"We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have." - Publilius Syrus
Titans Phantom
Chapter 6: The Door to Nevermore
It was dark. The city was quiet, the only sound coming from a man standing over a broken security truck, its contents glowing through the darkness from the giant melted hole in the armored doors side. The men, charged with driving the truck to the bank, were knocked out cold. Leaving only the criminal there to take the glittering gold, he was about to grab the first bar when he heard a weapon being fired, sounding like the ringing of a bell. He knew that sound, he dodged the star-bolt flipping onto the top of the overturned vehicle where he now faced the Teen Titans. The man looked ridiculous, as if he'd just stepped out of a bad sci-fi movie. For he was dressed in a black spandex suit which had a giant light bulb on it, and his sliver wire belt was covered in small gold covered bulbs, his arms covered in sliver wrapped coils which held two small gold generators that allowed him to produce high grade electric light, but what was the most ridiculous thing out of his whole outfit… was his helmet. It was as if he couldn't decide between Star Trek or the Power Rangers, it also didn't help that he had a beard, which looked more or less like a stupid goatee, and that he had put on thick black eyeliner making him look like a crack addict.
So when Danny had seen him take down the truck, while giving a horrible monologue that could rival even one of Technus's speeches. Danny did what any normal person would do. He simply stepped inside an alley way and waited for the Titans. Okay, so not exactly normal, everyone else had fled screaming like little girls. But if it allowed him to stay away from his home, and out of Fixit's keen eyes, he would take it. Fixit had only been there two days and he was already getting too close. He'd asked about Danny's family, his store, and even his scar's after he found Danny removing the bandages in the kitchen because that's where Danny kept the scissors. At that, Danny now had a permanent set in his bathroom, so Fixit wouldn't wonder why he had long pink burn marks on his forearm that were rapidly turning white. Fixit knew all the questions; and he kept asking, reopening Danny's wounds and tearing at his heart. His breath caught in his throat.
Danny sank onto the concrete floor, his emotions searing through his body; the bricks digging into his back as he pressed up against the wall. He vaguely heard Dr. Light giving another speech on his magnificent powers, while shooting gold light at the Titans, fire spread through Danny's legs. He bit his lip to contain the scream, for in these past two days, Danny hadn't slept more than a few hours at a time. For fear of himself screaming out in the night, so he forced himself to wake before the dream even began. And now he was paying for it. The Titans were still attacking and Dr. Light kept speaking on how light was better than everything; Danny slammed the back of his head into the brick wall to numb the fire, and the desire to shoot the crazy light bulb doctor. The doctor shot Robin in the chest sending him flying high into the air and onto the roof of a small building, it was then that Danny knew he needed to help. But his body screamed in protest as he shakily got to his feet, the fire spreading up his lower back the dream flashing behind his eyes. Beast Boy ran at Dr. Light transforming into a green snarling wolf.
"A wolf is no threat, when it's blind as a bat!" the doctor spoke heatedly, throwing thousands of tiny condensed light at BB who felt like he'd stepped through a rave machine, his head spinning and in the most unpleasant way. Starfire was caught easily in one of Light's traps, Danny felt his stomach tighten in fear, only two Titans left he needed to help. They were about to be defeated by some half-ass villain, with Danny not ten feet from them!
"No," Danny growled out as he watched Cyborg get melted into the armor truck from a plasma attack. He forced the dream deep into his mind, burying it, until nothing was left except the dull ache and burn from his injured body. Summoning his strength two blue rings formed around Danny, turning him into Phantom, leaving Fenton behind. As he opened his eyes he saw Raven hit the ground, Dr. Light standing over her menacingly.
"Bit of advice, find shorter magic words," Dr. Light said smugly preparing for another attack, his arms glowing a yellow brighter than the glittering bars spilling out of the truck. She threw a motorcycle at him, but he easily destroyed it. He aimed and fired directly at Raven's heart, her violet eyes went wide in surprise. She flinched from the coming attack her eyes closing, trying to control the fear and the soon to be pain, but the attack never made it. Instead it bounced off a swirling green barrier being held in place by Phantom. Raven stared at him in shock, gasping, for she could feel everything. She could feel him, his power, his existence, and his heart. He was in pain. Not from the crazy doctor who was yelling profanities at him, but from helping the Titans, from helping her. They were hurting him.
"Stop!" Raven said panic in her eyes as she regained her balance and placed a hand on Phantom's shoulders. Surprise registered on Phantom's face his eyes meeting hers, and Raven felt a wave of tiredness wash over his very being that left the Titan gasping for breath. How could Phantom survive all this pain? Raven's emotions swirled around her, and she felt the door slam open in her heart and she lost control of the thing she swore never to let out. Still gazing at her, Phantom dropped the shield protecting them as he followed Raven's strange request. They hadn't been prepared for Dr. Light's next attack which sent Raven flying through the air and sending Phantom into a nearby building. As Raven hit the unforgiving ground she felt rage rise in her, how dare he harm them! That scum had no right to walk upon the very ground she did! Raven struggled to kill these thoughts for they were not her own, she heard Dr. Light approaching. She needed to stop him, she needed to find Phantom to save his heart, and the rage grew.
"Don't come any closer," Raven warned.
"What's wrong, afraid of a little light?"
Danny hurt. This was his only feeling as he smashed through the bricks of some unknown building. Groaning, he pushed himself off of the ground trying to access how much damage he just took. Nothing was broken, his back hurt and his right leg ached from the still healing burn marks, but other than that he felt fine. Only he wasn't. Frustration overwhelmed him. Why had he listened to Raven? He was trying to save her, and instead, ended up getting thrown into a building. Stumbling through the bricks lying on the floor, Danny made his way to the newly formed exit, only then did the color drained from his face. For floating a good ten feet off the ground was Raven, her cloak billowing around her endless darkness emanating from her very being. She dragged a screaming Dr. Light closer to her, until she swallowed him whole, his pleas never reaching her merciless ears. A knife twisted in Danny's gut as he watched Raven smile a mirthless smile, her eyes a complete blood red. Just like his had been. The instant that thought crossed his mind, Danny knew, that thing wasn't Raven. And he had to stop her. Ignoring the painful pull in his muscles Danny ran forward, why he didn't just fly, never crossed his mind, stopping near the edge of oblivion he stared up into Raven's horrid face.
"Raven, STOP!" Danny yelled hoarsely, bleakly he noticed Robin running towards them the same look of panic on his face. Raven gasped, her eyes snapping back to gemstone violet, her face melting into a look of neutrality as she sank back to her normal size releasing the doctor from the darkness. Phantom's words had been like a bucket of ice water thrown in her face. He had been scared, not just for the now quivering doctor on the ground, but for her. Raven didn't have to meet Phantom's eyes to know what he was feeling, but she did anyway. He looked beyond tired, his muscles still tense and he was coated in a thick seen of dust and grim making his snow white hair a messy, older white, his eyes seemed unable to look away from Raven. Robin reached them and immediately he bent down to the doctor whose armor was completely destroyed and smelled faintly of burnt metal, his eyes were wide and held a look of insanity. He never acknowledged Robin, or his look of concern, no, Dr. Light just continued to stare into space his mind lost as he trembled before the group.
"So dark…make it stop…no light," he continued to sputter, no one paid attention to him. Robin looked up to see Raven and Phantom staring at each other as if the other person saw their darkest secrets. Phantom broke contact first his blank eyes meeting Robin's there was no emotion on his face, as he extended a hand towards him. He let Phantom pull him up. Robin was about to give his thanks when Raven cut him off.
"Don't," was all she said, Phantom's eyes to snap to hers, a fire suddenly breaking free.
"I won't. And stay out of my heart. Or next time, I won't be so forgiving," Phantom said flatly, but his eyes told the two Titans that his threat was to be taken seriously. Finished, Phantom simply vanished, not like the past when a swirl of green energy encompassed him; he just disappeared, leaving a very confused Robin and a shocked Raven.
"What just happened?" Robin asked confused, with his eyes temporarily flitting down to the doctor, who still was in a fetal position mumbling of the darkness.
Raven stared into the darkness her eyes barley containing her shock. He had felt her presence the second he made eye contact with her. Pain stabbed at her heart, for when he realized that Raven could feel everything about him, Phantom's mind slammed shut. Burying all of the pain, fear, and death behind a stone wall; making him disappear. But it still didn't change what Raven learned before he shut her out. And that's what had her insides twisting into knots, fueling fire to the thing that wanted nothing more than to kill. He was gaining power, and Raven couldn't control him, not with her emotions so out of control. Raven shut down, she needed to get home and away from her friends, away from the memory of the spirit who was dead, and yet so filled with life it had eclipsed even the brightest of hearts. The team was approaching.
"Dude, Raven, what did you do?" Beast Boy asked concerned for his friend, not so much the annoying half crazed villain curled up on the ground. Beast Boy was met with two snarling red eyes. He screamed not even bothering to try and make it sound manly, his only reaction was to get away from Raven. Only she was already leaving, stalking away into the darkness BB regained his senses and went over to stand by Cyborg, who was looking into the darkened alley way with fear and confusion for his friend.
"What's her deal?" Beast Boy asked to no one in particular. Cyborg just continued to stare into the night.
