Disclaimer: [checks again] Nope. Still don't own anything.
A/N: Sorry this has been so long in coming! I know you want Benz's ass to be kicked as much as I do, but unfortunately, this is the most difficult chapter I have had to write thus far. VERY intense (at least, the writing was…)
Also, thanks, Calle, for giving me the idea that I was able to run with! ^_^
Cookies and chocolate for everybody who reviews!
stuffstuffstuff denotes a flashback, since I can't figure out how to get italics to show up…
Chapter 13: Revenge is a Dish…
The weekend passed pleasantly after that, and Dick had the decency not to ask Natalie anything more than she had volunteered. For that she was quite grateful, and even found herself enjoying the time she spent with her father as he taught her a complicated Russian country dance, the Korobushka, and others. It was a surreal feeling, to be so close to a man she had always thought to be so cold. He wasn't like that at all. Not really.
How could she have been so childish?
Monday afternoon found Natalie at the warehouse again, working through her part of a dance called Spangletto--another Dick had taught her on Sunday. The Gypsy CD blasted in the background, and she found herself getting lost in the drum and fiddle rhythms, even if the music wasn't quite right for the dance. So much so that she didn't hear Rab and Twitch come in.
"What's with the violins, Natalya?" Rab chuckled. "Not exactly your usual."
"It's gypsy music--romani music." She corrected herself quickly, stepping off the floor. "Turns out I'm half gypsy, on my dad's side." She had told them of her little trip to Dick's place, but not about it. There hadn't been time.
"So, you and your d--dad?" Twitch trailed off suggestively.
"We're getting along." She smiled. "I don't really know where the guy came from, either. I mean…they gave me my own room at their house! So I can visit more often!"
"Wow…" Rab muttered. "Nice."
"That's great, Torch! I told you he c--cared!" Twitch grinned.
"I know he does. At least, I know now." Natalie flicked off the CD player and pulled her boots back on.
"So, the question of the hour." Rab said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. "Did you tell them?"
"Why do you think my mom insisted on packing me off this weekend?" She retorted, giving her laces a sharp tug. "It's not like she's in the habit. Yes, I told them."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What did they say?"
"They're both bound and determined to nail him, even though I told them--"
"Stop, Natalie." Twitch said, holding up a hand. "Even though nothing! That b--bastard needs to come to jus--stice."
"I told them, they know now, just leave it alone, okay?" She asked. "I really don't want to talk about this right now."
"Okay, so tell us about your weekend. You obviously had a good time." Rab grinned and fell onto the beat up sofa against the wall. "What'd you do?"
"Showed Dommy how to draw." Natalie shrugged, but smiled a bit at the memory. That charcoal had taken half an hour to scrub off! "We got messy."
"What else?"
"Dad showed me some dances. My dad can dance…weird…" She didn't know why, but she didn't want to explain much more. The fact that there was something she didn't know about her mother was a little unnerving, and she didn't need anyone to know that she was unnerved about it.
"Well, damn!" Rab grinned. "You're calling him Dad now?"
"Shut the hell up." She retorted, chucking a discarded sitting pillow at him. She was unable to contain the grin. "Unless you want me to go back to the bitchy, angsty, everyone-hates-me chick, which I can do…it won't be pleasant, but if it's what you want…"
"Go back? Who says you've left?" Twitch egged, sitting down at the table to fiddle with a new motor.
Just as she was about to make another comment, the door swung open. Instinctively she jumped to her feet and put her hand into her back pocket where her switchblade and lighter were. Rab and Twitch stood as well.
Good thing.
Because there in front of them was Josh Newport. Known to the general student population as Benz. His short brown hair was spiked and he sported sunglasses--expensive ones--over his steely eyes. His tank top did nothing to disguise his muscled form, and he still wore the same self confident smirk on his face. It somehow eerily reminded Natalie of Dick's own smirk, but Benz's was…malicious, dangerous. There was the difference.
"Well, well, Natalie…you're looking well. Miss me?"
She felt her blood run cold and her heart jumped into overdrive. She drew out her knife and held it in front of her, trying not to let her hand shake. How could she let him have this much power over her? He couldn't! She wouldn't let him! "Get out, Benz." She spat. Rab and Twitch started forward, but she held out a hand. "Not here."
"Ah, see? She likes me, boys." He walked forward. "Put that thing away, Natalie. Someone might get…hurt." He continued walking, and she fought the sudden urge to bolt. She would not let him see that she was afraid of him.
"I said to get the hell out, asshole." She said. Her voice was quiet, firm, and…dangerous. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Rab's concern. God, what one weekend with Dick Grayson would do! "Or you'll give me a reason to tear you apart here and now for all the pain you've caused us."
