AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'd like to take a moment and announce that, with this last chapter, we have reached 90,000 views. I know that as time goes by, the view count will grow and grow, and for that, I am truly blessed.
Thank you.
~MARCH~
There was a knock at my bedroom door. I perked up from my book. I bookmarked it, closed it, and hopped off my bed. I walked to the door and opened it.
"Hi," I said.
"Hey," Robin said. He eyed the book I held. "Is that...?"
I shifted Rorek's spellbook in my hands. "Raven just finished it, and she lent it to me. Now that all the characters are back, she says it's an interesting read."
"Oh, did you get to the part where-"
"Rude! Don't spoil anything! I haven't gotten that far," I said. Robin smiled. "You haven't even read it, have you?"
"No."
I rolled my eyes. "Did you need something?"
"Yes, actually." Robin cleared his throat. "Are you free this Saturday?"
"Yes... Wait, Saturday? As in April 1st, Saturday?" I leaned closer and squinted. "Are you planning something with Beast Boy? Heaven knows he's prepping his pranks."
"I promise I'm not. I just thought it would be a nice day to go out and enjoy some time together."
I leaned back and smiled. "Yeah. That sounds nice."
"Great. I'll pick you up at 7." He kissed my cheek and headed down the hall. He paused and turned back to me. "Wear something nice."
I nodded. Once Robin turned the corner, I tossed Rorek's spellbook onto my bed and stepped out of my room. I walked the opposite direction and knocked on Starfire's door.
"Enter!" Starfire called on the other side. I opened the door and stepped into her room. Starfire glanced over her shoulder and smiled. Silkie sat in a feeding chair, his multiple legs wriggling in the air. "Greetings, Ciela!"
"Hey," I said. Starfire scooped a spoonful of zorka berries out of a jar and brought it to Silkie's mouth. "Are you available to do my hair on Saturday?"
Starfire stopped, the spoon just out of Silkie's reach. She remained as still as a statue.
"Saturday? As in... the first of April?" she said quietly. Silkie began to fuss, so Starfire fed him the spoon that hung in the air.
"Um, yes..." I said, staring at the back of Starfire's head. She refused to face me.
"What is the occasion?"
"Robin and I are going out that night."
"Oh."
My face slowly fell. "Is... something wrong?"
Starfire's posture straightened and she quickly shook her head. She turned and smiled again, this time a little too much. "No, no! Of course I will assist you!"
I eyed her. "Okay..."
Titans Tower was... eerily silent. For the next few days, there weren't even any reports of crimes for us to go and stop, as if the entire city were joining in on the foreboding feeling.
Saturday came. When I entered the Teen Titans world, the air was thick with silence. I opened my window to circulate fresh air into the heavy atmosphere.
I stepped out of my room and headed to Ops. The door to the training room opened, and Cyborg stepped out with a towel around his neck.
"Hey, Cyborg..." I said. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Cyborg wiped the towel over his face, "what's up?"
"Is there something... going on today?" I said. Cyborg stopped and stared at me. "It's been really quiet for the past few days. When I mentioned mine and Robin's date to Starfire a few days ago, she started acting strange. In fact... I haven't seen Robin very much in the past while, especially today."
"You mean... you don't know?"
"Know what? Please, tell me."
Cyborg sighed. "Today is... a special kind of day for Robin." He rubbed the back of his neck. "He hasn't told you anything?"
"No."
"...Then... maybe he doesn't want you to know. At least, not right now. I gotta respect that, and so should you."
"How can I respect it if I don't even know what 'it' is?!"
Cyborg rolled his eyes and walked past me. I sighed and turned. Beast Boy was in my face. I flinched and stepped back.
"Hey, Ciela," he said, "knock, knock."
"What are you doing?" I said.
"You're supposed to say, 'Who's there?'. Come on, knock, knock!"
I turned away. "Not now, Beast Boy."
"Aw, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."
I sighed and looped some stray hair around my ear. "Maybe some other time. Sorry."
I headed back to my room. I picked up Rorek's spellbook, sat on my bed, and continued to read it. Hours passed, and there was a knock at my door. I jolted up straight.
"It's open," I called.
The door opened, and Starfire peeked her head inside.
"Are you ready for your preparation?" she said.
I glanced at the clock; it was a few minutes past six.
"Oh, yeah." I set the book down. "I lost track of time. Give me a moment."
Starfire smiled and closed the door. I walked over to the closet and pulled my red flare dress from its hanger. The fruit punch smell had finally gone away after intensive cleaning. I changed into the dress. The skirt swayed with my movement. The door opened again, and Starfire stepped inside. I removed the ponytail at the end of my braid and shook my hair out. Starfire placed my desk chair in front of the mirror, and I sat down.
