Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
Raven paced nervously in the Batcave, biting her lower lip as her cape billowed behind her. It was 9:45 AM and they were waiting for Batman to give them their final briefing before heading off to Arkham. She quickened her pace with every round and after turning around for the umpteenth time she found herself staring into a pair of emerald eyes.
"What's the matter Rae? You're so nervous. Is there something I should know?"
"Uh, it's just that, I..." She paused.
"What is it Rae?" He could see the near panic in her eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.
"Just promise me you'll be careful today, OK?" She said as she buried her face in his chest.
"Sure Rae, you know me, I'm always careful."
"No you're not." She snapped as she looked up at his face. "You're reckless Gar. It's a miracle you're still alive."
Beast Boy chuckled. "What are you talking about? What do you mean I'm reckless?"
"Don't act dumb. You know what I'm talking about. Over the years I've had to heal you more times than everyone else combined!"
"Relax Rae. I'll be careful. Anyway, what could possibly happen? We're just going to talk with Dr. Weirdo."
She gave him a skeptical look.
"I'll be on my best behavior and I'll stay sharp. Animal instincts you know. Nothing's going to happen to me."
She levitated slightly so their faces were level with each other. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately without relenting. She only stopped when she heard a male voice clear its throat.
"The Batcave isn't lover's lane you guys." Nightwing teased them. He and Batman had arrived without being noticed. The Dark Knight was seated in front of his massive super computer, doing some last minute research.
"I'll kiss my husband whenever and wherever I feel like it. You got that bird boy?"
"I thought I was the bird boy now." Robin gloated as he ran down the stairs into the Batcave.
"Shut up kid!" Raven hissed at him. "Unless you want an all expenses paid trip to another dimension."
Robin turned around, sulking, and walked towards the super computer console, muttering under his breath.
"What a bitch."
"I heard that!" Beast Boy shouted. "And if you say that again I'll kick your butt into another dimension!"
Batman turned around and faced the young heroes.
"That will be enough! Robin, you will apologize to Raven, now!"
The Boy Wonder's jaw dropped.
"Oh man!" He moaned as he turned towards Raven and Beast Boy. Raven had a smile that reeked of self satisfaction on her face.
"OK." He moaned. "I'm sorry."
"Say it like you mean it!" Nightwing ordered him.
The young boy sighed. He needed to learn to keep his mouth shut.
"Raven, I'm sorry I called you a … bitch." He said with the straightest face he could muster.
"And I forgive you. Just don't let it happen again." She said magnanimously.
"Good" Batman interrupted. "Now for the second order of business. Raven and Beast Boy, never make a threat against a member of the Bat Clan in my presence, not even an idle threat. Have I made myself clear?"
Beast Boy could feel Raven's body tense up. He softly caressed her back to soothe her while he replied.
"We understand Batman. It won't happen again."
"Then that's settled. I have some results from the samples I brought back from Hugo Strange's lab. In addition to some run of the mill psychotropic compounds I found something rather usual. A compound that affects the Hansen lobes in the brain."
"The Hansen lobes? Are you serious? What does it do to them?" Cyborg asked.
"It inhibits them. Which means that Hugo Strange has the ability to switch meta-humans powers on and off almost at will."
Raven's eyes grew wide. Batman turned to the Logans and addressed them.
"You'll next to be extra careful. He can't affect your powers Raven, since you're technically not a meta-human and your brain structure is slightly different from ours due to your demonic heritage and the same goes for you Starfire as you are an alien, but Beast Boy is a meta-human and Strange could disable him just as he did with Terra."
Raven felt a surge of relief sweep through her. If Hugo Strange tried to disable her beloved's powers she would teleport him out of Arkham in the blink of an eye.
"Thank you Batman; this knowledge will help keep us safe." She replied.
"You're welcome. Now let's go over what you're going to do. Raven?"
"While Gar bombards Strange with questions about Terra I'll attempt to penetrate his mind. If he detects my presence I'll make an excuse about sensing John Spivak nearby and apologize for straying into his mind. I'll then join Gar in cajoling Strange into releasing Terra. After 10 minutes or so we'll give up and leave." She deadpanned.
"Very good. It's now time for you to go. Good luck."
