Various vines and roots pulled apart two large pieces of a steel wall apart. A girl covered in all green slipped through the small crack as she looked both ways down the hall she appeared in. Once she made sure the coast was clear, she made the plants force the walls apart more.
The teen titans each emerged from the tunnel Perci had made quietly. "He doesn't know we're here yet." Perci said softly to the group. "Let's keep it that way." Cyborg said and the group nodded to each other.
Beast Boy changed into a dog as he started tracking down Robin's scent. Perci made sure Beast Boy wouldn't be spotted by robots doing their rounds. She also pointed out cameras for Raven to carefully disable with her magic. Starfire and Cyborg stayed towards the back of the group making sure no one snuck up on them. No one would say it, but they all made a rather impressive team.
The group of friends knew they were getting closer to their friend as they heard what seemed to be fighting. The group all glanced at each other before starting to run down the halls. They all ended up at the entrance of a large room where Perci had previously seen Slade and Robin.
What surprised the group was seeing Robin forced down onto the ground by the back of his head with Slade standing over him. Each teenager had anger flowing through them. Starfire's fists started to glow green. Raven's eyes had turned black. Beast Boy let out an animalistic growl as he changed back to normal. Cyborg's teeth and fists were clenched.
Perci's face held no emotions and her body would've seemed almost calm if it wasn't for the hundreds of thorns trying to break through the top layer of her body. She had been angry during her last visit, but she had an appearance to keep up. Who she was now was allowed and able to be angry. The top layer of her skin was barely containing the sharp thorns beneath and the group noticed as her skin seemed to be going up and down rapidly.
The group watched as Slade stood up not noticing the group watching him. Robin stood up as well as he glared daggers into the man's back. "If the Titans are so distracting, maybe I should just get rid of them." Slade said as he pointed down to his arm that held the large red button.
Robin's eyes widened before defeat fell over his features. "Don't...I'll do whatever you say." Robin said as his gaze fell to the ground. "Good boy, and from now on, I'd like you to call me master." What Slade had said sent the entire group over the edge.
Starfire sent a bright green energy blast that hit Slade knocking him over. Perci's skin was no longer able to contain the spikes as they popped in and out of her body by a couple inches. The teens all stood side by side as they glared at Slade. Perci was stood on the far side of Cyborg, not wanting to accidentally hurt the group. "Leave...him...alone." Starfire said sternly. "Robin...attack!" Slade yelled to the former hero.
"Get out of here! Go! You don't know what those beams did to-" Robin tried to warn them. "Dude." Beast Boy said softly. "We know." Raven added. "And we don't care." Cyborg said sternly. "We are your friends, Robin." Starfire said softly.
Robin stared wide eyed at each of his teammates before his eyes locked with Perci's. He was genuinely surprised she was even there. "We don't plan on going anywhere without you." Perci's words came out harsh, but Robin knew she was being truthful.
"How very touching." Slade said as he walked up behind Robin. "But Robin doesn't need any friends." Slade said before holding his wrist up for Robin to see. Perci's eyes didn't leave the device on his wrist. Her concentration making the thorns in her body settle. Slade pressed the button on his wrist and a device started glowing red. "I don't think Robin needs a guy in his mid forties that gets off on beating up a group of teenagers, but here we are." Perci said as she crossed her arms over her chest. The girl was able to feel Slade's glare become deadly towards her at her comment.
Perci took notice in the Titans as they started glowing orange and red. Each one of the heroes falling down to their knees in pain. Perci's eyes were locked on Robin as he stared at his teammates writhing in pain. Slade's gaze was stuck on Perci. All three waiting on someone's next move.
"This is the price for your disobedience, Robin. Now do as I command, attack!" Slade's voice became louder. Robin's eyes flashed up from his friends to meet Perci's (e/c) ones. Perci raised a brow as she saw the gears turning in his head. Robin's gaze turned to the device controlling the devices inside the titans. The bright red electricity coming from the device giving him a plan. A stupid plan...but a plan regardless.
"No." Was all Robin said before he sprinted towards the machine. Perci stared at him confused as he got close enough to her to grab her wrist. "Robin!" Slade yelled. "Hey! What are you-" Perci tried to ask while Robin dragged her towards the device. "Just trust me!" That was all Perci needed to hear as she rolled her eyes following his lead.
Robin threw one of his hands onto the glowing red device. A painful groan leaving his mouth as he forced Perci's hand onto it as well. Pain surged through Perci's body for a few seconds before both teens were thrown off the device.
Both teens stood tall in front of Slade as they endured the excruciating burning sensation running all throughout their bodies. Perci didn't last standing long as the pain became too much for her.
