Teen Titans – Side Stories and After – Snippets; Foxes Upon Foxes and Magical Girls Galore

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With a Push of the Button

~Noted, these do not follow a timeframe so it could be after Against all odds, before or during. So…It could be flashbacks, stories or even episodes in the lives of the Titans and allies. We shall see!~

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Aiden wasn't not typically, a fan of getting his own place. Even if he was spoiled rotten and had to go out to eat every night, he still wanted to have his freedom. But…

A face looked up at him from the kitchen table. Raku was up and lunch, was still not served.

"We can always order in, but…. what about our health?" Raku asked the older boy, or older in frame anyway. Aiden, was aware that growing kids needed proper nutritionally balanced meals. Even good food was still fast.

So, they went to get a few recipes off of the computer. He'd had it! If Ami or Ava could cook like Michelin star chefs, then how hard could cooking in Japanese apartment be?

Raku's fingers reluctantly tapped onto an image of a regional and cultural icon; a blended bout of love and spice in every morsel. Aiden oddly eyed the Sumerian daemon, as if to reprimand him.

"We want cooler food than that, don't we? It's summer –

Raku just smiled and recalled a memory of the time he'd lived in Ancient India's spirit world; performing a play for the king's son. (Wattpad story.)

It ended in tragedy; a friend's face was scarred…but the food….

"Raku?" Aiden tapped the kid on the shoulder, he was drooling at the memory. The dark-haired teen blinked up.

"Sorry…but, it looked really tasty…I've not had curry in –

"And you want…." Aiden bit his lip. Ignito was watching…. Right…

"Sure. Ok, we should go out then."

"We could try the pantry?' Raku chimed in. "I believe something was on the top shelf –

"Huh? But, this place…" Aiden clicked his tongue. Verra had set him up. Precognition his ass! He decided to risk it.

He did check, but first the fridge. There, with a gaping jaw in awe, he saw ingredients for the curry. Was the dog psychic!? Oh, yeah. He was…duh.

Raku pointed with his nose to the pantry.

Ah, that had to be….

Aiden swung the doors back as he reached his arm further back and brought forth the bane of his curry making existence… There was a glass jar with a spice blend inside, and on the jar was a hand written note. From Ami.

His nosy sibling. The match – making one…

Raku cocked his head like a cat, or bird; trying to understand the situation better. Aiden kept the note for himself to read first.

~Hiya, big – daddy – bro! Haru and I thought you could spice that closeted love – life with the most ro – man- tic food to boot! Tell me if you burn down your new kitchen, hugs! And Haru's a part of the brilliant plan too; Cheers! Ami – Chan and Haru – Nee, welcomes you to your new love- life! Have fun making it messy, Big - bro. ~

A scowl. He was appalled. Apart from Ami forcing them to confess their attraction (which he didn't but Raku never said until later) with spicy - ass curry in the air-conditioned summer, it wasn't funny!

"Is everything ok? –

"Y- Eah! We can make the dish! I must have said something to Shoji and he took it literally, that's it…Hehe….!" Aiden nervously chuckled and ran to see the list on his tablet screen.

"Oh, ok…. spices. Onion –

"Let me help –

"No! I…I mean, I'm the adult. I don't want you t –

"Raku as myself IS quite old, can't you just allow me to try?"

"Ignito…Shit…"

Aiden gawked. "He was taking over? When?" Aiden stared at the overshadowed teen and sighed…

"Fine…Grab the beef from the –

"You intend for us to eat cattle. No. Chicken will do. Much better on the colonic transit." Before Aiden could blink, Raku's oppressor had taken out the beef to transform it into another; breasts, of hen.

Damn creator gods….

"I hope that is legal…." Stuttered the blonde. Baffled.

"It's fine. What's next on the list?" Raku pushed Aiden away from the tablet to be of service, but would that make problems for Aiden inside of a magic - free zone?

"Ah, ok, so the vegetables –

"I don't like this one's pallor." Ignito rubbed his, Raku's chin and searched a scallion over with his amber eyes from the fridge. Aiden had to put his foot down as the daemon's arm got ready to cast –

"NO MORE! –

*POOF*!

The room was a swamp with the heads of onion flowers all around. Aiden sneezed at the production of spores. And the stink! Like being on an alien planet!

"NO! ACHOO! STOP! UN-DO –

"Got it." The boy snapped his fingers and the allium soon vanished.

Aiden was on the ground, panting. Iginto was like the other side to Roku; a bit more controlled. While Manifesto had been a darker and more deliberate devil in his heart that they had banished. This Ignito just acted like robot, doing things without fear or consequence. Auto – pilot Raku was…

Thing was, this had all been like summoning fields to grow in his apartment. But, why was it more an illusion he could feel and see?

Raku could greatly impact the order of the world, so Aiden needed to convince the kid that magic was a big no when making Japanese curry.

"Do, the work…. Stop takin –

"Why?" Raku blinked. "My creator thinks your dish should be perfect. I too agree with this."

