Chapter 22

Dark Separations Part 3

I stared long and hard into the eyes of the demon's daughter, my own eyes betraying my puzzled state.

"Don't play dumb with me, we both know that your walk on this planet ended years ago."

With a sigh, my gaze fell away.

"It's been a long time since that day. So long that sometimes even I forget about it."

Raven sat patiently, sipping her tea as she listened.

"That night…I made a choice. I had been a horrible person, but in my last hours, I died seeking redemption. Unfortunately, it was not enough. I stood on the doorstep of Heaven, and begged for them to give me time to write my wrongs, and somehow, for some reason, the let me. I was sent back to this earth, and told that I would not die until I had righted the wrongs that I had committed against humanity. Eight hundred years ago I started on my journey for redemption, and to this end, it has brought me. I knew nothing but how to kill, and for all these years, it is what I have done. I took the name Silvermane from my looks, and wound it so deep into the underground that there isn't a mob boss or crime lord or even a street peddler that hasn't heard the name at least once. I removed those dregs of society, and through that I protected, or at least I thought I protected the public. It was during one of these hits that I came across Robin and the team, and somehow, it just felt right. That's why I joined the team, that's why I do what I do. I hope you can forgive me for not revealing my past, but the "Teen Titans" might not look so good in the eyes of the public, or even themselves if they knew one of their own was a eight hundred year old geezer."

"And just what was it that made you want to join with us?"

"I was tired. Tired of the killing, tired of the loneliness, tired of the endless circle of despair my life has become. I have to break the cycle if I am ever to find my own peace, my own tranquility, my own place to actually finish my life. I'm going out on a limb here, working with the team. It's the first time I have ever worked anything other than solo, and the first time I have worked towards capture and not elimination. Maybe that's the key, maybe it's not the world I have to change so that I can repent, maybe it's just myself that has to change. It's something I've considered for many years, but I've never been able to do it on my own. That's why I'm here…that's why I joined."

I turned my head from where I had leaned against the back of the couch, and my gaze met back up with Raven's.

"So…" she said, as unfazed as ever. "Eight hundred years, huh? Got any spells I might want to learn?"

I smiled, and thought for a moment. "Heh, never was a big magic buff, but I might know a few tricks you might find to be helpful."

"And those might be?"

I yawned ferociously. "Tomorrow Rae, there's always tomorrow. Tonight, I need some sleep. Even us immortals need our beauty rest every once in a while."

Raven actually managed to crack a bit of a smile, and with a tired, lopsided grin, I made my way out the door, and up to my room.

Once in my room, I sat down heavily on the end of my bed. It was always hard remembering things of the past, remembering things I had done in the past, the ways I had tried to change, and the pain that it brought with it. Remembering…her.

-----------------

Starfire lay curled in the corner of an enormous bed, shivering even amongst the pile of blankets she was buried under.

"Star."

The noise was barely above a whisper, but the Tamaranian sat almost bolt upright upon hearing it.

"Starfire."

Looking towards the window, a familiar shape materialized against the closed drapes.

"Robin?"

"Mmhmm."

"X'hal! You frightened me!"

"You ok Star? You seemed…kind of quiet ever since we got here."

The princess rolled out of her bed, and padded her way over to the open window, and out onto the balcony. Walking past where Robin stood, she leaned heavily on the railing.

"Robin, I have dreamed of returning to my home planet of Tamaran, and I praise X'hal that I have been able to return. The air is…and the evening sunset…even the nightly medley of the Glorka Pipes…"

"…yeah…the Glorka Pipes…" Robin moaned, drilling a finger into his ear as he remembered the half hour of wailing he had been tortured with.

"…It is all just as beautiful as I remember it being. My people have received me back with open arms, and been waiting on me hand and foot. It is truly wonderful."

Robin joined her at the banister, staring off into the alien constellations. "I'm glad you're happy Star. If I would have known you missed your home planet this much, maybe we could have made the trip earlier, and without the troublesome reasons that have brought us here now."

"That is not my point, though."

Robin tore his gaze away from the stars, looking over and into a pair of emerald eyes. A pair of emerald eyes with small green tears forming at their edges.

"Star, if you want to stay…" he said, turning aside so she wouldn't see the moisture building up beneath his own mask. "If you want to stay here, that, by all means is your choice and your right. I will tell the team that you have decided to stay here, I'm sure they will…"

A hand on his shoulder cut him off, and he was turned till they both were face to face.

"Oh Robin…that, as well, is not my point. I miss my friends. I miss Beast Boy's jokes, and Cyborg's constant ploys of fun and mechanical goodness. I miss Ryk and his patience, and I miss Raven's…Raven-ness. I miss the tower, Robin. I miss my home."

Robin stared for a moment, dumbfounded. Quickly recovering, he wrapped his arms around the girl, holding her and letting her melt into his shoulder.

