Hello everyone this is nekotenshi-hime with a long overdue chapter update. I am sooo sorry that it took so long to update and I hope you can forgive me. This chapter is longer than the others and the next ch will probably be as long. I have quite a few ideas for upcoming events, so I can only ask you to be patient and bear with me. I hope this story is living up to your expectations. And before I begin I want to say a huge Thank You to all of you, who favorited this story, even if you haven't left a review. Once again thanks again to Leaf Ranger, China Luv, and Hakuryuken for encouraging me to continue! So without further ado here is chptr 24.
Chapter 24: To the Rescue!
Beast was very frustrated. Adonis did not seem to know the meaning of the word surrender. Every time he thought Adonis was knocked out he would get back up. Beast was tired of the back and forth duels. That red furred brute must have a thick skull because he was not giving up any time soon. Did he really want Raven that bad or was he just doing it to prove he was the "top dog"? Whatever his reasons, Beast and Garfield agreed, this dude was getting real annoying real fast.
While the green furred and red furred animals thrashed around the lobby; the other Titans were doing their best to avoid being shot by clowns. Cyborg thought this had to be one of the craziest days he ever had. Starfire wished she knew what the giant machine in the middle of the lobby was for and how they could stop it. Raven really wanted to yank Garfield away and nurse him back to health… after she thoroughly thrashed those stupid clowns for endangering her friends and her home.
The cops behind the teen superheroes were also frustrated. Ramon could not believe that once again those upstarts, those juvenile delinquents, those glory hounds were interfering with a police investigation. Did those snot-nosed brats have no respect for authority or the law? Why did they always have to get in his way? He could not wait until he could put them where they belonged, in an 8 X 10 cell where all the criminals are supposed to go. His sister Rachel was more concerned that her city was in for more trouble because of the giant laser thing in the middle of the lobby. She also wondered who could organize the masked clowns in such a way, to protect him or herself until that person was ready to reveal the purpose of that laser?
Starfire dove behind the counter and sat next to Raven. Beast and Adonis seemed to crash into each other as often as they hit one of the clowns. However this did not mean either of them escaped the bouncing bullet from the police or the clowns. Raven closed her eyes and tried to chant to calm herself but all she kept thinking about was Garfield and Adonis fighting. For a moment she did wonder if Blackfire and Terra were okay. It had been over three hours since the last time the girls had first contacted them. With all the commotion Cyborg did not have the time to check the signal strength of the communicator and pinpoint their location.
"Raven, do you believe that my sister and our friend Terra are uninjured?"
"I really hope so Starfire. I am concerned with this laser thing. For all we know it could shoot high powered plasma ray and disintegrate half the city. Or it could be some kind of gun that spews out a nerve gas. Please say something so I can forget these unpleasant scenarios."
"Um, remember the last time we journeyed to the beach? I wish we could go back there and not have people from other planets attempting to kidnap us."
Raven gave a dry laugh after Starfire's comment about kidnapping. "I agree and can we please have friends not swimming into a school of box jellyfish and having to go to the hospital? Cyborg you okay?"
"Yeah how you two girls holding up" Cyborg asked as he fired his sonic cannon at one of the clowns. The clown jumped to the right and fired his gun. The shot rang throughout the lobby and hit Adonis in the back of his torn shoulder. Beast was under him and ripping at his soft belly with his hind legs. Adonis twisted his head to the left and bit on Beast's nose. Beast jerked his head forward to butt his head against Adonis' neck. They broke apart again and circled each other.
Garfield wanted to shift into a raptor and drag Adonis out of the lobby. The two of them being in the middle of the floor was not helping his friends and their bulky bodies were getting caught in the crossfire. Beast had a better idea. He limped away from Adonis heading towards one of the elevators. Adonis followed him growling and snarling in rage.
Beast taunted Adonis by hopping on three legs and whimpering. Raven's eyes glowed with anger and a little desperation. What would she do if Beast was hurt too severely? The thought of Beast or Garfield being wounded sent shivers down her spine. Raven clenched her fists until her nails drew tiny points of blood from her palm. Beast stumbled in front of the empty elevator shaft. Adonis gave a short bark of victory before he charged forward.
Beast smiled as he rolled onto his back, with Adonis in mid-air ready to slash his throat. What Adonis didn't realize was Beast rolled on purpose. Garfield told Beast to roll on his back, so they could flip Adonis into the air, and use their weight to unsettle their opponent. This would leave the puffed up mongrel in their opinion too dazed to counterattack.
