Part 17: Of Snakes and Blackbirds

It was another normal and peaceful day at the Tower. The crime rate has been quite low these past few days due to us being on the team. This allowed me to relax in the Tower living room to read my books.

Of course, how was I supposed to know that my peace wouldn't last?

Cyborg walked into the living room and stretched his limbs. I smelt some oil on him, which gave me the impression that he had been tinkering with the T-Car again. An impressive piece of machinery, but he spends too much time on it. Doesn't he have a girlfriend or something? Wait, I think I remember a name, Sarah or something.

Cyborg sat down on the sofa next to me and turned on the TV and switched to ESPN. It was another football match between some teams I don't care to remember. At least Cyborg was quiet while he watched the game. I blatantly ignored him and went back to my book.

Then it began.

Beast Boy walked into the living room and greeted his friend, Cyborg, "Yo, Cy!"

"Yeah, BB?" Cyborg said.

Here it comes.

"Whazuuuuppppp!" Beast Boy yelled.

Cyborg yelled back, "Whazuuuuuppppp!"

This couldn't get any worse.

Beast Boy jumped over the back of the couch and sat down. I was now sitting between the two of them

Remember when I said it couldn't get any worse? I was wrong.

Draco and Pluto both walked in and saw Beast Boy and Cyborg.

"Yo Cy, BB!" yelled out Draco, "Whazuuuuuupppppp!"

Pluto joined in, "Whazuuuuuupppp!"

My left eyebrow twitched.

Both Beast Boy and Cyborg yelled back, "Whazuuuuuppppp!"

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. If someone else says 'whazup' one more time I will…

Pluto and Draco smiled before they went to the kitchen to make lunch.

Finally Robin walked in and yelled, "Whazuuuuuppppppp!"

The whole room then erupted when everyone present, but me, started yelling out, "WHAZUUUUUUPPPPP!" Pluto and Draco overheard and joined in.

That was the last straw!

I slammed my book shut and turned around to glare at everyone.

"What's up? WHAT'S UP? I'LL SHOW YOU ALL WHAT'S UP!" I let loose a blast of my telekinesis and lifted everyone high up to the ceiling. They all screamed at me to let them go, but I ignored them as I marched to a more peaceful place to read my book.

I muttered incoherently as I walked down the hallway to Raven's room.

I knocked on Raven's door and she answered from inside her room, "Who is it…"

"It's me, Shadowcobra," I answered.

She opened the door and I entered. She asked, "I feel that you're annoyed with something."

"It's the rest of the male population of this Tower," I answered.

She replied, "They were doing the 'whasup' thing again, weren't they?"

"You know?"

"It was after that rap concert thing. Ever since then they've been talking like that."

"Rap concert?" I raised my eyebrow.

"They didn't tell you, did they?"

"No, which would explain why the Tower was so quiet last night. They must've come home late." I groaned and walked to her bed and sat on it. "I swear to God, if I hear one more…"

"WHAZZZZZUUUUUUPPPPP!" That was Starfire's voice. My left eyebrow twitched and a cross vein popped on my forehead. I gritted my teeth and gripped my book tight.

"That's it!" I yelled as I took my Zodiac Deck out of my cloak and walked to the door. "I'm going to kill them!" I swore.

Raven suddenly stood in front of me, "Shadow…relax. You don't want to do this," she told me. She put her hands on my arms.

"Oh…yes I do…" I smirked dangerously, my eyes narrowed.

"Shadow…That was STARFIRE. You love Starfire, right?"

"Yes…like a sister, why?"

"Good," she let me go. "Now, before you massacre everyone out there, I want you to hear me out." She sighed, "How about you and me go out today?"

I looked at her and my anger disappeared. I smiled at her and dropped my book, only to take her hand and kiss it. She blushed and withdrew her hand while glaring at me.

"Don't push your luck," she told me. I smirked.

I walked with Raven into the city. We were both in our uniforms. We entered a café that Raven told us about and sat down on a table in the centre of the room.

"Your usual table, I take it?" I asked.

Raven nodded, "I always sit here when I listen to poetry and drink tea. It has a certain charm," she commented.

I looked around. The room was dark, but still had enough light. "I do agree."

"Hey, Raven," said a waitress who came to our table, "It's been awhile."

"Hello Gwen," Raven greeted the waitress. Gwen was in her early twenties and dressed in dark gothic clothing with an apron. She also had a beret on.

Gwen looked at me and then saw my uniform, "I see you brought one of your teammates with you."

