Day 34-37
Raven, wrapped in a large white robe, answered the door. Robin stood wearing his normal black sports clothing. Wind pants, mesh tee shirt, sweat guard and sneakers. Raven let him in
"We have to leave for the air port in ten minutes. Can you be ready then?" He asked standing in front of the shut door.
Raven made her way back on to her chair. "Why are we going to the air port?"
"We have a flight to catch at nine twenty. Business trip. Remember?"
Raven could hear the stress in his voice thinking that she had forgotten. "Ah. Well, I'll make this easy on you then. I'm not going."
"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice."
"What do you mean? I thought you always needed my consent in every decision you make." She asked innocently.
Robin moved swiftly to take a seat on the coffee table in front of her. "This isn't my decision either. It's my fathers. You… we don't have a choice. You have to come."
"That's right. I forgot. I am a piece of property. His until our wedding. Then I'm your property. Lucky me." She said with somewhat of a spiteful air.
Robin closed his eyes and rubbed them. "Please don't do this right now. I can't help the situation we're in. You know that. I will never treat you as property. But fact of the matter is, you have to go. So please get ready. Please…"
There was a moment of silence before Robin looked up at Raven sitting on the chair. A coy smile graced her lips.
"Relax. I know you didn't choose this. And I'm ready." Raven got to her feet and preceded to untie the soft fabric around her waist.
Robin widened his eye and quickly closed them turning his head away. He heard the robe drop to the floor. There was no other movement for a long time. Slowly he opened he opened his eye so he could just barely make out her image. She was clothed. He sighed and opened his eye to see her hands on her small-framed hips. One brow was raised in amusement and the same coy smile lingered. She wore a short black jean skirt; a low cut tight tank top and her normal black combat boots. She wore a black headband and her chrome chain around her neck with his great great grandmother's ring on it.
"You really are amusing." Raven turned and headed back towards her bedroom.
Robin was left a bit dumbfounded. She changed her moods so quickly, he noted. And today, she seemed somewhat happy. Pleasant at least. He wasn't going to question his good fortune. Maybe this trip would be a success.
They loaded into the car. Raven noticed a package on the seat. "What's that for?" She asked without really caring.
Robin turned to glance at it before picking it up. "Our wedding invitations. I haven't opened them yet." He handed her the box.
Raven eyed it for a minute before opening it herself. but they were not as they should be. Her eyes narrowed. "You ordered different ones." She stated.
Robin glanced to her. "No I didn't. what are you talking about?"
Raven held up a white card with silver writing outlined in a lilac color. She watched Robin's frown turn into a slight fume.
Immediately he took out his phone and dialed a number. Raven was pleased with his end of the conversation.
"Miss Tayfler, This is Robin Drake… Save it. Who gave you permission to order different invitations without our consent? … I didn't ask your opinion… you will reorder them, the right ones with what we discussed would be on them, at your expense. I will not see a bill for this do I make myself clear? … Another trick like this and you'll be out of a job." He hung up the phone.
Raven couldn't help but grin at his tone with her.
They stood just inside the airport doors as Raven glanced around unimpressed. There were way too many people here for comfort.
"Stay close." Robin said as he started weaving through the crowd.
Almost instantly Raven was separated from him. She started looking around almost helplessly until a hand caught her right arm. She jumped a bit and turned to face the man who grabbed her.
Robin smiled. "Ok. You walk ahead and I'll guide you."
"I have a better idea." She entwined her fingers with his, holding his hand tightly. "Now lead the way."
Robin grinned childishly. Her warm touch sent chills down his spin. But he paid no attention to that right now. They had a flight to catch.
Around the corner Robin had them step on the moving sidewalk.
"What is this?" Raven looked down almost fascinated.
"A moving sidewalk. We get there faster and without having to push through the crowds."
Raven nodded but still didn't let go of his hand. Being lost in an airport wasn't exactly high on her list of things she wanted to do.
Once through the security check, the amount of people died down drastically. Raven finally let go of his hand.
"Have you ever been in first class?" Robin asked looking through their boarding passes.
"I've never been on a plane."
"Ah. First time for everything. Come on. We still have a little ways to walk."
Raven followed really close this time. She didn't want to risk being separated from him. Being with him was better than being surrounding by a bunch of crazy people she didn't know.
They were able to board first, being in first class. Robin let her sit by the window. Raven watched all the people on the ground scurry around wearing bright orange and carrying glow sticks. They all had radios on their head. She noted how they seemed to look like the Teen Titans in the cartoons she used to watch. When they were in their T ship.
The flight attendant made her pre take off speech. Raven paid close attention to where the exits were located. Not that it mattered. If it came down to it, she would just teleport herself out and back into her guesthouse on the Drake Grounds.
The plane started to move. Raven gripped her seat belt tight. The plane sped up. When she felt the front move off the ground she gripped the arm rests as tight as she could. Clutching Robin's hand in the process.
The flight was long. Seven hours until they finally touched down in Gotham City. Once out of her seat, Raven held Robin's hand again firmly.
"You didn't tell me we were going to America." She said somewhat irritated.
With a smile, Robin directed her to the luggage area and out the door. "There's our ride." He said pulling her towards the black limo.
"Good afternoon, Master Robin. Your flight was pleasant?"
"Yes. Thank you, Alfred. This is Raven." Robin introduced pulling Raven ahead.
The old man who had opened the door for them to climb in held his hand out to Raven. She took it. "It's very nice to meet you, Raven."
"You as well." Raven said climbing into the limo and sitting next to Robin.
