Thanks you guys who reviewed ^^ I'm sorry if I made any huge mistakes in the last chapter. Hope this one works with it. I'm trying to get into the story as quickly as I can, usually I make too many mistakes with dragging out the setting up part and then losing interest in what I'm writing -_- luckily I have the BRAND NEW series of Teen Titans every day to inspire me. Unfortunately I'm missing the one on Friday ;_; oh well, it'll be repeated!
On to the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own any DC characters/stories etc. and I don't own the title to the Guns'n'Roses song 'welcome to the jungle' or whatever ^__^ don't sue me!
* * *
Her mother had been overwhelmed with Starfire's arrival. Raven had expected as much,her mother loved to look after people, even people she had only just met got the treatment Raven had gotten everyday of her life. What thrilled her mother more was that Starfire had brought the family gifts. It seemed Starfire had received more information about her family than Raven had had about Starfire herself.
The gifts weren't much but they seemed to put her mother in the best mood Raven had ever seen her in. An English teacup for her mother, a set of postcards called 'Bridges of Britain' for her father and a box of chocolate for her brother Steve. Raven had to admit the gifts suited each person well.
Starfire's gift to Raven was slightly more extravagant, if slightly eccentric. The red head had brought her new host sister a plant, a rather large plant, in the bottom of her suitcase. It looked like a cactus crossed with a sunflower to Raven and was a bright shade of orange. Raven thanked Starfire and put it on her desk, for all it looked rather too bright for the dark purple coloured room, a colour that Starfire immediately took a shine to.
The phrase Starfire had used to describe her luggage had not done her bags justice. "Rather a lot" to Raven meant two bags, apparently to Starfire it meant five suitcases and a backpack. Trying to get it home by themselves had proved impossible and Raven had enlisted Beast Boy to carry the heaviest case since he was in their direction home anyway.
Raven's room was rather large and had two single beds in. Usually she used the other bed to throw things on and for storage purposes but now it was Starfire's bed away from home. Raven carefully divided shelf and closet space for Starfire's things as they unpacked.
Once Starfire was settled in her home for the duration of her stay, Raven took her downstairs again for a quick dinner before they went out: pizza. It seemed Starfire's eccentricity didn't stay within the realms of gift giving as was proved to Raven when she asked Starfire what pizza toppings she liked.
"Mustard"
Raven stared "Excuse me?"
Starfire grinned and leant on the counter in the kitchen "If you have mustard I like that on pizza, it gives it a nice tang to the flat base of the dish" she stopped "You...do HAVE mustard don't you?"
Raven looked at Starfire in disbelief "We have mustard but...you're sure?"
Starfire nodded her head firmly.
"Well alright" Raven said, unconvinced tugging a strand of hair and got the mustard out of the cupboard "You have strange tastes..."
They arrived at the school after they'd eaten at the same time as Beast Boy, they flagged him down from where he was walking ahead of them and then they all headed over to the sports hall. The sun was warm and the days were long now summer had arrived. It seemed Starfire had never been in such hot weather before though and she flapped her hand uselessly in front of her face under the sunshine, in a silent complaint of the heat.
Beast Boy grinned, "You're late" and shoved a hand through his green hair
"You too" Raven retorted "Where's this thing being held then?" she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looked around over the school ground
"Big gym" Beast Boy replied, jerking his thumb "They started half an hour ago to do jumps but they should be just about to do running now. I came to see a buddy run so...yeah. Let's go"
"Oh yes" Starfire bounced "Watching people run and sweat a lot is the height of fun"
Raven rolled her eyes. First mustard, now thinking watching people sweat is fun? Her exchange student was a weird girl. The rounded the corner towards the gym and saw a steady stream of people heading in and out, depending on whether they wanted to see the event or not. Raven had had a choice in whether to take part but she really didn't feel like she was talented at any sport that involved physical labour.
They passed through the doors of the gym and through a ring of people that included teachers. Raven threw wave to her math teacher Mr. Wayne and to her science teacher Mr. Kent who nodded as she passed them and a gaggle of teachers, clustered around a coffee machine. She suspected they were here against their will to make sure no student riots kicked off.
After spying her maths teacher she remembered the last term where for some reason every sight of him had made her legs weak. Luckily the emotion had quickly subsided when he had failed three of her tests in a row, it had been partly her fault for not studying but Raven couldn't help inkling he had guessed of her crush and had discreetly tried to sway her off it. Raven was glad that he had as she could hardly believe she had ever felt that way about him, sure he was her favourite teacher but he was, what, 20 years older than her? Raven grimaced at the memory of the period.
