3 August 2010
Mount Justice, Happy Harbour
"…And then she was like, 'Now you listen here, young man! Don't you dare cut off the nose to spite the face again!' Like who still talks like that?" Captain Marvel nattered on endlessly, his arms waving about so wildly as he talked that Raven had to duck several times to avoid being hit.
"Grandmas, coaches…?" Raven offered with a half-hearted shrug as they meandered through Mount Justice's halls. Black Canary had scheduled in some hand-to-hand combat training for the Team that day, something for which Raven was not so sure about. Mostly because the only combat 'training' that she'd ever had was with her hellish caregivers and somehow she didn't think it'd be the same on Earth.
"Grandma's coaches?" Captain Marvel laughed incredulously.
"Shaddup! Y'know what I mean!" She playfully batted at his shoulder, before swerving out of the way to avoid the recuperation.
While it was true that Raven didn't have many friends (her age or in general), Billy Batson—or in this case, Captain Marvel—was an exception to this. She'd met the unruly orphan (& his foster siblings) one day during some family bbq that had been organised for Guardian Angels, a single caregivers' guidance group (one of the many) that both Kent and Dudley were a part of. Billy, in all his usual lighthearted brashness, had befriended the shy witch & declared them best friends by the time the sun had gone down. Looking back, he'd likely recognised Fate's aged vessel and made the connections that way, not that she minded. Where Raven was often seen as dark & gloomy, the bright boy was practically sunshine embodied.
"So, how goes Conner & Kelly?" Captain Marvel wondered absently. Kelly—as in Kal-el, as in Clark Kent, as in Superman—was a term that Raven had coined way back when Kent had been teaching her about Earthen customs & her heroes. Although she barely knew the elder kryptonian, the nickname (which she'd used to differentiate between her own mentor & the kryptonian) had kinda stuck, especially when she'd let it slip to Billy who thought it was hilarious. Of course, there had been a few—very embarrassing—occasions where the name had nearly/accidentally slipped from their lips instead of his chosen title when talking to the man in question. She cringed whenever she thought of those moments.
"Eh~" Raven shrugged, "Bout as well as you'd expect, I s'pose"
"Recognised: Superboy B04" As if on cue, the person of interest zeta'd into the Cave, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. The relationship between Superboy & Superman had been a rocky one from the start with Kelly rebuking any and all of Conner's attempts to bond. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see how Kelly looked at Conner like he was some some bastard child that he'd been lumped with.
"Hi Superboy" Ms Martian greeted as the surly kryptonian stomped through the holo-table where the others had gathered to play rounds of air hockey whilst they awaited Black Canary's arrival. "How was Metropolis?"
"Hmph!" Superboy humphed as he stomped passed, narrowed gaze focus on his toes and a tenseness lining his shoulders.
"That good huh?" Captain Marvel muttered out of the corner of his mouth as both ten year olds shuffled closer.
"You could always ask 'im yourself" Raven retorted in kind.
"And cross a snippy kryptonian? No thanks!"
"Snippy? Who still says 'snippy' anymore?"
"Uncle Dudley does, thank you very much!"
"Hear it often, d'you?"
"Oi!"
"Hehe~!"
"Ahem!" Black Canary cleared her throat (her lips twitching up slightly at the camaraderie between sidekick & Leaguer which floated out of the opposing tunnel) as she stepped into the room. "Ready for training, everyone?"
"Black Canary! Uncle J'onn!" Ms Martian chirped upon spotting the two other Leaguers and rushed to greet her uncle.
"M'gann, I was in the neighbourhood, so I thought I'd see how you were adjusting" Manhunter smiled as he pulled back from the hug.
"A few bumps, but…I'm learning!" Ms Martian replied. Behind her, both Robin & Kid Flash bore slightly sheepish looks as they recalled said 'bumps'
"That's all I can ask"
"Stick around! Class is in session" Black Canary called out to the kryptonian who'd tried to slip away unnoticed. Though not much escaped Canary's gaze, which was why she made such a good drill instructor.
"Tch" Superboy crossed his arms in defiance, but did not leave.
"Holo-deck: activated" A circle of light illuminated the floor, igniting the training deck in light as the Cave's training simulator sprung to life.
"I consider it an honour to be your teacher" Black Canary began as she stepped out onto the newly illuminated holo-deck, pulling off her jacket as she did so. "I'll throw a lot at you, everything I've learnt from my own mentors—tiss!—and my own bruises"
"What happened?" Ms Martian worried as the blonde flinched slightly whilst removing her jacket to reveal the bandaged limb beneath it.
