"Vampire Genesis"
Chapter 3: "Distant Sun"
Disclaimer: Neither Teen Titans nor Hellsing belong to me. The former is the property of DC Comics and Warner Brothers and the latter belongs to Kohta Hirano.
Author's note: I've gotten some feedback speculating as to who Dagon could be working for and trust me, my good fellow, it is not the organization whose name starts with M. I've also gotten some feedback that has been somewhat critical of me for using the original Hellsing manga and its OVA adaptation as the template for the versions of the Hellsing characters that appear here. Since I'm more familiar with the manga and Ultimate OVA, that's what I'm basing the Hellsing part of this crossover on. By the way, if you weren't utterly turned off this story by the fact that I paired Robin with Argent, I thank you. As for those of you who are Robin/Starfire fans, I will deal with that pairing in this chapter.
Robin suddenly found himself trapped in a five-pronged "cage" of sword-shaped energy. Dagon zoomed from one prong to the next, picking up an energy sword at each point and slashing Robin with it on the pass. As he moved, Robin's sight was acute enough to detect that Dagon's movements were forming a pentagram. Still, he wasn't quite fast enough to stop Dagon from slashing him with the energy swords he picked up. Robin collapsed onto one knee, severely wounded by Dagon's attack.
"Ready to die now?" Dagon asked.
"No, how about you?" Robin snarled in response, his wounds quickly healing themselves. He moved so quickly that he seemed to vanish to Argent's eyes, reappearing behind Dagon and aiming a chop at a nerve cluster in the back of his neck. Dagon reacted faster than Robin expected, grabbing Robin by his wrist and swinging him over his shoulder. Robin twisted the rest of his body into a kick that sent Dagon flying into one of the tunnel walls.
Dagon braced himself against the tunnel wall, preparing to attack again when he was surprised by Robin suddenly appearing in front of him. His eyes opened wide in shock and amazement . . . and closed when Robin punched him hard enough to knock him unconscious. That lasted all of five seconds, however, as Dagon caught Robin's leg between his feet and rolled, throwing Robin off-balance. Robin quickly recovered and flipped back onto his feet, facing a risen Dagon.
Shadow matter began to consume Robin's body, hardening into the quasi-organic silver-black metal. Robin's arm, leg, and side were covered by the shadow matter, as was part of his face. A bloodthirsty smirk found its way onto Robin's face and he vanished, reappearing in front of Dagon with a vicious kick to his chest. Robin zoomed toward the unwillingly flying Dagon, stopping behind him and kicking him in the opposite direction. Robin whooshed underneath Dagon and shot himself upward legs first to kick Dagon into the ceiling of the tunnel. As Dagon fell, Robin struck him hard in the back, accelerating his opponent's descent.
Dagon rolled onto his back and struck a descending Robin with burning hands, sending Robin flying back. Robin flipped backward and landed in a crouch. Dagon climbed onto his feet and zoomed at Robin, but Robin grabbed his wrist and slammed him into the tunnel wall. With the hand that was covered in hardened shadow matter, Robin projected a knife blade and moved to punch Dagon in the head, only to be stopped by a red construct from Argent.
"What are you doing?" Robin asked dangerously.
"Stopping you from doing something you'll regret," Argent replied. "You're not a killer. Don't let L'andira make you one."
Robin dropped Dagon and collapsed onto his knee. He gritted his teeth, forcing the shadow matter to change back into normal shadow and withdraw back into him. The effort was enough to take much of his strength, evinced by the way he panted for breath. Dagon looked at him in surprise.
"You spared me," he spoke.
"I'm not a killer," Robin replied.
It was at that moment that the other Titans arrived. "You two all right?" Cyborg asked Robin and Argent.
"We're fine, Cy," Argent replied.
"This the guy who was attacking you?" Beast Boy asked. "He doesn't look so tough."
"He's tougher than you think," Robin answered.
"Thanks for the compliment," Dagon grumbled, rising to his feet.
"Anytime you're ready," Robin challenged.
"No," Dagon replied. "Not now. Later." He then departed at such incredible speed that Robin and Kid Flash were the only ones able to see his retreat.
"You're scared of something," Raven said to Robin.
"Yeah," Robin confirmed, rising to his feet.
"Was he a vampire, too?" Kid Flash asked.
"I do not think so," Starfire replied. "He smelled similar to Robin, but he also smelled similar to Anderson."
"That would be because he's a dhampir," Raven explained. "Born of the union of a vampire and a human. When found, they're usually trained to use their vampiric abilities to hunt and kill full vampires."
Robin sensed an outpouring of sadness from L'andira, enough to make blood tears seep out of his eyes. "L'andira?" he wondered.
All vampires are my children, even the half-bloods, L'andira answered. To see them used as weapons by humans . . . it's monstrous.