The Logans nodded. Raven then swept her cape around her and Beast Boy and they were enveloped in a black hemisphere which then morphed into a large black bird which flew out of the Batcave. Batman watched the shadow bird disappear in the dark recesses of the cave and turned to Nightwing.
"For someone who is supposed to be low key she sure likes making dramatic exits."
Nightwing grinned. "I wouldn't have her be any other way." He then turned to his mentor. "Don't let her deadpan delivery fool you; she's as passionate as any woman, maybe even more."
"Oh I know." The Dark Knight replied. "I saw Beast Boy's face at dinner last night. I know that look. She must be one heck of a lover."
Nightwing opened his mouth to say something, but no sounds were produced.
"Which is why you were avoiding them last night. You were eavesdropping on them, weren't you?"
Nightwing's voice squeaked. "You aren't going to tell them, are you?"
"I don't know. It depends I guess."
"It depends? Bruce, that's blackmail!"
"Blackmail is such an ugly word Dick. Think of it as an incentive."
"An incentive for what?"
Batman chuckled. "I'll think of something."
Nightwing snorted. "You're a real piece of work Bruce, did you know that?"
Batman actually laughed out loud, which was unheard of when he wore the cowl.
"Relax Dick, I'll never tell them. But I am curious about something else."
"Yes?" Nightwing replied apprehensively.
"When are you actually going to legally marry your 'wife'?"
John Spivak relaxed on the lumpy bed in his cell. His breakfast tray's contents: fried eggs, sausage, grits and a cup of coffee remained unconsumed, getting cold and were resting on the stainless steel table that was riveted to the floor. He glanced around his cell, while caressing the Berretta 9 mm pistol that he had in his pocket.
His cell had all the charm of an old Soviet era bomb shelter: the cinderblock walls, the cold concrete floor, the fluorescent light that wouldn't stop buzzing and humming and as a final touch the indestructible steel furniture that was bolted to the floor.
The industrial grade clock above the door ticked loudly every time the seconds hand moved. It was 5 minutes until ten. The moment of redemption was imminent. He kept running through scenarios in his mind where he finished off the changeling. He had decided that the best one would be to blow the fool's brains out while the gray girl watched. He savored the prospect. It would be fitting revenge for what the green freak had done to his Terra.
Once the changeling was dead Terra would finally understand the he was her man. Everything would be perfect again. Of course there would be the demoness to deal with. If Strange was right she would probably kill her teammates in a fit of rage. He would have to finish her off, and soon. If she recovered her strength there would be no way he could defeat her, and she would probably kill him.
The things I do for love! He chuckled to himself as he twirled the pistol around his index finger.
The clock continued ticking.
Terra was the last to arrive in the TV room. It was carpeted and had 4 big comfy sofas in it, along with a sixty inch plasma set that hung from the ceiling. Pamela, Rav, Baby Doll and Lady Shiva were already lounging on the couches, staring at the TV.
"Sorry I'm late." Terra apologized.
"Quiet!" Baby Doll hissed. "Oprah's about to begin."
Terra noticed that the lone guard, a young male, had his eyes fixated on the TV as well. He had the TV clicker in his hand.
"What's with the clicker?" she asked Pamela.
"Huh? Oh that. It used to be chained to the coffee table, until the Joker broke the chain and tried to strangle the guard with it. So now the guard holds the clicker for us."
"Figures, it's always the idiots who ruin things for everyone else. So where's Harley?" Terra whispered as she sat down next to Pamela.
"Brad here says that she was taken to the hospital to meet some new shrink. She's going to miss the show."
"So what do we do?" Terra whispered back. "I can't put this off forever. I'm getting hungry."
"Relax chow hound. We've had a change of plans. We're going to the hospital to get Harley. Once we have her, we'll escape from the hospital."
"And how are we gonna do that? The hospital is crawling with guards."
"Not today it isn't. Baby Doll had a group therapy session after breakfast. She said there are no guards in the hospital today."
"And that doesn't strike you as odd?" Terra whispered back.
"Once a Titan, always a Titan, huh Terra? Look, you have to grab the opportunities when they come up. Right? Or do you want to stay here forever? Roger's gone and Rav won't sleep with any more toads to get more antidotes for us. So unless you're willing to be some pimply faced kid's sex toy, this is the only chance we're going to get."
