The evening sun bakes a palette of colors into the sky. The glow from the sun spread a layer of light under the crawling, gentle clouds. Streaks of blue, lavender purple, and rose melted into the orange and yellow of the skies, the dark water reflecting the evening sunset and casting dying light upon the wet concrete. The grounds are quiet, only the sounds of soft footsteps that belong to heeled boots.

Her dark, mysterious gaze absorbs the world in front of her. Even though she has her hood on, if a beam of stunning lavender could weave itself into a strand, that was her hair; The breeze billowing the ends of every lustrous lock, moving much as soft beach grass in the wind, back and forth, revealing and hiding the beauty of her eyes. 

Raven remains calm, her pale, almost gray façade peaceful, her soft features placid. Her cloak over her leotard was both sexy and cute, that perfect middle ground between a sense of adventure and shyness, between confidence and modesty.

And how much she enjoys the time alone... In the tower, she is constantly bothered and distracted by something, whether her friend's bizarre shenanigans or responsibilities; but out here it was just her, with hours of solitude and quiet. She was able to wind herself down after a week of fighting and drama, and finally, have time to think. Additionally, it is the only real-time she was comfortable stretching her legs, content to walk the miles of enterprise judgment-free without the need to levitate.

She walks as if she and the street had come to an understanding as if the concrete was more than willing to rise in support of her soles.

It had been three years since she defeated her demon lord of a father. Raven was already twenty years old and it meant starting to get a feel for who she really was at her core.

With each stride her mind became more clear, more resolute, as if the growing physical distance between them had now become an emotional chasm. As the nascent sunset caressed her skin, burned against her violet gaze, creating a contrast, promising a new tomorrow, a new beginning, she entombed her memories of her father in thick-walled ice.

Then, abruptly pausing to close her eyes and take in a deep breath of dewy air, she steels herself to only think of her future from here on in.

A future she would mould, build, direct. Then with each stride after that she felt more in charge, in command of her own mind, body, and soul. She was a lady walking into her own destiny, a destiny that lay squarely in her own hands.

Raven P.O.V

There are times when I wish my teammates had been my brothers. Maybe life would've been a little easier then.

Robin, of all people.

He is the one who walks ahead in times of trouble, to show the road forwards, and then in the good times walk behind in a role of support and steady nurture. That's why I can proudly say that he is our leader.

Cyborg.

A half-human half-robot, with the experience and the obsession he has on advanced tech. He is the oldest one among us, always look after us - the big brother to his younger ones.

Cyborg's best friend - Beastboy.

The youngest among us, he can shape into any animal form... he is also annoying, with his 'comedy' and childish behavior, never know when to man up and be responsible for once. 

Yet... his smile as an offered cup to hold-safe childish emotions whatever they may be. In his eyes was warmth, ever a sparkle. As such he was the perfect companion, the perfect hand to hold.

Such a shame the girl he used to go with didn't see that in him, as she was just pretending all that time...

Starfire, still charming as ever.

The Tamaranian princess, stronger than she looks. And She already feels like a real sister to me.

She smiles like she's happy right to her soul; like there is no part of her that sadness dwells. She has no mannerisms that show damages of any kind; she's perfection right down to her cheerful expressions.

I'd sell my soul just to be her for one day, to walk in those shoes instead of my own...

I'm not asking for a sympathetic ear.

Every now and then, I would wear a fake smile; Mother once told me nobody would want to be with a depressed girl.

So the depression sat behind the mask and my heart prayed for a soul to notice...

"You sure are one hell of a piece of chicken sh*t, eh, Aaron?"

Third-Person P.O.V

A dominating voice reached Raven's ears. She stops in her walking and her patrol comes to a halt and looks around.

A group of five boys was going against a waif-looking one in a playground. They pushed him to the ground; Raven shakes off her thoughts and went over to disperse the bullies.

"Hey Eric, you know that he sent Lucinda a love letter yesterday?" one of the bigger boys jeered, poking the smaller one.

"Really?" says another boy with a square jaw, laughing like a wide-mouthed tree frog. "Talk about classic!"

"Him?" another said, taking the boy's arms, pinning him. "No way!"

