I would like to say this beforehand because I don't want the Jericho fangirls getting angry: THIS IS NOT A JERICHOXOC FANFIC. Yes, there is an OC in the fanfic but she in no way gets involved romantically with J. He's too good for her.

Oh, and another thing: this is going to evolve into a fanfic. I don't know exactly how long it'll be but I do have a story in my mind and will be adding on to this.

Anyway, please enjoy.

Big thank you to XxPhoenix FlightxX for all your help.


Silence Says a Great Deal

You know the Teen Titans watched over Jump City and you know the Titans East guarded Jump City. What you do not know is there was another, smaller city called Silver City and it had a very special guardian indeed.

A guardian that two unsuspecting thieves were about to meet.

Both were men in their late-thirties and wore black clothing, including black ski-masks to hide their faces. They carried sacks of money which they'd stolen from the Silver City Bank. The sirens of police cars rang in their ears but they simply darted into a gloomy alley and blended into the shadows while the cop cars drove right past. Breathing heavily from adrenaline and running as fast they could, the two burglars were silent for a moment before one recovered. He then chuckled and slapped the other's shoulder boyishly.

"Not bad for one run, eh, Joe?" He laughed to himself. His companion gave him a weak grin as he struggled to get his breath back, being the more heavy-set and less athletic one of the two.

"Not bad . . . at all." Joe wheezed as evenly as he could manage. The two of them didn't notice the figure creeping up behind them in the darkness until Joe's companion got his feet knocked out from under him. "What happened, Eddie?" Joe asked, still trying to get his breath back.

Eddie shook his head while he sat up on his hands and knees and frowned. "I don't know. I must've slipped or . . ." His voice trailed off as he raised his head and found himself staring into a pair of hypnotic green eyes. Those eyes dragged him in like the tide and he lost his focus as well as his awareness as the withes of the eyes changed to black and the robber felt another presence inside of his mind.

"Get . . . out." He growled before the essence took control of his body completely.

Joe watched nervously as his friend shook his head again and stood up with more agility than he'd ever seen him with. "Eddie?" Joe inquired anxiously. "You okay, man?"

His friend turned to him and Joe let out a high-pitched squeak. Instead of his familiar, hard brown eyes, Eddie had striking green eyes that seemed to pierce Joe's soul.

"Get . . . it . . . OUT!" Eddie screeched to Joe.

In response, Joe screamed in a surprisingly soprano pitch and panicked uselessly. Eddie swore aloud at both Joe and the essence within him, and fought mentally against it but he found himself stepping closer to the shorter man. While Joe was distracted by his own fear, Eddie's fist raised above his head and come down on his friend's head. Almost immediately, Joe's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell to the ground unconscious. Eddie unwillingly knelt down and stared into his friend's blank face and closed eyes, which slowly opened on their own and glazed over while Eddie felt the . . . the being inside of him loosen its control and he saw a transparent figure lower itself into his accomplice's body.

As Eddie shook himself of the unnerving feeling of not being in control of one's own body, he mumbled, "What are you?" While standing up, he heard Joe speak in a cold voice that contained uncharacteristic knowledge.

"Call me Jericho."

Eddie's head jerked up to look at his friend in both astonishment and realization. Joe's glazed-over, hazel eyes changed to penetrating green as his body became possessed. "What the hell . . . ?" Eddie muttered in confusion.

"Don't call on hell for help." Joe said in an aberrantly sage voice. "I've got contacts there." Eddie stared at his comrade in horror as Joe, or rather the person controlling Joe, pulled back his fist and threw it forward into Eddie's gut. While Eddie doubled over and moaned in pain, he saw Joe's body shudder then a transparent teenage boy stepped out of him while Joe toppled over clumsily. When the boy solidified, Eddie saw that he wore black pants, a white shirt, a purple vest, a gold belt, and purple boots. His hair was blond and his green eyes were cold though his mouth was curved up into a small smirk. Eddie sneered and stood up just as Joe recovered completely and glared at the back of the boy's head.

"Stupid kid." He spat at the boy. "Why don't you—" The thief was cut off by a blow to the nose. Wailing pathetically, Eddie nursed his bleeding nose while the boy—Jericho—turned to Joe. With trembling hands, Joe clenched his fists, attempting to look tough, and swung his arm at the teenager, who dodged his punch easily. When he tried to hit the boy again, Jericho caught Joe's fist and threw him aside. Screaming dramatically, Joe fell backwards, slamming his head against the wall of the alley. He slumped to the ground limply while Jericho stalked towards him menacingly.

However, the hero froze when he heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. Slowly, the boy turned to find a gun being aimed at his head. Eddie had a manic sneer on his face while he continued hold his still-bleeding nose with his free hand.

"Nobody makes a fool out of us, punk." He growled. Jericho stared at him fearfully as the burglar's finger began to squeeze the trigger. He closed his green eyes and waited for the pain to come.

