Chapter 27

It had been relatively peaceful around the Titans tower recently. Well, as peaceful as a bunch of people getting paid to beat the shit out of criminals could really be. Criminals were still being trashed and thrashed, but it was only small fry. Nothing big had really happened in the background.

Sure, the Man-Bat creature crisis was still rising and was now known to the public, but it wasn’t something that was a pressing matter. The only thing that’s been pressing so far after the whole magic ruby episode a week ago was Robin himself. Who was constantly harping on me about a cure.

Which was more than a bit annoying. Especially as it cut deeply in the time I set aside for projects in the Lab. Due to being so focused on the man-bat creature cure, I was only able to just barely to even set up my next side projects. One of which including a crystal chunk of Clayface’s body.

Robin had informed me that the reason Clayface is Clayface is due to some sort of overdose of an experimental drug. An experimental drug that allowed him to shape his face and body at will, though with debilitating side effects.

And if I can figure out how to copy the positives without the negatives, I could theoretically create on demand plastic surgery. Forget the cure to being deaf, with this I’d be a billionaire, easily.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to give it my attention at the moment. Simply storing the crystal into a container in order to simply contain it for now. A container that I apparently prepared ahead of time. Something I didn’t remember doing, nor was I prone to do it, but was rather happy that I-

…Wait, fuck, was I already using that container for another experiment? Shit. I really needed to put more labels on these things.

Still, what side project was this one? I had already made so many that I was starting to lose count. I know I had recently broken into the triple digits, but besides that it was a blur.

Oh well. I’ll just have to scrap that project and do my best to clean the crystal chunk from whatever the previous experiment was. Whenever I have time, that is.

I had made pretty decent progress on the Cure. Honestly, it was already a bit functional, as it could immediately alleviate some of the mutations that the Man-Bat serum caused. ‘some’ was the keyword in that sentence. It’d leave people looking like some Nosferatu looking motherfucker.

As well as keep their aggressive behavior, but that was besides the point. I was getting closer to the answer. So very close.

It also helped that I had two great ways of relieving my stress now. Meditating with Raven was always somewhat relaxing, but more than that was my private sessions with Starfire. We didn’t have much time together so far in-between fixing up the living room, working on the cure, and the rest of the Titans responsibilities. So, we’ve only really had the time to randomly makeout when we could.

This is also when I started to truly figure something out about Starfire and the Tamaranean people. They seemed to have a very different version of privacy in comparison to us. Honestly, they kind of make humanity as a whole look like prudes, because Starfire had no compunction at all in getting sexual in public or in front of others.

For example, Beast Boy had bugged me to play some sort of video game with him. Despite not being exactly very used to the controls or really gaming in general, I was at least very good in one game.

Mario Kart.

I took great enjoyment in playing the oversized turtle, and using his bulk in order to run off other racers that got close to me. It was almost as enjoyable as winning at times. Especially when the other racers were Titans.

Thirty minutes into the game Beast Boy was on the edge of his seat. His tongue coming out the side of his face as he seemed to focus completely on the game. Whereas I was much more casual and leaning back against the couch itself.

Starfire had come into the room and inquired to what we were up to, to which Beast Boy explained. Before asking her for her help in distracting me.

Something that was distinctly cheating.

Starfire then decided to do exactly what Beast Boy asked, and tilted my head back in order to start making out a mere foot next to Beast Boy. As my priorities were indeed in order, I immediately put as little focus in the game as possible in order to explore Starfire’s mouth back.

Starfire also wasn’t exactly subtle or quiet during this time. Not thinking to silence her obvious kissing sounds or her slightly heavier breathing. Beast Boy however seemed too focused on the video game to even notice. All I could hear from him was excited hollering, so I was pretty sure he was focused on the game.

I was pretty sure Starfire was seconds away from just starting to have sex, and I was right there with her. Only stopped by Beast Boy cheering as he won, causing me to break away from her. Beast Boy then thanked Starfire, to which she then said it was a pleasure.

It definitely had been.

What little free time I did have was also consumed by Galatea. Who no longer seemed content with me just being by her side during work out. She had now taken to simply picking me up whenever she leaves the tower.

