There are several things I would like to say:
There are so many versions of Robin and Teen Titans and Batman and all that, so it's really hard to keep up with all the versions that they make. It's kind of really frustrating actually. I mean you've got the cartoon versions and then the comic book versions and then the movie versions and then the video game versions. I'm up to speed with most of the cartoons and movies cuz I can usually watch them on YouTube or or I've already got the seasons of them, and as far as the comic books, I've developed a habit of reading what is known off of the web and purchasing various issues of Batman, Death Stroke, Catwoman and others that may be necessary for reference for the story. And as far as the games, I really don't know didily about that at all cuz the only games I play are board games and UNO. So if I miss something, or I forget to add an important detail or just plain screw stuff up, please don't hate me.
This is sort of a spinoff sequel to Rena Redhead's stories "What" and "Custody". Ever read those stories? If not you should because they are awesome and my life got infinitely better by reading them. It's not really necessary to read them, but things make a little more sense if you do. All I'm going to tell you is that this story takes place five years after Custody and most of the main characters belong to DC Comics, but there are a few that are mine.
In case you didn't know already, I don't own DC comics or Batman, Nightwing, Deathstroke the Terminator, Justice League, or Teen Titans. It's sad but what can you do really.
So, after more than a year of hard work, I've finally decided to post this story. I've been so self-conscious about not finishing it like I do with most of my stories that I was so determined to make sure I had a good portion of it done prior to officially posting it. I also worried about how it would turn out, that I wanted to make sure I had edited this tale to perfection. I know it will hardly be perfect to some of you, but I'm still attempting to narrate this story to the absolute best of my ability. Please keep in mind that I've been working on this for a very long time and my feelings are a little delicate towards it. If you review, please be courteous. This story is my baby so there's no need to be mean. If you don't like it, you are more than welcome to exit out and locate a better fanfic by a more skilled writer. If you do like it, your encouragement is appreciated and may even be needed to continue.
I love all my reviewers and hope you found my story entertaining.
With that said and done, allow me to present:
Spawn of the Titans
Part 1
Birth
Prologue
Nightwing leapt through the air, battling away at the green monster. He growled inwardly at the annoyance of the situation. He didn't have time for this nonsense. He threw a bird-arrang at it, impatiently deciding to speed things along here. As it was distracted by the oncoming missile, Nightwing took the opportunity to swing a sparking numb chuck in its face. He turned the voltage on high and watched as the monster fell to the ground with a furious roar, sparking in electricity.
Silence crept through the streets and the onlookers slowly emerged when it was safe to do so. The battle was over and everyone knew it.
A green man stepped into the light; he'd been knocked unconscious previously but became suddenly alert when the silence evolved.
"Nightwing." He shouted over. Then looking at the downed monster and the hero standing triumphantly over it, and he gawked. "Dude, you did it by yourself! Guess you didn't really need me, considering how much good I was."
"It's fine, Beast Man." Nighwing said as he hit a button on his belt. The roar of a motorcycle grew closer and when it was within reach he leapt on. "Can you take care of that?" He gestured to the unconscious thing. "I've got to get going."
Beast Man nodded as sirens were heard growing closer. "Go, man. I can handle the rest… since you handled the hard part." He added as Nightwing sped off before he finished.
He thought of his friend's words. Battling monsters and crooks daily was no longer hard for him. No. It wasn't even that nerve wracking any more. The thought that in a few hours, maybe even a few minutes, he would become a father—now that was nerve wracking.
He kicked the gas on his bike and sped down the road even faster than his fastest speed.
At last, the hospital came into view, where somewhere in the walls of that building his wife was about to give birth to his new son or daughter. He parked in the ally and in a flash, changed out of his hero uniform into civilian clothes. In an instant, after he'd finished tying off his long jet black hair in a leather strap, his transformation from Nightwing to Dick Grayson was complete.
He ran the rest of the way, bursting through the doors and stopping only to ask what room his wife was in. He was like a streak of color as he ran the entire way to the Maternity ward on the fifth floor.
"Kory!" He cried when he reached her room. He saw his wife, wet with sweat and a joyous smile on her face. "I missed the delivery." He realized. His gut hit the floor. He had wanted to be there for her when their child came. The thought that he'd missed it, discouraged him. Yet seeing his wife's jubilant smile softened his worries.
"Not by much," She said holding her hand out to him, a gesture to come closer. He complied and held her hand in his. It was wet with the sweat of labor, as was her brow, but he could tell from her eyes and her jubilant expression that she was happy.
A nurse suddenly came up to him and held out a little white bundle, putting it gently in his arms. "Say hello to your daughter." She announced proudly.
Dick Grayson stared at the infant, captured in awe. He marveled in how tiny and light she felt in his muscled arms. He held her as if she was the most precious thing in the world, like the smallest wrong move could cause her to shatter in his hands. He held her with more care than he'd ever had for anything in his life.
