I just want to warn you guys... you won't be hearing from me this weekend. I'll be out of town for a few days and will be away from my laptop. But look foward to the next few weeks. I have a school break coming up, so I'll be writing up a storm.
"Starfire," says a deep voice. She yelps as she turns around. Standing in her open doorway is the Dark Knight himself. And he just caught her sneaking into her window. "When Alfred told me you didn't call, I tracked you." He flicks on her light switch. "Do you know how to listen to orders? Or do you just ignore them when they are given."
"Batman sir, I did not mean to disobey. It was late, I did not want to trouble Alfred-"
"Starfire, it's his job to be troubled. And to keep you safe."
"The only one who ever had the job of keeping me safe was my k'norfka. I am no longer a child, therefore I am capable of keeping myself safe."
"We're not asking this of you because you're incompetent. There's a madman out there who wants to hurt you. Who will stop at nothing. Gotham is a dangerous place."
"And my warrior planet is not?"
"Starfire. You are to follow my orders. You will not, under any circumstances, leave the manor without someone accompanying you. If I must, I will demand that you stay within the walls of the manor at all times."
"You cannot do that-"
"I can. I also have the power to decide whether or not you can work as a hero on this planet. If I report to the Justice League that you are unable to follow orders and I see you as unfit to work as a hero, then you will not longer be a member of the Titans. Do you understand me?"
Starfire stared at him, stunned. On her planet, any commoner who dared speak to her in this way would be arrested for treason, and would be sentenced to either banishment or death. She feels the fury coursing through her veins as her eyes threaten to grow green.
But this isn't my planet, she thinks to herself. And she has to remember to respect the earth ways if she is to be a Titan. She is not a princess here, but a follower under Batman and the Justice League's wing. She unclenched her fists, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
"I apologize," she says flatly.
"I hope you won't have another reason to apologize. It might be the last straw." She watches as he exits, the dark cape flowing behind him. He must be heading out for patrol.
She slams her purse against the ground, fighting the urge to scream. Oh how she wishes she were in Jump, before she "died", back when Robin was their leader and everything was perfect.
"Whoa there," says a voice. Starfire looks up to see Raven taking the place of Batman in her doorway. She smiled slightly before slumping to the ground. Raven moves to hover above the ground in front of her. "You really should've called Alfred."
"Please, spare me the lecture. I have heard enough."
"Yeah, he was pretty tough on you, wasn't he?" Raven gives her a sympathetic look.
"I do not think he likes me very much."
"You don't need him to like you-"
"Well apparently I do. He threatened to remove me from the team."
"He'd have to go through us first. Do you really think big brother Cyborg will let you go that easily?" Starfire giggles. Surely if Batman decides to take this strange anger he has for her and use it to eject her from heroism, her friends will stand up for her. Nightwing might even be at her side. "So how was your date?" asks Raven. Starfire's frown immediately turns into a bright smile.
"It was wonderful. After the botanical gardens, we did that skating on the ice. I did fall once, but he was a marvelous teacher. I insist that all four of us go there together before we leave for Jump."
"Starfire… Azar, I hate doing this to you."
"What?" Raven looks down at her with a strange look in her eyes.
"There's an ice rink in Jump. We've been there before. Dick taught you how to ice skate." Starfire looks down, staring at her hands.
"Oh," is all she says.
"Hey," says Raven, reaching down for her hand. "It'll all come back someday. I promise."
"I hope so. I do no like this feeling of not knowing."
"But this whole 'not knowing' thing might make it easier to start over. Which is still what you want, right?"
"Yes. It was nice to let Xavier teach me to ice skate. He is very kind."
"And you like him?" Starfire nods.
"Raven, I really do believe that he could be Red-X. Is that a crazy assumption?"
"Starfire," says Raven exasperatedly. "What's making you think that?"
"Well, for the past week or so, Red-X has been showing up after my dates with Xavier. Do you not think that is suspicious?"
