Chapter 4:
Beast Boy was up the next morning before anyone else, even though he hadn't slept much last night. Everything was planned; 'Titans North' would be his new home as soon as he got his butt over there...today. Before he left, or got ready to, Beast Boy wanted to take another walk around the tower. He sighed as he walked into the rec room. No one else was up, which was a surprise, but the others should be up soon enough.
It wasn't long before Robin was up. He was usually an early bird, no matter how late he went to bed. The Boy Wonder changed uniforms, pulling on his belt, boots, and gloves as well. Leaving his room, he made his way to the rec room, surprised to see Beast Boy already there.
"You're up early," he stated in an 'are you sick?' tone.
Beast Boy was sitting on the couch, watching some adds for new and improved toilet paper. How they could improve that was beyond him, but whatever. He turned his head upside down over the back to see Robin. "Yeah, I was just... walking around."
"Robin nodded, pulling the bread out of the cupboard to make himself some toast. He wasn't all that hungry. After popping the bread into the toaster, he grabbed the butter out of the fridge. "So…" he started, finding himself at a loss for words.
"So..." Beast Boy copied, standing up from his seat and taking a different one at the kitchen bar. He didn't want to bring up the whole leaving thing, he wanted one last happy morning with his old friends. So he smiled Robin's way as he spoke. "You guys have anything planned today?" He asked.
Robin glanced up, "No," he shrugged. "Not yet. Why?" he asked the green teenager.
"Oh, no reason. Just, you know, trying to strike up a conversation." Beast Boy shrugged right as Cyborg walked in, half yawning.
"Morning Cyborg," Robin greeted, taking his toast from the toaster as it popped up. After doing a lazy job of buttering the two pieces, he stuck the butter back in the fridge and sat down to munch on his toast.
That moment, Raven walked into the kitchen, glancing at Beast Boy. He was leaving today, wasn't he? She'd rather not think about it.
"Only thing good about mornings is breakfast." Cyborg muttered, pulling out the frying pan before he was even fully awake.
"I never said it was a good morning," Robin half grumbled. And it wasn't. Actually…it was a horrible morning, though nothing horrible had happened…yet.
Raven gave a halfhearted laugh as though saying 'you can say that again'. She made her way over to the cupboard, grabbing a teabag. She felt like tea this morning.
Beast Boy watched his friends, keeping a grim little smile on his face as he kicked his feet against the fake wood panel. Just like every other morning. He was trying to pretend this was just every other morning, but his friends' moods weren't helping. But he couldn't blame them.
"Steak, ham," Cyborg yawned. "Eggs, toast, bacon." He listed his breakfast items to himself as he started cooking, before Starfire came down and started her own cooking, that might drive him out of the kitchen.
Raven stepped out of the way, gripping a teacup in her hands and taking her usual seat at the breakfast bar.
It wasn't too long before Terra came shuffling into the main room, and then the kitchen. It really wasn't like her to be up this early, but she couldn't sleep. Judging by how full the kitchen was, no one else could either. Even…Beast Boy was up. She sat down in her usual spot, though didn't say anything to anyone.
Usually she came into the room with a smile and some sort of 'hello'. Not today though.
"Morning Terra," Beast Boy greeted warmly, moments before Starfire came walking in, rather then floating like usual.
Terra glanced over. "Hi," was all she said. Her voice was almost monotone, kind of quiet, not much enthusiasm. Though her face was almost straight, her eyes said it all. They weren't sparkling with laughter and merriment today. No, actually they were rather gloomy.
Beast Boy let his eyes wander back down to the counter as he played with his hands in idle. Even Starfire was gloomy as she picked at a waffle Cyborg had presented for her. It was going to drive him crazy.
Robin cleared his throat softly in the slightly uneasy silence.
Raven merely sipped on her tea quietly. Yes, she liked the quiet. The peaceful quiet. But uneasy quiet? No.
Beast Boy glanced at the clock, it was still fairly early, at least for him. But Titans North was pretty far out, and it would take him a good long time to get there before dark came. He glanced around at his friends soberly before standing up and quietly walking through the hall. Moments later, dragging his suit case out with one hand.
