(Here is chapter 9, keep the feedback rolling please, I literally can't get enough of it, and...enjoy, thanks for reading. ~RavensMind~)
Chapter 9: Short of a Shrouded Mile
Rising to the sound of a commotion in the hallway, Raven looked around for Robin, who wasn't in his sleeping bag anymore. The rest of the previous day had been slow, she spent a good portion of it either sleeping, eating, or pretending to sleep. Robin hadn't said much to her the rest of that day, she had built a wall of irritation to distance herself from him, and most of it wasn't even false. The noise outside her door was just adding to it. Getting up slowly, and putting her cloak on, Raven walked over to the door and opened it. Outside her room, Robin was yelling at Beast Boy, and Beast Boy was yelling right back. Rolling her eyes, she lifted her arms slowly, using her power to pick both of them off the ground. When both of them felt their feet leave the ground, they stopped yelling and looked at Raven, who then dropped them back on their feet.
"Yeah, a rooster is too old-fashioned for me, this is so much better…" Raven said, sarcastically.
"Sorry, Raven," Robin said.
"I'm not," Beast Boy said.
"You won't be sorry enough in a minute, you-," Robin started.
"Stop. What are you fighting about?" Raven asked.
"I started out by telling him that we needed him a couple of nights ago and he slept through an attack. Then, he said he didn't care, and I threatened to punish him more than what the others were already ordering him to do to make up for it. It got out of hand from there," Robin said.
"I see…" Raven said.
"Go ahead; I know you're going to take his side… Why don't you just go back to your web?" Beast Boy said.
"Don't talk to her like that," Robin said angrily.
"What are you going to do if I do it again, huh?" Beast Boy asked.
"I'll hang you from the tower for a day again, you can't beat me in a fight," Robin said.
"Wanna bet?" Beast Boy asked.
"Enough or I'll hang you in the clouds," Raven said.
"Can it, Raven. What is it like being around Robin 24/7? Probably hurts worse than being punched by Cinderblock. Probably just as dumb as Cinderblock, too," Beast Boy said.
Raven felt herself snap, her feelings for Robin, anger at Beast Boy for not helping yesterday, and exhaustion out-matched her reason and restraint. She picked up Beast Boy with her powers and flung him through the wall and flew after him, picking him up again and sending him flying into the other wall.
"Raven, stop!" Robin said.
"Why? He deserves it, you know he does… Sleeps while I get mauled, he doesn't apologize, doesn't even ask about it, and insults us while we do everything…" Raven said, lifting Beast Boy into the air with her powers, preparing to throw him again.
"We'll deal with him. We'll-," Robin started.
"What? Lecture him? Send him to his room without dessert? Yeah, that won't work," Raven said.
"Just put him down," Robin said.
Raven sent Beast Boy flying against another wall and then slammed him to the ground.
"What did-?" Robin started.
"I put him down, you didn't specify 'how' or 'where,'" Raven said, walking back towards her room.
Rushing over to Beast Boy, Robin helped him up.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked.
"I think so…What is her problem?" Beast Boy asked.
"You. Now, go and tell Terra and Cyborg that we're going to need the wall fixed," Robin said.
"Fine…" Beast Boy said, storming off.
Turning, Robin went back to Raven's room and opened the door. She was sitting on her bed, looking directly at him.
"Why did you do that?" Robin asked.
"I'm not completely sure… He deserved something like that," Raven said.
"He has acted worse plenty of times and you didn't do that to him."
"Maybe I got tired of it."
"Sure….It didn't have anything to do with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you lash out at him because you're still mad at me for not leaving you alone yesterday?"
"No. I think I hurt him because he was insulting you."
"Really? I thought you were still mad at me."
"I'm a little irritated with you, but not mad…" she said.
"You still shouldn't have done that," he said.
Raven sighed at Robin's comment.
"What?" he asked.
"Have you ever thought about leaving the Titans?" she asked.
"...Yes. Why?"
"I'm just a little tired of dealing with this sort of stuff; we've dealt with more drama amongst ourselves than crime in the city this year."
"So, you're wondering what I'll do if I do leave?"
"Actually, it was more of what we'd do, but 'we' is still a faint possibility right now…"
"We can talk about what we might do if we decide to leave when we're sure we'll be leaving together."
