A/N: I AM SO SORRY! Writer's block is really cruel and that's the reason I'm four weeks late updating. Ugh. This chapter took forever to write. Oh and librastar, I'll email the chapters to you next chance I get (which might be a little while longer.) Here's chapter five. May I warn you that Terra and Speedy's opinion of each other is remarkably like that in my truth or dare story and of course they end up together. But this isn't truth or dare so it ended up… interesting.
Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans. Otherwise that one second pause with Robin and Starfire in The End part 2 would have been a kiss. (They so should have!)
"Terra?" The real Robin looked awfully confused. Can't say the same for Beast Boy. He looked…angry. Starfire stepped in front of me, going to defend her and Raven's decision to bring me back.
"She helped us defeat the Master of Games and we believed she should return to Titans Tower with us. Please, may she stay?" Starfire looked at Robin sweetly. This was hopeless. The only reason they accepted me again the last time was because I died destroying Slade.
"And who's he," Raven murmured, glancing to orange boy. I still couldn't get over the fact of how much he looked like Robin. It was scary. He could have been like a really cute Robin stalker kid.
"This is Speedy. He's going to be staying with us for a while," Robin introduced. So orange boy had a name!
"Hey ladies," Speedy greeted flirtatiously. Definitely not Robin. Robin did not flirt. Except with Starfire. "The guys told me so much about you… well, except for Miss Blondie over there. But you must be that Terra girl Beast Boy was venting about." Now it was Speedy's turn to receive venom eyes from Beast Boy. So the changeling's been venting about me. I bet that happened the first time too.
"Yeah. I'm Terra," I smiled cockily at both Beast Boy and Speedy.
"So now we have seven titans?" Cyborg asked, looking confused. Robin nodded. The Teen Titans had gone from five to seven members in under a minute.
"I'm going to my room to meditate," Raven said softly, disappearing out of the main room. Starfire had slowly worked her way over to Robin's side, whispering something into his ear. Whatever she said made him smile.
"Star and I are going to a movie. We'll be back later and give us a call only if there's trouble," Robin explained, taking Starfire's hand and leaving with her. So I guess my plan had worked out pretty good for them.
"Hey B, let's go play football," Cyborg invited. The changeling perked up, following Cyborg out. Okay. What's going on now? Were they trying to get me and Speedy alone or was that just a coincidence?
"Hmph, they didn't even invite me to play football," Speedy groaned, taking a seat on the couch of the main room. He motioned for me to join him and I found myself sitting awfully close. Whoa! I don't even know this guy!
"So did Robin go all hero boy and save everyone from the Master of Games?" I questioned, starting to talk to orange boy.
"How'd you know? He's such a show-off and there weren't even any ladies around," Speedy chuckled.
"He's always that way," I laughed. "But he's got Starfire. He'd only show-off for her."
"Ah, so they are together."
"Why else would they be going to the movies?"
"So what about you? You got a boyfriend?"
"Nope. Beast Boy liked me for a while but I scared him away. And do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not at the moment. I've had several in the past but they weren't anything special. Just a bunch of hyper teenagers wanting to be with a super hero."
"I hate having powers."
"I don't even have powers. I've just got gifts with archery." We kept talking, not really caring that the sun had cast and the clock read nine, then ten, then eleven. As for our conversations, we talked of our gifts, our lives before becoming a hero, our families. Though I hardly knew him, I suddenly became able to understand him. He was the first person I ever told about Trent and my parents and how my powers killed them.
The only thing I didn't tell him was how this wasn't the first time I'd been with the Titans and how I got a second chance at survival. But I forgot my beliefs. I forgot I wasn't supposed to let anyone else fall unless I wanted them hurt. Now, when I died, he'd be crushed. My life's much too complicated.
"Mind if I turn on a movie or something?" Speedy asked after our conversations had settled down. It was probably now like midnight but it didn't really matter.
"Not at all," I replied sweetly, adjusting my weight to lay back against the couch. Speedy did the same, using the remote to adjust channels on the TV. We ended up watching some old silent film about a vampire attacking people. (A/N: I don't own Nosferatu and I don't think I spelled that right.) How fascinating. It was so fascinating that I found myself falling asleep, my head resting against Speedy's shoulder.
