Chapter Two: Still Not Moving On
"Man, give it up already," Bolt groaned. Changeling was trying to get him to talk to these girls. One was blonde, looked rather dumb and wore clothes that revealed too much.
"Look, she's there, take it or leave it," Changeling waved his hands in exasperation.
"I'll leave it," Bolt tried to walk away when Changeling grabbed his arm.
"Not so fast," he frowned. "Grieving over Midnight is really doing nothing for you."
Bolt glowered at him, "Is this your way of making me feel better?"
"In a way, yeah," Changeling nodded, far too quickly. "But hear me out. She's dead, you missed your chance so go with one of these girls that will take you."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Bolt turned around again to face him completely.
"Girls love heroes," Changeling explained slowly, "You're a hero. You've had millions of fan mail and, just because some girl you liked died, doesn't mean you don't have any opportunities."
"I'd rather not try and flirt with some blonde bimbo," Bolt narrowed his golden eyes.
Changeling slapped his forehead, "Well all you have to do is try."
"If Raven knew you were doing this, Gar, wouldn't she be a little upset?" Bolt cocked his head.
"What?" Changeling's eyes widened slightly.
"Wouldn't she? Wouldn't that trust she placed in you instantly be destroyed when she figures out you were abusing it," a dangerous dark voice was replacing Bolt's own.
"What's your point?" a defensive yet shameful glint was spotted in Changeling's eyes.
"You wouldn't want her to find out that you had been flirting with other women, now would you?"
"You will not tell her," Changeling demanded.
"I don't need to," a dry, hollow laugh escaped Bolt. "When she finds out that your aura is nothing but guilt, she'll get suspicious."
Changeling's eyes widened, "No."
"Yes," Bolt replied drily. "And you think grieving will get me no where. Well listen to me. I've heard the stories, Gar, I know Raven died. You did nothing but mourn for her and when Libitina brought her back to life, you both knew you loved each other."
"She's not going to come back," Changeling replied simply. "And Libitina is away, she can't bring her back... Plus she needs the body."
"I know," Bolt nodded. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to give up on her."
Amira watched intently as the mist in the crystal ball began to darken. Sighing, she wondered what mystery will unravel itself during the day. Her mind began to wander so when someone entered the room, she jumped at the presence.
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss," a successful-looking man said.
"It's no bother," Amira laughed. "Can I help you?"
"Well, yes you can," he replied and another similar man followed him in. "See, we're linked with the Cirque De Énigmatique."
"A French Circus?" Amira raised an eyebrow.
"It's usually just the names that are French," the other man replied.
"Well, yes, and my colleague and I have heard of your talents."
"Oh great, I know where this is going," she said coolly, "You want me to join a bunch of circus freaks and become some fortune teller?"
"Kinda," one man said.
"Sure, why not?" Amira shrugged.
"You'll earn at least six-hundred dollars a week."
Amira almost fell off her seat, "Well that's ambitious."
"Yes, we want to keep our clients happy."
"Happy clients equals happy customers equals happy us."
"Ahh, makes perfect sense," Amira rolled her eyes.
"As you know, it's all about the money," they all then laughed.
"However," the other began. "We still want to test your abilities. Unlike some of past psychics, we realise that you can also read dreams?" he said with a question echoing his voice.
"It's more or less getting a piece of someone's future from a symbol in their dreams," Amira explained clearly.
"Ahh okay," the black-haired businessman leaned forward. "What if I told you I had a dream of a wolf?"
"To dream of a wolf," Amira began, "shows that you have a thieving person in your employ, who will also betray secrets." The other businessman glared at her, slightly sweating. "To kill one, denotes that you will defeat sly enemies who seek to overshadow you with disgrace. To hear the howl of a wolf, discloses to you a secret alliance to defeat you in honest competition."
"What about an eclipse?" the nervous-looking man asked.
"To dream of the eclipse of the sun," Amira started to remember the exact words from a book she read, "denotes temporary failure in business and other secular affairs; also disturbances in families." The man tilted his head in wonder, "The eclipse of the moon, portends contagious disease or death."
