Author's Note:
I'm a very mediocre artist, but feel free to check out a few of my drawings on Deviantart. They are under the profile OkaaraGem. Also stay tuned because I will be adding animations to my deviant art profile...perhaps eventually a BB Rae kiss? I also take requests for animation ideas. My first animation will be posted by the end of this story! I'll give you an update to remind you to check it out :) I just have to figure out how to upload it...lol.
Just a reminder that I have decided to combine the storylines "The Killing Joke" and "Return of the Joker." I have chosen to incorporate Babs' paralysis, as well as Tim's kidnapping. Both of these things are canon.
~0~0~0~
Almost a week passed, and there was nothing. Every day Batman and the former Titans would split up and scour the city, looking for any signs of Robin or Catwoman. Then, on the sixth night since Tim's disappearance, Beast Boy found a lead.
"I think I'm picking up Catwoman's scent," he told Raven as they ran along the city's rooftops. "I caught a whiff of it from the wedding several months ago, so I know it's her."
"You could smell her all the way from inside the reception hall?" Raven questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Beast Boy winced. "She kinds smells like tuna," he admitted.
Raven paused. "Let's follow the scent; I think I have an idea." Beast Boy nodded, shifting into a bloodhound, but Raven held out her hand. "Try your cat form instead." Beast Boy lifted one of his floppy ears in a questioning way, but Raven shook her head. "Just a feeling," she explained. "Trust me."
Beast Boy had absolutely no idea where she was going with this, but he trusted her. Changing into a cat, he raised his head and sniffed the air, finding Catwoman's scent easily. He let out a meow and began to follow the trail, pausing every once in a while to take another whiff. Raven made sure to fly after him, but at a distance. He would never admit this out loud, but as a cat the fishy smell was actually quite pleasing.
That was until it blasted into his face.
"I thought I heard a kitty," a smooth voice drawled from the shadow of a skyscraper. A moment later a sleek woman dressed in all black leather sauntered into the moonlight. Her face was nearly completely covered; all save for her mouth and jawline. The uniform she wore accented her luxurious curves, and they only stood out more as she cocked her hip to the side, standing in a way that was entirely sensual. Beast Boy didn't need an introduction to know who this was.
Without another moment to waste, Beast Boy morphed back into his human form, and Raven emerged from behind him. The changeling watched as Catwoman's face dipped into disappointment at his transformation.
"We need to talk to you," Beast Boy told her. "It's important."
Catwoman pursed her lips. "Do I know you?"
"Batman sent us," Raven stated simply, and Catwoman crossed her arms.
"What does he want this time? A date to some dreadful gala? Usually he has the decency to ask me himself," she mused, half-jokingly.
"It's Robin," Beast Boy said, cutting to the chase. "He's been missing for almost a week."
Catwoman stiffened at the news. "And what would you have me do, Kitty?" she questioned the changeling.
"Batman wanted to know if you've heard anything. You gotta help him. He's totally freaking out-" Beast Boy winced as Raven nudged him, giving him a gentle reminder to be careful not to reveal too much about the man's emotional turmoil.
As Beast Boy watched Catwoman's upset expression, however, he found it very hard to believe that this woman couldn't be entirely trusted. She seemed just as shattered by the news of Tim's vanishing as the rest of them.
"Well," Catwoman said finally, "That is a shame."
"Do you know anything?" Raven asked carefully.
Catwoman turned to address Raven. "I can assure you if I did, I would not keep it to myself. I may like to have my own fun, but seeing harm come to the little bird is not something I would enjoy. I shall keep a look out though," she added. She stepped forwards, running a finger down Beast Boy's chest. "Especially for you, my little kitty cat." Catwoman turned gracefully on her heel and flipped off the building, disappearing into the darkness.
Beast Boy heard Raven mutter something about flirtatious cats, before she glanced up at him. "Well that felt like a waste of time."
He shrugged. "Maybe not. We have someone on the inside looking around now."
"Beast Boy, Raven, report," Oracle's request rang out from the chips in their ears.
"We just spoke to Selina," Raven responded, holding a hand to her ear. "She didn't know anything, but she said she'd look around."
Oracle sighed. "Damn. I really thought she'd be able to help. Bruce will be disappointed."
"Any luck with the others?" Beast Boy inquired.
"No. Nothing. There are only so many places we can check before we start to repeat ourselves. There has to be something we're missing."
"We'll find it," Beast Boy insisted fiercely. "We have to."
"I hope so. Anyways, Nightwing told me he and Cyborg are taking over the main search now. You two are welcome to return to base and get some rest. Do you copy?"
