Chapter Twenty Eight:

Being in her own room again was weird, and uncomfortable. You'd think that after what seemed like forever of running around Nevada and California trails a cool, quiet and homey room would feel like heaven. But all it felt like was a springy mattress that poked up at her spine. Terra growled and turned over again, listening to the springs jingle and the bed frame creek from the weight it hadn't held in over a year.

Though painted to match her favorite landscape, the fake mountains and desert seemed small and altered now. Her room felt small, and closed in, despite the large area. She stared at the wall, blinking slowly as she tried to embrace a much needed sleep. Things in her head, it was hard to try and embrace anything though that didn't concern them. Terra sighed, her breath falling limp in the empty room. Her face cringed as she rolled to her back again and set her hands to her stomach, staring at the ceiling painted purple and dotted with white stars.

Terra took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly and letting it stale in the air. Now she wasn't sure it was the bed that was keeping her up tonight, as she still hadn't found the facts she was supposed to be looking into. It was taking too much brain power, and she didn't want to ponder on it anymore. Her fingers tapped against her skin lightly as her nose crinkled. Her mind was fuzzy, clouded and too misty to understand anything right now. Course, it might help if she got some sleep.

Testing her ability to control her own state of mind, Terra closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Her lashes covered her eyes, and Terra let her mind go limp and numb. The embracing darkness wasn't comforting though, it threatened to be a movie screen for memories, so Terra quickly jolted her eyes back open.

She gave a squeal of annoyance and jolted up in bed. Her unbrushed hair matted at the back of her head. Terra un-knowingly brushed her open palm over the back of her head lightly as she looked to the side and sighed. A moment later, she kicked the sheets from her feet and threw her legs over the edge of her bed. After wrapping her brown blanket around her shoulders, Terra then stood up with a clumsy grace and wobbled to her window.

She detoured around her stuff from memory, and then found herself standing in front of the large opening in the wall, blocked only by glass. Her brows furrowed as her arms crossed to her side. Terra looked out over the lake, watching the black blue waters swish before she looked to the bridge her room faced. Car lights blared as they zoomed over the bridge, and little lights shined from the bridge itself.

Terra hugged herself closer and continued looking out, not knowing what she was waiting for. It humored her tired brain though that she almost expected X to pop up. She grinned briefly with the thought, before ducking her head down and giving it a gentle shake. Not sure what to make of herself.

By dawn, Terra had come to some point with her own mind. Though still it was mixed and crossed paths, she knew she was ready to move on. Her past was so far and so close, that she sometimes wondered if it was even as she remembered. If maybe her mind had dramatized it and she was over reacting. But then memory would poke and scream back the cries of the people who had fallen under her ruthless strides. It needed to be put behind her, her steps needed to lighten and her heart breathe. Watching the sun peek over the mountains to the side, Terra had placed her hand on the glass, and in her sitting position leaned against it. She waited for the sun to shine on her, holding breath to see if it dared touch against her darkened soul. When it did, she felt the warmth, it touched at her palm and promised everything would be okay in the end... but it didn't tell her when the end would be. Terra frowned and leaned her forehead against the glass, her eyes longing as she trembled.

Business needed taken care of first. Red X, the Titan's, the others from Area 51... so many things needed addressed before she considered her own escape. Which always brought her back to the thought, what was going to happen to her? The government didn't want her, but they couldn't let her go. The Titan's where the complete opposite, and while X straggled somewhere between.

It was when these cross roads blocked her, she sighed and tried to start all over. Getting everywhere and no where. She was ready inside, to move on and find out what life was like outside this city, and shame. But so many things where shackling her down here. Her fingers then tapped against the glass while her other hand hugged her brown blanket close.

For a moment, she stared at the reflection in the glass. Under the baggy eyes, matted hair and pale face, she was there. Somewhere, Terra had to refind herself as she stared at a glued mask. In an almost humor attempt, she reached from the glass and pushed at her eyes as if it would erase the bags. Needless to say, she wasn't surprised when the dark rounds stayed in place. She smiled and scoffed to herself then laid her hands into her lap, watching her rugged fingers tap her thighs.

This drama was getting old. Sighing, Terra wearyingly looked back up at the window and watched the sun awaken the sky, and brighten the landscape. "Something needs to change..."

Her thought lasted a little longer, before she brought herself back to fact. Sitting up straighter, Terra cleared her throat and tried this weird brainstorming thing. Hey, it's more painful than it sounds. Solitude in thought though became boring, Terra glanced towards her stereo and grinned towards it. Limply she tumbled the remote from her coffee table, and clicked the "play" button, not caring what old CD was in there, as long as it provided some backround noise.