Terra grimaced at the suggestion. "How could she?"
"Don't judge Rav too harshly dear. She's been locked up in here for almost three years. Wait until you've been here for 3 years and then tell me you wouldn't do anything to get out. It's now or never sweetheart."
"Then why not stick to the original plan?"
"We're not leaving Harley behind dear. Got that?"
Terra sighed. "Ok, you win."
"I'm glad you see things our way Terra, now let's get this show on the road." Pamela whispered back to her.
The show had already begun and the other 3 women pretended to be mesmerized by it, and were doing a pretty good job. Pamela scooted over, leaving an empty spot between herself and Terra.
"Brad! You don't have to watch the show standing, why don't you come and sit with us? Pamela smiled seductively at the guard. Terra quickly caught on and smiled as well.
"Sure, why not?" He replied as the other 3 women were commenting on the show.
"What's the worst thing that could happen?" he added.
Raven's signature shadow bird landed in front of the guard gate, revealing her curvy figure as it faded away. As she parted her cape Beast Boy emerged from the void. The guards took notice and aimed their weapons at the couple.
"We have an appointment!" Beast Boy growled indignantly. "We're here to see Dr. Hugo Strange."
The ever present guard with the clipboard inspected the couple.
"You're supposed to be super heroes? You're a couple of kids." He said with a hint of disdain.
"We're both 18 years old, and yes we're super heroes. We're Beast Boy and Raven of the Teen Titans, if you must know." He snarled at the man.
"I'll have to go check. Wait here." The guard replied icily as he slowly walked back to the guard house.
Raven shivered. She was having the sense of dread again, the premonition. It was so strong this time she felt like throwing up. She clenched her teeth and suppressed her gag reflex. She felt Beast Boy's arm around her shoulder.
"Rae babe, are you OK? You're white as a sheet. Are you getting sick?" He asked in a worried voice.
She leaned against him. "I'm OK Gar. Just be careful, I'm sensing something … evil here."
"What do you mean? Are we in danger?"
She turned and stared deep into his emerald orbs.
"I don't know what it is. Just be really careful. I'll teleport us out at the first sign of trouble."
"Teleport us?! Rae, we're heroes, we don't run away from danger."
"You'll do as I say Gar, understand?!" She thundered at him, causing him to release her.
"Sure Rae, if it's that important I'll do whatever you say."
"Thanks." She whispered, after which she kissed him.
Beast Boy knew something was afoot and he knew his wife well enough to know that she wouldn't tell him. Still he could try.
"Rae, why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"Because I don't know." She whimpered. "We should just turn around and leave Gar. Don't ask me why because I don't know. I just know we shouldn't go in there."
He hugged her as the guards watched.
"I believe you, but we have a mission. I promise I'll be extra sharp Ok? And if you want to yank us out of there with no notice, that's OK too."
As she hugged him back she saw a church in the distance. It was the Cathedral in downtown Gotham. It reminded her of the Cathedral in Jump City where she and Robin had once tried to hide from Slade when he was working for Trigon. It was a magnificent building and while back then it had failed to afford them any protection today the Gotham Cathedral moved her to do something she had never done in her entire life.
God, I know that I come from a lineage that has sworn its enmity to you, but today I come to you in need. Please protect Gar; please don't let anything happen to him. I know I'm an unworthy demoness, the daughter of Trigon, but if not for me please do it for his sake. I have nothing to offer you in exchange for your help, but you know that I love him.
She sighed before continuing.
Please keep him safe, even if it means that I must die.
She opened her eyes and saw that the cloud cover had parted and the sun was now shining on the cathedral.
Amen
The clipboard toting guard had returned.
"OK you lovebirds, follow me. Dr. Strange will see you."
The guard and his escort led the heroes down the now familiar path to the hospital's small entrance. And as had been the case before when Batman and Nightwing had visited an attendant dressed in scrubs took them into the hospital and led them to Hugo Strange's office.
"Dr. Strange is with a patient. Please have a seat. He'll be with you soon."
