I4.6
Chapter 17: Perception
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Adult themes. DO NOT read if you are underage or dislike controversial things.
Author's Note: June is a hectic month for me, so once July starts I should be able to be more consistent with updates. Thanks for your patience!
Click.
The sound of the door closing behind Richard was soft and barely audible. It's been a long and productive day for the leader of the Titans. Richard was able to check off quite a few things from his list. He smiles to himself as he walks down the hallway while stretching his arms high above his head. He can feel the tightness of his muscles pulling beneath his skin and a soft crack is felt between his shoulder blades. He had spent more time than he would have liked documenting all of the new information that came with Beastboy's recovery. It's officially been three days since he was first drugged. Witnessing what I4.6 can do in person was quite an experience. It was a mixture of scary, exhilarating, and thought provoking with a little bit of vindication and guilt built in. Richard knew that what he did to his subordinate is unethical. As the leader, he is responsible for maintaining the well being of his team and not be the cause of the damage.
The righteous side of Richard's morality berates him in quiet moments before sleep finally takes him, but his practical thoughts almost always silence whatever negative emotions he has about what he has done. What he is doing. Intel is king. The more information that he has to work with, the better he will be at making accurate decisions in the best interest of society. The testing of I4.6 on his teammate was inevitable, it just so happened that Beastboy volunteered himself by overstepping his boundaries over the weekend. Now, he is doing valuable research for the sake of humanity. This drug was not designed to kill the person who ingests it, but to slow them down. Cut them off from their powers. To level the battlefield for the humans like Batman and the Batboys. Even with their endless supply of money and shiny gadgets, they would not be able to truly compete against the likes of Superman and Raven. Richard isn't afraid of the human persona of Clark Kent and Rachel Roth, but if one day they decided that humanity wasn't worth protecting anymore or if they choose to no longer be members, but rulers of the world, then counter measures will need to be in place. The likelihood of something like that happening are slim, but never zero. Besides, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Superman is not quite the saint that he pretends to be.
Richard's musings about Clark Kent's ability to mimic human qualities are cut short when he enters the living room. Nestled between the large, fluffy pillows on the couch is a much livelier Beastboy, shaking his soup spoon at the TV screen as Cyborg plays a video game. The changeling is relatively back to normal, but has been complaining about random chills that he experiences every now and then. Under normal circumstances, the thick blanket that he has draped over his shoulders and wrapped firmly around his body would be out of place on such a warm summer's day. So would the piping hot bowl of soup that he is cradling in one hand. He has been having a much more difficult time moderating his body temperature and is now prone to being terribly hot or extremely cold. Richard wonders if this drastic change in body temperature is influenced by the green beast's ability to shift into cold blooded and warm blooded animals. Maybe what's going on internally doesn't match the external? Either way, Beastboy is back to shifting normally. He can hold on to those shifts for an extended period of time and he believes that he is now ready to get back into the team's rotation. While the rest of team is a little uneasy about putting him back in the field, Richard is interested in seeing what he can do and to determine whether someone can completely recover from I4.6.
After appraising Beastboy, Richard's eyes stray to the right and finds Cyborg staring at him with a question in his eyes. What that question is, he could not say. He has no idea what Beastboy has been telling him, but it's no secret that the relationship between the team's leader and the changeling has been strained for a while. If Beastboy is painting him in a negative light to his best metallic friend, then there is no real way for Richard to determine how much Cyborg believes. Either way, he is going to wait for the older man to approach him with his concerns and address those issues then. He is fairly sure, however, that he still views Richard in a favorable light.
"Bro! What are you doin?" Beastboy screeches at his metal companion. "You practically jumped straight into its mouth!"
