A new dawn

(life goes on...)

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

"Uggnngghhh…" groaned Robin, as he thrust his arm out and groped for the snooze button on his alarm clock. His fingers found the button and mashed it repeatedly, silencing the piercing wail. He rolled over in bed a few times, breathing heavily as he always did. After a minute of staring into nothing, he groggily sat up in the darkness of his room.

I have to get going, he thought.

Robin flopped out of bed and yanked the string that turned on the light in his windowless basement apartment. He slowly pulled his clothing on, his eyes still adjusting to the light. He munched through some cereal, wondering why he felt so tired. Didn't he always get up at 7:30 on weekday mornings?

I knew I was letting loose a little, but this is too much.

Shoving his books into his bag and popping on a coat, he went through the back door. He walked up the stairs in the landlord's backyard as he always did, bored with the thought of having to face yet another day of school. Life was so… predictable of late.

"Oh, come on!" muttered Robin as he suddenly noticed the sky. It was still dark, a little while before dawn.

"What's going on…?"

But his active mind interrupted his speech, giving him the unwanted answer. It was fall. He set his clock forward instead of back, causing him to rise quite a bit earlier than he had intended.

"Why didn't I think of that last night?" asked Robin, imploring his own mind. And his mind answered back. Better late then never.

Not wanting to go back inside, he began his usual half hour walk to school, deciding on getting to morning class early for a change. As he walked his seventeen year old self along the quiet sidewalk, he stared off into nothing while his mind went back through time.

---

"Officer, are you sure it was him?" asked an anxious Robin.

"Yup, we checked the remains. It was definitely him."

The Teen Titans were standing composedly, overlooking the huge valley of rubble. The entire underground complex had been blasted to kingdom come. Policemen and a few forensic investigators were scouring the crater of wreckage in one of the run down sectors of town.

"Let me take a look," said Cyborg. "I've been in enough bouts with Slade. My scanners can recognize his tissue."

"This way," said the policeman. He led Cyborg towards a small hole that had been excavated in the wreckage. Cyborg leaned over and scanned what was left within. The rest of the Titans looked on ominously. They were all thinking roughly the same thing, which Beast Boy then vocalized.

"He slipped up while making some high power explosives. Never thought it would end like this."

Robin kept staring at the rubble, as though hypnotized by it. How should he feel? Should he be happy? Sad? Apathetic? Cyborg walked back from the pit and stood in front of Robin. The two stared at each other seriously.

"It was him," said Cyborg. "He's gone."

---

"You're doing what?"

"I'm sorry Robin," said the mayor. He was a short, bald man who was keen of mind and mouth. He had also been a great mayor for Jump city, and a real ally to the Teen Titans throughout their days. Which is why Robin was so surprised to hear his words.

"We're pulling funding for Titans tower and shutting it down by the end of the month, Robin."

"But why?" asked Robin, like a child who wanted to know why his favourite toy had been taken away.

"You know why, Robin. The Teen Titans aren't needed anymore. Ever since Slade's demise, crime has dropped seventy percent. Our regular force can handle things now. Maintaining Titans Tower is very expensive, Robin."

"But…" mumbled Robin, trailing off.

The mayor got up from his desk and came around to Robin. He spoke to Robin as one adult did to another, though Robin was only half his age.

"You know I wouldn't do this if it weren't in the best interests of the city, Robin. It just isn't wise use of resources to fund a costly superhero team that isn't needed."

Robin hung his head in his hands, reluctantly muttering acknowledgment of what the mayor said.

---

"You're going where?"

"I'm moving to Gotham, Robin. They need help over there." Cyborg's voice sounded more mechanical than usual as he carried an armful of equipment through the garage under the tower.

"Yeah but…"

"My mind is made up," interjected Cyborg. He threw the last of his belongings into the back of the T-car and closed the trunk with a resounding thud. Cyborg turned to face Robin, in what would be one of their last visual exchanges. But Robin couldn't return the gaze, and again he hung his head down and rubbed his temples.

"Aw, c'mon man! We're leaving on good terms, right?" asked Cyborg.

"Yeah, yeah... You know we are, but…"

"So cheer up man! Let's go have a parting pizza party, just us. Everything on me!"

Cyborg walked off to the Titans tower phone that he would use for the last time, whistling as he went.

Damn, thought Robin. I knew this would happen. I knew we'd fall apart. First Raven follows that traveller, thinking she can learn new powers from her. Then Beast Boy up and leaves, following his nose. And now Cyborg….

---

A gust of cold wind blew across his face, yanking him back to the present. He had almost reached one of Jump city's many high schools, where he was educated every day like any other high school student. The mayor was kind enough to give him a sufficient monthly allowance to help him pay the usual costs of living. He had to shop for food, study for tests, and worry about the future. Would he return to crime fighting? Would he leave Jump city? Or would he settle down and try to find stable work?

For all intents and purposes, he led a normal life.

"Robin! Come look!" exclaimed a happy voice from behind him. Two arms grabbed him firmly around the chest as he was flown up towards the sky.

Almost normal. Starfire lived in her own place a few blocks away from his own, with a very… tolerant, understanding roommate. She attended the same school as him, and was even in the same grade in all classes. Except for English – she always had trouble with syntax.

"Starfire, what are you doing?" asked Robin through strained breath, becoming acquainted with the frigid breeze that a higher altitude afforded.

"I see you too have set the alarm clock forward," said Starfire with a slight giggle. At last, she stopped flying and held them both still in the air, two hundred meters above the ground.

"Look!" she exclaimed, exuberant as she usually was.

Robin stopped fidgeting around in her arms and looked out to the horizon. A beautiful sunrise was coming up, sending a creeping orange-red hue across the sky. Robin relaxed in her arms, and took in the sight for a few minutes.

"Were you thinking of things past, Robin?"

Robin took a deep breath.

"Yeah," he replied. "I know. I have to stop doing that."

They stayed afloat in silence as Robin though. How his life had changed! In only a few months, Slade was gone, the team was officially disbanded, and three of the people that he had spent much of his early teenage years had gone their own way. They were like family to him.

Thankfully, he still had his best friend with him. They still spent lots of time together, maturing as all normal people do throughout the unpredictable course of life.

It wasn't easy. Change is never easy.

But what can you do?

Life goes on.

The end