Next chapter! BTW I've added another option to my poll so for those people who already voted you can PM me if you want to let me know if you like the new option better than what you voted.
Enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review.
A Buried Childhood
Chapter six: You Do have a Friend
Raven was still fast asleep. Robin was continuously searching for clues of where Nendai could be. They never really had much time to try and find him since Raven was changing and causing some trouble. Cyborg was recharging since he hadn't had much time for that and was nearly empty. Beast Boy and Starfire were flying around the city hoping to find Nendai or a sign of him being around.
The monitors around Raven were softly and steadily beeping. She was breathing heavier than before and her eyes started to squeeze tighter. Her heartbeat went up a bit. Then out of nowhere Raven sat up instantly panting heavily. She looked around and saw she was in some kind of medical room. There was no one around and that scared her a bit.
She pulled the wires from her body and slipped of the bed. She nearly fell over as she tried to stand. Her body felt heavy and she was a bit drowsy. Nevertheless she tried to walk to the door. She always hated being weak and in a medical place.
When she got close to the door flashes filled her head and she fell on her knees. She clasped her hands on her head trying to push them out. She saw what she did to that gang leader and felt how she sucked his soul out. Raven couldn't help but scream as she was scared not wanting to remember any of that.
#
Robin felt extremely tired since he had been up all night searching for any clues. Being worried about Raven didn't help much. Robin stood up and decided to get a bite to eat.
He entered the kitchen area and reached for the cereal. Just as he grabbed hold of the box he heard a scream echo through the tower. In shock he dropped the cereal box and ran out of the common room to the med bay.
Robin rushed into the med bay and had to jump over Raven since he could not stop in time. He turned around and saw her clutching her head between her hands looking frightened.
'Raven?' Robin said softly. Raven didn't react to his voice. She probably didn't hear him. Robin carefully kneeled beside her and put a hand on her shoulder.
Raven jumped upon his touch and screamed in fear as she backed away. Robin pulled back in shock and looked at her worried.
'Raven it's okay. It's me Robin' Robin said to her in a gentle way. Raven carefully opened her eyes and saw Robin kneeling nearby.
Robin tried to get closer again, but Raven tried to back away immediately which didn't work since she was already seated against the wall. Afraid to scare her even worse Robin pulled away again.
'It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just trying to help you' Robin said hoping to get through to her. Raven didn't show any signs of getting calmer and closed her eyes again.
Robin sighed knowing he wouldn't get through to her now. He wasn't about to give up either. He was the only one at the moment to help her. The others were either gone or in Cyborg's case recharging.
'Hey are you hungry?' Robin asked trying to sound a bit cheery. Raven slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.
Raven felt confused by Robin's behaviour. 'Why is he so nice to me?' Raven thought. She shook her head indicating she wasn't hungry. However her stomach proved the contrary. A loud growl of her stomach made Robin smile.
'I think you are hungry. What do you say we get something to eat?' Robin asked gently not wanting to rush her when she was scared.
Raven realised the flashes in her head were gone and calmed down a bit. She had to admit to herself she was really hungry. She just didn't know how to act since Robin was acting so nicely. It confused her a lot.
She carefully got up and so did Robin. Seeing as she still was doubtful at the moment Robin led the way and walked outside. After a minute of waiting outside Raven finally followed him to the common room letting some distance between the two of them.
#
Beast Boy and Starfire were exhausted from flying all night and still hadn't found any clues. 'Lets go home' Beast Boy said sounding tired and whiny. Starfire wanted to find something to help her friend, but she was tired as well.
'Alright friend Beast Boy. We will search later again. Perhaps we will find some answers then' Starfire said sounding very tired.
Both of them turned around flying slowly and a bit unsteady as if nearly about to faint.
#
Robin grabbed the cereal box from the ground and placed it on the kitchen counter. He cleaned up the spilled cereal on the ground and turned his attention to Raven. Raven flinched slightly as if nervous as he looked at her.
'She's acting so differently again. The difference is only three years. What's bothering her at this age?' Robin was lost in his thoughts for a moment.
Raven felt more and more nervous by the second. Mostly because Robin wasn't saying anything and just staring at her. After a few more minutes she couldn't take it anymore and she blew up the cereal box with her power by accident.
This got Robin's attention and he was pulled out of his thoughts. He saw the cereal fly through the air landing everywhere. He saw the box completely demolished and looked at Raven again. She looked completely shocked and embarrassed. She even looked scared.
