Happy New Years, y'all!
"If you drop me again, I swear I'll break the 'no killing' vow Robin forced us to take," Raven growled as they ducked behind a pile of debris from a collapsed building.
Malchior spared her a smirk before setting her feet on the ground and letting her stand on her own. For once, she was able to keep her balance and stay upright. "I'd clap for you, but no time I'm afraid," he told her before vaulting over the pile of debris.
Raven sighed and lowered herself to the ground. Gizmo and Melvin both joined her while Malchior and Jennifer tried to fight back. A loud blast on the other side of the pile almost sent some of the loose concrete falling on them before Melvin got a shield up. "Melvin, can you keep this shield up for a little bit?"
"I'll try," the little girl frowned as she scooted over to her.
"This blows chunks," Gizmo grumbled before another blast made them flinch.
Disturbingly, (for her that is), Raven was in perfect agreement. "We need to get ready to run as soon as they get us some cover."
"Oh, and how are you running?" Gizmo sneered.
Before Raven could retort, the pile behind them exploded. Melvin screamed but managed kept the shield up.
"CRUD!" Gizmo shouted as the Sladebots spotted them. One robot tried to jump at them but Malchior vaporized it. "Whoa."
"Thanks," the dragon panted. They looked up to find him perched on a street light, before he jumped back down into the fray.
Another robot tried to reach them, firing a blaster at them.
"Raven," Melvin gasped as the shield buckled.
"Jennifer!" Raven yelled. The geomancer turned back and used the rest of the debris to flatten the robot.
"Are you guys okay?" the blonde teen shouted, backing up to protect them better.
"For now—we need to move. We're sitting ducks," Raven answered. "Can you get us out of here?"
"What about Malchior?"
Raven frowned. Before she could answer a white beam of magic cut a swath through some robots before rocketing up into the sky. "He'll be fine."
Jennifer nodded. "Alright, let's-" She was cut off as a blast came from nowhere, knocking her straight off her feet and onto the shield.
Melvin screamed, letting the shield fall so Jennifer fell nearly into Raven's lap.
"Melvin, get the shield back up!" Gizmo snapped as Raven reached out and dragged Jennifer over. She saw the shield flicker back into life from the corner of her eye as she began to examine Jennifer's head.
There was scorch mark, right above Jennifer's collar bone. "Damnit," Raven whispered pressing her hands over the wound, trying to makes sure the bones were still whole. One ounce of magic, please, that's all I need, she thought distractedly. "I don't think anything's broken but-"
"Raven!"
Raven looked up in time to see a Sladebot, standing over them, blaster leveled straight at her face. It fired once and the shield flickered hard. It's going to keep shooting until Melvin gives out and it gets us too.
She actually wished Malchior was there, if only to help Melvin and Jennifer.
It blasted the shield again, and this time Raven practically felt the shield fall. "Melvin, Gizmo, get ready to run."
"No!"
"Stupid, don't-"
Suddenly the robot slumped over, onto the shield. Melvin yelped as the shield gave way; Raven grabbed Jennifer and tried to scramble backward as robot fell, scant inches from her side.
In its back, a red, X shaped shuriken was lodged firmly in place.
Raven stared then turned; in front of them, a dark, caped figure climbed up the pile of rubble to greet them. In her lap, Jennifer groaned as she woke back up.
"Jennifer?" Red X asked.
"Red!" Jennifer gasped, then staggered up.
Raven decided she must be dreaming as the two of them reached out and hugged each other. "What's going-?"
She could practically hear the smirk in his voice when Red X interrupted. "Well, look who it is. Sorry, sweetie, no time to talk. But feel free to join in the ass kicking anytime. Jen? Little help here?"
Melvin reached out and patted her hand as Raven stared after them incredulously.
"Dude, I don't even want to know," Gizmo said, summing up Raven's feelings entirely.