"But how can he even think you'd betrayed him like that. You were his friends. He should know you'd never do something like that."
"Yeah, he should. But he was tortured for a month. He wasn't thinking straight, and now it's become part of who he is. There's nothing we can do about it now. Beastboy's gone, and we ended up with Feral."
"I, see. If he really feels that way, there's no telling what he might do. He might even try to kill you guys."
"No. I went to talk to him. He hates us, but he's not going to kill us. If he was, he would have killed me right then. I was completely at his mercy, and he just told me to go. He might not be who he was, but he's still good. He can't just sit back and watch somebody die. Even if he hates them."
"But there has to be something we can do! I might not know him, but he was a Titan. You just don't walk away from that."
"He's had ten years of letting his feelings fester, of feeding on that hatred. He was still in really bad shape when he left, it might be the only reason he's still alive. I don't think there's anything we can do."
"That's giving up! We can't do that. He was a Titan then, and if there's anything I can do about it, he'll be one again."
Raven looked sadly over at him. "I wish it could be done, but he's not the same person. Beastboy cared for everyone around him. Feral doesn't. He might look like him, but he's not Beastboy."
"Nobody changes that completely! There's got to be something left of him. He's got to be in there somewhere."
A mirror that hung on Raven's wall shattered. "YOU WEREN'T THERE! I was in his head. I was there. I refused to accept it, but it's true. That man isn't Beastboy!" Raven started to calm down. "You've heard what happened. It's time for you to leave."
Armstrong made his way to the door. "Think about it, there's got to be something that could bring him back."
Raven watched the door close behind him. She went to her dresser and opened up the top drawer. She stared down at the only object inside. An ordinary penny, that she had looked for after Trigon's defeat. The same penny that he'd given her on the day the world was supposed to end.
Raven's eyes brimmed with tears. "I wish there was."
An alarm blared throughout the tower. All the Titans reported immediately to the main room. Nightwing stared at the computer. "Control Freak is attacking a video store. Let's go."
A T-car that looked nothing like it had ten years earlier, raced into the city. The car skidded right into a parking space. Three Titans jumped out while the other two dropped from the sky. The door burst inward as the five heroes prepared to stop the slovenly villian.
Shock came as they saw the black cloaked mass standing over the huddled figure. "You won't be doing this again, now will you?"
"No, please don't hurt me."
"I once said the same thing, they continued, but I'm not them."
Though he never turned, the Titans realized that his attention had turned toward them. "Do you know why I wear this mask? It's because people run when they see my face. Armstrong, have you thought about what I said? Will you leave the Titans?"
"No, they're my friends, and they're your friends too. Just give them a chance!"
A bone chilling laugh erupted from him. "Your friends. How cute. I wish I still had the option of being that naive. For your sake, I hope this naivete can continue. The ending of it was quite unpleasant for me."
"Friend, I want you to come back. Silkie has missed you much since you have been gone."
"It's a worm Starfire. That's all it ever was. Raven, do you remember what happened the last time Control Freak attacked this place?"
It was only here that the four Titans realized that this was the same video store from more than ten years before. "I do. We spent that night chasing after the manifestation of my powers gone out of control."
"We were terrified. I was scared for my life that night. Terror has a much more personal meaning once you've been tortured. There's very little that will scare you after that. If you're still sane that is."
Feral leaned over and pinched Control Freak's nose. "Be a good boy now. Because if I see you causing trouble in my city again. Things won't be so pleasant for you."
Feral walked across the room and jumped through an already smashed window. Raven followed after him. "Please wait."
"I thought I'd made myself clear, I have nothing to do with you."
"I know, I, just want you to have this."
Feral turned around. He looked down at the small penny in her hand. "A penny, what's so impor..." Feral trailed off as he remembered. "For luck."
Raven looked at him with hope in her eyes.
"Keep it. You'll need it." He turned around and ran into the night.
Raven's hand dropped and the penny did the same.
It slowly rolled into the gutter.