Donna it is.

Hello, Donna Troy.

Meet the antisocial titans.

Chapter 10

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...

The watch tower was buzzing.

The giant satellite that had been created nearly ten years ago had grown in population and size. Heroes from all over the planet and universe to fight for justice all gathered here, all with their own background and story, each having their own special connection to Earth and the human race. The original, founding leaguers had sidekicks who wanted to step out of their shadow, all of them running to the leader of the titans, a special league of heroes in their own right, under the command of then-Robin, now Nightwing. The young justice team had impressed their mentors and they gave the teens more and more freedom, allowing them to watch over the cities while the adults took care of the world. It was becoming and a sense of pride always accumulated amongst the founding members.

When tragedy struck the titans, their mentors were quick to step in. Their young ones were mourning and for a while it looked like the original titan team was to be separating. And if they separated, the network would also. It worried them that such things were to happen to the teens. Have they been overlooking their situations, their villains? The mentors patiently waited, ready to open their arms as their sidekicks ran back to them as the network crumbled.

It didn't happen.

Instead of their sidekicks leaving the distraught team they glued even closer together.

They took on a more personal agenda to protect the innocent and that girl was their inspiration. Such a hold over an entire network of superhuman teenagers honestly terrified the league. Who was this girl that was able to impact so many with her death? So many deaths occur, what made her so special that the team would nearly break and then hastily grab hold of each other? The mentors were eager to find to out.

Then Batman called a meeting.

It was only four months after the death. He personally went up to each mentor and lead them to the Justice room; Flash, Green Arrow, and Aquaman. Green Lantern, Martian Man hunter and Wonder Woman sat patiently beside Superman. Diana glared at the door as she knew Donna was still behind it, her curiosity at wanting to know what was going on getting to her. When she quickly stood up and scared Donna off she sat back down as Batman stood at the head of the table. He surprised everyone, except for Superman, when he asked for their opinions on the titans and the death of their member to which the expected was replied; "Sad" "Tragic" "A crippling loss". Batman waited till they were done and surprised them all again by contacting Tamaran's Grand Ruler and the girl's k'norfka. Galfore, who Superman had previously spoken to, was now aware of the entirety of the situation and told of his bungorf's history with her estrangement with her sister, her slavery and rapes, her escape only to be captured again and her experimentation.

Flash and Wonder Woman were horrified to find that such a thing should happen to a child, much less a princess. They listened intently, wondering for what reason would Superman and Batman ask of their political standing, treaties, and connections with the planet Glzeb.

Galfore's eyes glowed.

When he angrily replied, "They are nothing to us" and Superman thanked him for his time and closed the signal, the member questionably asked, "what's going on?"

Batman stoically looked at them, "She's missing."

Out roar.

Knowing the girl's history and her friendship with their sidekicks, this crisis was more personal. They yelled out in disbelief, "That can't be! Impossible!" that quickly turned to anger and fierce protectiveness filled the members as thoughts of who ever dared to hurt their youth more entered their minds. Then fear crept in. Who took her and why? Were they still here? Were they after their youth?

Is she alive?

Is she well?

If so, was she still infected?

Was she sane?

Was she after them?

Was her sister missing as well?

No, she wasn't; her body combusted on the way to Washington for testing; her energy was too much. If that was the case, then the other one should have set fire to the entire park. Where is she? So many questions, so many fears and none of them knew what to do. Until Batman asked one simple question and they all said one simply word, "Yes."

Batman nodded, "Then League mission Operation: Ghost in is in effect. Top priority, top secret; access only Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, Martian Man hunter and Batman. File JL-884, save."

"Data recorded." The computer voice said.

For the next six months they didn't find anything. There were no traces of DNA, no signs, no suspicious events, no witnesses, nothing. Galfore would send updates on the Glzebok and Green Lantern would verify the data, but they never led to anywhere. They couldn't contact the planet itself; it was out of Hal's guardianship; to investigate would be considered treason. They couldn't jeopardize the safety of Earth.

