-Chapter 11-
Wintergreen poked Beast Boy on the couch. "Time to get up sir. I have a job for you this morning."
Beast Boy groaned and rolled over again. "I don't wanna…" He whined out.
Wintergreen rolled his eyes ignoring the childish complaint. "Go and wake your friends so that everyone will be down for breakfast."
"Noooo…" Beast Boy grabbed a pillow and put it over his head wanting to go back to his nap. "You do it." He mumbled out wishing to just go right back into dreamland. The ladies there were so friendly.
"I am going to be busy making sure Master Slade and Ms. Raven are awake." Wintergreen said.
THAT got BB's attention and he peeked out from beneath the pillow. "You mean they're going to be down for breakfast with us…?" He asked almost hesitantly.
"Yes, now go get everyone ready." He turned to leave BB but an afterthought hit him. "And tell Robin no weapons at the table this morning." He added before grabbing the suitcase he brought down with him today and headed towards Raven's room.
BB sat there and blinked for a moment as his mind registered what Wintergreen had told him. "SWEET!" He yelled, jumping up and rushing out of the room as a cheetah, running to wake his friends. Raven was awake! She was not dead and was coming down for breakfast! A part of his mind reminded him that Slade would also be joining them but he ignored it.
Beast Boy's fist banged on Starfire's door first. "Hey! Star, wake up!" He yelled. "Breakfast is going to be ready soon and Raven is going to join us!" Once he heard a bit of noise through the door, he took off rushing to Cyborg's room to wake him as well. It was not until he stood in front of Robin's room that he hesitated. His trip around the tower had taken him the long way around so he had not passed Raven's room on his way.
He knocked lightly. "Hey… Um, you awake?"
"I'm awake." Robin said from the other side of his door as he worked on drying his hair. "What's up?"
"Wintergreen says breakfast is almost ready and that no weapons are allowed at the table this morning."
There was a pause on Robin's end. "Raven and Slade finally joining us?" He asked calmly.
"Yeah…" Beast Boy hesitantly replied. He waited to see if Robin was going to say anything but after a minute went by in silence, he left. He took a side rout back down to his room, avoiding going by Raven's room. Until things were settled and they knew what was going on, he was going to stay as far from Slade as he could. He still was not sure whether he was going to try to claw the dude up or not when he saw him anyways.
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Wintergreen smiled softly as he knocked on Raven's door. It would be good to see them both awake again. At least this time neither of them had been covered in blood when he came to check up on them while they slept. He knocked again, a little harder this time, hoping they were not… How did Cyborg put it…? Oh yes, Busy.
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Raven approached the door and closed her eyes sending out her soul. She felt a soul on the other side that she did not recognize. She glanced to Slade who had already stepped into the shadows. Raven opened the door part way showing half of her face. "Wintergreen?" She asked seeing the man in white outside her door. "What are you doing here?" She asked allowing the door to open the rest of the way.
At the sound of the elder's name Slade stepped out of the shadows looking to the man with a raised eyebrow. "How the Hell did you get into the tower?"
Wintergreen stepped into the room when Raven stepped aside so they could close the door. No need to let anyone have an easy way of eavesdropping in on them. "I drove and asked politely, sir." He said holding out the briefcase in his hand. "This is for you, sir. I figured you would need a change of clothes and a new uniform."
Slade took the case and nodded to Wintergreen. "Thanks." He said setting it on the bed and opening it up.
"Ms. Raven." Wintergreen said getting her attention. "The gown that you left is in the case as well and has been washed."
"Oh… Thanks." She said to him. "How long have you been here?"
"Almost the whole time you have been asleep."
"And how long have we been asleep this time?" Slade asked looking over his choices. Should he wear civilian clothing or another set of the black uniform?
"Technically you have been asleep for three days and four nights." He said with a slight amount amusement in his voice.
"What do you mean technically?" Raven asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Your friend Cyborg came to check up on you both before going to bed last night. He returned to us downstairs and informed us of you being awake and busy." He said unable to keep the grin off his face.
Raven's eyes grew wide as a huge dark red blush covered her face. 'Oh Gods… Please kill me now…' She thought as she buried her face in her hands. Her wings cupped against her body tightly, giving her something to hide beneath.
