Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

The Healer

Chapter 15: A Confused Mind

Raven landed on a grassy plain. A cool breeze swept through the land, caressing her cheeks as it gave her an embrace. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In an instant, she felt at home here; or to put it much better, this place seemed to welcome her. It was dark because it was nighttime, but at the same time it was not so dark. Overhead was the moon, shining brightly and it seemed to focus its light on Raven. She looked at the sky and noticed the stars that twinkled. Then she looked around finding that there was nothing—just grass, trees, and the wind. Taking a step forward, something on the ground shimmered which immediately caught her attention. She went down to pick it up: it was a key. She looked at it questioningly, holding it up against the moon to get a better look at it. Another breeze came but this time it brought something with it…something that Raven has never heard in a long time. The wind whispered to her laughter. She stood still listening to it. The laughter was then followed by cheering. It grew louder and louder until it sounded like she was in the middle of it all. Raven turned around and before her was a circus tent. Within, the laughter and cheers were deafening.

She walked towards the tent and then stopped right before the doorway. What was in there she did not know, but the atmosphere was inviting. Yet, she still hesitated to go in. Suddenly, the cheering was silenced only to be replaced by terrible shrieking. Raven's eyes widened, shocked at the quick change in atmosphere. She dashed forward, but upon her entrance it was not a circus ring she saw but instead a giant hallway. It was a luxurious setting, similar to those hallways in castle-like mansions. In fact, Raven did find herself in a mansion. The giant door behind her creaked as it closed. She continued onward.

As she strolled down the hallway, she kept examining her surroundings. Everything around her seemed to have a lustrous glow indicating their extravagance. When she reached the corner, she was surprised to find someone there waiting for her. She jumped back and got into her battle-ready stance. However, the other person did not exhibit any kind of threat. He just stood there looking at her gleefully.

"Welcome back, Raven," said the stranger.

His voice was calm and welcoming, causing Raven to lower her arms. She stood straight just looking at him, but she had on a puzzled expression. The stranger noticed this and so he stepped forward and said,

"I'm sorry. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Robin. Well, Robin's consciousness, to be exact."

He followed his introduction with a laugh.

Raven walked towards him. At about arm's length, she stopped; on her face was still a confused look.

"W-What is it?" Robin asked.

"You said 'welcome back.' But I haven't been in your mind until now."

Robin just smiled.

"Well, technically, you're right, you haven't."

"Then why?"

"Like I said before, this is not the first time someone entered my mind."

"Who?"

"Well, you did, or rather another you did. What I'm trying to say is a Raven has already been here."

Robin gestured to the entirety of the space in which they stood.

"I don't get it."

"I'm talking about the Raven from my world."

Raven scowled.

"As far I know, you're the Robin from this world—you're Crow until proven otherwise. So if I were you, stay out of my way before I turn all of this into mush."

Robin stepped back. He laughed weakly; his legs trembled.

"Okay," he said nodding.

"Humph. Now step aside."

Raven walked pass Robin as she made her way down the hall. As she walked, she could here steps that echoed her own. She glanced over her shoulder and found that Robin had been following her. He kept a good distance back, but that did not satisfy Raven. The fact that he was in her field of vision bothered her. So she stopped and quickly turned around. Robin also stopped and he looked scared.

"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?" Raven growled.

"Um, y-yes, but I can't just leave you alone—"

Raven suddenly disappeared into the floor in the form of a black figure. She suddenly emerged immediately in front of Robin causing him to jump back and fall down. Raven rose from the floor in her demon-like form with her hood up and her eyes glowing red, all for the sake of intimidating Robin and making him leave. However, although he was clearly scared, Robin did not move from where he was on the floor. As she looked down at him, he maintained his eyes on her.

"And why not?" Raven hissed.

Robin swallowed hard before he spoke.

"So that you won't get lost."

"I can find my find way."

"Eventually."

Raven returned to her normal state. She pulled down her hood and massaged her temples.

"What's you point?" she asked sighing.

"What I'm trying to say is that since you don't know me too well, you could easily get lost here."

"Like I said, I'll find my way."

"I'm sure you will. But if I want you to not mess up anything in the process, I need to be there."

"So it's not really about me getting lost, but you not trusting me."

"Not to be blunt, but yes."

Robin got to his feet dusting his clothes.

"But I thought you trusted me."

"I do trust you."

"Then why—"

"Can I just I do what I want in my own mind? If I want to follow you, I'll follow you!"

"You sound like a child."

Robin blushed.

"H-Hey! I'm not a child!"

"Whatever. Well, since you're here I guess it would make my work easier. If you want to prove to us that you're not Crow, where should I look for hard evidence?"

Robin placed his hand on his chin. His face brightened as soon as an idea hit him.

"How about my memories?"

"Well, duh, everything in here is a memory. I mean what memories in particular?"

Robin was quiet again, deep in his thoughts.

"How about my memories at the tower?" he suggested. "You know, with my team."

"It's a start. Now where's that?"

"Um, I think it's that door over there."

