Little One, Little Danger
(The Revision)
Chapter 23:
Emotionally Problematic Friends
*ring ring ring*
"Hello?"
"Kida?"
The woman sighed, "Why must you always use my name in the form of a question. I'm the only one that lives here."
"Someone's a little grouchy this morning."
"This morning? More like midnight."
"Oh am I disturbing something Ms. Rile?"
Kida rubbed her temple and sighed, "You know you're not Sierra. I just have so many things on my mind."
"I know that much so I'm not going to hold your attitude against you."
"Gee thanks." Kida snickered.
"Have you watched the news lately?"
"Unfortunately no. I've been busy the last couple of days. But I assume the spherkalites have made their debut."
"Yes, but that's not what I'm referring to."
She raised a brow, "Oh?"
"It seems like Mr. Wayne has gotten engaged." Kida's heart skipped a beat and begun to feel heavy. The face of the infamous bachelor flashed in her mind. "Kida?"
"Yeah. I'm still here."
"Are you okay?"
Kida shook the image out, "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, I just thought since Bruce was your—"
"That was a long time ago Sierra. Those feelings are no longer there."
"If that's true, then why are we-?"
"This is about justice, Sierra. Something Bruce is a lover of so why not achieve just that? The news of his engagement just gives me another boost of motivation to finish what I started."
"If you say so Kida, but you have my support. How's your condition?"
Kida mumbled, "I don't have a condition."
"Kida…*sigh*…the doctor said—"
"Screw the doctor! He doesn't have a clue as to what's going on with me!" Memories of her childhood surfaced, "He doesn't know how my body…or mind works…"
"Kida…I get it, I really do. But there's only so much the both of us can do."
Her memories continued to flow, "You sound just like her…that bitch of a stepmother of mine."
"What, no! Kida don't compare me to that woman! I love you very much!"
"She said the same."
"Kida—" Before the woman could plead her case, Kida ended the call abruptly. She fell backwards onto her bed pillows and looked at the ceiling above. She wasn't really upset with Sierra and she knew the woman was nothing like Kathryn. The woman really just called at the wrong time; she needed rest. Her heart ached as she dwelled on her words…she loved her too. Sierra always had her best intentions at heart, looking out for her just like Kida did for her back then.
{ }
4 years ago…
[Royal Flush Bar – 10:45pm]
The establishment was crowded on a cool autumn Friday. A young woman dressed in a pair of blue jeans, black stiletto boots, plain white tee that was beneath a dark gray coat sat at the counter. She sipped on the bottle of beer while the rest of the patrons watched a football game. The place consisted of mostly men with only a handful of women present. She didn't care to be around people since they couldn't be trusted. But keeping herself cooped up at home wasn't doing her any good. "Hey there sweetheart, can I get you another beer?" A man approached her with a confident grin.
"No thanks, I got it." She didn't even offer him a glance.
"Are you su-?"
"Positive." Her quick and stern response got him on his way, a bit confused as to why anyone would refuse a free drink. The woman simply shook her head, "What a joke."
"How so?"
She lifted her gaze to catch the smile of the bartender, "Excuse me?"
The bartender was drying a martini glass with a cloth, "You called that guy a joke right?"
"And?"
"Well it looks to me like he was only trying to buy you a drink, not hit on you."
"Heh, then you must've missed the part where he called me 'sweetheart'."
"You know, some people can't help but use cutesy names. Kind of like 'darling' or 'hon'. Some women don't mind it."
She rolled her eyes, "Well I do."
"Well that makes us two different women." The bartender grinned with a wink.
"Yes it does."
"Hey Sierra?!" A coworker of the bartender called out to her and she turned around. "Geri is right outside to pick up shift so start wrapping it up."
"Thanks for the heads up Tom."
The woman seated finished her beer, "I guess you're thrilled."
"You have no idea, it's been a long day." Soon a young man rushed in and up to the bar apologizing for his lateness. Sierra simply smiled and let him know that it was fine. He complimented on her ability to always be in a positive mood and then disappeared to the back. She then focused her attention back to the woman, "It was nice chatting with you Miss." Sierra grabbed her purse and jacket and headed towards the exit.
