I know that the wording for this song is different than what some people might have played it with, but this was the way I was taught how to play and I find this version more entertaining and riot forming lol.
I do not own the song, characters, or anything mentioned. Just happy memories :)
I also posted this in two places. One in Showing Something New and than one as its own story :)
"Shit." Robin mumbled under his breath.
Raven and Jinx stopped their fighting and looked over to the Titans leader in confusion.
"There's a tornado warning." He informed the two.
They looked at eachother, not knowing what to do and surprised that they didn't notice until just then.
It was patrol night and Raven and Robin were on duty. They had a run in with Jinx not too long ago before Robin got the alert. It was a fairly busy night in the Tower and he forgot to check the weather before they went out. It had started to rain and storm a bit but he didn't really think too much about it. Big mistake on his part.
Robin looked up from his phone at the two girls just standing there, getting soaked in the rain. "That means GO INSIDE!" Robin shouted as he pointed to the nearest building, an office. He learned the hard way years ago to never fuck with the weather. It's merciless.
Not needing to be told twice, the girls ran after him into the building, soaking the floor in the process. It didn't matter if Jinx wasn't even a Titan and they were actively fighting just a minute ago. When someone uses that tone of voice, you listen. No questions asked.
Closing the door behind them, Robin led them down a hallway so they weren't in front of a glass wall.
They got strange stares from the ladies at the front desk, specifically at Jinx. She just winked at them to throw them off. They blinked in surprise but let her go without fuss.
"Ok," Robin started once they got deep enough in the hall to be considered safeish, "I guess we'll just wait it out. Can't really do anything else."
"How long is it until?" Raven asked, taking her hood off and looking over Robin's shoulder to see the weather map, it becoming more annoying and heavy than comforting due to the rain. "What?" She asked Jinx who was looking at her.
"Are you growing out your hair?" She asked, looking at the empath's slightly longer hair.
"Does it matter?"
"No," Jinx put her hand up in surrender, sitting down on the floor, "I think it looks good. That's all."
Raven eyed her skeptically but didn't say anything.
"We have an hour and a half until it expires." Robin sat down across the hall from Jinx, not trusting her enough to sit next to her.
"If they don't extend it." Raven mumbled under her breath as she sat next to Robin. "It's cold."
"I would offer you my cape but," Robin lifted his wet cape, it splatting on the floor.
"It's fine." Raven brought her knees to her chest. "I'll dry."
The three of them just sat there awkwardly listening as the storm intensified, thunder occasionally shaking the building, not really looking at each other but not talking either. They didn't know what to do, if anything.
"So," Jinx braved, "What do you guys want to do?"
The rumbling of thunder was her answer.
"Ok, how about I decide for you." Jinx declared since the two birds weren't of any help. "How about, the bullfrogs song?" She was again met with silence. "The down by the bank of the hanky panky?"
"Wait, the banks to banks one?" Robin asked, memories coming back to him like a flood.
"Yeah!" Jinx nodded with a smile. "You know, the one where you touch each other's hand and whoever is touched on green is out."
"It has been a long time since I've played that." Robin reminisced.
"Then let's play it." Jinx said, scooting closer to the two birds.
"Ok," Raven narrowed her eyes in utter confusion, eyes darting between the two, "what game?"
Jinx looked at her in complete shock and sadness. "You've never played this before?"
"No."
"The eeps, opps, soda pops one?"
"Uh, no."
"Well that's sad. We're definitely playing." Jinx sat crisscrossed and placed the back of her hands on her knees. "Give me your hands."
Robin mimicked her pose and gave her his left hand, Jinx putting her right hand over it.
They both looked over at Raven who was still knees to her chest before Robin helped her out. "I'm going to put my right hand over yours," Raven lowered her knees and held out her left hand, Robin placing his over hers, "and put your right hand over Jinx's."
