Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
The room was dark, except for the minimal light provided by the banker's lamp on the desktop. It was covered with all sorts of loose papers, which a gloved hand swept off the desk in a fit of anger. The papers fell to the floor like oversized snowflakes.
"It doesn't make any sense." A voice grumbled. "But why am I surprised? When he's involved, nothing ever makes sense."
Robin began to clean up the mess he made in his office. He slowly picked up the papers, sorted them and placed them in a neat stack on his desk.
All of the clues I found about Slade pointed to Terra, but it turns out he's really after Raven. Terra has to fit into his scheme, but how?
Robin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples when there was a knock on his door. He punched a button on his desk and the door slide open. It was Raven, who cautiously entered Robin's sanctum. She immediately noticed the overall darkness of the room and the many crime oriented trophies that lined the walls. She walked up to Slade's cracked mask, a trophy from when they all rescued Robin from Slade's 'apprenticeship'.
"And people say I'm the dark Titan."
Robin frowned. "What can I do for you Raven?"
"I was going to ask you the same question Robin. I could sense your stress all the way from my room."
The Boy Wonder leaned back in his chair. "Things don't add up Raven, they just don't, and it's driving me crazy."
Raven pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Maybe I can help."
"I don't know." He replied. "It's about Slade."
"Is it ever not?" She replied.
"Very funny Raven. Do you want to help me or not?"
"Of course I do. Anyway, you're always telling me to lighten up. I was just returning the favor."
"Touché." He replied. "Ok, here's the deal. Something doesn't add up with Terra."
Raven suppressed the urge to blurt out 'No shit Sherlock', but instead merely nodded.
"All the evidence that I found says that Slade was after her when she was a student at that school: I found video surveillance equipment, audio bugs, etc. on the school premises. And when she sent Beast Boy packing Slade even had one of his Slade-bots to tell him to stay away from her."
"And then Slade tries to recruit me away from the team after the 'incident'."
"Exactly. By the way, how are you doing with Rage these days?"
"I'm not taking any chances, if that's what you're wondering. I visit Nevermore on a daily basis now. It took some effort, but Rage is under my control now. I'll never let Rage control me or hurt Garfield again. I'll die before I allow that to happen."
Robin shifted in his chair out of his slouch into an upright position, clearly curious. "Why Beast Boy? Why did she hurt him?"
Raven shook her head. "Not she. Me. Rage isn't a 3rd party in my head Robin. She's part of me and I let my guard down. When Garfield turned down my … offer, I lost it. That's when I realized that I didn't really have Rage under control."
"But now you do?" he asked, seeking confirmation.
"Yes, I have resumed the daily meditations required to keep Rage in check. And I will continue to do them for the rest of my life. I promise."
"I see." He replied. "So getting back to our original topic, what do I do about Terra?"
"You're asking the wrong person." She replied.
"What do you mean?" he asked innocently.
She gave him a look that said 'oh, come on' before answering.
"Robin, it should be obvious even to someone as clueless as you that Terra and I are rivals."
Robin glared at the empath, not appreciating the put down. But he wasn't surprised, this was Raven after all.
"I still value your opinion."
"You've always known it. I don't trust her, never have."
"But we can't just toss her out the door. What if Slade's really after her?"
Raven looked pensive for a minute and answered in her monotone.
"Send her to Titans East."
Robin nodded. "Tell you what. I'm gonna have a chat with her. If I can't find out what's going on from her, I think I will send her to Steele City."
He then gave her a coy look.
"This advice doesn't have anything to do with you and Beast Boy does it?"
"So what if it does? That doesn't mean my suggestion isn't sound."
Robin grinned at his friend.
"I'll talk with Terra once they get back from LA."
"Oh, they're already back. She's locked in her room."
"So soon? What happened?"
Raven shrugged. "Trouble in Paradise?"
"I'm sure you're heartbroken."
"Have a nice chat with her." she said as she walked out of his office, concealing a huge grin on her face from him.
Robin knocked on Terra's door. When it opened Terra had a big smile on her face, which vanished as soon as she saw who it was.
