Cyborg grunted as the mechanic reshaped the metal coating his arm. It had been weird, going to the auto shop instead of the hospital, but as luck would have it, Caitlin, the girl who worked at Auto Zone, had a part time at the garage. Cyborg liked to think it was fate, that this was meant to happen, and that the pain was completely worth it.

She watched as her brother, a tall, lean man with his hair covered by a red bandana, worked his magic on the metal teen. She glanced at Cyborg, then back to his arm. Her curiosity had been heavy when she first saw the cyborg, but now, as she got a closer look at what he really was made of, she had to fight back the urge to flitter around her brother and ask, "Whatcha doin'?" as she had when she was small. That would not have made a good impression on the amazing man sitting on the metal stool her brother used when he got lazy and wanted to lean against the wall and sleep.

Instead, she shifted her feet, rocking from one to the other. "So . . . what happened?" He glanced at her, gray eye calm as the light flashed off the red glass over his other eye, and she managed to stutter, "I mean, how did your, uh, arm bend. I mean the metal."

She blushed, sticking her hands in her pockets. He smiled slightly, the bended metal slicing into his human skin as the mechanic tried to bend it away from the flesh.

"Bad wreck."

He glanced away, thinking about all that happened, and unconsciously talking to himself. "It was if the car was being controlled, or had been tampered with. When I checked the car out, after Beast Boy and Robin had been dropped off at the hospital, I found that the seatbelts were cut half way across the middle, and the cloth I found didn't belong to anyone else. The brake lines had been severed too. Clean cut... And the whole thing about Raven and Starfire losing their powers makes no since once so ever. It...it just doesn't make any sense." Cyborg brooded over this, mind whirling as the machine in him analyzed the information.

Caitlin watched him, sympathy filling her voice. "Well, did you or anyone else do anything to tick someone off?"

His eyes lifted to hers as he laughed the sound vacant and bitter. "We're the Teen Titans. Every villain is pissed at us. Maybe, just maybe, Slade had something to so with this. But, I doubt it."

Michael, Caitlin's brother, patted the metal on Cyborg's arm, which was now flat and smooth. The human skin around the metal had been wrapped with gauze from the first aid kit at his feet. "There, all fixed, dude. That was a pretty bended piece of metal, Bro, and it happened to be cutting into the skin. You're lucky blood doesn't make me faint, or else you would have been in major trouble."

Cyborg thanked him as he walked out, the metal on his feet clicking against the hot, cracked pavement. Caitlin ran after him, taking deep breaths when she reached him, her chin length, black hair falling in her face.

Cyborg stopped, waiting for some sort of reply from her. "Maybe...I...can...help...you." She breathed between each word, her heart thumping in her chest. Cyborg crossed his arms over his chest, not to be intimidating, but because he wanted to see how Raven and Starfire were. He was slightly impatient, despite the fact that he found the tiny woman hot.

"How could you help?" He asked his voice controlled. He really was curious as to why she thought she could.

She stood up, her five-foot frame barley reaching his chest. "Well, like you, I know bunches of mechanical things, and I'm from a long line of famous detectives. So, if you'll allow it, I can help."

He thought about it, deciding finally that any type of help would be better than none at all. And besides, he thought, I planned on getting to know her better, so this is the perfect time. Fate, maybe you aren't such a bitch after all. He nodded a grin on his lips. He held out a hand, and she took it gratefully. "You got yourself a job."

Apollo slammed his fist down with a bellow of rage. "Why?! Why did you let them live? I told you, I wanted them dead! Can you not follow one simple instruction? Is your mind still that of the old, crippled man?" Chaos flinched, but kept his back straight and shoulders back. His brother was hostile and a tad bit intimidating, but now, with the young girls' powers, he was stronger, his strength on equal turf to his brother.

"Because, we may have use for them later." Chaos said calmly, despite his ancient heart pounding inside his young chest.

Apollo glared at his younger brother, slowly getting up from his wing-backed chair. He walked around the large, cherry wood desk with slow, intimidating steps.

Hands braced behind his back, Apollo circled Chaos in small, caging steps. "What use will they be? We have no use for them now. They are worthless to the Titans, just as we planned. We don't need them." Chaos watched his brother from lowered lids, blood pounding in his ears.