"We copy. Thank you, Oracle," Raven said. She turned to Beast Boy the same time he let out an enormous yawn. "She's right. We should get some rest."
Beast Boy scratched his head. "I hear ya. I'm exhausted." He frowned, the expression creating deep lines in his forehead. "It feels like whatever we do, we aren't getting anywhere closer to finding him."
Raven placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know. I feel the same way, but we can't give up hope."
Beast Boy smiled at her. "Look at you, being all optimistic."
Raven rolled her eyes at him affectionately. "Don't get used to it."
The two made it back to the Manor a half an hour later. To be honest, Beast Boy was getting a little tired sneaking in and out of the mansion. At first it had been fun climbing into a window or having Raven faze them through a wall. After a while though, he found himself missing the days where he could just walk through the front door. Ah, well, alter egos and all that.
Both he and Raven went immediately to their room; they were far too exhausted these days to do much of anything else. That being said, when the door shut behind them the changeling grew an evil smile. As Raven removed her cloak and lay on her back, Beast Boy climbed over her, pausing at her belly to kiss it. If one looked ever so closely one could see the slight roundness that her stomach had taken on, but it was far too subtle for the average person to notice.
Raven's eyes shot open as Beast Boy smashed his lips to where her navel would be under her uniform, blowing out fiercely. The unexpected raspberry caused her to jolt, and with one swipe of her hand she knocked him to the floor.
"Aw come on Rae, the baby deserves some lovin' too," Beast Boy whined, rubbing his head.
Raven raised an eyebrow. "You call that loving?"
"Duh." Beast Boy climbed back onto the bed, but he gave her more space this time, now that he had had his fun. His elbow bent at an angle as he propped his head on his hand. He watched her tenderly, his eyes twinkling.
"What?" Raven asked, a little self-consciously.
Beast Boy shrugged. "Nothing. Just like watching you."
She sighed. "I'll never understand you," she remarked teasingly.
Beast Boy laughed. "Maybe I'll have a better chance with the baby."
Raven snorted. "If they ever turn out like you then Azar help us all."
The smile dropped from Beast Boy's face. His head lifted from his hand, and he stared at Raven, but this time for a different reason.
"What?" she questioned again, confused by his reaction.
He swallowed once, and then realizing his throat was still dry, coughed to clear it. Finally, when he was sure he could speak without his voice cracking he spoke. "They?"
Raven's expression froze as she realized her slip up. She glanced away from him, at anywhere but him, really, until he held her face in his.
"Rae?" he inquired, just to be sure.
Raven closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before she focused on him. "I'm sorry. I know you wanted it to be a surprise."
Beast Boy shook his head in disbelief. "So…twins?"
Raven nodded slowly. "Yes. Twins."
The smile returned to his face in full force. "Sweet!" His grin wavered a bit as he watched her eyes moisten. "What's wrong?"
"How is it that half of what comes out of your mouth is utter nonsense, but you still manage to say just what I need to hear when the time is right?"
Beast Boy cupped her face and pressed his lips against hers. He pulled away, his mouth tugging up at one corner. "It's a gift." Raven moved in to kiss him again, but he held her back. "Boys or girls? Or one of each?"
"I thought you didn't want to know," she responded in surprise.
Beast Boy shrugged once more. "I can't help it. I'm too excited now."
Raven's smile could have lit up even the gritty, dark streets of Gotham. "One of each."
There was a lump in his throat and he couldn't explain why. All at once it felt so real, and even though he was scared out of his mind, he couldn't wait to meet them.
Unfortunately, this news was the only good news Beast Boy would hear for a long time. Days had passed without even a sign of Robin. By now it had been almost three weeks since the boy's disappearance. The time had been so long that Starfire had to leave for a couple of days to check in on Mar'i, not wanting to neglect her child. After she had returned she had informed all of them that she had run into Selina again.
"She informed me she had met with this Poison Ivy woman," Starfire explained to them in the Batcave. "She believed she could be useful, for they and Harley Quinn are part of a team?" Starfire glanced at Batman questioningly.
The Dark Knight, however, did not respond. Beast Boy could see that over time he had become more withdrawn, if that were even possible. He didn't sleep most nights-according to what he had heard from Alfred-instead he spent every waking hour scouring the city for Tim. Beast Boy didn't blame Batman for feeling the way he did. The man knew that in a way, his son's disappearance was his fault.
"In the past Catwoman paired up with Harley and Ivy to form the Gotham Sirens," Nightwing clarified. "All three of them have not been seen working together for sometime though."
"Well don't leave us in suspense," Oracle urged, her voice tense. "What did Ivy say?"
