Fan Fiction ❯ Releasing Her Demons ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

Releasing Her Demons

By: Jedi_Zea

Summary: Raven finally decides to join the other Titans in a game, but it's not a video game. She wants them to play Dungeons & Dragons and decides to share something about herself while doing so. PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, Dungeons and Dragons, any of the places I got my music from, or any other real things I may make reference to while writing this story. I do, however, own all the other characters except Natora, Saorise, Adrian, and Ivan Balthazar. (None of which will appear in this chapter)

(Author Notes) I will be adding OC's to the story and if you want one, send me an email describing him/her/it. I only have room for evil OC's now though, no more protagonists (good guys) please.

Chapter 16

Raven left her room around noon that day. She would have stayed shut in all day, but her stomach wouldn't let her, so she quietly slunk off to the kitchen after she thought everyone else had eaten lunch. She hovered quickly into the room paying almost no attention to her surroundings. Her mind was on last night, wondering what to make of it all when suddenly she bumped into something.

She looked around only to see the object of her contemplation standing right next to her, reaching for the fridge as well. “Oh, sorry,” Raven said softly.

Robin quickly pulled his hand away, and said in an equally quiet voice, “Sorry, my fault.”

Raven turned away, trying not to convey any emotion. “It's ok,” she said and hesitated for a minute. “What are you making?” Raven asked, trying to prevent a long silence.

“Just a grilled cheese and a can of soup. Want me to whip you up one too?” He asked, trying to revert to his normal voice. He reached for the fridge again and pulled out a packet of pre-cut Swiss cheese.

“No thanks,” Raven replied, “I was just going to make some tea.” Her stomach, however, betrayed her and growled loudly. She swore under her breath and said softly, “Ok, I guess I'll have one. Need some help with anything?” she asked.

Robin opened the cupboard next to the fridge and took out a bag of bread. “You go ahead and make your tea, I can take care of this,” he insisted as he tossed the bread into the pan he had prepared before Raven had entered. He proceeded to prepare the sandwiches, and turned the stove on while Raven went and filled her teapot. Then Robin returned stirred the soup he had that was cooking on the burner next the sandwiches. Neither of them said anything as they went about preparing the food and tea.

“What's with the cloak?” Robin asked as he glanced in Raven's direction.” Actually I think the white looks nice on your for a change.”

Raven looked confused and then looked herself over to see what Robin was talking about. Her cloak had definitely lightened several shades; it was now almost pure white instead of its characteristically dark color. `Damn emotions,' she thought. “It's nothing,” Raven said. “It happens from time to time when I'm having difficulty with my emotions,” she lied.

Robin smirked internally recalling last time she `had trouble with her emotions.' He turned back to keeping and eye on the food, as Raven nursed her pot of boiling water. Neither of them said anything when the food finished a few minutes later. Quietly they prepared their plates and bowls, Robin got himself a soda from the fridge while Raven finished with her water and made herself a cup of tea.

“It was Malchior wasn't it?” Robin asked out of the blue while they were eating.

Raven nearly choked at the sound of the name. `Why does have to have such a good memory?' she asked herself. Raven picked up her cup of tea and took a long drink, trying to delay answering. Finally she turned away and whispered, “Yes it was.”

Robin took a moment to think, or perhaps give Raven a moment to think; he wasn't sure which. Regardless he was quiet a moment before he turned to respond. “Raven I…” he started before being cut off abruptly.

“Don't!” the embarrassed goth warned. Nothing in the room was glowing yet, but Raven didn't want to take the chance and betray her emotions. “I don't know what got into me last night, but we should both forget it ever happened!” she insisted.

Robin couldn't tell if she actually meant it or was just trying to hide, but he decided it was best not to let her hide forever. “No Raven, we need to talk,” he said as Raven tried to slink by him and out the door. Robin swiftly stepped in front of her blocking her escape path. “Raven we need to figure out what exactly happened last night,” he said firmly.

“Move away,” she hissed at him. Her eyes glowed black along with much of the room. Robin wasn't fazed by her threat however, and stood firmly in her way. “Out of the way Boy Blunder!” she growled louder.

“Just teleport away,” he sneered with all the kindness of a rabid wolverine.

