Re-Educating Miss Roth
A Teen Titans Fan Fiction by Jacob McDonald
Opening Notes: I've mentioned before in my other stories that sometimes there comes a chapter that's necessary filler. This chapter is so fluffy you could stuff a six foot teddy bear with it. It's the slowing down from all the action and revelations and horrors of the last few chapters. Basically, these girls needed a freakin' break. It's still funny in a few places, and there's some nice charecter development, but don't go into this chapter expecting another throw down, knock out fight between Robin and some super villian or another, and don't expect poor, poor Hanna to suffer any more than she already has. It's still a good bit of writing, even if it is kind of slow. Read on, and enjoy.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Teen Titans.
Chapter Ten: More than just words
Janice opened her eyes, then shut them again, blinking against the bright sunlight pouring into the room. She moaned a little and tried to get up, but found something holding her down.
Craning her neck around, she looked up into the peacefully slumbering face of Ami. They lay in the red head's bed, the sheets pulled up around them, and she was laying in her friends embrace. Janice smiled softly and lay her head back down on Ami's petite breasts, savoring the warm feeling of the girl she'd long considered to be her sister.
Looking to the nightstand, she saw the clock and noted it was ten after nine. Snuggling Ami, she closed her eyes and prepared to go back to sleep.
Less then thirty seconds later, she wrenched herself up out of Ami's arms, startling the red haired girl awake. Looking out the window in shock, Janice shouted, "Shit! It's Monday!"
Hanna was sitting in the common room, gazing at the book in her lap, but not really reading it when Ami and Janice came pelting down the hallway, both dressed in little more than their underwear and bath robes. They stopped when they saw her and she looked up at them with wide eyes.
"You two didn't... I thought you weren't gay, Ami..."
Ami blushed and Janice giggled. As the red head's face quickly began to match her hair, Janice spoke up, "No... we just talked last night. What are you doing here? Classes started hours ago."
"Veerlin gave us the day off. Said we should take it to finish recovering." Hanna shrugged.
"Oh... where is everyone?" Ami was regaining control of herself and she arched an eyebrow at the blonde.
Hanna ticked off on her fingers, "Jenny went with Becka as protection detail to get some food, you two are here, I'm here, and Cassie-"
"Is right here." Raven walked down the hall, her T-Comp in one hand, "Come on, Hanna. It's time."
"Okay." Hanna stood up and waked over to the Titan. She paused as she reached Raven and glanced back over her shoulder, biting her lip. Ami and Janice blinked back at her.
Turning back to Raven, Hanna whispered, "Tell them for me?"
Raven frowned, "I really think you should do it yourself-"
"Cassie... please?" Hanna gripped her arm.
Raven sighed, "Okay. I'll do it when I get back."
"Do what?" Janice asked, walking over, "What's going on?"
"Hanna's going to be gone for most of today." Raven replied, "I'll be back in a half hour to explain everything."
"Okay... be safe, okay?" Ami hugged Hanna, and Janice wrapped her arms around Raven. The dark haired sorceress fought back a smile.
"You can let go any time, Jan." Janice drew back with a sly grin and winked at Raven, who rolled her eyes, "Gawd... I'll pick you up a Playboy while I'm out..."
"You're not old enough." Ami pointed out.
"Actually, I'm eighteen." Raven replied with a grin, "Ha. Youngins."
"No wonder you wanted to do the strip club idea." Janice thought about that for a second, "Not that I would have minded, I guess-"
Hanna rolled her own eyes, "Leaving now..." she sounded exasperated.
"Right." Raven raised her hands up, and blackness surrounded the two of them, taking on the form of a dark bird of prey, which flew up through the ceiling a moment later.
"That's creepy." Ami said, staring at the point they had vanished into.
"Yeah... hey, want me to wash your back in the shower?" Janice grinned at her roommate.
Ami sighed and they started down to the showers, "Sure. But only my back, not my ass. And use your goddamn hands this time, Jan..."
Becka sat at the table in the cafeteria she usually sat at, joined only by Jinx, who was eating pancakes by the plateful. She watched the blonde haired metehuman for a moment, then sighed and looked down at the table.
"What's up?" Jinx asked, gulping down some juice.
"Nothing..." Becka waved a hand, "It's just... Jan is all upset about something, Hanna's life is going down the tubes, I have ten million dollars on my head, and you and Cassie have to follow me everywhere just to make sure I stay alive." she put her head down on the table, "This semester is supposed to be the best one of our whole high school career, and it just... sucks."
"Yeah, I know." Jinx frowned, "But chin up, girl. Whatever's bugging Jan, Ami will help her through it, Hanna's got good friends, including two super powered ass kickers to help her, plus she's got Beast Boy to care for her. You... you're going to be fine. Don't worry about Cassie and I... it's no chore to look out for you."
"I know it'll all turn out okay with the Titans on the case, but..." Becka looked up at Jinx, "Hanna... God, how are we going to help her?"
"We provide support, in as many ways as we can." Jinx shrugged, "Even if I go back to prison after this gig is over, I'll still be ready to help when I get out."
Becka looked shocked, "After all this... you might go back to prison?"
"Yeah." Jinx grinned, "Though my sentence would be reduced from twenty-five to life to something more reasonable... like five or ten years."
"But... you could be paroled still, right?"
"If Cassie has any say in it, yeah, maybe."
"Man... I'll do whatever I can for you too."
"Thanks."
They sat in silence for a few more moments, then Jinx stretched her arms above her head, "You want to see Chad today?"
