I know that it's been over a month. What can I say? I'm insane enough to be a pre-med major, and classes come before fanfiction. (I know, I know, but I'm paying for classes and don't get a dime for my hobby.) Enjoy the chapter- the next gap shouldn't be so long. (The Titans? Still not mine.)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Meditation was a lost cause. Raven settled for the second-best alternative.

She should not have been able to heal Darcy. She could barely manage to heal broken bones without being exhausted for a day, but she had healed Darcy while maintaining a solid shield. She might have high reserves, but that took too much energy. Energy had to come from somewhere.

Raven was not doing very well. She had made no progress, and had been rude to Logan when he checked on her. She dropped another book, frustrated. Magic was not as lackadaisical as people thought. Maybe she wouldn't have snapped at him, any other day, but Logan's timing had been wrong. She knew that there was no way he could have known, and she would apologize when he returned to the Tower. Logan had been confused, not angry, and an apology would straighten out that matter.

Her current problem was worse. She had already asked Victor as many questions as she dared. Her heart trusted them. Her mind was too clinical in its diagnosis. If she was intimidated by her burst in power… It was better to figure it out on her own.

She couldn't just create more power with less energy. It didn't work that way. Energy came from somewhere, and there had to be some compensation.

She had better control, and it was easier than she had imagined. She felt the power solidly through her, tingling in her fingertips, and knew that she could perform difficult spells without strain. Something had changed, and Raven could only imagine one possibility.

"Well, this is cozy," Logan said, glancing at the small suite of rooms. One bedroom with two narrow beds, one bathroom with a shower the size of most sinks, and the kitchen-living room area. It could be worse. They were working to keep Darcy Whittaker safe. A safehouse was the natural place to accomplish that goal.

"It's a safe house," Robin said. "That's the important part." Logan might be cavalier with his secret identity, but Robin had people to protect. He couldn't risk someone being found out.

"They could have been a bit more daring with the color scheme, though," Logan said critically. "I mean, beige furniture, beige carpet, and-what a shocker-beige walls. The bathroom is a variation on the shade, but they could have at least made a reach with taupe sheets or something."

Darcy smiled. "This place was designed by the government, Logan. You can't expect variations in decor."

"Point," Logan conceded. The couch was comfortable, if boring. "We're lucky that it's not camouflage." He stretched out, setting his feet on the coffee table. He wasn't in uniform. Robin had his mask and the usual gel-saturated hair, but finally had agreed that they might as well be comfortable. They were going to be in the room for a few days. Logan didn't want to spend the whole time in uniform. The Justice League was working quickly to find Deathstroke, but they needed time.

Robin glanced at the television facing the couch. They didn't get the basic channels, but they did have DVDs. "Anyone up for a movie?"

"We'll have plenty of time for that," Logan said. "Let's not get sick of them too soon." Darcy still was tense, not that he blamed her. If Deathstroke was after him... yeah, he'd be tense. Titan or not, assassins were never fun to deal with.

"If I'm going to be bumping elbows every time I turn around, I might as well know people. I went into vigilantism because it's a fun career. Not much cash flow, but you get fans, exercise, and pretty girls that want your autograph."

Robin flicked a glance to the side. "You would."

Logan shrugged a shoulder. "Okay, so I got adopted by a control freak who let me join the Doom Patrol. Share with the class, Rob?"

"Logan, save it."

"Rob's just grouchy because he's away from a certain alien princess," Logan confided to Darcy. "Starfire likes him, he likes Starfire... Don't give me that look, Robin, it's all true."

"And it doesn't need to be all over the tabloids," Robin said curtly.

"Who am I going to tell?" Darcy asked. "Besides, private life is private and tabloid reporters give me the creeps."

"You're in a bad field for that," Logan said. He hadn't meant to hit a nerve, but Tim had been uptight in the two days since Deathstroke hit.

"I stay boring," Darcy said. "They could make up wild stories, but they'd have to recant them later."

"They make up all kinds of stuff about me, but what can they really do? I'm green, I have pointy ears, and I change into animals. Heck, I can even manage fictional animals. Don't ask me how that works, because I'm not sure."

