The next morning Jake walked into the main room to find Cyborg and Beast Boy arguing about breakfast foods.
"Eggs are living things!" replied Beast Boy.
"I'm practicing population control," remarked Cyborg.
"Hey, Jake," bringing his attention onto Robin, "since you now a member of the Titans," tapping the computer pad in his right hand, "you've got some paperwork to fill out."
Shrugging, "Ok, I guess, I mean, it can't be that bad."
Following Robin into what looked like an office. Jake sat in front of a table stacked of papers the size of his arm from hand to elbow.
"I figured to get you first thing in the morning, cause it will take you most of the day to fill it out," said Robin with a smile.
Rubbing his forehead, "You sure you need that much paper work."
He nodded,
"Fine, but that means you and the other Titans fill out paperwork for me tomorrow."
He laughed and patted me on the back, "I'm sure it can't be as bad as this, right."
A grin formed across Jake's lips.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"Really, don't care if you're the youngest SWAT member assigned to protection detail," said the Secret Services.
"Actually the youngest and quickest to graduated, Agent Brian," corrected SWAT gear wearing dark haired young man.
"Officer Spiegel, don't let that get to your head."
"Warning! Chasing suspect into elevator," buzzed on their ear piece
"Move to secure the President."
Officer Spiegel along with eight Secret Service agents and fellow six SWAT converged with weapons drawn on the elevator. Spiegel gripped his M-16. Sweat run down his face. One trains for this. Never knowing the times to put it in action.
"Describe the suspect."
"A purple ninja."
Joking then again there's a flying boy scout and rodent. The elevator went ding. Doors slid open revealing an empty elevator.
Looking at the elevator ceiling, "Almost like a bad TV…"
His eyes followed several metal spheres falling from elevator ceiling then bounced off the elevator floor."
"Move!" came late from Spiegel's mouth as flash blinded him and his colleagues.
Coughing on tear gas, his ears detected something colliding with human flesh. Did the human bat cross into the dark side?
The gas dissipated allowing his eyes to clear. Noticing only
"Freeze!" he ordered aiming his weapon at the purple ninja having his katana blade pointing his superior's throat.
Quick movement the ninja had the superior between him and Spiegel's target sights.
"Take the shot!"
The ninja wore a dark purple combat armor. Jake wondered if it was made like Batman's outfit. Those blue eyes stayed on Jake as he inched his way to the stairs. What was his game?
"You're not getting out of here."
Wait, why was he here? Was he here to kill…The President was here for an award ceremony for Fin Sheppard. He couldn't let this ninja continued. Firing a shot at the ninja caused the ninja to tilt his head.
Snapping Agent Brian's neck, a swift kick sent body onto Jake allowing the ninja dashed towards the stairs. Jake pushed the body off him. Entering the stairwell, he watched the ninja leaping from section to another section.
"Fuck, parkour," he mumbled.
They reached the sub section. The president was being escorted to the bunker, most secured area in the world via underground tunnels.
Noticing the flickering the lights, Jake followed the beheaded agents. Reaching in time to witness the ninja preparing to kill the cowering President.
Shooting the katana out of the ninja's hand, then click that went Officer Spiegel's last bullet. Throwing his gun which the ninja caught then threw it back, Jake ducked then blocked a punch heading to his stomach. Throwing punches proved useless since the ninja's palms keep blocking Jake's punches. Blocking Jake's knee attempt to his face allowed Jake to wrap his arms around the ninja. BANG! A bullet ripped through the ninja's back then into Jake's chest knocking him onto the ground. The purple ninja's middle finger thump between Jake's eyes. Before passing out, Jake wondered why gunpowder smelt like burnt garbage.
The next day, Jake was the first one up, setting everything up for the Titans who managed to walk in at the same time like they were ready for training. They stopped when they saw Jake then a table for each of them, with a stack of papers about the size of Beast Boy, from head to toe. They had rather large eyes.
"Yesterday, Robin had me fill out paper for the Titans. Now you get to fill out paper work for me," moving to the paper work, pointing to different sections of the stack, "Powers of attorneys, information gather, personal releases, medical background, personal references, and a few other things," looking back at those scared stiffs, "Come on guys! It took Flash three days to finish this stack. And be happy you've only seen one demon. Then again, so did Flash."
Beast Boy's face light up, "Dude, you work with the Flash?"
Rubbing his chin at the memory, "Yes, but please don't remind me, it wasn't a pretty sight. Oh, and before I forget, the first one is mandatory. If I feel that I can't trust you, you have to fill out a stack like this every time you see just one demon. Just be happy it wasn't a higher class, the stack would be three times this size."
It took them the better apart of the week to finish the paperwork, after which, they agreed to trust Jake so he wouldn't be forced to pull out those stacks again.
