Baby Boomers: Rise of the Titans
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice and/or Teen Titans and/or any and/or all concepts and/or characters. It all belongs to DC Comics and Cartoon Network. I am a mere Fanfiction author. With far too much time on her hands and no social life.
Rated: T
Previously On:
"So, shall we let the children form the Teen Titans? All in favor…"
The League members looked to each other; slowly, one by one they all raised their hands in favor of it.
"YEAH!" The Titans, now an official team, hooted and hollered and high fived, hugging.
Watch out JLA, the Teen Titans were in town and nothing would ever be the same.
Prologue:
"Today," Bruce Wayne spoke proudly, "we at Wayne Enterprises…"
"And we at Lexcorp," Lex Luthor added good-naturedly, smiling, "are proud to have jointly funded…"
"The next generation of heroes, The Teen Titans…"
"And to be able to build them their new base of operations…"
"Titans' Tower!"
The large T shaped building loomed in the background, on the small island in the San Francisco Bay, gleaming in the sunlight. Both the entire old League, sans Batman, and the Titans stood in front of it with dozens of reporters and camerapeople in front of them. (The current League was handling an emergency). Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor stood, representatives of their respective companies, ready to hand the keys and scissors to Robin for the boy to cut the gleaming red ribbon.
"It is with great pride…"
"And great expectations…."
"That we let Titans' Leader Robin…"
"Cut the ribbon and open the tower…"
"For use."
"And now, a word from the leader of the team!"
Robin stepped up to the podium, having to use a stepping stool because he was rather short. He looked to the assembled people and said, "Oh, wow." He let out a nervous cackle, before saying, "Dad made me memorize an entire speech I wrote for this but…um, right now I'm just having a flashback to that one math test nobody's ever ready for…the one you dream that you went to school nude for…"
The adults laughed, nodding knowingly, and he continued rambling, "Uh, okay. I have to thank San Francisco for agreeing to let a bunch of superpowered kids start a team and base it out of their city even though we're all really dangerous if we're brainwashed or anything like that. Uh, have to thank my dad for allowing me to train under Nightwing and Batman alongside his bio-daughter, my sister Helena, and allowing us to help form this team and for funding the Tower in part and then we have to thank Mister Luthor for funding the Tower too. Have to thank the Stone family for donating this island for our use. Um, have to thank the US government for allowing Miss Starfire to remain in this great country of ours and for not abducting her to Area 51 to experiment…Am I forgetting anything guys?"
His team looked to each other before shrugging and shaking their heads.
"Okay good 'cause I wanna stop talking now, thank you." And he stepped down from the podium, scarlet. Robin stepped up to the two businessmen and received the overlarge scissors from the men and, knowing that as soon as he cut the ribbon that the world would be watching his team's every move, sliced through the ribbon with ease.
The Titans entered their base to find the New League, waiting. With Kara.
"There will be rules." M'gann spoke.
Part One:
"Timothy?" Koriand'r spoke with hesitation as she floated into one of the entertainment rooms of Wayne Manor. The Titans were not allowed to live in the Tower, except for her and the Tower Supervisor Kara, but Mister Wayne, who was apparently Batman, had offered her free room and board in the Manor. She and Timothy had spoken about it and she decided that until she knew more about Earth culture and society that she would live at Wayne Manor and immense herself as much as possible in human routines and norms and customs and the language they used.
(Missus Wayne, Missus Lance-Queen, Missus Crock, Missus Lane-Kent, senior and junior, Missus Allen-West, Missus West, Missus Garrick, and the girls of Teen Titans had taken her shopping too, to cloth her as was the custom of the humans. That was an odd idea; Tamaraneans had worn as little as possible in the temperate, humid climate of Tamaran. And the cold weather of Earth did not truly bother her. However, if it was a human custom, one that appeared mandatory in human society, she would abide by it.)
Timothy was playing an alternate reality entrainment device with Don and Jason but immediately paused it, much to the annoyance of his friends, and asked sweetly, "Yes Kori?"
"May I go outside to view the gardens?" she asked softly. At home she would have not been allowed outside the palace without permission and an escort.
"Sure, you win guys." He put down his controller and stood up from his chair, saying, "Just let me get my coat and we'll head out…" she followed him to his room where he slipped on a heavy coat, sweatpants and some hiking boots. He then pulled on some gloves and a scarf.