"The job" She replied shortly as she tossed her jacket aside. "Now combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting. I'll need a sparring partner"
"Yeah, right here!" Kid Flash's arm shot straight up into the air so fast that Aqualad had to dodge to avoid getting whacked in the face. "And after this, I'll show you my moves!"
"What's 'sparring'?" Raven side-whispered to Captain Marvel as they eventually joined up with the rest of the Team (plus Manhunter) on the one side of the holo-deck, next to the tubes.
Back home, tough love was a commonplace thing in Gehenna, which usually resulted in the young witch getting her ass handed to her six ways to Sunday. It was from games with her siblings that she learnt how to dodge—and dodge well—as well as fight dirty. That there was no such thing as 'honour' in a fight, that that was only a notion that sore losers tossed about when their pride(s) were hurt. She had been taught that winners were those who lived and losers were those who didn't.
"It's like…like play-fighting" Captain Marvel replied, unbothered by her odd question as he tried to think up an analogy that his friend would understand. Robin, having overheard the whispered conversation, sent her an odd look like she had two heads but Raven ignored him by hiding inside her hood.
"Oh, okay" She nodded easily.
Play-fighting was vastly different from proper fighting, everyone knew that. Play-fighting was more of a rough-and-tumble sort of sport where you didn't particularly care for the outcome and spent the time just playing with friends & siblings. For all intents and purposes, they were like scrappy puppies just looking for a way to pass the time. Honestly, the only real difference between the two was that death was not a common outcome in play-fighting; although not everyone adhered to this rule. Like her brother, Klarion, who was quite fond of disincorporating and reincorporating anyone he could incite into a bout with him. It was usually over something so trivial like his fondness for Earthen creatures.
"Since when're you so chummy with the Leaguers?" Robin murmured as she wiggled her way to the front of the group, leaving Captain Marvel to hang back with Manhunter.
"Cap?" Raven hummed "He's a good friend"
"Besties!" Captain Marvel corrected, leaning over the pair's shoulder much to Robin's chagrin
"Why would a ten year old be best friends with a Leaguer?" Robin appeared confused, though that expression quickly changed to one of surprise as he seemed to realise something. "Wait—do you know him outside of the cape?" Both children merely grinned in response, as if to say 'We'll never tell!'
"Yeah right!" Kid Flash scoffed brashly as he wolfed down the banana in his hand, "Since when does she have friends? I mean, besides us"
"Hey!" Captain Marvel whined pitifully.
"Dude! Harsh!" Robin hissed as he watched Raven's expression fall from the wicked & teasing grin to a downtrodden frown. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted that Captain Marvel's expression had fallen too, looking for-all-the-world like a hurt child.
"What?" Kid Flash blinked, genuinely confused as to why he was getting the third degree.
"Begin" The Cave's computer interjected as it started the training programme.
Black Canary frowned at the exchange as she fell into a ready stance, fists raised to fend off the flirtatious speedster. Across the way, Superboy's fists clenched around his forearms as he battled with the idea of intervening, particularly when Raven appeared so upset at how crestfallen she seemed. Ms Martian and Aqualad were no better, but it was Robin who'd stood next to her and who'd caught notice of the sudden shift in the witch's demeanour. He didn't know if he like how quickly her expression changed, sad eyes igniting with a vindictive gleam and lips pulling upwards into a cunning grin. He didn't catch the whispered words which fell from her lips, but the next thing he knew, he was starring at the Flash-printed backside of his best friend.
"Wait—wha—!" Kid Flash squawked as he suddenly found himself falling face first onto the holo-deck thanks to the pants which had been yanked down to his ankles.
"Kid Flash: Fail"
"Hehe~!" Robin unabashedly chortled, pointing down at his fallen friend who'd decided pissing off a witch was a good idea. Newsflash: it was not. In the brief window when the speedster had moved to stand opposite Black Canary, Raven's magic had snapped out at her command and engulfed the scarlet pants, before yanking them downwards with enough force to send Kid Flash flying. Robin held no qualms about laughing at his friend's demise; he'd brought upon himself.
"Raven!" Black Canary scolded the young witch who resolutely refused to meet her eye.
It wasn't me! Raven grinned to herself as she looked anywhere other than the blonde Leaguer. Her heart swelled with glee as she listened to the muffled laughter all around her, and felt no speck of guilt for the speedster at her feet.
"Uh…what just happened?" Kid Flash groaned, rolling over to nurse his bruised nose.
