Author's Note: It's almost over. A few more chapters I suppose.I'm just going over and rereading the past chapters to make sure all loose ends are tied up. Just checking all my foreshadowings so I don't miss anything and look like an idiot. Update soon, I swear.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, the Docks Nightclub or Swatow. (As usual, updates to my profile for references)
Chapter 25 -The Calm Before
Red X ran a gloved a hand over his unmasked face. Sitting in the shadow he let his eyes adjust to the nocturne darkness. A file lay open on his desk, blueprints and pictures were scattered all over. He had been studying the blueprints and floor plans for months. The design of the new building was as secure as it was magnificently groundbreaking, it was flawless. Well, not completely flawless.
The final heist at the ROM would prove to be the most difficult, but he wouldn't let it get to him. Months of recon missions. Hours upon hours of memorizing building specs and administration dossiers. Endless nights of sitting on rooftops memorizing the rotation of the personnel.
It would all pay off. It had to. He wasn't about to be beaten.
Suddenly, the phone rang, snapping him out of his reverie.
"We move in now, or we don't at all," a harsh masked voice from the other side of the line. The soulless, inhuman voice of the altering machine would send chills down any normal person's spine. But not his.
"And let me tell you, if we don't get this then I'm going to be very upset. You don't want me upset."
Red X mumbled his reply into the phone, "I said it'll get done. It'll get done," and quickly hung up. He rolled up his mask past his nose and held his face in his hands.
We move now.
Raven turned on the polished surface of the piano stool and hesitantly got up towards the doorway.
"Raven?" Gar stood by the front door removing his jacket. Raven clutched her chest and leaned on the doorframe.
"You scared me," she called to him. He gave a tired smile and walked towards her, landing a few steps in front of her.
His eyes dropping he looked down at her, his hand cupping her neck, "What are you still doing up?"
She looked up at him and smiled teasingly, "Couldn't sleep, so I was looking around your room. Where have you been?"
He sighed and released her face, beginning to walk towards his bedroom, "I was… working." Raven dazedly watched as Gar reached around his waist and pulled his shirt above his head, revealing his chiselled physique. She just stood there watching him walk away before she realised what he said and ran after him.
"What? You were 'working'? Out stealing?"
He turned around quickly, a finger raised, "I wasn't stealing. I said working, at the museum." Raven flushed part for being so rude and wrong, part because he was standing so close to her. He noticed her blush and stepped towards her. Suddenly, he grabbed both sides of her face gently and brought their lips together in a soft kiss. Pulling back, Raven gave a silent 'wow' and smiled as he rested his forehead on hers.
"I think its sweet of you to worry. But you shouldn't, I'll be fine… fine and legal," he gave her one last peck on the lips, "good night." And walked away to his room, leaving Raven standing there, her eyes still closed.
The place was cramped. As in seriously cramped. Raven dropped her bag on kitchen counter and looked out into the 'living space'. A dingy, faded green couch sat on the far end, opposite of the window counter from the kitchen. Raven leaned a bit closer to get a better look at a dubious browning strain on the left arm. Thinking it best not to look into it, she turned away half-disgustedly. A coffee table that looked as if it had seen better days sat not two feet in front of the couch, she scowled as she noticed several rings stains on its wooden surface.
Deciding to see what else there was she strode over to the washroom. It was fairly decent, as if it could possibly be tolerable with a bit of elbow grease. And a bucket of turpentine. The walls were a suspicious light yellow that looked as if it may have been white at some point. There was no tub, just a shower with lime green tiles and mould in between the caulking. The sink stood alone, all of the deteriorating piping below visible, a half-open, rusting medicine cabinet positioned over it. She walked over and closed it, it wouldn't. Great. The glass that should have been on the door was half missing and broken. Raven gave a shudder of disgust and stepped out.
She met with Gar who was dropping their bags on the floor by the coffee table. He turned and saw her shocked expression and gave a small smile.
"Cozy… isn't it?" He asked holding back a chuckle. She simply leered at him and raised one side of her lip.
"Yes, cozy if you're a rat." He laughed and strode over to the washroom that had her so spooked. He peered inside and blinked a few times, trying to make sure his eyes had adjusted.