"Okay, let's go."
The grounds of Wayne Manor were a winter wonderland but the garden still bloomed due to something done by Poison Ivy a few years back. Koriand'r immediately smiled and floated up high enough that she could view the entire garden from one spot. Tim smiled and shook his head. There he was bundled up for a blizzard and then there she was wearing a blouse, capris, and sandals without socks, grinning happily.
"Oh Timothy!" she exclaimed joyfully, "The flora of this planet is so beautiful!"
"You should see it in spring and there's a lot more than what we have here…"
She floated down, asking curiously "What is this 'Spring' you speak of?"
He smiled, scooping up some snow, "You see this stuff? It's called snow, it's frozen water crystals…"
"Similar to the water of the ocean?" she questioned.
"Yes, now water only turns to snow in winter, unless you're at the poles or very high up in altitude, because winter is so cold. If you look at other houses you won't see any flowers or grass and some of the trees won't have leaves. We only have flowers here right now because of something done by one of Batman's enemies a few years ago. But when the weather warms up, and the snow melts, what we call Spring, the flowers and trees will bloom and a lot of animals reproduce. We have four seasons; we're in Winter right now, next it'll be Spring. After Spring will be Summer when it'll get really really sunny and hot. And then it will be Fall, when things start cooling down and the plants start dying and then we're back in winter again."
"Fascinating," she said earnestly, "we did not have 'seasons' on Tamaran, it was always—'Spring'? Yes? When it is warm and plants bloom?"
"Yeah, that's spring. Some parts of Earth are like that too. Others, like the poles, are always in a wintery climate."
"Amazing!"
He smiled, telling her, "You do know that you don't have to ask my permission to come out here right?"
"Do I need to ask Mister Wayne?" she asked, almost horrified.
"No, no, you're free here. You can do whatever you want as long as you aren't hurting anyone or breaking any other laws."
"Really?" she asked hopefully.
He nodded, smiling, "Yep." And then suddenly she had him in a bone crushing hug, having lifted him off his feet. "Kori-you're too-can't—" he began to turn blue.
"Timothy! What is wrong?!" she set him down, looking him over as he panted.
"I'm fine, I'm fine…just remember what we talked about…about you being way stronger than humans and us being way weaker than you?" he wheezed, checking his ribs for breaks, although he knew they were most probably bruised.
"Yes but I do not…" she covered her mouth with a hand, eyes widening in horror, "I harmed you did I not?"
"No, no." he rushed to assure her, "I'm fine. But a few more seconds and we might've had problems with me not breathing."
"I see," she looked incredibly sad, taking his hands in hers, "please forgive me Timothy, I did not mean—"
"I know," he smiled, squeezing her hand reassuringly, "you just have to remember your strength around us okay?"
"Yes, I will…"
"Great," he smiled wider, "Alfred should have some hot chocolate waiting for us. Or do you want to see the garden more?"
"Let us return to the house and partake of the heated chocolate beverage." She nodded and allowed him to lead her in.
Up in a window Don and Jason were making fools of themselves, mocking their friend and his seeming devotion to the alien princess. At least they were until gloved hands grabbed them each, by the ears, and yanked them away. The Baby Bat could be worse than the Papa one.
Part Two:
Phoenix politely knocked on the door of Nerissa's home, coming face to face with a solid wall of muscle that was her father. "Good morning sir," he greeted respectfully, looking up at the man's face instead of his chest which was at eye level, "Mother and Father said you wish to speak with me…?"
"Yes," Kaldur'ahm nodded, smiling softly, "come, let us retire to the backyard to speak."
"Of course sir."
Kaldur'ahm led the boy through his house and out the back door into an oasis.
"Sit down please." Kaldur'ahm stated, motioning to a hammock seat as he took his seat in another one. Phoenix did as told.
