A/N: Hey, so we're finally covering the titans raising money that was going to be the Farce episode, but it's now been repurposed. I'd just like to warn that not all of them have a long story. Sure, Raven always have the shortest or smallest responses to things but a couple of them felt like they were perfectly covered in short explanations as well. So at least half of them have more than a simple description.
As the titans were either playing or watching a video game, a video call put the game on hold.
"Aw man, I was totally goings to win yo!" Beast complained. Nightwing hushed him before accepting the call, which was a distressed Steven. "Hey Steven. What's wrong?"
"We just recieved some very bad news. The orphanage is nearly to being permanently closed." The titans gasped.
"But why?!" Starfire asked in concern.
"We just don't have the money. Despite your generosity of donating to us money for food, the place is barely holding up. We just don't have the money or income, and we'll be sent to foster and each of us will have to split."
"And we don't have the money to run an orphanage ourselves." Cyborg told his friends.
"Well, it seems like there's only one thing left to do." The titan leader said.
"And what would that be?" Jinx asked.
"We raise up money. Give the city something that they will pay for."
"How much are we talking about?"
"I'd say a good quarter million would work."
"But how we's supposed to find that much money?" Garfield inquired.
"We're the Teen Titans. The people love us. I'm sure we'll find a way."
Nightwing was on a case of a missing kid. In fact, a bunch of missing kids. All either the ages of 5 or 6 years old from Jump Elementary. Inspecting the grounds, teachers and parents, there was an underlying commonality; that the teachers and parents are somewhat jerks. While they care for the kids to an extent, they either see the kids being gone as inconvenient at best and good at worst. Regardless, they all had rewards for the kids return ranging from high because some were scared and would change their ways so they could have their kid back, to low because their kids are just servants to order and maybe beat around. He'd have to make a note to Child Welfare and the upper school board or higher to fix that. Looking at the street in front of the school, there were a particular set of tire tracks like this one car was always on the leave in quick haste.
Next going to the police station to find clues they may have, there was something. Two cameras in different parts of the city would see one kid or the other in front of either a movie store or a toy store next to an electronics store. That's when Robin noticed the pattern and went on his way. Breaking into a rented far from other homes, Nightwing pointed towards his enemy.
"Control Freak, I knew you were scum, but I'd never thought you'd..." His righteous fury died down when he saw that the house was filled with cheerful children, either playing with supervillain or hero toys, watching one of several movies on flat screens and enjoying foods like popcorn, cake, etc. There was even a sleep corner. Control Freak looked over the couch and groaned.
"Ugh, Nightwing?! Why are you here?! Going to be a big party pooper?!"
"What-what are you doing?" The hero was stumped from what he was witnessing.
"It's my birthday! But as a man now entering just now becoming 30, I realized I had no friends. Not even among the other supervillains. So I promised these kids if they celebrated my 30th, they can escape their abusive homes and school and have the time of their lives! I even had a whole bunch of Rixap cooking rats from a movie I got and manipulated make us a bunch of food." An animated blue rat gave Control Freak a slice of orange frosted chocolate cake.
"You do realize what adults kidnapping kids usually means, right?" Nightwing asked with a raised eyebrow, to which the older man was insulted. Disgusted even.
"Oh come now! I may be a villain but I'm not a sick monster! I just wanted to have fun. Does it look like I have done anything to them?"
"Not immediately. But even if you had no ill intention for the kids, I will have to bring you in for kidnapping." CF then sneered.
"I don't think so. Hey kids, Nightwing wants to end my party and send you back to your horrible parents!" The kids went on a big angry protest as they ganged up on the conflicted titan, the dozens of kids piling on him while the supervillain made his escape through the backdoor and flew off with an emergency jet pack. From the pile of kids keeping Nightwing down, a canister of something was thrown out of the kid pile before smoke came out. The kids were slowly falling off as they were subjected to sleeping gas. A bruised and hair pulled titan leader stood over the kids and called 911 before exiting the house to see that Control Freak had escaped. He sighed in frustration, for he had a bigger priority, making sure these kids got back to their parents, or foster since some of the parents really didn't deserve something like children. He's going to have a big day today with Child Welfare. Maybe he can call Bruce for compensation.
