I may put you on a pedestal
But I'm not your fall from grace
Baby it's alright
You can use me anytime
- Use Me, Goo Goo Dolls
Apache trots around the rock the tower resides on. She wanted out of Beast Boy's sight before she emptied her bladder like any proper lady.
Lady? Since when was she ever a lady?
Apache is quite amused by her own thinking as she finally finds a place.
On her way back to Beast Boy, something catches her eye. She comes to an abrupt stop, her ears perked as she looks for the source of the movement.
On the side of the tower, a shadow type figure disappears around the corner she was walking away from. Her hackles bristle at the uneasiness that explodes through her belly. With a throaty growl, she turns to go looking for whatever it was. It certainly didn't belong to any animal, the figure tall and humanoid, and the smell of something burning being left in its wake was not normal. She feels she needs to find it and figure out exactly what it is so she can alert the Titans. She didn't know how, but she would.
"C'mon Apache! My breakfast is getting cold, dude!" Beast Boy's whining voice hits her ears, and she stalls, staring where the figure disappeared, the smell fading. Her lips pulled back, she turns back around and trots back to the waiting teen. She half feels like ignoring him.
She'd keep a look out. She wouldn't let whatever that was into the tower unnoticed. She'd seen every episode of the show, and if her perception was anything to go by, she knew that was no good.
She didn't know if she was in a time after the last season, or somewhere in between the beginning and end. She couldn't rule ANY villain out, which unsettled her. It could be someone new, or range from the H.I.V.E. Five all the way to Trigon. She honestly hoped for the H.I.V.E. They got their asses kicked by the Titans more than once, but something tells her it won't be that easy.
She follows Beast Boy back through the tower, all the way back to the kitchen, where everyone still resided, keeping herself focused on every shadow and dark place as they go. Just a typical day in the lives of the Titans, she supposed.
She growls quietly.
Her first day with the Titans and as far as she's concerned they're already in danger. There has to be a reason as to why she's no longer in her own dimension, and she contemplates this as she again sits at Raven's feet, laying down this time, facing the way none of the Titans happened to be looking.
Everything happens for a reason.
Everywhere she went she would often be reminded of this simple fact. Nothing happened for no reason, that would defeat the purpose of the universe, and the concept of life itself. If she was here, there was a reason for her to be. This was the thing of dreams, fiction, and the imagination. Out of thousands of fans, she happened to be the one to fall into a universe that was not her own, on an Earth that was not hers, when she has no powers of any kind, as a damn dog.
If that didn't scream "You have a purpose to fulfill here" she didn't know what did. And that shadow. Something is certainly going on, and she doesn't like it one bit.
~T.E.E.N.T.I.T.A.N.S~
It happened to be a quiet day for the Titans. It was Monday after all, so Apache figured all the villains were taking the day off or something. It was night now, though. She had spent the day drifting between Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire and even Robin for a few minutes when he had drifted to the kitchen to get himself some lunch. She certainly enjoyed that they gave her free reign, though she spent every minute of it with one Titan or the other.
She'd desperately tried to follow Raven, but the girl would always evade her attempts, to Apache's irritation. She would always phase through a wall or completely ignore the over excited dog, to said dog's bewilderment.
The Titans had ordered pizza and decided to have a movie night. Apache couldn't believe that they actually could get delivery all the way out in the middle of the bay. And they get a huge discount and don't even have to pay for delivery!
Apache sits on Cyborg's left side as he pays the pretty blond haired delivery girl. She looks flustered, her cheeks dusted a pretty shade of pink. Apparently she'd never delivered the Titan's pizza before.
"And here," Cyborg flashes her a winning smile as he takes the stack of pizza boxes in one hand, cash in the other. Apache spies a $100 bill in his grasp. "Is your tip, my good lady."
The girl's pale blue green eyes almost bug out of her head. "What...? But...?" she almost seems desperate as she gazes, utterly baffled, up at the robotic man.
"You had to come out all this way. We appreciate it, it's no big deal," He gives the girl a friendly smile. Her face loses its contorted appearance, dropping into a gentle, thankful smile.
