Fan Fiction ❯ Of Flesh and Steel ❯ Welcome to The Jungle ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: Always wanted to do a Cyborg fic... and well this is the best I got :). I am in the middle of working on a more serious fic and this one is definitely a breath of fresh air. I accidentally posted Ch. 2 twice... I am so angry... so sorry if ya'll read ch. 2 twice. hehe. Oh well read and review. Trust me you'll feel better about yourself! Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans or the word "Booyah".

Chapter 1

“Welcome To The Jungle”

Tasting, hearing, smelling, seeing, and of course… feeling! You know what these things are don't you!? Of course you do! The good ol' five senses normal human beings are blessed with... oh yeah, and for us former normal human beings WERE blessed with. I love em' all man! But being one of the latter obviously, it sucks big time.

Most people take these senses for granted, but trust me when I say I definitely don't! I mean how can I not cherish them? There's no way that could ever happen again! I almost lost all of them in one fatal accident and it still scares the hell out of me even till this very day.

But hey, at least I am alive and still get to experience these senses right? Of course all of the senses I am experiencing right now are governed by routers, wiring cables, and sensory systems from those good ol' people from S.T.A.R. labs that have to be checked on every other day… but I guess that's okay right? Damn… Who am I trying to kid? If I tricked you then you are way to damn gullible because it's definitely not okay by me.

Maybe a couple of years ago, when all this technological mumbo jumbo was still fresh and to some degree made me still feel human. I was cool with it, but I guess everything gets old after awhile no matter how cool it seems. Yes, even the greatest game in the world we all know as Stankball becomes a snorer after the hundredth time.

Can you really blame me for being bummed though? I mean how would you feel? You don't have any mechanical gizmos telling you what to feel! So what's your freakin' excuse? Imagine being stuffed with countless amounts of electronics and transistors and not even knowing how a “real” human experiences life. No scratch that. How about forgetting how a “real” human experiences life?

It's just so damn hard to explain… I guess I can use a movie we all must have seen to describe it. It's sort of like the Matrix in a way… but it's literally true in my case. What I see... what I smell… what I taste… what I hear… and what I feel are all nothing but computer signals interpreted by my half-organic brain.

I don't want to sound like a complete whiner like BB usually is. Yea there are `some' perks. I mean I got a bad ass sonic cannon that I can whoop… well… ass with. I can see better than any normal human could and in infrared too! I really don't need sleep! I can bench press twenty times more weight than Arnold Schwarzenegger. I got more radars and sensors than a naval battle ship. For sure no one has a better garage, and the best part is I actually look pretty damn cool in a sci-fi freakish sorta way.

But truthfully ya'll, if you gave me a choice... if I could just be a normal kid again? I'd give this all up in a heart beat or a pace maker beat anyway.

Of course I didn't always think of this blessing of a burden like this. Just like any other kid turned half robot I thought it was frickin' sweet at first… I mean come on! I gotta damn sonic canon for an arm! But like always, people change and people grow… So considering that, I guess I am just not happy being this way anymore. But that's assuming my emotions I am feeling right now are “true” in the first place. It could just be a malfunctioning piece in my CPU huh?

Anyway, if you're wondering if I just woke up one morning and just “felt” this way. Then you are absolutely right my friend! It all started awhile ago, when I first met… her Yes, it's always the `hers' in life that turn the male's world upside down huh? Ah but anyway let me tell you about `her'.

She's such a cutie. I'm talkin' smooth white skin… pink cat like eyes… super athletic kind of cutie! She also has an obscure hair-do that puts all to shame… and the cutest smile you'd ever see too! Plus she's got that whole “bad girl” act perfected and she can shoot pink cutter thingies that miraculously makes stuff combust! Okay, so maybe she's not the dream girl most of you are expecting. But at least it isn't some magical pansy stuck in a book with an annoying voice huh? I hope Raven didn't just hear that, she can't read minds can she?

But like I was saying I think I can safely say this girl is the BOMB! Damn, never mind that's not good enough! How about she's ALL THAT? Nah, that's still not good enough. Oh yeah! Bingo! I just found it! Just one word comes to mind when I think of her. Can I get a little BOOYAH!?

