't worthy enough for her to return his feelings.
That was, until Starfire pulled him up in the air for the big and dangerous I'm so filled with joy hug of death! (For all the RobStar fans out there. Happy late RobStar week!) (Did anybody really think I'd make it where Robin had said he loved Raven? I mean seriously? Don't you all know what I'm like by now?)
"Oh Robin! I love you too!" Starfire shouted in a voice full of nothing but innocent joy.
Despite the loss of air in his system again, Robin couldn't help but smile at the Tamaranean below him. His embarrassment went away as happiness filled him. She did love him! Starfire loved Robin too! How could he not have seen it?! How could he have not have noticed before?! (Maybe because your freaking skull is denser than the walls of a fetching nuclear bunker maybe…)
'Why the hell did I wait this long to tell Starfire I loved her? This has to be the most glorious feeling in the world… Wait, did I just think like Starfire there… aw who cares! I'm in love!...' Robin thought to himself quite happily in his mind. If this was what requited love felt like, then he never wanted it to end...
That is, until his lungs complaints finally reached his mind.
Maybe that was why he had waited so long to tell her. Fear of suffocation.
"S-Star… a-a-airrrrrrr…" Robin found himself barely able to get out.
Starfire let out a small "Eep!" Before she let him go. He plopped back down on the couch. He was already working on taking in big gulps of air to replenish his oxygen supply. Starfire floated back down to him, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh Robin! I didn't mean to cause you the harm! I'm the sorry! I'm the so sorry!" She shouted in worry over and over again as she helped him to sit up again. Albeit, a little more gently than before. She then pressed him to her a little more softly than before. Examining him up close to make sure he was alright.
"It's okay Star... I'm fine... Really." Robin said in between breaths as Starfire continued to look him over.
'I'm going to need to teach her how to tone down those hugs a little. Otherwise, I might not live that long… oh well. If this kills me, at least I'll die happy! And in love!' Robin thought happily to himself. As he saw his current position gave him a really good view of his new girlfriend.
'Yep, if we manage to stay together, I'll definitely die happy.'
Starfire continued to be gentle with him. Examining him for anything she might have damaged. Unaware of where her new boyfriend's eyes were now currently looking at.
If Robin recovered enough, maybe Cyborg would have been correct in cutting off the feed in that room after all.
Meanwhile, in a dark candle lit room inside the Tower, Raven could clearly be seen floating in the lotus position above a hooded headboard bed. She was not in the Main Ops Room to witness what had unfolded. Nor had she taken even a small part in the action that had occured.
Now you might think that with her defeating her demonic overlord father and giving the finger to the prophecy that had plagued her since her childhood that she might be out and about. Fully enjoying the life that had been given to her at last. A life that had been destined to be cut short at the age of 16. That was now free of her father's dark hand. You'd think that she would have been out partying with all her fellow friends. Letting out all of her hidden emotions from before that she couldn't enjoy. Whether it be laughter at when Beast Boy actually said a funny joke. Happiness when she talked with her best friend Starfire. Annoyance when Beast Boy was trying too hard to get her to laugh. Peace when she was talking with Cyborg. Anger at when she argued with Beast Boy. (There was actually a lot of things on that list for Beast Boy for some reason)
Heck, even if she wasn't still partying, Raven could try being asleep now without the fear of her father sending her nightmares anymore. Maybe enjoy a good dream for once in her life. Maybe figure out what a good dream was supposed to feel like.
Raven could have been doing anything since she was free.
Instead, here she was. Locked away in her dark, cold, creepy, candlelit room. Meditating the night away. Letting herself feel nothing at all… not enjoying her freedom one bit...
She could have at least been reading a good book for Pete's sake!
Raven's cloak was back to its normal navy blue. Meaning she was in a state of calm once again. She was in that one area in the center of her mind where she wouldn't be able to feel any of her emotions. Where she would be safe from acting on them. Where she wouldn't have to be afraid of them.
Not that she should be afraid of her emotions now. Since she could most likely allow herself to feel anything now, without the chance of destroying the world in the process. Although, she might still destroy a couple light bulbs if the emotion was strong enough.
Why would this be?
