Raven didn't remember much after finding Darcy. After screaming, her mind went completely blank, though she never passed out. She just stared straight ahead without screaming, without moving, almost without breathing. She vaguely heard Beast Boy murmur, "Oh God," when he came to see what had caused her to scream. Raven felt her stomach lurch in horror, felt the bile rise in her throat, but somehow, she managed to keep it down. The scent of blood and vomit was overpowering as it spilled from Darcy's mutilated body.
Beast Boy gently pulled her away from the door. With his heightened sense of smell, the scent was literally making him dizzy. Beast Boy gagged as wave after wave of nausea hit him. Jesus. He glanced down at Raven, whose amethyst eyes were wide and unseeing. Her horrified scream still rung in his ears and he knew he would never forget it as long as he lived.
Colt glanced inside the room to see what all the commotion was about, gagged, then slammed the door, not allowing Harley close to it. Unfortunately, Colt wasn't taking it well, for he bolted to the bathroom.
Harley stared wide-eyed at the door, her mind whirling. The scent of blood was thick in the air as Harley turned her eyes to Raven. What had she seen? Who was behind-? Harley saw something leak out from under the door, and slowly turned to see small rivers of blood. Harley's eyes snapped up to the door when it slowly opened. But... hadn't Colt slammed it?
As if someone was opening the door from the inside, it opened, revealing...Harley snapped her eyes shut the minute they landed on the foot swinging back and forth. Keep your eyes closed, keep your eyes closed, she told herself. Bowing her head, she turned her body, eyes never leaving the floor. She was not going to let herself see what lay behind that door. Hell, even without knowing what Raven had seen, she felt like she was going to hurl.
Beast Boy gently picked Raven up bridal-style, and ordered, "We have to get out of here. Raven's gone into shock and I need to call an ambulance. Harley, get your cell phone and bring it outside." Colt walked out from the bathroom, hand placed over his mouth, his eyes dull with shock. Harley almost panicked at the sight of him, but she regained herself quickly, and walked into her room.
And cursed.
Her entire room was filled with white rose petals, some covered in blood, others unblemished. Her favorite stuffed bear that Colt had given her for her seventh birthday was ripped apart, and on her wall, written with blood, was 'Two down, three to go.'
Instead of scaring her, it pissed her off. "Bastard," she growled, grabbing her blue cell phone off of the bedside table.
She heard something rustle behind her and turned to see Colt. "Oh, God, Harley," he murmured when he caught sight of her room.
Worried, Harley made her away to Colt. "Come on, we need to get out of here."
He nodded slowly, like he was in a daze, and Harley wondered if he had also gone into shock. But as she walked out of her room, she realized to late that Raven's door was wide open. And finally, she saw Darcy.
Unlike Raven, she didn't scream. But her legs gave out beneath her and not even her crutches could hold her up. They hit the ground with a thump, causing Colt to turn around. He seemed to snap out of his daze quickly when he spotted Harley, sitting on the floor, staring wide-eyed at Darcy's dead body.
With almost superhuman speed, Colt lifted Harley into his arms, forcefully making her turn her eyes away from the room. Snatching up the cell phone, Colt darted quickly from the apartment, joining Beast Boy outside.
"She saw her, didn't she?" he asked softly, taking in Harley's ashen features. Colt nodded slowly.
"I thought I had slammed the door, but I guess I didn't..." His voice was filled with guilt as he gently pressed his lips against Harley's temple.
"It...it opened...after you...shut it...like someone had opened it…from the inside," Harley said, though her voice was shaking.
Beast Boy's eyes snapped to the open door of Raven's apartment. And then he heard it: the sound of a body hitting the floor. "He's in there." Without thinking, Beast Boy gently put Raven down, ordered Colt to watch her, and stormed into apartment.
But as he stood in front of Raven's room, he froze. Darcy was standing in the doorway, blood still pouring from the wounds and dead eyes glazed. Behind her stood a man clad in black.
Beast Boy didn't expect it when Darcy was thrown at him, sending them both crashing to the floor, giving the man ample time to dash out the open window.
Beast Boy panicked as Darcy's corpse slid along his, coating him in blood. He threw her off, ignoring the sickening sound of her body slamming into the ground, and bolted up, yanking off his tie and ripping his shirt off. His torso was covered in her blood, and Beast Boy fought down nausea.
"We have to get outside," Colt said, already dialing 911. After managing to tell the woman on the other end what had happened, Colt called Twain. It had been hard to stay calm when Harley finally cracked and sobbed against his neck, and Beast Boy was trying not to hyperventilate. He had managed to get most of the blood off his chest with the back of his shredded shirt, but he would always see it, no matter how clean he was. His mind would always be haunted by it.
Twain was giving directions to Colt, doing his best to calm the boy. "Alright, I want you to take them outside and try to soothe them, okay? If you can, make them laugh, or bring up old memories, or something like that. Just try and get them to talk. Just, please, stay calm, alright, kid? I'll be there as soon as I can. I want you to get the hell out of the building."
"Al-alright," Colt stammered, "Should I get a blanket or-"
"No, just get them into fresh air immediately. I'm already on my way." Colt hung up and waited as Beast Boy gathered the still shocked Raven in his arms. Once they reached the main lobby, they ran out, ignoring the curious stares.
The minute Beast Boy's foot touched the cement his head was filled with the roar of sirens and screeching tires against the pavement. Twain leaped from his SUV and made a beeline for them, his eyes worried.