Alfred shut the door and soon he was in the driver's seat. Through the window he addressed them. "Master Bruce will be waiting at the house. He is expecting you."
"Thank you."
Alfred nodded in the mirror and the window rolled up.
"Are you treated like royalty everywhere you go?" Raven asked almost annoyed.
Robin looked out the window. "This isn't a family business trip. It actually has nothing to do with the Drake vineyards."
"So how is this a business trip?"
Again, Robin kept his gaze out the window.
"I get it. Another damned secret you don't find the need to tell me." Raven looked out her window as well.
Robin looked back at her. "I'll tell you. But it stays between us. Promise?"
Raven looked to him. "I promise. Besides, who would I tell?"
Robin studied her for a few moments longer. "Bruce and I have an arrangement. When he needs my assistance, he arranges a business trip. I come out here, do what he needs me to do, and go home. In the mean time, Alfred does some false paperwork that I take back to my father so it looks legit. So it is business, but not family."
"Is it illegal?"
Robin smiled. "No. Completely legal I assure you."
"So then what do you do?"
"Well, we… assist in locating criminals. We do our homework, send the information to the right people and they do all the dirty work."
They drove through the city. Raven kept her gaze out the window. Buildings started to look vaguely familiar. It took her a while to figure out where the scene came from. Posters and the television. And a sign confirmed her suspicions.
"This is the city Batman and Robin protect, isn't it?" She asked after she snapped her head back to Robin.
Robin nodded.
Raven narrowed her eyes. "Were you named after Robin?"
Raven saw the smile but Robin never turned his head to face her.
"No. It's a nickname."
"What's your real name?"
Robin turned to her with a small smile. "Timothy."
"Timothy Drake. It does have more of a ring to it than Robin Drake. So why the nickname?"
"Because of my martial arts. I practice the same variations as Robin of Gotham does. Cy started it as a joke. It just never wore off."
The car pulled up next to a house almost three times the size of Robin's. Raven looked at it with some awe.
Alfred took their bags out of the trunk and led the two inside. Aside from the rather expensive furniture and a few pieces of art, the house seemed rather bare. And way too clean. There weren't dozens of servants wondering around cleaning, cooking and doing whatever else it is that they do. Just Alfred. The house seemed barely lived in.
"Nice to see you again, Tim."
Raven turned to follow the voice from behind. He was tall and very built. Dark hair. Brown eyes. Quite handsome too. Raven recognized him from magazines. The multi-billionaire bachelor, Bruce Wayne of Wayne Industries.
"You too, Bruce. This is Raven." Robin again guided her to the front of him.
Bruce held his hand out to her. She looked at it for a minute before assuring herself he wasn't one that was forcing this marriage.
"Alfred will show you to your room. Then we can meet for lunch and get down to business."
Robin nodded. He and Raven followed Alfred.
"Sorry to have to do this to you, but the guest wing is being refurbished. You two wouldn't mind sharing a room would you?"
Raven narrowed her eyes and glared at Robin. This was a great plan. I bet he knew they would have to share a room. That's why he didn't fight to let her stay at the Grounds.
"Are you sure there's no other options, Alfred?" Robin asked sounding slightly put out.
"No, there really isn't. This meeting was set up somewhat in haste. We weren't expecting to entertain guests till this fall. Hence we thought now would be a good time to refurbish the house."
"Alright. Then we don't really have a choice. So its fine." Robin said carefully eyeing Raven.
Alfred opened a large oak door to allow them entrance. Then he left them.
The room was quite large. One king sized bed in the corner across from the door. Two large bay doors leading out to a balcony three stories from the ground. There was an attached bathroom with a whirlpool tub, double sinks and so on. There was also a sitting area surrounding a fireplace. The chairs served duel purpose by the looks of it. They were on a spindle and could turn to see the television against the other wall. Besides the fact that they had to share a room, this was a nice one.
"I'll sleep on the couch." Robin volunteered.
Raven ignored him and went straight to the balcony. It was a most incredible sight. But she couldn't help but wonder why she had come. There would surly be nothing for her to do.
Robin watched her from the doorway with a sigh. As far as he was concerned, so far this couldn't get too much worse. Raven was already pissed about sharing a room, he guessed. What was he to do? He didn't know about it. He walked out to her and stood next to her leaning against the railing.
"After lunch you're welcome to do what you want while I help Bruce out. After I can show you around the city if you like."
Raven nodded. "That's fine. Do I have free reign?"
Robin looked at her questionably.
"Can I do whatever I want while we're here?" She rephrased the question.
Robin nodded. "Within reason. We are guests in this house though."
Raven nodded and looked back out over the grounds.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Lunch passed and Raven found herself back in the room her and Robin would be sharing for the next two days. Turns out for such a big place, there was a whole lot of nothing to do. No one lived here except Bruce and Alfred. So she lay on her back on the bed staring at the ceiling, legs hanging off the end. She was twirling her hair in her fingers.
Nothing on television.
Nothing good to read.
No one to talk to.
Bored out of her mind.
Quarter to nine, Robin came back in the bedroom.
Raven hadn't moved from her spot on the bed. "Too late for my tour I guess." She said in her bored monotone.
"Not at all. Come on."
Raven sat up and looked at him. "Really?"
"Yea lets go." He said with a smile. You kidding, you are willing to spend one on one time with me, and you think I'm going to pass it up? He thought to himself.
Raven got up and followed him out the door.
The night was pleasant. Not too hot or cold. There were tons of people walking the streets. Tons of shops to go in and explore, which they did. On the first block, Raven wanted to go in every store. So they did. Until they rounded the corner and found block after block to be the same. Raven decided every store was a bit much. So she chose her favorites.