What they did not count on was Raven watching behind them. When Adonis leaped onto their belly and Beast pushed up with his muscles to reverse their positions; Raven chanted and wrapped black tendrils around Adonis. With a quick jerk in the opposite direction, Beast had pushed Adonis into the air, and Raven's tendrils yanked him away. Raven pulled so hard she almost dislocated his shoulders. Then he went flying through the front doors of City Hall, crashing in the middle of the crowd of police officers, and laid unmoving on the ground.
"Forget it Adonis, I am taken. And I have no intention of letting him go."
Garfield and Beast howled their victory but it was cut off by a gurgle of pain. Raven ran over to him, fighting tears the whole way. She held Beast's head in her lap and stroked his fur that was sticky with blood. Raven did not remember ever seeing Beast boy so torn, so raw, a cut of beef hanging in a butcher's shop looked better than he did right now.
"Raven is Beast boy all right" Cyborg asked walking up to her. Raven's eyes glowed red for a moment and a shield covered them. Starfire walked up to her friend and said in a quiet voice, "Raven, please be relaxed. The danger has passed. No one will hurt you or Beast boy. I promise you this."
Beast boy opened his eyes but he could not see clearly. Everything was blurry and shapes moved up and down, as if he was on a ship in a hurricane. Even Raven's beautiful face was indistinct, so he shook his head to clear it. That just made him dizzy and it feels like he was going to throw up. Raven's hands glided over his shredded fur and skin. Beast boy sighed in relief as some of the worst pain faded away.
"Beast boy you had us going for a minute there pal" Cyborg said while scratching his head. Starfire sighed in relief as Raven lowered her shield. Raven laughed that her friends were still in one piece.
Raven whispered, "Garfield you won't ever scare me like that again." A soft short purr was her answer as he closed his eyes. If Raven had not seen and heard his slow breathing she would have panicked. The last thing she needed to think right now; was that her best friend was about to be in a coma.
Cyborg looked at the elevators and then back at his friends. Ramon interrupted whatever Cyborg was going to say with that loud megaphone of his. Other officers rushed past them while the clowns scurried away through doors and down the stairs.
"All right that was enough of that freak show. Everyone move out now! We have real criminals to catch. I want any of these jokers still in this lobby cuffed and interrogated. We are working with too little information and that will not do! Now move out! As for you juvenile delinquents you better be in this exact spot by the time the real officers of Jump City investigate this crime. If any of you move I will have you thrown in jail for obstructing officers in their duties. Do you understand me?"
Raven ignored Ramon's comments and threats. The only person she was concerned about was Beast boy or Garfield, as she called him when they were alone, and his overprotective instincts known as Beast. Cyborg and Starfire were more concerned about their friends, Blackfire and Terra. So they decided to sneak downstairs and do a little investigating of their own. Ramon ran after one of the clowns heading deeper into the Hall.
Cyborg knew anyone stupid enough, to try separating Raven from Beast boy now; was in for a possible one-way trip to another dimension. So it was safe to say, Raven and Beast boy were going to be fine in the lobby for the moment. Starfire walked behind Rachel who happened to be in the middle of a group of officers. Rachel smiled at Starfire and pushed a button for the basement of the Hall. Cyborg ran up to the elevator.
"Good luck my young friends," Rachel said as the doors closed.
"I told you we should have taken a left back at the stack of boxes."
"Funny you said that about the last five stacks of boxes we passed. Admit it Blackfire we are lost. I am so hungry."
"Well so I am, but you don't see me whining. At least I'm trying to lighten our dismal mood and dwindling hope of being rescued miss sour-puss. But if you want me to be down in the trash heap then okay… Oh woe is us! Woe is us! We have spent hours if not days in this darkened enclosure of torment. Won't someone save us from this unending torture?"
"Okay! I get it miss drama queen and that's down in the dumps, not trash heap."
"You know Terra, trash heap makes more sense." Terra sighed in defeat. Even dehydrated and quite hungry Blackfire found the strength to make jokes. Terra felt a deep sense of gratitude flow through her.
She could not believe she had such a great friend in Blackfire. However this friendship may not survive the next few hours if they didn't get some food or water soon…. It was bad enough they were lost, but the eerie shadows, on the edges of flickering lights- did not help the situation. Every time Terra turned around, she thought she saw the shadows moving towards her but she never saw anything more.
