A/N: Disclaimer I own nothing!
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Chapter 2: Second Days and emotions uncovered
Raven woke up with her alarm buzzing at her. After she shut it off she went to her shower and got ready for the day. After dressing in her usual color. Black. She put on a some make-up, a little black eyeliner, some light lip stick, mascara and a thin black choker (I have a little thing for a girl in a choker necklace) and looked in the mirror to see how she looked. ' Well he'll definitely notice me today' she thought before walking out the door to the kitchen for some breakfast.
Rich woke up this morning easily 15 minutes before his alarm, but what was unusual is the fact that he didn't wake up with a shot, this time he woke up on his own feeling rested. Having woken up early he decided to go out for a quick jog before he took a shower.
Rich went on a three mile jog that took him about 20 minutes. The whole time he couldn't get the picture of Raven out of his head. When he got back to his apartment and finished with his shower, he dressed in his usual cloths. Black combat boots, green cargo pants, form fitting T-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt. Grabbing his messenger stylebook bag he walked out of the door locked it and went down to wait for the bus.
On the bus Jack sat next to him again, he wouldn't stop talking about how excited he was today. He also kept going on about Kori and hoping that she was in his classes and how hot she looked. For the most part Rich just ignored him concentration on the book he had with him (I don't feel like putting in a specific book so use your imagination ok). Silently flipping the pages until the stop that Raven and everyone else that tried to talk to him yesterday came up. Dropping his attention from the book for a moment he waited to see if they were going to come on today. First on the bus came Terra followed closely by Gar and Victor, next came Kori and Jinx, lastly Raven stepped on the bus and when she did Rich's attention. He took into account every detail from her cloths to the way her hair was. The others had started to fill the empty seats next to him and Jack and waited for Raven to pick a seat. She opted to sit next to Jinx in front of Rich, switching spots with Jinx to be by the window. As she sat down she gave Rich a quick smile and turned around facing the front for the rest of the ride to school.
" Raven you look good today" Jinx said noticing the look that she gave Rich when she sat down.
" Thanks Jinx I felt like dressing up a little today"
" Now why could that be, I wonder" she joked and gave Raven a look knowing why. Raven just blushed lightly and returned to staring blankly at the seat in front of her.
" Hey Rich I think Raven likes you" Jack said to him.
Rich gave no outward answer besides a look saying ' I know.'
" Well what are you going to do about it?"
" I don't plan on doing anything since I don't plan on getting evolved with anyone. I'm here because I was ordered remember? I didn't want to get pulled off duty to go to some school filled with power users. Great for you but I didn't want this." Rich said back so only Jack could hear him.
" Man you really need to light up a bit. That's the whole reason they ordered you to do this, so that you could gain some social skills."
Rich didn't answer back he just returned his attention to his book (Later you will notice that Rich doesn't go any were without a book on him). As they arrived at the school and departed from the bus the principals voice over the P.A. system.
" All freshman students report to the main office for your class schedules. I repeat all freshman students report to the main office for you class schedules. Thank You."
" Well I guess we need to go to the main office for our class schedules." Gar said earning a chuckle from Kori and Terra. Jack and Rich started off for the office when Raven came running up to walk next to Rich.
" Is there anything you need Raven?" Rich asked without looking over at her.
" No I just need to get my schedule same as yourself" she replied and continued to walk with them.
After a while Kori and the others joined them and were talking about little things like what classes they hoped to have and who there instructors would be. After a while Victor and Gar got into an argument on which was better Meat or Tofu.
" Man how can you eat tofu Gar? That stuff is gross." Victor said sticking his tongue out after imagining eating tofu.
" Dude do you think animals like being raised and killed so they can be consumed by people?" the shape shifter snapped back.
" I really don't care as long as they taste good with A1 sauce" he said back making Gar glare at him in annoyance.
After they got their schedules they went to their first classes. Jinx, Raven, Gar, Rich, and Terra had science while Victor, Jack, Kori had villain psychology. Science was taught by Washu, a short pink haired mad scientist.
" Good morning class I am your marvels and brilliant science teacher Washu. There will be plenty of time for you to get acquainted with each other but right now you're on my time. Now to get started we shall take roll call. This will not be in alphabetical order cause I don't like it. Parker, Peter?"
" Present"
" Elric, Edward?"
" Present"
" Roth, Raven?"
" Present"
" Sanderson, Jinx?"
" Present"
" Grayson, Richard?"
" Present"
" Logan, Garfield?"
" Present"
" Wilson, Terra?"
" Present"
" Summers, Scott?"
" Present"
" Well it seems everyone is here now down to business. Today we will be going over the most common types of traps a villain would use while holding a group of hostages. Now you will notice that in front of you I have placed devices that a villain would most likely have on him/her just in case they would need to hold hostages now can anyone tell me what they are?"
