"And here's how to use the supercomputer. Just long in using your password and you'll get all the information we have on villains and allies." Cyborg instructed. Grant nodded, understanding every word he heard. He sat on the chair and input his password, which is Ravager 1984. Grant saw a list of honorary Titans. He was about to click on the file, but hesitate. "What's wrong?" Cyborg asks.
"Do you really trust me with all this information? I could be lying to you like how Terra did." Grant questioned.
Cyborg looked taken aback at the fact that Grant knew about Terra. "How do you know about Terra?"
"Beastboy told me all about her. I honestly feel for her. I know how great of a manipulator my father is. You shouldn't hold a grudge against her."
"We don't. Everyone, including myself have forgiven her. For BB's sake, I hope Terra joins us again. And Grant, we do trust you as well. Raven told us how you're genuinely afraid of Slade and the remorse you feel for lying to your mother and brother."
Grant smiles in relief on how much the Titans trust him despite the annoyance he put them through. "Thank you." He replied. He clicks on the file to see all the honorary Titans names. He doesn't know why the list intrigued him so much. He scrolls through all the names when the name 'Jericho' caught his eye. "Could it be?" Grant whispers in disbelief.
"Could it be what?" Cyborg asks.
Grant didn't answer and click on Jericho's name. His grey eyes widen at the sight of the mute hero. He stretched out his hand to the screen
"What's going on?" Beastboy asked, who just enter the room.
"I don't know man. Grant's been acting weird ever since he saw the name 'Jericho'." Cyborg answers. Beastboy looks up at the screen and then at Grant.
"Jericho is your little brother, isn't he." Beastboy stated.
Grant finally snapped out of it and nodded. "Yeah, that's Joey. He was only 10 years old when his throat got slit and the last time I ever saw him." He confirms. "He's grown so much."
"I'm sure he'll be happy to know you're alive and well." Cyborg smiles.
"He can't know!" Grant suddenly yells.
"He has to now since you claim you're done hiding." Cyborg reminded.
"Only from my father." Grant says.
"I don't understand your logic. You want to show your face to Slade, but not from your mother and brother? Dude, I'm pretty sure Slade will tell them once he finds out." Beastboy stated.
Grant's world just shattered on what Beastboy just said. "Fuck, you're right." He mutters.
Beastboy is reading the menu on his favorite diner as he's waiting for a friend. A waitress comes by his table with a notepad on her hand. "What can I get you, sweetie?" She asked.
"I'll have an apple pie with a glass of soy milk please." Beastboy orders. The waitress jots down what he said and walks away. That's when the changeling spotted his friend. "Yo, Jericho! Over here!" He waves. The blonde mute smiles and makes his way to him. Jericho begins to sign.
"Hello, Beastboy. It's nice to see you again." Jericho greeted.
"Likewise, man. I'm glad you made it."
"You said it was urgent. So what is it you want to talk about?"
"Geez... I don't know where to start. Umm… What can you tell me about your father?"
Like Grant, Jericho was taken aback by this. That's when Beastboy saw the resemblance between the brothers. Jericho's face then darkens and began to sign rapidly.
"My father means nothing to me! All he did was cause me and my family pain! He lied to us our whole life! He's the reason why I can't talk! His ego was more important than my life! But the worst part is he got my big brother killed!" Tears are now rolling down his face. Beastboy hands him a glass of water to calm him down. After chugging the beverage, Jericho wipes his tears. "He tore my family up and took my brother away. I miss Grant everyday."
"I'm sorry about that and for randomly asking about your father." Beastboy apologized. "But I have a feeling what I'm about to show you will make you happy."
"Happy? I don't understand. Why did you bring me here?"
On cue, Grant enters the diner and stands by the doorway. He's wearing a green color jeans jacket, a blue shirt with the Teen Titans logo, and a blue baseball cap. Jericho turns around and hour jaw drops open. Grant smiles nervously and waves.
"Hey bro… Ya miss me?" Grant greeted. In less than a millisecond, Jericho runs straight at him and tackles him in a hug. Grant was about to return the hug when Jericho punches his stomach. Air escape his mouth as he dropped to his knees and clutches his stomach in pain. Who knew the little guy can pack a punch? Hot tears are rolling down Jericho's eyes as Grant begins to get up. "I deserve that." Grant wheeze.