Robin quickly noticed her starting to fall. He gently pulled Perci by her wrist placing his once free hand around her waist as he carefully placed her on knees. Robin stood back up and started walking towards Slade. Multiple thorns started going in and out of Perci's body as a way to try and get a hold of the pain she was experiencing. The sharp thorns came out almost a foot from her body as she held her head in her hands trying to keep some sort of control of the thorns.
Robin's glare was hard as he stood directly in front of Slade. "New deal, Slade. If I lose my friends, you lose your apprentice." Slade's glare hardened at the teenager in front of him. "And I know how you hate to lose." Robin's voice almost came out mockingly before he fell onto his hands and knees. Perci would've been proud to hear his comment if it wasn't for the pain she was in.
Slade thought for a moment before ripping the device off of his wrist throwing it to the side. The pain stopped almost as quickly as it came. The thorns going in and out of Perci's body stopped as she glanced at Robin with a half smirk half smile.
The villain in front of the group let out an angry yell as he sent a hard kick towards Robin. What surprised him was Robin catching his foot with a smirk plastered on his face. Robin kicked Slade far away from him and the others as they quickly got ready to fight.
"Titans, go!" Robin yelled to the group. All five members of the group quickly attacked Slade with everything they had. Perci watched as the group attacked the man with a smirk. She let the group have their small means of revenge while she carefully grabbed the controller Slade had thrown to the side. She placed the device into her non dominant shoulder just as Slade turned a large switch in his lair.
"Another day, Robin. Another day." With those words from Slade, the lair started flashing red and the place started to fall apart. The large gears and pipes started falling down all around the group.
The red lights flashed as Perci's gaze was towards Robin. She immediately noticed the large gear falling towards him. She barely had time to think as she was already rushing over to him. Vines and hard roots started surrounding her ready to make a protective barrier. Perci managed to pull Robin close to her right before the barrier closed around her and the gear fell onto them.
Perci felt the gear roll off the barrier she made as she released herself from Robin. The large vines and roots going back into her body. Robin quickly grabbed her hand and started running towards an exit. As the two were running hand in hand, another large gear fell and was rolling right towards them. Starfire acted fast and quickly grabbed both of her friends.
Cyborg grabbed part of the device Slade was using against them as he followed the others. Raven managed to grab Beast Boy and they all managed to be right behind Robin as he opened a door. "Let's go home. Perci, lead the way." Robin said and she nodded.
A tunnel of vines, stems, and leaves pried through the steel panels that lined the floors. "All aboard the Perci express! Next stop, Titan Tower!" The teen said with a smile as she gestured for the group to enter. Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg all jumped down into the tunnel. Robin was the last Titan to jump in before Perci herself.
The large tunnel closed right after Perci jumped in. What surprised her were two hands around her waist that caught her. Just as she was placed gently on the ground, a bright green light came from Starfire's hand lighting up the tunnel around them. The group of heroes had started going down the tunnel not bothering to look at Robin or Perci.
Perci's eyes immediately met Robin's masked ones. Both teens were extremely close together. Robin's hands were still placed carefully on Perci's waist as they stared at each other for a couple seconds more. The girl's cheeks immediately started blooming with bright red roses. Robin quickly noticed the flowers and pulled himself away. He had no idea what color the roses were, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Perci couldn't tell from the green illuminating from Starfire, but Robin's cheeks were almost as bright as her roses were.
Perci and Robin followed after the group. It didn't take long for Starfire to tackle Robin into a hug. Perci watched as the group welcomed Robin back to the team and talk about how much they missed him.
"Don't worry, Slade won't have control over any of us once I'm done with this baby." Cyborg said as he held up the device he grabbed. "Looks like great minds think alike, Cyborg!" Perci said with a bright smile as she held up the device Slade used to activate the probes.
The group of heroes stared at Perci sort of stunned before they all sent her smiles. "You're just full of surprises aren't you, Perci?" Cyborg said and Perci shrugged her shoulders. "What can I say? My thieving side likes to poke out. Old habits just seem to die hard." Perci said with a soft smile as she put the device back into her shoulder.
"As stupid and reckless as it was for you to come for me...I'm really glad you did." Robin said towards the group, but his eyes trailed over Perci last. His smile seemed to become even softer as he stared at her. "You know what's also stupid and reckless?" Perci asked making the group turn to her with raised brows.
"Are you really going to do this now?" Robin asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "The very thing I've been waiting years to do? Yes, yes I am." Perci said as small salmon colored roses grew on her cheeks. Robin couldn't help but smile at his old friends antics. A short silence played between the two when Robin raised a brow at Perci.
"You gonna-" "Hold on! Let me just bask in this moment. I may never get to do this ever again." Perci said as she took a deep breath. "You're being over dramatic, Perc." Robin said as he slowed his walk down so he was next to her. "You're saying that like you're going to do something stupid and reckless." Perci paused for a moment before looking at Robin who was now next to her.
