Conscience keeps us quiet while the crooked loves to speak
His knowledge wrapped in blankets on the street.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power
As long as there's a victim on TV
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
I turned my head off for a while
Show me what I haven't got
Show me what I love, Who I'm supposed to be
Show me everything I need
Show it all to me
- Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls
Human? She's going to turn me back into a human?
Apache's stomach twists painfully.
For a moment she's elated, then terrified beyond belief. This is going to complicate things further.
Her ears are pressed flat against her head.
Robin says something but it goes in one ear and out the other. She's dazed, staring up at the beautiful half demon in front of her. When Raven's eyes meet hers, the words register.
"Just let it dry and it'll vacuum right up."
Oh.
Right.
She's filthy.
She turns her head to catch a glimpse of Star's chest, which is smeared with mud. The Tamaranian takes no notice, her arms still wrapped firmly around the dog as she watches the exchange between the other two Titan's.
"It'll take awhile to get everything set up correctly," Raven informs, glancing back up at Robin.
"Take your time, there's no rush. Let me know when you get done," The Boy Wonder turns, his cape billowing out behind him as he turns to exit the common room.
Apache gazes after him, her eyes narrowed. She is suspicious about this. It faintly occurs to her that Robin might be waiting for her to be human again before interrogating her.
She leans back into Star with a huff.
'Can I be rinsed off, please?' she projects at Raven, uncomfortable with Cyborg's not so friendly stare.
"Sure, c'mon," Raven moves toward the door. Apache pulls out of Star's arms to follow, trotting after the girl. She feels as if she should say something to the pretty Tamaranian, but there's not exactly any use at the moment.
'Are you okay? You got hurt,' Apache projects when they're alone in the hall. They turn down a flight of stairs heading toward the bedrooms and bathrooms.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm almost fully healed. Are you okay?"
Apache's eyes blow up for a moment at the concern, her belly erupting in flutters. 'Yeah.'
They continue their walk in silence, Apache faintly aware of the mud and water dribbling into the carpet.
Apache watches in confusion as they pass both bathrooms. They go all the way to the end of the hall to Raven's claimed bathroom.
Apache stays silent as Raven opens the door, holding it for her. With a tilt of her head Apache enters the pristine bathroom.
Apache tilts her head in question at Raven as she closes the door behind her.
"Well?" Raven motions to the tub, the curtain already pulled back. Apache jumps easily into the white basin. Raven starts the shower, angling it to hit Apache. She yelps.
'Thats cold!' she shivers as she moves to the other end of the tub to escape the cold spray.
"Sorry," Raven smirks slightly. Apache notices muddy paw prints on the white tile. She lowers her ears. She really had drug mud all over the tower. "Better?" Raven questions her as she removes her hand from the spray.
'Much, thank you.' Apache sighs gratefully as the warmth slides down her chilled body, taking the mud with it. She watches as the brown water slides into the drain, flecks of sand following at a slower pace and causing a stark contrast with the titanium white of the tub.
She glances up at Raven. She'd taken a seat on the closed toilet lid and was currently pulling a book from a cupboard drawer. Apache inwardly snickers at the display.
Apache tosses and turns, turning round in circles and even going as far as to roll over on her back under the warm spray until the water runs clear.
"You smell like wet dog," Raven informs none too helpfully.
'I think I realize this.' Apache rolls her eyes. 'I'm done, unless you feel like washing me out with soap so I don't smell like wet dog.'
Raven closes her book and gently sets it back in the drawer. She opens a cupboard, pulling out a violet towel. "I'll pass. Shake yourself out," Raven commands as she pulls the curtain closed with her magic. Apache instantly shakes herself out, wiggling her butt a bit longer than needed for good measure. The curtain is pulled back again and a towel hits Apache square in the face.
'He-ey!' Apache giggles, pawing at the heavy and rough fabric. Raven rubs her down quickly before mopping the mud up with the damp towel. Apache hops out of the tub, her fur still damp. 'Thank you, greatly appreciated.' Raven simply hums. She tosses the dirty towel in the black hamper that is against the wall across from the toilet.
'So, um...' Apache begins as the two leave the bathroom. 'You found a spell?'
"I did. I have all the herbs and everything else that's needed, I just have to set it up then I can turn you back." Raven glances at the dog, halting her step. "Why are you apprehensive?"
'what? Oh, um. I'm just unsure about it is all. I'm nervous about how it'll complicate everything, y'know? I can tell Robin is just itching to interrogate me without a middleman.'
"Don't worry about it. I won't let him question you past what answers are actually relevant."
Apache gazes up at her with flattened ears. 'If you're sure...'
"You're free to do whatever until I get everything set up." Raven continues to her room. Apache hadn't realized how much she missed the smell of jasmine.
'Actually, I'd really like to watch a movie,' Apache says shyly, her ears set halfway pinned. Raven glances at her, a neatly trimmed eyebrow raised.
"Well... I could write you a note and you can find someone to set it up for you I suppose."
Apache's ears shoot up. 'That'd be great!'
A pen and pad of paper fly over from Raven's organized desk. She begins elegantly scrawling a note onto the top page. "Give me a first and second choice movie," Raven glances up at her.
Apache instantly becomes shy. She lowers her ears. 'Um, Oliver and Company or 101 Dalmatians.'
"101 Dalmatians sounds familiar, not Oliver and Company," Raven mumbles and finishes her note before ripping the top page from the pad. She holds the note in front of Apache's face. She gingerly takes it between her teeth. "I'll come get you when everything is ready."
'Thank you, Raven.'
The girl hums, shutting her door.
Apache sighs, gazing down the hallway. She's tired and would love to sleep, but her mind is on overdrive. The homey smell of the tower is comforting, and she can't deny she's glad to be back.
Then Jinx comes to mind. They'd just left her in the rain, in a puddle no less. There was nothing she could do now but hope Jinx makes it home alright. Apache doesn't know about Jinx, but she'd take a beating and being left in the rain over a beating and being thrown in jail while soaking wet any day.
Her head lowered, she meanders her way down the hall. Her ear twitches as she hears something in Beast Boy's room as she approaches. A video game or something similar.
With a sigh she scratches on the door until the sound ceases and footfalls can be heard. The door swishes open, releasing a putrid stench.
"Yeah?" Beast Boy spots her almost instantly. "Hey! Apache!" He kneels down. "Whats up?" He rubs fondly at her cheeks before grasping the note from between her teeth. "Ha! Raven wrote this, didn't she? She's got this fancy old time writing," His eyes scan the words, a thoughtful look blooming on his face. "Disney, eh?" He rises. "C'mon, mama, let's get you set up,"
Apache follows behind him, not quite prancing, but a hop to her step nonetheless.
"Y'know, Apache? I can't wait to get to talk to you and you actually be able to speak back. Then you'll be able to laugh at all my jokes," Beast Boy confides, chuckling. Apache rolls her eyes, fondness for the teen filling her belly. "You're a pretty cool dog, so I'!l bet you're an even cooler person," He grins. Apache guesses that if she were human at this moment that her face would have been tinted red. She's glad she doesn't have to say anything at the moment. She's equally touched as she is embarrassed, causing her to be speechless. She bumps her shoulder into the side of his leg, causing him to laugh lightly.
They turn up the flight of stairs, Apache guiltily eyeing the dried mud. The tap of her paws against carpet continues until they reach the common room door. Upon entering, they find it uncharacteristically deserted.
There was hardly ever no one in here.
"Looks like you got it all to yourself, little mama," Beast Boy goes about switching the TV to the desktop to turn one of the movies on. Apache seats herself in front of the window overlooking the city, gazing at the blurry buildings and lights through the heavy rain. The bay looks choppy, large swells accompanying the terrible weather.
She's enjoying the sound of the tapping of water on glass and the lighting the gloom is creating. She inwardly smiles at the sound of distant thunder. It occurs to her that maybe she should be afraid, out on a small island and so high up in a storm, but she isn't. The tower never swayed or creaked with the wind, which was always reassuring.
"Here ya are," Beast Boy says as a movie begins, rain, the sound of traffic and music sounding. "I'm gonna finish my game then I'll come watch it with ya."
Apache barks as he turns away, causing him to turn back around, and she put her right paw up in a high five gensure with a scratching motion. Beast Boy laughs.
