Disclaimer: I baked an apple pie today, but I didn't buy the copyrights to DC Comics.

"There are five basic human emotions.

The third is grief. Grief, which at times feels so much like fear.

Grief, which when it comes, it's been said does not come in single spies-but in battalions."

Hush, Batman: Hush Returns.

Chapter 7: Grief

-R-

Robin waited.

Early the next morning Robin stood in the common room and stared out of the window overlooking the city. Any second now Barry would come streaking through Jump City, a red and yellow blur almost too fast for eyes to see.

The fastest man in the world.

"Flash said he would stop by at around eight," Cyborg said.

"He's always five minutes late." Robin crossed his arms over his chest. "And don't ask why."

Both Barry and Wally were always five minutes late. Now that was a mystery even the Dark Knight couldn't solve.

"Is Beast Boy still asleep?" he asked.

"No," Starfire replied. "He has gone to visit Terra's tomb."

Poor guy. Robin decided against calling him back to the Tower. After his own reverie the day before he should give Beast Boy some slack. Sometimes it was good to have some time alone.

"When did he leave?"

"About thirty minutes ago," Raven said. "He should be back within the hour."

"Give him all the time he needs."

He didn't look at Raven as he said this. He surprised himself last night by admitting that he went to the circus, and also felt bad for shutting down in front of her. Robin knew that she was just trying to help him, but he wasn't ready to talk to anyone.

"Robin," Starfire said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why do you wear a mask?"

Out of the corners of his eye he saw Cyborg's head perk up in interest. Robin turned to look at her. So, she was still thinking about their meeting last night. Her wide, green eyes gazed at him imploringly, as though trying to see the face behind the mask. Maybe if she was Kryptonian she could. He tugged at the collar of his uniform. Was it just him, or did it feel hot in here?

"Is it because you think you are ugly?"

"No-"

"Is it because you believe I will not find it pleasant to look upon your visage?"

Why did she always make him feel so uncomfortable?

"Starfire...I..." he sighed. "It's more complicated than it lo-"

"What's up, Titans?"

Everyone jumped in surprise as Flash skidded to a halt in the common room. Flash leaned against the kitchen counter, a wide mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Flash," Robin said, relieved at the interruption, stepping forward to shake Flash's hand. "It's good to see you."

"You too, shortpants." Barry winked. "Just kidding, you don't wear shortpants anymore."

Oh, those scaly underoos…he just had to mention them, didn't he? A poor fashion choice on Bruce's part. Robin found himself smiling ruefully back.

"I'm glad I don't wear them anymore. Or the elf boots."

"Robin, what are 'shortpants'?" Starfire asked.

"Um…"

The others erupted in laughter. Good thing Beast Boy wasn't here. He would have cracked a bad joke about those scaly bikini briefs. Some of the bottled-up angst inside of Robin dissipated as they laughed over his old costume.

"So, these are the Titans?" Flash said, shaking the hand of the others. "It's good to meet you all."

"Yes, it is most pleasing to meet The Flash," Starfire replied. "I am Starfire of Tamaran."

Flash winched at her strong handshake. "Nice to meet ya."

Quick introductions were made with Beast Boy mentioned in passing. Even though Robin knew Beast Boy would love to meet a member of the Justice League, he didn't want to pull him away from his time with Terra. That was more important.

"So I'm just here to pick up the dust and drop it off in Gotham," Flash said. "Let's try to make this quick, okay? I'm needed back in Metropolis." Then he spoke in a lowered undertone. "Robin, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yeah, hold on." Robin turned to Cyborg. "Cyborg, can you get a sample of the dust?"

"Sure thing, man."

Cyborg put on a dust-mask and gloves before going downstairs, just a precaution to protect him from the hallucinogenic effects of the dust. After glancing around at the others Robin gestured for Flash to follow him into the hallway, where they could talk privately.

"Hey Barry," Robin muttered under his breath. "How's Central City these days?"

"Fine, and so is Wally." Barry gazed down at Robin with his bright blue eyes. "How are you, Dick? I heard about the dust."

