(A/N)- Based/Inspired by the events of Teen Titans Go! #48. A brief summary for those of you who haven't read it; Raven tries to send Kilowatt, one of the Honorary Titans from Season Five, home to his own dimension but ends up sending him to a universe where the Titans are all evil instead. This version of the team is called the Teen Tyrants and is comprised of evil versions of Robin, Raven, Starfire, Speedy, and Aqualad. (There weren't evil versions of Cyborg or Beast Boy, sadly, though I have rectified that and added my own interpretations of what they'd probably be like into this fic.) Regular Raven heard Kilowatt's telepathic calls for help from the other universe, opened up an inter-dimensional portal, and the Teen Titans faced off against the Teen Tyrants in order to rescue their friend. The fight is rather short and is interrupted quickly by the Brotherhood of Justice (a heroic version of, obviously, the Brotherhood of Evil), and Robin has Raven lock the "door" behind them. (They are then able to send Kilowatt home to the right universe.)
It was one of the most fun TTG! issues to read and since it has such enormous fanfic potential... this story happened. I hope you all enjoy!
T rating is for occasional language and allusions to implied adult situations. And like I said in the summary the pairings are Rob/Star and BB/Rae, for both universes.
And if you'd like, here's a couple pages from the issue for visual reference (copy the url into your browser and then delete the spaces): http : / i62. photobucket . com/ albums/ h90/ TariElensar/ TTG%20Scans/ TTG48page8 . jpg , http : / i62 . photobucket . com/ albums/ h90/ TariElensar/ TTG%20Scans/ TTG48page11 . jpg
Disclaimer: Well I own the comic this was inspired by if that means anything, but other than that...
Chapter 1: Multiverse
Red Robin lay in bed with his arms crossed behind his neck, staring up at the ceiling. The plain gray walls were blank, dimly-lit with the standard florescent lighting of the Tower. Perfect for staring at when your mind was on other things. It was helped by the low, steady thrum of the air-conditioner, which he could feel blowing slightly on him. The chilly breeze prickled his skin with goosebumps. He briefly considered reaching down for his shirt, which was on the floor along with several other articles of clothing. (Not all of them his.) He ruled against it though, deciding he was too comfortable where he was to move right then, even if his mind was restless with its preoccupations.
Shifting a little he eased his head to a better angle.
He was thinking back to an event two months ago, when the Tyrants had caught some wandering blue smurf with electric powers, brought him back to the Tower, and discovered the existance of the multiverse. It had been an interesting, if ultimately fruitless encounter. They opened a door to another reality. Met their Goody Do-Gooder alternate selves. If not for the untimely and inconvenient interruption of the Brotherhood of Justice, they might have been able to cross over and wreck havoc in the other universe for a while. Red Robin was still extremely sore that they hadn't gotten the chance to do so.
Even though they'd been busy for the past few weeks, on the run from the Brotherhood, fighting back the squeaky-clean heroes of their reality until they finally won back their Tower, the encounter had stuck with him, and he rolled over and over it in his head. He snickered internally at the ridiculous brightly-colored costume of his counterpart, wondered what the inside of their Tower looked like, ran his mental gaze over the curves of that purple-clad Tamaranian bombshell.
"What are you thinking about?" a low sultry voice breathed in his ear.
Red Robin looked down and smiled at his own alien hottie. Blackfire lay curled up next to him, ebony hair spread across the pillow and falling around her bare shoulders, the sheets draping over her naked body.
"The cute redhead in the other universe who passed for you." he answered truthfully.
"Who?" she asked, tilting her head at him.
He unhooked his arms and brought them down to cuddle her, his fingers rubbing the smooth skin of her back. "You remember two months back, when we had that close encounter with a group of do-rights who called themselves the Teen Titans and were supposed to be some alternate reality version of us?"
Blackfire looked bored. "To be honest, nothing really stands the out. I was a little indisposed by the Brotherhood at the time."
