Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or any of the characters.
Raven sat alone in her room, trying to calm her racing heart and the impending sense of doom that threatened to drown her. It had been so many years since she had seen him. "Why is he here?" Raven muttered to herself, her arms wrapped around her long legs. "As long as I stay inside Titans Tower he won't be able to find me. Will he?"
"Hey Raven are you okay in there?" Cyborg shouted from outside her door, knowing that if he knocked the door would most likely be torn off its hinges. "You've been locked up in there for a couple of days now... Don't you think it's about time you come out of there?
"No." Raven replied, her voice icy. In an effort to rid herself of his annoyance she also added, "I'm just taking a meditation journey. And it requires concentration, so if you don't mind..."
"Oh! Sorry Raven! I didn't mean to intrude or whatever. Later!" Raven could hear Cyborg's footsteps as he walked away from the door.
Annoying aren't they? Rage whispered in her ear. It would be so easy to get rid of them you know... "Stop it!" Stop what? I'm only telling you what's true. They suppress you. They make you weak. "No!" You know they do. You're so much more powerful than them and yet you choose to let most of your power lie dormant just for the sake of being equals. "I'm not listening!" Oh but you are. Deep down you know what I say is true. I wonder what those on Azarath would say. "Stop! I left Azarath for my own reasons!" Oh really? "Yes." Raven replied through gritted teeth. You could believe that for now, my dear, but once the truth comes about they'll turn from you. All of them will. "Go away!" Raven practically shouted those last words and finally Rage's voice disappeared.
"Raven?" Starfire's timid voice asked from my door. "Is something wrong? Would you like to have… girl talk?"
"No." Raven replied pulling up her hood and walking to the door. "Hi Star." She said simply as the door opened and Starfire's worried green eyes looked at me.
"I thought I heard you shout something..." She said unsure of herself.
"I was just reading, Star." Raven replied her voice devoid of any emotion.
"Oh… Okay." Suddenly she brightened up and said, "Would you like to come decorate the tree with us? We are going to put golden balls of gold and silv-"
"Sure." Raven replied, not wanting her to go through the whole description of what the tree would be decorated with.
"Wonderful!" Starfire exclaimed and dragged her down the stairs.
Raven sat on the couch, using her powers to pick up the decorations and hang them on the tree, while Beastboy changed into various animals so he could reach all the parts of the tree. Starfire flew about the living room putting up garlands and Cyborg and Robin decorated the bottom of the tree. In about an hour the tree was finished and evreyone gathered around to admire it.
"Isn't it a little on the big side?" Raven asked as she craned her neck upward to get a view of the top of the tree.
"A little bit." Beastboy said grudgingly. "But at least we'll be breathing fresh air!" He laughed at his own corny joke, while everyone stared at him like he was a circus clown.
"I think it is wonderful!" Starfire exclaimed happily. "It's most..." She searched for the right word. "...It is most Christmassy." At that both Cyborg and Beastboy burst out laughing. Robin just shrugged and sat on the couch.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, giving everyone except Raven a heart attack. "I'll get it." Robin said and walked over to the door. He opened the door and they could hear Robin's voice drift from down the hallway. "Oh really?" A pause. "I didn't know. Come on in then."
Robin walked into the room and, to Raven's horror, the familiar green eyes of the wounded boy stared right at her as he walked in and smiled.
"This can't be happening." Raven muttered, managing to keep her composure.
"Hello Raven." He said. Instantly Raven's heart lurched into her throat and the sense of impending doom reached its climax.
"No." Raven muttered incredulously. "How did you find me?"
"My dear Raven, there is no way I wouldn't be able to find you. You reek of death… and you can not hide your power from me." He responded coolly. He turned to the other confused Titans and said politely, "I am Dane, a close acquaintance of Raven's. I've come to escort her home, whether she likes it or not."