Hello everyone, hopefully it wasn't too long of a wait. I got so many reviews that I had to update so thank you all! Hope you like it.
A New Beginning
Chapter 4
Raven woke up the next morning extremely sore. She groaned as she rolled over and get out of bed. If she stayed in bed for too much longer the others would come and ask her what was wrong, since she always has her herbal tea in the morning and it would be weird of she didn't come out for that.
She decided that her leotard would be a little painful so she put on a pair of black sweats and a gray sweatshirt. It took a lot of effort for her to get dressed and once she was she was completely out of breath. 'First, I get aspirin and get better. Then, I kill Terra.' Raven thought angrily.
She sighed as she got up and slowly made her way to the living room, where she could hear the voices of the rest of the team in there. She put on a straight face and pretended that there was nothing wrong then walked in. She walked over to the coffee pot, still with a blank expression, and pretended that all of the eyes on her back didn't bother her. Finally she got annoyed and turned around to glare at her friends. "What are you looking at?" She snapped.
"Uh nothing, we're just wondering if there's anything wrong with you." Robin asked as he got up from where he was sitting and walked towards Raven.
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" Raven asked as she took a sip of her tea.
"Well you woke up later than usual and you don't normally dress like that. Are you sure everything is okay with you Raven?" Robin pointed out and asked worried.
"I said I was fine, I'm just not feeling too good today." Raven said which wasn't a complete lie but it caught Beast Boy's full attention.
"What, what's wrong, are you sick?" Beast Boy said and practically ran over to Raven. She blushed and looked away, only to meet eyes with Terra who was glaring at her. Raven looked to Beast Boy and shook her head.
"No, I just didn't sleep well last night and now have a headache; I should be fine in a couple of hours." Raven said and smiled a little. Beast Boy nodded and smiled back but still looked unconvinced.
"Maybe you should go back to bed, since you didn't sleep well last night and don't feel good now. I don't want you getting sick. C'mon I'll tuck you in." Beast Boy said, still smiling and went to usher her out of the room. Terra not liking the attention Beast Boy was giving Raven faked a cough but loud and obnoxious enough to get everyone to look at her. Raven rolled her eyes but stopped Beat Boy in his tracks, not wishing for another run in with Terra.
"No, it's fine Beast Boy. I think I'll go meditate, I should be fine by the time I'm done." Raven said and almost ran out of the room. Beast Boy looked after her sadly and sighed.
"Hey BB, what's up with her?" Cyborg asked coming up besides Beast Boy, the whole team having watched the interacting between the two.
"I have no idea. She hasn't been like that in so long. I thought we were getting somewhere in our friendship but lately it just seems like we keep taking steps back instead of forward. It's really frustrating me." Beast Boy said and slumped down on the couch. Terra rolled her eyes but still tried her best to get her crushes attention.
"Beast Boy, I'm actually not feeling too well either. Do you think you could tuck me in?" Terra asked and batted her eyelashes but Beast Boy paid her no mind.
"That's too bad Terra, you should go lay down. If anyone needs me I'll be in my room." Beast Boys said, not really in the mood for her obvious flirting. Terra fumed furiously as she watched him leave while Robin and Cyborg were nearly on the floor laughing.
Raven practically raced to her room, well as fast as she could with her injuries and all. She got to her room and quickly slammed the door, putting in the lock code just to be safe and keep Terra out. By no means was she afraid of Terra, so don't even think that. She was just worried of what the team would think.
Would they kick her off the team because Terra got the best of her in an unfair fight? Would they think Terra is better than her and replace her with Terra? She could just see it now, they literally kick Raven out the door of the tower and all the while that's going on, Terra and Beast Boy are making out in the corner.
Ok, so maybe she was over reacting but she really didn't get much sleep last night. The pain from her cuts and bruises bothered her whenever she moved to the point where it kept her awake all night.
She was so deep in thought that the knock on the door nearly scared her out of her skin. She thought it was Terra, coming to kick the crap out of her again. But then maybe it was Beast Boy coming to check on her after the way she shot him down. 'Preferably I don't want it to be either of them right now.' Raven thought and sighed, getting up to unlock the door.
She was more than surprised when she saw Starfire standing there with a frown on her face and her arms crossed. "Star, what's wrong?" Starfire raised an eyebrow at her.
"I believe I should be asking you that. You ran out away so fast it was like a Gordanian was chasing you." Starfire said and made her way to sit on Raven's bed. "So, what's bothering you? Because I know it is not that you did not get much sleep last night."
"Starfire I'm fine, really, I'm just feeling sick." Raven said and rolled her eyes.
