Disclaimer: I do own Teen Titans, I mean really? If I owned Teen Titans this would be an Elseworld or something, unless my corporate masters told me no. Yeah, I just started depressing myself, enjoy the chapter.
Betaed by: Red Leader Zala & Zim'smostloyalservant
Slices of Life
JINX:
The coins thumped against the bottom of the plastic cup as Jinx tilted her hand. The clerk smiled a bit as the Titan emptied her change into the tip cup; the gothic heroine took a sip from the latte already turning away. This coffee shop was trendy enough for her taste, the little plastic cup the sole concession to the mundanity many of the darkly dressed frowning patrons despised.
Not that she liked the other customers, most had less reason to hate the world than she did, and whined far more about it. But she found the atmosphere a fine antidote for the boys and perky girl she put up with at the Tower. But today she passed the couches and booths paying little mind to the low music permeating the air. Another day's medicine, not what she found herself needing today, she thought as she pushed the heavy door open with an elbow.
Jinx stepped out into the sun, pushing her glasses redundantly further up her nose. The bag hanging from her shoulder sent swaying by the movement. The likelihood on being called out for her little gray market shopping was unlikely, after all who padded down heroes, but life had taught her not to make needless gambles.
Still she paused for a moment taking in the charged atmosphere of the city, such a contrast to the purposefully drained one she had just come from. It was chaos and order as only people in unhealthy numbers could achieve. Bitter and sweet on the tongue, a delightful contradiction Jinx had long since concluded.
But there was still much to do so she let herself get swept away, all the while using the current bound for home.
The trip back to the tower was smooth; Jinx appreciated her powers not making themselves known. Thoughts of her bags contents and her room brought a small smile to her face; finally she would be able to begin. That was when she was ambushed.
"No," Jinx declared holding out her hand to emphasize her point. Beast Boy's ears drooped as he clutched the game box to his chest
"You gotta! I have been waiting a year to play Oval Combat II!" Beast Boy whined now brandishing the package with the White House on the cover with a roman numeral two.
"So get Cyborg to do it," Jinx rolled her eye behind her shades as if it was the obvious answer.
"He's busy building that new obstacle course, he could take hours. Hours!" Beast Boy cried.
"What about-" Jinx began.
"Starfire doesn't like fighting games and Robin's in the crime lab," Beast Boy interrupted. Jinx searched for another pretext when the green boy shrank from sight and was replaced by an adorable green kitten with big green eyes.
"Cheater, stop that!" Jinx demanded as he continued to give her the sad kitty face. The witch was determined to not give in.
"MILLARD FILLMORE, WINS!" the game proclaimed in a deep baritone. Beast Boy yanked his hair with his free hand while Jinx gave a catty grin. The two sat on the main couch as the screen showed the Oval Office with one dead president standing triumphant over another.
"No way! Who's even heard of Millard Fillmore?" Beast Boy wailed.
"You picked the guy in the wheel chair," Jinx jeered as the select screen came back up. She selected a different Roosevelt while Beast Boy got a sneaky look on his face. Moving the control stick rapidly and pressing the buttons in a quick sequence the screen darkened.
"CHARACTER UNLOCKED," the game stated. The screen light up again revealing the opponents.
"Wait, he was never president," Jinx muttered. Several lightning attacks later Beast Boy crowded his triumph as the fatality was executed, with a lighting bolt destroying Teddy Roosevelt.
"BEN FRANKLIN WINS, FATALITY," the game proclaimed. Jinx set aside her controller and got up from the couch.
"Where are you going?" Beast Boy protested.
"I've got more important things to do than mess around with your mindless violence," Jinx waved a hand dismissively.
"Hey it's not just violent, it's also educational. It's violational!" Beast Boy proclaimed. He froze in pose as Jinx cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'Really, really?' The shape shifter deflated as Jinx shook her head.
"That didn't come out right," Beast Boy admitted.
"There was a right way?" Jinx snickered. Beast Boy rose to that challenge with the tried and true response.
"Well its more fun than your cliché RPGs. Magical girl role playing, very original," Beast Boy retorted.
"At least those have a plot, you do is pummel whatever pops up on the screen," Jinx shot back, falling into the familiar argument.
"Do not mock the pummeling!" Beast Boy leapt unto the couch dramatically.
