Scath Roth (Jinx x Raven)

Chapter 12: Telling the Family

Thursday, February 25, 1999
Wayne Manor 19:00

*Raven POV*

I head down to the dining room, right next to the kitchens room. I'm looking forward to seeing Bruce again and telling everyone of what is going on. Except for the Jinx situation. I'll just tell them I ran into I pretty girl that I didn't know and got to talking to and found interesting. Believable enough. I hope.

Entering the dining room everyone is already there, with Father just starting to hand out plates of food. I sit in my designated seat, across, the 6 person table, from Bruce who's at the head. Father is at his right hand with Jason next to him, and Barbara is at his left hand. Leaving the only empty seat at my right hand. Though the table is so large we could easily fit 2-4 more chairs here.

As per tradition, we talk about anything new going on as we all sit and begin to eat, starting with Bruce. He talks of a small bank heist he stopped and a merger with a small manufacturer he bought out for Wayne Enterprises. Father is next and tells of a few things he's done, including: cleaning Barbara's tools and Jason's room (side-eyeing then both as he says so, making both have 'hand in the cookie jar' expressions) and dusting and vacuuming the manor. He also trimmed some of the larger hedges and plucked in season fruits and veggies to use for tonight and tomorrow's meals (making us all smile). Barbara was next: telling of routine checks she did on all vehicles (all, of course, in perfect order) and a new idea for their bat vehicles to make mobility easier at faster speeds. Bruce and Barbara were about to go off track talking about it, but Father put an end to it with a clearing of his throat and a side eye. Jason told of his day at school how he out-performed his peers, once again, to which I suggest independent studies in magics while I'm here; he readily agreed after the shock wore off. I'll teach him in simple forms of mind protection to help him from any other Telepaths or Empaths out there.

Finally it was my turn, and of course I took a lot longer. We ended up moving to one of the living rooms (the coziest one with a family couch, two rocking/reclining chairs, and a fireplace) to eat desert (two scoops each of our favorite ice creams with our favorite toppings), and for me to finish telling of the Cantarians.

Everyone was extremely surprised, even though both Father and Bruce wore their normal masks of indifference, both looked intrigued.

"So your now the leader of an entire alien race?" Barbara asked still shocked. Jason was so shocked he looked like a fish out of water and couldn't even form words.

"Co-leader," I corrected.

"So you're getting married to an alien?" Barbara asked. Making Jason's eyes grow even wider somehow.

"No, I'm not marrying an alien," I dissuade making everyone sigh in relief and me shake my head. "Besides. I have a date tomorrow morning."

Everyone went back to their surprised state.

"Gosh. I'm not that hopeless. ...Am I?"

The whole group nodded with varying answers of "yes".

"Aww. Come on. Obviously not if I've actually got a date."

"Ok. Then who's it with," Barbara asked.

"A young woman I met yesterday while exploring the city some. We hit it off and agreed to meet tomorrow to get to know each other more."

"Does that really count as a date then," Jason asked.

"I didn't think so, but she kept calling it a date so I guess that makes it one."

"It sooo does. She's obviously into you, Rae," Barbara replied.

"I hope so," I mumbled to myself, though everyone obviously heard it.

"Why don't you two head upstairs then and pick out something to wear. I'll take care of your dishes tonight," Father said making Barbara and I smile with excitement.

"Thank you, Father."
"Thanks, Alfred!"

We thanked before racing up the stairs, me not using my powers in order to make it a fair race.

I won, of course.

"Jeez-us, what do they feed you at the tower??" Barbara asks, referring to when I jumped from the stairs over the banister.

"Nothing as healthy as Father's cooking, that's for sure," I answer with a laugh.

Barbara laughs too, picturing the basic diet of a group of teenagers. "Alright, Birdy, let's get started. Open up that closet so we can have a look."

We walk into my room and I open the pull away closet doors, a dark wood like the rest of my room.

"Well, there's not a large array of colors, so it'll be easier to decide one. Since this date will be at a coffee shop, I suggest going casual, but not too laid-back," Barbara advises as she goes through my closet.

"Then a button up is too formal?"

"Hmm. No actually. I think that's a good idea," she says as she grabs on of my white button-ups and a dark blue cardigan sweater. I don't even remember buying that sweater. "Grab a pair of jeans to pair with this," she says as she lays the clothes out on my dresser. "What shoes are you gonna wear with it?"

"The checkered ones I guess," I answer as I pull out the jeans and lay them out with the tops. I smooth everything out so they won't wrinkle, as Barbara brings over my shoes and sets them on the floor next to my dresser.

"Now. The important question-" Barbara starts before I cut her off

"No, Barbs. Stop right there."

"Aww. Come on. Tell me what kind-"

"My choice in underclothes is none of your business, Barbs."

"They'll be cute at least, right?" She asks, throwing me off a little.

"I-. No. Should they be? You know what. It won't matter. I'm just going to wear what I usually wear when I'm not in my leotard."

"So black boxer shorts and a black sports bra? Real classy. It'll get you all the ladies," Barbara responds with a thick layer of sarcasm.

"I don't want "all the ladies", anyways. Just..." I trail off.

"Birdy?" Barbara asks gently.

"Ya?"

"How long have you actually known this girl?" Barbara asks.