Jinx was sneaking into a room when the lights came on, and turrets came out of the white walls and started firing bolts of energy that the titan began to evade. She smiled as she leapt and somersaulted in between the automatic defensive attacks and used her analytical mind to jump in between the symmetrical group of turrets so that when they fired at each other, the energy bullets just hit each other. Robots tried ambushing the metahuman witch, but with a wave of her hands, heavy tiles from the ceiling fell off and crashed into them after she hopped on their heads before being destroyed. She then proceeded to jump in between floor spaces where they gave way to dark pits below, her hands and feet landing on the hinges before they closed up. Surprise pillars did nothing since she had the reaction to dodge lightning. Fire, lasers, saws, it didn't matter. Once she reached the end, she pressed a timed button, and the button glowed green as silver tassels fell from above. Several men and a woman came to her.
"So, how was it?" One of them asked.
"Well, it's certainly tough for your average robber, but this would be a speedster's or genius's playground. It's not enough to be overwhelming, but it's got to be well timed in that sense. I'll have Cy take a look at the schematics, improve their response times and coordination, the works."
"Great. Here's a 25,000 check.
"Eh eh eh, since it's Cy and I, we need double." Jinx smiled smoothly as she gestured for another check. Begrudgingly, they gave her a bigger check. "Thank you."
As for Raven, she was handing giving citizens super powers so that they have a better chance of not being harmed by super villains. However, given that dark magic has a price that most people would likely ignore, the people willing had to pay a price of 2,000 dollars as their charitable donation and sign a waver that if they use their power for any crime whatsoever then their power is automatically taken away and will be sentenced to jail.
"What do you want?"
"Super speed." A Hispanic man answered.
"Alright. Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Imbuing him with power she said, "Now you can run at highway speeds. Don't run into anything." He thanked her before zooming off. "What do you want?" This was a red-headed woman.
"Shapeshifting."
"Alright. Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" And that's what she did. Super strength to the point of lifting cars, a healing factor but not to the extent of a supernatural degree, invisibility, force field generation, flight as fast as the average bird, sight based teleportation, basic level telekinesis, all that good stuff in which it helps them with their lives, but not to the extent they might think about doing something crazy with them. She could only do this a few times a day though.
But whereas Raven was raking in the big bucks for those willing to be smart and responsible at the front of the tower, Beast in the back was handling the simple need people as he was offering himself as a living zoo, 15 dollars every 5 minutes for whatever animal they wanted. Swimmers got to swim and play with a green dolphin. Bird lovers got to see a Gold-Green Eagle. Children rode on the pony or played with a silly monkey. Young girls especially loved petting him as a rabbit or cat while boys got to rough around with his wolf form.
Cyborg was the most consistently lucrative of the bunch. For 500 dollars per person for 1 hour, anyone could come and do whatever they wanted in the virtual reality room. War shooters, medieval adventure, horror survival, racing, all doable.
As for Starfire, she found a job that interests her, being a model. She begins her job and the public whom already loves her found the Tamaranean to be so attractive she became the hottest thing in the whole San Francisco Bay area. The alien princess befriended various people in the Modeling agency and on the runway, like models, photographers, stylists, makeup makers, designers. They often talk about various things, like fashion, what would be the best makeup for different places, what food is best, how they can make good appearance on the runway, etc. Due to her hero status, she's already getting a salary of 6,000 per day.
One day, after she did her walk on the runway, does Starfire walk by a person who whistles loudly at her. She thinks nothing of it. The next day does she walk past a few people who ask the Tamaranean if she could show them a bit more, but she again simply ignores them. After a while does she get more successful, giving her more gigs that are also in more luxurious runways, like runways in famous hotels.
Starfire notices that more and more people began to make weird or rude comments about her, so she decides to confront those persons. She again gets asked after a walk on the runway by people that saw her on the runway if she would be willing to show more skin, but she says,
"I do apologize, but I will keep working like I have always been doing.", and walks away.
Over the next few days do a few other people ask the superheroine similar questions, but she tells them that she won't show more skin, she likes the way she now works and doesn't won't to change it.
Some people also begin to touch her when she doesn't want it, like accidentally touching her butt or very loudly whistle when she has to walk past them. When she notices who that was that did it, when that person is alone, she will tell that person that their behavior is very inappropriate and rude and demands that they stop. Most of them then apologies and don't do it again.
