a/n: Well you definitely know you've procrastinated too long when someone messages you just to tell you to get your ass moving. I deserved it though, I've been far too lazy than what's good for me and I really appreciated the kick forward. Hope you guys don't have to wait as long for the next one.
D: I do not own any Teen Titan copyrights.
Johnny smirked as he sent a vicious kick to the Billy at his feet; the only one left of the hoard that had first attacked. The original groaned and clutched his side feebly; his bruised hands coming away red from the tears in his costume.
"Pathetic." The biker spat, red eyes now leering with an undisguised contempt. He slammed his foot into the teen again; the force alone sending him flying into the far wall. "I offer you a part of a new world and the first thing you do is try and uproot it? Pathetic."
"It wasn't Billy's fault." The broken villain croaked; trying to crawl from the rubble his fall had created. "That good fer nothin' Titan did it."
Johnny raised an eyebrow; becoming only slightly more interested as his prisoner was brought into the equation. He gave a good look to the masked idiot before him; only now really registering who he was. "You were her guard." He said aloud as his eyes narrowed and his expression became murderous. "Did you leave her alone?"
The cowering kid paled noticeably at the sight of Johnny's anger; his widening eyes just now noticing the fire curling on the tyrant's fists. "N-n-no! I mean yes!" He stuttered; throwing his hands up in defense. "S-she was encouraging us, edging us Billies on." The clueless look darkened a bit as 'Billy' seemed to realize something. "Why that yellow belli- That city slicker put me on! She knew we would lose!"
Johnny growled, all attention lost as he hurried to the door; not even noticing how 'Billy' cringed when he walked by. Suddenly the failed coup was second to what that idiot had done. Leaving the former Titan alone? What was that moron thinking?! If it had been any other time, any other place, he would have ripped off that loud head of his before there was even time to blink.
Lucky for him that Johnny had to find her now; to catch Raven before her escape attempt got too out of hand. He almost groaned at the thought; he didn't even want to think about the trouble she could get into. Powers or not, that witch had proven to get quite. . . creative when she needed to.
A loud crash sounded on the far side of the hotel; powerful enough to shake the walls around him from so far away. "So the fun has already started?" He mused as more explosions shook the foundation; already weakened from Jinx's tantrum earlier. With the random ambush of Billy Numerous he had never been able to punish her for her outburst; but that didn't matter much now did it?
Johnny gave a ruthless chuckle as he headed to where he knew the pink-haired witch would be; in that moment her twisted consequence clear in his head.
Jinx looked up in surprise as he marched in, yanking her out of her seat in one fluid motion. For a split second she looked afraid, but that was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Unlike Billy, Jinx had always been rather smart. This was the type of girl who knew when it was better to lock those hot headed emotions away.
If only his queen shared the same outlook; but, then again, it wouldn't be as much fun if she did.
"What do you want?" Jinx asked with a clear, level headed tone; as if she had done nothing wrong.
Johnny flashed a cold grin. "I want you to go to the east stairwell." He told her. "There is a hero that needs saving."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Why are you here Terra?" Raven called as she dodged yet another boulder: unpowered limbs screaming at the exertion. "Where's Slade?"
Terra laughed from where she stood, perched upon a floating rock; her strange metallic armor glinting underneath the dim lights. "Do those things really matter?" The blond asked as one of her rocks shattered and bullet like fragments were sent raining down. Blood splattered against the stairs as one found its way into Raven's side; evading her dodge attempt to bury itself deep into her flesh. "Oh," Terra mocked with fake sympathy and a childish voice. "Did I hurt wee little Raven?"
"Answer me!" The Titan spat through the pain; her hands moving to grasp the new wound. "Why are you here?"
"Because the management of the world changed." Terra replied as she leapt lightly onto one of the platforms; her palms glowing yellow as she raised them before her. Her previous pedestal, the largest boulder of them all, wafted almost lazily in front of her in a way that made Raven cringe. She was too injured, too exhausted to even dream of evading this one; it would crush her and she couldn't help but wonder why. Wouldn't Rancid have something to say if his supposed 'Queen' died under the hands of his subordinates? Was Terra even working for him right now?
