Y/N's Pov

The rain outside pattered against the warehouse's tin roof, the faint hum filling the silence as I stood in front of them—the team I had pulled together, the so-called Lost Legion. My eyes darted around the room, taking in the faces of my new allies.

Rose stood casually behind Terra, her arms crossed with that same cocky smirk she'd worn since I first met her. Terra, still bound in the specialized cuffs meant to suppress her abilities, glared at everyone like a caged animal ready to pounce. Jinx sat slouched on the worn couch, arms crossed tightly, her expression torn between curiosity and regret. Blackfire lingered just behind me, her presence like a storm cloud—dangerous, unpredictable. She leaned against the wall with her arms folded, watching everything with an amused grin.

"Alright, that's enough," I said, clearing my throat when Rose and Terra's argument about whatever grew louder. I reached up, fingers brushing against the edge of my mask before finally pulling it off. Taking a breath, I ran a gloved hand through my hair, shaking off the tension that had been building since I brought them all here.

The room fell silent. Terra's eyes widened slightly, her snarl momentarily vanishing. Even Jinx sat up straighter, her nervousness flickering into surprise. Rose just raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, while Blackfire's smirk deepened like she had been expecting this all along.

"I'm not Red X. Not really," I began, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "I'm Y/N. I used to be Robin—the sidekick, the Boy Wonder. The one who was always in the shadows, following orders, being the 'good little soldier.' But not anymore." I glanced at them, letting my words sink in. "I've seen the truth. The Joker opened my eyes to how wrong I was about everything. About heroes, about villains, about the system."

I paced a little, the echoes of my boots filling the empty space. "The Titans, the League—they call themselves protectors. But what do they really protect? Their reputation. Their power. People like us? We don't fit into their perfect little narrative, so we're cast aside, ignored, or worse."

I stopped and gestured at Terra. "You were treated like a monster, Terra. You were begging for help, for guidance, but they never gave you a real chance. They only saw you as a liability."

Terra's jaw tightened, and she stared down at her cuffed hands, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

"And you, Blackfire," I continued, turning slightly to look at her. "You're strong, powerful, and brilliant. But to them, you'll always just be Starfire's 'evil' sister, the one they hate, the one they'll never understand."

Blackfire let out a low chuckle, her violet eyes gleaming. "They love their pretty little Koriand'r. But they've forgotten I'm the better one," she said coolly.

"Jinx," I said, turning to her. She blinked, her arms tightening around herself as if bracing for my words. "You were right about the Titans. About everything. I should have listened to you, but instead, I wasted my potential hiding behind the cape, behind rules that did nothing but hold me back."

Her lips twitched into a small, uncertain smile. "I've always hated the Titans," she muttered, leaning back. "But... I hated you a little less." She giggled softly, the tension in her shoulders loosening.

"And Rose," I said, meeting her sharp gaze. "You know as well as I do that heroes like them don't care about us. We're tools to them—disposable."

She smirked, flipping a blade casually in her hand. "So, what's your plan, Red X? Or should I call you Robin? No, wait—what are we calling ourselves again?" She gestured vaguely toward the group.

"The Lost Legion," I said, stepping back and surveying them. "We're not heroes. We're not sidekicks. We're a band of misfits, outcasts, and rejects who've been wronged by the so-called 'heroes' of the world. Together, we're going to make them pay. We're going to show them that we're not just a threat—we're the future."

Terra suddenly snapped her cuffs apart, the metal falling to the ground with a loud clang. She flexed her hands, her lips curling into a dangerous grin. "Beast Boy... Raven... They're gonna regret ever putting me behind bars."

"Save me a front-row seat," Blackfire added with a cold laugh. "I still owe dear Starfire some 'sisterly bonding time.'"

Jinx leaned forward, her fingers drumming against the couch's armrest. "So, when do we start?"

Rose crossed her arms, a spark of excitement flashing in her eyes. "Yeah, Red X. What's our first move?"

I grinned, slipping my mask back on. "We're going to crash a party. The Titans are welcoming a new member—Blue Beetle. Let's make sure he gets the welcome he deserves."

The room filled with wicked grins, and for the first time, the Lost Legion felt like a real team.

. . .

The laboratory was filled with the soft hum of machinery and the earthy scent of Poison Ivy's plants, mingling with the faint traces of mist from the spore nebulizer she was using to treat me. I sat slouched in an old chair, one arm propped on the armrest, the other rubbing at my temple as Ivy worked. The migraines were a constant reminder of Scarecrow's gas and the Lazarus Pit—a combination that shouldn't exist but had found a way to linger in me.

