Hey there.
Long time no see...Well, I think the hiatus is over...Just one problem, I don't have internet access at home so I go online in an internet cafe...Hope you guys consider.
Well, I just wanna say that I miss sooo much, especially my favorite authors, readers, and reviewers. Yep, part of the problem i mentioned earlier is the fact that i have limited time -very limited time- to read the wonderful stories here...
But anyway, here's my first update since my hiatus, a sort of AU songfic on Seal's "Kiss from a Rose."
This goes out to my beta, Mind Shadow.
I do not own Teen Titans.
I do not own the song Kiss from a Rose by Seal.
Enjoy.
Chapter 4: Kiss from a Rose
"And her scent was like the scent of life."
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There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea.
You became the light on the dark side of me.
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill.
He was drowning, and the emptiness was all he could hold on to.
The weight of his cape, boots, and utility belt were jerking him even further below. Murky water filled his vision, the sound of struggle was enough to tell him that this might be it – how or why he even got here was out of the question.
"Robin…" was barely audible enough for him to hear, and his limbs immediately responded, frantically waving, looking for whoever it was calling, salvation be thy name.
Suddenly gentle arms lifted him from what almost had been his watery grave. He caught a glimpse of black wings before he closed his eyes.
He started to regain his senses, only to feel the silkiness of rose petals under his fingertips…and soft lips brushing over his. The kiss sought him with an intensity that was almost too frightening, yet he gave in to the passion, just as his rescuer ran her hands through his hair, smoothening his ebony spikes. Her moan pursued him to do more…
Third time's the charm. Richard Grayson smirked at this thought in mind. It's not very typical for any teen his age have that kind of dream – being saved by a chick who then makes out with you in a field of roses. Or was it bed?
It might seem so strange, like something you might see from a horror movie where the lead character has the same dream over and over again until it comes true, but for the incoming intern of his foster father's Wayne Industries, it was something he was looking forward to for the fourth night in a row.
Anybody looking at him walking down the street would note that Richard was just your everyday teenage boy-next-door, considering the white long sleeved shirt over a red polo, baggy jeans, sneakers, gelled hair...
And the cheesy grin was a dead giveaway that this young man was daydreaming – building enough castles in the air to be aware that he was about to cross the road.
A beep from the incoming truck eventually woke him up from the trance, and was he lucky enough to step back from the path of the large vehicle, but his reflexes failed to sense the bike behind him.
The next thing he knew, roses were everywhere.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and,
The light that you shine can be seen.
Richard stood up to see the bike still knocked down, with a sign hanging form its seat that read 'Mother Mae Aye's Flower Shop.'
"Why didn't you watch where you're going?" A finger pointed to his face, close enough to poke an eye. Seeing that the hostile voice belongs to a female, he gently took hold of the owner's hand, pulling it down.
He was about to speak when he set eyes on the person in front of him.
Garbed in a black tee and cargo pants, with a Mother Mae Aye's Flower Shop apron, the young woman's pony tailed shoulder length hair was wet with perspiration, loose strands around her face accentuating her eyes, which rendered him speechless in the first place.
Round orbs in a odd but captivating sort of way, they were in a shade between blue and purple, matching the highlights of her raven hair…And her features were peculiarly familiar…
"Well? Are you just gonna stand there 'til hell freezes over?" She spat, taking away her hand inside his, then dropped to her knees to pick up the rest of the flowers that were still in one piece, as she muttered under her breath, "Why do I even bother?"
"I'm really, really sorry. I kinda spaced out so…" Richard started to say, as he bent over the lady, making sure to keep his sight away from her form, but was cut short when Miss Hysteria got to her feet without warning to start another one-sided verbal feud.
Having the feeling that she was about to use profane language as her weapon, he quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, just as a bunch of toddlers ran past them. When a blonde boy was about to pick up a rose from the sidewalk, the woman in his arms bit his hand.
Richard immediately let go, but grabbed her from behind when she shouted, "Step away from the roses you little punk!"
