My Hero
Chapter 1:
She walked the halls, looking down at the floor. It was the middle of March. She had been in this school for barely three months. She was the new girl. She was the quiet, invisible one who sat in the back of the room. She was Rachel Roth, but she called herself Raven, because of her mother. She had shoulder length violate hair and violate eyes. Raven hated school; she had no friends and ate lunch alone outside every day. She was also the victim of bullying school wide. Between school and home, Raven was always tortured and miserable.
He felt sorry for her. All the kids in the school were always attacking her. He saw how they treated her. He was in most of her classes. He was the richest, most popular kid in school. He was Richard Grayson, adopted son of the boy billionaire Bruce Wayne. He had amazingly blue eyes and ebony black short hair that he was growing out. He spent each day doing what he could for her. If someone knocked her books out of her hands in the hall or something he would always tell them off and help her. He thought things were bad then, but everything started getting worse after he broke up with his girlfriend, Kori.
Raven always ate lunch alone outside. And in order to get outside she had to go through the cafeteria. It was crowded as usual and she walked quietly past everyone, making a giant loop around the popular kids tables, and yes there was more than one table. She heard laughing from the table holding the cheerleaders, then someone mentioned her by name and she looked up. 'Big mistake' she thought as they started openly laughing and pointing at her. "Wow, she is such a slut." A crumpled ball of paper hit the back of her head. Raven bent down and picked it up, smoothing it out against her leg. There was a photo, her head attached to a body in only a black lacy bra and a black thong. The caption under it said "All for a few bucks" Looking closer at the nearby tables Raven realized that they all had stacks of copies on them. Kori strode up to Raven with a satisfied smirk on her face. "So Rachel, I guess you are more than you appear to be" then she turned back to her table, walking away, laughing.
Richard walked into the cafeteria just in time to hear Koris little comment. He watched as Raven turned and practically ran towards the door. He dropped his backpack on the floor and stepped in front of her at the last second, catching Raven in his arms. "It's okay, I'm going to fix this" he could tell she was close to tears. "This isn't about you, it's about me. Just stay here" Richard said calmly, he let go and started walking towards the middle of the room repeating "Just stay there" after he had taken a few steps from her. "Kori" he was glaring as he stalked up to her. "What the hell? Why did you do this?" There was only a foot between them. "Because I could. She is weak and pathetic and I wanted revenge" she said simply. "You're a little bitch. You're just made because I broke up with you last weekend." She glared at him. "And I know she's the reason why you broke up with me!" He sighed, clenching his fists by his side. "Be glad, I won't hit girls...but I will do this," and with that he flipped some kids lunch tray splattering food all over her cheerleading uniform. "And next time leave Rachel out of it." Richard said over his shoulder as he went over to where Raven was still standing. He picked up his backpack and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the school.
Richard spent the rest of that month making sure that everyone left Raven alone. He would stay nearby in the halls and have her sit at his lunch table. He was trying to make things better for her. And she realized this and was grateful to him for it... but she wasn't used to having someone who was always there, protecting her. Yet she was glad that it was him trying to make thing easier for her. But those few times when Richard wasn't there were hell for Raven. One day they had been doing partner work in history and she had gotten stuck with Kori, who had done nothing but taunt Raven for the whole period. When the bell for lunch finally rang Raven gathered her things and bolted for the door. She went to her locker, to dump her backpack and get her lunch, which is where she was when Richard caught up to her. "Ready for lunch?" She rarely would give a verbal answer. She never said more than a few words when she spoke at all. He walked right next to her as they entered the cafeteria. Richard always sat at a table in the middle of the room with a bunch of his friends. They had been accepting enough of Raven, they had talked to her trying to get to know her but Raven just sat there quietly eating her lunch. But today, Raven looked over at the table to see his friends laughing and joking around happily. They were five feet from the table when she dropped her lunch, turned and ran out of the cafeteria.
Raven ran right into the nearest bathroom. She checked to make sure she was alone before gripping the edge of the sink and leaning on it. She couldn't take it any longer, "Why me" she was about to roll up her sleeve when the bathroom door opened. "Rachel...?" She looked up in shock. "Richard, what are you doing! This is the girls bathroom!" That was the most she had ever said to him at one time. "What happened? Why did you run off?" He asked walking over to her. She took a step back but hit the wall. She shook her head slowly as he took another step forward. "What's wrong?" He repeated, there was barely a foot between them. "I'm sick of it" she whispered. "Sick of what?" He asked softly placing a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened, hesitating before she replied; "Being unhappy, unwanted, uncared for" a finger to her lips stopped her. "I care and want you to be happy Rachel" and with that said he leaned down and placed a soft tender kiss on her lips. "I want you to be happy Rachel" he repeated. She shook her head again. "Call me Raven, I don't like being Rachel" He grinned down at her. "Alright then Raven, now how about we go and get some food?" She nodded smiling as he slipped her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. They were officially together by the end of the week.
