"…………….."

"……………..Raven?"

"………………"

I am sitting.

At the edge of the Main Room.

With my nose in a book.

As ever.

As always.

Legs crossed as I sit at the eating booth.

Empty….

"…………"

"…………Raven?"

"…………."

"…………Raven!"

"Hmmm?" I tilt my head up. I blink boredly across the interior domain. "What is it?"

Robin is looking at me. All of the Titans are looking at me. They are gathered in a crescent around the Boy Wonder.

I realize then that a 'team meeting' has been in effect for the better part of twenty minutes.

Or….at least I think so.

Whatever……

"Did you hear what I said from over there?"

"Do repeat it again, Robin. I was only at the part where Heathcliffe digs up the grave."

"This is important, girl!" Cyborg waves an arm. "It's Brother Blood we're talking about!"

"Mrrrmmm…"

Robin faces the other Titans and continues speaking: "After studying data from Brother Blood's last H.I.V.E. base in the Pacific Basin, there's plenty of reason to believe that the villain now plots an invasion of covert guerrilla action along the East Coast. Cyborg has just recently cracked a code, and everything points to Steel City. A major industrial center along the Atlantic shoreline. In a matter of days, Brother Blood's forces are plotting to move. And I believe it to be our duty—as heroes and as Titans—to go over there en masse and investigate."

"All right!" Beast Boy cheers, pumping an arm. "Road trip!"

Cyborg glares at him. "Not that sort of road trip, little man."

"What? I've got Bikini Traffic Bingo. You ain't got nothing on Bikini Traffic Bingo, dude…."

Starfire glances over at Robin. Concerned eyes of green. "What is to become of the City in our absence?"

The Boy Wonder nods. "As much as it is our duty to be on the back of Brother Blood, we must also not forget our ultimate duty to this City. Although I'd gladly have all of us pitch in and work together with our combined powers on this, it would be an atrocity…considering how much these citizens need us."

"So get Superman here to babysit the City while we're gone or something!" Beast Boy gestures. "He's a regular boy scout! He wouldn't mind spending some time outside of Luthor-ville. Heck, it'll be like a vacation for him I bet!"

"………," Robin glares. "Superman can't afford to leave Metropolis that long."

"What? He can't afford a day or two?"

"This will take a week long at least, Beast Boy."

The green elf's eyes bulge. He nearly pratfalls and gasps: "A WEEK? Dude….I can understand a road trip, but a WEEK? Do you have any idea how all of my fangirls will practically kill themselves from missing me? I'm too handsome to afford such a hiatus!"

"Cut the melodrama, B.B…..," Cyborg moans.

"What melodrama? None of you remember what happened when Valentino died?"

"Brother Blood is the sort of fiend to merit our mutual departure from this City, is he not?" Starfire remarks.

"I know. I'm at a bit of a dilemma here….," Robin sighs and rubs his temple. "If I had my way….I'd just have another team of Titans established that far out East so that we could all keep tabs on the Continent."

"Boo-ya! That'd be righteous! And just who would be on that team?"

Beast Boy Bit his lip. "Uhhh…….I don't think Mary-Kate and Ashley have discovered their pyrokinesis yet, dudes…."

"Brrrr…..twins….," Cyborg makes a face. "Heaven forbid…."

"I think I have a solution….," Robin says. "One of us should stay behind."

"While the other four venture to Steel City?" Starfire blinks.

Robin nods. "It may be a sacrifice of resources, but I consider that the lesser of two evils."

Cyborg shrugs: "So…..who stays and who goes?"

"Oh! Oh!" Beast Boy waves his arm wildly. "Me Me Me Me Me Me!"

"……," Robin stares at him. "You what?"

"………..….I don't know yet."

"As much as I would greatly enjoy being within the rapturous company of my fellow cohorts….," Starfire cups her hands together and murmurs: "…..I will gladly spend an excess of seven days here alone at the Tower to ensure the safety of our citizens."

"I applaud you for volunteering, Starfire. But we have to think this through."

"What's to be thought through?" Beast Boy shrugs. "My lady fans need me!"