"Hold still," Ivy muttered, adjusting the position of the flower sprayer near my face. The glowing petals pulsed faintly as they released their spores, the faint mist stinging my sinuses as I breathed it in. I winced, coughing slightly.

"This is ridiculous," I grumbled, closing my eyes against the ache that throbbed in my skull. "You're telling me the great Poison Ivy, plant goddess extraordinaire, can't make this process less... invasive?"

She scoffed, her fingers brushing the stems of a nearby vine. "My plants weren't designed for this, Red. They're meant to defend, to heal the Earth, not to be patching up reckless boys who like to play in Lazarus pits."

Her sarcasm was as sharp as ever, but there was a faint hint of concern beneath it—though she'd never admit that.

On the far side of the room, the Joker sat on an oversized chair, Harley sprawled across his lap, her head resting on his chest as she snored softly. The sight of it made my stomach churn in a way I couldn't quite describe. Joker's expression was oddly... tender. It was a side of him I hadn't been prepared to see when I first joined his ranks.

"How's the noggin, kid?" he asked suddenly, his voice softer than his usual manic drawl. I turned my head toward him, careful not to disrupt Ivy's work.

"Still in one piece," I muttered.

He chuckled, a sound that felt too casual, too normal. It sent a shiver down my spine. "Good, good. Can't have my protégé falling apart, now can we?" His gloved hand absentmindedly stroked Harley's hair as he spoke. "You've done good, y'know. Forming a team, spreading the gospel of chaos, putting those tight-wearing do-gooders in their place. Makes an old clown proud."

"Right," I said, avoiding his gaze. The moments when Joker seemed... human unnerved me more than his usual madness. It was like looking at the calm eye of a hurricane, knowing the storm was still raging around it.

He stood, lifting Harley effortlessly into his arms as if she weighed nothing. "Couple more treatments," he said, gesturing to the nebulizer and Ivy, "and you'll be good as new. You've got a big day ahead, after all."

Ivy shot him a glare. "Don't push him too hard, Joker. The damage he's taken isn't something that just... goes away."

"Relax, doc," he said with a grin, carrying Harley toward the door. "The kid's tougher than he looks. Aren't ya, Red?"

I didn't answer, just watched as the door closed behind him, leaving me and Ivy alone in the hum of the lab.

She finished the treatment with a sigh, brushing her hands off on her apron. "That's all I can do for now. The spores need time to work—don't overexert yourself, or they'll be useless."

I sat up, the ache in my head finally dulling to something bearable. "Thanks," I muttered, getting to my feet.

Ivy hesitated, her usual sharp demeanor softening as she turned to me. "If Batman shows up that day... you'd better be ready."

Her words were simple, but the weight behind them was crushing. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, she walked over and leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

The spores she'd treated me with bloomed to life at her touch, a soothing warmth spreading through my skull, easing the tension in my nerves.

Ivy pulled back, her expression unreadable. "Don't make me regret helping you, Red."

I nodded, swallowing back whatever emotions her words stirred in me, and left her lab without another word.

Time skip.

The day had finally arrived in Jump City, and the town square buzzed with excitement. People gathered in droves, pressing close to the barricades that encircled the large stage set up for the event. The current Titans stood proudly in formation, their colorful costumes vivid against the backdrop of banners and confetti. In the center of them all was the newest member of their team: Blue Beetle.

Cyborg, now the team's leader, stepped forward, his voice booming through the microphone as the crowd quieted. His tone was solemn but determined.

"A year ago, we lost someone irreplaceable," he began, his gaze briefly falling as the weight of his words settled over the audience. "Robin wasn't just our leader—he was our brother. He left behind a legacy that we, as a team, strive to honor every day."

The crowd murmured softly, a mixture of somberness and respect rippling through them.

Cyborg straightened, a smile breaking through his somber expression. "And today, as we look to the future, I'm proud to introduce someone who will help us carry that legacy forward. Someone who's shown incredible promise, strength, and heart. Everyone, let's give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Titans—Blue Beetle!"

The crowd erupted into applause as confetti rained down from cannons overhead. Blue Beetle stepped forward with an easy smile, his suit gleaming in the sunlight as he waved to the crowd and flexed his mechanical pincers for show. He took the microphone from Cyborg, his youthful enthusiasm radiating through his voice.

