3

Teleka glared out across the city towards the somewhat hexed effigy of Titans Tower in the distance. Tears blurred her vision, but the constant replay of that scene in her head, the worst night of her life, was clearer than ever.

It had almost been so easy. If she'd been just five minutes late, it would have been perfect. But she should have known better. Her life could never have been described as easy. It had been a simple cat-burglary, back in the days when she was better known as Cat-girl, and everything went smoothly, until her exit. Always a grand finale, but that night, she'd been given more than she could handle. Standing at the edge of the rooftop, she fastened a long rope securely to her belt, preparing to swing to the building just across the street, her last port of call. And the one she had been dreading the most.

Her swing through the air was graceful and effortless, like a diver who could suddenly change direction. Unclipping the rope in the air, she somersaulted to the roof and grabbed the edge. And all that time, she worked in utter silence. Taking a deep breath, Teleka walked towards the skylight, staying low to avoid notice, but also avoiding the stern glare of the neon lettering: WayneEnterprises. She tried to tell herself this was just another part of her nightly routine. 'Train all day, work all night, sleep whenever you get five minutes,' she muttered inwardly, recalling the words of her mistress from not so long ago.

Pulling up to the glass skylight, she pulled a long metallic instrument from the sleeve of her dark catsuit. Placing the central, needle-like point between the fingers of her gloves, she gently held it into the glass and set the other half moving. A tiny red beam sliced straight through the window. The cut-away circle began to tumble into the room below, but she snatched it back with her powers with milliseconds to spare. The hole was only just large enough for her to drop herself inside and flip towards the web of security beams below. Closing her eyes in fear of even a slightly wrong landing, she executed her moves perfectly, balancing on the very tip of one toe on top of a Perspex display case. Swinging from the doorframe, the living shadow threw herself out of the room and into the hallway. She made her way to the heart of the complex, thus far managing to forget who could be just around the corner...

She passed a guard office, sliding along underneath the window in the door. Laughter from inside froze the blood in her veins. Familiar laughter; laughter she had shared...

'Robin,' she whispered, breaking her vow of silence for the first time.

'Concentrate, girl,' snapped her mistress' purring voice in her earpiece. 'You are forgetting I can see and hear everything you do.'

Teleka moved on down the hallway, wishing desperately she could stay, just watch him for a minute. Having fun...

Not long later, she was about to make her grand exit, stolen technology clipped to her belt. Again, the feeling that things wouldn't go to plan hung around her like a shadow. She stole round the corner at the front of the building resisting the urge to scale the drainpipe and, just for the minute she desired so much, to see him again. Telly got her wish.

As she gently gazed up to the lit building for a second another shadow came up behind her. 'Give it back, and I'll let you go'. Drawing a long katana from its place flat against her back, she held back her captor telekinetically and spun, stopping the blade millimetres from his throat. 'Teleka?'

'Damn straight, Boy Wonder,' she replied, trying to keep her voice devoid of emotion, but desperately gesturing to the earpiece. Robin however, just wasn't taking the hint. 'And I think you'll find," she whispered softly, pressing the blade to the flesh of his neck, just enough to make him hold his breath, 'that I was the one who got away." She began to walk, not letting her concentration on him slip for a second. But you'll find words can sometimes be a nice trigger to kill your concentration.

"What are you doing? You're the Cat-girl? I can get you out of this." He sounded confused, and in a way, almost disappointed. Telly bit down hard on her lip to prevent herself from crying, and her ward dropped for a second. In a blur of action, each drew their preferred weapons. 'Don't do this, Telly.'

Pretending to brush her hair back with her free hand, she tried to draw his attention yet again to her earpiece. 'Stop giving him hints," hissed the ever-present voice in her ear, 'the poor boy's too dense to realize.'

'Don't make me,' she replied sadly, disappointed that he didn't know why she was doing this.

In a single tiny moment, the air snapped with tension and what was to be a short, decisive fight began. Grabbing her wrist, Robin swung Teleka around in front of him so his bo-staff crossed her chest. Finally, he noticed the clear plastic earpiece she had tried so hard to show him. In a weak moment, Telly slid out, using the momentum to flip up and over his head so as the same weapon was choking him.

'Take your chances,' came the hiss in her ear. 'Use the charge.'

'I won't do it...' Teleka whispered hopelessly as, drawing her katana again, she sliced the stick in half and tossed both parts across the road.

'Then either he will kill you, or I will.' Teleka looked away sadly, if only for a second, then decided what she would have to do. The charges her mistress was talking about were minor explosives. They wouldn't cause a huge disturbance, but they would be enough to say, take one old friend out.