Robin could also sense sadness from Raven, as Dagon's circumstances probably reminded her of what her fate could have been if she'd been found by someone other than the Titans. He noticed Jericho gently placing his hand on her shoulder and Raven relaxing into his touch. As he watched them, he spotted Argent moving toward him, gently touching his arm once she was within his reach.
"They'd be pretty great together, wouldn't they?" Argent whispered, low enough so that only his sensitive ears caught it.
"Yeah," Robin whispered back.
"We might have to 'help' a bit, if you know what I'm saying," Argent murmured mischievously.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Huh . . ."
"Joey's too shy and Raven's too stubborn," Argent went on. "They won't get together on their own."
"We could always try something out of Shakespeare," Robin mused. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Starfire's jealous expression. He locked eyes with the Tamaranean princess. "Starfire, we'll talk when we get back to the Tower."
Robin kept his word, waiting until they returned to Titans Tower to speak to Starfire. Once they were there, he gently guided her into a corridor so they could talk in private. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"You and Argent . . . you seemed very close," Starfire replied. "Are you doing the dating?"
"We were about to," Robin admitted.
"Why?" Starfire asked. "Am I not your girlfriend?"
"Not exactly," Robin replied.
"But you have known how I feel about you," Starfire protested. "And you have led me to believe that you feel the same!"
"I did . . . and in some ways, I still do," Robin confessed. "But it would never have worked between us. You need someone who can give everything they are – body, heart, and soul – to you the way you were willing to for me. I can't do that, Starfire. No matter how hard I try, there will always be parts of me that I have to keep away from you and a relationship like that would be unbearable for both of us."
"If you are referring to the demons of the inside, could you not embrace me?" Starfire asked. "Could you not allow me to do the exorcism and give you peace?"
"Maybe," Robin replied, "but then I couldn't be who I am. When I became Robin, that identity was forged by my inner demons. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't have the strength to confront the evils that stalk the streets at night. I won't ask you to forgive me or to stop loving me . . . but I only ask that you let me go and allow me to find the happiness with Argent that you wanted me to find with you."
Starfire nodded, despite the tears streaming down her face. Robin gently wiped them away. "I'm sorry," he whispered, before walking away from Starfire and retreating to his own room. He touched his face and found blood staining his fingers. It was his tears, tainted by the life-giving elixir.
"Robin," a voice greeted him, carrying an aura of power and wisdom. Robin looked up and saw a man garbed in skintight blue with golden gloves, boots, belt, cape, and helm.
"Fate," Robin greeted.
The sorcerer known as Dr. Fate regarded Robin. "I sensed the rising of a dark power some nights ago. I was only recently able to pinpoint it. I suspected it was your teammate Raven, but the power felt different from her aura."
"What's your interest here?"
"Your well-being. The entity inside you is not purely benevolent."
"Considering she tried to make me kill my opponent, I already know that."
"Do you? You do not know the full extent of her life before she was cut off from her followers and exiled to the Silent Realm. If you are not wary, she will come to dominate you."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"For now, your relationship appears to be symbiotic, but be careful to retain your own will and trust that above hers."
"Wait, what is the Silent Realm?"
"The only realm that can safely hold a deity of her rank and power. Farewell, Robin. I will see you again shortly." An ankh-shaped portal formed behind Dr. Fate and he stepped inside, the portal vanishing as soon as he'd entered.
With his would-be date with Argent wrecked, Robin decided to take some time for himself. He went out into the city, mostly anonymous since he was dressed in normal clothes and not wearing his standard mask. Instead of riding his R-Cycle, he walked through the city, blending with the passersby. He drank in the sights, the sounds, and the smells, all so bright and clear and fragrant to his senses.
He was so busy indulging his superhuman senses that he didn't notice that he'd wandered into a less-populated area of the city. The buildings had a neo-gothic design, like a modernized version of something out of Victorian horror. He looked around, aware of his new surroundings yet continuing to walk about as though he wasn't concerned. In fact, he almost felt as though he was home, feeling the presence of others similar to him.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only thing he sensed. He also sensed terror and something else . . . fanatical, murderous determination. He'd only gotten that feeling from one person since L'andira had been sealed inside him.
"Anderson," Robin muttered and took off in a fast run. When he got there, he found Anderson gleefully slaughtering several vampires, none of them physically older than 21. These were not hardened killers, just neophytes who were trying their best to survive, Robin could tell. And Anderson was killing them anyway, just because they weren't human.
Robin reached into his disguised utility belt and withdrew a Razorbird, a sharper-edged version of the Birdarang, throwing it at Anderson. The Razorbird sliced his cheek open, distracting the priestly vampire hunter from the young vampires. Anderson whirled to see who had wounded him, spotting Robin catching the bloodied Razorbird.
