Winds of an Empire pt. 7: Love Metal
"Hey, Everyone!" Beast Boy yelled into the microphone, trying to get everyone's attention. "We're setting up a karaoke type thing... so everybody make sure to get plastered!"
Windshear had a wire from his iPod to an input jack on the sound board. "Test song: Hope Leaves by Opeth." He said pushing the play button. He, Robin and Cyborg had to tinker around with the sound board until the sound was right.
"There we go." Cyborg said.
"What about heavier songs?" Windshear asked.
"You aren't trying to woo argent with a mind liquefying song, are you?" Robin asked.
"Nah, but it's louder than this." Windshear then selected a different song. As Origin's "The Burner" blared, everyone was very startled. Windshear just laughed. "At least the sound's working!"
They unplugged the cord. "Just go up there and sing your song!" Robin said loudly. "If she can still even hear!"
Windshear selected a song. "Press play when I get up there." He got up on stage, grabbed the mic, and waited.
"Napalm Death!" "Carcass!" "Savage Garden! ...what?" were some of the things yelled from the crowd.
"Will you please start the fuckin' song already?" He asked with faux anger.
"All right, all right. "Lost" by Evergrey." Beast Boy said, pressing the play button.
The music started and Windshear began to sing along with Tom Englund.
"I have been walkin' this long dark road,
And I have been climbin' this tree so old.
I have been wantin' to let it all fall.
It's making me
Turning me...
Inside out
Goin' outside in.
raspier: As I lie here.
clean: Inside out goin' outside in.
You promised me, to leave me be,
But I got lost and could not see clearly.
Now I'm afraid of who I used to be.
Right now I'm just glad that you found me... (The music paused a bit during this moment, giving Windshear a moment to flash Argent the charming-est smile he could muster. The girls she was sitting with could swear she swooned a bit.)
Inside out
Goin' outside in.
raspier: As I lie here.
clean: Inside out goin' outside in.
After this second chorus he motioned for the song to be cut off early. Windshear was given a nice round of applause, and he got his wish when Argent stood up and clapped. He looked over at her with stars in his eyes. "Thanks... uhh everyone! Thanks. That's the first time I sang in front of a crowd of over twelve!" He said hastily, hoping she didn't catch his slip, "whose next? We got Metallica, Pantera, Sisters of Mercy..."
"Hey, let me go up!" Kole said.
"Sure! It's a free for all." Windshear said, helping her onstage.
After an hour of progressively wilder karaoke (because half the people didn't know Windshear's songs and the booze was free), some Titans decided to go back to their hotels. A few decided to stay behind and help the original Titans clean up. Argent was one, but she had something else to accomplish.
"Hey Robin, can I speak with you for a second?" She asked.
"Yeah sure." He sat down his broom and walked over to her. "What's up?"
"I'm getting kinda bored at New Zealand. I want to go around the world more. In other words, can I transfer over to your guys' place, please?"
"Well, it's not that much more exciting over here." Robin replied. "I suppose, but you'll need someone to cover your area."
"I think I have someone in mind already. Hey Jinx!" Argent yelled. "Come over here for a sec!"
"What'd I do, now?" She said, walking over.
"Nothing, I just wanted to know if you and Kid Flash wanted to go back to New Zealand for me." Argent informed.
"Sure! Wanna check out the world from the States, huh? See if the 'wind' there is the same here?" Jinx asked suggestively.
"I'd tell you to grow up and hire a professional writer... but you are right." Argent answered, both giggling slightly.
"What?" Robin asked.
"Nothing." Jinx replied. "I'd be happy to go."
"Would Kid Flash be okay with it?" Robin asked.
"He'd better be, or I'm cutting him off." She said going back to the speedster.
"Thanks for that imagery, Jinx." Robin said.
"I'm going back to my hotel room and getting my things, okay?" Argent said.
"That's fine, just hurry up, please. It's almost midnight." Robin said. When Argent left, He went over to where Windshear was talking to Beast Boy and Raven.
"Remember: its drop-C for keyboards and drop-A for Death/Grind. Hey Robin, What's goin' on?" Windshear asked, noticing the Boy Wonder's presence.
"Argent's going to stay at the Tower for a while. Is that cool?" Robin told the group.
Windshear dropped his can of be--soda.
"Dude, I just mopped!"
"Get the fuck out." Windshear said eyes wide and mouth agape.
"No lie. Is that cool with you guys?"
"I don't mind." Beast Boy said.
"I don't care." Raven said.
"I fuckin' love you, man!" Windshear said, hugging Robin and spinning him around. "You just let the girl of my dreams into the place I'm staying too! What can I do to pay you back, man?"
"Stop trying to crush me, nauseate me, and make me question my sexuality?" Robin said, strained.
"Deal." Windshear said, letting go.
After Argent came back with her luggage, she, the Titans, and Windshear went back to the Tower.
"So, is there a guest room, or what?" Argent said, setting her suitcases down.
"Yes, it is to the left of the room of games." Starfire informed.
Argent went to grab her suitcase.
"Here, let me get those for ya." Windshear offered.
Argent smiled at him. "Thank you, they are fairly heavy. Where'd you say the guest room was?"
"I'll show you. Follow me." Windshear said, guiding her to the hallway.
When the doors closed, Starfire said, "Ooh! They are just so cute!"
"Cute, right." Raven chimed in.
"C'mon Rae. Don't be like that." Beast Boy pleaded.
"Yeah, it is kinda adorable seeing Windshear behave like a gentleman. This is the same guy who called 'Team America' a movie that kids should be required to see in order to pass junior high!" Cyborg said.
"I know." Raven replied. "It's just... that word... cute."
"And here is your room." Windshear said, pressing a few buttons on the keypad. "The code is 7927."
"Cool." Argent said, stepping inside. "It's kinda... empty." She said, noting the completely bare room. It was really just extra space with a bed in it.
"At least you get a window." Windshear replied. "Hey, some black paint, posters, and fake skulls should really goth the place up."
They laughed a bit, until a silence came through the room.
"So... if, uhh... you ain't to busy tomorrow... and you might be, with unpacking and all." Windshear started, getting a bit nervous. "If you wanted to... I dunno... go with me to like a movie, or a restaurant, or a store... You don't hafta. I'd understand if you couldn't, tomorrow'll be your first real day in America..."
"Are you asking me on a date, Windshear?" She inquired.
"Well, ye... n... It'd--" He said getting more nervous.
Argent giggled slightly. "I would have to get unpacked and resituated first, but sure. I'd love to."
Windshear's mood and confidence significantly improved. "Cool! So I'll...uh, see you tomorrow. Well duh."
"Goodnight Windshear." She said, smiling.
"Yeah. Right back at you, Argent." He said walking backwards out of the room. She waived at him before closing the door. When it closed, Windshear quickly ran back downstairs. When he got to the main hall he saw that the Titans already went to bed. "Thank you, God!" He said, running to his sheets on the floor and getting the greatest sleep of his life so far.
"Wait a minute, this world don't know I even exist yet!" Windshear remembered. "How can I bee seen in public, much less with a human girl?"
