Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or anything else in this story
I am slightly confused, according to my hits chart, more people read the last chapter than anyother chapter, yet only three people reviewed, and some of the regulars didn't review, please relieve my fears of losing my regular reviewers by reviewing this chapter. (I also respond to OveractiveMind's review at the bottom of this chapter)
I will also say again, updates every Saturday
Chapter looks really long, but I have long responses
Anyways, this chapter is a key set up chapter, a lot will happen next chapter, secrets and mysteries will begin to be solved, so read this and be patient for Saturday
PLEASE REVIEW
TITAN'S TOWER
Darkness was on the ground, she had backed up three feet from the object in front of her. Her heart was beating very rapidly, because what was in front of her was her mother's uniform, ripped from the front. Not a small rip, a deliberate rip which would reveal everything. "What the hell is this?" Darkness thought, a little sickened at what she was looking at. "Did this happen in battle? No way, villains don't grab like that, not the Titans villains," Darkness dismissed the idea of it being a result from a battle because she had skimmed through the articles and no villain ever got close to Raven in battle. Except Slade, but never in a situation like that, the other Titans were always there. "Could Mom and Dad, was this a result of them having-," the thought sickened Darkness. "But they aren't that physical, I mean my room was next to them, my bed next to the wall and I never recall hearing noises once," Darkness thought, she didn't believe her father could grab her mother like that, they were too tender. "Then what the hell happened!" she continued to scream in her head. "I will tell Robin during practice, then he can help me figure this out," Darkness thought as she stared with disgust at the ripped article of clothing. Afraid of even touching it.
NORTH SIDE SLUMS
Julie unlocked the door and tried to open it, it was stuck. She pushed harder and stumbled through the door into the tiny apartment. Her mother was smoking a cigarette and glared at her daughter. "How's my little bitch today?" she said in a fake affectionate voice, a baby was in her arms.
"How's Mary?" asked Julie as she walked over to get the baby.
"She is fine, but she will be running out of food soon," Julie's mother answered as she gladly handed the baby over.
"How much food does she have?" Julie asked her mother.
"Two days, but if we ration, I could make it last five," the mother said as she grabbed a beer from the fridge.
"No rationing, this baby will be raised healthy, no rationing, I will get money soon," Julie said sternly.
"From what? Even if you get a job they won't pay you right away," the mother said with a laugh, she didn't care about the baby or her daughter, or anything, she just paid rent from her paycheck and bought her cigarettes and beer, not even feeding her daughter.
"I have a friend who can help," Julie said quietly as she rocked to baby in her arms.
"The one who is feeding you? Does he know anything about your past? Does he know about me? Does he know where you live? Does he even know about Mary?" the mother hissed.
"No, he doesn't need to," Julie said sternly.
"Oh my God, I know where you get your food and money from!" the mother said with a very evil smile on her face.
"Where?" Julie asked, she hated her mother and her mother's games.
"You're a whore aren't you, just like all those other poor girls in this street!" the mother accused.
"How could you accuse your daughter of that? You know I wouldn't, then again, you don't really give a damn, to hell with you!" Julie yelled in rage as tears swelled in her eyes, she took the baby to her small room and slammed the door.
Her mother just sat there with a smile and laughed.
WATCHTOWER
If Beast Boy thought having Raven admit she missed Christine would make things better, he was wrong. Raven had fallen in a depression, however, she didn't change to her children, she was only different to everyone else, but never her children, she loved them too much.
Raven woke up and got out of bed early. She didn't disturb Beast Boy who was sleeping next to her, Raven went to the kitchen, made some herbal tea and sat at the table, reading a book and drinking the tea.
Thirty minutes latter, Beast Boy entered with a yawn, "Hey Raven," he said sleepily.
"Hello," Raven responded in monotone as she continued reading, not even glancing at her husband.
Beast Boy sighed, "I thought we agreed I would stop my stupid jokes if you stopped your monotone, I mean you can express your emotions, why do you still talk in that dark voice. You have a beautiful voice," Beast Boy said to her.