"Ye again," Anderson snarled.
"Yeah, me," Robin confirmed, placing the Razorbird and two others like it between his fingers. "Now leave them alone."
"Why should I do that?" Anderson asked. "They're demon scum, much like you and the harlot on your team."
"Don't you dare call Raven that!" Robin yelled, lunging at Anderson with Razorbirds clenched between his fingers. Anderson dodged Robin's initial attack, only for Robin to quickly recover and spin for another slash at Anderson. This time, he succeeded in slashing Anderson's chest. Anderson's response was to hurl his bayonets at Robin, which Robin dodged with superhuman alacrity. Anderson sprung at Robin, knocking him into an alley wall.
Robin rose to his feet and flung all three Razorbirds at Anderson, which Anderson simply cut through with his bayonets. He slashed at Robin with the bayonets, Robin backhandedly slapping Anderson's bayonets aside and kicking him in the stomach. Anderson quickly recovered, the wounds he had been dealt finally sealing themselves, and rushing Robin. The Dark Squire flung himself back to evade Anderson's charge and reached into his belt, removing more Razorbirds and throwing them at Anderson, who again sliced through them with his bayonets.
Robin landed and threw a multitude of shuriken at Anderson, who could not dodge every one of them. The shuriken he couldn't dodge left numerous cuts on him, which quickly healed, but the shuriken attack had been a smokescreen for Robin to slide past Anderson's defenses and knock him down.
"Stay away from them, Anderson," he snarled.
"Damned brat," Anderson spat, using the pages of his Bible to teleport away again.
"Whoa . . ." one of the young vampires uttered. "You . . . you're Robin, aren't you?"
"And how do you figure that?" Robin asked.
"Those weapons, and the way you fought," the young vampire replied. "But who turned you? I've never seen any vampire that strong before."
"It's a long story," Robin answered.
"Come on," another young vampire said. "We'll take you inside. Not everyday there's a vampire superhero."
Robin allowed the young vampires to escort him into one of the buildings. Inside was a large dancehall with a bar area off to the side and tables arranged around the dancehall. Higher up was a glass partition behind which a vampire was playing disk jockey. Death pop blasted from the wall speakers as the young men and women in the dancehall moved to the beat. Red, blue, and purple lights flashed intermittently, illuminating the dancers occasionally.
"Is this some kind of nightclub for vampires?" Robin asked.
"Yeah," one of the young vampires replied. "Very exclusive. The only way a human can get in here is if they're accompanied by a vampire." She escorted Robin to the bar area and they sat on a couple of stools. "Bartender. Give hero-boy a cup of O+."
The bartender quickly poured a cup of O+ blood and passed it to Robin. "Thanks," Robin said.
"Think nothing of it," the bartender replied, winking at Robin and eliciting a blush from the Dark Squire.
Robin took a sip of the cup of blood and a flush found its way to his cheeks. "This . . . this is good."
"I know," the young vampire next to him said. "Don't drink too much, though; blood can be as much of an intoxicant to us as alcohol is to humans."
"I'll keep that in mind," Robin said just before sipping again. "What's your name?"
"Mai," the young vampire replied.
"How long have you been a vampire?" Robin asked.
"Running on five years," Mai replied. "I'm really 24."
"What's it like, living as a vampire?" Robin asked.
"Lonely," Mai replied. "I don't get to be with my human friends anymore. I can visit them, watch over them, but I can't let them see me. I can't be with them anymore."
"Why not?" Robin asked.
"Unless some vampire hunter – like that freaky priest – gets me, I'll live forever," Mai explained. "They'll die eventually. According to my sire, it's better that I cut myself off from them now so that it won't hurt too much."
Robin pondered Mai's words. Some of his friends would live longer than others, and Raven might live indefinitely due to being half demon, but Mai was right. He would be in for a lonely existence. He sipped his blood again, hearing the beginning of a creepy xylophone melody. About thirty seconds later, it stopped and was replaced by a demonic-sounding guitar melody combined with a driving drumbeat. About thirty seconds after that, the unearthly voice of a woman could be heard singing.
At that moment, another of the young vampires accompanying Mai approached Robin. "You mind coming to the back room?" he asked the Dark Squire.
"Why?" Robin asked.
"The guy who runs this club," he replied. "He's one of the clan higher-ups. He'd like to see you."
"Take me to him, then," Robin said, allowing the young vampire to escort him to the back room. Once inside, the young vampire left the two alone.
Robin observed the club owner. He was seemingly twenty-six, but his eyes were that of someone who was much, much older. He had long black hair tied back in a ponytail and clear silver eyes staring out from a face that many would have found almost beautiful. He wore a black cloak with a collar so large that it covered his mouth and nose, the cloak itself concealing most of his body.
"Robin," the club owner greeted him.
