Me: I didn't get enough, but I'll type again anyway. You're welcome, people!
Jay: This time, write better!
Me: Shush, I'm busy! I'm writing three other stories, give me a break you little weasel!
Jay: (turns to imaginary crowd) She owns me and this story. That's about it.
Chapter 11: The Tournament: Part 2
"Today's the Tournament, Mom!" I yelled, feeling a little nervous as I said it. I had opened my parents' room and woken them up. "Get your lazy butt up, Garfield. I want to compete already!"
My mother looked better than the day I entered, but she still looked a little bad. So she put on makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes.
Gar's arm was wrapped tightly around her waist and he opened one of his green eyes to look at me. "So it's today?" he grumbled.
"Yeah, and so is my birthday. This is my present. Now put on clothes! I already dressed and I woke up Crow and dressed him up too." I said and held up my sleepy little brother who looked like he was about to cry from being woken up.
"My poor baby boy." Mom said sympathetically when she saw Crow.
I rolled my eyes. "He can take a nap later. Please just hurry up!"
"Okay then. Eat breakfast or do whatever until Rae and I are ready." Gar said grumpily. "And close the door!"
"Don't forget to feed your brother and bring his diaper bag." added my mother.
I harrumphed and ate a quick bowl of cereal, then fed Crow some baby food. I prepared his diaper bag and put a bottle of milk, a pacifier, and some baby food in it. After I changed his diaper, we watched T.V. until my mom and Gar were dressed and ready to go.
"Alright, Jay. We're ready." Gar murmured, running his hand through his hair.
I grinned and tossed him the diaper bag. "Let's go."
We flew to the Sky Temple, chatting on the way. Crow was in my mother's arms most of the time, and the rest he was on Gar's back. He made loops in the air while Crow giggle and his shirt hung from his father's beak (Gar was a pterodactyl). Mom and I were the quiet ones and we were thinking deeply. I was thinking about the opponents I would face. I sensed anxiety from my mother.
I wondered what she was thinking about, but then again, I wasn't sure if I wanted to know.
"There's the Sky Temple." Mom said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
The Sky Temple was an arena made of limestone on the top of a mountain obscured by clouds. We would be fighting on an even stage of rock. There was vendors selling snacks and a fountain where people could make wishes. The bottom of the fountain was covered with numerous amounts of coins.
We went on the ground and Gar changed back into a human. We stared in awe at the Sky Temple.
"Awesome! Man, I wish I could fight there." Gar said enviously. "I'd like, kick everyone's butt."
Mom rolled her eyes. "Right. You'd be lucky to make it to the second round."
He feigned hurt. "Gee Rae! I could so beat you."
She shook her head. "No, you can't. And don't call me Rae."
Gar leaned close to her face and kissed her throat. "I think I can Raven." he murmured against her skin. Mom blushed.
"Eew! Quit the PDA will you?" I said disgustedly.
They broke apart and Mom hid her blush by looking at the ground and taking Crow from Gar. Crow laughed and cuddled with our mother.
We walked to the contestants' entrance. They checked off my name and told me to go inside while Mom, Gar, and Crow left to go find some seats…and food.
I was in a room with other kids who were warming up. I only recognized Tone and Dominic. Patty must've been too young. She doesn't really like to fight anyway. The other kids stopped and stared at me for a minute before continuing. One boy came up to me. He had shoulder length straight blond hair and blue eyes.
"Who are you?" he asked, examining every detail of my face and outfit.
I became uneasy. "Who are you?!"
"I asked first." he said.
"Jay Roth." I answered.
"Grant Wilson II." Grant said and we shook hands. "I'm Jericho and Kole's son."
"I'm-"
"Raven's son, I know." he interrupted. "I know about every kid of the Teen Titans and other superheroes. I have a photographic memory." He tapped the side of his head with his right index finger. "But I don't know your father. No one knows. Do you know?"
For a kid with a mute father, he can run his mouth. "Maybe." I said carefully. "What's it to you?"
Grant shrugged. "Everyone's curious. I wanted to ask you at your mother and your stepfather's wedding, but I was sick. Couldn't go."
" Oh." I replied. "So, what's your superpower?"
