Fan Fiction ❯ Homecoming ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

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 KrabKakes

 

Not really got anything to say so…on with the Chapter! Enjoy!

 

Homecoming

 

Chapter Four

 

It was late morning now, and the common room of Titans Tower was it's usual busy self. Gar was phasing between awake and asleep whilst trying to watch a documentary about the many types of snakes. Kory was hovering about the kitchen, trying to create one of her culinary wonders. In other words, her inedible attempts at “food”. Sitting at the kitchen table were Victor and Dick, conversing. Raven was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn't all that odd, seeing as she spent most of her time in her room anyway. She was probably trying to avoid Tara. Speaking of Tara, the earth-moving girl was sitting quietly beside Gar, looking at him out of the corner of her eye when he dosed off.

 

Dick nodded his head at Vic as he leant under the kitchen counter, coming up with a portable laptop. He had installed them all a few years ago and they were hooked up to the main computer in his room and the one in his lab. After a few keystrokes he nodded once more at Vic and turned the laptop around so that the cybernetic teen could get a better look at the screen.

 

“Bart Allen.” Vic read. “Code name Impulse. This the kid?”

 

“Yeah,” Dick turned the laptop around again before continuing. “You know how Wally just took over the Flash's mantle?”

 

“Yeah.” Vic motioned for him to go on.

 

“Yeah,” Dick put in a few more keystrokes. “Well apparently Wally came across Bart during a recent battle with Grod. He took the kid in and learnt that he was in fact the godson of Barry, the former Flash.”

 

“His godson?”

 

“Check it out.” Dick turned the laptop around again and watched as Vic surveyed the DNA mark up and details of Bart Allen. “Apparently Bart was born with his super speed and there was a lot of complicated issues with that but they where able to get it under control in his time. Before he could learn anything about his powers however Barry was killed. Iris, his godmother, decided to send Bart back to our time so that Wally could teach him everything he needs to know. Unfortunately Bart hasn't been very co-operative. Wally feels it would be best if he joined the Titans.”

 

“So you want me to go check him out right?” Vic clarified.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Sounds like fun.” Vic replied with a joking smile.

 

“I know you can handle it.” Dick went on. “Just check him out, see what you think, and then get back to me. We'll make our decision then.”

 

“No prob.”

 

“You are finished with the meeting?” Kory called over to them, holding a plate with some funny looking green substance resting in the middle.”

 

“Yeah Kory,” Vic said, grinning as he stood up. “But I've got to go get ready for my trip. I'm sure Dick would love to try your new culinary miracle though.” And with a shove to Dick, forcing him towards Kory, he turned on his heel and left the room, laughing to himself.

 

“Hey!” Dick yelled after Vic, but the teen was already gone. Dick turned to see Kory smiling widely at him.

 

“Please,” Kory said, offering him the plate. “You will try some won't you Dick?”

 

“Erm.” Dick looked around, hoping for some distraction, but finding none, resided himself to the inevitable and nodded. Kory beamed.

 

“Marvellous!”

 

(----)

 

On the other side of the room Garfield groaned as Kory's shout reached his ears and he opened his eyes, blinking a few times and squinting at the screen as the light hurt his eyes. He rubbed his head.

 

“Ow.” Gar raised a hand to his neck and stared massaging the cricks out. Note to self, he thought tiredly. Never sleep on the couch again.

 

“Are you okay?” Tara asked him.

 

He jumped, having not realised she was sitting next to him, and turned to face her.

 

“Huh?” Gar groaned out. “Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sore.”

 

“I'd offer to give you a massage but…” she trailed of as he glared at her. “Sorry. I didn't mean. I was just…trying to lighten the mood.”

 

Gar shook his head at her, still rubbing at his neck. A tense silence followed. After a short while Tara spoke up in a whisper:

 

“Do you want me to leave?”

 

“No.” Gar replied, leaning forward and resting his head in his hands. “I think I'm going to go anyway.” And with that he stood and left her alone, tiredly making his way out of the room.

 

Tara sighed and leant her own head back against the couch. Great work Tara, she thought angrily.

 

“Great work.”

 

(----)

 

Gar came to a halt after a short while, feeling he had gotten enough distance between himself and Tara. He leant up against the wall of the corridor and closed his tired eyes, slowly sinking to the floor. He came to rest with his head resting on his arms, which where placed on his knees as a pillow.

 

What a wake up call huh? Just brilliant. The one thing he did not want to see. Tara. Would she ever leave him alone? He said he needed time, not to be stalked or gawked at whilst sleeping. Stupid girl. At this point he was willing to bet a great sum of money that he'd never get used to her or forgive her, not really. It was just too hard. It was too hard to see her, too hard to hear her talk, and even too hard to hear her breath.

 

It came as a shocking revelation that he did indeed wish she were dead. Gar had never whished for anyone to die. Well, okay, maybe Slade, but other than that. He wasn't the type to seriously want anyone dead. It just didn't fit for him. He was a nice guy.

 

So why am I feeling these emotions? He thought to himself. Why do I want her dead?

 

“Garfield?” a monotone voice called out. Gar didn't even have to raise his head to know it was Raven. For one, no one else talked like that. Two - he could smell her scent coming from down the hall even before she spoke.

 

(----)

 

Raven was in her room when she felt Garfield's pain, hurt and anger radiating off him, flowing through the tower unrestrained. She rubbed at her temples as she walked over to her door and left her room. Feeling other people's emotions did have its disadvantages. In fact, there were hardly any advantages to it. She finally found him curled up leaning against the corridor wall not far from her room.

 

“Garfield?” she asked.

