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Raven was standing on the tower roof, staring off into the sunset. Her hood was up. Her mind was crazy. Ever since she defeated Trigon five days ago, her emotions have been a bit out of control. Constantly, she had headaches. Raven would get hurt more often during fights, and her powers would sometimes not respond to her commands. Sometimes, she'd even black out during fights. One time it was so bad that the Titans had to stop fighting a villain all together just to help Raven. She was questioning herself when she heard somebody walking up to her. Turning halfway around, she saw Cyborg.
"What are you doing up here?" Cyborg asked.
"I could ask you the same thing." Raven told him, turning back around and put her arms on the ledge of the roof, crossing them.
"What's goin' on with you, Rae?" Cyborg asked, standing next to her. Raven never faced him.
"It's nothing." Raven said quickly, her head lowering a bit.
"You've been acting weird ever since Trigon," Cyborg murmured. "What's wrong?"
Raven stayed quiet for many heartbeats, hesitating. Cyborg scooted closer to her, his arms on the roof ledge like Raven's. Raven glanced at him, then back to the sunset. Finally, she sighed.
"When I became the portal for Trigon," she began. "I felt like I was dying. I... I was scared." She closed her eyes, remembering the horrors she saw. "The moment Robin found me in that old church, I knew what was going to happen. He was gonna take me back to you guys to help defeat Trigon. I couldn't. I didn't believe that I could do it. With or without my powers, I knew that fear was trying to take over me. It succeeded. That fear still is in me."
"Rae..." Cyborg murmured. Raven looked up at him.
"I didn't want Robin to find me. I didn't want anyone to find me!" Raven yelled, turning again and shutting her eyes. She held the sides of her arms, sighing. "I thought it was best if I just stayed hidden. If Trigon ever found me, I knew he would kill me. I wanted that to happen, Cyborg. Nothing would be the same, but at least I wouldn't have to endure the hell that my father brought to the earth. I figured that we'd find each other in the afterlife, anyway. Y'know, if we all went to Hell because that is clearly where I belong."
"Raven, please, stop." Cyborg mumbled, putting one hand on Raven's shoulder. She glanced at it briefly, and then tried shrugging Cyborg off. It didn't work, so Raven tried ignoring his hand.
"What if I just stayed dead?" Raven asked. "I became the portal. I died. Next thing I know, I'm in the body of nine year old me. If I had just... fallen in lava or something-"
"Enough!" Cyborg screamed at Raven. He grabbed Raven by the shoulders and forced her to turn around and face him. "I don't care what the Titans would have to do to protect you, Rae! We're your friends, family. I'm glad Robin found you. I can't live without you." Raven stared up at him, noticing the faint tears that were clouding his human eye.
"Cyborg..." Raven murmured, her hands still locked on the sides of her arms. "I love the Titans. I love you. Hell, I love Beast Boy, for Azar's sake. But..." Raven sighed. "When I was young, I was told to be the worst of luck. Arella tried to kill me because she only wanted what was best for Azarath." Cyborg's eyes widened as Raven looked down at the ground.
"She tried to kill you?" Cyborg asked. "Why?"
"She only wanted what was best. She never wanted me to fulfill that prophecy. Arella just wanted to keep Azarath safe. But she couldn't bring herself to kill me. She should've done it when she had the chance! That's... when the prophecy happened. I was told that when I turned sixteen, I would destroy Azarath. I fled, terrified. Wrong move right there." Raven explained. "I came here, to Earth, hoping that I wouldn't hurt Azarath, or my mother. I... I was wrong."
Cyborg looked at her, concerned. Raven knew why he looked like that. Tears were forming in her eyes, but she tried looking opposite directions to avoid being seen.
"I came here, to Jump City. Why here, out of all places?" Raven asked herself. "I-I thought that I could get away from my so-called destiny, but I only brought the danger here. Next thing I know, I'm with a team of superheroes. I'm not one!" She put her arms out as she faced Cyborg, tears coming down her face. "I'm a demon, Cyborg! I don't belong here! I'm not a hero. I'm the spawn of Satan himself. I shouldn't..." Raven trailed off, her arms going down and her head lowering. She crossed her arms as she backed away from Cyborg. "I can't stay here. I'm a danger to anyone and everyone."
"Wait," Cyborg said, reaching his arm out to Raven. Instantly, her eyes widened as she backed away faster.
"No! Don't touch me," Raven told him, holding one hand out to stop him. "I-I don't want you getting hurt again because of me."
"Raven, you've never hurt any of us!" Cyborg yelled, walking toward her and grabbing both of her wrists. "Just listen, please!" Tears fell out of both of the Titans' eyes. "You did what was best, just like Arella."
"But Arella never killed me!" Raven told him. Suddenly, she felt weak and her legs gave out, making her fall to the ground. Cyborg came with her, still holding onto her.
"Easy," Cyborg whispered. "You're afraid, Rave. I get that. You feel alone and scared, right?" Raven nodded, shutting her eyes and allowing tears to continue falling. Cyborg put his hands on Raven's shoulders as Raven held both of her arms. "You belong here, Raven, no matter what you say to yourself. You're one of us, Rae. You do belong here. You make us who we are. Believe it or not, Raven, but you are an amazing asset to this team. We all love you. Without you here, we wouldn't be able to annoy someone and have them yell at us like you do." Cyborg smiled while Raven quietly laughed and smiled.
"But my powers... They haven't really been perfect lately." Raven murmured, her smile gone.
"Rae, are any of us perfect? Powers or not?" Cyborg asked. Raven looked up at him. "Our powers can give out at times, and it's not our fault."
"Cyborg, my powers are driven by emotion. The more I feel-"
"The more energy is released." Both Titans said together. Raven smiled briefly at her friend.
"You know me too well," Raven said, starting to stand up with Cyborg. But Raven's legs gave out again, making her fall. She grunted as she hit the ground.
"I know you well enough to know that ya can't walk yet. And I also know that the reason for that is because you're stressin' out," Cyborg smiled as he picked Raven up bridal style. He walked in the tower with the best friend anyone could ask for.