I'm Fine (book 2)

Tiny Boxes

Nightwing spent more time with Damien more that night than he had ever done in his life. He studied his slow breath carefully as if he was waiting for a monumental change to occur but nothing changed. He glanced up and noticed the sky starting to lighten as a new wave of fatigue gripped his body. Just as Nightwing stood to leave, he heard a rustle of Damien's arm against the blanket.

"Shit man, didn't have to drug me like that!" Damien's voice croaked in a whisper as he tried to open his eyes to the painfully bright room. All Nightwing could do was shake his head as he sat back down with a stiff grunt. His back had started bothering him from sitting in a stool all night but it wasn't Nightwing's time to complain.

"Back is kickin' your ass I see..." Damien mumbled under his breath with a tint of guilt in his voice.

"Oh I'm fine!" Nightwing dismissed before shifting the attention back to Damien, "What the hell happened to you?"

Starfire jumped out the window and flew blindly to the city. Feeling the crisp air hit her bare shoulders, she shivered as she slowed down towards down town. She paced the sidewalks until she found the right location and slipped in the side door.

Raven woke up to the sound of Beastboy snoring next to her in her bed. For the first time in days, she fell clear headed and couldn't locate any pain in her body. She got up and slipped her cloak on quietly in order to sneak out of the door.

Raven walked down the hallway to the bathroom first. She examined her face in the mirror, which even looked brighter than normal. It was still too early to take a pregnancy test but she had been thinking about plan b. Today would be the last day to take it if she wanted it to work. Neither of them had been ready for a baby and they weren't even sure if it would kill her. She eyed the box in the cabinet and sighed. She wanted a baby, but she wasn't sure if she deserved it. She knew Beastboy would make a great father, but she was half demon. How could she of all people even begin to be a responsible mom? Letting the thoughts marinade in her head a little longer, she left for the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

Damien fidgeted with the IV in his hand, still uncomfortable with its presence. He kept his eyes down, knowing he was about to admit something earth shattering.

"So, you know how I had investigated that underground fighting ring?" Damien started and watched Nightwing's heart visibly sink in disappointment.

"Yes" Nightwing gritted his teeth, trying to be patient before prematurely yelling at him.

"Well, something wasn't right, so I kept going back. I had a weird suspicion about a couple of the fighters being involved with Slade because of their outfits." Damien continued cautiously. Nightwing sat silently, at the mention of Slade. He didn't like where this was going but he'd take any lead he can get at this point. "I was doing a good job of blending into the crowd but I needed to get closer to the fighters to learn more. I signed up for my first fight way back a few weeks ago...."

"WHAT!?" Nightwing exploded. "I thought we agreed to stay out of sight!?"

"Yes, but it went really well and the fighters started trusting me!" Damien continued. Nightwing barely contained his rage as he allowed Damien to continue. "Well, I wasn't even supposed to be fighting last night... it was my night off. I was just there to support my friend Jordan. I even bet on him to win his fight but when I placed my bet with the attendant in the crowd like everyone else did. The envelope I got back was heavy so I quickly slipped it into my jacket to leave so no one would see. Once I left, I felt the device in the envelope stab me in the chest. I tried to run back to the tower through the tunnels but I blacked out when I got in the door of the tower. I tried to yell, I don't know if you guys heard me or if I set off an alarm. I was really out of it."

"What did the attendant look like?" Nightwing shelved his anger and asked curiously.

"Short, skinny, blond female. I've seen her before but I have no idea where..." he trailed off searching his memory. Nightwing knew exactly who it was.

Starfire slid into the back door of a global food store where there was a small alien working the meet market in the back deli room. She slid him some money on the counter and he turned to grab a small brown box and passed it back to her. The parcel contained Tamarainian writing on the outside and had her name: Princess Koriander written on the side. She slide the box into her purple backpack and quickly left the store.

Raven went back to the bathroom with her tea and sat on the edge of the bathtub to read over the box. She was halfway through reading the side effects when she heard a quiet knock on the door.

"Raven?" Beastboy whispered from outside.

"Yes." She opened the door.

"How are you feeling?" He asked and then saw the box on the counter and looked at her with confusion. She pulled him in the bathroom and shut the door behind him. She explained that today was the last day to take plan b and it still work. She also explained where her thoughts were at and with their current situation. He sat on the floor with her as they figured out their answer together.