Robin gave up. He couldn't stay angry with Logan the entire time they were in the safehouse, and Logan meant well. "He's not offended when there's a joke about that, either."

"No, I'm not irritated about a good joke," Logan corrected. "If it's bad, why bother? Making people laugh is one of the hardest things there is. If you screw up comedy there's nothing to fall back on. Jokes that aren't funny… cars with square wheels. Why?"

"Not all of your jokes fly," Robin reminded him.

"I know that," Logan said. "Can't make everyone laugh all of the time, and Raven's been wound tight as it is. Starfire hasn't had time to work her magic on you yet, but she's in the Tower."

"Logan-"

"Okay, okay. You and Starfire are not an item, despite mutual attraction and one hell of a lot of pheromones," Logan said placatingly.

"She's cooled off." Robin stared at the blank television screen. Darcy was polite enough to pick up a magazine. Leaving for the other room wouldn't have removed her from the conversation.

"Not for long. If the two of you don't see the attraction, don't make me and Cyborg decide you need some help." Tim would cool down. Or Tim would snap and throttle him, Logan supposed. At least doing something physical would help Robin calm down.

"Logan. Shut up."

"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Logan remarked, untroubled. "His bed's against the wall," he continued, glancing at Darcy. "I'm calling the homestead. Vic and I didn't have much time to talk before it was time to leave this morning. We think something's up with Raven."

"Logan." Robin jerked his head at Darcy.

"What's she going to do? Tell the press she has a heroine problem? Heroine with an E, Robin." Logan shrugged when Robin glared again. "Raven's been having a rough time, and I think Starfire has the best chance at getting the reason without making Raven mad."

"Why?"

"Starfire's a girl, as I'm sure you've noticed." Logan could avoid all mentions of that- but he didn't have much on Tim. "Girls talk."

"Those two words are your plan, aren't they."

Logan watched, fascinating. Tim couldn't decide whether to glare or to give up. "Keep it simple, and it'll work."

"Our teammates are an alien and a half-demon."

"And…" Nothing from the Boy Wonder. Logan shook his head sadly. "Batman did not train you in the ways of girls. That guy has to be single, right? There are only hundreds of thousands of single men in Gotham, Rob. It's not a giveaway for his identity."

"He's single, but-"

"Precisely," Logan said. "See, the problem with complicated grand plans is that you assume too many things. If you assume that you're going in at eight, from the water, with camouflage, then what are you going to do if it snows? If you plan as you go along, you have more room to improvise."

"Your plan is 'girls talk,'" Robin pointed out. "That's not a plan, it's an opinion."

"Wrong," Logan said. "My plan is suggesting to Starfire that she and Raven could talk." He ignored the doubtful look. "Look, it's easier when you skip plans A through C. Plan A flops, plan B is to come up with a plan C and what do you do when C isn't going to work?"

Robin sighed, and was surprised when it was more theatric than annoyed. Logan was just being himself- getting on Robin's nerves was part of the package deal. "Okay, so you have a plan D."

"E, actually, but close," Logan said, rifling through his sweatshirt's pocket for his communicator. The shirt fit closely, which was a must- loose clothes were just asking for trouble.

"It's a wonder we all stay sane," Robin said, a smile tugging at the side of his mouth. "Can you imagine living with this guy all the time? You'll probably be ready to see him go tomorrow," he said to Darcy. "He is like this all the time."

Logan flashed his signing-an-autograph smile- camera-friendly and showing the fangs. "You know you'd get bored without me, Rob." He pressed the side of the communicator. It wasn't an emergency, he just wanted to talk to Victor.

"Logan, you live!"

Darcy tensed for a second, but Logan just grinned as he flipped open the screen. "Rob hasn't killed me yet. What's going on there? We have the bureaucratic decorating scheme."

"That is a lot of beige," Victor said, looking over the background. "Starfire's training, I'm finishing a late lunch, and there hasn't been sign of Raven for a couple hours. Rae's working on something, but opened the door when I asked about lunch. Books were all over the place."

"What did she say about lunch?"

"She promised to come out for dinner," Victor said dryly.

