A Valentine Titan
Chapter 4: Valentine's Day
It was the morning of Valentine's Day when Raven awoke from a light sleep. Standing from her bed, she quickly floated to the door, opening it and leaving the sanctity of her own room. She hadn't bothered with pajamas, as she was far too excited to have actually slept that much. Stealing quietly down the steps, she turned to the door, opening it and closing it softly behind her. As she began to fly towards the city, to the designated meeting spot, her heart fluttered. This was it. No more would Raven be alone. She finally had someone on Valentine's Day. Someone...who cared for her.
It wasn't long after she had flown across the bay that she arrived at the small, secluded spot. A small stream ran to the mainstream river, a waterfall cascading down the rock face of the cliff. Gliding in, she peered about, hoping to catch sight of the person she had come to see. A note, along with a box of chocolates and a rose stood in the middle of a blanket laid on the ground, and she smiled slightly. Landing, she walked to the spot, kneeling down and taking the note in her hands. Opening the letter, she read each word, memorizing them
Dearest Raven, I am so happy that you decided to come. As I said, you are hard to read, so even I was overflowing with curiosity.
Sincerely, Analyze.
Raven smiled, holding the note close like a chunk of gold. Folding it and stashing it within the folds of her cloak, nearest her heart, she sighed, reaching down and picking up the chocolates. "He didn't have to buy these..." Opening them, she took one, biting down and savoring the flavor.
"Do you like them?" Startled, she looked up. Analyze stood next to the waterfall, leaning against the cliff. She smiled, nodding as a blush came upon her cheeks.
"They are...delicious...thank you." She put the box down, standing and watching as he strode to her. As he came near, she lashed out, catching his arms and pulling herself close to him. She felt two, strong arms hold her back, and she stood, embraced by the one that she could call her own. The pair stood there for a moment before Analyze withdrew, taking her hand and leading her to the blanket. Sitting down together, they watched the sunrise come up over the bay and river. Raven's eyes consistently darted to the left, watching for any slight movements that she felt she had to reciprocate.
"Raven...I took you out here to tell you something." Raven blinked, and then turned to him.
"Tell me something? What's that?"
"I'm...not who you think I am." She blinked once more.
"Really? You're...not Analyze?" He smiled, laughing slightly.
"No no. I am Analyze, or at least my name is. No, that's not what I'm talking about." She sighed.
"Then what are you talking about?" Analyze watched the waves splashing against the shoreline for a moment before turning, answering her.
"I am...like a wave."
"You mean you are unreadable?"
"No, I am very readable. I am as readable as another person. Unlike you, I am...highly predictable. However, I am still like a wave." She smiled, turning to the lapping water.
"I thought you said that waves are unpredictable." He nodded.
"Yes, I did say that. You can predict them just to a certain point. Than, they are as ruthless as nature itself. Remember, each wave laps at the shore, taking part of it with each push and pull of the tide. Each wave holds a mysteriousness behind it...each wave can hold a tsunami." She blinked once more, than turned to him.
"A...tsunami?" He nodded.
"Yes. A small wave can turn into something bigger. I am...that wave. I lap lightly at the shore, than I take away with one fell swoop. I have undercurrents, swells, and at times...storms..." Her face was emotionless for a moment, than she smiled.
"Well, hopefully, I can get to know each and every one of your storms and swells?" He smiled, looking at her.
"No...I'm afraid not, dear Raven. This is where the storm begins." She blinked, then sprang upright, but too late. The blanket electrified, sending her into a spasm of pain and torment. Through watering eyes she watched the boy in front of her remove the metal stick from the ground, the thing that grounded him against the electricity. As the current ebbed, her body sank back to the ground, and she hit the dirt with a sigh. Her body was on fire, and she turned her face up, to glance at the boy. However, his features had become harder. Harder and...evil.
"Why...why are you...doing this?" He smiled down at her, kneeling on one leg and taking her chin with his hand.
"I want power, dear Raven. This is the only method to achieve it." A flash of light burst through his pupils, and he stood, sneering down at her. "Pathetic girl. Your quest for love and emotional solace...it was all a sham. Poor, stupid girl. You've been read. You're not that long of a book." Turning coldly, he began to stride from the clearing. Her breath caught in her throat, and she looked up, her eyes beginning to tear.
"I...I loved...you." He heard the words, turning and looking down at her.
"Perhaps. But love can only be true if it is reciprocated by another. All you had was a farce. You are...pathetic." His right hand flew to his wrist, and he smiled as he clicked a button on his watch. Four pads burst forth from the ground, and four robotic minions appeared, each with lasers on their arms. Each laser was pointed directly at the girl on the ground, who watched with fear-laden eyes as her lost love turned from her, a smile on his face. "Today is the day the Titans lose their precious Jump City. It belongs to me." He took a few steps before stopping. "Dispose of her. I need her no more." The sound of lasers beginning to power up took hold of his hearing, and he walked calmly away...as the repeating blasters began to go off in unison. "Hn...idiot."