"I can speak in whatever way I want," Raven said as she finished her tea and went to her room to shower. After the shower, she dressed, went to Beast Boy who was putting away his dishes and she said, "Your turn to deal with the kids today, they have been missing you," Raven said, still in monotone as she began leaving the apartment.
"Alright, enjoy yourself, try to have fun," Beast Boy said with a smile as Raven left without acknowledging the little joke. Beast Boy hurt just as much as Raven but he knew he had to be strong because he was the man, and he had to keep his head up or else his family and life would fall apart. "I have to be the rock that holds this family together," Beast Boy thought as he put the final dish away.
Raven left the apartment and knocked on her neighbor's door. The door opened and Starfire opened it and smiled with glee when she saw it was Raven.
"Oh good morning friend Raven!" she said quickly.
"Good morning Star," Raven replied quietly, "What are we going to do today? I mean I don't want to leave the kids," Raven said.
"They will be fine, our husbands will take care of them, you see, you haven't left your apartment for a long time and the big JL dinner is tonight and I think you and I must shop for it!" Starfire said excitedly.
"I already have a dress," Raven said, not wanting to leave the Watchtower, let alone her apartment.
"You have worn that dress for the passed ten years! You must buy something new this time!" Star said to her close friend and confident.
"Alright, let's go," Raven said, not excited, actually, she was very upset at leaving the Watchtower.
"Excellent, we will go shopping in New York!" Star explained.
DINNER
WATCHTOWER
Raven had bought another simple, black dress; she just followed Star, didn't buy anything else, didn't even make conversation with her friend and returned to the sanctuary of her apartment right when they got back.
She dressed and left with Beast Boy who was wearing a suit. "Ready?" he asked as they were about to enter the large ballroom in the watchtower where the dinner was taking place. The ballroom was filled with hundreds of heroes; some in new uniforms, but most in suits and dresses, a lot of the guests were wearing their masks and at the main table with a microphone sat Superman and the original Justice League members, except Bruce Wayne.
"I don't want to be here," Raven replied coldly.
The dinner went smoothly until someone said, "I can only imagine what you're going through."
Raven snapped at the comment, she stared at the hero and growled, "You have no idea, you have no idea about how much of a failure I now view myself as. I drove off my daughter, my eldest child, simply because of mistakes I made and events she never could control. You have no idea!" Raven said as she stormed out of the room. Several light bulbs blew up, purposely. Beast Boy slowly followed, while the other guests watched in shock and how quickly she started yelling and at her outburst.
"Friend Raven is really depressed?" observed Starfire sadly.
"That she is, that she is," Batman nodded, agreeing with his wife.
APARTMENT
WATCHTOWER
Raven entered the apartment and rushed to her room.
Beast Boy followed, and entered the dimly lit bedroom, "What is wrong Raven?" he asked her.
"I can't take it, she is there, we should get her, but she won't take us, she won't take us," Raven said quietly as she sat on the bed, falling into a deeper depression than she was in before.
EAST SIDE
JUMP CITY
3:00am
"What are you doing so early in the morning?" Guardian asked Julie, he noticed her as he was returning to the tower from his patrol.
The exhausted, and tired girl responded, "Its three am and I really wish I was in bed, but I got a baby in my head, ran out of money, so now I am looking for a night shift," she answered sleepily.
"This is very dangerous, considering how many times I have saved you, you shouldn't be out here," Guardian replied. He was curious on who the baby was but didn't ask, it wasn't his business.
"You see, the baby, Mary, my, my sister, is three months, and she was born prematurely, so I make sure she gets all the food she needs, no rations, my mother doesn't do anything, so that is why I must get a job," explained Julie.
"Try tomorrow to get a job," Guardian suggested.
"I only have two days, no one day before the baby runs out of proper food! I can't wait for a paycheck," Julie said shaking her head in a negative to the suggestion.
"Okay, here is forty dollars, take it, get food, and then get a job tomorrow, during the day, not during these hours," Guardian said as he handed her the money.