"What a rush!" screamed the red head with a white over her white hair.
Dropping twenty stories, then swinging upwards made of her think of sex, fighting, drinking. Then they haven't played ninja tag in awhile. Someone: Susan hid a prize and the redhead has to out race her male competitor.
Stopping, he's synchronizing himself with the energy of city then pinpointing on Susan. The red head could do the same thing, however she choose to follow him. Watching still amazed how quickly he pick up Susan's trail. Now follow the leader.
Reaching the bridge, Susan hid it on one of the towers. Running along the support cable, he reach with her not far behind. He was heading towards the box when she attacked. He blocked her leg strike. A swinging punch blocked. Arms tangled up. They fell. Rolling across the brick surface, she found herself on top. Her lips touched his.
"Salma," he said.
"I know," laying beside him, "Let's cuddle."
She got her prize.
For the next two weeks, things had been pretty quiet. There were no major crimes and no demon sightings, so it was just sitting back and relaxing. Coming around the corner, Jake headed towards his room with his eyes studying a new gun magazine.
His ears heard a click followed by, "DUDE, WATCH OUT!"
Eyes from magazine to a water balloon, full of a dark liquid, flying right at him. Dropping the magazine, his reflexes took over causing his hand to head towards his right side unholstering his gun as his left hand started fanning the hammer back focusing on the right amount of energy to use. BANG echoed through the hallway as the round sent the balloon which didn't break back into Beast Boy's face drenching him whatever that god forsaken liquid was.
Taking a breath, he reholstered his gun picking his magazine off the ground.
Walking up to Beast Boy, "Next time you want to lay a trap, make sure it doesn't end up going back into your face."
"BB!" caused Jake's attention to go onto the very angry eyes of a certain soaked Goth.
It seemed there was a lot of that foal liquid in that balloon and the excess had landed on Raven. Surpassing his laughter, just a little, as her eyes turned red. A cold feeling rushed over him. It was odd. Jake couldn't pinpoint it. Blinking and her eyes returned to normal, and that cold feeling disappeared like it never happened. Crossing her arms across her chest, she ran off.
"Was that normal?" Jake asked Beast Boy.
"No," was his reply shaking his head, "but, the last time I tried to pull that gag off, it was a repeat. Me and Cyborg ended up in her head which was real creepy and…"
Bringing his hand up, "Wait, you went in her head, how and why?"
Scratching his head, "She was really mad and got really big with tentacles that pulled Dr Light into her. When he came back out, he needed psychological help for a good three years before he could manage a simple sentence. And I really don't know the how, we looked into a mirror in her room and we just ended up inside her head."
Nodding, "Ok, I'll check on Raven if she in her room. Get to the others and keep her from getting mad. Got a really bad feeling from her just now."
BB's eyes went big, but nodded and ran off to do just as Jake told him to do.
Knocking on Raven's door, "Raven, it's Jake, we need to talk."
No answer.
"Are you ok, Raven?"
Still no answer.
Pressing the door release, he stepped inside. There were several books inside the very dark room. The only sources of light were to lamps on either sided of the large bed and the light from the hall outside. She wasn't in her room, but something caught my eye on her dresser. It was an odd looking mirror.
"I wonder if this is the mirror Beast Boy told me about," he asked himself. staring at his reflection.
Looking into it for a moment, Jake was about to return it on the dresser when it started to grow. It continued growing pulling him in. With all his strength to push it away he slipped into unconsciousness. Blackness claimed him when the mirror sucked him in.
Waking up, Jake's ears caught, "Are alright, son?"
Wincing., "Yes, Mr. President," retrieving his first aid, "Where did the ninja go?" placing a bandage over his wound.
"Using your pistol wounded him, he escape. You did a great service for your country. How can I reward you?"
"Anything?"
"Correct. Within reason."
Thought of using guns without interference from the law crossed his mind.
"I know my price."
Face down on a hard surface which felt like rock. His head pounded from the jackhammers against his temple causing a huge headache. Forcing himself up, he studied his surrounding. Shocked to discover himself on a rocky trail in the middle of some dark patch of space.
That cold feeling washed over him again. Noticing dead trees along the path, he saw perched on the branches several four red eyed birds staring at him. They looked like ravens which still didn't him where he was.
"You shouldn't be here," bringing his attention onto Raven wearing a green outfit not her normal black.
"Nice look," he asked, "but where is here?"
Shrugging, "Kind of hard to explain."
I sighed, "I'm in her head, aren't I?"
Looking at him with surprise written on her face, "How do you figure?"
Pointing to the space off the walkway, "I've been inside a person's head before, and if that isn't a dead give away, this is the most you've talk to me then since I've been with the Titans."
