James: Sorry for the delay, Writer's block coupled with new work schedules and whatnot. If yer gonna throw stuff, my companion Steve will glady accept any rocks and or pitchforks you have.
Steve (Wearing an outfit remnescient of a baseball umpire): Bring it on ya weenies! Give it yer best shot! I can take it!
James: However if any of you care to throw something like... of Raven's undergarments, feel free to sling them at me : )
Steve: F---in' pervert.
James: You're just mad you didn't think to say it.
Steve: that's okay, we both know who'll get the AMZ treatment when she finds out.
James: ...it'll be worth it...
Disclaimer: We don't own s--t, literally, I mean who would want to? They invented toilets for a reason right? But on subject: Titans are owned by some guy in a big office somewhere and is probably surrounding himself with bikini clad models or something right now... Lucky stiff...
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Chapter 2
The angry buzzing of an alarm clock pervaded his dreams and shocked the young man into full awareness.
"I can't believe I gotta get up this early," I/O grumbled as he got dressed, " I mean, it's not like I have to catch a bus or anything."
I/O shrugged as he finished dressing and started off toward the elevator that would take him from the children's wing to the dining area. The other children joining him as he went.
Digi was still in her nightgown, dragging a stuffed rabbit by the ears and rubbing her eyes with her fist.
Sketch wasn't much better off, he was wearing jeans with ripped out knees and a tee shirt with so many paint stains it was impossible to tell what it's original color was supposed to be.
Joy was in this wing too, But she would be asleep still in Jinx's room. Starfire had wanted the crib to be in her room, but the peculiar hours required by an infant made it all but impossible for her to maintain both her motherly and super heroine duties effectively.
The children piled into the elevator and Sketch punched the button for the kitchen level.
"I hope Miss Star made waffles," Sketch commented as the door slid shut.
I/O just grunted, he'd never been much one for breakfasts anyway.
"I wanna go back sleepy," was all Digi said.
In the dining room, Starfire had a big breakfast all set up: bacon, eggs, oatmeal and toast. Enough to feed a small army, which was pretty much what she was doing anyway. Nightwing, Cyborg, and Raven were already at the table when the children arrived, Blackfire would be in the kitchen with Starfire finishing up the meal and it was no question where Terra and Beastboy were, I/O had heard their snoring from halfway down the hall as they passed the living room, along with the music from the video game they apparently fell asleep playing.
The children took their seats at the table, Raven considerately using a bit of her power to hold back Digi's hair so it wouldn't fall forward into her food. I/O had decided already that he would put off mentioning the little tutoring thing. Hopefully Blackfire forgot... and if not it would at least give him some time to figure out how he was going to endure what would no doubt prove to be three hours of hell on earth.
Breakfast was finished before I/O could puzzle through his dilemma, so he and the others went back up to their rooms to finish preparing for school. Raven joining them to help Digi get ready, since she was still a little too young to get dressed herself. They had actually let her try once, and she came down 'ready for school' in her swimsuit mismatched shoes, a tutu skirt and a rain cap. Needless to say, she had been assisted from that day forward.
Sketch as usual was dressed first, wearing the same jeans, and a black shirt with the phrase 'I used to have an open mind... but my brains kept falling out' emblazoned across the front. I/O emerged wearing black khaki pants and a white lab coat, unbuttoned revealing an equally white shirt underneath. The two boys took the elevator to the base floor, since Digi usually took forever to settle on an outfit.
"So," what happened between you and Blackfire last night?" Sketch asked.
"You don't wanna know, and if you know what's good for you you won't remind her." I/O replied grimly.
"That bad huh?"
I/O nodded.
As the elevator's doors opened the two boys jumped. There leaning against the wall was Blackfire, "You haven't forgotten our little talk, have you?" she asked with an evil little grin.
"No Ma'am," I/O replied, looking at the floor.
"Good, Sketch, in case he hasn't told you. I/O has been assigned to tutor you for three hours each on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting after school today." She explained looking at the boy.
