Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
The sliding door hissed open and Terra walked through it with her two suitcases in tow behind her, rolling silently on their casters. She had checked the weather and saw that it was snowing in Steele City that morning. It was already 9 AM on the other coast but was still 6 AM in Jump City and the blond yawned as the door to her room slid shut behind her. She walked down the hallway to the elevators and passed the dreaded door. It was just like all the other doors, except it was labeled 'Raven'.
Terra passed the door without looking at it and was halfway to the elevators when she stopped. Leaving her two tan colored suitcases where she was she turned around and walked back to the dreaded door and rapped on it. Nothing happened and she was about to knock a second time when the door slid open, revealing a sleepy looking, bed headed Raven who was wearing Beast Boy's robe (dressing gown for you non Americans).
"I'm sorry I woke you up, but I wanted to say good bye before I left."
"Gar's still asleep." Raven said flatly.
"Don't wake him. Just tell him I came to say goodbye."
"I will." Raven said as she retreated back into the room. "Good bye Terra. You'll do fine with Titans East."
"Tell him I'm sorry."
Raven turned around and nodded. "He knows you are."
"I blew it again Raven. Oh well, my loss is your gain, right?"
Terra began to walk away and Raven called out to her.
"Terra!"
The geomancer stopped, turned around and gave Raven an inquiring look, but said nothing.
"Are you going to try to win him back?" Raven asked.
The blond Titan walked away, back to her luggage, and answered once she reached it.
"I don't know."
Cyborg sat in front of his state of the art workstation; putting the final touches on the diagram he was composing using a CAD program. He admired his design work and clicked on the print button to print a hardcopy on his inkjet plotter.
He popped open a can of root beer and took a deep swig as the huge printer began to stir to life. He watched as the huge print head zipped across the 60 inch wide rolled paper. Within a few minutes the printout was complete and was cut from the roll by a sharp razor blade. Cyborg gulped his final swig and crushed the can, tossing it into the recycling bin before grabbing the diagram, rolling it up and heading out to the common room.
It was now two days after the day after the wedding. Terra had left quietly the morning after the wedding with the Titans East and Alfred Pennyworth and had meekly said goodbye to Cyborg, Robin and Starfire before boarding the Titans East version of the T-Ship. Mas Y Menos shared a compartment to make room for Alfred while Aqualad offered to share his compartment with Terra, beating out Speedy by a whisker. The two young men got into a heated discussion over who had asked the geomancer first, irritating Bumblebee.
"What's the matter with both of you? You're acting like you've never seen a girl in our Tower."
Speedy looked up at her.
"And you're point is?"
Bumblebee gasped at the underhanded insult.
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm a girl too!"
Aqualad turned to her and this time it was his turn to stick his foot into his mouth.
"You don't count. You're our boss."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked indignantly, but in vain as the two young men had already tuned her out, focusing completely on the shapely blond. Bumblebee became completely flustered as Starfire giggled. She grumbled the whole trip home.
Cyborg, Starfire and Robin had accompanied the Logans to the docks later that afternoon where they boarded the cruise ship they would call home for the next 10 days. Their farewells were quick and the ride home in the T-Car had been a quiet one.
The days had been quiet as crime had also taken a vacation. Cyborg was already restless when they got home. He played some gamestation with Robin but he found it unsatisfying. And that's when it hit him: his green buddy was a married man and things were going to be different from now on, very different. The Bionic Hero pondered the implications of this new situation and he slapped his head when the obvious hit him: they were no longer a team of 5 individuals but were now instead a team of 2 couples and 1 bachelor. And that meant one thing: a redesign for the Tower.
He charged into the common room with his printouts in hand, only to be greeted by a scene that had been repeated over and over since they had announced their engagement: Robin and Starfire were making out on the crescent shaped couch.
"If you two don't knock it off I'm gonna hafta childproof the Tower." Cyborg teased the couple.
"Childproof the Tower? What are you talking about Cy?" Robin asked with a bewildered look as Starfire sat in his lap, giggling.
