A/N: Sorry for not updating earlier but things have come up. I guess I should get the usual pleasantries out of the way, I don't own anything in this story even thought I wish I did, that's life so deal with it. Now I would like to give a shout out to everyone who reviewed and thoughts of you who know who I really am and tell me in person, thank you for all your comments, concerns and ideas that you give me. Now let the festivities begin.
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Chapter 5: Life's Choices
" Hello Roth residence."
" Hello is Raven there?"
" This is. Who is this?"
" Raven…sigh this is Rich…we need to talk."
Pausing a bit at the fact that Rich was calling her house she answered, " R-Rich hi. What did you need to talk about?" she asked nervously.
" I was wondering if you could come over here and talk. I'm not good at the whole phone conversation thing." Rich said with a slight confusion to his voice.
" Sure just let me tell my parents and I'll be there in a sec. Ok?"
" Yeah, thanks." And he hung up.
Raven was slightly shocked at the prospect that Rich, the guy she loved and who had pointed a gun at her was inviting her over to his place to talk and as she walked back into the living room where her parents were her mother asked, " Who was that honey?"
" Rich. He said he wanted me to come over to talk about something. You wouldn't know anything about that would you mother?" she added with a glare.
Looking as innocent as a baby she held up her arms in a defensive possession and said, " Of course not. I'm just as surprised as you are that he called or even that he knew our number." She said honestly.
" Well I'm going to see what he wants. It sounded important and if I know anything about him he is one for promptness." Raven said as he walked out of the room but her father stopped her.
" Raven don't be out to late now, I know you like this boy but knowing a little about his background he's probably in a vulnerable possession right now so take it slow." And he let her go.
Looking over at her husband Arelle looked a little shocked, " Honey I didn't know you had it in you to say that."
" Well you're not the only one who can read our daughters emotions like a book, and there is something about that boy that seems unusual if your attempts at looking into his mind were blocked like that." He said matter of factly.
" I guess we'll just have to trust in Raven's judgment for now and see what happens, dear."
At Rich's apartment Raven teleported just outside his door and gave it a loud knock, " It's open." Came from inside and she opened the door finding him in the living room sitting on the couch, in the same spot as last time with his hand on the cushion where he pulled the gun out from on her last visit. She decided to sit in the chair across from him.
" What was so important that you need me to come over here to talk? Last I remember you didn't want to talk to any of us again. Why the sudden change in mood?" she said hiding as much anger as she could.
Looking down at the floor he didn't answer right away, " I was wrong Raven. You, Jack and the others were just trying to help and I was too stubborn to see it, is that what you wanted to hear? That I was a fool to trust in a future that had no hope of working out, cause I am and there is noting that I can say to change what I did and I know you won't except an apology from me even if it was written in my own blood so lets drop the pleasantries.
I asked you over here for help. I called my f..father and we talked. It looks like the project that Jack and I were apart of will be canceled and we will be erased as a failed experiment on the militaries budget this year in way for another program that has a better success rate. I have no purpose in life anymore except death," and he pulled out the gun from under the cushion and pointed at he temple, " I have nothing left Raven I just thought you should know that before you leave and leave me alone for the short amount of time I have left. Now if you could kindly close the door on your way out I would appreciate it." And as he pulled back the hammer on the gun it was enveloped in black energy and pulled from his hand.
" WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING," Raven yelled, " Why did you invite over if you were just going to kill yourself?"
Feeling ashamed of himself he answered, " I thought you would like to know my last thoughts since I've kept all my other ones from you. I don't have a purpose anymore Raven what am I suppose to do now?" he pleaded for an answer. His eyes were almost tearing but she could still sense no emotion coming from him.
Kneeling down in front of him she took his hands in her own and put them in his lap and said, " You have all the purpose you need with me, Jack and the others at school. You have friends there that would miss you terribly. I would miss you so please stop thinking like this." She said as tears streamed down her face.
Rich looked into her eyes and saw for the first time that her mother said to him was true. She did love him.