Slade just chuckled as he threw on a black shirt, clean boxers, and jeans. "I didn't even notice when he came in." He said of handedly as he put on fresh socks and his boots from before.
"This is your fa-!" Started Raven as she rounded on Slade to yell at him. She froze in mid word however seeing his form of dress. "You're not… In uniform?" She asked looking him over in wonder.
Slade smiled to her, but she could feel his hesitation. "No… I figured if they saw me wearing something… Normal, they might accept that I have no plans on being their enemy."
Raven went to him laying her hands on his looking to his eyes. "You really are giving up being… Him…?" She asked unsure how to really put it.
"I'm giving up that part of my life, yes." He said squeezing her hands as he spoke in a serious tone. "I'm not giving up who I am however. I'm still a killer Raven. I always have been and always will be."
She nodded. "I know and I don't want that to change." She said getting a curious look from him. "I need a man who is ruthless; one who will kill anything that threatens me."
Slade smirked. "I can do that." He leaned forward and kissed her softly which she returned. Slade glanced to Wintergreen who was patiently waiting for them. "We'll be down in little bit."
Wintergreen nodded and left the room. He had breakfast to finish up after all. He paused in the doorway. "I informed Robin of no weapons at the table. I am sure I do not have to remind you of the same." He said before he left.
Raven glanced back to Slade who just rolled his eyes. "Why are we waiting to go down?"
Slade traced his thumbs over her hands that were still in his. "Have you decided what you're going to tell them?" He asked, his emotions turning serious again. "Are you going to tell them everything?"
She looked away from him knowing what he really meant. Was she going to tell them all of her secrets or lie to keep them? "I don't know… I'm just so tired of hiding it… Plus…" Her eyes glanced to her wings that she raised up slightly. "They've seen enough to end up asking the right questions."
Slade nodded. "Most likely." He said in agreement. He took in a deep breath and forced a smile even though she could feel he was not happy inside. More like torn between what he wanted to do and what they had to do. "Guess I can't put this off any longer…"
Raven shook her head with a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Not really, but you put good effort into it."
Slade chuckled and stood, keeping a hold of her small hands. "Let's hope I can keep from killing your friends."
Raven smirked as he let go of one of her hands and they started to walk out of her room together. "I'll try to make sure they don't bother you too much."
"Liar. You're going to throw me out to the wolves." He said to her in their minds getting a laugh from her.
"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't." She replied as they left her room and began the long walk to the elevator and to her friends.
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Wintergreen sat out the last two plates for Raven and Slade at the table while the other Titans were already sitting in their places. Starfire was by Robin, then Cyborg, and then Beast Boy. A place was left open for Wintergreen (should he need to act as a referee), then Slade and then Raven who would be next to Starfire completing the circle. Wintergreen had assigned the seating this morning to help insure no fighting would break out over breakfast.
Starfire and Beast Boy both fidgeted as they wanted for Raven to come down. Cyborg sat calmly in his seat, sipping on his coffee and reflecting back on the very nice phone call he had with Bumble Bee last night. He was going to have to give that girl a call more often. Robin seemed calm as he sat drinking his second cup of coffee and read from his paper that Wintergreen had not taken away from him yet. Wintergreen started to set out the plates of food on the table when Raven finally stepped into the light of the common room.
"Friend Raven!" Starfire exclaimed from her seat as she looked to her winged friend. "It is most glorious to see you!" The other Titan's attention quickly snapped to the girl who hesitated at the doorway glancing back to the shadows.
Everyone's eyes followed hers as Slade stepped into the light next to her. Dressed in his black shirt and jeans he caught them all off-guard with the fact that he was not masked. His identity was there before them! The face of the man whom they had never come close to capturing or truly defeating!
"Holy crap!" Said Beast Boy not caring to hide his shock. "Dude, where is your mask?!"
Slade's hands fisted for a moment as he took a deep breath to calm himself. "Not necessary." He said coldly as he and Raven walked into the room going to the table as her friends sat glued to their chairs from shock.
Wintergreen pointed to the chair next to Starfire and Raven quickly sat down with Slade following in suite beside her.
Starfire leaned over to Raven, whispering to her while her eyes remained on Slade's face. "Friend Raven," she giggled. "I do believe you owe me $20." She said with another giggle, covering her lips with a hand coyly.
