My Hero
Chapter 8
Richards POV:
Sadly our peaceful sleep didn't last more than four and a half hours. Alfred came knocking calling, "Master Richard. It's time to start the day" His knocking had woken me before his voice had. Crap if he comes in here we're dead. Bruce and Alfred didn't know that Raven had been sleeping in my room. They just thought she was an early riser, and she normally was, when she wasn't trying to keep the same hours as me. "Master Richard are you up?" I knew if I didn't say anything he would come in. "Yeah Alfred I'm up" I called back praying that Raven was too tired to wake up. I tried to get up only to realize that my shirt was heavier than I remembered it being. Raven had it clenched tightly in her hands. I listened carefully, sighing gratefully when I heard my old butlers retreating footsteps. I relaxed. Deciding to wait for my girl to wake up, I laid back down with her. Almost as soon as I replaced my arm around her bare waist she jerked awake with fear in her eyes. "Hey, it's ok. No need to be scared." My voice was soothing and slow. She looked around before slowly nodding. "Why are you always scared like that when you wake up?" She tried acting as if nothing had happened. "I wasn't scared, you just startled me" I raised an eyebrow at her. "Wanna try that one again?" She sighed and I knew I had won this. "My dad would cut me while I was asleep, so now, even the slightest touch startles me awake." Raven curled up against me, once again taking my shirt in her hand. I shook my head in disgust and got out of bed, opening the curtains on the large windows letting bright sun in. "Rich... Richy come back to bed, it's too early." I chuckled as she pulled the blankets over her head. "It's almost ten" I chuckled. "Hmmmph" was the only response I got from the pile of sheets. Smirking I pulled them off her. "Come on my sweet, time to get up" She glared at me, grumbling about how I was able to actually FUNCTION on so little sleep. "It's because I'm used to the long nights" I kissed her on the cheek as she pulled her pajamas on (blushing) and walked out of my room. "Maybe you should try going to sleep BEFORE the sun comes up" I called after her.
Not even a minute after she left Alfred came back in. "If I may be so bold Young Sir, what was Miss Raven doing in your room and in your pajamas?" I knew I could tell him the truth without fear of him telling Bruce. But if Bruce asked him, Alfred would tell him because he never lies. "She just came to ask me a question." I smiled. "and she always wears my pajamas. It's nothing new." and I personally thought it was adorable. He turned nodding to himself as he left once again. I showered and got dressed before heading down the hall to Ravens room. It was empty. I went downstairs to get some breakfast, only to see Bruce and Alfred standing around the couch, staring at it. "What are you looking at?" I asked as I walked up to them. "I take it she didn't sleep last night?" Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow at me as he assumed it was my fault. Raven was curled up in a small ball in the corner of the couch, still in my pajamas. I put my hands up in mock surrender. "It's not my fault!" Bruce grinned at me, "Sure" he said skeptically. He loved giving me a hard time about this kind of stuff. "She was still up when we got home last night. We went back to her room and I stayed with her till she fell asleep." Well at least that's partially the truth. Alfred looked over at me, "And at what time might that have been?" I inwardly groaned, he must love giving me a hard time too. "Uh... Around sunrise" I said sheepishly scratching the back of my head. "My word, no wonder the girl is tired"
I went out into the city without telling anyone. I had my license; Bruce just didn't like to let me drive because I've smashed up the batmobile a few times. Anyway I had taken one of the motorcycles into the shopping center of the city. I wanted to get something for Raven, and I had an idea of what I wanted. I just needed to find it. I went into a nice jewelry store. I wandered around the store looking through all the cases. Thirty minutes later I knew I had found what I was looking for. It was perfect for her. I just hoped she would like it.
Bruce and I were ready to leave for the party. We were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Raven to come down. "Has she shown you her dress?" Bruce asked. I shook my head. I couldn't wait to see her in a dress but I was worried too. After she showed me last night I understood why she was so against going and why she only wore her t-shirts and jeans. "You look beautiful Raven" Bruce's voice brought me out of my thoughts. Looking up I smiled at my girlfriend. "Rae, you look amazing." She was in a full length dark blue dress with off the shoulder straps.
Ravens POV:
I was nervous and hesitated on the last step. Richard noticed, stepping forward he took my hand and led me over to where Bruce was waiting. "We need to leave we're late." I nodded about to follow him towards the door but Richard stopped me. "How did you hide the scars?" My dress was low cut in the back. "A whole lot of cover-up. Now come on, Bruce is gonna get mad at us." I tried to tug my arm free but he only pulled me into his arms. "Let him wait" he whispered in my ear before his mouth crashed on mine in sweet passion. I tried to pull back but one of his hands cupped the back of my neck and the other wrapped tighter around my waist. Let him wait, my thoughts happily echoed my boyfriends statement.
