Previous Chapter:
"...Robin..."
"Yes?"
"Eric's in league with something...a meta-human... something not of this world..."
Chapter 8:
He had managed to convince her to get some rest before they actually got ready for Eric's big premier. He stood over her napping form on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. This was turning out harder than he had anticipated. And now, with what ever it was that had invaded Raven's mind in the cards, all previous planning was thrown out the window. Of course, subconsciously he knew that something had had to been up if Eric was back. Back from where he'd sent him years ago. Back from –
Raven moaned softly as she woke. She blinked, paused, then shifted her gaze towards Robin's. She lifted her head slowly and glared up to him.
"When you said you didn't like to be watched while you slept, the feeling was mutual," she bit out. Slowly, she braced her weight on her fore arms and sat up. He smiled and brought over the chair from the computer desk.
"How you feeling?" he asked. She looked up from her currently barred feet and studied his face. He felt no sense of her mind diving into his own and felt a sense of gratitude she had kept her word. If only she knew what was going on inside it right now.
"I'm fine. I was taken by surprise, is all."
"It took us both by surprise," he assured, and leaned back, sighing, into the chair. The clock ticked loudly as the room was filled with comforting silence. "The staff came by, concerned by the little display we played out on the lobby." The memory of it made her slightly wince. Out of embarrassment or pain, he wasn't sure. "I managed to order you some tea, however. Since room service kept popping by." She hmm'ed and maneuvered her legs over the edge of the bed, facing away from him. She sighed loudly. "Do you know what it is?" he asked after a while.
"I'm not sure." She rose and pulled off the sweater she'd been wearing, wiped at her brow and headed to the bathroom.
"Are you sure you –"
"I'm fine," she reminded tensely and closed the door. Sighing, he rose and neared the computer screen. He woke the monitor up and supervised the area. Gordon's troops were slowly but surely on the move. He glanced at the clock. An hour to go before the big grand opening.
"Rae," he started, "An hour to go. We better get ready." He heard the sink tap turn on then off, followed by her opening the door. Out walked Ruby, the black haired fiancée of his.
"Let's go," she stated, walking towards the closet. He smirked.
--
"Is everything ready for tonight?" Eric asked his man at his right. He nodded, remaining silent in the small limo.
"Why so tense, Eric?" a man asked him, garbed in an expensive Armani suit, shrouded in the darkness of the opposite end of the limo carriage. Eric looked up and glared slightly.
"Tense? Why would I be tense?" he asked, settling more comfortably into the leather seats of the exclusive ride to the club. The slightness signal of the lamp lights aligned with the streets beamed through the double tinted glass panes of the car. An eerie single beam of neon green decorated the edges of the carpeted floor of the back. Shadows danced in rhythm of the bumps on the concreted streets. The woman to his left leaned a bit further closer to the window, staring blankly out.
"You know what happens if you happen to fail," the man assured him. Eric glared venomously at him.
"You've made it clear enough."
"I hope so. You saw what occurred with the young beauty in the arms of your enemy? She was not normal, not human, my dear boy. You on the other hand, are. She was able to..break through my restrains before I was able to accomplish my goals but the human mind is a fragile thing, Eric." He smirked, slightly sharpened teeth gleaming with the eerie green glow. The woman besides him tensed. "It breaks," he snapped his fingers, "Like that."
--
"No...way..." Raven growled from within the closet. Robin stopped, mid way of tucking in his white undershirt into his dress pants. He made a move towards the doors. "No, don't come in!" Raven warned. He felt a chill run up his spine as he was sure she felt go up hers.
"What's wrong? Is it back again?" he asked, fisting and re-fisting his hands at his side. Why wouldn't she allow him near her? Clearly she was in pain.
"N-No...it-it's just that..." she sighed, resigned, making him released some of the tension from his back. She sounded frustrated.