'Robin... Run!" she mouthed urgently, dropping the small bomb and taking off in one direction, ensuring she gave him the time to get away before she hit the detonator. In the quiet street, in the dead of night, the blast was deafening. Robin searched through the smoke, searching for her as she slowly rose up into the velvety black sky. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, knowing as she did so that she was incurring a punishment at her so-called home.

'What did you think you were doing?" the mistress said, circling her like the predatory animal she was.

'Didn't the explosives work?' Teleka murmured, trying to sound convincing.

"You think I don't know what you did! Your past is of no meaning to me. Now that you are here you will obey my rules. I have only one rule: You do as I command, when I command it. Is that clear?"

"Yes. I'm sorry." Teleka kept her chin up, proudly staring straight ahead, fully in anticipation of what was to come. Four savage slashes opened across her face, but she didn't even feel the pain. It came too often to have a meaning. Trickles of blood slid over her face, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth and a desire to retaliate in her heart, but she knew better. She would be killed.

She was left alone, standing just outside a single shaft of light in the darkness. Looking up to the source of the light, Teleka realized it wasn't just another garish neon, but a window high on the wall. How had it escaped her notice for so long? Grabbing her long leather coat, she flung it around her shoulders and took a run to the wall, beginning to glide softly as she went. Mentally she yanked the metal grille covering her exit away. She didn't dare even think of what might happen to her if she was found out. Finding it came easily into her hands, she remembered exactly how powerful she was. For so long her powers had been repressed, forcing her to concentrate more on agility and skill, but why shouldn't she use something that was rightfully hers? She floated through the now open window into the dark, crime-ridden streets of the city, knowing exactly where she was going.

Behind her, the mistress smiled softly, like the cat with the cream, and opened a small communicator. "She's passed all your unnecessary little tests. When should I ship her out?"

The half-shadowed, half-masked face at the other end seemed to tilt slightly, obviously pleased. "As soon as possible."

Teleka hung upside-down at the window, coat fluttering and snapping in the wind at her back. Inside, in the warmth and light of the manor house, was Robin, looking perfectly at home, if slightly singed and shocked. Warmth and light were growing foreign to her. A droplet of blood slid off her forehead and stained the windowsill, followed by a single tear. That was her life; blood and tears. Warmth and light truly belonged to someone else. She'd had her minute, just seeing him again. Just knowing he had made it out unscathed made her feel slightly better, but she couldn't fully forgive herself tonight. Not any night... Robin glanced up, feeling someone's eyes on him, but saw nothing but what was maybe a discarded bag winging away on the wind...

Back in the present, Teleka hadn't even realized tears were streaming untamed down her cheeks. She could almost feel the pain of everything that had happened all over again. She fell back against the slanted rooftop she was sitting on, letting go slightly now she was alone. But in truth, it wouldn't last so long.

"Here we are, the self-proclaimed search party, finally calling off the self-proclaimed search." That broad voice, there was only one person it could be.

"Blue?" Teleka choked, rubbing the rivers of tears off her face. "What are you doing here?"

"More to the point, what are you doing here? In case you hadn't noticed, mate, you did a runner." Raven and Starfire floated up as well, each seeming to notice the cheetah-like tear marks a little more than Blue Moon had.

"What happened?" Raven asked ruefully, almost knowing the answer.

"Yes, why do you cry?" Star asked with genuine concern.

"No reason. At least, I don't think so... I don't want to talk about it," she spluttered with a sigh, sitting up with an ever so slight red glow in her eyes.

"Well, I've never heard that one before," Blue snorted sarcastically. She wasn't expecting Teleka's harsh reaction. Her friend spun on her with the agility of a cat, holding her in the air with her powers. Eyes now triangular pools of crimson, Telly stalked forward and spun until Blue was out over the street below.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Teleka shouted, her voice strangely dangerous. She was acting completely out of character.

"Nothing! Can you, uh, put me down now? Only not here, because I know I can fly and all, but there's something scary about plummeting straight towards the ground." Blue shuddered in Teleka's vice-like mental grip. She was petrified, but Teleka only laughed.

All of a sudden, the laughter ceased and one whispered word escaped her mouth; "No." The glow faded and she fell back, flashes still tracing across her eyes. "Don't let this happen," she told herself inwardly. Noone even realized Blue Moon had fallen until she clambered over the edge onto the rooftop, clearing her throat loudly. Teleka squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the power to leave her, but as much as she hated to admit it, she didn't want to. She had been suppressing her anger for years, and releasing it had made her feel better than she had in a long time. 'Save it for Slade,' she told herself, 'Don't throw it at your friends.'

