Review Responses:
Rose:Yes, someone has to root for the bad guy. Absolutely. (big smile) And boy do I know the feeling of being locked outside my house! LOL! So glad you like it!
xox.AnniePotter.xox: I don't always update so soon. That weekend was a very loose one though, and I found myself with a bit of spare time and the plot bunnies called to me! LOL. Yes, this story is a little complicated. Hehehe…everything get's explained however! So glad you like it!
animeobsessed3191: Thanks for the review! Mucho appreciated! LOL. And about Raven…(evil grin) Sorry about the whole songfic mess…I even made a note on my author's profile about it!
rock'n'rollbitch: Thanks very much for the review!
scathac's warrior: I LOVE STAR WARS! Lol…the dark side has cookies…lol…I'm never gonna forget that (and I'm very forgetful)… Here's the update! Thanks for reviewing!
Preventer Cloud: I like your name. LOL. Yes, Raven has a high chance of joining the escapade…and as for Kori… (Wiggles eyebrows in pride)
Notes:
Nothing much really. Sorry for the wait. Unfortunately, expect a few of these still periods from me when it comes to updating. Exams are coming up. (sigh)
Remember:
"Talking"
Thinking, or in some cases, as noted, a flashback
For standard disclaimer, check the bottom of my author's profile.
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Days of Tomorrow
Chapter Three
By Ryuu no Taiyo
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"Hey Azar…"
"Yes Raven?"
"Did you ever meet my parents?"
Azar had been silent for a moment and Raven feared that her sometimes overly-strict but caring guardian was angry with her.
"I met your mother. Her name was Arella." Was all the older woman replied.
"Oh…"
Raven was eleven years old. Her and Azar where currently sitting in the two front seats of an old beat-up blue car, headed for Jump City.
"We were running from someone…" whispered Raven to herself, waiting on the empty train station that would take her home.
"She thought I would be safe here."
The words echoed in the station. Sighing, she sat down dejectedly on the old bench behind her. There was graffiti on the seat next to her and it read an obscenity. Raven rolled her eyes.
"Don't you people ever do anything useful?" she scolded the emptiness surrounding her again.
"I need to buy that old trailer." Was all she asked.
"Doesn't belong to me." Grunted the porky man.
"Look, I need help. Who owns that goddam trailer? It says 'FOR SALE' on the door, and I supposed it would be yours since you own the parking lot. Whose is it?"
"Belongs to this guy called Sin."
Raven rolled her eyes. Of all the things to call one-self.
"Where can I find this 'Sin'?"
Raven lied back, letting her head fall on the bricked wall behind her.
She didn't know how long she was going to survive without a job.
"I'll find some job at being a waitress somewhere." She mumbled to herself darkly, not amused by the idea in the least.
A line rang in the back of her head.
"That's enough." She told her restless mind. "I'm going home, I'm making myself a gigantic cup of tea and I take a nap."
She nodded resolutely at her amazing plan for the rest of the evening and readied herself to board the incoming train.
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She sipped her Chai Latte, slightly apprehensive. Wearing a simple pair of white jeans and a light violet sweater over a pink tee that suited her, she sat at her table (for two people) grating her finger against the smooth surface of her table, the glass containing the Ice Chai latte in her other hand. She took a sip out of it every few moments.
Finally, the person she had been expecting entered the door and she recognized him instantly.
"Richard!" she said in a clear voice, waving him over to sit down. He did so, putting his brown jacket over the back of the chair quickly and sat down in front of her.
"Hey. How are you?" he said simply.
"Oh, I am well. Thank you very much for bringing me home last night." She said happily, content that he was still accepting her for what she was and not laughing at her funny way of speaking.
"I'm very glad you came, friend." She said, taking another sip of her Chai drink. "Would you like to have something?"
"No. It's okay."
She nodded and smiled in a way that said: If you say so.
Richard started speaking next.
"So…how's your sister? You live with your sister, right?"
Kori sighed.
"She will be alright, I hope. She is most unpleasant these days." She admitted her face a lot less peppy then it was seconds ago.
"I'm sure it's going to be fine." Reassured Robin, hoping to bring her smile back.
She smiled a little. "I'm happy you think as much." she laughed a little.
"What did you do today?" asked Kori, hoping to change the subject. Robin, sensing the change, smiled and went on with it.