"Do you have anything particular in mind?" Starfire said.
I shook my head. "I leave it in your hands."
Starfire clicked her tongue and stared at my reflection as she ran her fingers through my hair. A smile curled on her lips, and she picked up a hairbrush. She ran the brush through my hair and laid it against my back. She French braided my hair, starting at the hairline and climbing all the way down to the end and on my right side. She wrapped the hair at the nape of my neck, creating a side braided chignon.
"How is that?" she said, sliding some pins in to keep it in place.
"I love it!" I said. I angled my chin to get a better look, but Starfire grabbed it and faced me forward. She pulled some pieces of hair out to frame my face. "Thank you."
Starfire nodded and rested her hands on my shoulders.
"Hey, um..." I stood up and faced Starfire. "What's so important about today?"
Starfire's face fell. She took a deep breath and smiled again. "I am not the one who should be providing you with that information." She checked the clock and clapped her hands together. "It is almost time. You must finish preparations."
I sighed. Looks like Starfire's not going to budge, either. "Okay. I'll see you later."
Starfire's smile brightened. "I expect a detailed report tomorrow morning."
She stepped out and closed the door. I faced my reflection. I swished my hips from side to side and watched the skirt sway. I forced a smile to help lift my spirits.
There was a knock at the door. I checked the clock; a few minutes past seven. My heart quickened its pace. I reached into my closet and pulled out a pair of rose gold heels. I slipped them on and hurried to the door. I lightly touched my side chignon to ensure its security, and I opened the door.
Robin, dressed in a black tuxedo and tie, stood at the other side of the door. My heels increased my height, leveling me with him. He examined me from head to toe and smiled.
"Wow," he said, a light red on his cheeks, "you look beautiful."
I returned the smile. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
Robin offered his arm, and I rested my hand in the crook of his elbow.
"Welcome to the Tag Zone. We're very happy to have you here," said an unenthused teenager dressed in a purple vest decorated with buttons. He opened the door to a darkened room. "Please choose a side and put on your equipment. The instruction video will begin momentarily."
Rows of ten vests lay on either side of the small room- the left side red and the right side blue. I pulled a vest off one of the racks on the red side and examined it. The video started to play. "Laser tag? Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Robin slid the vest on and slapped the gun into his hands. "Think of it as target practice."
I squinted. "That's horrible. I don't want to do that..."
"Hey, babe," a voice called. Robin and I turned to a cluster of boys on the other team, "why don't you ditch the freak with the mask and come over here?"
Robin tensed beside me. He clutched the gun tightly. I rested a hand over his whitening fingers.
"On second thought..." I said with a smirk. I slipped off my heels and propped them against the wall. I pulled the gun from the side of my vest and twirled it. "I don't want to risk my skills getting rusty."
The instruction video ended, and the teenage employee opened the door to the laser tag arena.
"Please go to your stations. The game will begin soon," said the automated message through the intercom.
As the opposing team headed to their station, one of the boys bumped into Robin, causing him to stumble. Robin whirled around and glared at the snickering teenagers. I grabbed his arm before he took a step towards them and led him to our station.
"Don't pay attention to them," I said. "Everything's going to be fine. They're just being immature children."
"The game will begin in five... four... three... two... one..." the automated message continued. "Start."
Robin disappeared from my side.
"H-Hey!" I called. Robin melted into the darkness. "Robin!"
Footsteps rumbled the area. I hoisted my gun into both hands and peeked out from behind the station. A laser shined in my eye from an opposing player behind an obstacle, and I ducked back. Holding my gun to my chest, I leaped out from behind the main station. I aimed at the shoulder of the player. Their vest sounded a short alarm and it flashed multiple times; they ducked behind the obstacle. Footsteps pounded to my side, and I raised my gun. One of my teammates scurried past, with a blue foe chasing them. When the foe appeared in a window, I shot them in the side. They skidded to a stop and glanced at their flashing vest. I hurried towards the other side of the arena. My bare feet were muffled against the itchy carpet. I climbed up a slope and to the higher part of the arena. A sniper sat in the middle of the walkway and observed the area. He jumped when he saw me. He aimed for my chest. I lunged into a somersault, stopping directly in front of him, and shot his stomach. With a grumble, he hurried back to his station to recharge.
