Drive

The bright, cold neon lights of the city reflected off wet pavements, casting an eerie glow on the dark alleys. The scent of gasoline and the distant rumble of motorcycles filled the air. Raven walked, his steps echoing through the empty streets.

As he turned a corner, he found himself in front of a burnt-out building, the charred remains of his former gang's hideout. The memories flooded back: the adrenaline of their reckless actions, and the feeling of being part of something, even if it was dangerous.

A figure emerged from the shadows, a member of the rival gang that had caused their downfall. Raven's heart raced, the fear and anger of that time rekindled. The figure taunted him, the words harsh and cutting.

Suddenly, Raven found himself in a dimly lit room. He saw himself, desperate and alone, forced into something he couldn't escape. He felt somebody's hands on him, and the feeling of being unable to move. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and Raven's heart pounded as he relived the shame and helplessness he had experienced.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the dream, fragments of his memories swirling like ashes. The scenes morphed, each disjointed piece revealing glimpses of his struggles - the hunger, the rejection, and the isolation. Raven felt trapped.

As the dream continued to shift and warp, Raven's breathing grew labored. He was constricted within his own mind, reliving his past trauma and enduring the pain all over again.

"Raven! Are you okay? Raven!" Nima's voice rang urgently from the nearby bed, growing more insistent with each call.

Raven jolted awake, his eyes snapping open, his body drenched in sweat, and his breath ragged. He remained still for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, as he regulated his rapid breathing. Then, his breath steadied, and he shifted his attention to the concerned figure of Nima beside him.

"You looked like you were having a nightm--"

Nima's sentence was cut off, as Raven abruptly swung his legs off the bed and stood up. He waved his hand at Nima in a silencing gesture, without even looking in his direction, before striding purposefully towards the bedroom door. Without looking back, he hurried out of the room, leaving Nima bewildered and speechless in his wake.

A bit earlier, in the main room, Sage and Cove made their entrance. Settling onto the couch near River and Finn, they exchanged nods of acknowledgment.

"Sage's been having this headache for a while now. I think it's okay if he takes just one tablet aspirin", Cove said with evident concern in his voice.

Finn agreed. "I have no problems with that at all. You should take care of yourself", he told Sage, who responded with a faint smile and a nod.

"Yeah, the meds are there for a reason", River chimed in matter-of-factly. He went over to the suitcase and retrieved the medicine box, while Finn fetched a glass of water for Sage.

Cove's worry was palpable. Even if it was a slight headache, he couldn't stand the thought of his friend suffering. He couldn't help but notice that even in pain, Sage looked extremely graceful.

Just then, the bedroom door swung open, and Raven stormed out, bypassing the other four boys with barely a glance. He slammed the corridor door on his way out and headed toward the showers, leaving the rest of them in bewilderment.

"Well, I'm calling it a night", Finn announced with a chuckle, handing Sage the glass of water. "I'm beat, and I'm pretty sure it's pushing 4 AM by now. We all should get some rest. Especially you, Sage."

Cove nodded in agreement. Sage quickly took the medicine, and joined them in their retreat, smiling.

"Alright, go. Not feeling that sleepy, I'll take a quick shower", River declared, casting a fleeting glance down the dimly lit corridor.

With unanimous nods, the others trooped into the bedroom, leaving River to tidy up the glass and medicine box. He glanced toward the darkened corridor, mustering his resolve before making his way to the locker room for a shower.

Sensing a presence, Raven turned off the shower, and still unclothed, ventured out to see who was there.

River was in the process of taking his clothes off, reaching for a mustard-colored towel and stretching his limbs, when his gaze fell upon Raven. With about 15 feet of space between them, he felt like a deer caught in the headlights, and he instinctively covered himself with the towel.

"Didn't you hear that someone was already here?" Raven's frustration laced his words, his mind still grappling with the aftermath of his nightmare.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you had your own personal bathroom", River retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

"Listen, you freak. Now's not the moment to challenge me. Watch your fucking mouth", Raven cautioned, his anger barely restrained.

"Whatever, Ozzy Osbourne. I'm taking a shower", River replied dismissively, moving toward the showers.

As River walked past him, Raven snapped. He violently pushed the blonde boy against the tiled wall, the impact reverberating in the room.

He glared into River's eyes, his tall figure towering over him, a mix of anger and pain in his expression. River, in turn, met his gaze with a blend of confusion and frustration.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" River screamed at Raven.

Raven held his gaze for a moment longer.

Then, all of a sudden, he kissed him.

Taken aback, River hesitated for a few seconds. Then he kissed Raven back.