"You look bushed." Donna notes as she meets a tired looking Diana in front of the stables at around 7 in the morning, waiting for her horse to be retrieved. "You are also in on the escort?" She asks, noting that like herself Diana is also in her suit of armor.
"But not leading. My mother woke me during the night, apparently some fiend from Hades was playing tricks on her." Diana says, having heard the story. "Do you know who else it coming with us?"
"Nope. Didn't she want to bring you along last night?"
"It was personal it seems." Diana shrugs as a third person emerges, wearing a brass suit of armor. "Good morning Cassandra."
"Morning Cass, how's the head?" Donna asks, knowing Cassandra was only just recently allowed out of bed.
"A lot better with this pot on it." Cassandra growls, rolling her eyes at the helmet that is concealing the bandages she is still wearing. "Bit overkill?"
"Terra brought down all of Gotham, killing thousands of people, my mother wants to stress to the US that we are taking her very seriously as we take her through Washington." Diana explains.
"Even though she has been a weeping mess since the fight." Artemis scoffs as she is the first to appear of a group of five, also counting Philipus, Io, Anitope and Penelope, all dressed for war.
"We should consider us lucky she has not instigated another earthquake while here." Diana says, admitting she had been concerned about the possibility of Terra being suicidal. "Is the inhibitor is in place?"
"It is." Io says, having been the one to secure it on Terra along with Donna. "But it just seemed whatever powers she had was already gone, she fought not to have it put on."
"Possibly it's Demeter that's suppressing them." Philipus says as they gather.
"It matters not, as long as her destructive powers are not being employed." Hippolyta says as she strides into the open area as well, trying to walk off the small pain in her left leg that last night had left her with, amongst other minor injuries, getting them all to straighten up and big her good morning. "I see we are only one short."
"And the reason for it all." Donna adds.
"Sorry for being late." Raven says suddenly as Terra is pushed out of the doorway, wearing nothing but the inhibitor, the ruined leotard and the shackles on her arms and legs. "Almost like old times?" She asks as she takes note of the group while directing Terra over to them, revealing her to be armored as well, having added the cloak again and carrying her niginata over her back in addition to Shadowfury at her side.
"Almost." Hippolyta agrees. "Remove the bindings on her feet, she will need them free." Raven nods and the shackles fly off Terra. As five Amazons appear from inside the stables, leading nine horses with them, all having been fitted with ornate silver barding. "It has been centuries since we have had cause to armor our steeds." Hippolyta notes as the group mounts their steeds, before forming a single line before Hippolyta. "You all know your mission, carry it out and return home. Raven, lead them on." Raven nods at her before her eyes begin to blaze white and the group is engulfed by a huge black bird.
"Well that was cold." Artemis says as the group appears in the driveway of the Themysciran Embassy.
"Can't have everything." Diana shrugs. "So, where to Raven?"
"Police HQ in Washington, Hippolyta wants us to give them time to prepare for our arrival, so we ride." Raven replies.
"What about her?" Io asks, nudging Terra with her foot.
"Get away from me!" Terra shouts angrily, suddenly flipping from the completely defeated girl that had been incarcerated on Themyscira.
"Well, seems someone woke up angry." Donna says, being the one Terra backs towards.
"Donna, if you mind knocking her out? If she keeps that tone up, she probably won't make it to Washington." Raven sighs, Donna nods before thumping Terra on the head, knocking her to the ground. "I will take her unless anyone you volunteer?" She asks, getting a few looks of indifference from the others as she lifts Terra into the air and has her lie on her stomach in front of her. "I figure we have about an hour's ride before we hit the city limits, move out." Raven orders before setting her mount into motion down the driveway, swiftly followed by the others.
New York:
"Richard, there something you need to see." Bruce says as he pushes the door open to Richard room in the big New York apartment, distracting Richard from the book he was reading. "Come on." Bruce says before rolling back, getting Richard to set his own chair into motion, following Bruce into the living room where a news special is playing over the TV. "They cleared the roads for them when their destination became known." Bruce says as Richard stares at the live pictures of nine armored riders in two columns led in the front by a single dark rider.
"I thought Hippolyta would have taken her head?" Richard says as he spots Terra lying over Raven's mount.