"You're him, that's why." Aiden threw a palm across his own face. "Fine, but don't create a global ice age. We're already a few years behind with one…" He went back to look over the recipe.

"We need…. ginger, cori –

"It is all inside the jar from Ami." Raku was back as he pointed to the glass catastrophe that was Ami's meddling.

"Good…. then, we need to chop –

"Uh – oh…"

Aide covered his head and saw the magic coming back out; Raku wondered if that would take to long, so Ignito volunteered. Raku's eyes changing to a serious look was proof that this, would get super messy in half the time.

"Can you use a cleaver?" Aiden gulped at the question…." I think so…"

"We are going to fail then. I'll call in help."

"What?"

As if the Djinn's magic wasn't as deadly, he poofed himself "up" an old friend, as Aiden shielded himself from the glare of a spinning vortex.

The god had it coming. Out through the portal, Lord Hsari arrived and was no fan of parlor tricks, as he roweled out. A Hybrid black panther lord on two legs - and all from the Indian spirit realm….

He was, buff, tough, and looming right over young Raku.

"Hello, old king…." The cat huffed as his tail thrashed about. "WHY HAVE YOU –

"I need your blade, to cut…These."

The cat dropped its head, kneeling to see the object. A purr escaped his lips and his whiskered twitched curiously. "Boy…. you are…joking? Is he?"

Aiden shook his head and shrugged. "We don't need magic for making-

"Wrong!" Hsari shouted back at Aiden.

"AAHH! My ears!" Aiden tried to fix his inflamed lobes as his head would have gone off of his shoulders…and…Hsari had a big bad saber style…. uh – oh….

"What blade can cut this?"

"Don't help him!" Aiden rushed to stop the god from bringing even MORE chaos into the room.

Hsari cleared his throat. "Cleaving it properly should aide it –

"But…I'd rather a master swordsman teach us."

Aiden sighed, deciding to see if it was –

"Agh! Not the countertop!"

"Like this; the angle should only dip so it may…."

"Aha~ I do see your point…. So, Aiden! Come and learn the proper method!" He called over the nineteen-year-old as his "Chosen ally" was forced to oblige. Hsari was a big dude. Raku was just learning how to cook…ah, by ripping holes in space time! And the counter top!

Yet, he was having fun….Oh. He was….

But… his magic had no stopper. He decided to let Hsari work with the kid, and he even learned a trick or two in cleaving like Ami - or better.

Hsari put a hand on the blonde's shoulder when he'd done all he could.

"As far as his appearance, I sense unrest. You must keep him happy. Fare well –

"What?" Aiden looked and Hsari was no more…Was that a manifestation of….

"And onto the cooking method!"

"Uh…fine…." Aiden looked back at the recipe.

"Set the flame on med –

"HIH! Too high!"

The fire wasn't just any; it was a spirit.

"Stop summoning things!" Aiden grabbed the boy's shoulders as Raku protested and shook his head. "It wasn't I! I think –

"Why –

"Calciferus!"

"Huh?"

"You wanna stoke a good stew, I'm your dude! So? What's the situation!"

The fire, was alive.

It had eyes, a face…

Oh, boy…

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"What is that?"

"It must have sensed my...distress…." Raku answered with a frown. Why was he getting into trouble?

"I sure did. I owe the kid a favor from way back. You wanna make curry in a hurry? Don't bother! I can make food fit for any Raj, Baby! Just start it all in the pot and watch me!"

Raku didn't know how to repond, but his child mind grinned out of the shock; as if a child chasing fire flies on a summer evening, he took the bait.

"Can you, Calcifer? –

"Ah, yeah? I'm a fire demon! You know me…is he… broken? We made a promise back in Veneto! I was a wandering spark backway!? Yipes! We have an amnesiac on our hands –

Aiden interrupted. "I- it's a long story…No time, we have to finish and eat before –

"Say no more! Raku? Send em' my way! All then lil' chick – a Dees!" Raku gladly started to chop, and worked fast as a bolt of lightening; his hair was tied up to not end up in a funny state of disarray.

Aiden looked on, then started to read out the recipe.

"Cook the meat until –

"Add in the spices and roux! Ya got a faulty recipe! Raku? Your ass could cook, my boy! Show em' what's up!"

Calcifer tempered the stove while Raku' body seemed to pick up a dozen cues. He looked, relaxed. A pro! His memories –

"And….in you go!" The roux was perfectly proportioned; the ingredients chopped and done in a manner that had the room filling up with smells from other areas of the world. And sweat…Aiden was such a lightweight, but the tanned Raku was positively gleaming!

"The dragon here used to travel and was a master mimicker. Whatever task, he knew how to put it to use and excel! Work, that pan! You got this –

"Wait!" Aiden gasped and realized that Calcifer was speeding up time –

At this rate, they'd explode…along with Shoji's down payment!

