Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans
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Chapter Seven: Questions
Jennifer walked along the street counting houses. She glanced at a scrap of paper with an address scribbled on it. She looked at the house in front of her and made her way up the front steps.
She'd decided to make a surprise visit to Wally and ask him about the dance. Kori was going with Richard, Rachel was going with Gar. She figured they could go together.
She tapped the doorbell with a half pink, half black fingernail. She could hear the noise echo through the house. After about two minutes the door opened.
A girl, probably a year or two older than Jennifer, answered. She was chewing a huge was of grape bubble gum. Her blonde hair was curled at the ends just right and her brown eyes combed Jennifer carefully. She was wearing designer jeans and leather boots. Her gaze narrowed "Who are you?" she demanded.
Jennifer looked down at her clothes self consciously. She was wearing jeans with a hot pink mini skirt over them. Her black top was off shoulder, long-sleeved, and V necked. She had on her traditional, chunky, purple boots. She looked back up at the girl who was snapping her gum loudly "Is Wally home?" she asked politely.
"No he's not." the girl said in a tone that Jennifer knew she was lying. The door was immediately slammed in her face.
Jennifer scowled at it and pounded on the wood. The girl flung it open, her annoyance plain on her face "He's not here!"
The grey eyed girl glared angrily. She peered around her and spotted a familiar mop of red hair coming out of a room "Wally!" she exclaimed waving frantically for his attention.
"Jennifer!" the blue eyed boy's face lit up like a firework show. He jogged over to the door but was shoved aside by the girl.
"Mom said you couldn't have anyone over." she said with an evil glint in her eyes. She started to slam the door again.
Jennifer stuck her foot out keeping the barrier open. Wally looked at her then at the girl who could only be his sister. "Fine then." he stepped out of the house "Come on Jennifer."
"I'm telling mom!" the girl screamed after him.
"Go ahead! See if I care." Wally yelled back.
The girl huffed and slammed the door shut with such a loud bang Jennifer was sure the whole neighborhood heard it.
"Sorry about my sister. She's a pain." Wally said as they walked along the road.
"Glad you showed up. I was ready to put my fist in her face."
The red head laughed, throwing his head back as he did "I sorta wish you would have." his laughter disappeared and he kicked at a loose stone in the road. "I'm having a crummy day." he explained after a moment.
"I'm a good listener."
Wally was silent for a long while. "You want the whole day or just the part two hours?"
Jennifer smiled kindly "I'm all ears Wally."
"Well this morning I woke up and my sister had Gar and Richard convinced I'd already left for school. So I walked by myself. School was okay as it goes. I went home and Jasmine, my sister, had about five of her friends over. So I had to put up with all their jokes and listen to them talk about me behind my back. Then they all went home and my sister locked me in my room. So I had to find a paper clip and unlock the door. I decided to take a shower and Jasmine used all the hot water running the sink. So I got out and found out all my clothes were dirty because I didn't have time to wash them this morning-."
Jennifer raised a brow "You have to wash your own clothes?" she interrupted. "I mean I wash mine but only because…"
"Ya, Mom takes all of Jasmine's to the cleaners but I have to take mine to the Laundromat. So I had to put on some of my less dirty clothes. And that's when you showed up."
The brown haired girl frowned slightly and stuck her finger in a hole in the hip of Wally's jeans "Something tells me you didn't buy these this way." she said.
Wally shrugged "My parents think my sister is the greatest thing ever. If you ask them I'm the world's stupidest and most worthless kid." he sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Jennifer looked at the street trying to think of something to say. Finally she grabbed Wally's elbow and pulled him into a hug, right there on the sidewalk. She felt him stiffen for a second then he relaxed and hugged her back. She patted his back "Wally, you're not stupid and you're definitely not worthless." she pulled away and smiled at him "I think you're one of the smartest, nicest, and coolest people I've ever met; and I've met a lot of people Wally West."
Wally smiled "Thanks Jennifer I needed to hear that."
"Come on." Jennifer said looping her arm in with his "I'll buy you a doughnut."
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"Master, I could just tunnel into the bank and take the jewels." Terra said quietly "Why do we need these… others?"
Slade patted the blonde's head softly "Because my dear, I don't need the jewels. However those girls will draw certain… attention."