"WHAT!?" Sketch shouted, "You can't do that! It's not fair!"
"Too bad, it's already done, Have a nice day at school." she said with a backhand wave on her way from the room.
"Sucks, don't it?" I/O stated as he started toward his class with Cyborg.
Sketch probably would have commented, but he was still gaping, shocked by the announcement.
"Weee!!" Digi exclaimed as Raven carried her into the room, her spirit form flowing through the ceiling easily. "That was fun Miss Raven!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Raven said, kneeling down and plopping a yellow wide brim hat on her, which perfectly matched the sun dress and sandals she wore. "Now you and Sketch better get outside, the schoolbus'll be here soon."
"Okies!" She squealed as she grabbed the still stunned boy's hand and dragged him outside. Leaving Raven to stare after him questioningly.
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"I think you broke his brain," Raven commented after she had poured herself some tea and taken a seat at the table with Jinx, Starfire, Blackfire, and Joy.
"You mean he had one?" Jinx asked innocently, ignoring the look Raven shot her.
"To be frank, I think this is just what those two need," Blackfire remarked. "Sketch needs to start doing better in school or he'll never go anywhere in life. And as for I/O... well that boy needs to learn to relax."
"I/O reminds me of Robin when he was young," Starfire commented absently, bouncing a squirming Joy on her knee.
"Yeah, and we know the kinds of mistakes he made..." Raven stated.
"But all turned out well in the end!" Starfire protested.
"Only because he had you all as friends," Jinx replied, gesturing for her to calm down. "I/O doesn't have many friends his own age, and I think that needs to change."
"Agreed," Raven remarked as she poured more tea, "I have long been concerned about his well being. Ever since that accident, he seems to have become ever more withdrawn, and I fear it will continue unless something changes."
"Perhaps we should take the children to the park?" Starfire suggested, breaking the silence.
"I'm surprised, That was a pretty good idea 'Little Sister' " Blackfire said, coming up behind her and ruffling her hair. "We'll do that tomorrow, The boys still have their responsibilities today."
There were no objections, and the 'girl talk' continued as it always did.
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"Errrrrgh! Come on!" Digi complained as she dragged the still unresponsive Sketch toward his class. "You're gonna be late!"
"Umm.. What's going on?" The familiar voice of Belle broke through her complaints.
"Sketch is broked I think. He didn't talk at all on the bus..." she answered.
"Oh," she said as she waved her hand in front of his face. "Sketch? Yo, Earth to Sketch! Call for Timothy on the white courtesy phone! Man... he really is out of it."
"Oh no..." a crestfallen Digi pouted.
"Don't worry, This'll get him." and with that, Belle gave Sketch a 'wet willy'.
"GHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" Sketch screamed. "Dude! That was gross!" He yelled as he rubbed his ear.
"Yaaaay!" Digi cried, happily jumping. "You fixed him"
"That always works when my brothers won't wake up," Belle said matter-of-factly. "But you better get to class now or you'll be late."
"Oh! You're right, Bye bye Belle, Bye bye Sketch." She shouted as she ran down the hall toward her class.
"Cute kid, " Belle commented, "Now c'mon, we're gonna be late ourselves"
Sketch grumbled under his breath but followed obediently.
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The blinking of his communicator brought Nightwing out of his focused training. "What's happening?" he asked through the receiver.
"Just Gizmo," Terra replied. "Me an' B.B.'ll handle it."
"Heh, alright, if it's anything serious just ask. We'll be there ASAP, things've been way too quiet these days."
"Pfft, yeah right. Us need help stopping Jizmo? You guys might wanna go help him so it's a fair fight," Beastboy laughed back.
"Yeah, I know. But you gotta admit, the poor guy tries," Nightwing replied before turning back to his punching bag.
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"You know, I wonder how this guy keeps getting out of jail. I mean, we've probably locked him up a billion times by now." Beastboy commented as the two flew toward the scene of the crime.