Still trapped in the pure amazement of the situation, he studied her. She was red, the way many babies are when they are newborns, and a small tuff of raven black hair covered her head. Her eyes opened to look at him. They were shaped gorgeously like her mother's but were the color of her father's; the color of a deep twilight blue.
She stared at him for a moment before her face split into a happy smile and she gurgled with glee up at him, as if she knew this was her father. Dick felt his heart melt with her smile.
Kory sat up and looked at the infant and father, drinking up the heartwarming moment. She'd never seen this man so captured before. Dick met eyes with her and leaned down, offering the baby to his wife.
She took her in her arms and smiled as he did. "She is as precious as a plunki-mimpa."
Dick smiled, neglecting to ask what a plunti—whatever even was. So instead he responded with, "We make a pretty good looking kid, don't we, Star?" He whispered, sitting on the bed beside her.
"Most indeed." She announced, using her own foreign version of English. "She is very the looking good."
Her way with words only made him grin harder. He grinned till it began to hurt… and then he couldn't help but keep grinning.
"So what are we going to name her?" He asked in her ear.
Kory, also known as Starfire, looked up at him. "I would like to name her something native to my home planet, but I would also like to name her something native to your home planet too. She is of both worlds after all. On Tameran I had thought that if it were a boy we would name him And'e translated to Firewing. If it had been a girl it would be Mar'i which means Nightstar."
It was a combination of their own names as Nightwing and Starfire. Dick nodded at the thought. "I suppose Mar'i or Nightstar it is then. We still need a middle name."
"I am not sure. I had hoped that we would choose together."
Dick looked at their daughter, contemplating what would suit her best. Their attention was directed suddenly to the window when singing suddenly broke through their thoughts. The sun was rising softly in the east and perched on a tree was a little bird, the same color as their daughter's eyes, singing out the new day.
"It's a fairy wren." Dick said at last. "That's strange. That species is native mostly to Australia. What's it doing here?"
However way it came there didn't really seem to matter at the moment. All they could pay attention to was the song coming from it. "What a miraculous melody." Kory said dreamily. The baby cooed in her arms as the bird sung on. Kory's face split in two. "Do you like that little one? Do you like that wren? Are you my little wren?"
Dick looked up thoughtfully. "Wren. Wren?"
Kory looked at him too. "I like it, too. Very well. Her middle name is Wren, because she is so like a little bird… as her father is." She added softly.
He rubbed his neck, staring down at his family with all the love a father and husband could have. "Mar'i Wren Grayson. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Kory nodded.
Thanks to their alternate egos as Nightwing, the first Robin and sidekick of Batman, and Starfire, the alien princess of the planet Tameran, people believed that the two would never find time to raise a child. They had said much the same thing when the two wished to get married, but they did it. And now, here they were, holding what was the newest member of their incredible family. It hardly mattered if they were superheroes or not at this moment.
The door opened, just then, and in came three very different looking people.
Despite their normal appearances, the two new parents knew that their friends were merely hiding behind make up, a glamor, and a hologram in order to fool the everyday hospital staff while they visited their less-than-normal friends.
Cyborg, known as Victor, peeked in, before letting the other two pass. "Can we come in now?"
Dick and Kory nodded in unison and the three rushed through, eager to see the new infant.
Beast Man, known as Garfield in public, stepped forward, his eyes on the little bundle in Kory's arms. "Is that her?" He asked with interest.
Kori held up their daughter proudly. "Friends, say the hello to Mar'i, also known as our little Wren."
The three smiled at the sight of her and together said. "Hello Mar'i."
The first to hold her was Cyborg, who began tearing up when she gripped his big metal finger suddenly. It was so quick and strong that Victor felt as if he could actually feel it. The gesture seemed to be doing a number on him, and he passed her quickly to Beast Man so he could turn away before the others caught his choked up expression.
Raven's (aka Rachel Roth's) eyebrow twitched up, not missing it. "You alright, big guy?" She asked in her usual monotone voice.
Cyborg sniffed and didn't look at anyone. "I'm fine!" He sputtered, rubbing at his human eye. "I've just got something in my eye."
"Yeah, tears!" Beast Man blurted. "Dude, it's fine." The baby smiled at him and Beast Man beamed. "Ha, I haven't even cracked a joke and she already thinks I'm hysterical."
"Don't flatter yourself." Raven said.
Beast Man offered her to Raven, who seemed to step back a bit at the gesture. "Uh… I don't do well with kids. I've kinda got two left hands."
"Awe come on," Beast Man insisted, dropping her in the woman's arms before she could stop him. "It's not hard."
Raven's eyes widened at the unusual feeling of such a tiny, fragile person held in her arms. She stared and the baby smiled again, wider than when she was in Beast Man's. Then a soft smile crept on the woman's face.