Raven eyed the girl's obvious satisfied smirk for a second before giving in with a sigh, placing her right hand over Jinx's left.
"Alright, let's practice the motions first for a bit." Robin suggested since Raven had never played this game before.
Jinx nodded and started the game, taking her right hand, bringing it across her body, and hitting Raven's right hand awaiting under her other hand, then brought it back to rest on top of Robin's left hand.
Raven looked at her hand for a second before moving her right hand like Jinx did and placing it on Robin's left hand. She looked up at him for confirmation.
"Yeah," Robin nodded, "just like that."
Raven nodded once slowly and brought her hand back on top of Jinx's.
They went around like that for a bit, just getting used to the motions, going a bit faster at times before they added the song.
"Ready for the words?" Robin asked.
Raven nodded, feeling like she had the gist of it.
"Now," Jinx started laying out the rules before they started, "if your hand is touched on the word "green" you're out. But! If someone is going to touch your hand, you can pull it back and make them get out. Ready?"
The thunder shook the entire building that time, all three teens froze and looked around nervously. Raven nodded slowly again, not really understanding too much and nervous of the storm, but ready to try.
"Alright, I'll start it. Ready, and go." Jinx hit Raven's hand and the circle was reanimated. "Down by the banks of the hanky-panky, where the bullfrogs jump from the banks to banks, with the eep's opps, soda pops, I'll be ready you be ready or not. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag, Coca Cola burned his butt now we're talking Seven Up. Seven Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billy Jean. Red, white, blue, green!"
Robin made a grab for Jinx's hand but she pulled it away at the last second, making Robin the loser of that round.
"I'm just rusty is all." He fake excused, scooting out from the circle.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that you traffic light." Jinx smirked, now just her and Raven. She scooted closer while Raven leaned back against the wall. "Chill, you get close when there's just two left."
Reluctantly, she scooted closer to the pink haired girl, knees touching and hands against one another as Jinx resumed the game.
"Ready, and go. Down by the banks of the hanky-panky, Where the bullfrogs jump from the banks to banks, With the eep's opps, soda pops, I'll be ready you be ready or not. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag, Coca Cola burned his butt now we're talking Seven Up. Seven Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billy Jean. Red, white, blue, green!"
Robin watched in amusement as Jinx hit Raven's hand on green, but with lightning speed, before the girl could finish the word, Raven turned her hand over and hit the other girl's hand, earning a look of shock from her.
"You're out." Raven stated, pulling her hands back.
Robin tried not to laugh at the turn of events. He was doing a remarkable job but couldn't help the grin that broke out across his face. "Good job Rae!"
"Best two out of three!" Jinx challenged, not liking that she lost. She totally had it in the bag from the start. She was the one reciting the song and could speed it up or slow it down as much as she wanted. But apparently the darker girl infront of her had faster reflexes than she thought. She would not go down easily.
Raven shrugged and placed her right hand on top of Jinx's and gave her left hand to Robin.
"Us against her?" Robin smirked, scooting in closer and taking the girl's hands.
Raven narrowed her eyes a bit and nodded affirmatively.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Jinx whined. She had wanted to just go up against Raven. Heck, that was the only reason she decided to cause some trouble that night. But the birds were like a package deal. If you want one, you're getting the other.
"You know what," She decided, "fine. It doesn't matter. You're both going to lose anyway."
"We'll see about that." Robin countered.
Raven rolled her eyes. Of course he would take this children's game seriously. Why was she so surprised?
"I'll start again." Jinx called. "Ready and, Down by the banks of the hanky-panky, Where the bullfrogs jump from the banks to banks, With the eep's opps, soda pops, I'll be ready you be ready or not. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag, Coca Cola burned his butt now we're talking Seven Up. Seven Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billy Jean. Red, white, blue, green! Shit!" Jinx shouted. Raven pulled her hand out at the last minute, causing Jinx to be out.
"So that's what," Raven leaned back in her hands, "two to none?"
