Previous Chapter:
"I think so," he moved to his left and allowed Raven to see. A few faint dots beeped on the corner of Noble and Tulsa.
"What's there?"
"A run down hotel, I think. But it's not the whole squadron. It's a few, probably three or four of their vehicles. Gordon's got to be with them. It's the closest to us."
"So what do you want to do?" He smiled and closed the screen. She knew that face. Robin, the leader, was back.
"Let's go meet up with my father, Ruby."
Chapter Seven:
An elder clerk looked up as he heard footsteps approach the front desk. He placed his pen into the book he kept with him at all times and folded his hands in front of him. A young man and woman looked curiously around his small hotel, taking in the décor he was proud to display out on the small lobby. He cleared his throat.
"May I help you?" he asked, closing his book. The man looked down from the head of the moose decorating the doorway towards the resting area to his right and approached the clerk's desk, grabbing hold of the woman's elbow and lead her with him.
"I believe you can," the young man started, releasing the woman's elbow to place the same arm around her shoulders. She tensed but nonetheless smiled politely at the clerk. "I'm looking for an elder fellow. Goes by the name, 'Ben Kreftan Sr.'? I think he's staying in your hotel." The clerk gazed warily at the couple. They sure looked friendly, but so did serial killers on television.
"Kreftan, you say?"
"Yes, he's my father," the young man pulled out his wallet and handed him his id. He glanced at the picture and up at the young man.
"Ben!" a voice called out, grabbing their attention. An elder well rounded man continued his way down the stairs and rose a hand in greeting. "It's alright Charles! This here's my boy and my future daughter-in-law." He shook Robin's hand and half hugged Raven, who didn't miss the fact Robin had to hide a smile at the gesture.
Or a scowl, she wasn't sure.
Ben Kreftan Sr. faced the man who was named Charles. "She is a looker, ain't she?" Raven's eyes widened. Robin suddenly had to clear his throat. Charles smiled politely.
"Sure, Sure, Mr. Kreftan."
"Well, they're here for a quick visit so we'll head on up now. Come along Ruby," Gordon hugged both Titans and began to lead them up the stairs. Once out of sight, all friendliness dropped. "I sure hope you two have a good explanation as to why you haven't communicated."
"Fried communicators," Raven scowled. Robin nodded aside her, placing on his glasses.
"Fried?"
"Seems Eric pulled out the welcome wagon as we neared city limits," Robin filled in, allowing the Commissioner to start to lead them down the hall to his room. "We made it out fine, but the same can't be said to our communication equipment and the car." Gordon side glanced at him but continued to lead them. They stopped at the end of the hall where Gordon began to open it.
"We've made contact with Eric," Raven stopped him. Gordon did stop, giving her a questioning look, then Robin. Her face gave away nothing, neither did his.
"And?"
"Got him to invite us to a club he's opening tomorrow night. While we're out, your team can move in," Robin continued as Gordon opened the door, allowing the two Titans to walk in. A small group of police officers looked up as they entered.
"Hold on now, move in?" Curious, men looked from their Commissioner to the 'agents'.
"The opening will go on well into the night and as far as we know, the most reliable and trustworthy men will be accompanying him as well," Raven informed, folding her arms.
"This is where we would like you to come in. A good number of the hotel's personnel and guests were invited to the opening. The top floors, mostly, will be gone," Robin picked up, "Eric Bucema's office is on the second to top floor." Gazes were exchanged between officers then looked up at their boss.
"Problem?" Raven questioned. Gordon spared her a glance then began to pace.
Not a good sign.
"No, not really. Just forming a plan to go into the building without us attracting that much attention."
"Bomb squad?" Robin suggested. Raven shook her head.
"Attracts unwanted attention. Plus, Eric must still have some goons guarding his office."
"Now, what exactly are we looking for?" the second in command asked, finally rising. Robin tensed and took a step aside -and in front of- Raven. She spared him a side glance but took no mind.
"Documents. Legal papers linking him to Jump City and Gotham's late narcotic crimes. I'm sure your bound to find his name written all over it," Robin bit out, barely maintaining his voice level down. Raven glanced down, for a split second going still.
'Relax,' her voice entered his mind.
She hadn't performed this method of calming him back at the hotel after Eric because his dangerous hateful thoughts blocked her completely off, giving a serious migraine. Right now, she had taken him by total surprise. His back tensed, but he relaxed his stance and breathed out.
'Stop it,' he commanded, the thought echoing in his mind. He didn't necessarily speak it or meant it for her directly, but it was hard to ignore. So she complied.
"Narcotics?" Stephen asked.