"Friend Raven," Kori said happily. "I think she is in the like with you."
Cyborg sniffed louder and seemed to having trouble containing himself. They all looked at his back. "I'm sorry, guys, it's just so… I'm just so happy!" And then he bawled real big glistening tears. Beast Man pulled out an umbrella to shield himself from the waterfall pouring from the metal human.
"Dude, I asked for the news not the weather. Someone turn off the sprinklers, please."
Dick offered him some tissues from the bed side table. Cyborg sniffed loudly in a way that reminded all of them of a semi-truck horn. "Sorry, guys. I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment. Our little couple is all grown up and with a baby and everything."
Raven repressed the urge to roll her eyes. At the moment her attention was entirely on the little person in her arms. Then a thought occurred to her. "So are you going to take her to see her grandpa and uncle?"
Dick's expression changed briefly. The thought had never really occurred to him to make a trip down to Gotham so Bruce and Jason could see her afterwards. Undoubtedly, they would want a visit after news like this. It had been at least a year since they'd been there and an occasion like this certainly called for a visit
"Would you like to see Gotham, Star?"
Kori smiled softly. "I would very much like to see Gotham. It will be good for Wren to meet Bruce and the new Jason Todd. I think she should know the sort of line she comes from."
Dick nodded. "We'll make plans to leave this weekend then." Turning back to the other three he asked, "Think you guys can handle Jump for that long?"
Cyborg seemed to have gained control of himself and stared at Dick incredulously, "Three days? Of course we'll manage. If I remember correctly we once made it on our own without you for three whole months when we were nothing but teens."
Dick made an unreadable expression as if to say, Don't remind me.
It had been five years since those three long, agonizing months and now, with the arrival of his daughter, he had no desire to bring those memories back up.
"Yeah come on man, we're big kids now," Beast Man added. "I think we'll manage."
Dick smiled again as Raven handed the baby girl back to her mother. He took in a deep breath. He wanted to enjoy this moment. The moment where his life wasn't filled with crime fighting and enemies; where he could enjoy this proud feeling that went with being a father.
For the moment life was good.
Yes, life was good for the young couple, but it wasn't sure to last. At that moment a mastermind watched the young couple on a screen intently. He watched their happiness unfold in front of him. They were so unknowing, so unaware of the horror that awaited them. That was how it normally occurred between the rivals.
The Titans would move into a sense of security with no idea of the plot unraveling all around them, and then he would come to tear down those walls of safety and awaken the fear once again. He so disliked it when people forgot about him. And he would make sure that Dick Grayson, previously the first Robin, and now Nightwing, would never forget him… his greatest enemy…
Slade.
The two new parents marched proudly through the door in their apartment flat, the first time ever with Mar'i.
Dick wondered what it must be like to be that new. Were infants afraid at all, or just curious about the big unknown world surrounding them? Could they tell what was dangerous and what was safe? Did they even have developed instincts as complicated as that yet? How must such a place have looked to them when they were so innocent?
Starfire carried their baby through the enormous apartment, floating as the mother gave her the grand tour. Occasionally she would stop to point at something interesting such as Nightwing's motorcycle (or as Star called it, his cycle of motor intentions).
At last they made it to Mar'i's new room. Earlier that month, they had decorated on one of the walls with a mural of a growing green park doused in sunshine, a bright blue sky, and clouds surrounding it. Off to the corner, a white crib stood under a painting of a small tree with four little branches on it. On the top branch, hung a nest with one little blue egg inside. Over the crib were a mobile of six birds; a raven, a bat (which technically is not a bird), a canary, a falcon, a dove, and a robin (of course).
"And this is your room, Mar'i." Starfire announced happily walking over to the crib. She reached out and touched the mobile. "This is the mobile of birds." Her hand drifted to the robin. "And this one is a robin. Your father was a robin once, but now he is more like a falcon." She pulled something out of her pocket and hung it in the center of the mobile. It was a bright blue wren. "And this one is you, because you are our little Wren."
The baby cooed at the sight of the birds, as though she knew them very well and enjoyed the sight of all seven. Starfire turned a key at the base of the pole and the mobile began to turn while a dreamy Tamaranian lullaby filled the room.
Dick leaned against the door and watched the two women in his life. He came over and wrapped his arms around his wife, drawing her close to him. She smiled and leaned into his hold while the melody drifted through the room and the baby girl began to fall asleep in her arms. It was times like this that made them able to forget the real world they came from. The world where people fought to the teeth to keep someone from succeeding in dastardly plots, villains that broke a person to pieces, and places where there was no hope left to speak of.
