The Young and the Hopeless

Chapter 6: Wear and Tear

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It seemed as if the criminals that inhabited Jump City were taking the night off. The streets were still and quiet; shops closed for the night and barred shut. Even in all the silent calm, the soft wind was still enough to mask the sound of wings against the night sky. An eagle might have been an odd sight for any city, but the green one flying overhead the tall buildings was a welcome sight.

Since the attack on the mall, the Titans hadn't had a decent night's sleep. They'd taken to shifts, alternating patrols throughout the day and night, and the normal sleep patterns had been disrupted. Which Gar wouldn't have minded too much if he were still getting his daily allotment of sex, of course, that was not to be the case.

Robin, for all his love struck infatuation, or, maybe because of it, had purposefully separated all the couples. Not that it had mattered before, but Raven had mumbled something about not taking any chances. And so the Boy Wonder was off with Gar's lovely half demon of a girlfriend and the changeling was stuck with Starfire. Sweeping down to get a closer look at a strange shadow, Gar decided it worked well that way. In the heat of battle they were protecting each other as colleagues, nothing more, and their personalities meshed well. Gar had a tendency to wear on Robin's nerves in more serious times and Star was known to annoy Raven with her endless chatter.

The fact that he'd analyzed the situation so well scared him shitless. It also meant that he was in desperate need of some pizza and a long nap. Maybe even a round of video games or a campy horror flick.

Catching sight of his partner up ahead, the green glow of her hands faintly illuminating her outline, the green eagle slowed and landed beside her atop a stone gargoyle. Changing back, his teeth flashing through a tired smile, he shrugged and nodded towards the Tower.

"Did you not see anything of suspicion, friend?"

"No, a trash can was casting a strange shadow and I could have sworn I saw Jinx but…"

"It was nothing?"

"Yeah."

Even with Cyborg stationed at the Tower, taking small naps in between monitoring the city and their patrols, they hadn't turned anything up of importance. No attempted muggings, kidnappings, bank robberies, or plans for world domination. Perhaps the criminals knew that the Teen Titan's had upped their patrols and were dead set on revenge. Or perhaps something else had got them scared. He didn't want to think about it. All he wanted to think about was Raven's soft skin and her warm bed. If Robin didn't call of this insane schedule soon, the green teen was going to have to do something; something much more drastic than beating all of Bird Boy's top scores.

Giving him a one armed squeeze, the alien princess nodded solemnly before taking up into the air. Cupping her hands around her mouth, Gar could only smile before he transformed.

"If your eyes are to be believed, I must agree with you, friend. This has not been, how do you say, a park walk?"

Hell, Star and Bat's boy weren't even having sex yet. A "park walk" indeed.

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It had been three days since he'd kissed her on the roof. Two and a half days since he'd given her a quick kiss in the hallway. A day since he'd grasped her hand and gave it a quick squeeze before she headed off to patrol. And twelve hours since they'd said two words to each other. Starfire, Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran, Kory Anders per her alias on Earth, wanted to knock her Earth boy of just as many names against the nearest wall and have her way with him.

Whatever that meant, although Raven had promised it would be most enjoyable.

At least it would quiet for a couple of hours. Both Robin and Raven had left just moments before she and Beast Boy had arrived back at the Tower and Cyborg, having finished his nap and lunch, was dutifully hunched over the command center. Even though she was hungry, not even mustard could tempt Star from straying off her path. A long hot shower, grab one of Robin's white "tee shirts," and then sink onto his bed. She hadn't touched him in twenty four hours and some odd minutes but she could at least go to sleep smelling him.

Jump City had been as silent as a world after the Citadel had finished laying waste to it. It was beginning to wear on the young woman. The lack of activity had caused her to lift a shop keeper off the ground, sure he was robbing the place, and almost made her blow up a light post that had been "looking at her in the wrong way." At least Beast Boy was keeping her in an upbeat mood. As much as she missed Robin, he was right in how'd he paired them up. Were she paired with her Boy of Wonder, Koriand'r was sure she would have interrupted patrol to force him into the nearest alley. If she'd been with Raven, they'd probably be silently feuding. Yet thinking of how wonderful her boy was only made her want him more.

Shutting her eyes tightly, the young woman nuzzled into the firm mattress and wrapped the dark sheets tightly around her lithe frame. Even though her mind was bombarded by images of her younger self and Tamaran, of the Warlords and her training, and of the Psions she fell to sleep surprisingly quickly. The image of Komand'r was etched firmly in the darkness behind her eyes and she fought to dispel it from her dreams.

"X'Hal…it can't be…"

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"No, no, you're not going to get me in trouble. We'll say it's business, all right? On that note, you got anything for me?"

Vic Stone, the Teen Titan known as Cyborg, was curiously, unusually, relaxed. His cybernetic legs were crossed and propped up on an empty space on the command center and his swivel chair, the plump cushions there more for appearance than comfort, was leaned as far back as it could comfortably go. Chuckling into the mouthpiece of the phone, eyes keenly aware of the screen in front of him, Vic threw a quick glance over his shoulder.

"No, BB and Star just got back in from patrol. They're out like lights…I was even surprised. Usually they go for the kitchen first, it's been a rough week. Robin's even showing some fatigue and he's usually the last to let up."