"If I know her right, Terra will have received some sort of punishment. Yes, look at her back." Bruce replies as the camera zooms in on the leader, also revealing Terra's bare back, crisscrossed by the punishment while the speaker goes on about the composition of the group, having already named the known Amazons. "Easy, she is not here." Bruce says as Richards breathing becomes labored.
"I know… it's irrational." Richard says as he squashes his fear. "It's so stupid, I get panic attacks just from seeing her on TV, but I can have a normal conversation with her if she hides who she is."
"You'll get over it." Bruce says.
"What about what they did to Ares?" Richard says as the camera shifts, he and Bruce caught wind of the Amazons intentions for Ares from the League and what Raven's part was in it.
"She was ordered to do it by Hippolyta on Themysciran soil, what she does there, she does as an Amazon. Zatanna and a number of others are certain that he is alive and that the intent is probably to keep him that way. What I am interested in is what effects it has had in the mystical circles." Bruce replies. "Fate tells me that he is baffled about what happened in the arena however."
"You think something intervened?" Richard asks, remembering how horrified he had been at the spectacle that was transmitted on every station and every screen. Bruce had heard that there had been cheering from the crowds of people when Raven had emerged from the flames to fight back.
"I am certain, but who or what, I can't say, yet." Bruce says as the group of riders comes within sight of the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, a large square multi-story building, where a crowd of people has gathered around the perimeter the police has established.
As the group of riders enters the small square, another group of police officers exits the building, lead by one woman with chestnut brown hair.
"I am Cathy Lanier, Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department, what can we do for you?" The woman introduces herself as Raven parts from the line of Amazons stopping a few feet from her before dismounting.
"Ma'am, we are here on a mission of diplomacy, the Queen of Themyscira knows of Terra's actions in the outside world, and wishes to see her brought to justice here." Raven says before grabbing Terra by the neck and pulls her off the horse, holding her in front of herself, leaving the woman to dangle a few inches over the ground. She had regained consciousness half an hour ago but had since been suitably threatened into keeping quiet after having it stressed to her that she was powerless and anyone of the Amazons could tear her apart with their bare hands. "What she has done within Themysciras borders has been paid for."
"Captain Marcus, take the suspect into custody." Lanier orders and a big dark skinned man steps forwards, taking out a pair of handcuffs that is locked onto Terra after the shackles are removed.
"Terra, you are under arrest under the suspicion of conducting acts of terrorism against the United States of America. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law." The man rumbles as Terra is shoved into the building, Raven guesses he had lost someone during Terra's rampage, due to the anger he was showing.
"You have brought a dangerous terrorist to justice; I have been informed that the American people want to thank you for doing so. Good day to you." Lanier says before she and her officers return inside after getting a nod from Raven, who remounts before turning to face the others.
"Warriors of Themyscira, move out!" Raven yells and the group of riders gallop down the way they came, before vanishing as they pass under a bridge.
Later, New York:
"Hey everyone!" Raven says loudly as she enters the apartment a few hours after dropping Terra off, having changed clothes and manners, making sure the front door is closed before she pulls the white cloth mask down over her head.
"Really Miss Raven, there is no need for this." Alfred says again, trying to take control of the wheelchair he is in, one that Raven has been in control of ever since they left the space station, but she pushes him forwards into the living room regardless.
"Raven, good to see you again." Bruce says as he is the only one present, working at a computer. "And Alfred, good to see you out of bed."
"My apologies for not standing up Sir." Alfred says from his seat.
"Don't worry about it, take it as a vacation." Bruce replies with a smirk, revealing he wasn't serious, but then again Alfred never took vacations only a day off once in a while. "And Raven, I guess your powers of healing has returned?"
"They have." Raven replies. "And available if wanted."
"No, I like sitting here." Bruce replies with a smirk, under the mask, Raven smirk back and places a blue glowing hand on Bruce's head.
"Good thing for your cowl, but you are mobile now." Raven says after taking her hand off his head.
"Good, now I only have to pretend." Bruce says as he tries to stand up. "So is Diana also coming?" He asks.
"When she has dealt with the horde of journalists sure to be descending on Themyscira's Embassy, but take it easy." Raven says with a smirk. "So, did you see what happened?" She asks having heard it from Donna that Terra hadn't been lying in the arena.
