Author's Note: Holy Cannoli, it's been a while. Fear not my dear readers; I have not left my beloved story! I was out of the country visiting family WHO DID NOT HAVE A COMPUTER and to say that I was going through withdrawal might be putting it a bit lightly… anyways… next chapter is almost finished so you can expect it within the week.
This chapter is a bit of a transitory chapter, so I apologize for its shortness and apparent abruptness. Bear with me though! We will be getting to the good stuff soon!
Disclaimer: "This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be!" John Cleese, Monty Python's Flying Circus
Blackbirds Singing In The Dead Of Night
He whispers my name and his voice is smoke and ash, wrapping around me like a warm cloak in the frigid darkness.
I can not see him, but I know he is everywhere, stalking me through the shadows… watching the fear he created in me with fascinated ecstasy.
The hitch of my rasping breath floods the stillness of the night air…the sound of my bare feet pounding against cold tile echoes like pleas for mercy off the harsh stone walls.
My subconscious has no idea where I am or who he is…
It does not want to know.
It doesn't care to know.
Though, if the surrealism of the environment was to be brushed aside and the fog of my mind cleared, I would know him.
I would know him well.
There's no use in attempting to escape him…he will find me… he will catch me.
I want him to catch me.
For reasons which blaze through my flesh in the humid inferno of need.
I need him to catch me.
I glance behind my naked shoulder, searching for his dangerous silhouette once more, hoping to find with my eyes what my mind knows I will not…
He is far too good of a predator.
And I am far too good of bait.
I round a corner, my body seeming to blur in the surrealism of illusory slow motion…but my endeavor to escape his perilous presence only to finds me trapped… dead ended in a room compacted in inky black…
I can see nothing…I can feel everything.
My heart beat thunders within my ears, triumphing over the sounds of my own haggard fear… a fear created not of nightmares, but of craving… of need…of emotion.
Too much emotion.
My control is so weak now…
It's only a matter of seconds before I loose myself with hazy fervor…before I give myself over completely to whatever power is threading itself through the tapestry of my being…
His warm breath smolders against the back of my neck…my body shivers... my flesh grows weak, my soul even weaker.
Calloused hands trace down my sides... slow… so agonizingly slow... catching every curve… trailing fire…
My senses are painfully heightened and I struggle to breathe under my own awareness…
I close my eyes against the flood of glorious tears choking their way through my shields…
Please, I beg him… for what I do not dare to know.
Please.
Hot lips plant firmly against my own… painfully devouring me in a passion I never thought to experience… never hoped to know…never planned to understand… never wanted to believe in…
And as I feel his chin moving hypnotically against my own, I know I shall never believe in anything but him again.
I fall in to his embrace like a hurricane… every feeling I've never allowed myself to experience pounds through my body and blood like crashing waves of pleasure against the rock of my forgotten inhibitions.
Please, my body is begging him…
Please.
As though hearing my flesh's silent pleas, he slowly pulls away from our frenzied embrace… his hot breath mingling with my own as we gasp through our physical reserves …his darkness is unreadable and yet so blatant and obvious…
Intoxicating heat radiates from his body…encapsulating me in its wondrous haze…
The darkness hides his eyes from me…hides his world from me…hides my salvation from me…
I want to experience him so wholly…
Who are you? I ask him, my voice sounding far too husky to be my own.
I feel his smirk glaring at me through the night… but he remains silent.
Who are you? I ask once more…
But my question dies in the air as terror and confusion pummel my soul to pieces…
And all I can see in the darkness is his red eyes burning like embers back at me.
Lightening strikes nearby, illuminating the pitch black room and creating distorted shadows across the walls. Rain pounds heavily against the window pane across from me, threatening to break the glass in to a million pieces with it ferocity. The thunder reverberates through my entire being… shaking my bones as though trying to awaken me from a deep slumber.
It's late. I know it is… the grandfather clock beside the door corroborates this fact, taunting me with it rhythmic ticking... telling me I should be sleeping, or at least attempting too. Yeah, yeah… try telling whoever operates my dreams that…
I place my hand to my forehead and feel the sweat upon my brow. My nightmares are getting worse… more vivid… more affecting. I don't know how to stop them… and what's worse is that a very real and very dangerous part of my hidden soul doesn't want them to stop…
Sighing heavily, I shake my mind of thoughts and fears before tossing the heavy crimson covers off my sweaty body. Gross.
