When they all stepped woozily out of Raven's cloak, Robin instantly became rather agitated.
Starfire was crying, clutching the boy in her arms and babbling in Tamaranian, right in the middle of the street.
"X'hal, gopka anuh'r dosta, mehli'ee, mika mehli'ee!"
"Gopka anuh'r dosta du tia, mehli'ea," the boy answered softly, stroking her hair, comforting her.
"Gopka thol dosta tal mortu!"
"Nou, nou," he shook his head, smiling.
Starfire sobbed. "Mika mehli'ee." She buried her face into his shoulder. The boy looked pained as held her tight.
Steam was pouring out of Robin's ears. Who the hell is this kid?
"He looks Tamaranian, doesn't he?" Raven observed. The boy wore a neck plate like Starfire's; only instead of a single jewel in front he had two jewels over each shoulder. His shirt was still the same purple color as Starfire's, sleeveless, tucked into a wide silver belt. On bottom he wore black pants and silver knee high boots. A sliver metal band was on his left arm, and he wore gauntlets like Starfire's. His eyes were bright green, just like Starfire's, and his short red messy hair was also as brilliant as his female counterpart's. Judging his age he looked to be around seventeen, even though he was taller than Starfire by a few inches.
"She keeps saying 'mika mehli'ee'," Cyborg whispered to Robin. "What do you suppose that means?" He snickered, already seeing the blatant display of jealousy on Robin's red face. "Ex-boyfriend?"
"Shut it, tin man," Robin snapped.
"Maybe it means 'I looove you'!"
"Cyborg, shut the fuck up," Robin growled.
Starfire was too busy clutching the newcomer to hear or notice Robin, and indeed the young Tamaranian boy was starting to blush at Starfire's exuberant display.
He reached up and wiped the tears from Starfire's face, smiling gently.
That was it. Robin was about to storm over and demand what was going on and just who the hell was this kid when Starfire rapidly babbled something and tugged the boy over to the Titans.
"Well, hey at least she hasn't kissed him yet," Cyborg said behind his hand, leaning over to Robin.
Starfire said something quickly to the boy, then leaned up and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
Robin was floored.
"Whoops, spoke too soon," Cyborg laughed.
"Starfire!" Robin howled. "What the hell is going on?!"
Starfire turned to her friends, her eyes shining and her cheeks still wet, gleaming with tears.
"Friends! I wish for you to meet my mika mehli'ee, Z'hal Ryand'r!"
Instantly Robin's jealousy vanished into a stunned stupor. He stared blankly, feeling rather like a complete ass.
"That's… that's Ryand'r?" he stuttered meekly.
"You know this guy?" Beast Boy asked, still confused.
"Don't know him personally, but he's… Starfire's little brother."
"Starfire has a brother?! Yo! You never told us you had a little brother, Starfire!" Cyborg exclaimed.
Starfire looked down, then up at her brother's smiling face. "There has been much that has happened while you were away, mehli'ee."
"It is alright, mehli'ea, I know. I have been in touch with Galfore." Ryand'r finally spoke in English; his voice was pleasant, light, even with the sadness so evidently laced through his words.
Beast Boy's brain finally caught up with him. "Wait a minute, this guy is her brother?! Starfire… you just… kissed… your brother. On the lips."
Starfire turned to Beast Boy. "I thought kissing was a form of affection on your planet, is it not? It is not acceptable for me to kiss my brother?"
"Well, most people don't… kiss their brother on the lips," Beast Boy squirmed.
Raven smacked him. "This is a different culture and a different situation, Beast Boy," she hissed.
Starfire blushed. "Please remember, friend Beast Boy, that on my home world the kissing is not a sign of affection. It merely signifies the transfer of language. Ryand'r does not know English. I kissed him so that he may speak with you all."
"Oh," Beast Boy said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
"Come! There is much to discuss, and you must see my new home!" Starfire cried, grabbing Ryand'r's arm and hauling him up into the sky, zipping her way back to the tower.
Raven looked at Robin. "Is… everything okay?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Just, take us back to the tower," Robin sighed. Raven complied.
--
When the Titans poured back into the living room, Starfire was hugging Ryand'r again, hopping up and down and letting her tears flow freely.
"Why is she so… worked up over this?" Raven asked Robin. "Blackfire didn't receive a welcome like this when she came."
Robin looked grim over the mention of Blackfire. "Starfire thought Ryand'r was dead."
"Oh. That explains it," Raven said, watching Starfire babble in Tamaranian at her brother again.
"Look, Raven," Robin's voice cracked. "Just how much of Starfire's history did you see?"
"Well, most of it, at least I thought I did. I had visions and knowledge that came to me, but I didn't see every little detail, because the visions dealt mostly with her fears. That's probably why I had no clue about Ryand'r."
"She… she told me a lot. Of what happened." Robin shuddered. "It wasn't good."
"No, it wasn't," Raven said softly. She looked sympathetically at him, then impulsively grabbed his hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Robin squeezed back, looking sad but grateful. Raven gave him a small smile as he dropped her hand.
"Please mehli'ea, introduce me to your friends," Ryand'r said pleasantly.
"Oh, yes!" Starfire pulled on his arm. "These are the Titans," she said, indicating them all with a sweep of her hand.
"Zal, greetings, Titans," Ryand'r said, thumping his fist over his heart.
"This is my knotha, Robin," she said shyly, her cheeks blushing. Ryand'r's face lit up and he smiled at Robin.
"Congratulations! I am honored to meet the man my sister has chosen as her knotha. I hope you are well suited to each other."
Starfire giggled. "We are, Ryand'r. I am most happy."
"Galfore knows of this, Koriand'r? You know…"
Starfire's eyes became hard. "Komand'r has already tried to marry me off once. Galfore would do no such thing."
Ryand'r looked sad. "I see. Komand'r has not changed."
"No, she has not," Starfire shook her head, just as sad.