Robin pointed past her, indicating a door that seemed isolated. It was found at the end of the hallway. Unlike the other doors, this one appeared to be larger. They both started to walk towards it. The fact that this door was separated from the others made Raven suspicious. A number of thoughts passed through her mind as they neared the threshold. The one scenario that spoke to her the loudest was that this was a trap; that in fact this was a chamber in his mind where all things are forgotten and disappear. The thought that she was going to be trapped here forever made here freeze. It was a while before Robin noticed that his companion was no longer beside him. He stopped to turn around and found Raven a couple of steps back looking at him with a serious expression.

"I'm not going in there," she said.

"But you need to. I need you to so that once and for all you'll all believe me."

"I still don't trust you. How do I know that that door doesn't lead to oblivion and that you won't leave me in there?"

"What? Raven, look, I trust you this much—to the point that I let you in here—so could you at least trust me even just a little?"

"Then tell me; why is that door separated from the others? Why do you keep that part of your mind isolated from the rest?"

"Oh, come on, you're being too suspicious. Just come with me and I'll show you that there's no reason for you to be scared or worried. Once you see what's behind that door, I think you'll have your answers."

"No. I will not move until you tell me why."

"Okay, you wanna know why? It's because the memories I have in there are special to me."

"How are they more special than the rest?"

"That's because I'm with the Teen Titans in those memories."

Raven did not know what to make of his answer. For the most part, she did not understand it at all.

"Do you get that?" Robin asked.

"No, I don't."

"Raven, all my memories are precious to me, whether they are good or bad, because they make me who I am. The reason this door is separated from the other doors and why it's so precious to me is that it symbolized a new beginning in my life. Forming the Teen Titans marked the start of a new journey unlike any I've ever taken. My life from just being Robin to becoming the Robin of the Teen Titans is simply the best thing that ever happened to me."

Raven did not respond.

"And if you can't accept my answer, then I guess I am Crow."

He turned around and started to walk towards the door.

"Leave. You've already made up your mind, right? Now if you don't mind, I'll be on my way."

"Where are you going?"

"Before you take me away, I'd like to see my friends one more time."

Raven sighed.

"Stop," she said.

Robin paused and looked back at Raven. She was walking towards him.

"Fine, you drama queen. I'll trust you just this once."

Robin smiled. Raven saw the glow on his face. It amused her to see how much his disposition changed all because she decided to change her mind.

"Let's go then," said Robin excitedly.

Before he could get his hand on the doorknob, Raven said,

"No."

Robin retracted his hand.

"What? What do you mean 'no'? I thought you wanted to see my memories."

"I do—alone."

"I said I won't let you wander around. You might get lost!"

"Come on, it shouldn't be that hard. I'll find my way."

"Oh no you don't. You can't talk you're way out of this one. We'll go in there together and that's final."

"No, Robin, I don't want you in there."

"But why not?"

"I want to see these memories for myself and form my own unbiased ideas. With you in there, you might mess with my observations."

"But—"

"Remember, what I come up with from looking around in your mind decides whether we will let you go or treat you like the villain that you are, or that you say you aren't."

"Fine, go. I'll wait out here."

"I'll be on my way then."

Raven opened the door and as she was about to enter, Robin said,

"Oh, and one more thing."

"What is it?"

"You called me Robin instead of Crow or menace."

Raven glanced at him. He had on a large grin.

"Shut up."

With that, she disappeared into the chamber, the door slowly closing behind her.

…

Robin paced back and forth in front of the door, waiting for Raven to come out. It has been some time now since she passed through that door. Robin was growing impatient: he just wanted to know what she has decided—what is the verdict? But he has been pacing for a while now, and there were still no signs of Raven emerging.

"What's taking her so long? Oh man, I hope she doesn't do what she pleases in there. What if she's going through each and every memory? What if she's seen embarrassing memories of me?! I knew I shouldn't have left her alone!"

Then the door clicked and swung open to reveal Raven back from her mission.

"You're back!" Robin exclaimed happily.

"I am. Oh, and don't worry I didn't go through all of your memories."

"Oh, um, you heard that?"

"Crystal clear."

Robin chuckled scratching the back of his head.

"Uh, sorry."

"It's fine. I just went through the materials related to my search."

"And?"

Raven just looked at him, her expression not changing. She just simply said,

"Let's go."

She walked past Robin, making her way towards the exit. Robin ran after her, insisting that she tells him her decision.

"Raven! So what's gonna happen to me now? Will you tell them that I'm telling the truth?"

Raven stopped and looked at him. Their eyes met and they stood there for a moment. Robin searched for any answers on Raven's countenance, but her blank expression was too difficult for him to read. And then, suddenly, she smiled.

"You're definitely Robin," she said. "The true Robin—the Robin that we all knew. I mean, it's now hard to believe that you're Crow especially after seeing that embarrassing thing from last year."

"Yes! I told you I was telling the tru—wait, what embarrassing thing?"

"Oops, did I say that out loud?"

Robin blushed.

"Y-Y-You said that you didn't go through any of those private memories!"

"I didn't say that."

"Yes you did!"