"Ooh! Look-y here! Terra and Speedy got awfully cuddly!" Cyborg taunted as I suddenly sat up. Oh boy, it was morning. What was Cyborg talking about? And then I realized that both Speedy and I had fallen asleep, my head on his shoulder and his arms around me. Oh crap. And worst of all, Beast Boy was watching on too.
"Speedy, wake up," I whispered to orange boy, who sat up suddenly and looked terribly frightened. His hand flew to his head, trying to fix his hair. Image-obsessed much?
"Wha?" Speedy asked, standing up and walking to be behind Beast Boy and Cyborg. He had an arm around each of them, smirking. "You know, guys, nothing happened. Or I could let slip that little fight you had over Raven." Oh. He's good. Wait… Cyborg liked Raven? Now that's messed up. What happened to the Jinx, Bumblebee, Rebecca, and Sarasim that Beast Boy had told me about at my tomb?
"Nothing happened," Beast Boy and Cyborg said in unison. Leave it to Speedy to get them to act like babbling idiots.
"Hey Titans," Robin and Starfire entered together, Raven entering behind them.
"We have glorious news! We have received tickets to the carnival again!" Starfire cried giddily. Ah, this sounded so familiar. Where else had Beast Boy gotten the tickets for our date the first time around? So I guess this time my date was with Speedy.
No, no, no! I can't date Speedy! Hello! I'm dying sooner or later. Wait, not even sooner or later. My next battle with Slade! Which could be at the carnival, or tomorrow, or maybe a month from now. This was much too confusing.
"As long as Slade doesn't strike between now and then," Robin muttered under his breath. Obsessed, much? The carnival would be good for him. It would be good for all of us.
"This is even more glorious the second time around," Starfire skipped into the carnival. At this point, Beast boy and Cyborg had dragged Raven off to the games just because they wanted to win her something. A little obvious those two were competing. BB would win though. Cyborg hadn't met his girls yet.
"I really should be looking for Slade," Robin murmured. Starfire looked hurt, before taking his hand.
"Let us go on that giant wheel again! It shall be wonderful!" Star darted off, towing Robin behind her. I could only laugh. She was perfect for him.
"So where should we go?" Speedy turned to me with his charming smile. Great. Now I'm describing him as charming.
"Don't matter. Just keep me a safe distance from Robin and Starfire on the Ferris Wheel. I'm not in the mood to see how long they can kiss," I muttered. Speedy chuckled, taking my hand and began dragging me into the crowd of the carnival.
"They can't be that bad already. Now I say the haunted house first. Everyone needs a little scare,' he kept walking up until we got to the line, which was non-existent due to the fact the ride was closed. They had it taped with caution tape, yet no onlookers were around. Not your typical scene.
"I take it we're not going in there anymore," I laughed, though it was more out of nervousness. What was going on? That had to be a set up or something! Slade would trap me somehow, I know it! He'd get me alone and kill me. Or the clip…
"Who says it's off limits? I say we go in," Speedy smirked. Ah! Slade was going to use Speedy to lead me into his trap! I'm so paranoid. I just need to relax and let things happen. I still have time, I think.
"Fine, Mr. Lawbreaking-vigilante," I was giggling now. See, not paranoid! The haunted house was nothing more than a tiny shack, painted to match that of the night sky, but made to look like it was chipped and old. The inside was so far only a hallway, lighted by small lanterns hanging from the ceiling, almost mini-chandeliers. I couldn't tell if the spider webs on them were real or fake, but they were all over the place.
"Now which way do we go?" Speedy smirked, his teeth catching the light and shining through the darkness. He needs to stop being so concerned with his looks. He really looked fine. Nothing for him to worry about. We had come to a fork in the hallway, leading to two doors, one on the left, one on the right.
"Let's take this one," I motioned to the dark wood door on my left. Speedy, being the gentleman his is, had me open it first, discovering that it was filled with orange fog. This set me off balance alright. Where had I seen that before? Who else had a liking for orange? He was here alright!
The walls were lined with mirrors of all shapes and sizes. Fun house mirrors. Another great memory. Beast Boy learned the truth about me in this fun house. Slade had come after me then too.
"Good choice," Speedy laughed, leading me into the room. Glad it was him leading me and not the other way around. I liked Speedy, but he was there to protect me if something got in my way. Or if some freak came after me. "The mirrors! You're trying to make me loose even more self-esteem."
"I thought only girls think they're fat," I smiled, catching onto the joke at his over-inflated ego.