Once sure his guest was comfortable Kaldur'ahm began with the simple question, "Tell me about your name please…"
Phoenix gave a small smile, "My parents are...unique sir. Mother's a half-demon, scion of a terrible demon lord. My father was born human but contracted a terrible disease in his youth. His parents were able to cure him; however the cure had some…permanent side-effects. It turned him green and gave him the ability to turn into any animal he has seen, even just from illustrations in books. As such neither had a very high chance of having children with a normal partner, the success rate was estimated to be near zero. However, their chances of having children together were in the millionths. Nonetheless one morning Mother lost control of her powers and so they consulted the Monks of Azarath only to find out that I had been conceived. I was to be a part of 'Operation Next Generation Heroes'. Because of Mother's powers and how they work it was highly advised that they abort me…obviously they did not. When the children of 'Operation Next Generation Heroes' were abducted Mother had had a vision and so we retreated into another dimension. My name, Mother is Raven and so they wished to continue the theme and I almost literally rose from the ashes of their dead hopes so my name is Phoenix…"
"Your powers?"
"My powers hail from my demon blood and are tied to my emotions. However, thankfully, whereabouts Mother has to lock away all emotions, I only have to avoid extreme emotions. I can also shape-shift…"
Whist! An arrow whizzed by.
"Where was that from Sir?"
"Nerissa's mother. And you've had visions…?"
"Yes, Nerissa and I seem to be fated. However I will not pressure her into anyth—"
Whist!
"Her uncle, continue please." Kaldur'ahm remained calm and focused.
"I will not pressure her into anything, visions are peeks into a future that could be and one must remember that everyone has free will and is entitled to use it."
Whist!
"Her grandfather. Please, I wish for you to understand that she is too young for anything serious," Kaldur'ahm spoke, "her mother and I have made many mistakes and one of them was becoming teenage parents. We love Nerissa dearly and so we do not wish to see her be forced to make those decisions at the same age we did."
Whist!
"Her aunt."
"I understand sir," Phoenix said.
"Now, I must ask. Do you love my daughter or do you merely 'like' her?"
Phoenix smiled softly, "Sir, I've loved your daughter my entire life. I merely wish for her to be happy and sa—" he jolted, his eyes turning stark white.
A cave, dripping water, Nerissa in chains over a fire. A reptilian creature laughing as she struggled and sweated profusely.
Phoenix disappeared with a cracking sound, already calling his team, "All Titans report to the Tower, all Titans report to Titans' Tower. ASAP!"
The Titans dropped whatever they were doing and headed to the nearest transporter, in some cases still getting into their costumes. The quarter demon quickly counted each head, checking off each from a mental roster. Nerissa was missing.
"What's going on Nix?" Robin asked.
"Nerissa is missing." Was the reply as Phoenix slammed his fist onto a table and began trying to sense her.
Mia and Lian turned to each other, "You remember your half right?" Mia asked.
"Of course, you yours?" Lian replied.
"Duh," and they took off to a computer and began putting into a sequence of numbers.
Robin took off to another and began doing the same but with a different code and Helena followed, putting in another code.
Jason and Chris each began trying to establish telepathic contact…until the tower alarms began going off.
"What is happening?" Phoenix demanded.
"Robbery at the Bank of America." Laura responded, having hacked into the security cameras, "Three human males, teenagers by the looks of it. Armed, revolvers."
"Donna, Kori, Laura go take care of it," Robin dispatched them.
"Right."
"As you wish Robin."
"Okay."
The girls rushed out, Donna being lifted over the bay waters by Laura.
And all was calmly frantic until the alarms went off again, "The Cheetah's down in de Young's museum!"
"God fri—Mia, Helena go!"
"Sure."
"On it!"
More alarms.
"Gas main broken in the piers…."
"Lian! Jason!"
"Course."
"Keep looking!"
More alarms.
"Police chase, armed and dangerous suspect…"
"Don, Dawn!"
"Gotcha!"
Even more alarms.
"Hijacked jet in the city's air space."
"Good gods, what is it about today?"
"Chris!"
"On it!"
When the alarms started again Robin began laughing manically before looking to see, "Another robbery, single suspect. I got it…" And so he took off, launching a long distance, instantly retracting grappling hook into the city and letting it pull him over the waters.
The robber began running the instant he saw Robin who merely rolled his eyes and gave chase. Why did they always try to run? He surprised the Boy Wonder by bolting into a tower and up the stairs. His pursuer followed closely and they made it to the roof. The robber backed up to the ledge, looking over his shoulder to the ground below and then at Robin.