"Bless you, I will pay you back once I get a job," Julie said with a smile.
"Good, now where do you live, let me give you a ride, it is too dangerous," Guardian told her.
"The North Side slums," Julie said.
Guardian grunted in reply and flew her to her neighborhood. As they waved goodbye, they didn't realize they were being watched by not only Fireteen, but also by one of Boss Isaac's boys.
The thug picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.
BOSS ISAAC'S HEADQUARTERS
NORTH SIDE SLUMS
"Better be useful Phil," Isaac said as he answered the phone.
"Alright, good work," Isaac said after the reply.
"No don't do anything, let me talk to the main boss," Isaac said as he hung up the phone. He dialed a number and after a few minutes got a reply.
"Yeah, Mayor Hartwell, the girl and Guardian have a connection, want my boys to deal with her?" he got right to the point, Isaac knew Hartwell was a very busy man.
The reply was simple, "Don't do a thing, I am sending the specialist to deal with this," the mayor responded, then he hung up.
Isaac dialed the thug's number again and said with a grin, "Don't do anything, the specialist is coming to deal with this issue."
The thug smiled too, "This will be fun," he thought.
TITANS TOWER
Fireteen entered the tower even more disgruntled and jealous than ever, "Who is that girl, what does she have that I don't?" she thought.
As Fireteen walked to her room she was suddenly confronted by a shadow. "Why are you following me?" Guardian asked her.
"Just wanted to see what the hell you did on your patrols, that's all," Fireteen responded.
"Now you saw, never do it again. You should get some sleep, the first combat practice is tomorrow," Guardian said, still not convinced with the answer.
Fireteen nodded and said, "Good night," as she walked to her room.
Guardian responded with a grunt, that's how he usually responded when he was angry.
AFTERNOON TRAINING SESSION
TITANS TOWER
"Why aren't you trying?" Guardian yelled after he pinned Fireteen to the ground for the fifth straight time.
"I kind of enjoy you being on top of me like this," she responded with a grin. She had finally mastered her powers and was now getting hand to hand combat training from Guardian. Darkness had also gained enough muscle and was in the other side of the gym working hard with Robin.
"Well, I was going easy on you, so now I guess I should show you what will happen if you don't care about your training," Guardian said as he got into his attack position.
"Hopefully he tackles me hard, I love his body against mine like that," Fireteen thought as she got into her attack position.
Guardian rushed forward but didn't tackle her; he punched her right in the cheek. Fireteen staggered back from the shock of the blow. "Why the hell did you punch me for!" she yelled in anger as she held her cheek which was stinging, it would be a bad bruise.
"Sorry that the criminals and thugs won't be always trying to wrestle with you, they will throw fists and kick at you, so now are you ready to actually learn something?" Guardian responded.
"Alright," grumbled Fireteen as she began to actually learn from Guardian.
On the other side of the gym, Robin and Darkness were busy with the training. "Good job Darkness," Robin said as he blocked a very strong punch from Darkness.
"How is that good? You blocked it," Darkness grunted as she threw a kick at her partner.
"Believe me, I barely dogged that and I don't think any of those bosses' thugs could have handled that," Robin said as he blocked the kick.
"Alright, so I see how bad I am, lets have a real fight," Darkness said as she backed up to get into a fighting stance. They had been training for two hours and were very tired.
"Okay, I won't be going easy on you," Robin said as he too backed up to get into his own stance.
"Alright, ready?" Darkness asked.
"Let's do it," Robin said as he charged forward. Darkness through a punch right away, but Robin ducked and kicked her legs knocking Darkness down.
"Wow, that was quick," Darkness said as she got up from the ground. She smirked at Robin who helped her up with his own smile.
"Yeah, but I know the same thing would happen to me if powers were allowed," Robin said as he grabbed a bottle of water. Him and Darkness sat at a bench to take a break when Robin decided to confess something to her. "I don't think this team is working out well," he told his best friend.
"Why do you say that?" Darkness asked, not understanding why Robin felt the team wasn't doing well.
