Hi there readers! I'm glad that you guy/girls really like the other chapter and I had no idea that it was almost a month since I last updated. I was...err...preoccupied. If this chapter seems kind of rushed I'm sorry, it was and I didn't feel like naming the chapter, that's all I'm gonna say. What I do like is that this chapter shows both a cruel and soft side of Raven which I thought turned out okay.
Also, I don't know when the next time I can update because the only computer in my house is going bye-bye!
Also, I've been having a few problems with my family and I really hope that you guys have it better than I do.
One more thing, I have published another story! It's called Ulquiorra No Yushuu! If there are any Bleach-loving Ulquiorra fans, I would really love it if you guys/girls read it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
On with the story...
Chapter 8
"It seems that you're all having trouble, shall I take over?"
"Took you long enough!" Terra snapped but Raven ignored the irritated remark. She gazed at the winged-villain buzzing around in the sky.
"Why aren't these things getting to us?" Beast Boy asked as he looked at the moths, only two feet from his head. He watched as they chomped, bit, and crunched, but an invisible force stopped them.
"Oh yea! I forgot that Rae can make her shields and stuff invisible now!" Cyborg remembered.
"Allow me to take over. You are all quite exhausted."
"Raven, I think we should-" Robin started but was cut off.
"Look at the conditions you're all in, give or take a few minutes and you'll collapse" Raven stated matter-of-factly.
Robin stared at Raven's back before he gave a quiet nod and answered, "Alright." Before Robin knew it, he fell to one knee and exhaustion set in within a minute.
Raven lifted the invisible shield and pushed the moths off. They scattered everywhere, stunned. A single moth swooped down on Raven but she swatted it away with her arm and it flew several yards away, dead. The swarm was at a standstill.
"Pitiful" Raven said but her voice was drowned out by the vast colony of the moths.
"Yea, well! You're not just dealing with one, you're dealing with a whole army of them, girl! Kill her!"
Raven stared at the wave of insects diving at her with emotionless eyes. The empath let out a small sigh as the swarm closed in on her. Raven's arm shot out from beneath her cloak and flicked her arm. The moths split up as an invisible stream of energy hit through the wave and the moths were at a standstill. Raven did an about-face around and fired a transparent crescent-shaped blast at a nearby wave of moths behind Starfire. The Tameraean princess glanced behind her and back at her former-Titan who stood unmoving. Raven felt irritation seeping in as she scattered another wave of moths. The moths were now stunned, as Raven scattered them.
"Nice work, girl! All you've done is scatter my swarm! You haven't killed them!" Killer Moth laughed.
"…"
She gave one last look at the swarm before lightly closing her eyes and reopened them slowly. One moth had spontaneously combusted, then another and then another. Eventually the entire swarm was on fire, the moths burning away like hundreds of thousands of will-o'-the-wisps. The Titans as well as the people watched as the moths burned and became dust in the wind. It was quite a sight to behold.
"What? WHAT?" Killer Moth roared. "WHAT DID YOU DO MY SWARM?"
He stared down at her with murderous intent only to see her disappear and he flinched with shock. The empath had reappeared as quickly as she disappeared several feet in front of him and kneed him in the face. Killer Moth grunted in pain and shock as he slammed into the building with the broken glass, upside-down. While he recoiled into the building, Raven grabbed his throat with a death-like grip and dragged him toward the ground, leaving a vertical trail on the building. One-story from the ground, the Azarthian plummeted her adversary into the ground and he left a small crater, as he lay unconscious.
Raven landed on the ground gracefully, her black cloak swinging around and revealing her black and blue combat boots. She stood upright as her comrades ran to her.
"Raven, are you alright?"
"I'm alright."
"I've already notified the authorities and they should be here shortly. Let's get going guys", the Boy Wonder
told his team.
Raven took a few steps forward and stopped mid-stride.
"Raven! You coming?" Beast Boy called but was confused when his friend was not walking.
"Raven?"
He quickly shed his confusion when he saw Killer Moth jump up from behind Raven! His moth-like wings spread out, clear slime oozed from his mouth and claws ready to gouge her. Before Beast Boy could open his mouth and yell the sorceress "Look out", she whirled around and grabbed one of the moth-man's wings. With little effort, she easily crushed his large wing and immediately, his wing combusted! Raven quickly let go and withdrew her hand as the terrorized villain screamed bloody-murder. Killer Moth screamed with pain and fear, backing away from the half-breed and setting his other wing on fire. The Titans watched horrified as his wings continued to burn away, like his army before him. Eventually, he passed out from fright and toppled to the ground, his wings now ashes.
"Shall we get going?" Raven asked, unruffled from the event.
"Raven! Is he-?"
The dark-haired empath remained silent as she glanced to the side and saw the police quickly approaching. They pulled the insect menace off the ground, incarcerated him, and walked him to the armed vehicle.
"Don't worry, he'll be alright. His wings will grow back soon", she told them and watched as the humanoid moth climbed into the car.
Raven turned around and saw their flabbergasted faces but was unaffected. The Titans and Raven continued their staring contest until Raven opened her mouth to speak.
"What is it, fellow Titans? Are you afraid of me?" her voice cold and sharp as a knife.
The Titans flinched and regained their senses but hesitated to answer her question.
"Well? Aren't you going to answer my question?" She demanded callously as she looked at their hesitant faces only for them to avoid her cold gaze.
"I see", she responded with as much tact as a boiled shoe.
"How unfortunate." With that, the empath turned around and began walking away.
"It's not that!" Beast Boy called making Raven stop in her tracks.
Robin, Starfire, Cyborg and Terra looked at Beast Boy with concern and listened intently on what he was going to say. Not only that, they felt cautious as to how he would tell her what he felt, in fear that she might retaliate or attack them.
