At Night

Chapter one: The Dark

There weren't many left. When all had gone dim, in an utter trance of twilight, most had panicked and fled. Only a few townspeople and the Elders were still stationed there. Billowy clouds of gray dust and Celestial Ash had swarmed in the skies and struck fear into the remaining. But the brave and the bold held their swords high, hoping to slay the beast hidden inside the shadows…

Speedy awoke with a jump and scream. He tried to breathe easy, but was so hard after God knows how many times. He pulled his knees up tight to his chest, and hung his head in a way so that his kneecaps slightly touched his eyelids. He was so sick of these dreams, these nightmares that crept up on him during the night. It was the same thing over and over.

The door slid open quietly, but Speedy already knew who it was.

"Another?"

Speedy sniffed, "Yeah. I swear if I keep having these, I'm gonna flat out be traumatized by the dark."

Aqualad stretched on arm across Speedy's back and sat next to him on the bed.

"It's going to be alright. It's just a nightmare."

"Doesn't feel like it…" Speedy murmured, leaning over so that his head rested between Aqualad's shoulder and chest. "It feels so real, and I hate it. It's like I'm there, it's so…so…"

"Relax." Aqualad pulled Speedy into a sort of one armed hug, only Speedy's arms were still locked around his legs. "I'm right here."

"He had another one."

"I'll be right there."

The air in the Titans East tower seemed too thin to Speedy. He also thought the windows were too big and the pools were too clear. Everything was too much, even the moon seemed too bright. The dim light cast tall shadows on the floor that made him shiver when he looked at them. He jumped a little when he saw a dark figure walking towards him.

"Dick's coming soon. Should I get Bee?"

"N-no, she'll try to give me Nyquil or something to make me sleep."

"Are you alright? You seem a lot tenser than any of the other times."

"I'm f-fine Garth, really. Just c-come sit down."

Aqualad hesitantly walked over to the dark couch and sat next to Speedy.

"You're shivering…Roy, are you hiding something from all of us?"

Speedy swallowed. Sure, he was hiding something. He's hidden something from everyone ever since he joined the Titans East.

"I…"

There was a faint pounding noise.

"That must be Dick. I'll be right back."

"You know, e-ever since he inst-stalled those turbo engines, he's been g-getting here a lot q-quicker."

"Wasn't that the point of the turbo engines?"

"…t-touché."

Aqualad walked off in the direction of the door. He soon walked back with their multi-colored friend, Robin. He had an annoyed look on his face, complete with untidy hair and a half-donned cape.

"I don't understand why you only have these at night. I mean, you sleep all the time in the day, but you only have nightmares at night?"

"Th-that's why it's c-called a NIGHT mare, sh-shortpants."

"Don't get smart with me, I'm pissed off already. And they cover my legs!"

"…didn't use to…"

"Ugh. Alright, what I'm going to do is make you fall asleep again. Then, Garth and I will watch you while you sleep-"

"Wawawawawait. Lemme get this straight; you two are gonna watch me s-sleep?"

"Well that's what I just said."

"…please proceed."

"…then we're going to wake you up as soon as we see signs of stress."

"And what good is that going to do?!"

"We won't have to hear your girly scream." Aqualad snickered.

"It's not girly. It's a 120% MANLY scream. And, I'll still see…you know…scary things."

"That's the thing. We'd like you to tell us what you see."

"I…I can't…"

"Why not?"

"B-because…they told me not to."

"Roy, who's 'they'?"