"It's over." Ebony hair hung into a masked face as the rapturous wind blew
the silken strands from the young man's handsome face. A sigh parted his
soft lips as he gazed upon the destruction wrought by the last battle with
Slade. The last attack had been strategically placed by Slade and been a
surprise, to him at any rate. The Tower lay in smoldering ruins and blood
scorched the earth like crimson rain. How it all started was still a blur
to him, but the last five minutes had lasted an eternity too long.
He had faced Slade with an overbearing confidence and in being so naïve and arrogant he had almost lost everything. One slender hand reached up and snaked through his dark hair; his thoughts filled with the shadow of what could have happened. He could have lost them all. If it hadn't been for a mistake on Slade's part he and the rest of those he had come to love over the years would be lying among the ruins. But that wasn't the case; they had survived. They had finally won.
"Robin," her soft voice broke his depressed thoughts as she easily glided over to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder as she looked over their old headquarters with tear stained eyes, "it is never over." Her lilting voice sent chills down his spine as he gazed over the changed landscape with her. All he wanted to do was take the fiery red head in his arms and tell her it would all be all right. But, no, that was wrong: it would never be all right.
"Dude, Star's right," a green young man piped up, cold perspiration resting on his brow. "That was just one evil maniac; where there's one, there's hundreds." Four years had passed since the group had first learned of Slade and drastic changes had overtaken them all, Beast Boy the most. Instead of stupid jokes he was actually beginning to make sense. Or maybe it was just that they all understood him better now.
Robin tore his gaze from the ruins to look at his friends, his breath catching in his throat as he just looked at them all. They were glorious. Despite the numerous cuts and blood that flowed freely from them all they were magnificent. Such were all heroes caught in a desperate battle; beautiful until the end. But this was not the end, was it? How much more could they do? Where could they go? It was all over.
Once again it was Starfire who brought him from his thoughts of gloom. She had wrapped her arms around him, her blood mingling with his, and slowly pulled him up. He obliged and walked to the other Titans; smiles and tears decorating each face. All except for Raven. She was quiet. Even so, the look in her eyes and the brightness of her eyes were give aways that she was feeling. Feeling what they all felt. They were all one. One and all; forever and ever until the end.
Slowly, as if embarrassed by the small act of relief and kindness arms randomly wrapped about different people until the group was in one huge hug. A bone crushing hug. The breath was out of everybody's lungs, but no one cared to break the contact enough to move, so they didn't. Robin felt hot tears drop onto his fair cheeks and it took a moment for him to realize that he was crying. Wonder Boy. The leader of them all. Big, tough Robin was crying.
And he didn't care.
Everyone was crying. Crying and kissing and hugging. One tight mass of love. Stars danced in his eyes as Starfire tentatively leaned towards him and softly planted her lips on his. The two had never spoken of their feelings for one another, but for all who noticed it was obvious. It seemed that both felt the same way about not telling: if you let it known who you cared for the most it would be used against you. And well, if he lost her it would be the end; and vice versa. Smiling at the brief kiss his hand slowly reached up towards the mask on his face.
Four questioning faces turned towards him as he removed it in one swipe. He had never taken it off before; not even for them. Only Bruce and Albert had seen his face after his parents died, and he hadn't felt the need to show anyone else. Well, now was the time. Sea blue eyes locked momentarily with each of the Titans, only to linger on Starfire a while more before he slung the mask back on; content that he had shown his other side. The others wouldn't ask or say anything about it. They respected him and any privacy he had; as he did with them. One last kiss to them all and they broke apart, reluctant to let go of one another.
Silence pass for minutes, days, years. It seemed to last too long and yet end too soon. Yet, it was Raven who broke it; for once stating the obvious and not being sarcastic at all.
"What now?" Her question was so simple it hurt. What did they do now? Robin felt a wave of despair roll over him as his masked eyes took the surroundings in again. They couldn't stay here; too much had happened, and it had happened all too soon for the seventeen year old. His eyes briefly clenched shut as tears threaten to once again spill out. Sensing the hard question Raven put an awkward hand on his shoulder, showing that she really did care. Or maybe she was showing support. Did she know? Robin almost shuddered at the thought of her knowing; he hadn't told anyone. Not yet anyway. But now, now was the time.
His hand reached into his pocket as he fumbled with the letter that he had stored safely in there. The dried blood and sweat on the letter made it difficult to make out the elegant writing, but he had memorized what it had said days ago. Holding the letter limply in his hand he didn't say anything to anyone of them; not wanting to see their reactions for not telling them immediately when the opportunity had come upon them.
"Who's it from, dude?" Beast Boy asked eagerly; a childlike impatience burning in his eyes that all had gotten used to over the years. Behind him Cyborg focused his eyes on Robin, intent on hearing the answer as well. Everyone was eager. Starfire had a vague questioning in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe he didn't tell her; but she, like everyone else knew he had secrets. They all did. Finally, raising his head to look them all straight in the eyes he spoke strongly, confidently.
