Raw Deal (Part II)
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own the show Teen Titans, nor the various DC comics on which this fanfiction is based.
Before Raven can comment, a large array of plates arrive at their table. The waiter leaves them without comment, apparently deciding the two look entirely too serious to allow for small conversation.
"So, something happened, obviously," Raven states while emptying several packets of sugar into her teacup. "I mean, you're here, outside of Bell Reve, and you're alive."
Jinx takes a bite out of the steak she ordered, eyes closing as a satisfied hum sounds in the back of her throat.
"The rumors were true, this steak is awesome. And yeah, somebody saved my ass. Harley Quinn, if you'd believe it."
"Really? I don't picture her as the type to take someone under her wing," Raven muses, frowning in thought.
"I thought so, too. So, first day I'm in, and we get sent out for rec time, right? I decide, because I'm an idiot, that it might be better for me if I just stick to a corner of the yard. I mean, I can see all directions for trouble coming, and with my acrobatics, I can use the corner as a good point to start getting away if shit hits the fan, right? Made sense, at the time. Until a whole gang of 'em shows up, and I can't get away in any direction."
She takes another bite, seeming to stall while she collects her thoughts.
"Did you know that rec time there isn't separated like the rest of the prison?"
"They put all the prisoners together?" Raven inquires in her monotone, inwardly horrified at the prospect.
"Yep. Boy, did I learn that fast. So, a lot of these inmates are boxing me in, and I can practically see the writing on the walls. I wasn't exactly all muscle, and the best I could hope for would be to run on their heads until one of them got their hands on me, and then I'd be dead. So, I'm watching them, that's Killer Frost, some old H.I.V.E. students, and some guys I didn't recognized, come at me, right? Then this really loud, bubbly voice sounds, and all of them jump like the damn Devil itself had shown up."
"Harley commands that much respect?"
"You know how she got in, right? She wrecked the Joker, and that kind of thing isn't something people want to mess with. So, this bubbly blonde comes walking right past them, and throws her arm around my neck, acting like we're old friends. She gives them this look, and they all just back down, turn tail, and run for it. So, she says to me that she remembered her first stint, and that I should learn to fight, quick, because the guards don't do shit in the yard unless a riot breaks out."
Raven takes note of this, making plans to anonymously send some inspections the prison's way. Hearing rumors and hearing it straight from a former inmate were two separate things, and she didn't like the feel of it all.
"So, Harley saved you. I suppose she's the one who taught you to fight?"
Jinx grins at that, pointing her steak-knife in Raven's vague direction.
"Always thought you were a quick one. Harley taught me how to fight, and I mean down-on-the-floor, dirty, no bullshit fighting. Guess she had to learn, if she wanted to keep up with the Joker constantly messing with everyone. Turns out that someone had put me in as her cellmate, which would make sense later but not so much at the time. Luckily, I'm a fast learner. Just fast enough, as it turns out. Did you guys ever hear about the riot, 'bout a year and a half ago?"
"We'd heard. Evidently Batman showed up, and a lot of the inmates decided to shut their cell doors behind themselves as soon as he did," Raven muses with a slight smile.
"Yeah, that ain't a rumor. Well, the riot broke out when I was out in the yard, few months into my stay. Still don't know how the hell they pulled it off, but some of the inmates managed to disable their collars, and powers started getting hurled around to various random and explosive results. Of course, I was not lucky enough to be among the ones that cut out, so I was stuck with just what Harley taught me and my acrobatics. Those ex-H.I.V.E. students I mentioned a minute ago? They noticed."
A hard glint forms in Jinx's eye, and Raven finds herself wondering if the gem's worth putting the girl through the memories causing her suffering.
Before she can make a decision on it, though, the meta continues.
"So, three of them come at me, throwing their powers around as if I've never seen anything like it before. I'd like to say I kicked their asses without a scratch with my new ninja moves, but I'd be lying, at least partially."
Jinx pauses at Raven's audible snicker, staring at her as the psychic simply raises her eyebrow, as if daring her to make mention of her sense of humor.
"Ninja moves? I believe that kickboxing would be more Quinn's style."
"Hmm… That's true enough… Mostly, they just didn't have the control of their powers they needed to deal with my new skills after months being without them. It probably saved my life, and just as the riot's being shut down, I just finished up slamming one of their heads into the concrete. When the other two came at me, I was in fight or flight mode, and the guards got to us when I trip them off by kicking their unconscious friend into a roll at them. They both came down and slammed their heads, and all three of them came out of it with serious concussions and the vague idea that I was the reason for it, so rumors started spreading within the week."
