Cats, Birds and Hunters Chapter 4: Stupid Stegosaurus, a teen titans fanfic

Stupid Stegosaurus"Practice makes perfect" he had heard that saying his whole life. While it's just a saying, he knew it was false. No matter how good you are at something, you'll never be good enough to not make a mistake. That's why he hated such a saying. Perfection implys that there is no room for mistakes no room for area.

That's why the this gunman didn't just study the The Titans, the plan and museum. He studied the buildings away from the museum, the roofs, alleys, sewers. Looking for shortcuts, escape routes, dead ends and where shadows will lay at a certain time of day. But most importantly. Where to get a clean shot. Not matter how good you are at something, there will always be a variable that can't be accounted for. No plan could ever be perfect. That's the secret to his success. He always knew what to do for when perfect plans fail.

Sprinting across roof tops a large sniper rifle in arms was our hitman. He knew where the Titan's would be headed. He just had to beat them there.

'Alright, I'm here' he thought to himself. Looking down at the back exit of the museum there was no bright blue car. More importantly, no R-Cycle. Chuckling to himself, he began to set his rifle back up. 'Phew, I gotta start jogging again. That was too close'. Loading a magazine and cocking his rifle, he was ready to fire.

Racing towards the flashing red building was Robin with the T-car right behind him. With no protection on the front of the bike, Robin wouldn't know what hit him. Calibrating his rifle to hit a few hundred metres infront of where the vehicles would be parked, the gunman got ready for the right moment. 'Alright bird boy, smile nice and wide for me now...'

With the museum in side, Robin needed to get ready. Nothing had been heard from Raven or Beast Boy. He hated going in blind. Tapping the com link on the side of his helmet he rung Raven's communicater.

...Ring...

'This isn't like Raven not to answer.' Robin began to worry that his friends were hurt or worse.

...Ring...

'Come on Raven, don't do this to me now...'

Click* "Robin?" Hearing Raven's voice was enough to calm him down for now. "Raven. You had me worried, thought something happened to you in there."

"We're a little busy at the moment. Keeping Beast Boy alive is harder than it looks." As Catwoman fired her crossbow Raven had had to use the shield on display to catch the forth arrow she had used to attack Catwoman earlier. Any later and Beast Boy would have been looking like a vegetable kebab. Safe to say, Beast Boy owed her. Big time. "Where are you?"

"Down the street, less and a minute away. Who are we up against?"

"I don't know how you're going to take this but it's an old friend of yours. Catwoman."

"Ca-What!" It took a lot to make Robin look visibly shocked, but hearing that Selina was in Jump was enough to make the colour drain from his face. "What the heck is she doing out here? What's she stolen?"

"Nothing, I think she tripped the alarm on purpose. Whatever is going on here it's not a heist."

"That's not like her, she's the best there is. Something's not right. Where are you?" Whatever was going on in that museum he was going to put a stop to it.

"East wing, second floor, Medieval exhibit."

Looking up toward the building Robin could make out three figures. One purple, one green and one black. "I see you. Do me a favour and smash the window on the left wall. I'm not taking any chances with her."

"Understood" *Click*

With the line between Raven and Robin cut he needed to inform Cyborg what's happening and called his communicater.

...Ring... *Click* "Rob, what's the plan?"

"See that second story window with glass falling out of it as we speak?"

Yea I see it. Is that where all the funs happening?"

"If you wanna call it that, yea. Have Starfire fly you both up there. Robin out". 'Let's go pay Selina a visit'. With that Robin floored it aiming right for the window. Standing up on the seat of his bike he prepared to launch. Hitting the curb the bike flung the bird forward toward the window at high speed. Using his cape like a parachute, Robin slowed his decent a little performing a roll infront of Raven and Beast Boy. He drew his staff extending it to combat mode and eyed down on the woman he hadn't seen in over two years.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Son of a bitch!". Right as he was ready to pull the trigger the bike shot off at the building. 'Kid's a maniac!' He thought as he began to pack up his gun for the second time. This just wasn't his night. First no Robin and now he missed another chance at taking him down. "Selina, get him infront of that Rex! I'm on my way." The angry gunman was up and running again toward what he hoped would be the final point he'd need to sprint too tonight. "God I hate running." He moaned to no one in particular.

