Our Time in Reverse – What it Takes
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Chapter 15: Having Beef – First Meal of the Day; Meet The H.I.V.E Trio…
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(Beef as in not the king you eat. Not an innuendo. Just angst involved here.)
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In lieu of their recent discussion, Slade did invite the Headmistress of a prestigious school to his happy underground dwelling. She wore her hair in a high bun. Color all but lost, yet her eyes were sharp and rather aware of the circumstances should she not show her face. "Mr Slade." She was told to call him this in the presence of others. Today, the handpicked operatives of her advances courses had come along in. Their eyes looked amazed and confused after being inside their school for too long to tell. Yet, their leader seemed to be more interest in the motifs and a memory of a boy who had acted quite interesting upon their coming to the city of Jump.
"Headmistress. So good of you to come on such early notice. I do apologize if the décor may be, off-putting somewhat. There are seats, right by the platform. They came up from the floor. Leather from the hide of some damned creature. Her nostrils stayed tame as the Headmistress did to her duties. This was all to wean out an enemy. Nothing more. (This is supposed to be Addie, under cover. )
"Mr. Slade. Your request for our best package was explicitly to…. create a message that be heard by one of your enemies. An odd request. We don't have many to say that couldn't be done by your own –
"I wanted it to be discreet as possible." Slade turned on the screens to show his guests in shadow the boy spy he had parading around in bright colors all damn day. Just an act, he seemed to be enjoying the attention.
"That is the one you want us to sniff out, sir?" A large lummox, Mammoth was a senior to the team. His golden gauntlets and hearty tone had Slade roll his eye mentally at the comparison of a Bizzaro that Slade's old associate Lex had created by mistake. (In new 52. Slade got beat down by a couple Bizzaro. Not so tough, right?)
"Yes and no. He's one of mine. My, apprentice. His mission is to destroy the heroes while yours is to make the entire fight you'll reenact…look genuine. I want him to be the one who keeps the heroes in their toes before he breaks each and every one of those Titans. Our territory is this, our claim to this city. And I intend to make that happen with someone I've got cooking…but first!" His eye looked excited and Addie knew it well enough to identify madness in the eye. That eye, the one she had once cared for.
Gone.
"I met him, we all did."
"You did, and it helped things along nicely." Smiled the masked madman. Now, with phase two, you'll be rivals for this right. To stand as the ones I want …to push the Titans a little harder. I have it all planned out. Robin comes around and one of you should…. bring him down. My bots will do the rest. I've already made sure to give my apprentice a dose of what's to befall him and his new companions. Cinderblock was an opener. You, will be the true first act to my plans."
"What? We just make…. go poof? Disappear?"
" Exactly, my dear." Slade grinned and prided Jinx on the idea.
No shit. That was what he'd just said. Teenagers …
"I can get an attack plan goin. Those snot munching heroes are gonna go home crying' to their dead mommies. Genius!"
"And we can get into the stupid T to scramble things a bit. Leave that message. I got that covered." Mammoth pounded his chest. Wow, he did have a brain under all of that facial hair?
"Good plan, then. Get a move on. I'm paying you by the hour to graduate. If you can't succeed, there will be consequences." Slade looked to Addie whose mask went back into place. "Strict discipline is a part of our better policy to wean young individuals of the future super villain community. We take pride in knowing that your request will be fulfilled by the H.I.V. E's top operatives."
"See that it is done as you say. And if not, I have only their teacher to blame for such a failure "The man's avarice wasn't directed at the teens this time. It was, at Adelaide Kane as she tried not to flinch. She'd taught this man how to fight. How to plan. Yet the serum had changed him into a criminal. How could he not find her out and threaten her to give up this job?
His vendetta with the H.I.V.E was a long one. After they had taken the body of his son, the rest followed on borderline madness that had driven Slade to extremes far greater than during their time together in the army… she had no real faith that he would see it, just that the boy he was trying to brainwash into taking Grant's place had to decipher those clues without anyone's help. No, maybe it was already to late to save anymore children from dying in his war games…he'll, she was just as guilty for taking on the role of HIVE Headmistress.
"My servant Wintergreen, will gladly see you and your operatives, out. Remember what I said, Headmistress. Any excuses, and that line will be cut for good."
Her last time to ever know his face, he meant. His last ounce of respect, even though he hated how much he missed her dearly. Old as they were, he could live forever in knowing that she was alive. Here, right in front of him.
Any excuse to see her again, just one change was all they needed to make that happen.
"Good day, then, Mr. Slade."
Her heels walked away to the nearest exit, while the mastermind stayed content to dwell in near – complete darkness. Save fir once screen as a boy reached out to aid his dark world with a brilliant smile.
