Raven stalked down the dark alleyway, her bowels protesting at the pungent smells emanating from various boxes and trashcans. Her hands were clenched tightly at her side and she was brimming with unresolved anger. Where were criminals when you needed them? She was looking for some serious butt to kick, and since she couldn't very well beat up her team leader, she had decided to settle with robbers and thieves.

There was a loud crunch from behind her and out of a multitude to muffed laughs, a leering voice called out, "Hello there little girlie, whatcha doing here, all alone?"

Raven smiled to herself and turned around slowly. In a matter of seconds, she knew everything from where they stood to what they had in their hands.

The poor fools. Raven almost pitted them for what was about to happen. How were they supposed to know she was a superhero with supernatural powers? She had changed into a black jumpsuit so that her costume wouldn't be dirtied, so to them, she looked just like a lost teenage girl. One they all intended to share with judging from the lustful gleam in their eyes.

Raven had pinpointed the speaker, a giant hulk of a man with a sagging beer pot, obviously the leader of their little gang. "Well, I was looking for trash, but it seems that it's found me…"

She could practically see the wheels in his tiny brain turning as he tried to understand what she said. Then the insult hit home and his eyes turned into angry slits.

"I'll teach you not speak to me that way, little girlie. I'll teach you good." And with a roar, he charged towards her.

Raven waited until he was almost unto her, then sidestepped out of the path of his rampage, and tripped him with her foot. To give him credit, he didn't fall, but her little trick had angered him.

"You're not a very good teacher. Maybe that's because you're so stupid and slow…"

She saw his eyes widen at her jeer and smiled with satisfaction. She had once thought Robin's cliché speeches stupid, but one day she had realized that they weren't meant to inspire truth and justice, they were to distract the enemy. So now she followed in suit, but used words of abuse instead. Her jeers angered the man, clouding his concentration and focus with his own fury. That was how it was with psychological manipulation. And it was damn fun too.

Raven ducked the swinging blow he sent her way. The force of his swing unbalanced him momentarily and she chose that opportune moment to kick his legs out from under him. He fell heavily but recovered quickly enough to make a grab for her legs. But Raven flipped backwards, avoiding his big, grasping hands.

"Ewwww…" She cried, looking disgustedly at the muck and goodness-knows-what on her hands. Then suddenly, an arm locked tightly around her neck, catching her by surprise. Thinking fast, she jammed an elbow into the soft gut of her assailant and stomped on his toes. The man grunted in pain but didn't loosen his hold. Instead he pushed her forward, with the intention of jamming her against the wall of a building. But Raven had other ideas. Running up the wall, she broke his hold on her and landed cat-like behind him. Then she gave him the hardest kick she could muster, right in the middle of his bum. Her foot connected with bone and she smiled, thankful that she had thought to wear steel-toed boots.

He howled and turned around with murder in his eyes. "Bitch! You'll pay for that!"

Raven just rolled her eyes and kicked him between the legs. The man squeaked and fell to the ground, whimpering in agony.

"Boys, get her!" she heard the boss yell.

His little friends, who until then had been cheering their boss on, sprang out and attacked by the dozens. With both skill and grace, she dodged, kicked and whacked until all were unconscious at her feet. Raven sighed, feeling much relaxed. She stretched luxuriously, working out all the knots and aches in her body.

Suddenly a hand gripped her ankle painfully and she looked down. It was the boss man. "This isn't over little girlie!"

"School's over," Raven said, and sent him to dreamland.

"That wasn't very nice." A voice said from above.

Raven froze, her relaxed body tensed. She knew who it was.

"I'm not a very nice girl." She replied.

A body dropped silently from the sky and landed in the midst of the unconscious men, inspecting the inspecting the damage she had caused.

Raven crossed her arms and waited for the verdict.

"Good. You've gotten better. I'm impressed."

She shrugged nonchalantly, though secretly she was pleased, "I've got a good teacher."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Don't let it go to your head…" Raven said sullenly as she walked away.

"Have I ever?" she could hear footsteps following her.

"I don't call you bighead for nothing."

"Raven I have to talk to you."

She quickened her pace but came to a halt when she heard him say "Please."

Robin hardly ever used the word please. He demanded, bribed, coerced, manipulated, but rarely ever asked.

Raven turned and took a deep breath. For the sake of their friendship, she would listen. She took a deep breath and said, "End simulation."

The dark alleyway, its unconscious occupants and the horrid smells disappeared, leaving two figures standing in the middle of a green stage.

It was a Christmas gift from the Justice League, the newest in cybertronic technology. The contraption consisted of a main computer and a large stage that tapped into the subconscious mind, taking a person into a simulated world where all the senses were fulfilled. Everything was 'real' and one could actually get physically hurt during the simulation. The Titans used it to construct in all kinds of situations wherein which they could practice, though sometimes it was used simply for fun.

Raven walked to Robin's side and sat down on the stage.

"Let's talk."

People, people, people…

The next installment will be up as soon as possible, so don't fret. The prophecy's written, everything's explained, but I just need to check out a couple of things before I finish the next chapter. And to make things worse, I have exams (stupid bloody things) coming up so…you'll just have to wait. Sorry!

But I can tell you this.

There's going to be a kiss.

theLilyLady