" I'm sorry Raven. Please don't cry for me. I don't deserve it." He said reaching up and brushing a loose lock of hair and tucked it behind her ear, " I promise that I won't do anything like this again. Ok?"
She just nodded and pulled him into a hug. After several minutes they pulled apart and Raven teleported back home with a smile on her face. (Hey to all you readers who thought they were going to 'get it on' remember their 14 years old for god sakes show a little restraint you horny mongrels.)
The next day on the bus when the others got on they were a little surprised to find Raven walking over to Rich's seat and him allowing her to sit there with him. The odd personality shift in one night caught everyone by surprise including Jack who seemed to take this all in better stride than the rest on them and just chuckled to himself as he sat next to Kori.
" Yo Raven." Jinx whispered to get her attention.
Turning Raven answered, " Yeah what?"
" You know you're sitting next to Rich right?"
Looking over at the other occupant of the seat the turned back to Jinx and said, " yeah so?"
" So! He's the guy the pulled a gun on us and told us to leave him alone, or don't you remember that part of the conversation last time?" she snipped back
" I remember just fine thank you, but he called me last night and we patched up things. It's cool now." Raven decided to omit certain things about the conversation last night when telling the rest of them. It wouldn't help anything if they knew that Rich, the guy that they all knew had an arsenal in his apartment was suicidal last night. It really wouldn't help their nerves when dealing with him now. And so it became a silent promise between them
School went smoothly as they took their classes one at a time, even thought throughout most of their classes Rich and Raven shared brief moments where they would just stare at each other and smile, like they were just having a privet conversation in their minds. And on several occasions they were caught by the teacher and told to pay better attention in the future if they wanted to graduate. Rich just chuckled to himself because he knew most of this stuff in his sleep so class wasn't that big of a deal.
At lunch they sat together and when Rich came to sit down by them they all quieted down and let him make the first move.
" Ah …look guys I'm sorry that I did and said all that stuff at my apartment. It was rude and wrong of me to do that. You were only trying to help me and I was to stuck up to realize it. I'm sorry." Rich apologized and started to slide down to his usual unoccupied section of the table when Vic's hand shoot out and grabbed his forearm.
" Look man we know you've gone thought some hell but we're willing to forget all that shit if you just sit and talk about it with us. Ok?' Vic said with a hopeful look on his face and Rich noticed it on everyone else's as well.
" Sure." And thus the group was formed. As the years went by they got closer and not just to graduation day. The couples formed and for those of you who can't guess who they are let me spell them out for you. First off you have Terra and Garfield, cute couple, usually the pranksters and always enjoying a good laugh. Secondly is Victor and Jinx, with Vic being the sensible and almost mature one while Jinx had the giddiness of a child they complemented each other well. Thirdly were Jack and Kori, they were probably the most open flirtatious couple in the whole school, I mean everyone could see it and they didn't care sure they would blush when ever someone mentioned it out laud but it's the way they are. Lastly is Rich and Raven, thought Jack and Kori were the most open Rich and Raven were clearly the most passionate about their relationship, in all it's subtlety they had a complete understated of each other wanted and felt until graduation that is.
The year closed without a hitch the graduating ceremonies went well, they all got their diplomas and when they were at a graduation party at Rich's apartment his phone rang.
Picking it up he answered, " Hello Grayson residence."
" Rich this is the General." Rich's expression went stone cold and he listened intently.
" Yes sir."
" It is to my utter regret that I must inform you that Atlas will be canceled. I know these four years has been a trial for you and privet Masters but I assure you that you will be taken anywhere you like and will of course have your identities changed and as usual you will not be able to speak about this to anyone. I'm sorry son but that's the way things go." And he hung up.
Rich turned to Jack and told him what he had been told and they both came to the same conclusion. They were marked.
" Alright I need everyone out of the apartment now!" Rich said.
" What's going on Rich?" Raven asked.
