The mood in the conference room was tense. Kaldur left with Robin, escorting him to Batman's office. Meanwhile the two teams, each without its leader, struggled to deal with awkwardness that permeated the room like the scent of cheap perfume: overwhelming and unpleasant. Raven and Connor watched each other with a jaundiced eye. Starfire and M'Gann both looked mortified, neither girl was comfortable with the clearly "human" moment and both were at a loss at what to do. Beast Boy and Cyborg approached YJ-Robin and Kid Flash, in an optimistic attempt to break the ice. The Young Justice males understood what they were trying to do and attempted to play along with the small talk Cyborg was initiating, but all four young men were clearly feeling too self conscious to be spontaneous and the resulting conversation ended up being stiff and stilted.
Artemis sighed and walked up to Raven, who made eye contact with her.
"You sure have a way with the guys." Artemis opened the conversation with a healthy scoop of sarcasm.
Raven frowned at her.
"I only treat jerks that way. And even worse, he's an arrogant jerk."
"He actually has his good points Raven."
"I'd like to see one." She replied in a voice as dry as burned toast. Artemis snickered as she replied.
"Well, for one thing, he is very loyal. But you have to cut him some slack Raven. I mean, he's only a few months old. Cadmus put him through an accelerated learning process to make up for the lost time, and it worked pretty well. But put yourself in his shoes Raven. He's still confused as hell, trying to make sense out of the jumble of emotions that are wrecking havoc in his mind. You could take a page M'Gann's book. She practically has him eating out of her hand."
Raven suddenly looked shocked, as if she just had a gestalt moment.
"I never thought of it that way."
"What do you mean Raven? Thought of what?"
The sorceress looked at the young Kryptonian, who had joined the other men and was no longer looking her way.
"His emotions … I … I also have trouble with my emotions, controlling them. I used to be afraid to engage them, as my powers are tied to them. If I lose control of my emotions I could lose control of my powers."
"I see."
"But there's more. I buried my emotions, deep inside. When we first formed the Titans, I thought I wouldn't last a week, that something terrible would happen with me. So I kept everyone at an arms length … because I didn't know how to handle my emotions … it was unnerving. I would hide in my room and never socialize with my teammates."
"So what happened?"
"Gar happened. He wouldn't leave me alone and I really treated him like crap back then. But he never gave up on me. He was the first person to tell me that he liked me. He was the first person I ever hugged. And …"
"Yes?" Artemis encouraged Raven to continue.
"I was tricked once, by wizard, actually a dragon. He pretended to be in love with me so I would help him break a curse that kept him bound to a book. I fell for him like a brick; he took advantage of all my insecurities and played me like a fiddle. When I found out that he used me I was devastated, destroyed. I barricaded myself in my room for days, until, he came …"
"Beast Boy?"
"Yes, Gar, he came and saved me. He's saved me more than once, but that day he saved my heart. No one else knew what to say to me, and they avoided me. He came and told me that I wasn't alone."
"That was nice of him. Very mature."
Raven wiped away some tears from her face.
"Oh he wasn't mature at all." She snickered. "He and Cyborg even invented a stupid game back then they called StankBall"
"StankBall?"
"You don't want to know. Anyway, I guess I owe Superboy an apology. If anyone should understand what he's going through, it's me."
Artemis nodded.
"Go for it girl. I think you'll be presently surprised."
After taking a deep breath Raven turned and walked towards Connor. The first to notice her approach was Beast Boy, who made eye contact and regaled with a worried look. She smiled softly at him before approaching the young Kryptonian, who turned to face her.
"Superboy, I would like to have a word with you."
The young man scowled at her, while the other men tensed up, not knowing what to expect.
"What do you want, demoness?" He replied. "Are you going to call me more names? You think I don't know that I have people issues …"
Raven raised her hand.
"No Superboy, I've come to apologize for what I said earlier to you."
Artemis and Beast Boy looked at each other and smiled. The others were simply stunned.