~ Good morning, master! What are our plans for today? ~
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"Pizza for breakfast?"
"The fridge is…." Raven turned to see a blue bit of goop land on top of Cy's face as he shrieked bloody murder. After getting to the breakfast table, Cy felt lunch for breakfast since they'd all slept in today was…not a bad plan.
"Dude! Flatbread in other places is totally a real breakfast!"
"To lazy people." Raven shrugged as Richard looked over the room. Starfire zapped the blue glob woth a minor spark, yet it ended up ignoring on his face and came to life.
"ITS ALIIVE!!" Bb reenacted the line from a famous film in the black and white picture days. "Capture it and put it in a jar! G –
Gah!!"
Richard ended up sending his new boomerang at the thing. It sputtered and he could have sworn, shook a bloody fist… at his attack.
"Did…. you killed it?? That could have been some unidentified alien lifeforms!"
"IT'S NOT." Cy grounded and spat the glob's contents onto the floor. "We going out or what, team?"
Dick looked up and to his want of some privacy, Raven ended up fishing out something he'd never had the gall to want. A mask domino, like a bandit.
"You need to hide your identity. It's important. Cyborg made it… equipped for a few different-
"What does it do?" Bb bounded over and snatched up the device with a claw. "Dude…it's all decked out!" He grinned enviously. "Can you make me one with night –
"YOU TURN INTO AN OWL." Raven groaned, glaring at the little green stain until he backed off. "You don't need it." She snatched it back, handing the gift to Robin. "Now, you can really be a part of this team."
Bb grumbled on the side, his eyes down cast at the carpet. "Teacher's pet." He sniffed and walked away. Still, Robin had watch…his back. Raven assured him that Beastboy was an only child most of his time growing up. Yet, so was he…so, why was Bb such a bummer to be around after having saved his life?
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The place was a rooftop second floor pizza joint and Robin instantly recalled the main plaza of Jump's daytime advantage. "Can we check out the comic shop after we eat breakfast??" Bb bounced around and ignored the fact that Raven and Star were being nudged by his tomfoolery.
"I believe Robin has eating the bread that is cheesy and flat before, yes? Oh, you must try it with so many toppings! There are more than they will not serve even if have asked…I always bring my own supply!" Kori pulled out a shaker bottle of wjat looked to contain…. furnace, rainbow sprinkles and something very yellow and thickly colored.
"What…. is that, Star??"
"A concise concoction of my favorite items! I intend to add this to my bread that is very flat –
" Pizza, Star." Bb corrected.
Cy shook his head, migraine trying not to form. Robin and Raven were the only quiet ones on this carpool ride. As soon as they had parked and dismount the T car's protective lining, Robin looked around to see the people. They looked to be on their phones, taking to friends or drinking caffeinated beverages. This did feel odd, but Slade wouldn't scold him for going along with the plan. Robin had to just bite then drop it and fly to.the rescue. This was his big break.
He was going to one up Cy and one day lead the Titans to their own downfall. His stomach grumbled and not because if the briefing his master had given at the start of today. He actually looked forward to a slice. Slade in his youth had tempted the idea of it in Napoli, and they had better sauce than any place on earth that day. Just the two of them. Robin cleared his mind as soon as he saw Raven. She put a hand on his shoulder. Just made it!
"What are you going to order. You have had pizza before right?"
"My mom used to make it from scratch. When I was a kid living with her. Just us, then we didn't do that. He did and…I was never the same so I stopped liking the taste."
"Like cardboard, huh? Guy didn't have the knack for perfecting something like that." Cy sighed. "Well, this is a good day ta' just eat and be happy for not being alone so dang much. You were upset about your mama, but she did something that hurt you too. We won't be like that."
"Yeah, you can always try a vegan slice. They make all kinds here."
"And my concoction will one day be listed on the menu as well!" Kori chimed in happily. The Titans rolled their eyes and Beastboy stuck out his tongue at the idea. She only giggled. "You must never lose hope in starting new friendships, dear Robin."
"I mean…." Robin looked at the line, the Titans faces and his growling gut. "Y…yeah. Yeah! I can show him I'm not just a soldier. I'm…like you guys said? Normal, today."
"THAT'S more like it…so…can we please order now, Cy?? All in favor, say I!"
The heroes raised their hands, and even if it was just an act…. Robin felt glad to be a part of something this positive.
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Slade walked along the catwalk as the three anti heroic HIVE members waited on his signal. His fists ground back as he wanted to punch those brats. Robin was his! If they even decided to reverse all that Slade had put that boy through, well…
He grunted, moving along and waiting to see the Titans up top that level to get their "grub on." (Slade is old. Poor him)
Robin had ordered something with a veggie and a protein. At least his strict diet also made him have a separate whole wheat slice to piss of his friends. They didn't seem willing to poke as much fun. Backsides the Doom Patrol kid. He was angrier than Slade normally expected from those old reports. Something must have made him hate any competition. Not because of the one child status he'd accrued under Steve and Rita. No, no.
