Disclaimer: I do not own the Titans
Cyborg
He looked up when Beastboy came back in. "Hey, Beastboy did you get that girl's name? We thought she might know something about Starfire or knows someone who does."
"Huh," Beastboy said lost in thought. "No... I'm going to sleep." Beastboy walked out of the room.
"Okay." He waited for Beastboy to be out of hearing range. "What's his problem?"
"He's just tired." Raven said.
"Oh really? Looked like he was thinking with that little brain of his to me."
Raven opened one eye. "Is it a problem if someone thinks?"
"He seemed out of it."
"It's you're imagination." Raven said closing her eye.
Cyborg frowned wondering what had upset his green buddy. It wasn't like him to stare out into space. He sighed and shook his head. "You're probably right, Raven. I'm too tired to figure out anything, night."
"You better not be using that as an excuse to go bother Beastboy." There was just a hint of a threat in her voice. Cyborg grinned at her even though she couldn't see it. She totally likes him.
"I'll try looking up appearances of Starfire then." Robin said exiting the room.
"Get some sleep first!" Cyborg called after him then with a tired sigh he also exited the room.
Darkice's POV
She opened the door and walked into the apartment. She stepped into the living room and froze. Jay was standing across the room wiping one of the daggers continually with a rag, he didn't even look up when she walked in but he had obviously heard her enter. "Where were you?"
"I went to the mall to get some new clothes; the old ones were Starfire's." She replied.
"It took you until one am?"
Darkice opened her mouth to say something but no words would come out. I was at the Titan's Tower. Jay put the dagger down setting the rag on top and looked up at her. She couldn't see his expression in the dark. "I'll pretend to believe that until you decide to tell me the truth then, since we're friends." Darkice closed her eyes as Jay walked past her and she heard the door slam behind him. She opened her eyes again once he was gone. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
Scratch.
Darkice shook her head from side to side causing her midnight blue hair to fall into her face hiding her blurry sapphire eyes. She didn't want to lose her new friend. So she hadn't lied but she couldn't bring herself to even say that she had run into the Titans that they had taken her to the tower until she was well enough to leave. It should have been simple but she had told Jay she wouldn't go back to the tower or become a Titan again that, that life was behind her. She had gone back to the tower, not by choice though. Didn't that count for something? With a sigh she dropped onto the couch. Tomorrow then. She fell into an uncomfortable sleep curling the coat around her like a sheet of armor against the cold. Winter was on its way.
Beastboy
Why doesn't she want the others to know of that little conversation? Then he remembered how Cyborg had asked for the girls name. Well that's one reason. He knew her friends name to. Was that another to add to his short list? After that there was nothing. Darkice had said he didn't know her. But was that completely true? The questions kept piling up, the little he knew made it easier for him to come up with more questions for him to get an answer for, or maybe he would have to figure all this out by himself. She had look scared of something, something. What is it? Irritated he went to sleep.
Darkice's POV
Darkice opened her eyes and sighed as her memories came back to her. Today. She reached down to wrap the coat around her and her hand stopped. She turned her head to look at the thick blanket that had been thrown on top of her. It wasn't itchy like the jacket. She left the jacket on the couch. She could put it on when she left the apartment. She wrapped the blanket around her and heard something in the kitchen. Darkice took in a breath and walked in.
Jay was there, sitting on a counter that didn't have a cupboard above it. "Jay?" He turned his head toward her. "At the mall some criminals decided to target it while I was there. The Titans came," she forced herself not to stop the story at his stare making her think back to Robin for an instant. He had a mask that hid his eyes and the other Titans wouldn't have made her feel so... uncomfortable? "One Criminal threw me in the way of this pole and it knocked me out. So the Titans brought me back to their tower to recover and it was a while until I woke back up at midnight, I would've gotten here sooner but," She was cut off.
"It's not you're fault." Darkice let out a sigh of relief. "Just tell me the whole truth first next time."
Darkice nodded slowly then paused. "Thank you for the blanket, Jay."
"You're welcome," and his gaze found something else to focus on.
Darkice almost felt like she had been released from some death grip when it moved away. She didn't understand it. She had never felt that way before. Cornered. Biting her lip she peeked into the refrigerator and was surprised to find milk inside. After a quick glance around the kitchen she picked a banana out from a small pile of fruit on a counter, in a woven basket and smiled. The apartment was starting to look homey.
"Cups are in that cabinet." Jay said motioning with his hand to the correct one, not once turning to her.
Was he upset? She grabbed one and poured some milk in. She ate silently.
