This took a lot of editing, and even so, I might come back to it later to edit it some more.
I turn my communicator off to avoid reverb as Robin begins to speak. "Range to target!" he says through his own communicator.
"Five hundred and closing," Cyborg states as he and Raven drive to the same destination in the T-Car. "Should have a visual any—"
"There he is!" Starfire cuts him off as the villain comes into view for all of us to see.
"Correction," Raven says through Cyborg's communicator. "There it is." Robin skids the R-Cycle to a stop in front of a jewellery store, where a human with a spider for a head stands, gun in one hand, stolen jewellery in the other. Cyborg pulls the T-Car to a stop in front of us.
The villain pulls the trigger, and Robin drives the vehicle out of the way before we're hit. Cyborg does the same and the four of us watch as the thief jumps onto the roof of the building. He uses the spider legs attached to his head to glide from building to building, and we chase after him.
Starfire shoots three starbolts, and each one misses. Robin presses a button on the R-Cycle's panel and fires explosive discs at it, which also miss. Cyborg opens fire and shoots a heat seeking missile, but right at the last second, the jewellery store thief jumps up and dodges it.
He turns around and fires a ball of web at Beast Boy, sticking him to a building. "Super-loogie?" Beast Boy complains as he struggles to get out. The thief fires several more at Starfire but she dodges, and he sets to making a wall of web that spreads across the road. I lift the R-Cycle and T-Car up and let the wind carry them over the wall.
The thief turns around and fires balls of web at us, but Robin manoeuvres the R-Cycle in such a way that we avoid it. Cyborg isn't so lucky, and one blast hits the windshield of the T-Car, covering it completely.
"I can't see!" Cyborg exclaims, and he and Raven skid to a stop. The thief's web strikes Starfire next, and she subsequently gets glued to the pavement. Fortunately, she blasts herself free just as Robin and I pass her, and she rejoins us in the pursuit.
Our guy rounds a corner and we soon follow into the alley. He jumps over a car and across the train tracks, and Robin revs the engine before doing the same. Once in the air, Robin ditches the vehicle, and I do the same as he grapples onto a building, watching from the roof as the R-Cycle floats down to safety.
I zoom after the villain, only hoping that Robin's close behind me. Said leader overtakes me as we jump from building to building, but the thief turns around and blasts Robin, paralysing him.
"Can't... move!" he manages as he falls to the ground.
"Robin!" Starfire and I shout as I dive after the leader. I grab his arm before slowly landing back on the ground, the Boy Wonder in my arms.
"He is okay?" Starfire asks once I land. I hold Robin awkwardly in effort to steady him, paranoid that he'll topple over.
"He will be," Cyborg reassures us. "The venom's effect is only temporary."
"Getting away... we have to... go after him!" Robin splutters, and he starts to fall over before I reach out and grab him. "Whoa..."
"You mean, we have to go after him," Raven tells him.
"You need to chill until that stuff wears off," Cyborg states.
"But—" Robin begins to protest, and Beast Boy cuts him off before he can argue.
"Dude, we can handle it. The guy's got a spider for a head. Not like he's gonna be hard to find."
I take one look at the boy frozen in my arms. "I'll take him back," I state. "You guys go."
~~~
"Okay, so I need to get the venom out," I mutter to myself as I circle the paralysed boy in front of me. I walk over to the computer and set it to the map so that I can track the other Titans' locations, and once done with that, I turn to Robin and stretch out my fingers.
"Just...hurry up," Robin moans from where I placed him, leaning on the couch to stop a potential fall.
"I'm trying." I breathe in, and when I breathe out, Robin's fully frozen, this time in ice. With one kick to the ice, he's on the ground, and he stands up as the colour comes back to his face.
"Thanks," he says, stretching out his arms as he stands up.
I flash a small grin. "Any time."
"Now we can focus on solving our other problem," he states as he makes his way to the computer. "Titans! Any luck finding our jewel thief?"
"We found something worse," Raven replies as she flicks onto the large television screen. Robin and I eye each other nervously before looking back at her. A hum of buzzing serves as background, and I look out the window to the bridge that the map says they're on.
"Robin... you're gonna want to look at this," I say slowly, and Robin's eyes widen as he makes his way towards the window. The bridge flays about, threatening to fall as gigantic mutant moths chew at the support rails.
Eventually, the four Titans steady the bridge and briefly celebrate, only to look up to find several hundred more mutants waiting. "Uh...we're gonna need backup," Cyborg tells us, and I'm already out the door when I hear Robin's response.
