This is fanfiction. I don't own Teen Titans, DC Comics, Cartoon Network, or the characters in my story.
Author's notes: This story is not related to any of my other T.T. stories. Warning: I will be playing fast and loose with the timing of events in the characters' lives, both the animated version, and the comic book. Also, my history of Garfield Logan may not be 100 accurate. Most of the story will be told from Raven's perspective.
Titan Down: The Fall of Garfield Logan
A fanfiction story by Lar Lindor
Chapter One: The Battle Outward
(Raven's perspective)
"What a wonderful afternoon," I announced sarcastically. "Just me and Mr. Hyperactive. How did I get so lucky?"
"Aw, quit your complaining, Raven," Beast Boy growled. "It isn't exactly a treat for me either. Where is the rest of the team?"
Raven began to list their friends' activities: "Cyborg is visiting his friend Fixit. Starfire is dragging Robin to see a "Chick Flick." Superboy and Wonder Girl are visiting the Kent family in Smallville. Finally, Kid Flash and Jinx are doing the dating thing as well."
"That leaves us to man the Tower," B.B. commented unnecessarily.
The green shape shifter was doing laps in the pool while I read. The whole week had been villain-free for some reason. The quiet was interrupted by a loud sound.
"The trouble alert!" I cried. "I'll get it."
"Great," Beast Boy snarled in frustration. "What's the crisis, Raven?"
"Police have an unknown villain cornered in the warehouse section," I told him. "Hurry up and get dressed, Garfield."
"Right away,"Beast Boy snarled, "Little Miss Congeniality"
"I heard that," I snapped.
"I meant you to hear it," he responded.
"Raven, Beast Boy," shouts Robin's voice from the Titan Communicator. "I heard the alert on my utility belt. Do you need Star and I to break off our date?"
"B.B. and I can handle it," I assured our uptight leader. "You just enjoy your little chick flick, Robbie."
"Are you certain?" the leader pushed. Then in a lower voice, "this movie is killing me, I'd rather fight villains." Gar snickered in the background.
"Star has been looking forward to your date all week," I insisted.
"Rae and I can handle it." the green boy stated without enthusiasm.
"Don't call me Rae, please. My name…"
"…is Raven. Sorry, O Magical One," the boy sneered. "Far be it from me to give you a pet name."
"You're the group's 'pet' not me, Fido," I answered, trying to be funny.
"Whatever you say, Raven," he answered in a bored manner.
"There he goes again," I thought. "The jokes and the mischief are gone-at least with me. Why do I sense so much resentment from Gar towards me?"
Garfield was dry and dressed now. I couldn't help but notice my teammate wasn't a scrawny kid anymore. He was still lean, but the muscles were definitely there. Not that I find him attractive.
"Right," I agreed. "I'll teleport us." My companion is not fond of teleporting and I know it. I secretly missed our playful banter, and this was a way to annoy Gar. I miss his jokes, and our teasing. However, he's been like this towards me since Tokyo…
"No tele…" Beast Boy started to shout. Too late. He was already wrapped in my powers.
"…porting," he finished. "You know I hate it when you do that."
"Yep," I deadpanned. "Wait," I thought, "he seems genuinely upset. So much for teasing him." Our relationship has been more strained than usual lately. Garfield, the eternal optimist, has turned moody and cynical.
"No need to apologize, Rae," he growled in a low voice. "I know my feelings aren't important to you."
"I'm sorry, Garfield, I…" He turned his back on me, and walked away. The emotion she read from Gar was negative, and almost bitter. He made straight for the police barrier and spoke to the cop in charge.
"Heads up, Raven," the green hued boy snapped. "We're here for business, not daydreaming about you-know-who."
Blast it, he's figured out my crush problem. Azar, he's right. I need to focus.
"Thanks for coming, Titans," the senior officer said. "A citizen reported a suspicious costumed character in this neighborhood. He ran in there when we tried to confront him."