"It wouldn't surprise me if the entire League knows already."

The thought of all the adults knowing just irritated Robin even more. Barry put a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Look, I'm not just here to collect the dust. I know you'd rather talk to Clark or Alfred, but Bruce is worried about you." Barry's voice lowered. "He wants to know what happened when you were Deathstroke's apprentice."

Robin took an involuntary step back as a momentary of anxiety crossed his face. So the Justice League did know. Barry put his hands on his hips and sighed deeply.

"Dick, why are you so afraid of telling us?"

Robin didn't have an answer. What was he afraid of? Slade was dead; the apprenticeship was far behind him now. He realized that he was afraid of what the JLA members thought of him. Would they think him weak?

"I already told Alfred everything," he said finally. "Bruce doesn't need to know anything more. It happened. It's done. Slade's dead."

"We know he's dead. Everyone heard about Tara Markov's betrayal."

Tara Markov. Terra. Very few people knew her real name. Robin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Where was Cyborg with the dust sample?

"Look, Barry, I don't want to talk about this right now."

"I know I can't make you talk," Barry replied. "But Bruce is your father. You're his son. He cares about you. He doesn't want to talk about it with Alfred. He wants to talk about it with you."

Robin fell into an uneasy silence. He could tell that Flash felt uncomfortable playing the middle man, but the older man held his ground. Robin understood Bruce's reasoning, but talking about the apprenticeship with Bruce was like having a tooth pulled without anesthesia. It hurt that much.

"And when you don't talk about what happened," Flash said, crossing his arms over his chest, "then we automatically assume the worst."

Robin was taken aback by this ominous statement, but did not have time to respond. The doorway leading to the hallway slid open.

"Uh, Robin," Cyborg said, taking off his face mask. "Did you move Slade's evidence box?"

Confusion muddled Robin's mind. Why on earth would he touch the box after the incident with the dust?

"No, I didn't touch it."

"Well, I can't find diddly." Cyborg shrugged. "It's not down there."

"Look again, it should be down the—" Robin paused, the eyes behind his mask widening in astonishment. "Oh damn."

Suddenly it all made sense. Perfect, sick, sense. Cold fear washed over him as the events of the past few days clicked together in his mind.

"What?" Cyborg asked.

"The intruder did exactly what he meant to do," Robin said, his heart racing as he ran towards the evidence room. "We've been robbed."

The others followed him into the evidence room. At a first glance it seemed as though nothing was missing. Everything seemed to be in place, but the box full of Slade's stuff in the basement was missing. He ran over a quick list of what was in the box: Slade's mask, parts of Sladebots, newspaper clippings…his old apprentice uniform…

"Titans, search the Tower now!" he snapped. "Look for anything missing in your rooms. I'll contact Beast Boy."

"Should I—" Flash began, but was cut-off by the buzzing of his Justice League signal device. "Yeah, Supes?"

"What are you still doing in Jump?" Superman asked. "We need you here in Metropolis!"

Before Flash could answer Robin barked a reply. "Tell Batman that there's been a change of plans. The dust will have to wait."

-BB-

"Hey Terra," Beast Boy said, his voice echoing in the lonely tomb. "Sorry about yesterday."

It felt odd for him to speak out loud, but it was comforting all the same. He liked to imagine that her spirit was still alive.

"There's something we're trying to figure out…maybe you knew about it before you…well…were turned into stone."

He cradled a bouquet of flowers in his arms. By now the florist knew who he was and kept a bouquet ready for him. About once a week Beast Boy came down here to pay his respects and to bring a little color to Terra's gray world. Beast Boy didn't expect anyone else to be down here; hardly anyone was here these days. He knew that not many people liked Terra because of the betrayal, but Beast Boy knew her better than anyone else.

She was one of the best friends he ever had.

Beast Boy felt as though she was a better friend than anyone on the Doom Patrol. He loved them as a family, but life as a junior member of the Doom Patrol didn't allow him much of a childhood. He loved life as a Teen Titan and loved his friends. Even Raven, whom he thought could be way creepy at times.