BB's dress shirt sticks uncomfortably to my hot flesh and for a moment the temptation to just be rid of clothes all together drifts persuasively across my tired mind. Certainly would give the rest of the house a shock…
Languidly, I throw my bare legs over the side of the guest bed, my knuckles digging deeply in to the soft mattress as I hoist myself up and in to a vaguely horizontal position.
Regardless of the intricate Oriental rug that stretches across most of the room, the ground beneath my feet is bitter and provides a refreshing coolant to my overheated flesh. I never knew a person could sweat this much…and that's coming from a girl whose father is in the 'Eternal Inferno' business…
Gradually, I make my way over to the large bay window, stretching my limbs out like a feline as I do. My body is stiff and sore from my restless dreams, and my head throbs with the pain of an evolving headache…
At least my job as a crime fighter is on hold tonight, I think numbly as I rub my temples in a futile effort to still the imminent pain.
Lightening strikes violently once more just as I approach the intended window, startling me with its brutal proximity. Angry thunder erupts without delay… the hair on the back of my neck stands up straight and my arms chill in to goose bumps.
For a moment, the grounds of Wayne Manor are intensely lit with only the trees casting demonic shadows all across the lawn… and, for just a split second, to my alarmed eyes, I swear I can see the ghost of Batman sprinting like hatred and vengeance through the pouring rain… Even in death the man doesn't take a holiday.
I close my eyes to block out the unwanted image, reminding myself that such a thing would be impossible and completely absurd… and, once I have satisfactorily convinced myself of the darks' deceptive ways, I allow my eyelids to flutter open once more….
An unpreventable gasp of astonishment escapes my lips when my sight falls upon the eerie light of the Bat Signal dancing across the storm clouds, mocking my previous convictions with its luminescent spirit… I guess this means whoever operates that thing is currently not 'in-the-know'…
A large part of me desperately hopes that Robin is sound asleep in his bed and has not seen this aching reminder of his teachers passing… I do not even want to think about what kind of affect such a sight might have on his transient psyche… and what's more is that he would undoubtedly be tempted to answer the Signal's plea for aide and, in his current emotional condition, any fight Robin were to engage in would definitely not be in his favor…
Who will answer the Bat Signal now?
Hurriedly, I turn away from the window, reaffirming my previous pledge to myself of no crime fighting whatsoever tonight as I start padding silently towards the bedroom door, having now decided that at this moment the only thing I could honestly do with is a steaming cup of Wayne Manors' truly awful tea… Someone else will see to the Bat Signal… isn't the entire Justice League in town? I am sure one of them will take care of it…
A nagging part of my mind begins to fret for no apparent reason as I softly exit the guest room and enter in to the dark hallway; making pains to keep my movements as quiet as possible in order to avoid the prospect, regardless of how remote, of awaking any sleeping members of the household.
I begin to levitate down the hall, stopping for a moment outside Robin's door… and finding myself anxious for a reason, any reason at all, to knock and see how he is… but I still my traitorous hand before it awakens him on its own accord. There is no need to wake him… he needs to sleep… he shouldn't see the Signal anyway…
My hand drops back down to my side, and I rub my temples once more before continuing down the hall and grand center stairs.
I pause for only a heartbeat at the foot of the staircase to access the kitchen's location before slowly floating towards it. A curious light is omitting from within and I automatically assume that I am not alone in my nighttime cravings.
Swiftly, I thrust open the heavy, wooden door and my senses are instantly assaulted by a wave depression emitting from a very melancholy blonde.
Selina is sitting calmly on the countertop across the way, her chin resting on her knees as she stares blankly out the small window… watching the storm and undoubtedly the Bat Signal. Her long cerulean nightgown washes over the edge of the counter, its silk contours catching the light and creating the illusion of a flowing waterfall…
She shows no indication of having noticed my entrance….
"Selina?" I venture gently as to not startle her.
She slowly turns to face me, tears streaking down her porcelain face like rain flowing down a window pane. "Raven?" She asks her voice showing no indication of the emotion she is feeling, "What are you doing awake? You should be in bed."
Thanks for that assessment, mom. "The thunderstorm," I lie, "it woke me up."
