Chapter Nine
The buzzing of my alarm screams loud before I'm ready to wake up. Rolling over to turn it off I'm shocked by the time. Instead of my usual 6:30 alarm it is 5am. What the fuck? I roll my eyes. I know I sat my alarm correctly. Sitting up I stretch lightly. Looking out the large glass wall. The sun isn't even up yet. A rasping at my door catches me.
"Come on Rae, time to get up!" Cyborg yells way too happily. Ah so that's why my alarm is set sooner. Back to Raven training k suppose. Standing up out of bed I walk to my dresser pulling on a pair of gym shorts. Pulling a sports bra on and a baggy tee I yawn out as I hear Cyborg calling for me again. I groan as I sit on my bed pulling on my socks and tennis shoes. This shit is going to hurt. Picking up the pace I stride into the bathroom brushing my hair into a French braid. I sigh out brushing my teeth as Cyborg yells again.
Finally finished I look at myself in the mirror. My eye has yellow surrounding the bruise now and I groan at the pain. Stepping out of my room cyborg is waiting for me with his arms crossed. I smile lightly at him, "what's first?"
"Morning exercises for your powers." He holds up a list.
"Easy. " I sigh. I walk to the couch sitting down. Focusing my energy I follow the training from all of those years ago. Focusing my energy, sparking it out. Holding the energy into my palms. I focus it to my eye and smile as the power heals through my eye.
"Boo-Yeah!" Cyborg yells ending my focus. "Shoot." He tenses as I open my eyes in shock. "Sorry." He rubs the back of his neck, "your eye just looks so much better."
"It's okay." I smile soft, "what's next?"
"Cardio." He smiles. "Your building has a full on gym here! Let's go." I roll my eyes.
The treadmill proves my demise as I'm out of breath on mile 2. I pant as I stand on the end of the treadmill. I used to run 5 miles a day no problem. After defeat, I'm out with the ringer with abs and chest. The burn feels good, but I know tomorrow is going to suck worse. Releasing me from my morning training, I drown myself in the hot streams of water. Washing off my sweat and grime I feel better. Applying moisturizer to my face I smile as my eye is healed. The gash on my nose still sits. Focusing my energy I breath softly as I heal it too. I'm surprised and happy. My muscles already ache and I feel the soreness set in. With my hair wrapped in a towel I step out to my bedroom dressing in jeans and a sweatshirt. As I dry my hair with a towel a knock comes to my door. Opening it, Dick stands on the other side. I smile stepping aside for him to come in.
"Your face looks better." He smiles. Gently he reaches up touching my cheek. "Feel better?"
"Yeah. It's going to take a while for things to get back to normal but I feel good today." I smile moving my cheek closer to his hand.
"I have to go to help Bruce." He sighs dropping his hand, "so I'm going to be gone for a few days."
"Ah, help dad with the sedan in the garage?" I scoff.
"Hey code words." He shakes his head smiling. "I didn't realize you were under the covers"
"So who is the sedan?" I sit on my bed.
"Someone really bad" he walks to the window looking out. I feel his pain lurch out. "I hate dealing with him."
"Joker?" I ask. He nods. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault. He's just a pain in the ass" he sighs.
"You three should be able to take him down." I reassure.
"Rae." He looks to his feet sighing, "it's not that simple with him." I feel him hiding something but I don't push.
"Stay safe." I look away.
"I'll try." He stiffens turning to leave the room.
"Dick" I breath out.
"Hmm?" He asks.
"Thank you.".
"Anything for you Rae." He leaves out the door.
Continuing the operation save Raven I meditate for a few hours, focusing my energy. Trying to center myself. Before I know it, Cyborg and I are off in the city to my therapist. I still feel the anger from myself about being forced into opening up to a stranger. I don't even open up to people close to myself. Since it's Saturday I'm guessing this was arranged specialty. The practice is in a house sat on a corner lot with a white picket fence. Cute. I roll my eyes as I knock on the navy blue door.
"Hi." A tall brunette answers the door, "you must be Rachel. I'm Dr. Leslie Thompkins." I turn looking at Cyborg sitting in his car, waving at me.