Beast Boy awoke from his horrible nightmares with a new ambition. He would find a girl for himself that day. He wouldn't be the only one alone on Valentine's Day. Not him!
"I wonder what Tera is doing? I bet that she'd go on a date with me...if she would only truly remember who I am." He sighed. Ever since Slade had taken control of Tera's body, she had completely forgotten who he was, or if not completely, mostly. Sighing again, he stood, stretching out his arms and getting the kinks from his neck taken care of. "Well, one thing's for sure. I bet that I can find a girl before Raven even gets up. That'll show her."
"Beast Boy..." The green boy blinked, looking around. Glancing at his communicator, he bent down, putting his ear next to it.
"Uh...yeah?"
"Have you seen Raven? She hasn't come down from her room yet." Beast Boy was at a loss. It was nearly nine in the morning, and Raven was up and around by eight at least. It was peculiar for her to sleep in on any day. Of course, her new 'boyfriend' may have had something to do with it.
"I, uh...wouldn't worry about Raven. She and Analyze...might be busy right now."
"Oh...understood. Well, you hungry? I'm makin' waffles!"
"Waffles! Awesome!" Grabbing his clothes, he dressed quickly, throwing open the door to his room and dashing outside. Once down in the kitchen, he smiled as a heap of waffle was placed on his plate. "Mmm...they smell great!"
"They should! Those are my famous 'it's Valentine's Day so cheer up, little green dude' waffles! Dig in!" Cyborg turned from the plate, beginning to make more...as Beast Boy began to sink in his chair.
"Hey...um...could you come up with another name for these? That one...makes me sad." Cyborg waved, still hard at work. Sighing, Beast Boy took a bite, but the pastry turned to ash in his mouth. Robin entered next, yawning and stretching.
"Well, the computer is de-bugged, and is working optimally. Hey, waffles! Has anyone woken up Starfire yet?"
"I am just now waking up, Robin," The orange girl said, yawning as she descended the staircase. Smiling, she pecked the boy on the cheek, sitting next to him. "Many thanks for the card slipped under my door, friend Robin. It is most amusing...and cute, is the word used here, I believe." She tapped a finger on her chin as if wondering to herself as Robin turned a bright shade of pink. Beast Boy watched them for a moment before looking back at his waffles.
"I...think I'm going to go outside, guys. Sorry." Standing, the green boy turned to the door, walking to it. However, before he could open it, Analyze walked in, looking at him. Beast Boy shot him a glance before walking by, shutting the door behind him. Analyze looked at the closed door for a moment before turning.
"Uh...did I miss something?" Starfire turned, shaking her head.
"No, friend Analyze. You are just in time. Cyborg is making the waffles, and it is the Day of Valentine's! Enjoy your waffles. Oh, have you seen Raven? She has not come down as of yet." Analyze looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging.
"Nope, haven't seen her. But, I am hungry." Robin glanced over at him from his own mound of breakfast items.
"Really? Beast Boy said that you guys may be doing something." Analyze shrugged again.
"Dunno. Beast Boy is kinda strange. Far as I know, Raven went out to meditate. I thought she was going to be around today. I bought her a card and everything." He took the card from the previous night out of his pocket, holding it up. "Oh well. Guess I'll have to give it to her later."
"Right." Robin turned back to his meal, but Starfire was pressing the subject.
"Oh! So, are you Raven's Valentine this year, friend Analyze? That is wonderous news! I am sure that Raven will be most happy!" Analyze nodded.
"I hope so. It would be a shame for her to not be." Suddenly, the alarm began to wail. The Titan's turned to the computer, which was buzzing about a disturbance uptown.
"Titan's, let's move. Breakfast will have to wait."
"Ah man! Just my luck, especially with waffles..." Saying no more, Cyborg hopped the counter, running to the hangar with Robin as Starfire burst from the door, waiting for the twin vehicles to begin below. Beast Boy dashed up to where Robin was getting onto his cycle.
"Hey...what's going on?"
"Trouble in the city, Beast Boy. Hop into the T-Car. Let's go!" Without another word, Robin blasted off into the early morning haze, leaving Beast Boy in the drive.
"BB! Come on, man! We need to hurry up! I have a date with Bee tonight!" Beast Boy sighed again. Another person with a date on Valentine's Day.
"Right. Coming." Turning, the boy hopped into the car, waiting for Cyborg to start the engine.
"Hey, Analyze! You comin', man?" Analyze turned, nodding.
"Right. Let's go!" Jumping into the backseat, the boy shut the door. The T-Car burst to life, and the three left the hangar.