"No…hey! I'm not a girl! And could your head get any bigger?" He was pointing at my reflection in one of the mirrors where my head was like twelve times my body.
"I could say the same for yours without the mirror," he looked kind of hurt at that, but as I said, his ego's big. A noise behind me caught my attention and I spun around quickly, dropping orange boy's hand and only finding nothing on my other side. With a scowl on my face, I came back to Speedy. I didn't say anything and I think he understood. He didn't need to know what I thought was trying to terrify me.
Ah, but he does. You can still be my apprentice. He is not your friend. You have nothing here. The taunting voice of Slade resonated through my head. Why was I hearing him? Ah! So paranoid!
"Ya know, Terra, I'm glad the other titans left us alone," Speedy was suddenly off on a speech. This ought to be interesting.
"They always leave us alone. We're the newcomers. But they might as well. We don't fit in," I said softly, glancing through the darkness at my feet.
"Why is that?"
"Because we're blondes," I smirked, continuing down the hallway.
"Nah. I just think they understand we need some time alone," Speedy's breath was on my neck, his arms holding me gently at the waist. I turned my head, about to kiss him. Yeah, I know, we just met. Oh well. My days are numbered, best enjoy it. But right as our lips brushed against one another's, who appears in my sight but dear old Slade. And apparently he has a problem with me kissing boys. He stopped me and beast Boy too. Thought that's technically a good thing.
"Hello Terra. Are you ready to join me now?" His voice was real now, echoing throughout the room. Speedy stopped in front of me protectively, his arms slipping away and moving to the quiver on his back. Orange boy and arrows, what a classy combination.
"I'm not your apprentice! I'm a Titan now!" I practically screamed. Poor Speedy, caught in the middle.
"But our deal, child," Slade whispered, but both me and Speedy heard it fine. He should really be an actor. He manipulates his voice very well.
"We never had a deal," I sneered. Speedy seemed to disappear from in front of me a second to slip through the maze of mirrors and somehow ended up behind Slade.
"But don't you remember? You become my apprentice. And you can live. I have the clip, you know," Slade murmured. Speedy was grinning and it was starting to scare me. What the hell was he up to?
"Oh, you mean this clip?" Speedy held in his hands my blue butterfly clip. "I saw it in your pocket and figured it didn't belong to you." Slade ran at Speedy but the archer had already dodged his attack and was firing an arrow in Slade's general direction. As for me, I was pretty much in shock due to the fact that my friend, uh, for now, just very good friends who almost kiss, had managed to rescue the one possession on dearest to me. The one binding me to this earth.
"Terra! Let's get the Titans and get out of here!" Speedy yelled, jumping over Slade who was lying on the ground somehow. But saw the archer was hopping over his enemy, the enemy decided to stand up. Speedy was caught on Slade's back and found himself being flung off it. He fell against a wall, unconscious.
'These matters don't concern him," Slade growled, advancing towards me. Great. Now I had to fight. My hands were glowing yellow as I pulled the dirt from below me. I was thankful this had been built cheaply off the ground Instead of having an actually floor. If it had been, I'd have been dead.
The rocks I threw at him were only a distraction as I ran at him and tried to kick him. My actual fighting skills stunk when it came to hand-to-hand combat, but this was just a small fight, right?
Ah, that went okay, but the rest didn't. The building was starting to shake. Either my powers decided to go outta control again or the building was just flimsy. Both were an option. A look of fear appeared on Slade's face as the mirrors began to break due to the ceiling falling in. Or maybe there had been a giant hole in the ceiling coming in and that was why the caution tape had been up. Well, the building was crumbling and Speedy was still unconscious.
"We'll meet again, Terra. That battle will be your last," he growled, disappearing in all the dust from the rubble. I didn't care about Slade's warning anymore. The building was collapsing and there was no way I was going to let what happened to my family happen to Speedy. By the time I actually stopped and calmed down. I had fallen in the grass outside the haunted house with Speedy in my arms.
A crowd had gathered now, the haunted house nothing more than a pile of rubble. The inquisitive Titans were at my side fairly quickly. Robin seemed more concerned with what happened than what happened to us, but that was Robin for you. Yet a pounding headache kept me from telling anything and I found myself drifting out of consciousness too.
A/N 2: Wow that chapter was long. I can't make any promises as to when the next chapter will be up. But it should be soon. Hope you liked, please review, and no flames!