AN: I'M BACK BITCHES!

Outta This World: Observer's Cut

Arc Three: Teen Tyrants

Chapter Twenty-two: Dance with Destiny (Part II)

The Bridge. With Cyborg, Beast Boy, Mikumo, and Terra.

"What's the situation?" Robin's voice growled over the T-Communicator, his frustration becoming rather apparent.

"Not good." Cyborg replied as he turned away from the standoff with the moth creatures. "There's too many for us four to manage alone, and those that we couldn't catch would most likely end up attacking the city proper. So, either we call in help from an untrustworthy League…"

"Or we give in to Killer Moth's demands." Robin finished.

"Exactly." Cyborg accented. "Frankly, neither option is very appealing, but I'd rather not have the city destroyed."

"Neither do I…" Robin mused, trailing off as he propped up his chin with his right hand. "But…I may have an idea."

"Are you serious?! NO!" Blitzkrieg exclaimed as he glared at Robin from across the table that they were sitting at.

"Look," The Boy Wonder began, steepling his hands and trying not to look as annoyed as he felt. "I'm needed out in the field to lead the away team. It's not that I don't have any faith in Cyborg, it's just that I know Killer Moth a fair bit better than either of you do, being that he was once a member of Batman's Rogues Gallery. I just need you to make it look like we are cooperating with him…for now."

Blitz glared at him for a moment, and then relented. "You know what I hate the most about you, Rob?"

"What is that, exactly?"

"The way that you somehow always manage to be right."

"So?"

"Blitzkrieg has accepted the invitation."

"Blitzkrieg? Not Robin? Are you sure?"

"Very. Should we change to plan B?"

"…No. Prepare for the infiltration. Everything will go as planned."

With Blitzkrieg. Jump City Pier.

I arrived at the prom party location about thirty minutes later. A large cruise ship had just docked, blowing its horn and allowing a large assortment of partygoers onto its deck.

I had come dressed in a recently bought suit and tie, without a mask or a hood, and thus I became keenly aware of how often I had worn them, given how…naked I felt without anything covering my head.

I sense that I shall have much…difficulties tonight. I thought as I felt the stares of some members of the crowd, running a hand through my hair.

Someone tapped my shoulder in that moment, and I turned around—

And whatever foul mood I felt before fell away as I saw Starfire, silhouetted by the moon and dressed in a sleeveless pink gown combined with white gloves that covered her elbows. To her right—and slightly behind her—stood Robin, dressed in a tuxedo suit with one of his masks covering his face.

"I thought you two would be leading the search for Killer Moth." I spoke.

"Yes, but we intend to investigate this girl thoroughly." Starfire explained offhandedly. "Besides, you may require saving. She could be some ooze monstrosity in disguise, yes?"

Robin grumbled something under his breath and stuffed his hands in his pockets, and I could feel the right corner of my lip twitching upwards.

Fuck you, bird boy.

Then, Starfire looked slightly behind Robin and let out an annoyed huff. "Oh, come out friend Raven! Stop hiding behind Robin!"

A short distance away.

Rose watched the interaction through the scope of her sniper rifle, Cire lying in wait nearby. The well-dressed sorcerer was leaning on the wall of the rooftop entrance about ten feet behind her position, his cane grasped lightly in his right hand.

"What's going on? Has our agent met them yet?" He asked briskly.

"No." Rose Wilson replied. "But I can understand why little brother dearest has such an interest in goth girls."

Cire made a disinterested grunting noise in response, looking somewhere off to the side. "She better be there—our plan relies on her ability to distract the Titans—!"

"Oh, she'll be there," A new voice interrupted.

Death Hand's voice.

"She's just making her own final preparations. Rose, leave this place and get your gown. Our part is coming soon."

Rose nodded and left the sniper rifle in its place, leaving Death Hand and Cire alone on the rooftop.

"…You wish to speak with me, my lord?" Cire spoke, staring at everything save for Death Hand's own eyes.

"Indeed, I would." The white-haired man replied, his voice calm and friendly…and yet hiding a hint of danger. "There is something we need to speak about. Some feelings that you carry for an old…acquaintance…of yours."

Cire scowled. "These 'feelings' you speak of won't interfere with our plan, in fact, they will remove a pawn from the board!"

"So you keep insisting." Death Hand spoke. "But who's to say that old memories won't overcome your obedience? Who's to say that Eri—"

"THAT MAN IS DEAD." Cire hissed. "Saeld and I killed him. His body still rots beneath its grave on Earth Prime."

Silence reigned, and as Cire stared into the cold and wrathful red orbs that were Death Hand's eyes, he could not help but feel like he had made some dangerous mistake. His commander loomed over him like a tidal wave, intent on dashing his corpse on the wall behind him.

"…that may be so." The menacing metahuman spoke at last. "But if that man is to return in any way, shape, or form, then my silence to Sean Kirk will be broken…"

The taller man placed his right hand on the redhead's shoulder, leering down at him with a cruel and grisly smile…

And for a moment, the man known to Cire as Tenko Shimura was no longer just one being, but two. The first was the man gripping his shoulder and grinning with deadly malice. The second was a pale, blond man with electric blue eyes and a cunning smirk.

"And then, Cire, you will be broken."

AN: Needed a break from this so that I didn't feel like I was pushing stuff out just to push stuff out. Anyway, one more part after this and then the Date With Destiny Mini-Arc is done! WHOOP WHOOP!

Reviews give me life, as always.