A/N: Welcome back! I know... so far its been pretty slow but just like the last season there will be PLENTY of action so hang in there! Again if I'm straying away from the lore or if the characters don't really sound like the real characters please leave a review so I can address that. I want to make this story just as good if not better than the last one and I rely on you guys to keep me in check. As always, please drop a fav/follow and give it some reviews so I can make this as best as it can be! Hope you enjoy!
Dick stood behind the boys on the couch. He was far enough away so a whisper couldn't be heard over their yells but he kept a distance to just take in the moment of being home and seeing his family once again. His eyes had a gentle gaze while he continued to smile at the nostalgic feelings coursing through his mind.
After a moment, an eerie but familiar feeling dawned on him. He turned around to see a circle of darkness appear on the floor followed by Raven emerging from it as if an elevator was lifting her up from the nothingness. Her eyes were closed but as soon as she fully emerged, the dark circle at her feet began to shrink quickly before disappearing. She let out a sigh and opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw jolted her for a moment before she realized who it was standing before her.
"Richard?" She said loudly.
The boys immediately stopped arguing as their heads whipped around to the sound of Raven's voice.
"Duuuuude!" Beastboy yelled with excitement.
"Yo! Why didn't you say something, man?!" Cyborg tacked on to Beastboy's excitment.
"Sorry," Dick respond with a chuckle, "I guess I got lost in thought..."
"Well it's good to see you!" Beastboy said jumping over the couch and running towards one of his closest friends, "I mean... it feels like it's been ages since your last transmission," he said with a slight chuckle in return.
"Yeah... about that..." Richard began before he was interrupted.
"Don't even," Cyborg cut him off, "we all know you've been tracking down Slade and we can only imagine how hard it's been with you going after him alone."
"Not to mention how worried we are for you," Raven chimed in... She didn't seem as overjoyed as the others about his sudden return, "you could at least check in once a week to let us know you're ok."
Dick's small smile vanished and he lowered his head slightly. She was right. This was his family. It really is the least he could do to keep their minds at ease.
Beastboy saw his reaction and jumped to his defence, "hey c'mon Rae... This is Robi-... uh... Nightwing we're talking about. If anyone can handle it it's him." Beastboy tried his best to ensure Dick that he had their full trust and confidence in him but he couldn't hide the fact that he was also worried about Richard from time to time.
"It's not just me that's worried here," Raven spat back. She glared at Dick as if scolding him.
"I know," Richard respond. He unzipped his jacket and pulled the bouquet of flowers from its safely guarded position next to the warmth of his body, "I was hoping to make it up to her."
Raven continued to glare. She was still somewhat upset at Richard. Starfire hasn't been herself ever since he left. It was almost like when he went off to train with "the true master," only this time it was much worse. She feared for his life every moment of everyday and it was easy to tell she couldn't sleep at night.
"Dick..." Raven said with a bit of agression in her voice, "we need to talk."
Beastboy and Cyborg looked at each other. Raven has been a lot more in touch with her emotions since she learned to let them guide her and channel her powers with them but it also meant she wouldn't hold anything back anymore. No matter how harsh or mean it would be.
"Uh... Raven?" Beastboy said shyly, "maybe we could just... um..." He trailed off lifting a hand to the back of his head and averting his eyes from making eye-contact with her.
"Can't we just be glad he's back for minute?" Cyborg finished for him, "we've all been worried about him and haven't seen him in months."
"No," Raven said without hesitation. She turned and started to head to the hallway doors where they rushed open as she approached, "we needto talk. NOW." She wasn't kidding around. This was serious to her and she wanted to get it off her chest.
Richard looked back at his friends and flashed a smile before following Raven into the hallway. The doors shut behind him leaving Cyborg and Beastboy alone in the living area.
"Yo... What's with her?" Cyborg said looking to Raven's boyfriend for answers.
"Dude, if I knew... I'd tell ya," Beastboy replied as he walked back to the couch to pick up his controller. As much as she vented to him and talked to him, he still couldn't understand her on the level he wanted to. Raven's life and emotions are far more complex than he imagined. None-the-less he still loved her dearly.
Richard walked a few steps behind Raven. He felt like a child waiting to be yelled at by his mother. He hasn't felt this way before. Not in a very long time at least. He wondered why Raven had changed so much compared to the others. However, he couldn't deny this was a good thing in Raven's case.
Raven stopped in the hallway without warning. Richard nearly walked right into her with his head down but stopped just in time to look up and wait for her to speak.
After a long moment of silence in the dimly lit hallway, Raven spoke up without turning around to face him...
"How could you do that to her?" She said with an amount of angst, "no warning? No goodbye? You just take off after Slade and let us know after you already left?"
Richard felt his guilt amplify. His obsession with Slade still had its grip on his mind. There was no excuse he could make that could possibly make up for his actions.
He lowered his head and his eyes carried a heavy sadness, "I'm sorry." He said softly. It sounded as though the weight of the world sat on his chest. His voice was heavy with regret.
Raven turned to face him. She could feel the guilt coming off of him and her anger towards him calmed down a bit. She could see this was hard on him but it was still nothing compared to the pain Starfire was feeling... Not to mention... The pain she was feeling.
"Are we really not that important to you?" Raven said a little less aggressively, "are we really not worth a goodbye?" She sounded as if the she expressing the pain for both herself and Starfire through her words.
Dick quickly looked up at Raven, "Of course not!" He said instantly with earnest but before he could continue Raven interrupted him.