"The Titan's attention, Master?" Terra guessed casting a glance at her wristwatch. Two minutes till midnight.
CRACK! The sound made Terra half jump out of her skin. Slade whirled around already pulling out a huge gun. Terra's hands and eyes lit up with a golden colored glow and the roof trembled.
The black smoke cleared revealing Raven, Jinx, and Starfire. Jinx cast a glance at Terra who was still prepared for an attack. "You're out of your league kid." she told her.
Slade smirked and held out a scrap of paper "Teleport us to this location and we'll see if you're up to the job." he ordered.
Raven scowled and her eyes took on a reddish glow. Starfire latched onto her arm "Raven, please control your temper." she whispered urgently.
Raven's eyes turned purple. She glared at Slade then raised her arms "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
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The three girls looked around themselves. A harsh wind whipped around them. Starfire's hands glowed bright green slighting up a twelve foot area around them. They were in a canyon.
"You girls look a little out of place." Terra's voice said from the darkness. Suddenly a huge boulder flew into the circle of green light.
Jinx cartwheeled out of the way and sent out a hex from the direction the boulder had come from. The flash of energy lit up Terra's face. She dodged the attack and lifted her glowing hands into the air. Three towers of earth rose from the ground. She threw her hands out towards the three girls. The pillars obeyed her commands and flew at their targets.
Jinx screamed as the pillar smashed into her chest and plowed her into the canyon floor. Starfire's head whipped around to see Raven get slammed into the cliff wall. She heard a sickening crunch from Jinx's direction. The bight pink light that spilled from her eyes was fading away. The tall girl whirled on Terra.
"You little clorbag!" she screamed hurling a starbolt at the girl. It connected and she was thrown backwards from the force of impact. "X'Hal frigot Rahue! Rickthar Simion!" she yelled throwing attack after attack at the blonde girl who was forced back time after time as the bolts hit her with amazing strength.
"Enough!" Slade's voice ordered. He seemed to appear out of nowhere. His large hand gripped Starfire's wrist "Stop." he commanded.
The green eyed girl whirled on him. She pulled her free arm back and punched with all her might. Slade flew up about ten feet into the air and came down with a loud thud.
The glow faded from the girl's eyes and she swayed dangerously back and forth. She dropped to her knees and held her hands to her head. Tears pored down her face and she was mumbling in a strange language under her breath as she rocked back and forth. Her body was racked with sobs as she cried for her friends. Surely they were dead after Terra's attack.
Then a hand touched her shoulder. The crying girl turned and wrapped her arms around Jinx's thin figure. The witch smiled and hugged her friend back.
Raven flicked her fingers, encasing Slade in a cloud of black magic. She brought him close to her face "If you ever hurt my friends again I'll send you and your little toy down to my father." her eyes glowed red and she gained another set "Do not push me. Understand?" without waiting for an answer she tossed the man away to land next to Terra who was trying to get up.
Slade stood shakily and looked at the girls. Starfire was standing once more, her arms folded tightly over her chest, her eyes blazing in anger. Jinx was standing with her hand resting on her jutted out hip. Pink lightning danced over her fingertips. Raven was standing to the side, her cloak slightly open and tentacles of power were crawling over the ground.
Slade's eye narrowed "Get up Terra." he ordered glaring down at the girl who was holding her side in pain. "I said get up!" he yelled grabbing the front of the girl's armor. Terra whimpered.
"Put her down, Slade." Starfire said her voice dripping with hate. She looked at Raven who closed her eyes for a moment then nodded.
The man obeyed. He tossed the blonde like a rag doll. She landed with a yelp at Raven's feet. The half demon knelt and her hands lit up with a sky blue power. The girl's body began to levitate a few inches above the ground. The half demon placed her fingertips on either side of the girl's head and let the healing power flow through her body. Suddenly Raven cried out and she was thrown back from the body landing a few feet away with a grunt.
"Raven!" Jinx exclaimed
The hooded girl waved her away. She got to her feet and glared at Terra who was on her feet and at Slade's side once more. "You feel no guilt for what you did do you?" she hissed "Nothing at all for what you're putting him through?" her eyes began to glow a brilliant red "You don't deserve his love."