"You are?" Superboy replied, also clearly caught off guard. Raven nodded contritely.
"The words I used were unwarranted and I am sorry to have used them to describe you. You are neither a brute nor a boor."
"Uh, um, thank you … Raven?"
"I know that in some circles I'm known as the 'bitchy' Titan …"
A few chuckles were heard in the peanut gallery, Raven decided to let them slide. She also noticed that Starfire and M'Gann were gushing. Tula regarded Raven with a curious expression.
"… which is not unfounded and I sometimes wonder why and how Gar puts up with me. Anyway, I've come to ask for your forgiveness." She replied in her monotone.
Superboy continued to hem and haw.
"Yeah … sure … I mean … why not?"
The 'moment' was interrupted as Red Tornado entered the room, unannounced.
"I have been instructed to escort the Teen Titans back to their transport, where their leader is awaiting them. Please follow me."
"How did it go?" Cyborg asked his fellow robot.
"I do not know. You will have to ask your leader. Now if you will please follow me."
The two teams quickly exchanged farewells, agreeing to meet up again at Kaldur's wedding in Atlantis. As soon as Red Tornado led them away and the door closed the remaining heroes looked at each other not knowing what to say.
"How can she be so hot and so creepy at the same time?" Kid Flash chortled.
His teammates gave a collective groan. Then Kaldur returned.
"Good news Kaldur! Raven apologized to Connor!" M'Gann informed him.
Kaldur appeared to be in a daze.
"Hey, fishstick! Is something wrong?" Robin asked
Kaldur did not reply.
"Fishstick!"
Kaldur snapped back to reality.
"Do not call me that. I know it is meant as a friendly nickname, but I do not like it!"
Robin raised his hands in an apologetic gesture.
"Ok, I won't. I didn't mean anything by it. But what's wrong?"
Kaldur hesitated before replying.
"I just learned that Robin of the Teen Titans struck Batman while they were arguing in his office."
The room became deathly silent and stayed that way while the 6 heroes absorbed Kaldur's news.
"So, I guess that means the Titans won't be coming to your wedding?" Artemis asked.
Kaldur shook his head.
"They are still invited. Only Aquaman can bar them from attending."
Kaldur was interrupted by sound of the door opening. The six mentors entered the room. Batman's cowl did not cover the fresh bruise on his face.
"Time to head back to continue training." The Green Arrow announced.
-( scene break )-
Robin was quietly performing the preflight check on the T-Ship when his teammates arrived, led by the red wind conjuring robot. He slammed shut the inspection hatch on the starboard engine, satisfied with his inspection, as the missing Titans were delivered to his care.
"Next time you wish to visit, please contact the League ahead of time, if anything, as a common courtesy." The robot reminded them in his synthetic voice. "Farewell, Teen Titans."
Red Tornado then turned around and left unceremoniously.
"That's one weird dude!" Beast Boy complained.
Starfire tapped her index fingers together.
"Forgive me friend, but if I am correct the Red Tornado is not a 'dude', even though he has been given a personality that is patterned on those found in human …"
"Yeah, yeah. He's a robot, big whoop!"
"Forgive me friend, but you are once again incorrect. Robots are automatons; they do not possess intellect nor consciousness. The Red Tornado possesses both, which places him in the category of artificial sentient life forms."
The changeling stared blankly at the alien princess from the stars.
"Star, is there anything sciency that you don't know?"
"I am unsure." She replied.
"What's Avogadro's Number?" Cyborg asked.
"6.02214179×1023" She replied without hesitating.
"She knows everything." Raven concluded.
"Everyone take your place in the ship, we're leaving." Robin ordered his team morosely.
"Robin! How was your encounter with the Batman? Were you victorious?" Starfire asked.
"I guess it depends on your point of view." He replied somberly.
Raven sensed waves of uncertainty, remorse and anger emanate from her normally fearless leader.
"What happened Robin? Did you and Batman butt heads again?"
"Yeah, we did, but that's not all … I … I hit him."