Uptown Jump City seemed peaceful enough...until an explosion rocked it. Three robotic creatures began pouring liquid fire into a small shop, sending it bursting into flame. Another set of robots were busy with an electricity line, zapping the power from the nearby buildings and fortifying their batteries with it. More and more were marching through the streets, directed by one man.
"Slade! That's far enough!" Robin yelled from his cycle, jumping off and sending it crashing into the nearest group of robots.
"Why Robin. Happy Valentine's Day. Ready for your gift?" Robin clenched his teeth, his pole whirling in his hand.
"The only gift I would like from you, Slade, is to see you behind bars!"
"A pity. I had something much different in mind." With a roar, the man closed the gap, striking down with his own pole as the two began exchanging blows. The robotic minions turned, milling towards them as there power-charged arms began to whir.
"Booyah!" A stream of blue extinguished four, and Cyborg ran in, smashing two more with mighty fists as his leg came up and crunched another.
"This is for the damage you have done!" Orange energy shot in from above, strafing the ground as robots exploded left and right from the onslaught. A green T-rex burst through on the right, crunching a robot in its mouth and smashing two more with its tail. Suddenly, it turned into a gorilla, grabbing one by the arm and smashing it into a building. Using the crushed robot, which resembled a tin can by now, the ape smashed left and right, using it as a battering ram as it continued its assault on the main ranks. The robots began firing back, lightning streaming from energy absorbers in their arms. Starfire zipped around three bolts, shooting back and being rewarded by explosions. Cyborg knelt under one, uppercutting the user and sending it flying into the air. Cyborg stood, waiting for it to fall, and fall it did, directly into Cyborg's kick. It flew through the air, knocking out two more.
"Alright! Take that, you wanna-bes!"
In the meantime, Robin and Slade were exchanging blows back and forth. With each attack that Slade gave, Robin could feel his energy waning. He struck out, catching the man in the gut. Bending him over, he thwacked out again, feeling the blow through his hands as his pole collided with Slade's head and sent him flying backwards. Landing in a heap on the ground, the man calmly collected his lost senses as the rest of the Titan's took care of his robotic army. Looking up, he grimaced as Beast Boy smashed down on the last one, turning back into himself and kicking the pile of junk away.
"Game's up, Slade. You're finished!" Slade's eye, creased in anger, suddenly took on a more...mirthful expression. Standing, the man struck down with his pole, watching Robin through slitted eye.
"Oh no, Robin. I am afraid that the game has just begun." A tap from the ground made the boy turn, and he stared at Analyze, who smiled back from atop a pile of rock.
"It appears that they beat you pretty good, Slade. Your robots are pretty much toast."
"Yes, well...that's why human logic is preferred in situation's such as this." Analyze nodded.
"Yeah. Right." Robin blinked, and then turned back to Slade.
"What is this?" Slade shook his head.
"Robin, Robin, Robin...Don't you know that when one fails to obtain a decent apprentice, he must go for the next best thing?"
"Wait...Robin was your first apprentice, Slade? Why would you bother with someone so...useless?" Slade huffed slightly to himself as Robin grimaced.
"Well, I suppose that he didn't turn out as well as you did. But, no matter. Now, have you collected the data needed?" Analyze smiled, tapping his skull.
"Right up here. They're done for. No way they can beat me now." Robin grit his teeth, looking over slowly at the brown haired boy.
"Wait...this was all a trap? A lie? You were with Slade the entire time?"
"You seemed surprised, Robin. That's rather...predictable of you."
"You are not evil, friend Analyze. You do not have to be with this man. He is bad!"
"Bad? You think he's bad? Ha! You should take a look at me, you orange freak!" Starfire gasped, as if the word struck her like a fist. Robin glared.
"That's enough, Analyze. Stop this. You have no need to join his side. You are a better Titan than a villain." Analyze laughed slightly. A small, round cylinder appeared in his right hand, and he pressed a button upon it. A small screech sounded out as it elongated, turning into a pole striped with yellow and red bands.
"Oh, come now, leader Robin." He ground out the leader, being sure that it was taken as an insult. "You, of all people, should know that power is quite the aphrodisiac."
"Wait...you were a bad guy all along? Wow, that totally messes me up. I never would have dreamed that someone who was so good at video games and liked pancakes could be bad," Beast Boy said, holding his head in his hands. "This throws off my entire perception on reality!"
"Oh? Here, allow me to help it along!" Analyze yelled, jumping down off the pile and running headlong at the four. Robin's hand flew to his pole, twirling it around.
"Titan's, move!" The four dispersed. Analyze smiled.
"Predictable!" His first target was Starfire, who had flown to the right to avoid the oncoming charge. Stopping and changing position in a second, Analyze jumped, his pole lashing out. Starfire saw it coming, but too late, as it cracked into her chin. Robin let out an exclamation as the girl went down, crashing to the ground. Analyze hit the ground next to her, turning and smiling. "Who's next?" Robin let out a cry, his pole still twirling as he charged at the boy. Analyze smiled back, beginning to run at his foe with his own pole whirling about. As the two locked together, Robin grimaced.
