Good evening you all, the name is FriendlyMushroom, and it's been a long time since I wrote a Teen Titan's based story. Many years ago, when the Teen Titans were still and aired series, I wrote two sister Stories: Those who ride the Lighting (Kid Flash/Jinx), and Emerald Twilight (Blackfire/Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern V)), and I did so because both were my favorite heroes at the time, I grew up with them, and loved the idea of the sidekick hero (in case of Kid Flash), and replacement hero (In case of Green Lantern V), taking the ropes after the greatest sacrifice or downfall of their predecessors. Back then I wanted to write both stories together, and end in a crossover episode between the two, but that happened a long time ago, when the Teen Titans were still popular. Also, the Flash and Green Lantern were not my only favorite characters, so was Nightwing, and Batman of course, and many others, and I always wished to be able to write their stories from the comic books perspective, which lead me to this project.
The majority of you, know the Teen Titans from the cartoon, and obviously you are here for that reason, but little are those who also know the comics. Now, the comics are very complex, you would need years of comic book knowledge to know it all, that's where I wanted to intervene, how about I gave you all, a deeper insight of the world of the cartoon heroes, using my knowledge of the comic books, to create a whole series of fics like there are comics that link together? Such though, lead me to write 5 sister stories, that happen in the same universe, and perhaps they link like eastern eggs every now and then, but are independent stories at the same time. The five stories I'm talking about are as follow:
Battle for the Cowl (Robin xRaven): Follows Robin's road from being the leader of the Teen Titans until becoming Nightwing, and later, considering taking the cowl of Batman.
Born to Run (Kid Flash x Jinx): Follows Kid Flash's evolution from being the youngest sidekick ever, to becoming the first sidekick to take on the mantle of his mentor, the Flash, who sacrificed his life a year before the events of the story.
Emerald Twilight (Green Lantern V x Blackfire): Follows the story of Blackfire, after being assigned to social service on Earth under the custody of rookie Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, who is still under training with the Green Lantern Corps.
Heart of Steel (Cyborg x Bumblebee and Beast Boy x Terra): Follows the story of Cyborg, left with the leadership of the Teen Titans, and trying to maintain the several incarnations of the Teen Titans together (North, West, East, and South), all while mentoring the unstable clone of Superman, Superboy.
War of the Gods (Aqualad x Wonder Girl x Speedy): Follows the love triangle of the exiled Atlantean, the exiled Amazon, and the not really exiled marksman, as they get into conflict with the Greek gods.
As mentioned before, the 5 stories happen in the same universe, but are independent stories, you may enjoy reading them all but it isn't really necessary. The only drawback I see for people not wanting to read them all though, is the couples, specifically the Robin x Raven one and the Beast Boy x Terra one, it's not that I don't like Robin x Starfire and Beast Boy x Raven, but story wise, these selection of couples serve my storyline purposes, so I apologize if you feel repelled from reading them for that reason, as I mentioned, there is no need to read them all, it's just… more interesting for those who read them all.
Anyway, I already said too much. For those who want to read all 5 stories, the summary and Prologue is the same, so after reading it once you can skip it. As for when will I update these 5 stories, I will update them every first Friday or Saturday of every new month, which means the 5 stories will all be updated at the same time on Friday 8 or Saturday 9 of March (Because Friday first or Saturday second is too soon).
One last note about the dates and years I use, the Teen Titan's animated series don't have a stablished date (as far as I know), but belong to the same universe as The Batman animated series, and in the Batman animated series, most specifically on the episode "Artifacts", it is stated it is the year 2027, and on that year, Robin was Nightwing, and had been so for 10 years, so, in the comics Robin became Nightwing at age 18, and since in The Batman Robin is 14, I did the backwards calculation and found the year the Teen Titans series is supposed to happen for real (2015), but this story takes place one year later, (2016), so all stories are dates as 2016, I know the series is from 2003, don't blame me, blame The Batman for not doing the maths correctly. I hope this doesn't bother you all.
I don't own the Teen Titans or any DC Comics related character, I write this for fun, for DC comics fans, and I win no money doing it. Read, enjoy, and let me know if you will read all 5 or just the one you were interested on, happy reading.
Prologue to a Titan's Legacy:
New Genesis. 853rd century.
"Companionship + understanding + assurance + joy + altruism ÷ respect ÷ commendation ÷ sympathy x innocence x dignity x success x acceptance, y = n, where, y = despair, and n = caution, love = truth, death = rebirth, and self = light side. The Life Equation is the proof that life is worth living. This is the first present I, Metron, give to you, my son." The story of the greatest heroes there to be known, is complex, as is the beginning of it all. Since different to popular belief, the greatest heroes of them all, didn't find their path toward greatness in the force of a lighting, the mantle of the night, the depths of the ocean, their beliefs in their gods, the light of willpower, the power of the closest sun, or the miracles of the technology they could harness. The true path that created the greatest heroes of Earth, the whole universe, and the multiverse, will be found in the farthest of futures, where a god used technology, to create that which is uncompressible. Life, inside lifeless objects.
The world of New Genesis from the 853rd century, is nothing but a lifeless wasteland, attacked constantly by explosions of a dark light, which disintegrated everything it touched, the anti-matter. On this wasteland of a world, only two life forms exist, Metron, an old man, in reality a god, wearing a circuit-looking bodysuit, and his son, a golden colored android, wearing nothing but a brownish scarlet cowl, in front of which, Metron placed a shapeless object, looking more like a white metal that bended in several directions and forms, forming amazing tube-like forms, and shinning from white, to yellow, to scarlet, switching between forms and colors from time to time.