"I'm still waiting…"
"I know you are, I just don't know what to say."
"Start out with something small, if it helps."
"I don't know…" he said.
"Neither do I," she said, looking away from him.
He still watched her, thinking of what would move things forward. All she was asking then was for him to share one thing. Some small piece of his life. It didn't sound like a lot to expect. Finally, he decided what he would do.
"Okay…" Robin said.
"'Okay' what?" Raven asked, looking at him once more.
Robin joined Raven on her bed and faced her, he wasn't smiling, and his expression was as serious as hers. Reaching up, he took off his mask, revealing his light-blue eyes. Raven looked surprised. At first, she didn't say or do anything; she just looked into his eyes. There was something about hers at that moment that was almost intoxicating. Raven then gave him a small smile.
"That is…a handsome start," she said.
"Thanks," he said, smiling back.
"We're not even, but since this is hard for you, I'll let that be enough for now… But you'll have to actually tell me something next time I ask," she said.
"Sounds fair. What do you want to do today?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, I feel like playing chess on the roof, interested?" she asked.
"Sure, but why chess?"
"I can't exactly move much, so my options aren't too varied…"
"Right."
"Maybe you'll actually win a round this time…"
"I won the last time I played chess."
"You were playing against Beast Boy…so, um… it doesn't count," she said.
"You're on…" he said, putting his mask back on.
After going to the roof and playing several games of chess, Robin had won a few times, but Raven still beat him overall. There were a few interruptions from Terra, Cyborg, and Starfire. Beast Boy had been put in charge of fixing the hole in the wall that Raven had made with his body. So, they didn't see much of him.
Later that night, Robin found a slip of paper with directions to Raven's 'guide'. When Raven fell asleep, Robin decided that he would go and talk to this 'guide' for himself. As quietly as he could, he got out of his sleeping bag and left Raven's room with the directions. There was a point where he asked himself if he should go through with what he was doing. If Raven found out, would she see it as a betrayal of her trust? That was possible, but he needed to know if this 'guide' was a threat. Leaving Titans Tower on his R-Cycle, Robin went to the location he got from the piece of paper. When he arrived, he looked around; he had gone far into the woods near the edge of the city. There was a single stone crypt; no tombstones of any kind were surrounding it. Shutting off his bike, he got off and walked to the door of the crypt. He opened the door and walked down the stairs, wary of every sound he made. Reaching the bottom of the steps, he entered the cavern lined with statues. Then, he heard a voice.
"You took longer to seek me out than I thought you would… Is the demon-child doing well? I suspect you would know," a cold, sharp, feminine voice echoed across the room.
"Who are you?" Robin asked as he prepared to defend himself.
"Odd… why do you, and she, ascribe so much value to identity? Or is that a human characteristic?"
"Tell me who you are, or-."
"Do not waste another word; I forgot my name some years ago. All you should know is that I was an ally of the demon-girl's mother, and I am helping the girl rebuild her mind."
"Why?"
"I owe it to her mother…"
"Then why hide?"
"We all have our enemies. Mine just happen to be more persistent than yours."
"Show yourself."
"Again with the identity concern…Very well."
Robin saw the door to the far end of the cavern open and observed a tall, cloaked figure, surrounded by… a shadowed mist? It wasn't something he had seen before.
"Satisfied?" the figure asked.
"No…" Robin said.
"Let us move on from the identity concerns… You did not answer the question I posed to you when you entered."
"Raven has been better…She was attacked a few days ago and needed stitches."
"Attacked? How?"
"Something broke in, it was a creature or something, Raven had said."
"I'm sure you tended to her wounds well enough…"
"How do you know that I-?"
"I did not; it seemed like a logical assumption. If someone else had done it, I'm sure it would be they who I would be speaking to and not you."
"Why is that?"
"Usually, when someone cares for another, they tend to get involved where they normally wouldn't. The little that she said of you was enough for me to be able to guess as I did."
"If you don't have a name, what does she call you?"
"Identity, once more… noted. I told her to call me what she saw me as…"
"And that was?"
"'Shadow'. I assume that will be enough for you, as well?"
"I guess-."
"Very well. Now, what more do you want?"
"I want to know how you're going to fix her mind."
"Answer a question of mine, and perhaps I will tell you…"
"What question?"
"What is your name?"
"I think you know."
"And I need to be certain."