In theory, she had just recently cut herself off from all ties with her father. And he was the main reason from before why her emotions would blow stuff up. Since he'd twist them into Rage to try and gain control over her. And in the process, things would just blow up.
But now, since Trigon had no hold over her anymore… and since Rage wasn't being used like his own personal puppet now... you do the math. No Trigon, plus a less evil presence from Rage, equals a free to feel Raven. Theoretically of course.
You know, now that I'm thinking about it, Raven's powers should likely be stronger now too. Since one, shehads no worry of her father trying to take control of her through her powers anymore. Meaning she wouldn't have to hold herself back in a fight now. And two, she found her own source to use. A strength far beyond that of Trigon's imagination.
But as the old saying goes. Old habits die hard. And Raven's habits were about as old as she was.
She had been trained all her life since she was practically a baby to stay in a state of Calm. Since that had always been the safe zone. Everything else outside of it had been fair game for Trigon to use to try and take control of her. And even with him gone, that fear was likely to remain in her for a long time.
Not to mention, the other deep seated fears in her mind. Of hurting another person with her powers. Of being hurt by someone else and their feelings. Of being rejected if she did anything other than what she portrayed herself to be.
Hopefully, in time, these fears would fade away. Although, it would likely require the help of someone else to achieve this. For the time being though, she wasn't going to worry about it. She had years of life left to live now instead of months. She felt she could tackle that road when the time came. Which if she probably wasn't pushed, would be somewhere down the road close to the sign labeled forever.
Besides, Raven preferred to be calm most of the time. It was a more familiar feeling to her than all her other emotions. And the best part about being calm, meant you never showed anyone else what you were feeling on the inside. Be it hurt, fear, pain, etc. In other words, it was an excellent poker face. It also gave her the advantage of thinking of the best put downs on the spot since her mind would be clear. While speaking in a voice that made them all the more effective. This was especially useful when Beast Boy tried to bother her.
Now, just because Raven herself was in a state of calm, that didn't mean the emoticlones inside her were in a state of calm. And just because Raven couldn't feel them at the moment, that didn't mean she couldn't see and hear what they were doing.
"Wheeeeee!"
Happy was busy doing cartwheels inside her own pink forested realm. Reveling in the feeling of freedom she now felt without daddy Trigon watching over her from afar. She was also starting to think of jokes she could ask Raven to tell Beast Boy now since she wanted to make him laugh. Raven thought she wasn't going to listen to her for a long time.
Brave had a stuffed giant sized doll in the middle of her Coliseum. A doll that looked a lot like Trigon. With the red skin, white hair, four eyes, the whole nine yards. Except for the fact that it had a big bulls-eye painted in the middle of it. Along with hundreds of different types of lethal weapons sticking out all over it. It was actually still being added onto by Brave herself. While she screamed cuss words at her departed father. The last weapon Raven saw her add to it before she moved on to another emoticlone looked a lot like a super sharp barbed axe, the size of a Viking. It hit the dead center of the bulls eye. Her last words she shouted being something along the lines of "That's for messing with my Beastie!"
Timid, albeit slowly, was taking down wall after wall in her maze. No longer having to fear father trying to take her away from Raven anymore. She even had a small smile on her face that spoke volumes in how relieved she was. Her smile was also filled with hope that maybe, things could get better now. In a way, you could say she almost looked happy. In a shy sort of way. Thoughts of something green were going through her head.
Knowledge and Wisdom were both together in the library. The two of them going through many different books on how to express themselves in the right situation. Since Raven used them the most for advice. Later when she was ready, she'd desperately need help in being able to express herself in the right way soon. Including how to be able to finally take steps in a developing a relationship with a certain someone.
Affection… Holy fetch! What the hell is she doing with that poor green doll! My poor eyes!...
... you know… I don't think young viewers would like to see me explain that. Or just who that doll looked very much like. All I can say is that the sight caused even Raven to pause slightly in her meditation. 'Affection must be feeling lustful again… yeah. That's all it was.' Raven calmly moved on, throwing the memory of what she saw in a trash can.
She'd deal with that emotion later.
