Fan Fiction ❯ Bloody Eyes ❯ Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Raven groaned in pain. Light stung her closed eyes through the lids, and every muscle screamed in pain. She tired to sit up, but strong hands pushed her gently to the bed. “Don’t move, Rae, you were hurt pretty bad.” Beastboy’s voice sounded thick, as though he had been crying.

Raven slowly opened her eyes, turning away from the bright lights. Beastboy turned the dimmer down, allowing Raven some comfort. “What happened?”

“We fought the hive, do you remember any of it?”

Raven closed her eyes, struggling to recall oddly dim memories. “I remember the fight. It was hive, but more than just Jynx Gizmo and Mammoth though, there were others, lots of them.”

“Yeah, it was a hard fight. Do you remember anything else?”

Raven fought to remember, but it seemed as though a black shroud covered everything. “No, I don’t. What happened?”

“Let me go get Robin, I’ll be right back.”

Raven turned to watch Beastboy’s small form almost run out of the room, like he was scared. Raven had to wonder now what had happened. She saw a tray near the bed that was reflective enough to confirm that she was not disfigured beyond cuts and bruises. She dropped the tray back to the table and checked the rest of her limb. She was bruised, cut, scraped, and had several broken ribs, and what looked like a stab wound low in her stomach.

Robin walked in the room, followed closely be Beastboy. “Hey, Raven, how are you feeling?”

“I’ve been better. Did something happen?” Beastboy returned to the chair next to her bed as she asked her question.

“Do you remember anything?”

“I remember getting hit pretty hard, then nothing.”

She felt Beastboy’s hand cover her own. She jerked her hand back as though the contact had stung, surprising even herself. Sudden memories assaulted her, waves of them. She woke strapped to a table, Mammoth leaning over her, pulling a needle out of her neck, a sick grin on his face. “I’m gonna make an example outta you, honey, and this is gonna be fun.”

Raven tried to run for the bathroom as the meager contents of her stomach sought escape, she fell to her knees, her legs to weak to support her. Beastboy lifted her back to the bed with surprising strength., and Robin thrust a bowl in front of her a moment before she started retching into it.

After her stomach had stopped its convulsions, A green hand offered her a glass of water. She took it and rinsed out her mouth before taking a swallow. She dropped her head into her hands, fighting unwanted tears.

“After we rounded up all the hive students, we started looking for you. By the time we had found you…” Robin trailed off. “I’m sorry, Raven. We were too late to stop him.”

Raven felt terror constricting her lungs, forcing her to gasp for air. “Get out please, I need to be alone.”

Robin grabbed Beastboy’s shoulder pushing him towards the door. “We’ll leave, but you shouldn’t be alone. I’m going to send Starfire in to sit with you.”

“Fine , whatever, just get out.” Her voice rose almost screaming as she spoke. What frightened her more than the terror she felt coursing through her, was that it was directed at Beastboy and Robin. Two of her best friends and she couldn’t stand to be in the same room as them.

After they were gone, Raven’s terror fled, her breathing returned to normal. She did not feel normal, did not know if she would ever feel right again. She knew why Robin didn’t want her to be alone. He was afraid that she would hurt herself, try to kill herself. She would be lying to say that the thought was not going through her mind, a simple escape to the pain that seemed to be tearing her apart from the inside. She knew, though that it was a foolish escape. As much pain as she was in now, she knew that it would only be worse when she arrived early to her father’s domain.

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In the hall, after the door to the infirmary had closed, Robin turned to Beastboy. “Wait here until I get back. Don’t go in unless you here… Use your best judgment.” Without waiting for a reply, Robin turned and walked down the hallway.

Beastboy sank to the floor. When Raven first went missing he realized for the first time what his true feelings for her was. He was thrown into a panic, searching desperately for her, for the woman that he now knew he loved.

Now he was sitting outside of the door to the infirmary. He could here Raven’s soft sobs, could smell her tears, but could do nothing to help her. When she looked at him, her eyes filled with terror, it tore him apart. He knew why she would feel that way about him, knew that for a while, maybe for a long time, she would fear him, fear Robin, fear Cyborg, fear any man she saw.

Robin came back with Starfire in tow. “Starfire, be kind of low key, alright? She’s hurting right now.”

“I understand, friend Robin.” It was obvious that she had been crying, they all had except for Robin. “I shall sit with her for as long as necessary.”

Starfire walked into the room and sat in the chair next to Raven. Raven had drawn her knees up to her chest, burying her face against them. “Friend Raven, I am happy to see that you are awake.”

Raven uncurled herself and turned so that her legs hung off the edge of the bed. “Hey Star.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ll be okay.”

“It is too bad that we do not live on my world.”

“Why?”

“On my world if such a thing had been done, he would never be able to do it again.”

“He’d put to death?”

“No, friend Raven, they are removed.” Star put a great deal of emphasis on the word “they”

“I see.” Raven wished that she could smile, but couldn’t find it within her.

