Instincts: A Roven Story

Chapter 17: Misunderstood

"It's not my fault.." Her head snapped back and forth as she cried. "It's not! It's not!" Raven began to yell in her sleep. I couldn't tell whether she was crying or sweating but one thing was for sure. She was having a night terror.

I crawled into her bed and pulled her head onto my chest. It felt odd being in her room again. Not wrong, definitely not wrong, but instead right. I hadn't been in here since before we were admitted into the hospital and that was a month ago. Memories resurfaced; if only they were good.

We had just gotten home from the hospital. Raven immediately disappeared into her room. BeastBoy had bit his lip and mentioned having prior plans before he rushed back out of the tower. The air was so thick. Thick with tension. Thick with pain. And thick was something I couldn't put my finger on. I began to feel claustrophobic. As if I was being suffocated. I began coughing and grabbing at my throat. Starfire reached for me, her eyes full of concern. I lashed out at her, screaming as much as I could between gasps for air. I yelled at her not to touch me, that she was making everything worse, I yelled things I can no longer remember. Her concern changed to fear. She backed away from me. But that didn't matter. I continued to shout while stumbling backwards. I began to fall but was caught. Suddenly I could breathe again and all the tightness was gone. I looked up to see Raven holding me.
"I just came to see what the noise was about." She looked at me, her expression blank.
Once again she disappeared and I fell on my behind. Shock filled my body. When I finally looked up I saw smoke coming out of Starfires ears.
"Well if that is how you feel Robin then fine!" She yelled and ran out of the tower.
We've looked for her, but she's left no trace. It's just the four of us now and things just keep getting worse.

*Ravens bedroom*
"Robin?" I woke wrapped tightly in someone's arms. "Robin let me go!" I yelled waking him. We stared at each other.
"Raven, I-" He started than stopped.
"Yes?" I asked softly.
"I love you." He spoke gently, reaching out to caress my cheek.
"I knew it." A deep voice said from the hallway.
"Cyborg!" Robin and I quickly moved away from each other.
"Oh no don't stop on my account." Cyborg went to leave but turned back around.
"You know Robin you really are just a manipulative teenager that is only interested in the intimate parts of a relationship. And Raven, I thought you knew better than this." He spat at us before storming off.

Robin and I once again stared at each other.
"Raven you know I-"
"I know Robin. No one would else understand though."
He nodded sadly before pulling me back into his arms.
"I love you so much." He whispered.
I didn't answer, just rested my head against his chest and fell back to sleep.

*common room*
It was well after noon when I emerged from Raven's room. I was headed for the kitchen when I caught sight of Cyborg and BeastBoy on the couch. They stared through me with piercing eyes, as if they could see my very soul.
"I'm guessing Cy told yo-" I started to speak but BeastBoy cut me off.
"I've been seeing Terra behind your backs lately." He said calmly. Cyborgs head snapped in his direction. "I understand that you don't like this because you care about me. You don't want me hurt. This feeling of betrayal you have right now Robin, this fear for my wellbeing, these thoughts of how Terra is not to be trusted, this is how Cyborg and I are thinking of you and Raven right now. We care about her. We don't want her hurt. And we don't trust you. Do you understand?" I'd never heard BeastBoy so serious, so threatening. I nodded my head slowly.
"Raven get in here!" Cyborg yelled.
She appeared in the corner holding a book.
"Yes?" She asked quietly, not meeting my eyes.
"Do you remember that conversation we had not so long ago? The one where you said, and I quote I'm not creepy, I'm just different? Well Rae you need to find a different boy. This one is nothing more than a creepy adolescent. You may not be from earth but I think you've met a couple teenage boys before. You should know to stay away from them." Cyborg began to lecture her.
"Raven..." I said just above a whisper, trying to get her to look up.
I heard her sigh.
"You've misunderstood Cyborg. I'm not looking for a relationship. With anyone." Raven finally looked at me.
"Then what do you call this morning?" He countered.
"Being hit in the face by love." For the first time in over a month Raven smiled, and I'd never seen anything more beautiful.