Hey. I don't want to make excuses but heres one anyways. Usually before a post a new chapter, I copy and paste it to check spelling, and stuff, but I really wanted to get last chapter up, and I didn't. So that was a mistake on my part, and it won't happen again
Disclaimer- I do not own the Teen Titans.
-"I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field
and don't notice it." The Color Purple,1985"-
"I'm telling you Raven, I think she may be the one." Dick said cheerfully. Once again Raven was forced to hear about the wonderful aspect of Dick's life so far. And once again she rolled her eyes. Raven took a letter opener, and contemplated stabbing Dick's hand, which was dangerously close to her's. Raven rolled her eyes again.
"I'm glad to hear it." Raven said not convincingly. Raven stretched back in her chair. It had been a long week for her. She turned the big 2-5 on Saturday, September twenty-first. Raven was out of town, and for the most part was glad or else Dick would have made a big deal about it, and dragged her out to do something unnecessary, and she did not want to deal with it. So for the most part she would have rather endured having to hear about Dick's terrific weekend with Kory, than remind him of her birthday.
"Speaking of Kory, Ms. Anders called about an hour ago." she said casually. Dick waited for her to finish, which to didn't.
"Well?" he said. Raven pretended not to hear him, for a minute.
"She is on her way up to do dinner."
A glow suddenly, and oddly lit up. Raven shut down her computer, and gathered up her bag, and coat. It was odd to Dick that Raven was taking a lunch break, she hadn't done that, ever. Raven sighed, and stood up. "I have to go downtown to pick up some files,I'll see you Monday." Raven said putting on her coat. Dick noted that she had an extra pep in her step, no pun intended. Perhaps because of her big date with Gar tomorrow? Dick grinned, it seemed like life was finally going good for everyone. For awhile it seemed liked Dick, was some sort of plague. Everyone who came in contact with him ended up miserable.
Just as Raven left, Kory came in. She looked ravishing as usually. "Ready to go?" she asked. Dick put his arm over her shoulder and lead her out the room. "I'll go for anything."
"Great because, there is this restaurant that is looking for new managements and menu idea, so I was thinking we could swing by and have I took at it." Dick said.
Kory's heart fell a little bit. She had wanted to spend a romantic evening with Dick, no business at all, but she had to get use to Dick always coming up with strategies to win this internship. It would unfair to ask him to sacrifice to much on her count. "Great." Kory said in a not so convincing tone. She would suck it up for one night and then, next time it was her turn to do something, so wanted.
Dick drove her to a small very classy, very expensive restaurant. It was a sky scraper, and through the windows she could see all of New York. It was beautiful, and frightening at the same time it was like nothing Kory had ever seen before. It was the restaurant she had dreamed of having, she even saw Denzel Washington get up to use the bathroom, and she could swear she saw Eva Longoria tip a waitress.
"Wow, this is amazing." Kory said trying to understand the menu. It was all in French or something, why did the menu need to be in another language? This was New York in New York they spoke English. Dick could see the confused look on her face.
"I know." he said "I can't read French either. I just order whatever the number two is." Kory smiled. That's when she saw this girl. The girl was sitting a few tables behind Dick. She was tall and had glossy red hair, the same shade as Kory's only fake looking. She was sitting with hair headed socialites, and she kept giggling about something. Under normal circumstances Kory wouldn't have given the girl a second thought, but the girl kept looking at Dick. She would look at him, and then whisper something to her friends, they would all look at him, and start chattering and giggling. It was very annoying.
"Dick who is that girl?" Kory said after more than a half hour of the rude antics. Dick turned in his seat. Kory didn't see this. but for a split second his eyes went wide. He quickly turned back in his chair. He leaned forward, and tried to block out his vision of the girl with his hand. Kory's eye darted to Dick to the girl. "Well? Who is that? Do you know her?"
Dick opened his mouth but no words came out. Luckily for him he was saved by the waitress who had finally returned to serve them, their drinks. "I don't know." he said non convincingly. Kory raised and eyebrow, and sighed.
"She seems to know you." she said, as the girl looked at Dick again.
"I-I- I'm going to use the bathroom." Dick said getting up from his chair. As he made a slight dash to the back of the restaurant Kory groaned, and patted the empty plate in front of her. She sighed, and shook a small piece of hair out of her eyes. Then the giggly girl got up from her seat. She gracefully walked over to Kory and sat in Dick's now empty seat.
"So are you hear on business or pleasure?" she said picking the olive out of Dick's drink. She popped it into her mouth and held it between her teeth. Kory was getting very annoyed with the woman.
