Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, characters, properties, etc. All credit for the creations go to the original authors.

(Look who's back. I know some of you may have been hoping for an ending to my other stories, well I hit a sizable writer's block on that story, and it hasn't changed after a few years. Instead, I've been working on this, so far I have 6 chapters drafted. Expect more to be posted in the next few weeks. I hope this story is received better than the others were. I should probably just let you read it now... Read and review, please. ~RavensMind~)

Mentor

Chapter 1: Charitable Shadows

Nervous as she started to leave the tower, Raven checked to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything. Books? Check. Instructions? Check. Cloak? Duh, check. To her surprise, Raven came across several notes of her mother's one day and had found a way to contact what her mother noted as her "guide". Well, it wasn't some fraud palm reader like they had in cities and such to scam citizens, this was much different. What exactly Raven would learn, she didn't know, but she did know this guide was still there and could help her. Since the death of her father, Trigon, she was able to show more of her emotions, but something felt…broken… Maybe this guide could help her find what the conflict was within her mind, she hadn't had much luck.

Crossing the halls of the tower from her room, she pondered telling the others about it. Predicting their reactions would go like so… first, Starfire: "Are you in need of aid, you should have informed us, we are your friends, I will help by making…blabber (or whatever it would be this time…). Second, Robin: "You shouldn't go alone, how do you know you can trust this person? Maybe I should go with you, at least." Third, Terra: "It sounds cool, can I come?" Fourth, Cyborg: "Robin has a point, Rae, we should be there just in case." Fifth…Raven groaned…Beast Boy: "I told ya there was something wrong with her, she needs to go get "fixed" Idiot…

That was enough for her, she decided she would tell them about it later… maybe just Robin, the others didn't have the mental bond that they shared, so he would react better, and help her explain it to the others. Or he might privately scold her for being reckless, either way, less irritation. Entering the living room, Raven glanced around at the others, who were busy with their afternoon rituals.

"I'm going to the bookstore for a while, I'll be back by dinner," Raven announced.

"You should have told us earlier, we could have all gone out together to "hang out" , maybe I can help you find some books… I loved the ones back on Tamaran,"Starfire said.

"Last time, you came home mad that some clerk and a reporter wouldn't leave you alone, I could go and keep them busy while you look," Robin offered.

"Have fun, Raven," Cyborg said, not looking up from his game.

"Don't be out too long, we still need to find…that thing…for you, so just hurry back, or I'll go," Terra said.

"If you find a worm in your book, ask him out, just your type…" Beast Boy said, making fun of her.

"Thanks, Starfire, but I know what I am looking for. I will deal with them, Robin, but thanks. I will try to enjoy myself and I will be back by dinner at the latest," Raven said.

"Nothing?" Beast Boy asked, noticing she ignored him.

"Yes, you are," Raven replied, and then she left the room.

Heading down the steps, she heard another set of footsteps slowly following her own. Turning around as she reached the last landing, she saw Robin coming down. Why?

"Hey, I just wanted to remind you that you and I have to organize our case files tomorrow, they are starting to pile up and I can't really find anything…" Robin said.

"It is really bothering you, isn't it?" Raven asked.

"Yeah. I know I kept putting it off and the pile got larger, and as you're my second in command, we both need to know what is where," he replied.

"Okay… You followed me just to tell me that?"

"No. I thought I might go with you, I have to pick up some books from that store myself."

"Oh… I can get them for you, if you'd like."

"What's the matter, can't spend some time with me now?"

"No, I actually had some…other things to get instead of books."

"Like?"

Raven looked at him for a moment with a slight-forced embarrassment.

"Do I need to say anymore?" she asked.

"Ah. Uh, no, I guess not… See you when you get back."

She smiled, nodded, and walked for the door, vanishing into a black portal.

Exiting her portal, Raven stepped out onto the grass of the forest floor in front of a stone crypt. Apparently, her mother's guide had gone into hiding shortly after Raven's birth. She approached the crypt door and pulled it open, revealing a long stone staircase heading into the earth. Glancing around, she decided to descend the stairs, wary of what she might encounter. Lit torches lined the stairs, casting deceptive shadows along the walls. The steps led down to a small cavern, lined with statues familiar to Raven. Others had been found beneath the library in Trigon's portal chamber. Yet, they were a bit different, as these were not completely uniform, or as identical, which eased her mind a bit. Crossing the cavern, she reached what looked like a door, but there was no handle on her side. When she reached out her hand and knocked, there was an immediate response in the form of a passionless, sharpened, feminine voice.

"…Ah, the demon-child. I wondered when we might cross paths again. It was inevitable… I suppose you have come for my head…" the voice said, echoing around the room.

"No. I learned about a guide my mother had who helped her with her emotions and powers, are you that person?" Raven asked.

"Perhaps… Why have you not come to slay me, or is this a ruse?"

"I killed my father, he has no control over me, my mind and power are my own, and I need help."

"We all require something… You tell me what help you need, and if I can assist, I will, but you will need to do something for me."

"And I'm supposed to trust you just like that?"