"We did, every screen that could transmit it was suddenly directed to Themyscira." Bruce says. "Ares had you both watched as soon as you arrived on the island, normal transmissions resumed when Diana engaged him."
"And in regards to what we did after?" Raven asks, knowing Bruce would have analyzed whatever readings and reports he could get his hands on in regards to the fight and their intents for Ares wouldn't have gone him by either.
"You did what you had to." Bruce shrugs, knowing where she was going. "But I want to know where he is."
"Here." Raven replies as she opens a viewing portal in the floor, where Ares sits in a darkened cell. "He may not be immersed in a river of boiling blood, but for now he will remain there, until he escapes."
"You expect him to?" Alfred asks.
"Eventually, but he can only leave Hell from certain points under his own power, so there will be some merry chases for his keepers to go on. Also, I've had to swear he's out in ten years, local time that is."
"Fate and the others noticed the other Olympians, and something else?" Bruce notes.
"Some of the Furies knew Ares would try and trick Nemesis into making a mistake, which would have left her open to the Furies, she wasn't pleased." Bruce just nods at this, having seen them once during a case that he wasn't proud of. "But other than that, he is going to sit there for the time being."
"Well, that's something at least." Bruce says. "So Terra got flogged?"
"She did, 50 strokes for invasion, I had orders to keep count and heal. Some wanted to have her head chopped off, but I said the Spectre is coming for her, and I think he is." Raven replies before she starts explaining it. "I was dying before Terra had Hippolyta and Diana light the pyre, I had an encounter of sorts where I met my kids, who told me the Spectre had told them to come. They didn't name him, but I assume it is one of the few things that can pull people from the afterlife that wears a green cloak."
"I just hope it won't be on national TV." Bruce sighs, knowing that almost nothing could be done if the Spectre wanted something or someone.
"I fear it will, it would suit him." Raven sighs. "So where is Richard? If he's out I might as well not wear this." She says while pointing at the mask.
"In his room, listening to music. I am sure he will be happy to have some of his wounds healed." Bruce says, Raven nods at him before leaving the room.
"…not again…" Richard thinks as he finds himself standing in a seemingly endless corridor of Wayne Manor. Taking a look through one of the innumerable doors of the hallway, he first sees his parents falling to their doom in the circus tent, frozen in mid air he can see them reach out to each other before the inevitable happens.
Through another he finds his old team arguing at a tremendous volume and pace while the entire room they are in is turned upside down. As if on some predestined signal the argument suddenly turns violent with Starfire engaging Raven and Victor charging Beastboy, who is carried into the door, slamming it shut in Richards face, who notes the blood that begins to leak out from under it. He tries yelling and pushing the door open again, but nothing happens.
He flees the scene and runs a distance down the corridor, as the notion that it was him they were fighting over in the last room. When he finally stops, he decides on trying another door, feeling as the one he chooses to be special somehow. Opening the door, he is greeted by the sight of his room, messy as always and Batgirl sitting on her knees on his bed with her hands on her knees. Richard feels like he is being sucked into the room and the door slams shut behind him, trapping him inside. He doesn't know why, but for some reason he feels that he has to know who Batgirl is. She makes no move to stop him as he carefully pulls the mask of, getting met by a pair of blue eyes.
"Hello Ritchie." Richard screams as Terra leaps at him while the world grows dark, before a cold sensation sends him somewhere else.
"Richard!" Raven's voice cuts through his mind and he opens his eyes gasping for air and covered in sweat, finding his friend looking at him with concern in her eyes while wearing a white cloth mask over her head. "Bad dream?"
"N…Nightmare." Richard heaves realizing it was just a dream, he is now awake and in his room in New York.
"You've had a lot of those lately." Raven says as she sits down in front of him on his bed. "Anything you want to talk about? I know I shouldn't be the one suggesting this." She knows it was usually impossible to get Richard to share the deeper parts of his mind.
"Not really, I'm fine now, thanks." He replies, both of them know he is lying, but Raven lets it slide with a nod. "When did you get back?"
"Five minutes ago, brought Alfred along with me. And I got my healing abilities back." She says. "So are you ready to get out of your seat?"
"I can't wait.." Richard replies with an uneasy smile as Raven summons her powers, putting a glowing hand on his cast encased arm for a few moments. "And that's it, a day or three should be all that's needed before you can leave the chair behind and stop reading that book you fell asleep to." She notes at the book in his lap.