"Robin."
"Ah… I cannot tell you. She cannot know ahead of time, or what needs to be done will not work, and I can't chance you letting the information pass through your link to her."
"How do you know about our bond?"
"She told me about it. Now, go and see to her medical…and possibly other…needs. This will all be over in time, and she will be whole again."
"What do you mean by 'other' needs?"
"Even I do not know... She is to be back here in another week, that is all the more I will say. Now, leave."
"I still don't trust you."
"Hardly surprising… Unfortunately for you, I am her only chance to heal her mind safely, so you will have to come to terms with your suspicions for now. Leave," Shadow said.
And with that, Shadow turned around and disappeared into her darkened room as the door closed behind her. Then, Robin turned and left, analyzing every letter of every word he had heard from 'Shadow.' No chance that Shadow was completely "good news." There was something else to this whole thing, he just knew it. When he exited the tomb, he shut the door behind him, and then jumped on his bike. Robin rode back to the tower, now concerned about what Raven might say if she found out, and if he should tell her about it or not. Getting off his bike, he walked up the stairs, deciding the elevator would be too loud. He quietly walked down to Raven's room and slipped in. Carefully, he got back in his sleeping bag and tried to fall asleep. It wasn't easy, as his mind was processing too many things. Focus on something else, he thought. Focus on…something more pleasant, maybe. Robin decided that it would have to be something really amazing to get his mind to want to focus on it. The image he had gotten from Ravens un-controlled thought of him with her in her bed, both undressed, flowed into focus. He still felt embarrassed about accidentally getting that thought from her, but it was a tender image, and it was enough to calm him so he could sleep.
The next morning, Robin was awakened by Raven, who was kneeling beside him and gently nudging him. He hadn't exactly gotten much sleep because of his trip last night, so he was slow to wake. Opening his eyes slightly, he focused on Raven's figure.
"What is it?" Robin asked.
"I need your help…" Raven replied.
"With what?" he asked.
Raven pointed to her side. There was a blood stain on her leotard, which meant that her wound had opened again. She probably tore a stitch, Robin thought, but the bandage should have lessened that risk. Getting up, he went with her down to the infirmary. Raven's limp was gone, which he was glad to see. She sat on the operating table once more. Looking at her, he could feel her emotions rise through their link. He knew why when he realized that there was no tear in her uniform; she would have to tear a new hole, or take it off.
"I could tear it, you have plenty of other ones… that one is already stained with blood," he said.
"Sure, but I'll tear it," she said.
"Don't trust me to only tear that spot?" he asked.
"Not completely…" she said.
"That hurts," he said, acting sad.
"Umm…deal with it…" she said, tearing a small hole in her uniform.
Looking at her side, he saw that the bandage was soaked in blood. Raven carefully peeled it off herself, and Robin looked at the stitches. Only one had been torn. Getting a new stitch, he applied it carefully. Raven cleaned the blood off and put the new bandage on herself. It had been easier to endure this time around.
"You'll still have to leave the bandage on for another day," Robin said.
"I know. I'll handle it. Maybe we should sort those files today; we don't have much to do," Raven said.
"We could do that. I want to sleep some more, first."
"That isn't happening."
"Okay…Why not?"
"You will be busy sharing something else with me."
"Can we wait until later to deal with that?"
"No. I will start passing out again; soon, so I need to use the time I have during the day." She said.
"Oh. Sure, we can talk…" he said.
They walked back to Raven's room, not hearing anything from the others, they must still be sleeping. He should be going back to sleep, too, he needed more rest, it was too early. Walking in, Robin sat on Raven's bed, but she remained standing.
"Are you going to stop passing out, at some point?"
"Not for a little while, I have to adjust to the spell my guide helped me learn before I can keep healing my mind. So, it could be a few days or so."
"Right…"
"What?"
"Why can't I just go and talk to this 'guide'?"
"You can't, because you will just threaten my guide, which could complicate things for me."
"…What if I said that I already talked to her?"
Raven looked at him, surprised at first, and then angry.
"I told you not to…" she said, her voice rising.
"You can't expect me to sit and let you go and get help from someone we don't know if we can trust," he said, matching her tone.
"At one point, you didn't trust us, and that changed, didn't it? Why can't we give others a chance?" she asked.
"I never said it changed," he said.
