Raven had spent the last hour leisurely strolling the perimeter of the ballroom, watching and waiting. So far, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Her eyes may have wandered to Tim once or twice… or twenty times. Make that 21, she thought as she glanced his way again. She couldn't help it. He was good at this. Tim was mingling and conversing with, who Raven assumed were, other rich people who wanted a piece of Wayne Industries. With his easy smile and sharp intelligence, Tim was a natural at navigating these events.
Once again, Raven found herself gazing at him, her heart tugging just a bit. He was kind, strong, and effortlessly gorgeous. She could easily see herself falling for him. She frowned. That's the problem, she thought sadly. Raven had a habit of falling for guys who didn't really want her. It felt like a weakness she couldn't shake. Most saw her as a challenge or dated her just to prove they could. The genuinely nice guys? They only seemed to fall for her after she gave them an emotional nudge.
Her mouth twisted in deep thought. But... I haven't manipulated Tim's emotions... have I? I bonded with him, but I didn't do anything… did I? Raven felt the sting of tears. Is this my life now? Is this the only way someone could return my feelings... through accidental emotional manipulation?
Raven closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Not a good time, Raven. Do this later.
A strange sensation washed over Raven, as if a tidal wave had rocked the room. For a brief moment, her body felt unsteady. Her eyes widened in realization. Someone is casting a spell… or trying to… but Raven couldn't be sure. Her eyes darted around the room as she reached out with her senses. She zeroed in on a female server weaving through the crowd. Raven made to follow her but was blocked by a trio of girls. "OMG!" one of them exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. Raven rolled her eyes as disgust and annoyance filled her. These girls. She shuttered. Courtney, Kourtnee, and Ckortnée—the pretty trio who usually left Raven alone—suddenly stood in front of her menacingly.
"Rachel Roth?" Courtney, the ringleader, greeted with a high-pitched laugh that dripped with mockery.
"Who?" Kourtnee sneered. Raven met her cutting gaze head-on, unfazed.
"The immigrant whore with her claws in Timmy," Courtney shot back, her words laced with venom.
"Right, that's your name," Ckortnée added, a smirk curling her lips.
"Whore," Kourtnee coughed under her breath, her tone dripping with disdain.
Courtney tilted her head, feigning innocence. "How did you even get in here? Did your mom get a job as a private maid for one of our fathers or something?"
Kourtnee chimed in, "Who even is your mom? Is she a drunkard like your father?"
Raven felt a surge of annoyance, recalling the time Constantine had shown up at her school inebriated. I'm gonna kill him. Her attention returned to the three girls. She didn't have the energy to deal with their petty taunts. The magical signature she'd sensed had already faded. Probably overwhelmed by the suffocating scent of their perfume, she thought bitterly.
"Evening, ladies," came a voice that caused butterflies in Raven's stomach. The trio froze as Tim walked up to Raven and nonchalantly slipped an arm around her waist. Raven tried not to blush but was failing terribly. "Are you guys friends of Rachel?" Tim asked, flashing a polite smile.
"No," Raven answered quickly.
"Oh, my gosh! Timothy Drake-Wayne!" Courtney gushed. "Do you remember me?"
"Have we met?" Tim asked, and Raven almost burst out laughing at the unexpected response.
"Yes!" Courtney's smile faltered. "At my father's charity benefit six months ago."
"I don't think so," Tim said, his voice calm. "I have an eidetic memory, so I'd remember meeting you." He turned to Raven. "Anyway, I need to borrow Rachel for a moment." Raven smirked as Tim led her away, leaving the trio fuming. "It was nice meeting you," he threw over his shoulder. "I could sense your annoyance from the other side of the room," Tim whispered into Raven's ear. "I thought I'd come to the rescue."
"Thanks," Raven sighed in relief. "Do you really not remember her?"
"Oh, I do," Tim said with a grin. "She and her friends spent twelve excruciating minutes explaining why they all have the same name spelled differently. Something about their moms being best friends and synchronizing their pregnancies. Biggest waste of time. But before you got accosted, it looked like you were heading somewhere."
Raven was quietly pleased that, despite his mingling, Tim had noticed her. "Yeah, I sensed a magical presence coming from one of the staff. Before I could focus, it vanished. She was a female with brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Shorter than me."
"Got it," Tim said, guiding her to a quieter corner. He tapped his earpiece. "Artemis, I need photos of the waitstaff. We're looking for a woman with brown hair in a ponytail, about Raven's height or shorter." He glanced at Raven. "Anything else?"
