Red-X Pov
The second he heard the sickening sound of her head connecting with the concrete roof, Red-X's stomach dropped and he lurched to his feet, running to the crumpled form.
"Shit, I'm sorry Raven. Raven? Raven, can you hear me?" There was a tinge of desperation in his voice, even synthesized, and Red-X held her head in his hands, trying to relieve some of the pressure from the wound. He watched as her eyes became unfocused, and the lids proceeded to close heavily.
Pounding footsteps could be heard clanging against the metal stairway within the building, and X jerked his head around his shoulder, knowing the Teen Titans would emerge onto the roof at any moment. Hurriedly he gathered up the small empath in his arms, and holding her close against him, pressed a button on his belt, dissipating into thin air.
Raven POV
Raven struggled to open her eyes, fighting against the leaden feeling in her body and the waves of nausea that washed over her. She tried pulling herself into a sitting position and the room started spinning in dizzying circles, colors of dark blue and black blurring together like an out-of-control carnival ride. The empath squeeze her eyes shut again and dropped her head back against the pillow, waiting for it to pass.
Well, at least I know I'm in my room, she thought to herself.
As she lay there, taking slow, deep breaths, Raven became aware of something touching the back of her hand. She reached toward it, finding a slip of paper in her hands. Unfolding it, she brought it close to her face to read the hasty scrawl.
Sorry about that Princess. Won't happen again.
P.S. I borrowed your book on Azarathian technology.
Raven's brow furrowed, feeling a surge of annoyance that one of her books had been taken— without her permission no less! Raven let the note drop out of her hand, but there was a sudden, sharp intake of breath when she saw, lying next to her arm, a sparkling sapphire and emerald necklace, set into the pattern of a Celtic cross. She picked it up slowly, examining the jewels that reflected what little light her room offered.
This must be what Red-X had stolen, Raven realized, transfixed by the priceless treasure.
She could not understand why he had relinquished it. Surely the thief was not so careless as to leave his goods lying about?
Raven padded to her window overlooking the bay, gripping the necklace in her hand. She didn't fancy walking over to Robin's room and explaining exactly how she had come into possession of the jewels. Frankly, the thought that the thief had been in her room disturbed her enough. Nevermind Boy Wonder's assured increase in manic obsession over the shadowy criminal. No, Raven decided she would go herself to return the necklace to the vault anonymously. No reason to cause Robin any more paranoia.
xxx
After returning the necklace to the City Vault, Raven could feel the beginnings of a raging headache coming on. Twice she had to stop flying and land, holding her throbbing head for minutes at a time while she regained her sense of balance.
As she reached the walls of the Titan Tower, she phased through the floors before collapsing on her bed and drifting into fitful dreams, where a dark intruder kept hitting her on the back of the head, nursing her well, and then hitting her all over again.
xxx
The door slid open with a hiss and the silhouette of drooping spiked hair walked into the shadowed room.
"Wha—RAVEN!"
Raven jolted up, startled out of nightmarish dreams that lingered in the back of her mind. She stared at the doorway wide-eyed, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
"What… Robin? What are you doing in here?" Raven muttered, her confusion quickly changing to annoyance.
"This is my room! What the hell happened Rae? We've been searching for you for hours! We just called it off minutes ago, and I come back to my room to find you sleeping here, safe and sound." Robin's voice became increasingly furious as he spoke.
Raven held up her hand to stop him, her hood dropping back and her long hair spilling over her shoulders.
"I was knocked unconscious while fighting with X, Robin. I don't know what happened after that. I woke up…here," Raven explained, carefully leaving out the part about the note and necklace she had discovered in her own room.
Robin seemed unconvinced by her simplistic account, despite it being more or less the truth.
"Are you sure Raven?" he pressed, coming over to sit on the edge of the bed. Raven could feel him pushing at their mental bond, trying to sense her emotions and thoughts.
"Yes," she stated firmly, staring hard into his masked eyes and slamming the barrier back against him. Robin looked at her for a moment.
"Alright," he finally relented, sighing. "Are you still hurt? Do you need additional medical attention in the infirmary?"
Raven shook her head, before realizing how bad of an idea that was. She groaned, clutching her spinning head.
"I'm fine. My head is just bothering me a little. It'll be gone soon enough."
Robin watched her, concern etched across his handsome face. He grabbed her hand in his own and held it tight, leaning closer toward her till their faces were inches apart. This time he pressed more gently, more subtly, against the barrier.
"I'm here for you Raven, if you ever want to talk…" he murmured.
Raven couldn't look at him. She stared at the assortment of lethal weapons hanging on his wall, then glanced swiftly at his masked eyes before looking away again.
"I know..." she whispered. The pressure was suffocating.
Abruptly she stood up, curtly removing her hand from Robin's.
"Sorry for intruding in your room. I must have been really out of it. Goodnight, Robin."
Raven swiftly walked out her leader's room, shoulders rigid and hood back up around her head.
The Boy Wonder watched her leave, chewing on the inside of cheek, an anxious habit he had cultivated during the sleepless nights unraveling Slade.
"Goodnight, Raven," he muttered to her retreating form.
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