A Service

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

"Mr. Wilson, you do not know how much we appreciate your services. At first we had questioned your morals, but now we are happy to see-" Slade's limited patience finally wore out, and he interrupted the boisterous commissioner.

"This is a matter of revenge; I could care less about your morals, as I find today's police force both corrupt and sluggish." Slade felt no remorse or regret saying this. He just wanted to rid the world of Hades' Children. No money or power attached. The commissioner turned an extraordinary shade of red at this.

"Mr. Wilson, I resent that statement and-" The commissioner began, his loud voice tainted with anger.

"I'm sure you do, but your resentment of these facts does not concern me," Slade stood up, and took the file leaning off the edge of the commissioner's mahogany desk. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some pressing matters to attend to. Have a nice day commissioner." He wedged the file under his arm and left without another word.

The air was thick with smog and sorrow. They all cried that day, but they knew they had to move quickly. Or else they would be caught. They could not be caught. Raven still lay in a feverish sleep on the ground, and they were already so laden with belongings that they would have to wake her. After a few moments, Starfire placed her box on the ground and kneeled next to Raven.

"Friend Raven?... Friend Raven, we require you to wake." Starfire's voice was warped by sadness; it was nothing like the usual voice of the cheerful Tamaranian. She shook Raven's shoulder slightly. At this, Raven opened her eyes a crack, her vision was clouded by pain. Now that she was regaining consciousness, she felt a sharp painful pulsing in the center of her forehead, and she bit her lip to keep from gasping. She sat up slowly, taking in the sad looks on her teammates faces, and then turning to see the smoldering remnants of her home. She felt as though the smoke were spiting her, while it drifted beyond memory and sight, they were rooted here on firm earth. No one said a word for a while, the air was too heavy, their hearts and throats too weak. But everything ends up broken.

"Let's go," Robin said, without remorse, without sorrow, just determination. He would have to be strong if the others couldn't. Raven rose from the ground and nodded solemnly. The others followed Robin as he led them away from the scornful sun. But Raven lingered and looked back for a while. It wasn't long before they noticed. She was a small figure in the distance by then though. They stopped walking. Robin sighed, not hiding a hint of irritation. Starfire cast a slightly disappointed look his way, and he stopped. Cyborg just looked at the ground. Beast Boy looked around at his other teammates, after a few moments, he was sure no one was going to go back for her if he didn't. So he grabbed something from his box and began to run back.

Raven wasn't thinking of the burnt home at all. She was thinking of home in general. They say home is where the heart is, and she felt that her heart wasn't really anywhere. And if home is where the family is, then she could never stop moving. The pain in her forehead had dulled a little and she was slipping back into a world of memories that had once held happiness, but now only held regret. Her daydream was shattered by approaching footsteps. She turned to see Beast Boy, slowing down to stand beside her. His gaze drifted to the ash.

"You didn't have to come back." Her tone had no inflections, she glanced at Beast Boy while she was speaking, then turned back to the pile of ash.

"Well, it takes five to tango. And I thought you'd want this." His voice was surprisingly bright, as he handed her a small leather-bound book. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of it.

"Beast Boy, how did you even know I had that?" Her voice seemed monotone, but there was definitely something dangerous about it. He turned to her and smiled awkwardly.

"Well, uh, I would hear writing late at night, and I figured you'd be the only one awake at that hour." Her gaze was threatening to say the least. "Er, don't worry, I didn't tell the others. Plus I figured since you contained the fire for so long, you wouldn't have time to get anything out." She took the book from his hand, and with one last glance at the ashes, she began to walk towards the other Titans.

"Thanks." At this Beast Boy grinned and ran after her.

"No problem."