A/N- Aha! So this is the first installment in a new little project I'm starting. All of these one-shots will be based on a song. The title of the story will be the song title, just so you know! :) Oh, and for those of you wondering about Mia Bella, don't worry, the next chapter is on its way! Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Title: Day Late Friend
Song: Day Late Friend by Anberlin
Summary: Robin loves her, Raven's moved on. Is he just a day late friend?
Pairing: Raven/Aqualad, Robin/Starfire, implied Raven/Robin
Disclaimer- I own nothing, the song belongs to Anberlin and their label, and of course, DC owns Teen Titans.
A Day in the Life
Day Late Friend
..............
To:
Richard Grayson & Koriand'r Star
You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of
Rachel Roth & Garth Shayeris
On Saturday, June 20th
At four o'clock
Bougainvillea Beach Resort in Barbados
Please RSVP
Letting the paper slip from his hands and gently fall to the table below, Richard turned from the harmless piece of parchment.
It had been three years.
Three years since he last talked to her; since he had last seen her…
Since he had last kissed her.
…And now she was getting married?
Heaving a sigh, Richard ran a hand through his disheveled hair searching for his coat and car keys. He grabbed them up and brusquely walked out the door of his apartment. It barely grazed his mind that he was leaving his girlfriend of three years back at the apartment without a word as to his destination. Koriand'r- better known as Starfire- would probably get up, find him missing and as usual worry and come looking for him, but he paid no mind to that.
The second he had opened the invitation, he had foolishly resolved to confront Rachel- formally known as Raven- about her most recent decision, though he hadn't exactly figured out why, or how for that matter.
So without second thought he threw on his jacket, mounted his bike and was off, to where, he hadn't a clue.
As he dashed past street after street, he realized to where he was heading. The tower began to loom up ahead, and the sea surrounding darted in and out from his view; he shifted gears and sped up, sure of his course of action.
Looking up at the tower he once called home after all these years was hard. He could feel the memories clinging to it like a fog, swirling and twisting around as an invisible mist, yet still impenetrable in its entirety.
The times he spent here were some of the best he had…
And some of the worst.
Without a second thought, he unclipped a grappling hook from his belt, something he always carried even as he was dressed now- as a civilian. He fired it to the top of the steel structure, scaling until he reached the roof. Sure he could have entered his former home, but he didn't know if the constructors who were repairing the building for the new Teen Titans, under Victor "Cyborg" Stone's watchful eye, were occupying it or if it was still too early for them to be on the job. Either way, he had no need to enter; he would wait here for Victor, like he always did when he needed the man's advice.
Besides Raven, Richard had kept in touch with each of the original Titans. Sure he could find out what she had been doing, where she had been living-it wasn't as if she disappeared when she left the Titan's, the thing was that he had been too…afraid-if he was being completely honest with himself- to get in touch with her. They hadn't separated on the best of terms all those years ago, and that had kept him away. He had been fine to just known she was alright, because he wasn't sure if she would want him to know anymore, but that letter; that invitation.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, he turned to the sound of the opening door. Smiling, Victor stepped out into the rising sun, "Long time; no see man."
Smiling sheepishly Richard offered his hand for Victor to shake. As per usual they got straight to business. Victor was accustomed to these surprise visits- they were always the ones when Richard wanted to know of Raven.
Shaking his head, Victor gave off a throaty laugh, "Can you believe it? Our little Rae is all grown-up and gettin' married."
Swallowing the growl that threatened to pass his lips, Richard gave a shaky laugh in return. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about…"
Looking suspiciously at his companion, Victor scratched the back of his head, "Yea?"
Letting silence reign, Richard attempted to draw together the words he needed to say. "I- She- Okay look. It's been three years since… since we last even saw each other, and I think it's about time we got in touch. Vic, I need your help. I need to see her."
Giving Richard a dirty look Vic paced away from him, "Man! After all these years and you want to bring that shit up now? She's getting married in a week, Rich! You had three years, three years, and you wait till seven days before her and Garth tie the knot? This is unbelievable!"
Watching his best friend pace back and forth, Richard let his words sink in. "Vic, I just need to talk to her! I can't- I can't not know."
Stopping his angry pacing, Victor came face to face with the ebony haired man, searching for his sincerity then stalked away toward the door. Before disappearing down the stairs, Victor called back, "You'll find her on 34th and Kirkham Street."
As Richard's bike slowed to a stop in front of the address Victor had given him, he questioned whether or not it was the right place, but looking through the window of the quaint little coffee house he saw a woman who had striking similarities to Raven. Upon entering the shop, a little bell alerted it's occupants of Richard's entrance. Looking up from the novel she was currently reading was Raven, or Rachel as she went by now.