"I'm going to go check it out, alright?" He said softly, his eyes trained on Raven, who was still unresponsive. "I need a paramedic over here!" He snapped as the ambulance came to a halt. There were two of them, along with four police cars.
"I want everyone out of the building, got it? And do not, and I repeat, do not let anyone near here. Threaten to arrest them or something, but keep them away. I have four teenagers who are about to have emotional breakdowns here, and I don't want anyone to see it."
"Detective Twain, we'll need back up for that," one female officer said, her eyes trained on the teenagers. Her dark brown eyes softened.
"Then get them. I need all the help I can get here. Franklin, you stay here with the kids and try to calm them. The rest of you, come with me."
Beast Boy was reluctant to let the paramedics take Raven away from him, but he was ushered to the same ambulance as her, so they could wash off the rest of Darcy's blood.
"You okay kid?" Franklin asked as Beast Boy sat on the edge of the ambulance, Raven cradled in his lap. Both of them were covered with a thick wool blanket and Raven had somehow come to her senses without the help of drugs. Her body was trembling uncontrollably; her long nails digging into his chest.
"Somewhat," he said softly, his hand stroking Raven's back.
Franklin nodded. "Alright. I'll go check on the other two." She walked off, leaving Beast Boy and Raven alone. A crowed had already gathered outside and police officers were trying to get them away. They threatened to arrest them, but that didn't work. The perimeter of the building had been leveled off with yellow tape after every occupant of the apartment had been ushered out.
Ortega pulled up with Waylin in a police car, and the minute their feet hit the ground they were spouting off orders.
"I want anyone who has a camera arrested immediately," Waylin snapped, his eyes trained on his daughter as he made a beeline for her.
Ortega blinked. "Can we do that?"
"I don't know, but we are going to do it," Waylin retorted over his shoulder.
"Alright." Ortega shrugged and started to bark orders. "Anyone who has a camera, cell phone, or electrical device is to be arrested, got it?"
At that, over half of the crowd took off, leaving mostly the elderly, and the reporters, who didn't care if they were arrested as long as they got their story. Ortega had no idea how the reporters got here so quickly, especially when he himself had just shown up.
When they wheeled Darcy's body out, Raven shut her eyes tightly, that horrifying image playing over and over in her head. No matter how emotionally isolated she was, that image would drive her to breakdown any second.
"It'll be alright, Raven," Beast Boy soothed, pressing his lips against her hair.
"No it won't," Raven snapped, her voice deep with unsuppressed emotions. "I'll never get that image from my head as long as I live. We knew Darcy, became friends with her, and now... God, sometimes I wish that he would just take me and stop hurting people."
Beast Boy pulled her body closer to his. "Don't say that, Raven."
"It's true."
He sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. "I'm so sorry, Rae."
Her eyebrows drew together as her body quaked with shock, "For what?"
"I was the one supposed to check that room, not you. I was the one who was supposed to see that first, to prevent you from it. God, Raven, I am so sorry."
But before she could answer, a slip of paper was shoved into Beast Boy's face. "Here. It's a sedative, to get her to sleep. After something like that, you'll have a hard time closing your eyes. Go down to the hospital pharmacy and get this filled immediately, alright, kid?"
Beast Boy glanced up at the paramedic. His blue eyes were soft, his smile reassuring. "I could always ready a needle and give her a shot, but I think this is a better way of handling it."
Raven ignored the man, trying desperately to block out Darcy's mangled image. "Alright," Beast Boy said softly, taking the paper. "We'll get on it immediately."
Raven pressed her ear against his chest, finding his heartbeat somewhat calming. When he talked, his chest rumbled and Raven had to admit that it was the most soothing sound she could ever hear, next to his laugh. Raven glanced up slightly to see snow drifting down from the sky, and her body involuntarily shivered, even though Beast Boy's body heat warmed her.
Beast Boy shifted her so that the cover concealed her head, but Raven didn't have the energy to complain. Her body was worn out along with her mind. Along with the disheartening fact that her best friends was in the hands of a rapist, Darcy was dead; murdered in one of the worst ways possible, all because she had been pushed into the entire thing and had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. She had just been an innocent victim. And now, because Raven was a target of the White Rose Killer, she was dead.
Footsteps echoed around her, mixing with Beast Boy's heartbeat, but now, everything sounded hollow. She just...wanted to lay down and cry until she was too tired to even keep her eyes open.
"Here," she heard someone say, a woman, and Beast Boy moved, reaching out for something.
"What is it?" he asked, shifting so that both arms were wrapped around her slim waist after putting whatever the officer handed him down.
"Detective Twain said that I should gather clothing for you and that he wants you to get a hotel for the night. He's willing to pay for it. The other two are getting the same treatment as well, but Waylin is paying for it."
"Alright." Gently, he pulled the blanket from her head and looked down at her. "You ready to get out of here?"
Raven nodded, making a move to get off his lap, but his hands tightened around her waist.
"I need to get up so we can leave," she said, some of her annoyance making an appearance.
"No. I'm perfectly capable of carrying you to the car."
"And I am perfectly capable of walking. And...I don't want you carrying me in front of all these people."
She looked up at him to see his gaze softening. "I would feel better if I carried you, Rae. I'm... just so worried about you. I mean... it's my fault that you saw that-"
"Beast Boy, it wasn't your fault. I probably would have seen it anyway. Don't blame yourself."
He sighed softly. "I just wish I could have prevented you from seeing that."
Raven groaned, but didn't have enough energy to fight back. Beast Boy effortlessly lifted her up like she weighted nothing, covering her face again before walking forward. She pressed her hand against his chest, just now realizing that it was completely bare.