Raven and Beast Boy sat down on a couch in the waiting area. Raven was gripping his hand so tightly that he feared his fingers would pop off.
"Now he's gonna make us wait." He moaned.
Brad the guard was knocked out and sprawled on the couch. Poison Ivy's spores were back with a vengeance.
"Well ladies, it's time we pay the hospital a visit." Ivy ordered with an air of authority.
She turned to Terra.
"Ok Markov, it's your move."
Terra exposed her palms to the floor while her eyes glowed yellow. Golden beams of light emanated from her palms and hit the floor a few feet in front of her. The floor buckled and the carpeting ripped, exposing a large tunnel she had formed. She stepped into the tunnel as the yellow energy continued to pour from her hands.
"Follow me." She ordered the gang. They followed her with trepidation.
"You sure this won't cave in Terra?" Baby Doll asked.
"It's never happened before." The Geomancer replied calmly. "Just relax, it'll be fine."
The sound of a loud click echoed through the cell. John Spivak was reclined on his bed, facing the heavy steel door as it slowly swung open. Sgt. Laura Sanchez entered the cell escorted by four heavily armed officers dressed in what looked like riot control gear.
"You know the routine Spivak, spread 'em." She barked at him.
The now fully recovered wind master grinned as he hopped out of his bed and walked to the wall. He placed his hands on the wall as he leaned against it, spreading his legs as he had already done countless times before. Sgt. Sanchez would frisk him before shackling him.
"So, who am I going to see today?" He asked the Sgt. as she patted him down while the escort, now all in the cell, had their weapons aimed at him.
"You'll find out when you get there. Jones! Hand me the shackles!" She commanded.
Officer Robert Jones slipped his carbine over his shoulder and began to hand the shackles to the Sergeant when John Spivak made his move. Each of the guards, along with Sgt. Sanchez was instantly enveloped in what looked like a miniature tornado. Before any of them could react they were spinning rapidly and were thrown violently against the cinderblock walls in the cell. They were already dizzy to the point of losing consciousness and the impact they made against the wall finished the job. Spivak surveyed his handiwork.
That was easy. The green freak is next.
He pulled the small Beretta out from under his pillow. It was an elegant weapon, small yet deadly, but not deadly enough. He placed the pistol in his pocket before bending over and picking up one of the carbines that the guards had dropped. He grinned as he examined the weapon.
The right tool for the job, I always say. And this will do nicely.
He tucked the weapon under his arm as he ran out of the cell, closing the door behind him.
Beast Boy yawned with impatience. They had been waiting for over ten minutes now and even Raven was growing restless. She wanted to get this interview over with and get out of Arkham before something happened.
"How much longer is he gonna make us wait? It's already been 15 minutes." Beast Boy moaned.
"I agree Gar; this is pretty rude of him."
"He's playing with us Rae, and I'm starting to get pissed."
Beast Boy stood up to stretch. As he yawned a second time a loud explosion was heard followed by a loud thud. Screams could be heard in the hallways and they were soon muffled by a whooshing sound.
"What was that?" He asked his wife.
"I don't know." She replied as the screams could be heard again. A woman was heard shouting hysterically 'he has a gun'.
"Where are the hospital guards?" Raven asked a nurse who ran by.
"They're all at a training session in the cafeteria." The nurse shouted while she continued to run.
"All of them?" Beast Boy shouted as he made eye contact with his wife.
Raven leaped to her feet. "It's a trap Gar! We have to get out of here!"
"But what about the civilians Rae? We can't abandon them."
Raven swallowed hard. She knew he was right; they had to remain to protect the staff.
"Ok, let's find who's behind all this." She said as she ran next to him.
That was when a man with a deranged look on his face appeared around the corner. He was smiling, enjoying the mayhem he was causing. Whirlwinds flew around him and he laughed with glee. He then saw the Logans and his smile widened into a grin as he aimed his carbine at Beast Boy.
Raven lifted her hand to raise an obsidian shield but was too late to block the gunman. Beast Boy shoved her out of harm's way and she stumbled before falling to the ground, unable to see what was happening behind her as the carbine erupted into a torrent of gunfire, spewing its deadly spray of bullets.
Raven rolled on the floor, now facing towards where she and Beast Boy had been standing just a moment before. She desperately scanned the area, looking for him but not finding him.