"I'll pay you later." Raven whispered, hoping to move the conversation along. There was no conversation however as Robin was too shocked to talk, Starfire just sat in her chair giggling and Cyborg and Beast Boy did not know what to say.
Wintergreen placed down the rest of the food and started plating everyone two hot pancakes. "Eat before the food gets cold." He stated causing life to return to the Titans who did just that. "Would you like a cup of tea, Raven?" He asked to which the girl nodded. He glanced to Slade and nodded. "I already have your coffee brewing, sir." He said turning back to the kitchen.
'Thank god… I'm going to need it today.' Thought Slade causing Raven to smirk slightly as she heard his thought.
"It could be going worse you know." She said to him while adding some butter to her pancakes.
"How?" He asked taking the butter from her after she was done.
"You could be fighting them right now."
"I'd prefer that over this strange silence."
Raven glanced to him out the corner of her eye. "Don't jinx this; silence is rare in this house."
Robin glared at them both as he watched their interaction, catching the slight movements. "If you two are going to talk at the table, do it in the open so the rest of us can hear." He said roughly, pissed that he just figured out they were talking telepathically.
Robin's words stilled everyone as Raven and Slade looked to him. Slade answered before she could however. "What we were speaking of had nothing to do with you." He said even though technically, it did.
Robin fisted his hand around his butter knife, considering stabbing the man in the face with it. Everyone glanced between Slade and Robin feeling the tension building between them.
Cyborg cut in quickly hoping to move things along. "So uh, Raven…" He said getting the girl to look to him. "You mind telling us… Why you and him… Yeah…"
Raven sighed putting down her fork. "I don't really know where to start…"
"How about from the fucking beginning?" Robin said roughly.
Raven flinched from the anger he directed towards her. Slade resisted a growl but only just as the thought of punching Robin in the face went through his mind.
"I had to make a choice…" She said trying to think of how to explain it. "Halloween is at the end of this month… My birthday… As you guys remember my last birthday was… Interesting…"
"That's one way to put it." Cyborg commented with a smile trying to lighten the mood.
Raven continued as though he had not spoken. "Well this one will be interesting as well… This is the year that I become old enough to mate." She sighed and shook her head. "I haven't figured out a nice way to say this so I'm going to be blunt." She took in a deep breath. Slade's hand slid unnoticed from the table, resting it on her thigh with a reassuring squeeze. "On my birthday any Demon Lord from Hell will have the right to come to Earth to rape me and drag me back to Hell as their mate." An echoing gasp came from her friends who had not expected that. She continued quickly before they could interrupt. "I chose to take a mate before then so that I will have someone to protect me from them. They can't take me as their mate if I'm bonded to another."
Everyone was quiet as it sank in. Robin came out of his thoughts first. "But why him?" He asked trying to control his temper.
"Because he could survive the power exchange." Raven replied simply.
"What about one of us?" Beast Boy questioned, looking almost embarrassed but continued. "I mean…" He hesitated but forced himself to continue. "We're strong; don't you trust us to keep you safe?"
Raven sighed and looked down at her food but not really seeing it. She had hoped to not go down this line of questioning. "I do trust you guys…" She said looking back to Beast Boy's deep green eyes. "But my power would have killed you…"
"You didn't even tell us Raven!" Robin said, his anger peaking again. "What in the Hell made you so sure he'd be able to handle it and not any of us!?" Robin asked, not bothering to hide the venom in his voice when he addressed Slade.
"Because I'm stronger than you." Slade stated, glaring at Robin.
Rage built up in Robin. How dare Slade say that to him! Robin's fists shook as he clenched them tightly. Starfire reached over to him placing her hands on one of his. "Friend… Please calm down…" She said tenderly, hoping to get through to her friend.
Robin glared at Starfire but forced himself to calm down. This was not her fault after all. It was Raven's.
"How did you get into the tower without being detected?" Cyborg asked trying to move the conversation along again.
"I have a backdoor program I snuck into your system when you were first setting it up." Slade said going back to his pancakes. "It keeps your computer system from registering my presence. Aside from that, I teleported inside." He said taking a bite. Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy followed in suite not wanting their food to get cold.