Gar chuckled and came back around to open the door to the bedrooms, "At least the bedrooms aren't bad." He swung an arm in a mock gentleman fashion and led the way for her.
She raised an eyebrow at his attempt and walked into the bedroom. It was nice. Well, relatively nice. A queen bed stood in front of her, surrounded by four mahogany posts. To her left was a dresser and armoire that matched the bed frame. To the right were two fairly clean windows adorned with wooden Venetian blinds. Outside the open windows, the sounds and smells of Chinatown still wafted in.
She turned back impressed, "Did you do this?" He just smiled smugly and leaned against the doorframe.
"I thought you might've wanted more than a small cot and cardboard box," he shrugged, "so I took some liberties." She followed his eyes to the armoire he was silently indicating to.
Opening it she held back a small gasp. Her clothes were all in there, it was like looking into her own closet. She turned around and gave him a questioning look. He's been going through my clothes?
"I had a little extra time last night, I thought you might want a larger selection of clothing."
She opened her mouth to say something but he interrupted her, "I didn't touch your underwear," he held a hand up to his side, "scout's honour."
"You were a scout?" she scoffed at him and went back to the armoire, looking to see if everything was actually there. Her blazers, her dress pants, skirts, even the jackets were there.
"How did you carry all this?" He grinned at her, not answering, "Fine, be an ass, Mr. Super-Thief."
He raised an eyebrow and struck a superhero pose, grinning like a pompous idiot. He flashed a mouthful of pearly whites as he swung his head from side to side as if a strong wind were brushing against him, his chest puffed out his hands at his waist.
He deepened his voice, "Fear not fair maiden, Super-Thief is always here to assist you in your various clothing crises," he struck his hand out and began in a sing-song style, "I'll be here to save the day!"
Just then he charged at her both his fists outstretched in front of him as if he were flying, like a child. He quickly hitched her over his shoulder.
"Wonder at my super strength!" He shifted her into a fireman carry then ran off to the bed, "And super speed!"
He dropped her on her back, all the while laughing hysterically. Raven on the other hand simply looked irritated and impatient. He was propped over her as he finally calmed himself and blinked at her.
"What? You didn't think that was funny?"
Vic stood against the doorframe to the Comm Room. He had his arms crossed and was kissing his teeth as Karen and Jinx looked at the monitors. He nonchalantly peered over their shoulders from where he stood.
Satisfied with what he saw he kissed his teeth, "Ha, they're late. Knew you shouldn't have gotten the tornado twins." Vic chuckled at his own cleverness when he saw Karen turn around, affirm hand on her waist and an annoyed look on her face.
"They're flying in from El Salvador Stone, so don't count your chickens yet." She whipped right back around, ignoring but not oblivious to Vic's mocking faces.
"They're here," announced Karen. Vic gave an unimpressed scoff as he stood his ground by the door. He leered as both girls got up and walked right past him.
"Well," he said sarcastically to nobody in particular, "I guess we should greet our new guests."
Meanwhile, two very little Spanish men walked into the museum. They both wore sunglasses which they dramatically whipped off as they came into the building.
"¿Esto es?" (Is this it?) the first one asked. His voice was higher than usual as if he barely reached puberty and his face read boredom. He casually turned to his brother, folding the glasses and slipping it on the collar of his red polo shirt, tucking his hands into the pockets of his white Bermuda shorts.
"Sí," (Yes) responded his brother who was slightly taller. Taller would be an exaggeration, neither men looked an inch over five feet. He smirked as they both looked around.
"No se parézca a mucho," (Doesn't look like much) he criticized, sizing up the ROM's lobby. Nudging his brother, they both gave a small chortle as they looked at the bare concrete walls.
"Bien, ese idiota Victor está encargado a fin de cuentas," (Well, that idiot Victor is in charge after all) joked the taller one. He wore layered red and white wife beaters and light grey sweats. A white apron hung from his tiny shoulder.
"Hahaha, eso es verdad," (That's true) they both stood there waiting for something to happen, "¿Así que dónde está él¿No es supuesto él saludarnos?" (So where is he? Isn't he supposed to greet us?)
"Algún anfitrión," (Some host) Just then, as if on cue Karen appeared in the crowd closely followed by Jinx, "Ah! Senora Beecher!"
