FIC: Phantom Raven (9/?)

The Phantom Raven

By Erin Griffin

Rating: For now, PG

Pairing: Helena/ Gabby cuddliness

Disclaimer: I wish I did, but I don't own the Birds of Prey (otherwise there would be major subtext in every episode, heh heh heh heh heh...)

Summery: Born a Meta human herself, Gabby Andrews struggles to make sense of her gifts as she tries to make it in the real word. When a conversation is overheard, she is forced to put on a mask to hide her face as she goes out to save the day. She meets Huntress and a romantic adventure begins.

Author's Note: Dedicated as Always to Angel. Love ya' baby. This is a special gift to Dallas. Don't worry, Strapz is coming soon, I promise. That being said, please enjoy the story. I am sorry if these chapters seem short. (They seemed short even as I was writing them out.)

Thank you Rain. Big Hugs

Chapter 9

My revelation about Helena made me semi-paranoid as to whether or not she's figured out about me as the Phantom Raven... though thinking over the past few weeks, I have been thinking about dropping the Phantom part of my name, since everyone seems to like calling me Raven. If Helena did know about my true identity, she didn't let on that Saturday night when she came to my apartment and walked with me to the cab, where she opened the door for me. Something was off about her, though. She seemed as if her mind wasn't fully on the date, which I sort of understood, but it started to make me feel as if they (Helena and Dinah, who I'm starting to think is Canary) were just there undercover, and maybe Helena had only asked me there as a date to 'fit into the atmosphere' of the club as they tried to get to the bottom of the fights in the club. No, something was wrong with that theory. I know for a fact that Dinah wouldn't let Helena do that to me.

As silence thickened in the cab, I wanted to tell her that I am Raven, but I was too scared to tell her. Would she hate me because I turned her down? In all fairness, I had turned down the superhero for the actual person, the woman behind the mask. "So uh... Where's Dinah?" I asked Helena as we made are way (all too slowly in my opinion) to the club. She turned from the window where she stared absently and looked at me before she answered.

"She said she'd meet us at the club. She and Gibson left earlier."

"Oh." I said in barely a whisper.

"You look nice, Gabby." she said, but I didn't answer. In truth, I didn't spend hours in front of the mirrors trying out clothes as I had always thought I would when I thought of Helena asking me out on a date. I had gotten a call during work from Gr'Nadia (which was actually really funny, considering the fact that, come on, it's Gr'Nadia we're talking about) to come down to train, which left me with 45 minutes to catch a ride home, freshen up, and change from the sweater that hid the Raven suit to the black butterfly shirt that hid the Raven suit. I had just added perfume, a thumb ring, and a faerie necklace that I'd gotten from my mother years ago. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, why is Dinah going with us? Not that I don't mind her coming with... It's just... I thought she was straight, and even if this is the only place that would let her in, she doesn't seem the type to just go to a gay/lesbian club because she wants to dance. Knowing Dinah, if she wanted to just dance, she'd pump up the techno station." I rambled. 'Oh kill me now...'

"She would... She's here with Gibson, since this will be his first time going, and he didn't want to check it out alone. Besides, she's hoping to score with a bi guy. I doubt it, but you never know." She repeated what she told me when she asked me to this dance party. I was hoping to get her off guard a little to see if she'd give me another reason for her coming along, but it didn't work.

"Are you?" I didn't mean for that to come from my lips, but it had, and I didn't actually understand what I was asking.

"Am I what?" 'Are you really the Huntress at night, or is my mind playing tricks on me?' My mind shouted.

"Are you bi?" I asked instead.

"Yeah." She said. I nodded in understanding, and then Helena's gaze went back out the window.

Club Rainbow looked packed. Correction: Club Rainbow WAS packed, with a large line to get in. Unfortunately for us, but I guess fortunately for the club owners, DJ Giggles' being on the news had been free advertising for the club. Helena and I got out of the cab and I followed Helena to the front of the line. I didn't hear what she said to the buff female bouncer, but it seemed to be the right thing because she'd let us inside, Helena grabbing my hand as she gently tugging me into the building. Apparently, the NGPD wasn't the only place where Helena had connections. Must come with the job... her other job. I have never been inside the club when other people where in it. I mean, when I had applied for the dish washing job, the only people there were the bartender, one of the 2 or 3 owners of the club, and Jenna, whom was there to talk to the bartender who was a friend of a friend. Looking around then, I saw what seemed like a balcony all around the room that overlooked the main dance floor. Helena seemed to know where she wanted to go, and she dragged me through the crowds of dancing bodies, with me trying not to hit anyone with my 'larger than a purse but smaller with a backpack' bag, which I carried everywhere now a days. Where I was to put it, I didn't know, but I had to bring my Raven costume with me (well the tools and the mask). We went up the stairs to this balcony and we watched people dancing for a while. When no one was looking, I gently tossed my bag in a darkened corner, hoping no one will take it. I knew I was being somewhat careless and totally risky with my costume, but I had no other choice at that time. After a while I was trying to spot Dinah, which was harder than a Where's Waldo book... Hey, they were an eyesore when I was a kid. I could NEVER find the guy!

