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Chapter 18:- Lost And Found
Vic leapt between the Lake City rooftops silently, memories of Jinx bright in his mind's eye. He scaled another building as her laughter filled his ears, and he felt a tear drip down his organic cheek.
I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh.
I want to hold you high and steal your pain away.
It was if she was there, his memories were so clear. The memory of her cheerleading for him at the last track meet was particularly prominent. It was the last time, he'd ever seen her smile.
I've kept your photograph and I know it's served me well.
I want to hold you high and steal your pain.
He felt her against him… then the haunting voice of Brother Blood echoed in his ears, and he felt the blow of Jinx's magic on his chest again, more painful than ever.
Because I'm broken when I'm open.
And I don't feel right and I'm not strong enough.
He leapt again, and landed cleanly on the next rooftop, and made a silent promise to her that he'd somehow find a way to pull her away from Blood, a way to bring her back. His fist clenched and his teeth grinded against each other.
"I promise…" he muttered.
Because I'm broken when I'm lonesome.
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.
He looked out over the woods at the city's edge, his heart heavy and knees weak. He looked out and saw the endless forest, each tree the same, yet so remarkably different in their own way.
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open.
I don't feel right and I'm not strong enough.
He leaped out into the forest, and soared above the trees for a few moments. Suddenly, the blue lights that lined his body flickered and turned off. His eyes shut, and everything went black.
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome.
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.
His frozen body hurtled downward, powerless, it crashed into the trees, breaking several branches before it smashed into the ground, spraying mud and soil in every direction before resting lifeless on the forest floor.
You've gone away.
You don't feel me anymore.
"So basically our principal is an obsessed, mind-controlling freak who worships your father?" asked Robin, trying to clear things up.
"Yeah," replied Raven.
"In which case my friends, I highly recommend we return to Lake City," added Starfire, in a slightly darker tone than normal.
"Why to get our minds taken over by the guy?" asked Beast Boy sarcastically.
Everyone looked at him with a disapproving look.
"We left both Vic and Jinx there," said Robin darkly before turning back to Raven and Starfire. "I can take the Redbird and be there in less than an hour. I can take one passenger without slowing me down much. Who will it be?"
"I am able to fly at a speed equal to your motorcycle," said Starfire.
"And I can teleport," said Raven.
"Then I guess I'll take…" Robin turned to look at Beast Boy, who had a large grin on his face and waved foolishly. "Can't you fly?" Robin asked.
"Not as fast as a motorcycle."
Robin turned back to Raven and Starfire with a pleading look on his face, and they both shook their heads in response. Robin sunk a few inches and scowled.
"Follow me," he muttered quietly.
Beast Boy clapped his hands twice with a resounding 'Yay!" then shot off to follow Robin.
The device in Wilson's hand beeped wildly.
"He's stopped sir."
"Odd. Batteries shouldn't have run out that quick. I didn't charge them up all the way for obvious reasons, but still… He must have been fighting someone."
"Shall I go and pick him up, sir?"
"As soon as we're finished here," Mr. Stone said in an unpleasant tone before shoving the needle into Wilson's arm.
"Was it just me or did the tin man just fall into the forest?" Gizmo asked his two companions.
"Yeah…" said Mammoth, confused as always.
"Quickly… Let's drag him out and take him to the headmaster," said Jinx.
The other two nodded and all three of them walked into the forest.
Robin pulled up at the borders of Lake City, close to the forest edge.
The green monkey on the back of his motorcycle morphed back into Beast Boy. "We're there already?"
"The Redbird can reach top speeds of about 210 miles per hour."
A giant black bird emerged from the ground and slowly and eerily transformed into Raven. "Why are we stopping here?"
"Figured we should come up with some sort of plan. We can't just waltz in there."
"Why not?"
"Well for one, you two are wanted. Starfire's orange. And I haven't got my normal clothes on me."
Starfire flew down and landed next to them gracefully. "Robin! There are some people in the forest. I saw them as I flew down."
"It's not an uncommon thing for people to hang out in the forest, Star," said Beast Boy.
"Oh…"
"Don't worry about it Star… Let's keep moving," said Robin, revving up his engine.
"Wait," said Raven. "I thought we needed a plan."
Robin was about to answer when the leaves and trees rustled slightly to their left. Everyone spun their heads to look. Seconds later, the letter boy, walking on four metal spider legs that came out of his backpack, emerged from the forest. A huge hairy boy followed a moment after dragging a large metal contraption covered in leaves. Another moment and a pink-haired girl appeared after the two boys.
"Jinx! I am very happy at our reunion!" said Starfire happily flying towards the pink-haired girl.
Jinx scowled, raised her hand, and let loose a pink beam of magic directly at Starfire. She took the full force of the beam and was thrown out of the sky. Robin jumped off his motorcycle to catch her before she hit the ground.
Jinx looked at the rest of the people she had encountered and laid eyes upon Raven. "It's the daughter… Abandon this one. Get her!"
Her two companions smiled and leapt into action.
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Sorry... I realize this chapter was a little slow, but.... Action sequence coming up soon, but I enjoy procrastinating fight scenes, so first we go elsewhere. Because this is an origin fic… and there's one really cool character I have yet to introduce… NEXT:- Deliver The Deathstroke