"Show yourself coward!" Spivak shouted. Raven sighed in relief; Gar had morphed into something small to hide from the armed madman.
"Show yourself or I'll shoot her!" He yelled as he aimed his carbine at Raven, who got her first good look at the gunman. It was John Spivak.
"It's Spivak Gar! Hide!"
Spivak roared with laughter. "So mighty Beast Boy hides behind his wife's skirts? I knew you were a coward you green freak." Spivak pulled the trigger but this time Raven was ready. Her obsidian shield appeared and stopped the deadly bullets in their tracks as the gun continued to fire at her. As he focused on the sorceress he did not see the green blur that charged at him. He turned just in time to see a huge green ram slam into him, knocking him down. The carbine, its clip now empty, went flying as Spivak rolled on the floor, clutching his side in pain. Beast Boy resumed his human form, standing over Spivak.
"Give it up dude, we got you beat." The changeling challenged him.
Spivak sneered at the changeling. "That's what you think freak!"
Beast Boy felt a gust of wind that began to blow in the hallway and within moments it was blowing as hard as a category 5 hurricane. Beast Boy was blinded by it while Raven, who at the moment was shielded by a column, tried to reach him. The wind was blowing debris off all sizes everywhere obscuring her vision and much of it was hitting Beast Boy who was unable to fend it off. Raven tried to raise her obsidian shields to protect him but the wind was too strong to keep them in place. Making a quick decision she bolted to his side but before she could reach him a large object, which looked like a typewriter, hit him in the head. The gale force winds then blew him into the wall, where he fell, crumpled into a heap, unconscious.
"GAR!" Raven shrieked as she fought her way towards him, the wind blowing harder than ever. Before she could reach him something hard hit her squarely in her diaphragm, knocking her wind out. She staggered as she struggled to stay upright and tried to summon a shield to protect herself but it was too late. Several more objects struck her and knocked her down.
As Raven struggled to get her lungs working again the wind began to die down. Her head was throbbing while she could feel a trickle of blood on the left side of her face and her vision was blurry. She was helpless and was beginning to panic, knowing there was nothing she could do to protect him from the madman. They were now at his mercy.
In spite of her blurred vision she was able to make out Spivak's form, as he was walking towards Beast Boy, who was still sprawled on the floor, unconscious and also bloodied. Raven struggled to stand up but couldn't as the synapses in her brain were still short circuited from the blows she had received to her head. All she could do was observe the scene before her.
Spivak stopped a few feet from Beast Boy and removed the Beretta from his pocket.
"Take a good last look at him sweetheart, because I'm gonna splatter his brains all over the place!"
"Please." Raven pleaded. "Don't kill him. Kill me instead."
"Sorry kid, no deal. No one messes with my woman."
The world seemed to go into slow motion as Raven watched the horror unfold before her. Spivak approached Beast Boy and stopped when he was just a few feet away from his limp form. Grinning he aimed the pistol at the changeling's forehead.
"Revenge is best served cold." Spivak recited the old adage as he grinned. Raven felt icy fingers grip her spine as she understood what was about to happen.
His index finger tensed as it pulled on the trigger and the explosion from the gunpowder in the bullet echoed through the hallway as the bullet emerged from the pistol's short barrel. Time had slowed down to the point where Raven could see the bullet spin as it made its way to her helpless mate's head.
And the bullet was blocked by a solid piece of concrete that had just peeled itself away from the floor.
"John! You bastard! Don't you dare harm him!" A familiar voice called down from the end of the hallway as time resumed its normal pace.
Spivak spun around and saw Terra flying towards him, as the small piece of concrete she stood on floated gracefully down the detritus strewn hallway. Momentarily forgetting about Beast Boy he ran to meet his wife.
"Terra! Baby! You're free! Let's get out of here!" He shouted with glee.
Raven was finally able to get her legs to obey her will and she stood up with great effort, after which she stumbled over to her fallen husband. She lifted him gingerly from the floor and began to inspect him for damage, finding a large bump on the back of his head. He had a concussion which she immediately began to heal as her blue light slowly began to flow.
Spivak ran up to Terra and wrapped his arms around her.