"Then? What is it?" he asked again. He continued to zip up his pants and leaned over to grab his shirt. A small packet fell to the floor, grabbing his attention. He picked it up and instantly panicked. He all but ran to the desk aside the bed and stuffed the condom into the desk's drawer. How the hell had that gotten into his jacket!? He heard the quick zip of a zipper of a plastic or rubber bag and a frustrated growl.
"Do we have to go formal...-ish?" he rose a brow at this and nodded, even though she didn't see him.
"Yes, believe it or not, it has a dress code," he mimicked her sigh as he picked up his red tie. He then heard the mumble of a curse in a foreign language and was pretty sure it held Starfire's name in there. "What happened, Rae?" he asked, yet again.
"Nothing, nothing! ...I'm coming out. But I'm going to need your help," she had been livid at the beginning of her reply, then oddly had taken a shy tone of voice. That peaked his interest and hurried to button up his dress up black shirt. The door to the closet opened up and Raven's shadow cascaded down the carpeted floor. Pausing for a second, she sighed and walked out, her hands attempting to hold up the material up front that made up her small cocktail dress. And what a dress! "What?!" she snapped, waking him from a sudden daze.
"Nothing. I- you surprised me," he excused and walked around to face her back. He found himself swallowing.
"Just zip it up and lets get this over with. I hate dresses," she growled. 'Can't imagine why,' he thought as he vigilantly touched the bottom part of the zipper and began to zip it upwards. Briefly, he felt a subdued pulsating sensation of their bond appear between his shoulder blades and shimmer down his back but it was gone before he could savor it. "Done?" she asked.
"Yea," he quickened his pace and finished. Goodness knew why he was postponing the moment. Clearing his throat, he walked around her. "Did I hear you curse Starfire in the closet?" he changed the topic.
"You heard correctly," she snapped and walked back into the closet. She rose her voice, "She took what I had packed to wear for a special occasion ...like this one." He looked up and smiled.
"Yea?"
"Yes, and used the pretense of visiting me to give me this ...this gift !" He chuckled and finished cleaning up. He snapped on his watch and glanced back at the closet's open door. Silently, he fisted something from his bag – he'd taken out of the closet room before Raven had invaded it – and tucked it into his pocket. Robin again checked the time.
"It's just like Star to do something like that to you, Raven," he distracted as Raven, rather Ruby emerged again. She placed on low-heeled dress shoes, for stability's sake, and looked up at him. And he couldn't have been more thankful that Starfire had done what she had done. Taking Raven out of her comfort clothes, she looked stunning in the black thigh-length sleeveless dress. Simple in design, he noted, but elegant. 'And sure gives a pleasant view,' he admired, shamelessly in his mind.
"Well, don't you look out of place?"
"What?" he glanced down at his suit. "Don't like?" Actually, he thought he looked rather dashing with an all black set up minus the protruding blood red tie.
"You look like you're wearing a monkey suit," she teased, raising her brows as she neared the computer desk.
"Monkey suit?"
"Never mind. Where's Gordon?" she asked, re-waking the monitor. He cleared his throat and neared her.
"In position. We signal his entrance when we exit the building."
"Did you get the rental for the event?" he pulled out the small brochure like paper, permit for the new car. "I doubt we would have been taken seriously if we had shown up in Gordon's borrowed car. ...Or what's left of it."
"Probably."
"What about our newly made friends from lunch?" she asked. He pulled out the now familiar screen and clicked it on. It showed the couple as blinking dots in the middle of the dinning room area.
"Eating."
"Did you find out anything suspicious about them?" He shook his head, leaning up from the table. Raven followed suit.
"Nothing. Average Joe-s. He's a professor at N.Y.U. and she's a part time nurse, mostly volunteer," he replied. Raven hmm'ed and grabbed her matching wallet. "Got anything yet?" he asked. Shaking her head, she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Whatever it had been, it hasn't been active ever since." He nodded and began shutting of lamps and lights from the room. Soon, they were enveloped in comforting silence and darkness.
