Titan Windrider
Chapter One- "Findings"
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Time: Early evening
Location: Morning Glen Public Park, Jump City
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The icy winds of early winter bit at his skin and ruffled his hair. Darkness loomed over the horizon, contrasting greatly with the blanket of snow lining the ground under his feet. Evening birds were scattered about the hauntingly bare branches of the chestnut trees.
Robin gave a semi-content sigh.
The park was beautiful… and cold. Really cold.
The wind picked up, kicking at his cape and sprawling it along the back of the bench he sat upon. He shivered.
Did the Boy Wonder mention it was cold?
A particularly strong gust attacked him. In that instant, his cape flew over his head, covering his already masked eyes. Thoroughly annoyed, Robin threw it back over with a feral snarl.
The wind continued to howl around him. Robin looked over to his side unconsciously. The trees within his sight weren't moving despite the harshness of the wind. He turned away.
…and did a double take.
'Heeey… that can't be…'
Robin stood up, his curiosity roused. He took a few cautious steps to the side.
The wind continued to blow harshly, seeping through his eyemask and stinging his eyes.
The snow crunched under his feet as he sidestepped once more.
Nothing.
The persistent winds had stopped.
The Boy Wonder blinked in blatant amazement.
He glanced back. Oddly, it seemed the wind was only circling the tree his bench was under.
Blink. Blink.
In a comical display of confusion, question marks began to appear over Robin's spiky-haired head.
The small handful of people remaining in the park stared.
Robin scratched the back of his neck nervously, "Uhh… hehheh…heh?"
That handful backed away, slowly.
He sweatdropped. 'This isn't my day…' He thought to himself, suppressing a sigh.
As soon as the gawking people averted their attention, Robin glanced back at the tree. He was deeply intrigued by its strange behavior… or whatever. As his leering continued, he eventually caught sight of a tendril of teal…
'Hair!' Robin thought, astonished.
He stepped forward to examine it closer, ignoring the wind rushing at him once more. He squinted, hoping to spot it.
The strand whipped out. It was indeed hair.
The Boy Wonder continued to walk towards the side of the tree opposite to the bench. The gusts became stronger and stronger. The tendril of hair flicked out every couple of seconds, moving about rapidly.
After a couple of excruciatingly long minutes, Robin was within an arms length of it. By that time, though, the strength of the wind was almost unbearable. It felt as if billions of needles were piercing his skin, then being hammered on to be embedded further. Even with his inhuman collection of energy, Robin had to use every ounce of his training just to take one last stride…
YANK.
The wind stopped immediately.
A small boy collapsed on his side from his sitting position behind the tree. From what Robin could see, he was small and fragile, with skin as fair as the snow itself. He looked no older than five.
Despite the freezing weather, he was clad in only an oversized button-up shirt and a pair of ragged denim shorts. What interested Robin most was his wild, wild mane of hair. Teal hair that reached his tiny shoulder blades. Teal hair that he still grasped in his gloved hands.
He dropped it like it was on fire, suddenly embarrassed by his child-like actions. He glanced behind him, half expecting someone to be calling the police on him for child abuse. He couldn't see anybody…
Robin mentally kicked himself. '…why the hell would someone do THAT? All I did was pull on his hair! And then he…fell over…unconscious… Crap!'
The seriousness of the situation finally sunk into his usually sharp mind.
'Must be the cold…'
He kneeled by the boy, checking his pulse hastily. After a few seconds of complete silence, he gave a sigh of relief, then muttered to himself, "Pulse is normal, though his breathing is slightly forced, due to the cold." The dark haired teen made a mental note of this as he whipped off his cape and wrapped it around the pale-skinned youth. Robin gently lifted him into his arms and carried him easily due to his tiny frame.
Robin headed out of the park and toward the police station without a second thought.
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Time: Early evening
Location: Titans Tower, Jump City Bay
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"BOO-YAH! I just kicked yo' furry behind to Gotham and back!"
"YOU DID NOT! It was a fluke, I say! A fluke!"
Cyborg and Beast Boy glared at each other with surprising intensity. Each had a Gamestation controller in their hands.
Raven sat near them, her legs crossed, a book held in her slender fingers. She peered at them over the pages, rolled her icy amethyst eyes, and continued to read.
It was at that moment Starfire floated in, her hands clasped behind her back cutely. She harbored a look of worry in her wide green eyes.
"Friends? Might you know of the whereabouts of Robin?"
Cyborg paused mid-argument to call, "He said he was going for a walk, Star. You don't have to worry." He barely even looked at her. In a second, his attention was back on Beast Boy, who was still shouting:
"YOU CHEATED!"
"NO, I DIDN'T! YOU JUST SUCK AT THIS GAME!"
Beast Boy gasped, clutching his heart. "You…you take that back!"
"Make me, ya little weed!" Cyborg retorted, smirking wide.
Beast Boy growled, "Back off, you oversized microwave!"