"There is much we need to discuss, sister," Ryand'r said, growing serious. "But first, I would like to meet the rest of your friends," he said, the smile returning.
"Oh, yes," Starfire said. "This is Raven."
"Zal, Raven," Ryand'r nodded, eyeing her approvingly.
"And this is Beast Boy."
Beast Boy moved closer to Raven and held her hand possessively. "Yeah, and I'm Raven's knota… knort… knorthufa… thingy."
Ryand'r laughed and Starfire giggled. "Beast Boy is friend Raven's knotha, Ryand'r."
"Oh, I see. He has very good taste."
Raven blushed crimson as Beast Boy nodded fiercely and pulled Raven closer.
"Thanks, dude."
Ryand'r turned to Cyborg. "And this interesting human is…?"
"This is friend Cyborg."
"What's up, man."
Ryand'r looked at him curiously. "Zal, friend Cyborg," he said hesitantly. He turned to Starfire. "Was that a greeting, Kori?" he whispered.
"Yes. That was a greeting in the slang," she whispered back.
"Oh. Then what is up, my man Cyborg," Ryand'r said back to him.
Cyborg laughed. "Dude's all right!"
Starfire giggled.
Ryand'r sobered and said one final hello to the Titans before addressing Starfire again.
"Kori, we must speak about certain things… there is much that has happened that we need to discuss."
The smiled drained off Starfire's face at the serious tone in her bother's voice.
"Yes… Ry, how long were you planning on staying with me?"
Ryand'r shrugged. "I have nowhere pressing I need to be. I have no permanent home. Much like our sister, I have been a nomad for these past years. I have stayed on Drenthax Four for a little of the time. I heard that Komand'r had arrived there shortly after I left. Kori, she may know I am alive," he said grimly.
"How were you not recognized? Surely as Z'hal of Tamaran you would have been noticed…"
Ryand'r shook his head. "I have been under the cover. I… I had to hide, Kori." Ryand'r looked pained. "Our father was looking for me."
Starfire's eyes widened. "Nou!"
"Gosta," Ryand'r answered, nodding.
"Oh X'hal, it is all my fault!"
"Nou! No, Kori, it is not all your fault," Ryand'r said firmly, placing his hands on her shoulders. He rambled something in Tamaranian while tears began to rim Starfire's eyes. Robin became alerted at this, darting over to her side.
"What's going on here? Why is she getting upset?" he demanded.
Ryand'r backed off, a look of pain etched in his youthful face.
"Robin," said Starfire softly. "This does not concern you."
Robin's face twisted into a frown. "Of course it concerns me. You're my girlfriend and you're under my damn leadership. I have a fucking right to know what's going on." He stood defiantly with his arms crossed.
Ryand'r shook his head. "Tell him what you wish, Kori." He followed this with more Tamaranian, Starfire sniffling away the tears. Robin's frown grew even more agitated when he realized Starfire and Ryand'r could carry on full conversations and no one knew what they were saying.
Starfire nodded towards the end of Ryand'r's words.
She answered him, the tears restarting.
"Nou! Nou! Kori, Kori," Ryand'r grabbed her shoulders again, attempting to calm her down.
"Starfire, what is going on?" Robin asked through grit teeth.
Starfire cast him an almost frightened look with wide eyes, wringing her hands in a nervous gesture.
"Remember what our little fight was about? I don't want to repeat it and neither do you. I want to know what's upsetting you."
Starfire drew in a shaky breath. "My father was searching for Ryand'r to give him to the Citadel in my place, after I escaped."
The anger melted off Robin's face. "Oh."
"Yes," Starfire said brokenly, turning back to her brother. "Ry please, is that why you left? I believed you to be dead for this entire time. Kom and Father lied to me."
"I spread those rumors of my own death, Kori. There was… a close call on Omiricon, and it provided the perfect opportunity; I had to. Father stopped looking once he thought I was gone. I have only just now learned of his death. It has been too dangerous to contact Tamaran. The Citadel has been a constant threat and Komand'r… I could never tell whose side she is on."
Starfire's pretty mouth frowned bitterly. "Kom is not on our side, Ry. She sold out our secret defenses to the Citadel. Mother and Father were slain, just like she had planned it."
Ryand'r looked pained. "She is too much like our father."
"Kom… Kom… told Father to send me to the Citadel-" Starfire choked out.
Ryand'r looked horrified. "No! No… oh Kori," he grabbed her shoulders. "It was Kom the entire time?"
"Gosta," Starfire said weakly.
"I never should have left you," he said, looking extremely upset. "I should have put up a fight, I never should have let them send you, but I was eight years old and I had no say in the matter. Believe me Kori I missed you every day we were apart."
"I missed you as well, brother," she said, her voice trembling.
A sad smile lighted on his face. "But the past is now behind us, yes? We are together again." He hugged her to him.
Starfire echoed his empty grin as she pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "Yes, we are together again."
--
Raven sat on the couch, watching as Starfire and Ryand'r were catching up on everything they had missed. Doing the math, Raven realized Starfire hadn't seen her brother in almost ten years. And for most of those years she believed him to be dead.
But the dream from the night before was still in her head, and Raven couldn't shake off the uneasiness. She noted that Robin too was out of sorts. He was sitting sedately in the corner by himself, also watching Starfire interact with her brother.
"Hey, you all right girl? Ya'll seem a little down, more than your usual self," Cyborg commented, sitting down next to Raven.
Raven tore her eyes away from the siblings and looked at Cyborg with teary eyes.
"Hey, hey now. Somethin' you need to talk about?" he asked, concerned.
"Yes," Raven said quietly. She glanced around before quickly teleporting them to Cyborg's garage.
Once there, Cyborg leaned against the T-Car and waited for Raven to continue.
