Chapter 12
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
I apologize for the extremely long wait... because I'm now in college, I don't get as much time anymore. (Being a Pre-pharm major doesn't help either)
Perplexed.
That was what Raven felt as she stared at the small child. Derek had a kid? How come he never mentioned it? Did he think that she couldn't handle such information?
Raven placed her hands on her hips, violet eyes darting around the room in confusion and slight irritation. Why did it even matter this much? They weren't a couple...far from it. The two were simply friends...they didn't even have that close friendship thing going on.
So whats with all the jealousy?
Raven sighed, shaking her head lightly. "You poor thing. Raven woke you up, didn't she." The sorceress lifted the boy from the crib, hoping to stop his crying. What was his name? The sorceress looked at the boy, eyebrow raising at the smooth cocoa skin, jet-black hair and baby blue eyes. Such a strange combination...he didn't really look like Derek at all.
"Shh, baby Tyler. You're Tyler aren't you?" Raven crooned softly, not really certain of where the name came from. Sometimes it was a pain having these powers. It couldn't be controlled, this automatic mind reading.
It was as if she was reading them, without physically invading their mind. Raven often sensed strong emotions that way, sometimes heard thoughts, and impulses. Because there was no way to combat it, Raven was forced to meditate, lest the emotions overcrowd her mind and render her dangerous.
The teenager sighed once more, searching for a diaper and changing supplies. She always seems to help these children at the worst times. Always ends up changing a diaper. Raven smirked, her mind recalling Melvin, Timmy and Teether. How old would they be? What were they doing at this time?
Raven smiled, as she took in the baby's confused look. She began to speak to him in Romanian, watching in amusement as he waved his hands and legs excitedly. The sorceress continued her random babble, noting his agitation when she was silent. If she could onyl find the baby powder, she could leave this place.
Where was it?
In the distance, Raven heard the door shut quietly and the rustling of paper and plastic. The sorceress sighed heavily, perhaps it would be best to forget the powder? It wasn't like Tyler needed the stuff.
"C'mere sweetie, let's go!" Lifting the baby into her arms, the teenager made her way out the room, wincing as the boy began to tug and uank on her purple tresses. Raven bit back laughter at his squeals of laughter and excitement. Was her hair really that fascinating? Or was it that the child hadn't seen hair of that color?
Violet eyes roamed the room before settling on Derek, who was now sorting through the bags of groceries resting on the dark oak table. Raven said nothing as she watched him, trying to place the strange emotion welling up withing her heart.
"Was he crying when you walked in?" The young man questioned, still engrossed in putting away the food items. He seemed to be moving rather hesitatingly, as if unsure of where things belonged.
If this was his apartment, wouldn't he know where everything went? Raven pursed her lips, deciding to table that question for another day. "No, I woke him up. He sensed me come in."
Derek turned from the cupboard, the jar of peanut butter forgotten in his hands. "Sensed you come in?" His warm suave voice was dripping with confusion, well earned confusion. It wasn't like he could automatically understand the complicated intricacies of telepathy.
Raven shrugged, extracting her necklace from the seven month old's slimy mouth. Wincing inwardly, the teen pocketed the jewelry and shifted the boy to her other hip, still trying to piece together an explanation for her puzzling abilities.
After a lengthy pause, Raven clarified. "I'm an empath, right. So I'm able to sense emotions and auras. Sometimes certain people can sense me as well. Kids have...sort of a sixth sense and it usually allows them to sense me as a danger."
Derek nodded, making no move to push aside the mess of hair that now dangled into his angled face. He frowned slightly, a look of thoughtfulness entering his golden eyes.
Raven bit her lip and clenched her fist tightly, trying to ignore the urge to remove the strands of hair that now obscured the man's vision. It was hard for her to admit...but the man was really handsome.
Painfully handsome...the kind of beauty that one could obsess over. Those narrow, cat-like, golden eyes. The high defined cheekbones and strong narrow jaw. His lips...those perfect Tom Welling lips.
