Instincts: A Roven Story

Chapter 6: Leaving

A/N: was listening to the song wherever you are while writing this so my feels kind of spilled over 😁
A/N: went ahead and did this during biology! Had to get tonight off my mind. Enjoy!

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It was all too much. The hurt from Robin and Starfire's love, my nightmares, the vials having been discovered and lost to the wrong hands, the possibility of his return. The strain in the tower had hit an all time high and it was purely my fault. I discovered BeastBoy's secret so he's scared I'll get mad at him and tell. I made cyborg swear on what's left of his human body that he would never tell anyone about what he discovered in the systems. I spend no time with Starfire and constantly have mood swings around her and flaunt my friendship with Jinx. I won't tell Robin the truth about my nightmares. Everything... All of this is my fault. If it wasn't for me none of this would have happened. BeastBoy wouldn't have a reason to be fearful. Cyborg would have never found the horrid information because it wouldn't have existed. Starfire wouldn't have someone to resent so she and Robin could be happy. And Robin... Robin Robin might actually get some sleep.. These thoughts circled around my head. For the first time in forever, I knew what I had to do.

I lay in Jinx's safe haven. I can't stay long since once words out I'm gone again she will lead them here. They just don't realize it's best I stay away. I cause nothing but pain. The dismal air that surrounds me cast a woeful cloud upon all who cross my path. I lay on the stone floor of the cave.

"I will not hurt the ones I love any longer." I mumbled into the blackness.

It was time to leave once and for all. Before I walked away there was one last thing I had to do. Carefully I chiseled one string of words into the cold wall. And with that, I was gone.

*Common room*

"Morning Robin!" Star gave me a large smile.

"Someone's happy this morning." I laughed despite the empty feeling in my chest having grown three sizes.

"How could I not be? It is almost like the cloud of gloom has disappeared."

Her words made me uneasy for unknown reasons. BeastBoy and Cyborg were also extra chipper this morning. I pushed my unease to the side so I could enjoy my time with my best friends and girlfriend. Yet I could not shake the feeling that something was missing.

It was around three of the afternoon when Jinx burst in.

"Where's Raven?! I never got to warn her!"

"Chill out. She's reading in her room." BeastBoy never looked up from his video game.

Jinx took off down the hallway and banged on Raven's door.

"Rave! It's me! Open up!"

There was no answer. After a couple more obnoxious shouts she punched in the override code. I'm not sure how I feel about her knowing that.

"Raven?!" Jinx sounded frantic.

I ran after her into the empty room.

"She's not here!" The emptiness grew once again.

"No... No... This could not have happened already... I didn't have the chance to... She doesn't have a chance..." Jinx began to fall apart wailing on the floor.

The others had gathered in the doorway by now.

"Jinx.. Where's Raven...?" Fear covered my voice.

"Slade... Slade has returned... And he wants revenge..."

I felt myself collapse beside her. My breathing grew heavy.

"But Slade helped save her?" Cyborg. The voice of reason.

"If he can't get to Trigon... Why not get to his daughter?" Jinx slammed her fist into the ground.

Slowly BeastBoy spoke up. "Is there... Is there any chance she found out and has gone into hiding?" You could hear the pain in his voice.

"Maybe.. I know somewhere we can check." Jinx pulled Cyborg's keys to the T-car out of her pocket.

"How did you get those?!" Cyborg's voice raised.

"Does it matter? Raven may be in trouble!" Jinx ran out the door the rest of us on her heels.

*The Safe Haven*

Jinx and I had searched the cavern from top to bottom. She wasn't here. I wasn't in any physical pain so Slade can't be hurting her... But my emotional pain must be off the charts. There were no clues to where she may be. The only conclusion was that Slade must have her. Even that theory was shattered when BeastBoy spoke.

"Um guys?" He pointed at the back wall.

Sitting there was Raven's T-Communicator. And carved into the stone were four words.

"Quoth the Raven, Nevermore."