Fan Fiction ❯ Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, For You ❯ Five Good Reasons To Avoid The Kitchen ( Chapter 9 )

Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, For You

 

Chapter Nine

“Five Good Reasons To Avoid The Kitchen”

 

A/N: Well, here's chapter nine. I'll have to give you a violence warning for this one; since there's quite of bit of knife and explosion related death. Nothing graphic! Oh, and I once again missed Birthmark, which sucks because I still have no clue what the deal is with Slade's new powers. So I improvised and gave him even newer new powers; and I'll explain how he got them a bit later on. Enjoy. ^^

 

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

 

The level of confusion that had allowed Slade his perfect entrance had now died down and some form of order had been restored to the military base. The King and Queen had taken charge, as they rightfully should have. Using Tamara's equivalent to the megaphone and their unnaturally loud shouting ability, they had managed to get the attention of everyone on sight and hand out orders. The military was able to work quickly at the towers to search for survivors and keep damage at a minimum. The defenses were down; but the Tamaranian military was on top of that too. There seemed to be guardsman of some kind, flying overhead constantly to ensure that no further attacks would take place tonight.

The Titans however, had found another project to occupy their attention. All five teens had reunited by the wreckage; although there was no time for any actual talk. Somehow, the five heroes found themselves alone without Galfore, who was gone to aid in the search of the towers, and Batman who was helping the military secure the neglected front gates. However, sleep-deprivation and lack of aid was not enough to stop them. Robin took charge of the team as always and they assembled at the crash site; which was in need of a search anyway.

 

The combination of strength from Starfire and Cyborg, Beast Boy's gorilla form and aid from Raven's powers made the work quick. They were able to move the severed spaceship away from the main building without collapsing the structure of either. Robin was preoccupied actually getting inside the still-burning jailhouse and searching for any sigh of the Glassy Assassin. In all odds, the assassin was probably either dead or long-gone by now; but odds had not been in their favor for a long time and the last thing they needed was a second encounter with the ninja.

 

It seemed to last forever, though actuality they were finished with their work quicker than anyone else who was running around the base. The last few days had brought large changes in everyone, and they had been functioning under the watchful eyes of Batman, Galfore and the Royal Family; but in the end the very little had changed when the five Teen Titans set about their task as one.

 

Robin emerged from the smoldering hole of the interrogation room's wall and found the eager faces of his fellow Titans. He shook his head to show there was no sign of the assassin and spirits fell. It was doubtful that the villain had escaped, and even if he had the odds were he'd be uneager for another battle; however none could shake the feeling that not discovering him would come back to be a problem later. Robin now turned his attention to Starfire, whom he had not spoken too since they had regrouped. He had been wrong and it was time to fess up to it; and from the look in her eyes, it was also time for his shoulder to wipe her tears. She had succeeded in saving her friends from the ship - as she had said she could - however, the stench of failure was clinging to the air and choking the life out of any level of victory they had accomplished.

 

The distance between them had become thin. Only a few feet of burnt grass and ash-covered dirt separated the duo. Starfire was leaning against the wall of the demolished building as Robin approached her; she jerked her shoulder away from his hand as he reached out to touch her.

 

“Starfire I'm sorry.”

 

“You should be.” Starfire spat back. She was sad, but she was also angry. “People who are now dead would not be if you and father had not held me up before. I could have saved them if I had had more time.”

 

Robin sighed and tore his eyes away from her. The ash-covered ground had now looked more appealing than Starfire's back. She was right and he knew it. If Robin had trusted her more before, if she had arrived and done battle with the ship sooner the result could have been different. People who were now dead would still be alive; and it was partially his fault.

 

“You're right Starfire. There's no apology I could make that would be enough for this.”

 

“I am not angry at you Robin.” Starfire said quietly, turning to face him for the first time. Her large eyes filled with tears and her body was shaking as she tried to control the emotions swelling up inside her. “I am disappointed. My father I expect this treatment from for he does not live with us; however, you spend every day with me Robin. You are my best friend and the person I love most of all. You should not doubt me.”

