Chapter fifteen: Let's joke (part two)
It was the next day. Beast Boy, Cyborg, Robin, Raven and Starfire were in the living room anxiously waiting for Crystal.
"Where is she? We're gonna be late," Cyborg asked nobody in particular.
Crystal came in just then.
Their jaws dropped.
Crystal was wearing a knee-length dress that had a nude slightly see-through top with blue lace and blue flared bottom that barely reached her knees.
She finished the look with a pair of black heels and a Burberry purse. Her thick, full black hair that was always in a ponytail or a bun was now down and straight with a side part.
She didn't have much makeup on but she looked amazing.
She saw the looks on their faces.
"What? Too much?" she asked uncertainly.
"Um, no but you look beyond amazing!" Cyborg stated and she smiled.
"Are you guys ready to be glamified?" she asked with a grin.
"Yes!" they chorused.
She snapped her fingers and instantly their clothes changed.
"Wait, I'm not green anymore!"
"And I am not the orange anymore!"
"I'm not grayish-white anymore, oh my gosh!"
They admired their new clothes. Raven was in a dress that was above her knees. The top was see-through with blue polka dots and the bottom was blue flared. She had a matching silver sequined heels and purse to match.
Starfire was now in a red sleeveless dress that got to her ankle at the back but at the front it stopped at her knees and it spread in layers till it got to her ankles. Her hair was now black and in waves and not as full. She couldn't take her eyes off the silver open toe sandals with the gold heels on her feet.
Robin was in a suit and trousers with white scribble design on a black background. The scribbles made the suit whiter than Black but the hem of the suit and trousers were black. He wore navy blue shoes.
Beast Boy was in a Burberry suit and black shoes.
Cyborg was in a red suit and trousers with black shoes. He had a black bowtie.
"You made my hair normal and no longer like discount Goku!" Robin screeched excitedly and Crystal laughed.
"I look the gorgeous!"
"I looks classy mama. Thanks!"
Crystal curtseyed and doubled over in laughter.
"The body changes are temporary though," she stated and they nodded in understanding.
"Batman said pairs, who's going with who?" Raven asked after awhile.
"Raven you're with Beast Boy, Cyborg with Star and me with Crystal," Robin said quickly.
"We're getting late!" Cyborg said.
Raven teleported Cyborg and Starfire to the venue then herself and Beast Boy.
Crystal opened a portal and she and Robin stepped in.
"Isn't that Aqualad?" Crystal asked looking ahead and Robin nodded.
They posed for the cameras.
"Aren't you going to take off your mask? It's too easy to notice you," Crystal whispered to him.
"They already know I'm in town plus I'm not taking any questions from reporters now," he whispered back.
"Your new arm candy is gonna be the headline," she whispered as Robin put his hands around her waist from behind her and she flashed a smile at the cameras.
"Excuse me, who are you wearing, Miss?"
Robin pulled her along into the party and she smiled in amusement.
"Come on. I would've told her," she said, still smiling.
"She would've wasted valuable time and would've wanted to interview me as well," Robin muttered.
"She would've said your real name," Crystal said with a smirk.
Robin looked at her, "yes she would've."
"Hey bro, sup."
"Oh my gosh, Kevin!" Robin said excitedly and hugged the Hispanic guy in front of them.
"Who's this beautiful lady with you?" Kevin asked, looking at Crystal.
"This is my friend Kevin and Kevin this is..."
"Amethyst," Crystal introduced and Kevin kissed her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Amethyst... Hold on, Amethyst the artiste?" he asked in surprise and she nodded.
"Bro! Lucky you!" he said to Robin and missed Crystal rolling her eyes.
"I have to go find Bruce now," Robin said.
"Oh I saw him talking with Zara at the buffet table," Kevin informed.
"Thanks," Robin said and headed in, Crystal followed.
"Zara?" she asked.
"Zatanna," Robin replied.
"Oh," she said.
All of a sudden, Robin put her arm on his.
"What?"
"Hey..."