'Guess you don't want cereal' Robin joked trying to ease the tension. To bad it didn't work. Raven looked guilty at the cereal around them. 'It's okay. I'll clean it up and you can think about what you want to eat' Robin said as he began gathering the cereal.
Raven watched with guilt not even wondering about food. 'He's not even slightly annoyed. Why isn't he mad or making fun of me? Why is he so nice?' Raven wondered as she continued to watch him.
Robin somehow felt her eyes penetrating him and that bothered him a bit. He was shocked and slightly scared of her yesterday when she lost it like that. But now she was so scared and full of doubt. It really confused him.
Raven felt Robin's slight annoyance of her watching him and turned her attention to something else. She looked around the common room once and stared at her hands. That always seemed to be the best solution when she felt embarrassed or scared or guilty or all together.
#
Beast Boy and Starfire landed on the roof of the tower and sat down for a moment. Both were panting slightly.
'Next time Robin can fly himself!' Beast Boy said annoyed and tired.
'But Robin cannot fly' Starfire said confused.
'I really don't care' Beast Boy said as he sank to the ground. Starfire took a deep breath and stood up. Beast Boy noticed and sighed heavily not wanting to get up.
Starfire held out her hand and Beast Boy reluctantly grabbed it. He nearly pulled Starfire down again if it wasn't for her super strength which was a bit missing now that she was tired. Now that they were back on their feet they proceeded to the door and entered the tower.
#
In the dark room that was Cyborg's a beeping noise was heard. Shortly after Cyborg awoke after being fully recharged. He turned off the machine and stepped outside into the hallway.
'Time to check if we found something yet' Cyborg thought as he passed the door to the roof.
At the moment he passed the door it flung open and Beast Boy and Starfire fell on top of him.
'Hey! What the…what are you two doing?' Cyborg said as he tried to get up. Beast Boy didn't bother to get up so exhausted he was. Starfire however jumped up as fast as her tired body would let her.
'I am truly sorry friend Cyborg. We are very tired and lost our footing while descending from these stairs. We did not intent on falling on top of you' Starfire spoke.
'Who cares' Beast Boy mumbled sounding exhausted. Cyborg was about to snap at BB, but held it back as he saw how tired Beast Boy was.
'Alright it's okay. So found anything?' Cyborg asked them. Starfire's expression became grim. 'I guess not' Cyborg said. 'Why don't you two go rest and I'll inform Robin' Cyborg said.
Starfire and Beast Boy nodded and slowly left for their rooms. Starfire walked for a change too tired to fly and Beast Boy was crawling to his room in snake form.
Cyborg had to grin at that and walked to the common room.
#
Robin in the mean time was done with cleaning up the cereal and finally got Raven to eat something. She was very slowly chewing on a sandwich as if afraid to anger someone for eating.
Cyborg entered the room and looked a bit surprised to see Raven there. He then noticed Robin. 'Hey I just bumped into BB and Star' Cyborg said realising what he said was actually meant literally.
'Really! They're back. Did they find anything!?' Robin asked hopefully. Cyborg's grim expression said enough.
'Sorry they didn't find anything. They went to get some rest. They were exhausted' Cyborg told Robin.
Raven in the mean time was watching the two of them afraid they might be planning something. She put the sandwich down not feeling like eating anymore.
'They are probably mad or something or they want me gone. What can I do. Maybe I should just leave before they make up there minds' Raven thought. Anyone who could hear her thoughts would think she was paranoid.
'Well I didn't find anything either. It's like he disappeared. I think we are too late to find him. He probably left after doing that to Raven' Robin said sounding defeated. Raven was now paying a great deal of attention to them since she heard her name.
'No it's not your fault. We had a lot to deal with. Raven was a toddler and kept changing. Lets not give up hope. Most villains always come back to their crime' Cyborg said sounding like a television show.
'Yeah right, lets hope. I want to help Raven, but we have no clue as to what's going on. All we know is she changes age and acts differently each time' Robin said feeling clueless.
'Yeah I know. By the way, how is she now?' Cyborg asked as he motioned Robin to walk a bit further away from Raven. Robin noticed and followed him.
'Well she's definitely different from her seven year old version. She's quickly afraid and seems to feel guilty very fast. It's like she has no trust or something' Robin said. Cyborg thought for a moment.
'That sounds a lot like timid Raven me and BB met in her mirror or mind. If she's like that we're in for one hell of a head ache' Cyborg thought. Robin waved a hand before his face pulling him out of his thoughts.