"I can freeze opponents with my eyes, but I have to have eye contact with them. Yours?"
"I can fly, I have empathy, I'm super smart and clever, and I turn into a dark energy warrior." I said and his eyes widened.
"That's awesome! Wish I had that." he said enviously.
We talked for awhile, then sparred without our powers. He knew a lot of martial arts and he almost beat me a couple of times. We were pretty evenly matched. After that, we grabbed a bottle of water each and rested until a woman came in with a bowl full of tiny folded pieces of paper.
"Attention, young heroes." she said. "I will call on the name of the participants and you willl come up here and tell this man," the woman gestured to a blond guy on her right holding an iPad, "who you are going against. Then, we will announce it and the tournament will begin. Questions?"
Nobody raised their hands.
"Good." the woman said and was about to say something before she was interrupted.
"Wait! Sorry we're late." a feminine voice said. I looked at her and to my surprise, it was Skyfire. She was followed by Brightfire and Firewing. My eyes widened and I looked away, but they had already seen me. I thought they'd run to me and give me a big hug but that wasn't the case. The two sisters' eyes narrowed and Firewing scowled at me, though his eyes showed confusion. I think he wasn't sure why he was supposed to hate me. Poor brother.
They went to a spot away from me and I looked straight ahead, ignoring them completely. Grant gave me a look, probably wondering about what just happened.
The woman cleared her throat. "Martian Boy, come on up."
I recognized him from preschool. His green skin stood out and he brushed a black bang from in front of his blue eyes. Martian Boy picked a paper from the jar and read it out loud.
"Supergirl."
A blond girl with blue eyes-the same as his-chuckled. "I'll beat you, cousin." (A/N not original Supergirl)
Martian Boy rolled his eyes and went to go back to his buddies, who looked at his cousin. It seemes like they had a crush on Supergirl. Except Martian Boy, of course.
"Grant Wilson." she said and he went to get the paper.
"Uh, Rosemary West? Who's that?" he asked.
Tone stepped forward and glared at him. "Me. I'm gonna kick your butt, blondie."
For a little girl, she was quite intimidating. Grant went back to stand at my side.
I kind of tuned out until I heard my name being called. "Jay Roth."
"Hm? Oh, right." I said. Some kids laughed. I went up and pulled out a name.
"Steelboy." I read. Never heard of him. I don't think he's the kid of any superheroes I know.
A boy with steel skin and gray eyes jerked his thumb to his chest and eyed me. I felt uncomfortable. He must be new to this hero stuff.
"Alright, all of you are already matched with someone. Give us five minutes to announce it and then you can fight." the lady said and she and the blond guy left.
"Jay?" a familiar voice said.
I turned and there was Firewing at my right, pulling my cape. He seemed nervous, as if he wasn't supposed to talk to me. His green eyes were focused on his sisters, who were busy avoiding boys.
"Hey buddy." I said in a friendly voice. "What's up?"
Firewing leaned closer and whispered in my ear, "Brightfire and Skyfire kind of hate you."
I frowned. "Why?"
"'Cause my daddy is your daddy." he said matter-of-factly.
I didn't answer.
"Is it true? Mommy told us and then my sisters got mad at you." he said, tugging at my cape again. "Jay?"
"It wasn't my idea to be born." I finally told him. Why would Starfire tell them that? Had she brainwashed them or something?
He nodded in agreement. "I know. I told them that but they wouldn't listen. One day, can we hang out?"
"Sure, buddy." I said and ruffled his hair. "I'll see you later, okay?"
"'Kay!" Firewing said brightly and my heart broke a little. I didn't think we'd hang out, but why say no? Hey, don't judge me; you did not see the face. I could not say no to the face. He skipped away merrily to his sisters.
"Dear Lord." Grant gasped. "Oh my-"
"Shh!" I whispered, clamping my hand on his mouth. I pulled him to a corner where no one else was. People were staring at us weirdly. Probably thought I was gay. So not true!
"What did you hear?" I asked, shoving him into the wall.
He gulped. "Your father is Nightwing! The legendary Dick Grayson! The founder of the Teen Titans!"
