v e n t (+16)

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Robin and Raven did what they had agreed upon. The father brought Myth her breakfast and waited for her to finish it while also keeping the witch's visit in mind. He sat on the edge of the bed next to his daughter with one of his legs hanging down slightly as his bodyweight was distributed asymmetrically. He placed both his hands on top of each other on his thigh and stared at one place visibly lost in his thoughts. The room was filled with sounds of gentle chewing and crunching. Michelle's moves were full of fatigue. Everything she did, every move took a little more time than usual. Both of them seemed very tired even though Myth slept at night and Robin didn't. The girl noticed that there was something going on with her father right away. He usually didn't let anyone see the softer, vulnerable, and sad part of him. Not even his own child. He tried to keep it to himself so that she or anybody else doesn't pity him. Seeing him so broken down and visibly zoned out alarmed her.

- Are you okay? - she asked him suddenly and bit into her sandwich again.

Robin turned his face to her without any energy to it. He looked down.

- I'm alright, love - he promised. - Raven will come here after you finish eating. I would like you to hurry - he suggested in a peaceful tone.

- Raven? Why? - she stopped eating for a moment.

- To help you... - he sighed.

- That's what you're sad about?

He didn't answer her for a longer while, probably because he was trying to collect his thoughts.

- I don't know what's wrong with you and she might. I just hope you'll be okay... - he said quietly while looking down and then closed his eyes.

Michelle didn't know what to say to that. She began to worry for her father too, seeing how much struggle his pained tone contains. It's been such a long time since she's last seen him this hopeless. She felt his feelings on her chest and that made her 10 times more anxious about what they are going to find out. The one thing she wished for is for them to hear good news so he can sleep peacefully, but she herself had no clue about what happened to her that night. Therefore, she didn't feel like the right person in the right place to console him at the moment. Silence was her answer to his words. Soon after that, they heard a knock upon the door. Robin went over there to open them by typing in the code as always. Raven was there to ask if Michelle finished eating. Robin took a look at her from over his shoulder and the girl stuffed her mouth with the last bite of sandwich left and nodded her head calmly.

She visibly had problems with chewing it, but it was better than taking up more time. Raven was allowed inside the room so she approached the bed quietly. Robin took a plate from his daughter and put it aside as he didn't want to leave until everything was clear.

- What did you see, Michelle? - Raven asked quietly.

Michelle swallowed with a dry throat and started playing with her fingers while thinking about what she saw back then. It was literally pure chaos, but there had to be words she could explain it all in.

- Fire... A lot of fire everywhere... In a huge building - she said nervously. - I saw my friends... burn to death... And I burned too... - her eyes got a little teary. - Ravager was there...

The memory was still visibly difficult for her to talk about. Being traumatized by not being on time when her father died, another story like this was just horrifying. Robin's masked eyes widened when he heard that. He understood more from what she said in her sleep after that confession. Her every tear, every gasp for air, every sob had a whole different meaning to it than what he had originally thought.

- Mhm... - Raven nodded. - May I see what you saw for myself?

Myth took a peek at her father to check if her request is appropriate. She knew that he would immediately step in to defend her if something was wrong, but not this time. He nodded at her gently, encouraging her to trust the witch. And she did. Raven sat on the edge of the bed and placed both of her hands on Myth's temples. Raven closed her eyes and mumbled a spell quietly. When she opened her eyes again, they were glowing white. She lived through the terrifying scenario the way Michelle did. She saw Ravager threatening her, pulling on her arms. She saw New Titans fall to the flames and burn and eventually - she burned to death herself. As soon as Raven snapped out of this - she started coughing aggressively until her throat was hurting.