Cyborg listens intently as Wisdom reads off little information he's managed to dig out of the social media postings. He swings the T-car around to the east side of the city and keeps a sharp eye out. With traffic still light this early in the morning it doesn't take long for him to reach his destination.
"I still can't get a firm location on where the incident took place, so you're just going to have to cruise around" says Wisdom tiredly. The sound of clacking keys echoes in the background.
Cyborg grunts an affirmative and sets out on a sweeping patrol of the streets. The early morning commuters are getting up and about but show no sign of alarm. "Are you sure this is where I should be looking? There's no sign of anything."
"I'm getting mixed reports. From the looks of it the situation isn't escalating so that's a good thing, but it means information is thin. Maybe try expanding the search area. I'll keep you updated."
Cyborg grips the wheel hard at the next set of lights, frustratingly red. This whole situation has had him confused and tense. Never mind that he's missing his best friend, he's now also hunting him down. Or, part of him at least. Cyborgs really not looking forward to a fight. The light turns green. He cruises onward.
"Got something!" comes a much more energetic voice, Knowledge taking over the feed. "I ran a triangulation of the social media posts that I could. Narrowed down the area. It's a bit further into the residential side than we first thought. Sending coordinates now!"
There's a ping as they come through the satnav. Cyborg makes what might be a slightly illegal U-turn and gives chase.
"I've got something else as well. Considering the nature of the first post and the comments that followed I think we might be dealing with one of our more carnal Aspects."
"Carnal?" asks Cyborg, parking the car and proceeding on foot. The place he ended up is something of an in-between for the suburbs and the high-rise city office blocks. There's several small shops, small parks and interspersed squares with their own small market stalls. A vendor from a nearby local fishmonger shouts out a greeting.
"Probably Lust or Affection. Hopefully the latter, but there seems to have been some kind of intervention. No more reports are coming in. Either they moved on or they're no longer active."
"So, this could all be a waste of-" before Cyborg can finish his cutting statement there is a resounding crash from behind him. The vendor he passed before shouting out in alarm. Cyborg has his cannon primmed and is sprinting back before he even registers the sound. He skids around the corner, preparing to fire, and hesitates.
The vendor's stall has been destroyed, ice and fish slicking the cobbles. Wrestling on the ground are two humanoid Beast Boys. One of them is trying, with success, to industriously stuff the other into an ice box. Cyborg gets a full-frontal view to the dusty pink nether regions of his best friend, in a rather excited state, before surprisingly strong spindly navy blue arms crush the Aspect into a choke hold and manage to shove the rest of him into the rather too small box.
The box trembles violently on the cobbles, the slick ground sending it skidding. The other Aspect pounces, landing on the lid in a crouch and quickly working the latches, getting a high pitch squeal of pain as he crushes some wondering pink fingers.
The latches click shut. The box stills.
Slowly the navy blue Beast Boy unfolds from their position on top the lid, making sure that it's not going to open any time soon. Seeing no movement it breaths out a long breath and relaxes. Deflating both in intensity and size as it does so.
It turns, sees Cyborg and the flabbergasted fishmonger and blushes up to the tips of its ears. With a small sharp squeak it tries to flee from view, hesitates when it realizes that would mean leaving the box and instead crouches down behind it, whimpering. The spindly body folds into itself and small nervous green eyes watch them both blushing a luminous florescent blue.
"Er"' says Cyborg, blinking away the best forgotten images of parts of his best friend he never wished to see.
"My fish!" Comes an outraged cry from the fishmonger, looking to his ruined wears.
Cyborg glances around, lowers his cannon and pinches the bridge of his nose. He wonders if the others are having as much trouble as him.
—
Starfire flew gently through the mall. The entire complex was empty, having been cleared out by the mall security beforehand. There had been a rather belligerent crowd of proprietors outside, looking to come in and open their stores. Remembering their frustration Starfire hoped this wouldn't take long.
It was an odd set of reports she had been given. No one had called in theft yet, as nothing had actually been removed from mall property. Instead, from what she had been told, the Aspect had taken to rearranging everything. Causing general chaos and confusion. Attempts by the store owners to take their stuff back had been met with some violence and outbursts so security had removed everyone while they waited for someone to deal with the situation. The Titans could only be glad they got the call before the cops.