Beast Boy noticed Starfire seemed uncertain. "It appears the Poison Ivy has not had contact with Harley." All of them started to deflate, so she quickly added, "she did, however, inform Selina of several locations where she had seen Harley over the past several days. This is valuable information is it not?"
"Sounds like it," Cyborg said, crossing his arms.
"What are the locations?" Batman said suddenly, his voice gruff.
Starfire jolted; clearly surprised he had spoken up, as were the rest of them. "Um, I believe she mentioned the bay, and sectors in the financial district."
Batman strode over to Starfire, his jaw clenched. "Do you believe, or do you know?"
"Bruce-" Nightwing started.
"She has to be absolutely positive. Tim is out there somewhere and we are no closer to finding him than we were when we started," Batman spat, finally losing control.
"You think I don't that?!" Nightwing snapped, crossing the cave to stand in front of his adoptive father. "You think it doesn't keep me up at night too? You aren't the only one with family on the line."
The two glared daggers at each other, and neither one seemed willing to back down. Fortunately, Raven was known to dissolve such tense situations.
"We all know you both have a lot to lose," Raven spoke calmly, causing the two men to turn to her, "but if you recall, some…have already lost." At her words everyone glanced at Oracle, who was surveying both heroes with a disappointed look on her face. "Screaming at each other won't solve anything," Raven added.
"Raven's right," Oracle said, wheeling herself in front of Nightwing and Batman. "Fighting with each other isn't going to help. We all feel guilty, but it's what we do with that guilt that matters." Beast Boy watched in wonder as Barbara Gordon held her chin up high, and it became clear to him how strong she really was. "While you were squabbling I already entered in the locations Starfire mentioned. I suggest you get moving."
~0~0~0~
Beast Boy didn't have to be an empath to realize Raven was stressed, more so than usual. The two former Titans had taken one of the locations in the financial district. They were currently scanning rooftops yet again; Raven levitated while Beast Boy flew as a falcon. Ever since they had left the Batcave, Beast Boy could clearly see the tension in her shoulders. Finally, not being able to take it anymore, he transformed back into a human.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Did Nightwing and Batman shake you up earlier?"
She barely acknowledged him as she landed on the rooftop. Her eyes scanned the area; her hands glowed with black energy. Beast Boy, unnerved by her strange behavior, started to speak again, but she held her hand up to silence him. Moving forwards wordlessly, she slipped behind the corner of a building, Beast Boy right on her tail. As he rounded the corner, he ran into her outstretched arm.
"Look," she said quietly, and he did.
Straight ahead, about forty feet away from them, was a purple box. Confused, Beast Boy began to move towards it, but Raven held him back. She raised her right hand, cautiously. She held her pose for a moment before flicking her thumb, pointer and middle finger out rapidly, firing black energy that zinged off the box. As soon as her powers made contact with the mysterious object, music began to play as a jack-in-the-box emerged.
Beast Boy watched the child's toy with uneasy fascination. The jack's eyes were marked with two simple black X's, his costume painted in red. He bobbed back and forth with a deranged painted smile on its face. Everything about the sight was whimsically disturbing.
Beast Boy gasped and Raven jerked as a white object sprang towards them, but ended up landing harmlessly at their feet. Raven's hands lost their glow as she and Beast Boy stared down at the article of clothing in confusion. Beast Boy bent down to pick up the white material, holding up each end to examine it further.
"Raven," he said, turning to her, "do you think-"
"Gar!" she gasped, a second before the jack-in-the-box exploded into flames. Beast Boy would have been blown to smithereens if Raven hadn't grabbed him by the forearm and fazed him into the roof below. Once the blast had subsided, Raven remerged with Beast Boy, who still held the white uniform in his hands. "Are you alright?" she questioned.
Beast Boy nodded, his eyes never leaving the clothing, the gown. "We gotta call Batman about this," he said.
Twenty minutes later the team reconvened in a darkened alleyway. Beast Boy showed Batman the garment they had found while Raven explained to them what they had encountered.
"It was like some sort of game," the changeling added to Raven's explanation, once she had finished.
"It's more than a game," Nightwing said, gazing at the uniform Batman held.
"It was an invitation," Batman finished.
"From the Joker?" Starfire inquired.
"Can't imagine anyone else sending an invite like that," Cyborg mused, shaking his head.
"What does it mean though?" Beast Boy asked, scratching the back of his neck.
Batman's eyes narrowed. "I have an idea, but I just hope I'm wrong."
"Only one way to find out for sure," Nightwing said gloomily. "Oracle, do you copy?"
"Loud and clear. Hand the gown to Cyborg."