"We're on our way."
"Don't bother," a deep, crackling voice says from the television, and Robin and I freeze before turning around to face the owner of the voice; Killer Moth. "Even if you defeat a few of my children, you won't be able to stop me from releasing the entire swarm." He holds his hands out and several moths open their blue eyes, bringing gasps from both of us. "Unless you want your city reduced to a moth-eaten wasteland, you'll do exactly as I say."
"What do you want?" Robin asks, venom in his tone.
"My demands are simple," Killer Moth states. "The city will declare me ruler, the Teen Titans will surrender, and Robin..." the villain pauses, as if being blackmailed. Robin's expression gets more heated at the mention of his name. "... will... take this lovely young lady to her junior prom."
A teenage girl with blonde hair appears on the screen. "Hi, Robbie-poo!" she calls, waving enthusiastically.
Robin winces before turning back to the screen. "Um... what was that last part again?"he asks slowly.
My blood boils and I pace through the space before whipping around. "I'm sorry, who is that?" I ask, my voice loud and bordering a shout.
"Her name is Kitten, and you will take her to prom!" Killer Moth states.
I try to move my limbs, but they refuse to cooperate. My jaw hangs from my face and I glare at the girl on the screen.
Robin looks at me quizzically, before tugging on my hand and dragging me away. "We're going to need a minute." Once we're behind closed doors, Robin opens his communicator whilst I pace. "Cyborg, report. How bad is it?"
Cyborg's reply comes quickly. "Bad! Can't hold 'em off much longer! If you're going to do something, do it quick!"
Robin closes the communicator slowly and heaves a sigh. "I have to do it."
My eyes glow red. "WHAT? Why..." I sigh loudly and close my eyes, and when I open them, they're their normal colour again. Robin's hair has blown from the wind that I've caused in the room, and when it subsides, his hair's neat, which he quickly fixes. "Fine. If it's best for the city, then I guess it must be done."
"It's the only way to save the bridge,"he states. "The only way to give us enough time to stop Killer Moth. I have to, no matter how much I don't want to." We walk back towards the screen to give our answer, and before we enter, Robin turns towards me. "And I really don't want to."
Kitten looks on smugly, hearts in her eyes when she looks at Robin. "Do we have a deal?" Killer Moth asks.
"Yes," I mutter. "You have a deal."
"And?" Killer Moth looks at Robin, who briefly buries his head in his hands in disbelief.
"I'll take the girl to prom," Robin growls.
"Don't tell me," Killer Moth scolds. "Ask her."
Robin rolls his eyes and I stifle a laugh at his reaction. "You've gotta be—"
"Do it!"
Robin slowly lifts his head up to the screen. "Kitten, was it?" he says.
The girl mimics a cat and smiles. "Meow."
Robin's eye twitches, and I smile. "Right," he says. "Will you...go with me to the prom?" He can't look her in the eye, and turns his head away when he asks her.
Kitten's face lights up evilly. "Oh, Robbie-poo! I thought you'd never ask!"
I take a step back, glaring at the blonde devil incarnate. "Neither did I," I mutter, and Robin follows me out the door. Once there, I open my communicator and pass it to Robin, who speaks.
"I bought you some time." He presses a button, showing an image of the villain. "Killer Moth. He's controlling the mutant insects. Find him and stop him. Start your search with her."
He changes the image to Kitten, and the others' facial expressions change to that of confusion. "Who is she?" Raven asks.
I let out a mix between a growl and a laugh and Robin does the talking. "Name's Kitten. She's got some kind of connection to Killer Moth. Find the connection, and I bet you'll find him." He turns to me, then back to the four Titans on the screen. "Ember will join you to help with the search."
This draws my attention, and I look back up at the Boy Wonder. "I will not!" I protest.
He turns his whole body to face me. "We have to find Killer Moth," he states. "And quick."
"Hey, what about you?" Beast Boy interjects, saving me from having to reply. "Aren't you gonna help us?"
"I can't," Robin says as he looks down. "I have a date."
~~~
I watch Robin arrive on the R-Cycle through the crowd and slowly make my way to the front. He takes off his helmet, gets of the bike, and tugs on his collar. "Really hoping she doesn't show." I get to the front of the crowd and walk up to the Boy Wonder, and he grits his teeth before looking up. Surprise engulfs his face as he studies my red shoes, then red dress, then my hair, styled half up, half down. His eyes lock onto mine in a confused manner. "Ember?"