Cyborg shakes his head to clear his mind and refocuses his attention on the controller in his hand. Whatever thoughts he had been thinking are pushed to the back of his mind. Richard would give quite a bit to know the big man's musings. He has served as the confidant to both Beastboy and, to a lesser extent, Rachel over the years. It's always been a thorn in Richard's side. Seeing how comfortable she can be with expressing her deeper thoughts and emotions with someone who is not him. The only reason he has allowed for this to continue for as long as it has is simply because he knows Cyborg sees Rachel as a little sister. Someone much younger than him and in need of guidance and social etiquette. If Richard were to ever catch a whiff of something deeper developing between the two, then he would have lost it much sooner. Would probably have forced the metal man to relocate to a different Titan team. But, thankfully, Cyborg knows to operate within his boundaries and even though their familial closeness may rub Richard the wrong way, it wasn't an inherent danger. He didn't have ulterior motives like Beastboy...like himself. Even Starfire interacts with Rachel with a motive at the back of her mind.
Speaking of Starfire, "Friend Cyborg is trying his best! We should cheer him on."
"I am cheering him on! That's how bros hype each other up," retorts Beastboy as he scoops another spoonful of soup into his mouth. From where Richard is standing, it looks like tomato soup.
"Well, it sounds more like you're criticizing him for trying his best," she replies as she continues to stroke the pet worm that is snuggled in her lap. That thing might be cuter if it had some fur or something.
"It sounds harsh, but we 'men' use it as motivation," the changeling responds.
There is a sigh from the alien princess as she frowns into her lap, "I don't understand the workings of you Earth men. What you say is not what you mean and what you mean is not what you want."
Anyone can tell that she is no longer talking about the game or the banter between the two friends. That sigh alluded to something deeper than just losing a game. Richard can see Cyborg's one eyebrow twitching at the change in the atmosphere. He has been going out of his way the last few days to make the environment more lighthearted and communal. The cracks in their team were starting to show before the drugging of Beastboy and Cyborg was hoping to use this event to rally all the members together to protect their own. If he only knew that one of their own is the reason why the changeling is experiencing more hot flashes than a woman in menopause. They knew the "what," the "where," and the "when." What they couldn't figure out was the "who" and the "why," much less the "how" of the drugging of Beastboy. It was all they could think about and talk about for days. It had gotten to the point where they were talking themselves in circles. Richard had eventually steered the group into blaming it on Slade. Who else would have the means, the know how and the galls to break into the Titan Tower and try to poison someone? It was easy enough to imagine and the thought of an outsider waltzing into their safe space had Cyborg scrutinizing the Tower's surveillance videos and scratching his head in confusion. To keep up with the charade, Richard would lock himself inside of his workroom and pretend to be pouring and obsessing over Slade. He was really taking meticulous notes of the effects of I4.6 and planning his next moves.
"All right, all right, all right," Cyborg's voice cuts through Richard's thoughts. "We are here to relax and unwind. It's been very stressful lately. But we are in a safe space and we are going to have FUN!"
Richard nods his head and supplies, "Yea. As a team, we need a break from worrying. Cyborg and I have gone over all the surveillance tapes and completely torn the Tower apart looking for bugs. This is our safe space and it's up to us to make it a happy one, too."
"Maybe," Starfire's feminine voice adds, "we need some time away from this space?"
"What did you have in mind?" asks Beastboy.
"Umm…," she muses with one slender finger delicately placed on her chin, "maybe a beach day?"
"Oh yea, baby!" the changeling yells next to her. He throws up the hand holding his soup spoon with a grin on his face. Half his blanket falling off his shoulder.
"That's not a bad idea,' Cyborg adds, "It'll be nice to have some fun in the sun. There are plenty of beaches near the city."
Richard finds himself nodding along as he says, "That's a pretty good idea Star. We'll also be close by to the Tower in case Beastboy needs medical care."
The alien princess beams under Richard's compliment and starts petting her worm a bit more affectionately while trying to hide her blush. It's this type of behavior that equally repels him and feeds his narcissism. While she is preening from the positive feedback for a good idea, Richard's attention is glued to Cyborg. Richard is saying and doing everything that a good leader should do in this moment and he can tell that it is helping to ease some of the metal's man misgivings. There is no way that he can pin what happened to Beastboy on him and the changeling was rambling nonsense throughout most of his drug induced state. However, the seeds of doubt have been sown, but it is moments like this where Richard can redeem himself in the eyes of his subordinates. The team leader is patting himself on the back for a job well done when he hears an "ugh" behind him. His facial features soften and he can feel the pull of his lips into a smile. He knew that voice.