"However the case, you're not leaving my line of sight unless it's absolutely necessary," he ordered.
"Does using the bathroom count as 'necessary'?" she joked, glancing at him through half lidded eyes. He shot her a look and looked at himself in the small mirror aside the double doors leading outside of the room, using the reflection of the lights of the neighboring building, coming through the windows. He heard her grunt and grabbed his clothed bicep. "Come on!" she scolded and slammed the door shut as they stepped out into the hall. "We're going to be late, Ben!" she scolded again, taking on her airy fake voice Ruby spoke in. He chuckled half-heartedly and tucked the key card into his pocket. She paused - "Now what?" he mumbled - and hooked the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the knob. Gripping his hand, she allowed him to lead them out into the front of the hotel.
--
Both of them flinched as they saw the hoard of reporters on the outside of the entrance of the hotel. Raven heard Robin cuss under his breath, nearing the bottom of the main staircase.
"The hotel's holding celebrities for the event," he explained before Raven could question. She tilted her head to face his.
"Think Scott Menville and Tara Strong were invited?"() she whispered. He looked down at her.
"Who?" she shook her head. Another couple passed them up and were in seconds, lost between the rabid crowd of the reporters. He sighed again. They stood sheltered by his body, his back facing the reporters as Raven stood facing his front.
"Robin," she whispered, drawing his attention. Suddenly, she placed both of her small, cool hands on each side of his face. He questioned her with his eyes. "Trust me," she mumbled before she brought his face closer to hers. He felt his heart beat quicken as they neared each other. He swallowed. A few inches more... Then, surprising him, she maneuvered her lips near his ear. She raised goosebumps as her breath touched his skin. Then, in a quick movement, she moved to the other side of his face. They must have looked like quite a spectacle, him leaning all the way down so as Raven could barely touch his face.
"What..." he mumbled, as she finally pulled away.
With her eyes downcast, she replied, "A small temporary spell. It doesn't re-arrange your face. Think of it as a mask. Your face, as my own, will not be recognized when developed on film." And he felt it, a tingling sensation of electric nature hovering a centimeter above his face. "Better place on your glasses, just in case." He pulled them out.
"Thanks...just... warn me for next time," he whispered. He turned them and placed on a fake smile. Raven's lips twitched as they neared the door. They were shouted at, questioning their names. Raven feared for Robin's sake. He had at one point been in the lime-light. Being the adopted son of Bruce Wayne from Gotham City, earned you some points as a celebrity. And if they only knew that he was walking in front of them, cameras at the ready to snap a picture that would sure bring the attention of the public. She gripped his hand more securely. He tightened his hold on hers as well. If someone took a picture of Bruce Wayne's long since AWOL "son", they'd go home with a big fat paycheck awaiting in their desks. "Our car," he tensely handed the valet parking man the ticket to their car. The young man nodded and zoomed out of sight.
"This is unnerving," she mumbled darkly. Behind them, someone's camera busted, emitting a slight signal of smoke. Neither of them glanced back.
"Man!" the reporter complained. But, soon his 'comrades' took his place of absence and began to snap pictures of the walking rich. "Wait a minute-" Their car arrived, eluding their attention of the now reddened-faced reporter, to boarding their brand new car.
"Nice," Raven complimented. Robin smirked. Slick black, two seat, pitch black interior and blue lights on the dashboard.
"I know," he chuckled, shifting gears. Soon, they roared out of the front of the hotel. They were again delved into a comforted silence. Raven looked out the window as Robin concentrated on driving. The buildings towered above them as they took the invitation's instructions to the place. Raven dully noted that Robin barely relied on the said instructions to maneuver through the light traffic of the hour. "I see that you don't mind wearing the ring now," he spoke suddenly. She spared him a glance before returning to her sight seeing.
"It grew on me," she lied. In actuality, it felt as if it burned her. Again, a reminder of a taste of a life she couldn't have. He chuckled.
"So, what's next? Earrings to match?" She sent him a playful glare and sighed.
