Chapter Twenty Five:

The ultiment failure ringing around her as taunting memories threatened to pop in and out of her mind in a miserable remberence, Terra continued down the ally. Her head hung as light dribbles of rain patted over her head. Her eyes where open but not focused as she watched the foot steps she took with blurred vision, while she felt the sting of losing the highest piece of honor. Forgive and Forget wasn't so easy when the past was so alive and fresh in everything that was tried and done. She was learning this in the hardest way as more and more seemed to just leave her finger tips all together, taunting her as they crossed to a side she could never get too. No matter how many steps she took.

Yeah, she had heard about a lot of old super hero's who never wanted to be known for what they did. And in a way, she could always be like that, staying in secret but still helping others. But in a selfish way, this wasn't just about others. This was about her, this was about the fact that she couldn't have what she wanted. People would scorn and hate her the rest of her life. She wouldn't be able to just parade around a city in some funky colored tights and fancy hairdo with her hands glowing from power. Okay, well when put that way it didn't sound too great.

Terra sighed and hugged her sides closer, her eyes closing briefly as she tried finding warmth. The point was, she couldn't be a known hero, and would never get a chance to reprove herself. She had caused too much pain, she had handed out suffering, and now it seemed the people where handing it back. She didn't want to be just any super hero anyways, she didn't want to be another tight wearing funky snazy haired flying super-power. She wanted to be a Titan, for all she had done, it had always been a piece of something she wanted so greatly. She wanted to be able to say "I'm a Teen Titan."

But she couldn't.

Terra growled and snapped her eyes open as her pace quickened and her face scowled. The earth started rumbling under her feat, each step she took a shutter could be heard from underneath, her emotions awaking the earth and threatening to anger it. Her emotions started eating at her, and her feet jittered to move faster due to it, as if to escape what she couldn't bare. But as a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and spun around, Terra was awakened, though her face dark.

"Let go of me," She pulled back.

Robin slanted his eyes, tilting the edges of his mask to show his dominance. "Terra, settle down." He said. "I know your upset but-"

Terra's scoff interrupted him as she grinned open mouthed and looked away, a mocking look of humor as she raised her arms to her chest, still in cross. "No I'm not." Ignoring Robin's annoyed look, she placed her hands on her hips and faced him again, backing a step first out of his reach. "I didn't like it in there. And..." she looked away, her lips pursing out while her eyes glanced around. "And, it was just getting uncomfortable." Her mock faded as her eyes glanced down to the concrete ally, her arms then falling to her sides.

She breathed out heavily and looked away, trying it ignore the patient, but almost intense look Robin was forwarding towards her. "I ..." Her arms crossed again, tighter. "I just need to go," in a sense of sudden misplacement of judgment Terra turned around and continued back down the alley. She hugged her slicker tighter as a rumble of thunder threatened to open the skies to rain again.

Again though she was turned back around, she sighed and looked back up to Robin, her face altogether pushing into just a look that showed forlorn mindfulness. "You need to go home," Robin said.

Terra blinked, but her face didn't change. Her eyes darted past her former leader. You know, back when there was some hope of being part of his team? Yeah. She knew that in that direction laid the tower, with the other teammates waiting for them to get back with news. She also saw a oddly green hued cat laying on a nearby dumpster. She shook her head though and looked back to Robin. "It's not my home anymore."

"We wont let them decide solely what happens to you," he instructed firmly.

Terra shook her head harder, making her blonde locks slap against her face. "I don't want anyone deciding what happens to me." She looked away, her eyes hardening. "Why is it everyone seems to have something in this but me?" She laughed, then frowned and tucked her chin in. "Oh yeah. Never mind. I keep forgetting."

Robin lifted his chin, he didn't soften at her pity party. In fact, he almost seemed to scorn her for it as he kept his attention completely on her. Terra shifted under his gaze like a child in trouble, but she didn't back down from herself.

"Terra." Robin said, his voice strong and forceful enough to make her look at him. As he spoke, his voice stayed like steel, but somehow, a tint of softness was under his tone. "I didn't haul myself out here in the rain to try and push you in directions you don't want to go. And I didn't stand in there because they wanted me too, and I certainly didn't drag Beast Boy along to make myself feel better." He stared at her a little longer. "I did it because I'm your friend, and my teammate, and as so it's my job to make sure you stay safe."

"Teammate?" Terra asked, her voice almost whimpered as her lips parted.

"Once a Titan, always a Titan." Robin reached out and grabbed her hand, steady even when she jolted. He then reached behind his belt and pulled out a T-com, then placed it in her hand. "Don't ever lose this, and we'll only be a call away."

"I..." Terra looked down at it, not even curling her fingers around the communicator. "I can't take this," she hurriedly looked up at Robin with a frantic look.

"Yes you can."

"But what about-"

"Hey," Robin lightened up just a little. "We're rebel teen agers. Besides they don't have to know." He nodded down at the T-com. "Just keep it with you. If you don't want attenton, don't parade it around. But it needs to stay with you."

"Okay..." Terra looked down and slowly wrapped her fingers around the T-com. She didn't get much of a thought back in before the green cat bounded from the dumpster and towards them. Moments later resuming it's human shape, Beast Boy exchanged looks with Robin who nodded before the changeling turned to the blonde.