They turned a corner and continued to walk down an semi empty ally way. Semi empty because there were still stores, but they were spaced out more than ten feet apart this time. Very few people were walking down here. And soon there were groups running in their direction with horrified expressions.
Robin pulled Raven back in a doorframe to a store and leaned around the corner. He saw what they were all running from.
Robin took a few steps out until he felt the pull on his arm. He turned to see Raven standing there with a quizzical look.
"And you're just going to leave me here while you run off and do whatever?" She asked with a mixture of annoyance and fright.
Robin looked between her and the object of terrorization down the street. "Ok. I have to make a phone call. Stay here and hidden. I'll be back in less than a minute, alright?"
Raven looked surprised. "You're really going to leave me here alone?"
"You'll be safe here. I promise I'll be right back."
"Whatever." Raven said crossing her arms.
Robin ran off. "Just stay hidden." He called as he left.
Raven watched him go and shook her head slightly. Apparently this was a private call and his cell phone just wouldn't do. So much for her protective 'that's what I do' fiancée. He runs just like everyone else when it comes down to it.
Around the corners were screams and shadows. Out the door way were still scattered groups of people running and looking back screaming.
Curiosity got the best of her and she looked around the corner. A dozen or so… what were they exactly? People? They looked to be people, except they appeared to be made of shadow. They avoided every bit of moonlight they could. They were consuming or destroying everything they touched.
As they got closer, Raven began to back up. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and knocked over a trashcan. She turned to see the noise. As if in a daze she stared at it a while. And then turned to see that she was the next target of these shadow men.
They were coming at her, so she did the only thing she could think of. She ran. She ran as fast as she could glancing back every few paces only to see them gaining on her. She screamed a little before she called to her oh so loving fiancée.
"ROBIN!"
With a quick glance back, one was on her heels. She screamed again and closed her eyes waiting for the impact. It came from the front. She collided with someone as an arm wrapped itself around her waist and lifted her off her feet. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around her attackers neck to hold on. If she went down, her attacker would too. She felt the breeze in her hair and against her face. Slowly she opened her eyes.
A bright yellow cape was swishing through the breeze in front of her. They were a few stories off the ground, swinging through the air. She wasn't attacked after all. She was rescued. She tightened her grip around his neck as they were landing no the rooftop of a near by building.
She let go and backed off a little to look at him. Her rescuer was the one and only Robin of Gotham City. He stood a few inches taller than her. Spiked black hair, green pants, red shirt with the R on his left breast. Yellow utility belt, steel toe boots and his famous mask. The one he never removed. He vaguely resembled her fiancée she thought. But he was more dark and mysterious.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Raven nodded.
"You're not hurt or anything are you?"
Raven shook her head.
Robin smirked.
It sent chills down Raven's back.
"I'll be right back to get you down. If they come after you again, yell."
Having her voice stuck in her throat, Raven just nodded again.
Robin jumped off the side and flew away on a grappling hook.
In the near distance she saw the battle between Robin and the shadow men. They did seem to be shadows. Every attack Robin made went through them like they weren't made of a solid object. Shortly, Batman joined Robin.
Again curiosity got the best of her. With a quick glance around her to see who was near, she raised her hands in Robin's direction. It was dark. No one would see her. Her hands were surrounded instantly in dark energy. She concentrated on the attacks the shadows were making on Robin. He seemed to be able to block them like any normal punch or kick, but his attacks were still useless. She chose one shadow off to the right and consumed it in an energy ball of her own. Then she lifted it to the direct moonlight. If they were indeed shadows, she shouldn't be able to consume them. But that was not the case.
For a minute she thought it was working, until the shadow man melted itself through the bottom of the ball. Raven let the ball disperse and watched the shadow rejoin the fight.
That's impossible. She thought. If it were in fact a shadow, it wouldn't have gotten trapped at all. And since it did, it's not a real shadow. Nothing can get out of that. Nothing. Unless…
Her thoughts were cut but two shadow figures climbing up the building towards her.
One last idea. She formed a barrier around the third floor. It encircled the entire building. Nothing should get through that. But they did as if it weren't there. She knew what it was. And how to stop them. But in the mean time she needed to get out of there. So she called to Robin again.
He came and scooped her up in his arm and swung her a few blocks away. Before he was able to jump off again, Raven grabbed his cape.
"I know what they are and what you're doing is pointless."
"What do you mean? We've fought these creatures before."
"Maybe, but you never fully succeeded or they wouldn't be back, right?"
Robin seemed to study her for a minute. "I'm listening."
"They're not people at all. Or shadows. They're mind matter. Someone is using telekinesis. Find them, break their concentration and they disappear."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. Trust me."
After a moment of consideration, Robin nodded and jumped from the building again.
Raven watched him in the distance. He stopped by Batman and while they made useless attacks and blocked blows they were exchanging words. Raven was almost sure of it. Then Robin made a jump kick and was gone.
Raven looked around in search of someone who had a good view of the action and of where she had been watching from previously. But it was too dark to make out anything at night. Even with the glow of the city's many lights.
"You up for a little favor?"
Raven turned to see her masked Robin standing behind her with a seemingly cocky grin. She shrugged.
"Come with me." He said holding out his hand.
Raven took it. Robin pulled her into him and wrapped his arm around her waist again. "Hold on." He said into her ear in a smooth voice.
Raven wrapped her arms around his neck as Robin jumped from the building. It was a rush. Like the time she, Tim, Jinx and Cy went skydiving. But this was more thrilling. The only thing stopping them from plummeting into the ground was a thin cord attached to a handle and a hook on the other end.