" Jack and I have been marked. They stopped 'Atlas' and are going to get rid of all the evidence that it existed in the first place."
" But that means they would have to get rid of you and Jack and…" Gar's words died in his mouth as he realized what he was saying for once. " Whoa. That's harsh."
" Expect noting less from our nations government." Rich said calmly.
Rich looked to Jack and they both understood what they had to do, " After graduation?" Jack asked.
" After graduation." Rich confirmed and stopped the argument at that.
" Ok what the hell just happened?" Jinx asked. When Raven pulled her aside.
" They are going to leave after graduation so the government doesn't kill them." Raven said holding back a tear that is trying to escape.
" How can you be so calm when our friends are going to be hunted down and killed by the government? I just don't get you Raven?" Jinx accused her.
" I can't," she said letting the tears flow now, " I can't sit calmly and watch the man I love run like a dog from the government that he said he'd work for and protect because of some financial issue." She chocked out and fell on to Jinx's chest crying her eyes out.
" Oh, there, there it's all right. Knowing Rich and Jack they'll get this mess straightened out and be back before we know it." Jinx said trying to cheer her up but they both knew that it would be a while before this was over.
Everything that went up to graduation wet all right and there was no sign from the authorities regarding Jack and Rich until the graduation ceremony. Jack and Rich had received their diplomas with the highest grades it the school with full honors from Principal Fate, After they left the school there was a car waiting for Rich and Jack supposedly for moving them to a new locations with new identities. After taking a ride the car stopped on the train tracks just outside of town and stopped. The driver got out and the doors were locked and cannot be opened from the inside. As the train whistled its approach both Rich and jack sat there calmly as Rich pulled out his cell phone and dialed Raven's number.
" Raven here."
" Yeah Raven it's Rich, can you teleport me and Jack to your place about now?"
" Sure hold on." And in a moment both cars occupants were standing in Raven's living room with a small smile on their faces.
" Ok what's so funny?' Raven asked.
" Well let's just say the government should think we're dead for a while at least. But it's only temporarily we need to leave before they find out were we are. I don't want to put you in any danger Raven so we have to go." Rich said as they left. Raven stopped him and planted him one on the lips.
" That's got to last me a while." She said with a smile as they walked out into the light of day.
As they walked down the street Jack turned to Rich, " So what are we going to do now? I mean it's not like we can just go out and get jobs and live normal lives," but when he turned to Rich he saw the pure hatred in his eyes that it scared him. " Huh Rich, you ok?"
" They're going to attack our friends Jack. You know it; I know it so I'm going to stop them if it takes the last breath in my body. I'm going to destroy them!" Rich said in a creepy voice and walked off.
" Rich. Don't you think we should work together on this? I mean we are stronger as a team." But Jack was to scared by the look in Rich's eyes. He was serious, he was going to destroy them and nothing was going to stop him. " Ok Rich if you want to do it that way. But I'm not going to follow you on this one. I've got someone to say good bye to so I'll see you later."
" Later X." and with that the two friends parted ways.
Two weeks later: Army base in West Virginia.
A young man around the age of 18 is seen walking out from the base, he has shaggy black hair and is wearing an all black outfit, as he walks away he pulls out a lighted button and presses it. Seconds latter the military base is engulfed in fire as the main propane tanks and other explosive containers blanked the base in flames. The young man turns to see his handy work. As the sirens went off the young man seemed to disappear.
Two days later in the general was sitting listening to the briefing they were presenting. " Are you sure it was Richard?" he asked.
" Yes General he and privet Masters are the only ones who knew about that facility being what it was, they and they alone could have gotten in and planted the charges to destroy the complex. It has to be him." The sergeant said.
" How do you know it wasn't Jack Masters?" the General asked folding his hands on his desk.
" Because of this," and the sergeant rewound the tape showing that the intruder left a thumb print on the wall, and pressed it hard against knowing that he's being watched and then disappeared from view. " We've estimated the complete loss of the complex and no personnel were harmed in the attack. It seems he warned them out of the complex before it happened." He continued.
