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Raven had tried absolutely everything to make this weekend the best thing her family had ever seen - a vacation, a chance to breath in the chaos of this world. And like everything she ever did, it had blown up in her face. There was so much tension now, especially directed at her - if it wasn't about what was revealed about her, it was uncomfortable feelings about this being "her house", like children visiting the antique-filled home of their grandmother they saw once a year. That was mostly in her head, probably, but she still felt agitated about it.
She had done all of this for them, couldn't they see it? Sure, Kyle's mural wasn't done, and she hadn't explained the significance of the animals portrayed there, but surely the bedrooms were a clue? An entire floor of bedrooms she didn't use, but tried to keep modern or updated to fit a 'teen' or 'college-age' style?
She had struggled to make it through Thanksgiving dinner, and Friday had been an uncomfortable hell, doubled only by having Joey port out again by the time everyone had gotten up for breakfast. So, the only titan she felt truly comfortable with right now... was gone again. By the time Saturday had rolled around, she quickly spat off some excuse about needing to pop into work for something important. She didn't like to lie to her team, and she hated lying to Arnold, but she just... needed to get away, and put her life in perspective. It was strange, running away from the home you purchased as a getaway, right? Well, she never did things the 'proper' way anyway... she always had been a freak.
Dressed in just basic clothing, she walked into the lobby of the children's wing of the hospital, the one she visited quite regularly. She'd spend hours here, taking physical pain, colds, flus, basic diseases from the bodies of these poor young souls, but they healed her far more than she ever healed them. The light in their eyes gave her hope, the smiles made her feel accepted, their hugs gave her warmth in a cold world. But there was one little girl she would focus the most on.
It had started back in June, fresh out of her court case, found not-guilty in the deaths of all of those innocent children. The law had found her not guilty, but the blood was still on her hands... this body was the last thing they saw before they were torn to shreds, she was the one they were screaming in terror of before she silenced them. The only thing she could think to do... was give of herself to heal as many children as possible. If she did this enough, perhaps the nightmares would fade, and the pain would subside. Maybe she'd be less of a monster.
She spent eight straight hours healing the children whose parents would let her close enough, doing nothing more than taking away their physical pain, as it was all she could do given the circumstances. Room after room, each filled with balloons, stuffed animals, and well-wishes from friends and loved ones... often times family would be in the room with them as well, either telling her to leave, or thanking her when their child fell fast asleep with no pain afflicting their body. Lucy's room had been the last in the hall, and Raven would never forget walking into it for the first time.
She was a frail little thing, around the age of eight. She had no hair, a product of chemotherapy as Raven was soon told by one of the nurses. There were no balloons, no color, no plush animals, no toys in this room, aside from what the nurses occasionally brought her to brighten her day. Her parents where nowhere to be seen - Raven later being told they had just stopped coming after a few months, and that they hadn't been all that invested in the first place. Lucy wasn't getting better - she had nothing to fight for, no inspiration, no spirit in her eyes. She would often sit in the corner of the large play room and just stare at the other children, all of whom stayed a good couple yard away from her at all times, like she was a disease in and of herself. She had a lonely existence, and Raven immediately took to her, spending quite a few hours that first day just talking to her until she could get a smile from her.
She had visited Lucy once a week ever since, sometimes twice a week if she felt she needed to. Each and every time, Raven brought a gift for the child - everything from toys, to brightly colored flowers, and even decorative pillows for her bed. Even with the possession, the porting out, and everything else in her life that had eventually fallen apart, Lucy was always at the height of importance, and took up her Saturday mornings without hesitation. Visit after visit, Raven had always been told the same thing... no, Lucy's parents hadn't come to see her. And soon... no, Lucy's parents hadn't paid any of the hospital bills, and had disconnected their phone, seeing their child as nothing more than a burden and a freak compared to their perfect children. Raven had always heard of those types of parents, but she had hoped to never witness the byproduct of that... but here she was, seeing it.
How could they do that to such a wonderful girl? All it took was Raven turning the corner for Lucy's green eyes to burst with excited color.
It took Raven barely any time at all to secure the funds for the hospital bills - after all, didn't it look so nice in PR for a child in the hospital, abandoned by her family, to be taken care of by a company like that? Raven didn't care about the PR, she took no credit for it, she just wanted the little girl to be able to get the treatment she needed - the best treatment money could buy, and then some.
November had hit, and the parents were still nowhere to be seen, but Lucy's room was the most decorated of all the rooms in the hospital - it was like walking into a dream world of plush, luscious fabric, and cheerful colors. The hospital staff always knew Raven was coming, and one nurse had gotten in the habit of telling Raven how Lucy was doing, and updating her on tests. After all, if the parents weren't going to be there...
Today when Raven arrived, the young nurse nearly tackled her in the hallway, grabbing her arms. Raven didn't have time to even blink, much less read emotions, and she immediately felt her heart sink to her stomach - Azar what had happened?
"L-Lucy. Her tests---"
"What about her tests?! Is she okay?! Wha---"
"She's in remission!"
