Why would nobody face me? They were all staring at something, or just into space. Starfire was glaring at the fridge, Raven had her eyes closed and was muttering incantations to help calm her down, Cyborg was fiddling with his arm for no reason, Beast Boy was staring into the space above my shoulder and Robin was facing out the window, so I couldn't see his reaction.
"So, that's pretty much it." I shifted my weight from my right foot to my left.
"So..." Robin's voice was like that of a burning man – probably because I was putting his team in danger. "Fang is trying to kill you? Just like he killed Terra and McKenna and Coventina...?"
"Yeah." I barked out a harsh, meaningless laugh. "Delightful, isn't it?"
Robin turned to face the room. Everyone looked at him and we were all taken aback. His face matched his voice. It was contorted and angry and all at the same time it was indecisive. Is mask covered his eyes, though, and for that I was grateful. I was positive that in his eyes was going to be an expression none of us could sympathize with. Maybe empathize, but not sympathize.
"I need to talk to you. Alone." His words had a cutting edge. They were directed at me. He sounded absolutely furious.
"Okay." I sounded braver than I felt.
Without another word he strode across the room and out the door, not looking back to see if I had followed him, sure that I had. His pace was fast and powered by rage.
I followed him as fast as I could. But when the door shut behind us he didn't stop. He kept walking. He took me up a flight of stairs and then through a long hallway.
He stopped right in front of the door and began pacing, wringing his hands behind his back. His outward signs of distress made me feel terrible. I'd done this to him. I'd almost killed his team.
"I'll go now, if you want," I said quietly, not knowing how hurt I sounded – or even felt. He looked up.
The rage was gone from his face. In its place was ultimate sadness. His hands stopped wringing and moved toward mine. His gloved hands grabbed mine.
"Brisa," he whispered. "If there was some way to let you stay that wouldn't... that could... that..."
"I get it," I said, this time hearing the hurt and trying to disguise it. "I'm used to being shunned. I'll just... go." I pulled my hands out of his.
"Wait." I'd turned around, and at his words I turned back.
His mask was off.
I gasped. His eyes were sparkling gray, filled with infinite grief and an emotion I hadn't come into contact with for years. I couldn't even tell what it was anymore. He stared at me, waiting for my response.
I squeak escaped my throat and I clamped a hand over my mouth. I felt my body begin to twitch the way it did when I was going to cry.
So I fled.
"Brisa!" Robin called after me. But my feet were moving of their own accord.
I was almost out the door when a hand grabbed my arm and made me stop. I glanced at Beast Boy, who looked pained in the extreme. "Let me go, I have to go," I begged, knowing that the tears weren't going to be held off much longer.
"Stay," Beast Boy begged. "Or let me come with you."
"No!" I yelled at him, tugging at my arm. He held strong. "You can't come! No one can come! I'm putting everyone in danger, just like I always have. Nobody wants me, they've never wanted me, it's better if I go–"
"Don't go!" he argued hotly. "Don't leave me, don't go!"
I was becoming frantic. "I have to go! Let me go!" I screamed, pulling harder and harder yet, feeling the warm liquid in my eyes almost spill over. I blinked back the tears; but one escaped and fell down my cheek.
His other hand lifted and brushed it off my face. "Don't cry," he whispered.
That was the beginning of the water works. I didn't want him to see this. Huge, rippling sobs broke out, tearing sounds coming from my chest as if it was being torn open. I yanked my arm free and hit the ground running.
He didn't follow.
As soon as I escaped the tower I bolted for the city, forgetting that my winds would have carried me, letting my feet do it instead. I raced to the edge of the island and then let my winds carry me to the outskirts of the bay, allowing the air to rush past me as I flew toward the large skyscrapers in the dark sky.
Cars drove in and out of traffic, people walked along the sidewalks, animals played. This was a great utopian city design. Everyone seemed happy.
Except myself, perched on the tallest building as I was. I glared down at the happy citizens, allowing the tears to rip me apart, inside and out.
"Hello, Brisa," whispered a voice I recognized all too much. "Glad to see you've come."
I almost screamed, but his hand covered my mouth. A forceful blow hit the back of my head, and I passed out.