So a reminder that these are just requests I get on Tumblr. All are disconnected one-shots or drabbles. It's been a while since I've been able to write again and I'm loving it! I hope my streak won't end! Thank you all who reviewed the last one and I hope you all like this one as well. (Warning: It gets angsty and whompy down there)

With an exaggerated huff, Raven closed her book with a notable slap of the pages. She dropped the book on the empty side of the bed and her scowl deepened as she glared violet daggers at the incriminating spot, serving as a reminder of the source of her irritation. She glanced over to her other side and read the alarm clock that sat by her headlamp on her nightstand. The bright red numbers flashed repeatedly, giving the dimly lit room an eerie crimson glow.

The sorceress inwardly growled as she realized how late in the evening it was. "He had promised he'd come to bed tonight." She thought bitterly to herself as she pulled her duvet off her body and slung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"This is the third night in a row!"

As she continued her mental scolding of her husband, she left the comforts of her bed to grab her robe hanging in her closet. She slid the plush, royal blue robe over her body and tied the belt loosely across her waist. It was not as if she had much to hide, given she was wearing a tank top and pajama shorts, but she did not want to run the risk of one of their teenage occupants catching her in her sleepwear.

The door to their bedroom opened with a quiet swoosh as she practically stormed out and then down the hall toward another door labeled "Evidence Room." She recalled all the times her dearest friend, Kory, had ranted about having to drag her current husband out of this room in the wee hours of the night. She had sympathized then, but she had never thought that she would one day experience the same annoyance. The realization hit her like a brick and she could not help but wonder if it was something about leading a team that made one feel the need to deprive their body of precious sleep.

Fend up with his unhealthy behavior, Raven decided not to give him the pleasure of knocking and instead opted for phasing through the door using her magic. A human-sized obsidian portal engulfed the center of the door and without so much as a blink, the demoness flew through it. When she came out the other side just a half second later, she expected him to jump from his seat in surprise or be passed out over a mountain of paperwork that laid on his desk. But to her shock and dismay, she saw neither reaction from her lover. What she witnessed was a man hunched over his empty desk with his face buried in his arms. All the files, newspaper clippings, and other types of evidence were scattered on the floor as if someone had swiped a hand clear across the top of the desk, sending all the contents flying through the room. The man's back raised with each sob that racked his body and although Raven could not see his face, she knew it had hot tears streaming over his cheeks.

It took him a moment to realize he was no longer alone in the study. Raven heard him suck in a deep breath through his nose and he made an effort to choked back his sobs. He turned his head as he wiped the tears from his eyes using the sleeve of his white and purple uniform. An uncomfortable pause lasted between them as they both waited for him to speak. With another deep breath, he finally spoke up, but his voice still shook despite himself.

"Wh-what do you want?"

Raven flinched at the harshness in his tone, but she knew it was only misdirected anger on his part. Stepping further into the room, she forced her eyes to remain on him.

"It's 12:53." She stated simply as if that should be enough to explain everything. Only, the green-skinned man did not reply to her. Instead, he bowed his head, trying in vain to hide in the shadows of the poorly lit room. His lamp had also fallen victim to whatever outburst he had before her arrival and now laid broken on the tiled floor. The only light now was the natural shine of the moon that pushed through the blinds of the large window facing the ocean.

"Just give me a minute." He finally replied to her, but his tone was dismissive and final. She did not need her empathic powers to tell he did not want her to broach the subject.

Still, she was his wife, his partner in life and in death, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor. He may not have wanted to talk about his feelings, but it was her job to know. Whatever it was that was bothering him, it pained her to see it push him to such anger and vulnerability. She could not say how many times he had chipped away her walls and weakened her mental barriers in pursuit of understanding and love. No matter how much she pleaded with him to let her carry her burdens, he was always there to remind her that she would never again be alone.

"Gar…" She said his name, sounding out each syllable as she closed the distance between them.

"No Raven. I don't want to talk about it." He tried to cover his face with his hand and turned his back to her as she came inches away from his shoulder. Her short stature made her stand just at his ears, even as he sat hunched in his chair. Tenderly, she ran her small, porcelain hands over the muscles of his shoulders and down to his chest. She pressed her breasts against his back and laid her chin in the crook of his neck.

"Raven...please…" He begged her just when she placed a lingering kiss where her chin rested.

"You don't have to talk about it." She clarified and tightened her embrace at the moment she buried her nose in his warm, sage skin. She inhaled his lively aroma, a unique blend of scents that reminded her of trekking through the heart of the woods right after a summer storm. "Just tell me how to make it better."

A heavy sigh escaped the changeling as his hands abandoned his tear-stained face and wrapped around the ones she had hugging his chest. Graciously, he gave her right hand a gentle squeeze, then leaned to press his lips on her bare knuckles, returning the intimate gesture she had given him. When he pulled away, he allowed his head to fall back and lean into the silky strands of his wife's long plum hair. They stayed like that for a few heartbeats, listening to the sound of the other's breathing and soaking up each other's scent.

"Tell me honestly, Rae. Am I failing them?"

His question shattered their peaceful silence and taking advantage of her distracted state, all his emotions came barreling past her walls and consumed her empathic senses. Her embrace tightened once more as she clung to him like an anchor as she began to lose herself in the sea of his self-loathing and utter defeat. For years she had known of his own personal demons that he struggled to fight every day. She knew of the times he had felt at his lowest and of the times he felt like a waste of space. It seemed like no matter what she did or told him, nothing could prove her love for him. For you cannot reason with the devil.