One would wonder why they even decided to raise a child to begin with. It was mostly because Star wanted it, arguing that children were something that she was inclined to provide since she was, technically, the next in line for the throne on Tameran and she had a responsibility to her people. At first, Dick hadn't wanted to. He didn't feel it was right to bring an innocent child into the world when his and her lives were already shrouded nonstop with criminal injustice and fighting. Not to mention the countless enemies that would be able to use their child as a threat against them if they ever found out the truth of their identities. That was no way for a child to grow up. But, eventually, her words convinced him and they at last decided to try their luck.
It was the best decision he'd ever made.
They made the trip to Gotham where they met Alfred at the airport. The moment the man caught sight of the family, he smiled brightly. Dick and the man exchanged pleasantries till his interest shifted to Mar'i. "And is this the little miss?" he asked, gesturing to the bundle in Kory's arms.
Kori smiled, handing her to the butler before he'd asked or protested. He held her gently and one could see he had had experience with this before. "She looks just like her parents." The man said.
"We named her Mar'i." Kori announced proudly. "It means Night Star, where I come from."
"Both your names put together I see."
They nodded and Alfred smiled, handing her back so the two could get in the car. Kori strapped her into the car seat Alfred had already prepared for them and they sped down the road, pulling up to Wayne Manor in little under half an hour.
"Master Bruce, Miss Gordon, and Master Jason are waiting for you in the sitting room."
"Oh so Barbara was able to make it." Dick noted. He'd been under the impression that the Batgirl would most likely be hung up at the Gotham Police Department for the day and wouldn't make it to the mansion in time to meet the new addition to their family. He wasn't sure if he felt more at ease knowing that the woman he considered to be something like a big sister would be there or not. Certainly she would attempt to make the awkwardness of the visit a bit more at ease for the rest of them.
In all honesty, he was rather fearing this visit. He wasn't exactly sure how Bruce would react. Would he be happy for the two? Logic told him that the man had no reason to be displeased or judgmental about anything. Even so, he wasn't quite sure what this visit would bring.
He paused outside the door of the sitting room, trying to keep his breathing even and hopefully let himself calm down a bit before facing them. Kori touched his arm, reassuringly. Whatever happened happened.
Feeling brave again, he pushed open the doors and allowed the rest of the Batclan to see them.
Barbara's face immediately split into a joyful expression at the sight of the family. She rushed over and embraced her figuratively adopted brother warmly.
"Dick, it's been a long time."
Dick hugged her back warmly. "How are you, Barbs?"
"Doing fine." She tensed for a moment and stepped back suddenly when he hugged her a little too tightly. "Sorry. Got a little beat up on the job the other night."
He knew she wasn't talking about her desk job at the station. "How's that going for you?"
"Great actually. We just got done dealing with a major Clayface case and the criminal population is running scared since."
"Hey Dick," Jason said coming up and punching his brother's shoulder gently. "Hiya Star."
"Hello Jason. It is good to see you again." Star said politely.
Bruce stepped forward at that minute and the room went briefly silent as Dick faced him.
"Hello, Dick. Welcome back."
"Hi, Bruce."
"It's good to see you again."
"Likewise."
The tension was almost tangible in the room. Even Kori noticed it where normally she was overall oblivious to that kind of unease. Finally Barbara had the sense to break the strain.
"So… is that my little niece?"
Everyone leapt at the subject, finding comfort on the new topic. They each took turns holding the new baby girl and chatting about nonchalant issues. Once or twice they got on the subject of their vigilante activities but other than that it stayed relatively off business.
"So would you like to patrol with us tonight, Dick?" Barbara asked.
"Yeah, I think I'll do that. I haven't seen any Gotham Villains for a while, so it'll be nice to say hello."
"I think you'll have more than that to hope for." Alfred told them all as he walked in. "Joker and TwoFace just escaped from Arkham, and Poison Ivy is wreaking havoc on Gotham Suburbs."
Everyone got to their feet.
"Looks like we may be needing everyone's help on this one." Bruce said, moving towards the grandfather clock in his office. Everyone filed through but he stopped Dick before he could pass. "Hey, it's good to have you back, Dick."
The younger man smiled. "Yeah. It's good to be back."
"And I swear if you call me grandpa…"
"Of course not. But what do you expect Mar'i to call you? Bruce?"
"'It's been fine with everyone else so far."
"You apparently have no idea what I call you when you're not around." Barbara called from the bottom of the stairs.
Dick laughed and followed his family down to the batcave. It was nice to be home.
Dick smiled as he put the pink onesie on Mar'i. From what little he could gather from the infant, she did enjoy these times with her father just as much as he enjoyed the brief moments with her. Kori was gone for a girl's night out with Raven so it was just the two of them at the apartment tonight.
"…And no matter what Mumbo says, we really did kick his butt inside his own hat." Mar'i cooed as her father reached the end of the adventure. He picked her up and held her on his knee. "Look at you, you are probably the cutest baby in the world. You've got little hands, big blue eyes, big round belly, and a big baby butt." He laughed at how that sounded. "I like big butts." And without knowing what he was doing for a moment he started rapping. "I like big butts and I cannot lie, You other brothers can't deny, that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get…"
Mar'i giggled delightfully. It was just the thing to warm a father's heart.
