PART 3: MADE IN HEAVEN
I don't know about the people that I read about in books
And the Kings and Queens around my room with their quiet dirty looks
I know I should be going somewhere, I just can't arrive
There's a reason for believing that I've never been alive.
Chapter 15: Alive
"Days pass so slow," Donna said, looking at the skyline of Jump City. She dipped her teabag into the hot water that she had poured herself, and sat down next to the silent form of Nightwing, who nursed his broken arm with little care. She had scribbled a little "Get Better" note on there, and smiled. She did it in pink, just to annoy him. He smiled at her, a bit of that melancholy still remaining after the week. "Do you think the city will ever, you know, really recover?"
"Physically, yes," Nightwing said, "But they live with true fear constantly at their door."
"I suppose that's right," Donna said. "It'll take much longer for those wounds to heal. You know, I've been thinking."
"About?"
"About the Titans," Troia said. "I was considering joining." Nightwing just eyed her. "What?"
"No." It was as final as the tomb, it seemed.
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Cyborg looked at the schematics. They had decided to move into the city proper, abandoning the island for a more open environment. And what pieces they had, they had to pick up. Still, most of the equipment was in working order, though what looked a bit worn they used as an excuse to upgrade. He smiled at the overlooking presence of the white caped lady. "Getting excited?"
"It's an amazing building," Raven said.
"Yeah," Cyborg said. "It's gotta be. After all we've been through." He tinkered with something. "You think Nightwing's been a bit distant?"
"More than usual?" Raven asked.
"Oh, right, sorry," he answered, taking another instrument and fixing a recovered alarm. "Well, he seems to have gotten distant from all of us in the last week. But that's just me, maybe. I've been too busy."
"So have I," she said.
"I remember. When you going to tell him?"
"I'm getting Changeling to fly him out this afternoon.," she answered. "He wouldn't appreciate it if he knew. It would cheapen it." Cyborg turned and looked at her, cockeye. He brought a metal hand up to her dainty shoulder, the wounds and rust still present even after a hundred times trying to lean it up still remaining, and let his one remaining eye look straight into her eyes.
"Don't let him push you away," he said.
"Why do you forgive me so readily?" Raven asked, shocked.
"Because you're a friend and we, if anything, we failed you more than anyone."
"No, Cyborg," Raven said. "I'm glad you care. Even if I don't seem like it all the time, I do care too."
"We know."
"More than you know!"
"Try me." He gave a cocky grin, and she answered him.
"The thought of each of you dying pushed me over the edge. I couldn't bear to hear your gruesome fate." It was a very candid answer, much to Cyborg's surprise, filled with love and honest caring for her friends. And she smiled at him and said, "Is that more than you'd think."
"Is that what happened?" Cyborg asked. "Why is it Robin, sorry, Nightwing is so upset with you?"
"It was after I had… had unleashed my full potential. I had realized what I could do, I could see the secrets of time unlocked to me. And then I danced with Robin to music I hadn't heard before but in my head, and he was mine for that brief moment. I had tainted him. I had ruined the very thing I loved by grasping for it. Ironic. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Would I dare disturb the universe?"
"You loved him?"
"I think I did, yes," Raven answered coldly, in a harsh whisper. "I think I still do."
"Tell him."
She closed her eyes and turned to leave. "I would not presume."
Cyborg just groaned and turned back to his machines. He wouldn't presume that it was easy either, but he knew that she had to at least start building a bridge. And it just grated at his breast like a tiny squirrel gnawing at a nut. Tiny, but sure to wear.
"You should try it sometime."
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Arsenal's arrows flew through the target with amazing accuracy, tearing apart the fabric with a rip. In a second, the arrow was split by a second, and then another, and another. Until six arrows rested in that same exact place he did not rest. And Tempest watched with delight at the sport. He received a slight tap on the shoulder and sat beside him Changeling did momentarily.
He had notably sat himself down on the opposite side of the side he tapped, old habits dying hard as they are want to do, but Tempest had expected it.
"Changeling," Tempest said, "Old friend. It seems our trials and tribulations are over."
"Yeah," Changeling said.
"And what happens now?" Tempest asked.
"I don't know."
"Surely you have some idea."
"I don't know."
"Leave us in suspense, why don'tcha?" Arsenal asked, sitting at their side. "Spill the beans. You've got something going on in that head of yours, right?" Changeling seemed somewhat annoyed and swatted Arsenal's invading finger, which seemed to gesture at the cranium in question.
"Maybe."
"Tell!" Arsenal urged.
"Fine," Changeling answered. "I'm planning on going to Brighton to help the repairs there. I hear Jared's there already, and Mr. Jupiter had somehow survived the evacuation disasters. I'm needed there."
"And you're not needed here?" Arsenal asked. "You're one of the Fab Five. That sounds so wrong saying it, but it's true." Changeling shook his head.
"I'm thinking I might marry Lilith someday."
"Aren't you a little young to be thinking about marriage?" Tempest asked. "I know our cultures are different, but I thought we shared some degree of thoughts that one should be older than that to propose."
"Not yet!" Changeling said, his annoyance growing. "But someday. And I want to be by her side until then."