"No. I got accosted," Raven gestured to the trio glaring at her from across the ballroom.
Tim spoke into the earpiece again. "Okay, keep me posted." He turned back to Raven, his voice softer. "You look beautiful, by the way. The dress really suits you."
"You've got good taste," Raven smiled. "Though Richard seems determined to take the credit."
"He wanted you to wear that frilly purple thing," Tim smirked, pulling out his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. "Here, take a look." Raven scrolled through the images Artemis had taken of brown-haired women scattered around the room. "Wow, she's good," Raven said, sensing Tim's silent agreement. But none of the faces matched. "No, none of these are her." She handed the phone back.
"I obtained pictures of the serving staff earlier today. No unfamiliar faces here," Tim mused, scanning the images himself.
"So, someone's posing as staff," Raven concluded.
"Cassandra's around here somewhere. Dick," Tim spoke into his comm, "find Cassandra and give her the heads-up." He looked back at Raven.
"What now?" she asked.
Tim held out his hand with a playful grin. "I take you for a spin."
"What? Why?" Raven hugged herself, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "My powers work just fine right here."
"First rule of undercover," Tim said, gently taking her hand. "You have to blend in." He led her toward the dance floor, where couples twirled to the music.
"Okay," Raven said, tensing up. "But I don't know how to dance," she admitted softly. "I don't know any waltz, tangos, or anything."
"I'll keep it simple, I promise. Just a box step," Tim assured her, guiding her into the crowd.
"Yeah," Raven whispered anxiously. "I don't know how to do that."
"You'll be fine, I promise," Tim said, his smile reassuring as he stepped closer. He held her left hand and tenderly wrapped his other arm around her waist. "Just relax," he encouraged, looking down at her. "Breathe." Raven nodded, trying to focus on his words. "And 1, 2, 3," he instructed, stepping in rhythm. Raven stumbled a couple of times, but soon found her footing. It really was as simple as he had said. "See? It's easy. You're doing great," he beamed, and she turned away, trying to hide her blush. "Sense anything?" Tim asked, his charming smile still in place.
"No," Raven replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not anymore."
"Okay," he said, glancing around. "The serving staff has spread out. Let's do a turn around the ballroom, see what you can sense. Then we'll go from there."
Raven nodded, her heart racing as Tim turned to her, his gaze locking onto hers. "You really do look beautiful, by the way," he said, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I mean, I've found you attractive for some time now, but I couldn't have imagined you look this gorgeous in that dress."
Raven felt warmth flood her cheeks. "Stop," she chuckled, half-flattered, half-embarrassed.
"What? I'm serious!" Tim smiled, teasing her slightly.
Raven looked at him curiously. "What is it?" he asked, tilting his head. "What are you thinking?"
"I don't know," she answered honestly, her mind racing.
"What are you feeling?" he pressed, pulling her closer. Raven's heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated, struggling to find the words. What am I feeling? Her lips twisted slightly in contemplation. I'm feeling a lot of things, she thought, a frown crossing her face. What answer does he want me to give? Raven swallowed thickly, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her.
"Excuse me," a voice interrupted them. Raven and Tim turned to see a woman with black hair and striking green eyes, dressed in sharp business attire. A reporter's lanyard hung around her neck. "Hello," she greeted, her smile sending warning bells ringing in both young heroes. "My name is Jean Loring, and I'm with the Gotham Gazette. I'm writing an exposé on Gotham's elite and their supposed connections to crime in this city. Tell me, are you aware of your father, Jack Drake's, ties to the Maroni crime family?"
Tim's smile froze, confusion and anger flickering across his face. "Excuse me?" he asked, his tone sharp. Raven, whose arm was linked with his, sensed the tension radiating through his body. "Can you repeat the question?" he asked, his voice low and menacing, warning of an unlikely outcome should the reporter continue.
"Your father was a real estate mogul who came from nothing," the reporter continued, ignoring the warning look in Tim's eyes. "And your mother was the only surviving member of the Walker family, inheriting the Walker Financial Investment Firm," Jean continued, her words cutting like a knife. "Started by your great-great-great-great-grandfather on your mother's side who was once part of the now-eradicated Black Glove Society." Raven felt Tim's forearm tighten under her grip as the reporter pressed on. "Based on the MOs related to your parents' murders, it's safe to assume that the Maroni crime family was behind their demise. But why would the Maroni's murder a high-society couple?" Jean pushed. "I'm sure your date," she gestured to Raven, "would like to know just whom she's involved with."
