Welcome to chapter four! I hope you like the previous, heart wrenching chapter! Evil Laugh Anyway... Shall we go to the replies?
WickedwitchoftheSE: Ack! I hate that name too! But hey, I wanted to give them some ties to the comics. It just so happened that's what they called him. sigh And... WELCOME TO DUCKY-HOOD! -gives medal-
Silent:Tears:Fall: Thanks for your review, govena'! I'm glad I have... intriguied you. Hehe, Interesting question. All I can say to that is "Your goin' sane in a crazy world!" (Yes, yes, I know. It's from one of the dumbest shows of all time. But hey! chessy smile )
AnimationWickedRaven: -does happy dance- Thank-you for the second review! -throws Ducky medal- Have fun!
Mystic Water Goddess: -evil smirk- Now now, I don't wanna give away too much of the story! Thankies for the review! Also, thank-you for reading Her Edward. But... I won't be finishing that one. I didn't really think it was that great and a really don't like the show anymore. Sorry...
LyssiB: Thank-you! I killed Star off becuase I thought it was a nice little fuel for the fire that'll soon be starting.
BrokenNevermore: Must I tell you? If you wanna know, I guess I'll tell you. But that would ruin the story!
BBRaeLover4eva: Thankies for the review, ducky!
Hanita-chan: Thank-you for the review! I'm glad you like it. I greatly enjoy writing it!
Hikari986: Yes, Starfire is dead! Bwuhahahahaha!
Tammy Tamborine: Yes, Starfire is dead! Bwuhahahahahaha! Wow... dejavou... Thanks for the review!
JapaneseAnime16: Thanks for the review and... It's not Slade. I figure the Titans need some fresh new villain, not Slade. He's WAY over done. But I can't believe you don't like him! Slade rocks!
OveractiveMind: -bursts out laughing- Nice! Yes, the queen is dead! Long live the ficcy! BWUHAHAHAHAHAHA! Wow, I've laughed evily alot today... Also, when you do /this/ it puts stronger imphasis on that word than it does on the others. Like... But /Mom, I don't wanna take out the trash! Or something like that.
FantasyObsessed: 'ello Govna'! Thanks for the review!
On to the ficcy! -charges off-
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Logan fidgeted uncontrollably in his bed as he roamed farther into a world he had no control over. Yes. The dream was happening again. After coming to Dick's large, and rather kingly, estate four days earlier he had been plagued by it and every night it just continued to grow in it's power to disturb him. The thing that bothered him most was that it remained incomplete, and even when he tried hardest he always woke at the exact same moment: With a scream that shattered the frozen night. One that sounded like someone he had once known.
The dream always began the same way. The night was cold, dark, and misty. Hundreds of figures encircled him and it seemed as though time had frozen completely. Scenes of deaths, terrible deaths of people he had never even scene, bore down on him like a two ton weight, leaving him defenseless against what would soon come. He would manage to look up, just in time to see the eerie figures scatter, leaving him to face their master alone. He breathed heavily and became alert as he heard thumping echo through the air. He would stand quickly, trying to get into defensive position, only to discover that the beating had come from his own terrified heart. But then the real thumping would begin. A towering figure was coming, with one blood red eye gleaming with malice and the other hidden by darkness. The air was foul and lifeless. He would struggle to get away, but his body would do nothing and the figure made it's way closer. As it did, he could see the outline of his fanged mouth, bent in a horridly evil grin. He would scream, but no sound came from his mouth. He would cry, but the salty drops would never meet the ground. "Your world is mine. All in it that you hold dear will perish." The terrifying voice would seep from the outside, but the monster's mouth would not part with it's bittersweet smile. "My legions will consume you, and you will fall. Your screams will be music to my ears and your blood wine to my lips. You are powerless against me. You are broken." The monster would laugh, shaking the ground beneath his feet, and then all was silent. The demon would disappear, but other figures would replace it. They were his loved ones, he soon figured out. Only four stood their, but, even though he could not figure who they were, he felt their soothing presence. But that would change all too soon, the middle figure would turn to look straight at him, although he could see nothing but the outline, and a glass breaking scream would come from it.
At this time, like all the other times before, Logan jolted awake, his green skin drenched in sweat and salty tears falling from his eyes. The dream terrified him more than anything he had experienced in his life time. He grasped his head and breathed deeply, trying to sooth his fast beating heart. He winced from a pain unknown and stood, not even bothering to try and get to sleep as he had done before. No, the pain was too deep.
