A/N There were two chapters posted today.
Chapter 7.
After the initial, "OMG IT'S SLADE" panic moment, I went into detective mode, something I really should have done a lot sooner. I hit the database on the computer, running a search for all criminals and/or heroes and/or civilians who had the ability to influence minds and/or infiltrate dreams. While that was running, I picked up few copies of some dream books.
I thought about talking to Raven. Pride kept me from doing so. Starfire couldn't help. Cyborg would tease me about the dreams, even if it was about Raven. And Beast Boy's relationship with Raven was so new, I didn't want to ruin it.
I had many thoughts running through my head and there was one particular one which worried me. See, these dreams, they're what made me wake up and crush on Raven, but were they the reason behind the crush? There certainly was a foundation for the crush to begin with, but did it build upon feelings that already exist, or did the dreams create said feelings?
I couldn't answer that question. I wasn't sure if I wanted an answer, really. I wasn't ready to admit that the crush might be crossing over into forbidden territory.
I worried too. If these dreams were the reason I was falling for Raven, or even if they weren't, Raven didn't reciprocate. And she could have those sorts of feelings because she'd never accept a date from Beast Boy if the potential wasn't there. She wouldn't hurt him or lead him on, and while I honestly hoped she wouldn't do that to me either, there was a certain kiss that stayed foremost in my mind.
I sighed. There was no point dwelling. I opened one of the books I brought and began to read.
I never quite realised there were so many different sorts of dreams. Lucid dreams, progressive dreams, nightmares, epic dreaming, there was something called mutual dreaming.
While the search was running, I made myself an expert on dreams. There were a few things that jumped out at me while I was reading, in particular about erotic dreams.
"If a person has a high degree of repression, the person's fears and anxieties may be expressed through their dreams. Similarly the person's desire for greater fulfilment may be expressed in erotic dreams. If the sexual repression is severe, the dreams may be filled with sexual situations that the person would find shocking, embarrassing, or confusing. In such cases, there is often a big difference between the person's waking sexuality and the sexuality displayed in dreams. The person's day-to-day life may be emotionally sterile and sensually barren, but the dream life is full of eroticism and steamy sexual encounters. By paying attention to your dreams you can learn about your needs and desires and perhaps discover ways to make your life more sensual if necessary."
Great, so I was sexually repressed. Yay me.
"Your sexual dreams may also reveal things about the way you feel about your relationships and your shared sexual behaviour. As was explained in the section about Freud, dreams can sometimes disguise sexual subjects and wrap the naked truth in all manner of symbolism. Explicit sexual images may appear in dreams. For example, should you dream of having sex with a member of your family or someone completely inappropriate, it does not necessarily mean that you have a mixed-up sexuality. Psychologists point out that this type of dream can be a symbolic message about your relationship with these people. You may worry that you have these illicit feelings, but dreams of this nature are comparatively common. There's no need to panic. Don't read too much into them."
Oookay.
"Erotic dreams usually occur at times when you need a certain amount of release from tension. They are a safety valve that lets out your pent-up frustrations and sexual inhibitions. They may compensate for your unfulfilled sex. People who have balanced and happy sex lives in their waking life do not, as a general rule, dream about sex. As far as we know, the primary functions of dreams are to maintain sleep and prevent the brain from emotionally overheating. Dreams therefore are often concerned with resolving problems and restoring emotional equilibrium. If sexual issues are important to you or have been pushed out of your waking consciousness, your dreams will try to deal with these unresolved issues. Even nightmares can be therapeutic, as they draw to your attention many of the hidden fears that may be preventing you from moving forward. Pay attention to your dreams and nightmares; they may hold the keys to your happiness."
Great, that created more questions than it answered. I was a sexually repressed, unfulfilled, in a symbolic relationship, had unresolved issues and held the key to my own happiness. I should just jerk off more and things would go back to normal.
I sighed. Bet this guy never had reoccurring sexual dreams. I bet he never had anyone like Raven in his life either to have dreams about.
But it did help me understand some of the scope of the dreams I've been having. Now, I just needed to know if the dreams were planted or not.
I continued to read, waiting for the computer to blip. When it did, I marked my place in the book I was reading, took my feet of the desk and turned my attention to the computer screen.
