A/N: I know it's been forever since I last updated this fic. That is not from the lack of trying however. I wound up writing this chapter like ten different times, but everytime I seemed to be making progress something would happen that would result in me loosing all my hard work. (I suck at backing things up.) Eventually I just lost the will to continue. About a week ago I had a sudden artistic spurt and figured, what the hell, might as well try again.
So here it is, for those of you who still care.
--
Raven's POV
--
As I left my room with an arm full of books about meditation techniques and the human mind I almost ran right into Robin. "Excuse me." I said out of habit as I attempted to move around him but he moved to block me again. "We have to talk." He said authoritatively. "Can it wait?" I asked as I pushed past him, not really caring what his answer was.
My path was suddenly blocked by a huge green hippo that seemed to appear out of nowhere. "No...it can't." Robin said bluntly. You didn't need to be an empath to know that he was deadly serious. "Fine..." I said after a heavy sigh.
Beastboy changed into his normal form and they lead me to the living room where the others were waiting. "What is this, an intervention?" I asked half jokingly. The tension in the air was so thick it was almost choking me. "Kind of..." Cyborg said before falling silent again.
It was some time before some one spoke again, they all seemed to be thinking carefully on what they would say. "You can put those down." Robin said, motioning toward the books in my arms. I set them on the coffee table and sat down on the couch, I could tell this was going to take a while.
"You've been acting weird lately..." Robin said when I was seated. "Yeah? Well, thing's haven't exactly been normal lately have they?" I asked sarcastically in response. "No, I guess they haven't." He admitted with a sigh. "We have to do something about that Demon." He said matter of factly. I responded by giving him a questioning look. "He kills people Raven, we can't just look the other way. He has to be dealt with...before someone else gets hurt." He continued.
"I can't just abandon him." I objected. He seemed to be expecting this response. "I know you're scared of your father, but you're letting that fear cloud your judgment." He responded. I can't deny that there was some truth to that statement. "It's not about that..." I began, expecting someone to cut me off, but they all just looked at me expectantly. So I continued, "He really is trying to be good, he doesn't want to become a senseless monster...how can I call myself a hero if I turn my back on the person who needs me the most?"
"How can you call that thing a person!?" Beastboy yelled suddenly, "After what he's done to me?... after what he's done to Terra?" Cyborg tried to calm his friend, "Dude, we don't even know what he did to Terra." Beastboy responded with a look of fury I didn't think his face was capable of making. "Oh I know exactly what he did..." He turned that look on me next, and it sent chills down my spine, but he said nothing further. He stormed out of the room shortly after, leaving me with a strange empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Just as I was about to break down I felt a strong, but soft arm wrap around my shoulder. I turned to see Starfire's emerald green eyes. "I'm so sorry..." Was all I was able to say before the tears began flowing.
--
Demon's POV
--
I don't know what was taking Raven so long. Despite my injuries I was pacing around the infirmary, each step sent a bolt of pain up my leg. I focused on the pain as a way of ignoring Corruption's mocking words. It worked well enough. It wasn't long before he just stopped trying.
A few minutes after the parasite quit talking I limped over to the large window and looked out over the city. I had hoped that the beautiful view would help ease my mind, but it didn't. I'm not sure if it was my own self imposed guilt, or if it was Corruption fucking with my head, but all I could imagine as I looked out over the city was blood and flames. I could almost hear the screams of it's citizens. The thought made my hunger that much stronger.
The door opened behind me, but I knew it wasn't Raven with those books. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you..." Said the green changeling as he entered the room. "It's not within your ability..." I responded without looking at him. "Well said." Corruption stated.
Honestly I wished he would kill me. He was well within his rights to do so and if I was back in hell I wouldn't have to worry about hurting anyone else. I turned around to face him, trying my best to hide my feelings of self loathing and sorrow, adopting a cocky smile instead. "You're welcome to try though." I said as I raised my arms in a gesture inviting his attack. I'm not entirely sure why I did that. It could be because I hoped he could kill me, or I was just looking for an excuse to feed. Either way, he didn't attack me. He just stood there.
