Sorry, it took so long to get this chapter up! Chapter 10 coming soon!
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans
Thanksgiving:
Airen closed the door behind her and leaned up against it. She allowed for her head to fall back against the hard door. She was exhausted. Between classes and work, she had barely had any time for herself the past two weeks.
Chicago had been nice but spending two weeks there at the beginning of the month had cost her dearly when it came to her assignments and jobs. She hadn't necessarily needed to go to Chicago personally, she could have followed up on the one lead about her father from Gotham. But she had left more to get away from Johnathan. She'd felt trapped, confined, as though the situation was catching up with her, and rather than deal with it, she preferred to run.
When it came to fighting, either physically or mentally, she was amazing. That was her expertise. She was fantastic when it came to helping others with their problems, no matter what the problem was. But matters of the heart? Emotions? Especially her own? That was a foreign concept to her. She didn't even know where to begin. She'd rather punch than talk, or in this case run instead of dealing with it.
Out of nowhere, a duffle bag encased in black energy came flying at her face. Airen grabbed it just before it hit her face without thinking. She stared at the bag, wide-eyed and stunned.
"Pack your bag. We're leaving at 9 o'clock in the morning." Violet ordered from the hall.
Airen lowered the bag so she could see Violet. "And where are we going?" Airen asked cautiously.
"My parents' house." Violet sipped coffee from a mug while standing in the hallway. "Mason's going as my guest, and you're going as Johnathan's," Violet said with a sly look on her face.
Airen's eyes went wide and she paled. "I can't…we…. I…..he…we're just friends!" She said panicked.
"Relax. Friends invite and go to friends' parents' houses for the holidays. This doesn't mean anything. We just didn't want you to be alone for Thanksgiving." Violet said smugly.
Airen glared at her but muttered, "Fine" in response.
The next morning was…rough. Airen awoke to Violet banging around in the kitchen at 6 am. Airen rolled over and glanced outside and noticed that it was still dark. Snarling she grabbed her phone to check the time. Once the harsh light from her screen no longer assaulted her eyes, she read the time. Seeing that it was 6 she groaned and rolled back over.
She tried to go back to sleep but couldn't with all of the banging that Violet was doing. Resolved to her ill fate of an early morning she rolled out of bed and made her way to the shower.
Airen allowed for the steaming hot water to roll over her back, down her legs, and onto the bathtub floor. She leaned back and stuck her head under the water thoroughly soaking her hair. Steam filled the bathroom as Airen stood under the hot water allowing it to warm her body. She didn't get cold easily, but it still felt good to enjoy the warmth.
Airen closed her eyes and hummed in contentment. She rolled her neck and shoulders in an attempt to relax but discovered several extremely tense knots preventing the desired result. Frowning in frustration she reached back and attempted to massage the knots out. The ones in her neck were fairly simple and easy to work out. The ones in her shoulders however were more difficult to reach.
Growling in frustration she readjusted her arms to try and reach from a different angle but was still unsuccessful. Giving up she reached for her body wash. As she did she felt the knots in her neck begin to reform.
'It's hopeless!' She thought irritated. 'I guess I'll just have to wait for someone else to work them out for me.' Airen began to lather her arms as the thought crossed her mind. As soon as it did a fleeting image of strong, large, warm, tan hands firmly rubbing out the stubborn knots flashed through her mind.
For a brief moment, a voice in her head warned her not to go down that particular road but she didn't care. She was in the shower, alone, at 6 in the morning. She could daydream if she wanted.
Steam filled the shower as Airen envisioned the clearly male hands kneading into her smooth skin. She imagined that they weren't gentle with their ministrations but weren't rough either. They were somewhere in the happy middle, gentle enough not to bruise, but firm enough to get out the knots. She thought about how they would slowly work their way up to her neck, kneading out the tense knots there before slowly making their way down her back.
She pictured how the masculine hands would take their sweet time working down her back following her spine. When the hands reached the bottom of her spine, they found a particularly large and difficult knot where spine and tail bone met. Once the knot was gone the hands moved to her hips gently massaging the soft skin.
