AN: I didn't forget about you guys, I promise! I've been busy with school, but now I'm done! Woop Woop. So, yeah. Enjoy and review.c:
Beast Boy led Raven down the hall, trying to comfort her.
"It doesn't look that bad. They won't even notice," Beast Boy assured. Raven sighed.
"You're lying to me. You can't even look at me." She stopped, dropping his hand. He placed his hand on her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.
"Those cuts will fade. You, however, are here to stay. We are more concerned about you, Raven, not with what happened." Beast Boy carefully grabbed her right arm and kissed one of the healing cuts. He looked at her arm, which was littered with cuts of varying depths. Five of the incisions required stitches on this arm; seven on the other. Some of the gashes have faded into a mere red line, while others were just scabbing over. "The question is, are you okay?" He asked, intertwining his fingers with hers. She nodded, so they continued on. They reached the living room, and Beast Boy dropped her hand to go in front of her.
"Hey guys. Uh, Raven is feeling better now." Beast Boy said. Robin and Cyborg stopped playing video games, and Starfire stopped cooking and flew over. Robin and Cyborg made their way over to Beast Boy.
"I wish to see my friend now please!" Starfire exclaimed. Raven came out from behind Beast Boy, making an effort to hide her arms. Starfire went in for one of her bone-crushing hugs, so Raven accepted it and hugged her back.
"Can't breathe, Star." She gasped. Starfire released her friend, smiling sheepishly. Cyborg walked up to Raven next, placing his massive hand on her shoulder.
"It's good to have you back, Rae." He said, removing his hand and walking towards the kitchen. Robin walked towards Raven. His eyes were drawn to the lines etched into Raven's arm. He looked back up, staring in her eyes. Raven felt all of his emotions- worry, fear, sadness- and Raven looked down, avoiding eye contact. Robin placed a hand on her arm and leaned in towards her.
"Please, never do that again." He whispered, he voice trembling. Raven could feel his pain, and her stomach flipped.
"I won't, I promise," she assured, trying to ease Robin's mind. She could feel that he was still worried, but he walked back to the couch, joined by Starfire. Beast Boy grabbed Raven's hand, rubbing circles on the back of it with his thumb.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked. Raven shrugged, but deep inside she was feeling a wide array of emotions-mostly coming from the other titans in the room. Trying to block it out, they walked over to the couch and watched TV. Beast Boy seemed distracted enough by the mind-numbing cartoon, but Raven's mind continued to wonder. Slade and Trigon are still out there, and I can't stop them. No one can, she thought to herself. As if reading her mind, Beast Boy put his arm around her, pulling her close.
"Who wants dinner? I'm making steak and potatoes!" Cyborg called out from the kitchen. On cue, Raven's stomach growled, causing Beast Boy to laugh.
"Sounds great, as long as I can make my tofu burgers too!" Beast Boy replied, getting up. Cyborg groaned, but allowed Beast Boy to make his meat-free dinner. Robin turned to Raven, who had picked up a book from the side table and began to read.
"Hey, Rae?" he asked, getting her attention. She glanced up. "I know the last few days have been rough for you. But, I need you to trust that we are here for you. We will help you defeat Trigon." He said. Raven shook her head. "You don't understand, Trigon is the incarnate of evil. He cannot be defeated." She said hopelessly. Robin half smiled at her. "Well, he has never met the titans."
"Robin. I won't let you-or anyone else-stand up against him. I refuse to watch my friends fight a losing battle." She grabbed her book and walked to her room. It is hopeless to fight Trigon. Why don't they understand that?
"You're right, daughter. It is hopeless, I will destroy your planet, and everything you own." Trigon boomed, laughing. Raven dropped to the floor, her head pounding and eyes burning. She looked up as fire surrounded her.
"Get out of my head!" she yelled, closing her eyes and holding her head. Trigon's laugh echoed throughout her head as the room returned to normal. Raven stayed on the ground as tears began to fall from her eyes. She heard footsteps behind her. She wiped her eyes and turned to see Beast Boy standing behind her.
"Raven, are you… crying?" he asked, kneeling down in front of her.
"No. I'm fine, leave me alone." She answered coldly. She got up and started to leave, but Beast Boy stopped her, grabbing her shoulder. He got in front of her and looked in her once sparkling, violet eyes, which were now red and puffy.
