A/N: No, no, I didn't give up this story. Lord no! My computer crashed, royally. It was… bad. And then after I had to reinstall a new hard drive, I didn't have word, so it took about a week till I got word. It was a hard week.
Oh man, I missed writing this story, though I had a chapter written I just had to re-read it and do what all authors do and change things around, but lucky me, I got to re-write the entire thing. I'm an idiot, I don't have a back up thingy.
Ok, so this is a cute chapter I like it, next chapter will probably be a lot more… interesting, lots more interaction with Terra and a few other characters. I did get into the surprise party a bit, they'll be more next chapter :). The Roy/Starfire/Robin thing is more evident in this. I like Roy, fyi, I think he's very cool, not as cool as my Robin but, hey, who is, lol. Remember there are certain aspects of the story that are made-up and do not apply to the comic book or TV.
R&R. Hope you enjoy! :)
Raven stared at the article Robin had thrust into her face. She had skimmed it several different times, and saw the relativity to their case.
"Now, I think it be best if I go to Gotham and have a meeting with the reporter. Maybe collect some more articles and some background." Robin stated, looking at an old newspaper, skimming for more articles about the heiress.
"I guess so." Raven said, leaning back in one of the kitchen chairs. Her eyes went from the article to the doorway of the kitchen. "Oh n—"
"ROAD TRIP!" Beast boy shouted coming from the side. "Oh man! We could stay at a fancy hotel, raid the mini-bar. Walk through Gotham's streets! It would be soo—"
"No!" Raven and Robin said at the same time. Starfire and Cyborg both entered the kitchen, looking confusedly at their three friends.
"Why not?" Beast boy asked, shoulders falling, face pouting.
"Because, I'll be in and out in a matter of hours. I don't think it be wise to stay there for longer then a day." Robin said, dropping the newspaper.
"Where?" Cyborg asked, confused.
"Gotham City." Raven said looking over the same article.
"Oh Gotham is beautiful this time of year!" Starfire smiled. The four titans looked at her. "…What?"
"Star… you're confusing Metropolis with Gotham." Beast Boy said, and then turned back to Raven and Robin. "PLEASE!"
"No." They said together again.
"I think it be a good idea." Cyborg said. "Think about it… we'd all take our own transportation, we'll be able to split up. And maybe if you get another lead we could do some hardcore researching."
"I don't…" Robin started but stopped as he met Starfire's eyes. She was smiling brightly; her eyes were glittering with excitement.
"I think it be a nice break to help us figure out the Terra situation." Raven shook her head as she saw Robin melt under the Tamarian's beauty.
"Please." Beast boy and Cyborg said from behind Starfire.
Raven and Robin stared at the three. Birds of a feather…
"Fine."
()()()()()()()()()()
Raven clutched on to Beast boy tighter.
"Why are you driving my bike?!" She shouted to the boy driving.
"I'm the better driver!" He shouted back to her and sped up.
()
Starfire sighed as she drove shotgun with Cyborg. He smiled and patted the girl's arm.
"I know it's not like a motorcycle." Cyborg smiled as Starfire shook her long red hair.
"Don't worry about it, I'm happy I'm not hanging on for my life." Starfire smiled.
"I bet you wouldn't mind so much if it was Robin you were hanging on from." Cyborg smiled as Starfire's face reddened.
"I haven't a clue what you mean." Starfire said and looked out the window, specifically at a red shiny motorcycle not too far ahead of Cyborg's truck/jeep.
()
Robin stared forward, he was not amused.
Cyborg had drag Starfire away from him and Roy after the two had got into a silent battle of who would get Starfire to ride with him.
Robin was on the verge of winning until he and Roy got Cyborg's superior glare and Starfire's pouty look.
Roy.
Oh, Robin definitely hated Roy. Well… he didn't hate him. He was easily not happy with the other boy super hero. All he wanted was to have Starfire riding with him. Was that so wrong?
Robin looked in the mirror to see Roy slightly to the left of him and further down. Roy was smiling, nothing affect that boy.
