Like an Animal
Chapter 17
I do not own Teen Titans
Hello to all. School is such a drag, ya know? And all the boys at my school are ugly as sin, except for one boy who happens to be my best friend. You know what the problem with that is? He's my best friend! He's been flirting with me though… and it's awkward, but that's besides the point. I have a warning for you all. Someone will die soon, in a very gruesome way. It may not be this chapter, or the next, but I assure you, someone will inevitably die. Don't they all? I love it. Death is life's great reward. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal or anything, but sometimes I think I don't have a point in life except to cause grief. That's why my father left us. I won't go into detail about how the rest of my life sucks, but that's not even the icing on the cake. I've seen many things that most kids should never have to witness.
Sorry I haven't updated in awhile…
Raven groggily opened her eyes, and wasn't surprised to see Cere' sleeping soundly in between herself and BeastBoy. She rolled over so that she was staring up at the ceiling and started thinking about the past days spent in her hometown.
She did like staying here, and would miss this place dearly.
She promised herself before she would leave, though, to make up with Tempus.
'I shouldn't have hit him like that. I mean, he let me stay the night and took me to lunch before that. All I did to repay him was ditch him on the rooftop and give him part of my burden. I shouldn't have told him about Starfire…'
It was then, Raven realized, that the bed sheets were gone and that she was actually covered with Cere's wings. She looked down at them and stroked them gently, marveling at their sheen.
'Heh, she probably stuffed the blanket up her pussy, the horny bi-'
'You know… I can hear you, right?'
Raven suppressed a groan and looked over at Cere' who still had her eyes shut.
"Sorry," she muttered as she stared back up at the ceiling.
Cere' simply jerked her ears in response, giving a slight purr afterwards.
Raven continued to stroke the ebony wings as she thought, then something popped in her mind, and she slapped herself on the head.
'Shoot, I need to meditate.'
She gently rolled out from underneath Cere's wings and changed quietly so as not to disturb anyone's peace.
It was around five o'clock in the morning, the sun still rising outside, and no one like to be waken up before breakfast.
She walked out into the lobby, and was surprised to see Cyborg sitting in one of the couches alone, reading a book, nonetheless.
Raven strutted over towards him and sat next to him. He smiled up at her as he closed his book and said, "Hey Rae. Wazzup? Haven't seen ya in awhile."
She shrugged.
"I've been doing fine. I spent time with my mother and one of my friends, but that's just about it. How about you? You're reading a book in the middle of the lobby at five o'clock no less. And, you're fangirls are missing."
"I ditched them yesterday in some tavern. They was smotherin' me, man. They even walked into the mens' restroom once when I had to go. And I happen to like reading as much as the next guy."
"Which isn't saying much since most guys I know don't read at all."
Cyborg chuckled.
"You got me there. Naw, it's just I saw you reading this book a long while ago, an' I thought I'd give it a try."
"So I've made an impression on someone. Finally."
"You sure did. It's a nice book."
Raven stretched her arms up and let out a sigh.
"Well, I have to go meditate now Cyborg. See you later," she said as she stood up and walked out the lobby door.
"Yeah, c'ya."
Raven walked out the revolving doors and walked down the street. No one was out yet, and there was a mist lingering over the ground.
She stuffed her hands down her jean's pockets as she walked on, making sure to stay clear of any dark alleyways.
"I don't want to go to work today,
I'd rather stay home and play videogames,
I'd rather chill for real
I don't know how you feel but sometimes I feel like I'm
Workin' for nothin'
Try'n to get somethin'
Everywhere I turn there's a bill standing 'round
Swim the river climb a hill
Complacency you ain't gon' get me
No no noo-oh
Cause I gotta get up"
Raven jerked her head back and raised an eyebrow.
'Well where did I hear that song from? What was her name… dammit. Uh… Jill Scott, that was it… since when do I listen to Jill Scott? Since when do I listen to neo-soul period? Cere' must've picked up some music from Robin.'
She shook her head and continued looking for a good spot to meditate.
She ended up going to the park, and found herself a nice, lone crag to sit atop.
Since she couldn't levitate at the moment, she had to sit on the ground in her usual lotus position which felt a little awkward for her.
