Duel of the Fates

Chapter One: A Shot in the Dark

By: Angel Vanilla

Story Summary: Robin's sister, Raven's brother, a millionaire and a killer. What do you get? This.

Note(s): This is the first in the Destiny's Duel sequence, and next is Duel of the Fallen.

Day: January 06

Place: A large, three-story mansion in Gotham City, New York

Point of View: Third Person

"Mr. Wayne, sir?" A brown haired girl stuck her head into the office of her employer—Bruce Wayne. A stubborn fifty-year-old man with graying hair and a personal fortune in the millions, he was a man you wanted to please. Having worked as his secretary for the past six years, Marie Wilson knew this fact well.

"Yes, Marie?" Bruce answered, turning away from the window.

"That girl you asked me to send a letter to—Cassandra Drake—has answered. It just came in this morning," Marie said stepping forward to offer in the paper.

"Thank you, Marie." Bruce replied, taking the letter. Marie gave him a smile. Although he may have been stubborn and old, he was quite a wonderful person on his good days.

"Anytime," She answered, withdrawing from the room and closing the heavy wooden doors. Smiling, she walked back to her desk in front of the room.

Beginning to answer the e-mails and letters Bruce Wayne did not want to trouble himself with, Marie nearly ahd a heart attack when the man's door opened.

"Marie, have Alfred pull the car up—I'm going out," He declared, walking quickly past her.

"O-of course, sir." Pressing the intercom, she relayed the message to the butler, Alfred.

Ten minutes later, Bruce was leaving with his briefcase in hand. "Oh, and Marie?" He paused at her desk.

"Yes?" She answered, pushing a strand of brown hair back behind her ear.

"Get me the girl's records and e-mail them to my cell phone as soon as you get them." Bruce told her.

"I'll do that right away."

"Thank you." He walked out of the room, leaving Marie to her new task.

Quickly entering the computer database, Marie scanned the names for Drake, Cassandra. Not finding it, she decided to try the private access files.

As she waited for the pages to load, she smiled for the third time in ten minutes. Marie was quite accustomed to her employer's sudden departures, and without explination most of the time. But to request the files of an ordinary teenage girl? That wasn't normal—even for Bruce Wayne.

'I take that back,' Marie thought as she scanned Cassandra Drake's file. The girl was by no means ordinary. She had powers, and was registered to have a brother—Timothy Drake.

Who was more publically known as Robin, the leader of the Teen Titans.

Day: January 06

Place: Titans Tower in Jump City, New York

Point of View: Third Person

"Tofu!"

"Bacon!"

"Tofu!"

"Bacon!"

"Tofu!"

"Bacon!"

"To—"

"Shut. Up."

Cyborg and Beast Boy's mouths flew shut at Raven's command. There was no doubt that they were scared of her. Ever since the incident with Malchior, they'd tried to make her feel included—which only resulted in getting her annoyed.

And Raven hardly left her room—even after Beast Boy had gotten her to come out right after the battle with Malchior. None of the knew what she was doing in there, and they weren't sure they wanted to know.

Getting her usual herbal tea and then leaving for her room again, the two boys stared after their gothic friend.

"There's got to be something wrong with her," Cyborg said, shaking his head sympathetically. Raven was like a younger sister to him.

"There's always been something wrong with her," Beast Boy answered simply.

"BB!"

"What? It's true!" This resulted in another fight, which was ended by Starfire's threats of "The Pudding of the Fighting Friends."

Now the two boys had forgotten lunch, and were on the couch, playing video games.

"Hey, guys. Where's Raven?" Robin asked, walking into the room.

"In her room, I think." Cyborg said.

"Thanks," Robin answered, and turned to leave. The doorbell rang then, and he turned back around, towards the front entrance hall.

The masked teen opened the door, and saw a figure in a red cloak much like Raven's.

"Uh… hi," Robin greeted him. "What can I do for you?"

"Is Briony here?" It was a boy—probably a teenager, judging by the voice.

"I…don't know anyone by that name. Are you sure you have the right place?" Robin asked. 'How do you confuse a T-shaped tower on an island for any other building?' Robin thought, his eyes narrowed.

"Of course. She wouldn't use that name here." Even though he could not see the man's face, Robin knew he was smiling slightly. "A girl, with purple hair and eyes?"

"Oh, you mean Raven?" Robin asked. Then the emapath entered the entrance hall.

"Who?" Raven's question died the instant she saw the figure. "What are you doing here?" It was painfully apparent that she was refraining from swearing at him.