"Yeah, sure." The woman pushed the empty beer bottle aside.
Geri reappeared to retrieve the bottle, "Sierra's an awesome chick." The woman stood without a response and stretched; it was time to make her leave. "Thanks for coming in. Be careful out there this late at night. A lot of perverts like to creep in the alleys and streets."
"Nothing I can't handle." She mumbled as she worked her way through the crowd and out the door. A cool breeze swept over her causing her to shiver. She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and headed down the sidewalk. As the wind blew again taking her hair slightly along with it, she passed a dark alley.
"Shhh…" a slimy voice echoed through the dark.
The woman turned her attention towards the alley, squinting her eyes to see through the darkness. "Please…please don—" a second voice choked out.
"Come now, don't be that way." The slimy voice, "I promise it won't hurt…much." She could make out two figures as she decided to walk down the alley. One was tall and quite masculine, a man. The other was short in comparison and petite; had to be a woman. As she got closer she could see that the man had the woman pinned against the cemented wall against her will. Great. Just what she needed on such a tiresome night. "You might take this as a surprise, but I'm quite gentle and who knows…" He used a hand to unzip her jeans, "…you just might enjoy it."
"I highly doubt that."
The voice of their uninvited witness grasped his attention and his head turned, "W-Who the hell are you?"
"That's none of your business, now let her go." She folded her arms beneath her chest.
The man smirked and yanked down one side of his victim's jeans, "And if I don't?"
"You really don't want to go down that road with me."
"Oh?" He looked her over and his smirk grew, "You don't look that much bigger than this snack cake here." The man pulled his hand back to retrieve the glock in his jacket pocket and point it at her. The pinned woman whimpered at the sight of it. "I don't think you can be much help to her, so why don't you turn around and head back to where you can from."
"P-Please…please don't leave me…"
"You shut up!" He spat out at his victim.
This was a waste of time, the woman thought. She tried to be reasonable, "I hate repeating myself, but I'm going to tell you one more time…let her go."
"I hate repeating myself too." The man cocked the firearm, "So I'll let this baby do the talking for me." He pulled the trigger. His victim shrilled but it was masked by the sound of the weapon. It happened so fast, but as soon as the bullet got within an inch of the woman, it disintegrated. She stood unfazed while the man had a confused look on his face. "What the…?" He released his hold on his victim and stepped away and towards the mysterious woman.
"Last chance scum before things get ugly." Her voice became an annoyance to him as he gritted his teeth. The man then pulled the trigger and shot nonstop, each not doing any damage at all as she stood there yet again unfazed. She sighed, "I guess you've made you decision." The woman begun to walk his way as he continued to shoot at her. His victim had been watching in awe and soon the man ran out of ammo and the click click clicking of an empty guy filled the alley. "Looks like you're out." Her eyes begun to glow a goldish tint and the man found himself immediately panicking. She lifted an arm up and outward towards the wall conjuring a dark shadow to seep through it.
The man's entire being shook in fear and he dropped the gun, "W-What trick is this?!"
"No tricks." She grinned devilishly while lifting her hand in the air causing the shadow to rise and grow. The glow in her eyes intensified and outlined her being.
He turned around and began to run, "To hell with this! That snack cake ain't worth it!"
"Come now…" The woman's voice came out like there was two voices speaking at once, "…don't be that way. You just might ENJOY it." She pointed both index and middle finger in his direction and the shadow rushed. The man looked back briefly, not noticing the dead end he was running into. The shadow engulfed his entire being as his wails filled the alley. It squeezed him tightly causing his flesh to burn from the inside out. His victim stared terrified and slowly slid down the cold wall until she was seated on the ground. The man's agonizing punishment went on for several more minutes until the woman lifted the shadow from upon him and the golden aura and illumination in her eyes disappeared. He lay there motionless, his victim still terrified and trembling. "You okay?" The mysterious woman's voice startled her but got her attention. She raised a brow, wondering if she overdid it, "I'm going to take your silence as a—"
"I'm…I'm fine." The victim finally snapped herself out of it and slowly got to her feet. "Thank you."