The gym was large and a track had been set around the middle while the other events were held in the sunshine, it was thought the air conditioning of the gym would make sure the runners didn't pass out from the heat outside when they were running. Stands had been set up around the edge of the gym and they were filled with students of many different years. Raven spied people she knew and people she didn't milling around the seats for the event to start.
"Hey look, there he is!" Beast Boy said, pointing to the runners lining up on the track
Starfire squinted "Which one is your friend?"
"Can we at least find somewhere to sit?" Raven said, motioning to the stands, full of students cheering on their friends, and began to pick her way along the row to a set of three spare seats as the others followed
"I'm here to see Lighting run" Beast Boy said, pointing to a boy so blonde he could have been white-haired who was lined up ready to run, positioning his feet on the stands
Raven looked down to the field, Lighting was running against five others, including Cyborg, who looked surprisingly naked without his jewellery. They were about to set off, the sports teacher with the whistle signalled to the helpers at the finish line to get ready, and put the whistle to his lips.
Raven couldn't help it, the competitive aspect of the thing was getting to her as the teenagers around her yelled encouragement to the runners. She knew both Lightning and Cyborg were great athletes and was keen to see who would win between the two. The other competitors didn't stand a chance.
And they were off.
"Raven" Starfire poked Raven in the ribs, Raven ignored her and Starfire poked her again
Raven looked at her "What?" she snapped "And don't tap me!"
Starfire shifted uncomfortable "I am in need of..."
Raven looked back to the track, Cyborg and Lightning were neck and neck, almost finished with the first lap, two more to go. It seemed close.
"What? In need of what?" Raven continued
Starfire lowered her voice beneath the shouts of Beast Boy and the other crowd members "The toilet"
Raven sighed, she supposed it was her duty to look after the girl, especially on her first day, but she really wanted to see this race "Why didn't you go before we left? Can't it wait?"
Starfire shook her head "Please?"
Raven growled under her breath and stood up "Beast Boy we're going to the bathroom"
Beast Boy looked up, back at the race and said "I may as well go with you, I'll meet Lightning when he goes back to the locker room. I'll either congratulate him or comfort him depending on how he looks, I don't need to see the race"
Raven stared at his attitude, then shrugged, taking one last look at the race (Cyborg was just ahead of Lightening) and started to pick her way down the benches and through the people, trying to avoid stepping on people. They reached the ground and headed into the network of corridors that spread out between school buildings and towards the locker rooms.
They split up at the two rooms with the promise to meet up later, and vanished into the gender divided areas. Raven showed Starfire into the toilets and stood back on the wall to wait. The school was quiet, eerie when you were only in school when noise racked the building and shook the foundations from the students.
Starfire, after castigating Raven for listening to her pee, appeared to wash her hands "Your school is scary when no one is here"
"Well you know they are here" Raven pointed out "Just not around here"
"Yes well..." Starfire said, drying her hands "It just seems scary..."
"I know" Raven muttered, her stomach had a strange sinking feeling in it, like something wasn't right "Let's get back"
They turned towards the exit when several loud bangs ruptured the quiet. The two girls screamed and ducked from the noise, as if it would protect their ears. Raven shot back up to full height and listened carefully, what was going on?
"Raven your school has scary noises! I do not like it" Starfire gushed, grabbing Raven's hand
"That sound was not normal" Raven told the girl "It sounded like...gun shots, but...Let's go look"
She tugged Starfire up and pulled her to the door, opening it carefully she shut it abruptly. There had been screams out there. She was certain. Coming from the gym. The sudden urge to run hard and fast out of the school hit her and she had to take several deep breaths to calm her nerves before taking another peak out of the locker door, motioning for Starfire to keep back.
Raven pulled the door open a small way and peaked around the corner. The doors down each end of the corridor were shut, that was strange, they had been open earlier. The noises from the gym were disturbing, screams and loud bangs, the gun shots cracked again and Raven couldn't help jumping at each one. What was going on?
Raven shut the door again and looked at Starfire, the red head looked about to cry, Raven didn't feel much better. What could they do? She didn't want to see what was going on out there, that was for certain.
She opened the door a crack again and scanned the area outside the locker rooms. Where was Beast Boy, he'd been in the boys locker room hadn't he?
Suddenly footsteps sounded from the direction of the gym, Raven's eyes widened as two huge men in dark clothing rounded the corner, each carrying what looked like large machine guns. They were huge, each with rounds of ammunition wrapped around their waists to supply their monsters. With horror she watched as they began to open each room along the corridor, the store rooms, staff room, opening the door of each room they would disappear into them for a second before coming out.