"And then not by her side – yup – after!' Arsenal quipped. He received two death-glares. He backed down, putting his hands up in mock surrender. "All right, all right. Don't pick on me now, please! I'm not used to this kind of abuse."
"Yes you are," Donna said, picking Roy up by the scruffy ends of his hair. "Come here you!" She pulled him into an embrace and they seemed happy enough to share a quick kiss. "Did you miss me?"
"You? Nah, you were probably busy flirting up a storm with Wingy up there."
"And if I was?" she asked coyly.
"No," was Arsenal's deadpan response.
"That's funny – that's what he said," Donna answered. Roy pulled her down into his lap as he sat down and she giggled in delight as he pulled her into a playful embrace. Changeling smiled somewhat. Tempest, however, blushed at the show and looked away.
"Whoa," Changeling said, pulling the plug on the proceedings. "You're bashful?"
"What if I am?" Tempest asked, indignantly.
"I dunno, it's just funny!" He broke into a flurry of laughter and fell on his back. "Oh, that's funny." He wiped a tear from his eye as his laughter died down and he straightened himself. "Too funny."
"Sure, Gar," Tempest emphasized, "You're not any better."
"I am too!"
"No, you're not."
"I am!"
"No, you're not!"
They repeated over and over and over again. Raven's form drifted over them. "The more things change," she said, as she landed softly, "The more they stay the same. Weren't you going to take Nightwing someplace?"
"I will!" Changeling said, quickly, "When Lilith gets back!"
"Where is she?" Raven asked.
"She was looking for Nightwing," he muttered. Troia gasped.
"He's in his room. He locked the door."
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Lilith knocked repeatedly on Nightwing's door, not letting up until he opened up the door. To which, her surprise, came not long after. He looked at her, eyes cold, nostrils flaring, and said in a slow, angry voice, "What is it?"
"I was just looking for you!" Lilith said, "Gar and I want to show you something that I think you'll really like."
"I'm busy," Nightwing answered.
"With what?"
"With private business that I don't feel that you need to know," Nightwing answered, testily. Lilith playfully peeked beside him. "Go away, Lilith!"
"Oh, come on! What are you hiding? A porno collection? Come on, you can tell me!" she poked his nose with the most motherly of expressions on her face. No wonder Changeling was obsessed with this girl, Nightwing said, she's almost as persistent as he is. "I'm really curious now, you should have just told me in the beginning." She slipped by him before he could react – a shock to even him – and looked around. His walls were covered in recovered clips of Slade.
The name lined the walls.
A Bank Robbery Credited to – Slade.
A Terrorist Attack Masterminded by – Slade.
Death of 12 – SLADE – Responsible.
Horrors upon horrors of things that Slade had done lined the wall, and yet, Nightwing just stared at it with a conflicted look. He was unsure of how to reconcile what he had known with what he knew. "Slade's gone, Nightwing."
"No," he responded, "He's never gone. He's always planning something. To get us when we least expect it."
"He saved my life!" Lilith said. "He saved the entire world!" she reminded him. "He's a hero, Nightwing, whether you want to admit it!"
"He is not a hero. You don't know him like I do! We're –"
"The same?" Lilith asked. "You both have your dark sides. But, can't you both have your good sides? Isn't that why we seem so contrary?"
"We?"
"The human race, I mean," Lilith said. "We're torn between light and dark."
"Look, don't try and reason it," Nightwing said. "Slade tried to make me his slave. And I would have done so gladly for my friends, I admit it, but he's still an evil man."
"He saved my life," she muttered quietly. "He bandaged my wounds. He held onto me while you were fighting that stupid battle that amounted to what? A broken arm? Sometimes the little things matter, Nightwing."
"Listen!" Nightwing said angrily, "I just want this behind me. I need this behind me. It's the only thing standing between me and –"
"It's not the only thing, Nightwing," Lilith said. She embraced him gently. "I'm sorry, I know you had bad blood between you. I just wanted to tell you that Changeling was going to show you something, I, I just got angry thinking you're still obsessed with him."
"Gar told you?"
"Everyone told me," she said. "I knew you were obsessed with this. But, he's just a man! He did good, he did evil, but in the end he was alive and now he isn't. That's all there is to our lives. We live, we die, and we leave our legacy."
Nightwing looked at the newspaper clippings.
"Please come downstairs. It's real important what we've got for you!" she teased a bit, and went to the door. "Please, don't be late." Nightwing watched her pass, and smiled a melancholy smile as he tore the clippings from the wall. He tossed them unceremoniously into a trash bin, and kicked the trash bin under a table. He looked one last time at the darkness in his room as he entered the main hallway. He flicked off the lights and walked downstairs, ignoring the still under-construction segments.
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It was a small garden that had been erected where the tower had once stood. They had removed the wreckage and put the unsalvageable pieces into an artistic rendering. The controlled chaos of the growing trees and vibrant colors seemed to echo the laughter and joy of life as he had once remembered it. Nightwing smiled, a melancholy smile of true happiness, and sat down at the foot of the statue they had sculpted and placed at the center of the garden.
It was simple, and beautiful, and its smile would light up even the darkest of day.
