And I'm back! I managed to get the majority of this written during my trip to Borneo. Luckily, the flights were pretty lengthy for me to just type away.
I'm really happy about the amount of positivity for my newest story! That positivity fueled my writing process, and I hope that I get that and more for this second chapter.
And with that, on with the story!
Disclaimer: This author does not own the properties of Naruto, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics (unfortunately). This work is made for nonprofit entertainment purposes only.
"Hello there!": Speech.
'What a drag': Thoughts.
[I am Iron Man!]: Mechanical Speech
The Earth is Mine!: Monster/Demon Speech
Let'sgetiton!
Chapter 2
Some Assembly Required
Location: Jump City
Two days have passed since the Gordanians launched their attack on Jump City, only to be defeated by a group of teenage superheroes. After much rejoicing from the citizens, the city began to repair itself. Currently, construction crews are finishing repairs on the many roads and buildings that were damaged during the ordeal, including Pizza Plaza. Meanwhile, the people continue on with their daily lives. However, if you could listen to the people's conversations, you would hear some excited chatter.
"Iron Man saved us again!"
"Yeah! I wish I could have recorded it!"
"Yeah, but what about the other guys with him? They were pretty cool too!"
"Was that the REAL Boy Wonder? Shouldn't he be in Gotham?"
"Yo, that robot dude looked badass!"
"I'm a big fan of that bombshell alien girl!"
"Of course, you would be, mega-pervert."
"Hey!"
All this and more can be heard on the streets of Jump City, as the citizens discuss just where Tony Stark was going to take this new team, or if he even would.
Location: City Hall
Said billionaire is currently in a meeting with the second most powerful man in Jump City. The blond teenager is dressed in a fancy Italian suit as he negotiates an extremely important deal with the Mayor of Jump City.
"So, yeah, that's my proposal," Tony Stark offers, "Jump City has an island that no one is using, and I have a ton of alien technology just waiting to be used. All I need is 5-6 days and I'll have the home base up and running, and then you, my good sir, will have a team of incredibly adept superheroes at the city's beck and call." Tony pauses as he notices his audience is deep in thought. "Is there a problem, Mayor Lee?"
The older, mustached, and bespectacled man in front of Tony chuckles good-naturedly. "No problem at all. I was just thinking; if someone told me three years ago that there would be superheroes in Jump City, I'd say they were looney! And now, I've got six wanting to call this city home. I guess I was the looney one after all." The man then shakes his head. "And for goodness sake, Tony, you know you don't need to call me 'Mayor Lee'. I get enough of that here in the office."
Tony smiles at his friend. "Alright then, Stan, what do you think?"
"I think there's only one thing left to settle; what's the name for this group of yours?" Stan asks.
Tony rubs his hands nervously and says, "I'm, uh, still working that part out. You got any ideas?"
Stan raises his hands. "Oh, I don't think I'm good with names."
"Well, you're the one who came up with 'Iron Man'. That was catchy. Although technically, the armor's made of a gold-titanium alloy," Tony says, muttering the last part under his breath.
"Well, what kind of a message are you trying to send about your team?" Stan asks.
Tony thinks for a few moments. What do I want the world to know about us? Eventually, he has his answer.
"We're young. Hopeful. Ambitious. We care about the people around us. We value our comrades. And when we put our minds and powers together, we are an unstoppable force of justice. So, if any villain comes to our city and expects a group of inexperienced kids, they've got another thing coming."
"Young, yet powerful," Stan ponders, "How about, the 'Teen Titans'?"
Tony gets a bright grin on his face as he slaps his hands together. "YES! That's what I'm talking about! That's what gets you my vote, Stan the Man!"
Stan laughs as he stands up and offers his hand to Tony. "In that case, I officially recognize the Teen Titans as Jump City's protectors."
Tony shakes the offered hand. "You won't regret this, Stan. Believe it."
(Insert Theme Song: Teen Titans Theme)
Location: Jump City Bay
Time Skip: 5 days later
"Tony? Cyborg? How long do we have to wear these blindfolds?" Robin asks.
"Yeah, dudes! All this waiting is killing me!" Beast Boy complains.
"Oh, I am most anxious to see this surprise you have for us, my friends!" Starfire exclaims.
"Can we get this over with already?" Raven groans.
"Alright, alright," Cyborg relents, "Go ahead and take them off."
The four non-mechanical Titans all take off their blindfolds and slowly let their eyes adjust to the light. What they see gets an assortment of "ooohs", "aaahs", and wide eyes from the four, along with a satisfied smile from Cyborg.
A massive T-shaped tower sits smack-dab in the middle of the island. It's a metal structure with the entire front and back of the building covered in glass panels. The front faces Jump City Bridge, giving those inside a spectacular view of the city.
Iron Man approaches the starstruck group, his helmet retracted. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Titans Tower." He jerks his head to the structure. "Come on. We'll give you the grand tour."
Location: Titans Tower, Front Entrance
Iron Man and Cyborg enter the tower, their four teammates following close behind. Iron Man looks to the ceiling. "Jarvis! You up?"
A posh mechanical voice responds, [For you, sir, always.]
"Dude! We've got a robot butler?!" Beast Boy exclaims.
"First off, Jarvis is more complex than any robot," Iron Man corrects, "Second, he's not a butler. He's the guy in charge of security, communications, crime monitoring, and, most importantly, water and electric. All in all, he's just a really very interesting system. Hence, Jarvis. Say hello to the team, Jarvis."
[Welcome to Titans Tower] Four mechanical arms reach out to the four newcomers. Each arm holds a yellow and black badge and a silver and red card. [Here are your official Teen Titans Communicator Badges, as well as your Tower Access Keycards.]
"Cool," Robin says with a smile as he and the other three each grab a badge and keycard.
"I am most thankful to you, Friend Jarvis!" Starfire says gleefully.
[Most welcome, Ms. Starfire,] Jarvis responds.
"On with the tour!" Iron Man declares.
Location: Garage
"Here's the garage, where we'll keep all of our awesome butt-kicking vehicles," Cyborg explains, gesturing to a wide, empty room filled with rows of tools and multiple mechanical arms sticking out of the ground and ceiling.
"Nice!" says Robin, "This'll be perfect for my motorbike."
Cyborg rubs his hands together in glee. "Oh, I've got some plans for this place."
Location: Security Room
"Here's the main security hub for the tower," Iron Man states as he shows of the room filled with monitoring screens and control panels. At the center is a pillar covered in wires and buttons.
Beast Boy reaches for one of the buttons, but Iron Man slaps his hand away.
"NO TOUCHY!"
"Sorry."
Location: Trophy Room
Iron Man waves his hand at a room filled with rows of empty glass cases. "Here is where we'll keep our trophies from all the bad guys we beat." Iron Man smirks. "I plan on having this room filled to the brim. Who knows? We might even get our own museum."
"Your humility astounds us," Raven quips.
"Why, thank you."
Location: Living Room/Kitchen
Cyborg leads the other Titans through the sliding metal doors into a spacious area. "And here is our second favorite room in the whole house."
Robin, Beast Boy, and Starfire gawk, while Raven widens her eyes. To their right is a fully stocked, modern kitchen. In front of them is an entertainment center complete with a long, half-circular couch, a coffee table, and a massive HD television with a STARK logo at the bottom. And behind that TV is a large glass window, showing Jump City in all her glory.
Naturally, Beast Boy makes a beeline to the TV while Starfire flies to the kitchen, leaving the other four Titans behind.
Robin turns to Iron Man. "Just for curiosity's sake, how much did this cost you?"
Iron Man shrugs. "Meh. I didn't really think about it that much."
[Factoring in the alien technology, and considering labor and equipment usage, the total cost is around $33 million,] Jarvis answers.
"…Worth it."
"KYAAAAH!" Beast Boy screams from across the room. "Is this the new STARK Gamestar 3?! This thing isn't even for sale yet!"
"My friends! This yellow beverage is simply divine!" Starfire calls out from the kitchen.
"That's mustard, Starfire." Robin clarifies.
"Glorious!"