Blackfire tried to light up the room as much as she could. Her starbolts could only glow so wide without fizzing out, so they knew they could not rely on it for long. Terra was standing next to Blackfire and biting her lips.
"I'm telling you I don't know what we are expecting to find down here."
"But would it not be better to explore this darkened place? Perhaps our friends are somewhere in the not well lit hallways. We will miss them if we do not search Cyborg."
"I'm just saying, with my scanners on the frizz and those crazy gun wielding clowns on the loose… Who knows who is down here? We should be careful though Star."
Terra and Blackfire stepped from behind a stack of crates and ran towards their friends. Cyborg and Starfire were so happy to see them unharmed for the most part. Blackfire shouted out, "Starfire? Starfire! Where have you been young lady you should have been here hours ago?!"
Starfire said, "Sister! Oh how over joyed we are to see you!" Starfire and her sister held each other close while Terra hugged Cyborg as tight as she could.
Terra said, "Cyborg! What took you so long?"
"Sorry about that," Cyborg whispered.
"How did you find us" Terra and Blackfire asked. Cyborg kind of rubbed the back of his head with an apologetic grin on his face. Starfire bounced up and down with happiness. For the moment, it was easy for them to forget all the craziness upstairs, or the ruined field trip, and just enjoy each other's company. However, this happiness could not last as Blackfire felt her stomach almost roar with hunger.
"I have a better question are all Earth school trips like this?" Blackfire tapped her foot looking annoyed; as well she should, at her friend and her sister. The last thing anyone expected was for a seemingly harmless school trip to become a rescue mission, all because a bunch of gun-wielding clowns had to capture City Hall. Even Terra would have agreed with Blackfire's thought: the next time their boarding school had a field trip they may decide to stay home.
"No at least they are not supposed to be." Terra whispered as she tried to ignore her growling stomach from the last ten or so, times it had rumbled in displeasure. Starfire could not believe her proud older sister was reduced to a shaken and twitchy bundle of nerves. Cyborg summed up what the girls must have been feeling with:
"You two must be starving."
Blackfire responded with, "You can say that again."
Terra tried to remember why their friends might be risking their lives, but with her brain crying out for food and drink it was not easy to remember. "How can we help?" Cyborg snorted for a moment. With the way they were swaying back and forth; he half expected them to drop to the floor in a faint. It did not seem right for them to be so weak. If he was thinking about the past few hours correctly, the last time they ate should have been around 10 a.m. He took into consideration it was now closer to 6:30 p.m., but would they still be this hungry and weak? There must be another reason…
Starfire whispered to her sister, "But sister surely you are dehydrated and hungry."
Cyborg attempted to lighten the grim mood with this comment. "We'd have more luck from a starving tiger helping us than you two rights now. No offense girls if you know what I mean."
Blackfire gave a big grin and cracked her knuckles. Then she said, "I don't care how hungry I am. I can still kick your butt and don't you forget it."
Cyborg gave one nervous chuckle as he muttered, "Yes ma'am."
"Well what if we had some drinks and food and then come help." Terra made the suggestion as a way to keep- herself and Blackfire close by. Who knows what other goons were lurking in the shadows? And besides with Robin gone, they would need all the help they could get.
Starfire scratched the top of her head. Something about Cyborg's last comment had confused her. "I agree with Cyborg that given your condition you would not be able to help us. Although I am confused as to why he believes a hungry tiger will be able to assist us." Blackfire giggled a little at her sister's expense. She never could understand earth-people's expressions.
"It's a figure of speech Star." Terra and Cyborg explained. Starfire smiled but she still looked a little confused.
"Oh. I shall have to pay better attention for when this figure of the speeches comes in. Perhaps by then I will be more prepared for his or her strange choice in words."
"Wait a minute. Where are Beast Boy and Raven" Blackfire asked glancing around boxes filled with who knew what. It was odd that she had not heard one of Beast Boy's poorly timed jokes or Raven's sarcastic response in a while.
"I would love to know that too. Something tells me they are off in la-la land and they won't be coming back for a while."
"Where is this la-la planet and how did our friends get there so quickly?"
Terra decided to save Starfire the trouble and explain the la-la land phrase later. "I'll tell you later Star but I am pretty sure they are still here on earth."
