Robrae Weekend 2023 Prompt: Birds
Circe was never in the Teen Titans Animated Series, but she's a perfect fit for this story, so taking some creative license. This is set after the bond is formed in Season 3, but before the Terror of Trigon arc in Season 4.
Please do not repost or copy/paste.
It was a fairly regular Monday morning, Beast Boy was still asleep, Starfire was bathing Silkie, Raven was meditating on the roof, Cyborg was making breakfast and Robin was finalising the weekly training schedule. He was thinking of doing personalised sessions to target individual key weaknesses when the consul started blaring, a Titan was under attack!
The Titans assembled in the lounge in front of the console. Robin was frowning as he read the brief message… "Under attack… Help… Donna."
Cyborg didn't need Robin's short order to triangulate the signal from Donna Troy's communicator. The response surprised him… 'what was Donna doing in Jump?' The Titans arrived downtown within 5 minutes of receiving the alert, via Raven's soul-self. They emerged from the wisps and swirls, but before Robin could shout his trademark "Titans, Go!" Raven's gravelly voice stopped him, with a "Robin… wait."
He hesitated, despite his obvious concern to get Donna, gave the order for the team to wait. Raven's eye's were still glowing her power dancing at her finger tips at full strength. She levitated into her crossed leg mediative position, as her soul-self detached and soared towards the commotion.
Robin used the time to come up with several strategies, so he could select the best one based on Raven's intel. Beast Boy interrupted his musing with, "Er Dudes… where did all these pigs come from?"
The Titans looked around, sure enough, there were a lot of pigs for downtown Jump, most were running from the sounds of explosions coming from outside Raven's favourite book store. At first he wondered if Slade had returned, detonating explosives in highly populated areas certainly matched his M.O. … but pigs? Slade never worked with animals…
He was just beginning to get the first whispers of concern as time ticked by, so it was with some relief he saw Raven's soul-self flying back towards them. The release of breathe from Cyborg being the only sign that he had shared Robin's concern.
Raven's soul-self merged back with her body. Both Robin and Cyborg walked towards her. Robin gently placed a hand on her shoulder, to offer support if she needed it. When she looked up into his eyes his stomach clenched, he didn't need the bond to know something was wrong. Cyborg came closer, Beast Boy and Starfire who had been watching the pigs now turned to look at her.
Raven took a deep breathe before lowering her hood… "It's Circe."
Although it was said in her normal emotionless monotone, Robin's eyes widened, Cyborg gasped and Starfire gave an eep before landing with a soft thud on the ground. Beast Boy looked around before grumbling, "Aw man! I never understand anything!"
Raven glanced at him, "Circe is an enchantress, her magical skills are both powerful and dark…"
She turned back to Robin, "I saw Donna fall, she's unconscious but breathing, we have to get her out."
Robin gave a curt nod, but gave Raven's shoulder a gentle squeeze. Circe was not to be trifled with, she made Mumbo look like a child's party magician. Turning to the team, he gave each member their assignment, "Starfire, get to Donna and get her back to the tower, use whatever force necessary to keep you both safe. Don't let Circe touch you or Donna and don't listen to her words, she takes charismatic persuasion to the next level."
Starfire's eyes started to glow with righteous anger, "I will fail you not, Friend-Robin. I will keep Friend-Donna safe!"
Robin then turned to Cyborg and Beast Boy, "If Circe is acting to her M.O. then these pigs are all police officers. Round them up, get them and any straggling members of the public to safety, we have to keep the pigs… er… I mean, officers safe until we find a way to reverse the spell."
Beast Boy immediately snapped to attention "Aye aye captain!" He said before turning into a sheepdog.
Cyborg face palmed, as Robin raised an eyebrow, "Yeah we got this Robin… Yo! BB, they're pigs not sheep!"
Beast Boy transformed back and gave an embarrassed chuckle, "Right…"
"Raven… you're with me, we're going after Circe"
Raven looked at him her violet eyes serene, but he saw the uncertainly beneath, giving her should another gentle squeeze, he whispered for her ears only, "We got this."
Raven didn't respond in words, but inclined her head in acknowledgment, she might not believe him, but she trusted him.
Robin looked around, "Be careful, Circe is dangerous, she once turned Wonder Woman into a pig… Batman had to make a deal to get her to revert the spell… he's never told me what Circe made him do… it must have been [his masked eyes narrowed] diabolical… Titans! Go!"