Raven approaches Iron Man and Cyborg. "You said this is your second favorite room. What's the favorite?"
Both mechanical Titans grin and say two words.
"Danger Room!"
Location: Danger Room
Turrets shoot lasers at Robin, who ducks, dodges, and flips past all of them. He pulls out his birdarangs and throws them at the guns, disabling them in a multitude of explosions.
Above him, a swarm of drones chase Starfire, who flies around the room evading their blasts. Eventually, she gets behind them and destroys them with her starbolts.
Below her, Cyborg is busy grappling with a set of steel jaws trying to crush him into scrap. With his superior strength, he breaks free, then uses his sonic cannon to blast the jaws away.
Nearby, Raven uses her levitation to weave her way through a passageway full of buzz saws. She gets to the end, then turns to see the saws coming right for her. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" A burst of her dark magic tears the saws apart.
ROOOAAAR! Raven's attention is turned to a green T-Rex surrounded by traps. The dinosaur stomps, bites, and tears through every last one of them. When there's nothing but scrap around him, he transforms back into his human form and turns to the observation room.
"Looks like your Danger Room isn't so dangerous after all!" Beast Boy shouts cockily.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, string-bean," Iron Man calls out, "That was just Level One. Of Ten." He joins the others on the Danger Room floor. "I've got plenty of simulations loaded in the mainframe. Invasions, hostage negotiations, killer robots, you name it. Every last one of us is gonna be put through the ringer. Jump City expects the best of the best, and that's exactly what we're gonna give them. Are you all with me?!"
Iron Man gets a round of cheers (and a nod from Raven). He claps his hands. "Alright then, team! I'll show you all your rooms – Raven, I made sure yours has no windows and no electrical lights whatsoever – and then we'll bust out some practice drills! Alright, let's get a move on!" Iron Man does a 180 spin and heads towards the door.
"Hold up! Who says you're in charge?"
SKRRRRT! Iron Man screechs to a halt mid-step. His head slowly turns like an old, rusty door to regard the Boy Wonder.
"Whosaywhatnow?"
"You heard me. What gives you the right to just make yourself the leader of this team?" Robin demands, disregarding the fact that the rest of the team is slowly inching away from the caped hero.
Iron Man turns back around and walks towards Robin while listing off his fingers. "Well, let's see; the Teen Titans contract is under my name, I pay for everything, I helped build our headquarters, I pay for everything, I already have a good reputation with the populace, did I mention I pay for everything?"
"It's not all about the money, Stark!" Robin argues.
"Of course not," Tony agrees, stopping right in front of the costumed crusader, "It's about building trust. It's about learning your comrades' strengths and weaknesses and working the team dynamics around them. It involves patience, compromise, cooperation, and a whole lot of handholding at first. Above all else, it's knowing in the back of your mind that if anything at all should happen to the team, it's on YOUR conscience." Iron Man leans towards Robin. "Tell me, Robin – and be honest with me – do you believe you're ready to handle such a heavy responsibility?"
"Of course, I'm ready!" Robin claims.
Iron Man raises an eyebrow.
Robin looks unsure. "I-I mean…"
Iron Man tilts his head to the side.
Robin sighs and hangs his head.
Iron Man puts his hand on Robin's shoulder and says, "Look, if it makes you feel better – and no offense to the others – but I believe that you're the most qualified to be a leader apart from yours truly. That's why I'm making you second-in-command of the team."
Robin lifts his head in surprise. "Really?"
"Hey! Why is he second-in-command?" Beast Boy demands, "Why not me?"
"You're kidding, right?" Raven deadpans.
"She beat me by one second," Iron Man mutters as Starfire comforts the sulking green elf.
Robin scowls again and turns away from Iron Man. "This just sounds like I'm your subordinate."
Iron Man sighs. "Okay, let me just say right off the bat – no pun intended. I'm. Not. Batman." Robin's eyes narrow as the armored hero continues, "Now I don't know how it works in Batman Inc., but I don't have subordinates on this team. I have teammates. Comrades. People I trust and get along with. Fellow teenagers who I'd like to go out and have pizza with and have some crazy fun at dance parties. You know, friends."
Robin loses his scowl and replaces it with a look of disbelief.
Iron Man places both hands on Robin's shoulders and says, "I know that it's going to take a while for me to earn your trust and your friendship, but I'm willing to put in 150% effort in order to do so. That is, if you'll let me."
Robin looks at the blond young man's face and sees genuine hopefulness in his eyes and smile. Meanwhile, the rest of group looks on in apprehension, waiting to hear what The Boy Wonder would say. Eventually, he turns away with an unsure look.
"I, um, I'd like to go and see my room. By myself," Robin says shyly.
Iron Man pats Robin's shoulder reassuringly. "Of course. Jarvis, please show him the way."
[As you wish, sir,] Jarvis responds as he opens the door to the Danger Room. [Mr. Robin, please take a left at the door, and we'll work our way from there.]
Robin heads for the door. He stops at the exit and turns to his worried teammates, then sighs and continues through the doorway, leaving behind a room filled with damaged machinery and concerned faces.
Location: Robin's Room
[Here are your living quarters, Mr. Robin,] Jarvis says as Robin steps through the sliding doorway. The boy looks at the spartan room, taking note of a bed, a work desk, a closet, and no windows. [If you wish for any alterations or decorations, please make a list and I will forward it to Mr. Stark. Is there anything else I can assist you with at this time?]
"No. No, I'm fine for now," Robin says as he looks up at where the voice is coming from, "And thank you for your help, Jarvis."
[My pleasure, sir,] Jarvis responds.
Robin is left in a silent room. He walks over and sits on the bed, his mind reeling as he fully takes his current state of affairs.
Am I able to be part of this team? Do I really want to be part of a team? Can I work with Tony Stark of all people? Will…will he be like Bruce? These are all the thoughts that go through Robin's skull. He groans as he holds his head in his hands, trying to figure out what he truly wants to do with his future.
Location: Living Room/Kitchen
Two hours later, the rest of the team is in the living room, getting it prepared for six superpowered teenagers. Tony is helping Beast Boy and Cyborg set up the game system. The blond genius is now out of his armor and rocking an Aerosmith T-shirt, with a blue circular glow coming from behind the shirt. Starfire is stocking the fridge, taking the time to marvel at all of the strange Earth cuisine. Raven is sipping tea while reading a book on the couch.
Raven turns to Tony and asks, "You think you were a little hard on Robin back in the Danger Room?"
Tony shrugs. "I just figured he needed to know what being the leader of a team really meant." He turns to Cyborg. "Alright, now the connector cords go here, here, and here."
Cyborg plugs the cords for the Gamestar into the TV and says, "I didn't know you were part of a superhero team."
"We weren't superheroes by any stretch of the imagination, but I was part of a team, for a while anyways," Tony responds, "Let's just say I got a real first-hand look at what not to do as a leader." He smiles as the Gamestar lights up. "Aaand we're golden."
"Sweet! I call Player 1!" Beast Boy shouts excitedly as he claims a controller.
"I am very worried about Friend Robin," Starfire calls out from the kitchen, "He was most distraught when he left us hours ago."
"He'll be fine," Tony reassures Starfire, "He just needs time to get used to all of this. It must have been hard working with the Batman of all people."
Cyborg notices the disdain in Tony's voice when mentioning the Caped Crusader. "You got a history with that guy or something?"
Tony replies, "I've had some encounters with the Bat before. None of them were what I would call pleasant."
"I knew it! You do have a rivalry with Batman!" Beast Boy cries.
"Not really a rivalry, but more of a…" Tony explains, "Back-and-forth thing – yeah it's a rivalry."
Starfire floats over to the couch. "Who is this "Man of Bat" you speak of? I know he is the mentor of Friend Robin."
Cyborg explains, "Batman's the main crimefighter in Gotham City, and one of the founders of the Justice League. He doesn't have any superpowers, but he's got hi-tech gear, expert martial arts, and detective skills to get the job done. He's taken down a lot of villains in his career."
Starfire asks Tony, "And you said you have a rivalry with this person? Did he besmirch your name?"