"Mas!" Karen hurried over and hugged the little man in the polo shirt, "And Menos," doing the same for his brother.
"It is some museum you have here," Mas commented, his thick Spanish accent showing its colours through the thought filled pauses between his words.
"Well thank you, but technically it's not my museum," she turned and grabbed a hesitant Jinx by the arm, dragging her over to the brothers, "It's hers. Mas, Menos, this is Jennifer Hagge, the resident security gal of the Royal Ontario Museum."
Mas and Menos looked at each other before Manos stepped up and took her hand and kissed it chastely, "Ah, then the museum reflects her beauty."
Jinx giggled as she felt and arm slink around her waist. Turning she saw Victor sneak up behind her and puller her against him tightly, his glare burning holes through Menos' head. Menos looked up and gave Vic an innocent smile raising both his hands.
"Morning Menos," he growled, turning to the other brother, "Menos."
Menos simply grinned, revealing his missing tooth, "Buenos días, Senor Stone. Nice to see you again. How long has it been."
"Not long enough," he responded with a viciously fake smile, "I see your English has improved."
"Well, uh, I see you decided to keep that bald look," Menos bit back, sniggering and indicating Victor's bald head. Suddenly, becoming very self-conscious, Vic rubbed his head and looked away.
"Don't worry, though," Mas cut in, "No hair looks good on you." The brothers laughed and high-fived earning an animalistic growl from Vic.
"Right, right. Very funny. You should talk, look at how you two are dressed," Vic looked them up and down giving a satisfied smirk.
Menos just raised an eyebrow and held his arms out turning as if he were modelling his wife beaters and sweats, "You like? It's part of our undercover assignment."
Karen turned to Vic smiling, "Yeah Vic, they're just doing their jobs."
"Whatever," he turned away, disgraced by the brothers' readiness. He mumbled to himself, "Still look like shit if you ask me."
Jinx shot him a sharp elbow to the ribs, "Don't mind him," and reached out to shake the brothers' hands again, "It was nice to meet you Mas, Menos, but I have to get back to my post. I'll see ya 'round."
With that she jerked Victor's arm off of her and made her way back to the Comm Room. Victor's nose flared as he stared the brothers down and chased after Jinx.
"I see he's still sensitive about the pocket revolver incident," laughed Mas.
Menos nodded his head in agreement, "Glad to see things haven't changed."
Karen's face turned from amused to sombre as she got between the two brothers and turned them around, headed for the exit. The brothers looked at each other worriedly behind her.
"Some things have changed boys. What do you say we go and see Roy then we'll brief you on the situation?"
He'd lost her. He just went to the washroom for one minute then, POOF! She was gone. I should've tied her down to the couch or something. Gar grabbed the set of keys that lay on the kitchen counter, only one where there were two. He knew where she was going.
"She's going to work," he murmured to himself as he locked the door behind him, "Damn is she stubborn."
Gar had arranged for Raven to take the day off today, it was all arranged. But Raven, being the workaholic mule that she is, snuck away and went to the museum anyways. He couldn't understand her determination to have absolutely no fun whatsoever. It was like she was programmed to work and push people away. Why anyone in their right mind would not accept a day off was beyond him.
That girl needs to learn how to have some fun, he grinned to himself as he weaved through the melee of busy mid-day Chinese shoppers. And I'm just the guy to show her how.
Raven's black flip-flops clicked against the marble tiles as she walked along the hallowed halls of the ROM. At first glance she might've looked like an ordinary tourist, but those who knew her face would have been shocked by her attire. The always prim and proper Raven Roth was in a pair of faded hip hugging jeans and a dark brown spaghetti strap top which resembled a corset. Around her neck hung a triple looped black pearl necklace and her usually done up hair was let down, framing her makeup-less face. Needless to say, she still looked good.
"Rae?" Startled, Raven turned on her heel to see Jinx stopped dead in her tracks.
"Raven," she began walking towards her boss, a smirk playing on her face, "You look… different, today."
Raven glared back, clearly not amused, "I'm off today, if you must know."
"Well, if you're off. What are you doing here? Don't tell me you like to come here as a tourist in disguise just for fun?"
"No, I remembered a few things at my office that need to be sent out this evening."
