welcome Ladies and Gentlemen.
that is a rather quick, but once again rather short update as well. i deals a bit more with character relationships and sets up a few things that will happen in the near future.
just for those willing to state their opinion on an laundry basket question: 'Raziil, leave or stay?' i won't explain what i mean with it, just be kind enough to give em your choice (review or PM).
enjoy
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To say the next morning was.... awkward would be not doing things justice. Three titans and Blackfire were having breakfast together when Raven, Jinx and Raziel appeared in OPS. The two aliens were staring strangely how the three walked inside, dressed in clothing they wore now usually, Raven in the middle and Raziel and Jinx with one arm each around the demoness' waist. Jinx had her typical smile on her face though it was brighter than ever. Raven and Raziel were also smiling slightly though in a more subdued way than Jinx.
"Morning," greeted Cyborg, the only of the four to acknowledge the ....threesome? He had no idea what to call them. It was clear as the day that Raziel was with Raven but Raven also seemed attached to Jinx. Deciding that it would do him no good Cy let the thought drop. Just after the three walked through the door their familiars suddenly pounced them partners, Sentra and Cerberus licking the faces of Jinx and Raziel while Spes landed on Raven's shoulder, feathers ruffled and glaring at Raziel.
Robin was glaring at Raziel, seeing in him the cause for Raven's changes. And he did NOT like change anymore. Raziel was messing up the team dynamic. And he didn't care about it at all. At first he thought Raziel would be a nice addition, being a powerhouse just slightly behind Raven but now..... now the demidemon was more trouble than he was worth.
The Threesome set down around the table, once more with Raven in the middle, and started to quickly eat. But soon both demons seemed to frown about something and exchanged looks. Transporting the message with their eyes alone they nodded and stood up again. Jinx was looking at them with a questioning gaze and Raven pulled the Luck Charmer to her feet, "We're going out for breakfast." Jinx, still a piece of toast sticking out from her lips, nodded only as suddenly the three familiars voice a few things in their partners' minds.
All three of the part-humans simply shrugged before Raven closed her eyes for a second. Large black claws shot from the ground and wrapped around the threesome and their familiars before pulling them into black voids, leaving four teens staring where they once were. Robin's face was a look of anger as he swiftly stood up and stormed out of the room. Starfire soon floated after him with a worried face, her sister not far behind.
Cyborg was left sitting at the table and sadness was evident on his human face half. 'This is getting serious; if this goes on we'll have a war amongst the Titans.... and with Raven clearly siding with the other side... we would stand no chance.... This... this is a battle we cannot win, no matter what we do....' Sighing the metal man stood up and started to clean the table. Things were drawing to a cut; fast.
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Somewhere downtown the sidewalk was glowing in a dark black and the people swiftly cleared the area, having grown used to this as a sign of the dark Titan's arrival. Six streaks of black that soon turned into raven's show from the ground, disappearing with loud shrieks. Where they once were stood now six beings. People recognized Raven instantly, staring openly at the feathery wings folded against her back. The male on her left was also known by now, the new Titan and his own wings were also an attraction for attention.
But the most shock cam from Jinx, the well known criminal. People were about to run off when several saw how Jinx and Raziel placed arms around Raven's waist and she in turn moved her arms around their shoulders. Locked together this was they started to walk down the street, causing people to stare as two heroes and a villainess walked arm in arm. Just then people took notice of the three wild animals trailing behind the threesome, catching many stares of curiosity.
Raven was leading the two others down the street, steering them towards the largest steakhouse in town. "Soooo... where are we going again," asked Jinx though her eyes were glowing as she rested her head on Raven's shoulder. "We're going for breakfast; me and Raziel need some serious protein boost after yesterday," answered Raven, a serene smile on her lips. "Not to ruin the mood or anything but... I think we might have a problem with the Boy Blunder," muttered the pinkette as she buried her nose in Raven's long hair.
Raziel snorted, "Bah; as if he could do anything. We are all in this thing at our own will and just as easily we can drop the shit. Let him deal with the city on his own." "Raziel! You know how much Raven likes to help-" "No I don't." Jinx' head snapped to attention, staring at Raven's profile, "Say what?!" "I don't like helping those human fools. Sure, I did and do it willingly but I never took pleasure or satisfaction from it. Maybe before it had some sentimental value for me, and on a weird level it still does, but I would not mind to drop out of the hero ranks."