"Er…no, I think I am going to keep reading it." He says as he closes it and tries to hide it from her, by tossing it into a corner, getting her to raise an eyebrow. "Come on, I am sure we all want to grill you over what happened over there." He says hurriedly as he swings his chair around and heads out the door, leaving her to blink a few times after him, scratching her head, wondering if it was the book or something else that had gotten to him?
As promised Diana arrives a few hours later, after having weathered the storm on the embassy by holding a press conference, where many questions were answered; if Ares was truly were who he had claimed to be and what had become of him. Also the question was raised at the arrangement of the escort, it had not passed any of the analysts in the media that Diana was not the one in charge, which lead off to the more personal question if Diana had been demoted back home. Diana had explained that she had several functions and that she still takes orders, she is the Champion of the Gods, but also a citizen of Themyscira. And as a citizen of Themyscira, the Champion of Themyscira, which she explained as being an extension of the will of Queen Hippolyta, could still pull rank on her if needed. This again leads to the question why Raven was this Champion, to which Diana had only smirked and replied, that it was her mother's choice, but Raven had been found worthy of the title. Also the question was raised why it took so long for Themyscira to hand over Terra and if she had endured some kind of punishment, to which Diana had replied that it was an internal Themysciran affair what they did with criminals.
While the small gathering didn't get any further explanations to the saving grace Raven had, they nonetheless were impressed at the fight, which Bruce out of habit had recorded and proceeded to show. Making Raven feel somewhat embarrassed at how she looked on screen, while Richard joked that someone was bound to use the footage for something. Which was what Cyborg said an hour after Bruce showed it, when the mechanical man called on behalf of Tim.
During the evening, Diana and Raven had made dinner, since the four insisted on having Alfred rest till he was completely healed, which they would explain would be a lot sooner than Richard and Bruce could openly show, since Raven was reported having visited him on the station. To both Bruce and Richard, it was a weird sight, because Raven was actually using the opportunity to teach Diana a thing or two about the kitchen.
Later on Raven headed back to Gotham for patrol, insisting on Bruce remaining behind for this evening at least, something Diana reinforces by lassoing him before Raven teleported away. While Raven is in Gotham, she does a wide sweep of the city to get the feel of it and makes a short visit to the refugee camps, where she drops off two bags worth of salvaged medical supplies and perishables from the caves before she ended the night by visiting Wayne Manor. While Fate had been by to secure Raven's small collection of magical artifacts and tomes, discreetly, as Bruce had posted guards at the house, Raven went to secure a few other things. Personal belongings that Bruce did not store elsewhere and a few things Raven knew both, she, Richard and Tim wanted to have returned. The last place she visits is the Batcave, where she fills out a detailed report of its condition she knew would make Bruce angry, because it was near a total loss. Out of affection, she raises the downed helicopter from the harbor and deposits it in one of the auxiliary caves before leaving the cave, taking both the spare Batman and Nightwing's costumes with her.
Arriving back in New York, she finds Bruce and Diana asleep on the couch, while the TV is playing static. Taking a look around, she finds Alfred and Richard asleep as well, before she retires for the few hours of sleep she can allow herself, while feeling like she was really home with a real family.
"It… It's almost too much." Batman sighs with a heavy note of sentimentality as he; Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin take in the damage done to the cave a few days after Terra had been handed over, even the bats are gone. They had started up the emergency generator so they could have some light and start up the computer. "I knew we should have earthquake proofed the structures."
"We will get it up and running again." Nightwing says, while still wearing a cast on his arm and leg, he is walking with the help of a crutch since it was still giving him trouble, like Bruce and the others, he is affected by the sight. Terra, who's psychic evaluation was to become public in a day or two, had done what most of Arkham Asylum's inmates have dreamed about for years, brought the city and the Batcave to its knees.
"Yeah, Raven could put this place back into working order in a matter of hours." Tim says as he looks over the edge of the cliff into the abyss.
"No, we will put this place back together, as a family." Bruce says before Raven could voice her opinion. "And there are already plans for how to rebuild the place."
"Figures." Raven says, smiling under her mask. "When do we start?"
"When the house is restored, till then we operate out of the abandoned subway." Bruce replies.
