Budding Spaven&Friends: Our 1st Board More-or-Less
Sept 21, 2012 1:26:23 GMT -6
Post by Kenni on Sept 21, 2012 1:26:23 GMT -6
He wouldn't call himself head strong.
Although naturally, the redhead felt he was best adapted to the Leader position. Certainly had to be the most socially adept, and needless to say, the boy's archery skills were no-where near par… They were masterful. In fact, he sometimes asked himself, who on this planet could best him? Besides an albeit humble, high self appreciation of his charming good looks, wit, and skill..no. Scratch that! He wouldn't call himself vain, head strong. Not Speedy. The Titan notched a golden arrow to his bow, training as of now, to keep up his grade A shot average. Speedy trained in the gym at the main Titans Tower in Jump City, glad that he had the room to himself as everyone was sleeping. Every steady shot excited him, though he knew better than to let the exuberance radiate too brightly. After all, if he let such vain excitement show, one might get the impression that he thought highly of himself! Instead, a calm, cool, grin surfaced on his self-proclaimed rugged, debonair features.
A modest one, this Titan.
Raven glided down the hallway, silent and dark as ever. She couldn't sleep tonight. Just like last night. And two nights last week. Plagued by nightmares, she'd recently been heading down to the gym for a little mindless training. It was either that or meditation,
but lately the training had been working better, and she wasn't going to argue.
Coming upon the door, Raven hesitated. Someone was in the gym; she could sense him more than hear him. With a crackle of black energy, she brought her hood up over her head, then soundlessly she pushed the door ajar and peered in. Speedy was there. She thought about turning around and heading off to the roof to meditate instead, but perhaps some social interaction would do her good. Perhaps.... Maybe. She slipped into the room.
"Need a sparring partner?"
“Hrk--!" THUD. His last graceful finishing pose from the latest bulleye at the practice target was completely destroyed in an instant. The redhead was flat on his face for a second before scrambling back up to greet the surprise voice. What was someone still doing up at this hour?! Immediately recognizing the solemn Titan Raven, the embarrassed egotist dusted off his shoulder and nonchalantly retrieved his bow, wishing he could simultaneously retrieve a little of his dignity. "Only if you think you can keep up with me, Princess." he smirked. Oh, how the "mighty" had fallen.
Raven's only response was a slow blink of her violet eyes. She raised a hand, and as she did so, the last arrow Speedy had shot rose into the air, surrounded by her rippling black energy. "How about some moving targets?" she asked, then flicked her wrist and sent the arrow diving through the air, aimed at Speedy.
His eyes watched his arrow dismember itself from the perfect bullseye position, and would have blinked had it not come hurtling towards him the very next second! "Whoa there, be gentle! I was just about to hit the sack myself so I'm a little groggy you see.." Completely bluffing, he merely craned his neck to the left, the arrow whizzing past as he moved into a devil-may-care stretch and yawn.
“Yes, I'm sure," Raven smirked, stopping the arrow's mad dive before it splintered into the floor and made an unnecessary mess. "Is that to say you're /not/ up for a little friendly sparring?" She brought the arrow into her hand and walked into the room, offering it to her teammate in a friendly peace offering.
He liked her style. "Ah y'know, when you put it that way, it's a little too early yet to turn in." grinned the boy, accepting the arrow and raising it to his bow in one fluid motion. "You know I'm always up for a match little lady. Bring it on."
Robin groaned and ran his hand through his gelled hair, sinking his head onto his elbow. He would never have guessed when he signed up as Robin years ago that vigilanteism would require so much paperwork. Normally Robin enjoyed the paperwork because he saw it as the icing on the cake of another bad guy stopped. This time, though, was bittersweet because they hadn't managed to apprehend the villain. It had been an entire afternoon wasted on Red X. He could just imagine what Batman would have to say about that. The Boy Wonder smashed his fist into his desk in frustration, rattling his laptop that he'd been working on. Getting up from his desk Robin walked out of his room. He had learned from Alfred of all people [not Batman, Batman was too stubborn] that when he was frustrated or stuck it was best to do something else for awhile. On his own the Boy Wonder had learned that physical excursive helped him clear his mind. It was to the gym then.
He stopped just down the hall when he heard the thwap of arrows and then a loud voice. It was Speedy. He didn't know too many other archers with that sort of precision. The Boy Wonder pushed open the door and walked inside. If he was surprised to see Raven in there as well as Speedy it did not show on the Boy Wonder's face. "Hey," he said with a nod as he moved past the two. He was making a bee line for the punching bag in the corner mostly because he felt like breaking Red X's face. Both Raven and Speedy would understand. He didn't feel the need to explain anything. That was, of course, until he knocked down the punching bag with the thump of a boneless body. He stared at it for a frustrated moment before simply shrugging and turning his critical eye to watch Raven and Speedy. They appeared to be sparring.
Raven nodded to Robin as he walked in, then flexed her fingers and focused on a beanbag across the room. Almost lazily, she gestured at it, and it rose obediently. She hurled it into the air, spinning it on an imaginary axis, and then sending it hurtling into a blur around the room. She crossed her arms and turned to Speedy. "So let's see it then."
The archer, poised, all but forgot about the veritable bean-baggie tornado of one rattling the air in the gym when his favourite guy to pick on came into the room. He leaned against the nearest weight machine and grinned from ear to ear. "Well well well! If it isn't our resident Bossman! For now, at least." He would let Robin interpret any hidden messages from that comment at his leisure. What happened to getting your beauty sleep pardner? You look terrible! Still not over our little disaster round-up today? Or did you get a paper-cut from the filework?" He blew Robin a kiss and winked. "Need me to kiss it better?" Focused again and with his face still laughing merrily, if not more silently, Speedy let loose the arrow and grazed the beanbag, which was then caught in this particular arrowhead's net. Customizable weaponry was his specialty after all. It was amazing the kinds of features this guy could implant into an arrow.
Raven looked down at the entrapped beanbag silently before picking it up and walking over to where the boys stood. "Perhaps if you spent less time flirting with Robin and more time aiming your arrows, you'd hit things full on." She dropped the netted beanbag at Speedy's feet. "I'm not impressed." Flipping her hood off of her head, Raven looked towards Robin and frowned. "He's right though.”
Robin's masked eyes narrowed as he turned towards the archer. Speedy just loved to antagonize him. But then, they had known each other for a long time. After all, their mentors hated each other. "Can it, Speedy." Robin snapped, his temper getting the better of him. When Raven mentioned that Speedy was right his glare turned to her. "I'm fine." the way he said it was forced and emphasized that even though he was lying about everything being alright it was not a subject he felt like discussing. Though he was the leader and his tone had a finality to it he knew they wouldn't drop it. Speedy liked to goad him too much and Raven...well, Raven always seemed to know when something was bothering him.
Starfire floated down the hallway, hearing her friends voices. She had rejoiced when she found that she wasn't the only one with sleeping troubles. Her emerald eyes searched for where the voices were coming from. When she found them all in the training room, she was overjoyed. "Friends! I'm am so joyous that I am not alone!" She said happily, hopping up and down, while still in the air.
He bowed elegantly, tipping an imaginary hat to her 'unimpressed' face. "Well, pardon me! I must certainly perform better for you the next time Your Highness! But you see, a little birdy signaled to me that he was having a bit of a downer day. So distracting y'know?" Speedy crossed his arms as he observed Robin more intently, wondering what was bothering him but not in a serious enough mood to ask properly. Starfire's entrance caused him great delight of course. The shameless flirt switched his attentions to his female audience, taking the floating girl's hand and pretending to kiss it lightly, then spinning her once around while on his tiptoes, albeit a little awkwardly since she was floating a lot higher than he stood. "Evenin' Star! Nice of you to join us, and just in time to stop our Birdy here from crying. I'm sure he'll tell YOU what the matter is, eh?"
Starfire felt herself being spinned, and quickly steadied herself. "Robin, are truely feeling the urge of tears?" She asked softly, landing in front of Robin.
"Whatever," Raven said dismissively to Robin, leaning against a weight bench opposite the boys. "When you feel like discussing it, we're all ears." She glanced at Speedy, and ammended herself. "Well, I am." She looked back to the redhead. "I'll expect it," she said to him with an air of distinct indifference.
