A Child's Reality (BBRae AU)

I

I
Don't Talk To Me
~~~

"Yo, Rae," Dick places his hand on her shoulder. She flinches. Whether from his touch or his voice wasn't clear. "Can you help me with this question? I know you're not taking forensics but you're usually good with this stuff." She nods and leans over to help him.

Her hair falls off her shoulders as she leans over the paper. In a month she grew too lazy to cut it and let it grow longer and longer, which was a little jarring for people who were used to her short, properly trimmed cut. People got used to it though. It is now just below her shoulders.

Raven writes down in his notebook and explanation of the question for him, and as Dick examines her writing more, he gains an understanding of her words as well as the question.

"Ohhh that makes more sense." She nods with a faint smile.

Shutting down her voice box over the past few weeks has actually served as a positive rather than a negative. Yes, she has to write out her more complex sentences, but it's allowed her to start really thinking about things more clearly. Making sure she thinks hard about what she says and leaving plenty of room in her mindscape for Gar.

"How's the investigation been going, Raven?" She glances up at Jinx, then stuffs her hand into her pocket and shrugs.

"Shitty. They've not found a damn thing." She replies. Everyone looks up from their work and takes assuring glances at each other. Just to make sure they all heard what they think they did.

Raven speaking full sentences is a rare occurrence. An extremely rare occurrence.

"I'm...going after school today..." She timidly adds sensing everyone's eyes locked on her.

Their eyes look away and her heartbeat picks up in response. She understands that everyone is enthralled in their school work, but the silence isn't pleasant. More like smothering.

She glances up. This isn't right...

"Guys...?" All of them snap their heads up immediately. Raven rebounds and almost falls out of her chair.

But someone catches her. Kori and Dick, who are sitting right next to her.

"Jesus, Raven, you good?" Vic asks.

"?" She had a puzzled look on her face as if to say, "What happened?" They've gotten good at reading her expressions.

"Was that one of your daydreams again?" Kori asks.

She blankly stares at nothing and nods. Kori rubs her back to try and calm her, as it's obvious that she was agitated by whatever she saw.

"Man, I don't get this."

"Get what, Vic?"

"Like, why of all things you turn into a 'daydreamer'?" He asks for lack of a better term. "I don't mean to be blunt, but from what happened I expected you to get PTSD or get anxiety or something. It just seems so out of left field." He explains.

He isn't the only one who's curious. The others silently concur with him.

Raven sits in deep thought now, blankly staring at a random spot on the table in front of her.