A/N I wanted to say thank you to all the reviews and encouragement from all my readers! Shout-outs to Suzuma, Grabrielus Prime, The Cretin, Tigerlily xoxo, Kayla Marie (guest… thank you still, A!), ohheylizet, ttcouplesluvver. I thank you all for reviewing and not flaming me 3! Thanks to everyone that reviewed! Dark-Wolf7, AlaskaChic Storywriter (Now TheInsaneM), Tigerlily xoxo, The Cretin, Shadico, superactive sloth, simplyacritic, Kaarlinaa, crystalgirl78, Ya I'm THAT chick, and marubang043! You guys are great! [On a further note, I'm going to have Beast Boy start this chapter… shhhh don't tell the readers ;) ]
Chapter 2:
The next morning felt like waking up from a dream. I was so happy; the night replayed in my head on a loop. I hummed along to my favorite song, Only One by Yellowcard, as I moved around my room. All but dancing, I made my bed and did all the morning necessities before finally making my way down to living room. I walked in and saw, once again, the usual sight. Robin was listening to music in the kitchen while making breakfast. Cyborg and Beast Boy had returned to their game from the night before. I joined Starfire at the island with a book in hand.
BRRING! The sweet calling sound of breakfast. Five plates were placed in front of us; tofu eggs for Beast Boy, pancakes for Starfire, eggs and toast for Robin, a mountain of all three for Cyborg, and finally two waffles for me… Girl loves her waffles. Everyone had a drink in front of them; ranging from orange juice for the boys to Starfire's zorkaberries and my herbal tea. We were silent as we all enjoyed the sweet nectar as it was the final thing to truly wake us all up.
I brought my mug to my lips just as the lights started to flash. Robin jumped the couch and started tapping a code into the computer. With a sigh, I placed my drink back down, disappointment apparent in my subtle movements. Everyone was awaiting Robin's order: Dr. Light. A small smile pulled at my lips. Memories played in my head like a movie. Though, even the sight of the demoness that lurks inside me dragged the corner of my lips down. We all darted out the door in our own fashion; Cyborg barreling through the door; Star, with her eyes and hands glowing; Robin, trying to be impressive, with his boa staff; Beast Boy morphed into a hawk. Then me, bringing up the end with my hood hiding my new smile.
Once we hit the fresh salty air, everything changed. Cyborg was driving the T-Car, though it was in a new hovercraft mode that made me just shrug, waiting for it to blow up or something of that sorts. It always happens so how would it be new. Robin had the R-Cycle, flying mobile mode. The rest of us just flew, powered by whatever way we had; me, magick, Starfire, "joy of flight" (still trying to understand that girl and her logic), and Beast Boy, natural bone and muscle.
We headed towards the bank, you know the only one in Jump that always gets robbed, where we knew Dr. Light was doing his work. For a doctor, he really isn't the brightest… I'm sorry I couldn't resist and it is still all too true. Back to my story sorry… Beast Boy flew close to me, his down stroke brushing the edge of my cloak. I looked at him, which was a big mistake. Nevermore exploded behind my eyes.
Happy and Love were going ballistic. Singing, practically screaming, with joy as they flew around. The sight reminded me of Starfire. Timid, still adorn in her gray cloak, cracked a smile, no matter how small it was still there. Knowledge was sitting nearby, reading a romance novel of a forbidden couple in Ancient Greece. Rage, who has been long gone since my father has been banished, was nowhere in sight as well as Rude. She really had no place here. Bravery was pulling Timid into the dance, though it was not really working well.
Shaking myself back to Earth, I saw Beast Boy's concerned eyes land on mine. I quickly turned my head away, thanking Azar for my hood, and willed myself to fly faster. We made it to the bank just as Dr. Light tried to get away. I had to stifle a laugh as Robin keyed to me to stay away until I was needed. As sat there and started to mumble my mantra. After repeating it like the broken record that I was feeling like, I looked down to see that Dr. Light was starting to get a little full of himself: "His brilliance terrifies all, is that why your little witch is not here?"
