( - The Daily Bugle - )
The big shot owner himself, Jay Jonah Jameson, sat at his workspace the way he always did. With those two black shoed feet placed comfortably on that messy desktop of course. After one of his signature frustrated sighs, he tossed the newspaper that was in his hands in a fit, making his two advisors who were in front of him jump back a bit. (Rhyme alert.)
"Spider-Man this, Spider-Man that. Ugh what's next? Spider-man's fat? Don't we got anything else to put on the damn front page? Come on people! The public has to be gettin' sick of this masked clown by now."
His not so coincidentally voluptuous female advisor, Carla spoke up. "What are you talking about JJ? He's news. He's hot. He's…"
"He's crap! Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!"
"Uh that 'crap' is making us a bundle Mr. Jameson!" His male advisor named Robbie replied.
The 'boss' just shook off the replies and spoke with passion. "For months and months, we've been printing about this freak in spider tights. Enough's enough. We need new material! We need something cool, we need something fresh! We need something that screams 'money'! We need a real hero!"
Carla shrugged. "Uh, JJ you can't just expect a hero to come flying through here outta no wh-"
CRAAAAAAAAAASH!
Jameson and his employees quickly hit the floor as a red blur just flew by them crashing through the adjacent wall.
"What the hell?"
"JAMESON!"
The whole room full of Daily Bugle employees turned to see an eerily happy looking Venom. The room froze as the infamous black figure walked towards an unmoving JJ. With a violent grab of Jameson's collar, Venom grinned that ugly grin.
"Hey there 'boss'. Great to see you again! Love what you've done with the place." Venom let half of his alien mask retract away while Jameson looked on worryingly.
"Brock, heh, looking 'sharp' as always I see." Jameson replied nervously with a gulp, ironically staring at the symbiote's jagged teeth.
"Why thank you. Sorry we can't really say the same to you old man."
"Okay Brock… Wh-wh-wh-whaat do you want from me?"
Venom only chuckled lightly at the mustached man's shaky question. "Oh we don't want anything from you really. Well maybe besides the wonderful feeling of your tragic death or even you getting rid of that ridiculous crew cut, but no. We're looking for our red and blue loving pal. We think you're familiar with him. He's about yay high-" Venom started to act out his words visually. "Wears a bug suit, really annoying, makes a lot of hand gestures. You know him don't you?"
"Spider-Man."
"Somebody rang?"
Venom turned only to see a glob of web soaring towards him. The symbiote growled as his face was quickly entangled. He grabbed at his face in reaction, of course dropping Jameson on his rear end in the process.
The boss of the Daily Bugle shot our hero a scowling glare. "Spider-Man! I knew you were behind this!"
"Uh remind me JJ. I am behind 'what' again?"
"You two freaks are in this together!"
Spider-Man sighed and shook his head. "You know, I really had it with you bad mouthing me."
Our crimson hero shot a look over towards Venom, who was just successful ripping the last strands of webbing off.
"Venom, you still want to hurt him?"
"Heh, are you an idiot?"
Spider-Man skewed. "I'll take that as a yes… I think," he sighed. "Anyway I'm not stopping you this time. Go ahead, beat him to a pulp."
The crimson hero crossed his arms in a playful fit, laughing from within as he saw the nervous sweat pour from his boss. "Hey, hey, hey now wait a minute! We can cut a deal here can't we?"
"No Jameson, no 'we' can't."
A desperate Jameson gave a glance over towards the cross armed hero with pleading eyes. "Spider-Man, come on! I take it all back. You're a hero! I promise I'll-"
CRAAAAAAASH!
All eyes again shot towards the one who had just arrived.
"We don't even want to know what took you so long." Venom growled at Carnage.
"Sorry, nature called." The serial killer shrugged. "A symbiote's gotta go when a symbiote's gotta go, ya know?"
The whole room went dead silent.
"Way more information than needed there Carnage. Way more" Spider-Man groaned.
Venom disregarded the comment standing right above a helpless Jameson, letting a bit of that green saliva drizzle down his overbite. He reached out in threatening grab but, to no real surprise, he was stopped via Spider-Man's crimson fist. The sudden strike sent Venom backpedaling a bit just as another clenched hand rammed straight into his nose nearly knocking him to the floor.
"Oh yeah!" Spider-Man yelled as he quickly launched himself forward with both his feet extended for a kangaroo kick (Er that's what I'll call it anyway). But alas, the attempt was futile, as two black tendrils quickly wrapped around the crime fighter's feet tightly.
"Oh no!" Spidey now yelled as the tendrils then slammed him harshly to the ground. Jameson attempted to take off, but was smacked by a backhand from Carnage sending him barreling into a nearby desk. The two symbiotes laughed at their seemingly inevitable victory.
"You should've let us get to him, 'Spider-Man'." Venom chuckled as Carnage was laughing at Jameson. "Old people are so funny eh dad?"
Spider-Man shook out of his daze and glared back at his arch-enemy. "Sorry Venom, my conscience just won't let me." He paused, "Damn it straight to hell I tell you!"
Spider-Man's impression of an old 'over zealous' actor wasn't amusing Venom a bit. The tendrils pulled our hero up to a face to face glare.
"You're really annoying you know that?" Venom growled as he reared back for a lethal strike.
"And you need a breath mint, do you know that?" Spider-Man braced, ready to defend himself.