"Well you two sure picked the worst time for a field trip. Do you know we have officers of the law and crazy clowns in a gun stalemate upstairs" Cyborg said. Terra bit her lips as a sense of nerves crept over her. Blackfire closed her eyes to search her memories about clowns. Nothing too threatening seemed to come to mind, so how bad could they be?
Terra whispered in a low tone. "Did you say clowns? I don't like clowns."
"I thought I saw some of them running around here. Now do you mind telling us how to get out of here?" Blackfire snapped. She was getting a little tired of worrying over clowns while no one had come up with a solution to the current and more pressing concern of: where or when were they going to get some food?!
Cyborg had the good fortune to see the elevator doors in between what looked like a conveyor belt and possibly paintings of the Mona Lisa. He would wonder where they came from later. Now the biggest question was; how to get to the upper floors and not run into clowns or worst the officers? "We just came from the elevator. There should be some vending machines working on the upper floors. You can refuel there."
Terra seemed a little suspicious of the sudden food offer. Despite how hungry she was she did not like the idea of abandoning her friends. "And then we are going back to help you right?"
Starfire was also concerned for her friends' well-being. The last thing she wanted was for someone to get hurt, so she asked, "Is this a wise decision?"
Blackfire put the worries to rest by saying, "We'll eat and drink but you are not leaving us out of this. So forget about trying to convince us otherwise."
Cyborg sighed, "Guess we have no choice."
Before they could comment on it, some of the boxes were pushed aside and the flickering lights revealed two figures walking around. Cyborg wondered how they could feel so comfortable down here with so little lights, but he did not think about it long. One of the figures said to his partner, "I told you I heard voices over here."
Terra whispered as loud as she dared, "Someone's coming, quick hide!" Starfire tugged on her sister's wrist to get her behind a tall gray support beam that appeared to connect the basement to the top of the floor. Cyborg turned off his own 'flashlight' on his arm, so he could keep his friends hidden.
Red X shuffled on top of the conveyor belt and almost tripped on what looked like the front of a computer's hard drive, or some other piece of technology, from a Dexter's Laboratory episode. "I didn't hear anything."
"Whoever it is I hope they stay away from the lobby it's a mad house up there. The cops aren't giving an inch and the clowns don't know when to quit. It's messy up there." The boy seemed to ignore Red X's concerned whisper.
"Can we just find this girl or whoever it is and get out of here? This basement with the flickering lights is giving me the creeps."
"Really I find it kind of relaxing X. It reminds me of home."
Red X scoffed, "Dude you are warped, if a bunch of flickering lights and shadowy corners can remind you of home. Who did you live with these past four months, Scarecrow, or was it Two-Face, or maybe the…"
"X you say that name and I will hurt you. When I find that maniac I will… So what if my home had a little more shadows than you would have liked… Now does anything look like supplies for a giant laser?"
"Let me check with my x-ray vision. No! Everything is in boxes! Our best bet is to wait for a clown to show up, ambush him or her, and get the creepy clown to tell us what is going on." Red X finished by tossing some of the unused equipment across the room. His partner shuddered as some of the heavier, very expensive, and fragile things hit the walls or crashed to the floor.
"And are we going to stand here with a sign that says: help wanted. Employers of murderous clowns want able bodied teens to run for supplies and be able to shoot at cops. Please apply at the front desk. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much for alerting half of Jump City that we are down here! That was a brilliant move by the way, X."
Terra squinted in the not-well-lit-room. She could just make out what the boys were saying but as far as identifying them…She may as well have been trying to pick out a bat from a whole flock coming out of a cave; in the middle of the night. "I can't tell who that is."
Blackfire agreed with her. "I can't tell who it is either."
Cyborg was getting more and more concerned. He had not seen when Red X or his mystery companion had entered the Hall, which raised more questions than answers. And speaking of things left unanswered, he whispered another concern out loud.
"Raven B.B where are you two? We need help. But first there's the elevator. Up you go girls, to the third floor and look for the vending machines. We'll meet you soon."
Terra did not believe him. "Why do I get the feeling you are lying?"
Blackfire peeked her head from behind an open crate of… what looked like office supplies. "I agree my friend."
Starfire comforted them by saying, "I shall accompany you."
Cyborg voiced his opinions in regards to the mystery boys. "I got to figure out who those two hotshots are. I need to know if they are foes or friendly. Do you understand?"