This sucked. I'd had Richard to myself for a whole minute before Bruce dragged him away. I had spent the last hour of the stupid party sitting at a table alone and miserable. I scanned the large room for him once again, but couldn't find him. I put my arms on the table and rested my head on them with a long sigh. Why am I even here? I didn't even want to come to this party. "Wonder if they would let Alfred take me home?" I muttered, jumping a second later when someone rested a hand on my shoulder. "Now why would I let you leave," a husky voice whispered next to my ear. "when I haven't had a chance to dance with the most beautiful girl here yet?" I turned around in my chair to see my Richard grinning at me. "Sorry it took so long for me to get away, but Bruce doesn't get that when you actually ARRIVE somewhere with a date, that they like to spend time together. He always shows up alone and leaves with a girl on each arm." He explained holding out a hand to me. I stood up, taking his hand and he led me to the middle of the dance floor. A slow song was playing as he wrapped his arms around my waist, mine slowly creeping around his neck. We started slowly swaying to the music. "There's still something wrong though..." He looked at me thoughtfully before grinning and pulling me tighter against his chest. I looked up at him before resting my head on his shoulder. I heard him whisper, "That's better" and I completely agreed with him. Much better. I looked up at him again and he kissed me. "I'm glad that I didn't leave." He opened his mouth to reply as the whole building shook. Maniacal laughter rang around the room and Richards grip on me tightened. Bruce showed up next to us. "Richard, I need to have a word with you." He looked like he was about to argue when that horrible laugh rang out again, accompanied by an explosion creating a hole in the wall. My boyfriend looked me in the eye and whispered in my ear, "Stay safe, I'll be back as soon as I can." I nodded nervously as he followed Bruce's earlier path towards the back door. "Helllllooooo Gotham!" I turned around as gasped along with everyone else when I looked around and saw the Joker and Harley walking through the room. "Now, where, is the Bat?" He looked around the room, his gaze swinging from side to side. Realizing I was in the front of the crowd I tried to back up without being seen. But nobody would let me through and I was forced to stay where I was. A window overhead shattered as Batman and Robin dropped into the building.
Richards POV:
Batman and I dropped through one of the sky lights. "Ah, Batsy and Bird Brain, right on time. I was hoping you would drop by. But tell me, have you never heard of a door or do you just like pulling glass out of your shorts?" I rolled my eyes at him before lunging at Harley. It wasn't usually very hard to take her down but I kept casting glances over my shoulder at Raven. I saw Joker dodge around Batman and run towards the crowd. Hitting a pressure point on Harleys neck, I knocked her out and ran towards Joker with Batman. The two of us came to a skidding halt as The Joker grabbed one of the civilians around the neck, using them as a human shield. That human shield was my Raven. I growled low in the back of my throat, and Batman put a warning hand on my shoulder. If I kept it up I would give away our secret identities, Raven may have known who Batman and I were but no one else did. Plus Bruce didn't know that Raven knew who we were. And we needed it to stay that way. "Oh, does Bird Boy have feelings for the poor little girl?" Joker smiled wickedly at us. But after tonight Bruce might know our little secret. "This might be easier than I thought." He said retreating towards the stairs, leaving Harley behind. I could see the fear in Ravens eyes. I just barely shook my head so she would know that's she wouldn't need to worry. The Joker noticed and grinned as he threw Raven over his shoulder and ran out the door. I glanced at Batman who glared disapprovingly at me, yup he knows, before we both ran after the Joker and Raven.
I was so worried about her. I just wanted to kill the Joker for putting her in danger like this. Letting my worry and fury fuel me I put on another burst of speed as we raced after the madman. We followed him out the door to the gardens. They were surrounded by six foot tall stone walls on all sides. Batman and I were blocking the only way out and there was no way in hell I was letting him get past me with my girlfriend in his clutches. Joker turned to look at us, realizing he was trapped. "Don't come any closer you two or the pretty little girl will have to pay with her life." Joker grinned at us. I growled again, dying to pounce on him. I took one step, desperate to get Raven back in my arms where she belonged. "I said stay where you are! Now she's gonna be the one to pay" He barked at me moving his hands around Ravens throat. I cringed inwardly as she slowly brought her hands up to his to try and pull them away. It wasn't long before she was panicking and gasping for breath. "Joker, release the girl" Batman growled. I was tempted to run at him, but I feared Ravens safety. He tightened his grip; Raven was turning blue from lack of air. I wanted to beg for him to let her go. "If you let her go right now we'll let you leave." Batman growled. Joker raised an eyebrow before smiling wildly realizing the advantage he had over us at the moment. He knew we wouldn't hurt an innocent. "Not on your afterlife Batman, she's the only reason you haven't dragged me back to Arkham yet!" He laughed insanely before continuing "There's no way I'll willingly give up that protection!" I glared at him, planning out the order I would rip his limbs off when I got my hands on him. He started slowly walking towards us. "One move and I'll snap her small neck in two." He threatened. When he reached us he turned so his back was to the door and his gaze flicked back and forth between us. As soon as his gaze left me I punched him in the ribcage. He glared at me, dropping Raven. I lunged forward, catching her before she hit the ground. Batman grabbed him before he could attack me. She was unconscious. I glared up at Joker, fully intending on slowly and painfully tearing all his limbs from his body, but Batman looked like he was enjoying beating him to a bloody pulp so I settled on just worrying about Raven at the moment. Getting up I turned my back to the battling duo before cradling Raven to my chest. I was so glad that she wasn't dead. I walked towards the door only to go behind some bushes. If I went out there, with her looking like this, the paramedics would take her to the hospital. Which wasn't really too bad of an idea but I didn't want her out of my sight at the moment. She would be alright without going to the hospital. Her breathing was ragged and shallow but she was young and strong. I knew she would be ok in time. "Rae? Wake up." I whispered next to her ear, just wanting to reassure my conscience that I was making the right decision about the hospital. "I need you to wake up" I whispered pulling her closer to me. "Raven, speak to me." I pleaded, rubbing my thumb across her cheek. I was just about to give up hope and take her out to the paramedics when her eyelids fluttered. I smiled ripping my mask off. "So scary. I'm sorry" she said before losing consciousness again.