Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or any DC related characters
-Nightwing and Cyborg-
Cyborg came up behind Nightwing who was running his hand along the words splayed across the banks entrance by their mysterious assailant.
"It's been nearly three years since Slade..." Nightwing suddenly spoke, his gaze solely focused on the bank wall
"I know what you're getting at but I just want to say it can probably be a fluke just like last all the other times. You know as well as I do how a lot of these new villains have been taking advantage of his name since the incident and every time we thought it was actually him it was just another white lie that sent us on a wild goose chase to nowhere letting our days end in the worst of moods." Cyborg looked over to his friend and knew he hit it home.
Nightwing was silent to his friends words, knowing exactly what he meant as he ran his hand off of the red words and made his way into the bank. "Let's just investigate before we start assuming then." With that, both teens made their way into the bank, Nightwing taking one quick glance behind them to see Starfire had cleared the last officer from the premises and with a smile to them, started her aerial recon.
"Uhh Night...you may wanna take a look at this."
Nightwing turned around and made his way to where his friend indicated and was shocked to see everything...
Empty.
There was not a single person in sight, and the place looked like it hadn't even been ransacked for it's riches. The young detective narrowed his eyes at this scene and began walking around the area, in hopes to find another clue as to the true intentions of the enemy they were dealing with.
Cyborg had a small rod pop out of his shoulder as it scanned the room around them from top to bottom while Nightwing looked around, maybe to find a clue on the enemy. "Anything Cy?"
"Not picking up much right now, there's no life signs and the only thing I can pick up is some residual gaseous substance in the air but it may take me a while to decrepit exactly what type it is. Hmm, any explanation for this Night?"
"I'm just as much in the dark as you are Cy, if the alarm went off and all of the officers were stopped outside, then exactly where is the person that set off the banks alarm. "
Nightwing joined his friends side, Cyborg nodding at his words as he looked all around them. "You're probably right...but what if just maybe, the bank was deserted itself and this was all just a ploy?" He started.
Nightwing looked to his friend with a quizzical expression. "Are you saying that it's all a set up?"
Cyborg nodded. "As I said earlier, this is probably another Slade junkie trying to get into our heads and it would make sense for them to try and mess with us, though I will admit this character seems to be a bit...'different' than all the others. "
Nightwing rubbed his temples, this whole thing becoming frustrating to him. Once again, another strong sign had been put up as to this being someone who was actually connected to Slade, and not just someone who was trying to garble attention whilst making a name for themselves. His eyes looked up widening before he turned to Cyborg in a sudden rush. "Quick! Hack into the bank's security camera, maybe we can catch a glimpse of what set off the banks alarm in here and maybe a hint as to who we're dealing with here."
"On it." Cyborg said understanding what he was getting at, a screen appearing above his arm as he went at a blinding typing speed that Nightwing wasn't even close enough at comprehending. After a little more time, an 'Accepted' appeared on the screen and soon some static showed on the screen before a video began playing. It revealed the inside of the bank where they stood, with many citizens going about there regular day taking or putting in any funds.
"So we know the bank wasn't closed down and there were people in it." Cyborg started.
"So where did all the citizens go?" Nightwing put a hand to his chin in thought as they continued viewing the video. Seeing nothing happening, they sped it up a little bit more before stopping upon where everyone suddenly began dropping to the ground the screen becoming blurry as Nightwing pointed it out to probably be the smoke he detected, also bringing to mind that it may have been some sort of toxin. The men watching waited as the final body of one of the bank clerks slumped to the ground, signs of there still being life still in them given by one of the bodies releasing a pained groan. Someone whistling a peppy tune suddenly could be heard from the video, as Red merrily walked onto the screen, looking around at all the unconscious bodies with a grin. Both men grew an unsettling feeling seeing this strange man appear on the screen as the officers earlier description of him hit the mark right on the head.
"Not too bad if I must say so myself. I shall thank you all for your participation, but sadly there can be only one star in the room for this next part and the viewers can't be getting those delicious hints just yet." He clapped his hand as the screen went dark then turned back on to reveal all of the people who had been knocked out on the ground suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke, shocking the two watchers of the video even further who were already initially surprised from his sudden knowing that they were watching the recording.
The man turned to the cameras with a grin, bringing a dark yet familiar feeling to both the men watching as he took a seat on the counter. "Now then, if I predicted this correctly, and I really hope I did or else I just made myself do all this for nothing while looking like a complete fool. Wouldn't that be crazy though, I sorta expect you will probably be notified of it, but there's still the chance you all will just walk by the camera or wait until security gives you the tape after watching this. But I'm getting off topic. Let's just assume that you've done as I wanted you to do and are viewing this video as we speak!" He goofily grinned, thoughts of how Red must not have been the brightest of the bunch running through Cyborg and Nightwing's heads.
