Cyborg had, at Speedy's behest, unlocked the restraints that bound Aqualad. They proved to be ultimately pointless solely because Aqualad was too weak to really move from where he was. When Cyborg's heavy footsteps had faded away it was a fight for the Atlantean to merely brush cold fingers against Speedy's chin.
"Is this real?" Aqualad's voice was so faint and the question so obscure that Speedy had to have him repeat it. "Is this real, or are you just another illusion?"
"Real as they get, Fish Stick."
Garth looked into Roy's mask and tried to evaluate if the teen just a few inches from his face was the genuine thing. He touched Roy's face again, still tentative.
"Prove it," he demanded. Roy raised an eyebrow but obliged. He pulled down the glove on his left forearm, revealing a number of damning scars. He flushed, but Aqualad took a perverse sigh of relief at seeing them.
"Memories of you are the only things I won't let it get to. The last time it tried to mimic you it didn't know about the marks," he explained.
"You get to control what the demon finds out?"
The blue-clad Titan sort of shrugged indifferently. "I can hide little things if I try hard enough, but it knows about… what we were before."
Since he obviously was going to say "about us" Speedy decided to stray away from the subject. He took Aqualad's hand and clenched it, warming it. "Look, we're going to get you out of this. All you got to do is hang out for a bit and we're all in the clear."
"Blind optimism isn't something I thought I'd ever hear from you."
"Well, Raven seemed pretty sure about the situation."
"So she didn't tell you that it discovered my hiding place then?" Aqualad blinked slowly and looked away, his muscles resisting every slight movement. He wondered if maybe he could at least pick his head up off the table. Despite the effort his neck wouldn't show results. He groaned pathetically.
"No, she didn't say… But what does it matter? The next time she goes after it you'll be free of this thing forever, so why hide?"
"Roy, I could hear Raven fighting with it, and I was afraid she was losing… I went out to try to look for her; to try to help. The thing saw me, and now it knows where I was hiding. I've got no where else to go to get away."
"Even if you do have to lurk around for a bit there has to be someplace left that you can use." Speedy brushed Aqualad's long hair back over his shoulder. In happier times the Atlantean loved it when Speedy played with his hair, but now his dark eyes were empty and almost lifeless. "Garth, you're probably the smartest person I've ever known. You can figure something out. Outwit it somehow. I know you can."
"I can't. You don't understand what it's like in there. I'm nothing compared to it. There's just no way that I-"
"Stop talking like that. Just… stop. Raven said the demon would make you feel like that so you would give up more easily, so quit giving in. You're here now and you're alive, which means there's still hope. Raven and Jericho will help you fight the thing and get it out."
"Raven and Jericho are as useless as a bunch of sticks and there's nothing they can do."
Speedy grabbed Aqualad's arms and forcefully turned the withering boy so that their faces were literally inches apart. Speedy hissed, "Shut up! I will not give up on you! Raven said she had gained some ground that last time! She can expel-"
"Roy, Raven lied."
"She… what?" The archer realized his grip on Aqualad was so tight that it was doing him pain. He eased up and tried to calm himself while Aqualad shook his head. Tendrils of black strands fell in front of his face messily.
"If anything, the demonic force absorbed her spells and turned the magic against her. She gave everything she had in one last attack, but it only hurt the creature. It'll be back, it'll be stronger, and I won't be able to get away."
"If she gave all she got then we'll have to give her more firepower. Raven Roth can't be the only witch with knowledge about demonology in the neighborhood. We'll find some one, I promise."
"Do you know what that thing does to me? It taunts me constantly, giving me every detail about how it is going to use my powers to kill my family. The twins. Bumblebee. Raven. You. It puts images in my head," Aqualad paused to look at his own shaking, bony hands, "Even now it's in the back of my mine, making me imagine hurting you. Try to understand, Roy. I'm not afraid of dying. My only fear is the idea that I'm putting everyone in danger. I won't let anyone be the hero." He hesitated a moment before adding the striking blow. "Roy, if you ever loved me you'll support me in this."
It was a hard thing to swallow, and as the tightening in Speedy's throat grew more prominent he pulled Aqualad to him and hugged the other lovingly. He couldn't help it. Tears welled in his eyes and trickled down his cheek against his will, splashing down onto the Atlantean's shirt. If the wet spots soaking into his clothing didn't inform Aqualad that his ex was crying then the massive sob that escaped from the archer surely did.