Finally I spotted her. She was dancing with a guy already, and they seemed cozy. I'm guessing this other guy was Gibson. I pointed her out to Helena, who seemed to be looking for someone as well (it couldn't have been Dinah she was worried about at the moment, for she didn't seem to care much when I showed her where Dinah was). She grabbed my arm as we made our way to my best friend. When she saw me she immediately hugged me, earning us a couple of whistles from somewhere close (the whistles had to have been close, otherwise I wouldn't have heard it at all; Dinah was so damned close to the speakers). Helena and Dinah exchanged a few words in which I couldn't hear except for 'watch... hands', and then Helena introduced me to Gibson Kafka. 'Kafka... sounds Russian...' I think as I shake the other man's hand. He was Helena's age, and from the looks of it, they go back a little while. After the proper introductions, Helena and I found our own spot on the dance floor.

Helena's wandering eyes made it a little (okay, A LOT) harder for me to concentrate on the music, making my eyes dart around the room as well, mostly in DJ Giggles' direction. 'Something's not right with her.' I think to myself.

I notice that during the song she kept pumping the air four times, staring up in the balconies. I looked up and saw no one that seemed suspicious. After that song was over another came on. She pumped the air 3 times this time. 'Oh my god!' I thought after the pattern went on and she finally only pumped her arm once, then turning on a new song. Something's going to happen dur-

Suddenly a hand was on my arm. "I love this song." Helena said, pulling me to her. I listened for the music and it was unmistakable. It was a song called Burning by a band named Eros. This version, the bass line (though slower than the other songs played so far) was quicker than it was in the radio edit of the song, and it wasn't doing the song any justice in my opinion.

Throw my heart into the flames

Babe, I'm yearnin'

I'm burnin' for you

I know I'll never be the same

When I'm needin'

I'm bleedin' for you

Yes you.

Oh you...

I felt Helena hold me closer and our bodies melted into each other. I felt myself tense a little bit, not sure what to do. Was this a part of being under cover? 'I don't think I can fall much harder for you, Kyle.' I know Helena could sense my tension, because for a second she almost let go entirely. 'I might as well take what I can of this moment, even if she is only pretending.' I didn't know what to think, so in the end I just told myself not to...

... Turning my soul into ash

The fires of Hell sure makes a splash

Tell me where do I find the hatchet to get rid of this pain

I'd feel much better walkin' in acid rain

But I'd bare it for you...

'Cause I'm burning for...

You...

I had just found my head on Helena's shoulder when we were violently pushed into. "What the fuck!" Helena asked in rage to the guy who pushed past us. I saw her eyes flash, and whatever doubt I had over her being the Huntress was gone. It really was her. Well, I knew that, but still... part of me wanted to be wrong so badly. We both whipped around to see what was going on. People were forming a circle around... what, I couldn't see, but I had a pretty good guess what it was. The chanting clarified my thoughts on the circle.

"FIGHT!! FIGHT!! FIGHT!! FIGHT!!" The chant got louder as more people joined in. I turned to Helena to find she wasn't there beside me anymore. I searched around and just barely caught her eyes as she slipped into the girls' bathrooms, otherwise unnoticed. I pushed through the crowd and run up the stairs to look for my bag. Luckily it was safe, and hadn't been touched (I hope). I nudged my way through the crowd of people who were watching the fight, hearing a few rude comments in which I chose to ignore, and made my way to the bathrooms as well. There seemed to be no one there. I ran into a stall, and ripped off the outfit, revealing the Raven suit. I threw the outfit into my bag after I took out the tools, putting them in their rightful place on my belt. Then I hurriedly applied the lipstick and put on the mask, fixing my hair so that most of the strap was hidden. I jumped when I heard a gunshot. I ran out of the bathrooms and looked around for any sign of Helena/Huntress or Dinah/Canary. It was hard to see in the panic of the room. The gunshot had everyone in a frenzy to leave the building. I saw Gibson among them, leading the way out. I saw a man walk at a quickened pace towards the stairs, close to the place DJ Giggles kept glancing while she scratched, scribbled, upped the rhythm and slowed the tempo to today's hottest songs.

Following the man closely was Dinah. I followed after them and when I got to the top of the stairs I saw what looked like a large portrait of one of the founders of the club. It went from the floor to about 4 1/2 up the wall. It opened like a door, and I watched as this man went inside. Dinah forced her way, or at least it would seem that way if her hands were actually on the door. It looked as if the Hulk had taken an invisibility potion of some sort then ripped away at the portrait. I ran in after them just in time to see Dinah in a fight with the man, not much larger than Frank from a couple of nights before, but he seemed to have a brain in his head.

