A/N: Four days and already another update? Wow do I feel like I'm on a roll! True, this chapter is the shortest chapter I've posted in a while, but with everything that happens, I feel like it doesn't need to be any longer. If I added any more to this chapter, I honestly feel like it would take away from the importance of the things that happen. So for those of you who like the longer chapters, I apologize. But with everything that happens in this chapter, hopefully it's worth it. Personally, I'm really happy with the way that it turned out. I hope that all of you are, too. :)
P.S. Again, I thank those of you who are reading and sticking with Firelight! The fact that I have people who are enjoying this story means everything to me! So thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, but the Dabnodian race is my own invention.
Part II: Shadows: Chapter Fourteen
Most of the time Speedy doesn't have dreams, and if he does, he usually doesn't remember them. On some nights, however, Speedy has dreams that are so haunting that they stick with him for several days afterward. These kinds of dreams don't happen too often. At the most they happen once a month, and at the least they happen once every three months. Of course, during those rare times when these dreams do occur, they're nothing but misery to Speedy. The worst part about them is that he never wakes up while he's having them. Not because he can't, but because he chooses not to; he deserves every ounce of torture they put him through.
Tossing and turning beneath the covers, Speedy doesn't see himself in his bedroom, in Titans Tower, or even in Steel City. Instead he sees himself on the United State's opposite coast, in Star City. It has been five years since Speedy has been anywhere near Star City, or the childhood home where he spent time as Green Arrow's ward. He left when he was twelve years old, and he hasn't looked back since then. He used the money he'd earned to buy a ticket, and he hopped on the first bus out of there.
Yet, even if he hasn't looked back, Speedy has to force the thoughts of his last night in Star City out of his head every day. That wasn't just his last night in Star City, but it was the last night he ever spoke to Green Arrow. A day doesn't go by when the memories don't haunt him. And when too many days of pushing the unforgettable memories aside go by, that is when the thoughts manifest themselves into his dreams and denies him sleep. Unfortunately, tonight is one of these difficult nights.
A voice that will always linger in his thoughts, a voice that he hasn't spoken to in over five years now, is the voice that takes him back. Surrounding him are the ornamented walls, high ceilings, and massive staircase of a mansion large beyond belief. This isn't just any mansion, but the mansion that he slept, ate, and trained in. Also, this was where he was granted the hero name "Speedy". Before that night, the memories of living in Green Arrow's mansion were good ones. Sadly, all it took was one stupid mistake to undo every good memory of the place. It is a mistake that Green Arrow will never forgive him for.
"I want you out of here, Roy. Now. Get out, or I'll have the police forcibly remove you."
Speedy leaned against the cherry wood railing of the mansion's grand staircase, halfway up the flight of stairs and halfway down. He didn't lean against the railing to look defiant, but for support. In that moment he felt very unsteady on his feet, like he was going to tumble face first down the stairs. Along with that he felt nauseous, like he could keel over the railing and let go of his lunch at any moment. Through all of this, he could never remember feeling so tired.
Yet, despite how he was feeling, he was still able to turn up the stairs to see the bearded face, firm stance, and livid gaze of Green Arrow. His arms were crossed over his chest sternly, and he gave Speedy a glare so sharp that it could have taken down armies. Speedy didn't let this get to him though. Bracing his twelve-year-old frame against the railing, he gagged slightly as he attempted to force back the nausea, and then he glared at him with bags beneath his emerald eyes.
"You can't call the police on me! You wouldn't! Even if you did, it wouldn't be fair. I never stole anything from you, you senile old bag!"
Green Arrows eyes widened and his glare deepened as though he'd just cursed at him. His jaw locked, he marched his six-foot frame down the stairs to meet him. Speedy was terrified and he wanted to run away, but he couldn't. If he would have attempted it, there's no doubt that he would have fallen all the way down the stairs. It was because of this that he allowed the blonde-haired man to approach him and yank him up to his eye-level by the collar.
"If you didn't steal anything from me, then why is four-hundred dollars missing from the downstairs vault? Nobody knows the combination to it besides you, me, and Black Canary. Black Canary was with me in Gotham while we were helping Batman with the Joker and Harley, so neither of us took it. Not to mention that it would be pretty convenient for you with your most recent habit."
Despite the fact that his feet were several inches off the ground and that his nausea was growing worse, Speedy persisted in glaring at him. "All you've done is yell at me since you got back! At least Canary wants to help me! You just want me to go die in a gutter!"