Robin scowled at being called a little birdie by Speedy. As if that arrow shooting Robin Hood wannabe could talk- he was distracted when Starfire flew into the room. She was always such a bundle of sunshine and it always made him feel a little lighter to be around her. The scowl died instantly on his lips and he smiled at her. That was, of course, until Speedy mentioned him being about to cry. He was the Boy Wonder, protege of Batman and Leader of the Teen Titans. There was no way he was bawling like a baby. Ever.
Robin grinned at the alien. "No, Star, I'm fine. Speedy here must have taken one of his arrows to the brain." he shook his head dismissively as though the notion was ridiculous. He was angry, frustrated, sure, not sad.
Speedy took a seat near Raven, murmuring "Ah, young love. Let's see if we learn anything from this, shall we milady?" Frowning slightly, then allowing his mischievous grin to return to his face, the mouthy archer placed his chin on his upturned palm, elbow on his sideways knee as its ankle rested perpendicular atop his other knee. "Then again, you probably already know what's eating Robin, huh?" Isn't mind-reading one of your fortes?" He actually wasn't sure, but right now didn't mind to be mistaken. Speedy didn’t know a lot about the mysterious Raven yet.
Raven slid her gaze over to Speedy. "No," she answered him. "It's not." She placed a palm on Speedy's shoulder and pushed him over a few inches. "Have you not heard of 'personal space'?" she demanded, a bit ruffled, and blew a lock of hair from her face.
Starfire nodded, before sitting down on the ground. Well, actually floating a few feet above it, but nonetheless. "Speedy, why must you call Robin the Bird?" She asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Because he has no idea how to behave in public," Raven answered Starfire’s query under her breath. Idly, she took a few more beanbags from the other side of the room and sent them on a leisurely circle around the top of the room.
Robin let out a scoffing laugh at Raven's comment and nodded in agreement. "He learned from the best." the Boy Wonder said sarcastically. Robin wasn't sure how many of Batman's rage lectures he'd had to listen to but most of them either detailed how he shouldn't be so stupid and the other half how he should try very hard not to end up like Green Arrow.
A stifled chuckle came out more as a suppressed cough when he noticed the cute alien girl's non-understanding of the allusion to an actual 'robin' bird. "Tell you what sweetheart, come out with me on our next day off, and I'll introduce you to some cousins of Boy Wonder here! They tend to frequent the local park and would be ecstatic to meet you."
"Robin's family?" She asked glancing at Robin, before turning her attention back to Speedy. "They enjoy frequenting the park?" Her green eyes revealed her confusion on the subject.
His eyes narrowed when Speedy offered to take Starfire to the park to see the robins. "No, Starfire." Robin said shooting a glare at the archer. "A robin is a type of bird. My family is.." he trailed off and shook his head like it didn't matter.
"Oo, touchy touchy." Speedy feigned a hurt look, sticking out his lower lip as Raven actually took the effort to push him aside! That was surprising; she must be pretty comfortable around him to make physical contact like that even while he was purposefully being annoying. It was nice to see the little group was bonding in their own strange way. This made him smile genuinely, a small one. And the same can be said for you, man! We're not about to go all emo over our tragic pasts are we? I thought that was next week's group session topic." Speedy rolled his eyes, sliding right back to his initial proximity with Raven seated atop one of the exercise equipments, and folded his arms behind his head. "There's your answer then, Star. I'll have to take you out somewhere else then~"
"Do you not know the location of your family?" She asked, sympathy lacing into her voice, alongside with concern. Starfire shook her head, obviously confused. She began to pick at her fingernails, in an attempt to be normal.
There were only two people in the room who knew what had happened to his family. Raven knew through their link. Speedy knew through their past. Robin had not always been one to keep secrets, especially when he had been young and ignorant. He shook his head to Star's question. "I know where they are." he said elusively as he pointedly ignored Speedy. He's never been a good listener." Robin said grinning at how Raven had just moved the annoying archer who had gotten into her personal space. Then he turned to Star and nodded. She didn't know. He couldn't be mad at her. He was losing his anger at the Red X incident even. Sometimes you just had to laugh or you'd cry. This was one of those times. He chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Oh what joyous news!" Starfire clapped happily, her smile almost swallowing her face. She looked at Speedy, aquestioning look forming on her face. "Take me where? What do you mean?"
You're obnoxious," Raven said, without bothering to look at Speedy. She was surprised to find a note of humor laced in her voice. Raising a nonchalant hand, she telekinetically lifted Speedy off the seat next to her and proceeded to dump him onto the floor. A smile played at her lips as she looked down at him. "And you're a bad listener."
He tried to ignore the rising temper that threatened to throw him into a bad mood from being so disregarded by Raven, and offset those annoyed feelings with the growing realization that she might be..toying with him? Was..she having fun? "Oh-hoh! What's this! Do I offend? It can't be by smell; I hardly broke a sweat following your cute little projectile a few minutes ago, Princess."
"You barely broke a sweat," Raven began, speaking slowly and leaning back on her hands on the bench. "Because you barely /did/ anything. You didn't even manage to hit the target. You grazed it." She smirked at Speedy, then sneaked a look in Robin's direction, hoping to catch his eye, hoping to ask him silently if something truly was wrong, or if it was something he'd deal with on his own.
"Tch. You say that overlooking the fact that I hardly /had/ to do anything. I chose to graze it to test out my equipment's hidden net projecters, obviously." His smile thinned; she was onto his faulty shot. What a good eye. Wasn't going to let on though.
"Yes, of course," Raven said, not believing Speedy for a minute and implying it in her voice. Though she was hesitant to admit it, to anyone and certainly to herself, she found this banter amusing.... Enjoyable. And in an effort to keep it up, she said, "But I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. I'm not impressed. Perhaps next time I should slow it down?"
"Hey, anytime, anyplace, Princess! I promise I won't allow you to be disappointed the next time around.." he replied with a quiet smile, now facing her, upside down, in a handstand position from the floor she'd so unceremoniously plonked him onto. Flipping fancifully back into his spot beside her, the smile broadened as he tried to contemplated where the gang could hang out the next day.
"You promise?" Raven repeated with a sly smile as he took his seat for the third time. She glanced down to where he sat, then back up at him. "You're insistent," she commented, but permitted him to stay up on the bench this time. "And 'Princess' is pushing it."
“Why, so glad you noticed Robin; it's a tough job but someone has to command the darkness and light of the world, keeping em in check daily! I like to keep us all on our toes, dig?" grinned the young braggart.
Robin turned to give Speedy a skeptical look. "Uhuh," he said, clearly not convinced. "You keep that up then.
To Starfire's cluelessness, Speedy’s looked-down-upon predicament was a lot less bothersome. Speedy recovered, graciously sparing Raven a much intended flick to the forehead; he mustn't treat ladies that way, best save it for Birdy over there.
Reinforcing the 'he doesn't listen' consensus by returning the ignoring of Robin's comments, he winked at Starfire. "I'll take you wherever you want I mean!" The next time we have some time off from work of course. What do you say? Just the two of us?”
Robin prickled as Speedy asked Starfire out again and he was so focused on them he missed Raven's look. He glared at the young archer.
Sometimes Robin found it hard to believe that at one point in time both he and Kid Flash had looked up to Speedy. It was usually about the time Robin wanted to rip the archer's smart mouth off his dumb face. This was one of those times.
“But what about our friends?" Starfire asked Speedy, her confusion growing. "Aren't we a team?" She stopped picking at her nails, and stared straight at Speedy.
Speedy scratched his head, seeing that pursuing the fake 'date' thing with this girl wasn't going to fly. It seemed Robin might be loosening up a little too, so he came off it altogether, chuckling in Starfire's direction. ...As long as his brilliant team-building ideas were acknowledged as they should be.
Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask, though the gesture was shielded the tilt of his head got the message across. "Like you control crime, huh Speedy?" Robin replied sarcastically to the next day being a lazy one. Sometimes they had lazy days, and sometimes they didn't. It was the luck of the draw as TwoFace would say. "But sure, what do you suggest?
Starfire's hand shot up. "We could go to the pizza place! And get a pizza with mustard, those little fishies, pickles, and ice cream on top! Delicious combination, correct?" She asked, looking from face to face of her friends.
Robin grinned and nodded at Starfire's suggestion. He wasn't so sure about her choice in pizza but they usually ended up getting a bunch of them anyway so it wasn't like he'd have to eat it. "Sure Star, sounds like a great idea."
