Chapter 11
The last blouse was on its hanger and put away meaning that Raven was now officially finished moving in. She let out a sigh of relief. It had been a rough few weeks getting out of Gotham and into her new home but the struggle was finally over.
"Raven," the voice of a young boy yelled out. "I'm hungry and so is Jon. You promised to take us out for pizza."
Raven took a quick breather and stood up to head to the living area of her new home courtesy of Bruce Wayne. It was a large 2 bedroom two bath cottage in a quiet suburb just outside of the city.
With her new home came a new roommate by the name of Damian Wayne. The young boy refused to let her leave alone and had all but demanded he joins her for her "protection". Bruce actually agreed to her surprise but more so for Damian's protection. He felt Damian was safer with her and he was doing well with her help.
So with that, the two super sons went to the metropolis. Jon was a very frequent visitor but his mother would drive by and pick him up every day since they'd arrived.
That was almost 4 weeks ago and almost 6 weeks since she had last spoken to or had seen Richard. He had ignored her and had begun to be around Barbara more. It wasn't to spite her or anything, they just seemed to gravitate towards one another but it was still hard to see.
The entire week after the breakup he would leave when she was near. Barbara was always with him when she saw them and although she was jealous she had to go let it go. Moving had been the best course of action for her and she had to admit she was glad she wasn't completely alone. It would take time but it was for the best.
Ri...Dick wasn't meant for her and being around him just hurt them both but he would get over it and so would she.
"Finally," Damian said as she walked into her nice new living room. "Let's go get Jon, we can eat then go on patrol."
Raven smiled. Even when he was Damian he was still a Robin.
...
...
It definitely was a feeling that he couldn't deny. It was a sense of familiarity that didn't turn him away like usual. Even he had to admit that of all the first meetings Barbara was the first person he felt he had known.
When he woke up it was to Bruce's face but he felt nothing. Damian visited him and he felt nothing. Tim nothing. Jason nothing.
His first meeting with Raven he felt no sense of familiarity. Nothing.
It was only Barbara that he felt he knew and it was tearing him apart.
He now understood why Raven had left. Even he couldn't deny that there was something he felt towards Barbara. He couldn't explain what he felt but it spooked Raven enough that she ended their short-lived relationship.
"Dick."
And he was honestly lost. He missed Raven more than anything but these unexplainable feelings for Barbara confused him. What if Raven was right with her doubt? What if he did just attach to her because she was there and this love he had for her was fabricated.
"Diicckk"
What if his memories did return and he stopped loving Raven. He knew she loved him and so that would break her heart. He couldn't hurt her like that, he just couldn't.
"Boy wonder?"
And she was the first one to leave. She left him because she wanted to have her heart broken on her own terms and it was killing him inside because he missed her so much and he knew she was hurting. He could feel it.
"Walking traffic-light?"
They shared that bond.
"Richard Grayson!"
The angry shriek of his name pulled him out of his thoughts and into the real world. The real world was the kitchen where Richard was drinking a beer and eating some peanuts whilst contemplating his feelings for two different women.
"I called your name 5 times Dick," Barbara said with a cocked eyebrow.
Richard frowned.
"Sorry," he said. "Was thinking."
"I can tell, "she replied as she took a quick swig from his beer. "What's eating you?"
Richard shrugged. He didn't particularly want to talk about Raven to anyone.
"It's just quiet without everyone," he said.
Barbara nodded.
"'Damian may be a brat but he's our brat," Barbara said with a giggle. "You want to go out boy wonder? See the nightlife?"
Richard looked at Barbara, Babs, and his thoughts strayed.
Barbara was beautiful, she really was. However, at the end of the day, Barbara's fiery beauty didn't compare to Ravens magical and serene beauty. At least that's what he thought.
But Raven had made her choice.
"Sure," he replied. "Lead the way."
She smiled brightly and she rolled her chair towards the door.
...
A few days later
"Ha! I won!" Jon kent yelled as he jumped up celebrating his win on the video game he and Damian were playing.
Raven watched as Damian pouted and the two went back to playing. A smile on her face hidden by the book she was reading.
She had been settled in and was itching to go job searching soon as she had been unable to return to her old one. Losing the job had made it somewhat difficult as she had wanted the distraction but it wouldn't deter her. Metropolis had tons of museums, she was sure she could find a good job.
The clang of her doorbell made all three look towards the door. The door opened to show the large form of Clark Kent in his suit.
"Here for Jon?" She said.
"I was going to patrol the city tonight, thought I would see if Damian wanted to join."
Raven looked at the boy who was already packing his Robin gear.
"I'll bring him back tomorrow," Clark said to Raven.
She nodded and watched as the boys prepared to leave.