"Nah, though he does think of me as a loose-cannon," Tony replies, "Especially after that interview I did."
Beast Boy gasps. "You mean…"
"Yep. That interview." Tony notices Starfire's confused look and explains, "It happened very early on in my superhero career. Both Tony Stark and Iron Man were relatively new to the area, and people were getting curious about us. Then, I took down a villain called the Iron Monger right in front of Stark Industries. Needless to say, people wanted answers. So I called a press conference to clarify things.
Flashback: 1 Year Earlier
Location: Stark Industries Foyer
A large crowd of reporters and cameramen are gathered together in the main foyer of the Stark Industries headquarters. Idle chatter can be heard, mainly about the rising star in the tech industry Tony Stark, and his possible connections to the mysterious yet powerful Iron Man.
In the next room, Tony is adjusting his clothing and hair. Next to him is a redheaded woman in a business blouse holding a clipboard. This is Virginia "Pepper" Potts, Tony's secretary and second-in-command of Stark Industries.
"How am I looking, Pepper?" Tony asks.
"Professional. For once," Pepper jokes before giving Tony a critical look. "So, your alibi."
"Right. I was in my yacht, having a business meeting with a foreign emissary about a tech deal, and was far away from Stark Industries during the battle," Tony recites.
"And Iron Man?"
"Is my new Chief of Security."
"You have your notecard if you need help. And I can always –"
Tony interrupts, "Pepper, relax. I can handle a press conference. This is me we're talking about here."
Pepper smiles and ruffles Tony's hair. "That's what I'm worried about."
"Hey!" Tony cries as he redoes his hair, "You shouldn't be doing that to your boss, you know!"
Pepper chuckles as an aide approaches the two. "Mr. Stark, when you're ready."
"Go get 'em, boss," Pepper encourages the blond teenager.
Said teenager gives a confident smile and two thumbs up as he walks into the foyer. Immediately, cameras flash as shouts and calls from reporters fill the room. Among the crowd of journalists is the Daily Planet's renowned reporter Lois Lane, along with her cameraman Jimmy Olson and her backup Clark Kent.
Tony stops at the podium and calls out, "Alright everyone, settle down! Settle down, please!" The audience quiets down and everyone takes a seat. "Thank you all for coming. Welcome to Stark Industries. There's been a lot of rumors going around about the events that took place here at this company. Therefore, I've called this press conference to clear up any misunderstandings and give the people the official truth." Tony pauses as he sees someone raising their hand. "I don't think we're taking questions right now, Miss –"
"Lois Lane. Daily Planet. Do you honestly expect us to believe that Iron Man is some sort of super-powered bodyguard of yours?" Lois interrogates.
"I'm sorry, but are you insinuating that I'm some kind of superhero?" Tony asks.
Lois raises an eyebrow. "I didn't insinuate anything like that."
"Good, because that would be completely untrue and slanderous," Tony says, "I'm just not the superhero type. Really."
Lois sits down, unsatisfied with Tony's answer. Next to her, Clark gives the blond tech mogul a contemplative look.
Tony clears his throat and continues, "Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, the truth." Tony looks at his notecard. "The truth is…"
Every other person in the room leans forward in anticipation. Pepper looks on nervously from the other room. Across the country, millions of people are tuned in to the interview. Even big names such as Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne want to hear what Tony Stark claims to be the truth. And Tony… sighs.
Pepper's gonna kill me. Tony puts down the notecard. "The truth is…" Tony looks at the crowd of reporters. "…I am Iron Man."
Immediately, a roar of shock and excitement erupts as reporters blind the blond teenager with camera flashes and shout questions at him. The uproar is so massive that it drowns out the loud groan of frustration from a certain redhead. And Tony takes it all in with a satisfied smile on his face.
End Flashback
"Yeah, pretty sure that was the starting point of everything," Tony says to the now fully attentive group of teenagers.
Beast Boy laughs and says, "I saw that interview with my friends at the Doom Patrol. Man, you should have seen their faces!"
"I am confused. You told the truth about yourself. You took responsibility for your actions. Why would people be upset about that?" Starfire asks.
"It's an unspoken rule in the superhero community to not reveal your real identity," Cyborg explains, "Your hero persona and the real you should be as separate as possible. Otherwise, you run the risk of villains attacking your home and your loved ones."
Beast Boy chips in, "And then Tony Stark comes along and says to the world, 'Hey! I'm Iron Man. Here's my address and work schedule. Come pick a fight with me if you dare!'"
"That's actually not far from the truth," Tony admits, "And honestly, it was much easier when people knew that the teenage technologist CEO and the armored, hi-tech protector of Jump City were one and the same. My reputation skyrocketed, I was getting clients left and right, and I wasn't really pushed around by my competitors. Anyway, a couple of months go by of building up my company and fighting crime as Iron Man, and I get a visit from a certain group of heroes."
Flashback: 10 Months Earlier
Location: Vinny's Donut Shop
Tony munches on a Boston Crème as he sits in the middle of the donut sign, fully armored and rocking a pair of aviators. He has an entire box of pastries beside him as he takes in the sun setting behind the city he calls home. Today was a pretty quiet day, with just a stolen car and no business meetings. Tony's pretty thankful for the quiet. Iron Man had taken down an ice villain calling himself the Blizzard a couple of days ago and things were settling down. Now, the thankful people are quietly getting on with their lives, and Tony can catch a breather. So here he is, eating some delicious donuts and enjoying the serenity for as long as he can.
"Excuse me sir."
Tony turns to regard the voice, and sees a black-haired man floating near him. The man is wearing a blue mesh suit with red boots, and a red cape. On his chest is a yellow diamond with a red S on it.
"We're going to have to ask you to step out of the donut," Superman requests.
Tony pulls down his shades to look at the group of costumed people behind Superman. He thinks to himself, so much for relaxing.
A minute later, and both Superman and Tony Stark are in the donut shop's parking lot, the latter holding the box of donuts. Next to them are some prominent members of the Justice League.
First is Wonder Woman, wearing a star-spangled leotard and sporting her metal tiara, her indestructible armbands, and her Lasso of Truth. Then there's The Flash, Fastest Man Alive, in his scarlet full-body speed suit. Next is a beaming Captain Marvel, dressed in a suit similar to Superman's, except it's red with white boots, a white cape, and a yellow lightning bolt on his chest. Next to him is the green alien known as Martian Manhunter, wearing only a blue cape with red harnesses in an X fashion on his chest and a pair of blue trousers. Last, but not least, is the Batman, with his gray suit and his black cowl, cape, belt, boots, and gloves. The Dark Knight is giving Tony a look that can melt steel beams.
Tony offers the group the box and says, "I don't know if you guys ate yet, but I've got glazed, maple bars, lemon filled –"
FSWOOM! FSHWOOM!
…
Multiple heads turn to see Flash and Captain Marvel gorging themselves on handfuls of donuts.
"… Help yourselves," Tony mutters, "So, what brings the Justice League here to Jump City?"
"You," Batman responds shortly.
Tony rolls his eyes. "Okay, let me rephrase; what brings the Justice League here to me?"
"We wish to get to know you better, Tony Stark," Wonder Woman replies, "You're new to the superhero community, and we in the League are more than curious about who you are as a crime-fighter and as a person."
Tony shrugs. "Seems fine to me. What do you guys want to know?"
Batman doesn't hesitate to ask, "Where are you from?"
"Japan," Tony answers.
"Where in Japan?" Batman presses.
"You wouldn't know the place," Tony deflects.
"You're testing my patience, Stark," Batman growls.
"Batman. Enough," Superman orders. He turns to Tony and asks, "Why become Iron Man in the first place?"
"Iron Man was already a little pet project of mine," Tony explains, "Just something to mess around with. I noticed the amount of crime that goes on here in Jump City, and I figured I could use Iron Man to do some good around the community."
"So, you made Iron Man to help people?" Flash asks the armored teenager while he wolfs down a pastry.
"Pretty much," Tony confirms.
"And I'm sure the adoration of your fans has nothing to do with it," Batman accuses.
