Chapter 18

Raven POV

I realize sitting in the back porch of my house may appear cliché and depressing but it's where I can safely avoid seeing Robin's window and if he's come home yet. The cool night wind should be helping me feel better but the mosquitoes that keep buzzing past my ear just makes me irritated.

I hear a rustle in the bushes and an even bigger mosquito has decided to grace me with his presence.

"Heh, I gotta tell you kid, your mom is something"

I give him my trademark blank stare but Bruce Wayne is not fazed. He continues on taking a seat right next to me.

"I normally like women younger than me..."

"Girls really..." I put in

"...but your mom ages like wine"

"Please stop..."

"I mean I hate guns. Ugly killing tools but when I saw her holding it. It was kind of like Lara Croft on her. You kids still know who Lara Croft is?"

"Begging you to stop and yes, tomb raider is still cool"

"Awesome" Bruce nods

"Bruce! I'm kind of trying to sulk in peace" I groan burying my head into my knees

"Oh, coz you dumped Wally?"

My head shoots up like lightning.

"How did you..."

"How'd I know? I'm the world's greatest detective. Did I not solve the case of that missing cat?"

"Robin told me the cat's owner was hot and you hid the cat yourself to come out the hero."

"Pfft, he's never been a good story teller. So is it?"

"Yes"

"Do you regret it?"

"I regret not doing it sooner"

"Ouch, a little chillier than I'm use to and I've felt the cold from a few girls myself"

"I mean, if I had done it sooner maybe it wouldn't have hurt him so much"

"Why didn't you then?"

I sigh. I've thought about that a lot.

"Because...it was addicting. Wally's love, his attention, affection it felt good."

"But..."

I took a moment wondering how to explain it to someone other than a faceless friend on the internet.

"That horrible movie, A Ruby Heart"

"I love that movie!"

I look to Bruce utterly shocked.

"Nothing gets girls more in the mood, if you know what I mean"

"Ew. Anyway, it's a terrible movie but I was channel surfing one time and I saw an interview with that lead actor and that girl who played the lead after the accident. She's not pretty at all and I say that objectively.

"Kate Godwin"

"Huh?"

"The actress, anyway?"

"Anyway, the guy in the story..."

"Cliff Steele"

I pause to look at Bruce, silently admonishing him for interrupting me.

"Hey, a story is easier to tell when the characters have names"

"Fine. So I saw them on this show both being interviewed and apparently they really are dating in real life. The girl, Kate she's not pretty but she answered the interviewer's questions really well and she was just so charming it's like you could tilt your head sideways and go, 'Oh, I guess she is pretty'. If you look at the guy, Cliff when she's talking, he just stares at her with this look of utter bliss on his face. And I thought...I would give anything to have someone look at me like that. Then I realized that Wally does look at me like that I just don't notice. Then I realized that Wally deserves to have someone look at him like that"

I take a cautious Bruce peek at Bruce who has a surprisingly serious face. I must admit it feels good to let it off my chest but knowing Bruce, this won't last long any second he'll ruin this moment by saying something like...

"So this has nothing to do with the fact you're in love with Robin"

Robin POV

Watching Die Hard wasn't much of a marathon because Donna came back half way through the movie with sushi.

"This is chick food!" Roy complains.

"Donna, is this fish..."Garth starts sheepishly opening a box of katsu

"Nope, that's pork. I remember" Donna says ignoring Roy.

"Why does he get katsu and I get this?" Roy asks holding up a carton of California maki

"Because he doesn't eat anything from the ocean" Donna states

"I know he doesn't but why didn't you get katsu for me or gyudon or something manlier than this rolled up stuff?"

Donna sighs and hands me my box which had tempura and rice in it.

"Thanks" I smile

"Oh, c'mon!" Roy rants.

Wally I was glad to see had not lost him appetite.

The rice sits heavy in all our stomachs even in Roy's who eventually gives in and eats his maki. We shut off the green lantern who brought with us and allowed our stuffed states lull us into sleep. I woke to darkness. My mouth still tasted of deep fried shrimp and I wish I had had the foresight to bring my tooth brush like the others.
My eyes adjusted to the moonlight and I notice that Garth and Wally were missing. Without the buffer between Roy and Donna vanished as well and in her sleep she had cuddled into his embrace. Strange as it sounds, I feel like I've memorized how my friends are when they sleep and Roy snores. His silence in his slumber told me he was awake. I made my way out of the tree house. With each step down the ladder I swear I could hear Roy's heart beat pounding harder and louder. When Donna wakes she'll probably break that arm he has around her. I wonder whether he'll choose to let go before she wakes up.
I see car beams in the distance and I make my way towards Wally and Garth. They appeared to be having a heart to heart which struck me as kind of odd considering Wally and Garth aren't as close as he and I am.
I have to admit I was a little hurt about not being chosen but maybe Garth just woke up when Wally decided to talk it out. I inch a little closer to let them know of my presence.

"Maybe she's just needs space now...she could want to get back together after some time has passed" I hear Garth say gently.

"No, man that's just not going to happen"

"Wally..."

"She said she's been thinking about it for some time now. This wasn't some sudden decision caused by stress or whatever...besides Raven's in love with someone else"

A/N: