Robin felt himself tensing as they sped through the now wide-awake city in the T-car. Cyborg drove with white knuckles, uncharacteristically quiet. Behind them Courage laid sprawled across the backseat. His large muscular frame taking up much more room than Beast Boys normally skinny body. The Aspects silence was even more uncharacteristic and grating.
Occasionally the silence would be interrupted by either Serenity or Wisdom giving them new directions but otherwise the air felt oppressive with unspoken words and anxiety. The sat-nav beeped, new coordinates popping up. Cyborg swung the car around, sending them flying through the next set of lights. Robin ground his teeth as they closed in on their destination, a privet helicopter ring at the top of a high-rise hotel.
The three of them sprung from the car, charging forward. Cyborg headed straight for the inside of the building, aiming for the elevator and clearing the way. Robin sent out his grappling hook, aiming to scale the building with several jumps. He didn't stop to look at Courage, too used to Beast Boy shifting into a hawk and racing him to the top to think about how the Aspect would make his own ascent.
Courage didn't deviate from his charge, sweat beading on his brow as he shifted. Like most modern skyscrapers the building was almost a solid sheet of glass, the Aspect smacked into its side, his newly shifted suckers clinging to the surface. He began scaling the building, hardly slowing down from his sprint.
Closing in from three sides the group arrived on the roof to find a smoking, battered helicopter and an ongoing fight. Robin circled the helicopter, ducking a bit of thrown air vent and watching as two unknown Aspects fought. Courage landed heavily beside him.
"What's happening?" Robin asked, "which one's Hatred?"
"The sort of dark puce one, with the tail" grunted Courage, having to dodge another bit of thrown masonry.
While one helicopter lay broken and smoking on its side but another a little further away was untouched and was the goal of Hatred. Looking only about ten years old but sporting a heavy, weighted tail the Aspect was apparently much stronger than he looked. Proving so by wrenching a whole air vent from its casing and throwing it at his pursuer.
Said pursuer flipped with insolent grace over the tumbling vent, not slowing their run for a moment and closing in on the smaller Aspect. They stood much taller than the other Beast Boy, evidently older with skin and clothes of dove grey. In both hands their wielded short metal polls that they had pulled from somewhere.
With longer legs it didn't take the older Aspect long to catch up to Hatred. The two clashed in a swirl of violence. The heavy tail came down with bone crunching force. The two polls whirred, being used as truncheons and battered against the other Aspects arms. Hatred raged and snarled while the grey Aspect remained silent.
"Come on. We need to cut them off" said Courage, moving to put himself between the working helicopter and the fight. Having already experienced the ferociousness of the Aspects in a fight Robin followed. He didn't fancy getting in the way of that tail.
Dust brought up from said tail caused the taller Aspect to falter. That second of hesitation didn't go unpunished, the Hatred moving in with claws and teeth. Their first swipe to the neck was blocked with a forearm, skin ripping in their wake, causing a spray of red. The follow up punch to the ribs was avoided by a hair, the taller bending at the waist and throwing themselves backwards to regain some space.
Robin felt his breath hitch slightly. If the other Aspect was not so quick those claws would have taken his throat out. Hatred took the moment given to him to run towards the helicopter, green narrow eyes alighting on Courage and Robin as they stood in their way. Dark puce lips twisted into a snarl.
"No!" they howled, already bringing up their claws in preparation to fight their way through. Robin twirled his staff, Courage dropped their weight, spreading their arms in preparation to grapple.
A thrown poll impacted the back of Hatreds head, sending him stumbling. A blink later and the dove grey Aspect landed upon them. There was a short vicious scramble. The older Aspect rose, knee firmly planted in Hatred's diaphragm, a hand closed around the dropped poll, raised the two weapons high and brought them down.
Straight through Hatreds shoulders. They screamed.
Robin started forward, his own cry on his lips. Never mind the Aspects and the danger, all he could see was a young Beast Boy-his friend, his brother-impaled and pinned like a specimen ready for dissection.
"Release him!" screamed Robin, sprinting forward.
The Aspect looked up, eyes stern and cold. Face unmoved. "If I do so they will run." They didn't move, keeping the younger Aspect pinned. Blood ran down from their savaged arm uncaring. Trickling down the poll to muddle with the slowly spreading stain around the smaller Aspect. Slowly, they relaxed their weight from their knee, allowing Hatred to grab his breath in great heaving gulps.
Robin faltered at the disdain in Hatreds eyes. The vitriol in their voice. He could choke on the animosity radiating off the injured Aspect.
"Fuck you! Fuck you all! Let me go you motherfuckers! I'm going to get him! I'm going to get them all. I'll rip their fucking throats out and piss on their graves! I'll choke them with their own intestines and feed them the dogs. Let! Me! Go!"
"What the heck?" whispered Cyborg. Robin hadn't even noticed him arrive. The Aspect continued to thrash under the placid emerald gaze of his captor. Robin could see them rolling their shoulders, trying to slide themselves up the implements impaling them. Their eyes were locked on the helicopter with feverish intensity, dragging their claws against roof.
"Cease your struggle. You will only harm yourself more."
"Fuck you, you cock sucking fucker," Hatred seethed. Courage sighed deeply and came to stand by their head. Robin wondered if he would do as he did before with Anger and knock the uncooperative Aspect out.
Instead, he turned to look at the dove grey Aspect, nodding to them with respect. "Mercy, good to see you."
"Courage" the newly named Mercy returned the greeting. Voice as monotone and blank as their expression. Robin tried to twist his mind around it. This was Beast Boys feeling of Mercy? This? The Aspect that had just dispassionately and violently impaled another Aspect. No remorse and no hesitation. How could that be? How!?
If there was one thing Robin was starting to realize through this entire disaster it was that he didn't know Beast Boy half as well as he thought.
"Faith and Compassion are close by" continued Mercy, the words clipped and precise. "We split half an hour ago. We agreed to rendezvous at the park by 5th and Park Street."
"They didn't stay to help with Hatred?" Courage asked, looking slightly surprised.
"I assured them of my competence. I believed they were more suitable to ensuring the cooperation of the other Aspects we were tracking."
Something about the language, the clipped replies, put Robin in mind of a solider reporting. It struck the leader suddenly that he really knew little of Beast Boys life before joining the Titans. The younger boy avoiding almost any and all mention of his previous position in the Doom Patrol. Just how many years had he been with them? Just how young had he been to start with?
"Do you have some rope? Handcuffs?" asked Mercy, looking to Robin. Without a word he handed over the zip ties he normally carried to restrain villains.
Mercy placed a firm knee on Hatred's chest, ignoring the cursing and grunting. Courage knelt restraining the Aspects left hand and Robin did the same on the right. Cyborg got the fun time of wrestling down the tail. Seeing them ready Mercy quickly pulled out the polls. Robin felt a shiver shoot down his spine at the Aspects cry of pain. Then it was all movement and noise as Hatred tried his hardest to escape their grip. Cyborg was dragged across the roof by the tail and even lifted briefly before he adjusts his weight.
Robin pressed down, grinding his teeth against the stress of holding down the Aspect. Childish they might be, but their stringy muscles pushed against him with unnatural strength. With all of them working together they manged to wrench the Aspects hands behind him, zip-tying them together. Their grey jumpsuit stained black with the pooling blood.
The tail posed more of a problem and eventually Robin had to also hand over his bolas. Using them they managed to tangle the heavy limb tight enough to keep it pressed to the Aspects back. It also tangled around their legs, making it difficult for the boy to walk. Something to which Marcy paid little to no heed as he began to drag the Aspect off the building.
Mercy remained impervious to the profanity laden creative death threats that Hatred continued to spew. Courage, however, was not so unmoved. As soon as they had escaped from the most awkward elevator ride of Robins life the Aspect had torn a bit of cloth to gag the spitting Hatred. Considering Beast Boys characteristic sharp teeth, something Hatred was not lacking, it probably wouldn't take him to long to chew through it, but Robin was grateful for the small relief.
Aware that their colourful group was getting no small number of looks, phones materializing in the hands of passerbys, Robin was quick to direct everyone to the T-car. The back seat was now considerably more cramped with all three Aspects in the back. Hatred boxed in by the bulking sunset red muscles of Courage and the immovable stone facade that was Mercy.
The ride was short, the park no more than a few blocks away. Robin didn't need to look to find the other Aspects. They couldn't be missed. The four Beast Boys stood in a dichotomy. The bright shining presence of Faith and Compassion twisting and weaving around the sordid, dismal feeling of Pain and Grief.
Civilians in the park were faltering and staring. Wanting to draw close and bask to the welcoming, uplifting aura created by the two shining Aspects but held back by the disturbing and depressing image of their dark counterparts. Cyborg began trying to disperse the crowd with a few assurances and waves while Robin pushed his way through.
"Robin! Courage!" greeted Compassion, giving them a warm smile. The Aspect floated forward, sweeping the surprised Robin into a warm hug. Against his will the older teen could feel the tension in his spine disperse, bubbling contentment buzzing through him at the touch. "I'm so glad to see you. Are you alright? How is everyone?"
Robin blinked, trying to take in the whole of the other Aspect but his thoughts kept wanting to slow and drift away. Sluggish in the pleasant haze the Compassion brought on. The sheer power of the Aspect radiated around him in a warm glow, different from the loud, aggressive presence of Courage or the immovable, gravitational orbit of Serenity. This was soft but thick. Like the afternoon sun warming your skin, or the cosy cocoon of blankets on a cold day. Personal, close, safe.
Robin took a few steps back, shaking his mind into gear and stealing his will against the temptation to simply bask the Aspects glow. Like many of the other Aspects Compassion stood taller than Robin. Cornflower blue with a youthful glow it was hard to give an age to the smiling face. Their hair was longer than Beast Boys normal messy mop, falling in soft floppy curls around warm bright green eyes. On their back and adding another foot to their height towering tussled wings rose to blend with the clear afternoon sky, trailing to the ground like a cloak. One was kept spread and curled around one of the dark, sickly Aspects. Comforting and protective all at once.
"It's good to see you all. I knew you would come" said Faith softly. Also smiling as they stood straight backed and tall.