When the victim turned to her, the woman's eyes widened, "B-Bartender?"
"Oh!" Sierra's eyes widened as well, "You're that girl from the bar!"
"Yeah, which you literally just left moments ago." She rubbed her temples out of stress and amazement. "How…?" She took a step towards Sierra and sighed, "…bartender, how did that guy get the jump on you?"
"My name's Sierra actually."
The woman sighed, "Don't avoid the question."
"Wasn't trying to." She chuckled nervously, "I'm not sure, he just happened to grab me from behind as I was passing the alley."
"Haven't you walked through here several times?"
Sierra nodded, "Yeah, but nothing like this has ever happened before."
"Never think it can't happen to you." The woman shook her head, "This is exactly the reason why I don't trust people, especially men." She turned away from her, "I'll be on my way."
"W-Wait!" Sierra called out and glanced back at the man's body, "He's not uh…?"
"He's alive. Just in shock and a small coma that he'll come out of in about three months."
"Shouldn't we at least take him to a hospital?"
The woman couldn't believe her ears as she turned to face Sierra again, "Excuse me? This asshole just tried to have his way with you and you want to help him?"
"I-I know I…" Sierra rubbed her arm in nervousness, "…I'm just not one to leave someone in need. It's just the type of person I am."
"Just the type of…" She realized that the bartender had already made up her mind; she sighed. "Fine."
{ }
Sometime later…
Both women exited the nearest hospital through the emergency doors. They avoided speaking to anyone and practically snuck the man into the first empty room that they came across. After a few moments of hiding and waiting it out, some medics finally showed up. "Satisfied?"
Sierra sighed in relief, "As much as I can be. Hopefully he'll change his ways."
"Please." The woman snickered.
"What about the gun?"
The woman walked ahead of her, "Got rid of it. Now I'm out of here. Thanks for the eventful night."
"Wait!"
"Why are you shouting?! I haven't walked that far!" She turned to Sierra annoyed.
The bartender lowered her head a bit embarrassed and feeling intimidated, "Just wanted you to know that if there's anything I can do to repay you—"
"Highly doubt that." She continued on her way.
"B-But…!" Sierra hurried to block her path, "…I have to! If not then it will bother me all night." She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the woman's legs.
"There has to be something! There's just has to!"
"Would you let go!"
"Not until we come up with a way for me to repay you!"
"Do you always treat strangers like this?!"
Sierra looked up with puppy-dog teary eyed, "Not all of the time."
The woman's eye twitched, "No wonder it was so easy for that guy to snatch you up."
"I'm sorry." Sierra released her hold, "I've kind of always been like this."
The woman looked down at the bartender who was now crying. It kind of made her feel both agitated and guilty. What could she do. "Say…if I did let you repay me…what would you have in mind?"
Sierra looked up and noticed that the woman's gaze was to the sky above; she smiled softly, "There's this café that's my absolute favorite. Coffee tomorrow?"
The woman dropped her gaze to meet Sierra's, "Sure."
"Oh you're gonna love it!" Sierra jumped to her feet in excitement catching the woman off guard, "Ten o'clock at Café Rin which is two blocks from here." She hurried pass her with a wave.
"H-Hold on! Ten o'clock seems a bit—!"
Sierra stopped in her tracks and turned around, "Oh! I didn't catch you name?"
The woman felt like there was no need to waste her energy trying to get a later time; she sighed, "It's Kida."
"Nice to meet you Kida." Sierra smiled before heading on her way, "See you tomorrow!"
{ }
The next morning…
Kida walked down the street trying to understand how she got roped into having coffee with a stranger who was almost the victim of a crime not even twenty four hours prior. Well, it was just a cup of coffee and then they'd go their separate—
"Hey Kida!" She grabbed at her chest, startled feeling her heart racing as she heard laughter. "Didn't think you'd be one to startle easy." Sierra.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!"
The excitable woman was already entering the café, "You'll enjoy this place I promise." Kida wondered if her words went in and out of Sierra's ears. She soon followed behind and the café only had a handful of people inside. Sierra walked up to the counter to order and the guy standing behind it grinned with a wave. Kida approached and stood beside her. The barista greeted Sierra and she returned the greeting.
