Hey guys! I'm sorry it's taken me this long to update! I can't promise that it won't happen again because sadly, I have the attention span of a 2-year-old. One second I'm totally into writing then I'm not feeling it the next! Can't be helped, trust me I've tried. My writing is total S**t when I try to force it. But I will promise that this story will continue! I'm not the type to quit half way; you can count on that! Same goes for The Last Uchihas for those of you who have read it. If you haven't, you should. Just a suggestion. It's not half bad if I do say so myself. Alright, alright, enough of my ramblings and on with the story! Hope you enjoy!
Confrontation
MOUNT JUSTICE: September 20 01:14 EST
"Tempest. Status." Mal stated.
"Aquagirl is helping Queen Mera shield the Conservatory. Lagoon Boy is keeping them out of the Science Center. Ocean Master is attempting to break into the throne room where the palace guards are guarding the young Prince. A few remaining guards and myself are blocking him but we're slowly losing ground!"
Raven listened to the report, her body tense and her expression wary. Nightwing and Superboy stood on either side of her, arms crossed and faces grim. The three of them had just arrived from their own missions and were waiting silently for the others to finish theirs. Mal kept his eyes on the monitors in front of him, live feed of the current assignments playing on the screens. All except for the situation in Atlantis. They were blind, relying solely on verbal communication.
"I need the three of you to hold out till Aquaman and Aqualad get there. They're in route, ETA 10 minutes. Can you do that?"
"…yeah. Yeah, we got this. We can hold out till then." Tempest responded.
"Good. Hang tight."
Mal switched his attention to another screen. A green cheetah charged at a woman in blue only to slip on a thin layer of ice. They watched as Beast Boy shook it off and transformed into a polar bear. Killer Frost shot a flurry of snow at him but he dodged and rammed into her, knocking her off her feet. Blue Beetle hovered above them, his blasters aimed at Icicle Jr who was shooting shards of ice at him.
"Go ahead, Blue."
"We managed to take back all the dry ice they stole but they're not willing to come quietly." Jaime sighed.
"Listen lady! If you don't quit blasting snow in my face I'm gonna lose it!" Beast Boy's shouted in the background.
"Can you manage on your own? Nightwing, Superboy and Raven have returned." Mal asked.
"We're okay. No need to deploy the big guns just yet." Blue answered.
Blue Beetle evaded a few more icicles before diving low and picking Jr up off the ground. He swung him around by his arms and threw him at Killer Frost. Jr and his accomplice barely had time to stand before Beast Boy changed into a gorilla and promptly knocked them out.
"Piece of cake!" The changeling grinned.
"Alright. Drop them off at Belle Reve before heading back." Mal smiled.
He signed off with the boys and switched monitors only to find Wonder Girl smiling proudly on the screen. Around her were dozens of unconscious men, Bumblebee and Miss Martian picking off the remaining few.
"Ugh…how'd It go Wonder Girl?" Mal asked.
"All done here! These Kobra guys weren't much of a challenge. Miss Martian took out half of them before I could even take my first swing!" She pouted.
"Maybe next time." Mal chuckled.
He turned off the monitor and connected with Batgirl's communicator. There was no point in using live feed when it came to the Bat kids. They were trained to avoid cameras after all.
"Parasite has been contained. We are preparing to transport him to Belle Reve." Batgirl stated.
"That was quick. Any complications?" Mal asked.
"None. Robin and I prevented him from using his ability. We managed to get an Inhibitor Collar on him allowing us to take him down with ease."
"Wait. You mean the collars from Belle Reve? We don't have any of those. Where did you get it?"
There was a small pause. Raven caught Nightwing smirking and she couldn't help but smile.
"We may or may not have access to a few."
"Alright, just get him locked up and rendezvous at the cave." Mal shook his head.
The line cut off without another word. Mal let out a small chuckle. Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered to check in with those two. They hardly ever needed any direction. He turned his attention back to the screen and checked in with Tempest.
"Our King has arrived! We're rounding up the stragglers and should be done soon."
"Nice job. Will you all be staying at Poseidonis?"
"Yeah, our king would like us to stay until things quiet down. Did you still need us?"
"No, you were the last assignment for the night. The others have finished up as well. I'll get in contact with either you or Aqualad if something else comes up."
"Sounds good!"
Mal signed off and turned to face Raven and the boys. The three of them looked a little worn out from their own assignments. Raven and Conner had been in Metropolis just a while ago dealing with Professor Ivo and a few of his rampaging androids. Superboy had been relieved to find that there were no robot monkeys in sight. Nightwing had spent the past few hours tracking Sportsmaster before finally catching up to him.
"That's the last of them. It's been a busy night." Mal sighed.
"Yesterday wasn't much different." Nightwing frowned.
Raven knew he meant their fight with Poison Ivy the night before. The woman had been difficult to deal with. Raven had shown up at Arkham covered in mud and with a very prominent scowl on her face. They had run into Batman, Robin, and Batgirl at the asylum. They had just finished locking up Scarecrow and the Riddler. The five of them had then gone on patrol even though Raven was in need of a bath and was picking leaves and twigs out of her hair all night.
"The villains are riled up. It hasn't been this hectic in months." Superboy commented.
"Maybe they're running like Bane." Raven said.
"What do you mean?" Mal wondered.
"When M'gann went into his head, she said that he was running. That he needed the venom to defend himself. Maybe the villains are all planning to run."
"Poison Ivy was attempting to create a fortress of plants at the park. Riddler was at the docks loading up quite a few of his stolen goods. Scarecrow was captured by Batman at the chemical plant." Nightwing mused.
"Ocean Master was trying to ascend the throne of Atlantis again. Ivo seemed to be gathering loads of tech. Sportsmaster was loading up on stolen sports equipment. Junior and Killer Frost were stealing dry ice, Kobra was raiding some of Banes old warehouses and Parasite was making his way towards the Hall of Justice where Superman was last seen." Mal muttered.
"They're either running or gathering what they need to defend themselves. Somethings up." Superboy said.
"But what? Bane was afraid of something here on earth and there was something about people being kidnapped and replaced." Raven stated.
"Whatever it is, it has them worried. We should look into recent reports on kidnappings. Maybe we'll find something." Nightwing said.
"We'll have to keep this within the Team. The Justice League has their hands full trying to figure out what happened during the missing 16 hours." Mal told him.
"Recognized: Blue Beetle B-1-7, Beast Boy B-1-9."
The four of them turned to the new arrivals. Garfield and Jaime walked up to them with matching grins. Still, Raven could tell they were both feeling some fatigue. In fact, they all needed some sleep.
"Killer Frost and Icicle Jr have been put on ice!" Beast Boy wiggled his eyebrows.
Everyone rolled their eyes and groaned. Raven felt her eye twitch.
"That was beyond lame, hermano." Jaime grimaced.
"Really? I thought it was a pretty cool joke." Garfield elbowed him.
"Get it? Pretty good right." He laughed.
"Dude seriously."
Yep. Ravens eye was definitely twitching.
