A/N: This is an idea that kind of came at me a long time ago but couldn't find the right setting, characters, etc and then I did. So here is the result. This is a chapter story with a song for each chapter written in. So I hope you like it. Enjoy!
Italics for song lyrics
'Italics' for thoughts
Warnings: Abuse, violence, and others may show up. That's what the rating is for.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans though I wish I did. I don't own the song by Aerosmith. I do own the White Wizard (I think).
Broken Wings Still Can Fly
Chapter One
Dream On
She sighed internally as she opened her eyes to the dark bedroom. She quietly slipped out of the bed as not to disturb the other occupant. Padding out of the room soundlessly knowing what would happen if she woke him before he wanted to be. She entered the bathroom down the hall, closing the door before turning on the light and fan.
She moved to the sink turning on the tap, splashing water on her face knowing the make-up from the day before was being washed away. She raised her head to stare into the mirror. The face in the mirror was one she didn't know anymore.
Dark bags were under dull amethyst eyes. A bruise, the smarting shade of dark purple, adorned her right cheek and another on the left side of her jaw. Her lip was swollen and split in a painful way that it hurt for her to talk. That was only her face; her body was in worse shape.
Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
Raven shook her head as she turned on the shower. She slipped off the white silky nightgown, before stepping into the hot shower. She stepped under the spray, letting it run over her damaged body. Her mind was on the last few years.
The Titans had stayed together and still even fought crime together. Only Robin and Starfire stayed in the Tower with a few members of the Titans East. The two were still pretending like they didn't have feelings for each other. Cyborg was in an apartment close to the downtown core. Terra came back when they were 16 and a few months later, Beast Boy was dating her officially. At 16, Beast Boy had changed in physical appearance which had been a shock for everyone. They now lived in an apartment across town. Everyone seemed happy with how everything turned out.
Raven sighed. 'Everyone is happy, everyone but me. What happened when it was just the five of us? Look how my life turned out though. I'm living with a man who uses me as his personal punching bag but everyone thinks I couldn't be happier and my life is perfect.' She thought miserably.
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay
Raven grabbed the shampoo as she felt the numbness from the last year take over. Two years with him and he controlled her whole life. She couldn't leave him; he had made sure of that. He manipulated her so she could never leave, he would hurt her friends if she did. Yet he hurt her every day sometimes more than once just because he could. Nobody knew. He made sure of it. Her bruises, her broken bones, her cuts all were supposedly from fighting criminals and otherwise it was covered by clothing and make-up.
She sighed heavily pressing her head against the cool white tiles. Now she knew this was her punishment for her sin, her curse, her power. She was tainted and she would never truly be loved because of who she was. She was a demon, evil and unworthy of being loved.
Yeah, I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win
Raven shook her head as she finished getting ready for the day. Then she started breakfast knowing she had about 15 minutes before he would be up. She moved around the kitchen making the food. She heard him open the bedroom door as she placed the breakfast on the table before grabbing toast and tea for herself, sitting on the opposite side of the table with a book in her lap. She glanced up as Mark walked into the room. He sat down before looking over the food in front of him.
'What happened?' Raven thought as she kept quiet while the White Wizard ate. His eyes were black as coal as they stared blankly at his food, his black hair was spiked up. His red clothing hid the muscles underneath. She focused her attention elsewhere rather than on the man sitting across from her and continued to read her book while drinking her tea in silence.
Half my life is in book's written pages
Lived and learned from fools and from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you
Raven cringed as he stood up wrapping his hand around her wrist painfully and twisting it. She felt him leaning closer as she closed her eyes waiting for what he would do. She felt his tongue force its way into her mouth. After a moment, he pulled away. She thanked whatever god was listening as bile rose in her throat.
"Tell me you love me." Mark ordered in a steely voice. Raven looked up into his black eyes. She felt disgust in herself.
"I love you." Raven replied. She gasped as a fist flew at her hitting her abdomen. She collapsed to her knees clutching her stomach.
"You're a liar. You aren't supposed to lie to me, Raven." He yelled, kneeing her in the chin. She fell backwards, trying not to scream in pain, as her jaw ached. Raven curled up refusing to cry as he continued to beat her.
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
The sound of the fading laughter from the past comforted her, as the tears finally began to course down her pale cheeks. His cruel voice mocked her and his hands wrapped tightly around her throat. She knew he had her pinned beneath him as she felt her lung protest at the loss of air. She begged for him to kill her this time as the tears continued to fall. She wanted it to all go away, she wanted to die.
Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Raven knew her vision was blackening and prayed he continued to end her suffering. Cool air entered her lungs making her gasp as her starved lungs began breathing again. She looked up to see him standing over her.
"Why don't you just let me die?" Raven gasped, as she tried to catch her breath, causing her to start to cough. He looked down at her with a sickly sweet smile.
"You know I could never do that. You're dark energy makes me stronger. So keep dreaming though, maybe it'll come true." Mark said coldly. He grinned. "Go clean yourself up." He walked away and moved to a sit on the couch, turning on the television.
Raven stood up and went towards the bedroom to do as she was told. She glanced back. 'I will keep dreaming.' She thought sadly.
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream on
Raven stepped into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She slumped against the door, finally letting the warm tears flow freely. After a moment, she pulled herself to her feet wiping away the tears on her sleeve. She moved to the vanity, sitting down in front of the mirror. Dull, lifeless eyes stared back at her once again as she looked in the mirror. Her own voice echoed in her head. 'Why don't you just let me die?'
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing for me, if its just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Raven applied the make-up to her face to cover the already developing bruises. Her throat hurt as she pressed the cosmetic pad to her neck. A knock came to the door.
"The city needs us." Mark said through the closed door. Raven sighed as she finished applying the make-up. She took one more look at her reflection before standing.
Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Raven sighed as she exited the apartment, following after the White Wizard. 'Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow I'll die. That's my dream. That would be a dream come true. Yes maybe tomorrow.'
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
To Be Continued…
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter is in progress so tell me what you think please. Also the title is a working title so if anyone has a suggestion for a better title please tell me. Please Review.
Next Chapter: Kung Fu Fighting Beast Boy arrives at the bank to fight the criminals. He ends up fighting along side of Raven once more.
