So, to start off, this is just me revamping an old story. When I first wrote it, I was apparently not particularly good at writing anywhere near as strong as some of the authors I enjoy reading. Hopefully (I guess we'll see), this is written a little better than it was the first time around.
It began as a windy day in Bludhaven. A tall man with jet black hair had come in from the blistering cold, firmly gripping the edges of his jacket closed. As he walked in, he looked around the precinct in hopes that he would find his partner. However, when he looked at his desk, or at least, what used to be his desk, he frowned. It was empty.
"Hey Vic," Richard called, seeing another member of the unit.
"It's freezing out there isn't it," Vic said as he took one look at Richard clutching his jacket.
"Yeah," Richard said, removing his jacket as he walked towards his desk. Feeling the obvious absence of his partner, he posed a question to Detective Stone. "Do you know where Garth is? He's usually in by now."
Victor just looked at him, his face moving from an expression of cluelessness to concern at the notable absence of Detective Waters. "I haven't seen him. I'd talk to Willis. He was threatened with reassignment after the other day…"
"You're probably right," Dick replied as he recalled the event.
Victor, Dick, and Garth burst into the apartment of Jack Dale, hoping to find their suspect. Jack, or at least they hoped it was Jack, was sloppy with his latest victim. He left fingerprints. When they entered the apartment, they were expecting to find him watching television like the last time they paid him a visit. However, what they found was much worse.
On the floor of the apartment was a woman, viciously stabbed numerous times. The detectives were appalled, to say the least.
"Damn it!" Garth yelled as he realized the scene that lay before him. "We had him! She said she would be fine! She wasn't supposed to die!"
The detectives knew who the victim was: Jane Cuthbert, Dale's case worker. She was incredibly, and apparently lethally, sympathetic towards Dale, despite the detectives' warnings against it. While they had their worries, they never thought the result would be this horrific.
"Garth, go outside and call a bus," Vic said, his hand at his mouth in an attempt to prevent his shock from erupting as nausea. Dick contacted the crime scene unit while the remaining detectives searched the premises.
"The son of a bitch scoured the place," Dick called out from the bedroom. Everything there was either wet or in the wash. He disposed of the evidence.
Within fifteen minutes, the ambulance had arrived, along with crime scene techs, to find Garth blankly staring at Jane's body, crouched in what was most certainly an uncomfortable position. "Come on Garth, let's get back to the station," Victor said softly at the sight of his distraught friend.
When the detectives returned to their precinct, Garth sat at his desk, absolutely silent. The other detectives followed suit. None of them could speak. And even if they could, there wasn't much they wanted to say. Nothing that would help, at least.
Like the firing of a gun, Garth sent everything on his desk flying with one swift motion. His breath was ragged and he couldn't quite keep his balance. Before Captain Willis could rush in, Garth walked with deathly focus to his locker. By the time Vic and Richard made it to the locker room, Garth had severely dented his locker, sending himself to the hospital for multiple fractures.
Dick approached Captain Willis' door and knocked on it gently, realizing there were few answers he was going to want to hear once he asked his question.
"Come in," a gruff voice said.
"Hey Capt-"
"Have a seat," the reasonably burly man said, cutting Dick off before the words could roll of his tongue. Rarely disobeying his captain, Dick took a seat.
The two men sat in silence, one man waiting for a question, the other deciding on how to phrase it.
"Where's Garth?" Dick asked, deciding on sounding firm but not insubordinate.
"Detective Waters was reassigned," Captain Willis answered. He paused, trying to guage Dick's reaction. When Dick remained stoic, he continued, "The incident two days ago clearly displayed his inability to handle homicide. There was a general consensus that he would be better suited elsewhere. Specifically in Narcotics."
"What about a partner?" Dick questioned, anxiously awaiting the response. Not that he couldn't handle his work by himself, but beside it being commonplace, he had gotten used to having someone sitting in a desk across from him. It was nice to know someone who had your back would always be there.
"She should be coming in any minute now," Willis answered, again trying to guage Dick's reaction. It was much easier this time around. What with Dick's slack-jawed mumble which Willis assumed to be a "What?"
"She?" Dick was definitely surprised. In the four partners he'd been through, none of them had been a she.
"I always took you for a daredevil, Grayson. You pick this point in time to prove me wrong?" Willis replied.
"Yeah. Daredevil. Not lion tamer. I don't know Cap…" Richard quipped, somewhat unsure of the situation he now found himself entering.
"I'll have you know, she had the highest recommendations from Jump City Homicide."
"Well if Jump City likes her so much why didn't they keep her?" Dick asked Willis, waiting for a response. Willis only graced him with an exasperated raised eyebrow.
"I felt like moving," a female voice answered.
Dick turned around to face the mysterious source of the unknown voice, and what he saw amazed him. The woman was of small stature, at least compared to most cops. He figured she was about 5'5 or 5'6. She had flaxen black hair, which was cut short but in layers, the longest at her chin, framing her face wonderfully. He wasn't sure if it was the light or a glare or some godly source, but he could've sworn her eyes were of a purple hue. Simply put: she was stunning.
Unfortunately, such an observation would make his job difficult. So, Dick decided that she was actually one of the more homely women he had encountered. He was quite the playboy. He couldn't just work with someone beautiful. His decision was resolute. Except, in reality, it was crumbling.
"I'm Rachel Roth," the beauty said, extending her hand toward Dick.
Sick of observing his silence, Willis pointed to Dick. "This is your partner, Richard Grayson." Richard immediately stood up offering his hand, shaking out the rest of his unwanted thoughts.
"Most people call me Dick," he said, giving his best lothario smile.
"I guess you'll have to earn it," she said as she firmly grasped his extended hand, smiling. "Most people call me Raven."
"Grayson," Willis called out, grabbing Dick's attention. "Why don't you introduce your partner to the rest of the squad."
"Right. Will do Cap," Dick replied as he opened the door for Raven.
Raven followed Richard to a cluster of desks, two of them filled. "Raven, this is Victor Stone," Richard said, pointing to a bald man with what a caring face. "And this fool," he said pointing to a handsome red head "is Roy Harper, Vic's partner."
Victor immediately rose from his seat and shook Raven's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," she replied, returning his genuine smile.
However, Roy was obviously playing the lothario game. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said in the most charming voice he could muster.
Raven waited a beat before responding, seeing if he would realize his error in manners. When he didn't, she decided to ignore his obvious charm.
"My legs are fine thanks, but I would appreciate it if you looked up here," Raven said as she pointed to her eyes.
"No problem," Roy replied. "the view's just as nice."
"Is he serious with this crap?" Raven asked in disbelief
"Yes." Victor and Dick quickly replied. Raven rolled her eyes.
Hoping to avoid the looming situation, Richard showed Raven to her desk.
"That one's yours," he said, pointing to a bare taupe desk.
"Thanks," she replied as she unpacked the few things she had. He observed the stapler's new home, where she what he assumed to be her favorite pen, and where she thought she was hiding her paper clips. He also recognized the notable absence of anything that might keep the cold metal desk from being just a cold metal desk. Roy had a picture of his daughter Lian framed on his desk. Vic had a picture of his parents and his fiancée Karen. Hell, even Richard had a picture of his adopted brother Tim and himself. These types of things were conspicuously missing from Raven's desk.
'Guess we can take family off of the list of conversation topics,' Dick thought to himself.
"So…" Raven began, attempting to break the silence, "are we working on a case right now?"
"Nope." Richard replied. "We've been waiting all day, but nothing so far."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"I have difficulty believing no one was murdered in Bludhaven within past 48 hours," Roy said as he yawned. "I mean, Bludhaven is a step below even Gotham. Gotham is a playground compared to this city."
"Unbelievable, I know. How about we grab a drink at Duffy's?" Victor said, grabbing his jacket.
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Roy replied mimicking Victor's action.
"Hey, Raven? Do want to join us? You can meet the some of the CSU," Richard offered. Raven hesitated, but then agreed.
"Sure, that sounds good."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Duffy's was a reasonably dark bar, but it had a nice atmosphere. Most of the people were friendly, and you got fast service. It was also most Bludhaven detectives' favorite bar.
When Raven walked in, she saw three people that seemed to recognize the three men that she was accompanied by. A blonde woman, no older than 25, a brown haired man with reasonably striking green eyes, and a tall and voluptuous red head. Seeing them, the brown haired man pulled out a bar stool and pointed to it. Richard took the offered seat, and Raven chose the seat next him.
"Who's your friend?" the brown haired man asked, seemingly interested in her. "This, Garfield, is my new partner Raven Roth," Richard answered, surprising him.
"What happened to Garth?" Gar asked, appearing upset by this piece of information.
"Nice to meet you too," Raven said, eyebrow raised, catching his attention.
"Oh, right, sorry. You caught me by surprise there. I'm Gar Logan. I work for the Crime Scene Unit." He appeared to give Raven the once over, causing her to raise another questioning eyebrow at him. She shook his hand anyway.
Seeing as no one else was being outgoing, Raven decided it was her turn. "Hi, I'm Raven Roth," she said extending her hand to the blonde woman.
"I'm Tara Markov," she said, "It's nice to meet you."
Raven, surprised by her friendliness, replied "Nice to meet you too."
"I'm Kori Anders," the red head said as she grabbed Raven's hand. "Nice to meet you," Raven offered. "Likewise" was all Kori said, as she seemed to be scrutinizing Raven in a manner she couldn't quite identify.
Richard, interjecting, asked, "What can I get you?"
Raven, grateful that he broke the silence, answered "Tom Collins"
"A girl that knows what she wants. That's what I like see." Roy said as he grinned.
"Considering most women don't want overbearing lotharios, I would think you'd be a little bit disappointed…" Raven replied, a little irritated by Roy's constant come-ons.
"Ouch," Tara laughed, as she mimicked Roy with a wince. This got the whole crowd laughing.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny," Roy said as he jokingly pouted, easily rolling with the punches.
Richard returned with Gar, each with an assortment of precariously balanced glasses in their hands.
"Finally!" Roy cried in relief.