"Eh," Terra shrugged "It's been boring around here lately anyway. So I'm not gonna complain."
"You think we scared all the bad guys out of town?" Beastboy asked as he flexed his (imaginary) muscles.
"Ooooh, My big bad Beastbeau," Terra giggled squeezing his bicep until he yelped. "Awww, I think I killed it"
Beastboy simply glared at her and massaged his arm until they arrived at the electronics store.
The impotent curses of Gizmo were audible from within the store. "Skuzzmunching losers! Whaddaya mean you're out of the X32 components? What kinda stupid barfsniffing store is this! Geeze, this'll teach me to rob a place without checking what it's got."
"Guess this is the place," Terra said with a grin. "You wanna do this the usual way?"
"Eh, Sure why not," Beastboy replied with a shrug before changing into a mouse and jumping onto her shoulder.
Terra, with Beastboy in tow, quickly darted into a side alley before the minuscule miscreant exited the building
Gizmo stormed out of the store, slamming the door as he went, stalking as determinately as his short stature would allow.
"Awww, poor t'ing, did the mean ol' store not have what you wanted?" Terra asked tauntingly.
"What kinda stupid crudcatchin' loser.... oh" Gizmo began as he turned to face the Titan, who had begun what beastboy termed 'the usual'.
Walls of stone erupted around the small man, encasing him in a prison of stone. As Terra walked over to the makeshift room a hole opened in the side large enough for the rodent to slip through, "Your turn BB" she cooed, sealing the hole behind him. The ensuing thuds and screams (not all of which were Gizmo's) gave hint to the degree of the now confined battle. While Terra merely leaned against the wall whistling merrily and receiving peculiar looks from passerby.
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"I swear, Sketch has got to be the dumbest person this side of Tamaran, I mean Geeze, have you ever looked at these tests?" I/O asked Cyborg.
"Naw, why what's wrong with them?" the metal mentor replied.
"He got a 23 on a true and false exam, the moron got less than half the statistical average. He couldn't have done worse if he'd just gone down the sheet writing 'true' on every line, and don't get me started on the scan-tron sheet tests.
"Whaddaya mean? what'd he mess up there?"
I/O held up a paper covered with black bubbles in the rough shape of a triceratops.
Cyborg's jaw fell, "I see your point"
"Strangely enough, that test was one of his better scoring ones"
"Good luck man," Cyborg said with a chuckle, "You gonna need it to teach that poor boy."
I/O's only response was a groan as he returned to his research.
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A rhythmic pounding along with muffled yelling had been going for a few minuted when Terra's comunit screeched. "Hellooo" Terra sang as she answered it.
"LEMME OUTTA HERE!" Beastboy wailed, "You can't just leave me here!" This declaration was punctuated by a groan from Gizmo, who presently hung from the changling's hand by his collar.
"Well, of course I'll let you out. I was just waiting for you to tell me. I mean I couldn't just risk letting Gizmo out if he won now could I?"
"Huh!? Waitaminute! You knew I wasn't gonna lose! I could never lose to him!" He exclaimed, throwing the unconscious villain at the wall between Terra and himself.
"Heehee, whatever you say," and with that she returned the walls to their former locations within the earth, ignoring the renewed glare he sent her. "Hmm, Comeon cutie, let's drop Tiny Tim off at prison and head home."
With a sigh, Beastboy picked up the prisoner and climbed aboard Terra's stone ride.
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"Sketch, I'm not sure what's got you so down, but I'm pretty sure there's a better way to get over it than trying to make a noose out of a swing." Belle said, trying to comfort the dejected artist.
"You're wrong, nothing could be worse! Nothing at all!" Sketch shouted at her. He was hanging upside down from the top bar of the swing set, a good six feet above the sandy ground.
"Oh come on, What happened? You get kicked out of art class or something?"
"WHAT!? Ahhhh!"
