Ordinary

By Blackheart Syaoran

AUTHOR: I hope someone likes this story, as it has non-canon pairings. 

Chapter 1: The Goth Girl

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“Hey, Robin,” Vic greeted as he met up with his friend. 

Robin groaned.  “Why does everyone call me that?” he asked. 

Vic frowned.  “What do you mean?  It’s your name, isn’t it?” 

Robin didn’t answer immediately.  As the two trudged down the sidewalk towards school, through puddles left by the previous night’s rain, Robin thought.  He could have sworn there was something wrong with people calling him “Robin” when he was dressed as he currently was, in street clothes. 

Sighing, the boy shook his head.  “I guess.  I could have sworn my parents wanted to name me something else, like ‘Tim’ or something.” 

Vic smirked.  “Tim Bird.  That’s almost as funny as your real name.” 

He had a sickening point there: Being named “Robin Bird” wasn’t exactly a blessing, even though people insisted it was disguised. 

“Guys, wait up!” someone called from behind, and the two stopped where they were, turning to see a young boy with hunter-green-dyed hair rushing towards them. 

“Gar, did you actually run all the way across town to reach us on our way to school?” Vic asked. 

“Yeah,” the smaller boy panted.  “You bet.” 

The other two shook their heads.  Garfield Logan, commonly called “Gar,” was something of an oddity at San Francisco High.  He was barely five foot, and his unusual habits and personality made him the target of some mockery. 

“Let’s just get going,” Vic said.  “Don’t want Robin to be late for Kory, do we?” 

The thought sent a shudder down Robin’s spine.  He’d been going on with Kory Anders for nearly six months, and he still wasn’t sure why.  It almost seemed natural, but for some reason, he kept thinking it was completely wrong.  She just seemed like too much for him, and even when he tried to do something about it all, everything forced itself to stay the way it was. 

Creepy, eh? 

The trio resumed their walking, but another thing happened when they were only a block from school: For some reason, as though he could sense something was following them, Robin turned around sharply, forcing the other two boys to halt. 

“Dude, what—?” Gar asked, and then looked. 

“Well, what do you know?” Vic said, sounding genuinely surprised. 

Not very far down the sidewalk, a girl their age was approaching.  She wore black cargo pants with chains and a pair of handcuffs attached to a couple of belt loops; a long-sleeve black button-down; short purple hair; and a black, very creepy Marilyn Manson shirt.  She looked straight at them, her expression distant and rather haunted. 

Vic leaned down to Robin’s ear and whispered, “We need to get to school.  Right now.” 

“Why?” Gar asked. 

“I’ll tell you at lunch,” Vic promised.  “Right now, we need to move.  Immediately.” 

Feeling rather displeased at this turn of events, though he couldn’t tell why, Robin followed his friends as they picked up their pace. 

“So, what’s wrong with that Goth girl?” Gar asked as he leaned on the lockers near Robin’s. 

Vic, standing next to the small boy, said, “Her name, for one thing.” 

Gar raised an eyebrow.  “Her name?” he repeated. 

Vic nodded.  “That Goth girl was Raven Trigon.  You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know a name like that is pretty weird.” 

“Okay,” Gar said.  “Anything else?” 

“She is—and I actually have stats and research to back this up—she is, without a doubt, the creepiest, spookiest, most bizarrest kid in school.” 

“Bizarrest?” Robin repeated, pausing from exchanging books for his coming classes.  “Is that even a word?” 

“Man, you know what I mean!” Vic said.  “She, like I just said, is just plain scary!  She always wears black, she’s always reading the Satanic Bible, and—get this—she is in a cult.” 

Vic’s last words had the effect of a grenade: Both of the other two boys just stared at him, shocked silent.  After a long moment, their voices returned, weakly. 

“She’s what?” Gar gaped.  “You’re joking!” 

“I am not.  That kid, Sebastian Blood, is always talking to her, and everyone knows he’s in a cult.  Way in a cult.” 

“That doesn’t prove a thing, though,” Robin pointed out. 

“Wanna bet?  He’s always calling her ‘sister’ and things like that, and those two get along like a couple of evil lovers or something.” 

Robin grimaced at that.  He didn’t know why, but the thought of Raven being with someone upset him—at least, a little.  He was, after all, a people person, and he was dating Kory Anders. 