"Wow. Tough crowd. Your chilly glares are making me shiver!"
"Beast Boy. That's enough." Nightwing sighed.
"Come on guys! Don't freeze up on me! Those jokes were golden."
"Okay thats it!"
Raven waved her hand and Beast Boy's mouth was suddenly covered with a black "x". Eyes wide, he attempted to pull it off with no avail. Raven rubbed her eye, already feeling her twitch go away.
"Thank God. I was about to lose it." Conner groaned.
"So what now? We done for the night?" Jaime asked.
"Yeah. We're good." Mal told him.
"Cool. I'm gonna crash here. Too tired to fly home right now."
"The girl, Jaime Reyes. I have already warned you, she is too big of a threat. It would be wise to eliminate her now while she believes you are on friendly terms."
Ravens eyes widened as she took a step back. Nightwing gave her a questioning look but she kept her head down and stared at her feet. Jaime's face had gone pale for a split second before giving them a nervous smile.
"Ugh…I'm gonna go ahead and crash in Garfield's room. See you guys later."
Jaime gave them a wave before making his way towards the back rooms. Raven watched him go, her eyes on his back. This wasn't the first she had felt the scarab's malice. For the past few weeks, any time she was in the same room as Jaime she would hear its voice. Raven was aware that it had a separate mind from Jaime's, but it still caught her off guard to hear such harsh thoughts coming from the boys back. She took a step forward but Garfield walked up to her and yanked on her arm, silently begging her to allow him to speak. Raven flicked her wrist, removing the "x" on his mouth before flying after Jaime.
"Hey Raven! Where are you…" Nightwing called.
"I'll be right back." She answered.
"Tell Jaime that he's sleeping on the floor! No way he's taking my bed this time!" Beast Boy shouted after her.
Raven managed to catch up to Jaime before he entered Garfield's room. He noticed her coming up behind him and seemed a bit startled. She landed beside him as he gave her a hesitant smile.
"What's up?"
"I just…I wanted to talk about the scarab." Raven told him.
Jaime visibly tensed, his hands clenched at his side. She could feel his unease seeping out of him.
"Wh…what about it?"
"Jaime. I can hear it too…."
She watched as his eyes widened in shock. He was surprised, but at the same time she could sense his relief.
"She's lying! Kill her now, while you're alone! Do it Jaime Reyes!"
Jaime ignored it.
"You can? For real?"
"Yeah…it doesn't seem to like me very much."
"I'm sorry. It views you as a threat. He sees anyone remotely stronger than us as a threat. For the longest time, it wanted me to kill Superboy." Jaime scratched his head nervously.
"The kryptonian clone is too powerful! You're surrounded by threats Jaime Reyes! Even the powerless humans working under the Batman are dangerous!"
"It's very hostile. And I've noticed that it talks to you often. Usually you ignore it, but occasionally you answer. I'm glad you don't agree with its…ideals."
"Yeah…I'd rather not kill people if I can help it. Man, the others probably think I'm crazy huh? The way I talk out loud sometimes."
"They just see it as one of your quirks." Raven smiled.
"You know, for a while I was worried that Miss Martian could hear it too. Since she reads minds and all that. But, it doesn't seem like she can. How is it that you can hear it?" He wondered.
"It's not that I can hear what it says, more like I can feel what its thinking. It has its own set of emotions separate from yours and I can sense what it wants."
"Oh. Cool. So…are you planning to tell the others?" Jaime muttered.
"I've been able to hear the scarab for weeks. Don't you think I would have said something already? No, I don't plan on saying anything. It's your secret to do with as you wish." She shrugged.
"Thanks Raven. I don't really want them knowing that I have a homicidal weapon on my back."
"No problem. I just wanted you to know that you can talk to me whenever you feel the need. I have some experience with hearing voices."
"This is ridiculous! Why are you being so stubborn! Just do as I say and get rid of her! I don't like that she can hear me!"
Raven let out a small chuckle. If the scarab had a face, it would probably be pouting right now. Jaime must have been thinking the same thing because his face lit up in a grin.
"You make it nervous. It's probably going to think twice before saying something in front of you now." He laughed.
"I don't get nervous! If you think this girl scares me you are mistaken, Jaime Reyes!"
"Oh, I'm sure it will learn to get used to having me around. I'll let you rest now, see you later Jaime." Raven smiled.
He nodded with a smile of his own and she turned away choosing to walk back. Raven heard Jaime open the door and glanced over her shoulder, a small smirk on her face.
"Oh. Beast Boy told me to tell you, feel free to use the bed. He doesn't mind sleeping on the floor."
"Really? I think I'll take him up on that offer." Jaime grinned.
She gave him a small wave before heading back to the mission room. When she got there, Mal was at the monitors again. M'gann, Cassie and Karen had returned and were currently standing behind Mal. Conner, Dick, and Garfield stood off to the side and turned to her when they noticed her approach.
"What's going on? Mal looks worried." She said.
"Belle Reve. There's been a riot." Conner told her.
"How bad is it?"
"We don't know the details, but one of the prisoners managed to steal a key to the collars." Garfield forced back a yawn.
He kept eyeing the floor as if he was contemplating whether or not to take a nap. Raven wondered why he hadn't just gone off to bed along with Jaime.
"He used it to free the meta-humans. He must have figured that they were his best bet on getting out." Nightwing added.
"Will Amanda Waller be able to contain it?" She asked her eyes still on Garfield.
"Mal is on the line with her now. She says she can handle it but he has us on standby just in case." Superboy glanced at the monitors.
"Should I go get Jaime?" Beast Boy walked up to Mal.
"No. Let him rest. Actually you should go to bed too." Mal looked down at the younger hero.
"What? No, I'm fine!" Beast Boy pouted.
"Garfield. It's one in the morning. Go on to bed. The rest of us can handle it if Waller can't control the inmates." M'gann placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But…you guys are probably tired too!" He complained.
"We are. We're not denying it. But out of all of us, you're the one who's having trouble keeping his eyes open. You've done enough tonight Garfield. I'm sure Mal will wake you and Jaime if we need you." Raven told him.
Beast boy frowned at her but Raven merely rose an eyebrow daring him to argue. He took the hint and let out a tired sigh, smart enough not to fight with her this late at night. Finally, Garfield nodded and mumbled a goodnight before stumbling down the hall towards his room.
"The kid doesn't know when to quit." Superboy muttered.
"That's probably my fault. I was quiet the workaholic when I led the Titans. I worked him and the others pretty hard. Sometimes we didn't get to bed till sunrise. He's used to staying up until the job is done." Nightwing sighed.
"Nightwing! He's just a kid!" M'gann scolded.
"A kid with green skin and the ability to transform into animals. Hate to break it to you M'gann, but Garfield hasn't been "just a kid" in a long time. None of us have." Raven turned to her.
"Still…he was barely 11 when he joined the Titans! You should've been a bit more lenient. In fact, I think you shouldn't have let him join in the first place." M'gann frowned.