Raven shook her head in a bewildered fashion, unsure how to let her feelings out. She stared at the concrete floor before she realized that Cyborg was the only one who didn't know the full details of Starfire's past. He had a right to know too, so she looked up, her purple eyes big and sad.
"It's so hard to watch them," she started. "I feel terrible."
"Well I do too, obviously somethin's goin' down when she has a brother that she never mentioned, for all that girl talks about her home world."
"But if you notice, she never says anything about her family, it's always her holidays and traditions."
Cyborg looked thoughtful. "You know, you're right. She never talks about her family at all."
"No, she doesn't, and there's… a reason for that. Anyway, she thought her brother was dead. She hasn't seen him in nine years."
Cyborg whistled. "Nine years? That's a long time not to see your family like that."
"It is… Cyborg… her past is starting to reveal itself to us more and more, and I think it's only fair you know just what her past… entails."
Cyborg's face went blank when he realized what Raven meant.
"Aww, damn…" he muttered under his breath. "You sure you can handle this Rae? I know you still gettin' over it too."
"You need to know," she swallowed. "It doesn't matter about me, she's the one it happened to."
Cyborg looked down with his arms crossed as he leaned against the car. He looked resigned and then nodded.
"All right. Go on wit' it. I need to know."
"She's still working through things. She had a dream last night, and that's why I was upset. I saw her dream, and- it wasn't good."
Raven took a deep breath and delved into what had occurred in the Citadel.
--
Cyborg slammed his fist into the T-Car's hood.
Raven jumped, but she knew that there wasn't anything she could do to help him cope.
He shook his head in disbelief, muttering obscenities as he removed his fist from the huge dent his impact had made.
Raven watched him carefully. Starfire's "righteous fury" was coming off of him in waves when he kicked one of the tires.
"No… that can't be right, no one could do somethin' like that to our girl… no one could be that sadistic, Rae…" he murmured. His eyes had disconnected and the anger in him was bubbling over.
"I said it wasn't good," she commented meekly.
"Naw… naw naw… that is so far beyond 'wasn't good' Rae… that is beyond anyone's absolute worst possible idea imaginable… 'wasn't good'… fuck…"
He was pacing, rubbing his hands over his head.
"I healed her. She doesn't have the scars anymore."
"It don't matter. Shit… Somethin' like that…" Cyborg shook his head again. "She ain't never gonna get over that."
"But look at how she's done since she's been with us. None of us even had a clue."
"Cause she hid it Rae. She wore that happy mask every day so she wouldn't have to deal with it. Repression is never good."
"No, it's not. But she's been truly happy here, I know. Robin and her friends have given her something to live for. The most important thing to her is us. She's been floating above her horrific past because we helped her forget it."
"I don't know Rae. I think she's been repressing it, and now that it's all comin' back she's finding it hard to deal. How could she not, with memories like that."
"We've all had horrific pasts, Cyborg," Raven reminded him. "We've all had our own methods of dealing with that."
"I think she came out with the worst."
"She still has her entire body," Raven pointed out.
Cyborg shook his head. "But it ain't whole, Rae."
He glanced at the massive dent in his car and pressed his lips together.
"I gotta go for a drive. Be back soon," he said shortly.
He grabbed his keys and slid into the driver's seat, starting the ignition with a flip and peeling out of the garage.
She wrapped her cloak around herself tightly as she watched him drive away.
--
Raven rematerialized in the common room to find Robin blankly watching tv alone. She sighed sadly.
"Where did everyone go?"
Robin raised the remote and kept clicking through channels restlessly.
"Star went to show Ryand'r one of the spare bedrooms, where he can stay for now."
She slid into the seat beside him, feeling his resigned hurt.
"Guess Blackfire didn't work out as Titan material, let's try the next And'r, huh?" he said jokingly, but his half chuckle was empty.
"She hasn't seen her brother in nine years," Raven said.
"I know Rae, I know. It's just… something's not right. I can feel it."
"Well, all we can do then I guess is be supportive."
Robin sighed. "Yeah. I don't like it though Rae. It just feels like there's still more she's not telling us. With Ryand'r showing up like that, her family lying to her…"
"I know. I feel that way too." She was silent for a moment before offering hopefully, "At least he seems to be one of the good guys, right?"
"All I know is how Starfire felt about him. It sounds like, like he was the only member of her family that was nice to her."
"Mm," Raven hummed.
Robin tossed the remote down.
Raven glanced at him. "There's more on your mind."
"Reading it again are you?"
"No. I can just tell from your attitude."
"Well, fine you're right. Everything was just starting to get semi back to normal and then this happens. I just can't shake this, God Rae… there's so much that's happened to her, so much that I just can't help or control," he said, his voice distressed.
"Pasts are like that, especially one like hers. There's nothing you or I, or Beast Boy, Cyborg, or anyone can do about it. We just have to accept it and move on. She needs to too, or she'll always be burdened with it."
"But how do you get over that, Raven. She's having nightmares, who knows if she's had more that you just didn't pick up on. God, and I made it so much worse…" He hung his head in his hands, rubbing his scalp furiously.
"No, stop that. You had a fight, but you couldn't possibly have known. And after you did find out, you made things right. I know how she feels; she completely relies on you. Stop beating yourself up and forgive yourself. She needs you, so forgive yourself," Raven said sternly.
"It's not that easy Rae. For a moment there I caused her even more pain that was totally unnecessary, cause I fucked it up. I hate myself for that."
"I did said you were masochistic," Raven sighed. "But if you don't forgive yourself and start being there for her, you will mess it up. She needs you to be strong for her. She feels like she's drowning and you're her lifeline. Be that for her."
"I'm trying, Rae," he said mournfully.
"I know," she said softly.
"It hurt so bad… God Rae it hurt so bad, I just… shut down…"
"I know," she said again. "Robin-"
She was cut off however when he leaned over and hugged her tightly, resting his face on her shoulder.
Raven was stunned for a slight second before she realized that he just needed comfort, and hugged him back securely.