And in a small plaque they placed at the foot of the statue, it read:
"Starfire. Princess of the Stars and Queen of Hearts."
Nightwing was speechless.
"What do you think?" Changeling asked. He sat down next to Nightwing, and Lilith next to him. The two had become inseparable since the day they returned, cooing with each other when they thought no one else was looking.
At least some good came of this.
"I," he stuttered, "I love it!" He could barely contain his voice. "It's perfect. It's perfect for her. She would have loved it here. Who, whose idea was it?"
"They wanted to remain anonymous," Changeling said. "'cause they felt it wasn't proper to take credit for a monument like this."
"Then I love them even more," Nightwing said.
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The winds rushed her cloak forward as she monitored the schedules for the incoming shipment from the national mint. "Thank America for bank money being insured. Means we're not out of a job," Raven muttered.
"Amen to that," Cyborg answered. He typed up a report, "And I can tell you that there've been strikes against these shipments before, and it's highly likely there'll be attacks against it when they come here. So, you think we should put those slackers to work?" Raven smiled and nodded. "It'll be good for them to get out there, right?"
"Right," Raven affirmed.
"Good." He set up the loudspeaker, "This is Cyborg. If you're looking forward to dinner tonight – steak and green beans, just eff-why-eye, and no complaining green sprout – and have a super heroic identity, please report to the briefing room for your duties for the day. Also, I am Jor-El! Master of Scheduling!" Cyborg grinned and flipped off the PA.
"Pardon?" Raven asked, raising her brow in confusion and thinly veiled amusement.
"Just something I saw on TV," Cyborg answered.
"I take it you were watching instead of monitoring duty."
"Hey! You may be right, but you didn't have to sound so condescending."
The assembled team looked fairly impressive. Nightwing looked quiet and withdrawn, but his presence seemed to extend beyond him. He may be silent and out of place, but he was still their leader and everyone seemed to wait on his approval on anything. Arsenal and Troia sat down near each other, Arsenal's arm protectively draped around her. Tempest and Changeling and Lilith sat together in a group not too far from Arsenal and Troia. Changeling bashfully looked on as Lilith held him in an embrace. Raven stood next to Cyborg himself, acting as his support.
"Aren't we a cheery bunch?" Cyborg asked.
"Gotta message for you, Action Man. I'm happy, hope you're happy too," Arsenal yelled.
"Well, then, Major Tom, let's get you your protein pills and put your helmet on, we've got work to do," Cyborg answered. "We've got a shipment of newly printed Dollar Bills to the local banks, and there've been a few attempts in other cities to get it, no doubt it's going to happen here."
"Obviously," Nightwing said. "When's the shipment arriving?"
"Within the hour."
"Don't got much time," Changeling said.
"Not really," Raven said, "But it won't matter. The best chance they have is when the vehicle is stopped. So we'll be escorting it on the rounds." She demonstrated on the map. "It will stop here, here, and here. The amount of money inside is, uh, quite large, so it's almost definite to draw some attention."
"Good," Nightwing said, "Some actual work to do."
"Are you sure you should go?" Raven asked. "Your arm's still healing."
"I can fight with my feet," Nightwing answered.
"Are you sure?" Raven asked. "I could heal it…"
"No," Nightwing answered coldly. "I'm fine."
"Guys," Changeling said, quietly, "Could we stop fighting? For five minutes?"
"Please," Arsenal said, rolling his eyes. He got a dig in the ribs from Troia. "Look, can we just get going on this. Nightwing, maybe you should stay here with Lilith."
"I said I can do this," he said.
"Please, Nightwing?" Lilith asked.
"Let him," Raven said. "I'll stay here. Well? Get going!" She looked at them all with an evil eye, and they filed out slowly, Nightwing last, with a lingering glance at Raven that she couldn't read.
And then they were alone. Lilith leaned against the monitor and sighed. "He'll get over it."
"I don't believe he will," Raven answered.
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The ride hadn't been very eventful. The first stop had gone off without a hitch. So much money was being brought into these newly reconstructed banks, and yet no one showed. Nightwing hung in the shadows, acting as a first line.
Arsenal and Troia stood by the guards, making sure that they'd be defended.
Changeling flew overhead as an eagle.
Cyborg was inside, keeping an eye on things from there. Tempest besides him, looking around more than anything. "It's very pretty."
"Sure is," Cyborg said. "Hopefully we'll be proven wrong."
As the money was moved into the vault, placed within it, they lingered a bit nearer. The quiet was disconcerting, so Tempest spoke. "I'm a bit worried about Nightwing to be honest." The vault closed. "He's always been a bit distant, but this is frightening."
"I know," Cyborg said. "It's Raven."
"I think he should know better than anyone it wasn't her fault."
"He does. It's not really her he's mad at, I guess you could say, but himself," Cyborg answered.
"Then why is he lashing out at Raven?"
"He's trying to stop himself from making another mistake," Cyborg answered. "He's blaming himself for Starfire. And Raven's the reason he killed her."
They walked outside. "Nothing?" Cyborg asked. Nightwing appeared from his shadows and shook his head. He leapt on his bike and moved up besides the armored truck. The others soon followed.
