TW: SA, Violence
Down another week and another suspect. I watched as Hank Hanks, walks out of class with his girlfriend on his arm. He walks with a limp which catches my attention as an injury from being Red X, so I followed them. Throughout the school, farther than I normally go. They finally stop sitting on a bench and Hank rests his injured leg against the cement and his girlfriend lifts his pant leg. I hear him laugh loudly.
"HELP SHE'S TAKING MY LEG" He shouts with a smile, She slaps him in the shoulder!
"Stop it! Doctor said the first two months would be the hardest. Just let me take it off" She says there is a click and yes, his leg comes off. A fake metal leg. "Your knub is all bruised!"
"Yeah, I think I need more of a cushion between my leg and the fake leg." He says, I watch carefully from a distance. The night sky is completely sheilded by a thick blanket of clouds. I smell the autumn leaves and the threat of rain coming. I take out my notebook writing in that he lost his leg or gained a leg within the last two months. Can't be him. We have been dealing with Red X for years. I watch the couple for a little bit longer as she kisses him and let's him balance on her as they walk back to wherever they need to on their way home. I smile at the happiness they feel. It reaches me from here. I turn away from them and begin walking back to the dorm rooms. I can hear a large metal door squeak open and I ignore it. I can't ignore the hand that grabs my forearm and pulls me into the building. The first face I see is Timothy's a blue hue dancing across his features from the lights below the pool. He smiles down at me and that same creepy feeling takes over. He doesn't unhand me and I am stuck meeting his eyes.
"This isn't like you. To be all the way over here" He says, I furrow my brows
"How would you know?" I ask another smirk crosses his face and he looks above me and nods.
"She's hot right? I told you" Timothy says, I look behind me and see three more guys that have apparently been there the whole time. I try to pull my hand back but he had a tight grip on it. "Now now, where do you have to be that you are in a rush?"
"Meeting my boyfriend" I admit, he laughs and the other men laugh too and it sends shivers down my body. That could also be that this room is extremely cold. "I need to go"
"Josh you're with me," He says, two of the guys groan and walk out of the building muttering something to themselves. They close the door behind them and the guy who I am guess is Josh walks forward. He doesn't do anything just gets closer. My heart is beating out of my chest. I swallow hard and ready myself to defend myself. I feel his arm reach around and grab me in a bear hug and I begin kicking out towards Timothy. He rushes forward grabbing one of my feet. I kick him with the other and he grunts and looks back at me with a look of aggression. My feet find the floor but I am pushed against the wall. My face against the cold tiles. Josh's hands holding me there and I feel the body weight of someone else. My wrist is bent back and Timothy kisses my neck and ear. He keeps it this way kissing up and down my neck and ear, he stops occasionally to suck on my skin. No doubt leaving marks I don't want.
"If you fight, I break it" He tells me, his hand gripping my wrist tightly.
"Please don't do this. I won't say anything ple-" A hand is covering my mouth and I can't breath. I struggle against the hands holding me still.
"Keep her mouth shut" Timothy says, the hand doesn't move from my mouth but another hand is wandering my body. Moving from my butt to the front of me gripping one of my breasts. Then back down and rubbing against the outside of my jeans. I whimper and struggle again. Kicking back I hear something crack and the hand is removed as I Josh curses falling back. I feel a snap followed by blinding pain and another hand replacing Josh's as I scream in pain. It's muffled but I still hope someone heard it. I cry into the hand in pain feeling the hot tears roll down my face. The pool lights flicker with my emotions and I am tossed onto the floor. I try to crawl away but feel someone pull me back by my ankle. I turn over and try to kick up but Josh is already to my side holding my hands down with his knees while Timothy gets on top of me unbuttoning my jeans. I kick him in the face and he looks pissed he lashes out slamming a fist into my face. My right eye fills with blood from my eyebrow and I can't blink it away.
