Jericho straightened his tie and looked in the mirror. He hated suits. They were so uncomfortable compared to his usual clothes and he didn't like wearing black from head to toe. But he had to admit. Jinx had good taste when she picked out his tie. It was a dark navy blue with lighter blue stripes. Jericho ran a hand through his hair.

"Use a brush! We're going to a ball!" He turned and saw Jinx standing in his doorway. She was wearing a strapless black ballgown with a full, lacy skirt. Her pink hair was pulled into a tight updo instead of her usual hairstyle, but she wore no jewelry. She glided in and grabbed a brush off Jericho's desk. She forced it through his gold hair and smoothed it from his face. "There, that's better. You know, when I bought that suit for you, I was worried you'd look like a high schooler going to a cheap prom in cheap suit." He turned to face her. "But you look so handsome." She kissed his cheek. Jericho smiled.

'You look so beautiful' Jericho mouthed. He rarely "spoke", but he didn't know how else to describe what he saw. Jinx smiled.

"Really?" She twirled. "Do you think...Kid Flash will like it?" Jericho smiled and nodded. He hugged her close and offered her his arm. She laughed and took it as they walked out. He led her to the living room where the others were waiting. Kid Flash, still wearing his mask, was wearing a black suit with a black bow tie. He turned and gasped when he saw Jinx. She released Jericho, and walked to her date.

"You look...amazing." All of Kid Flash's usual goofy demeanor was replaced by sincere adoration and love. He shook his head and cleared his throat. "I um...got you something." He pulled out a small, long black box. He opened it to reveal a silver necklace with a single red jewel in a silver setting. Jinx's mouth dropped open. "I thought that...I mean, the color...Do you like it?" He finally managed to blurt out.

"I love it! Will you put it on?" She allowed her boyfriend to fasten the thin chain around her neck. "It's beautiful."

Hotspot and Aqualad also wore black tuxedos, much to their chagrin. But they would rather wear the monkey suits than face the wrath of Jinx. Aqualad had a teal tie and Hotspot wore a red bow tie. Jericho stood with them until he saw the last member of their team walk in.

Herald wore a black tuxedo like the other boys, and he had a green tie on. It matched Jericho's eyes. When he saw his boyfriend, Herald's eyes widened slightly, and Jericho decided that maybe suits were alright. Herald was still wearing a mask, but without his hood, his short black hair was visible. Herald walked over to his friends, complimented Jinx on her dress, then kissed Jericho on the cheek.

"Are you ready?" Jericho nodded. He was nervous about revealing their relationship to the public, but he knew that they were bound to find out someday.

They pulled up to City Hall in a black limo that the city had provided for them. Outside, cameras were flashing and reporters were already shouting questions. Kind Flash was the first one out, and he smiled for a few photos before turning to help Jinx. She smiled for the cameras too, but niether answered any questions. The press was a tricky subject since not all of them were completely faithful to the city's heroes.

Hotspot followed them, his usual serious expression never wavering. Herald squeezed Jericho's hand and then climbed out of the limo to loud girlish screams. He was a favorite among the fan girls, much to Kid Flash's amusement. Herald waved, and turned as Jericho joined him. The younger boy looked scared and his bright green eyes were wide as cameras flashed in his face. Reporters managed to break through security and mobbed the silent boy. The started shouting questions at him as he looked wildly around, trying to find help. Suddenly, Herald was there, holding his hand and pulling him free of the mob as security gained control again.

Jericho looked at Herald with his thanks. Herald smiled and then did something no one in the crowd was expecting. He leaned down and kissed Jericho in full view of the cameras. Cameras flashed wildly as new questions were shouted. Herald pulled away and led a dazed Jericho by the hand into the building. Aqualad followed, trying to contain his laughter. Generally, he was against revealing too much of their private lives, but the looks on those reporters' faces were priceless. And the way those fangirls had freaked out was hilarious. Though he would probably have to talk to them later.

The ballroom was huge, and it was filled with people in their finest clothes. As the heroes began to mingle, Herald left to get Jericho and himself something to drink. Jericho stood listening to someone important prattling on about how teenagers saving the city was just incredible, and as the man walked off a new one took his place. Jericho smiled at him, but his smile was unreturned. The man held up his Blackberry.

