Chapter Eleven
Sending Cyborg away made me nervous, but I couldn't hold him back. The Justice League invited him to join and I couldn't hold him back from that. I'm so proud of him. I've enjoyed his company over the past 2 weeks, but I feel so much better than I did. My sessions with Dr. Thompkins have even made it to a full thirty minutes now. It's hard to find what to say though. How do you open up after never opening up?
Last night Dick and I took Cyborg out for pizza and met up with Garfield and Kori. They didn't know I was found so of course it was an emotional mess of a time. Kori blubbered all evening off and on. They all have been well though. I enjoyed meeting up and talking. Of course operation save Raven was not brought up and neither was my escapades with the second Robin. I smile at the thought of him. I'm hoping he comes home soon. I've tried calling, only to be met by a dead battery. His voicemail always makes me smile to hear his voice. Every time I ask Dick he hesitates and I can tell he doesn't want to answer. I'm sure he is enjoying having me to himself for the moment. After leaving the pizza place last night he stayed longer with me.
We sat on the sectional with glasses of white wine laughing about the evening. I remember snorting loudly with the wine glass to my lips, "Dick." I laugh, "when did Kori get a perm?" He immediately busts out with a grin,
"Oh are we bringing it up?" He chuckles.
"It's horrendous." I laugh.
"She looks like a red poodle." He scoffs.
"It doesn't help with the puppy dog eyes." I sip the wine.
"But can we talk about the padding on Gar?" He laughs
"Did he honestly think any of us would be fooled that he bulked up in the 2 months since titans disbanded?" I laugh.
"No idea, but he had a piece in the back folded over." He smiles, "I uh helped him fix it.
About spitting out my wine out of my nose I choke, "you did not!" I laugh so hard I can't breath.
"Yeah." He smiles, "I told him he had a muscle folded and reached over and flipped it back out."
"What did he say!" I laugh harder.
"He turned so red and said thanks dude." He shakes his head.
"That's too much." I wipe my eyes.
"I've missed your laugh." He looks at his glass.
"Yeah me too." I smile softly. "I haven't felt like myself in a while."
"Even before you left." He sighs, "have you talked about your birthday to Leslie?" His hesitation hangs on his voice.
"No. But I need to." I sigh, "I told her about my whole swimming thing."
"You know how to swim?" He looks confused.
"I haven't swam since Tera almost drowned me." I look away, "it really kinda scared me."
"Rae, I didn't know." He looks concerned.
"I know. It's another one of my secrets." I give him a half smile.
"Let's not keep secrets anymore." He sighs.
"Oh sure, Mr. secret identity." I laugh.
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know." He smiles, "no judgement I hope."
"Alright I'll play." I smile, "who'd you lose your virginity to?" My smile bright as I ask the most inappropriate question first.
"Barbra Gordon." He laughs, "you?"
"Oh shit. I didn't think you'd answer that." I laugh nervously. "Uh. Malchior." I blush.
"In the tower?" He scoffs.
"Yes." I roll my eyes. "Big mistake."
"Yeah that whole fiasco wasn't great. I hated seeing you heart broken." He sighs. The silence follows and we sit without speaking. "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?" I ask.
"Hero work." He smirks
"No." I smile. "I'm okay with my boring life."
"When you're ready let me know." He laughs, "I need to get back to my work." He sighs standing from the couch. Sitting down the wine glass he stretches.
"How's Bludhaven?" I smirk.
"Busy." He sighs. "Nice being my own person though."
"What out of the Bats shadow?" I smile. He nods in agreement.
"How about dinner tomorow night?" He shoots me a sly smile as he grabs his coat.
"Just us? As in a date?" I shake my head smiling.
"If that's what you wanna call it." He slips the black puffer jacket on.
"Sure." I finish my wine.
"I'll pick you up at about 7." He smiles.
"See you then." I watch him leave out of the pent house doors. My smile drops as I feel my guilt and anxiety build. I am single. I've not been committed to either Robin. Yet why do I feel a pit in my stomach like I am doing something wrong. Shaking it off, I head to bed to get some sleep in before I have to work tomorrow.