"It'll all be okay Robin, promise," she said.
"You shouldn't make promises that can't be kept," he answered as he pulled away.
She was about to respond when Starfire tugged Ryand'r back into the room, exclaiming about how he just had to try her milk shakes. Robin and Raven both grimaced at that as Starfire dug around in the fridge excitedly. She thrust a cup into his hands.
Ryand'r downed the contents in one gulp.
"Kori, this is delicious! You always were such a fantastic cook," he complimented.
Robin threw his hands up. "Figures," he muttered.
"And these are made without the Dronian slorg worm!" Starfire said proudly.
Robin's eyes widened and he covered his mouth while Ryand'r seemed to be impressed.
"Unlike some of us, he probably won't need to get his stomach pumped," Raven grinned.
"God I hope not. If he's like Starfire he has nine of them."
Raven crinkled her nose. "That could get messy."
"Where the hell does she keep all of them, anyway?"
The dark girl snorted. "Well…"
"That was rhetorical. I don't actually want to know."
--
Robin was half grateful and half restless for the lull in crime sprees the next few days. He was feeling tired and burned out, and dealing with criminals and their antics was the last thing he wanted to do. But sitting around at home and watching Starfire was taking its toll on him too.
He could see the strain in her face, her eyes looking slightly hollower and her movements were more subdued. Ryand'r coming home had shocked her, even though it brought her joy to see her brother alive again.
He could see her past was bothering her; there was no escaping it this time. He was trying his best to be there for her after his and Raven's talk, but she was withdrawing. At night she crawled into bed simply exhausted, but could only toss and turn.
Raven was watching her friends and had noticed the change in Starfire as well. And she could read Robin's emotions plainly, no matter how much he tried to hide them.
He was feeling neglected and hurt, and was worried and upset over his girlfriend's condition. Raven sighed, knowing that sometimes those two were the worst at communicating what mattered the most.
Starfire was picking at her breakfast while Ryand'r was happily downing his next to Beast Boy and Cyborg. Robin was sulking on the couch, his portion of breakfast left untouched.
Starfire stood and lightly touched her brother on the shoulder.
"I am going to my room, I will be back," she said softly.
"Okay," he mumbled through his food.
Raven watched Starfire retreat before swirling into her cloak.
She popped up beside Starfire's door.
Starfire jumped. "Friend Raven?" she questioned.
"We need to talk," Raven said plainly.
"Oh… okay," Starfire said warily. "Come in then."
Raven followed her in.
"What is this all about?"
"Don't think you can hide from me, because you can't," Raven said sternly.
"I am not doing the hiding, Raven," Starfire sighed.
"Well, I can see you're stressed. You're happy Ryand'r is back but something else is bothering you. It's the past, isn't it? You're still worried."
Starfire's face broke as she rubbed her hands on her upper arms.
"Yes. My past was never quite resolved. I fear it may some day catch up with me."
"And Ryand'r coming back…"
"Just proved to me how fast it can happen," Starfire finished.
"But there's something you're not factoring in this time."
"And what is that friend Raven?"
"Us. Robin."
Starfire sighed. "Robin…"
"What's going on between you two? You're not eating much, he's not eating at all. He mopes on the couch and you've barely spoken."
"I am… just feeling the depressed and it seems that he is also the depressed… and we just do not know how to make things better," she said sadly.
"Well, his problem is mostly that he's feeling neglected. He knows it's extremely important for you to be with your brother, but I think he's worried you're letting him go."
Starfire's face instantly looked frantic. "But I am not letting him go! I do not wish for him to go!"
"No, no, Starfire calm down. That's not what I meant. I think he's just worried about your relationship, and wants to fix it."
Starfire relaxed slightly but kept fidgeting, saying mournfully, "but I do not know how to fix this."
"Can't you talk to him about it?"
Starfire looked down. "Yes, I should do the talking with him."
Raven studied her for a moment. "Boys don't often do well with talking though, do they?"
"No, they do not," Starfire agreed.
"Physical is more their style."
"Yes."
Raven paused, pursing her lips before she decided to just get it over with and ask. "Um… this is more personal than I want to get, but um… when's the last time you and he were… intimate?"
Starfire concentrated before saying sadly, "It has been at least two weeks. We have barely done the kissing."
"Well… maybe you should do something special for him. Show him you still care."
Starfire processed this before she visibly brightened. "Yes… you are right friend Raven. I know the perfect thing," she smiled.
Raven echoed her smile. "Glad I could help."
The two girls looked up with wide eyes as red lights began flashing and the alarms blared.
Raven teleported them to Ops.
Robin had jumped to the scanner. He flicked his fingers over the controls and brought up the crime scanner report.
"It's Rancid," he said, sounding annoyed.
Everyone groaned.
"All right team, let's move out."
Ryand'r looked confused as his new friends ran/flew toward the door.
"Kori?" he asked.
Starfire stopped up short. "Oh! We must go stop the Johnny Rancid now." She seemed to cheer up slightly. "You can come with!" She grabbed his hand and flew with him out the door.
Starfire explained on the way that Johnny Rancid was one of the villains they fought against to protect the city.
"He is very distasteful and has the mouth of loudness," Starfire said, wrinkling her nose. "But that also made him play rather good music."
"It had potential," Raven commented.
"My ears are still bleeding," Beast Boy complained.
When they reached the street Johnny Rancid was harassing, the Titans landed and gaped eyes wide at his newest toy: a gigantic vicious spiked ball on a long thick metal pole. He laughed manically as he stood in a large monster truck with spikes decorating the bumpers and doors.
The Titans stood in the street and just stared.
"Are you kidding me?" Raven said, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Five years, and he hasn't come up with anything better than this?" Beast Boy snorted.
"Dude… it ain't the middle ages. What the hell is he using that thing for?!" Cyborg scoffed.