This caused her to face him, as he released her from his grasp, "Look lady, I know you're upset, but that's no way to treat a little kid…"
"Upset? Well let's see, you bulldozed four dozen roses reserved for two anniversaries, one birthday, and a proposal. And most of these flowers as you can see, don't look like flowers anymore. That cost me two months worth of salary and here comes this freeloader who'll just happen to take one of the good ones and you just expect me to – "
"If you could just calm down – "
"I am calm!"
"Rachel – "
"How'd you know my name?" She practically screamed, drawing more attention to Richard than herself, and her moon pale face went red when he pointed at her name tag.
A little awkward, but enough to shut her up as both teens were now gathering the flowers on their knees.
Just as they were about to finish, Richard noticed the basket at the front of the bike and headed towards it. The least he can do to help besides collecting the flowers was make sure they're still good enough to look at. And nothing does it better with a bucket of water, which he found inside the basket.
Apparently, the greater scheme of things begs to differ, as he tripped while making his way towards Rachel, the pail flying through the air, and its contents landing on a head of blue-black hair.
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.
Ooh, The more I get of you, Ooh
Stranger it feels, yeah.
And now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the gray.
Pretty soon, loads of random eyeballs were, well, eyeballing them. It was too late to wish for a miracle, say the ground suddenly coming to life to swallow him up.
But public humiliation wasn't the least of his problems. What he was worried about was facing the wrath of the one called Rachel, who by judging from the look in her eyes, would kill him first, bring him back to life, then kill him again.
"I'm so sorry – "
"Forget it dude, okay?" She breathed, strangling the roses in her hands as she walked a turtle's pace towards her bike, "This is why I hate plants."
Richard even expected her head to make a 360 degree turn ala Exorcist.
But all Rachel did was stand up her bike, but not before swiping the flowers he was holding. He responded by running in front of her, stopping the bike from taking off, "It was an accident, I – "
Richard could have sworn the moss on her head started to boil when she made eye contact with him. Talk about if looks could kill.
"If there's still anything I can do Rae, I – "
"Yes there is," she seethed, hopping on the bike, "One. You don't know me well enough to call me Rae. That's not my name, Rachel is. Two. You've done enough to make me suffer so leave me alone."
"But Rachel – "
Richard continued to persist, blocking her path when she just ran the bike over his feet.
"Men."
He fell on his bottom, taking off his sneakers and clutching where the throbbing pain was.
The adolescent stared at Rachel's retreating figure, then sighed, "I should have rode my motorcycle today."
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Richard closed the door behind him and turned to face the office of a man looking sharp in his suit, steely blue eyes speaking for themselves, almost as if to say, "You're late."
By then, he almost wished he was being tortured by Rachel instead of Bruce.
"It's my day off, remember?" He retorted, taking a seat in front of his foster father's desk, "Don't tell me you're getting old."
"And you need to stop riding in the booster seat if you want to be CEO of Wayne Industries."
"That's kinda what I need to talk to you about."
"I know."
"You know?" Richard stood up, bringing down his hands on the mahogany wood, strong enough to topple Bruce's paperweights, "Then why the hell let me go through all the trouble of being an intern?"
Bruce let out a hearty laugh, sitting down on his leather chair to face him, "I was just waiting for your common sense to finally come out."
The younger man smirked sat again. He can never outsmart the Batman's alter-ego for Pete's sake. And considering that he was allowed to go to college instead of skipping it via Wayne Industries practicum, he decided to change the topic before Bruce starts another sermon on the importance of responsibility and keeping his priorities straight.
"Today's the big day?" He leaned back, putting his feet on the table.
"It was supposed to. But it can wait for tonight, I'm taking Selena out for dinner, then I'll ask her to marry me. The roses I ordered this morning never came. The flower shop called two hours later saying they had a problem with the delivery," Bruce pushed his son's feet away, hitting the spot where a certain raven haired girl ran over earlier.
