Alice: New chapter.

Emily: Enjoy!

Alice: I can't wait for the next one! It should have a ton of bromance.

Emily: Thanks for reading this story and being so patient with me!

Alice: Enjoy.

Titans Rising

Part 2

Terra had personally never seen the giant "worms" Slade created, but he warned her of their magnitude and power. At this point, she knew she shouldn't be so shocked by his actions, but her mouth couldn't help but drop when she saw what he made. When did he have time for this while he was training her? How did she not notice her acclaimed father figure making mass weapons of destruction? Or did he already have them ready by the time she joined him? Too many questions, she decided. Next time he called she would have to ask. "Ready?" Beast boy whispered to her.

"Oh yeah," she mumbled. Slade didn't tell her any of the worm's weaker aspects since he wanted her to figure them out herself and to not raise suspicion with the other titans. After Cyborg hurled a taxi at the worm, she threw herself in front of Raven and used her powers to throw a giant piece of the street at the monster. She smirked triumphantly as the worm fell backwards completely but gasped when it fired a shot at Beast boy, who flew back. "Beast boy!"

When the worm tired firing at him again, she quickly blocked the red laser with a rock and jumped next to Beast boy. Using her powers, she lifted the road beneath them into the air as a way to fly. Starfire seemed to notice this and tried to distract the worm by firing at it with green lasers from her… eyes? "Since when could she do that?" Terra gaped.

"Long story," Beast boy responded. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah," Terra blushed, noticing their close proximity. "You?"

"I'm good." Beast boy beamed. Terra landed them safely behind Robin and Cyborg.

Their leader noticed them instantly. "Terra!" he shouted. "Make a pathway, so I can get in its face!"

"You got it!" she screamed back, lifting the rocks without hesitation. Robin then hoisted himself onto the first one and leaped up to the monster, throwing tiny bombs at the creature. Terra smirked when it seemed as though the worm would explode but growled in disappointment when it didn't. Starfire quickly grasped Robin's arm and flew him away from the machine.

Terra paid close attention to the scene, wondering how on earth they could stop this thing. She knew fully well this was her time to impress them as well as impress Slade, but she was not the best with coming up with strategies. That was Robin's job. She watched as their leader, with Starfire's help, landed on the back of the worm and tried to pry open the back. Possibly to hack into the system and shut it down. It didn't work as instead the staff he was using broke in half. "Damn," she cursed, a rarity for her.

Okay, if thinking wasn't going to work, she might as well just smash the stupid worm. Closing her eyes and focusing all of her energy, she lifted a giant piece of the street with her powers and smirked as the worm came into place. "No!" a voice shouted. Terra frowned as Raven grabbed the rock with her own dark magic and glared at the blonde. "Terra," she whispered, "stop!"

"What are you doing?!" she screamed back.

"You'll hurt someone!" Raven stated as calmly as she could, and those were possibly the worst words she could have chosen. The little boy flashed once again in her mind, and she tried remembering Slade's words that calmed her down that day. He may have been an evil mastermind, but he still helped her in ways no one else could. She looked towards him for comfort and fatherly affection. Heck, it was the only reason why she was betraying her friends and crush.

"No, I won't," she growled. "I'm in control!"

The tug of war over the rock became both of the girls' focus to the point where they didn't notice the worm advancing on them. Not until Robin shouted Raven's name, dashed towards her, and literally threw himself at her until they both landed on the ground with Robin's body literally shielding hers. The worm, as it turns out, was not aiming for her but for the rock in between which was blasted into pieces. Pieces, Terra dully noticed, that harshly hit Robin's back but avoided her completely. Do not get distracted to easily Terra was the message the worm was sending her from Slade.

The worm then drilled itself into the ground, completely disappearing from view. "Robin!" Starfire exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

Robin nodded, lifting himself up and ignoring the slight pain in his back which was bleeding quite a bit. He extended a hand towards Raven, who reluctantly accepted it. Terra flinched when Robin's gaze met hers. "What the hell was that?" Robin snarled.

"She… I…" Terra stammered. "The rock…"

"Think first!" he shouted at her in a way that reminded her of an angry, but very worried, parent. "Who was in front of the worm when you were about to throw that rock? Us. If Raven didn't stop you, the worm would have been destroyed but we would have been severely injured. Even if we weren't in the way, the rock could have hit a building or a civilian. Think first."

Robin then directed his attention at the giant hole left by the worm and completely ignored Terra. Raven followed him without another word and stared at the darkness where they would eventually have to go.

Beast boy, on the other hand, approached her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sorry about that," Beast boy whispered to her. "He's overprotective about everyone."

"About everyone?" Terra spat. "Or about Raven?"