"Caused you? What about what you've caused me?" He came within three feet of her and stopped. "You killed my kid." Damn. He was still cool as could be. Confident. It irked her to no end, but she wasn't about to let the Gordon temper flare up now. That would give him an opening to hurt her again. Thank God Twitch and Rab weren't doing anything at the moment, although they looked ready to pounce with one motion from her.
"I'm going to ask you one more fucking time, you bastard. Get out."
Rab started to move forward. "The lady said--"
He didn't finish his sentence. Benz cleared the three steps in a second and had Natalie by the waist before she could blink. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
She heard a click near her ear and felt sick. He had a gun. Why had she let him get so close? Why wasn't she kicking and screaming?
"Let her go, Josh." Twitch said, eyes cold. "Or I won't be responsible for what I do to you."
Benz laughed. "Threats from a fried techie who can't even speak right! No, I think I'll just kill her now, thank you."
Her pulse was racing. She had to do something about this, she wasn't helpless! Think, Natalie, what did Mom say? Something about music…SING! Solar plexus, Instep, Nose, Groin. In less than a second she swiftly jammed her heel into his instep. The gun went off and through the ceiling. She barely had time to thank God for it before she took advantage of his surprised state and slashed him across his chest with her blade. He cried out, dropping the gun, and lunged at her.
Rab was close behind, and pulled her behind him, giving Benz a swift punch to the jaw. "Get out of here, Natalie!"
"Like hell!" She cried. She wasn't leaving her friends with this sadistic ass!
She winced as she realized Rab had broken concentration to listen, receiving a right hook from Benz that sent him across the room. "Fucking son of a bitch!" He yelled, turning on Natalie. "Bitch! I'll teach you to cross me!" He pulled a knife and moved for her, bringing the blade up.
"NO!" Twitch threw himself between the two, catching Benz's blade in his ribs.
Time slowed for Natalie then. She watched as a third brother fell to the ground and cried out. Benz gave her a sadistic grin as he pulled the knife from Twitch's frame and started toward her. She slashed the air with her own blade to keep him from her.
"You stay the hell away from me! Get out!"
A stinging sensation burned into her arm. She'd gotten hit. He grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground, pinning her legs down his his knee and her arms to the floor by the wrists. "Bitch, you'll pay!"
"No!" She struggled to fight him, but his lips claimed hers roughly and she tasted blood on her lips. He was going to rape her again. Drugged with fear, she fought harder. No, it wouldn't happen again! He raised a hand to cuff her and she braced herself for the impact.
And felt nothing. Nothing but a swift burst of wind and the release of weight above her. There was a sickening crack as Benz landed on the concrete floor ten feet away. She shakily sat up and paled again when she saw who had him pinned there by the neck.
Nightwing.
What was he doing here? She shook the thought aside and rushed to check on Twitch. But he was…gone. Where was he? There was a thud and she turned to look in the direction of Nightwing, only to see him dragging Benz up to a wall and beating him mercilessly. Not that she cared. A hand on her shoulder made her whirl. "Your friends are safe. I took them to Gotham Central Hospital."
She couldn't believe it. The Flash stood in front of her. Nightwing, the Flash, who else was going to show up? "I think we should get you there as well, Natalie, your arm is bleeding."
"You think you can just take what you want?" Nightwing was speaking again to Benz, holding him up by the neck off the ground. "I see you weren't taught the proper manners."
That voice…wait, how did the Flash? "How do you know my name?" Natalie asked him.
"We'll explain later. Right now we need to get you to a hospital, young lady." Tempest replied, stepping casually from the shadows with the Green Lantern.
"And let 'Wing and myself have some fun with this oversexed asshole." Arsenal added, casting a malicious eye on the subject of Nightwing's attack. He still seemed to be whispering things to Benz, but Benz wasn't making a sound. "Save some for me."
Natalie didn't know where to look first. The entire team of the Titans--excepting the woman who was usually with them--was in their warehouse! Defending them, juvenile delinquents!
"You don't need to see this, Lili." The Green Lantern nodded.
Lili? She looked closely at the masked vigilante. Black hair, average height, well built…with a certain lilt in his voice…and he had called her…
"Are you still drawing, Lili?"
"Kyle, I'm not five any more."
"So more's the pity. You grew up way too fast."
Her eyes widened. It couldn't be! Kyle wouldn't be running around as…she felt near to fainting when he gave her the smallest of nods. That meant…looking at Arsenal, she pegged him for Roy at second glance--he was holding his favorite gun, which was something more like a crossbow. She felt suddenly very dizzy. This wasn't happening…she felt the Flash pick her up and walk her swiftly out. The last thing she saw before she fainted was the remainder of the team closing in on Benz…and from the top of the hill she could still hear his screams.
A/N: Okay, so it was sucky. But it's not over, I promise! I gotta do stuff with the Titans, that's just how it is!