"Me?" Cyborg questioned, raising his eyebrows. "Why?"
"If you scan the sediment attached to the gown I can double check the locations we have saved on file," Oracle explained. "Something tells me I might not even need to though," she added, referring to Batman's intuition.
Nonetheless, Cyborg scanned the gown thoroughly. The group waited for Oracle to process the scan, and in less than ten seconds, they had their answer.
"Arkham Asylum," Oracle confirmed. "You were right Bruce."
"Arkham Asylum?" Beast Boy squeaked.
"Man, I thought that place shut down ages ago," Cyborg said.
Nightwing frowned. "It did. It's completely inhabitable."
"Not for some," Batman said, turning to all of them. "I've figured out by now that even if I tell you all to stay behind, you won't listen." Batman paused as they all exchanged somewhat sheepish looks. "I can't stop you from coming with me, but I can stop you from going in blind."
"What's the plan?" Nightwing asked. Beast Boy was only mildly surprised by how Nightwing relinquished complete control to his former mentor. Then again, the possibility of potentially losing his brother was certainly cause for such a small sacrifice.
Batman began to explain his strategy, the others drawing closer in order to gather every small detail. When he had finished, Beast Boy shook his head in wonder. It was a really good plan. No wonder he was the Batman.
The changeling felt a surge of adrenaline pound through him at the thought of storming Arkham and saving Robin. Then reality set in. They were going in. To Arkham Asylum. To face the Joker.
Beast Boy turned to Raven, realizing that things could go horrible wrong. That they probably would go horribly wrong. That by trying to save their brother, they would also be risking each other, and their future children.
Raven must have been feeling similarly, for she reached over and subtly squeezed his hand. Beast Boy took a deep breath.
They were going in.
~0~0~0~
Beast Boy winced in his sparrow form as Batman literally drove through the iron gates in front of Arkham Asylum. The stress Batman was sure to be feeling had clearly built within the last hour. Beast Boy watched as Starfire flew in after the Batmobile, and moments later the vehicle stopped in front of the asylum's doors. Batman and Nightwing exited swiftly, and the three proceeded to enter the building through the front entrance.
Meanwhile Beast Boy, Raven and Cyborg were instructed to hang back. The Joker was apparently known for his quick escapes, so they would monitor the outside perimeter of the asylum to ensure that did not happen. Oracle would also be their eyes if necessary. If the others were to face some sort of trouble, Starfire would send out a flare, and they would storm the building.
"I feel so useless being out here," Beast Boy said, transforming back.
"Man, same, but what can we do about it? None of us have faced the Joker before besides Wingz and Batman, and they both said stay out of the way."
"I take it that it would be a bad idea to split up?" Raven inquired. She tapped her ear. "Oracle?"
"Normally I would say yes, but from what I can see both Joker and Harley are in the heart of the building. Batman, Nightwing and Starfire are about to engage them. I'd spread out, make sure there aren't any exits they could slip out of."
"Copy that," Cyborg said, turning to his friends. "You heard the woman, split up. And be careful," he added.
Beast Boy and Raven nodded and then Cyborg ran in one direction, disappearing around a stone corner. Beast Boy looked to Raven, embracing her tightly. "Be safe," he whispered, and she nodded again before phasing into the ground. Without another moment to waste, the changeling turned into a greyhound, trotting along the perimeter and searching for any sort of hole or vent.
A few minutes into his search, Beast Boy's ears shot up as he heard a faint humming coming from a large crack in the building. Unable to ignore the eerie noise, Beast Boy stuck his head in the fissure, his nose sniffing at the sediment. He stilled his movements, trying to pick up on the sound again. Almost immediately after he shoved his head through, the soft singing escalated in volume.
"And if that mockingbird won't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring…"
The voice was female, that much was certain. Although the tune of the song was meant to be soothing, a series of chills caused Beast Boy's lithe form to shudder, and he stepped backwards until he was outside again.
He quickly turned around, kicking dirt and stone with his back hind legs. In minutes the crack was sealed, making escape from the inside impossible. Satisfied with his work, Beast Boy transformed back into a human around the same time Oracle made contact with him.
"Beast Boy come in," she called, her voice urgent.
Beast Boy placed a hand by his ear. "I'm here."
"Hurry! Raven and Cyborg-"
Beast Boy couldn't hear the rest, for at that moment a large noise exploded above him. His head snapped towards the sky in time to see a tremendous orb of green light fizzle into the darkness.
Starfire's flare.
~0~0~0~
Author's Note: Next chapter will focus on what they find inside, but we will mostly follow Raven and Beast Boy's part in this final battle, soon to come.
