Monsters under the Bed

"Man, I say we just move," Cyborg said as the Titans sat down to breakfast the following morning. "It's not worth it, you know?" He picked up Bo and sat him in his high-tech booster seat.

"I kinda agree with Cy," Beastboy said, slinking down in his seat. "I mean, maybe it's best we just leave Jump City."

"Just Jump city?" Raven scoffed. "Let's leave the state." She fastened the lid on Bo's sippy cup and placed it before the toddler. He started drinking his juice and looked between the Titans, oblivious to what was going on. He had heard the name Slade on and off, but it meant nothing to him. He figured it was just boring grown up talk.

Robin sighed heavily and sipped his coffee. "It's a thought," he surprisingly agreed. "And it's certainly not a bad idea."

"Who's up for waffles?" Cyborg smiled at Bo who clapped his hands wildly. The only thing he loved more than Starfire's Gorb-gorb was Cyborg's waffles. He watched as the bionic Titan drenched his breakfast in syrup and cut it up into bite-sized pieces. Bo happily began to eat.

"But to where will we move?" Starfire asked.

"We could go to Gotham," Robin suggested. "I doubt Slade would follow us there." He didn't have to explain why.

"I don't think it matters," Cyborg replied, glancing at the toddler. "I just say the sooner we get out, the better."

--

"I winned!" Bo exclaimed as he dropped the videogame controller and began clapping. Of course , he didn't really know how to play, but Cyborg played along and allowed him to think what he wanted. He sighed dramatically and said, "Man, you kick my butt every time, little brother."

He picked Bo up around the waist and tickled him with his other hand. "What are we gonna do now?"

Bo squealed with laughter. "Is Bumblebee coming over?" Bo wasn't exactly thrilled with the other East Titans. Speedy wasn't kid-friendly and always smiled awkwardly at the child, dashing off as quickly as he could. Aqualad went over the top with trying to be a good caretaker. Mas and Menos…well, they just weren't Bo's cup of tea. Bee, however, was someone Bo liked to visit, or have visit him.

"Maybe we should go see her tonight," Cyborg suggested, setting him down. "What do you think?"

"Can we bring my blankie?" Bo picked up his Batman blanket and began sucking on the end of it.

"If you want," Cy shrugged. He then pulled it away. "But you're not gonna eat it. It's a blanket, not a fruit roll-up."

--

"Hey, Shorty, what's shakin'?" Bee squealed as she answered the door, scooping up the toddler who already had his arms raised.

"I brought my Batman blankie!" He announced, holding up his prize, which was soggy on the ends from being sucked on.

Bee gasped and said, "I am SO jealous!" She then curiously looked at his neck. "Is that a hickie? Have you been seeing other women behind my back?"

Bo giggled. Bumblebee had dubbed him her boyfriend since she found about him, nearly a year ago. He puckered out his lips and she kissed him.

"Hey," Cyborg warned playfully. "She's my girlfriend."

"My girlfriend!" Bo latched onto her.

"Sorry, Sparky," Bumblebee laughed. "You just can't compete."

They entered the tower and Aqualad and Speedy looked up from the sofa where they were playing videogames. Speedy turned back to the game, but Aqualad jumped up, his eyes glittering.
"Bojangles! My main man!" He leapt over the couch like a dolphin and took him Bee. "How've ya been, Buddy?"

"I brought my blankie!" Bo held it up for him to see.

"Awesome!" Aqualad nodded, and then called to his friend, "Speedy, look who's here!"

"Meh," Speedy shrugged, but stood up and waved awkwardly.

Aqualad took the child back to the couch and Cyborg and Bumblebee looked at each other lovingly.

"So, how are you?" Bee asked, pressing herself against him, wrapping her arms around his massive figure.

"Not so good," Cy sighed. "Can we go somewhere we can talk privately?"

--

"What?" Bumblebee repeated, shaking her head slightly as the two sat on the back patio balcony, sipping iced tea. "Slade's back? The guy hasn't surfaced for nearly a year!"

"I know," Cyborg nodded. "But he's back, and after what happened last time, we're just not ready to take another risk."

"I understand," The other Titan nodded. "I mean, after what happened…that was awful." She cocked her head skeptically. "Did Raven ever get over it?"