"I hung out with my friends. I haven't seen them in two years. They haven't changed at all!" he laughed.
"Two years? That is a most dreadfully long time! Why did you not see them?" Kori asked.
"I lived in Jump City, but had to move to Gotham." Robin explained. "I came back here a few days ago."
"Oh! I've never been to Gotham! How is it?"
"It's a huge city…" Robin answered, "Almost too big, and somehow people still manage to live on top of each other. Fights are always breaking out and it's getting quite dangerous to live there." He admitted.
Kori's eyes shone with worry.
"Did something bad ever happen to you?"
"Well…" he caught the look of horror on her face. "Nothing too serious." He lied quickly and easily. "Mostly just a few teenagers who think they know everything, you know?" he smiled a little, hoping to lessen her worry.
Needless to say his attempt didn't work too well.
"Oh my! Richard! Did you ever get hurt?"
Robin sweat dropped.
"No. I don't look that easy to push around, do I?"
Kori took the chance to look him all over. He was a lean man, a little shorter than she was, but nonetheless good looking. His jet black hair was messy and filled with cheap hair gel. His eyes were a nice blue that seemed to shine when she looked at him.
Robin sweat dropped again, knowing that she was checking him out in her own innocent way.
"Well…not really…" she answered.
She giggled.
"Something funny?" Robin asked her, pretending to be annoyed, and Kori caught the amusement.
"A little funny, yes." She giggled again.
"Ok…so what's so funny?"
"Oh! Nothing!" she stopped giggling immediately, but Robin could tell she was a bad liar.
What was so funny? Kori could not help but find it amusing the look that would be on his face if he ever knew about her…strength… Manda had always said not to use her strength, because men are intimidated by strong women, she said.
Well, not exactly.
"Men are intimidated my women stronger than them."
Kori had never gone out with anyone before, so this was officially her first date, and as silly as it sounded, she didn't want to mess it up. She really liked Richard, even if she didn't know what he thought of her.
"Ok then. You know what?" he suddenly got an idea.
"Do you want to go out for supper? I know this great Mexican place near here!"
"I have never had Mexican…" Kori blushed in embarrassment.
"What? Kori, you have not LIVED until you've tasted Mexican!"
"Really?" her voice was small.
BeastBoy's pickup lines are lame, but they can, occasionally, work.
"Come on!" he pulled on his coat absent-mindedly and took her hand. "You'll love this place!" he said.
Smiling back at him, she let herself be led out of the store, not fully realizing how much trust she had placed in this man, who, until that last evening, had been a complete stranger.
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"So, how many times do you need to get you ass kicked, grass-stain, until you realize that I'm da MAN!" Cyborg exclaimed.
"DUDE! YOU ARE GOING DOWN!"
BeastBoy had never been very good at beating the half robot man, at least not at videogames.
But today, he absolutely stank.
Garfield grumbled as the screen said: WINNER: CYBORG.
"HA! See?" said Cyborg, gloating.
"Shut up."
"You're out of practice, little dude."
This statement, or insult, annoyed him a little more than the other names he'd been called in the last half-hour.
"I'm not small!" he yelled, throwing the controller aside.
Cyborg rested his large shoulder on BeastBoy's head.
"Of course not." But the grin on his face gave his amused mockery away.
BeastBoy turned into a mouse, making Cyborg lose his balance.
Turning back into a human.
"That's small."
"Denial." Cyborg replied.
"You know what's funny?" BeastBoy suddenly brought up, completely forgetting their previous argument.
"What?" Cyborg asked, surprised by the change.
"I'm having trouble changing into other animals. The only ones that are easy to change into is the form of a mouse and a fly."
Cyborg wondered.
"You didn't practice your power often since the last job, did you?"
"I barely ever used it." BeastBoy acknowledged.
"That might be why. You're only out of practice. Man, BB. Bad at videogames, cooking, and now you even stink with your own superpower!" Cyborg laughed.
"I don't-wait, did you just insult my cooking?"
"Dude, you can't even tell a spatula from a frying pan!"
"YES I CAN!"
"NO YOU CAN'T!"
"YES I CAN!"
"YES YOU CANNOT!"
"YES I CANNO- what?"
Cyborg exploded in laughter.
BeastBoy looked evenly at the laughing being.
"Ok…ok…no more laughs…" Cyborg had caught his glare, but still had trouble stopping his display of amusement, "Peace, ok?"