" Of course he did. If there is anything that he hates is needless loss of life. That's just the way he is." The general said, " So what do we do about this?"
" Try and salvage the building. That is all we can do at this point. There are people looking for him now but knowing his track record the likelihood of us finding him, well it doesn't look good." He said.
(Scene change)
" RAVEN!" Kori yelled seeing her friend walking down the street.
Raven turned to see Kori jump and bear hug her like she was squeezing the life out of her.
" Good to see you too Kori" Raven managed to get out before she almost passes out from the lack of oxygen, " Can't breath" she chocked out and Kori let up with an embarrassed look on her face.
" Sorry it's just been a while since I've seen you and I was so excited and I lost control. Sorry." She said again and rubbed the back of her head and looked down a ground.
" It's ok, say how's college going for you, and you got into Steel City U right?" Kori just nodded and Raven went on, " So how are your classes going, mine are a bear but I'm making it." Then she pulled Kori aside and asked in a shushed voice, " Have you heard from Jack at all?"
Kori looked around and gave a small nod as her answer. Raven let out a small breath she'd been holding and Kori asked, " Have you…" but Raven cut her of with a quick shake saying no. Kori looked disappointed but understood. She was relieved when she'd heard from Jack but they all knew Rich was a bit more secretive and wouldn't make contact unless it was really important. As the two reminisced and talked about what was going on in their lives now neither one noticed that there was a dark but not bad figure watching them walk down the street and smiled.
" Sorry Raven but it's to dangerous for us to get back together right now, I'll contact you when the time is right." And disappeared as if he was never there. " Just don't forget me, my darling." And Rich left for places unknown for the moment.
(Fast-forward three years and 10 months)
Raven had graduated from Gotham University and moved to Jump City. She'd gotten a job as a free lanced reporter, it was perfect for her to keep her own hours and work as a hero, Jump City had become a wasteland of crime and terror so Raven thought it would be the perfect place to clean up, she needed a hard working job and she found one, Jump City wasn't as bad as Gotham but it was still pretty bad. The streets were littered with crime and fear, but after she arrived the streets looked clean, people weren't afraid to leave their houses at night, although it did help that she had someone watching her back event if she didn't know it.
It had been four years since graduating from HHS and only a few weeks since she graduated from college and her life looked good and a few weeks back just after graduation she placed a few calls to the old crew to ask for their help in Jump City. Everyone but the two guys in their lives that made the most difference, at least to her.
After watching the six o'clock news their was a knock at Raven's door when she went to answer it to find Victor, Gar, Jinx, Terra and Kori waiting at her door.
" Hey guys I'm glade you decided to come now let me explain what I called about." Raven started out and while she explained that she needed help with the city they talked like they did in the old days. All the while there were two figures watching the house, they weren't watching together but they both knew each other was there and smiled to each other. After a wave to each other they disappeared into the night.
Back inside they were laughing and drinking when they brought up the subject of Jack and Rich. " So Kori have you heard from Jack at all?" Victor asked.
Kori just nodded with a blush, " Yes he has been sending me letters, her blushed deepened, " And he said he misses me and everyone a lot."
" So he's been sending you love letters Kori?" Terra teased, causing her to turn beet red with embarrassment and everyone laughed.
The next day the others went job hunting while Raven went to the public library to do some research for her next article, while at the library her 'Trouble phone' rang, there was trouble at the mall someone was threatening to blow up the whole mall if they didn't get one billion dollars in the next few hours or else. 'Well that just does it. I was hoping to get this done today. I swear I'm going to kill whoever is doing this.' And she got up and transported herself to the mall, transformed in her clock and leotard. The terrorist was in the mall.