"Then why?!" She raised her voice towards him, "why did you do that to us?" Her voice softened and she fought back tears, "after everything we've been through, you just let us worry about you. We didn't know if you were hurt or worse..." Her next thought pained even more and she raised her voice again, "you could have died and we would have no idea!"
Richard couldn't believe what he was hearing. The flowers in his hands were nothing but a small token to him now. A gesture that meant nothing compared to the simple action of a phone call. Just a small message to keep in touch and reassure his friends about his safety. It dawned on him just how much he meant to them. He was the one person they looked up to for just about everything. The glue that held this strange family together. The most "normal" person among them that showed no judgments except for the content of their character. He was everything this odd group of friends could ever hope for in this unforgiving world.
"I... I don't know what to say," Richard admit as he looked to the side. If he was being honest with himself... There was nothing he could say.
"Don't ever do that again," Raven lowered her head as her voice trembled, "Starfire's not the only one who can't live without you..."
Raven might not love Richard like she loves Beastboy but back when he was Robin, he saved her when she was in her most desperate time. She lost her powers, lost her mind, and lost nearly everything else about herself but Robin never gave up on her. He went into the darkest depths of horror to find her and bring her back to the light. He meant more to her than he could ever imagine and Richard felt so stupid for not realizing that sooner.
He reached forward and tried to wrap his arms around Raven but she slapped his hands away as she grit her teeth. Dick staggered back as this took him by surprise.
"Save it," she said under her breath, "there's someone else who needs that from you."
Raven turned and continued walking down the hallway. She was leading him somewhere very familiar. He knew that she was taking him to Starfire. Raven felt like she had delayed their reunion enough as it is and began walking with a purpose.
Richard looked up and took a few long steps to catch up to her before maintaining a pace to keep up with the empath. When they arrived at Starfire's room Raven stopped him outside.
"Wait here and listen," she said quietly, "listen to the pain in her voice. She's been like this ever since you left."
Raven knocked softly on Starfire's door and waited for a response. Nothing but silence returned to them. Raven wasn't the least bit surprised when no answer came so she raised her voice to get Starfire's attention.
"Star? It's Raven. Can I come in?" Raven said with her monotone voice.
A moment of silence followed. After hearing some rustling in her room they recieved a reply.
"Um... yes. You may enter," Her voice was flat and lifeless. She only seemed to speak this way around Raven knowing that putting on a fake smile and cheerful tone around her was a losing battle and ultimately pointless.
Richard's eyes went wide. He already knew. Just from the sound of her voice he knew she was suffering emotionally and it poisoned his heart to know he caused it
The door slid open to reveal only Raven as Dick stood around the corner of the doorway out of sight. The room was nearly pitch black except for the starlight that cast a dim glow through the windows of her room. Raven walked in to see Starfire sitting up on her bed. Her green eyes looked like they had been crying or at least fighting back tears for quite some time now even though she refused to admit it.
"How are you feeling today?" Raven asked as the door shut behind her. She sat next to Starfire on her bed and waited for a response. Richard stood on the other side of the door and listened closely as Raven had instructed him to do so.
"I am... still troubled," Starfire admit, "I know he is resilient and strong but he still has yet to contact me. It has never been this long of time since I have heard from him and I am beginning to fear the worst." She lowered her head as her hands folded in her lap. Her voice sounded like she was dying inside. A voice Richard had never heard from the Tamaranian. It chilled him to the bone.
"Don't worry," Raven respond, "he's fine. But you can't keep locking yourself in your room. Take it from me... It's not the best way to handle your emotions." Raven spoke from experience. She used to do this every day, even when she was in a good mood. She thought it was best, as if a way to protect her friends from herself.
Starfire looked up at Raven with a tiny smile, "I am grateful for your concern, but truly I am ok. You mustn't worry." Even though Starfire knew it was pointless to lie about her emotions to Raven she couldn't help but try, mostly from habit.
Raven saw straight through her facade and made it known that she wasn't fooled, "I can't imagine how hard it is for you. If Beastboy Ran off with the Doom Patrol with no notice I'd be devastated... but he hasn't. So there's no way I can understand your pain."
"It does get difficult when I see Beastboy do the things he does with you," Starfire admit looking down at her hands, "if I am to be honest, it makes me quite jealous... and I only wish Richard were here so I too may feel the love you feel."
Raven's eyes went wide. She hadn't thought of that. How many days did Starfire wallow in her own emotions as Raven kissed Beastboy? As Beastboy wrapped his arms around Raven and embraced her? This could only make it worse for Starfire as she waited for her own love to come back to her. How could Raven not have noticed this sooner?
"I'm so sorry," Raven said feeling a bit of guilt, "I... didn't realize-"
"Oh no!" Starfire said trying to reassure her friend, "do not be, the sorry. There are times when I see the two of you and it brings me joy and hope." Starfire sounded as if she were being honest and sincere, "it makes me feel wonderous that you two have each other." Starfire's small smile was no longer fake. She actually was happy for them. But her smile didn't last as she then reminded herself of what she was missing.
Raven saw this and decided Richard has heard everything she wanted him to hear, "well... I think you deserve what me and Beastboy have more than anyone." With that, she waved her hand with dark energy and the door opened revealing Dick on the other side.
Starfire's eyes went wide in disbelief. Dick was holding the flowers in front of him at chest level with a passionate smile on his face. His emerald green eyes expressed overjoyed happiness but deep down he felt uneasy and guilty for his absence.
Starfire's eyes began to water and tears began to flow down her cheeks with a barely audible whisper escaping her lips...
"Richard?"