 

That was too much for Robin. Psychotic supervillians, invisible spaceships, missing assassins - those things he could deal with. Starfire's disappointment in him right now was beyond him; he could not handle it and was not going to waste time trying. “I'm sorry Starfire. You are one of the most capable people I've ever met. I should have known you'd be fine, I shouldn't have had the slightest bit of doubt. I know I shouldn't but I do; and I always have. Every time we're in any kind of danger, I'm worried about you. Whether we're fighting someone serious like Slade or just chasing a second-rate street thug; I'm afraid something's going to happen to you. I'm afraid I'll lose you. I don't know what I'd do Starfire.”

 

“You will not lose me Robin.” Starfire said firmly. “I promise you.”

 

It was enough for both of them. The two embraced and Robin did not mind the bone-crunching pain of Starfire's full grip around him as they did. He could hear tiny murmurs of her tears on his shoulder and he could feel his own sliding silently down from behind the mask. They did not need words anymore; it was clear. They were in love and no one was changing that. Their own arguments, the assassins, Slade and Trigon and whoever or whatever else was behind all of this, the trails - nothing was going to stop them from being together.

 

Not far from where the pair was embracing, stood Beast Boy watching them with a sneaky smile on his face. He of all people knew it was no fun to be eavesdropped on when you are trying to share a romantic moment; but he also knew how much fun it was to do the eavesdropping.

 

“You know they're going to start watching us if you keep this up.” Raven's sarcasm cut across his green ears, which twitched and perked up at the sound.

 

“Hey, we're suppose to be waiting for Robin's orders; right? I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do.” Beast Boy replied as he turned around to find the Goth floating towards him with a less-than-amused look on her face.

“Well you won't have to wait for long. I just got a call from one of the military teams patrolling the castle; two members of their team are missing. It could just be slackers, but these Tamaranians don't strike me as the type who'd skip any chance for combat.” Raven explained. Her worries went deeper than that; if there were soldiers going missing around the base it could be a sign the assassin was still alive; or a sign that whoever was behind the aerial assault was still around.

 

“Wait! Don't bug Robin and Starfire over that! Let them enjoy their moment Rae. You and I can go check this out.” Beast Boy said quickly, cutting off her path from the boy wonder and the princess.

 

“While wandering around looking for danger with you usually turns out to be more fun than it sounds, I can't. They found some survivors from the missile blast; but without a good healer fast they won't be survivors much longer.” Raven explained quickly, attempting once again to get by Beast Boy.

 

Now Beast Boy was annoyed. “So then let me go. It's just checking out the castle, not even I can mess that up. Then Robin and Starfire can have their moment and you can heal the wounded.”

Raven narrowed her eyes. “What if you do find someone? You can't handle that assassin alone.”

 

“And I'd be too scared to try.” Beast Boy replied instantly. “If I find something I'll call you and Robin, okay?”

 

Raven was obviously not okay with this plan, but it made sense. That was the problem; most arguments with Beast Boy were pointless, so whenever he did make sense it became almost impossible to win. “Alright, but don't do anything stupid.”

 

Beast Boy nodded. “When have I ever?”

 

Raven narrowed her eyes and became as serious as a stone. “Not funny. You have to be careful with this Beast Boy.”

Beast Boy nodded, not matching her in her level of seriousness but attempting too. “I will Raven. I promise.”

 

“Fine, then hurry up. A Tamaranian Solider named Mund'r is waiting at the main gate.” She explained as the two of them began walking in the direction of the castle. “I don't know how you'll tell him apart from the others, so you'd better remember his name.”

 

“Mundoor, okay, got it. I guess I'm all set then?” Beast Boy asked as they stopped and faced each other one last time before they would have to separate ways.

 

“It appears so.” Raven hesitated. “Be careful.”

 

Beast Boy rolled his eyes and flashed her a toothy grin. “You said that already.”

 

Raven's grin was much thinner, but still returned. “Yeah, I know.”

