Chapter Ten-New Member

Mirage blinked slowly, once again staring at a strange ceiling. Beast Boy was sitting beside her, asleep. Robin walked around the corner and shook his head.

"I told him to get some rest."

"Where am I?"

Robin gave a half-smile. "Titan's Tower, the medical floor. We rarely use it."

Mirage sat up slowly, feeling her head spin slightly. "How long have I been down here? Where's Raven and Starfire? Where's Cyborg?"

"Three days. Illusion messed with Cyborg's technology, so Raven is staying with him. His system is starting to reboot. Starfire is getting some rest."

Mirage felt the memory flooding in of that night. She remembered swinging the sword down on her father.

"What happened to my…to Brother Blood?"

Robin's friendly smile slipped off his face as his expression grew both concerned and brooding.

"He's in a prison for the criminally insane. Your sword really did the trick."

Robin laid the broken mirror on the bed at Mirage's feet, and then left her alone with her thoughts.

Reboot Complete

Cyborg opened his eyes blearily to see Raven watching him with an almost anxious, maternal expression. But just as he thought he saw it, it disappeared into Raven's normal emotionless face.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah…I short-circuited; what happened?"

"It's complicated…" Raven answered slowly while beginning to relay the entire tale. Even though Raven normally didn't speak so much, or enjoy speaking, she couldn't think of ten minutes better spent.

And neither could Cyborg.

The night air was chilled as Mirage looked out at the shore from the rooftops. Turning to find the source of the slight scuffling behind her, she saw Beast Boy was approaching hesitatingly. He gave a small smile.

"Dude, do you ever sleep?"

"Sometimes," she answered calmly. "Your not afraid I'll go psycho?"

Beast Boy's ears lowered, a sure sign of concern and worry. "The mirror's, like, broken. She can't come back anymore."

"You sure about that? Do you trust me?"

Beast Boy cast her a strange look as the last question came, but was cut off as the buckle began to blink, as it only did when Robin needed the team for something urgent.

"Let's go."

"My defense chip is missing," Cyborg exclaimed while checking his system for damage.

Raven looked up from her book. "I found it next to you after the accident. It's in my room." She placed a marker between the pages and started toward the door, noticing that Cyborg was following.

They went up a level and down the hall, turning when they reached Raven's room. She entered automatically, but Cyborg stood in the door awkwardly. Finally Raven spoke up, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen while she went through her things.

"I've misplaced it. Help me look."

Cyborg stepped in and slowly closed the door, looking around the dark room passively. He gazed past the crammed bookshelf, to the rounded bed, and on to a slightly twisted looking night-stand. Raven looked there as well, both of them starting toward it, seeing the chip, and both speaking at once.

"Found it." Raven's hand landed on Cyborg's as they both reached for it. She felt her cheeks redden as she looked at Cyborg, trying to think of something to say. He was looking at her strangely. He leaned closer, way too close for just a friend. Raven felt her eyes close impulsively, aware of just how close he was, trying to remain calm, her heart screaming that none were to get near her, but somehow he seemed okay. He heart was pounding horribly and just as she felt his lips brush hers the sphere on her cloak began to shake, indicating it was blinking. She felt Cyborg withdraw and opened her eyes, both of them withdrawing their hands from the nightstand.

Cyborg was wearing a cautious expression as he replaced the chip, both of them leaving the room to see what Robin wanted.

Starfire rushed into the living room, seeing Beast Boy and Mirage looking anxious, and Raven and Cyborg in the opposite direction, avoiding each other's gazes. Robin stood in the middle of the room tensely.

"What happened?" Cyborg said.

"Yes, Robin, what is wrong?" Starfire glided toward him.

"Dude, if it's the H.I.V.E. again…"

Robin smirked. "Easy, guys. I just wanted to get all of us in the same room." He gave a meaningful glance to the rest of the team, and suddenly Starfire let out a squeal of delight. She glided to Mirage and hugged her fiercely. Mirage choked out her words.

"Starfire…my lungs…they're flat now…"

Starfire let go and Mirage massaged her arms as she looked at Robin. "What was that all about?"

Beast Boy grinned. "Dude, you're staying here!"

Robin nodded. "You're a Titan now." He held out a silver necklace with a silver orb in the center that would flash red when activated, and a yellow communicator with a 'T' in the center. Smiling slightly for the first time in ages, she took the necklace and communicator and put it on. Raven nodded her approval.

Something was tugging at the back of Mirage's mind. "What about Illusion?"

Robin grew serious. "You're nothing like her. She's just a criminal. If ever she comes back, you won't go down with her."