"If you need anything I'll come right back!" Damian yelled.
Raven smiled as the two super sons followed Clark out.
Raven decided to go to bed. Tomorrow could be a good day for job hunting. Anything to mask the lonely feeling she was currently going through.
It would be a new day.
...
Jason also thought it had become too quiet. He was surprised that he missed the demon brat and demon girl. He had hardly talked to her but the few times they managed to converse it was always nice. She listened to him without judgment unlike everyone else.
He huffed. Dick always had to go and ruin shit with his playboy attitude. Usually, he didn't care. Barbara and Dick had split due to mutual loss of interest. Kori broke up with him when he refused to take their relationship farther. All the other woman were just flings. Then there was Raven. At first, he thought the demon girl was using Dick but he sooner realized that it was the other way around. He wanted to kick Dick's ass and save her from his dirty little fingers but she loved him. It was obvious.
He wasn't sure where the sudden desire to protect her came from. Maybe it was her magic, maybe he attached when she had healed him or maybe he just liked her but the point was that he wanted to protect her. He also wanted to get to know her more but that would require multiple trips to metropolis which he didn't particularly want to do. Supes', like most of the league, were Dick fans and didn't particularly like him or his way of getting things done.
He sighed. He didn't quite know what he should do.
A knock at his door brought him out if his thoughts.
"Jason," it was Barbara. "I have a question about Dick."
Oh boy.
...
Job hunting was going well. She had managed to get three interviews at three museums. Today was her first and she was currently sat in a large chair as a kind older gentleman looked over her resume.
It had been going well and she was sure she would get a position in the Metropolis museum of arts and history.
"Miss Roth your recommendations are beyond superb," the kind man said. "I just need to talk with the board of directors and I'm sure we'll be giving you a call!"
"Thank you Mr. Rivers," she replied, I'll keep a lookout for your call."
She stood up as someone knocked on his door.
"Oh it must be Mr. Wilson," Mr. Rivers said as they headed to the door. "He's been in search of a rare painting he wishes to purchase. Perhaps you will work with him in finding it!"
Raven nodded but a sudden feeling of familiar discomfort and unease filled her senses.
Mr. Rivers opened the door to reveal a tall and broad-shouldered man with white hair and an eye patch.
"Mr. Wilson!" Mr. Rivers said guiding the man into the office. "Come in, come in .You're quite early, I was just finishing an interview with this beautiful young lady, I expect she may soon be helping you in your endeavors."
The man, Mr. Wilson, looked at her and Raven almost flinched but she hid it well, so she hoped.
The man in front of her was in a crisp clean black suit and he held himself with the utmost confidence that it bordered on arrogance. He was handsome, yes but there was that underlying darkness in him that clued her off to whom she was facing.
That and the eye patch.
"Hello Miss Roth," he said holding out his hand.
She took it and the hunch was settled as she was able to get a better feel of his aura. He had really only ever laid a hand on her once. That was when she had turned 16 and he ripped the clothes off her back like the devil's servant he was.
"Mr. Wilson," she replied. "Nice to meet you."
She hoped he didn't recognize her. That this was some freaky coincidence but the way he looked into her eyes told her more.
"Miss Roth," he said bringing her hand to his lips to give it a chaste but cold kiss. "The pleasure is mine. I do hope what Mr. Rivers says is indeed true. Who wouldn't want to work with a woman as stunning as yourself? Good day, Miss Roth."
The way he said pleasure and how he kissed her hand made her shiver and she knew that he knew.
Slade knew who she was.
...
"He just seems so out of it," Babs said to him. "Like he's off in his own world and he's depressed."
Jason frowned. Barbara had come in and immediately it had become all about Grayson again.
"I just don't understand," she continued. "Does he really miss Damian that much? I honestly thought you all said he couldn't stand the kid."
Jason shook his head and stood up. He needed a beer.
"It's really not that Babs," he told her as rummaged through the fridge for a cold one.
He tossed one towards her that she easily caught.
"Then what is it?" The woman asked.
Jason took a big swig of the drink and plopped down on the closest loveseat, Babs following right behind him.
"Come on Jae?" She said with a pout. "Please tell me."
Jason sighed. He really had wanted to avoid this but Babs new his weak spots.
"Babs," he said with a fierceness in his voice. "It's not my story to tell."
"Story?" Babs replied confused. "I thought this was just about Damian leaving with Raven, what's the story...oh."
Jason could see as it all clicked together in her mind. She wasn't the oracle for no reason and he was surprised it had taken her this long.
"He's not sad that Damian left is he," she asked, getting a nod from Jason. "He's sad because Raven left. Tell me everything now Jason."
He chugged the beer.
