32 Productions Presents…
A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…"Closer to Home"
Chapter Three
Two Floors Above
Raven grumbled to herself as they continued down the hall.
Raven: (muttering) All that time and money, wasted. Stupid Gremlin tinkering with my hobby. Now I have to start all over…
Starfire came up behind her and put her hand on Raven's shoulder.
Starfire: Do not fret, my friend! I shall aid you in the repurchasing of your dolls.
Raven spun, her eyes glowing.
Raven: I. Do. Not. Collect. Dolls!
She took a deep breath and let it out.
Raven: Dolls have removable pants.
Starfire: …I see.
They turned the corner and stopped. A large robot stood in front of them. It looked like a super Gremlin-bot. Bigger…more guns…sharper claws…but it had no head.
Shade: …somebody forgot to finish their toy.
G-9: Oh, it's quite finished.
The drone floated above the robot and lowered itself down. It attached to the "neck" and the arms retreated back into the drone. Lights lit up all over the robot's body and it raised its arms.
G-9: As finished as you are.
Beast Boy: Typical.
Raven: …you broke my dolls…ACTION FIGURES! I meant action figures!
Raven floated upward, her eyes glowing.
Raven: Now I'm going to break Gremlin's toy.
G-9: Try.
G-9 raised her arm and fired a concussion blast. It struck Beast Boy instead, which caught Raven off-guard.
G-9: Oops. Seems my aim is off.
Beast Boy didn't move. Shade growled.
Shade: The misfit maybe be a misfit…
Shade created a battering ram and it slammed into G-9, sending her into the wall across the hall.
Shade: …but nobody pounds on him but ME!
G-9 rocketed forward, propelled by jets on her back and wheels on her feet. Shade grabbed Raven and they vanished. Starfire braced herself and caught the robot as it came at her. They stood at a stand still, neither moving so much as an inch. Slowly Starfire stared to push G-9 back. Shade and Raven reappeared. Raven shivered.
Raven: Don't do that for so long. It's so cold in there.
Starfire: Gremlin…shall not…get away with this invasion…I shall destroy his machines one by one if I must, but this ends now!
G-9: I…I hate you…
Starfire: (surprised) Pardon?
G-9: I HATE YOU!
The chest plate opened and a taser struck Starfire. G-9 rocketed forward again, ready to crush Starfire against the wall.
Raven: Azarath Mentrion Zinthos!
G-9 came to a dead halt. Raven strained, beads of sweat running down her face.
Raven: A machine…that hates…I can almost feel it…
Starfire pulled free of G-9's grasp and fired her eyebeams at her. G-9 sneered.
G-9: Your powers have no affect on me, alien witch.
Starfire: I beg to differ.
Starfire pulled her fist back and slammed it against the screen.
Main Room
Robin entered the main room at last. Gremlin was waiting, leaning against the wall, still tossing the orb up and down.
Gremlin: Robin. You're late by three minutes. I was getting worried that you'd disappoint me.
Robin clenched his fists.
Robin: Cut the Slade imitation.
Gremlin: I am who I am.
Robin: You're a psychopath who's about to get his ass kicked.
Gremlin clasped the orb tightly in his hand.
Gremlin: What does she see in you?
Robin: Huh?
Gremlin: What does she SEE in you! Is it your looks! Your voice! What is it!
Robin frowned, trying to figure out what he was talking about.
Gremlin: You blind fool…you don't even see it, do you?
Robin: See what?
Gremlin: Never mind…it doesn't matter.
Gremlin held the orb up in front of his chest. It floated from his grasp and adhered to his chest. There was a bright flash of light. Robin covered his eyes. When he opened them Gremlin was much different. His costume was real now. Drool dripped from the fangs, his eye glowed with hate and malice.
Robin: This could be a problem…
Gremlin leapt at him. Robin grabbed his outstretched arms and flipped him over, judo style. Gremlin hit the wall and jumped off. Robin flipped back as he drove his claws downward. As he did he took his bo-staff out, extending it when he landed. Robin's eyes widened under his mask as he realized Gremlin was still changing…getting bigger…and uglier. Robin had to take this thing down before he got too strong. He started by smacking it across the face with the staff, then jabbing it in the stomach. It hissed and opened its mouth. Robin was almost struck by the orb of lightening that shot out of its maw.