"How intriguing," the first man nodded slowly.
"It's not as complicated as it sounds," Amira replied gently, "All you have to do is memorize some text."
"But you have in fact received special gifts naturally?" the black-haired man with the glasses asked.
"I have, due to...personal situations," she tried to think of the right words.
"So, what other talents do you possess?" the other suspicious man asked, a small sneer obvious on his face. Amira stood up from her chair, and smirked.
"You really want to know?" she repeated the words from when she first met Nightwing. The only source of light that was in the room was a candle, and it suddenly went out. The two men glanced upwards to see tendrils of black energy slide across the ceiling. It changed in their eyes, making them see their worst fears.
Both of the men quivered with fear so Amira crossed her fingers and the tendrils seeped back into them.
"I never want to experience something like that again," the black-haired businessman said as soon as he found his voice.
"It's just a little something I can cook up," Amira shrugged with a sly smile on her face. She turned to the candle and flicked her fingers at it. The flame returned and light poured into the room revealing the two very pale men.
"At least we know you're not fake," the other businessman laughed nervously.
"This is basically a mix of mind reading and shadow manipulation," Amira explained, sitting back down behind her crystal ball.
"So, when you manipulate the tenebrous, as it seems, you read other people's minds to find their deepest fears, and with some form of mind control, that person will think that the darkness becomes their fears?"
Amira nodded, "Exactly. However that's basically what happens when you first learn to do it, I've mastered it so the shadows create the illusions themselves."
"Impressive."
"Why, thank you," Amira grinned.
"This is exactly why we came to you, Miss-"
"Amira," she cut him off. "You may call me Amira."
"Amira," the man said, "Your talents are well appreciated and could be set for good uses."
"I would hope so," Amira glared suddenly, "My talents," she emphasised the word, "is not to be used for pleasure or any selfish acts."
"We will make sure you are comfortable in using any talents," the sly and previously nervous businessman replied, a coldness swirling in his dark grey eyes.
"I should hope not," Amira said, before standing up. "May I offer you, gentlemen a drink?"
"Would you have scotch by any chance?" the glasses-wearing man asked.
"Ahh, it may come as a surprise, but yes I do," Amira took out a bottle from a cabinet and began filling a glass, adding ice. "And you, sir?"
"Just a brandy, if you have any," he nodded politely. Amira searched the cabinet before taking out another bottle and poured it in another glass. She handed the glasses to the men and sat back down.
"I'm sure this contract will go splendidly well," she smirked. Oh yes, she thought, I'll make sure it does.
Starfire's gaze stayed on Nightwing as he punched the bag with a complex technique that he trained himself. She really regretted breaking up with him, but also she didn't. Nightwing could be compulsive, obsessive, jealous and more. Maybe it was a good thing they broke up. The red-haired alien sighed deeply, depression did not suit her very well.
"Hey Star," came a familiar voice.
"Oh, Amberlee, you are not mad at me?" Starfire turned to her red-panda-loving friend.
"Why would I be mad at you?" Amberlee sat next to her, wearing a red tank top and dark grey jogger bottoms, entirely for working out. Starfire noticed that she had white fingerless gloves on. Her semi-long hair was pulled in a ponytail by a grey ribbon and her red eyes had determination and bravery in them.
"It was unacceptable of me to force you to try on a dress," Starfire replied, with an apologizing voice.
"It's okay, really," Amberlee turned to her. "You didn't know I hated them." She couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her lips.
"So...You forgive me?"
"Star, there's nothing to forgive, just don't it again," Amberlee stood up again and headed for a treadmill. Starfire's eyes lingered on her for a moment, watching as the always determined girl jumped on the machine and instantly began to jog with little effort. Amberlee never ceased to amaze the Tamarian. She was kind and compassionate, due to her red panda habits, brave and athletic. Nothing stood in her way. Starfire wished that she could be more like her friend.
"You seem down," said a slightly dry voice.
"Raven, I just don't know how to feel right this moment," Starfire admitted glumly as Raven stood in front of her.
