Disclaimer: don't own any of the Teen Titans so no one bug me about it, I just use them as I see fit in my stories … heh heh heh
A/N: Yeah … another … (sighs tiredly) well I'm gonna' hope this doesn't veer off in the wrong direction like "It's Not Me". Don't get me wrong, if you were reading that I haven't given up on it, I'm gonna' finished it … one day or another … but just be patent. I need time … but meanwhile here's a story that I decided to try my luck with an AU.
Summary: Where the good guys are the bad guys and the bad guys are the good guys, the authorities aren't what they're all cracked up to be. These kids will have to take the law into their own hands when they find their turfs being over run by the infamous "War Lord" Trigon Scathe. All the little misfits' that rule Runaway Alley, Hearsay Street, Nitrous Road and Nirvana Avenue skills will be put to the test when they find out just how terrible this big demon can get when in the mood of a raging bull.
With territory at the stakes, prides on the line, and lives put at risk Robin Richards and Angel Xavier find that they have to put aside their hatred and work together in order to save their way of life. And on the matter, find out just who was the one that appointed themselves the new top racer on "Diamond Cut Boulevard".
--So enjoy, and review, tell me what you think about it ... please ...
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Pro-longed Beginnings
The night was warm, the timing was right, summer was ending, and it was going out with a blast for a certain gathering around a particular area. That area being Nightingale Avenue where the fun was about to begin; the party was jumpin', the bass was bumbin', and the rides were tricked out and supped up for anything. Walking around like they owned the street, everyone whose anyone that's connected to the Underground was there.
Here on Nightingale Avenue was where the race of the season would begin.
The final showdown between two of the top dogged most wanted racers on the street was going to finally duke it out and throw it down. To not only race for the slips, but to race for the glory as well; cause for too long have they been at each other's throats. Neck-and-neck in police files, causing trouble to see who was the most wanted criminal racer on the streets.
And hosting said race was the all-too-well-known machine man himself: Victor Stone. Though everyone else called him Cyborg for his "unhealthy" knowledge of all that is mechanic, his whole life practically revolved around metal. The African American young man was only about 19 years old and he already owned a mechanic shop of his own. Small business, but a big income when supporting all the A-listers in supped up engines.
If there was anything need knowing about the big-boys – and of course girls – of the Underground, Cyborg was the man to go to for information. Especially those on the road … but for everything else there's Jinx Seth, the "go-to" girl for the gang movements. The police of course knew who they were, but was neither able to extract information or catch them doing bad things.
Their records were clean … unlike the people they hung around with.
Which … this race right here at the moment was centered around. Cyborg's best friend Robin Richards, and Jinx's cousin Angel Xavier the two most wanted racers on the street. Cars parked at the end with a red line spray pained across the street and in front of the vehicles, leaning on the hood of his black Cayman S, with the hot fire red flames painted on the sides. Angel Xavier sneered the 911 Carrera S parked next to him, "You just love to copycat the big-boys don't you kid."
Robin sitting on the driver side of his Porsche glare up at Angel who snorted and snickered looking away to the crowd that was gathered around the area to witness their little challenge. Robin will never know how it were that they were rivals, yet trusted each other with their lives, considering the fact that Angel was the last person to put any if at all hope in. The guy was even more self-fish than a politician, and had a bigger ego than Jennifer Lopez.
"Oh don't start up with that shit again X, I got my Carrera way before you even decided on tuning up yours. If any ones copycatting it'll be you." Angel– or X – responded with a laugh and a shake of his head, glancing over at Robin one more time before bursting into another fit of chuckles. Which – by the way – irritated the hell outta' Robin.
"Oh man, sport that's rich, almost as rich as daddy I dare say." X grinned as Robin's glare darkened, his cerulean blue eyes swirling with a mix of hatred and rage, "Speaking of which, did mommy share the child-support? Cause lord knows you need it."
Last straw, getting up from his car, Robin stalled around X's car to stand right before him, everyone caught the stiff movement and the sudden intensity that filtered through the partying atmosphere. X got up from the car and matched Robin height for height, even if X was at least a half inch taller, he knew that Robin could pack a punch unlike any other. How he knew, well they've got into way more brawls that Garfield and Victor did.