If only they can prove that she was there...

Then one night while Flash was playing games on his phone, feet kicked up and leaning back in his chair as he was on watch duty- "Aw, guys, c'mon! I need beauty rest, too!" -an alert sound, a small beeping noise for an incoming transmission.

Or a hacked one.

Flash had quickly recorded and sent it to the batcave, trying to decipher the strange language himself to no avail. Almost instantly did the seven leaguers show up and each trying to understand the alien words. Batman immediantly recognized it though. Then the transmission was gone and static remained. He had included the messages he took from the titans' files and if another frequency came through, similar in any way, the computer would detect it and immediantly hack in, recording automatically and register location. The signal could be detected across several planets, notifying them long before unknown extraterrestrials could come close to Earth. They didn't receive another one for five months.

Then eight.

Three.

One.

Infrequent, random, choppy transmission that always sounded to be carrying on a conversation amongst whoever was present and lasted but a few seconds, but it was all worth it. They received the locations. Whoever they were, they were definitely prime suspect. And over the course of three years they gathered enough evidence to at least question. The next time they received a transmission, the league will lock and apprehend. They will have many questions, but they couldn't ask those just yet. They would ask the second most important question:

"Who are you?"

xxx

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

"No!" Kid Flash yelled, standing up with the controller in his hands. He threw up his arms and twisted his body as if that would make his character move faster. The screen flashed in blues and reds as the character ran through the hall to escape his certain doom. Cyborg laughed hysterically as Wally started to jump up and down when his character found Wally's and he shouted in defeat as Cyborg's soldier took him down.

"Ugh! You cheated!"

"What!? This is the fifth round and you lost every time! Give it up, KF!"

"Ah, man screw you, where's BB?"

"How many times do I have to say it? It's Changeling, Changeling!" Gar groaned, jumping over the couch and snatching the controller away from Cyborg and switching to the main menu. The boys changed their characters and started in on a new game, their whoops and calls already loud and competitive. After three years, that game still captures their attention, still their life-saver.

Jinx rolled her eyes, "How do you stand it?"

Raven looked over and gently smiled at the boys, "To be honest… it can be very comforting."

The pink haired hero looked thoughtful and drank her tea, sitting on the bar on the kitchen in contented companionship with the half demon. Out of the whole network, it was only Wally and Jinx that saw this side of the original titans anymore. They haven't done anything special or said any fancy words; it just was. Wally was understandable as Nightwing practically grew up with him as Batman and Flash were on Justice League duties. The two had a special connection since childhood and it was probably safe to say that they knew each other's identities before anyone else. It was Wally that stood beside Dick that day and it was Wally that, when Bumble Bee's wedding day came along, found the leader crumpled and broken in some back room of the hall rented. He was isolated and empty, his green ring glinting with its own light in the darkness. Raven couldn't find him and was about to send Gar and Victor out to search until she felt his presence and Wally's. They were gone for hours, but whatever Kid Flash did, it helped as Nightwing was able to come in and smile in happiness for Bee and Herald.

That night though, Nightwing couldn't sleep as they nightmares took him.

When the first anniversary came of… and the titans were having a hard time at not just staying in their rooms and ignoring each other, it was Wally and Jinx who showed up, simple, pretty flowers in hand and silently accompanied the somber four to the cemetery. It was Jinx who sat quietly next to Raven as that video played in the privacy of her room and held her when she couldn't watch anymore. And from what the girls understood, on Nightwing's twenty-first birthday this year, there had been an incident while only he and Kid Flash were on patrol and they showed up to a female's vehicle on fire. When Nightwing got her out, the vibrant red head threw herself at him, crying as the shock of her hair registered. Crimson red, but fake. He practically pushed her off and turned to leave and Kid Flash actually had to push to keep pace with him. The two didn't come home for hours and in the early hours of morning the titans were greeted by a very drunk Wally and passed out Dick.

