Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. This is a work of fanfiction, and I am not making any money off of this.
A/N: This was on takes place directly after "The Beast Within". Granted, it probably, maybe, would have worked better as a multi-chapter to really explore this, but hindsight is 20/20.
Prompt: #15 – Seeking Solace
"You are the daughter of a feared and powerful interdimensional demon." She mumbled, curled in a fetal position and eyes squeezed shut. Raven cocooned herself in the soft black comforter as she breathed deeply. "You are not afraid of the dark." She affirmed, slowly opening her eyes.
For once, she wasn't haunted by the memories of Azarath's crumpling temples.
And the burning flames and underlings of father's domain weren't keeping her eyes from shutting.
Tonight, Raven's mind was plagued by memories of claws, teeth, fur, rage, and possession.
Adonis.
This was her first night in her room since the incident. Even with her healing abilities, the damage Adonis had done to her was severe enough to keep her in the infirmary for over a week.
None of the Titans liked staying in the infirmary, and it pained Raven admit that she felt safer there. It wasn't having her vitals synced to Cyborg's software that comforted her most, or the fact that the infirmary was located in the secure wing of the tower.
Raven missed the soft glow of the medical equipment against the white walls.
The light would erase the scary shadows.
When she woke up from her nightmares, she knew she was alone.
When she couldn't sleep and swore she heard the low growls of the grey brute that had attacked her, the machine's glow and rhythmic beeping confirmed she was alone.
And she was safe.
The empath sat up, pushing the covers off her body. Perhaps a drink of water or maybe a cup of tea would soothe her mind. Her legs swung to the side of her bed. Standing, she then made her way across her room to the door.
Raven never thought she would regret the dark décor and dramatic statues in her room. The cast shadows played wicked games with her imagination. Violet eyes slide from side to side as her feet stepped lightly, she just had to remember: There is nothing here. There are no monsters. Adonis is in jail.
Stepping out into the hall, she felt the quick gust from the doors as they swooshed to close. A year ago, Cyborg rigged the metal boards of the tower's halls to give off a soft glow at night since the tower's lighting system was linked with the security network. When the tower was armed at night, the common area lights were disabled until the morning when the codes were put in.
There is nothing here. There are no monsters. Adonis is in jail.
Her bare feet softly and slowly padded against the metal boards of the hallway as she made her way to the kitchen. She was still in her pajamas, a thin periwinkle t-shirt and warm black pajama pants. Left hand pressed against the wall, all most guiding her way in the darkness.
There is nothing here. There are no monsters. Adonis is in jail.
Raven focused her eyes on the nothingness ahead. She forced her breaths to be slow and steady as her heart raced. He had snatched her from the tower's hallway, crept up on her in the darkness.
"There is nothing here. There are no monsters." Raven whispered as she willed herself to keep walking down the hall to the get to the kitchen. "Adonis is in jail." She told her self. Her voice shook with confidence.
A dull sound stopped the empath in her tracks, trying to place the sound. What was that?
"Adonis is in jail." She said again a little louder.
"For now." She heard a bitter voice inside her head whisper.
She felt the panic rise from the bottom of her stomach to the back of her throat like bile. Adonis wouldn't be in jail forever. He'd escape. They always did.
And he would come back for her.
Pushing off the wall, she shot down the hall. She positive she heard the heavy footsteps of her predator pursuing her. The tower floor vibrating with its footsteps as it gained on her.
"There is nothing here." Raven panted as she kept running. It was getting closer, all most nipping at her heels.
"There are no monsters." She spoke again louder as she took a sharp corner hoping to throw it off. The memory of his claws ripping into the delicate skin of wrists and pinning her down burned at her memory.
That night, his claws and teeth cut stomach, legs, arms, back and whatever piece of flesh he could find. His fangs and nails glittered with her blood. She could remember his howl of delight at the first taste of her blood.
"Adonis is in jail. Adonis is in jail. Adonis is in jail." She chanted her voice beginning to grow louder, showing no signs of slowing her run. Adonis is in jail. Adonis is in jai-Ah!"
"What the-" A voice groggily spoke.
"No!" Raven yelled, feeling a pair of arms wrap around her body. Not again. "Get off of me!"
"Hey, stop! Ow! Stop hitting me!"
