Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
Raven sat motionless in the lotus position, floating in the air while she mediated. Her head was shrouded by her hood while her white cape hung over her body. She quietly repeated her mantra, over and over. Meanwhile Beast Boy was asleep on a small couch with Hugo Strange's dossier in his lap.
Cyborg and Starfire were at the other end of the Arkham satellite Batcave, following Batman, Robin and Nightwing over an audio channel. The trio had left over half an hour ago to penetrate into the asylum, hoping to find clues as to what Hugo Strange was up to.
Stealth was of utmost importance, so Batman restricted the incursion team to Robin, Nightwing and himself. The trio was already familiar with the layout of the asylum and would be the able to avoid detection by the asylum's security detail. Nightwing and Robin were charged with finding Terra and contacting her while the Dark Knight's mission was to break into Hugo Strange's pharmacological lab to learn more about what he was doing to his 'patients'.
Nightwing and Robin's job was a little easier than the Batman's, as the asylum hallways were vast and lightly patrolled. There were some security cameras to get around, which was easily accomplished by travelling through the vast ventilation duct work system. Now that Richard was 19 years old he was beginning to bulk out and space was getting very tight for him, unlike for Jason, while slid effortlessly through the tight passages. Still he managed to squeeze through.
After a grueling hour they reached the wing where Terra was housed. They dropped out of the vent into the hallway and worked their way down the corridor; they split up and peeked through the windows in the doors, using their tiny flashlights to peer into each room. Jason was the first to speak up.
"Nightwing." He whispered into his headset. "I think I found her."
The future Prince Consort of Tamaran scurried over to the door and peered inside. Robin was correct, that was Terra asleep in the bed.
"Did you hear that Cyborg?"
"I did." The bionic Titan replied. "Go ahead and place the lock cracker on the keypad."
Nightwing retrieved a small, flat device and placed it over the keypad that controlled the lock to the Geomancer's room. Batman had some pretty cool toys, but Cyborg had a few goodies of his own and was rather proud of them. First the lock cracker scanned the keys on the pad with a variety of light spectra. Using ultraviolet light it could read the fingerprints on the keypad, determining which ones had been pressed. Then using infrared it determined which order they had been pressed in, with a confidence level of 70%. The using quantum signature reading it boosted the confidence level to 99.999%, all in the matter of a few seconds. Once it cracked the code the device pressed the keys and the door unlocked. Nightwing and Robin stealthily entered the room closing the door behind them. The door snapped locked with a dull click. They would use the cracker, via a remote control, to open it again when it would be time to leave.
Sneaking through the hospital wing was a greater challenge, as it was much smaller than the asylum and there was a night crew of doctors, nurses and other staff on duty. This of course was merely an inconvenience to the Caped Crusader who after a mere 15 minutes was able to make his way to the pharmacological lab. Using his own version of the code cracker Batman unlocked the door. Before entering he used another device to check for surveillance systems. There were no cameras but the room was covered by motion sensors. He then pulled a small disk out of his utility belt and stuck on the inside wall next to the door, activating it as he released it. The disk flooded the room with random bursts of infrared and ultraviolet light, jamming the sensors. Batman retrieved his lock cracker from the door's keypad and entered the room, which was dimly lit. He quickly found the refrigerator that Roger Whyte had visited earlier. He retrieved a handful of what looked like eyedroppers from his utility belt and began to take samples from every container in the refrigerator.
"Cyborg, we're in her room." Nightwing spoke into his headset.
"I copy you." He replied. "And keep the lights off. The cracker's sensed some activity in the hallways."
"Thanks. Will do."
Nightwing silently approached Terra's bed and kneeled so that he was face to face with her. Then he gently reached out to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, gently rousing her awake.
"Terra, wake up." He whispered into her ear.
Terra slowly stirred and opened her eyes. As she looked into Nightwing's masked face she frowned and then looked at his costume. Confused she then glanced at his traffic light costumed companion.
"Robin?" She said sleepily as she stared at the younger boy. "You can't be Robin." She turned back to Nightwing. "Who are you?" She asked the dark clad Titan.
"It's me Terra. I'm not Robin anymore."
The geomancer shook her head as she continued to wake up.
"I thought your voice sounded familiar." She said as she sat up. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to check in on you. Are you OK Terra?"
"What do you think? I'm locked up with a bunch of psychos. And who are you supposed to be anyway?"
"I'm Nightwing. Didn't Starfire ever tell you about her trip into the future?"
"No she didn't. So are we getting out of here?"
Nightwing stared away before answering.
"I'm sorry Terra, but we're gonna have to follow due process. We're gathering evidence to discredit Hugo Strange. Once we get him removed as Arkham's director we'll get you released, I promise."
