"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you all to the newest addition to the Teen Titans, Jason Black." Everyone in the common room spun several mouths on the ground. Jason and Robin just shared a smirk.
"But dude what happened to not wanting to be a hero?" Jason shrugged, his green luggage still behind him.
"Still don't but I made a bet with Robin and I lost, so here I am. Speaking of which I need to set this stuff down and bounce, I got work in," he checked his watch, "an hour."
"You work?"
"I have to pay for food somehow."
"You know, now that your with the Titans you can quit."
"Listen man, I said I'd join, I did, I still need to get money somehow."
"Robin if it keeps him happy just let him." Jason dipped his head towards Raven, the goth girl just nodding back.
"Fine, training though is in the morning, bright and early hope you don't work to late. Star could you show Jason to his room."
"Of course Boyfriend Robin, come new Friend Jason." The alien girl flew forward and grabbed the newcomer's hand, dragging the energy user into the hallway.
"How'd you convince him to come?"
"Just like he said, we made a bet he lost." Cyborg wanted to say something but the half robot teen got sucked back into videogames with Beastboy, the two shouting as their characters fought. Raven got up from the couch and walked over to the kitchen were Robin was.
"He has issues."
"We all do."
"Do you think it's a good idea to let him stay here, I thought maybe once he stayed for a night you could let him go, or go to one of the other Titan branches." Robin shrugged; he wasn't looking at Raven, just staring at the wall.
"He has potential to be a real force in the world. I want to help him and like you said he has issues. He's too controlled, there's something else, and we're going to need to find out what." Meanwhile, Jason and Starfire were floating down the hall, the alien girl asking Jason all about him.
"Please friend, why did you try to fight my Robin?"
"Seemed like a good idea at the time."
"But he is the leader of the Titans, we are mighty warriors, surely you didn't believe you could defeat so easily." Jason shrugged, a small smirk on his face.
"Maybe I did."
"Well friend this is your room," they stopped in front of a random door, "see Friend Cyborg for the codes of entry."
"Will do, thanks sweetheart." Starfire nodded only to stop and think.
"Why am I a sweet of the heart, I am not glorious candy no a heart."
"Oh uh it's just a saying, I call a lot of people sweetheart, it don't mean anything."
"Ok then, sweetheart." Jason laughed as Starfire flew off, the new word amusing her to no end. He walked into the room, letting energy constructs unpack for him. His weapons were set up on their various racks and his clothes were hung in his closet. Well actually a long jacket and a shirt were hung in the closet. Two pairs of boxers and a pair of socks went into the dresser along with a pair of jeans. All his clothes were shabby and worn down, except for his weapons, Jason owned nothing that was in good condition. Jason set his backpack by the door and kneeled in front of his weapons. Saying a prayer the teen stood up, swapping his short black coat for his long white jacket. Shedding his hat, Jason walked back to the common room.
"Ok I'm going to work; uh do I need a key or something to get back in?" Robin tossed him a communicator.
"This has the entry codes, we'll get you personal ones later on for your room and such."
"Got it. Night guys." With that Jason left the common room only to reappear five minutes. "Uh how to I get to the roof?"
"I'll show him, it's a nice night to meditate."
"I'll go too dude." Raven pulled up her hood in an attempt to hide her blush. Even though the two had adjusted to their relationship, raven was still somewhat shy around him. Beastboy took it all in stride. Jason almost laughed as the couple led him to the roof. The three walked in silence, Beastboy and Raven in front, hand in hand, while Jason walked behind them, his hands buried in his pockets.
"How long you two been going out?
"Five months."
"Interesting." Jason closed his eyes, then opened his left, the light coming off of Beastboy and Raven was violet, green and indigo. But there were also small spots of red and yellow on Raven. "Very interesting."
"What's interesting?" Raven turned her head back, but Jason had already opened his other eye, his vision shifting to normal.
"Nothing, never mind, congrats on dating."
"Thank you…I think." Beastboy just laughed. Once they reached the roof access both turned to face Jason, Raven still looking at the newcomer with a quizzical expression.
"Well here you are dude, when you getting back?"
"Don't know, late. Night, and thanks." Jason opened the door and walked onto the room. "Beautiful night, perfect for love." Both Titans watched as Jason walked off the edge and flew away, his green glow lighting up the sky.
"What are you thinking Rae?"
"I don't know why but something is off with him. His emotions are…buried but so strong. It makes no sense."
"Like yours?" Raven glared and Beastboy smiled.
"Just kidding I know your emotions."
"But yes, sort of like mine. But I don't understand why." The two headed inside, Beastboy deciding to "distract" Raven from Jason. Meanwhile Jason flew over Jump, landing in the projects. Walking out of an ally, Jason pulled his hood down low, his eyes giving him an eerie glow, only he couldn't have that. So he slid on his dark green lenses, constructs made permanent, they helped his vision, making everything appear like daylight. The new hero headed to a dimly lit bar called Katie's, sidestepping as a man was throne out.
