Let the insanity commence
Children of Azarath
Ch2- startling revelations
I am going to attempt to edit the older chapters as I go along, so if I make a reference you don't recognize that may be why. Tell me and I will update the older chapters if I haven't done so already.
Raven
In the Aether of her dreams Raven felt a comforting, familiar, presence. Azar. A small smile splays across her lips. Slowly the visage of her soulmate comes into view, wait, is that who I think it is? Soon she can see Jinx the name Jen flashing through her mind. Soon the image fades into a dream of the two of them, together alone and without a care.
As she comes out of the dream Raven leaps off her bed, and begins fervently pacing the length of her room, her anticipation rising with each step. Opening all four of her eyes Raven looks about her room, and the tower beyond hoping, and failing, to find solace in the auras around her.
"How should I tell her, does she know her heritage? Probably not, I'll need to convince her, but how?" Ravens pacing slows with each word she utters until she stands still thinking, planning.
Jinx
In the chaos of her dreams Jinx feels an odd, familiar, presence. Slowly a form takes shape in her mind, 'Raven' a voice whispers in her ear, What's she doing in my dream? Why do I not care? Soon the image fades into a dream of the two of them. As their heads come closer together she awakens.
Awakening with a start Jen, better known by her villain moniker Jinx, hastily begins to plan. Hoping to corner the dark seductress, Raven, and force her to answer some questions.
In the midst of her scrambling to plan she tries to get out of bed, but instead only manages to get herself further tangled into the sheets tumbling to the ground.
"Damn it! What the fuck I don't get this knotted up?" Jinx curses to herself. Freeing an arm she rubs the sore spots she landed on. Slowly she frees the rest of her limbs and abandons the pile of bed things in favor of getting dressed in a haphazard manner grabbing most of the mission gear she threw on the floor last night and some other articles of clothes that just so happened to be close at hand. Rushing through the bathroom Jinx soon finds herself at the door leading out towards the rest of the compound with only the hastiest of plans forming in her mind.
She opens the door and runs towards the common area mumbling her plan as she goes.
"If we stick together and try to rob some jewelry store the group will more than likely come charging in and interrupt any chances I have of getting my little chat. But if we split up there is a chance Raven won't be my intended foe either. Unless, unless we stagger our split attempts, the faster responders are more likely to break off. Leaving the slower members to fight and catch up later." At this point Jinx reaches her target only to realize her friends aren't even up yet.
Growling to herself she runs off to get her team assembled meanwhile continuing to plan.
If we hit a jewel store, computer parts warehouse, and oh I don't know bookstore, Raven does love her books… remembering the one time the HIVE stole their way into the tower. Jen stops in her tracks skidding to a stop. "Wait a minute where'd that come from?!" she says.
Shaking her head in an attempt to clear it she continues her walk to her teammates quarters at a much more sedate pace.
Ok then not a bookstore, maybe a museum then? Some art to sell, maybe a few other exhibits? Assuming I even bother to try and steal anything and talk to Raven. Nodding her head finalizing the plan.
A few moments later she reaches Gizmo's door. Knocking rather loudly she calls out his name attempting to wake him up.
Inside we find a young man in a deep sleep sitting at a desk, yet the pounding on his door coupled with the alarm he had set up using some string, water, and a few old bent pieces of metal he wakes up relatively quickly although soaking wet.
"What! What do you want, you scud faced scum sucker!" Gizmo yelled. Continuing to grumble he tried to get to the door. He heard Jinx chuckling as she heard the splashing of his alarm clock.
Back with Jinx we find her tapping her foot impatient with Gizmo. After a few moments he opens the door.
"Get ready, we're going on a heist in an hour." Jinx says. Walking towards Mammoth's room she is still in range to hear Gizmo mutter.
"Like we haven't gotten our butts beaten enough recently." Jinx slumps at that knowing, feeling, the truth in that statement. Minutes later she had managed to somewhat wake up Mammoth and dragged him to the main room. Once Jinx starts to pace in front of the couch she starts the explanation.
"We need some cash, fast, since somebody forgot to grab the money as we escaped the bank." here she and Gizmo glare at Mammoth, said villain has the good sense to look rather sheepish. "Anyway. I figure that if we don't strike all at the same time, or the same place, we're more likely to get something." Here Jinx stops pacing, and the others nod.
