Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own the Teen Titans, but by the time I'm through with them, they're going to be dead, so I don't see how much good this does….
()TLT()
Ten little Titans went out to dine;
One choked himself and then there were nine.
Nine little Titans stayed up very late;
One overslept and then there were eight.
Eight little Titans traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Titans were chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in half and then there were six.
Six little Titans playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Titans going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Titans going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Titans walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Titans sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Titan left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.
()TLT()
Starfire crept from her room, unsure if she was allowed to leave. She peered about, fully expecting to be attacked any second. It was early in the morning, and the killer could be about. It had taken Starfire many hours into the night, but she had finally come to terms with the fact that there was no other logical explanation for Raven's death other than one of the Titans was responsible. The Tamaranian crept around corners with fright obvious on her face, but her hands determinedly clenched into fists. She was not going to let herself die, not like this. The Princess of Tamaran was scared, but not going down.
Starfire entered the kitchen, half of her relieved it was empty, the other half getting even more worried. She headed towards the refrigerator, switching on the light as she went. She peered about through the blue mold in their fridge and spotted a yellow carton in the back. Her eyes brightened as she took it, a smile on her face and an idea in her head. She cracked the eggs on the counter and dumped the remains in a pan, humming as she placed the pan on the stove and turned the knob to its maximum heat. Last night she had been sure she would never be happy again, but this morning she realized that she had to be strong. She had to smile again so that the others would too.
Starfire quickly retreated to the living room where she began picking up. No one had touched the mess made by the food fight the previous night, and as the Titan who preferred things to be tidy, it was up to her to do something about it. She hesitated at the body in the room, which had also been left unmoved, but forced a brave look on her face as she picked the goth up and moved her to the couch. She quickly left her fallen friend and began clearing off the table. She moved it against the wall and looked remorsefully at the floor before getting on her hands and knees and picking up the food-strewn carpet. A familiar but broken object caught Starfire's eye amongst the mess. The model T's that Beast Boy had bought for the dinner last night! Starfire gently cradled the object that was lying near where Raven's body once was. It symbolized so much in the past twenty-four hours. Starfire looked around, now wondering where the rest of the T's had gotten to.
There was an explosion in the kitchen, and Starfire immediately shielded her eyes away from the bright light and unbearable heat, emitting a slight scream as she did so. She tried to look around her raised arms to see what happened. From the little she could glimpse, Starfire gathered that the eggs had caught on fire and promptly lit up the rest of the place. The princess took to the air and swiftly made her way to the kitchen, searching for any way to douse the raging flames. Seeing the sink, Starfire flew over to it. With her hand outstretched for it, the oven let out another burst of flame, swallowing her hand in its midst. She quickly retreated to find herself nearly surrounded by the flames she was trying to put out. They lashed at her as she backed into a corner, the flames leaving no room for escape. She screamed as the fire inched closer, ready to devour.
()TLT()
Robin tossed in bed, agitated that sleep still eluded him. He had slept no more than an hour, but after a nightmare involving Raven and her demonic powers, he was slightly less anxious to sleep again. The Boy Wonder turned again so he was facing the wall. Maybe, when all this was over, he would put a poster there. It looked so bare in comparison to the rest of his cluttered room….
There was an explosion. Robin sat for half a second in shock before jumping out of the bed and rushing to the door.
There was a terrifyingly familiar scream—Starfire's. Robin sprinted even faster than before.
Please not her… please don't take her from me….
Robin rushed into the room. The heat that met him at the door caused the Boy Wonder to take a step back from the flames. He shielded his face and tried to see something beyond his arms, looking for any sign of Starfire.
Her scream came from somewhere amidst the flames. Robin pinpointed her position in the kitchen, wrapped his cape around him for more protection against the lethal heat, and rushed forward into the fire.
Feeling as though his face would soon slide off him like water, Robin made it into the kitchen. His quick search for Starfire ended as he spotted her, curled into a ball in the air as high as she could get, the fire already touching her, compelled by the burning tofu she was flying over.
Robin knocked the tofu on the floor, ignoring the searing pain that was sent through his hand by doing so. Starfire glanced up as the flames dispersed around her, a more fearful look on her face than Robin had ever seen before. He jumped onto the counter, and Starfire flew into his arms, hiding her face and injured arm in his shoulder. Robin turned around to greet the flames that refused to let them pass. Already it was devouring the living room, fire seeming the only thing that went on. It had him trapped, and no amount of running through would get him and Starfire out of here unscathed.
