Raven Roth
"If you two don't get over here now, I WILL TRIPLE TRAINING SESIONS!" Robin roared, pulling along his and Starfires suitcases angrily. Starfire seemed to think it was customary for boys to carry her things, after watching one too many romantic period dramas, where she didn't even understand what anyone was saying. I trudged along behind them both, dragging my own wheel-less suitcase. No one thought to carry mine, probably out of fear. Beastboy and Cyborg dropped the "Men's" magazines back to the gift shop rack with dirty looks aimed at Robins receding figure.
They were both wearing new Holo-rings that Cyborg had spent hours working on after our conversation. He had presented them at dinner, and the boys had been toying with them just to piss us off since then. In terms of style, they were slightly thicker and made of copper and titanium. In terms of technology, they were much more advanced. Instead of one look, like Beastboy's, it had several different looks loaded in for Cyborg to choose from. Beastboys had a few different skin colors in his. One moment Beastboy would be Spanish and Cyborg would be in a sweat suit and then you would turn back around to find Beastboy African and a fully human looking Cyborg in a Tuxedo. They also liked to add annoying accents on, depending how they were feeling at the time.
Right this minute, dragging their sorry asses to the flight terminal, they were in everyday, normal civilian jeans and jacket. Beastboy was Caucasian.
Robin had traded his black mask for a black pair of sunglasses. His jeans were distinctly more expensive and suspiciously faded. Several teenage girls were eying him seductively, but he was too irritated to notice. I noted how he was exactly the same size as Jared, with identical muscle definition.
Starfire was getting the same amount of looks from boys; and men. She was trying out high heels, to Robins delight. Not very big heels true, but bigger than I would dare. Her frilly pink skirt was climbing up her legs precariously, also to his delight. She was also experimenting with leopard print shirts. The effect was disastrous to my sensitive eyes.
"I know you guys don't think being on time is usually important but when there's a plane involved, it's a little different!" Robin continued to rage, trying to gesture but failing miserably due to the heavy bags. The line for the plane ticket checking was non-existent. We were late.
The flight attendant, a blond and bored looking woman, was about to leave. When she saw us her face split into an unconvincing, pageant-winning smile.
"You're only just in time!" she tsked. I imagined if Barbie had a voice, it would sound like this. Robin scanned his blue ticket's barcode on the flat top and carried on into the plane entrance. The plane engines were starting to scream.
Robin had to come back to help Starfire scan hers. She didn't really need it but the bag holding had put him in a chivalrous mood.
I moved forward. The woman flinched like I was going to punch her in the face. She was scared of my hair. I narrowed my eyes and scanned the ticked swiftly. It beeped and I followed the others into the tunnel. The planes roar continued to increase, and a nervous Robin had started to jog.
I quickened my pace too. We stepped the miniscule gap between the open plane cabin door and the stretched gray hallway protruding from the airport terminal. Such a small gap, but still a gap all the same. The air in the cabin was already stale but not yet thin. The aisles already almost full, from what I could see past the curtain bordering the two plane sections. Economy was loud and teeming with people, Business was spacious and calm. Bruce had paid for the first class seats we were now sitting in. Robin up front with Cyborg, their seats almost a foot apart but still considered one aisle. Starfire and Beastboy were behind them. Starfire had already pulled a glossy girls magazine and was flicking through it, folding over the corners of pages she wanted to read more thourily later, jabbering about how she was going to quiz Beastboy soon. I was very excited about listening in to find out what type of boy he was compatible with.
My seat however, was located adjacent to another teenage boy's. A younger one than me, but in America today that meant nothing. His mother and Father were over on the other side of the cabin, a whole row of seats between us so it made it difficult for them to monitor his behavior.
"No." I growled when I saw it. Robin moaned.
"I have no time for this Raven, just sit in the seat." he muttered, watching Starfire stare out to the melting tarmac. This might have worked on her, but he should know better than to try it with me.
"Why can't Starfire sit there?" I hissed, placing my hand firmly on my hip, still standing in the middle of the cabin, being eyed curiously by the boy sitting next to what should be my seat. Curiously, and anticipating.
Robin spared me a sheepish glance. You couldn't really see much of his expression with the glasses, and in place of his usual mask, it was a little unnerving. But also a little tempting. It would be so much easier to whip it off his face than the mask was.
"She's already sitting Raven. It's only a couple of hours, you'll be fine." he muttered, trying to tear his eyes away from my dangerous glare. I intensified it up a few notches.
"Yes. I'm sure that's the only reason." I replied sarcastically. It was a double edged sword. On one hand, we all knew they were going to get together and were extremely bored waiting for it to happen. On the other hand, when they did, it was going to be excruciating to be around them. Right now it was just annoying he was so protective he wouldn't even dream of letting Starfire sit in my place. Robin's neck flushed a shade redder and he didn't reply, but set a determined look on his face.
"I know you don't want to" he said quietly, so no one but I could hear. "But today has got me so irritated that you doing this will be the last straw. If you refuse, when the air hostess asks me if I want coffee, I'll probably snap and kill Beastboy."
"Do I look like I would complain?" I said emotionlessly, loud enough so he could hear. Robin sighed. His face lost the bravado and became pleading.
"Please." he begged in a strained whisper. I narrowed my eyes. I knew Robin well, due to the connection we shared. This was an unusual occurrence for him.
"Fine" I had said in monotone.
My instinct told me I was relatively safe. That particular aspect of my personality usually knew who was trouble and who was not. In co-op with my empathy, I felt sure that the boy was unlikely to be of any danger to me. Still, I trusted barely anyone. Robin was the only person I would trust completely with my life. And that was because we had been inside each others minds. It had even given him empathy towards me, up to a point. But it was a two-way connection, and I had to allow it. It didn't matter particuly to me, with my natural powers.
Right now I was working away at the connection, tearing a tiny hole in the barrier, to let him feel a purified version of my anger. He had no experience with stopping or tuning down the sensation. I burned holes in the back of his cushy, first-class chair with my glare. Robin jumped a little, and I saw that his hand lying casually on the arm-rest clenched spastically. But he took it though, much to my annoyance. As well as being the person who knew me the best, he was also the one with the second best self-control.
"Hi." The/boy/man greeted me hopefully, in a voice much deeper than what was natural. He was trying to seem more mature, but at any moment, I would unwind him.
"Leave me alone." I replied in an emotionlessly dead voice after a small pause. I kept my eyes trained on the tubed lights, made for guiding the passengers down the aisle in darkness.
He stayed silent for the rest of the flight, not daring to use his deep, mature voice even when replying to the air hostesses questions. I used the silence to ponder the upcoming meeting.
Even through my anger, I could feel Robin's nervous acceptance of the information this would reveal. His real name, for example. Maybe he felt that, since I knew it, the rest of the team deserved to know about Richard Grayson.
