Chapter 5

The rest of the team were reluctant to back off, but they could tell by Arrow's stubborn expression that she wasn't going to back down anytime soon.

Before he sat down, Robin sent a meaningful glance in Dragon's direction, but Arrow gave a barely perceptible shake of the head and Robin sat down.

Arrow sat down as well, and with her eyes closed, massaged her temples. Without opening her eyes, she started.

"As you've already gathered, me and Dragon over there have a bit of a past. I won't go into detail, but…stuff happened."

"You don't need to glaze over it for me, Arrow. Tell them everything." Dragon was now sitting with his arms crossed and his dark eyes looking up at the group in front of him.

"I'm not doing this for you, Dragon. I think my feelings are pretty clear on the matter. I just personally don't want to bring up painful memories. Is that alright with you, you masochistic son of a bitch?" Snapped Arrow.

Dragon clenched his teeth, but didn't say anything.

Robin coughed. "Stuff being…?" he urged.

Arrow turned her focus back to the Titans. "Stuff being one sadistic witch queen, literally. Somehow she managed to get Dragon on her side and he, being just the kind of person he is, let slip the spell that was guarding our city from the witch and her army."

The Titans turned and stared at Dragon, who met their angry glares with an expression that was apologetic, ashamed and defiant at the same time.

"Our city was destroyed. Annihilated. And I was going to die with them, but surprisingly Dragon saved me. Whether he had regained his senses or it was some psycho order from the queen or just some stupid death wish, I don't know. I didn't stay to find out."

"After that I felt sorry for myself for a while, then I just moved on as best I could. I journeyed for a while. A while being 3 years, of course. Eventually, I wound up in Jump City, where I met the lovely Fluffy. I don't know what happened to Dragon. But, you know what, I'm suddenly curious. Why don't you tell us your story, Dragon?"

When she said this, Dragon's head started up with an expression of surprise on it.

He was silent for a couple of seconds then he sighed. "Fine." He stood up and began pacing the room.

"Arrow's already given you the necessary background of our situation. Truthfully, even at that young age, I was infatuated with the queen."

Arrow growled.

"She was all kindness. She even gave me this lovely present," he said, fingering the scar that ran through his eye.

"I saved Arrow because yes, I had had a change of heart. Actually no. Seeing my family burn, I had a removal of heart. I slayed the queen,"

Arrow gasped.

"I slayed the queen and I saved Arrow. I flew an unconscious Arrow out of the City, and set her down in the forest. I built a camp and set my efforts to reviving Arrow. We were there for 4 days when she woke up. I can't exactly remember what happened next, but I regained consciousness the next day."

Arrow shrugged. "You deserved it." She muttered, audibly enough for everyone to hear.

"You're wrong," Dragon said, "I deserved worse."

"In the years that followed, I tried to kill myself several times. I had destroyed everything. I hated myself with such a passion that…" He broke off.

"Like I said, I tried to kill myself but there was one slight problem. I'm practically indestructible. The only thing that can kill me, I can't do myself."

"When I eventually realised this, I traveled a lot as well, helping people. Trying to get rid of the hate that, if you'll excuse the cliché, burned within me."

"I've been in Jump City 1 year, and I met Raven a couple of months ago. We got on."

Raven's face was impassive.

There was a long, pregnant pause, when suddenly Beastboy's hand shot up. "Uhhh…Arianarhod?"

Arrow's hand clenched on the chair and, with a bent head, Dragon started to laugh silently, his shoulders shaking with ill-disguised mirth. But when he looked up, his cheeks were streamed with tears.

"She didn't tell you? Nah, she wouldn't have, would she. You, my little green changeling are addressing Her Serene Highness, Princess Arianarhod of Clementine."

When Dragon was saying this, he had stopped behind Her Serene Highness and when he finished he gently, very gently, stroked her glowing red hair, his hand staying there a moment too long.

Arrow was shaking.

As if he suddenly realized what he was doing he stopped and quickly walked away from behind her.

Silence filled the tower.

Robin glanced around the room. "Look, Ar—princess…"

"I prefer Arrow, it's much easier to say." She tried to smile.

"Arrow. Do you mind if the rest of the team…talk?"

Arrow nodded.

There was an awkward pause as the team filed out of the room. Starfire was the last to go, and as she passed Arrow Star gave her a quick hug.