 

That was that. Raven turned around, all kidding and romance aside as her mind focused on one goal; keeping those survivors alive. Raven quickly rose off the ground and floated her way back to the crash site, where she was sure the Tamaranians and others Titans would be finished tending to the wounded as well as they could by now. She wasn't exactly looking forward to her task, since her “healing” powers meant she'd be transferring their pain into her own body; but it was something she was going to do.

 

Beast Boy turned the opposite way and jumped into the air, morphing himself into the shape of a proud eagle before beginning his flight to the actual castle. His chore sounded simple enough; he just had to walk around the castle with some dude named Mooner and look for weird stuff. Unfortunately, the simplest of tasks are often the easiest to go astray; and when it came to messing things up Beast Boy was the undisputed expert of the Teen Titans.

As he arrived at the castle Beast Boy turned back into his true form and landed at the main gate. He'd barley had time to run a hand through his hair when a voice like thunder called and a mountain of a main came barreling towards him.

 

“You are Titan, no?” It was Mund'r. Beast Boy had expected Mund'r to be bigger than him; but this was sheer madness. The solider stood at least six feet, but Beast Boy guessed he was probably closer to seven. His weight was something the Green Teen wouldn't even begin to imagine; but it had to be a lot - and all of it muscle. Had they met under less engaging events Beast Boy would have probably asked him to try to bench press his elephant form - but Raven wouldn't find that kind of slacking amusing.

 

“Yeah, I'm a Titan. Beast Boy. You must be Molder?”

 

“I am Mund'r, Sgt. First Class, Eastern Division of the -”

 

“Umm, not to be rude but I don't know military talk anyway, so we should just go look for the other dudes.” Beast Boy interrupted. “We're looking for the other two dudes in your division thingy, right?”

 

“Indeed.” Mund'r replied, his expression now sombering up. “We were charged with securing the main gate after the attack began. M'kal, B'ran and were all standing here when the second tower was attacked. B'ran, the Leader of our Unit, ordered that we secure the inner castle. He assigned himself to the areas on the right, M'kal to the left; and I was to stay at the main entrance.”

 

Beast Boy glanced inside the castle. He was still confused as to where everything was; but he recognized the path to the kitchen down the right side and figured that'd be as good a place as any. “So nobody came past you, right? Which means if it was the assassin he had to find another way it - hey, but he didn't get out until later! Which means they're just slacking off or something -”

 

“B'ran would never slack off, and he was strict to M'kal and I whenever we tried. He would sooner die than break even the slightest rule.”

 

Beast Boy blinked, and then he understood something grim. “Umm, let's go check the kitchen. I'm so lost that by the time I figure the timeline out Raven'll be done working and we'll both be in serious trouble.”

 

Mund'r did not seem to understand, but it was clear from the look in his eyes that he would rather be searching for his team than chatting with Beast Boy anyway and the two set off towards the kitchen without another word. Mund'r floated over the ground quickly, his fists were clenched the way Starfire's were whenever she did the same thing. Beast Boy followed beside him swiftly, wondering if he should transform or not.

 

The wondering ceased when they reached the kitchen. The questions were answered very quickly. The kitchen was huge, like everything else in the castle. A long table ran down the middle and was used for food preparation; with cupboards, freezers, sinks and cabinets running along either side. One of the freezers was cracked open; and a large man's arm was hanging out the side.

 

Mund'r was at the freezer door the moment the shock wore off; and he screamed and fell to his massive knees the next. The mountain-of-a-man who had once looked like he could intimidate the most ruthless of killers with a single glance had become a friend grieving over a friend's body. B'ran, the self-proclaimed rule freak and highest-ranking officer of squad was lying at Mund'r feet; his throat had been slashed.

 

Beast Boy was frozen. He was standing in a alien kitchen watching one solider crying over the dead-body of another, the blood from the wound was partially frozen but still running over onto the ground. It had to be one of the most horrible things he had ever seen in his life, and he could not react.

 

Unfortunately, he would have to react. Whether it made sense with their agreed timeline or not, whether Mund'r had seen him enter the castle or not; it was irrelevant. The Glassy Assassin's whereabouts were no longer unknown; he was right behind Beast Boy and Mund'r. He had been looking for a better knife than the one he used to kill B'ran with when they had shown up, and he had merely ducked into the oversized silverware cupboard he had been looking in.