"You never see Red-X when you're with him?" Starfire shakes her head. "Well, I don't really think that means it's Xavier."
"I just feel it. It is like part of me is drawn to him, like I know that I know him."
"Well don't go and try to make out with him before you're sure." Starfire's cheeks turn pink. "Azar, you kissed Xavier, didn't you?"
"Yes," says Starfire meekly.
"Wow. So, I guess that's that." The two went silent. Starfire knows what Raven is asking her. If this means she is truly done with Richard. As of right now, Xavier is her best bet at moving forward.
…
Detective Dick Grayson sat at his desk, filling out paperwork for recent arrests. He brought along some of his Nightwing files, most of them pertaining to Blockbuster, so he could do some homework on the side. Despite all of the recent arrests, many of them being some of Blockbuster's guys, there just seems to be more and more each day. He really was a pain in his ass, always finding more people to do his bidding. Nightwing kept bringing them in, Dick Grayson kept interrogating them, but nothing stopped Blockbuster.
Roland Desmond. That was his real name. He was the leader of the Blockbuster Gang, though he wasn't the original. After his brother, the original Blockbuster, was killed, the creep sold his soul to some demon named Neron, who Raven has said works to enhance the abilities of super villains. Roland had always been known to be brutal and skilled in fighting, but after selling his soul, his intelligence became his finest weapon. He's a master planner, which is why he's never been caught. He rules the Blockbuster Gang with an iron fist, leading several permanent members along with some other goons. Many of the gang members are current police officers on the Bludhaven force, but to Dicks knowledge, it could be any one of them. He has a few suspects, but none that he can bring to the police station. He has to work on this as Nightwing until he gets enough proof to discuss things with his partner, Katherine Riordan.
"Kat," calls Dick, folding up another file. "Here's the paperwork on Jones." The redheaded woman at the desk opposite him whips her head up, gracing him with a broad smile.
"You make everything seems so easy, Dick. What did that one take you, three minutes?" She reached her hand out to catch the file that he tossed. She opened it up, seeming to inspect it.
"Don't trust me?" he asks teasingly. She smirks, closing the file and setting it aside.
"As long as you keep doing all my work, you're golden," she says, typing away at her computer. Kat, well, Officer Riordan, has been a Senior Detective for the past five years. She's seen as somewhat of a genius around here, always knowing exactly what steps to take to get things done before we even get the 9-11 calls. When Dick became a Senior Detective, he was paired up with Kat, and they've been a perfect match. She really made the transition into this new position smooth.
And it's not that he's doing all her work. He just prefers to do things himself.
"Dick!" calls a voice. He hears footsteps approaching behind him, and he turns to see Wallace Ebersol, a short, stocky guy with thick-rimmed glasses. When Dick first joined the force, they were fast friends. Ebersol seems like such a timid man, but when faced with a tough situation and a gun in his hand, nothing stands in his way. "Dick," he says again, placing a hand on the back of his chair. "How 'bout Champs tonight?" That was basically the designated cop hangout. It was directly across the street from the station, with a friendly atmosphere, great food, and lots of big screen televisions.
"Tonight's not good for me," he replies. "I got a date with Wally." Which isn't exactly true, but he can't tell them that he has Nightwing duties.
"Ooo," croons Kat. "Bring him along." She winks before she looks back down at her computer.
"Cougar!" coughs Dick mockingly. She just laughs. "It's gonna be a night in for us. He's got some lady issues."
"I know how that is," says Ebersol. "Maybe tomorrow then?"
"Sure, just not too late for me."
"Yeah, yeah. I don't know what kind of twenty-four year old who looks like you goes to bed before nine. You should be out hunting around."
"Gag," says Kat. "Women aren't animals, and you don't hunt for them."
"Alright Kat," teases Dick. She glares over at him. He chuckles.
"I'm just about to head home," says Ebersol, clapping Dick on the back. "Live a little. Be young, before you end up like me." He pats his belly to emphasize his point, laughing as he walks away.