Cyborg scrunched up his nose and waved his hand in a so-so fashion. "She doesn't talk about it much."

He explained that they were thinking of moving to Gotham, and if things didn't fair there, possibly out of state. They simultaneously glanced through the window to see Bo laughing and clapping as Aqualad and Speedy went head to head in a racing game, standing up and stomping their feet.

"I wouldn't take a risk with something that precious either," Bee said quietly. She looked at Cyborg. "You'll still come see me?"

"Definitely," Cyborg took her hand. "And I wouldn't keep your boyfriend away either."

They laughed and then kissed. It was kind of nice, but worry lingered between them.

--

"Anything from Slade?" Cy asked, entering the tower, carrying a sleeping Bo covered by a soggy blanket.

Robin, who was sitting up in the dark, staring intensely at his computer, shook his head. Without even looking at the other Titan, he said, "I think we'll leave for Gotham in a week. I'll let the police know tomorrow."

Of course, the police were going to be devastated. The Teen Titans practically did their jobs for them. Cyborg sighed and pulled up a chair, patting Bo as the child stirred slightly. "It still amazes me how someone, even Slade, could wanna hurt a kid like him."

"It's because he doesn't know him," Robin explained, finally turning to look at him. "To Slade, he's just a decoy." He leaned over and smoothed out part of the Batman blanket. "Plus, it's Slade we're talking about."

--

"Dude!" Beastboy jumped up and down on the couch. "That was totally cheating!"

"Hahahaha!" Cyborg laughed, happy he was winning.

Bo ran around in front of them, wielding his blanket around like a cape, completely ignoring their argument. He picked up the controller Beastboy had thrown on the floor and aimed it at an imaginary person. "I'm gonna get you, Joker!" He growled. "I'm Batman! PshzzzzzOW!"

Raven entered the room and used her powers to pick the toddler up and bring him into her arms.

"Potty time," she said.

"Not potty time!" Bo pleaded. He pathetically held the controller to her. "Here, Waven."

"I don't want it," Raven told him.

He waved his little arms, hoping to get the other Titans attention, but Beastboy and Cyborg only continued to scream at each other. He sighed as Raven carried him into the bathroom and shut the door. She leaned against it and flipped her book open. Bo walked over to the toilet and looked at Raven. "I'm done."

"You didn't even sit on it," The Titan informed him.

"I don't need to go potty," Bo informed her cleverly.

Without looking at him, Raven leaned over and turned on the faucet sink. Bo needed to go then, and pulled his shorts down and sat on the toilet seat. After he was done, he stood up and said, "I did it!"

"Good job," Raven closed her book. "Flush it and let's wash your hands."

When they walked out, Bo scrambled in between Cyborg and Beastboy who were still at each other's throats and said, "I used the potty!"

They didn't seem to hear him and kept calling each other names. Bo pouted briefly and repeated it a bit louder. "I used the potty!!"

When the Titans still said nothing, he took a deep breath and yelled at the top of his lungs, "I USED THE POTTY!!"

They looked at him. Cyborg grinned and picked him up. "Way to go, Bro!"

--

The Titans started making plans to move that evening, so Cyborg took Bo back to the East tower. Of course, Aqualad wanted the toddler all to himself, so Cy got Bee all to himself.

"So," the winged Titan asked as she and Cyborg sat on her back patio again. "Ready to see Gotham?"

Cyborg shrugged. "Wouldn't do it if I didn't have to." He sighed as he eyed Bo through the window, who was sitting in Aqualad's lap as he read him a story. "But we're still not that far away."

"Yah," Bee floated across the table and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Maybe I'll have to pick up my lousy team and move to Gotham too."

They stared at each other for a moment, and just as they were about to kiss, the alarm sounded. They raced into the house and Cyborg gasped. "SLADE?!"

--

"Honestly, Cyborg," the masked man spoke calmly. "Did you think I wouldn't know where he was?"

Bumblebee's hands sparked, but Cyborg blocked her. "Not yet," he warned. He turned to Aqualad and ordered, "Grab Bo!"

