As we approached my old hometown, i felt icy dread flow freely through my being. I
don't know how Katie had managed to continue living here after what happened
without getting this aweful feeling that i had right now. Of course, she hadn't seen
the worst of it, but she had seen enough. I swallowed my dread and apprehension
as i switched on my mic, forcing my voice to sound somewhat cheery. "We're
about there, you can land here if you want, it's only a five minute walk to town. I
don't want to cause a riot or anything with the ship." "Alright, as soon as we find a
good spot." Cyborg replied. A minute later we were all hoping off the ship into the
same woods i used to play in all the time. "Are you sure you know where you're
going?" Robin asked. "Yep, i used to come here all the time. If we head straight
south we should hit the town square within 10 minutes." Before any of them could
say anything, i'd pulled a backpack over my wings and the hood from my sweatshirt
over my head. "Um-" "Don't ask." I interrupted Beast Boy in a tone that very clearly
stated; I don't want to talk about it. They seemed to get the message, and i led
them through the forest, carrying Katie when she got tired. Just like i'd predicted,
we popped out at the town square, and from there it was only a few minutes to,
well, everywhere in town. It was an incredibly tiny town, I wondered briefly how the
Titans would react since they were so obviously city people. I could only hope that
that was the reason people were staring. "Kaida, why is everyone staring at us like
that?" Robin asked. "Yes, it is creepy, correct?" Star added. I sighed, then thought
about how to put this without hurting anyone's feelings. "Well, meta humans aren't
really that common down here, most of them probably haven't even seen one
before." "But, you lived here your whole life, did you not?" Starfire asked, confused.
"There's something you're not telling us." Raven pointed out, and i knew there was
no point in denying it. "Yes." I confirmed, but didn't elaborate, hoping they would let
the subject drop. Unfortunately, that simply wasn't in a certain boy wonder's nature
to let a subject drop while he still had questions. Actually, thinking back on it, i'm
surprised he hadn't interrogated me sooner. "I can understand that you might have
some secrets you can't tell us, but could you give us some answers here? Like why
people are looking at us like we like we're monsters or something?" I winced at his
choice of words. Oh, he had no idea how close he was to the truth. "Look, i'll
explain everything once we get a certain 7 year old taken care of, okay? I promise."
They all seemed to except this and we continued on, trying to ignore the obvious
stares of people. Couldn't they at least try to be subtle? Once we reached a certain
street, I told the Titans to wait there until i dropped Katie off. They looked like they
wanted to protest, but i was already halfway down the street with Katie. I stopped
in front of the achingly familiar white house, and knelt down next to Katie. "Time for
you to go home Kat." I used my old nickname for her, hoping to bring her some
comfort. She looked up at me with those big watery eyes, and i almost completely
backed out. Almost turned around and walked back to the titans and declared that
Katie was staying with me. That she wouldn't go back to her aunt, to her old town,
to her old life. Her life without me in it. I squashed down all those feelings as fast as
my heart would allow it. This is what's best, for Katie. I reached out and embraced
her in a tight hug, using every ounce of my willpower to pull away. It's best for her.
Just because my life had to be so unpredictable, dangerous, and abnormal; that
didn't mean her's had to be. I wanted her to live a happy, safe, normal life. And that
was something i just couldn't give her. No matter how much i wished i could. Before
i pulled away, i whispered; "I love you Little Dragon." I had called her that a few
times when she was little and jealous of my wings. She gave me an innocent smile,
and said; "Promise you'll come see me?" "Of course, how could I stay away from
the greatest kid ever." I ruffled her hair, and began to slowly trecked up the
walkway to the front door. Hit the doorbell before i could change my mind, and
stood with Katie in front of me. After a minute, the door opened, revealing a woman
in her mid thirties, with pitch black hair that looked exactly like Katie's, blue eyes,
and deeply tanned skin. She froze when she saw who was standing at her door.
Then she had pulled Katie away from me into a tight embrace. "Oh, Katie, i thought i
lost you too." She regained her composure and stood up, looking at me. Her gaze
was calculating, somehow managing to look terrifying, but comforting at the same
time. I'll never know how she does that. I felt like i was an animal, and she was
judging whether or not to eat me now, or wait another year. When she captured
me in a hug too, i let out a breath i didn't know i was holding. Me and my aunt had
had, difficulties after the accident. She hadn't approved of any of my actions since,
accept one; trusting her with Katie. Me and her had never seen eye to eye on
anything accept Katie's safety. What was best for her. She pulled away and looked
at me. "I don't know how you did it, but thank you for bringing her back." "Of
course, Sue. You know i would never let anything happen to her." "Of course." She
replied, but i could sense she wasn't 100 percent sincere. Of course, i hadn't
expected anything different. How could anyone trust me after what happened? I
didn't even trust me. I shook myself out of my thoughts long enough to give her a
1 minute version of what happened. She nodded when i finished. "If it was your
enemy that caused this, how do you know it won't happen again?" "I don't." I
admitted. "But Slade's one of a kind. He's been watching me for a while, planning
this. And after what happened, he won't try it again. And none of my other enemies
are smart or clever enough to pull something. She'll be okay as long as she's here.
