Jump City Cantata
A Teen Titans Fan Fiction by Jake McDonald
Opening Notes: I know I promised a good fight in this one, but it was once again just getting too damn long. The next one shouldn't take me so long to write for two reasons. 1.) There will be more action. 2.) I wont be writing a one-shot song fic right in the middle of it. Thank you, by the way, to all of you who reviewed Kinda' I Want To. It was a rabid little plot bunny, and I had to smash it's cute little head before I could finish out this chapter. Sorry for the delay.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Teen Titans but I make a mean pot of Mackycheese.
Chapter 4
Slowly, ever so slowly, Raven swam up from the depths of unconsciousness. She found herself lying on the sand, the sound of waves splashing against the shore in the background. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. As her vision cleared, she groaned and sat up.
Looking around, she saw that she was indeed on the beach, and that the sky had become overcast while she was out. It took several seconds for her to remember what had happened, but when she did, the terrible events came crashing down on her like a ton of bricks.
"Oh, God...." she moaned as her head fell into her hands, "What the fuck did I do?"
"You know, I actually thought I would be getting away from crime when I joined up with the Titans." Raven looked up to see Jinx sitting not too far away on top of a stone wall that separated the beach from the boardwalk that ran past it. She finally placed them as being on the South Bay Beach. It would be deserted this time of year.
Jinx had her knees pulled up to her chin, and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her clothes were splattered with blood, and her hands were stained red as well. She seemed to be huddled against the chill wind that blew past them, bringing tidings of a cold rain shower with it.
"It wasn't..." Raven started, then stopped as her eyes grew cold, "The bastard got what was coming to him Jinx."
"Raven.... you're the one who told me that I couldn't use excessive force any more now that I was one of the good guys..."
"I didn't.... I lost control..." Raven shook her head. She could feel that the Seed was still loose. She would have to be very careful to retain control, "I didn't use excessive force on that guy. He was a rapist-"
"You ripped his fucking arm off Raven."
"I-" Raven stopped and paled, "I did?"
"You don't remember?"
"I know I hurt him... and you knocked me out.... the girl... what happened Jinx?" Raven sounded meek and frightened.
Jinx sighed and slipped down off the wall. She sat down next to Raven, and they both put their backs against the cool stone. Raven's head dipped down and leaned against Jinx's shoulder, and the pink haired sorceress, reached an arm out and hugged her closer.
"I came back from the record store to find you torturing that guy. I tried to stop you, but...." she trailed off and shuddered, "You tore his arm off. The girl passed out again... I can only imagine what kind of shape she's in now... raped and then seeing her rapist getting ripped apart by some amorphous black monster.... she'll be in therapy for the rest of her life..."
Raven winced, "You're not making this very easy."
"Why do you think this should be easy?" Jinx's voice was flat, dead, "After that I managed to knock you out. I did what I could to stop the guy from bleeding to death, then got us the hell out of there. I called from a pay phone and left an anonymous message with the cops that there had been an attack in the ally, and then left as quickly as I could. I got us here and I've been waiting for you to wake up for about an hour now."
Raven had squeezed her eyes shut half way through Jinx's story, "I'm so.... so sorry Jinx...."
"You know, even during all the time I spent with the HIVE, I never actually killed anyone." Jinx laughed harshly, "Now I could very well be an accessory to murder."
"He might not have died.... I'll check in on it as quickly as possible... I'll-"
"I'LL handle it." Jinx said forcefully, "You're in no shape to be doing anything."
"Who's in charge here?" Raven sat up and glared at her friend.
"Give it a rest Raven." Jinx closed her eyes and sighed, "Look, it'll be good practice for me to communicate with the authorities or something like that right? Right now, we need you to figure out what the hell is going on with your powers."
"It's the Seed." Raven replied, a slight tremble in her voice, "It's gotten loose again... last time it happened, I barely got it back in it's cage before it consumed my soul."
Jinx had opened her eyes and now stared blankly at the psion, "Okay.... that was kinda'.... vague..."
Raven sighed, "I was born in the dimension of Azarath. My mother was a pure soul, but was tricked into having a child with Trigon, the demon king of that plane of existence. So I'm half demon."
Jinx nodded her head, a serious look on her face, "Following you so far. Continue."
Raven closed her eyes again and concentrated so as not to let the seed gain too much control. Just thinking about her fate made her angry, "My Father's essence sits deep inside my soul, waiting for the day when it can get out and take control of me. It really was kind of a good plot... send his little girl to the dimension so that he could eventually use me as a portal to pour his demon hordes on to Earth and begin his conquest of this plane." she shook her head, "I fight everyday to maintain control. I've built mental cages to keep the Seed in, but every now and then... when I get angry... it gets out. When it was planted, it took on the form of my anger and rage... without the Seed, I can't feel those emotions. It's as much a part of me now as my own soul. I can't get rid of it."
"So you need to regain control of it again. How'd you do it last time?"
Raven blushed, "Beast Boy and Cyborg accidentally got into my mind and helped me."
