Hey DTF here with, OMG!, another chapter. Sorry for the long wait, this and shit been happening. I'm sure ya don't want to read the reasons on top so I'll put them on the bottom.
Remember: change the background to black. Easier on the eyes. And Enjoy!
Chapter Four
Upon returning the small picture frame back to the wall, she turned on her heel, her face having a determined look etched on it, toward the metal sliding door. Her eyes, whether subconsciously or consciously, drifted over to her dresser with her meditation mirror and her still untouched cloak. She hesitated for a second relatively in the middle of her room, before continuing on her path toward the door. She wasn't about go back on her word, even if it she did just say it in her head. She was going to surprise Beast Boy. Though, it's fairly difficult to surprise someone that's naive and not very perceptive outside of battle.
Hearing the hiss of the door opening brought Raven out of her musings and made her remember what her reason was in the first place. To find out why the green boy lied to her about missing last week's workout session. Setting her mind to think of more hiding spots, the petite pale-skinned girl came up on the door that led to the Titans' gym. As she was passing by the metal door, she heard sounds emanating from the other side. Momentarily forgetting about the possible hiding spots, she stood near the door and listened intently. The sounds were of those when someone was hitting something and the occasional grunt came with it. The young empath stood just outside the metal door with a perplexed look on her face. He's actually in there. Deciding to enter the room and get some answers, she approached the door, letting it open, and walked into the in-door training facility. I hope he remembers this is the only door out. Upon entering, she saw the green-skinned teenager performing quick and powerful jabs along with kicks equaling that of his straight punches. The shape-shifter paying her no attention.
Casting her eyes away from the shirtless Beast Boy, she observed what he was doing. He was bombarding the only punching bag in the whole gymnasium. As she was watching, she came to see that he had the top and bottom of the exercising equipment chained down. The only time he did that was when he wanted to increase his strength and work on the precision of his hand to hand skills...or when Robin told him to. Well, he did say he would be in the gym. He usually does what he says he'll do. With that thought, she decided to not bother him until he was done. Shifting her eyes from the activity in front of her, she spotted a bench on the right wall with a folded white towel resting on the left side. She made her way to the piece of furniture and sat down next to the towel.
It was at that time the changeling was in the middle of performing a roundhouse kick, until his eyes caught sight of the violet-eyed empath sitting on one of the numerous benches throughout the training facility with her eyes closed and her arms and legs crossed. Upon seeing her, his body tensed, and in-turn, made him lose his balance, which made him fall unceremoniously on his backside. Though he did use his arms and hands to soften the landing.
Even though the half-demon didn't hear the commotion and her eyes were shut, her empathy powers told her otherwise. Instead of receiving waves of confidence, like when she entered the gym, she started feeling pulses of worry with a slight hint of fear. Opening her eyes, she came to see her green friend sitting on the floor with his vision not looking at her. Uncrossing her arms and legs, she gracefully rose up from her resting place, "Did I scare you?" She asked, her voice monotoned, walking to the grounded changeling.
The young shape-shifter jerked his head up from where he was looking, his line of sight finding Raven's face. He noticed that her face didn't have the angry look from earlier, so he decided that she wasn't mad anymore, but he was still skeptical. "Uh, yeah...just a little." He said with a sheepish smile.
After a couple of more steps, the pale-skinned girl stood in front of the teenage boy. Even though he didn't say it, she could still feel worry emit from his being. He was still distressed about her being upset with him. Squatting down to his eye level, "Relax Beast Boy. I'm not mad anymore." She said.
"You're not?"
She shook her head, "No."
The green boy sighed bringing his vision to the floor, "Oh, good." Raising his eye sight back to the pale woman's face, "I thought you were gonna do something to me." He said with a grin. "So, what made you calm down?"
"To be precise," She started, standing back to her full five foot five inch height, "A pleasant memory." She finished, holding out a hand to help him up. Grabbing her hand, he got back up on his feet, then he proceeded to dust himself off. "Though," She crossed her arms over her chest, "You do understand why I was mad at you?"
Beast Boy's face took a dejected expression, "Yeah," Then his face brightened up, "But it's for a surprise that I'm sure you'll like."
"Beast Boy," The violet-eyed woman said exasperatedly, placing her right hand on her forehead while keeping her left arm across her chest. "You know I hate surprises."
