Winds of an Empire pt. 4: Wings of Solitude.

I was about bed time in the Tower. The Air Dagger just returned with Windshear's luggage and BIG CD case.

"Jesus!" Cyborg exclaimed. "That's yours?"

"That's just the gothy stuff. It's gotta go make a few more trips." Windshear said nonchalantly. He was wearing gray lounge pants and a black t-shirt that had a picture of an AK-47 and said: "AK-47: When you absolutely, positively have to kill every motherfucker in the room."

"...dude! You live in space! How do you buy them?" Beast Boy inquired.

"I send what I like to call 'chameleon agents' to go to stores and order crap offa eBay."

"Let me guess: the chameleon agents take human form?" Raven asked.

"Any race." Windshear answered. "They're supposed to be used for spy missions, but now they're my errand boys due to the fact we're not in a war now."

"So, where are you going to sleep, Windshear?" Robin asked, throwing him a pillow and blankets.

Windshear let them hit the ground and plopped down on them.

"The floor?" Robin asked.

"Unless those couch mattresses are made from that Swedish Tempurpedic material." Windshear joked.

"Oh, I have tried out those mattresses at the mall," Starfire stated. "and they are most comfortable."

"Yeah, I know. All beds in my flagship are made of that stuff. Yep, we got a sample of it and replicated the shit out of it." Windshear.

"Dude, hit us up with some!" Beast Boy said.

"Maybe later, veggie-vamp. I'm fixin' to pass out." Windshear said, pulling the covers over himself and resting his back up against the couch. Soon The Air Dagger came down through the door with three big CD cases that were about ready to bust. "It can stay in here, right?"

"Just as long as it doesn't break or burn anything." Robin said. "Goodnight everyone." He added as everybody went off to bed.


At about 3:30 in the morning, Starfire was making her way to the kitchen for a midnight snack. That was one of the drawbacks of having nine stomachs: The random hungers that needed immediate gratification. As she finally entered the kitchen, she saw Windshear sitting on the couch slumped over a bit.

"Friend Windshear?" she asked.

He turned around. "Hey, Star. What're you doin' up?"

"I was hungry. May I ask why you are awake as well?"

"I'm just bummed out."

"Why?" Starfire asked, flying over and sitting next to the downhearted emperor.

"I just feel... I dunno, lonely. And for no reason, too!"

"Lonely?"

"Yeah. Every time I try to go to sleep, I keep having these really bad thoughts like, 'You worthless piece of shit.' 'You're a fuckin' disgrace.' 'Ain't no one in the universe to love you...'"

"I do not know why these thoughts plague your mind, Windshear. You have an empire full of loyal subjects that would die for you, and now you have an entire new group of friends. And you might meet even more friends and perhaps a friend who is a girl at the Titan Convention next week."

Windshear raised an eyebrow. "The what?"

"Robin has requested that a 'mixer,' I believe it is called, to be held so Titians from around the world can get to know each other better."

"Sounds like fun. You better get that food you wanted." Windshear said.

"Before I do, I would like to say something." Starfire looked directly in to his eyes, which were all pure black. "Even though I have known you for not even a full day, I know that you are a kind person. You are not worthless or a disgrace, and I am sure that there is a girl that is waiting for you." She then gave him a soft, reassuring, and friendly hug.

"Thank you, Starfire." Windshear said, returning the hug. "I just hope I get as lucky as Robin and find a girl like you."

She gasped. "Do you really think Robin feels like that for me?"

"I know so." Windshear said, smiling. "I'm goin' back to bed. 'Night, Star."

"Good night, friend Windshear." She said sweetly, going to the refrigerator. "And good luck."


The next morning, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg were sitting at the bar area, and Windshear was behind the counter making breakfast. The three Titans were listing to the music Windshear suggested yesterday. So far, no disappointments.

"Damn! I need a break!" Beast Boy said, taking out his ear-buds. "That ain't the Metallica on the radio!"

"Yeah, it's better, huh?" Windshear said.

"Totally! So what's the food today?" Beast Boy asked.

"Heh, a Shaxiin taught me this." Windshear then put plates for each of the Titans in front of them. On them was what looked like gray applesauce.

Raven took out her headphones and My Dying Bride's "Catherine Blake" could be heard. "This isn't going to kill us, is it?" she asked.

"Try it! Or our fucking kill you!" Windshear said happily.

The three cautiously began to eat the whatever-the-hell-it-is.

"Hey man," Cyborg said as the wire transmitting Biohazard's "Tales from the Hard Side" to his eardrums fell out of his arm. "This tastes life a steak!"

"What are you talking about?" Beast Boy yelled. "It tastes like a mixed greens salad!"

"Sweet, it worked! I mixed Shaxiin spices with traditional slave gruel from planet Kleckk 8. It's supposed to make any schlop taste like the eater's favorite food, and it looks like it worked!" Windshear said. "I usually can't heat up a fuckin' can of soup without screwing up!"

"I wonder where Robin and Starfire are..." Raven asked to no one in particular.

"Right here, friend Raven." Starfire said. The others turned around and saw her and Robin standing in the doorway arm in arm.

"If you guys don't mind," Robin started, "the two of us want to go out to eat. Can we take your car, Cyborg?"

"Uhh... sure." He replied, popping open a compartment in his arm. The keys to the T-Car were in it, and He threw them to Robin.

"Thanks, Cy. Let's go, Star." Robin said smiling as Starfire giggled.

Right when they left the building Beast Boy yelled, "HA! Fifty bucks, tin man, now!"

"Goddamnit..."