Dick grinned. "Mar'i, you're laughing. Your first laugh. You've never done that before. Daddy made you laugh didn't he. Well daddy and Sir-Mix-a-Lot. Wanna hear some more? Alright. My anaconda don't want none unless you've got buns hun…" He stopped and frowned as he took the moment to reflect upon the song choice he had made and how duly inappropriate it probably was. "I am a terrible father."
When Kori returned Dick approached her at the door and grinned excitedly.
"I did it." Dick cried happily as Kori walked through the door. "I got Mar'i to laugh! It was so incredible!"
Kori's mouth dropped to the floor. "You succeeded in producing her to laugh? And I missed it? All because I was giving that stupid goth a makeover?!" She looked outraged as she dropped to the couch to sulk. "How was it? Was it glorious?"
"Oh it was the most adorable thing in the world. It was just like a little squeak."
"What did you do to get her to laugh?"
Dick went a little red at the thought. "Oh um… well… I sung her or… I guess rapped… a little song."
"What song?"
"…Um… Baby Got Back."
"You what?" Kori paled and her face slowly became angry as she stood to her full height out of repulsion. "You sang a lecherous rap song to our two week old baby girl?"
"Well… it was the only thing that worked and she thought it was hilarious."
"That does not excuse the fact that you exposed our infant to a racy genre of hip hop pop culture."
"I know but nothing else would work and it wasn't like I said any of the bad words. And when you think about it in perspective it really actually promotes a healthy body image. I mean big butts could actually…" He trailed off when he saw the disapproving look on her face. "Please don't take her away from me."
"Okay, Mar'i, please laugh for mommy. Please laugh." Kory crossed her eyes, making a very funny face as she blew a raspberry for her daughter. Mar'i's face remained unchanged as her mother tried fruitlessly to produce a laugh from the infant. "Not very funny, is it? So is it merely crude rap music? Or simply any sort of rap? Well that is not difficult. Mommy can rap."
"My name is mommy
And I just want to say
That all the babies—
"Oh I cannot rap!" Kory crossed her arms in defeat and studied the blank face on her daughter. "Very well Mar'i, this is only because I love you so much, and I know you are not going to tell anyone." She breathed, rolling her eyes to the ceiling as she prepared herself for the inappropriate song. "I… like big butts and I cannot lie. You other brothers cannot deny, that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face—"
Mar'i giggled delightfully and Kory's face split into a gleeful smile with success.
She laughed and bounced on her heals. "Oh yes, yes, yes. Mar'i you are laughing! I like big butts and I cannot lie, you other brother cannot deny—"
Mar'i giggled louder and Kory clapped with pleasure, taking her out of the seat and hugging her daughter to her chest. "You really do like big butts. Oh you beautiful little weirdo!"
When Beast Man opened the door, the three friends looked upon a very amusing sight. Both Dick and Kori were busy dancing wildly in front of Mar'i's cradle, loudly singing one of the most unusual songs they could have been expecting. Mar'i was currently busy giggling enthusiastically as her father and mother reached the end of the pre-chorus.
"I've seen them dancin'"
"To hell with romancin'"
"She's sweat, wet,
Got it goin' like a turbo 'Vette"
"So, fellas!"
"Yeah!"
"Fellas!"
"Yeah!"
"Has your girlfriend got the butt?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Tell 'em to shake it!"
"Shake it!"
"Shake it!"
"Shake it!"
"Shake that healthy butt!"
"Baby got back!"
"One more time from the top!" Kori cried. Dick turned just in time to see the others standing in the doorway, giving the two odd looks at their choice of lullabies for their two-month-old. Kori's back was to them and she continued to rap wildly without pause.
"I like big butts and I cannot lie
You other brothers can't deny…"
She trailed off after realizing Dick was no longer dancing or rapping with her and turned to where he was staring. Her face turned to a redder shade of tan at the sight of the four teammates.
The two parents stared at their friends as if they'd just caught the two trying to rob a bank. There was a long moment of awkward silence.
Kori broke it when she turned quickly around and smacked Dick against the chest suddenly. "Richard, please! That is so inappropriate!"
Mar'i continued to giggle even after her parents had stopped. The song and the dancing were hilarious to her.
"Man, why didn't I have a camera with me?" Beast Man cried through laughter. Two hours later and he still thought it was hilarious. "That would have seriously put me on Funniest Home Videos."
"You? Why you? The video was about us!" Dick responded. "Or… it would have been about us if we had filmed it."
It was Dick's birthday and Kory decided to host a small party in their apartment. They all gathered round the dinner table as wine, provided by Garfield, was passed around in glasses.
