Hey dudes and dudettes! Wanna know how they are getting their revenge on Lois Lane? Hehehe, enjoy and SMILE!
Chapter 10: Sly Revenge
It was a peaceful Saturday morning in Jump City, no crimes going on, so the Titans Tower was mostly calm.
Vic and Karen were in the training room 'practicing' they had said, Dick and Kori still stayed cooped up inside their room since a week and Raven and Gar sat idly in the kitchen reading mountains of letters and newspapers. Wait, Gar reading?
"Look at this one!" he called, "the Gotham Herald claims: 'Racist journalist assaults young heroes'!"
His girlfriend smirked and answered: "I got a better one. Steel City News Flash says: 'Evil Lane gets fired for evil Insults' and 'How racism ruins journalism'."
"Must suck to be a journalist, all the same backstabbers! Woah, you won't believe what Clark Kent wrote in the Metrocity Tribune: 'No lane for racism'! He's one to talk! Listen to this: 'Racism is a persisting problem in our society brought back into focus by one of our former colleagues, which often is underestimated… The danger it presents should be remembered by the heads of our country, they should remember their responsibility… People of the world, don't close your eyes in front of racist acts… We should honor the two young heroes who are part of the Titans for showing us that we all must fight against racism with the means we are given… Raise your voices against racism…' That jerk! Not that long ago he was the one insulting you… But I have to admit, cool pun with the lane," he snickered.
"He had to distance himself from her after that incident. I recently had a chat with Bruce, he told me Clark broke up with Lois the same day and kicked her out of the apartment. Apparently she had to go back to Smallville to her parents…" Raven recounted him in a 'by-the-way' tone.
Gar stared at her with a dropped jaw: "Seriously? So we actually kind of really did ruin her life?"
"She was the one who started it… And it's Jess' spell which is making her balding, not mine" Raven defended herself in her usual monotone.
It had been one week ago Raven had called in a press conference to officially 'rectify certain circumstances mentioned in a news article', though in reality she was out to pay back a certain journalist for insulting her boyfriend. No one was allowed to insult him beside of her. Lois Lane had to pay.
"We'll be ready in five minutes, Raven!" Candy announced. The twiggy journalist was part of Ravens plan, organizing the whole thing.
Gar fidgeted with his fingers while he stood beside her. "You're still sure about this thing, Rae? Cause I can tell you I'm freaking nervous right now…"
"Positive" she confirmed, giving him a peck on the cheek and smiling viciously, "trust me."
"Okay. Just let's get it over quickly…" he growled.
"We welcome you at the official press conference of the Titan members here present, known as Raven and Changeling, heroes of our beautiful town Jump City, who are here to rectify certain matters" Candy started, "So, Raven, there had been an article in the Metrocity Tribune this morning about you and your team mate you have the wish to correct, isn't it?"
Raven, sitting in the middle of a long table on a tribune, Candy to her left, Gar to her right, microphones in front of her, faced the hordes of journalists with their cameras and who knew what other technical equipment with her usual stoic face and spoke with her signature monotone.
"Yes, thank you Candy. The article you all probably have read about me, picturing me as 'anti-christ' worried all of us Titans greatly. It is common knowledge that I am indeed a half-demon, but also that I am using my powers for the good cause only."
"Yes, we all remember how you helped defeat no other than the demon Trigon, the Brotherhood of Evil, Slade and several other super-villains!" the twiggy woman interrupted cheerfully.
"Yeah, thank you again, Candy!" the empath stated slightly irritated at the interruption, "I am here to remove any doubts concerning my or my friend Changelings motives of our actions, whichever they may be. So if you have any, please feel free to ask."
Several hands shot up in the air, one of them Raven could identify as Lois Lanes. She would let her wait.
"The young man in the front, what is your question?" she said evenly.
"Raven, we all know you have to keep your emotions in check in order to control your powers. Did the article anger you? Unbalance your control?" the pimply, over-weighted reporter inquired.
She inwardly smirked. One of the questions she had been waiting for.
"Like I said, I was rather worried, because it judges the mentioned people by their appearance and heritage, not by their real actions. This sort of statements is always dangerous, it can negatively affect the people we try to protect on a daily base."
"So you say you're here in first place to prevent racism, if I get you right?" the man probed. He was indeed a lucky pull.
