32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Forming the Wedge"
Chapter Two
Titan H.Q.: Main Room
Raven screamed obscenity after obscenity as her powers raged around her in the form of a swirling dark cloud. Robin pinched the bridge of his nose.
Robin: Raven, calm the hell down already!
Raven took a deep breath, her powers subsiding.
Cyborg: I take it something went wrong.
Raven: Yes, something went wrong. I can't understand it. All the work I did on his emotions, he should have been drooling after me. I should have him around my finger by now. Instead he pushes me away when I try to kiss him! How DARE he! After all the disgusting crap I had to say and do!
Raven's power began to flicker around her again. Shade jumped from the couch and landed next to her, rubbing against her. Raven took another deep breath and scratched behind his ears.
Raven: I'm alright. ...I sp…sp…sp…spared somebody today. I think I'm going to be sick.
Starfire sighed, lounging on the floor in sweat pants and a T-shirt. She just felt like relaxing today.
Starfire: It cannot be helped. You said so yourself, love is most difficult for you to properly control in others.
Raven sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands.
Raven: Yes, but I tried so hard…put so much effort into it. Slowly building it inside him, taking great pains to prevent him from realizing something was wrong. I…I'm so tired. I had to pretend that nothing was wrong…even fight off muggers without looking tired.
Raven leaned back and sighed, closing her eyes.
Robin: Changeling, help her to her room. She looks ready to faint. That display of power didn't help her any.
Changeling helped Raven up and walked her out of the room, her arm over his shoulder.
Terra: So that idea was a flop.
Robin smirked.
Robin: Maybe…but there's always plan B.
Cyborg: Raven did say that would be much easier to do.
Robin: And just as fun.
HIVE Tower: Main Room
Sonic yawned as he came in for breakfast. He was sure he was going to be busted for the last night when he got back around 12:30, but everything seemed to be in the clear. Jinx was already in bed and he was free to go to his room, hassle free. Krystal gave him a quick wave, her usual smile on her face. She didn't look too bad with her hair short. She had been afraid she'd look like a boy. She didn't have the greatest figure. Somehow she didn't come across that way.
Krystal: Oh by the way…
Sonic got out a carton of milk and started to pour a glass.
Krystal: Jinx wants to talk to you. Something about being out too late last night.
Sonic spilled milk all over the place.
Sonic: What?
Krystal: Oh yeah. I came in here and she was crying and stuff. You're a real jerk, you know that?
Sonic winced.
Sonic: How can you say that with a smile!
Krystal frowned for a moment before grinning again.
Krystal: Practice.
Sonic: Oh man…
Jinx's Room
Jinx sat patiently on the edge of her bed. As expected, there was a knock on her door.
Jinx: Come in.
Sonic entered like a prisoner approaching the electric chair. Jinx stood up and got right into his face.
Jinx: You told me you'd be back before midnight!
Sonic: Yeah…well…
Jinx: Well what! You think I'm stupid, Sonic? You think I can't see what's going on!
Sonic's eyes widened. She couldn't possibly know...
Jinx: You've been seeing somebody else, haven't you!
Tears ran formed in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Sonic shook his head. How could she think that! …well…it wasn't true in the way SHE was thinking anyway.
Sonic: Jinxy, no you don't under…
Jinx: DON'T YOU "JINXY" ME! I'm not stupid! Do you hear me!
Sonic gulped. She was really mad this time. Time for a bit of truth…his only hope.
Sonic: You want the truth, Jinx? Yes, I did go out to see somebody and yes, it was a girl.
Jinx's face scrunched up in anger.
Jinx: I KNEW IT! You…!
Sonic: LET ME FINISH! She was just a friend! That's all! She made a move on me, that's true, but I didn't go for it! Why? Because I love you and ONLY you!
Jinx turned away, biting her lower lip.
Jinx: Why should I believe you?
Sonic: Why not! The only reason I was late was because we lost track of time and got attack by muggers…even though that only took a minute. The point is, besides that ONE time…and I honestly tried to get home on time…I NEVER lied to you before.
Jinx let out a shuddering sigh.
Jinx: …just leave me alone. I need to think.
Sonic opened his mouth to argue, but gave up. It was hopeless. He knew that by now.
Sonic: Fine…just remember…I do love you.
Sonic turned and left Jinx alone. She held herself, letting the tears fall.
Jinx: (whisper) Why is it so hard to believe you?
Park: Two Days Later
Sonic walked with Raven down the pathway. Raven kept her façade up, resisting the urge to rip his throat out with her bare hands. She swore it was like he was mocking her. Still, she knew better. It wouldn't work, she'd get busted, and the plan would be ruined.
Sonic: So Mammoth calls them back…and it turns out every girl that gave him a number was utterly wasted at the time. They don't remember a thing about the rave and have no idea who he is.
Raven: He must have been crushed.
Sonic: No, that's the screwed up part. He was actually kind of relieved. The whole time he was worried about which girl to pick. Now he doesn't need to worry about it at all.
Raven bit back a groan. Just a little more…a little more and it would end. Finally it happened.
Jinx: I can't believe you!
Sonic froze and turned to see Jinx standing behind them. She had been hiding in the tree. Tears ran down her face and her fists were tightly clenched. Raven didn't turn right away. She needed a chance to grin before putting on an equally shocked expression. She wasn't surprised at all really. She had sensed Jinx's feelings of jealousy and betrayal a mile away.
Sonic: Jinx…I…I can explain.
