"He was Tamaranian.. … …He is Tamaranian, Robin," Starfire speaks atop the Tower roof. She hugs her knees to her chest and gazes off into the windy morning with a sigh. "The one those fiends referred to as 'Flaar'. But… … …there is something horribly, horribly wrong with him. As if something terrible happened to him. Something viciously stripped him of the joy and boundless confidence that is natural to all Tamaranians, and all that is left is the raw warrior mentality beneath. For some reason, he is more animal than civilized Vegan now, and it is so frightening. It may not seem like much, but the way he has so heavily restricted his hair and eyebrows—It is not just a choice of fashion, but a denial of his inner, freeloving spirit. All Tamaranians have a sort of empathic link to one another, Robin. It is part of the energy that we harbor within our bodies. I have never had to share such with you that often because only on spare occasions have you seen me within the vicinity of my own kind. But being as 'alone—so to say—on this planet for so long, it would take even the barest form of contact with my kind to know that the person in question shares my same blood. I do not understand how any Tamaranian—nnnghh, besides my unfortunate sister of course—could possibly turn to a life of such heinous injustice. There must be a reason. And I ask of you—Robin, as team leader—for the permission to perform an investigation."

Robin straightens his cape and squats down next to her. He raises an eyebrow above his mask. "What kind of an investigation?"

"Well.. ….," Starfire leans her chin on her knees and exhales before speaking: "I would have to consider my options very carefully, as well as perform a synthesis of my juxtaposition of resources and information—which is not very adequate, I must say. And then I shall, X'Hal willing, engage upon a trip across the continental expanse of this hemisphere to—"

"Wait Wait Wait.. …," Robin leans forward. "Star, you want to do this alone?"

"I do not speak to you asking for assistance, Robin," Starfire says quietly. "All I need is your blessing. For I have decided over the course of the last few Terran hours that this is the one and only path I must now take in my life. I must follow through with this investigation and learn how to free such plagued individual."

"Starfire…," Robin raises his gloved finger. "You're….hooo-boy---You're talking about a lot of missing gaps in information, a lot of assumptions, presumpt—"

"I am not being presumptuous," she momentarily frowns. "I know that this criminal youngster that we faced was Tamaranian."

"But you don't even know where he is, Star!" Robin gets up to his feet and paces around. He sighs: "You.. ..Y-You don't even know how many nasty creeps may be on his side! Or if he even WANTS to be found! The guy nearly killed Static and he didn't seem all that willing to lower a fist when he went toe to toe with you, neither!"

"All the more reason for me to travail upon locating necessary information as soon as physically and mentally possible," she nods.

"But what if it turns out to be a wild goose chase, Star?" Robin marches over to where he stands fitfully behind her. "What if even the best leads do not so much as brush the skin of this no-name?"

"Then that is certainly a risk that I will have to take," she looks up at him. Her lips linger before eventually spelling out in a sudden case of hesitancy: "A detective would be aptly familiar with that eventuality, no?"

"… … …," Robin exhales through his nostrils. He leans back against an a/c unit and folds his arms. "…. …. ….. …I don't like it when the team splits up for personal missions. I don't."

Starfire hugs her legs tighter. She doesn't look at him. For some reason, she can't. "I… .. …I would l-love to ask for your help, Robin.. … …"

"…. …. …."

"…. ….but I rightfully don't expect it," she murmurs. A biting of the lip. "Not any more, I surely do not."

"Star—"

"When did it begin, Robin?" She breathes, still not able to look at him. "This… …This heaviness around the team. Around us? Did it begin shortly after the Brotherhood was defeated? For it surely felt as such."

"Starfire, I—"

"It is like Terra Firma has turned to glass, and we no longer summon the courage to stand side by side for fear that our combined weight might shatter a hole in the ground beneath us." She shudders all over, but still continues to the best of her ability. "There was a time—a very short but wondrous time—when I was starting to believe that you had cast off all of the silly little fears that bound you to duty and duty alone. But now, I am starting to think that the boy whose vacillating antics once confused me is starting to look more and more definable."

A beat of silence.

Robin just hangs there. He says nothing.

But Starfire: "You, Robin, are my friend. And you shall always be so. I care for you with my life, as I care about all my friends." She takes a deep breath. "… …all the same, I consider everyone who is capable of enjoying life to be 'my friend'. This stranger we battled is no exception. And now I must endeavor to show him the same compassion I have shown my teammates, the citizens of this City, and you."

Robin opens his lips.. ….but pauses.

Starfire stares…

The morning wind kicks at them.

The Sun passes over ever so slowly.

