A/N) More! I hope you like it! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed – more at the bottom :D you all totally made my day. So I am most definitely going to be fudging some of Bats' and Robin's interactions, going off what I know/can remember about Bats and Robin and their alter egos.
Edit2: its STILL insisting on eating a section towards the end. Trying to re-reload. grrrrrr.
Chapter 2 ( Electric boogaloo!)
Dick Grayson blinked as the early morning sun found its way through his drapes. He stretched and yawned, inhaling the familiar smell of his Wayne Manor room; cedar from his closet, wood polish, a hint of sea air from outside. Added to this was the scent of disuse he'd found when he had first moved in. His room was spotless and hardly dusty, but like much of the mansion before he'd arrived, it no longer smelled lived in. Dick climbed out of bed and put on a pair of jeans and a dark blue t-shirt then quickly ran fingers through his hair giving it its customary spikiness. Yawning, he made his way downstairs for breakfast.
The kitchen smelled of cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs and pancakes. "Smells good," he said appreciatively. Bruce set down the morning paper and greeted him as the youth sat down.
"Sleep well?" Wayne took a sip of coffee while he waited for Grayson to finish yawning once again and answer.
"Yep," he nodded and helped himself to a roll from the plate on the kitchen table. "Spending a day riding on a motorcycle isn't that much fun," he smiled, "A shower and some sleep was fantastic. So what's up?" he took a bite of the roll and found Alfred's cooking to be every bit as good as it was when he'd last tasted it.
"The board of directors is having a formal dinner at the Gotham Ritz . Mrs. Bezetter hasn't seen you for some time. It was...heavily implied that I should bring you."
Dick groaned, causing his friend to smirk. Mrs. Olivia Bezetter was an (ancient in Dick's opinion) heiress who'd inherited a place on the Wayne corp. Board after her husband had passed some ten years before. Her actual role was rather small in the grand scheme of things, but she seemed to delight in mothering the younger members - including Bruce, and through him, Dick. She had to be eighty and Dick swore up and down that her perfume of choice was twice that age His first encounter with the woman was at a similar board dinner just after he'd first come to Wayne Manor. He'd been lifted off his feet in a surprisingly strong hug and smothered in the smell of musty perfume and furs while her dog yapped at her feet. She'd set him down and smoothed his spiked hair, speaking to him as if he were a small child. She'd then dragged him around the room making introductions and, in the way of those convinced they know it all and know it all better than everyone else, had asked him lots of questions before answering them herself a few moments later.
"Couldn't you have just said I was still in school? Or studying abroad or something?" Dick asked, morosely.
Bruce shook his head. "That's what I told her the last several times she's asked. Some of the others were asking after you,"
Dick poured syrup on a stack of pancakes and grumbled, "What, they think you have me locked away some place when I'm not in school?" Bruce shrugged.
"Who knows? It isn't mandatory that you come, you know." Dick arched a critical eyebrow. It wasn't mandatory but Dick knew he'd go anyway and Bruce knew he would. Bruce could have made another excuse but he hadn't. The truth was that Bruce had wanted to see his protégée again; to catch up and see how he was progressing. Dick knew it, Bruce knew it, but as their relationship was anything but touchy-feely neither voiced the truth and went along with the convenient excuse of the formal dinner.
"Nah, I'll go. You'll die of boredom or Mrs. Bezetter's pestering if I don't," Grayson joked. "Who's minding the store?"
"Barb." Dick nodded. 'Barb' as in Barbara Gordon, as in the commissioner's daughter, as in Batgirl. "The party is in honor of the new science labs we helped build at the university." Dick nodded again.
He finished the stack of pancakes and sat back, feeling completely stuffed. "Thanks Alfred." The butler nodded as he removed the plate.
"Don't get food like this in Jump City?" Bruce asked. Dick shook his head with a small grin.
"Breakfast usually resembles a battlefield," he said wryly. "One of my roommates is vegan and insists everyone eat tofu. Another thinks breakfast is about eating as many artery clogging things as possible. The third usually skips breakfast entirely and just drinks tea in the morning and the last is uhm, foreign. Her idea of breakfast is...odd."
