[Tom Hendricks POV]
The tranquility of the garage enveloped me as I settled into a serene meditation, seeking solace in the quietude. Seated on a comfortable mat in the heart of the garage, I assumed a meditative posture, shutting out the external world with closed eyes.
In the stillness, I delved deep within myself, connecting with the subtle currents of my own bioelectricity. It was an extraordinary sensation; every nerve in my body seemed alive, painted with the hues of red electrical lines. The intricate network of energy flowed like a silent symphony, a visual representation of the vitality coursing through me.
Lost in the euphoria of this internal exploration, the harmonious ambiance was abruptly shattered by the persistent sound of text notifications. Slowly, I returned to the material world, telekinetically drawing my phone into the palm of my hands without breaking my meditative posture.
Opening the texts, I discovered they were from Rachel, inviting me to a New Year's Eve night party Beast Boy was hosting the next day. With a decisive lack of hesitation, I promptly declined the invitation, my focus on personal introspection.
However, Rachel persisted, expressing a desire to spend the evening together. She revealed her aversion to parties, subtly tugging at my reluctance by mentioning we hadn't attended one as a couple since the beginning of our relationship. Reluctantly, I found myself agreeing, not wanting her to feel alone at the gathering.
"Okay, I'll be there… But only because I would like to see how cute and miserable you can be when you get drunk on alcohol," I responded, a playful edge to my words. She replied with the slightly smiling emoji, sealing the agreement.
"It's a date," she texted, setting the rendezvous for 8:00 pm the following evening.
"I'll be there," I assured her before setting my phone aside. With the digital world momentarily cast aside, I resumed my meditation, returning to the peaceful cocoon of my garage, the red currents of bioelectricity once again becoming the focal point of my contemplation.
…
It's been a week since Darkseid's invasion, Beast Boy was throwing a celebratory party to celebrate their win against Darkseid and his forces.
The young heroes had been tense lately and stressed up from the fights with the parademons, evacuating civilians, and completely drained from patrolling Metropolis and neighboring cities that were affected by the invasion, as they provided help to stranded civilians.
At first when Beast Boy brought up the idea, the majority of them dismissed the thought as it seemed disrespectful to the heroes who ended up in a hospital bed as a result of their fights, everyone but NightWing.
He saw the Idea of a party as an opportunity for them to unwind, ease their stressed minds and bodies as they let go of every burden and just focus on having some fun for the night.
The Invitations and announcements regarding the party were based on Beast Boy being the public figure he was, the non-superheroes who were present at the party were those invited by one of the heroes as their guest for the night.
The party buzzed with loud music and underage drinking as a lot of the guests geeked over their favorite heroes, the ones dressed in their hero getup at least. Some of the heroes chose to attend the party as their hero persona so they could bond with a few of their fans and sign off autographs in the process, basking in the love showered by their fans.
Walking through the front door Tom dressed in a casual black jean, topped with black shirt with both sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had two buttons loose from the top row as he fashionably adorned it with a black neck chain to compliment the watch he had on his wrist.
His white hair was freely and neatly brushed, which was unlikely for him as he usually had it in a less neat but messy state.
Looking around as he observed the surroundings, he took note of a few checklists to see the nature of the party for the night, as he wasn't sure how a party thrown by goodie-two-shoes heroes would turn out to be. "Underage drinking, kids abusing drugs, horny girls and sexually predatory dudes left and right. This party meets the checklist."
He reached for his left pocket, then sent a text to Rachel that he had arrived at the party and was going to be by the bar. Placing his phone back in his pocket, he walked over to the bar, his go-to spot at any party.
He picked up a bottle of whiskey, grabbed a glass and poured himself a drink. Then turned to look around, observing as some danced to the music playing, some vibe to it, while some were busy making out at every corner.
While the rest geeked over Impulse and Beast Boy who was clearly the life of the party and was wearing sunglasses for some reason, when it was night time and he was indoors.
Unlike the other guests who arrived at the party, fanboying over the heroes, Tom looked at them like they weren't as much of a big deal, and casually did his own thing.
Taking notes of his surroundings while sipping on his glass, a voice spoke from his side, drawing him from his own thoughts of mapping out the heroes he recognized.
"That's some confident hairdo for someone your age, I must say." Tom turned to his left, only to see a blond hottie having a flirty look in her eyes as she made reference to his white hair.
"Unfortunately it isn't some hairdo or anything like that, it's one hundred percent natural." He replied.
"Wow, that's quite a unique trait." She said in response.
"Thanks, You don't look bad yourself. Are you from around here?" He asked.
"Not really, I am from Metropolis but my place got destroyed during the attack so now I am staying with a friend for now and she lives around here."
"Oh, I literally thought you were one of them heroes. I had a feeling from how cute of a blonde you are, and how blue your eyes are, typical features of a comical female superhero." Tom teased as a smirk grew on the side of his cheek.