He hadn't been out of the Tower for the last couple of days, a rarity, but it had been a needed sacrifice. It was blatantly obvious that he couldn't go on patrol by himself and it made no sense for him to tag along. Beast Boy and Star could both fly, Robin had his gadgets, and Raven could levitate. His lack of "upward mobility" made him cumbersome when not with the whole group. Considering the patrols were now all about stealth and trying to get a one up, the T-car would have just gotten in the way. They'd needed someone back at the Tower anyway who could relay calls if need be and research. Because their fearless leader had been too tired to do much above and beyond, the duty had fallen in his lap.

"Boring me? Sarah, you've got to be joking. This is the most interesting thing I've done lately. Seriously though, has S.T.A.R. matched up those samples yet?"

Robin had been adamantly against going to the League for help, even if it would have been their smartest bet. They had, even though he was loathe to admit, better computers and better technology. The police had found samples of hair while combing through the destruction and decided it was unlikely it belonged to any of the victims. Vic's first reaction had been to go to the League with what they had and have them cross reference it. Having allowed Robin to have his way, he'd gone to the next best place: Dr. Sarah Charles and S.T.A.R. labs. It seemed futile, what with all the video footage, but it was something they'd unanimously agreed on.

"Break's over? Girl, you're killing me. Fine, fine, and when you get those results, send them over…better yet, call. Yeah, yeah, I'll go stretch in a bit…uh huh, later."

Straightening up in his chair, Vic groaned and tore his attention away from the placid activity on the screen. Beast Boy was rummaging around in the kitchen, his body half way in the refrigerator, and he grinned at the sight. Apparently Raven and her green boy toy had been going at it like rabbits, because the obvious lack of sex was showing on both of them. Robin might be generally stoic, but he and Star looked just as bad, and Cyborg was surprised she hadn't jumped him all ready. Hearing a noise, his head whipping around to look down the hall, Vic made a noise again and it wasn't from stretching.

Star was standing in the hall clad in what looked to be one of Robin's white t-shirts that he occasionally wore for light training. With her long legs and knock out body, it looked as though it barely covered her. Vic was sure BB was drooling by now and knew that if he didn't put his eyes back in his head, Robin would kill him. Slowly and painfully. Just before he could open his mouth and remind the alien princess what appropriate attire meant, she was rushing towards the view screen demanding to see the mall footage again.

"Mmph…clothes…gck…hot…why'dyawanttoseethat?"

"BB, chill, remember Raven…of Azarath…your girlfriend? Here, girl, sit down and I'll pull it up."

Ignoring the fact that a very attractive, very squirmy, very scantily clad young woman was sitting to his left and that Gar was attempting to stuff his mouth full of food while pretending not to be affected by the sight, Cyborg quickly pulled up the demanded video and settled back as Starfire watched it with extra scrutiny. Startled when she stabbed her finger at the image of her sister, worried that she'd break the screen with her superhuman strength, Vic quickly backtracked and paused.

"See?"

"See what, Star?"

"Mmph?"

"That…that right there."

The boys exchanged glances and the changeling finally managed to swallow whatever vile concoction he had been chewing on.

"All I see is that stupid bitch blowing up the mall, Star."

"No, no, no…right there. See her leg? Komand'r was unable to fly when she was born…some deformity…it was never explained. The Psions captured us…and they ran their tests…something happened. It was what gave us our starbolts, I think. Anyway, shortly after that, she could suddenly fly."

Her green eyes were wide and her mouth was turned into a deep frown by their blank expressions. Sighing loudly, the Tamaranean rolled her eyes and tried to elaborate.

"One of the machines gave us identical scars. My scar is on the back of my neck and her scar is on the back of her leg. Usually one cannot see it but…here…"

And it was suddenly frighteningly apparent to everyone in the room what Starfire was pointing at. With all the digital enhancements, the picture was crystal clear and Blackfire's leg simply showed unblemished, creamy skin.

"But…why?"

"I had quite an unsettling dream and when I woke up I remembered our last fight. She made a very low class gesture and I saw her scar. Then I remembered what was missing from the video."

"No, not that why…that's a good why, though; but…why would they…?"

Vic shook his head, refusing to listen. It couldn't be anyone but Blackfire. All images they'd cross referenced, every scan they'd done, everything pointed to the wayward Tamaranean. His technology might not have been the most sophisticated, but it always came through. The phone rang and he grinned triumphantly; Sarah was going to prove his mistaken red haired friend wrong. Image software might smooth and refine, might have taken out the scar if it had perceived it as noise. DNA didn't lie, S.T.A.R. lab's techs didn't lie.

The soft voice on the other end of the line was soon forgotten as a red flash lit up the vid screen. It continued to pulse, soon the alarm began reverberating through the entire tower. Mumbling a quick goodbye and slamming the phone back in its cradle, Cyborg didn't even have to tell the other two to move it. Robin's face popped up even as he was heading for the door, answering over his shoulder even though he couldn't hear the boy's voice over the alarm.

"It's not…her…"

"I know, man…I know."

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(Not So) Quick Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, it just sort of came to me – I really wasn't expecting it to turn out this way. I wasn't planning on writing for BB and Star, but, they wouldn't leave me alone. I have been neglecting Cyborg though and he seemed like the perfect voice to end it with. Dr. Sarah is from the comic and I figured since S.T.A.R. has got its hands in everything, they were a nice fit. The plot thickens…dun dun dun. Though, I promise you it's not Slade. Eck. Just keep in mind I started writing this before the whole "baby momma drama" that was Raven being the gateway and Slade being brought back to life, etc. So, I suppose, in that way it'll be a little AU. For our purposes Slade and Terra are dead and gone…and are staying that way. Comment lots and tell me how you think it's going so far – you know the drill. I might try to whip up another chapter later today, but, who knows?