Post by indigobird on Feb 22, 2011 22:48:47 GMT -5
It was a peaceful night in Gotham City. The stars were out, their teeth chattering in the frigid air, and the moon shone full, casting a bright silver glow on the city below. A few small, dark clouds drifted through the sky, darting across the moon every now and then and casting momentary shadows across the ground.
In Titan Tower, five crime-fighting teens were dozing in their rooms. There was a boy with hair black as an oil slick, spikey even in his sleep, spread eagle across the top of his bed, a girl with deep fiery hair, curled under a lavender comforter with a slight smile on her dreaming face, accompanied by a fat snoring creature that lay in a basket next to her bed. There was also a metallic boy, who looked more manly than boy-ish, sleeping on an iron slate while plugged into a charging machine, and a green-skinned boy who lay on the top bunk of his bed, drooling on his pillow and dreaming of seducing french babes on his sleek moped. And, of course, there was another girl, who was curled into a tight ball under a mound of indigo comforters.
Watching this girl, it would appear she was fast asleep, probably not even dreaming, because she lay completely motionless, except for the rise and fall of her chest. But, if you had continued to watch her, you would begin to notice certain things that suggested she was, in fact, dreaming. The way her leg twitched
every now and then, how her forehead wrinkled momentarily before she rolled onto her other side. Watching her as the moonlight cast silver shadows to dance across her face, you would see how she became more and more restless, kicking her blankets off, tossing and turning, her fingers twitching. And then she began to moan.
It was a low moan, at first, but steadily rising. It was a moan of protest, of despair and slight pain. It was quiet, but becoming louder. As it increased in volume, it began to shape a word. No, two words. "Stop," and "no." The girl was now thrashing more, her moans increasing into shrieks.
"Nooo. Stoooop." this girl cried in her sleep, turning from one side to the other, kicking her feet and curling her fingers around the edge of the matress, digging her nails into the sheets, tangling her hair in her eyelashes.
"Stop!" she screamed. Her shrieks became screams, loud enough to wake two other sleeping titans.
"NO STOP! LEAVE!" the girl screamed, desperate to get away from some un-seen foe.
The two titans who had awoken made a dash for her room.
"Raven?" called the boy who reached her door first, the boy with the black hair, pounding his fists on the door. "Raven!"
The other titan who had woke up, the green-skinned one, caught up to the black-haired one.
"Dude, don't just knock, go in there!" he exclaimed, looking fearful.
"I-I don't want to invade her privacy.." he started, but was cut-off by another of the girl, Raven, shrieks.
"Dude!" the green boy yelled, pushing the black-haired boy aside and barging into Raven's room.
"Raven!" he called, heading over to her bed. The black-haired boy, known as Robin, made it to her bed first, leaning over her and shaking her shoulders. Her eyelids were squeezed shut, a grimace had formed on her lips, and she looked as if she was in pain.
"Raven! Wake up!" he demanded, shaking her shoulders. After another low moan, Raven's eyelids fluttered open, and she was met by the inquisitive faces of two teen boys. Nothing was said for a moment, then Robin took in upon himself to speak.
"Are you okay?" he asked her, trying to catch her eye. Raven nodded.
"Yeah. I was just having a..a nightmare." she shook her head as if to clear it. She felt slightly embarresed at having to admit to having something as childish as a nightmare, but couldn't see any way to deny it.
"You sure you're okay? You sounded pretty scared." The green-skinned boy asked skeptically.
"I'm sure, Beast Boy." Raven said in her typical monotone voice. Both her comrades gave her a contemplative glance, causing her to blush ever so slightly.
"I'm fine." she repeated, hoping they would take the hint and leave. Robin, being the brighter of the two, understood and nodded.
"Okay, well, I guess i'll go back to sleep...if you need anything just let me know."
Raven nodded. Robin turned and left the room. Raven noted briefly that it was odd to see him without his cape. Of course, he still had his mask on, he never took it off as far as anyone knew, not even in his sleep.
Raven sighed and rolled over, ready to fall back into sleep, when she got the sense that she wasn't alone. She closed her eyes in an effort to repress a sigh, and rolled onto her back. When she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of an anxious green boy leaning over her bed.