Terra snorted. "Yeah right. And what if you can't get him removed? If I was Starfire or Raven you'd be busting me out of here right now."
"Terra, you know that's not true."
"Stuff it bird boy!" She snarled back. "I always knew that I was a second class member of the team, you guys always hated me. I'll bet Raven's behind this, she knows BB likes me more than her. But if she thinks that keeping me locked up here will stop me from winning BB back she's gotta another thing coming."
Nightwing sighed.
"Terra, you don't know how wrong you are. Raven is working to help us secure your release."
"Whatever."
Nightwing paused before continuing.
"Is there anything we should know about Hugo Strange?"
Terra shrugged.
"Well, he's a perv. He told me that if I slept with him that he'd let me go after a month. I was warned by some of the other ladies that he won't make good on that promise."
Nightwing nodded. "That's dynamite. We can definitely discredit him with that."
"Like any judge will accept our testimony." Terra complained.
"You're a Titan Terra. Of course your testimony will be treated seriously. Is there anything else?"
"He also drugs me to neutralize my powers."
Nightwing paused as he listened into his earpiece.
"Batman's done. We gotta go. You are unharmed, right?"
She sighed. "No one's laid a finger on me. I joined a gang for protection."
"You did?" young Robin asked in surprise. "Whose gang did you join?"
"Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn's gang."
Both Nightwing and Robin's masks betrayed the shock they felt.
"Terra! They're bad news! Don't get involved with them!" Nightwing admonished her.
They've been a lot more help than you guys. She silently fumed.
"I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
Nightwing pulled a small remote control out of his belt and pressed a button. The door unlocked and popped open.
"Just don't do anything you might regret later." He told her as he gave her a Titan's communicator. "Keep this hidden, OK?"
"Duh!" She replied.
"Just hang in there Terra; we're getting you out of here legally. You don't want to be a fugitive." He said as he and Robin walked out the door.
"Like I have a choice." She lied to them. She could already feel her powers beginning to return.
"We're your friends Terra; we aren't going to abandon you. Call us every night at 10 PM." He said as the door closed and locked with a dull thud.
You aren't gonna abandon me? You just did!
Terra slipped back into her bed, pondering what tomorrow had in store, and the life that awaited her after she escaped.
Raven completed her mediations and slowly dropped her feet to the floor, shifting her weight to them and standing freely. She felt refreshed and relaxed. She scanned the room and saw that Beast Boy was still asleep on the couch. Glancing at the clock on the wall she saw that it had been two hours since the Bat trio had left on their mission. She was about to walk over to the couch to rouse her slumbering mate when she felt a small hand on her shoulder. It felt gentle yet strong as titanium. Knowing that, it could only belong to one person.
As the sorceress turned around Starfire saw that she had the usual blank expression on her face.
"Greetings friend. Are you refreshed after the meditation?"
"Yes Starfire. I am felling refreshed and calm."
The princess smiled at her friend.
"Cyborg has informed me that Batman, Robin and Nightwing have completed their mission and should be back in about 20 minutes."
Raven noticed that the Tamaranian had an unusually eager expression on her face.
"Is there something you wish to talk about Starfire?" She deadpanned, already knowing the answer.
The alien nodded. "I wish to engage in the girl talk. Do you mind Raven?"
Raven sighed inwardly. She definitely knew where this was going.
"Let's find someplace private."
Starfire led Raven over to the opposite end of the cave to what might have been called the "kitchen" which simply consisted of a small refrigerator, a microwave and a small table with two chairs. The two young women sat down.
"I see that Beast Boy is still napping." Starfire opened the conversation, clearly making small talk before delving into what she really wanted to talk about.
"Yes, he does nap a lot. It's his animal DNA." Raven droned.
Starfire stared at her friend, preparing herself to take the conversation where she really wanted it to go.
"Tell me about your honeymoon Raven. What did you do?"
Raven hesitated before answering.
"The usual stuff honeymooners do I suppose."
"Yes?" Starfire responded, implicitly requesting details.
"Well, if you are that curious, let's see: we had meals, we swam in the pool and at a few beaches, we saw a few shows on the ship, we sunbathed, we went for walks in the moonlight, we slept in, you know, stuff like that." She deadpanned.
Starfire looked confused. "Did you and Beast Boy not make love?" She asked apprehensively.
Raven's eyes bugged out. Somewhere in the recesses of the cave a light bulb exploded. She quickly composed herself and replied.
"Starfire, that's a very private and personal question. Tamaranians might not feel inhibited asking about that, but in this culture it is not something that discussed casually." She deadpanned.
Starfire looked crestfallen. "Please forgive me friend, I did not wish to offend you."