Aqualad took Bo and held him tightly. Slade almost rolled his eyes and said, "This is really not the best way to do this." He eyed Bumblebee. "I wouldn't want to rough up your girlfriend and her little friends." His gaze then fell to Bo. "Well, look who's gotten bigger."

"Take one step closer and you're dead," Cyborg warned, aiming his cannon.

Bo clung tightly to Aqualad and put his thumb in his mouth. He began to whimper and looked at Cyborg. "I wanna go home."

The Titan ignored him and continued to stare Slade down. He knew he had a slim chance of actually defeating the man, but that wouldn't stop him from trying. He turned to Speedy and ordered, "Call the others!"

Slade sent a swift, flying kick at the Titan, knocking him down. The bionic teen skidded across the floor and smashed into the wall. Bumblebee fired sparks at the villain, and dodged them easily, darting forward and grabbing her by the wrist, hurling her aside too. He stared at Aqualad and Speedy. "Give him to me."

"No!" Mas and Menos sped by, circling Slade's feet. The masked man kicked them aside, and turned back to the other two. "NOW."

"Not on your life!" Speedy removed one of his arrows.

Slade lunged forward and punched him in the gut, hard. Speedy fell to his knees and coughed up a little blood. Aqualad knew he couldn't fight, not holding the child anyway. He looked around frantically, backing up. He set Bo down, blocking him, and ordered, "Bo! Run to the bathroom! Go now! Lock the door!"

"I can't reach!" Bo wailed, staring up at Slade.

"Run! Now!" The Titan ordered, as Slade lunged forward.

Still clutching his blanket, Bo toddled down the hallway, not really sure where he was going. He screamed as he saw Aqualad fly past him, smashing through the wall, but kept going. That is, until Slade landed in front of him. He hovered over the toddler menacingly. "Ready to come home?" He oozed quietly.

Bo's bottom lip trembled and his legs shook beneath him. Just as Slade started to pick him up under the arms, a flying kick flew to his head, hard enough to make him stumble sideways a foot or two, causing him to release the toddler. He expected it to be Robin, but was surprised to see Raven. She scooped up the child and glared at the man. It was the dirtiest look anyone could give anyone else.

"Lay your disgusting hands on my child again and I will kill you," she growled.

"Titans, go!" Robin ordered as the others busted in.

They began fighting Slade like they'd never fought before. Raven wiped Bo's snotty, tear-stained face with her hand and handed him to Bee, who had stood back up. "Don't let him go," she ordered. She then flew into the fight.

Starfire had just pinned the masked man to the wall, her eyes glowing and a starbolt in her palm like a bomb waiting to explode, when Slade shoved her off.

"You children really are naïve," he scoffed. "You still think I don't have the upper hand."

"There's no chips, no nano-probes, no nothing!" Beastboy growled. "You have nothing to hold against us!"

Slade dusted his shoulders off. "That's where you're wrong, Beastboy." His eye glittered. "Very wrong."

The Titans braced themselves as he removed a small compact. Robin gripped his bo staff, Starfire's starbolt grew bigger, Raven's eyes glowed, Beastboy morphed into a raptor. Even Bumblebee, who was holding Bo, charged her hand, ready to attack.

He opened the small device and pressed a single button inside. The Titans turned to Bo abruptly, but he seemed fine.

"Nice try, Slade!" Robin lunged at the man, but collapsed suddenly, feeling pain tear through him.

The other Titans fell to the ground too, moaning and groaning in pain. Red 'S's appeared on their flesh and they had difficulty moving and breathing.

"What's happening?" Speedy asked worriedly, looking around.

"They've always kept tabs on the child," Slade explained, walking over to Bee, who flew backwards. Slade elbowed her and took the struggling and now wailing child from her. "But never bothered to worry about themselves," he looked down at their pathetic, twitching forms.

"Wobin! Waven! Beastboy!" Bo wailed. "Stahfire! Cyborg!"

"I have a feeling we'll be seeing them soon," Slade looked at Bo. "But for now, let's get you home."

"No!" Raven stood up, feeling fire lick between her bones and muscle. She staggered forward, reaching out. It was too much for her, however, and she collapsed.

Slade left with the child, and the second he was gone into the night, the effect wore off and the Titans sat up, still trembling slightly. Bo was gone.

To Be Continued…