I break into a smile. "Did you really think I was going to leave you to do this by yourself?"
Robin smiles, then frowns once more. "You're supposed to be helping the others track down Killer Moth," he argues.
"And you're supposed to be saving the city, yet here you are in a tuxedo ready to take a girl to prom," I counter, raising my eyebrow.
Robin opens his mouth to speak, closes it, and then opens it again. "I'm doing this to save the city. If it wasn't on the line, I wouldn't be here, believe me."
Suddenly, a horn honks and a pink limousine pulls in. Kitten steps out in a strapless pink dress and waves to Robin. "Yoo-hoo! Robbie-poo! Your Kitten has arrived! Meow!"
"Second thought, maybe I'm the one who needs saving," Robin states as we look at the girl in discomfort.
Robin begrudgingly walks up to Kitten, who instantly raises her voice as she talks. "Oh, Robin! My date! Robin! Don't you look handsome!" Her voice turns into a hushed whisper, but I still hear it. "Compliment me on my dress."
He turns his head to look at her. "No."
This angers Kitten. "Do it, or else!" she barks, and Robin narrows his eyes at her.
"Nice dress," he mumbles.
"Oh, Robin! You're such a gentleman!" Her shouts cause everyone else to turn around and look at her. "Not at all like my worthless ex-boyfriend Fang!" She lowers her voice as she talks to Robin. "Now take my arm, lead me in, and would it kill you to smile?"
Robin grips her arm and glares at her before forcing a smile. "Maybe," he comments through gritted teeth, and I follow the pair into the prom, stuck between unwanted jealously and guilty amusement.
~~~
Robin swings back and forth on his chair; he and Kitten are the only two not dancing. I watch from the edge of the boat, leaning on its rails with my elbows. "Ask me to dance," Kitten orders.
Robin stops swinging on his chair and looks up. "I don't dance," he replies curtly.
"Come on, Robbie-poo," Kitten says loudly. "You've never, ever danced before?" She tugs on his arms, but he refuses to budge.
"Tried it once. Didn't like it." My mind travels back to him dancing at the party Starfire's sister, Blackfire, took us to, and I laugh silently at his dorkiness that night.
Kitten's outburst brings me back to reality. "Fine!" she states as she pulls out her phone. "Then I can have the whole city destroyed... or... we can just skip straight to the kissing." She puckers up and Robin grimaces.
I grit my teeth and growl so loudly that the people around me stop to look. "Wanna dance?" Robin asks monotonously.
Kitten pulls him to the stage, and her response is so loud it scares everyone else off the floor. "Oh, Robin, of course I'd love to dance with you!"
The song ends almost as soon as they begin to dance, and Robin quickly detaches himself from the girl. "Okay. That's over," he says, relieved.
Kitten looks up at the speaker. "Ooh, goody!" she says, pulling Robin back in forcefully. "Another slow dance!"
Robin lets out a grunt as she takes his arms and leads him around the room. "From now on, Robbie-poo, this'll always be our song." She buries her head in his chest and he wastes no time before pulling out his communicator.
"Please tell me you guys have found Killer Moth." I open my communicator to hear the response.
"Not yet," Cyborg says. "But we tracked down your girlfriend's home address."
"She's not my—" Robin begins.
"She's not his—" I begin at the same time, but we're both cut off by Beast Boy letting out a loud scream. "Hurry up," I tell Cyborg, my eyes adding the word 'please,' and Cyborg nods before flicking off.
Soon, my communicator alerts me to a message. "Found him," all four Titans say, buzzing in the room they're in.
Robin shuts off his communicator and puts it in his pocket, and Kitten lifts her head up. "Kiss me," she orders, her voice somehow innocent.
Robin looks at me and grins before turning back to Kitten. "Sorry," he responds as she puckers her lips. "But I don't like you that way. Matter of fact, I just don't like you."
I smile at his reply, but Kitten has a different reaction. "WHAT?" she bellows.
"Killer Moth's being taken down as we speak," Robin states. "We're done here."
Kitten pulls off the flower on her dress, revealing a remote. "No, we are not!" she shouts. "Daddy's not calling the shots tonight, Robbie-poo. I am!"
"Daddy?" Robin and I ask in unison. I walk towards Kitten and prepare to take the device she's holding in her hand.
"And unless you want me to let those nasty bugs out for a late-night snack..." Kitten continues, grabbing Robin by the shirt. "... you better pucker up!"
