Slim Shady isn't back but Serenity's Ghost is. I shan't be updating too much because of exams (curse you) but I just thought the first chapter would be a nice gift. I present to you the full first chapter of the continuation of The Robin and The Vixen. Enjoy and please review.
The only thing I kept on thinking was how much I didn't really want to go. Events like these balls were part of Bruce's world, not really mine. Sure, I was part of his world now. But did that mean it had to become a part of my world, too? I didn't even know if I wanted it. Tonight, however, I just didn't want to go. I knew it could be kind of fun, like the few others that I'd been to, but tonight I just wasn't feeling it. I doubted that with my lack of zeal it would be very fun.
Last night I'd had to work a late mission with the team. I got to my bed just as the sun was peaking up from the horizon. I had to get up at seven anyway to go about my life as normal. I was so tired. And now I had to put on this suit and make nice to everyone from the upper class in their fabulous gowns, fantastic dresses and amazing suits. Batman wanted me to do some snooping, some digging. He wanted me to keep my ears open to discover which one of the people there had been helping out a crook we'd recently encountered. The crook had miraculously known whose houses to hit and when. It was quite the coincidence that we didn't believe was coincidence at all.
Bruce had left me once we were inside the ballroom of the host's manor and gone off to socialise with a group of finely attired women. I would have shaken my head if I hadn't realised how obviously gorgeous they were. And how loose-lipped they probably were. Bruce could probably bend them like clay to find out what he wanted.
The music was beautiful but only exacerbating my lack of enthusiasm to be there. I just wasn't in the mood.
I fiddled absently with the button at my neck. I wore no tie, no bowtie. My bowtie was with someone I loved and I didn't feel the need to replace it. At the moment, the lack of the bowtie only served to remind me of the five months that I had been forced to spend without her. I sighed and started to make my way across the room. I needed some air. I needed to give myself a minute to get back into focus.
I noticed around the room that Kaldur and Artemis were also undercover. Bruce certainly hadn't told me that they would be there. I noticed that they seemed to be pretending to be a couple and under the care of Oliver Queen. This issue apparently was bigger than I had originally thought.
I began to make my way to the terrace when I noticed a girl who came to stand in the doorway of the terrace. She smiled at me, champagne glass in hand and I stopped in my tracks. It looked just like her. But she was...somewhere else...wasn't she?
I closed my eyes for two seconds and shook my head. When I reopened them, she wasn't there anymore. Clearly, I needed a bit more than some air. I'd only missed one night of sleep though. I shouldn't have been having hallucinations.
I continued to make my way towards the terrace but right before I was at the doorway, it occurred to me that perhaps I should say something to Bruce. I turned and began scanning the crowd.
Suddenly, someone slipped something over my head and across my neck from behind. I was about to flip that person over my shoulder onto their back when the hands dropped from behind me without any serious force. I looked down. A bowtie was around my neck. I spun around and right before me was the apparition I thought I had seen.
Xana was standing in front of me, wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, embellished completely with gold sequins. A pale, glittery, gold scarf was over one shoulder. Her lipstick was that same shade of dark red that she always wore. Somehow, it seemed as if five months away from me has made her more beautiful.
"Xana?" I asked. She smiled and wrapped her arms my neck wordlessly, closed the space between us and brought her lips to mine.
It was Xana. It was really her. I knew because her kiss was making everything around me melt away again and I was falling into her. I had missed her. Her trouble, her mischief and most of all, those five hours I spent with the real her.
She pulled away far too soon and looked me in the eyes beyond my sunglasses.
"Your blue eyes are the most beautiful thing in the world, Robin. I've missed the mystery of looking into them and not seeing them," she said. I half smiled at her and pulled her into my embrace. It didn't take me two seconds to notice that she had grown thinner. It sparked a little bit of concern. I released her and she put a hand into mine. I held it softly, still just a little bit mesmerised that she was really here again. I had so many questions. "Robin, will you say something." Her voice sounded a bit anxious. I smiled.
"Something." She smacked me in the stomach. It hurt. She was still as strong as ever.
"Not what I meant. You're a little bit...unenthusiastic. Was...was I wrong to kiss you? Is there someone else?" She was dead anxious, worried even that she had lost me. It made me feel so...glad that she was still seemingly in love with me.
"Unenthusiastic?" I challenged. I brought my mouth back to hers and wiped the thought that I could be unenthusiastic at the moment straight from her mind. My hands worked to press her to me while I began to explore the length of her lip with my tongue. Her lips parted and I dared to delve deeper and explore her mouth. Apparently, her sass was something that was contagious, something that made me do something bold. Her tongue met mine quickly and she tasted like champagne. I was already drunk from the taste of her mouth and her presence. I didn't need a drink.
She pulled her tongue away from mine and I drew mine back, allowing my lips to continue to be melded with hers for a couple seconds more. I pulled back and the sassy smile she wore when she used to be clad in black leather and a mask returned.
Someone cleared their throat behind me and I turned, expecting to see a smugly smiling Bruce but instead seeing Artemis and Kaldur looking curiously at me, guarded expressions. I could tell that they were probably thinking that my cover did not involve all of that. They were confused and surprised.
"Uh, hey guys," I said, trying to be casual but still a little high from that kiss.
"Uh, hey, Rob. Um..." Artemis began.
"Oh, you're in trouble. I'm sorry. I'll clear this up right away," she said. She took my hand and came to stand next to me. "I'm assuming Robin delivered my message five months ago. And that your bruises are all better."
Kaldur was sharp and picked up on it almost as soon as it had been said.
"You are Xana?" he asked.
"Last time I checked, yes. It's my pleasure to meet you on more peaceful terms."
"Peaceful terms? Who said anything about peaceful terms? You haven't given us a reason to trust you," Artemis rebutted, "despite Robin letting you stick your tongue down his throat." Xana gave her generally seductive smile and I could tell she was resisting the urge to laugh.
"I've gone through my rehabilitation and dealt with my issues. I have a promise to fulfil to someone important. I won't ever fall back into that again."
"That's got nothing to do with us. How are we so sure you promised someone to begin with or that you keep your promises?" she argued back.
"Because," I intervened, "she made that promise to me when I promised I'd be there for her. I'll vouch for her." Artemis' eyebrows shot up and Kaldur's expression remained calm in a badly masking sort of way. "It's a little bit hard to explain but I promise I'll explain it to you later. Right now, I need to get some answers myself." Kaldur nodded.
"I know I sent the message but I have to say it myself. I'm really sorry, okay? About everything," she said to them. Kaldur gave her a small smile, able to tell that their former enemy was being genuine.
"I accept your apology but I cannot say for the rest of the team. I suppose one day you will have to tell us the full story if you ever expect us to trust you," he replied. She nodded.
"Agreed." She looked over to Artemis who looked away awkwardly for a second.
"Yeah, apology accepted by me, too," she said finally. Xana gave them both a brilliant smile which they returned to a severely lesser extent, but she seemed to accept it anyway.
"We need to get back to our observations. We'll talk after this," Kaldur said.
"Sure thing," I replied. "Enjoy."
"Same to you." They walked away, leaving me and Xana together in the doorway.
She turned to me and put her arms around my neck again, smiling.
"So where were we?" she asked.
"You still owe me some answers," I reminded her. She pouted but then kissed me briefly and let go.
"Let's go to the terrace."
Any thoughts? Please review.