Chapter 28 Larry: The Reality Breaker

All the Titans stared at Larry. Starfire's eyes shined as she did; she looked like she was going to indulge in her excitement and go off-the-walls crazy within the next few minutes. Beast Boy and Cyborg, however, didn't look as excited. If anything, they had an extreme air of caution in their faces, like they were face to face with a venomous snake. And Robin? Well, he looked more annoyed than anything else, especially when one put aside the fact that Larry's arrival had caused him an inordinate amount of pain.

As for the Goofy Titans? Well, they looked confused. Starfire had her hand on her chin, looking like she was going to go up and poke the strange, elf-like creature that resembled her leader. Beast Boy and Cyborg looked more or less the same, and even Robin stared at his mini-me with some degree of hesitance. Because of all Titans on the roof continually staring at Larry, who smiled like he just learned how to, there was a silence in the air. No one moved a muscle, as if the atmosphere they breathed was fragile as a butterfly wing and would break if one unwelcomed word was uttered.

Quite predictably, it was Larry who broke the silence. "Isn't this just amazing!" He bounced up and down with the same energy of a rubber ball. "Larry is here! Larry is here with the greatest Titans ever assembled in one place! Ooohhhh…this is exciting! So so so exciting!"

Starfire squeed, zipped over to him, and embraced the odd looking little…whatever he was. "Oh, Larry! I have missed you terribly! You are just as adorable as when we have done the parting of ways!"

Cyborg gulped. "Yeah. You, uh…you haven't changed a bit Larry."

Larry laughed. "No! No I have not!" He rose into the air, keeping his eyes on the Serious Titans. "And neither have you guys! You are just as awesome, and as heroic, and as amazing as when I left you! Oh, just being in the same presence as you…." he sighed, smiling as he did. "It takes me back. It takes me back to simpler times, easier times."

Robin snorted. "If you're talking about when we first met, I wouldn't call those 'easier times.' The breaking of reality itself doesn't fit that definition, and probably never will."

Robin did a double take, finally drawing himself out of his confused, taken aback stupor. "I'm…sorry, but can one of you guys fill us in on what's going on here?" He squinted at Larry. "Who is this guy? What was he doing in your leader's forehead?"

Robin looked down at the ever giddy Larry before letting out a grunt. "This, Goofy Titans, is Larry. He's, uh, he's an alternate version of me." He looked Robin directly in the eye. "Kind of like you."

"Exactly like you!" Larry exclaimed. "I just come from a dimension different from the both of you!" He floated over to Robin, positioning himself upside down. "Pretty neat, huh?"

Robin sniffed. "I expected myself to be taller…" he grumbled.

Larry just laughed at that and reoriented himself upright. "It really is nice to meet you all!" He looked at the Goofy Titans with glee and wonder. "While Robin is my all time favorite hero and one who I watch religiously, I also get some joy out of watching you guys from time to time?"

Starfire blinked. "Watching us?" She floated over to Larry, poking his cheek as she gave him a suspicious squint. "How do you do that? Are you…the creep?"

"Yeah!" said Cyborg. "We don't need any more creeps to deal with. It's already bad enough that we have to deal with Control Freak and all the creeps he brings onboard!"

Beast Boy chuckled. "So these guys have a Control Freak in their universe," he muttered to himself. "Who would have thunk it?"

Larry shook his head. "Don't worry, you guys! I'm not a creep! I just watch all of you without your consent and pay attention to the most intricate details of your lives!" He froze, his eyes growing wide. "Huh. Now that I say that out loud, it does sound pretty creepy…."

Robin looked at Larry, rolling his eyes as he did. He looked like he was just about to say something to him, but before he could, Beast Boy beat him to the punch.

"Wait, I's confused. If you be from another dimension, how do you watch all the things that we all do's?"

Larry blinked before giggling. "Well, there are a lot of ways really!" He displayed the index finger on his right hand. "One of the ways is by using my magic finger, which allows me to bend the rules of reality."

"BEND THE RULES OF REALITY?!" Robin shouted. His jaw dropped. "Man, first there's a Robin who's tall, handsome, and has normal sized hands, and there's a Robin who can bend reality to his will?" He shook his head. "Man, why don't I get any of the good stuff?"

Larry chuckled before delving back into his explanation. "The magic finger is one way I watch you guys. The other way, the one I use mostly when my powers need to recharge, is through a warlogog."

Robin blinked. "What's a…warlogog?"

Larry looked back over at the taller Titan. "You don't know? How? You encountered one when you guys faced the Trigons in the arena!"

While things didn't usually click for Beast Boy, this time, something did. "Wait. I thinks I knows what you're talking about!" He approached. "Is it that pink orby thing that Trigon used to teleport him and the Ravens away!"

"Yes! That's exactly what it is!" Larry looked so exuberant, like he was super emotionally invested in the Titans coming to understand the laws and nature of the multiverse. "The warlogog is a special artifact; every single dimension in the multiverse has one. It not only allows people to see into alternate realities, but also travel to those realities!" He looked back down at his finger. "Like I said though, I only really use that thing when my own powers don't work. I can pretty much do what the warlogog does with my finger, in whichever way I can imagine."

Robin nodded. "Well, that is good to know, Larry." He took a step forward. "But why are you here this time around?"

"Oh!" Larry slapped himself across the head, berating himself for his forgetfulness in a nonverbal way. "Right! Right." He floated over to Robin. "I saw it. I saw the whole thing."

"You mean the fight?" Robin asked.

"Yes! Yes, the fight! Let me tell you, I did not see the Game Master being Trigon in disguise! It was shocking Robin; shocking to the core! And as soon as I saw that, I knew. I knew that all you guys would need help. After all, two Trigons is much more sinister and wicked than just one. And besides, they have the Ravens! They have your Raven Robin; the girl who you share a deep emotional bond with and pulled from the depths of despair." He grinned. "And by the way, watching that play out was…oh, it was one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen!"

Robin gave Larry a raised eyebrow. "You saw that…how much of our lives have you seen exactly?"

Larry blinked before scratching the back of his head. "Eh…I'd say about ninety five percent. This…may or may not include bathroom trips."

Robin gave him a sideways glance. "Yeesh, Larry. I think the Goofy Titans might be right about you being a creep."

Larry chuckled, his face turning crimson. "I, uh…well, anyway, the point I wanted to make was that I want to help you! I know where the Ravens are being held, and I can take you there so you can free them and defeat the Trigons."

Robin blinked. Wow. That sounded too good to be true! If he could pull this off, then Larry would be providing the biggest service to the Titans ever! That would take a whole boatload off of Robin's chest, as it would mean that the fate of the multiverse was no longer at stake. Was he going to trust Larry? Well, he was admittedly still hesitant, but at the same time, he was more than willing to give his mini-me a try. After all, sometimes the easy way out was the best way out.

So, Robin ultimately smiled. "That's perfect, Larry! Take us to the Ravens then!"

"Sure thing, DNA Buddy!" Larry raised his magic finger, the tip glowing with a yellow light. Before he did anything, he adorned a half hearted, worried expression. "Man, I hope I don't goof up again."

Robin blinked. "Wait, what did you…?"

Before he could voice his concerns, the world went dark.