"Don't worry," The green-skinned boy said waving his hand slightly, "This won't be like a Starfire's-got-a-new-dish kind of thing. You'll enjoy it." He said with a grin.
"That doesn't make sound any better." She said lowering her right arm back across her chest. "Could you tell me when to expect this surprise." Again, not a question.
The changeling's face took one of thought, his fingers cupping his chin, Judging that I went into her room, and that I can still walk... "Okay, fair enough. Expect it on Christmas." He said dropping his hand to his side and letting a grin take over his face once again. The green shape-shifter saw the young woman close her eyes. And to add to this, he noticed a light blush on her face. At first, it confused the green boy as to why she would be embarrassed. Then, it somehow clicked: she still hasn't bought any gifts yet. Putting his hands on his hips, he leaned down slightly to match her height, "Oh Rae-ven." He said, just inches away from her face, in a sing-song voice.
"What," The young half-demon asked opening her eyes, the small blush still present, and not missing the playfulness in his tone.
Beast Boy's grin couldn't possibly get any bigger, "You haven't bought any presents yet, have you?" The pale-skinned seventeen-year-old kept silent and found the wall to be quite interesting. The small blush increasing in size. "I knew it!" He shouted, standing to his full height and pointing an accusing finger at the young woman, and started to laugh.
The said young woman brought her vision away from the wall to the green shape-shifter, "If you must know, no, I haven't bought any gifts yet." She said bringing her vision back to the wall, her arms still crossed, "And stop laughing, I don't see what's so funny."
The green changeling's laughter died down after a few seconds, "I was laughing because I was right and you'd be the last person I would think who would forget about buying presents." He said looking at her face and seeing the blush still there. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Some people don't even buy gifts 'til the day before Christmas." It was then that an idea popped into Beast Boy's head, "Hey, I know. How about we go do some Christmas shopping during our day patrol?"
The violet-eyed woman contemplated this. I suppose that would be acceptable. Returning her eyesight from the wall to the young man in front of her, "Fine." She said with a tiny smile.
Giving a grin of his own, he made his way over to the bench with the white towel folded neatly on the left side. "Great." Then a sudden thought occurred to him: what is today? "Hey Rae, what is today anyway?" He asked picking up the white piece of material.
"Today would be a Saturday." She answered. But...if today is Saturday, then that means...I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. Since today's Saturday, there's no school. And to add to this, it's Christmas break for the schools. This realization made her turn and look at the green boy drying what sweat he had accumulated during his solo training. He must of known that...and yet, he still would've went to the gang shootout this morning even though there wasn't any children at the school.
The violet-eyed beauty was brought out of her revery by our favorite changeling. "Hey Rae." With her attention brought from her mind, everything around her came back into focus. "Yes Beast Boy? What is it?"
Beast Boy, having been done wiping himself, had the middle of the towel hanging around his neck with his hands lightly gripping the ends. "You think we'll get to meet the new hero from this morning? I can't wait to meet him. It's gonna awesome." He said with a grin.
The pale-skinned empath saw his enthusiasm and couldn't help but smile back at him, "I'm sure we will." Then her mind remembered his "hunch". "Oh, and by the way, you can't call it a hunch when you have facts behind it." Her smile turned somewhat into a smirk as she kept her vision on the green shape-shifter, then turned toward the only door to the training facility.
Beast Boy watched the once friendless empath exit the gym with his ever present grin on his face and chuckled. "She remembered." He said. Though by that time she was already out the door a few feet away, so she didn't hear him. Then, as if it just smacked him, his mind noticed something. "Hey! She wasn't wearing her cloak!" He more or less shouted.