"Yes, and misuse of trust funds of the county," Robin added. Gordon nodded, slapping a friendly hand onto Robin's too tall shoulder.
"Alright. We'll go in, a few at a time, others undercover, and we'll make it up to Eric's room. Count on us," Gordon assured. Robin nodded, mimicked by Raven and the two made their way out of the room.
"Please," Robin mumbled, facing away from her, "Raven, do me a favor and keep out of my head for the remainder of the trip." His request surprised her. She folded her arms and fixed him with a scowl.
"I saved you from exploding back there," she snapped. He whipped around and glared down at her. His nose flared and his breathing picked up in pace but he made no other movement. Raven's struggled to keep a face of indifference but found it hard with his proximity and the small interior of the hall.
"Be that as it may," he continued after a while, softer, "I need to keep things to myself, here. I do need some privacy."
'What have you to hide?' a voice yelled in her head.
'What doesn't he?' screamed another. She shook them from her subconscious with a shake of her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Fine," she mumbled. He nodded, relaxing dramatically and brushed a few strands away from his face. He spared her an apologetic glance at her before making her way down the hall. She sighed and uncrossed her arms.
She was seriously going to drive herself mad in this mission.
'I should have said no,' she scolded herself mentally, 'I knew this was going to be effecting my better judgment and control when around him. Why? Why did I accept?'
Sparing the room the police were in a moment's glance, she followed her leader's footsteps down the hall and out to their newest rental.
Robin realized his current predicament topped the one he had faced at Gordon's.
Raven was frozen in what he thought was terror.
He was pretty nervous about it too.
"I take the bed," she interrupted his thoughts.
"Wait, what?" he asked, looking up at her, sitting down on the mattress to take off her shoes. He couldn't blame her. Those heels looked like they could kill. She sent him a steamed glared and rubbed her feet before going to the closet.
"Sorry Robin. Regardless of rank here," she called from the closet as he peeled off his jacket and shoes, "Women get the privileges of choosing first." He smirked.
"I think your forgetting who was the one who stood awake the whole trip here to Trinity and who slept in her seat," he countered as soon as she stepped out. She had changed from her formal getup she had slipped on to see Gordon, to jogging black pants and matching tank.
He tore his gaze from her current wardrobe and cleared his throat.
"Yeah, yeah. No excuse. A woman needs her beauty sleep," he gave her a look of disbelief, "And I just happen to be a woman."
'That, you can tell from a mile away,' he couldn't stop the thought from entering his mind. Thank heavens Raven had promised to keep out of it.
"Stop being a feminist, Rae and let a man get his sleep," he made his way to the closet and changed himself into similar sleeping clothes. Excluding the tank, for which he opted to going with a T-shirt. She sent him a scowl as soon as he stepped out.
"Excuse me?" she snapped, sitting down. Raising his chin in defiance, he walked swiftly to the opposite side of the mattress and while maintaining her gaze with his, he too sat down on the mattress. She instantly rose. "Robin!" In some part of his subconscious, he heard Cyborg's voice pleading him to be a gentleman and take the equality comfortable looking couch a few feet away.
But teasing Raven was being too much fun right now.
He probably shouldn't be doing this. In fact, he shouldn't be doing this. But he desperately needed to take his mind off of Eric if for just a second.
Plus, she seemed to be in a playing mood.
"Yes?" he countered, lifting the sheets from the bed and allowing his feet to go in first before lying down.
Her face was priceless.
Coincidently, the bedside lamps exploded, surrounding either side in comfortable darkness. He could hear her harsh breathing and the undertone of her chanting mantra. Funny, he could have sworn she had left that habit a while back. He shook his head. He needed to be paying more attention to his friends and teammates more often. He could still make out her shaking fists at her side as she tried to calm down.
One of the lights in the closet exploded.
She wiped at her face with a hand and glared at him. Funny how a look could still be felt even in darkness.
"Get. Out!" she growled.
"Nah," he countered, settling himself more comfortably.
"Robin, please," she tried again. How she hated pleading! But if this hotel wanted to keep their light fixtures intact, then he needed to move the hell out! He picked up her pleading tone but bit down the will to back down.
"We need sleep for tomorrow, Rae. Suit yourself if you want to remain the rest of the night just standing there, staring at me sleep." He paused, "As a matter of fact, I rather you didn't. I have this thing where I don't like to be stared at when I sleep." He heard her muffle a sort of scream and smiled despite himself.
Abruptly, she sat on her side of the bed, facing away from him.
The aura sizzled with foreign electricity as her fingers placed themselves at the front of her head and swiftly passed over her whole head, turning her oddly black hair back to its original color. He found himself unable to look away as she passed a hand over her face and exposed skin, including her arms, changing the pigment of her skin to her normal color.
