Giftfic for MissScorp

Disclaimer: I do not own Raya. She is owned by the magnificent Scorp.

Twenty Years Ago

"Kean-san!" The sound of a teenage girl's voice erupted through the air.

Raya looked up, tears streaming her eyes. "Miss Hino?" What was she doing here? She'd told her to get away, to go as far as possible. She needed to find safety.

The young girl ran down and pulled Raya into an embrace. "Baka!" The two sat there in a hug, both shaking with Raya looking up at the heavens, both relieved and disappointed. She didn't know what to feel, and even though she'd been called an 'idiot' in Japanese, she didn't even have the strength to make any sort of retort.

"You weren't supposed to come back for me..." Raya wasn't supposed to be living, no she hadn't been hoping to survive. "You were supposed to escape."

Rei shook her head and dug her head into her chest. "Kean-san, what would Wayne or Grayson-san do if you weren't here?"

The question shook her soul. Like an earthquake erupted, she felt her heart explode and for the first time in her twelve years of life, she cried. She couldn't explain it and for once, she didn't care for the scientific reason for why she felt that way or why these salty tears came forth. Her entire body felt weak and heavy like lead.

But hearing those words, she lost herself. Raya lost the child who'd been afraid to walk out of line, terrified of being a lost cause, believing she was lesser than everyone else around her. And losing herself had been the best thing she could ever do.

Present Day

Staring at her wristwatch, she couldn't help but find herself just a little bit annoyed. How was it possible for her fiancée and Bruce to be so late? She had given them perfect directions, even checked with MapQuest before sending the text out. And sure enough, they both agreed (in their own ways) that they'd be there for her.

On our way... evading suits... lol

Raya stared at her phone in disbelief. He has enough time to make a quip but can't be here on time. Apparently, they were fighting with Penguin who happened to be in Tokyo, Japan. Even out of the country, he doesn't take vacation... sheesh... Of course, when she thought about it, Bruce and Dick were the exact same way.

The three were born of the same peapod. Exactly alike. Not one of them would ever acknowledge that fact. In fact, she was sure they'd all deny it - especially Dick in regards to being like his adoptive father.

Did you know my father and that idiot that you call your fiance had a show come out before I was born?

Raya smiled. Good ole Damian... how'd he find out about that show anyways? She couldn't help but wonder which one he'd found. Hopefully, he wasn't reading the fan fiction she'd seen people write and assume that it was a pilot for a show. There were some strange ones out there that'd mess with her baby boy's mind.

Ye- before she could get the message out, a message showed up.

"New Text Message: Baby Imp Dami" - WTF?!

Must be fanfiction!

Was he really this this annoying when he was younger?

Um... wha- another message came before she could finish.

"New Text Message: Baby Imp Dami" - Holy Hell Capones! Imma use this as leverage.

Use what? Raya typed quickly, practically breaking the screen with the force that she pressed on the buttons to get information. She was sure that Alfred had blocked all the strange sites he could get on, but he was raised around the batfamily; she was sure that there weren't many things he couldn't get around.

She waited for a response, tapping her spoon nervously on the table. Maybe, it was time to go Fenix mode and save her little boy from his own curiosity. Like the cat, his innocence was in danger from his naivety.

Raya bit her lip and stared at the phone, holding in her breath. Nothing.

Five minutes passed and nothing. Not a message from Dick, and nothing from Damian confirming her suspicions.

Zzsst... Zzsst... The phone vibrated on the table and without looking, she picked it up and answered. "Damian, what the hell-"

"Kean-san, gomen nassai. I'll be there in just a few minutes." A female voice apologized on the other side of the line. Miss Kean, I'm sorry... Raya found herself mentally translating.

"Oh, it's fine," she, without thinking, responded. Who was this? Why'd she calm down immediately in hearing the voice?

"Kean-san, smile for me, please." The voice on the other side was deep like her own, a soft soprano - not quite deep enough to be an alto. Those words, however, made the person on the other side very clear. Raya hadn't spoken to the woman in so long; it was no wonder why she hadn't recognized the tone immediately.

Rei Hino. Bruce's god-daughter, a child born in the world of politics and wealth but like her, she'd chosen to become independent of her father. Raya had only seen her two or three times in her entire life, each time during the hardest times in her life. She could remember the first time she'd seen her.

