Under the Red Hood

Chapter 1

My throat and nose burned as I tried to breathe for air. My body felt numb and cold. Moving my body felt agonizing but I had to move. I had to leave.
I had to get back.
To her.
"Don't worry. I'll be back."
That's what I said.
I managed to slowly and painfully crawl to the door only to find it locked.
I sat against the door to catch my breath when a beeping noise caught my attention.
I looked to my left to see a timer with explosions attached to it.
10
"Don't worry."
9
"I'll be back."
8
She gave me a small smile.
7
"You better."
6
"I'll be waiting."
5
Her violet eyes met mine and the world seemed to stop.
4
I leaned in and gently cupped her face.
3
I watched as she closed her eyes and leaned in to my touch.
2
I pressed my lips to hers and felt at peace.
1
"I love you."

"No!"
I sat up and looked around as I tried to catch my breath.
I placed a hand to my heart and tried to fill air into my lungs.
What was that?
A dream?
After I regained my breathing, I sighed and raked a hand through my hair.
Why do I have a bad feeling something happened?
I looked to my bedside to see my communicator.
I opened it to see any messages but found none.
My eyes flicked to my clock that said it was almost 3 in the morning.
He should be back by now.
Knowing I won't go back to sleep, I get out of bed and head to the kitchen.
Maybe some tea will help calm my nerves.
As I make my way through the halls of Titans Tower, memories play on loop in my head.

"Where are you going?"
I watch as he stops in his tracks then slowly turns to me with a grin.
"A mission. Bats has a location on Joker and wants me to help. We tracked him down in Switzerland."
"Are you going to be careful?"
"Yes."
I raise my brow, "Jason."
"Trust me, Rae. I'll be fine."
"You promise?"
"Don't worry. I'll be back."
I smile and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"You better. I'll be waiting."
He stares into my eyes before gently cupping my face into his hand.
I lean into his touch and a few of my worries disappear.
His lips connect with mine and I wrap my hands around his neck.
The kiss is soft and sweet. It's as if time has stopped and it's just him and I.
We are interrupted by his communicator beeping.
"I have to go."
I nod and cross my arms.
"I love you."
He flashes me his infamous grin, "I love you more, Sunshine."
I watch as he runs off as the doors close behind him.

I make it to the kitchen and set up my kettle with water. As I wait for it to boil, I use my powers to float to the gigantic windows facing the ocean and city.
Snow falls gently around Jump City and for once things seem peaceful.
I continue starring out at the view when suddenly the alarm went off.
Before I can think, the lights turn on and Dick bursts through the doors.
He looks out of breathe and shaken. As if something bad happened to him.
His blue eyes meet mine and I feel his guilt wrap around like a snake.
My eyes look behind him to see the rest of the Titans run into the living room.
"What's wrong?" I ask as I walk to Dick.
The others nod as well and we all look at Dick.
"I-I don't know how to say this." He softly spoke as he looked away from me.
In the background, my tea kettle began to softly whistle.
"I just got a message from Batman and Alfred. The mission in Switzerland. It- it went sideways."
"What happened?" Starfire asked.
The tea kettle began to grow louder and my nerves began to jumble in my stomach.
"Batman and Robin managed to find Joker's location but he separated them. He kidnapped Jason and brought him to a warehouse."
I felt my breath hitch and I suddenly felt like vomiting.
"He beat Jason with a crow bar then left, but the warehouse had a bomb in it."
Dick finally looked up and met my eyes.
"I'm sorry Raven, but Jason- he didn't make it."
The tea kettle began screaming in agony or was it me?
Flashes of earlier played in my head as I felt my legs give out.
"I'll be back."
Jason...
"I love you more."
My friends surrounded me in an instant but I blocked them out as I continued to scream.
"My sunshine."