"…So, you still don't trust us? We've been through so much, helped each other, and more, and you…still don't trust one of us?" she asked.
"How can I, when you don't tell me anything until it's almost too late? When you don't tell me where you're going?"
"You just need to know everything, don't you? You shouldn't have gone to see her, it could have ruined my chances, but you needed to know!"
"I care, I was worried about you, and if I can, I'm going to stop you from getting hurt."
"If you really cared, you would have trusted me to make my own choice wisely. What you can't admit is that you don't trust anyone but yourself, and we're only teammates to you! I know why your real, stored feelings for me appeared practically over-night, it was because I was in trouble, and you couldn't stand losing me before you learned if I felt the same!"
"That's- that's not true. At all!"
"Oh no? Then why are you here? You didn't have to stay with me; you wanted to spend as much time with me as you could if it turned out that I was doomed."
"Maybe…but you didn't try and stop me."
"I'm regretting that now!"
"What don't you regret? You have lashed out at all of us over the years, every time we reach out, you shove us away. Now, you could be at death's door, so you what? Decide to get involved with me, so you can know what it feels like to be desired and find some comfort before it's too late? Don't act like you're being selfless, here!"
"You're a controlling, selfish ass!"
"And you're a cold, arrogant bitch!"
Turning away from Robin, Raven tried to calm herself, this was getting out of hand. Everything he said had stung, but it felt worse because he had been the one who said it. She felt like punching him, throwing something, using her powers on him, or … Raven surprised herself when instead of rage, she felt deep sorrow. Tears followed and she began to cry slowly.
Robin watched Raven, feeling angry, hurt, and confused. Where all of his words came from, he didn't know, but it all sounded true. They had never fought like that before, and little came close to matching it. Expecting her to follow up with some kind of assault, he listened and heard her as she started to cry. He felt ten times worse upon hearing that. Getting up, he walked over to her and gently turned her to face him.
"Hey…I'm sorry, Raven," he said.
"I'm sorry too…I…don't want to die," she said, crying.
"You won't. I'm going to help you and Shadow heal your mind."
"It might not even work…"
"Don't think that, it will work."
"If you don't want to be involved anymore…I'll understand."
"What? I'm not ending this because we yelled at each other once. Please stop crying," he said,
"I'm trying," she said.
Wiping away her tears, Raven tried to find her center. She didn't think he would actually leave, but this was new for them. She was surprised that she hadn't passed out from the flood of emotions that had bombarded her. There were the responses to their fight, her effort to balance those, and the newfound power that was sustaining her ability to maintain that balance. Everything was spinning. Finding her center at last, she turned her attention back to Robin.
"We have some things now we need to discuss, don't we?" Raven asked.
"Yes… Let me start…" Robin said.
Even though he was still hurt by her angry comments, he felt better from having that fight. Now, he knew exactly what she wanted, what she thought, and how he could make things better. What she would do wasn't on his mind; he wanted to do something for her. There was a lot that she had to deal with then, and his desires felt insignificant in the face of her problem.
"Alright," Raven said.
"You're right, I don't trust easily…" Robin started.
"No, that was just emotion, I didn't mean-," she said.
"Yes, you did, at least some part of you did. So, I'm going to trust you… And tell you why I don't trust easily. When I was really young, I lost…" he said, suddenly unable to find the words.
Remaining silent, Raven gave Robin time to work through what she saw as a great deal of sorrow. She could almost sense the rest of what he would say, but wasn't sure, and already felt sympathetic. Giving him an encouraging look, she waited. They stood in silence for a minute or two before Robin spoke again.
"Sorry… I lost… I mean. My parents were killed…," Robin said, struggling to speak.
"I'm sorry…" Raven said, unsure of what else she could say.
"Some gangsters that worked for an influential crime-lord were behind it, and we worked hard to bring them to justice," he said.
"Who's 'we'?" she asked.
"Remember when we all met and I told all of you that I had worked with someone before? That person helped me out a lot, and I owe them… so much," he said.
"So, who are they?" she asked.
"…I know I said I would trust you, but-," he started.
"You're not sure if they will…" she said.
"Right," he said.
"Okay... I understand. Is there anything else you want to tell me?" she asked.
"Well, 'Robin' isn't my name, so-," he started.
"You don't have to tell me that," she said.
"What?" he asked surprised.
