My Hero
Chapter 9
Ravens POV:
I woke up somewhere cold. I slowly turned my head to one side. It was too dark to see anything. Where am I? Panic slowly began to creep through me. The last thing I remembered clearly was the Joker strangling me. I tried to take a deep breath to try and fight down the fear, but couldn't take a full breath. It hurt so much to breathe normally. I needed to get out of here and try to find a way to contact Richard. Slowly sitting up I took a better look around the room. I felt so dizzy; I collapsed back on to the bed. Only then did I realize there was a steady beeping. I looked down at myself seeing all the tubes and wires that were attached to various parts of my body. I put a hand up to my face, realizing that there was a mask there as well. The beeping started getting louder and faster. I yanked the tubes out of my body along with the wires and sat up unsteadily again, trying to rip the mask off not sure if it was meant to harm me. I didn't really want to find out. I could hear footsteps running towards me. I shakily got up off the bed. I wanted to get out of there. The beeping had turned into one long continual beep. The footsteps were getting closer. I got up and started stumbling away from the bed. I didn't want the Joker to find me. It was harder for me to breathe now that I was attempting to walk. I stumbled again and leaned on the wall, instantly pulling away again. It was all wet. With what, I don't know and didn't think I would ever want to know. I was gasping for air and the room was spinning. "Raven!" It sounded like Richard, I tried to look around only to lose my balance and fall to the floor. I tried to push myself to my knees, only to fall back down again. "Raven!" It was him. I felt myself being lifted from the floor, in his arms. "Richard I-" I felt the mask being held to my face again. I freaked out and tried to get it away from me. "Raven, don't fight me. Let it help you." I looked up at him before closing my eyes and relaxing slightly and letting him hold the mask in place.
I opened my eyes and looked up at him again. He was smiling at me. I put my hand over his and gently pushed the mask away. "Rich, I'm so sorry. You were right. I was so scared last night." I whispered my voice shaking as I looked away from him. You were right, I wish I had never found out. He put a finger under my chin, pulling slightly so I would look at him. I wouldn't meet his gaze. "It's over now Rae…you're safe with me now…" He whispered quietly nuzzling my neck with his nose, before putting the mask on me again. We sat in silence until I was finally brave enough to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay safe like you asked me to." It came out weird sounding because of the mask on me but he knew what I was trying to say. "It's alright Raven. I'll always keep you safe. You'll be safe because I love you! Now close your eyes and try to get some rest, alright?" I nodded and let sleep overcome me.
I was sitting on the couch in the living room reading. Weird, I don't remember waking up. I went with it since my favorite book was in my hand. I was about to turn my attention back to my book when Richy plopped down on the couch next to me. "Hey beautiful" he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer and kissed my temple. "Can I read with you?" I nodded with a small smile. A few minutes later the manor shook. I stiffened and looked at Rich nervously. He gazed back at me calmly. "What was that?" My voice shook. "I'm not sure, but-" everything shook again and all the windows shattered. "But maybe we should get you somewhere safe until we know what's going on." He finished. I nodded getting to my feet. He took my hand and led me over to the grandfather clock. I watched curiously, "Where are we going?" He didn't look back as he replied "I'm bringing you down to the batcave so nothing can happen to you." I watched in amazement as the clock swung open to reveal a dark hole. Richard led me down into the dark and I soon realized that this is where I had been when in woke up with the mask and tubes attached to me. He had me sit in a chair at the bottom of the stairs and told me to stay put. I watched him go change before meeting up with Batman. Then they both ran back upstairs. I paced in front of the stairs for thirty minutes, never taking my eyes off the door. Finally I sat down in the chair with a worried sigh. I didn't want to stay down here. I was worried about my boyfriend. Rising from the chair I made my way back up the stairs, slowly making my way to the top. My worry for Rich was clouding the fact that he would be mad I didn't listen as I opened the clock a few inches. Bruce was on the ground, unmoving. I scanned as much of the room as I could before I had to open the clock a few more inches. Again I scanned the room looking for him. My heart skipped a beat. He was slowly getting to his feet, then he charged at the Joker. I watched with my heart in my throat as Joker picked him up in the air. "This is the end Bird Boy" He finished with a sickening cackle before he snapped Richards neck and tossed him across the room. I stared in shock for a moment before running over to his side. "How could you, I loved him!" I shrieked crying. Joker kicked me in the ribs laughing like a crazy person. I landed on Richards battered and bloody body.
I woke up screaming in a cold sweat. I was in my room. I wasn't even sure HOW I got in my room, but it was pitch black, with everything shrouded by shadows. My door opened and Alfred walked in concerned. "Miss Raven, what is wrong?" I looked around my room, I was shaking. "W-wheres Richard?" Alfred sat on the edge of my bed. "He's out with Master Bruce running an errand at the moment." I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. But all I could see was his body covered in blood; it scared and freaked me out even more than I already was. My breathing was labored and it hurt. Heck it still hurt to breathe normally. "I-I want R-Rich" I stuttered bringing my knees to my chest. "When will he be back?" I had forgotten that Alfred didn't know that I knew who Batman and Robin are. I looked at my clock; it was ten to six in the morning, with any luck they would be back any minute. "He should be back soon young Miss. Have no fear." I watched him glance at my clock. I wrapped a blanket around myself. Ironically it had Robin on it. In all honestly I had gotten it a few years ago when he first started helping Batman. I had idled him even back when he was just starting out. "Can I go downstairs and wait for him?" My voice shook. I wanted to see him so bad. A few tears leaked out as the ache in my heart grew with my worry. "I don't think that would be the best idea. Why don't you just stay here and I'll wait with you." I looked at the door and jumped off my bed, making a dash for it. I heard Alfred behind me, but I kept going. I needed to find him, to see him. I was struggling to breathe again; it forced me to slow down. I had made it to the stairs by then. Thinking fast I sat on the banister and slid down. I came to the end of the banister and flew off it. I tried to land on my feet but stumbled and fell in a pile on the floor. There was a soft slow creak. "Oh my" I looked to top of the stairs to see Alfred standing there, eyes wide, looking from me to the clock and back again. I followed his gaze to the clock. I sighed hoarsely, still unable to take in a full breath as I watched Rich walk out of the clock.
