Chapter 6 – Assembling
I still can't believe you traded in the Porsche. I thought as we were driving away from the car saloon, heading to a hotel, Dick found.
Since Gar, who found and sheltered Rachel, was joining us too, Dick's car seemed quite uncomfortable, but I knew how much he loved it and how hard it must've been to sell it.
People change. He noted, giving me a slide glance.
Hank said it's not possible, but I started to believe it too. Ever since Dick came back this is the third time he proved himself. First saving our ass in DC then how he handled Rachel and now this...
I like the van. I admitted it as he now turned to me surprised. I almost chuckled at his serious expression as he tried to decide what I really meant. Honestly I liked this new side of him too, but I rather kept it to myself.
"We're not actually staying here, are we?" Kory's complainment broke our moment. "You know, there's probably a nicer place down the road." She added as we all took a look at the motel. She wasn't wrong. This one seemed like one where you get infection even by staying close to it.
"We're being hunted by sociopaths." Dick reminded us. "Nicer places draw attention."
"Yeah, well, they also make it easier to sleep." Kory added, but Dick just shook his head.
"One road in, same road out. Only one point of access we have to watch. And also, it's quiet. If trouble comes our way, we should hear it first." He explained as the tension built up in the car. Yes, it wasn't a vacation...
"And who said anything about sleeping?" I asked winking, trying to ease the concerns. Dick raised his brow challenging as his brazen eyes caressed me with longing, invisible fingers. I fought back a furious blush before shrugging innocently.
"Alright, I'm gonna pick up the keys, stay here" He said then, leaving us in the car.
But soon there was a mutiny.
"Seriously, what takes so long? I'm starving." Gar said.
"Yeah, can we go to find some place to eat until?" Rachel joined in pleading.
"Out of the question" I cut them off firmly. "Rach, they are searching for you." I told them as they sighed in union, getting disappointed. "Okay, I talk to Dick" I rolled my eyes, getting out of the car.
"Dick" I called him, entering the building.
"So if you wanna get it working, I'm always up late. Room 101." The woman behind the desk said flirting. She wasn't that bad honestly, but she seemed quite desperate.
I stopped, feeling embarrassed that I had to witness this scene as an awkward silence settled.
"I'll make sure to knock." Dick noted politely, turning to me. "Yes, Rory?"
"Right, the others are about to starve to death." I got myself together. "Is there anything close where we can eat?" I asked the woman who measured me up and down before she answered.
"There's a liquor store across the street, you can buy snacks and there is also a pizzeria nearby. It's quite delicious."
"Thank you" I sent her a smile before leaving. "So, what will it be, lover boy?" I teased Dick as he followed me.
"Jealousy is not a nice trait, Ror, no one ever told you?" He asked smirking.
"Hah, not just popular, but funny too" I continued mocking him. He winked at me secretly as we reached his car.
"Okay, here are the keys. Occupy your rooms, I'm gonna get some pizzas" He ordered, giving a key to everyone. I took the one he handed me and was about to leave as well.
"Where do you think you're going?" He stopped me. "You're coming with me" He announced it just like it was obvious as I fought hard not to show how surprised I was. But yet again, in these last days it wasn't the first surprise about him.
"So what's next?" I asked as we sat in the car again.
"We have to beat them into shape." He said driving off. "If we want to live another day we have to work as a team" He explained.
"We?" I questioned not being sure I've heard correctly.
"You've been operating with Dawn and Hank for many years. You know the drill just like me." He confirmed. "And I need your help. Will you?" He continued, leaving me agape. The great Dick Grayson asking my assistance?
"One question." I told him as he shifted in his sear anxiously. "Where is the real Dick and what have you done to him?"
"Yeah, very funny, Ror" He shook his head as he stopped the car in front of the restaurant.
"Hey, just kidding, I'm more than happy to." I ensured him, touching his shoulder barely noticeably as he turned to me gratefully. "Part of me feels bad for turning Rachel and Gar into weapons though." I added sighing as we stayed inside for a few more moments.
"Once you learn to see the world that way, you can't unsee it, right?" He understood me perfectly as my heart twitched. Different reasons, but we both have been ruined the same way.
