Teen Titans © DC Comics
Elementals
"This is complete and utter bliss!"
The shrill cry of Kid Flash was enough to make Argent burst into laughter. "Sheesh, get the guy a swimming pool, and he goes nuts."
Thunder, Lightning and Jinx stood next to her as Kid Flash stripped himself of his uniform, diving headfirst into the T-shaped pool on top of the Titans South's headquarters. The elemental brothers nodded in approval at the shimmering water that reflected back at them. Jinx sat at the edge, rolling her eyes and smirked as Kid Flash tried to impress her with his backstroke skills.
"Argent, how were you able to afford this?" Thunder questioned as Kid Flash splashed at Jinx. He smirked as Jinx set a hex at the water, sending a massive wave that slammed Kid Flash into the edge of the pool.
"Well, blue boy, Mum said that she wanted us to be entertained and not be so bored around here," Argent explained. "So, Mum said she wanted a pool. Besides, it's summer, which means bathing suits."
Thunder instantly became flustered when she winked, and Lightning rolled his eyes. It had been one full year since the death of their father and saving the entire human race from utter extinction. They had been reunited with their mother, coming to terms with their past and accepted it. Since joining Titans South in Iron City, New Zealand, their friendships grew among the members: Jinx, Kid Flash and Argent, who became the leader, even though Jinx fervently proclaimed she could be a better one in the beginning. They had gone on several missions together, bonding as a team, even though occasional spats erupted between them. Thunder became the peacemaker of the group, breaking up the arguments and quelling any sort of hate among the members. Lightning still resented being ordered around, frequently bickering with Argent over his brother whenever she flirted with him jokingly. He also visited his close friend, Kole, a few times a month, ensuring that she was safe were she lived. Kid Flash teased him, stating he had a crush on her that ended with a brawl instantly brewing. Jinx usually remained in her room, coming out only to eat, go on missions or hang out whenever she felt like it, which was rare in its own way.
"Come on, Lightning," Kid Flash urged, popping up from the water. Resting his arms against the cool tiles of the pool, he spewed water at the electrical master.
Lightning shook his head in annoyance. "In the water? I am a being of the skies, not of the aqueous realm. Besides, I am Lightning." He created a small spark in his hands before throwing it at Kid Flash. As the speedster dashed into the water, he smirked.
"Come, brother, it is fun to swim!" Thunder placed his arm around Lightning's shoulder.
"You find it amusing, brother," Lightning countered with a shrug. "I do not. I am going to take a nap. Oh, where is Mother?"
"Argent's mom dragged your's to some spa," Jinx reported, making the brothers look over to her. "She didn't want to go, but you know Alfonsa."
"Hey, my mum's only a little eccentric," Argent defended. She suddenly snatched Thunder's arm, sneering up at him. "C'mon, blue boy, let's see if you can swim."
As Thunder protested, Lightning watched as Argent dragged him back downstairs, stating she would find him some swim trunks. Kid Flash was still attempting to show off, now doing a butterfly stroke in the water to impress Jinx. Lightning laughed as Jinx covered her face in embarrassment when he began to flex his muscles.
"You certainly have a charmer for a male companion, Jinx," Lightning sneered.
She gasped, glaring at Lightning as he cheekily grinned. "Oh, go back to Kole, you idiot!"
"The crystal witch is like a sister to me, not anything of the sort of a mate," Lightning explained, walking down towards the hatch that Argent forced Thunder down into. "Have fun with your mate!"
Jinx shot a hex at his head, but Lightning nimbly leaped downwards into the hatch's opening. He landed on the railing, using his sandals as support as he slid down like a skater. Crouching, Lightning leaned forward to increase speed. The railing spiraled sideways, and he hopped off, landing on the bottom step.
He looked around their common room, finding it to be remodeled much like the original Titans'. Cyborg wanted Titans South to be similar to his creation of the tower in Jump City. Like all the other towers, Argent's summer home was remodeled into a giant T and was fixed with the modifications of adding a high-tech security system with lasers and smokescreen. As for the exterior color, nobody could decide what color to make it, so Cyborg settled for gray.
Lightning flipped over the couch, landing onto the soft cushions. Settling himself in, he placed his arms behind his head and thought, Brother, what are you and the silver wretch doing?
She is throwing swimming shorts over her shoulder for me. I am standing outside her door, Thunder thought back, using their psychic link that had been locked for sixteen years until their father unlocked it.
Ha! I bet she is going to take embarrassing pictures of you and post them over the computer, Lightning taunted, smiling contently.