"Does it have to be the beach, though?" the deep, yet feminine voice asks. Rachel is curled up in the lazy-boy that is tucked in the deepest recesses of the living room. It is cloaked in shadows, much like she is. It was originally placed there when their team was founded and she wasn't comfortable enough to interact with everyone else on a communal level. She would hunker down there and observe them. Eventually, she felt safe enough to leave the shadows and join them in the light for game night or to watch movies. However, it was still her favorite chair to occupy when she wasn't really in the mood to join the festivities or she just needed a space that she can claim as solely her own to feel comfortable. It also made for an easy and unnoticed escape, but Richard always noticed.
Richard notices everything that has to do with Rachel.
"Oh come on, Raven! Don't be a party pooper. I could really use the outing and some sun right now," Beastboy says with a little pout. "I haven't left the Tower in days!"
Richard soaks her in as she thinks about the changeling's words. His eyes are raking over the pale legs that are elegantly curled beneath her. The glint of his charm bracelet encasing her delicate ankle. The soft cotton shorts that she is wearing has ridden up higher than normal. Exposing more of her toned legs to his hungry gaze. Taunting him with the heat that lies between them. He had been lost between those legs last night. Sucked in by the feel of her flesh beneath his fingertips. When their eyes lock on one another, he can tell she was thinking about it, too. She looks away with a dainty blush and fidgets in discomfort in her plush chair and quietly says, "I guess it'll be alright."
Richard smiles widely as he invades her little corner and plops himself down on the arm of her chair. She is frowning and looking up at him. Angling her body away from him and trying to create space between them without making it too obvious to their teammates. He has never done this before, no one has, and the rest of the team is watching her reaction. He is confident that she wouldn't eject him from his sitting position and she doesn't, but she does try to use the tome that she was reading as a barrier between them. Richard looks down at her and says, "It'll be just fine. We can put up a big beach umbrella and you can read as many books as you want under it. Sounds good?"
"It sounds fine. Can you get off my chair?" she retorts with a bite in her tone. To their companions, it may sound like her normal, abrasive attitude, but Richard can hear the desperation in her voice and it excites him. Having Rachel react so strongly to his presence makes him happy because she is a normally stoic woman. Having her lose her cool in front of their teammates is a different type of reckless excitement. They would eventually have to recognize the change in their dynamics when Rachel is officially his. When his bedroom becomes their bedroom. When his or her becomes them and they. It's only a matter of time before they become an indestructible unit. The team might as well get use to the idea from now.
He calmly looks into her eyes. Admiring the different shades of violet gazing up at him in annoyance and a bit of uncertainty and says, "No."
"No," she says as she wraps her cape more securely around her body. "I would rather fly."
He knew she would say that and was prepared for it. They were both dressed in their superhero outfits and gearing up for an evening patrol. He had offered to let her ride on the back of his bike, but she declined. Miffed at the mere suggestion. Why would such a powerful woman, who can fly, want to share a small motorcycle with him? Not to mention that she's been extra careful around him since the incident in the kitchen. It had unnerved her because she had thought that his hug had been innocent. To a certain extent, it was. He appreciated her, her help, her comradery, her willingness to do things that she finds unpleasant because she wants to make his life a little easier. It's very rare to find people like that. It's even rarer to find someone who is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. It was like she was practically made for him.
His feelings of gratitude had quickly devolved into something darker. More sinister. More possessive. As an empath, she definitely picked up on the changes and panicked because of it. Ever since that afternoon, she has been keeping her distance from him. When they shared the same space in a room, she makes sure that she is sitting with one of the other members of the team. Like they would have the power to keep him at bay. What she doesn't realize is that the more she pulls away, the more she makes him want to chase her. Corner her. Defile her. Wreck her in such a way that only he could put her back together. His pretty humpty dumpty. But he knew that she wouldn't crack that easily. She's been through ordeals that would break a lesser woman. She still deals with the trauma of those life defining events every night before her eyes can close and her mind can rest.
