Gotham City
When Shades, or Rhys – she should really remember his name – had called her down into the kitchen for breakfast, she had expected to see a hired cook or at the very least one of Trigon's thugs at the stove. She hadn't been prepared to see Trigon cooking. Not in her universe or any other. The man had pulled his white-blonde hair back in a simple ponytail and was wearing a suit that looked expensive enough Raven questioned his bravery in not wearing an apron. She stood by the kitchen door for too long, unable to look away. The image of her father cooking pancakes – human or not – was just wrong in so many ways.
"We still haven't spoken about yesterday." His voice filled the kitchen. Raven was still stuck wondering where his paid cook was.
Raven slowly made her way over to the kitchen table. The cutlery had been set out, making it clear to her they would be the only two eating. "About which bit? The abuse?"
He turned to glare at her but otherwise didn't react. "Rhys said that despite the… unfortunate incident, you managed to dislocate one of your attackers' knees."
She laughed. "Unfortunate incident? Is that what we're calling murder?"
He was getting angrier – she could see it in the way his shoulders tensed – and wondered how far she wanted to push things. Trigon set a large plate of pancakes down in the middle of the table, followed by two empty plates, one of which he put in front of Raven.
"Had you not been there – when you should have been in school – it wouldn't have been necessary."
"Had Rhys not been so trigger happy, it wouldn't have been necessary," Raven countered, stabbing the top few pancakes with her fork, and dumping them on her plate. After refusing dinner the night before, she was hungry, and they smelled nicer than she was willing to admit. "I was handling it just fine."
"Handling it?" The man laughed as he took his seat opposite her. "I have been trying to train you to fight for years – offered you firearm training, martial arts lessons – and you have done everything in your power to avoid it. You don't know how to handle it." He paused as he filled his own plate. "And yet, yesterday you managed to not only dislocate someone's knee while faced with five people, but you also managed to catch me off guard."
Raven was speechless, certain she'd heard approval in the man's voice. She quickly tried to ignore it, dumping syrup on her pancakes and taking an angry bite. She would not let her guard down because her supposed father sounded proud. At best, it was another manipulation tactic. At worst, he was proud for all the wrong reasons. After all, had she actually followed her own father's instructions, he might have been proud of her too.
"If you want more freedom – for the guards to give you more time before interfering - you need to prove to me that you can protect yourself."
Raven looked up at him, but he was busy preparing his own pancakes, eyes down on his own plate of food. Another trick, she figured. His wording had been too careful. He didn't intend on giving her any more freedom and if she did show him exactly how well she could fight, it would get his actual daughter in trouble if they managed to swap back.
"I can stab you with my fork if you'd like."
Trigon chuckled before telling her, "You'll need to learn better defence than that. You are my only daughter. I will not have you in harm's way unless I know you will win."
"And this?" Raven pointed to her bruised face. "Did you think I stood a chance of winning when you backhanded me? I punch you once and suddenly I'm worthy of your attention? You sick bastard." She was angry again.
"I am trying to stay civil," Trigon spoke through gritted teeth. "I would appreciate you doing the same."
They glared at each other over the table, their stares almost identical, until Raven eventually muttered, "The food's nice."
And it was. It would have been fantastic if anyone but a version of her father had cooked it.
"You're welcome." His words sounded equally as forced.
They ate in silence until Raven asked, "If I learn to fight, I don't want a reduced guard. I want you to leave me alone."
"If you learn to fight, I'll reduce the presence of your guards."
His answer was too quick. He wasn't willing to debate. No doubt he'd prepared their conversation and considered her potential responses. Raven's own father was all-seeing, but this man was doing a pretty good imitation.
"So, what do I need to do for you to leave me alone?"
Raven saw his hand tighten around his fork and wondered if pushed enough, he would reduce himself to throwing breakfast across the table. Two days ago, attending high school had seemed unreal. High school had nothing on this.
"We're family," He answered, as though it were that simple.
"Don't remind me."
He brought his knife down on the table hard enough that the tip buried into the wood.
"You'll blunt that if you're not careful." Raven quickly quipped, unable to stop herself.