"Taking a break from school?"
Sierra nodded, "Yeah, on vacay until next week."
"Cool." The barista glanced Kida's way, "New friend?"
Sierra smiled, "This is Kida. Kida, Devin."
"It's always nice to have pretty new customers." Devin smiled
"I'm sure." Kida turned, facing her back to the counter.
"Ouch." Devin chuckled.
Sierra leaned his way and whispered, "I think she's a bit shy."
"Ah." He nodded, "Been there, done that. So, what can I get you? The usual?"
"You know it." Sierra turned to Kida, "What would you like Kida? My treat remember."
"I don't drink much coffee."
"No kidding? But it's SO good." Sierra sighed lovingly.
"I like tea."
"She'll have what I'm having."
"Hey!" Was she ignored again?!
"Two double shot vanilla caramel espressos coming right up!" Devin went to work after ringing up the order. Kida's eye twitched as she wondered what was wrong with them.
Sierra pointed to a table at the back of the café, "We should grab the seats next to the window."
"It doesn't matter to me." Kida shrugged.
Sierra smiled as she led the way and Kida followed yet again. They sat at their table across from one another. The establishment wasn't too noisy which Kida liked. It had been awhile since she actually spent time with someone other than…
"So…?" Sierra started off and Kida was dreading this…conversation. "How did you sleep?"
"Fine."
"Do you live near here or closer to the bar?"
"Staying at a hotel. I'm simply visiting the area."
Sierra nodded, "Oh? Relatives out here?"
"No."
"Friends?"
"No."
"Sick ex-neighbor?" Kida held back a grin as Sierra chuckled and Devin approached with their drinks along with two complimentary muffins. Sierra thanked the young man as he replied with sweet words of her being a most valued customer gaining a blush from her. He then turned to Kida telling her to enjoy her drink which she was hesitant to accept. "Oh, this is my absolute favorite Kida, I'm sure you'll love it." Sierra picked up the mug and took a sip.
"Like I said before, I don't drink coffee."
"Have you ever tried it?"
"Of course I have. Why else would I have a distaste for it."
"Well I'm sure you'd think differently if you've had it this way."
"Seriously, what's up with you?"
Sierra raised a brow, "What do you mean?"
"How can you be the begging type and pushy at the same time?"
The woman sighed sadly, "Sorry…I guess I'm doing it again."
"And that would be what?"
"Trying too hard when it comes to making friends."
Kida was taken aback, "F-Friends?"
"Sorry!" Sierra waved her hands towards her kind of panicky, "Not that I'm pushing you to become my friend or anything!"
"Would you lower your voice!" Kida scanned their surroundings to make sure she didn't disturb the other customers.
"Sorry…again."
Kida sighed, "Would you…ugh, never mind. I'll try your coffee okay."
"You will?!" Sierra's eyes lit up as Kida picked up the mug and took a quick sip. Sierra waited for a reaction but Kida's face became flushed. "Kida? Are you okay?"
"Good god, that was hot."
Sierra laughed, "Well what do you expect when you drink it quickly like that. You're supposed to take your time silly."
"I knew that." Kida blushed a bit embarrassed, "But you know what…it's not too bad."
"See." Sierra sipped her coffee with a grin, "I told you so." Silence fell between them as she turned to look out the window. Kida took another sip and them looked at the other customers who seemed to be holding conversations of their own. She tapped her foot lightly before turning back to Sierra.
"So uh…?" Sierra turned to her after being addressed. Kida cleared her throat, "That coffee guy."
"You mean Devin?"
"Yeah, him."
Sierra slyly grinned, "He's cute right."
"What?" Kida choked, "No! I mean, he's okay but…"
Sierra laughed, "You're easily flustered, so what did you really want to say about Devin?"
"Well…" Kida blushed from being poked fun at, "…earlier he mentioned you going to school."
Sierra nodded, "Yeah, I'm attending medical school. I have two years left before I graduate and get my degree."
"That's cool. Must be nice."
"Sure, but very stressful." They both sipped on their coffees while Kida nodded, "Have you attended college or are attending currently?"