Airen leaned her head back humming in satisfaction, the bottle of body wash in her hands forgotten. The hands moved to hers taking the bottle from her.
"Let me help you with that." A deep voice rumbled from behind her.
The bottle snapped open then closed. Airen waited in a moment of anticipation before the hands returned with cool soap on them. Her arms already being lathered he began at her shoulders and retraced his previous route. This time when his hands reached her hips they kept going down, each hand following a leg from the outside. When he reached her ankles, he shifted his hands to the inside of her legs.
His hands made their way back up her legs this time lathering the inside. When his hands reached her mid-thigh she gasped in surprise. For some reason, she was suddenly sensitive in that area. A low chuckle sounded from behind her as he stood. The bottle cap snapped open and closed again, before his hands returned, this time wrapping around her waist. They landed on her stomach and began lathering in circles.
At first, the circles were small, but they slowly grew larger as his hands separated from each other. One lowered towards her hips while the other rose toward her chest. Her breath hitched as he moved closer to her more, personal areas. But before he reached them his hands disappeared. They then reappeared on her collar bone slowly lathering the flat area between her neck and breasts.
A warm weight nudged her head to one side. She complied her only focus at the moment on his hands, one of which vanished for a moment before quickly returning. She barely registered the fact that her hair had been moved. That is until she felt something on her neck.
Soft lips danced on her neck, gently kissing her skin lightly. It was slow and chaste, at first. Soon his lips began to linger for more than a moment. He began to place kisses on her neck that lasted for a few seconds, taking his time separating his lips from her skin. He still worked slowly, but he seemed to be enjoying the feel of her skin on his lips.
His hands slid to her shoulders, then down her arms leaving goosebumps in their wake. When his hands reached her wrists, they moved her hips. His lips left her neck as he gripped her hips and spun her around to face him.
Airen's eyes flew open with a gasp. She had been picturing Johnathan…with her….in the shower…. touching her…kissing her….naked.
Heat flooded her face that was not from the shower water. She shouldn't have gone there, not when…. she just shouldn't have gone there.
Suddenly banging on the bathroom door made her jump.
"Airen, we have to leave in 30 minutes! You should hurry!" Violet's muffled voice called through the door.
'30 minutes…. how long have I been in here?' Airen wondered. She realized with a start that the hot water had cooled and was now lukewarm. She shivered as the now cooling water pelted her back with what felt like ice pellets.
She hurried to wash her hair and scrub her body clean. She used a luffa on her skin until it was red. She wanted to wash away any evidence of her little…. moment in the shower. Not that anyone would know, but nonetheless, she felt the need to wash away her shame.
She rinsed and hopped out, rapidly drying herself with a warm towel. She quickly got dressed in a pair of jeans and a black turtleneck. Still drying her hair with a towel, Airen walked out into the living room where Violet was gathering things to leave.
Violet looked up and saw Airen and gave her a beaming smile.
"There you are! I thought you were never going to get out of the shower! Are you ready to go?"
Airen bit her lip. "Um, Vie…."
"Hmmm?"
"I don't think I should go. To your parents' house, I mean." Airen rushed out the thought. She felt that it would be awkward and uncomfortable for her to see Johnathan after such a personal daydream. She couldn't even think about it without blushing, so how was she supposed to look him in the eye? Be around him for two days? And at his parents' house no less. She needed to not go at all, it would save everyone trouble. Not that she was going to get Violet to see it that way.
Violet turned shocked and disappointed. "What?! Why not?" She exclaimed.
"Well, I…. I don't know that I would really be comfortable intruding on your family time, plus Johnathan and I don't get along…."
"Nonsense! You're not intruding, we invited you! And you and John have been getting along a lot better these days."
"Yeah but-"
"No, no buts!" You're going and that's final. You'll be fine and Mom and I will be there to make sure John stays in line."