"Well you guys continue to vent your delight in our moment of embarrassment, but it was all completely worth it to hear her glorious glee." Kory proclaimed.
"Well I can't really blame her." Raven said. "You two are definitely funny looking."
"Oh sure, very funny." Kory said. "But I think you would feel differently if you had children of your own."
Garfield and Raven both exchanged glances with one another. "I'm not sure we're really ready for kids just yet."
"Well how about you and Karen, Vic?"
"We're looking into adoption." Victor announced. "Thanks to… well this," he gestured to his robotic body and continued, "I can't exactly have kids of my own, but Karen's niece keeps us pretty busy already."
"Oh yeah, how's she doing? She's got to be pretty big by now right?"
Karen smiled at Garfield. "She'll be six in another month."
"That'll be nice. She is such a sweetheart."
"Tell me about it. Sure can be a handful, though."
"Children should be." Kory announced, setting Mar'i on her knee. "It is a constant reminder telling us that we are parents."
Dick reached over and ruffled his daughter's hair. He loved his family so much. Hopefully his friends would be able to one day feel this same compassion, too.
"You know, Kory may have a point." Garfield said later that night. He and Raven were getting ready for bed when he brought the subject up.
"Kory has a point about what?" The woman asked as she slipped into her nightgown.
"Do you think that maybe, we should consider having some kids of our own?" The green man asked her.
Raven stared at him blankly. It was like that for several minutes. Finally Gar couldn't take it anymore.
"Well say something!"
"I'm not really sure I'm ready for kids, Gar." Raven admitted. "I mean, I guess we can talk about it, but as far as having kids right now, I'm not really sure if I'm ready like that."
"That's fine. I'd like to make sure we're both ready before we cross that bridge."
"Good." A mischievous glint caught in her eye as she reached over and twined her fingers in his pajama shirt, bringing him towards her. "In the meantime I think it's safe to enjoy our time alone as a couple."
Gar smiled, leaning over her. "I'm good with that."
He closed the distance and swept her up with a passionate kiss. Raven clawed at his chest, but before they had gone too far, her hand slapped the air in search of the switch to the lamp. She found it only after she had been successful in knocking over an empty vase and the clock radio. With their world plunged in darkness the only things that existed to them was each other.
Dick opened the door wearily. It had been a long night. Kori was already asleep and Mar'i was silent in her room. He opened the door to check on her before heading to his own room. The nightlight on her bedside table illuminated the room with a colorful holographic galaxy, creating a peaceful aura. Dick smiled softly at the sight of the still mound of black hair in the crib. He retreated from the room without closing the door. If Mar'i cried, he needed to hear it.
Inside his own room, Kori was already sound asleep. He undressed quickly and quietly, dropping his clothes by the door. He pulled on his sweats but left his chest bare and crawled in next to her, wrapping her in a soft embrace.
"Welcome home." Kori murmured at the warmth of his touch. "How was your night?"
Dick kissed her on the cheek. "It's getting better."
She smiled, closing her eyes once more and snuggled closer to him. The two of them drifted off to sleep together wrapped in an embrace.
Mar'i slept soundly in her safe and cheerful room. The nightlight of planets, stars, and nebulas rotated steadily above her, casting the room in an almost hypnotic beauty.
She stirred when she heard a soft click coming from the window. A draft billowed in and she whimpered as she was brought out of her colorful dreams by the uncomfortable cold. The birds above her turned in a smooth and languid circle and the melody drifted from the music box. She looked up, wiggling out of the swaddled bundle so that her arms were free. She reached her small hand out to touch the center one, which was the closest to her; the little blue wren.
She didn't know much, but instinct told her that she liked the little thing. She liked how gentle and friendly it felt, and the soft feathers were nice against the sensitive skin of her fingers.
Her eyes grew wide as a new frightening face appeared to her over the side of her crib.
Soft crying interrupted his restless dreams. Groaning, Dick sat up as the needs of his daughter alerted him instantly. He rolled his bare shoulders, trying to wake up a little.
"The time of feeding." Starfire said beside him, waking up as well. "I can get her. You have had a busy night."
"I'm already awake. I'll do it." Dick announced getting out of bed. He rubbed his face, trying to wake up as the cries continued. He moved his feet and stretched, wishing he could wake up more and went into the next door room. The sight inside made him stop dead in his tracks. Within that single expanse of time, Dick became fully awake.
"SLADE!" He screamed in shock, unable to suppress the horror upon seeing his greatest enemy, standing in front of him and holding his crying daughter.
Dick didn't pause. He rushed at him, intending to tackle the older man to the ground. But Slade was more than prepared for such an attack. He dodged easily, despite the bundle in his arms.
"Careful, Robin," He whispered, purposefully using the man's ex-alias. "You might end up hurting your daughter."