He crept from his bedroom and headed down the hard wood hall toward the kitchen, hoping to get some warm milk to calm his jumpy nerves.The night was growing old and the sun would soon make it's presence known over the sleepy earth, as it had been doing for years uncounted. But the days of late had been different for Logan, as if each new day held a threat that he would never live to see the next. He slowed as the oversized kitchen came into view. It's light was on, rather odd. Logan entered to see Richard sipping groggily at a large cup of coffee. "Couldn't sleep either?" He asked blandly as his friend entered.
Logan nodded and wiped his face, trying to hide the previous tear streaks. "How'd ya know?" he asked sarcastically.
Dick smirked, "Lucky guess."
Logan made his way to the fridge and pulled out a fourth of a carton of milk. He grinned, that was about the only thing in it, beside some out of date orange juice and moldy bread. "Dude, you seriously need to do some grocery shopping."
"Don't ya know it." he replied before chugging the rest of his drink like the drunks in old west movies. "What're you doin' up anyway?"
Logan gulped as he poured milk into his mug. What to say? "I don't know, I guess the wind kept blowing some branches against my window. It freaked me a bit, that's all."
Dick cast Logan an odd look as he placed his mug in the microwave, "It freaked you a bit?"
Logan sweatdropped, "You've never heard the expression before?"
Dick smiled and was quickly lost in a fit of laughter, the first time Logan had seen him like this since the news of Starfire's death. "Logan, you've been in London /way/ to long..."
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The morning continued as usual and it gave the duo a chance to catch up with what had happened since the Titans had separated. Dick had said that when Bruce, his 'step-father' as he called him, died unsuspectingly he had been left Wayne Enterprises. The shock was huge but he took it with open arms and a shocked grin plastered on his face.
Now, as Logan glanced at the clock, sweat dripping down his face, he regretted signing up for a training session with Dick. Although willing to give what it took to get the team back together, he utterly loathed training sessions, just as he always had. Dick seemed to fly through them with practiced ease, revealing that he had not quickly taken to excepting the disbanding of his team. But Logan, on the other hand, seemed to more like crash through it. The buzzer rang loudly through the large workout room and the lazy shape shifter dropped to his knees, giving thanks that the session was finally over.
Dick made his way over, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're as lazy as ever." he teased, holding out a hand. Logan took it greatfully and stood. He stretched and groaned, dislike for the vile training sessions he'd so hated bubbling in him again, "Just be lucky you even got me into the godforsaken room." he replied.
"Yea yea, stop complaining." Dick stated, a teasing manor about him. He headed for the door, Logan limping along behind him. Dick turned a quick left and then right, leading him to a part of the manor he had never seen, "Ummm... Dude, where the heck are we going?" Logan asked as he glanced nervously at the walls, as if they would bite.
"Where do think. We're going to find the other Titans." he replied simply, as if the news was nothing big. Logan's face light up as he heard this, "Really?"
"Really really." He answered in an almost mocking tone. Logan rolled his eyes, as he had done quite often lately, and remained silent as he followed Dick. He was churning with excitement. They would finally be getting the team back together, and more importantly, he could see Raven again. He blushed, as he always did when his mind lingered to the thought of her. Dick turned and gave him a "What the Crap?" look, but continued without saying anything. Dick turned to see Alfred Pennyworth, his trusted butler and someone Logan had come to despise, typing hastily on the keyboard of a larger than life computer.
"Good morning, sir." Alfred stated as Dick and Logan entered, not even looking away from the screen for a moment."I've managed to track down your Cyborg friend, "He continued, "But this Raven woman is slightly more difficult."
Logan yawned mockingly, finding amusement in teasing the stuffy butler. Alfred seemed to notice, but tried to ignore him all the same.
"Good work, Alfred." Dick said as he made his way over to the computer. "Where's Cy?" He questioned as he glanced at the screen, trying to take in as much information as he could.
"Cyborg, or Vic Stone as he is known now, is residing in Chainsburg. It seems he took the job of lead engineer for space flight and travel technology at the Livingston Space Center there. He's doing rather well. And..." he paused for a moment as the computer finished loading, "...it seems your Raven friend is in Italy. Venice, to be more exact."
Logan's heart skipped a beat. He now knew where Raven was. Raven! She was in Italy! Yes! His thoughts were interrupted by Dick's questioning, "Which do you think we should find first?" He asked, eyeing Logan with the famed "What The Crap?" look once again spread across his face.
"Raven!" he said quickly, a little too quickly. Dick smirked devilishly and Logan sweatdropped. "Raven I think might be easier to ummm... convince and junk because of Starfire and everything." he added, even more quickly than his original comment.
Dick once again smirked, "Yea, whatever." he replied before turning back toward his loyal butler, "Is the jet ready?" he asked.