Now he was using the trademark stealth that had kept him invisible for so long on the ship to make slowly make his way into the perfect position to strike. While it was probably one of the smallest knives in the kitchen, the one in his hand was of Tamaranian origin and was roughly the size of a dagger; and sharp enough to slice through bone.

There was only one flaw; he was behind the wrong target. He had engaged Beast Boy in battle before, and he'd obviously done the same with oversized Tamaranian soldiers - and he knew which one he wanted to kill first. He had been beaten, interrogated, and nearly killed by a spaceship crash. There was no way he would last in a fair fight against one of these brutes. However Beast Boy was the closer of the two - and there was a good chance he could spot the assassin coming if he tried to sneak past him.

 

That would not be an issue much longer though. Beast Boy decided it was best if he just leave Mund'r to grieve for a moment; and he turned around. Upon doing so, he and the glassy assassin found themselves face to face; neither one sure what was going on.

 

“DUDE!” Beast Boy had to transform himself into a mouse and fall to flat on his rump to avoid the swipe from the assassin's blade. Mund'r turned his head, his face still stained from grief - which became blazing anger the moment the realized what was going on. The Tamaranian strongman stood and turned but the assassin stabbed at him too quickly. Mund'r was caught in the stomach and stabbed three times before he staggered backwards over the body of his friend, and ultimately fell onto his back.

 

“Raven! Robin! Get down here; the assassin dude is killing the big dude! We're in the kitchen!”

Beast Boy did as he had promised; he grabbed his communicator the moment he had regained enough sense to move and called for backup. Now it was time for him to fight. Mund'r was dead and Beast Boy knew that. The Tamaranian solider had died in his duty, died for a friend; and that was how most of the people Beast Boy knew would like to die if they have a choice in the matter. He himself would want his death to mean something, to be a sacrifice for someone if he was not aloud to die of natural causes.

Unfortunately, at this point he may not have any say in it. The Glassy Assassin was in front of him, and he was ready to send Beast Boy to the grave anyway he could. Beast Boy stepped backwards a few steps and watched the assassin; who did not move an inch. The assassin's eyes followed Beast Boy's feet and his fingers flexed menacingly around the hilt of the knife.

 

Beast Boy was thinking fast. What kind of animal would be best for this? If he became a bird and tried to fly away, it would not work; the assassin was too quick with his kicks and with that blade. He could become a bear; but he would likely meet the same fate as Mund'r. Rhino, Bull, Crocodile - none of them would do any good in this confined space. Perhaps a snake? Sleek, swift and deadly just like his enemy.

 

Then it hit him. The perfect animal for defeating the perfect assassin. Not a snake, a worm.

A shoe-worm.

 

The assassin decided that the minute and a half that had passed since Mund'r's death and Beast Boy's call for help was enough waiting time, and he jumped forward to strike. Beast Boy jumped forward too - transforming into an all-green version of the Tamaranian shoe-worm as he did. His mouth was open, his fangs ready and his body had him on a direct course with the assassin's shoulder.

 

The assassin was faster than a shoe-worm, though. He brought the hilt of his knife down on the back of Beast Boy's head, and the shoe-worm form vanished leaving the original Beast Boy to fall on his stomach, helpless at the ninja-like killer's feet. The assassin was not one to waste time, and he did not. He turned the knife upside down and raised his arm for the striking blow.

 

“You really don't want to do that.”

 

Cyborg pressed the edge of his arm-cannon into the side of the assassin's head. Unlike his usual self, the assassin had not noticed the arrival of the other Titans; nor had Beast Boy for that matter. However, they were there; all of them. Beast Boy was suddenly being drug away from the deadly killer and towards and even worse fate - Raven.

 

“Do the words `Be Careful' mean nothing to you?” She asked.

 

“Hey, I called.” Beast Boy retorted; but neither of them pressed the matter any further. Starfire had found her way to the Tamaranian's bodies and was now moving them into less degrading positions, shaking her head and biting back the tears that accompanied such a task. Robin's focus was on the assassin, however and he spoke softly.

