Chapter 8: Voting for the Team
"NO!" Robin barked, pounding his fist on the table of in the meeting room of Titans Tower. "N! O! No! Nope! No way! No how! Nuh-uh!"
"She did do well in that fight," Beast Boy argued before shoving a hand full of tofu chips into his mouth. "I say let her join the group."
"And I say you haven't changed your brain back to the right size since the last time you were an ostrich!" Robin snapped angrily.
"Let us not start the name calling, Robin," Starfire said before Beast Boy could return fire. "Let us keep to the subject, shall we?"
"Yeah, is Kim Possible ready to be a Teen Titan?" Cyborg restated the subject of the meeting.
"Ok," Robin said, taking a deep breath and reaching up to remove his mask, "I've been KP's sidekick since she started doing the hero thing," Ron said, glancing around the room, "She's too impulsive, she's a risk, and she's liable to get herself or one of us hurt!"
"Look, I know your upset 'bout your parents and all, but you don't have to put the blame on her. So she froze up against the Joker, no one wants to fight that wacko," Beast Boy shrugged, "You can't blame her and think she killed your-" the green Titan finished with a yelp as Ron jerked him out of his chair by the collar of his uniform.
"Mind repeating that, Green Boy?" Ron growled in his bat voice, narrowing his chocolate, hate-filled eyes on his teammate.
"Robin, Ron, calm down," Starfire said gently, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Her eyes widened for a moment when she felt a slight tremble before Beast Boy was dropped.
"That topic will never be brought up again, Logan, understood?" Ron said, replacing his mask, giving Beast Boy a death glare.
"Right! Sure! Understood, got ya!" Beast Boy gulped before climbing back to his seat.
"Ok, let's just do a vote," Cyborg said, "Seeing as you're so adamant on the subject, Robin, you can go first. For or against and state your reasons."
"Alright," Robin said going into his Bat-like persona completely, "Possible is a good fighter, and is on her way to becoming a decent hero, but she is still incredibly green. She's only fought a hand full of mildly dangerous foes, and the rest were just laughable. All in all, she's not ready. So I'm against."
"Ok, Kid Flash, your next." Cyborg nodded toward the speedster.
"Ithinkkimmiewouldbegoodfortheteam!" Kid Flash said quickly, "ShefightsgoodshesworkedwithRobinbeforeandshesreallyhottoo!"
"Ok that's one for and one against, Wonder Girl," Cyborg said, nodding toward the blond teen.
"Well …" Wonder Girl reclined in her chair, "I admit she's a good fighter, and she's done a lot of good, but I've done a bit of homework on her. She's a control freak and really not a team player. Once she grows up a bit and stops acting like the spoiled baby, then she can play in the big leagues." Wonder Girl finished, not noticing the glare she got from Robin.
"Ok, one for, two against," Cyborg looked around the table, "Raven, what do you have to say about this?"
"I know what it's like to be consumed by my own demons …" Raven said emotionlessly, her dark eyes holding steady on Robin, "while she maybe a little rough around the edges, I feel some of us may need an anchor close by … to keep their demons from consuming their soul. I vote for."
"Ok, score's tied two-two," Cyborg stated, "My turn, so … While she does hold her own in a fight, I agree with Wonder Girl. Kim needs to work out her green-ness before she takes on any of our usual threats. So that's three against, two for, Superboy?"
"Don't know what you guys are expecting her to do to 'work out her green-ness'," Superboy said, leaning back with his hand behind his head, "But I think she deserves a chance. She's done a lot of good, and her around will definitely do my body good …" He said giving a wink to the suddenly flustered Wonder Girl and fuming Robin.
"Ok, moving right along before Rob pulls out the Kryptonite …" Cyborg muttered, "Tied again, three-three, Beast Boy, what do you say?"
"The girl watched my back as well as anybody here," Beast Boy said, nodding, "I remember a time when the group argued for hours about whether or not a lil' green kid who could change into animals should be on the team. Only a couple dudes were willing to give me a chance, so I'm going to do the same for her. I vote let her in." Beast Boy nodded at the end to punctuate the statement, and gave Raven, who was unconsciously beaming at the changeling, a wink. Raven gave a faint blush and looked away quickly.
"Ok, Star, it's up to you," Cyborg said, "right now its three-four, which will it be?"
"Well …" Star said, sitting up and taking a thoughtful expression. "I had spoken with Kimberly a good while at Timothy and Greta's wedding … I do not see this … control freak or non-team player you speak of … she is a good fighter and seems like a good friend to Robin. But as Robin has known her the longest, I shall trust his judgment … so I vote for Kimberly not to be included in the team."
"Damn … tie four-four …" Cyborg sighed.