Terra turned slowly in her seat to see the suitcase. She eyed at it a moment, half glaring. Her eyes fell to the ground before she silently turned back around to face the counter, hands folded calmly in her lap as she stared at the countertop.
She'd half been hoping to wake up today, and Beast Boy telling her that he was leaving would only be a dream—a nightmare.
Obviously not.
Beast Boy set the bag down before walking over to where his friends where gathered, a large, joking grin spread over his green face. "I have to get going, but I thought I would leave you all something." He smirked before handing Robin a piece of paper that read 'My room is yours for the cleaning, MU-HA!' in his messy hand writing. "Just to be, you know, nice." He joked.
Robin looked down at the slip of paper, crumpling it up and tossing it to a random corner. "I'll have Raven blast it out," he half smirked. Nah, he wouldn't really do that.
…He wasn't cleaning that room though.
Raven shook her head. "I'm not going within a hundred feet of that room."
Beast Boy only snickered, while Cyborg shook his head in slight amusement. "Fine, suite yourselves, see if I care." Beast Boy snorted mockingly. He felt he should go, really soon. But something was holding him back. Saying he could wait another minute, another hour, maybe another day. But he had to go. The others where counting on him. "I should go," He said again, more to himself.
Starfire at once had him in a death grip hug.
"Please take care, friend." she said quietly, before retreating from the coughing teenager.
"Yeah, and don't do anything stupid." Cyborg warned, joking... mostly.
"Aww, me? Do something stupid?" Beast Boy snickered. "I thought you knew me better!"
"I'm afraid I do." Cyborg laughed, and Beast Boy grinned. He was stalling again.
Raven nodded in agreement with everyone as she stood up. She wasn't the best with goodbyes. Not when it was one of her friends. "So…" was all she could think to say. So what? So long? So, see you later? So, what?
Robin stood as well. "So…" he repeated Raven. "I guess…we'll be seeing you around, then?" he asked, also not too sure on how to say goodbye. Well, he never thought he'd have to say goodbye to Beast Boy for one thing.
Terra glanced over at them, but other then that, barely moved. This was so wrong. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. He wasn't supposed to leave.
Beast Boy looked around at everyone one last time, before putting on that big-goofy grin he almost always wore. "Later Dudes," He waved in his normal carefree way before leaving the tower moments later. He morphed into a small dinosaur, stretched his green wings and grabbed the suit case handle with his claws before thrusting himself into the air, and flying north.
Terra watched Beast Boy go, frowning as he left. Sighing inaudibly, she stood up, walking over to the couch and taking a seat on the end of it, her legs resting across the seat next to her on the oversized couch.
Robin just stood there in the uncomfortable silence while Raven glanced over at Terra.
Starfire stood, before feeling slightly, out of place just standing there and moved against a wall and crossed her arms. Not sure what was to be done know. Already everything seemed dull. But perhaps, things would lighten up a little.
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Terra hadn't moved a lot throughout the day. She was currently sitting by the window, watching the rain fall down. The weeping sky reflected just how she felt. She sat there, head slightly hung, mouth open the smallest bit, not moving, barely blinking. She stared from the ground, to the window, switching off between looking at either one.
Raven was sitting in the corner, reading. It was weird…how it had been quiet almost all day long. Robin had seemed to have spent a lot of time in his room today, more then usual anyways. It was just…weird.
Starfire was sitting on the sofa, Silkie on her lap. No one seemed one bit perky today, and it was depressing.
Cyborg was fiddling with a battery looking machine at the table. The new 'tech' he was still working on. But he was only half doing it, he wasn't even really thinking about it. It was getting dark out, and was wondering when or if BB would call and say he had made it
He set the screw driver down and leaned back in his seat, sighing out of boredom. He jumped slightly when the screen that served as a TV and computer started blinking. He was up and at the controls PRONTO, a moment later he looked over his shoulder. "We got a call coming in!"
Terra looked over before slowly standing up. She made her way over to the middle of the main or room, or closer to it so she could see the screen, hoping it would be Beast Boy.
Robin looked up, as did Raven, waiting for the call to finally make it through.
