The Next Generation

Chapter 12: Lose Ends

"I'll grab Slim." Blaze muttered as he lifted the three hundred pound dog and put him on his shoulder.

Violet nodded. "He'll be OK, Blaze." She had noticed the look he gave Slim.

"Yeah, but will I be OK?" Blaze growled as he turned around to face her.

"You will make a good leader, I trust you." Violet touched his cheek, then lifted off the ground and headed for the Tower. Blaze was silent most of the way, his eyebrows furrowed in determination.

All the Titans were waiting for them in the living room. Blaze laid Slim on the couch and Violet stood in the center of the room.

"What's going on?" Terra asked, scared.

"Robin arrived here a few minutes before you did, carrying a screaming Aly." Tawny remarked.

"Dudes, Lucy's gone, and Robin just left without saying anything. Are you gonna fill us in on why we woke up to find The Robin, Leader of The Teen Titans, in our LIVING ROOM!" Tyger asked, waving his hands frantically.

"Quiet." Tawny ordered. She had seen the look on her cousin's face, a look she had never seen before on his face, but on that of his father. It was determination, and anguish.

"Robin came here tonight because he knew the truth and came to warn us before it was too late. Luckily, he came-" Violet was cut off.

"He was too late." Blaze growled.

"What? He saved us-" Violet started.

"No. He was too late. Slade escaped, Aly's in shambles, and I got what I wanted, only it's not what I thought it would be." Blaze laughed, but it was hollow and empty of feeling.

"Slade is back?" Terra asked, terrified.

"But…b-but Terra took him down. And so did Mum!" Tyger whined.

"Slade is back, Slade is Lucy. Lucy was Slade's clone." Blaze said dryly.

"No! You liar! There is no way Lucious is Slade!"

Blaze had expected this to happen, but it came out of the wrong person. "What the hell Tawny! He tried to kill me! He's Slade. He even admitted it!" Blaze growled back at her.

"Bug off. I'm going to go get him! I can't believe you chased him off, you freak!" Tawny yelled.

"Oh, shut up. We all know you're just going to run away like a scared little girl."

The other Titans stood terrified. They had never seen Blaze and Tawny fight like this. Sure, they fought, but not like this.

"Why, you-" Tawny muttered but was interrupted by Blaze grabbing her by her shirt and holding her up.

"Listen to me, Tawny. I don't want to hurt you."

"Bite me." Tawny growled, and hit him. The force surprised him so that he stumbled and fell through the window. Tawny flew after him.

"We gotta help him!" Terra cried out and started towards the window.

"No. This is a family problem, we aren't butting in." Violet said quietly. The Titans remained where they were.

"Why? Why do you always make things difficult?" Blaze asked as he flew next to her. Tawny flew down to a rock on the shoreline. Blaze landed next to her.

"I'm leaving." Was her angry reply.

"Like Blackfire left? When things got too tough?" Blaze replied. His words hit home.

"She was a traitor. I am not."

"Then why are you going to act like her and ditch us? You aren't Blackfire, you don't even like her."

"I'm more like her than you'll ever be like Robin! And I am nothing like her! You'll never be as good as Robin, you're just a stupid wannabe!" Tawny glared at him.

Blaze looked at her with anger in his eyes. "Leave." He replied, and walked off. "I am my father, and unlike you, I do not run from the truth."

"Fine, Blaze! I will!" Tawny yelled and turned to leave. She made it as far as the southern end of the island before a green dog jumped in front of her.

"Stay." Tyger told her as he transformed into a human.

"Come with us." Blaze agreed, stepping up on the right of her.

"Yes, c'mon." Violet materialized behind her, as if they were trapping her.

"I thought-" Tawny started.

"You thought a lot of things…" Violet began.

"…and you were wrong on a lot of them too. Blaze asked for our help." Tyger finished for her.

"Come on home." Blaze repeated.

"I will…only to get my things." Tawny replied. Blaze gave her a stern look, then his eyes changed to show sadness. Tawny ignored them and stalked up to the Tower and into her room.

"Tawny, stay here, where you belong." Blaze pleaded.

"Why? Why do you care so much?"