Now she knew why the doors were shut at the end of the corridors. They were to stop people getting out.
Raven pulled back into the girl's locker room, shutting the door as quietly as she could. Grabbing Starfire's arm she dragged the girl to the back of the room and started searching for a place large enough for them. She felt sick.
They were looking for people.
Panic gripped her as she could find no suitable place for them to hide, and she could just imagine the men outside the door, them opening the door and drawing their guns...What could they possibly want in a school?
"Raven what is the matter? What were those noises? I am frightened" Starfire was whispering hurriedly, sensing Raven's mood "Tell me what you saw"
"OK" Raven said, spying the doors to the toilets "There are two huge men out there with guns going to every room looking for people"
"WHAT?" Starfire screeched
Raven clamped a hand down on Starfire's mouth "Please, we don't have much time and if we panic then we are doomed"
She pulled Starfire back into the toilets and pushed her towards the cubicle at the end of the row and went into the one next to it. Starfire squealed as the door slammed behind her.
"Starfire, stand on the toilet and shut up. Something's happening out there and I don't think those men with the guns are friendly, now do it" Raven hissed
They had just got on top of the seats when they heard the door to the locker room squeak open. Raven heard the heavy footsteps of the men and inwardly began to pray to whatever gods she knew of to get them through this. She heard Starfire stifle a sob and added a prayer on top of the previous ones to make Starfire not give them away.
Poor Starfire, first day in a new country and this happened. And just what was happening? Raven felt fear begin to panic her again and felt it begin to seep into her common sense.
"Find anything?"
Raven froze as the men entered the toilets. Part of her was amazed at the absurdity of men in a girl's locker room as the other part of screamed fear and panic.
The man's voice was as deep and gravely as she expected him to be when she had seen the pair and the reply of his companion was just as she expected, rough and mean sounding. They sounded to Raven like they'd have no problem using their weapons on people who couldn't defend themselves.
"Nothing, they must've all been in that gym or that group we rounded up outside" he paused "Let's check the boys"
"The boss better know what he's doing" a disgruntled mutter came
"He's trying to get rich, and we're getting paid" came the reply "Check those toilets, you never know. Let's just hope the big bat doesn't spoil the plan"
Raven's breath caught in her chest and she swore her heart was beating ten times louder than it should have when the toiler doors at the end of the row began to be kicked in and searched. The next one, and the next one, and the next one. The cubicles being searched were getting closer and closer.
How could they hide if the door was about to be kicked in? The door two cubicles along was kicked in and Raven squeezed her eyes shut. This was it.
* * *
On to the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own any DC characters/stories etc. and I don't own the title to the Guns'n'Roses song 'welcome to the jungle' or whatever ^__^ don't sue me!
* * *
Her mother had been overwhelmed with Starfire's arrival. Raven had expected as much,her mother loved to look after people, even people she had only just met got the treatment Raven had gotten everyday of her life. What thrilled her mother more was that Starfire had brought the family gifts. It seemed Starfire had received more information about her family than Raven had had about Starfire herself.
The gifts weren't much but they seemed to put her mother in the best mood Raven had ever seen her in. An English teacup for her mother, a set of postcards called 'Bridges of Britain' for her father and a box of chocolate for her brother Steve. Raven had to admit the gifts suited each person well.
Starfire's gift to Raven was slightly more extravagant, if slightly eccentric. The red head had brought her new host sister a plant, a rather large plant, in the bottom of her suitcase. It looked like a cactus crossed with a sunflower to Raven and was a bright shade of orange. Raven thanked Starfire and put it on her desk, for all it looked rather too bright for the dark purple coloured room, a colour that Starfire immediately took a shine to.
The phrase Starfire had used to describe her luggage had not done her bags justice. "Rather a lot" to Raven meant two bags, apparently to Starfire it meant five suitcases and a backpack. Trying to get it home by themselves had proved impossible and Raven had enlisted Beast Boy to carry the heaviest case since he was in their direction home anyway.
Raven's room was rather large and had two single beds in. Usually she used the other bed to throw things on and for storage purposes but now it was Starfire's bed away from home. Raven carefully divided shelf and closet space for Starfire's things as they unpacked.
Once Starfire was settled in her home for the duration of her stay, Raven took her downstairs again for a quick dinner before they went out: pizza. It seemed Starfire's eccentricity didn't stay within the realms of gift giving as was proved to Raven when she asked Starfire what pizza toppings she liked.
"Mustard"
Raven stared "Excuse me?"
Starfire grinned and leant on the counter in the kitchen "If you have mustard I like that on pizza, it gives it a nice tang to the flat base of the dish" she stopped "You...do HAVE mustard don't you?"