Using their communicator, Richard sends her the rendezvous point where they will meet after the patrol. They will start out by heading in different directions and eventually meet each other back at the park at 11pm. Since the crime rate in the city has been relatively low, these patrols are really just for show. It's important that the people see them regularly. It instills a sense of confidence that they're there and that they are visibly working. Deterring criminals before they can commit the crime is the best type of prevention that Richard can think of. When he dons the mask of Robin, Boy Wonder, he feels like a different person. The weight and responsibility of his role as team leader and as a vigilante superhero rests heavily on his shoulders.
The only person who stops this heavy weight from crushing him completely is standing before him with the wind fluttering her navy cape around her. Short violet strands are blowing from the air that is coming through the opened garage door. She looks ethereal in the glowing light from the setting sun. Like she is not of this world...that's probably because she is really not of this place. Born from a human mother and a demon father, raised on a different planet by monks who prize self control and autonomy, she is of a differ caliber than what can be found here on Earth. Different from any other woman he has ever met. She is a combination of raw strength and crippling insecurities that are coupled with dark thoughts. She is his...even if she doesn't know it yet.
"11pm. Top of the hill," Rachel says, reading the message and location on her communicator. Her deep, rich, feminine voice cuts through Richard's thoughts as he maneuvers his motorcycle to stand beside her.
"Yea. You'll go east and I'll take west. It's just a basic run through, unless something is happening. If something does happen, handle it and then reach out to me. If you need backup, don't hesitate to ask. It's better to be safe than sorry," he says as he straddles his bike and uses his finger print to start it. He can feel his machine purr beneath him as he revved the engine. The feel of his tight leather and modern day armor conforming to his muscular physique brings him comfort even as the adrenaline is pumping through his veins. His weight, made heavier by his costume, causes the bike to sink a little. He smiles. Sometimes it really is the simple things in life.
"I know," she says, "be careful, Dick."
So sweet. Even though she's been avoiding him like he is harboring a contagious disease and is completely unnerved by his most recent behaviors, she still wants him to be careful. To take care of himself. Richard wonders whether or not she thinks he is a fragile human? It wouldn't take much to deal him a life altering blow. She has seen his scars...his bruises...his self doubts. Laid her healing hands on all of them. She has seen him at his most pitiful and didn't think any less of him. She has seen him at his worse and didn't leave him behind. But...seeing him as a man with urges and desires seems to terrify her in a way that Richard can't quite understand. Did she not think that he was capable of feeling such things? Or that they could be directed to her?
"You need to be careful, too. You're not indestructible. I'm not sure what I'd do if something were to happen to you," he says with earnestness in his voice. He really wouldn't know what he would do or how he would react to a lost like that. If Richard knows himself, like he thinks he knows himself, then he would probably seek vengeance. Fling every moral teaching of what is right and wrong off a cliff and become something he never thought he could be. The first time that he lost her, he drew inward, saddened and tried to deal with the grief that comes from losing a friend. He spent quite a bit of time grappling with his shortcomings as a leader and ability to protect those that are close to him. Thankfully, that separation wasn't permanent. He was able to save her and bring her back from hell. If he were to lose her a second time, the lost would not be the same. He no longer looks at her with the eyes of a friend, but with the gaze of a lover. That fire burns different.
Rachel huffs in annoyance and says, "I'm not a damsel in distress, Dick. I can take care of myself."
A genuine smile graces Richard's handsome face. Making him even more dashing in the evening's fading light. "I know."
The confirmation pulls at the corners of Rachel's lips before she turns her back to him and takes off. He watches her fly away and when she is out of sight, he finally puts his helmet on and starts his night ride. The wind felt good against his body as he rode through his city. His little domain. The place that he is in charge of protecting and doing a pretty good job at it. The crime rate has been low, the people feel safer and the community is thriving. More and more people are migrating to his city to start businesses, find work and establish themselves so that they can live happy and healthy lives. He is genuinely proud of the work that his team has been able to do under his leadership. Their growth as individuals and as a unit.
