II. Tago
Terra had her forehead on Beast Boy's shoulder, and he rubbed her back reassuringly with one hand. Two men carrying a stretcher walked by them, the body on the stretcher was covered by a white blanket, some hair was poking out from under the fabric.
Terra stared at the covered body with half-lidded eyes, though her eyes seem dull and blank her mind screamed terror and she thought of horror. Unaware of herself, she gripped Beast Boy's shirt tighter and buried her forehead deeper into his shoulder.
Beast Boy placed his other hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her a little backwards he looked into her eyes but she cast her head downward, shielding herself for some reason, a reason she didn't know any better than he did. Though disappointed he still attempted to comfort her.
"Hey, it's okay. We're superheroes…we should get used to this kinda stuff," Terra knew he was trying to be strong for her, but she knew well enough that he was shaken by what had happened, she knew he had never seen a dead body before either because she could hear his voice crack slightly when he spoke and his eyes were a bit watery.
"Yeah, but…it's just we're supposed to prevent stuff like this from happening…and we failed…"
Beast Boy could find no other words of comfort for her so he shut his mouth and remained quiet and held her.
A few feet away from them Cyborg was speaking to Raven. Raven had her arms crossed and her expression was solemn, the two were exchanging words with low voices.
"Poor kid, she kinda spooked ain't she?"
"Kinda?" Raven said flatly and raised an eyebrow at Cyborg.
He shrugged and sighed. "Fine, really spooked. It looks like salad head's shoulders are gonna fall off from Terra's grip."
"She needs some way of letting go. It's her first time to see a dead body. I'm not surprised at her reaction," she broke her gaze away from Terra and Beast Boy and looked up at Cyborg, her eyes were bitter and Cyborg could catch just a hint of emotion in her voice, "brings back memories."
They became silent and watched the people around them gossip and point at the ambulance that sped away. Some were screaming, some were crying, some were just staring blankly at nothing and looking like they were thinking. Cyborg stared at Raven through the corner of his eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards, Raven's sharp eyes caught the smile.
"How can you smile at a time like this?" the volume of Raven's voice hitched up a little higher and showed some emotion—irritation.
"Whoa, whoa, don't have to be mad. Isn't it a smile what we need at a time like this?" Cyborg said in defense, "Besides, you look great in that dress."
Raven made an 'hmph' sound, her lips formed a straight line but Cyborg saw some amusement in her eyes. He smiled to himself among the confusion and fear of the crowds, knowing Raven was okay made all the troubles in the world disappear. Turning his head to where Terra and Beast Boy he wished the same was true for them.
…
Back at the Titans Tower Robin was cooped up inside his room again. New pictures and newspaper clippings were strewn over his work area, on the walls and even on the floor. On the headline of one of the newspaper clips it read:
KILLER? BODY FOUND AT JUMP CITY LAKE. LOCAL HEROES SAY "IT'S NO SUICIDE."
"Media moves too damn fast…" he muttered, and then glared at the headline. "Local? Thank you very much, Jump City."
There were three reasons why Robin hated that particular headline.
Number one—it gave no assurance of safety. This was the kind of headline that made the citizens afraid to go out and enjoy their lives—particularly women, since the victim had been a young woman.
Number two—must have been a stupid and weird reason to dislike the headline, but Robin thought it lacked life and spunk. Feel free to judge him if you want.
Number three-Robin found the word 'local' distasteful. Not that it should, but it made him feel so small, so tiny, so irrelevant, so…so…
Second best.
Robin's masked eyes widened. Whoa, slow down, boy. Where'd that come from?
But deep down inside of him it was partially true, if not completely true. He was second best to Batman and—all the other superheroes in the world. Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, Green Lantern—they were known all over the globe and here he was known only in Jump City and his City called him l o c a l.
To him, local was the word for bands that weren't famous and stayed that way. Local was for the sport teams and athletes that never got into big time. Local was for anything else, just not him.
"Robin?"
The familiar voice cut through his thoughts and Robin was thankful, he hated it when he went off and thought thoughts like that. Her turned his face to Starfire and acknowledged her. "Yeah, Star?"
Her pink dress and hat was gone and her purple costume came back, hands were clasped to her chest and she looked troubled. Robin didn't need to ask what was troubling her.
"This murder…as you know, Friend Robin, it troubles me and everyone else, Friend Terra most of all…" she trailed of as Robin listened. He gave her a sympathetic look, she didn't need information on how this murder was going, that's not why she came here, she came here for reassurance. Starfire needed to be told that everything was okay.
Starfire had seen more blood and gore than Terra, but she needed encouragement all the same.
Robin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "It's going to be alright, Starfire."
She smiled at him and a little bit of her fear disappeared.
…
Terra had her head buried under her pillow. She had told Beast Boy that she wanted to be alone a long time ago, but she could still hear him pacing outside in front of her door. She listened carefully to his heavy footsteps and tried to relax her body, breathing slowly and forcing her body to get lighter.
She listened to his footsteps. She had practically memorized his steps.
Thud-thud-thud-thud. Stop. Turn around. Thud-thud-thud-thud.
Then it would repeat.
Just stop already, I told you, I'm okay, Terra moaned in her head and hoped that her silent message would reach Beast Boy's mind, but as she expected, it didn't.
She closed her eyes and let out a deep, long, airy breath. I'm okay, I told you, I'm okay…
And without knowing it, Terra drifted off to sleep, and dreamed dreams full of memories…
…
Those stupid skateboarders, again. They never got tired, never stopped, even after they had banned all visitors and tourists from her spot. The stupid skaters and those damn giggling girls that came along with them. Christine and John and all those other damn people…
They'd jump over the rope with the sign that hung from it which said "Restricted. No Entry".
So much for the security the Titans provided her.
As usual, the gang of idiots took their places and sat anywhere they wanted. Christine leaned against the stone wall behind her. She was applying powder to her already powdered face. John sat at the foot of Terra's statue and Terra wished with all her stone heart that she could somehow move her granite foot and kick his ass. The others stood, sat, and fucked around. There were no pens or markers this time.
John grabbed a skateboard from one of the boys, grinning like a fool, it was obvious he wanted to show off. He glided around faster and faster, pulling off simple moves that made him feel cool. He looked over his shoulder; a wide, arrogant smile was on his face. He looked so happy while his friends didn't think he was all that great. His sister rolled her eyes and shook her head and continued powdering her over powdered face.
Then one of the boys yelled John's name. John looked confused and turned his head to his front, but it was too late. John's face smashed hard against Terra's hard, rock arm. He fell on his back and blood was splattered all over his face. His friends rushed over to him and hauled him up. Christine examined his face and saw that he had broken his nose, nothing serious. She shook her head again and said, "Idiot."
John moaned as they dragged him out of Terra's spot.
While John moaned Terra laughed. Her stone heart was delighted and inside her she laughed happily. He got what he deserved. As she rejoiced, somehow she knew, if she had a voice, her laughter would sound cruel. If she had a voice, her cruel laughter would be heard all the way to Metropolis.
…
Terra woke from her dream and opened her eyes. Another memory came to her. Another memory that had no meaning. She felt like sleeping again, but when she closed her eyes she found that she couldn't.
Outside she heard Beast Boy, still pacing.
Thud-thud-thud-thud. Stop. Turn around. Thud-thud-thud-thud.
"Beast Boy," she called, "you can stop pacing now."
AN: Elyang woke up in the middle of hibernation. She will start hibernating again. She will hibernate till the inspiration comes.