The news hit Raven like a ton of bricks, a stack of them that were immediately lifted right back off of her chest. She was far too awe-struck to react much at all, though. "D-does... does she know?"
"No. We received the results this morning, and I was waiting for you."
With a short exhale, Raven's eyes shifted down that long hallway, where she already knew the little girl was anxiously waiting for her friend to come and see her like she always did. Lucy had come so far in such a short amount of time, all things considered. From a quiet "freak" in the corner, to a young woman in remission, beginning to defeat the illness that had plagued her body. She didn't even wait for the nurse to say anything else, as the click of her heels sounded against the hard flooring beneath her. But--- no. ... No there was one thing she needed to know before she delivered this news. Turning, she looked at the nurse again.
"Do her parents know?"
"They've been told." was the only answer Raven received, and it was all she needed to know. Even with their child on the road to recovery, they still weren't interested, probably far too busy doting on their perfectly healthy children. It was their loss, to miss out on the life of a beautiful little girl like Lucy - Raven would gladly step in for them and appreciate it herself.
Turning back around, Raven walked to the hospital room door, the one covered in pink and blue star stickers that she and Lucy had put there a couple of months before. It was to make it her own. Turning the handle, she slid inside, to be greeted by the much healthier sounding girl sitting up in bed, watching cartoons.
"Raven!"
"Hello, Lucy. How are we feeling this week?" click, click, click, as she stepped closer, and sat on the edge of the bed. The hospital bedding had long since been replaced with bedding of a bright pink color. It met with the hospital standards, and Raven was far too happy to put out the money for it, if it made her happy.
"I slept really well today, and I feel good right now. They had peach Jell-o today, I'd never had it before. It was really good."
It was amazing how the very personality of a child would be altered with a little care and affection - most of the nurses didn't even recognize her as the same child who they thought was on her death bed only months before.
Laughing, Raven nodded along, before lifting up the neon yellow bag she had brought with her. It was just a small gift bag, but the child had revealed she had a thing for ridiculously bright pinks, greens, purples, and yellows shortly after Raven had pried her personality open. All of these colors were insulting to Raven's senses, but she never once minded them in Lucy's presence. The gentle squeal of curiosity was enough to let Raven know she was excited about getting another gift.
Shifting aside the tissue paper, the girl reached inside, pulling out the very soft plush turtle, which was promptly hugged to her chest like it was the most precious gift in the world. It had to be the tenth or eleventh turtle plushie Raven had gotten her since all of these visits began... her favorite animal had been one of the first things they talked about, after all. There was a proper line of turtles of varying sizes taking up the windowsill that looked out on the city. This would be another to add to the cheerful collection, but Lucy acted like it was the first she had ever got each time. Such a sweet child...
"Thank you! It's so cute!"
"You're very welcome." Raven smiled down at her affectionately, leaning over to place a kiss delicately on her temple, like a mother to her child. Perhaps it was Raven's age and hormones that made her take to children like this... but any titan who had known her for awhile could have pointed out she had always been like this. Caring for the young was in her blood - her mother had opened up that ranch for runaways, hadn't she?
"I have good news as well?"
"Yeah?" the child's eyes were still fixed on the toy in her hands, examining the sweet little turtle's face, obviously pleased.
"... The doctors let me know you're in remission."
There was a long pause before Lucy looked up at her, green eyes full of confusion. "... That's... good, right?"
"Yes, dear. That means the medicine is working, and you'll be as good as new in no time." Raven waited for the burst of joyful emotion to awaken in the child, for her to scream or squeal, or get far too excited and wear herself out. But... she was soon confused.
Those green eyes filled with tears, heavy ones, and a look of terror. Raven's immediate reaction was to pull the child into her arms and cradle her to her chest. "L-Lucy, this is fantastic news! What's the matter?"
"... I-If I'm not sick anymore... you won't come visit me... I won't be here and then---"
It hit like a bullet to Raven's very soul, making her breath catch hard in her throat. Oh, those feelings of abandonment were so familiar to her. She didn't even let Lucy finish, pulling back enough to take the child's face in her hands and fixing her eyes onto hers firmly.
"Lucy Morgan Anderson, I will hear no more of this. I'll always be your friend, and I will be more than happy to continue to see you each and every week, even when you're healthier than I am." With a few tears wiped away by Raven's fingers, Lucy nodded, giving a weak smile. It was immediately eased away by a maternal kiss to her forehead.
"Wherever you go, Lucy, I'll be there too. Don't you worry, dear child."
Raven stayed for five or six hours, figuring the lie of 'I'll be at work' would cover her long enough - until Arnold got a good look at the time sheets for the weekend on Monday. She'd tell him the truth then, but... no need to make him worry, or for any of them to give her that... look... of pity. She hated that look. Once it was time to leave though, Lucy was already sound asleep in her bed, arms still wrapped around that soft turtle plush. She had tucked her in, kissed her forehead again, and snuck out - as was their ritual.
As she left, she felt a feeling of warmth descend over her. Despite everything bad in the world, how depressing her team got, how many times she was abandoned or left in the cold, she would always have the warmth and light of little Lucy's smile.
It made it all worthwhile, in a way.