"You should have stayed with the Titan's. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I must." Analyze just smiled back, a flash of white flying through his eyes.
"Oh, believe me, Robin. You must!" His right thumb shot out, and Robin watched it as it pressed a small button on the stick. It illuminated for a moment before electricity shot through its length. Having thought about his own safety first, Analyze had taken the liberty of wearing thin, leather gloves. He still was administered a shock, but Robin, who had worn his lighter, cloth versions, was electrified beautifully. His back arched back as a cry escaped his lips, his body shot through with electricity. Analyze stopped as the boy fell to the ground, a moan escaping his lips as small streams of steam floated lazily off of him.
"Idiot."
"Hey! This is it, pal!" Analyze's eyebrow rose as he turned, addressing Cyborg, who had his laser gun already pointed.
"Hn. The walking scrap heap. Very well, then. Attack." Cyborg grimaced, his teeth showing.
"I don't want to, man...but you've gone too far. Take this!" His laser powered up, but before it fired, Analyze smiled.
"What horrible equipment." His left hand flew to his wrist, and he pressed a button. With a dying cry, the laser shut down, falling uselessly at Cyborg's side.
"Wha? What the heck is going on?"
"While I was in the tower, I took the liberty of hacking into your system. Your equipment is...rather barbaric. Easy to get around all of your little codes and such." Cyborg's face fell as he looked up. Pointing his pole at the robotic teen, Analyze shook his head. "Game over." A beam of electricity shot out, engulfing Cyborg and sending him to the ground. His eyes closed as his system was overridden. "Well well. Just one more left."
"Yeah. But you'll have to do better than just that stick to beat me!" Beast Boy ran into sight, running full tilt at Analyze, who began blasting out with his pole. Beast Boy jumped, turning into a small bird and winging left and right. Flying in a circle around the boy's head, he kept up his dizzying flight as Analyze busied himself with zapping and thwacking out. No matter how hard he tried, the boy couldn't be hit.
"Stay still, you little pest!" He thwacked out again, but this time, Beast Boy dodged, flying straight up. Pointing up with his staff, Analyze smiled. "The path of least resistance is always the path that hurts the most!" An electrified blast erupted from the end of his pole, and Beast Boy glanced down, watching it. Suddenly, where a small bird once flew, a large, five-ton whale suddenly invaded the sky. The blast of electricity hit the whale uselessly, rebounding off of its tremendous girth. With a cry, Analyze jumped to the side, avoiding being crushed as the whale smashed into the ground. Catching his breath, Analyze glanced down at his pole, which lay underneath him. "Well...that was...unpredicted..."
"Yeah, I'm full of surprises." Analyze gasped, turning to face the green boy. A hand grasped his shirt, pulling him up roughly as Beast Boy glared at him. "You come into our tower, make friends with us, steal the heart of someone precious to me, and this is how you treat us? You...you're lower than garbage, you know that?" Analyze just smiled back.
"Oh yeah? And what does that make you? The garbage of the garbage? Face it, with all your petty emotions, you are blinded by the fact that no one cares about you. Robin has the face, Cyborg has the technology, and Starfire and Raven have the beauty. What do you have? Your the freak of the group. No one...cares...about a freak!" Beast Boy's free hand gripped into a fist, and he looked up from where his eyes had fallen, glaring at the boy in front of him.
"Maybe I am. Maybe I am a freak. So what? I have friends that care for me! I have something that you don't. Friendship. You think Slade gives you that?"
"Slade gives me something more!"
"Oh yeah? What's that? Tell me before I whack that stupid grin off of your face."
"I give him...power!" Beast Boy gasped, turning as Slade's fist crashed into his face, sending him sprawling. Slade shook his head at the Titans lying about. "That was far too easy." Analyze huffed, standing from where Beast Boy had dropped him.
"Easy for you to say. I was the one who took care of them." Slade turned, his eye beginning to slit.
"Silence, apprentice. I am the master here. Remember that." Analyze huffed, turning.
"Whatever." He had no intention of allowing Slade to do as he pleased, but for now, Slade held all the cards, so he would go along like a nice apprentice should.
"Good. Now, let us go. Cinderblock should be keeping the main police force busy at the prison. No one should be in our way. We shall go to the Mayor's office and...ask him to politely hand over the city to us."
"And if that doesn't work?" Slade smiled behind his mask.
"Than we reduce this place to rubble. I never did like this city anyways. Come, let's go." The pair turned, walking into the distance...master and apprentice.
It was some time before Beast Boy regained conscious thought. Robin and Starfire were already up, but Cyborg was having a difficult time, trying to de-bug his system to rid it of Analyze's control. "Man...we got our butt's kicked, huh?" Robin looked up, and then nodded.
