A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter Two: The Haul
Nightwing circled the young heroes as if inspecting the troops. Melvin proudly wore a dark blue cloak made from a blue bed spread with a reasonable facsimile of Raven's brooch clasping it around her. She traded glances with the white cloaked witch standing at Nightwing's side. Timmy, a freckled, red haired boy, saluted. He wore a bright yellow sweatshirt with an appliqué red lightning bolt and red sweatpants. Teether had a black shirt with a blue bird on it, black pants, and a black domino mask. He glanced up to Nightwing and smiled proudly.
"Right," Nightwing announced. "You three have your bags?" The kids held each held out orange plastic pumpkin with their right hand. "Flashlights?" In unison, they showed the Titan's leader their Halloween themed flashlights. "Grown-up?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," a thin green-skinned teenager moaned. Garfield Logan stood next to the kids, and sighed.
Nightwing chuckled to himself, seeing through Changeling's act. "Okay, just a few more things. Rule number one?"
"Stick together," the kids said in unison.
"Rule number two?"
"Don't go to a house that doesn't have it's lights on or isn't decorated."
Nightwing nodded, "Rule number three?"
"Don't eat any candy until we get back home."
"Rule number four?"
"Listen to Mister Garfield."
Changeling visibly shuddered. The sound of the kids calling him "Mister" made him feel suddenly ancient.
"Rule number five?"
"Say 'Thank you!'"
Nightwing glanced over to Raven and grinned, "And rule number six?"
The kids traded worried looks and then looked back up to Nightwing hopefully. A wide smile spread across his face. "Have fun," he said warmly and patted each of them on the shoulder. As he came to Changeling, Nightwing shook the green Titan's hand.
"You got this?" Nightwing asked.
"Yeah, it's going to be cake."
Nightwing leaned back and crossed his arms. Raven kneeled and kissed the children's foreheads as they left.
"What, no smooch for me?" the former Beast Boy asked sarcastically.
"Not on your life, Garfield," Raven said, her lip curling into a sideways grin.
"You guys be careful," Changeling said as he walked out the door.
The October night air was calm, and a large Hunter's Moon hung low in the cloudless sky. The youngest Titans marveled at the wild assortment of colors, costumes and characters around them. Changeling walked them through an older neighborhood that dated back to the Victorian beginnings of Jump City. Melvin counted off at least three Zorros, two Darth Vaders, a Superman…well Supergirl after a second glance, and an assortment of princesses, devils, and ninjas.
"I need a new superhero name," Timmy said after they left the first house. He looked in his pumpkin and scowled at the small Butterfinger bar. "'Timmy Tantrum' makes me sound like a baby. What about Screamer?"
Melvin and Teether looked at Timmy like he suddenly had three heads. "Ewww," Melvin complained.
"Boomer?" Timmy suggested.
"Taken," Changeling commented.
"Shouter?" Teether added.
"I don't think so," Timmy said. "Thunder?"
"That's taken, too, Timmy," Melvin said. "By, I dunno, Lightning's brother?"
"Oh, yeah. Hey! What about Siren?"
Melvin giggled. "Timmy, sirens are girls!"
"No, like a police siren! And 'Melvin' is a dumb name for a superhero, too, you know."
"Okay kids, let's not start an argument, okay?" Changeling said stepping in. "We're supposed to have fun, right?"
"Yeah!" the youthful trio agreed.
"Mister Garfield?" Teether asked, "Why do we say 'Trick or Treat' anyway?"
"Well, the way I understand it, is that it's magic. If you don't treat a person that comes to your door, then you're going to be tricked by all the ghosts and fairies that are out on Halloween night. So, since people don't want to be tricked, then they make sure they give out treats."
"Okay," Teether said, rather unconvinced.
"So why don't the people that don't have their lights on get tricked?" Timmy asked.
"Um, it's because… Well... it's kind of like Passover. The fairies won't come to houses with no porch light on because they're there to protect kids like you. No lights, no kids, no fairies. Does that make sense?" Changeling said, making everything up on the fly. The kids looked at each other to see if one of them believed the teenager.
"Mister Garfield?"
"Yes, Melvin?"
"What's Passover?"
"It's… well…" Changeling looked around desperately, "Hey look! Here's a spooky house we can go to! Look at all the jack-o-lanterns!"
The Pre-pre-teen Titans scampered up the walk, leaving Gar to compliment himself on his luck. He watched the children gather more treats and rush back over to him. They walked to house after house, were complimented on their heroic choices of costumes, and soon had their pumpkins over half full. They walked along together, and the kids soon noticed that their teenaged guide was taking a keen interest in the older sisters of some of the other trick or treaters. They'd meet up with another group, and Gar would try to be his most charming only to be undone by fits of children's giggles.
After another block, Gar was quite ready to take the kids back to the Tower, but they had their second wind and an unstoppable desire to see everything they could see. The houses on this street were all dark but one. To the kids, it was a beacon of hope. Timmy looked around for their guardian and grinned widely.
"He's talking to that girl. Probably wants to get all kissy-kissy with her," he said as if he thought Changeling was trying to deal with a devil. "C'mon guys, let's go to that house."
"I dunno, Timmy, we're supposed to stick together," Melvin said.
"Yeah, but that house probably hasn't had many kids. Think of all the candy they'll give out!"
Melvin looked back to Changeling, who seemed bound and determined to chat the girl up. She counted off the steps to and from the house and calculated the amount of time it would take for them. "All right, let's go. If Celene carries us, we'll get there faster."
"Okay."
Timmy and Teether both liked it when Melvin summoned her powers. She used to choose really cool avatars, like giant teddy bears or stuffed dragons, but now her latest one was just so… so… girlie. Celene shimmered into view, an impossibly beautiful woman that looked as if she was made of moonlight and wore a gown liquid silver. Her shape changed and elongated gracefully and each of the children straddled her back. Celene flew the young Titans to the front door and smiled at them as Teether reached for the doorbell.
They waited.
Timmy knocked on the door loudly.
Melvin, Timmy, and Teether traded anxious glances.
"I dunno if anyone's home," Melvin said.
"They've got to be home. The lights are on all over the house," Timmy snapped.
Finally, the door cracked open. A thin, middle-aged man with small, dark eyes and a ragged goatee answered. He looked down at the junior Titans (Melvin's Raven especially) and jumped back as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Trick or Treat!" the kids exclaimed and held up their pumpkins.
"I don't have anything for you. Isn't tonight a school night? Go away and leave me alone," the man snarled arrogantly and shut the door in their faces.
Melvin and Teether turned around dejectedly. "Come on, Timmy, we'd better get back," Melvin said sullenly.
"He didn't give us any treats," Timmy said, his eyes narrowing angrily. "Now, he's gonna have to get tricked."