He had some beef with the Bat, maybe?
Red and black, a Robin. And still in Slade's image regardless . Good thing he'd told the boy to ditch the green and gold touch. Slade singled in an an article of another boybwonder back in Gotham stealing the show. He was nearly Robin's age by a year off. Jason Todd. That kid was still alive? And…
Slade took another good look.
My, my…
He was under copyright here. That modified spectacle didn't belong to the street rat.
That uniform, was a Grayson centerpiece, he smirked darkly.
"You think an homage works only one way, Bruce?" Chuckled the mad man. "I hold the original in my hands, and will mold him any which way I choose. Don't hold your breath. The day those two clash staves, Robin. My boy wonder, will trump your own and rip off its wings."
The lights went off, and then on to reveal a lab down below him. The elevator as Slade stepped in. The series of bubbles that suspended his passion project against its will. "Tara can't replace what's almost perfect. But ..she can narrow down my apprentice's competition if he fails to pull the trigger."
She was unaware of him, sleeping as he'd kept her to study every ounce of power she came equipped with. His Terra nova.
"Sir, should I plan for tea to be brought to your main dais?"
Slade didn't budge as Wintergreen had come round the corner like a thief. "Yes, see to it being Oolong. A strong, aged brew for today."
"Very good sir." William moved along on his way as Slade had his hands behind his back. A military stance as he remembered from his days as being a hero…once. A damned good solider. And he'd be damned if they shoved him in Waller's care one more time for playing by the rules. Kill or be killed. That, was the law of any jungle. Urban or otherwise.
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Robin didn't bite into a slice until it came. For a long, long time…food had minimal flavor. Health was more important than luxury to his master. Muddled the mind in battle. Starfire had in her hand another tipping that was in a squeeze bottle. Mustard. For the first time, Robin was hungry enough not to care. Beastboy, well. He needed to tolerate others far better.
"Grow up, B! Star isn't into tofu, mushrooms or any of that green ass junk –
"AND THAT! IS A CRIME AGAINST ITALIAN CULTURE!"
"it's not just from Italy." Raven took a bite of her panini. "It's 's not just from Italy. It is also in the middle east, and in parts of the world older than in your fantasies." She bit into her perfect sandwich as if she had the right. Bb moped the rest of the moment while Cy's meat lover Supreme was very…. appetizing?
"You don't get heartburn?" Robin blinked past his cardboard dry slice. To him, it was a quarter of heaven in a meal.
"Naw, I burn really quick. In fact, I used ta be on every sport team you could think of. My dad wanted me ta go to a real university because I was like him. Science was his thing…but I learned to make more tech than even Batman." Boasted Cy proudly. "I bet that super rich dude Bruce Wayne; he'd wanna pay me to get the blueprints for this seismic cannon I've been working on."
"Oh? That's…cool." Robin put down his slice and wondered if Slade would want to hear about this new side event…
"It is for stopping the bad guys, right? Are you going to do a test run on it yet?"
"Why are you so interested in geek – a – nomics?" BB put down his slice and eyed Robin from across the table. "I…used to be a huge Batman fan, ok!" Robin blurted out. "His bat mobile was so cool. I even asked my step dad one time to help me supe up my first car but…it never happened."
"Double…GEEK ALERT!" Bb laughed and held his sides. Good save. Robin grinned back sheepishly at the heroes.
"Have you not wished to be a hero before, friend Robin?"
Starfire was already…onto her fourth slice. Raven shook her head and was still only halfway through her caprese panini - (not correct, well aware!)
"Are we all in favor of giving Robin the name "Twitter for brains! Haha! I say we give him a real job. Make him dress up like a chicken –
"Not cool, green stain." Cy pointed the finger at their youngest member. "He's one of us. Don't forget how he saved your sorry butt on the court."
"He'd do it again, right? Mess up?"
"Why are you trying to "start" fighting with your friend, Beastboy-
"Cause, you guys are sorry for him all the damn time!"
"I'll just go –
" WAHH, WAAH!" Bb pretended to cry in the form of a small green tamarin monkey. "You can't keep hiding behind my team. You have to earn that pizza."
"Bad dog. Go sit in the corner." Raven pointed to an empty booth. "You both have hard pasts and yelling at each other isn't helping to control our emotions any sooner. Anything could happen and we'd be fighting the wrong enemy. Time out, or don't show up for supper." She crossed her arms and the team saw that she had finished her last bite of food before them. "Your choice, Garfield."