I stood up and introduced myself, "I am Shadowcobra. You may address me as Shadow, miss Gwen."

"Good to meet you Shadow," she smiled. She whispered to Raven, "I'm glad you found someone. He looks nice and the British accent is very sexy."

Raven was surprised and a light bulb exploded.

I quirked my eyebrow. I heard every word.

"So, what will it be?" Gwen asked, "The usual?"

"Yes, my usual cup of herbal tea," Raven answered, albeit nervously.

"I'll have one too," I ordered.

"Great. They'll be here in a few minutes." Gwen walked away. I could've sworn I heard her say, "Hey guys! Raven's got a boyfriend!" I snickered.

Raven practically slammed her head onto the table and groaned in embarrassment.

"What is the matter Raven?" I asked.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

I shrugged as I closed my eyes and listened to the slow and soft gothic music playing.

"Here you go," Gwen said as she served our tea. "Don't enjoy yourself," she warned playfully as she laughed and walked away.

Raven rolled her eyes. She took a sip and sighed, "Hah…Herbal tea."

I took a sip and took a liking to it, "This is…quite nice and relaxing."

"Isn't it?" Raven said, relaxing a bit, "It's the only place where I can just relax. With too many people at the Tower, it's hard to meditate in peace."

"I agree," I replied, "I fear that my roses may be killed one day when everyone is playing volley ball on the roof. Luckily I placed a force field to protect them." I sighed.

"You really love those flowers, huh?"

"I do. My mother gave them to me. She showed me everything I know about gardening and nature," I smiled but my eyes betrayed me.

"You miss them, your parents, I mean," Raven said.

"I do. It's been far too long since I have last seen them." I closed my eyes and imagined my mother's beautiful face as well as my father. "I miss my mother the most."

"How about your father?" she asked, winching a bit because the subject of "fathers" always got her thinking about her own.

"I miss him too. He taught me all I needed to know about my powers. He was always stern with me but still patient," I answered.

Raven sipped her tea, "I wished my father was like that."

"You don't like him that much?"

"Let's just say he wouldn't win a "Father of the Year" award," she joked. I laughed at that.

"And your mother?" I asked again.

"She…" Raven looked like she was about to cry.

"Hush now," I placed my hand on hers, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"But I do," she insisted, "I don't know why but I do. I just think we may have a lot in common."

"More than you know," I mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing."

"Well," Raven began, "My mother was a very kind and beautiful woman. Back on Azerath…"

I interrupted, "Azerath? Where is that?"

"Another dimension. My home," she looked down sadly. "Or was,"

"Was?"

"There's nothing left. I was the only survivor."

"Why?"

She turned away. I then said, "I'll stop asking."

"Thank you." why was Raven so hesitant to tell me anything? Please, just tell me.

"Look. I know we haven't known each other that long. It has only been less than a month since Pluto and I showed up, which was not long after Draco came here." I continued, "But I really want to get to know you better. I do." That was sincere. I looked outside the café window and saw a black van parked in front of the bank. I shook my head and chuckled.

"What are you giggling about?" Raven asked. I pointed outside and she turned her head to see a gang of 5 men wearing ski masks and carrying rifles. She grumbled, "A bank robbery. Figures."

I added, "They should know better, shouldn't they Raven?" I smirked.

She pulled up her hood. "Let's go."

I pulled up my collar, "Indeed."

In the bank.

"Everyone on the ground! Now!" shouted out the leader of the robbers.

"Just give us all the loot and nobody gets hurt," said another one as he and the rest went to the tellers.

"The only one here who is getting hurt here is you," hissed a voice coming out of no where.

"Who's there?" the leader whirled his head and rifle around, "No funny business."

I phased from the ceiling with Raven.

"The only funny thing here is you," I grinned under my collar.

"The Teen Titans! Shoot them!" the leader ordered as he took aim.

"Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven chanted and she grabbed the rifles away from the men with her dark telekinesis, "I don't think so."

The (stupid) robbers decided to do this hand to hand. I sighed and took them on alone.

"Come on!" I challenged before punching one of the ski mask wearing criminals across the face, knocking him out. I was fighting three of them since two of them were cornering Raven. One of them grabbed me. He was big and fat.

"Lookie what I caught?" he laughed.

"Nothing," I hissed before using my powers to turn myself into black shadow snakes that slithered all over his body.

"Get off! Get em off!" he yelled. I reformed in front of him and said, "Sleep." He passed out.