Danny was pissed. Raven felt his emotions, the ones he so readily guarded. Sighing, Danny landed into the alley way behind his store becoming visible before letting his ghost side go, allowing the steady thrum of his heart to beat beneath chest. If only two sleepless nights weakened his control this much, then he was screwed. Danny thought, a scowl upon his face as he made his way to the front of the store careful to avoid his still aching leg. He was never listening to Raven again. And Danny swore silently that he would never help the Titans again, after all, it's what she'd asked. Damnit, the irony. He thought as he pulled off his shoes and stepped onto the soft red carpet, locking the door behind him. Fixit had already closed up; although Danny couldn't fault him, it was well past midnight. Crap, Fixit. Danny completely forgot that he was originally trying to avoid him, and now Fixit knew he'd returned so Danny had to go downstairs and not just phase down into his room. Plus, it didn't help that his stomach decided to give a rather loud protest at the idea of skipping dinner. He let out a small growl as his feet padded down the stairs into his now shared apartment.
Fixit was seated in the living room, a book resting in his hands as he leisurely turned one of its slightly yellowed pages. Danny tried to ignore the blue eyes as he made his way towards the refrigerator. Pulling out some rice and chicken he'd eaten a couple nights ago, the cool gust of air reminding him of the Far Frozen Clan. Danny closed the door, a knife twisted in his gut at the memory of his friend. Plate in the microwave Danny went to go join Fixit, who had never taken his eyes off of the raven haired teen.
"Sorry, got held up," Danny said trying to resist the urge to fidget in his seat.
"Normally you get home earlier, but leave periodically throughout the night. Did something happen to change this?" Fixit asked tilting his head like a curious puppy dog.
Damnit, so he noticed that Danny had been leaving during the night for the past two days. Strangely though, Danny wasn't as worried as he normally would be if anyone else had made that kind of statement. For it was normally followed with looks of concern or disapproval; Fixit only held a look of acceptance and curiosity, nothing more. He just wanted to understand.
"Yeah, I got held up by some half-ass villain dressed as a light bulb robbing a bank truck," mumbled Danny getting up to scan for a possible book he wanted to read.
"If you are unharmed than that must mean that the Titans appeared to stop the light-bulbed villain," Fixit stated looking back down to his book. Danny couldn't help the humorless laugh that passed his lips or the way his eyes darkened as he grabbed a book from the shelf.
"Yeah, they showed up and played the game of heroes," Danny said his back facing Fixit as he peeked into the kitchen trying to see the microwave.
"You sound like you speak from experience. Is there such a strong burden on your heart that you simply can't carry?" Fixit asked being very careful to leave his voice detached, he found it was the easiest way to get Danny to answer the questions burning inside his mind. Danny's entire body tensed as if he were about to be attacked, had his simple observation and question caused all of this? He watched as Danny turned to him seating himself down onto the couch his ice blue eyes careful to never meet Fixit's steady blue.
"Heh, something like that, only I've never been a hero," Danny said, but the hollowness to his voice told Fixit otherwise.
"You remind me of Hamlet," Fixit stated looking down to his book, which was opened to the infamous act three, scene three. Danny's eyes snapped up to Fixit's, irritation shinning through them.
"Am not. I'm not some whiny idiot who couldn't just kill his father's brother for marrying his mom after Hamlet was plainly told 'Hamlet, Claudius killed your dear old dad to get the thrown and bang your mom.'" Danny huffed; this conversation was rapidly turning awkward. Fixit had the grace to blush, which surprised Danny, for he thought the robot didn't show such emotional displays.
"I forgot about that part," he said heatedly. "I was merely thinking over the fact that Hamlet seems to have been given a destiny that he cannot bear. And he is forever stuck to question himself and remain in indecision whether it be out of cowardliness or simply that he cannot kill. I do not know. But his burden. The task he is charged with, while I am sure is not related to you in any way; I can't help but feel that you too bear a burden, one that destiny has forced upon you, one in which you cannot bear. And it is slowly destroying you."
With this Fixit looked up to meet Danny's shocked eyes, his mouth parted slightly, his breaths coming in shallow gasps, his gaze never leaving Fixit but seemed to be in another place altogether. Fixit knew then that he had struck a powerful cord inside his friends' heart, but this realization came to a startling halt when the microwave went off beeping shrilly in the air. Startling both Fixit and Danny, who seemed to come back to life and bolt out of his chair to retrieve his dinner, after grabbing a fork and a soda Danny ate in silence, he finished and after cleaning up, left the kitchen for the living room to replace his book back on the shelf.
"I'm not Hamlet," Danny said sternly. "And I certainly don't have a burden I can't bear, ah! Screw this, I'm going to bed." Flustered, Danny got as far as the pale archway when Fixit spoke again.
"The black door is not on the buildings schematics. Tell me, what is behind it?" Fixit asked his monotone voice back full force and imploring, but his heart frantically beat under his chest, praying that his friend would answer.
"Nothing of importance. Night, Horatio," Danny said and with this he left for his room, leaving Fixit sitting in the smooth black chair, the ornate door just a few feet away. His gaze traveled to the book his mind drowning in thousands of questions. He gazed up at the door and then gracefully rose holding the book in hand.
"Good night, Hamlet," and with this he turned to knob.
Raven didn't sleep the entire night. She had been too focused on getting 'it' back into the door, but so far her struggles had been in vain. So now she was tired and no matter what she tried to do, she couldn't get her mind off of Phantom's final words. He was done helping them and that knowledge tore its way through Raven's heart, leaving her open to the monster inside that laughed at her pain. She needed to relax and calm down. So with this in mind, she headed down the hall for breakfast. The team was all ready up when the doors slide open to reveal the main room, warm sunlight filtering through the windows, the smell of food filling the room, but for some reason it only smelled like tofu mixed with breakfast flavors. Apparently, Cyborg hadn't been too happy about that, as he was still complaining when Raven made her way down the stairs to the teapot resting on a burner the smell of herbs puffing out in the smoke. She poured herself a small glass, letting her senses be taken away with the smoke relieving the stress from Ravens all night battle.
Beast Boy approached Raven, a smile on his face as he offered her his home cooked tofu breakfast of eggs and bacon, which she declined, Raven didn't think her stomach could handle anything solid at the moment. But Beast Boy kept on offering and even though he was only trying to be nice Raven couldn't help the surge of emotions, her mind snapping back to Phantom. It was then she realized why her heart was jumping inside her chest, for the green changeling represented everything the Titans were; innocent. They were children, filled with hope and foolishness. And Phantom knew this, for he was everything they weren't. Raven felt her heart sink as she realized that she too was just as innocent as the rest of the Titans, despite her father. She understood nothing, and by asking Phantom to stop, by placing herself in the same position as him, she had twisted the knife in his heart. For he knew she was asking out of concern for him, not for a greater purpose. And he still listened. She didn't know why he listened, but that was why the Titans were hurting him. For Phantom, no matter what, would always help them. Only he wouldn't, not anymore, Raven had seen to that.
"C'mon just one little taste you could use a little food after the way you cooked Dr. Light," Beast Boy said earnestly. He never noticed the slight trembling in Raven's hands as she fought the battle to kill.
"NO!" Raven yelled lashing out at Beast Boy. Her eyes blood red, her power blew up the breakfast right in his face. BB stood there confused and a hurt as she stormed out of the room never once looking back, he was only trying to be nice.
"Maybe you should go apologize," Robin said suddenly appearing by Beast Boy's side.
"Me? I'm not the one who just turned breakfast into a battle field!" BB said indignantly, frustration on his face as he held the now empty skillet.
"Yeah, but after the weirdness that went down last night you should know better than to go messing with her," Cyborg said as he headed into the kitchen to go wash his plate. While Beast Boy ranted his case to Cyborg, Robin's mind drifted away towards Phantom, what had he meant when he said he 'wouldn't'? What had Raven asked?
"At least she listens, I just kind of tune you out," Cyborg answered truthfully, his answer brought Robin back to the present and he looked to a now peeved Beast Boy.
"Raven is complicated; there is much about her we are not meant to understand," Starfire said truthfully, after all, she was the one who spent the most time with her, you could only handle three guys for so long.
"Then how are we supposed to deal with her? How are we supposed to trust her?" Beast Boy fired back, he was met with only one statement.
"She's our friend. What more do we need to know?" Robin said. With this Beast Boy left to go find Raven, he never saw the darkened look that crossed Robin's face.
Cyborg had finished up the dishes when he saw the look cross his friend's face.
"What's wrong?" Cy asked.
"While Raven is our friend, Beast Boy's argument was sound, although it doesn't apply to her," he said, his brows knitting together in frustration.
"What do you mean?" Star asked confused.
"I'm talking about Phantom. He's saved our lives countless times, so much so, that all of us have put our trust in him. But why should we? We don't even know who he is?" And as he said this, the empty green gaze came back into his mind. Phantom's eyes were stone walls, capable enough to hide even the darkest of secrets, and yet Robin never remembered hesitating to take the outstretched hand. That sent a shiver up his spine.
"Phantom does not seem to be out to harm us," Starfire stated, she didn't understand why Robin was questioning Phantom; all he had done so far was help.
"Rob's got a point, Star. We don't know for sure if he's on our side, and if he isn't, well, you've seen how powerful he is," Cyborg said seriously although the words tasted bitter in his mouth. For he still shuddered at the decent tongue lashing he'd received when he temporarily quit the team, and the steel determination on Phantom's face to stop the Beast. How could he be evil?
"Cyborg, have you found any information on Danny?" Robin asked changing the subject, not just for their sake, but for his as well.
"Nah man, but I'll keep looking," with this Cyborg left, leaving Robin alone with a still confused Starfire.
"Please, I do not understand why would Phantom help us only to hurt us later?" her voice ringing through the silence.
"I don't know, Star," Robin answered truthfully, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looking up he met two strong forest green eyes that left no room for doubt at what she believed.
