Disclaimer: I still no own.

A/N: I have to say, listening to tons of Avenged Sevenfold songs while writing this is very inspiring. Because despite the twistedness and slight disturbing-ness of the song "A Little Piece of Heaven", it will be one freaking addicting song. Anyway. Thanks to those reviewing, love you guys. The answer was indeed Red Hood and the Outlaws. Alfred cookies too you all who said that.

And, in this long overdue chapter, there's going to be some Starfire/Speedy friendship, just because I'm in my Outlaw mood. ON WITH THE STORY!

Jason felt like he was floating.

On lava. Or glass shards. Or glass shards made of lava.

He hurt. He hurt so much. And he didn't know why. He just hurt. And he wanted it to stop. He wanted the darkness to stop. He wanted the muffled voices around him to stop.

"So... completely shutting down is a shitty idea..."

All Jason really wanted was to curl up and feel nothing. And even in this choking darkness he could still feel that crowbar, hear the maddening laughter.

"Why can't I just be dead...?"

Roy was sitting beside Jason, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. Dick was well intent on getting fresh air on the Tower roof, so Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven were up there with him. Wally went off somewhere, probably to apologize to Jinx. Batman was just... brooding.

"Ya know, man, you gotta wake up," the ginger muttered to Jason. "I need a chaos buddy,"

Still no response from the wayward bird.

Starfire floated in, humming a small tune. "Speedy?"

"...call me Roy," the archer sighed.

The alien girl tilted her head. "Okay... Roy. May I ask what a 'chaos buddy' is?"

"Oh, that. Just a joke," Roy snorted. "Back before he... ah... died, we'd go around and do stuff that Green Arrow and Bats didn't want us to do and created chaos,"

"So... you disobeyed your mentors, yes?"

"Well... yeah," Roy sighed, sitting back. "I mean, GA got irritating and Bats got overbearing. We just lost our minds a but and started to go out on our own and create hell for the villains and the bosses,"

Starfire nodded. "You are a good friend, Roy,"

"Friend? That's a stressed word around Jason. He doesn't really have 'friends', he wasn't... er, isn't one to fully trust,"

"I see," Starfire muttered, as if in thought.

Roy awkwardly sat back. "Um. So. Do you need something?"

"No. I was just curious on what the 'chaos buddy' was." the alien replied in a cheery tone. Roy snorted and yawned. "You are tired, yes?"

"Nah."

"You yawned, friend Roy. You are tired." Starfire persisted. "I shall watch Jason. You should get some of the shut eye."

The redhead crossed his arms. "I'm fine right here. I told Robin I'd watch Jay 'til he came back. And I'm gonna do that."

"Friend Roy, I insist,"

"No."

"...very well, friend Roy," Starfire sighed, turning around and floating out of the room with a huff. Roy hummed in triumph turning back to stare at the heart monitor.

Bruce tapped at the Titans Tower computer, a bored glare set on his face.

He hit a key and the solemn face of faithful Alfred popped up on the screen.

"Master Bruce," he acknowledged. "May I ask the status of Master Jason?"

"No change, Alfred." Bruce sighed. "Still comatose. Still unresposive to anything..."

"Be hopeful, Master Bruce. Master Jason is strong-willed, he will recover..."

"You're hesitating, Alfred."

The old butler frowned. "At least I am optimistic about this, Master Bruce. You have little faith in Master Jason. If he has come back from... death, he can pull through this state."

"But he hasn't, Alfred!" Bruce sighed out in exasperation. "He's done nothing!"

"Give it time, Master Bruce!"

"Time. Right. And how much time will it be until he wakes up?!"

Alfred's eyes flashed with irritation. "Master Bruce, do not raise your voice at me."

Bruce sat back in the chair, dragging a hand down his face. "I'm sorry, Alfred. I'm just... it's stressful."

Alfred nodded. "Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm due to reschedule a few more of your meetings,"

"Yeah." Bruce muttered, signing out. He stared at the blank screen, tapping his hand against his knee restlessly.

Blazing pain shot through Jason once again. Within his enclosed mind he cursed in every language he knew.

"Make it stop, dammit! Dammit... it hurts... why the hell did Ra's... have to bring me back...?"

He wanted it to stop. Needed it to stop. Just... the agony needed to end...

"...what if I just... let go...? Maybe... maybe if I stop fighting it... I can just make it stop? ...I remember... once... on the streets... this girl said... that when... when you're in a coma... that to let go... you have to revisit... memories... Maybe... I have to do that?"

-T-T-

Roy jerked his head up from his doze at the sudden change in the heart monitor beat. It slowed.

"...Jason?"

Still no response from the wayward bird, though his breathing pattern was deeper and slightly uneven.

"Jay?" Roy sat up, frowning. "...this can't be good..." He remained where he was, eyeing Jason worriedly. "

-T-T-

"...this is it... I do have to go through what I remember..."

A/N: ...yeah... sorry this took so long. Inspiration is a fragile thing. One moment it's in your grasp and then it screws you over. Anyway, the next chapter and some after are going to be Jason-flashbacks.

Oh, and to clear this up 'cause I feel like it. In this universe Jason was brought back in the way in 'Batman: Under The Red Hood' and died the same way. I didn't feel like bringing up the whole traitor-mother ordeal and the Superboy-Prime thing. Yeah...

Anyway. Review please! Even if it's to rant about this taking a million years. Please? :)