"Let's go Terra. Let's blow this popsicle stand before the cops arrive!"
Terra violently pushed him away just as Beast Boy regained consciousness.
"You were going to kill him John; you were going to kill him in cold blood!" Terra screamed, her face consumed with fury while her eyes glowed a menacing yellow.
"Yeah, I was. So what's the problem?"
Beast Boy was now sitting up, watching the scene unfold in front of him. Terra shook her head in disgust.
"What the hell's wrong with you John? You're a damn psycho! I'm not going anywhere with you!"
"What do you mean you're not? You're my wife!"
"I don't care John. You're a monster, a madman. You can forget about me. We're through, you hear?!"
Spivak's face contorted into pure anger.
"So I'm not good enough for you? Who took you in when you had nowhere else to go? Who married you when you were a slut?" He was almost hyperventilating as he screamed at her.
"You're right. You're not good enough for me."
"Fine! Have it your way bitch! But before I leave I'm killing your boyfriend!" He said as he turned in Beast Boy's direction. Instead of the green hero he found himself face to face with a huge green bear. Beast Boy roared and batted the pistol out of Spivak's hand before striking him and knocking him over. Spivak's head was swimming from the impact of the bear's strike to his head. He feebly lifted himself from the floor and saw the Beretta lying out of his reach. He scrambled for the pistol but Beast Boy, back in his human form, leaped and beat him to it.
Spivak jumped on Beast Boy and began to wrestle with the changeling for possession of the firearm. Both opponents had slight superhuman strength and were evenly matched as long as Beast Boy remained in his human form. Beast Boy was unable to shift into an animal form because that would have given Spivak a split second unchallenged with the gun. Spivak also couldn't summon his powers without losing focus on the pistol. The struggle intensified and they began to roll on the floor, exchanging fierce blows with each other, neither one relented for even a moment as they both had a hand on the weapon. Terra looked upon the struggle in horror before she joined the fight for possession of the pistol and dropped to her knees next to the two wrestling men.
Raven was beginning to feel clear headed enough to intervene and raised her hand to summon her dark energy. As the three struggled on the floor the pistol would appear for a moment, only to vanish into the human pile before she could snatch it away with her obsidian magic. She still felt the icy fingers gripping her spine. That was when she heard a sound of thunder echo through the room as the pistol was fired. She couldn't move as despair consumed her, not knowing what had happened.
The trio stopped wrestling and rolling on the floor. She saw the pistol fall away and snatched it with her dark energy. No one moved and she noticed that a pool of blood began to form on the floor around them.
I hope that was worth the wait. And I hope you don't mind the cliffhanger.
We blew past the 14,000 hit mark (Thank you!) but fell short of 260 reviews (oh well!)
Now it's mailbag time:
lpwriter4life – "It'd be a nice twist if Raven were actually pregnant right at this moment."
Hmmm, you've given me an idea! Of course I won't tell you what it is!
WarriorsFan26 – "I always knew that the Wild Man was evil. Good for Terra for backing away from him."
But he's not really the Wild Man. So who is he? You're just gonna have to wait!
Wolvmbm – "Also poor Raven, her talk with Starfire really went into her own fears of being a married women, especially on to a superhero. I mean who knew that despite all of her own demonic powers, Raven fears of losing her husband. :("
There's more to Raven than meets the eye. She has an interesting choice to make next chapter. Stay tuned.
BeastBoyfangirl – "I would really enjoy seeing BB hurt BUT not dead. Just want to see what Raven would do. (wink...;)...)"
And you'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out what happened!
Rosalind2013 – "I'm trying to remain positive; even though I'm way anxious! And sorry for freaking out on you"
And this cliffhanger doesn't help one bit, right?
Novus Ordo Seclorum – "I must admit that I am rather bummed out. I was really looking forward to the confrontation between Spivak and Beast Boy."
Well, you got it. Of course, you don't know whose blood is pooling on the floor.
Man of galifray – "It was very good besides the spelling mistakes and as for all of the other chapters they were awesome."
I'm going to have to hire an editor! I stink at proofreading! And thanks for the compliment. Praise from a Time Lord is most welcome. So who are you? The Doctor or The Master?