"Darkice?"
She looked up at Jay, food still in her mouth so she couldn't reply.
"I need to go and monitor a place tonight. You want to come?"
"What are you monitoring?" she asked after swallowing.
"Slade makes it harder for us to steal when he does some of his... stuff. I heard he's planning something tonight. I need to make sure its nothing to big. The Titans will probably show up. You up to it?"
Darkice looked at him trying to read his face in the darkness around them, but it was impossible. "Sure."
"Okay then, bring you're dagger with you." he said and Darkice's eyes went wide with surprise. "Now?" Jay nodded his head. "What time is it?"
"7 pm. It's better if we can get there before him." He explained.
"What! How long have I been asleep?" Darkice stared at him. That couldn't be correct!
A smile flickered across his face barely visible in the shadows but Darkice caught it. "You needed the sleep."
"I... I guess so."
"You did."
Darkice nodded her head slowly. "Where are we going to monitor?"
"You'll see. We'll need to stop by an old friend of mines first though so we don't stick out."
"Okay."
He looked at her. "You might want to get a jacket on. It's going to be cold and blankets won't help outside."
"Oh yeah." she said jumping up to her feet from floating in midair. She walked into the living room and folded the blanket up shivering as she did so in the cold room. She tugged the jacket on in a hurry, grabbing the dagger she slipping it into a pocket and joined Jay at the door.
"Ready?"
"Yes." Jay opened the door leading the way out of the apartment out into the fresh cold air. It smelled like rain and Darkice tugged the coat around her tighter. She so did not need rain along with this weather. Jay was walking down the street and Darkice hurried to catch up to him. They walked in silence until they came to an alley. That is if you could call it that. They had to turn sideways to slip between the walls pressing in around them and Darkice could just picture them coming to life and crushing her. Jay stopped and she turned her head to see a door. He knocked and a piece of metal slipped away for an instant so Darkice could see the darkness that awaited them inside. It slid back, closing, Then the door swung inward and Jay stepped in. Darkice took a few more steps before stepping gratefully into the building. The door swung closed behind her and lights started flickering on overhead. A big man stood in front of them. He had a goatee, hair was a dark brown, and he had a bit of a pot belly. He blinked gazing at Darkice. "Who's this?" He turned back to Jay. There was a strange spark in his eye that frightened her.
"This is Ice." Jay said and Darkice felt his arm slip around her waist. Her heart beat accelerated so suddenly she was sure both of them could hear it but neither gave anything away if they did. "Ice, this is my old friend, Benjamin."
"Hello." she said forcing her voice to come out strong and clear between the bad vibes she got off Benjamin and her heart still beating like crazy having practically took her breath away.
Benjamin had been looking at Jay as he talked but now that he had stopped he turned to look at Ice. "Nice to meet you," he began
Jay cleared his throat tugging Darkice towards him so she stumbled into him and his grip tightened on her so she wouldn't fall. Her heart beat in her ears like some crazy mad man with drum sticks, banging them on anything he could get a beat out of. "Do you have anything suitable for around where Slade will be showing up?"
"I always got plenty of those." Benjamin answered not looking all to happy about having to turn his attention back to Jay.
"Can you show them to us?" Jay practically growled the words and Benjamin took a step back. Darkice blinked, startled. This grown man obviously was scared of Jay for some reason, a 30 year old looking man scared of... She glanced at Jay out of the corner of her eye. It was as if she had just seen him, eighteen years old by his looks. This light made it so she could finally see him. His blonde hair combed neatly, with bright blue tips on the ends, and his eyes, they were a captivating blue that reminded her of liquid ice the way they almost looked like they were swirling around. His skin was slightly tanned. She shot a look at his arms, tight muscles rippled at just a small movement. (Not those huge type of arms that are overly muscled) She forced her eyes away, and the blush rising to her cheeks after noticing one of those arms was still wrapped around her waist protectively.
"Of course just follow me." Benjamin turned away and led them down a hall. When Ice tried to get out of Jay's grip to walk without tripping his grip only loosened slightly refusing to fully let go. Darkice tried again and then she felt warm breath tickling her right ear. "Stop moving so much." The whispered words brushed against her skin, to low for Benjamin to hear. She opened her mouth to answer but her breath had hitched and her legs kept moving on their own to Jay's pace. "Better. Now don't do that again." Darkice just nodded her head slowly. Then there was nothing against her ear as Jay looked forward again.
Benjamin had stopped at a door and turned back to them. "You should find everything you need in here."