“Anyone have any ideas on where we take him?”

 

“I'll deal with him.” Raven said instantly. Beast Boy had only just noticed the shake in her step and the way her arms were quivering silently. Upon remembering she had been healing the wounded, he suddenly felt that her dealing with anything was a bad idea. She'd been sleep deprived, attacked by Trigon in her mind, she'd used her “healing” powers to take other people's pain and transfer it into her own body, and her mental worry had doubled upon seeing Beast Boy so close to an early grave.

 

“A ninja does not reveal his mission or his master. We willingly die by the sword - ours or our enemies.”

 

All five Titans had to look up for this one. The Glassy Assassin had spoken in a raspy, hissing voice. It was not a cold voice; though it lacked any warmth whatsoever. It was the voice of a defeated, broken person who faced the same outcome on all sides and had accepted the inevitable.

 

“Good.” Raven replied. She turned away from Beast Boy and raised her hands out before her. Even before `Azarath Metreon Zinthos' had reached the tip of her tongue, black light shot from her fingertips and engulfed the assassin's head. Her eyes were chalk white and wide and the Ninja, who had sworn to take his secrets to the grave, broke his vow and fell to his knees.

 

Then his head exploded.

 

It happened faster than anything that had happened so far. A bright blue beam of light, similar to a bolt of lightning, had streaked into the room from the hallway. It had sailed between Robin and Starfire, sped past Raven's face so closely it caused her hair to blow, and collided directly with the assassin's face. The now-headless body fell to the floor afterwards; no blood was spilt from the singe and no traces of a head were ever found.

 

The horror and shock of the Titans quickly gave way to turning around. A man stood at the doorway to the room - if Slade could be called a man. He was not mortal, and he was not a surprise. They had known of his involvement in this plot already, and even if they had not it still would have only been a small shock to learn of it now. Slade Wilson was their Archenemy and their confrontation had only been a matter of time.

 

Beast Boy's jaw dropped and his eyes bulged in the `how could this get any worse' expression usually reserved for Saturday morning cartoon characters. Raven's eyes widened in horror again, recalling her own past encounters with Slade; hating them all for different reasons. Cyborg shook his head, he had expected things to get worse but this was ridiculous. Starfire looked as if she was suppressing a small scream, but instead of just holding it inside, she turned it into anger and took a battle stance. Robin merely stood leaning against his bo-staff, as he had been a moment before.

 

“Shall we?” Slade asked, and then the fight began.

 

Robin was the first forward, his eyes narrowed and his staff ready with a strike. Slade blocked the bo-staff with his right arm while he bent his left leg and impaled his knee into Robin's chest. The boy wonder went stumbling backwards but it hardly mattered since Starfire and Cyborg had quickly found their way to either side of the Archenemy. Starfire's eyebeams and Cyborg's canon fired away - and Slade sidestepped them both. However this wasn't a total shock; both Titan's had expected as much and had taken evasive movement the second they're attacked. Starfire avoided the blast from Cyborg's beam, and Cyborg was already preparing his next assault on Slade.

 

Slade was not in the mood to play games. His single eye flashed with what appeared to be bright blue lightning before a second beam, identical to the one that had destroyed the glassy assassin, fired from it and connected with Cyborg's chest. This beam was apparently toned down because Cyborg did not explode - he was just zapped. His body began to shake and sparks shot from everything mechanical like fireworks on the fourth of July. After only a few seconds, the electrocution ended and Cyborg fell backwards, his mechanical half completely fried and his human body doing even worse.

“Why can't you just be like a normal supervillian and stick with the same old tricks?” Cyborg asked before passing out.

 

“Gets boring.” Slade sarcastically replied as he turned around to dispatch the rest of the Titans. Raven caught him off guard this time; her powers engulfed Slade's body at the chest level, binding his arms down and quickly spreading over his entire form. Before the black light could consume his head, however, Slade turned it to the right side and made use of his newest power for a third time - this time the target was Beast Boy, and this time he missed.