THUD!
"Oooooh, I am so gonna get you for that... all three of you, just as soon as I can feel my legs again." Sketch threatened from the dent in the ground where he landed.
"Sketch? Sketch, should I get the nurse?" Belle asked, genuinely concerned.
"Is Sketch hurt?" Digi asked from the sandbox where she was playing.
"I think I hit my head..."
"He's fine, nothing to hurt there"
"Shut up Belle!"
"Sketch is okay!" Digi sang cheerfully, "Big Brother's gonna be so happy. He's gotta teach Sketch to be smart" She explained turning to Belle.
"Is that what's got you so upset?" Belle asked Sketch, as she helped him to his feet.
"...yeah." he sighed.
"...Geeze, how bad could it be? Just deal with it you big baby. Who knows, it might actually work. I mean miracles do happen..."
"You're a real inspiration. You know that right?"
"Yup," Belle replied with a grin.
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"You scruff munchers won't keep me here! I'll get out and then you'll be sorry!" Gizmo yelled as the officers dropped him into his cell.
"Gizmo? That you little buddy?" a gruff voice behind him asked.
"Who wants ta know?"
"It's me Mammoth," the large feral man replied hopping down from the bunk where he was lounging. "Hey, You just got back from the outside, right? Did..."
"No," Gizmo interrupted him.
"But I didn't even ask yet."
"Look, everyone in this barfstain of a prison knows what you wanna ask and no. I didn't see her."
"Not even a glimpse?" Mammoth asked plaintively.
"No, and I don't really care if I do," Gizmo replied climbing up onto the free bottom bunk.
"Awww," Mammoth sighed.
"Bah, quit yer sniffling. You'll probably see her tomorrow when they let ya out anyway." Gizmo retorted, adding under his breath 'stupid hairball's a waste of good jail space.'
"Hope I do, hehehe," Mammoth laughed as he climbed up onto his cot. "G'night little buddy"
"Rassa frassa Titans" Was the only reply he got.
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They had been at it for almost two hours so far, and still I/O had yet to break through the veritable fortress of ignorance that was Sketch's mind.
"Okay, one more time, eight times eight is?" I/O asked testily.
"Sixty four!" Sketch shouted at him, "I know that one already!"
"So if eight times eight is sixty four then the square root of sixty four is...?" I/O prompted for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Um... thirty two?"
"NO YOU NINNY!" I/O screamed across the table. "How many times do I have to explain this? a number's square root is the number that when multiplied by itself is the first number. See?" He pointed at a diagram on the paper 'ABxB'
"And how many times do I have to tell you? We're doing Math not reading, and I have no idea what a bxb is anyway!" Sketch yelled back tearing the diagram to shreds.
"Um... are you two okay in here?" a concerned Starfire asked. The two were working in the dining room since Blackfire had decided it's be easier to make sure they worked there, but things were going a lot differently than planned. So differently in fact Beastboy had taken wagers on how long it would be before they started taking shots at each other.
"No, he's being stupid! Am not! Are too! Stop it!" the boys yelled in unison.
"Well, that was creepy," Raven commented from the hallway.
"And from her that's saying something," Cyborg managed to say before getting hit in the face with a telekineticly hurled magazine.
During this the boys managed to start rolling around on the ground trying to 'beat some sense' into each other.
"HEY! You two wanna start this all over from hour one?" Blackfire yelled as she picked each child up a foot off the ground and held them there. "No? Well back to work!"
"I don't think this is going to work out so well," Nightwing said as he thumbed through the small wad of money he had just won off Beastboy, "Boys will be boys after all."
"Then what do you recommend, Hmm?" Blackfire asked as she glared at him and hoisted the kids further away from each other. "And if you hit my leg again you little rat, I swear I'll throw you off this tower." she added giving Sketch a shake.