Beast Boy's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Dude, no way, you punched Batman?"
"I don't want to talk about it, not now. Everyone get on board, we're leaving."
The other four Titans complied with his request and climbed into their compartments, closed their canopies and buckled themselves in. Robin flipped a switch and the T-Ships turbine engines began to whine as the powered up. Soon the whine was replaced by a steady roar and pulling back on the yoke he guided the T-Ship into the sky. As soon as they cleared the perimeter of the Justice Hall campus he throttled the engines to full power and the Titans signature transport went into a steep climb and disappeared to a large formation of nimbus clouds. As soon as they cleared the ceiling Robin filed a flight plan to Jump City and set the autopilot, after which he began to rummage through some old data he had on Slade. As he was getting focused on his task his headset came to life with Starfire's voice.
"Robin, are you OK?"
"I'm fine Star; I just need some quiet time to process everything that happened today."
"Are you sure Robin?"
"I'm sure." He replied curtly.
Starfire broke the link and sadly gazed at her boyfriend from her own compartment. While she admired his inner strength and steadfast commitment to his role as a superhero, she often wished that he would, as Beast Boy would call it, let his hair down more often. She sighed, knowing that this would not be such a time.
After an hour had passed Robin decided to check on his teammates. Since he was in the front compartment he has 4 small video monitors that allowed him to see what was happening in the other compartments. After a quick scan he saw:
Starfire was reading a Tokidoki catalog.
Beast Boy was napping.
Cyborg was … knitting? Robin immediately decided that it would be better to not know why.
Raven was reading a book, which she put down. She tapped on her headset and he lip read her saying 'Gar, wake up.' He then looked at Beast Boy's compartment, where the green Titan continued to sleep. He looked back at Raven, who was now shouting into her headset. The changeling jolted awake. Robin had a good chuckle at Beast Boy's expense.
"She's got you whipped Beast Boy." Robin murmured to himself as he continued watching.
Beast Boy then morphed into a small snake and slithered into an air vent. Ten seconds later he reappeared in his human form inside of Raven's compartment. As Robin continued to watch, his Slade materials all but forgotten, Raven hopped onto the changeling's lap and they began what appeared to be a polite make out session.
Robin continued in his voyeuristic endeavor, not taking his eyes of the monitor. After about five minutes he gasped as what he saw.
"Second base! Raven's letting Beast Boy get to second base … I've never been to second base." He whispered in both envy and disbelief.
Raven told Beast Boy to stop and she turned angrily at the camera.
Oh crap. She knows.
Raven then asked her beau for a piece of gum, which he gave her. She quickly unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. After chewing on it furiously for about ten seconds she spat it out into her hand and flipped on the hands free intercom.
"I know you're watching us Robin." Her voice echoed through the loudspeaker. "If you're so damn horny, spend some more time with your own girlfriend … AND STOP SPYING ON US!"
Raven turned off the intercom, and using the freshly chewed gum in her hand she covered the tiny camera lens. The screen in Robin's cockpit went blank.
-( scene break )-
"Hey little Robin, what's up?"
YJ-Robin was pacing around the Batcave, looking very troubled. He turned and glared at Batgirl who just arrived in the cave, shattering the brief solace of solitude he was enjoying, if it could be described that way.
"I told you not to call me that. You know I don't like it. Why did I have to be younger than him anyway? And what the hell is wrong with him anyway? I'd never do something like that. What is he, some kind of psycho?"
Barbara approached the younger Dick Grayson and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, after which she gave a friendly peck on the cheek. He was unable to conceal his surprise and was barely able to stifle a gasp. Barbara giggled.
"What are you talking about?" She asked him in a soothing voice.
"Haven't you heard Babs? Robin, your Robin, he decked Bruce, he punched him in the face!"
Barbara grinned.
"So that's how he got the shiner. He wouldn't tell me when I asked him. You know, he could have asked Raven to heal it; I've heard she's pretty good with stuff like that."
Robin snorted derisively. "He'd take the Joker and Harley out to dinner before asking Raven for a favor."