Jinx stared at the demoness with wide eyes, having always expected her to be a full time hero. 'Learn something new every day,' thought Jinx as she smirked. She was about to speak again when the stepped into the huge steakhouse, the demons' magic throwing the doors open. The place was unassuming, only tables in rows and nearly no decoration. A man dressed in loose red shirt and brown pants stepped up to them, "How can I help you? Our breakfast today is-" "We have no use for breakfast," said Raven, cutting the man off. "We want four times your Meat Feast, half of the meat uncooked. No side dishes, only meat. And a bowl of inwards, uncooked, unboiled and un-spiced."
The waiter stared at Raven strangely before he seemed to wake up and realize who was standing before him. "Of course miss; just a moment please, I will ask the cook-" "No, you WILL serve this now," said Raven forcefully while she glared at the male. He gulped hard under the burning gaze and quickly nodded before rushing off. "And keep your best red wine coming," shouted Raziel after the man as the six walked towards the largest table in sight.
It was a table with an corner bench, the three lovers taking seat while the two feral familiars laid down in front of it, their legs crossed and heads resting on their pawns. The bird breed was sitting on the backrest of a chair opposite of Raziel, glaring at the demon that was knowingly ignoring her. Soon the waiter came, having with him a bottle of wine and three glasses. Sending the man off again the three slipped into some slight chatter.
"So Jinx... tell us, how did you end up with Blood and the Hive in the first place," asked Raziel as he sipped his wine. Jinx was staring down in her glass for a bit, clearly thinking hard. "It was.... a decision of necessity at first..... I was born in some backwater village, the only one with powers and also the first. My life was filled with my powers acting how they wished, shit going down in the worst moments possible.... People shunned me and soon.... even my Mother grew distant.... After me she had three other daughters, none of them with powers.... I was soon an outsider even at home....."
"Then it happened, I was.... maybe 12 by the time.... My sisters had always much joy in poking fun out of me, trying to get my powers to react and get me into trouble... They taunted me to my breaking point, the point where I still could hold my powers back.... but they had to push further.... In a single burst of Bad Luck I created a small void that sucked in everything in a 5 miles radius.... I created a black hole on earth....."
"I only know this through the news and rumors.... I was unconscious during it and only awoke after it was over.... in the middle of a crater with only wasteland around me.... I knew that I needed a place to stay.... a place where someone would be able to help control myself..... But what choice did I have? The hero deal was out in my eyes, heroes are only doing it so they and their freakish nature would be accepted."
"I was unwilling for this so I looked for other means and soon figured out what I wanted: I wanted to become a merc; a hired hand. It pays well, even in the times of private armies, and I can choose what jobs I take and what I decline. But how to get there? That was when I heard about Hive, the real Hive before Blood. They were a school for gifted kids, most of them orphans or abandoned kids, training them with their powers and teaching them how to fight."
"In a sense.... they created their own Titans.... only that they were freelancers for hire. Early we got teams, me, Gizmo and Mammoth got stuck together very soon..... We trained and learned and soon became top students.... and then.... then...." "Blood," said the two demons as Jinx was shaking with rage. Jinx nodded, her hands balled to fists, "Yes..... the Hive Mistress vanished after we blew that job for Slade and Blood showed up. From there on things changed.... from being a school for mercenaries Hive went to a school for terrorists. No one noticed it, Blood's mind control overriding all of our minds."
"And the rest is, as they say, History," finished Jinx, drinking down her wine in one go. The two demons sat there, looking at the hex girl in a new light. Silence fell over them, every one of the three drowned in their own thoughts. The silence was only broken as the food came, four enormous plates filled to the brim with meat. "One plate raw meat for the predators, inwards for the bird and the rest simply on the table," commanded Raven snatching a raw steak before the plates even hit the table. She bit down viciously and tore a good part out of the still bloody meat.
Jinx stared at this, watching how Raziel too started to wolf down raw meat. "How.... how can you eat this?" The two looked up, a stripe of meat sticking out from Raziel's mouth. "We are demons Jinx; we have no problem with raw meat," explained Raven after swallowing. "Out stomachs work differently. They could probably poison the meat and we would still be as healthy as ever. Besides, cooking it takes too long." And with that Raven tore into the bloody mass again.
