The Unknowing

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or anything dealing with DCU

Chapter Three: We're All Hiding From Something

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Third Point of View

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"Gaaarpb!"

Raven's hands immediately went to her empty belly as she groaned. She forgot to eat today. Another side effect from not having her mind at ease, she's forgetting basic necessities. Just awesome. Suddenly her thoughts were halted as the doors suddenly opened and in walked Jason, acting like he owned the tower.

"You guys got any food in this place? I need to make something or I'm going to be as useless as a JL member." He didn't wait for her reply as he opened the fridge and made his way to the cupboards.

"I wouldn't know, I don't live here." Leaning back, she pulled her legs into her chest.

Jason stopped rummaging through the cupboards to give her a side glance over his shoulder as he raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a Titan?"

"Not anymore," came her smokey reply.

"Yeah and why's that, Sunshine? Couldn't live up to their all mighty standards anymore?"

"Something like that."

If he didn't have perfect hearing, he probably wouldn't have heard her but he did. To be honest, he was only joking around with her, he didn't expect for her to even respond to him. The last thing Jason wanted to do is go down that road right now, he was still annoyed Dickless dragged him into this shit.

"Just as well, they barely have shit for food here. No wonder why they get their asses handed to them. I'd be starving too if I lived here."

Call it a feeling but she's going to need a cup of tea if she has to listen to him anymore. Jason's back was to Raven as she walked into the kitchen to prepare her tea. She always left some here for when she came to visit. It wasn't too often but she tried to make an effort for Kory.

"The Titans do just fine. Yeah, they should go grocery shopping more but they don't get their asses handed to them. They could take you down."

"It's a different group now, right? Either way, never could before," he chuckled and looked her way to see a slight tilt of her head and a raised brow.

"Have we met before?" She never met Jason when he was swinging around Gotham with a domino mask and green pants. She wasn't from earth so the only people she knew at the time were the Titans. He died before the chance ever came up.

"I'm offended you don't remember me, Sunshine." Raven looked uninterested as she grabbed the screaming kettle. "Yes and no. I was wearing a different helmet at the time though. And I was the best thief this city ever had."

That got her attention. The Titans biggest thief problem was with- "You're Red X?"

"Was. I've long passed that stage in my life." He smirked.

"So you just stopped being a criminal?" She had a hard time believing that.

"God no. I stopped dressing up in a suit to annoy Dick. I can do that whenever I want now. The toys were fun and all but I prefer my guns any day of the week."

At this point, Jason was deep into cooking something Raven couldn't quite tell but that didn't matter because it smelled good and she was hungry. What a weird turn of events. Never in my life did I think I would eat food prepared by Red X before but right now, it doesn't even matter. I'm hungry and Dick obviously trusts him enough to bring him to Titans Tower. He wouldn't do that for just anyone. I don't sense any malice from him and he's doing a much better job at rolling back his emotions which is good. He seems normal now but I still sense a rage he is constantly trying to hold back. I guess I can relate.

"That's good to know." Raven took a seat at the island as she silently sipped her tea. It was both delicious and soothing and filled her senses with sweet lavender. A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Dick made his way back in.

"Oh good you're cooking. I knew I smelled something good so it couldn't be Raven's cooking." Dick smiled.

A vein in her forehead suddenly became more prominent at her friend's joke. "Haha, we get it, I can't cook to save my life."

Dick chuckled as he took a seat next to his dark friend.

"Well I'm sure as shit not letting you cook, Dickie-Bird. I prefer not eating burnt to a fucking crisp pile of trash. You'd think all the years spent with Alfred, that you'd pick something up but I guess that's just another thing I'm beating you at."

Raven paused at Jason's comment. The last thing she expected was for him to have her back. Not that she needed it, but it was kind of… nice.

"You're the only one keeping score, Jay." It was just like him to make everything a competition.

"Just as well, you're losing by a landslide. Wouldn't want to mess with your ego now." Jason shrugged.

"Oh no, we wouldn't want that." Raven's comment caused both men to smile. "So, Dick, why didn't you tell us this whole time that your brother is the famous Red X?"

"Adoptive and was. Key words you're forgetting, Princess."

"Queen."

"Seriously?" Jason rolled his eyes as he handled the food he was able to find.

"If you're going to insist on using nicknames, and I can tell that you are, then at least use the correct terminology."

Jason stopped and looked her way before shaking his head in disbelief. She could tell he didn't believe her. Understandable. "You're telling me that you're actually a Queen?"

She sighed before replying in her even tone. "Essentially. My father was an inter-dimensional demon who ruled hell. Since I trapped him in my… gem," she stops and points at her forehead before continuing, "I've basically got full reign down there. If I wanted anyway." She would never wish such a thing. It was the worse experience of her life and she vowed to never return as long as she would help it.