"What just happened?" Starfire asked worriedly, helping her to her feet.

"Well, I don't know but I think I'm owed a bloody apology!" Blue ranted pointlessly. Raven, however, had witnessed this happen to Teleka before. She knew exactly what had caused it.

"It happens when I think of my past. It's an emotional thing," Telly began to explain, but her eyes were half-closed. Suddenly, she was utterly exhausted. "Now do you understand why I never want to talk about it? I'll be fine, I just... need a minute."

"More like a couple of hours mate and a good night's kip! Come back."

"I... I can't face it. You guys go on, I'll be fine, really."

"No, you must come," Starfire said, trying to pull Teleka up. "I suggest you use the window and stay in your room until you are ready to 'face it.'"

"Star's right," Raven agreed. "You shouldn't be on your own when this is happening to you." Teleka simply nodded and hovered up slightly, fighting to keep control of her powers, knowing they would eventually take over.

"You," Blue fumed angrily, storming into the main room and pointing an accusatory finger at Robin. "I want a word with you." She roughly grabbed him by the front of his uniform and tugged him behind her into the security of the kitchen. "What in bloody hell did you say to her? Do you know how bloody scary it is when you are plummeting to the ground after being suspended in midair by your best friend, even if you can fly? Do you have any idea!"

"I think what Blue means is Teleka's pretty upset over something. Possibly something that came up when you were talking?" Raven explained as both she and Starfire followed them in.

"So what? She didn't tell me anything she didn't want to."

"She didn't want to tell you any of it, Robin, but she did. She didn't bring up anything, uh, unexpected did she? Or was it you who had her sleeve up to her shoulder?" Raven had tried to be subtle about the Slade topic, but now she found there was no other way to say it. Robin's mouth fell open. This was one situation that couldn't be ignored; especially now he was cornered by three of Teleka's very angry friends in a room full of sharp utensils.

"All I'm saying is how do we know where her loyalties are? She doesn't exactly have a clean record. I just think we should be sure of her trust before we go after Slade. She flew off the handle tonight at the first mention-" It was only then he noticed three pairs of smouldering eyes on him and stopped abruptly. But each of them held their own doubts now, whether confusion over the topic or realization that maybe Robin was right. It's just that noone would say anything out loud.

"Try telling Teleka that," Starfire replied sadly, drifting slowly away.

"Go away!" Telly cried, hurling whatever was handy at the door. Robin had taken refuge behind the steel plate shouting around the corner to avoid the constant barrage.

"Teleka, five minutes. Really, that's all I'm asking." The constant banging on the back of the door ceased, if only for a second, and he risked a glance into the room. Teleka hovered slightly above the bed, cross-legged and with eyes that could kill. In more ways than one...

"I'm timing you," she whispered softly, giving up on anger and showing how deeply hurt she was instead. She floated down to the bed and hugged the pillow to her chest, forgetting her open diary was still below it. "Explain."

"I'm sorry..."

"Good opening. Continue."

"And if you didn't want to talk about it, I should have respected that."

"And while we're at that point, I'm sorry too because I shouldn't have flown off like that, and I should have told everyone the truth in the first place rather than have it come out like that."

"Well, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Venom still don't know."

"Yes, they do," Teleka replied with a grim smile. "I was in Blue's head and she's about to tell them any minute now." Bang on cue, Blue Moon ran down the corridor, shouting apologies to Teleka as everybody else followed behind, possibly to turn on her. Teleka slammed the door shut and floated a chair across the room and jammed it under the handle. Outside, the minor bang became a major drama.

"She's trying to kill Robin again!" Cyborg yelled and began trying to break down the door. Utter confusion ensued, but inside the room it was ignored.

"Sorry," they both apologized in unison, but seconds later Teleka had fallen back on the bed in convulsions. Red bolts of energy crackled around her and she choked slightly in pain. In explicably, a dark shadow, almost exactly identical to her began to lift out of her.

"Help!" Robin shouted, hoping someone would hear through the confusion outside.

"Oh God, no!" Cyborg continued, taking things completely the wrong way. "Hold on Robin, we're comin'!"

Robin's cry, however it was interpreted, had been unnecessary. The electricity around Teleka faded as quickly as it had come, and in seconds she was clear again, eyes glassy and dazed. "It happens sometimes. Don't tell me you forgot?" she teased, seeing his worried look. How could he have forgotten though? It was her weakness. Falling into electric seizures every so often was definitely an Achilles Heel.

