17IMPORTANT A/N! Read this before you go on to the story. Before I say anything else, this is NOT a songfic! But each chapter is based off a line of my original titan's version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. By the way, if anyone wants to use it and/or tweak it for their own use, be my guest. All I ask is for you to let me know, so I can see if you're doing it justice (and perhaps add a new favorite to my favorite authors or stories).
This was my first actual idea for a story in the Teen Titans universe, though as you can see, I do have other ideas, now.
Also, I'm trying to write this so a newcomer to this universe, one who's never seen an episode in their life, can at least get a general idea of what's going on.
And one final thing; chronologically this story takes place after the movie "Trouble in Tokyo." There could possibly be spoilers in a later chapter.
DISCLAIMER: Do you really think that I'd be writing fanfiction if I owned the Teen Titans? Get real! I'd probably be looking for some place to hide from all the angry fans wanting the show to be brought back. LOL! And I won't be posting disclaimers on every chapter, either. I'll refer the critic back to this chapter. Thanks to dlsky for that idea. Saves lots of time.
On the 1st day of Christmas, Jump City brought to me: the former leader of the Hive Five.
"Robin!" called the cheerful voice of Starfire, as she floated through the halls of the tower. She stopped and called again. "Robin? Where are you?" She floated on.
She came to the common room, where a small, green-skinned elflike teen in a purple uniform and a large half-man, half-robot were busy playing some kind of video game. The red-haired, orange-skinned alien addressed them. "Friends Beast Boy and Cyborg, have either of you seen Robin?"
The half-machine, half-man (Cyborg, evidently) paused the game, eliciting a surprised "Huh?" from his companion. "Sorry," he said, turning around to make contact with her otherworldly, jade-colored eyes. "What did you say? I was too busy beating string bean here."
"Whatcha say?" commented the elfin teen (Beast Boy). "I was just about to win!" He grinned, his prominent bucktooth curled over his upper lip like a fang. Cyborg gave him a contemptuous look, muttering, "Like that'll ever happen."
"Yes. I inquired as to whether or not you know Robin's location. He is not in his room, nor is he in the training room or the evidence room. I cannot think where else he may be." She looked down at the floor, wringing her hands nervously.
Beast Boy scratched his head, muttering to himself. He got up and started pacing back and forth in front of the screen, walking first one way, then doing an about-face and walking in the opposite direction.
Cyborg rolled his human eye at his friend's antics, but his red robotic eye dimmed while he thought. After a few seconds, he sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, Starfire. I don't know where he is. But I do know—"
"Aha!" exclaimed Beast Boy, startling the other two. "I don't know where he is, but I bet I know what happened to him!" Now he started whispering. "He was kidnapped. Now if only I knew which set of monsters did it." He began listing the options—everything from radioactive gorilla zombies to a horde of rabid fan girls.
"You don't think—" began Starfire, biting her fingernails, before Cyborg cut her off with a hand gesture. "No, the little grass stain is just spazzing out again. Now, as I was going to say before I was interrupted," he glared at Beast Boy, who gave a sheepish smile, "I know how we can locate him."
Starfire blinked, frowning in confusion, then a look of dawning comprehension spread across her face. Beast Boy just looked confused. "How's that?" he asked. "The Titan Mainframe, remember?" answered Cyborg, walking over to the keyboard next to the window and typing in some commands.
"Oh, yeah. I knew that!"
"But you just asked him how. Is what you said before false?"
"No, Starfire. He was being sarcastic. Now, there you go." Cyborg entered one final sequence into the console. "A map of Jump City. See?" he said, pointing at four blips on the screen. "You, me, and Beast Boy are here in the common room, and Raven is in her room."
"But where is Robin's communicator? I do not see it anywhere on this map of the city."
Cyborg looked closer. "You're right. Well, as I have said before, it doesn't work if he's shut off his communicator." He shrugged. "Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"It not your fault, friend Cyborg." Starfire left, once again floating through the hall. "Where could he be?" she wondered quietly, not paying attention to where she was going.
"Where could who be?" croaked a droning, almost monotone voice from directly in front of her.
Starfire squeaked in surprise and came to a full halt. "Oh! Friend Raven!" She addressed the girl in the dark blue cloak. "I thought you were in your room.""I was." The lavender-eyed girl answered simply. "Now, what were you musing about before you almost flew into me?"
"I was simply wondering where Robin could be. Perhaps, you would know where he is?"
"Sorry, Star, I don't."
"Oh, well. Thank you Friend Raven. Farewell for now!" She cheerfully moved on.
"No problem, Star." And with the barest hint of a smile, Raven also moved on, floating up and phasing through the ceiling in a swirl of black energy.
Meanwhile, the object of Starfire's search was currently at the post office, mailing several official looking envelopes.
As he exited the federal building, his red cape, white eye-mask and green body suit (with a prominent white "R" displayed on the chest) attracted the notice of several passerby—particularly a gaggle of giggling fan girls. However, before they could do more than stare, he jumped onto a red motorbike and roared off toward the tower.
But he was immediately forced to moderate his speed as the ice and snow on the road caused him to skid.