Jinx nodded her head patronizingly, "And these 'things' can't wait 'til tomorrow, of course."
"Of course."
"Well then," replied Jinx, a sceptical look on her face, "Carry on, Miss Roth. Gar is right about you."
Raven had just about turned around and was about to make her way to her office when she whipped right around again, caught off by Jinx's last statement.
"Excuse me?"
Jinx put on an innocent smile, "You're excused."
"What did you say? Gar was right about me?" Jinx held her clipboard close to her chest and rocked on her heels, "Jennifer, if you don't tell me now so help me God I'll pull those pigtails right out of your head."
Jinx just leered and pursed her lips, "Feisty are we? Me thinks that Mr. Logan is a touchy subject?"
Raven sighed deeply and tried to regain herself, "Drop the cute stuff Jinx."
"Okay, okay," Jinx laughed, "You know I can't resist it when you're wound up like a clapping toy monkey. Gar just mentioned that you're a bit obsessed with your work."
Raven just made a face and shook her head disbelievingly. She was not obsessed. She just enjoyed her job. Sure she might be bit of a workaholic, but she was not obsessed.
"Relax will ya? Just take it as a compliment. You're… very committed to your work," Jinx rolled her eyes up, "And if that means you don't know how to have fun…"
"I do so know how to have fun." Jinx shot her a look that said, 'Please', "I do so."
"Yes Raven," Jinx nodded seriously, "Because ironing your underwear and preparing your outfits for the next week is just so exciting."
She walked away laughing, "Endless hours of fun."
"What are you doing?" came a voice from the doorway. Raven was hunched over her work and didn't even attempt to look up. She already knew who it was anyways.
"Organising a circus," she replied sarcastically. He rolled his eyes at her and took a seat.
"Oh, is that right? Well, tell me if you need a clown posse." She looked up and met his green eyes, dancing with delight.
"A clown posse?"
"Yeah, every circus needs clowns. And I happen to have a few strings I could pull." He got up and walked behind her, placing his hands on the back of her chair and peering over her shoulder. He grinned as he grabbed the paper she was currently working on.
"This doesn't look like circus work Rae…" He walked off with her paper. She tried to swipe it back but he just held it above her reach as he held her shoulder, pinning her down to her seat. Raven tried to shrug off his hand but he had quite a grip.
"'Memorandum'," he began to read, "'To the Ambassador of West Germany?' West Germany, Rae? I love bratwurst. Deutschland!"
"Garfield," she pleaded, "give it back, I need to finish signing these so they can be shipped off…" she looked at her watch and her eyes widened, "In 5 minutes! Give it back, Gar!"
He played keep away with her for another minute or so before whipping the paper behind his back and leaning down to meet her face, his other hand wrapping around her shoulder.
"Alright, tell you what. How about a trade off," he said as he ignored the death glare she was shooting him, "I will give you back your Memorandum, and you… and I go out tonight. Whad'ya say?"
They held each other's gaze for a bit before Raven sighed in defeat and nodded, holding her hand face up in mid air asking for the paper back. Gar smiled and complied, placing the memo gently into her hands before bowing exaggeratedly.
She grumbled something inaudible as she began her work again. Gar returned to his seat, smirking smugly, "That's right, grrrr, baby, grrr."
"So where are you taking me?" Raven asked as they both got off the streetcar. Raven looked around and saw a familiar sight. Raising an eyebrow she turned to him.
"Back to the apartment? A little… straight forward, don't you think?" He laughed and grabbed her hand, leading her onto the busy street. Raven held back tightly and followed closely, jaywalking was never one of her strong suits.
"No, m'dear. My mind is not in gutter just yet," he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, "Although I'm glad you're already there. Saves the trouble of foreplay for later on." He laughed but was cut off quickly by Raven's fist sharply on his arm.
"So where are going?" He pointed to a small dingy, rat-infested looking restaurant beneath their rented apartment, "Here?"
"Yep. I love this place." Raven looked up to the faded glowing sign above them. Swatow, it read in bold red letters against a light yellow back. Something tells me that wasn't yellow before.
"Gar, this looks like that owner had to bribe the health inspectors to pass. What are we doing here?"
"We're learning how to leap before we look."
Raven raised an eyebrow, "I think you got that backwards."