"Thank you. You all have a great night," her voice is smooth as silk. She backs up a few paces, before turning around to head back to the ferry, her delivery bag in hand.
"You have a wonderful night yourself!" Cyborg closes and locks the door before turning on his heel, balancing the pizza boxes like a pro. Apache trots after him, enjoying the heavenly smell of the hot pizza.
She stares up at Cyborg pleadingly as the elevator door closes. The elevator gives a gentle jolt before taking them upward.
"It does smell good, doesn't it?" he smiles down at the pleading dog. He hums. "Maybe I'll sneak you a piece."
The dog yips, bolting up on her hind legs to give a little dance. The metal Titan barks a laugh.
Another gentle jolt and the elevator doors open. They continue on down the hallway, ascending the flight of stairs to the common room, the dog prancing the entire way.
"Pizza, ya'll!" Cyborg calls happily to the other Titans, two sitting at the counter already, the other two on the couch watching TV. Apache barks out with Cyborg's call. He sets the stack of pizza atop the stove, all four boxes containing large pizzas.
"Took long enough!" Beast Boy crows as he takes the entire box containing a vegetarian pizza.
"Oh, no ya don't," Cyborg snatches the box back, setting it back on the stove. He hands the changeling a paper plate, to which the boy whines at. He stacks three slices on the plate before moving to sit down.
Robin quietly moves around Apache to grab his own plate, placing a piece of pepperoni and a piece of combination on his plate as Cyborg stacks four pieces of his Meat Lover's pizza on his own. When Robin turns away and Star begins stacking two pieces of each pizza on her plate, Cyborg stealthily grabs another piece of the Meat Lover's pizza. He quickly drops his hand in front of the dog's face. Her tail once again becoming a feather duster, she gently grasps the pizza between her teeth. She immediately crouches down to begin chewing the pizza.
When she's chewing the last bit of crust, she glances up as a figure flows by her, an eyebrow arched. The dog swallows, bolting back up, her tail held high as it sweeps the air.
The girl grabs herself a paper plate, placing a single slice of combination pizza on its surface.
Apache wonders why she isn't grabbing more, but decides to not dwell on it. She fallows Raven as she returns to her seat, tentatively picking up her piece of pizza and biting into it as she gazes down at her thick book.
Apache sits, her tail still going a mile a minute.
Apache cocks her head when Raven bites the crust in half. The girl lightly tosses the remaining at the dog without looking. Apache catches it between her teeth, almost expertly.
When the pizzas are polished off, everyone drifts to the couch.
Apparently it's Robin's turn to choose a movie, and Apache can't help but to be curious. It's obvious what type of movies Beast Boy and Cyborg like, and even Starfire, but Robin? She's definitely curious.
Everyone's in their respective seats, Apache's chosen placement on the opposite side of Raven. Raven glares at the black dog from over the rim of her book, but Apache takes it in stride and scoots a little closer to her.
"Alright guys, I picked up Mama, Sinister, and the new Wicked Scary. Cast your votes." Robin holds up the cases. More horror movie? Apache certainly isn't complaining. Now if it was her, The Incredibles all the way, just for the irony. If that movie even existed in this dimension...
"Dude! The new Wicked Scary all the way!" Beast Boy cheers. Of course.
"I'm with BB, man." Cyborg leans back in his seat.
"Sinister sounds quite intriguing." Star inputs, her eyes sparkling.
"My vote was for Mama, but majority rules. Wicked Scary it is." Robin smiles as he puts the disc into the DVD player.
Apache is even more curious. Wicked Scary isn't something that exists back in her own dimension, so she's nervous and excited to see this movie. The way the Titans reacted during that one episode leads her to believe it's absolutely horrendous.
From the opening scene on, all Apache could do was jump and cringe, half the time burying her face in between Raven's back and the couch.
She regrets her life choices. Hard core. She isn't sure at what point she ended up in Raven's lap being hugged to death by the girl, but it happened. Star ended up tucked behind Robin's cape again, and Beast Boy dove behind the couch at one point. Apache wanted nothing more than to scream at the movie's characters for their stupid cliche actions.