Starfire followed the various smattering of things that were strewn about like a trail of breadcrumbs. They led to the nucleus of the mall, the food court. Escalators and stairways converging on it like a spiders web. Starfire hovered in echoing cavern. Taking in the mess.
The chairs and benches of the forecourt had been pushed away and sitting atop what could only be called a horde of consumer appliances, clothes, mannequins, games, garden furniture, light fittings and a single show car, was Beast Boy.
Or, a Beast Boy.
Starfire is given no attention as the Aspect continues to scrutinize his pilfering's, arranging them to his liking and nibbling on high end confectioners chocolate as he did so.
The Aspect was small and a much more livid shade of green than she was used to, practically neon in colour. Most noticeably he had four, not two, long spindly arms moving every which way. Each limb appeared double jointed and flitted about the hoard of things, long fingers skittering around. Starfire blinked, but being an alien warrior Princess this was not the strangest thing she had seen, so she quickly got over it and flew closer.
"Excuse me, friend Beast Boy. These things are not yours."
The Beast Boy looked up, four narrow eyes scrutinizing her from head to toe and then lost interest. The twitching fingers tapped around until they found another box of chocolates and opened it.
Annoyed at being ignored Starfire flew closer, hovering just above the pile of things. "Friend Beast Boy these things are not yours. You must return them to their owners." She bent to pick up a particularly shiny watch from the pile.
Surprisingly strong fingers curled whip like around her wrist, another hand wrenched the watch free from her grasp and put it back on the pile.
"That's mine!" the Aspect snarled. "Don't touch what's mine."
Surprised, Starfire gritted her teeth and tried again. "It is not yours. You stole it."
"But I want it," came the whinny reply.
"If you wish for something you must pay for it. You cannot simply take it."
"But I want it!" Shouted the Beast Boy. Starfire frowned harder.
"Wanting doesn't make it yours. You need to give it back."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes! Put it back!"
"No! Won't! Won't! Won't!" the Aspect stuck out a lurid green tongue.
Totally fed-up Starfire flew down, scooping up a few miscellaneous things and swooping off before the Aspect could try and grab her. There was a screech as the Beast Boy jumped up and down, trying to reach her. Starfire narrowly avoided being grabbed, the thin arms extending a good few meters.
"Give them back! Give them back!"
"They are not yours young man" said Starfire, hovering with her arms full just out of reach. "I will help you return them but you must give them back. We are to return to the tower to meet our friends. Wouldn't you like that, to see your friends?" she shouted, struggling to be heard over the wailing.
"Give me my stuff! I want my stuff! It's mine! My stuff! I wa-want m-my stu-uff" cried the Beast Boy, getting more and more agitated. Eventually his cries and whines dissolved into big tears spilling down his round cheeks. "I want my stuff" he hiccupped. Starfire's resolve wavered.
"Perhaps I might be of assistance?" Starfire turned to see another Beast Boy leaning over the second-floor mezzanine. He smiled softly at her with gold tinted teeth. "Greed can be a bit of a tricky one."
"You are another Aspect of friend Beast Boy" she stated.
"Yes. I felt the presence of another nearby and came to have a look." The gold tinted Beast Boy looked down to the suddenly quiet Greed. The young boy quickly averted his eyes, picking the chocolates up from his pile and hugging them close. "Would you like some assistance?" asked the new Aspect once again. "I suspect it might be a bit easier for me to get him to listen."
Starfire looked between the new Beast Boy and the four-armed neon green child sulking on its trash heap. She bit her lip, never wanting to admit defeat but aware that they needed to get back to the tower as soon as possible.
"If you would try to get him to see reason. We must return to our friends in the tower."
"I'll do what I can.' The gold tinted Beast Boy stood with a quiet sigh and leisurely made his way around to the nearest escalator. Starfire watched him as he did so, cocking her head to the side, red tresses spilling from her shoulder, as she took in the strange play of power between the two Aspects.
Greed, as the other Beast Boy had named him, skittered about his pile. Watching the other Aspect approach like a startled hare. Twitchy and nervous. His eyes darted from the older Aspect, to the empty hall, to his pile of things. Clearly wondering where to run.
