The True Finale

By Scarredbyshallowness

Disclaimer: I do not own the Titans in any way, shape, or form.

I seem to be getting a pretty positive response to the story. I will be stoked if this reaches the height of some of my other stories ( Psst! Go read and review 'Who saves Heroes?'). Enough of my chatter, on with the story.

P.S. - Sorry for the delay, guys. I just moved and had to do other, more important, things. Like living for example.


Growth

Titan's Tower, Garage

"I can't believe I can finally upgrade the T-car! All I need to do is replace this crank shaft here, rebuild and torque a new set of reinforced wheels and rims, set a …" Cyborg rambled to himself, completely encompassed by his work as energetic clicks and cranks could be heard echoing through out the empty workshop.

Time was so rare and equally as precious in the tower recently. This was a God send!

" YO, CY!" the irritatingly screechy voice of Beast Boy blared behind the preoccupied metal mechanic as the excited changeling morphed from his nigh-impossible-to-hear-coming fly form. "Dude, you have got to see this SWEET level I'm at in Mega Monkeys! There's this ultra banana that lets…"

" Busy, man. Tell me later. Grab me the torque wrench real quick and I promise to listen to all your monkey babble sometime tonight."

" The what-now? You mean that wrench/sword looking thingy with the loose handle? I threw it out. You should really keep better care of your equipment. " BB lectured as a steaming Cyborg rose hastily; lifting the car with furious ease.

"You WHAT? It's SUPPOSED to be loose! Don't tell me that you went through my tools! You can't even PRONOUNCE half of them!" The normally laid back Titan furious clutched his fists as a hesitant Beast Boy stared timidly toward the ground, nervously swinging his right leg.

"Um… remember when we were stuck on that one planet and the T-ship was all busted and you broke up like a dropped Lego set? " Beast Boy carefully reminded Cy, giving a look hopeful ignorance. What could he say? It's not like engineering was his life. Unlike some people…

"What about it? Aside from the fact that you turned me into a chicken and a giant robot. And let's not forget you re-broke me two more TIMES!" Cyborg snorted as a hot burst of air escaped his flaring nostrils like a bull. Not a joyous occasion.

"Welllll…. I kinda, sorta, slighty forgot half of your tools there. Heh heh…" BB hopefully grinned as he was thrown to the side quite literally, slamming into the garage door with an imprinting CLANG!

As Beast Boy tried to determine which part of his body ached the most, a desperate Cy viciously tore away at the untouched cupboards and dust-layered work benches.

"BEAST BOY! " Cyborg roared as the jade changling had already taken his leave. Clenching his metallic fist with a grinding metal whine, Cy started to breathe easier as a change of thought occurred to him. "Well, at least I can go out and buy some new TOYS! Boy, I am not letting ANYTHING ruin my fun TODAY!"

Titan's tower, Main living room

" Raven, would you please - " Starfire whimpered with the best puppy-dog face she could manage to the preoccupied half demon.

" No." Raven snapped, not even looking up from the page of her worn book.

" But it would only take an hour…or two… Please!"

" Starfire. There is no way you can get me to do that. I wouldn't even do it if I was paid!" Raven bit clasping her book close as she levitated to leave. No better place to read than in the privacy of your own room.

" Okay…" Star finally submitted. Guess Raven isn't into make-overs. "Oh! Please wait, friend! I have made the most amazing discover!" Star clapped gleefully as she pulled out a titanium suitcase, with an 'R' in the center, from the back of the couch.

Attention was attained.

"Isn't that the case we got back from Ding Dong Daddy in that race 2 months ago?" Raven rose a brow, curiosity flaring secretly.

That previous case that Robin had decided to show to them turned out to be all of his files on his previous enemies. Everyone from Poison Ivy to someone named Two-Face. Funny. Robin spat his name with disgust. Almost like he does for Slade. Wonder why?

"Nope. It's something with twice the security. You know what that means, friend Raven…" Starfire squeaked with excitement singy-songily, adding a blazing smile full of wonder. She had stuck a gold mine.

Sadly, Raven did know what the Tameranian was talking about. It contained something personal. Something Robin would kill to keep secret. Something that was so appealing that it hurt like salt on an open wound.

Ignorant agony.

Something that the girls would not let last…

Wayne Manor, Gotham City

"Master Grayson! MASTER GRAYSON!" Alfred screamed at the dead-asleep teen. When that boy relaxed, he relaxed.

