Fan Fiction ❯ Power of Denial ❯ Internal Conflict ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, unfortunately. Any views or opinions expressed in this fan-fiction are strictly those of the author, me. The latter statement is probably just a formality, unless I somehow work my love of all things Canadian (GO CANADA) into this fan-fiction. This fic spawned from a post I made on a RaeBB message board I occasionally frequent. I want to start a fourth fic so badly now that I have this great idea, but I just wouldn't have the time. Now that I'm back from college orientation, I'll make time.

 

Please Read and review. Constructive criticism wanted.

 

Chapter 3: Internal Conflict

 

Deep within the recesses of Raven's complex mind, the dark empath's emotions were gathering and various sounds of laughter and giggling could be heard coming from the group of multi-colored Raven's from even the farthest corners of her mind. The present situation that their complete self was experiencing out in the real world did nothing but fuel their laughter and enjoyment. For some reason, most of the gathered emotions cheered on Denial as she used her powers to manifest constructs out in the real world to torment Raven. Some had even taken it upon themselves to offer suggestions to Denial while the chaos ensued throughout the tower, and she gladly took them because the more she did at one, the closer her plan came to fruition.

 

“T-That was awesome!” Happy yelled between fits of laughter as she leaned on Brave's shoulder to keep from loosing her balance due to her uncontrolled hysterics. Tears formed in the pink cloaked emotion's eyes and they only grew in numbers as she continued laughing. “S-Speedy as cupid, AND in a diaper. That's comedy at its finest.” Happy tried to calm herself, but her efforts were in vain and she was forced to burry her face into Brave's shoulder in a desperate attempt to muffle her frequent outbursts.

 

“Oh yeah!” Brave readily agreed as she attempted to shake Happy off of her. “That was great, but I've got to give you props for using my net idea, though I don't think I would have used it in a way that would have even come close to the way you pulled it off. Sweetness! Glad to have you around again, Denial. Life's definitely more action packed with you around, and no where near as boring as it used to be.”

 

Denial smiled warmly at her fellow emotions, but deep down, the black cloaked emotion was laughing maniacally. `Fools,' Denial mentally spat coldly. “Thanks Brave,” she continued smiling, even forced out a hollow laugh or two. “I just want to do everything I can to make you guys happy. After all, it's not fair that Raven keeps all of you cooped up in her mind with nothing to do. This way, you actually have more of a say of what goes on in her life other than what she is feeling. You are all happy with what's going on, right? I mean, I did everything you asked. I put in the streamers for Knowledge.”

 

“I remembered reading something vaguely covering the topic of a Valentines Day party,” Knowledge spoke up feeling the need to justify her decision. “I believe it mentioned red streamers somewhere. I shall check again to make sure that I did not make an error if you wish me to do so.”

 

“That's okay, Knowledge,” Denial laughed another forced laugh. I believe the streamers were an excellent choice.” The dark emotion turned to her brown counterpart. “Gross, I even found a way to incorporate your… your… you're wearing a duct tape cloak. Just one question. Why?”

 

Gross smiled simply and twirled around allowing her thick duct taped cloak to whirl around her heavily. “Why not?”

 

“Can't argue with that logic,” Happy laughed as Brave finally managed to shove her off completely and onto the ground.

 

“I truly hate to ruin your fun,” Knowledge sighed and shook her head, “but that logic is obviously flawed. There are a plethora of reasons as to why you should not garb yourself in such an odd choice of clothing. The first would have to be-”

 

A loud belch deep from the stomach of Gross interrupted Knowledge's speech, resulting in an awkward silence following thereafter. Gross smiled proudly at herself. “Yeah. Ten points for the burp and an extra twenty for making Knowledge shut up. I win.”

 

“Win what?” Knowledge asked rhetorically quite annoyed at Gross's interruption. “You weren't even playing anything.”

 

“Wasn't I?” Gross shot back smugly.

 

“No!” Knowledge almost yelled, allowing her anger to get the best of her. “Of course you weren't!”