"Gah!" she exclaimed, startled. Her surprise, however, quickly changed to annoyance.
"Beast Boy." she muttered, sitting up and causing him to lean back. "What do you want?" she retorted. Beast Boy blinked for a moment, then realized he had been asked a question, and hurried to answer.
"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you're guna be okay.."
Raven rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine, Beast Boy. You can go." she told him.
"O-Okay." he stammered, but didn't move. Raven noticed for the first time that he was dressed in nothing but a pair of forest green boxers. This sudden realization, coupled with the fact that she herself was scantily clad and they were alone, caused her to blush a furious red.
"Uh, Beast Boy?" Raven said after a moment.
"Yeah?"
"You're still here."
"Oh."
Raven waited, but still Beast Boy didn't move.
"Okay, I give up. What do you want?" Raven asked.
"Nothing, nothing!" Beast Boy mumbled, backing towards the door. Raven watched silently as he retreated. He paused in her doorway.
"You sure you'll be okay?"
"I'm sure."
Beast Boy nodded and the door slid closed. Raven sighed and pulled the comforter back up over her thin, bare legs, which only had a pair of dark blue pajama shorts covering her upper thighs. Her shirt was just as revealing, a black tank top with tiny holes littering the bottom hem. She pulled the comforter up to her chin
and closed her eyes, falling back into a slumber.
Quickly encased in sleep, Raven's dream seemed to pick up right where it had left off. In her dream (or nightmare, I guess), she stood before her evil demon father, Trigon. He was smiling menacingly at her, as he had trapped her four friends in a fiery energy ball.
"You can never escape me." roared Trigon. Raven levitated solemnly, glaring at him with a deep hatred.
"You will never come back. I will never help you." she spat.
"Ah, my daughter, never say never." Trigon chuckled darkly.
"Leave me and my friends alone. You don't belong near us, or anywhere."
"I am your father, Raven, and so I shall be near you, always."
"I am nothing like you!" Raven growled fiercely.
"On the contrary, I am a part of you!" Trigon roared. Raven's eyes filled with horror at the unbelievable truth he spoke.
"Go away!" she screamed at him.
"I think i'll have a little fun, first." Trigon said, withdrawing one of her friends from the energy ball and into his palm.
"Leave him alone!" screeched Raven. Trigon laughed manaically, closing his fist. When he reopened it, all that remained of the green boy was a pile of dust.
"NO!" Raven screamed.
"Raven, Raven!" Beast Boy yelled, shaking Raven's shoulders back and forth. Raven's eyes rattled open, although Beast Boy didn't seem to notice, because he continued to shake her, calling her name.
Raven reached out a hand and placed it on Beast Boy's shoulder, causing him to cease shaking her.
"Raven, are you okay?" Beast Boy asked, worry occupying all his features.
"I'm...fine." Raven managed, controlling her breathing. "How'd you get in here so fast?"
"I..uh...was standing outside your door." Beast Boy admitted sheepishly. Raven once again rolled her eyes, then slowly lay down on her bed. A secret part of her was flattered that he had done that, although she would never admit it.
"So, I guess you want me to go away again?" Beast Boy asked, disappointment in his voice. At the thought of being alone and faced with her horrible dream, Raven shuddered. She reached out a hand and grabbed Beast Boy's wrist.
"Uh..no. Actually...could you just...stay in here for a little bit?" Raven asked, doing her best not too sound hopeful. Beast Boy's eyes widened and he nodded.
"Uh sh-sure, sure."
Raven nodded gratefully, and used her powers to encase a chair in a black energy ball, lifting it over to the side of her bed. Beast Boy didn't protest, only sat down in the chair quietly.
"Do you want to...talk about it?" Beast Boy asked uncertainly.
"No." Raven said, folding her hands under her breasts. "Just stay here with me."
Beast Boy nodded and sat quietly, something Beast Boy almost never did. He studied Raven's face, her expression, which was deep in thought. He studied her dark violet hair, spread out on the pillow behind her, the way her brows furrowed slightly at a certain thought, the way she tapped one index finger against the
other, completely unaware she was even doing so. He watched the rise and fall of her chest, and blushed a bit when he fully realized just where he was staring, although he found it incredibly hard to shift his gaze. Although Beast Boy was glad to be sharing this time with Raven, Beast Boy was Beast Boy, and before he knew it his eyelids were drooping, and he was containing yawns. One slipped out, however, causing Raven to look over. When she saw Beast Boy's tired expression, she blushed slightly, feeling bad that she'd kept him up.