"It's ok Star. We'll see them before too much longer. Just think of this as a vacation. We'll have time to relax, and time to talk, and time to just have fun. Kind of a getaway for the both of us. I'm sure the rest of the team can handle things back home, and once you're healed up and ready to take on the world once more, we will be back to join them."

"A...vacation?"

"Yeah…a vacation. Heck, I know I need one as bad as you do."

-knock-knock-

"Princess Starfire?" came a guard's voice from the door. "Is there someone in there with you?"

"N-No!" she shouted, as a sweatdrop ran down her face. "It is just me, just me all by myself!"

"I thought I heard someone talking to you!" the guard questioned.

"Oh…I…Uhmm…I must have been talking during my sleeping cycle again! I do apologize if I have alarmed you!"

"All right…let me know if you need anything princess, I'll be outside your door all night."

Another sweatdrop joined the first. "Ok! I will be…uh…sure to notify you if I am in need of any assistance."

Starfire turned back to the open air, to see Robin climbing silently over the railing.

"I should go..." he whispered.

"No…not yet. Please stay just a little longer?"

"Star…"

"Please?"

That was it. Even the great prodigy of Batman could not withstand the puppy dog eyes. Even against all that he knew he should be doing…

"Ok…but just for a little while, ok? I don't need to be getting you, or myself into trouble."

The ensuing hug was nothing like Robin would have expected. Instead of her typical bone crushing hug, it was a soft, tender, and almost vulnerable. The boy wonder wrapped his arms around her back, and stood there on the balcony with her, watching as the night sky slowly passed over them.

---------------

"Concentrate…"

"…Calm…"

"…Control…"

"…Concentrate…"

"…Calm…"

"…Control…"

"…Concentrate…"

-CLANG-

"DAMMIT!"

I swore, and grabbed the nearest hammer I could find, bringing it violently down towards the fragile transmission parts scattered about the workbench in front of me.

-SNAG-

Cyborg caught my arm mere inches away from the delicate parts, stopping me from smashing them into oblivion.

"Easy there Ryk. Transmissions can be a bit tricky. You aren't doing to bad for your first time, just take your time, and I'm sure that you'll get that thing put together."

I sighed as Cyborg released his grip, and set the hammer off to the side. "I think I need to take a walk," I announced. "Been at this for a bit to long this morning I guess."

My fellow mechanic snickered. "Bit? Dude, you've been down here since when?"

"Uhmm, 'bout 4:15" I said, scratching my head.

"Dude, at least break for lunch, I at least had that before I made my way down here"

"Lunch…that sounds pretty good right now."

Wiping the grease off my hands and on to my stained jeans, I made my way over to the elevator, whistling a little tune as I rode my way up.

-ding-

-whishhhh-

"SURPRISE!"

-SPLAT-

A small green octopus slammed into my face, wrapping its tentacles around my head, and holding on for dear life. In the background, I could hear Raven groaning something about not wanting to hear the little elf whine after he got his tail handed to him.

After standing there for a moment in shock, I finally came to my senses, and a smirk appeared underneath the changeling's grip.

"Hmph"

"What's that Ryk? You're mumbling! I can't heeeaaarr yooouuuu!"

"Mmmph mrhph mm nm mrumph mrph"

Beast Boy finally released my face, and dropped to the ground, landing easily on his feet.

"Dude what the heck where you…"

I stood, a triumphant look on my face as my eyes shone solid silver.

"SEAL!" I shouted, holding up my hands.

Beast Boy's eyes bugged out, and even Raven gasped and turned to see an ornate pattern featuring thousands of runes floating in a circular pattern around a six pointed star. My hands moved in a flurry behind the magical seal, touching each point in a specific pattern.

"And RELEASE!"

The flash of light that followed was blinding, causing both Raven and Beast Boy to shield their eyes.

When the light finally cleared, I stood, looking quite normal once again, except for the grin of victory that was plastered on my face. Raven was standing now, her hand over her mouth, and here eyes almost frantic. Beast Boy, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

"What…what did you do?"

"Just a bit of retribution." I chuckled, my grin never leaving my face.

"And Beast Boy?"

"He's fine, just a little…washed up for a bit. Anyways, I told you I'd teach you some of the old magic tricks I've picked up over the years, if green and slimy wouldn't have been clamped over my face, you might have even recognized that one. It really isn't even that old of an incantation."

"Funny Ryk…reeeaaallly funny."

We both turned to see a soaking wet Beast Boy drip his way out of the elevator.

"I couldn't even transform to fly back up here!" he shouted, "What did you do!"

Raven's eyebrow rose slightly. "I've been trying to figure out the same thing."

I collapsed on a vacant chair with a laugh. "What does it look like I did?"