A moment later, Beast Boy appeared on screen. His face looked a little dirty, mostly from saw dust and dry wall. "Hey guys!" He waved with a giant grin on his face.
Finally, for the first time that day, Terra smiled. It was a small smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"So…assuming you made it?" Robin asked, a grin also on his face.
"A few hours ago," Beast Boy laughed.
"Thanks for calling in," Cyborg joked. But before he could anymore, was pushed out of the screen by an over eager Starfire.
"OH FRIEND I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! I have been missing you already, you are okay, yes? And not feeling ill, and have eaten?"
Beast Boy bit his lip not to laugh again, "Yeah, Nurse, I'm fine." He joked with her new found nick name.
Terra smiled a bit, opening her mouth to at least say 'Hi' when-
"Sorry Beast Boy," Robin spoke up as the alarm started going off. "We'll have to get back to you. Trouble."
The blonde's face fell as she glanced to the floor, rubbing her arm. Well…that went great. She glanced up just after Robin ended the call and the screen flashed to a location of the city.
"It's Plasmus," came the leader's voice. "Again."
Starfire gave a disappointed sigh before heading for the door, Cyborg was already almost out of the tower, he had to get the T-car started up.
Raven turned, heading out the door. Wonderful timing, that Plasmus. Why couldn't anyone or anything stay in jail? That would be too easy though, wouldn't it? Obviously.
Robin started after her before pausing, turning back. "You coming, Terra?"
Terra looked up. "Hmm? Oh…yeah. Coming." With an inaudible sigh, Terra turned, heading after Robin.
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The rain had let up, and the sky had cleared from the dark clouds. Though even with the sun shinning down, the area still seemed moist. And even a little humid. But that was the least of the citys problems.
Plasmas was rampaging randomly around the city. Strangely, even for a mindless thing like it, he didn't seem to have any set goal other then destroying whatever he could. The giant oozy monster turned to look at the blue and white car that came to a stop a little ways away from him, later, watching the other Titans come up and letting out a screech like yell.
Robin got out of the car, pulling a few disks off his belt and getting into battle stance. He was kind of worried. After all, whenever someone left the team, they always did…well, bad, to put it bluntly. Maybe they'd do okay now that they had Terra, though.
Raven phased through the roof of the car, eyes glowing white as she too got into battle stance, fists clenched surrounded in black.
It took Terra a moment to realize they'd stopped, for she'd been gazing off at the window, her mind wandering to other things as she spaced off. She shook her head, trying to focus on battle as she unbuckled and got out of the car, clenching her fists rather loosely.
Starfire floated in midair, her fists glowed a neon green, but not as bright as they usually were. This battle just didn't feel like it would be right, because a teammate was missing. She knew she had to get over it and fight, none of them could afford for Starfire to make a mistake or for any of them too.
Cyborg stepped out of the car, clenching his hands and ready for the call that was sure to come. Something caught his eye, when Plasmus looked at them. Besides the gloops of acid that bubbled on the monster, something shined briefly from its chest. A closer look told him what it was. A gray and orange circle, with a sharp S carved on it. "Robin..." He trailed, "On Plasmus, do you see it?" He didn't know why his voice was kept low, as if the monster even cared what they where saying.
"I see it…" Robin nodded, his voice coming in a dangerously deadly tone. Slade had sent Plasmus. The villain obviously had something planned, probably something much worse then just this creature. There was always something more when it came to Slade. "Titans! GO!" the boy wonder shouted, leaping into battle.
Raven's eyes shined bright white once more as the darkness around her hands grew darker, shooting out to grasp a light pole. She tore it from the ground, thrusting it at the monster as though trying to impale it.
Plasmus screamed again, and the poles did no good. He resumed his shape easily- but faster then he normally did. Starfire didn't seem to notice as she fired a rain of starbolts from above. The purple monster took no notice of them, and instead made swatting motions at Raven.
Raven dodged the flailing arms of Plasmus, shooting sharp blasts of power out at the opponent, though it didn't do a whole lot. One blast of her power shot out, taking the form of an arm and making a grab at the monster's wrist.