"Not ever" I murmured with a bitter smile. I wasn't complaining, my life wasn't perfect, sure, but eventually I made peace with it – most of the times. Yet sometimes I couldn't help wondering how would've it been to grow up in a normal family.
I felt his warm hand enveloping mine sympathetically, snapping me out if my thoughts. I winced at the sudden contact, but this time I forced myself not pull away. My heart raced in my chest as I looked at him hesitantly and I saw all my feelings reflected in his tender gaze. There were no need to say anything more.
"They have to learn to fight for themselves." He said eventually, his thumb gently caressing my skin. "Otherwise they are as good as dead"
"I know" I nodded, trying to ignore the tingling sensation.
I didn't have to like the situation that was the truth. The world wasn't going to change because we try to spare them. Those sociopaths weren't going to stop just because they are still kids. They needed training.
"But for now, we should get the food or we will end up lynched." I added as he released me. I shivered as the cold mid-September air took place of Dick's warmness.
DDD
"All right, guys, listen up." Dick started as everyone gathered in one room, already full with the pizzas. "We're all in one piece, more or less. We need to figure out where we stand and determine what's mission critical." He said as I bit my lips preventing a smile. That was he, always focused, always professional.
"Mission critical?" Rachel asked catching the phrase too, but she wasn't the only one.
"Is that a cop thing? Sounds like a cop thing." Gar speculated looking at us.
"I had some combat training when I was younger." Dick answered. That was a nice way to put it…
"And he's a cop." I added to confirm Gar's theory.
"I'm sorry, you were referring to we?" Kori asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"We as of right now are a group of people who share a common enemy." Dick said sounding quite official.
"Which makes us what?" She insisted.
"Let's call it an alliance. One born of mutual need."
"And what is that?"
"To stay alive." He suggested. "We have no idea how long we have until they find us."
"You just said they. Who are they? What do they want?" Gar questioned frowning.
"We don't know who they are, but they want me." Rach answered, stuffing some left over pizza into her mouth.
"It's because of her…"
"Abilities." I helped Dick out, finishing his sentence.
"They make violence look like an art form." Kori joined in.
"The people that attacked us fought in unison. They were perfectly coordinated, we're not. We can't fight like that unless we learn each other's moves." Dick draw the conclusion to the others.
"Inspiring. And how do you suggest we do that?" Kori asked with a half-smile. Dick looked at me expectedly as I nodded.
"We stick together and we train." I said. "Starting by now." I added. "So if everyone's ready we should head out." I clapped my hand together as no one moved. "Chop-chop, lazy bones."
Dick and I found an abandoned barn on the way back from the restaurant, and we decided it would be a perfect place to practice.
"Okay, in order to work together, fight and defend yourselves like a coordinated team, we gotta see what each other can do." Dick started as we settled in the old wooden building. I've never been teaching anyone before, but I guess there's a first time for everything. "Any volunteers?"
"Kory, Rachel said you can create light. Heat. Is that right?" I suggested, taking the lead.
"Honestly, I'm still trying to figure it out." She said a bit doubtfully.
"Okay, so let's figure it out together." I ensured her. "How exactly does it work?"
"I think it comes from the sun. I can absorb its power and direct it." She explained. "I'm weaker at night, though. I'm sometimes empty. And it takes me a while to recharge."
"How long?" Dick asked.
"A few hours, a day, I don't know."
"Can you control it?" I questioned just in case, but she seemed confident.
"Of course."
"Okay. Could you hit that tractor?" I showed her the ancient vehicle.
"Watch." She smirked walking closer.
Beams of fire came out from both of her palms, melting a huge whole in the tractor. It was pretty impressive… "I suppose I could use a bit of practice." She noted teasing as we exchanged a grin.
"Sick!" Gar said amused.
"Your turn." Dick nudged him.
"Okay, I just, uh... Give me a second." He gabbled looking embarrassed.
"Okay. Any time today would be good." I told him a bit impatiently.
"It's, uh... I can't... It's a little weird with you guys watching and all. The first time I transformed, I tore through my clothes and, uh... Oh, and, like, this is my favorite jacket." He searched for excuses as I chuckled.
"Hold on. You have to be naked to..." Dick put the picture together.
"Yeah, but it'll be worth it. I promise." Gar swore.
