A/N: A little late, but better than never! A couple notes on this chapter:
First, I generally dislike introducing OCs but I broke my own rule and threw a couple in here. I hope they do their job to enhance the story rather than annoying you.
Second, I wanted to introduce more plot for the sake of complicating things (yay). The politics in here are not meant to reflect opinions on current events so don't read into them too much. And don't worry, there will be plenty of future chapters with more sexy time.
Third, I realize I screwed up on aging the characters (oops). They were 19 in chapter 1 but let's just say they're actually somewhere closer to mid-twenties.
Enjoy!
The days were getting longer and warmer as April transitioned into May. But it was a time of change for many reasons beyond the inevitable transition of the seasons. In a few days time the new elected mayor of Jump City would be sworn in, marking a new era of governing over the growing metropolis.
It came as no surprise to the populace when the current mayor announced his retirement and declined to run for another term- after all, the man was in his 80s - but the incumbent mayor had been somewhat of an icon and a legend to those in Jump City and his decision to step down was widely lamented over the channels of social media.
Mayor "Billy" Borthwick had been born and raised in Jump City, his life a testament to the changing times, from the early days when dirty industry dominated and steel working had been the way of the things, to the emergence of finance and technology as their dominating economic power. He'd lived the protests of each generation, the civil rights rallies, the wartime strife, and now the emergence of more stable times where cities had the watchful protection of their special crime departments - superheroes.
He was loved by many, though as more of a symbol than a man at this point. As a politician he'd climbed his way up into the public limelight and made his mark, revitalizing neighborhoods, building parks, and giving speeches at all the right moments; very good speeches that stirred the blood and united people behind grand, virtuous words.
Of course, he very much was a man and a fallible one at that. Still the city had found a way to look past his transgressions, like his affair with his wife's yoga instructor. He'd at least married the 20-something year old leggy woman with a Southern accent. And they had a son, his only child, who was turning out to be something of a prodigy himself.
For the Titans, Raven realized, this was the first time they were really undergoing a change in management. They were superheroes, but also very much employees of the city and now they'd be reporting to a new boss. It was no surprise Robin looked like he was ready to pull his hair out.
The official ceremony was one thing but the Titans had also been invited to a formal dinner party for "family, friends and distinguished guests" that was to be held at the local museum. They were often invited to parties but Robin typically declined. He didn't intend for him or anyone else on his team to be employed as some evening spectacle. But this time was different and Robin had every intention of making a good impression and starting things off on the right foot.
Raven typically stayed away from politics and preferred to keep a low profile. Their PR advisor, Sarah something, had always found her unwillingness to participate in 'image-building' exercises an endless source of frustration and she eventually decided to package Raven as some type of sexy, misunderstood, goth chick. As far as the public was concerned, this suited Raven perfectly fine. It was far better than she'd been treated on Azarath where most had regarded her as a harbinger of doom and demanded her imprisonment and execution. She'd take crude male fantasies over antichrist labels any day.
The event they were attending would be the typical politician's affair, attended by some of Jump City's most celebrated socialites as well as a handful of vetted journalists and reporters to ensure everything was sufficiently documented. Attire was formal and costumes were right out, so Raven found herself in need of a shopping trip, much to Starfire's immense joy. It also thrilled her friend to no end that such an occasion called for a visit to some of the more high end boutiques. After all, Ms. Sarah, PR extraordinaire, had basically demanded clothing fit for the red carpet. The mall simply wasn't going to cut it.
With only a day until the event, Raven found herself strolling down main street with Starfire by her side, coffees in hand. Star always insisted that it wasn't a proper shopping trip if you didn't tote around an overpriced coffee as you browsed. Raven didn't question the process.
"This couldn't be better timing." Star declared as she led them into their first shop. It was a bit overwhelming with too many fake plants and decorative statues. The clothing was hidden somewhere between it all, evoking a kind of fairy garden motif. Star was immediately taken by it.