Just as Robin considered giving Starfire his cape and telling her to go, a tidal wave of water swept over the kitchen and submerged it. Happy that the heat was gone, but slightly not so that the air went as well, Robin was pushed forwards by the current of the water and towards the living room. In the doorway several figures stood, the one in blue and black prominent from the rest, as this figure was the closest. With a sudden jolt upwards, Robin's shoulders were clutched in two threatening green claws, the large form of Beast Boy keeping a firm hold on him. The ancient creature set him down as Aqualad removed the water from the room in the opposite conjuring spell from which such a large amount appeared.
Starfire moved her face to see the others, moving her hand with it. Terra gave a slight gasp as she saw the burned wound, and Cyborg immediately left for his medical kit. Robin set her down and made sure she was stable before releasing her. The Tamaranian stood in shocked silence for several moments before suddenly shouting, "RAVEN!"
But even as she shouted it, Starfire knew. Only the ashes of her friend would remain.
There was a tense silence that no one dared to break. Whether it was an accident or an attempt had been made on Starfire's life only the killer could be sure. Meanwhile Starfire's strength waned, and Robin and Terra had just enough time to grab her arms before she fell forward in a crumpled heap.
"Starfire, it'll be okay," Terra tried to comfort as Cyborg returned to the room.
"Don't worry, Star," Robin said. No one could miss how hard and determined his voice was, and yet at the same time it seemed about to break. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise."
"I do not want anyone else to be hurt," Starfire murmured.
Cyborg gently lifted Starfire's injured arm and quickly began to disinfect and bandage it with expertise. Everyone watched in a shocked silence that another murder attempt had been made. At least they were all still alive.
"Where's Hot Spot?" Aqualad suddenly asked.
The fire demon was not among them. Starfire gave a small whimper as she concluded what must be. Cyborg timely finished Starfire's hand, grabbed his medical kit, and followed the rest as they raced out of the hallway. The Titans rushed to Hot Spot's room, Starfire managing to find some kind of joy as she took flight. The eight rushed around corners and skipped several stairs as they hastened to find what had become of their friend.
Bumblebee was the first to reach the room. She threw open the door when it did not do so of its own accord and ran inside, but stopped halfway through the room. The remaining seven followed and did the same.
Hot Spot lay unmoving on his bed, a black color. Everything around him was damp, soaked with a large amount of water. Speedy edged closer and touched his fiery friend, but his hand quickly retreated to his side.
"He's cold as ice," Speedy whispered.
"But that doesn't mean he's dead!" Cyborg said, pushing past the others and setting his medical bag down by Hot Spot. He opened it and took out a stethoscope, shoving it into his ears and on Hot Spot's chest. He moved it around to several places with determination on his face before defeat crossed over it. He didn't say a word as he put the stethoscope back in his bag and closed it with a deafening snap.
Starfire let out a fresh, new wave of tears.
Robin took the lead and faced the Titans. "Someone try and tell me that this is being done by a person who isn't standing before us. Someone try."
There was silence.
"We need to be wary of each person in this room. I thought I could trust all of you completely. It seems that in one of you my trust was mistaken."
Starfire's sobs became more prominent in the pause before Bumblebee spoke.
"Well, I think it's obvious who did it."
Everyone turned to stare at her. Starfire was thrown into such amazement at her words that her sobs temporarily ceased.
"I was sure none of my team would commit such a heinous act. It's obvious that I was wrong." She looked Aqualad straight in the eye. "I'm ashamed to say you were a part of Titans East."
Tears once more slid down Starfire's face as the accusation was made, and Aqualad looked outraged. "I did not kill Hot Spot! Or Raven!"
"Can you prove that?" Bumblebee asked.
"Prove that I did it!"
"Isn't the water around him proof enough?"
"Bumblebee! Aqualad!" Robin said in a commanding voice.
"Dude, relax." Beast Boy put an arm on Aqualad's shoulder. "Calm down."
"Bee, don't start accusing without any evidence," Cyborg said warningly.
"Are you that blind?" Bumblebee asked. "There's no other way it could've been done! They'd have had to use their hands! And even if they used pails or something, Hot Spot would've woken up! There's no way they could've done this in one trip. Only the commander of the water could've summoned such a large amount without waking him up."