"You're welcome," He turns to return to his room. Apache sets her paw back down. With a sigh she hops on the couch, turning once before laying down. She gazes up at the little orange cat stuck in the rain because all of his siblings had been taken home by various people, having to dodge cars and dogs. As the movie progresses she sings along to the first song with a giggle inwardly.
This movie was one of her favorites when she was little. She'd always thought Dodger was the coolest, along with Rita. Beast Boy slides in next to her during the Roscoe and DeSoto scene, patting her head fondly. She yawns.
Now if only she had some hot chocolate and a down comforter.
Her fur is still slightly damp, and the tower is kept at a neutral temperature, like a school classroom, which is sending a chill through her body. All of the rooms have individual thermostats, but they were rarely ever touched beside the ones in the bedrooms. She lays her head down, continuing to watch the movie. She's surprised at how quiet Beast Boy is being.
She's trying to not think about the knot in her belly and stress ricocheting through her mind and body due to Raven getting ready to turn her human just down the hall. She shifts deeper into the back of the couch, enjoying the warmth the couch is providing to the parts of her body that are in contact with it.
The last thing she remembers is hearing Streets of Gold before she's being shaken awake. Her head snaps up instantly. She gazes around, first at the movie, which is about over, then to Beast Boy, who is looking at her curiously, and finally to Raven, who is standing behind the couch and leaning over it to look down at her.
"Are you ready?" Raven asks her after a moment. Her hood is down. Apache realizes that it hadn't been last she seen her.
Apache's ears fall back. 'As I'll ever be, I guess,' Apache's stomach is instantly twisted into painful knots. She hops off the couch, walking around it to follow Raven out of the common room.
"Don't be so nervous, you'll be fine," Raven attempts to console her when they're in the hall.
'I can't help it, but I trust you,' Apache sighs out, a shiver running through her body. Apache feels like she's walking the death walk, like she's being taken to be executed as they head down the flight of stares.
'Promise you won't let Robin interrogate me?' Apache looks up to Raven, her stomach churning.
Raven doesn't look down. "I can't promise that, he most likely will. But I can stop him from doing it detective style or playing good cop bad cop with Vic on you."
'So you'll be my lawyer?' Apache chuckles, forgetting her anxiety for a moment.
"Sure," Raven says simply. As they turn down the hall to the bedrooms, Apache's step stalls as adrenaline shoots through her. She follows just a step behind Raven anyway.
'I'm so afraid of what's going to happen after this,' Apache confides as butterflies flutter around her insides. Raven can feel from all of the emotion radiating off of the dog what she means.
"It'll be fine. Everything always works itself out like its supposed to," Raven attempts to calm the dog.
'I know, but I have a habit of worrying about every little thing more than it needs to be worried about,' Apache huffs. Her stomach churns again when Raven's bedroom door slides open. As they enter, she sees that in the middle of the open space of Raven's room is what can only be described as an elaborate alchemy circle. Why she's comparing it to an anime, she has no idea, but it's her only basis. It looks like a weird cross between an alchemy circle and something Wiccan, with all of the candles placed strategically around the circle's borders.
She refrains from making a joke about the alchemy part.
Apache is glad she hadn't ate anything yet today. Her stomach is way too unsettled for food. She stays in places as Raven takes a seat at the side of the circle farthest away from the tallest candles. Apache can see a little dish of herbs in front of her. Raven looks up at her after a moment, motioning with her hand to the center of the circle.
Apache swallows thickly before slowly making her way over with her head lowered. She hops over the row of candles, careful to not step on the lines, which she can now see are composed of some type of salt and herbs. She sits in the center, which is a separate circle with nothing inside of it. She looks at Raven as the candles are all ignited.
"Ready?" Apache simply nods at Raven. Apache twitches her ears and closes her eyes as Raven begins chanting something in a language she's never heard before. Her voice is slow, hypnotic, monotone. A few times she chants over, and a searing pain begins to seep into Apache's joints. Raven's voice is becoming more powerful, picking up in speed slightly. When the chant changes, the ache becomes white hot pain. Apache is paralyzed. She squeezes her eyes shut tighter, the pain becoming unbearable for her. It feels as if her body is being ripped apart.