"Beast Boy?" She asked softly, watching the muscles jump beneath her palm. Never would she have imagined that Beast Boy would have had a body like this. It reminded her of something she would see in one of Starfire's girly magazines, the one with the centerfolds of shirtless men.
"Wondering why I don't have a shirt on?"
She nodded, but was unsure if he knew it. "Yes."
"He was there... in the room with Darcy. And that bastard cut the ropes, held her waist so she could stand, and waited until someone came. It was me, unfortunately, and I was the one who he shoved her onto. You can figure everything out from there. I damn near had a heart attack when he she fell against me, and I just had to get everything off."
"Oh," she said, trying to block out the metal image. "Seems you had it worse than I did."
Beast Boy's chest rumbled as he made a sound of disagreement. "I don't know..."
"Can we... not talk about this?"
"Sounds good."
"Hey, hold on a sec, there, kid." Beast Boy stopped and turned his body. She recognized the voice as Twain's.
"Let me help you." Raven couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Twain was suddenly... being nice.
"Alright..." Beast Boy said hesitantly, and Raven heard a door open, meaning they were inside the building. Raven grabbed the blanket and pulled it from over her head so she could breath. She patted her hair, hoping she hadn't ruined Darcy's work. A wave of remorse washed over her as she recalled the last moment she had seen Darcy.
She had seemed... distant. Like she was always looking over her shoulder. Usually, she had been sweet, charming, and talkative, but when Raven had seen her today, she had been snippy, especially at Starfire.
Raven groaned and burrowed closer to Beast Boy. She was so tired, yet she feared going to sleep. Those sedatives were going to knock her out, she knew, and prayed that she dreamed of nothing tonight. She closed her eyes, yet kept her-self awake. She didn't know if she would ever get over the gruesome sight that had met her eyes, if she would ever recover. Would her nights be filled with mutilated bodies for the rest of eternity?
She opened her eyes and found that they were at the parking garage. Twain opened the door to their car, and Beast Boy gently placed her in the passenger seat. She groaned at the loss of Beast Boy's warmth, and huddled against the blanket that smelled of antiseptics. Beast Boy shoved a large bag into the back seat, but Raven had no idea what it held. She turned her head slightly, watching as Twain handed Beast Boy a wad of bills.
"You don't have to do this, detective," Beast Boy replied, already shoving the money back at Twain.
"Kid, that girl of yours needs a bed to sleep on and warm food. You won't be returning to that apartment, and there is no way I'm allowing you to sleep in a car, so just take it. Unless, of course, you want her to suffer more."
Twain waved the money in front of Beast Boy's face, his lips set in a smirk with a dark eyebrow raised. "You know you want to take it," he said devilishly. "Two hundred bucks is a lot of money. You could even get a four-star hotel. Think of the room service. And who knows, you might even have enough to by condoms."
Beast Boy sputtered, jerking the money from Twain's hand with a fierce blush. "You're perverted, Twain."
Lex threw back his head and laughed. "That's the second time I've been called that tonight." He shook his head before he turned serious once again. "I'll have a talk with the mayor about keep you at the hotel until we get the White Rose Killer, alright? He can't say no, especially when you've come this far. And anyway, he knows that I'll ruin his rep if he declines. So, go ahead and get her medicine filled and try and get some food into her. I'll talk to you later." Twain headed for the elevators, but paused and turned back around. "Call me when you get to the hotel, alright? I don't care what time it is. I'll tell your teammate tomorrow where you're staying."
Beast Boy nodded and watched Twain disappear. He walked around to the side of the car, but instead of going to the driver's seat, he stopped at the backseat.
"What are you doing?" Raven asked, keeping her eyes trained on the foggy windshield.
"Putting a shirt on. I'm freezing my butt off without holding you."
Raven had a feeling she was blushing, but was too tired to care. "Does that bag have clothes in it or something?"
Beast Boy's words were muffled slightly as he worked a black long-sleeved shirt over his head. "Yeah. One of the female officers gathered everything from your room. Guess she got some things for me as well."
Pulling the shirt over his trousers, Beast Boy climbed into the driver seat and turned on the ignition. The first thing he did was flip on the heater. Beast Boy glanced at her before reaching across and grabbing her seat belt.
Raven couldn't help but roll her eyes as he fastened it. "I was capable of doing that myself, Beast Boy."
He smiled, but storms still raged behind his eyes. He was a bit traumatized by having Darcy's body thrown on him. Raven couldn't help but admire the way he was handling it. "But it gave me a chance to touch you, now didn't it?"
Her eyes drifted heavenward again. She slithered up in the seat so she was sitting like a regular human instead of a limp noodle.
Beast Boy pulled out of the parking lot, gently drumming his fingers against the thick steering wheel. He finally came to terms with the fact that he would never get over having a dead body slid against his, or seeing the innards of a human being without having any intention of becoming a surgeon.
Beast Boy's fingers clutched the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. It would take some getting used to, of course. He would try and lock the image out of his head, though he knew it would probably never work.
He sighed, slowly uncurling his fingers. He couldn't worry about himself right now. Raven was his main concern. He gazed at her from the corner of his eyes, only to find her watching him. Her usually pale cheeks were flushed from the heater, but she still huddled beneath the blanket.
"Are you alright?" She asked softly, her eyes drifting to his fingers.
He blinked as he returned his gaze to the road. "Sorta. Are you hungry?"
