Innocence Can Be Forever

Chapter 7: The Owls Soar

A/N: This chapter was hard to write but I got it done, so here we are, the next chapter that is actually a pretty big moment for future chapters as it triggers events that need to happen if the ending I'm thinking of will turn out the way it should.


I awaken, I feel... warm? I flip over to see Raven holding me while sleeping soundly next to me, shes beautiful, I try not to wake her but she senses me immediately. She opens her violet colored eyes and gazes into my still masked ones, I feel like I should take off my mask, but I don't, I'm still not sure what to do about her even being in here. A boys room is there only sanctuary from the rest of the world where they can do... boy stuff. Although, I'm still not quite sure what 'boy stuff' means, Cyborg and Beast Boy just grow real quiet when I ask and tell me that I'll learn when I'm older. I snap back to present as Raven sits up and lets me go so that I can copy her action and have some more room.

"Richard." She says in monotone, causing me to remember last nights events, god, the Owls will have my head.

I fight the need to yell at the sky for slipping about my ID, I even gave her my middle name! This is surely the dumbest moment in hero/villain history yet. "God... I'm so stupid, sorry Rae."

"Don't be, Richard. You needed to get that off your chest, please, let me tell the team." Raven asks me, its a hard decision, but I know I have to say yes.

I sigh. "Okay... but, be careful, the Owl's will kill you if they find out. I just... I don't want to lose another family."

"You won't, I promise." Raven says to me, I hug her. "Now then, lets get dressed and see the team, okay?"

"Okay." I say, I let Raven choose my cloths for the day, at least I know she won't make me wear a pink dress or anything.

I walk out of my room wearing a red, white and blue Superman hoodie with a Justice League T-shirt underneath. I wear green sweatpants as well to finish the outfit, I smirk to myself, I know all too well that this was Beast Boy's idea. But I disregardful it, after all, I have a feeling that today's gonna be big for me, yet I'm still not sure why. I climb down the stairs and run to the kitchen with Raven floating behind me, I run inside of the room with a wide smile on my face ready to hug Starfire and find out what were going to do today.

My smile disappears just as fast as it appeared.

I stop dead in my tracks as I stare at the larger then life computer screen with fear and worry filling my eyes as a deep rumble of a sickening chuckle fills the room, I put my hand on my chest as I feel a wave of both nausea and fear pass through me in a chill. Are eyes connect, both masked, as we study each other. I feel his questioning brow raise as he takes in my attire, I cover up the symbol but its too late, he grins at my discomfort.

"Hello my little birdie, its been too long." Vulture said in a smooth yet controlled voice.

I feel panic rise in me and clutch Raven's cloak for dear life, I'm so scared. "What do you want, Vulture?" I ask in the most professional voice I can muster in my current panic.

"Why, I just want my little birdie to come back to his nest, or has he forgotten who saved him from that god awful adoption system of the US government?" Vulture stated, not at all fazed by the four teenagers in the room ready to protect me at all costs.

I shiver under that gaze from Vulture, who lets out a chuckle as he sees me shiver in utter fear. "Go away, I have a real family now." I say, ignoring my fear and socking it in the mouth.

"Really, I only see immature teenagers in the room, where's your new mom and dad, Robin?" Vulture asks me.

Cyborg takes a stand, much to my gratitude. "Listen up, Robin's not going anywhere with a freak like you!" He yells, glaring daggers into Vulture.

"My my. Aren't you the protective bunch. But I assure you, Robin will be in the right hands of the Court of Owls in no time." Vulture informs us all, with that, the screen shuts down completely, leaving us all in are own forms of shock.

I'm the most effected I think, I had hoped that the Court of Owls would leave me be seeing as I'm now utterly useless to them all. But no, it seems like the past has a way of catching up with me in the worst yet strangest ways. I never asked to become an orphan and then be kidnapped by a mysterious group of assassins in the middle of the night three days after mama and tati died, but fate decided to screw me over and toss me into all out war. Sigh, whatever, I'll just have to deal with it all and pray for things to get better. But most of all, I'll fight if I have to, however, my body doesn't agree with me at the moment. I clutch my aching belly as pain and cramps shoot through my insides, god, maybe that flu isn't gone yet after all.

Raven stands next to me and gets on her knees to be at my height, she pets my hair affectionately in hopes of calming me. "Dick, are you gonna be okay?"

"I'll be fine, its just... we're about to face the biggest fight of our lives, Raven. And in all honesty, I'm not sure who will win." I whisper, feeling light headed before I plop onto the couch unconscious.


A/N: So here it is. Next update on Wednesday July 31! Please R&R!

~Supercasey.