"Stop staring," she snarled. He smirked and fluffed his pillow.
In an instant, she mimicked his movements and slipped into the bed, facing away from him. He fought hard to keep the smile from his face but lost. He settled in too, staring up at the ceiling.
"Well, goodnight, Rae." He yawned, realizing he really was tired and closed his eyes. A sudden thought occurred to him.
And he thought it fair to warn her. "Oh and Rae?"
"What?!" she mumbled venomously.
"I tend to have a habit to cuddle in the middle of the night and-" in a blink of an eye, she stood up from the bed and without sparing him a glance, sped to the large couch.
He rose, sighing. "Oh, come on Raven. I was only teasing!" She returned promptly, picked up her pillow and glared at him.
Suddenly, a devilish smile crossed her face. W-Wait he knew that look...
She fisted the covers and with un-foretold strength, pulled them from him, somehow making him roll over and fall to the ground. He managed to muffle his surprised yell- in order to not give her the satisfaction she wanted of hurting him. Wrapping the covers up into a manageable bundle of cloth, she turned on her heel and made her way to the couch.
He looked up as soon as he stopped hearing her footsteps and rose onto his knees, leaning forward on the mattress. He sighed.
'Great. Way to go, Robin!' he scolded himself and stood up.
"Raven-"
"Goodnight!" she all but yelled and turned off the light in her area. He sighed, slightly irritated at himself for letting this get out of hand, and stubbornly let himself fall onto the bed.
"Goodnight!" he called back. Really. He was just trying to lighten the mood. Even since she'd learned of the room accommodations, her actions were ...'suspicious'.
But it was Raven. Enigma was like her 'middle name'. He frowned and settled into the familiar position he normally slept in.
Fine. If she was going to be stubborn, two could play at that game.
'-No, stay away from her!'
'-Mom!'
'-I'll never leave you alone!'
'-What have you done?! You swore an oath!' (Please look at footnote at the bottom of the fanfiction)
Raven awoke. Her breath was labored. She wiped at the slight perspiration on her forehead and swallowed. More nightmares. Great.
At least, that was still the same.
Suddenly, coming to her senses, she felt the lack of un-comfort she expected from sleeping a whole night on the couch. She rose her head and blinked twice to make sure she was in the right place.
"What the...?" she whispered. She rose to a sitting position, pulling the sheets with her as she did. She tucked her hair away from her face and tried to look beyond her sleeping area for her irritable leader.
How the hell had she gotten to the bed in the middle of the night?!
She stood up and left the sheets in her wake. She stopped herself short as she caught sight of Robin. His longer legs hung over the side of the couch, his head delved into several sheets of comforters, his pillow long fallen to the floor. And she couldn't help but notice the ...cute...small trail of drool that managed to come out of his mouth in his sleep.
She had to physically stop her hand from slapping herself.
'Cute!?' what the hell was she thinking? She shook her head and gazed out into the wall/window. The sun hadn't risen yet and the city still looked like it was stuck in 'night city' mode. Glancing at him again, she made her way to the window spot Robin had taken hours before.
Somehow, her eyes made their way back to his sleeping form. His foot twitched. She smiled softly but caught her reflection on the window. What was wrong with her? This infatuation of him was going over the line and into dangerous territory. And she really needed to put a stop to it before it really got out of hand and it would end up hurting them both.
Especially, when Robin was confronting Eric at the moment.
"I told you I don't like to be stared at when I'm sleeping," a voice broke her from her thoughts as Robin woke, groaning as he rubbed his stiff neck.
"Morning Sleeping Beauty," she sarcastically greeted as she pointed to her own side of her mouth, opting as a mirror to his own face. He took the hint and wiped. He grumbled under his breath and sat up to crack his neck.
"Sleep okay?" he asked, glaring. She rose her chin in response, crossing her arms.
"I slept great! That bed is comfortable," she answered and walked back to the closet.
"Glad you liked it," he spoke loudly after her, picking up the pillow. He finally allowed the smile he had wanted to wear to show.
He was sure Raven was blushing the whole time she rushed to her closet.
"Robin," she called for his attention, "Plan to socialize with Eric today?" He left his smile disappear and stood up.
"Not if I can help it. We'll be meeting him as scheduled."
"Okay." She paused, then shook her head as she headed to the bathroom. A knock came to the door. Robin fisted his discarded glasses from the floor and placed them on, making his way to the door.
"Yes?" he greeted.