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Bb did sit in the corner, only for Robin to wonder if that had been unnecessary. "Can't I go talk to him? I don't know why he's so angry at me."
"It's his instinctual side, Robin." Raven levitated away the boxes to get recycled in the correct bin. "As Beastboy was coming to us, he was rejected by his own family. That's what he said, yet I know he won't find reason to trust too many outside, of his…pack. Because he only got to know us and helped us save Starfire when we met…he cherished that time…you just, came around while he was adjusting. Beastboy as himself, is still a kid. Younger and we have a lot to learn about whom and how to trust again."
"You know that feeling as well, do you not?" Starfire asked as she handed Robin a cup with lemonade in it. "Try. The bitter, pleasant taste will make your mind clear."
Robin looked at the drink, then thought of Beastboy being just like him. Terrified of being all alone. Something made Robin, this Robin in his mind beckon for an answer. It…could help the mission, but it was also just the right thing to do. Robin took the cup and thanked Star. She watched in fascinated interest as he went over to where Bb had his ears dropping as a dog. His eyes on the ground and food still on the boy's plate. Unfinished.
"Hey, sorry um…. this was from Star. She wanted you to have it. So…" Robin put the drink out for Bb to take. His form returned to that of a dejected human boy with green skin and hair in a purple and black uniform. His ears were still lowered as Robin didn't leave. He instead, held out the cold cup, until the younger youth spoke.
"Thanks…" Bb grumbled with those big green eyes, those eyes fixated on Robin, then the lemonade in his hands was in the Titan's junior member's paws. Taking a big sip, B's eyes were alive with a mild bit of dopamine. "Great stuff, none for you, dude?"
"I'm not sure I could handle too much excitement yet. Maybe next time." Robin promised, seeing Bb's smile for the first time. Real and genuine.
"Un, so ..listen. I never made too many friends my own age. This is a first." Robin rubbed the back of his neck, afraid to just keep those eyes on him. He was already guilty for lying to all of them. "My parents, my step dad, he isolated me to train me. I had no clue and for the first time, I want to have a friend. Like you. Star, Raven and Cyborg. I do want to earn that right so, show me how to. Okay by you?"
Bb raised his eyes and stood up, the boy grinning with a canine poking out intimidatingly. "Yah, I don't think you can handle first missions and all. When I was in the Doom Patrol, they ran drills but you still got rewards. I was little. You are an old dude, so I hope you can keep up –
"This crusty old bird has a few tricks left." Robin grinned back, the two finally getting along. Despite the obvious rivalry…
"You both are looking 'the chipper!" Kori smiled to the awkward children of heroes. "Yeah, well. He needs a real pep talker once an a while. I'm here to stay."
"Dude! Just say the word and no kill moves. I like my butt attached to me, thank you!"
Robin laughed, the joke making him think back to the times he'd wished he could have…. then, tears? No….no…tears were all –
"Robin?"
"Dude? Did I say something weird, again? …"
"No…" Robin wiped his eyes with the back of his glove, head shaking back and forth slowly. "I just remembered a better time with my family, but you guys helped to become my…real family just now. Thank you for not dumping me in with the system."
"We would never do something so utterly despicable!" Starfire protested aloud.
Time.
Robin bit his lip, easing up the welcome. "Ready to go back? I could use a spar with Cy in the gym." Cy looked honored to be mentioned while Bb was behaving pretty well.
Until his ears started to move like an animal's.
"No time, dudes and dude dudettes." Bb ran over to the balcony and saw below that a disruption had started to scare the citizens.
"Robot…..flying Robo - dolls?? Attacking??"
"It's not even lunch time." Raven deadpanned.
""We got this, team. You ready, Robin? First ever mission. Right after a first ever meal with the best around."
" TITANS! SAY IT CY! LEMME SAY IT, Please!"
Robin grinned. Bb bounced up and down until Cy pointed and nodded with a smirked. "Yes!! I got dibs this time…!"
Go time.
Get ready.
Beastboy let out their battle cry, and after that, Robin knew he had to be a part of the action. Rangs out. Staff on his side, his story was just beginning all over again.
"TITANS…. GO!!"
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I CHANGED THE SCENE A BIT, BUT DON'T PANIC. Going to sneak in a throwback moment no time flat. Robin sadly knows what he has to do, yet did he just genuinely bond with Bb or was that all an act? Was he really crying about his actual parents and not his fake ones? Find out! And noted, this won't be a fluffy story. Sorry to burst your bubble. We don't roll that way! Rated T not M but to be safe this is a brainwashed Richard from the time he was weaned on Slade's false compassion. Imagine in he lost that?? Don't know, find out later!!