Airen started to protest again but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Violet's face lit up like a five-year-old on Christmas.
"That's them! Now no more arguing! Go put your shoes on and get your stuff, it's time to go!"
The ride over was silent. At least for Airen, it was. She had ended up in the backseat of Mason's car with Johnathan while Violet rode shotgun and Mason drove.
Airen was by no means shy, but for whatever reason, she couldn't look in Johnathan's direction without thinking about her shower daydream. This in turn caused her to blush very deeply and very noticeably.
So, she spent the ride looking out her window watching buildings fly by trying her best to ignore the confused tension coming off of Johnathan in waves. Meanwhile up in the front seat, Violet was calming the nerves of her antsy boyfriend.
"What if they don't like me?"
"Mason, my parents like you, and that should be enough for them."
"I'm not entirely sure that your parents like me Vie. They tolerate me at best! Your dad looks like some sort of pained animal whenever I'm around and your mom… just looks like she wants to eat me or send me to Hell or something. And that will definitely have an effect on your siblings and uncles."
Airen could hear Violet rolling her eyes from the backseat.
"My siblings will form their own opinions of you, no matter what my parents might say or think, good or bad. As for my uncles, yes what my parents say will hold some sway with them but they still form their own opinions. And my parents love you! They do not just tolerate you."
Johnathan snorted next to Airen and out of the corner of her eye, Airen saw Violet turn to glare at him.
"What?" Johnathan said indignantly. Violet only glared at him harder.
Thankfully they pulled up in front of a townhouse and came to a stop.
"We're here!" Mason announced, clearly relieved to alleviate the tension in the car.
"Thank God," Airen said equally relieved. She practically threw the car door open and jumped out.
Once the car was unloaded Airen paused to look at the townhouse before them. It was a three-story brownstone that matched the two other houses on either side of it. A set of white stone steps led to the front porch where a set of brown, French double doors awaited them.
Mason stood there looking up at the house, mouth agape. Violet came up next to him and with a sigh, she took his arm and closed his mouth with the other hand.
"Honestly, you act as though you've never met them before." She grumbled as she dragged him up the porch steps.
"It's so big…." Airen heard Mason mutter as he was dragged behind Violet.
"You okay?" Johnathan asked as he came up next to Airen. She nodded mutely and glanced at him. He was watching her with partial amusement and partial expectation. With a shock, she realized that she hadn't spoken to him all morning.
Airen opened her mouth to say something when suddenly she remembered why she hadn't spoken to him all morning. Blushing she looked away and grabbed her bag.
"We should go inside." She mumbled to the ground as she made her way to follow Violet.
Once inside Airen became more impressed with the Logan city home.
Inside the doors was a small entry foyer with hooks on either wall were jackets of various sizes and colors were hung. Rain boots and other various shoes of different sizes and colors were all neatly placed on the floor lining each wall. On the other side of the small entryway was another set of brown framed French doors that led to the rest of the house.
Violet barely paused inside the entryway and marched straight through the opposite doors.
Mason, Airen, and Johnathan followed into an entry hall that was less colorful than the first. The walls were a light gray color while the floor was a dark wood. A white rug with maroon-colored flowers took up the middle of the hall floor. A modern-looking chandelier hung from the ceiling lighting the hallway.
Off to their right was a doorway that Airen assumed led to the living room. At least she heard people through the doorway. Straight ahead of them the hall led further into the house. Off to the left and straight ahead, a set of dark brown stairs led up to the upper floors of the house.
"Welcome! Welcome!" A woman that Airen recognized as Dr. Rachel Logan and Violet and Johnathan's mom, came toward them from the back of the house.
She wore a purple long sleeve shirt, dark skinny jeans, and black ballet flats. Her dark hair hung loose down her shoulders and back and almost reached her hips. Two strands of her hair hung in front of her shoulders, framing her face and ending at her collar bone. Her blue eyes sparkled, and she wore a genuine smile on her face.
