TT Ch5: Can Promises Stay Kept

"Huh?!" Wally didn't hear Rachel's faint voice gasped his name. They stood in the park where the bright moon provided them with their only light. Wally could barely see Rachel's face under her hood. "You look very familiar. By any chance, do I know you?... Or better yet, did I used to date you?"

'Is he hitting on me?!' Rachel was surprised by Wally's immaturity "No."

"No as in we never went out? Or no, we don't know each other?" Wally stood with his hands in his pockets and his jacket unbuttoned. His orange shirt underneath, seemed red in the darkness.

'He doesn't fully recognise me, but I don't remember casting the spell on him as well.' Rachel quickly shook the memory aside. "Both."

Wally scratched his head. "You sure? Because it feels like I've seen you before."

"Sure." Rachel hid her face deeper into her hood. 'At least this means I can have a fresh start.'

"You're a one-word type of person aren't you?" Wally tilted his head slightly to the side and smiled at Rachel, with one corner of his mouth higher than the other.

'I can't believe it. He's still hitting on me. He's as worst as Garfield.'

Wally waited but Rachel said nothing. "Oh, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just like this when I talk to people. Anyway, what are you doing out this late...? And people from around here don't usually wear a cape and a torn leotard, you know?"

"I'm not from around here... nor am I from this planet."

"So, you're an alien?"

"Not exactly." Rachel gasped as Wally suddenly appeared in front of her and grabbed her hands. "What do you think you're doing?" Rachel suddenly found herself on Wally's back. "Hey!"

"Just hold on." Rachel held tightly onto Wally as he ran. She noticed everything around her pass by like a blur. She couldn't make out the distorted objects being left behind her.  She watched as Wally's feet moved with the same pace as the blur of objects around her. She knew they were traveling at light speed.

Suddenly, everything stopped. Rachel slowly made out her surroundings. It was a small room with a bed opposite to the door on her left, a window was beside the bed which overlooked the park. She recognised the spot where she stood just a second ago. 'That's how he saw me.' She leveled down her eye sight and noticed the books and sheets of paper scattered everywhere on the floor. "Where are we?"

"We're in my room. Sorry, it's a bit messy."

Rachel looked at Wally and raised one of her eyebrows, "A bit?"

"Alright, it's a LOT messy. Geeze, for a one-word type of person you sure do pack an insult."

"I'm sorry..." Rachel lowered her eyebrow.  "But, what just happened? How can you move so fast?"

"Oh, that. It's just one of my many talents. It's kind of an inheritance, I guess. I even got a nickname for it, Kid Flash."

"Nickname? It sounds more like a codename to me, a superhero codename."

"Yeah, it's kind of like that as well. Being a superhero's fun and all, fighting bad guys, helping people and getting the ladies." Wally winked at Rachel but she just lowered her eyelids.

'He's definitely worst than Garfield.'

"But..." Wally looked down and picked up a textbook form the floor. He remembered the times when he and his friends fought together in Gotham, and sometimes alongside Batman himself. "It was just so time-consuming and it kind of messed with my own life. That's why I quit being a hero and focus on my studies instead ... and try to live my normal life again."

She raised her eyebrow up again, "Yeah, grabbing a girl you found in the park, past midnight, who claimed she wasn't from your own world, and then running with her on your back at light speed, is your normal life?"

Wally hunched his shoulders and looked at Rachel with narrowed-eyes. He dropped the book and stood up straight. "Anyway..., I brought you here because if anyone from S.T.A.R. labs finds out you're an alien, they're going to stop at nothing to find you and bring you back to their lab. Then they're going to do experiments on you and look inside your body to study you're anatomy."

"Uhh... I don't think so. I'm not that type of alien... and besides I can take care of myself."

"Hmm... for someone with grey skin, you look pretty cute when you're serious."

"Cute?!" 'Grrr... how many sarcastic remarks do I have to make to get him to stop hitting on me?'

"Oh, I almost forgot. My real name's Wally, Wally West."

"Umm... My name's Rach-", 'No. I can't use that name anymore. I don't want to go back to that. I can't let it happen again. I have to use my real name this time. I have to let him trust me. "My name is Raven, Raven of Atrion."

"Raven..., that's a pretty cool name and it suits you too. So, Raven of Atrion, what brings you here on Earth?"

'I have to try and tell him...' "I came here because... I wanted to join a superhero team and help protect your world... but, you're heroes turned me down. They didn't want a kid on their team, let alone an outsider... So I decided to form my own team of heroes, heroes my age... and, Kid Flash, I want to ask you to help me form this team and be the leader."

