Jump City Cantata
A Teen Titans Fanfiction by Jake McDonald
Opening Notes: Chapter Two, yay. The delay in the post is was due to me getting down right ill. We're talking can't get out of bed ill. We're talking I ruined my perfect atendence record this semester ill. Yuck.
Lots of stuff happening in this chapter. I have to say I was suprised by the lack of negitive reviews for me having Raven sleeping with some random guy. Just more stuff about how Robin and Star should be together as soon as posibile. Yeah, well, keep reading kids, and you'll see what old Jake has in store for those two love birds.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Teen Titans because my Mom wont let me.... (sniff)
Chapter 2
Starfire stared out of the huge windows in the rec-room of Titan Tower, out over the bay expanse of water that separated them from the mainland, her mind wandering in paths that seemed to always lead back to the same person.
Robin had only been gone for a day, and already she missed him terribly. She was sure Raven would make an excellent leader, but the Boy Wonder was just that: a wonder. He was the heart of the team, the one that kept all of them up and running, even when they had all given all they thought they could give. Robin always pushed them further.
Raven was stoic, level headed, and confident. She gave the Titan's their backbone. As she reflected on it, Star figured Robin had made the right choice leaving the psion in charge, as she was probably the second best choice to lead them.
Star glanced at the wall clock and noted that it was 9:35. Time to start rousing people. Cyborg had been through at around 3:00 in the morning, coming home from his date with Sarah. He had told her he was going to plug in for a little while, and to get him up at 9:30 or so.
She would let Raven sleep until 11:00 or so, then rouse her as well. Now, however, she had to wake Beast Boy and Jinx. They would both want to clean up and eat before Raven started putting them through their paces in the training room.
A quick trip up in the elevator brought her to the residential floor, and Starfire floated down the hall to Jinx's room. She would wake the girl first, to give her more time to get ready. That and Beast Boy was about as easy to wake up as a hibernating Lorthak.
Star rapped on Jinx's door sharply three times, then opened it, "Friend Jinx! It is time to wake up and face this glorious day!" she flew into the room and threw back the bed clothes.
The bed was empty.
Star frowned and pulled out her T-Comp. A quick location check latter and she determined that Jinx was still in the tower, if she had her T-Comp with her. A thought came to her then, and she grinned.
Flying at almost top speed to Beast Boy's room, she opened the door a crack and peeked in. Jumping back and shutting the door quickly, she blushed. So that was where Jinx was.
"Whatch'ya doin'?" Star flew up and hit the ceiling as Cyborg spoke from where he'd snuck up behind her.
"Cyborg! You frightened me!" Star held a hand to her chest as she floated back down, "I am simply rousing people from their beds! Raven wanted me to make sure everyone was ready to train by 11:30."
"Beast Boy not awake yet? Don't worry, I'll get him up..." and he started for the door. Starfire quickly interposed herself between her friend and his destination.
"I do not think that would be... wise."
"Oh? Why not?" Cyborg arched his eyebrow.
".... Beast Boy is not alone." she grinned.
Cyborg's eyebrow shot up now, "Really?" he thought for a second, "Jinx?"
"Yes. I do not know if they 'did anything' last night, but she spent the night in his room."
"Well, we'll just let them snooze until Raven goes to wake them up then." Cyborg grinned, "No THAT should be entertaining."
"I do not know...."
"Come on, Star! I'll make you some waffles." Cyborg motioned for her to follow him. At the mention of waffles, Starfire promptly forgot what they had just been talking about and followed him with a squeal of joy.
Raven was not, as Starfire had assumed, sleeping. She was floating in the center of her room, legs crossed in the lotus position, hands held to her sides, muttering words in a language not known to Earth.
Deep inside her mind, Raven flew towards her destination at top speed. She knew she was taking a risk coming here, but she needed to see what kind of damage she had to repair before she tried to repair it. She wanted to be ready when the time came to face her Father once again.
Flying up over a rise in the rocky terrain of Azarath, she descended into a large crater, in the center of which sat a cage. As she landed, she looked about in confusion.
"Come to see me after having me cooped up for so long? Do you finally have need of me, Little Raven?" the speaker was the Seed, locked in the cage. The Seed looked exactly like she herself did, only her clothing was red, and four sinister eyes shown from within the shadows of her cowl.
"I let you out just the other night as I recall." Raven replied with an arched eyebrow.
"Let me out? No, your cage fell. It was that foolish green boy-"
"He has a name."
"Beast Boy," the Seed sneered the name out, "kissed you and someone came to take me away. Someone new."
"Who?"
"I do not know." the Seed turned it's head away and sat down, almost as if it was pouting.
Raven sighed. The Seed was her Father's essence, trapped inside of her, waiting for the day when it could break free of it's bonds and take over her mind permanently. It represented all of her anger and rage, blindly destroying everything in it's path if it felt the need to. It didn't understand the other aspects of her personality, the other Ravens that inhabited this world inside her mind. They worked together to make her who she was. This aspect simply tried to destroy them, and assert it's control.
"So if you're still safely under lock and key, then who's creating all of the disturbances in my power flow?"
"The other. The new one. I cannot place her... she is..." the Seed trailed off, "I don't know."
"I don't have time to find her now... I'll have to come back latter." Raven walked a full two circles around the cage, making sure it was still secure. She always did after talking to the Seed, just to be sure.
"You keep me locked up, but don't lock up the one that commands me. How you must hate me."
"I'm not capable of hate without you, so you would know." Raven narrowed her eyes at the Seed, "Who commands you? You don't take orders from any of the other aspects."
"The green one that dwells inside of you is powerful. She lets me out when you use her." the Seed grinned, "I take her orders only to use my power. Someday, Raven, you and I will be one, and then... what fun we will have."
"If I could destroy you, I would." Raven shook her head. The green one? Bravery manifested in green.... why would Bravery let the Seed out? Shaking her head, Raven flew up into the air, and back towards the horizon. As she neared the inky black beyond, she felt herself slipping out of her trance, and back into the material world.
Raven floated to the ground of her room, and opened her eyes. Standing, she shook her head again. She still had more questions then answers. Growling in frustration at her drastically unproductive meditation, she jerked out her T-Comp and checked the time. 10:46.
"Well, it never hurts to get started early." Raven tucked her communicator away as she stalked to the door and let it slide open for her. Star would already be awake, and she would have woken Cyborg by now. Beast Boy would still be slumbering though, and he was notorious for being hard to wake up. Usually only Cy could do it, but Raven was feeling confident in her abilities to wake him this morning.
"Mmm!" Starfire took another huge bite of her breakfast as Cyborg continued to mix up more batter, "Waffles!" she giggled with her mouth full, spraying the table with syrup and crumbs.
Stopping at the Beast Boy's door, Raven noted his presence inside the room. She also noticed that he wasn't alone. With a half grin, she pushed the button that opened the doors and took a step in.
Beast Boy's bed was a tangle of sheets and blankets, with a large lump under them. Sticking out of the sheets at the foot of the bed were two pairs of feet. The green feet were spread apart, toes pointing up at the ceiling. The other two feet were small and pale, toes pointing down, and resting in-between the green feet.
Raven floated up and hovered over the bed to get a better look. Jinx was laying on Beast Boy's chest, her hands curled up under his shoulders, gripping him like a pillow. Beast Boy was laid flat out, his mouth lolling open and a thin line of drool dripping down one cheek.
Too easy...
Raven reached out for the sheets with her power, "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" she shouted as the sheets flew off the two young super hero's below her and across the room. At the same time, the whole mattress rose up off the bed, then crashed back down, bouncing them off to either side of it.
Jinx was the first one up, her hand hauled back with a crackling ball of pink energy waiting to be hurled at the nearest target. Beast Boy was up a second latter, ready to change into whatever animal he needed to fend off the attacker.
What they saw was Raven, rolling around in mid-air, laughing. Tears were starting to stream down her cheeks as she pounded the air like it was the ground and floated slowly towards the door.
She managed to speak a few words just before she floated into the hall way, "That... was.... (giggle) HILARIOUS! You two... and the flopping.... hitting the floor... should have seen... the looks... (snort) on your..." she trailed off into another fit of laughter as the doors shut behind her.
Jinx and Beast Boy looked at each other for the first time since waking up and both let out strangled noises of shock.
Beast Boy wore only his blue and white stripped boxers, and Jinx was down to the tight black top she wore as part of her new uniform, and a thong.
They stood and admired each other for a moment. Although he was still young and a little on the skinny side, Beast Boy's constant training and fighting kept him in shape. Muscle well hidden by his uniform stood out in high definition all over his body. Jinx had long shapely legs, and what she lacked in the breast department, she made up for with J-Loesque booty. Her pink hair, when it was pulled down as it was now, fell in loose ringlets just past her shoulders.
