(Thanks again for the positive reviews everyone! They have been really helpful. On a side note, the story has reached page 100 in Microsoft Word and it isn't even finished yet. I am maybe half-way through drafting chapter 14 at the moment, and editing the previous two. Here is chapter 11. ~RavensMind~)
Chapter 11: Healing
"Yes, I trust her….She wouldn't jeopardize anything, she'd actually be able to help…She's not some girl I met walking down the street, she is my second-in command and we've worked well together…" Robin said, talking on his private communicator to his old friend and partner.
"Because it's time for us to move on from the Titans…What does that matter?...Fine. Yes, I'm dating her…Yes, it's getting serious…Will it be fine with you or not?...Thank you, it means a lot to us…We'll be there within the next few days…After Beast Boy going insane and attacking her, I don't think she's safe around him…We don't have any leads, I don't know who could have made him go crazy…There's no one…Yeah, we could use some more help with it…Thanks, we'll see you soon…She's-, actually, you might get along with her pretty well…Bye…" Robin said, hanging up.
As he put the communicator away, Robin started thinking about how he and Raven would get all of their things out of the tower and transport it that far. He wondered if Raven could use her powers to move everything, or if that was a tall order. She would have books to move mostly, those would weigh a ton, and he would have his equipment to haul…although he could probably re-stock when they got there. Moving wasn't the only concern on his mind. Robin was also contemplating going to see Shadow later with Raven. He didn't know what to expect, what he would do, or how he would handle watching her suffer through some spell. It would be worth it, if Shadow wasn't lying. Would he have to do anything? He wanted to help her. Recalling last night, he remembered how he had taken a chance and told Raven he loved her, and…he felt it was true. He didn't know how she was going to respond to it at the time, maybe he pushed her by saying it. They would talk later, as things seemed to get in the way of their plans. Hearing his door open, Robin turned and saw Raven entering.
"What did the M.R.I show?" Robin asked.
"Nothing…The screen turned red and exploded as soon as I turned it on…and then we heard a loud screech or something accompanied by a…laugh…" Raven said.
"What?" Robin asked, surprised.
"I know, we can't explain it either," Raven said.
"Do you have a clue as to who might be able to do this?"
"I was hoping you might…"
"This just keeps getting stranger."
"We need to get out of here…"
"I called and asked my friend about us staying with them. We can go when we want."
"That's great. What about the trust issue?"
"I convinced my friend that you will be nothing but helpful in watching over that city."
"So, what city is it, anyway?"
"…Gotham."
"Oh…You think we're ready to handle that city's crime?"
"Yes, we won't be alone in protecting it, either."
"Your friend will be working with us?"
"More like: we'll be working with them."
"Alright…I'm ready to go and see Shadow. Are you?"
"Maybe. I'm just…I wish I knew what you'll have to do."
"Me too…But these kinds of spells have specific…rules to them and they have to be followed carefully."
"I guess I'm ready then. Before we go, I wanted to talk to you about last night…Did it seem like I was pushing you into something?"
"A little…I'm not sure how to pace this at all, but…I really don't think I want to care… and I don't want to analyze if saying 'I love you' to each other was right or wrong at this point. Do you?"
"Not really. It was just on my mind."
"You're…sweet for bringing it up. I might as well tell you this…Terra questioned me about us on the way to the infirmary."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"She might try and follow up with you later…"
"Right. Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes. I told the others we would be going out to get lunch," she said.
"I'm tired of lying to them," he said.
"It won't be for much longer, now let's go," she said.
Raven and Robin left the tower together and Raven stepped through one of her black portals, pulling Robin through and they appeared just outside Shadow's crypt. Taking a few steps forward, Raven stumbled slightly.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked.
"…I'm starting to pass out. Help me inside?" Raven asked.
Putting his arm around Raven, Robin walked with her to the crypt and pushed the door open. They went down the stairs into the cavern, where they were greeted by Shadow, who was fixed in the center of the room. Was she waiting for them? How could she be? Raven wasn't expected back for several days yet. Helping Raven across the room to Shadow, Robin looked into the black, swirling mist; trying to figure Shadow out.
"You are early, girl…" Shadow said, "And you…are a predictable one, boy."
"She has been wounded a couple of times and wanted to know if it slowed her mental healing," Robin explained.
"Quite the opposite, in fact… It would accelerate the process… And as I sense her mind now, I see it is ready for the next step…" Shadow said, "the next question is: is your mind ready as well?"
"Raven meditated with me and gave me my 'mind's eye'," Robin said.
"That will suffice. I see she is fading…" Shadow said, gliding over and examining Raven.
