A tall stack of pancakes with a thick piece of butter melting on top sat in the center of the kitchen table. Four teens sat at the table, yet the tall stack of warm, golden brown circles remained untouched. No one had an appetite at the moment.
The room was dead silent with an dreary negative energy so thick it was suffocating. Terra stared at the table infront of her unblinking as if she was watching the nightmare she lived through last night over and over. The images were fresh in her mind and they were haunting her.
Robin's eyes twitched with rage as his clenched his jaw. He was furious that Slade would go to this level. After they teamed up to stop Trigon he hoped Slade would turn a good corner. But even he knew that was just wishful thinking and in no way possible. He was even more furious at himself for helping save him.
Cyborg and Starfire both stared down at at the table as well. They didn't know what to think. Things just seemed to get worse and worse and they just couldn't catch a break. How much longer do they have to put themselves through this torture?
"Terra," Robin said with an intense seriousness in his voice. He didn't yell but his voice shook with rage as he was trying to keep it together, "tell me everything... What happened last night. Start from the beginning."
Terra looked up at Robin to see a fierce desire in his eyes. He was determined. He was angry. He had the look on his face that only Robin could have. The look of an unhealthy obsession.
"Terra..." Robin said trying to get her to speak.
Terra looked down and closed her eyes. This was a story she really did not want to tell. She sat up straight, gathered all her strength and proceeded to tell Robin and the others everything.
She told them about how she broke down telling her father about her newly discovered past. How her mom helped this strange woman spread lies about the kidnapping and how she screamed at her when she found out. She told them about how supportive her father was and how he was willing to drive her to the bank where they fought Dr. Light when the news showed the police arresting the Titans... Then she began to tremble as she went over all the horrific details about what happened next.
Her voice went dark as she explained how she found herself bound to a chair in a dark room. How this evil hooded person didn't want her but the one who saved her... And how she was the bait to get him.
She told them about the woman locking a collar around Beastboy and how that woman completely changed her look the same way Beastboy changes into animals. She told them about the dozens of TV screens that showed everything the Titans had done in the past 6 months.
Then she told them them the most terrifying part of that night... Watching Beastboy get pummeled, tortured, and nearly killed in front of her eyes. How the collar sent him into tremors that looked so painful she screamed in agony herself.
Lastly, she told them about the pain in her head. About her eyes glowing yellow and everything around her shaking so intensely that it all began collapsing on top of her.
The Titans eyes were fixed on Terra. They were taking in every detail as if they were biological sponges soaking up every bit of information they could. Though, the information they continued to receive grew darker and darker driving their expressions in to a mixture of terror and resentment for their long forgotten enemy.
When Terra finally finished her story Starfire wrapped her arms around her tightly. She was devastated that Terra had been going through all this after everything she'd already been through. It broke her heart and she wanted to comfort Terra like how a mother would comfort her baby.
Terra was taken by surprise with this hug. But it felt warm and gentle coming from the alien with abnormal strength. Terra embraced the hug and wrapped her left arm around Starfire in return taking in the comfort she so desperately needed.
"Thank you," Robin sounded like he was offering her all his sympathy and compassion. He knew things were bad but this was another level beyond bad. His voice changed and he sounded depressed as if he was disappointed in himself, "and I'm so... so sorry, Terra. We should have been there... We should have been able to help," Robin wasn't just referring to last night. She didn't know this, but he was also referring to six months ago when she was brought back.
"It all makes sense," Cyborg said thinking back, "the police had a restraining device built specifically for each of us. Slade knows everything about us. If he could build mircoscopic probes that could attack red blood cells with the push of a button then think about what else he could make," he sounded like this fight was going to be impossible to win. He looked at Robin with a stern and serious expression, "Slade had everything planned out from the beginning... He was ready for us."
"And we'll be ready for him next time he shows his face," Robin said fiercely clenching his fists on the table, "he's not getting way with this. That's a promise."
Terra let go of Starfire and looked at Robin. She had never seen someone with this kind of devotion and hatred for a single person before. It almost reminded her of the mad man she encountered last night. It frightened her.
Robin looked up at Terra to see her startled face as Starfire released her hug. He realized just how scary his reaction must have been to her and immediately tried calming himself down. He shook off his emotions and put on a gentle face with half a smile and stood up. He walked around the table with an out-stretched hand to Terra.
"Come on," he said with a warm tone, "I have a different promise I intend to keep."
Terra's heart began pounding in her chest. She remembered what Robin said to her outside her house when she snuck out and didn't hesitate to take his hand as she stood. Once on her feet, Robin released her hand and began leading her into the hallway. He promised her she would see Beastboy again. And one thing Robin pride himself on, was being a man of his word.
Time ticked away. The day went on and Beastboy still remained asleep in the medical room. Raven still hadn't left the chair that sat next to his bed. She continued to watch his face closely looking for any signs that he would wake soon. But as time went on she continued to lose hope. The only thing that brought her hope now was the fact he was still alive.