"He was hurting too much." Wally had said quietly as Raven and Jinx put him in bed.

The two had the uncanny ability to sense when the four were drifting too far and showed up just in time to lend a grounding hand. Jinx's friendship became dear to Raven and they knew that the boys depended on Wally's company just as much. The network never saw this playful, happy side of them and it seemed to make their relationship that much more special and valued. Only they truly knew the truth of the four's state while everyone else saw only their blank, detached mask.

Raven and Jinx talked about clothes, a topic Jinx knew she only liked because of an old friend, and so they conversed in the area of winter boots as Nightwing walked in. Wally turned, "Finally! What took you so long? Making out with your pillow?"

"Ha, funny. I was actually editing this," he held up a camera and softly smiled, "She was amazing."

Victor took the disc and strolled over to the DVD box, taking out the game with great care and placing the disc in. The girls moved to sit at the couch, snuggling up to their men and Nightwing and Cyborg stood behind the couch. When the video played and her voice sang out all eyebrows shot up and Nightwing proudly smiled, "Wow! That's talent."

"I told her she would be awesome!" Gar laughed

"You dork," Raven smacked his chest, "You told her not to choke."

"It's advice isn't it?"

They scoffed at him and jeering taunts bounced off the walls. They praised Victoria for her performance last night and started to plan something special for the girl when the alarm sounded. Wally grinned, "Care for some help?"

"You helping? Funny." Nightwing said lowly, moving to the computer. The titans stood and waited for command, feeling a deep dread start in their stomachs when their leader's mouth dropped open and his knuckles turned white as they fisted.

"Nightwing?" Raven said cautiously

He turned to them, that cold mask already in place. "School shooting. Victoria's school."

xxx

She cowered under the table.

She trembled and bit down on her lip as the sound of gun fire bounced off the walls. Cold fear filled the air as screams sounded just outside the door and a loud banging was heard. Victoria's heart pounded in her head as her classmates all started to cry and her teacher's futile attempts at keeping them calm only made them more hysterical.

A male shouted outside, another fire of a gun.

Scream.

Her teacher urgently motioned for them to stay down. Victoria frighteningly looked around herself, trying to find anything around her that will shelter her better, but there was nothing. They were in a library.

The windows along the corners would be the only escape here, but where were the gunmen and how many where there? The emergency exit was in the next room and that was where the second shot was fired. Victoria could hear sirens and a loud murmur just outside the window and she knew that the people outside could see them on the floor from across the lawn.

More gunfire.

Sheer terror and helplessness coursed through the fourteen year old. Why is this happening? It's only the third day of school! Why? Please, God, why!

Several minutes passed and Victoria could've sworn she saw a dark figure through the small window of the door. At the next gunshot she let out a choked sob and her breathing became erratic when the creak of a door echoed through the room. The kids around her sobbed and pleaded, begging for their lives and Victoria grew very still, her heart freezing for a moment.

She was going to die. She knew it. Her guardian wouldn't make it. He would fail.

And it will kill him.

A silver boot stepped into her view under the table, stopping right in front of her. The boy that was sitting behind her let out a gurgled choked.

Victoria closed her eyes to escape this horrid scene. She sent out a prayer for Ben and Joyce, her friends who had hugged her tightly just the other day as she kneeled before her grave, her friends who did just as they said they would and thanked the angel.

In her mind, she heard her angel speaking softly, calming her frantic heart. It was okay, it was going to be okay.

Shh, dear one. You are safe now… You are-

Her eyed snapped open when the table shifted and abruptly thrown aside. She looked up and her heart stopped.

xxx

The titans ran out of the raven in front of the school. They didn't pause or ask questions or try to comfort the hysterical parents surrounding the perimeters as they would've three years ago. No, there were kids in there.

Victoria was in there.

Beast boy immediantly started off for the freshman building, Raven closely behind as Cyborg and Jinx ran to the other side where the shooter had entered from, the classes windows in view. KF dashed through the front door, scoping as Nightwing headed for the gym.

