Chapter 21: Silver and Gold
Robin woke up automatically at the same time he always used to get up. The glowing red numbers on Raven's digital clock read "6:00."
'Wait...RAVEN'S digital clock?' he thought. Then he remembered why he was in here. 'I hope she's feeling better today. I hate to see her in pain. Maybe I should get up so she won't freak out when she sees me here next to her. Oh well. I don't feel like moving.'
Raven stirred, her eyes fluttered open. Robin had his arms around her slender waist, and he was watching her wake up.
"Robin...why are you in here?" she asked. '...not that I really mind,' she thought.
"You collapsed after kicking Anaisaku out of the tower. Cyborg carried you into here and I followed. I didn't want to leave you here by yourself," Robin answered. He stroked her face.
Raven seemed to smile, then she scowled. "I can take care of myself, you know."
"But you couldn't have defeated our father without him. Which is why you both have to die. You're too dangerous," said a voice from just inside the doorway.
"Odium! What are you doing!" Raven exclaimed.
"We're here to kill you and that human, Robin. We lied to you, and now you'll pay for killing our father!" Vastus shouted from behind Odium.
"Why did I ever trust you?" Raven growled. "You're just like my father. Arrogant, self-centered, decieving, and totally evil! I should have killed you when I had the chance."
"That phrase doesn't work. You know why? Because you never had a chance to kill us," Vastus taunted. "You're too weak to hurt us. Usually your powers are stronger than both of ours combined, but now you're weak!"
"Hey Vastus? My powers are different from yours. They don't take a week to regenerate," Raven said smugly.
"How...how long do they take to regenerate?" Odium asked, fearing the answer.
"Usually, about one night," Raven said, smirking. "Azarath Metrion Zynthos!" she shouted. Her siblings were ingulfed in negative energy, unable to move or escape.
"What are you going to do with them?" Robin asked Raven. She was concentrating on keeping the two evil half-demons restrained.
"Uh..." Sweat broke out on her forehead. It was extremely difficult for her to maintain this level of energy output. "Robin, can we join?"
"Sure." The two vampires closed their eyes, and their essences mixed together. With a bright flash of light, the two were one.
"We feel so much more powerful when we're Nightwing," they said. "We mean, I feel, I mean..." They were confused. Being Nightwing meant they were the same, together. So it felt natural to refer to themselves as "we." But they still retained their individuality.
"Oh, well. We'll deal with this paradox later. Help us control Vastus and Odium," Raven said. Or rather, Nightwing said. "I mean, help me control them."
'Robin' responded, "Gladly. Where should we banish them to?"
"Hmmm...Siberia?" 'Raven' suggested.
"No, I was thinking maybe they shouldn't stay on earth. Maybe we can imprison them in a book. You know, like Malchior?" 'Robin' asked.
"That's a good idea. What book should we use?" 'Raven wondered.
"How about...um...I know! Let's use this one!" 'Robin' said as he made their shared form pick a book off of Raven's bookshelf.
"The Dark is Rising," 'Raven' read the title out loud. "I don't know, I kind of like that book. Oh well. I suppose it's as good as any book. Ok, let's trap them in it!"
Nightwing forced them into the book. They decided to put a spell on the book so that they can always watch what Odium and Vastus are doing in their prison.
"We have more power. I think the spell didn't work the same as it did last time," 'Raven' said. "I think they are actually characters in the book now. Whatever. C'mon. let's part."
Light flashed and they were back in their own individual forms.
"Raven, I'll be right back. I need to get something from my room," Robin said. Raven nodded and he sprinted away.
A few minutes later he returned, holding something small behind his back. Kumi, Raven's cat, woke up from her nap and started weaving around Robin's feet. Raven was standing in the center of her room, wondering what he went to get. Her eyes widened as he got down on one knee in front of her.
"Raven, will you marry me?" He held out a box with a beautiful ring inside. It was made of silver and gold, in a woven pattern, and it had 6 tiny amethysts around one larger diamond. But the ring was broken. There was dust on it. "I'm so sorry, Raven. I bought you this ring, I had it custom made for you. It was perfect. But my room was damaged during the battle, and the ring got messed up. I'm SO sorry! I should go buy you a new one. This is..."
Raven silenced him with a kiss. After a few seconds she pulled away, took his hand, and said, "Robin, silver and gold don't mean anything to me. I love you, and all that matters to me is that you love me back. I think it's a very kind gesture to get me such a beautiful ring, and I regret that it was damaged. But all the riches in the world mean nothing compared to how much I love you. And yes, I will marry you."
Robin smiled, happier than he had ever been before. "You know, I kind of guessed that you would feel that way. That's why the ring was intended as something so other people can know we're engaged. I'm proud of you, and you know how much of a show-off I am." Raven smiled, and he grinned. "So, I'm going to buy you a new ring. Identical to this one."
"Thank you Robin. You're the best," Raven said, and they embraced. "So when is the wedding?" she whispered in his ear.
"Whenever you want it, and the sooner the better," Robin whispered back.