Sighing, Arrow released the collar of his shirt and placed him back on the ground. Nonetheless, his posture and the look in his gaze still remained lethal.
"You know, Roy, I don't see why I should help you. I was only gone for three weeks, and in that short amount of time you turn into a drug addicted thief who's willing to go as far as stealing money from me. I've given you everything, and this is what you do?! Hang out with your friends, get drugged up, and party yourself into the grave?!"
Losing his balance momentarily, Speedy tumbled down a stair or two before catching himself on the railing once again. No longer able to hold himself together, he leaned over the side and vomited all over the golden tiles below. The whole time Green Arrow glared at him, his expression of anger and disgust worsening. Meanwhile, once he'd finished emptying his guts out onto the floor, he turned around to look at the man.
"I wasn't out partying the whole time you were in Gotham. I only went to one party. My friends invited me, so I went. What was I supposed to do? Stay home and look like a loser?"
Green Arrow placed an aggravated palm to his forehead. "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately, Roy? You're a mess. This is what one party has done to you! You can't possibly tell me that turning yourself into a heroin-addicted nightmare is worth looking good in front of your friends!"
Speedy never told him this, nor has he told this to anyone, but that party was actually the worst night of his life next to this one. He went as Roy instead of Speedy, and he was one twelve-year-old in a mix of fourteen to sixteen-year-olds. His twelve-year-old friends who said they were going never showed up. By the end of the night he'd had his head dunked into a punch bowl, and he'd almost drowned in somebody's swimming pool. The only time he actually had fun at that party was when one person who was being "kind" to him offered him a needle filled with heroin. The rush was certainly fun, and the teenagers there even seemed to like him, but the fun ended very quickly…
Of course, being stubborn like he was, he didn't even hint at this to Green Arrow. Instead he lied through his teeth.
"You have no idea what you're talking about! I was right when I called you a senile old bag! That party was great, and I'm glad that I went! It was completely worth it! The consequences are always worth it as long as you're having fun! If you're not having fun, then what's the fricken point?"
For the first time that night, Green Arrow didn't look angry. The emotion Speedy saw in his eyes, an emotion that still hurts him to this very day, was disappointment. In that moment Speedy realized that he would've rather had Green Arrow yell at him in anger than be disappointed in him any day. Of course, it was too late to take back what he said. He'd said it, it was out, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Sighing deeply, the blonde-haired man with the beard asked a question in a fashion that almost sounded sad. "Roy, I'm going to ask this one more time. At any time during the three weeks I was gone, did you take anything out of the vault downstairs? Anything at all?"
This time Speedy replied honestly. Of course, honesty doesn't always mean a lack of hostility.
"Okay, fine. You want to know the truth? I took your money! I went down there, put in the combination, and took it! I'm not sorry about it, either! Why? Because the dealer gave me what I asked for! Stealing your money was worth it too! If I could, I would steal more of it! As long as that guy keeps giving me my heroin, I don't care!"
A long moment of silence went by. The instant those words left his mouth, he regretted it. He still regrets it. One secret that Speedy keeps buried away deeply inside of his heart, the secret besides the drug addiction that he recovered from, is that he regrets every single thing he did that night. If he could turn back time, he would take back everything. Of course, a person can't turn back time like they can turn back the hands of a face clock. Once something happens it is set in stone and can never be undone. Much like this cold, stormy, night in Star City five years ago.
"Get out of my house, Roy. I mean it. I want you out of here. I'm not calling the police, but I do want you gone. There's no way for me to trust you knowing that you can steal from me so easily."
All of the sudden, in spite of the fact that he was unbelievably tired and that he was again feeling the need to vomit, he found that he was able to walk down the stairs without falling. He doesn't know if it was rage that fueled his steps or just the stubbornness of a preteen, but still he walked. As he did this, he spoke to Green Arrow without looking at him.
"You want me out of here? Fine. I'm getting out. Don't come looking for me either, because you won't find me. I'm leaving this dumb city behind, and I'm never coming back."
With that being said, he walked out the door of Green Arrow's mansion and left Star City behind. He didn't leave right away, though. The first thing he did was track down his dealer, and he spent the rest of the money he stole on heroin. Following this, he managed to panhandle enough money to get a ticket for a bus leaving the city. He doesn't know what bus he got on, or what city he went to. All he knows is that he woke up the next morning on a random sidewalk with aching bones, vomiting up stomach acid, and feeling like he could sleep forever.