"Yeah, we did. But, we didn't think that Analyze would turn on us. We have to figure out a plan to beat him."
"Why bother?" Cyborg said from his position on the ground. His security system was just finishing a check of his system. Then it would begin to delete the heinous programs. "He knows all of our moves. He can figure us out before we do anything. You saw how badly we got beat. How can we beat him?"
"I...don't know. But, we're Titans. We don't give up." Beast Boy licked his lips, trying to think.
"So...what do we do, then?" It was Starfire who answered back.
"Our not so nice friend Analyze fights by knowing his opponent, yes? Perhaps...we should change ourselves somehow. Perhaps we should fight differently."
"How do we do that, Star? I can only fight like me, you can only fight like you, and Robin can only fight like Robin! It doesn't make any sense." Starfire sighed, bowing her head.
"I am sorry. It was only a suggestion." Beast Boy nodded back.
"I wonder where Raven is..."
"We have to assume that Raven is gone. Remember, he said that he didn't see her, but you remember her talking to him about something last night. We can only think that Raven has been...has been..."
"No!" The three turned to the green boy, who glared at Robin. "She can't be! She...she just can't be! Don't say that!"
"Beast Boy..."
"No! I don't care! She isn't...can't be...won't be..." Beast Boy began. Then, he sank to his knees. His hands out in front of him caught the tears that fell from his eyes. "She just can't be...gone. No way..." Cyborg sighed, looking down. He hated seeing his friend in such a predicament.
"You're right, Beast Boy. I'm sorry. She is around. She'll find us later on. Right now, we have to figure out how to stop these guys." Robin stood from his position on the ground, putting his chin into a gloved hand. "Hmm...but how do you stop a guy who knows how you move?"
"You don't move?" Starfire answered. Robin looked up at where Starfire hovered, his eyebrow arched.
"Star, I don't think that..." Suddenly, he stopped. A small grin began to play on his features, and he smacked his hand into an outreached palm. "Starfire...you're a genius! That's exactly how we beat him!"
"How? By not moving?" Cyborg said. As his computer beeped, he smiled. "Ah yeah! Cyborg back in the action, baby! All that dufus's programs have been deleted. I'm good as new!" Robin smiled.
"Great. Now, here's the plan!"
At City Hall, Analyze smiled down at the Mayor. The man sat cowering in a corner as Slade rubbed the back of the Mayor's chair. "Ah...yes. It is almost warm to the touch. That mayor status might have to be changed...to master of Earth." Analyze huffed, kicking the cowering man over and sending him into the wall.
"That's a lame name, Slade." Slade looked up sharply.
"Hold your tongue, apprentice. You know that I installed an obedience chip in your suit. One push of the button will send twenty-thousand volts through you. Remember that." Analyze glanced down at the suit he wore. It tripled his output power, making him almost as fast as Kid Flash. Almost, but not quite. It also enhanced his strength to that of any of the strongest Titans. It was a suit to be reckoned with...but it came with a price.
"Yeah yeah. I know. Sorry...master." He grit the last word out from behind clenched teeth. Slade's eye curled up in amusement.
"Good. Good. Now, it appears Cinderblock is doing his work at the prison. Let's go ahead and..."
"The party's over, Slade!" Slade blinked, looking up as Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy entered the room.
"Hm. Haven't had enough, eh? Very well. Analyze, take care of this, won't you?" Analyze nodded, his hand retracting the pole once more.
"Time to go bye bye for good, Titans." He ran across the room, jumping and striking down with his pole. Robin smiled, hurling down three smoke bombs. Analyze gasped, to quick to halt his own forward movement as he was engulfed in the smoke. He turned left and right, trying to figure out his opponent's moves. His eyes flashed white as he ducked, feeling the swing of a pole through the air. Calculating the Titan's exact movements in the blink of an eye, Analyze struck out to his left, feeling his pole thud into flesh and a grunt escape the lips of Robin, whom he had just hit. Dodging out of the smoke, he rolled to a stop, coming within four feet of Starfire, who glared at him, both hands tinged in orange.
"No longer friend Analyze. Give up!" Analyze smiled, shaking his head.
"Sorry. You're just too pretty to take seriously." His hand left his side, and four bat-a-rangs, crafted neatly as imitations, flew towards the floating girl. She gasped, twirling backwards. The weapons grazed her, smashing into the ceiling and causing the roof to collapse. She turned, deflecting a piece of concrete as the rest fell on top of her, crushing her down with sheer weight. She heaved, but to no avail. Analyze smiled his grin once more, his eyes flashing as his pole twirled. "Heh heh. Two out of three. Now, where's that Beast Boy?" Turning, he smiled as the small green boy stood in his path, his arms outreached. "What do you think you're doing, huh? Pretending to hit me with a laser?"