"Then why are you wearing that different attire? You never wear normal clothes around the tower. Plus you couldn't look any of us in the eyes in the living room." Starfire said looking unconvinced.
"So what, am I not allowed to wear something different or try something new without everyone jumping on my back?" Raven asked accusingly.
"I'm not saying that but you do hate all of that. Please tell me what is bothering you Raven. We're friends aren't we? We're not supposed to keep secrets from one another." Starfire said looking at Raven with a sad pout.
'She always did know how to guilt trip me.' Raven thought to herself as she sighed and walked over to the bed to sit next to Star. "Ok fine, but what I am about to tell you cannot be repeated, promise?" Raven said sternly, looking at Starfire with a deadly serious look. Starfire hesitated but nodded, waiting for Raven to continue. "Last night, after Beast Boy and I got back from the mall, Terra was waiting for us. I guess Beast Boy told her something she didn't like because a few minutes later she came to the roof where I was meditating and we fought. And sadly, she beat me." Raven said looking down sadly.
Starfire was shocked to say the least. She shot up from her seat and walked towards the door. "We must tell the boys about this immediately!" Raven gasped and shot out of her seat as well, although it was very painful for her.
"Starfire, no, you can't!" Raven said as she grabbed Starfire's wrist and tugged her back.
"Why not, they are our friends and would not like it if we kept this from them. We have to tell them. And I have to find that clorbag and beat her until she is unrecognizable!" Starfire said and turned to leave but Raven gave another tug.
"No, they'll kick me off the team! They'll think of me as such a weakling who can't take care of herself!" Raven said and Starfire turned to look at her with a confused look.
"What on earth are you talking about Raven?"
"If they find out I got my ass kicked by Terra, they'll think I'm so weak and pathetic that they'll kick me off the team!" Raven said, fear coming into her voice.
"Raven, the only one getting kicked off the team is Terra. You are very special and important to us all Raven, once the boys find out what Terra did to you, they'll do worse to Terra. Don't worry Raven, they would never think badly of you, I promise." Starfire reassured her and put a calming hand on Raven's shoulder.
"You also promised you wouldn't tell anyone else." Raven pointed out.
"Raven this is worth breaking a promise over!" Starfire said exasperated.
"No it's not! Don't worry about me Star, I'm fine and I'm sure Terra won't do it again if I leave Beast Boy alone." Ravens aid and shook her head. Then she realized what she let slip out and smacked her forehead.
"That is why she attacked you, because she is jealous?!" Starfire screamed, her eyes glowing green.
"I guess but if I stay away from Beast Boy then she'll stay away from me." Raven said and Starfire rolled her eyes.
"You know Beast Boy will not stand for that, he will get curious and come to you." Starfire looked at her skeptically.
"Then I'll stay locked in my room!" Raven rolled her eyes.
"You know that won't work Raven, he will come find you because he cares about you and will not give you the option to run away forever."
"Please Star; just leave it alone, it really is ok." Raven said, putting a hand to her forehead that was now in pain from a headache.
"No it is not! Raven you can barely stand as it is. What happens if she attacks you again? You might not be so lucky next time! We must tell the others before this gets any worse!" Starfire shouted in fear and turned to leave again but Raven held her back.
"Starfire I'm begging you, don't tell anyone else about this, please! If you're really my friend you'll do me this one favor." Raven pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes. She felt bad for playing the friend card on Star, especially when all she was trying to do was help Raven, but she had no choice. The guys couldn't find out, and neither could Terra. If Terra found out Raven told anyone, she might actually go insane and go on a killing spree.
Starfire sighed and looked down. "Alright Raven, I will not tell anyone. But I think you should soon." And with that Starfire walked out of the room, leaving Raven alone to be miserable.
Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy were in the living room playing their favorite video game. Terra had left, being pissed off at the lack of attention Beast Boy was giving her. And Beast Boy came back in for his breakfast but was bribed with video games and ended up staying. He was still upset and confused about what happened with Raven but he figured she would tell him what was wrong when she was ready. Who knows, maybe she really was sick and he took it out of proportion.
Just then Starfire walked back in with a concerned and conflicted look on her face. The boys all gave her a confused look and Robin walked over to her worried. "Hey Star, what's wrong, did you talk to Raven?"
"Yes I did, and I fear something bad is going on." Starfire said and plopped on the couch defeated. But her statement got Beast Boy's devoted attention.
"What do you mean? What's going on with Rae, is she in trouble?" Beast Boy asked, practically in Star's face. Cyborg and Robin gave him a look that said 'calm down and back off.'