"How do you mean?" Raven found herself having a hard time following her friend as she darted between displays.
"It's a perfect chance for you to dazzle Gar with a new dress. And at such a luxurious party." She seemed to giggle at the thought. "Who knows what might happen." Her fingers brushed along the gossamer fabrics of some long gowns hanging by a fountain. "Nothing will happen." Raven grumbled. "We'll show up, eat, drink, and leave early like we usually do."
"Don't be a pooper, Raven." Star chastised her. At that moment, the saleswomen swooped in on them, her loud, bright voice like an anvil on the conversation.
"Welcome ladies! Do take your time." She insisted. "We have plenty of new items. Are you shopping for anything in particular?" Starfire happily engaged the cheery woman but Raven could only wonder how many more repetitions of this would she need to put up with before they found what they'd come for.
If anything the day was proving to be an educational experience, Raven thought, trying to look on the bright side. Humans had invented countless, unnecessary rules about attire and fashion. And there were so many items marketed towards women's insecurities about their bodies. There was a solution for everything, whether you needed to keep things in, push them out, lift them up or tape them down. Apparently, there were a lot of miracles happening underneath women's clothing.
Raven wasn't one for vanity and preening but the longer she shopped with Starfire the more she started to wonder about her own body shape, more specifically what Gar thought when he looked at her. It was such a shallow line of thinking and at the same time it felt good to be able to worry about such mundane things. She'd come a long way, Raven thought as she stood mostly naked in yet another dressing room. Most of her life, she was concerned about how her body was to be the conduit for opening an interdimensional portal to some nth circle of hell. Now she stood in front of a mirror, hands on her breasts, trying not to fret about how her left boob seemed noticeably larger than her right.
More dresses appeared and Raven started working her way through Starfire's selection. At least she'd finally accepted Raven's preference for black. There was only one pink dress hidden in the mix this time.
"You're leaving me in suspense again." Starfire called from outside the curtain. "It's not fun if you don't model them for me and you won't let me in while you're-" Raven slid open the curtain and Starfire's eyes went wide.
"Oh, Raven." Her friend's pouty expression immediately transformed the second she saw what Raven was wearing. The dress was definitely a statement, Raven thought, feeling strangely smug at her friend's reaction. The shimmery black fabric looked poured over her body like paint, sensuously hugging each curve of her torso before falling in a curtain around her legs. A single slit up the side revealed the side of a milky white thigh. Raven turned to show Star the back which was as remarkable as the front. The fabric came around the shoulders then plummeted dangerously low, stopping just above the curve of her derriere.
"This is the dress." Star declared. Even she looked a bit pink in the cheeks as she watched Raven move about.
Raven had no comment except a small, secretive smile. She was starting to enjoy her role as seductress.
The reception was to begin at 7pm, with plenty of opportunity for drinks and mingling before the speeches began. Robin originally suggested they travel together by car and arrive as a team but Starfire quickly vetoed his idea. Raven and her would arrive fashionably late on their own, she declared. There was a tense moment between the two, owing to Robin's anxiety about the party and appearances but he seemed to decide that keeping Starfire in a good mood was more paramount to the success of "the mission" than the arrival logistics. Raven wasn't entirely sure what this was about until Star pulled her aside to get ready.
"We can't have anyone seeing you before you arrive." She explained. "Most of all Gar." Raven rolled her eyes. So she was ultimately playing into Starfire's romantic schemes. But as far as she'd come already, it seemed pointless not to commit fully to Starfire's vision for the evening. She wanted to prove beyond a doubt that no perfect orchestration of events was going to change a thing between her and Gar. Tonight might be enjoyable, even fun, but in the end it would be inconsequential and slowly forgotten just as each evening before it.