"This, is the Worlogog, the Philosopher's Stone, a time-spanning engine that can be used to bend time and space. It is an exact working model of the entire space-time continuum in miniature, and maps everything from the Big Bang to the Omega Point." Metron delivered it to his son, who took it and gazed at it intensely. "The Worlogog is a fraction of the Source, and is the second present I give to you. Gaze upon it, learn everything you need to know of this and every universe, and do whatever you must to stop Darkseid from gathering the Anti-Life Equation." He explained, and the world in which they existed, began blowing up. "There is still one present I need to deliver; this present is your name. And with your name comes the greatest of all responsibilities. Your name, is Hourman. You change events, sometimes minor, sometimes major, always in the name of life." He finished, and at that very moment all that existed collapsed, leaving the multiverse in infinite darkness. The only being that existed, was Hourman, protected by the destruction of existence itself, by the will of a god who gave it all to preserve the most valuable thing, life.
Hourman knew nothing about what to do, but suddenly the Worlogog began displaying something uncompressible to any human or god, but that Hourman, as a machine, could understand. He read at an incredible speed, the whole existence, from the origin of it all, to the split into several realities. He saw all possibilities, all events from the many continuities, all of them ending in the same place, the destruction of everything that exists. Sometimes existence itself ended with billions of years of differences, but his reality was the last one. And after one year of reading the events of all reality, he discovered one, in which there was something, hope. But this hope was fated to de deleted, as everything else would.
And so, Hourman began doing what he was programmed to do, he began changing the reality, connecting events that weren't supposed to connect, and creating his own reality, and after another year of complex calculations and connecting events, one reality in which survival was possible was displayed. Yet, even though his calculations were correct, manipulating past events to create the reality in which hope wasn't entirely lost, meant the future may not behave as he expected, and if it didn't, all reality would collapse once again.
"It shall be tested." Hourman concluded, and displayed a group of 7 teens, the majority of them sharing a same history, one Hourman knew far too well. "Titans… you are all the keys to the existence's survival. Yet, not all of you are ready, or won't be ready in time. In the name of existence, I shall manipulate your world, in favor of preserving existence." He finished, and opened with the help of the Worlogog, a portal to a distant past. "My name, is Hourman. I change events, sometimes minor, sometimes major…" He finished, and so, a new reality was born.
Teen Titans: A Titan's Legacy Series.
Battle for the Cowl: Volume 1.
Issue #1: Scars.
Jump City, California. Titan's West Tower. December 25, year 2015.
"Titans, Merry Christmas!" Robin yelled, and so did the rest of the Teen Titans, as they quickly raised their sodas and cheered with them happily. "As the leader of the Teen Titans, I couldn't be prouder of this team. There have been many hardships, we faced a lot of threats, but here we stand, and so we will for a lot of years to come!" Robin pointed out proudly, though to his dislike, Cyborg and Beast Boy where already devouring their food.
"Hey! This doesn't taste like turkey at all!" Cyborg complained, using his scanners to analyze the turkey, finding out that it wasn't turkey, and facing Beast Boy, who nervously faced away. "You replaced my turkey with tofu-shaped turkey! What did you do to my turkey?" Cyborg complained, even going as far as to point his arm morphed into a blaster at Beast Boy's face. "I can tolerate your stinking, your sticky hands, and even tolerate when you cheat on videogames, but never, ever! Mess with my food! I'm 90% machine and 10% human! My stomach is one of the few human parts I still have! Don't mess with my stomach!" He yelled hard.
"I just thought I could help you guys into being more… open minded about not eating things I transform into…" He added as a scary cat, and literally transformed into one and began doing cute fluffy cat-eyes to Cyborg, who wasn't buying it and even pointed his second blaster at Beast Boy, who morphed back to his green goblin-like self. "I hid it inside Raven's room." He replied, while crossing his arms, and suddenly, Raven spit out her soda.
"You entered my room… again…?" Raven added, her eyes shining bright, and Beast Boy just backed off in fear. "Why is it always my room? Why is it always my stuff? Why is it always something stupid you do, having to do with me?" She asked, and Beast Boy just moved his shoulders up and down not even knowing what to say, and Raven just breathed out of annoyance. "I will bring the Turkey…" She replied, stood up, and went to her room in search of the turkey.
"Raven seems a little… gloomier than usual…" Starfire remarked, directing her inquires toward Robin. "Perhaps the celebration of the birth of the Christ is not of her liking?" She wondered, and Robin raised an eyebrow at that last.
"I don't even know about how to reply to that, Starfire. She is the daughter of an interdimensional demon after all." Robin added with concern, though Starfire didn't understand what Robin was talking about.
"Weren't we celebrating the day of the birth of a friend called Christ?" She wondered once again, and Robin breathed out in defeat. "Why would the turning of the age of a person be of Raven's dislike?" She continued asking.
"Starfire, there are three things I don't like to talk about… my mentor, politics and religion. Let's just enjoy the festivities." He insisted, while Raven arrived with the turkey, forcing Robin's eyebrow to tickle him, and once Raven sat down by the table, Robin felt obliged to ask. "Raven…?" Robin asked, and Raven faced him with indifference. "Starfire thinks you are gloomy because today is the day of birth of Christ…" He asked.
"What?" Raven added in confusion, facing Starfire with an emotionless stare. "I'm not gloomy because today is the day people celebrates the birth of Christ, I'm gloomy because I'm always gloomy. That's not something new." She informed.
"If you say so, friend!" Starfire replied, and began drinking from her mustard vase. Robin just faced Raven with concern, her teammate really seemed depressed, not to mention annoyed, and she barely touched her food. Everything around her seemed to annoy her even more, and she looked close into bursting out in anger. Robin of course knew Raven wasn't that social, but his behavior was atypical, he knew, they were close friends after all.