"Thank you, everyone!" he said, grinning from ear to ear. "This is an honor I never dreamed of. To stand here with the Titans, a team formed by one of my heroes—man, this is surreal. I promise to give everything I've got to live up to this team's legacy."

He turned back toward Cyborg, extending his hand for a handshake. Cyborg raised his own to meet it, but the moment was shattered as a spinning blade whizzed between them, embedding itself into the stage. Both Cyborg and Blue Beetle yanked their hands back just in time as the music abruptly cut off, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.

. . .

. .

.

The crowd's cheers turned into muffled noise as I dropped onto the stage. My boots hit the wood with a satisfying thud, the echoes cutting through the stunned silence. I straightened, rolling my shoulders as I surveyed the scene. The Titans stood frozen, their eyes wide, not yet comprehending what they were dealing with. Perfect.

I raised my left hand. Terra took her cue, rising from the ground with a surge of power that split the earth apart. Stone walls erupted around the square, trapping the crowd like rats. Screams filled the air, the panicked thrashing of a mob hitting the barriers. I barely noticed—I was too focused on the Titans.

My right hand went up next, and the streetlights and giant monitors flickered and sparked as Jinx's magic scrambled every circuit in the area. A symphony of destruction.

Blue Beetle was the first to snap out of it. He lunged at me, his pincers morphing into sharp blades.

 Ambitious.

A glowing purple blast struck him mid-air, sending him sprawling across the stage. I didn't have to look to know who'd fired it. Blackfire floated down beside me, her smug grin as sharp as any weapon. She leaned casually against my shoulder, making the whole thing look like a joke to her.

"Bold move," she said, her voice oozing with amusement. "But predictable."

The crowd's screams grew louder as Rose dragged an unconscious civilian onto the stage. Her boots scuffed against the wood as she turned toward the audience, pulling a blade from her belt and twirling it idly.

"Hey, just a suggestion," she called out, her voice dripping with mockery. "If any of you are thinking about calling for help? Don't. Sit back and enjoy the show."

Her laughter echoed through the chaos, sending shivers through the crowd. People who had been frantically pulling out their phones froze, their wide eyes darting between us and the Titans.

I turned my focus back to them—Cyborg, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Blue Beetle. The looks on their faces were priceless. Shock, confusion, anger... and something else. Something I wasn't ready to name.

Cyborg's fists clenched so tight I thought they'd break. Starfire's hands glowed with energy, but she hesitated, her eyes searching mine like she was trying to figure out if this was some kind of sick joke. Raven stood stone still, but her glowing eyes betrayed the storm brewing beneath her hood. Beast Boy's form flickered as he wavered between a tiger and his human self, his indecision painted all over his face.

And Blue Beetle? He struggled to get up, his armor sizzling from Blackfire's blast. Poor kid.

I tilted my head, letting the silence stretch. I wanted them to feel the weight of it, to let it sink in.

The tension in the air was palpable as I stepped forward, watching the confusion and anger ripple through their ranks. It was intoxicating. They didn't know it was me yet—Robin, their "fallen" leader—and I wasn't ready to shatter that illusion. Not yet.

I gestured lazily toward Blue Beetle, still crumpled on the stage and being helped up by Starfire. "Already filling Robin's spot, huh?" I said, my voice sharp and cutting. "All smiles, all cheers... like you forgot about him already. Celebrating with some nobody."

That hit home. Starfire's head snapped toward me, her expression twisting with raw fury. Her voice was like a whip crack as she yelled, "Do not dare mention Robin's name!"

Before I could even smirk, Blackfire stepped forward, her smirk predatory. "Oh, don't get so riled up, sister," she purred, her words dripping with venom. "It's not like you even knew how much he cared about you."

Starfire flinched. I could see it—the brief flicker of doubt in her eyes. Blackfire kept going, circling her like a vulture.

"He was so obvious about it, Kory," she continued, her tone like a knife twisting in a wound. "But no, you were too busy being perfect—too busy being everyone's little star—to notice. Or maybe you did, and you just didn't care."

I stayed silent, letting her do the damage. Watching. Waiting.

Starfire tried to respond, her lips parting, but Blackfire wasn't done. She laughed, cruel and mocking. "What really gets me," she said, her voice rising, "is how you went out with someone else—someone completely beneath you—when he was right there! He was practically screaming for your attention, and you still turned your back on him."

The others were silent, their shock radiating through the tense air. Starfire's hands started to glow, her breath coming in shaky bursts. But Blackfire delivered the final blow, her voice suddenly harsh and biting.

