I have some bad news. Remember I told you about Nicky's, the restaurant in Blaine? Well guess what? It's under new management. The old Waitress was fired, the new beer cooler emits the most annoying high-pitched screeching noise, and they've changed their recipes...
Disclaimer: I still don't own Teen titans, Young justice, or Doctor who.
The building was a raging inferno in seconds, spitting out fireballs and smoke like a raging monster, swamping the streets with panic and chaos. There was little he could do, except running to the bottom floors and helping people out. But even that took longer than expected, seeing as rafters were snapping like twigs underfoot. The building would last five minutes before it collapsed, if he was lucky that is.
People were screaming beside him, either cowering or running blindly, causing more damage then hoped.
His instincts were screaming along with them, telling him to run in the opposite direction. But then, what did he have to live for? He'd never make it into the League, and almost everything worth living for was either gone or chasing after their future. He was just in denial. He wasn't getting anywhere.
And yet he still felt rooted to the earth. She was dead, yet he still felt rooted to the ground, as if gravity still felt that he had reason to not just float up into the sun and burn up.
Or maybe this was the sun. Maybe the dark smog he was in was the night sky and the sparks were stars. He sure as hell felt as if he were floating, so why would this not be his fiery death in the stars?
But he knew that it was impossible for him to have floated away, for he had heard all too many science-related rants from Wally, and he knew that gravity was not a human being, but a scientific fact. Yet still, he felt as though this were the end, his final battle, and his final journey.
He could practically see Robin popping up in front of him proudly exclaiming, 'Nope, Chuck Testa!' at that moment when he realized just where he was.
He was in a burning building, with about ten seconds before the roof collapsed, trapped behind a wall of flames.
He felt delirious, stumbling forward a pace before being forced back by the dancing flames, breathing in painful gulps of smoke. He could feel bile rising in his throat as the lack of oxygen began taking its toll, and he just barely forced it down at the sight of steam.
Steam. That meant that someone was trying to put out the fire. He could feel the bile rise again, this time unable to catch it in time and he threw up, and then heard the cries. They could either see him, or the building was collapsing on him.
Fitting that he'd die from being crushed by a building, seeing as he'd had so many nightmares of watching her die the same way.
Black dots clotted his vision as someone held him by the shoulders and guided him out, a familiar voice telling him he was okay.
"You idiot, running into a burning building and then just standing there like nothing was happening." The male voice scolded. "I never thought you to be suicidal; Mister Big shot solo-dude."
"Screw off." Roy managed to growl out before his head went under entirely. He could feel his body quaking uncontrollably, and the strong hands let go of him in surprise. He fell to the ground, still half unaware of what was happening. He could barely keep himself upright as his hands shook madly. Next thing he knew, his arms let out and he was unconscious on the pavement, ten feet from a burning building.
He came around about a minute later, the black dots vanishing one-by-one, sitting up right on a stretcher next to an ambulance. A paramedic was standing next to him, talking to his supposed 'saviour'.
Okay, he had to admit, Garth did kind of save his life.
"Red, dude, next time you do that, I'm just going to stand outside and laugh. You're lucky I was in town to save your sorry butt." The Atlantean scolded.
"Yeah, right." He muttered. His belt still flashed, although the smoke had destroyed the speakers, it was still warning him that his friends needed his help. "Anyway, Unitard guy, I have to go. Thanks for the save."
"No way, you're going to the hospital, man. You almost died, and blacked out. Like, seriously, you were shaking like you were having a seizure."
"I'm fine." Red arrow insisted.
"No, you're not. I can go do whatever you needed to do." Garth insisted.
"But-!"
"Do I have to pour a bucket of fish down your back again?"
Roy thought it over for a moment. He sure wasn't fit for a chase, but would Garth be welcomed by The Team? Robin and Wally surely would, but Kaldur didn't even know that Garth had once been Aqualad. And how about the others that had never met him before?
"Fine." He turned to the paramedic, who was currently ushering him into the ambulance, with a glare. "But no taking off the mask."
"Not my job, man." He said quickly. "Uh… Sir."
"Cute." He said sarcastically. "Police box, six blocks." He called over his shoulder. Garth took that as his queue, turning from the flaming high-rise.
"Police box?" he muttered to himself. Sure enough, six blocks down, in a dark alley, was a tall blue police box.
"Doctor who reference much?" he stepped in, turning to face the door.
"Garth, Aqualad. East Override 2." He waited a moment, before the computer chimed back exactly what he'd just said, this time stating 'B22' instead of his override code.
"Who the heck is Garth?" he heard someone ask as the computer announced his arrival. The Team stood awkwardly in the room, with the exception of Robin, who looked pissed.
"That's Mister Garth to you, Miss Green Arrowette." He smirked.
"Garth, what exactly are you doing here? We called for the assistance of Red Arrow." Kaldur questioned. It wasn't that he was upset about seeing his old friend, but why would he be here? And how did he get in? He is not a member of The League or any of its affiliations… right?
"Red Arrow just got caught in an explosion. Had to drag him out. He passed out." Garth explained nonchalantly. "I had to go all 'fish-down-your-shirt' on him, but he came around."
"And how exactly are you and Red Arrow affiliated?" Kaldur asked.
"Long story, won't explain now." He said quickly. If he didn't know, then that meant he shouldn't know. "Now, why did you need him exactly?"
"Break in at Cadmus apparently." Robin growled. "And you'll never guess who's helping out."
"Elvis Presley?" he joked.
"Jinx and Starfire." He said in a monotone. Garth's smile dropped instantly, his eyes flickering apologetically between Wally and Robin.
"So you're going after them…?" he asked.
"As soon as Miss. M's ready to go." Wally said. He looked at Garth with a tortured expression, turning into a man on fire. His eyes were clouded and downcast, although he was trying his best to seem happy.
"Um, excuse me?" Miss Martian's quiet voice chimed from around a corner. "We can go now."
"Cool." Garth said, his eyes never leaving Wally's.
The Team moved quietly, with some members casting wary glances towards Garth. Still, it was hard not to stare, even without the threat of him being an imposter.
He was tall and well-built, wearing his long hair down for once, and had a certain air that would surely make any woman swoon.
But what bothered Kaldur, was the way he was acting. He seemed to be familiar with both Wally and Robin, and the fact that he was close enough to Red Arrow for the red archer to trust him to take his place…
And, why was Garth so antsy? He'd squirm each time someone mentioned the girl's insignia, or Cadmus, or brought up the strange voice. Honestly, why did he have to be so scared?
All through out the ride, Kaldur wondered about his friend. Yet he still managed to miss the black wristband that adorned Garth's wrist.
Author's note:
That whole shaking while fainting thing? That actually happens. Trust me, it can last up to a minute, roughly, if you don't get your blood to your head.
And the crazy, suicidal thoughts? I got bored, and I really wanted to get this chapter over with.
In the next chapter, I shall finally reveal the real plot. Get ready, because I'm about to give you nightmares :P