Eventually, she got the feel of it and soon escaped into her mind.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
An hour passed, and she was still trapped in the confines of her mind. Until, that is, squirrels attacked.
It zipped up her leg and scurried around her body. Raven shrieked and stood up, trying desperately to hit it off of her.
Tempus soon came up the side of the crag and watched with amusement as Raven cried out in horror.
"Get it off me! Please, get it off me!"
Tempus gave a snort of laughter as he said, "Beastie, come here."
The squirrel immediately froze, and stood up straight before jumping off of Raven's head and running up to sit on Tempus' shoulder.
He gently stroked its head then turned to Raven.
"I'm sorry. He gets excited real easily. We weren't expecting you here. This is my… sacred haven I guess you could call it."
Raven quickly brushed herself off, then turned her attention back to Tempus.
"I'm sorry to intrude on your sacred haven. I guess… I'll be leaving then," she started to walk past him, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
"No, you can stay. Did I disrupt you or anything?"
"No, I was just meditating, but I can go somewhere else."
She made a move to leave again, but was stopped by Tempus once more.
"Corvus, you can stay. I'll just be sitting quietly. I'm sure we won't disturb each other."
Raven looked up at him.
"Y… you're not mad at me?"
Tempus sighed.
"I'm disappointed that you would let yourself go like that."
She looked down at her feet in shame.
"Just once, I thought I'd nice, just to lose control… just once," she shook her head. "But I guess that's no excuse is it? No, it's not. I could've just lifted her up and flown her to the hospital. Easy as that."
She looked up at Tempus again, her eyes shimmering.
"But what really scares me is that… I got this certain thrill. Adrenaline I guess. And if a moment like that came again, I'd probably give in-"
"Don't say that, Raven. Don't you ever say that. I know you Raven. I know this isn't you talking. Maybe it's just the pain you feel. But whatever it is that's making you say this… it isn't of you. Now, please, let's just sit and… meditate or think or whatever it is you do."
Raven nodded, then went over to the edge and sat down, resuming her previous chanting.
Tempus sat about two feet away from her and curled his legs up to his chest, watching the sky with a blank face.
Raven cracked open an eye and looked over at him. He seemed to be deeply lost in thought. She'd never seen such a serious face on him.
All of a sudden his eyes shifted to hers, without moving his face.
"Hmm?"
Raven quickly turned her head forward again and blushed.
"I'm sorry. I was just… uh… yeah."
Tempus scooted closer to her, still keeping that apathetic look on his face.
"I'm… leaving for home today. Just thought you should know," Raven said a little while afterwards.
"You are home," he said quietly.
Raven sighed.
"I mean my current home."
Tempus didn't reply, and simply started petting his squirrel nonchalantly. He turned to Raven, his face slightly flushed and said, 'You know, I was thinking that maybe… you could stay here? With… me?"
Raven's head did a freeze and rewind, replaying what Tempus had just said to her. Move here to Azarath? Live with Tempus? In his house, with no one else?
"Um… Corvus?"
Raven shook her head and looked over at him.
"Y-you're asking me to… live with you. Aren't you?"
He blushed, and then nodded.
"I-I can take good care of you. I have a good job and make a reasonable amount of money. I live near the temple so you can visit your mother whenever you like. A-and I'm planning on expanding my house."
"Tempus… I-"
"Raven please," he was now on his knees, clutching Raven's hands tightly. "I can't live without you! I don't want you to go back! Please don't leave me again Raven… please…"
He was hugging her now, his voice cracking terribly as he spoke.
Raven sat there unmoving, her mouth hung open and her eyes blank.
She was feeding so much emotion off of him right now. It was overwhelming.
Raven blinked and regained her composure, putting her hands on Tempus' shoulders and holding him at arms length. She was shocked to see tears running down his face.
"Please Raven… I love you."
Raven opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She tried again and was successful.
"Tempus… you have to understand. I have a job back at home, a life. I can't just ditch it and live here. I can't just stop saving people's lives. They depend on me and my team. I can't just leave BeastBoy either. He's my boyfriend… I think… and I have people I love there. My friends, I can't leave them."
"But Raven, I want you."
Raven broke I contact with him.
"Tempus. I can't…"
"Why not?" he cried.