"Both." Beast boy shrugged. "Remember he worked with Batman, and he's seen some pretty scary stuff that he won't even talk to us about. He's just trying to protect us and help you realize smashing things won't help. We've all experienced that lecture at some point."

Terra sniffed. "Really?"

"Yep. I think he was angrier at me though," he sheepishly smiled. "I cried myself to sleep that night."

"You did not," Terra smiled, her voice becoming lighter and taking a more teasing tone.

"Oh yeah? When I was a kid, Batman and Robin were my heroes. Imagine my shock when one of them starts freaking out at me." Beast boy laughed. "He apologized the next day, and he'll probably do the same with you. We've all been a little off for a while."

"Beast boy!" Cyborg shouted from Robin's side. The other titans also stood there as well. "Terra. You might want to see this."

The two of them quickly rushed to the scene and noticed Robin holding his communicator out. A black and orange mask was on the tiny screen, and Terra gulped. She wasn't used to seeing Slade like that, but she knew she would have to adjust. "Hello Robin," he said over the communicator. "Did you like my present?"

"The worm," Robin nastily growled. "What are you planning?"

"Who is that?" Terra whispered to Beast boy, feigning ignorance.

"Slade." Beast boy mumbled back. "Robin's obsessed with the guy. He's been after an apprentice, and he wanted Robin to be one, but the Justice League scared him off."

"The… oh my." Slade never told her that particular story before.

Slade continued. "Why don't you go down and find out?"

The screen promptly went black after that line. Robin closed it and stared at the darkness for one moment before walking in without another word. The team reluctantly followed, and Terra couldn't help but notice some unfavorable protests that Cyborg mumbled under his breath. Obviously he didn't mean for anyone to hear it, but Terra took it under consideration. This could be a possible weakness, she figured.

The walk was completely silent and quite awkward. When Beast boy told her the team has been off for a little while, she didn't think he meant this off. Starfire kept glancing between Robin and Raven as though she wanted to speak up, and Cyborg just glared at the back of Robin's head. Raven continued to trail beside the team leader, but they weren't talking at all which she found strange. When she first met them, she took their closeness as a sign of them being together. Now she saw none of that.

"Raven!" she decided to break the silence. The girl she called outright glared at her when she turned around. "Um…" Terra paled. "C-can I talk to you alone?"

This made Robin outright stop and stare at Raven with an unknown emotion. Raven seemed to be able to read it well enough unlike Terra. "Okay." She sighed, walking past her teammates to where Terra lingered. As the rest of the team continued to walk, Terra and Raven followed behind them where they could not be heard. "What?"

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry about earlier," Terra mumbled. "I didn't mean to put anyone in danger."

She expected Raven to soften up and say it was fine, but instead she received a harsh, "Whatever."

This only stirred up frustration. "Okay what is your problem? If I'm going to be a part of this team, you and I have to get along!"

That made Raven stop dead in her tracks and snarl at the girl. "But you're not a part of this team, and you never will be if you put them in danger again! The next time I tell you to back off because something is too dangerous, you will back off!"

With those rather loud words, Raven hastily walked ahead without waiting to hear Terra's reply. Beast boy, as it seemed, was waiting for the conversation to be over and promptly slowed down, so he was walking beside her. "If you're going to apologize for Raven like you did with Robin earlier," Terra teasingly, but sadly, mumbled.

"I was." He nodded. "Everyone's been stressed lately, and I'm sorry Robin and Raven are taking it out on you. They just don't adjust as well to change I guess."

"Yeah." She bitterly grumbled.

"If it helps," Beast boy put in, "I think you'll make a great addition to the team. I mean you're really talented and powerful and strong and pretty and—oh my gosh I just said that out loud."

Terra couldn't help but blush and giggle at the boy's words to her. "Thanks," she beamed, bumping her shoulder into his in a sign of thankfulness. He blushed as well and repeated the action making them both grin happily. I love him, Terra thought contently only to gasp. She loved him. She loved Beast boy. That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all! Unless… maybe she could convince both him and Slade to have him join. Maybe she could—no, she couldn't think of this now. Not in the middle of a mission.

"Dead end!" Cyborg frowned at the end of the tunnel.

"Not really," Robin interrupted, taking out his communicator which was beeping heavily. "I'm getting a signal from deep inside the rock. Way deep."

Cyborg nodded and focused his own technology on the signal. "A heartbeat," he turned to Robin, whose lip curled in disgust.

"Slade." He spat out.

Terra noted that this was her time to shine and stepped up. "How about we dig down there and see what's up," she held out her hands only for the earth to start shaking again, prompting a glare from Raven. "Okay are you going to look at me like that every time there's an earthquake?"

