I hope I didn't, like, kill this chapter.
I own nothing except for the usual bleh.
yay!
Aqualad rasped for air, clawing at the beast's meaty fist that was cutting off his airflow. Black spots appeared before his eyes, and his head went fuzzy. Suddenly, though, the beast howled and dropped him. As he coughed and sputtered for air, Aqualad turned and saw Artemis tying up the already-unconscious guards while Robin danced with the monster.
"Come get me, you incredible bulk!"
The beast reared back its head like a bull and snarled before charging the young acrobat. With his signature cackle, Robin jumped over it- but this creature proved smarter than the one in Santa Prisca. It grabbed Robin's cape at the arch of the boy's jump, then threw him into the wall with a sickening thud.
Aqualad stood, readying his water-bearers into whips, and ran at the creature, throwing the water at it. The thing roared violently, it two-tipped tongue flailing out into the air, as the water whips slashed open its skin.
Leaping backwards, the Atalantean grinned at his success.
Suddenly, though, the beast chuckled. Aqualad's eyes widened when he saw its skin sew itself back together. Then, the monster launched its body against itself the teen, knocking him into several boxes that lodged splinters into his skin. Luckily, his organ was too thick for them to do much damage.
Artemis let two arrow fly, nets jumping out and wrapping around the creature's legs. But, it easily ripped free and spat- yes, spat- at the archer. She flipped away, the sludge hitting the wall behind her. Slowly, the concrete pillar disintegrated. Whipping her head towards where Robin struggled up, Artemis shouted, "It has acid spit!"
His eyes widened behind his mask, and he nodded. "Whelming..."
Whipping out two exploding bird-a-rangs, Robin threw them at the beast. They exploded on impact, making the monster roar with anger and... pain?
Aqualad was suddenly at the bird's side. "So it is not invincible like the last."
Artemis darted over to the two. "Guess it traded some of its brawn for brains."
Robin snorted. "Lucky for us."
…
…
The guards saw the four up inside the control room and shouted in rapid Spanish. There were maybe fifty of them, all equipped with rapid-fire guns. Some shouted in slurred English as well as their native, making sharp gestures towards the four junior heroes.
"Get down!" Sparrow cried, pulling M'gann and Kid Flash down with her. Dozens of bullets hit the glass, shattering it and sending shards over the heroes. Miss Martian shrieked, pulling herself tighter into Sparrow's side. Kid protectively stretched his body over the girls, and Superboy dropped down over him.
The bullets stopped, and Sparrow was instantly up. "Come on!" she shouted, dragging M'gann behind her. "We need to take out their weapons!"
Miss Martian nodded and turned, throwing her hands out. Her eyes glowed white, and several of the men's guns floated up into the air. With a clench of her fist, the Martian teen crunched them into pieces. A blur of red and yellow ran in front of the goons' line of sight, and another half dozen or so were found weaponless and unconscious. With a roar, Superboy leaped at the gunners, the bullets bouncing off his chest harmlessly. He easily dispatched the gunless guards.
Meanwhile, Sparrow was kicking and punching out the other half, her nun-chucks getting comfy with their helmets and faces. But, she missed one gunner. He took aim and fired.
…
…
Bruised and battered, the three teammates all gathered together. Artemis was almost out of arrows, but that wasn't even a problem as her bow had been snapped in half. Aqualad had numerous slashes and burns (from the acid) on his arms and feet. Robin's cape was torn from dodged the beast's teeth.
But the thing was just getting started. It howled with rage and darted at the three. Artemis and Robin jumped away, but Aqualad was slammed into the wall. There was an echoing crack, and the teen fell, unconscious. "Kaldur!" Robin screamed.
The beast turned to him, snarling and kicking its feet back like a bull.
But, just as it was about to charge, Artemis jumped onto its back, holding tightly onto the ploom of black hair on its head. "RAUUUGH!" came the cry as it threw its head up and back rapidly.
Swiftly, Robin grabbed a knock-out gas pellet and darted forward. Kicking off of the creature's chest, he grabbed it's open jaw, hissing as its razor-sharp teeth cut into his hand. With his other palm, Robin thrust the pellet down its throat.