A shot rang out, followed by a yell of surprise and anger. When he felt no pain, Jericho's green eyes snapped open to see Eddie empty-handed, clutching his wrist which was bleeding lightly. The gun was nowhere in sight and the criminal looked terrified, and Jericho quickly saw why. A dark shape leapt from the shadows and collided with Eddie before either of the males could react. Eddie fell to the ground while the shrouded figure kicked him in the groin. Howling in pain, Eddie curled up in a feeble position, nursing his tenders. The figure began to stride towards the man and it was then Jericho saw the glint of a knife. Thinking quickly, Jericho turned and bent down to stare into the eyes of the barely-conscious accomplice. He easily took control of the other thief's mind and stood up. This man was less nimble but he would have to do. As Eddie's attacker raised the knife above their head, Jericho threw Joe against them and knocked them both to the ground. It was as they bolted to their feet and glared down at him that Jericho saw that the dark figure was a girl.

Her attire was that of a ninja; black clothing, black gloves, black boots, and a black mask that covered all of her head except her eyes, which were a striking golden color. They blazed with anger as she glowered at him, her fury making Joe snivel pitifully. She pulled back her fist and seeing her punch coming, Jericho was able to exit Joe's body just before the girl hit the thief's head and knocked him out again.

Jericho appeared behind her and she whipped around, swinging her fist out as she did so. He dodged it swiftly but then felt a glimmer of fear as he saw the knife in her other hand. Holding up his hands in surrender, Jericho backed away slowly but to his astonishment and alarm, the girl stepped toward him, following him while she lifted her knife above her head just as she had with Eddie. He braced himself, ready to dodge any oncoming attacks, but to his bewilderment, she whipped around and slammed the knife into the ground through Eddie's shirt, trapping him in place. When he saw that he was pinned, Eddie let out a stream of swear words that made Jericho scowl. Ignoring both of them, the girl squared her shoulders then turned and walked deeper into the alley without a backward glance.

After a moment of silent debate, Jericho made up his mind and hurried after the enigmatic ninja girl.

He moved soundlessly after her but then his foot kicked a pebble and sent it skittering across the cement. Instantly, the girl whipped around and tried to attack him but Jericho jumped back, frantically waving his hands in submission. Gradually, the girl relaxed her tense, ready stance and dropped her arms to her sides, and once she'd done so, Jericho relaxed slightly as well and boldly took a step closer. He debated whether to take another step but when he saw the look in the girl's eyes, he decided against it.

The girl studied him with her golden eyes and for a moment, they changed colors. They glazed over to a cerulean hue but when Jericho blinked in confusion, they'd changed back to gold. He shook his head then stared at her curiously. Much to his surprise, the girl folded her arms and leaned against the alley wall casually, crossing her legs and scrutinizing Jericho, disinterestedly. She moved with the air of an entirely different persona than the hostile fighter she'd been a few moments before. Now she seemed bored, cocky almost.

Unsure of anything about this girl, Jericho warily held up his hand and said using sign language, Thank you.

Jericho's green eyes bulged and his jaw dropped in surprise when the girl signed back, Caprice.

It took Jericho a moment to realize that Caprice was the girl's name. Once he'd realized that, he quickly signed back his own name: Jericho.

I know, was the ninja's reply.

Why are you here? Jericho signed carefully.

Caprice hesitated a moment and her golden eyes changed again, the irises glazing over until they lightened to sunny yellow, and then resumed their gold color. They narrowed thoughtfully and she titled her head slightly to the side before answer.

You.

Jericho blinked in confusion.

Me? Why me? He asked, staring at her for clarification. She immediately straightened up and rigidly stepped away from the wall while she replied.

To warn you. Danger.

What danger?

Your friends are in danger.

Jericho's blood ran cold and his pupils dilated with horror. What do you mean? What danger? He signed feverishly.

The Titans Tower. The crystal girl. A weapon. Her small hands moved with frantic speed as she repeated the same phrase numerous times. Finally, Jericho stopped her by grabbing her wrists and holding them still. Once she'd stopped signing, Jericho released her and her hands dropped to her sides limply. Her eyes changed for a third time but this time, switching to a vibrant pink color for an instant.

What weapon? Whose weapon? Jericho demanded silently. Now, though, the girl seemed numb. She stared straight at him with frightening vacancy in her expression. Caprice? Jericho asked more slowly. What danger?

Very slowly, as if she was moving underwater, Caprice shook her head. Jericho gently touched her arm and she jerked away from the touch. This girl reminded him of Starfire, an alien princess and fellow Titan. Starfire's powers relied on her emotions and like her, this girl's emotions were very extreme, which is what Jericho assumed changed her eye color.

For a few moments, she inspected him, and then finally she lifted her hands signed, Your father.

Jericho's blood ran cold and he broke out in cold sweat. He forced himself to lift his hands and reply, My father is dead.

No. Caprice signed vaguely.

He was killed. Jericho insisted.

No. He's alive. The girl frowned in frustration, her irises changing to white for a moment before she carefully signed, Weapon. It was then that Jericho realized that this girl didn't know sign language as well as he did. She was not like him.