Jinx could only watch in morbid fascination how the two cleared the huge plate of raw meat within short notice. After that it seemed like their worst hunger had been satisfied as they took the fork and knife as they turned to the cooked meat. Soon all three were eating, their familiars already finished with their food. The three beasts went to nap after a healthy meal, Cerberus snoring away loudly. Jinx was skeptic that the huge loads of meat would be all eaten but Raven and Raziel had had no problem with clearing away everything thing, eating half their weight in a matter of maybe 30 minutes.
After it Raziel paid and the six headed out, walking through the city and heading for the closest park, not wanting to get back to the tower just yet. They soon found themselves sitting on a bench at a playground, Sentra and Cerberus getting huge eyes from the playing kids and their mothers. "So Jinx, looks like neither of us will do the hero deal for long... what are you planning to do after it," asked Raziel, his eyes closed and face turned into the morning sun.
Jinx was silent, thinking things through, "Well.... I don't know honestly.... somewhere inside me I still want to be a merc but...." Her gaze turned to Raven who was watching the kids play. "I don't want to leave Raven....." Raziel nodded silently and they fell into a silence, watching how a few kids approached the two predators and they started to play with the kids, chasing them playfully in Cerberus' case or tumbling around in Sentra's case.
Suddenly Raven's and Raziel's T-Com went off and the two groaned before both flicked the device open. They saw a city map, a red dot blinking not too far from their position and their faces grew dark. "Jinx.... you're not going to like this....," muttered Raven as she glared down at the device. "What do you mean?" ".... Looks like your friends are robbing a bank.... and the others are already on their way.....," said Raziel gravely.
Jinx stared for a moment before her face fell. "Go. Do what you must....." The two demons looked at each other before closing their T-Coms. "I take the baby and his toys," said Raven as her eyes started to glow very softly. "Leaves me with the big man," grinned Raziel as he cracked the knuckles of his right hand. Both demons closed their eyes and Jinx felt their magic spark. She was surprised as suddenly a black and a red orb of magic appeared before them but what happened next was more of a surprise: from the orbs dropped Mammoth and Gizmo! They looked unharmed, maybe a bit ruffled up but fine.
"What the fuck? What has happened?! Where are the snotlings?!" "Shut up cyber punk or we send you two back." Gizmo spun around and came face to face with two Titans and Jinx sitting on peacefully next to each other on a bench. For once no insults came from the midget's mouth as he could only stare at the scene alongside Mammoth. They saw how Jinx turned to the two, "What are you doing? Shouldn't you.... like take them in or something?" "What's the point," asked Raven lazily. "They get a month or two of jail and that's it. Besides, getting them out without leaving a trace will annoy Robin to no end."
The midget and the giant could only gape openly as they saw Jinx and the two Titans act as if nothing was wrong. "Someone mind explaining this shit," asked Mammoth gruffly. "Easily done," said Raziel as he turned his face back into the sun. "We got you out before Boy Blunder showed and we will let you go. Just drop off the radar for a bit and we won't hassle you." "Why are you snot brains doing this," shouted Gizmo. "Because of this," said Raven before she grabbed Jinx head and pulled the hex girl into a long, sexy kiss.
The two stared at the scene with wide eyes dropped jaws and minds reading 'ERROR!!'. As Raven broke away Jinx eyes were glazed over. "What." "The." "HELL!?!" the expression on the two teens faces were hilarious but none of the threesome laughed at them. "Long story short: the two have hit it off, are seeing if it works and Raven and I are thinking about ditching the hero deal," explained Raziel. The two Hive kids were bug-eyed at the news, staring at a blushing Jinx. "Cal.... is that true....," asked Mammoth in a low voice. Jinx nodded shyly when Raven noticed something, "Cal?"
The two Hive and the former thief froze up as they noticed Mammoth's slip. "Guess it's her real name. Come on Raven, you didn't expect Jinx to be her real name her folks gave her?" "Point taken." The three stared at the two demons. "What....," they asked in one voice. The two demons only gave them a raised eyebrow each. "You expected us to freak out over it? What's the big deal," asked Raven as she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning slightly against Raziel. "Like a name would change anything."
Silence fell over them when, "Oh man.... they HAD to find us here." three sets of eyes turned to Raziel who had a scowl on his face. "Listen up you two, Robin and the rest are closing in on the park, probably located me and Raziel here. You two need to get out; any place you have in mind that will keep you out of sight?" Raven was only met with silence as the two boys were shocked and stunned. Then Jinx spoke up hastily, " 45-21 15th Street."