They arrived at the second location without incident. "It's going to be the next one," Nightwing said, mysteriously.
"We all sort of figured that out," Cyborg muttered, more to himself. Arsenal chuckled. The cargo was deposited and they went along to their next location. "Just, why?"
"Less money, less heat," Nightwing explained. "Easier to lay low for a couple mill, rather than a billion."
"True," Cyborg said. "It's not like they're going to get far with the Justice League on ultra-alert."
"Some people take risks," Nightwing answered.
"Like you?"
"Like me."
"At least he's honest about it," Arsenal muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Troia asked, sharply. Arsenal merely shrugged.
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Nightwing hated being right sometimes.
A girl had burst forward from the crowd and kissed the first guard. Which was certainly an unusual occurrence in and of itself. But it was also the note that the man fell, dead, to the ground with a big smile plastered on.
"I always knock 'em dead," said a familiar etching voice. She put on her lipstick and took out a huge powder puff. Tying her blonde hair back into pigtails, it became immediately noticeable who it was.
"Harley," Nightwing said. "I should have expected this."
"Hey, don't complain, we waited a good long time so you'd be ready," Harley said. "Fair's fair. Now fork over the loot before I shoot you!" She pulled out a comically big handgun.
"Wow," Troia muttered.
"She's got a heck of a piece," Arsenal muttered. "I don't know if I can top that. Oh, wait, I can." He pulled out an even bigger gun from his back.
"Where do you keep that stuff?" Troia asked.
"I dunno," Arsenal said, "I just trusted the scientist who put it together to figure out the details."
"Fair enough," Troia responded.
Harley aimed at Arsenal, Arsenal readied his weapon. They both prepared to see who had the faster finger when Harley yelled out, "Attack!"
Pumpkin shaped bombs were thrown to the ground, laughed an eerie laugh, and secreted a green gas. "Well, most apt of timing, dearest Harley." Livewire emerged from one of the power lines, wearing goggles and a new leather jacket.
"Here it comes," Nightwing rolled his eyes.
"Electrifying, if I say so myself," Scarecrow said.
"I knew it."
"Thanks, Icky," Livewire said. She shot a bolt of electricity at the armored car. It was lifted up by the electro-magnetic pulse that went through her fingernails. "Now, how's that for taking a withdrawal."
"Couldn't they have left the puns behind?" Nightwing asked, quietly. He brought his staff and threw it at Livewire. It spun around as it hit her and came back to his hands. "Titans, go!"
"Doesn't it feel right saying that?" Changeling asked. He shifted into a rhinoceros form, and charged at Harley. Harley leapt out of the way, kicking one of the pumpkin bombs at Changeling as she did.
Changeling shifted back to human form, scratching at his body. "Chicken pox!" he cried. "I thought I already had chicken pox!"
"Interesting," Scarecrow commented. "Nice shot, Harley."
"Thanks, Icky! Oh! Behind you!" she warned him. He whipped around and saw the torrents rage behind him. Tempest stood between them, levitated on some water in the air.
"Well, that's impressive," was all that Ichabod Crane could think of saying.
"Scarecrow, give up your evil ways," Tempest said, "Or I will show no mercy."
"I've heard that one before." Scarecrow said. He'd have rolled his eyes if he thought the heroes would notice. "Well, I'll play your game, you rogue," he warned, and threw a ball. "Catch!"
Tempest created an arm from the torrent and swatted it back at Scarecrow.
"Back!" Scarecrow yelled. He swatted the ball back at Tempest.
They continued back and forth for some time, while Livewire and Nightwing shared bouts and Cyborg fired at Harley. Laser fire caught the ball midair, exploding it prematurely in front of Scarecrow's face.
The gas didn't seem to get past the mask he wore underneath the pumpkin-shaped outer shell, but it was enough a distraction for Tempest to whirl him into the torrents and incapacitate him in front of Harley.
It certainly caught the girl off guard, and a net wrapped around her. Arsenal gave a little nod and a wink to Troia, who lunged down at Livewire, bringing her down at Nightwing's feet.
"Easy enough," Nightwing answered.
"Not even a thank you," Troia whined.
"Fine, thank you," Nightwing retorted. The two had a staring contest for a couple seconds before both cracked smiles. "Okay, you guys did good. Let's clean up here an--"
The armored car was thrown at them. A large, burly form stood next two a stout little gnome and a stylish witch. The three of them shared a rather self-satisfied smirk, and moved in, without saying a word.
"Oh," Cyborg mutters, "Now they call in the professionals."
"Yes," Nightwing said, "After we warmed up." He brought his staff up to block the probing tentacles that Gizmo kept hidden in his pack.
"They could be just a little more talkative too," Arsenal muttered, firing out a series of arrows. "It'd make this a bit less boring."
"Boring?" Jinx muttered. "I'll show you boring." Her eyes glowed pink and the bow string snapped. Arsenal felt himself falling backwards, only to be caught by Changeling, who was still looking a bit worse for wear thanks to Scarecrow's gas.
"Let's play kids!" Jinx said with a laugh. She kicked three of the remaining pumpkin bombs at the Titans.
Troia knocked one aside with her bracers and walked towards Jinx. The gas fell harmlessly to the side.