"You want me to help you this time?" Jinx asked.
"No." Raven opened her eyes, "This is something I have to do alone." Jinx started to protest, but Raven held up a hand, "Trust me.... when I'm inside my own mind, I'm not alone."
There was a beat of silence between them before Jinx spoke again, "You do know that makes you sound a hundred bloody percent daft?"
Raven's cheeks reddened and she looked away, "I'm not too sure that's far from the truth."
Robin shut the door to the hospital room quietly. No sense in waking her now that she'd finally fallen asleep. After two hours of sitting with Babs and stroking her hair, she given in to exhaustion.
Robin was grateful, as his arm had fallen asleep some time ago.
As he rubbed his arm to try to get some of the feeling back into it, he turned to walk down the hall and almost ran straight into a tall man with a thick mustache. Taking a quick step back, Robin looked up and started to apologize, "Sorry man, I didn't see you there, and-" he stopped as he recognized the man before him, "Commissioner Gordon! We were expecting you hours ago!"
"I was held up at work." the Commissioner held out his hand and Robin shook it firmly, "It's good to see you again Dick. Barbara's glad to see you too, I'm guessing?"
"Yeah. She's sleeping right now, but if you wait a few hours I'm sure she'll come around again."
"That's okay... I actually arrived here almost a half hour ago, but she was in such capable hands that I just let things run their course. It's almost as if you two seem closer now than before you left."
"She's been through a lot." Robin said quietly as he looked down at the floor, "Any leads on who might have done it?"
"Not a thing." Gordon sighed and began to guide Robin down the hall with one hand, "We're damn lucky she was found so quickly... she would have died if the Batman hadn't found her."
"The Batman?" Robin arched an eyebrow. He knew the story of course, but had to play dumb for the Commissioner. He was supposed to be Dick Grayson, after all.
"Yeah. He called it in and stayed with her until the EMS unit showed up. Said he would have started a search right away for her attacker but he was afraid she would have bled to death if he hadn't stayed and administered emergency first aid."
"Is he working the case now?"
"I don't know what he gets up to, really. We have a very one-sided friendship," Gordon smiled weakly as they stopped in front of the doors to the cafeteria, "he knows everything we're up to, and doesn't tell us a thing about what he's doing."
"Sounds frustrating." Robin grinned inwardly. They didn't know the MEANING of the word frustrating when dealing with Batman. The number of times he'd left Robin out of the loop... and they were supposed to be partners!
"Well, the important thing is that she's alive... even if she's lost her legs." Gordon sighed again and shook his head to clear it, "Now, why don't you let me buy you lunch Son?"
"Oh no, Commissioner, I can get my own food-"
"Nonsense!" Gordon smiled and slapped Robin on the back, "It's the least I can do for my daughter's boyfriend!"
Robin stumbled forward from the slap and smiled weakly, "Um... about that... we're not really... dating..."
"Oh? You looked pretty close back in her room!"
"She needed someone to... well... I have a girlfriend back in Jump City, and I don't really want to lead her on... I'll talk to her about it later today."
Gordon just laughed, "You remind me of myself when I was your age, Dick! All the girls just flocking to you!"
"Yeah... real ladies man..." Robin laughed nervously as they stepped up to get some food. He would have to talk to Babs about Starfire latter. He didn't want her to get the wrong idea, if he hadn't already done so.
Cyborg and Beast Boy looked up from where they were playing 'Super Ninja Fury 3' as the door to the rec-room slid open. Raven and Jinx walked in, toting unmarked black bags and walking quickly towards the elevator that led to the next level.
As they walked past the couch, the boys noticed Raven's slouched posture, and the blood splattered all over Jinx's clothes. The girls didn't acknowledge them in any way as they continued past.
"Hey! Yo!" Cyborg jumped up and walked over to stand in front of them, "What the heck happened? Where did all the blood come from?"
"Don't worry about it Cy, it's under control-" Jinx was cut off by the robotic Titan,
"Like hell I wont worry! That's a lot of blood! BB!"
"Dude!" Beast Boy was walking around the two of them inspecting them for any injuries, "You guys don't seem to be hurt so that has to be someone else's blood. Where did it all come from and why are you looking at us like that Rae?"
"Guys, now isn't the time to-" Jinx was cut off again, this time by Raven,
"Get out of MY WAY!" the psion shouted and the boys were pushed to either side of the room by waves of black energy. They stood with shocked looks on their faces as Raven stepped into the elevator and Jinx hurried after her. After the doors had slid shut the two remaining Titans looked at each other.
"What was that all about?" Beast Boy wondered aloud.
"No idea... but I think we'd better go over the police reports for the last hour or so." Cyborg started for the computers, but before he even got to a terminal, his communicator started beeping,
"Hey! Cyborg!" it was Jinx.
"What's up?" he raised his arm to his mouth to respond.
"Raven says not to bother with the police reports. We have the situation under control."
"What the hell is going on, Jinx?"