" A thermo laser trip mine, a standard 9mm, and a freezing ray" Rich said looking over each weapon carefully.
" Impressive Mr. Grayson. Very impressive. Tell me where did you learn to spot such complex devises?"
" I'm not at liberty to say teacher," he said sternly.
" Oh I think I see" the pink haired scientist said before turning back to the white board behind he to continue the lesson.
After Science was done the two groups switched classes. In Villain Psychology they had the same situation they had in science. ' The villain takes hostages and now they were trying to figure out why he/she had these particular weapons. Their instructor was the legend himself Batman. As Batman scanned his attendance sheet Rich's name popped up.
" Grayson, Richard?"
" Present."
" Would you be the same Grayson as the famous trapeze family Mr. Grayson?"
" Yes, and I remember you as well sir, and I wanted to thank you for all you did." Rich said before sitting down. Batman just smirked and went on with he class.
" Now I understand that in your science class you've gone over some basic weapons you're most likely to run a crossed in the future now I want you to understand what a villain is thinking when he or she chooses these weapons. Now here is a list of weapons, what I want you to tell me is which ones you would choose if you were a villain and why? You have a minute to complete this before you come and talk to me." And with that Batman let his students get to work.
After about a minute Rich was the first to walk up to him and discuses his choices.
" I see you decided on the thermo laser trip mines, two freeze rays and a standard 9mm, tell me is this that same weapons you had in your science problem?" Batman asked.
" Yes they are."
" Why would you use these particular weapons when there are so many others?" he asked again.
" Because they are the most efficient in a hostage situation for dealing not only with the hero but with other authorities and the hostages themselves." He said deadpan.
" Oh run the situation by me."
" Well first if you have the time of course you set the mines up as a perimeter defensive position, if they manage to get past that you have the freezing rays, one of the is in case you need a back up but the main one is someone is rushing you, you have a couple of choices either freeze the one attacking you or freeze the ground that they are running on causing them to loose balance and giving you the upper hand."
" And the handgun?" Batman interrupted.
" Usually if a villain is holding hostages you would kill one to make as an example, a standard handgun would do the job and there are less things that go wrong if you know how to use it properly." Rich summed up showing no emotion as if this conversation was meaningless to him.
Batman looked back at his student and broke into a small smile, " Well I think you understand a villain's mind to a frightening degree young Grayson, I'm sure your parents would be amazed to see how well you've grown up." And he told Rich to return to his seat.
As the other students went to talk about there choices with the instructor Raven whispered to Rich.
" Pssst, Rich. I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch together?" she asked hopefully.
It took Rich a couple of moments to think about it and decided 'why not', " Sure just don't make a big deal out of it ok."
Raven smiled in return and jogged up happily to Batman not really paying attention to the questions he was asking her about the project.
After lunch the whole group had gym with Coach Boomer, today's game was a simulation attack and defend. They were on the same team going against a group of sophomores. It is eight on eight, the sophomores decide to be the defending 'terrorists' while Rich and team were the heroes trying to save the eliminate the threat. This was taking place in a large indoor stadium that had a complex in the middle for the terrorist's base and the heroes would have to break in and naturalize the terrorists in order to win the game. Jack and Rich just smirked at each other when getting together as they discussed their plan of attack. Just before the game got under way Coach Boomer explained the rules.
" Ok the rules are this the sophomores will be the terrorists holding the hostages while the freshmen will be the rescuers, there will be no purposely causing of serious injury is that understood?" everyone nodded and the game began.
Rich and Jack went in first with Kori and Terra close behind. Kori was flying and Terra had ripped a bolder from the ground and was riding on that. As Terra and Kori reached the complex first and while the sophomores were busy trying to take out Kori and Terra they didn't notice Victor, Gar, Jinx and Raven start to enter the base. They got close because Raven teleported them to the base of the complex and started to infiltrate it.
Rich and Jack were backup since they both decided that they didn't need to test themselves because they had done this to many times for there liking. However when they saw that the others were having trouble and that Raven and Kori had been taken out of the fight.
When Rich and Jack saw this Jack started to rush in when Rich grabbed his shoulder.
" Remember the objective X, now what are the orders." Rich said going military mode.
" Save the hostages and neutralize any threat."
" Do we have a right to use extreme force?"
" No, no extreme force"
" Good now before we move in it think we need a little music." Rich said and pulled out a pair of headsets and his ipod. Jack just looked at him when Rich attached is headset to the ipod and scrolled though his list of songs before choosing one.
