The next couple drabbles in this series will probably be a bit angsty... Please read & tell me what you think. (:
Setting: this takes place right after Birthmark, when Slade reminds Raven about her prophecy for the first time.
Deranged, afraid, absolutely broken.
That's how Robin had found his teammate after her encounter with Slade. He had tried to convince her to eat dinner with the other Titans, to make her feel safe. But Raven had chosen to go to her room, claiming to join the others later.
Dinner was halfway over with no sign of Raven. Beast Boy had volunteered to go to her room and remind her the mashed potatoes were getting cold, but when he got there, plans changed.
"Yo, Raaaaven!" He tried to sound upbeat, for her sake.
No reply. Worried, Beast Boy input the generic override code, and her door slid open. Cautiously, he stepped into the doorway and peered into the dimly lit room.
The petite empath looked like a statue. She stood in front of the mirror that hung above her black dresser. Not acknowledging to his entrance, she only continued to glare vacantly at her own reflection. A pair of silver scissors were bright and obvious in the dark room, yet Raven's hair was still long and untamed.
"Rae?" Beast Boy's concerned voice was deaf on the sorceress's ears.
"It's all my fault," she mouthed. Beast Boy's ears twitched, catching the low, gravelly words with his advanced animal hearing.
"No, Raven, it's not," he tried carefully. Again, she didn't seem to hear.
"I never even asked to be born," she reached for the scissors.
Beast Boy's eyes dilated to the size of full moons. "No!" He cried out, stepping forward.
Instead of hurting herself, the scissors met her lavender hair. She snapped the thin blades shut, and a long lock descended to the floor.
Beast Boy breathed a sigh of relief.
"I hate it, I hate it, I hate it," another lock fell, this one longer than the last. "I hate me." The changeling cringed sadly at her words.
"Hell on earth…" Snip. "And it's all my fault." Snip.
Suddenly, her melancholy mood turned to rage. She sliced a few more locks with the scissor blade before bringing the silver snippers above her head menacingly.
"Raven, no!" Beast Boy launched himself forward, landing behind her back. Swiftly, he wrapped his strong arms around her thin frame, pinning her arms to her side. The shining scissors tumbled lifelessly amidst the different lengths of violet hair.
The tiny girl writhed against his grip, wailing pitifully."I never wanted this day to come!" She threw her head backward, into his chest, hard. Still, his hold never faltered. Her body rioted against his chest, and she vocally abused herself, eventually cursing in her ancient language. As her rage continued, her insults slowed and breathing quickened.
"Raven, you need to calm down," Beast Boy's firm, concerned voice filled her right ear.
She ignored it. "I-I," she couldn't choke out the words. "I-I-can't," she coughed, face wet with a mixture of sweat and tears. At her current respiratory rate, it was only a matter of time before she'd hyperventilate and pass out.
After a small eternity, Beast Boy felt the little empath inhale deeply. Okay, that was a step in a positive direction. Or so he thought.
A long, wailing exhale cried out, and her breath began hitching again, faster this time.
Beast Boy squeezed his eyes shut, his ears sensitive to the high decibels.
"Please, Rae, try to breathe."
"I c-c-a…can't," she stuttered, hands gripping his thighs like two small vices. He still had her arms pinned. "I-gasp-can't-gasp-breathe," she panicked even more, as the words squeaked out like helium from a pinched balloon. "I can't breathe!"
Beast Boy released his arms from their hold. Placing one hand around her waist and one arm behind her knees, the changeling scooped her up, wedding style. He then strode promptly to her bed, hoping she'd feel safest there, with him.
As soon as he sat, he felt her tired, broken body curl into fetal position against his torso. Her head fit into the hollow beneath his chin and she nuzzled against his collarbone. Predominantly, he felt her ear find its place over his heartbeat, and detected her breaths trying to match the steady thumps. To Beast Boy's relief, her breaths were slowing, although hot tears continued spilling from her eyes and onto his chest.
Kind green fingers caressed her choppy, uneven hair, while his other hand curled protectively against her torso. He knew nothing he could do or say would help her, so for now he held her close. He clutched her tiny figure protectively, like she was the most precious thing in his life.
And she was.
And they would get through this.
Together.