"Hello Steven," Robin cut in.
"It's been forever!" the guy with the strong French accent said enthusiastically.
"Who's this pretty little thing on your arm?" he asked, ogling Crystal who could not hide the disgust on her face.
"She's my date, can you keep your eyes off her, please?" Robin said, pulling her closer.
"Oh you don't want to share, I get that but can I get her first then you would later after the party?" he asked and Robin had to squeeze Crystal's palm to prevent her from slapping him.
"No you cannot, Steven," Robin said through clenched teeth.
He then pulled Crystal away from Steven.
"Who's that asshole?" Crystal asked.
"Steven McTrey. He's the son of the second richest man in Gotham," Robin answered.
"Can we just find Batman before I start killing people?" Crystal asked and Robin laughed.
"Hi D. I knew it was you," someone called from behind them just as they'd sighted Zatanna.
Crystal watched Robin pale, "Laurel, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Chillax," she replied with a laugh.
"Hi," she finally greeted Crystal eyeing her up and down.
"Finally got your hands on a black girl, congratulations D," she said before Crystal could answer.
That was the last straw for her. She left the two and headed over to meet Zatanna.
Five minutes later, Robin came to join the two.
"Why did you leave me alone like that?" he asked, looking genuinely disturbed.
"You have terrible friends is all," Crystal replied.
"Only Kevin is my friend. The rest are unfortunate acquaintances," Robin said firmly.
"Yeah, unfortunate as getting drunk and fucking Laurel," Zatanna laughed and Crystal joined in.
If it were outside the party he would've yelled, now he just stood glaring at them, his temple throbbing.
"Well, she is sexy," Crystal said looking over at Laurel.
"How could she not? She's Latina," Zatanna stated, "she still doesn't hold a candle to you."
"Huh?" Crystal looked confused.
"Can you see your body? If you had worn a body con dress, it would've been a scandal. You have a real tiny waist, you're a C cup and just look at your butt, girl!" Zatanna stated.
"Z, this is harassment," Crystal said, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
Robin grimaced from behind her.
As overtly sexual as he was, he'd never checked out any of his female teammates like that, with the exception of Starfire now he found himself doing so with Crystal. He hated Zatanna so much right now.
"D's finally checking you out," Zatanna chuckled.
Crystal turned and looked up at Robin, he was blushing.
"Et, tu?" she asked, looking genuinely disappointed in him for a moment.
"I'm sorry, it's just... Zatanna's words..."
Crystal laughed then, "I'm part succubus, Robin and at least you're not being overly disgusting with it. Just stop staring at my ass, would you?"
Robin blushed furiously and turned away.
"Where's Bruce?" Crystal asked Zatanna.
"He was with me a while ago then he left. Said he got a call from Alfred about the surveillance for Joker," she replied.
"Do you think he plans to attack the party?" Robin asked.
"Who knows what's going on in the mind of that man? He has no super powers but we have the entire Justice league and Titans US in one place with the ones external on standby just in case," Zatanna replied.
Batman came up to them, "Doctor light and Puppet Boy were just spotted near the statue of liberty."
"Do you think The Joker may have connived with other villains?" Crystal asked.
"He has done so in the past but he usually prefers to work alone," Robin stated thoughtfully.
"I sent Martian manhunter and bat girl to monitor their activities, till then let's just enjoy the party," Batman said and pulled Zatanna away.
"I'm pretty sure they're still a thing," Crystal said with a smirk.
"Look! BB and Rae!" Robin stated, pointing.
Crystal turned in their direction and connected with Raven mentally and the half demon turned to her. Raven pulled Beast Boy through the party to them.
"Oh my gosh. Thank goodness! I just remembered I hate parties!" Raven burst out when they got to Robin and Crystal.
Crystal and Robin laughed while Beast Boy rolled his eyes.
"You two look perfect together!" Cyborg called from behind Robin and Crystal.
"BB and Rae, right?" Robin asked.
"They look fabulous together I know," Crystal added.