"He's right, you know. I don't understand why you don't have a girlfriend," muses Kat.
"You're too old for me, Kat." She lets out an exaggerated sigh.
"Oh, that's so heartbreaking," she makes a "psh" sound. "You know I got my eyes on your little friend."
"Imagine the hair on your kids. Fire engine red," he laughed.
"So, he's having girl troubles, huh? Anything I can help him with?" She raises her eyebrows suggestively.
"He's got a girlfriend." Kat pouts. "But he just can't keep his eyes off of anything in heels."
"I wear heels," she says, lifting her feet up to show off her strappy black kicks.
"Why the hell are you wearing those? What if we got called out?"
"Relax, our shift's, like, over. I just went and changed while you were doing that paperwork." She got up from her desk, pulling her coat off the back of her chair. Dick looks down at his watch; it's nearly 8 o'clock. He rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. God, he's just so tired. He's been missing out on sleep lately, with running back and forth between Gotham and Bludhaven to be Red X and Nightwing. Then he has to be up at six for work. He sighs as he gathers up his files.
"You work too hard, Dick," says Kat before she begins her walk down the hall. If she had known him a few weeks ago, she probably would've looked down on him. He returns her wave as she exits, standing up to gather his coat and keys.
…..
"Welcome home!" shouts a voice from deep within Dick's dark apartment. He jumps into the air, dropping his files as he moves into a fighting stance. Suddenly deep chuckles rumble through the room as a tableside lamp is turned on next to his living room couch. The now illuminated room shows a civilian-dressed Wally, feet propped up with a cell phone at his ear. "Hold on one second, babe," he says, obviously into the phone.
"Wally, what the hell?!" exclaims Dick as he bends down to pick up his scattered papers. A flash moves before his eyes, and then Wally is standing above him holding his papers perfectly in order. Dick gives him a look as he snatches back the files, then closes his front door. He moves into the living room and to the opposite wall, which suddenly flips around to enlarge the room and display a large computer. He drops the files at his desk and drags over a chair.
"How was your day at work, dear?" Dick glares at Wally who's returned to the couch. He seems to be texting, probably messaging whatever "babe" he was talking to on the phone when I arrived.
"What are you doing here And how did you even get in here?"
"I know all your codes, Dick. And, well, I wasn't sure if you'd actually show up for your patrol tonight, so I thought I'd drop by."
"Why wouldn't I show up?"
"Well, you've been in and out a bit lately. Babs has let me know every time you drop out of patrol early," says Wally, who has narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously.
"Traitor," Dick mutters under his breath.
"She's just worried about you, Dick. We all are."
"Who's all?" he asks, snapping his head towards Wally. He sits on the couch, tossing his phone around in his hands and won't look up at him. "Wally?"
"Uhh, well, I guess Babs talked to Raven. She didn't talk to Bruce or anything-"
"You told Raven?!" Wally jumps back at his sudden outburst.
"Dude, why is that such a big deal?"
"'Cause Raven is the only person I know of who's capable of actually sending me straight to hell."
"Oh yeah. That's true." Dick scoffs, folding his arms like a scolded child. "But seriously man, what have you been up to lately?"
"Nothing that's keeping me from getting my work done. Don't worry about it." He looks over at his friend. "Who're you texting?"
"No one."
"Dude, you called her babe."
"Oh yeah, that was Jinxy." He smiles broadly. "She took me back, bro."
"Uhhhh why?" asks Dick. Wally snorts.
"Ass," he replies. Dick chuckles, then realizes something.
"Wait, so who are you texting now if it isn't Jen." Wally is the only one who still calls her Jinx on occasion. The others know her as Jen or Jenny.
"No one that's keeping me from getting my work done," Wally quotes. Dick sighs, growing frustrated.
"Wally," he warns, slowly getting up from his seat. Wally doesn't notice when Dick takes a step in his direction.
