Love Conquered

Unexpected Kinship

Raven felt guilt swimming in the pit of her stomach. "What's wrong baby?" Beast rumbled in her neck, the sound of the heavy rain soothing the conversation, "I feel bad. I had no idea about Terra...what she went through." Beast sighed, "None of us did. Not a surprise really, she had more secrets, more lies she hadn't told us. We never really knew her."

 Raven scoffed, "But I could have been her." Beast sat up meeting the watery eyes of his woman.

"What do you mean baby?" Raven shook her head tiredly, "When I left Azarath it wasn't because I wanted to. It was because I had to. The monks, they protected me, taught me, and loved me until my magic became...dark." 

Raven sniffled as she remembered the lonely time, "They grew fearful that even with the numerous tools and resources they gave me that I'd still lead Trigon to them. When I got to this dimension, here with all of you, I was sure I'd be this cast out, a hated villain." 

"Rae..." 

Raven forcefully insisted, "I could have been, it would have been easier than anyone seeing me as a hero. Me, the demon apocalypse causing hybrid who couldn't feel anything." Looking at Beast, Raven gratefully whispered, "But then you all came into my life, you gave me hope. Faith that I could be better, unconditional unjudgmental love."

Raven shook her head, "We didn't give that to Terra." Beast held her tight in his arms, "We didn't know the first thing about her to think she'd need it. We never suspected anything because when we met her, she put on the front of a confident meta with nothing to do but be free. Come to find out she didn't even have a freaking clue on how to control her power. She ran away and then she was back as the traitor working for Slade and then turned bam turned into Stone! If we had known...we'd have been there for her."

Raven looked at Beast with disbelief, "Like we did with you?" Beast sighed, "That's different, now please sleep." Kissing her head, both cuddled close, but as Beast conked out, Raven was wideawake. Sighing Raven sunk through the bed with her powers and left the house in the shadow raven moving through Japan in the dead of night.  

Searching through the city, Raven found Terra in a hotel room watching tv, pink nose, her hair in a bun. When she noticed Raven by the bathroom Terra looked at her annoyed, "What do you want?" Raven shook her head, "I'm so sorry Terra." 

Terra froze, "What?" Raven sat down on the bed and admitted, "When I was living with the monks...they told me certain things I would have to learn to do differently than other people. I was a cursed being, a human infused with demon blood, I was not supposed to be and wherever I was, I caused pain."

Sighing Raven admitted, "When they kicked me out, I was lost. Alone, it was a miracle I jumped through time and space and wound up a Titan. I don't think I would have made the right choices had I not. Hell, I could have fallen prey to Slade if not for them." 

Terra was surprised staring at Raven wide-eyed at her confession. Smiling Raven kindly said,  "I know you loved Garfield. I loved him too, even then. He was honest with me, he liked me even when I didn't like myself. Tried to include me when I tried to be alone. Went out of his way to make me laugh." 

Terra nodded, and whispered, "I saw that change when I came." Raven nodded, "I was jealous of you. You had taken the one person I could count on to be there away, and you were able to be the kind of girl I could never be."

Giggling bitterly Raven shrugged, "Even though I pretended he annoyed me. I secretly longed for him to be there. No matter what though... I'm sorry I've hurt you anyway. If anyone can understand your life, it's me." 

Terra nodded in tears, "I'm sorry too. I was jealous because you always had something I didn't when it came down to him. I hated it, I had found someone I really liked and yet again I wasn't good enough." Sad now Terra whispered, "I was never good enough." Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, Raven pulled Terra into her arms. 

It was later when the blonde and purple-haired girl was sitting out by the pool, their feet in the water that Raven asked, "Did your brother track you down?" Terra nodded warily, "Yeah he wants me to come home. Accept my title and family name again."

 Raven looked at Terra, "But you don't want to?" Terra slowly shook her head, "I don't know. He's begging on behalf of my parents, they haven't told our kingdom I fled. They don't want to make our family look weak, if I'm not back next week they'll have to give my place to my cousin. This will make them look like the family loyalty is not as firm in us, I just don't know if I can go back to that life ."