"Why don't you train? Get it out of your system?" Raven suggested. Starfire also took note that Raven was in the leotard she used to wear. It was slightly tighter on her, showing more curves than the empath would have liked but it was great for training in.
"A good idea, friend," Starfire stood up and went to change into her purple shorts and white vest top.
"That girl needs to learn how to express herself," Raven said under her breath then she mentally kicked herself, "I'm one to talk."
The door swished open to reveal a guilty-looking Changeling and a calm, yet troubled Bolt.
"You're back," Terra said cheerily, jumping off a bench. "We've all just had a mega day of training."
"Hey, Terra," Changeling murmured and walked off, going to the changing rooms.
"What's up with him?" Terra raised an eyebrow, while her eyes followed his butt.
"Don't ask," Bolt shook his head.
"And good to see you outta your room, Zapster," Terra grinned.
"Zapster?" Bolt raised his eyebrow this time.
"Ah, come on, it suits you," Terra jogged off to train with some dirt and rocks.
"No, it doesn't," Bolt stuck his tongue out at her back. He studied the room, seeing the available Titans working out.
Cyborg then walked into the room, his face like thunder but he didn't really care about anything else that was happening.
"Hey Cy!" Boom Baby grinned, swinging her legs from the ledge that she sat on. "What'd y'all do? Blow a circuit?"
"Not now, V," Cyborg shook his head, before turning to a set of weights. Boom Baby arched an eyebrow.
What was that about? She thought. She stood up and flipped of the ledge, performing some of her infamous She Quan techniques.
"You have to teach me that, some day," someone spoke. Boom Baby withdrew her fist from the punch and turned to see Raven.
"You? Martial Arts? No offence, Raven, but shouldn't y'all stick to yer magical acts?" Boom Boom laughed.
"Yes," Raven ignored the comment, "But sometimes my powers will not work and I need something to fight with."
"Ah can teach y'all some, Ah've been told Ah'm a good teacher," Boom Baby smirked at the pleasant memory.
"Who told you that?" Raven felt the pride in BB's voice.
"Oh, just a friend Ah knew, one who made meh a hero," Boom Baby snapped back with realisation, "That reminds meh, Ah need to call her and the little mutt."
"You and your weird friends," Raven shook her head before turning around to greet her boyfriend. BB stuck her tongue out at her.
BB saw Nightwing taking a break so decided to go and bother him. She jogged up to him and grinned. "How's it goin'?"
"Do you want something, Veronica?" he asked. A slight annoyance could be seen in her eyes. "Uhh... I mean Boom Baby." The annoyance disappeared and instead she smirked.
"It seems Raven wants to learn She Quan," BB said cheerily.
"Good for her," Nightwing wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel.
"Ah was just thinkin', maybe that'll mean more girls will be able to kick yer can?"
"More?" Nightwing turned to her, slightly amused at her comment.
"Yeah, we all know that Ah can easily kick yer butt, without meh powers."
"You know, I'm not sure, you haven't been practising much martial arts lately, and we haven't sparred for a long time," the suggestion was blaring from his soft words.
"Ah can take you down like a penguin in the air," BB boomed confidently. Nightwing ignored her strange comment and beckoned her to the sparring ring.
"Do you have the guts?" he asked.
"Do ya have to ask that?" BB instantly bobbed over to the ring. Nightwing admitted that she had sheer confidence in herself, well on the outside anyway, and can easily kick his butt. He swung into the ring and listened to hear all activities stopping to see the new event.
"Dude," Changeling popped up, "Are you going to spar with BB?"
"No, I'm going to compete with her in a modelling contest," Nightwing rolled his eyes.
"You are going to lose," Cyborg grinned. It was as if all sadness and glumness had departed from that room. It was all tension, excitement and cheering now.
"Thanks for the confidence boost," Nightwing frowned at him.
"Thanks, babe," BB blew him a teasing kiss before winking and turned back to her opponent.
"Nightwing has improved a lot," Starfire mulled it over.
"Thanks, Star," Nightwing nodded to her.
"You're most welcome," Starfire smiled at him.