There was a tense silence following this.
"Or maybe," Aqualad said icily, "an unknown alien strength."
Starfire's breathing stopped. She remained staring at the floor, but she could feel Aqualad's eyes upon her.
"What are you talking about?" Robin asked sharply.
"You don't know what this girl can do. She probably has some alien technique where she can 'command the water', and I bet she did it! You don't actually buy that innocent act, do you Robin?"
Robin's level of fury flew up the charts at an incredible rate. "HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HER OF MURDER!"
"Robin, calm down!" Cyborg held him back from attacking Aqualad. Robin flipped out of Cyborg's grasp and ran towards the water king.
Speedy jumped in front of Aqualad who backed away uncertainly, now not sure what a wise idea it was to voice his suspicions against the Tamaranian princess. "Robin!" Speedy fought Robin away. "Robin, look at yourself!"
Robin paused, his breathing heavy, his glare at Aqualad worthy of Satan himself.
"Robin, this is exactly what the killer wants!" Speedy said. "They want us to fight against each other! They want us to mistrust each other! With two of our friend's deaths, we're just unsure of ourselves. We don't want to trust anyone, and we want to accuse everything! You can't take what Aqualad said seriously."
"So you buy it too?" Aqualad asked incredulously. Speedy turned to him. "You believe that this girl is as innocent and naïve as she claims? She's been on earth for how long now? And she still claims not to know about half the things we talk about! You can't honestly believe that anyone who's lived here so long can truly not know about some of this stuff!"
"Aqualad, you've lived here your whole life, even if under the water," Terra said. "Starfire came here from another planet. They're two totally different concepts. You have to allow some space."
"But it's been so long! Anyone should've picked up on this stuff by now! She's probably so corrupted by this world and just won't show it! How much do you want to bet that she's a lying, murdering, heartless little whore?"
Robin was not the only one about to launch himself at Aqualad when a shrill voice cried out, "STOP! STOP IT!"
The room turned to see Starfire, tears falling freely from her face again, but a sad determination in her eyes. "Stop fighting! Stop it! Fighting amongst us will not solve anything! Let him think I have murdered Hot Spot and Raven, just stop fighting! I do not want anyone else getting hurt, especially because of me."
Everyone stared at the quiet tears falling down Starfire's face, each deciding whether or not to heed her request. Aqualad's insults were not lightly ignored when they knew that Starfire would soon be the only thing keeping them sane. After a moment Robin walked towards the princess—his princess—and wiped her tears away.
"Okay, Star. If that's what you want. We'll stop, at least for now."
Starfire nodded, and the tenseness everyone felt around them dispersed for the moment. Then there was a loud rumbling sound. They turned to stare at Cyborg.
Cyborg's face turned a slight pink. "Sorry, guys, but I'm starving. I'd eat some of Star's Tamaranian stuff at this point." Cyborg would never admit it out loud, especially in the presence of Robin and Starfire, but that was saying something. He had liked her food to an extent, but it certainly wasn't on his favorites list.
Starfire's face suddenly lit up through her tears. "I shall find a means to make some!" She hurriedly left the room.
Cyborg's face looked slightly embarrassed. "On second thought…"
"You're going to eat it." The fury in Robin's voice left no room for choice B.
"Wait a second…" Beast Boy's voice caused the others to turn in surprise. "It doesn't have to be one of us!"
"Beast Boy," Speedy said irritably, "we've already been through this."
"No, think about it! What if someone else was already in the tower? When we got home last night!"
"That's impossible! They'd have had to have broken… though my security…." Cyborg suddenly looked very unsure of himself.
"Exactly! Someone else could be in the tower!" Beast Boy said excitedly. He didn't want to blame it on one of the Titans, and to find someone else in the tower would be proof enough for him.
"Let's start looking," Terra said.
"I'll take my lab and garage. No one knows those two better than I do."
"I'll take the kitch—… maybe not." Beast Boy looked thoughtful. "I'll guess I'll just work on my room." He sighed. "That'll take a while."
"Just split and search," Robin ordered. "Keep your communicators on at all times."
They nodded and exited the room. Cyborg suddenly returned after a moment, biting his lip slightly. With a nod of determination, the half metal man walked over to the bed and pulled the sheet over Hot Spot.
"See ya, man," Cyborg murmured. He moved to head out the door, but something on the nearby desk caught his eye. He looked curiously at the broken model T, and then shook his head.
