Jericho looked over his shoulder, almost tripping. He was being chased by... by... he couldn't even say his name!

He leaned against a boulder. Maybe he had lost him...

"Hello, Jericho. Long time... no see."

XXX

"What's up, Robin? Why'd you have to go and call a emergency meeting right as I was doing' the paint job, man?" Cyborg moaned.

Beast Boy nodded. "Yeah, and I was almost on level 45 of Super Monkey Smash down, why can't this stupid meeting wait unti-"

Robin glared at him. "Because our friend, Jericho, just sent us a distress signal!"

Raven coughed. "Jericho? Why would he... doesn't he live in a field of flowers, playing music all day? Why would he be in trouble?"

Robin shrugged, apparently still angry. "How should I know? The dude can't talk! We should get going, if we want to help him in time."

XXX

"Do you really think they'll accept you? Do you really believe that they will still be your friends, after they find out about... me?" Slade shoved Jericho against the boulder. There was a sharp crack, and the boy gasped in pain. He looked up at the villain with pleading eyes, but apparently Slade wanted none of it. He grasped Jericho's injured shoulder and threw him as far as he could. Jericho landed just yards away from the man. Slade took a running start and kicked him. The boy rolled a couple feet and stopped, motionless. After a few moments, he rolled over, gasping for breath, and wincing at how much it hurt to breath.

"Still awake, are we? Well, we'll just have to fix that!" He raised his fist and punched Jericho in the stomach, multiple times, cracking a few ribs and successfully knocking the blond unconscious.

He grinned, behind his mask, and slung Jericho over his shoulder.

"Put him down, Slade!"

The man turned, scowling. "Robin, how nice to see you agai-"

"I'm not here to talk, Slade." Robin growled. "I'm here to save my friend. Titan's Go!"

Slade chuckled. "Very well." He threw Jericho to the ground, and got into a fighting stance.

Cyborg rushed at him, gun canons charging. Starfire, who was very angry that Slade dared to hurt her friend, came at him with glowing green eyes and fists full of fire. Beast Boy morphed into a rhino and ran toward him at full speed, but Slade turned just in time and jumped into the air, flipping to avoid star bolts, and landed on Cyborgs shoulder. Slade grabbed Cyborgs wrist and pulled him toward the edge of the boulder. The man dodged a black glowing chunk of earth and used a metal arm to deflect a boomerang from Robin.

Robin turned to Raven. "Raven! Go to Jericho and get him out of here! We'll meet you back at the tower!"

Raven nodded, and ran to Jericho, who was still motionless on the ground. She picked up the unconscious boy and flew out of there, quick.

Slade growled. Then he laughed and threw something at the ground. He turned, waving, and jumped of the edge of the cliff as smoke filled the air.

As soon as the smoke cleared, Robin growled. "He got away! … Again." He sighed, jumping into the Titan's jet.

Cyborg climbed in behind him, and a green frog jumped in the back.

"Awe, man. We almost had him, too!" Beast Boy pouted.

Robin shook his head. "Not now, Beast Boy. Right now, all we can do is go back to the tower and see if Jericho is alright."

XXX

Jericho opened his eyes. Five figures where standing over him.

"-not sure if Slade got what he wanted. He might be back, and soon. We'll have to-"

"Guys! He's awake!"

His vision cleared, and Jericho attempted to rise, but fell back from the pain. He looked up at his friends, the Titans.

"Yeah, getting up might not be the best choice for you." Robin scowled.

Jericho's heart thudded. Robin. He knew. He knew about...

XXX

Robin watched as Jericho's eyes widened. They looked at him in fear, and Robin swore that they said, Please don't hurt me!

But that was ridiculous. Why would they hurt him?

Robin almost had to resist a face palm. Of course. Your frowning. Jericho is sensitive. He probably thinks your angry with him, not Slade.

Jericho tried to get up again, but Robin gently pushed him back down. His hand shook. Jericho was trembling.

"It's alright, Jericho! We're not going to hurt you!"

The other Titans look at him in confusion, but once they caught sight of their friends face, they understood.

Raven pushed her hood back. "Yeah, Jericho. We're your friends. Friends don't hurt each other!'"

Cyborg nodded. "Of course! Plus, why would we? We don't have a reason to."

Beast Boy patted the blond on the shoulder. "Yeah, dude. Ease up a bit! We just wanna ask you a few questions!"

Robin nodded." Beast Boys right, Jericho. We just want to know why Slade was after you!"

XXX

Jericho relaxed. So... they didn't know? They... they didn't know about.. about him? He looked up at Robin. Just because he didn't know, doesn't mean they were not angry with him. Maybe he did something wrong..."

Robin smiled. "There. Better? Okay, I'm gonna ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer them. Just a few questions. Then we'll let you rest up a bit, alright?"

Jericho nodded, but he didn't let his guard down. His eyes were still wide, as he looked around at his friends faces.

XXX

"Why was Slade chasing you?" Robin asked.

Jericho raised his hand to answer. I don't know. I didn't get a chance to talk with him. He seemed to just want to hurt me. But he did keep talking about you, asking where you were.

Robin froze. Was Slade hunting down his friends?

"D-did he ask you to give him anything? Or t-to join him?"

Jericho tilted his head. Um... no. he didn't. He asked me to..."

Robin leaned forward. "Do you know him? What's your relation with him?"

Suddenly Jericho's eyes filled with tears. Robin leaned back quickly. Was he too pushy? Jericho shut his eyes tightly, and the tears spilled over and rolled down his cheeks. He started to cough, violently.

Cyborg jumped up as the heart monitor started to beep too fast. "Uh, Robin! I think that's enough questions for now!"

They spent the next half hour trying to get Jericho to calm down, and he was soon asleep again, with the monitor beeping at a slow pace.

Cyborg sat down heavily. "Phew! Poor guy. I wonder what Slade did to him to get him like this."

Robin shook his head. "I don't know, Cy. I just don't know..."