Becka smiled at her weakly, "Sure, but he's in class."
"Lunch is soon. I'll see what I can do about making myself scarce for a little while so the two of you can hang out."
"But...don't you need to protect me?"
Jinx smiled and shook her head, "I'll be close by, and Beast Boy will be keeping an eye on you. Not to mention Starfire and whatever other help Robin rounded up."
"Really?" Becka looked hopeful, "Thanks, Jenny... I miss him a lot."
"Work out the details for the dance while he's here. It's only a week away now you know." Jinx grinned, "I'll fish for a date while you're not around."
Starfire looked up as Hanna staggered into the living room section of the main floor of Titans Tower. The blonde looked dazed, and she shivered as she caught sight of Star and trotted over.
"Raven teleported you?" Star asked in a sympathetic manner.
"Yeah... it was so cold, and dark... I felt like I would never be happy again..." Hanna shivered again and Star rubbed her arms to help her get feeling back in them.
"It has always been that way. Raven's soul self absorbs your emotions when you are engulfed in it, and the between she takes you to is a very cold place."
"I noticed. Oh! You have bagels!"
As they sat down, Starfire motioned to the food on the coffee table and the juice that sat nearby, "Please, help yourself. Where is Raven though, if I may ask?"
"She uh..." Hanna blushed, "She went to see Roy."
"Oh." Star nodded, then her eyes widened and she drew in a gasp of breath, "Oh..."
Hanna nodded and spread more cream cheese on her breakfast.
Beast Boy yawned and scratched his ear as the lunch bell rang and students started filing towards the cafeteria. From his high vantage in a pine tree near the building it was housed in, he was able to see who was going in, and who was coming out. Jinx and Becka had been in the building all morning.
His T-Comp vibrated in his pocket suddenly, causing him to jump. He pulled it out and flipped it open, "Beast Boy here."
"Hello, Beast Boy." he blinked down at the image of a beautiful black haired woman, smiling at him in a friendly manner, "I am Troia."
"Troia... oh yeah! Robin told me you'd be on the job with me..." he trailed off, "He just didn't say you'd be so hot."
"Well thank you." She grinned wider.
"Eep!" Beast Boy slapped a hand over his mouth, "Did I just say that out loud?"
"You did, but don't worry. I'll take it as a complement."
"Um... cool. What'd you need?"
"Just to check in, as Robin instructed. Are you near the cafeteria?"
"In the pine tree to the west of it, actually."
"Very good. I am atop Westpost Hall, and have a good view of the doors. I have not seen Miss Pullman, or Jennifer yet."
"Knowing Jinx, they're probably waiting for the boys."
Troia giggled, and Beast Boy grinned.
Speedy felt warm hands press down on his chest and he woke up instantly. Years of training had honed his reflexes, and he had his own hands on his attackers shoulders in less than a second.
"Hmm..." Raven's voice came to his ears in the darkness of his room, "I don't know if I like playing rough like this..."
"Rae... you scared the shit out of me." he relaxed and let go of her, letting her hands rub his bare chest before the weight of her body pressed down on him. She was straddling his waist.
"I just came by to say hi before I have to head back to the school." her hands brushed at his short hair, then a lingering kiss fell on his cheek.
"Can't say I'm disappointed."
"You want to go out tomorrow?" she whispered.
"What?" he wasn't quite sure if he had heard her right.
"I said," Raven cleared her throat and spoke a little louder, nervousness evident in her voice, "do you want to... go out on a date tomorrow?"
"Definitely... but what about the mission-"
"I'll clear it with Robin. And it'll only be a few hours in the early evening anyway."
"Only a few hours?"
He could imagine her rolling her eyes at him, "We can have a longer date when this mission is over."
"So now I get two dates?"
"You're incorrigible."
"I try." Speedy grinned until he felt her lips press against his. They kissed for several minutes, then she pulled away and stood up off of him.
"I'll call you later with the details. Bye for now."
"Yeah." he said to the darkness in a dazed manner, "See ya." The room grew colder for a moment, and then there was silence, and he knew she's just teleported away.
"God... damn..." Speedy lifted his sheets and poked down below his waist, "Calm down Roy..."
Jinx was nodding with a dead smile on her face as she listened to the fourth boy she had chosen as a prospective date to the dance blither on about his trust fund and the brand new Skyline his father was buying for him once he graduated with at least a 2.0 GPA. They sat in the court yard of the cafeteria, surrounded by other students.
She kind of wanted to strangle him.
Looking away from him in a bored manner, she scanned the crowd of lunch goers and saw Becka, cuddled up on Chad Doxon's lap, giggling about something he had said. His hand rested on her rear end, but she didn't really seem to mind all that much.
"I miss Vic." Jinx said aloud.
"Who?" Trust Fund Boy looked a little miffed at being interrupted.
"An old boyfriend. Tall, built, smart, funny, and uh... oh yeah, not an annoying prat who doesn't realize that no one gives two shits how much money he's going to have when he turns twenty-one." she flipped her hair, "Go find some gold digging floozy if that's all you can talk about. I'm interested in a real man."
Trust-Fund-Boy's jaw dropped as Jinx walked away from him primly. She spotted Maggie Delmont sketching in a drawing pad under the large oak off to the side of the building, and trotted over, plopping down where she could have a good view of Becka.
"Hey." Maggie said, and continued drawing.
"How's tricks?" Jinx spotted Rose sitting by herself at an outdoor table, reading a book. She arched an eyebrow as a young man walked over, sat down, and started talking to the fair haired girl.
