Robin waits at least ten more days to make sure Raven is no longer contagious before releasing her. He has put off asking about those scars he saw for as long as he can. "Rae...I...I saw those scars on your back. You have healing powers how?..."
"I'm not ready to talk about that yet Robin."
"But with your healing powers..."
"My powers can't heal everything...thanks for taking care of me. I wouldn't have made it without you."
"I could feel you slipping."
A tear slips from Raven's eye. "Heaven didn't want a demon and Hell wouldn't take a hero."
"Raven..."
"You didn't want to let me go—so I was sent back. The hero's reward was to live and so was the demon's punishment."
"I'm glad you're still here Raven but that's not fair-to judge you for being half demon. You didn't get to choose your father."
"If everyone were like you I would never have to worry about that."
Robin pulls Raven into a comforting hug. She didn't answer his question but he knows she will when she's ready. He waits for several minutes before he says anything further. "Do you feel like getting out of here?"
"No, but if I have to lay around until I get my strength back I would much rather do it in my own bed."
"The others are going to bust in here if I don't let you out soon. I'm going to do some cleaning up in here before I open up the infirmary. You should get cleaned up while I do that."
"A hot bath sounds good right now."
Robin gets all the wires and I. V. off Raven. He is very hesitant when it comes to the catheter. "Maybe I should go ahead and get Star--"
"--It's okay Robin."
A very flushed Robin removes the catheter. Once that's done he carries Raven to the bathroom where a hot bath is already drawn. He sets Raven down on the edge of the tub. "Can you make it in by yourself?"
"I think so."
Robin lays a towel and fresh hospital gown within easy reach for Raven. "Just call if you need anything."
Raven waits for Robin to close the door before she removes the gown she's wearing and slips into the tub. As she settles into a comfortable position she thinks back on what caused those scars Robin was asking about.
No one on Azarath was willing to help so she had sought help in stopping the prophecy of her birth from coming true. The new group of heros seemed like as good a place as any to start. They didn't even listen to her when she went to them. All they saw were her black feathery wings. The empath could sense the darkness down deep inside her that would always be there because of her demon heritage. Instead of help they attacked-maybe they thought they were saving this world by doing away with her-but her healing powers would not allow that to happen. They kept her alive just like they were meant to even though she did want to die to end it all. Her wings had been injured badly though and other injuries were more serious. The wings had to be sacrificed to keep her alive.
Tears fall from Raven's eyes as she thinks back on the incident. She tries to take her mind off of it as she focuses on tending to the rash which has gone away but left flakey peeling skin behind.
*****
Later that day when Robin opens up the infirmary he turns Raven over to the care of their waiting friends. It wasn't like he had much of a choice in the matter they had just rushed in and taken her. Since Raven is too weak to do much right now there was nothing she could do to stop it. Robin shakes his head as he's left alone wondering just how long Raven will be able to take all the attention before she gets upset and demands to be left alone. His thoughts still turn to those scars on her back.
*****
That night he stops by Raven's room to check on her. "How did you get the others to leave you alone?"
"I asked them to give me some peace so I could rest."
"I take it you're not strong enough to yell at them yet. I just wanted to stop by and check on you, I'll let you get some rest."
"Wait...I want to show you something."
Robin approaches Raven's bedside as she holds up a small box. Robin sits down on a chair by her bed as he takes the box. He is sure it is connected in some way to the scars he asked her about. "Are you sure you want me to see this?"
"Yes."
Robin opens the box to find a number of black downy feathers. He looks up realizing what this means. "You had wings-like an angel."
"Not an angel-the opposite is more like it."
"Demons are only fallen angels."
Raven smiles at that for several moments before a tear falls from one eye. "I wish they would have remembered that. No one would help me fight my father in Azarath-so I came here for help. All they saw were the wings-black wings-demon wings. I guess they decided the only way to help me was to kill me."
"But you're healing powers wouldn't allow that."
"I was hurt so bad...I wanted to die just to end the pain. The wings weren't necessary for survival and my powers couldn't waste energy needed to heal other injuries just for them."
"That's why you were scared the very first time we all met."
Raven nods her head. "By then I had decided I would at least do all the good I could to make up for everything that would happen when my father came." Raven looks away from Robin toward her window, after a pause she continues to speak. "I loved having wings as a child. Late at night when everyone was asleep I would sneak outside and fly—just like a bird. I never thought of them as demon wings. They were supposed to have ugly leathery things. I know they weren't angelic wings-because they have white. I had bird wings—that's why my mother named me Raven."
Robin moves over to Raven's bed and holds her as she cries from the obviously painful memories of losing something she loved so much. He can't hide the anger in his voice as he speaks. "Who did this to you?"
"It's better for everyone if I keep that to myself."
Robin doesn't press the issue further. He has become very protective of her-they all have and after nearly losing her-it wouldn't be pretty if they came across the ones who hurt her even if it happened before they met. Robin stays there holding Raven close until she begins to calm down. Finally she cries herself to sleep. He gently lays her down on the bed so he doesn't awaken her. He sits back in the chair staring at the feathers in the box. The box is filled with them-she's hidden them away all this time. Her birthday is coming up soon and looking at the feathers he gets an idea for what he wants to give her. He picks out several of the feathers then places the lid on the box. He places the box on the tray table beside her bed. He sits there watching her sleep for sometime before he gets up and goes to his own room.