“There are few worse crimes on Tamaran than what he did.”

“There aren’t many worse here, either.”

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After Starfire had left them, Robin offered Beastboy a hand up. “Come on.”

Beastboy followed Robin out of the infirmary area, and down the hall to the elevator. Once they had entered it Beastboy finally asked, “Where are we going?”

“Gonna have a sparing match.” Occasionally, Beastboy and Robin spared in the gym, mainly to blow off some steam. Beastboy didn’t need the training, and Robin had no difficulty beating Beastboy, but it helped sometimes to have something to take some swings at.

The two friends remained silent as the elevator continued its descent to the gym level. When the doors opened the both walked to the lockers where pads were kept. After donning padded gloves, helmets, and shoes, Beastboy and Robin squared off in the ring.

The two combatants circled each other, trading occasional jabs, testing each other’s defenses. “Beastboy, I’ve got to ask you something.”

“What?” Beastboy threw a jab that was easily countered.

“How do you feel about Raven?”

“What do you mean?”

“Out of everyone in the team, I didn’t expect you to be the hardest his by what happened.”

“I dunno, I guess when I realized that she was gone, something snapped.”

“You realized that you’d never told her how you felt? You were afraid you’d lost the chance.” Robin threw a punch that connected with Beastboy’s shoulder, despite his attempt to block.

“Yeah, I guess I did. Maybe I have lost the chance.”

“She’ll heal.”

“I know.”

“Mammoth came out of his coma.”

Beastboy faltered a little at this. “Yeah?”

“He had several broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a major concussion, you almost split his skull open, Beastboy.”

“I’m sorry, I lost control.”

“You’re lucky. Because of the circumstances, the city is not pushing for your removal from the team. If Mammoth presses charges, there’s not a thing we can do about it.”

“I know.”

“You can’t lose control like that again. If we hadn’t been able to pull you off of him, I have no doubt that you would have killed him, Beastboy.” Robin managed a strong blow on Beastboy’s chest, knocking him flat.

“I’m sorry Robin.”

Robin stepped back, effectively ending the sparing match. “Don’t apologize. If you hadn’t of done it, I probably would have.”

Robin glanced at the clock on the wall. “When was the last time you ate?”

Beastboy shrugged. “I dunno. Cyborg brought me something while I was watching Raven.”

“Alright, when was the last time you slept?”

“Couple of days, I think.”

“Go hit the sack, if anything comes up, I’ll let you know.”

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Robin walked into the Tower’s common area, and saw Cyborg standing in front of the T.V. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a circus, man. The phones been ringin’ off the hook all day, reporters mostly.”

“Mammoth?”

“They transferred him outta the ICU, trial’s scheduled for next week if he’s sufficiently recovered.

“Good.”

The door slid open and Starfire walked in, one arm around Raven’s shoulder. “Hey, Rae, good to see you up.”

Raven flinched when he spoke, “Hey, Cy.”

Starfire settled Raven onto one of the couches, and began to fix a cup of tea for her. After she had a mug in her hand she spoke up, “How long have I been out?”

Robin answered, “About three days.”

“What’ve I missed?”

“Most of Hive is going on trial next week, and they’re not getting away this time.”

“Most?”

“Brother Blood got away with a few students, and Jynx turned.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were looking for you, but were getting nowhere. Jynx called us and told you where you were.”

“What is going on here?”

Raven turned her head and saw a very angry Jynx standing in the door way. She heard Mammoth’s voice from just above her, “Hey, boss, just havein’ a little fun.”

“Stop, now.” Her voice left no doubt that what she saw enraged her.

“No. You really think takin’ a hostage would work? Every villain they’ve faced tried that. A hostage wouldn’t work, but an example might.”

“I didn’t approve this. Get off of her.”

Mammoth stood, his hands clenched into fists. Jynx could sense the other hive students gathering. “I didn’t think you would. That’s why I asked the headmaster, you don’t like it, deal.”

Jynx stared for a moment at Mammoth, before shaking her head. “You make me sick.” She turned and fled out of the room, out of the building.

“When we showed up where you were being held, Jynx was waiting for us. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have been able to save you. Since Hive went down, though, she’s been singing like a bird. She’s handed over enough incriminating testimony to put them all away for good.”

“I remember, she didn’t know what they were going to do. When she ordered him to stop, she almost lost control of all of them. “Raven’s numb fingers tightened around warm cup of tea that she held. “Anything big go down?”

“Actually it’s been quiet. Its weird, nothing’s happened since the fight.”

Raven drained the last of the tea from her cup before standing. Starfire immediately followed her, but Raven waived her away. “I need some sleep.” She looked at Robin. “Do you mind if I at least sleep alone?”

“If you need anything let us know, alright?”

“I will.” She turned and started to walk out with a slight limp, but was stopped by Robin.

“Cyborg said there were some wired drugs in your system, still in your system. Until they’re gone your powers won’t work.”

“I know. It might be for the best right now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control them.”

“Goodnight, Rae.”