Fan Fiction ❯ Birds of a Feather ❯ Chapter 1
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: King Cheetah 
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.16.2004 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.6K | Visits: 597 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.16.2004 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.6K | Visits: 597 | Status: Completed
Birds Of A Feather...
Part One- 20/20 Blindness
by King Cheetah
I don't own any of these characters, so don't rub it in...
Kinda sorta Robin/Raven pairing; you've been warned....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The architecture of the Titan's Tower could easily be described as generous, but on this rainy afternoon it seemed to Raven that the breakfast nook was little bigger than a closet. "I think..." chirped Starfire, "that they are blue like the clearest of Vegan sapphires. Blue and sparkling. Or perhaps they are green, like my eyes. Would that not be marvelous? That we both possessed to same color eyes?"
Raven sighed a sigh that would have sent most people running for a bomb shelter, but then again, Starfire wasn't most people. Closing her book, Raven looked at her friend and sighed, "And why again is this so important to you?" The cheerful Tamaranian seemed taken aback by the question. "W-well, it is not. But I think you most admit that it is odd that we have been teammates with Robin for more than three of your Earth years, and yet none of us have ever seen him without his mask."
Raven began to rise from the table. "Yeah, come to think of it, he even wore it to that stupid school dance with... um, what was that hottie's name? Pussy, was it?" Starfire flushed red at the remembrance of the incident. "Her name was Kitten." she huffed. Gathering her cup and book, Raven gave a slight smile, "Kori, I honestly hadn't given it the slightest thought," she lied, " and neither should you. If Robin wants to wear the mask, then we should respect that. You never know, maybe it hides a horrible disfiguring scar, had you considered that?" Starfire's green eyes shot wide open. My job's done here thought Raven as she let loose a rare grin and headed off to her room.
Though she'd never admit it, Robin's pathological need for secrecy was proving to be both annoying and more than a little bit hurtful. All of the members of the team were open books to her (even including Wilderbeast), but Robin still refused to share himself with anyone, and she liked to feel that he was comfortable enough with her to speak frankly. But even after all they'd been through together over the last few years, he remained an enigma. Pleasant, yet distant, jovial, but in a measured way, it was almost like a robot read all there was to know about being human but didn't quite get it. And on top of that, the fact that this bugged her really bugged her. Why should she care? She didn't moon over Robin the way Starfire did, and the less said about that sorry situation, the better. But she liked to believe that Robin at least trusted her...
If anything could be said to depress her, it'd be Starfire's tireless, yet fruitless efforts to win Robin's attentions. Plucky, perky and never say die, the Titan's token Tamaranian merely kept up a steady pace in her attempts, despite a pronounced lack of results and a series of lectures on personal enpowerment from Wonder Girl. But now Starfire's blueskying had lodged this obsessive query squarely in her frontal lobes and like a bad commercial jingle, it refused to get out of her head; what color WERE Robin's eyes? Gah, this was maddening! Try as she might, every moment of her morning routine was interrupted by thoughts of Robin whipping his mask off and winking at her, each time with a different eye shade. Meditation, physical workout, studying ancient texts, surfing the web, all sidelined by her newfound obsession. After a lunch made all the more difficult by Robin's insistence on talking directly to her, she vowed to settle this once and for all. There were certain arcane options that would do nicely...
A quick glance through her books, run through the incantation a few times, take a deep breath and it was off to Robin's room. She walked slowly but steadily, her steps measured and light. Trepidation filled her, but she was way beyond the point of no return. Her plan was simple enough, a VERY small touch of Robin's mind. Nothing intrusive or invasive, mind you. Just a light stroke of his mind, enough to get a few mental images of himself. While some might see this as an invasion of his privacy, she assured herself that this was no worse than secretly watching Robin change into his gym clothes... okay, bad example, but still no harm would come to Robin. The downside of the long walk was the opportunity to consider her feelings for their leader.
The years the team had been together had been good ones, and they'd all not only grown as friends, but also as a family. So much between them all... the destruction of Slade, the Iron Guild and the Brotherhood of Vengeance. The swelling of their ranks with the permanent additions of Wonder Girl and Kid Flash. The silent pride she felt for Beast Boy as he bravely dealt with the death of Terra. And through it all, the one member of the team that seemed completely unchanged by it all was Robin. Dour, professional, methodical and solitary, Robin was a rock of stability amid the whirling maelstrom that were his teammates.