Raven shifted in her seat so that her back was pressed against the door. Now, she had a perfect view of his profile. "I wouldn't be able to keep it down," she admitted, leaning her head against the cool glass of the window. She kept her eyes on his face, for it gave her something to concentrate on. She feared that if she looked away, she would remember...
Beast Boy frowned. "You need to eat something, Rae. You didn't eat at the dance."
"I just... want to take a shower and sleep."
He nodded as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. "I hope this doesn't take too long." He maneuvered the vehicle into an empty space, put it in park, but made no move to turn the key off. "Do you want to stay here?"
Raven slowly shook her head. "No." Truth was, she didn't want to be alone. She was... scared to be alone.
Beast Boy nodded, turning the car off. He climbed out, walking to Raven's side and opening the door. She left the blanket inside, and when he asked her why, she answered casually, "It doesn't go with my dress."
Beast Boy chuckled softly, taking her small, cold hand into his. "You never cease to amaze me, Rae."
She glanced down at their entwined hands, wondering why the hell her heart was pounding in her chest. He was only holding her hand... jeez. But then again, when he kissed her, her knees usually turned to Jell-O.
Involuntarily, her eyes lifted to his mouth. When was the last time he kissed her? Her mind drifted away from Darcy and became occupied with her sporadic make out sessions with Beast Boy. It seemed like it had been ages... and why the hell was she even thinking about that? She should not be thinking about Beast Boy kissing her. Hell, she wasn't supposed to think about anyone kissing her. It was an unwritten rule. Raven did not think of people kissing her, or anything close to that... even though she did have the occasional wet dream that always centered around Beast Boy...damn.
They walked into the room hospital waiting room, the occupants starring at her strangely. Beast Boy let go of her hand so he could talk to the nurse in the cubical, leaving Raven standing alone. She glanced down at her dress, smoothing down the silk fabric of her skirt. In all actuality, Raven wasn't that tired. She knew that the minute her head hit the pillow, she would be haunted with horrifying visuals of Darcy. That alone was enough to keep her awake.
"Come on, Rae. The pharmacy is next to the gift shop on the third floor." He walked back to her, holding the slip of paper in his hand
"Third floor? But wouldn't it be on this one?"
Beast Boy once again grabbed her hand and led her to the elevators. "I would think so, but the nurse said that it was on the third."
Once Beast Boy had dropped off the prescription, he tried to talk her into eating. "Rae, they said that you needed to eat before you take the sedative. The pharmacist said that if you don't you'll spend all night throwing up instead of sleeping."
"I don't know if I can handle food right now," she admitted after a long, stubborn pause.
"I'm not asking you to eat an entire meal, just something that will settle well with the medication. How does...?" He tipped his head back as he thought of something small, yet filling for her. After a few minutes, he groaned. "I can't think of anything that you would willingly eat. We could always stop at a gas station and get something there."
"Alright." She said calmly, no fight in her voice. It threw him off, instantly making him wary. Was she up to something, or did she just not want an argument?
"I don't want to fight with you, Beast Boy. Not now."
He nodded, eyes scanning her face before he grinned. "Alrighty, then. Since it'll take a good thirty minutes before you're medicine is ready, why don't we go ahead and find a good hotel?"
"Okay. Fine with me." Once outside, Raven shivered, noticing that the snow had already coated the ground in a white sheet. It fell thickly from the sky and melted once it hit her skin.
Beast Boy groaned when he made it to their car, only to find it covered in snow. "Damn," he muttered.
Raven became frustrated when Beast Boy simply glowered at the car, so she took it into her own hands and fished out the keys from his front pocket. She swore Beast Boy jumped three feet when her fingers disappeared into his pant pockets.
She rolled her eyes and yanked the keys out. "Don't get any perverted ideas, Beast Boy," she warned, sighing in aspiration when he started to babble incoherently.
By the time he could think of a good comeback, Raven had already started the car and was lounging against the seat, eyebrow raised in amusement.
He took a deep breath, but let it out slowly when the movement sent the thick layer of snow tumbling from his shoulders. Had he really been standing there for that long?
Beast Boy climbed into the car, thankful for the heater. Once on the road, Raven dared to close her eyes, and actually drifted off for a few moments. But just as she became comfortable, her mind flashed with an image. Dead eyes stared at her, body swinging back and forth, slowly.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Raven was jerked wide-awake with a gasp, her heart thudding in her chest. Jesus Christ.
Beast Boy jumped in his seat when Raven jerked awake, momentarily losing control of the car before he once again maneuvered it back into its own lane. Thank God no one was on the highway.
His eyes darted to Raven. "Are you okay?"
She swallowed hard, gently shaking her head as if to rid it of the nightmarish image. "No, I'm not."
Beast Boy's eyebrows drew together in worry, and tenderly, he reached a hand out and laid it on her thigh reassuringly. His long fingers kneaded the muscles gently. Raven fought against exhaustion as his soft touch drew her closer to sleep. She was not going to sleep again.
Knowing that Raven was fighting to stay awake, he pulled his hand away from her and flicked on the radio. Raven let out a tiny moan at the loss of his hand, but he quickly replaced it after he pushed a CD into the player. Evanescence slowly drifted from the speaker. He knew it was one of Raven's favorite CDs and was hoping that it would somehow calm her.
After what seemed like hours, Beast Boy pulled into a large hotel parking lot. He helped her from the car, taking her hand in his and walking to the large double doors. The inside of the lobby was warm, with beige shag carpet and soft brown walls, completely furnished with large paintings and tapestries. The furniture was all leather and looked so comfortable that Beast Boy was tempted to ask if he could just sleep there.