Well anywho like always I am getting off the point here. Bottom line is I am sick of being this half man half robot… thing. I am sick of carrying this burden of metal that reminds me of the pain I felt so long ago. I am sick of remembering that my own parents did this to me. I am sick of not being able to feel normal, and you know what? I've been giving it real thought… and I think I am coming to a point where I am just sick of being me! Sick of being good ol' Cyborg. Heavy huh? Oh well speaking of which, look that's depressed little ol' me and the Titans driving off somewhere right now…

“Uh dude, Cyborg is everything cool man?”

“Yea BB why?” I replied a bit quickly, too quickly even. Wrong move like always ya dumb goof! You'd think being half computerized I'd be almost perfect but I guess they decided to let me keep the negatives of my human side.

“Well, you're driving… er… safely.”

That trouble maker vibe I always get when that kid speaks is just unreal. Of course that voice was from my main partnah in crime, Beast Boy. We are obviously the two homeboys of this group. The dynamic duo of the Titans! Bettah believe it!

We're like Harry and Lloyd! Method Man and Redman! Snoop and Dre! James and Lars! And yes, even like Jay and Silent Bob. Uh huh! Except that we're probably both more like Jay since both of us couldn't shut up for five minutes if our lives depended on it.

Yep, we are that close of pals. Don't get me wrong! I care about all my teammates but I don't know. I guess we both just love to get in to trouble and man that gets you bonding pretty quick, and let me tell ya man! He is one fun guy to be around… Too fun even! But as they say, too much of anything can't be good right?

“Whoa you serious BB?”

I asked and quickly looked at the speed-o-meter like the damn idiot I am my little green buddy was right. I was definitely driving my “baby” around the speed limit for once. Like hell freezing over this just wasn't an event I ever thought would occur. What's next? Raven is gonna to wear a tube top? Robin is going to take ballet lessons with Slade?

“Yea Cyborg you've been staring off into space for the last few minutes. Ya sure everything is alright?” Robin asked me, being seated across from me in the passenger seat. Playing it calm, I shrugged it off like the cool guy I always am. But, something got my mind running again.

After all these years with this guy this question still haunted me. It has probably haunted you too! I mean who hasn't tried to break this mystery? You know what it is! His hair! I am still wondering how that guy keeps his hair so damn perfectly spiked all the time. I guess that's why they call him the boy wonder. He makes you wonder! I shook that thought off quickly as you could assume and answered Robin.

“Of course I'm alright man! But I just think I should've had one quick recharge before we left.”

I replied a bit smoother this time. That was a good white lie right? Well Ravey dearest thought so…

“Oh, great lie there Cyborg. Couldn't of done it better myself.” Raven threw in her two cents while she sat cross armed with that oh so cool looking hood she always had on. I laughed a bit as I took a peak at her from the rear view mirror. She knew it, she always did. I mean she's empathic right? Doesn't that mean she can read minds? Wait… that's telepathic… Ugh never `mind'!

“No, really I am cool guys.”

So I lied and I lied again, sue me. Raven and Robin do it all the time. I should be able to too. Just because they're both the “dark” mysterious ones doesn't mean they should get any special treatment.

“Cyborg we are your friends. Please tell us. What is your concern?” My main alien girl Starfire decided to chime in with her concern. That girl is such a worry wart ain't she?

“Guys, guys, guys I am completely bumpin' okay? Ya'll see? I am stepping on the pedal harder! You happy now?”

“What is this bumpin'?”

I didn't answer my alien friend, but I did feel guilty for lying. So I did what they wanted me to do. I put the pedal to the metal baby! And boy did we take off! I laughed a bit as I watched them squirm under the pressure. The G's started to build.

“Ya'll wanted this right?” I said with my usual big grin. In an awesome blaze we started to fly down Jump City like a bullet and let me tell ya it felt damn great! I guess there's another perk to being half robotic that I didn't mention. I can drive the T-car at two hundred miles per hour safely, whatever `safely' means.

After a few minutes of joyfully watching my pals get their brains shoved to the back of their heads, I slammed on the breaks which sent them flying forward with only their seatbelts saving them from being flung out the window about a hundred feet.

