--Author's Note-- Hey guys. So sorry for the wait, I just haven't been up to writing much, and I've been busy with finals. Blah. Oh, and the parties, lol. Anyway, this is the last chapter. Sorry, all good things must come to an end. So, after this I'll be focusing on my DP series, and the DP comic on DeviantART. Go check those out, but I think I'm done with TT for awhile. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 18 A Sweet Ending
Raven was only vaguely aware of the voices around her. She knew that the battle was over; whether the Titans had won or run, she did not know. The voices stopped, most likely knowing that there was nothing they could do for her right now.
A single voice cut through the silence a few moments later, but who was it and what were they saying? With an internal sigh, Raven decided that it didn't matter; she would find out once she had healed herself. And so she focused her energy onto her healing powers, letting herself drift in and out of consciousness.
Beast Boy blinked his cat eyes a couple times before standing up and stretching. Looking around, he couldn't figure out what had woken him. The sun had yet to rise but was just starting to peek above the horizon.
As his eyes adjusted to the lighting, he finally found what had awaken him.
"At last, my dear Raven, you will finally be mine, and there is nothing that you or your friends can do to stop it," a dark voice echoed through the infirmary.
Malchior.
Nothing? Beast Boy thought to himself. He'd see about that. The small green cat jumped off the bed and landed right on the open book that held the dragon. Malchior's screams filled the room.
Quickly, Beast Boy transformed back to his original self, and grabbed the book before slamming it shut. It started to shake and fight his grip.
"Beast Boy! What's going on?" Hawke cried out as the door opened.
"It's Malchior. He's after Raven."
"But I thought he was sealed away."
"He is, but Raven must not have finished the seal. You're the only one who can do it, Hawke!"
The younger girl looked like she was going to be sick. Finally making up her mind, she nodded. "Alright, take the book to the roof. I'll be there in a moment."
Beast Boy left in silence, leaving Hawke alone with her sister. Once he was gone she walked over to the bed Raven was sleeping on.
"I can't believe you're doing this to me Rae!" she nearly shouted, a few tears coming to her eyes. "You know that I'm not nearly as strong as you are. There's no way that I can do something that you failed at. But I'll try, Rae, and if I manage then you're going to have to tell Beast Boy the truth."
Raven didn't give any response nor did Hawke expect any from her sister, but she knew that she could hear her. With a sigh she left the room.
It was a few minutes before Hawke appeared on the roof where Beast Boy was waiting. "We'd better hurry, he's getting stronger," he informed her as she got ready to set up the circle.
"I know, BB, I know."
The pair was silent as Hawke made all the arrangements. Finally she motioned Beast Boy over and took the book from him.
Beast Boy could only stand and watch as Hawke went about casting the spell. He didn't understand what she was saying, but he could tell that her whole heart was focused on the task at hand.
Moments later a bright light began to shine from the book, but the light quickly started to flicker before finally fading out.
"I can't do it, Beast Boy. I've never been as powerful as Raven, so how can I do something that she failed at?"
"Don't say that Hawke," he told her.
"I've always lost to her. That's why our father chose her over me, that's why she's cursed as she is."
"You both have different strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else does. Raven was overcome in that battle, but you weren't. I believe that you can do this Hawke, and I know that Raven believes in you too. You have to do this for her."
Hawke nodded and straightened up. "Okay, I'll try."
This time the light broke through the book and engulfed it in it's brilliance. When the light faded away there was nothing left.
"I—I did it," she said with a weak smile before falling over into Beast Boy's arms.
Some time later Raven finally opened her eyes. As she had guessed, she was in the infirmary. When she tried to sit up she found that her entire body was extremely sore. Sitting next to her bed was Beast Boy.
"Beast Boy," she whispered.
"Ah, Raven, you're awake. That's great!" he blurted out in a rush as his face turned red.
Raven only watched him as she sat up on the bed. "Were you in here all night?"
"Yeah," he said turning away from her face.
"Who brought me in here?"
"That would be me."
"Did we beat Blood?"
"I think so, but I doubt he'll give up that easily. Malchior certainly didn't."
"Malchior really was back?"
Beast Boy nodded, "Yeah. He was in here earlier this morning. I think he was planning on taking over your body. Hawke managed to completely seal him away."
"She always was better at things like that," she agreed.
Finally, BB couldn't take it anymore. In the blink of an eye, BB had stepped over to Raven and leaned over her, an arm on each side of her, causing her to fall back onto the bed. "Beast Boy?"
"Raven, do you remember what I told you last night?"
"No. I heard voices, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. I was pretty deep into my subconscious."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," he sighed, backing off a bit.
Raven was able to sit up again once he had backed off. "Was it important?"