"You fucking bitch. I am not using a condom just for that" He says, he pulls out his member and he isn't small by any means of the world. I kick again and hit him in the chest. He pushes forward to where he is positioned between my legs too far for me to kick. He hits me again on my cheek. Josh's hands lift up my shirt and pull down my bra as my pants are pulled down by Timothy. I whimper and try to kick again. My broken wrist aches against the weight of Josh's weight.
"The tits on this girl" Josh says as his hands rub them. His fingers rubbing my nipple which is reacting to the cold. The lights flicker again with my desperateness to get out of here. Even from underwater I can hear the lights pop as my power reaches them and the water buzzes with electricity before it dies down. The whole pool house is dimmed, the only light now coming from the windows allowing moonlight to seep through.
"STOP!" I yell hoping someone, anyone will hear.
"Shut up bitch!" Josh yells putting both of his hands on my throat tightly.
I feel Timothy's member pushing against me and the pressure in my face from having no oxygen. I begin to hear my heartbeat in my ears when the feeling of Timothy trying to force himself into me stop. A figure is over me and Josh is kicked away from me. I prioritize pulling my shirt down and my pants up then getting up and I pay for it moments after when Josh re-appears kicking me hard into the pool. The cold water sends a shock through my system and it jolts me more aware. I inhale some water on impact and feel it burn in my lungs. When I resurface I try to get out using my dominate hand but am reminded of the pain and fall back in. Two strong hands help me out and sit me on the floor. The figure gets down to my level.
"Are you okay?" he asks, all I am looking at is the greenest eyes I have ever seen aside from Starfire. I cough water and cradle my wrist. I look around and see Timothy on the cement floor his mouth hanging awkwardly. "Hey, hey look at me"
I do, I recognize him from my folder. Jason Garrett. It is just now that I realize I am shaking violently. He looks over my face and neck and clenches his jaw looking back at Timothy. When I look opposite of him I see Josh sitting against the tiles his jaw hanging the same way and his nose bloody and crooked. I look back to Jason.
"I think...I am?" I ask
"Do you know your name?" He asks, I nod but have to pause to remember what it us supposed to be.
"Rachel"
"Rachel my name is Jason, can I take you to the hospital? That cut looks like it needs stitches" He says pointing to my eyebrow. I shake my head.
"Can you take me to my dorm" I ask he nods and helps me up with my good arm. On the way out he turns back to Timothy and kicks him in the exposed balls. I flinch but don't protest. Tears are filling my eyes and taking over as the reality of what happened settles in. He follows me mainly but he doesn't leave my side. He takes off his jacket handing it to me. When we get out into the air, I look around frantically and see the two other guys on the floor groaning in pain. Jason reaches down and grabs a black backpack swinging it over his shoulder.
"You are soaking wet and it's forty degrees out." He says, I agree taking it and wrapping it around me. The warmth is welcomed. He doesn't ask me much. "Do you want me to call anyone?"
"No, my...boyfriend is waiting for me" I say he nods in understanding as he sees we are headed towards the west dorms. " Thank you for helping me"
"I should go back and kill them." He says through gritted teeth. I look up at him and something in my stomach flutters. He looks down at my wrist and stops our walk. He extends a hand out and gestures to my wrist. I gingerly put it in his hand. He looks it over and waves and waves of anger wash over me from him and I could be crazy but his eyes seem to get greener?
"It's broken" He growls he lets me take it back and we continue on our walk. He pulls out a random receipt and a pen from his pocket and writes something down. "If you need anything...call me. If you need to direct the police to someone to talk to about this let me know"
I nod and he turns on his heels and I think he is going back to the pool house but I am not sure. I get back into my dorm room and I feel almost numb. Switching on the light Robin is already there. I flinch.
"You're late" He says, his eyes look me over "Woah what happened?"
"Timothy Greene...he attacked me" I say, his eyes widen and clenches a fist.
"So he's Red X?" He asks, I shake my head
"I don't know...I...he doesn't...he needed another guy too-"
"You didn't find out? What the fuck are you here for if you aren't going to do your job?" He asks, I look up my eyes widened and I scoff.
