Chapter Nine - Family

Raven walked the massive halls of the Wayne Manor, tracing her steps that she took on the way to the Wayne's family library. Alfred was right, this place was like a maze. Twists and turns, multiple stair cases, if not for her metal connection with the Boy Wonder she'd have been lost ten times over. 'What's taking so long, beautiful?'

Raven rolled her eyes, 'Alfred stayed in the library. This place is confusing.'

'Tell me about it. What's in front of you?'

Raven quickly scanned her surroundings. A long extended hallway with a pair of doors on each side. She came to the first door, the door was slightly open so she peeked in. A bedroom - expensive furniture, some nice paintings, and a family portrait. A woman with pretty blue eyes and a slender figure with long black hair that fell around her shoulders. She wore and tight fitting black dress that stopped just below the ankles along with a fur coat of some poor animal and a set of strikingly beautiful pearls.

A man stood next to her with his arm wrapped around her shoulder and a large hand on her shoulder. He was tall with broad shoulder, strong jawline, a bushy brown mustache to match his milky brown hair with a few streaks of gray slicked back. He had a nice smile and dark brown brown eyes. He wore a well tailored suit and diamond studded cuffs. The man's other hand was on a small boy's shoulder - the top of his head just barely above the man's waistline. Raven thought he couldn't have been more than eight or nine.

He was a cute kid, black hair combed over, nice blue eyes, and a huge grin from ear to ear. He was dressed in a black suit, a little too baggy for the boy's small frame. Raven wondered if this was Dick, but she assumed not. The family was obviously rich from the pears to the platinum watch the man wore. Dick's parent were circus performers, which they obviously were not.

Her eyes widened and immediately backed away from the room. This was the Batman's bedroom. She turned away from the bedroom and continued down the hall.

'Rae-Rae?'

Raven rolled her eyes, 'Yes?'

'Find anything?'

'Give me a minute Boy Wonder.'

'As you command, Beautiful.'

Raven couldn't help but let her stoic face break out into a smile. She continued down the hallway, looking to the next room on the right side of the hallway - just a bathroom larger than her room at the tower, the Wayne's must judge room size by the number of bowling alleys they can fit in. She walked to the next room, locked. Another mystery, but this one seemed somehow less interesting. She then came to the last door of the hallway.

Tall oak wood with a golden handle, well not actual gold - at least she didn't think so. There was something on the center of the door, someone had carved letters into the door. D.G.

Raven rose her brow, 'Hey Dick'

"Yes beautiful?"

Raven jumped and turned around to see Dick Grayson standing behind him with his arms crossed and a stupid grin stretched across his face. She huffed, "How'd you find me?"

"Dunno," he shrugged, "I just kinda, sensed you - if you know what I mean." he chuckled, "Is this what it's like to have powers.

Raven rolled her eyes, "Dunno." she looked behind her, at the door, "Is this your old room?"

Dick looked at it and smiled, "Oh yeah," he walked forward and opened the door. Raven followed behind as he walked into the room that he'd spent the second half of his childhood growing up in. He smiled brightly.

Raven looked around the room - King sized bed with a large TV connected to the wall, a large stash of comic books, a few posters hung up on the wall, and a few pictures. She smiled a bit, she was surprised to see that Dick's old room wasn't scattered with weapons and case files. It was just a normal boy's room, well - a very rich boy's room, but nevertheless still normal. She looked over at Dick, he was smiling as he took in the scene of his old room.

"It hasn't changed at all."

Raven rose a brow, "Is that surprising?"

He shrugged, "Dunno - I figured he'd turn it into a Bat-Gym or something like that."

Raven rolled her eyes, "Just because you put 'Bat' in front of it, doesn't make it a creative name."

Dick chuckled, "Tell him that."

Raven slipped her fingers in between his and looked up at him, "Besides - maybe you mean more to him that you think."

Dick shrugged, his face rather stoic, "Maybe."

Raven reached up to touch his cheek and pulled him down to her level, crashing her lips into his own. This took him by surprise at first, but soon he moved his lips against her own and moved his hands down to the small of her back, slipping his hands underneath her jacket to touch her bare skin. Raven's head started to spin as she shook with anticipation, not being able to think straight, trying her absolute hardest to regain control of her powers, but the man she loved was in the drivers seat and a part of her really liked that.

Dick pulled away first, looking straight at her with those deep blue eyes that could take complete control of her. He smiled, going back in for one last peck on the lips. As he pulled away, his hands brushed past her rear which intensified the tingling just below her stomach even more. He stepped away from her with that big goofy grin that made her heart beat ever so much fast, a part of her is disappointed he hadn't taken it further, but she took a deep breath and exhaled.

Robin was bent opening the bottom drawer of the dresser next to his bed, he moved past several shirts that undoubtedly no longer fit him and as he reached the bottom of the drawer, he pulled out the wooden plank that hid a metal suitcase. Dick pulled it out and sat it on his bed.

Raven placed her hands on her hips, "How many secret doors and compartments are in this house?" she questioned, her voice still a bit shaky.

Dick looked over and smirked at her, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Raven rolled her eyes, but it got her more than just a little curious.

Dick clicked open the locks and opened up the case to see his old Robin costume, he grinned as he held it up to show Raven. He held it up to his torso - red core with yellow buttons and a yellow R with black color behind it and short green sleeves. Raven noticed something or rather the lack of something.

"Um... Dick?"

"Yes?" his smile was still present.

"Where's the um... pants?" she snorted as she broke out laughing.

Dick's face immediately turned sour as he shoved the costume back into the suitcase and slammed it shut, "See? This is why I don't show anyone, that's always the first question." he grumbled and he shoved the suitcase underneath his bed, "I mean come on," he groaned, turning to look at Raven, "I was the first Robin. I'm the original sidekick! That was my costume, I was an acrobat and a kid! I needed to be able to move around."

