Mm... I just ate dinner... A spaghetti sammich, broccoli, carrots, cut-up piece of hamburger, and a bowl of caneloupe, honeydew, and grapes..... And cake.. Mm, caaa~akke... With yummy light frosting and strawberries on top...

I'm hungry again..

–

BeastBoy sipped lazily at some cranberry juice, watching a rerun of... Something. He wasn't paying too much attention, really, and had zoned out, looking at the screen with an empty stare. Robin had walked in, quietly, and was standing at the other end of the couch, looking at his team member. He cocked his head to the side when BeastBoy didn't noticed him, and coughed to get his attention. Nothing. BeastBoy was a ball of energy, who jumped at any chance to make any joke, no matter the lameness. Surely... He would have told Robin not to choke on his ego, or..or...Or something.

"BeastBoy?"

It didn't register.

Robin frowned, and then walked away, to go upstairs and call Bruce. If even BeastBoy was that drained, the other Titans – who could facade their energy levels better, apparently – were probably just as exhausted. Robin frowned as he walked past the still-sleeping Cyborg's room. He heard Raven meditating, her soft voices floating from outside of her ro- wait, huh? Robin's brow creased, and he took a couple steps back, right next to Raven's room. Two voices, not one. And they weren't meditating, either.

'Star? And Raven? Talking?' he thought, leaning closer to the door. Alas, it was muffled to the point he could only hear muffled tones and changes in pitch. They were talking, like.. Having an actual, peaceful conversation? Robin couldn't sense the usual malicious annoyance in Raven's pitch, either. Just a slight, almost.. Motherly.. patience, calm and... This was a good thing, but.. Far from ordinary. The black-haired boy picked up the pace to his room.

He sat down, and frowned. A green-gloved hand hovered over the landline, and it started to ring as soon as he touched it. He jerked it from the cradle, to his ear.

"Titans West," he greeted, in a commanding voice.

"You're quick on the call," a quirky voice said, jokingly.

"Speedy," Robin practically sighed the name, "How are you? How are the others? Is everything alright?"

"Everything is just fine, Robin," the calm voice said, "East Titans is doing well. Crime is really slack, here, at the moment. Mas y Menos say hello."

"That's good," Robin cradled the phone in his shoulder, and opened another webpage. The Sladebot recorded the conversation.

"So, what did you need, bro?" Robin said, leaning back in his chair. He was curious; East Titans rarely called unless they needed help, wanted to get together, et cetera. He wanted to get straight to the point, so he could get to Bruce and set up some kind of vacation in Gotham.

"Well.. We need your help, man."

Robin frowned. This conversation might not end like he wanted it to.

"Ah, I see," he said, sitting up, "But I thought crime was on the decline, there?"

"Well, here, yeah. Things are good, really."

There was a pause.

"Then... Huh?"

"I can't talk about it on the phone, man, but we're gonna need at least two of your team for this, if you can."

Robin frowned. This didn't sound good...

"Can you guys fly out here, tonight? Just for an hour to discuss this," the fun, chirpy Speedy sounded older with solemnity.

"Who?"

"Uh, I don'- Hey- Aqualad, stop that! Aqu-"

"Hey!" the Atlantian yelled over the phone. Robin pulled the receiver away from his ear. The teen from Atlantis was... Not..Good with phones. "Bring BeastBoy! I found this cool place in-"

"Gimme the phone, you stup-"

"No!"

"Why I ought to.."

BANG!

CRUNCH!

There was a loud clattering and crashing, and Robin heard Bumblebee and Mas y Menos laughing in the background.

"Don't pull my – OWWW, STOOOP THAT HUURTTTS!!!"

"Then don't take the -AYE AYE AAAYYEE!!! THAT'S MY BOW ARM!"

Robin sighed, facepalming.

He heard the phone fall as the boys fought, then a couple clicks.

"Robin?" a sultry, sexy tone came on the line.

"Hey, Bumblebee," he sighed, relieved.

"Just you and BB tonight, will be fine, but I'd love to see Cy again," the girl said, almost dreamily.

"I can make up the spare rooms for all of you, though, if you want."

"Uh.." Robin thought.

"We'll all come out, to-"

"Ah, damn," Bumblebee said, "We only have four rooms. Will you mind sleeping on the couch?"

"Nah, it's cool," the Boy Wonder said, "We'll see you tonight, I'll go get Cy."

"Thanks, Robin," the girl said, and then there was a pause.

Robin heard Speedy and Aqualad's fight begin to dawdle off.

"What we need," she finally said, slowly, "Has to do with Ahriman."

Robin was silent.

Ahriman was like Slade, only... Different. He frowned, deeply.

Ahriman was different in that he was not like Slade; he was sloppier and less scheming for money than he focused on torment.

Unlike Slade, who wanted dominion and structured following, Ahriman wanted chaos and blood, confusion and despicable natures to be loosened.

The Titans thought they had been rid of him when they had faced off with him in Samfya, Zambia. He had run into the desolate forest in the 'protected area' of Lake Bangweulu, a hefty 'national park' with heavy forestry and a fascinating selection of wildlife. They had gone into the mess of jungle, but couldn't find the man.

Assumed dead, if only because the vast wetland was very unpopulous, and the 'way out' was so difficult after only a few meters that -

"Hey, Robin! Rooo~ooobin?"

"Huh?" The Boy Wonder had fazed out for a moment.

Bumblebee made a 'hrrumph!'-ng sound. "We'll see you tonight."

"K. See you later," Robin said, frowning as he thought.

Ahriman was almost as deadly as Slade, though not nearly as bothersome and tormenting. Slade wanted and needed Robin, Ahriman... He lived up to his name. "God of death and blackness."

He didn't care who he killed, how many... Any collateral was fine. Slade.. At least he didn't go on psychopathic rampage. Slade was calculated and cool and so much... Better, although it sickened Robin to think it as he rose. Both men were despicable, but only one was crazy.

He went to Cyborg's room and knocked.

"Cyborg," he called, tapping his foot impatiently, "The Titan Jet, is it-"

The door flew open, and suddenly, a hugely-grinning, half-robot man was in his face.

"YES."

"Okay...Uh.."

"Can I fly it?" the black man started dancing around. "Puh-leeasse?"

"Yeah..That's.."

Cyborg picked Robin up, nearly crushing him in a hug. "SWEEET, Where are we going, huh?"

"Only... to Titans.. East?" Robin said, trying to breathe, "Please..Can't.."

Cyborg tossed him down, and ran away to the hangar, laughing like a madman.

Robin went off to tell the rest of the team to get a one-night overnight bag.

–

Mm... I'm going to go get candy!