The woman at the counter looked like she was in her early twenties, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes that lit up when she spotted Beast Boy walking toward her. She set her thick book down and smiled widely at him.
"Hello, sir. How may I help you?"
Raven scowled at the women, but she smiled at Raven with a knowing look, and Raven calmed down... somewhat.
"Do you have any rooms available?" Beast Boy asked, his eyes drifting to the large hearth against the farthest wall.
"Yes, sir, we do. How many rooms would you like?"
"Two."
"One."
Beast Boy glanced at Raven. Raven ignored him and repeated, "We want one room, please."
His mouth opened, but he shut it quickly, at a loss for words. The receptionist smiled. "Would you like a two-bed room, or king sized suite?"
"A king size suite would be perfect."
Beast Boy's eyes were so wide they hurt. He blinked rapidly as the woman typed something into the computer.
"Rae, why just one room?" He asked after he managed to pick his jaw up from the floor.
She shrugged her slim shoulders. "I don't want to be alone," she stated simply, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
His shoulders dropped. Perfect. He would probably be spending another night on the floor. "You could have just gotten a two-bed room, Rae. I still would have been in the room-"
"Beast Boy, I plan on you sleeping in the same bed with me, so shut up and deal with it." Raven gave the receptionist Beast Boy's real name and he blushed. The receptionist bit back a grin as she eavesdropped on their conversation, and handed Raven a keycard.
As they walked off, Beast Boy had to ask, "Why did you tell her that name?"
Raven cut him a glance as they walked into the large, ritzy elevator. "She wanted your name, so I gave it to her."
"But..."
"There is nothing wrong with Garfield Logan, Beast Boy."
Beast Boy groaned. He just had to play truth or dare with the Titans when they were sixteen, didn't he? And, of course, he had picked truth. Raven was a truly evil woman for making him tell his real name. Cyborg and Robin had laughed their asses off, while Starfire had thought the name was adorable. Raven had just watched him as he suffered through his mortification at having his teammates know his real name. But then again, if he had picked dare, she would have had him do something utterly humiliating.
"Everything is wrong with that name," he whined, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Be proud of it, Garfield, your parents gave it to you."
"But Garfield is the name of a cat. A very fat cat, might I add, who eats meat and hangs around with a dog named Odie."
Raven sighed and leveled a stare at him. "Personally, I find it endearing."
"You find the name Garfield Logan attractive?" He asked skeptically, waiting for a sarcastic remark.
"Actually, I do."
He blinked at her, a healthy shade of pink coating his cheeks. Then he grinned. "Well, if you find it attractive, then I guess I can deal with it."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Garfield."
"You don't have to call me that all the time, though. But if you want to call me by my name, at least call me Gar."
Raven crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright, then, Gar." Beast Boy loved the way she said it, and would have loved it if she called him that for the rest of his life. It just sounded right coming from her mouth.
The elevator doors opened, and they spent a good ten minutes trying to find their suite. It, of course, was the last room they came to, and Beast Boy realized that it was also separate from the rest of the rooms. He had a feeling that this room was for honeymooners.
Raven obviously realized it to, for she turned to him before unlocking the door and said," Just because you're sharing my bed tonight does not mean that we're having sex, alright?"
For some strange reason, the thought of having sex with Raven hadn't even crossed his mind. Well, at least it hadn't tonight...okay, when they stepped into the hotel it hadn't.
"I didn't expect us to. I thought I was sleeping on the floor tonight."
Her eyes searched his and found that he really hadn't thought about having sex with her. She was beyond shocked to find herself disappointed. What the hell?
She turned to slip the keycard into the slot to open the door, her eyes wide in shock. Had she wanted him to think about making love to her tonight? Jeez, this whole night was seriously messing with her head if she was actually hoping that Beast Boy had thought about having sex with her...
Raven pushed open the door and flicked on the light. Though the room was beyond beautiful, it was a tad bit too bright for her taste. The floor was a bright white, the walls painted in pale beige, and the furniture was white, with gold trimming. A fire burned brightly in the hearth, and the room smelled faintly of vanilla. But what captivated Raven the most was the bed.
Raven walked over to the monstrosity, standing beside it. The very top of the bed was level with her chest. Raven couldn't help but gawk. "I wonder how many people were killed because they fell off this thing in their sleep."
Beast Boy chuckled, and before Raven could move, he grabbed her hips and lifted her onto the bed, twisting her so that she faced him. She scooted back on the bed, quickly realizing that Beast Boy's eyes were level with her chest. And right now, they were not moving.
Instead of being angry, she just rolled her eyes and used her knee to forcefully lift his chin so his eyes lifted to hers. "My eyes are here, Gar, not there."
He blinked before he chuckled and blushed. "I knew that."
"That wasn't a very good thing to say, Beast Boy," Raven chided, resting her chin on her upraised knee. The silk of her dress was soft against her skin and she gently smoothed her skirt around her legs so it draped over her and over the gold comforter of the bed.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Beast Boy said, "Bet this room has one helluva bathtub."
Raven nodded. "I think that while you go get my medicine, I'll talk a bath."
"That's a good idea. I'll go get that bag and bring it up here, then I'll head out and pick up your medicine and some food, alright?"
She nodded, scooting to the edge and purposely sliding down Beast Boy's body until her boot-clad feet touched the soft carpet. She didn't know why she had suddenly decided to do that, but she was glad she did when she heard Beast Boy's sharp intake of breath.
Her eyes flicked up to his before she slid away, venturing to a plush gold armchair and plopping down. Beast Boy had turned and his eyes followed her every movement.