"Garfield made a choice Megan. Same as you, same as the rest of us. He knew the risks, and the amount of responsibility that came with it. And if I remember correctly, you offered to have him join this team shortly after he gained his powers."
"To keep an eye on him! I never wanted this for him…after his mom…I just wanted to keep him safe. This…what we do isn't safe."
"I know. But, Garfield wanted to be a part of our world. There was no talking him out of it. It was either help him or watch as he destroyed himself trying to figure it out on his own. But unlike you I wasn't planning on letting him sit on the side lines. No, if he was to be at Titan he would fight as one. I wasn't going to treat him any differently from the others just because he happened to be the youngest." Nightwing told her.
"Beast Boy has grown up a lot these past few years. He has Nightwing to thank for that. If he hadn't been tough on him, on any of us, Garfield wouldn't be as capable as he is today. I understand that you see him as your responsibility M'gann, but treating him like a child isn't helping. All that does is hinder his progress. When he's here among the rest of us, you need to stop seeing him as your younger brother. Here, he is your teammate. Treat him as such. Don't let his age blind you. Beast Boy can handle himself." Raven added.
M'gann didn't say anymore. Instead she crossed her arms and stared at the monitors. Raven let out a small sigh. Why did things have to be so tense between them? They were just so different. Raven would've liked to be better friends with the Martian but she found it hard now that Superboy had broken up with her. She had automatically gotten closer to Conner and found herself taking his side in the fight. Though in her defense, M'gann had been in the wrong. She still was, with her merciless mind tactics. Raven just couldn't see herself getting closer to the girl. Especially since she was pretty sure M'gann resented her for spending so much time with Superboy.
"What's with the face?" Conner whispered.
Raven glanced up to find him beside her, his head bent down so that only she could hear him. She looked at the others but they were all listening for Waller.
"Just thinking of how troublesome you are, crash dummy." Raven smiled at him.
"Troublesome? Me?" He deadpanned.
"Unbelievable, I know." She rolled her eyes.
"Well even if you think I'm troublesome, which I'm not, you still seem to like me." He smirked.
"Like you? No, you've got it wrong. It's more like I tolerate your presence." She corrected him.
"I am offended!" He feigned outrage.
"You're the one who got the wrong idea." She shrugged.
"You are a cruel enchantress Raven. And here I thought we were friends." He shook his head sadly.
Raven gave him a teasing smile and he gave her a playful nudge. Superboy wasn't usually this friendly but Raven noticed that occasionally he would let his mask slip. It wasn't often but when he did it was always a pleasant surprise. She wondered if this was how the other Titans had felt about her. Then, a voice on the monitors caught their attention. It wasn't the one they were expecting. Raven stepped forward when Batman's image appeared on one of the screens.
"Nightwing! I need you and Raven to make your way to Gotham! I got a hold of Robin and Batgirl and they are already in route!"
"Alright. But what going on?" Nightwing asked.
"Talia al Ghul has been spotted along with at least two dozen League of Assassins. And Superboy, Superman has asked me to tell you that your needed in Metropolis again."
"Wait, you need Superboy too? You'll be taking half of the available members of the Team. Batman sir, there's a situation at Belle Reve. I'm not sure if Miss Martian, Wonder Girl, and Bumblebee can handle the riot on their own if it gets too serious." Mal said.
"Belle Reve? Why hasn't Waller notified the League?" Batman growled.
"She…she said she didn't want nor need the Leagues help. She only informed us on the small chance we were needed. We haven't heard from her in nearly half an hour." Mal informed him.
"Very well, Raven you will go to Belle Reve along with the rest of the girls. Stop the riot at all cost. Nightwing and Superboy, get moving."
Nightwing and Superboy nodded before running towards the zeta tube. The girls started to leave but stopped when they noticed Mal's hesitation. Mal glanced at Batman on the screen nervously.
"Ugh…Waller stated that she didn't want us anywhere near the prison unless she ordered it. Are you sure it's okay to send the girls just like that."
"Amanda Waller needs to get over her grudge against us. Not only that, but she needs to stop assuming that we will follow her orders without question. We don't work under Waller. She doesn't have a say in how we do things. There is a situation in Belle Reve that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. If those prisoners break free, they become a problem. Our problem. So no, you will not stand by and wait for her say, you will send the girls now. Contain the situation."
With that, Batman signed off. Mal stared at the screen for a moment longer before reaching out to disconnect with Waller. He then connected to all the cameras currently active at Belle Reve. He moved the screens around until he had them where he wanted them before turning to face the girls.
"You heard him. Get going. I'll monitor you guys from here."
The girls all glanced at each other before nodding.
BELLE REVE: September 20 02:03 CDT
The Bio-ship flew through the night sky invisible to the world down below. Raven sat in the front along with Bumblebee while Wonder Girl sat in the back closer to Miss Martian who sat in the driver's seat. They were being fairly quiet, their bodies running on a short amount of sleep. Raven let out a small yawn under her mask as she stared out the windshield. A few moments later, Belle Reve Penitentiary came into their line of view.
"There it is. I'm linking us up now." Miss Martian said.
She maneuvered the Bio-ship a few feet above the building's roof. The girls unbuckled themselves and gathered in the center of the ship.
"Alright. There is no set game plan. The objective is to capture all inmates and return them to their cells along with their inhibitor collars. Cell block A holds the most dangerous inmates. D holds the least dangerous. The riot has broken out within A. Those in B have also been freed along with a few in C. Nobody's made it to Block D yet. We're going to keep it that way. We'll stay in constant contact and inform each other every time we contain someone. Understood?"
The three girls gave Miss Martian a nod in agreement. Then Raven adjusted her hood above her head and phased out of the ship. She pinpointed the location of the riot and made her way inside. Within the penitentiary, alarms were blaring and guards were running frantically through the corridors. Wallers voice could be heard over the intercom giving commands. Raven thought it would be best to inform the warden of their presence. She located the woman and teleported inside her office. Waller sat at her desk, her eyes glued to her monitors.
"Amanda Waller." Raven said.
Waller looked up from the screen with a startled expression. Her hand instantly went to her gun which she had within easy reach on her desk. Her finger was firmly against the trigger, the barrel of the weapon pointed at Ravens head. The dark sorceress didn't even flinch.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?" She questioned.
"I work under the Justice League. Four of us have come to assist you." Raven said calmly.
Waller didn't lower the gun. Her expression changed from confusion to anger.
"I specifically told that brat to stay away unless I ordered it! And you didn't answer on how you got inside my office! The walls are fortified so that not even Superman can get inside!" Waller spat.
"I'm inside. I'm speaking to Waller." Raven sent to the other girls.
"Superman doesn't have the ability to teleport or phase through walls. And as for your orders, they were ignored. The League refuses to leave something this serious in your hands." She told Waller.
"I'm in too, currently attempting to apprehend Count Vertigo." Miss Martian's voice rang in Raven's head.
"I am the Warden! These inmates are my responsibility! I don't need a couple children running around trying to do my job!" Waller growled.