"Do you have any idea who we're dealing with, officer?" Beast Boy asked.
"Sorry, son," the same policeman replied. "We were hoping you folks might know him."
"I can go in as an insect," the male teen suggested, "and check it out."
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't always trust Gar. He gets distracted so easily. "We'll go in together," I insisted. "It's my call; B.B. Robin put me in charge."
The shape shifter looked darkly at me. He clearly disagreed with my idea, but wasn't going to challenge me in front of the police. "Fine," he groused. "I'll open the door, if that's okay with you."
Beast Boy morphed into an ant and went under the door. Seconds later, he let me into the building. I would've thanked him, but he again turned his back on me, and stalked away.
"Just what is his problem?" I asked myself.
"Jerk,"I heard him mumble"She is so completely into herself."
We crept quietly through the building. Neither of us made a sound, as we searched for our quarry. The animal-like boy was using his sensitive sense of smell to track our foe.
Our foe, however, was also being silent. This was odd. I'd assumed we were looking for some super villain. Usually the bad guys come out swinging. Maybe this guy is trying to ambush us.
I glimpsed a figure wearing orange. He ducked away into the shadows in front of us. I pointed, but it was clear Gar had seen him or her as well.
Suddenly, the animal-like boy paused, and held up his hand. He gestured to a dark corner among the shelving. I nodded in acknowledgement.
We advanced quietly. Suddenly, Beast Boy whispered, "He's on the move, Raven."
My vision in the dark was not as good as his. I stumbled, and stepped on his feet. "Watch where you're going," I hissed. I was half kidding, but he didn't take it that way. He glared at me, and grunted. Again, I could feel anger from him.
"I can't do anything right around him," I moped. "I miss the way he used to be."
Their foe must have lost his nerve. Leaping out of his hiding place, he sprinted away from us. I spotted him running into an open door.
Now was the time for strategy. "We'll separate," I insisted. "I'll go right at the doorway, and you go left."
"I'm tracking his scent," he returned angrily. "We don't need to search for him."
"Again, I made the wrong move," I thought. "Now it looks like I don't trust him."
I wanted to talk to him, but he was beyond earshot at this point. My zeal to play leader was affecting my judgment. I admit it; I want to impress Robin with my leadership skills. So far, I sucked at being leader.
"I need Gar to track the villain for me," I thought. "That's what Robin would do. We each have our own strengths. This is what B.B. does best. I'm just in over my head."
I spotted our quarry. The villain was trapped. The room he'd entered was a dead end. He would have to fight. Suddenly, he disappeared into the shadows. I grabbed my communicator quickly. I needed to get Beast Boy over here. I'm afraid of being ambushed.
"Beast Boy, I need your help. I can't see…"
I spun as she heard a scuff of a boot on the concrete behind me. An agile form leaped at me in the dark. I ducked, and he missed. The villain spun and kicked me in the face. I nearly fell. Hands alive with electricity the man reached out for me.
"Look out, Raven!"
Suddenly, before his sparking hands could touch me, Beast Boy was there. He leaped between us in tiger form. His claws raked the villain's exposed side. Before he could follow up, the villain grabbed his right paw, and hung on.
Gar screamed in agony as the electrical charge struck his central nervous system. The shock turned him back into a human, and he slumped to the floor in front of me.
"I didn't mean to kill him," the villain babbled. "I just wanted to get away."
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Incensed, my powers picked up the mysterious villain like a rag doll, and slammed him into the nearest wall. With a loud grunt, the man fell into unconsciousness.
"Beast Boy!" I screamed in terror. "If he's hurt because of my incompetence…"
I reached down to my convulsing partner's body. I could smell cooking meat. His eyes were wide and staring. I reached down to check his heart beat. It was fading. Garfield Logan's brave heart stopped as he lay inert in my arms.
"9-1-1," I screamed into my communicator. "I need immediate help. My partner…" Here, words failed me, and I broke down into hopeless sobs.
Cliffhanger alert!