"So what do we do?" Robin asked.
"Only thing we can do," Cyborg said pulling his cell phone from its compartment on his bionic arm, "I'm gonna see what Timmy boy says about the thing. He's still on the roster."
The room was quiet as Cyborg awaited someone to pick up, "Hello? Hey, Greta, I was wond-OUCH, FOR THE LOVE OF …" Cyborg started, but jerked the phone from his ear as the sound of Greta's voice screaming curses filtered from the phone receiver.
"Gr-Greta … Greta … I'm sorry if I was … Greta, stop yelling for a second and put … Greta!" Cyborg pleaded as the flood of curses continued to flow.
"Let me try," Starfire said reaching for the phone, which Cyborg happily surrendered. "Hello, Greta, I hope …" Starfire stopped and turned the color of her curled hair, "GRETA! I … I won't even let Dick put anything in that particular part of my body why would I let you shove … please calm down …"
"Oh, thank goodness …" Starfire breathed when the screams quieted down as if the phone was taken away from the source, "Rob- Timothy, Cyborg wishes to speak with you, is this an inopportune time for a short conversation concerning our team?" Starfire nodded as if Tim could see her before speaking again, "I understand perfectly, and we will keep it brief … I apologize for the interruption and the team will pay for those ruined bed sheets Greta seems so distraught about … goodbye, Timothy, here is Cyborg." Star placed her hand over the receiver, "Cyborg, are you certain Tim is not his son, because he sounds a great deal like Batman at this moment …" She said as she handed the phone to the now sickly pale Cyborg.
"Hey, Tim, yeah … um we're voting on whether to let Kim Possible join the team and … yea, it's a tie … ok, hold on," Cyborg said before placing his palm over the receiver. "Robin, he wants to talk to you privately."
Robin took the phone and walked into the soundproof room beside the meeting room and sat down at the small table.
"Sorry about the interruption," Robin said, his voice returning to Ron's.
"Don't worry, bud, I needed the break. I swear Greta's got more stamina than Kara … not that I've slept with Supergirl or anything like that or … um anyway …"
"Sure, Tim, my lips are sealed."
"Ok, what do you think, really think of Kim becoming a Teen Titan? I think she's got the stuff to do it, but that's my opinion. I want to know your take."
"Yeah, she can do it, but … maybe she has every right to be a Titan …"
"You don't want her to be in anymore danger, huh? Or maybe it's deeper than that, maybe you don't want her to see what you've become."
"Don't … don't know what you're talking about with that last bit," Robin said defensively.
"Ok, so how did you vote?"
"I voted against."
"Why?"
"I don't think she's ready."
"I thought Kim Possible could do anything?"
"Whoever said that was a fool."
"So you're a fool now, Ronnie Boy?"
"… I'm not the same as I was."
"Why did you REALLY vote against her?"
"I told you …"
"Answer me this, do you love her?"
"She's my best friend, we've been together since pre-K. We even used to fight those idiot criminals together."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"She's with Josh Mankey, Tim. It doesn't matter whether I do or not."
"Ron, do you know when Greta and I got together? It wasn't when we were members of Young Justice. She liked Robin, but I didn't give in. She knew Robin, but she didn't know Tim Drake. I figured if she knew who was hiding behind the mask, she wouldn't have anything to do with me. You know what happened when I couldn't physically keep up being Robin? She stood by me. Said that I was still me, and that was what mattered."
"Your point being?"
"My point is you are who you are, no matter what you have hiding your face. Don't be afraid to trust the girl you've trusted since you were a kid."
"I'll think about it."
"Good."
"Tell Cy my vote is against."
"What? But I thought …"
"If she were there, you'd get your idiot self killed plain and simple. When you're away from her, you're good, but whenever Kim Possible is around you get as sloppy as Plastic Man."
"I have no idea what you're talking about …"
"Sure, you don't … now, if you'll excuse me … Greta just got out the chocolate pudding and whipped cream. Later, brotha."
Robin smiled and clicked off the phone and turned to rejoin the team.
---
Kim Possible sat uncomfortably on a couch in the lobby of Titans Tower, awaiting judgment. She had mixed feelings about it, while it would be awesome to be a member of a hero team, but she doubted even partnering with the Titans would fill in the gap her last partner left.
"Kimberly?" Kim heard Starfire's voice and stood and turned to see the Titans walking into the large room. "We have come to a decision."
Kim gulped and stood tall, waiting for good or bad.
"You didn't make the cut." Robin said coldly.
Kim sighed and looked down in defeat when Starfire cupped her chin with her fist. "Hey, chin up, you've done a lot of good! We just fear you are not ready for the type of metacriminals we face day in and day out. Keep up the good fight. I believe you will make a fine hero someday, if not a Teen Titan, perhaps a Justice Leaguer."
