The hours of the night continued to tick on as life in Wayne Manor remained active in the dormant features of time. A subdued sound of chirping echoed in the distance as moonlight danced across the floor of the mansion's many rooms. To the ignorant ear, it was the song of birds that filled the air, but for Robin, who lay awake in his bed, it was the mark of his past.
Bats.
"Robin," a soft voice called beside him. "You are awake?"
The boy sighed. "Yeah. What do you need, Starfire?"
There was a slight pause before the dark Titan felt the mattress sink and rise in sync with the ruffling of sheets. Robin turned his head to the left, his masked eyes coming into contact with pondering emerald pools. Before the girl could utter another word, the leader was confident he knew what she was going to say.
"I wish to know of Raven and the Batman," Starfire whispered softly. "It is apparent that they have met prior to the forming of our team. You promised that you would inform me later. Now is later, correct?"
Robin laughed at her childish curiosity. "I guess I do owe you an explanation. You're not tired, are you?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Because I never like explaining things twice," the boy began. "It all started when Raven first came to Earth. She left her home world and came to Gotham City, the place where her mother was born. She never told me why she left Azarath, all I know is that she wanted to help people. While trying to take care of a few thugs around downtown, Batman spotted her. Supposedly, he told Raven there was someone in Jump City who needed her help more than he did."
Starfire's eyes lit up with realization. "It was you he was referring to?"
"Yes. So, Raven took his advice and found me. You know the basics of the rest from there."
The alien's mind sifted through the chapters of the story she had been told. She knew Robin would not continue; the leader had never once delved into the details of how he met the mysterious girl, nor did he wish to, thus, Starfire would not ask him. Though Robin seemed to be content believing the story, the Tamaranian was having doubts. To her, something didn't add up properly with what Batman had said to them earlier.
"If that is so," the girl spoke. "Then why does the Justice League also contain an in depth knowing of Raven?"
Robin moved his lips to speak, but suddenly halted his voice. Starfire had struck upon an obvious note the leader had seemingly overlooked. The silence became suffocating as the dark teen tried desperately to find a logical solution to the naïve girl's question. Surely what he knew was all there was to the truth. There was no secret being held, was there?
"I'm sure Batman told the JLA about her, Star," Robin coughed as he tried desperately to cover up his made up excuse. "It's not every day a telekinetic empath comes flying into Gotham City. Now, let's get some sleep. You'll learn everything you want to know about Raven and Batman when we meet the Justice League in the morning."
They bade each other good night and closed their eyes, hoping the new day would come soon. The unknown of Raven's past was a menace. Robin was already starting to feel its eerie affects tear away at him. He had spent his whole life solving mysteries and fighting off crime and yet, when it came to the cloaked girl, he hadn't a clue what to make of her.
His mind drifted back to when they had first met. He had thought her to be evil and had attacked her of all things. Now, she was the most powerful member of a peace team. How ironic. A yawn muffled the dark leader's thoughts as his mind begged for rest. He caved in, knowing full well he would have to explain his meeting with Raven to the Justice League in the morning. There was no point in dwelling on it now.
He shifted slightly in the night clothes Bruce had lent him, inhaling the familiar scent. With his R-Cycle gone, their luggage had been inevitably trapped in the explosion, leaving them with no clothing or food for the rest of their journey. Batman's appearance had been a convenience to say the least despite the fact that Robin hated depending so much on his old friend. He let out a deep sigh. Even with the losses they had suffered he was content he had kept the video tape of Slade in his utility belt, which resulted in its survival of Red X's attack. Knowing that, he could rest easier. Sleep called once more and the boy answered, letting his eyes close as images of Slade and Raven filled his tired mind.
The hours ticked by like minutes, there length barely constituting enough time for the weary Titans to be fully rested. As if rebelling against the emerging sunlight, both teens dug their faces further into the comfort of their pillows, but only for a brief moment. The sound of incoming footsteps brought Robin a slight taste of horror as he predicted what was to happen next. He could hear the drapes be fiddled with and then it happened: blinding light came pouring all around as the sun shown through the now uncovered window.
"Forgive me, Master Grayson, but you are being summoned to breakfast," Alfred spoke, a satisfied smile written across his face. "Might I suggest you get cleaned up before coming down? Your hair appears to enjoy sticking out in unnatural directions."
