"Let me illuminate something for you, BB," Kid Flash said, not looking away from the screen.
"What would that be?" the green changeling replied, also not for one moment tearing his eyes from the huge television that was the centerpiece of the Tower's main room.
For to look away from the screen meant a possible instant death, and Kid Flash, Herald, Hot Spot and Beast Boy all knew it.
The Third Team had finished their mall excursion about an hour ago, and were now stalling until seven thirty, when they would go to dinner at one of the nice restaurants that Robin had recommended. Kid Flash had, as soon as they had arrived back through one of Herald's portals, gone to collect Beast Boy and the rousing match of Halo 3 had begun. Naturally Hot Spot wanted in, and it hadn't taken much convincing to get Herald to join either. Jericho had opted to watch the carnage, and now sat on one end of the large semi circular couch, eyes alight and wide like he was watching the summer's best big budget special effects movie.
Now, the four Titans who were playing were concentrating solely on killing each other in what was perhaps the most brutal Halo 3 slayer match that the Tower had ever hosted.
"Shopping," Kid Flash said, answering Beast Boy's question, "is not fun."
Beast Boy laughed, as he maneuvered his game character into a firing position on Hot Spot. "Well, duh."
"Dammit!" Hot Spot said as Beast Boy killed him with several well placed shots.
"That's right, boys!" Beast Boy smiled. "Who's winning now?"
It's just home field advantage, that's all," Kid Flash smiled, concentrating. "It'll wear off."
And Beast Boy's character was suddenly killed by a well placed sniper shot.
"Dude! Who did that?!"
"Moi," Kid Flash smiled wider. "I believe it's now a tie... Nope, sorry Herald. I'm winning now."
Herald smiled a bit to himself as he died again, also picked off by a Kid Flash sniper shot. He had never played this game before tonight, and was in a solid fourth place. He was getting absolutely slaughtered, but he didn't much mind. It was the company he was here for, not the game.
"Woah there, Spotty," Kid Flash exclaimed as Hot Spot climbed into a tank and began raining pure destruction on the speedster's location. "Where's the fire?"
Hot Spot smiled. But the satisfaction was short lived, as Beast Boy, using a recently acquired rocket launcher, destroyed Hot Spot's tank and killed him in the process.
"Dammit," Hot Spot said again.
"Dude!" Beast Boy exclaimed, as his character died again. "Herald just shot me in the back!"
"It was the the part of you that was facing me," Herald shrugged.
Kid Flash laughed.
"Well at least he's not camping like some people!" Beast Boy muttered.
"Who me?" Kid Flash responded innocently.
"Yeah, why don't you come out of that building and fight me like a man?" Beast Boy said.
"I am out of the building, smart one," Kid Flash explained. "I was only hanging out in there in the first place because Spotty over there had me pinned down with a freakin' tank. I ain't answering the door when one of those knocks."
"Well, where are you, then?" Beast Boy asked.
"Here."
And Beast Boy was picked off at long range once again.
"Holy crap! How are you doing that?!" Beast Boy cried.
"Skills, baby," Kid Flash grinned. "Skills."
Hot Spot used a grenade to kill a nearby Herald. "Who knew that the Kid was such a damn good sniper?"
"If I had known," Beast Boy grunted, "I may not've challenged him in the first place."
"But ya did," Kid Flash said. "Oh and bang bang, you're dead, Spotty."
Hot Spot's character crumpled to the ground. "Dammit."
"Doing better than me, anyway," Herald stated plainly.
Jericho smiled at his friend. He had also never played this game (or any other video game) before, so he understood Herald's position. Though he had to admit, he was impressed that Herald was even competing at all with the other three Titans. They were all, as far as he could tell, pretty much pros at it, so for Herald to even be able to play with them at all (and even get a few kills to his name) was nothing short of amazing.
Herald added to this opinion when he crept up on Kid Flash and killed him with a grenade.