"Well color me impressed. Didn't know you had it in you, Queenie." Did he actually look impressed by that piece of information?

"So how long have you known, Dick?" Raven asked as she patiently waited for his response. He was quietly watching their back and forth exchange in silence.

"I've known for a year now. After the whole ordeal with him going after Batman as Red Hood, he shed some light on the subject. Mainly to throw it in my face since the Titans never could find out his identity. Thanks again for that, Little Wing." Jason saluted him before turning back to his cooking project. "Anyway, after a lot of arguing and fighting, we eventually made up and he's since joined the bat family again."

Raven thought very carefully before she said her next words and patted Dick's back. "I'm proud of you, Dick. Your detective skills really came in handy on this one."

"Ha! I like her, she's funny!" Jason quipped as he placed food on three plates.

"That's cold, Raven." Dick's head hung low in shame.

"You know sarcasm is my middle name." Raven smirked and sipped her tea.

She had to admit she was very curious to hear more about Jason's Red Hood stories. She never heard of the moniker before but if he was Red X all those years back then who knows the kind of person he's become since. Although, he is Dick's brother and if Dick trusts him then she will to trust him too. And in her book, that meant something. Before she could ask, Jason came over with two plates full of food.

"Alright kids, time for dinner. No more yapping at the table. Eat up."

That's something they could all agree on. Jason grabbed his plate and sat down alongside them. By that point, Raven was already devouring her food. It smelled great, tasted great and she was hungry. She wouldn't have guessed it but Jason was actually a really good cook. He ended up making baked chicken with cheese covering it, a side of sliced potatoes and corn thrown in. Whatever seasonings he put in there only added to the overall goodness that is this meal.

"Damn girl, you can really eat." Jason chuckled as he glanced over her way.

"I didn't eat today and besides... the food tastes good," she paused to clear her throat, "thank you by the way. You're actually a decent cook."

"Careful, Little Bird, that almost sounds like a compliment. Wouldn't want people thinking you like me." A smirk made its way across his face when a blush started covering her cheeks. Dick noticed but remained quiet as he ate and observed the pair. Sometimes you notice more by listening than saying at all.

"No, we wouldn't want that, would we?" If he was going to tease her then she'd do the same. He might have caught her off guard but she has quick reflexes.

"Seriously, Jason, the food was great. I appreciate you making it," Dick chimed in, trying to defuse the thick atmosphere.

"Yeah, don't mention it," Jason said as he focused solely on his food.

The rest of dinner was rather quiet, the only sounds emanating from the room was the clinking of silverware against plates. Once they were finished they made their way to the couch to digest the food they just consumed.

"So where are the Titans, anyway? Not that I'm complaining or anything but that green one is annoying-" "and loud," Raven interjected. "And loud. Are we going to be running into them while we're here?"

"First of all, his name is Gar and no. Kory said they're on a mission for a few weeks on Tamaran so we shouldn't be running into them," Dick replied.

"Too bad, I kinda like messing with Damian." Jason pressed his lips together in response.

Did Jason actually look disappointed? The look on his face was gone as soon as it appeared but his emotions spoke volumes. If he's Dick's brother then that must mean he's also Tim and Damian's brother. Still, the man before her didn't scream family man.

"We won't be staying here for too long, just enough time to regroup and head to Wayne manor in the morning. We'll have more access to their files in the bat cave than anywhere else. Bruce won't mind since he's out of the country on a Justice League mission."

"So why did you want me to teleport us here then?" It would have been just as easy to bring them there. Well almost, she had never actually been to Wayne manor but that hardly mattered. Being back here wasn't unusual for her but it also wasn't common since her time as a Titan came to an end.

"I needed to grab a couple things from my old room that may help with the case," came his slow response.

"And?" Raven knew it was more than that, she could feel the shift in his emotions when she asked why he wanted to stop at the tower first.

"And I missed the tower. Sue me." Dick shook his head at his friend, knowing he's been caught. There really was no getting past her.

"And you wanted me here. Why?" She knew there was more to it and she wanted to hear him say it out loud. She watched as his shoulders slumped ever so slightly and he let out a huff.

"Okay, I thought you might miss the tower too. I thought it'd be good for both of us to regroup here. This place always felt like home, more than anywhere else." He looked at his feet, suddenly not wanting to meet her gaze.

It was Raven's turn to sigh. Yes, she missed this place and yes, she once considered this to be her home but no, it did not feel like that anymore. It felt almost foreign now that she's been away from the Titans for a couple of years. Her friends are her home. Her aunt's family and house was once her home as well. Until it wasn't.