"Oh, dude!" Beast Boy interrupted while chewing on his tofu-made turkey. "Whose turn is this New Year's guard duty? I really, really, reaaaaally need to know." Best Boy wondered, and until he mentioned it, everyone by the table placed their attention on him. "You know how I'm finally back in good terms with the Doom Patrol? Well, Mento and Elasti-Girl invited me back to the Doom Patrol's headquarters to celebrate New Year! They actually invited me for Christmas as well, but I had already bought the tofu turkey… so…" He added curiously. "Can I take my leave for New Year?" He asked desperately.
"New Year's guard duty… is in 6 days, is it not?" Starfire wondered, and Robin nodded. "It coincides with this Tamaranean year's Blorthog!" Starfire added in surprise. "I promised Galfore that this year I would celebrate Blorthog with him. I would be released of burden, if this New Year's duty of the guard could be forgiven from my need of attendance." She added.
"Woah, woah there." Cyborg complained. "Ya know how I'm not in good terms with my old pop? Well, basically the only time we get to see one another is on New Year, mama Cyborg's wishes." Cyborg explained, and everyone looked at him with curiosity. "Dad works at Metropolis! I already told him I would see him on New Year's Eve! Now, I don't like my pops, but mama Cy made me promise, and I don't defy mama Cy!" He finished.
"Well, it would have been advisable to tell me beforehand about all this, because I also have plans for New Year's Eve." Robin complained, and everyone faced him with curiosity, since Robin was the anti-social type. "I also have a family, adopted one, but a family." They all faced Raven then, who apparently was half-listening to everything.
"Then it is settled!" Beast Boy added cheerfully. "Raven is the only one without a family, which means we can all…" Beast Boy began, but then noticed what he was saying, and the angry stares from Robin, Starfire and Cyborg. "Submit it to luck! Is what I was going to say! Maybe Rae got no family, but she still could have fun for New Year's Eve, right?" He added with fear.
"It's not necessary. I don't care about festivities, at all." Raven added, and the group exchanged looks. "Besides, with all of you gone, maybe I can relax and meditate in peace." She insisted, and it seemed like the decision was taken; only it was a decision that wasn't of Robin's liking. Yet, he decided to respect Raven's feelings, and continued eating with the others, while Raven remained in silence.
So concentrated in their food was the group, that they failed to notice the golden colored android wearing a crimson cloak, floating outside of the windows of the T-Tower, and facing the Teen Titans during their celebration. The android then took out from his cloak the Worlogog, and it forced it to shine. The resultant energy surrounded Robin, who suddenly faced the group with annoyance, before Hourman, the golden armored android, disappeared.
"No… it's not right…" Robin complained, and the group faced him in curiosity. "I know we all made plans, except for Raven apparently, but she needs a rest almost as much as we all need it. We will leave it to luck." He insisted, and from his utility belt, he took 5 metal-made straws, showing to them that one had a red strip, then mixing them all together, before showing the straws to them. "The one who gets the red stripped one, stays for guard duty." He offered, everyone gulped, and they all took a straw each.
"Ow, C'mon!" Cyborg complained, once he noticed his straw had the mark. "It's not like I wanted to see my pop anyway, but calling him and telling him I'm not gonna make it for New Year's celebration is… men am I going to hate doing that call." Cyborg complained.
"Sucks to be you!" Beast Boy made fun of Cyborg, and so, the mechanical hero started chasing Beast Boy around trying to hurt him. In the meanwhile, Raven just observed her straw, not really knowing what to do with the knowledge of having free time.
"It's settled then, Cyborg takes this New Year's guard duty, which means that for next year he won't be taking it." Robin continued. "It's only fair that way, we aren't at all well organized, and last year you took the guard duty." Robin explained.
"Because… maybe, I wanted to be alone." Raven mentioned, and Robin delivered a depressed stare at her. "If it is in favor of being fair, I will take my leave for New Year's eve… which doesn't mean I have something to do. Now… if you excuse me, I'm not hungry…" Raven insisted, and went back to her room.
The rest of the celebration continued as was usual, Beast Boy and Cyborg where quick to eat and then left to play videogames, which wasn't at all Robin's idea of a Christmas celebration, but then again, he normally couldn't have one to begin with. As for Starfire, once the decision was settled about the guard duty, she excused herself, explaining that without a spaceship, the trip toward Tamaran would take her a few days, something about having to ask for permission to use wormhole technology at Space Sector 2814 limits and migration control areas, which, Robin didn't know what to reply to, but one thing was clear, Starfire was set in her festivities ideas, so Robin wouldn't be able to ask her what he was intending to ask.
"I guess Alfred will be disappointed, again…" Robin whispered to himself, while facing Cyborg and Beast Boy, both sleeping soundly by the sofa once they got tired, and then he gazed toward Starfire, flying all around the place, taking random things, and placing them inside of some kind of alien creature she used as backpack. "Well, at least I don't have to make the awkward explanations now." He continued talking to himself, stood up, and began walking toward the rooms section. "Maybe it is better that way. Gotham is a dangerous place, and Starfire is… anything but ready for Gotham, not to mention I would have to reveal my secret identity to her, which… will make her suspicious about Bruce… luckily she is busy, since now that I'm giving it some thoughts, I wasn't at all thinking it carefully enough." He spoke to himself, giving himself excuses about why it was better not to invite Starfire to Gotham, though he really wanted to do it, and was depressed when knowing it was too dangerous in many ways. "Great job, Robin. Place the Bat-Family in higher standards than your girlfriend. Yeah, really mature from my part." He complained, and then found Raven outside of her room. "Forgot the password?" He asked, waking Raven from her trance.