However, there was one 36 year old model called Geoffrey Allgood whom is a highly regarded male model who sees himself as a god, entitled to whatever he pleased. And the model he's now got his eye on is Starfire. While walking to each of their sets, he 'accidentally' tripped and fell onto Starfire, his hand deliberately falling on her breast as they collided with the ground.
"Oh I am so sorry, are you alright?" As he tried to do so, the alien princess slipped out and floated onto her feet with annoyed look.
"I am perfectly fine, thank you. However, there appeared to be nothing on the ground to trip. Was that an attempt to feel my chest?"
"Oh no, certainly not. Just an accidental misstep of my part, I swear." He played himself suave, not really sorry for his action. "I'll try to be more careful."
"That would be best for everyone." Starfire accepted as she walked off. Later while appearing in a segment of Jump News, she was talking with her fellow models about what's been happening. "It was fun at first but lately I have been finding that people see me as more of the candy for the eye than a titan recently. It is getting very annoying."
"Oh yes, sexual misconduct can be very common in the field of modeling." Fellow model and newest friend Carly Reed agreed. "When you're in the business, men think you're just a sexy figure with no mind of her own. The people you work with abuse you and the people you model for just want to rip you to shreds so that can have a piece of what they love. But it's all just a matter of standing your ground. Don't do anything you don't want to, and use protection of workplace rules against harassment. Most will stop. It's the ones who think they're above the rules you've got to look out for."
"Thank you Carly. I will keep that in mind." The two girls hugged before resuming their lunch break. It was after that Starfire would make a statement to her work connections and fanbase that she will not tolerate being treated like an object, and will have them face the consequences. It even worked in changing some of their perspective that if there are places that shows more skin more appropriately, why should she do so in an inappropriate way at inappropriate times. She said that if they respect her as a superhero who saves their lives, they should respect her as a woman too who doesn't like unwanted advances. Realizing asking a woman for a more skimpy or strippy look was wrong in the place they were asking the Tamaranean, so most that worked with her or idolized her stopped bothering her. But Geoffrey Allgood didn't believe in that. He was god's gift on Earth and whatever he wanted, he got. And he wanted some of that sweet extraterrestrial goodness.
As Starfire was putting on a dress, she heard a knock.
"Enter." And indeed entered Allgood.
"Are you doing well?" The alien princess sighed.
"I am doing better. It seems that my proclamation has given the people the right attitude adjustment. I just worry about the few who do not care though."
"Oh yes, you never know when someone who cares for no one will appear." Starfire noticed as he said that he put his hands around her shoulders and his gaze was staring at her chest through the mirror with predatory eyes.
"Geoffrey, please remove your hands."
"And if I don't want to?"
"Then I will use my own hands."
"You wouldn't dare touch me-" Starfire proceeded to punch her harasser out, to her shock, her fist simply sunk into his face, like he was made of liquid. He just looked more excited. "You shouldn't have done that." He tried to grab at her but she caught his wrists, which began to melt down her arms as he began to melt.
"What are you?!"
"I am Jump City's sexiest man alive, because I can mold myself to be that way." The metahuman cackled as he began to melt himself over her. "And anybody that doesn't do as I say gets smothered, you hear?" The warrior princess tried to brute her way out but his liquidous form kept her subdued.
"I hear, but I do not see like you do." She retorted as she shot her eye beams into his eyes. Even though they simply pushed through his head thus not allowing him to be killed, Geoffrey yelled as he was blinded and surrounded the alien girl, a mess of tan and black swirling around her form until he proceeded to balloon out and glow progressively green until Starfire blew him up with a roar, her body and dress covered in his residue. But not for long as they flew off her and started to gather where he previously stood. But just as he was reforming into his human form, Geoffrey began to be blasted by the Tamaranean's star bolts and yelled out as he was continuously blasted by the angered alien until security came in.
"This miscreant tried to take advantage of me!" Despite his ability, he was too dazed by the damage he took to properly absorb a physical blow to his head by the Tamaranean warrior, knocking Geoffrey out so that the security guards could take him away. Hearing of the titan's tale of what just happened, many were shocked. But of those many, a lot of the women rejoiced that their tormentor has been taken down. Many of them swarmed the female titan, praising her for saving them.
