Teen Titans Fan Fiction ❯ Final Dance of the Fallen Dove ❯ Over 1 ( Chapter 7 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lemonfresh 
Time I finally gave the word on this.
Non Anime: Teen Titans Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Hentai / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 10.12.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 230 | Status: Completed
Time I finally gave the word on this.
Non Anime: Teen Titans Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Hentai / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 10.12.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 230 | Status: Completed
Author's Notes: Considering an odd rise in interest for this, I figured I should finally stop being a pansy/lazy asshole and give the final word. Final Dance is very much dead, the final nail in the coffin having come years back when Teen Titans ended its run and thus I lost any further inspiration or interest for the fandom, though I'd also been having enough trouble with the story itself up to that point as it was. After that it was mostly just me being too lazy to finally say what I should have said, and I apologize for that. Rather than simply leave it at this, however, I'm going to do what I can to not completely screw those from its original run nor newer fans completely. What follows will be what I managed to get done of Chapter 7 and a speech from Raven I intended for Chapter 10, then my outline for what was to happen in the following chapters and then lastly the Epilogue for the story, which I actually wrote before it even began. My apologies for not being able to give a more proper end to this, but such is life.Chapter 7: Do What You Have To Do It was a perfectly normal morning, completely and utterly lacking in any noteworthy or even just unusual occurances. Still it somehow managed to be a morning that could not be missed, could not be ignored and allowed to slip by unnoticed. Starfire had been acutely aware of it since the moment she woke up, and still was even as she took care of the dishes from Cyborg's breakfast. She had taken the chore to busy herself, much as with most of what she'd done for the last two days, desperately trying to keep her mind off of problems and pains she could do nothing to ease. This turned out to be a bad thing, though, as the plate the Tamaranian had been scrubbing at shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces when Starfire looked up and found Raven standing in the doorway to the room.
No words were spoken and even the very air itself was stricken with a deathly silence as the two simply stared at one another. Clumsily, Star hopped the counter that lay between herself and the dark magus' position, afterwards continuing her approach to the other girl with halting steps. Raven's faint smile faded just a little at the blank look in Starfire's emerald on lime green eyes as she approached, a look that had not changed since the alien girl had first noticed Raven's return. The smile went away completely when the ashen-skinned girl was met with the very last thing she had been expecting, an open-handed slap across the face.
"How could you do that?" Starfire whispered, her hand still hanging in the air past Raven's face. "How could you leave me all alone?" Raven was silent, but not from the shock, that had vanished from her features only a moment after Star spoke.
Her arms slipped up and out of her cloak, coming to gently envelope the alien girl in their warmth.
"I'm sorry." It was more than just an apology for having run away that Raven whispered into Starfire's ear then, it was an apology for everything.
It was for what had happened on Tamaran, for Anbu hurting and violating her, for what Robin had put her through with his misguided attempts to protect her, for having to watch the Titans nearly torn apart and, finally, it was for running. It was for everything the Tamaranian had to endure in the past and just a little longer into the future. She accepted it, hugging Raven so tightly that it very nearly snapped the violet-eyed mage's spine.
"Do not . . ." She trailed off, but swallowed and pulled back just enough so she could look Raven in the eyes. "Just do not do it again."
"I won't." WIth that promise from Raven, Starfire let her head fall back to the other girl's shoulder, resting it there comfortably.
The dark magus smiled indulgently and let the Tamaranian lie as she would, after a moment reaching up to run her fingers through the flaming-red hair that she had not been able to touch in far too long. Even as Raven did so, though, Starfire noticed something on her love's wrist that made her gasp. She pulled away and grabbed at both of the violet-haired mage's arms, staring at the deep gashes in her wrists that had been revealed by the loss of her dressings during the battle with Robin.
"Oh . . . Raven . . ." She murmurred sadly, running a finger gently over one of the self-inflicted wounds and shuddering as she could almost feel the anguish that must have been consuming Raven then.
The dark magus' face fell just a little at how hard her love took the sight of her injuries, but she shook it off.
"It's alright, Star." She told the distressed alien gently, shifting Star's gaze back up to her face. "They'll heal eventually and so will all of this too." She gestured expansively, indicating all the events that had transpired. "I'm going to defeat Anbu and all of this will be right again." She kissed Starfire just before finishing by saying, "and we'll be happy." The Tamaranian could barely believe her ears, could scarcesly dare to hope that it would be true.
