32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Black Cats and Goblins"

Chapter Two

Mammoth's Room

Blackfire had given her an idea. One that was decisively less humorous. She sighed and sat down on the floor. In the back of her mind she wondered why she didn't sink into the floor.

Shimmer: Hey, bro. It's me, Selinda. …I…I'm sorry for dyin' on you, you know?

Mammoth: (sleep talking) …my fault…should have protected you…

Shimmer: These aren't instructions, just my comments. So don't force these thoughts on you if you don't agree. Don't want you warpin' your thoughts just because I was feelin' bad. Okay…it was my choice. If I managed to save your lives, then I don't regret what I did. …did I save you?

Mammoth: …saved everyone…

Shimmer stood up.

Shimmer: Well, that's all I needed to know, mate. You remember your sister loves you, got it?

Shimmer sighed and left the room. She had gone and depressed herself. Who knows? If he was still mourning her death, maybe that helped.

Shimmer: …wonder what's on TV?

Main Room: Morning

Krystal yawned as she entered the room, half-asleep. She gathered things for her breakfast and paused as something finally registered. Rubbing her eyes, she checked again.

Krystal: …huh…who left the TV on?

Shimmer sighed as Krystal turned off the TV. Now she was bored again. Being dead gave her a ton of cool tricks, but the fact she couldn't sleep made passing the time difficult. What's a girl to do when she can't even leave the house? Suddenly a piercing scream shook the tower. Shimmer grinned. She knew what it was. Krystal disappeared in a flash of light and Shimmer ran after her. Blackfire was in the bathroom, freaking out in front of the mirror. Shimmer rolled around on the floor laughing. Naturally nobody could hear…until Jinx arrived. Shimmer sat up and covered her mouth. Jinx glared at her for a moment.

Jinx: What happened?

Blackfire: I…I don't know…!

Krystal: Did somebody prank you? Your hair looks terrible!

Blackfire's hair was in the spikes Shimmer told her to put it in.

Gizmo: What's all the…HOLY SNOT! What happened to your HAIR?!

Blackfire threw her brush at him, hitting the wall.

Blackfire: Don't look! Get out! Get out!

Gizmo ducked out of the room. Blackfire strained to separate so much as a strand of her hair from the solid spikes, but it was no good.

Blackfire: I can't go out like these! I'll be a laughing stock!

Jinx: I'm sure WHOEVER is responsible will confess to SOMEBODY at some point.

Shimmer sighed. Obviously Jinx was upset with her. Jinx walked from the room. Shimmer clicked her teeth and shoved her hands into her pocket. Was it really so bad?

Blackfire: I don't understand it…I did it myself and when I was doing it, it was like it was the most normal thing to do.

Krystal: Come on, cheer up. I'll find you a hat or something…we'll figure this out, I promise. Nobody is going to see.

Blackfire pointed at the spikes.

Blackfire: No hat is going to cover this!

Krystal: …a really big one might.

Shimmer shrugged and walked away.

Jinx's Room

Shimmer walked in like a kid going into a principal's office. Jinx sighed and tapped her foot.

Jinx: What have you been doing?

Shimmer: Just havin' a little fun. It's nothin'.

Jinx: This isn't a game, Shimmer. You can't make trouble like this.

Shimmer: Then what DO I do, huh?! What do I have left?! I'm bored! I'm alone! You're the only one who can talk to me and you don't even LIKE me!

Jinx sighed. Now she was getting all angsty.

Jinx: It's not that I don't LIKE you, Shimmer. You're messing with my team…my FRIENDS just out of boredom. How long before you do worse then this?

Shimmer: They're my friends too! I wouldn't hurt them!

Jinx: Calm down. All I ask is that you take it easy. Watch some TV or something.

Shimmer: I tried that. Jinx, I'm so bored! What am I supposed to do, huh? Twiddle my thumbs until November?

Jinx groaned and rubbed her temples. She leaned against the wall.