"Has Starfire talked to Raven yet?"

"I'm ahead of you on that one, Logan. I'm going to borrow the gym while the girls are having dinner. I'll run one of the noisier programs. They'll know when I'm done," Victor said.

"Aw, come on, Vic. How am I supposed to impress the civilians when you already figured out my grand plan?"

Victor chuckled. "Logan, we've been over this. Civilians don't know what they're getting into."

"See what I have to put up with?" he asked Darcy. "Kermit had it right. It just ain't easy being green."

"I see how it is. Robin wasn't giving you enough material, so you call me up."

Rolling his eyes would be too juvenile, so Robin settled for ignoring them both.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll let you get back to figuring out my perfectly brilliant plans beforehand."

Robin half-listened to the words as Logan and Victor competed for the last word. Victor won, leaving Logan to swear that he would be victorious the next time. It was plain silliness. They both were adults, but they joked around like they weren't the only people between Deathstroke and a target, like they didn't have a serious job to do. Logan went straight from bantering with Victor to flirting with Darcy.

"So, Darcy. How'd a nice girl like you end up in a political mess like this? You could have gone a step up the social revulsion ladder and been a lawyer."

It took Logan only ten minutes to get a brief history of Darcy Whittaker's life. Robin watched from the corner of his eye after finding his book as Darcy relaxed by degrees, trading anecdotes about politicians for stories about superheroes-the cape-and-tights crowd, to hear Logan say it. He kept all identities secret, and stuck to stories he had witnessed personally.

"There's one other Logan that I know about. For Garfield, it's the president or the orange cat." He didn't mention that James Garfield had been assassinated. "You've probably heard of him from the stories. He's one of very few people that can run around in blue and yellow spandex without ridicule, and that's because he has less people skills than your average rock."

"Wolverine," Robin supplied when Darcy looked puzzled. Robin wasn't pretending to read his book any longer.

"The guy with the claws, right?" Darcy asked.

"Right," Logan said. "Six claws, lots of hair, healing factor, and a temper. Canadian, too."

"What does Canadian have to do with anything?" Robin asked.

"It's a fact." Logan shrugged. "Now, I- did you hear that?"

Robin didn't hear anything, but Logan put a finger to his lips.

A green wolf stood on the couch, intent on something outside. He could hear something. No one else should be in the building. Fear spiked. He changed back abruptly and put a hand on Darcy's shoulder. She glanced at him, eyes wide, and something that she saw calmed some of her worry.

"Robin, we might have company." They exchanged a glance. Robin vaulted over the couch, book long forgotten, with his bo staff at the ready. Logan's primary objective was to protect Darcy. Robin would help make Logan's task easier.

"Robin, I'm heading for that place that a friend of yours recommended, with Darcy. Catch up when you can." Oracle had offered the location as backup. They had discussed this beforehand, but Darcy was listening.

"Got it. You hear something?"

"Someone," Logan said. "The instant that the door goes, do it." The safe house had been discovered. The door was the only part that wasn't specially reinforced. They had warned Darcy not to pack anything that she didn't want to leave behind, but hadn't guessed that they would be compromised so fast. The city had promised only two people knew- the chief of police and the FBI agent involved because Deathstroke was involved. Two had been too many.

"Darcy, simple plan," Logan said, voice low. "I'm going to pick you up and run like hell." Robin could take care of himself. Logan's job was to get her out of there.

She nodded, once.

"Hey, I'm a professional," he said, voice low. Robin was ready at the door. They wouldn't reveal the secret until it was too late for their visitor to find the other exit. "I apologize in advance for any bruises, but the strongest animals don't have the finest motor control out there."

She smiled wanly. "I'll be around to gripe about how much I could sue you for."

"Not much," Logan said with a grin. "The superhero gig doesn't pay all that well, and you'd need one heck of a lawyer. You're cute, sure, but I'm saving your life. Juries wouldn't be able to help loving me."

"Ready?" This was no time to joke around. Robin didn't have to turn around to know that Darcy would be blushing. Logan had pulled that routine before.

