-- Alright! In the spirit of Christmas, and because my reviewers asked so nicely, here is an early update for all of you! Consequently, this also means that the next chapter likely won't be out until a week after Christmas, but so it goes. Now then, The CyxBee moment will be nowhere near as long as the rest of the chapter, BUT...Raven is a personal favorite of mine and many of my crewmates. Owing to that, she and those closest to her automatically get more screen time than the others whenever I feel like it. That's how I do things. Sue me. Now, here it is, as requested by several of you! Let us begin... -The Cap'n --
Part 12- Broken
(Back in the hospital wing, Raven is deep in her meditation, using the steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor as her focus. Since defeating her father, controlling her powers has become slightly easier, but she still meditates out of habit. At any rate, it gives her better control. However, at some point, the rhythm condenses into a single, long, unbroken tone. Raven's brow furrows in annoyance as the tone begins to disturb her focus.)
Raven: (thinking) What…? What's going on? What is that? Wait a minute…!
(Raven feels a deep chill as she recognizes the noise; it is the sound of a heart monitor flat-lining. Her eyes snap open and she looks upon Photon's bed…only to discover that he is not there. The heart monitor is giving off it's shrill tone in response to having nothing to get a reading on. Raven glances around, then nearly jumps straight out of her skin; he is standing right beside her, in his hologram, just watching her without a word.)
Raven: Do not do that. Ever. You scared five years off of me.
Photon: My apologies. Do you…have a moment?
Raven: Um… wait a second, I have to heal you! Hold still.
Photon: No! I mean…just let it wait a second. I'm awake now, and I feel alright at the moment, so just hold off for now… there's something I want to show you. Could you follow me up to the roof?
(Raven is hesitant, but thinks it over.)
Raven: Well, he is awake now… and there's no one else to look after in here… I guess a minute won't hurt.
(Photon opens the window, and the two of them levitate themselves all the way up to the roof. Meanwhile, down in the kitchen, Beast Boy and Terra have just entered, holding hands. Gemini glances up and smiles.)
Gemini: So you two got together; nice!
Beast Boy: How'd you-?
Gemini: I can tell. It's something you learn to recognize.
Cyborg: Don't tell Robin; you know how he is about "keeping work and personal stuff separate."
(Shotman snickers at something only he can see.)
Déjà: I was right! I knew something was going on! But, Mademoiselle Terra, before you commit yourself completely, would you allow me to…
(Déjà Vu whispers something to her, totally inaudible. Beast Boy stretches one pointed ear in that direction, then about three cross marks pop up on his face as steam gushes out of his ears. He jumps into the air, then lands on Terra's head in the form of a large frog before emitting a resounding croak. Déjà takes one look at him, and all the color drains out of his face. In the next moment, he lets out a high pitched scream and shoots under one of the sofas. His eyes peek out, and the whole couch vibrates as he shivers in terror. Aqualad and Medic recline back in the sofa with looks of contentment.)
Aqualad: Massage chair; cool.
(While everyone is busy laughing at Déjà's expense, (except for Echo, who is still deep in a dark blue funk) Bumblebee grabs Cyborg and drags him off elsewhere. In the middle of a laugh, Shotman suddenly snaps to attention.)
Shotman: Hey!
Medic: What is it?
Shotman: It is Photon! He is awake!
(Echo is right in front of Shotman in the next instant.)
Echo: How is he!? Has he been healed!?
Shotman: No… He requested that Raven hold off on the healing, but I can't see any reason why he would- gasp Uh-oh…
Speedy: What's the problem?
Shotman: The virus! The Spring Fever virus! It is still in his system! And thriving!
Echo: How is that possible!? He scrapped the computer, didn't he!?
Shotman: It had to have moved to the next stage before he did; it's the only explanation.
Terra: Um…so wouldn't that mean…he's locked onto Raven now?
Gemini: Irreversibly. It's in its final stage. He can't turn back now.
Echo: That's not right…Nobody should be forced into somethin' just like that…
(Shotman and Medic exchange half a glance, (half because Shotman has no way to return it, being blind) then nod.)
Medic: Captain, I am afraid we shall have to come clean.
Shotman: We have not been totally honest with you.
Echo: Eh? How's that?
(The doctor and the gunner get fearful looks, but know it is too late to back out.)
Shotman: Well, you see…
(The scene changes, and we now see where Cyborg has been dragged off to; his own room.)