Before Jack knew it Franz Ferdinand: Take me out came on over the headsets and Rich just looked at him, and said, " Let's get this done fast X." and the two went in full blazes into the complex and started to take out the sophomores.
As the music pumped over the headsets the two militant students systematically went through the complex taking out anyone they could find. After taking out six of the sophomores Rich went and covered the last room that they knew the last two were hiding in along with the rest of their team.
As they broke through the door to find Roy and Bee (I don't feel like putting in their last names) started to attack the door. Roy was launching arrows at the door while Bee was shooting it with her stingers. As the two freshmen were under fire they looked at each other. Rich and Jack pulled back a bit down the hallway to form a game plan.
" Ok we have hostages and two power users guarding the door with some fire power. Any thoughts Jack?" Rich said pausing the ipod.
" Well I think we could use a two pronged attack, before they opened up I saw the room has a window so if one of us keeps them occupied the other could get in thought the window, neutralize the threat and we win. Simple." Jack said with a grin on his face.
" You want to take the window don't you?" Rich asked already knowing the answer.
Jack nodded enthusiastically, grinned evilly and said, " Yeah I do." Then the duo broke and Jack moved up a level to get to the window and waited for Rich to be the distraction. Switching the song Rich decided to put on something a little more appropriate for the two of them the started to play Kanye West: Jesus Walks and as the music started Jack knew that Rich was enjoying himself now.
' Yeah Robin I know how you feel. It's like we belong here in this moment. After all this is all we've known for so many years, but I'm afraid you're getting too use to this type of life style and you've lost the balance you once had.' Jack thought sorrowfully.
Rich was slowly opening the door to see if Roy and Bee were still in the room, they were and Rich decided to start the distraction. Knocking on the door loudly and opening it a little more the two sophomores started to open up once again on the door. After a minute Jack came in through the window causing the two inside to stop momentarily and then Rich broke through the door and they both took out the two sophomores.
With the game over and everyone conscious Coach Boomer walked over to Rich and Jack as if he was going to yell at them but instead with his super sonic voice he congratulated them on a superb job of teamwork and strategy. The crowd cheered after watching the activities and the two teams shook hands and the next group in gym went on the field.
In the locker room Gar and Victor couldn't stop talking about what Rich and Jack had done and every time they told the story it got wilder and crazier. You could have sworn that Jack and Rich could teleport and fly with the way those two told it.
Their next classes they had together and everyone wondered how the gym class went after hearing that two freshmen guys took out eight sophomores after the rest of their team was taken out. Students and Teachers alike were curious on how it was possible for those two to posses such gifts of knowledge and strategy that word got to the principal.
Dr. Fate or rather Principal Fate was sitting behind his desk having a conference with Batman about the two new comers.
" Are you sure they're the ones that have gone through the 'Atlas' program Batman. It could just be a coincidence?" Fate asked.
" I'm sure they have Fate. And if they have what do we do about it. I'm sure that if we go to the government they will say that there is no such thing as this program. It's the way they are." He said blankly.
" What do you know about it Batman?"
" Well they find orphans and have them adopted by the officers families then train them to be secret weapons. No one even knows how many there are or where they're stationed, all that is really known is the fact that these kids can put the Navy Seals to shame. They're efficient and often deadly depending on the situation. There is even rumors of some genetic manipulating done on them to max out physical and mental acuity. All in all they're the best of the best."
" Do you think they were ordered here to keep an eye on us. You know keep us under tabs?"
" We could always submit them to a mind sweep by a telepath, but that might be a little suspicious to them, I suggest that for now we let them be and see how the situation plays out." Batman said before leaving.
" I know you have a connection with the boy Batman but don't let the past take priority. All that has happened; happened for a reason even if we do not understand that." Fate said and let Batman go on his way. ' Some time I think that he's the one person in the world that could defy fate and get away with it unharmed.'
As the end of school got closer all the freshmen watched the clock as if mesmerized and as the last bell rang they all rejoiced and ran to the bus. The only two students that didn't were Rich and Jack, when Raven, Kori and group slowed down so they could walk with their friends they tried to get the two mysterious men to join their conversation. As usual Victor and Gar were arguing the reason meat or tofu was better for you with Jinx and Terra hanging off their perspective love interests while Raven walked silently next to Rich while Kori and Jack were flirting heavily with each other.
Every now and then Raven would ask Rich a question about himself like how school was going for him and how he and Jack rescued them in gym class, she even tried to get him to open up about his past but that was quickly shut down with a single glare from is cold gray eyes.
The bus ride home was a loud and noisy one for Rich who preferred silence and the occasional bit of music. Reaching into his bag Rich pulls out his ipod and book and silently reads as he listens to the music trying to drowned out the people around him.
Raven looks at her crush with a slight look of disappointment on her face and Jack sees that and says, " What's the matter Raven?"
