"Holy bats, Raven, just let me see!"
Wrenching his hand around her ankle, he stopped the girl from crawling backwards any further, a knowing touch to his features, even with the mask. Instantaneously, a soft yelp escaped her, and the boy released, a wave of guilt rolling over the back of his neck and flooding his mind.
Well, at least she wasn't going anywhere.
Peeling off his mask, Robin squinted at shadowy black and blue patch spreading around his teammate's left ankle. The puffy joint was at least four times bigger than her other ankle, pale and slender in comparison. Applying light taps to the wounded area, he noted minor edema, along with the strangled whimpers begging to escape her throat. Raven? Whimpering? For the nonchalant empath,that certainly meant the condition was more severe than he'd hoped. Deep, sapphire eyes trailed up to amethyst, met with a dark blush and a stubborn pout. Chin titled down, he gave her a stern, albeit caring look.
"And when were you going to tell me your ankle was darker than your cloak?"
"I-it's no big deal, Richard." The sorceress drew the swollen appendage closer to her, fingertips already emitting a gentle aqua glow. Her voice, usually wonderfully soft as it traveled over gravelly undertones now caught on the jagged rocks, breaking miserably in a hoarse groan. "Nothing I can't take care of myself."
Catching her wrists, the alpha Titan halted the motion, his gaze wandering deeper into glassy lavender pools. If he wasn't so fond of the sorceress, the subtle tint to the whites of her eyes and the glistening silver gathering at the corners would've gone unnoticed. The sorceress blinked them back quickly, and he noticed the lovely crystalline pools seemed more like broken shards. Raven always ran herself ragged in battle, then healed her teammates' injuries after battle, his included, before she even thought to give herself a checkup. Another pang of guilt stabbed at the boy's heart as he realized that she barely had enough strength to heal her own broken bone.
"Raven…." He didn't know where to start. The team had fought valiantly against Plasmus today, only skating by on a victory thanks to Raven's soul projection and the hypnotic trance she'd used to place the man-turned-monster back into a peaceful slumber. He didn't want her to think he was calling her weak, but in her state, he knew full well that her mind and body were in no condition for mending an entire break. "I'm taking you to the clinic."
Her reaction was predictable. Nose scrunched, a thoroughly unimpressed gleam catching her irises as they rolled. Her arms folded and she looked just as cross as she glared at the boy, threatening him to repeat his words. She herself was a healer, after all! If anyone could take care of themselves, it was certainly her.
"I appreciate the extra measures you take to look out for me," she huffed, catching the flush on his cheeks. If anything, she was lucky she had his affection on her side, and pressed on simply. A couple months ago, she wouldn't have dared be so bold with her leader. But their relationship… Well, it had escalated. "But, I can take care of it myself."
Ah, Raven. Robin cocked his chin, standing himself before pulling her to her feet. It was increasingly obvious that her ankle was indeed broken, the girl barely dared place any weight on it, and she wobbled around like a fawn learning to walk. Scooping her into his arms like a bride, Robin couldn't help fight the chuckle in his throat as he nuzzled his nose against her cheek. Much to her dismay, the sorceress's whole face burned a pretty scarlet, the violet in her eyes vibrant against the flaming color. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he squeezed her closer to her chest, before proceeding for the garage.
"Right, then. To the clinic."
Setting her gently across the backseat, Robin took the front of the T-Car, revving the engine playfully when he caught her bored stare in the rearview mirror. He couldn't help feel a tad accomplished, he'd gotten the stubborn sorceress this far, right? Backing out of the impossibly lengthy driveway, he headed into town.
They arrived at the Jump City Clinic ten minutes later, and Robin opened the back door to find Raven, arms still crossed. She'd clearly given up the fight, although her body language still dripped bitterness. At least she had the sense to realize she couldn't walk, nor very easily fly without drawing too much attention. Her figure was light in his arms as he lifted her from the seat and marched towards the automated doors.
"Still don't want to go."
"But you'll do it for me, right?"