Jump City's museum of natural history was a source of pride to the more culture-seeking denizens of the city. Despite housing some of the oldest relics on Earth, the building was remarkably modern, a vision of concrete, glass and steel which made the architecture a masterpiece in itself. The clean lines and expansive windows hinted at something sleek and space age until you stepped in the door and came face to face with a prehistoric monster, the looming skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex, posed as if in mid-sprint before a kill. Suddenly, all those inspired, lofty feelings of human achievement withered under some intense instinctual rush of fear and helplessness. It made one immediately grateful the beasts were extinct.
Raven had been only once before, and not properly. There had been a hostage situation in the paleozoic era they'd be called in to help out with. But she did recall enough to appreciate that such an atmosphere was sure to inspire a seriously expensive affair. The mayor did not disappoint.
It was fitting, she thought, all those old fossils gathered together alongside other creatures that had been lost to time. Raven watched from the entryway as frail old women in luxurious furs clung to the arms of their distinguished, elderly husbands. The men's soft forms were hidden under expensively tailored tuxedos and what hair they had was combed and consciously styled over the balding patterns on their shiny heads. Many of Jump City's old money elites mulled about and there was no restraint when it came to displays of wealth.
Raven shuffled off to the coat check with Starfire behind some of the women with furs. She was intensely self-conscious as she removed her cloak and handed it to the young woman behind the counter. To boost her bravado, she reminded herself that she was Raven, demon half-breed, and required no one's approval. But somehow it was much harder to combat sideways glances and whispers than it was to hurl trucks at criminals. Starfire only gave her a reassuring smile and led her arm in arm to the top of a suspended concrete block staircase which looked down on the main room.
"Go." Starfire half-whispered and Raven felt her friend release her arm and give her a gentle push on the small of her back. She turned to ask Star what she was on about but the Tamaranian had already dropped back and was happily chatting up a staff member about the layout of the museum.
With nowhere to go but down, Raven sighed and began her slow descent down the stairs, black heels clicking loudly in the cavernous space. She kept her head high and her eyes focused forward but she could feel the growing attention on her figure with each step she took.
Below her, the event was in full swing. It was a vision of opulence fit for something out of a Gatsby novel. Women sparkled in their evening gowns, their jeweled fingers clutching golden glasses of champagne while the men talked boisterously amongst themselves. A live band had been set up at the far end of the space and the jazzy sounds of the trombones and cellos had already drawn couples out on the dance floor.
Having only just conquered the final step, Raven was surprised to find an outstretched hand waiting for her. It was youthful, distinctly not green, and was attached to a smiling man with intense dark eyes and a mop of wild, brown hair. She took it without thinking, mostly grateful that she was finally down that impossibly long staircase.
"Good evening." He said, bringing her hand to his lips. His voice was velvet smooth and before Raven could react he'd come around to her side and placed her hand on his arm. This wasn't the first time he'd played gentleman, she thought warily.
"So tell me," he started as they walked the perimeter of the room, "who's the lucky man?" Raven narrowed her eyes at him but he was busy looking around, a satisfied expression on his face. More than one jealous pair of eyes were following their progression.
"Excuse me?"
"There's obviously someone here you want to impress." He continued. "Believe me, I've been to more of these shindigs than I can remember and anytime a woman walks in with a dress like that, they've got their eye on a prize." Raven stopped walking, startling her partner.
"That's rather bold." She told him, slipping her hand out from under his. He looked bashful for a moment then laughed a little, though whether it was at her or himself she couldn't tell.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners?" He confessed. "I'm Peter Borthwick." He extended his hand apologetically.
"I hope you're not expecting me to kiss it." Raven said, eyeing his outstretched hand. The name took a moment to register, but she realized the chuckling man in front of her was the son of the outbound mayor. He was younger than she'd expected, maybe only thirty, considering his father looked more like his grandfather. She'd noticed the portly, old mayor as she was coming down the stairs. He was parked by the bar with his younger wife who, despite one pregnancy and the effects of time, had remained uncommonly beautiful. Raven could plainly see the influence of her genetics in her son. He had marvelous cheekbones.
"You outdo yourself, Raven." He said, smiling with good humor. "I have to say, I was thrilled when I heard the Titans would be attending. I'm secretly a huge fanboy at heart." He admitted, not so secretly.