"I know what you're doing and it's not going to work. Not now, not ever. I loved being a Titan and what we did but it's not the same anymore. This place is practically full of strangers now and…"

And what, Raven? Too many bad memories? No. Don't want to be around Gar? Yes, but it's not that persay. Then there was Solstice. Initially Raven had gravitated towards her but she soon felt forgotten in her own home whenever she was around. Or was it the fact that the Justice League never fully accepted her like her friends had? Not to mention some of the new Titans didn't either and it showed. Zachery Zatara. The Zatara in general felt themselves holier than thou and always watched her when she was in the same room. Guess she couldn't live up to their standards because of her demonic heritage.

"And I simply don't belong here anymore. But nice try."

Jason had been quiet and respectful while they talked but he was starting to feel like he was watching a bad tv show and losing his patience. So when he saw the twitch in Dick's lip, he knew he would need to be the one to put an end to this or get the hell out of there.

"I'm gonna stop you before this becomes any more of an after school special than it already is. Where am I sleeping?"

Before Dick could reply to his question, his phone went off. He made a move for it and sighed upon looking at it. "It's B. Raven, can you show him around please?"

He left before she got a chance to respond. Bats are annoying. "Sure thing."

"Don't sound so enthusiastic." Jason smiled as he took their plates and placed them in the dishwasher.

She looked in the direction of Dick's brother. She couldn't help but compare them as her eyes landed on him. They looked very similar but at the same time very different. Jason was a couple inches taller than Dick and while Dick was more cut and lean, Jason's body was more built and chiseled. The biggest difference being the small J shaped scar on his cheek and what looked to be a jagged one trailing down his neck.

I wonder how he got them. Raven's eyes must have lingered on him longer than they should have because before she knew it, his voice broke her momentary stupor.

"You checking me out, Sunshine?" Making his way to the couch, he sat down. Leaning back, he spread his arms to rest on the back of the sofa, while he sported a playful smile. Raven followed along as she sat across from him. "It's okay if you are, I don't mind."

Raven couldn't help but roll her eyes and scoff loudly at the brute. He really is something. "I wasn't checking you out. I was trying to figure you out." That wasn't the whole truth but she would never admit that to him. She was the sin of pride after all. Stubborn might as well be her middle name.

"Now, why would you want to figure me out?" His eyes shined mischievously. He was goating her and she knew it.

"How long have you been afraid of getting close to people?" She knew exactly what he was doing and she wasn't buying it for a second. He's not the only person who hides behind hard exteriors to protect them from the big bad world. At his perplexed expression, she continued on. "It's obvious that your guard is up around most people, especially new people, and you use your jokes and sarcasm as a form of defense mechanism. Why would anyone want to care for an asshole, right?"

Fucking metas. She was right of course and that left him with an unnerving feeling in the pit of his belly. He didn't trust people easily, in fact he could count on one hand the amount of people he trusts. And even with those people, he's been known to push them away and keep at arm's reach. He couldn't help it at this point in his life. Living on the streets changed him long before he put on a cape or helmet. The last few years of his life, however, solidified everything. Jason couldn't help but chuckle at his current situation. He was doing just fine before Dick's drama lead him to where he is now, sitting in Titan's Tower with a witch that wasn't putting up with his bullshit and Joker stirring up trouble.

"So you've figured me out, Little Bird. Impressive. What about you?" His head tilted to the side as he pondered her. Two can play this game.

"What about me?"

"Why do you always hide behind your cloak?"

Raven raised a brow in question. "Why do you hide behind your helmet?"

She watched as he internally debated something only he knew before making a decision and leveling with her. "A couple years ago, I took over Gotham's underground. I couldn't let anyone know who I was for obvious reasons. Now it's your turn to share, Sunshine. What are you hiding from?"

Raven swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Who wasn't she hiding from? "My people of Azarath wore them. But when I was younger and still getting a hold of my empathy, I would constantly wear my hood. It made me feel safe. Like I could quiet the world around me. So I could feel just my own emotions."

"What about now? Have you ever thought of not wearing a cloak?" The sudden softness in his voice did not go unnoticed by Raven.

"Why do you ask?" If she was hoping for a verbal response, she didn't get one. He merely shrugged and leaned his hands on his knees before rising to his feet.

"Well I'm beat. Care to show me where I'm sleeping?"

Nodding, Raven stood and began making her way to where the guest rooms were located. They walked in silence and she was thankful for it. They obviously both have a past and she wasn't feeling inclined to share any more than she already had. She felt nostalgic as they ventured down the hall. It's been a while since she visited or slept in her old room.

"Home sweet home." They stopped at a door that opened upon their arrival, revealing a simplistic room with a twin mattress, dresser and desk. "There's a bathroom through that door." Raven pointed to the door on the right before turning back to Jason.

"It's everything I could ever hope for." A smirk made its way to Raven's lips as she watched him enter the room.

"Goodnight." With that, Raven turned on her heel towards the last place she thought she would be sleeping tonight.

"Night, Sunshine."