32 Productions Presents…
A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…"Boom"
Chapter One
Cliffs Overlooking City
A teenage boy stood near the edge of the cliff, carrying a backpack. His arms were crossed in front of him and he had a wide grin on his face. He had long brown hair, reaching down to just above his shoulder. He also had a small goatee. He thought it made him look suave and his popularity with the ladies only fueled that belief. He wore a black button down shirt, short sleeved and he never bothered to tuck it in. His brown cargo pants were filled with…cargo. Mostly loose change he couldn't get to stay in his wallet. He had a metal stud in his tongue, not that it was currently visible. He wanted an earring but couldn't remember which ear meant what. Why take a chance? Chicks dug it…poor deluded fellow. He had on sneakers, worn from his constant traveling. He looked innocent enough, a rather decent fellow from appearance. If anyone could see what was in his backpack, they might question that idea. If anyone heard what he was about to say, they'd know that idea was false.
Boy: (whistle) Nice place. Very scenic. I bet it'll look great when it's nothing but rubble.
He turned and started heading down the path that would lead into Jump City.
Boy: I wonder if I can get that "T" to fall down without breaking the top? Like chopping down a tree…
: CUE THEME :
Titan Tower: Main Room
Shade and Cyborg sat on the couch, playing a video game. As usual, Shade had little to no game to speak of. If Cyborg didn't like kicking his butt so much, he'd have been bored. The win music played again and Shade groaned, hanging his head. Cyborg smirked.
Cyborg: Booyah! That's win number nine! Can I get a ten?
Shade glared at him.
Shade: …I had something in my eye.
Cyborg rolled his eye.
Cyborg: Sure you did. Just like the glare was bothering you last time. And the couch was too lumpy before that.
Shade: …it is a lumpy couch.
Cyborg: The couch don't enter into it, man. I kicked your ass, that's that.
Shade: …one more time.
Cyborg was only too happy to comply. That's when the main door slid open and Beast Boy came in, carrying a package.
Beast Boy: Dudes! Check it out! It finally came!
Shade: Yeah, that's great, Snot Boy.
Beast Boy ignored him. There was no way he was going to let Shade ruin his good mood now. Cyborg was more friendly then the grumpy alien boy.
Cyborg: What'cha got there, BB?
Beast Boy put the package down and tore it open.
Beast Boy: I order this from a comic last week!
Cyborg: …comics still have that sort of stuff in it?
Beast Boy: Uh…yeah. What comics do you read?
Before Cyborg could answer, he pulled out the contents. Shade turned his head to read the label.
Shade: "Junior Magician Kit". Congratulations, Greenie. You've reached a new level of desperation.
Beast Boy: What's that supposed to mean?
Shade ignored him, turning back to the game.
Shade: Hey, no fair! I was reading the package!
Cyborg: You didn't pause, Shade.
Beast Boy decided that Shade was just jealous. Just wait. He'd be pulling cards out of his hat and rabbits out of his sleeves in no time…wait…that was backwards. Well, whatever it was. It didn't matter. Inside the box was a hat, a wand, a cape, a pack of cards, a couple of small yellow balls, some plastic cups, a manual, and other such materials. The win music played again and Shade tossed the controller down, sick of playing.
Cyborg: Hey, hey, hey! Don't do that unless you want to buy a new one!
Shade grumbled something under his breath and peered into the box. Cyborg glanced at it as well.
Cyborg: You realize nobody is going to want to see this crap, don't you?
Beast Boy: Why not?
Cyborg: Mumbo Jumbo.
Beast Boy dropped the wand. That hadn't occurred to him. Why would his friends want to see him do magic tricks when one of the most annoying of their enemies did ones three times as good? Well, that and he was annoying.
Shade: And you know how Raven doesn't like magicians.
That was true. Raven had a dislike for magicians. Not the real ones who actually did magic. She respected them and liked to consider herself as such. No, it was the idiotic ones that did "tricks" that bothered her. The "pull a rabbit out of the hat" and "is this your card types" were mockeries of real magicians. Beast Boy groaned and shoved the stuff back in the box.
Beast Boy: Aw, man! I spent sixty bucks on this thing!
Now he was upset. He needed a way to make himself feel better. He sat on the couch and picked up the controller. There was one thing that always made him feel better. Successfully beating Shade in an argument, and he had just the topic.
Beast Boy: Hey, speaking of Raven, you tell her yet, Shade?
Shade stiffened.
Shade: Tell her what?
Cyborg and Beast Boy snickered as they started their game.
Cyborg: Don't deny it, man. You got it bad for her.
Shade stood up, looking ready to punch the green boy out. He calmed down. If he looked upset, it proved they were right. Best to play it cool. He folded his arms and put on an indifferent expression.
Shade: You don't know what you're talking about.
Beast Boy: Dude, it's understandable. Always wearing that leotard? Showing off those legs? She's totally hot.
Shade felt his face turn red. He walked away.
Cyborg: That was mean, man.
Beast Boy: (shrugging) It's true.