"You get me right."
Her interviewer lowered his gaze on his notes, writing down something to show he had finished his questions.
Next, she chose an elderly woman, thin, with curly grey hair and enormous red glasses.
"In the article it's said that you two show signs of violence and aggressions. What do you think about that statement."
To her surprise, the green man on her side answered chuckling: "Ma'am, you can't kick villains' butts without some violence. I mean, seriously, have you ever seen a villain put down his weapons because we asked him kindly?"
Most of the journalists and reporters laughed. He could be charming if he wanted, she knew, but he usually had no such intentions with anyone related to the media departments.
The elderly woman pursued still slightly smiling: "I can't indeed. But I guess it meant violence outside of your job…"
"Well, just look at us today! We've been heavily insulted in this article and we're holding a press conference in which even the writer of the mean thingy is invited and present. How would you imagine a violent and aggressive person would act in such a situation? I can tell you: Once, the villain that goes by the name of Johnny Rancid got bashed in a news article and he immediately went over to the home of the writer, beating him into pulp. Those are the actions of a violent and aggressive person in my opinion. So judge by yourself if we are too. You can observe our actions by yourselves" he shrugged. Raven had a rather hard time holding back a loud laughter as she listened to her boyfriends' statement and thought about how he intended to kill Lois Lane mere hours ago. But he was very convincing, she could see most of the journalists nod in agreement. Her plan went well so far, time for the next step.
"Speaking of the writer, Miss Lane, you have a question too?" Raven said kindly.
The woman with the chocolate brown hair huffed: "Indeed, I have a question! Why should we trust the words of a half-demon? Aren't they known as tricky, sly, even mendacious?"
That was a low blow but Raven had expected this from the woman. She opened her mouth to answer, but again, Gar beat her at it.
"Like we already said, actions speak louder than words. But if you don't trust her, take my word for granted, Raven is one of the most honest people I know. I give you my hand on this!" he said, got up and stretched his bare hand out to her.
"Why should I shake your filthy green hand?" Miss Lane spat with a disgusted look on her face.
Jackpot. Raven had expected the other woman to dig her own grave, but she didn't expect her to make it so easy for them. She glanced over at her boyfriend and saw his faked hurt expression.
"You… you have a problem with different skin colors?" he stuttered. Just the perfect question, the empath thought. He really had some acting skills.
But apparently Lois didn't get the hint, stating: "It's… it's just hideous! Everyone can see that! It's a fact!" She was really making it easy for them… Even her colleagues started muttering uncomfortably.
"I never thought that I'd meet someone who really openly declares his hate for people who have a different skin color…" Changeling said with astonishment. That was when it clicked in the journalists mind.
"You… that's not what I said! You just turned the words around!" she screamed and charged towards him, angrily tossing her supplies at him. A big commotion arouse, the other reporters were busy taking pictures and writing down the events while Raven blocked the enraged Lois Lane with a power shield. The infuriated journalist beat constantly against it, while the two heroes watched her with concerned expressions until the security guards took care of her. In the process Lois Lane struggled so hard that to the surprise of everyone, her hair fell off, revealing just some thin strains of grayish hair.
"I guess we close this press conference. Thank you all for coming!" Candy stated as Gar and Raven left the stage with shaking heads and sad expressions.
Back in their room in the tower they lay both on their bed, shaking with laughter.
"Did you see her face? Oh, it was great! Really, one of your best ideas ever!" Gar stated between laughing fits.
"Well, you've been not too bad yourself! How you dismantled her as a racist was, dare I say, really hilarious" she smirked, as she slowly calmed down.
He immediately calmed down as well and turned over to her. "You… you just said I am hilarious?" he asked incredibly.
She looked into his eyes and said: "I always thought so. As long as you're not trying so hard and telling jokes… But your sarcasm and even some of your pranks are indeed funny, I have to admit."
For a few minutes he just stared at her in sheer astonishment, then his face split into one of his biggest grins.
"Yeah, and of course you couldn't tell me earlier because you weren't enjoying punishing me for every stupid line, no, of course not!" he smirked, making her laugh again.
"All right, I admit, I enjoyed it sometimes" she gave in after calming down again, "But I'll make sure we'll both enjoy the reward for doing it right today."
