Chapter 2: Waiting on a Bird
Oh goodness, friends. This refurbishing project is going to be much harder than I thought. Get ready for inexplicably hormonal teenagers with weird internal dialogue and plenty of irrationality along the way. Maybe after this is all said and done with, I'll actually go write a completely new story to prove I'm not a lost cause as a writer.
To keep the intergrity of the original, here are the "extra special shoutouts" from 2005: Bobalina and the Schizophrenic Margarita. If you're out there, know that I have not forgotten you!
As they raced out to the garage, Cyborg quickly relayed the mission information.
"He's on a boat out by the oil rig. Nothing stolen yet, but the crew has abandoned ship."
"Good, no civilian involvement," Beast Boy stated.
"Wow, Beast Boy. That was actually a smart observation," Raven quipped. Robin smirked.
"A boat? All right, Titans, listen up. Cyborg, you take the T-Car. Starfire and Beast Boy, you guys fly and see if we can't get some aerial surveillance while we're en route. One of you will get Cyborg from the ferry lot over to the pier. Raven, you're coming with me on the R-cycle," Robin ordered. Raven shot him a look.
"Why the R-cycle? Can't someone carry you or something? Or just take the T-car?"
"Too long a ride. I need you to help the R-cycle fly like what you did with Cyborg's car, and I want both vehicles just in case: T-car at the ferry lot, R-cycle out on the pier. This is Slade, after all."
"Whatever." Raven clearly wasn't convinced.
Cyborg glanced at Robin with a knowing smile. Robin glared right back sending the message to shut it. So what if he maybe had an ulterior motive with the R-cycle… he still wanted both vehicles on the scene. It was logical. Or so his leader brain reasoned. Cyborg shrugged and jumped into the T-car. The tires squealed as he shot off with Starfire and Beast Boy close behind. Robin tossed a black helmet at Raven and climbed on the motorcycle.
"Do I really have to ride that thing?" she stated darkly. Robin hid a smile as he patted the seat behind him.
"Yes and nothing is going to change that so stop complaining and get on. We're wasting time."
"Fine. But I'm in front. If you need me to lift the motorcycle, I have to be close to the controls." And stop your driving skills from killing us, she added in silent afterthought. Robin scooted back on the seat and she carefully climbed on in front of him. He moved back up behind her and grabbed the handlebars. As his chest pressed against her back, an oil can in the background exploded. Raven grimaced and adjusted her grip on the handlebars, leaning forward slightly. Robin revved the bike.
Maybe she likes me too… was Robin's last thought before they shot off towards the oil rig and Slade.
"I still don't see the logic of having this stupid machine out on the pier with us when a perfectly safe car with perfectly wonderful seatbelts will only be a mile away at the ferry lot," Raven yelled over the wind as Robin maneuvered them through the evening traffic. He rolled his eyes. This was the fourth time she had said something like that.
"Trust me, Rae. If something happens, a mile will seem a lot more manageable with this on the pier."
"But we can fly! And Slade won't even be out on the stupid pier. We have to go to a stupid boat for this."
"Just shut it," Robin grumbled. He felt Raven let out a huff, her back hitting his chest lightly as she sulked as best she could. The bike rounded the last corner and they saw Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy flying out across the ferry crossing towards the pier. In the distance, the oil rig rose out of the water.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos," Raven sighed out. The bike glowed black and Robin slowly let go of the controls as the bike rose into the air and across the water.
As Raven set the motorcycle down on the end of the pier, she saw Cyborg staring at them. "What," she said defensively.
"Oh, nothing…" Cyborg said with a small smile on his face. She realized Robin's arms were still wrapped around her waist from the short flight across the water. She quickly jumped up off the motorcycle and glared at Robin. He leaned back on his hand and smiled at her. That damn cocky smile… it made her knees weak. She threw the helmet at his chest and triumphantly smiled as he caught it with a quiet oof.
Stupid emotions. I don't like him. I don't, I can't. I don't like Robin! She saw a column of water burst up through the boards a few yards behind Robin and glared. Dammit, she thought before turning and jogging towards the rest of the group, ignoring Cyborg's smug face.
"The boar is in that direction." Starfire pointed proudly at an object in the distance.
"Boat, Star." Robin joined them. "Okay, team. Let's take him down fast and hard. See if we can't take him by surprise for once. Starfire, take Cyborg. Beast Boy you're scouting solo up ahead. Raven, I'm going to need another lift," Robin directed.
"You are so very subtle, Robin," Cyborg whispered into his ear. Robin elbowed him in the chest.
"Friend Robin," Starfire said, interrupting his silent argument with Cyborg. "Why is it that I must take friend Cyborg? I always transport you to the place of battle." Starfire batted her eyes at Robin.
Yeah 'cause you freakin' grab me before I can protest and I'm tired it... Robin cleared his throat. "You're the strongest because of you alien strength, Star, and Beast Boy is the only one who can go ahead undetected."
"But, Raven-" she began to protest.
"-is carrying Robin because he insists and you're stronger than me. Can we please go now?" Raven sighed. Starfire can be so overbearing. What an act…
"And thank you, Raven. Titans, GO!" Robin yelled. Starfire grabbed Cyborg rather roughly while muttering under her breath about clorbag varblernelks and something else in a language nobody understood.
"Girls are weird," Beast Boy said before taking off as an eagle. He would change into a fly when he was closer. Robin turned to Raven.
"Alright Rae, you've seen Starfire do this enough to know what to do."
"It's not exactly rocket science, Bird Boy," she muttered, glad that her face was in shadow. She had a bad feeling there was some sort of blush creeping onto her face at the idea of HER carrying ROBIN at HIS suggestion. Another water column shot up into the air nearby.
"Um," Robin looked a little worried as Raven squeezed her eyes tight and muttered her incantation under her breath.
Fine, stupid emotions, fine! It's a crush. She couldn't have this turning into a Wicked Scary fiasco. Though it had felt so nice when Robin wrapped his arm around her waist in that elevator shaft… Stop, she mentally slapped herself. She turned around to see Robin staring at her with that cocky grin planted firmly on his lips. Those beautiful, kissable lips… nothing exploded.
"Arms out, Bird Boy," she said as she began to float in the air. Robin turned and she scooped him up, glad her hood was firmly in place despite the wind. Robin looked up at her graceful form flying through the air. Where Starfire flew like a rocket, Raven flew like a bird. Her grip was gentle but firm, her hands much smaller than Starfire's, but despite the noticeable strength difference, he knew he was just as safe. Robin looked back towards the boat. This, he decided, was a much better means of transportation. But now it was time to deal with Slade.
Over on the boat, a shadow watched the incoming formation with a thin smile.
'That's right, my little bird, come to me. I've been waiting for you."
Oh look at this, two new chapters in one night! This is fun. I miss writing these characters. Cheers!