Oh? Well, there are several pictures of you and Kole online, Thunder retorted, smirking as he leaned outside Argent's door.
Because you fools were being roguish and 'posting them', I believe it is called! Lightning grumbled as Thunder laughed in his head, and he turned to his side. It is not funny, brother!
Peace, Lightning! I am sorry, but you and Kole-
For the last time, Thunder, we are not as…intimate as you and the silver wretch. It was Lightning's turn to laugh as Thunder reddened and began to shout that he only viewed Argent as a friend. Do not worry, brother, I will protect you from her and her "gothic" ways. Believe me, she is poisoning your mind far worse than the green one ever did. Well, I am off the sleep. See you whenever I awaken.
Thunder rolled his eyes, wishing his brother a good rest as Argent leaned out with a pair of dark blue trunks. "…Why do you have male trunks?"
"My mum bought 'em for you. Said that you couldn't swim in that armor," Argent explained, taking his arm. "C'mon, try them on."
"Wait, in front of you?" Thunder's face bloomed like a hundred roses, and Argent laughed.
"No, silly, I meant in the bathroom." She patted his shoulder as he sheepishly slumped down the halls, muttering to himself that she was a flirtatious harlot. "I can hear you."
"Blast…"
…
Gnarrk wanted to punch something really badly. He continued to glare at Kole as she took his four card. They were playing Go Fish, and Kole was dominating him. Noticing his grimace, Kole laughed lightly. The fifteen-year-old girl patted his shoulder as Gnarrk stared down at the one card in his hand.
"…Yer a cheater," Gnarrk growled after a moment.
"I swear, Gnarrk, the only time you use English is to say somebody's cheating," Kole snickered. She had taught Gnarrk proper English, but it took a long time. He wanted to learn to that the other Titans could understand him and not have Kole translate every twenty seconds.
"Aw, come on!" Gnarrk whined, voice slurred with a gruff accent. "That ain't fair. You know every card I have."
"…Got a five?" she asked cheekily.
Gnarrk reluctantly handed over the last card he had. "Cheater."
"I am not."
"Sure, ya ain't."
Kole laughed, placing her cards back down into her victory pile. Gnarrk frowned, crossing his arms in front of his chest and turned away stubbornly. The rose-haired Titan chuckled again, standing up and put the cards away in a cupboard. Gnarrk suddenly shot to his feet, surprising her.
"What's wrong?" she questioned in surprise.
He started towards the door, replying, "Listen."
Kole remained silent, straining her ears to locate every single sound. A dying, weak cry filtered the air like a hushed whisper. She gasped, and they both darted outside. In front of their home was a dead pterodactyl. It looked staked, but the hole ruptured through her stomach and out her back. Kole covered her mouth, eyes widening fearfully. Gnarrk took a few tentative steps forward before a low-pitched snicker caught his attention.
"Who's there?" Gnarrk demanded, and Kole turned herself into crystal with her arms high above her head. Snatching her, he kept her close and shouted, "Show yerself!"
"You know the hybrids, don't you?" The voice was sharp silk, making him cringe. Gnarrk looked up at the roof on their home, finding the source of the voice.
"Who're you?" he growled.
Gnarrk never got an answer when a light green beam shot at him.
…
The alarm sounded in Titans South. Red streams of light erupted around Lightning in common room as he shot off the couch. Blaring noise like a fire truck's echoed around the entire tower. The other members of Titans South scrambled down to the common room, and Argent tapped a few buttons on a computer by the kitchen. The window that led to the outside world expanded into a full-blown monitor.
Static reigned supreme on the monitor as the others impatiently waited for someone to come on. The static crackled and swerved around on the screen before finally breaking up. The image was a forest on fire, and Thunder and Lightning were instantly tempted to fly up to the skies to extinguish it when a face burst into the screen.
"Hey! Am I gettin' to anybody? Hey! C'mon!" Gnarrk's frantically cried.
"Gnarrk, you've reached Titans South," Jinx interposed, breaking off his shrieks. "What's wrong?"
"Takes ya long enough! Listen, Kole and I, we're under attack by some crazed freak!" Gnarrk shouted. A high-pitched wail resounded behind him, and Kole was thrown back into their home. "Aw, Kole!"
"I'm fine!" Kole shouted over.
"Kole!" Lightning cried.