Outside the door to Robin's room, she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. It all seemed really juvenile now, and an embarrassing waste of her time. Too late now though. With a final deep breath, she knocked and entered his room. Like it's occupant, the room had changed little over the years. It was cluttered all right, but not in the way one associates the mess of an 18 year old. It was more like sorcerers lair or Sherlock Holmes study after a bender. Research tomes and books formed stalagmites over almost every square inch of floor space and three different computers seemed to beg for his attention.
Against the farthest wall was his workbench where he presently toiled over some new half-formed idea or another. For half a moment, she considered flying over this academic battleground, but it seemed oddly impolite, so she cautiously picked her way through the stacks to reach him.
"Oh, hi Raven." he smiled, looking up just long enough confirm the identity of his visitor. "Uh, what's all this stuff?" she ask absently as she looked him over. She needed to touch a part of his exposed flesh for just a second, and his forearm looked like a good target. Leaning forward to observe his mechanical handiwork, she let two fingers lightly brush against his arm...
In sharp contrast to everything she'd expected, Robin's mind came roaring out at her in one continuous primal scream. Stunned, her inner defenses crumbled before the onslaught, and in an instant, she found herself drowning in Robin's essence. Staggered, she fought to regain control, and with a mighty effort, pushed his spirit out of her, albeit a little too hard. As her vision cleared, she realized to her horror that the process was no working in reverse, sending herself into Robin. Panicked for but a moment, instinct kicked in and she began the meditative chant to regain the balance between them. Slowly, the worlds within them righted themselves.
Gasping, she opened her eyes and blearily looked to Robin. Sweat soaked, he was sprawled over his workbench, a small trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. Unsteadily, he slowly sat upright and brushed his long hair from his face, he hesitated as he noticed the blood.
Wiping it away, he whispered, "I-I guess I bit my tongue." and attempted a weak smile. Horrified, she gasped, "I-I'm sorry... t-that wasn't suppose to happen..."
Slowly, he rose from the bench and tried to steady himself against it. Trembling, she could only stare at him as he looked at her, seemingly waiting for the explanation she didn't have to give. His gaze was serene and patient, but steady. At a loss for words, she stumbled backwards as she sprinted for his bathroom.
Lunch now gone, and a few dry heaves for good measure, Raven clutched the toilet seat as she choked back tears. His mind, his entire life now a part of her. His memories, his dreams, his pain, now permanently fused with hers. She saw him so clearly now. He was a complex and byzantine creature, seemly holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. Memories of his parents, the never-ending gaze of his mentor, ever present, always watching him. His responsibilities to the Titans, to the city, to his friends. There was a time when Slade too was also added to this mix, and in a bigger portion than the others. It was not the eyeware that was the mask, but Robin's whole persona. The lamentive son, the dutiful sidekick, the leader of the Titans, all a facade behind which crouched a frightened little boy.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and spun around to see him standing behind her, his face a mask of compassion. Panting, she was at a loss as to what to say. "Raven," he said softly, "What just happened? I... ".
In a frenzy, she bolted past him and out of his room, tears making the task all the more difficult. She heard him call after him, but didn't look back. Stumbling through the halls of the great tower, she managed to reach her room without encountering any of the other Titans, and she whispered several prayers in thanks for this welcomed boon.
Once safely within her own familiar walls, she set about cleaning herself up and considering her options. He'll be here soon, she thought. Of this she had no doubt. All she could do was prepare herself...
How could this have gone so completely and utterly wrong? Retreating to her own bathroom she hurried to clean herself up. As she brushed her teeth, her mind looked back in on itself, and there it was. Every moment of Robin's life, lined up neatly next to hers. Every memory, every thought, every dream. It was like having lived two lives at once, and she shuddered knowing that the exact same thing was going on in Robin's head.
They were, for all intents and purposes, mental twins now. And yet... Robin's mind was vast and exciting. She felt that she could easily spend days just reliving moments from his past. But the most fascination thing was just how alike they were inside. While she attempted to control her inner turmoil with disciplined study, he did so through physical regimen, but both working out the same fears and insecurities.
Just as she was settling onto her bed, the inevitable knock came to her door, followed by Robin. As she had expected, he'd taken a moments to straighten himself up before confronting her, but she thought she could detect a slight smile on his lips. Unbidden, he settled onto the bed next to her, his hands folded in his lap. For the longest time, the merely looked at one another... what do you say to someone who knows your every thought? Outside, the distant rumble of thunder punctuated the moment, and served to break the light tension of the encounter.