"I'm sorry, i'm keeping you up." Raven noted. Beast Boy shook his head, doing his best to look alert, which really wasn't that good.
"Nah, it's cool. I'm fine, really! Fit as a-" he yawned then, ruining his cherade entirely. "Fiddle." he mumbled, after his yawn had passed.
Raven sighed. On the one hand, she didn't want to keep Beast Boy up just so she wouldn't be alone, but on the other hand...she didn't want to be alone. After a few minutes of contemplation, Raven sighed again and spoke.
"Get in." she said. Beast Boy stared at her. Raven widened her eyes in a gesture stating "well?"
"Uh, what?" Beast Boy asked nervously. Raven rolled her eyes again, it was a common thing for her to do around Beast Boy.
"Get. In." she said, slower this time. Beast Boy stared disbelieving at her. Was Raven actually asking him to get in bed with her? Raven herself was suprised she had spoken those words, especially to Beast Boy, but she couldn't take them back, and it wasn't like she wanted to, anyways.
"In your bed?" Beast Boy asked, his voice rising an octave higher.
"Yes." Raven replied.
"With you?" he squeaked.
"Yes."
Beast Boy sat momentarily frozen. Raven sighed for the third time, and patted the spot next to her. Beast Boy shook his head, as if clearing it, and scrambled into bed beside her. He scooted away from her, not wanting to intrude on her space. After a few silent moments, just as Beast Boy was wondering if Raven had fallen asleep, she spoke.
"Beast Boy?" she asked, calmly. Beast Boy rolled over on his side to face her, finding that she had done the same. If he extended his arm across the gap, he could touch her.
"Yeah?" he whispered back, anything above a whisper would be too loud.
"Do you ever feel like you're.....trapped?" she whispered. Beast Boy stayed silent, partly because he was contemplating her question and partly because he couldn't believe Raven was actually having a real conversation with him. It was almost as if she....trusted him.
"How so?" he asked, hoping to urge more out of this strange talking girl that had taken Raven's shape.
"Like....no matter what you do, it won't be enough, and you're stuck repeating yourself for no obvious reason. Like, you can't escape something no matter how fast you run or how hard you try to forget. Even in your animal form, it would still haunt you, you know?" Raven looked serious, but there was a glint in her
eyes suggesting that she had never told anyone these things before, and she was afraid of how he would react. Beast Boy wasn't exactly the most serious guy in the group, yet Raven seemed to trust him enough to tell him her secret.
The truth was, Beast Boy didn't understand. He got what she was saying, but he'd never felt it, and he had a feeling even if he had, it wouldn't measure up to what Raven felt.
"I...." Beast Boy started, then stopped. He needed to word this perfectly. "I know what you mean, but i've never felt it before. What are you trapped about?" he asked. Raven's eyes glittered, and she rolled so her back faced him. It seemed as if she realized then just what she was saying and who she was saying it to.
"Nevermind. Goodnight." she said. Beast Boy sighed.
"Raven.." he said, reaching a hand out and placing it on her shoulder. She shook it off. "Raven, why do you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?" she mumbled.
"Pull away from everyone."
She didn't answer.
"Raven, you can trust me. With anything. I'll always be there for you, more than anyone else, I promise. You don't need to hide from me. You don't have to be so alone all the time. I could......" Beast Boy trailed his sentence, waiting in a hopeful silence. After an impossibly long moment, Raven rolled over to face him.
Her eyes shone with tears, but a small smile resided on her face.
"I don't know how to NOT be alone." she whispered.
"Maybe...maybe I could show you." Beast Boy whispered back, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Raven's smile widened almost imperceptibly, and she scooted closer to him, just a little. Beast Boy grinned.
"Lesson one.." he started. "Come closer."
Raven blushed slightly and moved so her whole body was against his, burying her head in his chest.
"See? This isn't so bad." Beast Boy joked. Raven smiled into his chest.
"I guess.." she murmured, and he chuckled.