 

“Whatever, girl,” Rude laughed. “You're just mad `cause you lost.”

 

Knowledge opened her mouth for a rebuttal, but found that for the first time since she appeared in Raven's mind, she was speechless.

 

Denial just stared at the two silent emotions as the quiet sounds of Happy giggling in the background filled her ears. When no more words were spoken between the two and their argument seemingly over, Denial forced yet another smile to her face and turned to thee final emotion in their small gathering. “Hey Timid,” she spoke softly, trying carefully not to evoke fear in Timid. “Did you like how I used your idea? The teddy bears hugged beast Boy just like you wanted them to. Isn't that right, Timid? …Timid?”

 

All of the other gathered emotions backed a few steps away from Timid and stared intently on the grey cloaked emotion in silence. Timid, however, just sat on the ground frozen in what anyone would perceive as fear due to the presence of so many around her. However, though fear was why she sat like that, it was only because she was too afraid to voice what she was really feeling, outrage.

 

Usually, it is the quiet ones that are the most perceptive, and Timid was no exception to that theory. She noticed how Denial tried to convince her that she did everything she asked, but the grey cloaked emotion never asked for Beast Boy to get attacked by the very symbols of comfort that she asked Denial to create. Denial had twisted her request to suit her own agenda, just like she did with the requests of all of the other emotions. Unfortunately, all of the others were too busy enjoying the fact that their suggestions were used to notice the truth in front of them. Timid could tell them easily, but she did not have it in her to speak out against anyone, even one she knew was doing wrong. All she could do was sit in silence and watch as Denial got her way.

 

“I take it by your silence that you're not happy?” Denial asked hoping that she could win this emotion over just like she did the others. She just had to play the nice emotion until that happened.

 

“Oh, don't mind her,” Brave piped in.

 

“Timid has never been one to socialize easily,” Knowledge explained.

 

“But, that doesn't mean that she doesn't,” Gross rolled her eyes. “Once she gets apologizing for things she might have done or even dreamt of doing, you can't stop her for hours. It's very annoying.”

 

“Well,” Denial continued still playing the nice emotion, “that's okay. I'm sure she's thrilled that I listened to her suggestion, then. I really did appreciate her input. Hear that Timid?” She spoke slightly louder as she faced Timid again. “I appreciate you. Don't ever forget it.”

 

“Though Timid is appreciated,” a mysterious voice spoke from behind the group of emotions, “do not dare fill her head with lies and say that that appreciation comes with you. You don't care, Denial. You don't care about anyone, only yourself.” All of the emotions swiftly turned around at the entrance of this new voice and came face t face with a purple cloaked emotion, a very pissed off purple cloaked emotion at that. With tightly clenched fists and burning eyes, Love angrily stomped over towards the shocked Denial.

 

“H-Hey Love,” Denial stammered seeing the look of pure uncharacteristic loathing in the purple cloaked emotion's eyes. It was something Love never felt before but there is a first time for everything, and this would probably be the worst time as well. Out of fear, Denial took a few steps back from an advancing Love. Yet, her fear quickly subsided when she remembered that she was the one here in control, and she was the one with all the power. So what if Love was seemingly mad at her? Even she couldn't stop what she was planning. It had already gone too far. A smug smile spread across the face of Denial just as Love roughly took a hold of her arm and drug Denial away from all of the other surrounding emotions. Roughly, Love pulled Denial behind a rather large rock and shoved her against it.

 

“What the hell do you think you're doing, Denial?!?” Love practically screamed as she let go of her dark cloaked counterpart and turned to face her face to face. “You have no right to simply play with the fate of Beast Boy and Raven's relationship like they only existed for your twisted sense of pleasure. Are you happy that you're doing these things? Does seeing Beast Boy scared out of his mind make you feel good?” Love stared angrily at Denial who just stood silently smiling wickedly. The purple cloaked emotion narrowed her eyes and glared at Denial. “Stop this at once and let them go now!”

