More Searching, and A Step Forward?

"Well I think the only other thing we haven’t checked in the house is the garage." Cole said as he thumbed towards the doorm “I haven’t checked all the back rooms on the ground floor but just gonna assume they gave us a car of some kind. Wait." he paused to think before asking,"Can you drive?”

"Car and Motorcycle. I honestly prefer bikes. Have to keep up that loner image after all." Raven said as she walked past him towards the door. She turned her head a bit to talk back to him as she moved, "I’m kidding though. If I’m traveling by myself, I’ll take the bike. Driving alone in a car makes it feel so empty it's a bit creepy."

"Considering you had to stuff five people into your team car, yeah I can see that." Cole spoke as the pair walked, Raven at the front and him following, making their way down the staircase, “Before you ask, I can also drive both. Even know a bit to keep them running. I mean I can change oil and tighten bolts but changing an engine is beyond me.”

“Another thing we have in common. Though I think I have more mechanical experience than you.” Raven added with a slight smirk. Cole was able to see it from where he was, even from behind.

“Wait really?” Cole asked, a bit dumb struck. He never thought of Raven as being a gear head.

“I’ve helped Cyborg build at least two cars and a few bikes. I’ve picked up a few things. Not enough to make a career out of it, but I can change out batteries and engine. So long as it's not too complex. Though by myself, I would use my magic than get my hands dirty if it came to that.” Rave explained as they reached one of the back doors in the ground floor. A lable on the door said 'garage' so hopefully this was the right place. She turned a gave a Cole small smile, “Besides can you picture me covered in grease?”

“…., don’t answer that.” The heroine said, her smile fading as she saw the mental gridlock playing on Cole’s face. She just gripped the door handle and turned it.

The garage was pretty wide, hosting a trio of vehicles along with several cabinets and containers lining the walls. There was a big black car, a four seater of some kind, Cole couldn’t tell the model. Along side the car was a pair of bikes, the colors a mix of black and violet. It was here that Cupid had placed heavier tools, most of them for repairs or outside work. Hammers, wrenches, snow shovel, rakes; All and more were found. Off to the side were a few extra wheels, along with two normal leg powered bikes. Cole whistled as he looked around, approaching the large garage door.

“Geeze only thing we don’t have is a boat. Or off road stuff.” He commented as he flipped a switch and opened the large folding door.

The door lead out to a large concrete opening behind several apartments, townhouses and a few other businesses. There were about three entrances to this back area, each leading to the main road. Cole just waved to a few people coming or going he saw before he closed it back up. Didn't seem like a bad neighborhood.

“Well we have neighbors.” He said as he turned back to face Raven.

He was a bit put off by seeing Raven bent over, those jeans still hugging that heart shaped butt just right. Snapping out of it, his mind processed that Raven wasn’t doing that just for the sake of messing with him. She had the hood of the car popped up and was actively taking look inside. Using a few orbs of light to help get a better look, Raven was investigating the interior. The hero looked like she knew what she was doing, so Cole just let her be for a few moments as he walked up to the side of the car.

“Soooo…, what do we have? What sort of present did Cupid give us?” Cole said, trying to act cool as he eventually broke the silence. Hoping to make it seem like he hadn’t just ogled her butt.

“Couple hundred horse power, more so than any normal car should have. Wheels can shifted to an all terrain format, even a version for snow. Computer systems are also more advanced for a normal city car.” Rave said as she stood straight up, wiping some grim off her skin with a cloth, “Armored too.” She slammed the hood back down with a dull thud.

“You found that all out already?” Cole asked as he tapped the car door. It did sound a bit more solid than he’d expected. He give a small tap with his fort on the side of a tire, the resulting sound just a bit heavier than expected.

“Don’t look too surprised. I’m probably the third best at tech in the Titans.” Raven said folding her arms and taking a defensive stance, “Oh and before you ask, Nightwing knew more than me in boarder terms, Starfire in more niche terms.”

“I suppose the Alien Princess would know more about space tech.” Cole conceded as he leaned against the car while Rave closed the hood, “So they gave us a stronger car. For super hero work I’m guessing.”

“Yes but I think the car was here at the start, so Cupid must have placed it rather than the house's magic. Cycles are more impressive than any normal common vehicles too. None of them are quite at the level a Batman or Cyborg vehicle would be. Still, it can take about three head on hits from cars twice it’s size and keep going.” Raven explained, rapping the hood of the car with a knuckle before adding, “Sometimes it’s easier to drive than teleport to a crime scene.”