"Odd?"
"Well, let's put it this way, she drinks mustard."
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At ten minutes to ten Beast Boy yelped and tried to hide under the couch. He scrambled unsuccessfully for a minute before he remembered he could shift shape, then slithered under as an emerald colored snake. Raven's hand darted out and caught the end of his tail before it disappeared under the couch. She tugged him out and held him up until he was eye level.
"It's pointless to hide under the couch. They're here and they are your parents."
"Yeah man. It's not like they're Plasmus or Slade or something," Cyborg added as Raven set Beast Boy back down on the couch. He shifted back into his usual form.
"You have faced far worse adversaries with a single liner,"
"One liner," Raven corrected Starfire.
"Yes. You have faced enemies with a one liner joke and have not run. It is most unlike you to run from your parents."
"You're right. Maybe I am making a bigger deal out of this than I should." Beast Boy stood and scratched the back of his head, a bit ashamed of his behavior.
"Yeah, man. Hey look, we'll all come down and meet them ok?" Cyborg offered. Starfire clasped her hands and nodded rapidly. She had yet to view a familial unit on this planet up close.
"Sure," Raven shrugged. They piled into the elevator and were soon in the entrance hall. Understanding that his school was on an island in the Jump City bay, his parents had said they would meet him at one of the bayside cafes. Raven gave Cy a lift and they all flew over to the nearest dock.
"So where are we headed?" Cyborg asked.
"The dancing goat," Beast Boy said with some distain. "Way overpriced. Bad poetry."
"Agreed," Raven said.
"You've been to a cafe?" Cyborg could see Raven at one but not Beast Boy.
"Yeah, you haven't?" Beast Boy retorted. "A key component of a Cafe is the coffee," he said loftily before scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "Chocolate mocha lattes are a guilty pleasure, what can I say?"
"I believe we have arrived." Starfire pointed to an artfully pretentious building with asymmetrical windows and a silver finish. Oddly shaped French doors opened to an outside seating area. The smell of expensive coffee swirled around them carried on a land breeze. A solitary couple sat under an overly large umbrella, talking animatedly over their coffee.
"They do not look as formidable as some of the adversaries we have placed in jail," Starfire said. She'd been expecting the couple to be...scarier. And a lot more green.
"Yeah. Hey I haven't seen them in a few years. Maybe they've heard of us. They might know about my life as a dashing super hero already." He smiled his most dashing smile. "This might not be so bad after all." he strode confidently forward.
"My baby!"
"Or not."
A middle aged woman darted forward and grabbed Beast Boy in a bone crunching hug worthy of his Tamaranian friend. The 'baby' in question blushed scarlet in embarrassment - the red bright enough to overcome the green cast of his skin.
"Garfield m'boy!" Raven, Starfire and Cyborg blinked then shared a look. Beast Boy's real name was Garfield? Cyborg bit the inside of his cheek trying hard not to laugh. Starfire stared from the family reunion to Cyborg and back again. She frowned. Why was Cyborg laughing? She began to ask but was cut off by Raven before she made a sound.
"I'll explain later," Raven said, forestalling Star's question. The alien girl nodded and clasped her hands behind her back, watching the human family. Thus far it seemed like a reunion on her own home-world, so Cyborg's apparent mirth at Beast Boy's expense confused her.
Beast Boy's mother was a fairly short woman with short, feathery, silver hair that probably had been black at one point. She wore a casual skirt and summer blouse. His father was a tall man with short salt and pepper hair and goatee. He wore oddly stylish glasses and a lightweight leather jacket. Both had a bookish air which screamed "Academic". If they were geneticists like Beast Boy said, that fit, Raven thought. She smirked; his parents were obviously smart so it was a shame Beast Boy, or Garfield rather, wasn't.
His mother's expression fell in a moment and she held him by his shoulders at arm's length. "Did you know you're wearing spandex?"
"Uh, it's not really spandex,"
"So, we noticed your school is shaped like a T," his father said with a small frown. "It's an...interesting architecture choice."
"Uhm...about that," he laughed nervously. "It's not exactly a school," Beast Boy said cowering a bit under their scrutiny.