A work of art.
oOoOo
Astonished.
Derek truly felt this way as he observed the titan entertaining Tyler. Raven acting so, so motherly was simply a strange sight to behold. Was it the outfit?
A black, graphic tank-top, loads of chunky jewelry around her neck and wrists, a faded, distressed, denim mini-skirt, black leggings and thick, studded combat boots didn't really scream mother material.
More like punk slash rocker slash... something else.
The heavy kohl rimmed eyes and streaks in her hair didn't really help the situation either. Then again, maybe it was because he had never seen a genuine smile on the young woman's face before. Somehow, seeing her there, laughing and smiling, hearing as she crooned and sang to the child...his heart simply, melted.
It was like he was seeing her for the first time. Free of the stoic mask, the empty, uncaring eyes and the nonchalant smirk. Raven looked peaceful...content. The only time Raven ever looked that way was when she slept.
Maybe that's what a kid does...bring out one's good side. Make one feel peaceful and content. Derek shook his head, trying to reign in his wandering thoughts. He smiled slightly. "Makes sense. But why isn't he afraid?"
Raven shrugged casually. "Cause he sees I'm not a threat."
Derek chewed his lip thoughtfully. It was hard imagining Raven as a dangerous person. Then again, he had never seen her other half. It was true, he knew about it. Such knowledge was essential, seeing as it wasn't wise to to battle without knowing your opponents.
Perhaps it was the other half that frightened children...maybe they could sense that darker side. Maybe that's was what compelled the titan to blend in and hide her identity.
And she hid it perfectly, so perfectly that Derek himself didn't even recognize the teen. He'd always been confident in his ability to read between the lines. Not that many things were mysteries to him.
Was it because he'd never laid eyes on her face till now? Was it the fact that her eyes were so...unreadable and blank?
It wasn't that he had never seen Raven before, he knew there were five titans. The spiky haired leader, the bubbly obnoxious alien, the cybernetic and shape-shifter duo. And then there was Raven. The one in the dark purple cloak. The one always shrouded in darkness.
The one with expressionless violet eyes.
Those violet eyes...the same ones that haunted him for years. It wasn't until he saw her with the red-head at the mall that he put the faces together. The faceless heroine, the suicidal girl, the despondent woman at the bar and Adrianna.
So many faces...so many personalities. Which one was real?
Was it the one standing before him now? The woman before him now, with bright mirthful eyes, and peaceful smile? This face that made his heart flutter, that warmed his face, that made him weak in the knees...was this the real Raven?
Derek found himself desperately wishing it was.
"Anyway, Tyler's really hungry. You should fix him some pasta." Raven conjectured, her light airy voice drifting from across the room.
The young man ran his hands through his hair, trying to cover up his flustered emotions. Why was he acting like this? Like a lovesick teenager. It was so...aggravating. Wasn't he over these emotions by now? Hadn't he put away these obsessive feelings by now?
The man bit his lip once more, turned and stared at his nephew's drooling face. Tyler wanted pasta? Derek raised a brow. Was the boy talking already?
The young man's eyes glanced at Raven and he stared at her for a while before a smile spread on his face. Derek laughed, finally pushing the dark hair from his mirthful face. "You read his mind!"
Smiling down at the young child in her arms, Raven shook her head slightly. "No. All kids are easy to read. It's actually quite annoying...it feels like he's screaming in my head."
Was it that painful? Derek thought as he stared at Raven's distressed face. Who knew kids were as noisy inside as they were on the outside?
oOoOo
Raven said nothing as Derek took the boy from her arms and placed him into the high chair by the window. Did she come off as distressed? Was that why he took Tyler? The sorceress pursed her lips and watched the seven month old child, as his face began to scrunch.
She wasn't really that surprised when he began to cry...loudly. The sorceress blinked, staring at Tyler curiously then turned back to Derek. "Does he always do that?"
Derek shook his head, still rummaging through the cupboards for a box of macaroni. "I think he really likes you." He glanced back at the titan, a mischievous smile on his face. "Then again, I wouldn't really want to leave your arms either." Derek laughed, not bothering to hide his amusement at Raven's flustered appearance.