His chair clattered to the floor as he stood and Raven gently lowered her fork, keeping her knife in her hand as she eyed him warily from across the table. "You are not so different from me as you like to think." Despite Trigon's movements, his voice sounded calm. Raven wasn't sure which to believe and instantly missed her empathy. Not that she'd ever really been able to feel her father's emotions. His own talents meant he was good at shielding. "Do you really think you get your stubbornness, pride and temper from Angela? You excel in everything you can be bothered to put your mind to because I do. I am trying to do what's best for you."
Raven stood, feeling at a disadvantage sat down. "I am nothing like you, and if you were really trying to do what's best for me, you would leave me alone. All you want is someone to continue your shady empire once you're too old to. Find. Someone. Else."
He smiled and it unsettled her. It was the same smile she wore when she'd won a dispute. "Planning ahead - also something your mother could never do. We're talking about you learning to fight. Nothing more."
Raven didn't know what to say. He had a point. She didn't want to admit it, but there was only so long she could stand glaring at him before she started to feel stupid. "Who trains me?"
"Rhys is on your rotation this weekend, and I have a meeting to attend this morning. If this is going to work, I expect you to show dedication. You can start after breakfast." The man calmly picked up his chair and sat down, pulling his knife out of the table before continuing to eat as though nothing had happened.
(…)
Titans Tower
Nightwing – being the only titan without powers – had pulled the short straw. If that short straw was Jinx. The hex caster had convinced the team that if they were ever going to let Raven out of the containment room, she needed to get used to seeing the heroes so she wouldn't panic each time one of them used their powers or sat near her. Nightwing, being the only one without powers or an unusual appearance, sat in the control room on his own with his bowl of cereal and coffee while Jinx ushered the others into the containment room itself.
He would have argued with her if she hadn't made so much sense. They were going on three days. Three days was a long time to keep Raven in one room – especially since she wasn't supposed to be a prisoner.
Raven looked taken back at the sudden invasion, having become used to visits from one or two people at a time, and sat to attention. She was ready to run, something Jinx didn't miss.
"Probably should have warned you first, huh? My bad. The good news – I've convinced Nightwing to let you out of the containment room – see how you go for a few hours."
Raven kept her eyes on those she was unfamiliar with. "The bad news?"
"There isn't any. Yet. Unless you include having to get used to these guys."
"You're the bad news," Beast Boy scowled, and Jinx grinned at him.
"So, what exactly am I supposed to get used to?" Raven's eyes hesitated on Beast Boy and Starfire. She was less worried about Cyborg, despite him being the most physically imposing, thanks to his trips with Jinx.
"Powers. Their powers. We don't want you freaking out and causing havoc if someone does something you're not expecting."
"And Richard isn't here because?"
"I don't have any powers," His voice came through the speakers, Raven jumping slightly.
Jinx looked at the heroes. "So, who's going first."
"It would be dangerous of me to use my starbolts in such a small area, and as Raven will not be joining us on alerts, I do not believe it is something she needs to see," Starfire quickly answered.
"The only one safe to use their powers in here is Beast Boy," Cyborg pointed out and Jinx threw her hands up.
"And you didn't think to mention this earlier?"
"Thought it was obvious," Cyborg shrugged.
Seeing the deflated look on Jinx's face, Starfire quickly stepped forward. "I can show my flight."
"I don't even know all your names," Raven quickly interrupted.
The alien didn't hesitate. "Of course! My name is Starfire, unless you would also like my name in Tamaranian though I have found the people of earth can find my language hard to pronounce, and you are not able to transfer languages as easy as us."
"She's an alien," Jinx cut her short.
Starfire smiled warmly. "Our people have the gift of flight and great strength. I also possess the ability to harness solar energy in the form of starbolts, which I cannot demonstrate as it could damage this room."
"You can fly?" Raven asked dubiously. She got to her feet, dusting herself down.
"So can you!"
"We're just talking about your powers," Jinx told Starfire.
"Raven's can be quite challenging to get to grips with. Of course, she struggled to make mine work too. We are the opposites."
"What?" Jinx looked at Cyborg for clarification.