"…Huh? What is it, Alfred?" Dick slurred out with obvious grogginess. He hadn't slept like this in almost a year.

"It's about time, sir! You have a vistor downstairs. A very enthusiasticvisitor."

Dick sighed heavily, placing a pillow over his head to block the harmful sunlight. That was code for someone that he really didn't want to see. At least, not right now.

" Yawn Tell her I'll be down in ten minutes." Grayson said irritably, forcing himself out of the embrace of his velvet sheets. Sometimes he felt that the only thing harder than being a superhero was getting out of this bed in the morning.

"Sleeping in? You're losing your grip, Dick."

"And you are still as nosey as always, Barbara." The groggy, shirt-less teen retorted to his former partner; Barbara Gordan. Known to the criminals of Gotham as the ever graceful Batgirl.

"Well you've certainly bulked up. What have you been doing all this time? Taking 'roids?" Gordan joked with a lively smile. She hadn't seen him in so long. Too long for her taste.

"Please. I actually work for my body. And besides, I've been dead busy for the last 3 years. Jump City is a crime haven." Dick explained as he leaped out of bed and into his own personal bathroom.

"I would've come over to visit you if I weren't so busy here. You know. Doing YOUR job in Gotham with good 'ol Mr. Sunshine. Who just found out you arrived, by the way. He wants to talk to you A.S.A.P.."

"Great." Dick spat as he creakily turned the shower faucet on brimming hot. Nothing better than a steaming hot shower to stir you awake. " So how has good ol' Gotham been? Same faces causing havoc?"

"Yeah. Sadly. The Joker and Two-Face have gone missing. Bruce thinks they are up to something. But then again, they always are. So, no real surprises there." Barabra yelled through the shut bathroom door.

She missed the times when this used to be a daily routine. She always purposely woke up earlier just so she could sneak up on him while he slept. Though Dick would always catch her in someway. It was hard to come down a 30 foot, wooden, hallway silently enough for his trained ears.

But it never stopped her from trying.

"Sigh I was knew I was going to have to talk to him sooner or later. It IS his house after all. " Dick grinned slightly, turning off the water, proceeding to emerge from the steaming room with nothing but a towel on. "Barabra, would you mind?"

"Right. Right. I know the routine. Well, I be seeing you around, Robin." Ms. Gordan said with a sarcastic smile as she turned to leave. "You know, that name doesn't really suit you anymore. You're too … mature for it. Later!"

And just like that, she was gone.

"Heh. She hasn't changed a bit." Dick happily thought to himself. "God I hope Bruce has."

Truth be told; Bruce never changed. Ever.

15 minutes later

Placed in front of the manor's largest balcony, Dick witnessed a rather familiar scene. Bruce Wayne was CEO of his own company. He had power. He worked for it. And, as always, he displayed it.

Something that Grayson had become accustom to, but never comfortable with.

"Dick. Why are you back?" Bruce asked in an intense manner, not even bothering to turn away from the awe-inspiring sunlight glistening through the windows. An icy chill shot up Dick's spine.

"I…I wanted to come back. I wanted a break from my own life. I wanted…" Grayson began to spill, never once seeing Bruce even attempt to turn toward him. "…you to see that I am worthy of being your partner. Not your apprentice." That word burned his lips. All thanks to Slade.

"You left because you wanted to become a man. You wanted your own life. For better or worse." Wayne told in his usual lecturous tone. "You got it."

"But Bruce -"

"Let me finish." Wayne whipped around, revealing pain ridden eyes. Eyes that controlled much fear was now … displaying them." You abandoned your duties here. You've, purposely or not, developed your own ideas that contradict what I have taught you. You even looked me square in the eye without intimidation. Something a select few have ever done."

Seeing relief escape from Grayson's grimace, Bruce rose a finger. Great. Further lecturing. Just as he expected.

But like a signal from above, the Batwave (the precursor to the Bat-symbol), alarmed itself awake within Bruce's vest. The PDA's screen gave a live news video feed with someone they both knew well.

"We'll have to finish this later. Dr. Crane has just become top priority. Ready?" Wayne asked in a challenging way. He was eager to see his understudy's improved ability. Grayson was one that did not disappoint. He was a performer after all.