"Phantom is someone we should trust," with this Starfire left leaving Robin alone in the bright room.
Beast Boy had made it to Raven's room, his heart steadily beginning to race in his chest. The plain silver door did nothing to ease his growing nervousness. Quietly BB stepped closer until he was only an arm's length away, he reached out and lightly knocked on the door.
"Oh well, nobody's home," and with this he turned to leave, but was met with the solid metal that was Cyborg. Who didn't look happy at all, as the little grass stain stepped back rubbing his head in pain.
"You might want to knock a little louder," he said spinning Beast Boy around to face the door, nearly face planting him in it. Only Beast Boy didn't knock, so Cyborg did, and after three rough taps the steel door fell down with a resounding clang, leaving both BB and Cy in states of utter horror as they looked down where it now lay.
"Now we both have to apologize," the shock not quite wearing off as BB stared at the small dust cloud forming around the door. So much for doing what Robin wanted Cyborg thought as Beast Boy walked into the pitch black room.
The room held one window, the far wall painted black as swirls of purple the color of violet, flowed through it. Raven's bed was a deep purple, its circular form fitting easily into the design of Raven's hood that looked as if it were a raven encompassing everything their friend was. While her room was dark it held no oppression, everything was in order from the bookshelves, her dresser, to the theater masks sitting on a tall podium. Her room was lit with shadow lanterns hanging from the ceiling, incense filling the room in a calm scent, along with the pale yellow light, her room held the sense of thought. As if everything had meaning and a person needn't step inside to see the intricacies Raven took when she created her home. It was also why Cyborg didn't want to go in, everything in this room was about Raven. Everything she most likely didn't want them to know. It was exactly why Beast Boy entered right away.
"Looks like Halloween came early this year," observed BB not bothering to notice the subtle designs that Cyborg could see plain as day.
"Were in Raven's room! We should NOT be in Raven's room! She doesn't let anybody in here EVER!" and while Cyborg was panicking the whole time, he made sure to whisper out of fear of Raven's wrath, he practically tiptoed to Beast Boy's side who quite frankly, looked unaffected by the knowledge that Raven was probably going to kill them.
"So, this is our big chance to find out more about her," he said waving Cyborg off as he made his way over to her deep burgundy dresser, where a hand carved mirror lay onto top.
"For instance, check out this beauty mirror, who would have thought Raven spends time sprucing. Ah! Is that a zit?" Beast Boy yelled taking a closer look into the sliver mirror which no longer held his reflection, but four blood red eyes with murderous intent. He screamed, dropping the mirror back onto the dresser, trying to get away from the blood red claw that had appeared out of it, wrapping itself around him. Beast Boy's struggles were pointless and every inch he got closer to the mirror.
"C'mon B, we really should get out of…huh?" the second Cy turned around he stopped his train of thought and ran over to his friend who was now half way submerged into the mirror his feet flaying in the air.
"Hey!" yelled Cy as he grabbed onto his friends purple boot and pulled with all his strength, but soon Beast Boy and Cyborg found themselves falling into the mirror as it hit the soft grey carpet with a thud.
When Danny awoke for the fifth time, he finally decided it was time to get up, seeing as how it was now eight in the morning. Looking at the clock Danny couldn't help but let out an exhausted sigh, no doubt this was going to result in another question from Fixit. Only when he left, Danny found his apartment strangely empty. This didn't worry him, for he assumed Fixit was probably upstairs either reading or battling the psychotic coffee maker. With this in mind, he grabbed a pop-tart from the pantry and headed upstairs to open the store. Only when he got there, Fixit was nowhere in sight, he wasn't on a couch and the coffee maker looked untouched.
"Fixit?" Danny called ignoring the fear constricting his chest as he wandered through the shelves. It wasn't long before Danny broke into a run bounding up the stairs jumping so that one foot momentarily landed on the carved railing before he pushed off and landed on top of one of his bookshelves showing him the entire store to be empty. Dread swept through him, Fixit wasn't here. And the promotion that he never left and was 'there' took hold of his thoughts.
"Fixit!"
Danny didn't know when he'd started moving again, all he knew was that now he stood in front of the black door and wrenching it open he raced into his lab.
Fixit hadn't been sure what to expect when he opened the door, but this certainly wasn't it. He was in a lab, tables filled with beakers and lining the walls were different machines scattered about, and at the far back wall stood a steel door. It was closed, the yellow and black lines warning people to stay away, but Fixit wasn't like other people. Quietly, he floated across the white tile floor his blue cloak not even stirring dust. Once across he turned to observe the room, it was spacious and another hallway branched off, making Fixit curious as to where it led, but right now the steel door held all of his attention. It was a good eight feet tall and was reinforced with heavy bolts; again Fixit noticed that it was in the shape of a hexagon. Danny did say that his parents were inventors. Was this their lab? But why was it in Danny's house and not his parents'? Fixit scanned the area and somehow he got the feeling that this place didn't belong to his parents; after all, when Fixit had asked Danny about them he received the impression that they had long since passed away. And looking at the clean, bright, empty lab, only seemed to reinforce that Danny was truly alone.
Fixit let his eyes close in grief, for somewhere deep in his heart he had been holding onto the hope that they were alive, but now…a sigh escaped his lips as the blue eyes opened once more to gaze at the barred off door. He wanted to open this as well, and so Fixit set his book down on a nearby table that held a metal belt that looked like it locked around its wearer, although why, Fixit had no idea. He disregarded the belt and looked to the key lock next to the door, filters and strange knobs all giving off important readings on just what the door was and how to maintain it. Fixit diligently began typing away his eyes going red, hacking into the mainframe until with a click; the doors opened revealing a swirling green energy as the smoke cleared. Fixit stood there in awe; for this wasn't just a door it was a portal, although to where Fixit had no idea. Thousands of new questions raced through his mind while his eyes gazed at the strange portal, casting him in a green aura a striking contrast to his ocean blue eyes. Fixit had two choices, one, close the door and walk away, to never bring up what he saw, unless Danny was ready for it. Or two, enter into the portal to gather the answers he so readily wanted to understand, so as to ease his friend's pain. Either way both choices held great consequences and equal benefits. And with one last look at the book sitting on the sliver counter top, the choice was easy to make, steeling his resolve Fixit stepped through the green energy, the portal closing once he did.
The swirling red vortex seemed to go on forever until, to BB's surprise, it opened dropping him on a hard jagged rock, Cyborg landing on top of him. Shakily they stood and watched as the red swirling portal closed leaving them standing on the floating rock.
"Ah, man," Cyborg said as he took in where they had been sent. The place held no light only darkness surrounded by red stars, the rocks were floating as if they didn't belong to gravity, all of the plant life was dead, the place seemed to go on forever and yet, the noise they made never carried, as if they were in a dampened room.
"I told you we never should have gone in Raven's room!" BB shouted, although Cyborg didn't get mad seeing as how it was BB's fear mechanism.
"Where are we?" He asked trying to calm down pacing the perimeter of the rock they were stuck on while Cyborg tapped into his sensors.
"You're asking the wrong robot, my sensors must be on the blink 'cause they're saying we're in Titan's Tower."
"R-i-g-h-t. So how do we get back?" He asked coming over to stand by Cyborg.
"Guess we start walking," Cyborg said.
"C'mon, I'm serious we're on a rock in the middle of…"
Beast Boy never got to finish as a loud rumbling interrupted him, rocks forming together to create a long narrow path in the black space.
"Oh…" BB said his head swimming in confusion.
"If sending us to weirds-ville is Raven's idea of a joke, I am So not laughing," BB said as he and Cyborg made their way down the long path, they never noticed the raven sitting on the log of a dead tree, his four red eyes watching their every move.
"Hey, she didn't send us here. You're the one who went snooping in her room and popping zits in her magic mirror!" Came Cy's frustrated reply as he made sure not to fall off the path while glaring down at Beast Boy.
"Who booby traps a mirror?"He said indignantly.
"Maybe it wasn't a trap; maybe it's Raven's way home, maybe this is where she's from," Cy said his voice tapering off as he looked to a giant red star that seemed to once have been a sun.
"Defiantly creepy enough," agreed BB.
"Turn Back," a melodious voice said through the darkness, causing Cy and BB to jump in fear, both searching for the voice.
"Like I was saying…" BB tried to say when the voice became three and looking up, they saw three small baby birds with big red eyes as they spoke in harmonious voices sitting on a stone archway.
"Turn back, turn back, turn back," they kept singing over and over.
"Sweet. Bet'cha they can tell us how to get home," Beast Boy said happily, approaching the dead tree they were now sitting on.
"Careful, how do we know they're not a threat?" Cyborg asked as his friend turned to look at him a confident smile on his face.
"Hello? Remember me, Beast Boy, if they were dangerous I'd know." That earned him an eye roll from Cyborg, BB turned to speak to the little birds.
"Hey little guys, my buddy and I were wondering if…" the archway was empty. The little birds all on the rocks below looking up at Beast Boy as more of them joined in the same song. Their wide eyes turned into four, and they let out monstrous roars their beaks now holding sharp serrated teeth. Beast Boy ran for his life as Cyborg hit the ground to avoid the now viscous birds trying to dive bomb him.
Danny spotted it right away, the only out of place object in his organized lab; the book. The same one Fixit had been reading last night; Danny's heart lurched in his chest, hammering to the song of panic.
