This Year's Love
Chapter 3: In His Mind She Is Everything….
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Disclaimer: I don't own anything…..
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Thank you to all my reviewers! Just ahead of time, this is important, please, once u r done reading this latest installment read the A/N for the poll. I need feedback before I continue. Thanks and enjoy!
Fern nu
In His Mind She Is Everything….
Checking on Raven, Starfire realized that the dark titan had healed visibly. Although the wounds were still evident, they had lost their infected color and were dry. Levitating off the medical table, Raven's eyes were closed tightly; her breathing at a constant rate. She seemed to be healing herself but from what Cyborg had said,
'That is quite impossible without the mental block being removed…and only Beastboy could do so last night'
While a confused Starfire stood puzzled, Cyborg walked over to the wall monitor computer pad in the room. Pointing out his index finger, a thin wire shot forth and connected into the connecting dock. His cybernetic eye turning green for a moment, he quickly accessed the titan's camera footage. Pulling up the day's video feed, he gasped inaudibly at the fast forward images being relayed.
"Uh guys?" pulling out the two remaining Titans from their puzzlement; they looked intently at Cyborg.
"You should probably see this….."
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Sitting on the large, wraparound couch, Starfire, Robin and Cyborg watched in rapt attention at the screen. Uploading the camera video feed, the lights dimmed automatically as the TV flickered.
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Beastboy had been sitting slouched for a while and had fallen asleep. His arm getting tired, he gently moved himself to place his elbow resting on the armrest, but ended up missing the armrest completely and leaning his weight on nothing causing himself to jerk suddenly. The natural movement and slight lunge was enough to shake him from his light sleep. Lifting his head, he straightened out from his slumped position and yawned carefully; making sure to not let go of Raven's hand.
The video feed showed Beastboy stretching and leaning back; a look of worry and concern etched into his every feature as he sat there wordlessly, just watching the dark titan levitate. Cyborg quickly fast forwarded through fifteen minutes of useless footage, stopping four seconds before the truly bizarre occurrence.
Suddenly a dark flash shined over the room and subsequently covering the camera lens in a bright flare of darkness. The flash obviously startling Beastboy and causing him to flinch, he stood up and moved to the side table nearby where the disturbance had originated. Carefully twisting his arm and changing hands to grasp Raven's easily and more comfortably, he walked hesitantly to the table. Glancing at the closed door and once to the surveillance camera, he looked down at an item unrecognizable from the current angle. Staring at it for a moment and nodding his head once, he placed his hand seemingly on the item…..and vanished in another blinding flash….
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All confused as the video ended, the lights brightened as if to remind the three baffled onlookers of the thoughts tumbling in their minds. Sharing a look, they all got up at the same time and rushed to the medical room, mutely. Arriving quickly at the table that BB had gone to, and glancing at the slightly illuminated item; all three titans mentally slapped themselves at their carelessness.
Upon the table lay Raven's mirror; having been hastily forgotten in all the confusion of the previous night. Cyborg, analyzing the mirror which currently lay on its back, front facing up and a dark black and white portal swirling, quickly reached an analysis conclusion. Somehow Beastboy, his green little friend, had gotten into Raven's mind…..again. Back to Nevermore.
"You Guys?..." he began "BB's in Raven's mind. I don't know why or exactly how, considering she sealed off her mirror since the last time, but…he did. It's the same way we got in the last time. I think that maybe her subconscious called out to him…"
Once again puzzled, Starfire raised her hand; for once not interrupting outright.
"Yea Star?"
"Friend, what is or will friend Beastboy do in friend Raven's mind?"
This time, Robin interjected seriously; having been deep in thought over the revealed news.
"He'll try and save her….from the 'inside out' just like he said last night. We all know that Beastboy will do anything for Raven and he never really fails completely……..I just hope he doesn't cause any more damage to her."
More as an afterthought than actually directing his response to the rest of his team, Robin looked up as Cyborg continued on his train of thought.
"I know we're all worried about Raven and BB, but he'll be fine. He may be corny and a goof at the wrong time, but…….I know that he cares for Raven and will do any and everything for her. Just trust me on this one." Commenting and alluding closely to the revealed news of Beastboy's love, Cyborg mentally slapped himself at the obviousness of what he had just said.