Besides that it was always X that'll be the "smart one" and open his mouth to start something. On the side talking on the cell phone, Victor noticed the stillness in the air and cursed, "Oh shit, look I gotta' go, just hurry up and set up the last post and get your ass back here pronto. I think the waiting period lasted long enough."
"What? Are the two already at each other's throats?"
Cyborg frowned already starting to make his way through the crowd, "What do you think? Rob and X can't stand in the same room without at least throwing insults, what make's you think they'll stop now?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe because this might just be the fight to end all fights! I mean come on man can't they wait to kill each other on the road rather than to have some one call the cops because of a lame fist-fight? That's just stupid dude!"
"Yeah? Well try telling them that, see ya Gar and get those freakin' posts up!" hanging up on Gar, his young little friend, Cyborg rushed to the cause of all the tension, "Hey, hey, hey, what the hell is going on here? Didn't I just say no shit till the real fun begins? X what the hell'd you say this time?"
X pulled back from Robin and looked up to Cyborg, "Whoa, you're already placing the blame on me? It's not my fault Kid-Wonder here can't hold his temper."
Robin responded with a growling, "Yeah well it's not my fault that you can't seem to shut your fucking mouth."
"Robin cool it," putting a hand on his chest and shoving him back he did the same with X and both of them were separated by his body, not that it stopped them from glaring holes into that other's sockets. Cyborg tried his best to keep the peace, "Come on, enough with this hostility people, bad enough you're going against each other in a damn race, why go at the throat? Take the frustration out on the road."
The glaring continued on, but X suddenly lightened up, and chuckled, looking away it turned into a full on snicker and then a shrug. Robin sneered, "What the hell you think's so damn funny."
"On any normal occasion I'd say your face," X smirked, "but this isn't any normal occasion kid … so … I'll say the situation. Yo Cy, when's the brat gonna' get the posts set up?"
Cyborg sighed when he felt Robin loosen up and return back to his car then opened his mouth to answer, but the engine of a pick up truck in the background answered for him. Every watched as the guy at the wheel parked and jumped out, "Hey Cy! All posts are marked and the check points are checked, we're clear to go!"
"Thanks Gar!" Cyborg smirked at the short lanky looking spiky blonde haired guy with live-wired green eyes. Then turned to X and jerked his head to the road, "Start your engines boy, let's get this show on the road. And you better check your navigator while you're at it."
"Fina-goddamn-ly," X hoped into his car and started the engine, Robin followed after and before they knew it the crowd had cleared the way. X grabbed a headset with a mouthpiece and put it own, "this is X, Jinx you there, ring in."
"Ring-a-ding-ding baby, hey there big cuz, miss me?" came the chirpy young voice of his cousin, X smirked and reached to his glove compartment. Pulling it open a small portable laptop slid out and flipped open. Greeting him with a computerized "Good-day, X" then telling him to type in his password, doing as requested he noticed there was something downloading to the screen, "Did the map update?"
X snickered and watched as the map of the city popped up with a red and green arrow both on either side of each other with ready to go. Noticing the road of the race highlighted in white and the short cuts in gray, "Jinx, I promise you when I win this thing I'll hook you up with someone that's worth your while."
"Really?" Jinx chuckled and uploaded a report on what was going on with Robin and his navigator, "Do you think you could get that hot track runner from the upper classmen level? You know, the cutie that's in your English class?"
X snorted, both at the info and at his cousin, "I said someone that's worth your while not a loser like Wally."
"Oh, boo-whoo, I think you just broken my heart X, right here, on my left shoulder. It hurts."
Meanwhile Robin in his 911 Carrera S was also preparing for the race, "I promise Star, I'll be fine."
Innocent and sweet, the girl on the other line of his speakerphone spoke worriedly, "Truthfully Robin? Because honestly I think this whole thing is just stupid! I mean, both you and X are great racers, must you both compete with everything you two are involved with?"
