Gotham City Concerto
A Teen Titans Fan Fiction by Jacob McDonald
Opening notes: The rumors of my untimely demise were greatly exaggerated. Sorry for the long delay between chapters, folks. I've just got two words for you: Writers - Block.
Blarg.
Chapter Seven: Tara's Story
Tara looked across the living room of Raven, Jason, and Kylee's apartment, smiling as she saw the youngest of them giving her foster father a peck on the cheek and a small gift wrapped present. Jason grinned like an idiot as he tore open the small package, revealing a miniature NERF bow and arrow set.
"Oh, ho. Very funny." he rolled his eyes as he knocked one of the little arrows and shot a madly giggling Raven in the shoulder.
Turning her attention away from the happy family, she looked to where Gar stood next to Jenny, massaging her shoulders. Sarah sat on Victor's lap a little ways away, laughing at the antics of Kylee and Jason, who were now in an impromptu NERF battle.
Laughter, happiness, and joy surrounded her, but she couldn't feel it. Everyone was happy. Everyone had a partner. Except her. She was the odd one out... again. The Titian who didn't get it. The Titan who wasn't part of the family.
The Titian who had betrayed them.
Standing up, she moved quickly and silently down the hallway, away from the group of her friends. It wasn't that she was angry at them or anything; quite the opposite actually. She loved them all, and wouldn't trade them for the world, but she needed to get away from them for a while.
It had been turning out that way a lot lately.
Of course it had started when Jenny and Gar hooked up again. They were a couple, Raven and Jason were a couple, Vic and Sarah were a couple, and she was the single one. Brian was hardly ever around, so she didn't even have any one else single to talk to at these gatherings. It was downright depressing.
She turned left to the bed room, instead of right to the bathroom when she came to the doors at the end of the hall. Walking across Kylee's room to the window, she opened it, and quickly climbed out on to the ledge. Summoning a small hunk of rock from the ground somewhere, she grabbed it and let it pull her up to the roof top.
Sighing, she walked along the edge and stared up at the stars. They were mostly blotted out by the city lights, and the slight breeze that blew past was rank with the smells of oil and asphalt. Living in the city gave her an almost endless supply of rock to work with, since everything was made of concrete, but it was definitely not what she would call her ideal living condition.
No, Tara's heart belonged to the road. That usually meant where ever the wind blew her, be that a small country town, or the middle of the woods. Before she'd joined the Titans she'd traveled all over the world, on boats, trains, cars, trucks, bikes, and a fair few pairs of shoes. Flying on a rock was always an option, and she'd used it to traverse harsh areas, but had mostly enjoyed the time she had spent traveling with other people, if only for a few days at a time.
"Maybe it is time to hit the road again..." she mused out loud, trying to make out the faintest stars against the glare of the city.
"Maybe it's time to stop talking to yourself, 'cause that make's you sound crazy."
Tara jumped at the sound of the second voice, and whirled around to see the shadowy form of a man wearing a tattered cape crouching in the darkness behind her. She relaxed as she made out the dull white of the skull like mask.
"'Lo, X-Head." she waved, and turned her attention back to the stars.
"Hello yourself, Rock Star." Red-X stepped up next to her and looked up as well, "Waiting for the aliens?" he asked, amusement evident in his voice, "'Cause, you know, all you have to do is call up Starfire if you want to talk to one..."
"Just looking for the stars." she responded, "There's so many of them you can't see from inside the city."
"I don't go camping very often." X replied, and pulled off his mask. Brian shook his head and looked over at her, "So why aren't you down there with your friends?"
"Your friends too." she didn't look away from the sky, "Why aren't you down there?"
"I just got off patrol. Figured I'd drop by and see if this shindig for Jason was still going on."
"You might be able to catch them still opening presents if you hurry."
"You never answered my question." he poked her arm, "Why aren't you down there?"
"Too much love in the room, and none of it for me? Hell if I know." she looked away from the stars and down at her feet with a frown, "I just felt stifled."
He nodded, "I can understand that. It sucks being the only single one at a party."
"No doubt." she stretched, "You busy for the rest of the night?"
"Not really. Why?"
"Figured we could blow this joint. Maybe head over to this little place I know, get some grub."
"Wasn't there food down stairs?"
She shrugged, "I'm hungry again."
"As skinny as you are? Where do you put all of it?"
"Hey, controlling the very essence of the planet is very draining."
"Whatever." Brian grinned, "Sure. Let's just stop by my place and I'll change."
"Sounds good." Her jacket was still down in the apartment, but she figured she could pick it up later, "You driving, or should I?"
"Why don't you. It'll go faster." he pulled his mask back on.
Tara grinned and walked to the edge of the roof, where a large, flat chunk of concrete met her. It was the fist three inches of a four foot wide section of the ally way next to the building, and easily fit them both, "Where to?"
"I live on the south side, in a rooftop penthouse. I'll point it out when we get over there."
"Sweet. Hold on!" and they were off.
A half hour later found Brian emerging from the hallway of his apartment, out into the living room, where Tara was flipping channels on his exceptionally large LCD TV.
"This shit is sweet, yo." The blonde looked over at him and arched an eyebrow. He was wearing slightly torn jeans, and held his t-shirt in his hand. His well muscled chest was still slightly damp, and he was rubbing his hair with a towel.
"Growwlll." Tara purred at him, and winked.
Brian rolled his eyes, "Yeah, real hot with the torn up pants and the stubble." He motioned to his face, which was indeed in need of a shave. His hair was getting long as well, and needed a trim.
"Want me to give you a hair cut later?"
"I'd rather go to a professional."
"Aw, come on! I've been cutting my own hair for years!"
"Your hair is like, four and a half feet long. All you ever do is trim off the dead stuff at the ends." he shook his head as he pulled on his black t-shirt, "I'll have a stylist do it."
"Fine." she turned back to the TV, which was playing Fear Factor. They watched as a young man tried desperately to hold on to a spinning contraption over a body of water. He fell after a few moments.
"Wimp." they both said in unison, and Tara turned the set off.
"... so I ducked, and the cop got a face full of custard." Brian snorted as Tara regaled him with stories of her travels, "He wasn't very happy, but a small earthquake kept him from chasing me."
"And you were how old?"
"Twelve." Tara shrugged, "All because I stole a freakin' apple."
"Damn." he shook his head with a chuckle, "The cops don't come after me that hard, and I've stolen rubies the size of a grapefruit."
"Huh." the blond took another huge bite from her salami sandwich, savoring the tangy sauce it was drenched in. They were seated at a booth in an all night diner called Hank's Food Stop, on the outskirts of town. Around four in the morning it would be full of truckers getting coffee and breakfast, but just past midnight as it was, they were the only two there aside from the cook and the waitress.
"You come here often?" Brian asked around a mouthful of ham burger.
"Only when I'm hungry and it's past midnight." Tara shrugged, "It's cheep, it's good food, and it's some place I can be by myself. Unless I bring someone with me." she motioned to him with a smile.
"Why did you want to go out with me?"
"To get away from the coupli-tude back at Rave and J's pad. I told you that."
"But with me?"
"Why not? You're a friend, too."
"I'm Red-X, though. You didn't even know me before you were un-petrified."
"Yeah, and I don't have the history with you that the other Titans do." she shrugged, "You've been a pretty nice guy since I've known you."
"Yeah, I guess so." he nodded and took another bite. They ate in silence for a few moments, then he asked, "What did you mean about hitting the road again?"
"Just kicking around the idea." Tara poked at her potato salad with her fork, "I mean, it's not like Gar and Jenny need me around to pay the rent... Gar makes more than enough at the zoo... and I don't really hang out with anyone a great deal, so it's not like they'd miss me-"
"Sure they would." Brian cut her off in a soft tone, "You're their friend, Tara. Don't think that they wouldn't notice if you ran off."
"It's not like it'd be forever... I'd come back in a few months." she sounded defensive.
"And then how long would it be before you left again?" Brian eyed her for a moment, and she squirmed.
"Okay, you have a point. Maybe I should just tough it out, and try to make the best of what I have now."
Brian looked at her for a long moment, then smiled, "Tell you what... I'll go out with you. We'll traipse around the country for a few weeks, road trip style, and when we get back, you'll feel tons better."
She looked shocked, "Are you sure? I mean, what about work...?"
He blinked, "I'm a thief, Tara, I steal stuff for a living. It's not like I won't be able to keep doing it when I get back."
"Oh," she nodded with a grin, "yeah, that. Well... I mean... when do you want to leave?"
"I have some stuff to take care of tomorrow, so how about Tuesday?"
"Sweet! You have a car?"
"I'll buy a Jeep or something." he waved it off, "I have a ton of money, trust me."
"What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked, tilting her head to the side and grinning.
"Surveillance on a drop point at the docks. I got a reliable tip that there might be a large drug shipment coming in."
"Whoa... sweet! Can I come?"
"Why?" he laughed a little, "Aren't you retired from hero work?"
"Well, all you do is watch, right? So it's not like I'll be actually doing anything."
"I don't know... I rely on stealth a great deal..." he frowned.
Tara just laughed at him, "I was trained by Slade, Brian. I can be sneaky if I need to be."
"Fine. My place at ten then. I want to be in position a few hours before the deal goes down so I can get a feel for the best angles to set my cameras from."
"I'll be there." Tara wiped her mouth with her napkin, then stood up, "You want a lift home?"
Tara stepped quietly into her apartment and shut the door behind her, turning the knob so it wouldn't click when it met the frame. Turning the deadbolt, she silently stepped out of her boots and padded over to the kitchen.
Once there, she moved about quietly, getting a glass down and filling it with water so she would have some by her bed if she woke up and wanted it. Moving back out to the living room, she turned off the last light and moved to walk down the hall.
Luminescent eyes with vertical pupils stared at her from the darkness of the hallway, and she let out a startled cry. The purplish pink orbs blinked once, then crinkled at the corners as if the owner was smiling.
"Chill, Tara, it's just me." Jenny said from the darkness.
"Shit... damn it all, Jen, you scared me." Tara spoke in a hushed tone, "Why're you sneaking around like that?"
"Why are you?"
"I didn't want to wake you guys up!"
"The water running got my attention." Jenny moved into the living room a little ways and the light from the street lamps pouring in through the windows illuminated her slender form. She was wearing just a t-shirt and her underwear, and she rubbed her eyes as she smiled at her friend, "Why out so late?"
Tara shrugged and took a sip of her water.
Jenny didn't give up, "We notice it when you duck out like you did tonight, you know."
"I have a cell phone, and you know the number." Tara shrugged again.
"That's not the point. Look, Tara, I know it sucks to be the only one there that... well..."
"Don't go feeling all shitty about it." Tara sighed and walked back to the couch, plopping down, "I've kind of come to terms with your relationship with Gar."
"I know." Jenny replied in a small voice, "It's just... I can't help but feel shitty. Wouldn't you if you were me?"
"Sure, but that doesn't mean that's why I ducked out tonight."
Jenny gave her a look.
"Okay, so it was why I ducked out tonight, but it turned out okay. I had a good time."
"Really? What'd you do?" Jenny came over and sat down with her, taking the glass from her hand and sipping from it before handing it back.
Tara grinned, "I hung out with a single friend of mine. Some one who understands the feeling of being the only one at a party with no significant other."
"Really? This friend of yours have a name?" Jenny was interested now.
"Oh, most people call him Red-X, but I prefer to call him Brian."
Jenny's mouth dropped open a little, and she stared in shock, "You were hanging out with Brian all night?"
"We just went and got some food... sheesh. Not like we went on a date or anything."
"Um, that kind of is a date, Tara."
"Pshh." Tara waved it off, "No it's not. We went to a little diner and had some food and talked about our pasts a little, and made plans for tomorrow, and aw, shit... it does sound like a date doesn't it?"
Jenny grinned, "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Surveillance on a major drug shipment."
"Uh huh." Jenny nodded, "Real romantic second date."
"And we're leaving for a road trip Tuesday."
Now Jenny was really interested, "Really? Where you guys going?"
"Don't know yet. We're just gonna drift like I used to. See some stuff. Get away from Jump for awhile."
"Like... how long?"
"Two weeks or so."
"What? Tara, you barely ever spoke to this guy three times before tonight, and now all of a sudden you're going on a two week walk about with him?"
"You think it's a bad idea? Brian's not such a bad guy..."
"I just... it's moving kind of fast isn't it?"
"No, sleeping with a guy after being friends with him for just two days is moving kind of fast."
"Hey, Gar and I connected really well, and it's worked out!"
"I'm just saying!" Tara held up her hands defensively, "I just need to get out of town for a little while, Jen. Brian is basically just there to make sure I come home."
Jenny was silent for a few moments, then looked away from the blond and stared out the window, "You know we'd miss you if never came back."
"I know." Tara nodded, "But you understand that I have to do this?"
"Just come home safe and happy." Jenny turned back to her and smiled.
"You know I'll be safe, Jen. I'm a big girl."
"I just don't want to see you hurt."
Tara's eyes softened, and she smiled a sad smile. Holding open her arms, she said, "Come here, Jenny."
Jenny smiled back and moved over to her friend, sitting down next to her on the couch and hugging her. Tara held her for a short time, then spoke, "What's wrong?"
Jenny was silent for a beat, then she choked out, "He still thinks about you."
"Gar?"
"No, Victor. Of course Gar."
Tara squeezed her a bit, "Well, not to brag or anything, but I was his first love."
"I just want you to know that... well... I don't mind. I think about you too."
"I'm sure everyone thinks about me, Jenny."
"Not like we do."
"Wha-" Tara started to question that comment, but suddenly found Jenny's lips pressed against hers. Her eyes went wide for a moment, but then she started to feel something deeper in her heart, so she closed them, and went with the flow. Jenny pressed her lips down harder, and Tara allowed her to deepen the kiss.
After a minute, Jenny pulled back, and Tara opened her eyes. They stared at each other, then Tara leaned in and kissed her again, more briefly this time. Separating once again, Jenny smiled at her and pulled away.
"I guess... I just needed to do that. Sorry." she blushed and looked away.
"It was... nice. If you ever want to... um..."
"I have a boyfriend, Tara. If you want to experiment with girls, you'll have to find someone else."
"So this was just a one time thing?"
"Just something I needed to get out of my system, yeah."
"Oh. Okay." Tara shrugged, "Glad I could help."
"Don't make it sound so much like I used you... you liked it too."
"I did. I still don't think I could share affection between you and Gar though... sorry, but I'm a one man kind of girl... not a one man and a girl kind of girl."
"Well, when you get back in a few weeks, you'll have to tell me how kissing Brian is. I've never had the chance, but Raven says he's pretty good at everything."
Tara arched an eyebrow, "We're just friends, Jen."
"For now." the pink haired girl winked.
"Whatever. I'm going to bed."
"Yeah, me too. I have to get up early and go over to do Kylee's morning meditation."
Tara blinked for a moment, then nodded, slapping her forehead, "Right! Raven starts the Academy tomorrow."
"Yup. I'll be training Kylee a whole lot. I'll probably have you help me when you get back."
"Sure thing, but right now... bed time."
As late as she had gone to bed the night before, Tara was still up shortly after dawn. One of the many things Slade had taught her was how to not sleep. Three hours usually sufficed for her to function on, and any more than six and she felt dragged out all day.
She quickly went about getting cleaned up a little, then threw on some work out clothes. She worked at noon, and had a lot she wanted to do before then.
Throwing her head phones around her neck, she clipped her i-pod mini to her arm and walked out to the kitchen. There she found Gar shuffling about, making coffee.
"Waking up sucks." he muttered as she grinned at him. He was wearing a bath robe, open in the front, and boxer shorts. She admired his lean, muscled form for a moment, then grabbed some orange juice out of the fridge.
"You work today?" she asked.
"No." he shook his head, "I'm off. Hope they feed Ranga right."
"That cat's gonna eat someone one of these days."
"Yeah." he nodded and eyed her, "How are you able to be so awake?"
"I got plenty of sleep, Gar, I'm fine."
"You didn't get home until, like, three this morning. It's just past seven, and you're telling me that's plenty of sleep?"
Her face fell, "I woke you up too?"
"No, Jen woke me up when she got out of bed." he shook his head, "What were you guys doing out here, any way?"
Tara's eyes went wide, and she quickly turned and filled a glass with OJ, "Nothing!" she said in an unusually squeaky voice.
Gar arched an eyebrow, but chose to drop the subject for now. He waited for her to finish he juice before speaking again, "You work at noon, right?"
"Yeah."
"Any plans tonight? I was thinking we could have a movie night like we used to back at the Tower. Just the three of us."
"Actually... I have a... date."
Both of Gar's eyes went wide, "A date? Wow... um... anyone I know?" Her amazing girl powers allowed her to see through his nonchalance act and see that he was jealous. She smiled a little.
"Brian. We're going to do some recon on a major drug shipment coming in tonight."
"Um... okay. Didn't know we were back to being Titans."
"We're not." she motioned back and forth between the two of them, "I am helping a friend with some recon, and possible eradication of a threat to the city. Independent of my former Titan status."
He frowned, "Just don't go getting mixed up in something dangerous."
She rolled her eyes at him, "Yes, Daddy."
"I'm serious, Tara! I don't want you to get hurt... that would..."
She looked at him intently, waiting for him to continue. After a few moments in which the only sounds were the hissing of the coffee maker and the traffic driving past the building outside, he did, "I... care about you a lot, Tara. I mean... Jenny and I..."
"Look, I don't need an explanation." she held up a hand, "I know how you... feel about me. You've said it before, and I believe you." her eyes softened, "But I can't be with you and Jenny, Gar. I just can't." he started to speak again, and she cut him off again, "I know you'd never ask that of me, Gar. It's just... well, I could also never be with someone I know is in love with another girl as well as me. Jenny can handle it, but I can't."
He looked away, frowning, "I'm sorry I'm such a dick."
"Robin was a Dick. You're just an animal." she grinned at him and he threw her a sour look.
"Lame."
"Yeah, it was pretty bad, wasn't it?"
"Worse than my jokes, even."
"I wouldn't push it that far." she walked over to the door and put her head phones on, "And now that I've distracted you with humor enough to duck out of this conversation, I'll make my get away."
He shook his head and waved with a smile as she ducked out the door.
Tara thought about her conversations with her two roommates as she jogged along. They both loved her a great deal, she knew, but they loved each other more. They were too good together to have her stick around too much longer.
"Guess I'm adding 'get your own damn place' to the top of my to-do list..." she muttered. Lost in thought and not looking where she was going, she almost didn't see truck flying at her.
"Fucking hell!" she shouted as the F-150 flew over her head. She ducked and rolled, coming up and lunging away from the truck as it crashed into the building behind her. Scrambling up to her feet, she looked about frantically for who had just pitched the vehicle.
There, looking at her through a dark helmet, was Darth Vader.
"Um..." her eyes widened as he pulled out his light saber and turned it on.
"Now, hold on... I am SO not a member of the rebel resistance..." Vader started to advance on her, raising his light saber as he did. Tara held up her hands, and they started to glow golden, "Just why are you pitching trucks at me anyway?"
"Not at you," said a voice from no where, "Me!" and a blue man with white hair and an atomic symbol on his chest flew from behind her and slugged Vader in the face, sending him flying back, then vanishing in what looked like... static.
"Don't worry, Miss... Captain Atom at your service."
Tara gaped at him.
He chuckled, "Now, now... I know I'm famous and all, but-"
"Who the bloody fuck are you?" she demanded, finding her voice.
He paused, taken aback by her strong language, "Captain Atom..."
"I heard you the fist time. But... who are you?"
"I'm from the Justice League. We heard there was a disturbance in Jump City, and-"
What the disturbance was, and why he was there she never got to find out. At that exact moment, a mad cackle from down the street accompanied a charging horde of Pokemon.
"Whoa!" he shouted as a Squirtle plowed him down.
"Who in the hell..." Tara glanced up the street to see a pudgy young man with bright red hair laughing his head off.
"Oh, great." she rolled her eyes and willed the ground around her to become a platform to fly on. The chunk of sidewalk lifted off, and she rode it over the heads of the sea of video game monsters.
A winged pokemon of some kind (did anyone actually know all of their names?) flew up from the horde to attack her, but she just lazily called a spike of stone from the street below to rise up and impale the offending aberration.
Hopping off her platform and letting it take out Link where he stood guard next to the squat little man, she landed firmly on the ground in front of him.
"Hi there." she grinned as he hauled back a fist, "Goodnight!"
The red haired man screamed like a little girl and threw his arms up to protect himself, but her punch was far to strong. He was knocked flat, his head cracked against the ground, and he blacked out.
With a sigh, Tara knelt down and picked up the remote in his hand. A few button pushes later, and the pokemon were all gone. Captain Atom looked about form where he was crouching further up the street from her, trying to protect himself from the vicious water gun attacks and then stood. Striding over to her, he smiled broadly.
"Way to go there, miss! You figured it out pretty quick what needed to be done, and-"
"Just what the hell was that?" she demanded, pointing back at where he had been cowering on the ground, "I didn't have to figure anything out, dumb ass! I was a Titan! We've faced Control Freak before. I mean, it's not like it's hard! He's freakin' Control Freak for crying out loud! He's a pansy and a pushover! A demented little dweeb with no social skills!"
"Uh... sorry, I was just-"
"Just nothing!" Tara shouted at him, "Why don't you go back to the Watch Tower and tell the JLA that if all they're going to do is send second rate, third string members to defend Jump, they might as well not send anyone at all! We don't need your kind of protection!"
As Atom stood there with his mouth hanging open, she twirled about and stalked off.
Later that day, Jenny was reflecting on how her place of employment had become the former Titans biggest social spot. As she listened to Tara rant, she also wondered at how she had become their resident psychiatrist. Only instead of a couch, she had a sales counter to lean on.
"... and then he's all like, 'Good job, little miss!'" the big-stupid-man-voice Tara was employing brought a grin to Jenny's face, "And I'm all like, 'Get the hell out of here, pansy!' and the ass hole has the nerve to look all shocked and everything! Like I was supposed to be gratified by his praise or something! I mean, what the hell is that?"
"Well," Jenny put on her voice of reason cap, "we kind of have to take what help we can get. At least he was a good distraction."
"Still." Tara shook her head, "Maybe I should put the goggles back on after all. Brian can patrol the city all he wants, but if some seriously bad stuff goes down, he's not going to be able to stop it by himself, and it's not looking like the JLA is going to be sending Super Man down here any time soon..."
"Things'll work out, Tara. We just have to trust Raven's instincts. When the time is right, we'll be Titans again."
"I don't know about Raven any more." Tara shook her head, "Or Gar for that matter. I'm sure Vic would jump right back into it... that's just the kind of guy he is. But Gar..." she sighed, "He like's this easy life. His work with the animals, his sexy girlfriend, his even sexier room mate..."
Jenny grinned, "Let's not get off subject, you blond bombshell you."
Tara flashed her a smile, "Bombshell I am not." she gestured to her chest area, "Raven... well, she has a kid to think about now, and she's going to be a cop... it seems like she's drifting away from the whole super hero gig."
"Okay, allow me to defuse your arguments." Jenny leaned back in her seat behind the counter of the book store as Tara looked at her expectantly. "First, Gar. Yeah, he loves working at the zoo, and he does have two rather beautiful roommates, one of which he gets to sleep with on a regular basis-"
"On subject, Jen." Tara poked her.
"Right." Jenny grinned, "On the other hand though, if he was called to action again, he'd go in a heart beat. He lives to help people, to make them laugh, and to make them safe. I think he half hopes a little kid will fall into the tiger pit at the zoo sometimes so he can save someone. Plus, if we did go back, I'd still be his girlfriend, and you'd still live with him at the Tower..."
"Okay..." Tara nodded, "What about Raven?"
"The cop thing... it's just a way to keep being a Titan without being a Titan. The nature of her powers, and her history... she wont be able to avoid being a hero forever. She knows she has to help people, or her father could... be disruptive."
Tara nodded, "Trigon. Gar told me a little..."
Jinx nodded, "As for Kylee... I started her training this morning... Tara, I've never known any one person more hell bent on being a Titan in my life. She really wants to be ready to take on baddies by the time she's fourteen. She's been making progress charts for herself and everything."
Tara grinned, "You serious? She wants to follow in mom's footsteps huh?"
"Living with Rae and Jason does that to you I guess. They both have such developed senses of right and wrong, and all the gray areas in-between... you can't help but catch the 'saving the world bug.'"
"Huh." Tara shook her head, "I guess we'll just have to see how things pan out then. I'll have to think on this while I'm out with Brian tonight."
"Be careful, Tara. Follow his orders, and stay out of sight." she reached out and touched her friends arm, "I don't want to see you tomorrow in the hospital or the morgue."
Tara flashed her a smile, "Don't worry about me so much! What could go so wrong that a bunch of drug dealers will be able to hurt me?"
"This is boring."
"Will you please be quiet?" Red-X's voice growled over her com link, "I'm trying to calibrate the cameras properly. If you're here to help, you can go to where we placed that one on top of the warehouse."
It was dark, and the ship with the drugs on it had come into port already. The men would be around to gather their coke any minute. It was cloudy, and the moon was hiding along with the stars giving the docks a misty, haunted feel. Everything was a little damp.
"Fine, fine." Tara grabbed hold of a fist sized chunk of rock that drifted up near her head and used it to drag herself to the rooftop of the warehouse the drug shipment was coming into. Trotting over to the camera that overlooked the docks, she began to calibrate it's focus and angle. "How's that?"
"Perfect. Now stay low, and stay quiet. We don't want these guys to know we're here."
Tara lay down on the roof and peaked over the edge, where she could see several cars pulling up, "Why are we just watching again?"
"Video evidence is hard proof. When these guys start stepping on too many toes, I'll be able to get them out of the way quickly by supplying the cops with this footage."
"So it's all for your personal gain?"
"Yep."
"I don't buy it."
"You don't need to. Just stay hidden, and act only if I tell you to."
"Sure." Tara sighed, and continued to watch. The men were gathering near the unloading hatch in the side of a docked ship now, all of them with large bags. After a few minutes, the hatch opened, and several of the men marched inside, emerging just moments later with sacks full of a mysterious white powder.
"Cocaine." she whispered.
"Yeah." came Red-X's quiet reply, "A whole helluva lot of it, too."
"No shit." Tara watched as they unloaded what had to be at least a hundred pounds of the powder, "That's worth millions. Maybe close to a billion. Who the hell-"
"My sources say it might be a government funding project. Selling drugs to make money, and paying cops with that money to bust the drug users and dealers. Makes them rich, and makes it look like they're doing something. At least, that's my take on it."
"Crazy." Tara's eyes caught something and she turned her head to look, "What's going on down by camera six?"
"Don't know... looks like they're roughing up one of the bag men... yeah. What's going on?"
Down below, the drama played out.
"Boss!" a tall, thin man wearing a cheep suit turned to see one of his thugs dragging another laborer over to him. The man was beaten, and only half conscious, "Boss! We think this guy's a cop!"
"Really?" the man in the suit turned to inspect the beaten man as he was thrown at his feet, "What makes you say that?"
"We found this." the thug that had dragged him over handed the boss a gun that the beaten man had been packing. Turning it over, the suited man saw the serial number started with 'JCPD'.