But that would never stop her from trying.

"Why would you say such a thing?" She whispered into the collar of his suit, nuzzling his wet cheek.

"I can't find this...this...whatever it is!" He shouted, tossing his hands into the air and breaking her hold on him. She stumbled back a few steps as she caught her balance, but jumped at the sudden bang of his fists as he slammed them into the metal desk. He cried out in pain and frustration, but she remained still where she stood, giving him space to release the emotions that have been building inside him for so long.

"There's some thing going around the city, terrorizing people, and it's our job to stop it!" He continued rave as he stepped away from the desk and began pacing the room.

"It's my job to stop it, because I'm the leader of this team and they all look to me for the answers!" His voice broke at the end, his fingers pulling at the tufts of his jade hair.

"I'm supposed to know how to stop this thing. I'm supposed to lead them into battle, towards victory! But how the hell can I do that when I can't even figure out what this fucking thing is!"

He stopped his pacing and flung himself against the wall. The objects that hung from it shook as his back slid down and he fell to the floor. He covered his face with his bent knees and wrapped his arms around his legs. This time, he openly wept, his tears soaking the pant legs of his uniform. His elvish ears drooped back like a frightened dog.

More than anything, Raven wanted to go to him and take away his pain. She was a healer and part of her gift was the ability to take away one's emotions and if she truly wanted, she could replace them with her own. It would so easy to reach for him, take his head in her hands and suck the grief he felt right out of him. Within a matter of seconds, she could make him feel only love and happiness, banishing every treacherous thought from his mind. But she knew better. Experience has taught her that taking away one's inner pain, would never be enough to heal them. The infliction he felt was not a wound she could make stitch itself back together. No, as long as he punished himself like this, no amount of magic would be enough to help him. Right now, at this moment, he didn't need Raven the Titan. He needed Raven, his wife.

"Garfield…" She began as she closed the distance between them once more. She dropped to her knees and put her hands over his ears and her fingers through his hair. "...look at me." It was not a request, but a demand. One he did not possess the strength to deny. Slowly, his face lifted from his legs and his emerald eyes lined with red from his crying met her deep violet gaze. He looked embarrassed, ashamed of appearing so weak in front of her, but he also looked empty, broken, as if he lost his will to care about that anymore.

She frowned at him and her own eyes began to water, newborn tears pooling at the edges, threatening to fall down her rosy cheeks. In a steady, circular motion, she rubbed her thumbs across the tops of his jawline. Slowly and clearly, she spoke out each word, pushing all her love and determination into every syllable.

"I. Am. So. Proud of you."

The shapeshifters eyes widened and his mouth fell slightly a gap, his long, white fangs peaking out in a way she normally would have found endearing.

"Wh-what?" Was all he could pronounce in his bewildered state.

The corner of her lip twitched upward as her expression softened. "I'm proud of you, Garfield."

She waited a moment to allow her declaration to sink in.

"These kids should count themselves lucky to have such a caring and devoted leader among them. You put more heart and soul into this job than anyone else I know."

Using the pad of her thumb, she swiped it over a tear that tried to run down his cheek.

"You aren't perfect my love. No one is. Not even Superman himself can make such a claim. But you can't let that stop you."

His hands traveled to arms and held her there, his eyes dropping to floor bashfully as she highlighted one of his greatest insecurities.

"I won't tell you that you'll catch this, whatever it is. But I will tell you that it doesn't matter either way. What matters is that you keep trying. You keep pushing. And you show these kids how to be a hero even when you lose. Because having the courage to fight anyway, is what makes a true hero."

Lifting his gaze to meet hers again, he stared into dark, passionate eyes. He searched for a sign that she was lying, that what she said could never be true. But her eyes shone with an admiration that he could not comprehend.

"You're my hero, Gar." She stated as a fact, unarguably even for him. Then she leaned forward and touched her forehead against his own, her ruby red gemstone an icy touch to his naturally warm body, making a shiver creep up his spine.

"And your their hero too." Her whisper touching his nose and breaking past the despair that had surrounded his heart. It filled him with joy and honor. For once he felt worthy of his title.

With a gentle push forward, he brought his lips to her own and kissed her out of gratitude and adoration. She returned the kiss and tilted her head to deepen it. Their lips moved in sync as sorrow turned into infatuation.

His legs straightened out in front of him as she climbed into his lap. She straddled him and wrapped her hands loosely around his neck. His tongue traced her bottom lip and instinctively she parted her mouth, granting him entrance. Their tongues twisted around each other and she quickly allowed his dominance, not in the mood to challenge him at this moment. His hands slid down her throat and held her head as if she were a dream about to fade away.

When both finally needed air, he slowed the rhythm of their kiss, then caught her bottom lip with his teeth as he pulled back. Their chests rose in a rushed unison as they filled their screaming lungs with precious oxygen. Raven's eyes stared pointy at the muscles protruding from his skin-tight spandex suit and she licked her lips in response. The taste of him still lingering on her tongue.

"Let's go to bed." She breathed out with a huff, her eyes glancing up at him with a familiar desire and longing. A look that he eagerly shared.

"O-okay." He panted, then went to stand up, but was pushed back against the wall with a thud.

Raven's lips came barely a centimeter from his ear as she leaned forward and whispered in a sultry voice that made every hair on his body stand on end. "I want to show you how proud I am of you."

And with they were gone. Disappeared through the darkness of a portal that opened beneath them.