Chapter 33

Several sounds rang in his ears, instantly sending his senses into overdrive. The first was Robin's voice. He was screaming something, but Beast Boy couldn't make out what. The second was the sound of gunshots. After years of battle, he knew that sound too well. They were under attack.

"Raven, get down!" he commanded, hoping to get them both to safety so they could make a plan to take their assailant down. When she didn't move he looked at her intently, finally noticing the glazed look in her eyes. They were wide with shock, her mouth forming a small "o."

Realization hit him slowly. The way she swayed unsteadily, the fear that filled her eyes. His nightmare was confirmed when she fell forward into him, having no control of her body.

"RAVEN!" he screamed, catching her slumping body before she hit the floor. He dropped to his knees, cradling her limp form. "Raven what's wrong?" he asked, though he knew the answer. "Raven?" Fear and adrenaline flooded his entire body as he searched her. With a rush of horror he felt liquid drip onto the hand that held her back. Shifting her weight, he pulled it out and stared at the blood covering his hand.

"Oh God," he whispered, clutching her closer to him. He felt constricted, like something was gagging the air out of him. His head felt light and he couldn't get enough breath no matter how hard he gasped. He was vaguely aware of the people running and screaming around him, all frantic to evacuate the common room.

He forced himself to think. "It's okay Raven, you're going to be okay. You have your magic. We're going to get you to a doctor. You're going to be okay, you have to be okay," he choked out. He looked up briefly to find his teammates. "Cyborg!" he screamed into the crowd. "CYBORG!" He screamed it over and over until his friend finally came running.

"Beast Boy, what's—" he froze as he took in the scene. Beast Boy tried not to stare at the pool of blood forming below them.

"Cyborg, she needs help! Quick, you have to do something!" he commanded as he gently rocked Raven. He stared into her eyes, but she stared through him. He squeezed her hand, but hers remained limp.

"Raven? Raven, can you hear me? Come on, stay with me. Cyborg's here and he's going to take you to the med bay and you're going to be fine." He stroked her hair, not even caring how it matted with blood from his hand. "You're going to be fine. Cyborg's going to bandage you up and you're going to heal yourself and you'll be good as new." He lost it towards the end, his voice cracking with emotion. Tears stung in his eyes. "I love you so much Raven. I love you. I love you." He whispered it over and over again, the tears overflowing from his eyes and landing on her cheek.

I love you.

"Cyborg, come on! She needs help, she's hurt!" He couldn't understand why he wasn't doing anything yet. He looked up at his friends, noticing how they stood around him. Robin's face was stone. He clutched Starfire as she buried her face in his shoulder. Cyborg looked just as serious. He just stood there watching, his forearm raised.

"Cyborg what's wrong with you? Can't you see she's bleeding? Do something!" he pleaded, watching his friend's face contort in pain.

"Beast Boy..." he hesitated, his voice shaky. "There's nothing I can do."

"What do you mean?!" he shouted, infuriated. "We need to get her to a hospital! She's going to bleed out!"

"It doesn't matter Beast Boy!" Cyborg shouted back in a deep, emotive voice, gesturing to the sensor on his arm. "A bullet pierced her heart. She's gone," he whispered. His face scrunched up and he too turned away.

Beast Boy's ears rang.

Gone...

He looked back at Raven. Gone. He looked at her bloody, lifeless body. He traced a finger down her cold cheek.

"Raven." He tried so desperately to hold back the tears, but they forced their way out. He choked on them as he cried, letting the water stream down his face. "I'm so sorry Raven," he croaked, his voice hoarse. "I love you so much. Raven." He said her name over and over as he leaned down to kiss her cheeks, her forehead, and her lips.

Some part of him hoped that if he just held her for long enough, if he just hoped hard enough, she would wake up. But he knew it wouldn't do him any good.

She was dead.