The small, dimly lit bathroom of The Salty Anchor pub. The air smells faintly of soap and old wood. A small row of toilets and urinals that were impossibly clean, a cracked mirror hangs above the sink, and the hum of a flickering fluorescent light buzzes overhead. Bart Allen is leaning against the sink, a smug grin plastered across his face as he watches Beast Boy splash cold water on his face.
Beast Boy straightens, shaking his hands dry and catching Bart's reflection in the mirror. Bart's grin only widens, his intentions clear as day.
Bart grinned teasingly "So… you and Raven, huh?"
Beast Boy froze for half a second, then rolls his eyes dramatically, turning toward Bart.
"What? Dude, what are you talking about?" Beast Boy said stammering
Bart smiled mockingly a fake innocent look in his eye "Oh, nothing. I just couldn't help but notice the way you keep looking at her. Real subtle, by the way. Very smooth."
Beast Boy's cheeks turned slightly red as he throws his hands up defensively "Woah woah woah! We just met her an HOUR ago! You're imagining things, man."
Bart smirked, crossing his arms, shook his head and tisk tisked "Uh-huh. Sure. And I imagine you're the one who keeps 'casually' checking if she's okay every five minutes. Totally not obvious at all."
Beast Boy groaned, running a hand through his green hair as he leans back against the sink. "First of all, I'm just being polite! She's the new girl, Bart. And second, why are you keeping track of what I'm doing, huh? Creeper much?"
Bart's grinned widened "Because it's hilarious. Watching you try to act cool around her? Priceless. Like that moment earlier when you handed her a napkin and stuttered. Classic."
"That didn't happen!" Beast Boy cried
"'Uh… h-here you go, Rae—uh, Raven.'" Bart said in a bad attempt imitating Beast Boy
Beast Boy groaned again, covering his face with his hands. "Seriously, stop. You're making stuff up."
Bart zips up closer to Beast Boy, leaning against the sink beside him, his tone turning teasingly sing-song. "Look, BB, it's fine! You've got a little crush—big deal. Been there done that. She's mysterious, powerful, has the whole 'dark and brooding' thing going on. I get it."
Beast Boy drops his hands, narrowing his eyes at Bart.
"Even if—if—I thought she was cool, it wouldn't mean I like her." Beast Boy said indignantly "She barely talks, she's got all this magic stuff going on, and I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm annoying."
Bart shrugged "She didn't zap you when you tried to talk to her earlier or give you a look that would make Batman jealous, so that's a good sign. Look at you, winning already!"
Beast Boy sighs, shaking his head. "You've got it all wrong, man. Raven's been through stuff, you can tell. She's not here to make friends or deal with dumb jokes from me or anyone else."
His voice softens slightly, and Bart's teasing smirk fades just a little as he watches Beast Boy's sincerity show through.
"She's different, yeah, but in a way where you don't want to mess it up." Beast Boy mumbled "You know? Like, she deserves to feel safe here. That's all I care about."
Bart blinks rapidly, surprised by the shift in tone, before grinning again and lightly elbowing Beast Boy. "Look at you, going all thoughtful. That's basically step one of 'crushing,' by the way."
Beast Boy glares at him, exasperated. "I do not have a crush!"
Bart laughed, zipping toward the door "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, loverboy."
Bart zips out of the bathroom, his laughter echoing faintly through the hallway. Beast Boy lets out a long, dramatic sigh, staring at his reflection in the cracked mirror. "Great. Now I'll never hear the end of this."
He splashes water on his face again, groaning as he walks out of the bathroom, clearly bracing himself for Bart's relentless teasing to continue.
The salty sea air mingles with the sound of distant gulls on a small viewing platform that overlooked the sea as Starfire stood beside Raven, her fiery orange hair glowing in the late evening light, while the rest of the team watches from a short distance.
A large rock protrudes from the shallow waves, slick with seaweed and weathered by the tide. Starfire looks at Raven with her characteristic enthusiasm, her glowing green eyes filled with curiosity.
Starfire smiled slightly "Friend Raven, may I see more of your wondrous magic? I am most eager to witness the power you wield!"
Raven hesitates, pulling her hood further over her head as if trying to shield herself from the attention. She glances toward the others Superboy, Nightwing, Beast Boy, and Miss Martian, who are chatting quietly a few feet away.
"I don't usually... perform on request." Raven said softly
Starfire gave an encouraging smile "It does not have to be anything grand! Perhaps you can lift something small? Or something large if you feel bold!"
She gestures toward the giant rock in the sea, her excitement unwavering. Raven exhales slowly, her voice calm but tinged with reluctance. "Fine. But don't expect it to be perfect."
Raven raises her hands, and her eyes glow faintly indigo as the air around her hums with energy. A faint aura of black magic seeps from her fingers, snaking toward the giant rock.
The rock trembles slightly, small vibrations rippling through the water around it. Slowly, it begins to rise, but it jerks unevenly, as if struggling against an invisible force.
Starfire beamed as she began to clap "You are doing it! Most impressive, Friend Raven!"
Raven's brow furrows, her concentration slipping as the rock sways precariously in midair. Her voice is tight with strain. "Please be quiet…It's not... as simple as it looks."
With a loud splash, the rock crashes back into the sea, sending waves spraying onto the nearby shore. Raven lets out a frustrated sigh, lowering her hands as her glowing eyes fade. She turns away, avoiding Starfire's gaze. "You see? This is why I don't really like to show off."
Starfire smiled gently "But you did lift it Friend Raven! That is no small feat. Why do you doubt yourself so much?"