CRAAAAAAASH!
"… what now?" Venom moped as he rolled his eyes. Jameson angrily pounded the ground, surprisingly rivaling Venom's intensity. "Someone is going to pay for all this!"
Carnage blinked his pseudo eyes. "…"
The whole room was frozen.
Spider-Man took a peak around the room. "Um, okay…"
The window crasher frowned. "You are not the Titans, where is Robin?"
Blank stares were exchanged amongst the small group in the office room as this 'mysterious' boy in the red and green tunic looked around in a curious glare. The boy was of course our much beloved Larry! The doppelganger quickly got up and dusted himself off thoroughly. He looked up to see the bewildered group in front of him of course instantly noticing the three large pairs of white pseudo eyes staring at him clueless.
"Wow! Neat costumes!"
The pudgy boy ran up to the arachnoid super trio. Venom, Carnage, and Spider-Man stood completely frozen in their 'pre-attack' stances as he ran around in circles inspecting all three of their attires. With his curious masked eyes locked on Venom. The boy looked up.
"What's your name mister? My name is Noysarg Kcid! But you can call me Larry!"
Venom paused and then looked towards Carnage and Spider-Man for some feedback. The two crimson arachnoids just shrugged as if to say 'don't look at us'.
"…"
Venom continued to watch our short obnoxious nightmare, staring at him with mystification. Carnage attempted to speak up, unsurprisingly having a bit of trouble doing so. "I… think… we… should…uh… just kill-"
"GAH!"
Carnage was interrupted by his father's uncharacteristic scream and found Venom, shaking violently as the boy he was staring at, literally permeated into the symbiote's physical body. "Get him out!"
Venom began to thrash him self around uncontrollably sending Spider-Man, who was in the tendril grip, along for the crazy ride.
"Jeez Venom, will you just calm-"
The crimson hero was interrupted as Larry literally popped out of the back of Venom's head bringing a bemused laugh out of him.
"Why you little-" Venom attempted to grab at the boy but missed his opportunity, inadvertently hitting himself. "OW!"
Venom's neck began to work over time as he attempted to lock on to his equally 'spazzing' target. Larry popped out of his shoulder, then his back, then his other shoulder, then his leg. All the while saying remarks such as "Cool!", "Wow this is neato!", "Hey, this is fun!"
Carnage chuckled in heavenly amusement. "I gotta say pops. This is freakin' hilarious!"
"Yea Venom, I even think he likes you." Spider-Man was so amused he could even think of escaping the loosening grasp.
"Wow, never seen my pops this worked up, good job kid. Hehe."
"Shut the hell up and get him out!" Venom growled. Carnage only laughed as he slowly walked over towards the flailing villain.
"Alright, alright, alright. Sheesh don't need to get that tongue of yours all tied up now. Let's see here…" Carnage waited for the boy to show his face and as on cue Larry popped out of Venom's chest.
"Cool is that a spider!"
"Gotcha!" Carnage grabbed the boy by his black cape and with a harsh pull the boy was face to face with the 'ugly'. Venom angrily snarled as he too grabbed onto Larry's cape. Spider-Man only chuckled still being in the awestruck.
"Now you guys know I got a Spider-sense and all, but seriously I really didn't see that coming at all."
Venom ignored and began to fume his anger. "Let's kill him."
Carnage complied to his predecessor's command by shape-shifting his hand into an axe.
"And I thought you'd never ask." Carnage smiled sickeningly, Larry shook his head at the very sight of the axe. "Kill Larry? No! Please don't do that!"
"Carnage don't!"
Spider-Man like always was ignored.
"Don't worry kid," Carnage chuckled. "According to 'Serial Killer's Digest' decapitation is the best way to go out!"
Carange reared back for a killing strike and launched his suit created weapon forward.
"Gah!" Larry closed his eyes and in a counter move (or a desperation move), sent his glowing finger at the axe. The two met and there was a bright light that pulsated through the entire room, leaving the area in complete and utter silence.
Jameson was a bit startled at the sight to say the least as he slowly got up from under his desk. With a curious glare he walked over, starring at a sitting Larry in a blank manner.
"Hey kid, uh do you realize what you just did?"
Larry gawked at his finger which was shooting out a bit of 'magical' sparks – it was apparently damaged. He groaned. "Uh I think I made a boo boo?"
"Hah, you kidding?" Jameson chuckled. "Kid, you just got rid of three of the worst criminals in New York City!"
Everyone looked and took note that Venom, Carnage, and Spider-Man were no where to be found. Larry shrugged with an innocent glare. "I did?"
"Come on kid! You're a hero!"
Larry perked up. "A hero! Like Robin?"
"Uh yea sure, whatever," Jameson quickly turned to his employees. "I want it on the headlines! Uh what's your name kid?"
"Nosyarg Kcid! But my friends call me Larry!"
"You have friends?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm, okay people! Tomorrow's headline 'Larry thwarts overtaking by Spider-Man and his Cronies!'" Jameson yelled to the dismay of mostly everyone in the office. He turned back to an always ecstatic Larry. "Kid, I'm gonna make you into a star!"
"A star?" Larry's eyes grew even larger.
"Betty give this kid a cash reward and a free copy of the newspaper… or uh… just the free copy of the newspaper anyway." Jameson yelled towards his secretary. Larry looked around in disbelief.
