Don't Leave // One-On-One // CLOSED

"There's not a day that will go by that I won't love you with everything I am," he promised her, holding her close.

"And a day won't go by without me wishing my mother was here," Raven said sadly. "Sometimes I create a small mist to see her face again." She did so.

Connor looked into the mist. "She's beautiful," he said softly. "You look like her."

"Maybe that's why my father hated me. I looked too much like her."

He kissed her temple. "Well, I think you look beautiful and perfect, and nothing can change my mind."

Raven smiled, although there was still sadness pulling at her face.

"Why are you upset?" he asked, smoothing her hair.

"I don't know. I'm happier than I could ever be, yet I feel twinges of sadness."

"You know I would do anything to protect you, right?" he whispered, looking her right in the eyes.

"I know you would. That's what scares me," Raven replied. Her eyes had a slight black ring around them.

He cupped her face with his hand and ran his thumb over her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. A bit sad, but I'm fine." The ring grew a bit more visible.

"Babe, your eyes," he said slowly.

"What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing, they're beautiful. But there's rings around them."

"You've got to be seeing things. That's impossible."

"No it's not. Babe, what's the matter?" he asked worriedly.

"There's nothing the matter. What's going on with you?"

"I don't know. There are rings around your eyes, and that probably means something is wrong."

"Again, that's not possible. There's nothing wrong with me."

"Then explain the rings!"

"What rings?!"

"Around your eyes!" He grabbed her shoulders suddenly. "Raven, I'm worried about you, what's going on?"

"Nothing!" Raven yelled. "I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about!"

He flinched slightly, like she'd smacked him across the face with her words. "Raven…"

"What?! There's nothing wrong with me!" Raven shouted, jumping up.

He took her wrist. "Raven, please listen to me. We were just talking now, alright? And I said I would do anything to protect you. And then you said you knew that I would, and it scared you. Then your eyes got this ring around them. When I asked if you were okay, you said you were sad, but fine. And the ring got bigger. Babe, I'm worried about you. If you know what's happening, please tell me."

"Nothing's happening! Nothing is wrong! I am perfectly fine!"

He stood up and led her gently to the nearest mirror. "Then explain your eyes."

Raven stared at herself, not seeing any difference.