I peeked my head up and searched the lower floor. On the north end of the room, I saw someone adorned in red hiding behind a wall. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I confirmed that person to be Robin. A group of five blues slowly approached. I pushed off my feet and ran back down the walkway. I raised my gun and shot one blue in the back. I dropped to my knees as they searched the place. The flashing blue separated from his friends while they pursued Robin. I stood up and waved while their backs faced me. Robin noticed me high up, and I pressed a finger to my lips before climbing down the slope.
I leaned against the wall and paused to catch my breath. Shouting erupted on my right. I turned my head and noticed the blue team's main station. Arms were waving and fingers were frantically pointing in my direction. The four remaining teammates saw me.
Uh, oh.
I sprinted around the blue station, leaped behind a blue teammate, and fired. Another vest flashed. A drop of sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I advanced. Something flashed in my peripheral, and I flinched at the blinking blue next to me. The boy threw down his gun in frustration. I peered over him and at Robin, who pulled his gun back with a triumphant smile. I smiled and jogged to him.
A glowing blue silhouette stepped in my path. I stumbled back, more blue behind me. The remaining two guys surrounded me. I gripped my gun.
"This one's for the blue team," the guy in front of me said. He and his friend aimed their guns at me.
Robin leaped onto the top of an obstacle and vaulted over the boy, planting his hand on his shoulder as he cartwheeled over him. When his feet hit the ground, I rushed forward while he lunged the opposite direction. We pressed the barrels of our guns against the boys' vests and fired. Their vests flashed.
"Game finished. Victory for red team," the intercom said. "Please return to the weapons area to return equipment and retrieve your items."
The blue team shuffled angrily while the red team on the other end of the room cheered. Robin and I turned to each other and high-fived. We headed back to the equipment area, hung up our vests, got our things, and left the arena.
"That was fun. What a great stress reliever," I laughed. I turned to Robin.
Robin kept his eyes forward. I stopped, my arm being tugged as Robin tried to keep moving. He perked up and turned to me.
"I'm sorry... I didn't hear what you said," he said.
"Robin," I said, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"It's not 'nothing'. Everyone's been acting strange for the past few days, but no one's told me why. Before this, you were completely MIA all day."
"I was... getting ready."
"Robin."
His grip on my hand tightened. "I don't want to talk about it." He looked to me and smiled. "Please understand."
I searched his face, and my shoulders slumped slightly. "I'm sorry."
Robin tucked my hand back in the crook of his arm. "There's still another thing for us to do tonight." I raised an eyebrow. "Come on."
"I didn't know this place existed here," I shouted over the loud music. "...Why are we here?"
I scanned the crowds of dancing people. A DJ played pop music through the speakers.
"Isn't it obvious?" Robin said.
I snickered. "You don't dance."
Robin rolled his eyes and took my hand. "That was back when you made me go to prom with a psychotic daughter of an evil moth man."
"I didn't make you do anything. Although, I think that's a night both of us wish we could forget all about."
"I wouldn't say all of it..."
The music changed from a fast-paced mambo to a soft, slow song. Robin twirled me onto the dance floor and pulled me close. We swayed to the beat of the music.
"Okay, I admit, this is already ten times better than prom," Robin said.
"At least no one's almost drowning in the punch bowl," I said.
Robin leaned closer to my ear. "I'm going to dip you now."
"What-"
Robin pushed me outward, keeping a tight grip on my hand. I spun back in. Robin let go, placed his hands around my waist, and dipped me. I gulped as my cheeks turned pink.
"D-Don't do that again," I stammered sternly as Robin pulled me upright and we continued swaying.
Robin laughed. I smiled, but it quickly faded. Robin noticed my expression and matched it. I released his hand and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. We stopped dancing and stood still on the dance floor. One hand already rested at the small of my back. Robin shifted and wrapped his other arm around me. He hid his face in my shoulder.
He still refused to speak.
We walked slowly side-by-side down the hall of Titans Tower. I glanced out the window. The sky had become cloudy during our walk home, shrouding the stars in a blanket of dark gray.
We stopped in front of my bedroom door. I turned to Robin and smiled.
"I had a nice time," I said. "We should do this again soon."
"Yeah," Robin said quietly.
I knit my eyebrows. "Robi-"
Robin rested his hand against the side of my neck and kissed me. He pulled away and smiled.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said.
He released me and continued walking, his hands in his pockets. I watched him disappear around the corner. I sighed and stepped inside my room. Instead of turning on the lights, I opened my curtains and let the faint lights of Jump City leak through. It had started to rain. I put on my shorts underneath my dress. I walked over to my mirror and worked on removing the pins from my hair. I shook the braid out and let my hair down my back. Using my dresser for support, I slipped off my heels.
The door opened, pouring the harsh hallway light inside my room.