I flew down like a shadow. Allowing my ebony raven to stand against the wall as I glided in the shadows, I crept through the ally. A mischievous smile pulled sharply at me as Dr. Light came ever closer. I knew that the only two that knew my position was Beast Boy, thanks to animal senses, and Cyborg, thanks to his robotic eyes.
The illumination obsessed villain laughed evilly as Robin cloaked everyone in a smog cloud before turning around. His eyes were still trained on my teammates. "No one can dim the brilliance of Dr. Light!"
"Is that so? I beg to differ," I felt my body grow as it had before. Mind you, I was still fully myself. I just had to teach him a long sought lesson. I saw his eyes slowly glide up my robe to meet my eyes. For good measure, I grinned maliciously, even throwing my head back in heartless laughter. After he palled in horror, a coughing fit over took me. Beast Boy was at my side in seconds after I crashed to the ground, still heaving.
"Rae! Are you okay?" He held my shoulder. I nodded, still coughing and gasping. After I was able to breathe, he took me into his arms. "Here, I got you," He whispered into my hair as we all started to go back to the tower; leaving the radiance clinician with the local authorities. Beast Boy gently placed me in the back of the T-Car. He held me to his chest, caressing me like a wounded bird. Cyborg got into the front of the car and proceeded to drive us home. A familiar hum told me that Robin and Starfire were close behind.
"Here, drink up," a second cup of tea with added honey was placed in my hands. I took it gingerly as the day outside turned from sunny to rainy. A gentle clap of thunder shook the liquid as a flash lit up the normally dark room. More blankets had been added to my bed as I sipped from the first cup. Once we got home, Beast Boy sent me to my room to change into warmer clothes as he brewed my cup of tea. Now, clad in sweatpants and an oversize sweatshirt, I lay in bed, being watched by the same boy I spent with last night.
"I feel better, honestly," a slightly better cough interrupted me.
"This is just to be sure," his warm smile radiated towards me in waves.
I smiled at him, using all my strength to keep Love in control. She just kept smiling at me, knowingly. Knowledge mirrored the same, her glass pushed up slightly by her pale gray cheeks. Happy was too busy giggling to show wittiness. Timid was nowhere to be seen. Nevermore danced with joy as Beast Boy's presence got stronger.
A spark of heat touched my flesh as a voice slowly strengthened like emerging from the water. "Rae. Raven? Hey, you faded out. You okay?"
"Yeah, Nevermore just came through," I smiled sheepishly. A soft laugh emanated from me, but in the deafening silence that was my room, it could have been like Starfire's.
"Okay," Beast Boy realized his hand was still on mine and pulled it back as if burned. "I'm going to – go now, I guess," he cleared his throat in midsentence before turning to leave. But impulse propelled me to grab his hand, just for the warmth of his around mine. He eased his way back onto my bed, his face slack as his eyes looked at mine. He laid next to me as I rested my head on his chest, listening to the soft sounds of his heartbeat.
"Garfield," my voice caught in my throat as his fingers threaded through mine. I looked up at him, only to see that he was already looking at me. He pressed his forehead against mine, green so strikingly close to purple. For the first time, there was nothing more I wanted than to stay right here. But it didn't last long as a coughing fit threw up apart.
"I'll go get you some more tea," Beast Boy took my mug and left the room, hesitating ever so slightly at the door. Only the sudden chill that accompanied me kept me underneath the security of the blankets. I closed my eyes and sleep pulled me under.
After leaving Rae's room, my mind couldn't stop racing. Pictures and possibilities overwhelmed me. But I think my heart was winning this speed race. It thundered against my chest that I was sure anyone in the same vicinity as me could hear it. Come on, Garfield. This is Rae, silent and mysterious Raven, we're talking about. She couldn't… even if you tried. My thoughts continued to control me as I all but consciously wandered to the main room for Rae's tea.
