Chapter 2: Meeting the Family

I ignored Starfire's constant chatter as we made our way to the party. She talked mostly with Mariah, Cyborg's date. Though he was made of metal, he seemed to get more action than any other Titan. Not that I ever tried.

I smiled when we came to a stop, and parked. Now, I could ignore people freely, as I couldn't in the limousine. Starfire, too busy talking with Mariah, forgot to grab onto Robin's arm, so took it.

I smiled as I spoke to him, giving the impression that I was having a great time, but if you listened, you would not think so. "Why is this so important that I had to come?" I whispered.

Robin laughed, a perfect actor, and whispered in my ear. "A family friend invited us. It would be rude."

"Who is this family friend?"

But just then, he looked up, the smile he had been giving plastered on his face. I looked up. "Bruce Wayne…" I murmured, then shot a glance at Robin's face. His frozen smile was still there, but it was slowly melting away.

"Robin, shouldn't you be introducing me to your friend?" I asked for the crowd that was obviously listening. I dug my fingernails into his arm. Robin flinched, glancing at me, then starting to walk forward.

"Bruce!" He called, waving his hand in the air to greet the man. Bruce gave him a stern look, then excused himself from the conversation he was having. He walked towards us, a champagne glass in his hand.

"Good evening Bruce. Are you well?"

"Very. Thank you for coming, Robin."

"It was a pleasure."

Bruce chuckled, then turned his piercing gaze toward me. I stared straight into his blue eyes without flinching, or looking away. I curtsied, my gaze still on him, then spoke. "It is an honor to meet you."

Bruce broke our connection by smiling, bowing, then turning to Robin. "You have a very spirited one there, Rob." From the way he said it, and the way his eyes twinkled, I could tell Bruce usually said nothing of the sort to Robin. Robin blushed.

Having me there made him uncomfortable and embarrassed, I realized. He never had never had girls around this man, I guessed. Or perhaps it was the opposite? Nevertheless, I started to pull away from Robin's side.

I gave them both a dazzling smile, then excused myself. "I feel I must dance or burst!" I told them. Both of them, I could tell, were grateful. I headed inside the dance room of the large mansion. Immediately I could see Starfire dancing to a waltz.

I knew no one would ask me to dance, because all the men's eyes were on Starfire, as they always were. I never got jealous. If anyone deserved beauty it was Starfire. She was the least selfish, kindest, non-braggart person I knew.

"Excuse me ma'am." I turned to the voice that was speaking in my ear. " May I have this dance?" I nodded. I wouldn't have another chance to dance, I guessed. As we twirled around the ballroom, I noticed what he looked like. He had dark hair, deep brown, and knowing eyes that seemed almost black. His skin was tanned, an almost perfect surfer's bronze.

I felt my heart swell. He reminded me of Azerli. Azerli had been an excellent dancer as well, like this man. "What is your name?" I asked, trying to sound uninterested. "My name is Raji. And you are the great Raven, I suppose. I have always wanted to meet you."

"Raji. That name doesn't sound from anywhere near here."

"It isn't. I come from far away. My father sent me and my sisters here to learn and perform our jobs that he assigned us."

I looked at his eyes. They seemed to twinkle. "But what if you don't like your job?" I asked.

His eyes suddenly turned cold and seemed to shut off. We stopped our dance at a far corner. "It doesn't matter if I don't like the job or not. I must do it to receive my inheritance."

"I see. Well, I must be going. It was great to meet you, Raji." I gave him a hesitant smile, and started to walk away. He grabbed my hand, stopping me. I turned to look at him. "Will you save a dance for me?" he asked, his eyes urgent and searching. I hesitated, then nodded. "Of course."

He let go of my hand, and I was free to walk away.

I tried to find him later, but I couldn't. I declined the later requests to dance. Something was wrong. Raji reminded me of someone else, other than Azerli. Someone… different. I shook Raji out of my head, ready to find Robin and leave. Fuck his last dance. I didn't care, I had to leave. Something bad was about to happen.

I found Robin still talking to Bruce. His fists were clenched and he was standing stiffly. It was time to intervene. As I headed towards them I heard snatches of their conversation.

"Don't you think-"

"No, I don't think so, Bruce."

"What about-"

"Hello." I said. The two men looked at me, surprised. I slipped my arm into Robin's, ignoring Robin's confused look. "May I steal Rob from you for a minute? He's been talking all night, ignoring his teammates. Especially the ones that wish to dance."

I finally looked at Robin's face and it was starting to smile. He turned to Bruce. "May I be excused? It seems I have been invited to dance." Bruce waved us off, turning to talk to some more delegates.

"You saved me, Raven." He told me as we waltzed.

"Well, there was a reason I needed to see you, apart from getting you to dance."

"I guessed that. What is it? People staring too hypocritically?"

I laughed and twirled around as the next dance required. "I wish. Robin, I feel something really bad is about to happen."

"What?" Robin's face was serious.

"I don't know, but we have to get out of here now."

"We can't leave all these people to danger."

"It's not them who are in danger. It's us."

Robin and I stopped, surprisingly in the same corner as Raji and I had before. Robin nodded seriously. "Alright. We'll leave. You find Starfire. I'll find the other guys." Robin turned around and walked off. I turned, looking for Starfire. I couldn't find her unique hair and lime-green dress anywhere.

"Looking for something?" I heard Raji's voice behind me. "My companion, Starfire. I can't see her anywhere."

"The red-headed girl? She stepped outside a few minutes ago." I nodded and headed for the door. "Why must you see her so badly?" "Titan business!" I snapped, and continued searching.

"Ah. I see." We were silent for a few minutes as I glanced back and forth for Starfire's face. I felt slightly guilty for snapping at Raji, but this was an emergency. Something horrible was about to happen. "There!" I heard Raji's voice shout out and I turned to look in the direction he was pointing. There she was, her red hair showering down.

She walked briskly, away from a pestering man. She rounded a corner of the building, and I followed, going as fast as my dress allowed. I went around the corner, shouting "Starfire!" I saw her stop, and start to turn. I smiled and ran to her, trying to be reassuring. "Starfire, we got to go, there's an emergency."

She smiled at me, an odd smile, and nodded. Her eyes seemed glazed over. "Have you been drinking?" I asked her, worried. She shook her head, still looking beyond me. I turned to see what she was staring at. She was staring at Raji. "Raji." She spoke, her words as soft as a sigh.

I was confused. Why was Starfire acting like this? It wasn't like her to go crazy over a guy, especially one she had met at a party like this. "Raji, what's going on? Do you think she's drunk?"

He shook his head and smiled, stepping closer to me. "No, I don't think she is drunk at all." He said, his face kind. But his eyes! There was something in his eyes when he stepped towards me that made me step back.

I had never been truly frightened on Earth, never. But something in Raji's eyes was frightening me now. Suddenly, I remembered something from a year or so ago. "They are coming, whether you like it or not. Try killing your kin." My kin? I looked into Raji's eyes again, and saw what I was looking for. He knew I saw, and moved to stop me.

I felt the blow to my head, felt myself falling to the ground, and Raji picking me up in the darkness. I heard his voice in my ear, a slight whisper. "You should have saved that dance."