Red Robin squinted at the sudden reminder. "Oh yeah, that's right... you were captured. Forgot about that." Waving a hand he continued, "Anyway, Rae opened up a portal to this other dimension or something. And we were on the other side. The other us." He grinned at her. "You were hot."
"Am I not always 'hot'?" she crooned at him.
"'course." He leaned down and planted a sloppy kiss on her. His tongue probed the sweet insides of her mouth for a few moments, and then their faces parted.
Her heather eyes smoldered at him from under her dark lashes. "I shall bet that your counterpart was exceedingly handsome and appealing as well."
"Nah, you wouldn't have liked him, 'Fire. Kid was dressed like a traffic light and had his hair all gel-ed up in these dumb-looking spikes."
She made a face. "Ugh."
"Thought so." Red Robin leaned his head back on the pillow. "Haven't been able to get the experience out of my mind. I keep wondering what's it's like on the other side. Keep imagining how easy it would be to sneak around there and take it over. We didn't get a chance to terrorize that world before the Brotherhood showed up but I totally think we could've done it. Those 'Titans' were real pushovers."
"I heard."
"I think we should find a way to get back." he declared suddenly, straightening up a little in the bed. "Open the door again. We could pop over for a few hours, just the two of us..." He stroked her face gently. "Scare some civilians, cause some destruction, break a few windows, steal a few priceless gems..." He winked at her. "And I want to seduce the other you."
Blackfire propped her chin up. "Are you certain we can even get back? Red Raven said the only way she was able to do it the first time was because the little electric firefly was boosting her powers."
He shrugged. "I'll talk to Cyber-Vile in the morning, see if he's got anything that'll help. Rae's had him working on something for us. He has a lot of orders to fill for other villains too so he might be really busy but who knows?" He cupped his hand under her chin. "Maybe we'll get lucky." he purred.
"Is that an invitation, Boy Scoundrel?"
"Could be."
She crawled up on him. "It is most enthusiastically accepted." she breathed seductively.
-TT-
The lab was always dark. A few corners and spaces were bathed in a weak, cold blue light from various monitors and computer screens, constantly scrolling numbers and data, but the rest of the room crouched in deep, permenant shadow. Red Robin stood in the doorway and blinked, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He could vaguely make out the forms of the worktables and desks, and on them, glinting glass beakers and test tubes, blinking devices he couldn't identify, and mechanical parts of every size and shape imaginable. He stepped into the room and immediately stubbed his toe on something. When he was done cursing he calmed down and picked his way across the lab, being careful not to run into anything else in the dark. It was quiet, save for his footsteps and the soft hum of equipment.
At the far side, hunched over one of the worktables, was a large bulky shape. It was humanoid, sitting facing away from him. But at its head level, about where its left eye would be, he could see a familiar small red light. Cyber-Vile was bent over his latest project, tools in hand. Wires and tiny bits of metal were strewn out on the counter in front of him. He worked methodically, welding something together. The torch sent up yellow sparks that played across the teen's half-human, half-robotic features.
Red Robin grinned and came up beside the figure. "Hey Cy." he greeted.
At the other boy's hello, the cyborg turned his head slightly, and slid his gaze over to look at him. The light played across the human side of his face.
"Red Robin." he said simply. His gaze slid back to what he was doing.
The cyborg's tone was flat and emotionless and his voice had an unsettling metallic echo under it. Red Robin felt his skin crawl at the sound, but shook his uneasiness off and leaned in for a better look at Cyber-Vile's welding. "What are you working on?" he asked.
Without bothering to look at him again, Cyber-Vile replied, "The satellite transmitter array for one of my clients is broken. I am repairing it."
"I see." Straightening back up, the Teen Tyrant inquired, "So, how's that security system Raven commissioned coming along?"
"It is completed."
"Really?" Red Robin said, pleasantly surprised. "That's great! I'll take it you'll be by soon to install it in the Tower?"
"Correct." Cyber-Vile paused his work a moment, evaluating. There was a long silent pause behind him. The half-robot checked his sensory implants. Noting that Red Robin was still there, his logic circuits whirred a moment. "Observation: That is not the reason you came." he deduced.