"No pierced ears." He turned left and maneuver around a recent car accident. The air inside of the car instantly went tense. Flames licked the metal carcass of a over turned as medics wheeled the driver inside the ambulance.
"Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt," Robin mumbled as he peeled his eyes away from the now leaving ambulance to continue driving.
"Robin?" Raven called to his attention. He still faced forward to drive. "What do you plan to do tonight? I mean, Gordon is in motion as we speak but I don't believe the evidence he finds – if he finds it – is enough to convict Eric to go to jail." He remained silent for moment, almost appearing as if he hadn't heard her.
"Bastards like Eric have too many connections to hold him down properly."
"So Gordon's actions are all for naught?"
"No, think of it as the paperwork. He'll have a record. Well, in a matter of speaking. It's up to us to face him and bring him in."
"And what of his business? His people working for him here? They're bound to protect him tonight."
"We're not bringing him in tonight." The speed of the car automatically sped down as they neared the club. The Gothic essence of the structure of the entrance was appealing. It contrasted with its surrounding building comrades, making it all that more special. They pulled into the curve that was the drive and awaited their turn, receiving a scoff from Raven. A graphic demonic water fountain attained the attention of the clubs entrance, apart from the gargoyles that held up the corners of the ceiling left and right of the doors. The fountain was a mural of frozen demons and men in a gruesome battle to the death. Not real graphic, as not to scare away the customer but to appeal to that dark fantasy.
"Demons," Raven mumbled. Robin glanced at the water feature and silently nodded. Now having roamed closer to the seemingly popular club premier, they could make out the building itself clearer. When the guards- standing on the doors- let people in, they saw the top of the staircase led downward, into pitch blackness. Also, at the action, booming techno music resounded loudly enough to make its vibrations felt. "We're gonna go deaf," she warned.
"Here," Robin handed her an ear piece. She peered down at the small skin colored device and rose a brow. "I said we weren't going to separate. And we're not. But taken in the swarm of creeps going into that place, the crowds going to move us around some time or another. And I need to know I can contact you at any moment."
"Robin," she reminded softly, "...We have a bond...remember?" He paused. Then nodded.
"I can't ...handle that at the moment, Rae," he spoke softly, a bit too softly, making her uncomfortable. It almost sounded sad. Resigned. "Besides," he added, shifting in his seat to make the car go forward, "There's a possibility Eric's ...new friend may be in the building tonight. I don't necessarily know how telepathy works, but I'm not going to risk it, getting you hurt having your "links" wide open."
"You don't have to take care of me," she snapped a bit too harshly. There was no way she was going to tell him that the 'face touching' she had performed on him in the hotel had not been necessary for the spell. As soon as she had touched his face with her hands, the spell had been performed. But she had needed it. She knew, rather had an idea, of the proximity of each other they were going to experience in a cramped club. Some sanity of her mind needed a ...taste...of that touch before it took her by surprise and destroyed their mission.
"I'm – look Rae." His voice grew stern, a tone of voice she really hadn't heard in a while now, "This can't go down wrong. Not only because we don't know what we're up against with this new ...opponent. But because they're peoples' lives at stake. And this identity thing–"
"Look Robin," she interrupted, now growing angry, "This isn't my first mission."
"Then see to it that it doesn't go wrong," he warned, after a while, his face steeling. Raven's jaw grew stiff as well. A shiver went up both of their spines. "For whatever the circumstances, don't go into my mind, got it?"
"I got it...leader," she growled. She saw him flinch out of the corner of her eye. She didn't glance back and allowed the valet, who went around the front of their car, to open the door and lead her out. Robin's door was too opened and he let himself out. He threw the keys up in the air, and expected the valet to catch them.
"Don't let me find anything wrong with the car when I get it back," he half shouted, attracting some of the attention from the front of the line. Raven heard the valet curse him under his breath and made away with their vehicle.
"Name." The Door man ordered.