"Listen, f**ker. Lucinda's off-limits to you, got it?" the square-jawed boy said and he pulls back his fist prepared to hit—

Raven: "Alright, gents. Knock it off."

Raven intervenes abruptly, grabbing the back of the boy's collar. She then rips the other boy's armlock from the smaller one and then pulled him out of the way; she pulls her hood down and places her hands on her hips, rounded on the five boys, and took a glance at their faces.

Raven notices one of the bullies, he was the biggest and by the looks of things, he was the leader of his little gang due to his size. These boys are only middle-school students. Using her empathic powers, these boys think that they had quite a talent in karate; that fact seems to have gone in their heads and now they think they have all the reason to bully.

Raven: "Five against one isn't fair, you know." said the smiling Raven gently, hands neatly folded in her lap and leaning forward to get a clearer view of his face. She seemed almost like a big sister trying to advise her little brothers.

Regardless that they're still young teens, she must let them know that what they're doing is wrong—

"F**k you, b*tch!" spat their leader. "Get the f**k outta here!"

Without warning, Raven's fist collides with the boy's mouth; he doubles over, clutching his mouth. 

A satisfying snap fills the air, telling everyone there were shattered teeth. A rivulet of blood was starting to seep through his fingers.

Raven: "Didn't your mothers taught you how not to use foul language especially to ones who're older than you?" said Raven coldly. These boys were younger than her and it was obvious they have no idea of Raven's reputation. It was surprising.

"F**k off!" another yelled, and lungs at her.

Raven simply grabs his wrist, twisted it, and the boy screamed in pain. She did not let go and maintained the pressure. The other boys who are still standing took a step back; the screaming one finally fell down on his knees and Raven released him.

"B*TCH!" the boy screamed, clutching his wrist.

Raven: "Didn't I tell you not to use those obscenities while talking to a lady?" she exclaimed. Kids nowadays have no respect, she thought. "Want me to give you some more bruises?"

"Just because you're female doesn't mean we'll go easy on you!" The big bad boy screeched.

He jumps at her with a high kick, but an obsidian hand comes out from the ground and grabbed him, dragging him down. He crumpled to the ground, gritting his teeth and clutching his chest in pain.

Another boy aimed a kick at her, Raven reversed his attack and threw him to the boy who tried to attack her from behind; she heard a painful thud as the two boys collided on the concrete wall.

Raven: "I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter." She spat at the others who were looking at their leader for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. "And the smart move is to move along before I send you to a deep dark place and I'm gonna have fun doing it!" She says the last part in a strong tone.

The leader staggers as he got up and desperately gestured at his gang. They scrambled to their feet and ran away.

She turns towards the beaten boy who was on the ground and approached him.

Raven: "Hey, you okay?" whispers Raven gently, offering her hand. "I'll accompany you home if you want." She gives a little soft smile.

Instead of taking it— the boy slapped her hand away; he looks up at her heatedly.

"Great!" the boy exclaimed angrily. "Just great! Now those guys think I need a lady to stand up for me!"

Upon hearing what the boy said, Raven's expression changes, she raises an eyebrow as she looks with visible disbelief. The hand that she had offered clenched into a fist.

Raven: "If I hadn't come along do you think you'd be home in one piece?" She asks monotonously.

The boy didn't look at her; instead, he snatched his school bag and ran in the opposite direction.

Raven was glaring at the boy as her right temple throbs. She looks up at the towering buildings and the neon lights were already starting to blare from different sources; it was already nighttime.

Raven pulled her blue cloak a little tighter around her body, resisting a shiver in the late autumn air. The air was getting increasingly colder. 

Suddenly, the large Television screen in front of the passers-by flickered on, everyone along with Raven gazed their attention toward the device. She pulled her hood up as her overshadowed eyes stare intently—

The screen showed humanoid, skeletal robots marching down one of the main city avenues in loose formation. 

Raven lingers, her brow creasing. Where did they come from? 

Everyone is scared, parents clutching their crying children, daughters clutching their mother's legs. Groups of friends, all cowering to cling.

But Raven is not looking at the giant LED screen anymore. 