"I'll tell you about it latter. Raven was saying something about the Seed. You have any idea what that is?"
Cyborg and Beast Boy exchanged a look, "Yeah, we know about it." Cyborg responded, "If that's the problem then you need to stay with her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid okay?"
"Right. We'll be in the medical lab if you need us. Jinx out.""Later." Cyborg signed off and sighed, "She must have lost control and hurt someone."
"Do you think Jinx stopped it before it went to far?" Beast Boy looked worried.
"With the amount of blood that was on her? I doubt it. Let's just hope no one ended up dead."
"Dude... this is bad."
"Tell me about it... Raven could get in some serious trouble if this gets out."
Beast Boy wrung his hands, "I'm more worried about what she'll do to me when I tell her I accidentally made Star run off to Gotham City!" Cyborg arched his eyebrow and frowned at his friend. Beast Boy threw his arms out to his sides, "What?"
"You have a verdict for me yet?" Raven asked as she walked back into the medical lab, pulling her shirt back over her head as she did.
"You're not pregnant." Jinx replied as she gazed into a microscope.
"Oh good. No little demons running around now."
"I'm still working on this sample... I'm not a doctor and-"
"Let me see." Raven gently pushed her aside and gazed down through the lens for a few moments. "All clear."
"How do you know?"
"Cell count. You might not be a doctor, but I could probably test out of enough classes to have an MD in a few years." Raven shrugged.
"You must get a lot of practice." Jinx began to clean up the room, and Raven moved to help her.
"I can't use my healing powers on everything."
"So now what?"
"I need you to check the police reports. Find out what happened to that guy."
"And you?"
"I'm going to sequester myself in my room and attempt to regain control of the Seed."
"What if you can't?" Jinx sounded frightened.
"If I can't, then it destroys me and I go insane. You'll know when I come out of my room and start blowing the Tower apart."
"Lovely." Jinx rolled her eyes.
"Jinx, look..." Raven touched her shoulder as her voice grew quiet, "If I loose, and the Seed takes over, you'll have to kill me."
Jinx paled, "What?"
"Cyborg and Beast Boy... they wouldn't be able to. Star is absolutely out of the question... I would have Robin do it if he was here, but..." Raven stopped for a moment, "It's just... you're the only one I'd trust to do it."
Jinx glared at her for a moment, then sighed and let her shoulders sag, "You'd better win against that thing then Raven, 'cause I don't know if I could do it either."
"Promise me you will." Raven grabbed her shoulder roughly and shook her, "You have to promise me!"
"Raven, I told you I-" Jinx was cut off as Raven shook her hard enough to give her whiplash.
"PROMISE ME JINX!" the psion's eyes were wide, and she looked desperate.
"I promise." Jinx replied quietly, her eyes brimming with tears, "If it comes to that... I'll end it for you."
Raven's eyes softened and she hugged the pink haired sorceress, "Thank you."
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving a blood stained, crying Jinx to finish cleaning the lab up.
Starfire rubbed her arms in order to ward off the chill as she flew towards Gotham City. The air was much colder this far North on Earth, and the sharp winds blowing in off the Atlantic Ocean didn't help matters any. She must have flown up too far.
She had heard stories of this white substance called 'snow' that was made up of crystallized water particles, but had never seen any down in Southern California. If she had known how cold and wet it was, or how much it would obscure her vision, she would have put on warmer clothes and brought flight goggles before haring off after her boyfriend, three thousand miles away.
A day long flight for her at almost top speed, it had worn her out more than she had thought it would, and now the cold seemed to be draining away what little strength she had left. She quickly decided that a warm meal and a brief rest would do her good before she had to confront Robin about his possible infidelity.
Swooping down to the city she was flying over, she landed in front of an ATM outside a gas station. Several people pumping gas gaped at her as she hummed a merry tune, pulled a credit card out of her belt pouch, and inserted it into the machine. A few seconds and a punched PIN number latter and Star held a wad of cash in her hand. The people staring in awe didn't notice as their pumps clicked off and stopped pumping, but they all raised their heads as the beautiful red head flew up into the air again.
It only took her a few minutes to find a decent looking diner, though all the buildings in this town seemed to look dark, run down and sinister. People on the street didn't point at her and stare in awe like they did in Jump City, either. In fact, most of them screamed or hid in an ally.
As she landed, Star wondered exactly where she was. Pulling out her T-Comp as she pushed through the doors to the diner, she checked her GPS location. It read sixty miles North of Gotham, re-affirming her belief that she had flown too far. As she searched the database for the name of the city, she felt something prod her shoulder and heard a man speaking to her.
"I am sorry," Star looked up and smiled, "I was engrossed in my work. What is it I can do for you?" she saw a tall man standing before her, wearing a black trench coat and dark sunglasses.
And he was pointing a gun at her chest.
"I said give me everything of value that you have, bitch. Money, jewelry..." he leaned back and looked her body up and down, "...maybe your bra..."