The heat of Summer….. ….building.

Building.

"You may take another Titan with you on this 'investigation' of yours, Starfire," Robin finally says. "And—if the situation is dire enough—you may take a second. But I need most of us situated here, Star," he gestures. "Above all else, we are to protect this City."

"Of course, Robin," she says. A swallow. A hopeful smile: "Can I select—"

"You cannot select me."

"… … …"

"I have an investigation of my own to follow through on," he says in a monotone voice. "I've delayed going to the Jump City Penitentiary long enough. But the people I will be interrogating were accomplices to the same person you're concerned over. It may turn out that I might find some helpful information for you. And if I do, rest assured that I will do everything to get that info to you."

"Yes.. ….th-that is most assuring," Starfire exhales.

Robin looks her way. His eyemask blinds him. But it doesn't blind her. "Just to make sure you know that I'm not trying to abandon you ord your interests, Star… …"

She promptly frowns at that, but hides it to him. "Allow me to be the one who is to say what she knows or does not know." She doesn't hide it when she stands up and—in one bound—soars off into the air like a hot rocket. FWOOOSH

Robin does a double-take. He blankly watches her float away on a heated orbit. He sighs, rubs his temples, and stumbles off.

".. … …it's only going to get harder."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"M-My name is Christi Marshall. I'm sixteen years old, and I live in the Downtown District of Jump City."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Marshall. And would you like to tell the audience why you should be voted in on the Grand Finals of the Jump City Beauty Pageant next week at eight o'clock Pacific time?"

"Hehe—Okay. Ummmmmm…. …I would reallllly like to compete with these wonderful girls next week because it'll be sooooo fun. And…ahem…if I win—"

"Oh! Oh! OH!" Beast Boy hops in the couch. "Here it comes, Noir! You ready? You ready!"

I nod furiously.

"—I will donate as much to the Hizbollah Relief Fund."

"THERE IT IS!" Beast Boy squeals. "Third one tonight! HaHA! Noir! Take a hit!"

I raise my bottle in the air, then take a healthy chug of Dr. Pepper. As he does he. In the meantime, Terra sits on the far end of the couch and shakes her head. Smiling.

Televised applause.

Fanfare.

"Very well, young lady! Heh heh heh—And who do we have here—Ah yes! My, don't you look stunning! What is your name, Miss?"

"Hello, I am Brianna Lin. And I think you should allow me to compete next week because I'm a good sport. I love to make an audience happy."

"Wait for it…," Beast Boy leans in on the edge of the couch.

Terra giggles.

So do I…as much as I 'can'.

"My little sister is riding on me to make it to the top of this thing—hehe—she's such a little princess."

"Waaaaaait for it….."

"—And I too would like to promote peace in the Middle East and Lebanon."

"THERE IT IS!" Beast Boy slaps his bottle against mine. "HIT ME!" He guzzles.

I giggle and guzzle as well.

"Hehehehe… …," Terra covers her face.

Beast Boy finishes his bottle. He rears his neck up, deflates his pointed ears, and gives it all—"BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAP!"

"Ewwwww—Beast Boy!"

I smile and give a thumb's up.

"Yeah, that was frickin' atomic, dude, wasn't it?" Beast Boy winks.

"That was sooooo gross."

"Heh, you do it too!"

"But not when I'm watching a beauty pageant! Have some decency!"

"Tell that to the girls! They all did one-piece bathing suits. ONE PIECE! Lemme check in case I'm wrong—But is Eisenhower still president? Uh uh!"

"It's okay! Yeesh, Beast Boy. Next week when it's all nothing but finalists they'll do a Jump City two-piece bathing suit thingy. But not now. You gotta admit, they looked cute in those—"

"WRONGGGGGGG!" Beast Boy howls. "A little three-year-old girl building sand castles on the beach is 'CUTE' in a one-piece. Teenage chicks do NOT. Nuh uh! They're more like Richard Simmons throw-pillows or—BURRP—giant Hershey Kisses." Beast Boy's eyes go wide as he covers his lips. "P-Pardon me. Guess I still had a bullet in the chamber."

"Hehehehe," Terra giggles.

I snicker as well.

They both look at me.

Beast Boy smirks: "Let's see you give it a shot, Noir."

"B.B.?.?.?"

"What?" Beast Boy shrugs with a chuckle. "He's a guy! Isn't he?"

"Mute guys can't burp--- --- ---," Terra blinks. "… ….c-can they?"

Beast Boy nods at me. "Let's find out. Noir?"