After a moment, they both realized they were staring, and dove for their clothes, which were piled neatly on either side of the bed. A hasty session of yanking on clothing and straightening hair ensued, followed by a bout of silent staring.
Jinx broke the silence, "I uh... don't think we did anything last night. Did we?"
"I don't think so... just a little pillow fight, followed by a little making out... don't quite remember the whole taking off my clothes part though."
"You were a little punch drunk. I slammed you into the floor pretty hard."
"Oh. That explains the head ache then. Thanks, by the way." Beast Boy grinned.
"Oh no... Raven was right, you're a great kisser. I'd give you an eight point five though. Definitely one of the top five boys I've made out with."
"Well, you know... animal instincts and all..." Beast Boy trailed off and they stared at each other for another moment, "Do you want to pretend this never happened too?"
"Yeah, that'd be great." Jinx nodded emphatically.
"Yeah, I mean... it was great and all, but... we shouldn't just jump right into a relationship like this... I mean, we've only been friends for what, a day?"
"Definitely. We should get to know each other better first..." Jinx nodded, then arched an eyebrow, "Can we still make out when we're feeling lonely?"
Beast Boy looked relived that she had suggested it first, "Yeah, that'd be great. Friends with benefits then?"
"Friends with benefits." Jinx nodded with a smile and stuck out her hand. Beast Boy leaned in a shook it.
"We should get cleaned up and see why Raven woke us up." the changeling rubbed the back of his head, "I don't mean to kick you out or anything, but..."
"It's okay." Jinx grinned, "I'll get to go take a shower in my own room for the first time!" she bounced over to the door, stopped, ran back to Beast Boy, and kissed him soundly. After she pulled away, she grinned at him, "I'll see you at breakfast, BB." and she ran out the door.
Beast Boy stood in a daze for a moment, then staggered into his bathroom for a cold shower.
As soon as the doors to the rec-room opened and Jinx stepped off the elevator, she wished she'd spent that extra five minutes in the shower. It wouldn't have been hard at all, considering the Tower seemed to have an endless supply of hot water, and the shampoo Raven had furnished her with was heavenly (who knew Raven pampered herself with such expensive shampoo?) it really would have been an extremely enjoyable five minutes.
What she got instead was a loud argument, currently reaching it's zenith in volume, as Beast Boy yelled at Raven for invading his privacy, and Raven muttered quiet calm answers in return.
"You always forbid anyone from going in your room, but you invade ours all the time! Why is THAT, huh Raven?"
"You never told me not to, and you've never minded before now. Just because you were shacking up with Jinx-"
"We were NOT shacking up." Jinx called firmly from across the room, "It was more like... um...."
"Shacking up?" Raven supplied, quite unhelpfully.
"No! Like... going too fast, too soon. Wont happen again." she shrugged, "We've decided to cool off until we get to know each other better." Jinx walked over and stood next to Beast Boy, "So lay off, kay?"
"Whatever. Training room in ten." Raven turned her glare around the room to where Cyborg and Starfire were still stuffing themselves with waffles, "Everyone." and she stalked off.
"Dude, she got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Beast Boy shook his head and went to grab a bagel.
"Raven's bed is pushed against a wall," Starfire pointed out, "She would get up on the same side every morning."
"Exactly." Beast Boy nodded.
"Harsh, man." Cyborg got up to start clearing the dishes, "You heard the lady though, training room in ten. See ya'll there." and he too walked off.
"I wonder if this is for my benefit." Jinx said as she dug through the fridge for something to drink.
"Raven wishes to help you become aquatinted with how we deal with combat situations." Star replied as she floated over to the sink, a large stack of plates in her hands, "We fight differently then the HIVE teaches."
"Not really." Jinx shrugged, "You guys just don't train to kill."
Star paused before she set the plates down, and Beast Boy winced, "Uh, Jinx? Could you NOT talk about killing people like it's something you do every day?"
"Sorry..." Jinx mummbled as she pulled the orange juice out of the fridge, "Just stating a fact..."
"You will learn how to subdue your opponents when fighting with us," Starfire smiled at the pink haired girl as she turned around from the sink, "and all of your old training will slip away as if it did not matter."
"I doubt that." Jinx frowned, "I was trained to be a killer, Star. It'll take more then a few training sessions with Raven to unlearn that."