She tossed the remote to the side and leaned back on the window and stared outside. Most everyone was taken care of, only she was left. Terra had to figure out what was going to happen to her. She didn't trust the Government, laying her life in their hands wasn't something she would do. She had learned not to trust so easily, and it had been a harsh lesson. But well learnt. She didn't have any place left to run, but she was a danger to the Titan's by public eye.

Terra sighed loudly and thumped her head against the glass, closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead back and forth. Her fingers gripped her blanket tighter as a settling breath left her lips. She didn't notice she was falling into sleep, until a soft knock on her door startled her back up. Terra closed her eyes again and shook her head before opening them, blinking she looked to her door, and listened as another knock lightly tapped against the door.

"Come in?" She called unsurly. Not sure who would be up at this time, and want to see her.
She heard it swish softly open, and heard someone walk in, but the couch blocked her view. She wasn't made to wait long however as she was spoken too.

"I thought I heard music coming from here." Robin said quietly, Terra saw him as she stood up completely wrapped in her blanket. "but it's so early, I wasn't sure if you were up or not."

"Forgot you where an early bird," Terra joked with a tired grin.

"Bad pun." Robin scorned lightly with his own grin as he took a couple steps inside, leaving the door open however. "You don't look like you got much sleep."

"I didn't," she sighed, looking towards the window for a moment.

"Did you get any at all?" Robin crossed his arms and looked her over carefully, lifting a brow in questioning.

"No."

"Why?"

Terra shrugged. "I dunno, I just couldn't sleep."

"What where you thinking about?" Robin pried.

Terra shrugged again and looked down to the floor. "Just stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"People stuff."

Robin looked back to the door, seeing if anyone was passing or not then took more steps towards her and lowered his voice. "Relationships?"

Terra scoffed and scuffed her toe to the floor and shrugged again. "A little bit."

"Want to share?"

Terra shook her head, feeling her cheeks heat a little. "No way."

Robin chuckled then and let his arms drop. "Just asking." He waited a moment, looking around, before crossing his arms again out of habit and looking to Terra. "Well, since your up, want breakfest?"

The geomancer looked up to him and stared for a moment, then nodded. "Sure," she grinned.
Terra let her blanket drop and took uneasy steps towards Robin, her head ducked down a little bit as she rubbed her arm. Robin grinned towards her in greeting before turning around and leaving down the hall. She followed him, staying quiet until they entered the rec room.

Robin flicked on the lights, showing them the giant room the Titan's spent ninty percent of their time at home in. Terra walked in after Robin left to the kitchen area. She looked around with a small frown on her face. Terra wanted to call this home, but something in her wasn't allowing it, something about it just wasn't home anymore. She shook her head and turned towards the bar table, lightly taking a seat at it she placed her elbows on the counter and watched.

"So, what are you making?"

Robin shrugged. "I usually just eat a cereal bar or something if no one else is up. But since I got company, what do you want?"

"Waffles with peanut butter chocolate chips and marshmallow syrup." Terra yapped out immidenantly with a childish grin.

Robin cringed, then bent down the cupboards. Terra heard clinking and shifting of boxes and cans for a moment, before Robin stood up with a single box. "We only got waffles and syrup."

Terra pouted for a moment, before brightening up. "Any chocolate syrup?"

"Probably,"

"Then I'll take that and a waffle."

Robin shrugged, but then to Terra's surprise he tossed the waffle mix back into the cupboard and shifted to the freezer. She watched him curiously, as he opened the freezer and dug around in it before pulling out a rectangle box. "Cyborg and Beast Boy swear against waffles that you toss in the toaster, but when their not around, I find it easier and quicker than cooking them from scratch."

Terra barked out her laughter. "True," she agreed as she watched Robin pop four waffles in the big toaster that was (next to) never used. A little while later, she was enjoying a plate of steaming toaster-warmed waffles with chocolate syrup. Terra grinned towards Robin in thankment before forking the first bite in her mouth. Her eyes closed for a moment as she savored the flavor, it had been forever since she had enjoyed any 'good' food.

"Like it?" Robin asked. Terra nodded before forking more in her mouth. Satisfied with her answer, Robin picked at his small breakfast, standing at the other side of the counter he didn't look interested in his food.

There was an amount of quiet, in which Terra quickly then picked up and slowed her eating. She eyed Robin briefly between bites, noticing his unease. "Whats wrong?" She finally asked.

Robin didn't answer at first, his food nearly untouched he messed with it some more before pushing it aside alltogether. The boy wonder cleared his throat, turning to Terra with a mixed face. "How much do you know about Red X?"