BeastBoy took his outstretched hand.
"Ok dude."
"Cool."
Both inwardly snickered.
"So…pizza?"
"Sure. Let's go out." Cyborg agreed.
And they both left to go eat pizza like old times, which generally included a lot of arguing, a food fight and a huge bill.
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"Mr. Mod, I've made my decision."
"Really ducky?"
"Yes…" her voice was quiet and solemn.
"So, leaving us are you?"
"Yes."
"Very well. No hard feelings, rabbit. Next time we're in Gotham, give us a call. We always love welcoming old members back."
"I'll…keep that in mind."
They both hung up at the same time. Raven put her head in her heads, her elbows resting on her knees.
She had half her mind to call back. She wanted to yell, NO! I'll come with you! She would hope that they would take her back. She would continue living in the semblance of security she had created. Instead, she had just thrown herself back into the uncertainty of life. She had to find a way to sustain herself, or else she might end up living on the streets.
She could not help but feel how small she was compared to the rest of the world.
What have I done?
What will I do?
She told herself mentally to shut up. She had called Mr. Mod and she had quit. End of story.
She wasn't about to call them back and ask for her job back. That would be... No. It would be embarrassing…She had gotten out of worst situations before. She would go through this. She was over-reacting.
She looked around her small 'house'.
The trailer was tiny and was in two parts. One was the sleeping quarters, as Raven called it, a smaller area with her mattress on the floor and the trunk full of her clothes. There was also the door that lead to the bathroom, complete with a malfunctioning shower (not to worry though, Raven was used to freezing water by now) and a malfunctioning toilet (this Raven wasn't used to yet).
The second part held the kitchen, which had a microwave, a fridge and on the counter a kettle, and the dining area, which comprised of a table and a chair. Inside the counter was an assorted variety of plates, cups, mugs and cutlery and inside the fridge you could find the Raven's food necessities, which wasn't much.
She lied on her back and closed her eyes.
A strange voice crossed her mind in an instant.
"But I'd never live off the shame!"
Raven opened her eyes.
How'd he get in her mind?
Curious, she opened her book bag and checked the bottom. Finding the crumpled piece of paper, she looked at the number for a moment.
Oh yeah. Smart, Raven. Real smart. And what would you say to this…Garfield Logan?
I know his name. It's a start.
She couldn't recognize that one thought.
Great start. Real great start.
Wishing her thoughts silence once more, she got up from her comfortable seat on the bed and went to the kitchen area where she turned off the kettle and poured herself some tea.
She would drink tea, meditate and then go to sleep, hopefully.
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"Thank you, friend Richard."
"No prob. I had a great time." His smile was an honest one.
They had just walked out of the Mexican place (surprisingly, Kori had adored the food) and it was nearing nine o'clock.
"I must get home. I must check on my sister."
Richard nodded.
"Want me to walk you home?" He was uneager to leave her so soon, even if he understood the un-idealistic concept that it was 'getting late'. If it was up to him, he'd want the day to go on later.
"No, it is okay." She smiled. "I had a most wonderful time!"
"Me too." Richard answered.
"Well…" she pointed to the side nervously. "I shall be going."
"Ok…We'll see each other again soon, right?"
Richard himself could hear the nervousness in his voice.
"Yes." Kori smiled, blushing slightly, "I would like that very much."
"See you soon then." He smiled his slightly over-confident smile.
"Yes…"
Neither moved.
In a flash, Kori moved to peck him on the cheek, and blushing, hurriedly said goodbye and walked away.
Richard was left there, staring at the point where her eyes had once been, and his hand went to his cheek.
Smiling, he put his hands in his pockets, looked one time at Kori as she was walking away, and she was looking at him over her shoulder.
She waved, almost walking into someone, and Richard laughed a little, before walking down his way, smiling like a maniac.
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It was about seven in the morning, the next day, when Garfield's cell started ringing.
He moaned, his arm reaching beside him to close off what he thought was his alarm clock, but instead his hand arrived on his vibrating cell phone.
"BB! ANSWER YOU DAMN PHONE!" yelled Cyborg form another room, and BeastBoy jumped.
He pressed 'On' and brought the phone to his ear, a little bewildered.
"Is this Garfield Logan?" a smooth, even voice flew threw the contraption.
BeastBoy immediately perked up.
"The one and only, miss the-fortune-teller."
