Hello all! Al the Pirate here, back from the freakin' dead. Previously I had deleted all my old content, but now that the stalker threat is over, I'm back to writing! Unfortunately, I didn't keep any copies or drafts of my old works so I'll be re-doing my stories from what I can remember. This includes this story, Drown, and the ever popular, Comfortable.

Reviews are more than welcome...of course, none of these characters are mine. Enjoy!

Drown

The rock-hard fist slammed into her abdomen, tearing the breath from her lungs in a violent whoosh. Moments later another vicious blow left her sailing mid-air. It was as though the world travelled in slow motion, the shadowed asphalt dancing with the steadily darkening sky. She had time to briefly contemplate the fact that she probably had a couple broken ribs before slamming into the murky waters off of one of Jump City's piers.

"RAVEN!"

The cry ('Scream, really,' she mused calmly) came just before impact. The icy water hit her with more violence than any of the blows that had sent her careening off the edge and the very touch of it would have had her crying out in pain had her breath not already been stolen from her. It was enough to jolt her out of shock from the blows and back to her current predicament.

Desperately she tried to fight her way back to the surface, the water already sending painfully stabbing fingers through her body. All around her, inky blackness consumed her vision with only vague flashes of pale hands scrabbling uselessly in front of her.

…it hurts…

Her vision was darkening…or was it simply she was sinking further from the waning light above water? Lungs burning, Raven was only aware that she had to breathe RIGHT NOW, so caught up in her desperation that the act of even telling which way was up seemed beyond her comprehension. Movement was achingly painful and slow, but whether it was due to her injuries or the bone numbing water was up for debate. The water was completely black now, darker than anything she had imagined possible, darker than the night…

I'm going to die…

Raven had to breathe, she couldn't fight it anymore. Against her will, frozen lips opened to gasp, to scream, only for horrible icy blackness to come pouring in. Her heart staggered violently, already scarily weak from the lack of oxygen and fear, against the shock of freezing water inside.

…going to die, oh GOD…

There was no denying now that her vision was truly going dark, Raven was losing consciousness and the team wouldn't find her in time. Why fight the inevitable? At least the ache was starting to fade.

…

...goodbye…

…

…

A grip of steel wrapped around her wrist, biting through the terrifying chill. It shook Raven back to just the edge of consciousness, enough to realize she was being dragged through the biting water. It seemed to last forever, and just before she gave back into despair…

The night air hit her face, shocking her back a little more. Hard arms were wrapped underneath her knees and around her back and they carried her silently as she weakly sputtered. Water coughed from her lips came with choked whimpers and the first intake of air sounded more like a sob than a breath. Wheezing with effort and still coughing freezing blackness from her lungs, Raven pressed the side of her face against a hard chest.

"Take her to the medical unit."

The voice rumbled out from below Raven's face as she felt herself being passed gently. Another pair of slender arms, softer and burning with heat, pulled her close. Vaguely recognizing the arms as belonging to Starfire, Raven made a vain attempt at speech, not really knowing what she was going to say.

"Shhh, friend Raven. Do not speak. We must warm the cold in your body."

Eyes opened wearily as she felt wind against her face as mere cold pressure, and above her she managed to identify the outline of Starfire's bright red hair whipping around the slender face and neck. Brilliant emerald eyes smiled down at Raven, and Starfire spoke softly. "Sleep, friend. Do not worry. We are almost home."

With that advice in mind, Raven finally let go her tenuous hold on the world and feel back into darkness.