"Are you serious right now? Timothy just tried to force himself onto me and you are worried about if he is Red X? Fuck you care more about this stupid fucking vendetta than you do me" I shout he shakes his head angrily.
"That not true! I just don't get how you didn't use your powers and stop him and then question him" He says, I scoff shaking my head.
"You told me not to use my powers... you said last thing I should do is use them" I say he rolls his eyes
"Oh so NOW you listen to me? You could have stopped it if you wanted to!" He says, I scoff again and walk to the bathroom ignoring him and take off the jacket. "Whose jacket is that?"
"The guy who stopped it." I say
"Someone else had to stop it for you? Raven are you kidding me?" He asks I turn to him angrily and the lights flicker in the room
"Get out"
"What?"
"I said get out, you are not going to accuse me of wanting this to happen because I didn't. He broke my fucking wrist because I fought back does it look like I wanted it to happen?!" I yell he swallows and looks me over.
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said that." He says I turn around and begin brushing through my wet and tangled hair with my good wrist. Robin comes closer to me and puts a hand on my shoulder, it's a comfort I needed but is short lived as he kisses my shoulder and neck, I shudder and move away but he has a grip on my waste.
"Stop" I say, he pulls back and shakes his head.
"So I guess we aren't having sex tonight?" He asks, a lightbulb pops.
"Get out right now before I throw you out. We are done, this is done. How fucking DARE you. Do not come back here" I snap he takes a step back and rolls his eyes. Before I know it I am alone again and I fall to the ground letting the tears flow down my face. I pull out my phone and the receipt I dial the number and it picks up after the first couple rings.
"Hello?"
"I didn't know who else to call...I just kicked my boyf- ex boyfriend out and.." I start but trail off
"Do you need me to come over?" He asks, I sniffle
"Please...Room 213"
"I will be there soon"
He's right. Not even ten minutes go by and the knock on the door is the only thing that peals me up from my bathroom floor. I have since put his jacket back around my shoulders and even being inside I can't seem to get warm. I am realizing the pain I am in, the kick to my side feels worse now that the adrenaline has completely stopped. Opening the door I see him with the same backpack swung over his shoulder. I step aside and let him in, he looks around the room. Once he deems it safe for himself or for me he relaxes putting his bag down on the floor. He turns to me looking me over once again. I don't think someone has ever actually looked at me this much, with this much concern. It's all I feel from him.
"What happened?" He asks softly
"I called my boyfriend...he was here and I told him..." I lose my train of thought as he puts his hand on my shoulder guiding me to the desk chair. I sit down and he crouches in front of me opening his bag. Inside is more medical supplies than even I brought with me and it takes me off guard. "...he told me it was my fault"
"What? Why would he say something like that?" He asks, while he begins creating a split for my wrist. It is hard to tell him without being able to tell the whole story. It feels like he maybe won't be able to tell me really if it's true.
"I could have fought them...done something" I say he shakes his head.
"There were two of them and they were twice your size. What the fuck did he expect you to do?" He asks, his voice is dripping with anger but it comforts me knowing it's not directed at me. Something I didn't experience very much recently. "That guy had a pretty nasty bruise forming on his face and the other had broken ankle when I got there. You fought back"
We fall into silence as he pays close attention to my wrist. The splint is sturdy and even though it does very little for the pain right now, I know it will heal much better than before. I don't remember my eyes tearing up again but they do and Jason slowly takes his hand and waits for permission before touching my face. I nod at him and he wipes a tear from my cheek and grabs a rubbing alcohol pad on the split in my eyebrow. He is gentle and careful. He puts a butterfly bandage in it to keep it closed and looks at his handy work.