"Because my magic isn't…well…reliable." Raven said quietly as if unsure on what to say or even if she is using the right words "It's... tied to my emotions. If I lose focus, or if I let myself feel too much, things can go wrong. Very wrong."
She crosses her arms, her gaze fixed on the waves. Starfire steps closer, her voice softening.
"Surely with time and practice, you will master it. I, too, had to learn to control my starbolts." Starfire said as her hand glowed slightly "At first, they would fire wildly whenever I felt strong emotions. It took much training at my home Tameran to wield them with precision."
Raven sighed shaking her head "It's not the same. My magic isn't just about control—it's about limits. If I use it too much, or too recklessly..."
Her voice trails off, her expression darkening. She doesn't finish the sentence, but the weight of her words lingers in the air. Starfire watches her thoughtfully.
"I've put up... barriers. Mental blocks, I guess…" Raven said looking at anything but Starfire "They help me keep things in check, but they also hold me back. It's like having a wall between me and my own powers. I'm trying to work around it…but... it's complicated." She glances at Starfire, her voice quieter. "And I don't know…I don't want to know…what will happen if those walls come down."
Starfire places a reassuring hand on Raven's shoulder, her expression warm and supportive. "Whatever you fear, know that you do not face it alone." She said "We are your friends, and we will stand by you no matter what. Even if your walls crumble, we will help you rebuild them—stronger than before."
Raven looks at her, a faint, reluctant smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're surprisingly good at this motivational speech thing." She said "And me a friend? We only just met like an hour ago."
Starfire smiled brightly "Anyone who I meet and is good to me is a friend!" Starfire said beaming "It is a talent of mine! Now, shall we try again? Perhaps something smaller this time?"
Raven hesitates for a moment, then nods, her determination flickering to life once more, the waves crashing rhythmically as Raven prepares to try again.
The sun is was almost done setting over the rocky coastline of Port Sapph, painting the sky in hues of dark colours as night began to come in. Superboy and Miss Martian are sitting on a low stone wall near the shore, the waves crashing rhythmically in the distance. Behind them, the faint sounds of Raven and Starfire's mini training session drift through the air, Starfire's encouraging voice carrying over the breeze.
Superboy leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his brow furrowed in thought. Miss Martian sits beside him, her book closed in her lap, watching him with quiet concern.
"I don't know, M'gann. There's something about her. Something... off."
Miss Martian tilts her head, her gaze soft but curious. "You mean Raven?"
Superboy sighed slightly "Yeah. I mean, she's powerful, sure. But the way she talks about her magic, the way she holds back... it's like she's afraid of herself. And if she's afraid, and well…" He shook his head as if disgusted by what he was thinking.
Miss Martian looks out toward the ocean, her expression thoughtful.
"I understand what you're feeling. I've been wondering the same thing."
Superboy looks at her, not surprised by her honesty but slightly taken aback. She smiles faintly, but there's a hint of unease in her eyes.
"Raven's... complicated. I overheard what she said to Starfire about her magic and those mental blocks she's created. That kind of fear and self-doubt? It's not easy to work through. And you're right—it's dangerous. But..."
She pauses, searching for the right words. "...I think that's why she needs us. If she's going to learn to control her powers, she needs people who are willing to trust her. Even if it's hard. I mean we have been through this before, how is this any different?"
Superboy frowned slightly "I don't know if I can, M'gann. It's not just about trust. What if we're wrong? What if she loses control, and we're the ones caught in the crossfire? Or worse, what if something happens that we can't stop? Or…" He stopped as he leaned back, running a hand through his hair, a flicker of frustration appeared into his features. "Yes we have done this thing before, I mean where do I start...and even if we wanted to help, are we really the right people to train her? Zatanna's the one with the experience, and she's off fighting some interdimensional war. Who knows when—or if—she's coming back? And the other magic users are either busy or are not exactly teacher material."
Miss Martian places a gentle hand on his arm, her voice steady but kind.
"Connor, I get it. This isn't quite like anything we've faced before. We're not magical experts, and we don't have all the answers. But that doesn't mean we can't help her in other ways."
She gestures toward the distant figures of Raven and Starfire, who are now by the shoreline. Raven's faint magical glow flickers uncertainly as she lifted a medium sized rock that was in the ground with Starfire doing some unusual dance around Raven.
"Look at her. She's trying and doing well." Miss Martian said "She's putting herself out there, even though she's scared. That's not easy to do. And honestly, it reminds me of how I felt when I first joined the team."
Superboy turns to her, his expression softening slightly. Miss Martian continues, her tone more introspective. "I was afraid of my powers too. Afraid I'd lose control, that I'd hurt someone. And I know you were too at one point…But the team didn't give up on me. They helped me work through it, even when I wasn't sure I could."
She looks at him, her eyes earnest. "Maybe we're not perfect, and maybe we don't have all the tools Raven needs, but we can give her a safe place to figure it out. And I think that counts for something."
Superboy is silent for a long moment, his gaze drifting back to the waves. Finally, he exhales, nodding slowly. "Alright. I'll try…and yeah, I admit that I was kinda afraid of my power for a while…But I'm not quite making any promises."
Miss Martian smiled as she patted her husband on the back "That's all I'm asking."
They sat in companionable silence for a moment, watching as Raven tries to lift a larger rock, her powers flickering and faltering. Starfire claps enthusiastically, offering words of encouragement. Superboy crosses his arms, his tone softening. "You really think we can do this? Help her, I mean."
Miss Martian nodded "I do. And if we can't... we'll find someone who can. We're a team, Connor. We'll figure it out together."
Superboy gives her a small, reluctant smile as the scene fades, the sound of the ocean blending with the distant cheers of Starfire's encouragement.