"So I was thinking that Mammoth could start us off by knocking over a few jewel stores, after a few minutes I figure Gizmo can hit a warehouse or something for an upgrade or two. A few minutes after that I will hit the last stop of our little heist. One of Jump City's museums, there's more than one exhibit worth something. Mammoth, if it looks like you're going to get caught forget the jewels and just try to stall the titans that stay behind, Giz and I will need as much time as possible, Giz same MO. Hopefully most of the titans will stay behind unable to catch up. Understand? Yes? Good. Suit up, I want us in position in thirty minutes. Mammoth starts in thirty five, Giz in forty," Jinx spins on her heel already on her way to the assigned target. "Chop, chop people." She says.
As she runs along the rooftops Jinx can feel her pulse climbing, and it wasn't because of the sprint.
Raven
More than likely she'll be wanting answers, so that will help. If I know her at all, there's a heist being planned, one designed to get us alone. As her thoughts wanders Raven decides to get something to eat knowing that she won't have enough time later, especially if things go her way. A small smirk plays at the edges of her lips as the thought of Jinx joining the titans. But that smirk is short lived at the accompanying thought. What if Jinx refuses to join, am I willing to quit the team to be with her? Would I join the HIVE? Raven shakes her head clearing it of that train of thought. She will deal with what is to come later, after their little chat.
While Raven is walking towards the common area a few of the other Titans are also up and about, namely Robin and Cyborg. They are mildly surprised when Raven walks in this early knowing that despite her early rising that she prefers meditating on the roof.
"Morning." She says. She barely nods in their direction before continuing to walk past them towards the fridge.
"Mornin'" Cyborg says. Robin merely nods agreement mute with surprise. Cyborg's hand pausing in the act of pouring himself a cup of coffee at least until it starts overflowing that is.
"Ow!" cyborg yelps. He jerks the hand holding the coffee pot back and starts shaking the other, dropping the cup in the process, half hopping half sprinting towards the sink and the cool, cool relief of cold water. Robin just glances his way, stifles a chuckle and turns his attention back towards Raven who is currently digging around in the fridge.
"You might want to be paying attention there Cy. Besides is my presence in this kitchen so odd that it prevents you from doing such a simple task?" She asks. A single eyebrow rising showing more on her face than it would on most others.
"By the way, you might want to get something to eat, I have a feeling we are going to have an interesting day." Raven says. By this point she was done scrounging in the fridge and was currently getting ready to eat an apple. As she takes her first bite of said apple she begins to stroll out of the kitchen towards the couch.
About an hour later when most of the others where usually getting out of bed the alarm goes off.
"Well it seems we have Mammoth going after a few jewels. Let's roll out people; I think that the other HIVE members are no doubt nearby. Raven." Robin says. As the others start to rush in they get ready to fight. With a final nod towards Raven the titans ready themselves to teleport.
Jinx
Jinx is sitting down on a fire escape near the museum. Her thoughts are scattered and unfocused as she checks the time.
Mammoth should be starting in on the jewelry stores right about now. Jinx thinks. Checking the time every thirty seconds she waits both nervous and impatient. She stands up and starts pacing wanting desperately for the ability to will away the time.
Raven
As the Titans arrive and Robin gives his standard battle cry Raven expands her senses completely ignoring the fight in favor of trying to find Jinx. Seconds pass, but they feel like hours. Her teammates fight rages on in the edges of her senses with Mammoth proving rather agile. Extending her senses for miles she cannot sense either of the other villains. As her senses return she becomes aware of a dumpster flying in her direction, one that's too close to avoid.
"Crap!" she yells. Raven cannot even reach out with her powers to cushion the blow as it crashes into her body ripping it out of the air and crashing her into the pavement. She can feel the metal and concrete warp around her.
"Azarath Metrion Zenthos." She intones. At the final word of her muffled chant the dumpster is coated in her soul self and flies off her crashing into Mammoth.
As he stands up brushing picking the unfortunate dumpster up for a third time Robin's communicator flares.
"We don't have time for this. Raven, take cyborg and me with you to 'Computer Parts Galore' downtown. Gizmo's going on 'an everything is free' shopping spree." Robin says. After that he and Cyborg break off from the fight and regroup near Raven ready to go she uses her powers to teleport over to the indicated area. Once there they are greeted with a hail of laser fire forcing the Titans to scatter.