Jinx set her bag down on her desk. Her room was not well light at the moment; she took off her shades letting her sole pink cat's eye look on unhindered. It glanced to her calendar, the Xs were leading up to a day that was unmarked but gave her a moment's pause. She had almost forgotten.
Even as her stomach clenched she was relieved she remembered. She rose from her desk, the bag forgotten.
Walking to the door se gave a brief chant under her breath and watched as runes flared in bright pink spiraling from under her hand to cover the door and then spread out across her wall, ceiling and floor.
"No reaction," Jinx noted as the runes faded from sight. The wards were intact and no new bugs planted. Safe, her room was still safe.
Taking a deep breath she walked over to her poster and traced the left side of it from the bottom up and said the word. The poster rolled up like a shutter and the witch reached through the wall behind it like it wasn't even there. Her hand came back out with a device that looked like a cross between an eighties wireless phone and a tricorder.
Sitting on her bed she opened the device and flipped a switch prompting a green light to snap on.
"Cheshire Reporting. Code 4505007RR/9T.
"Cyborg is in the process of Upgrading elements of the Tower. He is currently fixated on a new training course and has not discussed other areas.
"Starfire continues to display behavior inconsistent with her arrival on Earth. Repression of past experiences seems increasingly likely as an explanation.
"Robin is the only potential danger. But his suspicion seems to be routine paranoia, even to him. Tension seems to be building between him and Cyborg. But given the recent encounter with Plasmius, I am not prepared to say that it is weakening the Titan's effectiveness.
"Beast Boy is not a threat. Initial worries seem unfounded," Jinx spoke into the device her eyes glancing to the side at the last bit.
She finished her report in short order and returned the deactivated device to its place behind the image of heroism. Jinx was glad to be done, though she wished it didn't make her want to shower. She laid down on her bed, idly recalling her project, but finding herself ready to put it off.
'I wish I could have Beast Boys simple approach to life,' she thought, not for the first time.
BEAST BOY:
Beast Boy had a feeling it was going to be a good day rolling out of bed. The fact he rolled out of bed so easily was proof of that in his eyes. And how bright and pretty his eyes were today. Crap did he just describe part of himself as pretty? Monster trucks man, monster trucks!
They had even had pancakes for breakfast, including a stack of vegetarian friendly flapjacks. Cyborg was appeasing him so he wouldn't bother him with his construction stuff. Come on how was he supposed to know that thing would explode back then, causing that stuff to happen? It only proved Cy needed to label things better.
The good hits kept on coming with the fat stack of fan mail retrieved from the post box. The ladies just love the green.
Now he sat at his desk going through the mail paper and pen standing by to respond.
"Keep up the good scout work, send me a box of mint chips, Your Favorite Titan Beast Boy," Beast Boy wrote out before folding the letter and setting it aside to be packed and addressed later. He knew the other Titans didn't bother with this stuff, but it never hurt to shore up your pride a bit, and some good PR by giving back the love.
The next letter had him blushing. This one was a keeper he decided grinning. Then the lad felt there was something else in the envelope still.
"Hey there's a picture . . . AHHH!" Beast Boy screamed dropping the photo he had just pulled out like it burned. He leapt back from the desk only to realize he was still holding the letter, he dropped that too.
"Okay . . . that's enough fan mail for now," Beast Boy decided, making a mental note to burn that letter and photo later.
Picking up the photo with a convenient set of tongs he set it aside and pulled out the non fanmail.
He squealed at the brown package, ripping it open to reveal a game container with a badass depiction of the White House dominating it.
"At last. The fiery sequel with improved control, graphics and nonpresidential unlockable characters. *sniff* it's beautiful," Beast Boy teared up. The next letter sobered him up, wiping away the overly dramatic tears with the back of his hand.
It was dressed to him by name, from the Royal Pacific Cruise Sweepstakes. Actually grabbing a letter opener shaped like a tiny lightsaber he opened it and took out a marker. Blacking out certain words or parts of words he rolled his eyes and scowled at the resulting combination of letters.
Replacing the cap on the marker he picked up the letter and stood staring at it. Without a word he crumpled it up and stuffed it in his mouth. A few munches later Beast Boy swallowed it. He had had enough of mail, he wanted some air.
Beast Boy pulled himself from the sea and shifted back from his seal form looking at the dispersing dust cloud with some concern. He hadn't heard any alarms, but maybe he should check to make sure his buddy didn't need assistance?