"Hey! I'm gonna pound you all into the pavement! Who's the little red head newbie?! He looks like a wimp, just like all of you!" Rancid taunted. He laughed and beckoned with one hand for them to come forward.
"Titans, Go!" Robin shouted.
The four members of his team took their stances.
Rancid grinned before slamming the mace into the street in a display of bravado, causing chunks of concrete and dust to spray up into the air.
No one moved.
Robin's finger was still pointed at their enemy.
"Titans! Go!" he shouted again.
"Kori… what does your knotha mean?" Ryand'r whispered to her.
"It is our signal to do the fighting of Rancid… but, no one knows how to get close to him because of his weapon."
"Oh."
Robin dropped his finger in an exasperated sigh.
He charged forward himself, but quickly realized this was a bad idea when the ball blocked out the sun and almost landed on him. He darted away, narrowly missing getting impaled by spikes.
"Damn it," he cursed. "Flank him! Starfire, to his left! Raven, to his right!"
Rancid twirled the large weapon over his head ominously, the girls backing away in the air so he couldn't hit them.
Raven flicked out her powers and grabbed the ball in an inky orb, attempting to yank it away from him.
Rancid held on tight, pulling back with all his strength as Starfire hurled starbolts at him. He seemed to brush them off, as though they were mere annoyances. She upped her wattage, but still he fought against Raven's pull.
Rancid kicked at the panel on his dashboard. Raven and Starfire dove out of the way of fireballs that suddenly blasted from two cannons on the hood of the truck. Raven's concentration had broken and Rancid wrenched the mace out of her grip.
"Damn," Raven muttered.
A blue beam shot between the two girls and obliterated one of the cannons, and an exploding disc took out the other.
A green pterodactyl hovered into the sky and dove at Rancid's head before scooting out of the way of the massive mace.
Starfire glanced at her brother and saw him in the air, accessing the battle.
She was about to call to him, but sharply turned her attention back to the fight. Rancid seemed to be frustrated and began plowing his weapon into the nearby structures.
He crashed the mace into an office building, raining glass and debris over the street and causing dust to plume in the air.
"Shit!" Cyborg shouted, noticing that several civilians caught in the middle of the battle were directly underneath the falling damage.
Ryand'r dove and picked up several people, Starfire catching a few as well and depositing them safely away.
Raven caught as many large pieces as she could with her powers, hovering them in the air while the rest of the people scattered.
This move unfortunately left her back to Rancid, and he used the opportunity to aim the weapon for her before the Titans could react.
The large spiked ball pierced through her body and slammed into the building. Rancid flicked the ball away and Raven fell to the street, the large chunks of cement falling with her.
"RAVEN!" Beast Boy shouted, instantly at her side.
She was completely unconscious. He turned her over onto her back, his face frantic as he saw the holes in her body well up with blood. Her arm was slashed deeply, there was a spike wound that had pierced all the way through her ribcage just underneath her left breast, and there was another wound on the right side of her stomach. Her legs were full of scrapes and scratches and she was covered in dust. Blood began to pool on the ground, seeping from her arm and torso.
Beast Boy patted her ice-cold face, his hands shaking. "Wake up Raven, wake up! You have to heal yourself, wake up wake up!!"
He whipped his head over as he saw Rancid laughing, the other Titans still trying to figure out how to get close to him. The villain dodged Cyborg's sonic cannon blasts and Starfire's starbolts. He deflected any chunks of fallen concrete Ryand'r threw at him, and smashed the ball into everything along the street.
Beast Boy turned his attention back to Raven. He ripped off a strip of her cloak and tied it tightly around her arm, in an attempt to stop the blood flow. He picked her up and put her into his lap, trying to hold back the flood of tears when blood started to drip from the corner of her mouth and her chest refused to rise and fall with breath. His uniform was rapidly becoming soaked with dark sticky liquid.
"Wake up Raven!" he cried frantically, several tears overflowing and streaking down his cheek.
Raven's body suddenly lurched; she began coughing and sputtering, her hands flying to her mouth as blood sprayed over them.
She groaned and drew in a horrible raspy breath, her eyes clenching when she realized that one of her lungs was punctured. Her mouth gaped when she looked like she couldn't get air.
"Raven, oh my God," Beast Boy exhaled, relief surging through him as he hugged her to him tightly.
"Let—go," she managed to articulate weakly, the words mostly lost in a croak. Her eyes closed and she concentrated, the wound under her chest slowly closing over.
The one on her stomach went next; Raven sighed as it closed over too. Beast Boy could see she was pale and trembling from the severity of the wounds she attempted to heal, and she glanced at her arm.
"It's deep," he said, shaking as her blood still poured down her limb, the makeshift bandage already soaked.
"It's not a big deal," she said, grunting as her body healed itself.
"It is a big deal!" Beast Boy cried, shrilly. There were speckles of Raven's blood on his face; his hands and clothes were stained red.
Once she had completely finished, Beast Boy propped her up as she tried to stand. Raven had used all of her energy to heal herself. She glanced at their bodies and the road, which were now covered in her DNA, and sighed. "Shouldn't have turned my back to him; that was dumb."
A shadow suddenly covered them. Beast Boy turned into a kangaroo, fully scooping up Raven and bounding out of the way of the ball as it crashed into the street where they had just been standing.
"Damn kids! Can't even kill somebody right these days!" Rancid called.
Robin called for the Titans to regroup.
Beast Boy cradled Raven in his arms, all of them standing far away from Rancid's reach.
"First of all, Raven, are you okay?" Robin asked breathlessly.
Raven nodded. "I'm fine, but I have no energy left. I don't think I'll be able to help fight. I'll have to meditate before I get completely better."
Robin nodded. "All right, listen. I've got a plan. He's vulnerable for that split second when the mace hits its target, which for the most part has been one of us. The minute he aims for something, I will throw a flash bomb to blind him and give us more time. Whoever has the best opening should go in and take him down. We need to flank him, so the weapon isn't between him and all of us. I want him surrounded."