I was sure everyone left theirs in the living room last night, he thought as he left the room, shutting the door behind him. The fire would have destroyed them. I guess I was wrong.
()TLT()
The guest bedrooms, having only been occupied for one night, were not very difficult to search. Aqualad had finished a thorough search within five minutes. He stepped outside his door and leaned his back against it, releasing a slightly regretful sigh. Maybe he shouldn't have called Starfire a whore, but that didn't change the fact that he thought she did it.
The door next to him opened and Speedy walked out. The two stiffened at another person's presence, but relaxed in the slightest as they saw it was each other.
"What're you doing here?" Speedy asked, trying to keep the suspicion out of his voice.
"My room is right here," Aqualad answered testily. "Thinking I might be the killer?"
"Relax," Speedy said. "I don't know what to think. Any one of us could be the killer. You have to be on your guard if you want to live."
"I'm not the killer," Aqualad said flatly.
"I never said you were," Speedy said, "though you're getting awful defensive about it."
"You would too if you'd been saving people your whole life and were suddenly being accused of murder!"
"Look, just calm down. I didn't mean anything by it."
Aqualad seemed to calm a bit. "You already know my opinion, so who do you think is behind all this?"
"Honestly?" Speedy looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I think it's Terra."
"Terra?" Aqualad seemed surprised at the choice of person. "Why?"
"She knew too much. How did she know why Raven went first?"
"She just used her head," Aqualad said, rapping on Speedy's head. There was a hollow sound. "She used the brain you don't have."
"Hey!" Speedy fumed. "Well how do you explain that she protested to going to bed, huh?"
"She didn't want to sleep with a murderer on the loose," Aqualad said with a sarcastic shrug. "And aren't we supposed to be looking for one?"
"I guess," Speedy said. He looked around wearily. "This will take a while."
"Yeah. I'll see you around." Aqualad started walking to his left.
"Bye." Speedy walked to his right, going down the opposite side of the hallway, looking for the next room in which he was to search.
If only they had known that someone was listening.
()TLT()
Cyborg gently lifted up his mechanical baby, looking quickly underneath before carefully setting her back down. When she was back on all fours he examined every inch of her to make sure she wasn't scratched before moving on to something more trivial.
His eyes met the T-sub. That was going to be fun to search. Perhaps he'd put that off a little bit longer…. Seeing an unfamiliar stack of paint cans in the corner, Cyborg cautiously walked over to them. He readied his sonic cannon and aimed at the paint cans.
"Whoever's behind there better come out where I can see them before I start blastin'. You've got 'til three," Cyborg warned. "1… 2…!"
"Hey, Sparky."
"HOLY—!"
Bumblebee chastised her mechanical friend with a clicking of her tongue. She was presently standing in front of him, though seconds before had been watching his back. "C'mon, Sparky, you should be more on your guard. There's a killer somewhere in here and you're screwing around."
"I WAS ABOUT TO ABDUCT THE KILLER, THANK YOU!"
"Really?" Bumblebee said in slight interest. "Where is he?"
"Over there!" Cyborg again raised his sonic cannon and took several cautious steps forward. "THREE!"
He blasted the paint cans into nothing. When the smoke had cleared, a blank wall met their eyes.
"Nice job, Sparky. Destroying your own lab—it's ingenious."
Cyborg's temper was flaring as it was. "IF YOU CALL ME 'SPARKY' ONE MORE TIME—"
"I thought we'd gotten over this," Bumblebee said. "I'm gonna call you Sparky and there ain't nothing you can do about it. Now you got a long ways to go before you're finished in this place. You want a hand or not?"
"Not from you," Cyborg said stubbornly.
"I thought so." She immediately began rummaging through the lab.
"Wha—? Girl, what're you doing? Get out of there! You don't know what any of this stuff is!"
Bumblebee held up a mechanical part. "Cybertronic replicator. Its main use is for a metallic core where it replicates the hypertonic klypton in case of a ominent overload."
Cyborg's nose remained in the air as he struggled for words. "You just got lucky."
"Face it, Sparky, I know more about this than you do."
"DO NOT!"
"I do too."
"Oh yeah, then what's this?"
"A cybernetic heater."
"What about this?"
"A triple rectom initiator."
"And this?"
"The remains of a paint can which you so kindly blew up."