Raven pushed her dress up around her thighs, leaving one leg bare save for the boot, the other covered by her skirt. She could have sworn she heard Beast Boy swallow from where she sat.
As she unlaced her boots, Raven said casually, "I'll probably already be in the bath by the time you get the bag of clothes. So do you think that you could just lay something out for me? I'd appreciate it if you did."
He nodded dumbly, eyes still watching her fingers as they plucked and loosened the ties holding her boot up.
"Thank you." Raven slid the boot off easily, thanks to the dreaded pantyhose she had been forced to wear, and thought of another chore her smitten Beast Boy could do. "Could you start running the water for me, Gar?" She found pleasure in the way his eyes lit when she used his name, and decided to do it more often.
"'Kay." As Beast Boy ran the water to her bath, Raven sighed and jerked off her other boot. Gently, she rolled her ankles before standing up, the brush of her skirt feeling slightly weird against her skin.
Raven walked into the bathroom to find Beast Boy leaning over the tub, checking the temperature of the water. She let herself enjoy the view before she said, "Thank you."
He turned his head to grin. "No problem." He straightened slowly, wiping his wet hands on his trousers. "Guess I'll be going now."
Raven nodded, reaching for the back of her dress. But she quickly found that she wasn't able to undo the strings. "Damn," she cursed, peeking her head out to see if Beast Boy had left yet. Thankfully, he was just about to open the door.
"Wait!"
He paused and turned around. "Problem?"
"Yes." She walked up to him and turned her back. "Undo this for me, will you? I can't reach it, and I'll be damned if I get into the water with this thing on."
Beast Boy quickly unlaced the dress, trying not to think of the simple fact that Raven was not wearing a bra under the dress, and turned his back when the dress gaped open to the curve of her back.
She mumbled a quick 'thank you' before walking to the bathroom and closing the door. She heard Beast Boy leave and sighed, pushing the dress from her body. As she reached to undo her hair, a lump formed in her throat. Poor Darcy. She had never done anything to deserve being murdered like that.
Raven was at first hesitant about taking down her hair, but knew that it needed to be washed. So, with great care, Raven managed to let her hair down and pulled the fake roses from the mass. She placed the tiny plastic flowers on the counter and sighed softly.
"I'm so sorry, Darcy," she murmured to herself. "I wish I could have protected you from him. I wish you had never gotten involved in this. But wishing is not enough. It won't bring you back, but I swear to you, I will not let your death be in vain. I will take him down, for you and all the other women who were killed."
Raven bit her lip, truly wondering if Darcy could hear her words. But even if she didn't, Raven would make sure Darcy did not die in vain. Now, Raven was willing to risk her life to bring the White Rose Killer down: For murdering innocent women, for raping children, and for taking her best friend.
She sighed deeply and stripped the rest of her clothes from her sinewy body. Sliding into the water, Raven listen quietly as Beast Boy walked back into the suite, obviously laying out clothes for her.
She flicked off the water and leaned against the marble tub, arching her back to release the kinks. Thankfully, it popped, and Raven sighed.
Dipping beneath the water to wet her hair, Raven wondered what she would do without Beast Boy. Not only had he been there for her during this whole escapade, but also he was willing to give up what he needed to protect her. Actually, he had always been there for her.
Raven lifted herself from the water, smoothing her hair back. The water was starting to wreak havoc with her mind, gently lulling her to sleep, so she quickly grabbed the packaged soap and scrubbed her body.
Though she had only been in the bath for ten minute, she stood and flipped on the shower to wash her hair with the hotel shampoo. After scrubbing herself clean from makeup and hairspray, Raven stepped out of the shower, water pooling beneath her feet. She wrapped a towel around her body and gently shoved her head out of the door to make sure Beast Boy was gone.
Finding the cost clear, she walked to the bed, where Beast Boy had lain out her clothes. She smiled slightly at the undergarments, wondering what his face had looked like when he grabbed them. She slipped on the simple white cloth, and couldn't wait to get the long sleeved pajamas on. The fabric was soft to the touch, and colored a deep blue. She didn't recognize the clothes, and figured that it must be Beast Boy's. She slid it on and jumped beneath the covers, delighted to find the sheets warm. But she quickly realized that her thick hair was soaking the pillow, and cursed, jumping up to find a brush. Her back was already wet and was starting to get uncomfortable, so she sat in front of the cheery fire, letting the heat dry her body.
Raven was lost in her thoughts when Beast Boy finally arrived, arms full of paper bags. His eyes searched the room until they landed on her. He smiled, shaking his head slowly.
"I know you didn't want a meal, so I picked up junk food for you. You're supposed to take the medicine before you eat. I know you don't like coke, so I got a simple bottled tea, if that's good for you."
Raven nodded and sat up slowly, bringing her almost dry hair over her shoulder. She grabbed one bag from his arms and started to rummage. "Doughnuts? Chips? Chocolate? Jeez, Beast Boy."
He grinned and pulled a simple bottle of water from the bag. "What? A guy has to have some junk food in his system. I can't live on tofu alone, ya know."
Raven muttered, "I don't see how you live on it at all." Raven chose a bag of frosted doughnuts from the bag and climbed onto the bed. She grimaced at the thought of eating anything, but knew something had to be in her stomach for the medicine to work. She managed to get one down before she pushed the food away completely, and took the two thick horse pills from Beast Boy's hand and downed them.
Since she was already bone tired, it didn't take the drug long to work. She allowed Beast Boy to tuck her in, but it was only because she was too damn exhausted to fight him. But she would not allow herself to sleep until Beast Boy came out of the shower.