The five broke apart, focused… Robin started towards the red smoke and explosions, but was stopped by Raven. As their eyes made contact Robin was once again swept into Raven soul-self, emerging a moment later behind Circe. They paused watching as Starfire went into fierce warrior princess mode, dodging Circes spells, pigs and falling debris edging towards Circe in a full frontal assault… Robin glanced back at Raven, a curt nod the only acknowledgment of her play.
Before Circe could sense them, Robin threw three exploding discs at her. The momentary lapse in her concentration was the only opening Starfire needed… she swooped in, picked up the unconscious Donna, and flew away to become a green star dot in the sky.
Circe gave a cry of frustration turning round to see who had dared attack her and force her to lose her prey.
Robin and Raven were both in fighting formation, Robin crouched in a martial arts pose, Raven floating to his right, eyes black and black magic glowing around her hands.
Robin's mouth dropped open as Circe turned in his direction, his heart stopped at the sight of a stunning redhead with red glowing eyes and alabaster skin. Her hourglass figure was dressed in black combat trousers and tank. Noticing Robin's momentarily stunned expression, she tossed her full mane of red hair back over her shoulder and in a smouldering voice murmured "No mortal man can resist me…"
She was interrupted by a barely muffled snort from Raven, "Don't flatter yourself, he's like that with all the redheads he mets."
The words delivered in Raven's gravelly monotone, along with a sharp slap through their bond was enough to break Robin from Circe's spell. Raven smirked as Robin spluttered, going slightly red.
There was a moments silence as Circe and Raven regarded each other, if Robin had to describe it, it would be like Raven and Circe were engaged in a magical duel, scooping each other out, "trigger fingers" itching and ready for the smallest provocation.
The silence was broken by Circes laughter, soft but unsettling. Her eyes flicking to Robin, "So young mortal, you think that the Daughter of Darkness can save you… from me? Mortal men are all the same… Robin, is it?… I suppose you might make a sweet little pet…"
Robin frowned, 'Who was the Daughter of Darkness?… and he was nobodies "pet"'
Raven didn't say anything, but her eyes which had been glowing black were now twinned and glowing red, the black magic had extended from her hands to swirl round her, in a show of power and strength.
Circes eyes were also glowing red and her red magic was swirling around her with a definite feel of malice.
Raven must have sensed Circe's decision to attack the moment she make it with her telepathic powers, because Circe cried out "Metamorfotheí se Poulí!" at the exact same time that Raven cried out "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
Black magic crashed into red and the resulting explosion made all the Hollywood special effects look mediocre at best. Circe, Raven and Robin were all lifted off their feet and thrown backwards, as a magical mushroom cloud of smoke emitted from the point at which their magic had clashed.
The smoke cleared to a sight no one would have believed. A small adorably disheveled robin was tweeting away, his only distinguishing feature of the young man he'd once been, a small R marking in black feathers where his robin patch would be on his uniform. A black Nevermore-Raven was also standing in the blast zone, her black feathers almost gleaming purple in the sun, but most noticeable was the four eyes glowing an ungodly red. The third was the most exotic and stunning, with brilliant red plumage was a momentary stunned into silence, Bird of Paradise.
The Bird of Paradise let out a terrifying cry which quietened the tiny robin, the Raven merely narrowed her eyes at the Bird of Paradise, moving only to stand in front of the now silent robin.
Then in came the telepathic voice of Circe, "What have you done? You would dare attack me, Circe, Enchantress of the Amazons, to protect… a mere mortal man?"
You didn't need to be an empathy to feel the anger and malice emitting of Circe, her red magic hit the spot Raven had been standing. Raven had reacted a split second before Circe, whisking herself and the robin out of harms way. With a cry of rage, the Bird of Paradise disappeared in a cloud of red smoke.
Raven's portal opened in the Titans Tower lounge, in which she unceremoniously dumped an even more crumpled Robin.
Robin managed to use his wings in an action similar to how he fixes his hair to fix his feathers. After realigning his feathers, Robin bounced over to Raven, the scowl on his little robin face making him look cute instead of authoritative, which she supposed was the look he was going for.