"They're brown." he said softly, and slid his mask away to reveal his full face. Raven was smitten by just how handsome the face was that had before only existed in her minds eye. "I know." she said and treated him to a rare smile. Again the silence, but this time it had an easy, untroubled quality to it. Nothing was said because nothing need to be said. Laying back on her bed, Robin put his hands behind his head and gave a soft chuckle, "We're quite a pair, aren't we? I never realized how much we had in common...." She lay back on her side next to him. "You're... not mad?" she asked softly, "I mean, go ahead and be straight with me. It's okay..." Again he just chuckled, but said nothing. He seemed to be less choosing his words as discarding them.
"No... I'm not mad. I kinda like this. It's... it's like we grew up together, y'know? Like we've known each other all our lives. I think this is pretty cool." and again that soft smile accompanied by thunder, a little closer know she thought. Now languid silence until she gently poked him in the shoulder, "Hey you, keep those eyes open. I went through a lot to see those." His face brightened as he turned his head enough to face her. Robin's eyes amazed her. Brown, like oolong tea but bottomless, she felt she fall into them and swim forever. Why in the world do you cover these with a mask, she thought.
Sighing, her mood sobered, "So... no secrets between us, eh?"
He nodded, "I guess not. You cool with that?"
Raven shrugged, "Like we have a choice. But, I'm alright with it. I think I like the idea of a twin brother. At least now I have someone who understands me." which earned her the smile again.
Slowly, he got up and replaced his mask. "I think this'll be okay. No need to tell the others, right? We'll just keep quiet about this." She followed him to her door, and nodded as he spoke.
Almost expectantly, they faced each other, "And hey, if you, uh... need anything. Y'know, help or something, just call me. Okay?" Their faces were just inches apart, as the racing of her heart drowned out all other sound. Each looked at the other, but... the moment passed.
Shuffling his feet uncomfortably, he mumbled, "Uh well, see ya later. I... might drop by later... to, um check on you, okay?" Another awkward pause, and he was gone.
She stood by the door, hoping for... what, exactly? For Robin to come back? It occurred to her that she wasn't quite sure what she'd do if he DID come back.
What she would do, or what she wanted to do. She bit her lip and tried to put him out of her mind, without luck. He was so apart of her now that she was having trouble sorting out her feelings. Are we twins, or something more?
Distant thunder answered her query. We're closer now, but we'll both get used to it in time. She smiled again at the thought of a true kindred spirit and moved to her mat to begin her afternoon meditations, which seemed strangely easy today.
No problems at all, she grinned. What could possibly go wrong?
To be Continued...
Next time: Things Start Going Wrong
Go
Part One- 20/20 Blindness
by King Cheetah
I don't own any of these characters, so don't rub it in...
Kinda sorta Robin/Raven pairing; you've been warned....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The architecture of the Titan's Tower could easily be described as generous, but on this rainy afternoon it seemed to Raven that the breakfast nook was little bigger than a closet. "I think..." chirped Starfire, "that they are blue like the clearest of Vegan sapphires. Blue and sparkling. Or perhaps they are green, like my eyes. Would that not be marvelous? That we both possessed to same color eyes?"
Raven sighed a sigh that would have sent most people running for a bomb shelter, but then again, Starfire wasn't most people. Closing her book, Raven looked at her friend and sighed, "And why again is this so important to you?" The cheerful Tamaranian seemed taken aback by the question. "W-well, it is not. But I think you most admit that it is odd that we have been teammates with Robin for more than three of your Earth years, and yet none of us have ever seen him without his mask."
Raven began to rise from the table. "Yeah, come to think of it, he even wore it to that stupid school dance with... um, what was that hottie's name? Pussy, was it?" Starfire flushed red at the remembrance of the incident. "Her name was Kitten." she huffed. Gathering her cup and book, Raven gave a slight smile, "Kori, I honestly hadn't given it the slightest thought," she lied, " and neither should you. If Robin wants to wear the mask, then we should respect that. You never know, maybe it hides a horrible disfiguring scar, had you considered that?" Starfire's green eyes shot wide open. My job's done here thought Raven as she let loose a rare grin and headed off to her room.
Though she'd never admit it, Robin's pathological need for secrecy was proving to be both annoying and more than a little bit hurtful. All of the members of the team were open books to her (even including Wilderbeast), but Robin still refused to share himself with anyone, and she liked to feel that he was comfortable enough with her to speak frankly. But even after all they'd been through together over the last few years, he remained an enigma. Pleasant, yet distant, jovial, but in a measured way, it was almost like a robot read all there was to know about being human but didn't quite get it. And on top of that, the fact that this bugged her really bugged her. Why should she care? She didn't moon over Robin the way Starfire did, and the less said about that sorry situation, the better. But she liked to believe that Robin at least trusted her...