"It's called being likable, Batsy," Tony fires back, "You should try it sometime."
Batman steps forward to give Tony the third degree, but Wonder Woman stops him. "Batman! You promised."
"I have a question!" Captain Marvel pipes up, a half-eaten donut in his hand, "You said you're Japanese, right? Tony Stark doesn't exactly sound Japanese."
"It's not," Tony answers, "I had my name changed when I came to America."
"How come?" Flash asks.
Tony shrugs again. "Long story short, I needed a fresh start."
"We wouldn't mind hearing the whole story," Superman requests.
"Well, I do mind, thank you very much," Tony answers shortly as he raises a hand to the group, "Look guys, as much fun as it is to play 20 Questions with you all, I'm sure there's some really important thing you all want to know?"
Silence fills the parking lot before Superman sighs and says, "Fine. Why did you reveal your secret identity to the world?"
"Because it was the honest, straightforward, and more manageable thing to do," Tony responds.
"What do you mean by that?" Wonder Woman inquires.
Tony explains, "I mean that it was much better for me and everyone else to just straight up tell the people the truth about me being Iron Man than it was for me to make up some bullshit excuse." Captain Marvel gasps at the swearing. "I mean, the best possible excuse was for Iron Man to be my bodyguard, and people would have seen through that in two weeks."
"But aren't you worried that you've painted a target on yourself and the people you care about?" Flash questions the teen.
"We already have targets on our backs," Seeing the Leaguers' looks, he clarifies, "I plan on having Stark Industries be at the forefront of both the technological field and the environmental one. Cleaner energy, gasless cars, trash cleanup, ocean conservation, climate stabilization, smartphones, helping lower-income communities, safe orphanages, space travel, space colonization; all of this and more is going to be the focus of what my company makes. I plan on making a better world for everyone, and that's gonna make a whole lot of enemies. At least now, people will know that I'm not the kind of guy you push around and put down. I am more than willing to fight for my convictions."
Superman's respect for the blonde technologist rises a bit at his words. Nevertheless, he gets some final words in. "Look, we're not condemning your choice, Mr. Stark. We're just saying that you could have at least put some effort into not exposing yourself."
"Well, I'm sorry, but I currently don't have any magical reading glasses to help me," Tony quips.
"They're not magic. They're Kryptonian te–" Superman stops as he and the other Leaguers process the teenager's words. "W-What did you just say?"
"You know, it's funny," Tony says, pointing at the shocked alien, "I saw you at the interview and I kept thinking to myself, 'I know I've seen this guy before, but where?' It wasn't until I saw a picture of you in the Daily Planet that it finally clicked. I guess the glasses only work when people are physically looking at you. Do you have a patent for those – URK!"
Tony finds himself in the very tight grip of a very paranoid and upset Kryptonian. Superman glares at the blonde, his hands creaking the armor slightly. The rest of the group moves in to diffuse the situation.
"Listen to me very carefully, young man," Superman demands like a father reprimanding their child, "You do not let this go out to anyone else whatsoever. Do you understand me?!"
Tony remains calm as he raises his hands in a placating manner. "Easy, Big Blue. Take it easy. I was just making a comment about a connection I made. I have absolutely no plans involving your secret identity. I promise." His words calm Superman down somewhat and make the alien release his grip. "I'm serious here! You're a good man doing good work for the world. Why would I possibly jeopardize that by messing around with your true identity?"
Superman opens his mouth to answer but closes it. Tony raises an eyebrow at this. He turns to his side to take another look at the group of powerful superheroes. His eyes widen in realization at what the group was really here for.
He turns to the now guilty-looking alien with an offended look on his face. "Wow. Okay…wow! I am really feeling the love here, ladies and gentlemen."
"Mr. Stark, please–"
"No, don't you 'Mr. Stark' me, you pajama-wearing dickhead!" Tony cries out, shocking the rest of the people in the lot, "You didn't come here to get to know me! You came here to find out if I was a villain!"
All of the adults (minus Batman) look down in shame at the teenager's words, confirming his accusations.
"Well, I mean," The Flash tries to explain, "You did make a bit of a spectacle with the whole 'I am Iron Man' thing–"
"And what, you thought it was all one big goddamn publicity stunt?!" Tony grills the speedster, "You thought it was all some nefarious plot to take over the world or something?! Is that why you brought the Lasso of Truth, to force me to spill out all of my deepest, darkest secrets?! Did you bring the Manhunter here to invade my mind and find any of my evil thoughts?! Is Constable Constipation here to interrogate me?!"
Captain Marvel chuckles. "Constable Constipation. Good one!"
"NO! No laughing!" Tony reprimands the lightning-user, "I am NOT in a joking mood right now!"
Captain Marvel gulps. "S-Sorry, Mr. Stark. For the record, I never thought that you were a bad guy. I just really wanted to meet you."
"You're forgiven," Tony says to the red-and-white hero before turning to the rest of the Leaguers, "You all are still on my shit-list."
"Please, let's just take a minute and calm down," Wonder Woman says, trying to placate the irate teenager.
Tony is having none of it. "You all have wasted plenty of my time as it is." Tony then walks right into the crowd of heroes and asks, "You really want to know who I am? Let me tell you all one time. I am NOT Lex Luthor. I am NOT Norman Osborne. I am TONY. FUCKING. STARK! I! AM! IRON MAN! I am the one who is going to clean up the Planet Earth! I am the one who is going to get the world off of fossil fuels! I am the one who is going to solve the energy crisis! I am the one who is going to help humanity conquer space! I am going to be the greatest hero the world has ever known! And I don't give a damn what you people think of me! I swear that I am going to save the world, with or without you! Believe it!"
Dead silence fills the parking lot. Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash have more respect for the young technologist after hearing his passionate promise. Martian Manhunter is feeling content at having sensed no deception from the teenager's mind. Captain Marvel has a star-struck look aimed at his new idol. And Batman…is still glaring.
Tony huffs and says, "Welp, so much for having some off-time." He hands the box of donuts to Flash. "Here, enjoy yourselves. There's probably a breakroom or something in that Watchtower of yours. If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work." His helmet closes around his face as he walks away and prepares to blast off.
Superman super-speeds in front of the armored hero. "Iron Man, wait!" Iron Man reluctantly powers down his repulsors as Superman continues, "On the incredibly high probability that you weren't a villain, there were some talks about you joining the Justice League."
[Pass,] Iron Man says without hesitation, [And before you ask, it's not about what just went down – although it really didn't help things. I'm still working out the kinks for Iron Man, and I'm hard at work building up my company. I am not in a position to be part of any team right now. A year from now, maybe, but not now.]
Superman gives a nod and says, "I understand. Just know that the League is more than willing to help if you need it. And, for what it's worth, we're sorry for assuming the worst about you. We all are."
Iron Man gives a side glance to the scowling Caped Crusader. [I'll take your word for it.]
Batman, done with being silent, marches over to the technologist and says, "Let's make one thing clear, Stark. You put one toe over the line, and I'm coming for you." Batman levels his signature Batglare at Iron Man for good measure.
Iron Man tilts his head. [Hmmm.]
"What is it?" Batman demands.
[I was just thinking; Does Batman live in Bruce Wayne's basement, or does Bruce Wayne live in Batman's attic?]
Cue six pairs of wide eyes and six gaping mouths.
[Food for thought.] And with that, Iron Man flies off to Stark Tower, leaving six shocked superheroes behind.
End Flashback
"WOAH WOAH WOAH! HOLD UP!" Cyborg exclaims, waving his hands in front of him in surprise, "You're telling me you know Superman AND Batman's secret identities?!"
"Yep. Along with a good portion of the rest of the League," Tony confirms.
"I'm pretty sure Batman didn't just take that last part lying down," Raven comments.
"Well," says Tony, "He did pay me a little visit that night."
Flashback: 10 Months Earlier
Location: Stark Tower Penthouse
It's a quiet, calm night at Stark Tower. The lights are out in the modern and comfortable lounging area. A circular couch surrounds an unlit fireplace with a TV above it. A minibar is stocked with all manners of drinks. A laptop with a Stark logo sits on a glass table with two monitors attached to it. A wide wall of glass connected with a large, oval, metal balcony gives a spectacular view of the lit-up city below.
