บท 6: A Make Over
"So, you really are fucked, aren't you?"
That was an understatement to say the least. Raven sighed silently as she moved to the kitchen, Cain following behind her. "Can you put on some coffee?" he asked, she just gave him a look.
"Alright, fine. No coffee," he pulled out a bag of something from somewhere, "drugs instead?" The look she gave him must have been a sight with the way he laughed at her.
"No again." She rolled her eyes, obviously. "So what do you do for fun?" he asked her, wanting to get an answer. It seemed sighing would be one of the things she'd start to be proficient in when dealing with Cain.
"I don't do anything for fun."
"Jesus, I can already tell your social life is going to be a pipe dream. Uh, any hobbies or interest at least?" God, was he going to always be this annoying?
...On second thought, yes. Him. Why was he here, why was he helping her, why was he involving himself into her life? He knew who her father was, so why?
"You." she stated softly, "Why are you doing this? Why help me?"
He raised an eyebrow and smiled like an idiot, "Well, I think you're hot and you got strong magic. I'll probably need that at one point in my life soo... call this an investment of sorts." he said.
Well wasn't that nice, she thought. And hot? She looked herself over quickly and found Cain to be wrong. And possibly delusional.
When she told him that he just smiled like it was a joke only he knew. She didn't know which part he was smiling at though. "Come on, let's get outta here," he said. She stood still, looking back and forth between Cain and the building she'd been living in for the past few weeks as she made her decision.
She took a step forward, taking his hand as her stomach churned and twisted and within the blink of an eye they were on the balcony of a building. With the way he sighed and plopped on a bean bag that was laying around, it led her to believe that it was his home.
"So, what do you think?" He gestured to the view the balcony had and she took it all in. And was impressed, not that she'd ever tell a living soul.
"Hnn."
"Ain't that cute..." He said, referring to her non-committal answer. She took her eyes off the view and looked at Cain. His eyes were closed as he basked in the sunlight; his hands were moving fluidly, almost like to a sound or song only he could hear.
He stopped when it became erratic. "So, what do you wanna do now sweetheart? I can... drop you off somewhere else if you want, get you set up with some actual protection and maybe even some wards to keep shit out?"
What did she want to do, besides the obvious: Defeat her father. Live, obviously; live her life, the way she wanted. And she knew he wasn't done, "...or?" She asked, knowing there was more.
The way he smiled made her spine shiver, "Well, you stay with me, we get into tom foolery, some shenanigans and oh, yes, figuring out how to kill dear old daddy."
...was this a mistake?
***
This was in no way a mistake on my part and was going to be the most fun I've had since I got here. "I'll take your silence as a yes, best prepare yourself love. We are goin' to fuck shit up." I say. Now, I don't know about you Raven, but I'm starving.
"You want anything?" I asked as I walked to the kitchen, pulling a nice slab of steak from the fridge. "I can only really cook steak, so you're shit out of luck if you're a vegetarian."
I pulled out a frying pan and put some oil on it and started to heat it up. I turned around and clapped my hands together as I looked at her. "So, what'll it be?" I asked her.
***
Licking my plate clean, I got up and put our plates in the sink and washed them while the TV played in the background.
"So, you made a choice yet?" I asked her, referring to what we (mainly I) talked about during dinner. "We could get you a nice make over and you need to take a shower. Towel's over there, love." I gestured to where the towel and shower was.
She grumbled but stood up and took the towel and went for a shower. Yay. No more stinky.
I went back to washing dishes, humming a little song I knew. "Man, this shit is so wild!" I whisper-shouted, I mean; you're in DC, got magic and a possible roommate, can dip in and out of the DC Multiverse whenever you want and pop into a different one.
I mean... Fucking wild. Even 12 (nearly 13) years later and I still couldn't get over it. Some others who might've been in my position might be whining and I could understand that but come on, a new life. A new start. Everything I wanted I could get.
Ooh, that reminds me, it's the start of January soon and that means my birthdays around the corner. As I was cleaning the cutlery, my finger was sliced open to the bone, "Fuck!" I winced.