The boy blushed in embarrassment, clamping both hands down on his head to keep his unruly hair at bay. His flustered expression was only deepened at the sound of Starfire giggling along side the soft chuckle of Alfred. He watched as the butler closed the door behind him upon leaving and the moment he was gone, Robin jumped from the bed and ran to the bathroom, grabbing his uniform on the way.
"Robin?" he heard a playful voice squeak.
"G-get dressed, Star," the boy stuttered. "We shouldn't keep Bruce waiting."
Their meal seemed to pass by quickly as they ate in silence. Each fighter was thinking of the meeting they were about to take part in, one that would hopefully solve many riddles. With Red X having been finally defeated for good, Robin was counting on the knowledge of the JLA to answer his questions. There was no one else to turn to now.
Once Alfred had cleared the table of their finished dishes, Bruce Wayne stood up and beckoned for the teens to follow him back to the cave. They obeyed without hesitation, giving each other reassuring glances as the stepped into the darkness.
"Where exactly are we meeting them?" Robin called after his old master.
The dark man was nowhere in sight. After a few seconds of silence, his intimidating voice cut through the stillness and reached the ears of the inquirer. The Titan simply assumed his partner was getting dressed into his Batsuit and had decided to do so clear out of sight.
"We'll be traveling to the Watchtower," Batman answered vaguely.
"Please, where is this Watchtower?"
Bruce sighed as he emerged from the shadows. He had forgotten about the girl. She was not familiar with the JLA like Robin was. He would have to make a mental note to fully explain any questions his sidekick asked in order to save himself from her curiosity. The dark knight was not fond of answering too many questions.
"It's on the moon," he replied rather bluntly. "I generally don't go there too often, but now seems like a good time. We'll be using my personal transport tube to make our journey short."
The two followed the older man once more as he led them to their mode of transportation. As Batman worked at the control panel, imputing the correct traveling data, Robin approached him from behind. For a moment, they remained in silence, but the younger boy's mind soon urged him to speak.
"I never understood why they put their headquarters on a different world," he stated, hoping to spark a bit of conversation.
"They have no reason to be stationed in one select city when they aim to help a multitude of places. Unlike them, I remain in Gotham. I still charge myself with the duty of protecting this city from itself," Batman's deep voice responded without emotion.
"Who are we planning on seeing up there?" Robin asked, his interest in the situation getting the best of him.
The dark man let out a grunt of frustration, but decided the question was worth answering. "From what I can tell, you'll see Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Zatanna." Hearing a huff of confusion, Batman continued. "You may not recognize the last name I said; she's not as renowned as the others and has since retired from the league, but I requested her presence. She may be the most important one there for what you want to know."
Satisfied with Batman's explanation of what was ahead, Robin stepped back, standing beside Starfire as they waited for instruction. After a few minutes, a large container behind the Titans flashed, signaling it was ready for use. Listening to the orders given by the older justice fighter, the teens stepped inside, making room for their larger companion and were soon on their way to the Watchtower.
Robin squinted his eyes below his mask; the light fading around him was still too much to bear. As his body adjusted to the new surroundings, he heard the transporter doors open. They were on the moon. His ears picked up Batman's voice as the older man beckoned them to walk. The Titans obeyed and promptly followed him down the vast hallway.
As the trio continued toward the meeting room, Starfire whispered questions into her friend's ear, no longer able to keep them contained.
"We are no longer on the planet Earth, yes?" she asked innocently.
"We're on the moon. This is where the JLA has their group meetings. They keep the building weighed down to the same amount of gravity on Earth and it has built in oxygen generators," Robin responded with no sense of enthusiasm or awe.
"You do not appear content with our being here. Why are you angered?"
The dark boy let a sigh escape his lips as he suppressed uncomfortable emotions. "Don't you remember, Star? The Justice League is the group who called us 'Pretend Heroes'. They may be the only people left who can help us, but that doesn't mean I'm overjoyed to be here."