"Oh, you know... got my dress this weekend, but no attacks by ninjas or anything." Maggie grinned at her.
Jinx groaned, "You heard about that?"
"The whole school knows you guys got to meet the Titans. There's rumors flying around that you kicked some major ass yourself though..."
"I kept one guy away for like, ten seconds before Robin trashed him." Jinx rolled her eyes, grinning inwardly at the lie, "It was scary, and I had way too much of that kind of shit back in Gotham."
"I keep forgetting that you and Cassie used to live in one of the scariest cities in the world. And you went to public school there?"
"Yeah." Jinx nodded, then smirked, "Oh no. Watch this." she pointed to where the young man was still talking to Rose.
The white haired girl suddenly slammed her book shut and stood up abruptly. She spoke in a loud, ringing voice, so everyone in the courtyard could hear, "No, Mr. Rivers, I do not wish to 'take a taste of your lollipop' or go to the dance with you. If you're looking for a girl who'll take you up on your offer of 'free cream filling' I suggest you begin your search with Miss Hamilton. I hear she's quite proficient at coaxing said filling out." and she stopped away.
Ginger Hamilton watched her go with her mouth hanging open, then her face turned red, and she too fled the courtyard amidst cat calls and jeers.
"Poor Ginger... she's just been picking on the wrong people lately." Maggie smirked and shook her head.
"What'd she do to Rose?"
"Asked about her family. When Rose refused to answer any of her questions, Ginger went off about low class nobodies and penniless bums."
"Because if she doesn't want to talk about it, she must be poor... right." Jinx rolled her eyes, "Bitch."
"She used to be so nice when we first started... guess everything went to her head after awhile."
Jinx spotted Becka saying goodbye to Chad, and stood up, "I've got to run. Becka and I are going to catch up on some homework we didn't do this weekend."
"Sure." Maggie smiled up at her, "See you at dinner?"
"We'll be there." Jinx winked, and took off to meet her friend before she got too far away.
Starfire sat down her cup of juice and stared intently at Hanna for several minutes before the blonde girl sighed and put down her breakfast as well. She turned towards Star and smiled weakly, "I don't know why I'm putting off talking to you like I came here for... I'm just... scared."
"I know how you feel." Star smiled at her in a sad manner, "I was terribly frightened to tell anyone of the treatment I endured while I was a slave. It took a great deal of courage to finally open up to Raven."
"She said she didn't know much about it..." Hanna fidgeted nervously.
"She does not. I spared her the details, but I have told her that I was beaten severally, and on a three separate occasions, I was molested. What I did not tell her is that one of those times I was also raped for several hours by my Masters son."
Hanna gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh God... Star... I'm sorry I made you talk about it, I-"
"Hanna... you have nothing to be ashamed of. My past is my past. I deal with it. You are here today for me to help you deal with your experience." Star floated up off the sofa and landed next to Hanna on the other side of the coffee table. She sat down and put an arm around the smaller blonde girl, "Tell me of it... tell me all of it."
"I... I'm scared... and I'm so, so worried that you'll... think less of me."
"I will think no less of a wonderful girl who has been such a great friend to Raven. She is like a sister to me, Hanna, and I trust her judgment of people above all others."
Hanna nodded and wiped away her tears before they really had a chance to form, "Alright... well, it started when I snuck out to meet Brad... I'd met him the weekend before when we were out drinking..."
Janice was flipping through a photo album as she sat in the common room, a sad smile on her face. She stared at a picture of herself, her mother and her father, all sitting together under the willow tree in the backyard of their southern home, eating a picnic lunch.
Flipping the page, she fought back tears as she saw a picture of her mother and father renewing their wedding vows after fifteen years of marriage.
"Oh Mama... what went so wrong?" she whispered, swiping at the tears.
"Why are you so sad, Janice?"
Janice jumped and let out a short scream as Raven's voice sounded almost right in her ear. She turned around with a racing heart and glared at the black haired Titan, "Lands sakes alive, Cassie! Ya' tryin' ta' give a girl a heart attack or what?"
Raven smiled down at her, "You," she said with a serious voice, "have the cutest accent in the world."
Janice blushed, "Stop hitting on me!"
"Okay, okay..." Raven walked around the couch and sat down next to her, "But seriously... what made you so upset yesterday?"
"Oh... my parents are getting a divorce."
Raven nodded, "Bummer."
"Mama says they just fell out of love or something like that, but... I just don't believe they can't work it out."
"Sometimes these things happen, Jan. I know it seems hard, but you have to accept that your parents might be doing this for the good of the family. Splitting before they begin to resent one another."
"I guess..." Janice sat up and put the album aside, "Tell me about your parents."
Raven looked at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly, "My mother started life as Angela Roth. She ran away from her abusive home when she was seventeen, and fell in with a cult of devil worshipers. Turns out they were the real deal, and on the night of her official acceptance into the Church, she was the Summoner." Raven paused, making sure Janice was following, then continued, "The entity she summoned was Trigon the Terrible, the Eighth Demon. He raped her, impregnated her, and receded into his hellish domain." Janice's mouth dropped open.
"So... your father... is a demon?"
"Yeah. My mother fled the Church that night, and was taken in shortly after by a group of peaceful monks from the dimension of Azarath. She was renamed Arella, and had me nine months later. I was raised in Azarath to never feel anything, as it would give Trigon a better chance of entering the world through me. My soul-self... that's the black energy you see me use, is more than just a manifestation of my powers. It's a portal to Hell it's self, and if I grow too emotional, Trigon could use it to come through."