Sitting at my office I type up my findings on a new author and how we should publish them. I smile as I forward it on to my boss, the gaggle of coworkers form I'm the lounge area of our office. Some people prefer to read at work and will lay on the couch or the bean bag chairs. They stare at the TV on the wall and murmur as they watch. Deciding to check it out, I step from my desk. Sliding my phone into my cardigan pocket.
The girl who I've made friends with gives me a wave to come over. Her name is Megan and she stands tall with her brunette hair. She has a don't give a fuck attitude and always tells it how it is. She's closed off about her personal life as I am. But we share few things here and there. We mainly just bitch about work and the drama.
"Hey what's going on?" I step up beside her.
"Wayne Enterprises is holding a large press conference." She leans over, "no idea what it's about."
"Ah." I'm immediately uninterested. "No idea." I'm sure had it been important Dick would have told me. Speaking of Dick I feel my phone buzzing and quickly pull it out. His name lights up my screen.
"The Dick Grayson?" Megan scoffs. "No way."
"Old friends." I shrug walking away to answer the phone. "Hey, I'm at work." I smile.
"Leave work. I'm on my way to pick you up." He is demanding.
"Dick I can't just leave work, it's my day to be in office." I roll my eyes as the press conference begins. "Everyone's watching the news, what's going on."
"Don't watch it Rae, I'm pulling up now." He sounds panicked. Suddenly anxiety fills me and I move. Rushing to my desk I turn off my lamp. Marking my novel I close my book and throw it in my bag.
"Hey what's wrong?" Megan walks up.
"I don't know." I admit, fumbling to gather the rest of my things.
"Rachel." Dick rushes in.
"so old friends?" Megan smiles, "hi." She looks to him.
"We have to go." He grabs my bag. "You can come for the rest later." He tries to get me out the door.
The gasps among the crowd makes me jerk as Dick leads me out. The tv screen shows reporters and cameras flashing as Bruce stands at a large peda stool. "Dick." I murmur as my mind stop working with the panicked emotion coming from him. He pushes open the door and gets me out of the building.
"We have to go." I feel Dick tearing up. He leads me to his corvette and opens the passenger door. I stare at him as I climb in. He shuts the door behind me rushing to his side.
Dick steps in, shutting the door. His face is swollen and his eyes are red.
"Dick." I feel the tightness in my chest.
He starts the car and screeches down the street. He doesn't say anything as he whips the car around corners and through stop lights. Heading out of town I see the manor in the distance. I don't know what's happened but I can't react yet. Pulling into the driveway, my eyes start to water as his sadness ravishes me. Dick puts the car in park and almost jumps out of the car. Rushing around to me, he opens the door. I sit staring at him. His gaze doesn't meet mine. His walls are down and all I feel is his pain. His sorrow.
"What's wrong?." I look at Dick. He doesn't reply. Doesn't nod. Doesn't do anything. "Is it bad?" I ask again. Nothing.
"Damnit Dick." I stand from the car. The tears bellow down his cheeks. "Tell me." I yell.
"I'm so sorry Rae." His sobs start.
I stand there in silence looking to the house. "Tell me." I almost whisper.
"Jason Todd is dead." He looks at me through tear engulfed eyes.
"No you're lying." I shove past hims My body reacts before I can process the words he just said. My feet run and I dart inside the manor. Screaming his name I run to him. "Jason!" I scream. Remembering the route I bust open the door to his room. "Jason!" I scream louder in a panic as reality sinks in. My chest feels broken. As if someone has broken it inwards. My eyes gaze at the empty room. The sheets still undone from him and I. The room frozen in place without him. I gasp as I turn around feeling the burning in my eyes. Dick stands in the hall watching me.
"Dick." I wander to him with the tears. His arms open as my body crashes into him. We sob out as he slides us to the floor. "I'm so sorry." I hiccup through heavy tears and gulps of air.
"Me too." He sniffles as we hold each other.
My heart feels so shattered. So broken. So empty. The fallen Robin. My Robin 2.0 is gone. My lover. My friend. My soulmate. The death of Jason Todd destroyed us all. Jason Todd will never be forgotten, nor will his effect he had on our lives.
I'm sorry… it had to happen!! Please review!!