Disclaimer: I don't own Raven, waaaaaaaaah. That, and anything else having to do with the WWE. " Back in to the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning." -Edgar Allen Poe -The Raven- Within Me Burning The bell rings. Another match. Another stupid, worthless match Raven knew he had won the second he stepped in to the ring with that rookie. Rookies... Heat was swarming with them. That and the second rate wrestlers the WWE insisted on keeping around. But he wasn't one of them. There was once a time when he was on RAW. Tommy Dreamer... Damn him... If not for him, Raven wouldn't be confined to Heat. In the end, he became used to it, even made it his 'playground'. However, he longed they would let him show his talent against wrestlers who actually put up a decent fight... It was bullshit... Slamming the door, he entered his dressing room. He was sick of it... But this was his life. Despite the whole deal with Heat. Despite the fact that there was an endless string of conversation about him that took place behind his back when they thought he wasn't paying attention. It was always all about how he was the oddball of the company. Not once did it phase him, though. It always came with the dark irony when it came to the people who were saying it about him when in truth, many of them should have been saying deservedly nasty things about themselves. So fuck them. He didn't need to stay around the arena. He wanted one thing- To go home. Heat was over, and he had this opportunity, so without a second thought, he took it. * Another plane ride. Shit, they were boring. And there was always some lonely low-life wanting to make small talk. The funny thing was, all those people and not one of them ever said anything remotely intelligent. Three hours on a plane, four hours, maybe less... It didn't matter. They always seemed endless. And he hated the sense of knowing he couldn't go anywhere, that he was trapped. And flight attendants... Do you want this? Do you want that? Could you please not do this? Could you please not do that? Fuck off... He wanted to tell them, but he knew they never would. * Rain... As Raven exited the airport and found it pouring down on him, he decided that he only liked it from the inside. He didn't even bother getting mad. It wasn't like he'd be engaging in a change of moods. Upset was a state that had become all too familiar to him his whole life. He hailed a cab, and tried to take comfort in the fact that he was almost home. * * * It was late- Close to three A.M. Raven slept, but his slumber was far from peaceful. Running... Fear... Darkness... Raven couldn't exactly decipher his nightmares. He had never been able to, even with all the years they'd tormented him. Neither had he been able to get used to him. Shaking, and drenched in a cold sweat, Raven bolted upright in bed. The linens fell off his now bare chest, and collected in his lap, exposing him to the chilly November air. Gasping and panting, he wildly fought to catch his breath. But now her hands were on him, and they were gentle. Nonetheless, he shivered under them, as all that went through him clashed. " Raven..." She whispered his name. " I- It was- Again-" He sputtered, choking on his words. Tenderly, those gentle hands now stroked his chest. " Hush, my love." She told him. " It's all right... It's all right..." A little more time passed, and eventually, his breathing became regular once more, and he relaxed. Under her fingertips, she could feel his heart no longer pounded in his chest. Cupping his face in her hand, she brought it to look at hers. " Hello." She told him simply, and smiled. Raven hissed her name, and brought his lips to hers. No, he hadn't returned her greeting, but he knew he didn't have to. She knew what his kisses meant, what his touches meant. This woman was his soul mate, and she knew him inside and out. What was more, she was his wife. Surprised? Yeah... The company would be, too if he spoke of her. But he didn't want to. It was none of their business, his personal life. This was his little secret. He didn't bring her to the benefits... He didn't show her off at the fancy parties... And there was no need, in truth. All he wanted from her was her love. When everything else around him was fucked up, he could come home to her, and was content. She was the only thing that made him happy. He loved her. He loved her more than anything. She was beautiful, but he didn't see that. He saw her intelligence, and her artistic side. He looked past her flawless physique, and saw her creativity and knowledge. When he was inside her, he saw beyond his own pleasure, and concentrated on making love to HER. So knew one knew about her- So what? Raven knew. He knew she was there, and he knew what they shared. That was all he needed. That was all he'd ever need. Author's note: Eh... My Raven muse bothered me until I came up with something. And what do you know, it's angst. Well, how is it?