"I'm in the vents. My first target is Shimmer." Bumblebee said.
"I've got Black Adam cornered!" Wonder Girl informed them.
"Your job was to keep them under control. From what I can tell, you've failed. We will have the inmates back in their cells shortly. I just wanted you to know that we are here." Raven muttered.
She then turned her back on Waller and phased out into the corridor. The men standing guard outside the door jumped back in shock as she flew past them. It didn't take long for Raven to find herself in the middle of the riot. She floated above the chaos and watched as the guards struggled to corral the inmates. She couldn't see the other girls and assumed they were in another location.
"Listen up! We have four teenage heroes within Belle Reve. Don't…don't get in their way. I want all the inmates back in their cells by the hour!" Wallers voice shouted through the intercoms.
The guards immediately looked around and finally noticed her above them. They looked at each other nervously before acknowledging her with a nod. Quite a few inmates noticed her as well and started shouting and throwing what they could at her. Raven didn't bother to dodge, allowing the items to phase through her body. She then dived into the fray and began her assault.
Raven knocked the inmates back with her power and restrained them against the wall with a wave of her hand. Using the other one, she summoned the inhibitor collars from the guards. Quickly, she placed them on the inmate's necks and reactivated them. She released her hold and turned to face the remaining, who were staring at her nervously.
"Just captured a dozen in Cell Block B. Working on the rest." Raven told the girls.
"Captured Shimmer in Cell Block C. From what I'm seeing, nobody from B has made it to this part of the prison yet. They are all still contained within their initial block." Bumblebee answered.
Raven listened as she lifted her arms and grew until she towered over the inmates. Dark tendrils shot out from within her cloak and they began grabbing the escapees. They shrieked in terror as she dragged them towards her.
"I'm with Wonder Girl in Cell Block A. Count Vertigo and Black Adam are contained." Miss Martian said.
"Mammoth and Blockbuster are on a rampage but I'm sure I can get them under control." Wonder Girl added.
Raven collared the men she had dragged and handed them off to a couple of guards. They watched her with a mixture of awe and terror as she soared above them. She was picking off the weakest of them first, leaving the strongest to deal with last. Raven was doing pretty well until Tuppence Terror tackled her from the upper railing. The two girls fell to the ground with a loud thud. Raven struggled to get the girl off of her but Tuppence had a firm grip on her shoulders.
"You should be in block A, Tuppence!" Raven growled.
"That I should be, witch. But this here block seemed a hell of lot more fun." The blonde grinned.
The other inmates surrounded them and were egging Tuppence on. Raven glanced around to find Professor Ojo, Icicle Sr., Atomic Skull, and Black Spider among them. She groaned internally knowing that things were about to get more difficult. Thankfully, Tommy Terror was nowhere to be seen.
"Fun is not the word I'd use." Raven muttered.
"We're not lettin' you or your little girlfriends put us back in those damn cells. Ya here?"
Tuppence gave Raven a smirk before pulling her arm back, fist clenched. Raven didn't stick around for what came next. She phased through the floor and came back up behind the Terror twin. Tuppence didn't notice till her fist punched a hole in the concrete floor. She stared down in confusion before the other inmates yelled for her to look up. Raven looked down at them wiping away the stream of blood dripping down her forehead.
"A few block A inmates have made their way to B." Raven warned the others.
"Cell block C is contained. I'm making my way to you, Raven." Bumblebee exclaimed.
"Ugh…Miss Martian and I are doing okay. M'gann is…well she doesn't look like she needs any extra help." Wonder Girls voice sounded nervous.
"Whats happening, Wonder Girl?" Raven asked, the girls voice causing her to worry.
She dodged Black Spiders attempt to capture her in his webbing. She then flew out of reach and shielded herself in a dark sphere.
"We're handling it, Raven. Worry about your own block." Miss Martians said with clear irritation.
Now Raven really was worried, but she said nothing more. Instead she opted to finish her business. Without releasing her shield, she let out her soul self. It shot out of her body and dived at Atomic Skull. The villain stepped back in surprise attempting to shoot it down with a beam of energy. It didn't do any good. The black Raven continued on its path until it phased through Atomic Skull's chest. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the ground unconscious. Raven's soul then returned to her waiting body.
"What the hell! Somebody take her down now!" Icicle Sr. yelled.
Raven released her shield and shot a ray of power at the man. He cried out as he hit the wall with a loud thud. Icicle Sr. slid to the ground unmoving. Black Spider used the chance to shoot another strand of webbing. This time it connected and wrapped around Raven's ankle. She gasped as the assassin yanked, bringing her crashing down to the floor. Tuppence pulled her to her feet and grabbed her from behind holding her in place. Professor Ojo's helmet began to glow, the blast aimed at Raven. The sorceress clenched her teeth and waited for the pain but none came.
Tuppence cried out as a small blast was shot at her temple. She released her hold on Raven and stumbled back. Raven stood on her feet and wheel kicked the Terror Twin with as much force as she could muster. Her heel connected with the girl's torso causing Tuppence to stumble and fall on her side. Disoriented, Tuppence tried to stand but Bumblebee shot a few more blasts at the girl's chest knocking her out. That left Black Spider and Professor Ojo.
"I got the collars on Icicle Sr. and Atomic Skull already." Bumblebee said as she grew to normal size.
She then knelt down and placed one around Tuppence's neck.
"Thanks. I didn't get the chance. We have to take them out quickly. I need to find Miss Martian." Raven muttered.
The two of them stood side by side sizing up the remaining inmates. Those remaining from block B were standing behind Ojo and Black Spider. They were probably expecting them to take out Raven and Bee.
"Wonder Girl said they were fine." Bumblebee said.
"Fine is a relative term." She answered.
Black Spider launched himself at Raven causing her to sidestep. He threw a couple of punches and kicks which she blocked using her powers. Bumblebee shrunk down again and began her assault on Professor Ojo. The two girls evaded the villian's while attempting to land a blow. Black Spider managed to warp his webbing around Raven only for her to phase out of them and shroud him in darkness. Across the room, Bumblebee managed to damage Ojo's helmet causing it to short circuit and send a surge of electricity through the man's body. She then turned to Raven who stood silently waiting, Black Spider unconscious at her feet.
"Was that quick enough?" Bumblebee grinned.
"I'd say so." Raven smirked.
The two of them finished rounding up the inmates before leaving the guards to lock them up. Raven then teleported them to Cell Block A along with Tuppence and the other block A inmates. When they arrived, Raven didn't like what she was seeing. Wonder Girl had just finished knocking out Tommy Terror. Around her were dozens of inmates, unconscious and collared. Some of them had white foam dripping from their mouths. Raven ran and knelt down beside one, her powers already sifting through his mind.
"Whoa. That's heavy." Bumblebee muttered behind her.
"Hey guys! All done in block B?" Wonder Girl asked when she noticed them.
"Where is Miss Martian?" Raven asked through gritted teeth.
"On the upper level. She's got Brick cornered up there." The girl answered hesitantly.