The figure started to speak. "I—"
"Forget it." Raven reached past Robin and slammed the door shut, and then turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.

"Um…Raven? Who was that?" Robin asked.

"No one you need to concern yourself with." Was the only answer his friend supplied.

Day: January 06

Place: The bay, with a wonderful view of Titans Tower from the top of a building

Point of View: Third Person

A figure in a blood red cloak stood on the top of an abandon warehouse, overlooking the bay. The hood was up and you could see only a pair of shadowed blue eyes.

"Did you talk to her?" The figure didn't move, knowing who it was.

"I saw her."
"And?"
"She said, 'what are you doing here?' and then 'forget it.' Then she shut the door in my face." There was a sigh from the figure as he—the voice identified him as male—finished speaking.

"Consider the fact that you let her think that you were dead for two years, and then suddenly show up at her home on a completely different planet; not to mention the fact that this was around her friends, who know nothing of her past." The other said. The speaker, a teenage girl, stepped away from the darkened corner of the roof. This revealed a pale face and long black hair and ice grey eyes. Perhaps the most startling thing about her appearance—the Red X suit.

Turning around to face her, the figure pushed down his hood. His hair was down to his waist, and kept in a neat ponytail.

"Lyra, what do you think your brother will say when he finds out that you've been Red X the entire time?" He asked her.

Lyra shrugged. "That's his problem. He created Red X, fully knowing that someone could steal the suit and become him." A smile played across her face, her eyes shining mischievously as she studied her companion. "You don't think that I sould have left him alone, do you, Xan?"

A slight smile played at the corners of Xan's mouth at her teasing tone. "And what would your guardian think?"
""How would you know who he is? You don't even know my real name." She pointed out.

"I think you should rethink that last statement, Cassandra Drake." Xan answered.

"Well then, Prince Branaric Astair of Remalna, it seems we have a tie," She answered, smirking at the look of shock she got from the mention of his name and title.

Then he smiled. "I won't tell if you go and see your brother, Cassie."

"Lyra to you,' She corrected him. "I gave up that name when I gave up my past life."

"Of course, Lyra," Bran answered, almost mockingly.

"But I won't tell if you talk to Briony."

"It's a deal."

Smiling, Lyra pulled on the mask. As Branaric looked back at her, all he saw as a red X fading into the darkness….

Day: January 07

Place: The Black Cat Bar and Restaurant, Jump City, New York

Point of View: Third Person

Alfred and Bruce had made good time. They were checked into a hotel, and now the millionaire was walking into the Black Cat. It was where he had decided to meet his informant.

Heading for a table in the left-hand corner, he found the boy quite easily. Being the only one around that area and having bright blonde hair didn't exactly help him fit in well. But it didn't matter; that wasn't required of him that night.

"Bruce Wayne."

"Branaric Astair." They didn't bother with greetings—since both led highly political lives, they were not accustomed to being friendly with an informant.

"You met with Cassandra Drake earlier." Bruce stated. It wasn't a question, he knew they had met at the dock the day before.

"You bugged her, I'm assuming? Knowing your technology, it wouldn't have been conspicuous." Bran answered, taking a sip of the tea he had ordered.

"For her own safety. Although I'm sure if she'd wished to, she would have removed it. She's not blind, nor ignorant." Bruce said.

"It was you who made her that way."

"Something I have to live with even now."

There was a long silence, during which they held a fierce staring competition.

"What does my siter have to do with your charges?" Bran asked as Bruce looked away.

"Tim, or Robin, is a friend of your sister. If you can get 'Lyra', as you call her, to talk to him and explain the situation, I'm sure he'll persuade the girl to talk to you." Bruce answered.

"And in return?"

"What makes you think you are in debt?"

"You're a politician, Bruce. You don't do anything without a price." Bran answered.

"You're a quick one to learn, Branaric." Bruce sighed. "I want your sister to take me to Aleric."

Bran's eyes widened at the mention of the legendary Mystic.

"I see. Well, I'm sure you won't have any problems then."

"I should hope now. Goodnight."

"Sei'wlei."

"The two stood, and walked out of the restaurant together, then headed in separate directions.

'I'm afraid I'll have to talk to Tim myself.' Bruce thought, knowing that his charge would avoid both him and her brother at all costs.

"The bay, Alfred, if you please."

"Sure." It wasn't Alfred's voice, and instead of starting the car, the driver leaned back and pointed a gun at the man.

A single shot ran out through the blackness, then, silence…