"It's just that…we feel that you…you're a little different from the last time. You could be a little more courteous next time, maybe?" Beast Boy asked with a weak smile.
Raven turned around and gazed at her allies.
"And if there's anything you wanna talk about, you can tell us", Robin spoke up.
"No, there's nothing."
Raven lifted her arms and began the restoration magic. The crater in the ground left by Killer Moth began to bubble away, the broken glass flew back into place, pieced themselves back together and the cracks disappeared leaving behind a shine. Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles that had been crushed, flipped over or flattened during the battle began to spring back to life and dents popped out making them as good as new. The vertical trail on the building erased itself and damaged buildings reverted back before the damage occurred while rocks and moved ground reverted back to the ground. People that unconscious on the ground woke up slightly dazed and confused, broken streetlights and signposts quickly bent back in place and stood up straight.
The Titan leader turned to his team and left for the car, with the Titans following close behind to the exception of Raven, who teleported away.
When everyone piled into the car, Robin turned to the other Titans. He looked at their anxious faces and thought deeply about his callous and isolated temporary teammate.
+Later that Day, Titan's Tower+
Raven walked through the large steel doors of the Common Room and saw her friends clustered in the middle of the room. Anxious and concerned faces expressed themselves on the Titans making the young empath speculate an intervention. Of course, Raven had already seen this coming; she suspected the Titans would due to her return and current actions.
"…"
"Raven..." Beast Boy started before pausing to glance at the aloof and melancholic sorceress. "We've done some thinking…"
"We understand that what Killer Moth did to you was self-defense but that was a little harsh, don't you think?"
"So you're saying that it would be alright if he continued flying about and endangering people?"
"No! It's just…we could've resolved the problem without being so ruthless. We could've done this without anyone getting hurt" Robin said, putting emphasis on anyone.
"We did, it was only the enemy that got marred. So what are you all trying to tell me?"
"Could you tone it down a little? Although what you did today was pretty bad, we forgive you" the group of heroes/ heroines smiled reassuringly putting off the empath.
"…"
When Raven didn't answer, the Titans assumed that she had said yes and went to mingle with her. Fortunately, her cold expression softened slightly but Raven had really wanted to return to the privacy of her room. After a few minutes, they had finally given her the liberty to go to her room where she could meditate in peace and flee from the daily inconveniences of life.
As the amethyst-eyed woman made her way to her quarters, she heard the same cheerful voice that usually worried about her well-being, Beast Boy.
"Hi Rae!"
"What is it, Beast Boy? Have you come to bother me again and ask me another meaningless question?"
"Err…no. I came to ask you if still wanted to go sight-seeing today? Well, seeing as you don't look so busy."
"Beast Boy, you know me quite well. Have I ever come across or been the type to ever want to-"
"Pplleeaassee Raaee! Just once! I won't ask you again! I promise-Titan's honor!" He begged holding out his wringing his hands.
Raven sighed, accepting dis-pleasingly, "Alright, if it'll get you to stop asking me ridiculous questions about my precious time that I'd rather use on something productive, then fine."
"Yay!" Beast Boy exalted and grabbed the reluctant empath's hand. "Let's go right now!"
"Wait, I-!"
"C'mon!"
"But wait, what about-?" Was all Raven could say as the green man pulled her towards the door.
It was almost the afternoon when both Titans had nearly finished their sight-seeing. They had visited a multitude of places, which had a nice view of Jump City; they even went so much as go to the old pizza parlor and Raven's favorite bookstore. It had been true that Jump City had changed since Raven had last seen it, but one particular area seemed to stick out to the young empath. Admittedly, Raven had a somewhat good time; though she would have thoroughly enjoyed it more if she were alone than with the talkative companion she had with her. She inwardly sighed as Jump City continued to change, even if the changes were subtle if not, hardly noticeable. Raven would've also enjoyed the time better if Beast Boy hadn't filled up on tofu dogs as well as burgers while out, and nearly hurled on the aghast sorceress.
As they walked down the street, getting kudos and some appreciations from the grateful citizens, Beast Boy spotted a photo-booth.
"Hey Rae! Let's get our picture taken!" Beast Boy pointed his thumb at the booth while holding his favorite soy ice cream and grasping Raven's wrist with the other.
"I'm comfortable doing that Beast Boy."
"Oh, c'mon! It's just a picture!"
After a few agonizing moments for Raven and silly moments for Beast Boy, they emerged from the accursed booth-which Raven seemed happy to call it.
"Aww…Rae! You have the same expression in each picture!" He whined as he looked at her bored face in the picture and glanced at her, still having the same expression. "Never mind."
"…"
"By the way, Rae, there's something that I wanted to ask you for a long time."
"Huh? What is it?"
"When I called you Rae, you used to get real mad at me, like you'd would throw me out the window but not
anymore. How come?"
"I believe that you're entitled to your own opinion, whatever name you call me is up to you. Besides, it would be pointless; you'd continue doing it anyway."
"Oh. But do you like me calling you Rae? I can stop if you want."
"Do whatever you want", she said reverting to her callous demeanor again.
"Hey, Rae! There's one last place I wanna show you!"
"Really? Alright then, let's get going" Raven said as she took a few paces toward Beast Boy.
But the empath felt something odd and her eyes widened; she whirled around and just then, a stream of light shot through, hitting the end of the three-way street. A few by-standers screamed and ran away.
"What the-?"
It was then that Raven and Beast Boy heard a familiar laugh that would inevitably mean that they would have to take time from themselves to stop him.
"I, Doctor Light, will be victorious!"
End Chapter.
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