Batman must also feel we had been together sufficiently long enough to show us his true identity, though I knew that a name meant nothing when the person wouldn't truly show you themselves. I of all people understood that.
This was a big thing, even if a funny man compatible Beastboy, an excited and giddy Starfire and a dozing Cyborg did not realize it.
The plane landed with a stumbling thud onto the tarmac a few hours later, earning a shriek from Starfire and a 'woooohhhoooo!' from the two exuberant boys. Robin stayed silent and passive the whole journey into the new, shinier, larger airport, only yelling at Beastboy once throughout. The sky was slowly darkening, the day drawing to a close, and the clubbers getting ready.
A shiny and tasteful silver Porsche pulled up to the curb. The tinted windows hid the driver, and/or passengers, but the door swung open wide and an middle-aged to elderly man emerged from its deep, clean and new smelling depths. He had white hair, and lined, cheerful yet quiet features. I knew him from Robin's mind.
"Hello Alfred." Robin spoke up, his depressed face etching a grin. I knew his dark thoughts had skittered away for now. The man turned his head and smiled broadly, his thin and crooked mouth stretching into a look of happiness.
"Ah, Master Dick!" he cried warmly, nodding smartly. The others frowned in confusion.
"How are you doing Alf?" Robin asked jauntily as he shrugged his own bag off his shoulder and down his arm until it ended up around his hand. In the same hand he picked up the handle of Starfires bag and walked forward. Alfred took them before anyone could react, with surprising strength for his apparent age.
"I am well, master Dick. But how about you? It is hard to know, when one has not seen you for such a long time" Alfred inquired, walking around the Porsche's body and dropping the bags at his feet . At the end his tone dipped clippingly. The titans stood on the footpath, looking appropriately stunned. Robin had the sense to look a little ashamed. Several people, mostly men of a certain age, were stopping in their track to admire the Porsche's beauty.
"Who the hell is Dick?" Beastboy muttered. No one replied.
"Sorry Alfred." Robin said sincerely, taking initiative and pulling my bag strap from under my curled over fingers. "It's been hard." he added not unhappily. I glared at him but let the chivalrous male part of him dominate and take the bag from my outstretched hand. Alfred nodded.
"Yes. I do understand, as you realize." Alfred said gravely, flicking up the trunk and pushing the bags deep inside its spacious cavern. I noticed he had a faint British clip to his voice, one of someone who had lived in America for many years, but would never give up their little ways. Suddenly, he stood up straight and marched over to us. He inclined his head an inch to Cyborg.
"Master…?" he inquired. Cyborg looked at him like he was going to murder us all. In Jump, no one was ever this polite unless they were insane.
"Just call me Cyborg." he replied slowly, picking his own suitcase up off the ground with ease.
"Master Cyborg." Alfred corrected him with a small smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you." Cyborg nodded unsurely, and then bustled over to the trunk where Robin was stuffing my duffel bag into the gaps. Cyborg quickly grabbed Beastboy's case so he wouldn't have a chance to escape as well. Beastboy stared after him with a slightly betrayed look.
"You must be the lovely miss Starfire." Alfred beamed when he reached her. Then he bent down, taking her hand, and kissed the back of it lightly. Starfire giggled. I smirked. Robin must have let slip something so Alfred knew her name. Or maybe she was just difficult to miss.
"I'm Beastman." Beastboy introduced himself gustily. I rolled my eyes.
"His name is Beastboy, Alfred." Robin cut in, walking back into sight and rolling his eyes with an expression similar to Cyborgs and mine.
I had never seen him so at ease. Gotham and Alfred were familiar territory.
"Master Beastboy, a pleasure to meet you." A Rare thing for people to say when they meet him. Beastboy couldn't help his wide grin when this likable man said such a thing with obvious sincerity that he didn't get often. Beastboy was annoying, but he was family. And Robin's family was Alfred's, it seemed.
Finally he arrived at me. He did the same bow-like bend that he did for Starfire; and kissed my hand the same way. I hadn't expected the same treatment. I had expected him to hover awkwardly for a moment, before ushering everyone into the car.
"Miss Raven I presume? A pleasure to meet you as well. A pleasure to meet all of Robin's team." he stated firmly. I had barley any time to recover from numb surprise, before he did usher us into the car. I felt slightly off-kilter. Usually such a display would leave me feeling violated, but there was something about this man that seemed safe. Like a grandfather who taught you everything you knew, and was always there.
I slipped across the bench-size seat and sat next to the tinted window. It didn't differ from any other windows from the inside, but I took the blatant staring, which seemed to be at me but could not possibly because of the terrible glare I was returning them with, as a sign they must be impossible to see through from the other side. The others sat down beside me, sighing with the same confused expressions. We barley fitted in. Robin took the first seat.
"Who's Dick?" Beastboy asked again. Robin's face turned dark again for a dull moment but it brightened when Alfred started to hum quietly.
"That's my real name." he smirked, enjoying the extreme shock from the others. Starfire smiled brightly and Cyborgs mouth fell open comically.
"What?" Cyborg asked, throwing his hands on the shoulder of his Robins chair.
"Ah yes. Master Richard has informed me you were not aware of the situation. Any of you, am I correct?" Alfred inquired good naturedly, quietly enjoying the reaction as much as Robin was. I shifted uncomfortably in my comfortable leather seat.
"No. I knew." I cut Robin off in a monotone. The others, including Robin, turned to look at me, shock and a hint of accusation in their faces and in the emotion radiating off them into the air. I haven't been paying much attention to blocking them off lately.
"Why did you know Robins identity that is secret?" Starfire asked shrilly, her normal enthusiasm giving way to misguided and adorably naive jealousy.
"Yeah, why'd he tell you not us?" Beastboy asked sullenly, the background scenery changing continuously in the window behind his cocked head. I bristled defensively but kept relatively calm.
"The bond. When it first happened I found out a lot." I replied emotionlessly. Starfire seemed a little happier, and her endless smile returned.
"I didn't know that." Robin frowned, craning his head around the head-rest. I shrugged, not enjoying all the eyes on me, however familiar they were.
"It just didn't come up. And I didn't think it mattered." I went back to looking out the window. The city flashed past smoothly, a testament to the Porsche's handling.
Alfred kept up the conversation, with pleasant little mentioning of Robins time with them. Robin grinned along while the others listened and watched in shock to the strange new side of him we had never glimpsed before.
It was starting to look like everyone had one of those. Robin, a calm family man. Cyborg, Dating a villain. Beastboy, not actually cracking jokes for once. Me, falling in love.
Damn it. I had been going so well.
It was extremely hard to go without thinking of Jared for very long.
All we needed now was a sarcastic Starfire.
Suddenly, the car jolted up over a slightly higher patch of road and accelerated smoothly up a small, grassy but definatly well groomed hill. The sky in Gotham was a gloomy blue-gray, causing all the colors of the flowers dull and lifeless. The only color in the sky was the light orange just above the horizon line, where the sun was setting. Stars would appear very soon. The car cleared the top of the hill and threw the mansion into sharp sight.