"I met 'Robin,' I like 'Robin,' and I wouldn't know you as anyone but you," she replied.
"That sounds…thought out. Why?" he asked.
"We both have a lot of awful things that have happened to us before we created the Titans, and our identities. You knew a lot more about me than I knew about you, and after we're both comfortable with what we know of each other, we'll put those things behind us. Your real identity will just remind you…" she said.
"What about you? Is 'Raven' your actual name?" he asked.
"No… My real name carries a great deal of bad memories, for me, and my father's victims. I wasn't always in control and what I saw my father do through me was… Just-… As far as I'm concerned, that name is an alias for ruin," she replied, "I want to be more than I was, for the world, and for you. So, I don't think we should share-."
The power had gone out again and the lights went out, Raven fell silent. Grabbing his communicator, and positioning himself closer to Raven, Robin called Cyborg. This wasn't happening again, they would stop this…thing.
"Cyborg, report!" Robin said into his communicator.
"I'm here. I sent Terra and Starfire your way already, I'm heading to check the circuits now," Cyborg said.
"Where's Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
"Not sure, I tried to call him, but he's not answering his communicator. We can handle it, though," Cyborg said.
"Get back to me when you check the circuits," Robin said.
"Will do. How's Rae?" Cyborg asked.
"…Peachy…" Raven replied, sarcastically.
"We'll get this thing," Robin said to her.
"Going to the circuits, call you in a few," Cyborg said, hanging up.
"Where the hell is Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
"I only know where he'll be after this…" Raven replied, "And he'll beg for mercy."
"No kidding. Sense anything?" Robin asked.
"No… I couldn't sense it last time either, and that's a bad sign," she said.
"What exactly do you mean?" he asked.
"If I can't sense it, it doesn't have a pulse, or any kind of energy. Or my mind is in worse shape than I had thought," she said.
"We'll stop it," he said.
Robin held onto Raven and moved into a corner of the room, moving slowly. He pulled her behind him and stood in front of her defensively. Hearing something move, he pulled out his bo staff and prepared himself. Behind him, Raven was using her powers to create a barrier around both of them. This time, Raven sensed the intruder, and while she couldn't identify it, she knew where it was. She put her hand on Robin's shoulder and pushed her mental sight into his mind's eye. Now, Robin knew where it was moving, and launched several bird-a-rangs at it. There was an odd howl and a thud as the creature got hit and fell. Sensing it recover, Raven pushed more power into the barrier she had put up. The door to Raven's room opened and Terra entered with Starfire, who held a green flame in her palm to light the room. At that moment, the creature bounded towards Robin and Raven, striking the barrier, and then falling back. Raven felt the approach of exhaustion; she would pass out soon if she kept the barrier up. Letting the barrier fall, she instead focused her power through her link to Robin, so he could see the creature. Terra had no rocks to manipulate, and relied on her strength instead, as she pounced on the dark intruder. The creature struggled free and lashed out at Starfire as she got closer. From there, it leapt back towards Robin, who bashed it with his bo staff, and it was sent reeling in pain. Starfire threw several bolts of fire at it, only to miss it as it swiftly dove aside. The creature dashed across the room and around Robin to latch itself on to Raven. Focusing her power, she blasted it off, and Robin grabbed it. He felt burning pain as the attacker drove its claws across his arm and he kicked it to Terra, who was ready with a blanket she had grabbed off of Raven's bed to trap it. Somehow, the creature managed to navigate through the air and land off to the side. Raven felt her side, as blood trickled from the re-opened wound, and grew angry. She no longer felt weak and found something old return in her mind. Her father was gone, but apparently the rage-fueled power had not left with him, and she blasted the creature with pure red flames. It was set ablaze and twisted around, howling and rolling, trying to put out the fire. Terra and Starfire ran over to trap the creature, but it dashed past them, figure still aflame, out of the room, and it was gone. The power returned, and the lights came back on.
Glancing around, Robin noticed that Terra and Starfire had a few scrapes and cuts, but nothing serious. On the other hand, there was a gash across his arm, and it felt a lot worse than it looked. He put pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding. Turning around, he saw that Raven's wound had opened again, and she was holding her side.
"What the hell was that thing?" Terra asked.
"It is like nothing I have seen before. Are you sure it is of this planet?" Starfire asked.
