This were the times when the Teen Titans were at their peak, their fame for helping Jump City got them in the center of the media, Robin was asked to promote a wide variety of things, from clocks to cars to lotions, he was in ad after ad, Starfire posed for girls magazines wearing dresses and such stuff, Cyborg provided tips on technology while Beast Boy appeared in late night shows trying to be funny, only Raven declined to participate in the media frenzy. One night, the anchor was interviewing the Titan's leader Robin, as she spoke a young man who was watching crushed a piece of paper where the figure of the Titan also appeared.
-It's time someone puts you down birdboy...
Three months later...
-HEY! CY! LOOK WHAT I GOT! -yelled Beast Boy
-OH MAN! TICKETS FOR THE JUMP CITY TEEN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP!
Raven frowned.
-What's so entertaining about two guys beating themselves up for nothing?
-Come on friend Raven, we can enjoy watching the physical aptitudes of the contestants. -Starfire said
Raven blushed
-I do not want to appreciate anybody's physique thank you.-replied Raven vanishing moments later
That night Starfire, Beast Boy and Cyborg showed up at the Jump City Arena, Robin declined to go since he decided to investigate some of Slade's recent appearances.
-Well I'm really going to enjoy a good night of boxing -Cyborg said
But as the fights progressed Cyborg began to feel uneasy, one of the fighters, a 17 year old named Clubber Lang, an old schoolmate, known for his ferocity and brute force. Many times he tried to enter the football team and that many he got kicked out for hurting his teammates, that night, he had already knocked out his first three opponents and was qualified for the semi-finals, Star noticed that he was worried.
-What's wrong friend Cyborg? Are you not feeling OK?
-I'm fine Star... I'm fine... for now
Meanwhile Beast Boy was having fun and eating all sorts of sweets.
The semi-finals came and once again Clubber Lang took care of his opponent with brute force knocking him out, like he did with is previous challengers, before the 4th . Round.
-NOBODY CAN STOP ME! NOBODY CAN! -he yelled
The final match began, Cyborg watched as Clubber Lang performed his most vicious and brutal match of the evening, as if it was his first of the night, he showed a level of strenght and agressiveness that scared even the most tough boxing connoisseur, although different from his previous matches, this one went on to the 5th round, there, he cornered his opponent and began a brutal attack that the boy could not defend himself anymore, the referee attempted to stop him but he pushed him back a then with two powerful punches sent the knocked out boy through the ropes, he raised his hands in victory and upon seeing him and his friends he pointed at them and yelled.
-I WANT ROBIN! I WANT ROBIN! YOU HEAR ME MACHINE BOY? YOU TELL ROBIN I'M COMMING FOR HIM! YOU TELL ROBIN THAT! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! NOBODY BREAKS UP ME! NOBODY CAN BEAT ME! YOU TELL ROBIN THAT! I'M COMMING AFTER HIM! YOU TELL HIM!
For weeks Cyborg made sure Robin didn't learned about Lang's challenge, but he could not stop Lang himself, it all took place a sunny afternoon when the Titans where invited by the mayor of Jump city for the presentation of the "T" statue which was a minature version of their tower made of bronze and that was placed on Jump city's central park as a gift from the people to the Teen Titans for their continuous efforts to keep the peace, Robin was giving a speech in their representation when a voice interrupted him.
-HE'S A COWARD! DON'T GIVE THEM THE STATUE! GIVE IT VALUE!
-What do you want? -Robin replied
-I WANT A CHANCE TO FIGHT YOU! THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN AVOIDING ME IS A DISGRACE!YOU ONLY FIGHT WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ARE AROUND! I'M THE CHAMPION! WHY DON'T YOU FACE ME? ANY PLACE ANY TIME!
-You know you have a big mouth...
-Why don't you come down and close it birdboy? COME ON!
-HEY! IF A FIGHT YOU WANT A FIGHT YOU
-NO! HE'S NOT FIGHTING! IT'S NOT NECCESARY! -Cyborg interrupted
-What are you doing? I want to fight this guy -Robin said
-If you do it then you'll be on your own, it's not neccesary
-HEY ALIEN BABE! -Lang yelled to Starfire
-huh?
-Your boy there doesn't have a heart, bet you go every night to bed wishing a real man was with ya, tell you what, bring your pretty alien self tonight to my appartment and I'll show you a real man.
The proposition hurt Starfire so much that she turned around to hide the tears on her eyes.
-ALL RIGHT THAT'S IT! YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT STAR LIKE THAT AGAIN!