At his brother's silence, Apollo snarled, yanking a piece of his brothers long silver hair in his hands, almost ripping it from his scalp. Chaos bit back a scream of pain.

"Chaos, we weren't paid to keep them alive. We were told to kill them. And, in less you were informed differently, you screwed everything up!" His voice rose, almost frantic.

Chaos gathered up his valor, looking his brother straight in the eyes. Chaos was the demon of electricity, and with the Goth and Tameranians' electrical powers, he was almost undefeatable. His brother was the only one with enough strength the kill him, but he didn't let this affect him. The girls would have had the power to destroy him, but he took them away. They now beat through his veins, so now all he had to worry about was pissing his brother off and losing his head in the process.

Apollo fisted his hands together, his claws digging into his pale hands, a steady trickle off blood splattering on the floor. Chaos studied his brother, fear flashing in his silver eyes.

Apollo's eyes were solid white, the only color being a red pupil. Unfortunately, Apollo controlled almost anything. From nature, to metal, to peoples' minds and actions. Electricity was the only thing he couldn't seem to get a hold on, which was slight advantage for Chaos. It depended upon his mood. And when he was ticked, he always tried his anger out on Chaos.

Apollo doused his anger, eyes flitting closed to rein in the fury. "Now, tell me once again why you kept them alive."

Taking a deep breath, Chaos said weakly, "Because, we have been alone for the past two centuries and frankly, I am tired of it. I...thought that if they were kept alive, they could keep us company until their life is taken, like most mortals. I think...sex slaves would forever ruin their will as conquerors. We break that, and we will never have to worry about...them again."

He waited for the strike, expected it, and wondered why he never felt it. Chaos dared to open his silver eyes, and watched almost stupidly as his brother tapped a yellowed claw against his chin.

Apollo grinned after a long, agonizing pause, baring vampire-like teeth. "You know, Chaos, that's not such a bad idea. I haven't had a decent woman in decades. They would sate my pent up desire. I like the way you think. I'm sure they can handle a slight change in plans."

Chaos let out a breath he was unaware he'd been holding. Apollo turned, his red cape billowing behind him. He plopped down in his wing-backed chair, kicking his boot-clad feet onto the desk, legs crossed at the ankles. He contemplated his brother's words, mind enjoying the possibilities the more he though he analyzed.

Apollo leaned forward, his long blonde hair falling over his broad shoulders. "How soon can you bring them to me?"

Chaos grinned, his shoulders relaxing at the amusement flashing in his brother demonic eyes. "As soon as you would like them."

He grinned, tapping his long nails over the wood. "First, I would like to see them. Place cameras in the tower while they are gone and make sure they are not detected. And do it now." Chaos nodded, fire rising around him. He grabbed the edge of his silver cape and in an instant, vanished in to thin air, Apollo's evil laugh echoing around him.

Robin left Starfire's hospital room with a frown, body slouched forward as he headed to Raven's room. Flashbacks of the wreck flew though his mind. Seeing Starfire laying there, unmoving, body as still as death as she lay in a pool of her own blood lying in a pool. Then seeing her once orange tinted skin tan and human features taking the place of alien features. And seeing Raven with black hair and pale skin, motionless and bruised. It was still shocking to know that they had lost two of the strongest team members in just one day.

He rapped on the door lightly, stepping in gradually when on one answered. Raven was not in her bed, and the sound of weeping filled the air. He glanced around hastily, catching sight of Beast Boy's camouflage ensemble around the corner of the bathroom door.

He walked in, standing in front of the bathroom door, hands tucked inside his jeans. Beast Boy spotted him, and he shook his head, as if saying 'Don't ask'. Beast Boy turned back to Raven, whose face was buried against his chest, breath hitching in her chest. He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger, raising her face so he could search her eyes. "Raven, why don't you lie back down and get some rest? We can try to figure things out after we all get some shuteye."

She hiccupped, nodding slowly as tears still feel down her cheeks. Beast Boy smiled reassuringly as he lead her to the bed, then pulled the covers over up to her neck. She winced when he laid her down, the pain racing up and down her entire body until she felt the telltale signs of darkness beckoning toward her.

He brushed his fingers over her temple as she drifted off, and then walked out with a sigh, Robin hot in his heels. "Beast Boy, what's going on?"