No, she doesn’t ask if I want to go. Or if I’m even ready. She just nods and picks me up before flying away. Like I’m some sort of purse or another accessory for her.

This was something I wasn’t pleased at, and even if she’s a Kryptonian I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.

…Later, of course. It’s just that right now wasn’t exactly the best of times. Especially since she was chasing down an unsuspecting mugger by flying over him. I couldn’t help but notice her grunting slightly and wincing in the air. Something seemed to be bothering her.

Migraine perhaps?

As Galatea touched down in the alley the robber had went down, he was already going through the purse he stole. Tsking slightly as he didn’t seem to find anything of value. Which is actually pretty strange, that purse just screams a good mark. I’d think at least a couple hundred. Maybe a credit card or two.

“Tsk, seriously? Only a few twenties?”

Only a few twenties!? Holy shit, who was mugging who here? Honestly if I was the mugger, I’d be expecting an apology from the old woman I robbed. At least getting a hundred would slightly dampen the blow when he gets his shit kicked in by Galatea and arrested.

“Drop the purse, and maybe I don’t break your leg.”

That was a lie and she knew it. The mugger turned around while flicking his knife only to see Galatea fly down. Staring him down with her deep blue eyes and resting bitch face.

He looked in fear at her, before looking at me, who was still being bridal carried in her arms. And then he just kept staring at me.

…Well now I was starting to feel embarrassed. It was pretty easy to get used to the first-class treatment. All that was missing was feeding me grapes. I coughed before motioning her to drop me.

Which she thankfully did…on my butt. Ouch. She usually had more tact than that.

She put her hands on her hips as she approached the mugger and…he surrendered. Galatea’s new reputation as a hero preceded her, I imagine. Likely didn’t take a lot of work for people to realize the similarities between her and Superman.

Galatea frowned before allowing me to knock him out and call it in.

“Humans…they really are pathetic, aren’t they?”

Galatea stated with…a lot less emotion than you’d think with a sentence like that. She sounded more like she was just stating an observation. Like the sky’s blue.

“Well, I certainly can’t deny that a lot of us are, yeah.”

She hummed at that before leaning against the wall. Which stuck out to me as odd. She almost never leans.

“…’us’…are you sure you’re a human, sidekick?”

I chuckled at that.

“I am. What brought that question on?”

She rolled her hand, before wiping her forehead with it. Gesturing to me and the city in general.

“You just…don’t act like the others. Not as weak, or odd. I’m superior to humans, but…”

She paused at that, looking at something in her vision before her eyes narrow.

“What, you don’t feel so superior with me?”

I teased, but she didn’t seem to respond. Only continuing to look in that direction. After a while I decided to look where she was too, only for her to speak up.

“Law, Supergirl is going to come soon, correct?”

…Oh fuck. I had forgotten all about that.

“After she’s done finishing training, probably. Why?”

Galatea grimaced at my words. Looking down at her hands while mouthing the word ‘training’. Strange, she hadn’t seemed impatient for months. So what brought this on?

“Can…can you…delay it?”

Hmm?

“Do you not want to see her?”

“Yes. No…I don’t know. I’m…I’m not…”

She grimaced before falling to a knee. Which immediately saw me coming over to her side. Tree Sap at the ready to dispense. Her sweating has gotten a lot worse by this point.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m…I’m so much weaker now…”

What? So, this was still the residual effects from that time in Cadmus? That’s…not good. I hated to say it, but it looked like it was getting worse. That was bad. That was very bad.

Galatea wasn’t going to like this, but I needed to say it either way.

“Galatea, you need help.”

She grunted at that before attempting to stand up, to mixed results. In which I wordlessly offered my shoulder, to which after a few seconds, she started to lean on.

“…I don’t trust the Justice League.”

I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t exactly willing to let strangers cut me open either. But that didn’t leave many options.

“I don’t trust Cadmus either.”

And that left pretty much no option. If tree sap could heal her, it would have already done so by now. Which likely meant that one of her organs wasn’t just damaged, but likely completely dead.

And if I couldn’t use my healing tree sap…

Well, it wasn’t looking good for Galatea.

“Is there anyone you do trust?”