Everyone at the diner stares at the commotion. Beastboy gets up went over to the brothers. "Nothing to see, folks. This is how they greet each other in their country." He announced. They shrugged and went back to eating. Beastboy puts his arm around Grant and helps him walk out. "Let's take this outside, guys."
They sat on a nearby bench as Jericho is angrily staring at his brother. "I'm sorry for tricking you I was dead." Grant apologized.
"You don't get to be sorry! How dare you do that to us! Do you have any idea what you put Mom through? Put me through?! I went through the most traumatic experience of my life. I needed you by my side. But you still sided with that excuse of a father! But I forgave you for that. Then I heard you got yourself killed because of him. I thought, 'what else can Dad take away?' I wanted to die that day! And here you are now, living a lie."
"You're right. I don't get to be sorry. That was a cowardly thing to do. I was afraid Dad will come after me if I ran. Or worse, come after you. I should have went to Mom and trusted her to keep us safe."
"You broke Mom, you know you really did."
Flashback
Joey is watching TV while Addie was cooking dinner. It's been five weeks since the incident and he's been working on his ASL to communicate. Addie assured him his Dad will never come near him again. He doesn't know why, but he has a feeling his mother killed him or something. Deep down, he felt all of this wasn't his Dad's fault. He tried to save him after all.
The phone suddenly rings, interrupting his thoughts. He heard his Mom answering it. Joey was hoping that his brother's coming home. He hasn't seen him in forever. "OH MY GOD! NO! NOT MY BABY!" Addie screams. This makes Joey jump out of the couch and ran to his mother. He lightly gasped at the sight of his mother sobbing on the floor. The phone is next to her as she screams and cries.
"What happened?" Joey signs. Addie turns around and suddenly hugs him. He returns the hug, but is still confused. "Mom, what happened? Why are you crying?"
Addie sniffed and held her composer. "Joey, sweetie... I can't lose you too. I love you." She said.
"I love you too, Mom. What's going on?"
"I got a call from the hospital… Grant was involved in an accident and he… He didn't make it. I knew I should've killed that bastard!" Addie sobbed.
Joey couldn't believe what he heard. His older brother was dead. His Dad had something to do with this. He just know it. Like his Mom, he's crying with her. Joey tried to scream, but his throat wouldn't let him.
He now takes everything back. He doesn't want to see his father ever again.
Grant was staring at the ground as Jericho finished his story. Beastboy is awkwardly comforting Jericho as he looking away. "Is Mom feeling better now?" Grant asked.
"No. Mom felt everything was her fault. She didn't trust herself to take care of me, so she sent me away to Tibet."
"Well, I'm done hiding. I'm gonna find Mom and explain why I did it. I just hope she can recover. And I'm really sorry. I just needed to get away from him."
"I do understand why you fear our father. But it would have felt nice if you told me about. I guess I deserve to be a little selfish. Let's just hope Mom will forgive you."
"No matter what happens, you always have a home with us." Beastboy assures him.
Jericho looks at Grant's shirt and at Beastboy. "Wait, you're with the Titans."
Grant smiles and pulls out his communicator. "I joined a couple days ago." Then his face darkens. "I ran into him a couple days ago too. He's planning something big against them. I wanted to help and in order for them to trust me, I stopped hiding and told me who I am." He explains.
Jericho's face looks fearful. "He's here in this city? Right now?"
"Looks like it. But don't worry, we're going to stop him." Beastboy declears. Jericho hugs Grant again and smiles at him for the first time.
"I'm glad you're alive, brother. When you feel ready to tell Mom, come and find me so we can tell her together."
"Will do, little brother. I love you." Grant promised. Jericho waves them goodbye and walks away. As soon as he's out of sight, Beastboy turns to Grant.
"Why didn't you tell him he was the reason you decided to get away from Slade?" He asked.
"Joey needed to know I only did it for a selfish reason. If I told him I did it because of him, he'll only be feeling tremendous guilt. I can't do that to him." Grant reasons.
"You're a good person you know." Beastboy smiles. This makes Grant smiles and stares at the blue sky as the wind gently blows his hair.
Their communicators suddenly beeps, getting both their attention. "What is it, Robin?" Grant asked.
"Slade's back."