When they reached the waiting room, Beast Boy slid down into a chair, his hands massaging his eyes. With elbows braced on his knees, he muttered, "Raven doesn't want her powers back. She's glad they're gone and she feels guilty because she can't fight alongside us. She thinks that we won't need her anymore. Yet, despite that, she doesn't want them back. She can't decide what she wants," Beast Boy said with a grunt.

Robin sat down next to him, slouching back against the chair. "That sounds like something Star would say." Beast Boy leaned back with a heavy sigh, eyes gazing dully at the white walls.

"Yeah, you're right. It does." He tore his eyes away, looking at Robin with exhausted eyes. "Speaking of which, how is she?"

Crossing his legs at the ankles, Robin smiled slightly. "Pissed. She wants her powers back. I would have thought that Starfire would have been the one to cry and Raven the one to be pissed. But, I guess that's not the case."

Beast Boy nodded. "Girls," he sighed, throwing a lazy arm behind the chair, "Always surprising, never reasonable."

Starfire counted the cracks on the ceiling with muted displeasure, reaching two hundred and fifty before losing count and starting again. Betty, the nurse, had said that they could leave today, since they appeared to be in fine condition. Unfortunately, things were taking their sweet time in getting down. Paper work was being filled out, transportation was being arranged, and precautions were being taken to insure that nothing happened to them once again. They wanted to make sure the path to the tower was not wrought with peril. That, and they were getting medication filled.

With a sigh, Starfire pulled her attention away from the ceiling, instead reflecting upon the wreck that occurred the day before. It felt so weird, being human. She just felt...defenseless and weak. Almost as if she were no longer needed in this world she now called home. What place was there for her if she could not protect the city? What chance did she stand in being needed by anyone? The only reason she was on Earth was to get away from being sold to a different planet, but also in aiding those who could not protect themselves. She was worthless now without her powers. Sighing at the sinking knot in her stomach, Starfire tried to find a useful way to bide the time ways to pass the time.

She ended up pacing back and forth the small room, seeing as floating mindlessly around the hospital was out of the question. It saddened her that she had become so used to having them around. Now that her powers were gone, she didn't know what to do with herself. She had hoped that Robin had been mistaken, that Cyborg had been incorrect in his scan, but after she had futilely tried to fly around them room, or even conjure her power into her hands, nothing had happen. No power, no flying, no hope. So Robin, as usual, had been right in his assumptions.

She was human. Plain, boring, everyday human. Nothing set her apart from those around her. And there was nothing she could do about. She could no longer battle with her team, or defend Robin from infatuated mobs of girls. Starfire had officially become worthless. Now, she truly felt like a troq.

She wiped hastily at the tears that gathered behind her eyes. Taking deep breath, she willed the ache in her heart to go away, plopping down on the side of the bed and waiting for Robin to come take her home. How they were going to get home was still an unanswered question she could mull over without too much pain, considering she used to fly them home, or they had traveled in the T-Car. She wondered how Cyborg was taking the destruction of his creation when he happened to walk in.

She almost ran into him in her haste to hug him, but he held her unharmed shoulder with a chuckle at her excitement at seeing her teammate. "Whoa, there, Star. What's the rush?"

She smiled at him, eyes crinkled at the corners. "It is nothing, I was just depressed, and that is all. It is hard to believe that I am now rendered futile in battle and I have no prior knowledge of being human, so I am just trying to figure it all out. But you're here, so things do not seems so hopeless."

He gave her a sad smile, human eye skimming over her new human appearance. "You know Starfire, you don't look much different." His eyes studied her features approvingly. "You're skin's tan, not orange," he said with a nod of his head. He reminded her of a buyer gauging a show horse. She giggled. "You're eyes are still green. Still innocent. The green around the iris is gone now. You hair, if I'm not mistaken, just got a hell of a lot longer, which I don't understand. Are you taller? I think you're taller. Why are you taller?" He blinked "And are those long eyebrows I see? Awh, and I thought you're short eyebrows were endearing."

She smiled at him. "For Tameranians, the growth of anything is delayed and slow compared to the human development cycle. I guess now that I am…human, my growth has hit its peak."