He shook his head but couldn't seem to manage to shake the smile off his face, "No, I got it right. You need to let learn how to let loose. You don't always have to know what happens next. Throw your inhibitions to the wind and just… trust me."
He looked down at her, his puppy dog green eyes pleading for her to play along, "Okay."
"Great! This place is great, I discovered it when I first came to Toronto and got lost in Chinatown with very little money. I know the owner here, he's great. Doesn't speak much English, but he's real nice."
They both entered the tiny restaurant, Raven looking as if she didn't want to touch the walls in case she contract some disease. Gar gave a nod and smile to the man at the cash register and he came out of his booth, two menus in hand to lead them to their table. There wasn't too much room in the place, a few square tables for couples and two or three round tables for larger groups.
They were stuck at a table by the mirrored wall. Aside from that wall, the rest of the walls were laden with newspaper cut outs of positive reviews for the restaurant and bright neon coloured Bristol boards with Chinese writing on them which Raven assumed to be menus and specials. At first glance the place didn't look like somewhere Raven would be caught dead in. Actually, she might be caught dead there, from food poisoning. Although after much reassurance by Gar that the food was good and the kitchen sanitary, Raven agreed to eat. Gar gladly complied and ordered about half a dozen different things on the menu, most of which contained ingredients that Raven had never heard of. The food came all at once and the only item that she recognised was the large plate of shrimp fried rice. The waiters smiled at them, plopped two small plates along with chopsticks in front of them and left. Gar would pile things onto her plate and tell her how great this tasted with this and how she had to try it. She was quite surprised to find there were a number of things she 'had' to try. The two drank the house tea which, Raven admitted, was actually quite good.
"So what did you think?" Gar asked looking up from his plate.
"The food is good. It does seem to be quite popular," Raven observed. They weren't the only non-Asians there as you might expect at a small time Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. There were a number of tables with couples of varied races, all of them looking quite content with their food.
"I told you," he smiled, "sometimes you have to give things a chance. I mean, you probably wouldn't have looked twice at this place on any given day. Am I right?"
Raven nodded, "Fine, so the lesson for the day is 'try new things?'"
He smiled at her and shook his head, "No, the lesson for today is, learn to live a little, let loose and have fun."
She nodded patronizingly, "Yes, sensei, so what's next on completely 'spontaneous' game plan?"
He just stopped to look into her eyes for a few moments as she waited for an answer. He seemed to quite happy just admiring her eyes, his intense gaze causing her to look away.
"Well, I had originally planned for us to go to the AGO-"
"The Art Gallery of Ontario?" she cut in, "I love the AGO."
"But," he interjected, "I've decided against it."
"Why? I would have loved the AGO."
"That's exactly why. You've probably been there a thousand times. I wanna take you somewhere you haven't been." He got a devious look in his eyes as he leaned into the table as far as he could.
Raven just raised and eyebrow at him, "Oh? And where might that mystery location be?"
His grin grew wider, "I'm taking you…"
Dick pointed a pistol finger at the bartender and tipped his thumb into his mouth, the universal sign for a Beefeater's martini, up, with two olives, and ice cold. He had been swirling the toothpick around in his empty glass for ten minutes, he figured it was about time he got a refill.
The Docks nightclub was one of the cities busiest. Usually filled with over eager couples and freshly legalized kids, the Docks buzzed every night. But what was he doing there? He still wore his business suit although the tie was now undone and hung around his neck and the shirt was unbuttoned right down to the middle of his chest.
The bartended plopped a new drink on front of his as he quickly took a big swig. She leaned in on her elbows and asked, "You look familiar, are you famous?"
Dick looked over his sunglasses and gave her his sure-fire 'prince charming' smile, "You could say that." The girl giggled and pushed off the counter as another customer sat a seat away from him.
"Get me a T&G," came a familiar female voice.
"One tonic and gin comin' up," the bartender flirtingly winked at Dick before going to mix the drink.
"This place is about to lose their liquor licence," came the voice beside him, "So better drink up, Mr. Grayson."
A vein popped on Dick forehead as he closed his eyes, removed his glasses and massaged his temples. Not once looking up to see who it actually was, "What are you doing here?"
"What I can't be a patron at a popular watering hole?"