Does Raven even have a family? he wondered briefly, before realizing that he shouldn’t have thought that, even though he had.  Of course Raven had a family: A mother and father, at the least.  If that Sebastian kid was her brother, what did he care, right? 

Something’s not right, Robin thought.  I don’t know what it is, but I intend to find out. 

“Uh-oh,” Vic said.  “Here comes trouble.” 

Gar and Robin both looked in the same direction as the school’s star linebacker, and felt their spirits diminish. 

Strutting her stuff straight towards them was Cindy Hex, more commonly referred to as Jinx, partly because of her witchcraft activities, and partly because she “cursed” anyone who crossed her.  Her pink hair gave her the look of a cartoon character, and her clothes clearly expressed her status as a Goth. 

Cindy stopped in front of Robin, a smile on her face.  “Hey there, Robin,” she greeted in a somewhat seductive tone.  “You doing anything after school?” 

“Don’t you have detention after school with Mr. Richards?” Vic asked. 

Cindy scoffed.  “Only idiots get detention.  And I’m no idiot.” 

“And of course your friends don’t get detention because the staff loves them,” Gar said sourly. 

He was referring to Lou Patton, nicknamed Gizmo, and Baran Flinders, nicknamed Mammoth.  The former was head of the Science Tech Club, and the latter was the school’s star quarterback.  

“Speaking of friends,” Cindy said, her smile returning and directed fully at Robin, “I was hoping you’d start hanging out with us again, Robin.” 

“Why?” 

Cindy kept smiling.  “Because my friends and I don’t think you belong with ordinary people, and because guys like you can never have too many friends.” 

Frowning, Robin replied, “I’ll think about it.” 

Apparently satisfied, Cindy loped off. 

Vic frowned at Robin.  “You’re not actually going to start hanging with her crew, are you?” 

“Why would I?”

“Good answer.” 

“Duh.” 

“Oh, hey, Vic,” Gar asked.  “Was the cult thing what you were going to tell me at lunch?” 

“No, it’s something bigger.  Trust me; it’ll blow your minds.” 

RING! 

“Better get to class now,” Robin sighed.  “See you at lunch.” 

“See ya,” Vic said and strode off for gym. 

“Same here,” Gar said as he turned to head for Geometry.  “We walking home together?” 

“Gar, you live on the other side of town.” 

“So?” 

Robin sighed.  “Maybe.  Look, we need to get to class.” 

And they parted. 

Psychology with Mr. Richards had to be, in Robin’s opinion, one of the absolute weirdest classes ever.  The teacher was a decrepit old man, his balding head, glasses, and musty-looking clothes giving the impression that he wasn’t fully in tune with reality. 

Must have been the reason people called him the Mad Mod. 

“All right, you lot, time to hand in your dream journal projects,” Mr. Richards said as he paced back and forth at the front of the room.  “And they better be complete, or you duckies are getting extra homework on Monday.” 

Robin ignored a couple of groans from some other students and pulled out his notebook, which he had unimaginatively labeled “Robin Bird’s Dream Journal; Mr. Richards’ class, Pd. 1.”  He handed it to the student in front of him, and slumped in his seat, hoping Mr. Richards wouldn’t make them take too many notes. 

“Psst.” 

Robin cocked an eyebrow and turned slightly in his seat.  In the row to his right and one seat back, Raven Trigon was staring at him.  Knowing that the teacher wasn’t listening for the moment, he asked quietly, “What?” 

“I have to talk to you.” 

Robin frowned.  “Why?” 

“I can’t tell you here.” 

“Then when can you tell me?” 

Raven began to reply, but was cut off by the teacher. 

“Aha!  Miscreants, and in my class, no less!”  Brandishing a frankly disturbing smile, he stalked over.  “You two just earned yourselves an after school detention.” 

“What?” Robin gaped.  There was no way his parents would be happy when they heard about this.  And unfortunately for him, Mr. Richards’ after school detentions always occurred on the day they were given, which meant Robin was in very hot water.  “Can’t it be tomorrow or something, Mr. Richards?” 

“Oy!  You talked in class, and you knew the consequences, so you brought it on yourself, snotty!” the teacher barked.  “Just take the bit of salt and stop whining.” 

“It’s my fault, Mr. Richards,” Raven spoke up.  “I started it.” 

Mr. Richards sneered at the girl.  “Frankly, luv, I don’t care which of you started it, because I’m ending it.  You both have detention after school today, and you better not skip it.” 