Raven nodded, "Because they sent you to H.I.V.E?" Terra shrugged, "Parents do horrible things to keep their children safe. It's just how it is. But they didn't do it in malicious intent, which I can forgive." Raven grinned, "Then why not go home?" 

Terra sighed, warily "I'd be giving away my freedom." Looking at Raven Terra nervously admitted, "I'll be back in the castle, the protected princess who can do nothing or go nowhere. And..." Raven placed a comforting hand on Terra's shoulder as she nervously admitted, "I'm betrothed to a prince, some fire meta or whatever to establish peace." 

Raven slowly nodded, "And you don't want to." Terra shrugged letting out a deep exhale, "I don't know!" Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Terra shrugged awkwardly, "Dating here had been easy. I don't like a guy, I ghost him for a couple of days he gets the memo and moves on. It won't be that there. If I don't get along with him I'm f****d because there is no way I could run away again and even if I did, I'll cause more pain to my family."

Raven blew out a breath, "Whew girl! Your life is just getting more and more Princess Dairies: Rock Edition by the minute." Terra laughed completely surprised at RAVEN making a joke. They were silent for a while before Terra asked, "What would you do?" 

Raven hummed, "I don't know to be honest. My mom's dimension was restored as was she when I defeated my father, but it's not like I would be welcomed back with loving arms considering he only went there to get to me." 

Looking into the blue water Raven mumbled, "I banished my father to the depths of time and reality, I only have Gar and our friends. If I had a chance... a chance to be with my family, a nice loving family who gave me the power to be safe,  I'd take it. But that's me." Raven stroked Terra's long blonde hair, "YOU have to decide what you want Terra. And what you can live with, I can't and no one else can." 

Terra grinned, "Thank you, Rae." Raven smiled and both girls hugged. Until they heard a noise, both turned Raven holding a pool lounge with her power at the ready as Terra lifted a chunk of the pavement by a car. "Whoa, easy I don't want trouble!" Seeing Brion both girls relaxed. "Jesus you're giving me creep vibes sneaking up on girls dude!" Raven hissed at him 

Brion straightened up and flushed seeing his sister looking at him nervously, "I just wanted to come and say sorry if I was...if I made you feel guilty or I put a lot on your conscious. It wasn't fair to you." Getting out of the pool, Raven whispered, "I'll leave you two to talk." handing Terra a burner she whispered, "In case you EVER need me."

Nodding Terra watched her go and Brion joined his sister kicking off his boots and rolling up his jeans to stick his feet in the water. "I wouldn't think you two were friends. I could have sworn you two would hate each other." Terra shrugged, "More in common than we thought," She mused with a bitter smile twisting on her lips from HOW they were alike.

Both beautiful women with big power wanting to be used for bad. Nothing could be celebrated for being a member of that club.

"Did you love him?" Terra looked at her brother and smiled warily, "No, I think I mostly loved the idea of acceptance. He was different, he was...he saw me and didn't judge. I'm sure he got a lot of judgment, but he was still so open and loving. It was nice to be accepted until I felt I wasn't." Brion nodded, "I know how it feels sis." Terra almost denied that.

The older brother she remembered was the golden boy, the center of attention. The heir, that had made their father so proud...

"Dad hates me now doesn't he? Yet again his disappointment of a daughter has ruined everything." Brion shook his head, "Dad's hating himself more. He knows his firm grip and tyrant attitude is what really pushed you away. After the procedure, you lost your love and trust in him. He wants to reconnect with you, fix what's broken."

Terra scoffed, "It won't fix the past, or change it." Brion nodded in agreement, "True...but it can change the future." Terra looked down as her phone pinged, seeing it was her foster mother, Terra could see the flight details for her to go back to Jump City.

"You can have that life sis," Brion told her looking into the pool with distant eyes, "I know the displeasure, the smothering, the feeling of your life being controlled by someone by being a royal. The pressure to be perfect and tolerable to the royal name. But I also know it's alot hardder doing it without you. I missed you sis."

Kissing his sister's head, Brion looked at the watery-eyed Terra, "I won't force you to come home. I know you would never forgive me. Besides, I want you to make the decision, for you to decided your destiny, it's only fair you get a say in what you want. It's up to you."

Terra faced her brother as he gently asked, "What do you want sis?"