A shadow travel along the floor and stopped behind the couch. Shade rose out of it, now intent on strangling the life out of the changeling. That's when the cause of the problem came into the room, book in hand. Raven raised an eyebrow at the scene before her.
Raven: …Shade? What are you doing?
Shade sighed as Beast Boy and Cyborg turned toward her.
Shade: I WAS going to kill this annoying twit, but that idea's ruined.
Beast Boy: (confused) What did I do?
Beast Boy scratched his head. All he did was say Raven looked hot. It's not like he said he was going to ask her out tomorrow or something. …he wondered how that would go. Eh, she'd probably just say she couldn't because of her powers. That was a damn good excuse. Raven walked over to the couch and made a motion with her hand. Beast Boy and Cyborg obligated the unspoken request and scooted over, letting her sit down.
Raven: Please keep the gloating and trash talk to a dull roar, okay? I'd like to be able to read this book without throwing it at anyone.
Shade was now nervous. Now that Beast Boy brought it up, he couldn't stop looking at her legs. Thank GOD he wore sunglasses! He had to do something…say something…THINK!
Shade: Uh…er…so…Raven, have fun meditating?
Raven lowered the book slightly and turned her head in his direction.
Raven: Of course. Nothing is as riveting as sitting in the same spot for over an hour with my eyes closed. I don't do it for fun, Shade. I do it because I have to.
Raven rolled her eyes and went back to reading. Shade was a nice enough guy, but there were times the dumbest things came out of his mouth. That and he was staring at her legs. If she wasn't used to boys doing that by now… Shade felt embarrassed and disappeared.
Beast Boy: Wonder what his problem was?
Cyborg: Yeah, he usually starts trading sarcastic comments with Raven after a line like that.
Raven: (turning the page) Had some good ones lined up too.
Music Store
The cashier watched the boy with the backpack with amazement. The stack of CDs he was buying just kept growing. How could he afford all that? A better question, why would he need that many in one purchase? Oh well. At least she could add this to her list of sales. Not many people bought stuff on her shift for some reason. Finally the boy brought the huge stack up to the counter and placed them down.
Cashier: Whoa. Why so many?
Boy: Oh just a little celebration.
He was tempted to add that it would "bring down the house" but that just felt cliché. As she rang up all the CD's he briefly considered making a move on her. He decided against it. As good as he was, he'd probably wouldn't get anywhere before he had to blow town. Using the rather large amount of money he managed to scrounge up after his…activities, he paid for the purchases. The cashier was slightly confused since all the money was in poor condition, but it was still money all the same. He left the store, whistling. He had two more things to do before he could begin. He needed a good place to start his fun, and he needed a large stereo system. Well, he didn't really NEED a big one, but he'd prefer it.
Boy: (muttering) Wonder where the nearest Best Buy is…and what should I start with? Something loud. Linkin Park? Alice in Chains? Hmm…
Choices.
Titan Tower: Outside Training Room
Starfire had been thinking about this long and hard. While her observations (watching TV and movies) suggested that the male asked the female out on the "date" (which she could swear was a fruit), she decided that she had no choice. She had been on Earth for some time and Robin had yet to ask her out. Starfire regarded herself as a patient girl, but sometimes matters must be taken into one's own hands in order to get the ball rolling. She could hear the sounds of Robin beating on the wooden dummies (poor dummies) in the next room. She looked herself over the best she could without a mirror, testing her breath, flattening out her skirt, and moving her hair out of her face.
Starfire: (whispering in Tamaranian) Okay, Koridan'r. It's show time. Lay on the charm and don't take "no" for an answer.
She opened the door and let out a cry of surprise as a wooden head flew in her direction. She caught it in the air. She floated in to where Robin was wiping his sweat off with a towel. She handed him the head, which he took with a confused expression.
Starfire: I believe you misplaced this.
Robin: Uh…thanks Star.
Not the start she had in mind. This was no way to get…(somebody shoot me before I say it) ahead in life. If she was to get any…(why can't I stop?) headway with this plan, she needed to come up with better jokes. …yes, that was a joke. She just suggested that he lost a wooden head. That was funny…kind of. Better laugh now, there aren't any better ones…(KILL ME!) heading your way.
Starfire: Robin, I was wondering if we might go to the large cinematic theater together tonight.
Robin thought about it for a second.
Robin: Sounds good to me.
Starfire could scarcely contain her joy. That was easier then she had every hoped it to be.
Robin: I just need to shower first…kind of sweaty here. Then we'll ask the others what they want to see.
Starfire stood there with a finger raised in the air to protest as he walked off toward the nearest shower, her jaw hanging open. That was not what she had in mind. She was suddenly very tempted to rip her hair out of her head.
Starfire: (Tamaranian) Some detective…
Robin: What was that?
Starfire: Oh, just thinking aloud.
Shade's Room
Shade threw a chair across the room. He had long since been forced to get metal furniture because he kept smashing the wooden ones. It wasn't his fault. There were times he just got so frustrated and angry he had to destroy SOMETHING. Now was one of those times.
Shade: What the hell was I thinking! Did you have fun meditating! What is wrong with me! That's got to be the single DUMBEST thing I could have said!
