Hello everyone! I am not dead! Sorry for the delay but life has a habit of getting in the way of things. I don't own the teen titans blah, blah, blah. So you know the drill Read, Review and most importantly enjoy.

Chapter 24 Villains

Dark boot heels clicked on the hard concrete floor, "Are you ready?" Siren asked the two boys before her. She was about to go as crazy as her hair from waiting. "Need I remind you how I want to get this done as soon as possible!?"

Zephyr rolled his blue eyes, with his back facing her, "Yes, but need I remind you who is getting you into the tower?" He looked over his shoulder looking at her.

She clicked her tongue impatiently, "Need I remind you, you don't necessary have do it of you own volition. You should be grateful I am giving you your free will." She flicked some lose hair over her shoulder.

"Aw, I didn't know you liked me that much!" he replied coyly.

"Don't push it," she snapped.

Zeth snorted.

"What?" Siren hissed.

The red head ignored her and didn't notice when Zephyr turn his body staring at him confused. "Zeth?" The blonde whispered the teen's name.

"What?" he mumbled as a response, not sparing him a glance.

Zephyr cautiously moved closer to his new found friend, "What's wrong?" He extended his arm and slowly placed it on to the male's shoulder.

Zeth violently jerked himself out of the younger boys grasp, but not responding.

The blonde turned to the woman, "Could you give us a sec?"

Her eyes narrowed but complied moving to just outside the exit.

Zephyr roughly pushed at the ginger, "What the hell is up with you man?" He glared indignantly at him being sure that he looked as big as possible.

Zeth whipped his head around and stared daggers at the boy, "I can't believe you are helping her! After everything she has put you through! Damn it Zephyr you are practically throwing you family to the lions!"

The blonde went completely silent, his brows furrowed in slight frustration. "I want to go home…"He said fading out near the end, "This is my best option at the moment."

"Maybe for you, but what…what about Luce and the rest of you team?! What if she doesn't keep her promise and turns on you and kills everyone?!"

Zephyr shook his head, "No, they aren't like that…"

Zeth let out a false laugh, "Are you sure about that? Don't you remember Jett hurting you…both of them hurting you? Pyro…"He paused, this hurt the most because they were his friends …were being the operative word. They turn on him and now it was his turn to do the same. "Pyro gave you…what second, third degree burn when we would fight?"

"No, they are just doing what they think is right! And I know for a fact Jett felt bad after…torturing me."

Scoffing Zeth looked at Zephyr, "How do you figure that?"

"He didn't look at me when he was doing it…and I…I just could feel his hesitation-"

"So the jackass was too scared to watch his work…please." Zeth turned away from him moving toward the opposite wall.

"They can change Z, I know they can…with a little push in the right direction maybe, just maybe they would change sides!" Zephyr moved over to his friend lightly grabbing his upper arm forcing his undivided attention.

"What makes you think that?" his voice was barely above a whisper but Zephyr heard it all the same.

"Because," he answered smiling, "you did."

Zeth smiled back and faintly punched the boys arm, "you're sweet, but enough chick flick moment and let's get the queen bitch back in here."

XXX

"The plan is simple, Zephyr will lead us into the underground tunnel we get Phoenix leave Blondie there tied up knocked out what ever and we go on our merry way, understood?" Siren said turning to the whole group.

"Yes," was the collective reply. They didn't look all too happy about what was going down but no one argued.

"So," Akasha said stepping forward, "When do we leave?" She looked slightly nervous as she ran her fingers through her thick hair, but no one seemed to notice.

"Tonight at midnight," Zephyr answered moving ahead of everyone. "Everyone should be asleep by then Nightwing is really strict on what time everyone has to be in bed," he said giving warm smile.

Everyone but Akasha, Siren and Jett sneered at him. "How do we know this isn't a trap?" Pyroflame interjected.

"I swear hot head you are too stupid to insult," Jett said crossing his arms across his chest, and rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Hey watch it," Razor growled stepping in front of his girlfriend, "You may be my friend but I won't hesitate to kick your ass!"

Zeth gripped Zephyr's wrist as muttered in his ear, "You really trust that they will do the right thing."