"Fixit?" vainly he called out even though Danny knew Fixit wasn't here either. No, he had gone into the Ghost Zone. Walking up to the computer Danny hoped that maybe Fixit had set it to its last coordinates and that he was only in Clockwork's Tower chatting up the ghost of time, who no doubt would get along great with Fixit. But he hadn't, no, Fixit merely opened the portal and stepped through, to God knows where, and if Danny went through to retrieve him and got caught…the treaty would be null and void and everything would come crashing down, and his life would be thoroughly screwed.
Not that this mattered to Danny at the moment, as he tried to control the panic and irritation at Fixit for going into his lab…and for being smart enough to hack into his computer system. Stupid overly smart robot, Danny thought as he prepped the portal to open, while he grabbed a small device he had modeled after his parents design to detect real world items, praying that his friend was somewhere his enemies weren't. The portal opened, two blue rings turned Danny into Phantom, and as he approached the door he held his breath and prayed that no one was on the other side to see him as he flew into the portal to search for Fixit.
Beast Boy and Cyborg weren't sure how long they'd been dodging the evil birds, while screaming like little girls, all they were doing now was trying not to get pecked to death which was why Cyborg was riding on top of a green lama, firing off his sonic cannon at the red eyed fiends. Although him and BB didn't exactly pay attention to the fact that they were on a narrow stone bridge floating in space, which Cyborg promptly shot when some birds tried to get Beast Boy's feet. The distinct noise of cracking rock filled the air as BB and Cy stood there in shock and the rock gave out beneath their feet.
"Ahhh!" Cy yelled as he gripped BB by the neck with one hand, the other holding onto the cliff to stop them from falling into the black void.
"Hey guys!" Raven called Cyborg turned his head to see Ravens feet as she looked down at her friends' struggles.
"What's up?" smiling, while trying not to laugh at the crazy look Cyborg was giving her.
"I don't know any more…" Cy said his voice high pitched and seriously freaked out as he felt gravity shift and looking at the rocks he came crashing down BB right on top of him, Raven laughing the whole time, neither boy managed to wipe the oh-god-what-is-happening look off of their faces.
"Raven! How did? Where are? What just…why are you wearing Pink?" BB managed to finally get out, his voice appalled that the Titan girl would even wear such a color, Raven laughed once more at her friend's silliness and looking to him her violet eyes shined in merriment.
"Cause it's my favorite color." Speaking like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"It is?" Beast Boy asked feeling like all notions of reality were suddenly false…Raven liked… Pink?
"Look, I'd love to talk fashion, but I don't suppose you know how to get home?" Cyborg asked although seeing Raven in pink wasn't as strange as gravity deciding to flip flop or being attacked by black birds just like the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. No, defiantly not as weird, but seeing Raven so happy…that was another issue entirely.
"The forbidden door, but you don't want to go there, not now," she said her mood not changing in the slightest. Beast Boy and Cyborg looked at each other for one moment before both teens looked back at their friend,
"Uh, yeah we do," they said to Raven like she was crazy.
"Kay! But don't say I didn't warn ya!" and turning around, Raven ran towards the stone arch that's design looked similar to that of her now pink hood, making airplane noises, her arms spread wide like a child. Leaving Cyborg and BB shell shocked.
"Have you ever seen her, this happy?" Cy asked
"Dude, I didn't even know Raven could Do happy," BB replied as they walked underneath the archway disappearing into another part of the strange world. And stepping through the door, was like walking into the polar opposite of where they had been. For the sky was lemon drop yellow, and the mountains and grass were bubble gum pink.
"Now where are we?" yelled Cyborg as he looked at the purple stone path, a strawberry floating past him, his eyes were just as wide as BB's, this day kept getting weirder and weirder.
"I think this might be where air fresheners come from," BB replied both looked to Raven in her pink cape as she busted out laughing; this dwarfed even the happy go lucky atmosphere that surrounded them.
"You're laughing…" Cy tried to said.
"At one of MY jokes?" BB finished, this only caused Raven to laugh harder as she looked to her friends.
"Sure, I've always thought you were funny BB. But hey, looks aren't everything!" Laughing at her joke Raven walked off, Cy and BB exchanging looks before following her to the next stone archway.
Raven had been meditating on the roof when Starfire and Robin found her, concern in their eyes.
"Raven you okay? We stopped by your room and the doors been knocked down," Robin said as her violet eyes opened and laughter burst through her lips startling not only the two Titans, but Raven as well, who had been trying to get her emotions under control in order to close the door.
"I need to be alone," she said standing and quickly making her way back to the room, her hood hiding her face. Star and Robin just stood there in shock.
"Many of your earthly ways are still strange to me but that was, just plain freaky …correct?" She asked. Star's gaze turning to Robin who looked concerned and thoughtful. Silently, he nodded, the two heading for the door, Robin's mind racing. For Raven hadn't started acting this weird since last night, but as he thought of this, it started before that, when all of them met Danny, heck, even Starfire had been changed by the raven haired teen. Robin stopped in the corridor, Starfire giving him a questioning look.
"I'll catch up; I need to do some research," he said and with this he headed off for his room not waiting for her reply, he needed to know who Danny was and he couldn't wait for Cyborg to find something when he needed to know now.
Raven entered her room before her hand glowed a brilliant black, the door shinning in the same energy, as she lifted it up to reattach it to its hinges. Silently, she walked around her room, nothing appeared to have been disturbed until she came to the mirror lying on the floor, and Raven knew. Her heart went into double time, she had been so focused on fighting 'it' she hadn't been paying attention to…Damnit she was going to kill Cyborg and Beast Boy! But in that moment the only word that passed her lips was "no" as Raven gazed down in fear to the hand carved mirror, its blood red gem glittering in the faint light.
Fixit hadn't been sure what to expect on the other side, but this wasn't it. For where he was seemed to go on forever, the sky was a deep forest green, purple and green clouds swirling all around him, as if they were liquid. It was then he looked down and realized that he wasn't standing on ground but air. Only it wasn't air it felt solid and when Fixit realized that he wasn't going to fall he looked up again and was hit by the reality of where he was. For the place held no boundaries, no rules of nature, it felt alive and dead all at the same time. This was the place Danny's portal had sent him, fear suddenly took hold in Fixit's heart and looking back, he was met with only endless sky, the swirling portal energy had long since closed. Fixit wasn't sure how long he stood there floating in the liquid sky, but eventually once his heart settled he began to move. He needed to see if there were other people who could help him get back…mainly because he seriously needed to talk to Danny about having portals in his basement that took you to where, well, where ever here was.
Still, as he moved through the sky the air felt cool against his face, its liquid form brushing across him and vaguely he wondered if this is what it felt like to be submerged under water; to have the green energy flow across him in waves flowing out in rings and collapsing into his back as he continued further into the unknown territory. While the feeling was not unpleasant, Fixit knew that soon he would tire for while there appeared to be know gravity, the heavy liquid air seemed to be the thing keeping him afloat thus proving difficult to move through, he wondered how long Danny would be able to last if he were here, and then he felt fear, for what if Danny had never entered the portal. He banished this thought instantly for he didn't need to start hyperventilating. As he floated through the air he began to notice what appeared to be a floating mountain covered in trees and rocks, he decided it was worth a shot after all, the strange purple sun seemed to be slowly moving downwards and he figured that in earth time it was probably nearing lunch, not that it mattered he didn't require food, but it meant that by now Danny would hopefully be searching for him. He was nearing the mountain top; Fixit never noticed the white stone was carved out in the shape of a skull.
"She ditched us! I can't believe Raven ditched us! Next time I see her it's not going to be pretty!"BB said frustrated as he and Cyborg made their way to the top of the purple mountain top where a stone archway stood, black birds with four red eyes sitting perched on the trees never moving, watching the two teens step underneath the stone, emerging back into the black world with red stars. They were beyond freaked out, the happy place seeming a lot better than this dark abyss.
"Hey, I know where we are! We're in that place where I didn't know we were before!" Cyborg yelled not bothering to hide his panic and confusion both promptly screamed as Raven appeared before them emerging from the ground dressed in a pale gray cloak, her hood down allowing them to see her violet hair and sad mournful eyes. Beast Boy's aggravation got the better of him.
"Where were you? Shopping for robes?" tears formed in Raven's eyes as she backed away from a now worried Beast Boy.
"Whoa, easy, I didn't mean it." He said trying to comfort her as she avoided his eyes. Cyborg cut through his apology.
"Hey! That's the forbidden door right Raven?" He asked pointing to a faraway arch connected to a massive barren wasteland. Raven meekly nodded as BB watched her, his eyes still filled with concern. Cyborg didn't see her plight.
"C'mon ya'll we're almost…ahhhh!" he cried out as massive stone walls appeared, twisting and turning, ending and beginning. It was a maze. And BB tried to see the end of it flying high in the sky as a green crow, only to be shot down by magical electricity crashing back down to the ground rubbing his head, Cyborg activated his sonic cannon.
"Ah man, we gotta get out of here!" He yelled firing at the walls which remained undamaged, Raven all the while cowering in the corner until he finished.
"It's a maze. You can't get out, you have to go through. I can show you the way, but when we reach the end, you won't like me anymore. He already doesn't like me," she said gesturing over to BB who looked at her hoping that she really didn't believe that.
"C'mon that's not true!" he said and he really believed that, but Raven had already walked around the corner leaving a now ticked off Beast Boy and a confused and worried Cyborg.
"Gee, Raven, moody much," BB said trying to hide his concern.
"Yeah, she's like a whole different person," Cyborg said as he rubbed the back of his neck in confusion.
Danny had searched the entire upper half of the Ghost Zone nearer the friendlier ghosts, but now, he was drawing closer to where his parents' old portal used to be, and closer to his enemies. He ignored the urge to turn back around and instead, choosing to hide behind the floating doors and the occasional small island as his ghost sense began detecting more and more ghosts. But his heart dropped into the bottomless sky as his detector went off near Skulker Island, indicating a rather large real world item.