"My God... that's... terrible."
"Azarath was destroyed by Trigon just before I left, and Arella perished with it. My only family now..." Raven smiled, "are the Titans."
"Wow." Ami said from where she stood in the hallway a little ways away, "That's one fucked up story."
Raven nodded and motioned her into the room, "Come sit down. I have something to tell you two."
"About Hanna." Janice said. Raven nodded.
As Ami seated herself, Raven started, "The other night, she went out and met a boy... things... didn't turn out well for her."
"Oh no... did he... do anything?" Ami looked frightened.
Raven nodded sadly, "He drugged her, raped her, and left her in an ally way." Ami and Janice both gasped and covered their mouths. Raven continued, "We can thank Jenny for having the presence of mind to have Beast Boy follow her, and he was able to pick her up from the ally and not have her wake up all alone. I wont go into detail about how he handled the situation after that, but I can tell you now," she looked triumphantly grim, "what he did to that man... wasn't pretty."
"Fuck yes." Ami nodded, "That's good to hear. So no cops?"
"No cops. The guy is in the hospital for the next month or three though."
Janice looked grim as well, "There's more, isn't there? She was really nervous this morning."
"Yeah..." Raven closed her eyes, "She's pregnant."
Silence rang about the room, and after several seconds, Ami spoke up again, "Fuck."
"Double fuck." Janice rubbed her eyes, "And I thought I had problems."
"She's at Titans Tower now, talking to Starfire, who has... experience in these matters." Ami looked like she wanted to ask a question, but Raven just shook her head, "I'm not telling her story for her. If you can get up the courage to ask Starfire about her past, you go right ahead."
"No thanks." Ami shrunk back, "So... what are we doing about this situation?"
"Well, I'm personally going to see about securing some financial assistance for her," Raven said, "And we'll all give her moral and emotional support."
"Yeah." the other two girls said in unison. Quiet descended again, and they sat that way for several minutes. The silence was broken in the way that it usually was on the second floor.
By Jinx.
The door banged open and Jinx and Becka walked in, arguing, "You so want to jump his bones." Jinx said.
"I do not! I want to go slow!" Becka replied.
"So his hands all over you ass is slow?"
"Groping is not sex..." Becka winked.
Jinx rolled her eyes, then saw the group in the common area, "Whoa... serious shit going on here."
"I told them about Hanna." Raven replied.
"Oh." Becka stepped forward, "Look, I've been thinking about it... Hanna's going to need us all, and I think... well, she's probably going to go to JCU with me next fall, and I'd like it if the both of you would think about going too."
Janice and Ami looked at each other, then smiled. Janice spoke up, "They have one of the best pre-med programs in the country, Becka. Of course I'm going here."
"I was gonna' stick with my friends anyway." Ami said, "Besides, I can save Jan from having an annoying roommate this way!"
"Who says you're not an annoying roommate now?" Janice arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, but I'm a sexy annoying roommate that let's you wash her naked ass in the shower."
"You said no ass this morning!"
"Didn't stop you though, did it?"
"This conversation just flew off into the realm of too much information." Jinx stated, "Hey, Cassie... think I can sneak off tomorrow night and see if Cy is around? I need to ask him something."
"Sorry, but no." Raven smiled, "You'll be on duty alone tomorrow night."
"Aw! Why?"
"Because," Raven's grin grew wider, "I have a date."
Starfire was holding Hanna's hand and rubbing her back in a soothing manner as the blonde girl finished her story. Hanna leaned into her and cried, letting all of the pain and sorrow she'd been repressing out in the company of another woman who knew how she felt.
"There is more you are not telling me, Hanna." Starfire said in a gentle tone.
"Raven told you already, didn't she?" Hanna sniffed and sat up off of Starfire, "I'm going to have that sick bastards baby... Jenny convinced me to keep it, but... oh, Kori... I just don't know what to do any more..."
"One of the many differences that human and Tameranian cultures posses is our views on childbirth." Starfire took on an educational air, "On my world, pregnancy and childbirth are held in an almost sacred light. We praise X'hal in our loudest voices, and rejoice for several days when a woman is found to be with child. Whether there is a mate for that woman or not, the child it's self is a wonderful gift from the Great Mother, and we always celebrate it."
"X'hal... you've used that word several times now."
"The Great Mother is the Goddess of the stars... the first Tameranian that gave all of us life, and continues to ensure the survival of our civilization to this day."
"On Earth, when a woman doesn't want her child... oh, I see." Hanna nodded and brushed away her tears, "Your people always want their children, if they can afford them or not."
Starfire smiled, "We do not possess the system of capitalism that you do on this planet. All of us share equally... even the royalty."
"That sounds nice. But Kori... what do I do about a baby I can't afford? I mean, I still want to go to collage, and have a life... not sit at home all day raising a child-"
"You wont have to." both girls heads spun around to the rooms entrance where Robin stood in the elevator. He was wearing a simple white shirt, and black sweat pants. His feet were bare, and his hair looked messy from sleep. The only part of him that remained Robin, was his eye mask.
"Late night?" Hanna arched an eyebrow over her puffy red eyes.
"I was watching out for your friend all night, and cleaning up your mess in the gym. Jinx got blood everywhere."
Starfire gasped, and looked over at Hanna, "Raven told me you had tried to abort the child yourself, and that Jinx stopped you, but... was she hurt badly?"
"Don't worry about her, Kori." Robin walked into the room and frowned at Hanna, "She did what she had to." Hanna shrunk back from his gaze. Star looked between them for a moment, the scowled at her boyfriend.
