To answer your question and my comments:
Tecna: Thank you so much! The game between Raven and Robin can be interpreted in many ways. They could be just flirting or there really could be a secret relationship. (even though I'm not revealing that for a few chapters)
Alena-chan: I don't like Zatanna either, therefore she won't be portrayed as a 'loved' character.
ravenslair: Thanks and here's your update.
wink murder: That's nice that you said it was a good start but let's see how the plot works out, shall we?
AuroraMikayla: That's what I was going for. I chose Falcon because it's my fav. bird besides the phoenix and I think Phoenix is a more of a name for a pyrokinetic.
cranberry: Is this soon enough? Thanks by the way.
StRaWbErRy: I hope I can keep this up. You have my gratitude.
muttz: You're so nice! You were my first reviewer. It really made my day.
So… let's start this show.
Chapter 2: Tripping At The Beginning
Raven was meditating on the observation deck, or so it seemed. She was reaching out with her soul-self throughout the stars and planets. Just because she could not leave this rook in the sky physically did not mean she could not enjoy the wonders of space. The endless darkness symbolized for her the boundless limitations supplied for everything and everyone. Even a 'demon' like herself, as Zatanna so kindly stated, could ponder the simplicity of space, life, death, light… and often darkness. Not the thing you get when you forget to pay the electricity bill or when the sun sets. The darkness that was probably the most powerful thing in her eyes and at times the most hated. In the dark, there's nothing but at the same time… there could be anything lurking in its depths. The mystery it holds beckons even the purest souls albeit by curiosity or by being dragged along for the ride.
She heard jingling in the back of her mind, alerting her that the presence of someone was near her physical body. The mystical raven, camouflaged by the air around it, sped back to the JLA headquarters.
The feeling of rejoining her soul to its proper haven was always exhilarating. It was like breathing fresh air after being dropped to the bottom of the ocean.
"You can't sneak up on me, Richard." Raven mumbled loud enough for him to hear and stop dead in his tracks.
"I will one day though, Rachel." Nightwing's playful mockery always got under her defenses. Everyone else's were just ignored or if they were bad enough, that someone would not walk away unscathed. But with him, she always went along with it. Taking blows to each other's pride was a game they often played with each other and no one else.
"It's 11:45. Time to turn in." He stared at her levitating back. At first, he thought she was considering breaking curfew but that theory was proven inaccurate.
"It may take some fifteen minutes to get to their quarters, but I am more swift than the Boy Blunder. In most areas, anyway."
He could see her smirking through the reflection of the glass and until a few months ago he would have never known her to be so cocky.
"I'm not a boy any longer. I think I've proven that many times to you before." Nightwing received most of the reaction he hoped for. Raven came down from her lotus position but still did not turn around.
"You did? I wasn't aware. I was probably daydreaming because of the boredom it initiated." In seconds, her body was smashed between the glass and his own. If she was shocked, she surely did not show it.
"Am I boring you now?" His belt was pressing into her stomach and her breathing deepened in a vain attempt to slow down her heart beat. Raven yawned and ruffled his hair.
"Just a little bit."
"Hey lovebirds!"
Raven rolled her eyes at the use of that cliché which was used so many times by their teammates back on earth. Nightwing turned his head as far as he could while remaining pressed firmly against Raven.
"If you could discontinue your grinding, you would see its time to your separate rooms." Flash was giving the serious tone a try but couldn't help but grin at them. The two most responsible potentials were acting as if they were under the bleachers at J.C. High.
Nightwing nodded and turned back to Raven.
"I guess I'll inspire you later."
"You can try, blunder." She bucked against him without warning and he stumbled back. He would have fallen if it had not been for her hand that caught the back of his neck. Raven yanked him upright and vanished soon after. Nightwing smiled at where she was before and pushed away from the glass. As he made his way off the deck, Flash was still grinning at him.
"Are you two together because that seemed like a very close mo-"
"Good night, Flash." Nightwing disappeared leaving a puzzled speedster behind.
6:45 The Kitchen
The kitchen was filled with chaos. Most of the Titans were choking down breakfast or getting in a few more minutes of beauty sleep on the counter. Nightwing and Speedy were almost coming to blows over coffee. Speedy, with bow in hand, was arguing that he made the coffee and he should have the last cup. Nightwing was not a morning person, hence the name and the escalating conflict.
"You want the coffee?" The former boy wonder asked nicely.
"Is that not what we're arguing about?" Speedy shouted with his free hand extended, waiting for the cup.
"You sure, you-"
"Are you freakin' deaf!"
Nightwing stopped questioning and now had a devilish smile spreading across his masked face. He licked the entire edge of the mug childishly and handed it to the screaming archer.
"Here you go."
Speedy snatched the mug, avoiding the rim carefully, and poured the contents down the sink. That set it off between the two warriors and somehow the coffee-maker was tossed to the linoleum floor.
Raven and Cyborg watched the battlefield, observing the combat. Cyborg had been up since 5:30 thanks to his alarm programming and Raven always woke with the first conscious mind if not awake already. A consequence of her empathic abilities.
Starfire was lightly snoring with her head resting on folded arms lying on the counter. The changeling's head was on her shoulder, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth. He would constantly slip off her slender frame until it finally hit the marble top with a hollow "thud". Cyborg winced, feeling his pain, but Beast Boy didn't even budge. The only thing that resulted was that his snoring became louder.
Aqualad was attempting to be a translator between Mas y Menos and Bumblebee but his actions were futile for the trio were arguing back and forth without him. With the speed twins yelling their native language and Bee shouting English, words like "little brats, mini-bastards, perra, and es culpa suya" were all that leaked through.
Their trainers emerged now. All of them with stoic expressions and military-like postures. Everyone fell silent and Starfire's and Beast Boy's snores were the only sounds piercing through the air. Flash's shoulders heaved from hidden shakes of laughter and Wonder Woman's stare ended it abruptly. Superman stepped forward.
"Today is devoted for ranking orders. We will all be together in the simulation room. You will still take orders from your leaders and remain in you pairs. Follow us… silently so our youngest candidates can continue their naps." Superman allowed a small smile and they all knew there would be punishment for the princess and shape shifter-whose head had drifted back to her shoulder-as well as those who tried to wake them. The Titans filed past the two and only a few felt sympathy, but not enough to disobey orders. Before the door slammed, they heard Beast Boy's body hit the floor and a subsequent "ow!" directly after.
Okay… another chapter. Please tell me if it sucked. Sniffs… I can take it…sob…
Seriously though, constructive criticism is always welcome. Next update in a few days.
A writer who gets her high off your reviews,
BirdsOnTheBrain