A hand held fast on his arm as he swiveled around ready to glare dangerously at who ever so dared touch him and in this dire situation. He was floored when a mother stared widely at him, her face ashen and panicked. She gripped his arms as her eyes filled with tears and her knees shook, "Please! Please, my son...my son, please!"

The absolute desperation in her voice struck him to his core. His hand unconsciously reached out and he squeezed her shoulder the briefest moment, nodding one hard and fast nod. When he broke into a run again, something stirred in his chest. Something he hasn't felt in a long time. His city needed him, those kids needed him.

And he was going to do anything to get them out.

Nightwing leaped up onto the panning of the gym, climbing the windows quickly to get to the roof. Once he did he set for the skylight of the hall connecting to the gym and the rest of the school. Opening the panel, he climbed in, hanging upside down as he quickly made his way into the hall.

At the sound of a shot to his left, he changed direction and headed for the library.

xxx

Changeling opened the door, his eyes searching, "Alright, c'mon."

The teens all gasped. The titans; they're here! In frenzy they stood and sobbed in relief at the sight of him, the abatement of fear so comforting that the students ran to him with open arms. They clung to any part of him they could, girls and guys, desperate to know that he was really there. Changeling was taken aback by the attention, his body stiffening and his face that perfectly vacant mask out of habit and surprise. The emotions in their faces...too much, his not accustomed to it anymore, overwhelming. It was too much.

But when the teens saw that their hero had not comforted him as he did years ago, they stepped away, hurt and rejection taking place of relief, something changed. Changeling blinked; he knew these faces. Yes, he recognized that one there and that boy in the corner, and those two girls over here. These faces, though older now, stared back at him once in a time of happiness and family. A whole family. He had played with these kids once, visited them when he was fourteen and when the team just started. He read to them and got them toys and shifted into animals just for them. These kids- no, these teenagers...they were his. When did they grow up?

Why hadn't he noticed?

Their faces were so sad and looking at him with longing. His hand twitched.

Changeling put his arms around the closest teens next to him, brought in a female and a male in and under his arms, hugging them tightly. The teens gasped.

When he released the starry-eyed kids he said with clear authority, "All of you follow me." His tone softened, "Don't worry...I got you."

The trust in their eyes told him they believed just that.

xxx

As Changeling successfully lead the teens out the exit in the hall he rushed back in and saw Raven. She was holding one of her teleportation portals open as the kids walked through, jumping out of the second out where the police and adults were. He watched as the last female put half her body through, quickly looking at Raven with her Goth eyes before stepping completely in. When Raven took it down she looked at Changeling, a twinkle in her eye that he never saw out here. "I know her. We read poetry together when she was in eighth grade..."

Changeling nodded, "Rae...these kids are-"

"I know."

"...What happened?"

She slowly shook her head, "I...don't know...but we have to hurry. There is still-"

A black shadow flickered over them from the window and their heads snapped to the right. Changeling looked at the crowd of people pointing their fingers and their mouths dropped open.

Raven had him by the arms as she shot up to the next floor as the shadow flickered again.

Changeling kicked open the door and Raven encased the room with her magic.

They froze.

xxx

Nightwing peered in through the door. He saw the teens hiding under the tables and when his eye caught Victoria trembling in fear, anger surged through him.

Whoever's doing this-

"Boss," KF skidded to a halt. "Just took out the west wing. Six injured, two fatal. There are three shooters, all seniors and Jinx and Cyborg already took down two."

"The third?"

"Didn't find him, probably not inside. May be out there," he nodded to the window.

"Search the entire area. I want him found."

With a rush of wind, Kid Flash was gone and Nightwing reached for the handle.

Gun shot, behind him from the window; Nightwing leaped to the end of the hall and heard the kids scream inside. Shit. He looked out the window, seeing the third senior fall to the floor with a very pissed off Wally standing over him, the gun a few feet away. He caught the sight of blood coming out of the senior's nose and couldn't help but smirk.