"Oh, do I?" She flirted back.
"Of course you do. Now if you'd excuse me, I have to go find someone." Tom winked an eye at her as they clicked their glasses in cheers before gulping down his remaining drink and dropped the glass.
Tom walked over to the middle of the party, grabbed himself a disposable plastic cup, then poured himself some cheap beer. "Hey, I know that face." A voice came from behind as he was in the process of filling his cup.
"Fuck!" He exasperated then stopped what he was doing. Tom turned around to look Beast Boy in the eye for a second, took a sip of his beer, then just casually walked away without saying a word.
"Hey, don't just walk away like that, dude."
"I think you're probably mistaking me for someone else, I know you're a hero and something of a celebrity but I don't recall knowing you in person." Tom tried to wave him off, wanting to avoid any bro moment Beast Boy might try to initiate.
"Remember, back in Central City. We met at an art function." Beast Boy pressed on with a wide smile spread across his face.
"Beast Boy, stop pestering him. He's clearly not a fan." Stepping beside Tom, Rachel grabbed onto his arm. "Now that I think about it, I think I remember meeting you along with one paranoid fucker back at Central City." Tom said to Beast Boy with a smirk on his lips as he was being dragged away by Raven.
"I am not the only one who saw that right?" Beast Boy asked no one in particular as he made reference to Rachel's attitude around Tom, and how she seemed awfully close with him, something that was rare even for her.
"Nah dude, I think Raven's got a boyfriend." Impulse said as they watched her blush while leading Tom elsewhere. "I don't think so." He replied.
"What was that about?" She asked Tom who was busy pouring her a drink.
"Don't worry about it, just reminiscing about a time we met at some function back at Central City. Although he was with some paranoid kid at the time" Tom waved it off as he handed her a cup of beer.
"No, I don't drink alcohol." She rejected his offer with a smile. "You literally watched me put down my drink to pour you one." Tom remarked.
"And I appreciate the gesture, thank you."
*Sigh*
"More for me then." He replied as he poured the drink into his own cup, ready to get the party started and willing to persuade her into taking a few sips.
The Titans Tower was ablaze with colorful lights and pulsating music, setting the scene for a celebratory party hosted by none other than Beast Boy and Nightwing. The heroes, having emerged victorious against the formidable Darkseid, gathered to unwind and revel in their success. Laughter and cheers filled the air as the heroes and their allies celebrated the hard-fought triumph.
Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, Barbara Gordon found herself back at the Batcave. Dressed in her Batgirl suit, she furrowed her brow in intense concentration as she scrutinized the array of monitors, searching for any signs of suspicious activities in the city. The glow from the screens illuminated her determined expression as she remained ever vigilant, the weight of her responsibilities pressing upon her.
Just as Barbara was about to embark on a solo patrol, the imposing figure of Batman emerged from the shadows, silently observing her dedication. Alfred, the ever-wise butler, followed suit.
"Barbara, you've been doing an exceptional job," Bruce Wayne spoke in his deep, authoritative tone. "But even heroes need to take a break every once in a while. Tonight is one of those times"
Alfred chimed in with a warm smile, "Master Bruce is right, Miss Gordon. You've earned a respite. The city can wait for one night."
Barbara glanced at the monitors, torn between her duty and the allure of the festivities. " I could really use a break but there could be something out there, something we could miss if I take a break," she insisted.
Batman stepped closer, his cape billowing in the dimly lit Batcave. "Barbara, the city will be fine for one night. The youngsters have earned their celebration, and so have you."
Alfred, ever the voice of reason, added, "You're still a young woman, Barbara. It's crucial to embrace the moments of joy amidst the darkness."
Barbara sighed, realizing the truth in their words but struggling to let go of her sense of responsibility. "What if something happens while I'm away?"
Batman placed a gloved hand on her shoulder, a rare display of empathy. "The city have me. I've been protecting Gotham City by myself for years, so trust me as I trust you. Enjoy the celebration; you've earned it."
Alfred offered a comforting smile, "And I'll keep an eye on things here, my dear."
…
The pulsating music and vibrant lights of the Titans' party enveloped me as I tried to coax Rachel, my girlfriend Raven, into embracing the celebration. The atmosphere was charged with energy, but her reserved nature kept her at a distance from the lively crowd.
As I handed her the drink, a sudden fireball knocked it from my hand, prompting the arrival of Kori, Dick, and Gar, ready to protect Rachel from perceived threats.
"Calm down, guys," Gar intervened, trying to calm the situation. "Did you invite him?" Dick directed his stern gaze at me.
"No, but I know he's a harmless person. Although he could be quite rude most times," Gar explained, attempting to diffuse the tension.