The night is full of the sounds of life and laughter. Richard leisurely rides through a busy district that is full of restaurants and playgrounds. There is a large movie theater that attracts plenty of costumers on a pleasantly cool night like tonight. As he rides by, a couple of people call his name "Robin!" He waves his hand in their direction in acknowledgment and he can hear a couple of young girls squeal at seeing him in the flesh. There is no doubt that he ranks as one of the most attractive male members of his team. His competition isn't that fierce. One is green and the other is made of metal; both of which are kind of off putting to the general public. That's probably why he is the most written about character in fanficition. The community that he protects is as enamored with him, as he is with it.
They don't know the man behind the mask, so they superimpose their own wants and desires on to him in the form of fictional work. Richard is not sure what to feel about this. On one hand, he is flattered that they think about him that much, that often and that deeply. On the other hand, it is disturbing to think that they are more invested in the persona that they built in their minds than they are with the actual hero, himself. This holds true for every member of the Titans. Sometimes, the way that Rachel is portrayed in these works of fiction infuriates him because he knows that that is not what she is like. These authors don't know the real her and just create a version of her to serve their purposes, while others consume it. The gossip tabloids and the fanficition authors have definitely shaped public perception of them and their relationship to one another. It's the reason why Starfire and Beastboy are so adamant about pursuing their respective relationships with Richard and Rachel.
Perception is reality. If he can get Rachel to perceive that there is potential in a romantic relationship between them...if he can help her envision it, then maybe he can convince her to give this a shot. That's what he is hoping to talk to her about tonight. Away from the Titan Tower and from the prying eyes and ears of their teammates. He has been tormented about how he should approach this. Ease her into it or boldly proclaim it? Which would she be the most receptive to and which would do the least amount of damage when she rejects him. Richard is no fool. He knows that she is not ready to take that step with him and will push him away. He has to warm her up to the idea of there being more between them. He will try to be patient with her. He owes her that much, but the thoughts of what could be are exciting.
She will be his family. A real family. Not one that sold him to the highest bidder. Or one that puts him on the shelf when a newer, more traumatized boy comes along. Not one that is destined to fall apart when the makeshift team no longer serves a purpose. Instead, he and Rachel will build a life long family. One that will stand the test of time and never abandon each other. He will never let her go and she will cling to him because he will give her everything she has ever wanted. A family. He knows it's something that she desires, but dares not hope for because of her past and her heritage. The only man who is worthy of her and what she has to offer is him. He will make sure she realizes that. That the world realizes this truth.
Richard is lost in his own thoughts as he makes his way to the park where they are scheduled to meet soon. His ride through the town has been uneventful. The city doesn't seem interested in partaking in nefarious activities; not quite like Gotham. He assumed that Rachel also has had a slow evening since she didn't communicate with him once. Things are good in the city; his city. Richard is both nervous and excited as he pulls up to the meeting spot and kills the engine on his bike. He looks at the flickering lights below him from the hill top that overlooks a large portion of the entertainment district. The wind ruffles his jet black hair in a pleasant way as he takes a deep breath.
He spent a few minutes alone in his thoughts until he felt a pull at the back of his mind. Ever since she entered his mind to cure his obsession with Slade, he has been able to feel her presence everywhere he goes. He knows that she is floating behind him without having to turn around. Without so much as a glance behind him, he says "How was your night?"
"Beautiful," she says and he believes her. This is a glorious summer night with a full moon glowing brightly in the sky. She walks up to stand beside him. Closer than she's been to him in days. This moment doesn't feel threatening. It feels nostalgic. The comfort of friendship and a quite moment with someone you know and trust. He almost second guesses himself and his goals in the tranquility of this time and space.
"Yes, you are," Richard quietly says without looking at Rachel.
"Hmm?" she hums in question. Not quite understanding his response. She glances at his face and see a calm expression, but the emotions within Richard is a bit troubling.
"I said, you are beautiful," he responds in a clear voice, "like tonight."
A lovely blush spreads across Rachel's cheeks at the sweet words, but she can't help but to frown. Something about this moment doesn't feel right, but she can't put her finger on it. She clears her throat and says "Thank you."