Terra sneered "You think I cared about that green freak? It was all an act. I could care less about what happens to him." she looked up at Slade who placed a hand on her shoulder "Slade was the only one who tried to help me." her eyes turned to Raven once more. Her fists began to glow a brilliant yellow.
"Enough Terra," Slade said gripping the girl's shoulder tightly. "If you three need anything for the job leave a list on the rooftop Jinx met me on."
Raven whirled on her heel and disappeared into a cloud of black smoke-like magic. Jinx and Starfire followed after her.
Terra hugged herself slightly "Beast Boy betrayed me." she whispered letting a lone tear escape from her baby blue eyes and run down her face.
Slade put a comforting arm around her and ran his fingers through her hair "That's why we're going to make him and the Titans pay."
Terra's eyes snapped open spilling a golden light into the dark. "Yes Master."
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Robin gunned his motorcycle and leaned into the sharp turn. His black and yellow cape flapped loudly behind him in the 60mph wind. He was only half listening to the police radar scan coming over his helmet communicator. His thoughts were focused on that girl. Starfire was her name and she was… gorgeous.
He scowled and tried to redirect his thoughts to something else. But they kept returning to her. Why couldn't he get her out of his head!
He pulled his bike into a dark alley and activated the cloaking device and alarm. He pulled out his grappling hook and shot it at the fire escape.
In a matter of moments he was flipping and running over the Jump City skyline. Here his acrobatic genes really kicked in. It was almost like he was back on the trapeze doing death defying stunts to hear a crowd cheer him on. He leapt over the space between buildings. For a moment he was falling, the excitement taking his breath away. He reached for a jump line.
Suddenly something snagged around his waist and he was yanked away from the fall. He managed to fall on his hands and get into a handspring bringing him up into a fighting posture with two bird-a-rangs already drawn and ready. Then as he saw his attacker his weapons clattered to the ground and he was at a loss for words.
Starfire was standing a few feet in front of him. Her green eyes were wide with fear and she also seemed to be unable to speak.
Finally Robin found his tongue "Why…" he had to swallow to catch his breath "Why did you catch me?"
"I told you Robin, I am a thief but I am not without compassion." Starfire replied, she gestured towards the gap "You were falling. It was only a natural instinct." she turned around and began to walk towards the edge of the roof "Goodbye Robin… it was nice to see you under more pleasant circumstances."
"Wait!" Robin yelled running after her not knowing why he did. But she was gone and he was left alone on the rooftop with so many questions and no answers.
He sighed a little and turned around to head back to his motorbike. But there was a wall of black clad muscle in front of him. He grunted slightly as he bumped into the person. He looked up and his face paled. "Batman." he whispered.
"Robin." the man greeted.
The masked teenager's gaze dropped to his feet. He knew his face was burning red with embarrassment. "Why are you here?"
The Dark Knight walked past his former side-kick to look out over the street "How is Garfield handling Tara's death?" he asked.
Robin raised a brow "A lot better than I thought he would. I think Rachel's been keeping an eye on him. She was over at his house the other day… why do you ask?"
Batman turned around and spoke gravely "Tara Marvok is Terra. The girl you took in and tried to help and I don't think she's dead at all."
Robin's eyes almost bugged out of his head "What are you talking about? There's no connection between Gar's Tara and Terra…" Robin cursed and hit his forehead.
"Watch your mouth." Batman warned "The body didn't belong to Tara Marvok. It was a girl who'd run away three days before."
Robin began to pace thoughtfully "So she faked her civilian identity's death and then Terra reappears." he stopped pacing and looked up "She's working for someone."
Batman nodded "I can stay here and help you search." he offered "You might need some extra help when-."
"No," Robin interrupted "I can't ask you to leave Gotham for me. We'll find Terra and take care of her. No mistakes this time." he looked down at his hands "I almost lost my team last time."
Batman reached out hesitantly and rested his hand on Robin's shoulder "Be careful Robin, if you need me just call."
Robin nodded "Don't worry I will." he said. The pressure on his shoulder faded away and he barely made out Batman's quiet footsteps as he left.
Robin took off across the rooftops once more.
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Uh... can't really think of anythign to say... OH!May 28, 2006I went to the Indinapolis 500 with my sister and dad. Sam Hornish Jr. won and Danica Patrick came in 8th... that's all.
Raven's Shadow of Light