"Don't jump," Robin told him softly, taking in the man's disheveled appearance and figuring that the man might be homeless or else-wise living in extreme poverty, "look, whatever you've gotten yours—"
The guy jumped; Robin, horrified and having a grappling hook in hand to use, rush to the edge to find that the man had not plummeted to his death but had merely jumped to a much shorter building's roof. Robin sighed, backing up and taking a running start to jump onto the next building. And so began a rooftop chase that kept going up and down as somehow the robber managed to leap onto much higher buildings from lower buildings. Robin was dealing with a metahuman apparently. (This would actually explain how he survived such falls between buildings while not shattering both legs). And then Robin made a fatal mistake, misjudging the needed power to make the next jump. He fell short and so simply began falling. He reached for his retracting grappling gun to find it jammed. Well this was just perfect; he was such an idiot not to get the upgraded cape that could turn into a glider. He didn't dare call out to the team because the various fliers were on important jobs themselves.
Over at the Bank of America the three girls had just finished cleaning up the Robbers they had been sent after. Starfire had taken a light pole and wrapped it around all three to hold them tight until the police arrived. She had been merely chatting with her comrades and the patrons of the bank when a strange chill went down her spine and she felt the need to get to Robin. Not one to ignore her instincts, indeed part of her warrior training taught her to follow her instincts; she ran out of the bank and took flight, heading in a direction because she felt a pull. And then she saw him, halfway through his death fall. A burst of speed and she caught him, asking, "Are you injured Robin?"
He gave a sigh of relief, "Nope, thanks for the save."
"You are most welcomed," she landed and set him on his feet, beginning to run her hands along his form.
"Starfire what are you doing?" he was blushing brilliantly.
"I am merely ascertaining that you are indeed unharmed and not merely in Death's Delusion. Please, hold still so I may examine you accurately…"
"Um…okay…" he held still under her probing; when assured that he was intact she stood back and smiled with relief.
Phoenix appeared, "I found her." He grabbed onto them and teleported them with him. They came into a cave, finding the other Titans appearing just as they did.
"What's the bi—" Jason demanded but Donna slapped her hand over his mouth, gesturing for him to stay silent.
'This is where Nerissa is being held' Phoenix told them telepathically, 'we must be careful…"
They all nodded and easily split into two groups. Robin and Helena acted as team leaders and each team had a speedster, a Lane-Kent, and one of the two warrior women. Helena's team, which was going to be sneaking around the back, also had Mia and Laura. Robin's team had Phoenix and Lian and was going to use a full frontal assault plan.
They snuck through the tunnels, using the telepaths to locate any living creatures.
Robin's team found a cavern and found Nerissa. She was still suspended upside down over a fire but had stopped struggling. Indeed she was limp, her eyes wide and blank and her skin was beginning to crack. She was being smoked alive!
"Release her you fiend!" Robin demanded of her captor.
"Demons have no obligation to you mortal Titans," the demon laughed, "You're too late to save your fishy friend!"
"Not yet." Phoenix had extinguished the flames and had cut down Nerissa to find that she was still alive.
"So it is true then, the witch has spawned…" the demon recited, "You win but remember, demons always triumph over men!" in a burst of flames it was gone.
"Good gods," Phoenix muttered, cradling Nerissa to him; with a simple spell he sent the others home and teleported Nerissa and himself to Paradise Island. Without much thought he raced her to the healing springs. Quickly he leapt into one, submerging Nerissa beneath the water…
Part Three:
"We can't handle this on our own," Tim spoke sadly, having gathered the team, "We need help."
"Why should we ask for help?!" Jason demanded, "All they'll do is put the training wheels back on!"
"Because I nearly died!" Nerissa replied, sipping her glass of water.
"Who cares!" Jason replied, "We all could die! It's part of the job!"
"We do not have to be foolish about the means of our demise," Koriand'r argued, "if we die by our own miscalculations then that is not an honorable death."
"You know what?! Shut it princess!"
"Jason!" Donna yelped as soon as the words left his mouth.
"What?! She doesn't know what we've dealt with with our folks!"
"She's just saying that you could end up on World's Dumbest!" Helena bit out.
"And she knows what it's like," Lian added, "Apologize! Now!"
"No way in hell! I'm not bowing down to—"
Jason was suddenly struck by an orb of black and collapsed and a purple orb emerged from his back and went to Phoenix who put it inside a crystal.