Something inside me snaps, and I run at the pair, knocking Kitten to the ground. "He'll do nothing of the sort," I sneer as I grab the button. She and I wrestle as Robin looks on, and I hear shouts and look up to see the jewellery thief from earlier on the boat.
"Fang?" Kitten asks as she looks up. In my moment of distraction, she takes the remote and holds it up teasingly.
"That's your boyfriend?" Robin shouts as he jumps on Kitten to snatch the remote back.
"Get your hands OFF MY GIRL!" Fang roars. He shoots two of his legs at Robin and I. Robin deflects the hit, and I jump to the ground to duck under it.
"Well, maybe you should get off my boy!" I roar as I run to Robin. "Are you okay?"
"Best I've felt all day," he replies as he pulls on the shirt of his tuxedo to reveal it to be a tear away. I grin at him in his Robin suit and we charge at Kitten and Fang, who are busy reconciling with a kiss.
"You know..." Robin states. "... you two make a really bad couple."
This angers Fang, and he strikes at Robin. I fly the remote out of Kitten's hand and into mine as I let out a smirk. "Let's dance, shall we?" I say as I aim a kick at her. She dodges and strikes at me, and I push her foot to one side as I punch her away from me.
"Let's hit the dance flo—" I look over to see a teenage couple get frozen as they walk in between Fang and Robin, who are engaged in a wrestle. Fang holds Robin up with some of his many legs, whilst he uses the others to swipe at the leader.
"Ooooh! Isn't it romantic?" Kitten says. "They're fighting over me!"
"Alright, that's enough!" Anger rises within me and in a frenzy, I quickly freeze and unfreeze myself in order to keep the flames at bay. I freeze Kitten's foot, stopping her from moving, and her dress catches in the ice. When I melt it, the fabric tears away, and she glares at me in pure anger.
"You... ruined... my... dress!" she shouts as she runs at me. We wrestle on the food table, and I get the upper hand before she uses her only advantage to press the button that I hold to her throat.
"Robin!" I shout. "The button!" I throw it to him, and he stomps on it, crushing it.
"Consider yourself dumped," he says to Kitten, as I let her stand up, pillars of water holding her still.
"NO!"
~~~
The police grab Kitten and Fang and throw them into a bus with Killer Moth already in it. "Nobody dumps Kitten! Nobody! You're going to pay for this, Robbie-poo! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!" They shut the door on her, muffling her screeches.
"So, no second date?" Cyborg asks as we all lean over the edge.
"You know..." Beast Boy begins. "... now that nobody's making 'em all mutate-y... these things might actually make good pets."
"Don't even think about it," Raven says.
I look up as the police cart off the paralysed couple. "Okay, well...sorry we pretty much ruined your prom," Robin says, and their eyes widen when they see the two of us.
"Are you kidding?" the male shouts. "This was the best prom ever!"
"Really?" I ask.
"Yeah!" the female replies. "Even if I still can't move my legs!"
I smile at the pair. "Let me help." I do what I did with Robin, and in two quick motions, they're not paralysed anymore. They smile and wave goodbye as they leave.
I look from the team to Robin, but am taken aback when a spotlight falls over myself and the Boy Wonder. We both take fighting stances, unsure of what's happening. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for..." the announcer calls from a speaker. "... the king and queen of this year's prom are... Robin and Ember!"
My eyes bug out of my head and I look at Robin, who's already looking at me. "I guess one more dance wouldn't kill me."
"Me neither," I state as Robin takes my hand and slowly leads me to the dance floor. "Now how do you do this?"
"I think you place your hands here, and..."
I straighten up and wrap my hands around the Boy Wonder's neck just as he showed me, and he places his on my waist. I smile as I gaze into his eyes, our bodies slowly moving to the rhythm. We move closer to each other until our foreheads touch, and I close my eyes in content.
"Yo, guys!" Beast Boy calls, before shrieking. "Ow!" I break out of my daze just in time to see Cyborg elbow Beast Boy, who's still holding one of the mutants. The shapeshifter's eyes widen in realisation and I bite my lip before laughing it off and turning back to Robin.
I close my eyes in realisation that I can't forget the other Titans are there. The song continues to play, but the rest of our dance isn't the same, and I sigh and look up at the moon as the song ends. Robin smiles at me, and I smile back, locked in place. When I turn around, the rest of the team aren't there anymore, and I turn around to grab Robin's hand and lift him into the air.
I'm sorry! I really am. I hate how I've ended it, but I felt it was too soon for both Ember and Robin.