"Sorry, I'm not Beast Boy. You gotta minute?"
Terra stepped out of the way and motioned the Boy Wonder to enter. The room hadn't changed in years. Robin had wanted Cyborg to gut the room and turn it into a generic guest room, but Beast Boy pleaded with him to spare it. Robin walked in, looking at the Starlight effect on the ceiling.
"Wassup Robin?"
"Slade's up." He replied tersely. "Something doesn't add up Terra, and I'm hoping that you might be able to shed some light on the situation."
"What do you mean?"
"Slade was obsessing over you while you were a student at Murakami High. I found all kinds of bugs on the school premises. He was keeping a close watch on you."
"So? I thought we already knew that?" She replied.
"Yes, but he seems to have suddenly lost all interest in you. Any idea why?"
"How am I supposed to know?" She answered with a hint of annoyance.
"That's too bad. Because now I have a situation."
"A situation? What are you talking about?"
"I have to assume that Slade still has you in his cross hairs. And we now know that he's been trying to recruit Raven."
"And?"
"It's too risky Terra; we can't protect both you and Raven from Slade."
"Who says I need protection?"
"We were considering sending you back to your foster parents. Are you OK with that?"
She paused, realizing she had been cornered.
"I see your point. It would place my foster parents and the school in danger."
"Exactly, which is why I'm sending you to Titans East. At least until we figure this out."
Terra's mind began to race. The last thing she wanted was to be pushed out of the Tower, leaving Beast Boy alone with … her.
"You really think I'll really be safer with them?"
"Steele City is close to Gotham. Slade won't go anywhere near Gotham, at least I hope he won't."
"Why? Cuz he's afraid of the Bat?"
"In so many words, yes."
Terra sighed, and decided to play her last card, already knowing it wouldn't wash with Robin.
"What about Beast Boy? Am I just supposed to leave my boyfriend behind?"
"I'd send him with you Terra, but we really need him here. I'm Sorry."
Terra knew she had no choice but to accept.
"So when do I leave?"
"Today. Start packing your suitcase. And take everything with you; it might be an extended stay."
If anyone had seen Raven return to her room they might have sworn that they saw a spring in her step, even though she levitated the whole way back. They would have also seen a smile on her face and heard her humming happily to herself.
It was time for her daily meditations, but she was wondering if she would be able to settle down enough to do them. Not that she really wanted to, as she was experiencing that rare emotion that seldom crossed her path: happiness.
As she reached her room she phased through her door and finally landed on her feet. Now that she was alone in the privacy of her room she could drop her inhibitions.
"Yes, yes, YES!" she shouted as she pumped her arm. "The bitch is leaving!"
Raven walked to the foot of her bed and let herself fall backwards onto it, her arms spread wide. Life is good she thought to herself as she stared at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and began to plan what she would do as soon as Terra was gone. One thing she knew for certain, she wasn't going to be a "good sport" and respect the Geomancer's relationship with the changeling. Forget that! Garfield was all hers now, and she wasn't going to allow Terra to hang on to him. She knew that she had to tread carefully, as Beast Boy was a bit sentimental and might feel some residual tug of loyalty to the blond. Raven then grinned wickedly. If Terra departed after fighting with Garfield, it would be over once and for all.
A loud, angry knock on her door brought Raven back into reality.
So Robin's had his chat with her. That was quick.
With a wave of her hand Raven opened her sliding door. The Geomancer charged in without waiting to be invited.
"RAVEN!" She screamed. "This is your doing! Don't deny it!"
"What is my doing? What happened?"
"Don't act dumb Raven. I know you're behind this."
"Behind what?" She replied in her monotone.
"Argh! I hate it when you talk like that!"
"Talk like what?"
"Like a robot!" Terra replied, clearly on the verge of losing it. Raven knew it was time to circle in for the kill. Terra had once taken advantage of her anger, now it was Raven's chance to return the favor.
"Terra, you need to calm down. You're being irrational. Now will you please tell me what happened?"
Terra's face was consumed with anger and both of her hands were balled into fists.