"Long story – don't worry about it."
Starfire took to the air slowly, doing her best not to spook their guest. Raven's eyes went wide, her face much more expressive under the control of their guest. She looked at Starfire's feet, then the ground.
"Fuck." Her hands had clenched into fists, and she fought not to step back.
Jinx chuckled at the misdemeanour. "Weird, right? Beast Boy, your turn. Something… non-threatening would be great."
He smiled as Starfire landed on the ground. "Everyone loves this one."
His shift was instantaneous. Where he had been stood, sat a small green cat, his eyes slightly too big for his face. Despite his cute appearance, Raven had still stumbled backwards, tripping over herself in her shock. Jinx tried to imagine what it must feel like, to see superpowers at work after living an entire life believing they were nothing but fiction. The hex caster pulled a face as she realised it had probably felt very similar to when she'd first found out about Raven's heritage. It didn't go unnoticed, Starfire gesturing to Beast Boy and asking her,
"You dislike the kittens?"
"I like cats as much as the next person. I was thinking about something else." She waved the alien off, and her eyes went back to Raven as she told her, "Beast Boy can shift into any animal. Including dinosaurs. I've only been here a few days but it's something he does a lot. You gonna be okay with that?"
Within a blink of an eye, Beast Boy was standing in the place of the cat. His smile wasn't as confident as his usual, his eyes wary as he told Raven, "I can try and tone it down a bit, so it doesn't shock you."
The woman seemed to find her confidence, taking a step forward as she schooled her face into a blank expression. "I'm not afraid of you."
Neither Raven nor Jinx was ready for the look of worry that crossed the faces of the others, Cyborg quickly telling her, "You know, it's okay to be scared sometimes."
"Last time Rae – our Raven – played brave, it didn't end well." The changeling added.
"Why, what happened?" It was Jinx who asked. Raven was too busy scowling at the two men.
"We had a house of horrors in the tower. Raven's powers attacked us one by one," Starfire shuddered. "I would rather not have a repeat."
The thief was grinning. "She did what?"
"You're getting side-tracked," Nightwing's voice came over the speakers. "She's as prepared as she's ever going to be. I'm opening the doors."
(….)
Gotham City
Raven stepped to the side, only just moving in time. She could feel the air move next to her cheek as Rhys's fist shot past. This body was not as fit as hers and her lungs burned as she fought to keep up with Rhys. Despite being built like a tree, he moved quickly. It had caught her off guard.
He scowled at her. "Keep your fists up. You're supposed to be blocking my attacks, not dancing."
Raven frowned but kept her mouth shut. She had decided to go into the training without showing just how well she could fight, but she didn't want to be hit either – it wasn't proving an easy balance to keep. She tucked her closed fists closer to her face, keeping her body slightly to the side, her left foot in front as she watched for Rhys's next move.
He moved to kick at her and Raven quickly stepped to the side, avoiding his foot but opening more of her body up for attack. She didn't realise he had feinted until his fist stopped, centimetres from her face. She had let her fists drop again.
"What's the point in dodging if you don't keep form?"
Raven wished she had her powers, the urge to smash him into the floor rising. She snarled at him, "Maybe if you hit me instead of pulling short, I'd learn faster?"
"That's your dad's method. Not mine." Rhys frowned but stepped back, going for his bottle of water sat against the wall.
Like the rest of the house, the room was beyond functional and bordering on extravagant. The large space in the basement of the building housed several sets of assisted and freestanding weights, mirrors lining one wall and an area large enough to support several sparring partners, the ground cushioned with mats. It was almost as big as their gym back at Titans Tower, if not bigger. Part of her wasn't surprised – whatever operation her father ran, he obviously housed most of his guard. It would have been hard to ensure they kept on top of their training without an appropriate space.
"I don't see you complaining about his methods." She hunched over, resting her hands on her thighs as she tried to catch her breath.
"Like I said yesterday. He pays me, you don't." He put his bottle down and motioned to her own. "Drink."
"You don't tell me what to do." The response was automatic, and Raven winced, dropping her eyes back to the mat under her feet.