She needed someone beside her, needed to feel his warmth. She couldn't sleep without knowing he was beside her. Thankfully, his shower was quick and he had changed inside the bathroom.
She lay on her side and watched him settle beneath the sheets. He turned to face her before he lay down. "Are you sure you want me in here with you? I mean, I can sleep on the floor-"
"Just lay down, Beast Boy." He smiled softly. He scooted down and turned his back to her. He knew to keep his distance, for fear of-
His body stiffened in shock when he felt her small body cradled against his back, her arms weaving around his waist. He turned his head to study her. "Raven, what are you-"
"Please, Beast Boy. I'm tired." Her eyes drifted close as she settled herself against him. But her eyes snapped open when he moved her arm, and for a brief moment, humiliation washed over her. Damn. Fine then, if he didn't want her pressed against him, then she would just turn around and-
But he turned to face her, pulling her body to his so her head was pressed against his chest. Raven blinked, and then settled her body against his. She knew she was not acting like herself, and she would probably act as if it never happen when the sun rose, but now, she needed someone beside her. No, she needed Beast Boy beside her. Raven drifted off into a drug-induced sleep, unconsciously sliding her leg between his.
Maybe, she thought to herself, being with someone is not as bad as I made it out to be...
The first thing she realized when her eyes drifted open was that her body was paralyzed. Starfire's eyes widened as she tried to move any part of her body, but nothing happened. She could feel everything, including her pounding head and shattered fingers, but nothing would move. It was as if her muscles were paralyzed, but her nerves were still working. Was that even possible?
Though she was unable to move her head, Starfire let her eyes drifted over her surrounding. She was lying flat on her back on what seemed like a smooth rock, hands tied above her head and feet shackled. Starfire let her eyes glide over the ceiling.
Red rocks speared from the ceiling like needles. Drips of water slipped from the sharp spear-like rocks and dripped on to her throat and shoulders. She could actually feel the cold water as it slid along her skin. How was it she was able to feel everything, yet not be able to move her body?
She heard a soft curse from beside her. She knew the voice, but whose was it?
"I can't move a damn muscle." Mallory. "How the hell can I have a pounding head when I can't even move it? And why can I talk when my freaking neck won't even move?" Mallory kept on ranting about nothing in particular, and Starfire gently worked her jaw, which, believably, she could move with little trouble. So, she tried her act at talking.
"I am unsure." Thank God. At least she could talk. She hated the feeling of not being able to move and did not want to think of the fact that when the White Rose Killer appeared, she would be unable to fight him off. Damn. "I cannot move either."
She heard Mallory sigh. "I really hope this is not how it ends. I mean I never really told Christian goodbye, and Wyatt... damn. I better not die like this or I swear I will haunt the White Rose Killer for the rest of eternity."
Before Starfire could reply, raised voices could be heard. They were both men's voices, deep and hushed, but their argument echoed along the walls.
"Are you an idiot? Why in seven hells did you hire an entire mob? Now they know who you are and can go off and tell the police everything! Jesus, man, what were you thinking?"
"Shut up." The other said softly, as if he didn't have a care in the world. "I took care of them. Let's just say that they didn't make it back home to their waiting families."
There was a slight pause before the other asked, "You murdered them all? How did you manage that?"
"Don't worry about it. Right now, all we have to do is worry about our guests."
Starfire's body would have stiffened had she been able to move. Damn. They were coming over here.
"Comfortable, my dear?"
"I cannot move," Starfire said calmly. "Might you be able to tell me why?"
Starfire ground her teeth when she felt his vile hands roam over her. How she wished she could move her body and blast this bastard to kingdom come.
"It's an illegal drug that paralyzes the muscles, yet leaves the victim able to feel everything. It doesn't work for long, but I have a healthy amount stored in this place."
"You are a coward," she snarled, but he only chuckled. He leaned over her, but she was unable to see his face, for it was covered. "I will not be able to escape, so why do you cover your vile face?"
"I do not have what I desire yet. Once I have all of you, then I will remove the mask. Until then, you shall just have to wait."
Starfire bit back a groan of aggravation. "What will you do once you have us all?"
She heard him sigh and he pulled away from her line of sight. "You shall find out soon enough."
"Come along," the leader ordered his comrade, and soon they disappeared. Starfire cursed. That had not gone well. She didn't know what the hell they planned and with her being paralyzed, there was no way she could protect herself. She would have to depend on Raven, or Beast Boy, or... Robin.
Did he even care that she was missing? Or did he even know? Starfire realized that he was probably with Rebecca, unaware that she was gone, and would probably not make it out alive, or in one piece. Starfire felt the first signs of weakness wash over her. She was starting to give up hope. Robin would not care that she was in the White Rose Killer's clutches, and even if he were unaware of her current bind, he would arrive too late. The White Rose Killer would have already raped her, and she knew by then, she would pray for death.
Starfire fought back desperate tears. She would be damned if she let the White Rose Killer raped her. Starfire thought of possible ways to escape. Fighting was out of the question, unless the drug wore off. When it did wear off, she could pretend to be unable to move, and strike then. But what if he knew exactly how long the medicine worked? Or he could always inject her with it while she was still paralyzed.
Starfire groaned and tried to think of another way. Maybe… maybe somehow Raven could help. Raven had been having premonitions of the White Rose Killer's victims, so maybe she was seeing what Starfire saw now.
She prayed that she as right, desperately wishing that her best friend could hear her silent pleas of help.