"Look at Guardian, he rarely is at the Tower, which is okay, but he is very out of it, he mumbles and growls at you, snaps at me, and yells at Fireteen," Robin said to her.
"Yells at Fireteen?" Darkness asked, she hadn't seen Guardian ever talk to Fireteen.
"You didn't hear? Guardian found out he was being followed and yelled at her for several minutes, then after breakfast, I guess you were in the shower, he yelled at her again," Robin explained.
"I told her he was a cold bastard, yet she still is all over him," Darkness said pointing at Fireteen smiling like a school girl as she trained with Guardian, despite the big bruise forming on her cheek.
"And you are also not helping the equation," Robin added quietly.
"And how is that?" Darkness asked, slightly upset at what Robin was saying.
"You're like Guardian except less emotional, I really don't know if this team will ever work! I mean everyone has a grudge on someone!" Robin said in anger.
"Everyone except you, this team will work because you will keep us together, everyone likes you on the team, and you don't have a bad relationship with anyone. Since you're the anchor, we can't sink or fail," Darkness explained.
"Thanks a lot, that means a lot to me," Robin said as he took a sip of water.
"But Robin, I have to show you something latter, its about our parents, I found something and it disturbs me to the core and I don't know what to do," Darkness said anxiously.
"Sure I will help you with what this is," Robin said with concern, he had never seen Darkness so nervous before.
MAYOR HARTWELL'S OFFICE
"Your assignment, get the girl, torture her, do what ever you want with her, but make sure you kill her when Guardian arrives. Make sure the death is nice and slow too, and then you know how to kill emotional superheroes," Mayor Hartwell told the man known as the Specialist.
"Alright, this should be fun and easy, just like Street Justice," Specialist said with a smile as he looked at the girl's picture. He lit a cigarette, waved good bye and walked outside, he had some hunting and killing to do.
EAST SIDE
JUMP CITY
Julie was walking back home from work, she had got a job as a waitress and was enjoying making money.
Although the street lights were dim and the poor crowded the streets, she wasn't fazed or scared despite the fact it was late at night, she had been raised in the slums.
She continued, not noticing the street was now completely empty, she was about to walk by an alley when suddenly a man grabbed her and dragged her into the dark alley…
Another cliffhanger, I am making a art out of this aren't I?
The next chapter will be huge, I gurantee it, the story will move forward at a very fast pace from now on
Response to OveractiveMind Chapter 5 review:
OveractiveMind- I loved your review so much I had to respond to it, you are right, none of the characters do have any set relationships or interactions, but don't worry, that will change after the next few chapters. You see, I am setting it up so that the characters will develop and get into the rythm of being teammates as I throw in more problems and issues for them to solve, because they have to actually do some missions before getting into a set team pattern like the last Titans team was. They pretty much still aren't used to each other, but as I said earlier that will change after the events of the next few chapters. I was hoping someone would point out Guardian's situation, the reason the "assorted human scum" (I love that term for those scum bags I made up) can't find Guardian is because they don't know anything. Several weeks ago (in the story time) Guardian was a legend, now he shows up, but he shows up all across the town, so that ruins the rumor that he onlyprotects a certain group. Also, they don't know if Guardian is from Jump City, for all they know he could be from anyother city in America
Response to Chapter 6 reviews:
AnimationWickedRaven- Yeah, I am really extreme in these stories, glad you like it, and I enjoy reading your reviews, please keep on reviewing!
StickLad- I am updating as fast as possible, glad you love this story and hope your reviews continue and good luck with your moves
GreenMartian777- Good call! You figured it out right away! I am really impressed! Sorry I leave you with another cliffy, but the next chapter will be huge, I promise you will enjoy it and feel satisfied, please keep on reviewing
AND REMEMBER READERS:
PLEASE REVIEW!
(I also put some more favorite stories, a lot more will be coming soon, I am just trying to find them and put them on, so if I reviewed your story and said I loved it, it will probably be posted at some point in the future)