"My favorite are the dark and mysterious types." He bounced his eyebrows a little at her. Raven watched him curiously. He was certainly an incurable flirt but there was something else about him that bugged her.
"I'm afraid I'm not in the mood for autographs." Raven told him flatly. He pouted at her in a way that told her he knew exactly how the expression accentuated his handsome features.
"You wound me." He teased, then jumped immediately back into his effort to engage her.
"I'm actually incredibly envious of your powers." Somehow her curt remarks were only enhancing his excitement. "I'm a good boy and followed in my dad's footsteps as a politician. It suits me but honestly sometimes I ask myself what are all my good looks and charm compared to, say, moving things with your mind?" He waved his hands as if imitating her powers.
"You're also in politics?" Raven asked, ignoring most of that last sentence.
"Sure. By most accounts I'm still too young to be taken seriously so I'm pretty low on the food chain." He admitted. "I think my father is hoping I'll help maintain some cornerstone of the old order once he's out of office. The new mayor has some radical ideas by most folk's standards. He's new to the city so his running platform couldn't rely on the same tactics most candidates use." This information didn't set well with her.
"What do you mean?"
"He couldn't come in claiming he's some prodigal son of the city like most of our elected officials. They always carry on like they were born from the bedrock of the land itself. But from what I've seen, our new mayor barely knows his way around the downtown area. Instead, he's all about fresh ideas and tackling the toxic stagnation caused by men too old and complacent to do their jobs properly." He cleared his throat a little, as if embarrassed by the words aimed at his father.
"Change can be a good thing sometimes." Raven offered cautiously. He bowed his head forward a little, conscious of the attention from the growing crowd around them.
"You may find yourself a bit… surprised." He told her more quietly. His dark eyes were serious now.
"I would tread cautiously with this one. He has a special kind of legacy and not everyone has benefited from his utopian visions in the past." Raven felt the intensity of his words and some new, undefined worry pressed down on her mind.
Peter snapped upright again, the seriousness gone from his face. "But look at me gabbing about politics and poor you, without a drink in your hand to help you with this odious conversation." He did the smallest bow. "I'll fetch you a champagne." He told her, then bent down to whisper in her ear. "Take care. There are wolves here, though you may not see their fangs until it is too late."
With that chilling warning, Peter winked at her and sauntered away towards the bar. His father waved jovially in his direction, cheeks already ruddy from the booze. What an unexpected encounter, Raven thought, feeling rather unsettled by the opening act of her evening.
Peter's departure had once again opened the floor to other interested parties and it wasn't more than a minute until Raven was greeted by an elderly gentleman who insisted on a dance.
"That's kind but perhaps later in the evening." Raven said, trying her best to be polite.
"I'll just steal you for a moment." He offered his hand up again. "How can I resist the pleasure of a dance with such a beautiful woman? It would make me young again."
Raven, unaccustomed to the flattery and persistence, was finding herself running out of civil excuses. Thankfully, the whole proposal was interrupted by the man's wife.
"Edgar! You disappeared on me again. And just when I was going to introduce you to-". The wife, suddenly catching sight of Raven, forwent her words for a smack to her husband's temple and a scathing look.
"I'm sorry, my dear." She told Raven, as she caught her sheepish husband's arm. "I hope he wasn't being too much of a bother." Raven only shook her head as the woman wheeled him away into the crowd.
In the interest of avoiding more lecherous, old men, Raven set off into the crowd and tried her best to look occupied. She was determined to find someone else from her team before any other unexpected surprises found her. This dress was turning out to be a special kind of curse. She was terrible at small talk, disliked attention, disliked strangers and was beginning to think that even alcohol wouldn't solve her problems. Still, it seemed smart to start there and see where it took her.
