The first chapter was mostly exposition...so I guess this chapter made up for it. I added quite a bit to the dialog in this chapter. The original was only about half as long. I gave Robin one of those old school moments. You'll know what I'm talking about once you get to it...I just couldn't resist tossing it in place of an even worse expletive. As a whole this has to be one of my most favorite character exchanges I have ever written. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Gothic Angel part 2

Its been three nights since Robin found the girl outside Titan's Tower. He is even more awed by her now that he was when he found her outside. He had changed her bandages yesterday to find little evidence that she had ever been wounded. Today there isn't a scratch anywhere on her body. He has slept very little over the last few days and finds himself about to nod off-but he perks up when she begins to stir.

Raven looks around to find herself in a strange room. She has no idea where she is. All she can remember is trying to get home when she escaped her captor and this clearly isn't it. She gets scared as the young man comes near her. Raven tries to get up-only to collapse to the floor.

"Careful, you don't want to re-injure yourself."

"I am well."

Robin tries to help the girl up only to have her back away scared. "Its okay-I'm not going to hurt you." He watches her look up at him as if she is trying to decide whether or not to believe him. "My name is Robin."

"No...you go by Robin-but it is not your given name."

"Every superhero needs an alter ego right?"

"Superhero?"

"People who help and protect others with their powers...or other abilities and special skills."

"What a noble aspiration."

"I guess so. What's your name?"

"You do not know who I am?"

"If I did then I wouldn't need to ask."

"Then you do not intend to turn me over to my father?"

"No."

"Nor kill me?"

"Holy shit!" He watches her flinch back from his tone of voice. "Sorry...I just wasn't expecting that sort of question. I'm not going to hurt you. I found you three nights ago-during a storm. You've been safe here ever since."

"My name is Raven." She lets him help her up and sit back down on the bed. "I am sorry. I meant no offense...I have been through a lot." She looks around. "Where am I? I was trying to get home."

"You're at Titans Tower-in Jump City."

"Jump City?"

"Yeah-its on the west coast of the U. S."

"U. S.?"

"United States. You don't know where that is?"

She shakes her head. "What world?"

"Earth." He isn't sure what to make of it when she seems horrified by that answer. "Where are you from?"

"A world called Azarath. It lies in another dimension. It is a very beautiful place."

"Like Heaven?"

"Heaven?"

"Where the angels are from."

"Angels..." She looks at her wings-realizing now that is what he thinks she is. "...I am no angel." She looks down in shame. "Quite the opposite I am afraid."

Her earlier fears about her father or being killed all make sense now. "Are demons not just fallen angels? You seem very good to me and you should be given the chance to prove that."

"I fear it does not work that way. I thank you for saving me-but I should leave now. I am only placing you in danger--"

"--Where will you go? You aren't even strong enough to get out of bed yet. I would never be able to forgive myself if I let you run off and get hurt. Please at least stay until you get your strength back.

"It is too danger--"

"--like I said-I'm a superhero. I can protect you."

"You will not take no for an answer."

"Its like you can read my mind...you can do that can't you?"

"I have telempathic abilities...among others."

"When you get your strength back maybe we could team up."

"You would risk your soul to ally yourself with a demon?"

"I don't see any demons. I think of you more as a Gothic Angel."

"Gothic Angel...I like that."

"So where exactly is this Azarath? Do you mean dimensions like 1-2-3-and 4?"

"It is...more like another plane of existence. Azarath is a special magical realm. I was hidden there from my father. There were those that sought me out to deliver me to him...and others like the last that wanted me dead--." She jumps startled as a loud bell rings.

"--Sorry I forgot about that-its just a doorbell. I'll be right back."

As Robin rushes out of the room Raven draws her wings in close to her body and lays down on the bed. She pulls the cover up over her as she looks around fearfully-expecting someone to spring out and grab her at any second. She breathes a sigh of relief when Robin finally returns. She looks warily at the square box and cylindrical objects.

"I ordered pizza earlier."

"Pizza?"

"Its a type of Earth food." He sits the box down on a rolling tray table and wheels it over to Raven. He opens the box. "Try some."

Raven looks at the strange food a moment before picking up a slice. She sniffs of it before taking a small bite. She is surprised by how good it tastes. "I like this pizza."

"Its the best food ever invented." He opens a can of the soda and hands it to her. "Want so soda to wash it down with?"

Raven takes the can and sips from it. "Not bad-but the pizza is much better." She looks up suddenly toward the window as she senses a familiar presence.

Robin turns to look at the window. "Something wrong?"

"Enjoy it while you can demon...for you will soon meet your end."

He watches her look around as if she heard someone speak. He remembers what he felt the night he first found her. "Raven?"

Raven calms as the presence fades away. "It must be my nerves."

Robin looks back at the window. She seems calmer now-but he doesn't believe that it was just nerves. He doesn't want to spook her further so for now he turns his attention back to the pizza. He will check out everything later.