"Heard that one before." Kory murmured as I laughed with her.
"Just, uh, turn around." Gar pleaded.
"Okay. Okay." I signaled to everyone to turn. After a minute we heard a loud, blood-freezing roar and as we turned back, we saw an enormous green tiger.
"Oh, shit!" Dick took a few steps back as the big cat easily jumped on a stack of bales.
"If this wasn't a drill, we'd all by dead right now." Rachel told us proudly.
"What do you know, it was worth it." I acknowledged it to Kori who still looked bewildered.
"That's him?"
"I know, right?" Rachel smiled, not taking her eyes off of Gar.
"How?" I questioned.
"Got sick or something." Rach shrugged.
"The flu turned him into a tiger?" Kori mocked, simplifying the case as Dick still seemed uneasy.
"Okay, you can turn back now. Into Gar."
The tiger started to tremble then slowly took humanoid form again.
"Ta-da!" Gar spread his arms expecting some applause after the trick.
"Gar." Rachel warned him as she looked away giggling. He was naked for sure.
"Ah. Heh. I, uh... I forgot. Whew!" He ran behind the bales to get his clothes.
"So have you eaten anyone before?" Dick asked as he walked backed now fully dressed.
"Eaten? No. Dude, I haven't even bitten anyone before." He shook his head offended. "Eaten anyone." He murmured.
"Would be a lot scarier if he wasn't green. Or vegan." Kori teased playfully.
"Okay, so we have sun woman and tiger boy. There's definitely potential here." Dick summed up encouraging.
"Rachel, you're next." I told her softy.
"No. No, I could hurt someone." She refused fervently.
"Hurting people is kind of the idea here." Kori tried to convince her too.
"I could hurt one of you." She argued.
"It's a part of you. You gotta stop being afraid of it." I stepped closer to her.
"If something goes wrong..." She started, but I interrupted her, squeezing her shoulders gently.
"You can do this, sweetheart"
She finally nodded reluctantly then stepped forward. She stood with her back to us, so I haven't seen her face, but soon the black fluid – I couldn't find a better word for it till these days – came out, spreading all over in the air.
"Rachel?" I asked her concerned.
"Okay, bring it back in." Dick said firmly. "Rachel."
But that thing didn't want to go back. Instead it charged me suddenly and if Kory hadn't burnt it with her power, god knows what could've happened.
"Rachel!" I called her as she let out a painful scream, wanting to rush to her.
"Stay back. I'm fine." She said with her alien voice. She still wasn't in full control.
"You sure? Did I hurt you?" Kori asked worried.
"I just... I just need a little more practice, that's all." She reassured us as she finally came back completely.
"So, uh, we all did our thing." Gar said looking at Dick and me . "What's your thing, guys?"
I glanced at Dick, before stepping forward.
I'm a telepath. I projected my thoughts to everyone as I saw them looking around quizzically. Yes, you can all hear me now. I smiled. Yes, Gar, even you. It's seven. I said as he was thinking about a precise number. Nine. Eight. Stop changing it!
"Geez." He turned pale.
"Relax, Gar, I have better things to do than reading your thoughts." I calmed him chuckling. " That applies to all of you" I added. I didn't want to plant any mistrust. "And I also do some martial arts." I changed a subject winking.
"Then maybe you and Mister Combat Training should practice together." Kori said measuring us as I got anxious immediately.
"Cool!" Gar agreed. "Show us some awesome fight scenes!" He got carried away. "I mean, just so you'll know each other's moves" He corrected himself, quoting Dick. I laughed at his enthusiasm but deep inside I was petrified.
We used to train a lot together and during those sessions we really got to know each other's moves. In all sorts of ways…
"That won't be necessary" Dick declined with a polite smile yet I saw his uneasiness too.
"They've been together." Rachel enlightened everyone with a knowing face, probably seeing Gar's disappointed expression.
"Rachel!" I called her horrified.
"I knew it!" Kori said grinning.
"But he ditched her too" She continued as Kori laughed out loud obviously being entertained about the absurdity of the story.
Shame weighted me down as my cheeks turned crimson. This was none of their business!
"Alright, training is over for today." Dick dismissed everyone, ushering them out for which I was grateful.
I just couldn't stand being with them any further minute. I needed to be alone.