"Perhaps if Ryand'r, Cyborg, or I could grab the weapon away from him after someone has engaged him," Starfire suggested.
"That may be hard to pull off," Robin said. "He could pull the ball back into you, and Raven won't be able to heal you. Be careful, but we need to disarm him at all costs. "
All of them nodded, breaking and jumping out of the way of flying debris from Rancid's attack on the city.
"One thing's for sure, this block is gonna need to be repaired like crazy," Cyborg commented, surveying the extensive damage.
Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, and Ryand'r carefully spread out, Starfire and Ryand'r flying over Rancid to get behind him while Robin and Cyborg stayed more in front.
Rancid eyed them, not feeling threatened in the least bit, still swinging his weapon around casually.
All of them tensed, waiting to see where he would smash it.
Cyborg's arm clicked as his sonic cannon readied to fire. Rancid chose Robin to aim the mace at. Robin leapt backwards, a flash bomb flicking out from his hand. It flared brilliantly, blinding Rancid exactly like the plan was supposed to work. But Robin didn't have enough time to get out of the way of the spiked ball. Starfire shrieked and dove for him, catching him in time so that he was not crushed, but he still sustained a rather nasty slash on his thigh.
Ryand'r was left open for the attack, so he zipped in and punched Rancid square on the jaw. Rancid fell backwards but the pole didn't leave his hands. Cyborg grabbed the handle, tugging with all his might to pull it out of Johnny Rancid's hands. Rancid was fighting off Ryand'r and now playing tug of war with Cyborg. Robin was out with Raven and Beast Boy, another strip of Raven's cloak utilized as a bandage and tied around his leg.
Starfire rejoined the battle, but Rancid had somehow broken free and was waving the mace threateningly at the heroes again.
The three were forced to back away.
All of a sudden black energy engulfed the ball and Rancid was struggling against the pull of Raven's powers.
Everyone looked over at her, as Raven was very obviously over exerting herself.
"Raven! Stop!" Robin called. "You don't have to do this; they can get him without your powers!"
Beast Boy was also protesting, Raven still in his arms but there was nothing he could do to stop her.
Raven finally managed to wrench the weapon away from Rancid's hands. She tossed it behind everyone, way out of his reach. Instantly after that she sighed and fell asleep against Beast Boy's chest.
Starfire, Ryand'r, and Cyborg pounced on Rancid immediately and subdued him. JCP was on the scene to arrest him.
The Titans gathered again, Starfire supporting Robin as he limped, Raven unconscious and snuggled against Beast Boy.
"Well, let's go home y'all," Cyborg sighed.
Back at the tower, Starfire hurried Robin into the medical bay where she and Cyborg could attend to his leg. Beast Boy took Raven to her room. They both were covered in blood. He swallowed and wondered if he should shower Raven while she wasn't awake.
"Rae?" he asked quietly. She didn't respond.
He shook his head, making his decision and taking her into the bathroom. He gently set her down and took off her mangled cloak.
While Beast Boy had already been in the shower with Raven once, he didn't like the thought of doing it without her being awake. But she needed to be cleaned off; the smell of all the blood was starting to make him woozy.
He turned on the shower water and stripped Raven of the rest of her clothing, dumping it into her hamper. Then he undressed himself, slipping his ruined uniform into the hamper too. He picked up Raven again and stepped into the shower, marveling at how much blood actually covered them both. The water turned pink as it flowed over their bodies and coursed down the drain.
He set her into the tub, grabbed her shampoo and began washing the small chunks of debris that dusted her hair. Then he used her body wash and a mesh sponge to clean all traces of congealed blood from her body. When he was done with her he turned his attention to himself.
Once he was finished, he dried them both off and carried Raven into her room and found her some pajamas. He put her to bed and pulled the covers over her.
Then he realized a slight dilemma.
He had nothing to wear. His uniform was stiff with dried blood and was obviously ruined, and his boxers had been soaked too.
He sighed tiredly. His eyes were beginning to droop and he felt the last remains of his energy drain away. He really should use Raven's towel to cover up and run to his room to get clothes, no matter how much teasing he'd endure if he ran into one of the boys or how embarrassing it would be if he ran into Starfire.
He had the best intentions to do that, but somehow Raven's bed looked too inviting and his room seemed just too far away. The towel slipped out of his lethargic hand and his head hit the pillow, too weary to think anymore.
--
It was dark outside when Raven finally woke up, feeling better. She yawned and groggily sat up, rubbing her hand through her hair. When she looked down, she suddenly remembered the last thing she had been wearing was a torn and bloodied uniform, and her body had been covered in wreckage from the battle.
Her eyes widened when she then noticed the weight next to her on the bed. Beast Boy was sleeping on his side, turned toward her. The sheets covered his waist, but his top half was bare.
Raven swallowed, her body suddenly feeling full of stamina and a shiver raced through her pelvic area.
Beast Boy had obviously showered them both.
She stared at his chest, the toned muscles and his arms as he snoozed… and trailed her eyes down his stomach to where his body dipped below the sheets.
She tried to look away, tried to ignore the heat rising to her cheeks.
She had only seen a glimpse before; it had been a split second and was too brief to make a lasting impression.
Well… he did say she could look.
Burning curiosity grabbed her and took hold, and before she could stop her hand she slipped one finger under the sheet and peeked.
She sucked in a gasp and let the sheet drop, her heart pounding.
"Oooh…" she breathed.
Beast Boy shifted, moaning a little and Raven watched his body, a sudden hunger taking over her. She wasn't sure why this happened. She thought she hadn't been ready for this, but suddenly everything in her ached to feel his body slide along hers.
She knelt over him, her hair tickling his skin as she kissed his collarbone, along his neck.