"Yeah, you're cool, so don't worry, Kimmie," Beast Boy chimed, "Isn't that right, Robin? …Robin?" He asked looking to find where Robin and Raven were standing was now vacant.
"I hate it when he does that …" Kim growled, shaking her head in disgust at her least favorite Titan.
---
Robin stalked down the hallway of Titans tower when Raven's voice behind him stopped him cold. "Kim's not a Titan, happy?"
Robin looked back at the elder Titan, "Not exactly." He growled out and started to walk again.
"You're only hurting yourself by pushing her away and using Wonder Girl, Ronald." Raven shot back.
"Pushing away?" Robin asked, finally turning back to face Raven unemotionally. "You're one to talk."
"What?" Raven snapped, narrowing her eyes.
"Two words, Raven," Robin said, getting in the slightly shorter girl's face, "Garfield Logan." And with that he turned and walked away from the taken aback sorceress.
---
Shego walked down the main street of Gotham City wearing a casual sundress and a large hat and sunglasses to try to conceal her identity. She sighed as she was pushed by the rude crowd of people and fell to the ground on her rump.
"Hey, chick, you need to watch where you're going in this town."
The sixteen-year-old Shego looked up to see a boy with unkempt mop of black hair and a boyish, mischievous smile. "you're obviously new 'round here, the name's Jason. I'll watch ya back if you want."
"How do I know I can trust you?" Shego accused, narrowing her eyes on the teen.
"How do you know you can't?" he said, reaching out his hand, "You gotta trust somebody sometime, right?"
"Ok, but if this is a trick, boy, you'll be in for a world of hurt!" Shego snapped, though taking his hand and letting him pull her off the ground.
"Don't worry, chick, I won't be any trouble." Jason laughed, flashing a lopsided smile to the pale-skinned girl.
"Stop calling me that, I have a name you know?"
"Oh, I wasn't aware of that," Jason said as they started walking down the sidewalk.
"Shelia, but my brothers call me Shego." Shego explained, spitting out the words 'brothers' and 'Shego'
"Shego, huh?" Jason chuckled, "better than being named after a lame bird."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, nothing at all!"
"Jason …" Shego whimpered, forcing back tears and pulling herself off the ground.
She shook her head and steadied her nerve. "I'll find out what happened. But I probably won't find him 'til nightfall, so I have to be patient … I'll get my answers, Jason … then I can let you rest … Maybe we both can finally …"
---
Kim sighed in disappointment as she walked up the steps of the Wayne Enterprises private jet for her return flight to Gotham City.
"Ya late, KP," A voice said from the couch, making the redhead jump in surprise.
"Ron!" Kim scolded, slapping his legs off the couch to take a seat. "You scared me."
"I know, it was funny," Ron grinned, but his brown eyes didn't twinkle as they once did whenever he laughed. "What's wrong? Didn't make it or something?" Ron asked, noticing the worried expression on Kim's face.
"Yes, I didn't make it, but that's no big," Kim said, pulling him to a seated position. "What I want to know is what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?" Ron asked, smiling lightly.
"Don't lie to me, Ron," Kim said, locking eyes with her childhood best friend. "Talk to me …"
"Kim … I can't tell you, ok, it's just something I have to deal with …" Ron said, looking away before glancing back at his friend, "Oh … crap …"
"I understand if you don't trust me …" Kim said, throwing a full force Puppy Dog Pout, "Who cares that we have been best friends since I can remember …" She said, amplifying it with a tear from her right eye sliding down her cheek.
Ron fought it for some time before sighing in defeat. "Ok, KP … Kimmie …" Ron said, taking both her hands in his. "What I'm going to tell you … you can't tell another living soul. Not even Wade, ok?"
"Kim … Bruce … he's not who you think he is …" Ron said, searching for the best way to tell her. "To be blunt, KP, Bruce is Batman. And when I moved in with him, he taught me a lot of things, how to fight, how to move in the shadows, all kinds of stuff, and I … well, he made me the new Robin." Ron said, letting out a sigh of relief of telling her the truth. He opened his eyes to see her blank expression, "I know it's a lot to take in …"
SLAP
"Thirteen years!" Kim yelled, standing over Ron, tears brimming her eyes, "Thirteen years we've been friends, Ron! If you have a something wrong, you can always come to me, but DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO MY FACE, DAMN IT!" She yelled before storming to the other end of the jet interior. She sat down roughly in a seat, pulled her knees to her chest and sulked.
"Ok …" Ron whispered, holding his sore cheek, "That went well …"
To Be Continued …