Fan Fiction ❯ Homecoming ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, etc, etc, it all belongs to the many geniuses at DC, etc. You know the deal.

 

Pre-read by my good friend Kr@bK@kes.

 

Well here it is, the first chapter. Yay. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Hope you enjoy, more authors note at the bottom.

 

Homecoming

 

Chapter One

 

The Teen Titans have had many encounters with the H.I.V.E. and most of which with the trio of Gizmo, Jinx and Mammoth. Gizmo: the technological midget with countless amounts of gadgets. Jinx: the purple haired acrobatic witch. Mammoth: the giant brown haired behemoth with the strength of a thousand men. Their rivalry was well documented.

 

As it was, today, the Teen Titans found themselves backed into a corner by the tenacious trio. Cyborg and Mammoth locked horns, brute against brute in a battle of strength. Raven and Beast Boy teamed up against the speedy witch. Raven sending telekinetic blast after telekinetic blast after her and Beast Boy shifting at great speeds, trying to catch the preoccupied witch of guard. Finally, Nightwing and Starfire teamed up against Gizmo but it seemed the intelligent midget was always one step ahead of them.

 

Trapped down the dark alleyway the Titans seemed to be on the verge of defeat. Mammoth over powered Cyborg, throwing him backwards into the wall. Cyborg slumped down to the floor, the rain beating down around him, pooling at his feet.

 

At the head of the alley Beast Boy morphed into a snake, coiling himself up the side of a street lamp to where Jinx was perched, only to fall victim to a blast of magic that sent him flying through a nearby window. Raven growled to herself and flew up to Jinx level, her eyes glowing as she focused her energies, chanted her mantra and unleashing a huge force of telekinetic power. Jinx, however, jumped at the last minute, sailing over Raven's head to land crouched on the ground. Raven turned but was too late to stop a similar flare of magic that sent her falling to the soaked ground below her.

 

Nightwing attacked Gizmo with a flurry of Bo Staff strikes, which where all blocked by the many appendages of the grinning teenager. Starfire flew up high before following up with a barrage of star bolts. Gizmo's grin only widened as he activated a recent addition to his arsenal, a force field. The star bolts bounced of the shimmering force and flew in all directions, blowing apart the alley, nearby cars and buildings. Starfire shrieked as one particular star bolt flew by her, almost taking her head off. When she looked back down to Gizmo she found herself on the wrong end of a missile and just about managed to blow it out of the sky before it hit her. Unfortunately she was not out of the blast range and was flung backwards into the wall, hitting her head. Down below, Nightwing saw and immediately sprang up with his grapple hook to catch her with a cry:

 

“Starfire!”

 

Gizmo laughed as he fired out another missile, anticipating Nightwing's next move. As he thought, the acrobatic hero landed on a nearby dumpster, clutching the injured alien to his chest. The missile blew the dumpster apart and sent both teenagers flying to the ground amidst a tumble of burning rubbish and shrapnel.

 

Smiling from ear to ear the three members of the H.I.V.E. stood together, looking around them at the defeated Titans. Well, almost defeated.

 

“Hey!” The enthusiastic yell caught the trio of guard and they turned to find the entrance to the alley way blocked by the silhouetted form of a teenaged girl standing upon what appeared to be a rock. “We're not finished yet!”

 

The H.I.V.E. trio gasped as the ground beneath them began to rumble, a huge crevice forming at their feet. Mammoth fell to the floor. Gizmo activated his jet pack and soured into the air. Jinx jumped out of the way, landing on top of a nearby fire escape.

 

Inside the building Beast Boy was sent crashing into the green changeling was just pulling himself to his feet, rubbing his head and groaning. He looked up and stumbled over to the window. His eyes widened. Outside in the alleyway was a ghost of his past - The former Teen Titan Tara Markov aka Terra.

 

Terra held her hand out and sent a chunk of earth flying after Gizmo. She switched over, throwing another chunk at Jinx. Jinx didn't waste time in blasting it apart, but Terra didn't stop there, firing another chuck at her. Jinx was forced into a defensive position as more and more clumps of earth came her way.

 

On the ground Nightwing crawled his way over to the motionless Starfire. His leg twisted at an odd angle and he was pretty sure it was broken but that didn't stop him from worming his way over to the injured girl. He placed his hand on the back of her head, checking for a wound. When he brought his hand back his fingers were coated red with blood. Nightwing silently cursed to himself.