 

“Now, why would I ever want to do something like that?” Denial laughed evilly. “If you're so sure that Raven truly does love Beast Boy, then wouldn't she be enjoying my plans right about now? I just know that Beast Boy is enjoying himself. It's too obvious for even me to deny what he feels for us. All I'm trying to do is open up the truth to Raven. Is that so bad?”

 

“It is if you spend your entire existence lying day in and day out!” Love shot back quickly. “Stop denying what you're really up to and just come out and say it. You might be able to fool the others by making it seem that you're doing what they want you to do, but you're not fooling me. Why are you doing this to Beast Boy and Raven?”

 

“it doesn't matter now,” Denial laughed. “Not even you can stop me. You could tell Raven, but she stopped listening to you, remember? Yet, she chooses to believe in me willingly. Raven is mine now, Love. Denial has consumed her every being. Don't you see that? It only took a matter of hours too, and it's all thanks to you. You're the one who tried to tell Raven something he was not ready to hear. You're the one who tried to push her to accept it. You drove her to me. I should thank you for it. You taught me something that I never grasped the last time I was out. If I push Raven too far too fast, she will run from her feelings and come straight to me.”

 

Love growled angrily. “You're going to ruin everything because you want Raven to feel you more?!? Do you even realize that you're ruining Raven's future just so you can have your instant gratification? If you continue, she'll never accept her feelings for Beast Boy. She'll never be happy. Do you even care?”

 

“Of course I care, dear Love,” Denial smiled wickedly. “I care because that is exactly what I want. You should have figured it out by now. You see, I'm not really a part of your little emotion club. You all are permanent representations of Raven's feelings. That is something I am not, and I hate it. Last time I appeared, I used my powers at whim. I used everything I could think of to fuel Raven's fear, but I made it too obvious for her to figure it out. In turn, when she did figure it out, I ceased to exist.”

 

Denial took a step towards Love. “But now I am back, and I won't make the same mistake again. See by directing my actions at Beast Boy, the realization will be harder for her to come across that I have returned. Yet, when it does, I will again cease to be. So, I do what I can to survive. Unless I want to die, I have to keep Raven in denial, and that means pushing her to the point of running away while continuing to make it seem that the odd occurrences happen only around Beast Boy. Can you really blame me for doing what I am trying to do? Wouldn't you do all you and to keep Raven in love if you began to regress back into Affection? Is what I am doing so wrong? All I want to do is exist.”

 

Love was speechless after Denial's angry rant. She did not know exactly how to react to her confession, and she just stared blankly at the black cloaked emotion in front of her. It was true that Denial was not a true emotion and that she only appeared when Raven's denial got out of hand, but did not everyone deserve the right of existence? That's all she wanted really, but did that give her the right to go to such lengths to achieve her goal? What she was doing was hurting the relationship between Raven and Beast Boy, and possibly could ruin any chance of them being happy together. Which was more important at this point, existence or happiness?

 

“But,” Denial continued almost spitefully, “I really don't care about your opinion at this point. Right now, Raven is trying more than anything to tell herself that she is not enjoying her lips pressed against Beast Boy's. She's denying how she really feels with every ounce of will in her body, and that is exactly what I want. The more she denies the more power I have to wield. I have been slowly siphoning her power as well as all of the other emotions to me. You all are becoming more and more powerless as I grow stronger, so I really don't care if you oppose me or condone my actions. You can do nothing to stop me. I will make sure of that.”

 

Love's eyes went wide as she felt her entire body become engulfed in a dark aura coming from Denial, making it impossible for her to move. Desperately, Love tried to scream for help, but another field of dark energy encompassed her mouth to prevent her pleas from being heard. Unfortunately, she found out the hard way that Denial was not lying when she said that she had drained all of them of their powers. She was powerless in the clutches of her fellow emotion, and she could do nothing but watch as Denial laughed wickedly.

 

Not far off around the corner of the large stone Denial and Love were behind, a cowering emotion knelt on the ground, whimpering as the sounds of Denial's attack reached her ears. Out of fear, the emotion wrapped her grey cloak tightly around her hoping that it would protect her from the horrors just around the corner.