"Not that it matters. You'd never have been with someone as pathetic as Robin, anyway. Isn't that right...Sister?"

That did it. Starfire's eyes flared a violent green, her hair igniting with a fiery brilliance. She let out a wail of pure, unbridled rage before launching herself at Blackfire, their collision creating a shockwave that rocked the stage.

The two of them shot into the sky, a blur of green and purple as they clashed in the stormy clouds above.

Cyborg's voice boomed over the chaos. "Starfire! Wait—!" He started to step forward, reaching toward the sky where Starfire and Blackfire had vanished, but his path was cut off.

Rose was on him in a flash, her sword gleaming as it clashed against his mechanical arm. Sparks flew as she pressed forward, her strikes relentless. "You think you can lead them?" she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're not even a man anymore. Just a pile of scrap pretending to play hero."

Cyborg growled, parrying her blade with one arm while trying to keep his composure. "You don't know anything about me!" he shouted, his sonic cannon charging up.

"Oh, I know enough," Rose taunted, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Like how you're trying so hard to fill Robin's shoes. Guess what? You never will. Face it, Tin Man, you're more machine than leader."

Their battle intensified, Rose's speed keeping Cyborg on the defensive as he struggled to keep her blade at bay.

Beast Boy transformed into a cheetah, sprinting toward Cyborg to help, but he skidded to a halt when the ground suddenly erupted in front of him.

"Not so fast, Garfield," Terra growled, stepping out of the dust and debris. Her eyes burned with raw anger as she glared at him.

"Terra," Beast Boy started, his voice shaking, "I didn't—"

"Don't you dare," Terra interrupted, her voice cracking as tears mixed with the fury on her face. "Don't you dare try to lie to me again. You ruined my life, Garfield! Pretending to care about me, pretending to be my friend—just so you could betray me!"

"That's not true!" Beast Boy protested, his voice desperate. "We wanted to help you!"

"Help me?" Terra's laugh was bitter, her fists clenching as the ground beneath them trembled. "You wanted to trap me! You handed me over to them—locked me away like a monster!"

Her scream shattered nearby windows, and before Beast Boy could say another word, she unleashed a barrage of boulders, forcing him to dodge.

Meanwhile, Raven stepped in to help, but she didn't get far.

"Going somewhere, demon girl?" Jinx's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. A blast of pink energy struck the ground near Raven, forcing her back. Jinx smiled coldly as she approached, her hands crackling with dark energy.

Raven's eyes narrowed, her own magic swirling around her. "You shouldn't have come here, Jinx."

"Why not?" Jinx replied, circling her. "Because I might tell the truth? That you're not a hero, Raven. You're just a ticking time bomb waiting to become your daddy's little demon again."

Raven's magic flared violently, her teeth gritted. "Shut. Up."

"Oh, I hit a nerve!" Jinx cackled, sending another bolt of magic hurtling toward her. "Face it, you don't belong with them. You never did. You're just like me—a monster pretending to be something else."

The two clashed, magic colliding in a storm of color and energy.

Amidst the chaos, Blue Beetle finally stood, shaking off Blackfire's earlier blast. His suit adjusted, forming pincers as he scanned the battlefield, then turned his attention to me.

"You're a coward, Red X!" he shouted, his voice clear and confident. "Hiding behind your team, exploiting everyone's weaknesses. You're just scum."

I tilted my head, letting his words wash over me, but inside, I was calculating.

"And you," he continued, pointing at me, "you're nothing. Just some guy in a mask. No powers, no skills—nothing without your dirty tricks."

I chuckled darkly, stepping forward as I slid my mask back on. "Maybe. But here's the thing, Beetle... it's not about powers. It's about knowing your enemy. And right now?" I gestured around at the chaos. "You don't even know who you're fighting."

I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as Blue Beetle came charging at me. All these people around, still thinking I was to be underestimated because i had no powers, thinking I was nothing more than a mask. Well, time to prove them wrong. I love it when people underestimate me.

The suit's whirring didn't even faze me. I barely registered the sound before I ducked beneath his first swing. His pincers barely missed my head, and I was already moving, spinning to the side, and feeling the heat of his next strike miss my shoulder by inches.

"Is that it?" I sneered, not even breaking a sweat. "This is the great Blue Beetle? Pathetic."

