The Young and the Hopeless
Chapter 7: Stupid Indeed
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"So, how're you holding up?"
"I've made some stupid decisions, but, I think this one takes the cake."
The two figures exchanged grins, their faces quickly reverting back to solemn expressions. Robin was perched on top of one of Jump City's premier executive buildings and Raven had situated herself on a ledge a foot or so below. Unlike the Tamaranean and the changeling, they preferred to sink into the shadows. Running his fingers through his hair, the Boy Wonder looked down at his utility belt once more and frowned.
"It's just so…"
"…quiet. I know, even on the slowest nights…"
"…we've found something to do."
It was quiet again, a heavy silence that would have seemed stifling to an outsider. However, it was quite comfortable between the two teens. Had Robin been paired with Beast Boy they would have worn on each other quickly; had it been Starfire he would have been testing his patience instead of watching the city. However good together they were on a professional or friendship level; the two would have been doomed romantically. BB kept Raven from being too gloomy and Star had a way of saving him from himself.
He shifted positions silently, having learned long ago how to regain circulation while not giving away his position. A cloud passed over and Raven's powers cast a dark sheen around them, making an even match with the shadows. Looking up from masked eyes, the young man squinted and shrugged. It was all too surreal.
The city was entirely too empty, as if all the criminals had cleared out. No sight of Hive or any of the usual villains. To make it worse there had been none of the 'normal' crime that kept the Titan's on their toes between the villains with super powers. He'd never thought that he'd long for a burglary or a mass prison escape, but he did. A calm Jump City was unsettling.
"So, I'm not one to pry, but, you and Star…"
"It's complicated…"
"Not so complicated on the roof the other day. For a moment we thought you two were just going to…"
"She needed me."
That simple statement brought an understanding nod and another bought of silence. Robin was contemplating moving positions when a low rumble rose up from the still city. Cocking his head to the side, wondering for a moment if it was just wishful thinking, the sound went up again and both Titan's sprung to their feet. A flash of light blinded the two for a moment, rising up from the dark and the streetlights, and the low rumble became louder. The echo reverberated, gaining strength, and Robin paced restlessly. There was no target, nothing to pin point, and so all they could do was stay put.
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As much as she appreciated Robin's silence, Raven longed to hear one of Gar's idiotic jokes. Or perhaps feel his hot breath against her neck as he whispered something soft and sweet into her skin. It had always been so easy to read him and so she'd made it her mission to avoid him once their opposing patrols had started. She had known, some funny voice chuckling in the pit of her stomach, that were she to see him now, it would be all over for her. There was a fine line between control and madness, she was toeing that line.
The goth hero felt like she was so very close to breaking. Had she'd known she'd come to like sex so much, she would have probably never started. Stifling a chuckle, Raven quickly realized that was only lying to herself.
Their attempts at conversation would have startled the other members of the team, but, even the most solemn two needed to speak once in a while. She was quiet by nature and he had picked up his brooding habits from his mentor; yet the hours ahead ticked by too slowly even for them. With no bad guys to fend off and no civilians to save, her main goal had been to keep Robin from cracking. But, after causing a street vendor to pee himself and gruffly reminding a couple of preteen girls of their curfew, he'd been extremely subdued. Stupid idea indeed.
Her musings were broken by a low vibration and Raven thought for a moment that her stomach was growling. By the look on Robin's face it was obvious he was thinking along the same lines. Even as the sound grew and a blinding flash rose up from the city, the young woman stood her ground, pushing her cowl back away from her face. Placing a small hand on her counterpart's arm, she shook her head and made a small noise.
"Call Cyborg, I don't think we can handle this on our own."
Of course he broke away and moved forward anyway, his muscles taut and strained. Laughter echoed from the noisy din, mocking and cold. It was a sound that couldn't soon be forgotten. Long, dark hair was tossing all over the place, even without the aid of the wind, and a lean, busty body was squeezed into purple stretch.
"Blackfire…"
Dark energy swirled around the half demon, her cropped hair flying up from her neck. Glaring at the twittering idiot, the empath wondered how she'd ever been fooled by her little act. Searching out with her mind, Raven made a small noise and was surprised to find herself in Robin's arms moments later.