Shade pounded on the desk in his room he used to draw on. He was a rather talented artist, if he did say so himself. His friends complimented his work often. Starfire even asked to keep a few of them. He stopped when he realized how badly his hand hurt at that point. He gripped the edge of the desk, breathing deeply. His anger fading, he sank into depression instead.
Shade: …why do I even fool myself?
He stared at his hands, more specifically the claws that were his fingernails.
Shade: What would she see in an animal like me?
He looked around his room, at the destruction he caused just because he had said something embarrassing.
Shade: …a destructive, mindless brute, that's what she'd see. I'm not fit for her. And even if I was, what would it matter? I could be the best looking, most suave guy in existence and it would make no difference. She can't feel…she mustn't feel.
Shade collapsed onto his bed.
Shade: Way to go, idiot. You fall for the one girl nobody can touch…and you're talking to yourself again.
Shade put his hand over his chest and dug his nails into his skin, making himself bleed.
Shade: Sometimes I just want to tear my heart out…it's obviously defective anyway. Who'd miss me? Beast Boy hates me…Raven couldn't care less…
Shade's suicidal thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door.
Shade: What?
Robin: We're going to the movies, you want to come?
Shade: I'm in the middle of one of my episodes, thanks.
Robin knew what that meant and left him alone. Still it was nice of him to ask. He was starting to feel better now. His depression lifted somewhat. At least he was no longer interested in ripping out a vital organ.
Main Room
Cyborg and Beast Boy had quit the game in favor of television. Raven gave a quick glance at the screen in the very small chance that something that would interest her was on it. That hope was smashed as she watched a monster truck land on a pile of cars.
Raven: (turning the page) Ooo. The same stuff we see whenever we fight a criminal. Thrilling.
Beast Boy: This is different.
Cyborg: Yeah, we can't appreciate it in the middle of combat.
Raven refused to get into an argument over a monster truck rally so she kept quiet. Robin and Starfire entered.
Robin: Hey guys, who wants to see a movie?
They all turned to look and saw the dejected look on Starfire's face. Raven was the first to pick up as to what it meant, being able to read emotions and all.
Raven: …there's nothing out I want to see.
Cyborg: I've seen them all already.
Beast Boy: I'll go…
Raven elbowed him. Realization struck the green boy.
Beast Boy: …some other time. Yeah. I'm watching this show. Sorry, dude.
Robin looked disappointed. Starfire quickly moved in.
Starfire: Do not fret, Robin. We can enjoy the movie ourselves, can we not?
Robin: …I guess so.
Robin headed toward the garage. Starfire watched him leave before turning back to her friends, wrapping her arms around their necks.
Starfire: I thank you! Truly, I worry that Robin simply not interested in me.
Beast Boy: Pfft. Wouldn't worry about that.
Raven: Get going before he thinks you ditched him.
Starfire took off, not wanting that to happen at all.
Cyborg: That boy worries me sometimes.
Raven: As long as it keeps Starfire from asking me questions I don't want to answer, they have my blessing.
Raven shuddered as she recalled the "condom discussion". She burned the charts after they were finished. Never again could Raven look at a balloon the way she used to. Shade came in, his hands in his pockets. He walked over and tapped Raven on top of her head. Raven gave him a look that suggested if he ever did it again she'd bite the offending finger off.
Shade: Can I talk to you for a minute…in the hall?
Raven: (turning the page) The bottle only opens if you press down when you turn it.
Shade: You're never going to let me live that down, are you?
Shade once had trouble opening a bottle of pain reliever. He pulled at it, twisted it, banging it on things, and even chewed on the lid, but it wouldn't come open. After watching the whole thing (and no doubt finding it to be incredibly amusing) Raven walked over and opened it for him.
Raven: I wish I had a camera for that.
Shade: I'm serious, Raven. Please.
Raven sighed and put her bookmark into place. She shut the book and stood up. Shade followed her as she went into the hall. She turned and folded her arms.
Raven: Now what was so important that you dragged me away from a perfectly good book?
Shade: …teach me how to meditate.
Raven's arms dropped and she blinked.
Raven: I'm sorry?
Shade: I…I need you to teach me how to meditate. You know I have certain…issues. Mostly with anger. I need you to teach me how to meditate and put those feelings at rest BEFORE they boil over.
Raven stared at him for a moment. She couldn't see his eyes, but his voice was pleading enough. He was serious about this. Dead serious. Raven nodded.
Raven: Meet me in the training room in about an hour or so. There are certain…things I have to take care of first.
Shade: Uh…okay.
Back in the main room, Beast Boy and Cyborg leaned near the door.
Beast Boy: (whispering) What are they saying, dude?
Cyborg frowned, straining his auditory sensors. He could now hear a pin drop.
Beast Boy: WELL!
He didn't really scream it, that's just how it sounded to Cyborg. He clutched his head in pain. Note to self: Never enhance your hearing near Beast Boy.
Cyborg: I dunno. All I caught was something about meeting in the training room in about an hour.
Beast Boy: Dude! You don't think…
They both looked at each other for a moment.
Both: Nah.
END CHAPTER ONE