"Running the Tower alone—much less the City—takes a great deal of effort," Cyborg says. "Setting the defense matrices. Going out on beats to spot criminals. Strategizing how to fight innumerable thugs alone if need be---"

"Not to mention the terrifying pain of solitude…," Starfire bites her lip.

Robin speaks. "Whichever one of us stays….it's got to be somebody with patience, with fortitude, and…….with nothing else to do."

THWPP!

I turn a page in my novel.

I read on.

The Titans turn around.

They gaze at me…….

"……….."

"……….."

"………."

"……….."

A beat.

"……………….," I glance up from my pages.

I stare at them.

I blink.

"………………what?"

An hour and a half has passed….

…..and now I stand in the personal weapons armory of Robin while the Boy Wonder speaks to me.

"I can't thank you enough, Raven," he utters aside as he rummages through canvass bag after canvass bag of random tools, weaponry, and vigilante gadgets. "You'll be well remembered for volunteering to be sentry of the Tower. When the rest of the team and I get back from tracking down Brother Blood, we'll see that you get some down time in reward."

"I don't exactly remember volunteering," I drone with ever so slightest the furrowing of my brow. "…..but sure."

"You're a very mature person, Raven. Sometimes I wish you would just accept being a 'second-in-command'. But whatever's the case, I can't imagine someone better suited to watch over this City in our absence."

"Crime hasn't been exactly soaring as of late, Robin….," I say to him as he rummages through mountains of birdarangs. "And don't let your ego take this the wrong way, but I don't think that all the crooks in the world are going to come out of the woodwork just because you're gone."

"Right. But still, anything's possible. I want you to be on the guard, Raven."

"Right……."

"Here….," Robin suddenly spins and tosses me a yellow utility belt. "I want you to use this…."

I cradle the draping article of pocketry in two arms.

"………………………you've got to be kidding me…."

"I'm serious," Robin frowns. "You could be up against anything and everything out there on your own while we're gone. I want you to wear that when or if you fight any threats out on the street. You can't rely on your soul self's telekinesis for everything."

"You mean the same telekinesis that can skin you alive in a matter of seconds?"

His eyemask thins. "Is that a threat?"

"Don't flatter yourself."

He turns around to his belongings. "I won't argue with you, Raven," he gathered his tools and put them in a large crate. "I want this City safe and protected……but more than that I want you to not come to harm. You're a teammate, and a friend."

"And apparently an infant…."

"Are you complaining? Raven, infants don't toss birdarangs around."

"Fear not, Robin….," I drape the utility belt over my left shoulder. "I'll try not to drool on your grappling hooks."

"Nnnnnngh….."

Moments later, I am standing outside Beast Boy's room.

I hear him thrashing about inside.

Tossing junk and clutter around.

I sigh and roll my eyes as I lean against a hallway wall….

Two large duffle bags fly out, land squishingly in the middle of the floor, and thusly announce the head of the green elf poking out and blinking beady eyes. "Erhm….we don't have a forklift, do we? Eheheheh…."

My blue eyes narrow. "What are you trying to insinuate?"

"Ehh….we're taking the T-Ship anyways. That should have plenty of room in it," he said and retreated back into his domain.

"Beast Boy…..," I suspiciously murmur. "….you do know that this really isn't a vacation. You should only bring essentials with you."

"Look who's talking!" he utters muffledly from inside. "'Vacation! Vacation!'" He sticks his head out again……wearing a sailor's cap for some godawful reason. "Man, it must be soooooo lucky to be you! To have the Tower all to yourself! The City! If it was me, I'd throw a huge-arse party!"

"Really now……"

"Yeah!" he ducks back in, muffling: "I'd get this huge banner and paint 'Sorority Girls Welcome' across it. Then buy a bunch of strawberries—cuz Sorority Girls like strawberries (or so Cyborg has told me—hehehehe-ahem)—and then let the good times roll. Rolling with moderation, of course. I'd leave the beer to root and the drugs to Flinstones Kids vitamins."

"These are all interesting propositions," I mutter. "I'm sure Robin would love to hear of them."

"So what? Trying to blackmail me, girl? It won't work! Hi-Yaaa!"