"Shit, how am I supposed to get him out of there?" Flying around the perimeter, careful to avoid the sensors that were hidden underneath the rocks, Danny spotted Fixit sitting on rock not twenty feet away in an open field, oblivious to the danger. This was going to be tricky.
"And remember the time I called you both immature pinheads, I'm sorry for that too. And also…" Raven apologized as she rounded another corner in the maze with two very exasperated Titans trailing behind her.
"For the hundredth millionth time…" Beast Boy said, Cyborg sighing in frustration,
"WE FORGIVE YOU!" They both said trying to get Raven to just understand, and shut up. But she just continued to stare at them, a lost look in her eyes. She opened the door so they could exit the maze revealing two stone statues with four red eyes on each side, one's face happy, the other face sad, each with only one arm and beyond them the final door that would lead home.
"That's the end," she said dread filling her voice neither teen noticed.
"Sweet!"
"Alright Raven!" Cyborg said as he and Beast Boy made their way forward. The statues came to life, slamming together creating one being. A face on either side, twin swords appearing in their hands as the eyes smiled maliciously at them.
"What!" Both Titans screamed. They thought that kind of stuff only happened in movies.
"No Way." BB said as they looked to Raven who was cowering in a corner looking at both of them with fear in her eyes.
"Told you, you wouldn't like me when we got here," was all she said, disappearing into the wall. The statue began to advance on them.
Robin was pouring through thousands of city files, searching for anything about this kid. Nothing was turning up, no paper, no birth certificate, nothing, everything was classified as confidential to protect his citizenship, but that only served to annoy Robin. Stupid red tape. Finally, with nothing to go on Robin did the only rule bending thing he could think of. Hack into the building department of Jump City sifting through the online documents until he found what he was looking for: Danny's store ownership. Robin couldn't hold back the surprise gasp this kid was adopted by Vlad Masters? He was almost as rich as Bruce! As Robin continued to read the document, he was disappointed to find that Danny's legal name was not printed on the copy which only made Robin more suspicious. Why did Danny even own a bookstore in the first place? So intent was he on digging up clues, he never noticed the door opening as Starfire entered concern on her face.
"May we go see if she is feeling better?" Star asked, Robin jumped in the air turning to see Star. Once he was sure his heart was back in the right place, he answered.
"She said she wanted to be alone," with this he turned back to the screen, Star began to pace the room. Just who are you Danny? Robin thought as he gazed at the document on the big screen.
The statue was advancing towards them and nothing seemed to be working, Cyborg's sonic cannon had no effect, all he could do was dodge the flying swords, as Beast Boy went after the thing's eyes to no avail, he was caught by the 'sad' faces arms its 'happy' face turned towards the now normal Beast Boy being held in its grip. He was going to enjoy crushing him.
"Yo, eight eyes! Hi Yay!" a green cloak girl screamed as she came flying through the air, her foot connecting to the statues heads sending it to the ground the girl standing straight in pride, knocking BB out of its grip.
"Woo hoo! In your faces!' Raven screamed her dark green cape billowing around her. She was strong and confident, effortlessly dodging the swords, creeping towards the statue, but staying out of striking distance waiting for the perfect moment. The stature opened its long arms and Raven knew it was time. Leaping into the air she struck the statue from the top its head with two fingers, dragging them down splitting the thing cleanly in half. It parted like the red sea and Raven stood, throwing her fist up in victory. While Cyborg and Beast Boy stood there looking like they were having whiplash from how many times Raven's personality seemed to change, as well as her clothes.
"Yeah! High fives c'mon!" Beast Boy's mouth hanging in a giant 'o' shape at Raven's cocky voice, he was losing his mind.
"What is your deal! First you nuke breakfast, then finally laugh at my jokes, then you're all weepy, and now you're a marine? Make up your mind! Who are you?" He yelled at a now ticked off marine green Raven. With this, the other two Ravens appeared, one in bubble gum pink a smile on her face, the other Raven a timid look in her eyes her grey cloak hiding her body, and the green Raven simply looked ticked.
"I'm Raven," all three stated, now BB and Cy felt like a nuke had just been thrown at them, but with all of these emotions swirling around they never noticed the black birds congregating on the blackened trees, their eyes glowing blood red, watching the teens below figure out what was going on.
Danny had disabled the sensors near Fixit and currently was setting a trap on the far side of the island, praying that Fixit hadn't moved from his spot otherwise they were screwed. Finished, Danny lit the small fuse he'd attached to a motion sensor and flew as fast as he could back towards Fixit. Relief flooded him. Good he hasn't moved. Danny tensed and waited for the loud boom that came shortly in the distance, stirring the trees and rocks and a ghost he knew was certainly prowling the area. Danny shot out from underneath the rocks flying straight for Fixit who had risen to his feet in alarm, Danny stopped just short of plowing into him in his eagerness to leave.
"C'mon, we have to go it isn't safe!" he said grabbing Fixit by his long bell robe sleeve and pulling on his wrist, Fixit stayed firmly in place.
"I do not know you. Why should I trust what you say for you are the first person I have met," Danny felt annoyed at this. Leave it to Fixit to state the obvious; damn if they didn't hurry Skulker would show up realizing that the blast was only a distraction.
"Damnit, would you just trust me!" He said annoyed giving a sharp tug his glowing green eyes flashing in annoyance he managed to drag Fixit closer to the edge, but in the moment their eyes met Fixit's eyes widened in surprise, his breath catching.
"Danny?" while it came out as a statement to Fixit, it was a question, until the unearthly being tensed and met his eyes, something a keen to fear, astonishment and pride passing too quick for Fixit to accurately pin down. Fixit wasn't a hundred percent sure, but he knew this was Danny, although everything was wrong, except the eyes the green eyes couldn't fool him, for they held Danny's wisdom and right now fear.
"Yes, now please we have to go!" and with this Fixit let himself be dragged into the sky, the liquid atmosphere seemed easier to move through now that Danny surrounded him in his white aura the water seemed to react naturally to the strange energy encompassing them, it continuously kept flowing outwards, never returning to Danny or Fixit as they made their escape, neither noticed the black shadow hiding behind a floating door. It had seen everything, a smirk plastering on the thing's lips as it made its way back to master whose eyes lit up in happiness as he and his shadow began to speed off towards the prison to alert the warden of Danny Phantom's return.
Beast Boy was thunderstruck, there were three Ravens. He needed to lie down, but Cyborg's brain was already processing the information and came to the conclusion BB never would have considered, well until he said it.
"Happy, timid, brave," he said as pink Raven walked over to Beast Boy who was recovering from the shock.
"You forgot dopey," she giggled while choosing to ignore BB's flustered look.
"Different sides of Raven's personality, we're not in Raven's home…" Cy said seriously BB catching on.
"We're in her head!" BB finished.
"And I want you out," Raven said dropping out from the sky the three emotions disappearing as she walked forward, her blue hood just barley hiding her anger and annoyance at her friends.
"That mirror you found is for meditation, it's a portal into my Mind! NOT A TOY!" practically growling the last part out, directing it at Beast Boy, who she knew was the one who activated the mirror. He laughed nervously apologizing to Raven. The red eyed birds were done observing. All of them taking flight to the now red sky, making all three Titans stare up, realization dawning on Raven's face it was coming.
"You have to go, now."
"Hold up, what's going on here?" Cy asked Raven turning to meet his gaze.
"Last night, something got loose, something bad," she said her voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh no you don't. I had it with this mystery girl routine! I want to know exactly what we're talking about here!" Beast Boy said upset. Raven merely looked like she wanted to punch him, until a roar broke through the silence as the ravens converged, a demon with red skin and white hair, with four hell born eyes emerged out of them, towering over even the tallest skyscraper as he yelled into the sky.
"Hatred shall Rule!"
"Let's just say… I have issues with my father," was all Raven could say as she Beast Boy and Cyborg backed away from the demon with horses hoofs for legs.
Fixit was silent as he let Danny pull him through the sky; he was still trying to process what he learned. This was Danny. This, person with white hair and black jumpsuit was his friend, although he had similarities, Fixit wouldn't have been able to figure it out, for the white haired teen seemed so different he was tense, and every fiber of him radiated power, even his voice echoed in his throat. But his eyes, they were the only thing that remained the same. For they looked like they had the night before, was this the burden he was carrying? Fixit never got to ask for suddenly there came a loud roar, Danny diving out of the sky, as hundreds of beings dressed in police wear surrounded them, firing green energy at them .
"Crap!" Danny yelled as he grabbed hold of Fixit's shoulders and pulled him closer, a green barrier surrounded them both. Fixit's heart raced as he watched thousands of blasts hit the barrier and bounce off, he began to wonder if Danny would tire, but looking over he was met with a steel gaze looking past all of the weapons searching for someone. Fixit found his breath was evening out, for whatever was happening, he could tell it wouldn't hurt his friend.
"ENOUGH!" Danny yelled Fixit winching as the teens voice reverberated through the air, everything stopped, but Danny didn't lower his shield. Silently, Fixit turned his head back to the creatures floating high in the air all looking at them with hate and fear. He gasped, they didn't look human. Their skin was a sick green, all of their eyes blood red, they didn't even have feet only tails. The only thought that crossed his mind was death, these things were dead. It was then, that Fixit felt it the endless cold that had melted into his skin, sending chills up his spine. Danny held no warmth, he was just like them; a ghost. Ghosts, these dead things were ghosts.