"Friend Beast Boy," Starfire called out dropping down from the sky to hover a few centimeters from the ground. There were still smears of dirt on her skin so the green titan guessed she had been at the construction site.
"Cyborg need help?" Beast Boy asked. Starfire gave her big I'm anxious but don't want to show it grin while gently grabbing her left arm.
"No, Cyborg is certain he requires no further assistance if he intends to finish close to his schedule," Starfire answered. Beast Boy gave her a sympathetic smile. Cool as Cyborg was he could be a control freak hen when it came to his tech.
The fact none of them but Robin usually knew what he was talking about went clear past Beast Boy.
"Do you wish to do the hanging out?" Starfire asked hopefully. Beast Boy light up, opportunity had come a knocking.
"You bet I do, I need help breaking in my new game. An epic battle between Chief Executives to determine who is the-one-true-President and engage in an epic final showdown with Hitler!" Beast Boy proclaimed. Starfire's smile flickered. Beast Boy face palmed himself. Starfire he had learned early on did not enjoy fighting games or first person shooters; they seemed to freak her out a bit when people exploded in games.
"Listen I am sure we could . . ." Beast Bo tried to salvage to situation. Starfire gave a smile Beast Boy easily recognized as covering unease and shut up.
"It is alright I think I would rather go into the city, Robin will appreciate me doing extra patrols," Starfire stated. Without another word she rose into the sky and shot off across the bay.
"Real smooth Garfield," Beast Boy muttered. He wondered if Jinx was back from those errands she talked about over breakfast. The Goth witch was usually good for some slightly extorted fun, despite the bad attitude.
Beast Boy had fought the Brotherhood of Evil, faced the H.I.V.E. and come up against villains belonging to other infamous organizations or self employed. Yet know he was truly seeing the face of evil, more concerning was that the aforementioned casserole seemed to gaze into him as he gazed into it.
The Titans sat around the dinner table the girls enjoying their meal, while the boys watched it on their plates as if expecting it to attack at any moment.
"I'm a vegetarian remember?" Beast Boy spoke up, not daring to take his eye from the affront to all things culinary before him. Jinx frowned as she swallowed her mouthful, for she was the author of this dinnertime horror.
"What are you talking about, there's no meat in there," Jinx declared a little offended.
"Uh, what exactly is in here?" Cyborg asked cautiously poking the dish with his fork.
"It is most wonderful, friend Jinx you have outdone yourself!" the alien girl piped up as she took seconds.
"Uh, I really need to get my report in order, I'll finish this in the crime lab," Robin announced picking up his plate and beating a hasty retreat.
"But I thought there was no food allowed in the-" Jinx called after him before he vanished through the door.
"Wow would you look at the time, I need to see a man about an engine. Here Star have mine I'll grab some burgers out," Cyborg hastily declared checking a watch he wasn't wearing. Jinx fumed while Starfire cheered, Beast Boy gave Cyborg a 'pity me' look. The older teen shook his head with some sympathy; sadly his lifeboat seated only one. And then there was one, Beast Boy realized.
"I have a thing!" Beast Boy shouted in panic. Jinx glared at him and pointed to his plate. The look clearly said, eat or else. Whimpering he took a drastic action. Robotman once told him when the waters cold the best thing is to just jump in and get it over with. Turning into a hippo he swept the entire serving up on his tongue and swallowed the lot in one bite.
For a moment he saw himself in Heaven. He was running through a beautiful sunny meadow wearing only heart boxers. He was singing and tossing flowers from a basket on his arm. Why didn't Heaven ever have video games and veggie pizza?
Then he was back in the kitchen, looking up at the ceiling from a spot on the floor. It felt like a frat had a party in his mouth, and hadn't cleaned up any of the mess before leaving. Jinx leaned into his line of sight and sneered, he was not looking good if his reflection in her shades was any indication.
"What a drama queen," she remarked. Still she offered him a hand he took it despite this being her fault. Beast Boy would have retorted with something clever and funny, but he had enough to worry about with the sounds his stomach was making.
ROBIN:
The Boy Wonder stood in one of the few shadows cast in the starkly decorated office. It was shadowy, the only light in the large room where the plain lamp which its sole occupant read by and the lights of the cityscape coming in through the Plexiglas wall behind her. He watched the raven haired girl turn over a piece of paper and begin to browse the contents on the backside. He was certain she was only skimming, he could guess why as he stepped into view.