"Dove . . ." She whispered, those curious eyes wide with heartbreaking wonder.Then Raven gently enfolded the crimson-haired alien in her scarred arms, pulling the girl close and all was silent and still. All too soon, though, the dark magus was forced to wrench her star fromt hat perfect cucoon of warmth and love, other considerations and obligations weighing heavily on her mind. When Starfire looked up at her with a forlorn gaze, looking for all the world like a lost little puppy, Raven couldn't help but smile."I'm sorry, Star, but I have to go do a few things." She gently ran the tips of her fingers over the Tamaranian's cheeks in an apologetic carress. "As much as I'd like to stay here with you all day, I can't." At her loves' words, the pale orange-skinned girl pouted like a petulant child.
"Why?" She asked, finding herself almost incensed that Fate was already conspiring to take her Dove away only minutes after the dark magus' arrival back from her self-imposed exile.
"Because I have to go apologize to Beast Boy." And, quite suddenly, it all became clear to Starfire.
"I see." She murmurred, her indignance and righteous fury flying from her like so many flocks of scared pigeons.
Raven smiled slightly still though.
"Don't worry, once I'm done I'll meet up with you in our room, okay?" Starfire nodded obediantly and Raven shook her head, before tilting the alien's gaze up from where it had fallen on the floor with a fingertip on her chin. "I promise, once I beat Anbu, we'll have all the time in the world to snuggle." The Tamaranian nodded again, too upset by the sudden loss to so easily be swayed from her moping. "Although, if you tell anyone that I used that word, I'll make sure that you never see so much as another hug." The dark magus cautioned mock sternly and Starfire couldn't help but crack a smile at that point. "That's my girl." The ashen-skinned mage purred as she reached out to run a hand through Star's hair.
The alien girl shifted into the touch, like a cat trying to increase the overall contact in a pet, but managed to keep the disappointment from showing on her face once Raven ended the contact.
"Just . . . just return soon." She told Raven, who nodded easily.
"I'll be back as soon as I possibly can be." The violet-haired mage hugged Starfire one more time before leaving her alone in the large lounge.
It felt like she was back, it truly did, and it even felt as though she was back to stay. But even still, Raven was talking about fighting Anbu and Starfire knew that everyone in the tower had the scars to show that was no easy feat. Regardless, she headed to their room, as that was the only thing she could do. After that, though, the Tamaranian girl had every intention of doing far, far more.* * *Her footsteps seemed to echo off of the walls as she made her way down the hall, even though the floors were carpetted. Or perhaps it was just her imagination and the only place her steps were echoing was in her own mind. Raven was walking to the medical wing to apologize to Beast Boy, to apologize for very nearly kiling him. How was she supposed to do that? What was she supposed to say to him to ease his anguish, to make up for the betrayal? Those were questions that weighed heavily on her mind as she made her way toward her destination, questions that she had no answer to, a fact that she was reminded of by every step she "heard."
She was solemn, that's simply how Raven was at times like those, solemn and silent. So it was no surprise when Cyborg came up beside the dark magus, cheer in his step.
"Hey Rae, where ya headed?" He asked jovially, smiling down at the far shorter girl.
Raven's face could not be seen, thanks to her cowl being up and casting its veil of shadow over her features, but her feelings were all to evident in her body language.
"The infirmary." Cyborg nodded in understanding, but commented only a moment after Raven spoke,
"Beast Boy will be happy to see you." Raven's expression became tinged with bitterness.
"Will he?" Her sarcastic response gave Cyborg's attempt at levity pause, turning his face serious."Yeah, he will be." The dark magus' gaze remained firmly set forward to the path she was walking like it was a death march.
The cybernetically-enhanced teen let the expectant silence hang between them until the shorter girl could take it no longer.
"What am I supposed to say to him, Cyborg? What am I supposed to say to make up for the agony that I caused him?" She looked upset and understandably so, even if Beast Boy greatly annoyed her sometimes he was still a person Raven had hurt and worse, a friend as well.
"It wasn't you, Raven, it was Anbu." The dark magus stopped in her march, staring up at Cyborg for a long moment.
"Does it really matter?" She asked quietly, bitterly and Cyborg looked honestly surprised at the question.
"Yeah girl, it does." The violet-haired mage nodded in silence and continued on, the once-athlete teen followed. "Just tell him you're sorry and talk to him." Cyborg shook his head sadly, a piece of body language Raven did not miss. "He's the least likely of us to get on your case."
"What does that mean?" She snapped out immediately, getting the distinct sense that something was going on that she didn't know about and her fear of the upcoming meeting shortened her temper.
