This Prison

Chapter Three

Chats and Smooches

The young woman's eyes grew ever wider and as Robin was punching in the fourth number, she finally responded. She shoved my book roughly back in its place, muttering a hasty spell to bind the trunk so it could not be opened by non-spell casters. No sooner did she summon a book and open it did her little friend come in.

"Raven?" A puzzled expression came across his masked face. "Are you okay? I thought I heard…" He paused and gazed at the dark girl before him. "Did you open Malchior's book?" Amazing. That boy was dead-on. Raven tried to grasp a few words, perhaps a clever retort to shoot back at her 'leader'. "Just as long as you don't get hurt again, it's okay…" He trailed off. It was clear to me that this lad was a professional at persuading as I was. Raven sighed and got up. She pulled him from the threshold and shut the door, leaning against it.

"Can you keep a secret?" She inquired. He faltered with his words. It was evident this sort of 'secret-telling' did not happen often. He nodded vaguely, closing a now hanging jaw. Raven stared at him, and with another sigh, she looked away.

If that bastard is trying to trick her again… I heard the boy's thought. I snickered to myself. Protective, wasn't he?

"Robin, I need help."

"With what? I can-"

"Magic help."

"Oh." He looked defeated. She pulled him by a wrist toward the bed and sat him down. She joined him, bringing her knees to her chest. He played at his collar a bit, as if nervous. The tugging ceased the instant she looked up at him. Over the past two years, the 'Boy Wonder' as he was called, had grown several inches and passed Raven's height, even while she grew an inch or two. Their roles had been reversed; Robin looked down and Raven looked up if they wished to make eye contact.

"Robin, do you swear what I tell you won't leave this room?"

"Yes, Rae. You can trust me." the boy with raven-black hair insisted.

"I mean, if you tell someone, I could rip your eyes out and scratch you until you die of blood loss if you ever let it slip…" She trailed off.

"I get it. It's a really big thing. I'll get chewed up and spit out if I blab."

"No, you don't get it. Robin, I can barely trust even you with this. I'd need to leave if it got out."

"I swear. If I tell, you can throw me off the roof." What is so important that I don't tell? Wait, did she just imply she can trust me the most? The boy seemed to question everything.

"Alright." She paused, looking away from him. "It's about why Slade is back." Robin visibly cringed at the mention of his arch enemy. He nodded and urged the lady to go on. "He's after me. Well, who he's working for is." Raven adjusted her position to face her love.

"And remember how I said my birthday was nothing to celebrate?" He nodded. "It's because I knew what was coming. I-"

"You knew Slade was coming back?" he interrupted rather rudely.

"No, but I was aware his…boss would come looking for me." She avoided his eyes. "The symbol…the symbol on Slade's forehead…it is a mark of Scath." Violet eyes turned back to white masked ones. The boy clearly showed bafflement. "Better known as…Trigon." Her last words were a mere whisper, yet her little friend heard them just fine. His eyes widened. He shook his head in disbelief. Trigon…

"What…What would Trigon want with you?" He asked. Her eyes shimmered with threatening tears. Robin's eyes widened yet again. "Raven…" And to everyone's surprise (even his own) he pulled her into an embrace. She looked surprised at first, but finally laid her hands on his shoulders and buried her face in the nook of his neck. Her eyelids closed and tears seeped onto her companion's shirt.

Oh. My. God. What the hell is going on? Why is Trigon after her? I thought he was only a myth! Oh. My. God. I'm hugging Raven! Would this be…no. She needs comfort and a shoulder right now…with whatever is going on. Robin thought.

"You won't trust me if I tell you." Raven sobbed.

"You're my friend and nothing could change that." He held the back of her head with his gloved hand, running his fingers through Raven silky hair. It was clear, even to me, that an embrace like that was meant as more "than a friend", so to speak.

"He's…my father." The room was very quiet. His fingers stopped moving and his mouth agape. Holy hell. The boy thought. He sure swears a lot doesn't he?

"I told you!" She exclaimed, pushing him back, exasperated. "You don't trust me anymore!"

"Yes I do! I'm just curious!" Robin hastily explained, holding out his hands with palms facing the ceiling. "Please, Rae. Tell me the whole story." The maiden in question sniffed and continued to hug her knees. And she proceeded to tell her friend the story…from start to finish.

"And that's when I met you and the rest of the team." Raven polished off her story quite a time later.

"Wow…Raven…When is it…" the foolish boy's voice lowered to a mere whisper. "supposed to happen?"