"Will you be quiet before someone hears you?" I hissed.
"Nightwing and Raven? Dude, you're epic!"
"Seriously Grant! Get a hold of yourself!"
Grant pulled my fingers from his shirt. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry I overheard. But I can't forget it. Photographic memory, remember?"
I sighed. I had to have this annoying guy on his good side just to keep my father a secret from the world. Thanks, Dad. "Just don't tell anyone, Grant."
He put his left hand over his heart and his right he held up. "I promise."
We talked for awhile and I calmed down. Suddenly, we were all called to go outside so the crowd could meet us and then the first of us would fight. So everyone lined up in a single file line. All of us young heroes walked out and the crowd roared. There were a lot more people than I thought. I tried to find my mom, Gar, and Crow but it was a bit hard because of all the people.
"Introducing, the young heroes participating in this tournament!" an announcer cried and the crowd clapped and cheered. I'd bet they'd be screaming if actual heroes were completing.
The announcer introduced everyone, and when he did, a spotlight shown on us. Then, the first fighters stayed and we had to wait back inside.
Grant talked nonstop about heroes and about his grandfather, Deathstroke. Once he stopped talking for a break, I told him about how Deathstroke appeared at the hospital where Crow was born. To kill time, we kept on exchanging stories until it was his time to fight.
"Good luck." I told him before he left.
He snorted. "I won't need it." he boasted and walked to the arena.
I was shocked when I heard the final result. "Winner: Tone!"
I laughed and caught the attention of some of the participants but I didn't care. When Grant came in, everyone laughed at him.
Including me.
He had a black eye and bruises on his arms. The sleeves of his shirt was torn and his knees were bloody. Grant grimaced when everyone was laughing at him and sat at the corner with me.
"Dude, Tone did that you? She's six." I said, once I got control of my laughter.
"Shut up, Jay." Grant muttered and held his black eye. "She was invisible. I was humiliated. And some dudes filmed it AND the fight showed on television. You know, the cable for heroes-"
"Yeah, yeah. I know about Justice Cable." I replied, waving that off with my hand. "But she couldn't have been that powerful."
He shrugged and turned away from me. I left him alone.
"Skyfire Grayson against…the Red One!"
The Red One was about twelve. He was tall and wasn't wearing a shirt, exposing his abs. He wore baggy beige pants. His long black hair was tied in a ponytail. Aaaannnnd…he had red skin pretty much all over, making him seem like a little Trigon without white hair or horns. And multiple eyes and stuff. And…well, you get the picture. He only gave Skyfire one glance before walking outside to the arena.
She blinked. "Um…okay? Well, good luck Red One!"
"The Red One." he rumbled with a surprisingly loud voice. "Get out here so I can pound your face."
"Oh. You're that type of guy." she mumbled in annoyance. Skyfire walked outside and the fight began. I watched this one without Grant, who hid his face in the corner in shame.
The Red One wasn't going easy on my half-sister. He kept on throwing quick, strong punches that she barely managed to avoid. One of them fit her face, but at an angle that the referee couldn't see. That was an illegal move!
"Hey! That's illegal!" I heard Nightwing say in the crowd. He sounded like he was fuming.
Skyfire held her nose and her eyes gleamed green. "Take this!" she screamed and hit him with one of her blasts.
He staggered, then looked at her and grinned, his white teeth gleaming against his red skin. "Nice try, girlie. But it takes more than that to defeat The Red One."
The red boy punched her stomach, barely above her abdomen. Her eyes bulged from the pain and she cried out. The Red One slapped her side and she landed on the grass. A ring out.
"The Red One advances to the second round!" The referee said. Everyone was speechless and did not cheer.
He didn't care though. He just walked back inside and sat down on a bench casually as if nothing had happened. When he caught us staring, he growled, "What?!"
So we stopped staring.
"Next up is Jay Roth against Steelboy, a new hero!" the announcer said while the paramedics came and took Skyfire, who lay on the stretcher, to the medical bay.
I looked at Steelboy, who eyed me curiously. He walked to me and whispered,
"The Red One smells like you."
Um, okay. "The Red One smells like you." Weird, but will be explained. Thanks for reading!