What Do You See In Me?

Chapter 1: Origins

Please excuse me if the story flow is jerky..It is my first book. Thanks :) Happy reading!

Characters: Beast Boy, Cyborg,Dick, Raven and Starfire                                                                   

Words (Excluding this part and end part): 2975

"Alright Dick. You're gonna have to stay outside the lab to be safe." Dick's Father, John warned him. John and Mary Loyd Grayson were scientists in Graysons' Technology.
"But why? I want to help you two with your experiments!" Dick complained.
"It's to keep you safe in case something happens, Dick. We don't want you to get injured." His Mother said.
Before he knew it, his parents were in the lab, experimenting to see what gadgets they can create. Staring into the observation window, Dick saw some chemical overflowing. There was a battery nearby. Dick knew that if they meet each other, it would cause a devastating explosion.
"Mom, Dad! Look out-" BOOM!
The explosion threw Dick to the back wall of the room. The observation window was made of a material so strong that the explosion didn't leave a mark on it.
Assistants and Guards went in. Dick tried to shake his parents, seeing if they were just knocked out.
"Mom! Dad! Please... wake up! Wake up!" Dick shouted. Paramedics came rushing in with equipment.
"Ready, clear!" *electricity zapping*
Dick watched in horror as he saw his parents lying there, lifeless. The paramedics did everything they could, but to no avail.
"I'm sorry kiddo. Your parents have passed." The paramedics shook his head.
He ran in and knelt down beside them, holding their hand as hard as he could, wishing that this was all just a dream. But it was not. It was reality. Tears streamed down Dick's face. He just couldn't accept it.

The Next Day
'Huge explosion at Graysons' Technology kills two scientists' was the headline for the newspaper one day after Dick's parents died. Living in Gotham with his parents were hard enough, but alone? He could die there.
"Hmm... An orphan. Looks like he needs help... He's only 6... I'm going to track him down and bring him home. Alfred! Find this kid, Dick Grayson. We're bringing  him home." ??? Said.
"I'm hungry, cold and tired. I can't find anywhere to sleep or anything to eat." Dick mumbled to himself as he trudged down a dark alley.
*car engine turns off*
"Hey there kid. I know your parents just passed. I know how that feels like. Let me take you in, raise you. What do you say?" ??? Said.
"Who...who are you? I... I... don't know you..." Dick stuttered.
*chuckles* "I'm Bruce Wayne. My parents also passed when I was your age. Let me take you in, unless you have anywhere to go." Bruce said.
"No, I do not have anywhere to go, Mr Bruce... I would like it if you could take me in..." Dick asked.
"Why of course! Come, sit in my car and bring all your belongings with you." Bruce invited Dick into his car. Soon, they went to Bruce's house.
"Here is my house. And this is Alfred. He will help you to carry your suitcases and show you to your room. Since you are a single child out there, you must learn some self defence. We start tomorrow morning. Ok?" Bruce questioned the young Dick.
"How early to be exact? 6,7 am?" Dick asked, wanting to know if he had to wake during the wee hours of the morning just to train.
"Maybe 6am. Alfred will wake you up when it is time to prepare." Bruce informed Dick. "Go and rest. You must have had a long day now. Alfred, show him to his room." Bruce instructed Alfred.
Not too long later, Dick was fast asleep. All he could dream of was the accident that happened just the day before.
"No!! Not again!" *panting, breathing heavily*
"What is going on? Dick, what happened?" Bruce rushed into the room, holding a pan.
"I... I dreamt of my parents again... the.. the ex..explosion.... it... it-" Dick stuttered as Bruce shifted himself next to himself on Dick's bed.
"Look Dick, for the next few weeks or months, you're going to have nightmares of the same thing. But eventually, you'll get through it." Bruce comforted Dick.
"You sure? I don't want to keep reliving the same dream..." Dick shivered.
"Don't worry. I'll be here with you. I'll sleep next to you. Now, come on, let's sleep. You have training tomorrow." Bruce said. With that, they slept.
Dick trained with Bruce for years. Eventually, Bruce asked Dick if he would like to join him in fighting crime. Dick knowing that Bruce was Batman, immediately accepted the offer and joined Batman to be his sidekick, Robin. Together, they fought crime and brought evil to justice.
However, as time went by, Dick realised he couldn't be by his side forever, he couldn't stay as a side kick for the rest of his life. He wanted to be independent.
"Thanks for everything, but I'm going to leave." Dick thanked Bruce in monotone before rushing to his room and packing all his stuff and slammed the front door, setting out on his own.
"Dick wait-" Bruce tried to call out Dick before he slammed the door.
"What?" Dick turned around.
"I don't want you to take this the wrong way. You should probably start a team. Don't go from a side kick to a lone vigilante. You won't be able to sustain. Please, don't misunderstand this. I think you are capable, but just trust me. Form a team and slowly learn how to be independent." Bruce told Dick. "I don't want you stay. But you can if you want to."
"I'll start a team. I'll head to Jump City. Bye Bruce, I'll visit when I can. Or you visit." Dick chuckles. "Goodbye, dad." He pauses between the words. He waves and drags his luggage out if the manor.
He takes one last look at his house.
"Bye house. Bye Alfred. Bye... Bruce." He smiles and heads over to his bike.
After 3 hours
"Hello sir! Welcome to Jump City. We hope you enjoy your stay here." The air Stewardess greeted the passengers as the left the plane.
"Thanks." Dick said to the air stewardess. As he left the airport with all his luggage, he used his phone- given to him by Bruce, to call his relatives.
"Hi Aunt Sarah! How are you? Can I stay at your house until I find a job and buy a house?" Dick asked over the phone.
"Sure darling, you are welcomed anytime. Here's my address" His aunt answered with a sweet tone.
"Thank you very much." Dick thanked her.
After getting in a cab and going to his aunt's place, Dick watched the news.
"Breaking news. There has been a robbery at Jump City Bank. Police are on-" Dick switched the channel.
"In other news, a murder case is yet to be solved by the police. Will they ever find-" Dick switched the channel once again.
*sighs* "Jump City is full of crimes... but I'm a civilian and I'm just going to live my life as one." Dick mumbled to himself. At this time, he was already 14 years old.
2 years later...
Kaboooom!!!! An unidentified thing crashed into Jump City right when Dick was out getting some snacks at night.
*coughs* "Wh..who are you?" Dick asked with no fear in his voice.
*speaks foreign language*
"Wha..what? I don't understand you..." Dick replied.
The woman had handcuffs on her. Not just an ordinary handcuffs but huge and heavy ones. Her eyes glowed wanting to blast Dick. As her eyes glowed even more, Dick carefully took out a lock pick with one hand in front of him to show that he was not meaning any harm. He proceeded to pick the lock on the cuffs. They landed with a heavy thud on the ground. After this gesture, her eyes lost their glow. She slowly approached his face, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him. Dick was in shock. His eyes went all crazy and his body stood still.
"Uh... why...why did you do that?" Dick stuttered, clearly still shocked from the kiss.
"I am sorry about that. My name is Koriand'r or Starfire. I come from the planet Tamaran. We learn languages through the act you call kissing." Starfire explained.
"Ok.. but why did you crash into Earth? And.. and why were you handcuffed?" Dick asked Starfire.