"He didn't tell you, did he?" I turned my head to the door and at Cyborg, who leaned against the door frame with his arms folded.
I stood straight, my heels dangling off my finger. I shook my head. Cyborg sighed.
"I said I wouldn't tell you, but... only if Robin didn't either." Cyborg rubbed the back of his neck. "You... know what happened to Robin's parents, right?"
I thought back to the pictures of the Flying Graysons. Slowly, I nodded.
"Well..." Cyborg dropped his arms back to his sides and pushed off the door frame. He took a deep, preparatory breath and looked at me. "April 1st is the anniversary of their death."
My grip slipped on my shoes, and they hit the ground with a thud. Tears fell down my cheeks.
"He probably didn't tell you because he didn't want you to worry..." Cyborg said.
I sprinted for the door. Cyborg leaped back as I scurried out of my room and down the hallway. The rain thickened outside. I bounded up the stairs to the roof and threw the door open.
Robin sat on the ground, his back to me. His hands gripped his knees. The rain pelted his head and shoulders. I stepped onto the cold, wet concrete and slowly approached him. By the time I reached him, I was already soaked to the bone. Silently, I sat on his right side. I reached over and placed my hand on top of his.
"Are you okay?" I said.
After a short pause, Robin turned his hand over and held mine. He slowly shook his head. He leaned over and rested his head against my shoulder. His shoulders trembled. I laid my head on top of his and stared at our intertwined hands. The rain filled the silence.
Finally, Robin lifted his head. He let go of my hand and brought it up to his face. I looked up at him. His head was turned away, and his left hand wiped tears from his face.
In his left hand was his mask.
I stared at the small piece of black and white fabric with wide eyes. Robin moved to put it back on. I reached out and grabbed his wrist. Robin froze. As if in slow motion, Robin turned his head back to me.
His bright blue eyes rested on me. Tears pooled in them, with some streaming down his cheeks. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I was speechless. I reached up, cupped his cheek in my hand, and wiped a tear away. Robin stared at me silently, just as shocked as me. I smiled. Slowly, he smiled back. He placed his hand over mine, leaned in, and kissed me.
Water dripped off the skirt of my dress. I peeled my hair off my arms and back and tossed it over one shoulder. I squeezed as much water as I could out of it. My shoes were still on the ground. I walked over, picked them up, and tucked them inside my closet. I twisted the skirt of my dress and watched a pint of water gush onto the floor.
I looked to the window, and my eyes were drawn something besides the city. A small envelope was wedged in the corner of the window. I walked over, pinched the edge of the envelope, and opened my window a bit to slip it inside. Closing the window, I leaned my back against the glass. There was no return address; the only thing written on the front was my name. I opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper, the front side covered in words.
"The Flying Graysons. They were the best acrobats in the greatest show on Earth. They were a family act… They were Robin's family.
I know what it feels like for your entire world to fall apart in an instant. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. I know what it's like to lose a mother and father at the same time. I think I know him better than anyone else. I've been in his shoes. I've seen inside his mind. I know his darkest memory. I know his deepest pain. I don't think anyone's gotten as close to him as I have.
Times change. Yes, I've been inside his head. I know what it's like to lose your parents like he did. We were a family act. I used to be closer to him than anyone else… But these days, it looks like he's in better hands.
Thank you."
As I came to the end of the letter, my eyes widened at the signature- as in, there was none. Instead, there was a stamped symbol of a bat.
I glanced inside the envelope; there was more. I pulled out a photograph. It showed Robin when he was a child, about nine years old, dressed in a similar uniform like the one he has now. He had pulled his mask off and held it up on his forehead. He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling.
I stood straight and turned to the window. The rain had stopped, and the clouds had begun to break. I caught glimpses of the sky again. I looked back down at the picture and smiled. I closed my eyes and laid it against my heart.
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky,
And I'll
Make a wish,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
Out of the darkness and into the sun,
But I won't forget the place I come from.
I'll take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
- Kelly Clarkson, "Breakaway"
PIECES – by SNOzzie6
There was a time when all I could see
was pieces.
A puzzle I couldn't solve;
Something was missing.
No hope for me,
No love for me,
So I fell down far.
There was a time when someone saw me
in pieces.
They helped me to get up
and showed me what love is,
saying,
"You'll be okay.
In your dismay,
remember what's important here.
Hold on, dear."
There was a time when I had gathered
all my pieces.
A picture that was so clear;
I could see all life's sweetness.
I will be strong,
find where I belong,
because
you helped me stand.
You said I can.
Now, I'll prove it.
THE END