Raven nodded as she closed her eyes, locating the place mentally. "What is there," asked Raziel curiously. "..... It's my place.... my legal place," muttered Jinx softly. "Cal.... you sure about this," asked Gizmo in a strangely low voice. Jinx gave the two a sad smile, "Yeah... you two can have it. Stay low and out of sight will you? I don't want to see you in jail again..." "Found the place," said Raven waving her right arm and a portal opened in front of Gizmo and Mammoth. ".... Thanks Jen... we know how much the place means to you...." "Zip it Peter, just get out of here and keep and eye on James." "HEY! You know I HATE that name," shouted the short genius but Mammoth was pushing him towards the portal, sending a hard glare at the two demons. "You two better take care of her or else...." Both chuckled softly. "Sure thing Peter," they said in stereo as the two teens stepped into the portal and vanished.
Jinx slowly turned towards the two demons, "...... Thank you..." But both waved her off, Raven speaking softly. "Forget about it, only helping the friends of a precious person." Suddenly the roaring of two engines was heard and Robin and Cyborg stopped the R-Cycle respectively the T-Car in front of them. It was not a second later when Robin was up their throats, "WHERE WERE YOU?!" "Sitting here Birdy," said Raziel without looking at the teen. "WHY YOU!!!" "Chill out Robin," said Cyborg, holding onto his friends cape to keep him from attacking the male demon and undoubtedly getting his ass kicked to Tamaran and back in a thousand different.
"You should listen to him Robby," said Raven with a small smirk, "He is way beyond your reach." Robin was seething and glaring at Raziel, "This is all your fault!" "And what would be my fault?" "EVERYTHING!!! Raven changing! Beastboy leaving! This whole mess! EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE IF YOU NEVER SHOWED UP!!!"
Silence suddenly reigned. And then Robin realized he had made a huge mistake as he looked at Raven. There was no anger on her face, not Rage. Only sadness and hurt..... Tears gathered on her eyes as her whole body trembled. "Rae.... I...." But before Robin could speak more a clawed hand gripped his throat, restricting his air supply and painfully digging into his flesh. He found himself staring at a fully pissed off Raziel, eyes burning as black flames poured from his skin. "You..... you..... bastard. You place your sense of normality above Raven's happiness? You would rather have her locked up in her own room, emotions and pain and utter mess than for her to be finally free?"
Raziel pulled him closer, his eyes only slits as he hissed through his teeth, "You are scum... no, you are worse than scum.... You are worse.... than Slade....." Raziel dropped the teen and spun to Cy, "If I sense one single soul close to Raven's room I will tear the place apart along with every bloody soul within its walls. Is. That. Clear?" "Crystal," said Cyborg grimly, glaring at Robin who still was shocked after being called worse than Slade.
Raziel spun back to Raven, seeing the demoness cry into Jinx' shoulder and his anger was suppressed by compassion. He gathered the two girls in his arms, his magic enveloping them as he raised them into the air. "Sentra; Spes; Cerberus. Meet us back in the Tower." the three familiars gave affirmative sounds and Raziel turned himself and his precious cargo towards the Tower and flew off, leaving a mental reminder in Robin. 'You can be glad to be alive Boy Blunder; be glad Raven still considers you a friend or you would be in a worse place than hell.'
Cyborg watched how the three flew off, his face grim as he turned to look at Robin. The 'leader' was still sitting on his ass, staring ahead with unfocused eyes. A growl behind the group made them all look around and saw a growling Cerberus, a hissing Sentra and a strangely white glowing Spes look at Robin. A split second later and they attacked Robin, mauling his sorry ass with teeth, claws, beaks and magic, the Boy Wonder's cries sounding over the city. But none of his friends went to help him, even Starfire got enough of the situation to understand that Robin had hurt Raven very deeply, wounding the girl where it hurt her the most: her fragile heart.
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Oh Satan's Hidden Porn Stash. to me that sounds like Robin is digging his own grave rather quickly. where is this oh so fabulous brain he is supposed to have? Will he get out of this alive or will Robin have to face the wrath of the likes of Raziel and Jinx? tune in next time to find out.
- Nelo Akuma