"I'm a hero? I'm a hero! Yay!"
( - Jump City: Wayne Enterprises Storage Facilities - )
100,000 volts of concentrated electricity and a bad attitude is never a good combination. So keeping that in mind, one could say 'tough luck' for the Titans because that combination was executed to perfection by their not so good pal Overload. At this point in the fight, the circuit board gone mad was throwing a bit of a fit, but anyone would be a bit angered after being smacked around by a flying robotic fist powered by a godly amount of rocket propulsion.
"Overload will win! Yes he will!" The electrical monster growled as he blasted another box of crates into smithereens. Narrowly escaping the blast was a clearly pumped up Cyborg, who only smirked confidently at the electrical menace.
"Man, you must be joking. The only thing you're gonna win bolt boy, is a Grade-A ass kicking compliments of Cyborg baby!"
Cyborg then launched his famous (or infamous) sonic attack at the monster sending it reeling back in pain. From across the warehouse Beast Boy, the emerald raptor, was being chased by a giant blob of purple goo that he couldn't seem to shake. The big goop known as Plasmus laughed as he maneuvered his oozing projectiles after the green changeling. Leaping over numerous obstacles, Beast Boy quickly grew worried as he was rapidly running out of room; not to mention running out of things to hide behind.
"Uh dudes? A little help over here!" The changeling quickly morphed back into his human form to hide under a steel crate. His cry for help was quickly answered from above. Like a fierce hail storm, a rapid fire of green starbolts forced Plasmus to stop his relentless chase. The purple sludge monster roared in ache as the well placed blasts forced the creature to fall back, punctured with numerous holes in its already unstable body.
Beast Boy looked up at the smiling Tamaranean who had just aided him with happy eyes. The humorous Titan began to do a little dance and chanted in a hip hop rhythm. "Go Starfire! Go Starfire! Go Starfire! Go Starfire!"
The alien girl in purple giggled like the cute little firecracker she was and waved at her green friend. Suddenly Robin came darting by Starfire and brought his booted foot across Cinderblock's face. Chips of concrete spewed to the floor as the block monster fell on its bottom, literally making the ground shake from impact.
The Boy Wonder turned his head to the air, to find the mystical Titan Raven ready for orders. "Raven now!"
The sorceress only nodded behind the shadows of her hood and extended both hands towards a near by support pole.
"Azarath," Her eyes gave that 'oh so cool' white glow.
"Metrion," Her hands emitted that wavy black aura.
"ZINTH-"
(Pause)
And this was supposed to be the part where she hurled an object towards Cinderblock right? Well that is right, but fate as it seems had other plans.
(Unpause)
A large flash of light lit up the dark warehouse temporarily blinding the Titans as well as the three creatures they were battling. A loud yell erupted from the mutual groaning shared by the heroes and villains in the vicinity.
"Whoooa!"
Raven rubbed her eyes and quickly looked up in shock to see a red figure barreling down right at her. Before even a murmur could be heard, the crimson blur collided with the hooded mystic and sent Raven tumbling to the ground. Meanwhile the rest of the Titans tried to shake off the 'colorful spots' they were seeing to get a glance of what was happening.
"That was uh, sorta bright." Cyborg muttered as he was continually blinking his one humanoid eye, trying to get his vision back.
"Yea that was. I can't even see diddly squat. Ah!" Beast Boy screamed in his usual high pitched fashion, rubbing his eyes like a maniac.
"Guys er, what was that?" Robin asked as he too was blinking profusely.
Starfire cracked opened her right emerald glowing eye towards the Boy Wonder ever so slightly. "It was very pretty friends. But sadly I also do not know of the cause."
While the four Titans and creatures continued to fight for their vision, Raven only was just regaining her composure.
"Ugh," Raven groaned as she slowly opened her eyes to see a mask adorned in red and white with an unusual web like pattern molded onto it. To no surprise the two grounded persons stared at one another with oblivious gazes, inches away from contact and totally dumbfounded.
"Somethin' tells me I'm not in New York anymore, can't quite put my finger on it though." The masked mystery on top of Raven muttered as he rubbed his aching head.
Raven raised a brow, too curious even to notice that the mystery was still lying upon her at a range that screamed 'intimate', especially for this certain mystic. Purple hair and eyes, a red gemstone on the forehead, and gray skin, now that's something you don't see everyday.
"Who… are you?" Raven asked.
The white pseudo eyes glared at the sorceress' purple ones still a bit shaken. "Funny, I was gonna ask the same thing."
The answer could wait… or at least it had to - as there was a loud roar that shot from behind the two. With a motion seemingly almost as quick as lightning, Raven found herself rolling across the ground with the red adorned boy, ending up to where she was now the one on top. The girl scowled towards the masked boy under her with a furious look.
"Why the hell-" The answer seemed to come a bit quicker as Cinderblock's large fist slammed into the previous area where the two were, sending a large amount of concrete spewing up to the air. The sorceress looked back towards the red mystery under her and muttered to herself. "Oh."
Still holding onto Raven around her waist, our hero leapt up to his feet ninja style bringing them both to an abrupt stand. The mystic Titan was still a bit awe struck as she continued to stare at this surprise. A purple blob suddenly erupted from the floor making the two close heroes break their gazes.