This caught the teen off balance as he let out an "Ow!" tumbling down the chair. He was thankful for the office's carpet, which broke his fall, along with his rear.
Bruce bent over his desk just as Richard managed to say, "That wouldn't happen to be Mother Mae Aye's Flower Shop, now wouldn't it?"
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There is so much a man can tell you,
So much he can say.
You remain,
My power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny... yeah.
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
It took quite a few twists and turns before he finally arrived at his destination. Richard let out a sigh of relief as he pushed the glass door, and wasn't all that surprised when varieties of flowers were all around the room, nor seeing a good crowd inside a place giving a small town impression in the suburbs of Gotham City.
Visions of soft pastels adorned the flora, he observed while making his way towards the counter, not that sure whether or not he was eager to come vis-à-vis with a one-girl reign of mayhem dressed in a blue tank top and overalls.
"Oh no, not you again," Rachel just about gritted her teeth, and he almost felt sorry for the dishrag she was practically mangling with her callused hands.
He even had to mentally scold himself for chuckling slightly at the thought of the usefulness of a worn-out cloth as a work surface cleaner and at the same time a stress ball for the typical ticking bomb.
And the woman in front of him eventually mistook his inward laughter as somewhat offensive, pretty much for a guy who managed to not only leave a permanent damage to your pocket, but also humiliate you in public.
"Does my misery amuse you?" She stated as indifferently as she could, and he took this a sign of impending death. Which was why he immediately took out a huge bouquet of roses he had been hiding behind his back, and gave them to her.
After what seems to be a staring contest of Rachel's predetermined victory, she managed to scream "Listen here you scum-sucking weasel, I've had just enough out of you. What part of Leave me alone! don't you understand?"
And he had a serious déjà vu vibe the second all eyes turned to them.
That was when she reached over the cash register and grabbed a few of the flowers from the bouquet, and decapitated them. "I hate roses," she muttered.
He didn't have time to defend himself when his communicator rang. Richard was going to have to wait, because Robin was needed somewhere in Gotham.
"Sorry Rae, gotta go, I'll be right back!"
As he rushed out of Mother Mae Aye's Flower Shop, Rachel's shout was loud enough for him to hear, "Hey! I'm not done with you yet! And don't call me Rae!"
But what he didn't see was the way her amethyst eyes gleamed with something unreadable, along with the blush that crept to her cheeks when she said that.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen.
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His footsteps drifted back to the darkness that trembled at the edge of summer as he neared towards the warehouse where Bio Chem Industries used to stand tall in all its glory.
Stealthy as a thief in the night, he crept inside the nearest window and camouflaged himself within the silence of the shadows.
Convinced that he was concealed from view he grinned slightly, a bit proud of himself that he'll not only give the Old Bats a night off, but also prove himself to Bruce that he was worthy of the privilege of flying solo as Robin, period, and not just Robin, Batman's sidekick.
From where he was crouched he stole a look at tonight's villain. The giant plants that looked like they were a cross between a Venus Flytrap and a rose were enough to tell him who he was dealing with.
Well speak of the devil, she made her grand entrance via living tree branch no. 4, as it bent over to a field of seedlings.
"Don't worry my babies, soon you'll get to join me in my feats of mayhem. But right now, Mommy will feed you with vitamins, so you'll grow big and strong," her emerald eyes glinted with the malice as intense her red hair, as the woman mused, cradling the air above a bed of tiny plants while smoothening the greenness of her second skin.
"Jeez, Poison Ivy, I don't even want to know who's the father." Robin quipped rather sharply, the same way his Birdarang sliced through the branch carrying one of his archenemies.
He caught the weapon as it returned to him in a boomerang motion, but not as quick enough as large vines clinging to the wall across brought themselves to life and wrapped themselves around him.
The next thing he knew, he was upside down, his and his captor's noses almost touching.
"Yum. Birdie Boy for dinner," Poison Ivy chuckled, and he thought she was about to kiss him.
"Well, I'm one entrée that's about to bite back," Robin jerked forward, banging his head with hers.