Batman ran his databases in a program similar to Dos Prompt, you know, the program really old computers used to run before Mac released the interface. Old school, yes (and I used to tease Batman about that) but it's a lot more sophisticated and the power behind it was enormous. There were newer databases around but I liked the feel of this one. It made you think about what you were asking for, it made you refine your own searches, it helped sort things out in your own head. Rather than scrolling through pages and pages of images and sorting options, it gave you everything in text, and in text it's much easier to find patterns. Not to mention, it had links to every single police database and Justice League database there was. Score one for Batman.
Don't tell him that.
The black screen held a single line of information. Database compilation complete. 157 results.
=Sort: Known affiliates: Titans, Justice League, Batman, Green Lantern Corps, and/or Classification: Hero
Sorted. 23 results.
I scanned through the results, unsurprised by Raven's name at the head of the list. J'onn was also there, but I doubted he'd be the one sending sexual dreams. That would just be weird. None of the other names jumped out at me, most of them I knew by reputation alone.
I sighed.
=Disregard subjects in current sort from main search.
Sorted. 134 results.
=Sort: Known activities: Criminal.
Sorted. 62 results.
=Sort: Current Location: Unknown or Jump City.
Sorted. 26 Results.
I scanned through the new results and chewed my lip. I didn't recognise any of them.
=Sort: Police Database: Recent activity pattern match.
Sorted. No results.
=Sort: Unsolved cases: Activity pattern match.
Sorted. No results.
Okay, so that meant whoever it was either they hadn't been reported, hadn't been doing it for long, or was only targeting me.
Because it was a long shot, and really I only wanted to discard that particular thread of thought before I got too obsessed over it, I typed:
=Sort: Known affiliates: Slade.
Sorted. 1 Match.
I rocked back on my chair, stunned. I really hadn't expected that to come up. Shite.
=Show record.
Name: Dream Catcher.
Birth name: Penelope Tagan.
Status: Retired.
Location: Unknown.
Activity: March 1981 – Bank robbery. Gassed all customers and workers. Coerced vault code from Manager in dream state, forced Manager to empty.
June 1981 – Jewellery heist –
I skipped through her criminal record, what I really wanted to know what her powers.
Captured: Batman, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern. January 1981
Wow. They really went all out for this one in the days when they didn't work together often. Interesting.
Status: Paroled from Arkam Asylum 1989, no further infractions recorded. Released with neuron inhibitor.
Powers: Record locked.
The screen made a funny blip, like it had lost power for a fraction of a second. I sighed in response and put my fingers on the keyboard.
=Hello Bruce.
Dick. Why are you retrieving this record?
I shook my head. Nosy bastard. Things weren't right between us; they hadn't been right since I left to lead the Titans, mainly because he refused to see that I was a capable hero and not just a sidekick anymore. He still had this stupid notion I needed protecting.
=Possibility of activity in area.
Subject has been inactive for many years. State reasons.
=Get out of my business.
I see.
=Do you? Really? Get off the line then. I have work to do.
Neural inhibitor in place. Monitoring system states functionality normal. State reason for pursuit.
=Subject record and inhibitor code please.
Reason for pursuit. Have you been having nightmares?
I sighed heartily. He wasn't going to let me get away without an explanation. Anyone would think I hadn't been out on my own for years now.
=You could call them that.
The cursor blinked at me for a moment.
Dick, are you having sex dreams?
Oh, shit. He's too damn perceptive for his own good.
=Don't go there.
They're a normal bodily function.
=I'm not doing this with you.
My boy's finally becoming a man.
=Quit it! Record and code please.
No.
Gah! I tossed up my hands in frustration. The man's insufferable! Cut me a little slack! He's having a good old laugh at my expense; I can just see the smirk on his face. I half expected the sex talk to come up next, something I did so not want to have with him, so I quickly refocused his attention.
=Dreams becoming consistently worse and frequency increasing. Possibility high of transference to teammates.
The cursor blinked at me for a long time. I was beginning to think Bruce had left.
Dick, don't after Dream Catcher. She's dangerous.
=Not planning on taking her on. I'll just check the inhibitor. She may have found a way to circumvent it, or the technology is outdated. Inhibitor implemented 1989.
More silence. Batman would never give me the codes, but Bruce just might. Bruce did alright as a father. Sometimes.
=Please. I'll be careful.
This is really bothering you.
