"So, that's him..."
The person in marine camoflauge stared through the sniper scope. The target: a green boy with pointed ears, green eyes, and the ability to change into animals. He was currently playing frisby with a large young man who appeared half metal, and a boy his age dressed in traffic light colors. Nearby, a girl with orange skin...floated in the air watching them, cheering them on.
"He's made some interesting friends...and he's changed so much..."
The marine tightened the grip on the rifle. Suddenly, there was a voice from behind.
"You have exactly three seconds to-"
Spinning, the marine turned towards this unexpected ambush.
Raven had come up behind the person pointing a sniper rifle at Beast Boy, barely containing her rage at this threat to her friend. "You have exactly three seconds to-"
Suddenly, the marine spun and slammed the butt of the rifle into her face, knocking her back and making her fall to the ground. Before she could react or gather her magic, there was a boot knife at her throat, right under her chin and practically breaking the skin.
"No spells now." Raven looked up at the marine when she heard that...femenine voice. The face she saw was...somewhat familiar. She saw dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes, staring down at her in determination and without fear, surrounded by pale skin. "Now, why did you sneak up on me, hmm?" Judging by the voice and her movements, Raven estimated her to be about 26 or so...and deadly.
"Why were you pointing a rifle at Beast Boy?" She may have a knife at her throat, but if this woman was a threat to Beast Boy, she'd soon regret it not being silver.
"Is that all?" The woman laughed. Then she tilted her head. "Be seeing you." She tugged at something on the back of her pack...and vanished. The sniper rifle lifted off the ground before vanishing as well.
"Okay...she has an invisibility cloak..." She winced. *Damn you, Rowling. Every time I talk about ordinary magic now, I sound like a superfan.* Grumbling, she sat up, and saw a green wolf rushing up to her.
Beast Boy changed back to normal. "Raven! Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Beast Boy." She stood up. "I...I tripped, that's all. What made you think anything had happened?"
Beast Boy looked at her, then reached out and touched a spot on her neck. She focused all her willpower on suppressing the blush that wanted to erupt on her cheeks. He pulled his hand away, and showed her a spot of red on the tip of his glove.
"I smelled your blood, Rae, and tripping didn't put that small a cut on your neck." By then the others had arrived, and were demanding explanations.
Staring at the drop of blood, Raven shivered, then told the others what had happened. They reacted more or less how she had expected.
Robin had gone full overprotective mode, insisting they return to the tower immediately.
Cyborg wanted to hunt down the 'psycho chick' who was trying to hurt his 'best buddy.'
Starfire was incensed, shouting in Tamaranean about what she would do to this military woman when she had tracked her down for hurting her friend.
Beast Boy had been worried at first. But when Raven had described the woman, he had gone very quiet. He didn't say anything on the way back to the Tower, and his emotions were in such turmoil that Raven couldn't learn anything.
Whatever was going on, it was more than it appeared. But Raven would be damned more than she already was if she'd let anyone hurt Beast Boy.
...SHe pointedly pushed from her mind the motivation behind this sudden protectiveness, ignoring the protests from the voices of her emotions in her head.