"Hn! I never pretend...creep!" Beast Boy's arms lit up with a blue light, and a arch of energy shot out. Analyze couldn't dodge fast enough to escape the remedial explosion, being hit on the side and flung out a window into the street. A steady sheet of rain fell now, and Analyze hurried to catch his breath.
"What...what was that?" Turning his sight back to the window, he watched Beast Boy climb down, hitting the ground and putting out his hand again. Analyze's eyes flashed white as the boy began to power up another laser beam. "Oh...I get it." Standing, Analyze smiled, his hand going back to his wrist. "Nice try...Cyborg." A button pushed, and Cyborg's light shield melted, revealing him as the small green boy. Analyze shook his head as Cyborg's arm fell down. "I told you, I control your movements, Cyborg! You're mine!"
"I...am no one's but my own!" Cyborg yelled back, his arm whipping back up. Analyze's eyes went wide as he back stepped, the blue light beginning to build.
"Impossible...that can't be!" Cyborg smiled, his cannon almost ready.
"Say goodnight, creep!" Cyborg yelled out, his cannon screeching. Suddenly, a hand grabbed it, wrenching it to the side. The blast flew off, cracking through a building and sending rubble sliding down to the ground.
"That is rather rude, isn't it?" Cyborg turned, grimacing at Slade, who held his gun.
"Let me go! Oof!" Cyborg flew through the air as Slade's hand smashed into him. A building crumbled under the impact as Cyborg smashed into it, slumping before hitting the ground. Slade's eye slit once more as he gazed upon the damage.
"So young and foolish. Well, that can be taken care of." Looking over at Analyze, the man nodded. "Good work. That is it for them. Now, to finish them off so that I may start my reign as this planet's master!"
"Not so fast!" Slade stopped, turning to address the speaker. Beast Boy glared at him from the end of the street, his shoulders heaving.
"Ah! If it isn't the little green boy. A little late, aren't you?" Beast Boy smiled.
"Sorry, I was taking care of a little something down at the prison. Cinderblock gives his regards. Oh, he also says thanks to his buddy Analyze for letting me know about his weak point." Analyze grimaced.
"Oh well. Big deal. It doesn't mean that you yourself can beat me. Look at the other Titan's. Look at how beaten they are. It was me that beat them. You are nothing!" Beast Boy grimaced right back.
"I'm not nothing. I'll show you how hard nothing can hurt!" He began to dash forward, taking the form of a cheetah and literally flying above the ground. Analyze watched the boy's movements, each step and each leap bringing him closer. As he neared the other, Beast Boy let out a raged yell, jumping up with mouth bared. A pole cracked down, sending him to the ground and returning him to his physical form. Analyze glanced over to his left.
"You know, you didn't have to do that." Slade smiled once again behind his metal mask.
"Maybe...but it was fun." Walking past Analyze, Slade stopped, stooping and picking the green boy off the ground. "Well, it is high time to eliminate these four. They have been a thorn in my side long enough." His hand came forward, and his small laser cannon poked out, beginning its warm-up. "So long...Beast Boy." Beast Boy closed one eye, struggling vainly in the man's grip. Suddenly, both were thrown to the side. Analyze stood on the spot, standing up straight and glaring down at them both.
"Wrong. It's time to eliminate all of you and take MY place as ruler of this world!" Slade glared up from his position on the ground, while Beast Boy was just happy to still be breathing.
"You insolent little worm! Do you dare defy me! Do you forget who the master is here?!" Analyze smiled, turning from him.
"Heh. The only master I see here is me, Slade. You were too predictable from the start. Always using one gadget over the other. Never changing. You sicken me. There is no place for you in my world!" Slade stood, slowly, gripping a piece of rubble for support.
"You...little...brat. I'll make you pay. Long and hard will your suffering be. So long..." His hand went to his wrist, and he pushed a button...the button that would send the wearer of his special battle suit into fits of electric induced pain. He smiled, looking up, as Analyze's staff confronted his vision. "Wait...what?"
"I told you, Slade. You are too predictable." A blast of energy hit the man in the chest, and he flew backwards, hitting the ground. "Before I even put on this stupid suit, I reprogrammed it. The self-destruct is gone, along with your little torture device. You're a fool to think you could outwit Analyze." Turning, the boy made his way back to the Mayor's office.
"Where's...Raven?" Analyze stopped, taking a breath. Turning, he confronted Beast Boy, who had gotten back to his feet. "I don't care about Slade. I don't care about you! Where...is...Raven?" Analyze smiled.
"Oh, her? She's dead." Beast Boy's expression didn't change at all. His fist curled into a tight ball as he stood.
"You lie. She's not dead. Where is she?"
"Why do you keep clinging to her? She doesn't even really care about you. You're nothing to her. Admit it to yourself!" Faster than he could blink, the boy was stuck in Beast Boy's iron grip. More than the surprising way that Beast Boy had grasped him, Analyze was much more enamored with the fact that Beast Boy wasn't attacking.