The sorceress rolled her eyes at Derek's corny jokes. She turned her attention back to the screaming seven month old. He was so loud!
Raven sighed and began to tell him another story in Romanian, doing her best to ignore how the boy tugged and pulled at the silver chain dangling from her neck. It was a good thing she pocketed her earrings. Tyler might have pulled them out.
"So, Derek, what's with all the artwork?" Raven questioned as Derek sat down to feed Tyler.
"My sister-in-law works with antiques. So, there are times when the whole apartment will be cluttered with junk that needs to be shipped to her store."
Raven nodded, noticing for the first time how disgusting extremely soft pasta looked. She also realized that Derek had streaks in his hair….small reddish streaks in his hair that glinted in the sunlight. Had they always been there? Since when?
"Tyler's your nephew then?" Raven asked, hoping her voice didn't come off as nervous. The sorceress bit her lip, trying to hide the unwarranted relief at his nod.
Why should she feel relieved? It was stupid and uncalled for. Besides she was only his friend...nothing more. Raven didn't want to deny the disappointment. Denying an emotion doesn't make it disappear. As long as she didn't act on them...things wouldn't get out of hand.
Raven didn't want another complicated mess. She didn't want to revisit all the pains she acquired during her relationships with Malchior, Gabe and Robin. Giving in to emotions only served to ruin one's life.
"He's a cute kid." Raven said, a sad smile on her face. Yes, Tyler was cute...and it broke Raven's heart.
Words could not describe the longing, the wish for a child of her own...a child to name, cherish and nurture with pride. Wasn't it stupid, silly? What would she be doing with a child... especially without a job, or a house? How could she, a mere eighteen year old, raise a child?
But what did it matter...she could be the richest person in the world and still not have a child. It was impossible. Fate can be such a bitch sometimes... she wasn't even supposed to live this long. Maybe this was why she screwed up.
Azar warned her about this thing demons experience called 'heat'. But what good was a warning without having a solution to the problem? How does one fight a sickness, without having the vaccine or a cure?
Although she was warned about this 'heat', she never said anything about how to control it. Raven tried to meditate, tried to pray...nothing worked. It was humiliating...to have cravings that cannot be curbed. Perhaps this insatiable desire for a child is a symptom?
Raven clenched her fists. That insatiable desire...it was the only reason she snapped at Starfire''s revelation. Yes, it was wrong and yes, she should have controlled her anger. But why? Why would Starfire do such a thing?
Star didn't even discuss it...didn't even care enough to ask for advice. Didn't Star know that there are many people in this world who would do anything to have a child? Raven would have given anything to have that baby...to have been in her place. Forget Robin, forget what him or anyone thought.
Who cared about opinions and thoughts when your only desire was granted?
At least with Derek, he'd let her see Tyler. Let her play with him, hold him...see him grow up and be happy. If Tyler already had a family, Raven couldn't do any of those things.
She wouldn't belong.
oOoOo
"You sound…sad." Derek gazed curiously at Raven, trying to understand the pain in her violet eyes. She was sad, that much the man could tell, but why? And what would cause such deep sorrow in so short a time? Wasn't she smiling and carefree a few minutes ago?
She looked up, her violet eyes now blank and empty. "Do I? It's nothing."
Derek sighed, irritated at the way the sorceress hid and buried her emotions. At times, Derek was frightened...it made him feel that, Raven didn't really care about anything. It was as if she was alive...but not really living.
Simply going through the motions. Was that a good way to live? Didn't burying emotions have grave consequences?
Besides, what was the point of living if you can't feel? To be unable to feel the burst of happiness upon hearing your favorite song on the radio, the sense of sorrow after hearing tickets to the Super Bowl was sold out. To revel in the thrill of soaring through the air, suspended on nothing but a flimsy grappling hook, knowing it's the only thing between you and death. The rush of adrenaline after pilfering thousands of dollars in jewelry. (Probably only him though)
What was the point in living if one couldn't experience such things? It would be better off being dead, wouldn't it?
