Well, they're off, ladies and gentlemen!! Wish them luck, because while they journey, I need to catch up on the writing for a few days. I hope you'll pardon a small delay in the next segment. Anyway, there's not much to this chapter, I know it's a bit dry, but it helps set up all the character relations later on. Oh, and a bit of RavenxDick at the end. Have a good weekend.
GEOGRAPHY: To understand where I'm putting Konoha (and the continent on which it sits, which I'll call Nin for lack of a better term), pull up google maps, draw a line straight south from the westernmost point in Mexico, and a line west from the southernmost point of Peru. Where they cross, that's where the small continent that the countries of Fire, Wind, Wave, etc lie. (In the southeast Pacific) Given the time it takes to travel from one country to another in the manga/show, I'm going to say it's about the size of Vermont. Very, very small.
NOTE: "Laura" is a character from X-men Evolution who later translated well into the X-men comics, as well as her own mini-series. Her original name is X-23.
NOTE: Yeah, I know that this isn't the official origin of Nightwing, but I don't care. I like it better.
Chapter 4: Departures
Xavier Institute
Kurt walked to Professor Xavier's door, sullen faced and still feeling unstable. He'd received the telepathic summons from him a few minutes before, and had ported up just seconds after. Still, though, he couldn't bring himself to open the door. Kitty had gone running to the Professor, surely, telling him of the incident. Kurt had immediately regretted his actions, but there was no way to take it back now. No doubt the Professor was sitting inside the office now, sensing Kurt's paranoia and regret, laughing at him.
"No," he muttered, resting his fingers on the doorknob, "that's not like him. He'll understand." Turning the knob slowly, he pushed open the door. Behind it lay a room not much larger than his dorm, though with infinitely more impressive furniture. A long, oaken desk stretched across most of the back wall, with just enough room on either side for the Professor to wheel his chair through. The two matching bookshelves were lined with thick, heavy tomes, and the entire floor was covered in freshly waxed wood.
"Professor?" Kurt asked, sticking just his head through the door, searching the room.
"Yes," came a deep, controlled voice, "Over here, Kurt." Walking into the room, Kurt could finally see him, sitting next to a small fireplace on the wall behind the door. "I believe we need to talk."
"Yeah," replied the boy, his eyes pointed straight down.
"I'm aware of what happened, as I'm sure you know." Kurt nodded. "Believe it or not, Kitty's not as mad as you seem to think. You merely . . . bothered her with that much attention all at once."
"I didn't mean to," he pleaded, "I love . . ."
"Yes," interrupted Xavier, "I don't doubt your feelings, Kurt. However, you need to learn a bit of tact. All the same, I think it best if you . . ." He searched for the right words, "Found a different place to go for a while."
"You're kicking me out?" Kurt was shocked. In all the time he'd been here, with all the mistakes big and small, noone had ever been exiled!
"Nothing so extreme," the Professor reassured him, "I've recently received a letter from an old friend of mine. He was looking for people of . . . 'exceptional talents' I believe was the phrase. He works very closely with the Justice League, the premier protector of the planet."
"And?" Kurt wasn't sure where this was going, but it still felt like exile.
"I'd like you to go, with a few other volunteers, and meet with these people. Perhaps they have a place for you to use your abilities to their fullest." Extending one arm, he handed Kurt an envelope. "Inside are three tickets to South Africa. If you leave soon, you'll arrive five days or so before the meeting is to take place."
"Who do the others go to? And why do we need to meet with these people?"
"Well," answered the Professor, grinning, "They're looking for people, mutants included, to join their ranks." Kurts eyes, so dark and dreary until now, lit up.
"Join the Justice League? Seriously? Who else is going?"
"I'm sending Jean and Laura with you." The little blue man reeled as the names sank in.
"Laura . . . you're sending X-23 with us? But isn't she . . . you know, unstable?" The Professor nodded.
"Yes, but that's why Jean is going. Jean will be acting as the leader, but she'll also be in charge of controlling Laura's temper." Kurt's shoulders fell. This was worse than exile! He had to spend weeks, maybe months, with two women he didn't really like. One with the personality of cardboard, and the other who would as quickly kill him as talk to him. Wonderful.
"When do we leave?" asked Kurt, sighing.
"Immediately."
The Village of Konoha
"Neji? You're sending Neji with us?" Sakura was shouting and slamming her hands onto Tsuande's desk. "He's the 'jounin' you wanted us to take along? What about Guy? Or Anko?" Her pink hair flung wildly before her face, she swept it away to stare down her master.