Terra shook her head the slightest bit, lifting a good chunk out of the road, thrusting it and watching it sail through the air towards the monster's head. However, her mind kept drifting off on her thoughts, causing her aim to be completely off. Just what she needed.
Robin threw five exploding disks at Plasmus, aiming for its legs.
Plasmus over came Raven's grip in a matter of seconds, while the disks at his feet didn't do anything. Instead, he lifted his giant goo like foot and made stomping motions at Robin. Cyborg tried backing his friend up with sonic blasts, but they too, seemed to only glance off the monster like play things.
Robin dodged the monster's feet just before two rock-made arms lifted themselves from the ground, raising up to Plasmus' shoulders and attempting to push the monster down while two more hands of rock grasped it by the legs, also trying to pull the monster down. The blonde continuously had to refocus her attention on the battle though.
Plasmus gave a outraged scream, before slipping out of the grasps and started reforming himself.
Starfire swung down more bolts, trying not to let the monster get that chance, but again, her efforts did nothing as the monster resumed his form and gave a victory held yell.
"What is up with this! He should have been down by now." Cyborg yelled, outraged as he fired at the purple gloop ball.
"Slade is behind it. Who knows what he could have done to Plasmus," Raven replied, shooting more of her power at the monster.
Another light pole lifted itself from the ground, surrounded in black energy from the empath as she swung it around like a bat.
Once again though, it did nothing.
Terra scowled at the thing. She wanted to go home. And this monster was keeping her from doing so. The blonde rose up on a stone pillar, six large pieces of earth from below following her.
They were both long and thick, that is, before they appeared to be sharpening themselves into deadly looking spikes. The geomancer glared, letting out an outraged yell.
All six spikes sailed past her at high speed, causing her hair to blow into her face from the gust of sudden wind, towards Plasmus,
Three of the spikes went straight for three large acid bubbles on his face where the blonde suspected his eyes to be, while two went straight to its legs. The last was aimed for the monster's heart, if it had one.
Plasmus screamed as the pillars hit him in all area's aimed for. He had been too busy trying to dodge other attacks, while trying to swap the annoying Titans aside. The acid bubbles on his face pooped, and splattered the green acid all over the surrounding areas.
"DUCK!" Cyborg yelled, just missing being hit, as the acid ate through the road it landed on. The half robot then watched as the monster fell back with a loud SPLAT.
"Have we... won?" Starfire asked, setting herself back on the ground.
Terra death glared as she watched the thing fall back, the stone pillar she stood on, falling back into the ground on her command. She jumped off of it a few feet before it settled back into the ground.
"Nice job, Terra," Robin commented, however he wasn't wearing his usual victory grin. Mostly because neither was Terra. And she usually did after she pulled a move like that. "I think so," he nodded to Starfire.
The blonde simply brushed herself off, her face basically expressionless before she looked up and started walking back to the car without a word to anyone.
Starfire watched Terra go, her hands curling above her chest. She glanced at the other Titans, before floating over towards her blonde friend. "Terra, you do not seem, happy over our victory." She said softly.
There was a slight pause before Terra shrugged. "I'm happy," she assured in a monotone that would give Raven a run for her money. "I'm going back to the car."
Raven and Robin exchanged saddened glances, though said nothing.
Starfire sighed, before floating back to the others. "I fear for Terra." She said.
Raven nodded her agreement. "Do you think there's something else bothering her?"
Robin shook his head to that proposition. "I don't. It's possible, but I just don't think there's something else.What else could it be?"
Starfire sighed to herself, glancing over at the T-car.
"I'm going to take this in for scanning." Cyborg walked up to the rest of the team, holding the carved S sign in his hand with a harden face.
"Good idea," Robin nodded once more.
"What do you think Slade is up to this time?" Raven asked.
"With Slade? Who knows." Robin glanced over at her. "It could be anything."
"He's been awful quiet. That scares me." Cyborg muttered, looking over the item. "Let's hurry up and get home."
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First of all, we are SO sorry about this slow update. And I could go on and on about why it took so long. But I wont waist your time.
This chapter seemed a little off from the Titans North, but we wanted to give you a taist of some of the plot coming in. Is Slade back? Well... maaaaybe. MUAHAHA!
...Please Read amd Review...