"Excuse me?" Kory said rather coldly, and sending her a glare, a habit she picked up from Raven. "Who are you?"
The girl gave a small laugh. "I'm sorry, I am Barbara Gordan." Kory raised an eyebrow at the girl. "I'm... acquainted with Richard." she said.
"How nice for you." Kory said starting to feel uncomfortable. "What was that you were asking me? Am I here on what."The girl did her obnoxious giggle and lightly pressed her lips on a napkin, leaving a peach colored lip stain one it. She pulled a tube of lipstick out of her gold clutch and apply ed and thick coat of red lipstick.
"I noticed you were here with Richard Grayson." Barbara said "He only leaves his office for one reason and that's business, but you don't seem like that type of girl so are you here with him on business or...other reasons?"
Kory didn't know what to say, it wasn't everyday a total stranger would come up to her on a date, and ask her about her private life. "Are you allowed to be drinking, you look a little under twenty-one." Kory said noticing her taking a sip of Dick's drink.
"Oh Gawd yes, I'm actually twenty-four, but thank you for the compliment." Kory was now irritated by Barbara.
"Why do you care why I'm?" Kory said.
Barbara tilted her head, and held the alcohol in her mouth for a moment. She swallowed, and then took another long sip, and then she sighed "I don't know if you know this, or if Dick told you, or if you read this in the paper but, I- dated Dick last year, we were kind of serious." she said with false enthusiasm in her voice. Kory rolled her eyes. "You should be careful, he may not seem like it but Dick is an undercover bad boy. I mean sure he's a good- great guy and all but he comes with a lot of drama, I know I just could't stand for it any more. You may find out some things that might make you change your mind, I know I couldn't be with someone who would do that to his best friend."
"I think you should go now." Kory said. Barbara shrugged and stood up from the chair.
"Just thought you should know." she said before going back to her friends. Kory sat there in slight confusion. What did she mean by 'I couldn't be with someone who did that to their best friend'? What had Dick done? It was at that moment that Kory realized she knew almost nothing about Dick's past. She had been very open with him, and told him everything he needed to know, and that was relevant to their growing relationship, and he told her barely anything. Then Dick came back, and sat done.
"That girl over there," Kory said pointing to Barbara, Dick looked behind him. "And she said something." Dick sucked his teeth.
"Kory, please don't listen to those girls, they're air heads. All of their lives revolve around spending daddy's money, and making other people uncomfortable, so just forget about them." he said
Kory sighed, she tried to get over it but Barbara's words were on a carousel in her head. They just kept playing over and over and over. Dick could tell by Kory's sudden lack of conversation, and the way she would look up every time Barbara's loud laugh filled the room, that she didn't want to be there. She picked at her entree, and didn't say a word the whole time. Finally to both of their relief it they were ready to go.
As took out her compact and examined her face in the mirror, then an image in the mirror caught her by surprise. Sitting behind her at a far away table was Raven. Except she was with Malcolm. Kory dropped the compact and whipped her head around. "Isn't that Raven with Malcolm?"
Dick looked up for a quick second. "I guess so." he said uncaring.
"That doesn't seem odd to you? I mean I thought that they broken up, like five months ago?" she said starainging her head to see a better look at the two. Dick didn't seem to care at all.
"They did, but I mean they were together for six years, I don't think Raven ever completly got over him, it doesn't surprise me that she'd be spending some time with him. I'll care more if they decided to get back together, otherwise I don't think it's that big of a deal."
Dick went up to pay the check. Kory made sure he was out of ear shot, then whipped put her cell phone. She quickly dialed in Gar's cell phone number. "Hello Gar, guess who I just saw together..."
Getting to the concert center was murder. As if traffic in New York wasn't bad enough without crowds of people trying to get to the Switchfoot concert. Raven, however, always thought ahead and promptly arrived a full hour and a half before the concert even started. She sat in the crowd, anxiously awaiting Gar's arrival.
Raven glanced at her cell phone once again looked at the time. It 7:45 and the concert was starting in fifteen minutes, and Gar was still nowhere in sight. She contemplated calling him, yet again but he wasn't picking up. In fact he hadn't answered or returned any of her calls in two days which was odd. Raven took a deep breath, and tried to relax. She always tried not to be so paranoid, but in her field of work sometimes paranoia was necessary.
She looked at her phone again, seven minutes left. This time she decided to call him, and at least see where he was. She got up and left the arena, out to the concession where teenage girls were going on about their first concert experience. Raven put her phone to one ear, and her hand over the other to block out the noise, as she slowly paced. Once again his voice mail came one.