“…you, a bit.”

…

I sighed before running my hand through my hair in exasperation. Rolling my eyes as we maneuvered our way out of the alley and into the streets of Jump City. Thankfully it wasn’t very populated so we were able to walk down it without being hassled much.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll think of something then. But I’ll be expecting you to owe me one hell of a favor afterwards, alright?”

Galatea didn’t respond verbally. Only shaking her head as she focused on being able to walk. Jeez, it was like she was starting to struggle with every step. If her physical health was going to swing from good to bad this quickly, I hated to think of what would happen had she been actually fighting.

The moment we got back to the Titans Tower, she started to feel a lot better, and within minutes she was back to her normal Galatea self. Even going so far as to start training again.

I on the other hand went to the Lab.

I had work to do.

*~o~*

The bell rang, signaling the start of the period. Which lead our teacher, Mr. John Dough, to write down his name before beginning to teach. As he was doing so, the other students started to laugh and giggle around me. Which was…odd.

After a few minutes of this, I finally realized what they were laughing at.

I was only in my underwear.

…What the fuck?

What the fuck was going on? No, where was I? I’ve never been to an actual school in my life. Was this a dream? Why did every other student look like they belong in grade school, except me? Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to be about my age?

“Mr. Bottom, would you care to explain your state of undress?”

Mr. Dough’s dull voice droned on, causing me to give a death glare to the depressed sounding fuck.

“Call me that again and I’ll fucking put you in the ground.”

He simply sighed before going back to teaching. The rest of the students would giggle before looking back to the board. Alright…this was weird. I immediately stood from my chair before walking around. None of the students seemed to care about it, even when I’d poke them in the face.

Shit, this felt so real…

“Do you want to kill him?”

I blinked as one of the children spoke up. A Mexican little girl who looked up with wonderment in her eyes. It made me a bit uncomfortable.

“What?”

“The teacher. Didn’t you want to kill him?”

Oh, that. Uh…well…wait, I wasn’t actually about to explain myself to a fucking kid, was I? That’s fucking stupid. Even in a dream.

“I do whatever the hell I want.”

I commented aggressively towards the kid. I…don’t know why. Something felt off. Something was bothering me. About this place. The Mexican girl didn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest though.

This time it wasn’t the same kid who spoke up. I turned my head to see a black kid who…looked somewhat familiar. I couldn’t place the resemblance though.

“You know, you won’t get in trouble if you do it, right? This is a dream. You can do anything in a dream.”

I scoffed at that.

“Kid, if that were true, I wouldn’t be surrounded by children. This would be a room full of supermodels. All with daddy issues and desperate for my approval.”

All the kids seemed to laugh at that. Which wouldn’t have really bothered me if their laughter wasn’t perfectly in sync. Adding a very creepy element on it.

“You sure do like taking advantage of people, don’t you?”

This time it was a white kid with short black hair and blue eyes that spoke up. His eyes…were very sharp. As if he was gazing into me. It didn’t help that he wore a constant frown on his lips, as if he didn’t like my existence.

…I felt very uncomfortable around him. Extremely so, leading me to walk away until there was at least an aisle of students between me and him.

“If you have an advantage, it’s always in your best interest to exploit it.”

I stated, waiting for another kid to rise up to attack me, only for them to just be quietly watching me with smiles.

…What a bunch of creepy fucks.

And the teacher was still teaching!? God damn, who fucking cared. A quick glance showed me that he had written down the chemical formula for…

…Mmm. Yeah, this was one fucked up dream alright. I glanced over to the right, looking at the door to the hallway. It seemed perfectly normal, and showed a window into an equally normal hallway.

I wonder if there were other classes like this one, or was this the only weird as fuck class in the school?

“If you want, there can be.”

A voice stated behind me…a voice that was much closer than any of the kids had any right to be, and coming from a place that was much higher than anyone’s actual height. I shifted backwards, only to feel a large presence behind me. I didn’t make contact with them, but I could tell they were there.

And for some reason, I couldn’t turn around.

I continued to stare forward, until the door and wall disappeared into a flicker of darkness…

And then I woke up in my bed.

…What the fuck?