"What about me?" Richard asks, fearing he is going to be left behind because of his injuries, knowing the old station was not a place for him in his current condition.
"It's only a week." Bruce says.
"I think I might have an idea, if you want to that is." Raven says, casting a glaze at Tim who nods at the unspoken idea. "Gotham will be a disaster zone for months, but for the week, would you care to be a mentor at Titans Tower?" She asks, getting only a sigh from him.
"I can't go there Rae, not while Slade is there. Crazy or not, we shouldn't be in the same building for more than a few hours."
"Unfortunately, he is right, he has been spending a lot of time just watching Wilson over the security camera's." Batman says.
"I can't let it go." Richard says. "I can just see it happening, he awakens, tears the team apart and returns to his old ways."
"Rose and Joseph have been going on about how good it was to be a real family for once; they didn't wear the costumes or lift their swords since they got together after he fled Arkham. They even claim Arkham had some effect on him, making him act like a normal human being." Tim says, getting Nightwing to stare at him.
"That… that actually terrifies me Tim, makes me wonder even more what kind of mind he is in when he wakes up." Nightwing replies.
"We have it covered." Robin says firmly. "Cyborg doesn't trust him either."
"I know you don't like it Nightwing, but with your current injuries, there isn't much else you can do." Batman continues, Richard just stares at them for several seconds before replying.
"Fine." He growls before heading towards the driveway exit, leaving the three behind.
"I'll get him." Raven sighs as he disappears from view and heads after him, catching up to him easily. "Richard, where are you going?"
"Away, I am in the way here." He growls. "The cave was hardly big enough for two, let alone three and now I am just going to be in the way."
"Richard your leg was broken as was your arm, Bruce isn't telling you to sit out because of spite, he does so because he doesn't want to see you injure yourself while in Gotham. Believe me; the City is much more dangerous now than any of the thugs roaming the city. Remember how Jump City was when Trigon…"
"Stop! Raven, please! Don't make this any harder, I killed off any trust any of you had in me two years ago, I can't possibly reclaim it in any way, it's best I leave." He is caught off guard as Raven moves to block his path before slapping him.
"I can't believe I am hearing this from you." She says sternly as they stare at each other. "You make one mistake and that's it?! You run? Twice now? What the hell happened to you Richard?! You never ran from anything, it didn't matter what it was; demons, psychos or rampaging aliens you always stood your ground?"
"For heaven's sake Raven I almost killed you!" Richard shouts back at her.
"So what?! SO WHAT?!" Raven shouts back at him. "The only time when people are not trying to kill me is when I am being Rachel Roth! Yes damnit I was angry at what you did, I was confused as to why you did it. But you know what? I DON'T CARE!" She roars at him.
"Then at least one of us don't." Richard says dryly before making to move around her. "Goodbye Raven." He says in passing.
"Don't you see what you are doing?" Raven asks as she turns around after him. "You are letting her win!" A few feet down the tunnel, Richard stops and looks back at her.
"I am sorry Raven; guess we aren't all as well equipped to deal with these sorts of things as you are." He says before continuing.
"Bullshit Richard! You made it through much worse than this!" Raven shouts after him, but gets no reply. "Fine! Keep walking until you balls decide to fall back into place!" She shouts angrily before stomping back towards the caves with her wounded pride. However, before she steps out of the tunnel she stops and does an about face. "Damn it Richard." She curses before she runs back down the tunnel, finding him at the cave exit, trying to get the door to open.
"What now Raven?" He sighs as he notices her as she sits down next to him, with her back against the door.
"There isn't enough power to open it." She sighs. "I can open it, but can we talk about this first?"
"There's nothing to discuss, I am not wanted here."
"Yes you are, we just don't want to see you injured any further." Raven says. "Is it really a crime that we care for your wellbeing?" She asks, quickly stomping on her anger, knowing it was rising.
Nightwing sighs. "It's not that, I know Bruce and he won't trust me to operate alone in the field again, just like last time."
"Richard, he sees you as the first son he never had, he really cares for you and doesn't want to see you get hurt. Back when the Joker caught you, before we met, Bruce was terrified something like that or worse would happen to you again, it's the same here." She explains as he sits down in the darkness next to her.
"I know. But I can't stay here knowing that he doesn't trust me to be on my own in the field anymore."