Raven looked at Starfire in disbelief "We have mustard but...you're sure?"
Starfire nodded her head firmly.
"Well alright" Raven said, unconvinced tugging a strand of hair and got the mustard out of the cupboard "You have strange tastes..."
They arrived at the school after they'd eaten at the same time as Beast Boy, they flagged him down from where he was walking ahead of them and then they all headed over to the sports hall. The sun was warm and the days were long now summer had arrived. It seemed Starfire had never been in such hot weather before though and she flapped her hand uselessly in front of her face under the sunshine, in a silent complaint of the heat.
Beast Boy grinned, "You're late" and shoved a hand through his green hair
"You too" Raven retorted "Where's this thing being held then?" she adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looked around over the school ground
"Big gym" Beast Boy replied, jerking his thumb "They started half an hour ago to do jumps but they should be just about to do running now. I came to see a buddy run so...yeah. Let's go"
"Oh yes" Starfire bounced "Watching people run and sweat a lot is the height of fun"
Raven rolled her eyes. First mustard, now thinking watching people sweat is fun? Her exchange student was a weird girl. The rounded the corner towards the gym and saw a steady stream of people heading in and out, depending on whether they wanted to see the event or not. Raven had had a choice in whether to take part but she really didn't feel like she was talented at any sport that involved physical labour.
They passed through the doors of the gym and through a ring of people that included teachers. Raven threw wave to her math teacher Mr. Wayne and to her science teacher Mr. Kent who nodded as she passed them and a gaggle of teachers, clustered around a coffee machine. She suspected they were here against their will to make sure no student riots kicked off.
After spying her maths teacher she remembered the last term where for some reason every sight of him had made her legs weak. Luckily the emotion had quickly subsided when he had failed three of her tests in a row, it had been partly her fault for not studying but Raven couldn't help inkling he had guessed of her crush and had discreetly tried to sway her off it. Raven was glad that he had as she could hardly believe she had ever felt that way about him, sure he was her favourite teacher but he was, what, 20 years older than her? Raven grimaced at the memory of the period.
The gym was large and a track had been set around the middle while the other events were held in the sunshine, it was thought the air conditioning of the gym would make sure the runners didn't pass out from the heat outside when they were running. Stands had been set up around the edge of the gym and they were filled with students of many different years. Raven spied people she knew and people she didn't milling around the seats for the event to start.
"Hey look, there he is!" Beast Boy said, pointing to the runners lining up on the track
Starfire squinted "Which one is your friend?"
"Can we at least find somewhere to sit?" Raven said, motioning to the stands, full of students cheering on their friends, and began to pick her way along the row to a set of three spare seats as the others followed
"I'm here to see Lighting run" Beast Boy said, pointing to a boy so blonde he could have been white-haired who was lined up ready to run, positioning his feet on the stands
Raven looked down to the field, Lighting was running against five others, including Cyborg, who looked surprisingly naked without his jewellery. They were about to set off, the sports teacher with the whistle signalled to the helpers at the finish line to get ready, and put the whistle to his lips.
Raven couldn't help it, the competitive aspect of the thing was getting to her as the teenagers around her yelled encouragement to the runners. She knew both Lightning and Cyborg were great athletes and was keen to see who would win between the two. The other competitors didn't stand a chance.
And they were off.
"Raven" Starfire poked Raven in the ribs, Raven ignored her and Starfire poked her again
Raven looked at her "What?" she snapped "And don't tap me!"
Starfire shifted uncomfortable "I am in need of..."
Raven looked back to the track, Cyborg and Lightning were neck and neck, almost finished with the first lap, two more to go. It seemed close.
"What? In need of what?" Raven continued
Starfire lowered her voice beneath the shouts of Beast Boy and the other crowd members "The toilet"
Raven sighed, she supposed it was her duty to look after the girl, especially on her first day, but she really wanted to see this race "Why didn't you go before we left? Can't it wait?"
Starfire shook her head "Please?"
Raven growled under her breath and stood up "Beast Boy we're going to the bathroom"
Beast Boy looked up, back at the race and said "I may as well go with you, I'll meet Lightning when he goes back to the locker room. I'll either congratulate him or comfort him depending on how he looks, I don't need to see the race"
Raven stared at his attitude, then shrugged, taking one last look at the race (Cyborg was just ahead of Lightening) and started to pick her way down the benches and through the people, trying to avoid stepping on people. They reached the ground and headed into the network of corridors that spread out between school buildings and towards the locker rooms.