"Lock up those who aren't foaming at the mouth. Round up the ones that are and have the guards set them up in the infirmary." Raven ordered.
"Alright. And you?" Bumblebee asked.
Raven didn't answer. She adjusted her hood and floated to the upper level. It didn't take long for her to find M'gann. The girl had her arm extended, Brick floating in front of her his eyes wide and mouth foaming. Raven blocked the man's mind releasing Miss Martians hold on him. Brick fell to the ground and M'gann turned to face Raven with a glare.
"Why the hell did you interfere!" The alien growled.
"You've done enough damage." Raven growled back.
"Who are you to decide when it's enough?" M'gann countered.
"These men may be criminals, but that doesn't make it alright to destroy their minds. You're abusing your power M'gann. I can't force you to stop, but I can at least try to protect them from you."
"Protect them? You want to protect them from me? I'm the hero Raven! I'm the one who is doing the protecting! I'm doing the world a favor and I'm tired of you getting in my way!"
Miss Martian's eyes began to glow red. She rose above Raven, her hands clenched at her side. The cells around them began to shake and the beds started to slide across the floor. Raven stepped back as a large amount of rage emanated from M'gann. It wasn't normal. Something was causing the girl to lose control of her anger. Raven slowly started to back away. At the same time, she sent her power throughout the prison. Raven searched until she pinpointed the cause of Miss Martians anger.
"Yes. Prove to her that you are superior. That she is wrong. You are the hero here. Her interference makes her the villain. Take. Her. Down."
Raven attempted to fly down to the lower level. Unfortunately, Miss Martian used her telepathy to grab hold of Raven and knock her against the wall. She then lifted a bed into the air and threw it at her. Raven created a shield just in time. She then leapt over the railing and began falling to the lower level. Wonder Girl saw her approach and cried out a warning. Raven glanced back but wasn't able to dodge the block of concrete coming her way. It hit her from behind and she fell to the ground, her body bouncing against the hard floor.
"RAVEN!" Bumblebee cried out.
Wonder Girl and Bee attempted to run towards her but stopped when they noticed Miss Martian floating down, her face contorted with rage. Raven struggled to stand causing the girls to try and run to her side again. She held out her hand, stopping them in their tracks.
"G…get out. Find…him. Cell block…C. Mad…Hatter. Find him." Raven gasped, short of breath.
Wonder Girl looked confused but Bumblebee nodded in understanding. She grabbed Cassie's hand and dragged her out of the room. Raven then pushed herself to her feet and faced Miss Martian, her arm clutching her injured ribs.
"He was mine. Then you came and he left me! He was mine! YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!" M'gann yelled.
Raven didn't have the chance to wonder what she was talking about. Miss Martian lifted her arms and the room shook. Pieces of concrete were torn from the walls and hovered above them.
"M'gann. You have…to stop. He's….he's making…you lose control." Raven struggled to speak.
The alien let out an angry yell before sending the boulders at Raven. Raven struggled to shield herself as the concrete rained down on her. She could feel herself losing ground. Quickly, she released the shield and sent a fallen bunk bed at the Martian. M'gann dodged and Raven vanished before reappearing behind the alien. She brought her hands together and shot a beam of her power hitting the girl in the back. Miss Martian cried out before falling to the floor on her knees.
Raven hesitantly floated down, hoping the girl had finally given up. But as soon as she got near, M'gann turned to face her, her eyes blood red. M'gann flew out of reach and brought her arm up. A Cell door shot up off the floor and slammed into Raven. She was thrown back against the upper railing. The bars began to bend and wrap themselves around her body. Raven struggled against the restraints, blood dripping from a large gash on her side. Miss Martian hovered a few inches in front of Raven and, without lifting a finger, she punched her in the jaw. Raven barely had time to gasp before another invisible blow hit her face. Then another. And another.
Raven could taste the blood in her mouth. Her vision was going blurry and her body was beginning to numb from the pain. But she knew she couldn't lose this fight. She had to restrain Miss Martian just long enough for the girls to find the person behind this. Seeing no other choice, Raven closed her eyes and summoned all her power. There was a flash of white causing Miss Martian to shield her eyes. When she lowered her arm, Raven was free and floated inches from the other girl. She was still dripping blood but her wounds were slowly healing and she was now dressed in white. Her eyes glowed with power and her fists were surging with magic.
"You think a costume change is going to help!" M'gann growled.
"It hasn't failed me so far." Raven muttered.
M'gann shouted in outrage and everything surrounding them rose into the air. Concrete and metal gravitated towards Raven attempting to crush her in a sphere of rubble. She didn't let it. Raven crossed her arms to her chest and tucked in her legs. Then, with a cry of defiance, she released her power, her body spread eagle and shrouded in her magic.
The concrete and metal disintegrated into nothing and Miss Martian was thrown back. The Alien tried to shield herself but Raven broke through her psychic barrier with ease. It shattered leaving the girl defenseless. Raven then shrouded Miss Martian in her own barrier designed to keep the alien restrained within. M'gann threw herself at the white shield, her fists pounding against its walls.
"Sorry Megan. We'll have you back to normal soon enough." Raven whispered.
"RAVEN! We found him! Look!"
She turned to see Wonder Girl and Bumblebee flying towards her, a man wearing a top hat being carried between them. The girls landed beside her and the man dropped to his knees.
"Mad Hatter! He was right where you said he would…be. Whoa. When did you change clothes?" Wonder Girl asked.
"Is this your White Raven look? Starfire mentioned it once but I wasn't sure what she meant." Bumblebee said.
"I had to use quite a bit of my power to restrain Miss Martian. She's stronger than she looks…" Raven muttered.
She was beginning to feel the first wave of fatigue but forced her body to ignore it. Her wounds weren't fully healed and it would probably take a few hours till there was no trace of them. Ravens knees felt ready to buckle but she couldn't pass out yet. This wasn't the place.
"So she's under this guy's control? Should we beat him up until he fixes her?" Wonder Girl cracked her knuckles.
"No! No, please! That won't be necessary. I'll gladly let the girl go just don't hurt me, yeah?" Mad Hatter pleaded.
"Get on with it." Raven glared.
The man shook his head diligently and tapped the rim of his hat. A panel opened in the center and a round screen lit up, hypnotic swirls twirling brightly. Raven averted her eyes and lowered her barrier but kept M'gann's body and mind restrained with her magic. Miss Martian let out a growl causing Wonder Girl and Bumblebee to step back. Mad Hatter aimed his hat at the alien girl and the swirls began to twirl faster.
"Fix her. If you try anything funny, I'll know. And I won't show you any mercy." Raven threatened.
Her clothes returned to their dark color and her magic was back to its regular strength. Any longer and she wouldn't be able to keep M'gann restrained.
"Got it. I can do that." He replied nervously.
He focused on Miss Martian and her eyes began to glaze over. The red began to recede and her face started to relax. Raven felt the girl's body begin to sag against her restraints and relief flooded through her. A few moments longer and M'gann closed her eyes allowing Raven to lower her gently to the floor.