It was another few minutes of wandering and awkward conversation with nameless couples until Raven finally picked Starfire out of the crowd. There was a cluster of cocktail tables in front of a glass display of prehistoric sea life and Raven was relieved to see a head of fiery red hair among the throng of people. But before she could start working her way over, two fingers tapped her gently on the shoulder.
Bracing herself for another geriatric suitor, Raven whirled around and locked eyes with a familiar face. Gar smirked down at her, entirely too close, too suddenly. He seemed taller somehow, if that was even possible.
"Having fun?" He asked her, his tone more mischievous than ever. It was amazing how his proximity could short circuit her brain so ruthlessly. He looked decidedly handsome in that dark tuxedo and wore it with ease though she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him in anything quite so formal. It was entirely unfair, she thought. Somehow, Gar's ability to look more attractive in a tux was inexplicably irritating.
"That's a word for it." Raven said quietly. She exhaled and forced herself to look away.
"Do you always look so angry when you're having fun?" He joked, leaning to try to catch her eye again.
"You'd be angry too if old men were trying to grab your butt." Raven huffed at him.
"Who says they're not?" Raven stole another glance at his face despite herself. He still had that devilish grin which seemed especially designed to send her stomach into summersaults. Raven gave him a skeptical look then cleared her throat and stepped back to widen the space between them. If he noticed, Gar didn't say anything.
"Let me make it up to you." He told her, looking around for something in the crowd. A waiter sailed by and Gar deftly snagged the stems of two champagne glasses.
"This should help the pain." He offered her a glass which she took from him, careful to avoid touching his fingers. She took a sip, finding the tart, bubbly sensation enjoyable on her tongue.
"I do have one request." Gar admitted, sipping from his own glass. Raven nodded at him to continue.
"You owe me one dance before the evening is over." Raven pursed her lips. Gar was asking the wrong woman. She didn't dance. She didn't know the first thing about dancing. But Gar's expression was so hopeful, his green eyes so captivated by her presence, that she couldn't find it in herself to say no. At least not here, not outright.
"Do I?" She asked, avoiding his stare. She was rather good at disappearing when she needed to.
"I'm back." Peter's musical voice cut into the strange atmosphere between them, bringing Raven back to reality. This was soon followed by Peter sidling up to them, two martinis in his possession.
"But it appears I'm too late." He looked at Raven's drink, shrugged, and downed one of the glasses in his hand much to her amazement.
"No reason to waste perfectly good alcohol." He told them cheerily.
Gar watched the whole thing unfold, not bothering to hide his obvious disapproval for the sudden turn in events. Peter seemed to sense it and turned to smile at him.
"Aha! You must be the Romeo." He remarked, sizing up Gar. Raven, who had gone in for another sip of her champagne, almost dumped the drink down the front of her dress.
"And you are?" "There I go again." He said, smacking his forehead. "Raven already knows how bad I am at introductions." Gar gave her a questioning look. "I'm Peter Borthwick. It's a pleasure to make the acquaintance of yet another remarkable hero." Gar accepted the extended hand but his manner was awkward.
"You're the mayor's son." He said flatly.
"Bingo." Peter said, giving him a wink. Gar managed to look even more displeased.
"What do you do exactly?"
"I'm on the city council." Peter explained. "But more precisely, I see it as my job to know things about people. That's my superpower." He gave them a cheeky grin.
"So what, you're a modern day Sherlock?"
"Not exactly. There's no deduction involved. I just pay attention when people talk."
"That hardly seems like a skill."
"You'd be surprised how much you can learn if you actually listen. For instance, I could tell you anything about any of the people in this room." Gar looked willing to accept his challenge. He paused, scanning the crowd, then gestured at a middle age woman in a blue gown standing by some shrimp cocktail.
"How about her?" Peter glanced to where Gar had pointed.
"That's Christine Abernathy." He said matter-of-factly. "Wife of the late Mr. Abernathy who made a fortune off of construction contracts during the expansion in the 70s. He got drunk on a Christmas cruise about five years back and fell off the boat. Although some say she pushed him. Anyway, she has her own line of eucalyptus-based cosmetics now."