"Shit." she swore under her breath. The sudden scream of the crowd made her jump slightly,as the band started to play.Raven went back into the arena, it was now dark and Smokey. As she walked down the short cement steps she thought to herself He's just running late or stuck in traffic. It's funny how girls are always in denial.
The band started off with Adding to the Noise. Raven made it back to her seats, and tried and failed at paying attention to the band, she was paying more attention to her cell phone,but now she was becoming very worried, what if he got into an accident, or got lost or...maybe he just wasn't coming. Raven shook that thought from her head. Next the band played Oh!Gravity and Gar still didn't show up, then The Beautiful Letdown, still no Gar. The Awakening no Gar. I Dare You To Move no Gar. Meant to Live, Bomb, Edge of My Seat still no Gar. You name they played it and Raven finally accepted the fact that he had stood her up.
The concert was coming to a close and Raven got up and left early. Her heart wasn't in it. Raven's mind left her body. As she pushed her way through the crowd and made her way to the parking lot. Why would Gar stand her up? Her footsteps echoed in the empty parking lot, as she got in car and drove away.
Raven was so angry, how could Gar be such a jerk and just stand her up when he had told her he'd be there that very morning. She went back to her apartment but, was to angry to distract herself, so she went across the street to a bar at a hotel. She wasn't much of a drinker, but tonight was just one of those nights. Her hair was dishelved, and she looked tired. But it was two in the morning.
Raven put down her latest cosmopolitan, and sighed. "What are you doing here?" came a voice. Malcolm sat down at a bar stool next to her.
"Drinking on an empty stomach." she said quietly.
"That's not like you." Raven shrugged.
"You'll never guess what happened to me," she starting babbling "So right I had a date with Gar, you know Gar right? You met him last week at that-charity thing, right so anyways I invited him to a concert with me, I spent two hundred dollars on the tickets, so there I was waiting and waiting for him to show up, and-he never did, completly stood me up." Raven shook her head. "Bastard."
Malcolm listened intently, even though Raven was in no condition to be talking. "I don't know maybe he with some beautifully, fun girl, and decided hey screw the moody, creepy chick."
"I think you're beautiful." Malcolm said. Raven gave a small laugh.
"Sure, you do."
"No, really I don't think there is anyone I would rather be with at one AM." Malcolm said quickly putting his hand on Raven's. She noticed this and cleared her throat.
"I am going to go home now." she said standing up. She stumbled slightly, and Malcolm stood up and held her arm.
"Let me take you home." he said Raven laughed again.
"Malcolm Warren you're not getting in my bed that easily, you're not even trying."
"Nothing like that." he said, but Raven gave him an unsure look. "I swear. Raven shrugged, as he lead her home.
"I said I was sorry one hundred times." Gar said exhausted. Raven ignored him completly, like she had been doing the whole, entire night. She was peeved and she made damn sure Gar knew it. The only reason she even decided to go was because Kory and Dick were coming. She was much of a sushi person herself. Raven picked up her chopsticks, and expertly placed two California rolls, and a few Edamame on her square plate.
Gar couldn't wait for Dick and Kory to show up, he was tired of dealing with Raven's childish tantrum on his own. He sighed and shook his head. He knew he deserved, he did stand her up for no real reason what so ever, besides pure jealousy. Even if she should've told him she was going to see Malcolm, or that's how Gar felt. None the less he deserved it, and now he was paying the price.
"Look," he said "I know what I did was really messed up, and you have every right to never want to speak to me again, but you have to understand that I'm willing to do something to make it up to you."
"And how," Raven started "do you intend to do that?" Gar was silent. "Sorry is a tired word Mr. Logan. One which I have heard far more than enough in my lifetime, and I am no longer swayed by." she said deciding to go back to the silent treatment.Gar groaned and shook his head.
"I give up." he said. Gar muttered something under his breath that sounded something like 'unbelievable' but Raven dismissed it. The cold shoulder was enough fun for one night. Gar and Raven sat in complete silence for the rest of the two minutes they were alone together until Dick and Kory showed up two minutes later. They were all grins, hand in hand.
"Hey." Dick said pleasantly. Raven and Gar rolled their eyes. Dick and Kory both felt a little awkward, like they just walked into some sort of weird inside joke. "So, what's going on?" Dick said carefully taking a seat next to Gar.
"Raven is mad at me because I didn't go to that concert last night." Gar blurted out.
Raven's head snapped up and with it came the deadliest glare they've ever seen. "Didn't go? I totally stood me up. No calls, no anything." she said engaging in the battle of the words.
Kory interjected."Gar, you told me the concert was canceled."
Raven just stared at Gar."I already said I was sorry." Gar said leaning in to her. "Besides you didn't tell me you were going to see Malcolm."