He nodded, "oddly enough I do…"

"Enough," Siren said breaking up the possible fight, "We fall apart now we will have nothing." She walked over and stood in between the two bickering parties. "Go, cool your thick heads and I will call you when we are about to leave."

The hours leading up to midnight, were long and painstaking since neither boy could leave Siren's sight. Everything they did was under her intense scrutiny, and when the hour to move arrived it was a bitter sweet feeling.

They journey wasn't a long one and with the cloak of Akasha's shadows it was a relatively peacefully one. As they made it to the opening Zephyr could feel himself getting antsy, not to mention the sensation on several eyes burning holes into the back of his skull. He was viably shaking now, and as his feet began rise off of the ground, a reassuring hand clamped gently down on his shoulder, and an odd sensation of relief flooded through him. Turning his head, expecting to see Zeth, jerked himself out of the hold of Jett. "What the hell?!" he muttered.

The teen threw is arm around Zephyr and yanked him close and whispered in his ear, "Just calming you down," he paused making his grip slightly tighter, "It looked as if you were getting cold feet."

The blonde attempt to pull away again but to no avail, "I'm fine," he retorted, "now let me go."

"Keep your shirt on, I'm trying to help-"

"Help me or you," he scowled ripping at his arm.

Jett snorted a little, "help you, idjit;" He stood taller moving his hand from Zephyr upper arm to shoulder, "it will go a lot smoother and painless if you are calm"

"Oh up yours, ass hat," Zephyr replied not sparing the noirette a glance.

Jett threw his arm up in defeat, "suit yourself," he said moving to the front of their 'merry' little brigade. They continued going, getting closer and closer, and strangely enough the calm feeling never left not even when they reached the entrance.

Getting in was surprisingly easy no alarms were tripped; nothing jumped out and attacked them which they were all exceedingly thankful for. They got on the elevator and journeyed upward. The cabin was cramped beyond belief and Zephyr and Zeth were separated, the blonde was at the entrance with Siren and the red head was smashed against the back wall next to Ace and Blood.

Three flights that were all they had waited for, three flights and they had reached the floor Phoenix was detained on. Zephyr nervously stepped out followed by Akasha and Siren, "Wait…what is going on?" the boy asked when he noticed that, the door was shutting and no one else was getting off.

Siren smiled and she snaked her arm around his chest, bringing his back to her own chest, "Don't worry dearie. They are just…just gathering some information."

"NO! That wasn't part of the deal," His hair started to float a little as his emotions began flaring; the windless corridor was quickly filled with gusts of wind that nearly threw the girls off their feet.

Siren held onto him tightly softly stroking his hair, "Shush, shush, quiet now, bring me to Phoenix and I swear and none of your friends will get hurt"

The teen stiffened and the wind abruptly stopped, Akasha reached out and lightly gripped his forearm as Siren let him go, "Come on," the fifteen year old uttered soothingly, and without his own free will he lead the girls to their desired partner.

XXX

The elevator ride was silent until rest of the team reached the common area of the tower, they were shocked and exceedingly impresses with the amount and quality of technology the titans had, and quickly went to town. And Zeth went completely…well almost completely unnoticed as he slipped away.

The red head had never been madder about not having his powers, cursing himself and Jett for leaving him to run down the halls. He was as quiet as possible while running room to room trying to find Luce's. He ventured through the corridors making sure to be extra quiet when passing the original titan's rooms.

It was the last room on the top floor in the far right corner, he breathed deeply as he stared down at the key pad. "Shit," he murmured to himself. Z-E-T-H The red head typed, but nothing happened. He racked around his brain trying to think of what he password could be…he could kind of remember that it was the name of another titan...so he typed in S-P-E-E-D-Y, and again nothing happened.

R-O-B-I-N

B-E-A-S-T-B-O-Y

K-I-D-F-L-A-S-H

S-T-A-R-F-I-R-E

C-Y-B-O-R-G

R-A-V-E-N

He hesitated thinking of any other titans…there were so many it was hard to keep track…then it hit him A-Q-U-A-L-A-D, as soon as her typed in the last letter the door silently slid open. A flash of jealously fluttered through him, knowing her previous crush and the fact that his name was her password, but he pushed that a side as he quickly made his way over to her bedside.