If anything could be said to depress her, it'd be Starfire's tireless, yet fruitless efforts to win Robin's attentions. Plucky, perky and never say die, the Titan's token Tamaranian merely kept up a steady pace in her attempts, despite a pronounced lack of results and a series of lectures on personal enpowerment from Wonder Girl. But now Starfire's blueskying had lodged this obsessive query squarely in her frontal lobes and like a bad commercial jingle, it refused to get out of her head; what color WERE Robin's eyes? Gah, this was maddening! Try as she might, every moment of her morning routine was interrupted by thoughts of Robin whipping his mask off and winking at her, each time with a different eye shade. Meditation, physical workout, studying ancient texts, surfing the web, all sidelined by her newfound obsession. After a lunch made all the more difficult by Robin's insistence on talking directly to her, she vowed to settle this once and for all. There were certain arcane options that would do nicely...
A quick glance through her books, run through the incantation a few times, take a deep breath and it was off to Robin's room. She walked slowly but steadily, her steps measured and light. Trepidation filled her, but she was way beyond the point of no return. Her plan was simple enough, a VERY small touch of Robin's mind. Nothing intrusive or invasive, mind you. Just a light stroke of his mind, enough to get a few mental images of himself. While some might see this as an invasion of his privacy, she assured herself that this was no worse than secretly watching Robin change into his gym clothes... okay, bad example, but still no harm would come to Robin. The downside of the long walk was the opportunity to consider her feelings for their leader.
The years the team had been together had been good ones, and they'd all not only grown as friends, but also as a family. So much between them all... the destruction of Slade, the Iron Guild and the Brotherhood of Vengeance. The swelling of their ranks with the permanent additions of Wonder Girl and Kid Flash. The silent pride she felt for Beast Boy as he bravely dealt with the death of Terra. And through it all, the one member of the team that seemed completely unchanged by it all was Robin. Dour, professional, methodical and solitary, Robin was a rock of stability amid the whirling maelstrom that were his teammates.
Outside the door to Robin's room, she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. It all seemed really juvenile now, and an embarrassing waste of her time. Too late now though. With a final deep breath, she knocked and entered his room. Like it's occupant, the room had changed little over the years. It was cluttered all right, but not in the way one associates the mess of an 18 year old. It was more like sorcerers lair or Sherlock Holmes study after a bender. Research tomes and books formed stalagmites over almost every square inch of floor space and three different computers seemed to beg for his attention.
Against the farthest wall was his workbench where he presently toiled over some new half-formed idea or another. For half a moment, she considered flying over this academic battleground, but it seemed oddly impolite, so she cautiously picked her way through the stacks to reach him.
"Oh, hi Raven." he smiled, looking up just long enough confirm the identity of his visitor. "Uh, what's all this stuff?" she ask absently as she looked him over. She needed to touch a part of his exposed flesh for just a second, and his forearm looked like a good target. Leaning forward to observe his mechanical handiwork, she let two fingers lightly brush against his arm...
In sharp contrast to everything she'd expected, Robin's mind came roaring out at her in one continuous primal scream. Stunned, her inner defenses crumbled before the onslaught, and in an instant, she found herself drowning in Robin's essence. Staggered, she fought to regain control, and with a mighty effort, pushed his spirit out of her, albeit a little too hard. As her vision cleared, she realized to her horror that the process was no working in reverse, sending herself into Robin. Panicked for but a moment, instinct kicked in and she began the meditative chant to regain the balance between them. Slowly, the worlds within them righted themselves.
Gasping, she opened her eyes and blearily looked to Robin. Sweat soaked, he was sprawled over his workbench, a small trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. Unsteadily, he slowly sat upright and brushed his long hair from his face, he hesitated as he noticed the blood.
Wiping it away, he whispered, "I-I guess I bit my tongue." and attempted a weak smile. Horrified, she gasped, "I-I'm sorry... t-that wasn't suppose to happen..."
Slowly, he rose from the bench and tried to steady himself against it. Trembling, she could only stare at him as he looked at her, seemingly waiting for the explanation she didn't have to give. His gaze was serene and patient, but steady. At a loss for words, she stumbled backwards as she sprinted for his bathroom.