"They're busy. Besides, Neji is one of the strongest in the village," the Hokage reassured her, motioning at the white-clad ninja in the room with them. Neji stood taller than either of them, though just barely, with long, dark hair pulled behind his head in a tight pony tail.
"I know . . . but . . ." Not sure how to word it without offending him, Sakura leaned in to whisper to her boss. "I thought if we had Kakashi, we would have another long range ninja with us. We're all close combat. I don't think Neji is a good match for the team."
"Well," Tsunade folded her hands before her, "I'm glad you're thinking of these things. But either way, I think the team will be okay set up like this. After all, Kakashi is nothing to be trifled with, you know. He's more than capable of long range combat and reconnaissance." Sakura sighed, folding her arms over her chest.
"I guess." Neji nodded, looking at the Hokage.
"I agree with your assessment." His haughty attitude had always annoyed Sakura. "May I ask when we're to leave?" He stepped closer, to stand slightly in front of his new teammate. "And if I may, who is to be in charge of this mission?"
"Don't ask me leading questions, Neji," Tsunade smirked, "Kakashi is the squad leader. You're still a bit green for this kind of thing. Besides, Kakashi has dealt with the JL before." The young jounin was obviously disappointed, but Sakura rejoiced at the news. Obviously, he'd been getting a bit too comfortable in his new position, and the Hokage wasn't about to let his obstinate overconfidence jeopardize the mission.
"And we're to leave . . ." he pressed, pointedly ignoring the jibe.
"Tomorrow morning. It's a long voyage to Africa, and you'll need to leave from a port in the Country of the Wave. We have good relations with them, and they're willing to allow you passage on one of their trade vessels. It will get complicated after that, but Kakashi has had some experience with the outside world, and can get you to South Africa after you disembark in Peru."
"Peru?" Sakura had never heard of any of these lands. Suddenly, the world seemed much bigger than it had yesterday.
"One of the countries Outside. You know we live on the continent Nin, surrounded by water. In the scale of the world, it's actually very small. This is the only reason we have never been invaded by one of the larger continents Outside. We've been able to remain hidden from most of the world, able to retain our own culture and abilities. Outside, though, most of the world is different. Most have lost their ability to commune with Chakra, but have gained technology far greater than we could ever hope to obtain on our own. We're lucky, though, that a few Outside know of us. Televisions, refrigerators, computers, they all come from Outside."
"Oh . . ." Sakura was amazed, she'd never even thought about it before. "But if they've lost their Chakra . . ."
"Oh, they didn't lose their Chakra, they just can't control it the way we do. That's why we need to stay hidden. Many would want the abilities we have." Sakura nodded, though she still didn't completely understand.
"Why haven't I ever heard this before? It seems kind of . . . important." Tsunade laughed, shrugging.
"Well, you're curious now, right? Excited about going Outside?" Sakura nodded again. "That's why. It would be bad if we sent too many people there. Worse if we told everyone, and didn't send any at all. We don't want the rest of the world to know too much about us."
"I suppose," the young woman said.
"Good. Now, I believe Kakashi and Lee are already set to go, I sent Shizune to inform them awhile ago. They should be at the gate. Kakashi has his instructions, and you yours. Go, and good luck." Standing to bow, Tsunade grinned at them. They were in for a treat. Noone saw the outside world anymore.
Outside Gotham
Dick panted; the new suit was heavier than he expected, but easy to move in. Reaching into the utility belt, he drew out a small metal plate, shaped like a hawk, the same as the large emblem on his chest. Looking around, and seeing nothing but trees, he whipped the razor-sharp bird at a trunk. He smiled as it sunk almost two inches into the wood. Quickly slipping three more out of the same pocket, he flung them in quick succession, each landing within a foot of the first, at thirty paces.
"Not bad," he said quietly to himself, moving up to retrieve them. Plucking each from the wood, he sighed. He'd gotten the invitation almost a month ago now, which meant that his time was running short. He had less than a week to get to South Africa. Not that it would be hard, he just wished that he had a little more time to train. And someone to train with. His mind kept going back to Raven's little shop in Metropolis, and how he'd caused them so much trouble.
"Damn," he grunted, throwing his fist into the tree.
"Doesn't that hurt?" He hadn't expected the voice, or even heard anyone approaching. Which meant it could only be one person.
"Came to see me off, Raven?" Turning slowly, he saw as she emerged from her portal of dark energy, and stepped onto the soft earth of the woods. Her civilian clothes were gone, replaced by a long, black, hooded robe. Underneath, he could just see flat, black leggings, tucked into military style boots, with a black half-shirt which left her midriff bare, but covered her arms entirely.