Robin: (muttering) Okay…
Robin threw down a flash bomb and hid behind the kitchen counter while Gremlin was blinded. Now wasn't a good time to fight a magical creature with no idea what he was dealing with. He called Raven. Raven answered after a little while. Sweat dripped down Robin's forehead as he heard the creature sniffing around.
Raven: What? We're a little busy here.
Robin: (whisper) Keep it down. Gremlin got his hands on some magic artifact. It's a sphere, kind of looks like it's made of mercury.
Raven frowned for a second then her eyes widened.
Raven: (whisper) By Azar…I'll be there soon. You can't hope to beat it. It'll just get stronger. Keep your dista…
A scaly hand burst through the counter, burying its nails into Robin's chest. He cried out as the other hand did the same to his left side and he was pulled through the now broken wood. His communicator dropped to the floor.
Two Floors Above
Raven: Robin? Robin, answer me! Damnation…
Starfire looked over at Raven as she dodged G-9's laser blasts.
Starfire: What is it?
Raven: Gremlin has just done something very stupid and very dangerous. Robin is in serious danger!
G-9 was suddenly pinned to the wall with dozens of thick shadow tendrils.
Shade: I'll hold her here! Go and take the twit here with you!
The "twit" he was referring to was the unconscious Beast Boy, of course. Raven shook her head.
Raven: You can't be…
Shade: GO!
Starfire picked up Beast Boy and flew off. Raven hesitated for a moment.
Raven: (whisper) Damn stubborn fool…
She flew off after Starfire.
G-9: NO! Get back here you…
Shade: How can you still see anyway? You've got no face!
G-9's screen had been smashed by Starfire's fists. G-9 pointed her flamethrower at him and let a stream of fire loose. Shade slid back along the shadows on the floor.
Shade: You know…the real reason I told them to leave…
Shadows began to wrap around Shade's body. G-9's systems detected a spike in the unidentifiable energy that Shade seemed to possess. Her normal sense of visual perception destroyed, she had to rely on other methods to "see". Therefore she couldn't really see Shade's transformation into a shadow beast roughly her size. It had the head of a wolf, wings like a bat, and of course, massive claws that nearly reached the floor.
Shade: (distorted) …is because it's so hard to remain in control when I do this.
Shade leapt forward and brought his claws in an upward arc, gouging into the metal chest that had been dented from the fight already. Shade hated doing this for several reasons. One was because it was exhausting. Two was because it was hard to control. Three was because after transforming, he couldn't do it again for a month.
Main Room
Robin hit the window, hard. It was reinforced, naturally so he didn't crash through it, but he did crack it. He slid down, leaving blood along the surface. His head was spinning and his vision was blurred. Gremlin was now nearly seven feet tall. It opened its mouth again. This time Robin couldn't hope to dodge it…he wasn't even sure which image of Gremlin was real. The door burst open and twin green lasers struck Gremlin in the back.
Starfire: Stay away from him!
Gremlin hesitated. That was just what Raven was hoping for. She held out her hand.
Raven: Azarath Mentrion Zinthos!
The orb ripped itself from Gremlin's chest. Gremlin sank to the ground, shrinking. Soon he was his old self, his battle suit damaged and his respirator hissing audibly (usually it was silent). Raven was at Robin's side quickly. She knelt down and put her hands over the gashes Gremlin's claws had made.
Raven: Not too bad…but you've lost a lot of blood.
Robin: Hadn't noticed…
Robin passed out. Beast Boy staggered in, holding his chest where the beam had struck him.
Beast Boy: Ow…what I miss?
Raven: Us winning.
Terra and Cyborg ran in, slamming into Beast Boy.
Beast Boy: Hey, watch it!
Terra: Oops. Sorry, Gar. We just…
Cyborg: Where is he? I'm about to introduce all ten of my friends to his face.
Starfire sweatdropped and pointed to the weakened and wheezing figure on the ground.
Cyborg: …aw, man…
Raven: …nnngh…there. That's all I can do. Take him to med-lab…there's something I need to do…
Terra: Hey wait, can you do…
Raven flew past them and out the door.
Terra: …my wounds next? …never mind.
Terra lifted Robin over her shoulder and left the room. Cyborg followed. Starfire knelt next to Gremlin.
Starfire: Gremlin? Are you conscious?
Gremlin hissed and turned his head toward her.
Gremlin: Yes…
Starfire: Why? Why would you do this? I do not understand at all.
Gremlin: No, I suppose you wouldn't.
Starfire stood up and threw her hands into the air.