Star decided to ignore the bra comment for now, "You wish to... 'mug' me?" she cocked her head to the side in an inquisitive manner.
"I'm robbing every other mother fucker in this place, so why not you too?" the man sneered at her, "Now fork it over, honey."
"I do not think that this is a very wise course of action." Star shook her head, "Why do you wish to do something so reckless and crule?"
"Hey, we all have to make a living somehow. Cough up, bitch, or I cap you right here."
Star persisted, "But why attempt to steal what others have worked so hard for?"
"No one works hard for money in this town, kid.""Then it must be a very counterproductive town." Star raised her nose in the air and gave the man a superior look.
He just grinned, "Welcome to Blödhaven, babe." and he pulled the trigger.
Robin stepped quietly into the dimness of Barbara's hospital room for the second time that day. The sun was setting, on the other side of the building from where they were, so the illumination from the single window wasn't very much. He was going to see if she was awake, and if she was, he'd have that talk with her, but if she wasn't, he would just go out and hunt down Harley.
He found himself hoping she would be asleep.
Walking over to her bed, he went to brush a hand across her brow, "Hey, you awake Babs?"
As his fingers were about to brush against her head, her hand shot up and grabbed his wrist, pulling him into a lock hold. The move took him by surprise, so he didn't manage to get his hand away in time, but she was weakened, and he had always been a bit more skilled then she was, so he was able to twist away from her without too much difficulty.
"Robin?" he heard her harsh whisper.
"Yeah, it's me... call me Dick."
"Dick... sorry..." Babs settled back into her pillow, "You startled me. You move too damn quietly Grayson."
"Sorry. I thought you were asleep."
"Then why did you come in?" she arched an eyebrow at him in the darkness and smiled a bright white smile, "Or do I really need to ask?"
"That's what I came in here to talk to you about." he shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet, "Look, Babs-"
"Don't just stand there, Dick. There's a perfectly good chair right next to the bed over here." apparently she hadn't noticed his defensive body language in the darkness of the room. With a sigh, he sat down.
"There, now isn't that much better?" he hand reached out and teased his hair, "Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Robin reached up and took her hand, pushing it gently back to the bed, "I wanted to talk to you about us."
She batted her eyes at him playfully, "What about us, Dick?"
"We're not dating."
"Well, no, but... you flew out here when I was hurt, you were the first one here when I woke up, and you cuddled me to sleep earlier today... are you saying all that doesn't mean you like me?"
"No, that's not it... I do like you-"
"Then why not start dating? I mean, the long distance thing wouldn't be an issue, 'cause I can just move out to Jump City now-"
"I like you like a sister Babs." Robin cut her off quietly, and she froze, "I... have a girlfriend. Back in Jump City."
Babs was quiet for several moments, "Oh." she replied meekly.
"I'm sorry if I led you on at all, Babs, but you really seemed to need me, so I did what any good friend would do and tried to make you feel better..." he trailed off at the pained look on her face.
"So you don't like me... like that?" she asked quietly.
Robin didn't speak for a solid minute. He just stared at her. Finally, he looked away, "That's just it. I think I might like you in a romantic sense... you were the first girl I ever felt anything for after all... you'll always hold a special place in my heart. But I can't do that to Kori."
"Kori?"
"That's her name. My girlfriend."
"Oh." Babs looked away from him, "So now what?"
This was the part Robin was dreading most, "I don't think I should come hang out for long periods of time like I did today. I don't want anything to... happen between us that might make me..." he trailed off and blushed, "I'm sorry Babs, but I'm going to just put in some overtime on finding Harley and-"
He was cut off by her lips as she crushed her mouth against his. His eyes grew wide as her hand tangled in his hair, holding him in place while she steadily started worming her tongue into his mouth. His resolve started to slip and he let her sweep the inside of his teeth once before he regained control of himself.
"Babs!" he shouted as he pulled away, pushing her back into her bed. She flopped back with a cry of pain as the stitches in her stomach were stretched. Robin stood up and away from the bed so quickly that his chair fell over, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
"I was just... hoping... maybe if you remembered how it was before... you'd...." she started to cry, "I don't know Dick. What's so special about this Kori girl that makes you love her so much?" Babs turned away from him, "Civilian relationships don't work for people like us, Robin, so why are you even trying?"
"She's not a civilian." Robin replied quietly, "Kori is better known as Starfire. She's one of my teammates."
Babs rolled back over and stared at him with wide eyes, "So you'll date a superhero in Jump City but not in Gotham, is that it?"
"I've grown up a lot since I moved out there, Babs. I told you before, people change." he looked at her significantly, "I'VE changed, and so have you. It just... wouldn't work between us."
"Why not?" she demanded.
"Because I don't feel for you like I do for her... Kori... she's special. She's taught me a lot... about myself... about... well..."
Babs stared at him for a moment with a sad, thoughtful look on her face. After a moment, she started to smile a little, "You love her don't you?" he looked away and fidgeted. She almost laughed, "I knew it! You do, don't you? Not just like, a crush, like you have on me, but it's full blow, toe curling, birds singing love, isn't it?"