Cyborg: Okay, start talkin'. You dragged me outta there and all the way in here without explainin' nothin' and now-!
(He cuts off as Bumblebee hovers a few inches off the ground and kisses him firmly on the mouth. He takes a few steps back, stunned.)
-- Aw, no fair! She cheated! I didn't get to lead up to it or anything! Boo! – The Cap'n --
Cyborg: Uh… Okay. Now you really owe me an explanation.
Bumblebee: I guess. You remember when I was tryin' to tell you somethin' before? Back when we were fighting that Moth guy? That was it.
Cyborg: Yeah? Sure you wouldn't rather have somebody who isn't made of metal!? Seeing as I'm not your type and all-
Bumblebee: Will you shut up with that!? I don't care if you're made out of plastic! You're still you under all the hardware, right!? So what's the big deal!?
Cyborg: "You're still you…" (scoffs) Okay, so what do you mean by that?
Bumblebee: You broke free from Brother Blood's control, which no one had ever been able to do before, and it turns out that it was because of you, not whatever mechanical business you might have going on inside. You brought together the East team when it seemed like nothing could. You probably would have even been a great leader if you chose to!
Cyborg: You seemed more capable. Besides, I have a home right here.
Bumblebee: And that's the last point I was about to make; you've also got great judgment and you definitely know the value of a friend. You want to name for me one machine that can do all of that?
(Cyborg is silent.)
Bumblebee: I thought that's what you'd say. Added to that, you have these qualities in much greater supply then I've seen in the majority of the people I've met. You're not just a machine, and you're definitely not just an average guy. You're a great man, Cyborg.
(Cyborg twists one giant pinky around in his ear, then pulls it out with the sound of a cork popping.)
Cyborg: I must be hearing things. I could have sworn you used my name for once. Say that again.
(Bumblebee puts on a mischievous grin.)
Bumblebee: Don't tell me what to do, Sparky.
Cyborg: Aw, man! We're back to-!
(He cuts off as Bumblebee hovers up and puts a hand on his cheek.)
Bumblebee: In fact, don't say much of anything at all.
(She kisses him again, and this time he embraces her as she does, being careful to avoid crushing her wings. Meanwhile, back on the roof, Raven and Photon are sitting on the edge, gazing up at the sky, and chatting with one another. It is a beautiful night, with very few clouds, the moon shining down, and thousands of stars twinkling brightly as far as can be seen. Raven has lowered her hood, enjoying the cool night breeze. The two magic-users are currently knee-deep in a discussion about some of the more…strange moments of their hero careers.)
Photon: A rabbit? ………You're joking.
Raven: No, I'm serious, this nut actually decided to turn me into a rabbit.
Photon: (dryly) How original. A magician and a rabbit. Very funny. I'm in stitches.
(They gaze back up at the sky.)
Photon: I fought with that same fool not long ago. He lacked the knowledge of what magic truly is and the proper respect for the art; it made my blood boil. But this always calms me. The stars have always helped me to find inner peace.
Raven: Well, to each their own…
Photon: Over there, for example…
(Photon points at a group of stars.)
Photon: You recognize that constellation?
Raven: Draco. The Lord of Dragons.
Photon: Precisely. That's a favorite of mine. Are there any that you particularly like?
(Raven does not answer. She is busy thinking over something that has been gnawing away at the edge of her mind since Photon woke up.)
Raven: (thinking) Something's not right. Why is he being civil all of a sudden? And downstairs, when I told him not to pop out of nowhere like he did, he apologized. He never apologizes, especially not to me. And now he brings me out here to look at the stars? What is he-?
(Raven suddenly flashes back to a moment back in the underground. Right before Photon went crashing through the computer screen, he had turned his head for one second to yell at her…and he had seen her out of his right eye.)
Raven: (thinking) It probably wouldn't have taken more than a sidelong glance for the effect to set in…which means…
(Raven stands and backs away from him.)
Raven: You're still infected.
(Photon turns and looks back at her, then gets to his feet and turns around completely.)
Photon: So, you've figured it out. Well, I had a feeling it wouldn't take you too long. But now that you do know…there's no reason for me to hide it any longer. Raven, I lo-
Raven: No! Don't you dare!
(Photon stops in mid-sentence, then begins a new one.)
Photon: What is wrong? I had not meant to cause you any displeasure. Why do you not wish me to-?
