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The group had just gotten back from a stressful mission, everyone looked drained or exhausted. Most people went to sit in the common area, but Raven quickly pushed past Van and the others just wanting to get away from everyone.
Van looks at the younger elf quickly retreating to her room, her body hunched in like she was trying to stop herself from crying maybe? Raven quickly locks the door, and slides down to the ground burying her face into her knees. Tears threaten to fall from her face and into her hoodie sleeve, but as she thinks of how bad the mission went the dam breaks, she starts to bawl into her knees. She can't handle all of the pressure put onto her as the group's Rouge, the one who steals and is able to sneak up on people without them noticing at all it weighs down on her. She's only 15 after all. After about an hour of her sobbing, Van, her adoptive father knocks gently against the door of their shared room
“Raven… you okay in there..?” all he gets in response is a sniffle and a mumbled
“M’Fine Pa…” The Pa falls like an old friend greeting you again after years. Raven can hear a sigh through the door as Van slides down on the other side outside. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence between the two Van speaks up.
“Look… Rav..” the second that nickname falls from Van’s lips, she breaks down. The tears streaking down her face and staining her cheeks like a shattered mosaic trying to be put back together.
“D-did you k-know my mama u-used to call me that..?” she manages to say in between hiccups and sniffles, those words make Van freeze momentarily
“She did..?” Raven nods slightly despite Van not being able to see her as she murmurs
“Yeah.. she did..” Van once again tries the handle to find it unlocked and Raven sitting in the corner of the room crying, she looks up at him, looking almost ashamed? That he found her like this, crying and curled up in the corner, and she mutters
“I-Im sorry y-you had to see me like this..” Van looks at her with worry and sadness in his eyes as he murmurs
“Raven… I promise its okay to be like this, to cry, to scream, to let your emotions out. I’m here for you… come here..” He holds his arms open for a hug in case Raven wants one and she immediately crawls into his arms, her face buried into the crook of his neck as tears soak his shirt but he doesn't seem to mind. Through hiccups and shuddering breaths Raven manages to get something out
“I-I feel like I'm just a burden to the group. O-or just a tool that can be disposed of when I'm not needed anymore..” Van’s arms tighten around Raven offering some comfort
“You are Not a tool kiddo, you are so much more than that, you are a strong, kind amazing young elf-” Raven cuts him off
“Im not kind, I-I hurt the people who I Love I-If I was kind my parents wouldn't have died the way they did! I p-push everyone away-” Van gently cups her face to get her to stop spiraling
“Rav, you aren't pushing me away, are you? No, you aren't, you also haven't hurt me so that's also not true. Look, what I'm trying to say here is, you are amazing, your kind, and so strong, whatever those thoughts say in your head? Screw them. You listen to your heart. Not Sam, Not Yarrow, Not Bluebell, your heart. Everything you've done is something you thought was in the best interest of everyone and that's okay if you made mistakes, you are just a kid, no one should expect the world from you.” Raven looks up at him, the young elf's eyes glistening with new unshed tears.
Raven looks at Van as the tears start to fall and she hugs him tightly, needing that comfort and stability that he can offer her.
“Thank you dad.. I-I really needed this..”
Who knew having a new Papa would make you happier?