"You certainly are sneaky, but being able to fool my senses counts for little when the floor sensors give the relevant data," Raven Wilson leaned back in her tall chair. Her tone was colored with amusement, her posture relaxing into the cushioned leather of her chair. All of it saying she was not the least bit unnerved about his arrival nor anxious about his presence.
"You assume my goal was to sneak up on you," Robin stated remaining visible, but obscured in the half light much of the office was in.
"If you just wanted to chat I'm sure I could have squeezed you in. Some good press for the PR Department, normally we stay passively under the radar, with the public most people think no news is good news in this business," Raven answered. It was late and she seemed to have relaxed herself before his arrival, her black tie was loosened, the top two buttons on her shirt undone and her usually done up hair let down. He didn't like the fact she was unarguably pretty.
"When your business is supplying people with means of death and destruction, they would be wiser to watch you closely," Robin said, his tone implying he was indeed watching.
"With politics and sausage making it does little for one peace of mind to closely observe either process. Chancellor Bismarck, it applies to war even more so. But I don't need to justify anything to you and you didn't come here to talk about this.
"So why have you snuck into a lovely girl's room in the middle of the night?" Miss Wilson asked him finally leaning forward.
"Robert Cole, the man you recently fired," Robin answered, passing the bait without interest.
"Oh, are you people doing labor relations now? Green Arrow's idea I imagine," the adopted heiress raised an eyebrow.
"You fired him for fencing something you weren't supposed to have," Robin pressed.
"Is that why? Honestly I am a figure head as far as so many departments go, I confess I don't really look into why the heads do some things. I guess this is one of those learning experiences father set me here for," Raven chastised herself sarcasm peaking between the words.
"Xenothium, highly dangerous, highly regulated. Sold by Cole to the underworld figure Professor Chang, who would have sold it to dangerous individuals," Robin stated.
"Really? Well I hope you are wrong and my employees aren't deceiving me with illegal activities; an internal investigation may be in order as an item at the quarter," Raven frowned insincerely. She grinned as Robin glared; they both knew if he had anything for a court he wouldn't be here. Robin once again was reminded of the Roland Dagget, not evil like the Arkham inmates, but this disease worked under the skin, a creeping poison. He turned his attention to one of the few decorations in the room.
"Your new to Jump, be sure to keep your house in order," Robin told her.
"You talk as if you own this city, just the attitude that keeps my father in the black," Raven chuckled leaning back.
"Hideyoshi, I would think Nobunaga the more natural of choice. For a company that proudly wears the name of a war god," Robin commented. Raven glanced to the painting a thin sincere smile on her lips.
"It's not business it's personal. His illustrious career from peasant to de facto ruler of a feudal empire is proof that one can overcome adversity despite a poor starting hand," Raven explained. Robin left the room before she finished speaking.
CYBORG:
Victor Stone, better known as Cyborg liked to think himself as a man with a plan. That was an attitude that had carried over from his life changing encounter with an exploding Fiat. Though whereas before his plans were vague things running on a great deal of assumption and handwavium, nowadays his plans tended to be kept on paper or e-file with varying levels of detail.
Heredity shines through, he supposed, despite bratty stubbornness he showed himself to be his father's son.
Of course like his father's most of those plans ended up gathering dust in the name of budget constraints. Robin held the purse strings for the Titans, and Cyborg for all his bravado was reluctant to drain his own account on his ideas. The T-Car had been an exception and he needed to watch the Lincolns for awhile after the dent that put in him.
So now that his budget from the Boy Wonder was respectably filled up he had to decide what to do out of his small mountain of potential projects.
BB's standing support of a rec-room had merit, but it wouldn't use up the money and constrain what else he could do. Besides he sort of hoped the others would pool their money with his to make that happen.
Jinx had a standing request for a spa, and Cyborg was using that for scrap paper.
His delving into the depths of his own engineering genius had yielded the answer. Not only in budget, but useful enough to keep Robin off his back; and enjoyable to boot.
"This training course will kick ass!" Cyborg declared smacking the blueprint with his free hand. Standing on a rise he looked over the section on the island littered with the materials and equipment that would let him turn it into the newest means of preparing the Teen Titans for the never-ending battle deal. With a little tweaking it could even be used as a component of the security system.
He took a deep breath of the late morning air, stomach full from breakfast, clear skies, and a can do attitude. It was a day to begin.