"Yes but I promised her I would not say anything. But I fear if I don't she will get very hurt. I don't know what I should do!" Starfire said as she put her head in her hands and let a few tears fall out. Robin was at her side in seconds, rubbing small circles on her back to calm her down.
"Well of course you should tell us, why wouldn't you!" Beast Boy practically screamed. Cyborg shook his head and walked over to Beast Boy, giving him a light flick on the forehead but powerful enough that it sent the green man into the couch.
Robin sent Beast Boy a glare then turns back to Starfire. "It's ok Star, just tell us what you think you can say and then we'll take it from there."
"Well she told me the real reason she is not feeling well. Apparently Terra and Raven got in a fight last night." Starfire looked up at the shocked faces of her three teammates. "I don't think I should go on."
"What are you saying? You have to! What did Terra do, is Raven hurt?" Beats Boy asked getting up again. Cyborg walked over to him and shoved him back into the couch this time.
"BB I know you're worried about Raven but if you don't calm down I'm going to make you leave." Cyborg said and Beast Boy immediately shut up, not wanting to miss any important details. "It's ok Star, go on."
"I don't think I should, I don't want Raven to be mad at me." Starfire said and sighed.
"Star it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Raven will forgive you when she knows you had her best interests in mind." Robin said rather wisely.
"Fine… Apparently Raven was badly hurt by Terra. She did not want to tell anyone though because she thought we would think of her as weak and kick her off the team. I think that was her biggest fear more than anything." Starfire said and looked down sadly.
"But why did Terra attack Raven?" Beast Boy asked calmly this time. Starfire looked up at him surprised and unsure.
"Because of you…" The three boys looked at her taken aback. "Let me rephrase, Terra attacked Raven because she was jealous of yours and Raven's relationship. I think Terra has confronted Raven before on the matter but it never got physical until now. Raven said she was going to stay away from you to prevent Terra attacking her again. I tried to tell her you wouldn't accept this but she is very stubborn." Starfire explained and looked to Beast Boy who seemed very angry. He shot up out of his seat and stomped out of the room.
"Should I go after him?" Cyborg asked Robin, watching as Beast Boy made his way down the hallway. "He might do something he'll regret later."
"No, if anything he's going to talk to Raven with what he just found out." Robin answered, in deep thought.
"Robin we are not still accepting Terra to the team are we? Not after what she did to Raven?" Starfire asked looking to him, hoping he would of course say no.
"Not at all, Terra had her chance to redeem herself and she lost it the second she so much as threatened Raven. I'm kicking her out of the tower; I think everyone will be safer that way, especially Raven. We need a team meeting. Let's all meet back her in an hour, tell Beast Boy, Raven, and Terra the same." Robin ordered and with that walked off.
Beast Boy marched his way to Raven's room. He couldn't believe the things she kept from him, when they were supposedly best friends. Why didn't she come to him when Terra even looked at her the wrong way? Why was he so stupid to not see what was going on?
He got to Raven's room and pounded on the door, earning a startled gasp from said girl. She went to the door and opened only a crack, surprised to a furious looking Beast Boy. "Beast Boy, what's wrong? Are-" Raven asked worried but he interrupted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He ground out. She looked at him confusedly for a second then realization dawned on her.
"Starfire broke her promise! She told you?!" She screamed slamming the door open completely.
"Yea she did, but the real question is why didn't you?" Beast Boy said pushing past her to go into her room. He sat on the bed and looked at her with a cold expression, which made her sad but rage was currently throwing a fit in her head which was hard to ignore.
Normally Raven would kill Beast Boy, or anyone, for being in her room. But she's come out of her shell more in the past few years so she doesn't really mind anymore, except in this case.
"You didn't need to know, none of you did." Raven said not looking at him. She sighed and closed the door so they could have privacy. She didn't want to think what would happen if Terra heard them, being that she was only a few rooms away.
"Bullshit Raven! We're your friends, and this is something a friend would tell another friend. What would have happened if we found out about all of this and it was too late! Besides that, why didn't you even tell me that Terra threatened you? I'm one of your best friends!" Beast Boy said angrily.
"I sort of did. I told you she said something to me that I didn't like." Raven said leaning against the door, still not looking at him.
"You never told me she threatened you! I could have taken care of it!"
"I didn't want you to take care of it! I'm a big girl; I can handle my own problems." Raven snapped and finally looked at him.