"What is going on? Danny, why are you dead?" he asked trying to make his voice strong, but it only came out a whisper. Danny never moved, but he felt the hand on his shoulder tense.
"Danny," Fixit tried, he wanted answers!
"Not now," came the stern reply, it was layered with stress and Fixit didn't need to think of a reason why, but still, he found himself wanting to know. His thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind as an eight foot tall man dressed as a jailer walked forward, his green eyes smiling, his skeleton face pulled back into a smirk.
"Well, what do we have here, a ghost punk and unauthorized personal, that's against the rules. But you even being here is against the rules, isn't that right halfa," The man dressed in white said sneering down at Fixit and Danny.
"It was an accident, my friend just wandered into the portal, the treaty is still intact Walker, I'll just take him and leave," Fixit couldn't help the bats in his stomach as he took in what Danny was saying. What treaty? What was a halfa? Not to mention the guilt that filled him for Danny had apparently broken said unknown treaty to come and save his ass. Fixit's heart fell when the skeleton ghost burst out laughing.
"No can do punk, you broke the rules and by the law, it's time I made your life a living hell again. Guards, arrest Danny Phantom! Oh, and his friend as well!" Fixit watched in horror as the ghosts in police uniforms all pulled out a separate weapon, one that looked like a stun gun and fired. The energy was pure white and when it hit the barrier Danny screamed out in pain and they both were thrown back a good ten feet. Over the deafening ringing in his ears, Fixit heard the man named Walker laugh and say something inaudible. But as he turned his head towards Danny, he knew what Walker had said, that the barrier protecting them wouldn't last. Out of the corner of his ocean blue eyes he saw the guards' fire once more.
Her father was gaining on them, as they ran to the last portal, her father attacked, his four eyes shooting hell's fire at them. She had to save her friends! Raven watched as the attack missed Cyborg and Beast Boy by two feet, the blast sending them flying back hitting the ground hard. She flew to their sides anger burning in her eyes as she looked towards her father.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" A black barrier formed from her hands, shielding Cyborg and Beast Boy as her father fired again the barrier protecting them as well as the stone carved door. Raven grunted in pain, it wouldn't be long now till he broke through her magic, and when he did, her friends would die. Her mind screamed in panic as sweat beaded her brow…she needed to think of something fast.
Robin was still staring at the screen; he couldn't find anything on Danny! Frustrated he slammed his hands down onto the table, taking this as her cue she approached Robin.
"May we now see if Raven is better?" Starfire asked.
"She wanted to be alone," Robin said ignoring her annoyed and crest fallen face, man, where was Cyborg? Hopefully he was having more luck than he was. Wait, didn't Raven say he graduated high school at the age of fifteen? They normally posted those kinds of things in the papers. Renewed Robin continued his search.
Raven's eyes were complete white, her hands swirling in black magic as she felt the heat pouring out of the demons attack, time was running out.
"Get out of my mind, now!" She begged looking at her friends, the forbidden door had finally opened, when and how Raven wasn't very sure, but the red energy swirled underneath its parting wings designed just like her hood. It promised safety, but BB and Cyborg never moved an inch towards it, they weren't going to abandon her.
"And leave you alone with That?" BB shouted pointed at the towering red and black demon.
"Not gonna happen!" Cy finished. Raven was slowly being dragged back, her shoes digging into the moist earth, her eyes closing in concentration. Even speaking was taking its toll on her.
"It's my, problem! I'll deal with it. If I lose you'll be stuck in here forever!" She screamed not telling them that they could all very likely die in here as well. Her father was fed up, stopping he formed a miniature sun in his hands throwing it relentlessly at his daughter's barrier. She screamed, her magic faded, dissolving in the red plasma hell that was his power. As the smoke cleared the demon noticed that his daughter still stood her arms in that of a strong 'x' protecting her from the attack, on pure adrenaline she turned back to her friends her hand filled with blackness, she pushed them back towards the door away from her, they needed to leave.
"Go!" She yelled not sparing a backwards glance as she soared through the sky blasting her father when she could, dodging when she couldn't. Raven never noticed that Cyborg and Beast Boy hadn't gone through the portal, but instead stood and watched their friend and when Cy and BB's eyes met, neither one held any doubts as to what they had to do.
"Danny… Danny!"
"Huh, what!" Danny said shaking his head to try and stop the ringing in his ears, what hit him? Groggily, he turned his head to see Fixit shaking him; fear on his face, Danny saw flashes of light shooting towards his shield. Realization dawned on him, and quickly he dropped the barrier and teleported him and Fixit away to a nearby door, they watched the attack connect to green air.
"NO! Find him! Find Danny Phantom, that punk already owes me ten thousand years!" Walker screamed as the guards dispersed throughout the Ghost Zone. Danny sighed, ignoring the questioning gaze that was burning a hole in the back of his head. Silently, he turned and looked at Fixit and shook his head, waiting until he was sure Fixit got the message. Once he did, Danny grabbed his arm again and flew off hiding behind doors every time a patrol came to close. Fixit hadn't been sure how far they'd gotten, but when it had been quiet for what he assumed was five minutes the questions he had held at bay couldn't be contained.
"Why are you dead?"
"It's complicated."
"How long have you been dead?"
"For three years."
"What treaty was Walker talking about?"
"Again, complicated."
"…Is this the burden that is killing you?"
Danny actually stopped at this, the water cool air crashing back into them, what Fixit hadn't been expecting was the look of amusement in Danny's eyes which slightly miffed the robot.
"What? No, why would being dead be a burden…o.k. half dead technically. Don't ask, I'll tell you later once we get out of here, preferably before we start the next world war."
Fixit raised an eyebrow at this, was he being serious?
"I'm being sarcastic."
"You're a horrible friend," Fixit stated looking at the endless sky, the purple sun had long since set strangely in the East casting the sky in a sap green hue.
"In case you haven't noticed you're not exactly the picture perfect friend as well," Danny stated and with this he resumed flying, the corners of Fixit's mouth turning upwards, Danny had just referred to him as a friend.
As they continued through the night, steadily the landscape began to change to shadows of white which Fixit realized was snow until they came to a giant swirling mountain chasm that seemed to go down instead of up.
"Where are we going?" Fixit asked.
"To see a friend, and to get directions on how to get home," Danny said as he and Fixit flew down in the realm of the Far Frozen Clan.
Raven kept attacking ignoring her screaming muscles and protesting magic, she needed to fight. As she aimed for her father's back, she was startled when he turned at a faster speed not remotely possible, and his eyes fired at her sending her into his arms.
"Rage shall consume you!" The demon said.
Pain. And blackness was all she could feel, her eyes glazed over trying to overcome the desire to just…
"Yo! Sounds like somebody needs a time out." Cyborg said pointing his sonic cannon at the demon from where he stood on the cliff. He fired directly at the soft flesh in between the knuckles of the demon's hand. It screamed out in pain, taking another blast directly to the chest, losing his grip on Raven, he tumbled down into the abyss of red stars and darkness. She was falling, Raven vaguely registered this, but it couldn't hurt right? Not like this. Only it would, and she could do nothing to stop it, it was then she felt the strong claw of a green hawk gripping her shoulder. And looking up she knew it was Beast Boy, gliding the two of them down onto the hard bedrock transforming back into his normal self, smiling in relief to his friend. Raven only felt confusion.
"You saved me? I thought you didn't like me?" Raven asked gazing into his light hazel brown eyes the only thing about him that wasn't completely green. How had Raven missed that?
"Thought you didn't like me," he said smiling while helping her up they were interrupted by Cyborg who was, a good distance away, staring down into the abyss.
"Yo, I like both of you, now get your butts over here!" He yelled as Raven's father stood up.
"Feel my fury!" He yelled attacking Cyborg who barely managed to dodge the attack. Raven and Beast Boy joined and soon the three Titans were locked in combat, the blood rushing through their veins drowning out the fear of death.
Robin was at another dead end, there was absolutely nothing on Danny! No articles about a fifteen year old genius or any record of him attending the community college in Jump, Robin was wearing his resources thin. Starfire had been eerily quiet, but had never stopped pacing the room, although for different reasons. Finally her control snapped and she tried again.
"May we now…"
"No."
He said, Starfire immediately started pacing once more, desperate he typed in his last option 'Vlad Masters' and pressed the enter key. The search began.
Fixit was awe stuck as he and Danny landed onto the soft cold snow, the now liquid blue air seeming to swirl in snowflakes around the land. Here the atmosphere felt more like Earth's, but Fixit wasn't fooled, he could still feel the pressure that surrounded him the instant Danny released his shoulders.
"We're safe for now, Walker and his goons won't come into Frostbite's land," And with this he started walking, his feet leaving no tracks in the snow. For a time both walked in silence Fixit pausing every once in awhile to admire the carved designs in ice wondering who made them.
"What is the treaty Walker was speaking of, the one you broke?" He finally asked careful to put his voice back into its monotone sound, he wasn't disappointed as he watched Danny tense, then relax his eyes wandering the land as they continued their trek.
"The treaty was created a year ago, stating that as long as I never set foot in the Ghost Zone again, other than to visit Clockwork, the Ghosts would not attack the Human Zone. Of course we aren't prefect, I still caught some ghosts terrorizing the towns, but most fled when they saw me," he stated, his echoing voice becoming brittle as the ice surrounding them.
"Did you break the rules as well?" Trying to lighten the mood Fixit was rewarded with a small chuckle.
"Yes, but I only ventured to Ghostwriter's Library, everywhere else was too risky. Even coming here, I wonder how Frostbite will take my return."