In the days to come, how the Titans would long for such conversations that were void of worry. Who knew more about mechanics would quickly become a trivial matter in their lethal game of tag.
()TLT()
Robin searched in his own room, though quite sure there wasn't a killer lurking under his bed. He rummaged through his closet a bit, rather surprised at a few mementos he found. Perhaps he should clean this out more often. Whenever he was deep into a case, everything else on his desk was unceremoniously tossed in here.
There were careful footsteps and Starfire's mournful humming outside the door. Robin glanced up, but the door was closed. There would be no glimpses of his beautiful princess for the moment. Robin turned his eyes away from the door Starfire lay beyond, but before he could return to the closet, his eyes fell on something else. There was a picture on the small table next to his bed. Robin couldn't help but smile back at the gorgeous redhead that was happily waving at him. This morning had scared him, and Robin wasn't frightened easily. He had been terrified that he would lose her forever. Without Starfire, life wouldn't go on.
How very correct he was.
()TLT()
As the Boy Wonder worried over the life of his alien lover, the changeling worried over his rock star crush. Terra was so pretty, and he was green. She made funny jokes, and he was known for his lame ones. She was so nice, and he had an evil beast lurking inside him. Terra was so perfect, and he was so far from it. How could Terra ever like him?
Beast Boy hadn't touched a single thing in his dark room. He stared around blankly, not really seeing the tornado watch surrounding him, taking note of the time. Had it really been an hour since the search began?
Beast Boy didn't notice the footsteps approaching his door until it was too late to hide. The door shot open, and the light from the hallway nearly blinded him. A figure walked through, seemingly surrounded by heavenly light, and Beast Boy looked into the angelic face of Terra.
"Hey," Terra said. "I just finished my room. Took me forever—a total train wreck in there." She glanced around. "Need a hand?"
"From you? Always." Beast Boy shook his head. "I mean, I can handle it, but if you really want to…."
Terra giggled, seeing full well through his tough guy act. "All right. Let's get this party started."
A party, however, would soon be the last definition of their lockdown in Titans Tower.
()TLT()
Robin collapsed in Cyborg's lab space on one of the couches in the room. They had other pieces of furniture aside from those blacked by the fire in the living room scattered about the tower. Cyborg, Robin guessed, as the metal man was sitting across from him, had been kind enough to move them into one room. Cyborg stared at him for a moment before speaking.
"So you didn't find anyone?"
Robin shook his head, thinking that obvious. Just to be sure, though, he added, "And you?"
"Nope. Only sign of life I saw that annoying little b—"
"Cyborg…" Robin warned.
"B—ee…"
"Hey, Sparky, that ain't nice. You don't hear me calling you a ba—"
"Bumblebee…" Robin cautioned.
"Don't 'Sparky' me!"
"I can if I want to, Sparky."
"Cyborg!"
"Sparky."
"Cyborg!"
"Sparky."
"Cyborg!"
"Sparky."
"You know dang well my name is Cyborg, and there's no 'Sparky' in that you stupid—"
"Sparky!"
Cyborg and Bumblebee stared at Robin.
"Er, sorry, Cyborg," Robin corrected. "Look, we need to stop fighting over a name. We've got bigger problems on our hands."
"Like a psychopathic KILLER!"
"BB," Cyborg greeted. "Terra."
"I take it none of you found anything either?" Bumblebee asked.
"Oh, we found loads of stuff," Terra said.
"Stuff I didn't even know I had!"
Cyborg stared in horror for several seconds before he was abruptly smacked.
"GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER!" Terra yelled.
"Who's in a gutter?" Speedy stretched as he walked in.
"No one…" Cybrog said, holding his cheek.
"Hey, where's Aqua and Star? I'm going to die if I don't eat soon," Beast Boy complained.
"Starfire's making dinner… in the training room." Robin looked slightly disapproving, but said nothing more.
"And Aqualad?"
Everyone looked at each other.
"Hasn't anyone seen him?" Bumblebee asked.
"I did once," Speedy said. "Right after we did our rooms. We talked for a bit and then split up. I haven't seen him since."
"What d'you mean 'split up'?" Beast Boy said.
"I mean he went one way and I went the other." Speedy looked at Beast Boy with a hint of anger on his face. "Are you accusing me of murder?"
"No." Not yet. "Just clarifying."
"DINNER!" was yelled from the next room over.