Robin shuffled his feet and looked everywhere but at her, "Yeah." he mumbled.
Babs did laugh at that. "Dick... get out." he looked at her with a hurt expression. She rolled her eyes, "Don't come back until you've found the Joker and kicked his ass. THEN we'll talk about this."
Slowly, Robin grinned, "Okay." he nodded as the idea sank in, "Okay. I'll see you then, Babs."
"Later, Boy Wonder." she waved as he walked out the door.
Starfire finished turning the hand gun the man had been pointing at her into a small wad of steel and tossed it into the trash can by the door. Turning back to the robber she noted that he had flown a little further than she had intended, and had ended up hanging over the bar of the diner, out cold. She shrugged as she walked over, hefted him to her shoulder, and walked to the door.
Looking around the street as she stepped out, Star noticed a policeman walking past on the other side of the road. "Excuse me! Officer!" she flew over and deposited the man on the ground, "This man was robbing the diner across the street. You may take him in to custody."
"Uh..." the cop stared at her, "Alright..."
"Thank you!" Star nodded and bowed slightly before flying back to the diner and stepping back inside.
The owner of the diner was right there to shake her hand and thank her profusely and to offer her a free meal, which she accepted gracefully.
After she had eaten, Star was standing to leave when a police officer walked in. He made a b-line for her, then stopped in front of her, blocking her way to the door. "Are you the woman that beat the crap out of a perp that was robbing this place?" he asked in a harsh, rude voice.
"Yes." Starfire shrugged, "He was pointing a fire arm at me, and I decided that use of such force was required."
The cop slapped a cuff over her right wrist and yanked her towards him, "In that case, you're under arrest for assault. You have the right to remain-"
"I am afraid there must be some mistake. I am a 'good guy.' I do things to HELP the police."
"Assault is assault no matter what you're doing it for, babe. Now come on!" he yanked on the cuff again, but this time, Star didn't even let her wrist jerk. Reaching over with her left hand, she burned a hold through the handcuffs, and pulled her right hand free.
"I will do as I please. In Jump City we work WITH the police. I have been told that the hero's on this side of the country are more at odds with the local law enforcement. Whatever the case is, I must be leaving now. Goodbye." and she flew over him faster than he could grab her. Out the door and up into the sky she went, searching for South with her T-Comp. Once she had her direction, she took off at top speed. Blödhaven had too many problems to try to solve while she was on her way to see her boyfriend. It would take a miracle and a hero with more dedication and drive then she had at the moment to clean it up.
Ten minutes latter she was flying over the highway signs that read 'Gotham City exits are 67 through 85'. Stopping in mid air, did a quick location scan on her T-Comp to triangulate Robin's position in this city. She found it moving quickly up to the hills and towards a large dark building she could barely make out from her high ground vantage.
With a frown, she flew off in pursuit of the signal.
Raven had stripped off her clothes as soon as she had entered her room. Meditation like she was about to attempt should be done in absolute comfort, and Raven found her mind clearest when she was naked. No clothes to rub against you, and the chill air of the Tower's AC washed over her skin, giving her something to focus on while she attempted to reach the proper level of trance.
Floating in the middle of her room, naked, legs crossed in the lotus position, Raven drew deep, even breaths while she dove relentlessly deeper into her own mind. After several minutes, reality began to slip.
She found herself standing on the barren plains of Azarath, her home. Or at least, it looked like her home. The hellish landscape glowed with fiery hues under the eternal blood red sunset, and the sharp sent of brimstone hung in the air. This was where she had been born.
"Aspects!" she called, and they began to gather. As she had grown from a child into a woman, her aspects had grown with her. Some remained the same, like Happy, Timid, Brave, and Rudeness, but others had changed. Intellect had evolved into Wisdom, taking on the role of the librarian as well as the researcher. Driven had become Focused, changing from a brash do-or-die type into a calm, collected do-your-absolute-best type.
Perhaps the most evident change was Protector. Formally know as Preservation, the entity had evolved with Raven's changing outlook. She now sought to protect those around her, even if it meant taking a few hits herself. The rapid change in her perception had caused a slight distortion in the aspect, causing it to take on physical traits of the people who had influenced her to change.
It manifested wearing an light purple cloak that would have made Starfire proud, offset by the black mask that covered it's eyes; one that looked suspiciously like Robin's. The pointed ears were defiantly Beast Boy's and the titanium breast plate wasn't hard to place either.
As the small crowd of aspects gathered, Raven looked about for any new faces. If she called them, they came. Her aspects weren't capable of disobeying her orders, with the exception of the Seed, who was only her aspect so far as to represent her anger and rage, and otherwise was not a natural part of her mind.
Two new ones jumped out at her immediately. One was taller then the others, and wore a sky blue cloak, pulled back to reveal her finely chiseled face. Raven recognized it as her residual self image of what she might look like in ten years or so. Older, with more poise.