It was breathtaking. Simple but grander than any building I had seen sense Azarath. It had the same sense of time, classic style and care, though Azarath looked Greek, while this place looked more British than anything. Robin's smile deepened into his face, something not missed by Alfred, who glanced and looked away a millisecond later, his lips back into the crooked smile he had when he first saw Robin.
The drive way was at least a mile long, made of smooth, jet-black, compressed tarmac. It was hard to spot any indentations or potholes in it, meaning it must be serviced continuously, much like the pristine gardens must be. The property was bordered with large oaks. They stood tall, but were still dwarfed by the sheer magnificence and size of the mansion.
The car tires crunched over the smooth white gravel around a large black marble fountain and halted to a stop directly outside the huge glossy black double-front-doors.
Robin sighed and pushed his car door open, reluctantly leaving its safety. I could fell his anticipation in the chilly and sweet air, the modern and minimalist flowerbed providing most of the scent. The others tried to follow his lead, but I found Alfred had already pulled my door open and held it. I too filed out reluctantly, for a different reason than Robin.
Had something about me changed in the past few weeks that made people think I had to be looked after? Was I losing my edge?
We all walked up the stone steps and up to the doors with heavy hearts full of dread. Meeting the infamous Batman was something we were all anxious about, even those of us who had met him before. Alfred appeared in front of us, despite being behind us and not appearing puffed, nor had I seen him jogging. Like he had butler superpowers.
The inside of the mansion, the foyer, was even more awe-inspiring and amazing than its exterior. Its was expansive and high-roofed, with one large, glittering diamond chandelier dangling from the ceilings center. The wide staircase, made of the same black marble the steps had been, rose up under the chandelier and up to a landing were Bruce Wayne was standing staring down at us, a calculating expression on his face.
The air seemed a few degrees colder when you looked back at him. A survival instinct, a sign that danger was coming. One that people used to feel when they saw me.
Bruce Wayne was wearing a suit made finely, maybe Armani, though he wore no tie. His eyes were stormy and unfathomable, reminding me strangely of Jared, though his dark eyes were not accompanied by a cheeky smile, but a curt grimace. He descended the stairs, taking even, slow and deliberate steps. Robin straightened his back and Alfred moved to the side, to stand by a small podium hosting a gray statuette. I felt the closest person to me, Beastboy, shiver slightly, replying to a spike in nervousness I felt like a jet of ice cold water through my torso. Starfire shifted her weight to her other foot, after tossing her fire-engine red locks unsurely. I stood my ground, eyeing him back just as shrewdly as he was eyeing me. I refused to yield to his cold looks, folding my arms almost defiantly and fixing an indifferent expression on my face, making sure one of my brows was arched.
Bruce smiled indulgently when he reached the last step and I felt the small group shiver collectively this time. I couldn't pretend I wasn't a little uneasy.
"Hello Richard." he said stiffly. I imagined the problems between the two were as present as ever.
"Bruce." Robin replied staunchly. They both extended their hands and they shook a little more warmly than their words implied. Their expressions softened a bit and if they both weren't so proud, I knew there would have been hugging. Alfred smiled in the quiet and warm way he seemed to always do, and left the scene, to turn through a door to his left, without anyone but me, and possibly Bruce noticing.
Bruce surveyed us, his eyes suddenly narrowing and his jaw tense. His arms were pressed tightly to his sides, like he was using supreme self-control.
He looked threatening, like he was trying to figure out the best place to attack.
Purposely, I tapped into my empathy and ripped open the small block I had in place. Jumbled feelings and emotions spun my world round but I kept my focus on Bruce.
To the outside world, nothing had happened.
All the feelings made me feel light-headed and dizzy, but Bruce's emotions were interesting enough to keep me distracted.
He seemed to feel very little, like I imagined I would if anyone else had my talent. What I could pick out was a deep sense of calm and an outlining sense of being on edge. A constant feeling of being on edge, as if danger was around every corner, and in everyone.
"This must be your team." he said coldly, with a small hint of a threat. I wasn't sure who the threat was aimed at. Robin jutted his chin up and nodded curtly. His glasses masked his eyes, but I imagined them defiant.
"The Teen Titans." he said proudly as he did. I felt a swarm of warmth and gratitude to him, for keeping in that pride in the face of Batman. "Cyborg, Starfire, Beastboy and Raven." he pointed us out with a gesture or a nod. Starfire and Beastboy smiled tentatively, and Cyborg had the courage and confidence to shake his hand firmly. I inclined my head sharply, keeping my lips clamped shut and my eyes directly on his. I could tell it unnerved him to have me stare straight back at his dark looks. Obviously it wasn't something that happened often. Robin seemed pleased as well.
"Not really teens anymore." Cyborg corrected him, his eyes smiling and unconcerned. Even his posture, as we all stood awkwardly, was relaxed. "Robby here's almost a legal adult, and I just turned nineteen." he laughed, ruffling up Robins hair. Bruce looked unimpressed.
"I am aware of Richards age." he drawled darkly. I narrowed my eyes and Cyborg fell silent.
"Refreshments?" called Alfred, smiling and walking back into the room smartly. I kept my eyes on Bruce. He faltered in his darkness and turned to Alfred.
"No thank you." he replied much more politely than he had when addressing us. "Dinner will be soon, and I think it would be best to show them their rooms beforehand. And they might want a little rest before Tim and Barbara come home from patrol." he added, suddenly grinning like a maniac.
Robins expression was in between annoyance and happiness. A contradiction.
Alfred nodded warmly.
"If you will follow me." he smiled, and I noted the accent again. He walked up the staircase, and we followed tentatively, Robin bounding up them, very clear of his place in this house, his home.
We cleared the landing, covered in an expansive, deep violet rug. It branched off into two long hallways.
"Masters on the left, Misses on the right. Master Dick of course already knows his room but all of you feel free to take whichever you please, bar the first room on each side, as they are already occupied by master Tim and miss Barbara."
I nodded absentmindedly before noticing the pile of luggage blocking the entrance into the hall.
"How did those get there so fast?" I asked suspiciously. Alfred's light blue eyes twinkled suddenly.
"This staircase is not the only way up here. While you were being introduced to Mr. Wayne, I took the liberty of bringing all of your bags up here, to save Miss the trouble." he bowed slightly and I was left feeling awkward.
"Oh Thank you!" Starfire beamed enthusiastically. "But were they not weightful?" she asked, cocking her head to the side, searching for the right words.
"Not at all madam, dinner will be in precisely one hour." he bowed again and marched back down the stars, smiling mysteriously. Robin watched him go fondly.
"Dude." Beastboy whispered, shaking his head as if to clear it. I agreed.