"Uh yeah." I smile lightly.
"Come on in." She waves me through the door. I walk in to the beautiful cream couch. It looks soft and delicate. The chair sits across with an end table and notepad beside. The smell of the house is soft but clean. I look around making note of the exits and windows. "Would it help you if I should you around first?" She asks
"What?" I question turning to her.
"You're looking for escapes." She smiles, "typical Wayne kid."
"I'm not a Wayne kid." I huff. I go to the couch sitting down.
"Oh, you're not?" She questions sitting down crossing her legs. "Then who are you?"
"I'm Rachel." I look away, avoiding her gaze.
"And what are your abilities?" She smiles
"Abilities?" I stiffen at her question.
She smiles jotting on her pad. "I'm a friend of the family Rachel. Richard wouldn't ask for me to see you if you weren't aware of the Bat."
"So how do you know the bat." I nervously put a pillow in my lap. So much for secret identities
"He saved me." She smiles, "I was a victim to Scarecrow. He used to be a colleague of mine. I'm alive because of Bruce Wayne and his mission of justice."
"I'm not affiliated with Bruce Wayne." I look away. I'm already ready for this to be over.
"So you're affiliated with Richard." She scribbles away.
"Used to, I suppose." I play with my finger nails.
"And are you now?" Leslie eyes me.
"Kinda." I sigh. "Look, I'm not one to talk or spill my guts to anyone."
"I understand that." She nods, "I understand I have to earn your trust. You have issues with trust I can tell."
"Yes very much."
"So you trust Richard?"
"Yes." I nod.
"Who else do you trust?" She writes on the leather bound note book
"Cyborg, but I hide a lot from him." I look out the window to the T car. Cyborg sits on the phone laughing to someone.
"Anyone else?" She asks. I look to her and quickly look away not answering. "Is there anyone else?" She asks again.
"Jason Todd." I close my eyes and look down to my fingers.
"So you know Jason as well?" She smiles lightly, writing down in her book. "Are you affiliate with him?"
"No. Yes. Kinda." I fluster with my cheeks burning red.
"Kinda. That's a good way to be when you aren't sure." She reassures me. "Rachel, why are you here."
"For operation save Raven." I avoid her gaze as I have this entire time.
"I'm sorry what's that."
"It's to get me back to the same person I was." I sigh.
"And when did you lose yourself."
"About 18 months ago." I hesitate
"Any particular day?"
"Yeah." I leave the answer blank.
"What day was that." She presses
"My birthday." I'm uncomfortable
"I'm sorry." She writes. "Do you want to talk about that day or save it for another time?" She doesn't take the option completely off the table.
"Not now."
"So what do you want out of Operation Save Raven?" She asks softly
Looking away at the painted picture on the wall, I admire the lake scene in the mountains. I sigh softly, "To decide which way my heart should go."
"It's split in two directions?" She confirms my meaning.
"Yeah." I say softly still looking at the glacier tops of the mountains with the lights of the night stars on the water.
"We can work on that." She smiles. "Did you want to talk about anything today?"
"Not really." I sigh looking back to her.
"Then we are done for today." Leslie smiles, "I will see you back on Monday and Thursdays at 5:30pm."
"Twice a week?" I scoff. "I must be really fucked huh?"
"No." She smiles. "We start out strong in shorter sessions more frequently and then we will focus on longer sessions. Until you're comfortable. I want to earn your trust Rachel." She seems sincere, "baby steps, taking everything one step at a time."
"Okay." I slowly stand up. "So I'm free to go?"
"Yes." She smiles. "I'll see you on Monday." She stands walking me to the door. I nod as I slip out of the door, feeling like I should sprint before she changes her mind.
"Done?" Cyborg asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah and then I start twice a week" I roll my eyes, "how the hell did I even get talked into this."
"You needed it." He smiles.
Nodding in response, I know I did. Operation save Raven isn't going to be easy. Losing yourself and everything you are, is a deep hole to dig yourself out of.
Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying this! It's obviously not in correct time line of the original stories, but it's how I want to write it. Please R !!