Even In The Grave, All Is Not Lost

The Storm

A/N: So I do want to apologize in advance because there's probably going to be a lot of stigma against addiction/alcoholism in this fic - a lot of unfavorable comments - because it's from Raven's perspective and that's what feels true to her character. Addiction is an illness and abuse is a choice. But for Raven it's difficult not to see the abuse as the sole result of her mother's addiction. And to be fair, that addiction did contribute a lot to the abuse, particularly when it came to her mother's neglect - but it wasn't what made her abusive. And on the Ark, parents struggling with addiction couldn't seek out support or get help. So I just wanted to apologise for that in advance

. . .

"I really am sorry," Adria murmured, voice almost too low to hear. The peace of sleep hadn't stayed with her long. "I'm sorry I broke it."

Despite Luna's earlier reassurances, she could tell that Adria still felt guilty about the music box. The knowledge pained her. If these were Adria's final days, she didn't want them to be tarnished by such a wretched emotion.

Luna closed her eyes.

But they're not.

They're not her final days.

They just had to get to Nyko.

Opening her eyes, Luna schooled her features. She reached out and tapped a gentle finger against the lid. "If it's broken, why didn't you throw it away? Why do you have it now?"

Adria clutched the music box closer, eyes dropping. "Because. . ."

"Because it still has value. Whether it can sing or not. It will always have value. . . broken doesn't mean worthless. This box may not work the way it used to but that doesn't make it any less precious. It is still the same box and it still brings you comfort. That's all that matters."

Adria pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, kneading the wood with her fingers. "Maybe it's not broken. Maybe it's just wounded. Like I was when you found me. I couldn't sing then either."

Luna smiled, remembering the child who hadn't been able to speak a word. "I think you're right. And maybe one day it will find a way to heal and sing for you again, even if it never sounds exactly the same."

"Will your friend Nyko know how to heal it?"

She hesitated, looking down and threading her fingers through Adria's, where they still rested over the box. "I don't think so, my love." Adria's expression fell and she scrambled for a solution. "But we can try and find someone who does."

Luna ignored the voice in the back of her head that whispered the impossibility of this. That even if such a person existed - as she was sure they did - neither she nor Adria would have time to find them.

Nyko will help.

Nyko will know how to heal this.

Heal her.

"Luna, what will happen to Derrick's song?" Adria's voice broke through to her, dousing her in confusion as she struggled to grasp where the conversation had wandered to without her.

Struggled to move on from the all-consuming terror, seeping into her chest.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, his family were entrusted to keep it safe. He was supposed to keep it alive. He told me that. . . but now he's gone. And now we. . ."

She could see in Adria's eyes that she felt responsible for this too. That it was yet another thing which she thought she'd failed in. Failed him.

"I already told you, you're not going to die," Luna said firmly, tightening her hold. "You're going to keep Derrick's song safe for many years to come. And one day, you'll give it to someone else. Maybe your own children if you have them. The same way you'll give your song to someone else."