My Hero
Chapter 2:

Ravens POV:
I was looking out the bathroom window when I saw the car pull up. I ran downstairs to try and get to the door but my stepmom beat me. God I hate her I was halfway down the stairs, leaning over the banister to try and see him. "Uh hi Mrs. Roth is Rachel home?" He probably had been hoping I would get the door. "Yes" she started to close the door. I wanted to call out but my dad was glaring at me from the kitchen. "Can I see her?" I took a step closer to the door. My dads glare worsened and he raised a fist. I took two steps back up the stairs. My stepmom didn't scare me but he did. "No. She's doing her chores. Now go away and don't come around here again" after the door slammed I glared at both of them. "You both must really hate me!" She laughed "He wouldn't want to see you looking like this anyways." I was fighting to stay in control of myself. "I hate you!" I yelled as I stomped back up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door. That was the most I could do unless I wanted to be punished like I had been this morning. I sat on my bed trying to hold back tears. If I cry it would mean they win and I CAN'T LET THEM WIN!

There was a noise by my window. I looked over and gasped in shock as Richard climbed in grinning. "Oh Raven, what happened to you?" His grin quickly turned into a concerned frown when he saw me. He walked over to sit on my bed and wrapped me in his arms. "You should have called me" he murmured as he pulled back and looked me over. I was covered in bruises and had a cut on my cheek. "I did but you didn't pick up" I looked away trying not to think of the possibilities of why he didn't answer his phone. "Alfred moved it when he was cleaning but I called you as soon as I found it. What happened?" he asked again gently brushing his finger over the small cut on my cheek. "He was hitting me...and he pushed me down the stairs this morning" a tear leaked out. "When you called back, I was in the kitchen; he took my phone and smashed it. She cut my cheek because according to her I'm just a problem with an attitude" Richard pulled me into a tight hug causing me to wince from injuries he didn't know about. "Here, take my phone, you need it more than I do. I can just have Bruce get me another one" he said pulling it out of his pocket and placing it in my hand, curling my fingers around it. "Now, I could go downstairs and kill them or I can get you out of here... Personally I'm fine with either one" I couldn't tell if he was serious or not. "They would kill you." I whispered softly, scared he would still try. He stroked my hair. "Then how about we go with the second option?" I pulled back looking at him. "How? If we go down there they won't let me leave." He stood up pulling me with him. "The same way I got in here, the window" he smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back as he led me over to our escape exit.

Richard climbed out first landing on the shed. "Ok Rae, nice and easy now" I sat in the window with my feet hanging out. Turning onto my stomach I slowly inched out until I felt his hands on my waist. "Let go" he whispered. I did as he commanded and landed bridal style in his arms. He set me down before jumping to the ground and motioning for me to do so as well. Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes and jumped... And then I landed ON him. "Ever hear the expression 'look before you leap'?" He asked sitting up with me in his lap. Silently we got to our feet and ran to the car. Alfred gave us a questioning look as we both climbed into the back seat. "Raven is going to come home with us, is that alright Alfred?" Alfred simply nodded saying "Of course Master Richard"

Richards POV:
I was glad Alfred didn't say anything about the bruises on Raven, although he was probably upset she was hurt. Alfred and Bruce don't know what Ravens family is like, what they do to her. I'm the only person she's ever told, and that's probably only because she was always showing up with cuts and bruises like the ones she has tonight. I finally forced it out of her because I was worried she was going to show up half dead one day. I looked over at Raven. She looked so broken sitting there with her arms all black and blue. I moved into the middle seat and took her hand in mine as she leaned on me, resting her head on my shoulder.

When we got back to the manor I brought Raven up to my room. I knew she wanted to break down. But she wouldn't let herself out of pride. "It's ok you know. Your safe here, they can't touch you now." I said sitting on the edge of my bed pulling her into my lap. Unless you were one of the lucky and rare few people that she was close to you only got to see the hard exterior. When she opens up though, Raven is delicate, kind of like a china doll. She looked up at me and I kissed her. Raven was more unstable than she led people to believe. She whimpered when I pulled back so I could move us into the middle of the bed and lay us down. I had just brought my lips back to hers when there was a knock at the door. I sat up on one arm with the other still wrapped snugly around Raven, stupidly telling them to come in.