Come the movies conclusion, Raven realizes what she's doing and pushes the dog away from her, pulling her hood up to hide her face. Apache lays against Raven's exposed thigh, laying her head between her paws.
"Should have watched Mama." Beast Boy says shakily as he drapes himself over the back of the couch. "Such a great movie." He chuckles.
"That was even scarier than the last one!" Cyborg huffs out, a hand on his forehead.
"Way scarier." Robin agrees.
"It was amazing!" Star beams out. "The people of Earth come up with the most intriguing ideas."
"You okay, Raven? Now isn't the best time for another haunted house." Cyborg teases her fondly, gently pushing her shoulder.
"Just fine." Raven informs, pulling her hood down. "It's late, and we can't sleep until noon again."
"She's right. Let's get to bed, guys." Robin stretches and yawns as he stands. The Titans begin to file out. Apache follows them, unsure if this is where she's supposed to sleep or not. She watches Raven's cloak tail disappear longingly.
Cyborg, bringing up the rear, turns around in the doorway to look down at Apache. "C'mon, ya can sleep in my room." Apache prances out happily, following Cyborg through the maze that is Titan's Tower to his room. It may not be Raven, but Cyborg is just as great.
When the door slides shut behind them, Cyborg walks past a little work space that is cluttered with various gadgets, wires and computer parts and to a closet.
Tracksuits and spare parts are revealed as he pulls the sliding door open. He's still got those? Wow.
Apache sits where she's at by the door, watching the metal Titan intently.
Humming to himself, Cyborg pulls a fluffy white blanket from a shelf within the closet, bunching it up into a sort of nest in the corner between the closet and desk.
"There ya are." Cyborg walks over to his gurney like bed, hooking himself up to it while Apache gets herself comfortable, pawing at the white blanket delicately. She plops down, watching Cyborg curiously as he settles down. The dim lights go out, enveloping the room in darkness. She sighs, content and comfortable.
~T.E.E.N.T.I.T.A.N.S.~
The familiar smell of something burning wakes Apache abruptly. Her head shoots up, ears perked in the direction the door is, light radiating from under it. A shadow passes under the door, light breaking up as if someone passes by.
Of the last five days of her sleeping in here, the most that wandered the halls at this time was Beast Boy getting something to drink or going to the bathroom, and he was not that quiet.
He'd mutter, blunder around, even trip half the time.
Her lips pulled back in a silent snarl, she rises from her makeshift bed and approaches the door stiffly, her heart thumping painfully in her chest. The door doesn't open, so she jumps up, placing her front paws on it. It swishes open, and the front half of her body falls through. She jumps through the rest of the way, looking back and forth down the hall both ways as the door slides shut behind her.
Nothing.
The hall is empty.
The smell still remains, and she follows it.
She sniffs and sniffs under each bedroom door and along the hall. Beast Boy's room smells putrid to say the least. Like old food and filth, but nothing burning. She moves on, her joints stiff.
She stops at Raven's door, a burning smell radiating from under the door.
That's where the smell is coming from.
Raven doesn't smell like that. And this certainly doesn't smell like burning herbs.
She scratches on the door desperately. It's locked, and won't open for her. She gives a whine, jumping up and using both front paws to scratch on the door. After a few minutes the door swishes open just enough to show half of Raven's face, her cloak discarded, a black T-shirt and a pair of white silk shorts adorn her body. She had obviously been asleep.
Relief washes over the dog.
The smell intensifies, and Apache stares up at Raven.
"What do you want?" Raven glares down at her. "You scared me with that crap."
Apache gives another whine, scratching lightly on the door with her left paw. She continues to stare up at Raven. She'd be damned if anything happened to Raven. She'd tried over these last few days, almost desperately so, to hang around Raven. It was like she didn't like having even the dog's attention on her. She always seemed to develop a slight awkwardness whenever the dog sat at her feet and stared at her.
