Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or anything else in this story
TITANS TOWER
"You see, my father and his cousin were always at odds with one another in their village. The reason being my father believed in morals and codes, while my cousin believed in the justice system and western law which had recently arrived in the area. Both had the same education and both constantly quarreled on all issues, that's what my uncle said," Guardian began explaining.
"What happened between the two of them?" Darkness asked.
"You see, at the time both had a lot of tension, my father wanted to join the Army, a traditional service, while his cousin was planning on joining politics, both groups constantly against each other," Guardian began explaining.
"So they were also picking careers which where at odds with each other too?" Darkness asked, finding it odd two relatives could be such opposites.
"The only thing they both loved was my mother," Guardian said with a nod.
"That must have been ugly when your mother married your father," Darkness stated the obvious.
"It wasn't that easy," Guardian said with a small smile.
"What do you mean?" Darkness asked.
"They had a fight, an argument over a guilty man, and in the end my father pretty much drove him out of town," Guardian said, retelling the story his uncle had passed on to him several years ago.
VILLAGE
AROUND TWENTY YEARS EARLIER
"Brother! This man has killed a man!" a peasant farmer named Jemal said as he dragged in another peasant. Jemal was in his fifties and was a loyal worker for the Khan family. The man he was dragging was less than half his age and his eyes were full of fear. He too was dressed in ragged clothing.
"What proof do you have Jemal?" a young cadet named Agha asked politely. Agha was sitting in the kitchen enjoying his breakfast with his cousin who had just been accepted to the University of Peshawar. Despite the fact the two didn't get along often, they were still family and still spent a lot of time together. As a result they gave each other a grudging respect.
"Yes, what evidence?" Agha's cousin, Akbar asked suspiciously.
"He hasn't confessed but he was the closest to the crime zone, and he had a knife. I also can see the guilt in his eyes," Jemal added.
Agha nodded, "We will call the elders and let them decide his punishment."
Jemal nodded obediently and led the frightened man outside.
Akbar glared at Agha, "Are you serious? Send him to those old men who will decide his faith on instinct," Akbar was very bitter with the comment.
"Don't question the elders, they are very wise, or are you just nervous Fatima will be there?" Agha said trying to prevent an argument.
Akbar smiled, "You know she is mine," he said playfully.
"Oh no brother, that girl is mine," Agha replied, the two of them laughed, but on the inside both were wondering how serious was the other.
HOUSE OF ELDERS
"We decree the man shall be sentenced to death for murder!" the chief elder spoke loudly over the large assembly. "Anyone who objects please come forward to explain," this was just a formality, no one ever argued with the elders' decisions. However, today, Akbar stepped forward to the middle of the floor.
"What is your reason for objecting?" the elder said, not hiding his displeasure.
"I believe, although the evidence is compelling, this man should be sent to the local court to be tried," Akbar declared, immediately there were gasps and loud discussions, someone had just questioned the elders.
"Are you accusing us of being unfair?" the chief spoke after the crowd calmed downed.
"Actually yes, I know Jemal is a loyal, good man, but his account shouldn't determine a man's life," Akbar said.
"Why not? You said it yourself, Jemal is a good, loyal, pious man," the elder shot back.
"He may have misheard, or made the wrong assumptions, we need more to declare this man dead!" Akbar said, almost begging.
Now the crowd was leaning towards Akbar, Akbar was about to speak another statement which would have secured his place in the village, but Agha entered the center.
"How dare you question the customs and dignity of this body? All these elders are wise and pious, this is an easy case too, Jemal is a clever man who knows what he saw!" Agha shot at Akbar.
"Jemal only has a second grade education, because your family forced his father to keep him home to work in the fields," Akbar shot his cheap shot. This was an insult which had to be answered.
"Alright, you, me, we will settle this with a duel," Agha answered. In the back of the courtroom, a young Fatima watched in fascination as her two suitors were about to kill each other over a murder case which didn't really affect them. The military cadet who was a conservative, versus the university student, a radical thinker. Both fascinated and in a way frightened Fatima.
Akbar stared at Agha in the eye and said, "No, if you have an issue we will settle it with a judge," Akbar said coldly.