Robin let loose another flurry of furious robin tweets. Raven simply looked back, impressively managing her trademark expressionless, despite the bouncing robin. Eventually, she telepathically said in her firm monotone, "Robin! Calm down!"
Robin stopped his furious bouncing and tweeting as Raven's voice echoed directly in his head.
"Raven?" He responded, realising she was speaking to him telepathically, "What just happened?"
Before Raven could respond, Cyborg and Beast Boy walked in the room, looking warn out, and Starfire walked in, to grab a snack. All three of them glazed at Raven and Robin in a mixture of confusion. Before anyone could do something rash, like try to toss them out of a window, Raven extended her telepathic link briefly, explaining what had happened. The next heartbeat Starfire was hugging the tiny robin who was attempting to break free from the crushing hold, "Friend Robin! Are you not the cutest robin? Not a pig? But you are the cutest, yes?"
When Beast Boy's "Ah Star?" failed to stop her, the Raven gave her a sharp peck. Starfire dropped the gasping robin more out of surprise than pain, "Friend Raven…?"
Instead of responding, Raven teleported Robin to her room, dumping him on the bed while she flew to her books on animal metamorphosis.
Meanwhile, in the lounge a slightly bewildered trio looked at each other, "Well I've aways called them the birds," Beast Boy chirped up, trying to make light of the situation.
"But what will happen to Friend Robin and Friend Raven?" Starfire said, her voice reflecting her uncertainty.
Cyborg took a deep breath, then he place one hand on Starfire's shoulder and the other on Beast Boys, "Individually, Robin and Raven are formidable, together, the birds are unstoppable, in any form."
After a moment of silence, he said, "Why don't we go check on Donna? I'm sure if Raven or Robin need us, they will find us."
The trio picked up some snacks and headed to the med bay, to the Titan they could help.
Robin watched Raven as she levitated out book after book, flipping them open with her powers, before leaving them open on specific pages and moving onto the next one. As he got more and more worked up Raven's powers started to falter, she glanced over to him. She asked him telepathically, "What is it Robin?"
"Nothing…" he muttered with the faint hint of sulkiness.
Raven didn't bother verbally responding to that, but she did somehow managed to pull off the Nevermore-Raven version of raising an eyebrow.
Annoyed with himself for being annoyed with the situation, Robin was frustrated. He was used to being the leader, being in charge, making decisions, coming up with a strategy… but he couldn't do any of that. All he could do was watch Raven, watching him, waiting for him to explain something he didn't actually understand. Bruce had taught him almost every martial art form on the plant, but he had no idea how to "talk about his feeling". So he did the only thing he could, sent his thoughts and emotions to her via the bond.
Robin caught the briefest glimpse of Raven's eyes soften as they turned a warm deep purple, before she turned away. She had been taught to be emotionless or failing that to suppress her emotions to avoid her father raining terror on her world… and yet in an almost unconscious act her soul-self flew over to him in the trademark shape of a raven, the wings gently wrapping around him in a hug. Robin's surprise melted to contentment, he felt warm and safe. He briefly wondered why Beast Boy always complains of her soul being cold. To him, her soul always felt like a warm summers day with jasmine and lavender scents in the air.
Under Cyborg's care, Donna soon recovered, when her comment on seeing Raven and Robin still in bird form of "well at least she didn't turn you into pigs" was met by two stoic stonewall expressions, she cringed and offered to return to Themyscira and try to find an answer there.
Robin watched while Raven continued to levitate her books, flip through, and discard, he could sense her getting more and more annoyed and frustrated. "Raven…?"
"Yes, Robin." Raven responded without turning round.
"Who is the Daughter of Darkness?"