A/N: Sorry this has been so long in coming! I know you want Benz's ass to be kicked as much as I do, but unfortunately, this is the most difficult chapter I have had to write thus far. VERY intense (at least, the writing was…)
Also, thanks, Calle, for giving me the idea that I was able to run with! ^_^
Cookies and chocolate for everybody who reviews!
stuffstuffstuff denotes a flashback, since I can't figure out how to get italics to show up…
Chapter 13: Revenge is a Dish…
The weekend passed pleasantly after that, and Dick had the decency not to ask Natalie anything more than she had volunteered. For that she was quite grateful, and even found herself enjoying the time she spent with her father as he taught her a complicated Russian country dance, the Korobushka, and others. It was a surreal feeling, to be so close to a man she had always thought to be so cold. He wasn't like that at all. Not really.
How could she have been so childish?
Monday afternoon found Natalie at the warehouse again, working through her part of a dance called Spangletto--another Dick had taught her on Sunday. The Gypsy CD blasted in the background, and she found herself getting lost in the drum and fiddle rhythms, even if the music wasn't quite right for the dance. So much so that she didn't hear Rab and Twitch come in.
"What's with the violins, Natalya?" Rab chuckled. "Not exactly your usual."
"It's gypsy music--romani music." She corrected herself quickly, stepping off the floor. "Turns out I'm half gypsy, on my dad's side." She had told them of her little trip to Dick's place, but not about it. There hadn't been time.
"So, you and your d--dad?" Twitch trailed off suggestively.
"We're getting along." She smiled. "I don't really know where the guy came from, either. I mean…they gave me my own room at their house! So I can visit more often!"
"Wow…" Rab muttered. "Nice."
"That's great, Torch! I told you he c--cared!" Twitch grinned.
"I know he does. At least, I know now." Natalie flicked off the CD player and pulled her boots back on.
"So, the question of the hour." Rab said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. "Did you tell them?"
"Why do you think my mom insisted on packing me off this weekend?" She retorted, giving her laces a sharp tug. "It's not like she's in the habit. Yes, I told them."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What did they say?"
"They're both bound and determined to nail him, even though I told them--"
"Stop, Natalie." Twitch said, holding up a hand. "Even though nothing! That b--bastard needs to come to jus--stice."
"I told them, they know now, just leave it alone, okay?" She asked. "I really don't want to talk about this right now."
"Okay, so tell us about your weekend. You obviously had a good time." Rab grinned and fell onto the beat up sofa against the wall. "What'd you do?"
"Showed Dommy how to draw." Natalie shrugged, but smiled a bit at the memory. That charcoal had taken half an hour to scrub off! "We got messy."
"What else?"
"Dad showed me some dances. My dad can dance…weird…" She didn't know why, but she didn't want to explain much more. The fact that there was something she didn't know about her mother was a little unnerving, and she didn't need anyone to know that she was unnerved about it.
"Well, damn!" Rab grinned. "You're calling him Dad now?"
"Shut the hell up." She retorted, chucking a discarded sitting pillow at him. She was unable to contain the grin. "Unless you want me to go back to the bitchy, angsty, everyone-hates-me chick, which I can do…it won't be pleasant, but if it's what you want…"
"Go back? Who says you've left?" Twitch egged, sitting down at the table to fiddle with a new motor.
Just as she was about to make another comment, the door swung open. Instinctively she jumped to her feet and put her hand into her back pocket where her switchblade and lighter were. Rab and Twitch stood as well.
Good thing.
Because there in front of them was Josh Newport. Known to the general student population as Benz. His short brown hair was spiked and he sported sunglasses--expensive ones--over his steely eyes. His tank top did nothing to disguise his muscled form, and he still wore the same self confident smirk on his face. It somehow eerily reminded Natalie of Dick's own smirk, but Benz's was…malicious, dangerous. There was the difference.
"Well, well, Natalie…you're looking well. Miss me?"
She felt her blood run cold and her heart jumped into overdrive. She drew out her knife and held it in front of her, trying not to let her hand shake. How could she let him have this much power over her? He couldn't! She wouldn't let him! "Get out, Benz." She spat. Rab and Twitch started forward, but she held out a hand. "Not here."
"Ah, see? She likes me, boys." He walked forward. "Put that thing away, Natalie. Someone might get…hurt." He continued walking, and she fought the sudden urge to bolt. She would not let him see that she was afraid of him.
"I said to get the hell out, asshole." She said. Her voice was quiet, firm, and…dangerous. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Rab's concern. God, what one weekend with Dick Grayson would do! "Or you'll give me a reason to tear you apart here and now for all the pain you've caused us."