The door opened. Raven shuddered in my arms. I looked down at her wishing I hadn't told them that they could come in. Tears were falling down her cheeks as she looked up at me. "They won" she whispered before covering her face with her hands. "Is there any way that whatever it is that you two need can wait a bit?" I sat up pulling Raven into my lap. "No. This can't wait any longer." Bruce answered but I only half heard him. I gave my attention back to Raven when she whispered something else. "I let them win." Totally forgetting about Bruce and Alfred in the doorway I caressed her cheek. "No they didn't, you're not there right now. They aren't here, they haven't seen you like this" This isn't the first time she's cried because of her parents. She will go months without so much as a frown, but it builds up and after a while she just can't hold it in and breaks down. I held her face in my hands making her look at me. "Raven. They haven't won! You're safe. They won't hurt you tonight!" The last five words were meant for only the two of us to hear. Luckily her folks haven't seen her like this yet. "Who won? Who's 'they'? Who are you safe from Raven? And more importantly why are you covered in bruises?" I looked up to see Bruce standing next to the bed with Alfred by his shoulder. "Raven what happened to you?" Bruce asked. I could see the concern in his eyes. No matter what he said as Batman, I knew he was fond of my girlfriend. He and Alfred both were. If they weren't she wouldn't be here right now, in my arms. "What are you even doing up here, shouldn't you be in your 'office'?" I asked trying to keep him from poking his nose into Ravens business. I knew she wouldn't want him to know. "I thought he should see Miss Raven, we're both quite worried about her." Alfred said walking further into the room. "I-I tripped and fell" Raven murmured. She was still crying and trying to hide it. "Richard you have one hour" Bruce said with a sigh before leaving with Alfred behind him.

Ravens POV:
"Do you have to go?" I asked wiping away some more tears. "I'm sorry Rae, I wish I didn't have to leave you tonight, or ever again" I wrapped my arms around him, never wanting to let go. "Could I come with you?" I didn't want to leave him. I just needed to be with him right now, he helped keep me stable. "I'm sorry; I wish I could let you come..." We laid back down together. When our hour was almost up I asked one last question. "Where do you go every night?" He wouldn't meet my gaze. "Why won't you tell me?" He finally said something "I can't. I want to but I can't" I was hurt that he didn't trust me enough to tell me. Then those thoughts from earlier came back "Are you cheating on me?" His gaze snapped up to meet mine. "Are you crazy? No never Raven. I love you" I looked outside, it was dark out. Our hour was up. I got off the bed and made my way to the door. His hand grabbed mine just as I stepped into the hall. I looked back at him. "I don't want you to go home tonight. How would you feel about spending the night here with me?" I looked him in the eyes, still upset. "What about needing to leave?" I asked mockingly. He smiled at me. "I told you they won't hurt you tonight. That's a promise I intend on keeping." He caressed my cheek with the side of his thumb. "I'll be back as soon as possible" Richard closed the gap between us and kissed my nose. "Thank you Rich" he gave me a quick hug. "Let Alfred know if you want anything and there are a few new books on the desk in the library that you might like." Then he walked down the hall with me trailing behind him. I laughed watching as he slid down the banister almost hitting Alfred on his landing. I went back to his room to find something to wear so I could shower. Going through his dresser, I found a pair of blue plaid pajama pants and his closet gave me one of his T-shirts. I took my time showering for once, without anyone banging on the door yelling at me not to use the hot water. Once I was changed I went down to the library, picked out a book and went to sit on the couch in the living room. It had started getting late by the time I was halfway done with my book. "Miss Raven, it's getting quite late. Might you consider going to bed" I shook my head. "I want to wait up for him." Alfred looked nervous for only a split second making me wonder if I imagined it. "Of course. Would you like anything to drink while you wait" I nodded "Herbal tea if you have any" he smiled before nodding and going to the kitchen.

Richards POV:
I managed to talk Bruce into going home a little early tonight. He kept asking about what happened to Raven and asking who 'they' were. I just tuned him out after the first hour of his nonstop pestering. When we got home it was four thirty. Changing out of my costume I went upstairs to find Raven on the couch sleeping. "I put a weak sedative in her tea. She insisted on waiting up for you, and I couldn't let that happen" Alfred said walking into the living room. I nodded although after today I doubt she would have lasted this long anyway. Looking closer I realized she had one of the new books in her hands. I put the book on the coffee table and gently lifted her into my arms. "She's still here?" I turned around to see Bruce raising an eyebrow at me. "Yes and if you don't mine I'll be going to bed." I turned to make for the stairs to go to my room but Bruce spoke again. "Richard-" I sighed and interrupted him. "Bruce, don't even start on me about letting her spend the night, it's too late for that" I said never breaking stride. "Oh and by the way," I called over my shoulder. "I need a new phone."

Raven shifted in my arms as I reached my room. I had left the blanket on her since she had been clutching it with a death grip when I picked her up. She whimpered as I lay her in my bed. "Shh" I whisper smoothing her long beautiful hair back. She rolled onto her side and her hair moved revealing part of a scar on the back of her neck. I put a hand to my mouth to stifle the gasp. I brushed my finger over it just barley touching it. Raven jerked awake with a terrified expression on her face. "It's ok sweetie, just go back to sleep" I lay down pulling her close as she relaxed in my arms again. I couldn't believe that she was trying to hide her scars. Raven always wore full length jeans and a t-shirt, even in the summer. And I just realized why. 'I don't like the beach, it's too hot.' 'I don't know how to swim.' and the excuse that should have tipped me off immediately, 'I don't like people seeing my body.' I had told her she had no reason to hide her body and that it was beautiful. But she had just shook her head sadly and went to sit on the couch. I looked at Raven again as she lay sleeping peacefully in my arms. She had been trying to hide her scars for who knows how long. "Goodnight Raven" I whispered knowing she couldn't hear me.