Artemis back-flipped off, and Robin used his grappling hook to fly away.
Green gas flew from the creature's lips, and he fell down, his world completely shadowed.
Artemis and Robin smirked at each other, but then-
"Kaldur!"
They both raced to their leader, who was crumpled on the ground. Red liquid was staining his blonde hair, and his face was pained. At least he was conscious, now.
"Kaldur'ahm?" Artemis asked tentatively, not daring to move him.
"Kal," came Robin's sharp tone, "Kal, can you move your feet?"
He did so, and Robin breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay. Sit up for us."
With a slight grunt of pain, Kaldur pulled himself up. Artemis inspected his head and said, "Just a scrape- but you probably have a concussion, too. We should dress it-"
"The others," their leader rasped. "Where are they?"
Robin's mask-eyes went wide, and he gasped a swear word. "Sparrow!"
…
…
Kid Flash turned just in time to see the gunner pull the trigger. "Sparrow!"
In a streak of color, the speedster had his friend in a bridal-hold, half-way across the shipping building. Worried emerald eyes looked down at Sparrow, who had her eyes shut tightly behind her mask. "Are you okay, Blaine?" he whispered.
She nodded slowly, but her head went foggy. "N-No," she admitted.
Wally's eyes went bugged when he saw the blood soaking into the girl's side. For once in his life- he hadn't been fast enough. "Crap... !"
Back in front of the leftover ten guards, Superboy heard the hiss of pain and whoosh of air. He whipped around and saw M'gann floating high in the air, downing the last of the guards. Quickly, she landed and pulled a rope out of seemingly nowhere, using her telepathy to tie them up against a large pillar. "Where's Sparrow and Kid?" he called to her.
"CrapcrapcrapcrapCRAP!"
The two turned and saw Sparrow, lying on the ground, her long white-blonde braid lying around her head. Kid Flash was leaning in above her, his back to them. Sweaty red hair fell over his goggles as he swore loudly.
M'gann gasped, a hand flying to her lips. She looked at Superboy before running over.
Blood came from Sparrow's side, just above her hip and about two inches inside of her gut. She grunted as Kid Flash put pressure on the wound, the red liquid turning his fabric-covered fingers a deep brown. "Megan," he rasped desperately, "can't you heal her?"
Tears in her eyes, the Martian shook her head. "I- I'm not that advanced yet!"
Sparrow managed to roll her eyes through her pain. "T-Through-and-through," she gasped. "I-I-I'll be f-fine... Get the s-s-sample..."
Superboy turned to a nearby box that had been shot through. He swiftly tore off its lid and looked inside. Cocking an eyebrow, he pulled out a fuzzy blue bunny. Its blank, brown eyes gazed up at him curiously. At first, the clone thought they had been duped. But a sharp smell came to his nose, and he snorted. Yup. That's not stuffing.
The doors to the building shot open, and Superboy turned, instantly in a fighting stance as more guards-
Oh.
Their teammates.
"Sparrow!" came Robin's anguished cry. Suddenly, he was at her side, quickly pulling gauze out of his belt. "Call in Batman," he ordered Kid Flash swiftly. The speedster nodded, shaken up and panting. He pressed his comm unit.
"Kid Flash to Batman, Kid Flash to Batman."
"Kid Flash, this is Batman. Report."
"Sparrow's been hurt- we've been compromised. We're gonna need some assistance."
Sirens echoed in the distance, and the teen cursed. "We're gonna need that assistance now."
Artemis came in, Kaldur leaning on her shoulder. "We... We need to go," the Atalantean gasped through his fog.
Sparrow turned her head to look at Robin, whose face was the vivid image of worry. "Help me u-up."
He eyed her viciously.
"R-Rob, seriously, the Glare doesn't w-work on me."
He couldn't help but smirk. "Fine." He pulled her to her feet, letting her lean her head on his shoulder. At the jostling of her ribs, Sparrow let out a light gasp. Kid Flash pulled her other arm over his shoulder to balance the girl out. She rolled her eyes, muttering something along the lines of 'sexist pig'.