“Guess so. Haven’t had teleport powers at my disposal but I’d think I’d use that at every chance I’d get.” Cole offered.

“You might be able to travel with your Shadow powers but that is something to test later.” Raven said as she took a seat on the hood of the car.

She wasn’t even trying to do a pose of some kind but Raven looked…, enticing. Just that air of control and confidence was a real attention grabber. Was this how he was going to spend the next two weeks? Just walking into instances of Raven just commanding attention, on purpose or accident, and not doing anything. The stupid Cupid Wish system had set them up together, and after that talk last night, they didn't seem too incompatible. More than that though, 'true love' or not, he really didn't want to be locked up till they warped.

“Maybe…, one dumb suggestion.” Cole thought as he got the courage together.

“So what now?” Raven asked, giving Cole a long hard look from her spot on the car.

“Well, we have the rest of the day off and are in a city neither of us have been in…” Cole started before the woman held up a hand to stop him.

“Think about what you are suggesting.” Raven interrupted, her arms folding over each other and her foot tapping at the air. Cole had to word this carefully.

“Look I’m not asking for an actual date date or something. It’s just that we’ll when we get to your world we’ll be busy from the moment we land. I don’t get to travel much either, nor is my world as exciting as yours. All I’m asking is to maybe take a look around, see what’s near us.” the boxer explained keeping eye contact throughout with Raven.

“Besides, newly moved in couple walking around is more believable than just being locked inside for days on end.” he finished with a shrug.

“Cute ploy.” Raven thought. By tying the outing to their cover story, one that she herself had not only started but already started to publicly build, the idea had more merit behind it. _“Good move. I didn't expect him to be that sly.” _the sorceress thought. Perhaps there was more to Cole than just friendly nature and punching. __

“I… suppose it couldn’t hurt to take a look around. Get a lay of the land.” Raven offered, as she stood up off the car, “Tell you what. Give me some time to dress for an outing and we’ll go out and about."

“Oh cool.” Cole muttered, not sure how to respond to the fact he got his way, "I guess I'll um... meet you in the lobby then?"

“…, you like messing with me.”

“A bit.” Rave flatly said but she couldn't hid the small flicker of a smile. "It isn't my fault you didn't check weather, Dear."

Cole had been puzzled by Ravens outfit choice when she arrived in the lobby. She had swapped to a thicker set of clothes, along with a sleek raincoat. Only for the rain to start falling almost the instant they closed the door. It wasn’t a heavy rain, more a very steady mist that quickly caused the air to cool and soak into the skin. Cole should have processed the dark grey clouds he saw when he looked outside just a couple minutes ago. Raven just smiled and opened an umbrella.

“I don't know why you seem to bent out about it. Less people means less eyes on us. And the rain will help muffle our voices so we can talk a bit easier." Raven said as she walked down the steps.

Cole had to move fast to keep up with her pace and the cover the umbrella provided. Before being handed a jacket to put on once they got to the sidewalk. Her smile not leaving her face.

“Your coat by the way dear. At least one of us remembered.” Her tone when she said 'dear' was incredibly dry but the slight shine in her eyes told Cole she was enjoying the little term.

“Yes dear.” Cole said, fighting the urge to grumble. Maybe this was a mistake.

The pair made their way down the sidewalk, Raven cutting a very controlled and posh appearance with her walk. Her skin and hair were done in her ‘civilian’ disguise and while she lacked the dress from yesterday, she still had a very organized look to herself. Cole wondered how people would view himself, the semi bungling man fighting to keep up with this well dressed figure.

Instead he just busied himself with looking around just a bit. Hopefully not enough make himself look like a tourist. The buildings around him were of an older era, at least to his own world. Looking like they were built in the 40s or 50s and certainly not American style. Three story tall flats, stores and apartments were around him, and he was pretty sure he just saw a double decker bus turn the corner.

“Think of it as a mix of London and Berlin." Raven said, noting Cole's attempts to look around, "We are in what would be a European proxy anyway."

"Wait how do you know..." Cole started.

"I did my research last night. That book I read before bed? It was a local tourist hotspot guide and local historical context book." Raven answered, a bit of smugness in her voice, "I can't pass for a local but I know more about this place than you do, enough to keep us out of trouble."