"Were you seriously going to let us all think she changed and was a better person now? Let her back on the team even after what happened last night? Are you crazy Raven?" Beast Boy sighed and put his head in his hands. Raven looked at him and sighed, feeling guilty for making him so upset. She walked over to him and sat next to him, lightly taking his hand in hers.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you alright? Even if I wanted to I didn't know how. And she only attacked me once; if it had gotten any worse over time then I would have told all of you." Raven said sighing. Beast Boy looked up at her and also sighed.
"Why didn't you come to me when this all started."
"Like I said, I didn't know how. I thought I could handle her but I guess I couldn't. Like Terra said, I'm weak." Raven said sadly, looking down to her lap.
"No you're not! She caught you off guard! Besides if it was a real fight you would have taken her down easily." Beast Boy said and nudged her lightly, trying to lift the uncomfortable tension. Even though it hurt slightly, she smiled and nudged him back. "So why did she threaten you in the first place?"
"Because of how close you and I are, she thought something was going on between us and she didn't like it. She wanted you all for herself because she 'loves' you. So she told me to stay away from you and when I didn't, she got mad." Raven answered honestly. "Though in my opinion, her love for you is more of an obsession."
Beast Boy chuckled a little. "I can definitely agree with you on that." He said but then looked down sadly. "So you got hurt because of me, huh?"
"Beast Boy no, I got hurt because it was a surprise attack and Terra's completely insane. She believed on false illusions of the past, everyone else saw by the way you treated her that there was no future for you two. You did nothing wrong, so no it is not your fault." Raven said and rubbed his back in comfort. He looked up at her and smiled, which she returned.
"Thanks Rae, you always know what to say." Beast Boy chuckled.
"My name is Raven but since we're having a moment I'll let it slide." Raven said giggling a bit.
"I might be taking it a bit far but… do you think I could see your wounds? I want to see what she did to you?" Beast Boy said looking her in the eyes, showing how serious he was. Raven breathed in sharply at his question. She saw the wounds on her body, there were not pretty. If he saw them he'd be completely repulsed and never want to look at her again. She was over reacting again of course but hey, she's been through a lot in the past few days.
"I… I don't know Beast Boy. They're pretty… gruesome." Raven said trying to think of the right word. She looked over to him and saw he still had that serious look in his eyes, meaning he wasn't backing down from this. She sighed and thought over again, only to nod a few seconds later.
She looked away as she saw his hands come over to them hem of her shirt, slowly lifting it up over her head to reveal her sports bra. She heard his gasp and knew he was revolted by her battered body. She couldn't help but feel tears well up in the corners of her eyes at the rejection she felt.
Beast Boy couldn't believe the torture Terra did to Raven's body. Her abdomen was covered in dark blue and purple, almost black, bruises. There were tiny cuts every now and then all over her torso and arms that still had to scab over or had tiny specks of dry blood around them. Her back wasn't any better. From her shoulder blades to her lower back was a large bruise that looked like it caused pain if you even so much as touched it with a feather. There were some areas of the upper half of her body that were now swollen and more than likely she had a few cracked ribs.
Beast Boy never wanted to kill so much in his life. The fact that Terra did this just because she was jealous enraged him, but also made him think of what a threat she was. "First she hit me in the back with a boulder that sent me over the edge of the tower. When I came back up she threw more rocks at me until I fell to the ground. Then when she made sure I wasn't or couldn't get back up she stomped on my stomach and kicked me a lot." Raven explained to him, trying her best to hold back tiny sobs.
He wrapped his arms around her gently, mindful to her wounds and at the uncomfortable fact that she was half naked. She hugged him back and let the flood gates open, silently sobbing into is shoulder. "I'm so sorry Raven, I should have known." She pulled back and shook her head.
"I already told you it wasn't your fault so stop apologizing, please." Raven said and put her shirt back on. Beast Boy took her hand again and helped her stand up. He led her out into the hall and walked towards the tower infirmary. Once there he told her to sit on one of the beds and he got the first aid kit and a wet washcloth. He came back over to her and kissed her forehead gently then started cleaning and dressing her injuries. "Beast Boy, thank you for everything." She said and smiled at him.
"You don't have to thank me, it's my pleasure." He said smiling back. The rest of the time in the infirmary was spent in comfortable silence, the two of them just enjoying each other's presence. But both were unaware of the livid individual standing outside the door, creating a devastating plan inside her head.
The drama increases! Thank you everyone for reading, all the reviews I received were encouragement enough to make me update faster. So if enough of you review you might get the next chapter soon! Just a suggestion. Thank you also for some special reviews that gave me a few ideas on how this chapter or the rest of the story should go; it helped clear some writer's block! Well anyway, I hope you enjoyed and hopefully I can get the next chapter up fast. Thank you for reading!