Robin turned his head back around and sped up. He just wanted to vent, preferably off the road.
()()()()()()()()()()()()
Robin walked into the huge building. He fixed his shirt and adjusted his sunglasses. He saw a woman behind a huge desk, typing away. She had long brown hair with pretty brown eyes. She looked like she had been a model of sorts when she was younger.
"Excuse me?" Robin asked politely. The woman looked up and nodded at him. "Can I please speak with Robert Townsend?" Robin glanced at the article to make sure he got the right name.
The woman stared at him, before tilting her head to the side a bit. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Um… no…"
"Sorry, you need an appointment to see Mr. Townsend."
"But…"
"No."
"You don—"
"Sorry."
"B—"
"Sir, please!" The woman raised her voice from the soft whisper scolding, to a normal, angry voice. Robin glared under his glasses.
Suddenly, a tall man, with broad shoulders, a sexy grin, and a walk that would scare the devil himself, walked past them.
Robin's mouth hung ajar. The woman's angry persona drifted away and was replaced with lovesick eyes and a brilliant smile.
"A good meeting Mr. Wayne?"
"Very productive. Thank you Sophie. Have a wonderful day." Mr. Wayne smiled.
Sophie giggled and nodded. "You too Mr. Wayne."
Robin watched as his mentor walked right past him and out the door. It took a matter of seconds for Robin to go rushing out of the doors and after Bruce.
He jumped in front of Bruce and stared at him.
"Yes?" Bruce asked, a bit confused.
"Hey Bruce…" Robin stood straight and gave a wiry grin, "How's the whole lonely hero thing coming along?"
()()()()()()()()
"My, my, my… how have you grown Master Dick." Alfred smiled as he opened the door for Bruce and Robin.
"Yeah, well…" Robin chuckled a bit scratching his head.
"Take those ridiculous things off… it's dark enough in here." Bruce said, in a light tone, that really wasn't that light.
Robin gently removed the tinted glasses and allowed himself a few minutes to adjust to the poor lighting of Wayne Manner.
"What brings you to Gotham, young hero." Alfred smiled, placing two glasses of ice tea in front of Bruce and Robin.
"Big case." Robin said, sipping his drink, he saw Bruce's familiar look, and quickly swallowed. "You see… we defeated our main enemy last year… but his apprentice of sorts seemed to slip through our fingers and now she's after us again. Star…Starfire… found an article that you believe to be the girl. But since I can't talk to the repo—"
"Let me see the article." Robin pulled the paper from his pocket and handed it to his mentor. He watched as Bruce's eyes flew across the paper, skimming for the most important details. "Vale Firma." ((Pronounced: Veil, i.e.: The groom lifted the Bride's veil. Firma… as it looks, merci beacoup.))
"What?"
"The heiress in this article is Vale Firma, she seemed to grow nicely into Society. She's attending the Gotham Benefit Party tomorrow at the Hôtel Riche de Diamant."
"Are you serious?" Robin looked at the dark man. He did not plan to stay over night.
"Very. I guess this means we're having a sleep over."
()()()()()()()()()()
Robin sat at the large dinning table with articles and a note pad near him, along with his sunglasses placed on. He had been up for an hour and had just finished breakfast.
"Morning, morning." He looked up to see Beast boy and Starfire walk into the dinning room.
"Morning." Starfire yawned and sat next to Robin placing her head gently on his shoulder. Beast boy sat across from the two and was looking at one of the articles.
"Millions, huh?" Beast mumbled.
"More then millions." Robin said, placing his pencil down.
"Yay… we're all up." Raven said rubbing her temples. She sat down at the head of the table, placing her head down.
"Didn't sleep well?" Robin asked.
"On the contrary. I slept like a brick." Raven continued to gently tap her head on the table. "I'm just not use to it. I didn't even wake to have my tea and read a little."
"You read in the middle of the night? Freak." Cyborg came in sitting next to Beast boy.
"She's not a freak!" Beast boy said, glaring at Cyborg. The table hushed quickly. Beast boy began turning an interesting red. "I mean… come on… we're all freaks."
