To Make Team Work

4.

Raven felt another headache coming on. She was nervous. What is taking them so long? What could they possibly be talking about? Suddenly she heard a 'meow'. She looked over the bed to see a green kitten looking up at her from the floor with wide green eyes. "I am not picking you up if that is what you are hoping for," Raven said.

Beast Boy transformed into himself. "That face has gotten me out of a lot of tough spots," Beast Boy said, "chicks dig the kitten."

"I am not like most chicks."

"No, you are not," he said, giving her a once over. "Why do you always cover your face? You should pull your hood down."

Raven shook her head. "I don't want to."

"Are you ugly?" Beast Boy asked.

"I do not know," Raven replied.

"Let me be the judge of that," Beast Boy reached for a hood, but Raven moved away. "Okay," he said, throwing his hands up in surrender. "I'll leave it alone...for now," he said, giving her a wink. Raven didn't respond.

"Beast Boy, are you bothering her?" Cyborg came strolling in.

"No," Beast Boy said, pretending he was offended, "we were conversing."

Cyborg scoffed. "No way. You were probably doing all the talking."

"I resent that," Beast Boy said.

"Mind if I join?" another voice asked.

"Rose!" Beast Boy shouted.

"Dang, not so loud, B," Cyborg said.

Rose walked over to them. "It's getting pretty heated out there. But I'm on team Raven," Rose said.

"Team Raven?" Raven questioned.

"They're discussing whether or not you should get kicked out," Rose responded. Raven didn't react.

"Way to beat around the bush," Beast Boy muttered.

Rose ignored him. "I know what it's like to have a mental case as a father. My father is Slade Wilson aka, Deathstroke."

"You are his daughter?" Raven asked. She knew who Deathstroke was. "He is a bad guy."

"Doesn't hold a candle to your father, but...yeah. I didn't want to be part of him anymore. Because of him, I have no identity. I don't have a social security card. I don't have a birth certificate. I don't have a special someone. I have no identity to protect, which is why I use my real name with you all. I don't exist."

"Still, that is awful," Raven said.

"It is what it is," Rose said with a shrug. Raven sensed people coming before they even entered the infirmary. "Oh joy," Rose spoke sarcastically as the rest of the team and Red Robin piled into the room.

"We've come to a decision," Red Robin announced.

(10 minutes ago)

Ripping his mask off, Tim grabbed the phone sitting on his desk in his room and hit the call button.

"Tim, is something wrong?" the voice on the other end answered.

"Is something wrong?" Tim repeated Bruce's question in disbelief. "Yeah, there's something wrong! You sent me a ticking time bomb. You failed to mention she's the daughter of a narcissistic megalomaniac demon!"

"She told you," Bruce stated calmly, his voice level.

"Yeah, I didn't really give her a choice. Bruce, if the Justice League couldn't help her, what makes you think a bunch of teens can?"

"The Justice League could have helped her. We just decided not to. Not our finest hour."

"So what? She draws her father here and destroys us all? I'm supposed to sit by and let that happen?"

"What makes you think that will happen?"

"What makes you think it won't?" Tim shot back. "She's quiet and weird. She barely speaks to anyone. She's always locked in her room. She isn't a team player."

"Have you ever thought maybe she just doesn't know how to socialize?" Tim grew quiet. Raven did mention being raised by monks and not ever being allowed to play with kids her own age. He highly doubted Trigon taught her social skills.

"I sent her to you because I knew she would be a valuable asset to the team."

"Well," Tim sighed as he leaned against his desk. "She is a great fighter."

"And she's also an empath. Did it ever cross your mind that maybe she stayed in her room because of all the emotions your team projects, and she's not yet strong enough to handle all of that emotion?" Tim was ashamed to say that he had not thought of that. He said nothing to his adopted father and mentor. "Tim," Bruce sighed, "she doesn't just need help. She needs a family. You of all people should understand that."

"I guess, compared to the way I've treated the others, I haven't been that welcoming," Tim admitted slowly. "I haven't taken any time to talk to her. At all." Tim hung his head in shame. He was disappointed with himself.

"You're so used to having people gravitate to you as Tim Drake and Red Robin. You have no idea what to do when it's someone who couldn't care less about your name." Tim nodded. That was a fair and true assessment.

"She really is different from the others. The only one with a similar personality is Rose. She's a grump, but, like everyone else, she is more extroverted. Raven is an introvert with no one in her corner. I've been a dick," Tim face-palmed himself.

"Give it another shot, and if in another month you still want to kick her out, I will arrange something."

"Thanks, Bruce," Tim said as he hung up. That conversation was just what he needed. He now knew what he needed to do.

(present)

"You aren't being kicked out, Raven," Red Robin stated. "It's not your fault your father is who he is. And if he ever comes knocking on our door, we will help you take him down." Raven cocked her head in confusion. It was almost like Red Robin had a split personality. This smiling guy who was at ease around her – she had no idea who he was.

"Training is over for today," Red Robin announced. Beast Boy and Kid Flash cheered and raced upstairs to play video games. Cyborg said he would be in the garage if anyone needed him. Superboy and Wonder Girl decided to fly...somewhere. And Raven – he turned to look back at her and frowned when he saw the empty bed. Red Robin chuckled. So that's what that feels like, he thought. He smirked. He needed to talk to her. Fortunately for him, her room was right across from his. Maybe I should change out of my uniform, he looked down at himself. I don't want to make her feel like she's being accosted or interrogated. I'll keep the mask on...and the boots, tights, shirt...I'll just take off my belt, he decided. Now, he just had to find Raven. Hopefully, she was in her room.