Her ride stopped at a giant bell tower a few blocks away. Robin handed her a radio and a pair of goggles from his belt. "Night vision. When you find anything that looks promising, tell me where. I'll have the receiver in my ear." As he spoke he put the receiver in his ear.
Raven nodded.
Robin turned to leave. Right before he jumped off he turned back towards her with that same shit-eating grin as before. "Be careful."
Raven smiled shyly and nodded.
Robin looked at her for a short minute and then jumped off the edge. Raven watched him swing between the buildings and back into the fight. Raven raised the goggles to her eyes to watch them for a minute.
Remembering she was supposed to be using the goggles for a different purpose she started searching all the surrounding buildings and rooftops. Anything somewhat close was pretty clear. One in the distance seemed a bit sketchy. But she couldn't see it clearly. Taking the goggles down she examined them until she found the zoom button. Again she looked back through them. Nothing there. Just shadows. Real shadows.
Raven looked from rooftop to rooftop. Nothing. She began to get concerned she was wrong. Boy would she feel foolish then.
She kept scanning the surrounding area. And sure enough, she found the person. A middle-aged man. Round belly and wearing a baseball cap backwards. He was watching very intently while people were still flooding by him. He paid them no attention. Not even a glance. He never broke eye contact with the battle. That had to be him.
Through her radio she called to Robin and told him the description and location.
"Don't take your eyes off him in case he moves. I'm on my way."
Raven did that. In less than a minute Robin had arrived on top of the guy. There was little struggle but nothing that Robin couldn't get through. Raven looked back towards Batman. The shadow people were gone and Batman was on his way towards Robin and the guy. Raven watched as Batman cuffed him and Robin fled in the opposite direction. Raven kept watching. Batman was saying something to him. She couldn't make out what.
She made certain speculations about this guy. Telekinesis was obviously something he had to work at. He had to use full concentration in order to use it. Unlike her where it came almost naturally.
"How'd you know he was using Telekinesis?"
Raven spun on her heel to see her masked Robin leaning against the edge of the tower with his arms crossed on his chest. Again wearing that same grin as before.
Raven blushed a little from being startled. "I have a friend that has Telekinesis. I know what it looks like."
Robin nodded. "Thanks for your help tonight."
"Thanks for rescuing me. Twice."
Robin's smile widened. "It was my pleasure." He said smoothly.
Raven pushed the blush back thanking the dark nights air for making it hard to see.
"What were you doing alone out here this late at night?"
For the first time in a while, Raven remembered Robin… err… Tim. "I was being shown around when he left to make a phone call."
"I see. Then we have him to thank for this anonymous tip."
Raven looked at him. "He called you?"
Robin nodded.
"He should have taken me with him. What kind of guy leaves his… friend alone in the night when he knows something is wrong?" Raven said hotly.
Robin looked at her sideways still with a smile. "Friend?"
Raven turned from him and sat on the edge of the tower over looking the city. She drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.
Shortly Robin sat down next to her draping his legs over the side. "Where you from?"
"Rajmech."
"So you're a foreigner. Has your time here been pleasurable?"
"It would be if it were under different circumstances."
"They're not good?" He questioned kindly.
Raven sighed. "My life is too miserable and complicated for me to waste your time. I'm sure you have better things to do."
"Not really. I'm enjoying talking to you."
Raven glanced at him to see a smile on his face. Again Raven blushed. But she liked the way he wasn't cautious around her. He didn't hold back what he wanted to say because he was worried of her reaction.
"That guy who called you is my fiancée. I have to marry him in seventy days. I was promised to him since four days after I was adopted into my family. So I'm a prisoner forced into a life of oppression."
"Ah. Not your choice of a happy ending, I take it."
"I turn fourteen a week before my wedding."
"Really?" He said a little surprised.
Raven nodded keeping her gaze away from him.
"Well, we can run away together?"
Raven looked to him.
He was smiling wildly.
Raven raised a brow. "Where are we gonna go?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"They'll come looking for me?"
Robin shrugged. "So we'll stay one step ahead of them. Change our names. That reminds me, what is your name?"
Raven smirked. "Raven."'
"Raven… beautiful."
Raven looked away with reddened cheeks. There was something about him that took her breath away. She hadn't been so… self-conscious in… forever really. And he talked to her like she was… Raven sighed.
"What's your name?" She asked back knowing perfectly well she wouldn't get an answer.
"Ah…" He said leaning back. "I knew you'd ask that. So I'll tell you this, it's not Robin. That's just my handle."
Raven nodded. "That much I knew."
After a few more minutes of content silence, Robin stood. "I better get you back so your fiancée can find you."
Raven looked up at him. "I thought we were running away together?" She asked getting to her feet as well.
"I fight crime. I cant be a criminal too. My reputation would be shot."
"I knew you were too good to be true." Raven said with a small grin.
Robin pulled her into him with one arm around her waist. He looked down into her large deep purple eyes. "Someday, when you're not thirteen, I'd love to run away with you. But right now, the time isn't right."
Raven blushed and turned her head to the side. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. His gaze gave her goose bumps, even if she couldn't see his eye. His smile made her feel like floating.
His grip tightened. Raven heard the pop and the distant smash of the grappling hook embedding itself into the side of a near by building. They were lifted off their feet and slowly made their way to the ground.
They landed and Robin let her go. He started to back away into the shadows where he would disappear into the night.
"Will I see you again?" Raven asked taking a step towards him.
"I'll find you."
She heard his voice but it seemed far away. A few seconds later Robin… ah, Tim Drake was heard running up the ally behind her and stopped in front of her.