"We don't know where it's from if we don't know what it is," Terra replied.
"Yes, I see how that makes sense," Starfire said.
"Cyborg?" Robin asked, talking into his communicator.
"You guys okay?" Cyborg asked.
"Not exactly…" Raven replied.
"Did you find anything?" Robin asked.
"Same story: no intruder, no circuit problem, and no help from Beast Boy," Cyborg said.
"Damn… What about the analysis on that link from last time?" Robin asked.
"It isn't finished yet, the computer is still checking for matches," Cyborg said.
"Can you speed that up?" Terra asked.
"Hey, who are you talking to here? If I could have sped it up, I would have," Cyborg said.
"Where is Beast Boy?" Starfire asked.
"I don't know, he didn't answer his communicator," Cyborg said.
"Thrilling investigation, really, but some of us need help before dying of blood loss," Raven said, annoyed.
"Right. Starfire, go check on Beast Boy, and Terra; go and see if that creature left something we could follow. Raven and I are going to go and patch ourselves up," Robin said.
"Certainly," Starfire said, flying out of the room.
"Maybe I should go with you two, you look like you could use another hand," Terra offered.
"We can handle ourselves, I need you to see if we could track that creature somehow, and then find the others. Raven and I will join you soon," Robin said.
"Okay," Terra said, giving them one last look before leaving the room.
Putting his arm around Raven, Robin walked with her out of her room and down the hall. They saw Terra picking something up off of the floor as they passed her. Robin was curious as to what it was, but decided to ask later. Turning the corner, they went into the infirmary and closed the door behind them. Raven sat down once more on the operating table. This time, Robin sat down beside her with the medical kit in hand.
"I'll do your stitches first, and then you can help me with mine," Robin said.
"Maybe we should do yours first, it will be hard for you to keep your arm extended to help me," Raven said.
"No, I can handle it, and your injury is worse," he said.
"If you insist," she said.
Slowly, Robin moved his arm and positioned it near her wound, while he got the stitches with his other hand. Then, he remembered something he had been too busy to really notice earlier: Raven had thrown a fireball. It was more worrisome than intriguing. Could this be a sign of something awful, or did she just not tap into that unless she was in a dire situation? Applying her stitches, he decided to bring it up later. His arm was really starting to hurt, but he pushed through it. Raven now needed a full twelve stitches across her side; he might need five, so his was small in comparison.
"Are you almost done?" Raven asked.
"Just one more…There, now you can do mine," Robin said, handing her the stitches after applying a bandage across her side.
"Alright, hold out your arm," she said, taking the kit from him.
As she applied the stitches, Raven thought back to their conversation that had been interrupted by the fight. Robin had trusted her with a lot and she had been feeling closer to him. She wanted to return to that moment, the feelings she had experienced from that conversation had returned, she wanted to express what she was feeling, but it didn't seem like now was the time to bring it up. Damn the time, I might pass out, we're talking now, she thought. Talking isn't enough for this, actually, she thought.
"Do you really want to know my real name?" Raven asked.
"After what you said earlier, I don't care what it was, I care what you are now," Robin answered, smiling.
"Then, you don't have to tell me anymore about your past. Your future looks more interesting…" Raven said, returning the smile.
Finishing the last stitch on Robin's arm, Raven put the bandage over it, rose from the table, and walked over to put the kit away. Robin stood up, stretched, and walked over to Raven. Something in her eyes when she had spoken made him curious. They still had plenty they needed to talk about, but his mind wasn't on any of that. He put his arms around her and gently turned her around to face him.
"Are you alrigh-," he started.
Without a word, Raven stepped closer into Robin's arms and met his lips with her own. Surprised, he then felt her arms around his neck and found the desire to deepen their kiss. Robin slowly walked her backwards to the counter, letting his hands glide along her back. Feeling him move her, she gently tugged at his lips with her bite. He breathed out sharply, feeling her teeth, and she gave a soft laugh. He broke free of her bite and kissed her, as she began to twist a few of her fingers in his hair. Finding the counter-top, she sat and wrapped her legs around him. He placed one of his hands on her face, the other across her back. Raven kissed Robin again and then broke off for a moment, looking into his eyes.
"I-," Raven started. Hearing the door open, she panicked and pushed him back, hopping off of the counter.
"Are you two doing okay?" Terra asked, walking in.