"No!" Aiden swiftly retrieved the wooden spoon in Raku's grip. "That fire is bad news for us. It wants make you lose contr –

"Hey, heey! Curry is an art. You have zero appreciation for said- art, so bug off, buster!"

"Oh, yeah!? Well, Raku would rather not over - work his brain with a puff of smoke spitting out lies in his face! –

"You callin' me a real demon? Cause I can eat your ass up and throw you IN THE CURRY?! I'm in the mood for Curry ala human scumbag right now! Bring it, pip - squeaker!"

"Hah! Stop it! The food!" Raku pointed to the bubbling pot; it was…

Raku gulped. "Um…. I think you –

"What did you say? We aren't on the verge of living in a shelter if this place ends up an inferno because of your –

"Shove it! You're embarrassing the king of fire! He can take the heat, but you are just –

"QUIT IT!" Raku let the pot go, then it was normal. With a sigh, he turned to Aiden and bopped him on the head with the spoon. Then, tutting Calcifer before asking;

"What told you to come here and help? I want to know the truth."

Calcifer rolled its eyes right over to the wooden spoon in Aiden's hand, and then to the laptop as a face magically appeared from it in the form of a medium sized white fox. Inari.

Aiden was not only intensely angered by his own display, but that they'd been tricked!

"Lord Inari!? Was this your plan?" Raku perceived it as a sort of trick at first, but Inari was quick to act as he stayed in his kitsune form.

"It was. And it looks like your magic to create was a bit, under polished. Oh, how goes the cooking?"

He went up to the dish and turned back into his god like form to have a quick taste.

"Incredible, but no surprise. It was true that Roku could excel in many things, but he was for short cuts. You must not take these. Calciferus?" the fox turned to the demon as he saluted the deity nervously.

"Hai?"

"Huh, you are a wonderful teacher, but a temper with the chosen is expected. Raku's fire for instance is a torch. You are both drawn to making sure it cannot go out."

"Um…So, I hate that thing because Raku is making us fight? Or want to? I don't buy it –

"You're not jealous, child. You simply, have a different direction to find where his fire will land. Yet, the curry was made with a mentor, and Hsari re – taught you to direct a cleaver. But, the scallions? Negi is abundant. If you next time should, have it in water or correctly stored, it will keep. You need to –

"What about the note?" Aiden brought over the jar. "Was my sister really in on this?"

"I suppose. The food in your refrigerator was my doing. Raku? From now on, do as the mortals do to solve their problems if they are not so dire. That chicken might have come from a place in time that requires it most."

"Space time; if you mess it up, there are consequences."

"Right!" Inari grinned at Aiden for finally speaking his piece. "So, enjoy the meal and do not fret. Calcifer? You are welcome to aid the boys as long as no rooves catch fire like in Autria Istal of 1600."

"Huh?"

"A spirit world event. I…kind of blew up an oven…or 70."

Aiden went ghastly white.

"I'm gonna watch over THIS OVEN like a damn hawk! No burglars! Not a soul is gonna –

"WAIT! What about Shoji?" Aiden protested. "Raku isn't –

"I'll chat to the pup, see if he can listen to reason."

"You…. are demoting yourself...your own rank? Why?" Raku asked the pretty rude flame. "Why are you not a lord as before in your time –

"Time mastered my rites an' I like to be a part of the action where there is…. more life. In the stars, I died and returned to life before finding that it was pretty boring without stayin' grounded – see what I did there? Aw, come on! Tough crowd…" Grumbled the flickering heat.

"He's staying. As our live - in…"

"Cook? Naw, I monitor your shit. It's what I promised." Shrugged the fire as he didn't bother to shimmy away.

"So, you did all of that, to test us?" Aiden gawked. "Am I not the only one who thinks that is –

"We are grateful, but was the lesson not over for today?"

"Raku, you and I are bonded right at this moment as teacher and student. I have a responsibility to see to your growth. You can only create and cause fires, but today? You made it so I could see otherwise. Well done. Enjoy the meal, Chosen. He made it for you…"

"Wait!" The fox left, and the room only had the three.

"What a fussy guy…uh. I'm starved! Hand me the first bite –

"You need to wait –

"C'mon. I can be a taste tester with zero intolerances. Curry has to go one hour more to be the real deal. We got thirty, so you guys are skipping lunch."

Aiden's face dropped. "Serious? All that for…" But Raku looked like he was having fun…

Aiden smiled and weakly tried to understand the positives here.

Heh, Inari had pushed every button. Every switch and he'd not been afraid of risks. Maybe, a little courage was all the boy needed to have. In himself, and in his magic.

Aiden decided to just…let it be. The adults had it for now. They could just, learn to act normal…

Or like Meta- teens learning to live on their own. He called over to the boy, as Raku returned with a gaze so bright. He was already as human as it came to the blonde…

"So…. What's for lunch?" Aiden grinned back. "Wanna learn how to make waffles?"

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