A grumble muffled into his chest, as she buried her face further into the crook of her neck. It was downright embarrassing to be in such a situation. Well, at least no one would know who they were. Without the mask, Robin was a dapper young man; with bright azure eyes and an infectious smile. In his hoodie and jeans, he barely looked like anyone exceptional, other than a handsome young man. And Raven, practically swimming into one of his hoodies, so long it covered her uniform leotard, had shoved the hood so far over her head that no one could see her lilac features or glittering garnet chakra. She felt like a bird with a broken wing, cradled and coddled by an overly attentive boyfriend.
She kept her mouth shut while they were in the hospital, letting Dick explain how she'd fallen down the stairs. Psh, what a bad excuse. Nevertheless, the doctor diagnosed her with a fractured lateral malleolus, sullied her up with some sort of numbing medicine, setting the bone back into place, and ordered to have it wrapped.
"Now, what color would you like your cast?"
"Blue!" Dick's exuberant answer cut in before hers, purposely avoiding her death stare as if it was sharpened by daggers.
"Just white is fine, Doctor." Raven spoke suddenly, only the fourth words she'd uttered all appointment. Dick smiled, placing a warm hand on her upper thigh.
The doctor sent her on her way, complete with some painkillers and instructions on how to properly shower and clean the area. Dick thanked him and paid the man, before carrying the tiny sorceress back to the car.
"You know I have crutches now so I can walk fine on my own, right?"
"But I like being close to you like this."
Her cheeks burned once more.
She had to admit, it was sort of nice not having to be so hush hush about their relations. Back at the Tower, Robin was almost as stoic as she; his only passion seemed to be for kicking bad guy butt. But when he took off his mask, the boy was gentle. He snuggled her close to his chest and held her hand as the doctor had set her bone in place. His eyes sparkled for her, and he could douse her in all the affection she secretly wanted without any objection or worry for being seen. And she was different, too. She still rolled her eyes, but accepted his flirty kisses. She could wrap her fingers around his neck and play with the raven colored locks and tease the tender spot beneath his earlobe, she could bury her nose in the oversized sleeves of his old sweatshirt, she could let the butterflies in her stomach fly free.
Best of all, the could just be.
Back at the Tower, they were greeted with Mylar balloons and a "get better" cake. It had been a long day, and it was all she could not to shy away from the exuberance, but accept her teammates overly enthusiastic celebration for her healing ankle. The party was quick, and the Titans retired to their routines soon enough.
"Hey, Raven."
A structured knock on her door alerted her it was Robin, and before she could even open her mouth, she heard her code being punched.
Raven sighed, sitting up in her bed, tossing his folded sweatshirt from her lap. "Robin." He smiled, approaching and taking a seat at the end of her bed. "I folded your sweatshirt."
He grinned, tracing the wrappings over her ankle. "Keep it for now." His smile was kind, and he waited for her nod before continuing.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Oh, I.. Well, I didn't get to sign your cast earlier."
"Really? You want to sign it? Okay." Raven frowned, scooting closer so she could rest her legs across his lap. Tracing his concentrated silhouette, the girl didn't bother watching as he drew the potent ink across her cast. "You don't usually want your name on display." She cocked her head curiously, index finger wandering slowly across his jaw. Her satin touch landed just beneath his chin, tilting his gaze her way. "What about your secret identity?"
Robin grinned, flickering his gaze to where he'd left his mark on her cast. The girl's gaze soon followed, another blushed tainting her face soon after.
A giant heart decorated her cast, right over her ankle. It wasn't like Starfire's bubbly, pink drawing; just a sloppy black heart shape, with jagged points and skinny lines coloring it in.
"I… I guess that's fine."
Robin grinned, turning his attention back to her.
"Thank you… for today, Robin. I wouldn't have been able to properly heal myself." She knocked her skull lightly, prepared for a flurry of "I told you so"s and "why, you're welcome, Raven!"s. Instead, a warm flutter touched just above her chakra and strong arms pulled her into his lap.
"You're so formal, Raven." Drawing his lips away from her forehead, Robin chuckled. "You don't always have to do everything alone, you know." Lips traveled lightly down the bridge of her nose, pausing just above her lips.
She tilted her chin up just slightly, meeting his touch and lids falling closed.
"You have me."