The other Aspect smiled slow and gentle and held out a palm. Greed stared at it, going still and tense. Starfire held her breath.
Something moved in the pile. Making a quiet tinkling sound as it fell to the ground.
Greed flung himself backwards, looking to flee. The other Aspect was taller and faster. A slightly abnormally large palm curled around the back of the livid green neck, lifting the child Aspect from the ground.
Greed fell limp, curling into themselves with a hissing whimper. Hanging defeated from the sure hold like a baby kitten. The other Beast Boy released a long sigh, staring down the small Aspect with a never faltering smile.
Starfire watched as Greed curled into themselves further, seeming to wane in the golden hold. Their skin grew less vivid, their limbs shortening, size shrinking. Properly cowed by the other Aspect.
"Come now. That wasn't so bad was it" soothed the older Aspect.
Greed let out a sniffle, "want it. Want my stuff," murmured the dangling boy. Nothing more than a whisper.
"All the stuff you can want is at the Tower." The Aspect reassured, turning to the hovering Starfire. "Shall we go? If we remain in a place so tempting I doubt even my presence can stop him acting up for long."
Starfire returned the things in her arms to the collection. Giving it a considering look before deciding that it was best left to someone else. "Yes, we should return." She looked between the two Aspects again, seeing even more clearly the difference between the Greed she first encountered and the one now hanging like scaled cat. The Aspect continued to look down, muttering to themselves but putting up little fuss at being carried. All six of their long limbs were pulled into their torso in a defensive curl.
"How are you doing that?" asked Starfire.
"Hmm, oh" the gold Aspect considered the defeated Greed. "Well, that's interesting. It appears that my Aspect, being stronger and of a opposite nature causes his own Aspect to wane."
"Then, if that is the Aspect Greed, you are the Aspect…giving?"
Another slow smile, "call me Charity."
A large, abnormally flat palm pulled the smaller Aspect close, tucking them under one sturdy arm. "Now, I believe there are a lot of angry store owners to who I owe an apology.'
—
Robin skidded to a stop on his bike, ducking to avoid a flying brick. The hurler of said brick? A lurid red Beast Boy Aspect with curling ram horns. They bellowed at him and lowered their head to charge forward. Robin flipped off his bike just in time, watching the machine go flying with a wince. Cyborg would not be happy about that.
Robin sized up the Aspect as it stood to face him. It wasn't very tall, but it was thickset with muscle. Its short calloused fingers ended in blunt thick claws. Spittle speckled its mouth, frothing around short tusks.
Littered around the area was proof of the destruction the Aspect had already wrought. Parts of a wall destroyed, a lamp post pulled down, scattered glass from broken windows, car alarms blaring further down the street. All signs of clear brute strength.
"Arrgggggggg!" screamed the Aspect, committing themselves to another charge. Robin narrowed his eyes, moved to dodge, and took a surprise attack to the ribs.
With a smack the wind was forced out of him, pain blooming along his side. Robin smacked into a nearby building with a groan, struggling to keep himself on his feet.
"Hah! Think you could beat me!" came a crowing voice. Robin propped himself up, palming a boomerang. He hadn't wanted to use his weapons against an Aspect but two on one wasn't good odds. Squinting, he took in the second attacker.
Copper skin with a metallic sheen around the eyes. Sneer stretching across razor sharp teeth. They were probably around Beast Boys actual age, if not a bit younger, but the way they puffed their chest, the volume of their voice, endeavoured to fill the space of ten men.
"Get lost. He's mine!" growled the red Beast Boy, whirling on the other Aspect and looming over them. Their hands twitched, as if itching to lash out.
The other Aspect frowned back, waving their anger away with an uncaring hand. "What's it matter?"
"He's mine" growled the first Beast Boy, moving threateningly closer.
The copper Aspect sneered, "what, you think you could do better than me? Didn't your stupid muscle brain realize he was going to dodge again? Or is your skull full of nothing but horns?"
Frothing, the red Aspect swung. The other ducked, dancing away and laughing mockingly as they went. Robin moved slowly, keeping both of the now distracted Aspects in his sights. His hand tightened on his weapon.