They split up at the two rooms with the promise to meet up later, and vanished into the gender divided areas. Raven showed Starfire into the toilets and stood back on the wall to wait. The school was quiet, eerie when you were only in school when noise racked the building and shook the foundations from the students.
Starfire, after castigating Raven for listening to her pee, appeared to wash her hands "Your school is scary when no one is here"
"Well you know they are here" Raven pointed out "Just not around here"
"Yes well..." Starfire said, drying her hands "It just seems scary..."
"I know" Raven muttered, her stomach had a strange sinking feeling in it, like something wasn't right "Let's get back"
They turned towards the exit when several loud bangs ruptured the quiet. The two girls screamed and ducked from the noise, as if it would protect their ears. Raven shot back up to full height and listened carefully, what was going on?
"Raven your school has scary noises! I do not like it" Starfire gushed, grabbing Raven's hand
"That sound was not normal" Raven told the girl "It sounded like...gun shots, but...Let's go look"
She tugged Starfire up and pulled her to the door, opening it carefully she shut it abruptly. There had been screams out there. She was certain. Coming from the gym. The sudden urge to run hard and fast out of the school hit her and she had to take several deep breaths to calm her nerves before taking another peak out of the locker door, motioning for Starfire to keep back.
Raven pulled the door open a small way and peaked around the corner. The doors down each end of the corridor were shut, that was strange, they had been open earlier. The noises from the gym were disturbing, screams and loud bangs, the gun shots cracked again and Raven couldn't help jumping at each one. What was going on?
Raven shut the door again and looked at Starfire, the red head looked about to cry, Raven didn't feel much better. What could they do? She didn't want to see what was going on out there, that was for certain.
She opened the door a crack again and scanned the area outside the locker rooms. Where was Beast Boy, he'd been in the boys locker room hadn't he?
Suddenly footsteps sounded from the direction of the gym, Raven's eyes widened as two huge men in dark clothing rounded the corner, each carrying what looked like large machine guns. They were huge, each with rounds of ammunition wrapped around their waists to supply their monsters. With horror she watched as they began to open each room along the corridor, the store rooms, staff room, opening the door of each room they would disappear into them for a second before coming out.
Now she knew why the doors were shut at the end of the corridors. They were to stop people getting out.
Raven pulled back into the girl's locker room, shutting the door as quietly as she could. Grabbing Starfire's arm she dragged the girl to the back of the room and started searching for a place large enough for them. She felt sick.
They were looking for people.
Panic gripped her as she could find no suitable place for them to hide, and she could just imagine the men outside the door, them opening the door and drawing their guns...What could they possibly want in a school?
"Raven what is the matter? What were those noises? I am frightened" Starfire was whispering hurriedly, sensing Raven's mood "Tell me what you saw"
"OK" Raven said, spying the doors to the toilets "There are two huge men out there with guns going to every room looking for people"
"WHAT?" Starfire screeched
Raven clamped a hand down on Starfire's mouth "Please, we don't have much time and if we panic then we are doomed"
She pulled Starfire back into the toilets and pushed her towards the cubicle at the end of the row and went into the one next to it. Starfire squealed as the door slammed behind her.
"Starfire, stand on the toilet and shut up. Something's happening out there and I don't think those men with the guns are friendly, now do it" Raven hissed
They had just got on top of the seats when they heard the door to the locker room squeak open. Raven heard the heavy footsteps of the men and inwardly began to pray to whatever gods she knew of to get them through this. She heard Starfire stifle a sob and added a prayer on top of the previous ones to make Starfire not give them away.
Poor Starfire, first day in a new country and this happened. And just what was happening? Raven felt fear begin to panic her again and felt it begin to seep into her common sense.
"Find anything?"
Raven froze as the men entered the toilets. Part of her was amazed at the absurdity of men in a girl's locker room as the other part of screamed fear and panic.
The man's voice was as deep and gravely as she expected him to be when she had seen the pair and the reply of his companion was just as she expected, rough and mean sounding. They sounded to Raven like they'd have no problem using their weapons on people who couldn't defend themselves.
"Nothing, they must've all been in that gym or that group we rounded up outside" he paused "Let's check the boys"
"The boss better know what he's doing" a disgruntled mutter came
"He's trying to get rich, and we're getting paid" came the reply "Check those toilets, you never know. Let's just hope the big bat doesn't spoil the plan"
Raven's breath caught in her chest and she swore her heart was beating ten times louder than it should have when the toiler doors at the end of the row began to be kicked in and searched. The next one, and the next one, and the next one. The cubicles being searched were getting closer and closer.
How could they hide if the door was about to be kicked in? The door two cubicles along was kicked in and Raven squeezed her eyes shut. This was it.
* * *