The quiet is ruined when a zip-line is heard from outside. A shadowy figure lands on the balcony and approaches the glass door into the building. The figure pulls out a device that unlocks the door.
The figure silently enters the penthouse and scans the lounge with his white eyes. Sure enough, three cameras monitor the room. Three bat-shaped projectiles take the cameras out. The figure then approaches the laptop sitting on the worktable. The figure reaches out to the computer –
BZZZZT!
– only for a blue energy field to spring up in front of the figure's hands.
Immediately, the lights turn on in the room, revealing Batman, in all of his dark glory, trapped in a blue tube of energy.
A posh, British voice speaks from around the room, [I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Wayne, but all Stark systems are off-limits to outsiders, especially intruders.]
Batman pulls out a wrist computer and begins typing furiously, only for the computer to spark and short out.
[That includes remote access as well.]
"Nice work, Jarvis." Batman turns to see Tony Stark descending from a spiral staircase into the room. He's wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.
[Thank you, sir. I've also taken the liberty of notifying the proper authorities. They are currently in route to Stark Tower,] Jarvis states.
"Excellent," Tony says as he stops in front of the detained crime-fighter. He points to the energy field. "Ray shields. Got the idea from watching that Star Wars movie. You know, the one where those guys fight on the lava planet."
Batman is not amused.
Tony crosses his arms and smirks. "So, was it something I said?"
"You do not want me as an enemy, Stark," Batman growls.
"Hey, you're the one that broke into my house here," Tony points out.
"I've known scores of people like you, Tony Stark," Batman states, "People who think they're protected by their wealth and power. People who think that they're above the law. People who do whatever they want without any consideration for the consequences of their actions."
"Like you?" Tony asks.
"I use my wealth and resources to take down criminals and protect my city!" Batman defends.
"Like me?" Tony asks.
"STOP DOING THAT!" Batman demands.
"What? Stop pointing out the fact that apart from my use of bright colors and my cheerful outlook on life, we're pretty much the same?" Tony asks.
Batman bangs on the ray shields in frustration. "WE ARE NOTHING ALIKE! I am a guardian! You are a spoiled, smug brat with money and a superiority complex!"
Tony tilts his head and says, "You know, if I said that same sentence to you, it would still make sense."
Batman snarls at the blond teenager. "Snark all you want, Stark. As soon as these shields are down, I'm going to show you just how different we are."
"Really?" Tony inquires, still with a smirk on his face. "Jarvis, lower the ray shields."
[Sir, I believe Mr. Wayne intends to go through with his threat,] Jarvis warns.
"So do I, Jarvis," Tony states, "Lower the shields."
[…As you wish, sir.]
The blue force field dissipates, and Batman immediately springs into action. He charges the teenager and swings with an enraged right hook, which Tony slaps away. Tony swats away a left hook, then hits Batman in the nose with two left jabs and spins behind him. Batman goes for a backhand, but Tony jumps away.
Tony points to Batman's face. "You, uh, got a little red under your nose."
Batman wipes the blood off of his face and charges in again. He goes for a roundhouse kick which Tony ducks under. Tony then jumps to Batman's left backside to avoid an axe kick. He uses his hands as a springboard and launches himself back at the Caped Crusader. Batman turns and is met with two feet crashing into his face. Batman stumbles back into the minibar, clutching his face.
Tony lands gracefully and turns to the groaning Dark Knight with a smirk. "Still got red there."
Batman lets out an enraged roar and rushes the smug blonde. He sends a flurry of fists at Tony, who calmly smacks each one of them away. Batman sends a kick to Tony's side, but Tony catches the leg, kicks out the other leg, crouches down, and sends an elbow down into the side of Batman's knee.
CRACK!
"Gaaaah!" Batman screams from having his knee dislocated. He's so distracted by the pain that he fails to notice the fist heading towards his crotch.
"Hiya!" POW! CRUNCH!
"GOOOOOH!"
POW! POW! POW! Three more punches to the crotch before Tony jumps away, leaving the legendary Dark Knight of Gotham cradling his junk in his hands.
"What? No Bat-cup?" Tony quips.
Batman staggers back to his feet and snaps his leg back straight. He huffs in pain as he glares daggers at the smiling teenager in front of him. Batman goes in with a punch, but Tony crouches down and sweeps Batman's legs out from under him. As Batman falls, Tony jumps and sends a spin kick into Batman's chest, sending the Caped Crusader crashing into the couch.
"I guess I'm not all brains, huh?" Tony taunts the older crimefighter. He makes a subtle motion with his right hand that he hides behind his back. A small rocket sound comes from the bedroom.
Batman crawls off of the couch and back to his feet, not noticing the sound of machinery clicking together. Batman sees Tony from across the room in a stance that has his feet spread shoulder-width apart, his right arm behind his back, and his left arm bent upwards with the palm facing in. Tony smirks and gives the classic "come here" motion with his left hand. Batman takes the bait and charges the blonde. He straight up lunges at Tony with both hands to just throttle the little brat. As Batman flies towards Tony, Tony ducks forward and reveals his right arm.
And the red-and-gold armor encasing it.
Oh shit.
A rocket booster goes off in the elbow of the armor. Tony pushes off the ground with his legs and send an armored fist straight into Batman's face.
"Shoryuken!" POW! CRUNCH!
Batman flips twice before landing in a heap, his nose shattered, and his mouth filled with blood. He weakly looks up to see Tony Stark pointing his repulsor blaster right at him.
"Wow. You sure showed me," Tony says sarcastically.
Batman spits out a glob full of blood at the teenager.
"I meant what I said before," Tony declares, "I'm going to change this world for the better. You obviously didn't believe my words, so I'll let my actions do the talking for me." Batman rises from the ground as Tony continues, "You're going to watch from your dark little cave as I slowly but surely bring lasting peace to every corner of the planet."
"And if you fail?" Batman grunts out.
"Then I lay the groundwork for future generations to surpass me and fulfill my dreams for me," Tony affirms, "That is my ambition. My Will of Fire."
[Sir, the police are currently in the Tower,] Jarvis speaks up, [They are on their way to the penthouse level as we speak.]
"Welp, guess that's your cue to skedaddle," says Tony.
Batman hobbles over to the technologist until the Caped Crusader is right in his face. "You're going to slip up. You're going to show your true colors. And when you do, I'll finish what you started," Batman declares, the blood on his face giving him a more menacing look.
Tony stares at the beaten-up hero in front of him. "You know, the funny thing is, you were my hero," Tony admits, getting a surprised look from Batman, "I'm serious. When I first heard of the Dark Knight of Gotham, who took down criminals and monsters with just his fists, tech, and wits, that was really inspirational. Especially for a kid who lost every bit of power and purpose he had. I always thought that once I got far enough along into my Iron Man career, that you and I would be teaming up together. A couple of rich do-gooders fighting evil side-by-side, you know?" Tony gives a defeated sigh. "If only I had known how much of an asshole you were."
Batman glares again for a moment, then heads back out to the balcony. "You should get your television fixed," he remarks.
"What's wrong with my television?" Tony asks.
Batman throws a batarang at the TV. An explosion goes off.
"It's broken," Batman quips. He starts to head back out but pauses when the smoke clears from the explosion.
Revealing an intact TV protected by ray shields.
"You were saying?" Tony jokes.
Batman huffs. This was just not his night, apparently. He exits out to the balcony and jumps off. A bat-shaped jet flies off into the distance.
The sound of sliding doors opening makes Tony turn around. Pepper and four police officers enter the room. They see Tony with armor on his arm, a force field around a TV, a messed-up couch, a disheveled minibar, and a pool of blood.
"Um, did we miss something, Mr. Stark?" a police officer asks.
Tony just gives a smile.
