Disclaimer-I don't own the TT
Impulses
Story by StormDancer
Act 2: Chapter 3
It is not light that we need, but fire; not the gentle shower but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake
Dick's voice cut easily through the clamor that followed Raven's statement.
"Let her finish!" he commanded, glaring at his friends until they quieted.
"Wait, if he's your father, why are you with the Stones?" Garfield questioned before he quailed at Roy's angry look.
"You think I want to live with him?" Raven snapped, "He's a monster. I had enough of that in the first 13 years of my life."
"But what about your mother? You have always said you were an orphan," Kori asked.
"She is dead. One of my father's followers killed her after her information led the police to Trigon. They killed her for betraying them. They would have killed me too."
Raven's voice, too those who didn't know her, was just as cold and monotonic as ever. To her friends, it spoke of the grief she must have felt.
"Why didn't they?"
Tara asked the question everyone had been wondering in the silence after Ravens last words.
"I fought them off. Trigon had me intensely trained to kill. These followers had nothing on Trigon's heir, no matter what they could do to Trigon's wife."
"You killed them?" Garth exclaimed. She flowed abruptly to her feet, shaking off Roy's comforting hand.
"Is that what you all think of me?," she yelled, "That I would commit murder! That I am my father's daughter!"
"You said you were trained to kill," Karen pointed out quietly.
"I said I was trained to. Not that I would. I left them alive, but barely. I told the police my mother had done that. They could forgive a dead woman her sins. They wouldn't have forgiven me. I thought that that had killed the last remnants of him! I thought I was rid of him!"
She swayed on her feet after that last outburst, looking ready to collapse. Roy stood and gently pushed her into the seat he had vacated, taking her place at its feet.
"But you are legally the Stone's, correct?" Kori queried, "He cannot take you back."
Raven laughed bitterly.
"Do you think Trigon cares about the law, Kori. He wants me, and so he'll get me. That is all it is for him."
"Why does he want you so much?" Gar asked. Raven buried her head in her hands. It was Victor who answered for her.
"Her 17th birthday is coming up," he announced.
"We know," Tara replied, "We've been trying to plan a party for ages. Why does that matter?"
"Because," Raven lifted her head to display tear stains running down her cheeks, "I'm becoming his official heir and partner. He needs me to inherit his throne. I'm the scion. The only heir. He couldn't let it go out of the family, now could he? So now he's come to collect on the investment he made 16 years and 363 days ago."
"And 9 months," Gar added, attempting humour to break the tenseness. He failed.
"And there's nothing anyone can do to stop him. Not the law, not me, and not anyone else. I'm his, and always will be," Raven concluded bleakly. A dead silence met her words.
"I'll understand if you want me to leave now," she added as the silence stretched on. Raven rose to go, but Roy grabbed her wrist.
"So, what are we going to do to help?" he asked, breaking the silence. She stared incredulously at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Did you really think we'd abandon you now?" Garth replied.
"We're always there for you, Rae," Gar added. KJori jumped up and engulfed Raven in a bone crushing hug.
"Always, friend! We will not let you go without a fight!" she exclaimed.
"She needs to breathe, Kor," Dick cautioned his girlfriend, "we're here to help, Raven."
"You don't get it!" Raven demanded, "You don't know what you're up against!"
"You're right," Dick agreed. Raven's face seemed to fall before he added, "I wonder how much is in Bruce's database."
"I'll scan the net," Vic added, running to grab his computer.
"We've got TV news," Gar announced, grabbing Tara and running to the TV in the other room.
"I'll go check the word on the street," Garth volunteered, He had a way with people, and the gang had used his information gathering skills before, 'want to come, Karen?"
Karen glanced after Vic, than shrugged.
"Sure."
Raven sat in the whirlwind of people, gaping unabashedly at the sudden action.
"Kori!" Dick called, "Can you help Vic on computer?"