"If you suspected me as a threat, you would not have foolishly wandered in here as you did. Tell me what you need and listen to my deal or simply leave, you have the choice…"

Shifting nervously, Raven weighed her options; she really needed someone else who could understand what she was enduring, who could give a solution. Walking out of here without anything wasn't an option in her mind. Besides, her mother had trusted her in the past, she couldn't be much of a threat to her.

"Alright… I need help making and keeping my mind whole, after Trigon died, I was free, and lost a piece of my mind and power in the process," Raven said.

"Ah… something does feel different about you… I can assist you, but it will require a lot of patience and time."

"So, what do you want from me?"

"Your mother had some notes and tomes of mine I would like back. I'm sure you would know where they are, they will be useful to us."

"The only books I can think of that would be that old would be the few that are un-readable, the writing is in a language I don't recognize, and I know most languages."

"Yes, those sound like the books I seek. Bring those to me and come prepared, we will be exercising your mind extensively."

"Aren't you going to tell me your name, my mother didn't write it down and…Show yourself?"

"I will when you bring me those books. Now go, and return here tomorrow at the same time. We have much to do."

"…Alright. I'll be back tomorrow."

Without waiting for another word, Raven turned and headed back up the steps. As she left, she pondered the conversation. Calling the whole thing 'mysterious' would be an understatement. Hopefully, this guide would be able to help her, if not; she wasn't sure what she would do. Raven walked outside and closed the crypt door behind her, disappearing into a portal, heading back to the tower.

Arriving back at the tower, Raven found Robin waiting for her. He was leaning against the wall, smiling at her. There was something about his smile that made her uncomfortable and anxious.

"Hey. Did you get what you wanted?" Robin asked.

"No. It wasn't in yet." Raven replied.

"'It'?"

"Just some piece of clothing that Terra talked me into buying."

"Not going to tell me what it is?"

"No."

"I'll use my imagination, then," he said, smirking.

Raven sighed, "It is just a dress, stop imagining."

"Why would you want to hide that from us?" he asked.

"This wasn't something I really do, and telling or showing the others would undermine my authority as your second in command."

"I see…"

"So, why were you waiting to interrogate me?"

"I just wanted to spend some time with you today."

"Why?"

"I need a reason?"

"No… What did you want to do?"

"We could take care of organizing those files tonight."

"You certainly know how to charm a girl…" she said, frowning.

"I'm kidding, let's go watch a movie."

"Alright."

Robin walked with Raven to the elevator, pressing the button and leading her inside. He noticed that she wasn't acting like her usual self, something seemed to be bothering her, and he faintly felt her thoughts swimming through their mental link. "Something wrong?" he asked her.

"I've just been having a hard time meditating and dealing with my emotions lately," she replied.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No… it isn't very uplifting, and I'd hate to ruin the evening with it."

"If it's that bad, then it doesn't matter what we're doing."

"I said I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't blame you, but it won't help you if you keep it to yourself, and I want us both to be able to relax."

"Please, just…leave it alone."

"Okay…" he sighed, "just tell me if you want to talk about it later."

Feeling overwhelmed, Raven tried to center herself. The elevator reached the top floor and she started to walk out, stumbling a little, her body feeling heavier than it was. She felt Robin's hand on her shoulder, sparking a flurry of emotions and sensations. The stumbling was relatively new, she had been experiencing it for a few weeks, but the emotions and sensations took her by surprise.

"Are you okay, Raven?" Robin asked.

"Yeah… I think I'm going to have to skip the movie. Help me to my room?" Raven said.

"Sure… and then we are going to talk."

"No…"

"Something is obviously wrong and you have to tell me what."

"I meant I can't tonight…I could pass out during the conversation."

"Really? Then we will talk about it tomorrow."

Placing his other arm across her stomach, Robin helped Raven down the hall to her room. As they got closer, Raven started relying more on Robin's grip, her strength was draining quickly. This had happened before, but not so quickly, and not as strong. Helping her in to her room, Robin laid her down on her bed. There was a moment when he paused, before taking his arms off of her. They had been friends for a long time, and he wouldn't deny that he had been noticing her more as a girl. Tonight could have been nice, watching a movie together, enjoying each other's company. Under less worrying circumstances, at that time, he might have asked her what she thought of the two of them together. An array of reasons not to pursue her flooded his mind and he stood up fully, pushing the thoughts aside. He watched as she moved away and slid under her covers, undoing her cloak and dropping it on the floor next to her bed.

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked.

"This isn't… the first time this has happened. I will feel better in the morning, so you can go," she replied.

"Okay, I'll go. Just… come talk to me in the morning."

"I will… Good night, Robin, and thank you."

"Good night, Raven."

Walking away, he left her room and closed the door behind him. Now worry flooded his mind, this had been going on for a while, apparently, and she hadn't said anything. He briefly revisited thoughts of courting her, hating himself for thinking about it at that time. The link between them was strongest when either of them was in pain, or stressed. Although Robin didn't know, Raven had heard his thoughts about her through the link. Tomorrow would bring answers to many questions, they each hoped.

(Chapter 2 will be along in another week or so, I have some more polishing to do with it. Thanks for reading. ~RavensMind~)