"I don't understand what Raven sees in you." He said bitterly. "All I see is a monster feasting on the misery of others." That was a pretty accurate description of me. "I'm not buying this 'mental parasite' bull shit. You may have her fooled, but you won't fool me." I sighed. "I'm not fooling anyone...I don't want to be what I am...but I am...I don't want to enjoy slaughtering people...but I do...The question is not what am I? Or what do I want to be? But rather, What are you?" I began as I started walking toward him. "Are you a killer? Can you take someone else's life into your hands and crush it out of existence? Can you kill me without first killing a part of yourself?" I asked, coming to a stop in front of him. I already knew the answers to my questions, but they needed to be asked. "...n...no..." Beastboy said after a pause. "Then why are you here? Why do you stand here looking death in the face?" I asked. The second question wasn't metaphorical either. I was VERY hungry, and he was well within striking distance now. In my current state all I needed was an excuse.
"I wanted to see if you had any remorse for raping my girlfriend." He said coldly. "Remorse...sorrow...anger...fear...that's about all I really can feel." I said honestly. "I've heard your manic laughter as you slaughtered those cultists, you can't tell me you didn't get some joy out of that..." He said accusingly. "Honestly...I don't enjoy it nearly as much as you think...the only satisfaction I really get is sustenance." I said as I dropped the cocky demeanor and limped toward a bed. I decided I should be relieved he wasn't looking for a fight. Corruption said nothing, but I could feel his agitation, which concerned me. It meant our connection was stronger than I had thought.
"Do you know where Raven went?" I asked, hoping she would just walk in. "She's talking to the others...about you. We're trying to figure out the best way to deal with you." He said. "They're deciding your fate and they don't even invite you...how rude..." Corruption responded. "I agree, that is rude." I said as I stood up. Beastboy gave me a strange look, not being able to hear Corruption I'm sure I looked quite strange.
I pushed past him. Surprisingly he didn't really try to stop me. I paused for a moment in front of Terra's door. "She wont come out, don't bother." Beastboy said angrily behind me. I hit the door with my fist to get her attention. "Come decide my punishment." I said, before continuing toward the living room.
--
Raven's POV
--
After I was able to compose myself again our little discussion continued. I could sense that Robin didn't really believe that Corruption and the Demon were two separate entities. So I told them most of what happened within the Demon's mind. How I was used as bait to trap him within his own consciousness so Corruption could have full control over his body.
"If I was the one being controlled like that, what would you do?" I asked, looking at Robin seriously. "Everything we could." He answered. "Exactly...why doesn't he deserve the same?" I asked. "Because, he's done nothing but kill since he got here." Robin responded.
"I saved your asses didn't I?" The Demon's voice asked from the door. "If it weren't for me, that spider would have killed you, and countless others. The entire city would likely be in ruins by now if it weren't for me. Oh, and let's not forget me kicking Slade's ass for you...or getting rid of those cultists..." He said as he crossed the room. "Don't try to play yourself off as a hero." Robin snapped back, "No one asked for your help." I decided to stay quiet. Now that the Demon was here to defend himself he didn't need me to do it.
"Should a hero need to be asked?" Demon responded. He was picking his words carefully, trying to get under Robin's skin, but I don't know why. Robin said nothing, he just glared at the Demon. "You find it so easy to label me, but you don't even know me..." Demon protested. "I know enough." Robin said coldly. "Do you? And what do you know?" Demon asked.
"I know you kill people, and that you enjoy it." Robin responded. "I do not, you just don't understand the difference." Demon spat back. "Difference in what? You were laughing your ass off as you slaughtered those cultists." Robin reminded him. "That's because it tickled." Demon responded. No one in the room expected that answer. "Either way, whether or not I enjoy killing is entirely beside the point. I need..." Demon began but Robin cut him off with, "You feed off pain, do you really need to kill people?"
The Demon opened his mouth to speak, but seemed to change his mind about what exactly he wanted to say. "Wait...why?" He asked turning his head slightly, apparently in response to something Corruption said. Robin raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Ok..." He said as he turned his attention to Robin again a few moments latter and relayed the information he just received. "Apparently I do. You see, without a soul I'm constantly losing energy...as you already know. When I feed off pain I recharge and heal, but when the pain is gone that energy quickly evaporates again and my body starts to decay. However, when people die, their souls leave their bodies. Feeding off of the energy created in such an event basically patches up the holes, greatly diminishing the rate of decay temporarily...so either I need to constantly torture something, or I can kill someone and last all day."