"Batman."
He had faced Slade with an overbearing confidence and in being so naïve and arrogant he had almost lost everything. One slender hand reached up and snaked through his dark hair; his thoughts filled with the shadow of what could have happened. He could have lost them all. If it hadn't been for a mistake on Slade's part he and the rest of those he had come to love over the years would be lying among the ruins. But that wasn't the case; they had survived. They had finally won.
"Robin," her soft voice broke his depressed thoughts as she easily glided over to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder as she looked over their old headquarters with tear stained eyes, "it is never over." Her lilting voice sent chills down his spine as he gazed over the changed landscape with her. All he wanted to do was take the fiery red head in his arms and tell her it would all be all right. But, no, that was wrong: it would never be all right.
"Dude, Star's right," a green young man piped up, cold perspiration resting on his brow. "That was just one evil maniac; where there's one, there's hundreds." Four years had passed since the group had first learned of Slade and drastic changes had overtaken them all, Beast Boy the most. Instead of stupid jokes he was actually beginning to make sense. Or maybe it was just that they all understood him better now.
Robin tore his gaze from the ruins to look at his friends, his breath catching in his throat as he just looked at them all. They were glorious. Despite the numerous cuts and blood that flowed freely from them all they were magnificent. Such were all heroes caught in a desperate battle; beautiful until the end. But this was not the end, was it? How much more could they do? Where could they go? It was all over.
Once again it was Starfire who brought him from his thoughts of gloom. She had wrapped her arms around him, her blood mingling with his, and slowly pulled him up. He obliged and walked to the other Titans; smiles and tears decorating each face. All except for Raven. She was quiet. Even so, the look in her eyes and the brightness of her eyes were give aways that she was feeling. Feeling what they all felt. They were all one. One and all; forever and ever until the end.
Slowly, as if embarrassed by the small act of relief and kindness arms randomly wrapped about different people until the group was in one huge hug. A bone crushing hug. The breath was out of everybody's lungs, but no one cared to break the contact enough to move, so they didn't. Robin felt hot tears drop onto his fair cheeks and it took a moment for him to realize that he was crying. Wonder Boy. The leader of them all. Big, tough Robin was crying.
And he didn't care.
Everyone was crying. Crying and kissing and hugging. One tight mass of love. Stars danced in his eyes as Starfire tentatively leaned towards him and softly planted her lips on his. The two had never spoken of their feelings for one another, but for all who noticed it was obvious. It seemed that both felt the same way about not telling: if you let it known who you cared for the most it would be used against you. And well, if he lost her it would be the end; and vice versa. Smiling at the brief kiss his hand slowly reached up towards the mask on his face.
Four questioning faces turned towards him as he removed it in one swipe. He had never taken it off before; not even for them. Only Bruce and Albert had seen his face after his parents died, and he hadn't felt the need to show anyone else. Well, now was the time. Sea blue eyes locked momentarily with each of the Titans, only to linger on Starfire a while more before he slung the mask back on; content that he had shown his other side. The others wouldn't ask or say anything about it. They respected him and any privacy he had; as he did with them. One last kiss to them all and they broke apart, reluctant to let go of one another.
Silence pass for minutes, days, years. It seemed to last too long and yet end too soon. Yet, it was Raven who broke it; for once stating the obvious and not being sarcastic at all.
"What now?" Her question was so simple it hurt. What did they do now? Robin felt a wave of despair roll over him as his masked eyes took the surroundings in again. They couldn't stay here; too much had happened, and it had happened all too soon for the seventeen year old. His eyes briefly clenched shut as tears threaten to once again spill out. Sensing the hard question Raven put an awkward hand on his shoulder, showing that she really did care. Or maybe she was showing support. Did she know? Robin almost shuddered at the thought of her knowing; he hadn't told anyone. Not yet anyway. But now, now was the time.
His hand reached into his pocket as he fumbled with the letter that he had stored safely in there. The dried blood and sweat on the letter made it difficult to make out the elegant writing, but he had memorized what it had said days ago. Holding the letter limply in his hand he didn't say anything to anyone of them; not wanting to see their reactions for not telling them immediately when the opportunity had come upon them.
"Who's it from, dude?" Beast Boy asked eagerly; a childlike impatience burning in his eyes that all had gotten used to over the years. Behind him Cyborg focused his eyes on Robin, intent on hearing the answer as well. Everyone was eager. Starfire had a vague questioning in her eyes, as if she couldn't believe he didn't tell her; but she, like everyone else knew he had secrets. They all did. Finally, raising his head to look them all straight in the eyes he spoke strongly, confidently.
"Batman."