"No."
"Oh you must work a lot then?"
"Not really."
Sierra raised a brow, "Then how are you getting around?"
"Is asking a hell of a lot of questions part of your character too?"
Sweat ran down the back of Sierra's neck, "Sorry."
Kida sighed, "Forget it. To answer your question, I have some money saved up."
"Must be quite a bit."
"It's enough."
"Hmm…" Sierra sipped again, "…not to annoy you more and further pry but, what're doing here? I mean if you're not visiting anyone or on vacation. This small city isn't really a tourist attraction."
Kida lowered her gaze to the contents of the mug I front of her, "Not a subject I'd like to discuss."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Can someone turn the volume on the television up?!" One of the other patrons called and Devin abided by their request. There seemed to be something on the news channel that captured some of their attention.
"This is Lucy Largrove checking in from Gotham City and I have here with me bachelor of the year, Bruce Wayne who's agreed to a brief interview isn't that right Mr. Wayne?" The reporter was dressed in a red skirted suit and held the mic to the man.
"Yes, of course Lucy." He smiled. Kida's heart grew heavy as she turned around and let her eyes fall on the old television.
Sierra's eyes morphed into hearts, "That Bruce Wayne is one sexy man." It was like her words fell on the deaf ears of Kida who tuned everything out so she could focus on the cover story.
"Now, about this bat vigilante running the night streets of Gotham…thoughts or any insight you can share with us?"
Bruce's smile remained, "Well Lucy, there's not much I can tell. This batman might just have a hero complex of some kind or just afraid of the outside world so he decides to wear a mask instead." He chuckled.
"Haha, oh Bruce." Lucy playfully hit his shoulder, "But you know, there are different viewpoints of him to several people around the world, not just Gotham."
"That's true Lucy, but does it really matter what I or anyone else thinks of him? Perhaps his view of himself is all that matters to him." Kida stared at his face and memories of her life at the manor surfaced. The times she'd spend with him and Alfred. How Bruce would wake her up with the unforgettable smell of his Argentine coffee brewing in the kitchen.
"Mm, I feel like even shaking his hand would get me going before things even got started." Sierra smacked her lips.
Kida could feel the moisture building in the corner of her eyes, "He's not that great."
"Pfft, to each their own." Sierra stuck her tongue out in a tease.
"Screw him!" Kida stood and hurried out of the café leaving a confused Sierra. She stormed down the sidewalk trying to calm the frustration inside of her. What was wrong? It had been years, so why was she reacting this way?
"Kida?!" Sierra caught up to her.
"Just leave me alone would you."
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Nothing, just got tired of the coffee and felt like going home."
"You mean the hotel?"
Kida sighed, "Yeah."
"You know, I have a very comfortable couch if you want to hold onto the rest of your savings."
Kida stopped in her tracks, "Are you out of your mind? We literally just met less than twenty four hours ago."
"Your point?" Sierra cocked her head to the side confused.
"My point is that you don't KNOW me! I could be a very bad person! A thief! An extortioner! Hell, a serial killer for all you know!"
Sierra folded her arms beneath her chest, "I highly doubt you're any of those things."
"You DOUBT? Didn't doubting anything bad could happen on your way home from the bar blew up in your face?! You should start seeing reality for what it truly is bartender and stop going with the flow in your own peachy little perfect world!" Kida panted lightly as she tried to calm her breathing of the outburst.
Sierra felt a little pained in her heart as she took a mental deep breath and spoke calmly, "At least I have something to smile about than hating the entire world the exists with me in it and not around me." Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Sierra's words hit Kida deeply. She wanted to respond but couldn't, she simply scoffed and turned her attention away from Sierra. "Why do hate him?"
"Who?"
"Bruce Wayne."
The man's smiling face appeared in Kida's thoughts which brought the welling of tears back. She quickly shook the image away. "I don't know what—"
"Look, Kida." Sierra sighed, "I know I can be a little pushy and all over the place and I'm sorry I just can't help it at times. I just love to help others."
"Does it look like I need your help?"
"No, of course not. But I'd like to think in the time we've crossed paths, I know at least a little about you."