Raven was mildly impressed. Gar looked skeptical. "Ok, how about the guy dancing?" He nodded over at a man in a white jacket tux who was enjoying the music.
"Ah, for shame." Peter tutted. "You should know him. Mr. Edgar Garrison was a huge advocate for the founding of the Titans in Jump City. A lot of funding for the project as well as for your shiny headquarters came from his pocket. Though I can't say much for his taste in women." Gar seemed convinced he was just picking poorly and they went through this exercise a few more times before he gave Raven a shrug and gloomily went back to his drink.
Raven was intrigued. Peter was pretty remarkable, if not mildly terrifying with this encyclopedia of knowledge he'd built up over the years.
"Let's try someone more familiar." She suggested, pointing now at Gar. Peter looked thrilled at the opportunity.
"May I?" He asked.
"Knock yourself out." Gar told him, as if he couldn't care less.
"Garfield Logan. Birthday, November 12th. Only son of Marc and Marie Logan, both veterinarians and wildlife researchers. Born in Africa where you eventually contracted the disease that almost killed you had it not been for your parents scientific backgrounds and their experimental medication. Word is there were also some more 'interesting' transfusions that saved your life." He smiled secretively but did not elaborate.
"Your unusual disease and treatment led to your green skin and shapeshifting powers. Tragically, you lost both your parents as well as your inheritance through a series of unfortunate events." Peter paused here. "And you're a vegetarian."
Raven quickly regretted her choice to pull Gar's personal life into the conversation. It pained her to hear his existence packaged into some party trick and laid out in such an unfeeling manner. She watched his expression carefully, conscious of Peter's own awkward silence.
Gar gave the remaining champagne in his glass a swirl before draining it. "So you've done your research." He told Peter flatly.
"Oh don't be cross." The young politician pouted. "I even left out the good parts." Raven looked at Peter questioningly but Gar cut her off before she could speak.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" He asked, all traces of civility gone from his voice. "Shouldn't you be busy getting some poor widow drunk or laughing with your other bloodsucking friends about how much money you make at the expense of other people?"
"Gar!" Raven interjected, shocked at his acidic remark. Peter looked genuinely hurt for a moment. His eyes moved from Gar to Raven and he turned to give her a small bow.
"I won't intrude on your time any longer." He told them solemnly. Raven thought he might be honestly sorry with the way his handsome face suddenly looked aged beyond its years. Then he grabbed her hand and planted another kiss on it. Something in Raven told her Peter knew exactly how to get under Gar's skin.
"Besides," he continued, giving Gar a sideways glance as he leaned over to whisper to Raven, "I don't think your boyfriend likes me very much." He gave her an apologetic smile that was closer to a grimace, then turned smartly on his heel and walked away.
Raven said nothing but the look she gave Gar managed to tell him everything he needed to know.
"Hey, all politicians are the same. Just because he's a pretty boy doesn't mean he's not ugly on the inside like the rest of them." Gar told her pointedly. Raven crossed her arms. Did she detect a hint of jealousy, perhaps?
"At least he had some manners." She grumbled at him.
"If you can call that manners. At least I'm not a creep who turns everyone's dirty laundry into entertainment." Raven sighed. She was not interested in having an argument with Gar right now, especially not here, in this dress, in front of all these people. So she did the unexpected.
"I'm sorry." Her words were honest, no forced emotions behind them. Gar's defensive posture relaxed and his face softened.
"No, I'm sorry." He said quietly. "I don't want to argue. You deserve to have some fun and enjoy yourself." He smiled at her but Raven could sense his unhappiness.
"By the way, you look… very good in a tuxedo." She admitted, feeling herself blush. Something about Gar's unease made Raven want to reach out to him. If being a little honest could bring him back to his cheery self then it seemed worth the price. Her comment seemed to have the intended effect because he laughed a little and this time his smile reached his eyes.
