Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
In the pitch black of the night, a blonde boy was running as fast as he could. His green eyes were shining in the dark. Behind him, a man was chasing him. He rounded a corner as fast as he could. The man picked up speed and skidded around the corner. He looked around, but the boy was gone. He swore quietly behind the mouth piece of his mask before turning away.
Down an alley way, the blonde boy was breathing heavily. His green eyes were wide with fear and cold sweat glistened on his brow. From his pocket, he drew a cutting from a newspaper. The title read:
"TITANS SAVE CITY, A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE TEENAGE SUERHEROES!"
The boy placed the clipping back in his pocket and headed for the train station. With any luck, the next train would come soon and could get help to pull him away from, this nightmare…
"Tofu!" shouted Beastboy happily.
Cyborg looked down at his plate unenthusiastically.
"Hey Raven, how does herbal tea taste?" he asked.
"Tofu isn't that bad!" said Beastboy angrily.
Cyborg walked over to the kitchen and dumped his plate in the sink.
"I'll make my own breakfast." He said.
Beastboy glared at him. Starfire began eating happily and Robin picked up his fork.
"Most wonderful!" laughed Starfire and continued to shovel the tofu into her mouth.
"She likes it!" said Beastboy to Cyborg, who rolled his eyes.
"Have you seen what she eats? Of course she'd like it." Said Raven.
A large argument erupted between the three of them. Starfire continued to eat happily. Robin was trying desperately to get a word in somewhere to stop the argument and failing miserably.
"Shut up!" shouted Robin loudly.
The three of them stopped and Starfire froze, fork still in her mouth.
"We're going outside to train on the obstacle course. Then we'll see if we can wear off all the extra energy you're wasting on arguing!" he said, grinning.
"Oh man." groaned Cyborg.
"Dude! Harsh!" said Beastboy.
Raven blinked and walked away and Starfire finally spat out her fork.
The blonde boy opened his green eyes and gazed out of the train window. He could see the giant 'T' shaped tower on the island and hope crept into his heart for first time in months. Maybe, just maybe, he could start again. No more running. He could have a normal life.
Just as he thought this, a loud crash echoed through the train compartment. He stood up and saw him. The man was walking through the scared and fleeing crowds towards him. The boy shook his head in a silent plea.
"It's no use running!" laughed the masked man.
The boy span around and headed for the door at the other end of the train. It wouldn't open. He headed for the window and smashed the glass. He looked out. They were on a bridge over water.
"Don't be a fool," said the man.
The boy didn't have a choice. He leapt out of the window and dived into the water below…
At midday, the titans walked back down the stairs, very sore from training.
"Dude, I can't feel my limbs!" said Beastboy, falling down on the sofa.
"Don't be pathetic," said Raven, sitting down and picking up her book.
"It's alright for you, you can heal yourself," groaned Cyborg.
"I did not find it tiring at all," said Starfire confused.
"That's because Robin didn't make you do anything!" said Beastboy.
"That's because she wasn't arguing," said Robin.
"No," said Beastboy, "It's because you fancy…"
There was suddenly a loud knock at the door. The titans looked at each other.
"I count five," said Beastboy.
"Wow, you can count to five," said Raven, "that is truly your greatest achievement."
"Is someone going to get that?" asked Robin.
They all stood up and approached the door. Cyborg opened it and they saw a blonde boy with startlingly green eyes standing in the door way. He was soaked from head to toe. He started to move his hands, but he suddenly stopped. His eyes closed and he collapsed onto the floor.
The boy was awake, but he kept his eyes closed. He could hear voices.
"I did a scan, he's lucky that he didn't drown with the amount of water he took on."
"Will he be well again?"
"He'll be fine Star, but something else came up. It looks like his throat was partially cut at some point."
"Cut?"
"Dude, was it recent?"
"No, it's healed, it looks like it happened years ago, but he's mute."
"Mute?"
"He can't talk, Beastboy, something we would welcome in you right now."
"That explains the hand movements."
The boy opened his eyes. His sight was blurry, but he could just make out that he was in a dark medical room.
"You're awake," said a voice beside him.
He looked over and saw a dark haired girl with pale skin and dark eyes. She was dressed in black and blue and held a continuous deadpan look on her face.
"It's okay. You're safe here," she said, watching him closely, "I'm Raven."
The boy moved his hands in a series of shapes.
'I-am-Jericho'
"Jericho," said Raven, "Welcome to Titans tower. I'll go tell the others you're awake."
She stood up and walked over to the door. As she opened it, Jericho heard the voices more clearly.
"I also detected a strange series of brain patterns"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean he has some sort of power, I just don't know what."
"He's awake," came Raven's voice, "his name's Jericho."
"How do you know?"
"He told me," said Raven.
Raven walked back into the room and turned on the light. She was followed by four more people. Jericho sat up, immediately alert.
"Jericho, this is Cyborg, Robin, Starfire and Beastboy." Explained Raven, "We're the Teen Titans."
Jericho raised his hand in a short wave.
"Welcome to Titans tower," said Robin, stepping forward.
"Welcome new friend!" said Starfire.
She stepped forward to hug him in her usually greeting, but Raven put her arm out.
"Starfire, the dude almost drowned, give him some space!" laughed Beastboy, "I'm BB. The best of all the titans!"
Jericho grinned as Cyborg hit Beastboy over the back of the head.
"Who's the best titan?" he asked.
"Dude!" said Beastboy, "You've got metal hands! They hurt!"
"Jericho, how did you end up here?" asked Robin.
Jericho did a series of hand gestures and Robin watched.
"He says he came looking for us because he thought we could help. His father has been trying it hunt him down…to kill him," said Robin.
"We'll not stand for this!" said Starfire, "We will protect our latest friend!"
Cyborg stepped forward, confused.
"In the scan, it showed that you had an unusual ability. Do you mind showing us?" he asked.
Jericho moved his hands.
"He needs to make eye contact with someone," said Raven.
"I'll do it!" said Beastboy, jumping forward.
He looked Jericho straight in the eyes. Jericho's own green eyes glowed and suddenly he was gone.
"Jericho?" asked Raven.
"Um guys?" said Beastboy.
They looked around and Beastboy was swapping from form to form.
"What?" asked Robin.
"I'm not doing this of my own accord!" said Beastboy.
Beastboy suddenly shuddered and Jericho leapt out of him and was standing beside him, miming his explanation.
"He can jump into people's bodies and take control for a short amount of time, swapping from body to body," said Robin, "He can even manipulate their powers."
"Whoa." said Raven.
"That's one hell of a power!" said Cyborg, "Good thing you're on our side!"
"Jericho," said Starfire, voicing a concern she had had for some time, "Why is your father trying to kill you?"
"Because you won't join him?" asked Raven.
"Well now you won't have to, you're going to stay with us," said Robin, "You'll have at least one titan in the same area as you at all times, just in case."
Jericho moved his hands.
'Thank-you, but-he-is-dangerous. He-is-an-assassin.'
"An assassin?" asked Raven.
"What's his name?" asked Robin.
Robin and Raven both watched, wide eyed as Jericho gave his answer.
"What is wrong?" asked Starfire.
"His father's name," said Raven.
"What about it?" asked Cyborg.
"It's Wilson," said Robin, "…SLADE Wilson."
There was deathly silence.