"Of course, sir." he replied, "Shall I accompany?"
"No, no. I think it would be better if we went alone. Thank-you again, Alfred." Dick turned to leave and Logan followed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"What?" he asked, utterly confused by his friend's amused looks.
"Nothin' Logan, nothin'."
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The jet was ready, as Alfred had promised, and Logan had finally decided that the butler was at least slightly good to have around, although he would never /ever/ admit it openly. When they had stepped on, Dick had immediately headed for the cockpit, leaving Logan to entertain himself. The best of ideas? Not exactly. With age, Logan had indeed matured, but that didn't necessarily mean he could get into trouble as always
At the moment, Logan had taken to glancing around the glamorous jet as it shot over the Northern Atlantic. The interior was just like all of his leader's possessions; rich, comfy, and expensive. With maple cabinets, two full rooms, a glamor bath, and more importantly a stocked fridge, Logan decided that he could stand it until Italy. And so, with first glances made, he headed for the fridge. As he opened it, he gasped. No tofu. He dashed for the cockpit, trying to get the terrible mistake 'unmistaka-fied.;
"RICHARD!" Dick sweatdropped, O Boy. "Richard! What is the meaning of this!" The green Titan yelled as he held up a pack of Vienna sausages. "You know I don't eat meat!"
"I know," Dick replied simply, "But Alfred doesn't."
"The butler..." Logan hissed, "Oh, he knew. The sadistic creature just wanted to deprive me of food four our /entire/ trip."
"Logan, don't you think your taking this all a little /too/ seriously? I mean, I highly doubt Alfred would do something like that intentionally. Plus, their's more than likely more food in the fridge"
Logan looked as if he would blow, "The butler covered that! Check the fridge out! It's stocked to the brim with these stupid sausages!" he raged.
Dick jumped up, leaving the plane on auto-pilot. "You're joking, right?" he asked, trying not to panic.
"No! I told you! That satanic butler of yours is punishing me for that stupid prank I pulled on him!"
"What stupid prank?" Dick asked, eyeing his green friend with interest.
Logan took to silence for a moment, twitching slightly as he did so. "Just look in the fridge!" He replied, trying to change the subject.
Dick opened the door, with a shocked and chibi-fied Logan looking on. The fridge was indeed stocked with gobs and gobs of the 'vile', as Logan put it, sausages. "Well, I'll be darn."
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When Logan and Dick arrived at Marco Polo Airport in Venice, a steady, and cold, rain was falling. Logan had managed to read up on Italian on the way their and his vocab was now up to a whopping seven words! Taxi! ( Tassì! ), TOFU! ( Amazingly, TOFU! ), Where's the bathroom? ( Dove è la stanza da bagno? ), and Raven's address, una via di 113 dispiaceri. Yup. The young green man was completely set to take on the world of Italy!
Dick made his way to the curb and glanced back toward Logan. He looked apprehensive, "What?"
"You know Italian, right?" he asked as if it was a 'NO duh". "Get us a cab."
"Oh, yea..." Logan walked to the curb and ignored the people looking at him again. He sighed. Even in Italy he was considered a freak. "Tassì! Tassì!" he yelled as he waved his hand. "Tassì!" One stopped and Dick opened the door to let his friend in. Logan climbed in, followed by Dick, and he looked toward the driver, who was a man of sturdy build.
"Destinazione?" he asked in a rough voice. Logan took out his book, trying to figure out what he said.
"I thought you knew Italian." Dick whispered as the shape shifter continued to flip through.
"I never said I knew it fluently." A pause, "Ah! Here we go! La mia destinazione è una via di 113 dispiaceri."
The driver nodded and pulled away from the curb. "What'd you say?" Dick asked, glancing at the book over the shoulder of his friend.
"He asked what our destination was. I told him." Logan smirked, "Now who doesn't know Italian! Ha!"
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The rain fell in torrents as the cab carrying the crime fighting duo pulled up in front of 113 Sorrow Street. Ironic... Dick climbed out first and paid the driver quite a large sum of money while his comrade made his way out as well. As Logan looked at the old, three story building in front of them, the only thing that came to him was the dreary picture of a rotting barn.
"Are you sure your Alfred friend got the address right?" Logan asked as Dick turned away from the cab.
"I'm sure." he said, trying to mask his doubt, "Well, pretty sure at least." Dick started toward the antique wood doors, Logan following closely behind, and knocked. Silence. He knocked again, this time harder. Silence.
"I think your demon butler got her location wrong!" Logan snapped as Dick tried the door again.
"That's impossible. The computer is one of the strongest in the world. There's no way it could be wrong."
"Well there's a first time for everything."
"Not true."