Amongst the curious yet frightened crowd was one hooded man that didn't appear to truly belong, standing tall and shoulders proud, no motions he did to suggest that he is feeling paranoid. 

She didn't want to stare but her eyes kept flicking to the man, so still, so decrepit. Now that she was closer his attire is discernible from the darkening gloom with his back at her.

Red gauntlets covering the entire length of his arms. With a match of dark leather pants paired with red combat boots. And a final piece of a red belt with golden touches.

Raven scowled; for some odd reason, her curious gaze settles on his figure, not wanting to avert, and soon, thoughts began flooding in her mind. 

He seems different... yet familiar- Is he new to the city? She thought to herself.

Just when she was about to open her mouth and call for him, the young man abruptly turns and left, fastening his footsteps. It was as if he could converse without leaving any verbal ''fingerprint.''

Her clasp cut her thoughts off as it beeps to life. Without further pause, she turns as well and shot after the signal, cloak rippling.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In an old construction site, which had been abandoned years ago when the developer pulled the plug, leaving a naked skeleton of I beams, which stood out amongst the other downtown skyscrapers like a sore thumb.

Robin dropped into a low, leg-spread stance, twirling his extendable staff out and along his back.

Robin: "Hold it right there, tin-men!" he called to the machines, in front of which he'd just landed.

Cyborg crashes to his haunches on the teen wonder's right, Beast Boy fluttered down as a bird and rushed back into his normal form, and Starfire flew down, swooping up to float above the three.

Raven rose out of the ground from a swirl of darkness, floating upright off to the left, slightly apart from the others.

The red-optics of the robots flash and they start to charge, sharp hands glistening as they were held ready, legs pumping like pistons.

Cyborg: "Let's do it, just like ol' times!" Cyborg shouts, his right forearm shifting into his sonic cannon.

He took aim and blasts the closet robot in half as Robin shot ahead and Beast Boy shifts; A green ankylosaurus swung its mighty tail, bulldozing almost onto the closest group on the left.

Starfire rose up, snapping her arms toward the robots rapidly, spheres of green power flying free from her fists and blowing many of the machines to pieces, melting through others and leaving glowing-hot holes.

While Robin battered and broke robots with his staff, leaping and flitting through the formation, 

Raven flows back, her hands rising out of her cloak as light blaze out of her hidden eyes. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" forming a battering ram with her obsidian power. The blow was devastating, and the wretched cyborgs tumbled like bowling pins.

Robin snaps his staff down to the right, cleaving a robot in half, and then looks up the street to take stock.

Robin: "Something's wrong." He leapt back to Cyborg. Beast Boy flipping out of a velociraptor form and landing near them both. "They just keep coming, but from where?"

Starfire let her eyes blast a valley through the robots, but, indeed, there seem to be hundreds where there were once only a few dozen. Raven flows up beside the boys on the ground.

Raven: "Look there, at the manhole."

They focus through the marching robots, and see a manhole, cover off; letting more crawl out by the second.

Cyborg: "You mean they're underneath us!?" he yells, lifting his robotic feet as if grossed out by stepping in goo. "Aw man, that just ain't right." He looks up at the approaching, visible, force, and raised his sonic cannon. "Well fine. Eat THIS !"

His cannon fires, but the sonic beam erupted with power, flaring into a ten-meter wide cone and ripping down the road like a tornado, vaporizing most of the force present. He blinks, everyone reeling back from him in blank, spinny-eyed surprise.

Cyborg lowered his arm and looked down at the emitter barrel.

Cyborg: "I charged a good shot, but not that good..."

Raven suddenly looks down.

Raven: "The ground! Dodge!" She floats back rapidly, and Starfire leaping into flight.

Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy leapt away from each other, the center of the road collapsing beneath them as more robots started to crawl out.

Raven raised her hands. 

"Azara—ugh!" she grunts as one of the robots grabbed her from behind, arms wrapped around her waist, pinning her own.

Her eyes flare with power, about to free herself, when the robot suddenly squeals and she feels herself free. She almost fell over from the sudden release and looked back... seeing only a pair of sparking arms and nothing remaining of the robot's body. "What the...?"