If she was with me, things would be different. But just in case." I reached into my
backpack pocket and pulled out a communicator and handed it to Katie, who's eyes
lit up. "If you ever need me, Katie, I'll be there. I promise." She threw herself at me
in one last hug that would've put Starfire to shame, then i began my walk down the
driveway. Before i left the lawn, Sue called out to me. "You know you've got a
home here, Kaida. If you ever need it." "Thanks." I replied. "But i already have
home." I turned and walked back to the Titans.
"Where are we going?" Beast boy asked in a whiny voice. It took all my willpower
not to strangle him. "Beast Boy, for the hundredth time, i'll tell you when we get
there!" I had to struggle to keep my voice down. As we walked down the street of
my old hometown, I couldn't help but glance around nervously. I just hoped no one
would recognize me. That would be disastrous. Finally I turned and led the Titans
down an old overgrown path into the woods. We didn't go far before i stopped in
front of a house. Or what used to be a house. Now it was mostly piles of rubble and
ash, with only some of the walls still standing. When i saw it, a wave of nausea hit
me hard as unwanted memories flooded my mind. I forced it down and said, "This
was my home." I stared at the house as i spoke, not able to meet there eyes.
"Around a year ago, there was an accident. I woke up one night, and the house was
on fire. I ran into my parents room to wake them up, but when i got there...it was
too late.
Flashback
"Mom, dad!" I cried as i attempted to get any untainted air into my lungs. I burst
through the door, only to see the most horrifying sight of my 14 year old life. Both
my parents were on the ground, unmoving. They were surrounded by some dark
pools of what could only be blood. Even though every survival instinct i had was
screaming at me to run, to fly, to anything, i was frozen. Even though it was
unbearably hot even for me, i felt colder than i ever had. I heard a bone-chilling
voice cut through the other sounds. "It's your fault." I looked away from my
parents still forms, to see a man standing in the corner by the open window. He had
a long black cloak on, with a hood so i couldn't see his face. I could only recognize
his voice. I sank to my knees as his words sunk in. "If you weren't such a monster,
none of this would've happened. He started walking towards me. I knew i should
move, run, scream; anything would be better than just sitting there. But i couldn't.
He walked closer to me, until he was standing over me. His voice dropped to a dead
whisper. "You'll be joining them soon." He raised some sort of weapon, i couldn't tell
what it was in all the chaos. But before he could strike, I heard Katie's voice. Her
crying voice. Calling out to me. I felt a fury unlike any i'd ever felt overcome my
entire being. I let it lose in a scream, fire spilling from my lips for the first time. I'd
never been able to do that before. The man stumbled back, holding his face in his
hands. He looked up at me, realizing that i had stood up, and wasn't planning on
letting him walk out of here satisfied. He jumped out the window, and i made to
follow him, but just as i got there, Katies voice cried out again. I looked out at him.
"Your decision." He said, then turned and fled. I cursed and ran back into the house.
I took off for Katies room, finding her cowering under the bed. I pulled her out, and
jumped out the window with her. Just as sirens started to sound off, i jumped back
in. I grabbed both my parents bodies, pulling them out the window just as part of
the ceiling closed in. I wouldn't let them burn in that house, not at his hands. I
collapsed next to them for a minute, than stood up. I heard a scream behind me,
and turned. It was our closest neighbor Ms. Trent. She was holding Katie back from
me, looking terrified. I took a step towards her, and she screamed again. "Get back!
Stay away from us, monster!" My eyes widened as i realized i didn't have anything
covering my wings. I also had blood on my hands and clothes. She thought i Killed
them. I realized. The police pulled into the driveway, and I did the only thing i could
think of. I ran. I ran into the trees cover, looking back at Katie only once before
taking off.
Flashback over
No one knew what to say, so i pressed on before they could say anything. "I left
after that. I made sure Katie got to her aunts, made sure she knew i didn't do it. I
stayed for the funeral, but i was hiding the whole time. Then i just left. Like i said
before, Meta-humans aren't common here. To them, I was a monster. Before I left,
they called the government. There's a division in it that helps towns that don't have
superheroes from threats that they can't handle. They have a shoot first ask
questions later moto, and they didn't give me a chance to explain. They... Eliminate
any monsters that they think could cause trouble. They tried to take me to some
place. I escaped, and i've been on the run ever since i found you guys." Again,
everyone seemed at a loss for words. "Kaida, for what it's worth i'm sorry. And we
know you would never do that." Robin managed. "Thanks." I turned away from
them. "Let's go home." I led the way back to the t ship in silence. Some of them
tried to make conversation, but i just shot them all down. Silence was the best thing
i needed right now. We reached the ship, and everyone climbed in. Except me. "You
coming Kaida?" Beast Boy asked. I smiled at him. Actually, i think I'm going to fly on
my own, i could use the practice." Before they could object i was taking off. I saw
the ship lifting off behind me, but i flew away from it a bit. I needed a minute to be
by myself. A few months ago, i was on the run, running from my past. Now, i had
friends, a home, a family again. After the accident and i had to give Katie up, I never
thought i'd have that again. But they'd proven me wrong, in so many ways. I wasn't
a monster like i thought. Not with them. I was a hero, a friend. I sighed contently. I
stopped and looked back at my home town. The place where I'd lived my whole life,
but never really had a home. I had been an outcast, hiding from anyone and
everyone. I never felt at home there. I turned back to look at the ship that was
gaining distance. That was flying to the place that I truly belonged. I smiled, and
soared towards them. I grinned, as i finally flew home.