Starfire simply nodded, allowing herself to reflect on an old memory Robin had brought up. What the boy had spoken was very true. A short while after the Titans had been formed their enemies had quickly taken them down. Though they each had a firm grasp on their powers, except Raven when she was angered, the five teens had yet to understand the meaning of teamwork. Their frequent failures had earned them harsh criticism from their 'superiors'. 'Little Kids in Costumes' and 'Pretend Heroes' were only a few of their nicknames until Robin and Raven began to work the members harder, pushing them toward unity until they were finally a team worthy of fighting in justice.
"We'll keep the introductions brief," Batman's low voice called, interrupting the alien's thoughts. "They already know who you are. The important thing is getting the information you came for."
Robin let out a sour laugh. "Someone's in a bit of a rush. Still not used to fighting on a team?"
The dark man let out a deep huff before punching the access code into the number pad next to the meeting room door. A scanner appeared before him and in a few seconds, his identity was recognized and the chamber opened before them.
They were immediately greeted by a set of bright lights reflecting off the metallic table situated in the center of the room. A well known hero stepped forward, greeting Batman with the same warm voice he used to greet the Titans, stretching out a strong hand to shake theirs. After the man had led the trio to their seats, he indulged in a whispered conversation with the dark member of his team. A black box was placed in the cheerful man's hands before he took his place at the head of the table.
"My friends," the leader began. "This meeting was going to focus mainly on recent news, but it appears we have a more pressing matter to attend to. As you can see, Bruce has asked for Zatanna to meet with us today and has brought two guests with him."
Batman stood, nodding at the Man of Steel as the conversation was turned over to him. "Clark is correct; this meeting is going to be about helping the Teen Titans." He gazed around the room, his eyes passing over The Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, and lastly, Zatanna. "You are all mainly acquainted with them, so there is no need for in depth introductions, but for Zatanna's sake, they are Robin and Starfire of the Teen Titans."
Robin took this as his moment to take over; it was obvious to him by now that Zatanna must have left the Justice League before the Titans were formed. That would make her knowledge of recent events extremely limited. Why then was Batman so confident she would be the one with his answers? Shrugging off his thoughts momentarily, he looked over to Starfire, seeing her smile and motion for him to continue. He knew she was eager to here the full truth of what was going on. After clearing his throat, he began.
"Starfire and I traveled to Gotham City in pursuit of a criminal mastermind and his new partner." The teen took to making his point quickly so as not to lose the interest of the league. "After getting a video transmission from the sidekick, I recognized the scenery and the two of us took off immediately, leaving the other Titans to keep watch over Jump City. Both criminals have attacked my team multiple times with damaging affects, and as of this moment, they are after a teammate of ours. I need to know why."
"What's this guy's name?" Green Lantern questioned; the mystery of Robin's conversation was starting to tire him.
The dark boy inhaled deeply. "His sidekick is known as Red X, but we don't have to worry about him. Someone already took care of that," Robin spoke flatly as he stole a hidden glance at his former master behind his mask. "The man we're after is Slade."
In the center of the table, a strange light beam shot upward, morphing into the shape of a screen. Slade's face appeared, frozen on the image Robin had last seen Batman staring at the night before. It was now apparent that the black box he had earlier seen his eerie friend pass along was the video tape Robin had given him in the Batcave. The Titan watched as each person at the table studied the displayed figure before them. The confused looks on many of their faces only served to discourage the boy.
"That's the crazy guy who took over Jump City, right?" The Flash spoke with a curious look creasing his red mask. Seeing Robin nod, he spoke his thoughts again. "I thought that guy died years ago."
"He did, or so we thought," the Titan answered. "We all saw Slade fall into a pit of lava, but somehow he survived. He's back with strange fiery powers and an amazing resilience to death. I broke his neck in four places with my steel-toed boots and it didn't even faze him. He simply snapped everything back into place and kept fighting. I have a feeling it has something to do with that symbol on his mask. I need to know what it means."
Silence. Robin heaved a heavy sigh of defeat. He was starting to think he would never get any closer to Slade than he already was. Looks of uncertainty plagued many of the heroes, except for Batman and Zatanna who continued to wear unreadable expressions. The dark Titan sunk further into his seat. Raven would have been a great asset in this meeting. At least she would have been able to tell him what the others were thinking.