"Not exactly a school," his mother said in an even tone which clearly stated that he needed to 'fess up and 'fess up now about whatever he was keeping from them. "Then what exactly is it?"
His father's eyes lit with comprehension. "Oh, that's not your school. Is it a building on the campus? Do you live there and take classes in a building on the mainland?"
"...No. Uh, I have a confession to make," They looked at him expectantly as he floundered around trying to think of how he could phrase it. His mother crossed her arms and fixed him with a stern look.
"Well?"
"Mom, Dad, I'm a super hero." he said, boldly, head up, chest out, ready to bear his parents' wrath. And promptly closed both eyes awaiting death - or a severe grounding. When no response came he opened first one eye then the other. They were looking at him with the same sort of bemused smile Cy and Robin often gave him when they thought he was being childish.
"Is this a sort of game, Gar?"
"No! I really am a superhero! I'm a Teen Titan." his parents looked at one another then back at their son.
"A what?"
"Is that sort of like the football team?" his mother asked. "Didn't we see a football movie about a team called the Titans?" she asked her husband.
"That would explain the spandex," his father replied, as if Beast Boy wasn't even there.
"Not much padding in that uniform though. I'm not sure I like the idea of you playing football without the correct gear, Gar."
"I'm not a football player!" He flailed his arms rapidly to get their attention. Of all the possible scenarios he'd thought of, none of them had included them not believing him. It was disconcerting to say the least.
"Rugby?" Beast Boy gave his father a withering glare. He looked over his shoulder and caught his friend's reactions out of the corner of his eye. Starfire looked confused, Raven looked mildly amused and Cyborg was probably going to explode at any moment from trying not to laugh.
"No." Sighing he placed his palms on the table. Looking from one parent to the other he explained slowly, "I. Am. A. Super hero. I do not go to a boarding school. I never went to that school. I am part of a team that stops the really, really bad guys." He pulled out his wallet and flashed a card in front of them "I'm an official city guardian!" he threw his hands up, "We have a theme song for cryin' out loud!" They blinked owlishly at him for a moment and he replaced his wallet. Sighing, Beast Boy ran a grey, gloved hand over his face. "Do you want to meet my friends?" Time for a change of tactics.
"Yes, I rather think we do." His mother said primly.
"Sounds like you might have fallen in with a bad crowd."
"What? We're the good guys! City Guardian remember? Guardian implies we guard against crooks!"
His mother frowned in worry. "Vigilante justice is dangerous, Garfield. What if you got hurt by some of those street thugs?"
"You should leave crime fighting to the police." Beast Boy withered under his father's stern words. "Where are your friends?"
"Uhm, they're standing right there?" He pointed out group of teenagers in what looked like Halloween costumes. His parents immediately smiled, however tightly. They might be the wrong sort of kids but they didn't wish to offend anyone.
"Mom, Dad, this is most of the rest of the team, Cyborg, Starfire and Raven. Robin's out of town with Batman for a few days"
"Batman?" His mother questioned. "Why are you looking at me like I've grown a second head?" the academic asked, seeing the wide-eyed look her son was giving her. The others looked similarly surprised.
"Batman? You don't know Batman?" Beast Boy flailed, physically expressing the astonishment the other teens felt. "The Dark Knight? Bats? The Caped Crusader? The masked wonder who runs around Gotham City beating up various crooks and assorted super villains?" Nothing. Not a flicker of recognition. "He wears a lot of black? A appropriately bat-like cowl? A bat bike, bat-mobile, bat-boat-"
"Is he some sort of action figure or cartoon character on tv?"
"No, Mom! He's Batman! He's only as famous as Superman!" Seeing only blank looks he sighed and shook his head. "You don't even Know- Ugh. Never mind. Guys, these are my parents. Drs. Mark and Marie Logan."
"Pleased to meetcha," Cyborg said with a grin. He politely shook both their hands.
"It is indeed an honor," Starfire stepped forward and also shook hands, pleased that she had mastered the particular earth custom.
"Hi." Raven said, less than enthusiastically, making no move forward to greet the couple.