"Yeah…" Robin said, combing his hair back with his hand, annoyed at the interruption.
"What is it?" Raven asked.
"Starfire says Beast Boy has an… issue," Terra said.
"Well, she's not wrong," Raven said.
"No, there's really something wrong with him," Terra said.
"What?" Robin asked.
"She didn't say, she only told me to come and get both of you," Terra said.
"Alright, let's go," Robin said.
Following Terra, Robin looked to Raven, who was walking beside him, and she just smiled. He wanted to say something and he knew she wanted to talk, but it would all have to wait. Then, she took his hand in hers, and he heard her voice in his head: "We'll get back to that after we deal with them… I wish we didn't have to…" He thought back: "Then, we'll talk about it. What do you think is wrong with Beast Boy?" She thought to him: "Is that a serious question? Fine, I'm not sure, but it can't be good." They walked to the living room and upon entering, Raven let go of Robin's hand. Starfire ran over to them.
"There you are, are you healed?" Starfire asked.
"We'll be fine. Terra said you thought there was something wrong with Beast Boy?" Robin asked.
"You should have been more specific…" Raven said.
"Yes. He is hurt and…I cannot understand what he is saying," Starfire said.
"Well, where-?" Robin started.
"I didn't do it. You did. I didn't!" Beast Boy said.
The group walked over around the couch and saw Beast Boy lying on the floor, covered in blood. His uniform was torn and he had several burn marks across his chest, along with several wounds that had torn stitches.
"Beast Boy? What happened?" Robin asked.
"I didn't do it. I told myself I wouldn't, I didn't think I could. But I got revenge. You did. I know, I told them," Beast Boy said, staring off into the distance.
"What?" Robin asked.
"See? I cannot understand him," Starfire said.
"But how did he get hurt?" Robin asked.
"I do not know," Starfire said.
"He must have gotten attacked by that creature after we did," Raven guessed.
"That could make sense, but where is it?" Terra asked.
"Terra. Did she tell you? I don't know. I wanted to see. I had to do something. Sorry I didn't…I know I did it…" Beast Boy said.
"Okay, so he got attacked, but what is making him talk that way?" Robin asked.
"I do not know," Starfire said," he won't stop.
"Raven, can you help him?" Terra asked.
"I can heal wounds, but not minds. Something has really gone to his head," Raven said.
"So, what do we do?" Terra asked.
"He isn't balanced; I don't think we should leave him by himself, we don't know what he might do. If he got away from us, he might hurt someone," Raven said.
"We could put him in the interrogation room, it is probably the most secure place in the tower, and we could keep an eye on him," Robin suggested.
"This is just…weird," Terra said.
"Yeah. There has to be someone behind this," Robin said.
"There's no one; no intruder, no saboteur, and every criminal we have fought is either locked up or on ice…" Raven said.
"Well, it has to be someone," Robin said, "Where's Cyborg?"
"He is checking the analysis of that metal link you gave him," Terra said.
"Good. Can you take Beast Boy to the interrogation room? Make sure you keep an eye on him. Raven and I are going to go and rest," Robin said.
"Looks like she's ahead of you on that one," Terra said, pointing to Raven, who was lying on the sofa. Robin went over to Raven and nudged her, she didn't react and her eyes were shut; she was out cold. He assumed that this was the response to that spell; she would be passing out more often now. Carefully, Robin lifted Raven off the couch. His arm began to hurt as he did so, but it wasn't anything he couldn't deal with to carry her.
"Aww…that's sweet," Terra said, jokingly.
"Quiet. Get Beast Boy to the interrogation room. And don't tell Raven I carried her," Robin said.
"Okay," Terra said.
Robin carried Raven out of the living room and down to her room. Walking in, he looked around, he had forgotten about the damage. Gently, he laid Raven down on her bed. Looking down at her, he smiled, but was concerned about her, wondering how Shadow would heal her. His communicator went off and he picked it up.
"Cyborg, what is it?" Robin asked.
"Is Beast Boy with you?" Cyborg asked.
"No, Terra and Starfire are taking him to the interrogation room. Why?" Robin asked.
"You and Raven need to come and see this…" Cyborg said.
"Raven is sleeping," Robin said.
"Man, just get down here. Now."
(Chapter 10 will be up next week. ~RavensMind~)