"Raven. Are you ok?"
Raven looked at him dazedly. "Yea. I'm fine." She said turning and making her way up the ally way.
Robin trotted along beside her. "Are you ok? I've been looking for you. I'm so sorry I left you."
Raven glanced to him wearing the smallest of smiles. "I'm good."
Robin studied her. "You sure?"
Raven nodded before linking her arm with his. "But if you ever leave me in harms way again, I swear all the angles in heaven won't be able to protect you from my wrath."
Robin chuckled. "Alright."
They walked the night for a few more hours. Raven was careful not to let him go for more than a few minutes at a time. She wasn't willing to let herself get kidnapped or hurt or something else. On the other hand, then she'd have the chance to be rescued again by her new hero.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The next day brought a heat wave to Gotham. Raven stayed in watching movies with Robin randomly checking in on her. Around three Robin suggested them going for a swim.
To his utter delight, she agreed. They swam and played water sports in the Olympic sized pool in one of Bruce's many courtyards. Robin was thrilled to see her laughing and smiling all day. He even managed to get close enough to come in contact with her on a somewhat regular basis.
He couldn't help thanking his father for making him take her on this trip. It was turning out better than he expected.
After a few hours in the pool, they went inside and dried off in front of the television.
"Want some ice cream?" Robin asked wrapping a towel around his waist.
Raven nodded.
Robin turned and left the room heading towards the kitchen. Bruce was there sitting on the counter talking to Alfred.
"How is she doing?" Bruce asked.
"She's actually in the best mood I've ever seen her in." Robin said opening the freezer. "Any new on this 'HIVE'?"
"Not a thing." Bruce answered rubbing his forehead. "Alfred and I've been looking all afternoon. If this is a real organization, they're doing a damn good job covering their trail."
Robin continued to scoop ice cream into dishes. "How about hostages? Anything there?"
Bruce shook his head. "Nothing newer than what we had weeks ago. She's sure that's what that dream came to?"
"She said she wouldn't bet her life on it but yea." Robin put the ice cream back in the freezer and stood a few feet from Bruce.
"If you gave her a list of things to look at and listen to… could she make some sense out of it?"
Robin shrugged. "It would be worth a try. But we better do it as just a fun project. Nothing serious."
Bruce nodded.
Robin picked up the bowls of ice cream and headed back into the entertainment room where Raven was sitting on the couch flipping through channels. He walked over and handed her the bowl.
She looked to him and smiled. Taking her first bite, she said, "Thanks, Tim."
Robin looked to her and smirked. "You're welcome." He had grown used to everyone, even his parents, referring to him as Robin. And he had preferred that name for a long time. But hearing it from Raven gave him a whole new look on it. He liked the way she said it.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The rest of the day was filled with different ways to keep cool. Mostly just staying in the air conditioning.
That night Raven sat on her bed reading a tabloid with her masked hero on the front. Robin went into the bathroom for a shower. She heard the water turn on and a few seconds later a tap at her balcony door.
Raven looked up but saw nothing. She put her tabloid down and scooted off the bed. With one arm behind her back she surrounded it with her black energy. Just in case. The other hand opened the door.
Her balcony was empty. She took one step out making herself well aware of her surroundings. Taking in every detail she could. Against the wall to her right was her masked Robin. He stood there just like he had on the tower the night before. Leaning against it with his arms crossed and a smug grin.
"Told you I'd find you." He said.
Raven let her energy die away and placed both hands on her hips. "So I see." She said coyly.
"How long does he stay in the shower?"
"Fifteen minutes I'd guess." Raven said with a shrug. "I really don't pay that much attention."
"You don't like him, do you?"
Raven thought the question over. "I don't think it's that I don't like him. He's a good guy. But I don't want to marry him. And that gets the better of me."
Robin nodded his head. "I was thinking. If you're marrying this guy, how can you run away with me?"
Raven smiled. "I wont be married to him forever. We have this plan. The two of us and four of his friends back home are moving here to America once I turn eighteen. I'm the youngest so we have to wait till my birthday. We get green cards and visas. We'll change names and conveniently get lost. We stay low for a while and we should be home free. Then we'll get divorced and go our separate ways."
Robin smiled. "But if you change your names, then the old you is still married but the new you isn't. If you get divorced under your real names, they can track that trail."
Raven thought about it. "Apparently we still have some details to work out."
Robin chuckled. "Guess so." He watched her for a while.
Raven held his gaze as long as she could until she became over whelmed and looked down. A shudder went through her as the breeze picked up.
"You cold?" Robin asked.
"A little." She answered. Within seconds she was being wrapped in a bright yellow cape. Raven smiled shyly and snuggled into it. "Thanks." She whispered.
She felt a soft touch against her skin and it helped guide her eyes back to the mask. He was looking down at her with a soft smile as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.
Raven's breath got caught in her throat. Her hands became sweaty. Nothing had ever made her get nervous. But here, tonight, she was as nervous as a little school girl going on her first bus ride.
Inside the shower's water stopped.
"I have to go." Robin said not moving.
Raven took his shirt in her hand and held him there while she rested her forehead on his chest. She just had to hold him there a while longer. She wasn't ready for him to leave her yet. Robin's hand brushed tenderly through the back of her hair.
There was a the sound of water turning on again and a few seconds later off again.
Raven felt him pull away hesitantly.
"I would really love to stay here with you all night, but I really should go."
Raven looked up to him and nodded. "Will you come back tomorrow night?"
Robin smiled. "I'll try. Sleep well my beauty."
There were more noises in the bathroom.