Rude and Sloth could be seen in Sloth's realm. Laying in a monster size pile of garbage. Consisting of cans of empty soda, old pizza boxes, dirty clothes, etc. Rude was shouting cuss words at the empty abyss at her far gone father. The words ranged from English, Azarathian, Spanish, even Demonic. Sloth wad taking a nap in a hammock made of tied together plastic bags. Yeah, the most interesting things to ever be seen in the world in other words.
Finally, Rage was shown unchained inside her volcanic realm now. Since she wasn't seeking to destroy Raven. Without Trigon's influence over her she was actually becoming somewhat nice… somewhat being the keyword. She was still Rage, but now she was actually acting more like a part of Raven. Instead of trying to consume her and make her all evil and all that. You could currently see her skipping around in her lava hot realm. Humming something that sounded oddly like; "I've got no strings on I'm finally freeeeeee." She seemed to be very happy indeed.
Yeah, Raven's emoticlones were anything but calm. With all of them doing their own various things.
Despite all this activity though, Raven herself in the center of her mind was calm. Not feeling any of the activity currently going on inside her mind. Although she would have to sooner or later. Especially after what she clearly saw Affection doing. But for now, she was at her center. She was at peace…
…
Which was normally a sign somebody was about to bother her. Or shatter her from her trance like state. Instead of tensing herself up for it though, she just calmly waited for it to happen.
…
Fifteen minutes passed, and Raven still heard nobody outside her door. Much less, in her hallway. Even her immediate astral senses weren't picking anyone up. It was like everyone in the Tower had finally decided to leave her alone.
This was truly a first for her.
After another hour, Raven finally sat back down on her bed. She had found reaching her center and keeping it had been a lot easier this time. Mainly because she had no fear of the prophecy that had dominated her whole life anymore. And because Rage had surprisingly left Raven alone during the whole time.
"That went… better than I expected." She said calmly to herself.
Still, she was slightly surprised that no one had came to check on her. No one. After all that had went down recently.
Somewhat curious, Raven decided to let her Astral senses reach out from her soul self. She attempted to locate where each of her teammates were at at the current moment. Unlike Beast Boy, she didn't sense for sound or movement. She instead searched out the emotional signature that each of her friends had.
Cyborg showed up first. Although she had to focus on him a little harder since he was in recharge mode inside his room. Because of that he wasn't letting off much emotion. She had to make sure it was actually him with her soul self. Finding it was Cyborg, she continued on.
Robin and Starfire showed up next in the Main Ops Room. She had to pull back for a second when she felt their very strong emotions. 'What in Azar's name are they doing to produce such strong emotions!?' Raven thought.
After a couple seconds, she slowly had her senses inch forward. Being careful to make sure she was properly shielded this time while her powers sensed out the two to verify. When she finally saw what they were doing, Raven almost smiled to herself.
'Well, It's about time those two got together. If I had to go through one more night of Starfire talking about how she wished she could confess to Robin… or take a walk through all that sexual tension in the Tower… wait… now I'll have to walk through a hormone filled Tower now...' She instantly let the thought go. She decided instead to just be happy for her teammates. And chose not think about the next problem she'd have to shield herself from until later.
She continued on looking for her last team mate. The one that had seemed to be on all of her emoticlones minds as of late. She found that odd, but also decided to ignore it for now. It wasn't like it'd become an issue or anything of importance to her.
She moved her senses down towards the bottom of the Tower first, before she went back up towards the top. Finally, she found Beast Boy on the roof of the Tower. He wasn't really expressing any emotion, other than intense concentration. Which to Raven, usually meant one thing.
'Looks like he's drawing out something again. I wonder what it is this time?' Raven thought curiously to herself…
… Wait... what? You think she didn't see him by the doorway that day with the drawing book? She's a freaking empath for crying out loud! Of course she could tell Beast Boy had been drawing her back then! She hadn't minded either, since she had been able to meditate without him bothering her the whole time. Heck, she knew whenever he was drawing something because every time his emotions would fade away to intense concentration. Sometimes, if she found out he was in the middle of drawing something she'd go and start meditating right on the spot since she knew she was guaranteed to not be interrupted by him for at least the next hour.