Terra startled a little bit, blinking and tensing posture. The question wasn't what she had been expecting. "Not much. Why?"

"Just curious." Robin said quickly. "Since you hung around him, I was wondering we could learn something new."

A piece of her was offended, to think he might actually believe she would so easily give someone up like that... again. Her voice harshening a little, Terra looked away, "sorry to dissipoint. He keeps to himself."

"I know."

Where was this going?

Robin cleared his throat again before adding in; "I think he might be in town, and anything new could help if he robs someone again."

"What makes you think he's in town?" Terra gave him a sidelong look.

Robin stifled. "He has a habit of showing up where the action is."

"Are you always this strict in the mornings?" Terra tried lightening, but it didn't even work on herself. So gave very little effect on Robin. He didn't answer, shrugging instead as he threw away his food and lightly dumped his plate in the sink.

Robin wasn't this tight unless something was up. Terra shifted her weight and eyed around the room for something to excuse her. She figured he had suspicion about something, by the way he pried and then hid it with excuses, but Terra knew better than to dig with questions. She also knew that she wouldn't learn anything that way either, and Robin wouldn't let on unless he had too. Instead she tried a change in subject, since it was too early to ask anyone else to wake up to keep company.

"You know, I've been thinking." Terra started airily.

"Yeah?" The leader raised the corner of his mask.

"I've done a lot... a lot of bad things." The blonde averted her eyes down. "Stuff people don't forget, and I know that there is always going to be someone or something to remind everyone of the past." She paused for a moment, getting no response from her company, Terra continued slowly. "Those reminders aren't going to go away... and people aren't going to forgive it all either. I don't blame them, but..." She shrugged. "It's just," the drowsiness started kicking in, fogging up her brain and making it harder to think clearly.

Terra shook her head lightly, trying to wake herself up some. "It's not safe here for me... and," She looked up at Robin with a dragged and weary face. "It's not safe for you guys, the Titan's, if I stick."

"You don't have to worry about that." Robin said, his face cautious of her decisions.

"Yes, I do." the geomancer stated, her voice hardening. "I need to learn to grow up some... face some facts maybe."

Robin paused a moment, his expression showing thought before he nodded slowly. "You want to leave?"

"Yes..." Terra sighed and looked back away. "And no." After catching her own words, Terra blinked then looked up to Robin, opening her mouth to rephrase herself. But he lifted his hand up, and she stayed quiet.

Setting his hand back down and crossing his arms, Robin nodded. "I know what you mean."

Terra shifted some more, biting her lip for a second. "...and?" She asked, feeling a small jitter under her skin.

Robin waited, then answered. "And... I think it's your choice, no one can decide for you. Your always welcomed here, Terra. But if you don't want to stay, then no one is going to make you."

"Wow, that was helpful." She grunted in sarcasm, grinning lightly though. "No words of advice? No criticism? No 'well... if that's what you really want,' speeches?" She raised her brow.

Robin grinned, "I'll let those pass. Just make sure you know what your doing, and don't just run off."

Terra nodded, taking a deep breath to keep the sting from that little bit of advice hurting.

"Do you know where your going?"

Terra cringed. "Uhm... no."

"You'll need to figure that out."

"I know." Terra readied to continue, when the clanking of one of the Titan's interupted with arrival. The geomancer looked over her shoulder as Cyborg walked in yawning. She glanced at Robin quickly, but he only nodded, assuring he would keep the conversation private.

"Mornin' ya'll." Cyborg greeted, stepping int other kitchen area. Robin looked over his shoulder, giving out a casual greeting back.

"Hey Cy," Terra smiled, he waved at her before looking around the kitchen. She watched him look at the box of frozen waffles, then her plate. The blonde quickly frowned as a tight, shaded look over came her robotic friends face.

"Frozen waffles?" He mouthed out, sending a glare towards Robin. The boy wonder blinked, the edges of his mask widening as he looked up at Cy. "Man, what kind of Titan are you?" Before Robin could answer though, Cyborg pushed him out of the kitchen. Sending him stumbling over his own clunky boots for a split second with unbalance.

"AHH!"

"Now, stay out while I make our girl some real food."

Terra couldn't help it as she started laughing like mad, as Cyborg whipped out a chef hat from one of the drawers, and lightly placed it on his head.


Yey x) I finally finished this chap, I had the first half written from the boring nights spent in a Hotel xP But anyways, sorry Salvation is taking so dog gone long. I have just started running out of steam for it (I worked on it in bits, and I'm not going to abandon it.) and have been having issues.

Thanks for all those reviews guys 8D! (Over a 100... -wipes tears from eyes- So beautiful.)