Derek pursed his lips, thoughtfully. What could have happened to Raven, that makes her feel the need to hide her feelings? Did she think there were unimportant? That no one would understand?
He thought her feelings were important...why else would he spend his nights on her windowsill, trying to understand the nightmares? Derek wanted to understand, needed to understand. It was the only way he could justify his obsession. The only way to explain his unhealthy curiosity about the half-demon.
Derek really cared...truly cared about how she felt, truly wanted to understand her hidden thoughts. But how could he, when she shut everyone out? How does one get across to someone so...shut off and unfeeling?
The man sighed tiredly. "You can't keep burying your emotions, Princess. I don't like it when you hide your feelings from me."
The teen's purple eyes widened, and a spark of amusement flitted across her face, only to be replaced by irritation. "From you?" A cynical laugh escaped her ruby red lips. "Just who do you think you are? Why do you care whether I hide my feelings or not? Are you not hiding things as well? Don't tell me what to do!"
Derek said nothing, his golden eyes still fixated on Raven's displeased face. He could see it now, that other side. The darkness that clouded her once clear eyes. The anger and malice that twisted her once smiling lips to a sneer of disgust. The way her hands clenched angrily and her shoulders stiffened. He saw it all.
It was threatening...and yet beautiful.
The man bit his lip. "Then... let's not hide things anymore." He stood and glanced out the window, eyes now watching the clouds crawl lazily through the empty blue sky. "I really like you Raven... I feel that we can be best friends... maybe more, if you'd give me the chance."
What was he saying? Wasn't this a bad idea? Why was his mouth moving on its own?
But it was too late. Too late to take back his words, too late to recant what he had just said. Derek clenched his fist, feeling foolish. It really wasn't a good idea, having Raven around. It wouldn't be long before she found out the truth, and she was too smart to deceive.
Hell, she probably knew already. Wasn't she able to read minds? There was a high probability that she had done so already. Derek couldn't bet on her understanding the situation...couldn't dwell on her being sympathetic to his plight. Would she even care?
He didn't want to become Red X...it wasn't his decision. He was simply the middle man, the one who did all the dirty work for the Justice League. The one who will end up in jail if he didn't comply, the person being blackmailed. And the one who will pay the price if caught.
No, Raven wouldn't understand...
Soft hands gently curled around Derek's arm, and the man turned sharply, his golden eyes drawn to Raven's violet orbs. His hand rose to the teenager's face, caressing the smooth pale skin. A shaky sigh escaped the man's lips as he lowered his head, gently planting a kiss on Raven's flushed cheek.
"Raven. Do you believe in fate?" Derek questioned softly, listening to the sound of Raven's gentle breathing.
"Fate." A tired laugh escaped the young woman's lips. Raven's fingers tightened around Derek's arm, and she looked away, resting her head against Derek's shoulders. "Fate is...such a bitch."
A smile toughed Derek's lips. "Yes, I guess it is." The man paused, arms wrapping tighter around the girl in his arms. He buried his face in her hair, taking the calming scent of lavender. "Is it strange, feeling like...like I've known you for a long time? Is that fate?"
Raven laughed softly. "Maybe we did know each other...long ago...in the past, before you became human, before I was put on a path of destruction. When we were free."
Derek bit back a sigh of frustration. "Why not now? Who says we can't be free now?"
Raven raised her head, violet eyes clouded with un-shed tears. Her hands tightened their grasp on Derek's arms, a momentary chill engulfing the young woman's skin. She opened her mouth to speak, her voice sorrowful and foreboding.
"All freedom comes with a price."
"Robin can I ask you a question?" Starfire had stood outside the Boy Wonder's door for hours…trying to work up the courage to tell the truth. She failed.
Then a brilliant idea popped into her mind. Instead of tell him the truth…what if she just asked him a question about it? Yea, ask him what he would do in that situation! But what if he figured it out? Maybe she should ask on the behalf of a 'friend'! Yes, brilliant, plan Starfire!
