MUTE

Darkness of the Mind
MereImage

The faded power of darkness, it once had rein over my mind. The sole reason why I joined the tower in the first place, the thing that gave me evil thoughts throughout the night. I hated it. I hated it, and my hate made it grow even stronger.

My head bobbed across the table. My pale skin reflected off the morning sun shining through the towering windows facing the bay. There sat the thing that had kept me sane for so long. Robin hid behind his newspaper, scanning articles like any other up kept vigilante would do. He shuffled the papers slightly, black spikes poking up from behind. We sat like that for many minutes, going about our differences.

We were alike in many ways, different in too many ways to count.

"Something wrong?" I hadn't even realized he had set aside his paper, staring boldly in my direction. Even his eye mask held a tilted expression.

I took a sip of tea.

"Anything you want to talk about?" his leader personality had taken hold at long last. I gave a sigh rubbing my temples. I lowered my white hood, stroking my fingers through my hair.

"……"

He leaned backwards in his chair, arms folded, waiting patiently.

"Something's on your mind." I rolled my eyes and stood up from my chair. It wasn't long before I felt a hand on my shoulder.

When the figure gave no other reply, I turned around to stare at the leader face to face. There was something on his face that I couldn't place, something I hadn't spotted ever before. It looked like he was crying…only with silent tears. Invisible to the human eye. A boy suffering on the inside.

"This team has been through a lot these past three weeks." I didn't flinch. He drew a deep breath, "And I can't help but feel like we're falling apart."

I bit my lip.

"It will only be time before one of our number leaves." His grip tightened upon my shoulder. Not in an aggressive attempt, but more of an insecure gesture. One afraid that if he would let go, his world would disintegrate right before him. I had never seen my leader so vulnerable.

"I have to admit; that I thought the first to go…would be you." I took a step backwards, hugging myself. My cloak draped over my arms, shielding the inner act. Just like old times. I would be lying if I said I was not surprised by the words that left his mouth next.

"And I couldn't be any happier to be proven wrong." He gave me a small smile before stuffing his hands into his pocket, starring forlornly out the window. There was a sagging to his shoulders, something I rarely saw from the proud leader we all looked up to.

"We've all changed ever since this team originated. You and I were…" he gave a soft chuckle, "not very trusting of each other."

My eyes flickered.

"We banded together to form this team for different reasons. I was looking to forget. You came for protection from your father." He looked at me before looking back towards the glass frame.

"And sooner than I could have imagined, our forces grew. Cyborg, Beast Boy…" his voice trailed off, "…Starfire…we…we were banded together. Living under a false reality. Living a life under a different name. We were all so hurt from our past experiences that we couldn't help but cling to others like ourselves. I must admit that I have made dangerous bonds as a leader to others on this team."

He didn't have to say it. I knew exactly who he was talking about.

"So I shove everyone away in hopes of protection. If I don't have anyone to love, then I could never become hurt, and never hurt anyone in return. That is the one connection I have drawn between you and I. We hide away in hopes of saving others, but in the end they're always hurt, betrayed. I've never shown Starfire, or this team for that matter, the real me. The human boy that hides behind the hero. No one needs Tim, so I tried to lock him away."

My mouth hung on its hinges… I had never heard his real name before.

"But no matter how many times I tried to burry him beneath my skin, he's always managed to break through. Tim is very much alive… and he has saved me from myself more times than I can count. From the darkness of Robin. The obsessions, the fierce integrities, the hurtful sacrifices. Now, here I am, looking at you, and I can't help but feel like I'm starring into a mirror."

A lump gathered in my throat. My mind churned as I cleared my throat, water gathering in the corner of my eyes. My hand trailed the edge of my cloak as I paused along the seam.

"I…want this team to see me…everything."

And as Robin pealed his mask off right before my eyes,

I could have sworn my cloak grew a little bit darker.