"Wow... I always thought Robin would be the one who'd get these kinds of offers. This is a really great opportunity, Raven... but, like I said before, I quit being a superhero. I came to Jump City to take my studies further, not form a team of heroes. Besides, there are a lot of other superheroes out there our age. I can give you a few names if you want... Raven?"

Raven only stood there, her gaze fixed on the floor. 'No. I need him. He has to help me. I just can't let him go. No more mistakes. Not this time.' "I need you..., Wally."

"R-Raven?"

'I hope one day you'd forgive me for this...'

'Oh man! This is harder than turning down a date. Why does she want me so bad? Can't she find other superheroes? Why not Robin or Wondergirl? They're far more famous and stronger than me. Why me?' Wally and Raven only stood in the middle of them room, concealed in their own thoughts. '...But I still can't believe I'm the one being offered to be the leader. Robin would be so psyched... after all, it is a great idea. A team of kid superheroes... and, I feel kind of bad turning her down. She seems like she's gone through a lot to get this far.'

Raven hid her small smile and looked up at Wally, with her smile long gone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I should leave."

"No, don't!" Wally grabbed Raven's arms. It was an action Raven didn't expect he'd do. They stood facing each other with their eyes locked in one another's. 'What am I doing...? I feel like I can't let her go. It feels as if I want her to stay.' Wally slowly leant his face closer to Raven's. He noticed her grey skin turn into a brush of red and then she closed her eyes. 'Why is my heart beating so fast? It feels like I'm going to faint any second. I don't know why I'm feeling this way... All I really know right now is that..., I don't ever want to leave you, Raven.'

Wally took one last look at Raven and closed his eyes. He slowly leant closer down towards Raven's face, until their lips touched. 'Raven, I promise I'll never leave you.'

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"Robin, are you sure you're going to be okay?" Cassie's voice came out like static. The heavy rain in Gotham caused the phone lines to be unclear.

"I'm sure, Cassie. James said it's nothing serious." Robin held his side where a bandage was wrapped around. "Slade can't finish me off that easily."

"Nice to hear you he didn't take your determination from you. The only thing that bothers me, Robin, is that none of us can remember most of what happened last night."

"She is right. I do not remember being the captured." Kory walked away from the door and sat next to Robin on the floor. "I only remember being at the fair of fun with Robin and then... nothing." Kory's worried expression changed, she was ashamed of not remembering what happened.

"That's alright, Kory. It wasn't your fault. It was a surprise attack." Robin put his hand on Kory's shoulder and the alien girl's face slowly lit up.

"Robin, all I remember was Slade... but you were the one who fought him. I don't remember me or Kory fighting him. I remember fighting someone but not him." Cassie tried to picture the villain she fought but there was no image that came to her.

"Yes. I recall having an enemy but I do not know who."

"So Slade had help. It was probably the H.I.V.E..." Robin took out a file of the H.I.V.E. It was only a small amount of information he's gathered from Batman's computer "But I still don't know why they want Kory."

"Hello? Earth to Robin. Kory's an alien who can shoot star bolts and is almost as strong as Wonderwoman! Why do you think the H.I.V.E. would go through all that trouble to get her?" Cassie grew more impatient by the minute.

"Who is this woman of wonder?" Kory turned away from the receiver and looked at Robin.

"She's just another superhero, Kory."

"Hey, Robin! Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes, I hear you, Cassie. But it just doesn't sound like the H.I.V.E.? It won't add up."

"Oh! So you have a better idea, ha, wonderboy?!"

"I've told you a thousand times! DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

"And I've told you a thousand times, DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!"

"I CAN TALK TO YOU IN ANY WAY I WANT!"

Kory lightly tapped Robin on the shoulder "Umm... Robin?"

"WHAT?!"

"Eeep!" Kory jumped to the other side of the bed and hid her face under the pillows. She pointed her hand out to the direction of the door.

"Huh?" Robin calmed down a bit and turned towards the door.

"Master Robin, Mr. Grayson would like to have a word with you in the study." James looked at Kory and back to Robin. "Alone."

"Tell him I'll be right there." James left and Robin followed. He left Kory in the room all alone.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Cassie's voice came from the receiver.

Kory flew over to the receiver with, clutching a pillow in one arm. "Yes. I am here. R-Robin left to speak with the man of bat."

"Hmm... sounds serious. But don't worry Kory, he'll be back."

"Yes, I fear so." Kory closed her eyes as tears started to form.

"Huh...?" Cassie knew how Kory felt at that moment and just like Robin, she didn't like Kory being upset. "Hey, Kory, listen. I've known Robin for years now and he's always been like that. We fight not because we hate each other, it's just how we are... and Robin, that's just how he is... You may not be used to it but don't worry, once you do, you'll see he's not so bad. Robin's a great friend. He just has a lot to live up to."