Starfire sat on the roof, contemplating the sunset. It never ceased to fascinate her—the sunsets on her home world of Tamaran were never so colorful as the ones on Earth.
Her reverie was broken, however, by the sound of a motorcycle pulling up to the Tower. Immediately her face broke into a radiant smile that could've competed with the sunsets she so admired, and she flew down to the garage, where Robin was just turning off his vehicle and pulling off his helmet.
"Robin!" she exclaimed, and pulled him into a crushing hug. "You have returned!" she said, unaware that his face was slowly turning blue from lack of oxygen. She released him, oblivious to his sigh of relief, only to grab his hand and start dragging him toward the main entrance to the Tower. "Come, there is something I wish to discuss with you."
"Star, could you please let go of my hand? I can't feel my fingers."
"Oh, sorry, Robin," she apologized, releasing his hand as they walked through the door and it shut behind them. "I forgot how frail your species is compared to mine.
"That's fine," he said, waving it off. "Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I have been studying about this planet's customs and holidays, and I couldn't help noticing, the day known as Christmas is coming soon. I have heard that this is supposed to be a time of great joy and celebration. Is this true?"
"Yes. Christmas is supposed to be a holiday to celebrate with friends and family, sharing gifts and having a good time. Though I've never really had the time to get into the spirit of the season. I've always been too busy fighting crime."
"But, ever since we did the kicking of the butt with the Brotherhood of Evil, have we not had more time?"
Robin was brought up short at this. "You know, you're right. I never thought about that."
"What a joyous occasion! We must have a party. We must invite our other friends. We—" Robin cut her off, anticipating a long ramble of what they were required to do.
"Yes, Star, I know. But first, we need to tell the others."
At this she gave him another quick hug and zoomed down the hall, intent on informing the other residents of the tower. After Robin recovered his equilibrium, he shook his head and brought out a handheld device, one that looked like a yellow walkie-talkie and emblazoned with a red T.
"Calling Titans East and all Honorary Titans. No, this is not an emergency. Something has just been brought to my attention…"
Not five minutes after the call went out, two figures arrived in a flash of color, on the shore of the tower's island. One had red hair and was dressed in red pants and gloves, a yellow shirt decorated with a red lightning bolt on the chest, and a yellow eye-mask that did nothing to actually hide his brilliant, blue eyes. Covering his ears were two red lightning bolts that pointed back the way he'd come from (some people commented that all this made him look slightly like an oversized chicken, but it didn't seem to really bother him).
He was carrying the other—a teenage girl with pink eyes, who was dressed in blue and black from head to toe. She had pale, grayish skin and long, vivid pink hair, which was bound in such a way that it looked more like a pair of horns pointing up and behind her than it did braids.
He set her down, and she blinked a couple of times. She swayed, as if she was dizzy, and would have fallen if it hadn't been for her companion steadying her. "I suppose I should be used to jet lag by now, traveling with you," she complained. "Do you really have to go that fast?"
"That's the slowest I can go when using my powers. Sorry, but I wanted to get you here fast."
"Where IS here, anyway?"
He pointed behind her. She finally turned and saw the tower. Her jaw dropped. "T-titan's T-tower?" she managed to stutter. "But, I don't understand," she said turning back to him. "It's on an island."
"You mean I never told you? I'm fast enough that I can run over water, a fact I'm quite proud of. Now, I've got somewhere I need to be." He turned as if to leave. However, she reached out a hand and grabbed his shoulder. She looked—well, let's just say she looked pissed.
"Wait! Two things, before you go. Where exactly are you going? And why are you leaving me here? Even with the help I gave them against the Brotherhood of Evil, I doubt I'm one of their favorite people. Years of me being a member of…no, not just member, but leader of the HIVE is undoubtedly still fresh in their minds."
"Um, Jinx, that kind of turned into a speech, and I don't do so well with speeches." He shrugged his shoulders and gave an apologetic smile.
"FINE! I'll say it simply! Why are you leaving me here among my former enemies ALL ALONE?!" As she said this, her eyes turned completely pink and started glowing, along with her hands. Her grip tightened on his shoulder, causing him to wince. He gently pried off the offending hand.
"Eh, don't worry, you'll be fine. It's just a Christmas party. And I won't be gone more than a couple days. Family reunion, that sort of thing." He said all this quickly, with his hands up defensively, and was backing away slowly. VERY slowly.
"Fine." She calmed down, and the glow faded, but she still looked quite apprehensive. "But if they throw me in jail, you're dead."
"I'll just be going then," and with another flash of color, he was gone.
Apprehensively, she turned to the secret entrance on the side of the tower, one she'd discovered long ago when the HIVE had taken control of the building for a time.
She managed to reach the common room without any of the tower's defenses activating. Noting this, she relaxed slightly and called out, "Is anybody home?"
Nobody answered, but she didn't feel comfortable going any farther without talking to someone. She sat on the couch—only to jump back up! She'd accidentally sat on something alive, and it was hissing and spitting at being woken up. Then she got a good look as it calmed down. It was a green cat, and—wait a minute, green? "Beast Boy? Sorry, I didn't see you there," she said stiffly, still nervous about the whole thing.