Cyborg could only sigh quietly and maintain silence. Just as Raven was about to force the issue, though, he did speak up."You're here." The dark magus looked away from her larger cohort and ahead again to find the door to the medical bay directly before her, standing large and imposing.
She hesitated for a moment, torn between a desire to interrogate Cyborg over what he had said, as well as delay the coming confrontation, and her need to face up to the tragedy that was her fault, at least in part. A groan of pain from within that Raven's sharp ears managed to catch made the decision for her and without even a glance back toward Cyborg, Raven slipped inside the room.* * *Beast Boy was in terrible shape, tucked in tight atop a medical bed with a plethora of machines surrounding him on all sides, uncaring witnesses to the spectacle of his agony. His breathing was labored, if still steady and filled the room with a sound that ebbed and flowed regularly; at once comforting to Raven and yet a constant reminder of Beast Boy's state at the same time. She approached the edge of the bed cautiously, conscious of the fact that Beast Boy's eyes were closed, which indicated he was probably sleeping. Regardless of the silence of her approach, Beast Boy's eyes still opened the moment she came up to the side of his bed.
"Raven." He wheezed, the sound overpowering any undertones to his voice that may have told Raven whether it was a greeting or a curse.
When he turned his head to look directly at her, though, Raven knew exactly what it had been, the short and green teen's crooked smile openly betraying that.
"You look terrible." Raven murmurred, finding it quite hard to take her eyes from the copious wrappings of bandages around Beast Boy's mid-section.
Somehow his smile held.
"You're not lookin' so hot yourself." His gaze slid over the wounds in Raven's wrists and caused him to wince in more than just physical pain.
The dark magus also did not miss that bit of body language.
"I thought I'd killed you, I couldn't bear it."-Chapter 10: Try, Try, Try"I've been thinking and more than anything else, I know that I want to spend my life with you, whatever that may be. I looked back and I saw all the bad things, the little and the big, all the terrible things that happened to you and I began to wonder again if you would have had to suffer any of that were it not for us, were it not for me. I wondered if you might not really have been better off without me . . . But then I thought of the good things, the things that had made us smile and warmed our hearts, the closeness and intimacy that made it feel as though we were never alone, the nights full of such passion and desire . . . I knew it couldn't be so, we can't be better of without each other; you couldn't be better off without me. It's life, it's the bad and the good together, it's out relationship; the ups can only be there because there are downs, they're an inseparable pair. More importantly, though, is the future. Our future together that I want to spend with you because of who you are. You're my shooting star, my wish for a brighter tomorrow and a better future, you're the light to my shadow. Just seeing you makes me want to be better than I am, to be stronger so I can protect that carefree smile and joy of yours that make my heart beat so fast. To be a kinder and more gentle woman that can ease your pains and fill your heart with contentment. To be a good enough person to deserve the wonderful gift to the world that you are. I want to fight to make the world you see with those innocent eyes of yours, a world so much more loving and kind, a reality. I want to be with you as I promised, as betrothed, so that I might touch your heart every day and make it sing out to the world, so I can kiss your sweet lips and hold your body every single day and make you swoon. I want to be with you forever, Starfire, so I can share my love with you and see you smile."
No words were spoken and even the very air itself was stricken with a deathly silence as the two simply stared at one another. Clumsily, Star hopped the counter that lay between herself and the dark magus' position, afterwards continuing her approach to the other girl with halting steps. Raven's faint smile faded just a little at the blank look in Starfire's emerald on lime green eyes as she approached, a look that had not changed since the alien girl had first noticed Raven's return. The smile went away completely when the ashen-skinned girl was met with the very last thing she had been expecting, an open-handed slap across the face.
"How could you do that?" Starfire whispered, her hand still hanging in the air past Raven's face. "How could you leave me all alone?" Raven was silent, but not from the shock, that had vanished from her features only a moment after Star spoke.
Her arms slipped up and out of her cloak, coming to gently envelope the alien girl in their warmth.
"I'm sorry." It was more than just an apology for having run away that Raven whispered into Starfire's ear then, it was an apology for everything.
It was for what had happened on Tamaran, for Anbu hurting and violating her, for what Robin had put her through with his misguided attempts to protect her, for having to watch the Titans nearly torn apart and, finally, it was for running. It was for everything the Tamaranian had to endure in the past and just a little longer into the future. She accepted it, hugging Raven so tightly that it very nearly snapped the violet-eyed mage's spine.
"Do not . . ." She trailed off, but swallowed and pulled back just enough so she could look Raven in the eyes. "Just do not do it again."