"I can't…I'm all blocked…but, I saw…"
A starbolt was unleashed and shattered the stone they were standing on. Jumping back until they were standing on stable ground, Raven wrest herself out of Robin's arms and lifted her cowl back over her face. Grounding her heel into the settled tar of the rooftop, hands clutched in tight fists at her sides, the young woman was once again engulfed in black and soft mumblings escaped her drawn lips.
"Call Cyborg, now! Something's not right…this doesn't feel right."
A light shot out from her chest, purple eyes narrowed into slits. It struck the laughing figure squarely in the stomach and sent her flying into the nearest building. Still the laughing continued and even over Cyborg's voice she continued chanting. Over and over, the light bursting out and striking the enemy; and still there was laughter. Raven felt a solid form at her side, caught the sight of red and green and black gloves pulling her from her crumpled position on the rooftop and she pushed herself away.
The smoke cleared and a figure emerged from the rubble. Before anyone could take a good look, a flash of green swept by and continued through the other side of the high rise. Faint shouts could be heard, most likely cursing in the princess's native language, and it was all flashes of green light and red hair. Beast Boy was by her side, taking Robin's place, and Cyborg was several paces ahead, trading harsh words with their leader.
"I thought I told you we didn't need any help!"
"The League, man, the League…this was just the lab! Anyway, Sarah promised that she'd keep it under wraps."
"And Superman has a history with S.T.A.R. and Batman is never far behind and I don't need him telling me how to run my own team!"
"If you two don't shut up and pay attention, I swear to Azarath…"
A mangled mess of purple rested in the middle of cracked pavement and the red haired alien, clad only in her boots and Robin's, now quite ragged, white shirt, was hovering in the air and panting hard. Looking over at her teammates, she smiled sheepishly and pushed the hair out of her eyes.
"That is most assuredly not my sister."
Raven rolled her eyes as the Tamaranean joined the rest of the group, almost laughing at the Boy Wonder's attempts to get his cape around her shoulders. Judging by the state of her undress, it was obvious that she'd rushed out at the first sound of alarm; Cyborg had probably thrown her boots at her.
"Komand'r was never so soft. That, that…thing did not even know the seven unspeakable words. I can still feel my hands."
"We just got word back from S.T.A.R. labs; they tested that hair from the mall. It shares some basic components with Blackfire's DNA, but there are several distinct differences. It's as if someone tried to mask the code."
"Shape shifting…?"
"Or something like that. Sarah couldn't explain it, but it's some really freaky shit."
"But, it is a-oh-kay, is it not? I did make a mess of my sister's weak twin…"
Ten pairs of eyes settled on the pavement, identical looks of shock and anger setting firmly on their faces. Raven took a deep breath, forcing a wave of calm through her body, and chewed at her bottom lip. The body was gone; all that was left was a crater where it had lain. No blood, no tissue…nothing. Pulling Beast Boy flush against her chest, the empath shook her head and shot a look towards the other gaping members.
"Whoever that was…whatever that was, we didn't get it. And if Starfire's barrage didn't kill it, then we're not prepared to take it on. I say a shower and a nap is in order, once we clear our heads…"
Everyone nodded silently and took to the air. Starfire with her arms around Robin's torso, the poor boy blushing at being pressed firmly against a flimsy barrier of thin white cotton; Beast Boy transformed into a pterodactyl and his talons gripping onto Cyborg's metal shoulders. With one last look over her shoulder, Raven followed suite and headed towards the Tower. Patrol had been cut short, but they all deserved a rest. If her control was legendary and she was on edge, there was no telling how the others were fairing.
If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Gar had been right, for once, it felt quite different this time.
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Quick Note: I don't really like this chapter very much, but, it seemed to flow pretty well. A nice juxtaposition with Gar and Kory's patrol vs. Dick and Raven's patrol; which, unlike the rest of the chapter, felt right to me. Mostly Raven's POV, I couldn't stop myself…she just wouldn't shut up. There might be one more chapter left in me tonight…but nothing too serious. We all know by now that I'm a sucker for fluff. Hope you're enjoying yourself.