"There. She's all fixed up. Can I go back to my cell now?" Mad Hatter asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Which one is yours?" Wonder Girl looked around the room.
Most of the cells in the upper floor were destroyed, the walls crumbling. Rubble littered the floors and the ceiling wasn't looking too good either. Raven scanned the room as well and noticed quite a few prisoners cowering in the corner of their cells. She had forgotten that a lot of them had already been contained.
"Actually, I'm in Block B." Mad Hatter gulped as he too took in the room.
"You're done here. My guards will round up the inmates and relocate them to another part of the building. It seems, Block A is no longer fit to hold them." Waller walked up behind them.
She had a prominent scowl on her face and it didn't take an empath to see that the Warden was beyond pissed. Raven turned to face the woman, the effort causing the room to spin. She tried to keep her balance but she felt herself beginning to sway. Bumblebee must have noticed because he was suddenly beside Raven, an arm supporting her waist.
"We're sorry for the damage we caused, but we did manage to capture all the inmates and stop the riot. So…you're welcome. Now then, you look like you can handle things from here so we will just be on our way." Bumblebee told Waller.
"Just like that? You destroy a whole cell block and then just walk away?" Waller said through gritted teeth.
"Look lady, you're the one who allowed the riot to happen. If you had better control of the place, we would've never had to come here! Which frankly we would've preferred because, believe it or not, we heroes need our sleep." Wonder Girl grumbled.
The blonde reached down and lifted Miss Martian into her arms. She then shoved past Waller and started towards the exist. Bumblebee shrugged at the Warden before following after the girl with Raven in tow.
"Yo, Wonder Girl, wait up! Do you even know where M'gann left the Bio-ship?" She called after their friend.
"Ugh…no actually. I thought you did." Wonder girl said over her shoulder.
"Just…just get to the roof. I'll…locate it…once we're up there." Miss Martian murmured from the girl's arms.
"Oh! You're awake! That's good, let's get to the roof then." Wonder Girl smiled.
Raven trudged her way through the hall, her weight being held up by Bumblebee. She didn't want to pass out, but she was so tired. Her eyes began to droop and she could barely see in front of her. Wonder Girl and Miss Martian were but a blur now. Bumblebee was trying to say something to her but she couldn't register the words. Raven glanced at her friend and muttered a warning before losing consciousness.
MOUNY JUSTICE: September 20 9:34 EST
"Recognized: Batman 0-2, Nightwing B-0-1, Batgirl B-1-6, Robin B-2-0."
"WHERE IS SHE!?" Nightwing beamed into the cave.
Mal, Kaldur and Jaime turned to him as he approached. The three boys shared nervous glances as he got near.
"Calm down! Mal already told you that she was okay!" Batgirl appeared after him, Robin and Batman close behind.
That did not make Nightwing feel any better. He should've been here sooner! He could still feel the pain she had felt just a few hours before. He had felt it even though he had been miles away. And he had felt the moment Raven had been forced to use her full power. The way the surge of energy coursed through his body as if it was his own.
Nightwing had wanted to run to her in that moment but she was too far away. He had been in the Rocky Mountains dealing with another one of Talia's attempts to get Bruce's attention. Batman had reprimanded him for losing focus and had ordered him to set aside his personal feelings. Nightwing had done as he asked, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Talia had gotten away in the end and they had flown back home.
"No se preocupe, hermano. She's safe in the med bay." Jaime told him.
"What happened." Batman questioned.
Nightwing hesitated on his way to the find Raven. He wanted to see that she was okay, but he needed to know how it happened. With a great effort, he forced himself to stay and listen.
"Well…the mission was going just fine until the girls met up in Block A. Apparently, without the other girls noticing, Mad Hatter had managed to send hypnotic suggestions to Miss Martian. He amplified her emotions causing her to lose control of her anger. She was taking out her rage on the inmates up until…until Raven interfered. This only made her angrier and she attacked Raven. Luckily, Raven noticed right away that Miss Martian wasn't herself. She figured out that it was Mad Hatter and had the other girls look for him while she attempted to restrain M'gann. She managed to do so and they had Mad Hatter reverse what he had done. But…Raven had received a couple of injuries in the process. Bumblebee said that she had used a large amount of her power and had passed out from fatigue before they even made it to the ship. M'gann regained consciousness and was able to fly them home safely." Kaldur explained.
Nightwing felt his hands clench at his side. Raven had been hurt by one of their own. He understood that M'gann wasn't herself but he couldn't help but feel anger towards the girl. Raven had probably been trying not to hurt their friend during the fight while Miss Martian attacked mercilessly. She would've had to work twice as hard to use her power yet restrain herself at the same time.
"Mal. You said over the com link that she would be okay?" Robin asked, worry clear in his voice.
"Yeah. Wonder Girl carried her to the med bay as soon as they arrived. We started to patch her up but we didn't have to do much. Her body was already healing itself. She had only passed out due to fatigue. With a little more rest she should wake up soon." Mal answered.
"That's good. She had us worried, that one." Batgirl smiled with relief.
"Nightwing. Why don't you go see her while I go over last night's missions with Mal and Kaldur. We can return to Gotham as soon as we're done. And if Raven is well enough, we can take her with us." Batman turned to his old side-kick.
"Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good." He nodded.
"Let's go see her then!" Robin took the lead.
"See. Nothing to worry about." Batgirl patted his shoulder as she followed after Tim.
Nightwing took a deep breath and made his way towards the med bay. Jaime, not wanting to stay with the others joined him.
"She's really strong, Raven. When she first arrived, she had blood all over her side and face. But the wounds were already closing up as if she had gotten them days ago." Jaime mused.
"You were awake when they came back?" Nightwing asked trying to keep his mind off the image of Raven covered in blood.
"They passed by Garfield's room on the way to the med bay. Their voices woke us up and we rushed outside to see what was going on. Man, I was pretty freaked when I saw her in Wonder Girls arms. I thought the worst had happened. Beast Boy wasn't any better. I've never seen the kid so pale."
"Where is he now? Garfield?"
"Probably asleep in her bed. He refused to leave her side last night."
"He tends to worry about her. And the others?"
"Wonder Girl and Bumblebee are sleeping. Conner got here about an hour ago and is sitting with her now. M'gann is probably still there too. She was pretty worn out and passed out on bed next to Raven's."
"Alright. I'm glad to hear she's okay." Nightwing muttered.
"I can tell she means a lot to you. As soon as she was brought in, Beast Boy told Mal to call you. He said you probably already knew something had happened to her and you were probably freaking out. I take it you flew straight here as soon as you finished up with Batman?" Jaime said.
"Yeah."
"So you've gotten no sleep for the past 24 hours?" The boy rose an eyebrow.
"I've gone longer. No big deal."
"Maybe not to you, hermano. Raven isn't gonna be too happy with you when she finds out you haven't slept. I've known her long enough to know that." Jaime stretched and put his hands behind his head.
"I'm sure I'll get an ear full. But I won't be able to sleep until I'm sure she's okay."