The second was wearing a red cloak, and for a moment, Raven thought that the Seed had actually showed up. Closer inspection revealed that the new arrival had only two eyes, both of which were clear of any red demonic light. This aspect seemed to smile knowingly at the others, and seemed to bump into them more often then it should have.
"Wisdom," she addressed the aspect wearing the sea-foam green cloak and the nerdy glasses, "Who are the two new ones?"
Wisdom cast a bespectacled gaze at them, then turned back to Raven, "The taller one is Love, recently awakened from a dormant state by Robin, and the other is..." she wrinkled her nose as if she didn't care for this one, "Desire. She has been quite disruptive."
Raven could imagine why. Her sexual desires had been keeping her from getting hardly anything constructive done lately, and that must manifest here as Desire running around and driving the other aspects to distraction.
"I've acquired something to help with that. Like the others, she'll have her time and place." Wisdom nodded and looked off at the horizon,
"There is one other." she said in her usual serious, no-nonsense voice.
"Great..." Raven mumbled, "Who is it?"
Just then, a green blur blasted from the horizon and landed squarely on top of Wisdom, who was smashed into the ground.
"You're taking up too much of her time!" shouted the new aspect, who was clad in a dark forest green cloak, "It's my turn!"
"Go right ahead..." Wisdom nodded, then slumped back to catch her breath.
Raven arched an eyebrow as the green aspect stepped off of Wisdom and stuck out her hand to be shaken by her mistress, "Jealousy, at your service!"
Robin had just walked in to the Batcave, pulling his shirt over his head as he did, when the alarm started blaring. Frowning, he walked over to the computer and shut it off. The intruder alarm alerted them to anyone who had invaded the manors grounds, not just the Batcave, and checking all the monitors took some time.
He had developed a practiced eye over the years though, and was pleased to note that he hadn't lost his touch. Flashing rapidly through the cameras that monitored and recorded every square inch of the grounds, he took only forty seconds to find what he was looking for.
A solitary figure walked along the long drive that led up to the manor, hugging herself to ward off the chill. The long red hair and purple clothing would have been a dead give away of her identity even if she hadn't been holding up one glowing green hand to light her way.
Robin's eyes grew wide for a moment, then narrowed. As he wondered why she had come to Gotham, he pulled his shirt back on and typed up a com window on the computer, "Robin to Batman."
There was a ten second pause, "Go ahead Robin."
"I wont be able to make it out tonight. Something's come up."
"What is it NOW, Dick?" Batman sounded annoyed.
"Uh... my girlfriend just showed up at the manor. I'll send her home in the morning, but I think I'd better keep her here tonight."
Batman sighed in an exasperated manner, "Alright, but you'd better be out here tomorrow night, or I'll be recruiting someone else from the League to help me."
"Affirmative Batman, I'll be there. Robin out." and he signed off.
Heaving a sigh of his own, Robin walked back to the elevator that would take him back up to the manor. If he ran, he would be able to meet Starfire at the door.
Jinx sat down at the computer in Robin's room. She didn't have her own yet, and didn't really feel like playing twenty questions with Cyborg and Beast Boy right now, so the rec-room was out of the question as well. That left Robin's computer as the only viable option in the Tower.
It only took her a few minutes to figure out how he had things set up, then she was diving into police reports and hospital files, trying to find the man Raven had dismembered. As she looked, she found herself getting more and more disgusted with how many people were brought in to the hospital with gun shot and stab wounds, and how few people the police were bringing in for those crimes. Jump City really seemed to need the Titans.
"Maybe I should head out on patrol after I finish here..." she whispered to the empty room. Something about sitting in the chair of the Boy Wonder, working on his computer, doing his job... it made her want to actually do good. She felt like jumping from roof top to roof top like he did, chasing down criminals like he did. She felt like picking up the slack for him while he was out of town.
Jinx had done research on Robin, just as she was sure he'd done his share of snooping on her. She'd followed his career, starting from when he'd joined Batman on the streets of Gotham, up until he had been selected by the JLA to lead a group of young hero's in Jump City, a place that had recently seen it's share of super powered crooks.
Her thoughts were brought back to the task at hand as her eyes caught a police report. A man had been placed under arrest for rape, but was being held at Jump City General Hospital for severe injuries. Jinx almost cried in relief. Following the lead, she traced it to the hospital's records.
The perpetrator had had his right arm torn off by what was being reported as 'a black pudding monster.' Jinx almost laughed. How would Raven react to her manifested powers being called a pudding?
Just then, a com window popped up and started flashing. It took her a few seconds to find who the sender was, but when she did, she arched an eyebrow. Robin was in good with everybody. Hitting the reply button, she smiled.
"Go ahead Chief."
"Robin?" the Chief of Police for Jump City sounded confused.
"That's a negative, Chief. This is Jinx, I'm new to the Titans."
"Oh, yes. We received a memo from Robin about you. He's not there is he?"
"No, he's not." she shrugged, even though the communication was voice only, "Sorry."