"Morning sir," a waiter maneuvered a large cart into the room topped with covered plates and the stereotypical flower in a vase on one corner. "Your complementary breakfast." Robin nodded, uselessly trying to comb his fingers over his hair. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you-," he read the name plate, "-Mark, but from now on, the Mrs. and I will go down for breakfast and there's no need to bring it up here to the room." No need for surprise finding by the employees. Mark paused -'Why the heck is this guy wearing sunglasses indoors?'- as he caught sight of the gadgets, web camera, and laptop on the desk to his left. He paused and glanced at the bed.
'Nice, role playing fantasies!' the waiter smiled. Robin's eyes widened, interpreting the look on the man's face.
"Woah, now, it isn't what you think-!"
"I did not question anything, sir," Mark replied, probably the answer he was paid to say when employed by the hotel, and made his way to the door. "Good day." Robin weakly nodded in reply and slammed the door closed. He thunk-ed his head against the door repeatedly.
"Did I... miss something?" Raven asked, now emerging from the bathroom. She walked to the closet, dry toweling her hair.
"Not much," Robin stopped his self torture and sat down on the chair nearest him. Raven released her hair and faced him.
"So what now?" Robin leaned back into the chair and sighed.
"Now, we wait."
Eric looked up into the sunrise. His eyes flashed as they caught the sun light.
"It could have been worse," a voice sympathized behind him. He lowered the sleeves of his business suit shirt and turned.
"Please, tell me how so?" the voice's owner stood from the shadows to reveal the woman he had had dinner with last night.
"You could have stayed dead."
Eric couldn't help it.
Laughter erupted from him, scaring the woman at its suddenness. He slammed his hands on his desk to keep his shaking body steady. He gasped for breath to recuperate. All while withholding no laughter in his eyes.
"How is making a deal with that ...devil ...boss of your, better than my death!?"
They were now having lunch, having grown slightly bored by just maintaining tabs on Eric's most visited locations. The man himself, they had seen, had entered his office in the floors Robin had informed the Commissioner it was, but hadn't emerged.
"...I heard you screaming last night," Robin started. Raven looked up from her food and swallowed.
"What?" she questioned, warily. He was one to talk. Sometimes he hardly let her sleep when his mind was too troubled in his sleep that it awoke her own. He fixed her eyes with that look of concern that make her skin crawl.
How she hated those puppy dog eyes he pulled!
She glared down at her fork. Hmmm, it looked awfully tempting to pick up and stick it into someone's face.
She shook the thought away.
"Are they back?" he mumbled.
"Are what back?" she countered. She took a sip of her orange juice and decided to stuff some more toast into her mouth.
"Your NightMares," he swallowed, "The ones that haunted you in your sleep in the coming of your Father and afterwards." Really, how could she forget? She paused, looking for an excuse, he reasoned.
"No."
"Then-"
"What? Can't I have regular nightmares?" he fixed her with a look of disbelief. She sighed and looked away, leaning on her arm on the table top, her chin in her palm. She casually glanced over the crowded lunch area.
And caught sight of a woman's gaze. At first she thought nothing of it.
But then she waved at Raven.
Raven looked away. Robin was still staring at her. She looked away and saw the woman prompting her husband to stand up. They were making their way towards them!
"Robin!" she whispered, slightly hiding behind her propped-up arm. Robin, bemused, stared at her.
"What's wrong?" He glanced around. He too saw the couple. He stiffened. They had maintained a distance from socializing with others in fear of saying too much or something that might incriminate them and let it get around to Eric's ears. "You know them?" he asked. She looked up and glared.
"I don't do people, Robin!" she whispered harshly, "I don't socialize! How the hell would I know-"
"Hi guys!" The woman greeted. Both Titans smiled simultaneously.
"Hello," greeted Robin, extending a hand. The husband shook it, mimicked by Raven and the wife.
"I'm sorry to disturb your lunch, dears," the woman apologized, pulling up a chair. Robin could almost make out the small cry of protest that died at Raven's throat. The husband pulled up a chair as well. "But I couldn't help but notice you just moved in into the hotel!"
"Yes," Raven bit out, wearing a strained smile, "Ben and I are here, in our," she gave him a side glance and grasped his hand over the table, "Pre-honeymoon break, you could say."
"Aw, see now Albert!" the woman nudged her husband's shoulder, "We should have had one." Robin gave a polite chuckle, giving Raven's hand a squeeze. She gave that smile again, opting to go for the orange juice instead of talking.
"And I hear you folks got invited by Eric to that club he opened up!" The husband filled in. Robin gave Raven a side glance as she placed down the glass.
Wow. News sure flew around here.
"Yes, we met yesterday during dinner and he invited us to its premier."
