Wow, another chapter up already... What can I say? I'm determined to get this story done. I don't know how much longer it will be, but every chapter I post, the closer I am to the end. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's not very exciting, but I think the next chapter will be better (I hope). Enjoy!
Raven had set her alarm clock for 6:00 in order to get an early start. After waking up, she brushed her teeth and took a hot shower to help wake her up and clear her mind. Then she towel dried her hair and ran a comb through it, leaving it perfectly straight, as usual. She walked back into her bedroom and grabbed a clean uniform out of her closet, quickly throwing it on. It was now 6:30.
She left her room and headed for the kitchen. Herbal tea and a small bowl of cereal sounded like a great way to start the day off. As she entered the room she looked around and noticed that it was vacant.
I guess no one's up yet.
Raven ate her cereal at the counter in silence, reading a newspaper to help pass time. Finally, at around 7:00 she heard the doors open.
"Raven? What are you doing up so early? Normally I don't see you around until 8:00."
Raven turned around on her stool to see Robin standing in the doorway staring at her.
"I just felt like waking up early for once. I've got things I need to do today, and I thought I'd get a head start."
Robin was now standing in the kitchen, pulling out some eggs from the refrigerator for an omelet. "Oh, well I just wasn't expecting to see anyone else up. I'm usually down here first."
Another thirty minutes passed before Starfire and Cyborg entered the room, closely followed by Beast Boy.
"Aaaaaahhh… morning Rae…" Cyborg said with a yawn. He rubbed his eyes and walked into the kitchen to start making his usual breakfast consisting of waffles. "Anyone else gonna want waffles?"
"I DO!" Beast Boy raced into the kitchen, nearly knocking down a chair in his path.
Robin looked up from his seat on the couch. "No thanks Cyborg, I already ate."
"Same here."
"Ok Star, that leaves you. You want any?"
"Oh, no thank you. I appreciate your offer, but this morning I wish to simply have toast. Raven and I are anxious to go out soon."
"Where are you guys going? I thought Raven had stuff to do."
Starfire looked over to the couch and met Robin's gaze, then turned to face Raven, who looked back at her from the corner of her eye. Did she say something she shouldn't have?
"Um… well, we have both been eagerly awaiting the opening of the new mall of shopping, but we have not yet had the chance to venture there and explore the new merchandise."
Everyone turned when Beast Boy let out a huge laugh. "Raven wants to go to the mall? And has been waiting for it to open? I never thought I'd see the day…"
"And you won't live to see another one if you don't shut up."
Beast Boy stopped laughing abruptly after seeing the refrigerator next to him suddenly become encased in a glowing black aura. "All right, I take it back!"
Starfire took it upon herself to end the silence that followed the near incident between Beast Boy and Raven. "Yes, I have been wanting to buy new clothing for the spring, and Raven offered to accompany me and give me her thoughts."
Beast Boy temporarily forgot his fear of the refrigerator, and once again spoke up. "But why ask for Raven's opinion on spring clothes? Geeze, even Cyborg would be better than- EEP!"
Starfire just stood and watched as a flying spatula chased the green changeling around the kitchen hitting him seemingly of its own accord.
"I wanted a girl's opinion, and I doubt that Cyborg would be more suited in that area."
"Ya, I wouldn't know what to say. I think everything looks good."
At that moment Starfire's toast popped up from the toaster with a small 'dinging' sound. She raced into the kitchen and buttered the bread quickly, then turned and flew around the other side of the counter, toast carried in her mouth, and grabbed Raven's arm, pulling her quickly from her seat as she headed out the door still clutching to her shocked friend's wrist.
"Oh, I cannot wait, we will have so much fun spending time together!"
The boys all stared at each other looking confused after their friends' departure.
It was Cyborg who made the first remark. "Did any of that seem weird to you?"
"Are you kidding me?" Yelled Beast Boy from the back of the kitchen, rubbing his arm where the dreaded spatula had dealt him one final blow. "How was Starfire able to talk with toast in her mouth?"
"Uhh… I don't think that's what Cyborg meant BB. But when Starfire's involved, things usually seem a bit off. I don't think we need to be concerned."
The girls exited the front doors of the tower and flew across the bay, landing on the nearby docks.
"So Raven, where is it that you wanted to begin our search?"
The blue-cloaked heroine scanned the area around her, trying to decide which way to go.
"Well Star, to be honest I haven't thought about that yet. I was thinking that maybe we'd start by going to some of the local villains' hangouts and see what information we could get out of whoever's there. What do you think?"
"I think that is an excellent idea. You lead the way."
Raven lifted herself high up into the air and set off toward the center of the city, where most of the town's evildoers dwelled. Starfire followed close behind, mentally going over the possible situations they might find themselves in later that day. Dealing with criminals was no small feat, it took a real skill, and in some cases, a lot of luck.
They had only been flying for a couple minutes, when Raven quickly descended, landing quietly in a dark alleyway. Starfire, following Raven's example, set herself on the ground lightly so that she too didn't make any noise. She stood behind Raven, further into the alleyway, and waited for her friend to tell her what to do.
"Ok Star, you see that building across the street on the second floor that looks like a run-down jewelry store?"
Starfire, still not wanting to disturb the near-silence of her surroundings, simply nodded in response to Raven's question.
"Well, it's actually a place where some of the lower-class criminals go when they're trying to keep a low profile. Although I don't know why they still use it, since they know that the Titans know about it…"
"I was not aware of its location…"
Raven turned to look at Starfire. "Cyborg knows about it, at least. He and I came here after that incident with Slade's mask affecting Robin. We were hoping to get some information on who sent the signal that activated it, but we came up empty handed. And we didn't want Robin to know, obviously, so we kept it quiet."
"I see. I was not aware that you and Cyborg went to such places during your search."
"I thought he would have told you where we were going, but I guess he thought it was better if you didn't know, in case Robin found out that you were just keeping him busy while we were gone and asked you where we went."
"Perhaps that was for the best." Starfire returned her gaze the old building with its crumbling walls and rusted metal. "What were the people here that you dealt with like?"
"They were just a bunch of thugs, no real threat. I'd still be cautious if I were you, though, sometimes they get the higher criminals in there from time to time."
"Yes, I will indeed be careful. Are you ready to proceed?"
"All right, let's go. Just let me do the talking…"
Ok, you know the drill: I'll get the next chapter written and posted as soon as possible. But in the meantime, you can review and tell me what you think. Any constructive criticism? -I really do appreciate it if you have any. If you don't have any, that's ok too. You can just say what's on your mind. Thanks for taking your time on reading my story!
(Oh, and I was wondering: I know that's it's possible, because I've seen it in other people's fan fics, but whenever I try to type a "!" right next to a "?" or another "!",it doesn't work, and just ends up posting one of them. Anyone know a way to get around that problem?)