The Ascend of the Shadows
Author's Note:This is an AU revolving around the high school life of Teen Titans and Young Justice members.
I've taken a lot of 'creative liberty' with the characters and original character arcs, so as to fit the story a bit better. I hope that doesn't become too much of a bother.
*Also, I'm going to be following this format for all my stories from now on.
Disclaimer:I do not own any characters, all original characters and plots are the property of the creators. Any publicly recognizable figure, setting, etc belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
Character Guide (updates as the story progresses):
1. Richard 'Dick' Grayson (Robin I, Nightwing)
2. Kori Andres (Koriand'r, Starfire)
3. Bruce Wayne (Batman)
4. Jason Todd (Robin II, Red Hood)
5. Diana Prince (Wonder woman)
6. Wallace 'Wally' West (Kid Flash)
7. Roy Harper (Speedy, Arsenal)
8. Donna Troy (Troia, Wonder Girl I)
9. Rachel Roth (Raven)
10. Garfield 'Gar' Logan (Beast Boy)
11. Victor Stone (Cyborg)
12. Barbra Gordon (Batgirl)
13. Cassandra 'Cassie'' Sandsmark (Wonder Girl)
14. Tim Drake (Robin III)
15. Stephanie Brown (Batgirl, Robin IV)
16. Jonathan 'Jon' Kent (Super boy)
17. Jamie Reyes (Blue Bettle)
18. Artemis Crock (Tigress)
19. Zatana Zatara
20. Clark Kent (Superman)
21. Barry Allen (The Flash)
22. Oliver Queen (Green Arrow)
23. Jackson Hyde (Aqualad)
24. Jim Gordon (Commissioner of Police)
25. Jade Nguyen (Cheshire)
26. Dinah Lance (Black Canary)
Chapter 1: The Hunt
The first day of school is always the hottest, and this time it was unbearably so. Despite this, a large group of students still wandered about in the parking lot, fanning themselves with notebooks and sipping down energy drinks and iced-teas. Among the lot, was a dark haired boy, taking shade under the school entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd of people for one particular red-head.
"This isn't exactly subtle Grayson." Roy Harper sauntered over, a cigarette balanced between his lips. Unfortunately, Roy wasn't the red-haired individual Richard was looking for.
Richard spared him an unusually hostile glare, before composing himself and settling on a 'Hey.'
"That brooding image always works for you Grayson." Wally, peered his head from behind the school door. He had on his routine grin and unkempt hair, and like always he was brutally ignored by the two boys.
"Hey, no warm welcomes?"
"We saw you yesterday West." Roy was quick to brush him off. He wasn't interested in small talk today, he was more concerned about what was going on in Richard's head.
"Have you talked to her after last week?" Roy probed.
"No. And frankly it's getting to me. I'm a hundred per cent certain something's wrong. And I am not letting it go until I find out." Richard wasn't one to get anxious over small things, and this was no small thing, this was about her.
A grunting noise caught the attention of the three boys. A boy, just a year younger, with hair as dark as Richard's, briskly walked past them. He had a denim jacket draped over his left arm, most likely in the hopes to hide his injury, but there was nothing he could do about the trail of dripping blood.
"Jason." Richard approached with caution. "What happened to your arm?"
Turning slowly towards his old brother, Jason shot him a menacing glance. "It's none of your business, Grayson." He whispered.
"You need to stop." was all that Richard said before returning to his spot under the shade. He already had Bruce and the incident preoccupying him, he really could have done without Jason acting out again. As it is, the younger boy had made a lot of enemies, he couldn't afford any more. And with his recent performance, it wasn't too long before the school decided in favor of an expulsion. Richard wanted, so badly to help Jason, but he was the last person Jason would confide in, let alone talk to.
"He'll be fine. The kid can take care of himself." Roy assured. But even Roy knew how bad the situation had gotten.
"I'll check up on him at lunch." Wally's grin sobered.
The three stood there talking, with Richard occasionally participating. Every now and then an acquaintance would stop by to chit chat, none of whom were the red-head.
"I don't know about her but here comes Saint Peter's disciple." Wally tipped his head in a girl's direction.
Roy took a drag of his cigarette before sighing exasperatedly.
Donna- the girl being referred to, walked purposefully towards the lot, an air of disapproval enveloping her.
"Roy Harper." She dragged out the name.
"Yes m'lady?" He blew out a puff of smoke, causing Donna to move away.
"Roy, I know you have a death wish, but do you really need to damage other people's health too? Just one day, I would like to walk into school without choking on that smoke."
"Would you like to choke on something else too?" Roy asked innocently.
"You wish." She then pushed past him and walked away promptly.
"You just like getting on her nerves don't you?" Wally laughed.
"Like to? I have to. I don't know what the pompous witch thinks of herself. It's my moral obligation to stop her obnoxious nagging."
Needless to say, Donna and Roy, although family friends, never got along, and there was no hopes of that happening in the future.
The mood of the group was slowly declining. First there was Jason and whatever the heck he was up to, then there was Donna who's mere presence was to Roy what blood was to the Hulk and lastly, school was about to start and there still wasn't any sign of the one person Richard needed to meet with.
After a considerable amount of wait, Richard finally spotted long ginger locks whisking about in the light breeze, that had miraculously picked up.
"Barbara." He called out after her but the girl didn't pause her striding.
"Barbara wait." He tried again, this time with a more demanding quality in his voice. His words, it seemed, fell on deaf ears as the girl just kept walking.
"Barbara." He said sternly as he grabbed her hand, stopping her from moving any further. This prompted the girl to turn around, a look of utter confusion in her features.
"I'm sorry?" A pair of green eyes searched Richard's face for an explanation.
"No, I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else." Richard admitted, embarrassed.
"Oh that's okay. I'm Kori. And since we're already talking, do you mind telling me where room 107 is?" The girl smiled but not before looking down at Richard's fingers, which were still wrapped around her wrist.
"Ahem. Right sorry." he quickly dropped her hand and shoved his own into his pocket. "Room 107, that's the third room on your first left."
"Thanks so much." She paused realizing she hadn't gotten his name.
"Richard." He filled in the gap. "But I am mostly known by Grayson."
"Well, thanks Grayson. Hope you find whoever you were looking for." Kori waved and then disappeared behind the school door.
"I hope so too." Richard whispered under his breath.
"Wow." Wally grinned. "She new?"
"Looks like it." Roy answered.
"If all the newbies are this hot, this is going to be one hell of an year." Wally nudged Roy and Richard but the latter was back on his Barbara hunt.
"There." Roy pointed at the gate. "Is that Commissioner Gordon's car?"
It was indeed the commissioner's car, out of which stepped out the red-head Richard was so anxiously looking for- Barbara Gordon.
"Barbara." Richard called as she neared the entrance. "I need to talk to you."
Barbara peered down at her watch, without really seeing the time. "Look, Richard, there's one one minute 'till the morning bell. Can we have to conversation later?" And with that she made her way inside, leaving the boys in an empty parking lot.
The encounter may have been brief but Richard hadn't missed the troubled expression Barbara had given him. It was like a latent plea for help.
/ I hope you enjoyed the story so far. I will pick up the pace by the second or third chapter, after I have sufficiently introduced the major characters.
Leave me a review if you like, it will be greatly appreciated. /