Only one way out of this, Robin thought.  “What if we do skip it, limey?” he asked, putting a tone of defiance in. 

Mr. Richards gaped at him, shocked, and then became quite livid.  “All right, you two: Straight to the principal’s office!  This instant!” 

Hiding his relief, Robin stood and left, Raven following.  They said nothing to each other as they made their way down the hallway to the main office, and from there to the principal’s office. 

The principal of San Francisco High, Mr. Slade, had an imposing stature.  His short-cropped white hair and goatee were always neatly trimmed, and his eye patch drew stares. 

Despite this, he was known—and widely feared—as Deathstroke the Terminator.  He had earned the name from his countless hard-earned sports achievements, both for himself and for the school.  And, should anyone do a little digging, they would find his nickname also derived from his martial arts skills, as he taught a dojo on weekends. 

Robin imagined that it was this same dojo that Slade wanted him to take lessons at.  The man had actually asked Robin to sign on as his assistant there, like some sort of “apprentice.” 

“Robin,” Mr. Slade said as the boy and girl took seats in front of his desk.  “And Miss Trigon.  I was wondering what interesting things would happen today.  So, what brings you here?” 

“Mr. Richards kicked us out of class for talking,” Robin answered.  “He gave us detention for today, and then sent us here after I kept talking.” 

There was no point in lying to Slade: He was practically psychic.  If you lied, he knew. 

“I see,” Mr. Slade said, frowning.  “Robin, you know that breaking rules will jeopardize your chances of getting a good career after your academic years.  Unless, of course, someone were willing to give you a job,” he added. 

“I know.” 

“Miss Trigon?” Mr. Slade asked.  “What about you?” 

Robin heard a soft “I want to stay in school,” and Mr. Slade nodded.  “Well, now that everything is cleared up, I’ll be calling each of your parents, since Mr. Richards’ policy is to give students a Saturday if they are booted from his classes.” 

Robin sighed.  At least he wasn’t doing anything on the upcoming weekend. 

“Now, why don’t you two get back to class?” Mr. Slade suggested, and then looked to the clock on the wall.  “Actually, since the period only has a few minutes left, just get your belongings and head to second period.” 

“Yes, Mr. Slade,” Robin said for both he and Raven, and they left. 

As they headed back to Psychology, he kept glancing at Raven.  Something about her seemed to be very incorrect, but he could imagine what. 

Figure it out later, he told himself, and then mentally began preparing for Physics with Mr. Light. 

“Glad you could make it,” Vic said to Robin as the latter set his backpack down on the lunch table.  Gar was already eating the school special of the day, macaroni salad. 

“So, what’s the big secret about Raven?” Robin asked as he sat down, deciding to get his lunch after talking, just in case it made him throw up. 

“Yeah, dude, spill already,” Gar said. 

Looking around, Vic leaned forward and whispered, “Unbelievable as it sounds, word is that Raven Trigon is nuts.” 

Robin raised an eyebrow while Gar blinked. 

“Nuts?” the black-haired boy said.  “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“It means she’s crazy.  Get this: Friend of mine told me she hears voices in her head.” 

Robin blinked this time, with Gar laughing. 

“Dude, voices?” the diminutive wrestler repeated, sounding incredulous.  “You’re joking this time, I know it!” 

“If I was joking I’d say something like the coach kicked you off the wrestling team.” 

“Dude!” Gar gasped.  “Don’t even think that!” 

It was a perfectly understandable attitude: Gar had worked hard to join the school wrestling team, and, because of his tenacity, was nicknamed “Beast Boy.” 

“I’m not joking, B,” Vic insisted.  “I mean, just look at Trigon: She’s creepy, she dresses like a spook, and her family is made up of total freaks.  What other proof do you need?  Oh, yeah, and I heard my dad telling my mom that he heard rumor that Raven’s parents might get her institutionalized.”  He grinned.  “Like I said, man, Trigon’s one for the loony bin.” 

Robin frowned, but was unsure why.  Vic was his best friend, aside from Gar, and he wanted to believe Vic, but what the linebacker said…it just felt wrong. 

“Whatever,” he told the jock.  “I’m getting some lunch.” 

He stood and went to the lunch line, grabbing a tray and a few other items, and paid.  As he made his way back, Raven came up to him, also carrying a tray. 

“Come on,” she said. 