"Because…"
He waited for her to finish, and when she didn't he asked the same question.
Raven was definitely going to kill herself after saying this. She licked her lips and looked back into Tempus' eyes. They looked so beautiful in the sunlight. She could feel her heart and stomach wrenching, and her head was throbbing.
"Because… I love BeastBoy more… than… you."
It felt like time itself came to a screeching halt. Raven felt like she was going to puke now, seeing the look on Tempus' broken face. She even felt tears rushing to her own eyes. His face was unreadable.
He sat there for awhile, his mouth hanging open, Beastie atop his head chattering occasionally.
Then without warning, he stood up and said, "I see…"
He started walking quickly away. Raven stood up and chased after him, grabbing his arm.
"Wait, Tempus! I didn't want to say good-bye like this!"
He yanked his arm away and continued walking.
"Tempus, please!"
She ran in front of him, and put her hands on his chest to stop him from walking away. She actually had to push against him to keep from skidding backwards. Finally, he stopped, and Raven let her arms drop.
"Tempus, please, let's not leave each other like this. I want us to still be friends-"
"Friends? Raven I want to be more than just friends! Friends can only go so far. I want to be your one. But obviously, you don't feel the same for me. So good-bye Raven."
He brushed passed her, and Raven stumbled back a step or two. She ran in front and grabbed his shoulders, stopping him again.
"Now what do you want? You already ripped out my heart. What more could you need?" he said angrily.
"Your friendship. I want your friendship. How it was when we were kids."
"Well, if you haven't noticed, we're not kids anymore. Plus kids are ignorant and can't understand what they're feeling."
"Ignorance is bliss."
"So you want to be ignorant children?"
"Yes! No… augh! I want us to be the best of friends like we were before, when we could share everything with each other and do anything together. I just want… I just want that feeling of trust again. I've never trusted anyone more than you."
Tempus sighed and looked away, then looked back at her
"Will you come back?"
Raven paused.
"Huh? To stay?"
"No… to visit."
"Yeah, of course I'll visit."
"Once a month?"
"Okay, once a month."
"It's settled then," he gave a soft smile.
"Yeah… I guess it is."
Both of them shifted their weight uncomfortably.
"Well, I suppose this is good-bye then," Tempus stuck out a hand.
Raven looked down at it, and took it in her own hand, shaking it while giving Tempus a small smile.
"I suppose it is."
Without warning, Tempus yanked her forward so that she stumbled into his chest, and when she looked up at him to ask why he had done that, she was muffled by his lips on hers.
He quickly pulled away, and jumped passed Raven, a smirk playing on his lips.
"In a month! See you then!" he shouted as he continued to hop off the slope.
Raven stood there, her mouth partly open. She didn't know whether to smile or to kill him.
So, she started laughing. Like a madman.
She didn't know why. It started out as a small snort, then she went to chuckling and giggling. Soon it had made its way up to full-fledged laughter.
Before long she had calmed down, and was now laying on her back just staring up at the sky.
She heard a swishing sound and Cere' landed beside her a few seconds later.
She laid down next to Raven and sighed.
"So…"
"Yup…"
"Uh-huh…"
"Yeah…"
"How was it?"
"Good. Shocked me half to death, and I'll smack him later. But good. I can laugh now."
"You could before."
"But never like that," Raven stretched out her hand into the sky, grasping and un-grasping her hand.
"I feel… so much more powerful. More intact with my emotions. I can feel them and harness them now. Even rage…"
"What do you mean?"
"If I wanted to, I could release my rage and transform while still keeping control over my decisions. And it'll be a different transformation. I can feel it. It'll be like… I don't know, my full demon form or something."
Her pupils dilated as she conjured up an image with her powers in the palm of her hand.
She turned on her side and Cere' did too so she could see what Raven was doing.
A small figure was building itself in Raven's hands.
Wires and strings of power twisted around themselves making feet and calves and thighs and etc.
Soon, they were weaving around the central part of the head, and the figure was made.
Another wave of power came up, making the details of the body.
Cere' and Raven's eyes widened in amazement as they watched the figure completed itself and actually walk off of Raven's palm.
Raven had just made a puppet, six inches tall. With her powers. And it walked!