"I don't know what female crisis you're going through but keep this up and you'll end up with worse than a black eye. You were better off hiding at the edge of rooms and staying out of the way."
Raven raised her brow as she repeated to her feet, "female crisis?"
He didn't answer her. Raven heard him move and when she looked up, he threw her water bottle at her. She caught it and scowled at him. Rhys laughed before motioning towards the bottle. "Drink. Then we'll move on to the next bit."
She sighed but followed his instructions before throwing the bottle back. "So, what makes someone want to work for someone like my father anyway?"
"Not babysitting, that's for sure." He moved back onto the mats and faced her, his arms raised in front of him, tucked in. "If you can land a hit, maybe I'll tell you."
She scowled at his confidence, almost forgetting she wasn't supposed to know how to fight as she stepped forward, feinting a punch to his stomach. She caught herself mid-step as she moved to aim for his face – now unguarded – and made herself stumble over her feet. She wasn't sure if it was convincing enough but Rhys rolled his eyes as she steadied herself.
"First, I get stuck with you all morning, then this evening I'm supposed to follow Trigon around at some event. I should ask for a pay rise."
"What kind of event?" Raven asked as she stepped forward again. She put her weight behind her shoulder as she tried to go for his ribs.
He effortlessly swept her arm away. "Charity ball. Lots of rich idiots throwing money away. Less talk – focus on your punches."
Raven frowned at the idea of her father doing anything for charity, wondering what his ulterior motive was. She knew from Robin's stories that the charity balls in Gotham had always attracted all sorts of people – those genuinely wanting to put money towards a good cause, those looking for good publicity and socialites wanting to get in with Gotham's richest families – and tried to imagine which category the man would come under.
She stepped towards Rhys, her fist aimed for his stomach but there was no real drive behind her fist. "Where is it taking place?"
He scowled at her but answered, brushing aside her fist. "Wayne Enterprises."
"They have a function room?" Raven wasn't overly surprised at that. If Bruce Wayne was hosting it, Richard would be there. While the idea of attending a function held no appeal to her, her friend would no doubt be better company than anyone she would find here.
"Why the interest. I thought you hated those things."
"I do. But I have a friend who attends them."
"You know he's not going to let you go. Not after yesterday's performance."
Raven didn't need to ask who Rhys was referring to. Raven readjusted her stance, bouncing on the balls of her feet a few times to try and loosen herself up. "He will if I manage to take you down."
The man laughed loudly, not needing to say how unlikely he felt that was. Raven darted forward while he was distracted – a dirty tactic, though the man had never said their sparring had been paused. He'd just been too focused on the conversation.
He grunted in surprise as her foot connected with his shin, not hard enough to dislocate anything but hard enough for it to hurt. Raven stepped past him as he tried to grab her leg. For a split second she debated trying a choke hold before remembering her promise to stay under the radar. She slammed her elbow into his back instead, aiming for between the ribs. Crude, but effective enough. Rhys swore and Raven knew she'd managed to hit a few nerves. She spun so she was facing him, trying to find a quick way to put him down but he had recovered quickly. Hands back up to protect his face, he watched her carefully but stayed in defence. She danced into reach again, closer this time, wishing this body was lighter on it's feet as she watched his shin, feinting a low kick with her right foot above his ankle.
He raised his foot off the mat to sweep her leg aside, but Raven didn't give him chance. She quickly grounded her right foot on the mat on the outside of his right foot and grabbed his right arm with her left hand. She laced the other under his right bicep and pivoted away from him, pulling hard on his arm with her left hand and raising the elbow of her other arm, jamming her hip against him as she bent forward. She quickly tucked her chin into her chest as she felt his balance go. For a brief moment, she could feel his weight as he was pulled over her hip, her legs threatening to buckle, before he hit the ground on the mat in front of her. Raven released his arm and stood back, smiling as he rolled to his feet.
He brushed himself down. "Who taught you that?"
"A friend," she shrugged before trying not to sound smug as she asked, "Did I do it right?"
AN: A short one, but I needed to get something posted. Sorry about the delay! Summer break for university is fast approaching which means more writing time for me. Otherwise, thanks for hanging on!