"Why did you want to see me?" Robin asked.
"Ah, no pleasantries," the club owner mused. "I'd be hurt if I didn't much care for pleasantries myself. Very well, I asked for you on behalf of the clan leaders in this city. They want to meet with you."
"And why would they be so interested in me?" Robin asked.
"Don't play dumb, Grayson," the club owner spat. "You have the progenitor of our race inside you. That has the potential to change the balance of power in the vampire community. This has the local clan leaders, as well as the clan leaders all over this nation, very worried. Centuries of planning, possibly torpedoed by a wild card such as you. That, to put it frankly, scares them."
"How do you know my real name?"
"How do I explain this one? Good old-fashioned detective work. It starts with your mentor Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne. How do I know Batman is Bruce Wayne? For one thing, someone with all those fancy toys would need to be extremely rich – by human standards – and besides, a lot of Batman's equipment is based on technology developed by Wayne Enterprises. As for you, Dickie-Bird, an orphaned acrobat is adopted by Wayne. Shortly after that, a kid in hideous red-and-green tights is flipping around fighting criminals alongside Batman. Then that kid moves here and starts up his own superhero team with a bunch of other colorful kids, while Wayne tells everyone Grayson went to boarding school."
Robin could not quite conceal his surprise, which the club owner noticed and smirked at. "I have to hand it to the Bat. His playboy act fools a lot of people, but most of those people are fucking sheep who can't think past their own little boxes. And you hardly go out as Grayson in this city, anyway."
"What do they want with me?"
"You'll see. As soon as I take you to them."
"When will that be?"
"Now."
The club owner pulled out a small remote reminiscent of the ones attached to car keys and pressed a button on it. Immediately, a section of the wall retracted, revealing a hidden entrance. He stepped inside, beckoning Robin to follow. Robin followed the club owner down the hidden stairway, finding his way into a lightless tunnel. Fortunately for him, he didn't need light to see.
The club owner escorted Robin through the tunnel, guiding him to another stairway, which they ascended to a luxuriously decorated torch-lit chamber. Artwork from various eras decorated the walls, while velvet carpets covered the floor. A raised mahogany crescent table sat at the far side of the chamber, with seven vampires – Robin could tell by their scent – sitting behind it. There were four women and three men sitting at the table, all seemingly young yet carrying expressions that spoke of centuries, if not millennia, of experience. All of them were garbed in black robe-like coats, each wearing a sash of a different color to distinguish themselves from each other.
"Richard John Grayson," the central vampire – wearing a blood-red sash – spoke. "Or are you more comfortable with Robin?"
"Actually, I am," Robin answered. "I don't appreciate having my real name bandied about by strangers."
"You will become very familiar with us soon enough," the red sash-wearing vampire responded.
"Quit being cryptic," Robin spat.
"Defiant one, aren't you?" a vampire in a royal blue sash remarked. "That's fine; I like defiance in my young men. Makes breaking them in even more fun."
Robin glared at the blue sash-wearing vampire. "I don't intend to become part of your harem."
"Too bad," the blue sash-wearing vampire purred.
"Ashurii, that's enough," a vampire in a silver-white sash advised.
"Spoil my fun," Ashurii sneered petulantly.
The red sash-wearing vampire glared at Ashurii. "Disgraceful wench. That is not how you behave in the presence of the one who holds our goddess inside him, no matter how beautiful he is."
"What do you want with me?" Robin asked.
"It's very simple," the red sash-wearing vampire replied. "We want your protection. There is an organization affiliated with this nation's military that has been targeting us. They have killed many of our people and captured many more, using them in experiments to transform their human operatives into superior hunters. You've already met one of those operatives, according to our intelligence."
"You mean Dagon," Robin deduced.
"Yes," the red sash-wearing vampire confirmed. "According to our familiars whom we've managed to slip into this organization, they call themselves the Initiative."
"What do you want me to do about them?" Robin asked.
"We want you to rescue those that have been captured from the Initiative," the red sash-wearing vampire replied. "We also want you to take them into your protective custody. You can use your Tower to house them."
"How am I supposed to find the Initiative?" Robin asked.
"You're a detective," the red sash-wearing vampire answered. "Figure it out."
"Come on," the club owner said to Robin. "I'll take you back to the club."
End Notes: Might as well end it here. It seems that Robin has a lot on his hands, what with being ordered to break into a military facility to rescue vampires. Will he succeed, and if he does, how will his teammates feel about him using Titans Tower as a refuge for vampires?
By the way, for those of you that watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Initiative's presence does not mean a crossover with that series. It simply means that I'm borrowing the concept from Buffy because I like it. Plus, it'd be fun to have a vampire-hunting organization that's affiliated with the military and not any particular religious denomination.
Anyway, questions, tips, critiques, and comments are all welcome.