So why was she still afraid? Why was her heart beating a mile- a-minute…and why were her palms so sweaty?
"Starfire, you can come in. The door's unlocked."
She entered the room, glancing around quickly, noticing with sudden envy how tidy the room was. His clothes were neatly folded and sorted, lying in their respective places, waiting to be stowed into the closet. Everything was organized according to color and his shoes were testament to this.
They were lined meticulously, not a one out of place, each pair sitting proudly by the next as they decorated the edges of the closet floor. Even his desk was spotless, with pens lying just so against the clean, neatly stacked paper, pencils standing at attention in his Disney pencil holder, a gift from Beastboy.
The stack of books on his classy, oak shelf were alphabetized by the author names and the Green Day poster hung perfectly on the cream white walls. He didn't have a lot of posters on the wall like Raven...the many other posters he owned were all neatly laminated and stowed away in a huge poster album.
Starfire envied Robin's neat tidy room. She tried to keep it neat...but days of shopping eventually caught up with her and bags from Victoria Secrets, Charlotte Russe, Hollister and Belk just ended up clogging her living quarters. Sometimes she didn't have the time...or she was really tired and the like.
So how does Robin...who obsesses after everything manage to keep such a tidy room? His room was spectacular...in terms of cleanliness...any dorm room inspector would be proud. Not even Raven's room was this neat.
Finally getting over the neatness, the young woman sat beside him on the bed, ready to tackle this obstacle head on. Starfire took a deep breath and opened her mouth to ask, just as Robin's lips crashed down on hers.
Eagerly she kissed him back, stifling the guilt flooding in her heart. Her emotions whirled…the thrilling sensation of being kissed, jumbling and mixing with the remorse and self hatred.
When the two pulled apart, she rested her head against his chest, avoiding his masked gaze.
"What did you want to ask?" He pulled the earplugs from his ears and switched off his iPod, making Starfire wonder if his music was as ordered as his room. She wrinkled her nose at that thought...who would want to order a music playlist?
A playlist was supposed to be random, so every time a different song would play and new emotions would crop up. But she was digressing...again. "My friend is in a serious predicament…and I was wondering what she should do."
"What kind of problem?" He sounded fairly surprised and she wasn't sure if it was because of her use of the word 'predicament.'
"Well she kinda cheated on her boyfriend…and is unsure of how to tell him."
"Did she do it on purpose?"
"Oh no! She insists that it was an accident…and that her judgment was impaired."
"Well if your friend is really sorry about the whole thing, then she deserves to be forgiven."
"But-w-what if he doesn't? Forgive her I mean. What if he leaves her? What if he is so disgusted by her mistake that he vows never to have anything to do with her again?" By now the alien's voice was shaking and her eyes clouded with tears.
Robin looked down at Starfire, his voice full of concern and worry. "Star look at me. If he doesn't forgive her, he's just a jerk who didn't deserve her in the first place."
The Tameranian nodded but didn't seem convinced. "So, why did you break up with Raven? Did she cheat on you? Or did you cheat on her?"
oOoOo
Robin looked at the ceiling. How was he going to explain this to her? He glanced into her eyes, feeling rather surprised at the look of suspicion. She didn't trust him.
Robin bit his lip, not sure if he was hiding his laughter or concern. None of the Titans trusted him. They may smile and nod to what he says but he knows that deep down, they all question his authority...and wonder if everything he says is a cover-up or secret plan.
They don't voice it though...except for Raven. Robin fought the urge to growl.
Raven irked him to no end...she constantly challenged his authority, constantly found ways to belittle everything he said. And then she would stare at him, with those innocent looking eyes, and a silent smirk on her beautiful face.
Her face...so beautiful and yet so...tormenting. She was stubborn, relentless and aggressive... at least when it came to being ordered around. Robin couldn't stand such defiance.
He was used to being in control...used to giving orders. And used to people following them.