The copped Aspect rolled behind a car. The heavy set Aspect smashed into it a second later, denting the door and causing the airbags to ignite with a bang. Robin took his chance.
Sprinting forward he hurled his boomerang. A red ear twitched and the weapon only nicked the top of a curled horn as the Beast Boy ducked.
Robin was already moving, staff extending as it swung. The red Beast Boy grunted as the blow landed on his floating ribs but didn't falter, causing Robins eyes to widen in surprise. Eyes rolling madly and moving much quicker than Robin was used to the Aspect grabbed the staff, pulling Robin towards him. Robin let go with a curse and fell into a backwards roll, just about avoiding having his nose broken via head-but.
Robin rolled again, the heavy foot falling after him causing cracks to appear across the concrete. Palming some smoke bombs Robin through them in the Aspects general direction. Listening to their maddened cry as the noxious smoke filled their nose and stung their eyes. Robin caught his breath, trying to buy himself sometime to circle the Aspect for another attack.
However, smoke was a double edge sword. As much as it obscured the vision of the red Aspect it also hid his other opponent. A fist emerged from behind the haze, aiming for his eyes. On reflex Robin guarded with his forearm and swung it away, lashing out with a kick that was also swatted away.
There was a heavy stinging sensation on his forearm and it was only as he and the copper Aspect exchanged blows that Robin realized his opponents knuckles and arms were tipped with short sharp spikes, like those of a horned toad. Every time he blocked a punch they dug into his skin, ripping at the flesh as he pushed the attacking limb away.
"Didn't think it would be that easy did you?" mocked the Aspect. "Thought you could take me on! As if!"
"I don't have time for this" gritted out Robin, growing frustrated with the stalemate. Since when did Beast Boy have such skill in hand-to-hand combat?
"Don't look down on me" hissed the Beast Boy. Renewing his fervour of attacks, not giving Robin a moment to reach for his weapon. Grunting while taking another spiked blow Robin pushed himself forward, swinging his leg out to trip the Aspect. He felt the blow connect and the other falter.
For a single breath it looked like he had got the upper hand, the Aspects eyes widening, jaw clenching. The next seconds their lips stretched into a fanged smile, hard scaly hand curling around Robin's wrist and pulling him down with them. They hit the ground, knee up to catch Robin in sternum and launch the Titan over themselves.
Right into the path of enraged ram horns. The red Aspect barrelled into Robins back, forcing a short sharp scream from him as his spine took the blow. The momentum was such that for the second time Robin was sent flying, bile filling his throat. On instinct he tried to relax his muscles, preparing to hit the ground.
Something caught him mid-flight. Large, strong hands enfolding him into a barrel chest. Bright, sunset red filled his vision.
"Nice fight. We've got it from here. Get your breath back" said a deep rumbly voice. Robin was placed gently down on the ground, groaning and with dark ugly bruises already forming across his lower back. He propped himself against the nearest wall and made himself take in the fight.
Two other Aspects had emerged from the alleyways. One was already taking on the spiked Beast Boy. Bronze skin glinting in the light and seemingly impervious to the sharp edges of his opponent. They stood tall and muscled, broad shoulders and thin waist leading to strong legs which he used to smack the smaller Aspect around with surprising grace. Their hair hung in a long braid to their lower back, light striking from the bronze threads.
"Fight me!" came the bellowing cry from the horned Beast Boy. Robins saviour sighed, cracked his knuckles and smiled savagely.
"Gladly" they muttered, spinning to face the oncoming charge. Knees bent they grabbed the incoming Aspect by their lowered horns, sliding an inch on the concrete before with a grunt of effort, arms straining and back rippling with muscle, they lifted and threw the other man.
The horned Beast Boy fell onto the much battered car with a sound of surprise and the other Aspect was soon upon him. Using those deadly horns to spin the red Aspects head around and push their face into the concrete.
Frothing and snarling the other Beast Boy tried to escape but the new Aspect was sure in their grapple, keeping them on the floor with a single knee. The new Aspect was older than the others, noticed Robin. They looked like Beast Boy in the prime of his life, if Beast boy was a cheery cherry red and decided to become a professional body builder.
"Yield" stated the Aspect, pressing further on the pinned Aspects neck.