"Look who's talking." He said. "A lot of people have been watching us. I might be green, but I know they're not staring at me." Gar did an appreciative sweep of her figure with his eyes, deepening Raven's blush. It thrilled her to have this power over him, even if she hardly knew how to use it.
But the moment couldn't last. Robin's masked presence cut in on the unspoken thing between them, reminding Raven of the real reason they were there.
"We're being asked to go wait by the stage." He told them. Raven noticed Starfire and Victor were trailing behind him.
"Are we going on stage?" Gar asked, confused. Robin nodded, visibly tense. "They'll call us up when we're needed. We just need to stand there and smile." He explained. "It's mostly for the press." Raven knew how these things went and was hardly surprised.
As was the tradition for such affairs, Mayor Borthwick started off the show with his own speech while the Titans waited near the back corner of the small platform. The hush in the room was tremendous as the mayor mounted the stage and the lights dimmed to spotlight the speaker.
Raven stifled a squeak as Gar's warm hand found hers in the safety of the shadows. Her heartbeat pulsed loudly in her ears but she didn't untangle her fingers from his.
For a man who'd probably had too much to drink, the mayor was very collected as he spoke. Raven, partly distracted by the hand, thought about Peter and his words to her earlier in the evening.
In all honesty, the city's involvement in their lives had been very minimal for the most part. They reported to no one outside of Robin, while his main obligation was filing reports that seemed to vanish into some bureaucratic black hole. Criminals went to jail. Damages were paid for. Lawsuits were rare and were handled by lawyers they never saw and were never billed for.
Historically, they'd had a good relationship with the local law enforcement. The Titans rarely interfered with the going-ons of Jump City unless explicitly called upon and the police officers appeared to respect them for their work and the boundaries they observed. It was a careful balance that had allowed the team to thrive and had given them enough autonomy to do their jobs properly without the fear of breaking any laws or damaging any egos in some convoluted chain of command.
Raven's experience as a defender of Jump City had been a positive one with a few caveats. It had been hard at first, she remembered. People had shrunk away from her, afraid of this cloaked nightmare surrounded by dark energy who could toss humans around like rag dolls. More often than not, onlookers would be just as likely to run in terror from her as they would the real threat.
But Robin was patient and respected her abilities, including their potentially destructive nature. He had helped her feel part of the team and he knew how far to push her when it came to her powers. Soon, citizens had started to view her as a Titan and not some outside threat who possessed abilities more fitting for a villain than hero. Strangely enough, she started trusting herself more too.
The mayor did his part to honor their work as well. He established non-profits encouraging leadership and "hero" qualities among the youth of Jump City. There was the annual parade on "Titan's Day", the clean city act with posters that advertised their faces all over town, and the establishment of a Titan help line, a number anyone could call for any reason if they needed help. It wouldn't necessarily put you on the phone with Robin himself, but the spirit was there.
Mayor Borthwick had fully embraced the age of superheroes and the city had rejoiced with him.
Raven found herself feeling oddly sentimental as she watched him address the crowd. He had always been kind to them, even herself specifically. There were many places which would have sent her packing once they understood the cost of housing her.
"We all have to live with our demons." He told her once. "At least I know mine is friendly."
The applause startled her out of her reverie and Raven watched as Mayor Borthwick, smiling but a little emotional, welcomed his successor onto the stage.
It was the first time Raven laid eyes on Mr. Morelli. He was young, compared to his peers, maybe late forties, though he lacked no confidence as he rose to meet Borthwick and shake his hand. Seeing them next to each other, the difference was striking. Morelli had piercing brown eyes and hair so dark she would have called it black. His skin was a robust olive color next to Borthwick's pale, sickly complexion. He had classical features, a strong profile and sported a physique that made Borthwick look like a slug in a suit. The man reeked of ambition.
"Good evening." He began, taking the microphone. His voice was surprisingly soft.