"I was just informed of something that happened outside a few minutes ago. Jericho, did you kiss that young man?" Jericho blushed and looked around for Herald. "Well, I just have to say that I don't think you should be influencing the children of this city with your-"

"With our what?" Herald appeared behind the man holding two glasses of water. The man gulped. It was one thing to talk to the littler blonde boy that can't speak. But Herald was six feet tall and obviously not pleased with the man.

"Um...with your public displays of affection. It's immoral." He swallowed hard. "Homosexuality is wrong. You both need to think about the image that you're projecting to the little kids. They are going to think that 'gay is ok'."

"And what is wrong with that?" Herald's masked eye's narrowed as he took Jericho's hand.

"Well, you shouldn't force your choice on everyone." He tried to sound brave, but the man was wilting under Herald's stare. Jericho was shocked that this man would actually say such awful things to them in public.

"I think you should go." Herald stared the man down until he walked quickly away, secure in his beliefs. "Are you ok, Jericho?" Jericho pointed at himself then Herald, then after the man. "No, he's wrong. He's just an ignorant asshole. There's going to be a lot of people like him that are going to try to make you feel wrong. But never believe that what we have is wrong. Love is love, no matter how it's expressed." Jericho smiled.

"Excuse me, excuse me. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Titans East to the podium! They are out guests of honor tonight, and one of them would like to make a speech." Herald winked at Jericho, and they walked to join the team at the microphone. Aqualad gave a speech, the usual 'we'll continue to save the city' and 'we're so honored to be here tonight'. Jericho was only half listening as he watched the crowd. He loved to people-watch and guess what each person was like. When you can't speak, you learn to listen to other things besides the spoken word. Each team member took a turn thanking the gathered rich people, and when it came to Jericho, the silent boy just waved as they walked off stage. An orchestra started playing, and Kid Flash grabbed jinx and started waltzing ith her.

"Where did you learn to dance?" Jinx was pleasantly shocked.

"I'm just naturally an awesome dancer." He grinned.

"Jericho taught you, didn't he?" Kid Flash blushed bright red. "Oh, I am so checking the secruity feed!" Jericho smiled as he heard the conversation. Herald watched his boyfriend as he continued to watch the dancing with wide eyes. The women were all wearing such beautiful dresses in all different colors. Jericho noticed Herald watching him, and he smiled up at his tall boyfriend. Herald grabbed Jericho's hand and pulled him to the dance floor. He started dancing with Jericho as the younger boy grinned happily.

The night was beautiful, the perfect break from their busy, dangerous lives. Jericho completely forgot about his troubles as he was swept across the floor, ignoring some pointed looks from spectators. He knew that Hypnotic and prejudice awaited him in the fututre, but for the moment, all that mattered was the boy in front of him.

After the dance, the team went back to the tower. They were all tired, but happy. The night had been perfect for Jericho, and as he and Herald walked to their rooms, he was grinning like a fool. He pecked herlad on the cheek and headed for his room, but Herald grabbed his tie and pulled him back.

"I don't think so." He smiled into the kiss he placed on Jericho's lips. Jericho went into his own room in a daze. He took off his suit and tie and put on his pajama pants. The bruises on his skin were healed, and when he caught sight of his relection in the mirror, he smiled. Herald loved him.

Herald was on the verge of sleep when he heard the newly installed internal alarms go off in the tower. He jumped out of bed and ran to Jericho's room. Inside he saw Jericho kneeling on the floor with Hypnotic standing behind him, holding him up by the hair. But really scared Herald was the black cloth blindfold over Jericho's eyes. Then he made the mistake of looking into Hypnotic's eyes where he saw the triumphant look. Jericho tried to struggle, but he couldn't break free.

"Let him go!" Herald tried to charge, only to find himself unable to do so. Instead, he felt like he was having an out of body experience. He felt his body walk towards the door and lock it before the others could get in. Then, as if through water, he walked over to Jericho and hoisted him over his shoulder. Herald was screaming in his head to stop, to attack, but he couldn't. It hit him that Hypnotic had managed to hypnotize him.

"Time to go. Without your little friend inhabiting your mind, I can take over it. If Jericho can't be mine, then he sure as hell won't be yours." Herald felt Jericho's hand on his back, turning on a tracking device sewn into Herald's hood.

By the time the others managed to get in the room, it was empty.

Hahaha cliffhanger. Read and review.