"I can't decide," Raven shook her head, "Both of you are equally good." All eyes turned to her, some confused, some glaring. "It's true."
"Well, BB does have the natural ability of fighting," Amberlee piped up.
"But Nightwing's been fighting most of his life," Bolt finished.
"So, who will win?" Terra asked.
"Only one way to find out," Nightwing grinned.
"Ah told you once, Ah can tell y'all again," BB slid into her advanced She Quan fighting stance. "Ah can kick yer can, an' that's not just 'cause of ma awesome fighting, yer ego is way above mine."
"You had all the weaknesses I had, and you picked ego," Nightwing arched an eyebrow.
"It comes in quite handy," BB shrugged. "Now, are we doing this or nawt?"
Cyborg automatically offered to be referee, "But you're on Boom Baby's side," Nightwing protested.
"So? I know how to do this fairly," Cyborg replied.
Cyborg stood in the outer corner and watched them intently, making sure neither of them could cheat. When he was satisfied, he blew a whistle, indicating that the match would begin.
Immediately, Nightwing jumped for the opportunity and ran up to his opponent, launching a punch. BB grabbed his fist before he could make it contact to her face and she twisted it around slightly.
"You're not doing The Sly Serpent again, are you?" Nightwing whispered, grimacing from the twinging pain in his wrist.
"Nope," she replied, twisting it even more. "The Sly Wolf."
"That's not a real thing," Nightwing tried to yank his fist back but couldn't get it out, so instead launched his other fist at the red-head. She caught it easily.
"Ah made it up for a friend, it's very successful," BB said casually, "And painful." Nightwing's eyes widened behind his mask. He knew that BB was an incredible fighter, and never lied.
BB smirked, and shoved Nightwing backwards. He staggered slightly, rather stunned and couldn't think of what to do that moment. BB howled at the top of her voice, scaring the pants off everyone. She launched a deadly punch at Nightwing, who hadn't expected it, and then another with her other fist. She grabbed his wrist again and twisted it. Nightwing was used to the wrist-twisting, but never understood the purpose of it.
The master of She Quan then crouched lightly, bringing her leg out from her stance. She's performing a sweep-kick, Nightwing thought and went to crouch, then jump from it. However, the sweep-kick never came. Nightwing glanced at the leg that was seconds away and then, with little effort, BB kicked his ankle with her other leg, quickly regaining her stance so she wouldn't fall.
Astonished at the trick, Nightwing felt his ankle become numb. How had that happened? Reaching down for it, he touched it and felt a cold sensation run from it. To BB's advantage, he was distracted, so with haste, she rolled over his back, jumping to her feet on the other side of him and shoved him harshly to the floor.
Nightwing felt most of his energy go from that technique. She was better than he had originally thought. She was unstoppable. Somehow managing to get back on his feet, he spread his arms out and hurled his leg at her chest. She used her hand to block it but wasn't quick enough to see the other leg coming. She fell backwards, slowly realizing what had happened. A pain in her chest burst and she felt something mentally. Whenever she fell to a trick like that, she was punished. Her bones were broken, scars were caused. She stared at Nightwing, fear obvious in her eyes.
Nightwing blinked, BB was scared. Why? He looked at her curiously and realised she wasn't with him at the moment. Is she looking at some memories? He thought. It was then, that he realised, he could see the pain in her eyes, the trauma and the fear. BB admitted that she had a horrid past, but had never mentioned what had happened.
"C'mon Boom Baby!" someone yelled. Dumbfounded, BB returned and glanced at her cheerer. Suddenly smirking, she crouched and this time did perform a sweep-kick. Nightwing fell for it, and landed on his backside.
"Ah'm not some sad little girl that y'all can hit," she said. The others looked at her, uncertain of what was happening. "Ah'm better than that." Something wasn't right here. It was like a thick fog of tension and denial had fallen on the room. Raven, being the empath that she was, could feel the triumph yet still feel fear from the girl. "Y'all can break ma bones, y'all can make me bleed. These scars show that Ah've been through a lot with you murderers."
