THE RAVEN | avengers

[12]

ACT 1
Chapter 12
Playing Doctor

Sloane had been right. Much to Raven's surprise, she found the world of tech far more interesting than she had anticipated. It wasn't the monotonous, tedious work she'd assumed it would be. Sloane made her do basic exercises — hacking into security cameras, and creating small devices designed for surveillance. Nothing too big or overly complicated, but enough to give Raven a taste of what this world could offer.

What really surprised Raven, though, was how quickly she picked it up. Her mind worked fast, absorbing every detail Sloane shared with her. It wasn't just about sitting behind a screen or wiring circuits — it was about control. Power, just in a different form. Sloane seemed to sense that, and the two of them clicked in a way Raven hadn't expected.

Sloane wasn't what Raven had imagined. She was sharp, funny, and completely unafraid of her. That was rare. Most people either feared Raven or tried too hard to act like they didn't. But Sloane wasn't like that. She treated Raven like an equal, like someone who could be just as powerful in her own way. Raven admired that. Sloane might not be able to overpower men in the ring or survive combat, but she was powerful in her own domain — through her mind, her skills, her knowledge.

When the session finally ended, Sloane surprised Raven again. She stepped forward and gave her a hug. It was quick and casual, but the gesture caught Raven off guard. She tensed, her muscles stiffening out of instinct, but after a moment, she loosened up. It was the first time she had experienced such a humanly gesture in... well, she couldn't remember how long. There was something almost comforting about it, though she would never admit that.

"You're a natural," Sloane said with a grin as she pulled away. "I'll see you again soon, yeah?"

Raven nodded, still processing the warmth of the hug as she stepped back. "Yeah. Sure."

Caelan, who had been waiting by the door, stepped forward. He gave Sloane a brief nod before leading Raven out of the tech room and into the familiar hallways of the facility. As they walked, the mood shifted. The air felt heavier, more sterile.

"Ah, I'm really not looking forward to this," Raven muttered. "He's very boring."

"He's a doctor," Caelan replied, his tone as steady as ever, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

"A boring one," Raven added with a smirk. "And afraid. Anxious. I can practically smell it on him."

Caelan stopped in his tracks, looking at her with mild surprise. "You can do that?"

Raven burst into laughter, shaking her head. "No, but it's pretty obvious."

They resumed walking, their footsteps echoing down the sterile hallway until they finally arrived at the doctor's office. The cold, familiar scent of antiseptic filled the air as they stepped inside.

"Hello, Raven," the doctor greeted, his voice thin and strained.

Raven glanced sideways at Caelan, pretending to sniff the air in a subtle manner, flashing him a mischievous smile. He simply shook his head, his lips twitching as he watched her approach the examination table and sit on it.

The doctor, nervously adjusting his glasses, seemed to hesitate. "Oh, no, no," he stammered, his hands wringing together.

Raven frowned, confused. "You don't want to check me? No taking blood?"

"Not today," the doctor replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Without another word, he disappeared into a back room.

Raven hopped off the table, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. What now? She had expected the usual routine — needles, measurements, the sterile monotony of it all. But when the doctor returned, it wasn't with medical equipment.

He wheeled in a metal bed, and on it was the lifeless body of a boy. Raven's eyes narrowed, taking in the sight before her. The boy couldn't have been more than thirteen, his skin pale, almost translucent, his chest still. Raven stepped closer, her heart giving a strange, uncomfortable twist.

"What happened to him?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

The doctor glanced at the boy, his expression solemn. "An illness. One we haven't yet fully understood." He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "And this is why you need to know more than just fighting, Raven. There's more to surviving than brute strength. You need to understand medical procedures. In times like these, knowing how to help or how to diagnose could be the difference between life and death."

Raven looked back at the boy, her brow furrowing as she considered the doctor's words. They did make sense. There was more than one way to stay in control, more than one way to be powerful.

The doctor moved to the side of the table, pulling on gloves and gesturing for her to come closer. "I'll guide you through this," he said softly. "It's basic first aid for now, but I want you to understand how to diagnose and treat common injuries and illnesses."

He handed her a pair of gloves, and she slid them on, feeling a strange mixture of hesitation and curiosity.

The doctor began explaining the basics — how to check for a pulse, how to assess breathing. He showed her how to examine the body for signs of trauma or infection, pointing out subtle details that Raven wouldn't have noticed on her own. She listened carefully, her mind absorbing every word, her hands steady as she followed his instructions.

"Feel for any abnormalities along the chest," he instructed, guiding her hands to the boy's ribcage. "If there's fluid buildup or irregularities in the heartbeat, you need to act fast."

Raven pressed her fingers along the boy's ribs, feeling the stillness beneath her touch. It was strange, working on something so delicate, so fragile.

The doctor then moved on to a demonstration of administering a basic injection, showing her how to properly angle the needle and ensure the medication was delivered correctly. Raven followed closely, her mind sharp, each motion precise.

"This is the easy part," the doctor said quietly, watching as she administered the injection. "What matters is knowing when and how to use it. You won't always be in controlled environments. Sometimes, this will be all you have to save a life."

Raven didn't respond, but she nodded, her focus entirely on the task at hand.