"Sloppy." he said, flipping the gun back around and pointing it down at the defenseless cops head, "Too sloppy."
Back on the roof top, Tara tensed her muscles, "Shit." she muttered.
"Tara? Hold position. Do not... Tara!" Red-X's voice registered with her, but she ignored it as she stood up quickly and raised her hands skyward.
The ground beneath the docks buckled, and water exploded up everywhere as the wood splintered and threw most of the drug dealers into it's inky depths. The cop surfaced and began to swim away weakly.
"Get the cop! I'll handle the rest of them!" Tara shouted into her com unit, then dove off the roof of the warehouse. A hunk of rock broke away from the pavement that made up the floor in front of the building, and her feet landed on it in an expert fashion. It was the same shape and size as a skate board, and she grinned as she snapped her goggles into place.
"There! Kill her!" the boss shouted as he pulled himself up on to the dock, which was half in the ocean. Several men started pulling guns, but Tara was too quick for them. With a wave of her hand, a stack of cinderblocks near the warehouse became cannon ball like projectiles, and slammed them off their feet.
"Terra's back, baby!" she shouted as she flew down, skimming the heads of several thugs, knocking them back off the dock and into the water. Another jerk upwards of her hand and the dock under the truck they had been loading the cocaine into exploded up, a pillar of rock having just slammed through it. Jerking her hand back down, she watched with glee as the truck fell down into the ocean below.
"No!" the boss pulled out his own gun and started shooting at her, "Die, bitch!"
Tara moved her feet so that her rock board deflected the shots, then started to spiral closer to the drug dealer. "How are you doing with the cop, X-Head?"
"Got him safe and sound. I'm out of here, Tara, so try to finish up and follow as quickly as you can, alright?"
"I've got this one in the bag, baby. See you back at your place."
Tara drove down one final time, and slammed the gun out of the man's hand. He stumbled back, but managed to keep his footing on the half collapsed, slippery dock. She landed next to him and threw a hard right into his ribs.
It was like hitting a brick wall, and she gasped in pain. "Metehuman!" she breathed as he turned to her with an evil grin.
"Right in one, bitch!" his hand shot out to grab her, but she ducked away, calling her rock board back to her. It flew up next to her feet as she jumped up, and she landed on it perfectly. The metehuman drug dealer saw his chance though, and he jumped on her.
"Oof!" they both flew off the dock and down into the water. The man's superhuman ability was obviously having great mass, because they literally sank like a stone. Tara struggled with all her might, but couldn't break his vice like grip.
They reached the bottom of the harbor, white dust swirling all around them in the water, and he pinned her there. His eyes were wide, staring down into hers, a maniacal grin on his face. She stared at him from behind her goggles, her own eyes feeling the pressure of the twenty feet of water above them.
As her ears started to ring, and her ribs started to ache like they were in a vice, she struggled harder. He'd knocked the wind out of her when he'd tackled her out of the air; wind she desperately needed now.
The air she had left in her lungs started turning toxic even as the metehuman wrapped his fingers around her throat, trying to crush any hope she had of surviving. His eyes were huge, round, and blood shot. The salt water was stinging them, burning at the fragile tissue...
A desperate plan came to her, and she acted out of pure desperation. Feeling the sand of the ocean floor beneath her, she pushed her powers down further, finding the bedrock down beneath that. A half second later, a spike of rock with a needle sharp point burst out of the sand next to her head, and drove straight into the man's soft, vulnerable eye. He jerked back, clutching at his face, then went limp, the spike having penetrated through his brain.
Kicking out from under him, Tara swam to the surface as quickly as she could. Her brain was going to hemorrhage any second, and the water around her was quickly turning red, driving what little sanity she had left from her mind...
She broke the surface and gasped in lung full after lung full of life giving air. Spluttering and gagging, she swam to the collapsed dock, and pulled herself out of the cold, dark water. With a sob of hysteria, she got to her feet and fled into the night.
Brian paced back and forth in his living room. He'd changed out of the Red-X suit almost a half hour before, when he'd returned after dropping the cop off at a hospital.
"She should be here by now... Tara... where the hell are you?" he looked over to the patio of his penthouse and saw a shadow move beyond the glass. His eyes grew wide and he ran over, throwing open the French doors and shouting, "Tara?"
"Brian... oh, Brian... what have I done?" she was huddled in the darkness, her face turned away from him. A puddle was growing around her, smelling of sea water and brine.
"What the hell happened back there, Tara? It couldn't have taken that long to-"
"He was metehuman... I didn't know... how much it would take to hurt him... I just... I just..."
"Tell me what happened! Come on girl, pull it together-"
"I killed him."
Brian froze, the words chilling him to the bone. A heartless thief he was, but not a murderer. While it was true he'd accidentally killed Jenny once, and then Raven as a result of the healing powers she used to bring the other girl back, he'd never had anyone he'd tried to kill stay dead. He was even friends with them now. This was something different.
"How... I mean... I'm sure you had no other choice, but... Tara..."
"Stuck a spear in his eye... blood everywhere... turning the water red." she shivered, still refusing to look at him. Her wet hair was matted to her face, hiding one of her eyes behind a blond curtain.
Brian sank to his knees next to her, "Tara... why don't you stay here for now... We can talk to the others in the morning, and-"
"No!" she turned to him suddenly, her eyes wide, "You can't tell them! They'll hate me, and they're my only friends! They can't know! They just can't!"
Brian reached out and wrapped his arms around her, "Okay, Tara. Okay. But if they come looking for you, you'll have to explain things... I can't hide you forever."
"Just... I don't want to even think about it right now... make me forget, Brian."
He paused, and looked down at her vulnerable eyes. Was it an invitation, or a plea for help?
"Let's just get you cleaned up for right now... it's too cold up here to be running around in soaking wet clothes..."
An hour later, Brian leaned on the door frame of his large bathroom as he watched Tara run a brush through her long, blonde hair. Showered and warm, she looked slightly better, but still retained that haunted look in her eyes. Wearing a pair of his boxers and one of his old t-shirts, she was actually quite sexy, but he tried to keep his mind off of her long, tanned legs. After a moment, she stopped brushing, pushed her hair back form her face, and stared at her reflection.
"I'm a murderer." she said with a straight face.
"No," he said in a firm voice, "you're not. It was self defense, Tara. The guy was trying to kill you... the law states that you're within your rights to use deadly force to protect yourself in those situations. Besides, it's not like anyone has to find out."
"I can't keep this from my friends. You know they'll find out." she looked away from her reflection and took a step closer to him, "Hell, Raven will take one look at me and know."
"Yeah, she's annoying like that." he sighed, "They'll understand, Tara."
"That's not the point. I should have found another way."
"You didn't have any time."
"Not an excuse." she shook her head again and leaned into him, "God, Brian... please... I don't want to think about it anymore tonight."
"What can I do?"
"Show me where your bed is." she looked up at him with a grin, "I'm exhausted."
"Brian?" a voice penetrated his head as he cracked an eye open from where he was sleeping on his couch in the living room, "Are you awake?"
"I am now..." he sat up groggily, and blinked at Tara through blurry eyes, "What is it?"
"Can you... come sleep next to me? I can't seem to fall asleep all alone in that big, strange bed... it's freaky."
"Tara... are you sure? I mean, it's not exactly... appropriate."
She rolled her eyes, "I think we can manage to sleep in the same bed without boffing each other's brains out. We're not Gar and Jenny for Christ's sake."
"Okay... okay..." he got up and grabbed the pillow he'd been using, "Let's go."
They trooped down the hallway to his bedroom, and both of them crawled into the king sized bed and got settled. Tara curled up next to him, and he put an arm around her, "Better?" he asked.
"Yeah. It feels nice." she snuggled into him, then mumbled something.
"Hmm?" he looked down at her.
She raised her face so that their lips were just an inch apart, "I said... I want to forget it ever happened." and she kissed him.
When Brian had kissed Raven it had been intense and passionate. When he had kissed Blackfire it had been slow and sexy. Kissing Tara though, was like sticking his lips into a light socket. Lights went off in his head, and he felt as if a spark of something important passed between them.
Still, he pulled back, searching her vulnerable eyes, "Tara... we shouldn't..."
She ignored him and pushed his shirt up, her hands rubbing along his chest, "Shhh... just... don't talk." she kissed him again, and began tugging at the boxers she wore, trying to get them off, "Just make love to me, Brian."
Gar walked out into the living room of the apartment he shared with Tara and Jenny to find his pink haired girlfriend staring out one of the windows, the early morning sunlight marking her face with a golden glow. Only the deep frown that marred her pretty features kept her from looking like an angel. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he planted a kiss on her cheek, "What's up?"
"She didn't come back last night."
"Tara?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think...?" Gar woke up more fully, and worry wormed it's way into his brain.
"I don't know." she shook her head, "Maybe she just stayed with Brian last night. We should go over and see what's up."
Gar nodded, "I'll get dressed."
"Yeah. Me too." Jenny turned to him, "I'm sure she's okay."
"Yeah." he nodded and smiled at her, "Probably just too tiered to fly home last night."
"Yeah." Jenny smiled back, and they walked back down the hall to their room to change, neither of them believing their false cheerfulness for a second.