As quickly as it had all started, it stops. Raven is quiet, and the pain seeps from Apache's joints. She tentatively opens her right eye, then her left, staring down at black paws. Her head whips up to gaze at Raven, confusion evident in her bi colored eyes. Raven looks just as confused. Well, as confused as Raven can look.
'It... Didn't work?' Apache projects at her.
"I... Guess not. This is strange. Usually all my spells work," Raven arches a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, still in her meditation stance.
'Should we, um, try again?' Apache hesitantly suggests, remembering the searing pain.
"No, that isn't how it works. It can be dangerous to perform the same spell twice in a row on a single being. We have to wait to try again," Raven falls out of her levitation. "We'll try again tomorrow."
Apache nods, breathing a sigh of relief. She hops out of the circle, carefully dodging the lines and candles. She has mixed feelings now, the anxiety leaving her tired body.
She looks to Raven as the girl stands. 'What if it doesn't work tomorrow either?'
"Then it doesn't work and you'll most likely stay like that," Raven tells her honestly. Apache nods. She looks at Raven's bedside clock.
'Does that say three?' She asks Raven.
"Yeah, it's a little after three," Raven confirms, looking back to the dog.
Apache is quiet.
"You want to ask me something," Raven says, gazing at the uneasy and confused dog steadily. Apache shifts under her gaze, meeting her amethyst eyes with her own.
'Maybe we can have a movie night just you and me? And whoever wants to join?' Apache looks up at the girl, giving her her best puppy eyes. Raven raises an eyebrow. 'You can read or whatever,' Apache reasons, trying to be convincing.
"I suppose. What movie did you have in mind?" Raven questions with a sigh. Happiness shoots through Apache's body.
'Madagascar,' Apache chirps happily.
"Never heard of it," Raven raises her eyebrow in question.
'You haven't?' Apache sounds surprised. Either the movie doesn't exist here or Raven really hasn't heard of it.
"I'm not a big movie watcher," Raven shrugs simply.
'Right, right. I think you'll like it,' Apache gives her tail a wag. 'Wanna watch it after dinner?'
"Sure," Raven shrugs as she sits on her bed, pulling a book into her lap.
Apache sits back on her haunches, a question bubbling in her mind that she would have been too embarrassed to ask a month ago. She tilts her head as Raven opens her book to a marked page.
'Doesn't your leotard give you wedgies?' Raven's head snaps up, her eyebrows knit together as she gives Apache a hard look. Apache inwardly snickers.
"No," She gives Apache a deadpan look before returning her gaze to the ancient pages.
'Sure,' Apache snickers. Apache chooses to lay behind Raven's closed drapes to stare out at the city. The rain is still falling hard, causing the ocean below to look overly rippled. The city seems very gloomy. Her ears perk as a flash of lightning ignites over the city, momentarily lighting up everything in its path. Not a moment later thunder booms, vibrating through Apache's body. Thunder and lightning is one of her favorite things about storms. Hopefully the tower is insulated against lightning strikes. She'd rather not be electrocuted to death.
She watches, almost in a trance, until the sky begins to darken further. The sun is going down. Her ears twitch when a beep sounds. Must be Raven's communicator. She pokes her head out from under the drapes to stare up at the girl. She has her communicator in hand. She types a message back before closing her communicator and setting it back on the bed.
She glances down at the dog, amusement dancing in her eyes at the sight. Not even Apache's ears have escaped the mass of curtain. "Dinner in forty-five minutes. They ordered pizza."
'Sweet,' Apache's tail wags. 'You gotta slip me a piece. Cyborg usually does but i don't think he will now...'
"Sure, why not," Raven returns her gaze to her book. Apache huffs, pushing herself up. The curtain drapes down her sides and slides off her as she trots away from the window to hop up on Raven's bed. She plops down against Raven's back, laying her head on her paws.
"You have no concept of personal space, do you?" Raven grumbles.
'Nope. Plus you know I'm warm,' Apache teases smuggly. They sit like that in silence until Raven's communicator beeps again. At the chime, Apache is instantly up and waiting by the door for Raven before she even picks the communicator up. Raven raises an eyebrow at her.