I turned around to see a gun aimed right at my head. "Bye bye Goth kid," he grinned as he pulled the trigger.

Hot searing pain went through my head as I fell to the floor. Raven saw this and screamed, "SHADOW!" The hostages cringed in fear.

"Aw…Did I kill your little boyfriend? I'm so sorry," he mocked. "Now you be a nice little girl and don't bother us."

"And you be a nice little man and shut up!" I hissed. He turned around, shocked, before my fist slammed into his jaw. He fell to the floor unconscious.

Raven floated towards me. "I saw the bullet go right through your head."

I opened my fist to reveal a single bloody bullet. I pulled down my collar, "It did." She inspected my forehead to find the bullet wound. There was blood but no wound.

"How?" she began asking.

"I have regenerative abilities," I answered casually as I dropped the bullet and wiped the blood off forehead with my glove. I heard the sirens. The police had arrived, "Finally," I huffed.

Raven rolled her eyes, "Let's go." She spoke as we teleported in an orb of black energy...

...And reappeared in the café.

"That was uneventful," I said.

"You got shot in the head and you still call that uneventful?" she asked in disbelief, "I nearly had a heart attack."

"So you do have a heart!" I laughed.

"Don't push me!" she snapped.

"Wouldn't dream of it." I raised my hands.

"Robin is going to be asking a lot of questions when he finds out."

"And who says he will?" I smirked.

"You're not thinking of holding out information, are you?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I don't really think he needs to know."

"He'll find out sooner or later. And if I know him, it's always sooner."

"Well now. Shall we continue our date?" I smirked.

"It's not a date!" she gritted her teeth angrily.

"You look cute when you're angry."

"Are you trying to flirt with me again?"

I shrugged, "If it looks like flirting, then yes I am."

"Of God," she groaned.

"Please, Raven," I placed my hand on hers, "I really want this to work out. Just give me a chance."

"I don't trust people easy, you know that?"

"I know, and I am willing to do anything it takes to win your heart," I gave her a charming smile. She rolled her eyes.

"Listen," she said sternly, "The whole love thing is not me. I can't love."

"Yes you can," I responded, "You just don't let yourself. That's your problem."

"The only problem I have is with you."

"Me? What did I do?"

Raven breathed, "I'm sorry. That did not come out right."

I raised an eyebrow, "Somehow I get the feeling like you have been in love."

"I thought I did…Once," she stammered. She looked down sadly.

"Broke your heart?"

"Actually he ripped it out, stomped on it and laughed in my face," she said angrily as she gritted her teeth.

I bit my lower lip. No wonder she wasn't ready for another relationship.

"I just don't want to get hurt like that anymore."

"And I won't, I promise."

She looked me in the eye, "How do I even know if I can trust you?"

"You don't." I smirked, "Makes it more interesting, doesn't it?"

"Dear Azar…" she groaned as she slapped her forehead.

I stood up and walked to the stage. She watched me in curiosity. "What are you doing?"

"This is a poetry café, isn't it?" I pulled out a black piece of paper from my cloak. "I wish to share…"

I sat on the bench and recited into the microphone:

"My heart is filled with poison,

From love too long ago,

There is not a fleeting moment,

I don't think of her at all,

The venom kills me slowly,

From the depths of my soul,

I want the pain to go away,

But it stays and cannot go."

Fingers snapped rhythmically through the café as I finish.

"Really dark and groovy man," said a man in a dark sweater and sunglasses.

"Really angsty," said another.

"Thank you," I said as I got off stage and back to my table.

"That was…beautiful," Raven said.

"Thank you," I nodded. "I always liked free verse the best. You don't have to restrict yourself to rhyming and such."

"But…it sounded so inspired," she said.

"It was…" I looked down sadly. Raven…You are not the only one that has had their heartbroken. I know how you feel…

"I think I would enjoy your company with me quite often," she said, "At least it won't just be me at my usual table."

"I am honored," I said.

Gwen came over and whispered something into Raven's ear. Raven blushed. She also passed a note over to me. "A girl from another table wants to talk to you."

I read the note and my eyes narrowed in curiosity. I looked around and was a girl with red hair and a pale face waving slowly at me. I shook my head.

"Looks like you have an admirer Shadow," Gwen grinned.

"Tell her I am not available, miss Gwen," I said politely. I turned to Raven, "I am… preoccupied…"

A shadow of a smile appeared on Raven's face.

To be continued…