Even then he didn't remember the process of how he ended up there. As hard as he tries, he still can't remember. Most of his twelfth year is a blur to him, really, as well bits and pieces of his thirteenth. Of course, this doesn't bother him too much. Speedy is certain that he doesn't want to recall the details.
His eyes still closed, Speedy continues tossing and turning under his covers. He wants to wake up, but he knows that he can't let himself. With as much as he screwed up on that night, he doesn't deserve to forget about it. Of course, much to his luck, the loud blaring of an alarm awakens him from his slumber. It isn't a fire alarm or the intruder alarm, so he knows that nothing bad is happening to their Tower. Rather, it is the crime alarm.
Bloodshot emerald eyes popping open, Speedy sits up with limbs entangled in his maroon covers. As he struggles to kick them away, he looks at the digital alarm clock sitting on his bedside table which reads seven-fifteen AM. Most of the time he grumbles when he has to wake up early to stop crime, but not this time. The moment he stumbles out of his bed, he begins pulling his maroon pants on over his boxers. He also begins adorning himself with his maroon tanktop, yellow belt, yellow boots, and his mask, putting all of his clothes on in an incredibly swift fashion.
Apparently he isn't that swift, though, because knocking is heard on the other side of the door a few seconds later. When it is a Spanish-speaking voice that is heard, he is instantly able to guess that it is either Mas or Menos that has come to check on him.
"¡Vamos, Señor Buen Pelo! ¡Tenemos que irnos!"
Adjusting his belt, he replies to what he thinks he's saying through the door. "Don't worry, I'm not sleeping! I'm awake and dressed!"
With that being said he rushes out the door to greet them, ready to take on whatever criminal that the Titans are going to have to face.
On a regular basis, Damiana doesn't have much luck with her dog walking jobs. Of course, today it looks like her luck is worse than usual. Not only did she get out of her previous job forty-five minutes early, but the next person she works for cancelled completely. Because of this, she has to wander this part of the city for a whole other hour until her third and final dog walking job. Thankfully the people she cleans houses and babysits for are far more dependable. Otherwise the girl is certain that she would be driven crazy by how often she has to walk all over town for nothing.
Yet, today Damiana doesn't mind so much. If it wasn't for the inconsistencies with her schedule, then she never would have found her arm band. On any day before this one, Damiana would be walking down the sidewalk in irritation at the fact that she has been swindled out of sleep and money because of such uncaring people. Right, however, this isn't the case. The feel of cold metal encircling her right upper arm is all it takes to make her smile in spite of her dilemma. The metallic band, though it is currently hidden by her dark blue sweatshirt, makes the alien girl feel empowered.
Smiling like a fool, Damiana rounds a random corner and makes her way down yet another street. By this point she is getting very far away from the next person she works for. She is no longer surrounded by houses, apartment complexes, and the park. Instead buildings such as shops, museums, a more ornate park, and a large mall with a fountain are what surrounds her. Coming out of the residential area for the wealthy and entering into an area meant for leisure and tourism, (if Steel City ever got any tourists, anyway), Damiana is aware that she needs to turn around soon. She will never be able to make it to her third job on time otherwise.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, at a spot between a coffee shop and a boutique, the alien girl considers turning around right here and right now. It would certainly be disappointing to start back now, though. The girl really does like this part of town. Especially the museums! She went to the history museum with Mrs. Tucker once, and it was very fascinating. Seeing actual artifacts is much better than reading about them in dusty old books from the library which she sometimes rents…
Speaking of the history museum, something very attention grasping and very unexpected happens as she stands there silently contemplating on the sidewalk. From the direction of the history museum comes a loud BOOM, followed by a large puff of black smoke that rises into the sky. This causes not only Damiana to look in the direction of the museum hidden by buildings, but many of the people around her who are out for an early morning outing look as well. Upon gazing up at the scene, startled gasps are heard along with screams.
Knowing that whatever is happening isn't good and that either the police or the Titans will handle it, those surrounding Damiana scurry in the museum's opposite direction hurriedly. Damiana, on the other hand, doesn't do this. Curious about what's happening, as well as feeling caught off guard, Damiana goes over to the crosswalk, crosses the street, and heads in the museum's direction. Rather than taking the sidewalk once she reaches the street's other side, Damiana immediately dashes down the nearest alleyway in attempt to quicken the trip.
As she does this, a large beefy man shouts at her. "Hey, little lady, aren't people supposed to run away from explosions?! What the heck's the matter with you?!"