-COME DOWN THEN BIRD BOY COME ON!
Cyborg and the police officers present kept Robin and Lang away from each other. Later that afternoon at the T tower Robin was furious.
-I WANT AN EXPLANATION CYBORG! THAT GUY SAID I HAVE BEEN HIDING FROM HIM! WHY? WHAT HE SAID TO STAR TODAY IS THE DROP THAT BROKE THE GLASS!
-Look the truth is, I have been filtering your mail, e-mail and phone calls, you haven't got any of his messages.
Robin's fury was increasing.
-why..?
-Because you don't know him like I do.
-I have fought Slade and many others, what makes you think I can't fight a simple boxing champion?
Cyborg slammed his fist on the table, the rest of the Titans just glared.
-HE'S NOT LIKE THEM! HE'S A KILLING MACHINE! HE'S MAD AND ALL HE WANTS IS TO HURT YOU!
-AND WHAT ABOUT SLADE? ISN'T THAT WHAT HE WANTS?
-SLADE JUST WANTS TO BEAT YOU! CLUBBER LANG WANTS TO KILL YOU! THINK FOR A SECOND! IN THE RING HE'LL PULVERIZE YOU! YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE! THIS GUY IS A WRECKING MACHINE! AND HE'S HUNGRY!HE'LL KILL YOU TO DEATH INSIDE OF THREE ROUNDS! HE'LL KNOCK YOU TO TOMORROW ROBIN!
Raven approached.
-Robin you
-STAY OUT OF THIS! -he yelled pushing her
Raven fell to the ground and Starfire ran to aid her.
-I'm fine...
Later that night Starfire was walking to her room when she noticed that Raven was standing near her room holding herself to the wall.
-Friend Raven?
She approached, her friend was sweaty and breathing slowly.
-It's... it's ok... my heart has been aching me since I got that punch from Jinx the other night... but... I'll be fine...
-Maybe I should call Cyborg and get you checked...
-No... thank you...
The following day Robin announced his acceptance of Lang's challenge and began training in the beach near the tower, Cyborg was infuriated because he was spending more time posing for pictures and playing with the girls at the beach than really training, while Lang was training as if there was nothing more in the world. Three months later came the night of the fight, Robin was in his dressing room with the rest of the Titans, outside Bumble Bee was guest commentator for the tv broadcast of the match.
-Here with us tonight a dear friend of Robin and leader of the East Coast Branch of the Teen Titans, Bumble Bee, what are your thoughts for the match? -the commentator said.
-Well... the brute force may go to the challenger but the hability is with Robin, I can tell you that for sure.
Inside Robin was ready, he was wearing his normal uniform minus his utility belt, he had yellow gloves, the door opened and he began his way to the ring along with his friends, though when he reached the stairs Lang appeared along with his seconds.
-HEY BIRDBOY! I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU! YOU'RE MINE! MINE!
-JUST SHUT UP!
-WHY DON'T YOU SHUT ME UP! COME ON! COME ON!
A melee ensued, Lang tried to get to Robin beating anything and everything on his way, to her misfortune Raven was on his way, the girl couldn't avoid him and a punch right to the chest sent her against the wall, in the madness nobody noticed that she was kneeled holding her chest in pain, it was Starfire who saw her while security took care of Lang and drove him to the ring.
-ROBIN! -she yelled
The Boy Wonder saw his friend in pain and ran to her.
-GET A DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR! -he yelled.
Cyborg took Raven on his arms and moments later the girl was laid in the dressing room.
-I'm calling it off Raven -Robin said
-No... I'll be fine I tell you... just let me catch a breath and I'll be out there with you... now go an do what you have to do...
-BEAST BOY GET A DOCTOR! -the boy wonder yelled
-He's on his way -he replied
-Starfire stay with her -Robin ordered
As the door closed Starfire walked to Raven and held her hand, the girl was making a great effort to breath. Along with Cyborg and Beast Boy, Robin walked to the ring where Lang was waiting for him, the place was filled to capacity, the announcer took the microphone.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! WELCOME TO JUMP CITY SPORTS ARENA AND CONVENTION CENTER! OUR MAIN EVENT OF THE NIGHT! AN INVITATIONAL CHALLENGE! IN THE BLUE CORNER, THE LEADER OF THE TEEN TITANS! ROBIN! IN THE RED CORNER, JUMP'S CITY TEEN DIVISION CHAMPION! CLUBBER LANG! REFEREE LOU FILIPPO!
The bell rang and both Robin and Lang moved to the center of the ring to begin exchanging punches...
To be continued...