"Hey, this microwave can shove his foot up your flowery little ass!"
'Did you… did you just… argh… SEWING MACHINE! You're a damn sewing machine on steroids, Cy!" Cried the changeling as he tore down the hall.
"Come back here you frickin' walking, talking salad!" Cyborg's shout echoed as he followed.
Starfire giggled at her teammates ridiculous antics, momentarily forgetting her Robin-related woes. Raven gave a sigh of what could only be exasperation. She shot a wary look to her Tamaranian friend, who smiled in return.
"Do you not find that amusing, Raven?" Starfire asked eagerly.
Raven's left eyebrow twitched before she gave a monotonous reply: "Har har."
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Time: Late evening
Location: Entrance of "Crimson Candles" nightclub
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A small path had formed in the gigantic crowd that had gathered for the opening of the new nightclub "Crimson Candles". Hushed, excited whispers rang out, creating a dull roar throughout the crowd. Robin stared doubtfully at random faces. Most carried expressions of shock, awe, and barely contained fangirl excitement. He passed the latter with masked discomfort and fear.
Many people stared at him not only because he as Robin, leader of the local vigilante group and former sidekick of the Dark Knight himself, but because his cape was bundled in his arms.
And when said bundle stirred, there was a collective gasp from the entire crowd. Tendrils of teal hair from one side of the cape, and they gasped even louder. Someone even had the nerve to shout:
"What you got there, Robbo? A corpse?"
Robin drew back, appalled. His eyemask narrowed. 'How can it be a corpse, of all things, if it moves, you moron?' He thought.
The same idiot who had spoken previously blurted, "Show us, Boy Wonder!"
"…"
And that was when all hell broke loose.
Thousands of rabid fans swarmed out from all sides. Several voices cried out in an uproar of excitement.
"ROBIN! ROBIN! ROBIN!"
Robin dropped into a defensive fighting stance(…or the best he could with two hands occupied). He felt a small tug on one of his spiked ebony locks and prepared to…
He paused, then stared down at the small figure in his arms. He sighed, withdrew his fist—that had been hazardously near a fan's stunned face—and leapt forward.
He landed within another mob of obsessive weirdoes.
The boy stirred.
Robin charged through the crowd, careful not to hurt any people—much. He flipped and vaulted of their shoulders again and again in a brilliant acrobatic display. Many eyes followed his every move, "ooh"ing and "ahh"ing all the while.
POW! Swooosh…
CLANK!
Robin's grappling hook shot out, eventually clutching to a building on his left side.
SWOOSH!
At the touch of a button, the rope of it retracted towards the hook, sending the Boy Wonder soaring upwards. Within mere second, he was gone.
There was a long period of silence.
The double doors of "Crimson Candles" opened, music pouring out. Dumbfounded security guards walked out, bewildered by the strange quietness. A bouncer strolled out casually, then bellowed:
"LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"
More silence. Then…
"I got some of Robin's hair!" A female voice stated breathlessly.
The crowd seemingly regained their senses. They began to cheer.
For the bouncer or for the fan's accomplishment, nobody really knew.
-
Time: Late evening
Location: Front of Jump City Police Department (JCPD)
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Shhhh-CLANK!
The sound of Robin's grappling hook rewinding echoed through the empty streets in front of the police station.
Currently, the Boy Wonder's green gloved hand was poised to knock on the station's black tinted door. The heartbeat of the teal haired youth could be felt on his skin.
'Robin, why are you hesitating?' A small voice sounded in the back of his head.
Robin bit his lip. 'Because…'
'Because why?' The voice countered.
'I don't really know. I have my suspicions about the kid. He may be a metahuman.'
'Do you think he would be dangerous at an orphanage or foster home?'
'…'
'Is that a yes?'
"…yes" Robin muttered aloud. "Damn," he continued scathingly, "now I'm talking to myself…" He massaged his temple, his inner dialogue still ringing in his mind.
-flick-
Robin snapped to attention. The light behind the police department's front desk had turn on. The distant silhouette reflecting onto a nearby wall flickered.
Robin's cool composure wavered. He began to panic. Just a little bit.
'Whatta I do? Whatta I DO?'
Er… yea. Guess the 'boy' of the Boy Wonder needed to surface some time…
Thoughts raced through Robin's spiky head. 'He should be taught to control his abilities… whatever they are (smart, Sherlock.).' He thought resolutely.
'He could be part of the Titans!' Agreed the voice in his head. Damn schizophrenia.
'Yeah," retorted Robin. "When I'm almost thirty."
'……shut up.'
Robin thought again. "He could be… our mascot!" He muttered aloud.
A mental snort came from a corner of his mind.
"Oh, get out of here, will you?" Robin hissed to no one.
The voice blew a raspberry, then was silent. Robin gave a loud sigh and fled the scene hastily, heading toward the Tower.
As the colors of the black haired teenager's costume faded into the darkness, the doors of the police station opened wide. A janitor eyed the streets curiously. "I swear I heard something. Puny kid morons. Damn it all!"