The boy scratched at the back of his neck. "Well, yeah actually, there was something else..." He got right to the point. "What do you know about the multiverse?"
Cyber-Vile searched his memory banks a moment. "The multiverse: Considered to be an infinite number of alternate realities, with many different versions and variations of events, people, and places." he recited. "First suggested by physicist Emmerson S. Clark of STAR Labs in 1987."
"Right." Red Robin nodded. "You wouldn't happen to have any tech dealing with that lying around would you? Like say," he trailed, waving a hand around the lab, "a way to travel to another one of those universes?"
Cyber-Vile scooted back and then rose noiselessly from his chair. "Perhaps." he said, going stiffly to one of his computers. He raised his arm and brought the screen to life, then scrolled through the display. Red Robin crossed his arms and leaned against a lab table, waiting. He let his eyes wander while Cyber-Vile searched.
They'd found this place while in hiding from the Brotherhood. Slinking through the shadows of dark alleys in the dingiers parts of town (having been forcibly kicked out of their own Tower after the battle had taken a sudden turn for the worse), they had stumbled fortuitously across the lab and, after some persuasion, its occupant had let them in. Cyber-Vile was an inventor and mechanic with lucrative underground dealings in criminal activity around the country and thus, no friend to the Brotherhood of Justice. He had sheltered the Tyrants for about a week, his highly advanced shields and security systems keeping them hidden from their enemies, until they'd rallied themselves and taken back their Tower, and in that week he had become a valuable ally. Plus, they finally knew where the boisterous cybernetic hero from the "Teen Titans" in the other reality had come from.
Except of course, their cyborg was anything but boisterous. He was stoic. Calculating. Impartial to nearly everything around him. There was little difference, Red Robin thought uncomfortably, between the sentient Cyber-Vile and the mindless robotic drones that helped him in his lab.
The half-robot angled his body towards him, pulling the Tyrant out of his thoughts.
"There is one item in my current inventory that might be of use to you." Cyber-Vile told him, pointing to a wire diagram on his display. "It is a simple dimensional portal ripper, but when used in conjunction with a reality calibration device, it may serve your purpose."
The Tyrant rubbed his chin in thought. "Reality calibration device... what about, say..." He brought himself upright, moving off from leaning on the table. "...a mystical magic mirror?" he finished.
Cyber-Vile analyzed the suggestion. "If it is capable of tuning in to the specific signatures of different universes..."
"Oh, it's plenty capable, trust me. I've seen it in action."
The cyborg tilted his head. "Then it is an adequate substitute. It will be an unstable combination however. Recommendation: Do not attempt it lightly."
"Of course." Red Robin assured him, grateful that his mask hid the shifty aside glance he made. "We'll be very careful."
When he looked up again, the cyborg's artifical eye was trained on him, almost suspiciously. "Deduction: Red Raven has no knowledge of your intentions regarding her mirror." Cyber-Vile concluded coolly. "And will not appreciate its being stolen."
"I wasn't going to steal it." Red Robin defended, lying smoothly through his teeth. "She's taking us all on a little field trip to a reality where we're all spineless do-gooders."
Cyber-Vile stared at him a long moment. The chips in his brain measured the Tyrant's vocal inflection, heart rate, and perspiration levels.
"My sensors indicate an 81.25% chance of falsehood in your statement." he said. "However, my programming dictates that it is not my concern." He moved past Red Robin to one of the worktables, and lifted a cloth covering a small, box-like piece of machinery. Cyber-Vile gestured at it. "This is the device you seek."
The boy rubbed his hands. "Great. Thanks Cy. I'll take it with me when I leave."
Cyber-Vile looked at him impassively. "Very well." He turned and went back to his current workdesk, and sat back down.