She looks up and sent a crescent wave into a group of other robots, cutting them apart.

Starfire gave a building shout, and let her eyes blaze, jerking forward in mid-air as they unleashed raking beams of power. Dozens of robots were bisected in a ripping rush, falling apart with glowing, melted metal from the power of the attack.

Starfire: "Mean robots stop attacking now, please!"

Raven P.O.V

Those droids proved to be more formidable. They had been clearly optimized to fight someone with powers like us, they were more resistant against sonic cannons, Starbolts, and even my power.

Three more blew up as Robin dropped into their midst, his staff twirling along his back as he let his hand down from throwing three blasting discs.

Robin: "It's no good. We wipe out whole battalions but there are always more coming!"

One, after another. They started to appear out of nowhere. They were closing in from all angles.

We'd been losing fights more time than I could remember, but this felt different.

Maybe fate was sending me a message. Trying to tell me our luck is finally about to run out.

We all stop when the entire block shook. It wasn't violent, but it was obvious, and we confusedly look around ourselves as the robots on the street looked down at their feet for some reason.

A hooded figure leapt out of the crater in the road, jolting us by surprise, dropping into a stance just ahead of us. His appearance waiting for the golden illumination to tumble onto his hooded figure. 

Third-Person P.O.V

Everyone but Raven blink, staring at the young man's back in muted surprise. Raven, however, pulled her hood down and eyed the guy warily.

Robin: "Who are you?" Robin demands the obvious, wary of the newcomer.

The hooded guy looks over his shoulder. But didn't say a word.

Raven was sure she had seen his jacket earlier...it was around that place she shot after the crime alert.

It was him...

His head shifts sideways and his hooded eyes were focused ahead. He balls his hands into a fist tightly and suddenly, his arms surged with red electricity prompting around him...

The droids' optics flash as they dashed at him in one mad, glistening rush!

A robot runs towards him; in a nanosecond, he took a step and swiftly spun on his spot and firmly collided his right uppercut against Its head, splitting Its crumpled metals over the place.

One came from his right, he launched It in the air with a kick, and when the robot was about to land, he grabbed Its leg, and mustering all his strength, tossed the Robot overhead, and drove It against a crew of the humanoids—

When the guy breaks his stance, even Raven's eyebrows start to rise at the result. He shoots off like a red bolt, his moves blurring out and shattering robots through their middles, decapitating them, shattering limbs to dust, clipping legs off at the knees. The guy himself moved almost like lightning, in the wake of his movements, flipping, rolling, and coiling, his body flickering out of the paths of numerous attacks at once.

He turns around, wiping specs of dust off his jacket, and meets with the Titans as if nothing happened. 

Soon, an explosion was seen behind him. Every bot on the ground in a crumpled, smoking heap.

As he strolls toward the light of the porch he's all broad shoulders and the appearance of one who had learned the look of confidence as a survival skill. 

Except for that clean-shaven jaw, they could barely see some of the features of his shadowed face, thanks to the light of the porches. Yet they don't recognize him, he doesn't seem familiar.

BeastBoy: "DUDE! Who taught you to punch? You were awesome right there kicking their butts!"

Starfire: "I do agree. You are the AMAZING of kicking the butts!"

Raven just grew more grave.

Then came the calm, quiet voice.

"I do apologise for the trouble. These things started following me as soon as they saw me. I'm slightly surprised they chased me all the way across three continents. It is my responsibility for leading them here." His voice was deep, and cold solemnly.

Robin: "Why were they after you?" Asked Robin sincerely curious, but also suspicious of the stranger.

Y/n: "I'm afraid I cannot answer that. For I have absolutely no clue." He replies.

Cyborg stomps to the fore-

Cyborg: "Aye man look, that's cool and all- I just wanna know, how the heck you did all that!?" he exclaimed with excitement, gesturing up the street.

The hooded guy slowly diverted his eyes downward and to his right. He does not seem like he'll be giving any answer sooner.

"I try not to make a point out of it." He finally said, cold as ever. 