Kida snickered, "Oh yeah? Like?"
"You used to live in Gotham, at Wayne Manor, right?"
Kida's heart sank, "How did you—?"
"Some time ago, there was this news story about Bruce Wayne taking in a teenage girl so she wouldn't have to go back in the foster system."
"Didn't know that got on the news." Kida folded her arms beneath her chest and lowered her gaze.
Sierra shrugged, "You'd be surprised at the things they cover, but like I said, that was some years ago. So, I'm sure not too many people tuned in. I only did because I was doing a book report on Bruce Wayne my senior year of high school. Was trying to gather as much information as I could."
"Did you happen to catch the girl's name?"
Sierra shook her head, "No, they didn't say."
"So why assume I'm this girl?"
"You're little outburst back in the café. Not to mention that a year ago, there was a rumor that the girl left Wayne Manor."
Kida shrugged, "Doesn't mean anything."
"You want to see him again, don't you Kida?"
Her heart skipped a beat, "No!"
Sierra turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You know, it's okay if you do. I have the means to have it arranged if you'd like. There's a good friend of mine that is a supervisor at his company."
"I said no!" Kida brushed her hand off.
"You must be her."
"It doesn't matter. That was a long time ago."
"Well what happened?"
"I don't see how that is your business."
"Would it hurt you to open up more?"
Kida snickered, "Sorry I'm not an open book like you when it comes to someone you barely know."
"Hey, I'm just trying to be a good friend."
"I don't need friends!"
Sierra frowned slightly, "Kida—"
"I don't need them…not family…not Bruce…" Kida turned from her, "…I'm better off alone." She suddenly felt Sierra's arms wrap around her in an embrace. She was a bit stumbled and not sure how to react but she could feel the tears welling up within the corner of her eyes.
"Look, no matter what happened back then, just leave it in the past. It's the only way to move on into a better future." Sierra's words were soft on her ears.
"I-I don't…" Tears begun to fall.
{ }
1 year later…
"Kida…"
Bruce?
"Why did you leave?"
She didn't want to…she never meant to.
"Kida."
"Bruce." Silence fell within her thoughts and she called out his name once again, but there was no answer. Bruce?
"Kida?!" She suddenly jumped up from her sleep and turned on the bedside lamp to only see Sierra's face with a look of concern on it.
"S-Sierra?"
"Yeah, it's me."
Kida shook her head, "I…I uh…"
"You shattered another mirror."
She turned to the right and saw that the mirror attached to her vanity was in pieces…again. "I'm so sorry Sierra."
"Question." The woman sat at the edge of her bed, "How is it that you can control your powers when you're awake, but the moment you go to sleep things become unbalanced?"
Kida sighed, "I don't know. I haven't figured that part out yet and it's been years."
"I see."
"But please don't nag me on it."
"What did Bruce do in your dreams this time? You were basically screaming his name."
Kida blushed, "N-No, it wasn't that kind of dream."
"Sure it wasn't." Sierra teased.
She rolled her eyes, "Sierra."
"Okay I believe you. But whatever it was, is it over now?" Kida nodded, "Want me to stay with you?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to chance you getting hurt."
"Oh please." Sierra pulled back the covers and slipped under them on the left side of the bed. "You couldn't hurt me even if you tried,"
Kida narrowed her eyes, "Whatever, it's your funeral."
"Don't even joke about that." Sweat ran down the back of Sierra's neck.
Kida turned the light off and laid back down, "Hey, it was your suggestion."
"It's romantic though."
Kida raised a brow, "Have you changed subjects again? Either that or you've grown really lonely."
Sierra kicked her playfully, "I'm talking about your relationship with Bruce Wayne."
"We do NOT have a relationship." Kida turned in the opposite direction, resting on her side.
"Oh of course there is." Sierra patted her on the back, "He's a part of your dreams almost every night,"
"Yeah, haunting them." Kida mumbled,
"Remember you told me about the time you lived at his big house? The connection the two of you held."
"Going to sleep now."
Sierra chuckled, "Come on Kida, don't let this be a one sided conversation." Her friend let out a fake snore as she pretended to have fallen asleep. Sierra poked her sides, "Stop playing possum."
