The Plague
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.
- Denial -
Quick fingers raced over the keys to the computer, eyes gazing over a screen full of meaningless words. Three straight hours and she thought her mind had fried from all the useless information she had taken in. she sighed to herself, another dead end and she was back to where she started.
"Raven, have you found anything?"
Raven's eyes looked away from the useless screen and turned them to the person who had spoken to her. Robin stood in front of her, his face set grim. She shook her head and he walked away over to where Cyborg was examining the many pictures he had taken.
"Anything?"
Cyborg rubbed his head, closing his eyes he gave out a heavy sigh.
"I don't know what I'm looking for man, I mean he obviously wasn't shot or murdered….." Cyborg stopped, his mind wondered off to other possibilities. Robin watched him for a moment and Cyborg took a breath before continuing.
"It looks like he caught something, nothing more to it. We should just drop it."
Robin's hands balled into a fist, he was not giving up no this case. Before he could open his mouth the door swished open and two very eager and slightly worried titans ran in. Three heads whipped around to see their wide eyes and pale faces, well pale as far as green goes.
"We found something!" A smile crept to Robin's face as he and the other two titans ran over to Beast Boy and Starfire.
"Well?"
Beast Boy held out the small book and a puzzled look came upon the three titans faces. Beast Boy's grin slowly turned into a frown as they continued to stare at it.
"Hello? I said we found something, why are you staring at it?"
Raven took the book form his hands and scanned down the table of contents and raised an eyebrow, she was ready to smack Beast Boy for giving them something stupid as this book on Plagues.
"What is this?"
Starfire could see the tension in all three of her friends eyes, she took a step in front of Beast Boy, to protect him, and took the book from Raven. She quickly flipped to right page and held it up for the rest of the Titans to see.
"Friend Beast Boy found something on the Plague of Scarlet or the Death of Red! We think that the de-" Starfire paused, she didn't like talking about the dead, it scared the hell out of her.
"We think the guy could possible have had this Plague of Scarlet."
Robin took the book out of her hands and began to read about it, followed by Raven and Cyborg. Starfire and Beast Boy held their breath and stole a quick glance with each other. Cyborg was the first to look up and he almost had a smile on his face.
"This is great guys! I've needed a joke all day and this is fantastic."
Starfire and Beast Boy looked at each other, their faces held confusion. Cyborg shook his head and walked back over to the photos to put them away. Robin just shook his head and walked over to the kitchen and got a glass of water. Raven walked over to Beast Boy and gave him the smack she was going to give him earlier.
"I don't understand." Beast Boy stood their dumbstruck, Raven's hit had no effect on him as he couldn't believe that they were blowing this off.
"It all fits! The red eyes! The black stuff that he threw up! Come on!"
Beast Boy was running over to Cyborg and pointed to the man's eyes emphasizing his point.
"Come on man, a plague like that here in Jump City?"
Beast Boy couldn't believe his ears, the titans were in denial. He looked from Cyborg to Raven to Robin and finally Starfire who seemed just as shocked as he was.
"Friends why do not do the believing of the plague?"
Robin turned to look at Starfire, her brow was crinkled in deep confusion. He walked over to her and smiled gently.
"Star we highly doubt something like that could go on in our City."
Starfire sighed, she knew that they couldn't convince them so she joined Raven on the couch to watch TV, not but five minutes later the alarm went off.
"Titans trouble."
-
The titans thought they were unprepared the first time they saw death, but this was beyond anything they could have ever imagined. The titans made their way up a flight of stairs to a small apartment covered in yellow caution tape. Robin wiped the sweat from his brow as it was another hot day.
"Robin nice to see you again."
Robin shook hands with detective Johnson and gazed around the house. He hadn't noticed the smell until now, but it came full force towards him. It smelled of rotten bile and decaying bodies. The purple, flower print walls were covered with a thick black substance, which was now being scraped off by investigators.
Robin looked back at the rest of his team, they were obviously disturbed by the scene. Robin stepped around overturned chairs as Johnson led them into the bedroom. Robin nearly backed into the wall when he arrived into the room. Cyborg raised a hand, shielding his eyes form the sight. Raven stopped at the doorway proceeding to go no farther, Starfire was close to tears and Beast Boy just stood there, his eyes wide with fear.
"Oh god no."
Beast Boy recognized the two people as the little girl and mother he had saw earlier. Both pairs of eyes were blood shot red, Beast Boy's hand shot for his pocket and pulled out the small book and flipped to the marked page.