"I'd say we won." Robin smiled.
"Yeah whatever." Jinx mumbled, not liking that she lost. Grinning, she got an idea. "How about one more round? If you win, then I'll buy you some food. If I win," she thought for a moment, "I get to steal something without intervention. Deal?"
The two looked at each other. Raven shrugged. It's not like she did grand thefts anyway.
"Deal." Robin nodded. "This time though, I'll start it."
"Fine." Jinx resumed position. She just had to win. Now was her chance.
"Ready," Robin called, "and, down by the banks of the hanky-panky, Where the bullfrogs jump from the banks to banks, With the eep's opps, soda pops, I'll be ready you be ready or not. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag, Coca Cola burned his butt now we're talking Seven Up. Seven Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billy Jean. Red, white, blue, green!"
Raven hit Robin's hand, getting him out.
Robin gave Raven a look of betrayal.
"Hey, you could have pulled away." She pointed out, scooting closer to Jinx as Robin was kicked out of the circle once again.
Now it was just the two magic girls. Head to head. Winner takes either free food or a free steal.
Jinx looked expectantly at Raven.
"I don't know the song."
"That's fine, I'll do it." Jinx shrugged, seemingly a lot nicer to her than Robin which didn't escape his notice. "Ready, Down by the banks of the hanky-panky, Where the bullfrogs jump from the banks to banks, With the eep's opps, soda pops, I'll be ready you be ready or not. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson makes me gag, Coca Cola burned his butt now we're talking Seven Up. Seven Up has no caffeine now we're talking Billy Jean. Red, white, blue, green!"
Raven made a pull to get her hand away before Jinx hit it, but the girl cheated. Jinx held onto Raven's hand before she could pull away, trapping it as she hit Raven's hand on green, dubbing Jix the winner.
"Yes!" She cheated, throwing her hands up in the air.
Raven gave her a look. "You just totally cheated."
"Did not." She shot back playfully.
"You held onto my hand. I'm sure that's against the rules or something."
Robin nodded, backing her up.
"Hey, the only rule I said was if your hand gets touched on green then you're out. That and pulling away." Jinx smirked. "Now I believe it is time for my reward."
"Whatever." Raven sighed. It was after all just a kids game. There wasn't a need to cause a fight over it. "What are you planning on stealing from an office building anyway? Someone's lunch from the break room?"
"I was thinking about something else." She grinned.
Robin just shook his head while Raven eyed her again. She tried to feel her emotions but the storm was messing with her concentration.
"Wait, did you guys see that?" Jinx asked, pointing down the hallway on Robin's side.
The two looked over and Jinx took her chance and leaned in closer to Raven, closing on to capture her cheek when Raven turned her head back around and ended up making her lips the destination of Jinx's instead of her cheek. Raven pulled back instantly, shocked as to what just happened.
"Jinx, there was nothi-'' Robin froze as he turned back around, taking in the scene of two obviously shocked girls. "Did I miss something?"
Jinx just grinned widely, not planning on kissing the girl head on but not complaining about it either. Raven just sat there very still with a deep blush on her face, obviously flustered.
"Nah, I got what I wanted." Jinx stood up, still grinning. "And with that, I bid you goodnight." And just like that, she left the building.
Robin blinked a few times before he turned his attention back to the flushed girl beside him. "What happened?"
Raven took another second to bask in her shock and then groaned, hiding her hands in her face and turning away from Robin.
"What?" Robin asked again, scooting closer to her crumpled form leaning against the wall.
"She, ugh." Raven threw her hood over her head, not liking the things she was feeling and not caring in the slightest that her cloak was still soaking wet.
She had to admit, she did have some, questionable feelings, towards the pink haired girl but she didn't really think too much about it other than it was probably a sense of respect she felt. Now, now she was just confused, flustered, and overall embarrassed.
"Hey," Robin said softly, placing his hand on her shoulder lightly, "what happened."