"Maybe he's just finishing up. Don't jump to conclusions," Robin said.
"Dude," Beast Boy said, stepping closer to Robin so he didn't have to speak as loud, "are you saying we should go eat Tamaranian food?"
"I'm saying that we shouldn't get worked up over this just yet."
"Friends," Starfire entered the room, "are you not coming?"
There was a beat of silence where they decided on how to answer her.
"Robin's right," Bumblebee said decisively, walking over to Starfire.
"C'mon, Star," Terra encouraged. "Show me where the food is."
"Hey, I'm hungry too!" Cyborg said, hurrying after the retreating girls.
Beast Boy looked uncertainly at the four as they left the room, but after a particularly obnoxious growl from his stomach, he darted after them. "Wait for me!"
Speedy started walking away, but paused as a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"You really don't know what happened to Aqualad?"
"I told you: the last time I saw him was after we cleaned our rooms." Speedy took Robin's hand off his shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry. As you said, we shouldn't jump to conclusions."
He left Robin alone in the room with a feeling of uneasiness the Boy Wonder was acutely aware of. Speedy had smiled, but something seemed hidden in that smile that put Robin on edge. Something isn't right.
()TLT()
They were ten minutes into the Tamaranian-filled dinner when Aqualad entered the room. Everyone looked highly relieved at this, for they hadn't needed to say it out loud to know everyone was worried he was dead. The king of the sea sat down at the empty place at the table and began eating. Everyone watched him, waiting for an explanation.
"Sorry," Aqualad said finally, now almost finished with his harkslopen. He seemed not to even notice the abominable taste of the food. "I was just taking a walk around the tower. You know, it really is quite peaceful here. I honestly think I could stay here forever. Well, I did want to go to one other place, but I'd get over it."
"Where?" Cyborg asked curiously.
"Aqualand," Aqualad said. "It's in Devon. Sort of reminded me of myself, you know? It's supposed to be a really great water theme park." He shrugged. "Guess I'll never get to go."
"Don't say that," Terra said sharply. "We'll find a way out of here before the psychotic murderer kills us all off."
"Which reminds me," Robin said, looking at each Titan in turn, "no one found anything? Not a single clue that could give reference to someone else being here?"
There was silence as the truth dawned upon them once more, with all hope that it was another person extinguished.
"Well," Speedy said quietly, "I guess it's one of us then. We'll just have to be careful around everyone. Be careful where you go, try not to be alone, and be careful what you say. Don't try to provoke any more murders."
Aqualad looked as though he had just suddenly remembered something as he set his fork down. He looked at Starfire. "I just wanted to say… I'm really sorry. I had no right to call you a whore; I was just caught up in the moment. This doesn't mean that I don't think you're responsible, I just think I could've gone about saying it differently."
Starfire smiled despite the fact that Aqualad still thought of her as a murderer. "You are thanked for apologizing. You are forgiven."
Aqualad nodded. "Just… try not to kill anyone else, okay, Star?"
Robin was only stopped from jumping Aqualad by Starfire's soothing voice. She seemed to understand, to be all right with what was going on.
"I have not been killing anyone, friend Aqualad, but I shall promise to never do so."
Aqualad gave a nod with which everyone could see was full of disbelief. "All right." He resumed his eating, but he suddenly made a strange face, as though he finally realized the flavor of the food. With a forced swallow and a sour face, Aqualad managed a smile. "Who made the food? Tastes great."
"Do you think?" Starfire said excitedly. "It was a favorite on my home planet of Tamaran. I myself used to eat it when Galfore would allow me the treat."
"Wait," Aqualad said, standing up, "you made this?"
"Yes," Starfire said, a hint on confusion appearing on her face.
Aqualad stepped aside and pushed in his chair. "I'm not eating this. It could be poisoned."
Robin stood up very sharply. Starfire rose next to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Robin, please sit down. If Aqualad does not wish to eat it then he does not have to." Her next words were spoken to the maverick. "There is more food behind the treadmill, if you are still hungry."
"No, I think I'm fine," Aqualad said. "You might have poisoned that too."
The hurt was hidden far behind Starfire's eyes.
"I'm going to bed," Aqualad said. "Goodnight everyone."
As he began to walk out, Robin spoke in a very strained voice. "Don't go alone. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
Aqualad looked at Robin. "Perhaps if I get to my room before anyone else leaves I'll make it there alive. I trust you'll ensure me that safety?"