Raven shuts the door, disregarding the dog. Panic seizes Apache, and she scratches on the door again, doing a light little "whhhoo, whhhoooo" to show she wouldn't hesitate to start barking. You'd think with her hanging around Raven as often as she tried to the last few days it would loosen the Titan up. Of course that isn't the case. When the door doesn't open again, she full out barks.
The door is thrown open, an irritated Raven on the other side.
Apache rushes through, and Raven shuts and locks the door. Raven turns and looks at the dog, which is looking up at her intently, her ears pushed forward and her heterochromia eyes alight.
"What are you so uneasy about?" Raven knits her eyebrows together, obviously picking up on the dog's scattered emotions. Apache let's her bi-colored gaze wander around the dark and very tidy room.
Empty. Just like the hall. But the smell is strong.
And it doesn't seem like Raven can smell it. She lowers her ears as she again gazes up at the pretty girl.
Raven sighs, and returns to her bed, obviously very confused and now uneasy due to the dog's actions.
She gives the dog a last lingering look before she pulls her covers up to her shoulders and closes her eyes. Apache settles herself on the floor at the foot of Raven's bed, staring out at her dark room. Too many shadows to watch at once.
Uneasiness grips her belly, and she vaguely wonders what she's gotten herself into.
When Raven's breathing evens out, Apache jumps up on the foot of the bed and plops down. Better vantage point. Nothing was going to get Raven, or any of the Titans, if she had any say in the matter, even if she was having second thoughts and was becoming more scared than anything.
Raven's bedside clock ticks as the minutes turn into hours. She wishes she knew how to read those types of clocks. If she was guessing, it looked to be about three give or take. Her grandparents use to have a clock that ticked so loud on their fireplace mantle that it always made it hard for her to sleep when she slept over due to the eerie nature of the tone. Horror movies and ghost stories easily cement that into her head. The tone was almost just asking to have something jump out suddenly at the room's occupants.
Something on Raven's desk tips, and makes a little tink sound. A bottle, maybe?
Apache is instantly on her feet, her hackles risen, tail out straight, and lips pulled back. Her heart is again beating in her chest painfully, causing her veins to feel almost as though they're throbbing.
The shadow! There it is! Coming this way!
Apache breaks out in murderous snarls that wrack her body. The smell is so strong it's sickening, she can't even smell the pixie or jasmine smells. Her ears are flat against her skull, her stomach twisting in painful knots, and her fight or flight reflex is screaming at her.
The shadow just gives a throaty chuckle, continuing its advance. Apache breaks out in deafening barks in quick successions, like an angry German Shepard.
Raven bolts up, her eyes landing first on Apache, then on the advancing figure. She gasps, amethyst eyes wide.
Apache lunges slightly at the figure in warning, snapping her teeth and continuing to bark madly. Doubt clouds her mind. Could she really protect Raven and the others?
"Azarath metrion zinthos!" A shield of black energy cuts the room in half, halting the advancing being. It gives a loud laugh, and disappears in a puff of smoke. The smell instantly fades.
Apache falls silent, her hackles still risen, her lips still pulled back. Raven drops the shield, and a lingering puff of the smell hits Apache's nose before disappearing.
That laugh. It sounds familiar to her.
She raises her right ear.
"How did you know?" Raven huffs out, breath heaving from being woken up in such a manner. Apache just turns around to stare at her, doubt and fear ricocheting through her mind.
The tower is eerily quiet. Almost too quiet after such an event.
The look on Raven's face tells Apache Raven knows exactly what that was, but she's not voicing it.
Apache sits, facing Raven. It's only now she realizes she's shaking madly, the adrenaline still pumping through her body.
Raven sighs, seemingly making her mind up about something before pulling her covers back up and laying back on her side. She gives a very quiet whistle, to which the dog tilts her head.
"C'mon, you mutt." Apache crawls up next to Raven with a little wag of her tail, elation, pride and a sense of accomplishment rushing through her. Raven gives the shaking dog's head a soft pat, before laying still.
Apache, still unsure if the shadow will return, is reluctant to go back to sleep along with Raven. After a while of laying there and not smelling the burning smell again, she allows herself to doze off.
Something is up for sure.