"My little birds! I'm so happy you're here!" She said as she hugged Violet and Johnathan. She seemed far more relaxed now than she had the last time Airen had seen her at the fundraiser.
"Ach! Mom! Mom!" Violet sputtered and protested but Johnathan simply took the hug with a begrudging smile.
"Good to see you too Mom." He said quietly.
"Dr. Logan." Mason nodded respectfully and gulped nervously.
Rachel nodded back at Mason a muted pleasant expression on her face.
"Mason." She then turned toward Airen giving her a small smile.
"Airen was it? So good to see you again." Rachel nodded at her and Airen respectfully returned the nod and the smile.
"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in." A voice intruded from the stairs.
Airen looked up to find two teenagers standing and observing them from the stairs with bemused looks on their faces.
The teenager in front, a young girl, was the spitting image of her mother only younger. She was short with pale skin and short black hair cut in a bob. Blue eyes seemed to bore through Airen's sole from the girl as she quietly studied the group. She wore a dark pink t-shirt with a black mini shirt and black leggings underneath. She also wore black hiking boots and black lace fingerless gloves completing the punk gothic look.
The teenager in the back, a young man, looked slightly older than the girl but not by much. He was the spitting image of Dr. Garfield Logan, only younger. At least he was from what Airen could remember from the one time she met him. He was tall with short sandy blonde hair and tan skin. He looked bored with the group of people in the entry hall, but his green eyes suggested otherwise. He seemed to study them in a more quiet and less obvious way than his little sister. He wore jeans with a green t-shirt and sneakers.
Rachel turned to face the teenagers while Violet stuck her tongue out at them and Johnathan just glared right back at his sister.
"Get down here and greet our guests. Don't just stand there and judge them," Rachel ordered. Grumbling, the teens moved to obey her.
Rachel turned to face the new arrivals with a pained smile. "Pardon my rude children. They're just….protective of their siblings." She excused as the teens joined the ground.
"Yeah…. that's it." The girl said sarcastically while rolling her eyes. Rachel nudged her and gave her a look that translate to "be quiet".
"This is my youngest daughter Willow," Rachel said placing a hand on Willow's shoulder. "And this is my youngest son Will." She placed her other hand on Will's back.
"Hi." The teens said in unison.
"Hi." Airen and Mason greeted back.
"This is Mason my boyfriend, and Airen my roommate." Violet quickly introduced.
With a gentle nudge, Rachel pushed the teens toward the group. "Take their coats and hang them up for them. Then, Violet, you and Johnathan can show them to their rooms."
Everyone dispersed to do as they were told.
Violet led Airen upstairs to a guest room down the hall and on the left. The room was of typical guest room fashion. A queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room pushed up against a wall with nightstands on either side of it. A closet sat opposite the bed and a simple dresser sat up against the wall opposite the door next to a window. The room was decorated in white and a soft lavender that seemed familiar to Airen.
"You can put your clothes in the dresser or the closet. Both are empty." Violet explained. Airen nodded her understanding a moved into the room.
"If you're good here I'm going to go and unpack my stuff," Violet said. Airen simply nodded in response.
When Airen was unpacked and settled in she began to make her way back downstairs.
Airen observed the second-floor hallway. The walls were a warm cream color, while the floors were old-fashioned brown wood. A worn-looking, yet clean rug with warm colors laid on the floor making the hall seem warm and comfortable.
Pictures hung on the walls giving the home a personal look. The pictures consisted of what Airen assumed to be the Logan children when they were younger. Pictures of trips to the beach, in Africa, even on what appeared to be some sort of road trip. A little further down were pictures of Violet and Johnathan in high school. Beyond those were a few of Will and Willow now as well as a few of Violet and Johnathan from recent years.
Airen, having satisfied her curiosity, was just about to move on when another picture caught her eye.
This picture was different from the others. Instead of being hung on the wall, it sat, framed, on a hall table. On either side of it were flowers in vases, almost like some sort of memorial or something. This picture was also quite a bit smaller than the other pictures in the hallway.