"I think you will find," Star smiled knowingly, "that Raven can be a very convincing teacher when she has to be."
As Starfire floated off to the elevator, Jinx looked over at Beast Boy, "I'm not going to like this one bit, am I?"
"Only if you like getting your ass kicked." Beast Boy shook his head sympathetically.
"Alright," Raven, hood drawn up, stalked back and forth before the assembled Titans like they were first day boot camp trainees, "we have a lot of ground to cover and only half a day to do it in."
"Why only half a day?" Beast Boy asked, still a little miffed at her.
Raven stopped and glared at him, her eyes burning white from within her cowl, "Because I'm putting us back on full patrol today. We start at 5:00pm, and patrol until 11:30. After that, we remain on Code Yellow for the rest of the night, through the next day when we go out on patrol again."
"Didn't Robin just cut back the patrols?" Cyborg asked, arching his eyebrow.
"Yes, but Robin isn't here is he?" Raven narrowed her eyes, "I'll be damned if anything happens to this town while he's left me in charge. I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to disappoint him when he gets back. He'll have had a hard enough time in Gotham without coming home to a city in ruins because we weren't able to act fast enough, because we were slacking off on our jobs." she turned her back to them and continued, "Jinx will be with me tonight in City Section Five. While we're downtown, I want the rest of you to split up and cover the rest of the city."
Starfire spoke up, "Why will you be limiting yourself to just one Section? It seems odd that two of you should patrol such a small area, while the rest of us must cover the whole city."
"I'll be taking charge of Jinx personally." Raven turned back to her team and gave Jinx a slight smile, "I'm going to make sure you make it past Robin's probationary period."
"What are we waiting for then?" Jinx grinned, "Why don't you guys show me how a Titan fights?"
"Cy, set up simulation forty seven." Raven's eyes flashed brightly under her hood and her smile grew, "I think it's time Jinx found out how it is to fight herself."
Robin tore down the streets of Gotham City on the Batcycle, fully tuned up and still in perfect working order, even if Batman hardly ever used it. He had a killer car after all, and it was fully armor plated. Just one of the many differences in style the Dark Knight and his protégé had; Batman rode in calm and collected while Robin himself hurled headlong into danger with a snarl on his lips.
He'd been tracking down a lead for most of the day, starting by locating a few people with the Batcave computers, then interrogating them until he got the information he needed. A lot of the baddies in Gotham were connected in some way, so it was just a matter of leg work to find out where one particular was. It was a series of stepping stones that would lead him to Harley Quinn, and from her to the Joker.
Robin's hand tightened on the throttle just thinking about the clown faced madman.
The last stepping stone before he got to Harley was an old friend of hers. It had taken him the better part of the day to find her, but he knew he was lucky it had taken just a single day. Pamela Isley wasn't an easy woman to find.
After a few hours of searching had turned up no leads on Harley herself at all, Robin had switched gears. He knew the Joker's girl was tight with Poison Ivy, so he was hoping that the deranged eco-terrorist would have a rough idea where he could find her. Ivy turned out to be much easier to track down then Harley.
As he pulled up outside of a nondescript white building, Robin punched a button on his helmet, turning on the communicator that would call Batman for him. It was past five in the afternoon, so he was hoping Bruce was home from work already.
"Go ahead Robin." came the no-nonsense voice of his benefactor through the link.
"I'm sitting outside of Poison Ivy's hideout right now. I'm going to see if she knows where we can find the elusive Miss Quinn."
"Go ahead, but be careful. Ivy hasn't acted up at all in the past six months, and she might have a nasty surprise or two waiting for you."
"Your concern is touching, but I think I'll manage." Robin was slightly annoyed that he was being treated like an amateur.
"Just don't get in too deep." Bruce sounded tiered. He probably wasn't sleeping well, "I don't need to have another side kick in the hospital."
"I haven't been a side kick for a while now." Robin replied firmly.
Bruce's sigh over the com link sounded half exasperated and half exhausted, "I'll be on the street in under an hour. Don't get too far ahead of me."
"Right. Robin out." and he shut off the link before he could be scolded for being so abrupt. Bruce had no right to treat him like a child any more. Not after he'd been doing so well on his own for so long.
Hopping off the bike and setting his helmet down on the back of it, he walked quickly across the street and to the door of the building. He pulled a lock picking kit out of his belt, but stopped before he let himself in. Grinning, he decided to make this a friendly visit.