"Yes... the man of bat... but he is... terrifying." Kory clutched the pillow tight to her chest, as if using it as a shield.

"Haha. Yeah, Batman's like that, no one knows why or how he came to be, but Robin's his son. He either lives up to Batman... or he follows a new path, his own path."

Kory could no longer force her tears back. They gently ran down her cheeks and onto the pillow. "I do not wish for him to be like this man..."

"Don't worry, Kory. With you around, I'm sure he'll start to change... When I first saw him with you the other day, he was different. He was the Robin who wasn't like Batman. He was nicer. He seemed like a better friend." Kory wiped a tear away from her cheek and smiled. "So make me a promise, will you, Kory? Always stay friends with Robin no matter what."

Kory picked up the receiver and listened as Cassie hanged up. More tears flowed from her eyes but they weren't the sad tears she's always shed. Kory used the pillow to hide her tears and her smile.

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"What happened last night?" Robin already missed the silence which welcomed him when he walked in the room to find Bruce sitting on his chair.

Robin was maddened by Bruce's ignorance more than ever. "Isn't it obvious to you yet? We got Kory back, without your help, and the bad guy managed to lay a hand on me."

"What I want to know, Robin, is that why you let the villain get away?"

"We didn't! I mean... it was an accident."

Bruce stood up and took off his glasses. "Letting a villain loose in the city is not an accident we're allowed to make."

"It's not like that, Bruce. Slade had friends. Somebody was helping him."

"Deathstroke... works alone. After Wintergreen died and the people closest to him turned against him, he's never trusted anybody."

"He was probably working for someone, the H.I.V.E. After all, why else would he kidnap Kory?"

"Like I said, Deathstroke works alone. He could want the alien for other reasons. He turned the H.I.V.E. down once before, I doubt he could've changed his mind." Bruce turned away from Robin and rubbed his temple.

Robin looked down and clenched his fist "... Why does the H.I.V.E. want her?"

"You should know. I gave the alien to you so you can watch her, interrogate her, find out everything about her past."

"All I know is that, her past is too painful for me to get her to talk about."

Bruce slammed his hands on his table and yelled at Robin "The alien could be a threat, Robin! We have to know who she is!"

"I know enough to know that Kory is my friend! And I don't interrogate my friends!" Robin didn't want to take anymore of Bruce's accusations.

"Robin, don't be so foolish! She landed here on a spaceship! The H.I.V.E. came straight after her! And until now, they haven't stopped searching for her all over Gotham! The city's being turned upside-down! She's not once of us, Robin! She could be a villain!"

Robin had enough. For all the years he's known about Bruce, he's never been this angry and fed up with him. "No. You're wrong, Bruce. Kory is different. She's not a villain, she doesn't hurt people. And if she is a hero, I'm going to make sure she'll never turn out the same way I did." Robin turned for the door.

"The same way you turned out?! I gave you all the training and all the gadgets you could possibly want. You live under my roof, eat my food. I was the one who made you into who you are. I was the one who made you into someone. I made you into Robin."

"You gave me everything, Bruce and I'm thankful... but you never gave the thing that I desperately needed the most... you were never the father I wanted you to be."

"I was a father to you the same way I--!" Bruce cut himself off. He swallowed his words and walked over to his desk. He put his hand on his desk for support. "If you're going to leave, just leave... and never come back."

"It was an honour to work with you... Batman." Robin started to walk out of the study.

"And take the alien with you... at least the H.I.V.E. will lay off Gotham if she's gone." As soon as Robin heard Bruce's last words, he closed the doors behind him.

'Goodbye, Bruce.' Robin walked through the corridors, stopping at every room where he had left his belongings. His last stop was his room, where he left Kory.

"Robin?" As Robin opened the door, he found the alien girl on the floor with her face resting on a pillow.  He walked over to Kory and knelt down beside her. He looked at her and noticed a few dried tears on her face. He grabbed her and held her close as if protecting her. "R-Robin are you..."

"I'm so sorry Kory. I never meant to hurt you." Robin's voice was low but strong. "There was no excuse for me to yell at you and I hope you can forgive me."

"Robin I..." Kory started to let her tears out again and she pulled Robin closer to her. "You were never not forgiven."

Robin smiled "Thanks, Kory. You're a great friend... The first time we met, you made a promise to me and you've kept it." Robin looked at Kory and she looked back at him "Now, it's my turn to make you promise... Kory, I promise I will never let anyone hurt you. From this day on, I promise that everything's going to be different. Things are going to be easier for you and the moment things start to get too hard for you, I'm going to make sure I'll be by your side making you smile."