The aforementioned empath was just about to round a corner when she heard the green-skinned boy's outburst. She turned around and faced the metal door with a surprised look etched onto her face. Then her face held one of happiness. She didn't know why, but...she was pleased...delighted...elated... I really need to talk to my emotions. Even though she thought that, she couldn't erase the tiny smile that was on her lips. The pale-skinned young woman turned back around and continued on her trek toward the common room. Walking down the hallway, she brought up her right hand nearly parallel with the floor and lowered her vision to it. I need to speak with them not just about why I'm happy, but also about my powers. I didn't need to meditate this morning. She subconsciously turned a corner. She looked up from her hand while letting her arm go limp. I can't go to Nevermore now. Reaching for her belt, she grabbed her communicator and flipped it open and focused onto the digital clock. It's almost eight. It will take more than an hour to talk to them. Flipping the device closed, she attached it back to her chain belt just as the door came into view. The seventeen-year-old empath crossed into the common room. She made her way over to the semi-circle couch and sat on near the left side. Besides her power problem, what was she going to do for the next hour. Beast Boy was in the gym, so what was she going to do? She let her eyes travel the room until they landed on her book she set the night before. I can read. Leaning forward, she grabbed her reading material, but just as she did, the common room door opened. She brought her vision away from the book to the door to see Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg. With Robin and Starfire still wearing the winter cloths they received from the police and they looked quite tired with the metal man still having the same expression on his face.
The pale empath looked at them, "Welcome back," She ran her eyes over her friends, who were removing the outer most layers of clothing to compensate for the heat inside the Tower, while opening her book to the desired place, "Early, I might add."
"Yeah, that would be 'cause of me." The tin man responded with somewhat of a grin taking a seat on the other side of the semi-circle couch, leaving Robin and Starfire to shed the unwanted articles of clothing near the door. Mmm, wonder why she ain't wearing her cloak.
After a second of silence Raven spoke again, "So, how did the patrol go?" It was then her empathy powers picked up anger and worry, mainly from Robin.
The boy wonder, now wearing his tank top muscle shirt and his workout shorts and still having his athletic shoes, dumped the borrowed cloths off to the side of the door and proceeded to the middle of the couch with the Tamaranean Princess, now wearing her pink long-sleeve T-shirt with her semi-fitted sweatpants, but she wasn't wearing her sandals, now bare-footed, having to change her footwear into something warmer, in tow.
Robin crossed his arms after taking a seat near the middle of couch, "To sum it up, Terrible." Cyborg, leaning forward and putting his elbows on the top of his legs with his hands together to support his head, spoke up, "Well, that's one way of puttin' it." Starfire, after taking a seat in between Raven and Robin, leaned onto Robin's left side and layed her head onto his shoulder and closing her eyes while gently prying his left arm free with her right and interlocking their fingers and laying her legs across Robin's lap without her usual cheerful expression apparent on her face.
The pale empath raised an eyebrow, "Oh," She lowered her book from her face to her lap, "Then what went wrong?"
The leader of the Titans was about to explain when they heard the sound of soft snoring. The three Titans that were awake brought their attention to the slumbering princess in the boy wonder's lap. Robin's face took on a small smile upon looking at Starfire's face.
Cyborg had a slight grin apparent on his, "You two go on to bed. I'll explain everything to Raven." He said leaning back against the back rest and bringing up his right forearm, "I got ten minutes 'fore I have to recharge."
Robin nodded, then gently pried loose his left hand and placed it on Starfire's back and placed his right under her knees and proceeded to stand while carrying her bridal style. "Yeah, but one of you two explain it to Beast Boy." He then proceeded to walk toward the common room door, but stopped half-way to it and glanced over his shoulder, "And Raven, when you and Beast Boy leave, be careful. We don't know if the gangs around the city are planning something or not." When he glanced over his shoulder, he noticed something, "Hey, where's your cloak?"
The aforementioned empath turned her face away from the Titans leader, "It was warm in the Tower. So I left it in my room." She said, a blush becoming evident. She couldn't tell them the real reason now could she?
Though Robin couldn't see it, Cyborg saw it. Ohh, that's why. He thought with a cheesy grin on his face. Raven just lied.
That answer was enough for the boy wonder as he made his leave through the common room door.
Raven turned her attention to her half-robot friend when Robin exited the room, "What happened?" She asked, her blush fading.
Cyborg, letting his grin subside, brought his vision to the half-demon in front of him, "That's just it. Nothing happened." The pale-skinned empath rose an eyebrow. "Yep, it's as crazy as it sounds." He said raising his shoulders as if saying he didn't know.
Raven, though her face didn't show it, was confused on the matter, "What do you mean nothing happened?"
Cyborg cupped his chin in thought, "Well, before, like any other night patrol, we would come across any criminal of any kind," He placed his hand on the armrest, "I mean, we would round a corner and there'd be one, but, we barely even came across a pickpocket last night." The violet-eyed young woman gave the robotic man a look. "Now don't get me wrong, I like a peaceful city just like any other person, but it doesn't feel right, y'know." He sat there in thought for a few seconds, "It's like someone beats us to every bust."