"Richard! Do not glare at Hanna so! She has had a very trying morning!"
"Kori!" Robin hissed at her as Hanna's eyes went wide, "Do not use my name around civilians!"
"Eep!" Starfire covered her own mouth, then mumbled through her fingers, "I am sorry!"
"Richard?" Hanna grinned slyly, "Can I call you Dick?"
Robin threw up his hands, "For the love of Christ! Sure! Why not? Everyone else does." He started to walk away, then stopped and looked over his shoulder, "I'm going to see about getting you into a financial aid program that helps rape victims raise children that come about because of the attack. We'll need to go through some legal channels, and we'll need to confirm that your rapist is the father, but I can do all of that on the down low so we don't need to report the crime. Beast Boy already punished him enough, after all."
Hanna's mouth dropped open, "You'd do all that for me?"
"No," Robin frowned at her, "I don't like how you keep distracting my team from doing their jobs." Hanna cast her eyes down at the floor and tears formed in them once again. Robin continued, "I'm doing this because I owe a lot to Raven for everything she's done for this team over the years. She asked me to... that's the only reason." and he walked off into the kitchen to make his breakfast.
As soon as he was gone, Starfire scooted over next to Hanna again and whispered in her ear, "Richard is a superb liar, is he not?" Hanna looked over at her and Star giggled, "Raven did not ask him to do anything... he made the calls less than an hour after he found out about you being pregnant. He truly is a soft hearted man."
Hanna smiled through her tears, "Thank you, so much for everything you're doing for me, Kori." and she hugged Starfire.
The red haired alien hugged back and smiled into Hanna's neck with tears of her own leaking form her eyes, "I would never abandon a friend when they are in need Hanna... if you ever need anything... call the Titans. We will help in any way we can."
Hanna looked over Stars shoulder and saw Robin smiling at them from the kitchen. He then turned away again and walked out of the room, humming a tuneless song.
Becka was throwing Raven's clothes across her dorm room, digging through the closets and drawers with a zeal the dark haired Titan had never seen in her before.
"Becka... this really isn't-"
"Yes it is, Cassie!" Becka replied, cutting her friend off, "I can't believe this is your first date ever."
"But-"
"No buts!" Becka continued to sift through Raven's things.
"Really, Becka..." Jinx sat on her own bed, and paused t dodge a lacy bra as it flew through the air at her from Becka's wild digging, "Cassie doesn't need to-"
"She did the same thing for me when I was going on my first date." Ami said from the doorway, where she and Janice were standing well out of range of any underwear flying at them, "There's no point in trying to stop her."
Becka stood up and examined a baby-t then shook her head and tossed it, "Don't you have anything that's not Goth wear, clubbing clothes, or prudish sweaters?"
Raven sighed, "Becka, I've got a ton of clothes I never wear back at the Tower. I can just-"
Becka wasn't listening though. She turned around and inspected her friends, "Janice might have some shirts you can wear... you're both stacked enough. I guess your bras and thongs will do just fine for underwear." she looked over at the red head in the doorway who blinked and grinned. Becka shook her head, "Sorry Ami, but you're built like a really buff twelve year old boy... small boobs and hardly any hips... Cassie's too curvy for your clothes."
"Can't help being petite and cute." Ami shrugged, "I'm a size zero... sue me."
Jinx spoke up, "I'm a size six. I hate you." and she stuck out her tongue.
Janice and Raven both looked at each other, then nodded with an eye roll, "Size eight." they said in unison.
Becka nodded, "So Jan's pants will fit you too... though I might have some as well."
"You are kind of hippy." Janice said.
"Are you saying I have a big ass?" Becka flashed her a grin.
"I wouldn't say big... definitely spankable."
"Spankable?" Jinx arched an eyebrow, "Is that a word?"
"It is now." Ami winked at her.
"This is insane." Raven turned to Becka and pinned her with a glare, "If you want to help me get ready that badly, I'll take you with me to Titans Tower when I get changed. You can do my makeup and everything."
"You have more clothes at the Tower?"
"She has a whole walk in closet full of clothes." Jinx replied, "All she ever wears is her Titan get-up, so all the clothes she buys when she's out shopping with Starfire just sit there."
Raven nodded, "It's the truth... I have clothes that probably wont even fit me anymore from when I bought them when I was fifteen."
"Okay then!" Becka grinned, "We're blowing off homework to get you ready tomorrow night!"
"And you know what that means." Raven looked around at all of them.
"What's that?" Janice asked, and eyebrow raised.
"That we're putting in extra time tonight, once Hanna gets back."
The other four girls groaned, and started out of the room. Jinx spoke up as she was leaving, "Glad I don't need to get good grades while I'm here..."
"But you will." Raven poked her in the back, "Maybe they'll put it towards your GED."
Jinx groaned again as Raven shoved her out of the room.
The sun was just starting to set when he found her. Robin dropped to the rooftop of the Westmarch Apartments from his grappler line and landed in a crouch next to Troia. She started and jumped back from him before relaxing with a grin.
"I'll have to get used to that again."
"Sorry." Robin smirked back, and stood up, "Anything go down today?"
"Not a thing. Becka Pullman stayed inside most of the day, except for a brief time when she was outside with her boyfriend. Jinx was nearby at all times."
"Good. She's getting smarter."
"Jinx or Becka?"
"Both." Robin nodded, "Thanks for keeping an extra close eye out today. Starfire will be with you tomorrow, so you shouldn't have to zip around as much."