It was what she thought looked like her demon form.
If it were life-sized, it probably would've been the same size as BeastBoy. It was naked and had a very slim, but muscular frame. There were four glowing red eyes on its face and its dark purple hair went down to its midsection. Its toes and fingers were clawed, and looked very sharp, like it could cut through steel. It had a slim, black tail with a point on the end like a stereotypical demon tail and had leathery brown wings tucked against its tanned back.
It looked up at Raven, who was gazing down at it with amazement, and opened its mouth in a snarl, exposing its small fangs. It let out something like a howl/roar, but it sounded like a small bark or yelp from Raven's part of view.
"Awesome…" Raven whispered.
"It's so cute," Cere' said as she gently poked it in the back with a claw.
The thing… Raven's demon thing, turned around and spread out its wings, snarling at Cere'.
Cere' scooted back a little bit in surprise.
Raven laughed, and then grabbed it around the middle and lifted it up to her face.
"Hello there," she said to the mini-Rae.
It was clawing and tugging at Raven's hand. It hissed, and Raven smirked at it.
"Calm yourself, little one," Cere said.
"Oh, can I hold her?" Cere asked.
"Yeah, here."
Cere' outstretched a palm and Raven carefully dumped her puppet into her hand.
"Hello there little-demon-of-Raven's-imagination. Sally for short-"
Raven chuckled.
"I hope you have as fun a time as I'm having on this planet named Azarath. Do you think it knows what I'm saying?"
"I'm sure it does. Ask its name."
Cere' looked back down at Sally, and asked, "So, what is it then?"
Sally looked back at Raven, then back at Cere'.
"Crux," it said.
Raven and Cere' both were startled by its, Crux's, voice. It sounded like there were two voices in there. One raspy and deep, and the other smooth and… feminine I guess.
"Kewl, so she can talk. So, what do you think of this place."
"It does not really matter what I think of this place."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
"Because, I shall dissipate soon, and leave this place forever."
"Well, that just got me depressed," Cere' said, placing Crux back in Raven's hand.
"How come?"
"Because your power shall only sustain me for so long."
A wisp of dark essence escaped from Crux's mouth and disappeared into the air. Everyone watched as it dissipated, then looked back down Crux.
"You might as well smash me now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. It will save us all time."
Raven sighed and placed Crux down on the ground. She raised up a fist and brought it straight down on Crux's body, grinding it into the ground.
Cere' let out a small gasp as she watched Raven do this.
Soon, Raven raised up her fist to see a stain of her power, if you will, engraved in the stone.
"What did you do that for?!"
"What?! She asked me too! You heard her! Not my fault you named it. Everyone knows once when you name something, you get attached to it."
"I just called her Sally for 2 seconds!"
"That's enough time to get attached."
Cere' pouted and then stood up.
"Well, I guess I should go back to the inn and tell everyone to be ready by the time you get back from visiting your mother."
"How did you…? Oh, right. Sub-conscious."
Raven stood up and stretched.
"Before you go, can I ask you where I've gotten this new power from exactly?"
"Why… you got it from me of course. I'm your mind and BeastBoy's combined, right?"
Raven nodded.
"Well, I've gotten stronger, so that means you guys will too. Mainly you though, since I originated from your mind first."
"Oh… well that's kewl I guess. I'll see you back at the inn. Make sure everyone's ready in an hour."
"Gotcha."
Cere' outspread her wings, crouched down and surged into the air, flinging gravel and gushing wind everywhere. Raven had to cover her face, but quickly dropped her arm and watched as Cere' flied away.
"Sure wish I could do that," Raven muttered.
"Well, maybe I can. If I can make a living, breathing mini-me, I'm sure I can make myself wings."
She started to imagine the feel of wings protruding out of her back, clenching her fists as she did so. She felt knots starting to form on her shoulder blades. A muscle expanded rapidly, all of a sudden, and she cried out in pain.
She stopped trying to form the wings and gripped onto her right shoulder, wincing as she did so.
"Well, at least now I know I can do it if I tried really hard," she said as she levitated into the air and headed towards the temple.
When she got there and entered into the complex, there was a long line of monks walking towards the main alter, Arella in front holding an incense lantern thing.
