A/N: No I do not own the series, yadda yadda yadda.
Hey guys, sorry I was gone for so long. College work swamped my free time, and I actually tried to start a few MHA stories on Wattpad. Might throw them here as well. Thanks for the support though! Means a lot!
Eris: There'll probably be something, but this could just as well turn out to be a needless plot addition. As for the other inmates, that is a great question about a fact that I admittedly overlooked. But if I had to pull an excuse out of my hat, it would be it's because none of the inmates are from Jump City, so none of them would actually have a lot of experience with the TT. Also, most of them have presumably been there a long time, so chances are word of the Titans hasn't gotten to the prison yet. But again, great question. But on the other hand, there are quite a few with green skin. The Martians, Poison Ivy, Swamp Thing, and BB, not to mention shapeshifters like Clayface who could simply take a different form in public but lose it when the collars shut off their shifting powers. (Not a great example but the first shapeshifter that came to mind besides the Martians). As for Killer Croc (Another green skin at that point) and others like Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn, we might see them, but probably not. I have a possible idea for a "secret", but I need some time to think about it. Keep in mind, I usually write these chapters with little idea of where it's going, which would explain the sudden changes in plot direction and all that.
Whoo, that was a drawn out response.
Skittles116: Wow! A double comment! And I'm glad you're loving it. I try to make it interesting while keeping it realistic within cartoon limits.
Anyway, on with tonight's featured program!
Chapter 38:
It had taken hours of repetitive, boring labor, but the dining hall was finally completely mopped. An industrial garbage bag had been brought in and almost completely filled by the loads of dropped food bits and utensils that the inmates could not have been bothered to pick up.
"Impressive. That's the most effort I've seen any of you put into getting this place cleaned up." the new guard noted in an almost praising tone.
"Thanks. But I'd love to see my friends' faces right now. I'm kinda known as the slack off in the group." the green teen replied.
"Could'a fooled me." the man chuckled. During the conversation between the two a few other inmates had started making trips to and from the serving counter, likely preparing for lunch.
"Why don't you hop in line? The rest will be filling in soon and I bet you'd like to avoid another incident like yesterday.".
"Thanks. That would probably make things all the easier for you as well, huh?" the green teen replied as he placed the mop in the dirty water.
"So what's on the menu today?" Shiftling asked the people behind the counter once he got a tray.
"We got cheeseburgers and something that barely passes as a sa-sa-salad." the middle aged man with brown hair responded. The aforementioned edibles were then placed on his empty tray along a bottle of water. "Sorry about that, I tend to stutter here and there.".
"No problem. Thanks." the green teen offered before taking one of the many empty seats. The cheeseburger was a bit more meat than he would prefer for one sitting, but the salad helped to even things. The crunches of his chewing was the only noise around until the other inmates started to fill in. For the most part, he had at least seen pretty much everyone. But if Icicle Junior kept his end of the bargain, he might end up getting to know a handful.
Within half an hour the place had gone from near empty to the most wretched hive of scum and villainy.
"I must be cautious." the green teen thought to himself, which was quickly followed by, "Where did that come from?".
Meanwhile, in another franchise: "I feel a disturbance in the fourth wall.".
(Sorry, not sorry)
Having long ago finished his lunch, Shiftling took his tray to the conveyor belt, where a hand slapped him on the back.
"You really up to this? If my father doesn't like you, the rest of your stay won't be pleasant.". The green teen's cellmate had a serious look to him, which was slightly unusually.
"Well, it's worth a shot, I guess." Shiftling replied. The icy teen nodded and led his cellmate to the exercise area, where a few of the larger inmates were standing guard for a well build, older man. At the approach of the younger two, A large, blue skinned giant and Bulldozer gave the two a mean glare, especially the latter.
"C'mon Bulldozer, let us through." Junior requested, only to be ignored as the brute closed in on the green teen.
"I take it you recognize me?" Shiftling rhetorically asked before dodging a clumsy punch from his attacker. "Apparently so.".
Even with the collar around his neck, Bulldozer was immensely powerful. But Shiftling was powerful in his own right, as a right punch to the monster's jaw proved.
"Enough you two." the man commanded, prompting Bulldozer to, rather reluctantly, step away from the green inmate.
"So this is your friend, huh? He don't look like much." Icicle scoffed.
"Neither do you old man. None of us 'look like much' with these on." Shiftling retorted with a point at the collar on his neck.
"Watch your attitude. I could very well tell everyone here to rough you up." the man threatened.
"You saw what happened to Ojo, right? How many people here do you think are willing to risk that without any superpowers?". Shiftling was, eerily calm to say the least. As if he was used to these kinds of conversations.
"What exactly did you see in this kid?" he asked, this time addressing his son.
"Well, I figured you would like someone like him on your side. Especially concerning next week." the younger Icicle responded.
"I told you not to talk about that." the man warned through clenched teeth. His anger was more than apparent, but that could be useful.
"If you're planning a jailbreak I could be useful." the green teen offered with a shrug.