Here they went.
...
Raven rushed home as fast as she could without using her powers. She couldn't risk Slade having eyes on her.
So here she was in her little car desperately trying to get hold of Tim.
The drive to the museum was nearly an hour long which would give Slade plenty of time to catch up. She couldn't have him finding any of her magical items of he got to her house first.
"Hey Rae what's up," the voice of Tim said over the speaker.
"No time to talk," she said. "I need you to make Rachel Roth disappear, she's dead. Make sure nothing from the house can be tied back to Bruce. No time for answers Tim please just get it done."
"Rae" Tim was about to argue and find out the problem.
"No time!" Raven said as she sped away.
"On it," he said hanging up.
Right after she was dialing Clark.
"Hello Raven," Clark said answering the phone. "I was just about to take Damian home when you called."
"No," she said with urgency. "Clark we've been compromised, keep Damian with you I need to get some important books and I'll head to you. Just keep Damian busy."
She gave him no time to answer as she headed onto the freeway, trying her best to make it home safely.
She made in 45 minutes and quickly ran to her door but stopped.
Someone was inside but it wasn't Slade and it wasn't Damian. She didn't know who it was.
There were no unusual cars on the quiet street meaning they got there by different means.
Knowing she couldn't stand outside her door all day and knowing she had fairly dangerous books in her possession, she needed to get inside and ensure whoever was intruding wasn't exploring through her things. She opened the door and calmly walked in.
It was dark when she walked in and there was a man sitting on her sofa. She feigned surprise and dropped all her things.
"Mr…. Mr. Luthor," she said with a stutter.
On her sofa sat Lex Luthor just watching her.
"Why are you in my home?" she said trying to sound surprised and afraid.
"Good evening Miss Roth," the large man said standing up. "Or do you prefer Raven. Daughter of Darkness as I have seen some call you? Former Titan? It matters not."
Raven took a step back.
"What?" She asked sounding confused. "I don't understand."
Luthor took a step forward but no more than that. His hands behind his backs
"Don't pretend my dear," he said.
"You think I'm the Titan?" She said trying to come up with something. "I'm sorry, I'm not. It's not the first time someone has told me this. I resemble her but I'm not I swear."
Labor laughed, a deeply unsettling sound.
"Miss Roth if you wanted to hide you shouldn't have used your mother's maiden name," he continued. "Especially when one of the men after you knows your entire story."
Raven internally cringed. He was right, it had been stupid to use her mother's name. Things weren't looking good.
"It's a family name," she said with a tremble. "I'm..."
She was unable to continue as he revealed he had a gun, a gun he was now pointing at her.
"Wait," she said putting her hands up. "Wait to please I..."
"Shut up," he said to her. "Now you have one chance. I will shoot you. You either die or you save yourself your choice."
He didn't even let reply as he fired the weapon. Raven didn't even think twice as she brought up her dark shield. However not a second later did she feel something hit her back and unleash an agonizing jolt through her body.
She fell to the ground and felt a man step over her.
"Hello little bird," the smooth dark voice of Slade said as he picked her up. "Looks like we will indeed be working with each other, doesn't it."
Raven felt him throw her over his shoulders and the world went black.
...
Richard laid on his bed tossing a ball up and down. Once again the man was contemplating things.
Things meaning Barbara and Raven.
He finally could admit that yes he had felt something akin to love when she showed up but the keywords were had. She was a friend and he appreciated that. He loved her, he did but he wasn't in love with her.
He was in love with Raven.
"Richard?" The soft voice of Barbara said from outside.
He stood up and went to open the door.
"Hey Babs," he said with a gentle smile. "What's up?"
"Richard," she said sounding a bit awkward. "This is going to sound weird but could you kiss me?"
Richard was taken back by the request but realized that perhaps this was what he needed to make up his mind. He nodded bent down to her level and gave her a kiss.
Nothing.
He pulled back and looked at her sadly.
"You should have told me about Raven," she said to him. "Dick I won't lie when I say that maybe I thought we could rekindle our relationship but I never would have tried to get between you two. I can tell you love her, you've been so down since she left."
Richard nodded.
"I'm sorry Babs," he said. "I just...when you came I did feel something and maybe I was in love with you once but I get the feeling we broke up for a reason. I didn't want to hurt you or anyone."
Babs nodded sadly
"But you did didn't you," she said looking at him. "You let her go and didn't go after her. "
Richard nodded.
Barbara was about to say more when Tim suddenly rushed in.
"Richard," he said out of breath as if he had run over. "Its Raven."
Richard looked at the young man who was frantic and suddenly his world felt like it was crashing down.
...
End
Whoo golly gosh this chapter was fun. Please leave a review!