"That pompous attitude of his is really starting to tick me off," Robin said when he was sure Aqualad was out of earshot.
"Robin, please do not be angry," Starfire soothed. "Aqualad is just confused, as we all are. He does not know what to think or whom to trust."
"Starfire, he's accusing you of murder. How can you just sit there like nothing's wrong?" Robin asked incredulously.
"Robin, you must understand. We are all merely afraid of what is to come. Do not hold it against him."
Robin stood there for a moment, his face slightly red with rage, before he turned away from them and stormed out of the room. Starfire stood uncertainly at the table for a moment more before quickly flying out after him.
"When we all get out of here," Terra said pointedly, "I declare myself maid of honor at their wedding."
"I'm the best man!" Beast Boy and Cyborg said simultaneously. "No, you're not! Yes, I am! NO, YOU'RE NOT!"
"Boys!" Bumblebee said loudly. They paused to look at her. "Leave the room or let me get out first."
"Bye."
Bumblebee glared at them before rising from the table. Terra and Speedy followed suit, nodding wordlessly to each other. This was going to be a loud and long argument, and if they remained, they would inevitably get pulled into it. The three left the room, and the moment they were out of sight, Cyborg and Beast Boy's yells of, "I WILL!" flowed freely through the tower.
()TLT()
Robin had been devoid of Starfire's company for only a few minutes now. The Tamaranian had stayed until he assured her he was calm, but he was far from it. Aqualad dared to accuse Starfire? She was as pure and innocent as she acted. The only one who might be corrupted around here was Aqualad himself! He had to be the killer, the insane one! Only someone who was screwed up in the head would accuse Starfire. Tomorrow, then, he would have someone watch Aqualad at all times. Beast Boy would be a good choice—he could disguise himself as something small and follow him. Aqualad—the nerve!
()TLT()
Beast Boy had just crept into his amazingly clean room. Terra had worked wonders. The room itself seemed to be brightened because Terra's presence had once been in it. His thoughts turned around to Aqualad and the possibility of another murder. Aqualad was acting suspicious, but Beast Boy understood where Starfire was coming from. He was just confused and didn't know whom to blame—like Beast Boy. He wasn't sure who was responsible. He still had his suspicions against Bumblebee, but now he realized he didn't have much evidence against her. Something inside him just told him that she was bad news. Somehow he just knew that Bumblebee was the killer.
()TLT()
Bumblebee entered her room soon after Beast Boy found his, her heart heavy. She had been trying to hide it throughout the day, but on the inside she felt like dirt. She had thought the murderer was Hot Spot, and now he was dead. How low of her, for her thoughts of him when he died to be accusations of murder. Bumblebee sat on her bed with tears threatening. She remained motionless for a moment before slamming her fist down on the sheets. She was such a terrible leader! She didn't even have enough faith to believe in her teammates! First she accused Hot Spot, and now he was dead. Now she thought it was Aqualad. Really, though, how could it not be? The amount of water that was surrounding Hot Spot couldn't have been done in multiple trips without him waking up. Aqualad had to have done it; she couldn't see any way around it. Perhaps there would be more light on the situation in the morning.
()TLT()
Starfire collapsed on her bed as she entered her room. Robin had said he was all right, but somehow she was less inclined to believe him. She had known Robin for a long time, and his temper rarely dispersed so easily. She was flattered, however, that he would get so protective of her. It made a warm feeling flow through her that he cared. She just wished he would be more open-minded and realize that Aqualad was trying to comfort himself. They did not know who was behind all this murder, and truthfully, Starfire was scared to find out. She understood that it was one of them, and to discover which of her friends was a murderer would devastate her. If it would save the rest of her friends, though, she was ready.
()TLT()
Terra was now convinced Speedy was the murderer. Not only had he been exceedingly quiet when Raven was murdered, but he wasn't too talkative today either. Then when Beast Boy and Cyborg started arguing, he didn't say he wanted to be the best man. Terra knew why. It was because he knew that they wouldn't live to get married, unless they held a ceremony in the next few days. Heck, one of them might be dead before dawn! Terra punched the desk, smashing it in two. Once she convinced the others that Speedy was behind everything, he would resemble nothing more than her broken desk.