Before Raven could retort, three of the giant worms dug out from underneath them. The titans all tensed, preparing for a fight only to have the worms go straight pas them and dig into the rock, making one giant tunnel that lead away from the signal on Robin's communicator. "Um… we're over here," Beast boy pouted.

"We are not their target." Starfire stated unhappily.

"Split up then," Robin said, and it took all of Terra's willpower not to protest. Have you guys seen the horror movies? Bad things happen when we split up! She internally screamed. "Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast boy can go after the worms. Raven, Terra, and I will follow the signal."

"Got it." Cyborg nodded. "Titans, move out!"

Starfire followed, and Beast boy sent a meaningful glance at Terra before rushing down the tunnel. Terra frowned. "Are you sure we need Raven? I can make a tunnel with just my powers. She'll be more help to them," she distastefully asked even though she knew why the girl was really here.

"Raven can move as much rock as you," Robin narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm going to need you both. The signal is 40 degrees down and six hundred meters deep."

"Nice try," Raven almost smugly added and raised her arms. Terra copied the action and soon both girls were digging through the rock with their powers. Robin glanced at the unstable earth above them but chose not to comment on it. If it was going to collapse, then the girls could easily stop it from crushing them. Instead he chose to follow as the girls spat insults at each other. This would be one long mission, he thought tiredly.

As Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast boy chased down the three worms, Cyborg couldn't help but think that this could be his time to prove his leadership skills. It may not be the whole team like it has been in the past, but if he truly tried to be a great leader, maybe they would think him better than Robin. Nodding to himself, he figured this could work out in his favor… until the three worms made three separate tunnels. One going up, one going to the left, and one going to the right. "Split up?" Cyborg offered as it was the only way. "I'll take the ugly one."

Both of his teammates nodded, and they all ran separately. Starfire instantly flew up, Beast boy to the right, and Cyborg to the left. Either they could stop the worms or at least follow them to their end destination. Hopefully it would be the former. As Cyborg continued to follow the worm, unable to catch up with it, he ended up breaching the surface of the earth along with Starfire and Beast boy.

The three of them watched hopelessly as the three worms all sprung into the air and connected with each other in a giant circle. Their red lasers all shot directly down into the earth which surrounded Titans Tower. "Oh no," Cyborg paled.

Robin followed Raven and Terra as they crumbled the last of the rocks in their way of their destination. He rushed forward to look at the scene which was held together by orange beams and a large computer system. He dashed towards it and paled when he noticed the three worms cutting up into the earth with the lasers. The holographic image on the computer exposed the exact target of the worms: their home.

"Robin!" Cyborg called on the communicator. "Star, BB, and I are all at the surface. Their attacking our home!"

"I can see that!" Robin frowned. "Do whatever you can to stop them!" The three of them dashed towards the computer, and Terra instantly tried throwing the biggest pieces of rock she could find at them. Not even a scratch. "If we can't hurt them," Robin began typing on the computer, "we can at least hack this."

Terra nodded only to see Slade dash towards them and literally kick Robin out of the way. She flinched at the outright act of violence which she had yet to see her father figure actually do. Robin jumped to his feet and started fighting back, ignoring the computer which only he knew how to hack. "Robin!" Raven shouted, about to run toward him.

"Forget about me!" he shouted, dodging one of Slade's kicks and accidentally backing into the elevator. "Shut down the computer!"

Terra watched in horror as Slade hit one of the buttons that started the elevator, leaving the two of them out of sight. Although she trusted Slade to win, she was still nervous at the amount of damage Robin could do to him. There was a reason why Slade mainly focused on the leader, after all. Turning to the computer, she realized she had to end this as quickly as possible to save Slade from the Teen Titan's hands. Lifting a giant rock, she moved towards the computer only to once again realize Raven's powers gripped it as well. "No!" Raven narrowed her eyes. "We can't."

"Why not?" Terra shouted. "There are no civilians around or our friends. Let's just end this by smashing the computer."

"We don't know what it will do," Raven reasoned. "It could save our home but it could also destroy it. We can't just play around with these things!"

Terra groaned in both annoyance and strain. "Why can't you just trust me!?"

"Because it's not that easy! I meditate every day to keep my powers under control, and you show up out of nowhere suddenly able to control yours?" she shot back.

The blonde girl frowned, able to see her point. Sighing, she released her hold on the rock. "How am I supposed to earn your trust then?"

"By listening to me," Raven meaningfully told her, eyes for once expressing gratefulness. She dashed towards the computer and started typing on it, but it was too late. The rocks above them began to crumble and fall, smashing the computer to bits. In turn, this resulted in the worms' laser size increasing and having them go faster causing more damage.

"Okay." Terra stated almost sheepishly. "Smashing the computer was definitely a bad idea."