Tapping his chin, then playfully placing his finger under Raven's and looking her straight in the eye (the effect lessened since his eyes were also masked for now), he thought up a proposal taking Starfire's feelings into consideration. "I was thinking a romantic picnic scene, but let's cut the politics of it all and climb down to rung #2; I agree. Pizza for lunch at Star's favourite joint. What say you, O Defenders of Jump City?" He slid a few feet away from Raven immediately to avoid his finger's dismemberment by any dark auras due to their personal space defying gesture.
With Speedy's finger under her chin, Raven's eyes glowed bright white, prepared to knock him backwards off the bench again, but he slid away from her, and she let it go, her eyes fading back to their natural purple once more. "I don't know about ice cream on the pizza," she began. And with a pointed look at Speedy, she continued, "And I don't know about a romantic picnic. But lunch tomorrow sounds nice. Providing we're not saving the city from terror and destruction.
Starfire clapped happily. "Oh what a joyous plan!" She yawned, her eyes slowly drooping. She floated a bit too high, since her emotions got the best of her, and her head collided with the ceiling. "Oof!" Was the only thing heard as she came crashing to the floor. She rubbed her head gingerly.
Robin winced in sympathy when Star hit her head on the ceiling. "Careful." he said softly, concerned for her well being.
Speedy tapped one of his arrows on the ground smartly, as a cool mist emanated from it. The ice arrow tip was then wrapped up in a spare workout towel hanging from a bench in the gym to lessen the effect of the biting cold attack based weapon, and placed against the excitable alien girl's head in a friendly gesture. He was done flirting for now..maybe. "It must be getting late if your impeccable grace is faltering, O princess of a Faraway Planet. What do you say guys? I think I'm off to bed."
Starfire nodded, and floated to bed. "Goodnight Robin...Raven...Speedy... May your journey into the realm of dreams be pleasurable." She mumbled, before closing the door. She curled up in bed, and Silkie layed next to her.
Robin nodded slowly. While he doubted he'd be getting much sleep, there was simply too much to do, he really did need to get back to finishing his paperwork.
Winking at Raven, the archer took a sip from his water bottle near the bench. "Try not to miss me too much, other Highness."
“Wouldn't dare," Raven remarked, a moment before enveloping herself in a fold of black magic and disappearing from the room altogether. She reappeared in her bed, folding herself beneath the blankets, and forcing her mind to blank itself out. No thoughts of nightmares, of the haunting images that kept her awake the past nights. And certainly no thoughts of the redheaded archer with the big mouth..
~~~The Next Day~~~
It was a hot middle of July day. Speedy's usual bodytight spandex wasn't going to cut it today. He had adorned his immaculate frame in a breezy pair of cargo shorts and a red and yellow muscleshirt, weaponry still on his back, about to brave a slice of Star's weird pizza. Naaah. Speedy decided to wait on tasting the stuff Star usually ordered. He texted the rest of the team, letting them know to meet him there. He'd gone for a run earlier and decided to treat everyone today. How magnanimous and fitting his noble being.
"I'll have...whatever you suggest, miss. Do they have anything this lovely shade of green you've got going in your eyes here? Ask them to bring me one rightquick. Tell them Speedy's asking." Speedy waited at a booth for the others to arrive, charming the definitely flustered waitress at Parker's Pizza Palace like a pro. He wouldn't notice any of his friends show up.
Raven dropped lightly from the sky, landing gracefully on her feet beside the booth. "Starting a little early, aren't you?" she remarked, taking the seat across from his and sitting sideways, her feet resting across the booth. She leaned back and snatched a menu, getting lost behind it. "The rest of the team's hanging in the park today. You get to put up with me."
The start wasn't as dramatic as it was during the evening prior; the flirtacious youth had become a little more accustomed to the mysterious girl's voice creeping up on him unsuspectedly...well, just a little. Visibly jolted and once again sheepish, he waved to the blushing waitress as she coughed, having regained consciousness when the strapping youth's female companion made her presence known.
"They don't call me Speedy for nothing! I'd be honoured, milady. Can I interest you in some sparkling--" The giddy waitress clanked two orders of a fizzy green-apple soda onto the table before retreating to giggle with her friends over swoonworthy Speedy.”--…mystery juice?”
“Mystery juice," Raven repeated, not bothering to make an appearance from behind the menu. "Sounds appetizing. I guess as long as it doesn't kill me, I'll have some." She lowered the menu and smirked at him. "Though I wonder if I can trust you with those conditions."
“Come now, we're talking about the gentle gentleman Speedy of Titans East here! You know I wouldn't hurt a fly." The ginger rested his perfectly moulded chin on interlaced fingers, returning the girl's gaze. The waitress quieted in her group of coworkers; it looked like she wasn't top priority on the player-like customer's list at the moment. "How much less royalty, Princess?" Raven really did remind him of some sort of..gypsy princess. Her origins and ambitions shrouded in mystery. It was attractive to say the least. As was that couldn't-be-bothered, smooth voice of hers. He was keeping his head though; no need to mentally tie himself down when there were so many other pretty girls in the world to charm and so little of himself to go around.
“You killed a fly yesterday, just after dinner," Raven said giving him a smug half-smile.
“Heh. Only because disposing of it was 'all the better to protect you, my dear'. You've read that story, haven't you? Couldn't have it fall into your soup and upset that dainty tummy. Besides,tiny targets are awesome practice no matter what the mealtime."
Shifting, she swung her legs down from the bench and sat straight forward, meeting his eyes, wondering why it was so difficult for her to do so. "So there is some question about how you might treat royalty. Though, I wonder why you keep calling me 'Princess'...." Her eyes flitted away, back to the menu, to the green fizzing soda, anywhere other than his. "I thought we addressed that last night."
Speedy took an experimental sip of the fizzy drink, deciding it was pretty good, and chugged a little until starting into a coughing fit at his teammate's query. The one who'd be first to eloquently take her on a mental desert-traversing gypsy caravan journey through his rich description of the kind of fantasy and splendour he associated her mystery with was for once bashful to even begin. He tried to change the subject. "Boy, speaking of which, our Fearless Leader was being suuuch a drama queen. Reminded me a little of old Bats!"
Spurred by his coughing fit, Raven silently met his eyes again, wondering where exactly his mind had gone.... She blinked once, unfooled by his change of subject, but she let it go. Truthfully, could she be trusted either to broach that subject? The very thought of what he could've said caused a blush to crawl up her neck, and she reached for the apple drink, hoping to mask it with her action. “He was a bit uptight," she agreed, after swallowing a sip of soda and fizz. "But Red X is stressful...." She trailed off and took another sip of soda. "More so for Robin than anyone else. As he /did/ create the suit...."
"First-world genius problems, oh woe is He. Spare me. What about MY first-world problems? Do you have any idea--" he rolled his neck belabouredly to the right to wave in a fluttery manner at the waitress group at the other side of the drink bar. "--how hard it is to find a spare minute for myself with all these interested parties wanting my attention? As if crime-fighting isn't enough. Am I right or am I right?" Obviously he was still recovering from her earlier question that would've searched his emotions and growing fondness for a particular Azarathian young Titan, and had completely wrecked whatever mood had been gradually building up by being his narcissistic self. He /was/ only telling the truth though. Can you blame a girl magnet?
Raven narrowed her eyes at him and the mood died in spectacular fashion. "Yes," she said, back to her cold, indifferent self. "It must be terrible to have it so easy with the 'interested parties.'" Without really meaning to, she threw a glare over her shoulder at the giggling waitresses who'd stolen his attention. "I mean really. While some of us have legit problems, we still can't help but wonder how you make it through each harrowing day--" Raven bit her tongue to stop her random tirade. He could be so irritating! Why did that draw her? Why was he so irresistible to be around? Raven forced her gaze back down to the menu for the third time. "Have you ordered anything yet?" she snapped.
"I--bu--it--y'see--!" He definitely was still too flustered from the near-miss concerning what his blossoming thoughts concerning Raven were to piece together his foul with her. Puzzled, he quirked a brow, which looked quite comical over a mask that hid his puzzled eyes anyway. The girls immediately stopped giggling, almost tasting the malice in the air emanating from Raven. "N..not yet, but whatever you decide on, is on me! I budgeted for the whole gang, but I figure it'd be cool to treat you to somat special today!" He smiled a disarming smile, genuinely meaning it. "Thanks for not bailing on me like the rest of that lot; crude of them, eh wot?" He adopted a bad British English voice, snapping for one of the terrified waitresses who were pushing each other to go to the frightening table. Who would take one for the team today!? Without sparing the unlucky girl a glance, but rather leaning over the table with his nose almost touching Raven's, Speedy pointed to the special menu item. "We'll have today's Special Combo please! Including dessert."