" I was hoping to ask him about some things…. but I guess that can wait for tomorrow." She sounded disappointed.
" I'll tell you what if you follow him to is place you might be able to get something out of him since he won't be able to avoid you. The only thing he could do is force you out of him apartment and if you see him reach under his bed get out fast." He said the last part as seriously as possible and went back to his talk with Kori.
She just looked over at him and her desire to find out more about him made her get up and follow him off the bus and into the apartment building. After stopping at his door to unlock it he walked in and just after he closed the door he heard a knock at the door. And when he unlocked it he was more that a little surprised to see Raven waiting there outside he's doorway. After staring at her for a moment he asked, " What are you doing here Raven?"
" I was wondering if I could come in and we could talk." She said hopefully with a bit of nervousness thrown in.
" Fine," and he ushered her in, " What did you want to talk about?"
Sitting down in his kitchen Raven looked around she answered, " I was wondering why you never talk about yourself to us, or talk to us in general?" she said rather rushed.
" What is there to talk about? School? I don't know anymore that the rest of you do about what we're going to do in the next class so what point is there to ask?" he answered back.
" Well you could try to join in a conversation once in a while like Jack does? I thought you two were close childhood friends?"
" What childhood?" he said to himself quietly in an almost whisper but Raven caught it and worry flowed off her like water down a river.
" What happened to you Rich? What caused you to be this way?" she asked reaching out for his hand, but his pulled his away.
" There is noting to tell you now leave." He said with as much conviction as he could muster at the moment. His emotions and memories were trying to break through the years of training he went through and some of them got out and Raven sensed them immediately.
" Your hiding something from me Rich now tell me what it is," she demanded.
" I can't tell you. It's against orders."
" What orders Rich? You keep saying that like you're in the military. It's always orders this and orders that with you and Jack now tell me what's going on!" she yelled at him and he hung his head low. After a couple of seconds she couldn't feel anything from him anymore and the look he shot her almost made her piss her pants.
" Get out now or I'll remove you from the premises by force," he said in a low and very threatening tone. If she didn't know better she'd swear she saw his eyes give off a creepy iridescence as he spoke to her.
After almost falling over her own feet she ran out of his apartment and teleported to her own home.
" Raven where have you been we were worried sick!" her mom shouted and hugged her.
" I'm sorry mom I had to deal with something and forgot to call."
" Well just make sure that next time you call before you scare us have to death think you were kidnapped and help hostage for your parents to come and rescue you." Her dad said and kissed her forehead.
" I said I was sorry now I need to sort some things out if you excuse me." She said and went up to her room. ' Damn every time I think I get close he pushes me away. Why can't he open up? And what the hell is with all this orders talk? I mean is he really in the military? If he is why is he in a high school for super heroes?" all these questions swirled in her head like a tornado when she heard a knock at her door.
Raven's mom walked in the room and sat down on her bed, " Tell me what's troubling you sweetie."
" It's Rich moms I just don't know what to do about him." She sounded panicked and almost started to cry.
" Shhhhshshsh there, there child now tell me everything that happened and we'll work this out. Ok?"
" Ok," and Raven went into a detailed explanation about everything happened in Rich's apartment.
After a minute or two her mom looked back at her and said, " I think he has some issues that are very close to his heart that he wouldn't like to share with anyone. Things he'd rather keep hidden not only from you, but the world around him."
" But why can he tell this stuff to Jack and not me? I mean I want to be his friend so badly it hurts mom? Why?" she started to cry into her hands and her mom wrapped her in her arms and hugged her tightly.
" I don't know why he only talks to Jack darling, but do you even know they talk about those subjects when they do talk?" she asked rhetorically, " As for what you're feeling, I'd say it's fairly obvious that you love with him." She smiled down on her daughter and Raven began to cry tears of joy into her shoulder.
" Thanks mom." Was all she managed to get out before she fell asleep. Her mom pulled some covers over her and walked out of her daughter's room.
" Well what was that all about?" he father asked.
" Our little Raven's in love, Derek" she put bluntly causing him to faint. ' Well I guess he wasn't expecting that.' And she went and fixed dinner for the two of them. While Raven's dreams were filled with her new realization and in her dreams her and Rich were going out on a date to the movies, out to dinner and a stroll through the park where they share a romantic kiss on a park bench. Her dream was shattered by her alarm clock telling her to get up and go to school. " Today I'm going to get him to open up to me," she said with utter confidence. But will she get what she's searching for?
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A/N: First off I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed and read it. I do ask one question of you people. Please tell anyone you know and like Rob Rae pairings to read my stories. If you're wondering what else I have written just look under my profile. Thank you and as always R&R.