"Scarecrow? In broad daylight? Even he knows better than that." Dick rolled his eyes. So much for relaxation.

"Distraction or desperation." Bruce said aloud as he loosened his tie, heading toward the Batcave's entrance that was perfectly disguised as an antique clock.

"Well…"Dick began as he reached into his left pocket, slipping on his infamous, glossy black mask. "There is only one way to find out."

Play time's over. Robin's back.

Downtown, Gotham City

"Revel in fear! " the eerie voice of Scarecrow boomed in the compact jewelry store. It only took him and 4 of his men to completely cut off all exits. All one of them.

The look on the owner's face was one to die for. Security was supposed to be installed tomorrow morning. But hey, what's one day?

"Wh…what do you want?" one employee managed to squeek out from the corner of the wall.

"To become your greatest nightmare!" the straw-covered villian grinned viciously as he released a potent amount of his intoxicating fumes into the questioneer's face.

The homemade chemical changes the 'fight or flight' command in the brain to 'suck-thumb-and-go-in-a-fetal-position'. Confusion and chaos controlled by fear. Scarecrow's happy place.

"I am going to twist and torture every one of yourminds!" the demented doctor proclaimed as his eyes revealed disturbing malecontent. Seven people suddenly feared the worst.

His first victim screamed screeched in horror. What he saw through his eyes could not be human. Or earthly. All he could see, and smell, was death. Blood seeped up his arms and refused to come off. No matter how hard he tried to wipe them clean. And worse of all, there was the scarecrow. It just stood there amongst the sicken scene with a little grin on it's face. Cold and unchanging. This was hell. And it was all in his head.

"Who would like to suffer least? The last one to go will last into the night!" Scarecrow threatened quite seriously as he suddenly felt his arm snag into the nearby wall. What caused it? A sharp, bat-shaped, boomerang. Great…

"New plan. Let the hostages go and you won't leave here in a stretcher." A commanding voice barked from the entryway. It couldn't be the Bat. It was way too…light. Actually, it sounded like…

"Robin? So the little birdy finally decided to fly back to the nest? How about I greet you with a funeral!" the straw-covered villlain roared as he ripped himself free and unveiled his deadly scythe hidden among the odd, lumpy, backing of his suit.

With a blur of movement, Scarecrow dashed toward the nonchant superhero. With simple side-step, the ex-boy wonder tripped the raging psycho with his own momentum, taking the once dangerous weapon and contorting it so that the stainless steel blade was an inch from the good doctor's neck.

" A funeral? You know me, Crane. I don't kill people. I just stop them." Robin grinned as he held his prison nice and steady. Scarecrow didn't say a word. Nor did any of his men. The Batman had struck.

As the flock of hostages ran for the door, the Bat could not help but notice the dramatic skill increase in his apprentice. That move close to his level. Dangerously close. But that was for later. Something was wrong. The man who had been exposed to the gas was now violently convulsing. Speculation rose. Scarecrow's subjects have never reacted this intensely before.

"Dr. Crane…" Batman spoke darkly as Scarecrow cocked his head slightly from behind Robin's vice hold.

"I'll never tell. I'll never tell. I'LL NEVER TELL!" he replied with a hysterical laugh. Something was definetly wrong.

"Enough games! Answer the man." Robin commanded, drawing the blade to less than a quarter of an inch away from his juggular vein. This did not go unnoticed by the Dark Knight as he stood face to face to the mental patient.

" Stop this. I need to talk to Dr-" Batman stopped dead sentence as he ripped away the straw-covered mask.

"It's a trap!" Robin spat, noticing the shaking man on the ground suddenly stop and rise from half across the room.

" How right he is." the man spoke in a familiar voice as he ripped away a flesh-toned mask. "Dr. Crane is right here. What you have there is one of my more advanced subjects…rigged with two pounds of nerve gas and C-4. "

Pulling out the remote control, the Dark Knight instinctively threw a batarang to disarm the psycho-path.

"Not this time!" Crane hollered as he placed his left hand in front of the oncoming object, piercing into the center. "GAME OVER!"

The button was pressed.

"Batman, we need to…" But before Robin could say anything more, the Dark Knight had already taken things into his own hands.

In a split second, Robin was flung into Crane and forced out of the building.

The explosion was heard for miles.


I can't promise any speedy updates with the story, but I WILL update it! Till then, keep those reviews coming! Later.

-Scar