This roused Beast Boy from his nap, his eyes slit open. He groaned, and Raven felt another pulse of heat flit through her at the sound.
Beast Boy opened his eyes a little wider, when suddenly he recognized the scent that was making his tired body respond.
"Rae?" he slurred.
She said nothing, continued to kiss his neck, his jaw, and his shoulders as she swung one leg over his body and straddled him.
Beast Boy's hands instantly went to her hips, rubbing them before he patted her left one.
"Rae, babe what's going on?" he asked, a little more coherent this time.
She nipped his ear.
"Raven," he said seriously now, sitting up and stopping her from her ministrations.
"Please," she purred, her eyes half closed.
"Rae… you smell like… you want to…"
She nodded.
Beast Boy's mouth dropped open. "But, I thought you weren't ready-"
"I… can't help it. I think… I think…"
"You think? Or you know?"
"I want to…"
Beast Boy sat up more, swallowing when he realized that Raven was straddling him and he was still naked. He stared at her face and noticed she was acting like Lust was taking over her again.
"Raven… I don't want to do this if you're going to regret it later," he said firmly.
"I won't regret it," she said softly, throatily, as she pecked and nuzzled his cheek.
He gently pushed her back by her shoulders.
"Rae," he said seriously. "I don't think you're all here. Is Lust in there?"
She giggled. "Maybe."
Beast Boy sighed and gently pushed her off him, hastily grabbing the sheets as she tried to take them with her on purpose.
She giggled again.
"But you said I could look," she purred.
"I said Raven could look," he said pointedly.
She gave him the sauciest grin. "Raven already did. My turn."
"Uh-uh," he said, pulling sheets tighter around him and leaning away. "And what do you mean Raven already did?" he asked, his voice cracking.
"While you were sleeping. Raven couldn't control herself," she said sensually, crawling over his body on her hands and knees. "Why do you think I'm here now?" She tilted her face toward him, licking her lips as she walked her fingers up his chest.
Beast Boy was flustered, the change in her was disturbing but he also couldn't help that her scent was invading his nose. He desperately hoped his body wouldn't overpower his mind. Damn his animal instincts, Robin and Starfire had finally calmed down and he had gotten used to it. Now Lust was doing her best to unravel all his progress.
"Raven! I know you're in there- eep!"
Lust had been trailing her fingers over his pecs before they flicked down to the sheets again.
Beast Boy grabbed them tightly and held on for dear life.
"Oh come on, lover boy… it's not like I haven't touched you before," she grinned devilishly.
"Yeah, thanks for that. But I'd rather do this with Raven," he countered.
"But I am Raven," she pouted cutely.
"No you're not. I won't take advantage of you… her. You're just a part of her… a very scary part of her," he muttered.
"Well then let me show you the pleasurable side to me," she purred, leaning in for a kiss.
Beast Boy twisted away and tried to leap off the bed.
This maneuver did not work the way he had intended however.
Beast Boy attempted to pull the sheet with him, but Lust was kneeling on them. He succeeded in removing himself from the bed, but not the cover. Therefore he was standing naked in front of her and she was eagerly eyeing him up like he was a piece of meat.
Beast Boy immediately shifted into a mouse and scampered for the door.
Lust pounced.
He wriggled and squirmed but she gripped his little body tightly, a grin on her face.
He squeaked frantically, his legs pawing at her hands.
"Change back, sweetie," she said sweetly.
He shook his head no and kept trying to escape.
She frowned. "Change back."
He ignored her, still trying to escape her clutches.
"What boy would rather run on a hamster wheel than have sex?" she pouted. "Am I not attractive enough for you?"
Beast Boy stopped his wiggling and looked up at her. The change in her face and her expression was instant. He saddened when he saw water well up in her eyes.
She set him down and he shifted back. "Rae," he said, concerned.
She raised a hand up to her mouth, suddenly horrified. "What am I doing?"
"No, no wait Rae," Beast Boy said, seeing a tear run down her cheek. He grabbed her wrists. "It's okay, Lust took over you again."
"I… I…" her cheeks went bright red. "How could this happen?"
Beast Boy smirked a little. "Someone peeked."
Raven looked mortified and turned around, hugging her arms tightly around herself.
"Rae, don't turn away."
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. I'm um… flattered."
"I don't want to do that," she whispered.
"I know you don't."
She sniffled. "Thank you for not… you know."
"Raven, you know I'd never do that."
"I know."
"Maybe we should talk about it though, seriously."
Raven's shoulders hunched over a little more. "I guess."
"Um… why did Lust appear like that? I thought you were over that…"
Raven turned crimson.
"Well…"
Beast Boy's eyes widened. "Raven… is there a part of you that actually wants to?"
Raven sighed and hugged herself tighter. "Well of course there's a part of me that's curious, and it doesn't help that Lust is so overpowering."
Beast Boy grinned. "And you peeking at me triggered it?"
"Wipe that smile off your face, yes I find you attractive," she huffed.
"I also find you very attractive," Beast Boy smiled devilishly.
"But that doesn't mean I'm ready," Raven said. "It's too big a responsibility."
"Yeah, I agree. I mean, I want to, I'm curious too but it's like… I just worry about the normal stuff. I don't want to be a father at nineteen," he joked.
"I agree, the world doesn't need spawn of you running around at this point," Raven smirked.
"Ha ha, it doesn't need little Ravens running around either," he responded.
She rolled her eyes. "Brilliant comeback."
"I try."
He shifted into silence for a moment, scuffing at the carpet. Finally he asked, "Think… think you know when you would be ready?"
"Sex doesn't have a deadline, Beast Boy."
"No! Not like that, I was just… asking if you kinda… well you are still curious right? I mean…"
Raven shrugged. "We've been dating for over two months, we've known each other over five years. I know we're responsible adults, but I guess I'm going to leave it open. When it feels like the right time I'll let you know. There's a lot we haven't done yet," she reminded him.