'Oh sorry. I see. We better keep her close in case she changes again. We don't know what she'll do when she's like this' Cyborg said. Robin agreed.
Raven felt their worry and was afraid they meant she wasn't welcome. Like she was a bother to them. At the verge of tears she ran out of the common room. Both Robin and Cyborg were startled by this and ran after her afraid she would leave again.
#
Raven ran down the halls thinking of where to go. She tried to find a way outside, but found the room that belonged to her. Feeling more safely in there she quickly phased through the door.
Just as she did that Robin and Cyborg came around the corner. They stopped as they heard soft sobbing in Raven's room. Cyborg put his ear to the door.
'Raven?' Robin asked trying not to sound worried. The sobbing abruptly broke and all went silent inside the room. Robin gave Cyborg a worried expression. Cyborg pulled away from the door and scanned the room.
'She's still in there' Cyborg whispered to Robin.
'Raven? Please speak to us. We just want to know if you're alright. We won't hurt you and we're not angry either' Robin said. 'Never thought kids were so difficult' Robin thought as he waited for a reply.
'Why?' Came a soft reply from Raven. Both Cyborg and Robin looked confused at each other.
'Why what Raven?' Cyborg asked this time. After a minute Raven replied.
'Why aren't you angry? Why do you care about me?' Raven asked a bit more tense than before. Robin and Cyborg didn't know what to say.
'Why do we care for her. Why wouldn't we care? She's our friend' Robin thought and he was sure Cyborg was thinking the same.
'Raven you're our friend. We want to help you. Friends are there for each other' Robin explained to her. Again everything went silent for a few minutes.
'Why are you my friends? No one wants to be my friends. Everyone disliked me so why do you still care for me?' Raven said sounding at the verge of tears.
Cyborg and Robin felt torn inside as they realised what Raven had said. 'No one wanted to be her friend? She never had any friends before us?' Robin thought.
'That's horrible not having any friends. How did she live like that? No kidding she was so doubtful when we first met her' Cyborg thought.
'Just leave me alone! I don't want anyone's pity. I don't need it!' Raven shouted from her room. Robin and Cyborg were roughly pulled out of their thoughts from it.
'But Raven we just…' Cyborg began but never got the chance to finish.
'Just GO! Please just leave me alone. That way I won't hurt anyone. Please go' Raven began in a scream and ended nearly begging them to leave her alone. Robin and Cyborg both sighed.
'Alright we'll leave, but please don't leave the tower. We need to know you're save' Robin said.
'Fine!' Raven shouted clearly feeling upset. Robin and Cyborg left her alone and returned to the common room.
'Keep the scan on her room in case she runs anyway. I'm going to check the translator' Robin said as he left again to go to the evidence room where he was translating the words Nendai used.
Cyborg turned the scan on and checked Raven's room. She was still in there. Cyborg sighed in relieve and took over the search for signs of Nendai that Robin had been doing all night.
#
Starfire and Beast Boy woke up after having slept a few hours. It wasn't much time to sleep, but it was better than nothing. Beast Boy groaned as he made his way to the common room. He greeted Cyborg solemnly.
Starfire walked in next and walked up to Cyborg. 'Do we know more to help friend Raven?' Starfire asked. Cyborg shook his head. 'How is friend Raven?' Starfire asked.
'She's definitely changed. She is very doubtful and shows much guilt. She doesn't seem to get why we care for her' Cyborg told them causing both Starfire and Beast Boy to look stunned and surprised.
'But we are her friends. Why would she not understand?' Starfire asked. Cyborg opened his mouth to answer, but couldn't think of anything so he closed it again and looked clueless at Starfire.
Just as Starfire was about to continue asking an alarm went off. Cyborg turned quickly to the screen and growled.
'Damn it! She's on the run! We have to stop her before something bad happens!' Cyborg shouted and he and Beast Boy ran out the room. Starfire was already far ahead flying through the halls.
#
Robin was in the evidence room watching the translator closely. It kept zigzagging over the words from Nendai searching for the translation. Robin sighed from boredom.
Suddenly the alarm went off and Robin knew what that meant. Raven was running away again. Afraid she would get hurt he rushed out of the room to catch up to her.
While Robin left the room the soft beeping of the translator went unnoticed as it finished the translation.
#
Raven had just phased through the wall when she heard the alarm go off. She was so startled she ran through the hall not knowing why it was going off.