"So, uhh you want to come over?" Beast Boy asked.
"Yes, I think we'd better. I'd like to speak with your headmaster or principle or whatever your school has." Their son face-faulted. Cyborg held back a snigger and Raven shook her head.
"Fine," he ground out between his teeth and headed off down the street towards the dock closest to the island. A short walk later led them to the dock. The Drs. Logan looked around.
"I don't see any boats. Is there a tunnel or are we waiting for a ferry?" his mother politely asked the red-headed girl with the unusual tan. She recalled her name was Starfire and wondered if that was a nick name. Starfire smiled sweetly, pleased to be the one to answer a question for once.
"Usually we fly across," she explained. The Tamaranian lifted off a few feet into the air. "Since Cyborg and Robin cannot fly, one of us usually helps the others across."
"Uh..."
"Have I explained improperly?" Earth customs were still new to the alien girl. She was terribly worried she'd broken some taboo or other. She whispered the question to her friends and held her hands anxiously.
"No," Raven assured her.
"Then why is she looking at me like I have a Tellerian water-leech stuck to my face."
".....You can fly?" Star turned in the air. Beast Boy's father had asked the question. The alien girl smiled once more and nodded.
"Yes. All Tamaranians can fly".
"Ta- Ta- Tamerwhat?"
"Tamaranian. Star's an alien," Beast Boy explained matter-of-factly. His parents' eyes widened further. Raven decided this would be the best moment to levitate as well. Predictably, the Logans stepped away from her in slight fear. She caught Beast Boy's amused smirk and suppressed one of her own. These people were hopelessly naïveté.
"Are you an alien was well?"
"No," she said as coldly as possible. The woman had no right to know anything about Raven other than that she was a Titan, in the dark girl's opinion. She wasn't sure what she thought about her teammate's parents, but thus far they had been less than impressive. Beast Boy caught her eye; his look requesting her help ferrying his parents across the water. She nodded subtly.
"So, uh, if you guys don't mind, Raven can take you across."
"O...ok," His father answered. Beast Boy gave his dad a smile which turned into a grin as black energy formed around them. His mother clung to his father's jacket sleeve as they were lifted off the ground and carried over the water. Beast Boy turned into an eagle and flew beside them. On the island, Star let Cyborg down and Raven let the Logan's down. Raven adjusted her hood so it fell over her face further - this time she couldn't hide her smirk. Freaking the couple out had been...fun. Perhaps she would tell them she was half-demon; but the timing would have to be perfect. Beast Boy shifted into his normal shape in midair and landed on two feet next to his shell shocked parents.
Feeling much more confident that they'd take the 'super hero thing' more seriously, he gestured to the massive T-shaped door. "Would you like to come in?" wordlessly they nodded.
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A/N) And thus ends ch2. if you got this far, Scroll down a bit more and Smack the button. It likes it, really
Thanks:
Bob-chan: thanks! Yes, Batman's in it He's so delightfully grouchy! And so grave when he's Batman. I see him as much lighter when he's Bruce. I really want to write something where Star does meet Bats. That'd be too funny. Not sure if I'll include it in here or as a stand alone. Perhaps an epilogue?
Anonymous type person: Whoa. This is the post positive feedback I have received for a fic ever. I was worried I wasn't doing justice since I don't have a TT beta (unlike my other fandoms where I inflict my fic on my friends with reckless abandon, heh) if my style is readable it's because I've had a number of patient souls who've whipped me into shape I've just come from a fandom where the core group of authors were scathing if you didn't write intelligently. A gauntlet, but it has greatly help me write I think. There are some good fics here if you dig around a bit. I've included a few I find enjoyable in my favorites (There are more, I've just been bad about adding them ;)
Spandexmonkey - :D reviews are So very encouraging. Thank you! I hope you like where I've gone with it.
Slayergirl1362 – thanks! Also glad you like the other fic as well :D Yeah I plan on having more Raven in this. How were BB's parent's reactions?
DBAinsw, TigerHelix, Zubby, Calisto and Cradlerobber Speedo-kun - Thank you for leaving encouraging reviews :D I hope you liked the second part as well.