He rang the doorbell.
After a few minutes, he heard latches being undone and locks being opened, and the door cracked open just enough for whoever was behind it to see out, "Who's there?" came a female voice.
"Just us birds, Ivy." Robin replied as he kicked the door in, knocking her to the floor in the process. She was wearing a black skirt, blue shirt and a lab coat over it. Glasses askew, she looked up at him from the floor.
"Nice to see you too after so long." she stood and straightened her clothing, "It's been what? Two years? This town was getting downright pleasant without three of you caped creeps running around."
"Yeah, well, no need to worry about that anymore, right?" Robin took a threatening step forward.
"Guess not. I heard the Joker did poor Batgirl a good one. Bullet in the gut." she frowned, "You know I hate that bastard, Boy Wonder. I don't know where he is."
"But you know someone who might." Robin raised a hand to grab her but she took a step back and shook her head.
"Why don't you come in and have some tea with me? I'm not in the mood to fight with you today. Especially now that I see how much you've grown. Not fifteen anymore are you?"
"Almost eighteen." he mumbled, "And I'll pass on the tea. Knowing you, it'll be poisoned."
"Well, it would have been if you actually took it. Suit yourself though, you know it doesn't hurt me any."
She led him down the hall way they stood in and into a large room full of plants. The ground was grassy, and the dull Gotham sun shown in through greenhouse windows above, from behind the clouds that hung in a perpetual haze around the city. Robin poked at a fern, "What's this one for?"
Poison Ivy was getting some iced tea from a pitcher set on a table at the side of the room. She glanced over and saw which plant he was referring to, "That one secrets a powerful neurotoxin that can paralyze an elephant with just a few drops. It'd probably kill a human."
"Not illegal at all I suppose?"
"I wouldn't know, I just made it a few weeks ago."
Robin stood up straight and crossed his arms over his chest, "Let's just cut the chit chat okay? Do you have any ideas on where I can find Harley Quinn?"
"Harley? I haven't seen her since she got back together with that idiot clown she's so fond of."
"Bullshit." Robin said it as if it were a fact.
"Naughty words, Little Robin."
"I'm almost a foot taller then you, Ivy. You can't call me little anymore."
She sighed, "I guess not. You're really starting to make me feel my age, you know that? I remember when you were what? Twelve?"
"Something like that. Stop trying to change the subject."
"Harley decided to take a break from the Joker for a few months. He was busy with this new scheme to take down the Batman and he didn't really need her around for it. She's been hanging out around the pool halls down on the South side."
Robin narrowed his eyes at her, "That was a little too easy."
She shrugged, "You wanted to know. Besides, you wont hurt her, just her stupid boyfriend. Maybe she'll see the error of her ways when he's sent packing to Arkham again."
"If this turns out to be a false lead, Ivy, I will find you." Robin sneered at her. She snorted into her tea and turned away from him to inspect a flower.
"I'm not scared of you, Boy Wonder. You're just a pest. A shadow of your mentor." she turned back to give him a saucy grin, but stopped short.
Looking around in confusion, she tried to figure out what had just happened.
Robin had vanished.
Raven sighed and pushed her hood back from her face. Rubbing her eyes, she muttered out of the corner of her mouth at Cyborg, "Set it up again."
"Sure thing." Cyborg looked a little strung out as well.
Raven stood up from behind the control panel and looked down into the training room where Jinx was arguing with Starfire and Beast Boy. Finally, Beast Boy threw up his hands and turned to look up at her, pulling out his T-Comp as he did.
Flipping open the communication device, he spoke into it, "We've been at it for three hours Rae, how about a break?"
"Not until she gets it right." Raven responded.
Jinx leaned over Beast Boy's shoulder and spoke up to her, "I'm sorry Raven, but it's just.... instinct. You know?"
"It's a habit. Habits can be broken." Raven frowned down at her, "Try harder Jinx."
"Right..." Jinx sighed, "one more time..." and Beast Boy snapped his T-Comp shut.
Raven fell back into her chair next to Cyborg and massaged her temples.
Cyborg hit a few more buttons as he spoke, "Seventeen times, Raven. Seventeen! Most people when confronted by themselves in combat simulations hold back, or find a gentle way to subdue the doppelganger." he glanced at her sidelong, "What has Jinx done every time?"
"Killed herself. Every time." Raven buried her face in her hands.