She was the exception...and she loved rubbing it in. Raven knew it grated his nerve, that such disrespect angered him...but she feigned innocence, and when confronted, only glanced at him through her pretty long lashes, her violet eyes innocent and pleading, her full, ruby red lips turned down in a seductive pout.
Only Robin saw the taunt, the mocking glance, and the smirking smile of triumph... Raven loved tormenting him, that much was certain.
He sometimes wished (to his utter shame) that he could beat the invisible smirk from her lips, to crush her insolent spirit, and to kill that mocking innocence in her violet eyes. Robin wished so much to break her defiance down...to control her.
He shuddered, hating the way he sounded...so much like Slade.
Raven probably had something to do with these strange questions. Robin sincerely hoped she didn't.
It wouldn't be good if he told her one thing…and Raven was filling her mind with completely different stuff. So he decided to stretch the truth...just a little. Starfire would never know, besides it's for her own good. She doesn't need to know what really happened...it's all in the past now.
"With Raven, things were different. When we were together…it was messing with her emotions. So we called it off."
Starfire wiped the tears from her eyes. "Really? She told me that you left her…for me."
Robin opened his mouth but she cut him off.
"Is this true Robin? I would really hate to be the cause of Raven's internal sadness. Because you know that she is sad, right? I know that sometimes Raven is out of control and you hate that…but she is only covering up that sadness in her heart. And I would be really distraught if we were the cause of it all."
Robin ran his hands through his hair several times. "I didn't intentionally leave her for you…if that's what you mean."
Starfire smiled. "Ok. I am glad to know that." She placed her head back on Robin's chest and closed her eyes… feeling an exhilarating sense of hope flood her heart.
Robin however was left with a distraught mind. As the Boy Wonder absently ran his hand through his girlfriend's red, fruity smelling hair, he couldn't help but wish for dark, violet locks, and the calming sent of lavender.
Park outings were rare for the teen heroes. There were many reasons for this fact , one of them being the unwanted publicity and curious park-goers.
But today was an exception. Terra had never gone on a park outing with them...and Beastboy wanted to 'show her how it's done.' So Cyborg packed some food, Starfire brought the Frisbee, Robin brought the football and Raven took along her book.
It was obvious who was going to have the most fun here. Terra, Beastboy and Starfie...the three naive and most childish Titans. Now granted Raven can be childish...but only if she wanted to.
Still the young woman didn't want to be a spoil sport so she put on her best fake grin and sat in the shade, playing 'Catch the Stick' with the shape-shifter.
Everything would have gone one in peace and silence...if the damned Frisbee stayed in one place. The team had warned her on several occasions that she should make a serious effort to control her anger.
And it was for a very good reason. Whereas before, Raven could simply meditate her anger away, now the anger she felt was purely her own. It was as if her demon half had merged completely with the young woman, making it nearly impossible to separate the feelings and emotions from the two separate entities within her.
Whatever she felt now was a product of both human and demon emotions...including anger. As a result, the force of her anger was now ten times as strong as before.
So when the Frisbee smacked into the old book she had been reading for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Raven snapped. Without thinking, the heroine had grabbed the offending object and flung it into the air...at breakneck speeds. Perhaps it wouldn't have been a problem. Starfire would just have to retrieve the Frisbee from the waterfront later that day.
Unfortunately...there was someone walking down the path that the Frisbee had taken. Terra paled. "You've really done it now Rae, looks like you're gonna have to tack on accidental murder to your list."
But Raven wasn't paying attention...she was staring in disbelief at the person who was in the Frisbee's deadly path. "Oh shit!" Raven grimaced, waiting to see the bloody impact. Would it hurt? Raven bit down on her finger, a tense look in her eyes. Maybe the damage wouldn't be so bad...and she could heal him. But, what if he died?
None of them anticipated that the man would catch it.
"OMG! RAVEN! HE CAUGHT IT!" Terra exclaimed in relief and happiness, then dashed out to apologize.
Raven buried the relief at the back of her mind and returned to reading her book, oblivious to the world once more.