Tara finished pulling her black top on, and pushed her hair back from her face, looking over to the bed where Brian lay, naked and tangled in the sheets, still asleep. A smile brushed her lips briefly, but it quickly became a frown as her eyes grew sad. Turning away, she walked out of the room and down the hall to his laundry room.
There, she retrieved her goggles from where she had discarded them the night before, then opened the still running clothes dryer. She pulled out her shorts and took only a few seconds to pull them on over her black thong. Her newly dried socks and boots were next, then she grabbed her wallet and stuffed it in her back pocket.
With a sigh, Tara walked out through the living room, then outside on to the patio. She waved her hand at one of the flag stones, and it pulled it's self up, becoming a platform for her to stand on. Jumping up, she took one last look back at the penthouse before flying off.
Brian woke to the succulent sound of a soft female voice purring in his ear, "Brrriiiiannnn... wake up, baby..."
"Mmm... Tara, you're something else you know that?" he opened his eyes and found himself staring not into azure pools of wonder, but cat-like pinkish violet, dancing with amusement.
"Shit!" he hurled himself to the side, and heard Gar's distinct laughter coming from the far side of his room. Pulling his sheet around him in an effort to maintain at least a little dignity, Brian stood up and faced the two with a frown, "What the fuck are you two doing here?"
"We came looking for Tara." Jenny crawled off the bed and stood next to Gar, who was still doubled over laughing, "We got worried when she didn't come home last night." eyeing Brian's well muscled chest, she arched an eyebrow, "Guess we had nothing to worry about, since she was in your... capable hands..."
"It wasn't like that." he frowned at them, "Where is she?"
Jenny blinked at him and Gar stopped laughing, "We don't know. We were hoping you'd be able to tell us."
"Shit." Brian rushed out of his room and dashed to the laundry area. Seeing her clothes were gone, he slammed a fist into the wall, "Damnit!"
"What's going on, Brian?" Jenny asked from the doorway to the laundry room. Gar hovered behind her, worry etched on his face. Jenny looked scared.
"She... ran into some trouble last night. Nothing she couldn't handle, but she was pretty shaken up. I'm worried about what she's going to do now."
"Well," Gar spoke up, "Tara's always been ruled by her wanderlust. I'm sure she'll turn up eventually."
"Yeah." Brian sagged back against his washer, "I guess. Now would you two please bugger off so I can get dressed?"
Five miles away from Brian's penthouse, Tara was boarding a train. She glanced back over her shoulder as she stepped into the car, and sighed, "No going back now, Tara."
As she moved to find her seat, referencing her ticket as she went, she thought about her destination, and the trouble that she'd meet there. Just in case, she'd used her credit card to pay for the ticket, so her friends could trail her if they really wanted to.
"All aboard!" came the conductor's shout, "Now departing for Las Vegas, Nevada!"
Tara slept the entire trip, and her dreams were haunted by images of pale faces missing their eyes, and water swirling around her, thick with white powder and red liquid.
A hand shaking her jerked her awake. She started and looked to see who was waking her. The kindly looking old conductor smiled down at her, "We've arrived Miss. Time to get off."
"Yeah... yeah, thanks." Tara smiled back and stood up. As she walked to the doors of the train, she rubbed her eyes and willed the ghastly dreams away.
Stepping out into the cool night air of Las Vegas, she immediately walked for the exit of the train depot. As soon as she hit the street, she found an ally to summon a chunk of rock from, and sailed up into the air.
Flying high over the light filled streets, Tara reflected on the last time she'd been to the city of sin. She had been fifteen, and her guide had been the same man she was now going to see.
"Hope Wintergreen has kept the house in good shape." she muttered as the city lights gave way to highway and desert. Her destination was past the first ridge of mountains, in a remote little valley that hardly anyone knew about. It was the place she had received most of her training, and the place she had first learned what it was to hate.
The house was much the same as she remembered it, with it's simply layout and large open gardens. She knew there were no fewer than eleven sublevels, most of them dedicated to perfecting the arts of murder and mayhem, but the outside looked peaceful and tranquil.
Just the way he liked it.
She landed inside the defensive perimeter, not wanting to set off one of the Claymore Mines and loose a leg. Walking through the entry garden, she stopped at the front door and fumbled in her pocket for her keys. With a jolt, she remembered that she didn't have them anymore, and she shook her head with a sad smile. Reaching out, she rang the doorbell.
It took four minutes before the door opened to reveal a stately looking gentlemen, dressed in loose fitting gardening clothes. He had a full head of white hair, and a well trimmed mustache over his thin lips, which pulled back into a smile when he saw the girl on the doorstep, "Terra!"
"Just Tara now, actually." she grinned back and took a step forward, throwing her arms around his neck, "How've you been, William?"
"Oh, as good as an old man can be. And please, Miss Tara, call me Wintergreen."
"Right, right. Stuffy old British coot." she pulled back and shoved his shoulder playfully. He beamed at her and led her inside.
"You've come at a good time. The Master is home at the moment." he paused and looked at her sideways, "I assume you came to see him?"
"Yeah. I have some stuff to discuss with him." she nodded.
"Very well. I shall prepare some tea for the two of you to take in the garden, if that's okay?"
"That sound's great, Wintergreen, thanks. Do you know where he is? I'll go get him."
"No need." a smooth, calm voice came from the door to the kitchen as they approached it from the entry way, "I see my traitorous second apprentice has come back to me. Terra, Terra, Terra... can you give me one good reason I shouldn't put you through the same Hell you put me through after you knocked me into that lake of lava?"
Tara turned and saw a man in his early fifties, wearing light khaki shorts and a sky blue button down shirt. His feet were bare, and an eye patch covered his right eye. His white hair was cropped short, and his goatee was trimmed to end in a slight point. His features had a decidedly evil taint to them, and his fists were balled at his sides.
Tara blinked, "Um... the whole 'voice of doom' thing's not nearly as scary without the combat suit and the mask..."
Slade Wilson sighed and unclenched his fists, letting his head droop, "Tea will be fine, Wintergreen. We'll be in the garden."
Slade studied her over the rim of his tea cup as they sat at the small bistro set that was arranged nicely under a peach tree near the back of the large garden behind the house. His one blue eye gazed at her intently, making her squirm a bit.
"Okay, cut that out. I know I dropped you in a pit of lava, and I know I betrayed you and sided with the Titans again, but I'm sorry, okay?"
"You're... sorry?" he arched the eyebrow over his good eye.
Tara rolled her eyes, "I know it sounds lame, but there's not much else I can offer you, Slade. If I had it to do over again, I would have tried to capture you instead of kill you."
"Oh, well... all of my anger is now completely evaporated."
"Sarcasm is not your strong suit." she frowned at him, "Look... that's all in the past now, alright? You died and came back, I died and came back, let's just call it even, okay?"
He sighed, "I suppose there's not point in arguing with you. You're right. Karma has come full circle on this matter."
"Exactly."
"So why are you here? I doubt it's to have tea with a man who would have killed you if you hadn't done him first."
"Actually, I need a favor."
"Excuse me?" Slade looked incredulous, "You want a favor?"
"Yeah. I need a new identity for a little while. You still have any of my spares laying around?"
"I kept your files, yes." he eyed her skeptically, "Why, pray tell, do you need one of the alternate identities I set up for you?"
"Because... I need to go home. You know I'm not allowed back in the boarder of Markovia. If I'm someone else though..."
"Ah, I see." he nodded thoughtfully, "Why is it you have to return home?"
She paused for a moment, then blurted out, "I killed a man."
"Just one?" he smiled and held up a finger.
"Yes, just one, you idiot."
"Your first kill, and you go running home to your brother. I never would have expected you to be this weak."
"It's not weakness. It's atonement. Taking lives is wrong, Slade, but I know I'll never be able to convince you of that."
He shook his head and sighed, "Very well. I have little use for your spare identities, but in return for this favor, I ask for a boon from you as well."
Tara tensed up, "What?"
"Oh, I'll be saving it for a rainy day. In essence, Tara... you owe me."
She swallowed hard, then gulped down the last of her Tea, "Deal."
"Good girl." he smiled at her, his creepy I-know-something-you-don't smile, and she actually winced, knowing that she'd just signed away her soul... again.
"I wont kill anyone for you."
"Oh, I'll keep my boon inside your flawed ethical guidelines, don't worry your pretty blond head over it. My, you've certainly grown up, haven't you?" he seemed to really see her for the first time, "You're making me feel old, Tara."
"Maybe that's because you are old." she rolled her eyes, "The magic used to bring me back took away a few years of my life."
"You look lovely. Civilian life has treated you well?"
"Up until recently, yeah. And I'm not only older, but wiser now, Slade, so don't expect any of our previous relationship to resurface here."
He looked away from her, "Even I admit that our... relationship was a mistake, Tara."
Her lip quivered as she wrung her hands in her lap, "I was only sixteen, Slade... I didn't know any better, and you... well, you were lonely, weren't you?"
"Wintergreen makes for fine conversation, but nothing like what you were... I'm sorry Tara."
"Sorry?" she looked up at him with tear stained eyes, "Excuse me, but I thought I just heard the psychopath apologize."
"I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I can admit when I'm in the wrong." he shook his head and rubbed his good eye, "I never should have taken what I did from you."