"Go to sleep, I won't let you have any nightmares." he told her, tightening his arms around her. Raven closed her eyes.
"I'll hold you to that..."
In Titan Tower, five crime-fighting teens were dozing in their rooms. There was a boy with hair black as an oil slick, spikey even in his sleep, spread eagle across the top of his bed, a girl with deep fiery hair, curled under a lavender comforter with a slight smile on her dreaming face, accompanied by a fat snoring creature that lay in a basket next to her bed. There was also a metallic boy, who looked more manly than boy-ish, sleeping on an iron slate while plugged into a charging machine, and a green-skinned boy who lay on the top bunk of his bed, drooling on his pillow and dreaming of seducing french babes on his sleek moped. And, of course, there was another girl, who was curled into a tight ball under a mound of indigo comforters.
Watching this girl, it would appear she was fast asleep, probably not even dreaming, because she lay completely motionless, except for the rise and fall of her chest. But, if you had continued to watch her, you would begin to notice certain things that suggested she was, in fact, dreaming. The way her leg twitched
every now and then, how her forehead wrinkled momentarily before she rolled onto her other side. Watching her as the moonlight cast silver shadows to dance across her face, you would see how she became more and more restless, kicking her blankets off, tossing and turning, her fingers twitching. And then she began to moan.
It was a low moan, at first, but steadily rising. It was a moan of protest, of despair and slight pain. It was quiet, but becoming louder. As it increased in volume, it began to shape a word. No, two words. "Stop," and "no." The girl was now thrashing more, her moans increasing into shrieks.
"Nooo. Stoooop." this girl cried in her sleep, turning from one side to the other, kicking her feet and curling her fingers around the edge of the matress, digging her nails into the sheets, tangling her hair in her eyelashes.
"Stop!" she screamed. Her shrieks became screams, loud enough to wake two other sleeping titans.
"NO STOP! LEAVE!" the girl screamed, desperate to get away from some un-seen foe.
The two titans who had awoken made a dash for her room.
"Raven?" called the boy who reached her door first, the boy with the black hair, pounding his fists on the door. "Raven!"
The other titan who had woke up, the green-skinned one, caught up to the black-haired one.
"Dude, don't just knock, go in there!" he exclaimed, looking fearful.
"I-I don't want to invade her privacy.." he started, but was cut-off by another of the girl, Raven, shrieks.
"Dude!" the green boy yelled, pushing the black-haired boy aside and barging into Raven's room.
"Raven!" he called, heading over to her bed. The black-haired boy, known as Robin, made it to her bed first, leaning over her and shaking her shoulders. Her eyelids were squeezed shut, a grimace had formed on her lips, and she looked as if she was in pain.
"Raven! Wake up!" he demanded, shaking her shoulders. After another low moan, Raven's eyelids fluttered open, and she was met by the inquisitive faces of two teen boys. Nothing was said for a moment, then Robin took in upon himself to speak.
"Are you okay?" he asked her, trying to catch her eye. Raven nodded.
"Yeah. I was just having a..a nightmare." she shook her head as if to clear it. She felt slightly embarresed at having to admit to having something as childish as a nightmare, but couldn't see any way to deny it.
"You sure you're okay? You sounded pretty scared." The green-skinned boy asked skeptically.
"I'm sure, Beast Boy." Raven said in her typical monotone voice. Both her comrades gave her a contemplative glance, causing her to blush ever so slightly.
"I'm fine." she repeated, hoping they would take the hint and leave. Robin, being the brighter of the two, understood and nodded.
"Okay, well, I guess i'll go back to sleep...if you need anything just let me know."
Raven nodded. Robin turned and left the room. Raven noted briefly that it was odd to see him without his cape. Of course, he still had his mask on, he never took it off as far as anyone knew, not even in his sleep.
Raven sighed and rolled over, ready to fall back into sleep, when she got the sense that she wasn't alone. She closed her eyes in an effort to repress a sigh, and rolled onto her back. When she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of an anxious green boy leaning over her bed.
"Gah!" she exclaimed, startled. Her surprise, however, quickly changed to annoyance.
"Beast Boy." she muttered, sitting up and causing him to lean back. "What do you want?" she retorted. Beast Boy blinked for a moment, then realized he had been asked a question, and hurried to answer.