Without a word, I walked over to my bag and picked it up by the strap. The others followed suit and soon we had all chosen equally beautiful rooms to stay in.
I choose the first one I came to, second from the right. I had to contain my shock when I pushed the door open. It was larger than my room at home, but it had the added impression of space, due to the pale cream walls, and the two bay windows at the opposite end from the door. The corners of the room were painted in black to contrast with the cream. The black matched the beds coverlet, an ink black and feather filled comfort to my tired legs. The curtains were pale gold, which matched the five perfectly stuffed pillows sitting neatly by the headboard, which was made from darkly stained wood paneling. It had a simple dresser, a wardrobe, and a door adjacent to the bed, leading to what I presumed to be the bathroom.
I dumped my bag next to the dresser, and pulled on the door handle to see inside. It was indeed a bathroom, one fit for a huge house, let alone one room. It even had a clawed bathtub.
It also had a shower, one of the ones with jets placed around its walls, instead of a shower head. The sink was made of the same porcelain looking stuff as the bathtub, but with an expansive shinning, spotless mirror attached. I shook my head in disbelief and retreated back to the room.
I sat on the beds comfy edge, but couldn't get relaxed. I was too jumpy. So I stood back up to pace.
As I stood I felt a small bulge in my jeans pocket. I didn't remember putting anything in there. I narrowed my eyes in unreasonable annoyance and dug my hand deep into it, though it was too small to fit all my fingers. My index brushed against something cold and hard. I curled my finger around it and hooked it out, watching in horror as it appeared to be a chain. It was made up of tiny silver links and I kept on pulling until the heavy pendant fell out. I gasped.
It was beautiful. A three dimensional, black, tear drop, glass pendant hung off the chain. It glinted in the light. There was only one person who could have slipped this into my pocket was… Jared. I shook. How did he do this? I surely would have noticed if he showed his hand down my pants and dropped an expensive and beautiful necklace in there. I appraised it. There was a tiny diamond on the tip of the tear drop, sparkling at the link to the chain. He must have given it to me. He must have.
I dropped to the bed heavily, feeling it sink under my weight. I let the necklace slip through my fingers. It's coolness sent shivers up my spine. What was this supposed to mean? I stared at it for a moment longer and then dug my hand into my back pocket for my communicator.
Jared Wilson
Ring, Ring. Ring, Ring. Ring, Ring.
I picked the ringing and vibrating phone and flicked it open. Raven. The caller ID spelled out in big, blue and bold letters.
A large smile spread slowly out on my face. I could see her.
I answered the phone, and the screen lit up with Raven's gorgeous glare.
I had finally read the manual once I had realized if I worked it out, I would be able to see her face on regular occasions.
"Hello Sunshine." I answered brightly. Her glare deepened, her hair out of place like she had just gotten off the plane, though I was sure she hadn't.
"How am I able to see you?" she asked quickly, her glare fading into confusion for a second.
"I read the manual, worked it out." I shrugged, and her face contorted into anger again.
"Can you explain what I found in my pocket just a moment ago?" she inquired malevolently, not bothering to greet me back. I feigned shock.
"I really have no idea." I replied innocently. With a frustrated growl she dipped out of the screen for a moment and returned holding the necklace.
I hadn't stolen it, that was for sure. I knew when or If she found out what I did, she'd be very pissed at being gifted with stolen property. It seemed to mean more this way. I'd been walking past a newly restocked, Jimmy's Ice. but this time they had upgraded their security. Like that could ever thwart me.
It was simple, with a little bit of sparkle, and undeniably beautiful. Like her, I mused.
"Wow. What a pretty piece of jewelry." I offered, still not giving off any signals to whether I knew about it or not.
"Mmmnnn. Very. Forgive me for thinking you've seen it before." she hissed menacingly, shaking it.
"Why would you think that?" I asked, bewildered.
"Because no one but you could have gotten close enough to put it in my pocket." she burst out, before clamping a hand over her mouth and shutting her eyes to regain control. I absolutely hated it when she did that.
Like she wasn't allowed, like she had done something wrong. I could practically hear her thoughts chastising herself for acknowledging her humanity. I was pretty sure even her demonaty was being told off. She seemed to think she was a machine, who only had one function: To be invisible. That wasn't her.
"Fine. I did it. I'm guilty." I offered, wishing she would get angry again so she could have the opportunity to be real. I got what I asked for and her eyes fluttered open in the calm and dangerous demeanor I associated with her buttons being pushed.
"How?" she asked in a hollow, deadly voice. I smiled and her violet eyes narrowed.
"That, my bright spunky ray of Sunshine, is one of my many secrets." I replied soberly, trying to keep a straight face. As usual when I mentioned secrets and she got that adorable sulky and disgusted look on her face, I couldn't stop the hysterical laughter that followed.
It happened. Her lips twisted up angrily and she folded her arms across her beautiful chest. She looked away, like even though no one could see us, she was pretending she didn't know me.
When I didn't stop, she flicked her head back to me in irritation.
"That's not funny!" she said in monotone. I chuckled. "In fact it the least funny thing in the whole fucking universe!" she hissed suddenly.
It was the first truly terrifying thing I had seen her do. Her violet eyes glowed with a reddish tint and her lips curled back over teeth that were suddenly too sharp and too white to be normal. The words she spoke with such emphases were not even loud. But that's part of what made fear rise up and strangle my heart so it skipped a beat.
I could see it happening, her transformation. At least she was being real.
"You're cute when your mad." I said confidently, smiling at her furious face. Her whole demeanor changed again. The growl in her expression died quickly and quietly and her lips relaxed back into their gorgeous state. Her eyes were purple again, and they were shinning with unshed tears of horror.
"I'm sorry." she mumbled, unblinkingly as if I was going to explode if I left her sight. I shrugged.
"What for? Okay, okay, I'll tell you one of my secrets" I put my hands up in mock defeat and leaned closer to my tiny mobile screen. "I swear too sometimes." I whispered.
Raven smiled slightly and let herself blink. She did so five times in quick succession, to make sure the tears would stay where they were. I smiled back reassuringly, whishing I could comfort her.
Well, I might be able to soon.
I looked around the hotel room I was sitting in, killing time before going to eat diner down at the hotel restaurant all by myself. Everything around here was expensive, from the sheets to the robes, to the flat screen. The asshole who had organized this whole thing had left me a note."
Don't steal anything in this room.
That was the downside of being a thief, everyone thought you were going to rip them off. Even Tommy and Ryan always said it when I went over to their houses.
"Stay away from my moms good china Jared, it won't go for much on the black market."
"I got the change in the ashtray counted, so don't even try it man."
I wanted to scowl but Raven would see.
I thought about paying her a little visit, but their was the problem of not knowing where the hell she was. And not knowing who the hell batman was. That would be awkward, if I went to her hotel and batman walked in.