And I thought Doc Conners going lizard was the ugliest thing I ever saw, boy were you wrong Spidey. An enraged Plasmus came charging at the two growling, only to be on the receiving end of a well placed sonic blast.
"Booyah!"
Boo what? Spider-Man thought but sighed with relief as the purple blob was swiftly cut-off. He instinctively turned to make sure the girl he was protecting was alright, but she seemed to have literally disappeared. "Um, alrighty then."
The muttering stopped as once again his spider-sense went off. With a natural impulse he quickly flipped into the air dodging another attempted whacking from Cinderblock. The crimson hero with a corkscrew twist landed on the concrete monster's back clinging on for dear life.
Alright, what the heck is happening here! Spider-Man scowled, barely clinging on.
A loud battle cry took the complete attention of the masked crusader. It was a cry from Robin, as he was making short work of Cinderblock's face; smashing the concrete dome with repeated swings of his steel bo-staff. Spider-Man swiftly flipped off the distracted creature's back and fired two web lines onto the shoulders of the large behemoth. Already reeling from Robin's flurries, Cinderblock easily fell with a swift pull of the gray strands adhered to him. With a loud crash the block monster was officially taken down. Spidey finally breathed a bit easier as he watched the concrete monster groan in defeat.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
Spider-Man looked up to see the girl he was 'protecting' magically levitating in the air. "Uh, gazoontite?" he mocked but quickly dropped his jaws in shock. Spidey looked on in amazement as a large steel rod, shining a wavy black, was being forcibly bent as if it were 'Play-doh'. The mass of metal enwrapped the concrete monster like a piece of rope, preventing any type of escape.
"Now that is something you don't see everyday." Spider-Man muttered as he began to contemplate on his current predicament. "Cool." The arachnoid looked around to see a battle clearly nearing its end. The large electrical being that once stood tall had become a small floppy disk. The purple monster that Spider-Man deemed 'uglier than the Lizard' was lying on the floor exhausted; and of course we all know what happened to Cinderblock.
Spider-man looked towards the cemented ground in complete confusion. Okay, I was fighting Venom and Carnage, some weird little kid shows up… yea… and then… that's it! This must be a dream. It has to be…
"Hey there," A voice shot from behind the red masked teenager. Spider-Man turned and huffed at the group of five standing in front of him Or not.
The boy in the red tunic stepped up and extended a hand. "Nice moves back there, you mind if I ask you for a name?"
Spider-Man cautiously took the hand shake but froze as he stared at Robin. Well it feels real… Wait… black eye mask; tunic; gloves. This kid looks like the one that… but it can't be.
Before Spider-Man could answer the literal green one of the group started to fire off his large mouth.
"Dude, nice costume, who designed that for ya? You gotta give me a name! By the way that was so sweet how you were rolling, flipping, and twirling. Oh and that bright light entrance was pretty kick ass too! And was that web coming out of your hands? That was so cool! Uh do yo-" A large robotic arm wrapped across the boy's green chops.
"Sorry 'bout that. This guy has a little trouble zipping it up sometimes." Cyborg answered muffling an obviously angered and cross armed Beast Boy. Spider-Man was still a bit 'out of it' and exposed it with his speechless demeanor. "Yeah,"
Starfire quickly flew over joining Robin, and sending Spider-Man stuttering back a bit in surprise.
"Hello interesting costume adoring young boy who aided us! My name is Starfire!" The alien girl said with a large smile while forcing her face close to his.
"Um hello." Spider-Man slowly backed his head away, in shock of this girl's intense kindliness.
"Quickly! Where-do-you-come-from-How-did-you-get-here- What-is-your-favorite-color-Do you wish to be my friend?"
Spider-Man sweat dropped at the curiosity and the sheer hyper-active nature of this strange orangey skinned girl. "Um, New York City, I honestly don't know, red, and uh I guess so?"
Starfire happily nodded as she spontaneously hugged the boy, squeezing all the air out of him. After a few seconds of complete dazing, Spider-Man was let go and stood shakily, almost in disbelief at the act of extreme friendliness. Oooow
"New York huh? Cool, always cool to meet a fellow New Yorker." Cyborg grinned with an excited fist pump.
A fellow New Yorker? I've never seen this guy in my life, and I think I would notice someone like this. Spider-Man glared at the large cybernetic teen.
"Sweetness the NYC. Always wanted to go there, I hear the chicks are mighty groovy." Beast Boy nodded. Spider-Man only rubbed the back of his head trying to absorb the situation to no avail. He shot a look to the quiet girl in blue and black who seemed to be staring at him in an eerie way. The vibes he was getting from her were a bit uneasy yet intriguing. Looks like she wants to kill me… well ya did kinda 'drop' in on her Pete, oh boy. More hatin'.
Robin cleared his throat. "So, we still haven't got your name." The statement calmly brought Spider-Man back to reality.
"Uh, I'm Pe… uh… Spider-Man."
"Whoa why didn't I guess that? A little too obvious, but uh it gets the job done." Cyborg winked. Raven finally spoke all be it a bit harshly. "Oh, and you being named 'Cyborg' isn't too obvious?"
The 'cyborg' was speechless.
Beast Boy scratched his head. "Dude! Spider-'Man' eh? Wait, how old are ya?"
"Sixteen I believe."