Ravens POV:
"Richy?" I looked up from where I was laying in his arms. "Yes my sweet Raven" we were laying on the couch together in the living room at Wayne Manor. "I love you" he smiled before kissing my nose. "I love you too" As the sun went down he sat up, shifting me into his lap. "I have to go…" I knew it was coming. This always happens. As soon as he realizes that it's dark out he says he says he has to go. Frowning I look at the floor, get up and start making my way to the door. "Want me to walk you out?" I stop, reaching out for his hand in reply. Getting off the couch he wraps an arm around my shoulder as we head for the door.
Where Richard goes every night is unknown to me. I think Alfred and Bruce know though. Some days when we're up in his room Bruce will knock on the door then him and Richard with have what always seems like a whispered argument. And it's always just before nightfall. He's always in a worse mood after those, discussions with Bruce. And when I leave Alfred is always ready and waiting for me at the door. Just like he is tonight. "Why do we always have to say goodbye like this?" I asked looking deep into his blue eyes. "I'm sorry; I'll call you in the morning, alright?" He must know how much I hate leaving. "Sure" I whisper in reply without looking at him. Gently he lifts my chin and kisses me sweetly. Slowly I pull away from him and walked out of the mansion with Alfred. I sit in the back seat of the car and lookout the back window. Richard is standing in the doorway, waving, just like he's done every other time I've left the manor. I give him a small sad smile before turning away.
When we reach my house I thank Alfred for the lift home and quietly slip inside and up to my room. My life isn't great, and I'll be the first to admit it. My mom died in a car crash when I was 7, my stepmom hates me, and my dad, when he even notices me, is abusive. But having Richard in my life, as my boyfriend… it makes up for all that. He loves me and makes sure that I know it. But if he loves me so much I can't help but wonder why won't he tell me why he has to leave every day right after the sun goes down?
Richards POV:
I stand in the doorway wearing a fake smile waving as they drive away. I always feel so guilty, watching Raven leave. With a sigh I turned around and went down to the bat cave. Quickly changing into my Robin costume I went over to the batmobile where Batman was waiting for me. "You're late. Again." I glare as I get in the car. "Well I'm sorry for having a life." My voice dripped with sarcasm. "I don't care that you have a life, I just care that you're ready to leave ON TIME" Bruce growled in reply. "Am I ever allowed to have a night to myself?" I wondered out loud as the engine roared. "Don't expect one any time soon" I rolled my eyes at him as we sped out of the cave. We patrolled for hours. And when we finally got home it was five in the morning. I changed into pajamas and collapsed onto my bed. God was I glad it was summer. Patrolling all hours made it really hard to focus in school. It took less than a minute for my exhausted body and mind to let me fall into a deep sleep.
When I woke up it was twelve thirty. Getting up I went into my bathroom to take a nice hot shower before getting dressed for the day. When I got out of the shower I went over to my dresser for some clothes. I got dressed and pulled a hoodie off the top of the dresser, my iPhone was glowing with missed calls. Throwing the hoodie to the side I look to see who called me Raven! Crap I had totally forgotten about calling her. Dialing my speed dial for her I leave my room. "C'mon Rae pickup" no luck. I hung up and tried again as I walked through the kitchen grabbing an apple on my way out the back door. Getting her answering machine again I left a message "Hey Rae, sorry I missed your calls. I couldn't find my phone this morning. Alfred moved it while he was cleaning. Call me when you get this" That was one fat lie. I had probably hurt her by not calling. I always tried to make sure I didn't hurt Raven because she got that enough at home. When I hung up I felt even worse than I had last night. I hate to admit but this isn't the first time this has happened. It's actually happened a good number of times before this. I'm just usually tired from patrol and since I don't need to be up in the morning I let myself sleep.
I waited an hour for Raven to call me back but she never did. I wound up asking Alfred for a ride to her house. When we got there I went and knocked on the door. Her stepmom answered. "Uh hi Mrs. Roth is Rachel home?" I had been hoping it would be Raven to get the door. "Yes" she tried to close the door but I pushed it open. "Can I see her?" She narrowed her eyes at me "No. She's doing her chores. Now go away and don't come around here again" then she slammed the door before I could stop her or object. I went around to the back of the house. Her window was open. I climbed up on top of a small tool shed and jumped, grabbing the edge of the window and climbed in.