"I won't." WIth that promise from Raven, Starfire let her head fall back to the other girl's shoulder, resting it there comfortably.
The dark magus smiled indulgently and let the Tamaranian lie as she would, after a moment reaching up to run her fingers through the flaming-red hair that she had not been able to touch in far too long. Even as Raven did so, though, Starfire noticed something on her love's wrist that made her gasp. She pulled away and grabbed at both of the violet-haired mage's arms, staring at the deep gashes in her wrists that had been revealed by the loss of her dressings during the battle with Robin.
"Oh . . . Raven . . ." She murmurred sadly, running a finger gently over one of the self-inflicted wounds and shuddering as she could almost feel the anguish that must have been consuming Raven then.
The dark magus' face fell just a little at how hard her love took the sight of her injuries, but she shook it off.
"It's alright, Star." She told the distressed alien gently, shifting Star's gaze back up to her face. "They'll heal eventually and so will all of this too." She gestured expansively, indicating all the events that had transpired. "I'm going to defeat Anbu and all of this will be right again." She kissed Starfire just before finishing by saying, "and we'll be happy." The Tamaranian could barely believe her ears, could scarcesly dare to hope that it would be true.
"Dove . . ." She whispered, those curious eyes wide with heartbreaking wonder.Then Raven gently enfolded the crimson-haired alien in her scarred arms, pulling the girl close and all was silent and still. All too soon, though, the dark magus was forced to wrench her star fromt hat perfect cucoon of warmth and love, other considerations and obligations weighing heavily on her mind. When Starfire looked up at her with a forlorn gaze, looking for all the world like a lost little puppy, Raven couldn't help but smile."I'm sorry, Star, but I have to go do a few things." She gently ran the tips of her fingers over the Tamaranian's cheeks in an apologetic carress. "As much as I'd like to stay here with you all day, I can't." At her loves' words, the pale orange-skinned girl pouted like a petulant child.
"Why?" She asked, finding herself almost incensed that Fate was already conspiring to take her Dove away only minutes after the dark magus' arrival back from her self-imposed exile.
"Because I have to go apologize to Beast Boy." And, quite suddenly, it all became clear to Starfire.
"I see." She murmurred, her indignance and righteous fury flying from her like so many flocks of scared pigeons.
Raven smiled slightly still though.
"Don't worry, once I'm done I'll meet up with you in our room, okay?" Starfire nodded obediantly and Raven shook her head, before tilting the alien's gaze up from where it had fallen on the floor with a fingertip on her chin. "I promise, once I beat Anbu, we'll have all the time in the world to snuggle." The Tamaranian nodded again, too upset by the sudden loss to so easily be swayed from her moping. "Although, if you tell anyone that I used that word, I'll make sure that you never see so much as another hug." The dark magus cautioned mock sternly and Starfire couldn't help but crack a smile at that point. "That's my girl." The ashen-skinned mage purred as she reached out to run a hand through Star's hair.
The alien girl shifted into the touch, like a cat trying to increase the overall contact in a pet, but managed to keep the disappointment from showing on her face once Raven ended the contact.
"Just . . . just return soon." She told Raven, who nodded easily.
"I'll be back as soon as I possibly can be." The violet-haired mage hugged Starfire one more time before leaving her alone in the large lounge.
It felt like she was back, it truly did, and it even felt as though she was back to stay. But even still, Raven was talking about fighting Anbu and Starfire knew that everyone in the tower had the scars to show that was no easy feat. Regardless, she headed to their room, as that was the only thing she could do. After that, though, the Tamaranian girl had every intention of doing far, far more.* * *Her footsteps seemed to echo off of the walls as she made her way down the hall, even though the floors were carpetted. Or perhaps it was just her imagination and the only place her steps were echoing was in her own mind. Raven was walking to the medical wing to apologize to Beast Boy, to apologize for very nearly kiling him. How was she supposed to do that? What was she supposed to say to him to ease his anguish, to make up for the betrayal? Those were questions that weighed heavily on her mind as she made her way toward her destination, questions that she had no answer to, a fact that she was reminded of by every step she "heard."
She was solemn, that's simply how Raven was at times like those, solemn and silent. So it was no surprise when Cyborg came up beside the dark magus, cheer in his step.
"Hey Rae, where ya headed?" He asked jovially, smiling down at the far shorter girl.
Raven's face could not be seen, thanks to her cowl being up and casting its veil of shadow over her features, but her feelings were all to evident in her body language.
