Alright, the second part. Notice that Robin and Sakura are quickly developing as the leads, not that I'm promising any romantic interaction. For those who want romanticism, it will come, trust me. Please read and review, as I'm pretty new to creative writing.
PS, any continuity errors or the like, just let me know. I haven't noticed any, but I'm far from perfect. Thanks in advance!
CHAPTER 2: New Lives
Village of Konoha
Sakura knocked on the Hokage's door, hoping that she wasn't too late to see her meeting with Lee. Fortunately, when the door swung open, she saw both of them standing on opposite sides of Tsunade's large wooden desk, fervently discussing the envelope which lay upon it.
"Hokage-sama, Haruno Sakura is here." Blond hair swirling, the highest official in Konoha turned angrily to the young woman before her, and, for lack of an actual word to describe the fearsome sound, growled.
"What was so important that you allowed something like this to come unescorted across the entire village!?" she screamed, walking quickly up to Sakura, who could do nothing but stare at the floor. She knew her reason wasn't going to cut it, so she kept quiet. Fortunately, for what seemed the hundredth time, Lee came to her rescue.
"Hokage-sama, I'm sure Sakura only had to use the restroom." Tsunade again turned, this time toward the young man. Sakura could only feel pity for him. Once again, his chivalry would undo him, and there was nothing he could do to same himself.
"Don't defend her, little boy. She is my apprentice, and I expect a great deal from someone in that position. She has responsibilities to this village, do you understand that!?" Lee nodded, and looked off at the floor. Sakura flinched a little. As much as he loved this village, to be rebuked so painfully; treated so harshly by its leader was, at the very least, unbearable. She felt horrible, to have to watch, and know that he would probably blame her.
"You shouldn't yell at the boy." It came from the window behind them, but noone had to look. Kakashi's little interruptions were commonplace to them now. "I happened across Sakura in the shopping district. She was watching Naruto and his fiancee." Sakura fully expected Tsunade to scream again, either at herself or Kakashi, but it never came. In fact, the revelation seemed to soften the Hokage, who turned to the man in the window, and smiled. Of all things, smiled!
"Well, I suppose I can forgive a little spying on her ex-boyfriend," she laughed, glancing knowingly at her.
My what? Sakura thought, mouth agape. What's that little punk been saying behind my back!? I'll kill him!
"After all," Tsunade continued, "He is getting married soon. She has to be a little jealous." By now, every eye in the room was on Sakura, who could do nothing but stand and sweat. Well, not every eye. Lee had turned his face to the floor, not daring to turn completely away, but still unable to bring himself to look at her.
It's not true! she screamed inside, watching him, don't believe her! It's not true! Fearing that she might begin to cry, she turned away as well, flushed with anger.
"Look, she's even blushing!" Kakashi laughed, sitting down on the windowsill. "But, there was something important to discuss? I'm afraid I can't waste too much time."
"Why?" Tsunade asked coldly, "More porn to read?" Kakashi decided not to answer, which was probably wise, given her current mood. "Fine. Sakura, come here. I want you to be a part of this." Sakura obeyed, though with obvious reluctance. She was furious with her master, and wasn't about to forget how she'd been humiliated in front of her friend. Especially since Lee still wasn't looking at her.
So the group quietly gathered around the table, on the center of which the message still sat. Calmly, Tsunade lifted it up, and looked from person to person.
"This is an invitation, meant mainly for Lee, but it stipulates that people of comparable skill are welcome as well. The invitation is to a mass meeting of people with exceptional talents, hosted by the Justice League." Kakashi, the only one who hadn't heard this yet, let out a low whistle. "I'm sure you all grasp the significance of this. A power far greater than any Hidden Village has been crippled, and is asking for assistance from people like us. This doesn't constitute a contract like we're used to, but I still feel it's a matter worth investigating. As far as I know, we are the only village to receive an invitation like this. As such, I'd like to send a small team to take a look at this matter. Because it calls for those of 'exceptional' ability, I'd like to send only strong, at least Chunin level, people." Motioning at Kakashi and Sakura, she continued, "I'd like you two, and probably one more, to accompany Lee to the meeting." The two nodded, they'd seen that coming.
"Who's the fourth?" asked Sakura, deciding to momentarily forgo her anger. Tsunade shook her head.
"I'm not sure yet. Another Jounin, I'm sure. Two for something like this, it would have to be." So the discussion continued, with Tsunade explaining the possible meanings of the message, and contingency plans for the infiltration team. As the plan was unfolded before her, Sakura began to worry. Maybe this was too much for her.
Gotham City
Luckily, Dick didn't have to take a plane halfway across the country this time, and it only took about forty minutes in a cab to get across Gotham to his next destination. Carrying his new suit in a black briefcase, he exited the taxi, paying the driver, and waited for it to pull away before continuing. Once it was gone, he turned to the large windowed shop behind him. Above the door, a half-broken neon sign blinked Azarath Booksellers in the night, many of the letters not working. The windows were filled with novels and other tomes, from popular fiction to new-age witchcraft manuals. He laughed lightly at the irony of the latter, but decided that mentioning it to the owner might be inadvisable.