The Red Death can spread through contact with another victim.
Beast Boy knew these people were nowhere near the man so they couldn't have gotten through contact, he continued on.
It can also, if weather is extremely hot, spread through the air infecting anyone who inhales the infected air.
A small gasped escaped his lips and he didn't need anymore proof, they had to get out of here and fast. He bit his lip and walked into the room, avoiding the people on the bed.
"Robin we have to get out of here now!"
Robin arched an eyebrow at the serious and frightened look on Beast Boy's face.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"It's the plague Star and I was telling you about! It's here they had it."
Robin looked at the part Beast Boy had just read, but the Boy Wonder just shook his head.
"But it says that it would kill within three days, it's only been a couple of hours."
Robin had Beast Boy there so he grabbed the book and scanned the next few pages.
The virus can kill its victim in three days time or if the immune system is weak the virus can destroy its host in less than five hours.
"Okay what about this?"
Robin read and just looked away, it was all too much.
"No Beast Boy, there is no plague!"
Beast Boy was getting fed up with this.
"Come on dude! What if one of us catches this virus? We could die!"
Robin bit his bottom lip and walked around Beast Boy, ignoring him. He looked over to where Cyborg was standing, talking to an investigator about the bodies, Raven was examining the room while taking in deep breaths to keep herself calm. He then saw Starfire trying to pull herself together as she talked to one of the neighbors who had discovered them like this.
"Look Robin, I know you don't believe me, but please!"
Robin turned to look at Beast Boy, his face begged Robin for the titans to get out of here. Robin sighed and looked at the rest of the team.
"Okay five minutes."
Beast Boy sighed, but took it. He turned to go watch the rest of the investigation team work. He saw people scraping the black bile off the walls, some were taking pictures and others were questioning people who had been with the victims before they had died. What seemed like the longest five minutes ever, Robin walked over to him with the rest of the team.
"Let's go."
-
Cyborg's vision blurred as he drove through eh crowded streets, he shook his head as his vision returned. He looked back at the rest of the team. Starfire sat in the middle and she still seemed close to tears he also noticed she was squeezing Robin's hand, which Robin didn't seem to mind. Beast Boy was totally involved in the world outside and Raven, who sat shotgun, just stared straight ahead.
"All right ya'll we're home."
All five got out and walked to the living room. Raven staggered a bit and managed to knock down a kitchen stool. Her cheeks turned a slight pink color and picked it up without a word. Cyborg and Beast Boy walked over to the TV and started playing video games while Raven made herself some tea.
Starfire walked up to the roof and Robin stood their for a minute watching his team readjust and settle down after the big ordeal they had just faced. Robin sighed and followed Starfire up to the roof. The sun was setting which cast a purplish pink hue over the water and made Starfire glow. A smile graced his lips as he walked over to her.
"Hey, you okay?"
He took a seat next to her and she seemed vacant for a moment.
"I am fine, just a bit of the shaken."
She gave him a small smile to indicate that she was okay, but he saw right through her. She looked away and let out a small sigh.
"I am not fine, this whole plague has been giving me the creeps."
He wanted to comfort her, but was at a loss for words. She laid her head on his shoulder and Robin grew still for a moment, but her touch was warm and he remained quiet.
"Do you think that this Plague of Scarlet is out there at this moment."
Robin's thoughts went racing, he didn't want to think about this plague or anything else that had to do what they had dealt with over the past few hours.
"No, don't worry Star it's probably just something to do with this hot weather."
She raised her head and nodded, she then got up and started off for her room. Robin was right behind her when she staggered a bit, but luckily Robin caught her.
"Are you okay?"
Starfire rubbed her head and smiled up at him.
"I am fine, just tired."
Robin immediately thought of the symptoms, but dismissed them just as quickly. She was just tired, so he helped her to her room before going to his own.
There is no plague.
Robin ignored the voice in his head as he collapsed on his bed, he thought back and thought hard. Could this plague seriously exist now?
No, don't be silly.
Robin sighed, turned out his light and went to sleep. It was silly to worry about something that wasn't even here.
So the titans are in a state of denial, wonder what could shake them of that? Looks like some of the titans are showing some signs or maybe it's just their imagination or the heat getting to them….maybe. Big thanks to all my reviewers and please review!
Peace Out
Vballqueen1792