"Kreftan. Ben Kreftan." The man looked into his list and nodded.
"V.I.P.s..." he mumbled under his breath and nudged the almost twin looking doorman to his left. He showed him the list and the other man spared the Titans a glance. Nodding, he returned to his side of the line. "Mr. Buscema's guests."
"Yes," Raven answered, grabbing onto Robin's hand. He tensed, but smiled.
"Hope we get to see him before the night is over," he continued as the doorman moved out of the way and allowed them through. He nodded as a reply.
"Next!" the doorman called out. Immediately, they were enveloped in the boom of the music as soon as the door opened. Raven actually had to take a step back from the suddenness of the music.
"Here we go," Robin mouthed. Then they were enveloped in darkness.
--
"He's here." the word was whispered into his ear. He spared a glance at the woman in his arm.
"Let's go."
--
"Follow me," Robin roared. Bodies slammed against each other to a DJ's original techno remix. Unconsciously, Raven grabbed onto Robin's arm. He held his arm secure to his body, holding her close.
"Why do people enjoy these things!?" she yelled. She received an elbow to her side and she growled.
"Watch it, bitch!" a blond yelled. Raven spun around.
"What did you say?!"
"Ruby!" Robin reminded, "Come on!" Allowing her eyes to flash at the girl – who in turn flinched and grew pale white – Raven turned and followed Robin in their original pursuit out of the crowd. Dodging flapping arms, hips, elbows and "unmentionables", they made it to the far end of the vast room, a small neon lit bar which seemed a bit out of place in the theme of the place. Arcs of the same design as outside continued to decorate the new building indoors. The inside could be recognized as of the same structure of a church, minus the colored windows and the holy entities. They were a bit out of breath as they found a seat for themselves.
"Where's Eric?" she asked, glad she didn't have to shout as loud as she had when in the sea of antsy and sweat-ed bodies. Robin looked up. The club was divided into two levels of a dance floor. The "exclusives" were upstairs, as the ones who had paid their way in, danced downstairs.
"My guess, he's up there." With his chin, he signaled up into the black and red lit "room" nearer the DJ.
"When are we going to investigate?" she questioned. Robin glanced back at her and made eye contact.
"We're going to get invited up there."
"I thought we were "V.I.P.s"," she reminded as she made signal air quotes with her finger tips.
"We are. Just V.I.P.s get invited up there. Eric lets you know when he has time to entertain your visit," he growled and gave the club a glance over. The song changed and was cheered by the crowed. The lights changed to black and white, flashing back and forth from the two colors every second or so. Making the crowd and their movements appear in slow motion. The motion made Raven dizzy. A bartender suddenly appeared near them, making them tensely face the poor slightly over weight teen.
"A beer, from the ladies on the far table," he admitted, slightly bored. Poor kid must have done this for a while. He placed the beer in front of Robin and left.
"Wow...you work fast," Raven monotonously snapped. He chuckled. He dared glance back to the indicated table. Three women from different ethnicities, waved or winked in his direction. A tall brunette raised her hand and made a gesture to call her. He raised the beer in appreciation. But no way was he going to drink it. While in the second Robin had taken to glance at the women, Raven had slumped to the side, appeared into their point of view and had raised her left hand into the air, the palm facing her face. The ring flashed with the lights.
"This hasn't happened before," he turned. Raven looked away, her left hand leisurely touching her black hair. He fixed her a look.
"What?" she snapped. The damn lights made it hard to calculate her actual facial expressions but he could have sworn she wore a knowing smirk.
"Nothing," chuckling, he waved a hand to the same waiter and ordered sodas, while sending in a napkin a message to the women. The bartender left with a laugh as the women looked away from Robin, slightly embarrassed. Though Raven was sure they would get over it. Their drinks arrived. "Here," he placed an item in her palm over the table, disguising it with a kiss to her fingers, and let her hand go. Discreetly, they allowed a drop of the drink in a goblet looking glass onto a small slip of paper. They remained white. Nodding to each other, and tucking away the paper, they took a sip.