"No. I said I didn't go through all of your memories. But I did see some pretty interesting things."

Then she smiled.

"Argh! I knew I shouldn't have left you alone in there!"

Seeing his reaction, Raven started to laugh. Hearing her laugh like this and seeing her so happy made Robin stop and just look at her. As she laughed, she seemed to bathe in this light that just made her skin glow. Watching her made Robin's heart beat faster; he grew redder and redder and the room began to feel unbearably hot.

"Since I came to this world, the only expression I saw on your face was of pain and hatred."

Raven ceased her laughter and just stared at Robin.

"I'm so glad that I get to see you so happy."

Then he smiled at her.

"To be honest," Raven said, "I kinda hoped that you were telling the truth. When I first saw you, because you looked exactly like Crow, my anger just took over. But at the back of my mind, I noticed that you didn't have the same air as him. You looked at me with so much innocence—something that I'm sure Crow has lost. So when Cyborg and Beast Boy called me to do this, I didn't hesitate. I also wanted to know."

"But then why did you act the way you did?"

"Because I was scared that if I let my guard down, you would hurt us all again like Crow did back then. I wasn't about to let that happen again, so I put up a front—an attitude that refused to give you any mercy. Yet, I couldn't commit my hatred towards you fully. The impression I got from you the first time we met stuck to me. All of a sudden, questions like 'what if he's not Crow?' or 'should we give him a chance?' started popping up. And like I said, I was too scared to take the chance. So, to the end, I was suspicious of you, convincing myself that you're, in fact, Crow. But after seeing what you had behind that door, there's no way that you're Crow or ever will be. After I determined that, you don't know how happy I was. To have Robin back again is just beyond words."

Tears began to form and slowly drip down her cheeks.

"Raven?" Robin said noticing how her eyes were watering.

"So thank you," said Raven. "Thank you, other-dimension-Robin, for coming."

Then she gave him a smile—a smile that he's never seen before—and it was so beautiful that it shook the very foundation of his being. He blushed as his heart started to pound harder.

Without warning, the whole place began to shake.

"What's going on?" asked Raven.

"It seems we're switching venues," answered Robin.

What was once the hallway of a grand mansion became a hallway in the titans' tower.

Robin was confused.

"What're we doing here?"

"I don't know…but it's to be expected though," responded Raven.

Robin looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we are in your mind, and minds are very intricate and interesting places. Simply put, you're just having some new thought process or something has been activated in your psyche."

"That makes sense. Yeah, I guess."

"But the thing is for the inner structure of the mind to change like this, there has to have been a stimulus. But we have been here this whole time. What could have caused this?"

She looked at Robin who just shrugged.

"Did you see or think of something, I don't know, exciting?"

"Um, no I don't think so."

"Wait, I see a door over there. That door could have a connection to what just went through your mind. Come on."

Robin followed but as soon as he laid eyes on the door, his heart began to race. A bead of sweat started to form on his forehead. He ran in front of Raven, blocking her access to the door.

"On second thought, we don't need to know."

"What? What're you saying? Aren't you at least a bit curious?"

"Nope! Not at all! Now let's go. I think that's enough of minding exploring for one day don't you think? Now, let's go. I think I saw an exit over there."

Raven raised an eyebrow, and then she crossed her arms.

"You're hiding something aren't you?"

"What? No, I'm not hiding anything! Now, let's go."

Robin grabbed her wrist and started to lead her away from the door. However, Raven pulled out her arm from his grip and then pushed him aside, causing him to fall backwards onto the floor. Raven reached forward, about to open the door, when Robin cried out,

"No, Raven, please don't!"

Regardless, Raven proceeded but the door did not budge.

"It won't open," she observed.

Robin jumped back to his feet, relieved.

"Oh, darn! It's locked and we can't get in! And I don't have the key! Oh, man, what bad luck, huh? Now let's get out of here."

Robin started to walk away, but then he was stopped by what Raven said next:

"Key? You mean this key?"

Raven pulled out the key she picked up earlier. Robin dared not look, but he did. Unfortunately for him, it was the right key. Raven inserted the key: lo and behold, the cogs turned and the door was unlocked.

"Raven, don't!"

But Raven did, and the door swung open. Inside were memories—memories of Raven. She stood there watching the scenes of her counterpart only this Raven was wearing a blue cloak instead of red.

"A room dedicated to the Raven of your world?"

She looked at Robin who also looked at her, but she noticed that he was blushing.

"Are you in love with her?"

Robin's eyes widened and he had extreme difficulty in finding the correct response. These did not escape Raven's attention.

"Well, um, I, uh, i-it's not that I don't like her or anything, b-but…" babbled Robin, fumbling with his words.

"So that's why your mind changed. I'm constantly reminding you of her."

For some reason, this annoyed Raven. She gave Robin a stern look causing him to take a step back. Her expression made him feel uneasy.

"Um, Raven? Are you ok—"

"We're leaving. Let's go."

"H-Hey, what's wrong?"

"A word of advice, Robin: don't look at a girl and think of another."

Chapter end