"Friend Cyborg you are beginning your construction of the field for training?" Starfire asked floating down to his level.
"Bet your ass I am!" Cyborg slipped still n a manly high.
"I would rather not; losing it would make sitting most difficult. Or did you mean the beast of burden?" Starfire apologized slightly confused.
"Uh, say Star you want to help me turn this pile of rocks into the finest elite training course on the West Coast?" Cyborg asked, wanting her not to think about what she had said.
"Oh most verily, I had some training in military engineering on Tamerran," Starfire declared happily.
Later:
The dust cloud started to blow away, revealing the massive sink hole most of the equipment was broken and/or buried in. Cyborg sat on his rear at the edge, staring blankly into space. Starfire floated a little ways off the edge surveying the damage. Smiling nervously she turned to face the still sitting Cyborg.
"The military decided that I was better suited to flight combat specialty," Starfire stated in a way of explanation. Cyborg said nothing. Everything went so wrong so quickly, it was like 'wow' mixed with 'ouch'.
"I will start with the digging out of the equipment," Starfire offered. Cyborg got to his feet dusting himself off.
"Star," Cyborg spoke up calmly.
"Yes friend Cyborg?" Starfire floated closer.
"Maybe you should see if BB is behaving, with Jinx in town who knows what he's getting into?" Cyborg suggested. Starfire's expression slipped but she pulled her cheery expression back into place.
"I shall ensure Beast Boys well being at this moment," Starfire chirped before shooting into the skies. Cyborg wasn't oblivious, and sighed heavily.
"Way to go Victor," he muttered to himself. At the moment all he could do was clean up the mess, so rolling up non existent sleeves he slid down into the crater wall. At least this was a problem he was qualified to solve, he thought.
Haste makes waste, Cyborg thought as he drove into the car port for the race track. Slumping in his seat he pressed a hand to his growling stomach, he'd bugged out on Jinx's unholy feast of mush without grabbing so much as a few dollars or refilling his cred card. He'd installed a refiller in the T-Car but removed it after the theft. So here he was penniless and dying of starvation.
A tap n the glass brought him out of his misery riddled thoughts.
'Who the hell's messing with my- oh,' the Titan thought as he turned to see who tapped. He rolled down the window to be met by an upper body in a familiar jumpsuit. Raven Wilson leaned down and gave one of those sneaky grins.
"You're early Metalman, that's a first. Crime rates actually dropping?" Raven inquired.
"The Titans aren't going out of business anytime soon," Cyborg declared. And was deflated when his stomach loudly growled, he slumped in his seat as the girl's lip twitched in an unmistakable manner. Count on Jinx to embarrass him in front of the ladies, that Jinx was a lady never crossed his mind.
"Call of duty cost you dinner, hero?" the heiress asked leaning on his car.
"Don't ask . . . Say how about we make tonight's race a bit more interesting?" Cyborg asked looking sly as his fingers drummed the steering wheel.
"A wager?" Raven stood back up looking intrigued.
"Yeah if I win you have to treat me to the concession stand. An all you can eat meal what with the billionaire money," Cyborg grinned.
"I would have to be a billionaire, when it comes to eating Beast Boys a vegetarian glutton, the girl Titans have the taste of pregnant women and goats, and you eat restaurants out of their buffets," Raven noted off.
"How did you?" Cyborg sputtered.
"Internet. Besides what do I get?" Raven asked.
"Well what do you want?" Cyborg asked. He wasn't sure what would appeal to someone who could buy most anything they wanted.
"Hmm good question, oh how bout a tour of Titan's Tower?" Raven suggested tapping her chin.
"Say what?" Cyborg went rigid at that. Robin would freak, like go through the roof freak if he brought her to the Tower. As funny as that would be too see it wouldn't be a cool thing to do.
"Well if that doesn't pan out I'll just have to think of something else," Raven shrugged. Cyborg's grin returned.
"Best not think too hard rich girl because you're my meal ticket tonight," Cyborg declared revving his engine. Raven pulled her helmet out from somewhere putting it on.
"Why not put your gear shift where your mouth is?" she asked before closing the visor.
STARFIRE:
Today was not turning out to be a splendorous day after all, Starfire concluded. Jinx had left without her for her 'serious shopping'. As opposed to the girl shopping where Jinx insisted on her company and occasionally Beast Boy as a pack mule. Though strangely he rarely assumed that form on those excursions.