She nods her head in understanding, not even questioning my integrity, "Did you want something to drink? I could make some tea…"
I raise my hand to still her motions are she moves to stand, "I can get it, Selina."
She smiles a little and stays seated as I quickly make myself a cup of tea. Her gaze once more directs out the window and she sighs deeply, "I suppose Gotham will have to find itself a new Batman."
I make certain to rest my gaze on anything but Selina. "I guess so," I corroborate halfheartedly as I stir my tea, watching the small whirlpool my motions create with a faint interest before picking the cup up and slowly joining Selina by the window, which provides an agonizingly clear view of the ghostly Bat Signal.
"You know Dick was trained to take over for Bruce someday," Selina voices, her head pivoting to assess my reaction to this anticipated news.
I raise my eyebrow and take a lengthy sip of my tea in an effort to organize my thoughts before answering, "Yes, I had figured that."
She rests her head on her knees again, making herself look much younger than her years, before expelling a long breath, "I told him, Raven."
I stare at her for a moment before setting my cup down on the counter, "About the baby?"
She just nods miserably and buries her face farther in to her silk gown.
Oh God… "How did he take it?"
She lets out a watery laugh, "Surprisingly well… minus the initial shock, I suppose."
For some reason I find myself beginning to panic blindly. Something's wrong… something's off… "Did he say anything? Anything at all?"
Selina looks up at me her eyes displaying her confusion at my alarm, "Not really. He seemed a bit odd, I confess, but nothing to be worried about."
But I can not reply… a lump has formed too deeply within my throat as my eyes fixate on the grey patch of clouds that had previously flaunted the Bat Signal. Panic swamps my entire system… Oh no…oh please no…
Selina notices it too, "That's odd… the Bat Signal is usually only turned off once answered-"
By the time the last word exits her lips; I'm already halfway out the door. Oh God, Robin, please tell me you're not this brainless.
I swiftly fly up the stairs and down the hall. I don't bother knocking on Robin's door before using my telekinesis to blow it off its hinges, "Robin? Robin!"
I flip on the light switch, only to have my fears confirmed. "Oh no," I whisper aloud as I stare at his empty bed. A flash of the ghostly apparition of Batman I had seen outside my window races through my heavy mind…How could I have been so thick?
Just as I spin around to leave his room, Selina comes sprinting in, "Raven, what's going-" she goes silent a moment as she notices Robin's empty room and her eyes go wide as she realizes its implications, "Oh God… he's gone out to answer the Signal hasn't he?"
I don't bother answering her question, "I have to go after him. He could get himself killed…" I move to start out the door, but Selina grabs my shoulder.
I spin around to face her, my face set in stony resolve, expecting some sort of admonishment and lecture about how dangerous and foolish I'm being chasing after Robin in a severe storm to face God only knows what menaces… but instead all I can see in her jaded eyes is a profound appreciation for my need to find him…
She takes off her blue robe and hands it to me, "Take this…it's warmer than it looks."
I take it from her and quickly put it on, the sweet smell of fragrant jasmine softly washing over my senses as I do… I look up in to her weary eyes and try my hardest to express through my own gaze my intense gratitude. Thank you.
"Be careful," she squeezes my shoulder and smiles sadly at me.
I return the smile and, without another word, shadow myself out of Wayne Manor to find Robin before it's too late.
To be continued!
Val-Creative: Thank you so much for reviewing! I love seeing new people enjoying my little ficie! I haven't seen all the TT eppy's either… in fact I've probably seen about 7 or 8 of them in total… I'm glad you think I have a good grasp on their character though! I get all warm and fuzzy when people say that! Actually, Selina's pregnancy is not an original idea… in one set of comic's (I don't remember which one) she and Bruce did have a child together… I'm just playing off that story arc. Sorry about Batty dying by-the-by… but, sigh, it had to be done. My story is basically one big statement about how, short of Batman's death, Robin and Raven will sadly never realize they are PERFECT for each other. Keep reading!
BurningDeath: Thank you for reviewing! I love seeing new people are reading! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Lost1n7heDark: Glad you like! Hope you keep reading and enjoying!
Juliachan: So glad to see you are enjoying my baby so much! Selina has always been one of my favorite characters and you just never see too much of her… I have to tell you that I am just all a-glow by your lovely review this time, my friend. You make me feel quite speechless myself. And I quite humbly thank you for choosing my story as your favorite. I really hope I can continue to make you happy!