"Can you help that?" Robin asked.
"Temporarily," Shadow said, placing her misted hand across Raven's forehead. A crimson flash emitted from her hand across Raven's head and Raven stood on her own feet, no longer leaning on Robin. Shadow took a few steps back.
"Thank you…" Raven said.
"Now…You are ready for the next step, one final spell, and it will require some explanation first…" Shadow said.
"I'm listening," Raven said.
"I need to know something first...While Trigon is no more, you still have some powers he would wield through you, correct? I refer to the red flames he was accustomed to…" Shadow said.
"Yes…I used them when I was attacked, I didn't know I could, but they were there…Although they hadn't been there for a long time, I thought," Raven said.
"They were not. You regained their use during our last session. On to the spell… It was important for you not to know the specifics of this spell so your mind could not anticipate what it had to be ready for, and instead healed wholly, rather than partially. Now, that process is finished, the only act remaining is to fill the hole in your mind. For that, we need the person you have a mental link and bond to, which would be Robin…" Shadow explained.
"Me? Why?" Robin asked, growing concerned.
"There is no way to simply create some lone piece to fill the hole in her mind. Instead, we will need to "stretch" something that will fill in her mental break, and not "overlap" with anything else. This spell will over-strengthen your bond, so it fills in what she lost. Side-effects will be…permanent," Shadow said.
"And what are those side effects?" Raven asked.
"His soul will be tethered to your soul-self. If he had any powers, he would lose them, but he does not therefore that does not matter. You will feel what the other feels during intense moments…such as pain or anguish…And if he gets too far from you physically, your power will be drained trying to maintain the connection… And his soul will begin to deteriorate, it will replenish what it lost when your connection to him is strong again." Shadow explained.
"What do you mean by 'his soul will be tethered to my soul-self'?" Raven asked.
"His soul will exist as long as yours does. As half-demon, you can live forever, physical body or no. You have lost your body before, so you remember the effects and what it takes to regain it. This is perhaps the greatest side-effect of this spell…eternal life extended through the bond, so that one willing to endure the spell is…rewarded for saving the other's life," Shadow said.
"Eternal life?" Robin asked, surprised.
"Yes. The condition is that you must spend it with her…" Shadow said.
"Um…That's…wow," Robin said, trying to think, "Can I talk to Raven for a few minutes?"
"Very well. Quickly, though, she will not remain conscious for much longer, and she needs to be awake for the spell…" Shadow said, walking away from them to get something from her room.
Robin turned to Raven, who smiled at him. Her eyes drew him in and he felt that he would lose himself if he stared into them much longer. Taking her hand in his, he brought their clasped hands up between them.
"So much for pacing, hmm?" Robin asked.
"Yeah...I know this is unexpected and it's a lot to process or ask for, but…if you don't- if we don't do this…I'm dead…" Raven said.
"Right…I'm trying to wrap my head around 'eternity'…I do care about you, I know that I want you, but… Being bound together forever now is…sudden," Robin said.
"Yes, I know. I'm not comfortable with 'now' either, but I don't have a choice. You do…" she said.
"I said I would help you however I could and I'll do this for you. I just wanted to know how you felt and what you wanted after this," he said.
"We'll worry about 'after' when it's done…As for how I feel…" she said. As she finished her sentence, Raven brought their hands down while stepping closer, and kissed him. When he kissed her back, the image of them Raven had accidentally given him seemed to cement itself in his mind, and he wanted to take things further. They couldn't exactly do that then… Instead, he tenderly pulled her upper lip in between his and slowly tugged back. She followed the motion and put unclasped her hand from his, putting her arms around his neck. He met her lips with his own once more before breaking away, her arms still around him.
"I love you," Raven said.
"I love you too," Robin said.
"Touching… Are you ready to begin yet?" Shadow asked, walking back over to them with a book in her hands.
"Yes," Robin said, breaking away from Raven and turning to face Shadow, as Raven did the same.
"This will be very painful for both of you. Raven, you need to channel Trigon's flames during this spell and focus on your bond. Robin, you will need to focus on Raven. I will be focusing the flames while she channels them…" Shadow said.
"I thought it would involve blood, with the pain you are talking about," Robin said.
"Most of the worst pain you ever feel rarely yields a drop…Pain signals are in your mind, so when your mind is touched…the pain is far greater. Now, shall we begin?" Shadow asked.
"Yes," Raven said.
"Sit beside each other," Shadow instructed. Robin sat down with Raven.
"Close your eyes and meditate…Raven, focus on your link to Robin. Robin, keep your mind at ease. Now, Raven, begin to mentally push your emotions and thoughts across that link…" Shadow said.