"Caused you? What about what you've caused me?" He came within three feet of her and stopped. "You killed my kid." Damn. He was still cool as could be. Confident. It irked her to no end, but she wasn't about to let the Gordon temper flare up now. That would give him an opening to hurt her again. Thank God Twitch and Rab weren't doing anything at the moment, although they looked ready to pounce with one motion from her.
"I'm going to ask you one more fucking time, you bastard. Get out."
Rab started to move forward. "The lady said--"
He didn't finish his sentence. Benz cleared the three steps in a second and had Natalie by the waist before she could blink. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
She heard a click near her ear and felt sick. He had a gun. Why had she let him get so close? Why wasn't she kicking and screaming?
"Let her go, Josh." Twitch said, eyes cold. "Or I won't be responsible for what I do to you."
Benz laughed. "Threats from a fried techie who can't even speak right! No, I think I'll just kill her now, thank you."
Her pulse was racing. She had to do something about this, she wasn't helpless! Think, Natalie, what did Mom say? Something about music…SING! Solar plexus, Instep, Nose, Groin. In less than a second she swiftly jammed her heel into his instep. The gun went off and through the ceiling. She barely had time to thank God for it before she took advantage of his surprised state and slashed him across his chest with her blade. He cried out, dropping the gun, and lunged at her.
Rab was close behind, and pulled her behind him, giving Benz a swift punch to the jaw. "Get out of here, Natalie!"
"Like hell!" She cried. She wasn't leaving her friends with this sadistic ass!
She winced as she realized Rab had broken concentration to listen, receiving a right hook from Benz that sent him across the room. "Fucking son of a bitch!" He yelled, turning on Natalie. "Bitch! I'll teach you to cross me!" He pulled a knife and moved for her, bringing the blade up.
"NO!" Twitch threw himself between the two, catching Benz's blade in his ribs.
Time slowed for Natalie then. She watched as a third brother fell to the ground and cried out. Benz gave her a sadistic grin as he pulled the knife from Twitch's frame and started toward her. She slashed the air with her own blade to keep him from her.
"You stay the hell away from me! Get out!"
A stinging sensation burned into her arm. She'd gotten hit. He grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground, pinning her legs down his his knee and her arms to the floor by the wrists. "Bitch, you'll pay!"
"No!" She struggled to fight him, but his lips claimed hers roughly and she tasted blood on her lips. He was going to rape her again. Drugged with fear, she fought harder. No, it wouldn't happen again! He raised a hand to cuff her and she braced herself for the impact.
And felt nothing. Nothing but a swift burst of wind and the release of weight above her. There was a sickening crack as Benz landed on the concrete floor ten feet away. She shakily sat up and paled again when she saw who had him pinned there by the neck.
Nightwing.
What was he doing here? She shook the thought aside and rushed to check on Twitch. But he was…gone. Where was he? There was a thud and she turned to look in the direction of Nightwing, only to see him dragging Benz up to a wall and beating him mercilessly. Not that she cared. A hand on her shoulder made her whirl. "Your friends are safe. I took them to Gotham Central Hospital."
She couldn't believe it. The Flash stood in front of her. Nightwing, the Flash, who else was going to show up? "I think we should get you there as well, Natalie, your arm is bleeding."
"You think you can just take what you want?" Nightwing was speaking again to Benz, holding him up by the neck off the ground. "I see you weren't taught the proper manners."
That voice…wait, how did the Flash? "How do you know my name?" Natalie asked him.
"We'll explain later. Right now we need to get you to a hospital, young lady." Tempest replied, stepping casually from the shadows with the Green Lantern.
"And let 'Wing and myself have some fun with this oversexed asshole." Arsenal added, casting a malicious eye on the subject of Nightwing's attack. He still seemed to be whispering things to Benz, but Benz wasn't making a sound. "Save some for me."
Natalie didn't know where to look first. The entire team of the Titans--excepting the woman who was usually with them--was in their warehouse! Defending them, juvenile delinquents!
"You don't need to see this, Lili." The Green Lantern nodded.
Lili? She looked closely at the masked vigilante. Black hair, average height, well built…with a certain lilt in his voice…and he had called her…
"Are you still drawing, Lili?"
"Kyle, I'm not five any more."
"So more's the pity. You grew up way too fast."
Her eyes widened. It couldn't be! Kyle wouldn't be running around as…she felt near to fainting when he gave her the smallest of nods. That meant…looking at Arsenal, she pegged him for Roy at second glance--he was holding his favorite gun, which was something more like a crossbow. She felt suddenly very dizzy. This wasn't happening…she felt the Flash pick her up and walk her swiftly out. The last thing she saw before she fainted was the remainder of the team closing in on Benz…and from the top of the hill she could still hear his screams.
A/N: Okay, so it was sucky. But it's not over, I promise! I gotta do stuff with the Titans, that's just how it is!