"Damn…" Cyborg said thinking about. This was going to mean days of going through his basic computer codes to try and find the 'door' Slade had slipped into his system.
"I gotta know…" BB said looking to Raven. "Why do you have wings?" This perked up everyone's attention again, bringing all eyes to her. All eyes except Slade's that is. He already knew the answer to that question.
Raven sighed poking at the food on her plate with her fork. She was not hungry any longer. "I was hoping you guys wouldn't ask me that…"
"Why? So you wouldn't have to lie to us again?" Robin asked with anger lacing his words like poison.
Raven flinched again, looking away. This time Slade did growl, catching everyone at the table but Raven off-guard. She could feel his anger growing after all. "Speak to her like that again and I'll rip out your tongue." He said not caring about the look her friends were giving him.
Raven's hand found his on her leg. "It's okay." She said to him. "The wings come from my mother's bloodline. You never asked what she was, only assumed she was human so technically, I've never lied to you about this. I just never told you."
"Why do you keep secrets from us?" Cyborg asked feeling a little hurt along with the rest. Well, maybe not Robin, right now all he was feeling was anger.
"Because I was trying to keep you safe… The less you know about me the less likely they are to come and hurt you…"
"Who are they?" Starfire asked, breaking her silence.
"The Demon Lords…" Raven replied softly. "They will come to claim me and destroy all ties I have to this world. I had hoped if I kept you all in the dark about everything they would just leave you alone… Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that is going to happen now…" She glanced to Slade, their eyes meeting. "I've taken a mate… By doing so, I've blatantly told them I have no intent to go to Hell with one of them… They'll destroy everything that I love now if given the chance…"
Wintergreen took the moment of silence after her words to set down a cup of tea before Raven along with coffee for Slade. The drinks were left untouched however in light of the conversation that was taking place.
"So…" Started Starfire after she swallowed her bite of mustard covered food. "Let me see if I am understanding you correctly, friend Raven." She said taking a moment to think about it all again. "You mated a strong male to keep from being harmed by others?" Raven nodded.
"So… What is your mom?" Beast Boy asked next.
Raven sighed and looked away, her wings sinking down slightly. "She was a Born Angel." A new chorus of gasps resounded from her friends.
Robin glared at Slade who had not been shocked by the news. "You told him but not us?!" He accused Raven.
Slade glared back. "I knew because her father liked to brag! Not because she told me. You want to be angry at someone be angry at me." He said roughly. "Stop taking it out on her!"
"I'm angry with you both!" Robin said slamming a fist onto the table making dishes clang together. "I'm angry because you know things we don't! I'm angry because she chose you over me! I'm angry because-" He cut himself off, standing up roughly, sending his chair to the ground with a crash as he turned from them and quickly left the room.
Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy were silent after Robin's display and shared a collective look between each other. Slade sat back in his chair picking up his coffee, taking a drink. 'So… The truth comes out...' He thought to himself glancing to Raven. He saw her looking down at her lap, her hand had slipped from his and she held her arms. 'She knew!' He thought in shock as it hit him, setting his cup back down on the table. 'She knew he loved her!' He drew his hand back from her leg, doing his best to keep his own emotions to himself. He felt pain and anger with the realization but he also felt jealously slide through his thoughts. He was jealous of Robin… Jealous because while he had her body, Robin had her heart! He could only think that she loved him in return. Why else would she have been jealous in her thoughts before?
Cyborg sighed heavily and cleared his throat getting everyone's minds back on the present matter as he sat Robin's chair back up. "So you're half angel and half demon?" Cyborg said getting Raven to look at him. "How is that possible? Plus, I didn't think you were Christian, Raven."
"I'm not. Neither was my mother. Born Angels are just pure beings. Not creatures from any one religion just like Demons. They are angels in every sense of the word as you understand it but both Angels and Demons have been around long before religion was even a concept. In fact, most Gods and Devils started out as angels and demons. It is only because of the power that they wielded and their followers that they rose up to become what they are now." She explained emotionlessly.
"Huh…" BB said. "So like, you're a hybrid then?" He asked ignoring the look Cyborg gave him. "Best of both breeds right?"
"Hybrid yes." Raven replied picking up her tea and taking a drink. "However, I did not inherit all the traits I would have liked too."
"Like what?" Cyborg asked taking a bite from his sausage.
