Titans Heartland
Posted by slifer777
Written by slifer777, Cr4zy!van, and Vampyrelord
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Upon exiting the sewer, the Titans found themselves swarmed with police, medical teams, and firefighters. Turned out that several people had seen the heroes fall, and the lengthy time of their absence had caused more than a little panic. After answering several questions and being checked by concerned medics, they were quickly on there way back to the tower.
"So, your Star's sister, huh?"
Wildfire fidgeted nervously.
"Um, y-yes sir."
Cyborg chuckled.
"Relax, kid. If Starfire's vouching for ya, then you're cool with all of us."
Wildfire was riding backseat of the T-car, with both Raven and Cyborg up front. Robin had his R-cycle, and Starfire and Beast Boy had elected to fly. No one was quite sure how Quasi planned to travel.
"So," Raven stated quietly, "we just let that thing into our home now?"
Cyborg kept his robotic eye on the road while his human one glanced at Raven.
"I don't think we have to worry too much about that guy. He seemed more uncomfortable about coming over to the tower than anything else."
"What's you're point? He also claimed he was in hiding, and yet he brought us into his home. And for being in isolation, he didn't put up much of an argument when Starfire invited him over."
Cyborg wasn't sure what to say to that. He started to turn his full attention back to the road, but a small voice spoke up.
"He saved us. He could have left us but he stepped in and saved our lives."
Raven turned her head to the rear seat. Wildfire was staring straight back, her face firm.
"Someone like him . . . deserves a bit of kindness for doing that much."
Raven didn't say anything, but her cold gaze expressed her views the rest of the way.
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As the titans approached the tower, they saw no sign of their other guest. Starfire wrung her fingers nervously around her communicator.
"Robin, I fear Quasi of the Komodo may have gotten lost. I would like to go and -"
"No, Star." Robins voice crackled from the device, gentle but firm. "If he wants to come there's little chance he doesn't know how. You also have to accept to idea that he may not want to come."
"But he agreed to-"
"I know what he said, but maybe he had second thoughts about what risks there were for him. If he didn't want to come, that's his choice."
Starfire sighed. "You are right, Robin." Still, she continued to scan the small island.
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"-look at the bright side, Star!" Beast Boy chimed as they entered the tower, crossing through the large hanger-like room. "We still get to have your little sister over!"
Starfire smiled broadly. "Yes! That is truly something worth celebrating! I will prepare some traditional Tamaranian-"
"Oh, God no." Wildfire moaned.
"Is something wrong, sister?"
"Starfire, you know how I feel about your cooking."
"It was just once! And I have improved-"
"I was having stomach seizures for four days!"
"And I realize now that my mistake was not properly leeching the venom from the grekfar!"
"Please, please just stick to earth foods."
"Oh, very well." Starfire said with a huff. Beast Boy chuckled, till Raven elbowed him.
"So Star," Robin started, desperate to change the subject. "How come you never told us you had a younger sister."
Starfire shifted uncomfortably.
"W-well . . . you see . . . that is-"
"-It's a really long story." Wildfire finished. "Something that I'd like to stay between family, if it's all right with you."
Her tone made it clear that Robin didn't have much choice other than to agree.
"Alright. I'm not going to force Starfire into anything she's not comfortable with."
"Aw, isn't that sweet? Make it sound like it's for Starfire's sake just to dodge the fact you're kowtowing to her sis."
The voice had come from out of thin air, a voice still too fresh to be forgotten.
"Quasi? Where are you?"
"Can't quite tell can you? Here, there, anywhere!"
Raven's eyes narrowed and began to glow eerily white. "Show yourself before I make you."
"BOO!"
Raven actually jumped in shock. Quasi loomed behind her, a crocodile grin plastered on his face.
"Gotcha."
Raven face grew red, but her expression was pure anger. Quasi would've felt her wrath, but Starfire had grabbed him in another massive hug.
"Hrrrrkkkk!"
"Friend Quasi! You did come! I will hurry and prepare the feast! Sister, you must assist me!"
"Uh, Star? You're not going to try and cook- Gack!"
Wildfire was quickly yanked off her feet and into the elevator. Quasi moaned as he rubbed his spine.