"Wow Starfire, you managed to take him down!" Carly cheered. Starfire smiled though she had some sign of residual distress and sorrow.
"Thank you, I am glad I could help with bringing him to justice. However, I think I will resign. As fun as modeling is, I feel more comfortable of being a titan. I've collected enough money from this industry."
"I understand. Take care." With a hug, Starfire went to get back in her uniform, hand in her resignation, and thought of what to do next. Considering things, Starfire realized what she could do. Flying off into space, the Tamaranean flew to her home planet in no time flat.
"Koriand'r, welcome back!" Galfore hugged the princess.
"Why hello Galfore!" Starfire laughed as the two exchanged greeting.
"Hey little sister." Blackfire also said her hello as she appeared from space as well.
"And hello to you too, sister!" The two alien sisters hugged. In terms of her banishment, a compromise was issued since it couldn't be completely abolished. Blackfire would only be allowed on Tamaran if Starfire was there as well and protected from intergalactic law until the two left the planet.
"So, what bring you home my bumgorf?" Galfore inquired.
"Friends of mine are in financial burden, and while I have made enough using an Earth method, I had to quit for my own sake of happiness. I believe I can help even more if I brought a few things from here to sell which would be exotic for them. A royal chalice, couch or plant."
"Whatever it is you desire, it will be carried out." Galfore accepted her reasoning.
"If we're talking about things to be sold, I know of a few things that can go. Follow me." Blackfire led her sister into the palace to browse for things.
"Alright titans, what have we been able to raise?" Nightwing asked the titans as they have reconvened at the tower. "I was able to raise a few dozen grand, thanks to finding most of the people cased as missing in Jump City."
"I was able to raise over 30 grand acting as a petting zoo. Whoo, got a work out for it though." Beast wiped his brow since that was the most consistently tough thing he did in a while. He plopped down next to Raven, whom he sneaked his hand into hers which she squeezed.
"Me too. I'm going to have to pay off a lot of demons, but I was able to get about 50 grand from giving people super powers, so long as they're not mistreated."
"I got a cool 75 grand." Jinx chuckled while bringing her feet onto the table.
"Thanks to my choice of lending out the virtual reality room, I got almost 170K, baby! Booyah!" He and Jinx high fived.
"Thanks to the combined efforts of my short modeling career and selling some royal Tamaranean items, I was able to gain about 3.6 million dollars." Starfire said. The other titans were stumped. They thought reaching between $250-350,000 dollars would be great, but their own alien princess managed to not only save the city, but even managed to maybe get the kids out of poverty!
"Woo, way to go Star! Woo!" Her friends cheered in one way or another as they held her up in celebration that she by far has provided the most to save the orphanage. The alien princess giggled and laughed. Cut to the orphanage, now no longer dingy and and on the road to closure, but up to code and every kid living there comfortably.
"Oh thank you Starfire! We love what you and the others done for us!" Lizzie squealed as she and Sophie hugged the female titan.
"Oh hohoho, you are most welcome the Tween friends!" Starfire laughed as she played with the girls while Beast Boy, Raven and Jinx played soccer with the kids with new nets and a ball.
"Well, everything is in top condition now. Enjoy your new orphanage." Nightwing said as he scribbled down one last thing for Mrs. Clement.
"Oh thank you so much Titans. We're forever in your debt." The house parent showed her gratitude by shaking his hand. Today was a proud day for the Titans, main or tween.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I was having a major writer's block on this as a whole. Especially Starfire's case since I didn't want to get this wrong. Though there's been some communication trouble between me and Eris due to connection problems as well. I really care about trying to have things presented in a way that doesn't feel cheap and rushed. If I still got it wrong anyway, I'm sorry. At least I tried my best. How was it? Positive criticisms please, this between me and Eris and Imagination were worked on to the extent that it could be enjoyable for everyone, even if me as the writer botch it up by mistake. Eris and Imagination are the true geniuses, I'm the one who just asks for help because I have the ideas but not the articulation to properly write them down and make such incredible chapters on my complete own in my opinion. TomoMoon1 has been a help too, even if it's been a long time since we've talked about this seriously. They are such a great help for me on these chapters, making this story successful. I hope you like this chapter.