=Yes.
Even more silence. I waited patiently.
Transferring record and code. Take back up.
Well, surprise, surprise. I hadn't really expected that to work, hacking the Batcomputer would be harder if Bruce knew I was going to, but it's wasn't impossible. This way was easier. It kind of made me feel warm too, just a little. He trusted me.
=Thank you.
Dick.
=Yes?
Check in when you're done.
Okay, so he trusted me, but not that much. The screen flashed again and I was looking at Dream Catcher's complete file.
Powers: Ability to manipulate thought patterns involved within the dream state, including but not limited to implanting thoughts into the subconscious. Specialises in nightmares. Leaves a signature imprint, an inconspicuous dream catcher. Dream can be disrupted by destroying dream catcher within dream. Has ability to keep a subject in a dream state indefinitely. Maybe have the ability to induce sleep, unproven.
Extremely dangerous.
Current location: Tracking location through inhibitor. One moment please…
I smiled as I looked at the address. Time to get some answers. I printed the address, slipped it in my belt and headed for the garage.
Little did I know there was someone following me.
Okay, so I said that for dramatic effect. Of course I knew there was someone following me. Seems like it was time for Beast Boy and I to have another talk.
I leant against the R-Cycle, crossed my arms and my ankles and addressed the lizard slinking around the roof. "What's up?"
The lizard slunk down the wall and shifted into Beast Boy. "Hey," he said, embarrassed to have been caught.
"Hi, what's up?" I repeated.
He approached me cautiously, looking concerned. "Dude, you've been like zombiefied all week. Is it 'coz of me and Raven?"
I shook my head. "No. I've been working on a case." And that had taken my mind of what was happening with Beast Boy and Raven, thanks so much for reminding me.
"Oh." That had surprised him.
I gauged his expression. "Did you want me to be upset about you and Raven?"
Beast Boy shrugged. "Dunno." He fell silent, looking at the ground and shuffling his feet.
"Beast Boy, I have an appointment," I said. "Did you need something?"
He took a deep breath. "While we were out at the movies, I saw that girl again. You know, the one who says she's not Terra."
I sighed. "Not this again. Beast Boy, if she says she's not Terra, then she isn't—"
Beast Boy shook his head. "Nah, dude, just listen. See, I didn't feel anything for the girl, herself, but it did make me remember all the fun and silly things I did with Terra. And it made me think… Raven's not ever going to do any of that. She's not like that and really, I don't expect her too. That'd be asking her to change for me, and what drew me to her was herself. But, like, being with Raven's hard work, too."
I frowned at him. "It's not fair to compare Raven to Terra. They're completely different."
"I know," he replied. "But, it's like I'm overcompensating for her… what's the word… Raven-ness. I come back from being with her and I'm exhausted. Shouldn't dating someone be fun?"
"Well, yes, it should. What are you getting at?"
"I dunno," Beast Boy sighed. "I just wanted someone to talk to."
"Raven's worth the time and effort, she's worth someone who's willing to put in that effort."
"I know, dude, I know. I'm trying. Maybe I'm just not ready for this yet."
"Maybe. But you never know unless you try. I bet it'll get easier. You'll find your stride."
Beast Boy nodded. "Raven's special," he said. "I wanna make it work."
"Then you will," I replied.
"That's not all, though, dude."
"What else?"
"Sometimes… I feel like she's only going with me 'coz she's running from someone else."
I raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Beast Boy dropped his eyes. "Dunno."
"Raven wouldn't hurt you like that. If she was interested in someone else, she'd never have said yes to you."
"You think so?" He looked hopeful.
"It's Raven, Beast Boy," I said and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know so. She chose you. Man up."
He laughed at that.
I grabbed my helmet and put it on. "Was there anything else? I need to go."
"Nah, dude. Thanks."
"No trouble," I said and threw my leg over the R-Cycle. I started the engine and revved her once. I love my bike. I thought about Batman's warning and considered getting Beast Boy to check in with me in an hour or two, and decided against it.
Worst decision I've ever made.
Cite: 'Fantasy Dreaming' by Craig Hamilton-Parker for the erotic dream section.
Formatting this one was a pain. Please let me know if the computer conversation isn't clear. I used = for Robin's typing, the original character I used (the arrow key above fullstop) wouldn't transfer to FFnet.