His mouth formed an 'O' of understanding. He then grinned. "Well, ready to head home?" She nodded, grabbing the roses from Robin and the other gifts brought by the rest of the team. Raven even had Beast Boy give her a small purple bear. Beast Boy had then lugged in a huge green teddy bear with pink and white balloons tired to the paw, the card attached to it's ear proclaiming, "Get Well Soon!" And Cyborg, bless him, gave her the biggest cookbook he could find in Jump City. It had everything from desserts, to meals, to snacks. Starfire knew it would keep her busy those long, agonizing days when the loss of who she was caught up with her.

Cyborg grabbed her belongings, which brought a question to her mind. "Where is Robin?" Cyborg turned his back to her as a coy smile spread of his mouth. Cyborg hefted Beast Boy's present to his hip as he arranged the flowers in his hand. "Oh, he went to get breakfast. And mustard."

She sighed, heart sinking as her stomach lurched uncomfortably. "Cyborg?"

He turned to her, eyebrow raised. "Yeah?"

She groaned. "I have no desire to digest mustard." She gave a grave sigh. "I really am damaged."

He chortled the whole way to the elevator.

Beast Boy helped an irritable Raven to the elevator of the hospital, arm hovering behind her back in case she stumbled. He refused to touch her, much to Raven's annoyance. The irritability was heavy in her tone as she snapped, "Aren't they supposed to let me ride to the front door in a wheelchair?"

He laughed, shaking his head as he let her into the empty elevator first. "No, I told them not to."

She growled at him, wishing her ribs weren't broken so she could pummel him. "If I wasn't in so much damn pain, I swear I would hit you. As a matter of fact, when I'm healed, you're getting a beat down. A bloody, horrible, agonizing beat down in which I laugh manically as you bleed you're life away at my feet."

He cringed at the image. "You wouldn't hit lil' ole me now would you?"

She glared. "You're damn right I would." He chuckled at the serious glint in her eyes, pressing the first floor button on the large elevator. "You're unbelievable, Rae."

She grunted, adjusting her weight to her right leg. She had a slight limp, due to the fact that she bruised her left kneecap when it hit the metal on the console between Cyborg and Robin's seat.

The doors opened, and they slowly walked out into the bright sunlight. Raven groaned, eyeing Beast Boy reluctantly as she squinted against the sun. Her leg throbbed painfully, and Raven told herself that it was her human nature to lean her body against him. A blush spiked his skin color.

"Why does everything have to be so bright? Geez, if the rain doesn't come soon, I might actually get used to it…God forbid."

Beast Boy laughed. "Isn't that a good thing? I mean, we do survive on light."

Raven glanced at him, her eyes gleaming. "Hn, depends on who you ask."

Beast Boy grinned, spotting Cyborg and Starfire near a bright yellow taxi. Cyborg was helping Starfire into the backseat, his laughter loud against the morning traffic across from the hospital. Beast Boy gave a small wave, one hand held loosely against Raven's waist to keep her balanced. He walked up to a highly amused Cyborg and slightly annoyed Starfire.

"What's so funny?" He asked, eyebrow raised as Starfire gave a high snort and turned her chin up at the metal teen. Cyborg gave another bark of laughter, body bent forward at the waist to rest his hands against his knees.

Starfire glared at Cyborg, then turned hot green eyes to Beast Boy. "All I said was I have no desire to consume mustard and that I really am damaged." Her mood soured considerably when Beast Boy choked on a laugh.

A smirk danced across Raven's mouth as Beast Boy tried to hide his amusement with a sad excuse for a cough. "You have to admit, Star, it is amusing." Starfire harrumphed, sticking her nose in the air as Beast Boy proceed to burst into uncontrollable chuckles.

Wiping the tears from his human eye, Cyborg patted the taxi beside him. "Since my baby is destroyed, we have to take a cab." As they slid in beside a still pouting Starfire, who refused to talk to them, Cyborg plopping down in the passenger seat, Raven asked, "How are you handling it?"

Cyborg glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, you mean the car?" He sighed. "It's pretty hard, but I can always make another one. I'm just glad no one was killed."

Cyborg told the cabbie the Tower address as he settled back in his seat, mind still spinning with possible reason for the girls' sudden loss of power. Raven watched the shadows settle over Cyborg's face, hands folded tightly in her lap. She jumped when Beast Boy laid a comforting hand over hers. She met his eyes, body softening at his reassuring smile. But she turned away, guilt clenching at her heart. She knew that she would have to tell her teammates that she did not want her power back.