"What? Oh, no… it's not that…" She replied, surprising Robin, who knew she wasn't being her usual self. "It's just… thanks to you now I have to do something for New Year's eve… and now I have no idea of what to do. The only thought of having to plan something, is overwhelming." She added in annoyance.
"What? I was trying to do something good for you." Robin complained, and Raven faced him in annoyance as well. "Raven, everyone needs a life outside of heroics… the Teen Titans won't exist forever, we all need to have alternatives. And secluding yourself inside Titan's Tower isn't going to help you find your place." He insisted.
"Thanks for reminding me about how empty my social circles are. Maybe I should call my dad and tell him I'm going home for a visit, or perhaps I may try asking my mother Arella in Azarath about spending the New Year with her." Raven added with sarcasm, which Robin knew she was using, but immediately afterwards, Raven felt bad for what she said. "Listen Richard… I know what you are trying to do, but my father is literally the demon, and my mother is a spirit trapped in a heaven-like dimension of mystic powers, not to mention they are what you can call, divorced. I really got nothing but the Teen Titans." She explained.
"Yeah, maybe I didn't think things through… I…" He tried to say, but then he widened his eyes. "You know my secret identity!?" He complained, and Raven noticed what she just said. "When? How?" He asked terrified. "How much do you know?" He pointed out.
"As for when… I entered your mind when you were obsessed with Slade being alive before he was resurrected by my father, that also answers the how." She informed, and Robin covered his head in fear. "As for how much do I know…? Enough… and yes, that includes your mentor, and several other hero's identities, like the ones from the Original Teen Titans, who you all pretend to not know." She informed, and Robin freaked out. "Listen… I'm sorry, for knowing… and I'm sorry for releasing my anger at you… it's just… seeing everyone having a life outside of the tower… it angers me… it depresses me… the Teen Titans are my family… if I don't have that, I have nothing else…" She explained, and Robin gave it some thoughts.
"Well, I suppose I trust you enough for you to know… things…" He added nervously. "But I'm serious when I tell you, even if we wanted to, the Teen Titans can't last forever… or at least, not with me… I… have other plans… which now I know you know." Robin pointed at his forehead, and Raven just lowered her head and nodded. "But that also gives me an idea. I know it is sudden, I know it's going to be really weird, but how about I take you out during New Year's Eve to know my family… in person, since you already know them in some way." He invited.
"Robin, I don't need to read your mind again to know you wanted Starfire to go with you to Gotham." Raven added, and Robin lowered his head ashamed. "You know that if you tell her, she will go. Though I don't know about you know who's fondness to aliens." She pointed out.
"That's totally the problem all along." Robin confessed. "His best friend is an alien." He added, and Raven nodded while rubbing her chin thinking about the possibilities. "Wait, you are not supposed to know that either!" Robin pulled his hair hard, and Raven faced down ashamed, which hurt Robin's feelings as well. "I don't mind you coming, if you want…" He invited once again, and Raven thought about it.
"If Starfire finds out about this… she will get hurt, even if it is only something you are only doing to be friendly with me." Raven pointed out, and Robin began getting worried about it. "Only if Starfire agrees." She finished, and entered her room, not even waiting for Robin to reply.
"Robin!" He heard Starfire's voice, and suddenly Robin freaked out, wondering about how much had Starfire heard, and if she was mad at him for inviting Raven to Gotham and not her. "Ow, I'm so impatient about going back home to Galfore! Right now my mood is in high and nothing can down it! But I remember something from before, was there an invite you wanted me to hear?" She wondered, with a huge smile on her face. This was Robin's chance, he knew, he did tell Starfire before that he wanted to invite her somewhere, though he was too busy at that moment as to say where, and knew nothing about Starfire's plans. Maybe telling her about his plans would be enough to have Starfire coming with him to Gotham, but the thought about Raven spending a bored and lonely New Year's Eve, lowered his mood.
"Well, yes… I wanted to invite you… to invite you… to…" He began, but nothing came to his mind, and upon not being able to accommodate his ideas, he spoke out without caring. "To feel free to do as you want!" He added nervously, and Starfire raised an eyebrow at that last. "You see, I had plans for the festivities, and I didn't want you feeling bad about it, so I was going to invite you to not worry about anything, and to enjoy your New Year's break!" He smiled, and Starfire blinked twice about it.
"Ow…" She understood. "I'm a terrible girl who is your friend! I should have invited you to my Blorthog! I apologize for not considering the possibility!" She freaked out, and Robin got worried about her reactions. "If your planning of your celebration is not yet completely established, perhaps you may want to join in the Blorthog celebration at Tamaran!" She invited.
"I… appreciate it… but the planning of my celebration is already established…" Robin explained, a little depressed because he wouldn't be able to have a New Year celebration with Starfire, but then he remembered Raven, and the conditions for her to join him. "Am, Starfire… you know Raven and I are just friends… right?" He began, and Starfire blinked twice, not knowing what Robin was talking about.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Are you perhaps worried about me being in the jealous?" She wondered, and Robin shivered. "I thought it was kind of you, to defend friend Raven during the time of the dinner! I totally understand the attention you are having! Please do not feel I am in the jealous!" She added, and Robin tried to speak, but he knew explaining it to Starfire would be troublesome, and limited himself to smiling.
"Ok! I am glad to know you are not in the jealous! We will spend time together some other time!" Robin added, and Starfire nodded cheerfully, and flew back to her room. "Why is it so complex to just be friendly with someone without there being no misunderstandings?" Robin asked himself, but then cheered up. "Well, it's not like I'm doing something wrong! As long as everything turns out for the better, everything will be fine!" Robin added, and whistled all the way toward his room.
