Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Warning: This is a continutation of the story Upheaval, which is the sequel to Maelstrom. Please read these two before reading Tempest.
This story follows these pairs: Raven:Changeling, Starfire:Nightwing, Bee:Cy, and Mirror:Sel. If you in anyway do not care, like, or appreciate these couples, please do not tell me so in a flame. Thank you.
Throughout the duration of this story there will be blood, death, romance, and potentially disturbing descriptions of various events. Please watch this section (Warning) for a notice if there is such content in the chapter. That being said, there is blood and death in this chapter.
As for the beginning of this chapter, I was on a sugar high. You'll have to excuse me.
...if the day dawns blood red... is a line break.
Chapter One: Bleak Warning
The bank alarm rang shrilly behind the fleeing figures as they dashed across rooftops and over streets. The thieves -dressed in black of course, because black was the only color worn by respectable villains… well, desperate ragged half-trained thieves, anyway- raced frantically across the open space of the city's skyline, knowing that Time frankly wasn't on their side. The latest recruit, a guy who might have been smart at one point but got hit one too many times over the head, panted as he pulled up to another member of the ring.
"What's the hurry?" The other gave him a cross look and nearly fell, catching himself and concentrating on running.
"The Titans, dolt!" Well, he used a courser word, but this is edited for adult content… supposedly. Anyhow, because this is an action.adventure.romance.drama fic, instead of a lame attempt at humor, we are switching story tones and getting serious. We think.
...if the day dawns blood red..
The bank alarm rang shrilly in the noon time air, alerting those who heard that something had gone wrong. This something, or rather these somethings, fled the scene of the crime with money and guns in tow. Black figures, six total, leapt up to the rooftops of the bustling work and living place that was Rope City, sister twin of Jump City. Across the gaps where alleys strayed they ran, chests heaving as frantic lungs sought air. One, the latest member in the thieving ring, managed to pull up to a comrade as he panted heavily.
"Why are we running? Cops ain't dis fast!" Through the ski mask that covered each of their faces, the slower man felt the intense and frustrated glare of the more agile robber.
"Idiot! Don't you know? The Titans." The name was spoken with a curious mixture of hate, fear, and dread. Unfortunately his companion didn't pick up on the unspoken message and snorted in contempt.
"Huh, them oldtimers? 'Nightwing' and 'Cyborg'? They old news, man." Instantly the smarter of the two reached over and smacked him, transferring the bag of money to his other hand.
"NO! These Titans are their kids and junk! One of 'em's named Armory, and-"
"Wot kinda name is dat?" Interrupted the indignant thief angrily, but he never got a reply, for the poor man had stopped, stunned, and then crumpled slowly to the ground.
A lithe figure unbent, fingers twirling the purple dagger whose hilt she had used to tap the thief into unconsciousness. Chin length blond and violet strands hid the start of a ponytail which emerged from the nape of her neck, trailing down to her waist around the purple and yellow leotard. Leather forearm and calf coverings added to the 'fighter' look, though the cool blue eyes very well could have belonged to a statue.
"Anyone else have a problem with my name?" A small laugh came from nearby.
"As if they'd say anything after that, Armory!" A grinning lime haired woman held up a struggling black clothed figure easily, green eyes dancing with suppressed laughter. Her 'unprofessional' uniform of an emerald t-shirt adorned with a silver leopard matched her worn jeans perfectly. Mirror had grown out her hair, letting it brush her shoulders as it developed a slight wave, much like her personality. The fiery temper had not diminished, but with experience she was able to rein it in and used her humor to help defuse potential disasters.
"At least Starfire's not here to hear that 'oldtimer' remark." The amused chuckle came from a tall, well built man with spiky black hair and brotherly amber eyes. The navy shirt did little to hide his well conditioned muscles, which had the fan girls drooling. However, the hand that wasn't stuck in his tan cargo pants was resting on Mirror's shoulder, a covert sign of their relationship. When the 'young' Titans had taken over Rope City, Sel had asked Mirror on a date, and things had gone on happily since then. A strong bond, and one not to be deterred by anything- one very similar to that of Changeling and Raven, those who knew admitted. Of course, the fan girls hated Mirror for this very fact, but accepted it with reluctance- when they turned their predatory sights on the other, supposedly cuter, definitely younger, sibling.
"She'd 'bolt them out of the sky- if she could before Bumblebee did!" Brassy copper hair glinted in the sun, warm brown eyes smiling as he surpressed a laugh gently. Keol was the much joked about brother of Emily and Hailey, having been born not too long after the turbulent events during which Slade and Armory, then Refraction, had come to Jump City.
Raven spoke into the silence in the main room as everyone gathered to talk about introducing Armory to the other Titans, play video games, or tease each other mercilessly. "You'll get to meet your brother too, Hailey."
Everyone stared at her uncomprehendingly.
The half demon placed a hand on her stomach, looking into the distance, unaware of their scrutiny. "He'll be born in about seven months or so, I think."
And indeed he had. With the gift of unlocking things, be they doors, secrets, or hearts –though his power would have to be much stronger before he even thought about that- Keol was the humorous complainer, the weak child striving to be better and stronger, and the one with a fear of waffles, for whatever reason. (Raven blamed Cyborg.)