Raven sighed heavily. Allowing herself to feel her emotions proved more challenging than she ever thought possible. Feeling fear, guilt, sadness... It was more painful than she could have ever imagined. However, feeling happiness, excitement, love... It was an overwhelming feeling she enjoyed so deeply that it drown away the pain from the others with ease.
But right now, the only thing that brought her those amazing feelings was laying in front of her. Laying unconscious. She wanted him back. She needed him back.
The door slid open behind her and she turned her head to see Robin leading Terra into the room. Terra's face went into a depressed look of despair. She immediately blamed herself for this and was breaking down internally.
Raven felt the feeling of absolute dread radiating off of her and looked across the room as she raised her hand. A chair on the other side the room lifted into the air and landed gently on the other side of Beastboy across from her.
Raven looked back to Terra. She motionined her hand towards the chair indicating the chair was for her.
Terra looked at Raven a little confused. The last time they spoke it wasn't exactly a friendly conversation. She slowly walked to the chair and sat down across from Raven on the other side of Beastboy. Her eyes then fixed on him and the look of despair didn't leave her face.
Robin stood in the doorway a bit concerned. He knew that Raven had a bit of resentment towards Terra but the fact she offered her a chair made him feel much more comfortable about the situation.
Raven looked at Robin giving him a look as if asking him to leave her alone with Terra for a moment. Robin looked back at her still a little concerned but Raven nod her head, implying everything will be fine.
Robin nod back and stepped out of the room letting the door slide shut behind him.
Raven looked to Terra seeing the pain on her face. She could feel the room going cold from Terra's emotions. Raven thought back to when Terra put her freedom on the line to protect her own. In that moment she had forgiven Terra for everything she had done in her past. She wanted to make things right between them.
"Terra," Raven said trying to get Terra's attention.
Terra kept her eyes on Beastboy but turned her head slightly to Raven, acknowledging her name.
"I..." Raven hesitated. This was also knew to her. Pride was an emotion she had yet to encounter since she started allowing herself to feel.
Terra's eyes shifted from Beastboy to Raven. Her eyes were glossed over as if she wanted to cry.
Raven cleared her throat and began battling her pride as she began again.
"I..." She stopped short once more, "uh..." Raven looked down trying to figure out why she was struggling so much.
After a second of silence Terra shot a smile to Raven. She didn't know what Raven was trying to say but she could tell she had good intentions.
"You don't have to say anything," Terra said seeing Raven struggle with her words, "I don't know exactly what happened between us... but I hope you can forgive me." She looked back to Beastboy and her smile vanished instantly.
Raven's eyes widened slightly. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. Gaahh! Why is this so difficult?! She thought to herself. In the diner apologizing to Beastboy came easy to her. However, she felt guilty. She was holding on to a great deal of regret when she realized just how bad she treated one of her closest friends. This wasn't the case with Terra. She didn't feel bad at all for the way she treated her. She didn't regret anything between her and Terra. She fully believed Terra was a bad person only to see now she was wrong. Terra really did deserve forgiveness maybe even a second chance. She clenched her fists and tried one more time.
"I... owe you an apology," Raven finally said almost just blurting it out. It was like she was ripping off a bandaid verbally. But Raven noticed once she finally did say it, it was like a huge wave of relief came crashing down on her as if extinguishing a painful fire burning inside her.
Terra looked back at her a little confused, "for what? Look at what I've done and all the things I did. I should be the one apologizing to you." Terra sounded sincere like she accepted all the responsibility for what has recently happened as well as everything in their shared past.
"You already have," Raven immediately respond, "the way you stepped in to protect us from the very people we try to protect... It made me realize... That things really can change," Raven looked at Beastboy. She thought about all the changes he was going through... That she herself was going through. They weren't kids anymore. They were becoming young adults. She looked back at Terra who had returned her gaze to Beastboy once again. Raven could see she really did care about him. This wasn't some act to get back into the Titans. It was genuine emotion for another soul. Raven smiled and continued, "you're not the same person you once were. I can see that now. And I can't keep holding you responsible for the things you did when you were a different person."
Terra turned from Beastboy and their eyes met once more. The room went silent but the air around them grew warm with a soothing comfort radiating off both of them.
"So I hope you can forgive me," Raven sent her a small but warm smile. She truly meant what she said and saying it out-loud made her feel felt like the world had been lifted off her shoulders.
Terra smiled the same warm smile Raven expressed. They both felt much better given the circumstances but the feeling didn't last long as they both turned their focus back to Beastboy. The room went silent once more and the warmth faded.
Just watching him lay there was torture to the both of them. They were hoping beyond hope that he would wake soon.
After a long and painful hour, the silence in the room was shattered by a groan as if someone in pain were just realizing they were seriously hurt.
Beastboy's eyes cracked and slowly began to open.