Since she was only using her Astral senses, Raven couldn't tell what it was Beast Boy was drawing this time. It could have been the city, it could have been the ocean, it could have been the night sky, it could have been anything. Only, this time, he seemed to feel way more concentrated on it than usual. As if he was pouring his very heart and soul into it.
She debated for a moment on using her soul self to just take a peek over his shoulder. It wasn't like she hadn't done that before. She even had to admit a few of the drawings she had looked at were pretty decent. Plus, he seemed to be working really hard on this one. She had to wonder what it could have been that he was drawing.
However, it seemed at long last, exhaustion was finally starting to creep up on the empath. Her need for sleep won out over her own curiosity. For once, she was willing to give into her exhaustion.
Raven leaned back on her hooded bed. Letting out a small sigh of contentment at the feel of the soft mattress on her back. The feel of her blue comforter beneath her was oh so pleasing to her senses.
'Maybe, I'll find out what he was drawing another time. I don't think it's that important to bother him about it… Azar it's been two days since I last slept. And I bet Robin still hasn't canceled that training session tomorrow morning. That Boy and his need to train… ugh, I really hope Starfire can convince him otherwise. Because I feel like I could sleep for a moon.'
It only took another minute, and then Raven was out like a light. Her body was still lying on top of her comforter, she having been too exhausted to crawl underneath her blankets. Her mind was in the process of entering her own personal dream land. No longer a land filled with nightmares from her father, but rather, with dreams of her own making. And that of her emotions.
Shortly after Raven fell asleep, you could see a small smile forming on her face. It looked like Happy was the one in charge tonight.
"Floating strawberries." She mumbled in her sleep.
Yeah, Happy was definitely in charge.
At the same time Cyborg laid on his table in recharge mode. His dream right now involved footage of his baby resting in the garage. His computer systems silently noted that the T-Car would need a good dusting and waxing soon.
Back in the Main Ops Room, a now sleeping Robin and Starfire laid on the couch. Their bodies were covered by a thin blanket. Both of them had the widest of smiles on their faces. Fortunately, there was no clothes found on the floor around the couch. So it didn't look like Cyborg would have to replace his couch..
That left only Beast Boy awake on the roof. He looked down at his finished drawing. He was looking at it with wide eyes. 'I don't feel that way about her… I definitely don't feel that way about her... This is just to satisfy the Beast… yeah, so he'll stop pestering me...' He kept on thinking over and over to himself like a mantra inside his mind. Yet, even though he was finished, he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from it.
He continued to stare at Raven's drawing for a long while…
...
'Okay! I'm going to take a cold shower and forget I ever drew this!'
Unfortunately, he had yet to learn how hard it is to forget certain images. It would take a long while before he would finally manage to force his drawing book closed, put it away, and then walk in through the rooftop door. Most likely to take that cold shower of his before he finally went to sleep.
'I really hope Beast is happy up in there, because this sucks.' Beast Boy thought grumpily, the drawing he had just made still plastered to his mind like glue.
Throughout all this, the Beast had been a little smug. Yet he was also still a little on edge from before. The sense of danger had not gone down. In fact, it still seemed to be steadily rising..
'Someone… something is coming master. I hope you're ready to defend our mate from it's clutches when it arrives.'
Author's Notes:
Okay, end of Chapter Two. I wanted to put in one last scene in here, but I don't really have the time to write it out. Mainly since tomorrow I'm having upper jawbone surgery. I'm going to apologize in advance if it takes me awhile to get the next update out to this story. I'm just going to have to write out that scene and put it in the next chapter. All I can tell you about the scene itself is it finally brings in the Justice League.
In the meantime, I want to thank all those that have favorited, followed, or reviewed this story so far. I hope that more people continue to comment on this, like it, tell their friends about it, etc. My goal is that the next time I'm able to check my email, that I have a heart attack from how much attention this story received during the time I was stuck in the hospital, and unable to access this site.
So guys, do you want me to have a heart attack or what! Make me one happy man while I'm in pain from my surgery for me! And all the BBxRae authors that read this, make sure I have plenty of reading material! Finally, I want to reply to many people in the next Mailbox Time! So please leave your comments and ideas on the story thus far for me!
Till Next Time
Allen