"Oh Robin! Cyborg is simply saying that the Tower in its current condition would not be a safe place for our bumgorfs!"
"Our whaaaatt?" Robin said in a panicked voice.
"Our babies Robin!" The princess snickered.
"Star, is there something you haven't told me?"
Cyborg raised his human eyebrow.
This could be interesting…
Raven and Beast Boy were returning to their stateroom from breakfast. It was their first morning aboard the cruise ship and the captain had informed the passengers over the PA system that they would be reaching their first port of call that evening: Cabo San Lucas. The air already had a tropical feel to it as they walked along the first class deck area. As they strolled hand in hand they passed by the pool.
"Wanna go for a swim Rae?"
"Not really, but I'll come with you if you want to. I'll bring a book."
Beast Boy nodded. "Sounds good. Let's go change."
As the melanin challenged couple entered their room Beast Boy headed over to the chest of drawers where he had unloaded his clothes, pulling a pair of purple swimming trunks out of the top drawer. Raven surveyed their huge and elegant stateroom.
"Don't you think this room is excessive Gar? I wonder how much Starfire spent on booking it. It must have cost a fortune." She droned in her monotone.
"Beats me. She is rich you know, comes with being a princess I guess. Say Rae, did you bring a swimsuit? You know, I've never seen you in one before."
"That's because I've never had one before, I would always swim in my leotard. Starfire bought one for me, just for the trip." She said as she pulled a gift box out of the drawer and opened it. She immediately frowned as soon as she saw its contents.
"I'm not wearing this."
Garfield pulled up his trunks and looked at his wife.
"What's wrong with it? Did Star buy you a pink swimsuit with 'Hello Kitties' all over it?"
Raven continued staring at the box.
"That would also be unacceptable, but this is far worse."
"Why don't you put it on and let me see if it looks good on you?"
She snorted in response. "Whatever." She stepped into the bathroom to change.
"Shy Rae?" He teased her.
She replied from the bathroom. "Just because I'm your wife doesn't mean you get to gawk while I change!"
"You're no fun!" He teased her.
Raven didn't reply to Beast Boy's taunt and with his sensitive ears he could hear her disrobe and slip on the swimsuit. He then heard his gray wife shriek.
"There's no way in hell I'm wearing this. What possessed Starfire to give this to me?" She grumbled. "I'm practically naked!"
"Oh come on Rae, it can't be that bad!" He shouted as Raven emerged from the bathroom. From the look on her face he could see that she wasn't amused.
"She bought you a string bikini?" He laughed.
"It's not funny Gar. I've got nothing else to wear!"
Beast Boy gave his beloved a quick look over.
"It is a little revealing, but you look hot in it."
Raven then turned around, showcasing her backside to Gar.
"And it's also a thong bikini." He added snickering. "I've never told you this Rae, you have a cute butt." He laughed even louder.
"I'm not wearing this!"
Beast Boy got his laughter under control. "How about we go buy you something more like … you." He suggested.
"I'm glad you can see how inappropriate this … thing … is." She replied.
"And Star bought this for you?"
Raven had returned to the sanctuary of the bathroom to remove the scandalous swimsuit. Her voice echoed in the bathroom. "She did. It's risqué, even for her. I'm sure Robin wouldn't mind seeing her in one of those."
Beast Boy was lying on the bed. "He's seen more of her than that Rae."
She poked her head out of the bath room door. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't tell me you don't know Rae?" He chuckled.
"No I don't. Care to let me in on the secret?"
Beast Boy laughed even harder. "Robin's been bonking Star since they got engaged."
Raven looked shocked. "You've got to be kidding me. How come I haven't sensed it?"
Beast Boy leaped off the bed, grabbed a Hawaiian shirt that was draped over a chair and slipped it on.
"Cuz Cyborg put extra psionic insulation in Robin's room."
Now Raven looked appalled. "And when did this happen?"
"Right after they got engaged. At Robin's request."