A few moments of calmness blanketed the table before the former member of the league stood from her seat. "I do not believe this symbol is of this dimension. There is a strange evil behind it, an evil that seems oddly familiar, but extremely distance. What you are looking for may be well beyond your reach."
"I can't accept that," Robin stated dully. "Somehow, Slade got his hands on this otherworldly power and I need to know how to stop it. I will not just ride this off as something I can't possibly hope to understand when my team and the lives of the innocent people in Jump City are at risk." He felt the warmth of Starfire's hand melt into his shoulder as she attempted to soothe him. He gazed around the room to ensure he had everyone's attention before speaking again. "Before we came here, we had a group meeting to assess all of this information. The only theory that seems to make sense with the facts is that Slade really is dead. He died that day in the pit of lava, but was summoned by someone or some thing. Starfire was actually the one who thought of it."
The alien decided to complete Robin's lecture. "There is a legend on my world that tells of an evil man hungry for power. When he was sent to his death, he returned to Tamaran with strange powers of fire that did much damage to my home. It is believed that he gave away his soul to receive such great abilities, but he was later deceived. I believe that is-"
"But the only thing capable of that kind of sorcery is a demon!" Green Lantern's harsh voice interrupted. All eyes turned to him with questioning glances when his statement reached their ears. "I don't know that personally, but Jones was saying something about that awhile ago. He was talking about some strange disturbance and then he took off to check things out, I guess."
Superman nodded his head. He had known Martian Manhunter had taken a temporary leave of absence, but the leader had decided it was wise to let his friend go without much questioning. Then there was a possibility that the situation with Titans and Jones' decision to leave were connected. Before he could voice his thoughts, Zatanna spoke.
"A demon…" Her voice seemed oddly remote. "Tell me, Titans, this friend of yours who is being hunted…what is their name?"
Robin locked eyes with her, noticing the apparent fear in her face. Perhaps he was finally getting somewhere. Without diverting his gaze, he let a word fall from his lips. "Raven."
The black haired girl shot from her seat, blue eyes widened with shock as the name echoed throughout the room. Her expression matched the painted images that grazed the surface of Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. There, clearly shown on the three heroes, was the same recognition Robin had witnessed in Batman when he had spoken of his shadowy friend.
"Raven," Zatanna whispered. "Raven? You have allowed her on your team? What amount of ignorance plagues you? How can you be so blind to her treachery?"
The two Titans looked at each other briefly, afraid of what they would hear. Another traitor? Living through what had happened with Terra had been heart wrenching enough for them, but Raven? She was an invaluable member of their team. Not a day went by that Robin didn't recall how she saved them in a battle, or defeated an enemy with ease that the others had struggled against. Though shrouded in mystery, the dark girl couldn't possibly be against them.
"Zatanna, calm down. I suggest you give Robin a chance to explain more about this girl before you start bringing about your first impressions," Batman stated coldly before turning to the boy next to him. "Tell the others how you met her and what you know of her."
The Titan leader nodded his head and began to speak of his fated meeting with the strange girl.
---
Rain poured from the sky, mixing with the pounding winds as it pelted those still brave enough to walk the streets. Though the thickness of the clouds made it impossible to determine the time with the moon and stars, it was surely well into the night as the bitter chill of the cold bit at those still awake and active.
Sounds of a desperate fight shook a shadowed alley as it went unnoticed by the civilians who were seemingly used to the noise. The boom of a gun was not enough to wake the innocent from their minds as they continued on their own paths, unwilling to aid in whatever struggle was taking place.
A steel-toed boot collided with the attacker's stomach, forcing the taller man to fall to the floor. Robin reached for a birdarang, but was quickly knocked to the side by the injured fighter. The brawl continued on as neither was able to find an advantage. Johnny Rancid had become a worthy opponent to say the least.
A flash of blue caught the shielded eyes of the struggling hero. A top a nearby building was a figure cloaked in the color of the ocean, long amethyst hair blowing in the violent winds. With Robin's eyes averted to the strange girl, Rancid took this open opportunity. A studded glove collided with the boy's face only to be followed by the icy touch of a gun tip placed against his forehead.
"Bye bye, birdy," the villain mocked as he grinned at his apparent victory.