"Nope, I mean the both of you," Cyborg said coming around to the front of them.
Crystal and Robin rolled their eyes sumulteneously.
"Wow. They're even rolling their eyes together now," Cyborg said and laughed, "I'm just kidding."
"Where's Star?" Crystal inquired.
"She went to find the bathroom just now. I think she was simply jealous of seeing you guys together," Cyborg replied..
"Any updates?" Raven asked.
"Doctor Light and Puppet Boy were spotted near the stature of Liberty. He sent bat girl and Martian manhunter to watch them," Robin replied.
"Bruce said we should just enjoy the party for now and he'll contact us when there's an emergency," Crystal added.
"Cool, more shots!" Beast Boy stated and picked up a glass From one of the butlers passing by.
"Oh no, no no no no," Crystal said and took the glass from him.
"Come on! I'm adult. I've passed legal drinking age!" he said trying to get it from her.
She downed the glass at once and instantly regretted it.
She shook her head and tried to focus her vision. Robin held her when she staggered.
"Whoa, whoa mama! You supposed to sip it," Beast Boy said.
"Yeah I peeped the bottle and I have refused to drink anything. We're talking 6.7% per serving," Cyborg stated.
"It's not a Bruce party without alcohol," Robin said with a shrug.
"Are you ok to stand on your own?" he asked Crystal.
"I think so," she said and he let her go.
"This is why I stick to Pepsi and fruit juices," she stated.
"Well, we didn't make you drink it," Raven said and Crystal glared at her.
Starfire joined them then.
"Your dress has to be the best out of all of us," Crystal said gauging the Tamarenean princess from head to toe.
"I believe it is the yours," Starfire returned and Crystal pulled her into a hug.
Starfire laughed happily.
"Bruce said enjoy the party, let's go Enjoy the party then let's go enjoy the party," Beast Boy left with Cyborg and Raven left with Starfire.
"This party's a droll," Robin said.
"You're only saying that cause you're used to these," Crystal stated.
"Maybe, but I'm bored as heck," Robin groaned.
Crystal smiled, "come gimme a tour of the Wayne Manor."
His eyes lit up then, "ok but Wayne Manor is really huge and a tour might take till tomorrow."
"Just gimme as much as you can till you get tired or we get a call or something," Crystal said.
"The difficult part is how to get out of here without a scandal," Robin stated, looking around warily.
"What are you even talking about?"
"You know that thing you said about 'my new arm candy' going to be the headline? Well, leaving this party together right now is gonna assure that. They're gonna say we're having an affair. It's gonna be on the 'Gossip' column," Robin replied with a shudder.
"How do you suppose we get out of here?" Crystal asked again.
"We'll have to go find Bruce and Z and get Z to take us there," he replied.
"Oh not without a performance, you're not," Kevin said, startling them.
"From me? I'm afraid I'm not prepared," Crystal replied.
"We both know you can prepare in seconds with your powers," he said with a smirk.
Crystal was surprised, she didn't know who he was. Was he a new supe or...?
"I'm afraid I don't understand..."
Robin and Kevin cut in with a laugh.
"I'm afraid, my friend here didn't do proper introductions. Robin here, at your service," Kevin introduced with a small bow.
The surprise showed on her face now.
"Ok I know one of you is Dick Grayson and one is Damian Wayne but I don't know which is which," she said then and they both laughed.
"So I see Robin over here has refused to take off his mask then," Kevin chuckled.
"I don't even understand why, he knows who the rest of us are," Crystal said rolling her eyes.
"Do I? You talk more than Raven but I know more about her than you. What is even your real name? Crystal or Amethyst?" he asked her with an accusing lilt to his voice.
"Neither," she replied, "my dad calls me Crystal and I used it as my supe name. He said it's the English translation of my demon name and he told me my mom called me Amethyst so I used that as my celebrity name."
"See, I don't even know your real name. I'm entitled to my mystery. Don't you agree?" Robin stated.