She smiled as she pulled him closer while he returned it and gladly joined her lips.
Gar still chuckled at the thought of his reward one week ago and a balding, unemployed, unengaged Lois Lane as Vic made his entrance with a content grin in his face, clearly declaring 'I-had-some-not-that-long-ago' to the world.
"Hey guys! What are my favorite two career-crashers up to now?" he joked.
"Just enjoying the fruits of our hard work, my friend!" Gar answered as he leaned back and passed the Metrocity Tribune to the other, opened where he had been reading before.
"'No lane for racism'?" Vic inquired as he read the headline of the main article and grabbed the paper.
"He should be nominated for the Pulitzer if he wouldn't be such a two-faced jerk…" Gar commented as he threw himself back into the task of reading the fan post Raven and he had gotten additionally after the stunt they had pulled on the now most hated journalist in the country.
Vic just had sat down as another team member entered the room they hadn't seen ever since the whole thing had started with the article of Lois Lane.
Dick, only dressed in a black dressing gown, red slippers and a smile much similar to Vic's , trotted into the kitchen and yawned a joyful: "Morning, guys!"
The cybernetic man immediately dropped the news paper and shouted: "Show your back, I want to check out if you can match mine!" He turned shortly and showed them some scratches that surely hadn't been there the day before.
Richard glanced at Raven who sat at the table but still was engulfed in her lecture, then he quickly dropped of the upper part of the gown, showing off some scratches and bruises to the guys, then hastily pulling it up again. He couldn't hide the bragging smile that stole his way onto his face.
"Well, it seems there is only one male virgin left in our team…" he smirked, while he and Vic shot glances at Gar. The green teen gulped and quickly turned away, trying to hide the treacherous blush on his face. They still had to learn about him and Raven doing… well… more than kissing.
But Vic and Dick already exchanged suspicious glances, not being pleased with the changelings reaction. He didn't respond to Dick's taunt like a virgin Gar would have, but like a guilty one…
Without any further arrangement but a nod they turned, held both of Gars arms still ignoring his protest and lifted his shirt, causing both of them to gasp.
"I already told you, you should have let me heal them, Gar, but you always insist on keeping them…" Raven stated calmly, knowing exactly how dangerous the marks on his back could be. Now she would let him explain on himself, just to make him see what he'd get from objecting her. She picked up some papers and said: "See you later. Don't hurt him to much, I'll still need him tonight."
The two older males towered over Gar with their arms crossed over their chests and cold glares in their faces.
"You have very deep scratches on your backs…" Vic stated in a warning tone.
"…and bite marks…" Dick added exactly identically.
"…in different states of healing…"
"…despite there was no mission lately…"
"Care to explain? Because apparently Raven knows about them…"
"So we have to assume that she was the one giving them to you…"
Gar looked from one to another before he scolded: "You're in no place to look at me like that! You are both having some with your girlfriends and I don't interrogate you about that!"
The other two exchanged another glance before Dick asked: "Then tell us at least for how long this is already going on."
"Since… Rae came back from Azarath…" the changeling answered nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
To his utter surprise Vic snickered at Dick: "Told you that you are the last male virgin! You owe me fifty bugs!"
"Damn! Why didn't I make a move earlier?" the leader huffed.
"Wait, you two had a bet on this? What the heck…" Gar gasped.
"Come on, green bean, you should know that there is barely a secret inside this tower I can't discover easily. It's inevitable if you let me do your laundry…" the half-metal man stated chuckling.
Gar slapped himself on the front. Of course the marks had bleed in his shirts and given Vic a pretty picture of how his back looked like.
"That was cheating! You didn't tell me you had a proof!" Dick protested.
"You didn't ask! So hand over the money, buddy!" Vic held out his hand in which the other placed grumbling a green bill.
"So… you guys aren't angry or acting all over-protective?" Gar asked in disbelieve that he got off the hook this fast.
"Why should we?" Vic shrugged, "We both could see how you treat her loving and respectful, so we agreed if there was a guy who should be allowed in her pants, well, it should be you."
"Although I thought you two would wait a little longer…" Richard grumbled as he started preparing his breakfast, "…and how the hell did you manage to make her biting you? Making Star scratch was already a rather though job…"
But as he turned, the green man had already disappeared, and Vic just shrugged again and scoured the fridge.