Jaime glanced at him but didn't say anymore. They were now standing outside the medical bay, the light from inside shining from the gap under the door. Nightwing stepped forward and the door slid open revealing the white medical room. There were four beds arranged around the room, machines and I.V drips stationed at each one. Two of the beds were occupied.
One held M'gann who was awake, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Batgirl sat at the end of her bed, her hand resting atop the other girls. The other held Raven who was sleeping peacefully, the blanket covering her chest and lower body leaving her arms free. Beast Boy slept at her feet in dog form. Conner was sitting in a chair beside Raven, his elbows on his knees and chin resting on his clasped hands. Robin stood on her other side, watching over her intently.
"Hey. Has she woken up yet?" Jaime asked as he stepped into the room.
"No. Not yet." Conner muttered.
"Well, Mal did say that she needed to rest. I'm sure she'll wake up soon though." Robin said.
Nightwing made his way to her bed. Conner glanced up at him as he approached and stood from his post. He motioned for him to take a seat and stepped aside.
"I figured I'd stay with her until she woke up or until you got here. You must have been worried all night huh? With the whole, well you know." Super Boy crossed his arms.
"You know about the bond. Can't say I'm surprised."
"Mmmhmm. Don't really understand it but I know that you probably knew the moment she had been hurt. If that had been me, I'd probably have lost my mind not knowing what had happened."
"It was a rough couple of hours." Nightwing rubbed his face.
"I bet."
Superboy made to leave but hesitated. Nightwing noticed how his eyes glanced at M'gann for a split second before falling to the floor. The worry was clear on his face. Nightwing had been a fool to believe that there was something more than friendship between him and Raven. Clearly, his heart still belonged to Megan. Conner turned his back to them and started towards the door.
"M'gann." Nightwing said.
Conner stopped but didn't turn around.
"How are you feeling?" Nightwing asked.
He figured that Superboy had been too stubborn to ask himself. And though he was a bit angry at the girl, she was still his friend. He asked for Conner's benefit but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried too. The girl blinked at him from her bed, her face giving away her surprise. She must've known he would be upset with her. Probably thought he would be too angry to care about her well-being. Trying to ease her mind, he glanced at her and gave her a small smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." She finally said.
"Good. I'm glad."
Conner glanced over his shoulder at Nightwing giving him a small nod. Dick took it as a thank you and nodded back. He then froze when he heard M'gann clear her throat and sit up in her bed.
"Um…Nightwing? Superboy? I…I'm sorry. I should've been paying closer attention. Had I been more careful, I would've never allowed him to mess with my head. Raven wouldn't have had to…I'm a psychic for God's sake! It should've never happened! I made a mistake and Raven paid for it. I'm the reason she's in that bed. You two must be so angry with me for hurting her. I was careless. For that, I'm sorry."
Nightwing watched M'gann for a moment, noticing how she couldn't bring herself to look at his face. She kept her head down, her eyes fixed on her hands. He then felt all his anger slip away. Nightwing had never really been angry with her in the first place. The only person he blamed was himself. For not being there to help Raven when she needed him. It wasn't anything new, he tended to always feel at fault when it came to the safety of those he cared about.
"Megan…It's okay. You're not to blame. You were taken advantage of. It wasn't you." He assured her.
"He's right. It wasn't your fault." Conner muttered.
M'gann looked up at him with a hopeful look on her face, but he had his back to her. Superboy already had a foot out the door.
"But, even if you were being controlled, you still attacked Raven. You shouldn't be apologizing to us. She's the one you need to say sorry to."
Then Conner left the room, his hands in his pockets. Nightwing watched him go with a frown on his face. He wished that Superboy could get past his anger and make up with Miss Martian. He wasn't sure what had caused their break up, but he wondered whether it had been worth it.
"It'll be alright Megan. Raven will wake up and then things will get back to how they were." Batgirl smiled at the alien.
"Yes. But not to how I want them to be. Everything is different now. Superboy used to care for me. He used to trust me. Now…now he hates me. He'd rather spend time with…with her."
Miss Martian glanced at Raven, her eyes brimming with tears. Nightwing clenched his fist and forced himself to suppress the jealousy he felt from her words. He knew better now. Things weren't like that between Raven and Conner.
"Raven and Conner aren't like that." Robin spoke up.
Dick looked up, a bit surprised at how sure of himself Tim sounded. No trace of doubt in his words. He watched as the boy swept a stray hair from Ravens face. Robin looked down at her with a knowing smile.
"He's right Megan. Some things stay the same, but they also tend to change. Maybe your relationship with Superboy isn't how you want it to be. Maybe he does spend a lot more of his time with Raven. But, that doesn't mean he hates you. And it certainly doesn't mean that there's more to his relationship with our dark sorceress. They are just really good friends. They get along is all." Batgirl squeezed her hand.
"Trust us, Megan. Those two just have a lot in common. That's why they like being around each other." Jaime shrugged.
Nightwing glanced at the boy with an arched brow. Even Jaime could tell what kind of relationship Raven and Conner had. Were him and Megan the only ones who made the wrong assumption? Damn, jealously really does make you blind.
"How…how can you guys be so sure?" Megan sniffled.
"We just are. Raven with Superboy just doesn't…feel right. You know what I mean?" A voice muttered.
The five of them turned to Beast Boy who had finally woken up. He was back to his human form and was rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Clearly he had been listening to their conversation. Robin chuckled and nodded in answer to his question.
"Yeah. I feel like Raven was meant for someone else." Batgirl grinned.
Nightwing didn't miss the wink she sent his way. He stared at the floor, attempting to hide the reddening of his cheeks.
"I guess…I guess I was just imagining things." Megan tried to smile.
"I don't blame you. Raven and Conner do tend to be around each other a lot. But, it doesn't mean that they're secretly making out! Besides, she spends far more time with Nightwing and they're just friends right?" Garfield looked to Dick.
They all turned to Nightwing who tried not to look to embarrassed. Batgirl and Robin grinned at him knowingly but he ignored them. Instead he cleared his throat and took a seat in the chair Conner had left.
"Why don't you guys go and get something to eat in the lounge. We don't want to disturb Raven." He suggested.
"Now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry. And now that you're here I don't have to worry about Raven being alone. Hey M'gann! If you're feeling better, can you make some cookies!?"
"I feel just fine. Let's go and I'll get them started." Miss Martian smiled, getting out of the bed.
Beast Boy grinned and the two of them left the room with Jaime trailing after them.
"I'm in the mood for some cookies. How about you Robin?" Batgirl stood up.
"I'd rather be at home in bed, but a cookie doesn't sound so bad either." He shrugged.
"Then what do you say we leave the two love birds alone." Barbara teased.
"Hmmm. To think that Megan believed Raven and Conner were a thing. When it's clear to anybody paying attention that Raven is already spoken for." Robin shook his head.
Batgirl giggled and led the boy out of the room.
"I hope you choke on a cookie!" Nightwing glared after them.