About halfway through that line, the cat changed into the green elfish figure of Beast Boy.
"No problem. I guess I should've stayed in my human form, huh? That way I wouldn't have been made into a pancake." He grinned, and she visibly relaxed.
"You're not mad?" she asked.
"No. Should I be? But why are you here? Where's your boyfriend?" At this he put on a mischievous grin.
Her cheeks took on a faint reddish tinge. "You mean, Kid Flash?" she said, emphasizing the name. "I think he said something about a family reunion."
"I'll say," commented Beast Boy, his expression not changing in the slightest, but before he could say anything else, Raven's voice drifted into the room, right before she herself entered. "Beast Boy? Who're you talking to?" Her eyes locked onto Jinx immediately, and Jinx's nervousness came back full force. She and Raven had almost always faced off whenever their teams had battled in the past. If anyone was going to hold a grudge, the pale-faced empath standing before her was the most likely to do so.
But Raven didn't seem to object to Jinx being in the tower. True, she didn't look happy about it, but she rarely showed any emotion anyway.
At this point, Starfire flew into the room. Upon seeing Jinx, she immediately wrapped the sorceress in one of her infamous hugs. "Friend Jinx! Are you here for the celebration of this most festive event?" The sound of Jinx's spine cracking was distinctly audible.
"Uh, Starfire, I don't think she can breathe," Raven commented. "She won't be able to answer if she suffocates."
Jinx looked a little dazed as an abashed Starfire released her. But something the alien said must have penetrated, because she was able to ask weakly, "Friend?"
"Why would you not be our friend?" Starfire appeared confused. "After all, did you not help us in kicking the butt of the Brotherhood of Evil?"
"I-I guess so."
"And did not Kid Flash persuade you to leave the HIVE?""I-I suppose."
"Marvelous! Now, will you be staying with us for the holiday?"
"Looks like she will. Her boyfriend dropped her off."
"Who?" Starfire's gaze moved from Jinx to Beast Boy and back again, a puzzled look on her face.
"He meant Kid Flash," Jinx answered, putting extra emphasis on the name, and shooting a glare at Beast Boy. At least she seemed to have been assured of her welcome.
"Don't worry about the little nuisance," commented Raven. Beast Boy spluttered at this insult to his stature. "If he makes fun of you, it means he sees you as a friend. It makes no sense, but that's the way it is."
Another voice and Titan entered the common room. "If anyone understands his mind," ("Does he even have one?" muttered Raven. Beast Boy spluttered even more.) "I'd be surprised. He's a riddle." It was Cyborg. "Oh, hello Jinx." He turned, about to leave, when he registered whom he had greeted. He whirled. "Jinx? What are you doing here?"
"Well, like I told Starfire, I'm here for the holidays."
"Who's here for the holidays?" This was Robin, who was putting away his communicator as he entered. "Oh, hi, Jinx. Where's Kid Flash?"
She shot a warning glance at Beast Boy, who, having recovered his composure, grinned smugly back at her. "I think he said he had a family reunion to attend." She frowned, trying to remember the rest of what he said. "I believe he said he'd show up some time in the next day or two."
"Oh, good." He turned to Starfire. "I've invited everyone for Christmas. Bumblebee says she can't make it, but she'll talk to her team and see if any of them are willing." He switched to Beast Boy. "Also, some old friends of yours are coming."
"Who? The Doom patrol?"
"Uh, Beast Boy, they don't have communicators."
"Right. Sorry. So, who were you talking about?"
"You'll see," said Robin. "Now, Jinx, we're going to set you up in the guest rooms. If you'll just follow me?" He exited, followed by Jinx. Raven left, saying something about having to meditate, and ignoring Beast Boy's protestations that she'd just come from doing that. Cyborg left, presumably for the garage. Starfire mentioned that she would be in her room.
"Heh," chuckled Beast Boy without much enthusiasm. "I guess I'll just finish my catnap."
END A/N: Sorry if anyone seems a bit OOC in this story. I hadn't seen all the episodes at the time I originally wrote it, so I undoubtedly missed a few character traits.
Then again, any OOCness can be explained by the fact that people change. It's a part of life. And who knows, maybe we're seeing some aspect of their personality we haven't seen before.
Oh, and that comment about the ear coverings on Kid Flash's ears making him look like a chicken, I actually do have a friend who says that. When he first saw the advertisement for "Lightspeed," that's what he thought the speedster was. If I'd actually seen the previews, I could've told him differently… Here's his response to what I said its not the ear things, it's the yellow suit with the spiky red hair. It reminds me of a rubber chicken. Now, back to what I type. Ehem. I still maintain that I could've told you who it was. I saw him in the comics.
Finally, if anyone wants the full song, let me know in your review, via a PM, or in an e-mail, and I'll send it to you. And if you care to guess at any of the lines, and your guess is close enough to the mark, I'll give you a synopsis of the corresponding chapter, and possibly even a sneak preview, if I have enough of it typed. (Wink)