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Time: Midnight
Location: Titan's Tower, Jump City Bay
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Starfire glanced at the clock for the twentieth time in three minutes. Her attention switched to Raven, who was meditating in the far corner. "Raven," she called lightly. The violet haired girl didn't answer. Her lips moved slightly to chant, "Azarath, metrion, zinthos…"
Starfire blinked. "Raven," she called again.
This time around, one of Raven's eyes opened. "What now, Starfire?" she droned.
"Might you have sensed Robin in your medative state?"
Raven sighed, irritated-like. "No." She continued to meditate. "Azarath, metrion, zinthos… Azarath, metrion, zinthos…"
Cyborg, who was watching T.V., knew he was next to be interrogated. And he had already prepared an answer.
Sure enough, Starfire's voice lilted out, "Cyborg, have you not checked for his communications? Can you locate him?"
"No, Star."
"Are you sure of this?" The ruby haired beauty pressured.
"Yes, Star."
"Beast Boy, with your animalistically enhanced instincts and senses, surely you have…"
Beast Boy averted his gaze from the window. "Sorry Star. I got nothin'. Robin can handle himself, you know."
Starfire nodded her head uncertainly. "Of course."
There was an odd pause.
She addressed them collectively, "Are you certain of…"
"YES."
-
Time: Midnight
Location: Titan's Tower, entrance
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Earlier, dogs that had been barking and whining immediately stopped as Robin had passed, the boy bundled in his arms.
Robin thought it was strange. He made a metal note to ask Beast Boy about it later.
But, now as he stood at the entrance of the Tower, second thoughts arose in a flurry of questions that demanded to be answered. What if his friends didn't accept his rushed decision?
'I'm the leader, though. They'll respect my decision once I explain myself. They're my friends, for God's sake!' He mused to himself.
Taking a deep breath, the black haired teen pushed a small, almost hidden, button on the door's surface. It opened.
CREEAK…
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Time: Midnight
Location: Titan's Tower, Jump City Bay
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Raven's communicator rang. She flicked it open.
"Raven?" Robin's masked face filled the whole of the tiny screen.
"Robin."
"Listen, I need you guys to-…"
"Robin!" Starfire barreled into Raven, landing on the gothic girl, who had, in turn, dropped the communicator with an undignified "Oof!"
Starfire now had the communicator in her amber tanned fingers.
"Robin!" She cried. "Are you undamaged? We have been awaiting your arrival and-…"
Robin chuckled, "I'm fine, Star. I just need you to call the others to the main entrance hallway."
"Roger of the one called dodger, Robin! I will verbally beckon them to said hall!" Starfire chirped happily.
"…what?"
"She means 'Roger dodger'. Beast Boy said it earlier to the television," came Raven's voice from somewhere under her Tamaranian friend.
Starfire giggled.
"Okay… Robin out." The communicator went blank. Starfire shoved it into some unknown pocket of sorts in her outfit. She set off to find Cyborg and Beast Boy.
Raven still lay in a tangled heap on the floor. She stood up, brushing off her cloak and straightening her hair. Eyes widening, she gave a growl. "Starfire! You just stole my communicator…!" With a small huff, she headed down the hall to the main entrance.
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Time: A quarter past midnight
Location: Titan's Tower, main entrance hall
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"OW! Get away, you lunkhead!"
"Shut it, salad shooter."
Robin's ears perked up. His team was coming, slowly, but surely. Couldn't they be a little quieter? He sighed, rubbed his temples, then watched the doorway intently.
Starfire was first to enter. Robin opened his mouth to speak…
"ROBIN!"
WHUMPF!
"Starfire…" Robin struggled for breath.
"Oh, Robin, my worries have been great! Are you undamaged?"
"Not for long…"
Starfire suddenly became aware of a squirming … something between her and her friend. Slowly, she released the Boy Wonder, then shifted her gaze. Downward.
Large almond shaped eyes of sapphire gazed back curiously, innocently.
Starfire's hand flew to her mouth. "Eep!"
A series of questions emanated throughout the entrance hall, signaling that the others had arrived. They quieted, then, as if on cue, all simultaneously shot Robin identical baffled looks.
Robin did the first thing that came to his mind.
"Congratulations! ……it's a boy!"
…and he gave a wide, nervous grin as jaws dropped.
Disclaimer: Teen Titans aren not mine, 'kay? Usual disclaimers apply.
a/n: Hi, people! This is my fist fic that I've actually posted, soplease be a little bit lenient! Constructive criticism is welcome, though. I know, I know, this chapter isn't that great. But I promise it'll get better. Oh, and the boy WILL gain a name sometime next chapter. Also... killed my format! I apologize if it looks really messed up. -glares-
Oh, and one of my many muses, Epros, says hi, too. He's currently waving wildly like a moron at the computer screen.
Epros: Hi -grins-
Until next chapter…