Feeling out of place in her jeans and tank-top, Raven silently walked over to one of the pews in the way back and sat in the corner.
When the precession was done, Raven stood up and approached her mother who was chatting with one of the monks. She waited for them to finish.
When Arella turned to her, she smiled then said, "Just wanted to say good-bye before leaving."
"You're leaving? So soon?"
"Yes, we can't stay away from Titan's Tower too long, or else crime rates will go up. Unfortunately, our subs don't do very well in our part of town. They suck."
"Oh…"
Arella's face had very much saddened, and it pained Raven's heart.
"I'll still come and visit. Once a month. Tempus made me promise."
"Well that's good. I would've missed you terribly."
"Diddo."
Arella smiled and then held out her arms. Raven walked into them, and they embraced (Ugh… I hate that word).
"I'll miss you, mother," Raven whispered in Arella's ear.
"Don't. I'll be right here when you come back. You'll always have a home here, and I'll always be here for you."
Raven nodded against Arella's neck. She hated to admit it, but she felt like she was going to cry. But being the stubborn girl she is, she sucked up the tears and tried to keep her face steady.
When they pulled away, Arella gently kissed Raven on her forehead, for the first time in her life.
"I hope that didn't bother you…"
"No, not at all. I bet you've been waiting to do that for some time," Raven said.
Arella nodded, and then sniffed up tears.
"Well… mother… good-bye…"
"Good-bye, Raven."
Raven hesitated for a moment, feeling like she should say something more. But the truth was there was nothing to say, she realized as she gazed at her mother's eyes. They almost seemed to swirl.
'I have those eyes…' Raven thought.
Finally, for what seemed like forever frozen in time, they broke eye-contact, and Raven turned around and started walking towards the exit.
Her footsteps echoed loudly off the temple walls, and she knew her mother was shedding silent tears behind her. It took everything she could not to cry, herself.
Back at the inn, everyone had their stuff ready and was waiting eagerly in Raven/BeastBoy/Cere's rental room.
After Raven quickly teleported all of her stuff in a suitcase, they all linked hands and spoke that oh-so familiar mantra.
They all landed in a heap in Raven's room.
Cere's feathers were falling randomly on top of everyone, and Robin was cursing from underneath Cyborg.
"Raven! Your bloody portal tore out half my feathers!"
"I'm sorry, but if you don't get off us soon, I'll tear out the rest of them."
Everyone grunted and moaned in pain as they struggled to get up.
When they finally untangled, they went into their separate rooms (Cere' stayed in Raven's and helped her unpack), and then went out to the living room after they were done getting re-settled.
The doors swished open, revealing a bunch of lazy young-adults sitting in front of the TV, eating several bags of popcorn and potato chips.
"Wazzup ya'll?!" Cyborg shouted, getting everyone's attention.
"Watchin' TV, Sparky. What does it look like?"
"Well, did any crime happen? Any banks get robbed? Jail cells get evacuated illegally?" Robin asked.
"Dudes, you've only been gone for 16 hours. Nothing happened," Aqualad said.
Everyone (Cyborg, Robin, BeastBoy and Cere') stared at Raven who shrugged.
"I told you guys. One day here is four days there."
"Hey Robin, who's that ultra gorgeous chick with the wings?" Speedy said.
"This is my cousin," Raven answered.
"Oh. She doesn't look anything like you."
Robin and BeastBoy held Raven back by the arms before she could Speedy any harm. That didn't stop her from spewing so many profanities at him that he was reduced to a crying heap on the floor.
"Raven, Raven, calm down. He was just kidding, weren't you Speedy?"
He nodded violently, and Raven calmed down a bit.
"Shoot girl. I would've Zinthosed his ass real good," Bumble-Bee said.
Raven grunted, then turned around to exit. She walked out the door, only to bump into someone and land on her butt.
"Ouch…" she said, slowly looking up, to see blue eyes looking back at her.
Her mouth hung open in shock at the sight before her.
"Ow…"
"Uh… you're- you're… um…" Raven stuttered.
"Hey Rae. What's up?"
Okay, I'm done for the day. I shall update soon since this one took so long and was shorter than the others. Review, damn u, review!