There was silence between them for a few minutes, then he spoke again, "Will you be staying the night?"
"If that's okay... I'll hit the road in the morning... long trip ahead of me."
"I'll have Wintergreen make up a room. Tara..." he reached across the table and took her hand, "The man you killed... it was self defense wasn't it?"
She nodded and gripped his hand, "Yeah. Why?"
He smiled a sad smile, "Because even when I was training you to rip the throats out of training dummies, I knew you'd never willingly take a life... your eyes... they betray your true nature."
She stared at him for a long moment, then brushed away her tears, "Thanks, Slade. Really." letting go of his hand, she stretched and smiled at him with a final sniff, "So, how about a game of checkers? You have yet to beat me."
"Oh ho... we'll see who's laughing when you've been beaten..." he grinned at her and they got up to find the board.
Vic sat down at an outdoor table on the patio of a nice little cafe in down town Jump. He was on his lunch break, so he was still wearing his suit, and he held a slight grin on his face, "Yo." he said to the blond man seated across from him, "What's up, man?"
"Glad you could make it on such short notice." Brian nodded to the half-robot and lay his menu down.
"Always up for lunch with a friend. New power core works great by the way."
"Glad to hear it. Hey, I need a favor if it's not too much to ask."
"Shoot." Vic picked up his menu and glanced it over quickly.
"I need to do a credit card trace."
Vic paused and looked over at him, "I don't exactly have the means to do that at the lab, Bri."
"But the computers at the Tower do." Brian nodded to the West, where the street they were on led down to the bay. Titans Tower stood strong and silent on it's lone island.
"We're locked out of the Tower, man. It's owned by the JLA now."
Brian rolled his eyes, "You expect me to believe that you didn't leave a back door somewhere that only you know about?"
Vic glared at him for a moment, then sighed and slumped, "Who you need to trace?"
"Tara."
"Tee? Why?"
"She's gone. I'm betting she used her credit card to book a flight or something."
"She could just fly on her own power you know."
"No... she wanted to get away and travel, not just fly around on a slab of rock all day. We were going to go together, but... some stuff happened last night, and I think she's going to keep running unless I can bring her back."
The former Titan rubbed his chin and looked at Brian seriously, "Must have been some pretty heavy stuff."
"She made me promise not to tell you guys about it. Ask her when I bring her back."
After a moment, Vic sighed again and nodded, "Alright. After I get out of the lab today I'll call you and we can head over to the Tower."
"Sweet." Brian grinned, "Thanks for the trust man. Now order whatever you want. I'm paying."
Tara sat at a large computer screen, scrolling through various pictures of herself, modified slightly to change her appearance enough so no one would be able to place her right away. She came to one with black hair and stopped.
"Do you have the wig for this one?" she called over her shoulder to Slade, where he was wheeling a portable wardrobe out of a closet for her.
He glanced at the screen, then opened the doors of the wardrobe and dug around inside. He was back out after a moment, holding a mop of long black hair in his hand, "Yes."
"Great. I'll go with..." she checked the name, "Natasha Mermovia. I'll need brown contacts as well."
"We have them here." he held up a cosmetics kit, then set it down on a table next to the wardrobe, "Take whatever you'd like from this collection. I have very little use for woman's clothing."
"You and Wintergreen don't get up to any kinky shit while I'm not around?"
"Sadly, both of our sex lives seem to have died in recent years. Though Wintergreen never dated much, really."
Tara snorted, "Right."
"Tara?" she turned and looked at Slade, who stood behind her with a sad look on his face, "You do believe me don't you? That I'm sorry for what I put you through?"
"Yeah." she swallowed hard, "Yeah, I do."
"Make me a promise?"
"What's that?"
He looked at her for a long moment, then said, "Don't go back to being a super hero."
Tara blinked, "What?"
"It's... dangerous, and... I don't think I could fight you again."
"Slade... I can't make that promise. If the need arises, I'll go back to the Titans in a heart beat. I have talents and skills that can be used for good... just as much as they can be used for evil, like you taught me. You use your talents to make money and attain your goals... I use mine to save lives and stop people like you from hurting others. I'm sorry, Slade." she shook her head, "I know you're helping me quite a bit here, but if I ever run in to you endangering other peoples lives again... I'll stop you."
He smiled a sad smile, "You really have grown into an amazing woman, haven't you?"
"Yeah." she smiled back, "I guess I have."
"We should so not be doing this." Vic and Brian walked quietly down an underground passage way that led to the lower levels of the Tower from under the island. As they came to the end of the hallway, they stopped in front of a nondescript door. "This is labeled as a maitnence closet on the other side." Vic went on, "Hopefully none of the JLA have been down here to check this out."
He entered a quick twelve digit code on the pad next to the door, and it slid open to reveal the basement storage area of the Tower. The two of them walked in quietly, and Vic looked around. After a moment, he walked to a wall panel and entered in a few commands, "I'm shutting down the security grid for now. I'll arm it again after we leave."
"Great. Where's the best place to do this from?"
Vic swallowed hard, "Robin's computer."
Brian stopped in his tracks at the base of the stairs that led to the upper levels, "Aw, shit man... I'm sorry. I didn't realize we'd have to-"
"Don't worry." Vic shook his head and started up the stairs, "I can handle it."
"If you say so. Let's just do this quick."
"I hear that."
Ten minutes later, they were walking into Robin's old room. It was exactly as he had left it before he'd rushed off to Gotham, with clothes scattered about, and spare utility belt on the work bench. He had obviously been upgrading some of the gadgets in it. Vic wondered if any of the upgrades could have saved his life.
"This the one?" Brian asked as he turned on Robin's monitor. The screen lit up, showing that the computer hadn't been shut off since the Boy Wonder had left the Tower."
"Yeah. He left the system up and logged on... saves me the trouble of having to hack it. This'll only take a second."
True to his word, Vic had the last month worth of charges on Tara's credit card up in less then a minute. He scrolled down to the end and pointed, "That what you're looking for?"
"She took the train to Vegas." Brian scratched his head, "That's vague. Wish I had more to go on than that."
"Tell you what. Why don't you head out that way, and I'll create a link up here that'll tell me if she uses the card again."
"That'll help a ton man, thanks. I'd better jet if I want to make it there in any good amount of time. See ya, round, Vic, and thanks."
"Hey, it's for Tara, right?" he went about setting up the link, "Just bring her home safe and sound."
"Count on it." Brian waved as he walked out the door.
The next day found Tara walking into Las Vegas MacCarran International with a single suitcase in her hand. She wore her black wig, light blue shades of makeup with light pink lip gloss, and stylish jeans with a sky blue baby-t. A black leather purse swung off her shoulder and she smiled in a flirtatious manner at all the cute men she passed.
Coming to a McDonald's in the airport, she pulled out her credit card and got in line.
Brian walked down the strip, looking around at the sights. He'd been to Vegas before of course, but he'd hardly ever seen the city during the day. It was almost as lively as it was during the night.
So far he hadn't had any luck locating Tara. The first place he'd checked was the train station, and he'd found a conductor that remembered her, but didn't know where she had gone. A brief search around the depot and he'd found a chunk of rock missing down an ally way. That meant she probobly hadn't gone too far outside the city.
"Fifty square miles to search. Not a problem." he muttered to himself as he looked up at the Cesar. Sighing, he decided to see if any of the security personal had seen her come through this particular casino the night before.
Just as he was about to go in, his phone rang. Pulling it out he checked the ID, then answered it, "Give me some good news, Cy."
"Tara just used her card again in a McDonalds in MacCarran International. She's going to fly somewhere."
"I can be there in Fifteen minutes. Thanks man."
"Just doing my job. Move fast Bri."
"Miss Mermovia?" a young flight attendant asked and she looked up from where she was finishing with her breakfast.
"Yees?" Tara affected a Russian accent, and smiled kindly.
"The flight is boarding, ma'am. This way." she motioned with one arm and Tara stood up, grabbing her purse, which was also her only carry on.
"Thank you." she said with the same accent and moved on.
The sound of someone running caught her ear and she looked back at the terminal entrance to see Brian come pelting in. He looked around for a moment, then his eyes fell on her.
She stared back at him as he stared at her.
After a moment, he shook his head and continued to look around, as if he was searching for someone. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and continued on to board the plane. The black wig really did it apparently.
"Though it was kind of sweet that he followed me here..." as found her seat and sat down, she removed her credit card from her pocket and pulled a small wallet out of her purse. She slipped the card into a slot behind another one.
One that read Natasha Mermovia.
Brian waited until she boarded the plan before he gave up the pretense of looking for her. He quickly walked forward and tapped one of the last flight attendants that was left in the terminal on the shoulder. She turned and looked at him with a smile.'
"Can I help you Sir?"
He gave her his best dazzling smile right back and replied, "Yeah... I was wondering if you could tell me where this plan is going?" he motioned to the one that Tara had just boarded.
"Oh! It's headed for Markovia. It's a one way flight, non-stop."
"That's near the former Soviet Union right?"
"Yes it is, Sir! If you wish to book a flight, Delta Airlines will be more than happy to have your business! I have to go now though."
"Well, go on then. Who knows? Maybe I'll just wait until you get back to book that flight..." he winked at her.