Though she hears him, the man's words don't get through to her even a little bit. The girl keeps running, the man shaking his head at her and continuing his dash in the explosion's opposite direction like the rest of Steel City's citizens. If she would have used the sidewalk, the journey to the city's history museum would have taken approximately twenty minutes. By using alleyways, however, Damiana cuts the trip down to less than ten minutes. By the time she exits the winding trail of alleyways and comes out across the street from the museum, the crisis is already in full swing.
Firetrucks and police cars are parked out in front and to the sides, firefighters and police officers surrounding the outside of the building. The section of street in front of the museum has been blocked off by roadblocks, enabling any traffic to pass through the area during this time of calamity. Of course, even if the roadblocks weren't in place, traffic wouldn't be able to pass through either way. Apparently Damiana isn't the only one who ran toward the explosion instead of away from it, because in the center of the road in front of the museum is a sizable crowd of civilian onlookers.
As Damiana leaves the sidewalk that she ended up on when exiting the alleyway, she joins the crowd that is gathered and listens as they mutter frantically.
"Don't tell me that the person who has been robbing the banks is moving up the ranks to museums now, too! Steel City is doomed!"
"Whatever they steal, I hope it isn't any of the jewels from the Ancient Egypt exhibit! Those gems are irreplaceable!"
Of course, as Damiana shoves her way more deeply into the crowd, she learns that there are also many statements that don't sound frantic.
"Wow, it's a good thing I was late for work this morning. I work at that museum, and if I had been on time, I could be in there with the other hostages!" Laughing, the person adds, "Ha! It's sucks to be you, Veronica!"
"Hey, I work there, too," says another person. Worry in his tone, he adds, "Oh no! If my supervisor dies, who's going to sign my paycheck?!"
A woman from Damiana's opposite side, who is uninvolved with the previous conversation, says, "I hope that the Titans get here soon! My makeup is on fresh, so maybe I can catch the eye of Aqualad!"
Shaking her head in disbelief at what she's hearing, Damiana shoves her way deeper into the crowd still. At this point she is doing her best to block out what everybody is saying. Even so, there is still one statement that manages to get through to her. What catches her ear isn't just the words, but also the fact that the civilian screams loudly in terror.
"Ah! On the roof! What the heck is that?!"
Looking at the people around her, Damiana sees as their gazes shift to the roof of the museum. It isn't the portion of the museum that's going up in flames that they look at, but is instead the opposite side that is completely intact. When first glancing up at the roof, Damiana is afraid of seeing an army of Black Shadow's robots, Black Shadow's henchmen, or the dark villain himself. If what she sees isn't Black Shadow, she's afraid that something is going to happen to set the rest of the building on fire. However, when she finally takes in exactly what is standing on top of the building, the alien girl gets a huge surprise. There is a guy standing up there, but he definitely isn't Black Shadow.
The man standing on the roof is tall, pot-bellied, and for some strange reason, he is wearing a large hat that looks like it was stolen from Captain Hook's cousin. It's a black, pirate-style hat, with a big, gaudy, feather the color of bright red. Along with the hat he wears a long leather jacket which, from the angle he's standing, appears to have a skull and crossbones on the back. Beneath the jacket is a plain white t-shirt with a red sash tied around his waist. Like the jacket his pants are also made out of black leather, as are his knee-length boots. On his shoulder, giving a flair to his attire, is what looks like a plastic parrot from Toys R Us.
Stroking a long, black, beard, with a hooked hand surprisingly enough, he shouts loudly to the people on the street below. "Gape in fear, land lovers! Witness my fury!"
Shrieking, one of the people from around Damiana shouts out in terror. "No! We're all doomed! It's a Viking!"
Apparently the man on top of the building hears the person's comment, because a look of offense crosses his face. Anger reflected both in his posture and in his voice, he points down at the crowd with his hook as he responds loudly.
"What did ye call me, ye scurvy knave?! I be not a Viking! Tremble in fear of Scurvy Dog!"
Much to the roof pirate's disappointment, "Scurvy Dog" as he calls himself, nobody trembles in fear even a little bit. Rather, everybody in the crowd stares at him blankly. This applies just as much to Damiana, the police officers, and the firefighters, as it does to the civilians. After a long moment of silence, a few dry coughs are heard.
Appearing more insulted than before, he glares down at the crowd with fury in his gaze while waving his hook through the air heatedly. "Ye naive bilge rats! Ye have no idea who ye're messing with! Fear me! Ye've never seen a devil more menacing than me!"
Arching a skeptical brow, Damiana stares at him every bit as blankly as everybody else. It takes a second, but at last a voice speaks from the crowd. The person speaking is young and male. As he addresses the pirate his words earn chuckles from the surrounding individuals, including Damiana.