Lunch now gone, and a few dry heaves for good measure, Raven clutched the toilet seat as she choked back tears. His mind, his entire life now a part of her. His memories, his dreams, his pain, now permanently fused with hers. She saw him so clearly now. He was a complex and byzantine creature, seemly holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. Memories of his parents, the never-ending gaze of his mentor, ever present, always watching him. His responsibilities to the Titans, to the city, to his friends. There was a time when Slade too was also added to this mix, and in a bigger portion than the others. It was not the eyeware that was the mask, but Robin's whole persona. The lamentive son, the dutiful sidekick, the leader of the Titans, all a facade behind which crouched a frightened little boy.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and spun around to see him standing behind her, his face a mask of compassion. Panting, she was at a loss as to what to say. "Raven," he said softly, "What just happened? I... ".
In a frenzy, she bolted past him and out of his room, tears making the task all the more difficult. She heard him call after him, but didn't look back. Stumbling through the halls of the great tower, she managed to reach her room without encountering any of the other Titans, and she whispered several prayers in thanks for this welcomed boon.
Once safely within her own familiar walls, she set about cleaning herself up and considering her options. He'll be here soon, she thought. Of this she had no doubt. All she could do was prepare herself...
How could this have gone so completely and utterly wrong? Retreating to her own bathroom she hurried to clean herself up. As she brushed her teeth, her mind looked back in on itself, and there it was. Every moment of Robin's life, lined up neatly next to hers. Every memory, every thought, every dream. It was like having lived two lives at once, and she shuddered knowing that the exact same thing was going on in Robin's head.
They were, for all intents and purposes, mental twins now. And yet... Robin's mind was vast and exciting. She felt that she could easily spend days just reliving moments from his past. But the most fascination thing was just how alike they were inside. While she attempted to control her inner turmoil with disciplined study, he did so through physical regimen, but both working out the same fears and insecurities.
Just as she was settling onto her bed, the inevitable knock came to her door, followed by Robin. As she had expected, he'd taken a moments to straighten himself up before confronting her, but she thought she could detect a slight smile on his lips. Unbidden, he settled onto the bed next to her, his hands folded in his lap. For the longest time, the merely looked at one another... what do you say to someone who knows your every thought? Outside, the distant rumble of thunder punctuated the moment, and served to break the light tension of the encounter.
"They're brown." he said softly, and slid his mask away to reveal his full face. Raven was smitten by just how handsome the face was that had before only existed in her minds eye. "I know." she said and treated him to a rare smile. Again the silence, but this time it had an easy, untroubled quality to it. Nothing was said because nothing need to be said. Laying back on her bed, Robin put his hands behind his head and gave a soft chuckle, "We're quite a pair, aren't we? I never realized how much we had in common...." She lay back on her side next to him. "You're... not mad?" she asked softly, "I mean, go ahead and be straight with me. It's okay..." Again he just chuckled, but said nothing. He seemed to be less choosing his words as discarding them.
"No... I'm not mad. I kinda like this. It's... it's like we grew up together, y'know? Like we've known each other all our lives. I think this is pretty cool." and again that soft smile accompanied by thunder, a little closer know she thought. Now languid silence until she gently poked him in the shoulder, "Hey you, keep those eyes open. I went through a lot to see those." His face brightened as he turned his head enough to face her. Robin's eyes amazed her. Brown, like oolong tea but bottomless, she felt she fall into them and swim forever. Why in the world do you cover these with a mask, she thought.
Sighing, her mood sobered, "So... no secrets between us, eh?"
He nodded, "I guess not. You cool with that?"
Raven shrugged, "Like we have a choice. But, I'm alright with it. I think I like the idea of a twin brother. At least now I have someone who understands me." which earned her the smile again.
Slowly, he got up and replaced his mask. "I think this'll be okay. No need to tell the others, right? We'll just keep quiet about this." She followed him to her door, and nodded as he spoke.
Almost expectantly, they faced each other, "And hey, if you, uh... need anything. Y'know, help or something, just call me. Okay?" Their faces were just inches apart, as the racing of her heart drowned out all other sound. Each looked at the other, but... the moment passed.
Shuffling his feet uncomfortably, he mumbled, "Uh well, see ya later. I... might drop by later... to, um check on you, okay?" Another awkward pause, and he was gone.
She stood by the door, hoping for... what, exactly? For Robin to come back? It occurred to her that she wasn't quite sure what she'd do if he DID come back.
What she would do, or what she wanted to do. She bit her lip and tried to put him out of her mind, without luck. He was so apart of her now that she was having trouble sorting out her feelings. Are we twins, or something more?
Distant thunder answered her query. We're closer now, but we'll both get used to it in time. She smiled again at the thought of a true kindred spirit and moved to her mat to begin her afternoon meditations, which seemed strangely easy today.
No problems at all, she grinned. What could possibly go wrong?
To be Continued...
Next time: Things Start Going Wrong
Go