"You talked Robin into sending me away! And don't deny it."
"I did no such thing. I did suggest the option to him, and he selected it out of a collection of many other options. It's the best option we have now to deal with Slade."
"Bullshit! You're sending me away to keep BB for yourself. You've been turning him away from me!"
"You've done that yourself Terra, with your paranoid obsession to control every aspect of his life."
Terra leaped on Raven and began to pummel her. Raven tried to fend her off using martial arts techniques, but Terra was pumped up with adrenaline and with her training at Slade's hand she was proving to be a daunting adversary, connecting several blows to the sorceress's face. Raven felt her face wet with blood and her nose was broken as well. She prepared to up the ante and use her dark energy to defend herself when Robin and Beast Boy charged into the room.
"Terra!" Robin shouted. "What are you doing?"
Beast Boy was less verbal. He grabbed the blond by the shoulders and pulled her away from Raven, throwing the girl towards Robin, who subdued her. Beast Boy then slipped his left arm behind Raven, lifting her to a sitting position while wiping the blood from her face with his gloved hand.
"Are you OK, Raven?" The changeling asked.
Raven nodded. Terra's attack had caught her by surprise, but she now realized that lady luck was on her side.
"Terra!" Robin barked. "Report to the hangar immediately. Cyborg is gonna take you to Steele City right now!"
The blond relaxed as Robin released her, only to tense up as she saw Beast Boy hug Raven. Raven's still bloodied face peered over Beast Boy's shoulder and she made eye contact with Terra, who heard the demoness's voice in her head as Raven smiled and rested her head on Garfield's shoulder.
Good bye, Terra. You lose.
Terra saw the outline of the Titans East headquarters as Cyborg guided the T-Ship to the landing pad. She had spent the past few hours stewing in her own juices.
First of all she was furious that she let herself be outsmarted by Raven. She underestimated the witch and was now paying for it. No doubt Raven was playing up her bloodied face for everything it was worth, earning Beast Boy's sympathy. To lose her boyfriend to the ice queen, it was more than she could handle. And to add insult to injury, Raven cleverly orchestrated her exile to the other side of the continent. Terra would now have to live with the so called Titans East, who she had never met. And to top it off she couldn't ditch them without tipping her hand. She was painted into a corner.
As the T-Ship landed Terra saw the motley crew that was there to greet her: a dark girl dressed up like a bug, some pre-pubescent twins, a guy who looked like Robin Hood and … what was this?
Not bad, not bad at all. She thought as she saw a dark haired boy in the unitard. Maybe my stay here won't be all that bad.
As Terra emerged from the T-Ship she saw that Cyborg was already chatting with the bug girl. She approached them cautiously. When Cyborg saw her he interrupted his conversation with Bumblebee.
"Y'all, this is Terra Markov. She's a Geomancer, which means that she can manipulate earthly materials like rocks, dirt and mud using nothing but her willpower. She's also pretty handy with her fists."
He then proceeded to introduce the Titans East team to Terra.
"Well you guys, I gotta run! Your bag is over there Terra. If you need anything, just holler." Cyborg shouted as he climbed into the cockpit of the T-Ship and left in a hurry. Terra watched the T-Ship get smaller and smaller until she couldn't see it anymore.
"Speedy, would you mind taking Terra's bag to her room? And Terra, you come with me."
Terra followed Bumblebee to her office, where she was offered a chair to sit down.
"I've heard that you fight a lot with Raven."
"That's an exaggeration."
"So you do fight with her?"
"More like she picks on me all the time."
"Terra, I want to be clear about this. I won't tolerate altercations between you and my team. My rule is one strike and you're out. Understand?"
"You mean you'd kick me out, like into the street?"
"Good, I see you understand."
"Don't worry Bumblebee; I'll be a model Titan."
"A model guest. You're not a Titan anymore, remember?"
"Right, I keep forgetting that."
Bumblebee grinned. "I'm glad we've come to an understanding."
Terra smiled as she thought to herself. Why is it that the anal retentive jerks always end up being the leaders?
"Me too." She replied politely.