We were here at the Jump City southern bank! Which of course was unsurprisingly being robbed and if you're wondering… I parked my “baby” perfectly right in front of the entrance. Ah you probably weren't so never mind.

I smiled as I got out, letting the hydraulics of the T-car get some relief from my heavy metallic self. I looked at Beast Boy who was holding his head he felt so sick. The rest didn't look too much better either. They deserved it! For not believing in me! And for not trusting me! Though I did kinda lie huh? Hehe, what can I say? I am an evil bastard.

“I told ya'll I'm fine, and if you're going to hurl, do it outside please. No puking in my baby, got it?” I said to entire group with a friendly smile.

“Yea… yea… I believe you now.” Beast Boy quickly got out of the car and I couldn't help but laugh at the dork as he ran over to a nearby bush to do his vomiting.

“Well at least you're feeling alright now huh?” Raven spoke to my face in her usual monotone. That girl did have one cool voice. I quickly thought of a suave reply.

“Always girl, I'm always the “alright” one remember?” I said with a grin. It was a cool reply and it yet it was true… if it was one thing I hated, its drama. I like to keep things to myself. I don't like airing out my dirty laundry to anyone really, except maybe one person. And no it's not because I have powers that could destroy the world or because I was trained by some strict vigilante that wears a bat mask. That's just the way I am and always will be, even when I was known as the human named Victor Stone. Damn that rhymed.

“Titans… let's go.”

I quickly followed from behind the group as Robin led us into the bank as usual. He is our leader after all. Starfire, also as usual was closest to him. Leaving me, Raven, and BB to bring up the rear, fun huh?

Speaking of fun! I wasn't in one of my usual good moods and I was totally ready to open a can of whoop ass until I heard that voice, that freaking damn voice. When I heard it that was when I pulled a 180 degree turn. The last thing on my mind was fighting.

“Well look what the cat crapped out… five pit sniffin' Titans!” That little annoying voice echoed into my mechanical receptors.

It was Gizmo, now I know what you're thinking. Why don't you want to fight him? Are you scared of him? Are you scared of his big scary gadgets? Hell no! And if you're thinking of another reason, specifically the opposite in nature to my question, then don't get any sick ideas you! I still hate that bastard and I would do anything to take him down. But! If Gizmo was here… then `she' would be here. Oh and that big monkey ass named Mammoth too. Oh well, everything isn't peaches and cream my ma used to say.

“Where's the rest of the gang Gizmo? Or did they finally drop all the dead weight from the group?”

I looked towards Robin as he insulted Gizmo with his signature nonchalant super hero voice. That guy always seems to say something cool in the beginning of these little brawls. He is the master of the opening insult. The Rickey Henderson of heroic opening jabber!

“HAHA! Funny bird boy, almost as funny as your costume! But about my pals… they're right behind you dumbass!”

I turned and stood face to face with that monkey I was talking about earlier. He gave me a good shot the face with his fist and it really didn't feel too good. After sailing a hundred feet I landed behind a counter where the tellers made the transactions.

Was I mad? Yea! Is that bastard gonna pay? Yea! Was I going to have to lay down the biggest Booyah beat down known to man? Hell Yea! Was I going to do it right now? No! Of course not. Why you ask? Heh, because a certain someone just pounced on me that I've been waiting for.

“Hi Vic.”

I looked into her cat like eyes with a grin. Damn this girl was hot.

“Jinxy, do we really always have to meet like this?”

Meeting her like this just like my android side was getting a bit old. This had to be the 8th time at least. Oh well better than nothing I guess!

She smiled her brilliant smile as she leaned over towards me.

“You got any better ideas?”

“Well I would suggest…”

Jinx didn't let me finish my answer as she started to kiss me aggressively. I wasn't going to complain, trust me I ain't no fool! Though I must say, I am such a stud! Even with the metal crap protruding out of my head. Oh by the way `Thanks Dad'

The lip lock had to have gone on for at least a minute. I mean it does feel like a few seconds, but what I've learned is to find how long a “good” kiss lasts you simply multiply the time you “thought” it was by ten. It's pretty accurate really try it!