Agha's rage suddenly went away; the fact that Akbar didn't want to fight him, but wanted to solve the issue through compromise had touched him. Before Agha could speak however, the crowd, with the elders was in an uproar.
"Coward!"
"Go get him Agha!"
"Kill him!" came the cries as the crowd quickly turned into an angry mob. Agha spoke up to try to protect Akbar, but the crowd couldn't hear or refused to hear and pushed straight towards the would be revolutionary who had questioned their traditions. Even the women were charging forward, except Fatima a few other girls.
Akbar acted quickly, he fell back and jumped through a window, with the mob still following him, Akbar escaped his ancestral village a fugitive. A fugitive for a crime that wasn't even considered illegal. The elders latter on that day, despite Agha's pleads for mercy, exiled Akbar from the village forever.
SEVERAL YEARS LATTER
PESHAWAR
"And son, that is how my own cousin drove me out of my home. He twisted my words and turned the villagers against me, driving me out along with my dreams of marrying Fatima. I love your mother as you know, but I still wonder how life would be different if I hadn't left. But I suppose life was better this way, I never would have had you if I hadn't been driven out," Akbar told his son Iqbal with a smile.
"It is a shame you suffered from such treachery!" Iqbal said in anger.
"It was probably for the better, I never would have met your mother, nor would you be alive if I hadn't been driven out," Akbar said to his son with a smile, trying to make him happy.
"Maybe, but father, I swear I will avenge the injustice you suffered, even if I must take the vengeance on your cousin's son!" declared Iqbal.
TITANS TOWER
(Guardian didn't relate the Iqbal scene, but it did happen)
"So, your father's cousin was driven out and then your father married that girl they had both wanted?" Darkness asked.
"Yes," Guardian answered quickly.
"How does Iqbal fit into this?" Darkness asked, not seeing how this story fit into the situation they were currently in.
"I checked with some sources, Iqbal is Akbar's son, he is my cousin," Guardian told Darkness.
"Is Akbar still around?" Darkness asked.
"No, Akbar and his wife were killed in a car crash, Iqbal then became a spy," Guardian said.
"Wow, that is weird how life is working these days," Darkness pointed out.
Guardian just nodded in solemn agreement.
IQBAL'S HEADQUARTERS
"I am getting a little impatient at there lack of progress," Iqbal said with a smile to Raven.
"Why do you want to marry my daughter?" demanded Raven. Earlier Iqbal had bragged how he had successfully blackmailed Hartwell and how he was ready to enter the city politics.
"She never told you about me?" Iqbal said with a smile, he loved these conversations.
"No, she didn't," Raven answered coldly.
"We were very close, I loved her, I still love her," Iqbal said seriously.
"Why?" Raven asked, wondering what her daughter had that attracted this man.
"You see, I don't want to marry her for her body, although it is very nice. I want to marry her for her independence, intelligence, her power, her deep beauty, her posture, our few conversations told me how much we clicked and got together," Iqbal explained to his love's mother.
"If you like her so much, why are you blackmailing her like this? You said you like her independence, yet you are going to force her into a marriage she doesn't want," Raven pointed out, trying to win, trying to overpower him.
"She thinks she doesn't want to marry me, but she does. You see, Guardian says no, Robin says no, you say no, everyone around her says no, so she automatically says no. However, I know, deep down," Iqbal pointed at his heart, "Deep down she wants to marry me and join me in companionship!" Iqbal declared.
Raven just looked at him dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond to such emotion.
NORTH SIDE
"Fate is an elegant, cold hearted whore," Anna thought as she looked at the pregnancy test.
TITANS TOWER
"We have a message, from Hartwell," Guardian said almost in disbelief that the team's number one enemy was sending them a message.
The entire team was assembled, ready to hear about the message. Nola sat away from Kili purposely and glared at him to show it.
"What message did he send?" Nightfire asked Guardian out of curiosity.
"He says, he says he sympathizes with us with regards to Iqbal and has given us information on where we can get the HIVE, he says if we need any help for nailing Iqbal, just ask him," Guardian explained in slight disbelief.