In one of his last shows of emotion Aqualad rested a hand on Speedy's back and scratched it soothingly. "I'm sorry, Roy. You deserved more."
"Don't. I was the one who fucked up my chance at being with such a perfect guy, right?"
"Promise me you'll stop doing the drugs."
"Never again."
"And swear you'll never eat anymore fish."
Speedy smirked through his tears. "Hm. You know I can't give you that."
"Thought I would at least try." Aqualad tiredly pulled away from the archer and brushed the hair from his face. Speedy realized he'd been crying, too. "We should go talk to the others. I don't know how much longer I'll have control and there are a lot of people to get a hold of, you know."
He tried to get up on faltering legs. Speedy had to offer his hand for support. "I'll set up a link back to East. Twins and Bumblebee'll want to talk to you."
"Okay." The outcast prince took a deep breath and gave Speedy one final regard in the privacy of the quiet room.
The door hissed closed behind him, and trailing that was the noise of a heavy lock moving into place. Feeling more sure than ever Speedy took off down the hall in search of Raven.
---
Most of them were in the observation deck that overlooked the warded chamber. The few Titans that weren't there were with Aqualad.
Cyborg had built the restraint table with the best of alloys. A lot of work had gone into the makeshift prison to resist any force, even containing Aqualad's inhuman strength. A lot of work. He locked another restraint around Aqualad's upper arm, further securing him to the table once more.
"You look like you're playing the role of the grim executioner, Cyborg," whispered the victim as playfully as a dying warrior could. The mechanoid bit his lower lip.
"I feel like it, man."
"You're a great teacher. If we hadn't been so busy screwing around Titans East could have learned something from you."
The last lock went around Aqualad's left wrist. It's click echoed in the spacious room with finality.
"You learned everything I had to teach and then you improved on it." Cyborg rested his metallic hand upon his friends shoulder. He couldn't make eye contact, though. Something in him wouldn't let it happen. "You, uh… You sure you don't want something to eat at all? I could get Starfire to, you know…"
Aqualad couldn't shake his head because of once of the braces. He had to make it verbal. "If this demon is getting my body I'm going to put it in the worst condition possible: tired, hungry, and having to piss really bad."
This elicited a bark of dry laughter from Cyborg despite the heaviness in his chest. The moment didn't last long, because there was a sense within him to try and talk some sense into his friend. Aqualad always was an extremely grounded person and his decision to let go without a fight seemed so unnatural.
"Al, why won't you let Raven and Jericho-"
"Because it hurts, and I won't put anyone in a dangerous position for my sake. You understand this."
"Yeah. But understanding and accepting are two totally different things."
"I'm not afraid of what's going to happen," assured the brunette comfortingly, "We Atlanteans are always returned to the cycle of life. We live on. Death isn't an end."
Try as he might, these words did little to help Cyborg move from 'understanding' to 'accepting'. He had to pry himself away from the table that he had built, nodded his goodbye, and left before he started crying, too. Weeping over a guy that wasn't yet dead wouldn't do anyone any good, so his silent farewell was all he could give.
Cyborg left the warded chamber with the hiss of a hydraulic door, the loud clank of the lock automatically sealing behind him. Aqualad sighed and whispered after him, "Goodbye, Cyborg."
---
"I can't to that, Speedy," Raven was trying to convince the archer, a look of concern and apprehension in her eyes. "He explicitly stated that we were not to involve ourselves in this fight again."
"He explicitly said that to you. I wasn't involved in that contract. And, come on, I know deep down you don't want to roll over."
"It's still deceitful. I gave him my word, and who are we to interfere with his last request?" she snapped, a rise of anger beginning to surge within the depths of her chest. She had to focus on harnessing that emotion before it escaped, resulting in another injured Titan. "And to be perfectly honest, I feel he's right. That entity is immensely powerful, and even if we did face it again I can't be entirely sure that we have a chance of defeating it."
"No one can ever be entirely sure of the outcome of a fight! Anything can happen by sheer luck! I mean, fuck, The Medium wasn't even a particular enemy of ours until all this happened!" The redhead's heart was racing; his breathing came in heavy pants. He hadn't meant to become so worked up, but his ability to control his behavior wasn't improving under stress.
"Speedy, I'm going to let you on in a little secret," taunted the witch monotonously. Speedy felt a little nervous. "I don't broadcast it, but I am actually empathic. Do you know what that is?"
"Yeah. You sense things in other people, like emotions."