"Selina. What are you doing here?" Robin wasn't in the mood for games. If Selina was operating outside of Gotham, it was for a reason. Not a good one either.

"You still enjoy making an entrance it seems. Is it so wrong to want to catch up with an old friend?" She needed to stale for as long as she could. With her gunman out if position, she had no chance of taking on the group of heros.

Now accompanied by the cyborg and alien. Five against one would never pan out into her favour. The kill zone was a few rooms away, the only problem was she needed to go through the Titans to get to it.

While the rest of the Titans had no experience with this foe, Robin knew exactly what she was. Dangerous. At no point can you let your guard down around Selina Kyle. By the sounds of it, Beast Boy and partially Raven had yet to learn that lesson. He could only hope Cyborg and Starfire would take Catwoman as seriously as he did.

"We were never friends Selina and you're not here to catch up. You tripped the alarm on purpose so you wanted us to show. So I'll ask you again. What are you doing here?" Robin was losing his patience. If Selina wasn't going to cooperate then he will have to make her.

'None of them look like they want to play. Guess I'll have to make my own fun' Catwoman slowly began walking towards the wall of weapons. Much to the Titan leader's displeasure. "Don't. Move" came a growling Robin. His grip on his Bo staff tightening.

'Dude, I know Robins up tight and all but what's the big deal?' While nearly taking an arrow to the chest due to his own lack of concentration. Catwoman didn't seem like much of a threat. While her motives are a mystery, she had no where to run, no where to hide. The odds were in their favour. Why was Robin so tense about facing a cat burglar?

While Selina never had any taste for the use of weapons part from her whips and claws, she needed a little help. While she had no experience with old fashioned spears, this one would come in handy. Pulling the long metal rod out of its place on the wall she turned to face the Boy Wonder.

That was is. No more messing around. "TITAN'S. TAKE HER DOWN!" Robin charged forward with the rest of the Titans behind him ready to put an end to this while Catwoman began to meet them halfway. Jumping towards Selina, Robin swung his staff aiming for Selina's unprotected chest. Catwoman however didn't intend on fighting. Sliding on her knees ans arching her back the Bo staff passed right over her head.

Cyborg charged his sonic cannon while Starfire wielded starbolts. The two fired their arsenal on the seemingly unarmed theif. Raven and Beast Boy were set up behind blocking the doorway.

Through the smoke and explosions Catwoman had stabbed the floor of the museum with the spear and had pole vaulted herself over the attack of the robot and princess along with them. With her momentum Catwoman pulled back her leg before sifting her weight and delivering a powerful kick to the midsection of Raven knocking her into the path of a surprised Beast Boy. The two once again slide across the floor into the side wall where they had already collided with that night both groaning and rubbing their heads.

"Owww. I'm getting really tired of that trick."

"Ditto." Both teens helped each other to their feet before watching their leader chase after Catwoman. "After her!" He yelled as he bolted through the door way.

The five teens sprinted and flew down the hallway in hit pursuit of Catwoman. "Beast Boy, Starfire. Cut her off at the next exhibit. She'll have no where to run!"

Beast Boy in the form of eagle nodded toward his leader before he and Starfire took off away from the group.

With the Titan's in toe she was close to where she needed to be. 'Just a few more rooms and I'm there. Floyd better be in position.' No sooner had she asked herself that question before her ear piece began beeping indicating an incoming call. 'Speak of the devil'. Tapping her ear piece she took the call.

"Selina, where are you? I'm in position." Safely hidden away from the museum out of site of any that might be suspicious. Was an trigger hungry marksman.