"Superbia," he said, looking at the now glowing crystal, "else-wise known as Pride. The first of the Seven Deadly Sins. He was the most vulnerable to the sin of Pride." Phoenix looked to his friends, "Comrades, I fear we are out of our league. Mother has informed me that we are dealing with hell itself now. If we continue along this path we are surely doomed. Mother and I are looking into our options but we may have to turn this over to the Justice League…"
"Seven Deadly sins…that's not good," Mia muttered.
"Pride, lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth, and avarice…" Laura recited.
"Not good," Dawn repeated.
"No, not at all," Don agreed.
Part Four:
-Wayne Manor, Gotham City-
"Hey Kori," Tim called, knocking on the door to her room, "I have something for you."
She opened the door, confused, "It is not a holiday nor is it the day of my birth…?"
"I know," he shrugged off his backpack, telling her, "but I also know you want to learn so I got you some things…" he took out a small book, "this one's a dictionary, you can find what words mean in it."
She took it, flipping through it quickly and seeing what he meant. Her face split into a smile, "Thank you Timothy!"
"Not done yet," he smiled, he pulled out another two books, "This one," it was red, "will teach you about the government of America, and this one," the second was green, "will teach you about the American economic system…" He pulled out another textbook; this one was lime green and had a trio of soldiers upon it, "And this, this'll teach you the basics of modern history. Everything that has happened in the world since the sixteen hundreds and a short section on Ancient Greece and Rome and what we inherited from them."
She was smiling wider, "Thank you so very much Timothy, I shall enjoy them tremendously."
He smiled sadly, "I have to warn you…Humans have done some pretty bad things and have had some pretty bad people. We're not prefect but I want you to know that we are still evolving as both a species and as a culture and society. Most of us humans have learnt from the mistakes of history…"
"I understand completely," she nodded, "the actions of the one do not always speak for the thoughts of the many."
"Exactly." His smile brightened and he nodded, "Now, do you wanna start reading or do you wanna head down to the cave and spar?"
She smiled, "Let us spar and learn from one another…"
-West-Park Home, Central City-
"Li! Dad's on the phone!" Linda called as she and Wally wrangled the four year old twins Jai and Iris.
"Kay! Thanks!" Lian took the call in the relative peace of her bedroom, "Hi Daddy."
"Hey Sweetheart," Dick's voice replied, "How're the speedsters treating ya?"
"Pretty good, Jai and Iris are wearing Mom and Dad thin."
Dick's trademark laughter could be heard, "That's what happens when the Flashes reproduce…" he calmed, "Hey I wanna ask you about something."
Lian grinned, "Go for it Dad, she's been waiting for you for years. Stop being a coward, be a Bat and pop the question!"
"How d'ya—?"
"Dad, Grandpa Bruce trained me as a detective. I know these things…it also helps that I found the box and ring in your pants as I did my laundry, you always leave your clothes in the dryer; I swear if I didn't come over every three weeks you'd never get anything folded."
He laughed again, "Should've known, okay okay. I'm done being a 'coward'. I'm popping the question tonight. Now, how'd'ya do on that test of yours?"
"Aced it, helps that the teacher's my Dad and can tutor me at home… Dad's already called about it and he's real proud too. And he says he and Mom should be back home on Friday!"
"That's wonderful Li," Dick replied, smiling on his end, "And your Mom's coming in next week right?"
"Right on schedule," Lian nodded, "last time she said that I'm finally big enough to learn how to snap necks!"
"Um, that's good…" Dick shifted uncomfortably. Roy, Wally, and he had always been rather uncomfortable with Cheshire teaching Lian assassin skills.
"Don't worry Dad, I made her promise we'll use crash-test dummies and Uncle Lex promised he'll get us some to use."
"That's better."
"She still says I'd be a good assassin, but she'll always be proud that I'm a hero."
"Yeah. If someone had told me fifteen years ago about any of my future I'd've chuck them into Arkham."
"Yeah, cold assassin being a good mom," Lian giggled, "but that's the least weird thing about our lives."
"Got me there," he laughed and one could hear the door opening, "Oh! She's here!"
"Go on then and be a man!" Lian laughed.
"I will, goodnight Princess, love you…"
"Night Daddy, love you too. Good luck!" and she hung up, getting up and leaving the room to be nearly mown down by Jai.
"Li!" the little boy squealed as she caught him in an energy pen.
"Jai, you're supposed to be taking a bath," Lian frowned.
"All done!"
"So where're your clothes?"
"Umm, invisible?" he tried to look innocent.