Jinx: Okay, okay. If you prank somebody, make sure the effects won't last for too long. Blackfire's hair will be stuck like that for hours. And PLEASE try not to scare anyone. The last thing I need is for everybody to think the tower is haunted.

Shimmer: …isn't it though? I'm right here.

Jinx: You're not haunting this place. You'll be gone come November.

Shimmer rubbed her chin.

Shimmer: And if I don't want to leave, then what happens?

Jinx: Why the hell would you want to stay? You just said you were bored!

Shimmer: Yeah well…actually…I…

Shimmer played with her jacket zipper, nervously.

Shimmer: I…kind of like short guys, you see. Smart is a plus too.

Jinx's jaw dropped then she grinned.

Jinx: You've got a crush on Gizmo.

Shimmer: I just want to get to know him a little more, okay? I just…I just don't want to freak him out. That's why I never said anythin'…and why I didn't go into his room last night.

Shimmer shook her head, scowling.

Shimmer: What am I goin' on about? I'm a bloody ghost. I'm not exactly the catch of the day, am I?

Jinx: I have to get going, Shimmer. Do what you want, just keep it nice, alright? Nothing mean or I swear I'll bind you to a room until November comes.

Shimmer gulped. That didn't sound too enjoyable.

Shimmer: You got it. Shapin' up and flyin' right.

Jinx nodded and walked passed her. Shimmer stuck out her tongue as the door closed.

Shimmer: Bleeding git. Alright, think, Selinda. What do you want to do now? Something fun. Ah, I know.

Shimmer ran off.

Red X's Room

Rose yawned as she pulled her gloves on. She had purposely left her alarm off today. Lately she hadn't been sleeping long enough. It was affecting her performance. The suit locked around the glove, connecting the circuitry that allowed those X weapons to come out the palms. The suit really was a marvel. Shimmer entered. Ah! Just in time. She wished she had a camera, but instead simply studied Rose's face. Well, that shot the disfigured theory out of the water. She looked fine. Of course, Shimmer still had no idea who she was. It didn't really matter. It was just to satisfy her own curiosity, that was all. Rose looked in the mirror hanging on the wall. She used it to make sure her hair roots remained the color she dyed them. Precautions had to be taken, after all. She picked up her mask and sighed.

Rose: Here we go again. Another day spent hiding your face from the world. Another day of people wondering if you're horribly scarred. The life of a hero. Hmph.

Rose pulled her mask over her head and pulled her hair out the back of it. Shimmer sighed. Well, she managed to find something to do for five minutes. Now what? …she could see what Gizmo was doing…yeah…yeah, that's what she'd do!

Titan H.Q.: Hallway

Raven sighed. She loved Halloween. Not for the movies, (though that was a plus) but because all those foolish souls who she killed often came to try and have revenge on her. She held up a bottle and tapped the glass with her finger. The swirling mist inside took on the form of a screaming face before returning to shapelessness. As soon as she figured out how, she'd try to consume them. It sounded interesting to say the least. Changeling rounded the corner to see Raven staring into the bottle.

Changeling: What'cha got there?

Raven jumped and the bottle slipped from her hands. She fumbled with it before securing a grip on it again. Changeling winced at the scowl she gave him.

Raven: If you MUST know, it's the souls of people I killed…or maybe you. I'm not sure. One of us did it. Whenever they can, they come to ruin our lives. Some might refer to it as karma.

She lost him somewhere after "souls". Noting his blank stare, she sighed.

Raven: What didn't you understand?

Changeling: …you're keeping them in a bottle?

Raven: This isn't exactly Mountain Dew.

Changeling: …why?

Raven shrugged.

Raven: I want to try and eat them. In the meantime, the rage and despair they emit are delightful.

Raven licked the bottle, creeping Changeling out. Not that this was something new. Raven enjoyed making people uncomfortable anyway possible. He quickly shook it off.

Changeling: You're getting worse, you know that?