“What?”  He was totally confused. 

“I said we needed to talk.  We can do it right now.” 

Robin blinked.  “Are you serious?  We can’t be seen eating together.” 

Raven gave him a hard look.  “Look, you can either let me help you, or you can flounder here.  What’s it going to be?” 

Again, Robin blinked.  “I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you need to do something about it.” 

And at that, he returned to his friends.  All the while, he was perfectly fine on the outside, but inwardly, he was wracked with turmoil.  For some reason, he felt he should have gone with Raven, despite the fact that she wasn’t the most loved person at school; that honor went to Robin’s girlfriend, Kory.  Still, even though they were from two different worlds, she being a straight-up Goth and he a bad boy/punk, he thought he had detected sincerity in her voice. 

What’s going on? he wondered. 

“I’m home!” Robin called as he shut the front door and removed his shoes, placing them to the side of the floor mat. 

“So, how was school, young man?” his mother, Shayera Bird, asked as she came out of the living room and kissed him on the cheek. 

“Weird,” her son answered.  “There was this girl at school—” 

“A girl, eh?” Shayera asked interestedly.  “Keep going.” 

“Mom,” Robin groaned.  “You know I’m dating Kory.” 

“I know, I know, but she might not be the person you really want to spend your life with.” 

Robin sighed.  His mother was obsessed with finding a good girlfriend for him. 

And, unfortunately, Shayera thought Kory was a bit too ditzy for her boy. 

“Why don’t you unwind?” Shayera suggested.  “Your father will be home soon, and dinner will be ready by then.” 

Nodding, Robin began making his way up the stairs, but his mother added one last statement. 

“And then we can have a talk about your detention.” 

Robin paused in ascending the stairs, and then continued to his room.  As he dropped his backpack onto his bed and plopped down in front of his computer, he wondered if he should tell either of his parents anything about Raven—aside from what he’d already told his mother, that was. 

I don’t think Mom would approve of me dating a lunatic, he thought. 

When Raven opened her front door and stepped into the foyer, she came face to face with her father, Thaddeus Trigon.  Her mother, Arella, was nowhere to be seen, but that was ultimately irrelevant. 

“I received the most interesting phone call today, daughter,” he said in his rolling baritone.  “Do you know what it was about?” 

Bowing her head in shame, knowing what to expect from the man, she said, “Yes, Father.” 

“Do you have an explanation as to why you were breaking an easy-to-follow rule?” 

“I wanted to ask another student for help.” 

“You could have waited until after class to do that, Raven,” her father said sternly. 

“Yes, Father.” 

“And now, because you got yourself into trouble, you have to spend your free time imprisoned in detention.  How does that make you feel, daughter?” 

It was very difficult, but she managed to say, “Weak.” 

“And?” 

“…Pathetic.” 

“Anything more?” 

The last word was the hardest to say.  “…Unworthy.” 

“You forgot ‘stupid,’ Raven.  Coincidentally, that’s how you make me feel when you do foolish things.  Every time you do something foolish, you embarrass me, and make me feel stupid.  Do you enjoy making me feel stupid?” 

“No, Father.” 

“Do you want to stop doing it?” 

“Yes, Father.” 

“Then you shall stop causing trouble at school.  If you don’t, I’ll have to start punishing you.” 

At those words, Raven felt herself shudder.  She didn’t want to imagine what her father would do to her as punishment for her misdeeds. 

“Now, go to your room and think about what you’ve done.  And while you’re at it, you’d better do any homework you have.” 

“Yes, Father,” she said, grateful to finally leave his company.  As she ascended the stairs, she abruptly thought, I hate you! 

Huh?  Did I just think that? Raven wondered.  The thought had sounded like her when she thought, but she knew she didn’t hate her father.  Feared him, yes, but she didn’t hate him.  He was her father, after all.  He loved her. 

I don’t hate my father, she told herself.  I only want to make him happy.  I only want him to be proud of having me as his daughter. 

But if that was true, then why was she feeling like she was lying to herself? 

AUTHOR: Hope that was pretty good.  I personally think it’s pretty decent, but then again, I’m the author. 

NEXT: Things take a turn for the worse when Robin catches Raven being raped.  But when she tries to ask for help, it doesn’t go as well as she hoped.  With a possible falling out with his girlfriend and the question of Raven’s sanity on his plate, Robin could be in over his head. 

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