The green Titan looked over towards his teammates with a frustrated look. "See! He's a teen and he gets to use 'man'. That's totally unfair! Why can't I be Beastman?"
The rest of the Titans only ignored his plea like usual and stayed focused on the new hero.
"It is nice to meet you friend Spider-Man!" Starfire cheered.
"Well Spider-Man, I'm Robin." The Boy Wonder nodded and looked over towards the changeling and the half-droid. "And this is Beast Boy and Cyborg." The two 'homeboys' of the Titans followed with friendly waves forcing the crimson hero to give a shaky wave back.
Robin then turned to Raven and Starfire with a light chuckle. "And uh I think you already got to meet Raven and Starfire up close and personal." Spider-Man only shrugged with a nervous laugh as Raven picked the perfect opportune time to dust herself off.
"Yeah! Up close and personal for sure! You and Raven had a little 'Jiggy' going on down there. Rollin' on the..." Cyborg was stopped abruptly, catching a glimpse at two very familiar 'enflamed' purple eyes. "Er… alrighty then, I never said a thing."
There was a moment of silence as Raven was either boiling mad or utterly embarrassed with flushed cheeks. The sorceress finally noticing that she was 'un-hooded' quickly brought the hood over her face, in an almost infuriated manner but it was hard to tell. Awkward Spidey… Awkward.
Cyborg, being no fool, quickly changed subjects. "So what brings a fellow New York hero here to Jump City? A new S.T.A.R. recruit? Uh, I mean you are a hero right? You can't be running around in red and blue tights for fun." Cyborg paused. "Or can you?"
Spider-Man raised a brow from under his mask. "No, no, no I'm a hero I guess but… Jump City?"
The five teens looked at one another confused and returned their gazes. Beast Boy spoke. "Yea, Jump City dude, as the city you are in. As in here 'right now'?"
The green one finished and turned towards Cyborg with a suggestive stare. "I think this guy is a little slow." The half-droid only replied by forcibly turning the BB's head back to the front.
"Wait, how could you travel over 3000 miles and not know what city you're in?" Robin asked.
"Uh, this is America right?"
"Yes, yes it is! The glorious land of the free! Where going to the mall of shopping is considered the highest priority!" Starfire replied all too happily.
"Dude, do you even know what state you're in?" Beast Boy asked with a skewed look on his green face.
"I… uh… nope guess not."
"Wow, and I thought I was always lost." Beast Boy added with a head scratch.
"Traveling without a clear destination. Very interesting." Raven half-smiled. "I think you should try that sometime Beast Boy." Our changeling stared blankly while Cyborg chimed in. "Man, you can't be serious. You have no idea where you are?"
Spider-Man finally shook out of his dazed trance, or at least he finally tried to. "Alright that does it! Yeah! Okay? I have no clue where the heck I am. And I sure as hell don't know who the heck you all are. I just want some answers and I want them right now!"
"Wha?" The Titans almost looked insulted.
Cyborg grumbled. "You don't know who we are? Bah, come on man! We're the Teen Titans!"
" . . . "
Beast Boy sprayed a bit of his breath on his gloved knuckles and rubbed the collar of his purple vest. "Yea dude, the most 'awesomest' teenage crime fighting group in the world! Everybody knows us. You live under a rock or something?"
Spider-Man only gave an inaudible 'right' as he pointed to Robin. "You, you did this."
Robin only looked at the masked boy confused. "I… did… what?"
"You… you… I was fighting… and then… you and the finger… and then the flashing lights! You! Yea! You brought me here, and you can take me back!"
"Uh, what are you talking about?" Robin tilted his head.
"I don't know how you got so tall and skinny but you gotta send me back!"
Spider-Man stared at Robin who only seemed to be still out of the loop. The frustration quickly grew into hopelessness as he knew in his gut that Robin was being sincere. The boy that transported him here wasn't nearly this calm.
"Ah never mind," Spider-Man slowly slumped to the floor in a cross legged manner.
The group looked at one another. Raven spoke. "Did you say… finger?"
Spider-Man only nodded, reveling in his helpless position.
Robin's masked eyes suddenly enlarged. "Uh say, was this 'finger' glowing by any chance?"
The arachnoid perked up. "Yeah! Yeah it was!"
The Titans looked at one another yet again realizing who was behind this. They said the name in unison.
"Larry."
"Yea! That's his name!" Spider-Man chuckled as he seemed to be finally getting somewhere. He felt a presence closing in on him; it was Raven, with a curious glare on her gray face.
"So you aren't from this world?" Raven asked with a slight change in her usually indifferent tone. Spider-Man ironically seemed to be the drearier of the two at this point. "I guess not, but I want to go back. Can you guys help me?"
The Titans looked at one another with saddened faces. Robin spoke with disappointment. "I'm sorry, but only Larry could help you out here. And until he shows up again, I guess you're stuck here for now."
Spider-Man quickly sprung to his feet sending the Titans backpedaling out of shock. "STUCK? STUCK? I can't! I can't be here! I have a life! Aunt May, my job, school, being Spider-Man."
"Sorry dude but chill. Believe me, we all want to help you out but we're not into that inter-dimensional transportation jive." Cyborg hand motioned the crimson hero to 'chill out'. Spider-Man once again plopped onto the floor. Aunt May is so gonna kill me.