Raven processed every word that left Cyborg's mouth, especially the last few, "Mmm, you don't say." She said closing her book and laying it on the table, so much for reading..., then proceeded to the computer terminal sitting just below where the huge T.V. is located, and took a seat there. "How much longer can you go before you need to recharge?"
The tin man rose one of his forearms so he could see the built-in screen, "Let's see, 'bout seven more minutes. Why?" He asked looking back over to the half-demon pushing a few buttons.
Without taking her eyes off of the tiny screen that was in front of her, "I believe I know who that 'someone' is." Pressing one final button, the T.V. that served as a window turned on and showed the footage from a security camera during the gang and police shootout this morning, then she pressed another that made the footage pause onto the figure that just showed up with his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
The metal man rose from his seat and walked over to stand behind the monotoned girl while trying to figure out who this person was. He ran a mental check on all the Titans and Honorary Titans, but none of them matched. "Raven, who's that?"
"That's what I want to know." She answered back.
Now that Raven had the video footage paused, the two titans could get a better look at their new possible friend. From what they could tell the figure was near six foot in height and from the way his unbuttoned muscle shirt was, you could plainly see a body that had a medium build that would make girls do double takes to see if what they were seeing was actually there. And upon closer inspection, one could see numerous scars on his arms and upper body and, with him wearing shorts, one could also see his well-toned calves.
Cyborg, after taking several seconds to analyze the footage, spoke up, "Real ladies man, huh." He said with chuckle and lowering his vision to the half-demon. Raven looked up to the tin man and raised an eyebrow. "Right...so, you have any idea who he is?"
The pale-skinned empath closed her eyes to think, "Well, the media has been calling someone very close to his stature the 'Nightwatcher'."
"Wait, 'Nightwatcher'. You mean the dude that helped us when we went on vacation?"
"Yes," She said bringing her vision to the giant wide screen television, "That would be the one. Millions of people have said that they have taken pictures of the 'Nightwatcher', but they were fake. Then some anonymous donor got him on video saving people from a burning building that was being broadcasted live. So people knew that it wasn't doctored."
"Mmm, if that video's in our memory bank, I can pull it up and pause it on his face and do a facial recognition to see if he's the real deal." He said searching through their databank. "How's that sound?"
"How long would it take? I know you'll need to recharge soon."
"No worries, it'll take maybe a minute." He said coming across a folder that met the requirements, "Found it. Now to search the video." After a few seconds he found what he needed. "Alright, running facial recognition." And, close to what Cyborg had said, a minute went by, "That's him alright. Though what gets me is that in the video, he has burn wounds that wouldn't go away anytime soon and in the camera footage, he has none, apart from his scars."
"Do you think he received those scars from the fire?"
"No, from the amateur video, he also has those scars. He must of got them from an earlier time." He said bringing up an arm to see the screen on it. "Well, that's 'bout all I can do for now. I'd best be gettin' on to bed." Turning on his heel, he started toward the door.
"Okay, Thanks for your help."
"Don't mention it. Oh, don't forget to tell BB 'bout what I told you and stay on your toes when you go out. We don't know what the gangs are planning." He was just about to exit through the door when he stopped and looked back to the young woman, "Oh, and one more thing, I know you told a little white lie to Robin about your cloak."
Raven, at hearing this, turned red and looked back at the door, but it was too late. Cyborg already left.
A few seconds later, the green-skinned young man known as Beast Boy came through the common room door finally fully dressed in his uniform, a grin still present on his face, which made Raven wonder if Cyborg told him that she lied to the Titans leader. "Hey Raven," He then noticed her face, "Why's your face red?" Guess not.
"It's...still a little warm." She responded, her face still having the hint of red, turning the swivel chair back to the T.V. screen.
"Oh," He turned his head to the left and saw two piles of cloths laying on the floor, "Hey Rae, who's cloths are these?" He asked pointing to the pieces of clothing.
"Those would be Robin's and Starfire's cloths from their patrol." She answered.
"They're back," The green changeling said as a grin captured his face, "Where's Cy? I was wantin' to play a game with him before we go on patrol."