Robin shifted his eyes at the building once more, but girl was no where to be found. He had seemingly no chance of escaping. The boy would have to attempt to reach for a weapon quick enough without the man noticing. Before he was given a chance to carry out his plan, Johnny Rancid was covered in a strange black aura and then catapulted into a thick brick wall where he was buried in rubble.
The brave fighter's eyes lit with shock as he desperately searched for this new foe. Hearing the faint pat of footsteps against fallen rain, he grabbed another birdarang, holding it tightly in his palm. Without giving the approaching shape a chance to speak, he hurled the weapon forward, watching as it sliced through fine purple hair.
"Calm yourself, Robin," the figure began to speak. "I mean you no harm. I have been looking for you."
The boy backed away, not trusting the strangely dressed girl as she stepped forward from the shadows. It was then that he finally got a decent glimpse of her. She wore a black leotard with a belt of cloth hanging between her legs both behind and in front of her. The head of a raven colored in blue grazed her stomach as its wings formed the part of the outfit that covered her hips. A large blue cloak was clasped around her neck by a gold-encased red jewel that matched the gem gleaming on her forehead. Her arms were gloved to the elbows in black, a few of her pale fingers remaining uncovered, and her legs were wrapped in ebony knee-high boots that ended in a point on her thigh. The damage he had caused her was an obvious embarrassment as Robin gazed at her hair. The right side had been sliced to shoulder length roughly while the left remained down to her waist, but his attention was soon shifted as he caught sight of her sapphire eyes; he had never seen anything like them before.
"Who are you?" the he asked in wonder.
"I am known as Raven. I have come to you asking for help and from the looks of things, it appears you are in need of mine," the pale girl plainly spoke as she continued to approach.
Robin's pride clouded his mind as he began to physically refuse the bird's request, seemingly upset with being saved by a girl he did not know. As he began to walk away from her, he shot out a final call. "I don't need anyone's help! And why should I trust you? I don't even know how you found me or why you know my name! What makes you think I'll just drop everything and help a perfect stranger?"
A flash of light whizzed past the boy, halting his retreating steps as he listened to Raven's voice. "Because he told me you would."
Confused by the girl's answer, Robin looked to see what had been thrown at him. There, lodged in a panel of wood near his face, was an unmistakable symbol. It was a batatang.
Batman had sent her.
---
"That was about six years ago. She said she wanted to help people with her powers. So, we decided to form a team of heroes. I had originally wanted to call us The Titans, but Raven was afraid it would go to our heads. She found it more appropriate to call us The Teen Titans, hoping that would make our enemies underestimate us as well as take off some of the pressure of being a super hero from the members of the team since the title wasn't so prestigious. A year later, we had five members and a home built in Jump City."
Once Robin was finished, he waited patiently for a response. He could see a blank look of contemplation on Starfire as she thought about what she had just learned. That didn't bother him in the slightest, but the look of disbelief that plagued Batman, Zatanna, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman was unnerving.
"She never…" Wonder Women stuttered. "She didn't tell you anything else about her?"
The Titan leader gave her a questioning look, turning his head to his former partner for an answer. Though he was hoping the dark knight would be able to give him what he wanted, Robin was simply thrown another question.
"Was that the only reason she gave you for wanting to start the team?" the man's voice grew colder as he continued. "You aren't hiding anything, are you?"
"She didn't tell you about her father?" Green Lantern spoke with shock.
"No! She didn't say anything!" Robin shouted as he gazed around the room. "Will someone tell me what's going on?"
Zatanna placed her hands on the table, her white cape covering her blue-clad shoulders as her eyes pierced behind the confused boy's mask. She took pity on him for having been left in the dark by one he trusted, but the truth must be made clear.
"Your friend, Robin, has been deceiving you."
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! This is the longest chapter I've written so far and I wasn't able to get ahold of my editor, so please pardon the mistakes I missed. The next chapter will have Beast Boy, Raven, and Cyborg in it, I promise. I actually have some ideas already set for Chapter 16. I'm not too familiar with the JLA, so hopefully I kept them in character. Also, I sorta mixed and matched the members of the Justice League from the old Teen Titans comics and the JLA cartoon show...that's why Zatanna is there...she's from the comics. Any questions you might have concerning why the JLA knows about Raven will be answered in the next chapter!
All reviews are appreciated!