Hey everyone! How's it going? Well sorry for taking so long to update, but classes just started back and the professors demand yourfull and complete attention. Well I put a lot of action in this chapter to make up for the long wait, I hope you approve. I nowwant to thank everyone that has reviewed I truly appreciate your feedback. Your comments really help me to know where to go and what you like and don't. As I say all the time, reveiws help.With that being said I do believe I'm beginning to talk too much. Story on!
Disclaimers: I do not own the D.C. or Marvel characters. Simply my own characters that I would be willing to let you borrow for a small fee. (Winks)
Chapter 3: Before the Storm
It has been two weeks since New Year's, and as usual things change. Charles and Logan headed back to New York a couple days after the New Year's party, but not before Nightwing and Storm became a couple. Everyone knew that was a long time coming. Everything thing was pretty much peaceful and quiet, but as everyone knows it is calm before the storm.
The morning was going by normally for the super-heros that lived in a huge T. Cyborg and Changeling prepared breakfast, all the while, Terrain blew kisses at Changeling while he cooked from the kitchen table. The smell of burnt soybean pancakes began to fill the room,
"Could you pay attention to what you are doing?" Cyborg said between cracking the eggs open. "cause your apron's on fire."
"Huh?" He said with a love sick expression on his face. "Oh!" hesquealed snatching the apron off throwing it on the floorstamping the fire out getting a soft giggle from Terrain. "Uh. . .I meant to do that." Ororo nor Raven looked up at the scene that was taking place a mere foot from them. They were engrossed in their conversation about poets over a warm cup of herbal tea. Robin sat at the computer across the room in the corner, checking to see if any danger was lurking about, but found none. He got up walking over to the table where Ororo and Raven were talking. He kissed her cheek before sitting down beside her. He blushed when she presented him with a dazzling smile. In the other corner of the room, sat Ravanger reading the paper and watching the morning news. Everyone looked up when the door slid back revealing silkie on a leash, leading Starfire. They had just finishedgivinghim his morning walk. A huge smileformed onher face as she entered seeing everyone.
"Good morning all! The aroma is most pleasant!" She exclaimed removing the leash from silkie's necksetting the creature free, but it remained by her leg rubbing up against her. Shegave his head a pat thenglided over to Cyborg, watching him scramble the eggs. He looked over at her smiling then stole a kiss. The orange alien smiled leaning over to receive another, which Cyborg was all too happy to give.
"Okay you two knock it off." The green man exclaimed in an annoyed voice as he put the tofu eggs in a bowl sitting it on the table. Terrain grabbed his arm,
"If you're jealous then all you had to do was ask me for a kiss." she said taking his face in her hands kissing him. Changeling'sknees wentweakand soongave out landing him on the floor.
"We have an annoying grass stain on aisle 3. Cyborg to clean up please, thank you for your cooperation team." Ravanger said from behind the paper. Everyone laughed,
"That was a good one." Cyborg said pointing at him. He walked over to the table placing the bacon and eggs on the table then pretended to have a broom, sweeping Changeling into a imaginary dust pan tossing him in the garbage. The laughter increased,
"That was so not funny. I am sonot laughing, dude." Changeling said picking himself off of the floor.
"I think Ravanger's gotcha beat Rae-Rae, on the Changeling jokes." Cyborg said bringing the waffles to the table.
"Whatever." Raven said taking a gulp of her herbal tea. She noticed Ravanger peeping at her from behind the paper, over the top of her cup. "What?" she asked harshly her eyes telling off on her joke.
"Nothing, beautiful." he said smiling putting the paper on the floor by his feet.
"That's what I thought." a small smile gracing her ashen colored face. He walked over to the kitchen taking his place by her side at the table. He stared at her profile till she looked around. She rolled her violet orbs in his direction. "Is there a problem?" she said taking another sip of tea. He grinned at her then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear letting his fingers graze her face.
"No ma'am." All the guys mouth's dropped open. He noticed all their looks, "What? I don't know about you guys but I want to live to see my 30th birthday." Everyone laughed again at Ravanger,
"And a very wise man you are, Ravanger." Storm said turning to Nightwing raising a brow, which he simply threw up his arms in defeat. The table was set and everyone began chawing down and all groaned when the alarms sounded.