Raven was shocked. "That's why you just-abandoned me?" Gar nodded. "That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard." she retorted. Gar's mouth dropped open. Kory and Dick felt that they should intervene but they didn't for two reasons, this was really entertaining and they were far to afraid to say anything.
"What!" was all Gar could muster.
"Well, I was under the influence that I had a personal life, I'm sorry I guess I was mistaken." she said crossing her arms.Kory and Dick watched helplessly, and played witnesses to Gar and Raven incessant bickering. After about forthy-five minutes they finally agreed to disagree, and both ended up not talking at all.
"So," Dick said after a few long, silent moments. "How's the sushi?"
No one said anything. Dick and Kori exchanged desperate glances, anything to break the ice or rather the tension. The sound of 'Face Down' filled the area around the table, as Raven's cell phone rang. She glanced down and looked at it, then ignored it.
"Was that Malcolm checking up on you?" Gar said bitterly. Raven cleared her throat, and ignored the question. She crossed her hands.
Raven sighed and began to collect her things, she took out twenty dollars and threw it on the table. "Well, I don't see much point to me being here. Dick, Kory it's been a very...embracive evening. Good night." she glance at Gar. "Gar." with that she got up to leave
"Wait." Gar said standing up. "What do I need to do to prove that I am really sorry?" he said heavily. This was Raven's chance for a little bit of revenge. She thought about it for a minute.
"What are you willing to do?" she said. Gar mouthed anything. Raven grinned. Fifteen minutes later Gar as wondering if she was worth it. Raven dragged everyone to a tattoo parlor down the street, and told Gar to get a tattoo.
Gar sat in a ripped leather seat, like the ones at the dentist. The parlor smelled like sterilizer and steal bread. There were pictures of horrifying looking tattoos, and piercings in weird places. There was a scary looking, really buff guy covered in ink glaring at Gar from the back of the room.
"Are you sure about this?" Kory asked who was generally concerned. Secretly she found this very amusing. Dick sat in a chair and leaned back. Raven was flipping through an album book.
"Yeah Raven, am I sure about this?" Gar said. He was feeling a lot of anxiety about getting inked. He had never done anything like this before, and he had never expected to.
"He's sure." Raven said not even looking up from the book. Raven brushed the hair out of her face, and walked over to Gar. "So what are you going to get?" she asked in a teasing way. Gar stared at her wondering if this was some sort of pawn to manipulate him.
Gar glared at Raven, and raised his eye brows. "Does- does Malcolm have any tattoos-by any chance?" Raven sat next to Gar on the edge of his seat. She stared at him, with seductive eyes.
"Malcolm has several tattoos." Raven said glancing at the wall. She got up and carefully examined a palate with different angel designs. "He has a dove on his back, the tarot card for love on his arm, a magic hat on the back of his neck, the words abra cadabra on his other arm, and a coy fish on the back of his shoulder." she said calmly. Gar held his breath. It was obvious to him that Raven liked guys with tattoos, but this seemed a little drastic.
"I can't believe your doing this." Kory said with a grin. Her and Dick actually found the whole fight, quiet amusing.
"That makes two of us." Gar said "I can't do it." he said shaking his head
"Your such a baby, Raven said pushing him out of the chair. She showed the tattoo artist a picture, he grunted and went into the back room. When he returned he was holding a sterilized needle with ink."On my ankle." Raven said. Gar watched horrified as the man nodded and began to mark her leg. It looked so painful, like having a razor rubbed into your skin, but by Raven's expression you could have thought she was laying on the beach. After about an hour it was finished. Written in Edwardian Script, around her entire right ankle was the phrase "Something To Believe In".
No one said anything. They didn't laugh or stutter. They just stared. They were to stunned to say anything. She had just gotten a tattoo, as in permanent never come off, with out so much as battering an eyelash. "What?" Raven said. Maybe Malcolm was just a little bit braver than Gar, a personality trait he would use against him.
Hello there, I just wanted to say I despise last chapter I hate it soooo much. But I wanted to get something up, and I will never write another suckey chapter like that again. I am not satisfied with this chapter either hopefully my writing will improve but so far I'm in a funk right now. This chapter is short I know, and the my spell check is down so I apologize for any grammar/spelling errors.
And I WILL BE TAKING A SHORT BREAK FROM THIS STORY. Don't worry it's going to be a very short break. I need time to find myself creatively. I might redo this chapter later.
I also know you probably don't care much for the pairing, but that's all part off the drama. When I write this story I see it as one of those ABC like Grey's Anatomy or Big Shots or something.