It wasn't anything special about that day. It hadn't been the first time that Bruce Wayne had taken her with him on one of his international trips. It wouldn't be the first or last time that she'd wanted to disappear in the crowd of people.

But that day had always stuck out as different.

'You must be special.' Rei had said with a slight smile. Raya could remember thinking that she looked like she was going to cry.

But Raya hadn't said anything in response. She was used to this kind of conversation. Rich kids were taught to make friendships with those like them especially those who were even luckier than them. Nobody ever wanted to be her friend.

'Wayne-san, he's always so sad...'

Raya remembered being so agitated at hearing that. Here she was feeling as if her heart was in her gut, and this girl was mentioning something so stupid and obvious.

'He smiles when he's with you.' Rei had turned to look at her then said, 'Smile. That'll make him happy.'

'Easy for you to say.'

Rei nodded and stood up and walked away. 'Maybe it is.'

"Kean-san, I'm sorry that I made you wait." The same voice from the phone could be heard from behind her. Raya turned and sighed.

" It's fine. I'm sure you had some important business to handle." Couldn't give her the traffic as an excuse. It was one of the few times where the streets were practically vacant of tourists.

"Oh..." Rei paused. Raya lifted an eyebrow, her degree in psychology and medicine immediately kicking in high gear. Rei was obviously nervous about something. "Yeah, you can say that, Kean-san." Seeing how fidgety she was, Raya looked for any signs of drug use or domestic abuse in her shoulders down to her forearms.

"You can call me, Raya... if you don't mind."

The other woman's eyes widened at what she said then smiled. "Raya-san?" She appeared to think about for moment before nodding then added, "You should call me Rei then."

Raya nodded. Still, it was strange; she was sure that Rei would insist on being more formal. "So..." Maybe this was a bad idea... She had been the one to plan on meeting her at the cafe, and yet now that she had her there, she didn't know what to say. She looked back at her phone and still nada. Her heart dropped... this was the reason why she wanted Dick to be there.

"Are you waiting for a response?"

"Uh, yea, sorry.."

"From a man?"

Raya nodded. That's right, she hates men. That was what made the second time important. That time, Bruce had decided against getting a hotel but chose to stay at her temple. That day, she stayed in Rei's room and watched as she threw away every flower, every card, even the chocolates.

"My fiance, actually..." she finally said.

Rei shrugged her shoulders and sat down in the booth. "How unreliable..."

Raya frowned slightly. She wouldn't go that far...

"Men, they're unreliable... you ask for one thing, and they'll do something completely different."

She couldn't go against that logic. Raya couldn't count how many times she asked Dick to get garlic seasoning from the store and he came back with beer and a new game, forgetting about the request completely or getting "garlic salt" rather than plain ole garlic. Men didn't listen, and Damian was slowly becoming like his mentor and his father alike. "But when they wanna be sweet, they can bring the biggest smile to your face."

Rei's eyes softened. "But they're still unreliable."

"I guess James Brown said it right, eh?"

Rei looked over at her and smiled for the first time since she walked in, the sound of a giggle escaping her lips that Raya couldn't mistake for any other sound. "Yes, I guess so."

Raya pursed her lips playfully. "Which part was he right about?" Partially breaking the ice and the other part wanting to know what she was talking about, she eyed the Asian woman with a slight smirk.

The priestess looked around, her face slightly red, then once seeing the coast was clear, she sighed and then sung in a soft voice, "It's a man's world... but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl."

Raya didn't have the heart to tell her that she didn't need to sing. But still, it was adorable and somewhat strange to see the expression on her face. The girl she'd met those three times before had been completely different from the woman standing before her. When people spoke of Rei, they spoke of beauty and exotic with a sixth sense, a girl aloof and cold, a person so distant that she was impossible to touch.

But sitting across from her, Raya could see a person who'd changed. Someone who, like herself, had found family beyond the curse of a father they'd been given. Even so, she couldn't remember why she had chosen to meet with Rei for the fourth time in her life. There'd obviously been something that happened years ago that made her want to see her once more.

The moment that Dick proposed to her, the first thing she thought about was the young violet eyed girl from when she was a child, a girl that she'd never forgotten. Raya had quickly told Bruce that she wanted him to set up a meeting with her, and it seemed so important at that moment.