Gizmo suddenly came flying above us seeming to have been hit hard by one of my teammates and Jinx nervously pulled away from me. I didn't let her go though and she gave me a worried look.

“What are you doing? They can't see us like this.”

There was total concern in her eyes and I just chuckled.

“Why not? Do I embarrass you?”

Jinx pouted while I smiled teasingly.

“Vic… we can't…”

“Come on Jinx. Please join my side baby. Why do you have to be one of the baddies? Can't you just be the “bad” girl who does good things?”

It's official, I am one smooth talking half-droid!

Jinx sighed.

“Well, can't you stop being such a goodie goodie and become one of us? You had your chance remember? You were good at being the bad guy.”

It's official, she was one smooth talking magician. And she did have a point ya'll. I am a badass I must say. But I did turn down a tempting offer from Brother Blood. I mean that guy just looked so damn ridiculous I couldn't take him seriously. Now maybe if Slade offered me… wait a sec… Once again never mind.

“I can't Jinx. I can't turn on my friends.”

“Well I can't either Vic, it goes both ways.”

What a predicament we were both in. If only I could just stop being CYBORG for just a damn second then me and Jinx could be together.

“Can't we just go on a…er… normal date for once Jinx? I mean aren't you baddies ever “off duty”?”

I asked like a man, okay so I admit it sounded a little like begging but my suaveness has to take a hit sometimes. Like they say `Sometimes you just gotta beg dude'.

I looked at Jinx confused as she stared at me hard. I didn't know whether she was looking into my red robotic eye or my normal one. She did say both are pretty sexy so whateva right? She finally said something.

“I can't be seen with you, headmaster would…”

Ah so there was no changing her mind! Plus she's so damn hot. So why not just get to the kissing again now? I puckered up and laid one on her and she didn't fight back. I did say I was a suave guy didn't I?

This kiss didn't last much longer as the monkey boy, Mammoth and midg… I mean that little person known as Gizmo started to yell out Jinx's name.

“Yo Jinx! Get your ass out here, we gotta bail!”

Jinx gave me one last kiss on the lip as she released. I twitched a bit angrily. The same sentiment kept running through my head at that point. `Oh that monkey boy will be dead… he will be dead'.

“Sorry Vic, see you next time?” Jinx kissed me on the cheek and rose to her feet. She paused and I gave her that “oh no…” type of look. She leaned over again.

“Booyah…” Jinx smiled at me as she whispered my word into my ear.

With that word she suddenly grabbed me by the neck with her legs and flung me across the room by flipping backwards. The girl sent me crashing into an array of inanimate objects. I laid there thinking one thing, `Damn she was one an amazing chick!'.

“Cyborg!”

The team started to yell my name as I looked up at the ceiling still a bit dazed. They thought I was feeling like a total idiot. They were partially right. I was feeling awesome and feeling like a total idiot at the same time! HAHA!

“Are you okay friend?” Starfire asked me while I looked up in a cool daze.

“Never better.” My reply was probably a little too upbeat but I really didn't care.

“Where were you? Was Jinx kicking your butt again?” BB yelled at me in disappointment. I just nodded in reply thinking of Jinx, nice throw.

“Well they got away with the money. Gizmo has some new tricks up his sleeve, all in all another great night in my life of constant pain and suffering.” Raven said with her usual sense of sarcasm that I have grown to accept. She quickly turned and started to levitate away from their little circle around me.

“I may not be in total understanding of your customs but. Cyborg you are smiling. And my eyes also may be playing with me but I am certain you were sent flying through those walls. Are you not hurt?”

I realized how boneheaded I was and started to act a bit `hurt'.

“Yea ow! We need to head back to the Tower so I can heal up… ow… the pain.”

The team looked at each other and shrugged as I slowly opened up my one human eye in a peaking manner. As you can see, I can't act for `shit'.

“Right, let's head back to the tower.”

Robin commanded and like always we followed. I was the last one to get out. I gave a good look at my white metal hands with a bit of disappointment.

I really wish that I could just be a normal kid again. Is that too much to ask? Bah, apparently it is and it always will be. Live with it Cy… live with it… just…just live with it…