"Is this a joke?" Fireteen asked.
"We will have to check it out, if it is true, this could be the breakthrough we need," Guardian said.
"Anything else for this meeting?" Kili asked.
"Yes, when were you supposed to meet up with Anna," Guardian asked.
"I was going to see her this weekend, but I guess I won't be able too, because I am under house arrest," Kili answered.
"Your suspended, not arrested, and you will see her this weekend. You will see her with me," Guardian explained, "In disguise," he added.
After the meeting was adjourned, Guardian went in the hallway with Nola. "Do you think this could be a big trick by Hartwell and Iqbal to kill us?" Nola asked.
"I do actually, but it maybe the two of them are rivals, which is why we have to check if the information is legitimate before we act on it," Guardian explained.
Nola just nodded, "Hope you know what you're doing," she said as she went towards her room.
"Hopefully I do, hopefully I do," Guardian thought as he went towards his room.
THAT WEEKEND
TITANS TOWER
"Ready to go?" Guardian asked Kili as he stood in his disguise, waiting to go meet Anna.
"Anna won't be there," Kili said hesitantly.
"Why not?" Guardian asked.
"Is she pregnant?" Fireteen piped in, she had just entered the room.
"No, no, she isn't, thank God. She says she isn't feeling to well and said she would meet me next weekend," Kili explained.
Guardian looked at Kili deeply, before nodding, "Alright, I guess that means you and I can go on patrol," Guardian said.
"How about we check out if Hartwell's information on where the HIVE hang out is true?" Nightfire said as she entered the room, joining the assembled heroes.
"Alright, we can do that," Guardian said, almost coldly. He had delayed testing the information for a while, not wanting to lead the team into a trap. He still remembered how devastated Robin was from the attack, and Guardian didn't know if he could see another teammate get shot down in front of him.
EAST SIDE
BAR
"Alright Titans, keep your eyes peeled and check this place. Remember this is a recon mission; we are just here to see if the HIVE come here, nothing else. So don't try anything, even if you get a chance, when we fight them we want to be at 100, that means Robin, so don't attack, repeat don't attack," Guardian ordered through his headset.
The other Titans just clicked an acknowledgement and began scouting from there positions around the small bar. After an hour, Kili called in, "I see them coming towards the bar," he whispered to his teammates.
"Alright, I see them too, I guess Hartwell didn't lie," Guardian said, almost in disbelief that Hartwell had told the Teen Titans exactly how to ambush one of there biggest opponents.
WATCHTOWER
"I think I am ready to go back Mom," Robin told his mother. They had spent the past few days confessing their fears, talking, and sharing there burdens with each other. Robin had never felt so good in a while.
"I think you are ready to return to Robin, I talked to Guardian several days ago, he says they got some important information and are waiting for your return," Starfire answered.
"So, I can go back?" Robin said, not hiding his excitement.
"No," Robin's face fell from the answer, "After dinner, then you can go back," Star said with a big smile.
"Thanks a lot Mom, I never would have been able to get through this without you," Robin said as he gave his mother a hug. Star responded by giving him her own motherly hug.
"You just needed some help, I wasn't going to leave you like we left your father for a little bit," Star whispered as tears began reaching her eyes.
NORTH SIDE
"How do I tell him? How do I tell him? Why did I lie? Dear God why?" Anna said as she laid down on the bed. She laid there when the thought reached her mind. She reached to the side and pulled out a blade, she began attempting to cut her wrists. As she lost consciousness, she heard voices as medics rushed into the room.
TITANS TOWER
"Why am I killing myself over this girl? She isn't pregnant, she is just sick, why are you trying to find this Anna girl? Robin is coming soon, I should be planning the ambush with the other guys. Why am I sitting here, alone, trying to find Kili's girl while the rest of the team is planning and training," Guardian thought as he searched the city databases. Looking for a sixteen or seventeen year old named Anna, anywhere, police database and hospitals. As he searched the North Side Databases he came across a patient named Anna that fit his criteria. He saw she was already discharged, so he just looked at the picture and then continued his search.
KILI'S ROOM
"Hello?" Kili asked as he answered his phone.