"Ha ha you scum suckers. Get a load of this." Gizmo yells. And with that he launches a round of missiles. Targeting Robin. While he jumps out of the way his communicator goes off again.
"Drat. Raven you need to get moving, Jinx has been spotted at the museum. Call if you need backup." Robin calls. As Raven prepares to teleport to the museum she hears Gizmo mutter amidst his laser gun fire
"You were supposed to wait five minutes idiot." Hearing that Raven smirks as her powers teleport her to the rendezvous at the museum.
Jinx
"She should be here by now." Jinx says. She begins pacing back and forth staring at a clock practically vibrating with impatience.
"Impatient aren't we," Raven says stepping out of a shadow on the other side of the room. Her eyes and the lower part of her face barely visible from beneath the hood. "Jinx, we need to have a little chat."
"Indeed we do. Why don't we start with why you were in my dreams," Jinx says meanwhile stopping her pacing. Turning more fully towards Raven she begins to walk towards the woman in her dreams. "Then we can continue with what happened yesterday." She slowly closes the gap between them.
"And finish up with some plans for tonight?" Raven says, with a single raised eyebrow. She leans back resting on a nearby pillar while Jinx stalks closer.
"I suppose." Jinx replies. Finally coming within arms reach of Raven and stopping.
"Where were you born Jinx? Do you know your heritage?" Raven asks. Eyebrow still raised she offers no other sign of movement.
"No, not really. But I was in India for a while, picked up a few things there I guess. At least until I tried to pick the wrong pocket, but that's a story for another time." Jinx says. She shrugs, pauses and then does a front flip to behind Raven, where she sits on the shoulder of a mannequin fiddling with the wig slightly her eyes closing, waiting. Raven's smirk visibly widens.
"Would you believe me if I told you where you really come from or would you rather I show you." Raven comments. Ducking her head slightly so that the rest of her face falls in the shadow of her hood.
"Tell me, and if I don't believe it we can see about you trying to convince me," Jinx shrugs. Cracking open an eyelid she practically dares Raven to surprise her.
"Well I think the biggest shock would be to learn you're not exactly human." Raven says nonchalantly shrugging slightly. She takes a few steps away from the mannequin accurately guessing that the unexpected starting line would topple Jinx continuing to slowly take a few steps in the opposite direction.
"What!"
"You, my dear, come from the plane of Azarath, like me." Raven says. She also adds on under breath, "Well half of me anyway." Here she pauses but once it looks like Jinx is recovered enough to offer a rebuttal she continues preempting Jinx's comment. Slightly extending her powers out, feeling Jinx's emotions, gauging how much of this fantastical, but true, story she believes.
"There are many differences between our worlds, but for this conversation there is only one that we really need to concern ourselves with; although if you believe me, now or later, I can always share with you a bit more and let you learn about our true culture, our true home. But I digress, at the end of every year a ceremony is held. This ceremony is part of an ancient ritual wherein the children born within that year are paired up by the goddess Azar. She knows what you can and will become, depending on various circumstances. No one, well except the high priestess, knows the result of this ceremony until the nineteenth birthday of the younger in the pair. Where both of the people will have a dream. This dream shows them who they belong with, who the best possible match in all of Azar is." Raven says. With her deadpan delivery there could be no mistaking her story for a piece of fiction. She turns around and starts walking towards Jinx.
"When I was banished from that place I thought they just sent me, but no, either the high priestess or Azar herself sent you along as well." Reaching out a hand she offers to help Jinx get her bearings, but more importantly she also asks a simple question with much deeper meaning. Do you trust me?
"This, this is a lot to take in," Jinx finally manages to choke out. She reaches out a hand and hesitantly takes Raven's hand. "Is there anything else you want to tell me? Any other large scale surprises to, oh I don't know, finish giving me a heart attack?" as Raven helps Jinx stand up she debates whether or not to share another the secret of her own heritage now or later, and with that the secret of her recent changes. Now or later, decisions, decisions. With her mind made up she speaks.
"One step at a time, let's just get this shock out of your system before I add anything else to the pile, yes?" an eyebrow rising towards the end of her statement.
Ch2 end
We are all mad here