"Wait a second, you're not a pirate! Didn't you used to be the janitor at my school?!"
Waving his hook through the air once more, he scowls. "Silence, Jason! I be not a Viking, and I be not a janitor! I am Scurvy Dog, the Titans Easts' newest foe! First I pillage this museum, and then the city!" Raising his hook high over his head, he continues. "Now tremble in fear of my grappling hook!"
"Scurvy Dog" is again met by silence and the occasional dry cough. A few seconds later, however, it becomes very apparent that he wasn't bluffing with the grappling hook statement. Amazingly enough, the hook-shaped piece of metal folds back so that it becomes part of the larger piece of metal that is strapped to his arm. The instant it is folded back, a grapple shoots out from where the hook was previously attached. Before anyone in the crowd can blink, let alone process what's happening, the grapple attaches itself to the edge of the roof, and Scurvy Dog jumps. Swinging by his grapple, and holding onto the cable with his real hand, he shouts loudly as he whooshes through the air.
"I'll plunder all of yer historical museum booty, and then I'll burn all yer timber! I'll see you in this world or the world below, ye scurvy Titans!"
With that being said, Scurvy Dog swings down to the side of the building by use of his "grappling hook", ending up directly in front of one of the museum's large picture windows. A moment later he removes his real hand from the cable attaching the grapple to his hook, and digs inside of the red sash tied around his waist. A second is all it takes for him to remove a small round object and toss it through the picture window, causing the glass to shatter and for a large cloud of smoke to pour out of the window. It doesn't take anyone long to figure out that the object he threw was a smoke bomb.
The instant the glass is shattered the villain pulls his knees up so that his face is covered and swings inside of the museum through the broken glass. Once he's inside the grapple lets loose from the roof and follows him. The whole time he does this, Scurvy Dog can be heard releasing a loud and echoing "ARGH!" in determination. Everybody gapes at the broken picture window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pirate man through the debris. The instant the smoke clears, however, it is instantly realized that it is too late. Scurvy Dog has already vanished somewhere inside of the building.
Damiana doesn't move that whole time. Instead she stares at the building wide-eyed, unable to believe what she just witnessed. That villain definitely wasn't Black Shadow. She knows this for sure.
Meanwhile, as Damiana stares at the broken picture window in bafflement, a girl can be heard shouting from several feet behind her. She doesn't shout in fear or surprise, but in excitement. It is excitement so pure and ecstatic, that it can only be managed by a fangirl.
"Look, everybody! It's the Titans!"
Robin isn't the only member of the Titans that has a motorcycle. Mas y Menos have the ability of super speed, so they don't need vehicles for transportation. Bumblebee has wings, so she doesn't need a vehicle either. Aqualad and Speedy, on the other hand, can do neither of these things. Because of this, each of them has their own motorcycle. Aqualad's is blue and black, and Speedy's is maroon and yellow, but besides this, their motorcycles are mostly identical to that of Robin's R-Cycle.
Sitting on the back of his maroon motorcycle accented by yellow with a bold yellow "S" printed on each side, Speedy races down the road at twenty minutes past seven with his helmet in place. He would never use this terminology in front of others, but getting his motorcycle after the Titans East first formed made him absolutely giddy! The mask alone makes him feel cool, but his motorcycle, which he named "The Speed Cycle", adds to this feeling. Since getting the Speed Cycle, there has never been a time when Speedy hasn't felt like he looks awesome! Or at least that was true until today, anyway…
"This is great! Who needs a moped? I want a motorcycle now! Motorcycles are awesome!"
Speedy doesn't race down the center of the road alone, but rides adjacent with Aqualad. On the back of Speedy's motorcycle is an overly excited Beast Boy, his hands in the air in exhilaration as the Speed Cycle races toward the reported scene of a museum robbery. This is actually the first report that the Titans East have gotten of the history museum being robbed, and is a cause of concern for the masked archer. Of course, when he notices that Beast Boy isn't holding onto anything, this causes him to temporarily forget the news of the robbery and to throw a startled glance at the green Titan.
"You'd better hold onto the seat or something, Beast Boy! If you fall off, I'm not turning this thing around to come get you!"
Meanwhile, a voice responds from the motorcycle racing along beside the Speed Cycle. Amazingly, the person responding isn't Aqualad. Aqualad isn't even the person driving the motorcycle. Instead the aquatic Titan sits toward the back fender holding onto the seat for dear life with fear in his gaze. Toward the front, driving down the middle of the road eagerly while pumping a fist into the air, is Cyborg. Somehow, he doesn't even come close to recognizing Aqualad's terror. Instead he replies to the redheaded Titan in excitement.