Robin backed away taking her hand in his. He kissed it and backed towards the balcony's side where he leaned back and disappeared from sight. Raven went to the same spot for one last glimpse of him. But he was already gone.
Raven quickly took his cape off her shoulders and stuffed it in her bag before returning to the balcony.
A few short minutes later a wet Robin (Tim) Drake stood next to her on the balcony in only shorts. His hair was dripping and he was still spotted with water.
Raven looked at him amused. "Forget a towel?" She asked.
Robin ran a hand through his hair and smiled. "Actually, I like to air dry on hot nights. Keeps me cool longer."
"Sure." She said looking back out over Bruce's property, silently searching for her hero.
"You ok?"
Raven looked to him with a soft smile. "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
Robin shrugged. "You seem… different lately."
Raven looked back out into the night. "Well, maybe life isn't as bad as I thought."
With narrowed eyes, Robin just looked at her and gave a hesitant smile. I guess that's good, right?
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Their last full day in Gotham brought a semi cooler day. Still rather boring though. Robin spent most of his time with Bruce leaving Raven to entertain herself again. She found pleasure in talking to Alfred though. He reminded her of Talo back at Drake Grounds.
But deep down, Raven was yearning for the night to get there.
Slowly it crept up. Raven waited in her room. The anxiety was becoming too much for her. She decided to wait on the balcony. Robin was still with Bruce. He had come to her a little over an hour ago and told her it would be quite some time before he would be up. Raven just smiled and nodded her head.
She watched the distance to the left of her door. She was leaning against the rail looking for any sign of him.
A voice came from behind her. "You look beautiful tonight."
Raven smiled. She turned to see her masked hero leaning against the edge. "I thought you weren't coming." She said shyly.
Robin's cocky smile reappeared. "And miss seeing you? You must be thinking of someone else."
Raven let a nervous laugh escape her throat.
Robin walked towards her closing the distance separating them. He stopped leaving only a foot between them.
Raven's breathing became shallow as she anticipated what he was going to do. "I had a dream about you last night." Raven began talking trying to keep her nerve.
Robin smirked. "Yea? Tell me about it."
"You came up here and knocked on my door like you did last night. When I came out you took me in your arms and we dropped down to your bike and we rode away into the sunset."
Robin smiled again. He raised his hand to her face and brushed the hair that the breeze had blown behind her ear. "Dreams can come true. You just have to wait for them."
Raven looked to her feet. "I don't mind waiting. But what about you?"
Again her gaze was gently guided up. "For you? I'll wait forever."
Raven smiled sheepishly. She raised her arms to his chest and leaned in against him. She rested her head on his shoulder. Robin rubbed her back. She felt him kiss her hair.
"I leave tomorrow morning." Raven said.
"When will you be back?" He asked quietly.
"I don't know. Whenever he has another trip."
Robin didn't say anything.
"Will I ever see you again?" Raven asked quietly.
She felt him heave a bit in a small chuckle. "Of course."
Raven smiled softly. "How?"
"I'll figure something out."
They stood there for a while like that. Until footsteps up the stairs interrupted them.
Robin took her by the shoulders and pulled her back a little so he could look at her. "Can I kiss you?" He whispered.
Feeling all her strength leave her, she nodded slightly.
He leaned in to her. Raven closed her eyes. Their lips met.
The world around them faded away. The sounds went mute. Nothing was heard except the beating of Raven's heart ready to break out of her chest. His lips were soft. His kiss tender.
The kiss ended and Robin backed away towards the edge taking her hand and leading her there too.
"You sure you don't want to take me with you?" Raven asked when Robin's back was against the edge.
He pulled her into him again and kissed her once more. "Believe me… there's nothing I want more. But you know you cant."
Raven nodded.
Behind her the door to her room opened. With a last cocky grin, Robin was gone over the edge. Raven quickly leaned over a bit to look. But again, she saw nothing of him.
Raven turned to see Robin (her fiancée) walk in. Raven left the balcony with one last glance back. She touched her lips with her fingertips remembering her first kiss with Robin. Her first kiss in general. This would be one trip she would not forget.
Raven took a long shower. She came out to see Tim sitting on the bed reading something. She watched him for a few moments before making her way over. She climbed on the end closest to the wall. She pulled her legs under her and sat cross-legged looking at him.
Robin felt her eyes on him and looked up. He smiled a bit. "You ok?"
Raven nodded. "Why do you keep asking me that?"
Robin shrugged. "I don't know. Just feel the need to I guess."
Raven said nothing. She studied him a bit more. "Can I ask you something?"
Robin set his papers down. "Yes."
"When you loved Jinx, how did you know you loved her? What did it feel like? How do you know now that you don't?"
Robin widened his eyes at her questions. "I guess you just know. Everyone has a first love. And that first love usually doesn't last. It's like training wheels. You need them for a while, and when you're ready, you move on to just two wheels. You grow out of them. You move on. You had that need before, but now on two wheels, life is so much better."
"So, like in your bike analogy, some people learn at different paces. I myself skipped training wheels and went right to two wheels. I skipped crawling and went right to walking. So I can skip the first love and go right to the real one, right?"
Robin looked at her for a long time. He wasn't sure what brought this on. She was holding his stare steadily waiting for an answer. "I suppose you can."
Raven nodded.
Robin noticed her satisfaction with that answer as she glanced around the room a bit. "My turn."
Raven looked to him.
"You learned to walk, learned to ride a bike, can you learn to love someone you say you don't want to?"