He was about to call her name out when he saw two bodies sleeping soundly of the next bed over, "Shit," he whispered to himself again, and thinking as quickly as he could he leaned down placing his hand over her mouth as he vigilantly shook her awake.

Zeth saw her eyes bolt open wide with panic, he laid his finger on his lips gesturing her to be quiet. She stared at him for a good long while before she fully recognized who was there. "Zeth?" she muffled through his hand.

He nodded.

She removed his hand and repeated his name, as if to make sure he was really there.

He nodded again smiling this time.

Seeing the confirmation she shoved herself into his arm and placed a hard kiss onto his bow shaped lips. She continued to kiss him with the same rough pressure quietly saying his name in between the kisses.

He desperately wanted to caress her back but he knew he they had to get out of there as fast as possible. He pulled away, "Come on," he said pulling on her wrist.

"What?" He face was full of concern, "What's going on?"

"We just have to get out of here now," his voice was more urgent now, causing her more confusion but decided she would find out later she followed.

They edged their way along her wall until…he hit the switch and all of the lights to flash on, prompting the awakening of the other two titans, prompting them to see the 'villain', 'taking' their friend; prompting them to scream.

Zeth rushed out of the room, Luce in tow and whipping around to a giant green tiger crouched at the entrance to the hall. Beast boy, with his super sensitive hearing, perceived the screams and rushed to their aid.

The gingers eyes were as wide as saucers as he looked at the four hundred pound tiger growling at him. He gulped, "Nice kitty?"

Beast boy charged, and Zeth pushed Luce back into her room as the animal tackled him to the ground, roaring in his ears. The boy squirmed under the green beast, but it was no use the tiger was too heavy and as one of the massive paws onto his chest pushing the air out of his lungs slowly crushing his rib cage. He faintly heard the sound of someone yelling the green ones name but then again he was remarkably low on oxygen so he could have been imagining it.

There was a light cracking sound he caught right before he was about to black out. Just as the darkness was about to take him over there was a violent howl the pressure was released. Zeth took a big gasp of air his eyes gradually letting him view what was going on. Beast boy was on the floor clutching at his torso breathing harshly, and three feet away was Jett looking down at the fallen hero.

"Let's see," the dark haired teen drawled out moving closer, "Bear, Lion, or T-rex?" He looked around at the waiting crowed smiling, I think T-rex!" Jett made a strange face but nothing happened, he tried again and yet again Jett had not changed. "What the hell!?" he said staring at his hands.

"It took me year before I could get anything bigger than a monkey." the changeling said smiling, "they best you could do now is a sparrow…if that."

Jett scowled and released his hold on the green one's powers, "Then that will be the best you can do for now." He took a step back glancing at his teammate on the floor and smirked, "Major fail on your part, Z-"

He was cut off by a burst of light whizzing right past his head, "Shut up," Luce said as she moved in front of her teammates, lover and superior, eyes glowing white, "I swear to god shut up before I blow your damned head off!"

"What's going on here?" a stern voice demanded and everyone's attention was turned the dark knight's protégé.

XXX

"Hurry up!" Siren said exasperated.

They had been waiting for twenty minutes for Zephyr to break the code but each and every time he was denied. "I can't get it…they changed the password."

Siren shoved him out of the way, where he was luckily caught by Akasha, "Siren, calm down, we'll get it."

The girl rolled her eyes, "Yes suppose we do then we have to go through what another two three passcodes before we even get to him, I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!" She back away from the door and stood firm opening her mouth she let out her ear shattering sonic scream aimed directly at the door. It shifted at the power but didn't open, so she prepped to do it again but before she could let out a note a black energy opened up the floor and the three fell through the portal into the common area.

"Ow," the three said at the same time rubbing there now sore behinds.

"What are you doing here?" Nightwing's voice boomed out over the crowd.

Siren flinched at the voice, refusing to turn and look in his direction; instead she gazed around the room. Her whole team, minus Phoenix and Zeth, was now sitting on the half-moon couch with Belle Reve collars around each of their neck, and on top of that they were surrounded by the original titans Beast boy, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire, and Nightwing.