"Oh Azar help me" Raven breathed softly as she examined the necklace with a fearful look. I turned all of my attention to my number one girl.
"Who's Azar? Are you part of a cult I don't know about?" that was another thing I, and Ana of course, were interested in. I mean, I hadn't even really noticed it until she pointed it out.
"Is she a buddhist?"
"I don't know, why?"
"You know, the giant Indian dot thing on her head."
"No. she was just someone I knew a while ago" Raven replied cryptically. I nodded.
"So what's that ruby doing on your head?" I asked curiously. Her finger floated up to her forehead and came to rest on it.
"You mean my charka?" she answered, amused.
"Yeah." I nodded again. Raven sighed.
"It's just something I always had. I don't really need it anymore but… I can't really take it off..." she trailed off. She looked tired.
"Go to bed sunshine. You look like hell" I said, a smile in my voice.
"Thanks."
"You know I don't mean it like that. If you want I can remind you how beautiful you are" I said threateningly.
"Oh Azar please don't."
"Good. Now put the necklace on." I said, pleased with myself. Raven shook her head.
"No." she replied simply. I sighed.
"You are so gorgeous that I can't believe that mere days ago you were in my arms, under my lips and pressed against my mouth. You taste like-" I said enthusiastically, with manic hand gestures.
"No, no, no." she cut me off emotionlessly, after looking dumbfounded for a few moments. I carried on.
"You taste like everything in the world I have ever loved all rolled into one. Your body keeps me awake every night, and your mind keeps me thinking until dawn." I cried grandly, though still sincerely.
"Fine." she mumbled, and in a flash, it was hanging around her neck. She showed the pendant to me, and then dropped it below her t-shirt, so all I could see was the silver chain.
"Lucky necklace" I nodded approvingly, indeed wishing I was in the pendants place, somewhere between Ravens breasts. She narrowed her eyes like she was going to hit me, and crossed her arms like she was displeased the small problem of not being in the same room was going to stop her.
"So you going to bed now?" I asked, sounding much less concerned than I felt inside. Their were dark purple, almost bruise-like shadows under her eyes. Even though these were usual for her, I didn't like how they were more pronounced than I had ever seen.
"Its only seven o'clock." she replied dryly, giving me a disdainful look. "I haven't had diner yet."
I checked my watch, just to be sure. She was right of course. She was always right.
"Fine, but go to bed early." I warned. She rolled her eyes and hung up, the pendant still around her neck and me hoping it would stay there.
I jumped off the bed and got a beer from the chilly min-fridge. No name and his master were paying, so I had no problem with getting drunk tonight. Tomorrow would be a different matter all together.
Batman. It was crazy to rely on someone else to keep him busy. What if I ended up the distraction for someone else? I shook my head and downed some alcohol while looking over my suit. Now was not the time to think about it. The time was before I accepted the job, and I was not ruining my perfect track record and risking all that money because of nerves. I was the best. that's why they hired me. Gotham was a little dirtier than jump, but I could handle any criminals here. I had my skill, I had my suit. I had my technique and now I had a tux.
Luckily a tux was the sort of thing you could wear over a spandex villain costume, except for the mask, which could go in my pocket with the bag. I had no idea how much their was going to be, and I hoped I would only need one trip.
I had my cover ready, it had been with the note when I got here. James Tacher, young colleague and assistant to rich businessman, Terry Rogers, who sadly couldn't come and asked me to represent him. I shuddered to think where Terry was right now that was going to keep him from showing up. Only Raven would be able to recognize me, meaning I could have some fun with her killing time before the heist. But I doubt she would come up and talk with me, considering that would mean her friends would find out.
Raven in a dress. Tomorrow would be a wonderful day.
Raven Roth
We descended the stairs in quiet anticipation. Barbara and Tim? How were they doing?
The archway opened up into a quietly lit dinning area, where Bruce and a young, tall and muscled up teenager sat, in conversation. Robin took his seat on the opposite side of the table from Batman. They looked up.
"Hey Dick." The man smirked, propping his elbows up on the table and using them to cradle his smug face. He was dark haired, like Robin, and just about as good-looking. Starfire blushed heavily when she saw him, a fact not missed by anyone.
"Tim." Robin replied frostily. A pretty, blond and friendly looking woman in her twentys sighed.
"Not this again." she rolled her eyes. Her clothes were a little more formal than mine and Starfire's. Starfires leopard print and my black Sabbath t-shirt were tacky and understated next to her deep crimson blouse, that Beastboy was shiftily trying to gawp down. But Tim was wearing a workout shirt, designed to show off his rippling muscles and what not, so I figured we would be fine. Robin looked at her in surprise, and then stood up from his seat to hug her. Starfires face darkened comically.
"Hey Babs." he grinned. She flicked him on his dark sunglasses and laughed.
"Still hiding your eyes from them? They'll be starting to wonder if your disfigured under there" she teased. It felt like they had a private joke they weren't sharing with us. Tim chuckled and Bruce smiled indulgently.
After much laughter, from them, not us, Robin swung Barbara around so she was facing us. Her eyes did a quick sweep of our group, frequently coming to rest on me and Starfire.
"This is my team." Robin announced proudly, doing all the introductions as quickly as possible, since they'd been overdone today. He reached Starfire, and Barbara's face lit up.
"I'd been wondering which one was Starfire. Good choice." she winked suggestively at him. A dull flush crept up his neck to Tim's immediate delight.
Wait. Good choice? What was her problem? I sent her a sharp glance, and her face fell into shock for a mere second before her mind registered what was happening and returned itself to careful ignorance of my fury. If any one would have any hostility, you would think it would be towards Starfire. But clearly she didn't have any romantic feelings for Robin, she was just his friend. Maybe she was just unique-phobic.
Starfire looked confused, her childish innocence making Barbara coo "aww" like Starfire was a newborn kitten. Robin cleared his throat.
"Yes. Uh yeah, this is Raven." he muttered uncomfortably, sitting down before any more Robin/Starfire could be discussed. Barbara sized me up. I inclined my head, keeping my eyes unblinking and a challenging eyebrow raised. My new necklace was heating up to my skin temperature, an unfamiliar weight on my chest. I liked it, like Jared was with me.
After a moment of silence, I made the first move, sweeping myself into my chair. I settled and folded my hands across the table, giving Robin a look that clearly told him This is your fault.
He managed to look a little sorry, but only a little, too chuffed with his new seat next to his best friend. The others sat, Starfire next to me, still confused. The people at the table had started to converse excitedly, Tim and Robin digging at each other at regular interviews. It was an odd, uneven dynamic and I didn't like it at all. It was such a contrast to the easy discussions that I was used to around the Titan's table, where I knew no one was out to harm or humiliate me.
"Why did new friend Babb say "good choice" ? Is this not what you say when Cyborg buys the tea you approve of?" Starfire whispered in my ear. I sweat dropped as I noticed Barbara take in what we were saying. I shook my head, and turned to Starfire.