"Quite alright. I usually talk with him, but I suppose any Titan will do. We've received a case, and it seems to me the Titans would be better equipped to handle it than the police."
"The black pudding monster?" Jinx covered her mouth to smoother her giggles.
"Yes, you've seen it then?"
"I have all the details right here." Jinx smiled. This would work out perfectly.
"Good... any thoughts on it?"
"It's enough to go on. We'll start working this one right away. It's been awhile since we've seen any good action."
"That's not always a bad thing, but I guess you young kids... being hot headed like you are..." the Chief chuckled, "Be careful out there Jinx, and welcome to the side of good."
Rolling her eyes, Jinx responded, "Thank you Sir." Who said things like that? Did super hero's have to put up with people sounding like idiots whenever they were spoken to?
"Very good. I'll be in touch."
"We look forward to hearing from you. Jinx out." The communication went dead.
Sighing, Jinx got up from the computer as she shut all the windows she had open. Walking over to Robin's night stand, she picked up a mask he had laying there. After staring down at it for several minutes, she walked into his bathroom and smoothed it on over here eyes.
Several trips back and forth between his room and bathroom later and she was also wearing his spare cape and utility belt.
"Patrol it is then." she narrowed her eyes at the mirror, and was pleased to see that the mask did so as well. This was going to kick ass.
Raven slapped Jealousy's hand away from her and narrowed her eyes, "You're the one that's been causing all of the disturbances, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?" Jealousy tried to look innocent, but failed miserably.
"You've been letting the Seed out, haven't you?"
"So what if I have?" Jealousy stepped back and looked miffed, "I only did it to stop that girl from taking what's rightfully ours-"
"Beast Boy does not belong to us." Raven seethed, "You will be taught when to be active and when not to. Wisdom!"
"Yes, Raven?" Wisdom, having recovered from being smashed, stepped up.
"Take Jealousy aside and explain to her what her job is."
"She has been doing exactly what she was created for in the first place."
"She's disrupting things!" Raven growled at her aspect.
"It is up to you to suppress her when you are not here."
"Damn it." Raven turned away and tried to calm herself. She could feel the Seed's presence drawing closer now. "The Seed is coming. I'll need all of you to join with me so that I can cage it again."
"That wont be necessary." Love stepped forward, "I can cage it."
"What?" Raven turned to the aspect, "By yourself?"
"Yes."
"Wisdom, how is that possible?"
Wisdom spoke calmly as ever, even as the wind picked up and the blood red sky turned black, "Hate can be counteracted by it's opposing force."
"Love." Raven nodded, "Very well then. What must I do?"
"Simply think of something you love. Or someone." Love shrugged, "As long as you are expressing that emotion, I am stronger."
Raven thought hard. As the Seed came over the rocky crag to her right, looking exactly like her father, Trigon, she found the mental charm she needed.
Jinx had treated her like a sister. Jinx had stopped her from killing a man. Jinx had taken care of her, even though she was a monster.
She loved Jinx for everything she was. Friend, protector, and sister.
With that thought, Love swelled to twice her normal size and reached out for the Seed just as it came within her reach. Grabbing hold of it's arm, she pulled it into an embrace as it howled in frustration. Powerless to do anything against this new force, the Seed returned to it's normal Raven sized form, and vanished in a flash of black light. When it reappeared, it was in a cage on the ground.
Raven nodded and smiled. Love, huh?
"I'm returning now. Love, thank you."
"There is no need to thank yourself. It is your love that fuels me, after all."
"All the same." with one last look at Jealousy (who was being felt up by Desire) Raven retreated from her own mind, back into reality.
The door to Wayne Manor opened smoothly and silently even as Starfire raised her hand to knock. Confused, and more than a little frightened, she took a step forward.
"Hello?" she called out into the darkened hallway.
A familiar voice echoed out from the inky blackness, "You shouldn't have come her, Star." Robin melted out of the shadows, his black clothing and raven hair blending in with his dark surroundings, "Jump City is more important than me." he looked serious and angry, and his voice sounded disappointed.
Starfire looked down at her feet and shuffled them a little bit, intimidated by her boyfriends anger and coldness, "I am sorry, Richard... I could not help myself. After Beast Boy told me, I flew off without thinking, and then I ended up in this awful city just up the river, and the police there are very rude, and then I finally found you but you were in this dark and frightening place, and-"
"Kori!" Robin sounded amused all of a sudden, "Slow down!" he stepped forward and flicked a light switch next to the door, illuminating a well appointed entryway, "Come in out of the cold and tell me the story from the beginning. What was it that Beast Boy told you?"
Starfire stepped in and shut the door behind herself, "He informed me that you had come here to see an old girlfriend." Star glared at him, "You did not tell me that this Barbara was the first girl you ever kissed."
"Does that matter? Kori, I love you. What reasons do you have to doubt me?" Robin chose not to add that her fears had come close to being realized, and made a mental note to kick BB's ass next time he saw the changeling.