"I say we call it quits for today, Their next study day is Monday, right? So, this weekend we'll put together a curriculum for the studies. I think that'll make it a bit easier on them, and not to mention our ears. those two could put Kitten's yelling to shame." Robin suggested.
"...Fine," Blackfire relented, "But since these two didn't do as they were assigned, No desert for them."
"Aww," the boys chorused before glaring at each other again.
"How do they do that?" Cyborg asked rhetorically.
"Glorious!" Starfire cheered, "Now that that is settled, Everyone out! We need to get dinner started." and they knew enough to move, no one needed a 'gentle' push from a woman who could bench press a panzer.
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Author's section (Yeah yeah, the whole story's our section, but you know what I mean.)
James: Since you decided to give us your opinions, we feel it's only polite to reply to them.
Steve: And thanks for the shout outs peeps!
Raven002-
James: We actually have a character in planning who will be closely bound to Raven, we're not entirely certain when they'll be brought in, but we look forward to getting there, we maintain a rough outline of the story, but the chapters tend to get a bit out of hand I think. But we hope to have this character's introduction at least begun within the next few chapters (which hopefully will be a lot quicker to come than this one.)
Steve: Possibly, we wanna try to be original with this fic, yet still keep with some stuff readers can get into easily enough, but James is right when we say we have a Raven-like character in the making. What exactly that character will be however is up in the air, so the only plausible answer is to keep an eye out for when that character will come in I guess?
A Dragons Wings-
James: To be honest, I really like your character concept, it seems well thought out, especially the sound waves aspect. The character seems the kind who would easily integrate into a story in a good number of the typical roles. I won't commit us to using her, but you have my word we will keep her in consideration if we find occasion to use her. Thank you kindly for your input.
Steve: Thanx for the kind words & kudos to you for making an awesome character description. Sounds pretty cool and would be an interesting person to write about. While we do have a set cast of characters right now & are currently trying to concentrate more on them throughtout the fic, we're always open to new ideas that we feel would make the series much more entertaining. So if you got a character that you feel would be pretty good in our series, send us a description & we'll debate on if to use them or not. One warning though... under no circumstances are there to be any (shudder) " Mary Sue" characters, you know,"oh so perfectly in every way" (gag). As members of the Mary Sue Extermination Squad, we feel we must rid fanfic space of these parasitic brain-sucking demons. Other than that, feel free to get any reviews & ideas. Peace!!
James: As an added note, While we may have a set "primary cast" we have no idea how this story will end, so who knows, we may at a number of points have openings for "Pop in and save the day" reoccuring characters. And having ready made characters for use there does give us a bit of leniency to put the other heroes in those hopeless, world's gonna end in three seconds and no one can save it situations Movie writers love so much.
Softie247-
James: Glad ya liked it. I hope we didn't make you wait too long : ) As you know if you read the other comments, we do intend to add more characters, at least one, and perhaps more if the needs arise, But we intend to be careful not to put in so many that we have trouble giving them proper 'air time' so to speak.
Steve: Just like my compadre said, we're trying to be very professional on deciding who or what to add to our story,as well as when and where they'll appear. Anyway, thanx for the kind review, & please accept our humble apologies for taking so long to update. The need for work, money and proper pizza intake has made it quite difficult to create a steady writing schedule. We do, however, hope to have the other chapters up fairly quickly and without making them so long next time. Thanx
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James: Well, We'd like to thank you all for reading. We hope you enjoy it and will try to have our next chapter up quickly, This is James saying Good Fight and Good Night
Steve: You so totally stole that from Celebrity Deathmatch you know
James: Um... Over there! (runs off while Steve is distracted.)
Steve: huh...wha..HEY!!! Git back 'ere ya sneaky SOB ( gets ready to chase James,but stops in mid running motion) Oh yeah, thanx for readin', hope to have more chapters up, & hope to keep everyone entertained, Thanx and peace out ya'll ( pulls out hatchet and now chases his partner in crime around ) GIT BACK HERE YOU THIEF!!!!