"I'm coming up on the target area as we speak. You sure Raven won't sense you?" Raven was the biggest problem of the plan. With a Titan gifted with empathic abilities. An up close sneak attack was out of the question. They needed to keep the shooter as far away as possible.

"Positive. Just keep their eyes on you. Don't let Robin see the pads."

"Understood. Don't miss." Selina cut the call and made a last dash towards the dinosaur skeleton.

'It's what I'm known for'.

With the Titan's right on her tail, Selina made it. Infront of her was one of the largest discovered Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils ever fully excavated. The center piece of the exhibition. The T-rex was accompanied by several other fossils and skeletons standing or hanging around the room. With the Tyranasorous being as large as it is. The building was designed to have the capacity needed to hold a creature of this size. The first floor gave a view of the bottom half while the second floor gave a fantastic view of the head of the creature. While the T-Rex is visible from all sides the second floor gave a view over the entire exhibit.

It would also act as the perfect get away for a particular cat burglar. 'Show time' Selina thought as Beast Boy and Starfire blocked of the other doorway while the remaining three Titan's where blocking the way she came.

"It's over Selina. Drop your weapons and place your hands behind your head!" The alarms still blaring along with the flashing lights. Raven remembering Beast Boy's sensitive hearing pulled out another two sirens. Beast watched as the mangled alarm fell landing alongside the stegosaurus skeleton that was beside him. Something seemed wrong about this Stegosaurus, like it wasn't assembled properly or like a piece had been re arranged.

"I guess I know when I'm beat. Do what you need to do Boy Wonder." Selina slowly pulled out her whip and dropped it infront of her away from her grasp before kneeling down her back facing the dinosaur.

'This isn't right. She wanted us here but now she's giving herself up? I'm not buying it.' Robin slowly made his way over to Selina pulling out a set of handcuffs. "Raven. Make sure she doesn't make a move for any kind of weapon she may have." Raven walked up next to Robin black energy at the ready as Robin began to cuff the burglar.

'Something about that skeleton just isn't right.' Beast Boy was convinced. Being apart of the Doom Patrol, Beast Boy had gone through long boring lectures of biology of animals and humans. Apparently he needed some kind of schooling so the Doom Patrol decided that was the best field for him to study. Beast Boy had been though hours and hours of dinosaur study. Learning habitats, diets, strengths and weaknesses but most importantly at this moment, bone structure. Beast Boy knew this skeleton was wrong. He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but it did. Rather than the room smelling of dust like the previous room, this one was different. This room had traces of gun powder. Maybe in a world war exhibit, but a room devoted to dinosaur's gunpowder seemed a stretch. Following his nose the smell came once again came from the Stegosaurus.

'Ok that's it. What's up with this thing?' Beast Boy looked closer at the skeleton certain something was wrong. If he didn't figure it out he'd go crazy until he did. 'There! What are those?' Hidden between two of the animals vertebra and one above its hip but beneath it's armour plate were two small rectangular shaped pieces of metal of some kind. "Hey Robin. I know you're busy and all but have you got any idea what those things are?" Beast Boy asked walking over towards the plates and pointing not realising the danger he put himself next too. If Robin had been looking towards Selina, he would have seen her flinch. "If I don't figure this out I'll never live this down." Beast Boy began laughing to himself looking at these plates in utter confusion. Realisation however began to dawn on the boy wonder.

Looking over Raven's shoulder Robin examined the pieces of metal. 'Those pads... I've seen them before. Are. They're... Oh my god! If they're his then that means!' "EVERY BODY GET DOWN!" Forgetting about Selina, Robin made a dive for Raven.

The glass window beside Beast Boy shattered as a bullet pierced through it leaving shards of glass rain over the Stegosaurus. The bullet ricocheting off the metal pad re directing the bullet into the path of the Titan leader. Though it found a different target.

Raven's eyes widen before rolling into the back of her head. Robin still mid air collided with Raven mere moments after her could have saved her. Both falling to the ground Robin immediately began applying pressure to her wound. The less blood she lost the better.