Jump City, California. Jump City's International Airport. December 31.
"Are you sure Starfire agreed to this? I don't want problems with her latter, Robin." Raven insisted, in her civilian clothes, consisting solely of blue jeans, a black long sleeved sweeter, and a golden colored belt with elliptical chain-like unions, as well as a pair of black sneakers. Robin was by her side, wearing black jeans, grey T-shirt, and a red unzipped jacket, although curiously enough, he was wearing sunglasses.
"It's ok, Starfire doesn't mind at all! She even said it was kind of me to invite you over." He lied, and Raven raised an eyebrow at him. "Also, I don't want to sound mean, but… why don't you use my name when you already know it? I'm not even wearing my costume." He asked while they waited for their plane to arrive.
"Amm… because you are wearing sunglasses as if trying to hide your secret identity from me?" She added with sarcasm, and Robin noticed his mistake, and took off his sunglasses, and when he did, Raven widened her eyes at him. "Blue eyes?" She teased, and Richard blinked twice at her and was about to speak, when Raven spoke out first. "When I was inside of your mind, I could only see as if your eyes were windows toward your world. I never had the chance to see your face." She informed.
"And now you are of the selected few who know me without a mask. You know even Starfire hasn't seen it?" He wondered, and Raven was impressed by that last. "Anyway, here comes the jet plane." He changed the subject.
"Jet plane?" Raven added, while Richard invited her to follow him toward the landing tracks, where a black colored jet plane had landed, and a well-known butler of Richard walked down and invited them both to the plane.
"Alfred!" Richard added cheerfully, and ran toward the butler, who laughed calmly at the view. "Let me introduce you to the Wayne's family butler, and my second best friend of all times. Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth, Alfred for short. Alfred, this is… am…" Richard gave it some thoughts, and Alfred raised an eyebrow at that last.
"Rachel Roth… sorry I don't have a longer name." Raven smiled cheerfully, which was something Richard wasn't used to see, as Rachel began shaking hands with Alfred, who vowed at her respectfully. "I have heard a lot of you." She added.
"I'm afraid the young master missed the chance to inform me about some very important details, my young lady." Alfred vowed, and Rachel, feeling obligated, vowed as well not really knowing about how to behave. "But between you and me, young John isn't very attentive with the details of his girlfriends." He blinked an eye at Rachel.
"Am… no, I'm not John's girlfriend… wait… John?" Rachel wondered, and Richard gave Alfred an annoyed look. "Your name is Richard John Grayson? You have two names? I admit I am impressed." She confessed.
"Yeah, well, thanks for giving Rachel unneeded information Al." Richard complained, and climbed the stairs toward the jet plane, and while doing it so, he thought he saw Rachel hiding a smile under her hand, something that won his attention. "You… seem to be having fun…" Richard ventured to ask once sitting down.
"Fun is not how I would call it…" Rachel admitted. "It's just… different from the usual. I don't know how to feel about all… this…" Rachel confessed, and then saw Alfred going to the pilot's cabin. "Is he…?" She wondered.
"The pilot? Yes, the Wayne's were never too fond of having excessive servitude. Alfred is like a jack of all trades." Richard explained, as Alfred began flying all the way toward Gotham City. "The flight from California to New Jersey is five and a half hours long. So make yourself comfortable." Richard added, while taking a bottle of soda from a nearby minibar, and offering one to Rachel. "Soda?" He asked.
"A frozen tea would be fine." She replied, and Richard delivered the can, and even opened it for her. "Thanks…" She added a little uncomfortable, and then took a book from out of her handback and began reading. Richard just looked out of the widow in boredom, and silence surrounded the place. Yet, for the first time ever, silence wasn't of Rachel's liking, and only ten minutes passed, before Rachel closed her book.
"Not of your liking?" Richard asked immediately, and Rachel noticed he was bored. "Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is not an easy lecture." He continued, and Rachel began rubbing her shin. "I got some books on my luggage. Want to give them a shot?" He wondered, standing up, and reaching his luggage.
"It's fine, I don't feel like reading." Rachel replied, and Richard sat down once again. "You… seem very fond of Gotham…" She tried making conversation, something that was difficult for her, but that she tried to do because she respected and cared for Richard.
"Fond is not how I would call it." He admitted, and Rachel faced him with disbelief. "Gotham is a horrible place. There is crime at every corner, every day you hear about a murder, a heist, or worse." He continued, and Rachel grew curious about what he was saying. "Jump City in the other hand… is warm… there is crime of course, but even the criminals feel… not that bad compared to criminals in Gotham City… a friend of mine even said once: 'I'm not particularly fond of Gotham. It's like someone built a nightmare out of metal and stone'" He explained, and Rachel nodded in agreement. "Yet… it's impossible to leave Gotham out of my life, and I'm sure one day I'm going to return there for good. You see… when I was at the lowest, Bruce Wayne saved me and gave me a life… Gotham… is at her lowest… and maybe it is impossible, but just as I was saved, I have this… need to save Gotham as well…" He informed.
"Which doesn't make sense if you are in Jump City." Rachel informed, and Richard nodded in agreement. "Look… I know things… from that time when I was inside of your mind… but some memories were locked deep inside of your mind, I don't know if it was because you prepared your mind to lock those memories, or if they are locked because you blocked them in self-defense. But I know minor scratches of things… I know… about your parents, about your oath… and some other details here and there. These memories I saw are the ones that define you. But I don't understand what made you leave, not that I'm not grateful, if you hadn't left, there would be no Teen Titans at all… but you speak of Gotham, with such conviction of wanting to be there for her… that I think you are lying to yourself with the Teen Titans…" She dropped the bomb, and Richard's face reflected concern, but upon noticing what she just said, Rachel backed off. "I… shouldn't have said that… it's none of my business." She corrected.