She was sure that it was more than just about proving to her that happiness was possible. Anybody who'd seen Oprah or Dr. Phil knew that.

"May I take your orders?"

Rei didn't attempt to look to answer. She was apparently waiting for Raya to make the decision. "Um, yes, please..."

The quiet one nodded.

"Would you like to start with something to drink first? -I can give you more time to look at your menu for food." The waitress smiled professionally.

Raya stared at the smile and shook her head. "I'm ready to order my lunch also." Peeking over at the priestess, she asked, "Is that okay with you?"

"That's fine."

The American girl tried to decipher her expression but found herself thinking Alfred had a rival in making himself impossible to read.

Rei started giving her order first, but Raya found herself watching the waitress with waning interest. Her eyes focused on the professional smile, and for some reason, she felt as it was God's way of giving her a sign to remember why this meeting had been so important.

Zzsst... Zzsst... Raya's phone vibrated on the counter. She watched it anxiously, half wondering if excusing herself to answer the text message or calling Damian would be considered rude.

"Kean-san..." Rei said softly, her expression confused. "Weren't you waiting on that call?"

Raya nodded but awkwardly sat still, her mind on more things than she could count. The professional smile, the mysterious reason that she'd invited Rei on this lunch date, which fan fiction Damian was possibly reading and a few random thoughts that she wished to get rid of.

Trying to rebreak the ice that Raya had so successfully broken earlier then built up again, Rei put her hand out as if asking her to allow her to see her hand. Raya obliged and pulled out her ring hand while awkwardly allowing the other girl admire her ring.

"Is Jason your fiance?"

"No, why'd you say that?"

Rei shrugged.

Raya looked at her expression. As a psychologist, she understood that look. Rei hadn't been awkwardly admiring her ring, no, she was judging the jewelry on her finger. Eyes narrowed, "Dick proposed to me."

Eyes widened, the girl frowned, "I'd think an entertainer would want to be a little more flashy... when's he getting a diamond for the ring?"

Raya's heart raced. She couldn't see the diamond? Of course, in his listening to her idea of wanting everything to be modest, Dick thought sprinkling diamond dust on the gold would make himself feel better for buying a hundredth of a whole karat sized diamond. For someone else, they'd probably been upset with a diamond that could fit under their nail, but to her, it was so romantic.

However, she couldn't say that she wasn't just a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, well, I like it."

Rei let go of her hand, a sly expression on her face, surely a joke in that head of her's though Raya would probably never hear it.

Zzsst... Zzsst...

"New Text Message: Baby Imp Dami"

Damian...

[We need Fenix's help. It'd be awesome if you can cut your dinner short.] Raya could hear Dick through the earpiece provided by the Justice League. His voice sounded urgent, very different than earlier. How was she going to get out of this one? And would it still be showing urgency in her actions in checking her text message from Damian?

She looked around, wondering if Bruce had the place bugged before agreeing to join her in seeing his goddaughter.

[They have Damian, and they're coming your way.]

Raya stiffened. This dinner was over. No one messed up with her little impish birdie. To her surprise, she saw Rei putting money down on the table at the same time that she was.

"Sorry, can I have a rain check on this?" the two girls spoke in unison.

"Oh, sure... is everything okay?"

"Yeah." The two girls held their stomach as the waitress came with the drinks. "I just have..." They both stopped and looked at each other with amused faces.

Raya decided to throw out the knockout punch in this excuse that no person ever questioned.

But as she began speaking, so did Rei, and once again, in unison, they said: "I just have diarrhea."

Liar.

"Are you both-"

Raya hadn't even bothered listening to the question before running off.

Having caught up to where Batman and Nightwing stood, Fenix ran forward but stopped. Underneath them, she saw Rei... no, that was Sailor Mars.

"How long has she been in a standoff with that creature?" she asked.

To her surprise, it was Batman who responded. "She got here just a few minutes before you." Fenix looked around, trying to figure out the landscape and also where Damian was being held up. Unfortunately, the latter was impossible, but the silence between the two of them made her more nervous than it comforted her.

"Well, why aren't you helping her?"

"Because that creature is Damian, my son."

Author's Note:

So, apparently, I cannot make a one-shot. This will be a two-shot story.

Please review and lemme know how you enjoy or how I can improve the story.

Thanks!

Until Next Time,

Neo