"I'll get the ship!" M'gann exclaimed and rushed out.
Superboy made his way up to his leader. "You alright, Kaldur?"
He waved a hand nonchalantly. "I am fine. Sparrow needs the attention now."
Robin and Kid Flash half-dragged, half-led the girl forward. She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Aqualad."
The way she said it stung at his heart, but he understood. It was her first mission, and she had gotten herself hurt. She was supposed to be trained by the Batman. And she was tough! She just... The gunner got in a lucky shot.
Robin quickly deflected the tension. "What you got, Supey?"
The black-haired teen looked down at the bunny in his hand. "A... bunny..."
Artemis held back a giggle at the innocent expression her teammate made. "Yeah- the other building was manufacturing the Venom and hiding it in the toys."
Sparrow nodded, biting her inner cheek. "I-I've got a list of buyers..."
"Buyers?" Robin asked, his voice going up an octave. "How many?"
"At least a dozen," Kid Flash spoke.
M'gann suddenly flew back in. "Flash and Uncle J'onn are here. They said we need to go- I've got the ship ready."
…
…
"Do none of you understand the meaning of 'covert'?"
Now with their scrapes and bruises covered up and bandaged, the Team was lined out in front of Batman. Scratch that, a very PMS-y Batman.
The Dark Knight's scowl was fierce, fiercer than usual. His arms were crossed over his chest, his cape falling down his shoulders. Even though he had his cowl up, Robin knew that his 'dad' had a purple vein in his forehead that was pulsing right then.
"We are sorry, sir," Aqualad spoke solemnly for his team, taking a step forward. He looked pitiful with that long, white gauze wrapped around his head. "We were told not to engage-"
"But you did."
The silence was deafening. Batman was angry about their engagement with the enemy, but that was soothed over slightly. They had gotten the information needed, and the sample. What really set him off was the fact that Blaine- his darling baby girl- had been shot. Even if she was fine now, it still angered him. Any time either of his baby birds was hurt, there would be Hell to pay.
"We succeeded in our mission!" Robin griped.
Sparrow nodded her agreement, coming to stand behind her 'twin'. "We got our info. Cobra is behind it- again-"
"You will not be doing this again," Batman snapped. His Glare deepened, and he turned swiftly. "Get some rest."
Before any more words could be said, he stalked off.
Artemis yawned loudly, stretching. "Well, I'm screwed. I broke my bow and Arrow is gonna be furious."
Kaldur'ahm shook his head gently, careful not to disrupt his few stitches. "My King will not be proud."
Robin began to stretch out his sore muscles as Kid Flash exclaimed, "My aunt is going to murder me in my sleep!"
Sparrow rolled her eyes. "You guys are overreacting."
Kid Flash shot her a look. "Have you ever met my aunt?"
Superboy suddenly growled, "I'm going to bed."
M'gann cocked an eyebrow innocently. "Aren't you gonna shower first?"
"No."
…
…
Eventually, everyone was in bed and asleep. It was nearing 4AM already, but it was still pitch black outside. Robin found himself on the couch, not able to get any shut-eye, staring at a mindless episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.
There came the clicking and clanking of metal.
The boy looked up to see Red Tornado coming into the room. "Robin, why are you not in bed?" came his robotic voice.
Robin slowly slid off his perch, turning off the TV just as the annoying jingle signaling the next episode came on. "I couldn't sleep."
The robot showed no emotion as he spoke. "Have you been having nightmares?"
"No," Robin lied, almost too quickly. "I just... Can't sleep."
Red Tornado nodded and turned to walk away. But he stopped at the door and turned slightly. "According to my files, it is not abnormal for adolescents to have nightmares."
Robin smirked lightly. "Thanks."
"Good night, Robin- or rather, good morning."
"Good morning, Red Tornado."
Aw... Robin-Angst up in there!
I REAAAAAALLY hope I didn't murder this. PLEASE give me reviews!
I don't care if it's criticism or 'yay's'! (no flames, though, pwease...)
maybe? :)