Raven: Because it isn't real! You're under a delusion that's being influenced by some bug in your system. In the natural order of things, you and I hate each other!
(Photon is silent, then shakes his head.)
Photon: I am afraid that you are quite far off the mark with that. Echo has told all of you, I assume, of my fear? The deep fear I have of being alone? The first time it caused me to transform, I had just been rejected by my village for fear of my appearance. I thought that I was doomed to a life of solitude. After I became friends with Echo, it never bothered me again…until just six moths ago. It is true, yes, that I did hate you very much at first. However, the time we spent stuck together on that island effectively made you the first girl I ever took the time to get to know...even if not by choice. Your strength, your cool intelligence, and...your beauty...all took me by surprise. After that, I have been unable to get my mind off you. I thought at first that it was just my desire to surpass you, but after a couple of weeks I figured out that what I really wanted was to be worthy of you. Sadly, even knowing this, the detest for women that I had conditioned in myself acted against my desire to be with you. This spiked an internal war between those two feelings. The thought of never being able to tell you the truth, and eventually losing any chance that you might share my feelings was the cause of all of my violent transformations that have hurt so many over the past six months. But now…now that this "virus" is in my system, it is allowing me to overrule my usual hatred and speak from my heart. I can't begin to express how wonderful it is to finally be able to tell you. For the first time in ages, I feel genuine happiness…
(Raven's mind is spinning from trying to take all this in. However, thanks to dealing with things that involve a strong mental constitution so very often, she collects herself and decides to handle this situation with a cool head. A look at her robe shows that it seems to have become one shade brighter.)
Raven: Okay…that might be true…or it could just be more of what that virus is telling your mind. In either case, I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not sure I'm ready for something like this.
Photon: Well, why not?
Raven: Let's just say, the last guy who told me the same things turned out to be too good to be true…
(Photon ponders this, then, based on a combination of his own knowledge and things he has heard throughout the day, he figures it out.)
Photon: I see. Well it definitely wasn't the first time. Malchior never was above deceiving innocent girls to get what he wanted.
(Raven's eyes widen.)
Raven: How do you know about-!?
Photon: Beast Boy mentioned the name Malchior. And Robin seemed like he knew something earlier… Based on what you have told me, I can infer that the Dread Dragon assumed a more…sophisticated form and coerced you into releasing him. What's impressive is that you sealed him back up again! My ancestor was a year older than you when he succeeded in doing that! And he even had the aid of the Dragon's Bane!
Raven: The Dragon's Bane…? Your ancestor? But that would have to mean… You're-!
Photon: I am the heir to the most renowned magician clan of this and every age previous. Descended from Garrett of Nol, creator of the Dragon's Bane, and the Great Wizard Rorek of Nol, Conqueror of the Dread Dragon Malchior.
(Raven is stunned all over again. Then, a question rises in her mind.)
Raven: (thinking) As long as he's talking… (aloud) So…what's your name? Your true name, I mean. With all those other great names in your family, yours must be something good.
Photon: Hmm…That's an interesting question you've posed to me. I swore that I would never breathe my true name again, until I had become at least as great as Rorek…but, for you, I suppose I can make an exception. My real name is-
(At that moment they are cut off by a booming yell from downstairs. It is Echo and he sounds angry beyond measure.)
Echo: YE DID WHAT!? I OUGHTA FEED YE TO THE SHARKS!!
(There is silence, then the magnified voice returns.)
Echo: I DON'T GIVE A BARNACLE'S BACKSIDE WHAT YER REASON WAS! YER GOIN' AN' SETTIN' THIS STRAIGHT RIGHT NOW!!
(It is a mark of how loud Echo can be when he chooses that he is only on the second floor, yet Raven and Photon are still forced to cover their ears.)
Photon: Looks like they're going to start searching for me now. I've been hiding our location from Shotman's Eye, but I can't keep it up forever. Raven, please say yes. I've never wanted anything so much.
Raven: We…we can't…
Photon: Why not? Just tell me why. Give me one good reason.
Raven: Our powers react to our emotions, so-
Photon: That is not a problem. I'm amazed you didn't figure this out already. You see, I had noticed that whenever you and I got into one of our arguments, that no matter how angry we became, our powers did not destroy anything. The reason? Our powers have opposite polarities. Whenever we are feeling things that are around the same general emotion, any accidental spill-over of our powers negate and cancel each other out. On the other hand, if we are trying to use our magic, our combined efforts allow the two of us to be twice as strong as we would be alone! We truly do complement each other…
(Raven is surprised at this, and hurries to think of something else. She notices, with some uneasiness, that her heart has started beating rather quickly.)