"Ready to get back? I don't know about you guys, but I am tired, cold and hungry."

--

--

They trudged over the wet sidewalks, each footstep making a splash as walking in a puddle was inevitable. A few drizzle would topple down from the sky, and heavy gray clouds continued to hover threateningly above. the buildings around where tinted gray from the weathers light, and other buildings reflected the downing clouds. Few people walked on the streets during such a day, but that was all the more convenient for the Titan's and Terra. Fingering the T-com in her pocket, Terra shrugged her shoulders to hug at her neck, a faint grin on her face despite it all.

"Did you ever talk to that one Dude about her friends?" Beast Boy asked, glancing around Terra towards Robin, who shrugged and continued looking ahead. The conversation obviously caught the geomancers attention, and she passed them both curious looks.

"I'm talking to him today, hopefully something can get worked out. Those guys need better influences than what any holding facility can offer." Robin said.

Terra glanced from one to the other, her brow raising as her shoulders dropped. "Who?" When Robin gave her a questioning look she continued. "I mean, who are you talking to?"

Robin looked back ahead and shrugged again. "My old mentor. He heard about the whole case and wanted to talk to me about the other guys, your friends. He might be able to take them in." His voice lowered as he spoke, but Terra caught his words and blinked before looking back ahead.

She might not be the most up-to-date person, but even she knew who trained Robin. Excited suddenly at the thought of one of the biggest legends of 'super' hero's, she looked back to him with a small little grin that better fit a five year old. "Can I come?"

Robin looked back down to her and raised the corner of his mask. "...Why?"

Terra shrugged innocently and bit her lip with her eyes shifting a little. "Well, it's kind of my business too, right?" Though she was equally wanting to go just to see if Robin was talking about who she was thinking of, without mentioning it.

"If... you really want too.." Robin looked away, his voice hesitant almost as if he where embarrassed in a... weird guy-ish way.

"If Terra's going, I'm coming." Beast Boy piped. The leader grunted and shook his head but didn't argue it, he probably guessed it wouldn't do anything that involved Terra, without the changeling hopping along.

"Fine," he grunted.

"When are we going?" Terra asked brightly.

"After we get back home to change."

"Huh? Why?" Terra looked down at her clothes then to Beast Boy before finally at Robin again. "Why would we change?"

"Meeting in private." Robin muttered under his breath.

"Oh... guess the bright spandex where too loud then?" She snickered, feeling comfort in teasing.

But Robin didn't answer though as they continued through the city. As the rain started dripping down faster, they quickened their paces. Terra started lagging behind as she dazed in and out. Her arms crossed loosely and her chin a little higher than it had been. She watched the two boys walk ahead of her as they started a conversation. Well, Beast Boy had started a conversation and Robin was dragged into it. She just grinned and watched, but a moment later her grin fell again as she slowly got the feeling of being watched. Her eyes darted to the side, but she soon ignored it and continued on.

Awhile later, the Tower was beginning to show on the horizon. Terra watched it for a moment before feeling a shiver down her spine again. Her teeth clenched as a sweat twinkled down her brow, the feeling made her nervous. Paranoid with right she tensed up but didn't mention it to the others in front of her. As they turned a corner though, she stopped and turned around slowly. To her right was an ally. it's dark crevasses was beyond welcoming as it's lonely dim stretched onto the sidewalk. Her blue eyes looked it over carefully before she advanced towards it, her arms uncrossing as her steps turned quiet and stealthy.

"Hello?" Terra called out in an innocent voice, but her look was cautious as her brows narrowed. Something scurried in the alley, she snorted and tensed further before advancing. Terra stopped outside the alley, looking into the darkness she cringed against it, knowing better sense was against getting this close. She glanced towards where Robin and Beast Boy had gone, then looked back to the alley and took in a deep breath. The mucky air clammed onto her skin, but another shiver rocketed down her spine against it. She felt her hands shake, but Terra ignored the signs of her bad idea. The rain dripped down faster, bouncing off her head and onto the side walk.

Terra narrowed her eyes further, noting the quiet still of the ally. That had done it, her curiosity and fake act of bravery sent her forward. Not sure what or who she was about to encounter. But the darkness of the alley swallowed her up soon enough, and it told her there was no going back. Another CLANG sounded, and Terra could tell it was done on purpose to get her attention.

"Whose there?!" She demanded loudly, her fists glowing yellow as she looked around, glancing over the gray hued walls, and ladders with no effect in finding who stalked the darkness. Her eyes ran back to ground level, she scanned the dumpsters and as far into the black pitch as she could though it wasn't far. Her feet braced to the floor however, as a voice rang from above in hiding.

"Missed you too."

SPECIAL THANKS TO lunabelle0!! Omg, that idea of putting Batman in here was perfect. Thank you! And Geo should like the fact of good ol' Batty coming in ;D!

And as always, you're all being great readers! LUV DA REVIEWS

Though... I know there are more of you -evil look- I see the hits, I KNOW YOU ARE READING! PRESS THE PURPLE BUTTON!! PUSH IT OR... I'LL MAKE ELIE COME UP WITH A THREAT FOR YOU xO!! Lol, I'm hyper.

HOPE YA'LL ARE ENJOYING! THANKS FOR READING!