"Totally true."
Logan and Dick silenced as the door opened. A young man, around their age, peered out. "Ciao?" he asked.
Dick looked on unblinking, "Umm.. Logan. Who is this guy?" Logan opened his 'How to learn Italian in under 7 minutes" book once again and began flipping through.
He seemed to perk up as he found what he wanted, "Ummm.. Ciao. È questo questo la sede di Raven?" He asked in an uncaring voice. The man had seconded it. Obviously the butler had gotten the address wrong. His Italian was nothing like the man before him, though. He was with no doubt a full blooded Italian. With short dark hair, green eyes, and olive skin the man looked like an ancient.
"Si." he answered, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Logan grew silent, his eyes wide. "No way..."
Dick glanced between the two, "What? What did he say?"
"Raven lives here!"
"Not possible."
"That's what he said!"
"Give me the book!" Dick demanded, grabbing for the binding.
"No way! Get your own!" Logan replied, retaliating by cramming the book behind his back. The Italian chuckled as the two of them began continued their quarrel. "I am guessing you are friends of Raven?" he asked in American, his Italian accent still lingering. Logan and Dick turned to him with wide eyes. "You speak American?"
"Si. It's a... second language to me, as you say." He replied, his left hand waving in front of him. Logan gasped,
"Your Raven's husband!" he yelled, pointing toward the gold band in the Italian's ring finger, a completely horrified look plastered on his face. The man was silent for a moment, but was soon lost in a fit of laughter.
Dick glanced toward Logan, "I'm guessing that's a no."
"Chi è là Paulo?" The man turned as a young woman, his wife, stepped toward the door. He hair was a deep brown, long an wavy. Her crystal blue eyes gazed out at them with interest. The baby on her hip giggled happily.
The man turned and pecked her lightly on the cheek before answering, "Questi sono alcuni degli amici americani del Ravens. Credo che stiano cercandola." She smiled and nodded at them both.
"È meraviglioso che siete qui."
"She says it wonderful that you are here." he paused before offering a hand. "I am Paulo. This is my wife, Gianina, and my son, Ugo."
Logan took it, not bothering to mask his relief. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Logan," Dick shoved him, "and this is Dick." he added, "Is Raven here?"
Paulo turned to his wife, "È Raven qui?" he asked as Ugo continued to giggle.
"Credo che sia upstairs nell'studio. Andria è con lei." she answered as the giggling Ugo waved cutely at the visitors.
"She believes Raven is in the studio. My daughter is with her." he translated, "Would you like me to take you up?" he asked.
Logan nodded fervently while Dick answered with a simple, "Please do." Paulo stepped back and let them enter. The house was small, but amazingly cozy. Paulo pointed to a staircase on the far left of the room as Gianina made her way to the kitchen, "The studio is up there. I am guessing you want some time... alone?"
Dick nodded but Logan was already half way up the stairs, "Thank-you." he said, before following his green friend.
Logan pushed the door open slowly and low murmer's met his elvish-like ears. As he approached, his heart pounding heavily against his chest, he could just make out what they were saying. One sounded young, very young in fact, while other, even while speaking in Italian, sounded low and slightly rough.
"Potreste passarmi la vernice, Andria?" The older one asked.
The child giggled, "Why do you always speak in Italian Raven? I like to speak in American!" She answered, her voice carrying the same accent as her father's. Logan could feel his cheeks becoming warmer. Raven...
"Because your father wants you to speak in your native Italian!" Raven replied sweetly, "You think I ought go against his wishes?"
The young girl giggled again, "Of course!" she answered, "I don't wanna learn stupid Italian! It's /so/ boring!"
Logan turned into a small room, but stopped quickly, allowing a sharp intake of breath, as the back of Raven came into view, the little girl Andria playing with a make-shift doll in front of her. He smiled widely, but as the little girl shrieked with surprise, his smile quickly turned. "Raven look!"she screamed, pointing a finger toward Logan. "It's the boogy-man!"
Logan lifted his hands, trying to stop the girl from going on, but it was too late. She was turning...
"Come now, Andria!" Raven retorted, "You know your father hates when you..." she became silent, her deep plumb eyes coming in contact with Logan's green
"Hey Raven..."
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Mesa Crazy: Doh! I thought that was a bad chapter, but I hadn't updated in so long and I wanted to get Raven over with!
Governors: 'Tis okay!
Mesa Crazy: I love having governors! does happy dance You're all so sweet!
Duckies: What about us! .
Mesa Crazy: You too of course!
Duckies: WOOT!
Mesa Crazy: -perform's Kirby shuffle- Do the Kirby!
Governors and Duckies: O.o Eh?