End Flashback
"So yeah, that was the start of our rivalry," Tony explains, "He hasn't show up in Jump City since then, but he does occasionally hit me up with a friendly computer hacking. Of course, I stop him and send a few computer viruses his way. And that's pretty much been our relationship since then. I hope I didn't bore you guys with my story."
They aren't bored in the slightest. Raven is staring wide-eyed at the blonde, and Starfire has a look of intrigue on her face. Meanwhile, Beast Boy and Cyborg have their eyes bulging out of their sockets, their mouths hanging open with their tongues sticking out, and their noses dripping with a glob of snot. (A.N. Picture every look of shock in One Piece. Seriously.)
"Y-You…A-And Batman…A-And You," Beast Boy stammers out.
"You kicked Batman's ass?!" Cyborg cries out.
"Yep. Got it all on video," Tony confirms, "You guys wanna see it?"
Tony suddenly finds himself with a green elf and a half-robot prostrating themselves before him. "WE ARE NOT WORTHY! WE ARE NOT WORTHY! WE ARE NOT WORTHY!"
"Even I have to admit, that was brave of you," Raven comments, "Idiotic, but brave."
"Earth customs are so intriguing!" Starfire states, "On Tamaran, arguments were settled when two warriors fought in the Arena of Garshnath until one was victorious."
"Honestly, I feel like we may get there someday," Tony admits.
"So, you're the one who keeps sending those bugs to the Batcomputer."
Everyone turns to see Robin standing in the kitchen holding a cup of coffee.
"How long were you standing there?" Tony inquires.
Robin takes a sip and answers, "Since Superman freaked out about you knowing his secret identity." He walks over to the group. "Can't say I blame him. A lot of us superheroes take our identities pretty seriously."
"Is that why you won't take off your mask?" Beast Boy asks.
Robin takes a seat on the couch. "Yeah. I like you guys a lot, but I think I'd like to stay as 'just Robin' for a little while longer."
"Are you feeling better, Friend Robin?" Starfire asks with concern.
Robin smiles at his crush, "Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better, Starfire. I took some time to think things through. About being part of a team."
"And?" Tony asks.
Robin gets serious again as he gets off the couch and walks over to the young technologist. The rest of the team nervously wonders whether another argument is going to occur between the two heroes.
"I just want to make something clear, Iron Man," Robin explains, "I'm nobody's lackey. I'm not a soldier you can just boss around. I had enough of that in Gotham. You say we're going to be partners and comrades, and I expect you to keep your word on that. As long as you do, I'm more than ready to be part of this team."
Tony smiles and stands up to face his masked teammate. "I can certainly get behind that." He offers Robin his hand. "Partners."
Robin smiles and shakes the offered hand. "Partners."
Everyone else breathes a sigh of relief that a crisis was averted on the group's very first day of being a team. Hopefully, this will be the last big fight the Titans will have with each other.
Beast Boy turns to Tony and asks, "So, besides teamwork drills and stuff, what are we gonna do all day?"
Tony shrugs. "Pretty much hang out until some bad guy attacks or something else happens."
"How often does that happen around here?" Cyborg inquires.
"Pbbbt. Beats me," Tony admits, "Could be anything between a week from now or two seconds from now. It varies."
Suddenly, alarms go off around the room and a red "ALERT" appears on the TV. Jarvis speaks up from the speakers, [Sir, there's a hostage situation at the Jump City Bank.]
"Two seconds it is," Raven quips.
"Well, Titans, you heard the guy. Let's move out!" Tony calls out to the team.
"Yeah!" everybody cheers.
Location: Three blocks from Jump City Bank
Iron Man lands in a crouch on a rooftop some distance from Jump City Bank, the rest of the Titans arriving right behind him. In the distance, they can see multiple red and blue lights flashing, and hear the wailing of police sirens. Iron Man speaks in his helmet, [Jarvis, give us details.]
[Five gunmen are inside the building carrying AR-15 rifles. The leader is currently demanding a negotiator to make a deal for the hostages' lives. The cameras inside the building show the hostages are being held in the main conference room,] Jarvis answers.
Iron Man turns to the team and says, [Well, we obviously can't go in there guns blazing, not with people's lives on the line.]
Starfire raises her hand and asks, "Um, were we supposed to bring fire weapons?"
"It means we can't rush inside the building and cause a lot of damage," Raven clarifies.
"Iron Man's right, we can't just rush this," Robin says, "However, maybe we can sneak into the building and stealthily free the hostages and take down the gunmen."
[Good idea,] Iron Man approves, [Robin, you'll be in charge of the infiltration.]
Robin's eyes widen. "Really? You want me to be in charge of this?"
[Of course,] Iron Man affirms, [I trust you. Stealth is your specialty, after all. Raven, can you hook us up with an entrance?]
Raven conjures a black portal with her magic. "Got us covered."
"We're gonna need a distraction so we can move in easier," Cyborg points out.
[Leave that to me,] Iron Man offers, [I'm good at drawing attention to myself.]
"I know. I've heard your stories," Robin quips.
Iron Man chuckles. [Funny. Alright people! Let's show Jump City what we're made of! TEEN TITANS, GO!]
Location: Front of Jump City Bank
Police cars and SWAT vans surround the front of the bank, with officers pointing their weapons towards the bank doors. Behind the police barricade is a swarm of reporters and concerned citizens watching the crisis occur. Inside the building, they can see three of the gunmen, including the leader, searching the outside for any suspicious activity.
"Where's that negotiator?!" the leader calls out, "These poor, innocent people don't have all day, you know!"
Police Chief Maxwell Corwin, a middle-aged black-haired man with a mustache, responds through his megaphone, "We're working on it! It'll take a while for him to get here!"
Suddenly, everyone quiets down as the sound of rockets fills the air. The people jump back in surprise when a figure lands in a crouch between the police and the bank. That surprise turns into cheerful revelry when they see Iron Man rising from his landing. At last, their hero has arrived!
Iron Man turns around and gives the police chief a salute. [Chief Corwin. Always a pleasure to help a fellow hero.]
Corwin salutes back. "Mr. Stark. I hope you've got a plan to save those people."
[Don't worry. We've got it handled,] Iron Man assures the policeman.
Said policeman raises an eyebrow. "We?"
Iron Man nods, then turns and walks towards the bank doors. He calls out to the bank robbers, [Hey there, boys! What brings you guys to Jump City Bank today?]
"Iron Man?! Shit, we're in trouble!" one of the gunmen panics while the other two have fearful looks on their masked faces.
[Easy boys,] Iron Man placates the scared robbers, [I'm not here to fight. You all wanted a negotiator. Here I am.]
"Get out of that fancy armor of yours! Then we'll talk!" the leader demands.
Iron Man shrugs. Then, to the shock of everyone watching, the armor peels back its front, and Tony Stark steps out of his protective suit.
"Is this better?"
Location: Inside Jump City Bank
Inside the main conference room, bank tellers and innocent civilians huddle together in fright. What they thought would be another day of peaceful business has turned into a nightmare. Above them, an armed robber points his gun at the hostages, making sure that none of them step out of line. Outside the room, another robber guards the door.
Down the hallway, a black portal opens on the ceiling. Five figures quietly jump through and rush behind a corner. Robin pokes his head out, sees the guard standing watch, then turns to the other Titans.
"Alright, guys," Robin whispers, "The key is to make sure that the guard makes as little noise as possible when captured. Watch me closely." Robin then sneaks towards the guard while the others watch.
The guard, meanwhile, is looking in the other direction, whistling Black Sabbath's Iron Man to himself. Honestly, the guy is so bored, having been stuck with what he considers the "boring job". He's blissfully unaware of the pair of arms reaching for him from behind.
"MMPH!"
Until he's yoinked away from the door.
The other guard idly looks outside the room he's in and suddenly finds his partner in crime missing. "Don't move a muscle," he warns the hostages before stepping out of the room. He looks across the hallway for his accomplice. "Paul?"
Hissss.
The guard turns around. "Wha-HMMPH!" He suddenly finds himself bound head to toe by a giant green anaconda. He topples over, the snake holding him firm.
Robin gives a thumbs up to the snake. "Good job, Beast Boy."
The snake smiles.