HermioneGranger22491: Love you name by-the-by… I'm a HP fan myself. Anyways, thank you so much for your lovely reviews… I always love to see new people enjoying my story. And as for Robin's eyes… well I don't know why, but I always kind of envisioned blueberry… you know, kind of blue, kind of purple… I hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Shschick07: I am totally hyped that I am your favorite TT author. Seriously, I'm all a-blush. I'm so beyond excited that I am an inspiration for you to write your own stories. The best advice that I can give (although I myself have a hard time following it…) is to try and keep the Titans in character… You know, instead of having the characters create situations by acting out… have situations and then let the characters react to them. Yeah, that's the best advice I can give… too many authors like to change the characters to fit their story arcs and it makes for boring reading sometimes… but as I said, nobody is perfect and I certainly understand having to make the characters act out a bit. Anyway, hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Azarathangel: I agree, Robin/Raven ARE the best couple. They just have so much more depth then the rest of the brood… Anyways, is there any specific story or yours that you wanted me to check out? Or just all of them? (Either way I don't mind… I just wanted to make sure before I started reading.) Hope you continue to enjoy!
Azarathgirl: Hey, nobody enjoys lying more than me so I understand. Lying is the most fun a girl can have with her clothes on! Hehe. Keep me updated on the whole situation… it's pretty interesting even for someone who doesn't know you all. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Sprox: Oh yea! I am on someone's favorites list! I'm so excited now. I am so glad I've made you laugh a few times. Raven can be one funny chick. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Gentlewriter: And I love you for loving my story! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Rubianca: I am so glad that I made you happy simply by updating! That totally makes my day. Yeah Robin and redheads… what IS with that? I was pretty excited about the JLA making cameo appearances… so fun to play with. Hope you continue to review… you are one of my favorite reviewers! And of course I hope I can keep you pleased!
Mysti-eyed: Selina is a fun character to play with… glad you liked her and Raven's conversation. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Titan Newbie: Okay, can I just tell you that you have made me strut around my house for the last half an hour, earning me strange glances from everyone… which ROCKS! Thank you so so so so so much for your hugely awesome review… though I honestly don't think I deserve the praise! In fact now I'm all paranoid that I'll wind up letting you down! Eek! There goes my ulcer! Hehe. Batman's death was actually probably the easier of the story arcs I've dealt with in writing this fic… but keep telling me I'm doing a good job anyway. Haha. I really hope that I can keep up my story for you and that you continue to read and enjoy!
TwistedDream: Thank you for your lovely review! I am so glad you like my writing style; I was worried some people might think it was weird or something so it rocks whenever I am told people like it. I am so glad that you feel inside Raven's mind… that is EXACTLY what I wanted so it is so cool to be told when I am succeeding. I am actually basing Raven's character heavily on who I was when I was in the 10th and 11th grade… so you and I would probably have gotten along well if you are like her! Hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Connie: Thanks! I always love seeing new people reviewing! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Child of Blood: If you do ambush the TT animators I personally will be there with you, holding a super soaker and threatening massive destruction a-la aqua if your demands aren't met! Hehe. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Lunauc: Thank you so much for your review! I agree that behind his mask Robin is probably very dark and tormented… mmm sounds hot. Haha. And yes Raven is a FAR better fit. We can see it, why can't the writers? Hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Zaire: Thank you! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Sangofanatic: Thank you so very much! Hope this update was soon enough for you!
Solitaire parker: You totally rock for thinking I totally rock! Glad to see you are enjoying, hope you continue to!
Blaze-firestorm: Thank you! Please don't cry! I promise my updates may take longer than even I would like, but eventually they do come! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Raggedywings: Thanks! I laughed when I realized Robin had a thing with redheads… I just had to mention it somewhere in this story… Hope you continue to enjoy!
Dove of Night: Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like my style of writing and I hope I can continue to hold your interest!
Linnath: Thanks! I always get a bit big headed when people like the way I write! I hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Ally127: Glad you like my 1st person narrative. When I began this story I was afraid people wouldn't like it, so it always feels good to see that people do! Hope you continue to enjoy!