Then Victoria screamed.

Nightwing was through the door before she could stop and his body froze in place.

A woman in black stood over the girl, her long black hair waving down her back. She had silver boots that reached her knees, a silver belt and her top was decorated with glittery dots of different sizes, resembling a night filled with stars. Her top cut in a low V the underside of her breast visible and silver wrist and arm bands adorned her with a black ribbon on her neck. She had the table lifted high into the air, her eyes on a fearful Victoria. He couldn't see her face, her dark hair fell over it but he clearly saw when the woman moved, her hand reaching for the girl.

And her body went flying into the far wall. Nightwing stood in front of the shaking girl, weapons locked and ready in his hand as he shouted, "Everybody out!"

They all scrambled to their feet, some screaming and others crying as they rushed out the doors and outside. Victoria was being pushed in the rush as she fought to reach her guardian. She grabbed his arm and he looked at her for a mere second. His eyes landed on the burn on her wrist, "Victoria, Leave!"

The woman shook her head, holding the side of her face as she got back on her feet.

Victoria was out the room as he had the next wave of weapons exploding on her. This feeling, it wasn't that inspirited determination from earlier. Far from it; no, this was something else, something darker, angrier...hateful. That black hair, her black and silver outfit...he's seen that before, knew it all too well. It can't be, it's impossible. But that black kept forcing itself into his mind and Victoria's scream echoed in his ears. Only one other scream impacted him so much and he had tried so hard never to hear it again. This woman resembled another and his body felt like steel wire as his muscles tensed and his insides twisted.

The woman raised her head to him, her blue eyes meeting his. They were innocent and wide and she lifted a hand in surrender, "Rich-"

Glassy eyes.

Empty.

Gone.

"Rich..."

Nightwing snapped.

His fist connected so hard with her face that it sent a shock of pain up his arm. The woman's head snapped to the side, her body following her as Nightwing delivered another blow. His teeth gritted and he saw red, memories that he never wanted to remember again flashing at him with every glance of her black hair and outfit, the silver lining so similar to her outfit, the arm bands, the belt, the boots... he wasn't seeing the stranger anymore. He wasn't seeing the school. He only saw black and silver. Black and silver, black and silver.

"Rich..."

"Nightwing! STOP!" Changeling shouted, leaping for his relentless leader and slamming him down to the floor. He thrashed and struggled, his eyes never leaving the smirking orange girl he saw just a few feet away. The green boy on him tried to keep him pinned as Raven rushed over to the woman, but he was too strong. He'll throw the twenty year old off any second now. Changeling took deep breathe, quickly grabbing the front of Nightwing's shirt and smashed his fist against his jaw. Nightwing's head flung back and his body became stone. The green boy forced his face back to him, his expression fierce, "It's not Blackfire, Nightwing, it's not. It isn't her."

That vacant mask appeared. Changeling kept eye contact through the mask before looking back up, surprised to see the woman standing, only rubbing her cheek and wincing a bit. She should've been unconscious. Raven eyed her warily.

"Hey guys, everyone's out! The seniors have been arre-" Cyborg, Jinx and Kid Flash ran in, stopping short at the scene. Cyborg's eyes glazed and Raven immediantly stepped in front of the woman, "It's not Blackfire! She's gone! Stay with us Cyborg, Nightwing already lost it."

He was breathing heavily, nodding much too quickly for reassurance. Jinx held his arm to steady him while Kid Flash ran to Nightwing, helping to keep him down. When he looked to be about as calm as he'll get, they let him go and the four of them watched silently as Raven and Changeling stood in front of the woman who looked at them all with curiosity, awe and a tinge of fear.

"Who is that?" Jinx said, looking her up and down.

The two titans slowly backed away from the woman and Raven raised a glowing hand, "We're about to find out."

"No need for that," the woman said in a crystal clear voice. "I cannot lie."