Red Robin picked up the portal ripper. It wasn't very large-spread comfortably across both his palms-and had a display that flipped up. The Tyrant tucked it under his arm and headed for the door. He paused in the doorway a moment, furrowing his eyebrows, then looked back. "You know, you're always working on something when I come over." he commented, switching the portal ripper to his other arm. "Don't you ever sleep?"
The half-robot turned his neck slightly, gave him an expressionless look over his shoulder with his cybernetic eye. "Sleep is not required." he said, and the cold computerized inflection of his voice made his words seem all the more eerie. Red Robin quickly faced forward and slipped out through the doorway.
The hallway was only a little less dark than the main lab. Very faint sunlight filtered in from the high windows, and many beady red robot eyes glimmered in the shadow. Some of the drones glanced up to watch him pass, but most went on with their business.
He kicked one of them out of the way as he reached for the door handle. He couldn't help one last look back at his surroundings. Cyber-Vile's drones worked meticulously and untiringly, scittering along the floor and up the walls like giant mechanical spiders.
He shuddered, goosebumps running up his arms. "This place gives me the creeps..." he muttered to himself as he yanked open the door, letting in the chilly morning air.
-TT-
Red Raven's low laughter drifted to his ears. He rounded the corner and found her standing outside OPS, deep in conversation with Arsenal and Tempest. Hoping to slip by unnoticed he hung close to the wall as he headed for the hallway intersection.
It didn't work.
"Well, looks like someone's finally out of his cave." Tempest commented, crossing his arms and giving an amused smirk. "Where've you been all day?"
Red Robin smothered his annoyance, facing his teammates with a smarmy smile as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Getting a jump on our backlog of things to steal." he said, inconspiciously attempting to keep the portal ripper covered by his cape. "Unlike some other people around here." he accused, sending a pointed look at Arsenal.
"Hey, I've been doing my part same as everyone." the archer immediately protested. Red Robin just rolled his eyes. Arsenal glared but to deflect attention from his potential failings as a thief, he reached for his belt and dug around in a back pocket. "Which reminds me," he said, pulling out a ruby-laden silver necklace and holding it out to Red Raven. "Here. Consider it an early birthday present."
The demoness took the necklace gently in her hands, admiring the rubies and the tiny diamonds surrounding them. "You shouldn't have." she drolled with her trademark dry humor. Closing her fist around the necklace, she fingered the edge of her hood. "So..." she said casually, glancing at each of the boys in turn. "You guys taking me anywhere... special for my birthday?" she probed, eyes coming to rest on Red Robin.
He tried not to flinch or look guilty or nervous under her watch. In spite of the distraction this conversation was and the delay it was causing him in getting to the empath's room to, ah, "borrow" her mirror, Robin feigned a grin and mustered up some false excitement to project to her. "Wait'll you see it love." he told her, gesturing emphatically. "Tempest picked out this really nice restaurant on the pier."
"At six o' clock," Arsenal picked up, "Red Robin, Blackfire, and I descend on the building like Hell's angels, comandeer the whole place, and lock the doors. We relieve the patrons of their cash and valuables, kick them outside, and have the whole place to ourselves the rest of the night."
"Sounds like a blast." She put her hands on her hips and cast a proud eye on them. "I've trained you well my loyal minions." she joked. More seriously she added, with her eyes narrowed and her mouth pulled down into a stern frown, "You'd better not get carried away with the raid you're making on the HIVE Hero Academy and forget all about my big day."
Tempest looked put out. "Come on Raven! You know we'd never forget your birthday."
"Yeah." agreed Arsenal. He punched her lightly on the shoulder. "What was that speech you gave your old man again right before you kicked him out? 'This is my territory Father, my reality to conquer, and you can't have any part of it.' Something like that right? Followed by the most awesome evil laughter ever?"
Red Raven looked impressed and a little flattered. "You have a good memory."
Throughout the whole conversation, Red Robin itched desperately to slip away. But he felt like, no he knew Red Raven was watching him out of the corner of her eye, sensing the mental walls he'd put up and no doubt suspicious. If he tried to leave now it would be like painting a big "I'M UP TO NO GOOD." sign on his forehead. He kept a fake mask over his expression, kept his emotions shielded. Living with the empath had taught him one thing; that you had to be good at hiding your thoughts and feelings if you wanted any damn privacy.