Speak, he signed, and explain.

No. The answer was firm and resolute. No words.

Why not?

She didn't answer his question, but instead repeated, Your friends are in danger. A weapon. The crystal girl. That's all I know.

Jericho pondered her words for a moment. Crystal girl . . . ? Then it dawned on him. One of his close friends, a Titan called Kole, had the ability to harden her skin into an indestructible crystal layer. Kole had told him that when she'd first met the Titans, they'd been fighting Dr. Light in the Artic Circle when they'd all fallen into her home, an underworld. When Dr. Light had learned about Kole's power, he'd tried to kidnap her and use her crystalized self to power his suit. With the help of Kole's caveman companion, Gnarrk, the Titans had managed to save Kole and stop Dr. Light. Perhaps Jericho's father had a similar idea?

Immediately, Jericho shook his head as if to erase the thought from his mind. He turned his focus back to Caprice and said with his hands, My father is dead.

No. The ninja looked frustrated then her eyes deepened to a pretty violet color and when the color cleared to her usual golden hue, her eyes were sharp with deliberation. He sent me. He sent me to find you.

Why did he want you to find me? Jericho asked suspiciously.

Infiltrate the Titans. The girl struggled to explain, The crystal girl. A weapon.

Jericho deliberated this for a moment then inquired, He wanted to use me to get Kole?

Relieved that he understood, Caprice nodded her head. Jericho's green eyes narrowed in distrust and he demanded, Why shouldn't I turn you in to the Titans?

Bemusement flickered through the girl's golden eyes and she signed back, I'm a friend.

A friend?

I'm your father's apprentice. She clarified silently.

His distrust increased and he signed, If you're working with my father, you're an enemy.

Not working with. Working for. I'm no friend of your father. I have no choice.

At first, Jericho didn't understand but then comprehension flooded through him. This girl was not a volunteer. Like Robin had once been, she was being forced to be his father's apprentice.

If you're not with Slade, why are you here? If he sent you, what are you doing here?

Caprice gave him a knowing look. You know why.

He threatened you? Jericho guessed. With a quick change of her eye-color, Caprice blinked her momentarily bronze eyes and nodded miserably. So you're here because he forced you to find me and try and get my help in getting Kole? Caprice nodded again, this time more eagerly. But then, why are you telling me this?

I'm no friend of your father. She repeated then continued, If you and your friends stop your father then he cannot hurt my family and I will be free.

Jericho stared at her, reflecting her words for a moment, then signed, What about your eyes?

As if to reflect his question, Caprice's gold eyes flashed to amber before she replied, Your father paid scientists. He wanted me to have eyes like your Starfire. I'm a failed experiment. She started to sign something else but then stopped before he could understand what it was she was saying and dropped her hands to her sides.

Your eyes express your emotions? Jericho concluded.

Caprice nodded. They tried to imitate Starfire's powers. Her powers are based on her emotions so they tried to do that to me. It didn't work.

Jericho's mind was struggling to absorb everything but there was still one speck of doubt that needed to be satisfied. How do I know you're telling the truth about being against my father?

After a beat, Caprice signed back, You don't. But you could turn me in to Slade and see what happens. She shuddered almost invisibly. He would kill me slowly. Then she looked at Jericho pleadingly, her eyes flickering orange again, and said, I'm not doing this for me. My family is at risk as long as Master is alive. I need your help, not for me, but for them.

The last fleck of doubt was vanquished and Jericho nodded decidedly. I'll help you but I can't do it alone. We need the other Titans. We need to go to Jump City.

Caprice nodded, her shoulders sagging relief. Then she fearfully signed, Master can't find out I betrayed him. Otherwise he'll hurt my family.

Jericho smiled comfortingly. We won't let him hurt your family. And don't call him Master. You're not a slave.

She blinked and nodded slowly in agreement. Then she asked, You thought Slade was dead, didn't you? When Jericho nodded, she looked strangely satisfied as though this was something she'd been wondering about and had been seeking confirmation. Jericho studied the girl curiously then sighed. She was yet another name to add to Slade's list of victims, including names of both dead and alive people, harmed and unharmed people, willing and unwilling.

Silently, Jericho resolved that he would do whatever it took to stop his father and to keep both Caprice and Kole safe. They were two innocent girls and neither one of them deserved to suffer at the hands of his father.

What he didn't know was Caprice did not reveal everything to him, though she did so for his own safety, but her secrets were dangerous enough to kill someone, even two innocent girls.


Yep sooooooo that's the beginning. I know Jericho is way gentler than I made him appear but it was rather difficult to show how gentle he is when he's pwning two bad guys and meeting some weird ninja whose eyes change color and she apparently works for Slade. Hopefully, I'll be able to show more of his other side in the next chapter. I can't decide if I like it or not. I was rather pleased with the ending of the chaper. It took me a bit of time to come up with the right ending but I'd like to here what you think about the chapter in general. Please review, and suggestions/corrections are welcome but flames are not. Thank you.

-Ro