Beast Boy jumps out with a suitcase on wheels. He's dressed from head to toe with a Bermuda tourist ensemble, complete with a raggedy straw hat. "Ta daaaa! How do I look?"

"……………..," I stare numbly at him. I drone: "The Primordial Ooze called. Your mortgage still isn't settled."

He blinks at me. "Huh?"

Several disastrous minutes later….

"And that's how you handle the security system of the Tower….," Cyborg says as he finishes displaying the inner workings of the defense matrix in the Main Room. "….any questions?"

"Do I get to nuke anything?"

"Say what?.!.?"

"Just seeing if you're paying half the torturous attention that I've been paying you…."

"Cute…," Cyborg smiles nervously. Beep! Whurrrr-CLANK! He closes the instrument panel. "…I'm going to miss your sense of humor while on the trip."

"And I'm going to miss your sarcasm…."

"Touche."

"So….like…..," I blink. I look at him and nod towards the closed instrument panel. "I'll have to reset that every time I so much as step out of the Tower?"

"Uhhhh….," he rubs the back of his head. He simpers. "In theory, yeah…."

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Eh heh heh….," he blushes a little. "….I don't really expect you to leave the Tower much, is all, girl…."

"………………."

"What? Don't look at me like that. You know it's true."

"I'm not some sort of slacker. I'm here to protect the Tower while you're all gone."

"In between thumbing your pretty little fingers through more Bronte, right?"

"…………….," I fold my arms and glance off. Fuming. "You're pathetic…."

"Hah hah hah!" he ruffles my blue head of hair with a titanium hand. "And you're too predictable to be scary."

I shake loose from his touch, grit my teeth, and pulse a white gray brightness through my eyes. "Touch me again and you'll be scrap metal!"

"Nuh-uh!" he chirps as he waltzes off into the distance. "I'll be in Steel City by then, sweetheart!"

Moments later, I stand in Starfire's room.

"It is with a heart of heaviness and righteous depression that I must commit to our departure," Starfire utters in the midst of arranging…..many identical suits across her pink bed.

"'Depression'?" I'm still fumbling to straighten my blue head of hair. "Starfire, is something wrong--?"

"You are my closest 'friend who is also a girl'," Starfire murmurs as she packs her belongings. "Although my trip with the boys will certainly be an adventurous engagement, I am…….erhm……..what is the best way to express my feelings in Terran vernacular….."

"You'll be surrounded by testosterone the whole time."

Starfire sighs, deflating in a mid-air hover. "The prospect seems suddenly suffocating to me indeed…."

"Well, I didn't think it worthy to be said before, Starfire, but….," I rest my hands by my side and look at her straight-on. "….I think your girly side is starting to show some strong colors."

"Little difference it makes," she smiles gently at me. "I am certain that I can endure an extended leave of absence from the one other understandable bearer of estrogen in my life."

"……………y-yeah…."

"But I shall not lose my sanity!" Starfire suddenly brightens in dissociative fervor. "For I have been allowed to bring—"

I flinch, uncertain—

"—SILKIIIIIEEEE!" Starfire smiles with her eyes ecstatically shut as she picks up her huge maggot and spins it around in an engulfing hug. "Hehehehehe!"

"Raaaaawaaaawwwwaaar!"

My heart suddenly skips a beat.

"Oh….so….um…..," I blink. "You're taking Silkie?"

"Indeeeeeeeed," she holds the worm up and nuzzles it cheek to cheek lovingly. "It took quite a bit of convincing on Robin's part. But he soon gave in after I related my desire to occupy the seat in the T-Ship furthest from his central cockpit, were we to depart without my beloved pet joining us and—"

"So…..I guess…..," I bite my lip and let my eyes trail. "Silkie will be going with you four after all. And…..h-he will be on the T-Ship…….on the trip………and uhh……n-not here in the Tower………with me….."

"Ohhhh, Raven….," Starfire's eyes glisten. She floats over and engulfs Silkie and I in a group hug. WHUMP!

"Ooof!" I wheeze.

"I am so sorry to isolate you in such a manner…," she coos. "I assure you that I mean no harm. I must merely be with my beloved Silkie if I am to survive this long, arduous trip ahead of us."