"It is not that I doubted you, Richard, just that... I wanted to be near you." her face fell and she leaned against the doors, "You are going to send me away aren't you?"
Robin's brain kicked into high gear, processing everything he had heard so that he could make the proper choice. She had come here because Beast Boy had told her about his past with Babs, then from the sound of it she had ended up in Blödhaven of all places, and then she'd probably followed his T-Comp signal here. She wanted to stay because she missed him, but also to keep an eye on him. He wasn't so dense that he couldn't see that little white lie.
Then he remembered what Batman had said earlier about bringing someone else from the JLA. They could really use someone who could fly in their search for the Joker, and another set of fists never hurt anything either... if he played his cards right, he was sure he could get Bruce to let her stay and help.
"No." He had said it, and there was no turning back. Her face came up, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and she threw herself into his arms. He laughed lightly as she hugged him, then drew back and kissed her.
After they separated, he smiled at her and spoke, "Don't think this gets you off the hook though. If you're staying, you're helping out. We still need to find the Joker, and Babs is still going to need someone to go see her... she kind of kicked me out today." he grinned stupidly at her quizzical look, "What? You think everybody enjoys my company as much as you do?"
"I shall go see her soon then." Starfire smiled back at him, "If for no other reason then to relive her of your tedious presence.
"Hey!" Robin laughed with her before reaching out and lightly smacking her bottom, "Brat."
Starfire blushed deeply, then leaned in to him, "I've been having dreams about you doing that to me for the past few nights..." she said in a low, husky voice. He stared down at her and stared back up. Her eyes were dark with passion, and his were wide with anticipation.
"Ah-hem." they both jumped and seperated with a shout as they whirled around to see Alfred standing in the door way that led to the West wing, "Shall I make up a guest room for two then, Master Richard?"
Robin, his heart still racing from the shock and embarasment, nodded his head, "Yeah, that'd be great Alfred. Thanks."
"Very good Sir." Alfred paused before he turned around and winked at Robin, then nodded to Starfire, "Very pleased to meet you Miss Kori. Excuse me." and he turned and left.
Robin and Starfire looked at each other, then burst out laughing. After several minutes, they calmed down and Star looked around, "Where is the rest room in this large house?"
"One of the twenty you mean?" Robin arched an eyebrow, "Down that hall there. First door on the right."
"Thank you! Will you wait for me here?"
"Of course! You'd get lost in here without me." Robin smiled as she giggled and ran off. His smile went away when she was out of sight.
With Starfire gone from Jump City, it put the team down a member. Even with Jinx there to help them, the Titans were still only four strong now, and Robin didn't trust this streak of peaceful times they'd been having to last too much longer.
They were going to need back up. Just a temporary man to fill in for Starfire while she was in Gotham with him. He pulled out his T-Comp and check the time.
It was late on the East Coast, but he knew they would still be up. Well, the person he needed to talk to would still be up anyway. They were a lot alike, after all.
Flipping open the communicator, he punched in a code, then spoke, "Robin to Titans East. Come in Speedy."
Closing Notes: Today I learned how to replace a toilet seat and and put up a hand towel ring. Gad my life is exciting.
Reviewer Responses!
Thanks to: NalaravatheRed, Heaven's Angel, Stolen Valkyrie, Greg867, conka, Dark Angel, and Hyper Chick! You guys all rock!
StarryRavenFire: Just down the street and around the corner from my house is the Velvet Touch Sex Shop. The sex shop in the story was based on that... fun place.
Bonekhan- I have an evil plan. It's evil. It's so evil, it makes your ears bleed. That's REALLY evil. Wait for it, it'll knock you flat.
dbzneon- You must have loved this chapter. Jinx/Raven all over the place. Oh, and I'm glad I could make you laugh. It's what I live for. :)
Brogramn- I have a handle on the erotic because I'm a goddamn freak. I LOVE sex. It's an addiction I swear. I'm blessed with a long term relationship with a girl who likes to please, and be pleased in return. If you haven't read 'Kinda' I Want To' yet, read it NOW. I got to be naughty in that one. :)
ChaosChampion- I can't believe I missed someone. Stupid Jake! Bad Jake! Anyway, I'm not going to go back and re-edit all the text just yet, but I'll look into getting names for the chapters put up in the database here. I'm thinking song titles, like they did in Coyboy Bebop. Only I'll actually use songs people have heard. Glad you're liking it, and I hope to hear from you again.
robinstar- THERE! ARE YOU HAPPY YET? WHAT? YOU'RE NOT?!? FUCK! What do I have to do, make Star and Robin have sex or something? FINE! Wait until the next damn chapter, and maybe there'll be some hot, hot, Robin Starfire scenes. Just for you. :)
Next Chapter: The Titans join battle with an old enemy. Jinx gets her ass handed to her, then get's it handed to her again. Raven is all better, right? Beast Boy and Cyborg get almost no screen time again, and Robin and Starfire get to know each other VERY well. Everyone is confused, and no one is thinking straight.
Then one of them dies.