Raven gave the waitress no mercy as she hurried over, continuing to glare at her all the while. She could feel little crackles of black energy swirling around her fingers as her emotions rose and she struggled to get a hold on them. It would do her no good to lose control now.... But then she caught sight of Speedy, smiling in that way he had, that smile that completed melted her. "I--" she began, but her brain had shorted. And then he was nose to nose with her. Her eyes widened in completely unguarded surprise and she blinked, her mouth still open with her unfinished sentence hanging in the air. "I--" she started again, but her emotions finally escaped her clutches and the vase of flowers that had been sitting so nicely in the middle of the table shattered with a crack, spilling water and carnations over the entire table. She blinked again, and closed her mouth. "Since when do you buy me dessert?" she finally managed to say in a small and very un-Raven-esque voice.
The poor green-eyed dear had had about as much as she could take from this establishment's poor safety precautions. She all but ripped off her serving apron and fled the entire shop, leaving Speedy to cover his mouth with a clenched fist and stifle rising laughter coming from his nose. It was also there to stop any soda from gushing out, which was currently reducing his brain to cinders from the strength of the fizz and the shock of the breaking ceramic-ware that had responded to Raven's intense emotions. Grabbing a napkin and fixing up his face, a little green apple soda still clung to his chin even after all the care he took to wipe the tasty substance off that bore the ex-employee's striking eye colour. Speedy felt confident however at the subdued air about the girl opposite him. Burning brain not working properly, he uttered the 1st thing that crawled out of it."Since I noticed we've deff met up on a date today, you'n me, I'll have to apologize to Star later; I've got a new number 1 to take care of..well, besides me of course. Robin must be thankful right now for that eh?" He was really musing to himself more than Raven at this point, not realizing the import of his words.
Raven stared wide-eyed and dumb-founded at Speedy as he attempted to stem the flow of soda and laughter from his mouth. She watched the waitress running out and wondered, sheepishly, if he'd been toying with her, trying to disarm the impenetrable Raven.... She looked down at the remnants of the glass vase on the table. The first time she'd lost control in years and it was because of him.... And then she heard his words. Her head snapped back up and she stared wordlessly at him, comprehending what he'd just so recklessly babbled out. "I beg your pardon?" she said, her voice a scratchy whisper. "What does Robin have to do with this? Who said this was a date?" She pounded a hand flat down onto the table, never even noticing it landed on a stray piece of glass. Her emotions were too far gone to register that. "Darn* you, Speedy, were you /laughing/ at me?!" Beside them, behind and around them, every table had it's own vase shatter in a chorus of breaking glass; leftover energy from each table snaked its way done the table legs and crawled back to its mistress, sparking anyone who got in the way. Raven ignored it, her gaze unwavering and locked on Speedy.
At first he was a little annoyed. Here he was spending good hard-earned down-time part-time job cash on this girl, and she was flipping out on him! No girl had /ever/ acted this way when hanging out with him. What made Raven so different? Well, for one, she wasn't an easily manipulated ditz. He was being as serious and real with her as his head would allow him to. A tad too 'real' and unabashed. “It was..no, didn't you see the way that chick fled? It was hilari--" He paused to think a little, shaking out his head like a common mongrel (not far from the truth of how he was acting at the moment). He returned her gaze as chaos ensued on more than one couple and/or gang of friends' tables, causing at least half the customers to flee as well, leaving thrown tips/pay in the air in their wake. Breathing, he went for the orange water bottle in his stringsack. Hands on his hips after a long draught and also standing, he took her by the hand and proceeded outside, leaving more than enough change for the two drinks and meal in the form of a $50, the first thing his crammed fist encountered from his pocket. Once outdoors, he took a deep breath and Raven's bleeding hand more gently in his grasp, frowning slightly and whipping out a Neosporin tube. "Bet you thought I'd keep stuff like this in an arrow too, huh? I'm resourceful, but not quite that much." he smiled weakly, seating them on the grass beside the parlour, unable to really meet her furious gaze. "...can I tell you something? I'm having a lot of fun with you today, Raven. I mean that. So...say someone asks us what we were up to today back at the homefront, right? Can I tell them..this was a date? Even if it comes off to them as a joke? Or even if.. you think I'm joking?" He pounded the ground a few times with both feet like a child, staring up at the sky. "I've gone out with a lot of girls before, but I've never answered them properly when they asked me if 'this is a date'. So I won't expect you to give me that courtesy either. We're..just friends, isn't that right? Or are we even that anymore? For someone perfect I've really screwed up a lot today, haven't I." He fell silent, wrapping an emergency gauze from his satchel around her dark palm gently.
Raven watched him, speechless. This was new, so different from the Speedy she'd come to know. He'd just left his heart on his sleeve, and that was something she never thought he'd do. Ever, or at least not with her. She sat in the grass, trying to grasp her runaway thoughts as he wrapped her hand in gauze. Just his fingers touching hers sent a chill down her spine.... She had a moment of panic -- this kind of emotion was exactly what she'd always avoided, this kind of thing was /dangerous/ -- but she blatantly ignored her fear, and instead took Speedy's hand in hers. "I--" she started dumbly for the third time, but this time she kept going on. "I don't want to be just another girl," she said uncertainly. "If that's what this is, we can forget it ever happened right now." She paused a moment, and unconsciously grasped his hand a little tighter. "That being said.... I've had fun too. I always have fun with you.... And I don't think anyone back at the Tower would believe it for a second, but if you want to tell them this was a date, then I'll back you up." And all the while, she couldn't quite meet his eyes. Bearing the soul was just as out of character for her as it was for him, if just in a different way, and speaking such things left her a little light-headed.
The green apple droplet clung to his chin now, fastened by the light summery breeze that fluttered like the young man's heart as he slowly raised his eyes from the luxuriously dark hand that now clasped his own. It was the puppy-crushed archer's turn to be speechless. When was the last time he'd actually had genuine feelings for a girl he'd been out with and not just in a friendly manner? Her skin was so beautiful. He couldn't quite meet her eyes as she spoke but they traveled up her arm, and he unconsciously pulled back her hood, which had raised itself in the tense atmosphere back in the eatery. The merry sunlight made those deep purple eyes twinkle back at him. Did she maybe feel what he was feeling? This was all so confusing. He inched closer to her face, until their foreheads touched, eyes closed to prevent more awkwardness than he already had summoned to their midst. "I don't think you of all girls will be 'just another one' to me..!" But still, this was so uncharacteristic of him. He was having a conflict of interests; it was still so much /fun/ to mess around with other girls' feelings. It sounded wrong, but he really didn't want to commit in this possible situational passion, yet knew strongly he didn't want to hurt her by saying as much. When would the boy grow up into the man he was on the eve of becoming? Not today. Still attached, he grinned, whispering, "But actually..who has to know?" The smile faltered as he realized how close he was to her. "Isn't it more fun to keep them guessing? Not that they'd think WE'D ever hit it off. Shouldn't ladies refrain from kissing and telling, milady?" On that note, a mischievious looking eatery owner namesake to the establishment to their immediate right brought out their order. A few brave straggler customers watched from the window, cat-calling. "Your feast, my friends!" Speedy unattached himself from Raven's forehead rightquick. "Ch-check please! We'll have it to g-go!"
Raven smiled, or rather halfway smiled. "Who would we keep guessing?" she asked. "And why?" Her walls began rising again as her spirit fell, and her eyes darkened a little as she realized what he meant by his words. He didn't want to tell anyone. He didn't want anything official. Without causing any more of a riot than she already had, Raven removed her hand from Speedy's and tucked her legs up underneath herself as the owner brought out the food. She stood as Speedy asked for the check, her emotions once more under her control, despite the chills that she still had running down her spine.
He didn't notice her air of hurt, seeing as he couldn't look her straight in the eye despite his being covered.
What a coward.
They walked in silence, a doggy bag and conflicted hearts standing as walls between the two. The awkward silence broke as Speedy roused himself from the remembrance of that tumultuous afternoon a few short weeks ago, waiting for the rest of his friends to arrive to today's Parker's Pizza Palace meeting in more silence.