 

The beam's angle wasn't as perfect as it had been the first two times, and instead of delivering a killing blow to Beast Boy's chest it collided with a silver candleholder that had been setting on the kitchen counter. Beast Boy, who had been standing on the counter in the form of a large raptor and preparing to attack Slade, was electrocuted along with everything else. The counter blazed with blue lightning and silver sparks, the candleholder was melted into a pool of wax and dissolved steel; and Beast Boy fell on his back, in his original form once again, looking much like a piece of overcooked meat and not breathing.

 

It was not what she saw that made Raven release Slade and hurry to Beast Boy's aid. She had not stopped engulfing him in the light when the blast had hit him, nor when he had screamed. She had wanted to, of course, but she knew better. Slade knew of Beast Boy and Raven's newfound romance and she knew he'd use it against them - thus she'd already decided Beast Boy may have to be injured for now. The problem was he was more than injured.

He was dead.

 

Actually she knew he was still alive, but barley. Her sixth sense, the infernal demon power to feel life around her, told her he was still among the living - but that was not going to be the case very long. He was not breathing, and his heart had stopped beating and his brain was no longer sending signals to the rest of his body. By medical standards, he was brain dead. However Raven could still sense his spirit, and while it was fading almost as quickly as his body, it was not gone.

 

Raven was not sure what she was thinking as she tried to heal him; she was not even sure what she was doing to be honest. She had given thought - a lot of thought - to what would happen if she allowed this romance and then lost Beast Boy. She had thought about it, they had talked about it and she had foolishly accepted his promises of being careful and never leaving no matter what. She was not sure what would happen if he died; but she did not want to find out. On the other hand if he survived this would affect any future romance in ways she did not want to think about yet.

 

While Raven's mind was now lost in thoughts of Beast Boy and his struggle to survive, the remaining active Titans - Robin and Starfire - were still preoccupied with Slade; and he with them. The battle had continued without much change; the Titans would attack and Slade would show them up. Starfire had found the perfect combination of luck and anger and managed to land an devastatingly strong punch directly into Slade's upper chest; however even as he was toppled over onto his back, Slade was able to retaliate with a kick to Star's knee. It didn't knock her out of the sky, but it did knock her backwards and cause her to clutch her leg in pain.

 

Robin's turn came next. Between what he had done tonight, Robin's long and painful past with Slade, and seeing Starfire clutch herself in silent tears of ache; Robin was well beyond fuming. He was gnashing his teeth and the heat from his anger seemed to surge from his body. The moment Slade was on the ground Robin struck and he connected the head of his bo-staff with the masked man's bellybutton. Slade could not ignore the intensity of the strike or the pain that surged through his nerves - but that did not mean he was beaten.

 

Pain was part of any battle. Physical, Emotional, Mental - whatever the specific type of pain it was still present on both sides. That's what made combat so much fun. He just had to the task of ensuring that the pain Robin was about to feel was greater and more sever than the hurt he was now feeling. A single blast from his newest power could have done that, as it had proven by taking out two Titans and one assassin already; the lightning eye was his most dangerous toy to date. However, Robin deserved better than that for being uncharacteristically impressive tonight. It had been a while since Robin impressed Slade, so Slade would “reward him”.

 

Robin brought the staff back for another strike, this time the target being Slade's face - and this time Slade stopped it. Snapping his neck to the side, Slade avoided the strike that could have smashed his face in, and in a flash, he summoned all of his strength and spun his body around like a top. His legs connected with Robin's and sent the boy wonder falling backwards. Robin caught himself with a back flip; but not in time. Slade was back on his feet.

 

“Good Robin, you've improved more than I would have thought possible.”

 

“Don't even start.” Robin growled in warning. “The apprentice angle's getting real old.”

 

Slade was clearly grinning behind his mask, how Robin knew he did not know, but he knew.

 

“Ah, but you still have the same old flaw. The need to save your friends.” Slade extended his arm to indicate Beast Boy and Raven. “She can save him of course, those healing powers are strong enough too I'm sure. However, after everything she has been through she'll need saving herself. Are you willing to let one of them die so you can satisfy your need for my blood?”