She backed away, and he took this opportunity to survey his surroundings. She certainly made the warehouse look like the inside of a greenhouse, only the usual plant lover's picks were replaced with overly mutated exotic species of trees, shrubs, and flowers – there also seemed to be a well and a mini laboratory at the far end.
He turned his attention once more to the redhead, who happened to wave her arm in command, while the vines almost crushed his lungs like a python would with its prey.
"No man can resist me," She blew him a kiss, and he heard the sultriness flow from her lips, along with glittering dust of a pinkish hue coming towards him.
Robin knew it was impossible to douse the darkness that was pulling him in as he closed his eyes in surrender.
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Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.
Ooh, the more I get of you
Stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the gray,
A figure emerged from the shadows, darkness melting into tendrils that clutched the hero turned minion of the plant villainess, marking the start of a showdown between two caped crusaders.
The redhead watched in amusement from her throne of branches, crossed and uncrossed her legs. The trance, strong as ever, was in effect with fuchsia glowing where the white film of Robin's mask was supposed to be.
The spiky haired teen looked like he was giving whoever it was he was fighting the beating of his lifetime.
Make that her lifetime.
A roundhouse kick brought the intruder to her knees, along with the hood of her cloak, exposing moon pale features and lavender locks smeared with dirt.
"Finish her!" The four walls echoed Poison Ivy's cry. A call of victory was about to form itself inside her throat, only to die down with the arrival of the Dark Knight, who swooped down, sending his sidekick hurling towards the nearby well, and inside it.
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray,
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray,
And if I should fall, at all
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray.
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Limited space was holding him, and his hands can't find their way to his grappling hook. He was kicking uncontrollably, and all he felt was the hardness of the well, as if it was swallowing him.
And he was ready to be welcomed into the watery grave when he lost his breath.
"Robin…"
He wasn't sure if he was flying. But he didn't need to know, as he was lying down on a tree's bough, in his rescuer's arms.
There is so much a man can tell you,
So much he can say.
You remain
My power, my pleasure, my pain.
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, yeah
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
Soft lips touched his, and he already anticipated the carnal need. Robin felt himself taking in the life the kiss was giving him. With his newfound strength he pulled his savior's waist closer, memorizing with his hands her delicate frame.
It wasn't like he was expecting. Unlike the dream, she pushed him away and covered her face with her hood.
This caused him to lose balance and fall of the branch, and down to a rose garden.
"I'm okay…" He uttered, and swore that he saw her eyes shift from worry to zombie dead in the fraction of a second.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen.
He noticed her attire was faintly provocative to match the exoticism of her pools of amethyst, and mysterious enough for the cloak to hide the leotard, belt, boots, and suggestion of curves. But Robin was sure that he did saw her wipe her mouth with her sleeve in a feverish manner, and pools of amethyst narrowed into slits for him to see.
Blackness engulfed her out of his sight. His cry of "Wait!" came out as "Ow!" when he tried to get up, then felt broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder pull him back.
Robin cursed under his breath, and turned his head towards a block of ice containing Poison Ivy. Assumptions swam in the pool of his thoughts, just as Batman came into view, "The thing about plants is, they love water. That's why freeze discs work like a charm…Dick, you all right?"
"Nifty. Never knew a bed of roses could have thorns."
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.
Ooh, the more I get of you
Stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the gray,
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"Is this all of the fan girls you have? Tsk, tsk, tsk. I guess I'll have to find another heir for my ladies' man legacy."
Richard smirked at the direction of the voice, and its owner turned out to be sitting in a sofa from across the hospital bed, looking out the sunrise the view of Gotham has to offer.
"Ha-ha, Bruce. Half of those roses died last night and the fan clubs happened to have sent fruitcake and pies. And Alfred took home the get-well balloons," he quipped, careful not to laugh out loud too much as he gently rubbed the bandages around his waist and left arm.
"Dick."
"Yeah?"
"Made up your mind?"
"Yes and no. I'm not exactly Wayne Industries CEO material, but I haven't decided which college I wanna go to."