"How lucky! We've been trying to get invited for ages!" the wife joked. Raven rolled her eyes. If it weren't because they were going to supervise Eric himself, she would have gladly handed over those tickets. Robin inwardly growled. How could anyone be trying to associate themselves with that-that man!? He glanced down at his watch. A few hours to go.
"I'm sorry folks. We have to get going," Robin excused as he rose, followed promptly by Raven. He shook the woman's hand as did the husband's. The husband flinched as Robin shocked his hand. "Woah, sorry there. I do that a lot," Robin apologized. "I've been shocking people all morning." A polite chuckle rang out. Raven gave a sympathetic nod and both left the over cheerful couple in the lunching room.
"Robin, do you think they're affiliated with Eric?" Raven tried, dropping her smile. Robin dropped his as well as they gave themselves room. Raven briefly closed her eyes as another shudder rand down her spine at his closed proximity. Maybe, these shudders, had something to do with anxiety either felt?
"I'm not sure." He pulled out the small screen like gadget she had seen him attach to the computer, "But I placed a small microchip into either one's palms, just in case." Raven side glanced at him through the small shield of her hair.
"The shock you gave them?" He pulled back his long sleeve to reveal a small pincer like thing attached to his wrist. She shook her head. "You and Cyborg spend too much time looking up the weirdest things."
"Weird things that have saved us time to time," she couldn't help but agree. They turned a corner and stopped. Eric made his way down the main spiral staircase, followed by the men who he had dined with. Eric rose his head in time to catch his gaze with Robin's. He sent them a smile, a small raised hand wave, and continued on his way out side of the hotel.
"Where is he going so early?" Raven questioned, grasping his hand unintentionally.
But neither seemed to take notice.
"Dunno. Men like him have business elsewhere, always." He began to lead them towards the elevators again. Suddenly, Raven stopped in mid step as a sharp pain burst into her temples. She groaned, releasing his hand. "Rae?" She grunted as she rose both hands to shield her face. "Raven?"
"Sir?" Robin turned sharply as he heard the receptionist's voice. "Is everything alright?" Robin glanced back at Raven, who suddenly began to sway on her feet. In an instant, he grasped her arms and leaned her body onto his. He glanced back at the receptionist.
"She's fine. She's faint, is all." He leaned most of her light weight onto his and maneuvered them towards the elevators. He elbowed the button for them to open the door, which promptly did, and ushered them in.
"Great," the receptionist mumbled, sighing heavily as she returned to her task. Not only did she managed to catch that hunk of a man, but she managed to get pregnant with his child too?! Only that could explain the sickness
Robin glanced down anxiously at Raven's trembling form. What was wrong with her?
"Raven?" he tried again. She seemed to wince strongly at his voice and tremble harsher. He swallowed as the elevator finally opened up again at their door. He half carried her to their room and struggled to open the door with the card. He kicked the door open and quickly sat her onto the chair. She recoiled at his sudden lack of contact as he ran to close the door. He returned quickly, however.
"..." She couldn't form words, but she continued to be in pain. The roots of her hair returned to their original color as her pigment of skin begun to become fainter. Robin placed himself in front of her chair, sitting on the ground.
"Raven? What's wrong?" He felt himself panic. Time seemed to go too slow for him, watching her recoil into a ball of inner pain.
In a blink of an eye, however, she gasped as she leaned back into the chair. Instantly, he grasped her face in his hands and made her face him.
"Rae? Raven?" Her eyes couldn't maintain themselves in a single thing for long as she wildly looked around the room.
"Robin?!"
"I'm right here!" he assured. Finally, she made contact with his eyes, now bare as he had thrust-ed his glasses away in the hurry. She swallowed, waiting for her agitated breath to allow her to speak.
"R-Robin..." she whispered, pained, "I ...I think we're facing something bigger than Eric here." His fingers tensed around her face, but did not harm her. He neared her face, prompting her to make herself clear.
"What do you mean Raven? What happened?"
"Something...attacked my subconscious. I-I didn't see it coming. Azarath, it hurt!" she winced as she remembered. He gently wiped away the few beads of sweat from her brow with his thumbs, making them avoid falling into her eyes. "...Robin..."
"Yes?"
"Eric is in league with something...a meta-human... something not of this world..."
A/N: Shorter than the previous ones but now you know what's going on. Sorry for the late update.
NOTICE: The reviewer whom figures out to whom the thoughts/dream belong to get a price from me... a fanfiction of their choice (of course...if they want it)! And yes, each line is a different character/person and they have to be all correct. If not, then the one with the most correct wins! And the character/answers have to be in order, not randomly mentioned. Like, line to belongs to (blank), etc. Okay? Anyone wanna take a swing at it? No? Well, hope you enjoyed the update anyways!!