Uncertain, he took a slow step toward the door, which sat old and rusted on its hinges, and grasped the handle. If he went in, he'd really be committing to his decision. But if he didn't, what would happen? He was raised to be a hero, but wasn't it time he moved on? And how could he even be sure anyone would want him?
"This is stupid," he muttered, dropping his case onto the cold cement, and loosening his grip on the handle. "We gave up, we split up. I shouldn't be here . . ." He trailed off, staring at the ground before him. So engrossed in his own thoughts, he didn't even notice the footsteps coming from the other side of the door. When the bell rang, as the door opened, he looked up startled.
"Robin?" Whether it was the calm voice, or that she used his old name so happily that called him back to reality, he wasn't sure. Either way, he frowned, staring as Raven opened the door for him, and motioned for him to come inside. She looked different, of course, her hair was far longer than he'd ever seen it, and she wore normal clothing; plain black jeans and a red t-shirt. But it was her. Her pale skin seemed even lighter under the street lamps, but her hair and eyes seemed darker than ever. Dick could barely look at her. She looked great, not like he did, shaggy and broken. How could he have ever thought she'd want to go with him? She owned her own shop, and seemed to be doing well. Despite the broken sign, there were quite a few people milling around the shelves inside. She even looked happy here. He was a fool. Glancing down at his case, and the proof of his ridiculous decision inside, he gritted his teeth.
"Robin!" Raven repeated, stepping closer to examine his face, "It is you!" Dick looked up, finally, and met her eyes. She was grinning far wider than he'd ever known her to, and he was only half-surprised when she threw her arms around him. "I've missed you! You don't return our calls, you know!" He did know, and couldn't bring himself to say anything. The warmer his welcome got, the more uncomfortable he became, each new courtesy reminding him of what he had come to take away from her.
"Hello," he finally stammered, unable to stop staring at her eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asked, taking him by the arms. Leaning in, concerned, she pulled him inside the shop slowly. "Victor!" she called out, while telekinetically tossing Robin's briefcase inside the door. Across the room, a tall, black man rose to his feet, and walked toward them. Dick couldn't identify him immediately, but the name began to sink in. Victor. Victor Stone. Cyborg. His cybernetic implants were gone, or mostly. His left eye was still artificial, and most of his body was covered, so Dick wasn't sure what else was left. Most of his face, though, had been returned to its natural state. He'd even given up what made him special, what made him a hero. They really did give up, thought Dick, I shouldn't be here at all.
"Yo!" Trevor shouted, patting Dick on the back when he was close enough, "Where the heck you been, man?" Pointing at his regenerated face, he grinned, "You like the new work? Almost all of me is done now! Goodbye cyberfreak, you know?" Dick smiled, falsely as it may have been. He could at least seem happy to see them like this. Shaking off Raven's arms, he stood tall, and looked around the room.
"Looks like you two are doing pretty well for yourselves!" he said, looking back at them.
"Oh, ain't mine, man," Trevor laughed, pointing at Raven, "It's all Rae's. I just came in to fix her computer. Don't know how the wifey would feel about me spending that much time with another woman." Dick moved his mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. He'd always assumed, after BB had fallen, that they would wind up together.
"You're . . . married?" he said, eyes wide, "To who?"
"Well, you introduced us, man!" the larger answered, moving toward the nearest chair,"You remember Barbara Gordon, don't you?"
"You . . . married . . . Batgirl?" He knew enough to keep his voice quiet, but the shock still came through. Forgetting his apprehension, he quickly sat down next to his old friend, and was soon joined by Raven, as Trevor regaled them with the tale of his romance.
"I'm not sure how I feel about her still running around with Batman, though," he said, after almost an hour, "And of course, there's the new Robin . . ." he cut himself off, not sure how Dick would feel about his replacement.
"It's fine," he said, sensing the tension, "I like Tim. Good kid, but a bit green." The others nodded, apparently they'd met him already. "I'm not Robin anymore, anyway." Nodding again, though slowly, Raven and Trevor knew the story. They'd been there, after all. "Which is why I've got a problem."
"Hm?" Raven looked up, apparently she'd gotten lost in memory. Dick lifted his case onto the seat beside him, and popped it open. Inside, atop the dark fabric of his new suit, sat his invitation. Taking it, he turned it over immediately to Raven. Staring at the JL's symbol on the front, she didn't need to open it.
"You're going back?" She looked at him, worried. "I thought . . . after Starfire . . ." He nodded, staring coldly at the table in front of him.
"I can't keep away anymore. You don't know what it's like for me. I can't just go back to a normal life." Quietly, he looked up at his old friends, who had both taken to staring at the ground.
"You . . ." started Trevor, "You came to see if we'd go with you, right?" Raven stared at him coldly, but turned her eyes to Dick.
"Yeah," he muttered, "But I know you won't, now that I see you. So, it's more of a goodbye at this point." Standing, he closed his case again, and hefted it up. "I really do hope you can live happily here." He glanced around the shop again, smiling, "You deserve it, you know?" Neither of the other two could bring themselves to speak as he walked out the door. Raven still held the invitation in her hand, but she doubted he'd need it.
"Idiot," she whispered, pulling her knees up to her chest, sobbing a little.
"Yeah, he is. Thinking we would go! After our best friends died . . . Idiot!"
"I meant me."