"That'll be in two days." she winked back and ran her eyes up and down his lean body before turning and walking to the plan, swaying her shapely hips the whole way. She turned at the gate to give him one more wink, but ended up blinking in confusion instead.
Brian had disappeared.
The phone rang at Jenny and Gar's apartment, and the pink haired girl picked it up from where it was sitting next to her. She hit the talk button and held it to her ear, never taking her eyes off the TV set in front of her.
"Hello?"
"Hi... is Tara in?"
"Nope. Can I take a message?"
"This is Carol from the video store... do you know where she is? She was supposed to come in last night and we never saw her..."
"Oh, that." Jenny sat up and hit the mute button on the TV, "Tara... well, she's always been kinda... a wanderer. I know this sucks to hear, but we think she went on walkabout."
"Walkabout?"
"Yeah. We're not sure where she is, but we know she'll be back in a month or so."
"A month? Jeez! I can't just fill in a schedule like that!" Carol sounded irate, "Tell he when she gets back that she'll have to find a new job! She just lost this one!"
"Yeah, I figured. Sorry."
"Not your fault, hun." Carol sighed, "Actually, tell her to come back in when she gets back... I'll hire her back if she wants."
"I'll do that." Jenny smirked.
"Thanks. Bye!"
"Yeah, later." Jenny hit the off button and set the phone down with a sigh. "Tara... where the hell are you girl?"
There was a chime from overhead, and Tara looked up to see the fasten seatbelts sign lit up. As she did so, the captain's voice came over the intercom, "Attention passengers of Delta flight 776, Las Vegas to Markovia. We're getting ready to make out landing approach now, so expect a little turbulence to begin shortly. We hope you've enjoyed your flight, and..." Tara tuned out the rest as she grabbed her purse and held it in her lap. The most dangerous part of her trip was coming up, and that was making it through customs. If the guards found out that she was who she was... they'd probably shoot her on sight.
With a sigh to let out the tension she was feeling, she closed her eyes and went over the entire personal history of Natasha.
"Passport?" the guard asked in Russian, and Tara handed him the fake that she was carrying. He looked it over, then squinted up at her. "Are you hear for business?"
"No." she replied in flawless Russian, "I am here visiting family."
"Ah." he waved her on, "Go ahead."
She took her passport back and continued through the airport. Had it really been so long since she left that no one recognized her face any more? While it was true that she was much older now, her facial features really hadn't changed in years. Maybe they had just figured she would never come back, and so they had stopped training their customs officers to recognized her and her mother's faces.
As she stepped up to the baggage retrieval line, she wondered how much her homeland had changed since she'd been away.
"Wow..." she gasped as she looked out the window of the cab she was riding in. Skyscrapers rose on either side of her, and she smiled broadly, "He's done alright for the place..."
"Never seen a big city before?" the driver asked back at her, again in Russian.
She shook her head and replied in her native tongue, "I live in one much larger than this back in the United States... it's just been some time since I've been home. The biggest building here when I left was the palace."
"All of these buildings have gone up in just the past eight years or so. How old where you when you left?"
"Seven." she replied, and gazed at a fountain that was shooting water on into the air in the middle of a park. Children played in the water, and parents stood nearby and laughed, "Everyone seems... happier now."
"Change in rulers." the cabbie replied, "King Brion is much more open to modern ways than King Phillip was."
"I guess so." she watched the sights scrolling by slow down until they stopped in front of a square with a large statue in it.
"This is where you want to be?" the driver asked.
"Yes. Thank you." Tara pulled out several bills of the nation's currency and handed them to him. As he started to count change, she shook her head and touched his shoulder, "Keep it. It's your tip."
"Are you sure?" he looked back at her with a surprised glance, "This is... a lot of money for a tip."
"I can afford it." she winked at him and opened her door, "Pop the trunk so I can get my suitcase?"
After the cab had driven away, Tara stood in the square and looked up at the statue for a long time. Finally she sighed and smiled a weak smile, "I'm home, Grandpapa." she whispered in Russian, then walked past the statue and down the cobblestone road that led to the palace grounds. She stopped at the gates and paid the admission charge for the tour, then walked in with a group of tourists.
As they entered the palace, she slipped away from the group and down a hall way that led to a set of double doors. As she walked, she pulled off her wig and stuffed it into her purse.
Nearing the doors, she wasn't surprised at all when a guard stepped out dressed in the uniform of one of the ceremonial honor guardsman of the royalty.
"I'm sorry Miss, but this area is off limits to the tour groups. I can help you find your way back if you'd like, or-"
"That wont be necessary." she tilted her chin up and stared at him with a gaze that could stop even a battle hardened mercenary in his tracks, "I'd like to request an audience with his Majesty, King Brion."
He arched an eyebrow at her, "And who, might I ask, is making this request?"
She stood up straighter, and squared her shoulders, "Princess Tara Markov. His sister."
Tara looked up from where she was seated in a well appointed office beyond the doors she had been stopped outside of, and smiled as a young man no older than twenty-five rushed through the doors. He was tall, and had blond hair that fell about his ears in golden waves. His face was boyish, and he wore an expensive looking suit. His face broke into a huge grin when he saw her.
"Tara!" he shouted, and practically ran to her, vaulting over the back of the couch that separated them and landing in front of her as she stood up. They threw their arms around each other and both of them laughed.
After a few minutes they broke apart and both sat down on the couch she'd been seated on before, "Tara... what in the name of God are you doing back here? How did you get past customs?"
She grinned and pulled the wig out of her purse, "I guess it's pretty effective." she chuckled with him, and he sat back and looked at her, "You look older than I thought you would... you're only seventeen aren't you?"
"Technically. Physically I'm twenty." He arched an eyebrow and she sighed. "You have a few hours?"
He turned to the doors where a mousy looking woman hovered with an unsure look on her face, "Lucia? Clear my schedule for the day. I have some catching up to do with my sister."
"Yes Sir." she nodded and backed out of the room, closing the doors.
"Lucia looks like she'd be pretty hot if you took her out of that suit and did her hair up nice..." Tara leered at her brother.
"She's my personal assistant, Tara, not my girlfriend. I haven't really had time to date since I took the crown."
"Since Father died." Tara's grin failed.
"Don't feel sad, Sister." Brion shook his head, "Father was not a good man... he hated you and your mother, and he took from me the only sibling I ever had. He made many bad choices throughout his rule of this nation."
"Yeah." Tara sighed, "So... where to start?" she looked up at the ceiling, "How about when my Mom died? I was... nine..."
Brion listened as she spoke.
He kept listening for four hours.
Tara stood on a balcony that extended out from the guest room she'd been given for as long as she chose to stay. She leaned on the marble rail that went around it and stared out at the unfamiliar skyline of Markovia's capital city, which shared the name of the country.
Brion had been accepting of her story, and he had understood her motivations for becoming Slade's apprentice. He had even told her that he didn't fault he for killing the drug runner just two nights before.
"You can stay here as long as you wish, Tara." he had said, "Regardless of what has gone on in your past, here, you are a Princess. I'll revoke your banishment tonight, you may stay here at the palace in the meantime. Please... consider making this your home Sister."
And she had, too. She'd been leaning on the railing for almost an hour, thinking about it. All the pros and cons. All the things she'd be leaving behind, but also the things she'd be escaping from.
All of her thought always led back to the same thing though.
"Brian..." she whispered. He'd been invading her thoughts since she'd seen him at the airport back in Vegas. He had come looking for her, to do what? Convince her not to go? Return the hair clip she had forgotten at his place? Go with her? Sweep her up in his arms and carry her off into the sunset?
A smile crept up on her face at that thought, but she quickly banished it with a scowl. Slamming her fist into the railing, she muttered, "Damn it all! I am so not falling in love with that idiot."
"What idiot?" asked a computer filtered voice from behind her. She whirled around and stared across the open balcony with wide eyes.
Red-X leaned against the frame of the French doors that led back into her room, his black cape wafting in the breeze with the white silk curtains.
"Brian? What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I followed you." he shrugged as he walked over to her, pulling off his mask. He smiled, "I put two and two together on the way over. Markovia... Tara Markov... the ruler of the country is Brion Markov... not a hard equation."
"So you knew where to find me." she grinned, "Good for you." her grin turned into a scowl, "Now go away."
"I thought we were going to take a trip together. What happened to that?"
"I killed a guy, that's what happened. Why can't you understand that I need to be alone right now? Why can't you understand that I don't need your help, and that I don't need- mmrph!"
Tara glared at him over his gloved hand, which was pressed firmly to her mouth. He glared back with a serious expression, "Stop your gorgeous lips flapping for a minuet, Tara, and listen to me." she blinked at him, and he pulled his hand away, "I didn't chase you halfway around the world so that you could just kick me off your balcony and never come home. I came to tell you that I understand what you're feeling. After I killed Jinx, and then Raven died instead..." he trailed off and turned away from her, "Fuck! This is hard to talk about." he glared up at the stars for a minuet, and she stepped up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Go on, Brian."
He sighed and turned back to her, avoiding her eyes, "After Raven died, I ran. I spent a long time just brooding on it, and I finally realized that I had to atone. I had to... make my peace with it. I went to the Tower, Jason captured me, and we've all been friends ever since. I helped them fight off an army of zombies, and I've been patrolling the city for them while they're disbanded. I'm giving back, even if Raven is still alive. I have to... keep doing good. For that one, terrible deed... I have to keep going."