"Actually-"
"Oldtimers-"
"Suits them perfectly," two voices finished together. About as inseparable as Mas and Menos, Wasp and Blazefire finished tying up the rest of the would-be robbers. Tyk had grown into his birth name with the fearsome power of his mother and the cunning of his father, taking on 'Blazefire' when they transferred into Rope City. Zek had matured rapidly also, discarding the childish name in favor of Wasp, coined by a villain who had complained about the sting in his sonic canon. Everyone felt it fitting, seeing as he was the more cynical of the two- something they said he'd gotten from his mother. But the teen was calm, level headed, and worked like there was no tomorrow every time they needed him.
Mirror glanced at Armory, eyebrows lifting in uncertainty. "If Raven heard you say that-"
"They'd be in trouble. In fact, they are, because I did chance to catch that remark." The monotone voice emerged from the air beside the rooftop, a violet haired woman looking sternly at Blazefire and Wasp as the team gaped. Landing on the gravel, a green raven changed into a man, offering a hand which Raven took, stepping lightly onto the edge.
"MOTHER!" The older woman was enveloped by Mirror and Keol, both hugging her enthusiastically. She braced herself against the attacks, aided by a laughing Changeling.
"All right now Mirror, Keol, you don't want to push her over the edge, do you?" Changeling pulled the overenthusiastic pair off his wife with the question. A dry comment came from Armory, who was walking over as she spoke.
"She wasn't already?" Raven, disentangling herself from the embraces of the two, shot a look at the sarcastic woman.
"Good to see you too, Armory." The blond let a smile break the façade, gently hugging her mother. Sel shook hands with Changeling, who greeted him happily and began talking. The Titan knew Mirror and Sel were going out, and approved heartily. He had seen the light shining in the pair's eyes and was often found to be smiling reminiscently when he spoke of them.
"So why are you here?" Mirror asked curiously. "Not that we're not happy to see you, but you normally don't leave Jump City without reason…" The demoness and shape shifter exchanged glances, rolling their eyes.
"Our proteges kicked us out. Said something along the lines of 'go be overprotective of your real kids'. So we're staying at a nearby hotel. The owner saw us and about fainted, babbling on about how you kids stopped an arsonist or some such thing." There was a good natured bit of laughter at that.
"Why don't you hang out at our place?" Blazefire questioned, having regained his balance after being startled at Raven's appearance. She shot a knowing look his way.
"We didn't want to ruffle your feathers. Besides, this is a vacation, and staying at your Tower would most certainly get us dragged into your fights." Changeling shrugged. After a glance at Armory, he frowned. "Hey, Hailey, feeling okay?"
She stared, glassy eyed, at a point on the roof, looking like she was about to be sick to her stomach. Mirror started to reach out and grab her shoulder-
The world froze. Time stopped; a crushing pressure bore down on her lungs but she couldn't try to breathe, couldn't break the icy grip. With a snap the tension released her and Mirror looked up into a world of black, gray, red, and blood.
Everything around her held it's breath, caught in the same viselike grip she had escaped from. Thrown off track, the Titan started to move, and froze as the scene leeched away, replaced by a faded black. White light spread from a sphere that was turning, shaping, molding itself into the likeness of…
A woman. The apparition opened it's eyes and Mirror was caught by the violet gaze which looked through her without effort, the wisps of white hair lining her wise face only motes of light as the woman opened her mouth to speak.
"Raven." As if that was a cue, Mirror saw her mother appear by her side, looking as startled as she felt. "Raven." Comprehension dawned in the dark bird's eyes.
"Mother?" But the mental sending didn't respond. To her right Emily saw first Armory, and then Keol emerge out of the darkness as her grandmother spoke again.
"Danger, Raven. The Azerathians have sensed a disturbance: Trigon is gathering his powers for an attempt to force his way through you. We've held him back as long as we can- I'll be portaling to Earth in three days to help you prepare. You'll sense me coming- just as you'll sense your Father." She paused, and pain passed across her lined face. "This will be harder than everything you've ever done, Raven. Much, much harder." Arella hesitated, as if searching for something. Then the kind face grew annoyed and she seemed to glare at Raven. "You never told me you had children! I sense… one… two…" A moment as she frowned, eyes flicking towards Keol, as if unable to see him. "A… third? Someone who is hidden from me…" Worry spread like revelation across her refined features. "Oh, Raven… I see it all now. You by yourself were only half a demon, but with your children… You will have enough force to allow Trigon a full entry into this world!" The image flickered. "He is interfering-" Anger. "Raven, I will see you in three days! Till then, daughter!" It faded, and for a moment the four were left staring at each other as a blood red sunset lifted over the border of their vision, revealing the corpses strewn underneath their hovering feet, stone people caught in the peak of terror, and the stench of death and decay that filled their senses instantly. Four pairs of eyes saw their teammates' final seconds of agony as malicious black ravens perched on the shoulders… of four demonic looking images of themselves.
"Raven! What's wrong?" The woman focused on the bright green of her husband's eyes and spoke without a trace of emotion as Mirror fell to her knees, vomiting, and Armory shook violently, while Keol stared numbly at nothing before retching violently.
"Trigon is coming."
Author's Note: And so ends the first chapter of Tempest. This will be written on a chapter-by-chapter basis, so quick updates are going to be hard to do. Of course, if there's encouragment... Thank you for reading, and don't forget- review!