As they continued their scrutiny, Rachel, frustrated by their overprotectiveness, spoke up, asserting her independence. "Guy's, enough!!"
"This is Tom, and I invited him. So please stop with all this because I do not need protection from my boyfriend," she declared.
Their collective surprise at the revelation of our relationship was palpable. Kori, however, smiled a little as she appraised me.
"When did you get a boyfriend?" Gar asked, but his question was ignored. Rachel seemed more annoyed by their interference than anything else.
"Oh, sorry about that, buddy. Rachel is family, and we just happen to be overprotective when it comes to her," Dick explained, offering me a friendly tap on the shoulder.
"I apologize for the late introduction. The names' Tom Hendricks by the way," I said, extending a handshake.
"Dick Grayson," he responded, reciprocating the gesture. The tension began to ease.
"Once again, we are sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm Kori."
"It's nice to meet you. You look even more beautiful in person than on television," I complimented, earning a blush from Kori. Gar remained bewildered.
"Quite a charmer you've got here," Kori remarked to Rachel, who seemed more focused on putting an end to the awkward encounter.
"Now that we've cleared things, kindly excuse us," Rachel said, pulling me to a quieter spot away from their watchful eyes.
"It was nice meeting Rachel's friends," I said to them as we walked away, ready to enjoy the party in peace.
"Enjoy the party!" Dick called after us, leaving Gar to ponder the mystery of when Rachel had gotten herself a boyfriend, and what she saw in me.
"Oh, hey Rachel." A voice came from behind. "For crying put loud, what now?" I muttered beneath my breath, willing to just drag her ass upstairs myself so no one would interrupt our night any longer.
"Barbara, you came." Rachel replied, giving a friendly wave at the redhead who seemed like she would rather be somewhere else.
"Yeah, I had a last minute change of plans." She replied, wrapping her arms around Rachel as they gave each other a gentle hug.
"You remember Tom right?" Rachel reintroduced.
"Of course I do. With an hair as distinctive as his, it'd be hard to forget such feature." She remarked. I just responded with a subtle wave as they both finished exchanging pleasantries.
The sound of the loud music slowly faded into buzzing beat in the background as Rachel and I were finally at the elevator's door when she suddenly pulled back my arm, having a shy and blushy look on her face.
"Are you okay?" I asked, taking note of her reddish cheeks.
"I'm fine. Why don't you go grab a bottle of alcohol so we continue from where we left off, I'll be at the third floor, second room to the right." She instructed.
"Okay baby girl, I'll be right with you." I replied her with a mischievous smile on my face, hinting it was finally about to go down tonight.
Heading back to the party, I walked over to the bar where I noticed the blonde wasn't there anymore. I grabbed myself a bottle of whiskey and quickly headed back.
On my way back, I spotted Superboy over by a corner having his hands all over a green bitch as he seemed like he could almost smooch the life out of her.
I guess even pretty boy intends to get himself some badass pussy tonight, well it's indeed a good night to get laid. I walked away headed for the elevator, a bit excited because tonight I get to see another side of Raven, how she acts when she's tipsy.
As I arrived at the door she had described for me earlier, I let go of one bottle and telekinetically had it floating midair as I knocked on the door with my free hand.
*Knock Knock*
There was no response, so I just held on to the doorknob and opened it myself, making use of my powers.
"Did someone order, room service?" I playfully asked as the door swung open, attempting to set the mood but arrived at an empty room.
"Rae!!" I called out, moving around the room and even searching the bathroom but there was no sign of her being in there.
I closer my eyes and scanned the environment to see what feedback I'd get from the vibrations made by anything with a heart beat around the room's vicinity. It was unusual for her to act differently from what she says she'd do.
Suddenly, I got some heartbeats from the other side of the wall outside the building. I quickly made my way to window, looked outside as I observed the walls, only to see ropes along the side of the building as I saw masked ninjas toss an unconscious Rachel into a black van and immediately drove off.
I jumped out the window, falling to the ground itself. The ground crated beneath my foot upon landing as a boulder rose from the ground and blocked the van in sight, intercepting it as the van crashed into the boulder up ahead.
I quickly got to it, ripped open the back doors, only to see an empty van with just the injured driver inside. This van was a decoy and they must have swapped places with the actual van without my notice.
I ripped open the driver's door and pulled him out. "Who sent you?" I questioned, my anger slowly brewing. He mumbled as he struggled to regain conscious, I gave him a sounding slap to wake his ass up and answer my question.
"Answer me!!" I pressed on.
"Hail the Demon Head." Just after saying that, foam started gushing out his mouth and suddenly began to convulse, he must have had poison in his mouth and bite it to commit suicide just to avoid questioning or torture, having fulfilled his role.
"Ra's al Ghul must have gone after Raven to get to me, he'll definitely get what's coming to him.