The second hit Cyborg upside the head, knocking him back and away from the gas, but keeping him reeling in time for Mammoth to lift him up above the ground. Cyborg winked at the giant and the shins of his robotic prostheses opened up and blasted Mammoth back.
The faint whiffs of the disintegrating fear gas left Mammoth wide eyed and afraid. He even sucked his thumb as he stared at something far far away and yet so very close to him. Cyborg looked rather confused. "Okay, that's a wrap for you," Cyborg said, patting the big guy on the shoulder.
Jinx's curses only managed to exponentially increase Gizmo's tactics' effectiveness. Nightwing was at Gizmo's mercy. His broken arm pulsed with pain and he couldn't think of what to do for the pain.
Troia found herself at the mercy of small drones that just managed to get lucky as she blocked high when she should have dodged low.
Somehow Tempest's spells misfired, and Changeling fell into a relapse of his fears.
Jinx laughed, certain of her superiority over the Titans, until the dark image of Raven appeared overhead. Her eyes gleamed white with magical potency. Her aura increased as her dark bird faded from the air. They reached down and clamped Jinx's mouth shut.
Much to her surprise, the witch grew angry with the sorceress and kicked off her shoes in an attempt to hit her. Caught off-guard, Raven was brought plummeting down into Cyborg's arms.
"Thanks," she muttered.
"No prob," Cyborg responded, "You've already turned the fight on its knees."
The momentary distraction was all it took for Tempest to launch a torrential rainfall upon the field and Gizmo's creations began to short-circuit.
"Gobsmacking cludge sniffers," the maniacal muppet muttered. "Work, crud tech, work!" As he struggled to get back in control of his machines, Nightwing tapped him on the shoulder.
Looking up, Gizmo found a fist coming straight for his head, knocking him on his back. "That's for my arm," Nightwing said. He picked up the backpack, "And this is for attacking my city. Get out."
"Jinx!" Gizmo said, "I'm gone!" He scurried away to safety, leaving the witch alone with the Titans bearing down on her with all their concentration.
"Uh… oh."
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The Titans entered their tower looking a bit exhausted but entirely satisfied. Only Raven looked apprehensive, as she once again tried to ask Nightwing if he would let her heal his arm, but each time rebuffed. She looked more and more miserable with each refusal. "Mission accomplished," Nightwing said, throwing his hair back as he walked in. "Good job, guys."
"Thank you, thank you!" Arsenal said, taking a bow.
"Except you, Arsenal," Nightwing added. "Really slow on that load. Better work on that. You must be going soft."
"And that's a wrap, folks, good night!" Arsenal laughed, hands up.
"No, really," Nightwing responded, seriously. The two shared a look, and Arsenal just groaned. "You're really easy to trick, you know that?"
"I'm glad to see you two getting along so well," Troia said, with a smile. "Maybe now I can talk to you about keeping the Titans together, Fearless Leader?"
"Why are you so intent on bringing that up?" Nightwing asked.
"Because I think it's important."
"I don't think it's important," Nightwing retorted.
"Then you're being a big party-pooper," Troia said, her eyes and tone betraying the innocence of the phrase. "If I weren't such a nice girl I'd slap you for being so mean about it."
"I," Raven muttered, hesitating, "Agree with Nightwing. I don't believe the Titans are, how to put it, required anymore."
"Pardon?" Tempest said.
"Yeah, what he said!" Changeling chorused.
"The Teen Titans. We aren't exactly… teen Titans anymore. Even Changeling has grown up," Raven said. "I think it's time we let someone else take up the mantle. We've grown up, and now we've got our own decisions to make."
"Very funny," Changeling said, "But don't you think that, y'know, we're a good team?"
"I don't know what to think, anymore, Gar," Raven said. "Even if we reformed, the team would never quite be the same."
"Oh. Right. I guess you're right about that."
"I know."
"You don't have to sound so confident about it," he rubbed the back of his head. "I guess we should start thinking about what happens now."
"Gee," Arsenal said, "This is really somber. Hey! I got an idea!"
"Oh great, he has an idea," Nightwing said, rubbing his temples.
"Let's throw a bit party! It'll be fun. Food, drinks, dancing, romance, and maybe, just maybe, some party games."
"Like Doom Racer 5?" Changeling asked.
"No, like Pin the Tail on the Donkey – of course Doom Racer 5!" Arsenal screamed.
"Oh, sure!"
"Sounds like a plan, eh, Nightwing?" Cyborg said, with a confident smirk.
"Everything comes full circle, doesn't it?"
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Everything comes full circle.
That's all that he could think about watching the food being brought in on Cyborg's back. It seemed like not-so-long ago he was trying to stop Raven from leaving. Making a futile effort to keep them all together forever.
Now, it was like the story was over. The Teen Titans were useless. Perhaps they saved the universe, perhaps even history itself from whatever Raven had summoned, but it still wouldn't matter in the long run.
One of their own was dead.
It was like some kind of belated funeral festivities from the Caribbean. La Dia del Muerte.
But even with the sound of Changeling belting out a song by David Bowie, it made little or no difference to him.
Though, right now, what he wouldn't give for a bit of quiet.