"Kind of," he whispered. It had been easier to tell her when she wasn't awake. How could he possibly say it to her face with her looking at him with that longing look in her eyes?
"Please, tell me," she whispered now, reaching out to touch him. Just about every thought she had went out the window as she looked at his pained face.
"Raven, I… I… I can't," he finally spat out.
"Please, BB. I need to know." She took his hand now. She had been pushing him away since the day they had met, pushing away the feelings. She couldn't lie to herself anymore, and she couldn't bear to push him any farther away.
Her eyes were pleading with him now. Instead of daring to look at them, he turned his attention to their hands. Her fingers were intertwined with his as if she was holding onto him for dear life, and that gave him strength.
"Raven, I love you."
The words rushed out of his mouth, but she caught them, each and every beautiful word.
"Really?" she whispered, a tear drop escaping her eyes.
He nodded his head slowly, still looking at their hands.
"Beast Boy," she said, turning his face towards hers with her free hand. "BB, I love you too."
It was like every fear she had had drained away with those few words. Her secrets were freed and like a caged bird, they were never coming back.
A tear escaped from Beast Boy's eyes now as he smiled at her.
All the fears that had drifted away would resurface, neither of them had any doubts about that, but for now, they could be happy, even if just for a moment.
Carefully, they leaned in towards each other, eyes softly closing as their lips started brushing against each other. Their first kiss was deep and full of built up passion.
Suddenly, the sound of clapping came from the doorway, waking them from their daze and causing Beast Boy to jump back nearly a foot. Hawke was standing there, looking at them with a smug grin on her face.
"How long have you been standing there?" Raven half hissed at her sister.
"Clearly not long enough. I'm glad you're awake, and I'm even happier that you had the guts to tell her," the younger girl said with a smile. "Are you ready for breakfast?"
"Come on," Beast Boy said, taking Raven's hands and helping her down.
The trio was met by four happy faces in the kitchen, and they all quickly asked Raven how she was doing, and teasing Beast Boy for finally telling Rae how he felt while they were at it.
"Let's eat!" Hawke said as she urged them towards the table.
The teens all pulled up chairs around the table and dug into the food that had already been set out. While they ate, everyone chatted happily.
No one mentioned the battle, nor did they bring up the fact that Brother Blood might be plotting another attack on the Tower. None of that mattered at the moment. The walls that had been building since the group had formed had been broken down with each confession of their deepest secret.
Once the food had all been eaten, and the chatter had started to die down, Hawke broke in.
"I'd like to say a few words, if you guys don't mind."
The Titans looked around the table with a slightly worried look on their faces. Since no one had objected, Hawke continued.
"I just wanted to say how much it warms my heart to see you all like this. Almost since the Teen Titans were formed, Raven has been writing me letters and telling me about each and every one of you. While I read those letters, I could sense the feelings that lay beneath the surface that each and every one of you showed.
"Robin, the strong and devoted leader; Starfire, the beautiful, if sometimes silly, princess; Cyborg, the powerful and bright robotic mechanic; Beast Boy, the crazy, off the wall shape shifter; Jinx, the eerily pretty villain with a heart of gold; and finally my own sister, Raven.
"I must admit that my visit was more than a chance to catch up with my sister and meet all of you. I came here to try and help you break down the walls that you were putting up against each other. I was afraid that should something happen, those walls would mean the end of the Titans all together. You all mean too much to too many people for me to let that happen.
"I nudged each of you gently, and I'm so happy to see that each of you tore down those walls easily. It brings so much joy to my heart to see the six of you sitting at the table like this.
"Love is not the easiest burden to carry, but know that you're not carrying that burden alone anymore. And finally, I must say how much I've enjoyed my time here with all of you, and now, I think that it's time for me to head back to my own friends."
There was silence as Hawke finished, the words she had spoken sinking in.
Clearing his throat, Robin called the attention to himself. "First, thank you, Hawke, for all that you've done for us. And second, we all know that we have not seen the last of Blood, but I think Brother Blood will find us a force to be reckoned with, with the addition of our newest Titan, Jinx."
Jinx' face lit up, and Cyborg grinned happily, as he pulled her into a tight hug.
The next hour was filled with thanks for Hawke, congrats for Jinx, cleaning up, and helping Hawke pack. Cyborg had connected the Tower's sound system to the stereo, and most of the teens could be seen dancing in the halls as they went about their work.
No one in Jump City would remember this day as anything special, but it was a day that the Titans would never forget.
There were long goodbyes as Hawke left, and then once their friend had departed, everyone headed inside to help Jinx repaint her room.
The Titans knew that the future would bring more battles and more conflicts, but if even just for today, the future looked a whole lot brighter.