"It'll scar" He says, I shrug
"I've always wanted an eyebrow slit" I say, he laughs and his smile makes my heart beat faster. He closes his bag and leans against the bed post. "Thank you for helping me...I know I said it before but really"
"No one should ever have that happen to them. Those guys are scum" He says, I don't really know how to handle his hatred towards them, I share it but very rarely does anyone get hate on my behalf. "I left those guys out, it's cold if they don't freeze, they will at least be very miserable"
"You broke their jaws" I observe recalling it.
"They broke their own jaws the moment they put a hand on you" again it's something I shouldn't take comfort in but I do. I still feel cold even though the room is warmer and his jacket provides even more. It smells like cologne and pine. A hint of tea that I hadn't expected but still, it's a welcoming scent. Though despite all of the positives surrounding this man, the guilt creeps up when I realize what all of this means for him. He fought four guys, he is the exact build of Red X and he has a bag full of medical equipment. He helped me, and now he is the top suspect.
"Does your boyfriend really think that you let this happen?" He asks, I look up and meet his gaze. "Are you sure he isn't just upset about the situation?"
"He told me right out he thinks I let it happen" I recall, he takes an irritated deep breath.
"No offense but your boyfriend sounds like Dick" He says,I chuckle I never thought his nickname would be so funny until this moment. Ironic. "Do you think you are going to be able to sleep?"
"Can you stay? I don't think I want to be alone right now" I admit, he nods but I realize my mistake. "You can stay on the bed but please...don't touch me"
"I would never"
Earlier
She's late. Robin was aware that he has little patience. He has struggled with it when it comes to missions. It can sometimes take over, his need for everything to be done faster more efficiently. It always seems like no one else cares but him. However it has been ten minutes and Raven still was not back to the dorm room and something felt off about that. She has never been late. Though he doesn't want Red X to see him looking around the streets of the college campus he decides to go from building top to bulding top. Hoping to see her from above but stay out of the sights of Red X. Whoever he is. It doesn't take him that long to spot her. He is sure it's her. Same style, hair, and he see's the shine of the silver bracelet hitting the dim sky light. She is watching two people.
"HELP SHE'S TAKING MY LEG" a man shouts, the girl slaps his arm and shakes her head.
"Stop it! Doctor said the first two months would be the hardest. Just let me take it off" She says , his leg comes off and she sets it next to her. "Your knub is all bruised!"
"Yeah, I think I need more of a cushion between my leg and the fake leg." He says, Robin leans on his knees on the building watching carefully but being sure to stay behind a good distance. After a couple moments Raven begins to walk and Robin follows, watching as she heads to the dorms. He almost leaves right there until he sees a man walk out of the pool house and grab her arm pulling her in. Furrowing his brows he goes to the roof of the pool house which was one over. Noticing a grate in the roof he sneaks in knowing that there are probably a bunch to keep the clorine from fuming up the closed space. He crouches on a sturdy beam in the room, the lights from the pool giving his visibility to the men and Raven. There are three others in here and their voices echo in the room, bouncing off the tiles and water.
"This isn't like you. To be all the way over here" He says
"How would you know?" She asks
"She's hot right? I told you" the man says, she tries to pull her arm back from him but doesn't succeed "Now now, where do you have to be that you are in a rush?"
"Meeting my boyfriend" She says, he laughs and the other men laugh along with him, it echo's throughout the poolhouse "I need to go"
"Josh you're with me," He says, two of the guys groan and walk out of the building muttering. Robin watches as both of the men walk out and Josh gets closer to Raven. His arms reach around her hastily grabbing her in a bear hug. Robin fights the urge to go down and help her but knows that he shouldn't. If that is Red X it would give up the mission she will defend herself if she needs to. She is kicking and manages to get the first man in the head and then is set on the ground before moved against the wall her hand bent awkwardly behind her back. The man leans in and whispers something cannot hear but he notices that the movement of his head isn't like he is speaking.
"Please don't do this. I won't say anything ple-" she says but something stops her from saying the rest. Robin decides he will go back to the dorm. She will make quick work of the two of them and it won't be any more trouble. She will have more information for him if that is the case too. He does so, heading back to the dorm room. Sitting on the desk chair to wait for her.