"He had to recharge, but Robin and Cyborg told me to explain what happened on their night patrol."
"Oh," Beast Boy said with some disappointment in his voice, not from being told something, but from hearing that Cyborg already went to bed, but that didn't last long, "So, what did they say?"
"They basicly said for us to be cautious when we go on patrol." She said turning back around in the swivel chair after her face returned to its rightful color.
"They did? Don't they say that every time?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.
"They do," Then a small smirk appeared on her lips, "But that's only directed to you."
"Oh c'mon, I'm always careful." The pale-skinned empath in front of him raised an eyebrow. "Okay, most of the time." She kept it raised. "Alright, alright, some of the time." He finally said, his face, somewhat, in a pout. "So, did they say anything else?"
"Yes, Cyborg said that while they were on patrol, they scarcely came across any kind of criminal including gang members. And we have reason to believe that the gangs are planning something, we just don't know when they will execute it." She finished, letting what she said sink into the shape-shifter's skull.
Beast Boy closed his eyes for a moment, while cupping his chin with his right hand. He then looked up at the screen with two still pictures of the lone swordsman from before, his face went from thoughtful to one of excitement, "Is that the new hero?" His face bearing its trademark grin, waltzing up beside the half-demon.
Raven rolled her eyes at how his mind worked. He can be told something that involved danger, and he'd think of something else entirely. "Yes, that's him. Cyborg checked the databank for anyone matching him, but didn't find anything." She said, deciding to turn back to the screen. "For all we know, he could be working for one of the gangs."
"He did, huh," Beast Boy focused on the still paused video footage of the building fire and decided to play it back. He reached down and pushed a button to what he guessed started the video over. The paused video that was half the screen overlapped the camera footage and started playing again.
The violet-eyed girl beside him watched his actions and decided to ask, "What are you doing?"
The green-skinned boy turned his vision down to her with his contagious grin still present, "Proving a point." He replied simply.
The video soon showed firefighters arriving at the scene, along with police keeping people back for their own safety and news crews. The firefighters soon jumped into action, attaching their hoses to nearby fire hydrants, and some trying to come up with a plan to get the trapped people out and keep everyone alive. Three of the ten firefighters started approaching the front door of the four story office building, when the entrance collapsed on itself. Screams could be heard along with gasps and shouts from the authorities for the pedestrians to get back, while firefighters with hoses dosed the adjacent buildings with water to stead the spread of the fire to them, just because it was cold out doesn't mean that will stop it from spreading. But with the front door gone, the only other way inside was on the other side of the building. They didn't have time to move to the opposite side of the burning structure, every second counts when saving someone from burning to death. The three that were closest to the entryway approached the collapsed door only to be puzzled on what to do next. One of the three tried chopping his way through, but the rubble was to thick to hack away with an ax. They looked at each as if saying 'Now what?'. Then someone seemingly appeared out of nowhere making what little snow that wasn't melted fly in the air before having gravity take hold with his back turned to them.
With his hands in his pockets, he looked at the collapsed doorway entry with the same face as he was helping the police with the firefight, then glanced behind him, his deep blue eyes showing concern, "Need a hand?" Was all he asked.
The three firefighters looked at each again, the middle one nodded his head, "Yes, can you clear the entrance?" His voice slightly muffled from his mask protecting his face.
The mysterious figure nodded in return and faced back in front of him. He took his right hand out of his pocket and placed it on the hilt of his sword, with a pull, the silver colored blade breathed the air once more and then slashing in a X formation faster than the eyes could see, the rubble split into quarter-sized pieces falling to the side. He then proceeded to sheath his sword and glanced behind him again, "See ya inside." With that he disappeared from view.
Beast Boy stopped the footage and looked down at the empath with an ever knowing grin plastered on his face.
Raven looked up at the grinning boy beside her, knowing full well what that grin meant. "Point taken, but I still don't trust him." She said, her voice stoic, with her arms and legs crossed.
The shape-shifter gave a chuckle, "Ya just have to get to know him. That's all." He then grabbed his communicator from his belt and flipped it open. "Well, it's a little past eight," He looked up from the device to the young woman, "Ya wanna go on patrol?"
The pale-skinned girl gave it some thought, "...fine, I'll meet you on the roof." She said as lifted herself off the swivel chair and toward the common room door back to her room to retrieve her cloak.