"Dude, don't worry about it," he says, still not noticing Dick approaching, until it's too late. He pounces, pinning down Wally's hand which holds his cell phone. He places his knee on the thigh of the struggling speedster, and his other arm against his shoulders. He gets one good enough look to see the name on the message before Wally runs out from under him, whirring through the air.
"What the hell, Wal? You're texting Raven?" Wally stood sheepishly in the far corner of the living room. "She sent you here, didn't she?"
"She thought that you might talk to me, and seeing how she's best friends with Starfire-"
"What if this didn't have anything to do with Starfire?"
"Ha, yeah right bud. Everything funky that you do involves Starfire."
"There's nothing 'funky' going on with me."
"Dude, you were finally getting better! Then for the last week and a half you started disappearing for hours on end."
"It's not like I'd leave every day."
"I know that, but every three days is still quite a bit." Dick pinches the bridge of his nose, and feels a sudden whoosh of air next to him. He looks up to see Wally with a skeptical look on his face.
"Recognize: Raven, Code N628," the two of them jerk their head in the direction of the computer.
"God damn you, Wally," mutters Dick as the teleporter opens up to reveal Raven, complete with white cloak pulled up over her head.
"Well, that's my cue," says Wally.
"Don't you dare-" but with a flash of red hair before his eyes, he was gone. And he was left face to face with a dark-eyed half demon.
"Uh, hi Raven," he says, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. She takes slow, deliberate steps toward him.
"Dick, please tell me you're not throwing your life away to play make-believe as a thief," says Raven darkly.
"It's okay, I'm not doing anything stupid-"
"Dressing up as Red-X is stupid in and of itself. Not to mention you stalking your ex-girlfriend as she goes out on dates with a guy she actually likes."
"How do you know she likes him?"
"I'm her best friend, she actually talks to me."
"Doesn't mean she isn't lying."
"I am an empath," she says, looking at him pointedly. He sighs. Damn it, why did she have to like Xavier? Why couldn't he just be a totally tool like Roy. "Dick, you really should just move on at this point. Starfire is trying to. I know she still thinks of you sometimes, but the fact that she's trying not to is really saying something. She's not one to give up. But if she has, then it's time you do, too."
"I don't think she likes him as much as you think. She's really been opening up to Red-X, and I think part of her knows its me. Maybe if I get closer to her as X-"
"You idiot, she thinks Xavier is Red-X! She has for weeks now." Raven drops her arms, exasperated as Dick soaks that in. So this has all been for nothing?
"No, no, she knows. She must. She wouldn't just…" She thinks of how flirty she was being. She had just left Xavier. Did she really believe that he was him?
"Dick, I'm sorry."
"It can't just end. We can't…" He drops onto his couch, feeling vacant, dazed. He just stared at the wall, not even noticing when Raven took the seat next to him and wrapped her arm over his broad shoulders.
"Look, I don't know exactly what happened that night of the ball. But whatever it was, it was enough." Enough to ruin them. She begged him not to go, but he did. He drove her away by leaving her. After she had just come back to him. He sighs, long and sad. But he can't end it here. He can give it one last try. And if that fails, he'll finally let go. "No," says Raven. He looks up at her to see her dark violet eyes searching his. "I can feel that. You're up to something. Stop it."
"Raven, it's okay. It's just one last thing I have to do, and then I'm done. We're done," he says as he hangs his head down. He hears her take a deep breath before she stands up.
"Alright then. I'm expected for a movie night, so I better head back. You should come join us."
"I can't. Not yet… We need more time."
"'Kay," she says, ruffling his hair. "I'll talk to you later." He makes a sound of acknowledgment, letting her leave so he can wallow in his self pity before going on patrol. Just a normal night for the great hero.
So I'm working on a One-Shot that's sort of an off-shoot of this story. I'm almost done with that, so keep your eyes open!
Reviews please! :)