Raven: Not worse, Garfield…better. Much better. I spent so long preparing about the coming of my father that I never really LIVED. Never enjoyed the looks of fear on my victims' faces. Never appreciated the sounds of destruction and mayhem. I've got a lot to make up for.

Raven looked around. The coast seemed clear. Raven gently placed the bottle in a compartment on her belt for safety before making her cloak slither out and gently wrap around Changeling's back, forcing him closer. She put her face in front of his, lips pouting.

Raven: (breathy) And not all of it involves killing.

WHAM! Suddenly Raven found herself flying back, her stomach in pain. Terra stood behind Changeling, fist still extended and poking out from under between his arm and his torso. Raven groaned and held her gut.

Terra: I told you to stop flirting with him!

Changeling: Girls fighting over me…I rock.

Terra turned and grabbed his pointed ear, making him yelp.

Terra: Garfield Logan! Stop being so full of yourself!

Raven stood up, wheezing. The air had been knocked out of her.

Raven: Y…you bitch…where'd you come from anyway?

Terra: I was coming around the corner. What's wrong, Raven? I thought you liked making people angry.

Raven: Only when they don't nearly cave in my abdomen! My stomach feels like it nearly ruptured!

Terra smirked.

Terra: Well, let that be a lesson to you. I don't have much, but what I have, I intend to keep.

Changeling: Terra! My ear! Leggo! Ow, ow, ow!

Terra: Fine, fine. Come on, we've got to make up our list. Robin's buying us costumes!

Raven: We're wearing costumes.

Terra: HALLOWEEN costumes, Rae. HALLOWEEN costumes.

Raven sighed and rolled her eyes. Changeling on the other hand was ecstatic.

Changeling: Sweet! Halloween Par-tay!

Terra leaned over toward Raven, grinning mischievously.

Terra: (temptingly) There could be booze…

Raven wasn't an alcoholic by any means. However, alcohol opened up all sorts of emotional doors. Having never seen her friends drunk, it could be a very interesting experience for her. What kind of drunks would they be? Depressing? Giddy? The "I love you, man" type of drunk?

Raven: …alright, you've sold me. I'm in.

Main Room

Starfire flipped through the magazine, looking at each costume. Such fascinating beings! Undead creatures which fed on flesh…or more powerful, more beautiful ones that fed on blood…wolf/human creatures, and… Starfire blinked then slowly began to grin. She had found a more interesting section of the magazine. Cyborg noticed her grin and paused his game.

Cyborg: What are you smiling about?

Starfire: Which of these costumes do you believe would please Robin the most? "The Naughty Nurse", "The Curvy Cop", or "The Sensual Soldier"?

Starfire held up the magazine, revealing that she had found the more adult section of the magazine. Cyborg assumed the reason there were only three costumes was because those were the least likely to offend parents…and could easily be torn from the magazine before nosy children could see. Somehow he wasn't surprised that Starfire would go for something like that. Even Raven would probably show more tact then to wear an adult-type costume…then again, her costume was already PG-13.

Cyborg: The nurse. We kill cops and soldiers, remember?

Starfire: Ah, indeed we do. You make the most interesting point. What about you? What is your opinion?

Starfire couldn't help herself sometimes. She would tease Shade because she knew he couldn't speak. Shade looked up at her from his spot curled on the couch cushion. It was amazing that the boy could sleep in such a position. Starfire watched as a shadow drew a circle around the nurse costume. Apparently he figured out how to answer. Starfire sighed and patted his head. He growled softly, but she ignored him. Cyborg snickered at his reaction.

Cyborg: What's the matter, Shade? You let Raven pet you all the time.

Starfire: (shrugging) Perhaps he is not fond of me.

Shade sighed. No, he just felt like it was wrong to let other women touch him. They wouldn't understand, their moral compasses so askew. Sure, he'd kill a bus full of nuns in a heartbeat, but cheating on one's lover was inexcusable. …he'd kill somebody for that. Starfire tossed the magazine over his head. He let out a low grumble of annoyance.