"I always agreed, when the others complained. One time Beast Boy was asking how we could trust you when we don't even know who you were. I laughed and said they didn't even know who I was," Crystal said with a small smile.
"Well, Robin's reasons are because of PTSD," Kevin revealed.
"How so?" Crystal asked.
"The last person he revealed himself to, ended up working for Slade," Kevin answered and Robin shuddered.
"Thank you for exhuming corpses," Robin said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry bro," Kevin apologized.
"Enough with the macabre talk," Crystal said and served herself some tiny pieces of meat off the table.
"Seriously I'm starving. You two should take me to Wayne Manor for some actual dinner, now," she added.
"Sure, let's go," Kevin stated and turned.
"What? No scandal?" Crystal asked.
"Robin will exaggerate everything. Then again he is a notorious cassanova so..." Kevin exposed with a laugh.
"Hell no!" Crystal let out and Robin was glaring daggers at his best friend.
"Hell yes," Kevin said.
"I'm starving guys," Crystal stated.
"Not before you sing," Kevin said.
"Fine, one song," Crystal conceded.
"Into the unknown," Kevin and Robin chorused simultaneously.
"No. You both know how difficult that song is," she stated, shaking her head.
"Not for you. I heard you belt it out one morning when you woke up earlier than the rest of us. Now come on," Robin cajoled.
Kevin rushed over to those in charge of music and Robin pulled her along.
"Just be careful you don't hit anyone cause you turned the kitchen into a Winter wonderland when you did that song," Robin said, "we can play off your ice powers as special effects."
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special person in our midst. An artiste who just appeared on a song with Lady Gaga and dropped her single "Alone" with Alan Walker.
It's the upcoming Princess of Pop, Amethyst with our very own Zara here to perform Idina Menzel's "Into the unknown."
Zatanna started the song and Crystal started Elsa's part. Her Powers looked like they were under control.
Then at the second chorus, it seemed evident to the superheroes present that her ice power was working on its own.
Then at the bridge, she let out some ice that looked like the form of actual humans.
Beast Boy, Zatanna, Raven, Robin, Kevin, Starfire and Cyborg who were watching intently knew exactly what it was.
At the end of the song, the figures and all the ice vanished and all the non-supes applauded simultaneously.
"This is why I don't sing any Elsa song from Frozen. I don't know, it's like they set off my powers somehow," she stated.
"Everyone should be on high alert," Kevin said through his communicators.
"I could spot The Joker, Darkseid, The Hive, Brother Blood, Lex Luthor and several others. I think the Joker's plan is to bring together all the villains to attack us," Crystal said.
"Uh guys," she added weakly moments later.
"Yeah you're hungry," Kevin said, turning to her.
"And your blood sugar's probably low. We have to get you out of here," Robin added.
"Bruce, Kevin and I need to get Crystal to Wayne Manor," Robin whispered into his communicator.
"Let's go," he said after awhile.
"Can you teleport two?" Robin asked when they got outside.
"Do I even know where I'm going?" she asked them.
"Tap into my memories," Kevin offered.
"Are you sure? I'm not at full capacity right now. Letting me into your mind is mad risky," she inquired.
"I'm pretty sure you only need memories from this morning to find out where the Manor is," Kevin said.
"It's a lot more complicated than that but I'll try to get in," she said.
"Ok, just chillax," she added.
"Robin just look around if anyone's coming," she said.
She placed her hands on his temples and placed her head against his, noses touching.
A few seconds, she found the Manor but she found something else as well.
When she pulled away from him, she stared at him for awhile.
"What?" Robin and Kevin asked simulteneously.
"He's met The Joker recently," Crystal replied.
"I'm pretty sure I'd remember..."
"Remember the tall man in the orange long-sleeve and black trousers you met on the subway?" she cut in.
"No..." he began.
"Yes," she cut in.
"He said something to me uh... No distractions," Kevin stated.
"Oh my gosh, what if us leaving the party is a distraction?" Crystal asked in worry.