"Hopefully better than Walker did," Fixit stated that ghost ticked him off, not understanding why Danny was already sentenced to ten thousand years in prison, that seemed very unjust. Danny did burst out laughing at that.
"Heck yeah! For one thing I'll be dust in ten thousand years!" Danny said still laughing, but this statement only raised more questions. Walker called Danny a halfa and later Danny said he was only half dead, how was that possible? They came to the edge of a bend and rounding the corner Fixit saw a magnificent city made of ice, with creatures he had never even dreamed of walking about. They didn't even get past the gates when many in the city began shouting out in joy saying the Great One had returned, distantly, Fixit realized they were speaking of Danny. Just what had he done to earn that level of respect? He watched as a great white ghost, that looked to be a white yeti, but held wolfish properties in his face, two ice horns resting on his head, below his canine ears flickering around his head in joy, came flying out of the city, his ice blue cape billowing in the wind putting strain on where it was held together by a solid gold coil. This ghost was obliviously the leader, and yet he was acting like a father embracing his lost son when he pulled Danny into a monster hug, careful not to skew him with his claws, one arm completely made of ice.
"Great One, you have returned!" He exclaimed as Fixit heard a muffled squawk of protest from Danny, who appeared to be suffocating in all of the leader's fur. The wolf like ghost realized this and released Danny, who landed on his feet gasping for air, but none the less smiling.
"It's nice to see you Frostbite," he said in return.
Frostbite's eyes turned from jubilant to concern in a heartbeat, as did the other yetis' who were watching from inside of the city their precise hearing catching every word.
"Great One, you should not be here, it violates your treaty, although everyone here would personally say screw it, we have missed you greatly, but you are taking a huge risk," with this Danny's face flushed slightly as he rubbed his neck nervously his gaze temporarily meeting Fixit's, who was startled by his strange action. He looked so much younger…
"Yeah about that, see, I kind of already screwed that up. My friend Fixit here went into my lab and sort of stepped through the Ghost Portal without my knowledge and in order to get him back…"
"You came in after him, and no doubt got caught," Frostbite said smiling amusingly down at Danny."The art of being subtle was never your strong suit," he added as an afterthought Danny mumbling something unintelligible causing several of the other yetis to laugh.
"Who caught you?" Frostbite asked.
"Walker. And his guys had some sort of devices," Danny inquired, Frostbite leading them through the city to the main hall that housed the science lab.
"You mean his new stun guns; we violently opposed him building those, for they were modeled to directly harm you, and are you alright?" He asked as they walked up the icy steps and into a high tech laboratory. Danny merely shrugged.
"I'm fine. My head hurts more from teleporting than anything else, not as bad as when I'm in the Human Zone though. Why is that?" Danny asked Fixit was surprised at how easy it was for him to keep up, especially since Danny wasn't holding out on any information.
"You are in the Ghost Zone, your powers are replenished easier than when you're home due to the ecto-plasmum in the air. Although, I'm surprised your head even hurts at all, sense most of your powers are derived from inside the very core of your human heart," he stated Danny merely shrugged.
"While I am very fascinated by the fact that you seem to get Danny to talk in more than five sentences at a time, how are we to get home, my sensors have yet to locate a Portal similar to Danny's back in his lab."
Frostbite smiled and walked up to an ancient scroll floating in suspended animation he deactivated the security measures around it.
"Great One, you know what to do," with this he left to go attend to other things, leaving Fixit alone and very confused, Danny reached out and held the old parchment.
"Tell now," demanded Fixit when Danny looked up to him, his green eyes laughing at the look on Fixit's face.
"Hey, it was your fault for going into my lab. But this is the Infi-map, it shows you any portal between the two Zones, all you have to ask where you want to go," Danny said letting it fly open, the map trailing onto the floor wrapping around then entire length of the lab as it revealed thousands of blue stars in the night sky the same ones Fixit knew very well. Danny set the map on the floor careful not to touch it; he promptly answered Fixit before he even asked the question.
"If you tell it where to go, it tends to take you there right away and since I don't want to steal it from its protectors…" Danny tailed off as Fixit nodded in understanding both looked down at the dark blue map.
"Show me the portal that will take us home." Danny said kneeling down onto the ice tile floor. The map, swirling its colors, blurring from blue to green the night sky changing as it drew a line from the Far Frozen Clan directly to…
"Ah, crap." Danny mumbled.
Fixit merely raised an eyebrow at his friend's use of language. Sighing Danny thanked the map and rolled it up, placing it back into its camber where it slowly began to spin in a lulling circle.
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing, the portal is just located in a bad spot," Danny said as they exited the lab, Frostbite standing at the end of the stairs.
"Where is it located, Great One?" Frostbite asked walking them to the edge of the city.
"Directly above Walker's prison."
Yep, that defiantly sucks. Fixit thought as Danny sighed and headed out of the city gates, Fixit was about to follow when he felt a furry cold hand press on his shoulder and turning, saw Frostbite looking down at him, concern in his eyes.
"Do not stop questing, Danny. There is much he has buried and I fear it is killing him, please, for his sake as much as the world's, help him, my friend." With this the wolfish yeti released Fixit from his grasp. Stunned the robot could only nod to the powerful ghost spirit, he turned and floated away catching up to Danny, who had paused and was waiting for him just before the bend.
"What was that about?" Danny asked confusion in his voice.
"He merely asked that I make sure you don't freeze anyone with those ice eyes of yours," Fixit stated watching Danny's green eyes go wide, a blush creeping into his face a drastic contrast to his snow white hair.
"That little…you freeze someone with your ice powers one time!" Danny yelled in frustration, grabbing Fixit by the shoulders so he could fly both of them out of there. He never noticed Fixit's shocked expression at Danny admitting to having ice powers, he was only speaking of his ice blue eyes. Nevertheless, Fixit couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at this new tiny piece of embarrassing information. It quickly disappeared as they reemerged out into the ominous green sky.
Their lives currently sucked as it came down to two things one: getting blasted to death or two: run like hell. Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven chose the second option. All three Titans managing to avoid another attack and took the chance to hide while under the cover of smoke. Raven's father moving in a different location trying to locate his prey, the teens all breathing small sighs of relief while trying to get their heart rates under control. Raven was the first to speak, while they hid behind giant jagged rocks jutting out of the landscape concealing the fear ridden teens perfectly.
"He's too strong, I cannot defeat him," Raven said lowering her hood her sweat damp hair clinging to her face. Cyborg wasn't going to have this, he wasn't about to give up now not after the three of them had been put through one hell of a ride–no thanks to Beast Boy– but still Raven was his friend, he Wasn't going to abandon her.
"So call for backup! What about all those other yous?" He said trying to throw out ideas.
"Yeah! The Green one kinda kicked butt!" BB threw out, not to mention she acted just like Cyborg and him.
"It still wouldn't be enough, none of my other sides have the kind of power we need," she said hopelessly. And for the first time Beast Boy knew the answer to his friend's troubles, it was the very thing Robin had asked of him.
"Not alone, but what about together, they're all part of who you are right!" He said smiling at Raven. The ground gave a violent shudder as the demon began blasting everything in sight; he needed to find his 'precious' daughter. Cyborg, who had been monitoring the situation, turned to face the other Titans.
"Go for it! We got your back!" He yelled, both of the Titans disappeared around the corner following after the demon. Raven gave a faint smile, she truly had been blessed, with this thought she ignored the slight ache of her powers and the sweat that ran down her face, she closed her eyes and raised her hood in meditation. Her arms crossing she opened her glowing white eyes calling on all of her other sides, they came in a swirl of colors, gathering into a circle around the soul they all made up. And together, they rose high in the sky, spinning around Raven, condensing into pure energy until in a swirl everything came together. In one flash of bright light, Raven felt all of herself, every fiber of who she was, poured into her. And she knew; she could win.
Her father was amusing himself, toying with her friends by sending hundreds of red eyed black birds at them as they ran around, trying to avoid the sharp teeth. He never noticed his daughter, dressed in a blinding white robe and uniform, appear behind him, her dark red jewels sparkling like the stars that adorned the sky, like she had captured them and placed them around her waist. He turned as two angelic white eyes opened, and she attacked placing black binding magic around her dear father.
"You are going back were you belong!" She yelled as he struggled against her hold.
"Never!" He smirked, the magic ripped apart. Raven's power poured out of her as she sent a continuous wave of night at him. Her father returned her power with his own sinister hell fire clashing. They met half way, struggling for dominance, the birds disappeared around Cy and BB, as the demon was forced to use all of his power against Raven. In a burst of strength, she pushed forward, her magic defeating her Father's, he howled in pain, his own fire destroying him as well, until all that remained was a tiny four eyed Raven dressed in a plain red robe staring up at its captor. The red energy dispersed, flowing back into Raven and when the smoke cleared, she stood, her blue robe and black uniform surrounding her, Cy and Beast Boy ran to their friend. Raven stood victorious. Until her legs gave out from shock, she couldn't believe she just did that, as she fell, Raven was caught by strong mechanical arms and a green changeling not two feet away, making Raven feel very claustrophobic, a blush dusting her pale face.
"It's okay," Cyborg said.
"We got you," Beast Boy finished as Cy set her down onto the ground.
"Thank you, friends," she said.
"So we really are friends?" Beast Boy asked unable to contain his nervousness, but it disappeared when he was met with Raven's smile and small nod. Beast Boy tried to push it.
"And you really think I'm funny?" He asked his eyebrows doing a little jig trying to get her to laugh and was met with an annoyed look.