 

Cyborg managed to get to his feet, staring in shock as Terra continued her attack against the H.I.V.E. He shook his head. This wasn't the time to think about Terra's sudden return. No. He needed to help her. Grunting, he pulled himself to his feet and charged back into battle, sonic cannon armed and ready.

 

At the head of the alley Raven was just getting back to her feet. She too didn't want to think about the implications of Terra's return. Not when her friends where in need. She drew her cloak around her and teleported over to Nightwing's position, dropping down next to him.

 

“Dick.” She stated, placing her hand on his shoulder.

 

“Raven,” Dick put all his effort into flipping his body over, coming to rest with his back to the wall, injured leg stretched out. “Kory's hurt. Help her.”

 

“But your leg…” Raven began only to be cut off by Nightwing.

 

“Heal her.” An order.

 

Raven hesitated, then nodded, resting her hand on the unconscious girls head and focusing on healing the wound. In an instant Starfire's eyes fluttered open and she look groggily up at both Raven and Nightwing. Raven rested a hand on her shoulder.

 

“Relax.”

 

Raven turned her attention back to Nightwing, and, closing her eyes, brought her hand down to rest gently against his leg.

 

“Raven!” Nightwing gasped.

 

His leg mended, Raven opened her eyes, looking rather faint but smiling weakly.

 

“You shouldn't have done that Raven.” Nightwing admonished. “You're far more valuable in this fight than me.”

 

“I'm fine.” Raven assured him, although she didn't seem very confident.

 

Nightwing closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them again, determined.

 

“Right.” He stood, helping Starfire up as well. “Let's go.”

 

(----)

 

Beast Boy watched it all in shock. He couldn't believe that after all these years she was back. Terra was back. She was as gorgeous as ever. Her flowing long blonde hair. Her sparkling blue eyes. She was back. Beast Boy didn't know what to do. He knew he should help his friends but he was too shocked to move. He was just leaning against the window frame, staring at Terra as she flew about, blasting the H.I.V.E. with everything she had. But no matter what he tried to do he just couldn't move. He was definitely in shock.

 

It didn't take long for the H.I.V.E to be defeated. With Nightwing, Starfire, Cyborg and Raven back in the action, helping Terra, the H.I.V.E. did not stand a chance. As the final blow was struck and Jinx fell to the ground unconscious Beast Boy finally came out of his daze. He transformed into a peregrine falcon and flew to the ground, morphing back into himself as he landed. He looked up. Terra met his eyes as she landed on the ground and hopped down from her rock. It was the first time he noticed that she had aged as well. It was like she had never been frozen in stone. Like she had been allowed to go on with life after turning her back on Slade. He knew that wasn't true though, he visited her stone statue every month. Terra smiled at him.

 

“Hi.”

 

(----)

 

“So you're telling me that you're from the future?” Dick asked, a hint of scepticism in his voice as he stared down the blond haired girl. Tara gave him a look that said `does it look like I'm joking?' and Dick shook his head.

 

They where back in Titans tower, the cops having come and arrested the fallen members of the H.I.V.E. leaving the Titans free to return to their majestic tower.

 

“The future?” Vic asked, grinning and shaking his head. “Damn girl.”

 

“If that is all,” Raven began in her usual monotone as she made to move towards the door. “Then I will be in my room.” And she was gone, through the door and up to her room. Tara looked after her, frowning.

 

“She doesn't trust me, does she?” she asked, turning to Dick and Kory, who where standing together, Dick's arm casually slung around Kory's back, his hand resting on her waist. “It's not like I can blame her.” She said dejectedly. “But I am telling the truth. You believe me, right?”

 

“Of course we do friend.” Kory beamed, detaching herself from Dick and walking towards Tara.

 

“It is kind of hard to believe though.” Dick added, thoughtfully. “Why would someone want to clone Terra? And why did they send you back to our time? It doesn't make any sense.”

 

“Terra's powers…” Tara began, but stopped and shook her head. “My powers are very useful. My father said that it was my goal in life to someday return to my rightful time and help out you Titans. I wish I knew more. All I know is that I awoke on the coast not too long ago. I don't know how I got here.”

 

“Well my sensors indicate that you are Terra.” Vic joined in. “Or at least a copy. And from your performance earlier how can we deny it?”