Kori left, leaving Roy and Raven alone in the room. She was still gaping, and Roy could see tiny tear droplets running down her face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, gently wiping them away.
"I can't let you guys do this," she protested, "You'll just get hurt!"
"And your point is?" Roy responded ironically, "Little Bird, none of us are strangers to pain. We're choosing this willingly. Did you really think we would abandon you?"
"But why?" she stuttered.
"Because we're your friends," Roy explained, "Because you need us for once. Because I, at least, swore I'd protect you." He closed the gap between their faces until they were millimeters away, "and I don't plan forget that promise."
He could see Raven's mind working, her father bred instinct of suspicion and her inherent loyal nature warring. Then she collapsed against his chest, sobbing.
With anyone else, Roy would have been focused on how he could move her head from his chest to his lips. But right now, with Raven, he was content just to hold her and let her cry herself dry.
o0O0o0O0o
Raven stalked down the street, attempting not to flinch at the sight on anyone, or even movement. Apparently she succeeded, because the passersby looked at her, they flinched at her cold, regal manner. She paid no attention to them. They didn't matter. She needed her whole mind to concentrate on one thing. Getting to the store and back without seeing or being seen by Trigon.
She shouldn't even be out here. But Victor had to forget in all his planning that they were out of milk, and if there was one thing her friends couldn't do without, it was a good meal. And for that, they needed milk. Desperately.
Raven scowled. It was just her luck, that all the people with cars except for Roy were busy, and Victor absolutely forbade her to drive with Roy again. She had tried to persuade her brother, but his logic was inexorable: she might see Trigon and get in trouble if she walked, but if she rode with Roy, she would certainly be killed. She really couldn't argue with the truth of that, and nether could Roy, no matter how hard he tried. So here she was, effectively alone and vulnerable. Damn boys and their endless appetites.
Distracted for a crucial moment, she didn't notice the body surge out of the street she was crossing. The man grasped her wrist tightly. She looked up, startled, and gasped as she met coal red eyes.
'Daughter," Trigon stated, "You have forgotten much since I left."
Raven's face lost all emotion. Her eyes died, and hen she spoke, her monotone was as firm as it had ever been.
"But I have learned more."
She dropped, pulling him down with her as she kicked him in the shins. She hadn't learned that move from him. That had been Dick. He barely flinched from the impact and stayed on top of her, pinning her to the ground. She slammed a knee into his groin. That had been Roy's contribution. He rolled off of her. She rose and composed her face back into its long forgotten dead pan.
"You, see, Trigon? I am not the child I once was."
He stood but did not try to grab her again.
"Yes, my daughter, I can see that," he surprised herby smiling slightly, "You will be a fine heir."
"I am not your heir," she contradicted.
"You are my blood, Raven. You are mine. You will carry our business into the next generation."
"I will do no such thing."
He advanced, towering threateningly over her.
"You will, daughter. I keep what is mine."
"Do you plan to take me now?" Calm, cool, logical. That was the way to deal with a madman, "It would draw a significant amount of attention. I would assume you would not like to be seen breaking a law so soon after your release."
"You are correct, as always."
Intensive training kept her face impassive. That was a first. Trigon never admitted he was wrong.
"So we will have to arrange something else," he continued.
A movement, almost to fast for the eye to catch. Trigon's hand flashed down at her head. Just as quickly, Raven caught the arm. She strained, his strength slowly overpowering hers. He glared into her eyes, his anger breaking on her icy eyes.
He laughed. Raven, startled, nearly dropped her grip. As it loosened, however, he jerked out of her hold.
"Daughter, how great you will be!" he cried. His leg shot out and hooked hers, knocking her to the ground. He dropped a paper on her chest. As she surged to her feet, he stepped back into the alley.
"Just remember, daughter," his voice emanated from all around her, "you will always be mine."
"I'll never be yours!" she screamed, ignoring the shocked bystanders, before she staggered to the sidewalk and collapsed on the ground.
"I'll never be yours," she repeated quietly, "Never."