"Raven. I want to help you, but you keep pushing us away. I'm worried about you, Rae. I know things are tough, but you gotta let us help you out." He pushed a piece of hair out of her eyes.
"That's what none of you understand! You can't help me. Trigon will come, and we can't stop him." She backed away and starting walking towards her room.
"But, Rae-" He was cut off my the sound of her door slamming. He sighed and walked to his room. She can be so difficult sometimes. Why won't she just let us help her?
Raven plopped down on her bed, feeling guilty. Why would you do that to Beast Boy? He was being nice, and I completely shut him out. But why won't he just leave me alone? Doesn't he realize that I'm just trying to protect him? She laid down and retrieved her iPod. She put her earbuds in and began listening to one of her favorite songs- Cuts by Jann Arden.
"There will be ice on the moon
There will be glass in my eyes
There will be thorns in my heart
There will be broken bits inside
There won't be sun on my face
And not one smile to be seen
There will be salty lemon cuts
All over every inch of me
Cause I am lost
And I am used
And I am desperately a wreck here without you
I am deaf, too tired to sleep
Oh I am horribly alone and incomplete."
Her song was interrupted by the beeping of her communicator. She got up and headed into the main room of the tower. All of the titans were sitting there, awaiting Robin's orders.
"The monitor doesn't say who it is, only that there was suspicious behavior in the abandoned warehouse. Titans, let's go. Raven, I want you to stay here, you aren't in any condition to fight." He commanded.
"I'm not just going to sit here. I am going with you, and you can't stop me." Raven said shortly before transporting to the warehouse. The other titans sighed, heading to the warehouse.
When Raven arrived, she felt uneasy. She knew someone was watching her.
"All alone today, Raven? And in a new uniform, how wonderful. I see your pathetic attempt at saving your friends has failed miserably." Slade smiled. Raven turned around to see Slade standing behind her, towering over her. She tried to run, but Slade grabbed her arm, sending a wave of pain through her arm, causing her to fall to her knees. He grabbed her by the shirt and lifted her up, staring right into her eyes.
"Leave me alone!" She yelled, trying to break free from his grasp. She managed to land a kick right onto his shin. His grip loosened just enough to give Raven the chance to break free. Slade recovered quickly, however, and grabbed her once more, picking her up and pinning her small body against the wall. He smiled.
"I have a message for you." His grasp on Raven's upper arms tightened, and pain shot through her body. He dropped her and walked away, vanishing into nothing. There were newly formed marks on her skin, the bright red lettering contrasting her pale skin. No matter how hard I try, I can't change my destiny. She thought to herself, watching the red lettering fade from her skin. I can't save my friends, I can't save anyone. There's no hope. Raven lay in a small heap on the ground, tears falling from her eyes. She felt her breath get shallower and more rapid. The other titans had just arrived, and hurried over to her.
"Raven? What happened?" Robin asked, kneeling beside his friend. No answer. Cyborg dropped to his knees and pulled her up to a seated position. She was crying uncontrollably and began to hyperventilate.
"She's having an anxiety attack. Everyone, back off." Cyborg demanded. He placed his hands around her thin, toned arms. He stared into her eyes.
"Raven? It's me, Cyborg. You're safe. We are all safe. Focus on me and only me." He said firmly. Raven stared at him, trying to control her breathing.
"Okay. Now look around, what do you see?" He asked. She glanced around.
"I…I see…a window. And…boxes." She managed to say between breaths. He smiled.
"Good, now look back at me. Try to relax, you are safe here." She stared at him and began to calm down. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and began to stand up, but a wave of dizziness overcame her. Cyborg caught her before she fell, and picked her up effortlessly, holding her like he would an infant.
"Sorry" She whispered. She felt her eyelids getting heavy.
"It is fine Raven, there's nothing to be sorry about." Cyborg replied. He brought her outside, where the other titans were waiting.
"She is fine, she is going to be sleepy though. Let's head back. BB, why don't you come with me? I think Raven would like the company." Cyborg said, looking down at the now-sleeping girl in his arms. Beast Boy nodded, took Raven, and got into the T-Car, holding Raven close. Cyborg got in the car and began the drive home.
AN: Sorry for that horrible ending! But next chapter will be better! Again, review!
Also, the lovely Dixxy informed me of a confusing detail in this chapter, so I fixed it. Thank you all for reading and supporting this story!