Paths of Darkness

Chapter 12: Before the Storm

It was a beautiful sunny day-not too hot, not too cold; just right-but all was quiet and still...

The Titans were sitting in the operations room-doing nothing.

All was quiet as if they were waiting for Robin to come through the doors back as his normal self ready to fight crime-but he didn't.

He hadn't been back in three days.

"I don't think he's coming back," said Cyborg breaking the silence.

"But he has to come back!" cried Starfire, "He cannot just abandon his friends!"

"Apparently he already did," droned Raven.

"Dude! This stinks!" sighed Beast Boy, "Does this mean the Teen Titans are over?"

"Are you crazy man? Just because our leader quit doesn't mean we did."

"Cyborg's right," agreed Raven.

"As long as we can fight-we're still the Teen Titans!" said Cyborg.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Titans Trouble!"

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Water shot out of the sprinkler system continuing to soak the marble floor of the movie theatre, and an electronic disk was the only thing left of Overload.

"Man, did he seem tougher?"

"No-it was just you," said Raven sarcastically.

Beast Boy rolled his eyes breathing heavily.

Cyborg put his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"This is no time for arguing."

"Yes, let us go home and the nap of cats," Starfire begged.

"Why? The party's just getting started."

The Titans turned to see-

"Robin!"

"Where've you been man?"

"We have missed you so much!"

They froze upon hearing a gurgling roar.

"Plasmas!"

The team got in their fighting positions.

"Robin, come on man, help us!" ordered Cyborg.

Robin didn't move.

"Robin-come on!"

He smirked.

The roar of Plasmas got closer-but the Titans just stood there dumbstrucked as Robin disappeared into the shadows.