Terra was different. So yeah he liked hanging out with Cy and playing video games. Yeah he liked hanging out with the boy wonder and Starfire. He enjoyed annoying Raven. But Terra was…she was beautiful. Gifted. A true friend. She was the only one who would listen to his stories about life in the Doom Patrol and his hilarious jokes.

But above all, she chose him. Although Beast Boy was fairly confident with his good looks and charms it was Robin who always got the girls' attention. Perhaps it was because of his mysterious demeanor brought on by the mask. Or maybe the fact that he used to work with Batman. Yeah, that was probably it. Who wouldn't want to hang out with Robin, the Boy Wonder? No one really knows the Doom Patrol anyway. She could have knocked Starfire out of the way and hooked up with Robin, but Terra chose him: Garfield Logan, ex-member of the Doom Patrol.

"Terra, did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he asked. "I wish Slade never interrupted that kiss on the ferris wheel."

Slade.

His mood darkened at the thought of Slade. It was all his fault that Terra turned. But even he couldn't completely turn her evil. Even when she betrayed the Titans she had taken him aside to save him. Or at least try to.

Did she know Wintergreen? What was life like with Slade? Why did she turn to Slade even after meeting the Titans? These questions still puzzled him, but they didn't matter anymore. At the end of her life she had shown her true colors: not as a villain, but as a Teen Titan. Beast Boy filled his mind with pleasant memories of their time together as he neared the statue.

But as he stepped into the main chamber, he froze.

The bouquet fell to the floor. Bits of flower petals fell off the roses. Beast Boy felt his jaw slide open. He stood there, the shock of what he saw throwing him into a near-catatonic state.

"No…" he walked up to her statue. "No…no…no...no…NO!"

He didn't know whether to cry or scream in frustration. Someone had strung several rolls of toilet paper over her stone body. Beast Boy ripped it off of her and found that someone had spray-painted obscene words on the stone. The plaque he had placed during her memorial service now read in blue spray-paint: TRAITOR BITCH.

The area around her statue was littered with garbage and the remnants of shaving cream cans. More hateful words were spray-painted on the walls. They said awful things about Terra that Beast Boy knew were not true. Whoever wrote them obviously held a low opinion of the deceased Titan, for the walls said things like "Slade's whore" and "spy." He was so emotionally numb with shock that at first he didn't understand.

"T-Terra…"

Beast Boy collapsed to his knees and tried to rub away the hurtful words. Tears welled in his eyes as he wiped at the plaque furiously.

Who could have done this? Why would anyone do this?

He placed his hands on the boulder where she stood and knocked his forehead lightly against the cool stone, fighting back tears. His shoulders shook uncontrollably.

"Beast Boy! Come in, Beast Boy!" Robin's voice. "We need you back at the Tower now!"

Beast Boy barely heard Robin's voice shout at him through the communicator. He forced himself to his feet as his hands curled into fists. Something deep within him snapped his usually pleasant demeanor. Uncharacteristic rage filled every pore of his body.

Someone had vandalized Terra's tomb.

Something had to be done.

His communicator fell to the ground as he morphed into a gorilla. He cracked his knuckles and snorted derisively. Whoever did this was going to pay. With a furious roar he turned and galumphed back up the tunnel to the surface. Robin's hoarse voice cried out to him through the fallen communicator.

"BEAST BOY!"

End of Part 1

A/N: Oh snap!

Poor Beast Boy.

Okay, I admit that I stole the "five minutes late" joke from Rena Redhead. I'm sorry, Rena, I still love you! And I couldn't help throwing in a joke about Robin's scaly underpants from his first costume.

The words in Terra's tomb do not reflect my own views about Terra. But considering Slade and Terra's relationship in the comics, the comment about her being Slade's whore is actually not too far from the truth...

If we assume that Kid Flash is Wally West, then Flash is most likely Barry Allen. I'm not very familiar with the Flashes' histories, so correct me if I am wrong.

Reviews appreciated.