"That Larry, what a crazy guy." Beast Boy laughed quietly to himself. Cyborg looked at our dejected crimson hero and turned to his teammates with a frown. "Guys I think we should take him in."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I dunno, I mean remember last time we did something like-" Beast Boy interrupted only to be countered.
"Look, this guy has no place to go. Man he's not even from this plane of existence. What are we just going to do? Just leave him here? That's not cool ya'll."
Spider-Man rolled his eyes behind his mask as the two arguing Titans seemed to be totally disregarding his presence. Robin noticed this and walked over to his team. "Titans huddle up."
The Titans formed a tight circle. Spider-Man looked on totally clueless, trying to decipher some of the whispering going on in the huddle.
"Guys… psst psst… Terra…"
"Yea… but… psst… psst…"
"pssst… Raven what do you think? You're a human psst detector…"
"I don't trust… psst… psst…"
"psst… but we can't just leave… psst…"
"Yea… psst… anyone that has to deal with Larry… deserves a psst."
"Dudes, we… psst… learn… psst… this guy could be Slade in disguise."
"Psst… you crazy? Psst… a goner…"
"… I just don't know… psst…"
"Friends psst looks so helpless… psst… should… psst…"
"Look… did you see what he… pssst… do?"
"It psst… impressive."
"… psst… this to a vote…"
The whispering seemed to have died down and only silent nods started manifesting in the circle. Robin slowly turned with a slight smile towards the boy. "Alright,"
A large screech from a tire was heard interrupting the Boy Wonder. All eyes shot towards the new arrivals.
Cyborg frowned. "Uh oh, we got company."
( - Across town - )
"Wowzers!" A mask-less Carnage (or Cletus Cassidy) laughed with excitement while staring into a side view mirror of a blue Toyota Corolla. The red haired, green eyed 'teen' was chuckling mad as he touched his thin face amazed at the transformation that took place.
"I can't believe this man," Cassidy smirked. "I'm a teen again!" he gave a glare over towards an unmasked Venom (or Eddie Brock). Sitting on the curb clearly upset, Eddie was looking towards the ground in disappointment. He indifferently flexed his right arm and looked at the biceps muscle bulging out. "Damn more freakin' hard work down the drain… shit."
Cassidy only chuckled at his 'new' friend's obsession with pumping the weights. "Come on Venom! This is great. I always dreamed of being a kid again. Ah my glory years! I got so much done in that short time."
Eddie gave an annoyed look over towards the incredibly de-aged Carnage. "Here's an idea offspring, why don't you just shut the hell up while 'us' intelligent beings try to figure out what happened."
Cassidy ignored the suggestion. "Wow I forgot how awesome it felt to be a teenager. I feel like I'm sixteen, just like Spider-dork. And by the way you've grown a bit younger too. That 'coo coo' kid must have done this."
"Oh don't ever mention that 'kid' again. And who gives a shit 'who' did 'what'? We're younger, and we're in some city that's not supposed to exist. Oh joy!"
"Oh lighten' up 'Eddie'. You're looking at the negatives. Think of the positives! Think of the possibilities!" Cassidy yelled slapping Brock on the back. Eddie glared at him with only angered eyes.
"First off unless you want that arm ripped off, don't touch us again. Secondly, positives? What the hell are you babbling about?"
"There's always a positive man. Think about it. How long have we symbiotes been stuck in that dump called New York City?"
"For six months-"
"Alright, in all those months we've killed thousands upon thousands right?"
"Give or take,"
"Well I don't know about you but I was gettin' sick of it. I've stabbed too many people at the Brooklyn Bridge, I've tossed too many people off the Empire State building, and I am totally sure I'm tired of writing 'Carnage was here' in blood on that same damn wall in Harlem."
Venom sighed. "We know you aren't much on having a 'point' with discussions but dare we ask if you have one this time?
Cassidy pointed out all the young civilians of Jump City 'ripe for the taking'. "Look shit for brains. We've been given rejuvenated youth and sent to a city we thought never existed. There's new faces, new people, or you could just call them new 'victims' if you'd like. You know what? You could even call this a new start! Or a renaissance if you will, for the two strongest symbiotes ever!"
"Wow, we're shaking with excitement." Eddie mocked. Cassidy growled.
"Come on think of it! We can run this joint! This could be the fresh start we need. This town won't even know what hit them! With us together as one cohesive team no one can stop us. This will be a symbiote's playground."
"Right,"
"It'll be awesome dad! We'll make a great partnahs! We'll be like Startsky and Hutch! No! We'll be like Method Man and Redman! No! We'll be like Beavis and Butthead! Of course you're gonna be Butthead but, but you get the picture. That's the perfect comparison isn't it! Unless, that is, if you can think of a better one."
A glaring Brock spoke like a drone. "Parker."
"'Parker'? What? Sorry but I don't think Spider-dork had a partner, that wouldn't work."
"No dumbass, look!"
The two newly made teens quickly walked over to the nearby electronics store which had numerous T.V. monitors set up for sale. Incidentally all of the screens were showing the same exact channel. The two intrigued and disguised symbiotes glared on, listening in.
It was a News broadcast of some sort with a young woman with a microphone and a certain group of special teenagers standing behind her.
--
April O'Neil: "This is April O'Neil of channel 9 JCTV, reporting live from Wayne Enterprises Storage Facilities. Just a few moments ago the pride and joy of our fine town, the Teen Titans have brought evil doers to justice yet again. We have the exclusive and they are standing by. Now Robin can you describe what exactly happened tonight?"