I hold up a finger. I sit back. I wait.. …wait….shudder forth—"!.!.!.!"—I exhale into my hand. I form a fist.

Terra and Beast Boy crane their necks.

I look at them. "… … …" I smirk. I turn my hand and open the fist in their direction. FWOOOOSH! A burst of high-pressure smoke sails into Beast Boy's face. THAP!

"DAAAH!" He falls back into Terra and both Titans go sprawling like pretzels across the floor.

"Ooff!"

"Aaaaugh—snkkkkt-hahahahaha!"

"Hee hee hee hee!"

"Ohhhhh man, that was f… ….f… ….well, you-know-what royal! Ha ha!"

"Hehehehehe!"

I smile, shake my head, and look at the t.v. set.

"And do introduce yourself, young lady."

"Uhm….. …H-Hi. My name is Renee… …and….erm…. …. …. …M-Mister Host, I know this is all kinda wyrd and stuff. But can I g-give a shout out to my boyfriend?"

"Heh heh heh, I don't see why not, Miss."

"Eh heh…HIIII DANNY! Hehehe—Erm. I-I made it this far and I lovvvve youuuuu… .. ….Okay, how's that?"

I blink.

"Heheh, that's a-okay, Miss Renee."

I lean forward.

"Now is there something you would like to say to the audience in anticipation of next week's Grand Finals?"

My lips part.

I reach a hand out towards the t.v. set.

Is that… ….?

Is that… … .. ….?

"…. .. … …."

I blink.

Is that Bard in the background?

Sure enough, behind the stage of the Beauty Pageant Competition, I see a familiar Titan cowpoking around. And that may have something to do with the fact that the pageant is being filmed at… …

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

… … …the Jump City Mall.

"Okay.. …," Bard huffs as he marches past the camera equipment, past the crowds, out of the food court, and into the loud, blaring arcade where a gaggle of teenagers await. "I fetched the quarters—Since I'm the gentleman."

A girl with an eyepatch and a black, gothesque tanktop smirks. "That goes without saying. Now, ready to put your balls where your mouth is?"

The young crowd chants: "Ooooooooh…."

Bard merely smirks. "What's your name again, miss?"

"Lisa."

"Right, Lisa. Heh….That the name that you wear to bed? Or does 'Mitch' serve a heap better?"

"OHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Heh heh heh," a Cher-haired vixen winks at the one-eyed goth. "She got you there, Lisa."

"Shut yer holes, Janice," Lisa frowns and points at the Titan. "Listen, Duke. Nobody—and I mean NOBODY puts my initials in second place at Superhero Smackdown! I'm the champ at fighters around here, and I'm not letting a Clint Eastwood bastard child trying to make me look like a fool!"

"Who's trying? You're doing a mighty fine job on your own, if I do declare, Missus," Bard tips his hat.

"Ohhhhhh!'

"Tsk tsk," Bard winks. "Died in the first round against Darkseid? How shameful."

'Lisa' sweats, squirms, and recomposes herself with a frown: "It was the SECOND round!"

"Still didn't score a single flippin' win against him. Now let's say we follow through with your ladylike proposal and have us here a good 'ol fashion arcade duel at twenty paces?"

"What's the dish-out?" Lisa smirks.

Bard glances down. He looks at her tight black jeans—Or at least at the glaring, full pack of cigarettes in her side pocket.

"What are you looking at, stranger--?"

"Loser has to cough up all…and I do mean ALL….," he holds up his own near-full pack. "…..the cigarettes he or she has. Or in this case, just she." He ends with another wink.

Lisa glances right. (No security guards). She glances left. (Still none). She takes a deep breath and smirks a black-lipped smile at him. "You're on."

"Wooohooo!"

"It's on, baby!"

"You show 'em, Lisa!"

"That guy's got serious attitude!"

"This is our Mall, chump!"

A little blonde teenager squints her eyes and squeaks forth: "Say.. …isn't he a bit familiar---?"

"Not a speck of green skin on him. Let 'em be, Hope," 'Janice' looks up. "So, what'll this be? Solo Versus or Tag Team Triple Hero Melee?"

"Hmmm….," Bard scratches his chin, glances aside at the Pageant, looks into a nondescript corner of his eyesight, and smirks. "Tag Team."

"Heh… …all right."

He cracks his cowboy knuckles. "It's boring doing things solo. Or so I'm discovering more and more lately. Heh heh heh."

"Shut up and step up to the arcade deck, Duke."

"You know, for a horse, you sure talk like an ass."

"Ohhhhh—BURN!"

"SHUT UP ALREADY, TIFFANY!"