"It doesn't matter how much you warn Beast Boy, Speedy. He won't listen, anyway. Besides, Beast Boy's right. Motorcycles are great! We never would've known that before today, though. Robin never lets us near the R-Cycle." Revving the engine, Cyborg causes the vehicle to accelerate in speed before giving a loud shout. "Booyah!"
Once that is said, Aqualad's motorcycle picks up in speed and goes zooming down the road in front of him. Before it gets too far ahead, Speedy is certain that the terror in the aquatic Titan's eyes doubles and that he holds onto the seat tighter than before. When Aqualad can be heard shouting in fear, he knows that his observations were true.
"Ahh! Why are you doing this to me?! Why couldn't you steal the Speed Cycle instead?!"
For once Speedy actually feels bad for Aqualad. Of course, he doesn't feel so bad that he doesn't laugh in amusement. If he was in Cyborg's place, there's no doubt that he would do the exact same thing. He doesn't have too much time to laugh at his friend's misfortune, though, because a moment later Beast Boys asks a question from behind him.
"I know that we're supposed to be figuring out what Black Shadow's doomsday device is supposed to do, but once we're done catching this museum robber guy, I was wondering if we could look for Leila. After hearing what you said about her, I was kind of wanting to meet her."
Surprised by this, Speedy glances back at him in surprise. "You're thinking about Leila right now? There's a crazy guy robbing the history museum!"
"I know that, and I'll help you catch him! I don't think that we should let this guy escape! I just wanted to know when we can start looking for Leila is all. You never told us what she looks like or what her powers are, and I would like to find out. Not only that, but she helped you guys out in a massive fight against Black Shadow! Whatever she's like, she must be awesome!"
Smiling at that last comment, the archer can't help but agree with him. "You're right about that. You should've seen her against those robots. The way she fights is incredible! Until meeting her, I've never met a civilian who can fight that hard or who has that much guts." Pausing, he adds, "You'd never be able to tell how strong she is by looking at her, though. Leila's tiny, her hair is long and curly, she has a pretty face and big eyes… She looks more like a doll than a superhero, but she still is one."
A moment of silence passes, but then Beast Boy chuckles. Arching an unseen brow in confusion, he wonders why this is. When Beast Boy speaks, however, Speedy immediately understands where the laughter comes from. The green boy's words almost make him blush.
"Dude, no wonder the old lady got out of the car and left you two alone. It sounds like you have a crush on her!" Following another bout of laughter, he adds, "Taking her on a taco date, saying that she looks like a doll, you totally have a crush on her!"
Clearing his throat, Speedy does his best to hide his reddening cheeks and to reply nonchalantly. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Sure I want Leila to join the Titans East, but that doesn't mean that I have a crush on her! I'm just saying that she'd make a good teammate."
Beast Boy laughs and wriggles his brow as he replies. "Sure, Speedy. Whatever you say."
Speedy would take time to respond to this final remark, but thankfully the history museum comes into view along with smoke, police cars, firetrucks, and a decent-sized crowd. He isn't entirely certain on why, but he has never been more thankful to make it to the scene of a crime in his life. At the same time, however, the masked Titan can't help but stare in shock.
When the report came in about the museum robbery, the police didn't give them a description of what the guy robbing the museum looks like. Because of this, Speedy assumed that the robbery was somehow Black Shadow related, and that it would be one of his henchmen or the man himself that they have to fight. However, as he and Beast Boy get closer, Speedy learns that this is not at all true. Whoever this criminal is, he isn't Black Shadow. Before today, the Titans have never even seen him!
Parking his bike at the side of the road behind the crowd, Speedy looks up at the museum's roof where everybody's gazes are pointed. To moment he looks up, much to his astonishment, he sees a leather-covered man with a beer belly and a black beard. On his head is a pirate-style hat with a red feather, on the back of his long leather jacket is a skull and cross bones, and on his shoulder is a plastic parrot. The whole time he swings through the air toward a large picture window using…hold on a second…is there actually a grapple coming out of his hook?!
Standing at the side of the road in back of the crowd, alongside the other Titans who have already shown up, Speedy mutters under his breath. "I get it. Grappling 'hook'. Very clever."
