For someone who was annoying, he looked innocent when he slept. Of course he was quiet and sound asleep on your sofa. It was the only place you could put him, your bed was out of the question. Even if he did take it you'd sleep on the sofa instead.

Thankfully that wasn't the case, he gladly took what you offered. With a pillow and blanket of course.

It was odd having someone else here, sleeping over but he needed a place so you didn't mind. With the way he was feeling no doubt it was what he found out. You felt for him.

How ever long he needed to stay was oddly fine by you. Up and awake you stand over him a bit just looking.

Hm, he did look calming, you thought.

A soft smile showed on your lips, reaching out pull the blanket up a bit more, covering him gently. There, he looked snuggled, now to the balcony. With your laptop tucked under one arm. Quietly walking over, open the door carefully and slowly, slip out, shut it close.

The air was nice tonight, take a seat on the patio furniture comfortably on the large round cushion chair. Lounge back and relax.

It was nice and quiet minuses the distant street noise below. Stretching a bit, you thought of them. Hold your hands out and recite the words in Latin. In seconds a fiery orb appeared floating an inch above your hands, in John. He seem to be on a case, wait...no...he was dealing with a hangover.

Of course.

The tired and groggy look,

Wait.

Looking closer notice some objects laying on the floor. They were hard to make out but you could see a magnify glass...a couple of feathers...some papers...a map, which was weird...broken glass? You weren't sure, but it was something and some other things you couldn't really make out. What in the world was he doing? Trying to find the House of Mystery. The House of Mystery, you smile fondly at the thoughtful memories that came. How was Black Orchid doing? Hopefully she was doing well, with Boston. You missed the strange soups Orchid would give you. Was your room still there? You had a feeling that it was, no doubt Orchid walked passed every so often.

John had your room filled with any item you needed to understand. For a whole year that place was your home, away from home. Not the most conventional way of living but it worked. There so many lesson John taught and tried to teach you, despite his groaning in doing so. He did it. Explained as much as he could and even going on little...'field trips'. For a dad he was...non-traditional in some areas if not many, but that was fine by you. Thinking back about it, the clashing and butting heads at times with him, you never realized how similar you and him where in those moments. Nor did you realize the smart mouth you picked up and attitude from him sense living and leaving him. Too bad you didn't have his eyes color, or hair either. Inheriting his attitude was good enough, and you suppose his some what good-looks.

You missed him, eyes began to sting and mist, why did you do it? You knew why...it just hurt knowing it. But, at least he was doing fine. The same with Chas, Trish and her mother. All of them...Trish was so lucky to have those moments. Angela was kind enough to provide you with a brief moment of fantasy of what could have been and a memento of it. John was free to...in a way live his life. Free from any sins that held and weighed on his soul. You were living up to your namesake and purpose...Sin Eater.

Or was it destroyer?

Destroying what you had, what was good...guess your birth parents purpose for you was coming forward. The shadow of it loomed over, but it, you weren't like them. Despite the gifts given...maybe it was better this way.

Your bit of tears that fell said otherwise.

It was okay, quickly wipe them away. Now, to check your messages, leaving the orb to float mid-air, open and turn on your device. Login and connect, the messages come up, some had images...sent by Gar and Jaime. Rose a faint smile, that trembled in the corners. They looked so happy. The titans were going well and strong. Their newest member, Wonder Girl looked nice. She was pretty. Opening so more messages, a video done by Kory showing your room and the apartment. She hope to see you soon, to celebrate all the holidays missed. She'd been keeping your room tidy it seemed, even changed the scheme believing it was most appropriate for your age. For some reason she added some weapon wall décor. Going further there was a few from Dick...and Damian.

Your stomach sunk and fingers froze, tremble over the keyboard. They wouldn't type anything no matter how much your mind tried to force them. They just remain frozen and still.

It should be easy...typing a response back...they were expecting it...they...

"Whoa, a floating ball of fire." Superboy said, your head whipped around finding him up and out, looking into the orb. "Who's the guy?"

With a snap the orb vanished, he jumped back a bit, looked at you. Noticed the laptop and its contents. "Whoa! You know the Titans?"

You shut the top. "C-Can I help you?"

He gave it a thought, rubbing the back of his neck, shrugged. "Not really, just woke really. Cool place you got, nice view too." He looked at the view. You do too. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

He set his eyes on you, the back of your head, that was fine. Even though your hair with the help of the small breeze of night, covered and hid any sort of expression or readable look your face held, he found other clues. Your upright posture and laxed tail, seem fine, but the end curled a bit. Tensely. Shoulders slumped a bit, despite trying to keep them up and firm. The silence right now was different than the times before...it was...it seemed aching, or it was just his thoughts. But, he was sure. The prickling feeling was...

"I heard about, you." you said sympathetically, a tone he wasn't really expecting, look back to him. Eyes carrying the same feeling. "I..I'm sorry about that."

His eyes drop to the side, "Yeah," voice quiet and tight. Hiding the true hurt, but you sensed it. "well..." he tried to scoff. He couldn't. "Not the best way to finding out...you're not really what you are."

"It's never fun," you agree. He looked at you, surprised. "but, despite it all. It doesn't really mean anything. It's just how one starts, it's how that person ends and decides what they want to do."

"Sounds like experience or something? Is that why you have a tail?"

You nod. Moving it a bit, he laughed a little. You couldn't help but laugh a bit too. "So," he shifted a bit. "how'd you get the tail? If you don't mind me asking?" Took a few steps forward. "Not just the tail, but, the markings and ears...fangs too."

"Wouldn't make sense to lie now, would it?" you quip lightly. With a wavering smile, you hid it, but it was heard in your words and voice. "Found out, like you, I was something more than what I thought. I chose to embrace it, so I wear the scars as a reminder of the choice I made. It's okay though, eventually I learned to look at myself in a mirror again and find who I really was. So it wasn't all bad."

He seem to get it, "Is that why you hide?"

Of course this question would come. "I have to, it works for me. It's easier."

"But it hurts, doesn't it?"

You squeeze your wrist, shake your head. "Nope, not in the least. It's better this way."

"Why?"

"It just is...now," clear your throat. Feel extra weight on the chair. Quickly stand, get pulled back by the wrist gently. Your eyes and head stayed down, refuse to rise.

That was alright, Superboy still touched his forehead on yours softly. Your breathe trembled softly, yet heart relaxed. "I-I..I'm really sorry," you stammer between breaths, finding the words. He took hold of your hand, gave it a squeeze. "it's unfair. I know...b-but..."you weren't sure what you could say right now. All you could do was think...think of it all.

Replaying his question, you were such a hypocrite right now. Squeeze his hand back, release, realizing what you were doing. He didn't. Lowered his head, tilting it slightly to the side. Moved a little closer. You felt gentle airs of his breath on your lips. Covering them like a warm blanket. You lean in...stop.

So many thoughts crossed your mind, the same with Superboy. Raising a hand set on the side on his cheek. Close your eyes, yes...you could feel it...all of it. His anger..frustration...confusion...and much more swirling and thrashing around like a storm. Going deeper you saw it, you heard it...the yelling and screaming and...sinking. All you knew too well, if not very well. Mirroring your own, as delicious as these feelings were you couldn't help but ache yourself. To find another like yourself...feelings and all...it was calming.

Melding further, didn't realize something else melded and opened. Still going, feel a link of some kind...some sort of balance...you couldn't explain, even when the tears rose. So...this was him...all of him. Opening your eyes, find yourself sideways...on your bed.