Hi, welcome to my first 'published' work. I would like to take this moment out to thank two particular people who have pushed me a little harder than most others, and actually inspired me to write this piece.
Nga Aroha and Blackangeldust are both wonderful authors and nice people- they both responded quite avidly to my critiques of their stories, and those conversations in turn made me want to write again.
Please, feel free to critique and comment, the more honest the critique, the better I become, and the happier I am.
I own neither the Teen Titans or any other copywrited materials contained within this story, the only thing I claim is the concept.
Five teenagers look over a sprawling city from 2,000 feet in the air. From that height, the city seems quiet, almost peaceful. In the bay, a lonely island sports a giant building in the shape of a capital T, a testament to the vigilantes that keep the city safe from the forces that would destroy that peace.
"Is it not wondrous to be back at the home, my friends?" Starfire asks as the T-jet whines on its final approach to Titans Tower with Robin at the helm.
"We're not there yet," Raven replies dryly from her corner seat, not bothering to look up from her book. She smiles slightly at the overly energetic alien, knowing that the book would shield her face from view.
"Yeah, but we've been gone for so long, I wonder if anything has changed?" Beast Boy asks as he plasters himself against the window. Raven looks at him and is strangely reminded of a Garfield the Cat window toy she had seen in a car window. She chuckles into her book.
"For all your sarcasm, you seem rather happy Rae," Cyborg's voice startles the dark girl, and she looks behind her with a look akin to a child who's been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. Cy laughs at her expression. "Don't worry, you should be happy! We're Home!" With that exclamation, the jet flies into the cavern that doubles as a hangar bay.
***
The door to the giant T-shaped building opens, causing the systems within to restart after their long slumber. Beast Boy drops his luggage at the door, and throws himself onto the semi-circular couch, sighing in contentment.
"You look comfortable," Raven states as she floats by, her energy-shrouded luggage following behind her. Beast Boy grins at her and nods.
"Yep. There's nothing quite like coming home after a long trip saving the world, don't you think?" The green teen asks as he watches the lavender-haired young woman pass by. He was still feeling the high of being a key player to the defeat of the Brotherhood of Evil. Raven just sighs and attempts to ignore his aura of smugness.
"Don't get too cocky, Beast Boy," Robin chides as he boots up a computer to analyze the criminal activity of the city while the team had been dispersed to the four corners of the world. "Just because we won one battle does not mean that we have won the war."
"But Robin, we took down the Brotherhood of EVIL! That's about as 'cleansing the world of evil' as you can get!" Beast Boy exclaims from the couch. "I mean, come on! We did what not even the Doom Patrol could do! Isn't that some cause for celebration?" Robin shakes his head and looks at the energetic teen.
"You can celebrate all you want, but the job won't stop just because you do." Beast Boy jumps as the alarm sounds in the main room, and Robin turns to the screen. "There's a robbery in progress at a major jewelry store, let's go!" Robin explains as the team assembles in the lounge.
***
The titans form up outside the store to find it deserted, and almost no sign of entry.
"Dude, it's Saturday, why is the store closed?" Beast Boy asks.
"The owner is on vacation in Japan, and didn't have anyone to look after the store while he was gone." Robin explains as they open the unlocked door. As the group enters the dark store, a sound is heard from the shadows. Starfire jumps and shoots a star bolt at the source of the sound, but the light only reveals shifting shadows.
"It's good to see you guys back, I was wondering if seeing the wide world was going to make you stay away from little old Jump," a synthesized voice calls from the darkness. "I was starting to get a little bored from the wait." Robin's eyes narrow as he recognizes who the criminal must be.
"Red-X," he states through clenched teeth. "I was wondering when you were going to show up." The skull-faced thief steps out of the shadows and leans against a display of priceless jewelry.
"Hey now, I figured you'd have a warmer welcome for me. After all, I did help you not too long ago. What was inside that briefcase anyway?" He taps his chin in thought. "You know, if you let someone as incompetent as Ding Dong Daddy steal something that important to you, then it's no surprise that I could take this suit from you, isn't it?" His mask distorts in a smile as Robin fumes at the thief. The caped teen leaps at the taunting criminal, who sidesteps him completely, and stands before Starfire.
"Ah, my dear Starfire. It is truly a joy to see you again. Here, I have a gift for you, to commemorate this lovely occasion." He deftly dodges Robin's birdarangs and easily slips an emerald pendant around the alien bombshell's neck as he leaps away. He pauses just shy of the door and looks almost thoughtful. He snaps his fingers and turns away from the door just as Raven's black energy barrier forms around it. "That's what I forgot!" He teleports away, causing the charging Beast Boy and Cyborg to collide with each other. He reappears inches away from the startled Raven. "I have a gift for you as well, my dark little sorceress." He pulls an onyx and ruby raven-shaped brooch from one of his pouches and secures it to her cape, then simultaneously dodges her punch and Robin's kick. In midair, he looks at his wrist and grins beneath his mask as he lands on the countertop. "Well, as I don't bat for the opposing team, you boys will just have to enjoy my next little gift," he salutes the teens with two fingers before teleporting away- just as the Titans are startled by the sound of shattering glass.
"Jump City Police! Everyone freeze!"
So, that's the first chapter- the second is already complete, but I am going to wait until at least Sunday to post it; that'll give me time to work on chapter 3 and answer the never ending question: Who Is Reading?
Please, Read and Review.