"Nice try buster, let's go get you clean." And with that she marched to the bathroom with him encased in an energy pen still. Jai pouted. When she arrived in the bathroom she found her father, mother, and younger sister all trying to keep her youngest sibling in the bath and wash…
"Need some help?" Lian asked sweetly.
"Yes please."
"Okay," she plopped Jai into the water, constructing energy bars on the side of the tub so the twins couldn't jump out and speed away.
She then phased into her lantern uniform and leapt into the tub herself to help.
-Kent Farm, Smallville-
"That's a good boy," Chris was busy grooming his horse, a Clydesdale named Halle. Halle was pitch black, except for the S of white hair on his chest. He didn't use Halle for superhero work, only for leisure and parade rides, (the Super-clan was always invited to appear in Metropolis' many parades and they did take the city up on the offer to participate in the Veterans' and Memorial Day parades to be an honor guard for the veterans and family of the fallen). Everyone in their family had a pet anyways. Jonathan and Martha had their various farm animals, (they now ran a sanctuary for abused and abandoned livestock); Clark and Lois had Krypto, Laura had her cat Streaky. M'gann had a couple of cats, Kelly and Carrie; Conner had a German Shepherd Dog named Ragnar. Chris had Halle; Jason had a pair of Great Danes, Stian and Gullveig. Abigail and Aingeal each had a fish, Nicky and Sunny respectively. And to round it out Kara had Comet, a Kryptonian horse.
"Hey kiddo," Kara appeared from the stall next door, carrying Comet's tack, "Up for a race?"
"I dunno, what'd'ya say Halle?"
The horse neighed, tossing his head as if nodding and pawing the ground.
"Okay. Let us saddle up."
"Right, we'll be waiting by the apple tree." She walked on to Comet's stall.
"Kay."
Outside Jason and his dogs were helplessly lost in the cornfield, and it was fun.
Jason placed his pinkies in his mouth and whistled, calling, "Stian! Gully! C'mon!"
He heard one of them coming and turned around just in time to be knocked over by Gullveig. The sand colored dog stood on his chest and grinned down at him, before licking his face. (They knew their Master could handle their roughhousing). Jason laughed, "You got me." He began to pet her, shaking her head slightly only for her to plop down onto him. Stian, a black dog, came running, joining in on the dog-pile with enthusiasm.
-Happy Harbor Aquarium, Happy Harbor-
"Hey Venus, Hey Mars," Nerissa greeted the whales she cared for at the Aquarium. The two orcas clicked at her, knowing that it was only a matter of time before she leapt in with them. True to form she backed up, taking a running leap to dive headfirst into the chilly water of the whale exhibit. She surfaced, her gills flaring as she did so. The two great mammals dove and swam around her, beginning to do tricks. "Hey! Slow down!" Nerissa laughed as Mars nudged her, trying to get her to join in, "Alright, alright, let's surf!" Nerissa stood on Mars' head as he swam through the water at his top speed. With ease she leapt off, landing behind Venus' dorsal fin. For the next hour or so they played, doing various stunts until, "Isa!" Nerissa looked to find her mother on the platform, holding MacDonald's bags. Nerissa grinned and leapt off Venus to swim to the tank's side and clamber onto the platform, saying, "Thanks Mom."
Artemis smiled, "Figured I'd find you here," the two whales whistled and spewed water from their blowholes, earning a laughed, "Hey to you too!" They sat in the bleachers.
"Where's Dad?" Nerissa asked, tearing into her small Big Mac.
Artemis laughed, "In the shark tank, apparently Daisy tore into the turfing again."
Nerissa smiled wryly, "She's gonna drive him grey."
"Uh huh." Artemis nodded, still grinning, "But he's dealt with worse…"
"Uncle Wally?" Nerissa's eyes were bright with mirth.
"Uncle Wally," Artemis laughed, "now there's someone who could send someone to an early grave…"
"I can assure you I am not dead yet," came a voice, "Am I too late for a burger?"
"Dad!"
Kaldur'ahm smiled, taking a seat with his family, "Good afternoon my little mermaid, and my Queen." He pecked his wife's cheek, touching his daughter's cheek.
His girls laughed and passed him his food and so they sat and ate lunch happily.