"Nice thunderpants, dude!" Robin cackled, only muffling his laughter when Aqualad silently admonished him with an elbow to the ribs.
"Wha—ah!" Kid Flash cried when he finally noticed that his underwear was on full display. Red erupted across freckled cheeks as he scrambled to both cover himself up and pull up his pants in the same instance. "No! Don't look!"
"If you're so eager, Raven, perhaps you would like to go instead?" Black Canary quirked a brow at the witch. Though she had not been pleased with how the situation had been handled, she was just glad that things hadn't escalated beyond childish pranks and hateful glares.
"Um…" Raven blinked, caught off-guard as Kid Flash scrabbled to his feet, finally yanking his pants back up as he glared in her direction. Raven paid him no mind, instead intrigued by the notion of play-fighting with a Leaguer (other than Fate or Captain Marvel) as she trotted out onto the holo-deck. "Okay"
"Eeeeh…" Captain Marvel wheezed, making a sound like a leaky balloon as Raven seemed to consider the idea. It wasn't that he was against Raven learning to fight like a human, but he also wasn't quite sure what would happen if she did so. It wasn't like Raven was the strongest person around; yes, she could dodge & weave like a champ and yes, she was far more durable than your average person, but with a childhood like hers, could she be trusted to hold back if provoked?
"You disagree, Captain?" Black Canary turned to the olympic hero.
"No—no! It's—it's not that—! It's um…" He quickly backpedalled, falling over his own words in a rush to get them out as all eyes swung to him. "It's just…people are so…squishy and—and they break easy, so…um…uh…"
"Then perhaps you would prefer someone a little more…durable?" The blonde quirked a brow, this time silently inviting Superboy into the ring.
Superboy appeared slightly hesitant as he stepped into the last time the two had tangled with each other was back at Cadmus where Superboy had slammed her into the ceiling and choked her out as he rampaged. On the other hand, Raven seemed almost excited at the notion of roughhousing with the kryptonian as she stepped up to meet the surly boy. Kryptonians were well-known for being rather durable, so her glee was rather understandable in that sense. As it was, Superboy's hesitation didn't last long.
"Begin!" On the Cave computer's call, the two sidekicks fell into ready stances with Superboy bringing his fists up to guard his face in a brawler-type style. Whereas Raven just stood there, feet apart and balanced on the balls of her feet with a gleam in her eyes & grin on her lips. Off to the side, the others stood blanketed by a cloak of anticipation as they awaited the outcome of this match. They didn't have to wait long.
Barely a twitch from Superboy's gaze could be seen as he swung towards the young the witch with all the fury of a repressed teenager. But Raven simply danced out of the way on feather-light footsteps and Superboy quickly followed with an uppercut that would've surely taken her head off if she had not swayed to the side. It didn't take long for the two to become entangled in a dance of sorts; one where Raven led Superboy around the holo-deck as she ducked & wove around his punches.
"You're angry, good" Black Canary instructed from the sidelines when it became clear just how frustrated Superboy was becoming. "But don't react. Channel that anger into—"
"—STOP HOLDING BACK!" Superboy bellowed at Raven, cutting off the blonde without a second thought.
"Hehe~" Raven giggled gleefully as she spun out of the way of Superboy's punches, taking to the sky as the kryptonian grew more and more frustrated with every attack that missed.
"On the ground Raven" Black Canary reminded the witch. "No powers, remember"
"Sorry!" Raven smiled as she alighted back on the ground, just behind Superboy. This time however, she wasn't able to roll out of the way as his hand swung out and grabbed ahold of her cloak, easily pulling her off of her feet as she was yanked towards him.
"Eek!" Raven yelped, limbs flailing as she was startled by the sudden motion. Something which was not helped by the cloth choking at her neck. Her hands scrabbled to undo the bejewelled clip cutting into her jugular as she felt Superboy's breath tickle her nape and the fist that threatened to bash her brains in.
The cloak eventually fell away allowing her to tumble ungracefully to the ground and roll away, leaving Superboy with a fistful of her cloak instead of the prize he'd hoped to get. Now bare of her cloak, she felt rather naked in her navy leotard and grey tights (similar to Black Canary's own costume). Fingerless gloves wrapped her hands and matching ankle boots bookended the costume, which meant that practically everything (sans her arms) were completely covered. That didn't changed the fact that she still felt naked without her cloak.
