32 Productions Presents…
A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…"If the Shoe Fits…"
Chapter Three
Starfire's Room
Starfire sighed as there was a knock on her door.
Starfire: Enter please.
The door opened and Robin peered in.
Robin: Avast, Star…just wanted to be checking up on ye before I turned in.
Starfire smiled but stopped when she remembered she was missing teeth and the ones she had were rather disgusting to look at.
Starfire: That is most gracious of you, Robin. Er…I do not suppose we have the arthritis medication in the tower? I am finding it very painful to move around.
Robin: Why didn't ye say so earlier?
Starfire: Well, it is not so much the arthritis that is making movement difficult, so much as what I seem to have done to my spine.
Parrot: Done to my spine! Done to my spine!
Robin clasped the bird's mouth shut. While this works in cartoons, in real life that's not a good idea. The parrot's beak came down on his finger, hard. He yelped and pulled it away.
Robin: Ye feathered fiend! I'll make a roast of out ye!
Starfire: Robin, it is stuck to you, remember?
Robin: …d'arr. Well, come on…
Robin helped Starfire up slowly and walked her out of the room.
Robin: Let's see what we be having in the med-lab to cure what ails ye.
Starfire: Thank you, Robin. You are a gift from X'hal to me sometimes.
Robin would have found that a little more flattering if it wasn't from a wrinkled green hag with beautiful red hair. It was like getting hit on by your grandma…if she had a terrible skin problem and dyed her hair despite how obvious it was that she was old.
Raven's Room
Raven sighed with relief and sat down on her bed. Now she felt much better. Shade, on the other hand, did not. He pulled the knife out of his stomach.
Raven: Thanks for accommodating me, Shade.
Any attempt to respond to her was ruined by the screwdriver in his throat. Raven had gone quite crazy on him. The things he DID for that woman. Granted it didn't physically hurt, but being stabbed by somebody you care about can wound the feelings, you know? Shade pulled the screwdriver out and gagged a little before his throat healed.
Shade: You owe me big for this.
Raven shrugged and lay on her bed.
Raven: You're not biting me and I'm not making out with a near corpse like you. I'll pay you back later, but for now, go to bed.
Shade sighed and left the room. He was halfway down the hall when he realized two things. One, he still had those knitting needles in his back, and two, since he was a vampire, he couldn't sleep until morning. He struggled to reach one of the needles, but couldn't get it.
Shade: Damn woman. Why did she have to stick them there?
Back in her room, Raven rolled over. She wondered if Shade realized she purposely drove those needles into his back so he couldn't reach them. Probably not. It was a cruel thing to do, true, but she HAD to. Even now, the bizarre new voice in her head was talking. It was telling her that she should make Shade pay for thinking with his hormones. Owing him big indeed. She shook it off. There was no telling WHAT Shade meant. Maybe he wanted his head scratched again. That was possible.
Raven: Stupid costume…thinks it can tell ME what to do? Nobody tells me what to do but me anymore. Nothing controls me but me. I'm the only one who…
Raven winced. She was ranting…aloud. She kicked her shoes off, hoping they didn't reappear on her feet during the night and crawled under her covers.
Raven: Why does it seem like it's always me who's constantly being pushed toward utter madness?
Raven closed her eyes.
Beast Boy's Room
Beast Boy was already asleep, his leg twitching. Doggy dreams. …though most canines don't dream of chasing down the elusive tofu burger. Watch it, they spit ketchup.
Cyborg's Room
…it's hard to sleep without eyes. Nothing to close, no way to stop looking at…stuff. So he did the only thing he could think of.
Apartment Complex: Melissa's Apartment
Melissa Dratter yawned and reached for her ringing phone. If it was another telemarketer, she was going to hunt him down and torture them. Probably with bees. Bees are good for torture. She wouldn't KILL them, of course. No, she swore not to do that anymore.
Melissa: (tired) 'lo?
Cyborg: Hey, Mel…uh…did I wake you?
Melissa: …yes, Vic. Yes you did. And unless there's a good reason for it, I'm not going to speak to you for about a week. I don't like to be woken up unexpectedly.
Cyborg: …uh…
Melissa sighed and rolled onto her back, rubbing her eyes.
Melissa: Very well. Then please tell me you didn't call for no reason at all.
Cyborg thought quickly. He needed a reason…and he had one!
Cyborg: Well…I just wanted to explain that…uh…the Titans have had a bit of…trouble recently.
Melissa's interest was peeked. Sitting up, she lost the tired tone to her voice.
Melissa: What is it? Are any of you hurt?
Cyborg: No…not exactly. It was Mumbo.
Melissa sighed in relief.
Melissa: Oh. Don't worry me like that.
Cyborg: Yeah, well…he got in one good spell on us.
Melissa shrugged.
Melissa: Break the wand?
Cyborg: Yeah.
Melissa: So what's the problem?