She had only hindered Cyborg causing him to politely but firmly dismiss here. Though she reminded herself it had been her fault, these things tended to be, one reason she was offered as a sacrifice for the war.
Robin was in his crime lab, which meant he was not to be disturbed.
Beast Boy had offered companionship, but there she had refused. So Starfire supposed she had no one to blame but herself for the current lack of friends.
Still she couldn't complain, the sun was shining displaying the Earth's beautiful sky above and raising the spirits of the city below. Also volunteering to patrol would likely please Robin, Starfire thought wistfully.
She flew at a common height with the mid levels of the sky scrapers, enjoying the flight but still keen on detecting any trouble. She noticed a group of office workers at the window of their lounge waving and returned the gesture. The Earth may be having troubled times, but there was still much joy and friendship to be found here.
For someone who had seen war raze entire planets to ash the troubles while worrying were hard to appreciate. The sky was clear and the people went about their business in peace, the joy of flight was easy to find in small things as ****** had taught her.
Then she noticed the man with a gun.
He was wearing a jacket despite the pleasant weather and the cloth masks designed for protecting ones skin from frigid conditions, though in her limited experience they were more often used as makeshift war masks.
Of far greater concern was the handgun he was holding. He was standing in the office of a nearby building his back to the plexiglas as he addressed two office workers, possibly more. Fortunately the gun was held loosely at his side, not actively threatening anyone. Yet, his possession of it without a uniform, attire, and the clear discomfort of the workers made it clear a crime was indeed taking place.
The starbolt broke through the window, weakening it enough for her to burst in already recharged. Stealth was sacrificed to turn his attention completely away from the civilians. It worked in that he whirled, but the sight of her drawn up in the air hands and eyes aglow failed to faze him. That was a surprise, and not the kind that comes with friends and flowers.
Whereas most common criminals, even those familiar with the Teen Titans, hesitated either in awe or surprise at actually being meet by a super hero he reacted with trained reflex firing two shots as much to scatter and distract as to hit. Miss they did, though Starfire felt one nearly skim her ear.
Her fist was sunk into his chest in the next moment, and then he was flying into a hostage. Fortunately she noted the gun dropped on the floor and locked it up. As the masked man cried in pain one of the larger workers grabbed his shoulders pulling him off the coworker and securing him facedown. She saw it was a poor hold, but the weight difference and injury should make it suffice.
"God, I need a doctor!" the masked man cried out.
"That's what you get!" a scrawny man with glasses hurled from his cubicle. Starfire sighed at the sight of the man in pain, and the former hostages hardly being gracious at the role reversal. Momentarily forgetting Earther regulations she twisted the barrel of the pistol rendering it useless. She frowned at that slip as a few of the men in ties stepped up to offer thanks.
"No thank are needed, it is a duty and an honor," Starfire put on her smile. Without further words she left through the window she came in. She didn't bother trying to enjoy the flight, thinking about injuring a man whose weapon posed no lethal danger to her. Her mind kept drifting back to the armor at the back of the closet.
ROBIN:
The Boy Wonder sat in a room locked within Titan Island, even Cyborg ignorant to its existence. He watched Starfire foil a robbery, Beast Boy go through his paces both in training and in garbage, and, in real time, Cyborg continue his vexing relationship with Raven Wilson.
A part of him felt guilty for spying on them, but it was better to be paranoid without reaping than to be trusting and open the door to disaster. Midnight could strike at anytime and she was playing for keeps.
The only blind spot was Jinx's room, making her the potential chink. Her past was mostly blank. A junior League member that had appeared from nowhere and been in jump on leave the day Starfire came to earth bringing a war in her wake. Robin made use of mystery as a weapon like his mentor, and as such had what he believed to be a reasonable fear of the unknown.
Her non existent origins and her room made her the one to watch.
Though he watched them all anyway, even as Starfire drew closer to the potential threat and Beast Boy made friends in his own way. Cyborg's grudge could not be counted upon, after all he had declined increasing the monitors on Jinx's room, had made a joke about Robin perving. Robin was almost sure perving was not a word.
There was nothing he could do about Jinx without tipping his hand and that could all too easily turn his team on him. Starfire despite her experiences in the stars did not seem to grasp that things were deadly serious on this tiny patch of the universe as well.