But how could she tell them when it would break their hearts?

Robin secured the last balloon in place with a grunt, stepping back to admire his handiwork. Content, he grinned, and turned on his heel toward the kitchen. After they left the hospital yesterday, Beast Boy, Robin and Cyborg had decided that the girls needed to come home to a happy atmosphere after their predicament. So, when their teammates had been sleeping off their medication, they had purchased everything from sandwiches, to tofu, to huge things of mustard. He didn't know if Starfire still had the same appetite after losing her alien habits, but if she did, her favorite drink would be ready for her. If not, then he reasoned that they would have a helpful supply for future cookouts.

He heard the metal door slide open, followed quickly by Starfire's pleased gasp. "Oh, it is beautiful! I have never seen so many colors in my entire being! Especially in one's home!" She turned in slow circles, taking it all in with giddy eyes.

Raven shook her head at her teammate's normal antics, pushing off Beast Boy to move toward to couch. Beast Boy fluttered behind her in case she took a nosedive, hands wringing and words sticking to the roof of his mouth. When her bottom touched the couch, she smirked at him, proud that she could do something on her own without his help. He smiled at her, eyes soft as he plopped down beside her. Sitting, Beast Boy began scooting over gradually when her glare seemed to intensify. Before long, Beast Boy had become one with the far arm of the couch. Raven nodded in approval, reaching out to grab a small sandwich from the platter Robin had just sat out.

Starfire sat down gently beside Raven, Coke in hand and plate of food balanced in her lap. Cyborg grinned as he tossed Beast Boy a controller. The shape shifter barely caught it before it hit his forehead. He grappled for it with both hands, eyes shifting up to a smirking Cyborg.

"Huh?"

Cyborg chuckled evilly as he squeezed in between Starfire and Beast Boy. "We are going to play a game. Haven't done it in a while, so I figured now was the perfect time to beat you into the ground."

Beast Boy pouted, body leaned forward in his usual game position. "Bring it on, Rusty."

His eyebrow twitched. "Well then, shall we proceed?"

Beast Boy grinned wolfishly. "Let's get it started."

Raven watched the characters on the screen fight, each hit and roundhouse kick followed by the groans and a snapped, "Ha!" from her two teammates. Robin propped a hip against the couch with a sigh as Cyborg followed through with his promise, much to Beast Boy's displeasure.

"Dude, that was so unfair! Do you know how many levels I had to beat to get the upgrade you just demolished? Gah, now I have to start all over!" Beast Boy groaned, body jerking to the side as his player (who Raven just realized was a busty redhead with almost nothing on) moved to get away from an equally busty blonde. Raven felt her eye twitch.

"Ha! My lady so just kicked your ass!" Beast Boy gloated heartily as Cyborg's character's head rolled from her shoulders. "Never underestimate me, Rusty!" As Cyborg bowed his head in failure, Beast Boy proceeded to do a victory dance that looked strangely like the monkey.

"Who now challenges the awesome Beast Boy? Do you have to guts to take me on?" Cyborg grunted at Beast Boy's low giggle, his game controller held out to the next player. Robin was on his way to take it when a pale hand wrapped around it. Robin blinked rapidly as Raven motioned for Cyborg to scoot over. "I'll play," she said, smirk growing in strength as Beast Boy plopped down on the couch with wide, pleased eyes.

"You want to play me? Seriously?"

Raven leaned back against the couch as she breezed through the possible characters, deciding on a tall, muscled samurai who looked more like a hot god than a video game player. "Hmm, yes. I think I can beat you at your own game. It's time someone did."

Beast Boy's eyebrow arched as he slid into his playing position. "Well, then, let's get started."

And after Raven proceeded to beat Beast Boy into the ground , they sat around the couch, mountains of food towering around them, their laughter loud and joyous. Beast Boy leaned back on his palms, legs crossed and smile a mile wide as Raven prodded jokingly at him. Starfire smiled at Cyborg's jokes as Robin rolled his eyes, arm thrown nonchalantly behind Starfire.

And for the first time in years, the five Titans dropped their guard. They didn't pretend to be superheroes, didn't try to be what they city needed them to be. As the laughter hit its highest, the legendary Teen Titans finally became what they had always been denied