Off to the side, a surprised squawk sounded from Robin as he tried to get used to Raven without her cloak. It was an odd sight, and even though logically he knew that she would had to be wearing something beneath the cloak, it was still weird to see it come true. He didn't know why he'd always pictured some sort of gothic witchy lace-up deal, nor why he was so disappointed when it turned out that wasn't the case. Of course this thought was rather fleeting as he suddenly found himself captured by said material as Superboy had carelessly tossed it aside. The boy wonder spluttered slightly as he yanked at the heavy cloth obstructing his view and silently cooed over the softness of the cloak. No wonder Raven never takes this thing off!
"FIGHT ME!" Superboy roared as he spun to stomp down on Raven. The witch quickly rolled out of the way, but the gleam in her eyes turned manic at those words. Those were fighting words, they were.
"Now he's done it…" Captain Marvel murmured, expression downcast as Raven's gaze doubled, leaving four crimson eyes to narrow on the irritated kryptonian.
"Is something the matter, my friend?" Manhunter asked of the olympic hero.
"Huh? O-oh it's nothing!" He waved off, slightly embarrassed that he'd been overheard
"Hey! Isn't that Munin?"Kid Flash pointed over to Raven who sat crouched with fingers curled over like talons as they dug into the holo-deck.
"I thought Canary said we couldn't use our powers?" Ms Martian asked, brows pinched in confusion.
"It's not like those extra eyes are really helping at this point, though" Kid Flash replied around a granola bar that he'd somehow acquired without any of them noticing.
"STOP HOLDING BACK!" Superboy bared down on the young witch with frustration pouring off of him in waves. Only this time, Raven didn't flee; she didn't roll away nor did she dodge. Instead, she rolled back onto her shoulders, hands behind her head and used her feet to kick up at the approaching kryptonian. Hunched over as he was, Superboy caught the kick on the chin which sent him stumbling back slightly, tripping over his own feet.
It was clear that Superboy was still irritated, but the fact that Raven had finally hit back seemed to have bolstered his attitude some, because the next time he moved to attack a wicked gleam danced in his eyes. His fist whistled by Raven's ear, barely glancing through indigo locks as she reached forward to snatch ahold of his arm. One hand latched onto his wrist whilst the other entangled itself into his sleeve and with a small jump the witch quickly found herself straddling his overextended arm. Superboy barely had time to blink before Raven was using the torque of her entire body to tear straight through the kryptonian's ligaments.
CRACK!
An almighty crack rang throughout the Cave as the two separated; Superboy scrambling back to one corner of the holo-deck as he clutched to the limp limb just hanging out of its socket with a yowl of pain falling from his lips. On the other side of the holo-deck, Raven had flittered away, putting some space between them as she continued to watch the kryptonian with four unblinking eyes. From the corner of her eyes, she noted how quickly Aqualad had tinged green around the gills whilst Ms Martian appeared concerned for the kryptonian.
"All right, that's enough—" Black Canary called, moving to interrupt the fight before it could go too far, but Superboy was having none of that.
"—RAH!" The clone cried as he surged forward once more, this time surging forward with something wicked gleaming in his eyes. An emotion that was mirrored in Raven's own gaze. Just as she had done before, Raven refused to move, instead planting her feet shoulder-width apart, shoulder angled downwards and dug her fingers into the boy's shirt as he sort-of tackled her. Her shoulder dug into his armpit, tiny fists clenched in his shirt and with and an almighty heave, she used his own weight against him to haul him over her shoulder. Suddenly swept off of his feet, Superboy smashed down onto the floor behind the witch, knocking the breath from his lungs.
"Superboy: Fail" In the end, it was the complete shock and surprise of the attack which allowed Raven to win; but she still wasn't done. Dazed and winded, Superboy could only watch as Raven clambered atop him and moved to strike back. One fist was raised in the air behind her head, the other fisted in his shirt and those four crimson eyes stared down at him, unblinking.
"Munin! Enough!" Captain Marvel scolded, suddenly there. His tone was cold as he bodily lifted the young witch from the downed boy.
"You're no fun!" Raven petulantly sulked as she hung from his grip like a ragdoll; her legs swinging clear above the ground with every step. "It wasn't even a proper game…!"
"Training is not a game, Raven" Black Canary scolded as she crossed her arms. "Your here to learn to fight"
"I thought Earthen heroes didn't condone killing?" Raven replied, throughly confused.
"Excuse me?" The blonde (and everyone else) appeared taken aback.
"When you fight, you fight to kill" She replied as if it were obvious, "Everyone knows that"
Captain Marvel just tried not to facepalm with an armful of witch.