Raven was just about to use her powers to push him out of the way when a voice came from down the hallway, “Yo Rob, where are you?” Raven didn't want to deal with any of the questions that would come up, so as much as she hated it she took Robin's advice and teleported herself back into her room.

“Damn it Raven!” he whispered, then said at normal volume, “I'm right here Cy.” Robin called back down the hallway. He stepped out into the hall and walked down towards Cyborg. “What's up?” he asked as casually as he could, considering what had just transpired.

“BB said you were in Raven's room this morning,” he accused.

Robin shrugged nonchalantly, “It's not like I've never been in her room before.”

Cy sighed and glared at the overly casual Titan in front of him. “You know what I mean, man. What were you two doing in there?” he insisted, while advancing threateningly on Robin.

“Well I guess the jig is up,” Robin resigned feigning just enough sincerity so Cyborg couldn't tell he was lying “I was painting her portrait, that's the big secret I've been keeping. I'm also painting my room, that's why I wasn't letting anyone in.”

“What room takes that long to paint?” Cy inquired. “How many coats could you possibly put on it?” he asked.

Robin chuckled, “Take at easy Cy, I'm painting a mural on my walls. That's what's taking so long. As for last night, she's the only one of us I haven't been able to paint while they weren't paying enough attention so I confronted her directly about. It's not a big deal.” With that he swiftly slid around Cyborg and started to walk off.

“Hold it! I let you off last time, you're not getting it so easy this time.” Cyborg turned and shouted after Robin. He shot his hand out and grabbed Robin's cape. “We're going to see these `paintings' of yours,” the Cy insisted.

“Fine,” Robin sighed. “But will you lay off if I'm telling the truth?” he inquired insistently. Cy shifted under Robin's harsh glare, but eventually nodded. Then Robin and Cyborg walked down the hall to the room that had shocked Beast Boy earlier that day, when they got outside his room Robin stopped and stood blocking the doorway. “Cy,” he started, “I'll warn you I'm not done, and some of the images mean something. However I can't promise that I'll tell you everything about them.”

“Yeah, right,” Cy said reluctantly, “Just prove it.” Robin nodded, turned and opened the door then stepped inside, with Cyborg following suit. The lights were still on when they entered, from BB's excursion earlier that day. Cy looked around the room completely astonished. He never expected the mural to be anything like this.

“What the hell is this man?!” Cy yelled when he could finally respond. “Why are you painting your room like, like Hell?”

Robin sighed quietly and though, `so much for not explaining things.' He walked into the center of the room, looked up and spun completely around one time. “I just found an outlet for my anger that was better then beating Slade's robots after they've already been broken, that's all,” he stated, trying to make it sound as simple as possible. “And with that I also let out some of my other frustrations in the form of artwork so I can forge my anger into something constructive and relaxing.”

“Who else knows about this?” Cy asked, although the question was a little timid because he was still off balance from the room.

“Star and Terra are the only ones that don't know yet,” he said. “I've been trying to keep it a secret, but when Raven came to get me last time we played D&D she saw, then BB found out this morning, and now you.” Robin stopped for a second and took a deep breath to focus himself and his thoughts. “I need to go train though, so if you will excuse me,” Robin said.

“What is going on?' Cy asked. “You're not leaving before you tell me what's up with you and Raven. You've both been acting weird lately.”

Robin shook his head,” Cy, I have no clue. I've been trying to get her to talk but she just avoids my questions.” Cyborg was about to say something when one of the devices on Robin's utility belt started beeping. Robin took it off; it was a communicator that was linked to Batman. Robin hit the button to play the message.

An image of Batman appeared on the screen and started speaking, “Robin and a guest you're invited to a masquerade ball at Wayne Manor in Gotham on the 22nd. You know now Bruce is, so I wouldn't suggest disappointing him.” The image blacked out and the communicator deactivated.

“That's two weeks from now,” he said. “Cy would you see if Speedy and Aqualad can be here on to cover. I'm going to try to talk to Raven again.”

“Sure,” Cy agreed. They both walked out of Robin's room and turned their separate ways. Just before they were out of hearing range Cy shouted to Robin, “Hey, be careful when you talk to Raven. I don't want to replace all the windows in the tower again.”

Robin chuckled and continued to walk down to Raven's room.