"You're right. You're too reckless and stubborn to make decisions regarding million dollar stock markets…but you're good enough to get in any college you want. How does Harvard sound?"
"Well, I…"
Knock. Knock.
The older man got up and opened the door. The visitor eventually shocked Richard, and caused Bruce arch an eyebrow.
"You don't look like a fan girl to me. You know her Dick?"
"Sort of. Hey Rae, I mean Rachel."
Bruce gave way and let the young woman in, who was garbed in a maroon Gotham University sweater with the sleeves rolled up, pleated denim miniskirt, and striped knee socks with Wellington boots. Richard even noticed that her hair was finally neat and tidy, and she was wearing eyeglasses.
"I was on my way to class, but I had a lot of time to spare. And I actually came to say so-, I mean ask to apolo-, um…" She started to say, and Bruce was behind her, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Apology accepted." Richard finished for her, and heard her mutter under her breath, "Thank God I didn't have to say it."
"Uh, thanks. And here," Rachel reached inside her backpack to pull out something that looked like a little pouch, and tossed it to him.
"I didn't know you were the homemaker type."
"Actually I'm not. I hate roses. Mother Mae Y made that and forced me to come here."
He caught it with his good hand, and grinned at her, "So it wasn't out of the goodness of your heart? I thought that you managed to kill the roses I gave you then made their death productive by using them for potpourri."
"We're having a moment here, don't ruin it."
"…"
Bruce patted her on the head, "That's another drag race accident causing permanent damage to your ability to come up with a witty comeback," And turned to Richard, "Finally, a bigger smart ass than you are. Consider it a compliment Rachel."
For the first time, Richard saw her smile warmly.
"I think I'd better get going, classes start in fifteen. Nice meeting you Mr. Wayne. Get well, Rich," Rachel shook Bruce's hands and headed for the door.
"I've had worse," Richard managed to say.
"I wouldn't brag about that," She retorted, and the smile turned itself into a smirk, "See 'ya tomorrow. Mother Mae Y says I'll have to replace that bouquet I killed."
"I look forward to it Rae."
"Sure. 'Bye."
Bruce closed the door, "She's the first girl I've met that hates roses…"
"She's not like any other girl."
"Does this mean you like – "
"Where were we? About college, I mean," Richard turned away from Bruce and gazed at buildings outside, hoping that his foster father didn't notice the abrupt change of topic.
"Well, where do you want to study?"
"How does Gotham University sound?"
"Fine. I'll ask Rachel to fill me in on the details."
"Thanks," Richard stared at Bruce's back as the man walked towards the window and made a call on his cell phone. Suddenly bored, he fidgeted with the potpourri Rachel had given him.
It was only then that he realized that she let him call her Rae.
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the gray.
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Well?
I am actually proud of this chapter...my version of how Rae and Rob met.
For starters:
Mother Mae Y - Yes, the spelling is intended. Cute name for a flower shop, in my opinion...I just wanna play up the mother mae-eye angle a lil bit.
Selena/Catwoman x Bruce/Batman - I am all about this pairing. Don't ask, but I like how well they go together, for those who have seen The Batman series...
Dark Knight - DC Comics and Batman fans already know that this refers to Batman, I just wanna stress this for informational purposes.
RaeRob kiss no.2 - Rae pushed him away because she was supposed to give him CPR, not make out with him...Just wanna let you know to avoid confusion...
Rachel Roth - In the comics, this is actually Raven's alter-ego after being resurrected. She used the name Rachel Roth to attend college. Sorry if I didn't properly introduce her as Raven...
Gotham University - made this name up )
ROSES, ROSES, ROSES - As you can see roses were everywhere...From start to end...I used roses to fit the song...
Anyway, there's more updates to come, which are dedicated to the likes of alena-chan, Chai Chi, Mussayyy, etc.
For every update/new chapter, there's a special dedication...
Thanks for reading, hope you liked it.
God Bless,
Kiki