Red once goofy expression disappeared as a sinister grin took it's place, waving to the camera. "Greetings Titans, nice to see you all finally made it. If the knocked out guards outside didn't bring ya, or my little message didn't get your jammies jumping, then I was going to have to resort to Plan B, something I was hoping to save for later on." He chuckled before continuing. " Now you may be wondering to yourselves, 'Who is this guy? What was the meaning of his message? What are his motives? Why does he look so devilishly attractive.' He smoothed back his hair for further emphasis with a wink, letting a light laugh surface from him. 'These answers can all be answered but I want us to be face to face, because it would be no fun if I explain it before I trigger the bomb." His hand shot up to cover his mouth as he faked being shocked. "Oops! Spoiler alert."
"A bomb!?" Nightwing silently screeched, his whole body rigid and on alert as his cybernetic friend continued to watch as Red pulled a brown package from behind the counter, putting a finger to his lips. "Now no peeking, don't want you finding where I go hide this bad boy." From that the screen suddenly went dark for a while before it came back on revealing Red pressing the banks alarm and smiling at the camera while holding a can of paint.
"Well that explains who triggered it." Cyborg noted.
"Now I know you want to find where I've hidden it, but I want that to be a mystery and a surprise. I really can't wait to see you guys! I'm sure it'll be a blast." He laughed just as an officers voice sounded from a speaker outside.
"Come out with your hands up!"
"Hey if you guys want to be part of the party at least bring some music." He laughed before looking to the camera once more, a dangerous glint in his eye as he threw some type of projectile at it, causing the recording to go to static.
Cyborg shut down the video and both men looked at each other in shocked silence. "Well now that we know who we're dealing with, he brings up a valuable piece of information..." Cyborg started.
"Where's this bomb at." Nightwing narrowed his eyes around the room, him and Cyborg investigating once again only to come up short. They regrouped in the middle of the bank, Cyborg crossing his arms in annoyance. "Well this sucks, we got no clue where it is and he isn't the best at giving hints."
"He's moreso likely to use it as a threat against us when we finally run into him, we just have to be ready for anything."
Cyborg knew Nightwing was right on the money with that one. "Alright, let's get back with the others, see if they've found out anything." Both men began making their way out of the bank when a sudden loud beeping was heard, stopping both Titans in their tracks. Nightwing was the first to piece together exactly what it discerned, grabbing his confused friends arm pulling him with urgency to the entrance.
Cyborg meant to ask him what he was freaking about but was beaten to the punch before he could get a word out. "IT'S THE BOMB!" Nightwing yelled, Cyborg's eyes widening in clarity just as they raced for the entrance drawing closer before the beeping stopped and the banks inside went up in a grand explosion.
The two Titans locations unknown beneath the smoking rubble and debris.
-Present Time-
Red hopped back to avoid another starbolt from vaporizing him, putting his hands behind his head with a silly grin.
"Shesh, I know your mad about me blowing your boyfriend but you do it all the time, though mines involved more C4, wires, and a not so happy ending but you catch my drift." He ducked under a blast of dark energy and was suddenly kicked onto his back, quickly catching both sides of the sword that nearly came down upon him.
"Bushido huh? Never would've guessed Raven would get with you, but she does have a thing for the strong and comforting type." Red teased the samurai before kicking his foot up into his stomach, sending him off of him as Red rolled himself back up in a standing position, dusting his body off.
A hard right hook suddenly connected into his face nearly taking him off his feet but he stood his ground and grabbed the fist of the tameranian, rearing his head back then slamming it against hers causing her to stumble backwards but he slid in front of her and drilled the heel of his foot in her stomach then while it was still there, flipped his body backwards in the air kicking her in the chin and in the process sending her onto her back.
When he landed on the ground he turned his body to dodge the rubble that flew at him rolling backwards into the crater he and Star initially created as Raven floated forward to look within before Red flew out with a flying uppercut to her chin then twirling his body and shooting a kick to her open left side which she blocked by bringing her left leg up, wincing in pain from the powerful force his attack brought.
With a yell her hands enveloped in her white energy and pressing it to his chest she blew him away with a beam of her powers sending him through the smoke of the crumbled bank and back to the entrance where he slammed into one of the police cars. His hand came out and he slowly pulled himself out rubbing the side of his head.