They stand together in silence for a little while longer before Richard turns to her and takes her in. She is wrapped in her customary navy cape. Blending in with the shadows that are being cast by the full moon. The red chakra gem in the middle of her forehead glittering in the low light. His beloved looks so beautiful in this moment, standing here before him, in her element. Their element, for Richard is also a creature of the night. He is desperately trying to absorb every little detail about her that he can. Eventually, she can't take his scrutiny anymore and turns to him and asks, "Is something wrong?"
"Rachel...do you think I'm a good person?" he asks. She is a bit taken aback the seemingly random question.
"I think that you are fundamentally good. You have moments of darkness and negativity...just like everyone else," she says while studying his face. "Lately though...you've been acting very strange. We've briefly talking about it before."
"I'll admit that I have been feeling a bit strange," he whispers into the night air between them. One hand rises to fix a stray lock of violet hair that has been misplaced by the wind. She allows it, but is still watching him warily. "I've been plagued by these strange thoughts, emotions...urges that I thought I could keep buried."
She inclines her head to let him know that she is still listening to him. Her dear friend is struggling and she wants to help him. "Are these thoughts and urges destructive?"
"It depends," he says. He steps closer to her and she doesn't step away, but she is forced to angle her head further back so that she can keep an eye on his face. He continues, "It depends...there are moments when I want to make it hurt until it feels good."
Now wouldn't be the best time to tell her that he wants to rip her cape off her slender body, tear it to shreds and tie her up with it. Bound her hands behind her back. Tie her legs in such a way that they are forced apart. Pull her in his lap and play with her until there are tears of pleasurable pain in her eyes. What he wouldn't give to sink his teeth into the flesh of the pale neck that is visible above the cape. Make it hurt and kiss it better as he massages her breasts in his hands. He can't stand here, so close to her and not touch her now. Before he can stop himself, Richard is cupping her cheek with his left hand. Appreciating the soft and delicate smoothness in his palm.
She is real. She is here. She can be touched. If she can be touched, then she can be kissed. She can be held. Pulled close until they both melt into each other and no one can tell the difference between the two; not even themselves.
Rachel's deeply feminine voice pulls him out of the fantasies in his head and back to the present when she says, "I don't understand."
He groans in response and places his head on her shoulder. The material of her cape is uncomfortable against his face. He would much rather be burying his face in the soft flesh of her breasts. Like he did when he came home "sick." Rachel is completely confused by this change in her friend and pushes on his shoulders to put space between them, but Richard wouldn't budge. "Dick! You're acting strange again. I don't know what's going on with you, but I can't help you if you don't talk to me."
Her words echo what he said to her not too long ago when she was having a minor panic attack in her room. He takes the two hands pushing against his shoulders in both of his and holds it close to his chest. She could feel his heartbeat through his costume if she closed her eyes and concentrated, but she didn't feel comfortable doing that in this moment. If she wasn't confused enough, his next question just made it worse.
"Do you think I'm handsome, Rachel?" he whispers. They are standing so close together that his breath ghosts over her forehead. Rachel tries to take another step back, but Richard has an iron grip on her hands that he is forcefully pressing against the armor on his chest.
"Y..you...you know you're handsome, Dick," she stutters while trying to put some space between them, "You hear it all the time."
"I do," he says as he hauls her hands up to his face so that he can feel her skin on his skin, "But I want to know if you think I'm handsome."
"Let go of my hands," Rachel replies with authority in her voice. This has gone way past her comfort zone.
"Do you think I'm handsome?" he asks again with more aggression in his voice. He wanted an answer. She must learn to respond when he calls.
"Yes! Now let go," she says. He releases his hold on her as she gives an aggressive tug. The momentum of the action causing her to stumble backward and tripping over a boulder that is large enough to sit on. She doesn't fall all the way back, however, because Richard has stepped into her space, his arm is wrapped around her waist and pulling her upright. Forcing her to sit on the boulder. She is rubbing her hands as he crouches between her legs. This particular position making her even more uncomfortable with their whole situation and the range of emotions rolling off of her leader.