~~~
This has been, our origins short-story. =)
Although naturally, the redhead felt he was best adapted to the Leader position. Certainly had to be the most socially adept, and needless to say, the boy's archery skills were no-where near par… They were masterful. In fact, he sometimes asked himself, who on this planet could best him? Besides an albeit humble, high self appreciation of his charming good looks, wit, and skill..no. Scratch that! He wouldn't call himself vain, head strong. Not Speedy. The Titan notched a golden arrow to his bow, training as of now, to keep up his grade A shot average. Speedy trained in the gym at the main Titans Tower in Jump City, glad that he had the room to himself as everyone was sleeping. Every steady shot excited him, though he knew better than to let the exuberance radiate too brightly. After all, if he let such vain excitement show, one might get the impression that he thought highly of himself! Instead, a calm, cool, grin surfaced on his self-proclaimed rugged, debonair features.
A modest one, this Titan.
Raven glided down the hallway, silent and dark as ever. She couldn't sleep tonight. Just like last night. And two nights last week. Plagued by nightmares, she'd recently been heading down to the gym for a little mindless training. It was either that or meditation,
but lately the training had been working better, and she wasn't going to argue.
Coming upon the door, Raven hesitated. Someone was in the gym; she could sense him more than hear him. With a crackle of black energy, she brought her hood up over her head, then soundlessly she pushed the door ajar and peered in. Speedy was there. She thought about turning around and heading off to the roof to meditate instead, but perhaps some social interaction would do her good. Perhaps.... Maybe. She slipped into the room.
"Need a sparring partner?"
“Hrk--!" THUD. His last graceful finishing pose from the latest bulleye at the practice target was completely destroyed in an instant. The redhead was flat on his face for a second before scrambling back up to greet the surprise voice. What was someone still doing up at this hour?! Immediately recognizing the solemn Titan Raven, the embarrassed egotist dusted off his shoulder and nonchalantly retrieved his bow, wishing he could simultaneously retrieve a little of his dignity. "Only if you think you can keep up with me, Princess." he smirked. Oh, how the "mighty" had fallen.
Raven's only response was a slow blink of her violet eyes. She raised a hand, and as she did so, the last arrow Speedy had shot rose into the air, surrounded by her rippling black energy. "How about some moving targets?" she asked, then flicked her wrist and sent the arrow diving through the air, aimed at Speedy.
His eyes watched his arrow dismember itself from the perfect bullseye position, and would have blinked had it not come hurtling towards him the very next second! "Whoa there, be gentle! I was just about to hit the sack myself so I'm a little groggy you see.." Completely bluffing, he merely craned his neck to the left, the arrow whizzing past as he moved into a devil-may-care stretch and yawn.
“Yes, I'm sure," Raven smirked, stopping the arrow's mad dive before it splintered into the floor and made an unnecessary mess. "Is that to say you're /not/ up for a little friendly sparring?" She brought the arrow into her hand and walked into the room, offering it to her teammate in a friendly peace offering.
He liked her style. "Ah y'know, when you put it that way, it's a little too early yet to turn in." grinned the boy, accepting the arrow and raising it to his bow in one fluid motion. "You know I'm always up for a match little lady. Bring it on."
Robin groaned and ran his hand through his gelled hair, sinking his head onto his elbow. He would never have guessed when he signed up as Robin years ago that vigilanteism would require so much paperwork. Normally Robin enjoyed the paperwork because he saw it as the icing on the cake of another bad guy stopped. This time, though, was bittersweet because they hadn't managed to apprehend the villain. It had been an entire afternoon wasted on Red X. He could just imagine what Batman would have to say about that. The Boy Wonder smashed his fist into his desk in frustration, rattling his laptop that he'd been working on. Getting up from his desk Robin walked out of his room. He had learned from Alfred of all people [not Batman, Batman was too stubborn] that when he was frustrated or stuck it was best to do something else for awhile. On his own the Boy Wonder had learned that physical excursive helped him clear his mind. It was to the gym then.
He stopped just down the hall when he heard the thwap of arrows and then a loud voice. It was Speedy. He didn't know too many other archers with that sort of precision. The Boy Wonder pushed open the door and walked inside. If he was surprised to see Raven in there as well as Speedy it did not show on the Boy Wonder's face. "Hey," he said with a nod as he moved past the two. He was making a bee line for the punching bag in the corner mostly because he felt like breaking Red X's face. Both Raven and Speedy would understand. He didn't feel the need to explain anything. That was, of course, until he knocked down the punching bag with the thump of a boneless body. He stared at it for a frustrated moment before simply shrugging and turning his critical eye to watch Raven and Speedy. They appeared to be sparring.
Raven nodded to Robin as he walked in, then flexed her fingers and focused on a beanbag across the room. Almost lazily, she gestured at it, and it rose obediently. She hurled it into the air, spinning it on an imaginary axis, and then sending it hurtling into a blur around the room. She crossed her arms and turned to Speedy. "So let's see it then."
The archer, poised, all but forgot about the veritable bean-baggie tornado of one rattling the air in the gym when his favourite guy to pick on came into the room. He leaned against the nearest weight machine and grinned from ear to ear. "Well well well! If it isn't our resident Bossman! For now, at least." He would let Robin interpret any hidden messages from that comment at his leisure. What happened to getting your beauty sleep pardner? You look terrible! Still not over our little disaster round-up today? Or did you get a paper-cut from the filework?" He blew Robin a kiss and winked. "Need me to kiss it better?" Focused again and with his face still laughing merrily, if not more silently, Speedy let loose the arrow and grazed the beanbag, which was then caught in this particular arrowhead's net. Customizable weaponry was his specialty after all. It was amazing the kinds of features this guy could implant into an arrow.
Raven looked down at the entrapped beanbag silently before picking it up and walking over to where the boys stood. "Perhaps if you spent less time flirting with Robin and more time aiming your arrows, you'd hit things full on." She dropped the netted beanbag at Speedy's feet. "I'm not impressed." Flipping her hood off of her head, Raven looked towards Robin and frowned. "He's right though.”
Robin's masked eyes narrowed as he turned towards the archer. Speedy just loved to antagonize him. But then, they had known each other for a long time. After all, their mentors hated each other. "Can it, Speedy." Robin snapped, his temper getting the better of him. When Raven mentioned that Speedy was right his glare turned to her. "I'm fine." the way he said it was forced and emphasized that even though he was lying about everything being alright it was not a subject he felt like discussing. Though he was the leader and his tone had a finality to it he knew they wouldn't drop it. Speedy liked to goad him too much and Raven...well, Raven always seemed to know when something was bothering him.
Starfire floated down the hallway, hearing her friends voices. She had rejoiced when she found that she wasn't the only one with sleeping troubles. Her emerald eyes searched for where the voices were coming from. When she found them all in the training room, she was overjoyed. "Friends! I'm am so joyous that I am not alone!" She said happily, hopping up and down, while still in the air.
He bowed elegantly, tipping an imaginary hat to her 'unimpressed' face. "Well, pardon me! I must certainly perform better for you the next time Your Highness! But you see, a little birdy signaled to me that he was having a bit of a downer day. So distracting y'know?" Speedy crossed his arms as he observed Robin more intently, wondering what was bothering him but not in a serious enough mood to ask properly. Starfire's entrance caused him great delight of course. The shameless flirt switched his attentions to his female audience, taking the floating girl's hand and pretending to kiss it lightly, then spinning her once around while on his tiptoes, albeit a little awkwardly since she was floating a lot higher than he stood. "Evenin' Star! Nice of you to join us, and just in time to stop our Birdy here from crying. I'm sure he'll tell YOU what the matter is, eh?"
Starfire felt herself being spinned, and quickly steadied herself. "Robin, are truely feeling the urge of tears?" She asked softly, landing in front of Robin.
"Whatever," Raven said dismissively to Robin, leaning against a weight bench opposite the boys. "When you feel like discussing it, we're all ears." She glanced at Speedy, and ammended herself. "Well, I am." She looked back to the redhead. "I'll expect it," she said to him with an air of distinct indifference.
Robin scowled at being called a little birdie by Speedy. As if that arrow shooting Robin Hood wannabe could talk- he was distracted when Starfire flew into the room. She was always such a bundle of sunshine and it always made him feel a little lighter to be around her. The scowl died instantly on his lips and he smiled at her. That was, of course, until Speedy mentioned him being about to cry. He was the Boy Wonder, protege of Batman and Leader of the Teen Titans. There was no way he was bawling like a baby. Ever.