Location: Front of Jump City Bank
"So, what are your demands?" Tony Stark asks the leader of the bank robbers.
"Simple," the criminal explains, gesturing to the two army bags full of money, "You and your pig friends let me and my pals walk out of here with our $30 million, give us an untracked car for us to drive to the airport, and clear the airspace for our plane to take us out of here."
Tony adopts a thinking pose. "Interesting," he ponders, "Do you have a preference for a specific type of plane? Regular, jumbo, private jet?"
"Hehe. How about you lend us one of your fancy jets, rich boy?" the leader snarks, getting chuckles from his two companions.
Tony doesn't skip a beat. "Sure, which one?"
The criminals stop chuckling, looking at the rich boy with wide eyes. "Um, does it matter?" the leader asks in confusion.
"Well, I have a business jet that gets me there and back in a pretty fast timespan. I also have a vacation jet which is slower but is decked out with more amenities and cushier seats," Tony explains, "It's just a matter of whether you want speed or comfort."
"I vote for comfort," one of the other robbers suggests, "I mean, if we're headed to Cuba after a job well done, then we should be going there like kings and shit."
The leader slowly turns to his schmuck of a partner with a deadpan look on his face. "How about you go and cover the hostages with the other guys," he suggests.
"…okay." And with that, the guy sulks off towards the conference room.
Location: Inside Jump City Bank
The schmuck of a criminal finally gets to where his buddies are stationed at but stops and blinks. He was expecting to see two men with guns and a room filled with scared hostages. Instead, he sees no men with guns and the room being emptied of hostages through a black hole in the wall by a figure in a blue cloak.
"What the hell?" the man asks himself. He then hears a whistle next to him. The criminal turns and gets sprayed in the face with a purple gas coming out of the arm of a white-and-blue metal man.
"Wait, what?" are his last words before he goes unconscious.
Cyborg catches the robber before he hits the ground. The metal titan gives a thumbs up to Robin, who nods in approval.
Location: Front of Jump City Bank
"So, just to be clear, you want the $30 million in your bags, an unmarked vehicle, and one of my private jets, right?" Tony Stark inquires the leader of the robbers.
"That's right!" the criminal confirms, "And we want it all pronto!"
"And you want the 'speedy' jet, right?" Tony asks.
The leader rolls his eyes. "Yes!"
"Gotcha! Now this is all well and good, but perhaps I can make a suggestion? How about you let the hostages go, and take me instead?" Tony offers.
Everyone gasps at the teen genius' suggestion. The leader cleans his ear out and asks, "Uh, could you repeat that last part?"
"Make me your one and only hostage. Let everyone else go," Tony requests.
The leader thinks for a moment, then turns to the only partner with him. "Tell the others to round up the hostages and bring them here," he demands.
The other robber looks at his boss in shock, "Wait, are we seriously doing this?!"
"I'm seriously considering it!" the leader stresses, "Bring them here now!"
The lackey hurries over to the other side of the bank. And then there was one.
Location: Inside Jump City Bank
"Guys! Guys! Boss wants us to bring the…hostages…to him…" The robber starts to shout to his companions, only to trail off and stop his run. He sees not his fellow criminals, nor the hostages trapped in the conference room. There's not a soul in sight.
"Where'd everybody go?" the gunman asks himself, looking frantically left and right.
There's a tap on his shoulder. "Pardon me, human criminal," a female voice gets his attention.
"Huh?" the man spins around and sees an orange-skinned redhead smiling at him.
"This is my first time performing such a technique, so please bear with me," the girl politely requests.
The gunman is confused. "Wha?"
The next thing he knows, the girl chops him on the neck, putting him out like a light. Starfire catches the man and turns to her teammates hiding behind the corner. "Did I perform it correctly, Friend Robin?" she eagerly asks.
"Yeah, you did it perfectly, Star," Robin confirms, then adds, "Although, you shouldn't be chatting with the criminals when trying to be stealthy."
Starfire sheepishly giggles.
Location: Front of Jump City Bank
"I gotta say, you're pretty ballsy to offer yourself as a hostage, Stark," the leader of (and, unknowingly, the last of) the group of criminals comments, "You're not afraid we're gonna put some bullets in you now that you're out of your little shell?"
"I mean, you could kill me," Tony Stark states without a shred of fear in his voice, "But if you do that, then you and your friends will be known as 'The Men Who Killed Tony Stark'. You'll have some other labels too, such as 'hero-killers' and 'Justice League's Most Wanted'." The leader flinches at this. "Or, you can keep me alive and collect a hefty ransom. I'm worth several billion dollars, after all. Way more than a measly 30 million."
The leader looks at the bags of money next to him. "That is a lot more money. You're definitely making me consider it more." The leader then huffs in frustration. "Where the hell are those dipshits? They should have been here by now."
The robber hears a group of footsteps behind him.
"Finally!" The leader turns around. "Where the fu–" he starts to speak but stops when he sees what's really behind him.
Four superpowered teenagers and an angry tiger with their powers ready and their glares aimed right at him.
He tries to make a move, but finds himself suspended in midair by dark energy.
"You should probably put down the gun," the girl in the blue cloak suggests.
"…Well…shit."
Timeskip: Ten Minutes Later
Happiness fills the street in front of Jump City Bank. Free civilians hug their loved ones in tearful joy. Police do their best to hold back eager reporters who want to catch every single moment. The only ones not feeling this happiness are the five criminals who are currently being escorted into a SWAT van to be sent to Jump Penitentiary.
Meanwhile, the six heroes who created this joyful mood are currently debriefing right in front of the bank.
[So, did you all learn something from this little mission of ours?] Iron Man, now fully armored again, asks the group.
"Indeed, Friend Tony!" Starfire answers eagerly, "I learned much about sneaking around and making people unconscious!"
"Yeah! We took care of those thugs no problem!" Beast Boy exclaims.
[Of course, you did. You all are good heroes,] Iron Man tells his friends, who all perk up at his words. He then turns to the Boy Wonder and adds, [And you have a good mentor.]
Robin smiles at the armored hero and says, "Thank you, Tony. Although, for right now at least, I'll leave most of the leadership responsibilities to you…along with the bills."
[Smart choice,] Iron Man remarks.
"Well, I learned that you do a lot of crazy things, Tony Stark," Cyborg comments.
Iron Man nods. [And even more craziness is to follow. But for now,] Iron Man flies a few feet above the ground and faces the crowd of people. [Everyone! Can I have your attention please?!]
All eyes are now on the flying hero.
[I would love it if we all took a moment to recognize the heroes who risked their lives and saved about fifty people today!] Iron Man waves his hands towards the five teenagers below him. [Let's all give a round of applause for the TEEN TITANS!]
Immediately, a thundering applause fills the street. The five teenagers are shocked by the amount of praise and cheer being sent their way. Robin is stunned that he's finally taking the time to enjoy the citizens' appreciation. Cyborg feels happy that he isn't being shunned by his appearance. Starfire is smiling brightly at the kindness of the residents of her new home. Beast Boy, predictably, is reveling in all of the attention. And Raven shyly turns her head away from the people, though not without a small smile on her face.
And all along, the people chant their name.
"TEEN TITANS! TEEN TITANS! TEEN TITANS!"
"I can definitely get used to this," Beast Boy says with a grin.
"Yippee for you," Raven deadpans.
Timeskip: That Evening
Location: Stark Tower Penthouse
While the other Titans are fast asleep at Titans Tower, dreaming pleasantly about their futures as superheroes, Tony Stark is steadily plugging away at his laptop, finishing up some important documents for his company. Among them are plans for a new Stark Industries automobile, as well as paperwork for purchasing a large plot of rain forest in Indonesia for conservation purposes. Finally, with a pronounced "clack", he finishes the very last page of work for the day.
He groans as he stretches in his chair. "Whew! All this damn paperwork is soul-draining. No wonder Gramps looked so tired all the time."
[Sir, you have an incoming transmission from the Justice League Watchtower,] Jarvis informs his creator.
"Put it through the big monitor, Jarv," Tony instructs the AI as he stands from his seat and heads for the minibar.