"Right. Killed herself. The girl has no mercy, no remorse, and no sense of compassion." he shook his head, "I hate to say it Rae, but maybe we were wrong about her. Her heart's in the right place, but let's face it... she was trained to kill and destroy. It's all she knows how to do."
"We try it once more." Raven sat up and looked down at her friends as they prepared for another round of combat, "After this, if she kills herself again, I'll just have to start over. Train her from the ground up."
"Robin would be better at that."
"Robin's not here."
"Right, right." Cyborg hit the last few buttons, "We're set."
"Hit it." Raven nodded, and Cyborg started the simulation.
The Titans used a state of the art training chamber that employed hard light constructs to create a realistic fighting environment. Any situation they wanted could be constructed, and the difficultly levels adjusted depending on how hard they wanted to work out. Most often it was used for combat training, but it could easily be used for a sunny picnic when it was raining outside of the Tower.
The simulation Cyborg was running for Jinx was a recreation of an encounter they'd had with her, Mammoth and Gizmo in the middle of a city street. Starfire and Beast Boy were fighting as themselves, and Jinx was taking Robin's place in the combat.
So far she had performed well up until the part where her other self would start throwing waves of pink energy everywhere, not caring who she hit or what damage she caused. At that point, the real Jinx would dive in and engage her doppelganger in hand to hand combat, and at some point during the fight, would exploit an opening a little to vigorously.
Twice she had crushed the constructs throat. Four times she'd broken it's neck. Once she'd even smashed it's head into the pavement hard enough to crush it's hard light skull. She was brutal, efficient, and deadly. Everything one could want in an assassin, but not very desirable traits in a super hero.
Raven watched intently as Jinx flew into action this time. The first part of the simulation played out perfectly, with Jinx engaging herself in a series of flipping acrobatics, whipping strong punches and kicks as she flew through the air. She matched her doppelgangers fighting style so perfectly that Raven really had to be impressed by Cyborg's ability to write such life like moves into his program.
Beast Boy and Starfire dispatched their own opponents quickly enough, having done nothing but find the quickest, easiest way to do so for the past three hours. They stood back and watched as Jinx fought herself down.
Eventually, the construct started to throw waves of pink energy randomly, blowing up cars and caving in the street. Building walls collapsed, making Jinx dodge the falling bricks as best she could. Hard light constructs weren't real matter, but they hurt just as much when they hit you.
Jinx cart wheeled in to close enough range of her counterpart and began to throw close quarter punches and low kicks. Raven sat up and took notice as the pink haired girl fought. Something was different this time.
"She's... not holding back, but... still... it's like she's fighting to wear her opponent down rather than beat it up." Raven narrowed her eyes and shot Cyborg a sidelong glance, "Give her an opening."
"What?" Cyborg looked like he couldn't quite believe what he'd just heard.
"I said give her an opening. See if she takes the bait."
"We're playing with fire here Raven." Cyborg started entering the command anyway, "Do you want her to fail?"
"I don't think she will." Raven turned back to the battle in time to see Jinx take a strong left to the gut, forcing her to back off of the construct slightly. It waded in at her and threw another punch, right handed this time, but it was sloppy and over extended.
Jinx obviously saw the opening, because she went for it immediately. This time however, instead of crushing her enemies ribs like she had before, she aimed a perfect punch into it's gut, knocking the wind out of the construct and dropping it to it's knees. A follow up kick sent it skidding across the street and into a parked car.
She followed her melee attack with a wave of pink energy, kicking the street up around the construct, and restraining it in a small wave of concrete. Nodding at her handiwork, she turned and threw Raven a saucy grin, flashing a 'V' for victory sign with her fingers.
Even though she couldn't hear what was being said inside the chamber, Raven could tell that Beast Boy and Starfire were congratulating their friend on a job well done. She sat back in her chair and let out a sigh.
"She's learning." Cyborg said with a nod and a smile, "You still want to take her out on patrol tonight?"
"Yes. Field experience is vital in this job, and as long as it's quiet, we might as well get some easy work in while we can."
"I hear that. I've been itching to hit the streets again actually. I mean, I really like going out with Sarah and all, but sometimes, you just need to find some criminals and give them the beating they deserve." Cy winked at Raven, who rolled her eyes and crossed her legs, letting one foot bounce.
"How'd that go last night anyway?" she asked as she closed her eyes and sat back.