Though Tim's smile remained plastered on his face, Raven could sense the murderous rage swelling within him. "Maybe you and I can discuss this in private," Jean suggested, her tone deceptively sweet. "It would give you a chance to get ahead of the story." The smile vanished from Tim's face as he scrutinized the reporter with intense focus. "Please," she insisted, placing a hand on his arm and brushing against Raven's fingertips as she did. "I think we should talk about this in private."
"O…kay," Tim replied slowly, caught in a daze.
"No," Raven interjected firmly, pulling him back toward her as he instinctively tried to move away.
"What?" Tim shook his head as if emerging from a fog.
Jean Loring's eyes shot to Raven before digging her nails into Tim's forearm. "I insist," Jean said, looking deeply into Tim's eyes.
"He's fine," Raven emphasized again, her voice steady. "Please, remove your hand." She shot a warning glare at Jean. The reporter stepped back, a sinister smile creeping across her face. "My apologies," Jean smirked, mischief glinting in her eyes. "I wasn't aware this one was… taken." She appraised Tim, her gaze lingering. "Maybe you can share him when you're finished."
"There won't be much left," Raven replied, her smile turning sharp.
"I'll find another target. Maybe the adoptive father."
"He's off-limits, too," Raven shot back, her glare unwavering.
"What are you… a succubus? I thought your kind went extinct years ago. Guess I was mistaken."
"You were."
"I'll just… run off, then."
"You do that," Raven replied, her smile cold as Jean Loring turned away, giving her a condescending grin as she sauntered off.
Raven pulled Tim into the farthest private bathroom, ensuring they were away from prying eyes. Once inside, she closed the door and spoke into her comm. "Guys, there's a female here posing as a reporter named Jean Loring from the Gotham Gazette. She may go after Bruce."
"Copy," Stephanie replied.
"But she's not the server I saw," Raven continued, gently nudging Tim to sit on the toilet seat so she could scan him for any mental damage. "I need to check you."
Tim looked up at her with a twinkle in his eye. "Am I about to receive a thorough check-up?" he teased.
Raven rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Focus, Tim. We're in a serious situation here."
"Right. Serious," Tim feigned a dramatic tone. "But I have to say, this is the most interesting way I've ever been checked for a brain injury," he added, as Raven placed her hands on both sides of his face and kneeled to be eye-level with him. Raven gave him a look before furrowing her brow in concentration.
"So…there's at least two perps?" Dick asked through the comms.
"Guess I'm stuck with these hors d'oeuvres," Artemis chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "They are superb, by the way. You guys need to try them."
"Cass wants to know if Tim is okay," Dick added.
"I'm checking him now," Raven replied. Tim felt a brief feeling of warmth in his head as Raven's eyes flashed white. "He seems fine."
"I am fine," Tim said, crossing his arms playfully. "Does someone have eyes on Bruce?" he asked seriously.
"I already alerted him," Stephanie said. "But I'm tailing him just in case this…reporter shows up."
"Don't let her touch you," Raven warned, stepping back from Tim as she finished her scan. "No tears or intrusions in your brain," Raven said. "Let me see your forearm."
Tim took his suit jacket off before rolling up his right sleeve. "Oh wow," he gasped as she stared at four, small, angry, red gashes. "I didn't even feel it."
"I noticed," Raven said, placing a glowing hand on his forearm, barely touching him. Seconds later, she lifted her hand, and Tim's arm was healed.
"Thanks for looking out for me," Tim said, his voice softening. Raven nodded. He stood up, and Raven suddenly felt the closeness of the tiny bathroom. "What do you think she is?" he asked, his expression serious again. "She thought you were a succubus."
"I don't know what she is," Raven admitted. "I wasn't able to get a read on her. When her hand brushed my fingers, warnings went off in my brain…my immediate thought was to protect you," Raven blushed again as Tim gave her a grateful look. "I sensed something off about her when she first approached."
"I did, too," Tim said, a hint of concern in his eyes. "I thought she was a stalker."
Raven took a deep breath, trying to balance the gravity of their situation with the warmth building between them. "I should get back out there. Would it be a waste of breath to suggest you stay put?" Tim met her gaze with an endearing look, one that told her he wouldn't budge. "I thought so," she gave a small smile. Raven perked up and turned sharply to the door as her senses fired. She yanked it open to see the server they'd been searching for standing there, preparing to knock. "I'm sorry," the server said, her voice steely, "but you're in my partner's way. You need to go." Before Raven could react, the server shot out a hand, grabbing Raven's arm. In an instant, Raven's world went black.