 

“So I can join?” Tara asked, her eyes giving away her trepidation.

 

Dick sighed and then smiled at her, running a hand through his hair. “Sure.”

 

Tara beamed and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and chanting `Thank you, Thank you' over and over again. Dick pulled her away from him. Tara blushed at her outburst but couldn't stop smiling.

 

“I just want to say I'm sorry about what happened with the…other…Terra.” She apologised. “It means a great deal to me that you're willing to look past her actions and trust me.”

 

“Of course friend.” Kory floated over to Tara and wrapped her own arms around the lithe girl, her usual smile widening as she proceeded to give the girl a bone crushing hug. After Kory pulled back Tara looked in the general direction of Garfield's room with a growing frown on her face.

 

“I don't think he was happy to see me…her I guess.” Tara said sadly.

 

“He was just shocked is all,” Vic added. “No need to worry. Gar will get over it.”

 

“I hope so.”

 

(----)

 

Later - in Dick's room - said teen was sitting at his desk, going through his files on the first Terra. He couldn't help but be at least a little suspicious of the second Terra. Terra Two if you will, he thought with a wry smile. He shook his head. As the leader of the Titans it was his job to look after the well being of the others. This often meant taking a step away from his friends and coming at things in a more detached point of view. A more Batman point of view. Dick shook his head again.

 

As things where this new Terra had him a little worried. Her story was a little bit too hard to believe. Running through possible explanations he came up with the following answers. She was in fact the first Terra who had somehow escaped her stone prison and wanted a new shot at life with the Titans. Hence creating this far-fetched story about her being a clone from the future. This obviously gave her a reasonably fresh start with the Titans. Dick thought this was likely, but as was his job, he kept an open mind.

 

Another explanation is she could actually be telling the truth. In which case there would be no problem as long as the other remaining members of the team could adapt to having her back on the team. Vic seemed fine with it. Kory seemed ecstatic at having her friend back, but he wasn't really surprised there. He smiled as he thought of his orange skinned girlfriend. Raven and Garfield, however, were a completely different story. Raven didn't trust Tara. He could tell that straight away and he couldn't really blame her. Garfield though, Dick thought Gar didn't know what to think.

 

“Poor guy.” He murmured to himself.

 

“On my planet it is not seen as healthy to be talking to oneself.” A bright and exuberant voice whispered in his ear, making him jump and let out a startled yell.

 

“Kory!” Dick growled, scowling at her. Damn her and her constant hovering.

 

“I am sorry.” She said with an apologetic look on her face. “I did not mean to startle you.”

 

Dick's features instantly softened. “No, it's okay Kory. I didn't mean to yell at you. No harm done.”

 

Kory smiled at him. “I was not interrupting?”

 

“No.” Dick crossed over to the alien girl and wrapped his arms around her, placing his forehead against her own. “Not at all.” He softly kissed her and she instantly relaxed in his arms, her feet settling down on the floor.

 

“You are worried about Tara?” Kory asked, the two again resting their foreheads together and talking softly to one another.

 

“A little.” Dick grinned at her. She always knew what he was thinking. “It's my job.”

 

“So serious.” Kory winked at him, a mischievous look in her eye. “You need to relax a little.” At that she brought her lips once again to his own, manoeuvring him over to his bed and gently pushing him down. She reached up and switched his light off, casting the room in darkness.

 

(----)

 

Okay, so you're all thinking, “My, Star was out of character there!” but I have an explanation. You see the comic version of Starfire is actually very open about sex, and enjoys it, etc etc. And as I said in the Prologue's authors note I will be mixing both Canons. So I'm going to try to mix both Starfire's into one.

 

The way I see it is Tamaran (Stars home planet) are very open about emotions and sex. So I figure Star would be as well. This would explain her extreme openness when it comes to her emotions and also allows me to incorporate the whole sex thing into it. Don't worry; I won't take away from Stars naivety or innocence too much. She's only open with sex with Dick, seeing as they are in a very close relationship.

 

And I also want to address ages. So I'll just outline them as they stand in my timeline. By the way, my fic takes place around two years after the episode `Birthmark'.

 

Dick: 19

Kory: 19

Vic: 19/20

Raven: 18

Gar: 17

Tara: 17/18

 

Okay, sorry for the super long Authors Note, just wanted to clear that up. Thanks for reading and please Review.

 

Piccolo999