"I am sorry Richard, but you never stayed around long enough to find out what he really feels about you." Raven counters.
"But you do?" He asks.
"I told you about my first meeting with Dent." She says. "Getting shot and falling down an elevator shaft wasn't the only thing that happened, before that, I got overconfident and his goons got a free round of beating me up before Dent made the coin toss if he should shoot me in the head or not. Before the coin decided however, I panicked and fled, resulting me getting shot in the stomach and stumbling backwards into the open elevator shaft. When I woke up, I was back here, Bruce wasn't a happy man."
Flashback.
"I am extremely disappointed in you Raven." Batman growls as he is pacing the floor in front of her as she stands in the center of the training cave with her hands on her back, in her training set, while trying to remain blank, it had only been hours since she woke up after Dent and she is still sore the places the bullets had pierced her suit. "I want to know what went through your head when you barged into Dent's hideout."
"I… I thought I could take them." Raven admits taking a quick look at her feet; it's a reaction she is trying to stop, but the cocktail of negative emotions Bruce is radiating makes it hard not to.
"You were overconfident and reckless." Batman says sternly. "You barged in without a second thought, failing to notice the men who ended up behind you!" She admits she only has a vague memory of landing before something struck her on the back of her head, the fight ended right there. "We know you aren't an overconfident person who rushes in blindly, let this be a lesson about what happens to those who are." Bruce says as he stops to lock eyes with her.
"It won't happen again." Raven replies, feeling nervous about what Bruce would have her do to remember it.
"It wont." Batman agrees. "And to make sure you do." He says before walking off to get something that he had left outside the cave before he joined her inside, returning with a red plastic bucket with several cleaning articles inside of it which he hands to her. "The floors upstairs, all of them." He says as she looks up at him, slightly surprised at the chore. "I want to be able to see my face reflected in them when you are done." He continues before leaving her to it.
It would take her almost two days to get around all of Wayne Manors many rooms, with a bucket of soap water and a piece of cloth since Bruce wouldn't allow her to use a mop, having to go back after finishing each to have them inspected and cleared by Bruce. At the end of it all her knees were red and sore from supporting her weight for so long and the pants she had been doing it in were ruined as well. The morning after finishing she would wake up, suspended upside down by her ankles and her arms handcuffed behind her back.
Flashback ends.
"He was angry and disappointed that I let it happen and that I reacted with fear, tell me this sounds familiar?"
"It does." Richard says. "What did he do about it?"
"Training got even more severe after that, the press even thought Rachel Roth had disappeared for a spell. I did what I thought I should do, grinded my teeth and took whatever he threw at me, even the part when he began training me not to flinch under fire."
"He shot at you?" Richard asks.
"He did, or he had Oliver do it." She says before the fall into relative silence.
"What would you have me do Raven?" Richard sighs after a moment.
"I would have you stay, wait the few days we are asking for before you join us again." She replies.
"And if he thinks I should be trained some more?"He asks.
"Then I will personally work you to the bone to get you up to the standard he wants."
"And if I decide to go anyways?" He continues.
"Then I am going with you." She says resolutely.
"Why?" Richard asks, Raven thinks for a few seconds before replying.
"Because I am not going to risk you doing what you almost did in search of Nanda Parbat, not again. And we need you here, Gotham needs you more than ever." She replies.
"And what about you?" He asks.
"I like that you are around Richard, because you inspire me to continue, to be determined in the face of impossible odds, to believe in hope. You said once I was the most hopeful person you knew, but I never would have had any, if you had turned me away."
"And in a little over a month our old team would be celebrating its ten year anniversary." Richard chuckles before nodding in the dark. "All right, you got me. Sorry about this."
"It is me that is apologizing, I should not have shouted. But thank you for staying." She says while they get up.
"No problem, guess someone has to pretend there is still someone in New York." He shrugs.
And thus it is agreed upon; Richard returns to New York with Raven, while Tim, Alfred and Bruce move into the auxiliary cave. Raven insisted on going with him, so he wouldn't be alone and so they had a chance to work off the panic attacks.
Authors Notes: Things will turn a little bit back towards Richard from now on, for those who wondered why this is a Raven/Robin fic :) And for those with other concerns, I still have a trick up my sleeve to throw at you.
Next chapter: Psychosis, how will Richard overcome the damage inflicted on him?