But still, something would catch his eye again and take his mind off of his own failures and onto how much they had changed.
Changeling was first, you couldn't ignore that boy's voice if you were deaf. It was a scratchy vocal effect that made him want to stick rusty nails into his ears. But he was having fun, and it seemed to make his girlfriend happy.
How he managed to get a girl like Lilith Jupiter amazed him.
No accounting for taste or continuity, for that matter.
Next would be Cyborg, who was putting together a punch from the stuff he had lugged in. He moved with a quiet maturity that he suspected had been there since day one. He was older than the rest of them. He also went through a lot more suffering. But he also didn't let it get to him.
That's what he admired about Cy. Never let you down, for anything.
But, what now?
The absence of Starfire had made him think how she'd have been dancing around for joy. Arsenal was dancing now, with – Raven? She certainly looked awkward, trying to match the dance steps, but stumbling over them.
He cracked a smile.
But he still wouldn't forgive her.
It wasn't as if he could stay angry at her forever, but right now he wanted to vanish. Troia was giving Arsenal the evil eye. He smiled. Everyone was busy. That would mean he could sneak out without anyone noticing.
"Hold it," Tempest's voice said. The usually quiet Knight of the Seven Seas had stepped up from behind the door. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To the movies," Nightwing answered. He saw the allusion fly far and away over Tempest's head.
"Why?"
"Because I thought it'd be funny," Nightwing said, "Look, I'm just getting some fresh air. There are things I still haven't worked out. And I need to have some time alone, too, you know."
"You don't have to be rude about it," Tempest answered. This was certainly true, he didn't have to be, but it seemed so easy right now to cut down anyone who dared talk to him. Funny, he always thought it was Raven's job to do that.
"Sorry," he murmured.
"It's quite all right," Tempest said, a smile returning to his face. "I'm surprised we made it this far. There were points where it certainly felt helpless."
"Times I thought you and Beast Boy were dead."
"That too," Tempest added.
"But we're here now," Nightwing said. "Is that all?"
"No," Tempest said. "Don't throw away everything you've saved. The decisions we make often have unforeseen effects on our future. You could decide to go for a breath of fresh air and miss the woman you'd love for the rest of your life."
"And if I don't," he added, "Then I may miss the chance of a lifetime."
"That argument's convincing," Tempest said, "But don't be gone too long. You'll be missed."
"Yeah, I won't be."
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The moonlight shatters the night-line, where the willow would play upon the riverbanks, so did the streetlight's glimmer and sparkle across the bay and the heart strings of those around it were played by the passing glance of a young boy.
His line went across the short expanse and he settled, in lonely solitude, by a statue that had been erected on a tiny island in the bay.
In what would become tradition, he prayed, he touched her face just to remember how it felt, imagining the cold stone would become the warm exuberance of her face.
Why did they have to take her away from him?
Why?
"Why?"
The starlight of the night sky moved and the hand of a dark haired visitor startled the boy from his revelry.
"Because life's not fair," she said. "Tempest told me you had gone out. Raven told me you'd be here."
"I could use some company after all," Nightwing said, his mask darting to the side. "Sit down?"
"Sure," she responded.
"Thanks for helping me, Troia."
"Call me Donna."
"Donna, then. I'm glad we met because of all this," he said, "You're kind of like that sister that I never had."
"And you're like that stupid big brother I wish I didn't," she jested. They both shared a quietly sincere laugh, and looked at the night.
"The Titans," she said, "Raised me from a young age, and I came to Themiscyra when I was just barely out of diapers."
"Really?"
"Yep, I'm a full-fledged demi-goddess –"
"—that makes absolutely no sense—"
"Shush! And I'm the junior student of Wonder Woman," she explained. "Well, I was until all this happened. The Titans told me of my past and gave me the powers to help those in need."
"So, that's why you were there for me."
"Yeah," Donna said. "No coincidence. Besides, Barbera gave me a hand. She knew you'd be in trouble."
"She knows me too well."
"That she does."
"I'll have to thank her," he said, quietly.
"Indeed you will," Donna laughed.
Nightwing was quiet, as if some crescendo of music in his head had drawn his attention away from the world for just a minute. It was as if he was given a brief glimpse of the future and then grasping at it. His lip trembled.
"She's really gone."
"Starfire?" Donna asked.
Nightwing only nodded.
"I'm sorry," she answered.
"Thanks."
"I'll live," Nightwing said. "No. I'll do more than that. I'll be alive. I can overcome this. I can do anything."
"That's right!" Troia laughed. "You're the greatest!"
"That's right!"
"Coming out of your mouth that sounds really arrogant."
"Can't I have a little bit of confidence without it sounding arrogant?" Nightwing asked.
"Nope, not really. When you're that good, everything sounds arrogant."
"Fair enough," Nightwing answered. "Then I'm not that good, but people say I am."
"I guess that works," Troia answered, "But now you sound like you're trying too hard to be humble and you're really just coming off like a jackass."
"Wonderful assessment, princess," Nightwing retorted.
"Thank you!"
"No, thank you."
"I insist."
"No, I insisted first."
"But you really deserve it, Nightwing."