"The infirmary." Cyborg nodded in understanding, but commented only a moment after Raven spoke,
"Beast Boy will be happy to see you." Raven's expression became tinged with bitterness.
"Will he?" Her sarcastic response gave Cyborg's attempt at levity pause, turning his face serious."Yeah, he will be." The dark magus' gaze remained firmly set forward to the path she was walking like it was a death march.
The cybernetically-enhanced teen let the expectant silence hang between them until the shorter girl could take it no longer.
"What am I supposed to say to him, Cyborg? What am I supposed to say to make up for the agony that I caused him?" She looked upset and understandably so, even if Beast Boy greatly annoyed her sometimes he was still a person Raven had hurt and worse, a friend as well.
"It wasn't you, Raven, it was Anbu." The dark magus stopped in her march, staring up at Cyborg for a long moment.
"Does it really matter?" She asked quietly, bitterly and Cyborg looked honestly surprised at the question.
"Yeah girl, it does." The violet-haired mage nodded in silence and continued on, the once-athlete teen followed. "Just tell him you're sorry and talk to him." Cyborg shook his head sadly, a piece of body language Raven did not miss. "He's the least likely of us to get on your case."
"What does that mean?" She snapped out immediately, getting the distinct sense that something was going on that she didn't know about and her fear of the upcoming meeting shortened her temper.
Cyborg could only sigh quietly and maintain silence. Just as Raven was about to force the issue, though, he did speak up."You're here." The dark magus looked away from her larger cohort and ahead again to find the door to the medical bay directly before her, standing large and imposing.
She hesitated for a moment, torn between a desire to interrogate Cyborg over what he had said, as well as delay the coming confrontation, and her need to face up to the tragedy that was her fault, at least in part. A groan of pain from within that Raven's sharp ears managed to catch made the decision for her and without even a glance back toward Cyborg, Raven slipped inside the room.* * *Beast Boy was in terrible shape, tucked in tight atop a medical bed with a plethora of machines surrounding him on all sides, uncaring witnesses to the spectacle of his agony. His breathing was labored, if still steady and filled the room with a sound that ebbed and flowed regularly; at once comforting to Raven and yet a constant reminder of Beast Boy's state at the same time. She approached the edge of the bed cautiously, conscious of the fact that Beast Boy's eyes were closed, which indicated he was probably sleeping. Regardless of the silence of her approach, Beast Boy's eyes still opened the moment she came up to the side of his bed.
"Raven." He wheezed, the sound overpowering any undertones to his voice that may have told Raven whether it was a greeting or a curse.
When he turned his head to look directly at her, though, Raven knew exactly what it had been, the short and green teen's crooked smile openly betraying that.
"You look terrible." Raven murmurred, finding it quite hard to take her eyes from the copious wrappings of bandages around Beast Boy's mid-section.
Somehow his smile held.
"You're not lookin' so hot yourself." His gaze slid over the wounds in Raven's wrists and caused him to wince in more than just physical pain.
The dark magus also did not miss that bit of body language.
"I thought I'd killed you, I couldn't bear it."-Chapter 10: Try, Try, Try"I've been thinking and more than anything else, I know that I want to spend my life with you, whatever that may be. I looked back and I saw all the bad things, the little and the big, all the terrible things that happened to you and I began to wonder again if you would have had to suffer any of that were it not for us, were it not for me. I wondered if you might not really have been better off without me . . . But then I thought of the good things, the things that had made us smile and warmed our hearts, the closeness and intimacy that made it feel as though we were never alone, the nights full of such passion and desire . . . I knew it couldn't be so, we can't be better of without each other; you couldn't be better off without me. It's life, it's the bad and the good together, it's out relationship; the ups can only be there because there are downs, they're an inseparable pair. More importantly, though, is the future. Our future together that I want to spend with you because of who you are. You're my shooting star, my wish for a brighter tomorrow and a better future, you're the light to my shadow. Just seeing you makes me want to be better than I am, to be stronger so I can protect that carefree smile and joy of yours that make my heart beat so fast. To be a kinder and more gentle woman that can ease your pains and fill your heart with contentment. To be a good enough person to deserve the wonderful gift to the world that you are. I want to fight to make the world you see with those innocent eyes of yours, a world so much more loving and kind, a reality. I want to be with you as I promised, as betrothed, so that I might touch your heart every day and make it sing out to the world, so I can kiss your sweet lips and hold your body every single day and make you swoon. I want to be with you forever, Starfire, so I can share my love with you and see you smile."