"Damn!" Cyborg exclaimed wolfing down two waffles. Nightwing was the first to spring into action, by checking the computer. Ravanger wasn't far behind.
"Plasmas is downtown, Titan's Go!"
A man waited in anticipation for the Titan to make their appearance. He stood in an alley watching the mud colored monster destroy downtown. His hazel eyes scanned the scene diligently. He stood about 6'0 feet and some inches, he had a muscular build, and a strong defining face. He wore a navy and gold shirt and dark blue jeans. His short sandy colored hair was slicked back on his head, and he lacked facial hair excluding eye brows and lashes. his breath got caught in his throat as the Titans neared the demented monster trashing the streets.
Starfire flew in close, yelling as she slung Cyborg toward the monster. The half man let loose his sonic cannon shooting a hole through the monster. Plasmas shrieked then punched Cyborg through a building.
Enraged, Starfire released a barrage of Star-bolts. In retaliation the gooey villain caught Starfire in one hand slamming her into the ground knocking the alien out cold. Terrain hurled a chunk of concrete at Plasmas sending him into fleeing traffic.
Terra checked on Starfire to make sure she was breathing then tore the land they were on from the ground taking to the air. Raven flew to them healing Starfire.
Nightwing threw some explosive disks at the villain while Ravanger sliced him with his Katana. Changeling morphed into a T-Rex biting one of Plasmas arms off then turned back into his human form gagging on the goo.
"That was so nasty!" He said spurting on Plasmas flesh.
"Winds becking to my call and allow this beast to freeze." Storm's arms stretched out and her eyes were white, as the temperature began to drop at a rapid pace. Plasmas squawked and squealed in dismay as his normally gooey body becamesolid andhard. Storm gritted her teeth as the winds became more fierce. Ravanger sliced one of the monster's legs, making him topple over to the right holding himself up with one of his arms. Windrider? Storm looked around for the voice she thought she'd just heard. Over here my goddess. It is your god. She stopped the violent winds as she continued to look for the one that spoke to her. "Who are you!" she shouted
"Who are you talking too and why did you stop!" Nightwing shouted looking up at her as she danced around wildly in the air looking for someone. Raven looked up at the scene and instantly began to scan the area for what was bothering Storm. She detected a presence a very powerful one. Do not tell me you have forgotten me so easily.
"NO!" yes it is I. You didn't think you could escape me with your father's parlor tricks did you? "You are not here. You are telling lies!"
"Storm it's going to be okay." Raven said flying to Storm. I'm over here my beautiful Windrider. You will never escape me. Storm looked to the alley and saw her worst nightmare come to life.
"No! It can't be! Stay back!" Storm prepare to strike him with lightning, but while she was talking with the stranger Plasmas had time to unthaw. He slung goo at Storm knocking her to the ground completely covering her up within the putty.
"Oh no!" Raven yelled flying down to her. Starfire realized Raven's fear and immediately flew down to help her. Terrain called upon a boulder to lower her to the ground.
"Star! What wrong with Storm?" She said looking over at Starfire. Never looking her way Starfire called back,
"Storm is claustrophobic!"
"Oh no." Terrain thought as she too tried to get to Storm.
"Help! Help me! Let me out! Let me free! Aghhhhhhhhhh!" the skies turned dark grey and thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning flashed across the skies. A funnel spiraled from the heavens touching down in the distance, hail the size of golf balls fell to the earth, and the lightning touched down in various parts on the major city.
"Storm calm down!" Raven yelled as fought the winds to get to her.
"Yes friend please." Starfire said not fairing any better than Raven in reaching her.
Terrain's boulder was struck by a lightning bolt, and Terra was flung from the sky. Changeling turned into a ape jumping up and catching her. He turned into his human form placing her on the ground,both running to help Storm.
Storm yelled louder as she fought against the her gooey prison with no luck. Nightwing inched his way closer to her against the violent winds, Ravanger whistled out to him getting his attention. Nightwing looked over at him catching the sword that Ravanger tossed in one hand. He began hacking away at the goo. The winds died down as well as the other meteorological activity.