Raven: Um…well…even if we could get around that…what about my background? My father is a Demon. What would you want with something like me?
Photon: Honestly, did you think I had forgotten already? I know that you defeated your father; quite a remarkable accomplishment, I might add. Therefore, the Demon no longer has any power over you. Besides, there is not one thing about you that looks even remotely like a demon…an angel, maybe…
(As he says this, he brushes a hand over the gemstone on her forehead, then runs his fingers through a lock of her hair. Raven blushes hard enough to rival Gemini, and her robe lightens further. Her heart is now pounding so hard that she is afraid Photon will hear it. However, she still is not convinced.)
Raven: What does it matter? That virus is the cause of all this anyway. Without it, you'd never even give me a second look. No matter what you think right now, this isn't really you.
Photon: Didn't I tell you already how I had felt about you all along? In any event, the virus is in its seventh stage; it's permanent. Whether I would still feel for you without it is irrelevant. The fact is, since this virus is now a part of my body, then whether I would normally want it or not, this is me now. My feelings are genuine. Anything else?
(Raven finds herself without an answer. Her robe has lightened further, becoming such light shade of blue that it matches the morning sky. She glances up, and finds herself staring into Photon's dark blue eyes. She takes in his holographic form, going over the handsome features again.)
Raven: (thinking) Groan Why does he have to be asking me this when he looks like that…? How am I supposed to think?
(She takes a deep breath, then steps away, shaking her head.)
Raven: I'm sorry. It just doesn't feel right. We…we just can't!
(She turns and starts to walk away. Photon is standing, stunned, clearly having not planned on being refused. Then, apparently coming to a decision, he strides forward and grabs Raven's shoulder, turning her to face him. Before she can protest, she finds her mouth smothered by a deep kiss. Raven is so surprised that she freezes. Using her shock to his advantage, Photon slides his arms around her in an embrace to pull her closer. Raven is standing stone-still and her lavender eyes are wide and shimmering. She then shuts them as she begins returning the kiss, and embraces Photon right back. In the close contact, she can feel that his heart is racing just as fast as hers.)
-- Okay, last time I'm saying it, I promise…Cherry stems! Ha ha ha ha! – The Cap'n --
(Unbeknownst to the both of them, Echo and his search party had found them only moments before. Echo, Shotman, Medic, Gemini, Speedy, and Aqualad are all standing just outside the trapdoor that leads to the top floor, and all of them are immobile with whited-out eyes, and letting their mouths air out. Echo reaches up and flips his patch upward so he can stare with both eyes. Medic takes off his glasses and rubs them on his jacket before replacing them. As the scene shifts back to the magician couple, it is seen that Raven's entire outfit has brightened all the way to pure white. They finally break the kiss and open their eyes slowly, still embracing. Photon looks to be a bit dazzled. His focus is so shaken that his hologram actually flickers for a few seconds.)
Photon: Wow…
(At that moment, Raven glances out of the corner of her eye and notices their audience. She steps away from Photon and blushes beet-red again.)
Raven: Um…how long have you been standing there?
(Echo suddenly seems to snap out of his shock, and his expression turns livid. He grabs Medic and Shotman by their shirts, and throws them forward.)
Echo: Alright, get to it, ye bilgerats! Be grateful I don't make ye walk the plank right now!
Shotman: Er…yes…Photon, we have something to tell you.
Medic: You see…the virus that is in your system…well, we found it most amusing, given your usual attitude.
Shotman: So, I told Medic to go along with the idea that it could not be easily cured.
Medic: In truth…I could have cured it at any time. I still can.
Echo: Well, I hope ye got yer laugh, ye swabs! It nearly cost me me best mate!
Medic: More important is the fact that your body is still breaking down. I have to heal you right away. Just stand still for a second…
(Medic steps forward, golden energy covering his hands. In the next instant, he jumps back to avoid a laser blast.)
Photon: Don't you come near me.
Medic: But I have to heal you-!
Photon: And if you do, the virus leaves me, right? I had already figured that you two had pulled some prank like this. That's why I've been trying to keep you from finding me. If you think you're healing me, think again! It's not happening! Not if there's the slightest chance that my feelings for Raven will change! I won't do that to her!