"And stay out ya bum! Hey newbie, you're late."
"Living arrangements won't happen again." The big black man shrugged and pointed it over his shoulder.
"Take it up with the boss." Jason ducked under the other guy and headed to the bar.
"Jason Darlin where ya been?"
"Sorry Katie, new living arrangements, won't happen again."
"Fine, now get to your stool and watch me pub." Jason nodded, walking into a back room and hanging up his jacket before taking a seat in the corner of the bar. Scantily clad waitresses walked around dolling out drinks, as a girl danced on the stage. Jason had found Katie's three weeks ago, when he told his captain he was leaving. The crew took him out to get drinks as a farewell, the young man having been a bit of a mascot for the ship. After his crewmates left, Jason helped throw a drunk out, mostly cause the guy had been annoying the young sailor, but Katie took an instant liking to him and gave him a job. Now he was swiftly becoming part of the bar. Watching the bar was easy enough, Earl, the other bouncer, did most of the work, but Jason had sharper eyes. He learned how to watch people's hands (he had lost at dice to many times when he first started sailing) so now he could see when people did something funny.
Like now. Two men were sitting in a booth at the edge of the bar, not near the lights. One hand exchanged money, the other white powder. Jason slowly slid off his seat and cut his way through the crowd. He maneuvered around waitresses, often time, giving them subtle turns as he moved. He was almost over there when one of the men looked up and made eye contact. "Shit." The two men and several at another table jumped up all drawing guns. "Easy boys, no need to do something stupid."
"We weren't doing anything."
"Course not, just hand over that baggy and we're good." The guards cocked their pistols. Most of the customers and waitresses were hiding under or behind tables, Earl had a gun pointed right at him, so he couldn't draw; only Katie had a clear shot, but her shot gun wasn't cocked.
"That ain't any of your business."
"Yea it is, this is a bar, you want a buzz, buy a drink. No god damn drugs in this joint." One of the two men at the original table, in all probability the dealer, walked forward and pressed his gun right against Jason's head.
"Says who, you?" Jason sighed, rolling up sleeves, acting like he was taking out the trash, not dealing with a loaded gun pointed at his head.
"Yea me." Then he brought his hands up, stealing the gun from the dealer, only to point it back at him. All the thugs and the buyer pointed their weapons at him. "Now then, back off before I get mad."
"Or what?" Jason just smirked then cocked the gun.
"Don't test me; I'm not in the mood." Then Katie grabbed her gun and cocked it, while Earl tackled the guy in front of him, stealing a pistol and drawing his own, and just like that it went from five guys with pistols pointing at unarmed bar patrons, to a Mexican standoff. "Now then hand over the stuff, a cover charge for pissing me off and scaring the customers, and maybe I won't splatter your brains on the floor." The goons dropped their pieces first, then the buyer. "Good, Earl?" The big bouncer grabbed the guns, hitting a few who wouldn't back down, before making his way back to Jason. Earl searched the dealer and the client, taking the drugs before throwing them out.
"We'll be back!"
"No you won't. Earl I'll be right back." Jason dropped his pistol and walked outside, shutting the door behind him. There were several crashes, a couple screams, and Jason walked back in taking the towel Katie was holding. He wiped off his hands and his face; the towel received several new patches of red.
"You want a drink love?"
"Coke, nothing alcoholic."
"Of course dearie. Go sit, I'll send Rita with it." He took his spot on his old stool, as a waitress came over. Gorgeous and clad in nothing but leather and lace, Rita was by far one of the prettiest waitresses at the joint, and she seemed to like Jason.
"Here ya go hero boy, a nice sober coke." He smiled and nodded his head, taking the class and sipping the surgery beverage. The bar was quiet the rest of the night. Katie closed early, letting Earl take off along with most of the girls. Jason stayed behind helping clean up and stack chairs.
"You got blood on yer shirt love." Jason looked up from his broom and saw where Katie was pointing.
"Damn." Jason set aside the broom and slipped the long shirt off, his black a-shirt showing off his tattoos. He had a dragon on his shoulders, another coiling down his left arm and a wolf on his right upper arm. On both his arms were braces that moved with his arms, they went under his clothes and down to his legs. He checked the shirt several times before Katie gave a grunt and walked over, taking it from him.
"I'll clean it, you finish up then head home its getting late."
"Yes ma'am." He finished sweeping then headed out, his long jacket covering his tattoos up again. Walking to a side alley he shot out on a green Harley, driving to the harbor where he jumped into the air. He landed on Titan's Tower, punching in the code he got from the communicator before heading down the stairs. He couldn't remember how to get to his room so he crashed on the couch.