"Hurry Robin!" Raven yelled Nightwing's old name, "She's fading!" Nightwing began hacking harder careful not to stab her. Raven in the mean time turned into her soul-self flying into the Plasmas imploding him revealing a sleeping figure on the ground. Ravanger ran over to help Nightwing pull the rest of the putty off. Storm's limp body fell back into Ravanger's arms, and he quickly used his medical knowledge to access the situation. He checked her pulse and it was off the charts it was so fast.
"If we don't calm her down her heart will explode." He pulled her eyes open to check her pupils. Nightwing studied her face, her eyes were so blank and distant, her breathing was quick sharp intakes.
"She's going into shock! We have to get her back to the tower, she doesn't have much time." Ravanger said sweeping her up in his arms. Nightwing's face held such a lost and worried look that none of them have ever witnessed. He ran a hand through his crow colored locks quickly,
"Raven! Teleport Cyborg, Ravanger, and Storm to the tower. The rest of us will take care of Plasma. Let's move people." Right before Raven teleported them Nightwing grabbed her arm, "Take care of her, please." She gave him a strong nod as black enveloped the group.
"All will be fine, with our friend Nightwing. Cyborg is good at the medical situation." Starfire encouragingly
"Yeah. Storm's a strong girl." Terrain said placing a hand on his back.
"Terra's right." Changeling said putting a hand on Nightwing's shoulder.
"Right! We have a job to do people let's get a move on." Nightwing said stepping back into the role of leader.
Back at the tower Ravanger and Cyborg worked diligently to bring Ororo back around and nothing seemed to be working,
"Come on Ororo." Ravanger said sticking a needle in her IV Cyborg read the screen next to the bed. The beeping noises slowed to a normal pace.
"Our girl Ro is tough." Cyborg said moving some hair from her eyes. He stepped outside to tell Raven what was going on. He saw Raven floating Indian style in the air, with her eyes closed. She opened one eye to notice him, "Ro's going to be just fine." She only nodded. "I'm going to go back into see if there is anything else I can do."
"Good. I will tell Nightwing she's alright." Cyborg nodded then turned to leave, "Thank you Cyborg."
"For what?"
"Saving my friend."
"You mean twin?" Cyborg attempted to lighten the mood and succeeded.
"Yeah."
"Don't thank me, I would've done for any of you guys, but it's really Ravanger who you should be thank though. He did all the work. It's really good he's on the team. He knew exactly what to do."
"Yeah. He is something." Both looked up when Ravanger came bursting out of the medical bay,
"She having a seizure! Help me Cyborg." Both men ran back into the room, and Raven went back to concentrating on reaching Ororo through her mind.
The world around her changed, she was no longer in the medical bay but in Africa underneath a fallen building. She saw a young seven year old Ororo trapped under rubble staring into the dead eyes of her mother. She noticed Ororo squirming to get free of the fallen debris. Ororo let out a blood curling scream, but no one came to her aid. Young Ororo passed out then awoke to see a man with sandy colored hair and hazel eyes staring down at her with a pleasant smile on his face. His eyes moved up and down the lengthen of her body. Raven saw Ororo beautiful blue eyes open up.
"Hello, young one."
"Where am I? Where are my parents?"
"They are dead. I will take care of you now."
"Who are you?"
"I am Akbhor Hiseada, but I am known as the Shadow King.". . . . The scene flashes. . . The Shadow King has Ororo sitting on his lap. He stares into the child's eyes kissing her forehead then kissing her lips. Ororo fights against the man and receives a slap across her face. . .the scene changes. . . Ororo is standing in a crowd of people her eyes are whited over with her powers and rain pours from the sky. The Shadow King watches her with a smile on his face. He looks around when he is tapped on the shoulder and receives a wad of money. . . The scene flashes. . . to Ororo picking Charles Xavier's pocket, and he chasing her down the street. He caught the small malnourished child in his arms holding her, her legs dangling off the ground in the air. She kicked wildly to be free,
"Calm yourself child. I am not going to hurt you." the scene flashed. . .Charles and Shadow King battle it out on the astroplane. . .Flashes. . . Ororo looking around the huge mansion that was her new home.
Raven sees Ororo standing amidst a dark place with awhite spotlight shining down on herand she immediately flew to her.
"Are you okay Ororo?" The former goddess looked at her with much fear in her regal eyes.
"You must get out of here before he hurts you too, Raven. If I don't beat him he will come after you in here too." Raven senses another presence in Ororo's mind.