Raven kept laughing, holding her stomach as she tried to force out a sentence, "No, no- Dick don't worry I'm sure- you made a wonderful- Peter Pan." she wheezed.

Dick flushed and narrowed his eyes and then they got soft as he shook his head and let out a small chuckle, "Yep. I get it, it's so funny." he said with an annoyed eye roll, "I still kicked ass though."

Raven's laughter finally started to die down and she began to catch her breath, "Good thing you didn't know me back then."

Dick grinned, "Oh ho ho - Are you challenging me, little lady?"

A cocky smirk appeared across her face, "Anytime, anywhere Grayson."

Dick chuckled, "I'm definitely gonna have to take you up on that."

Raven nodded, "I'm pretty sure I can handle you." as soon as the words left her mouth her face became the deepest shade of red possible.

Dick, not skipping a beat, said with a smirk, "I'm looking forward to it." he grabbed her hand and started pulling her out of the room, "C'mon, I want you to meet someone."

Raven was still dumbstruck as Dick dragged her along, his hand in hers. Dick looked back at her with a smile, "You're gonna love him, I promise." Raven just meekly nodded as she followed him. Raven thought for a moment, she'd known him for going on three years now. She'd never seen him smile this much. Robin was their quiet, calculated, stoic leader. He'd make a snide remark once in a blue moon, but nothing like this - nothing like the tales she'd head of Robin when he was Batman's trusted sidekick. He was the joke cracking, colorful Boy Wonder as opposed to the Dark Knight's quiet brooding.

Dick lead her down the hallway, two lefts and a right then down a flight of stairs. He knew this building like the back of his hand. They stopped in the living room, Raven looked at him and rose a brow in question.

Dick chuckled and whistled two short blast in melody.

Down the hall, tiny paws could be heard tipping and tapping against the marble floors as a large Great Dane came sprinting toward them, though quickly stopping and sitting at attention right in front of Dick, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted catching his breath. Dick looked at Raven, "I'd like you to meet Ace the Bat-dog."

Raven looked at the dog as Ace looked at her, he had grey fur except for his belly which was pink and white, but from the neck up his fur was black as night. Raven cocked her head to the side and Ace did the same. He did kind of look like Batman, if he were a massive dog.

Dick looked at Ace and nodded toward Raven, the Bat-Hound nudged his way forward only a foot away from her, she looked questionable at Dick. She'd never been much of a dog person.

"Pet him." he stated simply, "He won't bite unless I say so."

Raven rolled her eyes, "How reassuring." she remarked, but still reached down to pet Ace. As soon as Raven's hand touched him, the large intimidating hound suddenly turned into a playful puppy as he leaned into her touch and her body, guiding her hand to where he wanted to be pet.

Dick smiled, "He likes you."

Raven snorted, "I'm glad."

A few hours later, the two of them sat on the couch watching some movie that was on TV. Dick sat pressed close to Raven, his arm around her shoulder. Raven leaned into his chest, barely watching the movie - more focused on how good she felt. Ace laid on the couch next to Dick with his head in his lap, peacefully snoring while Dick gently stroked his back.

Dick smiled, his mind wondering, "I could get used to this."

"I already have. Now, hush."

Dick chuckled as Raven moved a bit closer. Ace picked his head up, his ears perking up as he left the two alone on the couch to go follow his nose.

The door behind them opened and closed, Ace jumped up and down excitedly jumped up and down - all four of his paws tapping against the marble. Raven reluctantly moved from her spot as Dick turned around to see Wonder Woman in her civies standing at the door petting Ace. Raven widened her eyes just a bit and quickly stood. Dick smiled and walked over to her, "Hey Diana."

She smiled and embraced Dick in a hug, "It's good to see you Richard. You've grown since I last saw you."

Dick chuckled, "Well I was fifteen. I had to hit a growth spurt sometime." He chuckled.

"Indeed." she looked over and spotted Raven, "Who's your friend?"

Dick waved her over, "This is my girlfriend."

Raven quietly nodded at the member of the Trinity. Her, Batman, and Superman are legends. The best of the best - leaders of the Justice League and here she was - corrupting Batman's son.

"Ah," she said quickly, Raven knew that wasn't good, "I've encountered your father before."

"I'm sorry." she apologized quickly.

Dinah laughed genuinely, "I'll hold no grudge against you, Raven. To be born good or to be born evil and overcome your true nature?" she questioned, smiling at Raven, "I'd say the latter is most impressive."

Raven blinked a few times, the Wonder Woman had just given her a compliment.

"You talked to Bruce?" Dick questioned.

Diana nodded, "Of course. His flight is at six tomorrow, he should be by breakfast in the morning" she explained, "He's eager to see you."

Dick nodded, "Well, it's been an eventful past couple of days. I think me and Rae are gonna catch up on some sleep."

Diana nodded, "Very well. It's great to see you, Richard, I'll see you in the morning."

Dick held Raven's hand as he lead her upstairs and they stopped in front of his room, "One of the guest bedrooms is down the hall, take a right and it's the second door on your left." he explained.

"Ah," she wasn't able to hide the disappointment from her voice, "I'll see you in the morning." she turned to follow his instruction.

"Unless," the word stopped her in her tracks as she turned to look at him, "You wanna sleep in here, you know, with me?"

"In the same bed?"

Dick chuckled, "Unless you'd like me to sleep on the floor."

"It is pretty cold out." she pointed out, trying and failing at hiding her eagerness.

"All the more reason to snuggle up real close-like. Share our body heat and all that." he leaned against the doorway.

"Hmm," she fake considered, "I suppose there's only one real choice."

"The only logical thing to do." Dick grinned as they both entered the room.

I'm not dead and neither is this story.