"Murderers?" someone whispered. Nightwing was still staring at the traumatised girl; it was as if she was repeating a memory, not sparring with him.
"V, are you alright?" Cyborg asked, slightly scared.
A tear fell from BB's eye, alarming everyone, "Ah'm not the perfect human. Ah'm not Slade's weapon. Ah never will be." Suspicious and shock entered the room.
"Slade's weapon?" Nightwing repeated, "Veronica, what's going on?"
"There's so much y'all can do to one girl, Ah'm only eight years old," she said, shocking the others again. It was a memory that she was repeating. They realised that her voice was a lot more childish that before, but sounded more mature than an average eight year old. "Ah'm faster, stronger and feel not much pain, but Ah'm still sick of it."
"Veronica, come back!" Nightwing held her shoulders.
"Don't y'all touch me!" BB screamed. "Ah don't want more bones to break, Ah don't want more bruises to see."
In BB's eyes, she could see Professor Chang, the head scientist on her experiments. She could see two other men, a younger man with neat, brown hair and mysterious blue eyes and an older man, with white hair and what seemed to be an eye patch.
"She's still neglecting the experiment," Professor Chang sighed, as if the girl was not in front of him.
"Then keep breaking her," The white-haired man said coldly. "She is to be my weapon, nothing more."
"Creating the perfect human takes time, Mr. Wilson," Professor Chang protested. "She's still suffering from the last time we broke her ribs. She can still feel pain."
"Well, I can't take her if she feels pain, what point would there be in having her if she could suffer?" The unforgivably cold man asked. The atmosphere around him disturbed the young red-head weapon.
"I can't help but notice that she is afraid of you," the brown-haired youngster piped up.
"Good," replied the buyer.
"If she was to become your weapon, shouldn't you have a better relationship with the girl?" he asked.
"You make a very good point, Joshua," Professor Chang grinned. "A very good point indeed."
"Well, I am to be like a father figure, I suppose," the Mr. Wilson man shrugged. "I guess it couldn't hurt to try." He stepped forward to the shivering girl. "Don't be afraid."
"Raven, can you see what's wrong with her?" Nightwing asked his empathic friend.
"I can try," she replied softly. "Azarath Metrion Zynthos," her mantra escaped her lips and her soul-self jumped from her body and landed in Boom Baby's.
When she landed in, what looked like a laboratory as well as a cage, Raven turned around to search for Boom Baby. She heard crying, so followed the sound. She phased through a large, metal door and saw three men: A younger Professor Chang, a white-haired man and a brown-haired youngster. She saw a child version of Boom Baby, sitting in a corner.
"Don't be afraid," the white-haired man spoke. "You can't be scared of me, if you're my weapon."
"Ah don't want to be yer weapon," The young girl whispered.
"Now, now, I've paid good money for you, and I expect to see you again once this experiment is over," the dangerous-looking man said. Raven inspected BB all over. Clearly, BB had been through a rough time. Scars appeared all over her visible body, as well as bruises and one of her arms was in a cast.
"Mr. Wilson-" Professor Chang began.
"Call me Slade," the white-haired man interrupted him. Raven's eyebrows shot up. Slade? Really? This is probably why Veronica has such a grudge against him, she thought.
"-Slade," Chang continued, "It will take time for her arm and her ribs to heal, however Joshua and I will make sure she is in fighting condition as soon as possible."
"I hope for nothing less," Slade said gruffly. He nodded to Chang and the brown-haired boy called Joshua. It was then that Raven felt a chill rise in her blood. Joshua? Isn't Veronica going out with a guy called Joshua? She shook her head, Must be a coincidence. A freaky coincidence.
"Well, Slade, would you like one of my colleagues to help you out?" Chang asked politely.
"I'll find my own way out," Slade shook his head, "I have a car waiting." He glanced at the frightened weapon once more then walked out.
Raven stepped closer to the eight year old girl, curiosity and caution seeping over her. "Veronica?" she asked, uncertain. The girl stirred, as if hearing a voice but choosing to ignore it. "It's me, Raven."
"Go away," the girl whispered.