"Dude! You dropped me out in the bay, where I couldn't transform to swim back, so I had to the old fashioned way, then when I reached shore, I couldn't even transform to dry off, and now here I am, dripping wet and picking seaweed out of my hair!"

I hit the floor laughing as Raven rolled her eyes and brought the book up over her face, trying hard to conceal her smile.

"B', you had to admit, you had it coming to you."

"Why you…" Beast Boy dropped to all fours, and snarled in a sad imitation of a dog. The snarl lasted but a moment until he realized that again he hadn't shape-shifted. "Dude…you broke me!"

"Right, now just to finish it off…"

The changeling jumped back as the seal appeared in the air again.

"Break seal." I said calmly, and the star vanished into millions of tiny specs of light. "There, that should put you back to normal."

"You sure?"

"Try it."

The little elf shrugged and transformed into several random animals in the space of a few seconds.

"Yeah," he sighed, "I think I work again."

"So…what exactly was the spell?" a confused Raven asked.

"Nothing big…it goes something like…"

Beast Boy winced…

Raven listened intently…

I continued with a sly grin on my face. "Horses, hand grenades, beetles and kittens, strength be to one, and slave to your mother."

…Beast Boy was still panting in fear…

…Raven blinked…

…and nothing happened.

I smirked, and with a snap of my finger, the runes and star reappeared.

"AAAAAHHH!"

The green titan screamed in abject terror, and bolted from the room, while I stood smiling.

"Truthfully, there is no magic to it really, I can say anything I want, or even nothing at all, it's an illusion that I create. Beast Boy's little vanish thing was nothing more than me opening the window, pushing him out, and closing it back up, that was the rush of wind you felt. His whole not transforming deal was just me telling his mind he couldn't. Really, there's nothing too it."

Raven deflated, sinking back into the couch. "I had heard of a spell that manifested a six pointed star…"

"Heh, don't get me wrong, I'm not that original. It took me a little time of digging through my old stuff, but…"

I held up my hand, and pulled a book from across the counter.

"Here, it's a book that has been concealed for generations, and for good purpose. Put it to good use, but do not let word out that you even have such a book."

Raven accepted the book with a bewildered look, but her eyes widened when she saw the title.

"You have…how did you…"

Smiling, I turned the book over in her hands so the name on it could not be seen. "I told you…no one is else is to see it."

At the same moment, Cyborg sauntered through the closing elevator doors.

"No one."

The Goth girl nodded in understanding, and slipped the spellbook under her robe, settling back down behind her novel.

-------------

Dawn broke over the Tamaranian palace, and one lone human pried his eyes open behind a black eyemask to greet it. The boy lay in his bed for a moment, staring at the alien landscape laid out for him outside the window, but wasn't till he started to move that something rang up as amiss. As the boy wonder started to roll, a force as strong as iron made itself known across his chest. Again, he tried to roll, and managed to make about a quarter turn before he was pulled back to his back.

"mmmm," a strangely familiar voice mumbled in his ear, "Just five more minutes.

Robin's eyes shot wide open, and his head jerked around, coming, literally, nose to nose with a frail, red-headed girl. She slept soundly, one arm draped across his chest, with long petite fingers wrapped around his shoulder. In a moment of panic, the boy wonder once again attempted to free himself from the girl's grasp, wondering how he had managed to get himself into this predicament.

-snag-

A long, leg snaked itself around Robin's leg as he lay there, trapping him firmly into the bed. His combat instincts threatened to kick in, and yet he lay there staring at the ceiling, wide eyed, sweating, and nervous as he could be.

"Good morning Robin," came a sweet voice from his side. "Was your sleep satisfactory last night?"

Robin jumped slightly, hearing the girl's voice. "Umm…Star…could you…ummm…"

"Yes Robin?" she asked, pulling herself closer.

"Uhmm…is this entirely proper?" he whimpered.

"On my home planet, it is common for close friends to share the warmth of one bed. Is it not so on Earth?"

"Well…that's kind of a…touchy subject. Some people would get the…wrong…the wrong idea about the two of us sleeping together."

The girl blinked innocently. "What idea would that be?"

"Well…ummm…m-mating rituals maybe…"

A shocked look blasted its way to the surface on Starfire's face. "They would think that? Just for sharing the warmth of a bed!"

Robin swallowed, and stroked a gentle hand through her hair. "You know what…who cares what they think. I know what happened, you know what happened, I think that's good enough, don't you?"

Silently, the girl nodded, her face still red from the boy wonder's earlier comment.

"Well, should we get up?"

"Do you have the time?"

"No…just Earth time, but the sun is just rising."

"We can if you want, but most of my people will not wake until the sun has reached the placement of the third moon."

"…Yeah…"

"About four Earth hours from now."

"Oh, ok. I think I'm going to go enjoy the rest of the sunrise."