"No," she replied, shaking her head, "I came to ask you something." Walking toward him, she kept her eyes on the ground. As she finally came face to face with him, she looked up, but kept quiet. Dick didn't move, but waited, patiently. After almost a minute, she looked away.
"Why, Robin?" Dick flinched at the name, but didn't say anything. "That's who you are, you know. Back to the super-detective I used to know. You said it was all over and done, that we should all go home and give up. You said it, but now . . ." She paused for a moment, willing herself to regain her composure. "Why do you want to go back so badly? And . . ." Her eyes met his again, but without the determination she'd always had. They were almost desperate now. "Why do I want to go with you so badly?"
"Raven . . ." Dick wasn't sure what to say. He was happy, of course, that she wanted to go with him, but at the same time, he was devastated by just the look on her face. Reaching out, he placed a hand on either of her shoulders. "I don't know. I don't know why I need to go, or why you want to come. But I do know that I am going, because it's calling to me like . . . like instinct."
"The bird migrating back home?" Raven mused, unable to keep the one-liner to herself.
"Yeah, but a bigger bird," he said, squeezing her shoulders and laughing softly. "If you do want to come, I'm more than happy to have you."
"I don't want to, Dick," Raven smiled, "I need to. You've always been the leader. Where you go, I follow." Her hand, almost of its own volition, reached up, and began to trace the large metal bird emblazoned on his chest. "Not a robin," she muttered, though Dick couldn't tell if she was disappointed or not.
"No. A hawk. I'm not a little boy anymore, and I can't be a little bird anymore, either." Raven nodded, looking up at him. His mask was the same, but he looked so much stronger, older. He'd cut his hair again, she noticed, short, like it used to be, but combed straight back. Even so, he wasn't a kid anymore, and it showed.
"What do I call you, then? Dick seems to be a bad idea." Laughing a little, he shrugged.
"I guess you're right. I'm not sure though. I want something intimidating, but still me. You have no idea how difficult it was to get criminals to fear the name 'Robin.'" Raven grinned, still pressing one finger against his chest.
"Not a birdie then? How about . . . Nightwing?" Dick looked down at her, quizzically.
"Why Nightwing?" he asked.
"No idea. Just sounds cool." She smiled wider, "Besides, I think Nightwing and Raven sounds like a good team." He nodded, smiling again.
"I like it," he said.
"Thought you would."
"One more think I owe you, then," he laughed, "Along with saving my life, more than once!" Raven, though, didn't laugh.
"You don't owe me anything," she said calmly, looking up at him, "You gave me my first real home. You gave me friends. You kept me from destroying the world, and even saved my life in the process. You . . . you don't owe me anything." Even in her own mind, powerful and well-mapped as it was, she wasn't sure why she kissed him right then. It wasn't much, she just wrapped her arms around his chest, and pecked him lightly on the lips, like a thankful little girl might. But it was still so unexpected that both of them leapt backward afterward. Neither were able to speak for over a minute, but eventually, Raven had to say something.
"I . . . I'm sorry," she said, looking away, and blushing heavily, "I didn't mean to . . ." Unable to actually say it, she trailed off.
"Don't apologize," Dick said, stepping forward, "I'm not sure . . . I'm not sure what to make of it, really. I never though that you would . . . feel . . . like . . ." He, too, seemed unable to complete a coherent sentence. Fearing a permanent awkwardness, which would be just unbearable, he pressed on. "I didn't know you felt like that," he said firmly.
"Neither did I," Raven replied, "I just sort of . . . did it on impulse. But, I liked it."
"So did I." Even he was surprised when it came out of his mouth, but it was true, so he let it stand. "I liked it a lot." They stood there, quietly watching each other for quite a while, until Dick's belt began to beep.
"What's that?" Raven asked, thanking every deity she could think of for the break in the silence.
"My alarm. The plane leaves in an hour. Our plane." He smiled, "I hope you brought a change of clothes. These might be a bit conspicuous on a civilian flight."
"We're leaving already?"
"We have to. We only have three days, and it'll take a while to get to the meeting place."
"One second," she said, closing her eyes. Most people would have been terrified, as the dark energy swarmed around Raven's body, engulfing her entirely in endless black, but Dick was used to it by now. It only took a few minutes, and soon, the portal returned, delivering with it Raven, dressed in normal clothes again, and carrying a suitcase.
"You were ready to go before you ever got here," he observed, smiling.
"I was always going to come," she admitted.