"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you're guna be okay.."
Raven rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine, Beast Boy. You can go." she told him.
"O-Okay." he stammered, but didn't move. Raven noticed for the first time that he was dressed in nothing but a pair of forest green boxers. This sudden realization, coupled with the fact that she herself was scantily clad and they were alone, caused her to blush a furious red.
"Uh, Beast Boy?" Raven said after a moment.
"Yeah?"
"You're still here."
"Oh."
Raven waited, but still Beast Boy didn't move.
"Okay, I give up. What do you want?" Raven asked.
"Nothing, nothing!" Beast Boy mumbled, backing towards the door. Raven watched silently as he retreated. He paused in her doorway.
"You sure you'll be okay?"
"I'm sure."
Beast Boy nodded and the door slid closed. Raven sighed and pulled the comforter back up over her thin, bare legs, which only had a pair of dark blue pajama shorts covering her upper thighs. Her shirt was just as revealing, a black tank top with tiny holes littering the bottom hem. She pulled the comforter up to her chin
and closed her eyes, falling back into a slumber.
Quickly encased in sleep, Raven's dream seemed to pick up right where it had left off. In her dream (or nightmare, I guess), she stood before her evil demon father, Trigon. He was smiling menacingly at her, as he had trapped her four friends in a fiery energy ball.
"You can never escape me." roared Trigon. Raven levitated solemnly, glaring at him with a deep hatred.
"You will never come back. I will never help you." she spat.
"Ah, my daughter, never say never." Trigon chuckled darkly.
"Leave me and my friends alone. You don't belong near us, or anywhere."
"I am your father, Raven, and so I shall be near you, always."
"I am nothing like you!" Raven growled fiercely.
"On the contrary, I am a part of you!" Trigon roared. Raven's eyes filled with horror at the unbelievable truth he spoke.
"Go away!" she screamed at him.
"I think i'll have a little fun, first." Trigon said, withdrawing one of her friends from the energy ball and into his palm.
"Leave him alone!" screeched Raven. Trigon laughed manaically, closing his fist. When he reopened it, all that remained of the green boy was a pile of dust.
"NO!" Raven screamed.
"Raven, Raven!" Beast Boy yelled, shaking Raven's shoulders back and forth. Raven's eyes rattled open, although Beast Boy didn't seem to notice, because he continued to shake her, calling her name.
Raven reached out a hand and placed it on Beast Boy's shoulder, causing him to cease shaking her.
"Raven, are you okay?" Beast Boy asked, worry occupying all his features.
"I'm...fine." Raven managed, controlling her breathing. "How'd you get in here so fast?"
"I..uh...was standing outside your door." Beast Boy admitted sheepishly. Raven once again rolled her eyes, then slowly lay down on her bed. A secret part of her was flattered that he had done that, although she would never admit it.
"So, I guess you want me to go away again?" Beast Boy asked, disappointment in his voice. At the thought of being alone and faced with her horrible dream, Raven shuddered. She reached out a hand and grabbed Beast Boy's wrist.
"Uh..no. Actually...could you just...stay in here for a little bit?" Raven asked, doing her best not too sound hopeful. Beast Boy's eyes widened and he nodded.
"Uh sh-sure, sure."
Raven nodded gratefully, and used her powers to encase a chair in a black energy ball, lifting it over to the side of her bed. Beast Boy didn't protest, only sat down in the chair quietly.
"Do you want to...talk about it?" Beast Boy asked uncertainly.
"No." Raven said, folding her hands under her breasts. "Just stay here with me."
Beast Boy nodded and sat quietly, something Beast Boy almost never did. He studied Raven's face, her expression, which was deep in thought. He studied her dark violet hair, spread out on the pillow behind her, the way her brows furrowed slightly at a certain thought, the way she tapped one index finger against the
other, completely unaware she was even doing so. He watched the rise and fall of her chest, and blushed a bit when he fully realized just where he was staring, although he found it incredibly hard to shift his gaze. Although Beast Boy was glad to be sharing this time with Raven, Beast Boy was Beast Boy, and before he knew it his eyelids were drooping, and he was containing yawns. One slipped out, however, causing Raven to look over. When she saw Beast Boy's tired expression, she blushed slightly, feeling bad that she'd kept him up.