The sight of Raven layed out across the floor was too much for Beast Boy. Along with the rest of the Titan's he ran over to where Raven laid.

"Raven!"

"Friend Raven!"

"Rae!"

All four Titan's surrounded the empathe as she laid coughing and moaning in pain.

Selina had to go, she couldn't stay here any longer. If the teens snapped out of shock while she still sat here she wouldn't surly be caught. Without a second to waste Selina jumped over the guard rail and climbed to the top of the T-Rex skeleton to then slide down the spine of the creature. The all the Titan's looked up at the escaping theif knowing they should go after her but can't bare to leave their comrade in the state she's. After what seemed like forever Cyborg spoke up. "Robin. What do we do!"

Robin looked up at his teammates, his friends, family even. They were desperate to know what to do. They needed a leader. They needed him. He had to pull himself together.

'Focus Dick FOCUS! They need you...' taking a deep breath Robin calmed himself. 'Starfire's too shaken up to chase down Selina and by the time Cyborg makes it too his car she'll be long gone, plus I need him here. That only leaves Beast Boy.' Robin looked up to where the boy sat eyes not looking away from Raven. "Beast Boy!" Robin cried desperate to get him to snap out if it. Thankfully the shape shifter looked up at him. "Don't let her get away."

Clenching his fists and his eyes seeming to harden. Beast Boy stood to his feet before changing into a panther and leaping onto the Tyranasorous in hot pursuit of Catwoman.

"Cyborg, take over. Do anything you can to keep her from... Passing..." Robin stood up as Cyborg began applying pressure to Raven's shoulder. Taking out two ice disks from his belt Robin threw them at the two windows filling them with a thick ice wall blocking them from the outside stopping any further sniper fire.

Walking over to the Stegosaurus skeleton Robin took the two plates off metal examining them. 'Just as I thought' He thought angry he didn't suspect something like this sooner. He knew this wasn't normal for Selina. Hatred began to boil inside of him. That bullet was meant for him. Raven did nothing to deserve this...

Quiet sobs shook Robin out of his grieving. Looking over toward where the sobs were coming from he found Starfire hunched over an seemingly lifeless Raven. Pulling Starfire to her feet he held her in a close embrace. If anyone needed comfort at this moment it as Starfire. The two held eachother for who knows how long.

While Robin could have stayed like that forever if the universe allowed, he had a job to do. "Cyborg, how is she?"

Cyborg had used Raven's cape as a makeshift bandage. While Raven will never get her blood out of the fabric, it will stop her from bleeding out. "She's steady, but needs to get to a hospital as soon as possible."

"We'll move her as soon as you think she's ready to be moved."

"Then, friend Raven will live?" Starfire asked tears running down her face into the shoulder of Robin.

"Don't worry Star. Our girl's tough. She'll live." Cyborg replied trying to lift the princesses feelings.

"That's right Star. The hospital is a few blocks north east. Take the T-car and drive there." Robin ordered holding Starfire close again.

"But Rob. What about the sniper?" That was a good point, but Robin knew what he was up against now.

"You don't need to worry about him. He's only after me. If he wanted us all dead he would have done it when we all arrived at the museum. Plus he's probably had to call it quits now he knows I'm onto him."

"You know who it is don't you Rob."

It had been a while since Robin had to deal with this criminal. He had hoped he'd never crossed paths with him again. "Yea. There's only one man good enough to kill his targets be ricocheting his bullets around walls. Name's Deadshot."

And there it is!!! Chapter 4. Took a lot longer than I'd like. Now I'm back working I have a lot less time to write but I'll do my best to make time for this story.So. We have a villains. Penguin, Catwoman and finally, the devil's hitman (a new title I just created that I might call him every now and again) Deadshot. Ever since I saw Suicide Squad I thought the Ricochet pads were an amazing touch to the character. He really is that good.The next chapter will include a Beast Boy and Catwoman chase / fight so look out for that.Until then let me know what you think so far or how I could improve the story. Always keen to hear feedback.