That's when Raven looks at him directly—

Raven P.O.V

Raven: "You should have dealt with this problem in your own home, not dragged it back here." I deadpan. 

And it happens. Hooded eyes slowly lift and lock with mine.

There's that feeling in my stomach again, a soft mixture between nausea and electric tingles. My head has begun to buzz and my heart rate increases as if I'm retreating away, like I want to.

The way he looks at me... like I'm a cow in the slaughterhouse heading toward the captive bolt-

He slowly makes his way toward me and I steel my spine, but he sees it, feels it even, the urge to stand by leaving me.

Raven: "I-I mean, I'm glad that you helped us, but I have no reason to assume you're doing this unless you have something in mind."

My cheeks burned and I fight to keep my eyes glued to the solid chest in front of me, but his intense gaze is too strong and my stare is forced to his. I inhale deeply as I take in the sight. 

I tried to put a serious face... even a glare, as a shield, a barrier to not give away anything.

His gaze suddenly drops to the concrete floors, his hood hiding his face. And he did not move a muscle.

But for a second, I could've sworn I saw a glimmer of recollecting something terribly melancholic in his shadowed eyes—

???: "I'm not a monster...for doing the right thing." He says quietly, his stare then switches over my shoulder, he was looking at the Titans. "I'll make sure you never see me again."

He turns his heels and started leaving.

Cyborg: "At least tell us who you are?" He calls after him and he stops and glances sideways for a second, yet he ignored it, rounding into a corner and disappearing.

A few hours later, in the Titans Tower . . .

Robin: "Maybe he's new to the city?" He theorized.

BeastBoy: "But besides, he saved us from a very big problem,"

Raven: "A problem that he caused." I say, crossing my arms.

Beastboy: "Raven! You don't need to be that harsh. He told us he had no idea, he just helped us out."

Raven: "That doesn't mean you have to assume he's not a bigger problem in disguise yet."

Cyborg: "I don't know Rave. This person, whoever he is, seems to be a good guy," Cyborg said shrugging. "If it wasn't for him, we were going to suffer."

Beastboy: "Well..." Beast Boy began. "He's kinda creepy, doesn't talk so much, and acts kinda like a loner, sorta the way Raven does."

I shot him a glare.

Beastboy: "Oops, I take that back!" he rubbed his neck with a grin. "Besides, I'm with Cy, I still think he's a good guy."

Robin: "Tell me Raven, what do you saw in him?"

Now all the attention is on me. 

Raven: "I don't know," I avert my gaze. "Something's not quite right. Something dark."

Starfire: "I believe that this individual may be one of good nature!" Starfire says, almost defensively. "But as we know little of him now, perhaps it would be best to wait until you can better judge him?" She innocently asks, tapping her index fingers together.

Robin: "So we'll wait." He stated in a tone that motions the end of the argument. "Let's just keep an eye out on him in case we see him again. Ok?"

No one disagreed with him.

Robin: "Good, you can all go to doing whatever you want. Beast Boy, I believe you said something about a rematch?"

I roll my eyes; Somethings never change, no matter what.

Cyborg: "Oh yeah! This never gets old! Mind if I join in fellas? I wanna be part of the action when Beast Boy gets his butt kicked, again," Cyborg taunted.

Beastboy: "You just wait and see. I'll win for sure this time!"

Robin: "Keep on dreaming,"

The three young men started up the game station and were soon absorbed in the game. As lady Starfire cheers Robin.

Third-Person P.O.V

Raven went back to her book in an attempt to continue reading, but the noise coming from the video game competitors kept breaking her concentration.

Deciding that she needs time by herself, Raven closes her book and walked back to her own room. When she arrived, she sat down on her bed and tried reading more.

But Fate seemed to be opposed to the idea of the mysterious guy doing such a thing, as thoughts of this guy kept intruding in her mind.

There is no trait more attractive than calm empathy, and this young man had all that and more.

'His stare, cold and as hard as steel.' She whispered.

Yet, there is something that meets in the eye; When she looked into his eyes, it told a story of sadness hidden deep within. 

She removes her boots and cloak and laid on her bed, as she stared at the ceiling.

'Those eyes... I swear I have seen them before.'