"Ugh, you're so annoying."
"Did you ever walk in on him as he got out of the shower?"
"No, Sierra."
"Or secretly kiss him while he slept?"
"No, Sierra."
"How about grab that tight butt of his whenever you two hugged?"
Kida abruptly turned to her, "Ew! No!"
Sierra pouted "Well that's a disappointment."
"You haven't changed since the first time I met you, you know that." Kida plopped back down in the opposite direction.
"At least you've lightened up some, though not by much." Sierra grinned.
"If you mention me having a dark side again…"
"But you have to admit, you kind of did."
Kida rolled her eyes and sighed, "Would you just go to sleep already."
"Sure." Sierra snuggled down into the covers, "Maybe I'll dream about Bruce and give you a break." Kida grinned before tossing a pillow behind her right into the girl's face.
{End}
{ }
Presently…
Kida turned over and glanced at her phone on the bedside table; eight thirty in the morning. She should probably call Sierra back. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, her phone rang and she answered. "Hey Sierra."
"Finished with your tantrum?"
Kida grinned, "Shut up. What are you up to right now?"
"Leaving work and about to head home."
"Before you do that…let's grab a coffee."
"You mean through a video call?"
"It's not like we haven't before, since I can't really make it there in person being out of town and all."
"Well, I don't know. You were kind of a jerk yesterday."
"Yeah, about that." Kida sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said and I didn't mean any of it. I love you okay." There was a sudden silence on the other end of the call and she thought the woman hung up. "Sierra?"
"Oh I love you too girl!" Kida had to pull the phone from her ear. Sierra was the same Sierra.
{ }
Cyborg and Raven exited the T-car after parking it on the street across from the alley they spotted the first device in. Beside it rested a small construction site. The titans headed over, slowly approaching the device. "This thing's not shining as bright as I thought it would be." Cyborg commented.
"Remember, avoid touching those things sprouting from it." Raven reminded and he nodded in agreement. As they closed in on the device, a slight humming sound like an inside vibration started. "You hear that?"
Cyborg nodded, "Yeah. What's causing that?" He crouched down towards it for a better look. Suddenly a familiar feeling begun to fill Raven and she cocked her head to the side. It was like the humming was calling out to her…drawing her hand towards is. Once the tips of her fingers were inches away, the illumination glowed bright and the volume of the noise increased. "Raven?" Cyborg watched as his teammate and friend continued in her trance. The girl's eyes started to glow white and a sudden rush of images flashed in her mind along with memories that didn't belong to her. "Raven, what's going on?"
"I…" She shook her head, "…I don't know." Her white tinted aura started to fuse with the device's gold one causing it to double in size and power.
"Raven, whatever you're doing you have to stop."
"I…I can't…"
Cyborg grabbed her hand and pulled it back, "Raven?!" The girl didn't answer and the commotion that overran her thoughts continued. He turned her to face him and shook her a little, "Raven?!"
Raven blinked a few times, the glow in her eyes dying out and her friend came into view, "Cyborg."
He looked at her worryingly, "What happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure." She shook her head, "I think some kind of transfer occurred."
"Transfer?" The two of the looked at the device and realized it was now three times its size of when they arrived. Sweat dripped down the back of their necks, "I guess that's on us."
"There's no doubt about it." Raven gained Cyborg's attention, "This isn't no ordinary man-made device. There's a power that thrives within it that is just like my own."
"So it is Trigon."
Raven shook her head, "I'm not a hundred percent sold on it, but I wouldn't rule it out. But the aura doesn't match his…then there was Bruce Wayne."
"Bruce?" Cyborg raised a brow, "What about him?"
"There was a locked memory of him within the device."
"Locked memory?"
"It's hard to explain, but to simply put it, the device isn't entirely mechanical. There's a living fragment linked to it that's connected to someone's mind."
Cyborg simply nodded as if he understood her explanation, "At least after locating this one, I can find the residence that it's linked to using the satellite." Raven nodded and he pulled out a pocket device and keyed in coordinates. "Shouldn't take long." Soon there was some results that came up, "Here we go, looks like there's two names on the listing."