Raven tilted her head and smiled a little. "Is it possible to learn everything about someone, their worst qualities, their horrible secrets, their past demons… and still like them? Still trust them? Can you be terrified, nervous and the happiest ever, all at the same time? Are promises, even ones hard to keep, never meant to be broken? When the time comes, even if you don't want to, will you keep those promises? Are you strong enough to take the whole world on your shoulders, love your wife and raise a family at the same time? Can you look temptation in the eye and say, 'I have something better waiting for me at home'? Is it possible for one person to hold the key to everything you need and all this can happen in one look? One smile? One word? Can you still love someone knowing they can end everything as you know it? Knowing that they hold so much… power… they could destroy this house with just a glance? Can you love someone, knowing that their heart will always be somewhere else?"
Robin looked at her and couldn't help but want to pull her in and tell her whatever it was that she was worried about, everything would turn out ok. He went over her questions in his mind. Then she asked one more.
"If I grow to love you, if I even tell you I love you, will you still let me go when the time comes?"
Robin could almost feel her need for answers radiating off her. He could feel her worry. Her doubt. He hoped he wasn't the one who put it there. "Is it possible for you to accept that no matter what, someone will always love you and be here for you? Even if you love someone else?"
Raven smiled. "So anything's possible, right?"
Robin returned her smile. "Right."
Raven climbed up the bed and curled under the blankets. The night was quiet once again as Robin watched her breath soundly. His need to hold her was great. Her need to be left alone was greater. So he'd wait.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Raven awoke to Robin sitting at the head of the bed on the opposite side reading a newspaper. She sat up.
"Morning." He said with a smile. "We leave in half an hour. Is that enough time?"
Raven yawned. "It'll have to be since you didn't wake me up sooner?"
"I would have." Robin started taking a sip of coffee. "But you seemed very happy in your sleep. Good dream?"
Raven tried to remember her dream. She shrugged. "Don't remember it." She climbed off the bed and headed towards the bathroom.
"I'll meet you down stairs." Robin called after her.
Raven nodded and waved a hand in the air. Shutting the door behind her she leaned against it and grinned like a schoolgirl with her first crush. She supposed that is what this is. She showered and readied herself within minutes making sure to leave enough time to visit her balcony one last time for memories sake.
Fully dressed and packed, Raven stepped onto the balcony. She walked the distance to the end and leaned over. Nothing. She looked through the property for any sign of him. Still nothing. With a sigh she turned. At the opposite end was a small box and an envelope.
She opened it carefully.
Raven-
I'm going to miss you a thousand times more than I would have thought having just met you less than thirty-six hours ago. Do you ever get the feeling someone's looking out for you? Before I met you, I found myself wondering if I would ever be happy. And there you were; an answer to my prayers.
I know we can't be together now, or anytime real soon. But I will wait as long as you do. I haven't been able to keep you off my mind since the first time our eyes met.
You told me about your dream but I never got a chance to tell you about mine. After we rode off into the sunset, I took you to an old stone church in the middle of a far off meadow. Large stained-glass windows were every ten feet. The ceiling was at least five stories high. The sanctuary could fit around 500 people comfortably. We parted ways at the door. A kind young lady escorted you to the back where you would change. A few minutes later the organ was playing the wedding march. You stood in the doorway in a wonderfully sleek white dress. The guests were delighted. My heart was ablaze. I almost ran down the isle and swept you up into my arms. The priest held me back. You made your way down and stood across from me. It was a short ceremony. I missed most of it. I couldn't keep my eyes off you. When he said 'you may now kiss the bride', I couldn't move. I was so nervous to touch you. I lifted your veil to reveal the most gorgeous being I have ever seen. Tendrils of lavender hair framed a perfect face. You smiled at me. My hands were sweating like crazy. Then I kissed you. Everything stood still. It was like we had died and gone to heaven. And I woke up at our kiss. Which is all right. Now that kiss will last for eternity. I can just imagine the rest. Can you?
In the box you will find a radio. Next time you visit America, just push the black button. I'll be able to find you.
Until we meet again, my fair lady.
Yours truly,
RobinRaven read it three times before she was able to refold it and put the box and the letter in her bag.
They arrived back in Rajmech's airport around two forty-five the next morning. With the time changes, Raven figured it was around nine hours difference. Jet lag would catch up soon. But no biggie. She was still lost in a world with her new hero.
As they stepped out of the car on Drake Grounds Raven faced Robin before heading towards her cabin. "When do we go on another trip?"
Robin turned to face her. He smiled. "In a few weeks I think. Right before our wedding."
Raven nodded. She turned and headed for her cabin. She must have been walking in a daze. The next thing she knew she was already there looking at an excited green raccoon sitting on her chair.
"Oh, Meeko." Raven said throwing her bag to the ground.
Meeko jumped in her arms.
"Have I got things to tell you." Raven said with a grin. She spent the next hour or so filling in her green friend.
Day 38-
Raven woke around one in the afternoon that same day. She showered and dressed before making her way out of her house. She walked happily down the path and stopped right before she turned the corner. Four voices she could hear not too far away. One was unmistakably Jinx. She was the only other female here now. One had to be Cy. One Robin. And the other she guessed to be BB.
A smile crawled upon her face. She knelt to the ground and glanced around the corner. Sure enough there were four people. Jinx, Robin and Cy for sure. The other she hadn't seen before. But she guessed him to be the one and only BB. He was a little shorter than Robin. Taller than Jinx. His hair was messy and he wore normal teenage clothing. Tan shorts and a tee. Sneakers completed him. Oddly enough, he was green. Head to toe. Hair and all. She was looking at him from the back so she couldn't see his face.