"It was no burden." Troia waved it off, "Did her conversation with Miss Trestle go well?"
"I guess. They seemed happy when I left, talking about dresses and dances. Hanna's still going to go, despite everything."
"She has had a very trying week."
"Still... protecting Pullman is our main focus, and I don't want us to loose sight of that because one of her friends was a victim of a rather terrible crime."
"One you thought Garfield didn't handle properly, I hear." Troia frowned at him.
"Christ... he told you about that?"
"Dick, you and Bruce used to beat the ever loving crap out of guys like that. What's so different about Beast Boy doing it?"
"Batman and I always turned them in." Robin stalked away from her a little ways and fumed, "Besides... I came out here to get away from Bruce... I don't want to be like him. I don't want to..."
"Kori is a fine young woman." Troia walked over and put a hand on Robin's shoulder, "Bruce is filled with hate and anger, Dick. You're not like that." she pulled on his shoulder and turned him around to face her, "You've never been like that."
Robin looked at her for a long moment, then pulled her to him and hugged her, "I'm sorry, Donna. I should have been there for you. I should have kept in touch better, and-"
"Dick, don't worry about it. It was as much my fault as yours. I was young, stupid... I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Diana still lectures me about it."
"I just wish... I could have helped."
"There was nothing a super hero could have done, Dick. And let's face it, even if he is Bruce Wayne's adopted son, Richard Grayson couldn't have done much to save my marriage and let me keep my child."
Robin pulled away with a weak grin, "How do you always know how to make me feel better?"
"Years of hanging out with you." Troia knuckled his chin, "You haven't changed that much, Dick Grayson."
Robin chuckled and nodded, "I guess. Hey, say hi to Roy before you take off. He's over on the north side of the campus."
"I will." As she took to the air, Troia waved to him, "Be safe, Robin." and she flew off. He watched her go for a moment, then turned back towards the school.
Sighing, Robin pulled out his binoculars and settled himself down for another long night.
Speedy was squinting through his own binoculars with a grin when an amused voice fell on his ears, "What are you doing, Harper?"
The young archer almost fell off the building he was crouched on.
"Fucking hell, Donna!" he reached out and steadied himself with one hand and glared up at where she was floating in the air above him, "Are you trying to kill me?"
"No, but Raven would be if she found out you were peeping at her while she was changing for dinner." Troia winked and settled down next to him on the ledge of the roof.
"Nothing I haven't seen before." Speedy replied in a mutter and tucked away his binoculars, "How'd things go today?"
"Fine." she lightly punched his arm, "Don't change the subject though, Roy. What do you mean, nothing you haven't seen before."
He blinked at her and blushed a little, "Why do you make me feel like I've been a naughty boy?"
"Must be a big sister thing, huh?"
"I was hanging out with you when I was twelve for crying out loud..." he ran a hand over his face, "Um... Raven and I sorta' have a thing."
"A thing where you've seen her naked?"
He winced a little and grinned stupidly, "Uh... yeah." He held up two fingers, "Twice."
"You've had sex with Raven twice."
"Yes."
Troia looked at him for a moment, then exploded with laughter. Speedy frowned as she fell off the roof and floated a little ways away before regaining control of herself. "Sorry..." she muttered, wiped away a tear, and sat next to him once again.
They sat in silence for several minutes, before Speedy shook his head, "It's official. I hate you."
Troia started laughing again.
Raven and Jinx were changed into their school uniforms once again as they exited their room. Jinx poked her not-step-sister in the arm, "What were you smiling about a minute ago?"
Raven looked over at her with a sly grin, "Roy was watching me change."
Jinx stopped and glared at her, "You mean he was watching us change."
Raven blinked, then shrugged, "It's not like he hasn't seen you naked too."
"Yeah, but I don't want to fuck his brains out!" Jinx glared harder.
Raven looked at her.
After a moment, the blonde haired former villain started to fidget, "Okay, okay. He's hot, alright? I wouldn't mind a tumble with him, but he's your man, so that's a big fat no-no, right?"
"Right." Raven nodded, "Not worried, really."
"Oh, you don't think he'd go for me?"
"You're tits are too small."
"Shut up, Cassie." Jinx stuck her tongue out.
A moment later, the door to the stairs opened up, and Hanna stepped into the hallway. She spotted Jinx and Raven and waved, "Hi."
"Hanna..." Raven arched an eyebrow, "How did you get back? I was going to teleport you so we wouldn't raise any suspicions."
"No offence, Cassie, but that black energy stuff is freakin' scary." Hanna grinned at her, "I called a cab."
Raven blinked, then shrugged, "Well, I guess it is the physically manifested energies of the Eighth Demon."
Hanna stared at her with her mouth open for a moment, then twirled around and headed for her room, "I'm officially never letting you teleport me again."
"Heh." Raven looked over and Jinx, with a grin.
Jinx hit her in the arm, then walked to the common room.
"What?" Raven followed her, rubbing at her bicep.
The six second floor girls all trooped out of the dorms together, talking and laughing. Hanna was at their center, with Becka on one side of her, an arm slung around her waist, and Ami on the other side, holding her arm.
"So I'm thinking," Hanna said, "there's no reason I shouldn't love this baby as much as I possibly can. So I'm going to treat this like a celebration instead of a burden."
"Kori told you about the Festival of Birthgiving, didn't she?" Raven asked as she turned around and walked backwards so she could talk to her friend.
"Yeah." Hanna nodded happily, "We actually went to her room and got out some weird bells and little chimes and she taught me how to sing some songs that ensure good health and prosperity for my child."