Blushing and rubbing the back of her head, "Wow, when most people realize that, they freak out to no end."
Smiling, "Can I just ask one thing?"
"You just did," grinning, "but go ahead."
"If I'm inside Raven's head, who are you?"
"I'm one of Ravens emotions," approaching, "I'm Bravery," offering her hand.
Shaking her hand, "Funny, I thought she kept her emotions caged up."
Bravery's smile widen a little, "As long as we keep quite and stay in check, we can roam her mind," then her face went grim, "but Anger is always locked up, but some how, she has grown in power."
Placing his hands on her shoulders, "Tell me everything, tell me how you can help."
"You can help by leaving."
He turned around to find the real Raven standing in front of him.
"It's not safe for you here."
Opening his mouth to speak, only to be thrown sideways by an unknown force. He slid to a stop on the ground. Looking up, he stared at the four glowing eyes of Trigon the Destroyer. Pair of Ravens, being joined by several other cloaked figures turned to fight.
"Take the path," yelled the real world Raven, "it will lead you back to the real world."
"What about him?" he yelled back.
She didn't reply. He got pushed back more. Raven's emotion began circling her, and after a moment, the fused into the real world Raven. She then began to fight the version of Trigon that had plagued her mind. Looking at the path, he didn't take a step toward it. He wasn't no good to her outside of her head. He could help here. A scream turned his attention onto Raven splitting from her emotions. She mumble something his ears couldn't make out.
"The prophecy allows me to grow in strength, and with you here, I can destroy you and take your body for myself!" yelled Trigon gripping a glowing deep red sword.
Lifting it up then swinging it for that fatal blow.
BANG sent that the sword into pieces. Jake's gun kicked back from the recoil. a soft tink from the shell landing on the ground.
Trigon stared at Jake's smiling face,
"You don't think I would let an angel like her fall, do you?"
"Not the one I excepted," remarked Trigon smiling, "You should have listen to little Raven and ran for your life."
Laughing, "Why should I run from a wannabe demon like you?"
Trigon and Raven were shocked at his statement.
Growling, "You damn fool, who do you think you are?"
Shrugging, "A nobody really, but even I can tell that all you've done is posses one of Ravens more powerful emotions. And since all emotions are linked, and emotion she show must make her powers go crazy," looking at Raven, "If you had told me this sooner, I would have been able to free you from the burden."
"You are a fool to think such things, since you can't kill me and you will die," releasing a powerful blast of energy.
Hitting Jake dead on, smoke surrounded him.
"Another fool thought he could take me on, and now you must live with his blood on your hands for what little life you have left, little Raven."
"I didn't think I could take you on, I know I can, and beat you."
The smoke cleared bringing those shocked faces again on still living Jake. Raven's eyes betrayed a slight sign of relief.
Walking forward, "I have fought along side the sons of Sparda, half vampires and vampires with souls, warriors of the spirit worlds, powerful witches and alchemists, and even half demons wishing to become full demons. And yet, every battle I fought with them, I have never faced a possession so weak as yourself. I almost feel pity for you," laughing.
Trigon fired a second blast at him which got batted away with the ease as if Jake was fanning away a fart.
Bringing up his gun, "I'll make it easy on you, and just finish you off with on shot. Oh, and Raven, I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt you to, but trust me," charging his gun glowing a deep red, "Return to your master, and tell him to fear me should he ever come to this world."
Pulling the trigger sent an explosion like an artillery round from the muzzle. A red flame caused a pair of screams one from the fake Trigon, the other from Raven. In a flash of bright light, the false form of Trigon was destroyed leaving a Raven dressed in dark red.
Reholstering his gun he approached the passed out Raven. Her emotions faded away along with the Anger. Carefully picking her up, Jake followed the path back to the real world.
Standing in Raven's room, Jake placed Raven onto her bed. Watching her sleep peacefully, she seemed a different person now. He managed to get rid of the demon that controlled her emotions, so she might feel something was off yet she still have full use of her powers. Leaving a small note on her side table explaining what he did and how she could use her powers and her emotions freely. He also added if she ever needed help, he was there. Turning, he headed for the door. Reaching the door he looked at her once more.
"Sleep peacefully angel, the nightmares are over."
And with that, he stepped outside right into the questions of the other Titans.
"Ow," rubbing the side of his head.
"Headache?" asked the light brown woman laying beside him.
"More like someone fucked up," feeling her hand bush his arm.
Wait. Staring at the empty where Salma once laid, he felt her touch, yet she laid six under with Eva. Feeling the spot where she laid beside him, he sighed. Ghosts just can't the leave the living alone as much as the living obsessing over the past, good and the bad.
Three days passed when Raven woke up and her only words to Jake was, "Never go in my room again."