Tears started falling as he hurried over to me. "Rae, what happened, what's wrong?" I was coughing, gasping for air, barely getting any at all at the moment. "Master Richard, I must suggest that we return upstairs quickly before Master Bruce comes up and sees this." Richard nodded, his eyes never leaving me. Gathering me in his arms, blanket and all, he started making his way up the stairs. "Raven, you need to calm down. You're only making it harder for yourself to get air." He told me slowly and quietly. I tried to do as he said but couldn't. I could still see his broken body. It was too real for me to be able to forget it. Clutching his shirt I silently sobbed as he carried me. This was just something else I couldn't do for him.
Richards POV:
She was shaking. I knew she was still struggling to breathe. Taking her to my room, I sat on the bed, with her still curled up in my arms. "Rae, you need to calm down. I'm worried you're going to hyperventilate." I said brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, but instead of it comforting her as I had hoped, the gesture only seemed to make her more upset. There was a gentle knock at my door. I looked up as it opened to reveal Alfred with the oxygen tank and mask. "I thought this might help" I nodded my thanks and he stepped out as silently as he had come. "Shhh, Raven sweetie. Shhh. Everything will be ok." I attempted again to hush her. She slowly shook her head, fear in her eyes. I sighed and carefully put the mask over her face. She started shaking her head at me, tears still rolling down her beautiful face. "I-I don't want it" she gasped pushing my hand away. "What's wrong?" I asked quietly, sitting her up a little more so it would be easier for her to breathe. "I don't want the mask." Her voice was hoarse. "I just want y-you" she was really struggling and I tried again. "I'm not going anywhere. Wear the mask, please, just for a few minutes, if only for me..." She finally relented nodding and let me put the mask back on her. I knew instantly that it was working because I could feel her relax a bit.
She was just laying there holding on to my shirt and rubbing her cheek against it as if it was the only thing keeping her here. Her big violate eyes were proof of how shook up she was. Her pupils were dilated with fear and exhaustion. It didn't take very long for her breathing to go back to normal with the mask on. We had been sitting there for almost an hour now. I could clearly see the bruises on her neck from the Joker. She put her hand over mine, once again pushing the mask away. "Raven, what's wrong sweetie?" The tears had never stopped falling. I picked her up and moved us to the middle of my bed, wrapping her blanket tighter around her. "I wish I had never found out!" She whispered before sobbing full force. I gaped at her. "Why? I love that you know! I hated lying to you. It's so much better now that you know." She shook her head closing her eyes, only for them to snap right back open with a whimper. "No, I can't stand it! It-it's too hard, too scary." She shuddered in my arms. "It's too REAL!" I didn't know what she meant. "Raven you're not making any sense..." I trailed off wondering if something was seriously wrong with my girlfriend. "You. I had to watch Joker hurt you...kill you." I could barely hear her. "He didn't kill me. He barely even touched me. I'm more worried about you." I caressed her cheek with my thumb. "No! I watched him...h-heard the snap." That's when I realized what she was talking about. "It was just a dream" I murmured leaning back so she could lay on my chest. "It was so real" Raven rolled off my chest and curled into a tight ball with her back to me. "It only felt real," I rolled her over, untangling her blanket from around her arms and chest, kissing her tenderly. I kept it short and sweet, but making sure it teased her senses. "That dream FELT real, the kiss WAS real!" She looked up at me, and uncurled with the blanket still tangled around her legs, letting me pull her closer. "It felt so real… I could feel your blood..." She looked up into my eyes. "Shhh, it's alright. I'm here now, it's alright." I smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "Hold on, I have an idea." Getting up I went over to my dresser and dug around in the top drawer for a minute or so before going back over to my bed. She had sat up with her back against the headboard, the blanket was once again wrapped around her, and I knew instantly that her eyes had followed every step I'd taken. "I was going to give you this at the party, then when he showed up…" I trailed off giving her the little box wrapped in light purple paper. "What is it?" she asked fingering the paper. I laughed lightly at her. "You need to open it to find out." She was trying to forget about her nightmare, and that's all I was asking for. I just wanted her to try. Raven slowly peeled the wrapping off. She stopped for a second and looked at me when she reached the box. "Why did you get me this?" She asked with the lid in her hand. "It reminded me of you" I said with a shrug, "Do you like it?" It was a necklace with a gold raven charm, a small purple diamond where it's eye was. Her eyes got wide. "This must have cost a fortune!" I took it from her hands to put it on her. Leaning closer than I needed to I whispered in her ear, "But you're worth it. I want you to know that I'll always be here with you. You're just that special to me." A bright blush coated her cheeks as I coaxed her to lay back down. "I'm right here, next to you. Now, try and get some sleep sweet heart." I rubbed her back, listening to her breathing. It eventually slowed and deepened, I knew she was out and let sleep finally claim me.
It had been a bad night. Nightmares kept Raven up most of the time, and I stayed awake with her so she wouldn't feel like she was alone. She had finally fallen back to sleep around 9 in the morning and I was more than happy for a reason to stay in bed. I easily fell back asleep with my arm wrapped around her.