"Sure thing." the changeling replied, looking up at the big screen, then departing for the roof with a grin.
Else Where...
The lone figure that Beast Boy has come to call a friend was walking down the sidewalk with his sword and traveler's bag in tow, pedestrians passing him gave him a second glance as he went by because here it is around freezing and all this person was wearing was a muscle shirt, that was unbuttoned, and shorts, but he more or less paid them no aid. He cocked his head up to the sky, Hmm, from the looks of the sun...it's past eight if I'm right. Maybe...I could visit them even though I ain't suppose to be there for another hour. Images of two people entered his mind along with remnants of a third...though he pushed those memories of the third person away for the time being. But, I'm sure they won't- But his thought processes were interrupted when he felt something bump into his chest, his hands reflexively grabbed the area right below the shoulders to stabilize who ever it was that run into him. He lowered his vision from the sky down in front of him and came face-to-face with a beautiful girl. She had long auburn colored hair that went down to her shoulder blades, and with eyes that matched. She was wearing a light blue coat that went down to her waist with a brown scarf, most likely her mother made her wear it, but decided on wearing jeans along with slim brown gloves and winter boots.
Her back was leaning onto him, but she had her head tilted back to see who or what had caught her. He gave a friendly grin, "Mornin'." He caught sight of another girl standing three feet away with her hand covering her mouth and slightly giggling at her friends expense. She was five foot ten inches and had shoulder length brown hair with hazel eyes and had on a pair of glasses that not only made her look smart but cute at the same time. She had on a coat that matched her hair in color and, like her friend, a scarf along with jeans, a pair of gloves and boots. "And mornin' to you too." The young woman that was standing waved while still trying to keep her giggling under control.
The girl that the swordsman caught jumped out of his light grip with her face slightly flustered, either from the cold or by being near him, and stood to her full five foot six inch height, "Oh, I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean t-to bump into you." She had a outspoken voice. It was clear that she wasn't one to get embarrassed all that easily.
"It's alright," He said with a small wave of his hand, still having that grin on his face, "Don't let it bother ya, it's partially my fault too. I need ta watch where I'm goin'." His line of sight then saw what made the girl in front of him trip, though why she was backwards when she hit him he doesn't know. A piece of the sidewalk had been broken, probably by mother nature, and made a half-inch ridge that spanned nearly two feet across the four foot wide sidewalk. The mysterious figure took off his traveler's bag and placed it on his right side while going down to one knee, his heart-shaped locket slightly dangled from his neck, and ran a hand over the ridge. The raised portion was nearest to him while the other portion was as flat as the day the workers poured the concrete. Nuttin' a little elbow grease can't fix. He thought, temporarily forgetting about the two young women he came into contact with.
The young women watched what he was doing, and since they were standing pretty close, they saw his scars that littered his torso and his arms, but they were more confused about his actions rather than his appearance, for now anyways, though their curiosity was starting to get the better of them.
The red-head spoke up after a second or two, her curiosity finally getting to her, "Um, aren't you cold?" Her question was powered by her curiosity and basic knowledge that if it's below freezing, you put on something that would keep you warm, but this person was wearing summer wear...in the middle of winter.
"No, not really." He responded, without taking his eyes off the sidewalk. "The cold doesn't really bother me all that much."
"Well, uh," She squatted down next to him, "Do you know why the cold doesn't affect you?" She asked, her friend mimicking her actions by moving to the swordsman's other side to get a better view of what he was doing and to hear his answer.
The other citizens that passed by gave the three teens odd looks but continued on to what they were doing.
He gave it some thought, "...ever since I was little, the cold weather didn't trouble me. So, your guess is as good as mine."
"I wouldn't know what to tell you...sorry." The brunette spoke, her voice soft. It was clear that she was the type that would get embarrassed all to easily.
He chuckled, "You have nothin' to be sorry about. I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, even my parents couldn't explain it." He said with a shrug of his shoulders then placed his hand back on the ridge.
The red-head noticed his hand, "Hey, uh, can I ask you something else?"
"Shoot."
"Um, what...exactly are you doing?" She asked.
He gave a chuckle and turned his head to face her, "I'm about to fix this so no one else trips over it." He answered.
The red-head, along with her friend, had puzzled looks upon their faces. "You're going to fix this?" The swordsman nodded. "How are you going to do that?"