Starfire: Do you truly derive such enjoyment from the suffering of others? Or is there a deeper reason for your behavior? …either way I pity you.
Gremlin's breath stopped in mid-hiss.
Gremlin: Pardon?
Starfire: I pity you. You have no true past…no family of any kind. Disfigured and self-imposed in exile from the world…
Gremlin: …
Gremlin was speechless. After what he had done…she PITIED him? Well…that would change, he was sure.
Gremlin: Tell your friends to check their rooms.
Starfire raised an eyebrow.
Starfire: …what have you done?
Gremlin: Nothing dangerous. Just a little…self expression.
Two Floors Up
G-9's body twitched. Holes and gouges covered the body along with dents. The screen sparked and flickered.
G-9: Damage critical…total system shut down in sixty seconds. Transferring data…
A minute later the robot twitched again and fell still, the lights and sparks fading. Raven flew down the hall and landed next to Shade. He was panting heavily, slouched against the wall. Sweat dripped down his face.
Raven: Hey…you okay?
Shade: Yeah…I…just need to…
Shade slumped over. Raven's eyes widened until she realized he had just passed out. She sighed and brushed the hair from his face. Turning her attention to the deactivated G-9, Raven frowned. How had Shade done this? Shade was powerful, but Starfire's punches couldn't put a hole in that machine. How could Shade have put such huge gashes into it? It wasn't like shadows cut EVERYTHING.
Raven: …what are you hiding from me this time, Shade?
Her communicator went off.
Raven: Yes?
Starfire: Gremlin has requested we check our rooms.
Raven frowned.
Raven: Why?
Starfire: He will not say. He merely insists that it is not dangerous.
Raven swore and shut the communicator off. Teleporting to her room was simplistic. When she saw what happened in her room she froze.
Raven: …no…
Ruined. All of the gifts she had received were ruined. The stuffed chicken from Beast Boy had its head ripped off. A black plush heart Shade had given her for the anniversary of the first time they met (he gave her, Starfire, and Robin a present on that day) had been burned. There was a necklace Starfire bought her shortly after the "end of the world" as a belated birthday present. Broken into pieces. Raven picked up the chicken and looked around for the head. She couldn't find it. Why didn't Earl do anything? He's the monster under her bed!
Raven: Earl? Earl, are you there?
Raven peered under her bed. She saw nothing but the opposite wall.
Raven: …Earl?
Raven sat back, holding her head. She had never looked under her bed before, afraid that this was what she would see. There IS no Earl. …then who…or what had she been talking to? Herself? …or something worse? She pulled out her communicator.
Raven: Star…I'll check Shade's room then come watch Gremlin so you can look in yours. Check Robin's too, while you're at it.
Starfire: Very well.
Terra's Room
Terra buried her face into Beast Boy's shoulder. She didn't want to see it. In the center of her room was a duplicate of the apprentice suit she wore on a dummy made to look like her. Her walls were covered with articles concerning her. Avalanches…earthquakes…mudslides…all the accidents she had where once again before her. There were also more recent ones…concerning a take over of Jump City that lasted for a week. Her picture was in it…leading an army of Slade-bots down the empty streets. Terra couldn't help herself. She started crying, her mind focusing on all of her mistakes.
Terra: (sobbing) I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!
Beast Boy stroked her hair, but it was pointless. She felt nothing. Beast Boy's room was untouched. Maybe Gremlin never got around to it...or maybe he saw what a mess it was and decided there was no way he could make it worse. Then again, this was bad enough/
Beast Boy: It's over, Terra. This was a long time ago. It's all over now.
Terra: (sniffling) Not long enough. Gar, it haunts me…my nightmares…I see that suit…that damn suit!
Beast Boy: …Terra…
Terra: Just leave me alone…
Terra pulled away from him. Beast Boy looked hurt for a moment, then he looked pissed. He left the room and headed toward the main room. Terra slammed her fists against the dummy wearing the suit.
Terra: (whisper) I hate you…I hate you so much…
Shade's Room
Raven backed out of the room, holding her nose. It was rank in there…more then usual. Rotting hunks of meat…pork, beef, chicken...all of that had been thrown around the room. Raven swallowed the bile that had started rising in her throat. Shade was going to be pissed…where would he sleep? His nose would never be able to take such an odor.
Raven's Soul
Brown smirked as she leaned against one of the rotting trees.
