"We captured three subjects. Meta-Humans. Apparently in league with more than just Professor Chang himself," Robin explains as he stands at the dockside with arms folded. "The Special Containment Forces from the Jump City Penitentiary are presently transporting them to temporary confinement. I suggested they keep an eye on all of them, especially the electromagnetic girl and the steam-elemental." A sigh. Robin runs a hand through his spiked hair and further dictates over the sound of nearby, squawking police scanners. "There was also a heaping helping of Xenothium found within the hull of the Soggy Bo—erm… …from the frigate. The suspects left it unguarded, and already Cyborg's pretty certain that it belongs to the crystalline specimens stolen from the museum exhibit by those criminals last night. Apparently the material was of no interest to them in the end. Which—well—is a good thing, because Xenothium is ONLY dangerous in the wrong hands."

"Right, but you let that Asian Frogman Chang escape, didn't ya?" Detective Decker gripes between cigarette puffs before his squad car as investigators scour the dockside in the sunset'd evening. "How am I gonna explain that to the higher-ups in this Donut Pyramid?"

"Yo, man… ..," Static steps forward by Robin's side. "Didn't you hear Robin? We clubbed these seals good! A huge chunk of Xenothium was recovered—a whole district of Jump City potentially saved and all you can do is complain about—"

"Chang is climbing higher on our most wanted list faster than you can count your balls," Decker mutters. A puff. An exhale. A smoky sigh. "You may pull many fancy tricks out of your hat in the name of justice, but in the end it's the big prize that we're all dogging ourselves for. The rest of the fish, you can just toss back overboard."

"Face it, detective bath sponge!" Static frowns with a pointing finger: "You just don't have faith in Superheroes! Do you--?"

"Virgil, please," Robin holds a gloved hand up. "Let me handle this—"

"NNNGH—How many times do I have to tell you---?

"Virgil?.?.?" Decker almost swallows his cigarette. The unkempt detective leans forward with a raised eyebrow. "You mean to tell me, kid, that your name is Virgil?"

Static frowns. "They call me 'Mister Shock'!"

"Okay—We're not making any headway here…," Robin groans.

"I'd say. Chang's nowhere to be clobbered. But hey—You know how this City works," Decker shrugs. "An evil encore is always around the corner. I guess it keeps you awake for the marathon." He glances over his shoulder at the rest of the investigation site. "Ain't that right, Walker---DAMMIT! Walker, get the Hell off the phone with that ditzy daughter of yours!"

"Why don't you go take a flying—"

"AHEM," Robin adjusts his cape, swivels, and marches off. "Let me…erm.. ….make sure no clues were left behind… …"

"Yeah, whatever."

Static fumes for a second, lets it go, and wanders off himself.

It is then that I notice Starfire in the far background beyond the meeting. The setting sun casts a golden glow off her already-honey-baked skin. There is a hauntingly numb expression on her face. As if she has been burned by something.. …someone… …some place. She hugs herself tenderly… …and for the first time since I first ever observed her, she does not so much as glance up at Robin when the Boy Wonder wanders by. Instead, she limply floats up into the air and drifts away.

I take a deep breath. I lean against the roped barrier of a wooden dock and sip from my Titan canteen. I take deep breaths, trying to shake off the cobwebs from earlier. It takes a little bit of effort, but I force myself to look to my right side.

Bard stands there. In his hands are the broken remnants of the shades he had bought me earlier. He too is distracted.. .. …but I can tell it in my friend's voice moreso than his face as he quietly murmurs: "It was bound to happen. These street-bought peepers weren't made much for the field, I reckon. I'm so sorry, Noir. I'll buy you another pair. I promise you that… …"

I try to smile at him. I fall short the soonest I realize that he is not so much as smirking back at me.

"That was.. … ..a pr-pretty intense battle, do you not think so?"

I think, but I don't 'respond'.

Not anything we're not used to by now. What, with all the 'Titans Experience' has tossed our way. But I can't help but think that there's something haunting my partner---

Cl-Clak! The pieces of the shades fall to the wooden dock boards.

Bard sighs, adjusts his poncho, and walks off on his own accord. "Ya know what, Noirry? I'm gonna go on a stroll. No particular reason, just… …"

"… .. …."

"… …if ya need me, just strum a guitar or somethin'."

And now, he's gone.

I bite my lip. I look once again across the sunset'd scene.

I see Terra. She too is looking as despondent as Starfire. As Bard. Only, she's picking at a few remaining flecks of frost and ice off her black t-shirt and gloves. She seems to be having a great deal of difficulty about it. But all she does is sigh more and more until her eyes become puffy enough to no longer handle their weight in moisture and—SWOOOOSH!—she flies away on a sudden clump of earthen sand and heads towards the Tower.

A few seconds too late, a concerned Beast Boy meerkat-scampers up and calls out towards her, but she's already gone.

I shudder helplessly.

What's with everyone all of the sudden?

This was an intense battle—yes—but do we all really have to be so…so…

.. … ….so sapped?

I take a deep breath and sip more of the water. A cold spill of liquid shimmies down my esophagus and forces me to momentarily tremble, and in so doing I feel the slight burns and bruises underneath my black outfit.

Chang really hurt me.

But Red X.. ….

I can't believe he was taken down so easily. That teleporter girl got the upper hand on him. Heck, she could get the upper hand on any of us. But.. …why? Who is she?

And what was Red X trying to say about me before he went bye-bye?

Chun-Li alive, I ache so much—

A cold hand on my shoulder. Cold, but strangely soothing:

Flasssssh!

I jump. I glance to the side—

Raven's hand is on my shoulder. Shimmering a bright gray for half a second, but then returning to normal. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I have the power to heal wounds.. ….at least initially."

"… .. …," I blush a little. I smile and mouth a short, sweet: 'Th-Thanks.'

"But.. …. …it takes a lot more to heal the hearts of heroes…" She looks at me… …into my heart and mind. And it is a fully knowing glance.

I stare back at her, half freaked and half amazed.

"Don't be so despondent, Noir. These teammates of yours are Titans…," she drones, pulls the robe over her head, and drifts off in her shadowy, feminine grace. ".. …we always get over 'it'."

"… … …" Huh…..

I take one last swig of the canteen.

Then that's one less thing to be worried about.. … ..or at least three less people… …

I swallow, exhale, and seal the empty canteen away.

I should start filling these things with Dr. Pepper soon…

I walk aimlessly in the direction of the setting Sun…