"Woah, there!" Kid Flash exclaimed.
"Ha!" Beast Boy pumped his fist in the air. "Your kill streak is over!"
"Yeah, until I start another one," Kid Flash replied.
Jericho continued smiling as he watched the four kill each other. Today had been, so far, nothing sort of utterly group had survived the mall (and even gotten everything they'd need for the road trip) and in about half an hour they'd all be going to dinner. Then tomorrow, they would be taught how to drive. Or for those who already knew, certified to do so.
What an adventure it was all turning out to be.
"Man, I miss Cy," Beast Boy said. "You think you're good, Flash? Cyborg's the best at this game."
"Don't worry, BB." Kid Flash said. "We'll mail him back when we get to Obsidian."
"After we play a few rounds with him," Hot Spot added, running over Kid Flash with a Warthog.
"Nice," Kid Flash complimented. "I just want it to be known though, that for the record, in real life, I'm much faster than that."
"Didn't save your life in the game," Hot Spot smiled.
"True."
"So, where's everyone else?" Hot Spot glanced at Beast Boy.
Beast Boy shrugged. "Who knows? I can bet that Raven's in her room and-"
"-Starfire and Robin are in Starfire's room," Kid Flash finished for him.
Beast Boy gave a mock shudder. "I don't want to picture that, Flash."
"Well, it's too late! You are!" Kid Flash grinned.
"I hate you..."
"You really will in a sec," Kid Flash said.
And Beast Boy was sniped.
"You just died!" Beast Boy had to restrain himself from hurling his controller at the screen. "How the hell do you keep getting sniper rifles!?"
"I have my ways," Kid Flash said, as Hot Spot and Jericho laughed at Beast Boy's most recent death. "And now if I could just find Hot Spot, my revenge will be complete."
"Bring it, boy," Hot Spot challenged.
"So, Beast Boy," a voice came from behind them. "Do you die less or more in real life?"
Only Jericho turned to see who was addressing them, though it was obvious by her accent who it was.
Argent, followed by Jinx were entering the Tower's main room, and Argent was smiling.
"Less I would hope," Kid Flash responded to her question. "If it was more, he'd be dead like, a thousand times over."
Argent laughed as she and Jinx joined the other five Titans on the couch, which was quickly running out of space. Jericho squeezed over to allow both girls to sit on the far end.
"What a wonderfully violent game," Argent said, watching the carnage unfold before her.
"It is kinda fun, though," Jinx replied.
Argent stared at her.
"What?" Jinx said. "I led a team with five immature boys. This was all they did!" She gestured to the television screen to emphasize her point.
"Well, now you're leading a team with four immature boys, and it'll be still all they do," Argent said.
Jinx watched the screen. "Yeah, it's starting to look like it."
"Oh, we'll do other things," Kid Flash assured her. "I'm just not sure what yet..."
Jinx rolled her eyes. "Wonderful."
Kid Flash had remained just as non compliant as ever for the remainder of their mall trip, though somehow she had managed to get him to pick out decent clothes, and she figured he would look at least halfway good for their road trip.
"You missed!" Hot Spot said, bringing Jinx's attention back to the screen.
Kid Flash had just fired several rounds at Hot Spot that he had barely avoided.
"For now," Kid Flash agreed. "But vengeance will come. You better run, Spotty."
"Now this sounds serious..." Argent muttered sarcastically.
"Very," Kid Flash responded in kind.
"Herald shot me in the back again!" Beast Boy exclaimed.
"Well if your back would stop facing me, maybe I'd shoot some other part of you," Herald said.
"Who's winning this blood fest anyway?" Argent said.
"Yeah I wonder who is winning..." Kid Flash said with a grin.
Beast Boy looked beyond pissed, but said nothing.
The match continued this way for nearly forty more minutes, before the conclusion was reached. A few minutes after that, seven thirty rolled around, and The Third Team left to go eat dinner.
For them, the real journey had yet to even begin.