Curious, Airen moved closer to get a better look. The picture was quite a bit older than the rest of the pictures. It had been taken in a park of some sort. Five people were in the picture. They seemed to be having a good time together.
With a start, Airen realized she had seen this picture before. A thousand times really. She looked closer just to be sure.
Sure enough, it was the same five people she had seen repeatedly in the same positions. The tall cybernetic African American teenager with a huge grin on his face as equally huge arms embraced the other four teenagers. On the far right, a green boy with pointed ears and a fang was laughing with a smile that took up his whole face. The guy next to him didn't seem quite as happy as the other two, but he was still smiling. He had spiky black hair and wore a traffic light-colored uniform with a black eye mask. He was squashed into the girl next to him who seemed less than thrilled with the experience. She wore a black leotard and a dark blue cloak. She had gray skin and purple hair and eyes. A gleaming red chakra shined on her forehead. She seemed to be trying to glare at whoever was taking the picture but there was a small smile on her face and her eyes seemed happy.
The person next to the dark girl took Airen's breathe away. She always did every time Airen looked at the picture. The teen girl in the picture had orange skin and fiery red hair that flowed freely to her hips. She wore a purple uniform and seemed to be floating. Her vividly neon green eyes sparkled with pure joy and her smile seemed to be lighting the entire day. It was such a shocking difference from what she was like now that Airen almost couldn't believe that that version of her had ever existed.
"She was the one who had wanted to take the picture."
Airen jumped so high she nearly hit the ceiling when the voice next to her spoke. Once her heart was back inside her chest, she looked to see Rachel standing next to her. Airen realized she had been so engrossed in studying the picture that she hadn't heard Rachel come up next to her.
Looking at the picture Rachel seemed ten years older with shadows under her eyes and the weight of the world on her shoulders. Airen stood there silent, waiting for her to continue.
With a faraway look in her eyes, Rachel spoke. "Most people think it was Vic or even Gar that wanted the photo. But it wasn't. It had been her." Rachel paused, swallowing what Airen thought might be a sob. "It was the first time we had a picnic together as a team and she wanted a picture to remember. Good thing too…." Rachel trailed off.
Turning to Airen she studied her with heavy eyes. "You look so much like her…."
Rachel closed her eyes and sighed. Looking back at the picture Rachel asked, "How is she?"
Airen shook herself out of her daze when she realized that Rachel was talking to her.
"W-who?" Airen asked breathlessly. "I-I don't know who you're talking about."
Rachel turned to face her, and the next words of protest died in Airen's throat. Rachel glared at her with fire in her eyes
"Bullshit. You know exactly who I'm talking about."
Airen realized that the jig was up. Rachel knew exactly who she was. Airen's shoulders sagged as the true weight of her secret settled on her.
"How long have you…?"
"Known the truth? Honestly, I suspected the night of the fundraiser, but I didn't know for sure until I caught you looking at the picture. You seemed so fascinated even though you seemed to know every detail already." Rachel said softly. She looked back at the picture with reverence.
Airen watched Rachel carefully. "She told me everything you know. Everything except for…"
"Who your father is?" Rachel looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. Airen nodded.
Rachel nodded in return. "She didn't tell me either. And I helped her when she was pregnant with you. I'm sure she told you that." Airen nodded. "But that's okay," Rachel continued. "Speaking from personal experience sometimes it's not the best thing in the world to know who your father is."
"Your mother either…." Airen muttered under her breath. Rachel raised an eyebrow in her direction.
"Things are…. difficult at home," Airen explained bitterly.
Rachel sighed. "I was afraid of that."
Laughter from downstairs seemed to break whatever reverent space they had.
"We better go downstairs. Everyone will be wondering where we are." Rachel moved to leave but Airen stopped her.
"Wait!" Airen said suddenly panicked. Rachel looked at her curiously.
"You can't tell anyone. No one. Please." Airen pleaded. Rachel smiled understandingly and nodded.
"I won't tell anyone."