Robin sighed and closed his eyes noticing Argent, a sexy looking punk rocker with a lot of attitude and heavy eye makeup slowly walking down the street to his far right. Staying clear out of the way as she held out a red scarf to signal the two racers into their ready positions. To his left X started his car and revved his engine, Robin glared and started his own. Matching him rev for rev, it was like two competing lions trying to see who had the loudest roar.
"You're still going to go through with it aren't you?"
Robin nodded, not like his navigator, closest – dearest – friend had seen it, and so he answered slowly, "Yeah, I can't back down Star you know that."
She sighed, "Alright … fine … but make sure you at least gain first in the beginning, maybe then you'll have an even better chance at winning the race. X is a dirty player … just to remind you."
"Of course …" Robin gritted his teeth and held fast to his wheel watching as the Argent switched her red scarf to a yellow one, "…how can I forget?"
"Please … be careful."
Like the world had slowed to a crawl the yellow scarf was tugged down, and with a smirk the green one went up and the two racers were off. In a flash and both of the black vehicles disappeared into the night. Garfield jumped and threw a fist in the air, like everyone else they followed the racers in an excited whirl of whoops-and-hollars. Cyborg stood at the front line arms crossed and nodding his head in approval, "Now that's what I'm talkin' about."
--
"Repeat to me the way of the race Star! Now!" Robin gritted his teeth trying to keep in front of X the best he could without trying to do anything drastic, but he was making everything so hard with his weaving!
"Uh, up head you're coming up to your first turn –"
"I see it! That's Dead-Man's Corner!"
"I know, whatever you do, don't wipeout or let Angel get too close to your side."
Robin took the advice and sped up, glancing at his review mirror momentarily to see X was still too close for him to be sure of slowing down, Gotta time it, gotta time it, he chanted in his head for a straight five seconds, before he got the surprise of his life.
From behind X punched his gas and literally rammed into the back of Robin's car just before he took the turn, grinning and laughing X prepared for a drift and a dodge of Robin should wipeout. Because right now, Robin didn't look like he was controlling his car very good.
With a two-fingered salute to Robin, X drifted hard and took the turn perfectly. While Robin clipped the edge of his ride to the wall and almost snuffed his racing days out before he took control, "Fuck you X!"
"Heh, See ya brat," X smirked while straightening up and dodging a few loose cars on the street now having stolen first.
"Nice shot X, couldn't have told you better my self," Jinx snickered along with her cousin for a moment then got back to work, "Alright look out, Garfield wasn't told to block off every road into the coast so if there's other cars on the road try not to panic."
X sneered, "Jinx, since when have I ever "panicked" about anything?"
"Just watch yourself slick. Robin, coming up on your left flank!"
"I don't think so sharp," X grinned and swerved left cutting off Robin's advances, and then right to cut him off once more, "not so easy is it slick."
As the world around them blurred, the lights of the city blurring out to nothing more than lined streaks. Both racers lived for the thrill of the speed and the adrenaline of the challenge. Even while they raced each other now, the clear example on their love for the road was the skill they put into every little detail of every little action. Plus their navigators weren't exactly ones to underestimate. Knowing every little detail of their fair city, the navigators were just as important to the racers as their skills.
Down the coast they flew petals to the floor and hands ever turning.
It was a miracle neither of them were losing their minds at the high intensity level.
Hanging high in the night sky the moon watched over their slick moves, each stealing the other's title only to be shot back down and put into place. Both were incredible … each living up to their names as they got off to the off ramp entering the dangers of the highway.
They were lucky that they were only on the people condensed road for a short while before they got into serious trouble. Coming up to the exit they both noticed one thing in particular.
Only one person could fit in the entrance of the tunnel.
"Robin please don't do anything stupid!" Starfire pleaded, "If you can't make it, don't try, you'll get killed if you slam into the wall!"
"No shit," Robin growled gritting his teeth as he raced side-by-side with his nemesis.
X didn't have to try to feel the glare coming from his left side where Robin planned to make it; he calculated the odds and cursed, "Shit! One of us HAS to back down or none of us will make it!"