"The tower!" Raven cried in distress although Terra could care less about it. Instead her focus turned to Slade, who hastily jumped out of the elevator and promptly landed on a beam. He outright stared at her for a couple seconds before rushing off. Soon Robin did the same thing only landing on a higher beam and not disappearing. Terra noticed him watching Raven and the earth above with clear stress as well, and it was then Terra figured out what Slade's look meant. He was telling her that this was her moment. Nodding to herself, she dashed in the center of the smashed computer where the Titans Tower was held.

Lifting her arms above her head, she began using her powers to hold up the tower. That, in turn, destroyed the worms circling the ground beneath and hopefully the ground above. Perhaps Slade meant for that little side effect to happen so no one could outshine her. She inwardly thanked him and began applying all her strength to her task. It wasn't enough it seemed as the tower was slowly falling. "Terra!" she heard Raven shouted and suddenly a black light joined her golden one in helping the tower arise.

Terra beamed thankfully at her teammate. "Let's do this!"

The two girls applied all their strength to save their home.

On the outside, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast boy were all mourning at the sight of their home which appeared as though it went completely underground. "No way," Beast boy breathed out causing the other two to glance at the tower. It was slowly rising from the water and earth in which it originally disappeared. "Terra," Beast boy breathed out with pride.

"And Raven," Robin's voice with an equal amount of pride sounded out from the communicator.

"So…" Terra awkwardly stated as she walked down the halls of Titans Tower which she just saved with Raven. Both of the girls were covered in dirt and mud, but it didn't matter to either of them. Once they saved their home, they reunited with the titans upstairs and separated from the group to talk individually. "Does this mean we're friends?"

Raven paused before jokingly smirking. "Close enough."

"Sorry things got off to a rough start," Terra whispered, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Actually I think things went pretty well." Raven optimistically claimed. "Took me a year to stop hating Beast boy."

At this, both the girls started giggling with each other. "So where are we going anyway?" Terra broke the silence.

"Well," Raven smirked, walking into a dark room. "When we originally built this tower, there were tons of extra rooms."

"What do you—oh!" Terra exclaimed once Raven turned on the lights. A room that perfectly fit both her and her personality was exposed, and the rest of the titans were there as well. "My own room…"

"Yep," Robin smiled, handing over a communicator to her. "You're officially a part of this team."

"That's… how did you guys get my room prepared so quickly?" she blurted out.

"Well there were a ton of extra rooms, and we picked out the one that fit you best," Beast boy cut in, beaming happily. "We also added some cactuses since we found you in a desert."

"That's…" Terra beamed. "Thank you!"

"Come on guys," Cyborg patted her shoulder. "Let's give her some time to explore her new room!"

"Thank you so much!" Terra shouted to them as they all started to leave the room. "Wait. Starfire?"

The alien girl turned to her along with the rest of the titans. "Yes?"

"Wanna help me unpack?" Terra pretended to shyly grin. Starfire gasped, leaping up and hugging the muddy girl with cries of "oh yes" and "I would love to". The other titans laughed and promptly exited the room with each other leaving the two girls alone.

As they started unpacking, Terra turned to Starfire and decided to go through with her plan. "You didn't talk much today, you know."

Starfire blinked. "I didn't?"

"Yeah," Terra pretended to look at her in concern. "Is everything alright?"

Starfire nodded with a fake smile. "Of course!"

"Starfire," Terra scolded. "Come on! I'm your friend, right?"

"I…yes," Starfire gave in making Terra inwardly smirk. "I'm just jealous of Robin and Raven I suppose. It's quite obvious, my feelings for Robin, and it's even more obvious of their feelings towards each other. I want to be a good friend, and I don't want my jealousy to ruin anything."

"It won't," Terra reassured, patting Starfire's shoulder. "You're a great girl, Star. You'll never let something as stupid as jealousy get in the way. You're too good for that."

"I suppose," Starfire mumbled insecurely. Terra simply hugged the alien girl and allowed her to continue rambling about her jealousy, newfound powers, and pain at the sight of Robin and Raven. As she listened, she mentally noted anything that would provide insight to the other titans as well. Once she finished, she breathed in relief and beamed at Terra. "Thank you for listening."

"No problem!" Terra waved her hand nonchalantly. "Come to me anytime you need a friend!"

"I will!" Starfire grinned.

Terra stood up, stretching her arms. "Well I need to take a bath. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Of course. Thank you once again friend Terra~" Starfire waved goodbye, walking out of the room as though a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Once she shut the door, Terra smirked allowing her hair to cover half of her face creating a luminous shadow over her face.

"No Starfire. Thank you."

Alice: Bromance chapter next!

Emily: Thanks for reading!

Alice: This was ten whole pages. It's been a while since I've written that long of a chapter.

Emily: Love you guys!