"Hey Raven." Beastboy spoke up, and she did a double take. Since when could he speak in animal form? Oh, he's not. Sighing, Raven turned to him, taking the stick from his outstretched hands.
"Tell your man to stop flirting with my girl."
The sorceress looked at the two then back at Beastboy and promptly smacked his head. "He's not my man, and go fetch." Raven threw the stick and laughed when the shape-shifter dashed after it.
"Green dog. There's something you don't see every day." The dark Titan looked up into Derek's dark shades. She smiled sweetly and motioned for him to sit down.
When he did, she grabbed his hand, suddenly interested in the purple-blueish bruise already forming. "How did you catch it?" The sweet, open friendly smile was gone, and in it's place was a dark look of suspicion. Only a bruise? No broken bones? How was this possible?
Derek rubbed the back of his neck a sheepish look in his golden eyes. "Reflex?"
"It was more than just reflex. I would know...I threw that Frisbee." Raven uttered, her voice icy and cold. Derek was hiding something, that much she already knew. Was this now her proof? Was this the evidence she needed to confirm her suspicion? Was he really the thief, Red X? Or was he simply a demigod, someone with unacknowledged powers?
"You threw that?" A look of annoyance crossed the man's face, then he laughed nervously. "Wow! You have...quite the arm. But seriously...it was just a reflex."
Raven cocked her head, still examining his bruised palm. "You take karate?"
"Black belt." Derek answered, his eyes strangely anxious and pleading.
Raven narrowed her eyes and shrugged, seemingly satisfied by his answer. She released his hand and returned to her book, only to have it snatched unceremoniously from her hands. Raven stared in annoyance as Derek scanned the pages, his eyebrows rising in surprise.
"Erotica? I never would have guessed."
"They have...interesting plot lines." Raven deadpanned, her stoic face a stark contrast to the twinkle in her violet eyes.
"I'm sure they do." He stared at her for a second, then flashed a devilish grin.
The two began to laugh, and Raven couldn't help the blush that colored her cheeks when Derek's hand grazed her arm lightly. Her violet eyes stared into the man's face, silently accepting his request.
Suddenly, Starfire dashed over and plopped into the sorceress' lap, a grin of pure happiness plastered on her face. The girl was breathless, and eager to start another game. "Come play football!"
Raven laughed at the alien's cheery voice, shifting so she could have better access to her friend's fiery red locks. Starfire could plait hair like no other...except her own.
No one blamed her as it was probably a challenging feat to braid hair that almost grazed your calves. The sorceress began to braid the long red hair using gentle but firm movements. "I assume you want a French braid? And what football, two hand touch?"
Starfire nodded slightly. "Yes, to the French braid. No, to the two hand touch. Robin says we can play tackle...as long as you don't lose your temper. Guess what! We're going to Gotham City! In like, two weeks!"
Raven decided to ignore the remark about the impending trip to Gotham. To put it bluntly, she was not excited in the least. Afraid was probably the emotion she was feeling.
Gotham was too full of the past...too full of threats, unpaid debts and...other things. Feeling irritated, Raven groaned slightly. "Why is he always worrying about my temper! Why can't he just leave me alone? It's not like I lost my temper the last time."
Starfire shifted in the young woman's lap and reiterated. "Well, do you remember the time when were playing football and you just wanted to meditate, then the ball landed in your lap and you sent it through the window? On both sides of the Tower? And it took Cyborg a week to fix the damage?"
Derek snickered and then burst into laughter at this revelation. Raven stared at the man, appalled at his open mocking. She punched him in the arm, a playful scowl decorating her features.
Starfire smiled briefly at Derek and continued, "He just doesn't want something like that happening again. Robin really does care, Raven. And he would never intentionally hurt you...you know that right?"
Starfire just didn't know the half of it. Robin, not intentionally hurt someone? Not intentionally hurt me? How could she be so dense? How could Robin be so...secretive about...everything? Raven pushed the girl from her lap irritably and stood up, dusting the dirt from her dark jeans.
