A/N: I figured since I made you guys wait over a week for the last update, I'd give you two quick ones. I'm in a writing mood, and no exams are going to bring me down!

Time Line: post "Titans Together."

Father

"The walls will tumble."

"Hey, Rob!"

I turned slightly, cutting off Bushido. "Just a sec," I requested, holding up a finger. Cupping my gloved hands around my mouth, I shouted, "What do ya' want, Cy?"

"Get over here!"

I rolled my eyes (masks are a wonderful invention when you're as sarcastic as I am). "Sorry," I muttered to Bushido who shrugged and waved me off. I stomped off through the crowds of Titans, chatting throughout the Common Room.

As pleased as I was that we defeated the Brotherhood of Evil – that they defeated the Brotherhood – I couldn't help my annoyance. Couldn't they have found some other place to meet? The Tower wasn't built as a hangout for a bunch of heroes!

Finally, I stood next to Cyborg, who had his hand on a blonde boy's shoulder. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked into the dark green eyes.

"Robin! I'd like to introduce you two! This little guy," and he patted the boy's shoulder, "helped B save us all! His name is-"

"Jericho," I finished smoothly, keeping my eyes on the boy's face. He watched me as carefully as I did him. "You forgot that I'm the one who invited everyone," I added, chancing a glance at my hybrid friend.

"Oh." Cyborg's face relaxed into a grin. "He's a great guy, you know. Not very talkative, though," he joked, chuckling.

The corner of my mouth turned up. "Ha-ha," I muttered.

Cyborg rolled his human eye. "Oh, lighten up, Rob. He sucks the fun out of everything," he informed Jericho.

Jericho's lips perked up slightly, but he stayed silent. I kept my mouth shut too. There was more to this than anybody else could see.

"Well..." Cyborg eyed us two, feeling the muddled feeling of tension spreading across the room. "I'll... uh... go see what Thunder's up to," he mumbled, disappearing into the mass behind us.

My insides twisted as I finally looked at him. I had heard so much about him months ago, even though he was given a different name. This name was used as a whip in the face or a slice in the back, used against me in-between the beatings.

It wasn't difficult to track down the boy after I was freed. And then, when everything came down to it, when I could finally meet the only person who was hurt worse than me, I sent Beast Boy in my place.

Coward.

I had been beaten down, self-tortured, haunted, had my flaws spread out for the world to see, and forced to work alongside of him. My team only knew a fraction of what I had gone through at the hands of that madman, and still they pitied me.

But this boy here had gone through far more than I had; yet here he stood: eyes lighter than I thought they could ever be, and a guitar slung over his shoulder.

At least I knew my father – both of my fathers – loved me. My father hadn't hurt me. Not really. Not like his father had hurt him.

He blinked slowly, waking me from my thoughts, and gave me a soft smile.

I smiled back. What else could I do?

I raised my hands. "Hello, Joey," I spelled out with my fingers.

His eyes brightened while his face paled. He looked at me with newly-acknowledged insight and raised his hands as well.

"Hello, Robin," he spelled back. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Me too. I've heard a lot about you."

His eyes narrowed slightly and they filled with the same fear I knew would fill my eyes when someone mentioned him. "Hopefully some of it was good."

I smiled slightly. It was bitter-sweet. "I can't say. He's not your usual fellow."

His smile was very, very sad. I'd never seen a sadder one. "No... No, he isn't."

I dropped my hands and said, "It's okay. He's gone."

He raised a sceptical eyebrow. "For good?"

I shrugged. "So they tell me. Still. Who knows him better than you and I?"

"He does."

I sighed. Point taken. I eyed him for a long moment, wondering how to say what I wanted to say without actually saying it.

I held out my hand. "It's good to have you on the team, Jericho."

He smiled back, a real smile. "It's good to be here," he signed before he shook my hand.

Perhaps, if I was in a worse mood, I would laugh at the irony of the situation. Here I was, welcoming the son of my worst enemy... And I wasn't lying whatsoever.

I wondered how it felt to him... To shake hands with the boy who had been forced to follow your father and to work with him and who hated him with everything he had. I wondered if Jericho hated that man too.

But somehow, looking at this boy, I had a feeling he didn't. I had a feeling he felt betrayed, and hurt, and tortured, and shattered... But that he didn't hate that man. I could understand why. It's hard to hate your father. Even if he destroyed your life. Even if he destroyed countless others. Even if he took away your power to speak...

There's just something about a father. Any father. And I thought I could relate a little too.

- - - FATHER - - -