Giving his cybernetic friend an odd look—a faint realization dawning on his face, Robin nodded, for now letting go of the interesting news.
"But friends how shall we continue if and when a crime should plague the city and be in need of our 'saving of the day'?"
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Robin looked into the Tameranian princess's eyes lovingly but sternly before turning to Cyborg.
"We fight. We fight without them…and we win. Beastboy is going to need time to help out Raven. He's our and Raven's only hope. Her only chance….and we're going to make sure she gets it.
Solemnly grabbing the mirror; the gateway to her gothic friend's troubled mind, Starfire placed the handle into Raven's hands and clasped them on her stomach.
"May you come back to us….friend." whispering lightly; her voice seeping with sorrow and worry, she turned away. The rest of the titans, following her lead left the room; concern plaguing them and doubt creeping in.
Before closing the door, Cyborg stayed back for a moment. He knew that saying sappy things weren't like him. He knew that this wasn't some movie or story or cheap half-hour cartoon; still, he felt like he should say something before leaving.
"Godspeed BB. Go get her and bring her back. To me and to all of us."
Shaking his head at the corniness and at how grave the situation must really be if he had to result to such stupid tactics he silently left. The dim realization that they could be left to wait for a long time for such a feat to occur, flashed through his cybernetic mind as he made his way to his room for a quick recharge.
As the door swished closed, he and the rest of the titans had no idea how long they were going to be left to wait.
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"Yahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh———————!"
"OOF"
THUD
In a confused swirl of black and white fog Beastboy landed on the hard brown soiled surface. Raven's mind. 'Why do I always get hurt by Raven? And why can't I ever land on something that's not soft?' He thought to himself, grimacing and lightly rubbing his aching back. Shaking away his thoughts and the dirt all over him, he gazed around, lifting his eyes to survey the landscape of Nevermore. The sight around him made him allow a small gasp to escape.
The once dark, but peaceful area of Raven's mind was now a wasteland of destruction. The sky was black and foreboding, but littered with blood red and yellow specks and a large, crimson red moon. The trees of the nearby forest had been burned and singed of all life. Brittle stumps replaced once tall and majestic trees; now creating short and stubby or long and thin silhouettes and casting dark shadows on the scorched earth.
Surprised at how…demonic the place was and by the fact that he had known such a word, he began to wander towards the forest graveyard. Walking through the tattered remains of the woods, Beastboy stopped suddenly when he heard an ear-piercing scream.
It was Raven!
Without a though, he transformed into a red tailed hawk and flew above the fast-shrinking remains of the forest below. Taking a bird's eye view he quickly flapped towards the sound.
Suddenly her scream was cut off, but Beastboy continued on in the general direction where he had heard her last. As the land beneath him flashed by, he noted that it all seemed dimly surreal. Raven's injuries, Nevermore, Him…….his mind continued on questioning his arrival into Raven's mind and why he, of all the titans and people, was there. As though to keep his thoughts from reaching any a conclusions, another piercing scream erupted into the brisk air; pushing all thoughts away for the moment.
"AIEEEE!"
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Again Raven's shriek resounded over the demonic landscape
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Again Beastboy flapped harder, flew faster, and tried with greater strength to get to her.
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Again Beastboy's heart stopped in the pain.
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And once again his blood turned cold at the sight before him.
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It wasn't a fair fight….or just any fight for that matter. Nor could the events unfolding below be considered anything using the word fair to help describe it. In fact: it wasn't even human.
It was a slashing attempt at complete demonic slaughter.
Raven, lifeless and unmoving on her own, was being attacked from all sides by six very large, very angry, grey demonic creatures. Six legged and rippling with large mussels, each creature had six yellow eyes perched above one another in rows of two, staining the large grey head hunched on their shoulders. Row after row of outstretched teeth bristled with anticipation and three massive claws featured on each foot just added to their demonic nature.
All in all they looked like a demonic, tragic mix between a rhino, T rex, and shark. The end result being hideous and misshapen creatures of hell; Demon Hounds.