There was a moments silence, then the books crashed to the floor. Raven stood in the middle, looking lost, alone… and scared… her soul-self gave Robin a gentle squeeze before remerging with her body. Following it's unspoken request, Robin also fluttered down and bounced over to her still figure, "Raven…"
She took a deep breathe, she had hoped this day would not come, because when he knew the truth, he would surely walk away from her, just like his mentor had 4 years ago. She'd only been 12 when Trigon had destroyed Azarath, she hadn't been able to stop him, so she'd come to Earth to beg the Justice League to help her… they hadn't, Zatanna had outed her as the "Daughter of Darkness", called her evil, told them she was born to do unspeakable things… Superman and Wonder Woman had been hesitant to condemn a child for her fathers crimes, but Batman had used his veto to deny her assistance. She hadn't really known what to do after that, so she'd sat on the edge of the fountain outside the Hall of Justice, trailing her fingers in the pool, watching the water play and dance while it could, before her father burned it all away. Then Superman had come out to sit next to her, cleared his throat and suggested she went to Jump City, California, he'd pressed $20 in her hand, his eyes full of regret and pity as he walked away. She'd wanted to refuse the money, but he'd gone in the blink of an eye. She'd taken his advice and met Robin in Jump City… she'd been honest then too, 'I'm not the hero type. Trust me. If you knew what I really am… you wouldn't want me around.' His response had monetarily stunned her, 'I know enough.'
Perhaps he'd won a piece of her heart in that moment, giving her the first ray of hope. She may not always tell him everything, but she'd never lied to him, she wouldn't start now, he deserved the truth, "I am Robin."
He froze, his little robin eyes fixed on her face. She continued, "My father is sometimes referred to as… the Lord of Darkness, as his daughter, I was called the Daughter of Darkness"
Robin stared at her, wondering why others couldn't see what he could. She looked like a woman… well a Nevermore-Raven… awaiting execution. He hopped to stand right in front of her, so he was in her line of sight before his said "Alfred always said that the darkest hour was just before dawn… to me, you're not the darkness, you're the dawn."
Raven's eyes snapped to his, the power surge through the tower shattered every lightbulb in the tower… even the spare ones.
A few minutes past by and the birds continued to stare at each other, each amazed at the other.
Until Cyborg knocked on the door. "Er Rae?… Everything ok in there?"
Raven used her powers to open the door. Cyborg looked from Raven to Robin and back to Raven… cursing the fact that it was even harder to read their expressions as actual birds.
"We need to find Circe." Raven said flatly.
Cyborg blanched, "Er Raven, are you sure that's a good idea, I don't want her turning Star into a Starfish or me into an electric eel…"
He could have sworn the Nevermore-Raven rolled her eyes… can ravens do that?
"Our magic combined to cast this spell, we need to combine it again to reverse it." Raven explained.
"Raven…" Robin started but he was interrupted by Beast Boy.
"Dudes! This hot bird chick was at the front door! I turned into a bird of paradise too, but she said I was to get you birds outside or she'll turn me into a green pig forever…"
Raven and Robin exchanged a glance, then Robin nodded.
Cyborg scooped them up and carried them outside. To where Starfire was watching the "guest".
"Raven. Robin." Circe murmured her greeting.
Nevermore-Raven simply held her gaze. "Circe." Robin responded.
Leaving the somewhat annoyed Robin in the palm of Cyborg's hand, Raven fluttered down to stand in front of Circe.
"Circe… I'll make you a deal" Raven started.
The Bird of Paradise tweeted in amusement, "and what makes you think I'm interested in a deal?"
"You're still a bird…" Raven said in her monotone, refusing to take the bait, "meaning you need me to reverse the spell."
There was a pregnant pause, which was broken by Circe, "What do you propose?"
The Nevermore-Raven smirked internally. "We revert the spell, which returns all the people you changed into animals today in Jump City back into humans…" she paused, glancing back to Robin, "and Robin receives immunity to your magic along with your word that he will not be harmed by you or your… minions."
Circe looked at Nevermore-Raven in disbelief, "Why would I agree to those terms, little demon?"
Nevermore-Raven's eyes turned from violet to red and multiplied to four causing Cyborg and Beast Boy to take a few steps back.
Raven paused to glanced once again at Robin before looking her dead in the eyes, "Because if you don't, I go to my father… the Lord of Darkness… he'll revert us to our nature form… and then destroy you, your home and your earthly playground in retaliation."
Circe took a moment to ponder the facts and her choices, Raven was clearly her equal, she had already concluded that she needed her to reverse the spell. She would not spend eternity as a bird of paradise… if the daughter is her equal then the Lord of Darkness might not be able to kill her, but he would indeed be able to destroy her. The rumours were that there was a rift between father and daughter, that he was disappointed at her fraternising with the mortals, but he was also willing to give her her the illusion of freedom, knowing he has the power to make her return when the time comes. Perhaps he even loves her. He definitely needs her to access this dimension, so yes he will help his daughter, if she asks and destroy her in the process…
The Bird of Paradise, Circe, gritted her teeth, she saw no other way, "I accept your terms."