Meanwhile, the pirate man shouts. "I'll plunder all of yer historical museum booty, and then I'll burn all yer timber! I'll see you in this world or the world below, ye scurvy Titans!" He tosses a smoke bomb at the picture window and disappears inside of the building as he adds an echoing, "ARGH!"
Once he disappears there is a long moment of silence from the Titans as well as from the crowd of civilians, the police officers, and the firefighters. The only thing that breaks the silence from the Titans' end are whispers from Beast Boy to the rest of them.
"I seriously hope that wasn't Black Shadow. If it is, then I think he's gone off the deep end."
With the amount of silence enveloping the area, it becomes apparent that Beast Boy's whispers weren't silent enough. Upon hearing him, several people in the back of the crowd turn around and take notice of them. The moment people spot them, the crowd's silence ends.
"Look everybody!" shouts a teenage girl wearing a bright pink Hollister t-shirt. "It's the Titans!"
Upon seeing them the crowd cheers loudly and separates into two sections, leaving a path for them to travel down. The Titans don't hesitate for a single instant. The moment the crowd separates they rush down the center of the path toward the museum. The whole time they go back and forth between glancing at the fire on the museum's opposite side, (that was most likely caused by the pirate cosplayer), and glimpsing at the faces in the crowd. Honestly, Speedy looks at the crowd more than he looks at the fire. He doesn't know why, but getting to see which civilians are willing to stay just to watch the Titans satisfies a type of curiosity that the archer often feels.
Eyes skimming over the crowd, Speedy doesn't spot anybody who is too interesting. He sees a man in his sixties wearing short-shorts and a tight, white, tanktop, as if he had previously been out for an early morning jog. Further back in the crowd are a group of teenage girls with their hair back in ponytails who wear brightly-colored t-shirts from American Eagle. When they spot him making eye contact with them they scream loudly in delight. He gives them his trademark smirk and a two-fingered salute, causing their shrieks to come louder and for one of them to faint.
Smirk gaining a hint of arrogance, he turns his head and looks at the crowd's other side. The first person he spots is a woman with graying hair who is dressed in a pink tracksuit. Beside her is a dog who she holds by the collar. Like the sixty-something-year-old man, they too were probably out for a morning stroll. A few places behind the woman is a young man who appears around twenty years old, has shaggy black hair, and who's whole demeanor screams with enthusiasm. Speedy doesn't know why, but he feels like he's seen that guy before…
Shrugging away the thought, Speedy looks to another part of the crowd as they make their way off of the road and onto the sidewalk in front of the museum. He sees a man in a tie, a middle-aged couple, a group of little girls who wave wildly to get Bee's attention; the usual sort of people that he is used to seeing. A second later, however, Speedy finally sees something that catches him by surprise. In the center of the crowd, closer to the front than to the back, is a familiar head of brown curls. Originally he was following his teammates so that they can rush inside and take out the "pirate" who plans on "plundering" the museum. However, upon spotting the brown curls, he stops in his tracks and gapes.
At first he's wondering if his eyes are playing tricks on him. After looking at her for a few seconds, however, it becomes wildly apparent that this is not at all the case. Pale skin, long hair, large eyes, sweatshirt and raggedy jeans, there's no doubt about it. Leila is definitely one of the people standing in the crowd. Based on the talk they had when they ran into each other yesterday, it couldn't be more plain that her being here is neither coincidence nor an accident. It is apparent that she knows she's being stared at, because large green eyes connect with Speedy's masked gaze immediately. Her eyes are filled to the brim with a mixture of anxiety and longing.
A long time passes, and Speedy doesn't move. He simply continues holding the brown-haired girl's gaze, a pleasant smile coming across his face. Eventually the fact that he isn't following the others becomes noticeable, because all four of his teammates as well as the visiting Titans West Titans stop to look at him in confusion. They think that their stares are all it will take to get him to follow, but they're wrong. He notices them staring, but he doesn't move. Instead, he waits for one of them to speak.
"Let's go, Speedy! We need get a move on!" shouts Bee commandingly. "We have a pirate to catch and hostages to save!"
Breaking eye contact with Leila momentarily, he turns to look at her. His smile staying completely intact, he responds easily. "I don't know, Bumblebee. That pirate guy seemed pretty threatening, and I'm sure that there are a lot of hostages in there. We might need some help."
Raising her brow in confusion, Bumblebee moves closer to him. "Help? What are you talking about? I could take that guy out by myself without my stingers!"