"Lightning?" she asked, but stopped when a beam of green energy shot towards her. Crystallizing herself, she absorbed the energy and shot it right back. "Quickly! Get your butts over here as soon as you guys can! I don't know if we can-"
The connection suddenly jammed, resulting in static. Argent quickly tried to gain their communications back, but the screen faded to black before shutting down. Hitting the buttons furiously, she turned to her team.
"Titans, go," she ordered simply.
Thunder and Lightning shot to the skies while Kid Flash took Jinx and Argent and dashed towards the North Pole where the underground Titans resided. Thunder shot a concerned look to his brother, gripping his arm when he noticed the malice in his eyes.
"Brother, what troubles you?" Thunder asked in concern.
"Are you blind?" Lightning spat back heatedly. "Our friends could very well die if we do not intervene!"
"Going in with rage is not the right way," Thunder murmured, stopping his brother in flight. "In the very least, you could to do more damage than good."
Lightning hesitated, leaning into Thunder and sighed. "I am only worried my friend, Kole. She has been a real delight to me, like a sister."
Thunder smiled, hugging Lightning gently. "Then protect her, not feel malice towards the enemy. That will empower you."
"Oh, like you do not?" Lightning sneered back. "Though, we should not waste anymore time with speaking, brother! Come!"
Thunder nodded, and they grasped each other's hands. In flashes of blue and yellow, they were off at hypersonic speeds towards the North Pole.
…
"What took you?" Kid Flash asked, peering down into the world that Kole and Gnarrk called home.
"Oh, silence yourself," Lightning snarled.
"Here's the plan," Argent announced, breaking them up. "Thunder, Lightning, you guys look for Kole and Gnarrk. Jinx and I will look for this creep. Kid Flash, stay up here and be lookout."
"What?" Kid Flash indignantly cried. "Stand around and do nothing? Aw, come on!"
Lightning barked with short laughter as he and Thunder leaped down. The lush trees embarked around them as they flew through the air, searching for any sign of Kole and Gnarrk. Lightning took the lead, transmuting his lower half to electricity while Thunder and his faithful cloud hovered a few feet behind.
Thunder suddenly choked, breathing in a musty scent and coughed. Lightning stopped, looking above Thunder to find gray smoke rush above the trees. Both gasped, hopping to their feet and pushed through the trees like their childhood when they found their house on fire by Minh and his cronies.
Kole's home was in shards like a broken mirror. Small fires caught on the scattered wood. Their appliances were everywhere, but were not as far off as the quant home. Gnarrk was perched underneath a thick stack of wood, groaning. Thunder shoved the rough bark off him, kneeling down as Gnarrk struggled to breath.
"Stay with us, my friend," Thunder entreated as Lightning ran around the home.
"Wh-what? Ow!" Gnarrk yelped.
"Remain silent," Thunder ordered. "We will help. Brother, have you found Kole?"
Not yet, Lightning replied, kicking a few pieces of wood away.
Lightning noticed a white sleeve, gasping and knelt by it. He swatted off the bark that remained on the body, reeling backwards when he realized it was Kole. She looked like death, having cuts around her body and bruises as well. Kole was horrendously silent, scaring him in becoming still. Shakily, he took her head and gave her a quick shock that made her gasp.
"Zap," she whined, glaring at him while he chortled, "what the heck is wrong with you?"
"I am sorry, crystal witch, but you appeared like death," Lightning explained as she weakly punched his chest.
"So…you shock me?"
"Indeed."
She punched him again, inflicting little damage because of her injured status. Lightning picked him up, and she went limp again. Whispering for her to breathe easily, he strolled back over to his brother and Gnarrk. Thunder threw Gnarrk's shoulder onto his, making the educated caveman stumble to his feet. Upon seeing the weak form of his friend, Gnarrk's mouth dropped, losing the will to speak.
"She is fine, weak, but fine," Lightning informed, draping Kole's arm across his shoulder.
"So, you two are the last of the H'san Natall hybrids."
Thunder and Lightning turned to see a woman cloaked in a long jacket that supported her lithe, but bountiful frame. Her eyes were bright yellow, but they could not see her face from the hood that blocked it. Thunder and Lightning could detect an incredible energy welling up inside her, and Lightning stepped forward, demanding to know who she was.
"Antonia never told you about me? That is strange. I thought we were friends." The teenaged girl sighed. "Oh, well."
"How do you know Argent?" Thunder snapped.
"Are you her latest 'boy toy' as she would call you? She was quite a…tramp back then."
"Do not insult her!"
The girl looked down at Thunder, smirking. "How is Antonia? I wish to speak to her."