"Seriously though, Robin. Don't go off on your own is like vigilante and horror movie 101. You of all people know that." Perci said as she gave Robin a nudge with her elbow. "You're right. I wasn't thinking." Robin said softly with a shrug of his shoulders. "Yeah, you weren't thinking. This is why we can't have nice things, bird brain." A light laugh left Robin at the last comment.
"You're really bad at this." The hero said as he glanced over at his friend. He watched as bright pink roses grew through her cheeks. "Sh-shut up...I've never been the one lecturing before. It feels weird. Oh! Wait! I got it!" Perci said excitedly. "Now this...this is a classic for me." Perci said before clearing her throat and getting into character.
"I don't even have the words for what you did." Perci said doing her best Batman impression. There was a brief moment of silence between the teens before they both let out soft laughs. "I definitely remember hearing that one a few times." Robin said and Perci nodded.
"Thanks for coming to check in on me." Robin said as he looked over at Perci. "Huh? U-uh, yeah, no problem." "Not that I didn't appreciate you tracking Slade down, but...why did you do it?" Robin asked genuinely curious as to why Perci decided to check up on him.
"I-I was just intrigued with you stealing. Last time you decided to play thief you came up with that amazing alter ego of yours. Call me crazy for wanting to figure out what was going on." Perci said as she stared down at the ground.
"Friend Perci was very worried about you as well, Robin." Starfire said sending both teens a bright smile. Perci's cheeks immediately erupted with pink and red roses. Robin turned to Perci sort of surprised. "You were worried about me?" He asked while Perci refused to look at him. "Me? Worried? About you specifically? That's a good one." Perci sarcastically said as she picked up her pace. Robin watched as she moved carefully between each of the titans until she was leading the way through the tunnel.
It didn't take long for the Titans to resurface at the base of the tower. The group of friends quickly went inside the tower to find a way to get rid of the probes that were in their bodies. The first thing Robin did was change into his normal hero attire. Cyborg set up the device he'd grabbed in the living room and Perci gave him the small piece she'd grabbed.
A couple hours had gone by and Beast Boy was sat with even more wires attached to him. "Am I done yet?" Beast Boy muffled out and Perci couldn't help but giggle at how ridiculous he looked. What she didn't notice was one of the titans staring at her fondly.
"That's it, y'all! The Teen Titans...and Perci Bloom, are officially probe free." Cyborg said with a smile while Beast Boy quickly cheered as he jumped from his seat making wires go everywhere.
"Go, Beast Boy. You're probe-less. No probes now. Go, Beast Boy! Go, Beast Boy! Get funky! Uh, yeah!" Beast Boy sang as he danced around happily while the group of teens smiled at his antics. Well, except Raven.
"Um...I know this isn't my style, but we just kicked Slade's butt. Shouldn't we celebrate or something?" Raven asked making the group stare at her surprised. "Raven's right! You have to celebrate kicking Slade's butt, and getting Robin back." Perci said with a bright smile breaking the group from their trance.
"Yeah!" Beast Boy yelled as he stood on top of Cyborg's shoulders. "All you can eat-" Cyborg said only for Beast Boy to continue his sentence. "Free form-" "Breakfast explosion!" Both boys said together making Raven roll her eyes. "Sorry I asked." She said before getting dragged off by both boys to the kitchen.
Perci smiled as she watched the three friends before it fell as she caught Starfire's sad gaze towards her lap. Robin noticed it as well as he sat next to her. "Everything okay?" Robin asked Starfire softly. Perci decided to let the group of friends have their happy little reunion.
The teen surprisingly easily slipped away and decided to take the stairs down to the bottom of the tower. She didn't want the elevator alerting them of her departure ruining their fun.
Perci's eyes stayed glued to the last few steps in front of her as she reached the final level. She was about to leave when a familiar voice made her stop. "And where do you think you're going?" Perci turned around to see Robin staring at her with his arms crossed over his chest. The elevator was closed behind him making Perci know exactly how he got there before her.
"You guys were going to have your little celebration and I didn't want to intrude." Perci said. Her tone making her intentions seem obvious. "You were part of all of this, Perci. Come celebrate with us." Robin's voice was soft as a soft smile was on his cheeks.
"N-no, I really have to get-" "Don't make me tell Starfire you're trying to leave without saying goodbye." A small smirk played across Robin's cheeks. Perci gave a defeated sigh. "There's no way I'm getting out of this, am I? Fine...I'll stay for this weird breakfast explosion thing." Perci wanted to seem annoyed and inconvenienced, but she couldn't help the yellow roses growing on her cheeks.