I got a cloth to wipe the blood off but when I took another look, the wound wasn't ther... right, Demon Blood. Still hurts though.
I walked into the lounge and laid down on the bean bag and kicked my feet up and chillaxed. Five minutes of TV later Raven came out of the shower in fresh clothes that actually made her look presentable.
"Ah, good. Now that you're dressed and looking better than before, it's about time we got you a makeover." I got up and took her hand and teleported before she could voice her displeasure.
"You can't keep doing that!" She stressed.
I looked at her funny, "Of course I can dumbass, plus it's way too funny not to do." And a bit addictive if I'm being honest, but hey, Elder Blood = Multiversal Magic for the win baby!
We appeared in front of a bustling area in Metropolis, close to a few stores where we could get her the makeover she so desperately needed. After meeting her eyes with mine, we were off on the town.
It was... nice. I never really did these kinds of things with anyone back then, so I had to make up for lost time now.
It was even better to see her smile, albeit very small ones. The kind where it's just the minute upward twitch of her mouth.
"Now that we've gotten you some clothes, I think it's time for a haircut." The look she gave would've cut anyone who didn't have my healing to death. Lucky for me I heal quick. "Put the fuckin' shadows away love, you know I'm right. Now come on."
I dragged her to a hairdresser and paid for her to get something new, something fresh, something Raven-y. So, when she came back out, I was breath takingly swooning.
The length of her hair reached down just past her neck; her bangs came out on the sides of her forehead, and she did look pretty. "Nice work they did there," I gestured to her new hairdo, "So, wanna go home now or just hang around a little bit more?" I asked.
"..." Her mouth moved but no sound came out.
I'm sorry, what was that? "What'd you say Rae Rae?"
She pouted at my nickname, "...ant to stay longer..." She whispered, though it was so quiet I thought I heard wrong.
"Alrighty!" I looked around for something for us to do when a genius idea stuck the gold mine that was my brain. "Let's go get some clothes."
She looked confused, "We already have some?" Yeah, no. We need style! Flair! Something dramatic and I needed to take her mind off her dad. And this is where my genius plan would come into action.
"Fuck no. We got shit you wear around the house; we need something else for when we're out an' about." I stopped looking around when I found my target, "Come on."
I pulled her along to a fancy clothes store. It was the kinda place you'd want to shop for clothes at when you had the cash to spend. And boy did I have cash (though I was running a bit low, gonna have to fix that).
I entered and when I didn't hear Raven walking behind me, I stopped. Turning behind me, I saw her looking at an outfit that would definitely work with her aesthetic. "No time for sightseeing Raven, we got Benjamins to spend."
I'm definitely stealing that on our way out.
***
"Is this really necessary Cain?" She asked me, and yes, yes it was. She was also wearing the outfit I 'bought' for her.
"Yep. If you're gonna be living with me, these are the three rules that must be followed with no exceptions."
"It's always three." She murmured. Eh, she was right, but it should be fine. I mean, it's not like there's going to be like a God of Homes coming in here and fucking my shit up, right?
"Stop the complaining, it's fine. Now, Rule 1, you specifically, have to express yourself. And since you won't do it by talking it out, I want you to try something that works for you. Rule 2, we practice together, okay? None of that lone wolf shit that'll get you killed. Or destroy my home. And Rule 3," and it was an important rule to me, "Don't lose, hurt, harm or in any way let this dog get even a tick."
"Woof!" The dog barked.
She raised two fingers and I motioned for her to speak, "What's the dog called?" She asked softly, looking at the cute and cuddly little bastard.
"...Bronx. His name is Bronx." I tried to steady my breathing when the words flowed from my mouth. It didn't seem like Raven noticed and if she did, she didn't say anything which I appreciated.
"Ahem, what's the second thing you wanted to ask?" I said after a pause of silence between us.
"What works for you?" She questioned.
I pondered for a little bit before I gave her my answer, "Music. I listen to music."
"One more thing, where did you get the dog Cain? Please tell me you did not kidnap a dog."