Barbara laughed.
"You're probably right. So what happened? Why did Robin hit Bruce?"
"No one knows and Bruce isn't talking."
"I have an idea." She interjected.
"Let's call Robin and ask him."
-( scene break )-
The loading dock was bustling with activity as the workers ignored the unseasonable rain which would have drenched them in its merciless downpour had the loading docks not had a permanent canopy to shield the loaders and the merchandise from the elements. The facility was large, with over fifty trucks being loaded by the army of forklift operators and stevedores. The facility was a formerly unoccupied factory in the city's old industrial district, a relic from the days before offshoring had devastated Jump City's industrial base. The building had been hastily converted from a factory into a makeshift distribution. A steady stream of delivery vans arrived and unloaded their cargo which was moved into the warehouse.
The receiving staff would sort the merchandise, which arrived boxed and on pallets, by their final destinations which were documented on their shipping manifests: Gotham, Central City, Metropolis, Washington DC, New York, Chicago, etc.
The merchandise was as varied as its destinations. There were sporting goods, unassembled modular furniture, electronic devices, appliances, automotive parts, the list was endless.
A forklift, carrying a pallet full of what was labeled "laminate flooring" rolled out of the warehouse and was flagged down by a foreman, who asked for the shipping manifest.
"Todd? When did you start working here?" The pot bellied, cigar chomping foreman grunted, pleasantly surprised.
"Long time no see Rick! I started yesterday. How long have you been here?"
"Since the place opened a week ago."
"Finding this job was a life saver." Todd replied. "I've been out of work for 3 months, I was getting by helping people move stuff with my pickup truck. This place is great! They pay us every day and in cash! All under the table, so no taxes. And the pay is above market."
Rick looked at the manifest.
"Flooring material … load it on the truck in dock 37, it's going to Wichita, Kansas." The foreman instructed him.
"Sure thing. Say, how are Amy and the kids?"
"The kids are grown and we got divorced last year."
"That's too bad, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Ah, what can you do about it?" Rick shrugged his shoulders. "Let's grab some lunch today. The roach coach pulls up at 11:30."
"Works for me." Todd replied as he whisked his fork lift off to dock 37 and loaded the pallet into the trailer.
The activity on the loading docks continued at its rapid pace, the workers unaware they were being watched via closed circuit TV. Their observer was seated in a large chair, with his assistant standing at his side. The both watched the bustling warehouse activity on various monitors.
"This is going very well Terra, wouldn't you agree? In just two more weeks our army will be fully deployed around the entire nation, disguised as ordinary merchandise, hidden in plain sight. Our takeover will be swift. And this time we're prepared for any spandex clad interference."
The blond stared dispassionately at the screen and remained silent.
"Cheer up Terra. Once our conquest is complete, you can have any man you want. Trust, they'll be lined up, hoping to curry favor with you."
"I only want Beast Boy." She replied in a listless monotone.
"If you can convince him to stay out of our way then he's all yours. Otherwise I'm afraid that he's fair game."
Terra ignored Slade's comment and instead focused on the flurry of activity on the loading docks. She knew that this was but one of many distribution centers that were shipping the shape shifting drones across the country. She also knew that the final shift that shipped the last drones wouldn't be getting pink slips.
They would be terminated.
-( section break )-
The T-Ship arrived late that evening at the Tower, which automatically came back to life, as the heating, lighting and other non essential systems came back online as the five passengers disembarked.
"Everybody get some rest. I'll brief you in the morning." He announced in a tired voice.
Cyborg yawned and wished everyone a good night as he trudged off to his room, ready to recharge his power cells while the remnant of his organic self slept.
Starfire leaned over and gave Robin a chaste peck on the cheek, after which she also said good night. Robin was now alone with Raven and Beast Boy. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The Boy Wonder waited for them to leave and after hesitating he decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Look, I wasn't spying on you guys. I mean, you know those cameras are always on. You have monitors in your compartments too …"
"I leave mine off, unless there is a good reason to turn them on." Raven interrupted him.