If they could all have secrets so could I, even if it was only a mirage.
I cupped my hand around her ear to hide my lips.
"Don't worry about it Starfire, it's just another way of saying she likes you." I muttered back. Starfire noticed the hand and recognized it as a friendly girlfriend thing. When I pulled away she beamed.
It had the desired effect, and Barbara looked put out. I wasn't sure why I felt such an aversion to her, though it seemed mutual.
The double doors that I imagined led to the kitchen flung themselves open and Alfred walked through with a huge platter of pork. Other faceless staff brought in plates covered in vegetables and Alfred had to go back into the kitchen so he could bring out the gravy boat. Finally he took a seat.
"So nice to have the family together." He smiled. Bruce raised his wine glass to him.
"Yes." he agreed thoughtfully, his eyes flicking back and forth. I felt my back tense up, a demonic reaction to feeling threatened.
Internally I gulped. This had never happened before, not so frequently, at least. Little instincts were kicking in, the ones that were more animal than human.
"We haven't been together for so long!" Barbara cried suddenly, overwhelmed. She didn't even put an implications on it, like she could have. My back muscles relaxed cautiously, ready to coil at the first sign of trouble. Robin grinned back and even Tim smiled ruefully.
"Yeah. Its great. Still, it would be better if Dick wasn't here…." he trailed off innocently, turning his head to stare longingly out of the giant, wall-sized window that overlooked a small clearing in the dense garden. It had a stone bench and a tinkling mini-fountain.
"Boys." Bruce interrupted Robins rebuttal sternly, though he looked extremely amused. "We have guests." he added unwillingly, sweeping his hand over the table. Alfred nodded in agreement.
"Really boys, I do hope I taught you better" he said gravly, staring down his nose at them. Then he sighed. Tim looked mockingly abashed.
"They should be used to it right now, living with this tight-ass-"
Bruce cleared his throat menacingly.
"Uh…living with this focused individual." he corrected. "Sorry ma'am's." he nodded, imitating a southern drawl. Starfire beamed.
"Are you from Texas?" she asked excitedly, her emerald eyes shinning. Bruce raised his eyebrows, but I was surprised she put half the question together and came up with Texas. Her knowledge of earth was improving, even if her naivety was not.
Tim looked at me as if to say Is she joking? but I didn't respond, my face impassive.
"Uh no." he muttered quietly, then shut up completely.
"So, any news?" Robin asked, looking pleased Tim had been shut down. Bruce nodded and looked as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.
"Jemal Rusesamunga broke out of Arkham a couple of weeks ago." he said. Robin nodded.
"The psychotic activist?" he asked curiously. All business, even at the dinner table.
"Yes. Delusions of grandeur, paranoia. He thinks its America's fault that his home country is facing such stress. He thinks its his job to bring us to justice." Bruce shook his head. "And speaking of Ethiopia, I've got some information that some scientists researching there are selling out under the table."
"Selling what?" Barbara asked sharply.
"Medicines, maybe diseases." Bruce said dully.
"Why the hell would they sell diseases?" Cyborg cut in. Bruce looked at him.
"So other people who aren't hired for companies can try to cure them and get all the glory and money." Robin answered.
"What diseases are they working on?" Beastboy asked. Again Barbara and Bruce looked upset by the interruption.
"Very rare illnesses. Tropical mostly." Robin answered again.
"Ones that already have cures, but with side effects." Barbara added.
"Like mine?" Beastboy asked, in a much darker tone.
"Possibly." Robin answered evenly.
"So the scientists want money?" Tim cut in, ignoring the sudden tension.
"No, Diamonds. that's what everyone wants isn't it?" Bruce sighed. "The problem is, for them to hand anything over it would have to be a substantial amount, which is why no ones calling them on it and arresting them. No one believes that they could get that amount together." he frowned.
"You look worried." Robin stated, noticing the deeply etched worry lines appear in his forehead. Bruce's expression turned dark.
"I am. Its on top of my list at the moment, and Maybe you should look into it to. Theirs been whispers about why Jemal broke out of prison, and I don't think the fact that the scientists are operating out of his home country is a coincidence. Rusesamunga is a dangerous man with a country to avenge."
"You think this guy wants the strain?" Tim asked curiously.
"Yes, but I can't prove it. I don't see a way for him to get enough money together without him being caught. We have a suspicion he's in New York city but it doesn't make any sense for him to be that close. Nothing he does makes sense. It seems to be completely random, and that's worrying."
"You think he's going set some disease loose on American soil and watch us wither?" I broke in. No one spoke or looked at me.
"Lets eat." Alfred cut in firmly, braking off the strange tension. Barbara and Bruce chuckled, and Cyborg laughed nervously with Robin following his lead. They only did so two or three times, and then broke off to stuff food in their mouths so no one could ask them any questions.
But Bruce did ask questions. That's all he did the entire meal. it seemed he had picked this moment to do it for several reasons. 1. We couldn't exactly run. 2. Barbara and Tim seemed to want the answers almost as much as he did. 3. It was embarrassing us into quick answers when everyone was listening.
He was overstepping the line.
"Your powers are the result of an illness cure?" Bruce asked in a steely and curios voice, almost an accusation. Like this made beastboy untrustworthy.
"Yep. I got bit by a monkey back in Africa and contracted something. My parents gave me an untested cure and it saved me but had side-effects." he stated uncomfortably. We were all uncomfortable. Bruce changed the subject.
"So Beastboy, that is your real name isn't it?" he started off casually. I knew that he knew beastboys real name already. Beastboy almost chocked on his roast potato. He coughed it down hastily and caught his breath.
"Uh, No." he answered, trying to catch Robins eye. He was staring determinedly at the wall, at the same time trying to avoid Alfred frosty but silent and piercing blue eyes. He was obviously displeased with the rude berating of guests.
"What is it then?" Barbara demanded, earning a sharp look from Alfred. He ignored him, his blue eyes set on the team, excluding robin.
The lines were set.
Them.
Us.
In that moment Cyborg, second in command, was our leader. Robin seemed to have nothing to do with us.
"Garfield Logan." Beastboy answered slowly. My fury doubled in intensity and heat. This was beastboys name. It was his secret. Not Bruce Wayne's. It wasn't batman's place to blink and get the key to the universe.
"What abilities do you have?" he pressed, with an expression and demeanor that told everyone he definatly knew that. Why was he pretending to only just take an interest in his sons team? Every hero and villain in the world was probably already categorized in the Dewey decimal system on his computer.
"I can morph into any animal." Beastboy said, and I could see the child he was fading. His height was even more recognizable when he sat up straight to address batman. Good I though in satisfaction.
"Aren't you supposed to be green?" Tim asked conversationally. Beastboy fixed him with a look I knew he must have learnt from me.