"First off, I can't thank Mr. Borthwick enough for the opportunity to speak with you today. I also have to applaud him for all his hard work over the years, after all, Jump City wouldn't be where it is today without his tireless efforts." It was a good start, Raven thought, despite Peter's warning still echoing in her brain. Perhaps he was just full of hot air after all.
Mr. Morelli smiled patiently at the crowd as they burst into applause again. "I also have some very special guests here who I'd like to thank. If they could please come up on stage?" Robin signaled at them and Raven knew this was their cue. She'd almost forgotten about Gar's hand when suddenly she felt him give her palm a squeeze. Panicking, she stole back her hand and turned to follow Star as they filed up onto the platform, willing herself not to blush.
"Excellent." Mr. Morelli commented. Robin managed to look like a proud parent as the crowd applauded once more.
"I know there have been many rumors about my plans for the city." He continued. "Many of you have had my ear over the past few months, telling me about your concerns, your hopes and dreams. I want all of you to know I hear you. And I hear the voices of all our citizens. It's my goal to make those dreams a reality. I too, will work tirelessly to serve you and to bring our city to new heights." Another burst of applause. Morelli turned to extend his hand towards Robin and the others.
"And who would we be without our Titans? They've inspired us, awed us with their talents, and I know I speak for all of us when I say I sleep better at night knowing they have our backs." Cheerful agreement resounded from the audience around them. Mr. Morelli's words seemed like the usual political smooth talking that Raven was used to. In a minute, he'd shake their hands, maybe pause for a few photos, and then shoo them off stage before plugging whatever agenda he had.
"I think it's wonderful. Living here in Jump City is wonderful. But we still have a lot of work to do." He paused thoughtfully.
"This should come as no surprise, but I believe we must start from the ground up. After all, a tree is only as healthy as its roots. Mayor Borthwick has kept the city running. He's given us beautiful parks, clean air and restored historic neighborhoods. But there are cracks in our foundation and citizens are tired of mismanagement and broken promises. It's my intent to bring back that trust." A murmur rippled through the room.
Raven didn't know much about politics but it seemed rather bold of Morelli to address an audience of his peers this way. After all, he'd be working side by side with many of them and his initiatives would require their cooperation and favor. She shifted uncomfortably under the attention of the lights and tried to catch a glimpse of Robin's face. The new mayor was calm despite the reaction of the crowd and he seemed perfectly content to wait until they settled back into silence.
"It's my goal to usher in a new era of oversight within Jump City." He continued.
"This means accountability. We have to be accountable for our schools, for the education of our children, the future of this city. We have to be accountable for our infrastructure, for the safety of our roads and efficiency of our transportation." He started to slowly walk the length of the platform as he spoke.
"As a government, we have to be accountable not only as an institution, but as individuals. This means taking responsibility for our actions, regardless of our religion, race or culture. Regardless of the position we hold or the money we make. Regardless of the powers we might possess." Raven felt a twinge of fear in her chest as the uncertainty of his words rolled over her. She got an uncomfortable sense that he meant to put them on display specifically for this reason.
"I only ask, when the time comes, that you will be honest with yourselves and with each other." He told his listeners. "Help me bring back that trust. Help me make Jump City safer, stronger and more united."
Morelli carefully placed the microphone back in the stand and calmly stepped off the stage. The room was quiet for a long moment before some uncertain clapping began. As if waking up from a trance, the audience slowly settled into polite applause. Raven was relieved when Robin took the initiative to lead them off stage himself.
"Is it just me," asked Victor as they stepped away, "or did anyone see that going differently?"
"It was certainly unusual." Starfire agreed. Robin was oddly quiet, Raven noticed.
"Awkward, is more like it." Gar grumbled.
"And what the hell does he mean by 'oversight'?" Victor demanded, looking at each of them.
"Let's not talk here." Robin said, finally cutting in. "Enjoy the party. Smile. Shake hands." His serious expression did nothing to comfort them.
"And don't let the politics or the alcohol get the better of you."
A/N: This party chapter was getting way too long so it's gonna be two parter. Thanks for sticking with me :)