"Why have you attacked our friends?" Lightning barked furiously. "It is unhonorable to attack an unready opponent!"
"Thunder and Lightning, Gan and Tavis Williams," she drawled, smirking as they flinched upon the usage of their real names. "Has Antonia even told you about what we did on my father's world?"
"Who are ya?" Gnarrk demanded vehemently.
"My name on the computer world was Audrey Spears, but you can call me Prysm," she sneered, removing her hood. Under it was a beautiful, shimmering purple face like that of glass. She removed her cloak, revealing that her entire body was like glass. She hovered in the air, smiling.
"Watch it, youse guys. She can reflect attacks like Kole," Gnarrk warned.
"Hold it!"
Prysm looked around, finding pink hexes dash towards her. Flying into the air, she gasped when the hexes slammed against the tree, and it fell at her. Dashing out of the way, she gasped when a massive crimson hand pinned her against the ground. Argent flew towards her with Jinx trailing behind her. Argent smirked before gasping, realizing who she caught.
"Prysm! But how? Why?" she cried in shock.
"Father wants you all back home," Prysm spat. "He wants you, Cody, Isaiah and the brothers to return home."
"I am not going back there," Argent growled. "Never!"
"Please, you must listen to reason-"
"What is she talking about, Argent? Is she talking about that alien world?" Jinx impatiently interjected. Whipping out her communicator, she stated, "Kid Flash, we need you down here."
No reply was made. Jinx became increasingly worried as Thunder attempted to reach the speedster by his. The same effect was produced, and Jinx furiously glared at Prysm, demanding to know what happened.
"Father wants the H'san Natall hybrids back home. He will stop at nothing to get them," Prysm informed.
"Where's Kid Flash?" Argent asked, releasing Prysm.
"He either lives or dies, depending on his speed," Prysm replied.
"Listen, you glass demon!" Lightning snarled. "Do not play foolish word games with us! Answer us honestly and straightly!"
She ignored him, enraging Lightning, and he sent a wave of his namesake at her. Prysm countered with a blast of her own, locking them in a stalemate until Thunder intervened, blasting her against the trees. Lightning smiled, thanking his brother gratefully. Argent stepped in front of them, placing a hand on Thunder's.
"Don't attack her. I don't know why she's doing this, but she's my friend," Argent explained.
"Well, that doesn't tell us why she is even here!" Jinx shouted, turning to her as Prysm struggled to her feet.
"You two are strong together," Prysm mused.
"We are Thunder and Lightning, the Storm Twins," Lightning arrogantly jeered. "Of course when combined, our powers are unbeatable."
"Quit your monologue, Lightning! We have more important factors to deal with!" Jinx ordered with volatility, smacking his shoulder.
Lightning instantly deflated and hearing Kole laughed only worsened his mood. Thunder sympathetically placed a hand on his shoulder, but looked over to find Argent standing over Prysm. She outstretched her hand, but Prysm did not accept it. Before he could say anything, Prysm floated into the air.
"Where're ya going?" Gnarrk snarled, pushing away from Thunder. "Get back here, ya freak!"
Prysm's eyes bulged in her skull. She appeared to have been slapped across the face. Her breathing became ragged as she repeated the world like a sour apple. Suddenly, her glass skin became blood red, and her eyes turned to a sun color. Shrieking monstrously, she threw out her hands as a blast of shimmering crimson energy cut through the sky and into Gnarrk. The caveman sputtered as he was blasted into the ground, creating a crater.
"I am not a freak," Prysm hissed, lips curving into a dangerous snarl. "I'll see you all soon."
She dashed off like light speed, and her body vanished into thin air. The Titans gasped, staring up at all the girl that was once before her. Gnarrk groaned, and Kole weakly called out to him. Lightning urged her to remain still, and Thunder and Jinx checked on him, finding that he was stable, but injured. Argent stared up at the trees, trying to find a glimmer of the friend she hadn't seen in two years.
"Argent," Thunder began, claiming her attention, "are you well? She said that she was like you, my brother and I. Why does she attack us if she is like us?"
"I wish I could answer that, blue boy, but she mentioned her father…Father…" Argent wracked her mind, growling in annoyance. "I have no idea what is running through her head."
"Do not fret your mind over it," Thunder stated, smiling gently. "I am certain we will be able to find out soon enough."
"Yeah, you're probably right, blue boy. Thanks." She grinned up to him, and Prysm's words came rushing back at him of her just using him as a 'boy toy'. However, he returned the smile evenly, watching curiously as she walked over to check on Kole.