"Everyone lies." Jinx snapped.

"But I can't."

"And why not?"

The woman straightened her shoulders, the stars on her top sparkling with life, "My name is Donna Troy. I am the younger sister of Princess Diana of Paradise Island, also known as Wonder Woman. Hence, why I cannot lie."

Kid Flashed blinked, "You're...Wonder Girl?"

Donna smiled warmly, "Just Donna is okay. I am not really a hero to have such a name."

"Why are you here?" Raven continued, her voice threatening.

"I...was in the neighborhood." She clasped her hands in front her, shyly biting her bottom lip. This action was so familiar that the titans all froze and Donna seemed to be aware of this. She put her hand behind her back and continued, "I heard the gun shots, but when I saw you all already here I hesitated. I noticed none of you had come into this room and so I wanted to help. I didn't mean-" her eyed flickered to Nightwing "-to cause trouble."

"Well you did." Jinx quibbled.

Donna's eyebrows pinch together in apology, "Forgive me... I really only wanted to help. You see, I have been attending duty with my sister and she has trained me for several years now. The titans have been a fascination of mine since I began to train and I had hoped that if I helped it would make easier for me to prove myself."

"For what?"

Donna took a small step forward, "To join the titans."

Jinx's mouth dropped open and Kid Flash's eyes widened.

The original four turned into stone.

Donna stood there, feeling very much like a fish out of water as she waited anxiously for their answer, "Please. This wasn't at all how I intended to approach you. I am a skilled warrior and I can be a great accession to the team, if you give me the chance. My sister, she had supported me in my decision to join the titans and it has been a dream of mine. I had wanted to come to you a few years ago, but when St-"

"No."

She blinked and stepped back, "Forgive me, again. I know you are still in pain over the loss, but I can assure you that as a fifth member, I will-"

"No."

She gawked at Nightwing openly as he turned his back to her and walked to the door. "But I- there are only four of you! You need a fifth member and-"

His fist clenched and her mouth shut closed. "There are no openings on my team and we don't need another. Your visit here was in vain and our attention is required elsewhere." His head inclined forward a bit and his voice dropped lower, "And if I ever see you close to that girl under the table just now, I will hunt you down."

Nightwing walked out and the titans quietly followed, leaving Donna to stand alone in the library.

xxx

"That damn girl!" Diana snarled, closing the door with a slam.

Superman raised an eyebrow, "I'm guessing she wasn't in her room?"

"I've been looking for her everywhere! She always does this!"

He chuckled, "She's like Kara. Where do you think she went?"

She closed her eyes and then turned toward the window, looking down into Earth and glared, "She better not be-"

"Leave her," Batman said, his hands clasped over his mouth as he listened to the latest transmission. "She'll be a good distraction for them."

The two members looked at him, their stances stiffening, "Why a distraction?"

Batman took off the headphones and pressed a few keys, turning up the volume. It was the same static-filled clicking of the past three years, but something was different was it this time. There was no conversational tone in the alien voices, but instead a panicked accent of fear and anger. As the hacked transmission played again, Batman worked to make it clearer, removing the layers of static. In the background, underneath the incomprehensible clicking and faint static, behind the voices of hastiness and fury was a distinct, shrill scream. A ringing of a female voice lost in the background full of pain and torture as the clicking became louder. Batman pressed a few more keys and replayed the recording one more time.

The bloodcurdling shriek reverberated throughout the room.

When it was over, Diana breathed, "Location coordinates?"

"Venus, this morning, 12:42 am. The last two frequencies were transmitted from there as well."

"Venus?" She asked, "Why there?"

"The sun," Superman answered, turning toward the window, "They've been coming here this whole time for the yellow sun."

"Why?"

Superman and Batman stiffened. The Justice League leader looked at the dark knight.

He jumped out of his hair and headed toward the lab, "Call the others and prepare the ship."

xxx

The titans walked out of the school.