Firing burst of yellow energy from all three rows of their eyes, Beastboy gasped to himself as the limp Raven was shot fro and fro; helpless and……lifeless. Diving into a suicidal spiral, the red-tailed morph shot down towards the largest of the six demons. As the ground rushed toward him, Beast Boy transformed. Where once a graceful avian fluttered; now a large, emerald green Tyrannosaurus Rex, the king of all lizards, plummeted dangerously. Landing on the first hound, the green changeling wasted no time in turning over, after landing, and lashing out to the next closest demon. Not paying much attention, he vaguely noted that the first of the demons to meet his wrath had exploded in a puff of crimson haze and smoke.
Stopping their attack on the helpless Raven, and letting her fall to the ground, the remaining demons turned their attention to the green shifter. Firing their powerful energy, the massive T-rex flew backwards, skidding along the ground and scarring the pale earth. Menacingly wandering up to the seemingly unconscious Beastboy, the remaining four demonic creatures barred their gleaming teeth and snapped their jaws loudly in uncontrollable anticipation of the final kill.
Mere inches from taking their first, ripping bite, a sly Beastboy quickly blinked open his eyes and transformed into a small, simple garter snake, he swiftly slithered underneath the front three hounds swiftly. Quickly transforming into a large stegosaurus, the green Titan swiped his powerful spiked tail and took them all out in one massive swing. Puffing into red smoke, Beastboy eyed the remaining demon as it pounced impossibly high and landed, teeth raking Beastboy's skin; only to meet an armor plated back. Rapidly loosing grip, the demon hound released its tight but useless grasp on BB's back and landed behind him. Swinging around quickly, both creatures stood at ready.
The large grey demon, mussels rippling on the distorted figure, eyed his green prey viciously. Likewise, Beastboy stood his ground, intent on finishing off with the dangerous creature so he could turn his attention to more important matters: like Raven.
Raven……
Suddenly, it not being in the nature of the hound to wait for an attack, the satanic beast shot forth. All six legs pushing against the pale dirt, it leaped into an attack. Thinking that the creature would only try to bite him, and find armor scaling, Beastboy held his ground, sure that his armor would protect him.
He was wrong.
Upon reaching the maximum height it could, the monstrous entity roared with glee as it fired three very powerful and yellow beams of energy at the changeling. Unable to parry the attack in time and quite frankly taken by surprise, Beastboy received the full force of the blows upon his head, the only spot on his massive form not as heavily armored.
Collapsing under the strain of such an attack, Beastboy held no defense as the demonic canine landed atop his armored back and made his way to the ripe and soft skin of his neck. Chomping his sharp fangs into Beastboy's outstretched neckline, BB silently cried out at the sudden rush of pain. Unable to think straight through the throbbing ache he quickly raised himself up and tried in vain to buck off the creature currently attached to his neck. Unable to do so in his current form, a dim stroke of brilliance sparked in his pain-seeped brain. Instantly transfixing the form of the next animal he wanted to transform into, the sudden rush of power that accompanied every transformation ignited.
Where once the demon held a wounded stegosaurus thrashing wildly in its jaws; now the sinister creature found a 900 pound, once-blue-now-green wale underneath him. With the sudden transformation, the hound's jaws were unable to keep their grasp on the slippery, blubbery substance that now graced the changeling's skin. Wasting no time in taking action, Beastboy blew a large exhale of air through his blow hole. Luckily finding the beast centered perfectly over his blow hole, the Demon hound was shot forth into the sky. Transforming at the instant the fiend was off him, Beastboy took the shape of a small pterodactyl. Flapping madly he rose up to meet the dazed demon in midair, before transforming once more into a Tyranasourus Rex and taking a massive bite out of the creature. Puffing into a crimson fog and smoke, the demon disappeared as Beastboy transformed into a crow and glided down to the ground.
Finally reverting back to his human form, he collapsed panting. The horrible taste of demon in his mouth, Beastboy sat up as he felt the back of his neck. Finding the area warm with a small trace of blood, he grimaced but was not too worried; his animal DNA giving him excelled healing properties. He frowned at the pain and more so at the sight of blood. As a child, when he had contracted the disease that would eventually lead to his gaining of powers, Beastboy, or Garfield Logan, the name he had been born with, had been introduced to many medical procedures involving blood tests and transfusions. All in all, the experience taught him only two things: he hated blood and he hated hospitals. It was one of his greatest fears, and he had only told one person; un-expectantly one night……
Raven.
