Hello and welcome back to The Doctor Is In. I know you're waiting for the result for the pairing so I won't beat around the bush. This story … drumroll please … will not have a pairing. The results were fairly even for both. Votes for pairings did have a few more votes but since I planned the story out without one I need a clear majority. But to those that wanted a pairing, if it happened, the pairing wouldn't be a huge part of the plot and would have been near the end of the story.
"I called this team meeting to address a very important problem." said Robin as he paced back and forth. He stood in front of the semicircular couch that the rest of the Titans, except Starfire, sat on. Doing a quick count Robin said "Where's Starfire?"
The rest of the Titans glanced around confused before Beastboy and Cyborg said a quick "Don't know" while Raven just grunted. Robin went back to his pacing. "Does anyone know where she is?" asked Robin.
"I hit the meeting alert button like you asked me too." said Cyborg. "If she's in the tower she would have heard it."
"Then where is she?" asked Robin.
"She's not here." piped up Raven. Seeing the blank stares of her team she elaborated. "She's left the tower."
"How do you know that?" asked Robin as he started getting frustrated.
"She's left plenty of times before." replied Raven. Still seeing blank looks she said, with her voice full of disbelief "You really don't notice. She's left more than 10 times in the last month. Man you guys are clueless."
"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Cyborg. His comment was followed by a nod from Robin.
"l thought you all knew about it" she said. "Just like I thought you knew that I've left a few times too."
"Whaaaaaat!" cried Beastboy. "You've left too!"
"A few times" said Raven.
"We can talk about this later" cut in Robin. "We have to find her. Cyborg, track her GPS."
A screen popped up on Cyborg left arm and he started typing on it. After a few seconds of typing he pressed one final button and a map appeared on the tv with a flashing circle moving on it. "She is currently moving north on first street." reported Cyborg.
"Titans go" cried Robin.
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"She should be inside this restaurant" reported Cyborg. For the past 15 minutes the Titans had been traveling the streets of Jump City, following the GPS in Starfire's communicator. They'd managed to track her down to a restaurant called the Coffee Bean. It probably helped that she hadn't moved in the last 5 minutes.
Robin and Raven immediately recognized the Coffee Bean the moment they saw it. Robin's first thought was how did Starfire know this place. He'd never told anyone about it so why was she here. Did she follow him. He hadn't been here since that night 2 days ago so she must have followed him. Raven thought the same thing as Robin only without the paranoid parts.
Giving a nod to the rest of the Titans he pushed open the door and they walked inside. Their eyes scanned the small café as they took in the many comfortable looking chairs that surrounded wooden tables in the center of the room. Booths lined the perimeter except for the back left corner which contained a currently empty counter and cash register. Sitting in the booth closest to the counter sat Starfire as she talked with a person with shaggy black hair that was facing away from the Titans.
Seeing Starfire, Robin started walking towards towards her as he called out to her. The person in the booth stiffed when he heard Robin, something Robin noted immediately. Seeming her friends, Starfire's face lit up into a massive smile. "Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Beastboy, I'm happy you here" she said as they stopped in front of her booth. "I would like you to meet my friend Danny." She gestured to her companion as Danny gave a small sheepish wave.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT!"
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Danny's P.O.V.
The moment I heard Robin's voice I knew my quiet week was over. It was going so well too. Aside from helping out Robin 2 days ago nothing exciting had happened. There were no new crazy plans by Slide and Kelsey. And I had a nice relaxing dinner with Kelsey's family.
Speaking of the dinner, I really enjoyed it. Kelsey's family is really nice. Although constant questions from a hyperactive 8 year old is tiring. The best part of it was that as a thank you for saving them, her parents decided to give me some money. Not a lot but enough to pay for almost half my rent this month. Being courteous I tried to refuse but let's say that Kelsey is very persuasive. It totally had nothing to do with the fact that Kelsey made a face that promised me a lot of pain if I refused.
Anyway I was just enjoying the company of Starfire and listening to her tale of the ambush they ran on Slade last night when the Titans came in. She was at the best part too. Robin had just met with Slade and the Titans had jumped out and easily captured him, but they found out it was a robot which ended up self destructing. Right around the self destruct part was when Starfire called the rest of her friends over.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT!" yelled the four standing Titans. Well the guys yelled, Raven gave more of a half hearted shout.
"Starfire, how do you know Danny?" asked a slightly confused Beastboy. I don't blame him, I'm kind of confused myself. How did all of the Titans meet me at the same time. I thought maybe Raven and Starfire would meet but I never envisioned this. I thought situations like this only occurred in stories.
"You know Danny as well. Glorious" proclaimed Starfire excitedly.