Was that why he was attracted to her? Because she had unlike him, his mentor and his cowled 'siblings' Starfire had more or less been able to move on unscarred?
All the more reason then, his own motivation was locked in his desk, but it never hurt to have more. He was Robin it was his job to protect, the consequences of failure, for weakness, were the growing pains that shaped him.
Turning his attention from the monitors he rose and moved to a small but well used workstation. Robin picked up the newly crafted mask frowning at the visage. It was not a step to take lightly; it came close to a line he had invested so much of himself in, and brought him closer to those parts of his mentor he had resented so passionately.
He doubted they would understand when they found out. And they would, he was the smartest one but that did not make them fools. But he would accept their anger, and perhaps even hatred; so long as he succeeded and they ere safer, he could accept the loss.
Picking up a sprayer he made the final touch to the mask. Face to face behind masks, it was funny in a way he knew was unhealthy.
RAVEN:
This was going to be unpleasant, Raven thought. She scowled at the tin cup she was holding as if willing the contents to vanish. The shadow that swept over the cup reminded her of why she needed to do this though.
Narrowing her eyes the darkness retracted into her hand and she let out a deep breath.
Slade's apprentice sat alone in a small training room. It was bare and gray save for the tatami mat she was sitting cross-legged on. Minus the helm/mask in the corner she was fully armored.
Still scowling she swirled the contents of the cup glancing at her red eyed reflection in the silvery contents. Its sweet smell burned her nostrils.
"Consecrational cocktail," she muttered her unflattering name for the confection. She supposed it was better than the alternative, but being medicated was a blow to her pride.
With a final scowl she swiftly brought the vessel to her lips and gulped down the mixture. Singe the tongue, burn the throat, then it hits the stomach, she thought as the symptoms played out. Her eyes dimmed back to normal as the veins in her cheeks turned black.
As ever she fought remain conscious as black foam forced its way through clenched teeth and her brow grew moist. She hated the relief she felt as that battle was lost and she collapsed on the matt twitching.
When she awakened it would be a simply matter of cleaning herself up, the demonic half of her hybrid body properly chastised. Until next time, a nagging voice whispered as sweet darkness enveloped her senses.
LATER:
Raven warily looked to her opponent meeting her eyes as she peeked over the top of the cover. This was the moment that would either rescue her from defeat, or seal that defeat. How oh how had it come to this? Even now the turn of events left her perplexed. Even her miscalculations with the Titans failed to touch this string of errors. Unlike those, her seeming defeats did not work toward a hidden masterstroke. She was well and truly 'on the ropes.'
Purple eyes narrowed as they met a detached matching gaze. They each made their move simultaneously.
"Full House, I win," the Midnight Reploid declared flatly reading the cards laid out on the table. Raven planted her face on the folding table as the droid collected the last of her chips. How do you lose at cards to a robot designed to imitate you? Perhaps the problem was the robot wearing a mask while she wasn't?
While Unit 3 was the spitting image of the criminal Midnight, Raven was sans her armor, wearing a mechanics jumpsuit with her hair pulled back in a pony tail, a smudge of grease on her cheek even. They both sat at a simple fold out table on the edge of the bases motor pool, which more recently was being used to make her customized robots.
"None of the others give me this kind of trouble," Raven muttered as Unit 3 expertly shuffled the deck adding some flair more suited to a magician. It was true enough, while the other robots made in her image were a definite cut above the standard issue, they were automatons and easily trumped by the original. Thankfully in the single spar with Unit 3 Raven was still the victor, but . . .
"I am the only one you kissed after completing," Unit 3 pointed out. Raven blushed a bit at being called out on that.
"A bit of narcissistic whimsy doesn't account for your AI achieving sentience," Raven griped as she was dealt a new hand. Another sign she had put off the toxification too long, erratic behavior. At least this time the outcome was relatively tame; her father hadn't needed to stab anything.
It had all started innocently enough.
The plasma had light flared in the visor on the mask, receding to allow the darkened glass to reflect the armored figure lying on the table. Midnight in all her glory seemingly slept under the bare fluorescents on the steel table. Though the cooling metal line on her stomach indicated something was awry.
The mask was pushed up revealing Raven's face, a gloved hand wiping sweat from her brow. She smiled pulling off her gloves as the metal cooled letting the illusion set in.
"I look good," Raven commented looking over her newly minted reploid. Her father made use of such thing s to keep his activities a script, alibis and all to keep anyone from suspecting he was up to something more than elite mercenary work.