"Slade, you piece of death worshiping evil garbage!" Dick yelled, swinging a fist at his enemy's head. The way Slade was able to dodge each blow seemed almost lazily. The space in the baby room was limited and Dick found himself bumping into things. "Get your filthy hands off her!"
He could tell the older man was smiling somewhere under his mask and fury propelled him to attack harder. Slade hadn't even swung a fist at him this whole time, merely continued to avoid his repeated attacks. "I'm disappointed, Robin. Five years to study for this encounter and you can't even land a blow. With your daughter's life on the line, it's really quite sad."
Dick felt his fury rising with every word. He wanted to make Slade hurt so much. He wanted even for everything the man put him through as a boy, and now what he was doing by holding his child. It was positively unforgiveable!
At that moment a green starbolt illuminated the room, hitting the wall beside Slade's head. Dick's attention was diverted to the door where Starfire hovered in her lavender silk nightgown, her fists raised and illuminated with green orbs. A look of concentrated fury covered her face. A look that emphasized the position Slade was in; the most dangerous place in the world, which was between a mother and her child.
"PUT. HER. DOWN!"
For one horrible moment Dick's attention was completely on his wife. The next moment Slade was beside him, holding up a knife, wet with fresh blood. Dick swung at him, but found that his arm was numb.
He looked over and saw a long line of red running over his left arm. He never even felt the blade cut him. Suddenly drowsiness overwhelmed him and he slumped to the ground in exhaustion. He looked through blurry vision as Slade took the opportunity to dive out of the window, still carrying his crying daughter.
"No…" Dick whispered, desperately reaching out to stop him. "Mar'i…"
Starfire was distracted as Dick fell to the ground, but he shook his head at her. "Don't worry about me. Get him!"
Starfire did as she was told, immediately soaring quickly out the window to follow the kidnapper. It would have been impossible to locate him in the darkness, but thanks to her daughter's cries, she was able to trace him up on the roof.
She spotted Slade climbing higher, using his one hand to hoist him from bar to bar, while the other held tightly to her baby. Starfire followed him to the ledge of the roof where he turned and faced her at last.
Starfire stopped and gasped when she saw the reason he had halted. The blade he'd used on Dick was now pointed threateningly under her baby's chin.
Starfire gaped, hovering frightfully in the air. "You would not harm an infant." Even as she said it, she wasn't sure she fully believed it. Hurting a baby was nothing compared to the atrocities he had committed for as long as she had known him.
Slade stepped closer to the edge. "If that's what you believe."
"Without a doubt you are cruel, Slade, but I do not believe you are that cruel."
He held the blade closer to the baby who cried out at the touch of the cold metal. "Would you be willing to bet your daughter's life on that?"
Starfire stared at him with set determination. Then her glowing arm fell slowly to her side in anguish. "No. I would not." She could tell that he was smiling even if his mask covered his face. "What are your intentions for her?" She demanded, trying keep her voice from cracking at the terrible idea.
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
But Starfire seemed to understand. "We have not seen a trace of you in little over five years. You… are still in search of an apprentice?"
"For lack of a better way to say it, yes."
It suddenly dawned on her that this was the first real conversation she'd ever had alone with this man. She did not enjoy it. "This is all because Dick had no wish to be your apprentice the last two times you kidnapped and forced him to. So you intend to make Mar'i be it instead."
Slade seemed a little disappointed that she'd figured it out that fast. "You spoiled the surprise. But yes. If I can't have Robin I will take his child. It really is the perfect revenge."
Starfire hissed, her eyes gleaming green and her hands balling into fists. "You will return her to her parents!" She started forward.
"If you fight me now, Dick's life won't be worth a bird-arang."
Starfire stopped, her eyes dimming back to her usual colors. "What have you done to Dick?"
Slade's voice hinted with amusement. "The blade I cut him with was poisoned. He has a little over two minutes left to live. In the lobby of this building there is a vase of flowers where I hid the syringe with the antidote inside. And since you've already wasted a considerable amount of time, I'd say you don't have very long to make a decision." He paused to let his news sink in. "So what's it going to be, Starfire?" She cringed when he'd said her name. "Will you let your daughter go… or let your husband die?"
Starfire's heart stopped. How could she ever decide such a thing? She ran over the logic quickly in her head. If she fought him now, Dick would certainly die. If she let him go, they were likely to never see their daughter again. Yet there was the smallest possibility that they would find her. She knew that if there was even a chance to find Mar'i, she and the rest of the Titans would move heaven and hell to bring her home.
Starfire's eyes glistened with the pain such a decision forced from her. She pleaded to Slade as she turned in the air. "Please… do not hurt her."