"Am I correct in assuming that things didn't get easier afterwards?"
Jinx suddenly digs into her steak, taking several large mouthfuls as her face contorts in thought.
"Perhaps we're getting to the bad part, then," Raven muses with no small amount of worry.
"Yes and no," Jinx finally says, a grimace on her face. "By the end of the week, I get called up to Waller's office. I'm thinking I'm going to get in deep shit for almost killing three guys, maybe even put in isolation. Glad to say that I was surprised."
Raven simply sips her tea, not pressuring the woman to continue unduly.
"So, I go in, and first thing out of Waller's mouth is that she knows. She makes it clear that she knows I shouldn't be in Belle Reve, or any prison, for that matter. I'm reeling, thinking that I'm either getting tricked or I'm going to be worked for some kind of deal, maybe some info on my former teammates, or something. But she didn't ask for any of that. Instead, she tells me that I can continue on suffering abuse, and I will eventually die when I'm alone, which I'd been lucky to avoid to that point. Said it would be a pointless waste of talent. Or she has an offer for me. I can do… odd jobs for her, and work my sentence off fast with them."
Raven's eyes widen, information coming to the fore of her brain. Jinx's reluctance suddenly makes complete sense, if her suspicions are correct, which they seem to be.
Raven quickly casts her gaze around the cafe, finding no attention, psychic or mundane, focused on them outside of the curiosity over what two young women can be so seriously discussing.
"You're part of Waller's private little black ops, aren't you, Jinx?"
Jinx's head shoots up, eyes wide and terror making a heady scent in the air.
"I don't know what you're-"
"Suicide Squad," Raven interrupts, wincing at the impact Jinx's sudden fear hitting her senses.
Jinx ducks her head low, her eyes in narrow slits focused on the psychic.
"How the fuck do you know that name?" she demands, voice low and entire body tensed in preparation for a fight.
"They aren't as secret as they should be. Frankly, while I get the point of it, Waller's idea of expendable mercenaries doesn't really make for much of a contingency plan or safeguards for privacy, if you know where to look," Raven remarks, raising her hands placatingly. "You need to calm down, Jinx."
"Fucking- ugh. Why would you have any reason to know where to look in the first place?" Jinx demands, directing her ire at the first question raised in her mind.
"There was an operation done in Zandia, a small Baltic island run by a cult. I make it my business to keep tabs on everything related to that place, and so it was matter of course to discover you guys."
"Who else knows?"
"Jinx, just calm down," Raven sighs. "Nightwing might be the detective, but I've picked up quite a few tricks from observing him and talking to Cyborg over the years. Only I had any reason to know about it all."
Jinx nods, seeming to accept this logic even as panic continues burning through her.
"Raven, you have to swear that you will never mention that name, ever again. Especially while in any connection to me. Because if someone hears you, Waller made it very clear on my exit that I will be killed, and so will anyone who learns about it."
Suddenly, Jinx's emotions make total sense, and Raven's gaze softens as she stares at the scared woman, even if she still hadn't told her what she was doing with the gem.
"I swear that I won't tell anyone else, ever," she says, the air vibrating as the magical oath takes place.
Jinx shivers, apparently noticing the geas taking form.
"You just-"
"A geas. If I break the promise, I may die, and if I don't, it will still be of terrible consequence," Raven tells her, the slight glow fading from her eyes.
"Thank you," Jinx says, her body shaking in the wake of the vanishing terror in her system, adrenaline slowly working its way out.
"So, I've yet to hear why you currently have that gem around your neck. Though I suppose at least now, I know you didn't willingly cut all ties with us and disappear, so that's something," Raven states with a slight smile.
"I was getting to that before you so kindly gave me a damn heart attack," Jinx states, a large smile of her own forming before she continues...
Author's Notes:
For the record, the Suicide Squad in the story is the New 52's iteration, with Harley Quinn and Deadshot. Mostly because I like how Harley's character is being handled with it, though I do recognize quite a few issues with the writing.
A geas comes from older mythology, and over time has become a magically binding oath. Think of it like swearing on the River Styx in Greek mythology.
Not sure if I'm mixing Raven's personality from the many different iterations of her too much, here. Either way, let me know what you think, good or bad. See you next time!
P.S. 8/27/13-
You'll notice that if I have dates in the a/n's marking certain things, they may be a tad disjointed. I finished the entire first part of this story yesterday, so you all get a bonus chapter this week to celebrate. I'm currently getting started on the second part, though really, you all won't be seeing this for a while since the second part starts at chapter 25.