Robin grinned at the alien. "No, Star, I'm fine. Speedy here must have taken one of his arrows to the brain." he shook his head dismissively as though the notion was ridiculous. He was angry, frustrated, sure, not sad.
Speedy took a seat near Raven, murmuring "Ah, young love. Let's see if we learn anything from this, shall we milady?" Frowning slightly, then allowing his mischievous grin to return to his face, the mouthy archer placed his chin on his upturned palm, elbow on his sideways knee as its ankle rested perpendicular atop his other knee. "Then again, you probably already know what's eating Robin, huh?" Isn't mind-reading one of your fortes?" He actually wasn't sure, but right now didn't mind to be mistaken. Speedy didn’t know a lot about the mysterious Raven yet.
Raven slid her gaze over to Speedy. "No," she answered him. "It's not." She placed a palm on Speedy's shoulder and pushed him over a few inches. "Have you not heard of 'personal space'?" she demanded, a bit ruffled, and blew a lock of hair from her face.
Starfire nodded, before sitting down on the ground. Well, actually floating a few feet above it, but nonetheless. "Speedy, why must you call Robin the Bird?" She asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Because he has no idea how to behave in public," Raven answered Starfire’s query under her breath. Idly, she took a few more beanbags from the other side of the room and sent them on a leisurely circle around the top of the room.
Robin let out a scoffing laugh at Raven's comment and nodded in agreement. "He learned from the best." the Boy Wonder said sarcastically. Robin wasn't sure how many of Batman's rage lectures he'd had to listen to but most of them either detailed how he shouldn't be so stupid and the other half how he should try very hard not to end up like Green Arrow.
A stifled chuckle came out more as a suppressed cough when he noticed the cute alien girl's non-understanding of the allusion to an actual 'robin' bird. "Tell you what sweetheart, come out with me on our next day off, and I'll introduce you to some cousins of Boy Wonder here! They tend to frequent the local park and would be ecstatic to meet you."
"Robin's family?" She asked glancing at Robin, before turning her attention back to Speedy. "They enjoy frequenting the park?" Her green eyes revealed her confusion on the subject.
His eyes narrowed when Speedy offered to take Starfire to the park to see the robins. "No, Starfire." Robin said shooting a glare at the archer. "A robin is a type of bird. My family is.." he trailed off and shook his head like it didn't matter.
"Oo, touchy touchy." Speedy feigned a hurt look, sticking out his lower lip as Raven actually took the effort to push him aside! That was surprising; she must be pretty comfortable around him to make physical contact like that even while he was purposefully being annoying. It was nice to see the little group was bonding in their own strange way. This made him smile genuinely, a small one. And the same can be said for you, man! We're not about to go all emo over our tragic pasts are we? I thought that was next week's group session topic." Speedy rolled his eyes, sliding right back to his initial proximity with Raven seated atop one of the exercise equipments, and folded his arms behind his head. "There's your answer then, Star. I'll have to take you out somewhere else then~"
"Do you not know the location of your family?" She asked, sympathy lacing into her voice, alongside with concern. Starfire shook her head, obviously confused. She began to pick at her fingernails, in an attempt to be normal.
There were only two people in the room who knew what had happened to his family. Raven knew through their link. Speedy knew through their past. Robin had not always been one to keep secrets, especially when he had been young and ignorant. He shook his head to Star's question. "I know where they are." he said elusively as he pointedly ignored Speedy. He's never been a good listener." Robin said grinning at how Raven had just moved the annoying archer who had gotten into her personal space. Then he turned to Star and nodded. She didn't know. He couldn't be mad at her. He was losing his anger at the Red X incident even. Sometimes you just had to laugh or you'd cry. This was one of those times. He chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Oh what joyous news!" Starfire clapped happily, her smile almost swallowing her face. She looked at Speedy, aquestioning look forming on her face. "Take me where? What do you mean?"
You're obnoxious," Raven said, without bothering to look at Speedy. She was surprised to find a note of humor laced in her voice. Raising a nonchalant hand, she telekinetically lifted Speedy off the seat next to her and proceeded to dump him onto the floor. A smile played at her lips as she looked down at him. "And you're a bad listener."
He tried to ignore the rising temper that threatened to throw him into a bad mood from being so disregarded by Raven, and offset those annoyed feelings with the growing realization that she might be..toying with him? Was..she having fun? "Oh-hoh! What's this! Do I offend? It can't be by smell; I hardly broke a sweat following your cute little projectile a few minutes ago, Princess."
"You barely broke a sweat," Raven began, speaking slowly and leaning back on her hands on the bench. "Because you barely /did/ anything. You didn't even manage to hit the target. You grazed it." She smirked at Speedy, then sneaked a look in Robin's direction, hoping to catch his eye, hoping to ask him silently if something truly was wrong, or if it was something he'd deal with on his own.
"Tch. You say that overlooking the fact that I hardly /had/ to do anything. I chose to graze it to test out my equipment's hidden net projecters, obviously." His smile thinned; she was onto his faulty shot. What a good eye. Wasn't going to let on though.
"Yes, of course," Raven said, not believing Speedy for a minute and implying it in her voice. Though she was hesitant to admit it, to anyone and certainly to herself, she found this banter amusing.... Enjoyable. And in an effort to keep it up, she said, "But I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. I'm not impressed. Perhaps next time I should slow it down?"
"Hey, anytime, anyplace, Princess! I promise I won't allow you to be disappointed the next time around.." he replied with a quiet smile, now facing her, upside down, in a handstand position from the floor she'd so unceremoniously plonked him onto. Flipping fancifully back into his spot beside her, the smile broadened as he tried to contemplated where the gang could hang out the next day.
"You promise?" Raven repeated with a sly smile as he took his seat for the third time. She glanced down to where he sat, then back up at him. "You're insistent," she commented, but permitted him to stay up on the bench this time. "And 'Princess' is pushing it."
“Why, so glad you noticed Robin; it's a tough job but someone has to command the darkness and light of the world, keeping em in check daily! I like to keep us all on our toes, dig?" grinned the young braggart.
Robin turned to give Speedy a skeptical look. "Uhuh," he said, clearly not convinced. "You keep that up then.
To Starfire's cluelessness, Speedy’s looked-down-upon predicament was a lot less bothersome. Speedy recovered, graciously sparing Raven a much intended flick to the forehead; he mustn't treat ladies that way, best save it for Birdy over there.
Reinforcing the 'he doesn't listen' consensus by returning the ignoring of Robin's comments, he winked at Starfire. "I'll take you wherever you want I mean!" The next time we have some time off from work of course. What do you say? Just the two of us?”
Robin prickled as Speedy asked Starfire out again and he was so focused on them he missed Raven's look. He glared at the young archer.
Sometimes Robin found it hard to believe that at one point in time both he and Kid Flash had looked up to Speedy. It was usually about the time Robin wanted to rip the archer's smart mouth off his dumb face. This was one of those times.
“But what about our friends?" Starfire asked Speedy, her confusion growing. "Aren't we a team?" She stopped picking at her nails, and stared straight at Speedy.
Speedy scratched his head, seeing that pursuing the fake 'date' thing with this girl wasn't going to fly. It seemed Robin might be loosening up a little too, so he came off it altogether, chuckling in Starfire's direction. ...As long as his brilliant team-building ideas were acknowledged as they should be.
Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask, though the gesture was shielded the tilt of his head got the message across. "Like you control crime, huh Speedy?" Robin replied sarcastically to the next day being a lazy one. Sometimes they had lazy days, and sometimes they didn't. It was the luck of the draw as TwoFace would say. "But sure, what do you suggest?
Starfire's hand shot up. "We could go to the pizza place! And get a pizza with mustard, those little fishies, pickles, and ice cream on top! Delicious combination, correct?" She asked, looking from face to face of her friends.
Robin grinned and nodded at Starfire's suggestion. He wasn't so sure about her choice in pizza but they usually ended up getting a bunch of them anyway so it wasn't like he'd have to eat it. "Sure Star, sounds like a great idea."