"Mmk, I shall join you in the enjoyment of the sun's rising."

-----------------

Raven moved gracefully through the mall once more, her black jeans and baggy sweatshirt seemed out of place compared to her usual tights she wore while fighting, but she was comfortable, and that's what mattered to her right now. The young goth made a bee line for one particular store, where a familiar clerk stood behind the counter, idly tending to his store.

"Good afternoon, how may I…Oh! Miss Raven, it's good to see you again!"

"Yeah, whatever. Did my order come in?"

With a smile, the shop clerk reached down behind the counter, and produced a smooth wooden box. Raven opened the case carefully, and studied the contents with a trained eye.

"So…is it what you needed?"

The box closed with a snap, and Raven set a couple bills on the counter. "It's what I ordered, if that's what you're asking."

Without another word, the box was tucked under her arm, with a whoosh, she teleported herself right out of the store, and back to her room in the tower.

The box was opened once again, and the contents laid in the center of a carefully drawn magic circle. Raven took up a meditative seat at the edge of the circle, and began into a long chant, mumbling seemingly incoherent words as the circle lit, and the patterns within it danced gracefully to the tune of her words.

-----------------

Cyborg, Beast Boy, and myself sat sprawled across the main room, Beast Boy and myself plugging away at our respective laptops, and Cyborg concentrating just as hard at his keyboard set up at the side of the room.

"Ryk! Heal the mage!" Cyborg yelped as he pounded away at Edwin VanCleef on the screen.

My priest began gathering power to cast as Cyborg's warrior tore into our enemy.

"Super Gnome Rogue AWAY!" Beast Boy shouted in glee as his tiny rogue dropped one of VanCleef's bodyguards. "You fairy little ninja's ain't got nothin' on Gnome Power!...EEEK!"

My priest turned and blasted fear into the hearts of the two rogues that had just jumped the tiny rogue, sending them running to the far sides of the ship we fought on.

"Thanks Ryk…" Beast Boy sighed.

And so it went, the three of us scattered around the room, plugging away at our latest game infatuation, stomping on the horde…or at least right now, the Deadmines. The whole concept of us not whomping on each other, but joining our forces to whomp on everyone else came at first as a surprise to the other two gamers when I first brought the game home, but now, the three of us were an inseparable, unstoppable force in the World of Warcraft.

"Dude, Ryk, can you fetch us some food?" Cyborg begged, his stomach noticeable growling.

With a smile, the fridge doors flew open, and sandwiches assembled themselves on the counter, even the white goo of Tofu splattered itself onto two pieces of bread.

"Ryk…"

I looked up from my game to see Raven standing in the doorway.

"I need to…well…can…"

Raven actually blushed…Cyborg stared, and Beast Boy fell off the couch in a classic pratfall.

"Can you meet me outside in a minute?"

I nodded, confused.

"…Kay…"

And just like that, she turned and left.

Cyborg stared at me.

Beast Boy stared at me.

I scratched my head, and tapped the "AFK" keys on my keyboard.

"Dude!" Beast Boy shouted as his rogue died. "You're the healer! You can't just…"

"Gaah!" Cyborg's character had died as well…

Edwin VanCleef took one look at my priest, swiped his sword once, and my priest promptly dropped to the ground…dead as a doornail.

"I'll be back guys…" I apologized, and made my way out the door.

Outside, Raven was already waiting for me, her face once again stone solid, a smooth wooden case sitting on the ground in front of where she sat.

"Go ahead and open it," she said, her typical monotone back where it usually was.

My eyebrow raised in curiosity, and I sat in front of her, setting the box in my lap. Opening it cautiously, my eyes widened when I caught a glance of the contents

-snap-

I closed the box, my eyes wide. "Raven…why did…you shouldn't have."

"You need something to fight with, Ryk. And besides…I wanted to."

Again, I opened the box, and stared at the twin blades that were neatly and carefully stored inside. Each knife had two blades on it, one coming from the hilt where it normally would, and one exiting from the base, curving wickedly up and around the front, creating a deadly handguard. Both blades on each of my new knives were sharpened to perfection, and serrated on the back side of the main blade. I picked them up carefully, and inspected them closely. A dim red glow came from the runes that ran up and down each of the blades.

"I put a little extra behind them," Raven explained. "They should be all but invincible to any damage that can be thrown at them, and should help you channel your psionic energies."

I huge smile cracked my face, and before she could resist, I had all but tackled the dark girl in a hug.

"…You're hugging me…" she almost growled.

"Yeah, and what're you gonna do?"

"Don't make me…"

"Raven…thank you."

"…You're still hugging me."

I let go, backing off slightly.

"So," Raven's eyebrow raised slightly, "Why don't you take them out for a test drive?"

"Ya know, I just might do that."

End Chapter 22