Cyborg: Spell didn't go away. We're stuck as our Halloween costumes.
Melissa didn't say anything for a moment.
Cyborg: …you there, Mel?
Melissa: …yes. You're stuck in your costumes?
Cyborg: No…AS our costumes.
Melissa: …as your costumes. And what are you now then?
Cyborg: …er…a…skeleton.
Melissa: …you're a skeleton.
Melissa seemed to be having trouble grasping the situation. Not that that was hard to believe.
Melissa: …is Raven trying to fix it?
Cyborg: It's supposed to end when the clock strikes midnight on Halloween.
Melissa: …sounds like a Halloween special.
She sighed. Oh well. It only stood to reason that dating a Titan would mean having to endure periodic weirdness.
Melissa: You could have left me an e-mail.
Cyborg: Yeah…but…I can't sleep either.
Melissa: …no eyes?
Cyborg: …yep.
Melissa: …Vic, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. Furthermore, I'm leaving town tomorrow morning to chase after Knife-play. As a former assassin, I feel that it's my responsibility to take him down. I can't keep you company, in person or otherwise tonight. I apologize, but I'm sure you understand.
Melissa paused as a thoughtful look crossed her face.
Melissa: …am I being…cold by putting my goals ahead of your comfort? Sometimes I can't tell.
Cyborg: Er…no…no, I guess not.
Melissa: …are you sure? I don't want to hurt your feelings or anything.
Cyborg: No, no. It's cool. Really.
Melissa sighed.
Melissa: I'm glad to hear that. Good night, Victor. Try putting something over your sockets. It might help you sleep.
Cyborg: I'll try that. Good night, Mel.
Cyborg hung up, sighing. That went about as well as expected. Last time he woke her up when she had fallen asleep watching a movie, she slugged him in the jaw. Naturally she apologized after waking up all the way, but Melissa made it clear that she didn't enjoy being awoken abruptly. If she actually was capable of an angry outburst, he was sure he'd have been cussed out for waking her. Oh well. He went to find a bag to put over his skull.
Main Room: 9:30 a.m. October 31st
Terra yawned as she stepped into the room. Her toga was oddly comfortable to sleep in. Oddly because, having no feeling in the primary layer of her skin, she shouldn't be able to tell the difference. Maybe when this was over, she'd keep the costume for pajamas. Starfire and Robin were already up. Starfire was eating…some sort of mushy substance. It smelled like oatmeal…and it probably was. Not feeling hungry (which, for Terra, was very odd), Terra sat down next to Starfire.
Terra: Good morn' to thee, mine companion. How art thou doing this morn?
Starfire: As well as can be expected…but this "oatmeal" is exquisite. I wish I had tried it earlier.
Terra peered into the bowl, noticing that something was a bit…off.
Terra: What an odd colour. Art thou sure it is fresh?
Starfire: Hmm…? Oh! You refer to the yellow. That is because I added mustard.
Terra: …why didst I not guess? Robin…be that a lemon?
Robin was indeed sucking on a lemon. Terra was now thoroughly confused. He paused.
Robin: Aye.
Terra: (eye twitching) And thou art sucking upon a lemon because…?
Robin: D'arr…well, the theory I be coming up with is that it's to prevent scurvy.
Terra: We have orange juice.
Robin: Pirates didn't have orange juice, lass.
Terra jumped as a pale hand reached out from behind her and grabbed the book on the table. Robin dropped the lemon in absolute shock.
Robin: What in the…?! How did ye get in here?!
Raven pointed toward the door before sitting down next to Terra. Her eyes were bleary, like she hadn't gotten much sleep. Starfire was clutching her chest, breathing hard.
Starfire: I implore you to be less…stealthy, Raven! My heart…it cannot take such surprises.
Raven: Is that so?
Raven sounded amused. She quickly cleared her throat and tried to cover it up.
Raven: Another aspect of my costume, I'm afraid.
Robin: But…how could ye be sneaking in here…when I was…but I be trained by the Batman…and…
Raven: …you dropped your lemon.
Parrot: Dropped your lemon! Dropped your lemon! SQUAWK!
Robin let out a sigh of exasperation and picked up the dropped fruit. He saw all the grime on it and threw it out. Starfire finished her oatmeal.
Starfire: Raven, may I see some of your tomes? I would like to try some of the spells while I am still a witch.
Raven: …sure. Just…don't do anything stupid, like summon Beelzebub.
Starfire: …who?
Raven: …Old Scratch.
Starfire: …eh?
Raven slammed her cleaver down on the table.
Raven: The devil, Starfire! Don't summon the devil!
Starfire gulped.
Starfire: Uh…my heart?
Raven: (ashamed) Oh…I…I'm sorry.
She pulled the blade out of the table and slipped it back between her belt.
Starfire: The fault is not yours. …where is Shade?
Raven: …uh oh…
Raven stood up and left the room in a hurry.