After a moment to digest the information Cyborg spoke. "That still doesn't excuse your behavior." He said. "Maybe not, but the fact that I target the criminals of the city to feed myself does." Demon responded. "No it doesn't." Robin argued. "Difference of opinion and nothing more." Demon said, dismissing Robin's argument with a wave of his hand.
"You do not feel you deserve punishment?" Starfire asked sounding a little confused. "I didn't say that." Demon responded. "Then what are you saying?" Beastboy asked annoyed. "He's saying it's not your choice to make." Terra said as she entered the room. She was wearing her hair differently. It draped down, covering one of her eyes...much like how she wore it when she was in the service of Slade. Everyone in the room except the Demon looked at her in surprise. They had all tried multiple times to get her out of her room with no success.
"What do you mean?" Beastboy asked, the angry tone in his voice all but gone. "What has he really done to any of you? Nothing." She said. "Hey, that's not true he..." Beastboy began but Terra cut him off with, "Defended himself...you can't kick a tiger and then get angry when it mauls you." I found the tone of her voice disturbing. It wasn't angry, or sad...or scared...it wasn't anything...it just was.
"And besides...what would you do anyway? Send him to prison?" She asked Robin mockingly. "He doesn't deserve any less." Robin said now clearly annoyed at how things were turning out. He was losing control of the situation and it bothered him. "That's exactly the point. One punishment does not fit all." She said a smile crossing her face as she turned to face the Demon.
As she walked toward him her body language confused me. I would have expected her to show anger toward him, especially considering the things he said when she tried to talk to him earlier. Instead she swayed her hips sensually and gave him a look that unmistakably read, 'fuck me'. When she got to him she reached up and lightly caressed his cheek before wrapping her arms around him and began kissing his neck. "What the hell are you doing!?" Beastboy asked angrily. Cyborg had to move to intercept him before he did something stupid again.
When I looked back at the Demon and Terra I saw sand pouring out of her gloves and collecting in a cloud behind him, and her actions suddenly made sense.
--
Corruption's POV
--
"I told you she liked it." I said mockingly within my host's mind as he noticed her body language. As the dirty thoughts began fluttering through his mind I could feel my power over him grow. He tried to stop them, he tried to bury them like he always had. But I wouldn't allow it. Lust was mine now, and it wouldn't back down just because he wanted it to.
As she caressed our cheek she smiled sweetly. That smile alone was enough to make him weak in the knees...and cloud his mind. When she began kissing our neck there was nothing more he could do to resist. I was able to push my way to the surface of his mind and assume control again. A wicked smile crossed my face as I wrapped my arms around her, grabbing her ass.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. My legs went limp as my lower spine was pierced. At that exact moment she pushed me away, causing me to land on my back in front of her. "What the fuck?" I asked as I attempted to move my legs, but couldn't. I looked up at Terra and saw the cloud of sand swirling in the air. It condensed itself down into two fairly large shards of sandstone. "Oh...That's a cheap trick." I said as I realized what had happened. She wanted to be sure that I felt whatever it was she was going to do. So she played on the fact that I controlled Demon's lust, and basically forced me to the surface.
I tried to roll over onto my stomach and crawl away, but when I did a sharp, burning pain shot up my spine. I focused on my rising anger to push my way through the pain. Before I could actually do anything however Terra launched the two newly formed shards into my arms just above my elbows. She then forced them down into the bones of my forearms. Oh it hurt like all hell, but still I smiled. I had not thought her capable of such a thing.
Using her powers she lifted me off the ground by the rocks in my arms. Because my body was so weak there really wasn't much I could do but dangle there in the air, as though I was suspended by chains. "So...this is my punishment?" I asked, forcing a smile across my face. "Just hanging around?"
"No...your punishment is starvation. I just had to be sure you would cooperate." She said, smiling evilly. The others didn't seem to disagree with her choice very much, as they made no move to stop her as she dragged me back to the room they had given my host. She opened the large door and literally threw me in. I collided painfully with the far wall before falling to the ground. I looked up at her angrily. "I'll enjoy killing you." I said. "I'm sure you will." She responded with a smile as she closed the door, leaving me in total darkness.
--
A/N: So in conclusion...Titan's are fed up, and Terra gets some pay back...
I know there really wasn't much action in this chapter, but I promise to make it up to you in the next chapter. I'll also try to explain exactly what the deal with the demon hunters is as well.