Tara's eyes softened, "You really are strong, you know that?"
"No, I'm not." he looked up at her eyes, "I'm so, so weak. I can't forgive myself... I can't face the fact that I did wrong and get past it. I just... keep beating myself up over it."
She smiled at him, "I think you just like being a hero more than you'll ever admit."
He frowned at her, "Yeah, but you were born to be a hero, Tara. It's what you'll always be. Here, in Jump, or on the God damn moon... you'll always want to help those in need."
"How do you know?" she frowned back at him.
"It's in your eyes... your eyes tell your true nature."
Tara froze, "You're the second person to say that to me in the past few days."
"Who else said that?" he looked curious.
She took a moment to reply, "Slade."
His eyes widened, "You went back to see Slade? Is that why you went to Vegas?"
She nodded, "He lives close to there. I needed an different identity to get into Markovia, and I knew he had some old ones we set up when I was working for him lying around."
"And he helped you? Just like that?"
"I may have turned on him in the end, Brian, but... he'll always be like the Father I never had. Lord knows mine sucked enough."
"Is King Brion your brother?"
"Half brother." she turned away from him, "Look, when we made love the other night... you have to have realized that I wasn't exactly..."
"A virgin? Yeah, I noticed." he frowned, "Was it Slade?"
She nodded, staring off at the city lights, "It was only a few times. Three actually. But... I don't regret it. He was lonely, I was growing up... we worked so closely together... it was only natural."
"You didn't... when you went back to him, you didn't-"
She laughed, "No!" she twirled back around and slugged his shoulder, "I've been with a younger guy now! He seemed so... old." she smiled, at him, "Besides, I don't think he'd be able to get it up for a chick that dropped him in a lake of lava."
"I would. You're hot." he winked.
"Flirt." she shoved his shoulder, "What I'm trying to say here is that, well... the other night? That was special to me. It... really meant something."
"Yeah. Me too." He held open his arms and she walked forward into them. As he hugged her, he whispered into her hair, "I've been thinking about you a lot in the past few days."
"I've been thinking about you too."
"You think we're falling for each other?"
"I know I am."
"Jenny said we would."
"Jenny's been with enough guys and girls to know by now."
Tara laughed at that, then leaned up and kissed him. After a moment, they pulled apart, "I'm going to think over what you said... about pressing on, and atoning for my sins and all of that."
"Good girl." he smiled down at her.
"In the mean time, do you want to stay up all night and have sex with me?"
His grin broadened, "Hell yes."
August 2nd was a Tuesday, and so Jenny was standing in the middle of her apartment late in the morning with Kylee sitting on the couch in front of her. They worked on spell theory while Gar was at work so he could help out with her combat training when he got home.
Jenny paced back and forth before the almost-thirteen year old girl with a serious expression on her face, "The presence of dark energy in an stag signifies what?"
Kylee thought for a moment, "Either the animal brushed against some form of dark magic, or it's inhabited by dark entity, most likely a demon."
"Or?" Jenny motioned with her hand, signaling that there was more.
"Um..." Kylee closed her eyes and her lips moved as she spoke through the passages the pink haired girl had had her memorize, "Oh! It could also be a Stargitorial! An vengeful being that brings misfortune to men who hunt for sport and not for food."
"Good." Jinx nodded, then smiled, "You're coming along quickly! How's your math homework been? Still working with Bart?"
Kylee blushed, but was saved from responding by the door being kicked open and Tara strolling in with a suitcase like she was just returning from a trip to the store, "Hey guys!" she said in a happy tone.
"Tara!" Kylee jumped up and rushed over, throwing her arms around the blond girl, "Welcome home!"
"Great to be back!" Tara hugged Kylee back, then smiled down at her, "Think you can grab me a glass of water, kid? I'm parched!"
"Sure thing!" Kylee nodded with a grin, and ran off to the kitchen. Jenny watched her go then gave Tara a brief hug.
"We haven't seen Brian around for a month. Did he catch up to you?"
"Yeah. We fucked like rabbits." Tara grinned like an idiot and plopped down on the couch, tossing her suitcase aside and kicked off her shoes.
"Glad to hear it." Jenny laughed and sat down with her as Kylee came back with the water. Tara gladly took it and gulped it down.
"So where did you go?" Kylee asked as she sat down on the floor in a meditative position.
Tara waved her hand in an abstract gesture, "We started in Markovia... that's where I was born, by the way... and visited my brother for a little while."
"Markovia is where?" Jenny asked with an arched eyebrow, "And why does it sound like your last name?"
"It's in Eastern Europe, and that's because I'm actually a Princess there. Well, half a Princess, since my Dad wasn't a very faithful man." Jenny and Kylee gaped at her, and she continued with a grin, "Then we went to Paris, because we were so in lerv... then off to Switzerland, then Germany, then Scotland, then back over here to New York, then across the country, hitting a few cities along the way, but mostly sticking to the wilderness. We camped a lot."
"Wow!" Kylee said with wide eyes, "That's so cool! And you're a Princess?"
"Unofficially." Tara winked at her, then flopped back with a giggle,"God... Brian is so fucking awsome... in bed and everywhere else too..."
Jenny shook her head, "If Raven asks, I didn't teach you that." she said to Kylee.
The younger girl just giggled, "So we all have boyfriends now!"
Jenny smirked, "So Bart's your boyfriend now, huh?"
Tara perked up, "The speedster? Really?"
Kylee blushed, "No! I just.. well..."
The two older girls laughed, and Jenny reached over and poked Tara, "Hey. The video store said you could have your job back if you wanted it."
"Na." Tara shook her head, "I'm moving in with Brian in a few days, and he's loaded enough for both of us."
Jenny rolled her eyes, "Yeah, because he stole everything he has... Seriously though, we're going to miss you around here. Just wont be the same without you."
"You guys need your space, and I'll be better for me to live with Brian for what I'll be doing any way."
"What's that?" Kylee asked.
Tara looked at them seriously, "I'm gonna go back to it..." she brushed some hair out of her face, and grinned like a idiot, "Titan again, am I." her eyes flashed with golden energy, "Terra's back, baby."
Closing Notes: I know it seems a bit rushed, and there's probobly tons of errors I didn't pick up, but I wanted to get this one done, and up. It's a bridge chapter anyway, just to establish a realistic relationship between Brian and Tara.
Reviews!
goldfish demon - Talk about far between. Hope this one wasn't too long...
cyberclock000- Ass hurting all over again? This one was just as long as the last one... sheesh.
catsux-Oh, only seven inches... If you're such a comic book geek, can you tell me what Brion Markov used as a codename while he was advanturing as a hero?
wen.crushed.- I've given Brian (Red-X) a whole different personality for this series, because he's so undefined in the cartoon. I like the way he's turning out.
seattleitegirl- Glad you liked the last chapter. Adonis's laser cannon was suposed to be just that... a laser. Cyborg uses a sonic disruptor. I know, details, details... heh.
StarryRavenFire- No Tim and Kylee action in this story. Tim will stay in Gotham, and Kylee will stay in Jump. Sorry. :)
Darkofthenight- Update was no where near 'soon.' Sorry about that... :)
pharonicbatgirl (Arezal) - No BB/T for you! BB/JNX, and TRA/X the whole way! Atleast for this one. I've got aGREAT idea for a BB/Raethough, so Imight start it soon...
Robinfan- Chapter after this one is back toGotham. But yeah, BartAllen is one of the coolest speesters ever. Wally West is just too much of a punk, but Bart's actually funny.
Heaven's Angel- You're reading too much into the future. Normally I don't like to crush peoples guesses like this, but seriously... I didn'tput Kylee inthis story to be Tim's love intrest. She's justas OC that will have nothing to do with that story arch. Sorry everyone:)
WHOCARES? - More Robin and Starfire next chapter. I'd have to say thatso far, this one is my least favorite chapter of this story. It just feels to rushed to me, even though I took like, a month to write it. Heh.
Stolen Valkyrie- EVERYONE loves Kylee! I guess it's because I've given her so little conflict and there's like, nothing bad about her. Sure she had her little anger freak out, but she was really, really sorry! (Big puppy dog eyes here.) Seriously though, I did put her in to be like that. She's strong, despite seeming like she's so frail, and she's getting stronger as the story progresses. As she grows, her sense of right and wrong and peace and justice for all will grow too. Not into a black and white view, but seeing all the gray inbetween, just like 'Mom.' :)
chickiidoo- Thanks for the shout out, even if you don't have much time to review. Trust me, I understand. :)
The Question - You know, I seriously kicked around the idea of adding Cheshire into this story to screw with Raven and Speedy's relationship, but tossed it out at the last minute as seeming TOO Outsiderish. No, this story will stay as just theTitans.
Yeliak-More Raven and Kylee in coming chapters. More of everyone in coming chapters. That hopefullywont take this long to write.
WHOCARES?(again) - Nope, not dead yet. :)
seattleitegirl(again) - Still kickin, unfortunetly. Sorry. :)
Next Time: Two Birds and a Bat
In which Robin takes flight, Batman gains a new partner, and an old knight takes on a new mantle.