"I'm sorry, i'm keeping you up." Raven noted. Beast Boy shook his head, doing his best to look alert, which really wasn't that good.
"Nah, it's cool. I'm fine, really! Fit as a-" he yawned then, ruining his cherade entirely. "Fiddle." he mumbled, after his yawn had passed.
Raven sighed. On the one hand, she didn't want to keep Beast Boy up just so she wouldn't be alone, but on the other hand...she didn't want to be alone. After a few minutes of contemplation, Raven sighed again and spoke.
"Get in." she said. Beast Boy stared at her. Raven widened her eyes in a gesture stating "well?"
"Uh, what?" Beast Boy asked nervously. Raven rolled her eyes again, it was a common thing for her to do around Beast Boy.
"Get. In." she said, slower this time. Beast Boy stared disbelieving at her. Was Raven actually asking him to get in bed with her? Raven herself was suprised she had spoken those words, especially to Beast Boy, but she couldn't take them back, and it wasn't like she wanted to, anyways.
"In your bed?" Beast Boy asked, his voice rising an octave higher.
"Yes." Raven replied.
"With you?" he squeaked.
"Yes."
Beast Boy sat momentarily frozen. Raven sighed for the third time, and patted the spot next to her. Beast Boy shook his head, as if clearing it, and scrambled into bed beside her. He scooted away from her, not wanting to intrude on her space. After a few silent moments, just as Beast Boy was wondering if Raven had fallen asleep, she spoke.
"Beast Boy?" she asked, calmly. Beast Boy rolled over on his side to face her, finding that she had done the same. If he extended his arm across the gap, he could touch her.
"Yeah?" he whispered back, anything above a whisper would be too loud.
"Do you ever feel like you're.....trapped?" she whispered. Beast Boy stayed silent, partly because he was contemplating her question and partly because he couldn't believe Raven was actually having a real conversation with him. It was almost as if she....trusted him.
"How so?" he asked, hoping to urge more out of this strange talking girl that had taken Raven's shape.
"Like....no matter what you do, it won't be enough, and you're stuck repeating yourself for no obvious reason. Like, you can't escape something no matter how fast you run or how hard you try to forget. Even in your animal form, it would still haunt you, you know?" Raven looked serious, but there was a glint in her
eyes suggesting that she had never told anyone these things before, and she was afraid of how he would react. Beast Boy wasn't exactly the most serious guy in the group, yet Raven seemed to trust him enough to tell him her secret.
The truth was, Beast Boy didn't understand. He got what she was saying, but he'd never felt it, and he had a feeling even if he had, it wouldn't measure up to what Raven felt.
"I...." Beast Boy started, then stopped. He needed to word this perfectly. "I know what you mean, but i've never felt it before. What are you trapped about?" he asked. Raven's eyes glittered, and she rolled so her back faced him. It seemed as if she realized then just what she was saying and who she was saying it to.
"Nevermind. Goodnight." she said. Beast Boy sighed.
"Raven.." he said, reaching a hand out and placing it on her shoulder. She shook it off. "Raven, why do you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?" she mumbled.
"Pull away from everyone."
She didn't answer.
"Raven, you can trust me. With anything. I'll always be there for you, more than anyone else, I promise. You don't need to hide from me. You don't have to be so alone all the time. I could......" Beast Boy trailed his sentence, waiting in a hopeful silence. After an impossibly long moment, Raven rolled over to face him.
Her eyes shone with tears, but a small smile resided on her face.
"I don't know how to NOT be alone." she whispered.
"Maybe...maybe I could show you." Beast Boy whispered back, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Raven's smile widened almost imperceptibly, and she scooted closer to him, just a little. Beast Boy grinned.
"Lesson one.." he started. "Come closer."
Raven blushed slightly and moved so her whole body was against his, burying her head in his chest.
"See? This isn't so bad." Beast Boy joked. Raven smiled into his chest.
"I guess.." she murmured, and he chuckled.
"Go to sleep, I won't let you have any nightmares." he told her, tightening his arms around her. Raven closed her eyes.
"I'll hold you to that..."