Birds of a Feather

32

I made my way to the back of the building where I had first fought Harley. When I exited the doors, Jason was there with Richard as Harley stood handcuffed between the two of them. She watched as the open door I stood in let out the last bit of fear gas.

"I'd like to go to jail now please. Anything but that nasty gas." She said, seemingly panicked. I nodded at Jason and Richard as I walked behind Harley and started pushing her towards the next block over. I could see the lights of the police cars in between the buildings across the street. Harley didn't put up a fight, which I found odd but relieving.

"You know. He's not coming back any time soon." I mutter as I slow my pace. Somewhere in my heart I knew that I wanted to help her. Harley's case files had covered her whole past, and I know firsthand what it's like to feel like someone's puppet.

"I don't know what to do without him." She said quietly.

"Well, you're going to have to serve time in prison. But I happen to know that there's a certain little girl who might like to meet you." I said carefully, trying not to rile her up. She stopped for a moment, clearly in shock that I knew of her daughter.

"How did you know?" She sighed. We were nearing the police and I wasn't sensing any form of restraint from her, so I stopped and turned to face her.

"I acquired the leagues files on you a while back and the birth records were included. I know there's good in you somewhere Harley, and I hope you can find it too." I tried to give a reassuring smile but I'm not too sure how convincing I was. She simply nodded and walked herself over to the police where an officer helped her into the back of a car. Just before I left, she turned and looked back at me and gave me a smile of her own.

Once Harley was in custody, I made my way back to the museum. I was cautious as I made my way to the back of the building, not really wanting anyone to see me. Once inside, I could tell that most of the gas was now gone, the green color in the room mostly evaporated. Except for the one green blur in the corner of the room. I focused my vision in the dim museum lights and realized the green blur was in fact a very confused looking Beast Boy. Next to him stood Cyborg and Starfire who all seemed to be comforting each other. I immediately turned to leave, not wanting to disrupt them. I was terrified of being the nightmare that they saw in their fear induced states.

"Raven?" Her voice rang out again, this time without the shakiness from crying. She sounded angry and she had every right to be. I continued to walk towards the exit in an attempt to ignore her, but she quickly flew in front of me blocking the door.

"Raven, you will speak to me." She said firmly. Her eyes were still puffy from crying but other than that she seemed to be in good shape.

"What do you wish to speak about?" I winced at my own words as they left my mouth. I hadn't meant to sound that harsh, I was the one who should be lectured.

"Raven I thought you had died in that building. We mourned you. I searched for months because I knew my best friend would not have died so easily. Why have you not contacted anyone? Why have you not contacted me?" With each sentence she rose higher into the air and the starbolts on her hands grew brighter. I tilted my head in shame, until I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Cyborg, who admittedly didn't look happy to see me.

"Star she was asked to stay hidden. She didn't have a choice. You need to calm down." He said sternly. However, his words seemed to have the opposite effect on her as her eyes only shined brighter.