"Morning." They turned to see Roy walking in, rubbing his eyes.
"Good everyone's up." Robin looked around the table, besides the gently tapping of Raven's head, Beast boy's tomato red face, Cyborg's bored expression, Roy's itchy eyes, and Star's hair tickling Robin's back, they were ready for anything. "Sort-of."
"What do you need to talk about at this hour?" Raven said, stopping the tapping but not picking up her head.
"We need a plan of action for tonight." Robin said. Starfire was now sitting up doodling on his note pad.
"Obviously your going." Starfire said, not looking up. "They'll know you."
"But I can't go alone." Robin said, in his whining voice.
"We can't go, dude." Beast boy said, leaning back in his chair. "We'll stick out like snowmen in the middle of summer."
"I'll go." The table turned and stared at Roy.
"What?" The five asked, confused.
"She doesn't know who I am. She saw me in superhero persona. All she thinks of me is a guy in a silly costume."
"He has a point." Raven said, placing her head back down.
"…He's a boy…" Robin said.
"Thanks man." Roy gave a thumbs up.
"Say he's your brother… or better yet your clone that's slowly but surely taking over the world while he steals the world of all the beautiful red—" Cyborg covered Beast boy's mouth.
"Say he's your cousin and be done with it." Cyborg said as Beast rambled into the hybrid's hand.
"…Fine." Robin said, and went back to reading an article.
()()()()()()()()
Robin and Roy were looking through fifty to a million tuxes for the party in mere hours. The boys had gone through every known color in men's fashion and some that were, well… straight from the rainbow.
"I wonder what the others are up too?" Roy said, looking at a green vest.
"Hopefully something more fun then this…" Robin said tossing aside a blue sports jacket.
()
"Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you? Can you?" Bruce stared at the green changeling as he begged. "I mean it be the best present in the world for Robin. And it's a surprise, so SHHH! And you'd have so much fun, there'll be cake! Lots of cake! You like cake, right? I like cake. I mean come on its cake!"
Bruce moved his chair a bit and turned to Raven who was looking at her book. They were in one of Bruce's many offices, asking about Robin's party.
"Next time he asks if there's any coffee…" Bruce looked over at Raven who made a dramatic pause to look at Beast boy who was talking a mile a minute. "Lie."
"Mr. Wayne…?" Starfire opened the door and looked at her two friends. "Oh… I'm sor—"
"No, no… please come in… Starfire, is it?" Bruce said. Waving her in.
"Yes…" She looked at Beast boy and then Raven.
"He had one too many cups of coffee." Raven began dragging the green boy away.
"How many is one too many?" Starfire questioned.
"About twelve." Raven said, dragging the rambling changeling out of the room.
"How can I help you, Starfire?" Bruce said, making himself more comfortable.
"Well… I know Beast boy was asking you about Robin's party and—"
"You wanted to know if I could come?" Bruce said, looking at a black book of sorts.
"Yes, actually, I was hoping you would come." Starfire smiled softly, getting up and looking at the various things in Bruce's office.
"I guess I could stop in and surprise the boy. It be nice to see him without there being a crime as an excuse."
"…Or pretending to see him as the excuse." Starfire, smiled a bit as Bruce nodded slightly. She stopped as she came to a picture of Bruce with a younger boy, neat tidy black hair, sparkling blue eyes, the two seemed to have just come back from fishing; the boy having caught the bigger fish. "Who is that?"
"Dick… that was about five years ago… I suppose." Bruce said, scribbling something down.
"I never knew he had blue eyes." Starfire said quietly.
"How did you not know that?" Bruce asked, looking up.
"Because, Robin likes playing masquerade. You can't get hurt when no one knows who you are."
()()()()()()()()
Robin and Roy sat in the limo. Roy was looking out the tinted windows at the dark, empty streets of Gotham. He smiled as they placed small stores, and large stores. As other limos seem to follow them.
"Wow." He gasped as they past a rather tall building.
"Yep, that's Gotham for ya." Robin said, nodding his head.