"Like this." He placed both his hands on the two foot long ridge and, without using a fraction of his true strength, applied enough downward force to counteract mother nature and make that part of city shake for a few seconds causing the people to stumble and grab onto something solid. "Oops." He looked around to see the citizens search about almost franticly trying to find the cause, then realizing that there is nothing there. "Hmm, may have over done it just a little bit." It was then he felt something holding onto his arms. He lowered his vision and saw the red-head and the brunette each holding onto one of his upper appendages. "Sorry 'bout that. Don't know my own strength sometimes."
The two girls opened their eyes and looked at each other and then at what they grabbed to keep from falling. As soon as their eyes saw what they seized, they immediately released him. Both looking away with reddish hues upon their faces. He chuckled at their actions.
He ran a hand over where the ridge used to be. "There, good as new." He said, grabbing his traveler's bag as he stood to his full height and placed the strap on his left shoulder letting the bag rest on his right hip and then placed his hands in his pockets. "For now anyways."
The two girls looked down at the repaired sidewalk then at each other, the red tints gone for the time being. The brunette was the first to speak, "H-how did you do that?" She asked, standing up and matching the mystery person in height.
The swordsman gave another chuckle, "Would you believe me if I said it's all in the wrist?"
"No, probably not." The red-head answered, standing back to her full height. "The only people I've seen to be able to do what you just did is the Titans. You're not one of them, are you?"
"'Fraid I ain't one of 'em."
"Then, who are you?" The brunette asked.
"I've been called many things. Some good...others...I'd rather not say, but most people know me as 'Nightwatcher'." He said as he stared into the morning sky. "It might be for the best if you just know me as that." He brought his head down once more, "It's been a pleasure meetin' you two." With that he started walking down the concreted path along side the road.
"Hey, wait!" The red-head shouted. The lone figure stopped six feet away and turned half-way around. "I just wanted to say...thanks...Nightwatcher for...catching me when I fell." Her cheeks a slight red, albeit not from the cold, along with a shy smile.
"Your welcome." He began to turn back around straight, but relaxed and faced the two young girls, "Can I ask y'all somethin'?" They nodded in return. "Where are y'all headed to so early in the mornin'?"
"We were...going to the mall. Our friends are there and there's an early morning sale." The brunette stated.
"I see..." The swordsman brought his traveler's bag in front of him and unzipped it and retrieved something out of it and then zipped it back up. He turned completely around and walked back to the two young women, and held out both of his hands. "Y'all each get one."
The red-head pointed to his right hand, while the brunette pointed to his left hand. "Alright, now each of you hold out a hand." They did. He placed his right hand over the red-head's and his left over the brunette's and opened them simultaneously. The young girls looked in disbelief at what was in each of their hands. A small wad of money that consisted of twenty dollar bills.
The brunette shot her eyes up from her hand to the lone swordsman, "What-why-"
"Consider this," He interrupted, "A early Christmas present from Nightwatcher." He finished, a smile on his face. "Don't worry, I didn't steal the money, my mother gave it to me." He watched them for a second then said, "Take care." He placed his hands in his pockets and turned on his heel and started walking again.
The two girls watched until he was fifteen feet away, then the red-head spoke up, "Th-thank you!" The swordsman's response was a small wave of his hand to signify that he heard her and leaving them to ponder what he had told them about himself and how he managed to repair the sidewalk and shake this part of the city before their eyes and with nothing but his hands no less. They would probably tell their friends, weather or not they believe them, he doesn't know.
Following the lone swordsman, he closed his eyes with his head bent slightly down, again not paying attention on where he's going, with a doleful expression as bad memories and past experiences started filling his mind from his so called childhood, though meeting those two girls brought some hope, and a smile to his face, in his never ending struggle. He was going to protect them and the rest of the citizens of this city from the dark realities that lurk right under their noses. These dark realities he has came into contact with ever since he was seven-years-old.
How many of y'all scrolled down to see the reasons? Well, to begin with, I had surgery back in May and I'm still recovering from it. And my family's having financial problems along with personal. By personal, I mean that my step-dad's really gettin on our nerves. And it's kinda hard to think on writing this when ya don't know where your next meal's coming from. Well...I think that's enough reasons.
If ya liked it: Review, if ya didn't: Review. Take care.