"Physically I'm much smaller than either breed is naturally." She stated poking at her food again. She knew she should finish eating but she feared she would not be able to keep it down with how much her stomach was turning. "And I didn't inherit any physical strength or speed that is common in both of my bloodlines either."
"How strong are demons?" Starfire asked interested to know how their strength would compare to her own.
"Depends on the type and power level." Raven stated forcing herself to take a bite of her food. "The Demon Lords are strong enough to knock out Superman in one hit." She said looking to her friends. "And I'm not kidding. The true strength of a Demon Lord is that of the Gods."
"Dude, and you didn't get any of that? Man that sucks…" Beast Boy stated, slumping into his chair.
"That's an understatement…" Raven nodded and glanced to Slade who was drinking his coffee in silence. "It's why I needed a mate."
"But aren't you human?" Cyborg asked, looking to Slade.
Slade looked to Cyborg and shook his head. "I was but not anymore. Her power is changing me into the same thing that she is."
"So, is that why you were all on fire and red eyed?" Cyborg asked waving his fingers around to get his point across.
Slade gave him another nod. "Part of the price I have to pay to be her mate. I lose my humanity." He smirked. "Then again I didn't have much of that left."
"Part of the price?" Starfire asked, finishing her food.
Slade glanced to Raven before speaking. "The bonding nearly killed me." He stated finishing his coffee, setting the cup down. "Though it didn't help that I had to save your dumb asses."
"Why did you save us?" Beast Boy asked.
"Because I asked him too." Raven said quickly, lying for him. She knew he would not want to admit to choosing to save them himself. Then again, she knew he did it for her and not just his pride.
"Thanks…" He said softly to her but kept his emotions to himself. Raven was caught off-guard by the walls he had placed between them but did not ask. Now was not the time to find out what had caused him to put distance between them.
"If I may ask…" Starfire said pushing her plate to the side as she leaned forward. "Why did you break into friend Raven's room and steal her away?" She looked between them as the two shared a look. "Was your intent to mate our friend?"
Slade looked to Raven and sighed. Neither had come up with a good excuse to use. His original intent had been to rape her and leave… But… That did not really go according to plan. Hopefully, just a bit of honesty might get them off his back and speed this conversation along. He really was tired of sitting by them all. Then again, he did not know what he was going to do once this part of the morning was over with… "My intent had just been sex. However…" He looked to Raven with guarded eyes. "She needed a strong mate and I'm not one to turn away power."
"So that's why you did it?" Beast Boy asked looking upset. He had just started to accept that maybe this man was not all that bad. "For the power?" He scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Figures."
Slade looked to him but said nothing. Let the boy think what he wanted. It would be easier than admitting his real reason for mating her. For once, the power had been the last thing on his mind…
"Friend Raven…" Starfire stated softly getting the girl's attention. "I must ask…" She glanced between Slade and Raven hesitating. "Do you love him?" She enquired quickly, catching everyone off-guard.
Slade stood hastily, grabbing his cup and going into the kitchen. He was pretending to just want more coffee however; his real intent had been to get away from the question. He knew the answer; he just did not want to hear her say it.
Raven glanced to Slade wishing Starfire had not asked that question. She knew how he felt; being bonded to her, he could not hide it. Nonetheless, they had not spoken of it and she had intended to continue to ignore the topic for as long as possible.
"Starfire, why did you have ask that?" Cyborg asked with a sigh. He looked to Slade in the kitchen who had his back to them. His short conversation with the man before had giving him an insight to his side of the situation. With his reaction just now, Cyborg could confirm his thoughts on the matter.
"What does it matter?" Beast Boy asked completely missing what Cyborg saw. "It isn't like he loves her or anything." He stated waving his hands around. He looked to Raven, seeing the girl looking away from them with a sad look to her eyes. "Wait… Does he?" It suddenly hit Beast Boy and he looked to Slade with wide eyes. "Oh… Shit…" He looked down suddenly embarrassed. He knew how it felt to love someone but know it was not returned… In fact, he had once loved Raven himself…
Starfire looked at everyone confused. "Please, what have I missed?" She asked looking to BB who would not meet her eyes. "What is so wrong with the question I have asked?"