"No, you're the lady."
"No, you are."
"Hey!"
Troia laughed uproariously at his response. There was a faint blush on his cheeks, and he looked about to die from embarrassment. "You almost said, 'that's right', didn't you."
"No!"
"Well, if you're in denial…"
"Shut up, Troia."
"Shutting up, sir." Donna gave a mock salute and sat down, looking quite resolute to be quiet. Nightwing smiled and looked down at the ground. The garden was quiet and undisturbed by the night's wind.
Thank you, Starfire, was on the lips of Dick Grayson's mouth, but no word was made.
Thank you, Starfire, and good bye.
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"The snot-munchers took us out, even the guy with one arm! He just totally blocked Livewire's electricity with that cast of his and slammed her with his fighting stick thingie. It was carnage."
"And yet," Khashoggi said, "You report to me."
"Sorry," Gizmo muttered, "I just thought that maybe you'd help me get back at the cludgeheads for it."
"Gizmo, my patience is wearing thin. It was an easy operation. In and out, and you and the rookies failed to even stop a superhero team with a leader with a broken arm."
"'ry."
"What?"
"Said 'sorry.'"
"Sorry won't cut it," Khashoggi said. He lifted his head and looked to the side. And with a cock of his head he whispered, "Very well," and turned to look Gizmo straight in the eye.
"I'll give you one last chance."
"All right!"
"I've managed to pick up an asset that one of the former employers of the Hive had discarded following his untimely demise. Use it well."
"What asset's that?"
"It's merely a toy, but if you look at it from my perspective, it's also a possibility. Now, run along then."
Gizmo found himself leaving the room without even thinking. In the halls, a large figure soon began to follow him.
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"Ground control to Major Tom, come in Major Tom," Cyborg said, poking Arsenal, "Your girlfriend's back."
"Dude!" Arsenal said, "How many times do I have to tell you, we're not doing a duet version of Space Oddity!"
"Look," Cyborg said, "Your girlfriend's back, with Nightwing."
"Oh."
"Oh, what?"
"Oh nothing, you big… nosy person," Arsenal said. "Hey! Donna! Over here!" She spotted him, as he called and ran over and gave him a big hug. "You look happy."
Nightwing took Lilith's hand. "May I have this dance?" he joked. Changeling looked a bit annoyed that Nightwing was cutting in, but Lilith gave him a side-long glance that spoke books to him.
"Certainly, milord," Lilith said. She effected a British accent probably learned from Mad Mod Jr.
They danced slowly, and Nightwing whispered something that made her smile. "Aw, man, you know, just once I'd like it if the girls didn't all go for the dark mysterious guys?"
"Calm down," Tempest said, "They're just talking."
"But, c'mon! You know he's the kind of guy girls dream about."
"That may be so," Tempest said, "But I know they're not talking about what you're thinking they're talking about."
"Okay, try me. What are they saying?"
"He's thanking her, and apologizing for his behavior earlier. And then he's telling her that, hm, he noticed I was listening," Tempest muttered. "Oh well."
"Okay, fine, you win." Changeling smirked. "You know, he and that Troia lady sure got some sparks going. You think --?"
"No," Tempest said.
"Hm, wonder who Nightwing's going to go after next?"
"Not everything in life's related to girls," Tempest reminded him.
"Sure, you say that, they come to you. I have to work at it."
"Girls like me?" Tempest asked, as if that was some kind of revelation.
"Dude, you are so totally kidding me. You didn't notice the hearts in Raven's eyes when she first saw you? What about Starfire. She was totally digging you."
"Oh," Tempest muttered.
"Is that why you're so bashful?"
"I, uh, always had a thing for this one girl…"
"Oh, great. Now you're telling me that your heart belongs to her and only her."
He nodded.
"Thank you for destined romances," Changeling muttered.
Raven appeared out of the corner of Nightwing's eyes. "You should talk to her," Lilith whispered. "Thanks for the dance."
"Sure," Nightwing answered.
"Nightwing," Raven said, urgently. "We need to --!" The building shook as something leaped down from the top of the building and came crashing down. Grabbing hold of one of the floors, it managed to slow its descent as it hit the ground floor.
Standing up, its blank red eyes surveyed the area.
Cinderblock.
"Where'd he come from?" Changeling said, jumping to the side, placing a defensive arm around Lilith.
"I don't know!" Tempest said, "But he's going!"
The winds carried up as the emergency sprinklers began to let loose a rainfall like a torrential flashflood.
The waters soaked the outer surface of the monolith.
"Well," Changeling said, "Now I'm wet."
"Sorry," Tempest said.
Nightwing looked at Raven, "My arm." She nodded and waved her hand over it. She then smashed the cast with her hand, "Thanks." It wasn't a friendly sound, but, she sighed, it was a progression.
"Cyborg, go!" Cyborg nodded at his leader's command and ran up to Cinderblock. He readied his hands and Nightwing jumped on them. Using it as a boost, Nightwing soared to the ceiling and jumped down with a meteoric smash against the creature's head.
It reeled into the waiting charge of a buffalo.