A senseless supervillian was a horrible thing; but a logical one was even worse. Knowing he was doing exactly what Slade wanted him too, Robin took off towards Raven and Beast Boy. He didn't have the slightest clue what he'd do when he got to them, how or even if he could save them, but he had to try. Slade was right; he did need to save his friends.

 

Slade merely stood there, his eye flashing with lightning in anticipation. Once Robin was close enough he'd show them just how powerful this eye could be. He'd blast all three of them into dust and finally have triumphed over the teen titans. He'd have to start looking for his next challenge when he returned to earth.

 

Robin arrived, just as Slade had predicted.

Slade fired his strongest lightning blast, just as he had planned.

Then Trigon appeared directly in front of him the moment he did.

 

The demonic lord had appeared from out of nowhere, his patience gone upon learning that Slade was engaged in battle with the Titans and he had not been informed. The plan had been to kill Beast Boy, not all of them. Trigon was angry and he did not want to argue with Slade mentally; this had to be done in person.

 

Upon appearing and being struck with the highest-powered lightning blast, Trigon was engulfed in lightning. Electricity shot in and out of every pore on his towering form and he uttered an inhuman scream that was half from pain and half from anger. Slade swore fluently as he realized what was happening and what would happen next.

Trigon extended his arms and grabbed Slade by the shoulders, which caused the lightning to surge into the masked fiend as well. None of the Titans were watching this, however, and that would prove to be a dangerous mistake. There was a pop and suddenly they were gone. Slade, Trigon, the mass of lightning surging between them and any sounds accompanying them - gone with a small pop. Robin heard this of course, he'd heard the whole thing and he highly doubted they'd been destroyed - however something told him that wherever they'd vanished too and whatever was happening to them now; it had not been in their plan and they would need some time to recover from it.

 

Raven had heard the entire thing as well. She had recognized her father from his presence, and if not for Beast Boy's life still hanging in her hands she'd be dancing from joy at feeling her father filled with such an incredible pain. However the pain in her own body was nearly as bad, and she wasn't going to be conscious long enough to save Garfield Logan.

“Robin - Get Healers.” She spat through gritted teeth. Robin didn't hesitate a second. Raven wasn't sure what was giving her the strength she was using now. Perhaps it was love; she had always heard the cliché stories about lovers who find untapped strength when battling to save the life of the person who stole their heart. Maybe it was anger. Anger at her Slade for doing this, anger at Beast Boy for making her go through this. On the other hand, maybe it was something else; she didn't know and she did not care.

 

“I'm sorry.” Raven panted, and then she collapsed onto Beast Boy's chest unconscious. She'd held on as long as she could.

 

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

 

Raven did not dream. She had no consciousness again for a long time. She had not been awake, of course, but her subconscious was out as well. No dreams, no thoughts - it had been like a coma, but she had been in one of those before and this was worse. When her subconscious finally did kick back online and thought returned, she wasted no time on it. Instead, she let her eyes shoot open and she sat up in bed - apparently okay.

 

“Beast Boy's fine.” Robin said on cue the moment she sat up.

 

Raven did not acknowledge him at first. Instead she blinked several times and looked around to establish her barring. It took longer than it should have, but after a moment of looking and another moment of thinking, she realized she was tucked into a small white bed and she was inside a room, she'd never been in before - an infirmary of some kind.

 

“Okay, care to explain?” Raven asked weakly returning her eyes to the boy wonder and abandoning her cause to figure things out on her own.

 

Robin seemed to have been waiting for this. “It's been a little over two days since the kitchen incident. The healers and I arrived and stabilized both you and Beast Boy before we all came here. This place is the infirmary; it's actually part of an underground bunker beneath the castle. The `safest place on Tamaran' according to the King.”

 

Raven shook her head. “Well that's saying a lot.”

“Still sarcastic I see.”