"Great. We talked it out, decided to keep seeing each other, made out, had a good time.... the works."
"Any talks about getting really serious?"
"You mean marriage? Yeah, a little. Just thinking that we might do it some day, just not right now. Maybe after she gets her degree."
"Sometimes..." Raven stopped bouncing her foot, "Sometimes, I wish I could have a relationship like that."
Cy looked at her sideways, "You said yourself you can't let your emotions get out of control like that. Even when you get really happy you start to blow stuff up."
"I know... I would need to find someone who can understand that I love them... without me constantly telling them."
"Someone like Robin?" Cyborg turned to her and arched his eyebrow.
Raven opened her eyes, stood up and glared at him for a moment, "Yes. Someone exactly like Robin. NOT Robin himself. Someone like him."
"Right." Cyborg grinned, "Someone like him. You might want to have this talk with Star..."
Raven pulled her hood up and her eyes burned white from within it's depths, "You're out of line, Cyborg."
He held up his hands defensively, "I'm just making fun, Rae... chill."
"Go fuck yourself, Cy." and she swept out of the control room, the glass that separated it from the training area cracking as she did.
Cyborg stared down at the ground for a moment before Beast Boy walked in, followed by Jinx, "Dude... what's up with Raven?" Beast Boy sounded miffed, "We tried to talk to her in the hall but she total ignored us."
"So?" Cyborg stood up as well, an angry look on his face, "What else is new?" and he too stalked out of the control room.
"Dude...." Beast Boy shook his head, "What is with everybody today?"
Jinx shook her head, "They obviously had a fight."
"They fight all the time. We all do."
"Not like this apparently."
"I guess.... hey, you want to see that fire monster fight I was telling you about?"
Jinx looked over her shoulder at the door, the way Raven and Cyborg had just left. Shaking her head, she turned back to Beast Boy, "Yeah, sure!"
Robin sat on the roof of a small auto repair shop across the street from the pool hall Harley had been frequenting for the past week or so. A little digging had turned up a few sightings of a girl matching her description, so he figured she was most likely to be at this pool hall again if she came back. He just hoped she wasn't lying low until the heat on the Joker blew over.
His eyes narrowed as he watched the door of the bar. She'd be waiting a long time.
A sound behind him caught his attention as he watched. Reaching down and pulling a bird-a-rang out, he raised it and prepared to throw as he spun around.
Robin found his wrist firmly in the grip of a black gloved hand, and two white eyes staring at him from behind a black mask.
"You made a noise." he smirked at Batman, "Losing your touch, old man?"
"I can still write you out of the will, you know." Batman stood and lifted him off the ground by his wrist, "Little Robin."
Robin was shocked at first. He'd forgotten how strong Bruce was for a human. His grin softened into a smile as he nodded his head at his old partner.
"It feels good." he said.
"What does?" Batman asked as he returned Robin to the ground.
"Being back." Batman smiled at that, "Sitting up here with you on a stake-out... bantering back and forth... just like the old days."
"Only you're a half foot taller." Batman settled down next to the younger man and sighed, "You do make me feel old sometimes."
"Poison Ivy said the same thing earlier."
"She's almost as old as I am." Batman looked up at the stars, "Any action yet down there?"
"No. It's getting late too. I think this might be a bust for tonight."
"There's always tomorrow."
"I guess I'm getting impatient."
"I warned you about that. Young guys like you have tempers and fierce devotion to what they do. I know, I was your age once." Bruce frowned down at the young man sitting next to him, "You can't let those feelings rule you. You have to keep your emotions in check."
"You sound like Raven." Robin smiled.
"Another of your team I suppose?"
Robin nodded, "Yeah, she has to keep her powers in check or bad things happen."
"I see." Batman settled back and pulled out a can of soup, "Cold tonight..." he muttered as he took a sip. He stared down at it for a moment before speaking again, "Robin, I've been meaning to ask you something since you got back."
"Yeah?" Robin was watching the door again.
"With Babs out of action now, permanently... well, I find myself short a partner."
Robin froze, not looking away from the door, but his mind still buzzing away at a million miles a second. Was Batman asking him to....
"I could use you back here, Dick." Batman looked up at him, "If you want, I'd be happy to have Robin back in Gotham."
Robin's mind processed the request slowly. Eventually he looked back at Batman and stuttered out a response, "I... the Titans... and Kori and I just... I guess..." he composed himself and let out a sigh, "I'd love to, Batman. I really would, but... the Titans need me." his eyes softened, "And I love Kori. I want to stay with her."