Raven: Really, it's not what it…
Jinx: You shut your damn mouth, you slut! And as for you! Bad enough I find you cheating on me, you do it with HER!
Sonic: It's not like that!
Raven: We have an understanding. I don't try to change him, he doesn't try to change me. We forget about the fighting while we're out.
Jinx: I don't give a damn about THAT! He can tell you all our little secrets for all I care! You know why! Because I quit! I'm never going back to that tower again and I'm NEVER speaking to any of you!
Jinx turned and ran away. Sonic went after her, but a jinx bolt quickly told him that she didn't want to be followed. He was knocked over as the ground rose up. Raven helped him to his feet.
Raven: I'm so sorry…
Sonic: It's not your fault…dammit. I can't believe she'd go so far…
Raven: I'm sure she just needs time. Seeing her boyfriend walking with somebody who tries to kill her regularly must have been a shock.
Sonic: Yeah…I'm going to have to cut this a little early…
Raven waved her hand dismissively.
Raven: Oh, I understand. You do what you have to do. …I think we should stop this anyway. It's causing us both unnecessary trouble. It was nice while it lasted, Sonic. Good luck.
Raven flew off, a wide grin on her face.
Raven: Idiot.
Sonic went after Jinx, using her communicator's signal. This proved fruitless as he found it on the ground not far away. He sighed, his throat dry and eyes burning.
Sonic: (whisper) What have I done?
HIVE Tower: Main Room
To say that the others were upset with him would be an understatement.
Gizmo: You were going out with RAVEN!
Blackfire: Are you nuts! Need I remind you she almost destroyed the world!
Sonic held his head as he sat on the couch. His friends kept yelling at him.
Mammoth: How could you betray us like that?
Krystal: And poor Jinx! She really…
Sonic: SHUT UP!
Everybody went silent.
Sonic: You want to hate me? Fine. You want to kick me out. Sure. But can't this crap wait until after we find Jinx!
More silence.
Red X: …he's right. ..and I think I've found something.
Red X was the only one who hadn't been yelling at him. He had been typing at the computer. The others came up and stared at the monitor. It was from the security camera at the chemical plant.
Krystal: Oh man, I don't want to watch my hair burn off…
Red X: It won't go that far. Focus on that vat there. A reflection will pass…one that shouldn't be there.
Red X gesture to a vat on the far right of the screen. As he played the footage, a blur showed up. He paused it. Everybody squinted.
Gizmo: I can't make it out…
Red X: I'll enhance it…
The view zoomed in and was digitally focused. Sonic clenched his fists in rage. Raven's image was reflected on the vat.
Sonic: Raven! What the hell was she doing there?
Red X: …Raven is empathic. She has the ability to sense, feed on, and manipulate emotions.
Mammoth: So?
Gizmo: …so…she was manipulating emotions while she was there…
Sonic's eyes began to widen with realization.
Sonic: Making me fall for her…betraying my better judgment…
Blackfire: And bringing Jinx's jealousy and paranoia to dangerous levels. When Jinx saw you two together…well, you're lucky she didn't try and kill you.
Sonic felt betrayed and more then a little heartbroken. He had thought…Raven had genuinely liked him.
Krystal: Hold the phone and run it up the flag pole, folks…if Raven had planned this the whole time…
Sonic's eyes got even wider and the color drained from his face.
Sonic: Jinx is in serious danger! We have to find her!
Rooftops
Jinx stood at the edge of the tallest building in Jump City. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at the streets below. People driving to their homes…to their loved ones. Jinx sniffled and wiped her eyes before averting them. She couldn't look anymore. She had no loved ones. Nobody cared. Soon it wouldn't matter. There would be no more pain. Just blissful eternal sleep where nobody would break her heart again.
Take a guess: Aw. Poor little girl. Lost and confused in this dark and cruel world of ours. Seeking a way to rid herself of the pain.
Raven rose up in front of her, back in costume and with a dangerous grin on her face. Jinx hung her head dejectedly.
Jinx: Are you here to kill me?
Raven: Kill you? No, not exactly…
Something sharp struck her in the back on the neck. She pitched forward and Raven caught her. Jinx wanted to struggle, but her body wouldn't respond. Her eyelids became heavy.
Robin: …not right away.
Starfire: Oh this shall be most enjoyable.
Jinx's heard no more after that.
HIVE Tower: Main Room
Sonic paced back and forth, his mind straining for ideas. None of the others could think of a way to locate Jinx. Finally Blackfire snapped her fingers.
Blackfire: I've got it!
Sonic: What?
Blackfire: How do cops track somebody on the run?
Everybody frowned and thought for a minute.
Gizmo: …wanted posters?
Red X: ...road stops?
Mammoth: Blood hounds?
Blackfire grinned.
Blackfire: Exactly.
Mammoth: Hey, I may be hairy, but I'm no dog.
Blackfire: I didn't mean you, Mammoth.
Blackfire turned to Krystal and smiled. Krystal looked back at her for a moment then her eyes widened.
Krystal: Oh no…do NOT even look at me like that.
Blackfire: Krystal, you've got a super keen sense of smell. You can do this.
Krystal groaned.
Krystal: But…but, I'm not some sort of tracking hound!
Sonic: Krystal…you're our best bet.
Krystal sighed.
Krystal: I hate you all. I just want you to know that. …get me something of hers to smell. A dirty sock or something.
Red X fetched her one of Jinx's hair scrunchies.
Krystal: (muttering) This is so humiliating.
She took a deep sniff.
Krystal: Alright, take me to the park where you last saw her.
They ran for the H-car.
END PART TWO