Throat straining against the weight the darker red Beast Boy nevertheless found it in him to snarl and curse in reply. Strings of drool dropping from their tusks.
The new Beast Boy frowned and in one efficient movement switched their pin. Brining their full weight across the angry Beast Boys back and neck and dragging their shoulders up. A position Robin new from experience was extremely painful and would have the other Beast Boy breaking his own arms if he continued to struggle.
"Yield" said the Aspect firmly, pressing forward an inch. The pinned Aspect began to thrash, grunting and snarling with the pain but refusing to submit. Horns chipping against the concrete and leaving behind deep scratches.
"Stubborn to the last. I should have known. Well, have it your way." The Aspect stood up, releasing the hold. Robin jerked forward, alarmed. Horns reared upward with a battle cry.
A heavy foot met him on the way down, smashing his head into the pavement and causing it to crack. The horned Aspect jerked, then fell still. Sighing the muscled Aspect bent, pulled the others head up by the tips of their horns and inspected him closely. A thin trail of blood tricked from a gash on his forehead.
"Out cold" said the Aspect, nodding to themselves. With what seemed like effortless strength they hauled the knocked out Aspect over their shoulder. "You done?" he asked, addressing his companion.
The bronze Aspect stood proudly, keeping his copper look alike firmly under one arm in a choke hold. The other Aspect was weakly struggling but seemed to have mostly worn himself out. Every so often he tried using the points of his knuckles to gore the other but it had no effect against the metallic gleam of the larger Aspects skin.
"I would think so" they tightened their arms just so. The copper Aspect choked slightly. "Keep struggling like that and you can join Anger in dream world."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I?' The bronze Beast Boy raised one eyebrow, staring down his captive in calm silence.
The copper Beast Boy froze, shrinking back slightly. Once more they tried to break the hold but the arm containing them was like steel. Immovable.
Sagging they bowed their head and stopped struggling, wordlessly accepting defeat. The other Beast Boy nodded. "Good decision. Looks like we are ready to go."
"Robin?" Robin startled at being addressed, seeing the conscious Aspects looking to him. Unconsciously his hand curved around his other boomerang. "Do you think you are good to travel? Or do you need to call Cyborg?"
Robin frowned, not liking the concerned look in the Aspects eyes. Wincing he got to his feet, gingerly feeling out the pain in his back. It hurt but he could move, though he was going to need to put an icepack on it ASAP if he wanted to do anything tomorrow.
"I'm fine" he bit out. "We need to get to the Tower." He looked towards the Aspects, making his way over to his battered bike. To his relief it roared to life without issue. Robin settled on it, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood as the bruises stretched across his back. With a deep breath he made sure to get himself under control. He couldn't afford to show weakness. Who knew what these new Aspects could do?
Frowning Robin turned to the waiting Beast Boys, "What's your name? What Aspect are you?"
"Courage" answered the elder sunset red Beast Boy. "This mad dog is Anger, if you couldn't tell."
"Confidence" said the bronze Beast Boy when Robins eyes turned to him.
"Arrogance" sneered the copper Aspect under his arm, flashing a shit eating smile filled with sharp teeth.
Robin took a breath, he supposed Courage and Confidence didn't sound like bad Aspects, but they had certainly proven themselves to be powerful. Robin eyed Courage's muscles, the breadth of Confidence shoulders. Coughing he pushed down the small jab of envy and set the bike into gear.
"I'll call Cyborg to see if he can't pick us up on the way but we need to leave here."
"What are we gonna do about this mess?" asked Courage, tilting his head to the ruined car.
"I've already contacted the police about the incident. They'll be here as soon as I give them the all clear. The Titans fund will pay for the damages."
Robin squinted down the small narrow road. The sun was truly starting to rise now, reflecting off the glass high rises to blind the pedestrians. "We need to go" he repeated, aware that soon more people would be gathering.
"Lead the way" said Courage, adjusting Anger across his shoulders and starting to jog. Confidence and Arrogance had a brief, sharp argument but eventually Arrogance was released to jog on his own. Confidence keeping a careful measured distance behind him.
Turning a corner, Titans Tower reflected the dawn brightest of all.