And before she could change her mind, she sped as fast as she could to the lobby of their apartment building. She tried not to think of the fact that she'd allowed a psychotic villain to take her daughter from her. Or of the fact that that said villain was their team's greatest foe. Or that he'd intentionally abused Dick emotionally, physically, and mentally while under his influence. Or that he was responsible for the murders of countless victims. She didn't think of any of that. All she thought about was saving Dick.
She found the vase and threw it on the ground where it smashed to pieces, sending flowers and water covering everything. She spotted the said syringe filled with a pink liquid and snatched it up. She rushed back to the apartment where she saw her husband sprawled on the ground drenched in a cold sweat as the poison took its toll on him.
"NO!" Starfire cried, fearing that she was already too late. She rolled him over and plunged the needle into his arm, allowing the antidote to empty into his bloodstream. She waited and stared at him while it took its time to heal him.
He didn't move. He didn't breath.
Starfire leaned her head on his bare chest, trying to hear his heart. She heard nothing.
"NO!" She cried. She'd been too late. She pounded on his chest, attempting to perform CPR to get his heart to pump the remaining antidote through his body. She pushed on his chest, one… two… three… four… five…
He coughed, breathing on his own at last. Starfire breathed with relief, burying her face in his chest.
For a moment he didn't move, except to breathe and wait for the feeling to return to his limbs. When he'd regained control over his body, he looked up at her and gasped. "Mar'i! Where's Mar'i, Starfire?"
Starfire's eyes clouded with tears at the thought. "He… I couldn't…" She looked away, unable to face him. Her hesitation spoke volumes.
Dick got to his feet, ignoring the dizziness the move caused him. "NO!" He ran to the window and looked out into the night, as if expecting to see a trace of Slade running across the street, but the man was long gone by now, as was his child. He turned on Starfire, gripping her by the shoulders, a desperate fury in his face. "Why did you come back for me? Why didn't you stop him?"
"I… you would have died." She said sadly. His grip on her shoulders was almost painful.
"No!" He cried urgently. "You shouldn't have come back for me. You should have fought him." He turned away from the woman gazing out into the night with distress. His voice cracked with desperation as he spoke on. "You should have saved her."
Though Starfire knew he was right to believe their daughter's life was more precious than his, she felt as though she should've defended herself.
"What if he had planned for that?" She asked, her eyes watering as she spoke out her frustration. "What if I was unable to thwart him? Then I would have lost both a husband and a daughter." She looked away from him, wrapping her hands around her arms to circulate heat from the cold she felt. "I do not care what you say. I have no regrets for saving you."
Dick looked at her, and saw that her logic had been reasonable. Even still, he felt a great rage burning inside him. Not for her, but for the monster that had taken their only child. The room was unbearably silent. Then he spoke.
"Five years." He said, leaning against the window frame for support. "He's been planning this for five years. The last time three months, and the time before that six. I almost lost myself both times. If he does this right, he'll make sure we never see her again."
Starfire felt her life falling apart. They would never see Mar'i again? That didn't seem possible. Yet here they were, standing together in her baby room, without their baby.
Her hand came up to her mouth at the idea and she tried to bite back tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
Dick looked over and saw the distress all over her form. He walked over and offered her his comfort with a reassuring hug. "We have to alert the Titans and the Justice League as well as the Doom Patrol. If Slade pops up anywhere on the map we'll find him. We're going to find Mar'i, Star. I promise."
He strolled down the hallway with the prize in his arms. She was silent at last, having fallen asleep sometime as they were leaping over the buildings of Jump. He reached the room that he'd prepared for her and handed her to the nanny bot he'd built to take care of her through infancy. Heaven knew he wouldn't be taking care of that himself. He had far more important things to attend to that didn't involve nursing a baby.
He'd built this robot differently than his normal Sladebots. It looked more feminine that the other masculine fighting machines he used for his army. It also had a gentler disposition with being all silver and sporting a smooth blank face.
Slade stopped for a moment to watch as the robot took the child in its arms and put her in the crib. She was still and asleep all through it. When that was done, the robot walked to the corner of the room and stood without moving or making a sound of any kind. If the child cried, the thing would tend to her as needed, but if there was nothing to do, then it would leave and stay on standby.
Slade moved closer, looking over the bars of the crib at the sleeping child. He studied her without moving. She was too young for just about everything. That was good. It would let him mold her the way it was intended. The way he couldn't do when he had her father as his apprentice. He'd taken every measure to make this work. He had covered his tracks and whisked the child away without leaving a trace for them to follow. If all went well, Nightwing and Starfire would never see their daughter again until it was too late.
He reached down and stroked the mop of raven black hair gently. She stirred but remained asleep. He spoke and somehow his words made their way into her muddled infant dreams. "Your father was able to escape me, but you won't. Not ever. I'll make sure you won't."
YES! I DID steal that scene from Friends! Where Rachel and Ross dance around in front of Emma's bassinette singing Baby Got Back! I regret nothing!