Back at the Tower
Robin walks through the corridors, his anger basically causing fumes. How could she just break up with him? No more conversation? The relationship that took two people to create and she could just end it like that? He slams his helmet on the counter and walks into his office muttering profanities, Cyborg looks back and gets to his feet and follows Robin into his office.
"You okay?" He asks
"What the fuck is wrong with her?" Robin asks, he knows Cyborg doesn't know the situation but it still felt good to say. "She doesn't give a fuck about this mission. This is the closest we have ever been and she just doesn't care."
"You want to tell me what happened?" Cyborg asks, Robin pauses he knows Raven already thinks he is an asshole. Does he really want to risk the same thing happening with his team?
"Raven was attacked on campus today. She didn't use her powers to stop it at all." He says shaking his head. Cyborg arches his human eyebrow and looks at Robin needing him to explain more, he doesn't.
"Did Red X attack her?" he asked Robin shrugs his shoulders.
"I don't know, neither does she. Because she didn't ask him. That is the whole point of her being there and when she face to face with one of our suspects she doesn't think to try and figure out if he could be our bad-guy?" He vents, Cyborg nods though mentally cannot figure out what exactly Robin is so mad about.
"So what did he do? Throw a couple punches?" He asked Robin shakes his head.
"No she claims he tried to rape her. Which isn't like Red X at all, he a petty thief not a rapist" He says, Cyborg stands up and holds his hands up almost as if to surrender.
"Woah, hold on. You mean to tell me Raven...your girlfriend...our teammate, told you she was raped and you don't care?" He asks Robin shakes his head.
"No of course not. she said he almost did." Robin clarifies. Cyborg shakes his head. He can't tell if Robin is being serious or not.
"That shouldn't matter. She was attacked. Why don't you care? That is some pretty bad shit right there. Doesn't matter if it almost happened or it did happen. She was hurt and in danger and you still care more about finding Red X then making sure the guy that did it isn't arrested?" Cyborg asks His voice dripping with disgust. Robin looks down at his steel toed boots and shakes his head, the images of them dragging Raven into that poolhouse and pressing her against the wall rush back into his mind but he doesn't tell him that part.
"I just don't know why she didn't use her powers to get away from them" he said sighing. Cyborg arches an eyebrow
"You told her not to, you told her to not risk revealing our whole mission. What if he isn't Red X? What if Red X saw what she did and knew we were on to him? Then she still would have been traumatized and he gets away. Whole mission a bust. You made sure he knew this mission took priority. So she listened. Now you are mad at her? She just went through hell dude" Cyborg says, Robin remains silent. Although now her anger is becoming clear to him. He acted like a total ass. "Is she okay?"
"He broke her wrist, some bruises a cut on her eyebrow but she's fine. Nothing she can't heal" Robin says quietly but like it is nothing. Like he talking about a scraped knee.
"Again dude, that doesn't matter to me as much as her emotional state. You know that shit is traumatizing right?" Cyborg asks Robin shrugs his shoulders.
"I don't think she gets traumatized." He deadpans, Cyborg shakes his head almost is disappointment.
"She does, and I feel like you should know that. Maybe I should go take her reports from now on. Give you two some space" He says Robin doesn't argue just sits back in his office chair as Cyborg walks out of the room. Robin feels like weight of guilt weighing on his chest. He yelled at her and made a joke he wish he could take back. He just wanted to be next to her running his fingers through her hair and telling her that everything is going to be fine. He didn't do that though, and now he feels like he may have ruined his chance to. She was so mad at him when he left he could feel the energy radiating off of her.
"Hey Cy!" he yells, Cyborg peaks his head through the door not wanting to go any further than that.
"Arrest Timothy Greene. He's the one who did this to her. I want him brought to justice, Some other dude named Josh too" He says Cyborg nods and walks out the room, making that call down to the police station to let them know.