"I almost died back in Africa and the cure for the disease had lots of strange side effects." he shrugged, a little of himself coming back with the unconcerned look on his face.
Bruce nodded, and shifted his position, telling me Beastboy was done.
"Cyborg am I correct? The name you were born with?"
Cy wasn't going to take his crap.
"Names Victor stone." he said evenly, with a quick and smug smile in my direction.
He had his Holo-ring on. The way he said Victor Stone with such confidence and security made me think he was Victor again when he was wearing it. The handsome high-school football star who was faster, stronger, better than anyone else.
Untouchable.
Not the big brother I knew, but one I was aware he wished he was again. Being half-machine made him lose a lot of self-esteem. Even though he still was, appearances mattered no matter what anyone said.
Bruce's eyes narrowed a fraction and I noticed his jaw harden. He was acknowledging Cy's potential.
"You look different from the photograph on the database." he accused, scanning him for signs of technology. He by-passed the ring and I felt suddenly triumphant.
"We all do. The photos were taken a couple of years ago, I was only about seventeen." he replied innocently, dodging his questions and making Bruce work for his dinner. "It's not just me who's changed," he added humorously. "Rae's hair is longer and BB's gotten really tall."
Bruce's narrowed eyes relaxed and he nodded thoughtfully, his dark eyes practically drowning in satisfaction at a challenge.
I smirked and tossed my hair over my right shoulder to illustrate Cy's joke. Barbara's smile looked frozen on now, and Tim was snickering in disbelief.
Victor Stone was an obnoxious teenager who didn't listen to authority unless they gave him equal respect. I quite liked him.
"Yes, you've all changed significantly. Its seems you do that a lot. Changing back and forth." Bruce trailed off cryptically. Cyborg frowned and I could feel advantages sliding across the table back into Bruce's hand. I felt unbalanced, and wasn't sure who's emotions I was picking up on.
"Like right now." he continued. "You look extremely like you did in your High school freshman year book photo."
I felt Victor Stone slip away from Cyborg and the anger returned to my chest.
He sought out Cyborgs school photos? That was private. What else did he know, what else did he go looking for? Did he have photo's of his dead mother as well? Was he going to bring her up next?
"Funny how that happens." I let slip icily. Tim's gaze set on me for a moment, but Bruce paid no attention.
"Some new toys." Cyborg said darkly. Bruce's face never changed.
"I thought as much."
"I bet you did." I muttered. Bruce lingered over Cyborg like a vulture and then started on Starfire. I was too busy in the after shock of dark emotions brought on by Cyborgs low-lying insecurity of not being man enough I didn't find this as amusing as I otherwise would have.
Alfred was shooting daggers at Bruce, the only one besides me game enough to do so. I noticed Robin again, staring away from the scene. His body language clearly stated he whished to be somewhere else.
"Starfire?" Bruce questioned carefully, sensing a difference in her. Starfires eyes had to be forcibly wrenched away from Cyborgs down-cast face by sheer will-power. When she did face Batman, it wasn't with her usual enthusiasm.
Still, it was more than anyone else's.
"Koir'ander." she said happily, with big wide eyes, that made them blink in confusion. Bruce cleared his throat.
"So, where are you from?"
"The beautiful planet Tameran" she gushed, flipping a strand of her red hair over and over in her hand. Bruce knew he was getting nowhere. Barbara's face had softened and now she looked delighted that Starfire was so adorable. Tim looked at me again, possibly sensing I was the only sane person in this room. His face clearly said Is she joking now?
I ignored him again, as I saw Robin move in the corner of my eye. He had glanced up, or I thought he had but couldn't quite tell because of his sunglasses. The unbridled fury cut itself loose and I found myself dismantling our bonds barrier manually, purposely. I worked at them, pushing them violently with my mind training. I had been doing this stuff my whole life. What would he do to stop it?
I felt my emotions flush through it, filling up his mind.
Let him see how he liked it.
Robin flinched visibly, and spun around on his seat, his mouth twisted up on itself. Everyone's head found Robin to see what was wrong, and that led them to me, through his line of vision. My eyes were fixed on his face, feeling the fight drain out of me and into his head. I could see the physical effects of this. His forehead shone with sweat and his neck was reddening up, like he had a terrible fever. His fingers were raking through his gravity-defying hair spikes, flattening them down. He clenched his teeth together and rode out the incessant babble, confusion, migraine and dizziness that he would be feeling around about now.
"What are you doing?" Bruce growled in gravelly and low voice I hadn't heard yet. It was dangerous. I didn't move my body externally, but inside my head logic and knowledge were working together to calm me down, and in turn I was knitting the bonds wall back up. It was a gradual thing, not instant, like Batman wanted.
"I asked you what you were doing." he repeated, and several shivers went through the room. I turned to face him- bonds didn't need eye contact- and looked innocent.
"I don't know what your talking about." I said in monotone. It pleased me that there was something he didn't know.
"Don't. lie." he spat. The last portion of the bond clicked back together and I was sealed off from Robin, and he sealed off from me. I arched a cynical brow high and laced my spindly fingers across the wood table.
"I never do." was my reply, soft and unconcerned as could be. Bruce was obviously pissed off by it. He growled in the back of his throat and slammed his body back onto the chair, fixing his black eyes on me.
Inadvertently, my back muscles coiled. Ready to fight, flight or freeze.
"If you ever do it again, you will find yourself very sorry indeed." Bruce threatened quietly, his voice barley above a whisper, but in the same hard and gravelly tones. I snorted.
"Oh definatly." I drawled sarcastically. Cyborg smiled a little and Tim and Barbara looked shocked. Bruce leaned forward.
"You think people are impressed by you?" he asked lightly, changing moods faster than the sped of light. Though his voice was not a shout, his words were malevolent.
"No." I said truthfully. He considered me for a moment.
"Your wrong." he stated finally, and I felt a wave of shock and confusion hit me. Was that a complement? "Everyone should hold healthy fear for the devils daughter."
Definatly not a complement.
The voices in my head started off a whisper, but every voice became louder in quick succession.
Its only logical that Robin would tell him.
Everyone knows. They'll all hate me.
Stupid fucker.
It is of no importance. We must leave it.
If Mr. Wayne got his facts straight he would have known that we are not in fact the devils daughter.
Lets kick his ass!
Yeah bitch!
We deserve to die! Why wont you just kill us?
Lets kick all there asses! Especially Robins!
Can we pretty please reveal Batman's secret identity to the public?
Mmmnnn devils daughter. I like that, it makes us sound hoootttttt.
WERE GOING TO KILL HIM!
On the outside I looked frozen, but I was really just listening. When rage broke in, I put off a conscious effort to quell my emotions.
"Shut up." I muttered to myself, placing a finger at my temple and shaking my head.
"Are all demons schizophrenic?" Bruce asked with interest. "Or is it just you?" the others around the table were just blurry formations to me, I couldn't make heads nor tails of what they were doing, or saying, or thinking, or feeling.
