Sunglasses at Night Chapter 17, a teen titans fanfic

Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans.

"Raising Hell doesn't mean you are a person who likes to start problems; yet, you are a person who likes to address things amicably when Hell comes about."

- Y. R.

CHAPTER 17

SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT

Jericho thanked Herald many times for taking him to Philly, more times than he could count.

"Dude, you've already thanked me. We're cool," the Herald reassured him many times. "If you don't mind me asking man, why do you seem so nervous anyway? You look like my great aunt when she's about to step on stage and sing."

Jericho thought about it. Should he be honest to Herald about his father? Should he confide in him to keep a secret?

But the thing was, this was something that could not be kept a secret. He simply told his best bud that he was "visiting a relative."

Herald said in response to that, "cool man, cool."

After Herald opened the portal and Jericho climbed out he signed Thanks for the last time. His best friend nodded, "ring me on your communicator when you're ready to go home, I'll be here in a jiffy. Bye." He then walked right back inside the portal and was gone.

Jericho saw that Herald had dropped him off in a location where he was far enough to see the skyline of Philadelphia.

It looked really lovely at night of course, but in the evening. There was something about it that made him think about longing. He thought about how he always longed to be something but wasn't quite there yet.

Kole.

He left her at his place, but maybe he should've invited her along. Her gorgeous sapphire eyes would've glowed at the sight of the Philadelphia skyline. Especially if she seen it at night. And perhaps, not wanting to admit it, he longed for her. He even wrote a song for her, but he wasn't quite done with it. He even had words, but he couldn't sing, and the lyrics sounded embarrassing to the guitarist. He didn't even bring his guitar, he left it back at his place. It was such a load, and he was visiting his father.

Sometimes there seemed to be a hollow feeling when he were to visit his father. It felt like judgement day. Just a week ago was he sent a postcard from him of the same skyline. That is how Jericho knew where to find Slade, his father. Every time his father relocated or was visiting an area he would send him a postcard. Jericho took the postcard from his pants pocket and held it up to where the pic and the actual scenery of the skyline matched. Wow, it was better in person. Really, it was. He then turned the postcard around to the back and looked at his father's scrawl that was of the address, or where he resided; his work accommodations. Jericho had some change in his pocket, he could afford bus fare.

-/-/-

After being dropped off at a particular bus stop Jericho walked down to the park and to the sand pit where volleyball was played regularly. It was vacant. He got on his hands upon the sandy surface and began to scoop up hands full of sand, throwing it mercifully to the side. After thirty minutes of just doing this, there began to appear a steel mound that looked like it was part of the cement and sand, but he knew better than that. He saw where the dial to put in a combination was. He turned the dial to numbers 1-21-99; the date of when his brother died. The steel mound rigged and unlocked and eventually he climbed inside, the mound closing itself. There was a slide that sent him down to the lair.

When he reached the bottom of the slide he saw that many men dressed in a brown coat, and dark green corduroy pants gawked at him. One of the men held his wrist to his mouth and spoke to it. "Master Slade, your unruly son is here."

Jericho didn't say anything, it is not like he could have. He just looked at his surroundings and just noticed how dark the little room was, and how there were clones of his father behind the corduroyed men. Creepy it all was, he was most certainly used to it. This hadn't been the first time he visited his father.

The man talking to his wrist still spoke after—what seemed like forever—a response had come. "Bring him down good sir, no blindfolds? Are you sure sir? Okay then." The man then looked down at the teen and gave him a look of disdain. It didn't intimidate Jericho. Not at all. "Well, Joseph. Good to see you again. You are to walk down the steps once you open this door (one of his father's clones took to unlocking the door that was to the left of the man, it was locked with several locks, and rigged five times), you will walk down alone, and your father will soon greet you. There are several steps, so if you get parched of thirst which will be likely, drink this here water." The man then handed Jericho a glass of water. "Good luck."

The door had been unlocked, Jericho got off the ground and walked towards the door that had been opened for him. He waved at the men and clones and descended down the steps. It was dark. The door closed after him.

-/-/

"Son, you surprise me," Slade said in that relaxed and careless voice of his. "But not this time. I sensed your coming since this morning."

Jericho scratched his neck and shifted his feet uncomfortably. He was standing behind his father, a few feet away.

"Do you have a problem? Girl trouble?" Slade turned and faced his son. "You need money? Why, those are the reasons I send you postcards, so you can know of my whereabouts and such. Need anymore fighting lessons? Need me to teach you how to play Hotel California?—but, oh, I see, you didn't bring your guitar. Oh well, I still own the guitar that was signed by Buckingham. All is well! Would you like me to bring it to you? Get it out?"

Jericho shook his head at all questions and commentary. It was all nice really that his father was trying to actually be like a dad, but Jericho had something reeling in his mind since earlier. He looked at all the posters in the lair of famous rock bands. He still stood when he began to sign at his father. Slade had to un-dim some lights in the room to see what his son was signing.