"Thank you, Ben." Jay said and Benjamin walked away as if he had been dismissed.
Jay opened the door and Darkice followed him inside. The moment the door closed Jay shoved Darkice aside as if she was a disease and walked off to a rack in the dimly lit room. Darkice blinked startled she started to fall but caught herself so she was floating a few inches of the ground. She stood up. What had that been about?
She noticed dresses on the other end of the room and walked over. A pink frilly dress reminded her of Kitty. She had to stop herself from tearing it to shreds. Benjamin - as scary as he was - was letting them borrow these for near Slade would be showing up. It wouldn't be very nice on her part to tear any of them or burn for that matter. She kept walking stopping to brush her fingers along a white dress for a second then stopped peering at something behind it. She reached out and grabbed the black dress from behind and moved it into the light. Little blue gems raced up it swirling around like a snake. Thin straps kept it on the rack. A small jacket had been thrown around it. The sleaves were long and see-through, in the color of a dark blue. She brushed her hand on the dress. It was soft the only thing breaking that was the blue gems. She flew up above the rack and over to a small 'stall' which consisted of four walls with a walk in on the side instead of in front. She slipped in taking off her coat as she did. A broken mirror hung on one of the walls. She found a zipper at the back of the dress and zipped it down before pulling the dress on. She fitted her arms in then zipped it back up. She turned slowly to look into the mirror and a smile flashed across her face. It was beautiful. She quickly got the small blue coat and slid that on over it. She did a twirl to see it from all sides. The edges of the dress went out a bit before settling back down when she stopped.
Darkice walked out from the stall and over to a collection of shoes. The door connecting with the hall opened and Ice glanced up to see Benjamin walk in. He looked surprised when he saw her. "Where's Jay? he asked.
"Around." Darkice answered suddenly wondering where he was as well.
"That dress is beautiful on you."
"Thank you." She forced herself not to fidget under his gaze and turned back to the shoes. Ben walked past her and picked something up before turning back to her. "These go with that." He held two strappy black high heels with little black and blue gems glinting the light off of them. "Thanks." Darkice reached out and grabbed them. Ben grabbed her hand as she did and tugged her toward him. She crashed into his chest. "How long have you known that kid?" What!? "Let go." she said as his hands tightened on her small wrists. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Let me go." Darkice repeated trying to keep the rising fear out of her voice.
"Ben." A voice growled freezing both Ben and Darkice. She turned her head slowly to look over at Jay who was now in a black suit with a white shirt and tie. Then she noticed how Ben's grip had loosened and tugged herself free. His hand went out to catch her again but she floated up the floor to the ceiling out of his reach. Ben suddenly looked scared and glanced between her and Jay. "Hey, I was looking for you." he said. Jay crossed his arms. "Well I found you. What do you want?" "You were suppose to bring me some of..." he stopped when Jay tossed him some small balls that he got out of his pocket."There. Now we're leaving. Have a good day Ben." Darkice flew back down to land near Jay shivering from the encounter with Ben. They left. Jay slamming the door behind him. "What did he to?" Jay's voice was oddly soft.
"He grabbed me and asked how long I had known you." Jay stiffened next to her for a second then walked a bit faster so Ice had to keep up with him.
"We'll be watching from one of the restraunts. Its right across from the tower there hitting for whatever reason."
"Okay." she said.
Tower. 'hover'
Everyone was up again. Beastboy eating tofu while Cyborg watched TV and Raven floated in the air reading. Robin was still in his room when the alarms blared he rushed into the front room.
Slade's face appeared on the screen. "Hello Robin."
"What do you want Slade?" he shouted angrily.
"There's a bomb on a tower. You should go disable it, Robin." A tower flickered into the top right corner people walking below it. A restraunt positioned right next to it. A crowd of people was going in and a news van was parked outside.
"Why are you doing this?"
"That would be telling." Slade's face blinked out again leaving the Titans frustrated, especially Robin. "Let's go Titans." They sprang into action rushing to the tower.
Darkice's POV
She walked into the restraunt with Jay. The restraunt was one of those old classy places which explained why they were wearing this attire. "Follow me." A waiter popped out of nowhere and led them over to a table. "Here you go." He set down some menus before racing off. Darkice slid into one of the two seats near the window and glanced out. She noticed a News van and turned to Jay. "What's going on here?"
"It's a..." he blinked.
"What?" Darkice pressed when she noticed his expression.
"Slade's targeting this place." Jay said nodding at the room. "There's a lot of important people around here for a meeting."