"Ready," Logan said, switching to wolf again for a few moments. He heard the footsteps now. The door wasn't soundproofed, at his request. He couldn't hear past the room, otherwise. He inhaled. Gunpowder. He changed back to smile at Darcy one more time. She was tense, but there were traces of exhilaration.

Robin pressed the trigger just before the door was kicked open. The wall of the ground-floor safe room fell away into the basement, and Logan was moving before he registered the sudden rush of daylight. Gorillas didn't move very fast, but moving a manhole cover took muscle and just a little dexterity. Working fingers were needed for the part of the excursion Darcy hadn't been warned about.

The possibility of death was one thing, but a certain run through the sewers was completely different.

He was human for the brief moment of falling through the gap, and Darcy was too surprised to protest. Manholes weren't designed for gorillas. Logan made impact with a cat's carefulness. He put a finger over Darcy's lips as a reminder. He left her at the bottom of the tunnel for a moment before flying back up the replace the cover. It was trickier than he had guessed, but he avoided crushing his fingers as he stood on the ladder built into the wall.

"This is the less than romantic bit of today's excursion," he murmured. "The place we're staying is higher class, and we're not going to risk leaving a trace." Tim and Victor would trace down the leak. Logan would take care of the more physical details. "These are spill tunnels, and there hasn't been much rain for the last few weeks. The water's going to get up to six inches deep. All that's in here is decaying leaves. Your slacks probably won't like you after this, but the water's your friend. Nothing's tracking through these tunnels." He could carry her, he supposed, but the tunnels were narrow and it wouldn't save any time.

Darcy wasn't fond of the idea, but comforted herself with thoughts of the book she would write when they started to walk. She was having one hell of a week. Elected mayor, shot at her speech, completely healed, in hiding from an assassin, and now she was ankle-deep in brown water lit by the occasional floodlight.

It felt like hours, but Logan said it was still daylight when he stopped. She didn't see anything different about the ladder, but he made a brief call to Robin. The other Titan was already in the new safe house, and everything was in place.

"Ladies first," Logan said, gesturing to the ladder. "Robin had time to grab your suitcase. Deathstroke left the fight as soon as he could. Robin said it was about an even match."

"Thanks," she said, wondering if there was a stronger word. They were saving her life.

"Anytime. Right on up the... never mind, I guess ladies won't go first today," he said, moving up the ladder faster than she was going to. He moved the manhole cover aside in just two pushes, and replaced it when her footing was sure on the pavement.

"No one's here?" she asked, looking around the suburb. She never would guess that the rusty manhole cover led somewhere.

"Robin just checked. There aren't many families home during the day, and we should have another minute." He didn't rush her, and didn't seem at all concerned. He practically strolled over to a ranch with a picture window opening onto the porch. "We're working on a permanent solution," he said. "Until then, we'll keep you safe."

"Why are you doing all this?" Darcy asked when they were inside. The question had been nagging at her all day.

"Because I can," Logan said, for once serious. "I can do this, someone needs to do this. My parents were researchers. They did things that helped people, and they loved doing it. This is what I can do."

"Careful, Logan," Robin said. "Your thoughtful side is showing."

"I joke around, and I should be serious. I'm serious, and I'm supposed to be joking around. There's just no making this guy happy," Logan grumbled. "I think fearless leader would have an aneurysm if we got takeout, but that would defeat the purpose of a safe house."

"I would not-"

"Okay, just a hernia," Logan said agreeably. "I'm going to get rid of the sewer-muck clothes, and then I'll deal with dinner. You get to take care of the detective stuff."

Logan waited while Darcy left the room, feigning difficulty with one of his fitted boots. They were a hassle, but he was used to them. "We had almost no outside contact, and he found us too fast," Logan said.

"I know. I think we're dealing with a leak."

"You and Victor can talk about the technical stuff," Logan said. "Me? I'm dealing with dinner. Never thought I'd see the day that I'd be happy you're paranoid, Rob, but I know that I have clean clothes and vegetarian-friendly food for dinner. Stir fry's okay, right?"

"Right." Robin watched Logan leave the room, and wondered if he would ever understand his teammate.