Raven sighed. "It's OK Starfire, I'm not offended. You just startled me, that's all." She paused before continuing. "And yes, we made love, many times in fact. That's kind of a given on a honeymoon. But Starfire, that's not something that is asked in polite company. "
The princess tapped her fingers together.
"I see. Then I will not ask you the other question I had prepared for you."
Raven sighed again. She knew she was going to regret it, but decided to throw caution to the wind.
"It's OK Starfire. You are my closest female friend. You may ask me your question." She deadpanned.
"Thank you friend and I do apologize if it is too personal."
"Just ask the question."
"Why are you delaying the conception of your first child?"
Raven let out a sigh of relief. She had feared that the Tamaranian was going ask her even deeper questions about her now nascent love life.
"Well Starfire, Gar and I talked about this and we decided that we want to have a few years to ourselves at first, to be able to enjoy each other's company without distractions."
"Do you mean that once you have a child you will no longer be lovers?"
Raven shook her head. "Of course not. It's just that once we have a child many things will change permanently."
Starfire still looked confused.
"We won't have the luxury of a knorfka, and to be honest we don't want one."
"So you will be very busy raising your offspring, correct?"
"That's right, but there's more Starfire. Once we decide to start a family Gar and I will quit being superheroes."
"But why?" Starfire replied in shock.
"Because it's too dangerous. I'm already worried enough about something bad happening to Gar." Raven lifted her hood up to conceal her features as she was feeling self conscious. "I haven't told anyone this, not even Gar, but I want us to quit the Titans now."
"Raven, you are not serious. Why do you wish to leave us?"
She responded in a distressed voice. "Because I'm afraid of losing him."
"Friend, I do not understand. Please explain."
Raven rubbed her face with both of her hands, clearly stressed from what she was telling Starfire.
"I can't lose him Starfire. If he died … I … I don't think I could go on."
"But Raven, why should he die? He is a mighty Titan."
"… who exposes himself to terrible danger every day. He has his animal powers Starfire, but he isn't as resilient as you are. He could be killed in a battle." Raven took Starfire's hand. "But don't worry, he'd never agree to quitting before we have a child."
Starfire smiled. "Does this mean you will have your firstborn sooner rather than later?"
Raven replied in her flattest deadpan voice.
"I don't know."
As she was buzzed into the mess hall Terra had butterflies in her stomach. Today was the day they would escape, even though she still didn't know how. As she entered the dining area she saw that the others were already at the usual table. Rav, Baby Doll, Harley and Lady Shiva were chowing down on scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns while Poison Ivy sat with an empty setting in front of her. As Terra joined them Pamela acknowledged her with a nod and asked her the obvious question.
"So, are you in?"
Terra grinned. "Do you see any food in front of me? So what's the plan?"
Harley responded. "Ivy reserved the TV room for us at 10:00 AM. It's all ours and there's only a single guard in the room. At 10:10 Ivy will knock him out with her spores. The TV Room is on the ground floor, so you'll dig a tunnel for us to escape through. Once we're out we'll head of to the hide out."
"Sounds good. Where's the hideout?"
"That's a secret toots. You'll find out when we get there."
"You afraid I'm gonna skip town without you?" The Geomancer asked her comrades.
"Just think of it as insurance dear." Ivy replied.
What? They think I can't ditch them and make it on my own?
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Terra replied with a hint of bitterness.
"Don't take it personally toots, it's just that we've been burned before."
"Sure. I understand." She replied. "If you don't mind I'm going back t my room to rest before we watch TV. I didn't sleep well last night." She got up and began to walk away.
"Don't be late Terra." Pamela shouted at her. "I heard that Oprah has a dynamite guest today."
Raven woke up first. She was not looking forward to visiting Hugo Strange at Arkham Asylum. Her mission, to infiltrate his mind and learn his secrets was almost certain to fail, and possibly end in disaster with him detecting her subterfuge.
But there was something else. She had another premonition, as a sense of dread permeated her soul. Something was going to happen today, something bad. It made her fell nauseous and for the first time since that fateful day when she brought her father into this world she felt pure unbridled fear. She rolled over and saw her husband asleep next to her, snoring without a care in the world. She scooted over towards him and wrapped her slender arms around him. He stirred and rolled over as well, kissing her forehead before quickly dozing off again.
Nothing's going to happen to you Gar. I'll protect you, even if it costs me my own life.
The guard escorted Terra back to her cell. She could now tell that her powers had completely returned. The time was approaching.
As they reached her cell the male guard patted her down, searching for any contraband she might be smuggling into her cell. It felt more like he was groping her, but at this point she didn't give a damn. Let him have his fun. She thought. He can grope the Penguin once we're gone.