Raven growled. "If that dirt bag doesn't marry her …"
"Star, is there something you haven't told me?"
"I do apologize, my beloved, but I only found out this morning."
"Found out what?" Robin's voice trembled.
The alien princess wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tender kiss.
"We're going to have a baby."
Cyborg had remembered to turn on the video recorder in his arm. Everything his bionic eye and ear were sensing was being recorded for posterity. It was simply too good to pass up. He noticed that Robin was now almost as pale as Raven.
"But …" The boy wonder croaked. "I thought you were taking … precautions … Star."
"I was." She replied. "But once we were officially betrothed I stopped."
"You stopped?" Robin asked in a high pitched voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"
The Tamaranian giggled. "I forgot."
Robin shook his head. Cyborg thought he had seen a "this isn't happening" look on his face.
"Why did you stop?"
"Because we are betrothed."
Robin stared with a bewildered look on his face. Cyborg did his best to not burst out laughing.
"I don't get it." He said as he sat down. "But I guess what's done is done."
"Robin." She said sadly. "You are not happy with our bumgorf coming?"
The Boy Wonder pulled himself together. He was now 19 years old and had been toying with switching his hero identity to Nightwing, as Bruce had told him about a new sidekick he wanted to bring on board, a younger boy named Jason Todd. Still, he couldn't help but feel that this was maybe a little too soon. He stood again and embraced his fiancée.
"Of course I am. It's just … sooner than I expected. I was hoping that we would be married first."
"Oh, but we already are my beloved!" She enthused. "You asked for my hand and we consummated."
"But what about the wedding on Tamaran?"
"That is a formality, since we have consummated our love and become one." She replied. "But because we have done so, we must have a baby within a year of our betrothal. Otherwise it would be an insult to the crown."
"I see." Robin replied. "And let me guess, failure to comply carries the death penalty on Tamaran. Right?"
"You are finally beginning to understand the ways of my people Robin. Galfore will be most pleased."
Cyborg cleared his throat. "Well, since we're all here, why don't I show you the plans for the apartments I'm going to make for you guys and for BB and Raven too."
Robin turned his attention to Cyborg.
"Any wisecracks and you're a dead man."
"Hey!" Cyborg complained with a feigned tone of indignation. "I'm just here to help!"
"Oh yes! Please show us your designs, friend Cyborg!"
The tin man unrolled the blueprints.
"You know how I've got those storage rooms on the top floor? Well, I could move all that junk to the basement and build two apartments in their place. Now each apartment will have 3 bedrooms …."
Terra was getting dressed in her new Titans costume. It was basically a full body leotard, tan colored with black legs and sleeves. It had a large 'T' on the chest. She now wore her long blond hair in a pony tail and like in her old days she wore a pair of goggles. A pair of tan colored leather boots that stopped short of her knees completed her new costume.
She was off to Gotham that morning. Her lawyer had set up a phone conference with Dr. Hugo Strange, who had completed his initial assessment of John Spivak's mental condition. Terra wanted to meet the notorious psychiatrist in person, and had a boulder with her name on it outside waiting for her to make the 100 mile trip to Arkham Asylum.
A week had passed since her arrival in Steele City and she was itching for any news regarding the progress in her annulment proceedings. Finally, yesterday afternoon, the call arrived from California. Chris Burns had called her personally to share the good news with her. He had received Dr. Strange's preliminary report and it looked very promising. Strange had made a follow up request for a phone meeting and asked if Miss Markov could attend personally.
This had seemed strange at first to Terra, but in the end she figured if it would expedite the annulment, then why not? After half an hour of air travel Terra was able to see the tell tale signs of Gotham's presence in the distance. She saw the smog first, and then the increased traffic levels on the freeways below. Soon she was hovering over the downtown area and saw the unmistakable campus where the asylum was located. It looked even more foreboding than any picture could do it justice.