"I repeat what are you doing here?" Nightwing asked again.

"We are here to take Phoenix and leave Zephyr," The blonde said rather fast.

She could hear his footsteps move from behind her to in front of her face, "Then, why was the rest of your team up here in our computers?" His voice was calm but at the same time it dripped with venom.

"Could you blame us for getting information? You would have done the same." Her voice was stale refusing to give away any emotion.

The man's eyes narrowed dangerously, "You will all be escorted to Belle Reve tomorrow, and wait for your trials and then your fate will be in the hands of the government." The tall dark haired man turned away from the large group. "Zephyr, you will find Winner in the infirmary watching over Zeth, go and wait until Raven can come up and check on you." He watched as the fifteen year old nodded and slowly stood up and exited the room.

"Why is Zeth in your med bay?" Siren asked out of mild curiosity and generally was trying to use it as a distraction.

Beast boy let out an awkward laugh while rubbing the back of his head, "I may or may not have broken two or three of his ribs."

"Interesting," The woman snorted, "I thought you were the 'more compassionate' titan."

Beast boy's eyes darted to the floor in shame.

"You have no right to speak to him that way," Raven growled, "You also have the right to remain silent, which might be a good option for you."

"Oh please, don't read me the Miranda Rights," Siren said rolling her eyes.

"We know how familiar you are with them," Nightwing challenged, "isn't that right Alexa Burbank."

The girl's eyes widened, "How?"

"Well the last known person to have been with Landon Pierce is Alexa Burbank and it is known that they have been an item since…who knows how long, and I don't think a random super villain would have reacted the same as you did when he was taken." Nightwing had a small smirk on his face as he finished.

"Brilliant, deduction Mr. Richard Grayson," The girl countered, "But you aren't the only one to have done some digging and believe me I didn't have to dig very deep."

Half the room took in quiet gasp.

"Your records did say you were bright," Nightwing answered.

"You don't know-" Sirens never finished her statement, because the tower warning alarms were set off.

Not a second later the entire second team piled into the door, with Winner holding up a limp Zeth, "What's going on?"

Cyborg rushed over the mainframe, "There is a large gang riot going on in the middle of town," he paused scanning over the information, "It looks like the White Dragon and Nightshade group."

"Working together?" Starfire asked.

"It seems that way," Cyborg stated.

Tecna stepped forward, "The man from the club, he must be leading this, since he killed-"

"Donny Gavalli," Raven interjected.

Zephyr's eyes widened, "Donny Gavalli?"

"Yes," Tecna answered, "Why?"

The boy looked as if he was punched in the stomach, "That was my uncle…I had no idea…"

"We don't have time for this," Nightwing stated, "We have to get down there now!"

"But…What about them?" Starfire said gesturing to the group of the newly caught villains, "We can't just leave them here by themselves."

"The younger team will stay with them," He countered.

A roar of protest came from the five teen.

"I think we need them, there's more than two-hundred of them we need their help." Cyborg stated not looking up from the screen.

"But someone needs to stay with them!"

"Take us with you!" Siren jumped in

"What?!" said everyone simultaneously.

Siren took a few short breaths, "Take us with you we can…help…"

"Are you out of you mind," Tecna asked incredulously.

"I swear we won't leave…we could be useful."

The leader looked down at her eyes inquisitively, "What is the catch?"

"Let Phoenix join us…"She looked desperate, "Weather you realize it or not this is our city too…I have family here that don't need to get hurt by jackass gangsters."

The tall man contemplated this for a moment, "Fine you can come, but if you turn on us you will be taken out swiftly and permanently," his tone was completely dark and serious, "Understand?"

Siren took one last look through the crowd of people surrounding her, "We understand."

"So be it," He said, "Raven take care of Zephyr and Zeth, Star…remove the collars, and Beast boy go get Phoenix. We need to be out of here in less than five minutes. TITANS GO!"

XXX

There is the end of chapter 24 good lord this took a long time to write, I humbly apologize for the wait, I have been unbelievably busy but now I'm on break and the next (and final) chapter should be up quicker. Then I will finally start the sequel, which I kind of have a plan for! yay.

Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Until next time

-PA