(Six months ago)
Her eyes flew open as her body jolted awake. Where am I? She tried to sit up, but a searing pain filled her head. "Omigosh! She's alive!" she heard a voice exclaim. Suddenly, she was looking into the faces of young people dressed in weird costumes with masks over their eyes. "Are you okay?" one of them asked. She opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came out. "Guys, she's naked!" Did a green monkey just speak‽ Her vision swam as the pounding in her head intensified. She released a silent scream as she began writhing in pain. Help me! Her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't breathe. She silently screamed, Help me! "She's in too much pain," a green girl said, "we need to do something!" Suddenly, she felt a prick in her arm. Her body relaxed as her eyelids grew heavy. Then…
"Ow!" Raven exclaimed as she returned to the present. She hadn't been paying attention and ultimately walked into someone. "Sorry," she quickly apologized. "Oh," she frowned when she realized it was Tim. She immediately hugged herself. "Sorry," she repeated while taking a step back from Tim. She turned her attention to the floor.
"Hmm," was all Tim said.
"Why don't you like me?" Raven demanded to know, feeling ridiculously brave. "Since day one, you've been wary of me, and I understand. However, beneath that wariness is an air of hostility. Why?"
"If you can't handle it, then maybe you should leave," Tim suggested sharply.
"Like that," Raven pointed out, "you're civil to everyone else, but when I come around, suddenly you…you're…" Raven's voice trailed off. Why am I even trying? Do I actually care if this guy likes me? "Never mind," her shoulders slumped.
"I never wanted you on my team," Tim sighed in annoyance after a moment of silence. "I was supposed to have Zatanna and Wonder Girl. Batman stuck me with you."
"And that's my fault?"
"I don't trust you," Tim stated.
"Why?"
"Seriously?" Tim chuckled darkly. "Okay. First of all, John Constantine vouched for you. Secondly, your father, who may or may not have been released, destroys worlds for fun. Thirdly, you spent a month with John Constantine. Fourthly, the Zatarras sensed something evil within you, and Wonder Girl isn't allowed to get within 500 feet of you, which gives me pause. Finally, knowing all of that, Batman still insisted you be on my team; and I don't know why."
"Well, maybe he sees something in me that you don't."
"Don't come at me with that 'deep down I'm a good person' bullshit," Tim scowled. "You've done nothing to earn my trust."
"You've never given me a chance. You don't even know me."
"You make it impossible!"
"I do not!"
"Really? Where do you come from?"
"Azarath."
"What's your birth mother's name?"
"You know I'm not supposed to tell you."
"Fair. What happened to you on your Earth?" he asked. Raven remained silent. "Who trained you?" he took a step towards her. Again, Raven said nothing. "Why do you shy away from everyone except for Constantine, Victor, Garfield, M'Gann, and Superboy?" Raven placed her hands in her pockets and looked at her feet. "See? Nothing."
"You don't have to know everything about me; I don't know everything about you. I haven't even attempted to read your mind."
"What a comfort," Tim replied dryly. The two then stood in an uncomfortable silence. "Look," Tim sighed, "we have a mission. Prep is in 10 minutes," Tim spoke eventually. "That's what I was coming to tell you."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you." Tim gave a stiff nod before walking away.