"It's not like it bothers me you knowing…" Richard added a little concerned. "It's just… I don't feel ready to open myself in many aspects of my life… the way I was trained and all that." He explained, and Rachel nodded in agreement. Suddenly, an uncomfortable silence followed, Rachel understood she had touched a delicate and personal subject, and Richard didn't feel that open anymore. "The… books…" He added suddenly, winning Rachel's attention. "I got some in my luggage, do you… want a different lecture?" He asked.
"Oh… right…" Rachel replied, a little uncomfortable, but glad for the change of subject. And so, the rest of the trip toward Gotham was made in silence, after Rachel selected a book from Richard's collection, and began reading, Richard just breathed out heavily, feeling uneasy. Was he being too open minded with Rachel? Due to his training, he did not know where to draw the line.
Gotham City, New Jersey. Bristol's District, Wayne's Manor.
"Certainly, Gotham City doesn't look very appealing." Rachel added, while Alfred helped her out of the limousine once arriving at Wayne's MAnor, and while coming out from the limousine, her foot buried at the snow, forcing her to lose her equilibrium, and Richard to catch her. "It's also colder than I thought." She complained, while Richard helped her to her feet.
"Gotham's climate is certainly colder than what most people usually believe, young lady Roth, especially since the proximity to the ocean would make you think otherwise." Alfred added, while the three headed toward the mansion's entrance, but before placing the key inside of the keyhole, he stopped, and faced Richard. "Master Grayson, it would make my job simpler, if I knew beforehand what knowledge young lady Roth has about the mansion. There could be certain rooms inside that are… unfitted, for someone like her. We wouldn't want her to enter the wrong rooms, do we?" He wondered.
"What? You mean like the trophy room? Bruce isn't even found of hunting; those trophies are his father's ones." Richard explained, but once noticing Alfred's stare, Richard understood Alfred's cautions. "Oh… well, it's hard to explain… let's just say she can enter most of the rooms, but I would rather discuss it with Bruce in private." He replied, and Rachel rolled her eyes.
"If this is about him being Boy Wonder, yes I know." Rachel added with annoyance. "As for the bats in the belfry, I am aware, to an extent, the rest is easy to deduce." She added, and Alfred took out a deep breath. "I found out, he didn't tell me."
"Which is even worse…" Alfred mentioned, and opened the door, and upon doing it so, a young lady came out flying and knocked Rachel down and toward the snow, much to Alfred's and Richard's dislike. "There is a second thing I would have liked to ask beforehand, but I believe the answer will arrive at this very moment. I apologize, Master Grayson, I wasn't aware of her being here." He explained.
"Got ya, Richard!" Yelled a red haired woman, and flinched once noticing she had tackled down Rachel. "You are not Richard… who…?" The woman asked out of surprise, and then offered her hand to Rachel in order to help her to stand up, though Rachel refused the help and stood up on her own, cleaning the snow away from her clothes.
"She is a friend." Richard butted in, and the red headed girl faced them both several times in disbelief. "Just a friend. Don't make out conclusions. Rachel, this is Barbara Gordon, she is a friend of the Wayne family. Barbara, this is Rachel Roth, a friend of mine from Jump City." He made the introductions.
"Is she now?" Barbara added with annoyance. "People don't usually bring 'friends' to celebrate New Year's Eve… it's a familiar thing." She informed out of concern, and her attitude began bothering Rachel.
"Oh yeah? Well, there is the door! I don't see the Wayne name adorning yours, I at least am adopted to the Wayne family! If I wish to keep using my Grayson last name, is another subject all around!" He yelled out of annoyance, and that only forced Barbara to face Richard with rage, and she ended kicking his face toward the snow, and storming out of the mansion with concern. "Babs!" Richard complained.
"I came here just to see you, idiot!" Barbara complained, and then faced Rachel, who looked at her with disgust. "It's none of your business, my problem is with him, not with you." She added and stormed away.
"I'm feeling really welcomed here." Rachel complained, but then faced Richard, who Alfred had already helped up, and was currently cleaning the snow away from him. "Should I ask?" Raven wondered, and Richard just breathed out in defeat.
"Former girlfriend. Rule number seven of the Book of Heroic Doings, never date your teammates." Rachel then raised an eyebrow at that last. "I didn't say I followed that rule to the detail." He defended himself.
"Ow, I don't really care about who you date. I'm just surprised our brave leader is some kind of playboy." She added, and Richard delivered and odd stare at her. "I also noticed something, out of two of the ones I know, both are red headed." She made fun of him.
"Can we please change the subject?" Richard complained, and while doing it so, he entered the mansion, and Rachel noticed how dark the place looked liked. "Welcome to the Wayne Manor, overwhelming, isn't it?" He added proudly, while Richard lead Rachel around the place.
"I will take both of your belongings to your rooms, young master." Alfred vowed. "As for master Bruce, he is much likely preparing for the festivities. Please be patient." He insisted, while taking the luggage upstairs. In the meantime, Rachel walked around the mansion, in awe of everything that was inside.
"There is a huge library, if you want, we can visit it later. The place is so big you would need hours to at least find your way there." Richard began showing off, it was no secret for Rachel that he was enjoying, for once, showing his teammates about his life out of the mask.
"We are only staying here for a night, I doubt it would be safe for me to enter a library, you wouldn't be able to kick me out." She joked, which, once again, won Richard's attention. Rachel never joked, like, ever, but apparently she was feeling comfortable enough as to do it at that very moment. "You think you will get in troubles with Bruce once he finds out I know?" She wondered.