"Oh my! There they are!" a voice called out to their attention. They both looked up as Albert and his wife spotted them.
"Are they a bit too old for this?" Raven mumbled as she tried to make herself smaller, as if to disappear from them. Robin sighed under his breath.
"Hello, dears!" the wife greeted, inviting themselves onto their table. The crowd around them and in the bar raised a brow at their "friends".
"Hello," Robin greeted, shaking Albert's hand, "Looks like you guys got in fine, without the V.I.P. Problem."
"Well, I knew some people," the older man excused, making them all four share a humorless chuckle.
"Ruby, was it?" the wife asked. Raven nodded, hiding a curse by taking a sip. "The name's Margaret."
"Nice to meet you, Margaret." the silver-blond haired older woman gave Raven's goblet a glance and rose a brow.
"What? No alcohol? Why this is a party! A club opening!"
"I...can't drink," Raven excused, receiving a glance from Robin and an urge to kick herself.
"And why's that?" she teased, giving Raven's flat stomach a pat, "Someone's got a bun in the oven?" Albert and Margaret chuckled at their seemingly old "joke". Then stopped when the young couple didn't join in.
"What?!" Robin played along, as Raven pretended to look away shyly. He perfectly used his southern accent to show "genuine" surprise. "Ruby- I-I-"
"-I meant to tell you," Raven excused, pretending to shield her face. "I realized the other day that I was... late... and went down to the shop in the hotel to buy a pregnancy test and ...it proved positive." At least five bottles behind the bartender at the bar exploded, making the drunks laugh abruptly at the bizarre occurrence. Though it didn't faze Raven's or Robin's little "play". Robin inwardly flinched, however, at the great performance of Raven's tearing eyes. He swallowed an uneasy feeling in his stomach and walked around the table to wrap his arms around her.
"Don't cry Ruby. Don't think I don't want this. I- this is just – we weren't expecting this or trying."
"I know," she admitted, shielding herself in his arms. Surprisingly, as Robin knelt at the club's floor, Raven was suddenly the same height he was.
"That's um...it's all going to be alright," Margaret awkwardly comforted. Raven looked up. She could vibrantly feel the woman's guilt oozing towards her and Robin's "predicament".
"As long as you face the in-laws with precaution, an early bunch of grand kids are no problem," Albert joked. The Titans shared a single glance before he saved up the nerve to kiss her forehead and rise from his seat. The bartender cursed again when another bottle blew up. Robin pulled his chair to Raven's side of table and grasped her hand. He cooed in his "fiancée"s ear as he seemed to calm down.
"You alright now?" Margaret asked.
"Yes, sorry about that," Raven excused, wiping the bottom of her eyes. Robin offered her her cup of soda and she took a sip. He rubbed her back affectionately.
"It's alright," they replied in unison.
"Hey," Albert called to Robin's attention, "Let's say you and I get these young beauties a refill?" Robin okay-ed with Raven and he rose with Albert towards the Bar. They dodged tables and couples not preoccupied with the lack of privacy on the way. Robin sent Raven a discreet glance back. He inwardly laughed. She looked miserable with Margaret chatting up a storm about god knew what. Albert's tap on his shoulder broke his train of thought. "What's your girl havin'?"
"Regular coke," he replied, "As well as I am."
"Aw, come on. Join a guy in a man's drink," he egged on.
"No, I think Ruby would feel uncomfortable with me drinking alcohol. Now," he sighed, adding effect, "With her condition, I want her to be comfortable at all times." Albert paused, having finished placing on their order. Robin felt a bit unnerved at the man's constant stare. "...What?"
"You really love her, don't you?" He thanked God for not letting him have a magical sort of outlet situation like Raven because he was sure Albert's out of the blue question would have destroyed the club.