"Yeah does not mean we like it." Terra and Blackfire sighed. The last thing they wanted to do was split up. But they realized this was no time to be stubborn. If they did not get some food in them quick they would not be helping anyone out. Cyborg ducked behind pillars or beams or whatever cover he could find as the girls walked behind him. After about 5 minutes of various crawling, jumping, and hovering over numerous objects they reached their destination: the elevators.
Cyborg stopped Starfire as Terra ran up to the buttons pushing the up button rapidly. Blackfire did not look too worried, but with her constant glances from the doors to the shadowed room; it was easy to see she was ready to leave.
"Take care of them, Star and if you see Rae and B.B. give them a message for me."
Star asked him, "What is it?"
"They have so much explaining to do when I get my hands on them!"
"I will deliver the message as soon as I come in contact with our friends." Starfire waved to Cyborg as the elevator doors finally opened and Terra and Blackfire yanked her inside. The last thing they saw was Cyborg's hand waving at them.
Terra and Blackfire stared at the machines filled with sugary goodies with longing. Their stomachs growled again. Why were they taunting us Terra asked in her mind. Blackfire had to wipe away a trail of drool on her face. Terra was tempted to mush her nose against the glass as she licked her lips. "Look Milky Ways and Kit-Kats and yum, yum, yum there are Pay Days here!"
Blackfire replied after sighing, "I don't know what to eat first."
Starfire did not know how to solve this current predicament. When she voiced her concerns Terra had to resist the urge to scream in frustration. "Wait how shall we remove the contents of the machines? I thought they required some kind of earth currency."
Blackfire was on the verge of tears. Terra shouted, "Oh shoot! We don't have any change! You have got to be kidding me!"
Raven and Beast Boy, he was currently walking on two legs now, stood in the hallway and shook their heads. If they wanted the treats so bad, then why didn't the girls just take them? Was it a crime to steal? Yes it was. But how long could someone go to jail for stealing the treats out of a vending machine? Raven decided to speak up, "Maybe we can solve that."
All the girls turned around to see Raven and Beast Boy. The new couple looked sort of worse for wear, but otherwise, healthy if not tired. "Raven Beast Boy what are you doing here?"
Raven chanted, "Azarath Mentrion Zinthos!" Her black aura reached into the machine and came out loaded with candies and chips. Raven smiled while holding up a silver wrapper with red letters. "I prefer the Three Musketeer bars myself."
Beast Boy stared at the various goodies with a frown. Since he was a vegetarian he did not eat meat, but that also meant he stayed away from foods that contained milk, or eggs. "I can't eat any of this! It's all made with milk and… well I guess I can try the Three Musketeers." Raven held his hand as he picked through the pile of candies. He did smile seeing Raven split her Three Musketeer's bar in half. He guessed just this once he could make an exception.
Blackfire and Terra had divided the pile of candy and chips into three piles. One pile for Blackfire, one for Terra and the rest for everyone else; they figured no one else would mind if they had divided the spoils. The last time the girls had eaten a meal was 9:30 in the morning, and according to Cyborg it had been closer to 6:30 at night. So needless to say, Terra and Blackfire were starving!
"So how long have you two been going steady" Terra asked after almost swallowing a Pay Day whole. Blackfire tore open a bag of Frito Lays Bar-b-que chips and licked her lips of the salty and sweet flavor.
Raven and Blackfire could not help but shout, "What?!" Beast Boy stopped nibbling on his candy to stare at the doors in the hallway. Raven almost spit out her second Milky Way at the question. She had no idea how to answer of if Terra was even serious.
Beast Boy saved her from having to answer. Terra and Blackfire were staring at his back because he still had not turned around. "I don't know about her, but I made that official today. And another thing I have to say- I am not sorry I did."
Raven blushed redder than a sun-dried tomato. Her voice was kind of squeaky as she said "Yeah, me too."
Starfire had been silent for the most part watching her sister and her friend enjoy their sweet dinner but finally she asked, "We are going to be invited to the wedding right?"
Raven and Beast Boy stared at Star for a long time. They asked "What wedding?" Blackfire started giggling and Terra bounced up and down. Raven was not sure if the laughing and the bouncing were from a sugar high or general excitement. Raven found that it was kind of contagious she began giggling too. Beast Boy turned around to look Raven in the eye and maybe get a better idea of her reaction. His lips formed a wide grin to see his mate laughing. Beast Boy thought he could listen to her laugh all day.
Blackfire broke the silence by asking another question. "You are going to get married yes?"