The screen shifts to show the interior of the Watchtower monitoring station. Standing behind its controls is the Man of Steel himself.
"Hello there, Mr. Stark," Superman greets the younger hero, "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."
"Actually, I just got done with work," Tony says as pulls down a bottle of Bacardi and gets a small glass from a cabinet.
Superman notices the alcohol and asks, "Aren't you a little young for alcohol?"
"Aren't you technically an illegal immigrant?" Tony counters nonchalantly as he pours himself a drink.
Superman's eyebrow twitches. "Touché." He clears his throat and continues, "So, we at the Watchtower all saw what happened with that bank robbery in Jump City earlier today. Nice job, by the way."
"Thanks." Tony sits at his desk again, the glass of dark liquid in his hand. "I'm really proud of how the team handled everything."
"Yes, it looks like you found your team after all," Superman says with a somewhat-subdued smile.
"Actually, they found me, and I mean that literally." Tony takes a sip of his rum, savoring the flavor, then asks, "So, is this the part where you tell me that this team is a bad idea and that you don't approve?"
"No, actually," Superman refutes to the blonde CEO's surprise, "As a matter of fact, I personally want your little 'Teen Titans' project to succeed."
Tony raises his eyebrows. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," the Man of Steel confirms, "And so do most of us here in the League. Don't get me wrong, we're still pretty nervous about letting a group of teenagers fight crime by themselves, but we figure that since you're all working together, you can help each other become more experienced as superheroes. Plus, those of us who have side – I mean, students – of our own know that they won't be students forever. If the Teen Titans are a success, then the League can have much more confidence in the next generation."
Tony smiles and declares, "In that case, we won't let you down, Supes. We'll work hard and prove that we can fight with the best of them."
"I'll hold you to that, Mr. Stark." Superman then looks around, checking for anyone next to him. He then leans in closer and says in a quieter voice, "I'd be careful, though. You didn't hear this from me, but Batman's still upset about what happened the last time you two met, and he's not very happy that his former ward is working with you."
Tony shrugs. "If you want, I can give you the email address that he can send his criticisms to. It's all lowercase, and spelled e-a-t-d-i-c–"
"Okay, okay! I get it!" Superman waves his hands and cuts Tony off. He then gets a nervous look on his face and rubs the back of his head. "By the way, are you still mad about…you know…before?"
Tony sighs. "Look Clark – may I call you Clark?" At Superman's nod, he continues, "That was months ago. I was upset, I fumed for a bit, and I got over it. It's all water under the bridge now. Especially since the rest of you weren't involved in Broodman's little investigation."
Superman chuckles a bit at Tony's nickname before saying, "Well, thank you for being so forgiving. And, again, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call the League."
"I won't," Tony assures the caped hero, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my drink."
Superman shakes his head and cautions the teenager, "Try not to enjoy it too much. Watchtower out."
And with that, the screen goes dark, leaving the young technologist alone at his desk. He takes another sip of his drink and seems to relax into his chair. After a moment, he looks over his shoulder.
"So, what's the reason for your visit, Fury?" His question is directed to a dark corner of the room.
A figure calmly walks out of said corner. He is a middle-aged African American man with no hair on his dome but enough on his face to form a neat beard. He's wearing a black trench coat over his dark clothing. His most noticeable trait is the eyepatch he wears over where his right eye should be. This is Nicholas Fury, Director of the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known as SHIELD.
"Pretty much the same as the Kryptonian's," Fury answers as he casually strolls to the front of Tony's desk, "Although, I don't have quite the same amount of optimism that he does."
"Still not trusting of little old me, are you?" Tony asks.
"It's nothing personal, Stark. The last time I trusted somebody, I lost an eye." Fury leans on the desk. "Trust is not something I give out lightly, especially given my position. Hell, sometimes it's hard for me to have the slightest bit of confidence in, well, anybody really. Even those who people would consider close to me. So, you can imagine why I would have a lot of doubts about a teenager with your background, your resources, and your…personality." Stark begrudgingly nods at this. "Nevertheless, for some god-forsaken reason, I decided to take a leap of faith with you, Tony Stark."
"Well, I'd like to think that despite my…personality, that your faith in me has been rewarded, thanks to my actions and good behavior," Tony says to the secret agent in front of him.
"Which is why I am now taking a leap of faith with the rest of your team," Fury leans in closer to the blonde and continues, "I pulled a lot of strings to make sure your new friends weren't in any trouble. Your alien redhead took most of those strings. I am risking quite a bit in the hopes that the Teen Titans can provide a benefit not just for this city, but for the world. For both our sakes, you better not fuck this up."
Tony never takes his eyes off the older man as he stands and offers his free hand. "We won't let you down, Fury. None of us will. You have my word on that."
Fury looks at the offered hand for a few seconds, then shakes it. "You've kept your word so far. Let's hope you continue to do so." He steps away from the desk. "Just remember, Stark, I've got my eye on you."
Tony opens his mouth to say something, but wisely stops and sits down at his desk again. Fury, satisfied at the lack of a smart-ass comment, begins to walk out of the room.
"Give Sensei my regards, Fury," Tony calls out.
"Sure thing, Stark." Fury stops at the door and turns back to the blonde. "You know, I've said it before, but if it weren't for that mouth of yours, you'd make a damn good agent."
Tony chuckles and says, "Well, like I said before, I'm right where I belong."
"That looks to be the case." And with that, Fury exits the room, leaving Tony to finally be alone to drink the rest of his rum in peace and contemplate the future for himself and his new friends.
Location: Unknown
Giant metal gears turn and grind against each other in the darkness. The noise of all this machinery fills the mostly vacant underground complex. The only source of light comes from a small area in the middle of the room. There, a massive computer system with multiple monitors replays the footage of a foiled bank robbery from many angles.
Seated at the computer in a throne-like chair is a mysterious figure. The figure's hands are clasped as a single eye takes in the images of the six heroes being shown. The figure's focus is on a red-and-gold suit of armor and a black-haired masked acrobat.
"Let the games begin."
[Insert End Theme: Teen Titans End Credits]
AN: And cut! Man, this was a hell of a chapter to write! Luckily, I had a lot of time to spare in Borneo. Very beautiful place to visit, by the way.
Now, I know what you're about to say. "Hold up! How did Tony Stark beat Batman in a fight?!" There are three reasons for this. First, Batman was in an enraged state of mind not only from Tony knowing his secret identity, but also by being caught and antagonized by him. Second, there have been times when Batman has been defeated in combat, with some of those opponents having less combat experience then him (e.g. The Joker). Thirdly, Batman assumed that Tony Stark was just a rich boy with no combat experience. This Tony Stark, however, has more fighting skills than others, which caught Batman off guard. I'm sure some of you can figure out where Tony got his fighting skills from. Anyways, Batman has learned another lesson on not underestimating one's opponent, and he'll be more cautious during future encounters.
Anyways, announcements!
First: So far, I've only gotten one vote for my little poll for what direction I should take for my Anime Cinematic Universe (wah). For those who don't know, I planned on making a big, epic, anime crossover series involving a ton of anime shows. The options were:
A: Regular Earth with a bunch of anime added to it.
B: A DC Comics Earth with a bunch of anime added to it.
C: Take a whole bunch of people from a regular Earth, send them to different anime worlds, then have them return with anime powers.
So, I'm holding off on this project until I can get more input on where I should take it. That gives my readers more time to offer their suggestions. Don't be shy! Unlike some elections, every vote matters here.
Second: (Insert Professor Farnsworth voice) GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE! During my vacation, I rediscovered my muse for my other stories! This is especially true for Pacific Rim: New Generation. Not only have I redone the designs for my Jaegers, but I've also fixed some plot concepts that I found were flawed, and even added some new characters to my roster. No spoilers!
In any case, my next update will be for that story, then I'll do this one again, and then go back and forth between this story and one of my older ones. Eventually, I'll also get started on the ACU. My fingers have a lot of work ahead of them!
Until next time!
Dropareviewifyoucanflamerswillbeignored.