He waited until the door closed behind them before letting his lips form a small smile. He turned to Raven who still hadn't stirred from her sleep. He leaned forward, and rested his arms and head on the edge of her bed. He kept his eyes on her face and his smile widened.
Tim and Barbara hadn't been wrong. In his mind, Raven was already spoken for. She was his. Even if Raven didn't feel the same way, he didn't think he could stop loving her. It was funny really. The day he had met her, he never would've guessed that she would one day mean the world to him. He had cared for Starfire, and at one point Barbara. But never as strongly as he did for Raven.
He considered her his, but Nightwing knew that there was still a chance that she didn't love him back. If that turned out to be the case, he'd force himself to step aside. Though it would be with a great amount of difficulty. But, he didn't know the extent of her feelings for him yet. So he still had reason to hope that she might love him too. All he needed was a hint, a sign, no matter how small, saying that she cared for him the way he cared for her. He'd take the plunge and let her know how much he had grown to love her.
"Richard? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Dick sat up straight to find Raven wide awake. She was staring back at him with an arched brow, a small blush on her cheeks. He blinked at her, his face growing warm. He had been so deep in thought that he had failed to notice her eyes open. Even if he had been watching her intently.
"Ugh…sorry. My mind was somewhere else." He chuckled nervously.
"Oh…how long have you been here?" She wondered as she sat up.
"A little less than an hour. Batgirl and Robin were here a few minutes ago but they went to go get something to eat. Are you hungry? I could go…"
"No. I'm fine thank you. How long have I been asleep?" Raven asked.
"Mal called me around three in the morning…so six hours maybe. Do you feel better? Maybe you should sleep a little longer?" He suggested.
"Honestly…I think I'd rather just go home. I could really go for some of Alfred's tea and then maybe take a nap afterwards. It's been a long night and…wait. You went off with Batman a few hours ago."
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Talia got away. It was really strange though. I could've sworn I saw a kid with her…anyways, we came here to check on you afterwards. Batman is in the mission room and he says we can take you home if you're feeling better."
He smiled at her but it faded a little when he saw the look on her face.
"Richard. Why aren't you in bed?" Raven questioned with a disapproving frown.
"Ugh...I wasn't all that tired. And I wanted to make sure you were okay! Come on, Rae! Did you really expect me to go home and sleep without at least checking on you first?" He grumbled.
"You would know if something was seriously wrong! The bond, remember? You would feel it if…oh…you must have…" Her face fell.
"Yeah. It wasn't pleasant." Nightwing frowned.
"I'm sorry. You must've been so worried. But, I'm fine. Really, I am." She assured him.
"No need to apologize. Honestly, I'm glad I could feel everything. I like knowing when you're in danger so that I can do my best to try and get to you."
"I like that about the bond too. I wouldn't want anything happening to you if I can help it. I don't like the idea of losing someone I care about." She said.
Dick felt his heart skip a beat at her words. Raven's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she realized what she had said.
"Ugh…I mean…." She started.
"Raven…I…" Dick leaned forward.
Suddenly, the door swished open and the two of them jumped in surprise. They turned to find Batman watching them from the doorway.
"I came to see if you were feeling better, Raven. It seems, I had no reason to worry." He said, his lips twitching slightly.
"Thank you. I just needed some sleep." She muttered.
"She said that she would like to go home. Are you done with Mal and Kaldur?" Dick stood from his seat.
He was nothing but irritated at Bruce right now. The man sure knew how to ruin the moment. Just a few more seconds and maybe…
"Yes. I'll go round up the other two. Wait for us in the mission room."
Then he was gone, leaving them alone again. Dick turned to Raven but she was already getting up out of the bed. She was dressed in white pajama pants and a white t-shirt. He watched as she put her hair up in a messy bun and grabbed the bag containing her outfit off the bedside table. She then picked up her boots off the floor and glanced down at her socks.
"You don't really have to put them on. We'll be home soon enough." He gave her a small smile.
"True." Raven shrugged.
Nightwing grabbed her stuff out of her hands and led her out the door before she could protest. The two of them made their way to the mission room anxious to get home. They walked in comfortable silence until they made it to the main hanger. Kaldur and Mal turned their attention away from the monitors when they noticed their approach. Superboy and Cassie were sparring in the training circle with Karen watching them from the sidelines. The three of them stopped what they were doing and walked up to Raven.
"Feeling better Raven?" Bumblebee asked.
"Yeah. Much better thanks." She smiled at her.
"Don't scare us like that." Conner tugged at her hair.
"I was just tired. No big deal." Raven rolled her eyes.
"Maybe not to you. But the rest of us had no idea what happened and thought the worst." Kaldur came up to her.
"It wasn't until we got you to the med bay that we realized you would be fine." Mal told her.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to make all of you worry. It's just that I got little sleep the last two nights. Its normally not a big deal and I can function just fine but having to use my full power drained the last bit of energy I had left."
"That was my fault. I'm sorry, Raven."
The group turned around to see Megan and the others making their way back from the lounge. Batman trailed behind them and then disappeared through the large hanger door.
"You weren't yourself." Raven told her.
"Still. It shouldn't have happened." Megan muttered.
"I'm fine, you're fine, we all made it out okay. So let's just forget it happened." She assured her.
"Okay." Megan nodded with a small smile.
"So Raven, you really are okay? Are you sure you shouldn't rest some more?" Garfield asked.
"I can rest at home. There's no reason for me to stay in the med bay."
"Well okay. If you're sure." He shrugged.
"We should go. Batman has probably already started the Batwing." Nightwing said.
"Yeah, and he does not like to be kept waiting." Robin muttered.
"Alright. I'll see all of you later." Raven smiled at her friends.
"See ya Rae!" Beast Boy waved with a grin.
The three Bat kids and Raven said their goodbyes and made their way out the hanger door. Nightwing had to smile when he saw that, sure enough, the batwing was on and ready to go. They piled inside and took their seats. Dick noticed how Raven instantly leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Tim saw that she had forgotten to strap herself in and reached over to do it for her. Raven, without opening her eyes, muttered an incoherent thank you after he finished. Barbara, who had taken the seat next Bruce, glanced back at them and grinned.
"Ravens really become part of this team hasn't she. Tim and I love having her around, we all know Dick does, and even Bruce can't help but like her which is saying a lot." The redhead said when it was clear that Raven was asleep.
"She's not hard to like." Bruce muttered as the plane lifted into the sky.
"You forgot Alfred. He absolutely adores her. He's gonna want to take care of her when we get home. Maybe we should call him and tell him to get some tea ready." Tim said.
"Already have." Bruce told him.
"See what I mean? She's already family." Barbara laughed.
Dick grinned at her before leaning back against his seat. Nothing made him happier than knowing that his family had easily accepted Raven as one of their own. He realized that he didn't have to worry as much about her anymore. Not only did she have the Team, but she had Bruce and Alfred keeping an eye on her too. It was clear to him now that they would never allow anyone to harm her. Raven was the safest she could possibly be. With that in mind, Dick drifted off to sleep.