"Why did you give me your number? You don't even know my name."
"…What's your name?"
"Raven." Her voice started seeming bored.
"Raven?"
"What?"
"Why did you call me?"
"I want to know why you gave me your number."
"Uh…"
BeastBoy blushed unknowingly. No lame cheesy catch phrase came to his head.
He had given her his number on impulse. He was also on the rebound and prone to do mad things because of the recent breakup with Terra…but how would he explain that to Raven?
"I…don't know?"
A groan was heard on the other line.
"I'm wasting my time."
"Wait! Don't hang up yet!"
"Who said I was gonna hang up?"
"Uh…Weren't you?"
"Actually…"
BeastBoy waited impatiently and apprehensively for an answer.
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Raven was talking into the phone, her fingers playing with the cord that attached it to the hook. Out of curiosity, at first, she had called this 'Garfield Logan' to ask why he had given her his number. Then, as the conversation evolved, an idea had popped in her head.
Apart from her few friends like Freddy at the circus, she didn't know anyone well enough to ask for help. For some reason, Garfield seemed like she had known him for ever.
Ask him for help about a new job.
Are you kidding? We don't even know him!
Got a better idea? At least I'm trying to help the situation.
I still say this is a bad idea…
"No…I wasn't going to hang up. I need help, Logan." She reverted to call him by his last name.
At least I have some pride.
She rolled her eyes as he spluttered.
"Help? What kind of help?"
"I need a job." She said bluntly. "Do you know where I can find one?"
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Garfield got up and headed towards Robin who was sleeping in the guest room.
"Gimme a moment ok? I need to check something."
He put Raven on hold.
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Raven rolled her eyes.
"Fine." She muttered.
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"Rob?" Garfield asked, shaking the young man awake. "Rob?"
"Whaddya want BB?" Robin's voice was muffled through his pillow.
"Do you think it's ok if I invite another member to join our little club?"
"Yeah sure-WHAT?"
Robin was now fully awake and jerked upwards.
"No, and I mean no." he said, looking furiously worried. "What did you do, BB?"
"I didn't do anything! Yet! I swear! It's just I have a friend who needs a job and-"
"You told him!"
"Not yet! And it's a girl!"
"No BB. Absolutely not."
Garfield watched, bummed, as Robin fell back into his pillow and started sleeping again.
He exited the rather small room and went back to the living room and sat on the couch were he had been sleeping barely fifteen minutes before.
"Raven?" he asked through the phone after turning the 'hold' button off.
"What?" she sounded irritated and Garfield winced. He had made her wait a while.
"I can help you look if you want."
There was an awkward silence.
"Never mind." She said. "Goodbye Garfield Logan."
"Wait!-"
But she had already hung up.
"Dammit!" Garfield said, throwing the phone across the room.
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"Goodnight, Jinx."
"Ya! 'Night hun!"
Jinx winced. No matter how many times she asked him not too, Gizmo always called her 'hun' or by some other cheesy and downright annoying pet name. That midget was at the head of the supplies department and was the master at electronic-anything, hence the name Gizmo.
A real nerd, he would often be caught using Police supplies to create 'out of this world scientific breakthroughs', or, in reality, little robots and amusing gadgets that would do a variety of things.
Jinx sighed, tying her long pink hair into two pigtails on ether side of her head. It was her favorite hairdo, no matter how baby-ish people thought it was. However, the head of her police division forbid her from wearing that hairdo on the job. People had a tendency to not…take her seriously.
And those people had a tendency…to have extremely bad luck after that.
Jinx had earned her name.
The pink-haired woman walked over all the way to her house. There were only three blocks separating her from the station.
She walked up to her apartment, ditching the elevator and taking the stairs.
She had about a pound to lose; all those donuts were weighing on her.
"Back so soon, Jinx?"
The woman couldn't help but blush a little. Her neighbor, a man called Victor Stone and one of the nicest men she'd ever met, was standing in the hallway.
"Yeah. I took the afternoon off." She answered, happy that he'd noticed her. "What are you doing?"
"There's like a problem with my door…just fixing it though. I'm almost done."
Victor smiled.
"Ok then. See you later."
"Bye." He said, bending back down near the bottom of the door.
Jinx was walking into her apartment and had just closed the door when she wondered.
He had absolutely no tools on him…How was he gonna fix his door?
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COOKIES FOR ALL!
Ryuu no Taiyo