Hollywoodstarsandeves: Yeah… I still don't understand Robin and redheads… doubt I ever will. Selina and Bruce actually had a child together in the comics somewhere… so that idea isn't mine originally. And never be ashamed by lousy spelling, my dear, if it wasn't for my computers spell check my writing would be illegible! Oh! And 'The Prophecy' is the next episode that deals with the story arc that 'Birthmark' presented. Sorry I didn't clarify that! But it's okay if you don't see that episode because it won't have any relevance to my story. Hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Darkofthenight: Thank you very much! Hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Doza: I'm glad you find the story believably written! I really take pains to make sure to linger and not rush everything… no matter how tempting that may be at times! I am currently Snoopy dancing because you aren't having any problems visualizing my story… I really truly hope that I can continue to hold you interest and that you keep on enjoying!
Erin Hatfield: Thank you! I was actually hesitant about writing Robin kissing Raven's hands… but now I am glad I did! Hope you continue to enjoy!
DarkRavenCosmos: The Robin/Redheads comment was something I actually had been planning on mentioning right from the beginning of this story… I just had to bring that fact to everyone else's attention because, as I am sure you would all agree, it's about time that he had a little action with someone of a different hair color! Hope you continue to read and enjoy! And don't worry about short reviews… at least you're reviewing and that just makes my day!
Ji: Thank you a million times over! I am glad you find my, or rather Raven's, sarcasm to be satisfactory. She's a lot of fun to write! And I agree with you on the fact that too many writers just don't have a good grip on Raven's character… and the whole cutting herself angst is really getting old fast. Thanks for appreciating my take on her! Hope I can continue to meet with your standards and I hope you continue to enjoy!
TatsuKitty: I'd give you a hug if you weren't pixilated! I hate being starred at too and I actually wrote that scene with that feeling of thinly veiled dislike in mind so cookies to you for understanding… I got that a lot too in my youth, but I got through it okay…hope you can too… And I hope you continue to enjoy my ficie.
Caitlin: Yes, cuteness overload indeed! I have to tell you I was rather hesitant about writing that part of the story, but I am glad that you enjoyed it! And, while at one time I did have purple hair, I can only sigh sadly and say that no… I am not Raven… as far as you know anyway! Muahah. Hehe. But seriously… that question was one of the best compliments I've EVER received so thank you a billion times over!
Selfless: You speak French… you quote old TV shows… you say pisshaw…if you know how to solve the Rubix cube I might just have to declare you a god! I'm glad you liked Raven and Selina's interaction... I was worried for a while that some of my readers might not take kindly to her introduction in to the story so I am glad by your favorable response! And yes, I must torture you! After all, I find that the best stories are the ones that draw out the relationships climax until the bitter bitter end… when you can barely stand the sexual tension one more second! Hehe... hope you continue to enjoy!
Alena-chan: Yup. Catwoman is preggers… Not my original idea by the way. She and Batman actually had a kid together in one of the comics… I don't remember which one though. Glad to see you are still reading after all this time! I really hope you continue to enjoy!
Cherry Jade: Ah, my favorite and most loyal reviewer never lets me down! Seriously, I want to give you an award or something for how wonderfully steadfast you are. I always get excited when I see you are still enjoying my story. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. And yes, you most certainly DO sense jealousy… just don't tell Raven, she has a tendency to get mad whenever I tell her she's madly in love with Robin… can we say denial? Yeah, it's late and I'm loosing my mind haha. I agree that this should be what CN is showing and not all that Rob/Star crap… honestly, who cares about THAT arc? Hehe… Rob/Star fans would probably have my head for that statement. Anyways, hope you continue to enjoy!
Mirumo: Sorry this update took so long! Hope you continue to read!
Suijin: I couldn't figure out how to spell her name so I just when to JLA's site on and they have it written there… I figure Selina was as accommodating as she was because at first she was curious as to who Raven was, and she wanted to get out of the reception. I also think she kind of saw Raven as a kindred spirit. And of course when she realized that Raven was Robin's friend… In the comics Selina is actually kind of extroverted really. A bit flirty and the like. Can I just say again how much I LOVE your sketches? I mean really truly. They rock a billion times over. I still can't get over how perfectly they represent my vision of the scenes you depicted. If you do anymore you got to let me know. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Rinagurl13: So glad you are enjoying! And doubly glad, and slightly sheepish, that you think I'm funny. I agree, I was one sweetness overload when I was writing the Rob/Rae wrist kissing scene. Hope you continue to read and enjoy!