"Incoming," Nerissa said wryly a second before Phoenix appeared to wrap one of his spare cloaks around her shoulders. He fastened the cloak and then disappeared. She burrowed into the cloak, sighing as warmth suffused her. She had been getting a chill, the wind unusually cold for Hawaii and she was wet from a polar exhibit, but had not been about to bother anyone about it. She then realized that it was stably warm; he had enchanted it to keep her warm in a way where she wouldn't dry out too quickly. Her parents gave each other worried, knowing looks but said nothing.
Part Five:
She heard him, coughing. And her new life fell apart. He was dying. He had the Illness of the Warrior. She wasn't aware she had frozen, until Mister Pennyworth inquired to her wellbeing. She looked at him in fury. Timothy was dying and he was asking about her?! He should be doing all he could to make Timothy's last days as comfortable as possible! But then she saw the genuine worry, the pity…She realized Timothy probably did not want her to find out, to grieve for him…So she nodded and excused herself, hurrying to her rooms and securing her chambers.
She politely declined the meals offered, instead fasting and praying for Timothy's safe passage to the afterlife. On day three her rooms were violated by Catwoman.
"Koriand'r," Selina said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Miss Kyle," she replied.
"What's with all the candles then?" a steel claw poked into the molten wax.
Koriand'r bit her lip, "I am supplicating X'Hal for Timothy's safe journey…"
"Journey?" Selina's eyebrow went up, "Where's he going?"
"You do not have to lie to me," Koriand'r spoke heatedly, "I am not a child; I know the signs…"
"What signs?" Selina sat down.
"Timothy has the Warrior's cough, he is dying…"
"What?!" Selina yelped before realizing that Koriand'r wasn't joking. She honestly believed the boy was dying. "Kori," she purred, "Koriand'r, humans get sick all the time. It's not usually fatal. He merely has some nasal and chest congestion, the cough is him getting the nasty stuff up. He's not dying, he just needs a lot of rest and fluids. We have medications to help alleviate the symptoms too. He'll be perfectly fine." The woman got up, "C'mon, he's been asking after you; you've got us all worried, especially him…"
There was a very loud, resounding bang as Koriand'r had wrenched open her door, destroying it, and sped out, down the hall, and into Tim's rooms.
She found him giving Alfred a hard time, "—or three days! What if she's sick too and trying to hide it? I have t—" he was trying to get out of his bed and the old man was trying to push him back into it…
"You have to rest Timothy," she voiced firmly.
He stiffened and turned to see her standing there, "Kori! There you are! What happened?! Are you okay?! Did you catch my cold?!"
"I am fine Timothy," she assured him, taking Alfred's place in getting him back into bed. He gave into her easily as she continued, "I am not ill nor am I cold…"
"No, the cold is a type of sickness," he explained as she tucked him back in, "It's very common. It's mild too but it's what I have. I'll get over it soon but then again I've been exposed to the germs—pathogens—all my life so I'm pretty immune and can fight it off. You haven't been exposed though so you cou—" he was getting worked up. He began coughing heavily. She calmly waited it out, not knowing what she could do to help.
"Timothy," she sat on the bed, speaking calmly once he was breathing, "I promise you I will not get sick; my people do not become ill easily. When we do it is a serious and fatal illness…" she blushed, "That is why you have not seen me for three days…I assumed the same held true for humans…I…I thought you were dying and that you did not want me to know so I was in my quarters, praying to the goddess of my people for your quick, comfortable, peaceful death and journey to the afterlife…I have seen many great warriors, like yourself, be broken by the wasting of the Illness of the Warriors and I did not wish to see you depart this life like that…I am—"
He laid a hand over hers, "Don't apologize, you had the best intentions in your heart in the situation you thought was at hand—" here he coughed heavily, and she found herself patting him on the back as gently as she could manage, before continuing, "—Thanks…but now let's make a new rule. We don't assume anything about each other. Culture, body, biology, anything. Deal?"
She nodded, "Deal."
Tim smiled in relief, sagging back into his pillows. He closed his eyes tiredly, wheezing slightly as he yawned.
"Perhaps I should lea—" she began to say, not wanting to keep him from recovering as quickly as possible.
His eyes shot up, "No!—I-I mean," he gave an apologetic, nervous smile, "I just really missed you Kori."
She smiled gently, "Alright. If I will not disturb you I shall stay…"
"Thank you…"
"However, you must rest." She stated firmly.