"I don't know." The two sat in silence for a minute or two before the masked "heartthrob" spoke again.

"Did you open Malchior's book for magic help?"

"Yes. And he…never mind. He can tell you himself." She replied. Again, she strode over to the chest and opened it after muttering a quick counter curse for her protection spell. She pulled my book out and turned to the page I was illustrated upon, making her way back to her seat. Two sets of eyes fell upon me.

"Well, if it isn't the Boy Wonder himself." I joked. "Raven has said a lot about you, she has." I went on. This was going to be amusing. To my astonishment, the boy did not act surprised.

"Tell him what you told me." Raven said flatly. Her voice had changed. Instead of tearful and cracking, it was harsh and angered. I'm sure if my eyes could have moved, they would have rolled toward the heavens. I let out a huff of mocking annoyance before responding to the petty girl's command.

"First tell him what you told Merrill." I said. "And I might consider telling the child what I told you." Robin's eyes reflected that of more bafflement until lady Raven told him she kept a bird.

"I have a raven." She said, not sparing so much as a glance to her friend. "Malchior, do you know what it feels like to be burned?" A rare smile played at her pale face. Surly she wasn't thinking of burning me! But then again, the pages of my text may not be able to burn while such a curse is in effect…But the fact she'd finally thought of the option…

"Surly you would know that such a curse prevents a book from destruction, sweet Raven?" I said, voicing sweetly. Robin's eyes narrowed at my mention to her of an old name. Raven merely ignored it.

"Malchior, do you really think Raven would fall for that love act twice?" Robin said threateningly.

"Yours does not count?" I questioned innocently. The boy scowled harder.

"What act?" Raven retorted.

"Such an embrace suggests-"

"Embrace this!" The boy said, slamming my prison shut. If my face could move, I was positive I would have scowled. "C'mon. We can come back when he's feeling less stubborn." He helped lady Raven to her feet and led her from the room, her hand in his. I believe I saw a crimson tint rise to the girl's cheeks, but her leader paid no mind. He led her down the hall to his room for a little chat. She marveled the many hangings plastered to his plain white walls and the many electronics he'd taken apart which now laid on his desk. His bed was a disaster. It was "full size" and the sheets were a tangled heap. His pillow was lodged in the thin gap between the bed and wall.

"Sorry for the mess…" He said sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his neck, as if nervous.

"It's alright." She looked up at him, letting a rare smile drift across her face. I'm sure if I could feel it, my heart would have fluttered. What am I saying? No, I could never fall for a wretch like her. True, she was beautiful, but… But what? I pushed my manic thoughts to the corners of my mind and watched the scene unfurl.

"So…are we going to tell the others about opening the book?" Robin asked suddenly, breaking the silence. Raven turned her attention back to her friend, eyes half-shutting. She crossed her arms. It was obvious she was attempting to block him out.

"I don't think we should."

"Right." There was an awkwardly long pause. "Rae?" The girl in question looked up yet again. "What was Malchior saying about you talking to your raven?" Another blush passed over lady Raven's cheeks, and she looked away. Robin moved around her so that she still faced him. Both of his hands were placed on her cloaked shoulders. He gave her a look, as if telling her to answer.

"It's nothing. Leave it alone." Lady Raven brushed reluctant hands from her and looked away. She turned and started to leave the room. "I'll-"

I could not believe what occurred next. The stupid boy blocked his love's path and, before she had time to object, pulled her close. He laid a hand on her waist and used the other to elevate her chin. He kissed her. The little runt kissed lady Raven! Her eyes widened and soon closed along with Robin's as their kiss grew more passionate. Her hands found his chest and the back of his neck. He laid several short pecks on her lips and went in for a longer one. At what point it happened, I do not know. His tongue entered her mouth. He backed his companion to a wall and kissed her with hunger. She ran her long fingers through his hair, earning a moan from him.

I'm sure if I could feel my beating heart, it would have skipped several beats. My stomach would feel as though I was going to be sick. My eyes would be wider than the esteemed "stank ball". I would have screamed. I would have ran to that- that- tramp's room and pried him from lady Raven. Who did he think he was, moving in on her like that? What about courting? That was disrespectful! What was he doing kissing my sweet Raven. And that was when it hit me. That was when pieces fit. That was when I figured out the puzzle. My feelings…love. I was in love with lady Raven.

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A/N: So how's the chappie? Like how Malchior always points out he can't feel his body? It's really starting to bother him…I know things are going really slow, but things will pick up really soon. Promise. Thankies for reading, but even more thankies to REVIEWERS!

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