"Hungry?"
'You bet,' Apache steadily gazes at the pretty girl.
T.E.E.N.T.I.T.A.N.S.
The red haired girl stares out at the dead grass passing in waves along the California highway. She takes one last bite of her hamburger before holding the last bit behind the headrest, instantly feeling a cold nose and warm tongue against her fingers as her dog takes the remaining bit from her hand. She smiles fondly, grabbing a french fry out of the fast food bag and turning around to gaze at the medium sized black dog with a white splash on her chest as she holds the french fry out to her. The dog takes the fry gently, chewing contentedly, her bi colored eyes gazing happily at her owner, begging for more.
"You really shouldn't give her tha', it'll upset her stomach," The red haired girl turns her gaze to the older woman in the driver's seat that looks as if she's an older version of the girl, an Irish accent dancing on her tongue, her red hair a wild mess of curls, the slightest plump to her body, giving her a healthy look.
"But she likes it," the girl snickers as she turns her gaze back to the dog. "Don't ya, Ebony?" The dog just keeps on begging. The girl turns her attention back to her mother. "How much longer?"
"Casey, same as last time ya asked, we'll get there when we get there. Probably two more hours," the woman shoots the girl a hard emerald gaze. The girl groans in exaggeration before returning her gaze to the passing highway. "Don't be like tha', you're the one that wanted to go."
"Yeah, I know," the girl sighs. She perks up when her phone buzzes.
"Betcha that's Jada," The woman says instantly.
"How much are ya bettin'?" The girl gives her mother a sly look.
"A chocolate milkshake," the woman says in all seriousness.
"That's lame. But yeah, its Jada," the girl grins.
"You owe me."
"Yes Mom, I'll buy you a milkshake," the girl rolls her eyes fondly before turning her gaze down to her phone.
'I miss you already,' it reads. The girl's heart flutters.
'I miss you too,' She types back. 'I love you.'
'I love you too. Be safe and I'll see you when you get back.'
'I always am safe.' she completes her message with a heart emoji.
"Tell her I said hi," The girl's mother says as she fiddles with the radio.
The girl chuckles lightly. 'And my mom says hi.'
'Hello to you too Ms Byrne,' the girl cackles.
"What?" her mother asks.
"She says hello to you too," They fall into a comfortable silence, watching the highway go by, a few cars scattered here and there.
"What is this idiot doin'?" catches the girl's attention. She flips her gaze to see a white truck towering over their little Chevy. Whoever is in the truck is getting too close for comfort. The dog in the back seat, sensing the sudden tension, gives a whine as she shifts, pawing at the back of her young owner's seat. The girl holds her hand behind her headrest, instantly feeling a chin in her palm. She rubs calmingly at her dog's chin as her mother speeds the car up, the truck following suit. The woman can see the black dog in the rearview mirror as she glances at it, the dog's erect ears flat against her head.
Adrenaline jumps through the girl's body. "What's goin' on?"
"I don't know," her mother replies, slowing the car. The truck again follows not a moment later. When her mother speeds the car up again, the truck lets them go. The girl breathes a sigh of relief, until she feels the car begin to spin. The truck had rammed the rear part of their car. She feels her dog's chin leave her hand.
"Ebony?!" their car tilts, flying through open air. "MOAAAA" screams irrupt within the car, and cut off as it hits the bottom of the pit below the highway.
The girl lays stunned, face down on the grass. Red tints her vision, her eyes stinging like salt had been poured in them. As she shifts, she feels something in her side pull. She craves her attempts to lift herself, opting to lift her head.
Ten feet away is a heap of black fur. The girl tries to call her name, but nothing escapes her throat. Her dog lays still. Her eyes search for her mother but she doesn't see her. As her eyes fall on her unmoving dog again, her vision goes black.
Her eyes snap open again, a filthy alley surrounding her.
An unheard before voice wails through the tower, long and pain filled, blood curdling.
The girl can feel the warmth of someone's lap under her face. She pushes up and away, panic wailing through her body as she freefalls before hitting carpeted floor on her bare back. She pushes herself up, blindly gazing around the familiar common room. She sobs out.
Before she can stop herself, her stomach wretches.
She throws up half digested pizza.