Robin squinted, the Aspect was the colour of the sun. Literally the sun, reflecting the high noon rays so they stood glowing in the middle of the park. Their skin held an iridescent sheen, like the fine scales of moth wings, causing it to shine in the light. Large, tufted ears stood proud and high from their head. As they lay a welcoming palm on his shoulder Robin felt uplifted, buoyant and bright. He could do nothing to stop the smile coming to his lips. It was just so…great. This feeling of absolute belonging. Of being wanted.
Robin worked his mouth briefly, trying to separate himself from the emotions enough to get words out. "Compassion and Faith, I take it" he squeaked out.
"Haha, that's us!" said Compassion. "And this is Pain and Grief" he gestured to the hunched, whimpering from gripping his feathers with skinny, oozing hands. Pain didn't look up, they didn't do much of anything really. Just continued to shake and let out small moans and whimpers. Superficially they looked like Doubt, form hunched with their head hung and covered.
Until Robin realized it wasn't hair hiding their features but long strips of flayed flesh. Black ichor dripped from them, the stench of sickness clung to them and the more he looked the more revolted Robin became. Small sharp breaths filled his lungs. His muscles began to tighten, skin prickling with the sharp bursts of a suddenly burning heart.
Compassion closed their wing around the apparition. The feeling fell away, Robin gulped in a breath. Goosebumps erupted over his skin, and he shivered despite the warm breeze.
"Are you alright?" asked Compassion.
Robin nodded, still slightly trembling.
"It's best not to focus on Pain too much," said Faith. "They do not mean any harm but nor can they control their effect on others. Whatever you do, do not touch them."
"What happens if I touch them?" asked Robin, planting his feet and refusing to back away. No matter how much he wanted to.
"You will feel what they feel. All the pain we have ever felt, physical or emotional, will be shared. Constantly and without end."
The wings shifted again, pulling the huge, distorted mass closer. Not minding the black, retched ichor left on the brilliant soft blue. Weighing down the feathers and sticking them to the ground.
"We don't want to hurt you" said Compassion imploringly. Robin nodded to show he understood. Now that Pain had been completely encased in their comforting feathered cocoon Robin managed to drag his eyes to the last of the Aspects. Standing docile and mute all this time.
Grief was sullen and small, but Robin was surprised to see they were old. Maybe not as old as Wisdom but certainly older the BB. Their eyes were tired and wrinkled, sunken into their sockets. They were a concrete drab grey. Entirely monochrome in appearance. They looked unseeingly at Robin, mouth dropped into a frown, shoulders hanging with defeat. Even without knowing what they represented Robin could feel the deep sadness radiating from them. Sucking in the warm and bright day around him.
They didn't say anything or show any sign of greeting when Robin stared at them. Looking entirely through the Titan, into the regrets of the past. Breathing shallow and slow.
"It might be best to avoid touching Grief as well. While he's unlikely to hurt you the same way as Pain, depression is a molasses. It sticks to your soul and lingers. Dragging you down if given the chance. Best avoid him for now," said Compassion. Giving the Aspect a warm but saddened look. Knowing nothing they did would get through.
"Right, well. Mercy's in the car with Hatred, and Courage…" Robin turned, suddenly realizing that Courage, who had exited the car with him and Cyborg was nowhere to be seen.
"We sensed Fear not too far away. I suspect he's gone to fetch him. His presence will be particularly emboldening to such a flighty Aspect. Enough to hopefully have them cooperate without force," said Compassion.
"Fear can make us do unexpected and dangerous things if pushed" added Faith.
Robin grit his teeth, feeling a flash of anger. He had specifically told the Aspects not to go anywhere alone and yet one had done just that. He briefly thought of trying to catch up to Courage but decided against it. There was now six Aspects that he and Cyborg had to get back to the Tower, including the injured but highly dangerous Hatred who would feel at the slightest opportunity.
Pushing out a stressed breath he calmed himself. Cyborg, who had been listening not too far away, still occasionally directing a passerby further on the path, shrugged at him. "I saw Courage head east, but they looked pretty determined." Robin glared at him, "Come on man, the guy seems alright. He wants everyone back at the Tower like we do. I think you can trust him to get back on his own."
"Have some faith," said Faith.
"Erg, fine! We need to head back to the Tower, but Hatred and Mercy already take up most of the car."
"I'm sure Grief and I can fit if we try. Nothing like a little me time" reassured Faith humorously.
"I can fly with Pain. Such a small space isn't good for them anyway" explained Compassion, looking concerned.
Well, he already had one out of control Aspect, what was another? "Fine. Follow the car as closely as you can though," said Robin.
"Of course."
"Geez man, six Aspects at once" mumbled Cyborg as he got into the car for the third time. "I wonder just how many Star will bring in. Surely, we've got most of them now. I mean, how many can there be?"
"I don't know Cy, but we won't stop until we have them all" said Robin, tilting the side mirror so he could keep an eye on Compassion and Pain as they took to the air.
"Just never would have thought BB was so deep, ya get me?"
Robin quirked a smile, thinking of their normal comic disaster of a teammate. "I get you, Cy."