"And where did you pick this up from Sherlock?" Jinx sneered, X snapped.
"Oh go to hell Jinx, no way am I backing down!"
"Well I don't think Robin the Boy Wonder's goin' down. So what flowers do you want thrown into your grave again?"
X growled, "I thought you were on my side."
Robin gritted his teeth and shook his head, I can't do it … and I won't! It's now or never, and I'm not gonna' back down! I'm gonna' win this even if it kills me. Praying to whatever god that was gracious enough to listen, Robin glanced at the two red buttons on his wheels and lifting one thumb … pressed down on the left button.
X watched as Robin shot forward straight clearing the tunnel before him and thus taking the lead, X blinked and grinned, "Already desperate enough to spray out the juice, huh, kid. Heh … you're not getting off that easily."
"Angel what the hell do you think you're doing? I thought you said that you're going to save the spray till the right moment?" Jinx reminded and X shrugged.
"Things change … besides … I wanna see what this baby can do."
Jinx sighed, "Damn X, I sure hope you know what you're doing."
"Yeah, I know," X bit down on his lower lip and pressed his right red button, jerking back into his chair feeling the power as the nitrous exploded and flames spit out of his exhaust. It was enough to throw him into a natural high as the world around him vanished, not even the lights clear to make out and neither were anything else. Only the destination up ahead which was Robin. In no time the dot that was once his opponent turned into the Carrer he was after.
Robin glanced at his rear-view mirror and scowled, X was catching up fast and he already used up his first nitrous bottle. Not wanting to use the second one just yet, but at the same time not wanting X to steal his position. Robin's worries were heightened when he heard Star's report, "Robin, if you're still alive the end of the line is at the end of Nitrous Road, it's a sharp first right once you reach Diamond Cut Boulevard, incase you're wondering."
"Okay, got it."
"And Robin … you should also know … I got an unidentified Ford GT tearing down Hearsay Street. You'll meet up with it at the Boulevard."
X, having heard the same news from Jinx raised a brow and sneered, "Have you tried contacting this guy?"
"Yeah, he's been tracking each of your moves throughout the whole race –"
" –I think it may be an under cover agent." Star warned.
Robin cursed, "Fuck! Can you be sure?"
"Goddamn it! I hate cops! They're like fuckin' coach roaches. Kill one and 20 more take its place!" X growled still trying to steal Robin's place, but not really putting effort behind it, worried about the potential UC.
Jinx shared his frustration, "I know, but hang in there, it may just be an arriving jackass just trying to screw with your heads. Prepare for the turn."
"Robin, the right turn is coming up, watch out for the new guy."
Up head Diamond Cut Boulevard, a nickname placed for the intersection that connected all the four major neighborhoods Nirvana Avenue, Nitrous Road, Runaway Alley, and Hearsay Street. The places were where the misfits of Jump City lived and thrived, Diamond Cut Boulevard was the neutral zone where all gangs from every neighborhood got along for a moment. Preparing to take the turn, both X and Robin fought for first as they both made the turn perfectly.
Side-by-side, they were both blown away with a flash of a dark object blew in between the racers and shot forward down Nitrous Road. Leaving X and Robin baffled, "What the hell?"
"X! Pay attention! This is you and Robin's race don't let this nobody get in the way!" Jinx shouted, snapping X out of his shock at the power that shook his car when passing by.
Down the petal went and faster he pushed to catch up with the mysterious new racers and to win over Robin. Robin on the other hand saw the game and followed. Fighting for first, over the winner they were too distracted to notice a large dump truck pulling out the right side of the road. However the front man did and sped up dodging the truck with in an inch of space, Robin and X gasped when they finally spotted the danger.
Both at the same time came to a screeching halt turning their cars into a broad-slide just barely stopping before they too became trashed. Livid, X and Robin jumped out of their cars and glared at each other, "Who the hell was that?"
Robin sneered, "I bet this is one of your tricks!"
"My tricks?" X repeated in utter disbelief, "How could it have been one of my fuckin' tricks if Im standing right here with dumb-ass!"