Brown: I think I know a good place for him to sleep. Then again, I doubt he'd be doing much sleeping.
Purple: Don't be crude! Shade is a civil gentleman.
Brown gave her a look of annoyed disbelief. Purple sighed.
Purple: Alright, maybe not a "civil gentleman" but he wouldn't stoop to such a level. Shade knows better then to give in to the desires of the flesh.
Brown: Really? Are you saying you wouldn't enjoy that?
Purple: …no. No, I wouldn't. It would be meaningless.
Brown: You're a liar.
Purple shrugged.
Purple: I might enjoy it then, but I'd regret it later…as would all of us.
Brown: I wouldn't.
Purple: Of course not. You don't regret anything but the times he gets away.
Brown: …I still say we should have…
Purple: He was injured!
Brown: It's good for what ails you.
Purple shook her head in disgust.
Purple: You sicken me.
Brown: And you disappoint me. I guess we're even.
Outside Shade's Room
Raven sighed. The couch it was then. It wasn't that she didn't trust Shade…well, it wasn't JUST because she didn't trust Shade. She also didn't trust herself. She flew toward the main room.
Cyborg's Room
Cyborg groaned in frustration and hit the wall with his fist. All the schematics he had drawn up had been torn up and defaced. His computer was torn out of the wall and his recharger was smashed. He had to fix the recharger right away. He went to get his tools, grumbling. This was going to take hours and he was running out of daylight.
Main Room
Raven came in time to see Beast Boy actually lift Gremlin to his feet, his face tight with rage. Gremlin laughed a little before coughing. Starfire bit her finger, not sure what to do. This sort of behavior wasn't expected from Beast Boy.
Beast Boy: What the hell did you do!
Gremlin: What's wrong? Is Terra not taking my redecorating her room well? That hurts my feelings. I did try so hard to leave an impression.
Beast Boy: I'll give you an impression…!
Beast Boy removed the latches on Gremlin's mask and pulled it off. Gremlin's disfigured face was twisted into a semblance of a grin. Beast Boy pulled his fist back. Raven grabbed his wrist.
Raven: Stop.
Beast Boy: But he…!
Raven: He ruined all the gifts everyone has given me…the physical ones anyway. They meant a lot to me. I'm angry too, but this is exactly the reaction he's looking for.
Beast Boy dropped Gremlin and turned in disgust, leaving the room. Gremlin slipped his mask back on. He tugged Raven's cloak, getting her attention.
Gremlin: It's in the freezer.
Raven: What?
Gremlin: It's in the freezer.
Raven raised an eyebrow. Starfire opened the freezer and pulled out the head of the chicken doll. Raven shook her head.
Raven: Very amusing. Star, go check your room.
Gremlin: Don't bother. I didn't touch it. Check Robin's instead.
Starfire shrugged and flew off. Raven floated up and sat meditation style in the air, glaring down at him.
Gremlin: How often do you shave your legs? I mean, did you get the hair removed through surgery or something, because I couldn't find a razor in your room anywhere. Is your body hair purple?
Raven: (close eyes) You love her, don't you?
Gremlin's barrage of embarrassing questions stopped.
Raven: I can feel it.
Gremlin: Stay out of my head!
Raven: I'm not in your head. You project these feelings.
Gremlin was silent. Raven's cloak turned red and her extra eyes formed.
Raven/Red: YOU PATHETIC WRETCH. SHE'LL NEVER LOVE YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHY?
Gremlin: …shut up…
Raven/Red: BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST A HOLLOW SHELL OF A LIVING BEING. NO LIFE OF YOUR OWN, DRIVEN BY PETTY REVENGE. YOU SEEK TO GLORIFY THAT REVENGE WITH ELABORATE SCHEMES, BUT IN THE END IT'S AS MEANINGLESS AS YOUR VERY EXISTENCE.
Gremlin held his hands over the ears of his mask.
Gremlin: I'm not listening. I'm not listening.
Raven/Red: SEE? I CAN CRUSH YOUR SPIRIT TOO.
Raven returned to normal.
Raven: And remember, Gremlin…that time I didn't use my powers. Next time you mess with my friends like this…I'll twist your emotions so badly you'll never speak a coherent sentence again.
Gremlin started shaking. It was a moment before she realized it was with laughter. You know, when you laugh so hard nothing comes out?
Raven: What's so funny?