"I don't want to know." Richard shivered. "When I was 12, and naïve, I invited Kid Flash over to the mansion, and to the Batcave." He explained, and since that was one of the memories Rachel didn't have about Richard's life as Robin, she listened with interest. "I just, wanted to show Kid Flash how amazing the Batcave was… you can imagine the rest, Batman found us out, worst day ever!" He informed, and Raven once again hid a soft laughter behind of her hand, and this time Richard couldn't help himself. "You should smile more often, it suits you." He added.
"That's… not supposed to happen." She added with concern. "You know better than anyone, that I should keep my emotions in check… perhaps I'm being a little carefree thanks to the new experiences, but, I can't allow myself to lose control." She insisted.
"I understand… but… we came here to have a nice time… relax a little, forget about the heroic way of life… that's the reason we didn't bring our costumes." He explained, and Rachel nodded in agreement, but upon doing it so, she began getting worried.
"I'm afraid we are about to wish we didn't leave our costumes back at Titan's Tower." She added with concern, pointing toward the old grandfather clock that adorned the Wayne's Manor living room, where they were sitting at. Rachel pointed at the floor close to the clock, there was blood coming from below, and at such revelation, Richard freaked out.
"I don't care if Batman beats me up after this, I need to know if he is safe!" Richard added with concern, opened the face of the clock and moved the time until it read 10:37pm, then opened the door of the pendulum, and pulled it hard. Upon doing it so, and closing the crystal made door, the grandfather clock seemed to be burying itself to the wall, before slicing to the right and opening a secret passage toward a place only a few knew that existed, the Batcave. Once Richard entered, he faced Rachel, who faced him in concern. "What are you waiting for?" He asked concerned.
"I… just have this feeling that if I follow you right now… nothing will be the same…" She explained, and Richard just bit his lips, and pressed a button on the left wall of the entrance, and the clock began slicing back, Rachel then reacted fast, entered the passage, and the clock closed behind her. "Well, I'm in… what now?" She wondered once noticing they were entirely surrounded by darkness, but moments latter, the lights turned on automatically, and Rachel widened her eyes in surprise. "The Batcave." She added in surprise.
"I wish you had seen it on different terms though." He added, and began running down toward the stairs. While following him, Rachel faced the many artifacts of the museum-like place. A giant penny, a mechanical tyrannosaur, a giant Joker card, even an old Robin costume that upon imagining Richard wearing it forced Rachel to blush, they passed by the Batmovile's side, and in front of the Batcomputer, following the blood trail, but finding no one around. "Batman!" Richard yelled hard, and continued looking all around the place. "The blood trail disappears right here." He added once reaching the railings that divided de Batmovile parking lot, with a several meters high cliff. "I don't get it? Either he fell down, or…" He deduced, and turned around to face Rachel, surrounded by the shadow of what one would tell was a giant bat. "Rachel!" He yelled, but she was then knocked down by a cloaked figure, who fell on top of her with his boots first, knocking her down and kicking almost all the air from her lungs, forcing her to roll down and gasp for air. "Stop!" Richard freaked out.
"What are you doing here?" It was Batman, and he was now taking Rachel from the neck as she still tried to gasp for air and began strangling her. "This is a private place!" Batman launched Rachel, slamming her against the Batmovile.
"Batman! What is going on?" Richard wondered, and Batman replied to him by launching several bat-shaped boomerangs toward Richard, who did his best to evade them, but they were thrown with such aim that one hit Richard's forehead.
"What are you doing here? You were fired!" Batman yelled, while Richard tried to recover. "You are better off playing with your little friends back on Jump City, than here in the major leagues. But now, since you have disobeyed, you shall perish!" Batman continued, grabbed Richard by the neck and suspended him in midair, about to let him go down and to a mortal dead impaled by one of the cave's sharp stalagmites, but before doing it so, he stopped.
"Batman!" Richard called, and Batman struggled. "Bruce! It's me! Richard! I'm your son!" Richard continued, and Batman suddenly launched Richard toward the Batmovil, where he landed next to the unconscious Rachel. "It's something!" Richard complained while rubbing his wounded arm, but suddenly had to dodge Batman's flying kick, as the Dark Knight was still looking for a fight. "Bruce, I don't need to be the world's best detective to know there is something wrong with your mind! What is it? Where is the antidote?" He asked with concern.
"There is no antidote…" Batman added, an evil smile appearing on his lips. "Only… pain… rage… suffering…" Batman continued, trying to force himself to stop. "Robin!" He suddenly yelled. "Stream of Ruthlessness!" He continued, but then submitted to his full rage, and launched himself toward Richard, who tried to dodge and protect himself, but wasn't as skilled in hand to hand combat as his mentor was. "You are as weak as I remember you! Unable to be my successor! Unworthy of the cowl!" He continued while fighting him.
"Bruce! Whatever is going on is making you say nonsenses! You never wanted me to succeed you in the first place!" He complained, and was then punched hard, grabbed by the head, and slammed hard against the armored glass of the container that held his old costume.
"Look at that, Boy Wonder! Your old suit!" Batman added with madness, pressing Richard's head even stronger against the glass, which began breaking despite being armored. "I will crush your skull against this costume! As you crushed my belief in you!" He sentenced, and readied himself to crush Richard's skull, but luckily for him, a giant bird's claw surrounded Batman's waist. "What the devil?" He complained.
"The devil's daughter! Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Rachel yelled hard, and Batman was launched toward the giant coin, and after the tremendous impact, the coin fell on top of him, knocking him down. "Umm… my head…" Rachel complained, but then ran toward Richard. "Richard! Are you hurt?" She asked.