"Veronica? Can you hear me?" Raven slid to her knees and put her hand on the girl's trembling one.
"Ah hear y'all, now go away before this changes," the red-head seemed to frown even though her face was firmly locked onto the floor.
"Why would it change?"
"'Cause you're not meant to be here," she said simply.
"Oi, Weapon, who said you could talk?" Chang stepped forward.
"Ah wasn't talking," she muttered. The scientist wasn't convinced and instead, took out a knife.
"You will pay for your insolence."
"Get out," the girl whispered quickly to Raven.
"Veronica, is this you? Your self, from when you were sparring with Nightwing?" Raven couldn't help but ask.
"No," the girl shook her head softly, "Ah've never met you, an' Ah've never heard your voice before."
"You hear other people's voices?" Raven asked, bewildered.
"Yes, a dog, a girl, more people, Ah don't know," the girl shook her head again, "Ah don't even know if this is real, or a dream, or a memory, but these voices...They're not from this time. Ah don't know an Alex, or a Claire, a Nightwing or even a Cyborg."
"This is a memory," Raven said gently. "And not a pleasant one." Professor Chang stepped forward with the knife.
"He's going to cut me, y'all have to go before something bad happens," the girl frowned again.
"More worse than getting cut?" Raven asked sternly. The girl wrapped her working arm around herself, forcing back tears.
"It could be worse, he could kill meh over and over again," she whispered.
"I'm not letting you suffer, even in a memory," Raven firmly replied and stood up. "Azarath Metrion Zynthos!" Raven shot black energy at the professor. He fell backwards, stunned.
"You idiot!" BB yelled as the room darkened and disappeared. Raven found herself back in her own body.
"That was not something I want to do daily," Raven said as soon as the other Titans turned to her.
A groaning sound could be heard from BB, and they all turned again to see her on her knees on the floor. The atmosphere changed to confident and triumphant.
"Another memory?" Nightwing asked.
"It can't be any worse than the one I just witnessed," Raven shook her head, her voice a little tired.
"Was it alright?" Changeling came up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her.
"I'm surprised Veronica can handle all those memories," Raven sighed.
"Well done, Silver," BB grinned randomly. The others stared at her, thoroughly confused. "Much better than last time!" They then turned to Raven who sighed again.
"Fine," she drawled. "Azarath Metrion Zynthos."
BB smiled triumphantly, as she watched Slade fall to the ground from the blow. Silver Wolf grinned back at her.
"Well, I have been practising the motions."
Luna, the wolf-like dog looked at the weakened villain, "So, who is this guy anyway?"
Raven tried to register where she was, at a cliff side? She saw half a bridge on the gap between this cliff and the one on the other side. She saw Slade close to unconscious on the ground near the two girls and the dog.
Raven didn't need to be an empath to know the anger that erupted from the red-headed explosive girl. "Yes Slade," the venom dripped from her bitter voice, "why don't y'all introduce yourself?" Raven grew curious and a little afraid from the temper and hatred that Boom Baby could provide. She could end a person's life with a touch, but she seemed so innocent and cheerful.
She stepped forward, her fists clenched and obvious power trembling in her grasp. Slade, clearly confused, tilted his head, "Wouldn't you like to know," he retorted. An evil and hateful curl lifted the girl's lips into a sneer. A darkness illuminated her facials.
"Just give meh one good reason why Ah shouldn't rip that mask off yer face and then blow yer body to bits," her voice lacked any emotion.
"Slade?" Silver blinked. "Oh my God," she seemed surprised all of a sudden. Raven could detect the wonder and triumph the girl had felt. Raven decided to spend a small break, looking at the silver-haired girl. She saw little furry ears obvious among her hair and a tail waving softly from the wind. She looked at the wolf, or what it appeared to be, she couldn't quite tell. Its fur was grey, or silver, and dark markings appeared on its furry body. A black collar was wrapped around its neck.
She thought, Who are they? They must have been heroes because they had kicked Slade's butt and seemed rather proud of it.
Silver seemed to get out of her moment of surprise, when it turned to a different type of shock and concern by the change in her friend. Luna had stopped and was watching the irregular behaviour of BB.