"Really, I wasn't spying … you have to believe me."
Raven heaved an exasperated sigh. Beast Boy glanced at her.
"Maybe we should tell him Rae."
"Tell me what?" Robin asked in a worried tone.
Raven hesitated before answering.
"You're going to find out sooner or later." She announced. "Come with us." She commanded her leader.
Robin diligently followed the Chromatically Challenged Couple™ down the long hallways and into the main stairwell in the Tower until they emerged into the common room. The motion sensors detected their presence and the lights turned on, revealing the uncharacteristically tidy room. Raven walked silently into the kitchen and filled an electric kettle with water and plugged it in.
"Sit down Robin."
The Boy Wonder wasn't feeling very wonderful at the moment. While Raven was an expert at concealing her emotions, Beast Boy wasn't and Robin read him like a book. They were about to drop a bomb on him … a big bomb.
Robin waited silently as Raven brewed herself a small teapot of chamomile tea, its unmistakable aroma wafted to his nose, which he scrunched as he didn't like herbal teas in general. Once she poured herself a mug of the aromatic brew she returned to the table, where Robin and Beast Boy were awaiting her. Robin gulped as he began to ask a question.
"Does this have anything to do with you going back to your 'roots' Raven?"
The sorceress blew over the top of her mug before taking a sip of her tea. After sighing contentedly she addressed the Boy Wonder.
"As you already know Robin I'm almost just as much an alien as Starfire. It's true that I'm half human, but I was neither born nor raised on Earth. I've done a pretty decent job of 'fitting in' and that includes integrating myself into your American culture. But make no mistake Robin, I'm not an American, I'm Azarathian, and while I've been mum about my own heritage all these years, Kaldur's engagement has served to remind me that by neglecting my Azarathian heritage that I have been denying my true self."
Raven paused to take another sip of her tea. Robin glanced at Beast Boy, who seemed unusually calm and relaxed, and perfectly content to let Raven do the talking.
"So what does this mean Raven? Do you want the rest of us to acknowledge your heritage, like having an Azarath Awareness Week? Do you want us to celebrate Azarathian holidays?" Robin asked uneasily.
Raven and Beast Boy both chuckled before Raven replied.
"That won't be necessary Robin. All we ask for is your and everyone else's understanding."
"Sure, but … what do you want us to understand?"
Raven took another sip from her mug and Robin saw a near mischievous look form on the changelings face.
"I've asked Gar to enter into the Azarathian Courtship Rite with me."
Robin exhaled.
"So that's it? He's now your 'official' boyfriend?" He asked, the relief was clear in his voice.
"Not exactly, Rob" The changeling replied.
"Oh don't tell me you're engaged." He moaned.
"That would also be a poor analogy." She replied. "The Rite of Courtship is a one year trial period where a couple gets to know each other intimately, and at its conclusion they decide whether or not to make their union permanent. So you see, it's neither an engagement nor betrothal as no promises to marry have been made yet."
"So in a year you guys will know if you're … going to move forward."
"You got it dude." Beast Boy replied.
Robin leaned back in his chair, clearly troubled by the news he just received.
"Raven … what exactly did you mean by 'getting to know each other intimately'?" He asked with trepidation.
Raven finished her tea and handed her mug to the Boy Wonder.
"Good night Robin."
The couple the turned and left the common room together, arm in arm. Robin was now slack jawed as he watched them leave. As soon as they were gone he stared back and forth the between the empty mug and the door that closed behind them.
"How the hell did that happen?" He asked out loud in a weary and incredulous voice.
With no warning an incoming call came in. Robin answered it and saw Batgirl and the YJ-Robin's faces in the giant screen.
"We need to talk." Batgirl announced. "What happened between you and Bruce?"
-( scene break )-
Thanks for sticking with me this far. This isn't one of my better stories, but I'll do my best to improve it before the end.
I'm going to skip the mail bag today.