"Not in this city you can't," retorted Dick, "What are you doing in Toronto, Madame?"
"Actually, little Dickie, I came to see you exhibit," her drink arrived and Dick could hear her take a swig, "I've heard nothing but good things, Mr. Grayson."
"That's swell then," he bit back with as much sarcasm he pump into those three words.
"And, what's more interesting than the exhibit itself, is all of the buzz that seems to be following you, Dick," he could hear the malice in her voice, scraping at the inside of his skull, "A few international thieves, a few wanted criminals, and a dead girl."
He did all he could from strangling her right there.
"I'd say your being here is jeopardizing the people of Toronto, Dick," she took another long sip, "And all for this little show you're putting on. It had better be good, Dick."
"Enough," he snapped at her, putting his glasses back on and turning to meet her gaze, "Now tell me honestly, are you here on business or pleasure?"
She raised a slim eyebrow at his question, "Why, Dick, you of all people should know. My pleasure is my business." He watched as she took a sip of her gin and tonic. She just sat there, teasing him, cross legged, one arm up on the bar the other twirling an unlit cigarette. She was in her usual attire, tight red leather one-piece business suit with a zipper running from her waist to the neckline.
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about, Rouge. I'm not in the mood to play games," he pursed his lips and buttoned up his shirt, "I don't have the time or energy to baby-sit you while you're here. And I suspect very highly that you didn't come all this way to just say hello. Now what do you want from me?"
She reached into the inside of her bra and pulled out a small folded up piece of paper. She placed in on the countertop and with her well manicured finger pushed it towards him.
"I need a favour."
The view from the top was amazing. Yes it wasn't the highest point the city but it was high enough to see the city in all its wonder. Gar had taken Raven to the roof tops. A place he knew quite well.
Right now they sat on the roof of an unknown apartment building on Queen East, somewhere in the vicinity of her loft. They traveled there via various fire escapes, him guiding her along the way. It was taste of what he went through when he went to 'work'. Teaching her a few tricks of the trade, how to find an ideal building as a start off point for instance.
"You know, you don't have to be a thief to roof jump," he said matter-of-factly. She just rolled her eyes and walked to the edge of the roof. He came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her forward a bit. She gave out a small yelp gaining laughs from.
"Why would you do that? What if I fell?"
He turned her around to face him, "I wouldn't let you fall."
"Oh, and I'm supposed to just trust you like that?" Ouch, that stung a little. He just looked into her eyes and nodded slightly.
"You're right," he sighed, "I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry." The look on his face turned from amused to hurt.
She sighed, "No, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean it that way." He smiled at her and gave her a peck of the nose.
"I know." He released her plopped himself down on the edge of the roof with ease, dangling his legs from the edge. She put one foot out and peered over the edge. Sixteen stories. That's a long way to fall.
"You know," Gar began, "if you fell from this height, you'd have enough time to say 'Oh shit, I'm gunna die' 5 times before you hit the ground?"
She looked at him horrified as he let out a laugh, then he held out his hand to her, "Come on." She took it and he slowly guided her onto the edge.
"Okay, no funny business, thief. I'm serious. If I fall, I'll take you with me." He laughed again at her nervousness.
"I'm glad to see the height hasn't faltered your sense of humour," he leaned back on both his palms and looked up.
"Is this the part where you tell me that the view is why you got into stealing?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
He just continued to look up and gave out a small sigh, "No, but this is the reason why I loved it so much."
"Loved?" asked Raven, emphasizing the past tense.
"Okay, that's a lie. Love. I don't really expect to be understood, I mean, wrong is wrong, right?" She looked back at him questionably, not understanding.
"This," he indicated their surroundings, "Is what's familiar to me. It's like home. Even climbing trees takes me back to my roots. Back to my parents. And besides, you get the most beautiful views on rooftops."
"It's like you're separated from everything," she said absentmindedly, peering over her knees to the ground below.
He smiled at her, "Exactly. No one knows you're up here, you're the fourth was; you're privy to people's lives. Exempted from reality, you're even separated from your own."
For a few moments, they shared a quiet moment. Both of them letting the emotions of the busy city overtake them, taking in the implications of what he had just said, the pregnant silence between them.
Suddenly he got a glint in his eyes and gave her a funny look, "Tell me a joke Rae."