Tapping his chin, then playfully placing his finger under Raven's and looking her straight in the eye (the effect lessened since his eyes were also masked for now), he thought up a proposal taking Starfire's feelings into consideration. "I was thinking a romantic picnic scene, but let's cut the politics of it all and climb down to rung #2; I agree. Pizza for lunch at Star's favourite joint. What say you, O Defenders of Jump City?" He slid a few feet away from Raven immediately to avoid his finger's dismemberment by any dark auras due to their personal space defying gesture.
With Speedy's finger under her chin, Raven's eyes glowed bright white, prepared to knock him backwards off the bench again, but he slid away from her, and she let it go, her eyes fading back to their natural purple once more. "I don't know about ice cream on the pizza," she began. And with a pointed look at Speedy, she continued, "And I don't know about a romantic picnic. But lunch tomorrow sounds nice. Providing we're not saving the city from terror and destruction.
Starfire clapped happily. "Oh what a joyous plan!" She yawned, her eyes slowly drooping. She floated a bit too high, since her emotions got the best of her, and her head collided with the ceiling. "Oof!" Was the only thing heard as she came crashing to the floor. She rubbed her head gingerly.
Robin winced in sympathy when Star hit her head on the ceiling. "Careful." he said softly, concerned for her well being.
Speedy tapped one of his arrows on the ground smartly, as a cool mist emanated from it. The ice arrow tip was then wrapped up in a spare workout towel hanging from a bench in the gym to lessen the effect of the biting cold attack based weapon, and placed against the excitable alien girl's head in a friendly gesture. He was done flirting for now..maybe. "It must be getting late if your impeccable grace is faltering, O princess of a Faraway Planet. What do you say guys? I think I'm off to bed."
Starfire nodded, and floated to bed. "Goodnight Robin...Raven...Speedy... May your journey into the realm of dreams be pleasurable." She mumbled, before closing the door. She curled up in bed, and Silkie layed next to her.
Robin nodded slowly. While he doubted he'd be getting much sleep, there was simply too much to do, he really did need to get back to finishing his paperwork.
Winking at Raven, the archer took a sip from his water bottle near the bench. "Try not to miss me too much, other Highness."
“Wouldn't dare," Raven remarked, a moment before enveloping herself in a fold of black magic and disappearing from the room altogether. She reappeared in her bed, folding herself beneath the blankets, and forcing her mind to blank itself out. No thoughts of nightmares, of the haunting images that kept her awake the past nights. And certainly no thoughts of the redheaded archer with the big mouth..
~~~The Next Day~~~
It was a hot middle of July day. Speedy's usual bodytight spandex wasn't going to cut it today. He had adorned his immaculate frame in a breezy pair of cargo shorts and a red and yellow muscleshirt, weaponry still on his back, about to brave a slice of Star's weird pizza. Naaah. Speedy decided to wait on tasting the stuff Star usually ordered. He texted the rest of the team, letting them know to meet him there. He'd gone for a run earlier and decided to treat everyone today. How magnanimous and fitting his noble being.
"I'll have...whatever you suggest, miss. Do they have anything this lovely shade of green you've got going in your eyes here? Ask them to bring me one rightquick. Tell them Speedy's asking." Speedy waited at a booth for the others to arrive, charming the definitely flustered waitress at Parker's Pizza Palace like a pro. He wouldn't notice any of his friends show up.
Raven dropped lightly from the sky, landing gracefully on her feet beside the booth. "Starting a little early, aren't you?" she remarked, taking the seat across from his and sitting sideways, her feet resting across the booth. She leaned back and snatched a menu, getting lost behind it. "The rest of the team's hanging in the park today. You get to put up with me."
The start wasn't as dramatic as it was during the evening prior; the flirtacious youth had become a little more accustomed to the mysterious girl's voice creeping up on him unsuspectedly...well, just a little. Visibly jolted and once again sheepish, he waved to the blushing waitress as she coughed, having regained consciousness when the strapping youth's female companion made her presence known.
"They don't call me Speedy for nothing! I'd be honoured, milady. Can I interest you in some sparkling--" The giddy waitress clanked two orders of a fizzy green-apple soda onto the table before retreating to giggle with her friends over swoonworthy Speedy.”--…mystery juice?”
“Mystery juice," Raven repeated, not bothering to make an appearance from behind the menu. "Sounds appetizing. I guess as long as it doesn't kill me, I'll have some." She lowered the menu and smirked at him. "Though I wonder if I can trust you with those conditions."
“Come now, we're talking about the gentle gentleman Speedy of Titans East here! You know I wouldn't hurt a fly." The ginger rested his perfectly moulded chin on interlaced fingers, returning the girl's gaze. The waitress quieted in her group of coworkers; it looked like she wasn't top priority on the player-like customer's list at the moment. "How much less royalty, Princess?" Raven really did remind him of some sort of..gypsy princess. Her origins and ambitions shrouded in mystery. It was attractive to say the least. As was that couldn't-be-bothered, smooth voice of hers. He was keeping his head though; no need to mentally tie himself down when there were so many other pretty girls in the world to charm and so little of himself to go around.
“You killed a fly yesterday, just after dinner," Raven said giving him a smug half-smile.
“Heh. Only because disposing of it was 'all the better to protect you, my dear'. You've read that story, haven't you? Couldn't have it fall into your soup and upset that dainty tummy. Besides,tiny targets are awesome practice no matter what the mealtime."
Shifting, she swung her legs down from the bench and sat straight forward, meeting his eyes, wondering why it was so difficult for her to do so. "So there is some question about how you might treat royalty. Though, I wonder why you keep calling me 'Princess'...." Her eyes flitted away, back to the menu, to the green fizzing soda, anywhere other than his. "I thought we addressed that last night."
Speedy took an experimental sip of the fizzy drink, deciding it was pretty good, and chugged a little until starting into a coughing fit at his teammate's query. The one who'd be first to eloquently take her on a mental desert-traversing gypsy caravan journey through his rich description of the kind of fantasy and splendour he associated her mystery with was for once bashful to even begin. He tried to change the subject. "Boy, speaking of which, our Fearless Leader was being suuuch a drama queen. Reminded me a little of old Bats!"
Spurred by his coughing fit, Raven silently met his eyes again, wondering where exactly his mind had gone.... She blinked once, unfooled by his change of subject, but she let it go. Truthfully, could she be trusted either to broach that subject? The very thought of what he could've said caused a blush to crawl up her neck, and she reached for the apple drink, hoping to mask it with her action. “He was a bit uptight," she agreed, after swallowing a sip of soda and fizz. "But Red X is stressful...." She trailed off and took another sip of soda. "More so for Robin than anyone else. As he /did/ create the suit...."
"First-world genius problems, oh woe is He. Spare me. What about MY first-world problems? Do you have any idea--" he rolled his neck belabouredly to the right to wave in a fluttery manner at the waitress group at the other side of the drink bar. "--how hard it is to find a spare minute for myself with all these interested parties wanting my attention? As if crime-fighting isn't enough. Am I right or am I right?" Obviously he was still recovering from her earlier question that would've searched his emotions and growing fondness for a particular Azarathian young Titan, and had completely wrecked whatever mood had been gradually building up by being his narcissistic self. He /was/ only telling the truth though. Can you blame a girl magnet?
Raven narrowed her eyes at him and the mood died in spectacular fashion. "Yes," she said, back to her cold, indifferent self. "It must be terrible to have it so easy with the 'interested parties.'" Without really meaning to, she threw a glare over her shoulder at the giggling waitresses who'd stolen his attention. "I mean really. While some of us have legit problems, we still can't help but wonder how you make it through each harrowing day--" Raven bit her tongue to stop her random tirade. He could be so irritating! Why did that draw her? Why was he so irresistible to be around? Raven forced her gaze back down to the menu for the third time. "Have you ordered anything yet?" she snapped.
"I--bu--it--y'see--!" He definitely was still too flustered from the near-miss concerning what his blossoming thoughts concerning Raven were to piece together his foul with her. Puzzled, he quirked a brow, which looked quite comical over a mask that hid his puzzled eyes anyway. The girls immediately stopped giggling, almost tasting the malice in the air emanating from Raven. "N..not yet, but whatever you decide on, is on me! I budgeted for the whole gang, but I figure it'd be cool to treat you to somat special today!" He smiled a disarming smile, genuinely meaning it. "Thanks for not bailing on me like the rest of that lot; crude of them, eh wot?" He adopted a bad British English voice, snapping for one of the terrified waitresses who were pushing each other to go to the frightening table. Who would take one for the team today!? Without sparing the unlucky girl a glance, but rather leaning over the table with his nose almost touching Raven's, Speedy pointed to the special menu item. "We'll have today's Special Combo please! Including dessert."
