Chapter 4-Surprises

(Robin's PoV)

The two teens who had entered the tower stepped forward. The boy wore long black robes with a dove embroidered on the left shoulder. On the right, a swirl of stars ran across his torso to his hip and down to his ankles. He had black eyes and shoulder length ebony hair.

The girl wore a hooded white dress. The hood was thrown back to reveal long black hair and dark silver eyes. She was smiling slightly at the surprise on Raven's face. All this I noticed in the few seconds before the boy spoke.

"Raven, Azarath was destroyed but many of her people escaped. Some knew what was coming. Did you think we would just sit around waiting to die? That's part of why Trigon destroyed the city. He wanted the people. Even mother couldn't have sent you a message from beyond death."

"I guess," Raven's normally emotionless voice trembled with barely contained joy. "I guess I wasn't thinking rationally. Oh Nachor it's so good to see you again. How are mother and Talan?"

"They're fine." The girl spoke for the first time. "They both send greetings."

In a few long strides Nachor had reached Raven and pulled her close. "We missed you sis."

"Whoa," Terra sounded as confused as I felt. "Okay, stop, since when does Raven have siblings? And I thought her mother was dead."

"Apparently not."

Raven smiled "I've had siblings ever since they were born Terra. Titans, and Miriel, this is Nachor and this is Dove. Dove and Nachor these are the Teen Titans, Titans South and Miriel."

"How-"

The alarm's frantic blaring cut Beast Boy off. We all ran to the computer. The image on the screen was a red X.

"All right, Titans South, you and Miriel, and Raven's sibs stay here we can handle this. We'll be back as soon as possible and then we can have some fun. Titans, go!

Ts

(Raven's PoV)

Red X was waiting for us when we reached the museum. He was sitting calmly on a valuable chair. When we arrived he jumped up.

"Took you long enough, I was getting very bored."

"Jerk!" Robin was furious.

X laughed as Robin lunged at him. "Did you miss me that much, Bird Boy? It has been a long time, though I see you still haven't improved."

Robin growled. The rest of us finally joined the fight. Starfire hurled star bolts like rain and Cyborg attacked with all his strength. Beast Boy took humming bird form and darted around the thief's face.

Busy with the others, X didn't notice me. I hurled a crate that had probably transported some relic or another. It hit him hard in the ribs and a wave of shockingly strong pain ran through my upper body.

That was weird. My empathy is not that strong, especially not when I'm concentrating on something else. And there's no way a crate to the ribs should hurt that bad.

I forced my thoughts back to the battle, but there was no need. Robin had X shoved against the wall and was searching him. The pain had lessened but it still throbbed through my senses. Watching the others I decided that it was mostly when Robin shoved X harder against the wall. Once, though, it flared up quite unexpectedly. It hurt worse that time than it ever had before.

Something pushed at the back of my mind. I walked forward and placed my hand between X's shoulder blades, where Robin's had most recently been. Releasing my power, I let it flow through me and into the thief. Within seconds the pain died completely. X had visibly relaxed almost as soon as I began.

I stepped back, thinking, as Robin cuffed X and turned him around. Boy Wonder was lifting his hand to remove the mask when a bear charged out of nowhere. Knocking us all aside, it grabbed X and took off running.

I was the farthest back and the bear only brushed me as it swung. Since the others where still somewhat dazed I went after the creature myself. I chased it for nearly a mile before it stopped. I slipped into a shadowed corner of the alley it had chosen and watched.

To my complete surprise the bear changed to a human the minute they entered the alley. The human form it took was that of a slim girl with long, curling, mahogany hair and large sage-colored eyes. When she spoke her voice was low and soft and reminded me of music.

"Gosh Ril, What happened back there? The Titans aren't that hard to handle."

"Not sure, I guess I wasn't paying enough attention to Raven. She hit my ribs pretty hard. Boy Blunder must have caught me while I was getting up. I'm not sure; I was kind of dizzy after getting hit with the crate. I don't even know where she found the thing."

"That Witch! Sometimes I just want to… ooh" Del growled as she picked the locks on the cuff.

"Ummmmm Del, She couldn't exactly have known about my ribs. I'm sure it's not Raven's intention to hurt the criminals they chase; merely subdue them." X sighed as the cuffs came loose. When they fell he pulled his hands in front of him to rub his wrists. "It's Robin I worry about. Yeesh, did he intend to cut off my circulation, I wonder? It was strange though, when Rob put his hand on my back. Raven couldn't possibly have known, about the curse, but she healed me. How did she know what to do?"

"She is an empath, Rillan." All three of us shuddered as Slade stepped from the shadows. I even fancied I saw X flinch behind his mask. "She sensed the pain and fixed it because it hurt her too. You're lucky Delanie got to you before the Titans blew your cover."

Slade had been walking toward the boy and girl. Now he was barely and arms length from them. He backhanded X hard enough to jerk his head to the side. Then he reversed his swing and hit the boy from the other direction.

"Next time try harder. How many times have I told you not to wait around for the Titans? I don't care if you enjoy teasing them or not." He hit x several more times as he spoke.

"Slade?" Delanie's voice trembled slightly. "Slade, I got the diamond."

She pulled the gem from a bag under her jacket and held it out.

"Thank you. Be glad she got it. I wouldn't want to have to send you out again. Seeing as you can't fight with half-healed ribs." Slade's tone was thick with derision.

They slipped into the shadows. I had just made up my mind to follow them when my communicator beeped. I flipped it open.

"Raven where are you?"

"I was following X and his bear. They got away. Sorry Robin."

Robin growled. "Darn it! We were so close!"

"Don't worry we'll catch him. I'll meet you guys at the tower.

TS