"What are you talking about?" the mechanical voice of Slade broke through the silence, and Raven's thoughts. She turned to him again, wanting to know more about this memory.
"You mean," BB began sourly, "you don't remember your order?" Raven saw the further confused looks of the girl, the wolf and the villain.
"Order?" Slade questioned.
BB's eyes turned to a dangerous yellow, "More than ten years ago, your order for a human weapon. A little girl?" Raven sucked in her breath in realisation, whereas Silver's eyes widened and Luna staggered backwards. Suspicious erupted from Slade's voice.
"That order was confidential," he spoke professional-like.
A low and pressing laugh escaped from BB as she stiffened, "Was it now?"
Silver blinked again, a way of confusion and sometimes realisation; she looked at her angry friend and then at Slade, "Wait, what? You're the reason she's like this?" Her hands were balled into fists and her enmity was rising. Luna was already growling, her large, canine teeth glistened with saliva as she tensed up.
"You can't-" he shook his head in disbelief, "They cancelled that order. They said they destroyed you."
BB laughed again, "I'm right here." It was only then that Raven realised that she couldn't detect BB's strong Oklahoma accent. There was no emotion anywhere inside of her. Either her empath powers were failing or BB could control her emotions with ease. Raven had a disturbing thought; if BB had failed to become the perfect weapon for Slade, what stopped her from being the perfect weapon to assassinate him?
Silver started to get very concerned as she glanced at her friend, "Veronica," she spoke, "Don't do what I think you're going to do." The wolf girl would never support revenge, or anything to do with it. If anyone wanted it, she wouldn't be there to listen or watch.
Raven began to apprehend the fact that if BB was herself that moment she would have been very surprised. Raven's eyebrows shot up when she heard the girl snarl. Raven's eyes widened when the sky around her changed to a dry, golden colour. A thick amber-coloured mist surrounded the cliff side. She stepped forward uneasily, trying to see what was happening. She waved her hand around, clearing some of the unmistakeable fog. She coughed as the heavy smell of power washed around her.
She glanced up towards the sky and saw a scary bolt of golden energy, shaped almost like lightning. It flashed quickly through the sky and jolted down, making a familiar girl cry out in pain. Raven focused her sight and lifted some of the fog to see the red-head teen. Her whole body was becoming a lustrous yellow, an obvious power. Her red hair seemed to flail around her, as a blast of wind appeared into the fog.
She could sense shock from the silver heroine. Raven turned to her to see confusion stir in her facials. Briskly, she tapped into the girl's mind and could hear a voice.
"Ah have no control!" It was BB, her voice was in agony, "It's like my meltdowns, only worse. Help!"
Meltdowns, Raven repeated, What are they? She saw the worry painted on the wolf-girl's face. Her eyes were slightly wider with the shock.
Silver shook her head, trying to figure out what to do. "Veronica, wake up!" she yelled to her friend, then without missing a beat, she lunged at her, trying to tackle her.
An automatic force shoved the silver-haired girl away. She landed on the ground, and rolled lightly then jumped to her feet.
Raven stiffened when she noticed tears running down BB's cheeks. She could sense the pain that BB felt in her stomach. Slade was watching in awe, completely frozen to the spot. Raven could detect the sudden smugness from him, so she checked BB out again and looked to see that she was very vulnerable as well as powerful. Grabbing his bo staff, he launched it towards BB. The force appeared again and the staff bounced of the invisible barrier and smacked his own mask.
"Crap," Silver looked at her partner in crime and then at her destructive friend, "What do we do?" Luna glanced at Silver, knowing that they couldn't physically, but maybe mentally? She could only encourage her to snap back.
"Veronica," Luna yelled out, "Remember that talk we had. You control IT, IT doesn't control you." Raven looked at the suddenly talking wolf/dog and raised an eyebrow. "The competitive kick-butt Veronica I know wouldn't let her OWN powers wipe her across the floor. FIGHT BACK!"
Silver nodded in agreement, "If you could teach me; a clumsy and not very good fighter, a special move that took down Slade, you can bring yourself back!"