Raven gave the waitress no mercy as she hurried over, continuing to glare at her all the while. She could feel little crackles of black energy swirling around her fingers as her emotions rose and she struggled to get a hold on them. It would do her no good to lose control now.... But then she caught sight of Speedy, smiling in that way he had, that smile that completed melted her. "I--" she began, but her brain had shorted. And then he was nose to nose with her. Her eyes widened in completely unguarded surprise and she blinked, her mouth still open with her unfinished sentence hanging in the air. "I--" she started again, but her emotions finally escaped her clutches and the vase of flowers that had been sitting so nicely in the middle of the table shattered with a crack, spilling water and carnations over the entire table. She blinked again, and closed her mouth. "Since when do you buy me dessert?" she finally managed to say in a small and very un-Raven-esque voice.
The poor green-eyed dear had had about as much as she could take from this establishment's poor safety precautions. She all but ripped off her serving apron and fled the entire shop, leaving Speedy to cover his mouth with a clenched fist and stifle rising laughter coming from his nose. It was also there to stop any soda from gushing out, which was currently reducing his brain to cinders from the strength of the fizz and the shock of the breaking ceramic-ware that had responded to Raven's intense emotions. Grabbing a napkin and fixing up his face, a little green apple soda still clung to his chin even after all the care he took to wipe the tasty substance off that bore the ex-employee's striking eye colour. Speedy felt confident however at the subdued air about the girl opposite him. Burning brain not working properly, he uttered the 1st thing that crawled out of it."Since I noticed we've deff met up on a date today, you'n me, I'll have to apologize to Star later; I've got a new number 1 to take care of..well, besides me of course. Robin must be thankful right now for that eh?" He was really musing to himself more than Raven at this point, not realizing the import of his words.
Raven stared wide-eyed and dumb-founded at Speedy as he attempted to stem the flow of soda and laughter from his mouth. She watched the waitress running out and wondered, sheepishly, if he'd been toying with her, trying to disarm the impenetrable Raven.... She looked down at the remnants of the glass vase on the table. The first time she'd lost control in years and it was because of him.... And then she heard his words. Her head snapped back up and she stared wordlessly at him, comprehending what he'd just so recklessly babbled out. "I beg your pardon?" she said, her voice a scratchy whisper. "What does Robin have to do with this? Who said this was a date?" She pounded a hand flat down onto the table, never even noticing it landed on a stray piece of glass. Her emotions were too far gone to register that. "Darn* you, Speedy, were you /laughing/ at me?!" Beside them, behind and around them, every table had it's own vase shatter in a chorus of breaking glass; leftover energy from each table snaked its way done the table legs and crawled back to its mistress, sparking anyone who got in the way. Raven ignored it, her gaze unwavering and locked on Speedy.
At first he was a little annoyed. Here he was spending good hard-earned down-time part-time job cash on this girl, and she was flipping out on him! No girl had /ever/ acted this way when hanging out with him. What made Raven so different? Well, for one, she wasn't an easily manipulated ditz. He was being as serious and real with her as his head would allow him to. A tad too 'real' and unabashed. “It was..no, didn't you see the way that chick fled? It was hilari--" He paused to think a little, shaking out his head like a common mongrel (not far from the truth of how he was acting at the moment). He returned her gaze as chaos ensued on more than one couple and/or gang of friends' tables, causing at least half the customers to flee as well, leaving thrown tips/pay in the air in their wake. Breathing, he went for the orange water bottle in his stringsack. Hands on his hips after a long draught and also standing, he took her by the hand and proceeded outside, leaving more than enough change for the two drinks and meal in the form of a $50, the first thing his crammed fist encountered from his pocket. Once outdoors, he took a deep breath and Raven's bleeding hand more gently in his grasp, frowning slightly and whipping out a Neosporin tube. "Bet you thought I'd keep stuff like this in an arrow too, huh? I'm resourceful, but not quite that much." he smiled weakly, seating them on the grass beside the parlour, unable to really meet her furious gaze. "...can I tell you something? I'm having a lot of fun with you today, Raven. I mean that. So...say someone asks us what we were up to today back at the homefront, right? Can I tell them..this was a date? Even if it comes off to them as a joke? Or even if.. you think I'm joking?" He pounded the ground a few times with both feet like a child, staring up at the sky. "I've gone out with a lot of girls before, but I've never answered them properly when they asked me if 'this is a date'. So I won't expect you to give me that courtesy either. We're..just friends, isn't that right? Or are we even that anymore? For someone perfect I've really screwed up a lot today, haven't I." He fell silent, wrapping an emergency gauze from his satchel around her dark palm gently.
Raven watched him, speechless. This was new, so different from the Speedy she'd come to know. He'd just left his heart on his sleeve, and that was something she never thought he'd do. Ever, or at least not with her. She sat in the grass, trying to grasp her runaway thoughts as he wrapped her hand in gauze. Just his fingers touching hers sent a chill down her spine.... She had a moment of panic -- this kind of emotion was exactly what she'd always avoided, this kind of thing was /dangerous/ -- but she blatantly ignored her fear, and instead took Speedy's hand in hers. "I--" she started dumbly for the third time, but this time she kept going on. "I don't want to be just another girl," she said uncertainly. "If that's what this is, we can forget it ever happened right now." She paused a moment, and unconsciously grasped his hand a little tighter. "That being said.... I've had fun too. I always have fun with you.... And I don't think anyone back at the Tower would believe it for a second, but if you want to tell them this was a date, then I'll back you up." And all the while, she couldn't quite meet his eyes. Bearing the soul was just as out of character for her as it was for him, if just in a different way, and speaking such things left her a little light-headed.
The green apple droplet clung to his chin now, fastened by the light summery breeze that fluttered like the young man's heart as he slowly raised his eyes from the luxuriously dark hand that now clasped his own. It was the puppy-crushed archer's turn to be speechless. When was the last time he'd actually had genuine feelings for a girl he'd been out with and not just in a friendly manner? Her skin was so beautiful. He couldn't quite meet her eyes as she spoke but they traveled up her arm, and he unconsciously pulled back her hood, which had raised itself in the tense atmosphere back in the eatery. The merry sunlight made those deep purple eyes twinkle back at him. Did she maybe feel what he was feeling? This was all so confusing. He inched closer to her face, until their foreheads touched, eyes closed to prevent more awkwardness than he already had summoned to their midst. "I don't think you of all girls will be 'just another one' to me..!" But still, this was so uncharacteristic of him. He was having a conflict of interests; it was still so much /fun/ to mess around with other girls' feelings. It sounded wrong, but he really didn't want to commit in this possible situational passion, yet knew strongly he didn't want to hurt her by saying as much. When would the boy grow up into the man he was on the eve of becoming? Not today. Still attached, he grinned, whispering, "But actually..who has to know?" The smile faltered as he realized how close he was to her. "Isn't it more fun to keep them guessing? Not that they'd think WE'D ever hit it off. Shouldn't ladies refrain from kissing and telling, milady?" On that note, a mischievious looking eatery owner namesake to the establishment to their immediate right brought out their order. A few brave straggler customers watched from the window, cat-calling. "Your feast, my friends!" Speedy unattached himself from Raven's forehead rightquick. "Ch-check please! We'll have it to g-go!"
Raven smiled, or rather halfway smiled. "Who would we keep guessing?" she asked. "And why?" Her walls began rising again as her spirit fell, and her eyes darkened a little as she realized what he meant by his words. He didn't want to tell anyone. He didn't want anything official. Without causing any more of a riot than she already had, Raven removed her hand from Speedy's and tucked her legs up underneath herself as the owner brought out the food. She stood as Speedy asked for the check, her emotions once more under her control, despite the chills that she still had running down her spine.
He didn't notice her air of hurt, seeing as he couldn't look her straight in the eye despite his being covered.
What a coward.
They walked in silence, a doggy bag and conflicted hearts standing as walls between the two. The awkward silence broke as Speedy roused himself from the remembrance of that tumultuous afternoon a few short weeks ago, waiting for the rest of his friends to arrive to today's Parker's Pizza Palace meeting in more silence.
~~~
This has been, our origins short-story. =)