"...Of course I do!" he covered up quickly, "She's my fiancée!...I do...love her..." Feeling this conversation had better head a new direction, or stop immediately, he took the drinks from Albert's outstretched hands and headed to the table.
"What took you guys so long?" Raven darkly mumbled through her smile. Robin placed her soda in front of her and rose her hand to place a chaste kiss on its smooth cool surface.
"Some interference in the bar. Apparently the bottles blew up!" Albert joked, rilling a loud laughter from his wife. The Titans joined in, holding no real humor. Their conversation went on miscellaneously for a while, and their meeting with Eric made the team real antsy. Why in the world wouldn't the man rid them of this couple?!
"Now," Albert slurred after his fifth cup of his drink, "The real question, my dear Ben, you have to ask yourself, is.." he paused to take a sip of one an empty goblet, "Is – hiccup – are you afraid of your father-in-law?" The question caught both of them totally of guard that they spit out their drinks. Raven turned to face Robin, as both wiped their mouths, and rose a brow.
"Now, Ben, you wouldn't be afraid of dear old Dad, now would you?" she teased. He chuckled, and placed napkins on the table, attempting to dry their mess. They both, however, shared a shiver at the memory of the Demon of a parallel universe coming to claim Raven as his gateway of rebirth on earth. On her birthday no less.
"Nah," he joked, "He's the most lovable man in the universe!"
"Oh, that's good news then!" Margaret chuckled, "Not many of those out there. I can speak from experience." Robin paused, in mid sympathetic laugh and glanced at the crowd.
"Ruby," he called Raven's attention, "Want to dance?" Raven's face was priceless, and under a different circumstance, he would have appreciated having provoked a reaction such as that, but now was not the time. He discreetly tugged on her arm.
"Of course," she smiled fake-ly, and rose, "But do have patience with me, Ben, I'm a klutz on my feet." He took her hand and led them into the dance floor. Craftily, they moved their bodies in tune with the music and slipped through the crowd, away from the other couple's eyes. "What is it?!" she shouted. She turned and placed her back onto his front. She hissed under her breath as the damned bond pestered her again with a hum of a reminder of his close presence. As she didn't know.
"Over here!" he replied and spun her around, almost jamming her against him. They both grunted. Smoothly, they raced out through the crowd and into the obstinately insinuating "rooms" in the farm corner of the club. For The Need, the caption read above the tunnel made out of faux stone bricks they delved into. Panting from real effort of dodging bodies and to keep up the appearance, Robin rushed to assign them a key and dash into a room.
"Sweet Azarath!" Raven cried as she closed the door behind them and slammed the lock. "I am not going to another club in my life time!" She leaned her back into the door and rested her palms onto her knees.
"Haha...come on Rae..," he joked, "Not all of them are like this."
"Yes...they are. They're filled with hormone fulled, sex-dancing teens and adults who can't control their urges!" Robin fought to control his breath as he realized Raven seriously felt uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?" he asked, still a bit out of breath.
"Their aura's are so...overwhelming. I – pant – I'll be fine. Yes." She locked eyes with him, "I won't jeopardize the mission, Robin." He inwardly jerked.
"Right. Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I'm only following orders," she glared, finally coming off the door.
"Okay," he rose his hands in defeat, "I got it!" For minutes, they continued a set of glares until Raven jerked her gaze from his. This place was going to have serious damage on its opening night.
"What is it that you wanted to say?" she reminded, crossing her arms. He huffed and pulled out the screen from his jacket pocket.
"I felt a message come through from Gordon, though I can't necessarily read it through this circuitry."
"Want me to see if the coast is clear in the surveillance room and see if we can view it through that way?"
"No chance. The surveillance room is near Eric's "pad" upstairs and I'm not going to risk you going alone like that."
"Then what do we do? We can't necessarily keep waiting for his posse to notice we've been here for," she checked her watch and rolled her eyes, "Three hours! And invite us when they suddenly feel hospitable."