 

llllllllllllllllllll

 

`Okay, Beast Boy,' the green Titan said to himself frantically, trying desperately to calm himself down. `Everything is fine. Just stay calm and we'll get through this.' In truth, he was freaking out right now because of all of the conflicting emotions occurring within him. On one hand, he had just been bound and attacked by two oddly colored zombie teddy bears, and then when someone came to his rescue, a giant net came out of nowhere to trap the along with him. But, that was not where it ended. Where it went from there was what had caused all of his confusion.

 

Raven was the one who had come to his rescue, and when she was trapped with him beneath the net, their lips forcefully met. Though, beast Boy had to admit that under different circumstances, he would enjoy his position immensely. However, right now, he was scared out of his mind, and it took everything he had to fight against the urge to actually kiss the girl of his dreams. As a person whom usually acted on their emotions, the internal conflict he was experiencing was one of the toughest things he had ever experienced before.

 

`So what if you and Raven are pressed roughly against each other,' Beast boy thought trying to sound reassuringly. `It doesn't mean anything. She doesn't like me like that, and… wow! Why does it seem like she fits so perfectly like thi- No! Stop it. She doesn't like you, so just stop thinking like that. You can think like that when she likes you, but she'll never like you if you try anything right now when she doesn't feel the same way.' Beast Boy glanced to his left to see Starfire and Cyborg vigorously trying to rip the net off from around them. `Come on guys. Please hurry up.'

 

Deep within Raven's mind, Denial felt that her objective with Raven had been accomplished and withdrew her hold on her constructs in the real world. Instantly, Starfire and Cyborg were able to rip off the net without resistance, causing Raven to stumble backwards a few steps before mumbling something about meditation and almost sprinting out of the room. Everyone was just glad that she did not lash out at beast Boy, and they did not dare question her motives for leaving. Well, almost everyone that it.

 

Robin, who had stayed back and watched intently as Starfire and Cyborg tried to free their two friends. His first instinct was to help, but several questions about the situation ran through his mind requiring his immediate attention. Why was Raven not at least attempting to use her powers to get free? The time interval for shock had long passed, but she had just stood there. And why had she not been angry because of the physical contact. Usually, unless she was the one to initiate the contact, she did not appreciate it. But this time, there was no anger in her voice with that brief mention of meditation. The more he thought about it, the more a suspicion grew, and the more the suspicion grew, the more he began to become convinced that he was right.

 

Hurriedly, Robin ran out of the room to follow Raven. He knew exactly where she was going. She needed to be alone, and her room was her only refuge from the outside world. Robin mentally celebrated when he caught up to Raven just before she disappeared into her room. “Raven,” he cried trying to get her attention. `God, I hope I'm right. If I'm wrong, then I'm dead.' “I need to ask you something.”

 

Sighing, Raven slowly turned around and left behind the safety of the shadows in her room. “What?” Her voice was shaky. Not like her normal emotionless one at all.

 

“I needed to ask you,” Robin gulped and prayed that he was right one final time, “when you and beast Boy were trapped against each other, why didn't you just turn your head and remove yourself from that compromising position? You can't say you didn't think about it or that you were too shocked because Starfire and Cyborg were trying to free you two for ten minutes. You just stood there.” `I am going to DIE!' “It was almost like you wanted Beast Boy to kiss you. …Did you?”

 

Raven said nothing, but swiftly turned around and entered the darkness that her room provided her leaving Robin's question verbally unanswered but he had gotten the answer that he needed.

 

After Raven had rather loudly slammed her door in his face, Robin exhaled in relief and began walking back to the common room to see how Beast Boy was holding up. `No powers, no anger, and no answer. Well, that's one mystery solved. We thought these things were occurring because of someone outside of the tower, but we never even thought that Raven would be reckless enough to deny her feelings again. She is, though, and the question is… how do I deal with this now that I know? Do I intervene or do I let love take its own course, no matter how chaotic it seems?'