"You took from me the one thing that I cared about most. I was happy, even. You gave Raven something to look forward to. I would have given anything for her to care about me that way, but as long as she was happy, it didn't matter. But, all that you did was a lie! How!? How could you do that?" Beast Boy didn't even blink through the tears. His face screwed up, and he looked away. "How could you do that to someone that loved you?" Analyze's face was void of emotion. A sudden movement thrust Beast Boy's hand away, and Analyze's other hand brought the staff up. A white ray of light illuminated the scene as the electric blast hit Beast Boy square in the chest, catapulting him backwards. He landed in a heap on the ground, breathing slightly. His chest was afire, and his heart was beating faster than he could keep track of.
"You're an idiot. You should have attacked when you had the advantage." Analyze gazed down at the boy, than turned his head slightly. "Why? Because power is taking what you want. By force, if necessary. Slade understood that, but he was too weak to do it properly. You, who has no power at all, could never understand the want for more of it. It consumes you. It eats you to the core. I have no choice. I must fulfill my destiny." He turned, beginning his walk again. A hand grabbed his foot, and he glared down.
"No! I...I...won't...let...you..." Analyze grimaced at the hand, turning and smashing Beast Boy in the face with his foot.
"You don't get it still? You were always so dull witted, but I never imagined that you would be suicidal as well." His weapon flew down, striking Beast Boy on the head and ending any thought of retribution. Analyze smiled, bringing the weapon a few inches from the boy's head. "You should have heard her scream. It was really loud. Probably louder than you'll scream. Goodbye, Beast Boy." His staff glowed as he laughed, throwing his head back and laughing raucously. The staff continued to glow brighter and brighter, and Analyze stopped his insane laughter, looking down. "This is the end of the Titans, Beast Boy! I'll let you visit Raven...in hell!"
"Azerath Metrione Zinthos!" Analyze blinked, turning as three cars slammed down at him. Beast Boy looked up as he watched Raven float down from the sky, her clothes tattered...and her eyes blazing with righteous fury. Analyze struggled from underneath a volvo, extricating himself from the mess and glaring over.
"Raven. You should be dead." Raven grimaced back, her hands thrusted out to the side.
"I was going to say the same of you! Azerath Metrione ZINTHOS!" A truck and a fire hydrant were enveloped in black, screeching into the air and hurling through the scene. Analyze simply struck the hydrant down, blasting the truck and hopping out of the way of the left over debris. A large eagle-shaped illusion permeated itself behind Raven's body, and as she flew forward, the mouth of the bird opened, threatening to swallow the boy whole. He merely side-stepped, twirling his pole.
"I lied, Raven. You are...highly predictable!" A small cylinder appeared in his free hand, and he chucked it forward, following it up with a blast from his electrified weapon. The cylinder was snapped up by the black eagle, followed by an explosion which removed the illusion from sight. Her vision impaired and her focus lost, Raven could do nothing as the attack from the pole collided into her. She fell without more than a grunt, hitting the cement and coming to rest against a rock. Analyze sighed, taking long, slow breaths to regain his composure.
"Well done, Raven. But, as I said, you are highly predictable. You should have learned how to protect your queen with your knights." He walked slowly to her, stooping by her and picking her up by her hair. She groaned as the hair yanked at the roots. "Pitiful little girl, with your thoughts of a happy Valentine's Day. You are no better off now than you were when you were scared, alone, as a little girl who still dreamed of happy endings. How quaint that this is how you die, alone and scared on the one day that you thought you could find happiness."
"Wrong!" Analyze gasped as a long, slimy figure crept around his person.
"What the...? An eel?" Suddenly, a blast of electricity ran through the boy, and he screamed, dropping Raven on the ground and trying to release the eel's grip on him. It was over in a matter of seconds. The electricity lessened, and the eel dropped to the ground, transforming back into Beast Boy, who lay motionless, his energy spent. Analyze sagged, looking down at the boy as streams of smoke billowed from his clothing. His suit was fried, the electricity that Beast Boy had put out being much more than the suit would have allowed. Analyze felt his muscles twitching as inert energy ran through them. He grit his teeth, glaring down at the boy and clenching a fist. "You...you..."
"Hey!" Analyze looked up with surprise. Raven stood in front of him, a smile on her face.
"Hey...Raven...you know...you know I would never hurt you...right?" Raven smiled even sweeter, before her face took on the form of something from someone's worst nightmare.
"Maybe not...but that same rule doesn't apply to ME!" A fist collided with his nose, and he shot backwards, hitting the ground. His vision swam, and he looked up one last time as Raven stood above him. Then, he lost consciousness.