"Don't push it," she said with this they headed back to the swirling red portal.
Robin stared in shock, Vlad Masters had lived in Wisconsin, but that wasn't the problem…no, the problem was that about two years ago he ran for mayor in Amity Park, North Dakota, where one Danny Fenton had lived. There were only two articles about Danny in the paper one from four years ago, the other a year. Robin couldn't believe it, and silently he turned off the computer screen, he didn't want to keep staring at the teen's eyes. Starfire stopped moving she couldn't take it any longer.
"I must go see if friend Raven is alright!" her bell like voice cutting through the silence. Robin awoke from his trance immediately and bolted out of the room chasing after Starfire.
"Wait, Starfire! She wanted to be alone!" Robin yelled the door closing as he left.
Everything was quiet as Danny and Fixit neared the prison.
"What are we waiting for?" Fixit asked him and Danny hidden behind a large floating purple door.
"We don't know when the portal will open, and I'd prefer not to get zapped by those stun guns," Danny said seriously. They watched the green air begin to condense and swirl, until right above the watch tower of the prison a portal appeared.
"Let's go!" Danny said grabbing onto Fixit's shoulders shooting off towards the prison. Lights stopped them right in their tracks as their eyes were forced to adjust to the blinding sight and once they did, they were surrounded by the guards, stun guns all aimed at Danny, while Walker made his way towards them. His feet walking instead of floating, this in Fixit's mind made him look a lot more menacing.
"Nowhere to run, punk," his eyes smirking as he spoke.
"You can't stop me, Walker," Danny answered back coolly, his eyes holding no fear, Walker laughed.
"We'll see, kid. You broke the rules and now I can wage a war against you. After all, war criminals can be kept alive longer than the normal ones."
Fixit shuddered, he didn't want to dive any deeper than the surface of those words, but Danny's gaze never faltered, and it was then Fixit knew; that whatever Danny was, this burden of being dead wasn't killing him, and obviously fear and fighting wasn't it. So what was killing him? He watched as Danny's snow white bangs hid his eyes for one moment shadowing them, Danny breathed, taking in the pain and accepting the consequences of his actions, and when he looked up his glowing eyes held fire.
"I'll take your war, and throw it back into your pearly white ass face," Danny said and that was when Walker let out a roar of rage, the guards firing, Danny turned Fixit in his grasp, green flashed around them, and in the next instant, they were diving through the closing portal. Leaving Walker to howl and scream, demanding to know how the two criminals escaped.
Robin had managed to catch up to Starfire and grab her wrist before she knocked on the door. It didn't help that her alien strength easily dwarfed his, and Robin practically had to throw his entire body weight into just stopping her hand from reaching the door.
"Please, let us simply…"
"Raven asked us not to disturb her!" He growled out, resorting to putting one foot on the door for balance as he pulled back Star's arm, the other on her shoulder yanking her arm back and also for balance. O.k. he just invented a new workout routine…and a new game of tug of war.
"She could be weeping and…"
"I don't want to bother her!" He yelled sweat beading on his brow; her hand was almost there…
"But if we merely…"
The door opened as the two Titans fell backwards in shock, as Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven all emerged from her room.
"Where have you guys been?" Robin asked just noting the time it was well into the night.
"Just getting to know each other," Cyborg stated, all three of them smiled.
"Come friends, we shall prepare a new breakfast feast!" She exclaimed happily, but BB merely rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's a little late for breakfast, Star, maybe just some herbal tea?" He asked Raven's eyes lit up at his consideration, but her smile fell, she needed to tell them.
"Actually, Beast Boy, breakfast sounds nice, but I need to tell you all something about the fight with Dr. Light."
Everyone was dead silent.
"When Phantom came, I don't know how, but suddenly I could feel his presence. He's in unbearable amounts of pain."
"How? What's causing it! And how do we stop it?" Cyborg said fiercely, that guy might not say he's their friend, but he was powerful, and in Cyborg's mind, if Phantom wanted it or not he did consider him a friend. His heart dropped down into his stomach when Raven met his eyes.
"We are. Not directly, but whatever caused his wound, we are aiding in its inability to heal. And when I asked him to stop, he did. And this time, I fear he will never help us again, especially after he realized I could see his heart."
Darkness fell over the team as Raven's words sank in. Beast Boy, finally realizing why Raven's emotions had been so nuclear this morning, Phantom meant a lot to her. He meant a lot to everyone. Huh, weird, Beast Boy thought, he barely even saw the guy, rarely even talked to him, so how did he warm into his heart?
"Actually, I could go for some black coffee right about now," Cyborg answered hollowly his eyes downcast. It was then the articles came back to the forefront of Robin's mind.
"Let's go to Danny's bookstore. He has coffee, and I need to ask him something important," he said, the team agreed, trusting that Robin would tell them when the time was right. They headed out.
Danny and Fixit fell from the ceiling onto the tile floor of his lab. As Fixit recovered, Danny took the time to transform back, grunting in pain, the headache beginning to make itself known. Man, he was getting tired of using that power. While Fixit sat up, Danny couldn't help the laugh that escaped him from looking at Fixit's face, which seemed presently frozen in shock.
"What's the matter, you look like you've seen a ghost?" He stated this got the reaction he was hoping for, Fixit shook off the shock and replaced it with annoyance.
"It would appear I have, and alas, I have no doubts that you are alive yet dead, now tell me, how is that possible?"
Danny shrugged standing up carefully making sure his equilibrium was steady.
"Lab accident, my parents built a Ghost Portal when I was fourteen, but my eccentric and sometimes flaky dad put the darn 'on' switch inside the freaking thing. And when I went in there…"
"You turned it on," Fixit said comprehension dawning on his face, he watched Danny retrieve the book on the counter top.
"Yep, I got shocked with ten thousand volts of electricity and ecto-energy which split my molecules, killing me and saving me all at the same time," he said handing the book back to Fixit, who took it silently, gazing down at it.
"I was wrong, you are not Hamlet, you are someone greater, but tell me, just who are you?" Fixit asked looking down at Danny as they headed over to the door.
"I don't know, but in a way, I almost envy Hamlet."
"How so?" Fixit asked.
"That in the end, death claimed him before his burden crushed him, and the fact that he finally got fed up and said 'to hell with it!' and killed Claudius."
Fixit couldn't help but smile at the brashness in Danny's voice, he almost forgot Frostbite's plea. Almost. The door bell rang as Fixit was placing the book back on the shelf.
"Well damn, if it's an angry customer I'm letting you open the door and kick them out," Danny stated, grudgingly making his way up the stairs Fixit following, who raised an eyebrow at this.
"You have cussed three times in under a day, has your mind been damaged from the fall? Also, I do not see why I must answer the door, seeing as how they're your customers," Fixit stated as they made their way across the Victorian red carpet Danny giving a huff of annoyance.
"Shut up. My head hurts from teleporting. And if I hadn't left the store closed to come save you, you'd be sitting on that stupid rock talking it up with Skulker or Walker. So deal with the customers, and suck it up."
However, Fixit was spared their wrath and was met with the Teen Titans standing outside. Danny mumbling something close to another curse word under his breath as Fixit opened the door allowing them inside. Greeting them, he watched as Danny exchanged hellos while looking slightly peeved at why they were coming so late, for coffee no less, but as Danny led them to the café the reason why his friend didn't like heroes suddenly became clearer.
"Fixit, a little help?" Danny called as the Titans situated themselves on the nearby couches, Danny standing over the non functioning coffee machine.
"Of course," Fixit said floating over he never thought he'd ever truly appreciated how light air was. Stopping in front of the machine, Fixit merely stared at it before his eyes went red just as his fist came down smacking the thing up top its head, Danny stared in shock as the thing began to work.
"If you were just going to hit it, I could have done that!" Danny said his face slightly red, Titans laughed quietly to themselves. Fixit merely smiled and floated over to where Cyborg was seated at a table. Danny sighed and looked back to Robin.
"You wanted to ask me something?"
"Yes, it's about…"
Robin was cut off as the door bell rang once more, and the Titans watched as Fixit stood and moved through the bookshelves. Everyone turned back to Danny, Robin hesitating before he went on.
"Well it's about your family. They were ghost hunters correct?"
The atmosphere seemed to freeze, Danny's eyes turned cold.
"Yes," the curt reply came through strained lips.
"Then you know about ghosts. Tell me, do you know if Phantom is a ghost?" Robin's eyes noting every muscle tensing underneath Danny's clothes.
"I don't know. My parents were inventors mainly," he stated, for some reason Robin felt like that wasn't the entire truth.
"Have you seen ghosts?" his voice stern his eyes never backing down from Danny's icy ones.
"Yes," Danny was visibly shaking now.
"Then is it true they were killed by a ghost and your legal name is Daniel James Fenton who was adopted by…"
"Vlad Masters," came the voice of the man standing next to Fixit. All of the Titans jumped and faced the tall man in a black double breasted suit, his grey hair pulled into a ponytail that brought out his dull blue eyes. Danny simply stared at the man in shock, quickly turning to rage.
"I am sorry, It seems I'm not very good at kicking customers out," Fixit stated concern on his face looking to Danny whose eyes never left Vlad's. The air in the room seemed paper thin.
"That's fine, he would have found his way in here eventually," Danny's voice snarling, Vlad smirked.
The Teen Titans all stared in shock at the two people in front of them. And when Robin watched Vlad smile he couldn't stop the chill that ran up his spine or the confusion he felt as he gazed into Danny's hate filled eyes. Vlad smiled a crooked smile, revealing the perfect white teeth of a billionaire.
"It's nice to see you too, little badger."