Darkice's eyes went wide. "He's going to blow it up?"
"The towers an important landmark. He's going to destroy that probably, and when it falls the restraunt will also go in flames."
"How do you know that?"
"That's what I would do if I wanted to get rid of it. That way it looks like an accident."
Darkice frowned. "I don't get you're logic."
"The News would say it was a terrorist attack. The tower accidently fell on the restraunt causing it to go up in flames."
"Shouldn't we get the people out of here then?"
"No. I don't want to get mixed up in this mess."
"But, Jay," Ice began.
Jay turned to look at her and she froze under his hard stare. "If that's the case then you're a Titan, Star."
"N-no I'm not. These people are innocent, Jay."
"Good for them."
"Jay!" A few heads turned toward them and Jay frowned glaring at Darkice.
"Keep you're voice down." He snapped.
Darkice fumbled for words under his intense and angry gaze but quickly gave up and glanced down staring at her hands.
Titans Go, echoed on the wind.
Titans
The Titans were on the Tower. Cinderblock greeted them by swing his stone fists their way. The Titans jumped away as the tower took the impact.
Robin leaped at Cinderblock getting out his stick once again.
"Azarath Menthion Zintho..." Raven slipped suddenly and turned to see Jinx.
Beastboy was diving at the purple haired girl with a caw from the skies. Jinx raised her hands so a piece of rope around her started to fly up to meet him.
"Azarath Menthion Zinthos!" A black energy wrapped around the ropes and spread them apart to let Beastboy though. Jinx let out a surprised scream as Beastboy turned into a rhino after meeting the ground and ran after her horn lowered. Not that he would ever actually run through her. But Jinx didn't need to know that. Raven ran after them to help Beastboy.
Robin was whacking at Cinderblock with the stick.
"Step back!" Cyborg shouted and Robin leaped away from block dude. Cyborg hit him with a blast of blue energy and Cinderblock went flying backwards Robin racing at him. He jumped up and kicked the block of cinders in the chest. Cinderblock crashed down onto his back not getting back. At least not right away.
"Oh yeah. That was good." Cyborg said coming up beside him to high five. Robin high fived back then looked at the sky. Something was flying up there and it wasn't Beastboy the Rhino, currently.
A missile flew down and the two Titans jumped apart. "Gadge!" they both said at the same time. Robin jumped among the metal spires to reach the little flying techster. He threw a smoke bomb up.
Gadget had been laughing but now coughed and barely had time to move as Robin's staff came flying out of the smoke. "Not fair!" He jumped of the edge and flew down.
Cyborg glared up at the sky and then raised his arm and started firing at Gadge.
"Azarath Menthion Zinthos!" Raven shouted after Beastboy cornered Jinx. Jinx turned around and aimed at the floor. It started creaking and Beastboy quickly turned into a bird and flew up off the floor. The ropes became black again and tied around Jinx who tried to get out from them. Raven floated her over to where Cinderblock lay and left her there turning towards Robin who was landing on the metal again as Cyborg got a shot on Gadgets wings.
Gadget screamed as he fell.
"Azarath Menthion Zinthos." More ropes shot out and tied around Gadget. He sailed over to the other criminals.
"Good work. Now let's find that bomb." Robin started looking around along with rest of the Titans.
Beastboy
He flew down the tower searching for the bomb. He glanced up and crashed into a pole. Darkice! What was she doing here? He could see her sitting down at one of the tables in a sparkly black dress with strappy heels. How did she afford that? Last time he had seen her in an overly big black jacket that didn't look the least bit comfortable.
"Found it!" The words shook Beastboy out of his thoughts and he flew back up to the other Titans. "It should be disabled now..." He landed on Raven's shoulder to look down at the bomb. A screen flashed and Slade showed. "Well done Robin." It blinked out.
"Wha- Slade!" He frowned looking frustrated. "Let's go back to the tower."
"Actually I have something I needed to get from the store." Beastboy said looking for an excuse to stay behind.
"I'll come with you. I have some stuff to get at a car part store anyways." Cyborg said.
"I can get it myself." Beastboy said hurriedly.
"You sure? It'll be more fun."
"I'm sure. I'll be taking forever at the store anyways, got lots to get."
"Oh. Okay." Cyborg said, disappointed.
"See you all later." Beastboy said rising up from Raven's shoulder.
The Titans went they're separate ways. Beastboy waited for them to be long gone before turning to look back down over the edge of the tower at Darkice. Time to get some answers.
Review please. sorry about the cliffy.