Raven jerked out of her drug-induced sleep the second Starfire's voice filled her head. She sat up quickly. The movement woke Beast Boy up and he groaned softly. Starfire was pleading with her to help, but after that, she was cursing, threatening to dismember Robin when she was finally able to see him. But then her voice drifted off, leaving Raven's head blank.
Raven sat back against the headboard and rested her forehead against her upraised knees. Starfire was fine. Pissed, but still alive. And Mallory was still with her, unharmed, and just as mad as Starfire.
Raven felt relief wash over her. Starfire was okay. But she still did not have much time. Raven tried to remember what Starfire had seen, and all her mind's eye could come up with was rocks. A cave?
"Raven?" She did not raise her head when Beast Boy called her name softly. Instead, she wrapped her arms around her legs and wished, not for the first time, that she didn't have her powers. She was thrilled that Starfire was safe, but what if she had to watch her best friend die, and know that she failed her?
Raven couldn't survive that kind of stress. Already, she had watched two or three deaths, just because of her powers. And after finding Darcy, she didn't know if her mind could take any more horror. She already felt that she was slowly losing her sanity. Watching another murder, especially Starfire's, would send her over the edge, and she knew that once she lost it, she'd never get it back.
The bed shifted under Beast Boy's weight as he moved beside her. Raven didn't even object when he lifted her into his lap. She merely curled up in a little ball. She didn't want to live this life anymore. Constantly wondering when she would see another woman raped and murdered, or having to close her eyes when she opened another door, wondering if she would see a dead body hanging from the ceiling.
All Raven had ever wanted was to be normal, to be able to feel things like humans. But she couldn't. And after awhile, she had accepted that fact. She had also known that she would probably be alone because of her powers. But now, she couldn't stand it. She wanted to be able to laugh, to cry, without having to worry about the building collapsing around her because of her abilities and powers. She wanted to be able to be around people, wanted to date like other people.
She wanted to show Beast Boy that she wasn't as cold hearted as he thought, that the sarcasm was just her way of hiding. She wanted to be with him, go on dates and hold hands and kiss like normal couples did. But she couldn't even do that. Even when he took her hand, she feared that her emotions would go haywire and snap something in two. Of course it hadn't happened, but she shouldn't have to worry about things like that.
Beast Boy gently massaged her back, his fingers kneading the tense muscles. Raven slowly let herself relax. But of all the things that she wanted, one stood out. She wanted Beast Boy. All of him. She wanted his body, his heart, wanted to hear him laugh because of her. She just wanted him. Nothing more. She could deal with the nightmares, the visions, as long as she had him.
Everything suddenly seemed so simple now. All she needed was Beast Boy. She could survive anything as long as she knew that he was around her. It was downright frightening, knowing that he was really the only thing that kept her together. That he kept her from slipping off the edge of sanity.
Almost hesitantly, Raven lifted her head. She met his worried eyes and fought down nervousness. She wanted to be with him more than anything, but did he want her?
His lips quirked upwards, but his eyes were dark with worry. "You alright?"
Raven nodded slowly, her eyes searching his. His shoulder seemed to relax and his eyes returned to their normal state. "You had me worried there for a second, Rae. I thought that-"
"I'm ready."
Beast Boy blinked rapidly. Ready? For what? A part of him knew, but he didn't think that Raven would want that from him. "Ready? Rae, what are you talking about? Do you need your medication again?"
Raven grabbed his hand as it reached for the bottle beside the table and gently brought it to her lap, running her fingers across his claws. She kept her eyes glued to their hands. "I want to be with you, Beast Boy. I...want...you."
Raven slowly lifted her eyes to his. Her heart slammed against her ribs and butterfly wings brushed against her stomach as he gently leaned in and kissed her lightly. "Are you sure?"
She nodded slowly, and wondered if her heart was about to burst. Gently, he lifted her in his arms and laid her back down. Raven swallowed hard, her stomach clenching in nervousness. She trusted him completely, but she was scared. What if she did something wrong? Or what if she wasn't good enough? She knew that Beast Boy had slept with Terra before, and that was digging into her self-esteem. What if Terra was better than her and he realized that he still had feelings for her?
And why in the hell did she care? She shouldn't be worried about these things. She should be calm, composed, like she always was. But she realized that there were just some things that not even she could handle without nerves. She was about to give herself completely to Beast Boy, and she had the right to feel nervous.
Beast Boy tenderly lay down beside her, resting his large hand against her stomach. He felt the muscles clench and had to ask again, "Are you sure about this, Rae? This will change everything. We can never take it back again."
Raven stared at the ceiling for a moment, momentarily wondering if she really wanted this. And after awhile, she realized that she needed this. She needed Beast Boy completely. It was selfish, yes, but she couldn't handle this without him. She knew she didn't need to give herself to him, but she wanted to. She wanted to know what it was like to have him kiss her tenderly, to have his mind filled with thoughts of her, and her only, to know that she was the one to give him pleasure. She wanted this.
Raven turned her head to him and her mouth curved in a genuine smile. "I'm sure."
He smiled gently before leaning in to kiss her.
Yay! I'm so happy! I finally posted a chapter that's near perfect! My beta-reader is so darned cool! Thank you so much, Snea! I am so happy now. But, anyway, I don't think I'll do a sex scene between Raven and Beast Boy, but if I get enough reviews saying that they want it, I guess I could…but I don't know. It all depends on what you want. Either way is fine with me. But…uh…well, I have nothing else to say…so, hope you enjoyed it and until next time!