As Raven funneled her state of mind across to Robin, he began to feel overwhelmed as time passed. His head started to ache and he felt as though he was having every emotion at once. He heard Raven's voice in his head: "You're doing well, keep your focus." Raven was starting to feel drained; she was worried she might pass out during the spell. Shadow sat down in front of both of them and began meditating with them.
"Good. Now that you can clearly feel that link open, I will keep it from closing…Start channeling the flames, Raven, but continue to focus your emotions through the link," Shadow said.
Finding the power, Raven summoned a red ball of fire in each of her palms, letting them hover inches above her fingertips. Her mind felt over-charged and her body felt as though it would be torn apart if another task was added. There was little pain, so far. Checking on Robin through her link, Raven felt that he was gradually experiencing more pain.
"Raven, I am going to begin reinforcing the link, during that, you and Robin will begin to feel the others intense afflictions… This point is where the pain begins to build and it will last several hours, even after this spell is complete. Continue to channel the flames and pushing your thoughts, Raven. And maintain your focus, Robin," Shadow instructed.
"What's…after that?" Robin asked, cringing from the pain.
"If her mind reacts well to this spell…then nothing. If it does not, we shall see…" Shadow said.
"I meant for the… rest of the spell," Robin said.
"As I said, the pain will become greater, and you will both endure it until the link is completely reinforced…" Shadow said.
"…I don't know if I'll last that long…" Raven said, feeling like she was going to pass out.
"You will. Once you start feeling his pain during this spell, the fainting issue will cease to be a concern," Shadow said, "Now, prepare yourselves…"
Still holding each fireball above her hands, Raven continued to funnel her emotions through the link. Raven felt something root itself in her mind and with that came her own emotions flooding back into her mind, along with a throbbing headache. It took her off guard and she focused on it, not noticing at first that she was starting to feel Robin's pain. When she heard him begin to groan, trying to endure the pain, she reached across through the link. Robin heard her voice in his mind ask: "Are you alright?" "I can handle it…I will handle it…" he thought back. Turning her attention back to her own mind, Raven finally noticed the rising pain throughout her body. She no longer felt like passing out, instead, her concern was enduring all of the pain that seemed to radiate throughout her mind.
"This is going much better than I had anticipated…Your link is strong. Next, I shall circulate the contents of the link between you several times, each time the pain will grow, and the speed of the thoughts will increase," Shadow said.
"For…how long?" Raven asked, now cringing just as much as Robin.
"Perhaps ten minutes. Last through it, Raven, and your mind will be fully healed. And you, Robin, will be tied to her. Consider this your final chance to re-consider…" Shadow said.
"I won't…change my mind," Robin said.
"Then I shall start," Shadow said.
Slowly, Raven felt the emotions begin to cross the link and then return a few moments later. The fireballs hovering over her hands began to spin more rapidly and change sizes as the emotions came and went. More pain passed through the link and both were twisting on the edge of what they believed they could handle. Another circulation. Raven's fireballs began to circle her, as she surrendered her control of them to her mind. Robin felt as though his skin was burning off his body. Another circulation. The fireballs lost their form and were now two rings of flames in the air around Raven. Feeling something dig into his skin, Robin opened one of his eyes and was shocked to see red markings along his arms, showing through his shirt. Looking across to Raven, he saw the same kind of marking along her face, legs, and showing through her leotard and cloak; he recognized them on her to be those of Trigon's. Having seen them before on her during the time of Trigon's defeat, he thought they meant trouble, and Robin looked to Shadow for an explanation.
"Such markings are inscribed on the human souls made eternal. We had some revising to do… And the fire is the 'pen'. Now close your eyes," Shadow said, sensing his open eye through his mask.
"I want…to know more…" Robin said.
"Raven can explain it to you after the spell is done…Close your eyes," Shadow said.
Closing his eye, Robin felt the inscribing continue. Another circulation. He didn't think he could hold back a scream any longer and he could hear Raven nearing the same precipice of pain. More of Raven's emotions fired across his mind, seeming to get pulled back each circulation. Another circulation. Raven felt the rings of fire begin to grow in size as she fought back a cry of agony. She knew it hadn't even been a few minutes since Shadow started this phase of the spell. It would get much worse…Another circulation. Together, they let out loud screams of excruciating pain as it finally broke their pain threshold. The rings of fire around Raven were raging through the air, now circling both of them.
"Endure. This is half-way complete…" Shadow said.
(I'm a little concerned how well this chapter will be received, oh well; explanation of certain concepts will be in later chapters. Chapter 12 will be up a week from now, as always. ~RavensMind~)