I walk through the rubble once more. I go into the family room and go to the spot where my mother was shot. I feel overcome and vomit. I feel a hand on my back and turn sharply. I loosen as I see it's only Raven.
"Is this where she…"
I nod and turn away. I go to the little table where the photo was and stare at the empty spot.
"What was there?"
"A photo."
"Of?"
"My family. When we were a family."
She goes to my mom's room and looks around. I return to my room. I sit on my bed and stare at the wall.
"Why are you here?" Raven asks, appearing in the doorway.
"I don't know."
"Your mind may not know, but your heart does."
I get what she's saying. "Your mind thinks, but your heart feels."
She nods and says, "Feel, Luna."
I close my eyes and try to feel. She sits next to me and holds my hand. Not in a weird way, but in a sisterly way.
"You are seeking closure," she says.
"I feel like I don't have a family," I reply.
I open my eyes and look at Raven, sensing she wants to say something.
"You do now," she says.
I hug her and she hugs me back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We get back to Titan Tower just as Robin is calling a meeting.
"Glad you're back," Robin says.
Raven goes to sit on the couch and I start walking towards the door to the rooms.
"Luna, why don't you stay?" Robin says. "Since you live here, you may as well know what's going on."
I go to the sofa and sit in a corner of it. Robin presses a button on the TV remote and a picture of Slade appears on the screen. I tense up at the giant image and Raven looks at me worriedly.
"Slade has hit three different spots in the past two days," Robin says, ignoring Raven and I. "He seems to be after precious metals. For what purpose, I don't know. But we have to find out. We have no way of predicting the next target but…"
"Fancy Jewelers."
The Titans look at me.
"What?" Robin says.
"Fancy Jewelers," I repeat. "That's where he'll hit next."
The Titans look at Robin and he nods.
"Okay, then we'll stake out at Fancy Jewelers and wait for him," he says. "When he comes, we plant a microphone on him and a tracker. Then we'll find out what he's up to."
That's not going to work, I say to Raven.
Do you have a better plan? She asks, not unkindly.
I say nothing.
"Do we all agree?" Robin says.
Obviously I've missed something but it doesn't bother me since I won't be going along anyway. They all agree on whatever and I get up and walk through the door to the rooms. Robin follows me. I stop and turn around.
"Can I help you with something?" I ask.
"Can we talk?" he says seriously.
"I don't know," I say. "Can we?"
"I'm serious."
"I know."
I lead him to my room and we go in. I close the door behind us. I turn around and sit on my bed. Robin sits next to me and looks at his hands on his lap. Finally, he looks up at me.
"Why are you so insistent that I don't fall in love with you?" he asks. "It's not that I am it's just…"
"I know you aren't," I say. "I'd feel it."
He's quiet, waiting for me to answer his question.
"It's happened before," I say. "Slade killed him."
"Were you in love with him?" he asks.
"No."
"Then why did Slade kill him?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Well you said…"
"Yeah I know what I said," I say, impatient to get this aching feeling out of my heart, knowing what it means. "Listen, I realize this may seem weird, but I need you to do me a favor."
"That doesn't sound weird."
"No, the favor is weird."
"Oh."
"Will you?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Could you kiss me?"
He stares at me.
"I have this funny ache in my chest and I need to see if it has anything to do with you, that's it."
He continues staring.
"My god. Say something!"
He shakes his head as if clearing it and looks at me.
"Kissing me would prove…?"
"If the ache I have has something to do with you."
He sits, thinking. He gives me a sideways glance. He looks at the floor. Then he looks at me again. I sit looking at him, wishing he would say something. He sits up straight and looks at me.
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay."
I look at him and realize I have no idea how to do this. He helps by scooting closer. I sit there and stare at his eyes.
"I feel really awkward," I confess.
"Just don't think about what you're doing," he says.
I close my eyes and breathe. I open them and he sits there, waiting. I lean a bit forward and he meets me. I close my eyes and kiss him. We aren't holding each other, but I find my arms reaching up for his shoulders. I stop kissing him and lean back. He seems surprised.
"What?" he says.
I cover my mouth and close my eyes. "Oh no," I whisper.
"What?" he says again.
I look at him with tears in my eyes. "It's you."
"I'm what?" he says, annoyed.
"The ache has to do with you," I whisper.
"What are you talking about?" he says.
"Oh no," I whisper again.