"Who are you?" Raven asked her eyes looking around for the assailant but received no answer, "I know there is someone else here." She was greeted by a deep throaty laugh.
"I am sure you know who I am child." The entity asked her coyly.
"The Shadow King!" A man with slick sandy brown hair and hazel eyes appeared behind Ororo pulling her into his arms nibbling on her earlobe. He raked his tongue across her neck,
"Correct. Now if you will excuse me Windrider and I have unfinished business. Be gone!" He yelled booting her out of Storm's mind.
"UH!" Raven yelled as she was slung back into her body and into Nightwing, who caught her. She grabbed her head looking up at Nightwing's puzzled expression,
"What's wrong Raven?" She didn't answer just burst into the medical bay to see Ororo flouncing about on the bed, Ravanger and an unconscious Cyborg pinned to the walls by the strong the winds.
"Star!"
"Yes friend!" Starfire yelled over the wild winds.
"Hold Storm down. Changeling get Cyborg out of there. Nightwing I'm going to need you to help me get her back."
"What are you talking about!"
"There is someone attacking her mind. She is going to need us to help her get back."
"What do you want me to do!"
"Hold her hand and keep talking to her." Raven and Starfire look to one another and nodded they both flew in Raven straddle Storm staring into her white eyes, while Starfire held her arms out to the side. "Azarath. . .Metrion. . .Zinthos!" Raven soul-self sank into Ororo. The winds instantly died down but Ororo still struggled against Starfire's hold. Ravanger caught Raven's falling body holding her up. Nightwing took one of Storms small hands into his own kissing it.
In Ororo's mind Raven found Ororo on the ground struggling with the Shadow King on top of her holding her down. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Shadow King was flung from Ororo's small form. Ororo had scratches on her face, her shoulder looked dislocated, and her uniform was ripped nearly revealing one of her breast. "Are you okay?" Raven said pulling Storm into her arms,
"Yes, I am alright. But I thought I told you I wanted to you to get out of here. It isn't safe."
"I'm not leaving here with you trapped with him."
"How touching, but she doesn't have a choice. She belongs to me now, Demon."
"Want to bet!" She yelled crushing him into the floor. She then slung him into a mental wall, then continued to pound him into the floor until blood began to pour from him. She dropped him, and watched for any sudden movements. The Shadow King began to fade,
"Mark my words Demon. . .this is not the last you have seen of me. I will see you soon Windrider." where he once laid was nothing but a white space.
"It's over." Storm said happily hugging Raven. Placing a hand on Storm's back,
"No. . .this was just the beginning."
The Shadow King sat in the middle of the floor with his eyes closed. His eyes slowly opened then he smiled up at a man that sat on a throne. The dark Lord stood up taking a few steps down the flight of stairs.
"Well?" He said impatiently.
"It begins." The dark Lord nodded his head a broad smile on his face. He looks to his General who is leaning against the wall,
"Let phase 2 beginning."
"Yes, my Lord." With that the evil General left the room. The dark Lord looked to the Shadow King smiling,
"Good work old friend."
"The pleasure was totally mine. But you do not forget my fee."
"I will not."
Both Storm and Raven laid on hospital beds. Both exhausted from their inner struggle with the Shadow King. Raven collapsed when she reentered her body and Storm never woke up from when she first passed out. Both were sleeping, and both of the men in their lives sitting by their sides. Ravanger watched as Raven's chest rose and fell as she slept. She's beautiful. Wilson, I do believe you are in love. And going soft too. He looked over at Storm and Nightwing. Nightwing was sleeping in the chair with his head laying on the bed by Storm's hand, and Storm slept peacefully, he sighed. Today had truly been a long day, he thought as he scratched his head his platinum locks shaking as he scratched. His cell phone vibrated against his leg, he groaned flipping open the phone answering it.
"Hello?" His deep voice rumbled into the device. "I'll be right there." He kissed Raven on the head before leaving out. He exited the medical bay and slipped out of the tower. All the while Nightwing witnessed everything. He raised his head getting out of the chair watching the security cameras as Ravanger left the premises.
"Where is it you go when that cell phone rings? I'm going to find out."
So what did you think? I hope you liked it! Please review and thank you for reading.
gracefulraven,
out!