"You both know Danny, I thought I was only one who knew Danny." said Cyborg. During all of this I'm silent. What do I say 'oh hey guys. I really know all of you and I've helped you with all your problem. I'm also a wanted criminal that's being chased by the government … lovely weather we're having'. Yah like that will go over well.
"Obviously he knows more people than just you" cut in Raven before she turned to look at me. "You never told me you knew the other Titans."
"It never came up" I replied.
Suddenly Robin rushed forward and grasped the collar of my shirt with both hands. He dragged me out of the booth and lifted me up by my shirt. For a short guy he's surprisingly strong. Robin shot a glare that looked like he wanted to burn a hole into my head as he growled out "What do you want out of this." That glare might have been intimidating but compared to the glare Dan had this was nothing.
"I want a lot of thing like a million dollars, a girlfriend, a mansion, oh and a puppy. I like puppies. But what I really want right now is to be put down." I really tried to restrain myself but Robin set himself up for that one.
"I mean what do you gain from trying to befriend us" his fake patient voice quickly turned suspicious. "Are you a spy? Who sent you? Was it Slade?" Robin's grip on my shirt got even tighter as he shook me..
"Come on dude. Why are you doing that to Danny." exclaimed Beastboy.
"Yah, he hasn't done anything" said Cyborg.
"Why are you defending him? He could be a spy." said Robin.
"I'm right here you know." I said slightly annoyed by the fact they were talking about me as if I wasn't there.
"He helped me. Danny's the reason I came back to the Titans when I left." said Cyborg.
"He helped me too" stated Beastboy. His comment was followed by a "Same here" from Raven and a "Me too" from Starfire.
"Okay mister conspiracy theorist. Mind putting me down so we can have this conversation like civilized people." I said. Robin mulled over my words for a few seconds before he put me down.
"Fine" Robin said reluctantly.
I sat back down in the booth I was dragged out of a few seconds ago. Raven and Robin sat down beside Starfire as Beastboy and Cyborg sat with me. More like squished me into a wall. Cyborg's massive body could barely fit in the booth and he ended up pushing me and Beastboy into the corner. Maybe Joel should invest in larger seats.
Now that we are all nicely sitting down Robin launched into his interrogation. "Why did you help us? Did you do it so you could be famous at school. Brag about how you know the Teen Titans. Or are you getting information for the newspaper. Selling our secrets to a newspaper or magazine." asked Robin his voice full of disgust by the end of his speech.
"I just wanted to help out. Is that so hard to believe?" I said.
"No one does anything for free. They have to get something out of it." said Robin.
He really just said that. "Remind me if I'm wrong but I'm sitting at a table full of superheroes. Isn't that what you guys do. Help people because you can." I retorted.
"Okay fine. You might just be helping because you want to. But I still don't trust you." said Robin.
"But Robin I trust Danny." Said Starfire.
"I do too" said Raven. "And you know how hard it is for me to trust people." Beastboy nodded vigorously at her statement while Starfire and Cyborg just nodded once. I wonder what Beastboy went through to earn her trust.
"Alright I get it. It's 4 against 1. Danny, I guess you can still hangout with the Titans sometimes. But be warned of you do one thing that could harm anyone of the Titans, I will personally arrest you and make sure you don't see the sun for a long time." threatened Robin.
I'm not going to lie, his threat did make me a little nervous. But I can't show fear so I keep my face neutral. "Thank you soooooo much for allowing yourself to associate with such a lowly and unimportant person such as myself." I said incredibly sarcastically. Robin seemed taken aback by what I said. I guess no one has ever had the gall to speak to him like that. Looking up at the clock on the wall I noticed my break was over. "I'm sorry but I've got to get back to work. My 15 minute break magically turned into a 30 minute break. But we can finish the conversation some other time."
Everyone slid out of the booths and I walked behind the nearby counter. I said a quick "Goodbye" to the Titans before the walked out of the store.
Suddenly Beastboy stopped in the doorway. "You guys go on ahead. I need to talk to Danny about something." he said. Robin shot him a disapproving look but reluctantly said "Fine."
Beastboy nervously walked back towards the counter I stood behind. "So I did what you suggested and went to a sicatrist …"
"You mean psychiatrist" I corrected.
"Whatever. Anyway you were right. He gave me some medicine and some mental exercises to help me." He said slightly sadly. "They've helped. I've noticed I'm not as loud as I was."
"That's great to hear but have you told your team yet? They need to know" I asked.
"No. I don't want to tell them. It's kind of embarrassing." Beastboy said.
"I still think you should tell them. They could help you." I said.