Veronica's head snapped around, scaring Raven. The golden orbs of her eyes narrowed and a blast of energy; that extinguished the fog and the gold on her body, shot at Slade. Raven felt any voice she had left leave her body as she witnessed the power she had never thought she would see. It was too fast! He couldn't dodge fast enough and was hit squarely in the chest. A massive wound was gathering on it and blood spilled. He mentally cursed as he tried to wipe it off. BB shot more of the energy at his feet, making him fall to the ground.
The murderous glint in her eyes disappeared, and was now little more than a spark of confidence. "So, Silver, should we hand him back to the police?" the jokey Oklahoma accent was back as well as the smirk.
Raven felt her soul-self weaken and sighed. "Azarath Metrion Zynthos."
She appeared back in the gym and could tell by the way that Changeling was holding her, that she must have fallen. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine," Raven grunted as she looked up at her boyfriend. He tenderly kissed her forehead, bringing some of his happiness and relief into her body. She found the energy to sit upwards. "Where is she?" she asked.
"Boom Baby?" Nightwing asked.
"Yeah," Raven rubbed her shoulder, trying to ease any pain.
"She's over there," Nightwing pointed. Raven looked over to see Boom Baby lying peacefully in Cyborg's mechanical arms. "She passed out, too many memories, I think."
"Ugh," Raven groaned, trying to forget her experience.
"How many memories did you see?" Nightwing stepped forward casually, facing the fallen empath.
"Hm?" She looked up at him, "Two, I think."
"Well, Cy has had a major scan on BB's brain," Changeling replied, still holding the girl, "And apparently she's seen everything from her birth in so little time."
"Must be rough," Amberlee spoke up. Raven noted that the red-panda/girl had her semi-long hair down and had put her grey flats back on.
"I think I have seen something bad," Raven shook her head.
"What?" Cyborg looked up at her, his attention slimming from BB.
Raven looked at him softly, hoping for a reaction not that bad, "I think she's going out with one of the guys that did bad stuff to her, and she has forgotten him."
"What?" Anger bubbled through Cyborg as he glanced back down at the innocent girl.
"Raven, what do you mean?" Terra flicked the pebble away and crossed her legs on the bench, "Is this guy bad news?"
"I'm not certain," Raven shook her head again, and asked Changeling to help her up. "It's not a topic that we should get involved in."
"You bet your butt we should get involved," Amberlee boomed confidently, "She's our teammate and friend, and as a further friend of hers, we need to keep her safe." Everyone looked at her in surprise from her open speech. "What?" she raised an eyebrow, "I can be heroic."
Bolt folded his arms, "Well, we're doing nothing with her lying unconscious over there."
"He has a point," Starfire blinked. "Maybe it is best to place her in the Medical Bay so she can return to us when she feels ready and awakened."
"Good idea, Star," Nightwing nodded to her and faced his robotic friend. "Cy, can you take her to the Medical Bay and watch over her?"
"Sure," Cyborg lifted her up and started to head.
"You should go too," Nightwing addressed Raven, "And maybe you can keep taps on Boom Baby, make sure she's alright?"
"Of course," Raven replied and felt her balance return. She put an arm over Changeling's shoulder and he helped her follow the cyborg and the unconscious red-head. "I think something really bad is going to happen," Raven whispered before they turned a corner.
"What?" Changeling whispered back.
"Before I came back," Raven sucked in her breath, "I heard voices. Professor Chang and that Joshua guy."
"What did they say?" Changeling looked at her, intrigued.
"He said," Raven tried to think back, "That Slade thought BB was dead and if they ever encountered her, they were to destroy her."
Changeling stiffened, realisation swirling in his emerald eyes, "You think he's going to try and kill her?"
Raven nodded, but then shook her head, "I'm not certain. It's just a hunch."
T_T The stupid chapter took too long to do... x( At least it's done.
I don't own the Titans, but when I will BBxRae all the way! x333
Oh yeah, thanks to Hush Puppy who allowed me to use Silver Wolf and Luna, thanks girl.