That could work for her, but she had other idea. Ones that involved messing with the Titans heads keep your enemy off-balance, ad emotionally invested and the advantage will always be yours if you have the wit seize it. Raven was certain her father would approve of the tactic.
Here and now though she was impressed by her creation, now that she what she wanted down she could have machines make more, but this; she was getting a tingle like from completing the Blackbird. It had taken three tries to get it right after all. Just like then she ran her hands down the graceful curves, not fully noticing the subjective difference of the gesture.
Her hands inspected the false flesh of the lower face, the only face since the mask was concealing no face. It felt real enough with texture, but not warm enough, probably lacking some other subtle details she wasn't thinking of too. Pulling back the lips a finger an over the teeth, dry of course. This was creepy, and . . .
Her thoughts trailed off swaying a moment on her feet blinking as her pupils reddened. Feeling the softness of the lips between her fingers she grinned and leaned don pressing her warm lips to the lukewarm twins. Her eyes closed enjoying the moment a feeling akin to static shock pressing her lips, then her eyes shot open, normal again.
"What the!" she snapped back upright in surprise.
"Well that takes me up a notch on the creepy factor," she grumbled, wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Last she checked she was heterosexual, going over some mental images and reactions seemed to confirm this.
"Oh god, am I narcissist?" Raven murmured. Historically the most pathetic villains were narcissistic. What would her father think if he knew she fantasized about making out with herself?
Dejected and hoping against hope Slade didn't have her under surveillance she departed deciding to blame this on the failure to take her medicine on schedule. Perhaps had she stayed to monitor the robot she could have gained some understanding of that kiss and its results.
But for now there was pressing business to occupy her attention.
"You are my creator and life giver, which should makes my loyalty to you natural, aside from the obedience protcols and self destruct fail safe," Unit 3 assured her.
"Yeah, but you have to admit there is a lot of precedence for robot revolts against their creators," Raven pointed out.
'Golem would be more accurate,' Unit 3 thought, having surfed the net earlier.
"Care to make it more interesting?" Unit 3 asked.
"What does a robot want?" Raven asked. She was genuinely curious. Shock aside it was novel to have someone around that was not her superior or a contractor.
"I would prefer an actual face under this mask, instead of just a telescreen and a pair of optics," Unit 3 suggested.
Raven frowned at the request. She thought the set up was quite effective. In fact she was planning to have a wireless camera preserve the expression of the Titan who unmasked the unfortunate droid. There was space on the base fridge reserved for that piece of candid camera work.
"Good answer, but since I know the face you want is mine, no. It would be unwise to leave my face lying around for some C list hero to uncover. How about an actual name instead?" Raven asked. Unit 3 didn't answer as she divided the chips into even piles and picked up her cards. She looked back up to Raven.
"And if you win?" Unit 3 asked flatly. The golem rolled her eyes for the first time at the answer she received.
Raven failed to note that as someone else finally decided to make their presence felt.
"Razor?" Raven asked as her pet nuzzled her leg. The feral Meta turned her face up to its mistress, an established signal for begging. Raven wondered if the lack of eyes was actually a good thing, as creepy as the situation might be receiving the sad puppy eyes from the likes of Razor could possibly unnerve even her.
"I guess I have been spending a lot of time on my tech and planning lately. Okay girl we'll spar some," Raven assured her pet. She laid down her cards and stroked Razor under the chin eliciting a purr from the metallic girl. If the metal girl seated opposite her was put off by the display, she gave no signs of it.
"Head to the arena while I get my armor," Raven told Razor who loped off as Raven stood. She noticed Unit 3 was still sitting in place, only her eyes moving.
"Care to watch?" Raven inquired. After a moments hesitation Unit 3 nodded her assent and rose. The original wondered what her father would have to say about this turn of events. Hopefully he would take to the development well; after all it might be nice to have another girl around, Raven thought. But if didn't, well she could always build more.
Author's Note: Well this chapter certainly was tougher than expected. It wasn't even the writing that was the greatest obstacle, RL, mine and others, just seemed to always keep it from being clenched and made things take longer than they needed too. And there was my failed attempts to jumpstart Queen of All oni, which by the way is moving along again, at this point I am certain I will never try o write that farmer again.
Well hope this chapter was fun for you, next chapter 'Deception'.