He signed the letters of her name: K-O-L-E

Slade smiled. "So she tattles...you and her are really close, closer than I thought."

Jericho shrugged. You hurt her.

His father clasped his hands together and looked at him slyly. Well, his face really can't show emotion, but you knew he would be making that face expression. His son knew.

"No, I did not, those clones under my command did so..."

You were the accomplice. Still your doing.

"They barely even touched her. She got away. So did Beast Boy."

Thunder and Lightning?

Slade sarcastically laughed. "Ha Ha." He crossed his arms. "I NEED them. They don't know it yet, but I'll be draining their powers."

Jericho frowned. You cannot do that to them. They are my teammates.

"Yeah, but they're already suspended as superheroes. What use are they right now?"

Jericho looked around. Where is Thunder and Lightning?

Slade laughed that mechanic laugh of his again. "I won't be telling you that my son. Besides...if you haven't been alerted yet. Thunder and Lightning are wanted by JLA and Robin, as well as your precious Kole and Beast Boy."

Just then did Jericho's communicator make an alarm sound.

All Titan members report to Titan East Tower. Kole, Beast Boy, Thunder and Lightning are wanted. We need to consult on their whereabouts. Report to Titan East Tower immediately. You are excused of this order if you are performing super hero duties at the moment. - Robin.

-/-

Beast Boy, Kid Flash, and Speedy were dressed in black clothing like they were in the Matrix. Except they looked more-so like burglars. "Do we have to wear these gloves?" asked Speedy. "Seriously, do we? I won't be good on my aim if I wear gloves."

Wally shook his head. "Nah, but I thought it'd make us look cool."

Beast Boy put on black high top sneakers, and adjusted the black beanie on his head. "You guys ready?" He said. "So, we walkin' to this place? We gotta motorcycle? How are we exactly getting to the warehouse?"

Speedy smirked and looked out at the street. "It's coming...just about.. now."

In a mere ten seconds a car zoomed in, stopping in front of them. The window rolled down, the light on inside the Buick. Inside the car was a dark haired young lady, who was dressed in black just like the group of comic reliefs were. She wore dark red lip stick, her hair was down, and she had a roughish scarlet beanie over her head. Her eyebrow was raised, her mouth a smirk. "Hey Roy, Wally!... and Beast Boy is it?" She greeted with spunk.

"Yeah...who are you?" the changeling asked dumbfounded. His eyes widened, she was gorgeous.

She gave him a look that said "are you kidding me?"

"My 'sister' is a 'princess.' She wears underwear as a uniform..." She suggested with a sigh.

"Still doesn't ring a bell," Beast Boy said. "Are you related to Robin? You guys kinda share a resemblance now that I think about it."

"No," she said with a zombie-like face expression. "I'm related to Wonder Woman."

Beast Boy's eyes didn't light up immediately.

"Great Hera!" She exclaimed taking her hands of the wheel in irritation. "I'm Wonder Girl you beast!"

His eyes then lit up in knowledge on knowing who Wonder Girl was. "Oh, wow. I thought Wonder Woman was hot! But you're gorgeous!"

She didn't blush, she reacted to the compliment like she heard it before a dozen of times. "Thanks Beast Boy, really, thank you."

Roy frowned, yet still tried to mask his jealously. He hadn't made any acknowledgment about it, but he had dibs on Donna. No one just didn't know it yet. "Uh, Beast Boy you probably shouldn't say that..."

Kid Flash laughed. "Why shouldn't he Speedy? She is hot!"

Wonder Girl laughed nervously, "We should probably get going now..."

Roy scratched his face out out of frustration. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know, but I just don't prefer you to say that..."

Beast Boy patted his comrade on the back. "Dude, she's yours, I was just saying!"

Wonder Girl furrowed her eyebrows at them. It was getting chilly, she could've rolled up the car window, but she chose not to. "I am not a possession, or something to bid on." Her voice was deadly.

The three boys all looked at each other in smugness. They were inhabiting the bro code. Wonder Girl didn't know that, she only said. "Get in! Don't we have to go and save Mr Heatmiser and Snowmiser?!"

"Their names are Thunder and Lightning." Corrected Kid Flash.

"Yeah, whatever. Get in."

Roy of course called dibs on the front seat, Kid Flash and Beast Boy got in the back.

Already, when driving on the interstate, each Titan got an alert on their communicator:

Roy said, "oh, shi–"

Wonder girl, "Hera!"

Beast Boy rolled down the window, and immediately threw his communicator out the window. Thank God they were driving past a lake.

Kid Flash laughed, shrugged, and simply said, "we're fighting crime. We're doing superhero duties."

Wonder Girl sped up the car.

-/-/-

Author's Note: Quick update! I know. but thanks for reviewing and following.

JasonVUK: Things will get even more intense! Just you see! Thanks for your input.

dj25taz: good good, I'm glad the chapters have helped. :)

Will update very soon. Maybe tomorrow morning or evening.