He got a head shake and a cringe in answer.
"Can I use the bond?" He tried.
After a second of stillness, Raven nodded. They sometimes did this when they can't articulate their thoughts, they just share it through the bond. She took a deep breath and opened her side.
Robin sat and squeezed her shoulder lightly as she shared her thoughts and feelings in that moment.
He saw everything.
Seeing the incident from her point of view and feeling all her confusion, pleasure, surprise, alarm, and many others even he couldn't place.
"Ohhhhh." Robin lifted his head in understanding. "She kissed you."
"Ugh, yes." She mumbled, brushing his hand off and turning to face him, completely and utterly embarrassed, but glad that he wasn't teasing her like the many times be had before with similar instances.
"Can I tell you something?" Robin smiled a bit.
Raven gave a shrug of her shoulders with a mutter and looked away.
"You know before I joined the Titans how I was working under the Justice League?"
She nodded, letting him know she was listening.
"Well, Wally and I were playing chicken one time, you know what that is?"
"Probably not the one I'm thinking of."
"In this version you sit in front of someone and lean forward until you kiss, and if you chicken out and lean away, you lose."
Raven nodded in understanding.
"Well, we were playing and neither one of us wanted to lose, so we ended up kissing in the end."
Raven looked up with an incredulous look on her face. "No."
Robin grinned and nodded, knowing that would make her feel not as embarrassed. "Yes."
She looked at him in shock for a few seconds before a small smile broke out on her face. "I was going to say I didn't believe you but you just sent some images that I didn't really need to see."
Robin just chuckled nervously. "Nothing too bad right?"
"Depends." Raven sat up straighter, raising her eyebrow. "Did you two do anything else that you're worried about me seeing?"
"Well that depends on what all you saw." He gave her the same look. "Now how long until this weather is gone?" He changed the topic, pulling out his phone.
Raven rolled her eyes. It wasn't anything important anyway. She already had her answer. If he wanted to tell her himself, he would in time. She'd let it go for now. "Any longer?"
"I mean it looks clear now for the moment if we want to leave. Do you think you can teleport back?"
"Yeah." Raven nodded and stood up, holding out her hand. "Give me your arm."
Robin stood up and held his arm out, Raven taking it lightly and taking them back to the tower. It was easier for her to teleport when she was making direct contact with someone when she was a bit unstable.
A second later they arrived in the tower, Cyborg and Beast Boy jumping back in shock as the two appeared in front of them, blocking the tv.
"Ahh!" Beast Boy shrieked before realising it was just them. "Oh, hey guys."
Raven let go of Robin's arm and walked to the kitchen, getting a pack of crackers.
"I know y'all aren't getting the floor all wet." Cyborg joked, gesturing to the still wet birds. "Get caught in the storm?"
"Unfortunately." Raven mumbled, filling up a cup of water
"Anything exciting happen?" Beast Boy asked, half interested.
"Eh, not really." Robin shrugged and joined Raven in the kitchen for food. "Jinx made an appearance but that's about it."
At the mention of the pink haired girl, Raven flushed all over again, excusing herself as she mentally yelled at herself.
Robin smirked, hearing her thoughts and shook his head.
The two on the couch just looked at each other in confusion. Those two had moments like that but no matter how many times they witnessed it, it still confused them.
"What was that all about?" Cyborg asked.
"Nothing." Robin shrugged as he grabbed a packet of applesauce. "Do you guys remember the bullfrog game?"
The next hour or so was spent slapping, hitting, yelling, laughing, and play fighting with each other as they reminisced in playing one of their favorite childhood games.
If ya'll paid attention in some of my previous storied, you would know that I write the birds as bi. Watching Young Justice and seeing Dick and Wally interact, I was like theres no way that something didn't happen. So in here, it did. I also like the RaeJinx pair so obviously I wanted to make a story with that
Let me know what you think! Did you play this game as a child?