"What are they?"
Cyborg scrolled down and zoomed in, "There's a Kida Rile and a…" His eyes widened, "…Sierra Hinta."
"Raiden's doctor from the hospital?" Raven raised a brow.
"No." He shook his head, "It can't be can it? I'm sure there's several people with that name hehe. O-Or maybe she has no idea that it's linked to her house."
"Or perhaps she's partially behind it."
"Or it's your dad." He cut his eyes at her.
Raven narrowed her eyes, "How about you give Bruce a call and update him on what we've recovered. His help just might be needed."
{}
[Wayne Manor - midnight]
"Why do you continue to be a tease?"
Bruce chuckled as he stood in the doorway to the entrance of the manor, "Not this time Diana, I really do have a meeting in the morning."
"Okay, fine." The woman circled finger along his cheek before cupping his freshly shaven chin.
"I promise I'll make it up to you." The two shared a kiss and after pulling away, Dianna turned to walk towards her car.
"What, didn't take the jet tonight?" He teased.
She lifted a hand to wave, "Good night Mr. Wayne."
"Good night, Dianna." The man watched as she got in her car and soon drove away. He closed the door behind him.
"Master Bruce?"
He turned to Alfred, "I didn't realize you were still up Alfred."
"There's a call for you. The titans."
Bruce nodded, "I can guess what it's about. I'll take it in my office."
~o~
Moments later…
"Cyborg?"
"Hey Bruce, just wanted to check in with you."
"Any update?"
"Yeah, there's a lot of weirdness going on with these devices and someone is powering them with a power that matches Raven."
Bruce nodded, "Anything else?"
"There's a residence that's connected to the one that we checked out and within the contract listing are two names."
"Which are?" Bruce readied to type in a search to classified archive files.
"A Sierra Hinta who Raven and I have both met at the hospital where we admitted Raiden. So, we'll be heading to the house to speak with her."
"At this hour?"
"No, first thing in the morning."
"That would probably be for the best." Bruce had the woman's information already loaded on his computer. "Who's the second individual?"
"Second name is a Kida Rile."
Bruce's heart sank as he thought he heard the boy wrong, stopping his keystrokes. There was no way…could it? He shook the thought out and came to his senses, "Do you mind spelling out the entire name for me Cyborg?"
"Uh, sure it's…"
Bruce typed in exactly what he heard and there was no doubt about it…it was her. "Cyborg where is this residence?"
"Raven and I will take care of it Bruce so just sit tight. But there is a second residence you can look into if you'd like."
Bruce sighed, "Yeah, fine. Where is it?"
"Says here it's…wow, Tokyo, Japan."
Bruce had a sudden flashback, "Ah Tokyo, I wish I could live here."
"Really?"
"Promise we'll get a longer vacation here one day."
"Promise."
He shook his head of the memory, "Thanks Cyborg, I'll handle it. Continue to keep me updated."
"Will do."
The call ended and Bruce looked upon his computer screen to see a photo of Kida next to her profile. Alfred entered the room, approaching from behind and caught sight of the screen. "Is that Lady Kida?"
"Looks like it." Bruce retrieved the decanter of whisky within a compartment of his desk and poured himself a glass. "After all these years, she's come back to haunt me."
"Is that what you really think?"
Bruce shook his head and took a sip of his drink, "I don't know Alfred."
"Am I to assume that you will be cancelling your meeting with the board tomorrow?"
"That is correct." Bruce stared at the contents of his glass, "I'll just deal with the consequences when I return."
Alfred nodded, "Shall I prepare the suit?"
"Doubt I will need it."
"If she's the one behind those devices, we shouldn't assume that they're entirely dangerous right?"
Bruce shrugged, "That's what I'm going to find out, but one thing's for sure, they aren't to be overlooked." The man finished his drink and stood before heading off to the bookcase entrance of the batcave.
"Then let's set a date."
"A date? Let's leave it on a whim moment."
"Ah, a whim sounds nice hehe."
Bruce remembered that conversation all too well as the secret elevator descended. Did she ever think about it? Would she still think that it would be nice?