"Ught… I may need to have… some x-rays to be sure… right now I feel like my brain is coming out of my skull!" Richard complained, and Rachel placed both hands around his head, and concentrated her energies, healing him a little. "How did you…?" He wondered, but gave it little importance. "Later, first, Batman!" He asked, and Rachel used her powers to lift the coin and threw it away. Below, was an unconscious Batman, still breathing out heavily. "Bring Alfred here! Now!" He ordered, and Rachel disappeared inside of a vortex of darkness, only to return moments latter with Alfred, pulling him out of the shadows.
"Never do that again… please…" Alfred shivered, but upon seeing Batman by the floor, he freaked out. "Master!" Alfred added with concern, and helped Batman up. "Young master Richard, the medical table. Young lady Rachel, bandages and…" He tried to say, when Batman woke up, and Rachel ended up using her powers to pin him down on top of the medical bed Richard was pushing at that moment.
"I'm sorry, butler, but I don't know the Batcave that well." She added, pushing Batman toward the medical bed, and allowing Richard to tie him to it. Once that was done, Rachel dissipated her powers, but before she could calm down, she heard a furious and demonical yell from Batman, that drew a soul-like construct of a giant withe skull opening its fangs wide and reacting against her demonic powers, though it only lasted for a couple of seconds, and no one else seemed to notice it, while Alfred injected Batman with a powerful pain killer, that slowly, began luring Batman into a deep slumber.
"It's done…" Richard added exhausted, and then faced Alfred with concern. "Alfred, do you have any idea of what was Batman working on before you left to fly us here?" Richard asked, fear more than evident in his voice.
"I'm afraid, young master, that for once I have no idea." Alfred replied. "The last I knew, was Master Bruce…" He began, but then faced Rachel, who was gasping for air because of the effort.
"I believe I am already very deep into the Batman familiar tree knowledge, don't mind me." Raven countered, allowing herself to fall on top of the chair Batman used to work at the Batcomputer.
"Stream of Ruthlessness, have you heard anything about it?" Richard wondered, but Alfred sadly moved his head in negation. "Batman is always prepared for everything. How is it possible that this happens to him? He is unbeatable, but right now he tried to kill us."
"I… don't know what to tell you, young master…" Alfred added with concern. "But, it is clear to me that the master was infected with some kind of drug, one that his antidotes didn't seem to work on." He continued, while pointing at the utility belt Batman had around his waist, where Batman carried several antidotes to the many venoms his foes used on him. "I think it would be best to allow me to investigate further… I will keep master Bruce sleeping, and take some blood samples. It may take a while before I have the results. I know perhaps it's not the best, but it would be advisable if the young master ate something, he came for a New Year celebration, did he not? I promise to inform you of my findings, but blood samples don't work like they do on television, it may take time." He insisted.
"Take all the time you need, I will be waiting." Richard added, and began climbing upstairs, Rachel of course followed him closely, and once they were both by the living room, and Richard stopped his march, he left out a deep breath, and faced Rachel with concern. "I'm really sorry for what happened…" He began. "I wanted you to have a normal New Year celebration… and instead… Batman almost killed you." He added depressed.
"Forget about that, Richard, I…" She began, but suddenly, the fireworks announcing the arrival of the New Year began exploding at the sky. "Happy New Year I guess…" Rachel added, and Richard just lowered his face, not wanting to face the fireworks at all. "I'm staying as well." Rachel added, and Richard faced her with curiosity. "You can't expect me to just… fly back to Jump City on my own, and leave you when you need help… you… helped me when I must needed you, I want to pay you back, we are friends, are we not?" She asked, and Robin finally smiled back at her.
"Are you hungry?" He wondered, and Rachel faced him in disbelief. "I mean… we will need to be well feed, if we want to find out what happened to Batman, don't we?" He continued, and Rachel nodded in agreement. "I will call Cyborg, I will tell him that we are going to be busy on a mission, he is not going to like it, but it needs to be done… umm…" He remembered after taking his T-Communicator out, but stopped before turning it on. "I don't have my facemask." He added with concern, and Rachel used her powers to fabricate a facemask for him. "Thanks…" He replied, and then opened the T-Communicator, being surprised at what happened next. "It's not working…" Richard complained, and Rachel took her own T-Communicator out, and noticed her own wasn't working either. "Why is everything failing right now!" He complained.
"Calm down…" Rachel added calmly. "Just… calm down…" She continued, and Richard calmed down. "I'm sure everything will be fine, just, let's eat something." She changed the subject, Richard nodded, and both went to the kitchen, worried about what was going on, but trying to keep their coolness.
BIOS:
Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth: Bruce Wayne's butler and close friend, he had taken care of Bruce since he was young, he is skilled in medical aid, and is the only person Batman allows to have a rifle.
Batgirl I - Barbara Gordon: Nephew/daughter of commissioner James Gordon, in reality, James Gordon is her uncle, but after the dead's of Barbara's parents, he adopted her. Since she was young she admired Batman, and even dreamed of being a hero, even going as far as to go dressed as a female version of Batman to a high society party. She trained herself in martial arts, and became Batgirl at age 14. In the comics she was Richard Grayson's girlfriend.
Batman I – Bruce Wayne: A 28 years old billionaire who trained himself since he was 12 years old in martial arts in order to avenge his parents. He became Batman at age 23, and is the adoptive father of Richard John Grayson.
Hourman: An android created by Metron of the New Gods in the 853rd century, he wields the Worlogog, an special stone that is a map of the universe and is able to shape time and space.
Metron: One of the Gods of New Genesis. His sole purpose is to know everything and is known to experiment on sentient life forms. He isn't evil nor good, he just keeps universal equilibrium.