 

“Hey Rave.” Gar mumbled into his arms.

 

“I see you've found the most comfortable spot in the Tower.” Raven replied sarcastically.

 

Gar didn't say a word. He didn't even move. Raven frowned. Normally he would exchange in banter with her, or at least get angry with her, but this was completely new. He was ignoring her.

 

“Garfield,” she began. “Are you okay?”

 

“Fine.” Gar mumbled again.

 

“You don't seem fine to me.” Raven replied. “And don't you dare lie to me. I can tell how you're feeling.”

 

“So you're reading my emotions now!” Gar roared, this time looking up at her, glaring angrily.

 

“No.” Raven shot back, not even flinching. “They're pouring off you. I can't help but feel them. And don't snap back at me Garfield. I'm only trying to help.”

 

“Sorry.” Gar lowered his head to his arms again. Raven watched him for a moment before taking a seat next to him.

 

“Do you want to talk about it?” she offered.

 

“You can't help me.” Gar replied. “Vic already tried. I'll just have to deal with this myself.”

 

“Garfield.” Raven said her tone telling him she wasn't going to give up. She might not know exactly how he was feeling but she too had been betrayed by Terra. She was probably the only person in the tower who could understand him. “She betrayed us all. You're not the only one feeling the pain of her return. I know, we didn't have the relationship that you had with her, but we still trusted her.”

 

“You don't want her here do you?” Gar asked, although he didn't really need her to answer. He knew she didn't.

 

“No.” Raven admitted. “I don't trust her Garfield. I won't ever again. Not completely. If you want my advice, you shouldn't either.”

 

“When I see her I can't help but feel all that pain come rushing back Rave.” Gar continued, looking up at the gothic looking girl. “It hurts. How am I supposed to go on when every time I see her I feel that?”

 

“I don't know.” Raven replied. “I can't lie to you. I don't know. But I can imagine it. If I had to see Malchior again, everyday, I don't think I could handle it.”

 

“You don't?” Gar asked, surprisingly smiling at her. “Of course you could Raven. You're so strong, you could do anything, and you know it.”

 

“Garfield.” Raven said, giving him a halfhearted glare.

 

“Okay.” Gar continued to smile at her, standing up. Raven followed suit. “Thanks Rave. You're the best.” And she hugged her. Raven gently wrapped her own arms around him as Gar squeezed her tightly before pulling back, beaming at her.

 

“Your welcome.” Raven said, smiling slightly herself, although if you didn't know Raven you wouldn't be able to tell. Gar did though and it made his insides do flip-flops.

 

“Well,” Gar yawned. “I'm really tired. I'm going to get some rest. Bye Raven.”

 

“Bye Garfield.” Raven said softly as he walked away. She watched him as he went, totally unaware that she was still smiling. She turned and headed back towards her room, smiling all the way. She felt good about herself. It was a new feeling for her, and she liked it.

 

(----)

 

Inside the Jump City prison one man sat, contemplating his life, his existence, and his defeat. For the past year he had been rotting away inside the bleak cell. Not only had he been defeated, he had been used. Used by the dimensional demon Trigon. He was made to do someone else's bidding. He hated that. He hated himself for it. He hated Trigon for doing it to him. Most importantly, he hated Raven for being the reason for his humiliation.

 

As his hatred brewed so did his need for revenge. Plans started to unfold in his superior brain. So he just sat there, like normal, but instead of decaying in his own self-pity, he planned. Then he began to work out. Doing push-ups, sit-ups and katas. Recovering what was lost. Time went by and the man became himself again.

 

The Teen Titans where his target, mainly Raven, but first he had a few things to deal with. Number One, escape this putrefying mass of brick. That's when next the guards came to feed him, he sat perfectly still on his bed, his head lower, his long shaggy main of white hair hanging around his head, covering his grim face. The jingle of keys, the clicking of many locks being unlocked, and finally the creek of the door opening reached his ears, yet he did not move. He was docile. Or looked it.

 

The careless guard flounced into the room and dropped the tray of horrid smelling - and tasting - food in front of him - If you could even call it food. Some of it slopped onto his bare feet as the tray skittered on the floor. He did not move. The guard laughed.

 

“Oops.”

 

The guard turned to go, chuckling all the way, and did not notice as the man rose to his feet, his long hair framing his face. One eyes peered out from under the white fountain of hair, locked on his back. A black patch covered the other eye. His mouth was framed by a clump of white hair. He smirked, and then pounced, silent as a mouse. The guard gagged as the man's armed locked around his throat, pulling his feet from the ground. The guard struggled, fighting and kicking, getting weaker and weaker; until finally he fell still, drool foaming out of the corner of his mouth. The man dropped him silently to the floor and crouched down beside him.

 

He raided the guard's belt, grabbing the guard's keys and nightstick. The man once again rose to his feet and exited his room. It didn't take him long to escape the prison, guards falling to his powerful arms and the blows of the nightstick. He was back. No one could stop him - especially not pathetic little security guards. His bare feet thumped into the soil as he raced away from the building that had held him hostage for two years. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through him, feeding him like it used to. Oh yes, he was definitely back. And now it was time to move onto Number Two. Getting a new apprentice, and he knew just who to get.

 

With that Slade Wilson picked up speed, dashing between trees until finally he was completely out of view.

 

(----)

 

Oooh, Slade is back, back again, yes he's back. Everyone loves Slade, well, you should. Anyway, hope you enjoyed. I certainly enjoyed writing it. Bet your all wondering who Slade's new apprentice is huh? Well, you'll just have to stick with me.

 

-- Piccolo999