"Just answer her Raven." Slade said roughly from the kitchen, wishing Wintergreen had brought him Whiskey instead of coffee.
Raven sighed and looked to Starfire. "No… I don't." She said trying to keep her emotions from mixing up with his. Was this why he had closed off his thoughts to her? Did he know this question would come up? Or was it something else…?
"I see…" Starfire said looking sad. She had been saved from marrying someone she did not love by her friends. Why was she not given the chance to do the same for her friend? "I am sorry you have mated someone you do not love." Starfire said softly.
Surprisingly Raven smiled softly. It was a hesitant smile but one nonetheless. "I'm not." She said glancing to Slade who paused in his pouring of coffee, listening to her. "I have a feeling he'll make a good mate for me."
Slade looked at Raven from the kitchen and held her graze for a moment before looking away. She could feel his emotions start to calm but there was something still bothering him. Something that was keeping him distant from her. Raven found it uncomfortable, like some itch that was almost painful in the back of her mind.
Cyborg took the moment of silence as a chance to speak. "Well… At least now we know what's going on." He said with a smile. "So, what is your game plan for today Raven?"
The girl shrugged. "I don't know…" She looked to Slade turning awkwardly with her wings in the chair. "Did you have anything you needed to do today?"
"You mean besides getting the fuck out of this tower?" He asked her mentally with a shake of his head. "I have no plans for today."
"Would you wanna play some video games?" Beast Boy asked trying to extend an olive branch to the man. Slade just glared at him with the -you've-got-to-be-kidding-me- look on his face. "Never mind…" Beast Boy said scooting back from the table. "Well, thanks for the breakfast Wintergreen." He said to the man who had stayed at the counter with his breakfast. Wintergreen had not had a reason to sit with the others, least he interrupt the conversation, so he stayed at the bar tiding up the dishes and eating his pancakes.
"You are most welcomed, sir." Wintergreen said dipping his head to the green boy. Starfire also excused herself after thanking Wintergreen. She followed Beast Boy to the couch and sat down with him watching him start a new game.
Cyborg quickly worked to finish the food on his plate and glanced to Raven's. "Girl, you need to eat up." He said swallowing his mouth full before continuing. "It's been days since you ate anything." He looked to Slade's plate seeing that he too had not finished eating. "Hey man! Get over here and finish!" Cyborg said pointing to Slade's plate. "We don't waste food in this house!" Cyborg grinned to himself. 'Unless it turns blue and furry and tires to eat you when you open the fridge… You know that actually happens far too often now that I think about it…' He thought to himself as he finished his food.
Slade rolled his eyes and took his coffee with him as he sat back down his chair and started to eat again. He was too hungry to turn the food down anyways. He glanced to Raven seeing her poking at her food but not eating anything. "You need to eat something." He stated emotionlessly to her.
Raven physically flinched from his mental contact as though ice had been dipped into her blood. "Why are you blocking your emotions from me?" She asked taking a small bite of her food. "Our bond is still forming between us… The more you hold back, the harder it will be for us to bond…"
Slade said nothing back to her. He did not want to ask the questions he already knew the answers to. He had had enough heartache today. It had been too long since he had felt something close to what he felt for her and even then, it had not hurt as bad as this did now. Slade looked up to Cyborg, finishing the last of his food. "Where is my scythe?" He asked the metal man.
"Oh, it's down in the garage." Cyborg replied as he stood up, wiping his mouth off. "You want to come with me to get it?" He asked wondering if he could get in some more one on one chat time with the man. He still had a few things to say to Slade concerning Raven.
Slade glanced to Raven. "How far apart can we be before we strain the bond?"
She shrugged putting down her fork. She was not going to be able to make herself finish her food. At least she was able to get half a pancake down. Maybe later she will have her appetite again. "I don't know… We'd have to test it…"
"What happens if you guys get too far apart?" Cyborg asked curiously.
"Pain." They said together without meaning too. Their eyes locked and for that brief moment, Raven felt their bond flare up, connecting their souls together. Her heart raced but suddenly Slade looked away and closed his mind off to her once more. A chill swept through Raven and she held herself tightly, unsure as to why she suddenly felt very, very alone.
"Oh… Well wait here for a second and I'll just go get it then." Cyborg said as he left them and went to the lower level of the tower.