Disclaimer: This is a fan work created at no profit and for entertainment purposes only. The author acknowledges that Teen Titans and related characters are property of Warner Entertainment.

Teen Titans – What Grows From Deception

Chapter 28 – Awww Freak Out!

"Yes!" said Control Freak, narrowing his eyes in a way that he hoped looked dramatic. With the dark circles under his eyes, hard won from many late nights maintaining his various fan sites and watching po... orly dubbed anime, he looked more tired than anything else.

"It is I, Control Freak! Nemesis to the Teen Titans, King of Cable, Baron of Broadcast, Regent of Reception, Nabob of Netflix, Hero of Hu-"

"Shut the hell up!" Cyborg bellowed. "We got way more important things to do than come over and stomp your couch potato butt. Granted, ya did help us out at the video store, and I'll admit the whole thing you did to Titans East was fun ta watch 'cause it wasn't me... and god bless ya for streaming the Tournament of Heroines..."

Raven glared at him and he cut himself off. They didn't talk about that incident. On pain of torture.

"But anyway, we've gotta save our friends, so get off the channel in case-"

Control Freak snorted. "Save your friends? You mean Starfire and Beast Boy? I'm looking at 'em right now."

"What." Said Robin, not trusting the geeky villain at all.

"Yeah, I 'jacked your communicator frequency. They're on the line. Hold on." Control Freak picked up his remote and hit Split Screen. Starfire, with Beast Boy perched on her shoulder as a parrot suddenly appeared in the right half of the screen.

"Robin!" Star shouted. "You and the others are unhurt! This is most glorious!" She was so happy that she did a spin in the air, making Beast Boy dizzy.

"Glad to see you too, Star." Robin sounded calm, but inside, a part of him that had been turning to stone from the very idea of losing her softened.

"I hate to break this up – 'cause it's adorable – but I did call for a good reason." Control Freak interrupted.

"Like I said before." Cyborg grit his teeth. "We ain't got time to mess with you now."

"But I already found your friends." Control Freak pointed out.

"Well you ain't found the crazy sorceress girl or her giant dragon boyfriend." Cyborg said, folding his arms. "And they kinda talk precedent."

Control Freak grabbed a soda from offscreen and took a long pull through the straw. "I don't know anything about any sorceress, but I'm pretty sure I found your dragon. That's why I called: I was wondering where you all were. I mean Titans vs. Dragon? The first time was great, this time it's gonna be epic. Especially since he's gone all 'Guards! Guards!' about it."

Cyborg sighed. "I know I'm gonna regret this, but what the heck is 'Guard! Guards! ?"

"It's a Discworld book." Said Raven.

"Only one of the best comedy series in like ever!" Beast Boy added.

The others fell silent, staring at the two of them.

Raven wished she could go hide n the pit under all the stone. And yet, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "What?"

Robin spoke for everyone, looking to Raven first. "You read a comedy?" Then he looked at Beast Boy on the screen. "And you... read?"

"I am more shocked that they have done the reading of the same book." said Starfire, halfway between bewilderment and shipping nirvana.

Raven backed away from the screen, folding her arms and looking away. "Pratchett is a master of social satire as well as deconstructing common literary tropes across all genres."

Beast Boy, for lack of appendages in parrot form, fluffed his crest and was glad he couldn't blush. "I... just think they're funny."

Rolling his eyes, Robin looked back at Control Freak. "As dire an importance as this conversation has, can you please explain what you meant?"

"I can't believe you haven't read it." Control Freak scoffed. "I wouldn't take Batman for the kind of guy that lets his protege skip the classics."

"Just get to the point." Robin growled.

"Okay, that was VERY Batman." Control Freak flinched. "Okay, so in the book, a dragon comes to Ankh-Morpork and takes over, including living in the royal palace."

"So that means..." Robin gasped. "The tower!"

Control Freak nodded. "Not only that, but he's set up some kind of barrier around the city."

This snapped Raven right out of her awkward discomfort. She was once again leaning past Robin to look at the screen. "He's protecting himself so he can gather his strength. That's why w were lured out here: even if everyone didn't die in the cave-in, we'd be locked outside the barrier while he recovered his strength."

"Can you get us through that?" Robin asked and immediately knew it was the wrong thing to ask. "Once you've rested, I mean."

"I doubt it." She admitted. "I mean, if I had my books, it wouldn't be a problem for me, but they're inside the barrier."

Robin scowled. He wanted to get inside as soon as possible to get reconnaissance done. But reality was closing in. The other were run down, all but Starfire, now that she had sun and the joy of knowing they had survived. "Alright, I guess we'll make camp here and figure out how to get into the barrier tomorrow."

"Um, hello?" Control Freak waved his remote. "Hey. Yeah, you remember me?"

"OH. Right. Thanks for letting us know, I guess."

Control Freak growled in frustration. "No, I mean, 'remember me: the guy that totally teleported through all your defensive systems when your second stringers were house sitting'?"

"And promptly got your butt whooped." Cyborg mumbled.

"Be that as it may," Control Freak glared at him. "I'm the guy with the super remote. I could totally get you in right now. All I ask is that I get to watch you fight Raven's ex-dragon."

"How in the hell do you kn-" Raven started.

"Also, I want a communicator."

"There's absolutely no way I'm making you an honorary Titan." Robin fumed. "Besides, we've already had enough trouble with our communications falling into enemy hands."

"Oh yeah, good point." said Control Freak, who was trying not to call attention to his involvement in that. "Alright then, I want a Robin costume."

"I... Ugh!" Robin recoiled form the screen as a mental image struck him right between the eyes. And yet, it was their best chance to get back into Jump city. "Fine. But never—and I mean NEVER—let me see you wearing it."

"Deal!" the nerd with the best remote in the world aimed his clicker and suddenly their world was static. It only lasted a few seconds, which was a few seconds too long for all of them, and when it ended, they were in Control Freak's apartment.

They might have expected a stinking den of decay, some sort of pizza spattered man-cave to rival Beast Boys. If they did, they forgot his name.

The place was small: kitchen, living room and dining room all in one with doors branching off to the bedroom and bathroom. And it was a Mecca of organization. Three large book cases held neat rows of DVD and computer game cases with plastic tubs in the corner marked as containing miniatures, battle maps and board games. Nothing had a speck of dust on it, and the floor was freshly vacuumed. There was, of course, a massive plasma screen in front of the couch, networked to not only a Gamestation, but a media center PC.

Control Freak might not know how to dress, but he knew how to keep house.

The geek himself was standing by the couch, looking shocked that the Titans were actually in his home.

Robin instantly fell into a fighting stance. "Why did you bring us here?"

With nothing else to protect himself with, Control Freak hid behind his couch. "Where else should I have sent you? To your tower where the giant dragon's hanging out?"

A beat passed as Robin tried to come up with more justification for his paranoia. Finally, he dropped his stance. "Alright then."

Beast Boy hopped off Star's shoulder and resumed human form, rocking on his feet. "Does this mean we can finally get some sleep?"

Control Freak shrugged. "Sure, go ahead. It won't be a cool fight if you're all tired."

"Good." said Beast Boy and immediately passed out. He hit the floor hard, but it didn't wake him up.

The other Titans paused to stare at their snoring comrade.

TT^TT^TT

A/N – Here endeth Act III. And we're on a comedy break as the Titans recover from some hardcore action and drama. Yes, Control Freak is back! You didn't think that was a random cameo did you? Muahaha!

Next Chapter: The Titans are forced to crash with their self proclaimed greatest nemesis and learn some surprising things about him. Could there be more to this geek than breaking the fourth wall? The important question is could there be more to breaking the fourth wall than cheap comedy...