All eyes jumped to him, with looks from questioning to amused.
"Oh really? And say I do allow you to join in. What could you offer?" Icicle demanded, pissed that his plan was already uncovered.
"I have basic lockpicking skills, minor knowledge in hacking, you saw some of my fighting capabilities just a few minutes ago. And I'm smarter than you think." Shiftling explained like he was being interviewed for a job.
"That's great and all, but everyone thinks they're 'smarter than I think'. What makes you any different?".
"For one thing, I got you to admit that you're planning a breakout. For all I knew you were just preparing to rough up the guards to leave this place more unguarded." he replied with a devilish grin.
Icicle...growled? Groaned? Whatever sound he made was hard to tell, but it was clearly unhappy. "Fine. You may have made a small point just now. But putting everything else aside, what could you offer if your collar comes off?".
At this, Shiftling just grinned.
"You ever had a T-rex that owes you a favor? Or a strain of the Bubonic Plague?".
Suddenly, Icicle went from enraged to curious. "Sounds tempting, but I already have a lot of raw power on my side. Is there anything else you can offer?".
"Let's see, I can help with sneaking around as an ant or a bird. I can also run really, really fast for a short duration." he added.
"Hmm, I'll have to think about it. You don't exactly have the kind of track record I want on my side." Icicle said with a thoughtful rub of his chin. His son had already mentioned that he and Onslaught had a run in with this particular fellow, so a hero may not be the best addition to a team of villains.
"If I may be so bold, I'm here right now, aren't I?" the potential addition sarcastically asked before turning and walking away.
"So, what do you think?" the younger of the Icicle's asked.
"He's something else, I can give him that. You're sure he's capable of what you told me? If we let him in on the plan and he can't keep up, it's on you." his father threatened.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll pull through.". Bulldozer just gave a disapproving grunt.
Back at his seat, the green teen started contemplating what he had learned. All he knew for certain was they were planning a breakout, but he would need to get in the group to find out more.
"Hey new guy, saw you chatting with the big man. Looks like we could be working together.". The source was Frost, who was once again accompanied by the twins.
"Maybe. I'm not sure I made the best first impression. Not that I've been good at that in the first place." Shiftling responded.
"Well if you don't make it you could always join us. Right brother Tommy?" the blonde girl asked.
"That's right Sister Tuppence. Strength in numbers." her brother replied.
"Well, I'll keep you guys in mind." he offered before realizing Junior was waving him over. "If you'll excuse me, I think the court's made its decision.".
"So what's the verdict?" Shiftling asked once he was back in front of the group.
"Depends. Can you follow orders and keep your mouth shut?" Icicle demanded.
"Sure can do." Shiftling replied.
"Then I suppose you're in. Meet us here again tomorrow at the same time. We'll fill you in with your part in the plan then." the man ordered.
"Yes sir!" Shiftling quietly shouted with a salute, earning a barely covered laugh from Junior and a glare from the teen's father.
"Don't be a smartass and just follow the plan." Icicle scolded.
Shiftling nodded and went to return to his seat when he was intercepted by two guards who led him and Junior back to their cell.
"Well that went well." Junior stated once he took his place on the top bunk. Shiftling sat on the bottom bunk and thought everything over.
"Yeah, I guess. Looks like I finally made a decent first impression, huh?" he asked his cellmate, who chuckled at the question.
"Guess so.".
"Do you really think you can trust him?" the man asked Icicle. His back was facing the inmate, but he didn't give off a feeling of worry.
"Not sure, but that's where you come in. Any chance you can dig around in an 'appointment' or just ask a few questions?".
"It's not quite that simple. There's a difference between being a psychiatrist and being a detective. I'll find out what I can, but I'm not making any promises." the man replied. He spun around in his chair and faced the prisoner and adjusted his dark, circular glasses. "But trusting him is up to you to decide, not me.".
"I guess. I'll tell him to see you tomorrow after our meeting. Does that work for you?" Icicle asked, already knowing the answer.
"Of course. Anything for the wellbeing of my patients." he replied with a suddenly professional attitude.
"See to it then." Icicle roughly requested, then left the resident psychiatrist's office. Following his visitor's departure, Hugo skimmed through a file regarding the changeling in question. He had a feeling he couldn't be trusted given his long history as a hero, but things tend to play out in unexpected ways.
"This'll be interesting." the man stated to himself. A knock came from the door, prompting him to put away the file.
"Come in." he called out, and an inmate stepped into the office.
"Hello Ojo. Please, sit down. How's your hand?" the doctor asked, once again shifting to his professional aura.
"It's better. But the doctor's say it'll never completely heal. Just the nature of wounds to the hands." the visor clad inmate replied.
"A shame. So, shall we begin where we left off last time?".
"Yeah, I guess.".
A/N: I know this is a shorter chapter, but I'm getting another case of writer's block. More so, I don't want to get into the next part and have to cut off at an awkward spot. Hope you enjoyed still!