It was an hour later that the police were able to get on the scene. They had taken care of the last parts of the prison riot that had occurred when Cinderblock had made his escape, with the help of some explosives Slade had arranged for. Beast Boy had gone to the jail when Cyborg's equipment picked up the distress call. Apparently, Analyze had shut down the main computer's sensor, so it was blind to the happenings. Beast Boy had taken care of the beast, hitting him exactly the same way. This time, he had come prepared with an ice pack, which he had used afterwards on his way to the main fight, holding it on his hand and cursing his luck. As the police marched Analyze away, a cover over his eyes and his body wrapped in protective bandages, the boy smiled.
"Do not think you've predicted me this easily! I'll be back! I'll be back, you'll see!" Robin smiled, standing shakily.
"Yeah, and the Titan's will be here to stop you next time to!" Analyze grimaced. He was thrown into the transport to the jail, where he would be kept in solitary confinement, a security blindfold on at all times. As the transport zipped away, Starfire glanced about.
"Where did the Slade go?" Robin shrugged.
"Oh, you know Slade. He probably ran away when he got beat. He'll think of some other way to annoy us, I'm sure." Cyborg nodded, rubbing his head.
"Man, I have a headache. But, good news, my hologram program works better than ever! It allows me to take any shape I want, now!"
Beast Boy smiled, watching the transport zoom off into the distance. Turning, he noticed Raven watching it to. As it was lost from sight, the girl quietly floated off, back to the tower. Beast Boy was about to yell at her before he was stopped by his own conscious. "She wants to be alone. I'll...leave her alone."
Back at the tower, Beast Boy walked to his room, closing the door and sitting on his bed. Holding his head in his hands, he sighed. "Another Valentine's Day...ruined..." Looking to the right, he sighed as he saw the bag with his home-made card in it. Getting up and walking to it, he reached down, picking it up and reading it again to himself. "What a joke...I don't know why I even bothered." He got up, placing the card in his pocket. He thought he could throw it into the bay, where it would break up and wash away. Walking out of his room, he went down the stairs, exiting the tower and walking down towards the beach. The sun was just now setting, and he stopped, looking at it. A shape down by the water's edge caught his attention, and he blinked. "Raven?" Walking down, he stopped, crouching near-by on a rock. "Hey...Raven? You alright?" The girl didn't look at him, merely turning her head to the side. Beast Boy sighed, sitting down on the rock and watching the waves lap at the shore. "I'm...sorry Raven. I...know you really liked that guy." No answer came. He sighed again, getting up and turning to leave her in peace.
"You know what's the worst thing about it?" He stopped, turning to listen to her as she watched the sunset again. "The worst thing is...I thought I loved him there for a while. I thought...that he cared about me to. But...it was all a lie. All of it!" Her hand waved, and a rock was engulfed in black. She flicked her hand out, and it shot out over the water, landing and plunging to the bottom. A tear fell down her face, and she sniffed.
"Hey...Raven. It's alright, you know? I mean, the guy was a creep...and...and you deserve better, and...and..." When he noticed that she didn't seem to be cheering up, he looked down at where the top part of his card poked from his shirt.
Raven watched the sun beginning to slowly descend beneath the ocean. Something caught her eye next to her, and she turned slightly. It was a card...crudely drawn and reminiscent of a second graders work. "I...made it for you. I didn't have any money, so...there. Anyways, just wanted to say sorry." She heard the sound of footsteps turning and walking back to the tower. Intrigued, she picked the card up, opening it. In it was a picture of what looked like a girl with black hair and a boy with green skin. They were holding hands in a heart with smeared paint, and near the bottom was a horribly written phrase. After a little, she soon deciphered it. Be my Valentine. It was short, only one phrase. But...something...
Beast Boy was on the last leg of his journey to the tower. His hand reached out for the doorknob.
"Beast Boy!" He stopped, turning. Two arms engulfed his body as a pair of lips locked onto his. He blinked, startled at first as Raven kissed him passionately. Then, his own arms wrapped around her body, and held her close. Her lips tasted better than all the pancakes and waffles in the world combined. As their kiss came to an end, a shock as keen as pain ran through him.
"Raven...I..." She smiled, hugging him and laying her head on his chest. He smiled, laying his own head on hers.
"I'm sorry, Beast Boy. I wanted happiness...when it was right there in front of me..."
"Yeah...I'm sorry to."
"For what?"
"I don't know. It just seemed like the right thing to say." She looked up, smiling. Taking his hand, she turned him around, so that the pair were watching the sunset. "Hey, Raven?"
"Yes, Beast Boy?"
"Does this mean that we're...going out now?" No answer came for a time...then...
"Beast Boy?"
"Yes, Raven?"
"Shut up and watch the sunset..."
"...Right..."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing it! By the way, this chapter was almost eight thousand words long. Wow! I must really enjoy making these stories! Thanks for listening to my story, and I do hope you enjoyed!