"Be careful. You're going to hurt yourself if you keep acting like that," he says. Does his voice sound deeper to her ears? She suppresses a shiver of fear in the face of this uncertainty.
"Listen, Dick, I don't know what's going on with you or even how to help you. I think you need to see a therapist," she says, "And you need to be honest with her about what you've been thinking and feeling."
Richard looks up at his beloved from his crouched position. Her knees are bent inward, as though she is trying to hide her modesty from him. He heard what she said, but he wasn't really listening. All he could think about was tracing the tips of his fingers along her kneecaps. Prying her legs open and allowing his eyes to feast on the view before him. He knew that her leotard didn't leave much to the imagination without the cape for cover. Now, it sits gaping open before him, with her full body in plain sight. He wants to run the palm of both his hands along the inside of her thighs. Watch her face shift as he gets closer to her core. Hear her shallow breathing speed up when he uses the middle finger of his right hand to trace the thin fabric that separates his finger from her heated sex. Feel her hands pulling at his hair when he replaces fingers with his lips. Would her hands push his head closer or try to pull him away? Either way, she would squirm beneath his attention and he'd put his large hands to use by guiding her in the proper way to ride his face.
He is staring at her crotch like a starving man and licks his lips in anticipation. Lost in his own fantasies, Richard's hands land on Rachel's knees. She jumps in surprise and trepidation at the amount of lust radiating off of her friend that she's not really sure is a friend anymore. Richard's hands skim over the outside of her thighs. They make it midway before Rachel's hands lands on his and stop their upward motion. They lock eyes on one another. Violet meets grayish blue. She quietly says "no" before using her powers to repel him back and away from her body. Without another word, she gets up and takes flight. Every fiber of her being demanding that she leaves this situation behind.
Richard is left splayed out on the park's dirt floor. His eyes are trained to the sky as he hears the faint sound of a camera's shutter. That should be enough to work with.
Richard finds himself, once again, splayed out on his back. Eyes on the ceiling and the faint gasps of his teammates in the background. He didn't get off of Rachel's chair, so she physically moved him. This time, just like last time, she doesn't harm him. Just repels him. He gives a little laugh as he straightens himself.
Yes, my love is no damsel in distress. He looks at Rachel and she is frowning at him and his unapologetic demeanor. They both are thinking about what had transpired between them last night.
"You okay man?" Beastboy chirps from the couch. No one has ever seen Rachel actively move against their leader in all the years that they have known the two. To see this happen before their very eyes is equal parts amazing and disturbing.
"I'm fine. I deserved that," Richard answers while dusting off his pants. Someone really needs to vacuum this floor. "Oh! It's time for the evening news cycle. Do you mind changing the channel?"
"Sure," says Cyborg as he switches the smart TV from gaming mode to cable news. It's a nightly ritual and a running joke that Richard is an old man who gets his news from cable TV instead of Facebook, like normal people.
"Just in. Breaking News! It appears as though birds of a feather DO flock together. Tonight, we'll explore these new salacious pictures of the city's very own Robin and Raven. A midnight stroll between friends or something much more? Stay tuned to find out more!" As the news anchor is presenting the headline, pictures of Richard and Rachel are flashing across the screen. It looks as though they are holding hands under the moonlight and gazing into each other's eyes. There is another of Richard crouched in front of Rachel with his hand on the outside of her thighs. All questionable and easily open to suggestive interpretation.
There is silence in the room as everyone's mouth is left open. Beastboy is looking at Rachel, Rachel is looking at Starfire, Starfire is looking at Richard, Richard is looking at Cyborg and Cyborg is looking at Beastboy.
If perception can make or break reality, then Richard will make sure the world sees them in the way he wants them to. He's provided the tabloids and fiction writers with the fodder they need. They can take it from here.
Can you see it, Rachel? Is it easier to picture it if someone else paints it for you?
The silence is broken when Richard's communicator starts ringing in his back pocket. Bruce Wayne wants to speak with his eldest Batboy.
What exactly is Richard planning? Will it work or backfire? I guess the cat is out of the bag now. Feel free to leave a review and I hope you enjoyed!