The girl pointed her microphone towards the eye masked teen. Crossing his arms, Robin began to speak.
Robin: "Well you see Cinderb-"
Beast Boy suddenly jumped in front of the group and grabbed the mic to Robin's and April's extreme displeasure.
Beast Boy: "First off I'd just like to say that we totally kicked bad guy hiney today! It was a total breeze dudes. I mean they tried to gang up on us and we still took them all to school! By the way if any of you 'fly' ladies out there want to get the chance to hang out with a real hero this weekend then-"
Cyborg with an impatient groan took the spotlight shoving Beast Boy to the back. The half-droid gave the camera a large smile and began to speak the way he always did - loudly.
Cyborg: "Hey ya'll out there in T.V. land! This is your fav bad guy butt kicker Cyborg and I just wanted to say that if ya'll want to be as energetic as me? Pick up a can of 'Booyah' Powered Energy drink! Remember kids, if it doesn't say 'Booyah', then no-good it will do ya!"
Beast Boy quickly shoved the half-droid out of the way.
Beast Boy: "Dude no one cares about that stupid drink alright! (Clears throat) Sorry I was rudely interrupted ladies but like I said,"
The changeling and half-droid now had their hands on the microphone pulling the reporter back and fourth.
Cyborg: "First off my drink isn't stupid! And man will you quit it? Why don't you go find a date the old fashioned way! Ya know, like asking a girl out directly?"
Beast Boy: "Uuuuh-"
Suddenly a black field of energy separated the two and shoved them away from the camera's view abruptly. A silent mouthing of the word 'thank you' from April brought a slight nod from Raven.
April: "Okay! Um why don't we move on? It seems that you have a new member back there? Mind to fill our viewers in?"
All eyes shot towards Spider-Man who only scratched his head at the attention. The Titans chuckled a bit as April centered the mic. on the entire group.
Robin: "Well he's not a new member, at least not yet anyway."
Spider-Man stood behind completely still and silent. Starfire playfully nudged the boy forward.
Starfire: "Please friend, introduce your self! Do not be shy! Curiosity is abound!"
Spider-Man slowly walked up to the mic and leaned forward.
--
"Parker is such a poon." Cassidy chuckled.
"Right, and his new 'friends' don't look too bright either." Eddie replied.
"Uh ya know me dad, and even I'll say I ain't much of a thinker but uh… how come Spider-nerd doesn't look any smaller? He looks… the same."
"And how are we supposed to know this? What do we look like to you, Bill Nye the Science Guy?"
--
Spider Man: "Uh hey everybody, uh so I guess you all want to know my name right? Well my name is Spider-Man. I'm 16, and uh I love web-slinging, fighting bad guys, eating pizza, reading comics-"
Raven: "Um, I don't think they wanted your autobiography."
The crimson hero chuckled as he rubbed his neck.
Spider-Man: "Bummer."
Robin: "Right. Anyway we're offering him to stay with us, and offering him a spot to become a Titan. That is… if he wants to."
Spider-Man: "Wh-what? Hey wait a sec… I appreciate the offer but-"
Starfire: "Please friend, we will not take no for an answer! That is correct Raven?"
Raven: "…"
Beast Boy: "Hey guys aren't we kinda rush-"
Beast Boy was quickly cut-off.
April: "So 'Spider-Man' tell us! Are you going to be a Titan?"
The boy in red looked around him to see all eyes glaring at him waiting for an answer.
Spider-Man: "Um… I don't know… I mean… I got so much to do ya know?"
Cyborg just pulled the babbler into a 'buddy' like headlock and grabbed the mic.
Cyborg: "That's a yes ya'll! So baddies beware! Because this guy is for now a temporary Titan baby! He flips, he dips, he runs, he jumps, he crawls, he twirls, and most important he kicks bad guy behind! Booyah! Spider-Man is coming right at yah!"
From the Cyborg's headlock only came a somewhat harsh sigh.
Spider-Man: "Um yay?"
Starfire: "THIS IS TRULY GLORIOUS!"
Robin: "(Extending a hand to Spider-Man) Welcome to the team."
Spider-Man reluctantly accepts the hand and the small little party began. The camera pulls away from the celebrating Titans and closes in on April.
Cyborg: "Time for a good ol' fashioned DONUT RUN!"
April: "So you heard it here first folks. The Titans have a new member. What this means to the city will only be answered in the future. This is April O'Neil for channel 9 news signing off."
--
A pair of teenage males looking to be around thirteen and watching nearby began to scoff at the screen. Cassidy and Brock looked towards their direction with curious glares.
"Oh God, he can't be a Titan. Did you see how he was dressed?"
"Oh I know! He'll never replace Terra. She was awesome and she was a total babe."
"Dude no she wasn't! What are you smoking?"
"Yes she was! You don't know what the hell you're talking about."
"What-ev-er! What's next? Are you gonna say Mas Y Menos are awesome too?"
"Well… yeah."
Eddie and Cassidy shot each other blank glares as they only shrugged, being totally oblivious to the names.
"So, nerd boy made it over here after all." Brock mused.
"I told ya this is perfect! I can't wait to see Spider Dork's face when he sees that we've found the fountain of youth!