Raven sputtered with her laugh ending in little hiccups. "Well, I…Maybe…It's possible…Beast Boy help!" Beast Boy seemed to be lost in his own world. It took him about two minutes or so to answer the question. And when he did he spoke slowly, as if he had forgotten what the question was.
"After we deal with this crazy clown then we'll let you know."
Starfire hugged her best friend and sister tight. Raven breathed a sigh of relief as Starfire turned to Beast Boy and hugged him as well. "Oh my sister my friend is going to get married!" Beast Boy held Raven's hand after Starfire was finished squeezing the breath out of him.
Raven said "Not yet Star! We don't even know when we could have a wedding."
Blackfire stared at the floor for a moment. Starfire smiled at her sister but she could tell her sister was distracted. "Can I help with the arrangements? It wouldn't be anything too fancy but I am pretty sure I'd do a good job."
Raven glanced at Blackfire with a small frown. Terra and Beast Boy munched on candy in silence. "What are you talking about Blackfire? You are one of my bridesmaids you silly goof." Blackfire jerked her head up and stared at Raven for a long moment. Blackfire was speechless and she looked quite funny with half of a snickers bar sticking out of her mouth. Terra chuckled at her friend but then sighed. Just because Raven may want B.F. in her wedding did not mean she would want her, Terra thought.
"I'll help set up tables and stuff like that. It is the least I can do" Terra whispered. Beast Boy walked up to her and put his arm on her shoulders. Terra tried to squirm away but Beast Boy held her closer.
Beast Boy said, "Come on Terra. If Blackfire is a bridesmaid what makes you think you're not in the bridesmaid's line up?"
Starfire decided to ask another question that was on her mind, since they were talking about bridesmaids. "Will Bumblebee be there as well?"
Raven answered with a soft chuckle. It made Raven feel kind of sad that three of her best friends could not even consider they would be in her wedding. "Yes of course and you know Starfire. I would be honored if you could…." Raven trailed off when she saw shadows coming from the corner. Her eyes flashed red as she realized on the shadows was the horrid man who seemed bound and determined to throw all her friends in jail. Did he not realize they were on the same side? "No, no, no! It's the stickler for the rules, the shoot-first and ask-questions later guy! We got to go now."
Beast Boy glanced over Blackfire's shoulder and found Ramon talking to other officers. He growled in his throat. That man had more than once threatened his friends and now he was proving himself to be a threat to his mate. That would not do. He agreed with Beast on this point, if he went after Raven or one of his friends there would be consequences. "Ramon? Can I tear him to pieces please mate?"
Raven held out her hand for Beast Boy hoping she could calm him down. The last thing they needed was to be hand-cuffed by police; when they had yet to find the crazy person responsible for this whole mess. Raven felt Beast Boy's growl through her fingers and she knew her next words would have to be convincing otherwise her friends would be right back to square one.
"No not yet. We gotta sneak down to the basement again before he sees us." Raven wanted to run for the elevator. Terra pointed to another officer in a navy blue outfit and the girls sighed in relief. If there was one person they could count on the keep the trigger-happy Ramon in place it was his sister Rachel.
"Thank goodness his sister Rachel is here. She's trying to distract him. Quick everybody get in the elevator, with the stolen snacks, go, go!" Terra whispered. Beast Boy shifted into a wolf to keep an eye on the girls' backs as they scampered for the elevator. They were in for a big surprise when they heard the sound of gunfire and a sonic cannon going off. Starfire was the first to see Cyborg and the clowns locked in a stand-off.
No one expected to see two other boys shooting at the clowns from inside the empty elevator shaft. The clowns realized they were in a tight spot so they start throwing small bombs. Cyborg dove behind a nearby vending machine and the two boys in the shaft jumped out and ran for cover. Ramon began shouting orders to his unit to take the clowns. As the bombs exploded the 2nd floor was covered in lime green and violet gas. Everyone coughed as they tried to huddle together so they wouldn't get separated.
A tall figure appeared from the cloud of gas, while the rest of the people were busy coughing. The figure gave an eerie laugh as he shot the ground in front of him and continued shooting. At first Cyborg and Rachel were puzzled about why he would do that. Until the floor began to creak and groan, with loud, confused and startled yelps the group fell from the 2nd floor all the way to the main lobby on the first floor.
The figure has lime green hair and bright red lips. His face is covered in white paint. He has tall broad shoulders and his teeth seemed stained yellow. He strolled to the "Mojo JoJo" laser look-alike and sits in front of the control panel.