Echo: Photon, lad, please! I understand how ye feel, but if Medic doesn't cure ye, ye won't live past tomorrow mornin'! If ye want to live, that virus has to go!
Photon: Then I'd rather die!
(Without another word, Photon grabs Raven's hand and levitates at light-speed until they are one hundred and eighty-five feet above the Tower.)
Echo: Photon-!
Shotman: I'm afraid yelling won't help, Captain. He is quite serious. He would sooner give up his life than his current affection for Raven. Such is the terrifying strength of the virus's final stage…
Gemini: Sigh How romantic…
(Everyone raises an eyebrow at her.)
Gemini: (defensively) Well, it is…
(Meanwhile, high above in the clouds…)
Photon: It'll be some time before they can get someone to fly Medic all the way up here. Even if I'm dying, I can't go back to how I was. Not if it means hurting you. Now…where were we?
(Photon leans down to kiss Raven again. As he does, Raven thinks through everything rapidly.)
Raven: (thinking) He needs to be healed or he'll die…but the virus is what makes him feel for me…if I take that away, he won't want anything to do with me…But…to let him die just so I can have this…that's not fair. Besides, if what he told me was true, I might not have to give it up after all… (aloud) Photon, I'm really sorry about this.
(Raven's hands glow with a white aura, then she pushes the glow into Photon's chest. He stops just short of contacting her lips and gasps. His head suddenly tilts back, and with a loud exhale, a cloud of purple gas rushes out of his throat. The gas forms a cloud that vaguely resembles a heart. However, after a second, the shape splits down the middle, then divides into hundreds of tiny wisps and fades. Photon snaps out of his momentary daze, and glances at Raven.)
Photon: I…I remember…I remember everything that's happened…and…
(Photon's eyes suddenly fill with an expression that Raven knows too well; his cold glare that is filled with contempt and disgust. Her heart sinks.)
Photon: I don't believe this! I was just-! And you were-! And then we-! Agggghhhh!
(Photon is apparently so appalled that he can't even speak straight. Down below, the others are staring up and listening.)
Echo: Well…sounds like he's back to normal…
Gemini: Yeah…(thinking) But at what cost…?
(Everyone starts to head back down, but Echo stops Medic and Shotman.)
Echo: Ye two are stayin' right here! I expect Photon'll be wantin' a few words with ye…
(As Echo leaves, Photon lands on the roof, in his natural form. He focuses his eyes on his two teammates and he begins breathing heavily, trying to contain his anger. His skin flits through every color of the spectrum five times before he seems to calm down. He then speaks very evenly.)
Photon: You two remember that spell I kept trying to do that never worked? Well, now that I've done it once, I've figured out what I was doing wrong. See, it needs a live target to act on, hence why the dummies kept exploding. Oh, and I've also figured out how to tone it down to work for shorter periods of time.
(He strides forward and places a palm on each of them.)
Photon: How's the next ten minutes sound?
(Without even using the incantation, Photon releases the spell into them and their powers fade.)
Photon: I'll probably never use this spell again, but it's the perfect thing for dealing with you two jokers. Now for some retribution…
(He pulls out his staff, and the scene shifts just short of showing what he is doing, but many smacks can be heard as well as yells of pain and one shout for mercy. Photon finally stops, and the two fall to the roof, beaten all over, smoke rising from their bodies. Photon glances up and shoots one last nasty look at Raven before disappearing inside the Tower. Raven's robe darkens back to its usual dark blue, then her eyes begin to shimmer again.)
Raven: (thinking) Then it was a lie after all… Don't know why I'm surprised…everyone with any connection to that clan seems to have a natural talent for this…
(She drifts down to the window of her room and phases inside, not coming out for the rest of the night.)
-- The title of this chapter has well more than one meaning. Think about it. Let it come to you. After thinking that over, recall that Raven is my favorite character. Before calling me a monster, consider if I would even think of leaving things like this. There, you see? Now, in other news, the third part of this triumverate of stories I am doing, a work entitled Beneath The Ice is scheduled for release about two-three weeks after the final chapter of The Trinity. That story adds more characters as well as explores the past of one of the Titans South characters. I won't say which character it is, but he was voted by my crew as everybody's second favorite. Think Eastern origin. Far East. Until next time, and don't be stingy with the reviews! – The Cap'n