"Bullshit!"
Star screamed into his ear, "Robin stop right now!"
Jinx interrupted X's rage, "X get your dumb-ass back in the car before your caught! Deal with Robin later right now we have to find out who the hell that guy was!"
Meanwhile at the finish line the mysterious Ford GT came to a careful stop in front of the crowd, leaving everyone befuddled. Cyborg pushed through the crowd to see the Ford GT for himself and glared at it. Garfield voices everyone's disbelief, "What the hell is this?"
A momentary pause, the driver never making a move to step out of his car and take in all the glory, instead rolled down his window, Cyborg – being the braver of the bunch. Slowly approached the car, but he didn't get close enough to peak inside as an object was thrown out and he was forced to catch it. Without even looking at it, the car roared and pulled a 180 around back to the road where Robin and X were coming back.
Only the loud roar of the powerful Ford GT was heard as he tore in between Robin and X and down the road, never bothering with the fact that they could turn and pursue him. Too bad the two were too much in shock to care as they slowly came to the finish line. Livid as all hell, Robin and X got out and began to argue with one another, the crowd hissing with whispers about the enigmatic turn of events.
Cyborg scratched his head and looked down at the strange cylinder-looking thing with a lousy string tied into a bow around it. Curiosity got the better of him and he ended up pulling on the string and unraveling the leathery feeling parchment. In an intricate, brilliantly breathless handwriting of old ages that appeared to be written in calligraphy, Cyborg found it hard to believe that this could have been hand written. It was just too … perfect.
Yet … computer graphics could not have enhanced this thing.
It was real … even what the writing had said.
The two raging competitors noticed the host holding the scroll both marched over to him. X being the first to open his mouth, "Did that jackass give you something?"
Robin, taking a more subtle approach asked, "What does it say?"
Cyborg shook his head and gave it too them, "Here, you read it, it makes no sense."
"A note?" X sneered, "Who the hell interrupts a race just to hand out a note?"
Robin ignored X and reopened the scroll, reading it carefully, X leaned over him a followed the confusing jumble of beautifully written words. Giving off a strong sense that maybe this … could have been written by a female. It read:
See what happens when the King Cobras dance for longer than necessary?
Now the title of the most wanted belongs to me.
If you're willing to play my game, you shall further find out who I am.
But for now … you may call me Sin, and I shall call you Wrath.
Think you can take me on?
Try it
I dare you
"This guy," X growled and stole the parchment from Robin glaring at the taunting words, "this guy is asking for death. Sin? Wrath? King Cobras? What the fuck is he talking about?"
Robin sneered and snorted, "Whatever, but he played us, and he's going down hard for that."
X rolled up the parchment and stuffed it in his back pocket, "I'll say, 12 feet under if you ask me."
Cyborg jerked his head back, "Whoa, whoa, you guys aren't exactly planning on killing this guy are you?"
"You plannin' on keeping him alive?" X growled, "Then you better find him before we do, NO ONE comes into any of my races like that and lives to tell about it."
Robin nodded, "I'm with X on this one."
Cyborg opened his mouth to protest, but Garfield on the side tapped him on the shoulder while holding his left ear getting a warning from an earpiece. Suddenly his face paled, eyes widened and mouth dropped open, "SHIT! EVERYBODY BLOW OUT! 5-O! 5-O!"
"Crap!" Cyborg dashed off into the frenzied crowd to his car, while Robin and X got into theirs and tore out before anyone else. Speeding right passed a few unsuspecting cops and slamming their vehicles to distract them from pursuing everyone else. Cops from all streets swarmed the area and picked off at the illegal gathering.
One by one, every one vanished and a few where busted. The night had gone from bad to worse, but little did anyone know, it was all going down the drain, whether they liked it or not.
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How you like that? Come on, tell the truth ... oh by the way here's some interesting fact about what the "mysterious racer" was talking about the "Dancing King Cobras" in the wild when two MALE King Cobras meet. They don't fight to the death, but dance and force the other male's head to the ground. Wierd huh? Yeah, just through you might wanna know for your sake.
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