She looked at him as if he had just grown a third eye, "A joke?"
"Yeah, a joke. Like this one, knock, knock."
"Who's there?" she answered irritably.
"Banana."
"Banana who?"
"Knock, knock."
"Uh, who's there?" she asked hesitantly.
"Banana," he answered smugly.
She gave an annoyed sigh, "Banana who?"
"Knock, knock."
"Okay, where is this going?" he gave her a pleading look and she rolled her eyes playing along, "Who's there?"
"Orange."
"Orange who?" she asked, relieved with the change.
He got off his palms and leaned right in to her, waggling his eyebrows, "Orange you glad I didn't say banana?" he laughed at his own cleverness while Raven just rolled her eyes at his immaturity.
"Oh come on Raven that was pretty good."
She just looked at him, "No, just annoying."
"Fine," he said, mock pouting, "How about this one: Why did the snail put a giant letter 'S' on his car?"
Raven bit, "Why?"
"'Cause as he drove by, he wanted people to say, 'Look at that escargot!'"
"Raven groaned and rolled her eyes, "Ha ha ha."
"You know, one day you're going to roll eyes and they're gunna get stuck up there," he said laying back again on his palms.
Raven just shook her head, "I roll my eyes because there are no words to describe how corny those jokes are. Besides, what happened to the charming, smart, funny Garfield Logan who took me out to lunch that day?"
He laughed and pulled her down beside him, "He's still here. Why, do you prefer the suave, charming Garfield to the funny, down to Earth Gar?"
He turned to face her and she blushed at their closeness. Raven stared into his eyes saw that the city's lights were dancing against the green. They seemed to be glowing in the darkness.
Right then of all places, she began to wonder about him. How did she actually feel about him? She hadn't known him for very long, and for most of that time she had been so angry with him. He's the most complicated creature I have ever met.
At first he was this incredibly charming, smart, deep thinking millionaire. But as she spent more and more time with him, the less and less he resembled Dick. Which was a great thing. She couldn't quite figure him out; he was kind, sweet, caring and a bit goofy. And at the same time he was a thief, a criminal. Any one who would have met them both would say they were exact opposites. But you know what they say, what with opposites and all that.
"You know what?" she answered back, wrapping an arm around his neck, "I like them both." With that, she leaned in for a kiss and let go. She let go of all the doubts, all her inhibitions, and decided to trust the reformed thief.
Slowly he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her over him. She pulled back slightly and let their noses touch. They both smiled as he leaned up to peck her gently again.
"You're changing the subject Rae," she raised an eyebrow to his statement, "You still haven't told me that joke."
She pounded him affectionately on the chest, "We were having a moment." Raven then got up and began walking towards the fire escape and shouted back, "You ruined it."
Later that night, they moved into the bedroom. Gradually, bit by bit, he didn't want to scare her. She was unlike anyone he ever been with before, and he wasn't about to ruin something so good. He couldn't remember who did what, but clothing fell away and they were somehow on the bed. Neither caring about what might happen tomorrow. She seemed so small. So fragile. As they gave way to sleep, he had his arm around her. When he woke eight hours later in the middle of the night, they were still like that. She felt too good to move. But the little man in the back of Gar's head was getting nervous. What the heck is going here, Gar?
A/N: Awww... they did 'it'! Gar sounds a lot more like Beast Boy in this chapter, I was trying to get back to the roots of the story and bringing the Titans' personas back in.
That last thought that Gar had was his little realization of his 'love' for Raven. It was gay, I know. Three new characters, two if you count Mas and Menos as one. That third character's gunna be a fun little addition to the cast.
Speaking of casts, anyone else think that "A Walk to Remember" is a total RobStar story? The 'grr, baby, grr' comment was a little bit of Austin Powers. If I had to cast a TT movie, I'd have a young Christina Ricci as Raven and a young Devon Sawa as Beast Boy. I mean, have you see them kiss in "Now and Then"? So cute. Or litte Rachel Leigh Cook and Austin O'Brien. Cyborg would be Christopher Massey from Zoey 101, definitely. Any ideas for Robin and Star?
It's almost done. The big job is about to go down and when we hit the bull's-eye, all the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... Checkmate! (Zapp Branigan)