Raven levelled her eyes at her, "Your word."
The faintest glimmer of respect entered Circe's eyes, the little demon was clearly smart. "I, Circe of Greece, offer you, Raven of Azarath, my word on my honour and my life, that the mortal, Richard Grayson of Gotham, will not be harmed by me or any of those in my command now and forevermore."
Raven nodded regally, "I accept"
Once more Circe and Raven locked eyes. Circe spoke her spell "Metamorfotheí Xaná se ánthropo" at the exact same time that Raven spoke her more familiar mantra of "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!
There was another red and black explosion, another mushroom cloud of smoke, but when it cleared…
Cyborg gave a cry of joy to find a rather embarrassed Robin cradled in his arms, he used the opportunity to give Robin the biggest of all bro-hugs and ruffed his hair until it fell in a tousled black mop. He only stopped when Starfire attacked Robin with a rib crunching star-hug, resulting in Robin gasping out, "Star! Can't… breathe…"
Beast boy had transformed into a puppy dog and was currently jumping around him, looking at him in adoration and wagging his tail.
Circe looked at the small Titan family, focusing on Robin, who was clearly attempting to disengage from the team and come over to Raven. Then she flicked her gaze back to Raven who was now gazing at her with expressionless violet eyes. Circe murmured, thinking out loud, "Robin doesn't know… you haven't told him… your bond… it's strong… even though you've granted him freewill… perhaps that has made it even stronger… I think your father is wrong to discount it… it may yet be his undoing…"
As if waking from her own musing, Circe looked back at Raven… the little demon stared stoically back, standing firmly between Circe and her little make-shift family, willing to protect them… him?… at any cost. Circe eyes flickered between the two birds, now once again, in name only, perhaps the little demon will defeat her father to protect her soulmate, if the bond between them was strong enough, perhaps the soulmate would be able to rescue the little demon from her father's hell…
Out loud, Circe only said, "Farewell Daughter of Darkness… I'm sure we will meet again"
Raven watch Circe walk away, until she shimmered and was gone in a cloud of red smoke.
Robin had by now disentangled himself from Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy. He walked towards Raven,
"What did she say?"
"I…" Raven hesitated
The awkward silence was interrupted by Cyborg, "Booya! We got our birds back! Pizza on me!"
"I shall fetch the mustard!" Starfire exclaimed happily.
"Tofu!" Beast Boy exclaimed!
"No fake meat!" Raven retorted, eyes going red.
Beast Boy laughed, he loved being able to once again wind up his big sister.
Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask, which meant only Raven saw it. Raven never lied to him… but he knew that sometimes she deflected or omitted the truth… she'd tell him when she was ready…"Come on" Robin said, putting his arm around Raven.
Raven stiffened at the contact, but she didn't pull away, after another minute, she relaxed, allowing Robin to lead her to the T-Car.
"Maybe you should cut him some slack…" Robin whispered.
Raven turned to him in disbelief, "The last time you asked me to "cut him some slack", I did… he broke into my room, got sucked into my meditation mirror and almost broke my mind!"
Robin chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, conceding the point to Raven.
As they strolled to the T-Car, Robin briefly wondered if Raven would ever hug him like her soul-self had done when he was a robin. Whether she sensed his thoughts through the bond or whether it was just coincidence, she leaned into him, just a little, her hair tickling his face as it danced on the evening breeze. He tightened his grip just a little, to hold her just a little closer and perhaps it was the bond or perhaps he just knew, he realised it not a question of if she will hug him, but when… for Raven, he'll wait…
Small print:
- Teen Titans/Nightwing are owned by DC Comics.
- Raven and Nightwing were created by the dynamic duo of Marc Wolfman and George Perez.
- Dick Grayson was created and introduced as Robin by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.
- Circe is a figure from Greek mythology, she was first adapted for DC Comics by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter.
- Wonder Woman being turned into a pig is a reference to the "This Little Piggy" episode of the Justice League animated series, I won't give away the spoiler of how Batman wins back Wonder Woman, but possibly one of the sweetest WonderBat moments.
- This story takes characters from the awesome Teen Titans Animated Series and places them in an original work by me.