"Is that who I think it is?" Cyborg asked.
"No way that could be him, right?" Blackfire said. Terra shrugged her shoulders. She and Starfire had no idea who the man was, but Red X's companion knew. He growled with fury at seeing this man again. Red X wanted to ask his friend who it was all he heard was the grinding of teeth in rage.
"How nice it is to see you again my boy. You haven't got lost here in the big city have you? Do you mind introducing me to your new friends?"
"The only intro you're going to get is in a prison cell!"
"And here I thought we were friends, buddies, and pals- old chums even. My how times have changed is it not funny how much time flies by? I remember when you were just a little squirt following the impressive shadow of one Dark Knight. Now look at you, still just a little sprout but with some cool new toys! I like it! It makes you look fierce! So come over and let's have a chat for old times' sake, Robin."
Everyone else froze into silence. Not even Ramon could come up with a witty crack about that. The boy stood there as his left hand twitched over a smooth metal gun. The fading sunlight streaming from the doors made it sparkle. When he pointed the gun at the Clown Prince he cackled. The Joker just laughed and laughed and laughed.
"That's not a little Slade bot," Cyborg said.
"And it's not Red X's twin brother" Raven muttered.
"Is it really you, Robin?" Starfire's question made him turn around. He stared at her for the longest time; his burning anger at the Joker gone for the moment. He continued to stare as Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Terra and Blackfire stood around her. Blackfire glared at him and walked up to him. He flinched and took a step back. Blackfire gave a sweet smile before punching him into the laser, causing blue-white sparks of electricity to shoot out.
"Wait a minute," Cyborg said. "I got an idea! Raven, B.B., Blackfire and Star, uh Robin and yes you too X, shoot the laser! Hit it at the base! We'll blow this thing sky high!"
Robin stood up coughing as Blackfire's eyes glowed dark violet. She lifted her hands to shoot him with her starbolts and Robin flipped onto his feet. He did a kind of vertical backflip up the laser's side as Blackfire and everyone else shot at the laser. Joker simply cackled again while Robin held an orange and black gun in his hand. Before he could shoot the laser began to shake and sizzle, so Joker slipped off the seat and rolled towards the door. Meanwhile Robin had to leap from the laser as it exploded- in a cover of lime green gas.
Raven used her powers to shield everyone from the gas. As the gas slowly cleared in the middle of the wreckage with burnt feathers and open wounds and smoke all over her, Kiara, in her gryphon form, was curled up in a tight ball. Red X was the first to walk over to her. Kiara shuddered as his cool gloved hands touched her torn skin. Beast Boy growled at X, as a tiger and pushed him away.
He leaned over her shoulders and found underneath all the dust, sparks, and bruises a bite mark which glowed in a faint green. Raven clutched the fur at his left shoulder and hugged him around the neck. Beast Boy gave a rumbling purr. Terra stood next to Starfire who was trying and failing to calm down her sister as she ranted and raved at Robin.
"I know Blackfire. I know you have every right to send me to the furthest moon you can think of, but I don't have the time to explain all that has happened. If you can please be patient with me I'll explain it and I promise to not leave out anything you need to know."
Blackfire growled again and snorted. "Maybe I should decide how much I need to know and what I don't need to know and what is this about you changing your name? Nightwing what kind of a roasted peanut name is that?" Cyborg and Raven chuckled at Blackfire's expression. Nightwing could not laugh though- the past four months he was lost in the torment that his most cherished friends were frozen and likely dead. Now to see them all standing, laughing, and chatting in the flesh was too much for him. So he made the choice that no matter how long it took, no matter what he had to promise or even refrain from doing; he would do it. If it meant his friends would trust him again he'd do anything.
"Yes I thought a name change would be a good thing, but if you'll excuse me I have to deal with a certain Clown Prince of crime. So please stay here okay?" Blackfire raised her fist to smack Robin or Nightwing or whatever his name was into the wall, but Starfire and Terra held her back. Beast Boy and Raven managed to pull Kiara from the wrecked gas laser. Kiara made no attempt to speak, or mew, or even gasp. If it was not for her shallow breathing they would have thought maybe she was dead.