I could see his anger bubbling beneath his glowing eyes as he came at me again, faster this time, aiming a punch straight at my face. I didn't even flinch. I dropped to the ground in a roll, coming up smoothly and landing a solid knee to the side of his ribs. The air whooshed out of him, and I shot back to my feet without missing a beat.

"Does that even hurt?" I mocked, hopping back like it was nothing. "You think you're some kind of hero? You're a joke."

He came at me again, faster, swinging harder. Each attack was meant to crush me, but I was already gone, slipping past him with ease. I could practically feel his frustration in the air as he tried to land one solid hit. "I'm gonna turn you into paste!!"

"You really think you can match me, huh?" I taunted, spinning around him and landing a quick jab to his jaw. His head snapped back, but he recovered quickly. He wasn't giving up that easily.

I could hear the sound of his suit buzzing, charging up for another strike. His arms turned into massive pincers, and he swung at me with all his might. I could've let him land it, could've let him feel like he was winning, but I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction. 

"Come on! You're supposed to be strong if you landed a spot at the Titans, right?!" I ducked again, rolled under his attack, and planted a solid punch to the inside of his knee. The moment his leg buckled, I was already moving, my feet light on the ground as I moved like water, slipping between his strikes.

"You're slow," I chuckled under my breath, watching as Blue Beetle struggled to keep up. "You're all show, no substance. Just a kid in a suit trying to play hero."

I didn't even need to pull out my weapons. I was faster, stronger, more experienced. He kept charging at me, but it was like I was dancing around him, out of his reach every time. He kept swinging, but I was just too quick, too fluid.

Finally, with a flash of motion, I dashed forward, getting in close. His pincers shot at me, but I was already past them, moving around him. I drove a hard kick into his chest, right where the heart would be. I could feel the impact, hear the crack of his ribs giving way under the force of the hit.

He flew back, crashing into the stage with a sickening thud. I stood there, looking down at him as he groaned and tried to push himself up.

"Is this really it, Blue Beetle?" I asked, my voice cold with disdain. "The great hero, brought down by someone with no powers?"

The fight was over. Blue Beetle lay crumpled on the ground, his suit powered down and his body exposed. I stood over him, breathing heavily, watching as the chaos unfolded around me. The Titans, my old team, were all on the ground, beaten and broken.

I was just about to leave when I heard the heavy thud of Starfire crashing to the ground. She had been sent hurtling by Blackfire in their fight, landing against the road. Bruises marred her skin, and she struggled to push herself up, but she couldn't even look up at me.

I turned back to Blue Beetle and grabbed him by the collar, lifting his unconscious body with ease. The once-mighty hero, now just a broken shell in front of me. My fingers tightened around his suit as I drew one of my X-blades, its cold steel gleaming in the dim light.

With a smooth motion, I carved a deep "X" into the side of his cheek, marking him for the future. A reminder that when it came down to it, Red X was more than just a mask. It was a message.

"I'll finish this later," I muttered, stepping away from Blue Beetle's still form.

Behind me, Rose walked up, twirling Cyborg's mechanical arm in her hand as if it were some kind of trophy. His body lay a few feet away, unconscious, with not a single movement coming from him. Terra, over to the side, wiped her eyes after her earlier rage, having spent her frustration smashing Beast boy under a pile of rubble.

"Nice work, Rose," I said, eyeing the mechanical arm she was holding with approval.

"Thanks," she replied with a smirk, tossing the arm over her shoulder. "Cyborg's not going anywhere anytime soon."

Terra, looking pleased with herself, floated over on a piece of road she had turned into a makeshift hoverboard, her gaze lingering on the destruction around us.

"That felt good...next time it's Raven's turn," she muttered, though her face was still flushed with anger.

Jinx was finishing up her battle with Raven, the dark-haired empath on her knees, tears streaming down her face. I could hear Jinx's mocking voice, though it was hard to make out the words through the blood pounding in my ears. Raven was crying, and that was all that mattered.

"Let's go," I said, turning away from the carnage.

Blackfire floated down beside me, a smirk on her lips as she extended her hand. I took it without hesitation, and she effortlessly lifted me into the air, along with Jinx who was already flying alongside us.

The others followed suit. Terra on her hoverboard, Rose walking beside her as the team made its exit from the townsquare, leaving nothing but destruction in our wake.

The sound of sirens grew louder, but we were already far away, moving through the night. Jump City wouldn't be the same after this. The Titans were shattered, and the world was on notice.

The Lost Legion had arrived, and we weren't going anywhere.

To be continued. . .