"Cheap move ya know, I can't shoot things out of my hands ya know." Red whined turning his attention to a sudden green glow directly in his face, Starfire floating in front of him with a starbolt aimed directly at him.
"Then allow me to show you how it's done." She growled before releasing it point blank upon him, covering the area in front of them in a green explosion.
Raven and Bushido came to the scene where only smoke covered the area as Starfire came floating down in front of them much to their relief with a smile plastered across her face. "The enemy is down for the out."
Just as she said that though, Red came flying out of the smoke from behind hand outstretched to a stunned Starfire who was unable to react in time before a sudden blue beam sailed past the group and slammed into Red, sending him back to where he came. Starfire, Raven, and Bushido recovered from their momentary shock to glance behind them to where two familiar teammates stood, one with their transformed arm held up, a blue glow dying down from it.
"Well he did say it was going to be a blast to see us." Cyborg smirked letting his arm return to normal from it's smoking cannon state, he along with Nightwing regrouping with the rest of the team who were quick to express their relief in seeing them alright.
Starfire quickly flew over wrapping both boys in a gentle hug, voicing quite loudly her relief that they were both okay.
"So I take it everyone else noticed that what the officer said was true?" Nightwing asked his team when Starfire released the two, just as their crimson colored opponent landed in front of them, crouched down with that same wide toothed grin.
"Well well well, looks like the gang was able to make it out alive. I expected no less though." He started, stretching his limbs with a few cracks as the bruises and burns they inflicted upon him seemed to slowly heal back up.
"What is your affiliation with Slade?" Nightwing pointed at the man who stopped to let out a hearty laugh, scratching the back of his head comically, much to the confusion of the Titans.
"Now Robby err Nightwing, though I promised to answer your questions, you're the detective here. I expected you would have at least been able to answer those yourself, bet you still haven't figured out what food I like most." He shrugged with a laugh before slowly walking in a circle around the Titans, all still on edge as they did not know what he had up his sleeve.
"But I guess I'll answer some for you. Yes, it is true that I work with Slade and you may not believe it but I'm his newest apprentice, hope that refreshes your memory of what exactly we apprentices are capable of. Especially with the former one standing right there with you." He cooed at Nightwing who only gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to pounce down and beat the man for all the answers he had.
"As for why I'm doing this? I just wanted to fight you all, not even that, dominate you is the better word for it. I've been training so long with the old man in hush hush, with every passing day I just couldn't wait to go to battle with the very team that denied my master from achieving his goals." He stopped in front of them crouching to the ground as he gave a fanged smirk whilst his eyes sparked with intensity. "So I'll just give you a tip, not to hold back on me."
Nightwing smirked as he flipped two escrima sticks out, assuming a battle stance as the other Titans took theirs as well. "If that's how you want it, then we have no qualms in beating you into a bloody pulp."
"And when that's said and done, we can beat you again only this time for the information we need." Cyborg grinned, his eye humming to life whilst his arm shifted into it's cannon state.
Red laughed as he clapped his hands together, the gauntlets on his arms snapping off before snapping together and extending out far in a white light, forming into a long metal spear which he caught in a twirl. "Well then..."
He dashed forward spear gripped in one hand, talons extended upon his other. "You'd better give me one hell of a beating!"
Nightwing was the first to charge at him, escrima sticks sparking to life and leaving a trail of blue static behind him. Nightwing released a battle cry like yell and brought his weapons forward to strike him but with a smirk from Red, the latter vaulted above him, using Nightwings head as a stepping stone.
He touched the ground running forward whilst maneuvering around the incoming starbolts, rockets, and flying debris like a snake drawing ever closer to his prey. A stray rocket landed in front of him enveloping his form in a stray cloud of dust but he shot out of it, connecting a hard punch into Cyborg's gut.
When the cybernetic man hunched over to clutch his stomach Red's knee met his chin sending him back up into a dazed state as Red grabbed his arm and turned them just as a powerful starbolt came flying and connected onto the unlucky form of Cyborg.
Starfire yelped in shock from her accidental shot that likely harmed her friend, leaving her guard down long enough for Red to lift the man with profound strength and throw him at the alien who was too surprised, spiraling to the ground from Cyborg colliding into her arms.
Red smirked before his ear perked up and he ducked under a blade slicing over him, sitting on his butt to slide backwards under the samurai's legs just as Bushido's blade landed down to where his form originally was. He quickly jumped up to a stand and wrapped his arms around the surprised warrior before lifting him in the air and slamming him to the asphalt head first in a german suplex.