"Kili?" Anna's voice came from the other end.
Now Kili sat up, "Hey there! How are you?" he said with a smile, he loved talking to her.
"I, I am doing fine," Anna said, failing to give that impression miserably.
"No your not, I can tell from your voice. Come to the club tonight, I have to see you, it's been too long," Kili said quickly.
"Okay," Anna replied weakly as she hung up.
Kili left his room and rushed to Guardian's. He knocked on his door and waited patiently for the hero in black to show up. Sure enough, after several moments, the door slid open and Kili was face to face with Guardian.
"What do you want?" Guardian asked, not harshly.
"I just talked to Anna, I need to meet her tonight," Kili explained quickly to his leader.
"Any specific reason?" Guardian asked, not out of polite curiosity.
"I sensed something has happened, something bad, she also didn't sound well," Kili added.
"Do you think she might be pregnant?" Guardian decided the direct approach to Kili.
"No, I don't think so; I don't think I would feel that much pain and shame radiating out of her. A pregnancy would be serious, but what I am sensing is a lot more serious than even that," Kili answered uncertainly.
"Emotional turmoil," Guardian stated flatly.
"Yes, a lot of emotional turmoil," Kili said with a nod.
"What is a big symptom of a teenage pregnancy when the mother finds out?" Guardian said, almost like a school teacher guiding a student to the answer.
"Emotional turmoil," Kili grudgingly answered.
"Yes, so don't rule that out or deny it. Get into disguise so we can get going," Guardian ordered as he closed the door on Kili.
"Why the hell is he so cold and harsh with me?" Kili asked as he walked to the door. He stopped himself before he could answer himself.
NORTH SIDE CLUB
"Anna!" Kili called to his girl, who was wearing the same dress she wore when they first met. Guardian was standing next to Kili, both in disguise; he noticed the girl was the same girl in the picture he saw.
"A pretty attractive girl, but why was she in the hospital?" Guardian said to himself as she cautiously approached the two of them.
"Kili?" she said, not recognizing him with his disguise.
"Yeah, its me, I am in disguise for your protection," Kili quickly explained.
"Who is he?" Anna said after nodding, she was indicating Guardian.
"That's Guardian, my leader, he is just here to make sure I don't do anything," Kili tried to explain the situation, not wanting to embarrass himself.
"He knows, he knows doesn't he?" Anna stated to her lover.
Kili's face turned red as he nodded, Anna just looked at Guardian again, but didn't show any signs of shame or embarrassment.
Kili noticed her lack of emotions and asked her, "What's wrong Anna?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing," was her rapid fire reply. Her eyes couldn't hide the pain or the hurt rushing throughout her body.
"Are you pregnant or something like that?" Kili said, he really didn't want to play games; he wanted to get to the point.
"No, no, I am not pregnant, I am fine," Anna stated flatly.
A lot of tension was now between them, Kili didn't know why, neither did Guardian, but Anna knew why.
Guardian also knew she knew so he stepped between the two and said, "Me and Anna need to talk outside. Alone," Guardian added, eyeing Kili.
"Alright," Kili replied in defeat as Guardian led Anna outside.
When they reached outside Guardian led her to an alley and then confronted her. "Why were you in the hospital? What has happened? Don't play any games with me, I am not in the mood, I want answers," Guardian stated coldly.
Anna looked at him and then burst into tears…
I guess this is my cliffhanger for this chapter, hope you enjoyed, next chapter will get the drama in it…what is Anna's secret
Special thanks to all those who read the last chapter, and an even special thanks to:
AnimationWickedRaven (thanks for the review and compliments)
Dark Wolf 021 (glad you are liking things)
ShockTreatment (hope you like the history)
Kirara-so-cute (so far Kili will stay and so will the team, no new call ups for now)
GreenMatian 777 (glad your back!)
BlackGothFaerie (glad you liked the chapter, you also must be waiting for the secret)
StickLad (you must be dying to know Anna's secret)
Whitewolf33 (glad you enjoyed the last chapter)
Elissar (soon, the Titans and HIVE will duke it out again)
Dragoon of the Moon (glad you liked the DarknessxGuardian scene)