The boulder rose in a way that was almost slow motion before it came crashing back down. Raven didn't move, she didn't even close her eyes; she wanted to see the end before she would accept it.
A bright pink energy bolt erupted out of thin air; washing everything with a light rose hue before it cut the boulder in two. Raven blinked, recognizing the energy but not quite willing to accept where it came from. Slowly, she turned to find Jinx, the villain who had just blew up a hallway because she hated her; now standing with her hands raised in defense. Rancid lounged in the open doorway behind them both; a smug grin playing pleasantly on his features. At the sight of Terra his face hardened into a vicious glare; evil enough to make Raven flinch. By that sight alone, it was suddenly very obvious that Terra had not been acting on his orders.
"Jinx." Terra stated coolly, venom in her words as she addressed the other villain. The blond was focused on the other girl but not once did she look towards Rancid himself. Her eyes would roam, first to Jinx, then to Raven, and then back again; it was like the demon didn't even exist.
Because he made it so to Terra; he wasn't even there.
Smart, Raven admitted reluctantly; her eyes flashing to the man in the doorway with newfound interest. He's testing her, seeing how she'll react when he's not there to monitor her reactions. Not only that but he's also using Jinx as well. Jinx had proven unreliable as well, perhaps this was even a test for her as well; maybe he was visible to Raven alone.
Raven narrowed her eyes at the realization. Why only her?
"I'm afraid you can't destroy our boss's pet just yet." Jinx said in clipped tones, like every word pained her. "He wants her alive."
Terra opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, only to close it hurriedly only seconds later. One of her hands lost its glow as it flew up to her head; landing lightly upon her metal head gear. Headgear? Raven wondered silently as the other teen paused. Is she listening to someone?
"Fine." The blond finally let out, her voice now sounding just as clipped as Jinx's. She turned around in an almost huffy way and fled through the door on her floor. "I guess I never got the memo."
Only heard by Raven's ears, Rancid scoffed behind her; seemingly unimpressed with the excuse. Had he seen the headset? Raven wondered as, for a split second, their eyes met; something cold and calculating flashing within the depths of his red gaze. For the first time she could ever remember, Raven shivered at what she saw.
Rancid certainly knew something. The only question was: what?
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
The town was deathly quiet as Beastboy sniffed around in his dog form; the lack of sound making the creepy gothic architecture even creepier than it already was. Where was everyone? He wondered as he exited yet another back alley; nose pressed close to the cobblestones. That Rancid guy warped the city not the people, they should still be here.
Well unless the guy had done something to them.
He whined at the thought, doggy ears drooping. But there was no way even Rancid could have wiped out an entire city so fast. It'd only been What? Three days? He wasn't exactly sure with the sky always being dark but it really couldn't have been that long! Rancid wasn't that powerful.
But then again. Hadn't Larry said that freaky light controlled the universe?
A maid with a garbage bag walked by with loud and hurried footsteps; her presence alone startling the teen hero out of his thoughts. Beastboy yipped as his ears perked and his tail began to wag. There were people! Rancid didn't kill them all!
The wind changed as the maid turned down an alley; cutting off all of his happy thoughts as every molecule in his body froze. Slowly, and then at an all-out run; BeastBoy darted after the girl with old desperation.
That girl smelled like. . . Raven. Why did she smell like Raven?
Beastboy ground to a sudden stop as the alley ended abruptly; the garbage ridden alcove empty save for a dumpster and a few barrels. He almost howled out of sheer frustration. The girl that smelled like Raven was gone, he had done nothing to stop her.
But why did it still smell like her?
Beastboy turned back into his human form and walked over to the dumpster with ginger steps; as if he was afraid the moment would disappear if he rushed. Carefully he ripped open the top bag and removed a single black rose. The green boy stared at the dark petals, the very ones that carried the scent of his teammate so heavily.
"Dude!" He complained loudly, shattering the silence. "What does this even mean?!"