"Wild." Ami hugged her a little closer, "We have so much to plan and think about now... this is going to be fun, right?"
"Except for the puking every morning and not being able to see her toes..." Jinx lightly tugged on Hanna's hair from behind her, "yeah."
"Go fuck yourself, Jenny." Hanna replied in a friendly manner.
The girls all laughed and proceeded to the cafeteria for dinner.
Maggie joined them at their table after a few moments, and they all settled into their standard lunch room conversation; who was going with who to the dance.
Ami was quite vocal about her situation, "I'm the only one here who wants a date and doesn't have one yet."
Jinx raised a hand, "Actually, I don't have one either. Don't feel too bad, though. All the guys here are air heads." Becka and Maggie frowned at her, and she quickly amended herself, "Except for you two's boys."
"Right..." Maggie turned to Raven, "What ever happened to Will Mathews?"
Raven blinked, "Who?"
The whole table groaned. Becka poked her hard, and Raven batted her hand away, "He's the guy you talked to the other night!" she said, "Out on the statue?"
"Oh yeah... I guess I've just been thinking about Roy a lot lately..."
"Who's Roy?" Maggie looked interested.
Raven froze and glanced at Jinx, who came to her rescue right away, "Ex-boy toy from back in Gotham. They were pretty hot and heavy there for a while."
"Really?" Maggie looked at Raven with a critical gaze, "How is he in the sack?"
Raven grinned back, "Fucking amazing."
Maggie gasped and the rest of the table burst into giggles. Jinx slapped Maggie on the back, "Don't be such a prude, Mag. You're sitting at a table where virgins are the minority."
"Really?" Maggie looked around at them, "Who isn't-" she paused, "No wait... let me guess." She pointed at Janice first, "I'm gonna guess you've been with at least another girl."
"Yeah." Janice blushed a little and nodded, "She was really sweet, but it didn't work out."
Maggie grinned as she moved on to Ami, "Amelia... someone out there knows if you're a natural red head or not." Ami just grinned and shrugged.
"What can I say? He was hot!"
Maggie shook her head and pointed at Raven next, "You've been with at least two guys."
"Just the one, actually." Raven smiled and shook her head.
"Hmm..." Maggie looked over at Jinx, and opened her mouth to speak, but the blonde cut her off,
"Yeah, yeah. Three boys and counting." Jinx scowled at everyone as they all laughed at her. "Fuck all of you."
"Maybe just Janice, actually." Hanna put in, and the table laughed again.
"You're a hard one to figure, Hanna." Maggie said, and Hanna grew very quiet. The bespeckled guesser frowned, "I'm sorry... what is it?"
"My first time wasn't that great." Hanna replied, and left it at that.
"Sorry..." Maggie said again, then looked over at Becka, "So... just you and me, huh?"
Becka threw her hands up with a grin, "How'd you know?"
"Maybe because you walk like you've never had a good hard fucking." Jinx giggled, and the rest of the table joined her a moment latter.
"This just got way too vulgar for this virgin." Maggie stood up, "I'll see you guys in class tomorrow."
"Later!"
"Bye!"
A few moments after Maggie was gone, Becka touched Hanna's hand, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Hanna nodded, and brushed at her eyes for a moment, "I'm okay."
"It'll be hard, getting used to it." Raven said, and locked eyes with the blonde girl, "But you're strong, Hanna. You'll be just fine."
"And we'll all be there with you, every step of the way." Ami said, "Right girls? We're all going to stay here in Jump and go to collage and help you out."
"Definitely." Janice nodded.
"Right on." Becka grinned at her friend.
The four girls all looked over and Jinx and Raven, who looked back. Raven shrugged, "I'm not going anywhere."
Jinx nodded, "And even if I'm not exactly 'on the outside' I'll still be there for you when I get out."
Hanna blinked away tears, and hugged Becka, "Thanks, guys. You're all better friends then I could ask for."
"Don't rub it in." Ami smirked, and Hanna laughed.
"Well," Raven stood up, "let's get back and hit the books." Everyone at the table started to protest, but the black haired Titan held up a hand and quieted them, "No complaining. Let's go."
Raven walked ahead of the rest of them as the girls all stood up and disposed of their dinner trays and flatware. As she walked out of the building, a hand gripped Raven's arm. She started, and turned to see Rose there, looking quite serious.
"Cassandra," the white haired girl said, "I need to talk to you about-" she stopped when the rest of the girls came out behind Raven.
"Rose?" Raven touched her arm, "What is it?"
"Never mind." Rose mumbled and stepped back from the dark haired girl, "I'll see you in class." and she walked away.
"What was that all about?" Jinx asked as she stepped up next to Raven.
"I don't know. I'll go see her later." Raven replied.
"Hey!" the two of them looked up to see Becka waving at them from down the path to the dorms, "You two coming?"
The two of them hurried to catch up with their friends, forgetting about Rose for the time being.
Robin felt his T-Comp buzzing and pulled it out. After checking the ID readout, he flipped it open and spoke into it, "Talk to me Gar."
"Gar? Should I start calling you Dick?"
"Beast Boy then. Whatever. What do you want?"
"Jeez. No need to bite my head off." Beast Boy frowned at him, "I just finished going through the data the computer spit out on Rose Wilson." he paused and sighed in a dramatic fashion, "Again."
"My heart bleeds for you." Robin checked the school once again through his night vision equipment and noted the time on his T-Comp's readout, "Anything pop out at you?"