Her tone softened considerably. "I know you love him, and I know you want to protect him even at risk of getting yourself hurt. But Speedy, he feels the exact same way about you, and about everyone else. He will not permit us to put ourselves in danger for him."
"Raven, if you can feel the kind of emotion I've got for that stupid, self sacrificing pessimist then you'd understand that I'm just as willing to go down with him as I am for him," the eyeless mask hung heavily towards the floor, "I can't ask you to go in with me, and I won't, but I can't just sit back and let this all happen."
She ran her hand through her hair anxiously and bit down on her bottom lip, not feeling her teeth cutting the gentle flesh. Speedy softly took her by the shoulders and swallowed his pride. He begged her.
"Please, Raven. Don't make me watch him die."
With a sigh of resignation the spell caster closed her eyes and gave herself over. There was no denying the strong bond between Speedy and Aqualad, nor was there fighting the feeling of obligation to not stop fighting for one of her friends.
"If we do this we'll do it on my terms. The others won't know about it, Jericho comes with us and we fight with everything that we have," she paused dramatically, "But, Speedy, the moment that the battle turns so far against us that we can no longer convince ourselves that we can prevail I will take us out, no warning and no questions asked. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly. Problem will be getting the others to not notice us subtly reinitiating this ritual. You'd think they might pick up on the reason for the chanting."
"We'll figure it out," she dismissed the problem easily. Still, she appeared more gloomy than what Speedy was used to. He was afraid maybe she needed a confidence boost.
"Hey, you're doing the right thing here. Thank you."
"What? Oh. Oh, it's not that. I was just wondering why all the cute guys are either taken or gay."
"Or possessed by demons," he tacked on lightly.
Without cracking a smile she concluded with, "Or all of the above. Starfire'd be crushed. Regardless, we should go find Jericho. I'm sure he's waiting for me to come find him for this sort of purpose, the smug mute."
---
They had crowded in the unlit room that overlooked the warded chamber. Though there was ample space in the hub the Titans had unconsciously clumped together here, giving secretive bumps and touches to one another to let them for a needed feeling of togetherness. All except for Speedy, who was sitting against a wall on the far side of the room.
They were waiting for a lot of things. Waiting for Bumblebee and the twins to get there. Waiting for Aqualad. Seconds ticked on slowly, not giving anyone a sense that time was, in fact, moving forward.
Raven would soon be putting Aqualad in a persistent unconscious state, explaining this would make his looming departure physically peaceful despite whatever would be happening in his mind. If the Atlantean did not survive the witch would command the weakened demonic creature into the Centauri moon diamond where it could be contained and locked away forever.
Or so most of the Titans believed.
Raven came up on the group quietly, a book in hand. "I found the spell that will put him at ease," she whispered, "but I'll need you with me, Jericho. And Speedy? He… Aqualad wants you to be there as well."
The two boys pretended to be surprised by this requirement of their presence, but it was all staged and rehearsed. This was the only way to pull the two away from the rest of the group without drawing suspicion to themselves. And it seemed to have worked: everyone just looked as though they were attending a funeral, which meant that no one was about to contest this. The archer and guitarist left without harassment.
After they had gone Robin crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling. How could this be happening? A Teen Titan was about to die, all because he tried to stop a bank heist!
Because he was doing what they did every day.
It could just as easily been anyone else. Another East member; one of the many Honorary Titans; it could have been Beast Boy or Starfire. Instead it was probably one of the most indefatigable, legendary heroes of their generation. He was one of the good guys, so how could he possibly lose?
Angry, Robin made his way across the room to the bay window. He wanted to punch the glass and make it shatter. Wanted to, but refrained.
He looked down to where Raven, Speedy and Jericho were all gathered around Aqualad. The Atlantean was not awake, so must have been unaware of Jericho's hand resting on his own. Speedy's head was bowed, and in a rare show of pity Raven had held his hand. How could all of this be happening?
Robin had caught on to Speedy's intimacy with the wounded Aqualad, and even though the Boy Wonder couldn't agree with what was clearly going on it was not his place nor was it the time for him to voice his opinion. He tried to compare their situation to his and Starfire's but it did little to set his mind at ease. Aqualad may have been able to alleviate Speedy's reckless nature, but them being a thing would definately cause more problems than it would solve.
Why was Raven levitating? The spell was over, so why…?
"Oh, no," Robin murmured in horror as realization struck him like a bolt of lightening. He slammed his palms against the glass, but none of the three Titans below looked up as Raven completed the ritual.