"Raven and Beast Boy I know I have no right to ask this, but can you please look after her? She really isn't that bad and she has a heart of gold, like Starfire" Nightwing whispered to them as he walked past. Raven used her powers over shadow to grab his legs. Beast Boy pushed him on his butt and licked his face from chin to the top of his head. Cyborg punched him hard on the shoulder. Red X pet Kiara's un-bruised fur and feathers and sighed.
Terra was going to say something, but a shout from outside distracted her. They all looked up to see Joker in the middle of a group of officers, not surprising that Ramon and Rachel were in the front, and they were shouting at each other. Nightwing snarled through clenched teeth as he crawled away from his friends and then broke into a run. Raven was so surprised by the sudden force of his emotions she let him go.
Terra shouted as Nightwing pulled out that gun and fired at the crazed clown. He yelped with pain as all his muscles locked and he discovered the only thing he could do was breathing and blink and talk. The officers jumped away from Nightwing's enraged glare.
Joker taunted him, knowing how to get under his skin. "So tell me boy how did it feel?"
Nightwing was in no mood to humor him. "What are you talking about?"
Joker continued with his new analysis of his former enemy. "I must admit you really surprised me back there. That new fighting style- it's so ferocious and forceful. Tell me something boy did it feel good to smash those clowns over the head? Or how about when you fired that new toy of yours? I never would thought I'd see the day where the bird blunder of all people shoots a gun! Ha! You never cease to amaze me!"
Ramon who hated to be ignored shouted at them both, "Where do you think you're going?" Nightwing grabbed Joker by the back of his collar and dragged him to the nearest police car. Rachel jogged after him holding hand-cuffs. Nightwing held out his hand for the cuffs and Rachel paused before giving him the cuffs.
Nightwing held his stun gun in his left hand and it shook terribly. "I have had enough of you!" Nightwing raised the gun to slam it against the clown's head, but Starfire's shout stopped him. At first Nightwing thought Starfire had shouted "stop" for him. In reality she shouted that because Ramon and his officers were restraining Raven and Beast Boy (however Beast was standing in his place) and some of them carried Kiara as if she was a sack of flour.
Red X held his red X's in his hands so tight his metal gloves creaked with the strain. The rest of the Titans followed the officers in a semi-circle watching their every move. With no warning or spoken word Ramon shoved past Nightwing and holding the unconscious Kiara by the head; he nodded his head, and another officer swung Kiara's limp body into the back of the metal lined car. Ramon ignored the outraged and pleading comments from the Titans, his sister Rachel, and even the chief of Police. He smirked at Nightwing as he kicked the gun out his hands and hand-cuffed him while the gun was in the air.
A dark shadow passed over the group and a thud was heard. A smaller thud was heard as another figure stood on top of the car. A motorcycle pulled up alongside the car. Nightwing did not think he could handle any more surprises. With his back against the open car, Nightwing unclicked his trusted metal staff and with a surprising amount of flexibility held it in front of him.
"What are you going to do with that you delinquent?" Ramon did not get any farther than that when Nightwing cracked the staff on the back of his knees. Ramon fell to the ground gasping for air and in pain. Rachel had a difficult time feeling sympathy for her brother- he had crossed a line today. Nightwing dropped the staff and his gun to the ground. Tears streamed from his eyes as his inner-turmoil buried him in guilt and anger. Joker meanwhile seemed to be having the time of his life.
Joker cackled again, "That's the kind of rage I was looking for. What's your secret kid? This new teacher of yours must be a real card trick to get you out of that goodie-two-shoes phase. Do you imagine your hands coated in blood? Do you see their eyes roll in the back of their heads? I know you must have felt that thrill at least once.
"The thrill of a kill to know you ended someone's life. It's a thrill like no other. I believe not even those coasters that speed down wooden and metal hills can give someone the same excitement. Well I suppose there is one thing, but you're too young to know that. Have you ever hit a person with a bat or that pole; and you just kept hitting him until your hands were covered in gore? Now that's what I call a rush!"
Nightwing screamed at the top of his lungs, "Shut Up!"
Red X sprinted up to the car. He yanked Nightwing's staff from the ground and knocked the Joker out with a well-placed swing, as he shouted, "That's enough!" Everyone stood stunned in shock and no one dared to move.
Cyborg walked up behind Red X and took the staff from his trembling fingers. "Took you long enough" He laughed.
Raven summed up what everyone was feeling as she stared as her best friend was lead into the car by a slender woman with short black hair, who looked a lot like a cat. Nightwing had not stopped crying even as the car drove away. "Does he ever shut up?"