"Oh yeah, I know. I'm not pushing, don't get me wrong. I'm not ready yet either, if I had been I would've been more inclined to let Lust do her thing. I was just wondering. Lust surprised me at how aggressive she was."
Raven nodded. "But that's what she is, a pure embodiment of that emotion. All Lust wants to do is have sex. So… maybe she was pushing at me a little, making me curious. At some point I'll be ready to give in to her."
"I will be right there waiting when it happens," Beast Boy said seriously.
Raven smiled. "I'd like that."
She stared at him with that little smile on her face for a moment longer.
"You've been sitting here completely naked this whole time, you do realize that?"
"Thought I'd let you get your fill of the goods," he replied suavely.
"Oh please," Raven scoffed.
"What?!" he grinned. "The real question is, why aren't you naked too?"
Raven drew her arms around herself. "I'm a never-nude."
"Liar," he laughed, "I've seen you naked twice." He crawled on his hands and knees toward her. "I think this situation is a little uneven. Let's make things fair, huh?"
Raven backed away playfully.
He tugged on her shorts.
--
Robin was relaxing on his bed, reading over the day's paper. He sighed, wishing Starfire would come to bed soon, but he had seen her walking down with Ryand'r to his room. He figured it would be awhile before she would come and slip under the covers and barely say goodnight.
He frowned as he folded up the paper and set it on his nightstand. He glanced at his alarm clock and shook his head when he saw it read 12:30 a.m.
He placed his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling for a few moments before there was a slight knock on his door, almost so soft he wasn't sure whether he had actually heard it or was it his imagination.
He furrowed his brows and sat up a little, staring at the door.
"Starfire?"
The door slid back and his breath caught in his throat.
"Oh… Star…"
She sashayed in with curved lips.
"I haven't seen that in awhile," he grinned.
"You will not become unconscious this time?" she teased.
She watched his eyes hungrily drink her in.
"Oh no. I want to be fully awake for this."
"Then you like it?" she asked, turning around and modeling for him.
"Yes," his said emphatically. "Now why don't you come here so I can take it off and crumple it up at the end of the bed."
She giggled. "I did not buy this so it could only be worn for a few seconds."
"Oooh believe me, they're meant to be on for only a few seconds, now stop being a tease and come here."
She floated closer, the grin still on her lips.
He reached out with his hands and pulled her in, nuzzling his face into her stomach where the lingerie split open.
"I've wanted to see you in this for a long time, I'm so glad you didn't forget," he murmured against her skin.
"I figured you did not get to fully appreciate it last time I modeled it for you," she giggled.
"Mmm," he hummed, words dying in his throat as his lust took over, his fingers slipping underneath pink satin. "I've missed you."
"And I have missed you," she said quietly.
"Let's fix that," he mumbled, removing the poofy pink ensemble and sliding the satin panties down her legs, tossing them on the floor.
--
"Lord Korthar, it's a pleasure to speak with you again."
The figure on the other end of the transmission was solid against the wavering of the video feed.
"This better be important. You know how I don't like wasting my time," the creature said, its scaly thick lips curving in an annoyed frown as it spoke in a harsh guttural language. "Deals with you have often been empty promises."
"Empty promises?! I delivered her to you once. It's not my fault that Glorgathor was an idiot."
The creature looked even more displeased at this.
"He should have known that a princess of Tamaran is stronger than she looks. She was restrained; he never should have gotten cocky and taken all her restraints off."
"Did you call to point out Glorgathor's shortcomings, or do you have something that isn't wasting my time?" the creature grunted, getting angry.
"Relax. I have a plan this time. I know where she is."
"We heard she was dead."
A grin. "She's not dead."
The creature looked undecided if it was happy to hear this or not. "She has been hiding?"
"Sort of. I know where she is."
"Well then?"
"Uh-uh. I have a few things I'd like first. You've always wanted Tamaran. I have a way for you to get it."
The creature paused, considering this before waving a hand. "Go on."
"Help me conquer Tamaran. Let me govern over it, and also give me Drenthax Four, Omiricon, and the Centauri Moons."
"No."
"Let me finish. You of course are the supreme ruler. I will simply relay the planets' wealth back to you. All I ask is for ten percent."
"How does this benefit us? So far it benefits you."
"You want Tamaran. You've harassed Tamaran for years, yet it has remained the thorn in your side. Don't try to tell me you didn't gloat when she was harbored behind your walls. Your territories were subdued. You finally had a monopoly on the Vegan Star system. You want her back, and you want full control over Tamaran."
The creature mused, rubbing its chin.
"If you agree to this, Tamaran and my sister are yours."
Raven and Beast Boy say:
Hey kids! It's okay not to have sex before you're ready to! Peer pressure sucks, high self-esteem rocks! Respect your body and the bodies of others! Yay!
I purposely made that as cheesy as possible. But isn't that the agenda of all public service announcements? I just seem to be full of those, huh…
Kry said I had to put it in anyway, so there. You kids should take a lesson from us seasoned adults. (Boy is Kry seasoned… whooo!)
Also, on the subject of Ryand'r: wow you guys are good! Haha, I suppose that one was easy to spot, I give you all credit. Stale Christmas cookies for everyone!
Anyway, on his personality… believe me, I tried to do my research. But there is just no information out there on his actual personality. I know he's "in" the Titans Go! comic, which of course I have not read, but I do happen to know that Madame Rouge was actually impersonating Ryand'r with the help of Blackfire. So, even if you all want to call me on it, it was not the real Ryand'r anyway.
So I took some artistic license and made up his personality but kept some of the basic facts known about him. He has features similar to Starfire and his glowy hands were also acquired in the same manner that his sisters acquired theirs. Other than that, I'm just gonna wing it, and stuff it if you don't like it, so there! I'm kidding, really.
Next chapter: Hmm, the Citadel has been contacted, but by who?