She couldn't listen. The adrenaline and fear coursing through her veins had control now. She balled up her fists pounding against the chest of person holding unto her, legs flying in ineffective kicks. "Stop! Please! Let go!"
"Raven, what the hell?!"
"Help me! Help!" Raven cried as she struggled. She couldn't catch her breath; she couldn't focus to fight, so she screamed.
Familiar hands wrapped around her wrists pinning them by her ears as he propelled her against the wall. Her back hit with a loud thud. "Raven!" Beast Boy yelled over her cries, directly into her face. "Raven! It's me! It's Beast Boy! Stop screaming!"
"Let go!" She struggled trying to break free from his grasp. She was hyperventilating.
"What's wrong?" Beast Boy asked her again. He was trying to remain calm, even though her panic was feeding his.
Raven squirmed, still trying to make a get away. She kept looking back at the direction she came. "Let go! He's coming; we have to get out of here! He's gonna kill us."
The changeling looked behind them. It was just a dark hallway. "Raven, there is nothing here."
"No, no, no." Raven panicked. "He's coming. He said, he said that he would come back for me." She said brokenly, with heaving pants. "Not again! Not again!" She fought, pushing against him. "Don't let him! Keep him away from me."
"Who is after you?" Beast Boy shouted, he pushed his body against the terror stricken teen. One minute he is walking back from the living room after some midnight gaming, the next he is restraining the teammate he thought would be the least likely to go crazy.
"Adonis!" She shrieked. Her breath seemed to be suspended as, her body folded against him still trying to find a way out of his hold. "Please, we have to go."
Beast Boy froze, feeling the color drain from his skin. "Raven…" He whispered pitifully. "It's okay."
"It's not okay." She cried.
"He's not here."
"He is."
"You're safe."
She shook her head. "H-h-he-"
"No. Raven, listen to me-"
"We have to get out of here!" She yelled, pushing against him.
"Raven, look." The changeling spoke gently, turning her head to see the empty hallway. "There is no one here." He told her softly. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her body go slack in relief. They slid down to the floor as her body went full dead weight at his words.
She stared down the hallway, waiting for the grey beast to come stomping down, but he never came. Her head snapped back to face and then back down the bare hallway. Eyes wide with shock and still wet with tears, her mouth slack with shock. "I heard him."
"I know." He responded simply and sincerely.
"I saw him."
"I know."
She looked at him, shaking her head slow and steady. "I am not crazy." She spoke, pushing the words out of her mouth firmly.
Beast Boy nodded. "I know. I never said you were."
There was silence between them for a moment. "I am not afraid." In an instant, her defenses were up and her monotone drone was back. She was embarrassed that someone had caught her like this, that her fear had consumed her so fiercely. No matter how much the evidence pointed in the other direction, her pride would not let her admit her feelings.
"No one wouldn't blame you if you were."
Her eyes lowered to the floor.
"No one is-" He stopped the moment he felt her body tense and her breathing quickened. It wasn't best to remind her of the vivid details of her trauma. "I was scared, too. I don't know if that helps, but I am."
She still refused to look at him.
"My memory of it isn't as clear as yours, but I was so scared you were gonna die." The green teen admitted. "All I remember is your scream and everything just went red."
Raven slowly shifted her eyes to look at him.
"He hurt you. I remember your scream, and I knew that I was going to kill him." Beast Boy spoke, eyes dull at the memory of that night. "Even after I had gotten you away from him, all I could think about was making sure he could never do that again." His eyes grew fierce. "And that is all I still think about."
His hand tangled in her hair, rubbing her scalp in soothing circles. She sighed, eyes closing for a moment as she melted into his comfort.
"He's locked away, and we don't have to worry about him anymore." He told her. Adons's life sentence was more for his own protection, rather than Raven's.
There is nothing here.
"What if," She knew if wasn't the question. "When he gets out?" She asked in a small voice. Her defenses had fallen at some point during his admission. "I don't think he going to leave me alone. He's in jail, but-" She paused. "He's not going away. They never go away." She whispered, tortured.
There are no monsters here.
Beast Boy pulled her tight against her, shielding her from the darkness. "I'll be here."
"You can't always protect me." Raven whispered.
"Watch me."
You're safe now.