" T,
I know your name
I know your past
If you want it a secret.
The red light outside the Tower 3 am
Yours,
S."
Virtue re-read the letter a million times that afternoon. Each time her throat getting a little bit drier. Heart beating a little bit faster. At dinner time she heard a knock on the door. Virtue set the letter carefully on her bed and stepped over to the door. Opening it just a crack.
"Hello friend Virtue," said Starfire's smiling face. Hovering just off the floor she then let her smile fade. "I have come to tell you that Beastboy has prepared the evening meal for us all. But friend Raven's believes that you would not wish to join us." She paused and touched ground lightly, head hanging; she peered through a curtain of think red hair, "Are you troubled Virtue?"
Virtue felt her heart squish into a ping pong ball. She forced herself to smile even though her clear blue eyes weren't in it.
"Nonsense Star! I'd love to come for dinner" She grinned wider in her snaggletoothed glory. She grabs the Tameranian's arm and pulled her towards the kitchen, "Come on! Let's got prove Raven wrong!"
Starfire giggled happily and flew along. Oblivious to her friend's unease.
Robin however was not. He'd been watching her room since that morning. Listening to her pace and sigh and slam things around. But finally he had an opening. Silent as a shadow he slipped through her half open door. He spotted the letter lying open faced on the bedspread and lifted it silently to the light. A barely voiced whisper read it like a question….
" 'T, I know your name. I know your past If you want it a secret. The red light outside the Tower 3 am. Yours, S.'?"
He re-read it again then set it down exactly where he'd picked it up with a grim nod. Knowing where he'd be at 3 am….
Virtue lay in bed fully dressed in her badly sewn uniform. Her bedcovers rumpled up down by her feet and her head turned to watch the digital clock at her bed side. Neon green numbers 2, 5 and 4 glow in inky darkness. Despite the time Virtue's clear blue eyes are alert. Blinking slowly, breathing steady. Finally the numbers flip to 2:55 and Virtue sits straight up.
"That's enough" she whispers to the clock harshly. Glancing out the window she picks a blanket off her bed and throws it over her shoulders. Creeping to her window she hops out into the night air. Using the force of energy to cushion her fall. Her boots tap the ground gently. She pulls her blanket tighter around her frame and scans the horizon. After a moment a red light begins to burn near the water. Virtue sighs and heads towards it slowly. Singing a soft and mournful tune. "I sense there's something in the wind that feels like tragedy's at hand. And though I'd like to stand by him, can't shake this feeling that I have. The worst it just around the bend…." She trails off to a light hum as she makes her way to her 'S'.
Robin had come outside at 2:30…. Sitting, watching, waiting and creeping around the tower. Finally he saw the red light go up. In a few moments her spotted Virtue, swaddled in a patchwork quilt, stumbling along and singing softly. Silently, he began to follow her. But only form a distance.
Virtue finally came to a large rock, the rich red glow washing over her. Standing atop the rock was a face familiar to both herself and to the Boy Wonder hiding in the shadows.
"Hello Speedy" The masked red-haired boy grinned at Virtue's tired voice.
"Bit past your bedtime sweetheart?" He teased. Virtue avoided her gaze and sat down on the edge of the rock. Ignoring his question she asked,
"What is it?" her tone cold and sharp as the night air. Speedy crouched behind and -much to Robin's amazement- kissed her neck.
"You know what I want"
"Go to Hell" Virtue snarled and made a move to get up. Speedy pushed down on her shoulder with a snarl.
"Where do you think your going?"
"To BED!" she shouted it, face contorted with rage. She slapped a hand over her mouth. She had to keep quiet them she whispered harshly. Robin barely heard it. "Let me go."
"T," Speedy purred in her ears, Robin strained to hear and tried to creep forward silently. "You seem so happy up in the tower, playing house with all your little friends…" Speedy slide down to sit close beside her, leaning into her in a forced intimacy. "I know your friends….they are good people…." He reached a hand to grip Virtue's bare knee, in a sort of false comfort that made a shiver shoot down Virtue's spine. "They'd hate you know you little secret, you wouldn't want to upset them would you….I could tell them about you-"
"Stop it" Virtue cut him off, she sighed and rubbed her eyes angrily, running her hands through her hair – now loose from her pigtails, a shiny black mess- "alright….I'll put up with you for now…" her voice was sad and small…. Speedy smiled in a way that made Virtue sick to her stomach.
"There now," he said, satisfied, as he reached for her shoulder, "I knew you'd come to your senses." As he pulled her in for a kiss….
Robin looked away a blush on his cheeks. This was the last thing he wanted to see tonight. As quiet as a mouse her snuck back to the tower, turning his back just before a hot tear slide down Virtue's cheek….
A/N: sorry for the long wait between chapters... see I told you there would be drama! Apologies to any Speedy fans I may have offended, I don't know much about him so I want to create a sort of 'Evil Robin' kind of personality...he was too identical to Robin anyways... To my reveiwers:
GIRluver and Shadeshine: glad you liked it! hope you'll keep reading!
Taraakatraitor: What's wrong with Virtue? I think it's a great name! oh well you don't have to worry because it's obviously not her real name... ((I'll give you a hint, it starts with a 'T' ;) ))
Till Next time,
NK