"Me? No, never. How could you ask something so dastardly evil, as if I would commit such a heinous crime?" How could she even ask me that? Granted she was completely correct, but I would never admit that to her. "And even if I did, it would only be better for him. He could've and definitely was being abused and neglected, so everyone and dog wins." Yep, that's my reasoning.
Totally like I didn't disembowel the cunt who hurt Bronx.
"Hmmm..." Don't look at me like that woman, this'll be good for us.
"Plus, and completely related to the subject," I lied, "I think I have an idea on where we can get some books on magic. But be forewarned, this will be highly dangerous. Extremely deadly and probably have a high chance of death."
"Fine..." Aw, cheer up, this'll be fun.
***
The pair made their way through the mansion, occasionally dodging traps set out to keep people from getting the knowledge others so desperately wanted and craved.
The two made for an odd duo; one loudmouth and one introvert taken to the extreme.
A match made in hell it seemed.
When they finally reached the library, they split up and went to do their own thing. The boy went off to find grimoires he thought were suited to him.
The girl went off to find books on meditation and something that could teach her how to properly control her abilities, along with any type of information on demons, ranging from the weakest to the strongest and everything in between.
Raven's hands came across a paint brush, after a moment of consideration she took it. "Found anything you like yet?" Cain asked, it seemed like he was enjoying what he was reading.
She approached him and glanced at the book in his hands, it was about transmutation and what it could do. It had a hold of Cain, so much so that he didn't even realize she was there until she took the book out of his hands.
"How can you talk and read, but not realize when I'm in front of you?" She asked. It baffled her when he did stupid things like that.
"Uh, the grind never stops?" He said like she would take that as an answer. She didn't.
She crossed her arms and looked at him, "Fine fine, Christ, not even the nutjobs were this fuckin' nosey. I zone out sometimes, that's all." She nodded but the look in her eyes didn't agree with her action.
The creak of a door opening silenced them completely. Cain grabbed her and, in an instant, they were on the second floor of the library. Watching an old man come in, "Zatanna, is that you?" He asked, his voice echoed slightly.
Raven looked to Cain only to see him sweating, "What did you do?!" She whispered harshly; eyes narrowed in anger.
"Don't look at me like that! I didn't do shit!"
"Then why are you sweating?" She asked, a little smugly.
"I'm not fucking sweating!" He wiped the sweat away. "We need to get outta here, like right the fuck now." He continued.
They moved slowly as to not make any sound, "Wait, the books." Raven said. She turned back, going down the stairs--
She was hit with a blast of magic that sent her tumbling through the bookshelves in an instant. Cain, still on the second floor, sprang into action immediately. Magic spilled out in an aura of flames that shielded Raven from Zatarra's attack.
"Oi, CUNT!" Zatarra turned to face him only to find Cain's fist buried in his face. He smashed into a wall, cracking it. "Alright, come on. Upsie daisy woman," his eyes caught sight of the books they were reading and took them.
They disappeared in a in an instant, if you were to blink, you'd wonder if they were ever even there.
***
I put her on the bed in her room, having checked if she was in any sort of critical condition with magic already. Finding none, I pulled up a chair and sat with her.
I only left to get some food and drinks. When I came back something was wrong... off in a sense of speaking. The hair at the back of my neck prickled, "You gonna say hi or just stand there like a pedo?"
Nothing happened, no delayed attack, ambush or anything of the sort. Just the feeling that I was being watched. A groan from Raven brought my focus back to her.
I wiped the sweat from her forehead with a rag I had nearby, "Just had to go for some stupid fuckin' books, huh? You're gonna be the death of me, I swear to God." I said.
She just groaned some more, aww, ain't that nice. Shutting me up even while you're asleep, such kindness.
"What am I even doing here?" I asked myself. I didn't expect an answer, but it would've been nice to have one.
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The_Abstract
The_Abstract Yay! Chappy has arrived, now if there is any spelling mistakes I've made that I haven't spotted, please point 'em out to me. Also, did I portray Raven the right way?
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