"K.O!" He mocked the fallen samurai, knowing he would be out of commission for awhile, Red suddenly found black energy encased around him and an angry demonness growling at him before she slammed him to the ground, tossing him into the air where Starfire smashed a brutal elbow into his back sending him careening to the ground.
Just when he thought it was over he felt a metallic fist connect into his chin along with a familiar 'booyah' as Cyborg sent him a few feet away with a flying uppercut into a buildings window.
Red rolled across the dormant office floor with a groan, slowly picking himself back up and with great reflexes grabbing the fist of the surprised teen that came at him.
"Nice strategy, but it seemed to be missing that last hit to work it's full effect, or should I say teammate." He smirked at Nightwing putting pressure on his fist as Nightwing seethed at him in deep anger.
"Why are you working with him, what are your motives?" Nightwing question the man.
Red merely smirked at Nightwing his eyes flashing in a way that reminded him of someone he fought long ago. "Simple..." He drove a fist into Nightwings gut causing him to cry out before Red slammed his head atop his. bringing the man to his knee in dazed pain. "To kick ass and take names."
Red reeled his head back to put Nightwing out of the fight, bringing it down only for the vigilante to quickly flip his body back with a kick to the mans chin causing him to release him.
Red stumbled back but regained his footing enough to charge back at Nightwing and throw a right fist which the Titan pushed off to the side, tackling his shoulder into Red sending him rolling back across the ground. Nightwing displayed a cocky expression, begging for Red to come try that one more time. Red charged to him again bringing going for a kick but Nightwing was quick to grasp his leg and throw him through a few abandoned cubicles.
Getting annoyed Red stood up with a huff, running forward but this time rolling under the surprised Nightwing and scooping his legs. Nightwing flipped through the air and just as his back hit the ground he sputtered out from Red landing on his chest with a brutal elbow.
Red picked him up by the neck and slammed him atop a office desk, before swinging him around and throwing him through another set of the offices windows.
He jumped out the same window and caught the tameranian by the head who had come flying at him, slamming her head down into the pavement with a sickening crack. Both his hands went behind him as he caught the fist of a cybernetic teen who was about to connect with his head, once again showcasing his strength by throwing the man over him and slamming him atop the girl on the ground, crumbling Cyborg's metal hand with his deathly grip.
He raised his leg, slamming it down on the cybernetic man but Cyborg's chest glowed and a red beam of energy blasted Red a good distance across the pavement.
Red recovered from the sudden attack, finding himself by his spear which he dislodged from the ground and pointed at the heroes. A black portal opened behind him as a kick flew out but he dodged it and turned around to stick his arm inside, pulling out a certain shocked empath by her neck before slamming his head against hers, throwing her right back through from which she came.
Raven fell back to where her team was regrouping, holding her aching head and staring down her opponent just like the others were.
"Damn. Slade sure knows how ta pick, and it's like the guy is barely breaking a sweat right now." Cyborg huffed, broken hand being replaced with what resembled a gattling gun head.
"Which is why we need to give it our all. It is imperative that we defeat this guy to get the info for Slade's whereabouts and plans." Nightwing gritted out connecting his escrima sticks into a staff also at the ready as his teammates formed alongside him.
Red held his weapon behind his head as he tilted his head at the Titans. "Ooo getting serious I see, well then, I think it's time I start doing the same. Get things more interesting." He laughed, surprising the Titans that he had been holding back the whole fight.
The spear he was holding morphed back into gauntlets, but that quickly changed as they morphed around his hands becoming longer and more sharper growing razor claws for each of his fingers. His eyes seemed to morph into smaller slits and he groaned out before a pop was heard, shocking each Titan as a long red snake coiled out from behind him, hissing back at them.
His body turned and they could clearly see that the snake was actually his tail furthering their surprise whilst he got down on all fours in a stance similar to a cat preparing to pounce. "Now, let's see how long you last from my bites." He hissed before running at them still on all fours, the Titans preparing for the second round.
While the battle below continued, a figure atop a roof not too far away watched through a pair of enhanced binoculars. "Flexing your claws already? How long until you start baring your fangs then?" The voice which could be discerned as female, purred with a lick of her lips. Focusing her attention back to the battle already ensuing.
We now get a look into who Red is and who exactly he works for, along with a look into some of his fighting prowess which he still isn't fully showing.
Exactly what is Red capable of? Will the Titans emerge victorious against this 'Red' Warrior?(pun intended)And just who was this mysterious watcher?
Only time shall tell...
Feedback is greatly appreciated, let's me know what ya think?