His rescue came suddenly, storming through the OPS doors as they parted for her with a loud hiss!
"There you all are!" Blackfire growled. She put her hands on her hips, stormy brows scrunching over her eyes furiously. "Must I be the only one attending to her duties around here?" she demanded. She leveled her glare at Arsenal and he became the full target for her ire. "Do you realize the stabilizer for the T-ship that you promised to fix is still lying in pieces on the hanger floor?"
Arsenal's hackles raised irritably and he rounded on her. "Cool your jets Princess, I was just on my way down." he snapped.
"Indeed!" she sniffed. Even though he was thicker-set and had a good inch on her she wasn't intimidated in the least. "And I suppose neither of you have bothered to investigate that odious smell in the basement either." she huffed, her irate look bouncing to Tempest.
Tempest raised his hook, about ready to tell her off, when Red Raven interrupted.
"Sadly boys, she's right. It's been a fun conversation and all, but it's time to get back to work." The demoness tucked her new necklace up her sleeve for temporary safe-keeping. "We hit the Metropolitan Art House at five. Be ready."
Arsenal sighed and motioned to his hydrokinetic friend. "Well come on, we'd better go see what Her Highness is griping about."
The two boys walked off, down the hall Red Robin had come by. Blackfire followed their progress with a scowl. It dropped off her face as soon as they were a good distance away, and her hands went up into fists by her chest as she turned to Red Robin, eager to greet him.
He shook his head, then jerked it towards Red Raven, his expression conveying a rather anxious "Please distract her." request. Blackfire looked confused a moment, but then seemed to get his drift. She stepped forward and took Red Raven's hands fretfully.
"Raven, there is a most urgent matter that I must discuss with you." she told the empath.
"Oh?"
In her periphery vision she saw Red Robin quietly sneaking off and silently wished him luck. She cleared her throat. To Red Raven, she explained, "I am concerned about that animal boy that does the hanging out by the back door. He frightens me and I do not like him being there."
The other girl snorted. "Oh Blackfire, Changeling is harmless. Give him a side of beef and a rub on the head and he's happy."
"But he snarls at me!" the Tamaranian protested, throwing her arms out in distressed gestures. "And he never lets me dispose of the garbage properly, always pouncing on me and ripping open the bags with his horrible claws. He comes this close to mauling me!"
Red Raven rubbed the back of her head thoughtfully. "Hmm... That's too bad. He adores me. And I like having him around." She gave a wry smile. "He makes a good guard dog."
"True, but..." Blackfire whined uncertainly.
The demoness sighed. "Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll talk to him about the whole pouncing issue this afternoon. Happy?"
Blackfire's expression brightened. "Oh... thank you Red Raven!"
Red Raven sent an exasperated look skyward. "I swear, for a ruthless villainess you can be such a pansy sometimes..."
-TT-
Blackfire slipped furtively through the door to her room and quickly slid it shut behind her. She sat on the bed for a little while, but eventually she got too nervous, stood up and paced, wringing her hands worriedly. She walked back and forth and tried not to think about the number of things that could go wrong when one entered Red Raven's room without permission. (The demoness was extremely protective of her privacy and wouldn't hesitate to give intruders a telekinetic beatdown, but that wasn't the worst way an unauthorized visit could end. The room itself held some... nasty surprises.) Blackfire's anxiety increased second by second but just when she felt she would burst from the tension she finally heard a noise outside her bedroom. She jerked herself around and exhaled in relief upon seeing Red Robin squeezing through her half-opened door.
She rushed up to him, evil excitement gleaming in her eyes. "You were successful?" she asked.
He closed the door firmly. He held the portal ripper under one arm and with the other he withdrew something else from hiding under his dark cape. He held the object up, sending her a grin.
Raven's mirror gleamed innocently in his hand.
"Bingo."