Rage broke free again. I shut her up with an unspoken promise to give her a bit more lee-way later, which I knew I would pay dearly for.
"Do you have an inferiority complex Bruce?" I asked tensely, rubbing my temples with both of my rotating index fingers until the pain ebbed to a dull throb. "Because it seems to me that only a man with something to compensate for would create a big alternative identity like batman."
There. I said it.
But I didn't give him the time to reply with his nasty and probing thoughts on the subject. I slid my chair back with a hollow and resounding scrape and exited the room to silence.
My heavy footsteps echoed and slapped on the hard marble flooring as I hurried up the stairs, taking it three steps at a time, using my speed rather than my height. Once I reached the landing I broke into a sprint.
The door to my room seemed too good to be true, like a mirage in the hot sandy dessert, or a house in the middle of an endless and empty forest. Salvation, praise Azar!
I shoved it roughly with my shoulder, only pausing to nudge it firmly shut again. My hands scrambled to find a lock but came up empty. A closed door would just have to do. The bed was all I was searching for out of all the things in this elegant Room. I collapsed onto it, feeling my body sink as if the mattress were mud. Warm, comfy mud. My face buried into the silky black coverlet, cherishing the quiet places in my head. This was familiar. Hiding in my room.
Really, I had just thrown a teenage worthy tantrum. I hated those, I hated them. Rich brats with everything who still thought they had nothing and made sure the world knew. But that wasn't me. We all knew it. I was just so tired.
Tired of fighting people.
Tired of continuing to be still when I wanted to run.
Tired of muttering in shadows when I was aloud to shout in your face and laugh like a maniac.
So what was stopping me?
I though long and hard and could only come up with pathetic excuses.
Habit? Self-esteem? Hopefully I would know when I hit my epiphany.
I needed to break through expectations and reveal myself.
That was hopeless, I hadn't even discovered my own identity. But when I did I would display it. But only to those I trusted. But then tonight begged the question, who can I trust? A voice I thought was buried surfaced.
No one. When will you finally get that?
Richard Grayson
I flopped down onto my stomach, exhausted. Usually I wouldn't display such a mindless weakness, but I knew I would fall asleep any second, and I would prefer to be in my bed when it happened.
My two best friends in the world hated each other. Even could see some weird female rivalry thing going on between them. And after what Bruce had pulled at dinner I had no idea what to handle it.
Usually I wrote lists, catalogued my observations. I couldn't be bothered picking up a pen and paper, but old habits die hard. My mind was compiling one for me.
Barbara. My best friend while I was growing up in this crazy household, the one who helped me deal with my family's death and Bruce's mood swings. A constant in my life, just like Alfred. She was sweet, and funny. She opened up to me and usually ended up telling me much more than I ever wanted to know. She respected my boundaries - most of the time. We had kept in contact, trading stories and reminiscing, and I was excited about seeing and talking to her face-to-face again.
Raven. My best friend in the Titans, helping me form it and keep the others guys in line. We shared a bond that became more apparent to me every time she used it to tell me how furious she was, a very unpleasant sensation. She was hard to rely on if you were thinking in general friendship terms, but with my life, I would trust her. She was unstable, rude and rocky. You never knew what she was going to say and whether or not it was the truth once she did say it. She was an expert liar, and always respected my boundary's, as long as I extended the same common courtesy. She was ideal and knew what I wanted and when I wanted it, and she picked what she felt was best.
And now they were involved in an estrogen battle. I should have expected this from Barbara. She had heard about the bond and Raven's dad through Bruce and didn't like it one bit. But I think it was the best friends thing that really bothered her.
It was definatly not romantic feelings that was the driving force. Both of those girls would burst out in laughter- even Raven - if I told them I had even considered that. No, it was definatly jealousy.
I furrowed my brow and chucked the dark lenses sunglasses at the floor. I thought those girls were sensible.
I finally left the table, rolling the wight that had been present ever since Raven exited off the room. Babs followed me out, as I headed up the stairs to my room. I ignored her and continued. she caught up with me at the landing.
"I'm tired Babs." I sighed. She frowned and punched me on the arm. It almost hurt.
"Since when did you get tired? You used to be able to stay up all night patrolling - not that Bruce would let you." she laughed. Her teeth were whiter than I remembered.
"Things are different now." I reminded her, leaning up against the hand rail. she lent against it with me, Crossing her arms over her chest.
"Right. You've got your new team now." she poked her tongue out at me and I snickered at the familiarity of the gesture.
"No, but I am too old now." I laughed. She laughed along with me. "What's your problem with Raven by the way?" I asked curiously. Bab's face morphed into a scowl.
"She's obnoxious." she muttered, stareing the other way. I shook my head.
"Thats not it." I said, and her scowl deepened. she straightened up.
"I'm old as well Dick, time for bed." she said simply, and then headed off down the hallway. I shook my head again.
But then I had thought Bruce was sensible too, but it looked like being alone all these years had finally gotten to him and he now had a death wish. Harassing Raven? Bad idea.
I wasn't sure who for, just that a lot of people would pay to see it.
Batman was notorious for being mysterious and easily able to disable his opponents.
Bruce Wayne was notorious for being charming, catching people off guard and always coming up on top.
Raven was known for being unreachable, distant, cold and strong.
Demonic Raven wasn't known for anything, because we hadn't seen the full extent of it yet, only that we knew it was supposed to be the end of the world.
So in a battle, who would win? A man so unreal it was hard to believe he was human, or a girl who wasn't really human at all?
There I go again, compiling a list for a scenario that would never happen.
I rubbed the heels of my palm down my face, pulling down the skin. Tomorrow was the ball, and I needed to get some sleep if I hoped to deal with the shouts of "Look! Its Richard Grayson!"
I had breathed a sigh of relieve when I had been accepted as Robin and only Robin. Juggling two different people tore you apart. I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be, I couldn't manage it the way Bruce seemed to, switching back and forth between himself and Batman. None of us were sure where Batman started and Bruce Wayne began anymore and I didn't want to end up the same way.
So tomorrow I would have to be Dick, not Robin. I hated having multiple personas.
One of the hazards of this job, you had to switch on serious and turn off your own feelings in the blink of an eye. It was just a rule of being a hero.
Before when Bruce was in inquisition mode, questioning , my team I had to do that. Inside I was furious. How dare he act like I was just the sidekick again! I was trying to stop an argument but maybe I should have just jumped in, it would have stopped him chewing up Cyborg and pissing off Raven. And now they all thought I didn't care.
I did! I just knew that if I looked at them or opened my mouth to speak I would have lost it. I wanted to keep things civil for tomorrow, prove to him once and for all that I could handle things.
I turned over onto my side and glared at the dark wall of my once bedroom.
Finding your true identity was supposed to be hard, but I had a feeling this was more than just your average teen angst.