"You're right," he grew silent, the wheels in his head so obviously turning that Raven could almost see them. A knock interrupted them, however. Raven raced ahead of him and making his jaw drop, ruffled up her hair, pulled down her dress a bit, threw off her shoes and unlocked the door.
"What?!" she answered, panting. The man at the door obviously wasn't expecting the disheveled gorgeous woman before him. Robin quickly threw off his jacket, tie, shoes, and unbuttoned his shirt. He stood besides her in seconds.
"What's the problem, buddy!?" he all but yelled, "Can't you see we're busy?" he tucked Raven onto his body and Raven gave an airy laugh.
"Maybe he wants a three some!" she cheered, drunkly.
"Now, now young lady! No one looks at you but me!" Robin continued it as he gave her bare shoulders chaste kisses. The lighting in the hall flickered. She fake-ly moaned and neared his face to her bare neck. He rose his face abruptly and glared at the man. "What!? Do I know you!?"
"Mr. Eric requests your presence at the V.I.P. section," he replied, tensely. Obviously, the image before him was too much. And why wouldn't it be? Raven in that dress was a very tantalizing view. Speaking of the half demoness, she nodded absentmindedly and held the doors edge.
"Blah blah blah. We'll see him when we're done," she then promptly shut the door on the man. Instantly, they separated. "What the hell is the matter with you!?" she screamed. The light fixtures shattered but she didn't allow it to faze her.
"What? I had to keep cover!"
"By touching me like I'm one of your ..your whores?!"
"What the hell? Raven, this is work!"
"This doesn't give you the excuse. There are boundaries, Robin!"
"Raven-"
"I'm respecting your boundaries with not infiltrating your mind and finding out why the hell you harbor such hatred towards this con man and why the hell you take up this mission now!"
"And here I thought you kept your infiltrating to yourself as common courtesy!" he steamed. "Well, thanks for clearing that up now, Raven!"
"Oh shut up!" she growled, her eyes flashing. He instantly jerked up straight, as if he'd been struck.
"...Rae?" he carefully asked. She turned from him and placed her hands against the door. She panted as she worked to keep her emotions in tow.
"...hold on..." she replied in a small voice. Time seemed internal as she fought to maintain in control of the beast that lay inside herself. Finally, she released the tension in her small back and stood straight, though still staring at the door.
"Raven?"
"...I'm sorry. I – I guess...I overreacted," she excused, her voice cold.
"I did as well," he replied, still cautious. He took a few steps towards her and placed an arm on the same shoulders he had been kissing a few minutes ago. The touch felt hot on his hand, for her skin remained so cool.
"Sorry."
"Nothing to apologize about. I..." he paused and softly turned her to face him. "You were right. I do hold over your head the reasons of this mission."
"Of which you don't have to explain. I overreacted when I said I needed to know-"
"But you do," he interrupted. "Back in Gotham, I promised you that I would tell you. And... I think that before we actually sit down with him, you need to know what happened." He sounded reluctant, scared even. She looked up and looked away. Their pulsing bond made her legs feel too weak to support her. She swallowed and bid whatever God was looking over her right now, to give her strength.
"What happened, Robin?" He looked up and his gaze held unshed tears.
"...I...killed him."
A/N: Long over due but here it is. Better late than never, right? Okay. So. Ta-da! Revelations are huge in this chapter. So, I hope you all enjoyed that.
As for the little "contest" of last chapter, the winner was: Zarola ! Whoo-hoo! The answers to the flashbacks were : 1.) Robin's father 2.) Robin 3.)a stalker-ish whose name shall be revealed 4.) Batman!
Yea. Most of you got it. Zarola won. Not it's up to the reviewer to ...review me what the prize is going to be.
Oh, and I have a little proposition for you guys. I grew tired of the summary. I'm holding another little "contest". This story needs a new summary. Help, anyone?
() - Tara and Scott are the voices, respectfully, of Raven and Robin in the animated series. ...Just threw that in there. :D
Hope you all enjoyed.