"Zap, you better not drop me," Kole warned as Lightning hovered in the air after transmuting his lower body. When he loosened his grip, he smirked as she yelped. "Lightning!"
"What? Can I not amuse myself?" he sneered as the others Titans followed up into the skies with Thunder carrying Gnarrk and Argent holding Jinx.
They returned to the snowy tundra that was the North Pole. Argent set Jinx down, and she called out to Kid Flash. From the heavens came fresh, crisp snow drizzled slowly like a softer version of the Storm Twins' rain. Thunder and Lightning gazed up at the snow surprised. They hardly snow their entire lives together. On rare occasions when they traveled on their own before meeting the Titans did they see the crystals from above, but it had always been stabbing down at them, never gentle. Thunder raised out a hand, experimentally catching the snowflakes.
"They have little patterns on them, brother," Lightning observed, leaning in as the snowflakes melted in Thunder's palm.
"Youse act like you guys never seen snow before or somethin'" Gnarrk bluntly stated.
"We are not savages. We have seen snow, just not so gentle," Thunder retorted, frowning.
"Is he sleeping?" Argent asked as she and Jinx hovered over Kid Flash.
Jinx knelt down next to him, and she slapped him straight across the face. Kid Flash shrieked, shooting up and rubbed his face. The girls glared down at him, and he meekly greeted them. When Thunder and Lightning came over, shooting even deadlier glowers at him, Kid Flash really wanted to find the nearest rock and hide underneath.
"I swear I wasn't sleeping," he protested.
"Of course, and Santa Claus is real," Jinx sarcastically quipped.
"…Santa Claus is not real?" Lightning asked, hurt.
"…You didn't know?" Jinx craned her neck to see the brothers shake their head sadly. "Well, now you do."
"Witch," Lightning grumbled.
"Some crazy energy beam just shot out of there and hit me," Kid Flash informed, pointing down to world below. "Said her name was Prysm and that she was looking for you guys, but something else hit me from behind, and I passed out."
"It wasn't Prysm?" Argent asked, and Jinx helped him stand.
"No, someone way stronger. I managed to get a glimpse of him, but he seemed…weird, like burly and massive. Not Mammoth huge, but similar," Kid Flash explained, rubbing his head and winced. "He hit me right there."
Kole grunted, holding her arm. A cut was there, but was worse than the others were. Fresh blood oozed from it, ripping the skin open like the seams on a dress. The others Titans wasted no time, immediately transporting themselves back to the tower. Kole groaned, leaning into Lightning as he swore she would be fine.
Using his teleportation technique with Thunder, they ended up on the roof of their headquarters and right over the pool. Looking down, they both gasped, but Thunder managed to summon his cloud and protect himself and Gnarrk. In the nick of time, he grabbed Kole, but his brother slipped through his grasp, and Lightning slammed into the water. Lightning shrieked, flailing and pathetically dog paddled towards the edge. Crawling out, he glared furiously at Thunder who winced weakly.
Watch yourself when you slumber, brother. You will not be amused when you wake up, Lightning deviously threatened, sneering darkly as his brother cringed.
Thunder weakly protested as Lightning placed his arms behind his head, kicking open the hatch and walked down. Gnarrk staggered, swaggering in front of Thunder, insisting that he was feeling better. Kole continued to cling to Thunder, and he held her like she was a baby. They brought both of them to their medical room which was set up in what used to be Alfonsa's, Argent's mother, modeling room. Thunder placed Kole onto the table, and Lightning fiddled with a few buttons on the wall before bringing out a medical kit. Throwing it over to his brother, Lightning grabbed a stool and looked around the barren room. The walls were white with five separate tables for anyone who was injured. Inside the walls were bandages and other necessities to heal people all with a push of a button on the right wall.
"Thanks," Kole crooned weakly as Thunder began to wrap bandages around her arm.
"My pleasure," Thunder replied, smiling.
"How did Prysm defeat you?" Lightning asked.
"She's like Kole and kinda like you," Gnarrk informed, sitting up on a table. "She takes energy and blasts it. It's weird, like a combo of youse two."
"Peculiar, but Argent did mention that she was like you and I, brother," Thunder reported as his brother nodded gravelly.
"I'm just worried," Kole admitted. "Argent said she was supposed to be back on her home planet. Why is she here? What is she after?"
"Crystal witch, I wish I could give you an answer," Lightning admitted.
…
This is the sequel to Gan and Tavis, so if you do not understand what is going on, you should probably read that first. So, please review!