He was looking forward, playing with his cuff lings. He was wearing a black tux with a yellow vest and tie. His eyes were naked, bare without his dark sunglasses. His hair was somewhat controlled but still gave off a wild, carefree style.
Roy was in a dark green suit with a darker green vest and tie. His orange hair was combed to his side as his gray/green eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Why is this so exciting to you?" Robin asked.
"Because, I'm on a big adventure with the Titans." Roy smiled. He was so… naïve.
"It's not an adventure, it's a case. We have to… lock her up." Robin said, straightening his jacket. Roy nodded a bit.
"We're here!" Robin looked out the window to the large hotel. He remembered functions like this. It was definitely not going to be an exciting night.
()
The two walked into a huge room, give or take fifteen stories up. Robin looked around, familiar faces were talking and laughing, telling stories about stock and cheating spouses. Diamonds dripped from overly made-up women, as wealth was apparent to every man.
Robin's eyes landed on Bruce who was nodding to the woman talking to him. Robin smirked a bit. Bruce's eyes wandered to Robin, and he nodded and then pointed with his eyes to a table off to the side. Robin began to drag Roy to the table, and sat down, scanning the room.
"Look at all the money." Roy said.
"Have you not been around wealthy people?" Robin asked.
"Not like this." Robin shook his head and continued scanning.
Roy was looking at the pretty girls, and the large nose men. "I wonder where your little friend is?"
"Right there." Robin pointed to a circle of guys.
In the center was a beautiful girl. Blonde hair up in some expensive hair-do. Light pink-ish make-up to accent her pink dress, which fell to the floor with glitter. Pink diamond-looking jewelry that suggested nothing but the best.
"Isn't she your average debutant." Roy said, leaning back in his chair.
"She's much more then a debutant to these people, she's an heiress." Robin said.
"With the way she's acting you'd think she inherited the Earth." Roy said watching as she laughed and did fleeting acts of flirtation.
Robin shook his head. "You know we gave her a home, friends, love, trust and she just…" Robin stopped as he noticed Roy not looking at him, or paying him any attention. He followed the boy's eyes till they landed on a girl across the room.
She had cinnamon brown hair, twisted up with curls and little diamond accessories in her hair. She was wearing a beige dress the accented her olive skin. She had brilliant black/purple eyes that sparkled as she walked around. She had pearls around her neck and her wrist.
"Whoa." The boys said together. They looked at each other and then back at the girl.
"I call her." Roy raised his hand a bit as she looked at them and smiled and began walking towards them.
"I'm sure Starfire would love to hear about you calling a girl." Robin said, staring at the girl something tingling in the back of his mind.
"Trust me, she'd love it more to find out how you can't keep your eyes off of said girl." Roy said just as challenging. Robin moved his eyes from the girl to Roy and then the floor.
The girl stopped about a foot from the two and smiled brightly.
"Hi!"
"Hi." The two said together.
"Um…" The girl looked at Robin and put out her hand. "Can I have this dance?"
"…Ok." Robin's voice cracked slightly. Roy looked between the two before walking back to the table. The girl smiled a bit.
"I hope he's not too offended." She whispered softly as she and Robin made there way to the floor.
Robin looked back and glanced at Roy. "He'll be fine." He smiled at the girl.
"Ok, good." She laughed a bit.
Their eyes met as they danced to the soft melodies of the band. The girl smiled and gently pushed some of Robin's hair from his eyes.
"I forgot how pretty your eyes sparkled at night." She smiled.
Robin looked at her, confused. "Thank you?"
"You don't remember me, do you?" The girl smiled. "Come on, we schooled together, hung out all the time. Bruce and my father joked how we would get married one day. Remember?"
Robin stared at the girl. And the tingling sensation seemed to disappear. Robin got a rush of memories. Swimming in the lake while the girl splashed the cold water at him as he sat on the beach. Drinking lemonade as Bruce and her father talked. Playing cards at one of the tables during the formal receptions and parties. They were best friend, four/five years ago. She was the first girl he ever liked, a lot, and the first he ever kissed.
"Avery?"