"We must say," Brock grinned. "This might be fun. But let's lay low, we'll drop in on our little bug when he least expects it."
"Lay low? Bah! Let's trash up the place right here and right now!"
"No."
"Killjoy Venom is here to wreck the day yet again."
"Fine, maybe a kill here and there won't be too bad. But first, we need to make a stop. We have a freakin' craving for-"
"Brains?" Cassidy asked with excited eyes. Brock simply shook his head.
"No," He smiled, "We want a damn slurpie."
There was yet another awkward pause. Cassidy slowly nodded.
"You know what? That sounds really good right now. Wow, becoming a teen again has brought that stupid craving back. Too cool." Cassidy laughed in amazement. They both began to walk off in search for a convenient store.
"Yea, becoming a teenager has opened our mind again as well. Tell us, do you notice how as you get older you never actually 'go' specifically to a convenient store for a slurpie?"
"So true dad! I mean it's always, I'm getting some gas, 'Oh let's get a slurpie!', or I'm buying some Spam, 'Oh let's get a slurpie! It's always an after thought.'"
"That's what we're saying! You've noticed that too?"
"Of course! Ah, what we 'grown ups' were missing out on. You know-" The 'random' conversation stopped as Eddie and Cassidy's attention was taken by a couple of screaming kids.
"Take that back! Terra was the best!"
"No, no she wasn't! Live with it."
The two boys started to shove each other to Cassidy's and Brock's amusement. The crazier of the two perked up as he had an idea.
"Hey dad you know what-"
"No," Eddie interrupted. "Don't even think about it. It's not worth it."
"Aw come on! A little bit of fun isn't going to completely blow our cover." Cassidy persuaded with an evil grin. Brock continued to shake his head in disapproval. "No,"
"Come on! Heeeeello! Have you looked at yourself! Lighten up! We're teens again! Let's have some fun with it God dammit!" Carnage pleaded. Brock just sighed and looked away with a shrug seeming to say 'whatever'. Cassidy jumped for joy and made his way over to the two bickering youngins in a furious sprint.
"Hey fellas what's the problem here?" Cletus asked separating the two from their throat grasps rather forcibly.
"This is none of your business kid!"
"Yea! Keep out of this and piss off!"
Cassidy shot a look over at Eddie and mouthed the words 'they called me kid!', Brock mouthed back what looked to be something like 'We don't give a shit.' and started to check out the Jump City skyline.
THIS IS WAY TOO COOL! Carnage thought as he quickly returned his attention towards the children.
"Aw come on 'dudes'. No need to be such 'haters'. I just wanted to show you guys something really cool." Carnage gave his best but futile attempts to sound 'hip'.
The two kids quickly groaned. "Dudes? Haters? What the hell? Are you from the 80's or something?"
Carnage chuckled. "Nah, that would be more like my pops over there."
The two kids froze looking over at Venom who just nodded.
"Uh he's your pops?" Stare. "But uh… he's like a teenager…"
"Yea, he looks just as old as you. Man you're crazy."
Carnage playfully rubbed his chin at the 'insult'. "Crazy huh? Gee thanks kid. But oh, right. How could that work? We look the same age! Yet I'm his kid. That's psycho! That's impossible for humans, right?"
"Uh… right," Both boys muttered in unison.
"Yea that would be crazy… but wait a second here! Hah! I almost forgot to tell you guys." Carnage smiled. "I'm not human."
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" The shorter of the two kids asked.
"It's hard to explain. Showing you would be way easier."
Poor kiddies for sure.
That extremely infamous red goo shot out from behind the chuckling teen's back making the two kids freeze in amazement and of course complete fear. That wicked 'Carnage' mask quickly engulfed Cassidy's face. A sharp row of teeth later and it was at this moment, for the very first time, that Jump City got a true glimpse of the horrors of an alien symbiote.
The two children stood as if their hearts had literally stopped. Their skin paled to a complexion that only could be compared to Jump City's two resident sorceresses.
"…"
Carnage began to crack his neck rather forcibly as he laughed at the two with his warped voice. After a bit of playful silence the teenage symbiote brought his gruesome face up close to the children.
"Oh yeah I forgot to mention this," Carnage chuckled and then started to let his signature tendrils whirl frantically. The children in a petrified glare watched as the symbiotic tentacles patted them on the head in a 'friendly' manner. The red skulled villain then suddenly exploded with one simple word.
"BOO!"
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" The two children literally fell on their backs and took off running, stumbling, and falling constantly as they fled. Carnage laughed loudly as he quickly shifted back into his human form.
"Shoot, nine years younger and I still got it." Cassidy chuckled. Brock sighed as he spoke in a bored fashion. "We are truly freakin' amazed."
"You're giving me props? Wow hell has frozen over." Eddie simply shook his head. "No, we're amazed that the kids were more scared of the symbiote's face than the one you're wearing right now."
The civilian clothed 'Venom' quickly turned his back and walked off. Cassidy scowled and replied with a cynical scoff. "HAH! That was soooo funny."
"Oh yeah, we crack ourselves up all the time."
The two newly made teenagers then began their 'epic' quest to finding a nearby convenient store as they made their way down the streets of Jump City. But like always even more trouble lurked in the shadows for little did they know that there was someone with glowing "Blood' red eyes, following their every move.