Beastboy's face took on a somber expression. "I know, it's just embarrassing to talk about. And I don't want to be kicked off the team." He said glumly.
"That's not going to happen, you know that. Robin just threatened me to make sure I don't do anything to you or any of the Titans. I'm sure that the other Titans would do the same thing too. They care about and won't just kick you to the curbed because you are a little sick." I said.
"I guess your right. I'll tell them first thing when I get back." Beastboy said. "Thanks" and with that he turned and walked out of the café.
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One week later
Things had gone pretty well since the Titans learned that I knew them all. They had come once a day and hung out at the Coffee Bean. Usually after they stopped a crime. I'd usually take my break and hangout, and talk to them. It was actually pretty enjoyable and with each visit I became more comfortable with them.
A big surprise happened the day after they found out. Robin came up to me as the Titans were leaving and apologized for how he acted. Apparently when the Titans arrived back at the tower each Titan told their story of how I helped them and Beastboy told them about his visit to the doctor. By the way Beastboy feels a lot better now that he got that of his chest. The stories they told must have affected Robin but I'm not complaining. I'm glad I don't have a paranoid superhero after me. That brings me to today.
I was just minding my own business making someone's order when the explosion went off. It went off right out side the Coffee Bean causing the glass windows to be blown inwards showering a few people in shards of glass. Stepping through the window was the H.I.V.E. trio consisting of Gizmo, Jinx, and Mammoth. "So this where the Titans hangout. Looks like a dump" said Mammoth as he scanned the room.
"That's because we just blew up half of it you idiot." chastised Jinx as she gave him a look of disgust.
Great, why do I always get dragged into these things. The one day the Titans decide not to come is the day my work is attacked. I need to get everyone out before someone gets hurt. "EVERYONE GET OUT!" I yelled. The people still inside took my advice and quickly evacuated. The H.I.V.E trio barely glanced at the fleeing people, instead they stared straight at me. That can't be good
"That's the fartnugget that the Titans hang out with. Let's teach him a lesson" said the diminutive Gizmo. What's with it with people talking about me like I'm not even there.
With that, they started running at me. Mammoth swing a punch that broke the the counter in front of me. He followed up with a punch aimed straight for my I head. I spun around the punch and ran behind him. I mustered up what little ghostly strength I could and gave mammoth the hardest shove possible. At the same time he spun to face me elbow first. We both hit each other at the same time before flying back and hitting the wall. That hurt, I forgot how it felt to be thrown through a wall. I better not let them hit me again.
I pulled myself out of the wall and dove to my right. Just in time too as several small missiles impacted where I was just a second ago. "If you don't like how things look you just had to say so. You didn't need to try and redecorate yourself." I quipped as I ran at Gizmo. Gizmo's backpack sprouted three mechanical arms that lifted him off the ground. One arm swiped sideways at me. I was able to jump over it and I grabbed a nearby chair when I landed. Swinging it, I hit the nearest leg causing Gizmo to fall to the ground. I reached towards the backpack intent on ripping out the wiring, but I was stopped by a flash of pink light above my head.
Looking up I saw the ceiling fan above me was falling straight towards my head. I jumped out the way but I was just a little too slow. One of the fan blades caught me in the side just under the ribs. I fell over due to the impact and landed on a nearby table causing it to fall over and deposit me on the ground. "You just got jinxed" said a smug Jinx.
"The jinx machine is out of order, please put in another quarter." I said as I got up. I know it's childish but I couldn't help it.
"Why would you say something like that. It doesn't make any sense." said a confused Jinx before she started throwing pink energy blasts towards me.
"You've had a childhood right?" I asked as I dodged pink energy blasts and a few random flying chairs or tables.
"Be quit, you don't know our lives" Jinx angrily said as the number of energy blasts increase. I think I hit a sore spot. I have to end this quickly before I get hurt. I run towards Jinx in a zig zag pattern, as I dodge her attacks. Getting close I grabbed both her hands and pulled them behind her back, which prevented her from firing her hexes.
"You should stop now. I don't want hurt you three. If you leave now I will forget this ever happened." I said. I meant every word of it too. The last thing I want is to be dragged into a fight with supervillains that might make be in the news.
"Like you could hurt me" boasted Jinx. She stomped down on my foot and the jerked her head backward, head-butting me. The impacts caused me to loose my grip on her right arm. Wrenching it free, Jinx fired an energy blast right in front of me feet. A crack in the earth formed where the energy hit, which formed a small crevice that separated me and Jinx.
"Gizmo now" yelled Jinx. The next thing I knew there was a loud bang and a bright flash of light before searing pain wracked my body. As my vision darkened and I drifted off into unconsciousness I heard the bell above the door ring.