The new name seemed to fit her new look. Keeping the same shade of hair, its length now reached to mid back and was curled instead of straight. Her body had become that of a woman's with her soft curves and slight frame. Her piercing amethyst orbs looked up to Richard, but something was missing. And then he noticed, the red chakra that once rested between her slim eyebrows was missing, and somehow that small change gave Richard's heart a painful squeeze.
At first, he could tell she had no recognition of him, but he hadn't changed much, and soon enough she remembered. Rising slowly to her feet, she gracefully walked from behind the counter and met him halfway into the shop, which he now realized was both a café and bookstore; no doubt that she owned.
Drawn back to the woman coming over to him, he hesitantly offered her his hand, as he had before with Victor, but pushing it aside she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a gentle hug. "It has been too long, Richard."
Letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze back. Reluctantly she pulled back, and he let his grip go, instead grabbing both of her hands into his and giving her a warm smile. "Do you think you have a minute for an old friend?"
Chuckling, Raven nodded and slipped completely from his hold to walk back to the counter, she called to the back while taking off her apron to toss to the girl who immerged from the storage room. "Take care of the shop for a minute, I'll be back soon."
Turning back around to face Richard, she gestured for him to follow, leading him across the way to the park so they could have some alone time. They came upon a park bench and sat so they could catch up.
"So, how have you been? I haven't talked to you since…" Trailing off, Rachel let her gaze drift to the ground, but shook her head and continued on with her conversation. "Well, since I left the Titans." Giving a sad sort of smile, she waited for Richard to respond.
Frowning, he grabbed up one of her hands and began fiddling with her fingers, specifically her ring finger which now housed Garth's engagement ring. The gesture went unnoticed by Rachel who was remembering the last time Richard had held her hand, all those years ago. Looking back up into her eyes, Richard searched her face for something- anything to tell him that she was unhappy. "Things have been the same… until your invitation… When did that happen?"
Focusing back on the present, she smiled down at her hand, admiring the beautiful ring Garth had given her. It was his mother's, and she cared for it dearly. "He proposed in January, two years after we started dating."
Scowling down at the ring, he covered it with his hand, completely encasing hers. "Rave-Rachel, when you left… I was scared, and-"
Pulling back her hand, Rachel rose slowly, realization dawning on her face, "Richard, no. Not now, not ever."
"Please Raven, listen to me!" Ignoring the way he called her by her original name, Richard rose up with her and grabbed onto her shoulders. "What happened three years ago, I never meant for that to happen, and I never forgave myself!"
"Richard, the past is in the past, please, just leave it there. Please," Rachel's eyes began to tear up at the awful memories of the night she lost not only her first love, but the night she left her home, her family. If she were honest with herself, she never truly forgave Richard, but the time that had elapsed, she had been ready to see him again and try to reestablish their friendship, but this she couldn't take this.
"Raven! I love you, I have since we had gone out, but you left, and you were so angry, and I thought you hated me, but I can't let you do this, I need to know what could have been!" Becoming desperate, Richard pulled Raven in tight and crushed his lips against hers, pouring all of his passion, love, and fear into it. He could taste Rachel's salty tears, and felt her tiny hands pushing against him. Letting her go, Rachel backed away, wrapping her arms around her, lips red and swollen and eyes red and puffy. It was easy to see the longing, and the desire, but there was the hurt and the disappointment.
Putting as much space in between them as she could, Rachel made sure to look Richard in the eyes to show him the seriousness. "Richard, you had your chance, we had a chance, but you didn't want it. Now I'm with Garth and I love him! And what about Kori? Richard… maybe before…but we can't do this. I won't do this."
Trying to approach her, Richard extended an arm as if to grab her and pull her back in. "Raven…"
"No Richard, not anymore. You're too late." Giving him one last lingering look, she turned her back on him and walked back to her shop, leaving Richard kicking himself for waiting so long.
Saturday, Richard attended the wedding with Kori at his side, watching as Raven- Rachel walked down the path to Garth, as they were outside in beautiful Barbados. He watched as Victor gave her away to him, and how they held hands, gave their vows, and lastly kissed. And he watched as the woman he loves was taken away from him, and all he could think was, you're just a day late friend.
A/N-Feedback would be lovely. :)
Just press that pretty green link that says Review this Story/Chapter!
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And P.S. I just found my little notebook filled with all of my song fic ideas, so I should be working on these every chance I get!
Mio Amore