This time Speedy doesn't respond verbally. Giving Bumblebee one last glance, he nods in Leila's direction and turns back to the crowd. Brow arching further, she follows his gaze curiously. Once she spots who he's referring to, however, all forms of curiosity and confusion vanish. First the woman appears shocked, but following this, she too begins smiling. Aqualad, who is only a few paces behind them, is about ready to ask what the holdup is, but then he looks into the crowd and spots her. By this point Leila is visibly nervous, but she doesn't run away. Rubbing her right upper arm anxiously, she gives a small nervous smile and returns their gazes.
"You know what, Speedy? You're right," Bee replies at last. "There are a lot of hostages in that building, aren't there? Maybe we could use some help."
"That pirate did seem pretty threatening, and with that grappling hook he must be very dangerous," adds Aqualad with a smile. "We might need some firepower to back us up."
By this point Mas y Menos have spotted her as well. Staring her down from the edge of the sidewalk, they shout to her eagerly. "¡Ven con nosotros! ¡Usted es un Titan!"
None of them knows how they did it, but somehow the people in the crowd were able to pinpoint who the Titans are looking at. The people who were previously surrounding Leila have backed away from her and have turned around to stare, putting the girl on her own little island in the middle of the crowd. Beast Boy and Cyborg stand several feet behind the East Titans, trying to decipher if this is the girl who they've been talking about, or if maybe she's someone else entirely. It is only when Speedy addresses her directly that the two West Titans get their answer.
"Are you coming with us, or staying there? The choice is yours. We aren't going to force you."
Nobody says a word. Not Leila, not anybody in the crowd, and not any of the Titans. Leila stares at the Titans and they stare back at her, a look of uncertainty crossing the girl's face. It takes a lengthy moment, but at last, Leila moves. To their joy, Leila doesn't move away from them, but instead moves forward. As she walks toward them, the uncertainty vanishes and is replaced by an expression of confidence.
"You couldn't force me to do something even if you tried. The choice is mine, and I'm choosing to go with you," Leila replies to Speedy at last. Looking at the rest of the Titans, she adds sheepishly, "As long as you'll have me, that is."
Wearing happy expressions, Bee and Aqualad move forward and place hands on each of her shoulders. Mas y Menos move closer to her as well.
"Don't you try weaseling your way out of this by talking like that," says Bee with a grin. "You already said that you want to come with us, so don't pretend that you don't want to."
"Of course we'll have you! You're part of our team," Aqualad puts in cheerfully.
"¡No temas! ¡Usted es un miembro de nuestro equipo!" Exclaims Mas y Menos.
Both to Speedy's happiness and to his surprise, Leila still doesn't run away. Instead the girl smiles and gives an appreciative nod. "Thank you. I'm glad that you're so eager to welcome me aboard."
Meanwhile, as the other Titans welcome Leila onto the team, Cyborg and Beast Boy approach Speedy curiously.
"Based on how you're talking to her like you know her, and on the fact that there's hugs all around, I'm guessing that that's Leila?" asks Beast Boy.
Speedy nods in confirmation. "Yep. That's her."
"Really? She doesn't look very tough. Are you sure that's her?" Cyborg asks skeptically.
At this, Speedy gives a chuckle. "She may be tiny, but don't let that trick you. She's tough as nails. Believe me."
A/N: Well, friends, that's it for this chapter. Now we can officially say that Damiana is a member of the Titans East! I fully intended on making this chapter longer and including the fight with Scurvy Dog, but I thought that this would be a good place to end it. With the weight of Speedy's backstory in the first blurb and then with Damiana agreeing to go with the Titans, I felt like adding any more to this chapter would take away from it. Don't worry, though. The fight with Scurvy Dog will be next chapter. We'll still get to see plenty of action! :D
Also, I hope that Speedy's backstory doesn't bother any of you. I researched Roy Harper's character, and I learned that in the original comics he did have a heroin addiction. For some reason, after learning that, I just couldn't make myself skip over it. His past drug addiction and everything that happened with Green Arrow are defining features of what makes Speedy "Speedy". The past doesn't define him, but it does greatly influence him, and I wanted to dig into a little bit.
It's true that his drug addiction and his fight with Green Arrow happened when he was a lot older in the comics, but for the sake of the story, I decided to change it. There are some kids who become addicted to drugs very young, so I figured that putting him at twelve years old when it happened wouldn't be something too crazy.
Anyhow, we know a little bit more about Speedy, Damiana is a part of the Titans East now, and they have a crazy pirate that they need to fight! Though this chapter was short in comparison to my other chapters, I hope that it was worth reading to you guys. Until next time!
Forever and Always,
OCQ