Gotham was no basket of fruit for the eyes and the campus grounds were no exception. The place fit in perfectly with its host city. It was gray and its architecture was cold and uninviting. The campus grounds were reminiscent of a concentration camp, complete with barbed wire and dozens of guard towers. It was called an 'asylum' but Terra knew a prison when she saw one. She guided he boulder down to the main entrance which was guarded by dozens of armed men. It was reminiscent of the old 'Checkpoint Charlie' from the days before the Berlin Wall fell.
Terra landed her boulder near the entrance and walked to the gate. Three armed men approached her. They aimed their weapons at her.
"State your business!" A man with sergeant's chevron on his uniform barked at her.
"I have an appointment with Dr. Hugo Strange." She replied defiantly.
As if of a bunch of losers with guns could stop me.
Another guard checked his clipboard.
"Your name?"
"Terra Markov"
The clipboard man looked up.
"Affiliation?"
"Teen Titans." She replied, offering him her ID card.
"Just a minute." He replied as he ran back to the guardhouse with her ID. She now noticed that at least 20 guards were aiming at her with their rifles.
A few minutes later the clipboard man returned with 6 guards.
"Please follow us Miss Markov." The platoon leader commanded her in a clipped drawl.
Terra followed the men through the main entrance and across the grounds until they reached a heavy metal door. One of the men mumbled into a wrist radio and within a moment a loud buzz was heard and the door opened, revealing even more armed guards inside. Terra was led into the bunker like structure and led down a long concrete walled hallway until they reached another heavy steel door, which they were buzzed into as well. The door led into a large room that was sparsely populated with simple furniture. Terra noticed there were closed circuit cameras in each corner of the room.
"Dr. Strange will be with you promptly." The clipboard man announced as he shut the steel door with a heavy thud. Terra was alone in the cell like room. She felt around with her powers and sensed that the walls, floor and ceiling were several feet thick. Nothing that could stop her of course, but she could see how this level of security might be needed to contain villains like the Penguin, Poison Ivy or Killer Croc. Or even someone like her husband.
There was a plasma TV screen in the corner of the room and it came to life, showing Dr. Strange's unusual face.
"Greetings Miss Markov and thank you for coming to Arkham Asylum. I do apologize, but I am at the moment unable to greet you personally."
Terra was miffed. She had travelled all the way here, and this bozo couldn't be bothered to meet her face to face.
"What can I do for you Doctor?"
"I would like to talk with you about your relationship with Deathstroke the Terminator."
"You mean Slade? I thought I was here to talk about John!"
"Mr. Spivak? Oh that won't necessary my dear. I've already determined that he was insane long before he met you. Rest assured that your annulment is a done deal. I will personally testify to that effect."
Terra beamed. "Now that's what I want to hear!"
"Indeed. I was expecting you to be pleasantly surprised with this news. Now however I wish to speak with you about Slade."
"What do you want to know?" She asked. "What can I tell you that Robin hasn't already documented?"
"I'd like to know what attracted you to him in the first place Miss Markov. I understand that you were in love with the Green Changeling at the time, yet you betrayed him to Slade."
Terra became defensive. "It's not something I'm proud of."
"Of course my dear. By why did you do it? What did Slade offer you that was so irresistible?"
Terra frowned. "I don't like your questions. I'm leaving."
Hugo Strange smiled as Terra heard the sound of gas hissing.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, my dear."
Terra began to choke on the gas. Summoning her powers she crumbled the concrete frame around the door, which fell to the ground. The guards where still outside, wearing gas masks and aiming their military caliber weapons at her.
Terra searched for another escape route but was becoming dizzy. She stepped away from the door but tripped and fell to the floor. It was the last thing she remembered.
And some responses to my friendly readers:
ChicoMagnifico – "I'm TERRIFIED in finding out what the Wildman is gonna do! Man I REALLY hate that guy!"
But, but … he's Beast Boy!
WolverineLover – "pls continue..if u dont i will kill u!!"
May I introduce you to Dr. Hugo Strange?
Dark Rapture – "I didn't think you could make this story any more weirdly cool, but you did it!"
We aim to please!
Thanks again for reading and reviewing.