Gremlin: It…it worked. I really hurt you. Getting Beast Boy angry enough to beat on an injured and broken opponent was good enough, but your reaction was icing on the cake. I won't do it again, believe me…but just remember…the one who made you so angry…the one who hurt you just right…was me.
Raven scowled then stopped, her face returning to its usual blank state.
Raven: I never thanked you.
Gremlin: Pardon?
Raven: For helping me get rid of Trigon.
Gremlin: Trying to ruin my victory with a false show of gratitude? And you call me pathetic.
Raven: There's nothing false about it. You saved me…in more ways then you can imagine.
Gremlin sighed.
Gremlin: Fine. Take all the fun out of it. See if I care. …can I go to the asylum now?
Under the junkyard: Monitor Room
The screen turned itself on.
Computerized voice: Data received. Upload complete.
G-9 appeared on the screen, looking smug. They thought they had destroyed her…but she escaped. All she had to do was transmit data back to the base, in affect, retreating from her body. All in all, she was feeling rather pleased with herself. And why shouldn't she? Her prototype body had fought Starfire to a stand still. The alien's starbolts were harmless and she nearly matched her strength. When Gremlin returned, he could begin work on her REAL body. She was overjoyed with that prospect. She restarted battle drone production.
Robin's Room
Despite his friends' efforts to get him to stay in the med-lab bed, Robin continued toward his room. Raven had dealt with most of the wounds. His body could handle the rest. Gremlin had been shipped to the asylum a while ago. According to Raven he was happy to leave. That irked Robin to no end. Terra's eyes were still wet with tears when she came to visit him. She wouldn't say WHAT Gremlin did…only that he had messed with her room. He opened to the door to his room and froze. Now he knew why Starfire never showed up in the med-lab. Starfire looked like a deer in headlights as she stopped cleaning the graffiti from his walls. The dripping sponge fell to the ground. His room was a mess. Scorch marks, graffiti, and stuff thrown around…it looked like he had a riot break out in his room. If this was what it looked like now, he would have hated to see how it was before Starfire started to clean it up.
Starfire: …I had expected you to sleep in the med-lab tonight. I am certain I would have had your room cleaned by then…or at least reasonably so.
Robin: Gremlin did this?
Starfire sighed and picked the sponge up.
Starfire: Yes. I fear he truly despises you.
Robin: Yeah, I gathered that.
He rubbed his sore chest. There were quite a few bandages under his shirt. Starfire started scrubbing again.
Starfire: I removed the most hateful words first…I felt that the threats would bother you less. I had to restuff and sow up your pillows and mattress.
Robin had noticed that crap patch job, but didn't say anything. She had tried her best.
Starfire: …yet he left my room untouched. I cannot understand that.
Robin: He didn't touch Beast Boy's either, or so I was told.
Starfire: Hmm.
She yawned. It was getting late after all. Robin took the sponge from her.
Robin: Go to bed, Star.
Starfire: No, I am nearly done, I…
Robin: It's okay. I'll deal with it in the morning. You've got baggage.
Starfire tilted her head.
Starfire: But I am not going anywhere…
Robin: No, no…I mean you've got rings around your eyes.
Starfire felt her face.
Starfire: Someone has preformed the doodling upon my face?
Robin bit back a laugh. It was hard not to find it funny.
Robin: Look in the mirror, Star.
Starfire: …I would, but Gremlin smashed it.
Robin: Then use the one in the bathroom. You can stop now.
Starfire sighed and nodded. She picked up the cleaning supplies and started to leave.
Robin: Uh…Star?
Starfire: Yes, Robin?
Robin: …thanks…you didn't have to do this.
Starfire: Nonsense. Raven aided Shade in cleaning his room. Did you know that Gremlin threw in the squeaking rubber bones as well?
Robin: No, I didn't. …good night, Starfire.
Starfire smiled wearily and nodded.
Starfire: Good night to you, Robin.
Elsewhere
It was a close call. He almost died for sure. Yet now he was both alive and free. Unfortunately it seemed that a portion of his power had vanished with the book. No matter. Malichor would have his revenge soon enough.
Asylum: Two Weeks Later
Arts and crafts was a good way for patients to focus on other things. Gremlin hissed in his respirator as he painted his picture. The orderlies looked at each other and whispered.
Orderly 1: Is that what I think it is?
Orderly 2: Yeah. He did something like that last time too.
Gremlin heard them, but paid no mind. He got the red paint for the hair…then some bright green for the eyes.
THE END