"Any reason I should be expecting more of those?"
Robin grinned. You get used to it. Sort of."
Oh, man . . ."
Suddenly, Cyborg stepped in, sounding aggravated.
"How'd you get in the tower? I left the security systems active! Nothin' gets in here without one of us letting it in."
Quasi grinned. "I guess it's not as great a security as you thought."
Cyborg started fuming, but Quasi just waved his hand dismissively.
"Cool your jets, Tin man. I came in when you opened the door."
"That still doesn't make sense! Then why didn't any of us see you?"
Quasi's eye's narrowed. "If a reptile does not want to be seen, he has his ways of hiding."
"I can't accept that, man. If you found a way into this tower, I can't trust you not to break in again."
Quasi cocked his head to the side. "I believe I just said I came in when you opened the door. How I went unnoticed is the same reason I've been able to survive as long as I have. Can you appreciate how important a secret like that is to me?"
Cyborg was about to argue more, but Robin cut him off.
"Whatever it is you did, we respect your privacy on the matter. But," he stared hard at the reptile, enough to make Quasi shift uncomfortably. "I need to know right now. On your life, what are you after?"
"After?"
"I won't lie about it: I don't trust you. And you have yet to give me any reason to start."
Quasi suddenly flared. "Saving your ungrateful life wasn't enough?!"
Robin didn't so much as blink. "My worst enemies have saved my life. More than once."
Quasi didn't answer right away. He backed away from Robin, his eyes closed and head down. Suddenly, he began to shrink. Muscle and bone shifted and vanished, his skin began to turn from molten brown to a human shade. Gray hair, like that of an old man, sprouted from his head but stayed only a few inches short. Bright amber eyes were traded for deep brown. Within less than a minute, the massive reptile had been replaced by a young man, no more than year older than Robin himself and dressed in a simple black shirt and dark jeans.
"Dude! He's human!" Beast Boy blurted out.
'Quasi' glared at him. "No duh, ya green midget! I'm not that different from you, ya know."
"So this is what you really look like?" Raven asked.
"No. Not anymore," he looked down at his hands, a pained expression on his face. "That monstrosity is all I really am. This is nothing but a shell I can put on for an hour or so." He looked up at Robin, his face turned firm. "You think I'm after anything? I'm nothing. I haven't the hatred to be evil or the courage to be one of you lousy heroes. I can only survive. Survive and hide myself from being some sort of blemish on this city."
"Then why come here?" Robin asked, his voice softer than it had been before, "if staying hidden was so important, why come here?"
Quasi shifted, his head lowered. "Because for the first time I felt I had a chance to actually live, not just exist."
Dead silence. Quasi, his composure regained, looked at Robin, firm but not spiteful.
"If you don't want me here, I'll gladly leave. I appreciate your attempt, but this just isn't where I'm supposed to be."
"No it's not." Raven said.
Quasi turned to leave, but Raven glided up in front of him, pointing to the elevator.
"-you belong upstairs where Starfire and her sister are waiting for you."
Quasi was taken aback. He couldn't so much as stutter. Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy were no different, staring at Raven as though she had just sprouted angel wings.
"Beast Boy, would you mind showing Quasi upstairs?" Raven asked, although her tone suggested that it wasn't really a question.
". . . Uh, yeah. Sure! Come on dude, this way."
Beast Boy dragged a still somewhat stunned Quasi over to the elevator. Raven finally addressed the two remaining titans after they had left.
"Something wrong?"
"What was that all about?"
"Yeah, you wanted him out of the tower the whole way here, now your all buddy-buddy with him?"
Raven stoic expression didn't waver.
"He was being honest. He really feels its important for him to at least know us, not isolate himself."
"But what does that got-"
"Robin, I know how he feels."
" . . ."
" . . ."
"I know what it's like to want to be with people, to be out in the open, yet know that because of what you are you can never be accepted."
" . . . Raven . . ."
"I don't know yet if I can trust him. But with all the pain I feel coming from him, I feel he deserves a chance.
Robin slowly nodded, a small smile on his face.
"Alright Raven. If you say give him a chance, I can't argue. But keep an eye on him all the same."