"Well, there's still nothing I can trace about her parents. Just her previous schooling... mostly at home with whoever her mother is... and a few awards for winning various track competitions at the last actual school she went to in New York."
"So no leads there. Anything else?"
"Raven mentioned that Rose had been saying goodbye to a family friend named Wintergreen, and I figured that couldn't be too common a name, so I checked into that."
"And?"
"Turns out in Great Britain it's like, the fifth most common name in the world or something. Or at least it seems that way. There's a few thousand families with that name."
"So... still nothing?" Robin was growing impatient.
"Keep your tights on, Boy Wonder. I'm getting to the point here."
"I do not wear tights." Robin frowned down at Beast Boy's video image on his T-Comp.
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, I set the computer to do a cross reference of what we've worked up on Rose so far and the name Wintergreen, and it spit out a few notes about a man by that name signing for her mail order school books while she was being home schooled, so I checked out that name. I then able to place him in a picture taken at one of Rose's track meets. He was cheering her on in the stands."
"Nice work, Gar." Robin arched an eyebrow, "I'm impressed."
"Coming from you, that's about the highest praise I've ever had."
Robin rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, this name mean anything to you? Major William Randolf Wintergreen."
"Doesn't ring any bells. He was in the army?"
"The British Royal Infantry. Served in WWII and Korea."
"Hmm." Robin frowned, "Dig deeper. I want to know what he did after his discharge."
"Will do. Hey... did you see Hanna today?"
Robin raised both eyebrows at that, "Yeah. Why?"
"Did she seem okay?" Beast Boy looked anxious.
"She and Kori had a long talk, then they vanished into her room to do God knows what. Girls stuff, I guess."
"Right... I'll talk to Star about it..."
"You're not developing a crush on her are you?"
"Would that be a problem?" Beast Boy frowned at the Boy Wonder, "It's more constructive then having a crush on Raven."
Robin sighed, "She was just raped a few days ago, Gar. She's vulnerable right now, and probably not looking for a relationship."
"I know... but... I saved her from that, man. I just want to help, and if she wants to take it slow, that's okay. We can just be friends for now."
"Just don't go into anything hoping for a new girlfriend, Beast Boy." Robin gave him a supportive look, "She wont be ready for a while."
"Thanks for looking out for me, Dick, but I think it's time I learned to stand on my own two feet. I can handle myself."
"Alright. Call if you find anything else."
"Will do. See you in the morning."
"Right. Robin out." The Boy Wonder flipped his T-Comp shut and sighed.
Raven looked out her window, across the street to the building that Speedy was still crouched on. He waved at her.
Raven grinned, and slowly started unbuttoning her blouse, making a smoochy face at him as she did. When she got down to around her navel, she pushed her shirt open to reveal her rather low cut white bra, then waved as she slowly lowered the blinds. As he vanished from her sight, Raven was happy to note that his mouth was hanging open.
Giggling, she pulled her shirt off the rest of the way and blushed beet red, "I can't believe I just did that..." she said out loud as she turned around.
"Did what?" Hanna asked from the doorway, where she stood with the door open.
"Whoa!" Raven jumped back from her, "Shut the door! We don't need Jan peeking in here and seeing my boobs!"
Janice's voice drifted down from the common room, "Wouldn't be the first time!"
Hanna giggled and stepped into the room as Raven pulled on a t-shirt. She shut the door as she gained control over herself once again.
"Did you need something?" Raven asked as she yanked on a pair of jeans.
"Yeah... Cassie..." Hanna stepped over to her and hugged her. Raven went stiff for a moment, then relaxed and hugged back.
"What's up?" she asked in a soft voice.
"I just... you've been so helpful... with the attack, and the baby... I just..." she looked up at Raven with a small smile and wet eyes, "You know... this kid is going to need a Godmother..."
"Oh no..." Raven smiled, but shook her head, "That should be Becka... you don't want your child's Godmother to be-"
"Kind? Honest? Strong?" Hanna grinned and walked over to the dresser that Raven and Jinx shared. She picked up the Orb of Thesla, which was situated between a triad of summoning candles, "Magical?" She waved the conjuring crystal at Raven, and it sparkled in the light.
"That's not a toy." Raven took it from her and put it back, "And I'm so not a Fairy Godmother."
"No, you're Raven Cassandra Roth... you're a Titan, and a great friend. A child's Godmother should be able to be there for him or her, and take care of the child if anything happens to the parent... Cassie, I want that to be you." Hanna stepped over to her again and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You're the best person for the job... I can feel it in my soul."
Raven looked deep into her eyes, then into her soul. She was telling the truth, and her aura was a strong shade of sky blue, indicating strong will and stronger determination.
The dark Titan's eyes softened, "Okay, Hanna. I accept."
"Thank you." Hanna hugged her again, "I expect decent gifts on all birthdays and holidays." Raven laughed a little, and let Hanna go.
"Go get your Chemistry notes and help Jenny. I think she slept through the last class you guys had."
"Will do." Hanna smiled and opened the door, walking out. Raven watched her go, then turned back to the shaded window.
"Oh, Hanna..." she frowned, "I hope you know what you're doing."
Closing Notes: Now, I don't usually do this, but here's a little bit of what to expect from this story soon; Look for more back ground and the whole Dick/Roy/Donna bit, a little bit more about Rose, and the coming together of all the various story lines into one climatic, two or three chapter blow out.
Not next time though. Next time... and I know you've all been waiting for this... next time we follow Raven and Roy... Aside #3: The Date.