I pry myself telekinetically from her hug and gather my breath. "A-Ahem……It's…..q-quite all right, Starfire. We can make up for it later, I'm sure…………..much much later….."

"Hmmmm…hehe…," Starfire smiles. She tosses Silkie behind her.

"Rawwwaaaawaaar!" KERPLUNK!

"I suppose I must not be entirely worrisome over you," she cups her hands together. "What I consider gruesome and nauseating isolation, you are quick to interpret as joyous tranquility."

"Uhh…..yeah…."

"It must be quite the rapture for you to have the Tower all to your lonesome," Starfire smiles. "You really should endeavor to do things to amplify the joy of your beloved solitude while we are absent."

"I'll be fine, Starfire……," I stroke a stubborn, loose strand of blue hair away and glance off to the side. "……it's no big deal, really…."

And finally….

….the hour comes.

Atop the roof of the Tower, I stand outside the ring of the topside launchpad. The T-Ship rests squarely on the roof. The four Titans are just now mounting their cockpits while an irate Beast Boy struggles and sweats to stuff a last suitcase into the cargo hold.

"Nnnnngh! Snkkkkkktt!" Beast Boy hisses. "Come on…..I didn't put THAT MANY Maxim magazines in this thing…d-did I?"

"Give it a rest, B.B….," Cyborg moans.

"Yes. We've got to go. Either loosen it or ditch it, Beast Boy," Robin sternly said.

"Nnnnngh!" Beast Boy shoves at the suitcase. Trying to squeeze it in. "J-Just….a little…..m-more….nnnngh…..nghhhhckkkkclkclkckkk—"

Swooosh! An ejected arm of Cyborg's at the end of a titanium cord flies over, grabs the elf by the shoulder—YOINK!—and tosses him into his respectful cockpit.

"Waaaaiieeee!" Beast Boy FWOMPS(!) into his seat as the glass bubble closes around him. "Awwwww……dude! My ladies!"

"Don't get me started….," Cyborg retracts his hand.

"Hehehehe!" Starfire giggles from her cockpit with Silkie perched on her shoulder.

Robin looks down from the central compartment and the main controls in his grip. "Well, I think we've just about covered everything. You know how to keep in touch with us, right?"

I nod. "Don't worry, Robin….," I put the robe's hood over my blue head. "I'll keep a communicator on me at all times. Just forgive me if I have to sleep or shower once in a blue moon."

"Since when were your hands ever not free, girl?" Cyborg winks.

An artery pulses in my temple. "The most dangerous point in a mission is takeoff……"

"Whoopsies! Okay, Robin…go-time!" Cyborg chuckles nervously.

Robin nods. "Right." He ignites the thrust. "Let's get going!"

"ROAD TRIP! ROAD TRIP!"

"We're in my T-Ship, butthead!"

"AIR TRIP! AIR TRIP!"

"Happy Mooglefax to you, friend Raven!" Starfire waves.

"……..," I fidget. I glance off towards the burning west horizon. The glittering ocean swallowing the last ounces of this Saturday afternoon. "……." I glance back up at the ship and before it takes off or before Robin's cockpit bubble is closed, I ask: "Not that I'm desperate to know or anything…..but how long do you think this 'trip' of yours is going to take?"

Robin shouted above the noise: "What?"

"I SAID, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO TAKE?"

"I'M GUESSING A WEEK, RAVEN! NOTHING MORE!"

"I HEAR YOU! GOOD LUCK!"

PFTOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSH!.!.!.!

The ship flies off into the distance.

"………………."

I hug my cloak tightly to myself and walk quietly down the stairwell into the body of the Tower.

The Tower…..

Inside, I am startled by something.

It hits me as soon as I start making tea inside the Main Room.

I pause.

I look around.

The walls.

The floor and ceiling.

The iciness of the windows and metal framework and hanging electronic equipment.

Silence.

Silence and more silence….

Paralyzing.

Penetrating.

All around me.

"……………………….."

I take a deep breath and resume making my tea.

"………..I just might learn to enjoy this after all….."