'OH MY GOD RAVEN!" snapped out of his dazed and confused remembrances, Beastboy shot up and got to his feet as if the ground had burned him. Remembering the state she had been when the demons had attacked her, he raced over to where her body lay. Upon the floor of Nevermore, laying face down and unmoving, she lay still. Sliding onto his knees in front of her, he hesitantly lifter her cloak. Lifting it away, he gasped.
If the sight of her in the medical room back at the Tower had been bad, the state she was in now was so much worse. Her leotard had been ripped, showing an increased amount of cleavage and stomach, leaving only the most intimate of places covered. Large slashes ran along her back, arms and legs. Slowly, he turned her over, only to recoil unwittingly at the sight before him. Steeling himself and recollecting his courage, he gazed once again upon the body of the girl he loved.
Her stomach had been burned through and slashed. Cruel bruises and blood covered the thinning layer of skin that barely held her together. She was bleeding severally from the largest gash upon her midsection. Oozing a steady stream of blood, he just then realized that the unknown sticky feeling around him was the reality of being, literally, in a pool of her blood. Shivering and fighting back sickness and vomiting, he continued his eye's journey appraising her body. Her neck and chest were mostly left free of wounds with the exception of what seemed like strangle marks all over her neck. Large, dark bruises could be found everywhere. Finally, making his way up to her face, he couldn't control the loud gasp emitted from his tender lips. Much like in the Tower, her face had been slashed and mangled. The difference was her eyes. Her blood red eyes were shot and distressed. She stared back at him lifelessly, as blood leaked out and ran down her face, instead of tears. Grimacing at the sight, Beastboy gently grasped her and brought her into his arms. The sudden jerk, however careful he had tried to be, caused her to unconsciously take a soft intake of breath and gasp at the pain. A sudden wave of relief gushing over him; the knowledge of her life still with him giving him hope, he delicately took off her cloak, intending to bandage the wound and stop the blood flow. It was only then that he noticed the color of the cloak……
It wasn't Raven's familiar navy blue….
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Though the blood had stained it thoroughly, the faint, underlying color was still evident. And one thing was certain: it wasn't his Raven's cloak color
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It was one of her emotions!
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But which one?
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A/N
So I'm sooooo sorry that it took so long to update. If any of my Sins Revealed readers are reading this, I didn't forget the fic, just had to rewrite the WHOLE DAMN THING ALL OVER AGAIN. Not an excuse but still the truth, I hate my computer. Don't worry I will update and you will get the full story and my hope for an apology accepted.
Anyways, I hope u guys enjoy another boringish chapter, though it does clear some things up. I'm not that good with fight scenes and not sure how it played out, but u should consider yourselves lucky. I had originally planned on cutting it and making a huge cliffie right after BB seeing something that made his blood turn to ice…..so I gave u guys 5-6 extra pages than originally planned. Hopefully it makes up for the lack of updating.
Enough with this, there are two things left to do.
First off. Poll time!
What emotion should it be? I don't really have it planned out, I just know which one it wont be for reasons pertaining to the plot. in this interest I'll say that it can't be Rage/anger/hatred. U guys are pretty smart so I'm sure you'll understand why.
Besides that, vote now! Whichever emotion
Love
Joy
Wisdom
Knowledge
Bravery
Lust
Jealousy
Timid
Rude
…..or any others I missed…..
And number 2
THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS!
Raveninthedark- thanks so much for ur praise. I read ur poems and was absolutely blown away!
Darkest Midnight- I know cliffies stink! Which is weird considering I just left u with another one…hmmm….please don't kill me?
CalliopeMused- unfortunately finals weren't the only things keeping me down but now im back!
gila-manatee-queen- lol awesome huh? It nice to be awesome….in any form of the word
PurrJaede-please don't take out the mallet! Ill be good! I promise!. Lol glad u like it tho.
Firegoddes- I figured a bigger cliff hanger was more like this one I left u with….thanks for the review
Raven The Shadow- lol all questions answered?
vinnie the geek- sweetness, I thank you for the praise and must say that its very appreciated both the review and adding to email list.
….and thanks to anyone I forgot, I'm terribly sorry
And thanks to anyone who reads but doesn't review….
Thas it, look for the next installment where Bb finds out what emotion the dying Raven in his arms turns out to be and how he will save her.
That is, of course if he can….can he? And where are all the other emotions? Find out next time!
As always
Fern nu