Parents and teens clung to each other, crying and red-faced, their loud voices nearly screaming out. Police car and ambulance sirens resounded throughout the area as families perilously held on to each other. Relief and fear hung in the air, a darkness looming over that hadn't been seen in years. This shock of mortality brought back another memory of an young one taken and the horror of many more chilled them all to the bone. Girls and boys huddled in groups, feeling, kissing, seeing as their chest rose and fell in frantic breaths, whispering words unknown to those around them. The students wounded were being carted away in gurneys, rushed into the back of an ambulance until a voice called out.

"Wait," Raven said, her actual acknowledgement astounding them enough to pause. She rushed over, extending a glowing hand and bent over the teens, "Bring them to me."

This moment of consternation and gratefulness had the police hurrying the wounded in a circle around Raven as she healed the fatally injured girl. Shot in the stomach. Memories, coldness, so much blood…but determination. Raven will never let that happen again, ever, she'll never fail again.

She grabbed the girls hand and squeezed, pouring her power in the teen, "It's okay, I'm here. I'll fix you."

The girl's eyes filled with tears as she squeezed back.

Changeling watched his fiancé for a moment, the sight giving him that stir from earlier. A sound of footfall from behind him drew his attention as he turned and saw the boy and girl he had hugged from earlier, the familiarity of their faces flowing in, when he was a young Beast boy. Yes, he played with these kids. He was their hero. He fell and left them.

Never again.

Changeling opened his arms and they rushed in, clinging and murmuring in his chest. the students he rescued ran up then as he hugged them all and whispered words of comfort in their ear, "I'm here, guys, shh…it's okay."

Jinx and Kid Flash were with a hysterical group who had one of the gunmen thrusting the weapon at their faces for a long while. The two titans smoothed down their hair, wiping their tears and gently held as they shivered and trembled.

Cyborg was speaking lowly to a group of boys, their heads bowed and defeated. His strong hands gripped their shoulders reassuringly and they held fast. "I saw him coming," one whispered. "I saw him coming and I tried to get him away. And he still shot."

Cyborg kneeled in front of him, "You did your best, all of you, and that's what matters. You kept him away from the younger ones and…and I'm proud you. You kept your head and lead those kids to the back exit, you kept the group together. I'm proud of you."

The boy's face contorted at his words as he fought the weep and heaviness in his chest.

All the laments had Nightwing feeling unusual and out of place. All these kids, their suffering and fright…one person would be perfect for this. They would all run to her and she would know exactly what to say as the rest of them just backed her because they never really knew what to say. She had taught them. She had been the one they would cling to. And now as he looked around he saw a bit of her in the heroes as they comforted, something not done in a long time and something that was greatly missed. He had thought just stopping the danger was enough; there was no need for what he was seeing because that was her job. She did it.

But when his eyes found Victoria, not for the first time did shame and guilt filter through. His youth was threatened by sick people and their evil; they needed him. Victoria needed him.

Just as she said they would.

He dropped on his knees, his arms slowly opening and Victoria ran to him, her arms circling his neck and his tightening around her torso. She bewailed in his neck, burying her face in his shoulder as he rocked her gently.

"I'm here, I'm here…shh, I got you. I got you."

xxx

Donna stood off to the side, taking in the scene. Her star earring gave a tiny beep and she pressed it, "Yes?" she said quietly.

"You're getting it."

"I know."

"So you are there?"

She looked up and sighed, "Yes, but-"

"Good."

Donna blinked and snapped her mouth shut to contain the squeak, "What?"

"Keep them busy." Diana said bluntly, the connection closing. Donna bit her lips and looked back at the titans and again felt that confusion on why the league just won't tell them? Diana was so tight lipped about it, but didn't they deserve to know? Weren't these four teens the ones suffering the most? It wasn't right to keep such a thing, even she wasn't supposed to know, but what's a meddling sister to do? Donna knew, and they didn't; it wasn't fair. Maybe if she was truthful, they would accept her.

Maybe if they knew, they could move on.