"The entire Justice league and Titans US is in there. At this point, you're more important. You won't be of any good to anyone if you pass out. Why didn't you eat anyway?" Robin asked.
"We were behind schedule and I took time picking out my outfit," she replied.
The held her hands and she teleported them to Wayne Manor.
As soon as they arrived, she collapsed and they held her up.
"She needs sugar. A few cans of of Pepsi always suffices," Robin stated.
Alfred came to them with a tray holding cans of the said drink and some food on it.
They sat her down and made her drink the Pepsi.
It wasn't working.
"Something's wrong," Robin said with worry.
She dropped to her knees then and screamed.
A piercing, high pitched scream that sent Robin, Kevin and Alfred flying backwards.
When they finally stood up, she screamed again and her eyes flashed from black to white then back to normal.
Robin took out his communicator, "Raven, come to Wayne Manor now!"
She screamed again and the the glass table in the room they were shattered.
She panted and cried, "help!" she said looking at them.
She held her head and screamed again.
Raven appeared in the room and surveyed.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't..."
Crystal screamed again but it transformed from a high pitch screaming a roar.
"Oh gosh no!" Raven said in fear.
"What's wrong?"
"Her demon side and angel side are battling and her human form can't take," Raven replied.
"But she's kept the balance so far," Robin said.
"This isn't her. Someone... Must've interfered when she was open and vulnerable," Raven said in thought.
"The drink?" Robin speculated.
"The song," Kevin stated.
Robin and Raven turned to him.
"She said it set off her powers," Kevin said.
"What can set something off can also... Be used against it," Alfred stated.
"How do we stop it?" Robin asked.
"We can't. But I have to get her out of here before she brings down Wayne Manor," Raven replied.
"What do you mean we can't?" Kevin inquired.
"We can't stop the fight. We can only hope it ends on a stalemate but I have to fortify her body. I need Zatanna," Raven replied.
"Way ahead of you," Zatanna appeared before them.
Crystal roared and turned into her demon form. She sent the boys flying in opposite directions. Raven and Zatanna stood their ground.
"Get out of my way" she ordered.
Zatanna and Raven nodded to each other then they opened a portal on the floor and Crystal fell through. Zatanna jumped in after her.
"What about the Joker? If you three are out of reach..." Robin called out, straining.
"To be honest, this is way more important. If she loses this fight, it might spell the end for us all," Raven jumped into the portal then.
Then all the emergency signals went off.
"What do you mean there aren't any of my Robin costumes here?" Robin asked Alfred in panic.
"Except you'll use the one with the short shorts," Kevin said.
"Or Jason Todd's costume," Alfred added.
"I'll use his then," he said and in a few minutes he was donning the red, black and yellow costume.
"Wow, it's really surreal to see you wearing that, Master Richard," Alfred said.
Kevin was already in his costume.
"Let's go!" he called.
When they arrived, they stood back to back and took out the Hive.
It was dark.
"Nice to see you again, Boy Wonder and wow... Batman's own son here too," Trefaniel said.
Robin felt something envelop him. Fear.
Memories of their last encounter came flooding back to him.
"You have no idea what plans we have for you Robins," Joker stated, laughing.
"Richard's mine by the way," Slade said, appearing before them.
All the lights came on then and they saw the superheroes captured except Beast Boy.
'He must've escaped,' Kevin thought.
"Oh you can have your precious Boy Wonder," Joker said to Slade.
"What do you want?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, nothing much. Just the end of superheroes as it is. I did warn you not to welcome any distractions Damian," Joker replied.
"Hold on, Trefaniel, you offset your own daughter's powers?" Robin asked in surprise.
"No and yes," Trefaniel replied, "most of it was her own doing. I was actually surprised and she put up a fight to prevent my interference. But, her human body was weak so she couldn't fight anymore."
"With your three powerful sorceresses out of the way, you Superheroes are such easy pickings," Brother Blood said and dropped a smoke bomb knocking out the two Robins.
(A/N: Let me know what you think ️)