Lilith stood back as Raven created needles from air molecules, sending them at Cinderblock and pushing him to the side. It was during this that Arsenal noticed the distinct sound of mechanical spider-like legs. Gizmo's trademark machines were crawling around the ceiling, preparing to strike.
He fired off a laser rifle and sent them falling to the ground. "Tempest, stop the water!"
Tempest did as he was commanded.
"Thanks," Arsenal said. He took an arrow from his pack and tossed it to Troia. Troia ran up and struck it into Cinderblock. The water that had covered his exterior sent the electricity around the body of the mammoth.
"Hey! Nice shot!" Changeling said.
"It's not over yet," Arsenal indicated. He turned around and fired at an unseen target. It hit nothing.
"Nice try, snot-for-brains!" Gizmo's voice appeared to be coming from a loudspeaker somewhere nearby. "But not fast enough. Wait, am I to the left?" Arsenal fired a shot to the left, "No, that's not it. How about to the right!" Arsenal fired another shot.
"Oh, wait, I'm coming in from above!" Arsenal turned to fire, but the miniature pest had already descended on him, wrapping him in robotic web. "There we go!" Gizmo laughed. "Now it's your turn."
He pulled out a large laser – far too large to fit in that pack – and fired it at the Titans, who all dodged to the side of the attack. Gizmo turned the laser and it hit the ground with enough force to shatter the flooring.
"Hey! I just got those done!" Cyborg yelled. "Hey, Bird Boy. You ready for the old one-two Sonic Boom?"
"Sounds like a plan," Nightwing said. They took to running, both on either sides of the beam, and leapt to the sky. A disc seemed to float in mid-air in front of Gizmo's face, and the beam struck it, knocking Gizmo off target, the crank – whatever device Gizmo had created it certainly wasn't practical – was stopped and the beam began to decrease in size as he was blasted to the wall.
"What was that all about?" Lilith hazarded.
"Well, let's find out." Gizmo was brought up above the ground by Cyborg's big metal fist. "Okay, buddy," he said, "Tell me why you attacked us."
"Uh."
"That's a great reason," Cyborg said sarcastically. "Reconsider your answer, now."
"Stop shaking me!" Gizmo said. "Look, I don't know why but the Headmaster got that thing and he told me to. Please don't throw me in jail, I was just following orders!"
"The Headmaster?" Nightwing asked.
"Yeah, yeah, Khashoggi took over the school!" Gizmo said, nodding, "Got rid of the old bat somehow."
Nightwing looked at the others.
Raven looked on, blankly.
"Something doesn't add up," Nightwing answered Raven's unspoken calculations. "And I'm going to find out what."
A loud cry of confusion was the chorus of replies.
"I have to find out what's going on. This suits my style," Nightwing said. "You guys have your jobs to do."
"Yeah, but," Changeling said.
"I know you think I'm leaving you forever, but I'm not," Nightwing said. "I'll be back. But there's something going on out there, and I have to stop it."
"What about the Titans?" Donna asked.
"You," Nightwing said, pointing at Donna. "You will bring the Titans back. I trust you to have enough enthusiasm for the work. Make us proud, Troia." She smiled.
"I promise, I'll make the Titans great again!"
"Man," Cyborg said, "You've gotta do what you've gotta do, but don't disappear on us again."
"I'll be back," Nightwing said, "But I may be some time."
-------------------------------------------
It doesn't matter.
"I guess this is the point in time we all have to make our decisions." Raven's voice carried a haunting realism to Changeling. It was time to decide. "I, myself, will remain here in Jump City for as long as it suits me."
"Me too," Cyborg said. "I'll try and keep this place up and running."
"I'm staying," Troia said. "I'll keep my promise to Nightwing."
"Then I'm staying too," Arsenal said.
"I've got to be going," Tempest said, "I'm needed back in the sea. We've got our own repairs to make. And Arthur said that there are… many funerals to be attended to."
"I'm leaving too," Changeling said. "I want to go back to Brighton and help out there."
Lilith smiled quietly.
"When will you be leaving?" Cyborg asked. Tempest informed them that he'd leave in the morning, while Changeling offered to stay around until everything was settled. That rested Cyborg's nerves a bit.
Certainly seemed strangely empty to see how they were drifting. Raven became quiet once more, letting her robes keep her separate from the rest.
Troia, however, brought much needed levity with her smile, and had immediately begun to outline some sort of plan.
"I figure, there are at least five kids out there who are trying to make their marks as superheroes," she said, and pointed to the concept, "We'd mentor one each, and that way we'd be able to pass on the mantle from teacher to student like that."
"That's…" Raven said, "Actually a really good idea."
Troia giggled.
"So, that's how it's going to become?" Cyborg asked. "Could be worse," he laughed, "We could be fighting Mad Mod again."
"Mr. Richards?" Lilith asked, confused.
"Er," Changeling said. "Lilith, I'll explain later."
"Now I'm just plain confused," Lilith muttered. Changeling managed to muster a weak little chuckle.
"Well, let's just say that we've had a run in with Mr. Richards' father…"
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Nightwing leapt across the rooftops of the city, looking free for the first time in a long while, and with a confident smile and a little twist in the air, he went forward to confront his destiny.
Whatever it might be.
... not laugh at the madman...