As she rushed around some corners she realised it was probably for her. 'Why would they keep an eye on me so closely. Don't they trust me? Am I a danger to them? Or are they just worried as Robin said? No why would anyone be worried about me? They just want me gone! Nothing makes sense here!' Raven thought as she turned another corner and saw a door to her left.
She quickly phased through the door not realising she pushed the door of its hinges as she phased through. She was so scared and anxious she could not control her power much and neither did she realise it.
Raven ran up the stairs behind that door trying to get out.
#
Starfire was pretty far ahead of Cyborg and beast Boy. She flew at high speed through the halls and noticed the door to the roof laying on the ground. Not giving it any thought she flew up the stairs hoping Raven was still there.
#
Beast Boy and Cyborg rushed through the halls as well not seeing Starfire anymore. As Beast Boy ran around a corner he bumped into Robin and both fell hard on the ground.
'Awe!' BB shouted in slight pain. Robin jumped up on his feet immediately and pulled BB up as well.
'Hurry!' Robin shouted and the three ran further.
They reached the rooftop door and seeing it on the ground worried them more than they already were. They rushed upstairs hearing a fearful scream.
#
'NO!' Raven screamed as Starfire had grabbed her tightly in a hug kinda way. The boys arrived on the scene looking rather dazed and very worried.
'But you must not go or we will….' Starfire began but never finished as Raven continued screaming fearful and kept struggling.
'NO! LET GO!' Raven screamed as she struggled against the tight grip Starfire had on her. It was useless since Starfire had alien strength and her emotions overwhelmed her too much to use her powers.
'But friend Ra…' Starfire tried again but didn't get another word through.
'PLEASE LET GO! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! All the pity and worry you all feel….IT'S TOO MUCH!' Raven screamed. Starfire and the others felt torn that Raven was so "messed up".
Robin thought of intervening since Raven was close to passing out from all the emotions, but Starfire decided to get loud as well.
'NO! YOU LISTEN! YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND FRIENDS STICK TOGETHER! I learned that here on earth and you are my good friend. IF YOU LEAVE I'LL BE SAD!' Starfire shouted as she kept holding Raven tightly in a hug way.
Raven abruptly stopped struggling as the words echoed in her head. 'Friend? Stick together? Sad? No I don't have friends! No it's not happening!' Raven thought as she felt panic rise inside of her.
'Please friend Raven. Everyone needs friends and so do you. I am your friend even if you don't want me as your friend. I'll always see you as my friend. Please STAY!' Starfire said softly and shouted the last word as she began feeling desperate.
Raven fell limp as she heard every word. She didn't even lean away from Starfire anymore. Starfire noticed the change and carefully turned Raven around in her arms. She saw tears trickle down Raven's face. For a minute both girls looked at each other while the boys were completely stunned.
Then without a warning Raven threw her arms around Starfire and both girls hugged each other tightly and were both crying their hearts out. The boys gaped at what they saw. They were so stunned no one noticed that the tower had yet again blacked out courtesy of Raven's powers.
Raven had finally realised she had a friend, four even. Starfire had reached her.
#
After the whole rooftop event Raven had passed out from all the strain on her mind and the flow of her emotions. Raven was now fast asleep in her own bed.
The titans were waiting for Robin in the common room. After a few minutes Robin walked in with a piece of paper.
'What's that?' Cyborg asked.
'It's the translation of those strange words Nendai used' Robin said.
'Really!?' Three voices nearly shouted. Robin nodded before he continued.
'The words were in Japanese. This is what it said: Time Reversed, Age Returned, Restart the Past' Robin said. The others looked worried and confused. 'I don't know what he actually meant with this, but at least it's something' Robin said.
'Time Reversed? Sounds like he went back in time or sent Raven back' Cyborg said thoughtfully.
'Age Returned could mean her youth' Robin said after Cyborg.
'And Restart the Past? Does Raven have to live through her past again?' Beast Boy said just guessing around. The others however looked as though that might be right.
'I think it's something like that. We'll know for sure when we find him' Robin said using the word 'when' to indicate they were going to find him no matter what.
The four titans decided to get some rest and leave everything for the next day.
This was Chapter six. Hope you all liked it. Don't forget to review and don't forget about that new option in my poll. Let me know if you like the new option better than what you voted, if you already voted.
BTW the Japanese translation is a bit roughly translated since I don't know Japanese and used an online dictionary.
'Till next Chapter!