" So the great Lady Nightingale decides to make an appearance for little old me. How sweet of you." He said. Raven gave him the once over. He was about 35 years old dressed in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt with TNT strapped to his chest. Raven was going to telekinetically rip the explosive away but he put that thought to rest, " Just incase you try to take my toys and they'll explode on removal so don't even think about it." He stated to calm down and is getting over confident, " Now you've been a thorn in a lot of sides since you've come here, I've been sent here to give you a message little birdie. Leave town and we wont follow and kill you." He said.
Now at this point everything had been going to his expectations, he knew the mayor would never pay and they would send their little 'helper' to deal with him. And if she didn't agree to leave town he'd kill her on the spot, even if it meant giving up his own life for the sake of the organization. Yes everything had been going as planned when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around he saw a man in his early twenties old, long hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing jeans, a black shirt underneath and a black cloth trench coat that comes down to his feet. But what scares the terrorist is the guys eyes. The man before him has the most piercing gray eyes, their cold and emotionless, like looking into death's gaze.
The man spoke to him, " Now why would you want to run a beautiful woman like her out of town. I find her quite sexy myself." He said with a wink he to Raven who blushed a little at the complement. But the terrorist wasn't going to be ignored; taking a swing at the stranger the man caught it in his palm and gave it a sharp twist crushing all the bones in it instantly. In a cry of pain the terrorist dropped to his knees and grasped his wrist in pain as the police came and by the time they arrived both Raven and the mysterious young man were gone.
After the event Raven went out to look for the man who helped her by flying all over town searching for any trace of him. After a while she picked up on his aura and teleported to it finding herself outside a rather dodgy looking bar. Transforming back into her normal cloths she walked in and found the man sitting at the bar with a beer on the counter and one sitting at the empty spot next to him. Walking over to him she asked, " Is this seat taken?"
Glancing up from his beer he nodded and she sat down. They both drank in silence for a minute or two Raven was going to ask something when he spoke up first, " What is it Ms. Roth? What could possible bring a great reporter like you down to a place like this? Following lead I presume?"
" Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I heard that there was a man who helped out Lady Nightingale this afternoon at the mall and I was looking around town for him to ask some questions." She responded calmly.
" Tell me Ms. Roth how will you know what this person looks like if you only heard about him, hummm," he said raising his left eyebrow.
' Damn he's got me there, oh well time to improvise," What I meant to say is that I saw what happened and I was wondering if you would answer some questions for me. If you would please?"
" You're lying again Ms. Roth. Oh your right in assuming that I'm the one you're looking for but there are only two people that know that and one of them is in a cell right now." While he kept talking he got up stated to walk outside, " I think we should finish this conversation outside if you don't mind, ma'lady."
Raven paled with fear, he knew who she was and she knew absolutely noting about him, so she followed him outside and he finished his talk, " So Lady Nightingale, nice name you have there Ms. Roth, but tell me how does a graduate from the Hero High School make it in the real world. Now before you interrupt me yes I know about you and your past, no I'm not a bad guy, and as for who I am I'll tell you later. Now besides that question did you have any more?"
Shocked that he knew so much about her she could only guess that he went to HHS as well but I'll find out who he is later, " So tell me how you got in there without me knowing it. I must admit I was a little shocked to see you standing behind a guy with TNT strapped to his chest."
" That was a little trick that I don't feel like telling you right now but I guess your just dying to know who I am right?" she nodded in response, " Well I guess I'll take pity on you Raven for old times sake." She was a bit confused that he said that, surely if she knew who he is she would have recognized him and she admitted to herself that she had a strange feeling since she saw him in the mall but couldn't place it. " We've come a long way since that first day in my apartment haven't we?" he asked.
Raven stood there shocked into silence. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she hugged him close to her, she could only feel love and contentment that he was there. That Rich was back in her life.
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A/N: Hello everyone, it's me Hound Archon here starting things off right with a chapter update. Sorry I took so long to write this but it takes a while to get good ideas to start flowing and not every time I'm by my computer and I hate writing out stuff long hand. Anyways I'm probably boring you with this so I'll wrap it up. R&R as usual and have a happy new year. Oh yeah read some of my other stuff if you don't already. Peace out.