()TLT()
Speedy went straight to his window and tried to open it again. He had to give Cyborg credit—his defensive system was ingenious and unbreakable. All Speedy wanted to know was how Terra had hacked into it. He knew it was her, he just knew it! She was too outgoing for two of the Titans having just been murdered. Then, when Starfire had announced dinner, she was too anxious to get away. It's because she didn't want to be accused of murder. She was afraid she would give herself away. Too late—her secret was out.
()TLT()
It was highly unlikely, Cyborg decided, that Raven and Hot Spot had both committed suicide. He believed that no one outside the Tower could've done it, and with the thorough search everyone had helped with that day, he didn't think anyone else was in it. That meant that one Titan was killing another or they were committing suicide. He seemed to be the only person to believe that even as a possibility now, though. Had anyone else thought of it? Cyborg shook his head. If it weren't for his stubbornness, he'd be like the others and believe it was one of their own. He didn't want to believe it, but should there be another murder in the morning, he was going to be hard put finding evidence for his theory.
()TLT()
Aqualad knew the truth. He knew it was Starfire, and he knew he was safe. If he was dead in the morning, everyone else would know it was her. Starfire wouldn't risk that, now would she? No, no, she wouldn't because she was smarter than she let on. That meant he was safe, probably the last one she would try and murder. The murderous alien—he knew her secret, even if the others didn't believe him. It was time someone exposed that girl for who she really was, and he was just the guy to do it. In the morning, when Starfire had killed someone else, he would find out how she did it and pin it against her. He would show everyone that he was right, and then they would come crawling back for forgiveness. Robin would be devastated the most, he figured, and that would make it hard for Boy Wonder to admit he was wrong, but in time he would see. Deep inside her heart, Starfire was a ruthless murderer who cared nothing for those she shared Titans Tower with.
A/N:
Okay, some of you were probably confused with the mini Ts. Well, I was rereading a section in AC's version and I remembered that I hadn't done anything with that, so I went back and reposted chapter 1. Actually, I reposted it several times because I changed the order they were going to die… -snicker- Wonder what that means. Anywayz….
Oh yes! Everyone: I LIED. I am so terrible. You all probably don't believe me by this point, but I AM A BB/RAE SHIPPER. But there's going to be slight BB/Ter in this one. I don't think I'll mention Terra's feelings on him, just to keep it light, but BB's crush on Terra will most likely be brought up again. x.x I'm such a bad BB/Rae shipper. I keep putting BB with Terra. Meh, just kill me already! I'm a BB/Rae shipper, and I'd be upset if BB ended up with Terra (if she somehow came back), but I'd be okay with the pairing. That's why I don't have too many qualms with BB/Terra fics. Now, Rob/Star is a different story. If you mess with Rob/Star pairing, we're going to have some issues.
And more A/N from me…. Aqualad was a very difficult character to write this chapter. He was, under normal circumstances, highly OOC. I realize this. I also needed either him or Speedy to accuse Starfire. It seems more of a thing Speedy would do, but I needed Aqualad to be the one because of something else (next chapter it might make more sense). So my excuse for Aqualad's strange but necessary behavior is that he's already losing his head with two murders (and I think that he and Hot Spot could've been kinda close) and, as everyone has said, is trying to find a way to comfort himself. Me and my pathetic excuses.
Oh, technical question you smarter-than-me people out there. When you say "Titans Tower", do you say it as I did: "Titans Tower" or "Titan's Tower"? So stupid, I know, but it's quacked me now. (Don't mind the strange saying.)
To my loverly reviewers, thank you SO much for reviewing, but there's no way heaven or hell that I'm replying to fifteen reviews. If there are ever any questions or comments that particularly spark my interest, I'll mention them, but for the most part, you're just going to be thanked immensely! I LOVE YOU! xD
This chapter was a little longer, hope you don't mind. I know roughly nothing of next chapter because everything that would help bring about the death of the next character has already been put in here. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out who's going next, but would you like a chance to guess? I'll give out cookies.
Thank you for reading everyone! Or once more did you not bother? Don't forget to review, okay? And don't worry when it takes forever for me to update. This is going to become a usual habit.
Oh, and I already like prewritten fics better. I feel like I have a deadline with these "play-it-by-ear" things, and it's driving me nuts. I spent so many hours on my fic just to finish it today it's not funny. So do not expect any more of these PIBE fics. SCORE, THAT SPELLED SOMETHING!
((For those who don't get my stupid funnyness, PIBE is Play It By Ear.))
Riles