Basement
Raven flew down the stairs. Shade wasn't in his room…at least she hoped not. There was some dust in there…not a pile of it…but there was dust. The basement was the only other logical place. It was dark and had no windows at all.
Raven: Shade! Shade, are you down here?
Shade: Nnngh! Damn it, Raven, I'm trying to sleep!
Raven sighed in relief. For a moment she was afraid the idiot forgot to get out of the sunlight. It was completely something he'd forget to do, the lummox. Her relief gave way to inexplicable anger.
Raven: Where are you, jerk? You had me worried.
Shade: I'm above you.
Raven: Just because you're immortal, it doesn't make you better! If I had a stake, I'd…
Shade: Huh? No! I'm ABOVE you! Look up!
Feeling stupid for not understanding the first time, Raven looked up. As she figured, Shade was dangling upside down from the ceiling. Raven took a few steps back. …he didn't look too solidly gripped.
Raven: …oh. …uh…just wanted to make sure you didn't roast.
Shade: Of course I didn't roast. How dumb do you think I am?
There was silence for a moment.
Shade: Don't answer that. How'd you sleep?
Raven: Terrible. I had nightmares all night.
More like pseudo-nightmares. The dreams she had WOULD be nightmares normally. Anything involving mutilation of friends…or even enemies would be a nightmare to her. Especially when she's the mutilator. This time, however, they filled her with a terrible feeling of excitement. Each time she did the deed (and I won't describe them because that would up the rating), she'd wake up. Twice she felt the need to be sick, but kept it down. She had read somewhere that many serial killers, before they're actually SERIAL killers, will throw up after their first kill. It's not out of disgust, but rather from the sudden build up of emotions that they know they shouldn't be feeling. Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair.
Raven: Well…good…sleep or whatever.
Shade: You still owe me.
Raven seethed for a moment before leaving. She had to remain in control. Losing control now could be more hazardous then ever before. She couldn't let it happen.
Beast Boy's Room
Beast Boy sat up with a start. Somebody was knocking on his door. He tried to say something and was quickly reminded of his predicament. He got out of bed and opened the door. Terra was holding the bottle of flea bath stuff in her hand and tapping her sandaled foot in annoyance. Beast Boy gulped.
Terra: Garfield, didst we not discuss this last night? Thou were supposed to bathe with this before thy slumbering. Yet I find the bottle untouched. How canst this be?
Beast Boy grinned a toothy grin and shrugged. Terra wasn't amused.
Terra: Garfield, thanks to thy breaking thy promise, you have infested thy room with the vile insects. Thus, thy room must be bombed.
Beast Boy's eyes widened. Terra sighed.
Terra: A bug bomb, Garfield. A bug bomb.
He looked relieved. Terra suddenly grabbed him by the ear.
Terra: I suppose if thou shall not take thy bath on thy own volition, I must make thee.
Beast Boy whimpered and whined, trying to get Terra to release his ear. It was hopeless. Terra's stone fingers wouldn't budge. Terra pulled him toward the bathroom. Terra sighed.
Terra: Cease thy struggles, Garfield. Tis only a bath. Thou art acting infantile. Mayhap parenthood shall be similar.
Beast Boy rolled his eyes. Again with the children thing. Terra practically threw him into the bathroom. She threw the bottle in next.
Terra: I shall be standing outside the door. If thou doest not bathe, thou dost not leave. And thou hast not yet eaten. Doest thou hunger, Garfield?
The growl of his stomach answered that for her. Terra grinned wickedly.
Terra: And until thy bath is done…no breakfast!
She shut the door. Beast Boy grumbled and turned on the water.
Jump City Park: 4:15 p.m.
The park was pretty much deserted. Kids were off preparing to Trick or Treat and the parents were helping. Suddenly a figure slowly began to appear next to a bench. It resembled Kid Flash…but he was wearing red with yellow rather then yellow with red. It was the Kid Flash from the Reverse World (about time I included them somewhere in these stories). He groaned and shook his head.
Kid Flash: Note to self. Vibrating into invisibility…still needs work.
He staggered forward, his head still hurting from taking that glancing blow from Johnny Rancid's gun. Caught him by surprise…that was it. No bike could keep up with the fastest boy alive…even if it does fly sometimes. After taking the blow, he ran off. Ducking into an alley, he got the idea to try going invisible like the Flash could and coming up on the freaky biker hero from behind. He frowned. It WAS in an alley, wasn't it? He was pretty sure that was the case. If so, why did he snap out of it in a park? He decided not to think about it. Didn't really matter anyway. He leaned against a nearby tree as his body's super fast metabolism healed the wound on his head. Of course, soon he'd be hungry. Guess he'd just go steal something to eat from somewhere. He scratched his head. He could swear the park was trashed during a fight between the Titans and the HIVE earlier. …restoration projects, maybe? Again, it didn't matter. Feeling better, he took off.
END PART THREE