Batman leaned back and closed his eyes, "Guess I'm on the market for a new partner then."
"You used to do it by yourself."
"I was younger then."
"Don't give me that bullshit. You're still in perfect condition."
Batman gave him a sidelong glance, "Did you learn to talk like that over in California?"
"No," Robin sneered at his friend and mentor, "I learned to swear from you. I just perfected it by watching TV."
Batman wisely switched back to their first subject, "I still need a partner."
"I could try to get someone." Robin offered, "The Titans aren't limited to just the five of us in Jump City you know. There's the guys up in Titans East, and we have a few independents out there still-"
"I think I'll find this one on my own." Batman replied firmly, "I don't need a young hotheaded kid to come in here, trying to do things their own way. We play by my rules in this city, remember?"
"I remember. Though I was a pretty hot headed guy when I first started. I had to learn, just like Babs had to learn."
"Yeah... but you two learned really well." Batman gave him a rare smile, a genuine, not cocky, fatherly smile, "You really did."
"Thanks." Robin smiled back.
"Go on back to the manner now." Batman waved him off, "I'll keep an eye out here for another hour or two, then head back in as well." Robin started to protest, but Batman cut him off, "I want you to get some rest, Robin. Go see Babs tomorrow for a little while. She could wake up any day now, and I want one of us to be there for her when she does."
"Okay." Robin sighed. Bruce was always right.
"I'll see you in the morning, Dick."
"Yeah. See you then." with a last, parting smile, Robin ran and jumped off the back of the building.
Starfire watched the setting sun from the rec-room in Titans tower from where she sat with the reheated plate of breakfast food in front of her. Her eyes gleamed with sheer joy as she stuffed her face with syrup covered delight.
"Mmmm!" she squealed loudly, even though no one was around, "Waffles!"
Closing notes: Waffles are the most wonderful food known to mankind. Everyone thinks so. Just say the name enough and you'll want some. I promise.
Responses!
Don't Blink- This wont be the last time I say this, but this IS a Rob/Star fic. I like these kids too much to screw with 'em THAT bad. Just going to have to trust me here.
chickiidoo- Yes. Waffles.
Bonekhan- May I recomend a thesaurus? :)
StarryRavenFire- This is a story about everyone. :) No secrets given away just yet. You'll just have to keep reading to see who ends up in the sack with who.
Hiya- Scroll down and read the next chapter preview please. (Damn, that's the sadist in me acting up again.... :)
oBsEsSiVe AnD hYpEr- Glad I can keep you so rivited to the screen. You know, they make pills for obsessive and hyper people. I know, I used to take some. :)
Heaven's Angel- Another reviewer that's been with me for awhile now. I've got big plans in store for the Titans. Hope you like what I do... it'll be to die for, I promise.
youdon'tknowmyname- I know, I know... spelling has never been my strong suit... I'll keep screwing it up too, I know I will. I just don't pick up on those things like some people do. All I see is the story I'm writing, not the words that make it, you know? Maybe I'll go back an edit them some day, but for now... hell, let's just get the damn thing up as fast as I can, right?
Stolen Valkyrie- I'm trying to show how all the Titans are together and apart. I'll be highlighting more of their interactions in the coming chapters, so keep a sharp eye out for the Raven/Starfire chat, the Cyborg/Jinx talk, the Beast Boy/ Raven heart to heart, and the Cyborg/Starfire argument. Should be.... fun. :)
Albelthenox- Another that tells me I'm the best. I'm gonna get a big head here pretty quick.... :)
robinstar- I know you're a big Rob/Star shipper, so the next chapter will have you cheering. :)
Greg867- Beast Boy IS horny too. And Raven IS horny all the time... you'd think it'd just be natural right? Heh. I'm not that nice. :) By the way, fact of the day: Candy? Based on a real chick I know. No shit dude, she'll take off her gear and get down with any famous guy she meets. She's fucked like, six celebs or something like that.
Keep up the good reviews! I know there'll be some talk generated by this chapter, so go ahead and spit it out! Hit that review button!
Next chapter- Jinx talks things out with Cyborg, Starfire and Raven have a little girl talk, Batgirl rejoins the world of the living, Robin plays best friend and ends up even MORE confused, Raven get's midevil on someone's ass, and Beast Boy can't seem to keep his big mouth shut.