Starfire: Do not forget to choose your own costume.

Shade huffed and tossed the magazine off him. Like he would take part in something so bizarre. Weren't they already in costumes? A black vortex formed on the wall and Raven slid through. Shade resisted the urge to pounce on her in greeting. Oh, he got in trouble for that last time. His back ached when he thought about how he hit the counter when she flung him away.

Cyborg: Hey, Raven.

Raven: …is the catalog here?

Starfire almost spat out her mustard.

Starfire: You wish to purchase a costume?!

Shade jumped off the couch, went up to Raven, and placed his hand on her forehead. She smacked his hand away.

Raven: I'm fine! If we do this, we get to see them drunk. It'll be worth the pointless childish costume wearing. Go along with it.

Shade got the message and returned to the couch. Raven took the catalog and looked through it.

Cyborg: You gonna be the she-devil?

Raven: Don't be stupid. I AM a she-devil. The point of Halloween is to be something you're NOT, right?

Starfire: …the angel then?

Raven: …it doesn't have to be the EXACT opposite. …this will do.

Raven pointed to a vampiress (which I think is the word for a lady vampire even though spell check says otherwise) costume.

Raven: …and Shade picks this one.

She pointed to a werewolf costume.

Raven: …include a leash and collar.

Shade's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Raven put the magazine down.

Starfire: Do not tell me, tell Robin. Circle the costume with the pen.

Raven huffed and snapped her fingers. Shade picked the magazine up and handed it to her.

Cyborg: That's just sad.

Raven: What?

Raven patted Shade's head and took the magazine.

Raven: He's free to refuse me any time he wishes. If you want to sleep on the couch the rest of your life.

Shade sighed. No, he'd rather not do that. The couch was lumpy and smelled bad. He only slept on it during the day A. if there was nothing better to do and B. because Raven won't let him use the bed during the day. Since he was so bored (and a little lazy) sleeping on the couch seemed like a good idea.

HIVE Tower: Main Room

Jinx sighed as she took down the list of things everyone (mostly Krystal) wanted for the Halloween party. It suddenly occurred to her that Krystal might be a little bit spoiled. Shimmer sat on the couch, bored. …Jinx wondered why she wasn't passing through it. Oh well.

Krystal: …and we need rubber spiders, and a BIIIIIIG bucket thing for bobbing for apples with. Oh, and we need…

Blackfire put her hand over Krystal's mouth.

Blackfire: Okay, sweetie. That's enough. Let's not make Jinx need to run all over the city.

Blackfire pulled her hand away when Krystal started to slobber on it. That was a mighty good deterrent. Red X spoke up from where she was leaning on the wall.

Red X: I'll go get it.

Jinx blinked and looked at her.

Jinx: You sure?

Red X: Positive. Nobody will pay any mind to somebody wearing a costume now. You got all the things written down? Costumes and everything?

Jinx wrote something real quick.

Jinx: Just need to add mine. There. Now you're sure about this? I don't mind going.

Red X snatched the list from Jinx's hand and headed for the garage.

Red X: …your handwriting is atrocious.

Jinx: Hey, shut up. I was in a hurry. I didn't think I'd be graded on penmanship today.

Krystal and Blackfire left. Jinx looked around to make sure everyone was gone and sat down on the couch next to Shimmer.

Jinx: …visit him yet?

Shimmer: …no.

Jinx: Why not?

Shimmer: It's pointless, that's why. I barely know him, really. It's best I don't get attached anymore then I already am, right?

Shimmer sighed and started moving the remote around on the table in circles.

Shimmer: Wait, did you mean Gizmo or Mammoth?

Jinx: Mammoth.

Shimmer: Oh. Yeah, I did that last night.

Jinx: …I can't believe you have a crush on Gizmo.

Shimmer: Oi, shut up! He's cheek pinchin' cute!

END PART TWO