"Hey, BB. How's Raven?" Cyborg called out, eyes still on the game. It was just the two of us so I could only wonder how he knew it was me.
"She's been better. She's just coughing, I think. I'm going to bring her more tea so," I commented with a shrug.
Dear Diary, everyone's freaking out. Cyborg said that I have a demon's equivalent to a human's cold. Don't ask me how; I'm still trying to figure that out. Beast Boy's been taking care of me. It's… nice. A smile spread across my lips as I reread that sentence. My mind reeled through the past 36 hours. Beast Boy's been taking care of me and he's been just the sweetest person ever.
In Nevermore, Happy and Love were their normal happy moods, hence the former's name. They kept singing the normal 'Raven and Beast Boy sitting in a tree' even when I shoot them a look, they never stop. I kept pushing them away each time before the smile sprouted to my face.
Feeling another coughing fit rise to my throat, I paused my writing. Stupid cold. I'm a demoness for crying out loud! I looked out my window and enjoyed the sight of the sun. The sun shone brightly even behind my curtains, seeping through the slight crack where the curtains refused to bind. A soft smile came to my lips at the thought of an older man laying with the sliver of light across his features. The smile got even stronger as I noticed the man of my thoughts having a slight green hue.
My thoughts were thrown to the side as a knock sounded at my door. "Come in," I tried to regain my monotone, but I couldn't. Not that the slight pink that splashed across my nose and cheeks helped my disguise.
"Hey, Rae. I have more tea for you," Gar walked into my room with a steaming mug. I could smell it from my bed. A smile slowly spread across my features as the aromas wafted towards me, only getting stronger as he got closer. He set it right beside my bed. "How you feeling?"
"Now's your chance, Rae! Make a move," Love yelled in Nevermore.
"I'm a little cold," I lied. Placing a hand on my forehead, Garfield checked my temperature. He pulled it back as if burned, but didn't question me as he stood.
"I'll just go get you some more blankets."
I could sense his reluctance. Seeing an opportunity, I quickly offered a solution. "I could also use some company. Not many people have come to talk to me since I've fallen ill." I tried to keep the need of companionship out of my voice. However, from the slight perk of Garfield's green ears, it was obvious that it didn't work.
"I'll be right back!" He ran out quickly, I could feel his happiness and it was so strong that a smile etched its way onto my lips. I smiled down at my cup of tea, one hand subconsciously rising up to push my hair behind my ear. He likes being near me. He's happy to be near me. Let's just pray that he likes being with me. Just as the smile almost left me, the person of interest flew back into my room, a blanket bunched and held fiercely to his slightly panting chest. "Here," he said, showing me the large blanket as he got closer. I admired the wolves and… are those ravens?
I didn't have much time to wonder as he laid the blanket down and sat on the beds edge. "Come on, a little closer." Love is ushering him, her words almost spilling out of my mouth as I looked at the young man's profile. I crossed my legs under the blanket and rested my elbows on them. Mentally blaming Love for the words that were about to leave my mouth, I still spoke. "Garfield," I smiled, "I don't bite." Really? 'I don't bite' I am not aiming for desperate. I mentally snapped at Love. She only giggled in Nevermore.
His smile brightened as he crawled over to me and pulled the new blanket over both of us. I tried to resist the urge to relax into his chest. He seemed to have sensed it because he slowly wrapped one arm around me. When I didn't yell at him or move away, I felt his arm fully against my torso. I could feel his bicep and his forearm as it wrapped around my back to my waist. When I leaned further into his arms, I could feel the sense of shock roll off of him in waves. But that didn't stop the warmth I felt emanate even stronger. The urge to sleep over took me as the sense of security and peace dragged me even further.
"Go to sleep, Rae. I'll be here," he mumbled against me. And I did just that.
BACK! My leave is gone and I'm back! I'm happy, and I have plenty of inspiration! I hope y'all like it! I'm still sorry that I've been gone for so long! Read and Review, if you may please. TheInsaneM, thanks for being there for me all the time!