 

Raven looked over to her right to see Cyborg lying in a bed much like hers. It was only now that she noticed that the bed contained several similar beds all side by side. She really had not looked around very well. Cyborg occupied the one next to hers, and the rest down the row were empty. Across from her however was a very beaten but obviously alive Beast Boy, with Starfire sleeping in the bed next to his and across from Cyborg's. A fifth bed next to Starfire's was unmade and she knew it had been Robin's.

 

“And we're all still alive. I guess it's better than it could be.” Raven let herself lay down again - her body was aching and she didn't want to push it for a second more than she had too.

 

“From what Robin tells me Slade's probably worse off than any of us. Any sign of him, by the way?” Cyborg asked, switching the conversation from Raven to Robin. The boy wonder rose from his spot on the end of Raven's bed and shook his head as he stretched.

 

“No. When Slade and Trigon vanished, they literally vanished. The King has everyone he can spare looking for them, Bruce and Galfore are both leading search teams too; but there's nothing.”

 

Raven closed her eyes for a moment and tried to block out everything. It was difficult, but after a moment, she sighed and opened them again with one more added worry. “My father's still on Tamaran.”

Robin and Cyborg exchanged dark glances and sighs equal to the one Raven had given off. “Well, I never expected they'd be the type to just give up. Let's just hope we messed them up worse than they messed us up.” Cyborg said just before he unleashed a massive yawn.

 

“Impossible to tell. Listen, I've got to get going for a bit, you two going to be alright on your own?” Robin asked.

 

“What's the hurry?” Raven raised an eyebrow.

 

“The King and Queen wanted to meet with me to discuss the Trails.” Robin explained. Cyborg shook his head.

“Jeez, I'd forgot all about those. Maybe they want to cancel them, given all the stuff going on.” This suggestion made Raven shake her head.

 

“Starfire won't like that.” She noted, glancing at the sleeping redhead across the room.

“Doesn't matter, I won't let them cancel them anyway. Besides, I think they want to move up the Trails date. Hurry up and get them done with so we can concentrate on the whole Slade and Trigon thing.” Robin suggested.

 

“Mmm. Well that would be good news. Sooner we finish those trails the sooner we can go home.” Cyborg smiled.

 

“What, you don't enjoy being constantly attacked by our worst enemies on a foreign planet?” Raven teased.

 

“Hey, Speaking of that, I have a bone to pick with you. I'm not in love, and neither of those psychos have a grudge against me; so how come I'm always the first of us to get his ass kicked?” Cyborg responded. All three of the titans offered small laughs at this, though the happiness was fleeting at best.

 

Still, it was happiness. Even if only for the length of a few giggles, it was real; and that was enough for Raven to keep that tiny ember of hope still glowing in her chest alive for a little while longer. It had almost gone out with Beast Boy, and it was not as bright or hot as it once was - but it was still there.

 

“Well, I'm off. Wish me luck.” Robin left the room before they could, his face was weak from his own tiredness and Raven had a feeling that even though he had been in his bed, he hadn't slept a wink since the kitchen incident.

 

“Well, I guess I'll just order something from the kitchen. No way I'll get anymore sleep - they're rebuilding some of the systems Slade fried on me and it hurts like you wouldn't believe.” Cyborg explained.

 

“Ugh, I can think of five good reasons to avoid all kitchens in the future.” Raven responded. “Dead Bodies, Crazy Supervillians, Multiple Explosions, Other Near-Death Situations; and let's face it, the food on this planet sucks.”

 

Cyborg was grinning, but not from what she'd said. “Yeah, but you and BB hooked up in the kitchen back on the spaceship; remember?”

 

Raven narrowed her eyes, though she had to admit that his one reason why she should like kitchens was better than all five of her reasons to avoid them combined.

 

Of course, that reason wouldn't matter if Beast Boy died. Raven cast one final glance at his broken body before turning on her side and praying that sleep came fast and that the next time she woke up - be it two days or two minutes - he'd be awake too.

 

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

 

A/N: Hopefully it wasn't too long or too short, and hopefully it'll garnish a few more reviews. They're starting to pile up, and that's an awesome feeling of accomplishment. Anyway, chapter ten will be up as soon as possible; so keep an eye out for it, kay?

I leave you all in peace,

Golden-Sama