"No. No, I don't know that. And don't ever tell me something like that again. Because it's just not the truth."
oOoOo
It amazed Derek how easily Raven could switch emotions. One minute she was happy, her voice was light and carefree...the next, cold, unfeeling and cryptic.
He looked at the red-haired girl and wasn't at all surprised to see her bottom lip trembling... he just wasn't sure if it was in sadness, or anger. Turning back, he watched Raven as she dusted off her dark Dereon jeans and stalked off, back stiff with anger and slender fists curled threateningly.
He had no doubt that those small fists could deal a lot of damage.
Looking at the two now, he could see how completely opposite the two were. The alien was a bubbly, young woman, with bright eyes , flashy red hair and an endless smile. She demanded attention, not because she asked for it, but because it was extended, like a gift, and naturally she accepted.
Raven on the other hand was quiet, calculating and mysterious. Calculating, because one never knew her thoughts, or emotions. Mysterious, because no one could predict her actions. Glancing at her stony face and blank dull violet eyes, it would be near impossible to determine exactly what kind of thoughts floated in her mind.
Yet, it was these qualities that made Raven beautiful in an exotic way. She was different, her features were not flashy and loud like her team-mate, but subtle, mystifying and foreign. Raven did not demand attention, rather she avoided it.
And by avoiding the one thing that many others craved to receive, she drew attention to her self.
It did not really surprise him in the least that Raven had a relationship with Bird Brain in the past. The two were strangely alike, both fighting on the side of justice as a way of gaining retribution for the darkness and wrong actions that surrounded their history.
Yes, he could tell this by watching Robin fight. He was an overachiever...someone who desires absolute control and the type of person who could not take no for an answer.
Robin was someone who often crossed boundaries to get what he wants. His suit was proof of that...but it only made him wonder what other actions had the 'Boy Wonder' committed in order to get what he wanted.
Maybe that's why he wanted Raven. Because he saw her as untouchable. Because she was a never-ending mystery that Robin couldn't solve. It probably irritated him, drove him off the edge...because Raven was stubborn, defensive and didn't let him in as much as he wanted.
Perhaps the two fought a lot because of it.
But if he wanted to understand he so much...why did they break up? Why did he settle with the highly emotional red-head?
She was beautiful, yes and probably very easy to control...but something told him the alien didn't really know of Robin's darkness. Then again, no one really knew what the boy was capable of doing. No one could see the hidden anger, the guilt and the incessant need to right all wrong-doings. He obsessed, pondered, to the point of insanity, only dealing with Starfire because she was persistent.
Perhaps if Robin only payed more attention to Starfire, he would see the type of person she was capable of becoming. Maybe he would see the fake naivete, the stupid way she displayed her ignorance and the calculating deception behind her perfectly innocent, jade eyes.
Why was she like that? So conniving and innocent at the same time? Derek shook his head, not really wanting to ponder the totally dramatized life of a superhero.
Glancing up, he paled when his eyes fell upon Raven, who had just landed a fist into Starfire's flawless face. And he wondered why the red-head even bothered. What did she say to set of Raven so...easily?
Why didn't Starfire just let it be?
Derek winced slightly when he watched Raven throw the red-head to the ground by the neck. Maybe he should intervene...or just sit back and watch.
He really didn't want to be on Raven's bad side now.
Such emotions...and such insight into the characters. I believe now I have explained the truth behind Raven's rather promiscuous actions. And shed some light into Robin and Raven's previous relationship thanks to our favorite thief.
I wanted to continue but I felt that this was a good stop point. So Gotham has been mentioned...as well as some of Raven's past. And Derek almost gave himself away.
Robin's character is coming out now...probably because you need to see how he is, to understand the reason behind his breakup with Raven.
Sorry to anyone who wanted the kid to be Derek's.
I know some of you may be wondering about that scene when Raven drugged Robin? I will explain in the next chapter...and expect a fight between the two.
Derek is awfully discerning, yes? Makes me wonder what else he knows...
Review!
~heartless16