Cyborg grinned. "Alright then. Time to see how strong this guy's stomach is. Heh heh!"
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"-I'm telling you, mustard doesn't mix with ice cream!"
Robin and the others had walked into a scene of pandemonium. Kitchen utensils and condiments flew everywhere as the two Tamaranians quibbled and argued over what they were preparing. Beast Boy was nowhere to be seen, but Quasi was sitting on the couch, back in reptilian form and holding both arms over his head. Robin and Cyborg walked over to him while Raven decided to go elsewhere.
"A little to noisy for ya?" Cyborg asked.
Quasi looked up at him pleadingly.
"I can't tell if they're preparing food or chemical warfare."
Cyborg laughed loudly, patting Quasi on the head.
"It's all right dawg. Starfire cooks all the time and we're still alive and kicking!"
Quasi looked at him suspiciously.
"Should the fact that you probably can't be killed by food poisoning reassure me?"
"hmmmm..."
"Lord, I'm gonna die."
"- no chocolate syrup on raw meat! Just how long have you been here, Star?"
Suddenly, Starfire appeared in front of Quasi, startling him. In her hands was a bowl of . . . something purple.
"Friend Quasi, would you be so kind as to try this and express your views of the taste?"
Wildfire tried to protest. "Star, that stuffs not exactly-mrf!"
Both Robin and Cyborg had clamped their hands over her mouth, shushing her and grinning at the trapped reptile. He looked around worriedly, hoping for some excuse, but he knew he was caught. Slowly, he took the bowl from Starfire. The bowl was little more than a cup to him, so he cautiously tipped the bowl and took a small sip.
"Well?"
Quasi sat there for a minute, as if waiting for his stomach to melt.
" . . .Actually . . ." he started, a curious expression on his face, "That's pretty good. Familiar even. What do you call this stuff?"
"It is the ragleon sauce of the gorbaak!"
Quasi blinked. "I shouldn't have asked."
Cyborg was stunned. "Dude, you actually like that stuff?!"
"Oddly enough. Although I'm trying to figure out where I've tasted that before."
"Joyous! I shall prepare more!"
"Wait up Star!"
Both the girls flew back to the kitchen area. Cyborg gestured to the bowl still in Quasi's grip.
"Mind if I try some? Maybe Star finally made something earth safe."
"Glad to be the guinea pig. Go ahead, maybe you can figure out the flavor."
Cyborg took the bowl in one hand while a finger on the other split open into a spoon. Quasi suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Hey! I remember that taste now!"
All too late for Cyborg, who had just put a large spoonful in his mouth.
"That's the same flavor that Fang guy had!"
"Bbbbllaauuggghhh!"
Quasi was treated to having the sauce bowl dumped on his head.
All of a sudden, the tower alarms began to ring out.
"Wha-? Wha'd I touch?" Quasi asked worriedly.
Robin moved quickly to the main computer as Beast Boy and Raven ran into the room, both pausing momentarily at the sight of Quasi's sauce covered head. Robins fingers flew across the keyboard, causing the display screen to light up with a map of the city. Two pulsing red marks pinpointed different locations on the map. Robin read the alert report on a smaller screen.
"We have two calls in. One's from the downtown Cook's Electronics. Hostage situation involving a guy with a sword, and a 911 call from . . . Chang's observatory?"
Robin shook his head in wonder. He turned to face the other titans.
"Alright, we're going to have to split up for this one. Cyborg, I want you to take Starfire and Beast Boy to Chang. Keep your guard up, it could be a trap."
"Got it covered."
"Raven and I will handle the hold up."
Wildfire spoke up.
"Hey! What about me and leather head over there?"
Robin thought for a second, then turned to Quasi.
"Would you mind helping us out? I know you'd have to stay in your human form, but We'd appreciate having the back up."
Quasi grinned.
"I think that sauce got to me. Sound like it could be fun. How tough can a guy with a sword be?"
"And Wildfire can go with you, Cyborg. Any extra firepower you can get would help."
"Well alright! Welcome to the team, kid!"
"Don't call me kid."
Raven seemed to watch it all from a distance.
"I have a bad feeling about this . . ."
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