"Boss, I need reinforcements," he said into a walkie-talkie after he'd thrown Dinah across the room, which wasn't very big, about as big as my bedroom in my apartment.

"The others are outside. Some freaky broad is beatin' the shit outta them. I'll be up to help ya's in a minute."

"Hurry." he said, obviously ashamed that he was being beaten up by a girl half his age. Something was off. Something was telling me that Dinah had some sort of supernatural help. 'Well, DUH Andrews… She forced that door open without touching it. So what, is she a telekinetic?' When Gr'Nadia had shown me the video of the superheroes of the past, it never really specified some of the gifts they had. I know that some didn't even have powers… Like Batman, who seemed to just be some rich guy who took his comic book obsession to a whole new level. All I really knew were some of the powers that the Huntress has, and she's like some sort of half cat from what I've seen. Gr'Nadia never told me about Canary (well, Black Canary, but not Dinah) or her powers.

The man turned when he heard me approach them. "Hi!" I said cheerfully, giving a small wave with my right hand. "I would introduce myself but-" I used all of the strength I could muster in that right hand into one punch, earning me a crunch and a thud as he fell to the floor unconscious. "Ah-ha-ha..." I whimpered. "Hurts more than they make it seem on TV." I mutter. 'Which means I REALLY need to stop watching the damn thing.'

"Uh-" It was then that I remember that Dinah was in the room. I saw the look upon her face. She wasn't scared, but she wasn't amazed or anything like that either. She had the same look on her face that she'd give me if I told her that we were going to have a pop quiz or something. She wasn't amused one bit. "Who are you?" She asked, slowly picking herself up from the floor. I didn't answer her question, but instead I asked one of my own.

"What is in here that is wanted?" I surveyed the room, but it only seemed to have a bunch of briefcases stacked up on the farthest wall away from me.

"Not really WANTED. It's what's stashed here that's causing all the fuss. Weapons, computer bits, cash, jewelry..." She counted these things on her fingers; "They've been stashing this stuff while the rest of the club is distracted by the fight. One problem is, tonight something went wrong. They've been plotting against each other for the bigger share of the loot, plotting each other's deaths and whatnot. One of the fighters? Dead. The guy we knocked around? He killed him right there after he found out that he was next to die. It was either him or the other guy, I guess. Look, not even the owners know of this room- Shh! Oracle, I know she's trustworthy- IT"S THE PHANTOM RAVEN, ORACLE! You shoulda seen her punch out that guy..." She seemed annoyed with this Oracle person, but at the same time she shushed up, respecting their wishes.

"So, lemme guess... I've seen enough mob movies to know somewhat where this is going... They sell the stolen weapons and whatever to the black market in exchange for enough money to buy a bomb that will hold millions of people ransom until the government pays them billions more money that only Bill Gates seems to posses..." I went on. Dinah eyes were in a slight frown... "Okay, so maybe I've seen too many of these mob movies, but you get what I'm saying right?"

"Yes, they were going to sell these things to different buyers, then split the money and skidaddle out of New Gotham." She said. I nodded.

"I would ask you how you know all this stuff and who you work for, but I do not have time for much more of a chat. I have to find the Huntress and see if she's okay." Dinah nodded before I turned to leave.

"HEY!" I turned to watch Dinah's face. "Man, I'm glad you're on our side. You have plans for world domination that makes even the cruelest of crime lords weak in the knees. May I suggest cutting back on mob movies?" I grinned.

"You bet," I said, and then I turned and left the hidden room and glided down to the now mostly empty club. I ran out to where I heard the commotion and then I heard a couple more gunshots. 'HELENA!!' I thought in a panic. The first person I saw was DJ Giggles trying to hit the Huntress from behind as she single handedly took down two guys with one kick. On the ground near the fight was Gibson, and he looked dead from where I was, but then I saw him twitch, so I knew he was okay for now. I ran to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, I took a shot at her, but she grabbed my arm and blocked my hit. I tried again a few times, then finally faked a punch and the kicked her instead. When she got up, DJ Giggles lunged and had me on the ground before I knew exactly what hit me (heh, no pun intended). Her fists felt like there were anvils in them, as if beneath the skin there was iron. I kicked her upper calves just as I had to Helena the first time I met her as Huntress. She fell pretty hard and I rolled away from her before getting up. Helena finished fighting her for me. There was a guy running off with two suitcases with whatever was inside, and I started to fly after him. I got to about 8 feet in the air before I was shot. The shock had stopped my wings from flapping, and I fell, hitting the ground pretty hard.

"RAVEN!" Helena- I mean Huntress called. I hear her boots as they carry her at top speed towards me. She kneels next to me and I feel a hand on my cheeks, brushing away all of the hair that had flown all over my face. 'WAIT! Where's my mask?!' There was a sharp intake of air, and then I heard "Gabby!" before it was black.