"Listen, Telly," he said, reaching down to help her sit up, but no sooner did he than she slumped forward in his arms, her eyes flickering closed. Her two-tone hair fell over her face and Robin raised a hand to push it back, all the time ignoring the straining door. She really had come a long way from the lanky ten-year old he had fought so long ago. And she was really quite beautiful... "I'm sorry, "he whispered to her flushed face. Her huge dark eyes, the one part of her that ever seemed to give anything away opened slowly and a thin smile spread over her face.

"I'm sorry too. For everything..." she trailed off, sick of apologising but with a gut instinct that something quite unexpected would follow. Something very unexpected... It only took a tiny second for her to realize what it was.

He kissed her. Just like that, he leant towards her, and she returned his affection. For a second, Teleka would have given anything for the power to freeze time and make it last just that bit longer. The door was beginning to splinter, and even Raven, Blue and Star were getting worried. Telly simply lifted one hand and held the door in place. Just for a little while.

After a minute, she pulled back and looked Robin straight in those ever-masked eyes. "You do know they think I'm killing you, right?"

"And?"

"Um... nothing."

Outside, however, tensions were at breaking point and something was seriously wrong with the door. Even with the combined physical efforts of Cyborg, Venom and a Ram called Beast Boy, it wouldn't give. "Ah, no. She's holding it up with her powers. What are we gonna do? Robin could be dying! What are we gonna do!!!" Cyborg panicked. Raven told him to stand back, fighting against Teleka with her own telekinesis. Whatever was happening, Teleka wasn't really concentrating on the door and eventually her powers broke. Telly felt the snap and drew away, but unfortunately years of training had lost all effect. She just wasn't quick enough.

Sensing that maybe they had interrupted something, the other Titans and Triquetra members backed slowly away down the hall again, attempting to look like innocent bystanders in one very cramped hallway. Beast Boy and Cyborg walked in one direction, whistling casually, though totally out of sync.

"Robin?" Telly asked sarcastically. "Have you ever seen a green ram whistling along with a red and silver half-robot?"

"No, but it damn well doesn't look innocent..."

Only Starfire remained, looking slightly like a hurt puppy before Raven and Blue Moon reappeared to gently guide her away. And it was only fair to say, both Teleka and Robin's faces were the same colour as their uniforms.

"So..."

"Yeah..."

"That was five minutes anyway."

"I should go..." Both moved to leave at the same time. Turning in opposite directions, and neither going anywhere near the maniacal laughs of the others. Teleka for her part took a long route to the other arm of the T-shaped tower. She hid herself in the dark alcove that led onto the main room the current congregating area for those who wished to 'discuss the situation.'

"And she tried to pull there was nothing going on. Blue Moon is no fool. I never believed her for a minute."

"Yes you did Blue," Venom countered truthfully.

"What I don't get," Raven interrupted, "Is how does she go from crying her heart out to... that in the time it takes to break down a door?"

"You mean, she wasn't trying to kill him?" came Cyborg's confused voice, but pretty much everyone chose to ignore the remark. Silently, Starfire got up and left the room, barely noticed among the chaos. Again trusting her intuition, Teleka silently followed her path, creeping unseen along the wall. Not long later she found herself standing at the entrance to her makeshift room, where Starfire was gazing down at her open diary where it lay on the bed. Silently, Telly closed it over with her powers and awaited an explanation.

"Teleka!" Starfire exclaimed in surprise, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. "I was, uh, just looking for Robin..."

"But found something more interesting? Trust me, there's nothing in there that didn't come out to someone tonight. By the way, tell Raven if anyone asks questions about me now, she can tell the truth. There're no secrets for me anymore." Even though this was a complete and total invasion of her privacy, Teleka was still bright red and smiling. In truth, at the time she couldn't have cared less if the whole world knew what she had done. Even without her powers she would have been walking on air. "And as for Robin, he's in his room. As for me, I am not going back in there."

She giggled softly at her own joke, but sensed the sadness in Starfire didn't give way. What had happened in roughly the last ten minutes or so to upset her so much? Returning the invasion of privacy, Teleka transported her mind into Starfire's and began to read her thoughts. Poor thing, she really was confused, but two things in particular stood out to her. One- She had very strong feelings for Robin. And Teleka had strongly hurt them. Two- She had just worked out that she would be forced to return to her own planet on Christmas Day.

The bulk of her happiness gone, Teleka pulled out of her head and fell back onto the bed with a groan, pulling the pillow over her face and screaming into it. She was blind and she was an absolute idiot. She had to make it up to her somehow, and she obviously couldn't change what had already happened. Blue had a few strings to pull out of the atmosphere... Maybe she could help.