In a World Like This

by Cutie and the Beast

This is a request from mary.okeeffe.16, so thank you! The Teen Titans meet a new team of villains, a boy band calling themselves the Alley Men. When the Titans are invited to one of their concerts, Robin and Starfire agree to check it out. However, Raven is skeptical, and for good reason, but you'll have to read to find out. Also, all chapter titles are Backstreet Boys song titles.

11. Chapter 11: Shattered

It took a bit of time to ensure nobody was injured and out of commission, but the Titans were finally back in action! The concert venue may have been destroyed, but the Alley Men were still there, or somewhere around there. They wouldn't be going too far from their precious gemstone.

"Everybody remember the plan?" Robin double-checked.

"Yep!" A chorus rose up as the rest of the Titans prepared for battle.

"Well, sounds like you blew your cover," Blaze mocked, somewhere in the shadows.

"Titans, go!" Robin called, and the crew took off.

Raven had been assigned to fight Gray. She had previously had a rivalry with Terra anyways, so any chance she had to pick on somebody similar was very much welcome. She prepared herself, mind clear, focusing on where she assumed Gray was.

"Azarath metrion zinthos!" A wall of rock rose up and blasted at Gray, startling him. "And you thought I couldn't match you," she growled, winding up another blast.

Robin and Cyborg had teamed up against Blaze and Chad. Robin was fortunate enough to have his fireproof cape that Batman had given him, one of his few reminders of home. He was keeping a tight hold of that cape in the midst of the fight, trying to protect both himself and Cy from further burns.

Chad was throwing punches and kicks galore, but Robin was dodging too quickly for him to land anything, and he was afraid to go after the hunk of metal next to him.

Starfire was busy distracting Hector, trying to make sure he couldn't steal any weaponry off her teammates. She was flying in circles, throwing fireballs into the floor, creating a ditch around the spot Hector was standing. He was practically stranded by the time she was done, allowing her time to help Beast Boy.

Beast Boy had been given the most important role. It was assumed that the gem would be closely guarded. Most likely it would be Alphius, fully invisible to make the Teen Titans believe they had an easy path to the gemstone. But they were one step ahead. Beast Boy was up in the rafters, perched as a magnificent falcon, waiting for Starfire to swoop in.

Starfire made a clean break for the gem, waiting for a collision. Bam! She smacked right into Alphius, and he revealed himself with a snarl on his face.

"Friend Beast Boy! Now!" Star called, and Beast Boy dove, clutching the ruby in his talons.

When he arrived back in the rafters, he transformed back into his humanesque form, carefully balancing himself on a beam. "Hey, Alley Men! Watch this!" He dropped the ruby, sending it plummeting towards the ground.

As hard as the opposing team tried, they couldn't keep the ruby from hitting the ground at full force. It shattered, breaking the curse the Alley Men had laid on Jump City.

"Now, I could let you off easy and tell you to not come back," Robin told them, "but I'm not gonna do that." The Alley Men were promptly arrested, and the Titans celebrated their successful mission.