Satisfied in more ways than one, the guard smiled at her as he unlocked the door.
"See you at ten sweetheart." He mocked her as he closed the door.
Terra sat on her bed. She reached under it and retrieved the Titans communicator she had hidden between the mattress and the box spring. Staring at the Titans logo on the cover she thought of calling Beast Boy to say goodbye, but decided against it as it would blow the cover of their escape. She couldn't take it with her as the lecherous guard would no doubt pat her down again. So she instead recorded a farewell message into it, telling Beast Boy that she would always love him, no matter what happened. She then slipped it back into its hiding place, knowing well that the room would be turned inside out after her escape and that it would be found.
She then glanced at the industrial strength clock on the wall and saw that it was 7:49 AM. There were still two hours to kill. She was tired, as she had trouble falling asleep after Nightwing's visit last night. Lowering herself down onto her bed she closed her eyes. She now felt at peace and was soon asleep.
She felt a jolt and opened her eyes; finding herself in front of the familiar shack next to the lake.
"Alright, where are you?" She muttered sotto voce.
"I am always with you Terra." The familiar voice reverberated from behind her.
"I guess you are, aren't you BB?"
The Wild Man smiled as she turned around to face him.
"So you finally understand who I really am."
She regarded him aloofly.
"Yes, you're everything I don't like about BB. You're his every flaw, his every weakness."
He grinned at her. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
She shook her head. "No. You're insecure. Look at how you puff yourself up. BB's always been insecure about being small and weak. You represent that."
"Now tell me you didn't like me when I was tall and muscular. You couldn't keep your hands off of me. You jumped into bed with me the first chance you got."
Terra choked back her tears. "The real BB never rubbed my mistakes in my face. Never. He's better off without you."
"So what are you going to do once you escape? You know you can win him back from the witch."
Terra snarled back at him. "You're also selfish. You know I want him, that I want him more than anything." She then began to sniffle. "But I can't have him without hurting him. He doesn't want me, he wants Raven."
The Wild Man's body tensed up.
"That's not true Terra. I do want you. I want you more than anything in this world."
"Then why the hell did you marry her?" She growled at him. "You dumped me and ran off with her. WHY?" She screamed.
"You know why Terra. You lied to me. But believe me, I still want you, I still need you." He implored her. "Come back to me Terra, I'll accept you. I'll divorce Raven and marry you. I swear I will."
The Geomancer turned away from the Wild Man as she began to weep.
"You don't know how badly I want to believe you. But you're wrong. BB's bigger and better than you. I know he loves me and that he always will, but he belongs to Raven."
"Terra, you have to believe me."
She turned around and scowled at him.
"Who are you? You aren't BB's Wild Man. You're an imposter."
The Wild Man stepped away from her.
"Whoever you are, I'm glad you're not inside BB anymore. You're stuck with me, you monster."
The Wild Man's eyes glowed red.
"And you just might die with me."
"Do not defy me Terra." He warned her.
"I have to go now." She snapped at him. "And don't bother me anymore. I know what you are, and you're not BB."
Terra woke with a start. She sat up and looked at the clock. It was now 9:47.
We're getting close readers. Still plenty of puzzle pieces waiting to come together.
And we're well past the 13,000 hit mark. With this chapter we should pass the 14,000 hit mark! And maybe past 260 reviews! Thanks to all!
And here's a shout out for a new fanfic I just found: Disaster's Decline by Moonlit917. It seems that good fanfics have been in short supply lately. This one shows some promise!
And now, the mail bag!
GothicRavenRoth – "I was laughing so hard at the part where the 4 of them kinda walked in on Rae and BB"
Yeah, that was my intent. Well that and to shock all of you. I think it worked.
Dark Rapture – "I was wondering: In Arkham, do they have tacos?"
If they have Sloppy Joes then they have Tacos, on Wednesday of course.
Rosalind2013 – "And I totally agree with Barbara... I didn't need to hear that..."
Too bad you can't unhear it! Now you're stuck with that memory! Bwahahahaha!
Titanfan45 – "Rachael's apology to Garfield was outstanding, every man should be issued at least one apology like that from his wife during his lifetime."
And vice-versa. I think that the worst thing a couple can do is take each other for granted.
Novus Ordo Seclorum – "HAHAHHAAHAHHA! That was truly awesome. The most memorable scene was obviously the four superheroes standing outside the door, listening to the symphony of sensuality from inside. THAT was a nice touch, definitely humorous and enjoyable!"
I think that you and Titanfan45 were the only two readers that didn't freak out over that scene.
BeastBoyfangirl – "I can't even begin to imagine what Raven and Beastboy would do if they found out that the titans heard everything they did in their room."
Who says they won't?