Kory 's eyes filled with more tears and Robin let her head rest on his shoulder. "Thank you, Robin."

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Bzzzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzzzzzzt!

"Cassie, could you get the door please?"

"Sure mom." Cassie gave the remote to her mother and walked to the front door. 'It's so late at night. These guys better have a good reason why they're here.' Cassie turned on the porch lights and opened the door. The rain poured hard behind her friends which stood at her door. "Robin! Kory!"

"Hey, Cassie. Do you mind if we crash here tonight?" Robin held a fairly big bag in his hand filled with his stuff and his other hand held his helmet.

"Yes please. We  could do of the hair and traditional painting of the face?" Kory had a hopeful smile on her face and she held a helmet, similar to Robin's in her hands.

"Ok... I think I know what you mean... Now come in, its cold out there."

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"YOU DID WHAT?!?!" Cassie's voice echoed in her fairly large room.

"I had to. He was pushing me way too hard! And he said so many bad things about Kory."

"Dick, listen to me... Robin is an identity. Robin is Batman's sidekick! I don't read comic books but that's how things go! Without Batman, Robin's just... some kid in a costume."

"No. As long as I carry the name Robin it's always going to mean something. I'm nobody's sidekick and I'm not just some kid."

Cassie was getting frustrated by their argument. She sat down on her bed beside Kory and sighed. "Okay..." She looked up at Robin. "Let's say Robin's not Batman's sidekick anymore... what are you planning to do now?"

"I'm not so sure."

"WHAT?! YOU DIDN'T EVEN THINK THINGS THROUGH!" Cassie was screaming at Robin again.

"Eeep!" Kory jumped under the bed and watched as the two heroes yell at each other.

"WILL YOU STOP YELLING AT ME?!!"

"NO! BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THINGS THROUGH YOUR SOLID HEAD!"

"OH  AND YOU'RE CALLING ME STUBBORN?!?"

"HEY! WHATS THAT SUPP-"

"CASSIE! DICK! What is going on?! I can hear you yelling all over the house! And you're friend doesn't seem to like it either!" Cassie's mother pointed at Kory under the bed.

Robin knelt down beside the bed and pulled Kory out of there. "I'm sorry, Kory."

"We're sorry, mom. It's just that somebody ran away from home."

"You weren't supposed to tell her that!"

"Dick, did you really leave Bruce?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Sandsmark but it was my choice and I just can't keep living in that house."

"No... Poor Bruce. You're not his only kid who's run away from him."

"What?"

"I know about you, Robin and I know who Bruce really is as well. And I know you're not the first to walk away from Bruce's expectations like that. There was someone just before you."

"Are you saying I have an older brother?"

"No one is really sure about anything when it comes to Bruce. Only he knows the truth and I doubt he'll tell anybody else..." She turned around leaving Robin in deep thoughts. "Well you two can stay here for as long as you need to. I'm sure Cassie wouldn't mind you staying with us." Cassie smiled at her mother. "Now, I'm going to sleep and I don't want any more yelling coming from this room."

"Yes, mom." Cassie's mother closed the door on her way out. "What are you going to do now, Robin?"

"Will you go back to the man of bat and wish to know more of this lost brother?"

"No. I promised myself that I'm never going to set foot in that mansion."

"But how are you going to find out more about the old Robin if Bruce is the only one who knows about him? And I know you're dying to find out more."

"I'm going to ask him myself. I'm going to find him without having to confront Bruce. I won't stop until I find out more about the old Robin"

"You know that's impossible. Bruce is your father, Robin. Even if you don't want him to be, his blood is in yours."

"He was never a father to me... and please, Cassie I don't really want to talk about him anymore." Robin stood up from where he was kneeling and went over to his bag. He searched through it, looking for something.

All their years together Cassie knew how Robin felt about Bruce and she understood that he's had enough. "I'm sorry, Robin. I promise I'll never bring him up."

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"Is he alright?"

"Yes, he's fine. They both got here a while ago and now they're sound asleep..." Helena Sandsmark was Cassie's mother and a good friend of Bruce. She stood at her porch talking to the man on her roof. "Tell me, Bruce, why didn't tell him in the first place?"

"Because things like that will just get in the way."

"And so you didn't tell him and something else got in the way. No matter how many secrets you keep from the boy, you know it'll never be alright. While he's young, he deserves to know the truth. Or he's going to grow up, not trusting the people closest to him. Aren't you scared this kid's going to grow up just like you?"

The man on the roof dropped down onto Helena's porch and stood beside her, admiring the quiet side of the city. "He won't turn out like me."

"So why not just tell him now?"

"Because I made a promise... and as long as I keep it, so will he... Then will the boy be the real hero I never turned out to be..."