She watched them all for a moment longer. To her utter surprise, BB changed into a hound dog right before her eyes. Raven blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes before looking again. She caught him in mid change. He now turned into a large elephant, then a pig, then a kitten. In that form he jumped into Jinx's hands. She laughed and pet him. They all seemed to be having a normal conversation. This shape shifting wasn't taking anyone by surprise. They were smiling and laughing with him.
Raven watched a while longer. The kitten had jumped down from Jinx's arms and in mid air turned into a tiny bird. The funny thing was, every animal he turned into was green. She watched a while longer as he kept changing and changing into dozens of different animals. His friends were giving some opinion on them as he did.
Raven sat in shock until she saw the one thing that woke her up completely. He turned into her green raccoon.
Raven's eyes widened. But her shock turned to horror and then to rage. She stood and stormed out towards the four of them. She moved so fast they didn't see her until she was right on top of them. She came from behind the now green chimpanzee. She spun it around. The chimp screeched and turned into a chicken where it ran and hid behind Cy.
"You." Raven growled. The others looked on in utter astonishment.
The chicken turned into the green boy. And true to her assumption, he was green right down to his eyes. With a closer look, she noticed pointed ears and slight fangs as well. He did fit in on the Grounds. After all, they were all misfits in one way or another.
"You." She repeated.
BB poked his head out from behind Cy.
"Um… Raven. Are you ok?" Robin asked managing to talk.
Raven was spitting fire. "You can turn into animals. All animals. And they're green."
BB swallowed. He nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me? You could talk this whole time."
Again BB mimicked his last motions.
Raven stood breathing heavily and fiercely. Jinx had backed away. Apparently you don't want to get on Raven's bad side. She looked downright deadly.
A new spark flashed in her eyes. They widened with more hate than before. "I told you everything. AND YOU WERE HUMAN ALL ALONG! YOU WERE BB! THEIR FRIEND BB."
BB cowered before her. "I swear Raven I never told them a thing. I've been a loyal friend to you this whole time."
"YOU COULD TALK." She screamed even louder.
"I'm sorry, Raven. I wanted to tell you. I tried so many times. But I thought you'd be mad."
"I'm beyond mad. I could kill you." She hissed.
Robin backed up now. Her voice sounded deadly. Cy took a step back as well, pushing BB with him.
She went to turn around but stopped.
"I let you sleep with me since I got here. And you've been… urgh… I gotta go before I really get pissed." She turned and stomped off back to her house. In the distance, trees were becoming consumed in black energy and exploding. Grass was being ripped up and shot hundreds of feet away. Raven's eyes weren't just an eerie white… they were almost fully red. Black energy was flying out of her so fast no one could see much of anything that was going on except the grounds around them were tearing themselves to shreds.
Close to thirty minutes later the destruction had stopped. When the dust settled the Grounds looked like a battlefield. The four of them stood in their exact position they had been in when Raven walked off. All wide eyed. All dumbfounded. BB terrified.
"What was that?" Jinx said quietly breaking the silence.
"What in the world happened?" Cy asked looking around the Grounds.
"If she wasn't just pissed, I hate to see that side of her." BB said with a nervous laugh.
"You slept with her?" Robin snarled.
BB sighed and stood up ready to explain everything. But no matter what they said, he swore not to tell them a thing she had ever told him.
Wow. This was drastically rewritten. That wasn't my intent, but there were a few key elements I had to put in there. I really like this chappie. I accomplished a lot now and in a better fashion. In case I hadn't gotten this out to everyone yet, my story was reported and removed. That's what happened to all the reviews. But they can't get rid of me that easy. :P Now you all know.
Anyways…. My review answers to chapter 7:
reil10588- I can relate... i would have freaked out a long time ago. But Raven has to keep her emotions under control, remember? I have made her a little out of character in that sense I guess. But maybe I havent and others do. Maybe I'm so used to reading stories where she has almost no power over them that I get that confused with what it's actually like in the comics/cartoon. Dunno. Anyways,I agree.
Val-Creative- Thanks for the review, it really made me smile. He He.
xxxroxyxxx- Its not that Robin doesnt trust the priest, its that he's jealous of the attention Raven gave him. She wasnt telling him off like she did the others.
Ok. Sorry this took so long. My mind was going faster than I could type this past week. I had 'Could it Be' stuck in my head and a story popped up. Had to get that one down. Then I had this other idea (Always Been You) stuck in my head and it was too involved to just take notes and save it for later, so I had to write that one down too. So I spent the last few days working solely and completely one this. This is just a rough draft. I did a quick spell check but that was it. I haven't proofed it or nothing yet. Bear with me. I'll be editing it soon. I just wanted to get something out there for you all. You've been extremely loyal and patient so I thought I owed you that much.
Once I do edit I will be answering reviews from before it was removed and the recent ones from after I reposted it. I want to thank you all for emailing me and enquiring about the new location of this story. I really appreciate it and couldn't quit this story now even if I wanted to. (I don't, no worry.)
Also when I reposted this story I reposted the versions without the corrections. That will be fixed as well when I edit this chappie. Just wanted it out there so you all know I am aware and it will be fixed.
Hint: I am the one and only Little Creature… so generally if you see that in a pen name or signature or even on another site… it's me. I go by the following: Little Creature, Crea, Little Crea, LC, Creature… anyways… if you see something along those lines, ten to one it's me. (hint hint wink wink) :D
One new thing I'd like to mention. For the one shots I write… they are obviously one-shot stories and therefore I don't update and can't answer reviews… so what I'm going to do is answer in my profile. If you have read one and asked a question in a review… check there in a few days… I will have something there.
Thanks again. Happy reading. Review please.
-LC
muah