118. Wonder Why

"Now Noir, I do not desire to hurt you. But please know that I intend to use my powers to the extent of my ability...as well as you should use yours...."

I nodded.

Starfire took a deep breath. "Do you feel prepared to begin?"

I slowly unsheathed Myrkblade. CHHHHHHING!!

The Tamaranian floated up and charged her hands a glowing green.

My brow furrowed.

Her emerald eyes narrowed.

We faced each other on opposite sides of the Tower's rooftop. The early morning sun brightly illuminated half of our bodies while on the rise.

Raven and Cyborg stood on the Northern edge of the Tower...watching.

Beast Boy and Robin stood on the side.

"Nnnnnghhhh," Beast Boy yawned and blinked tiredly. "Man oh man..........what I wouldn't give for an eclipse right about now just so I'd have an excuse to get back to bed."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Robin remarked, bright and bushy-tailed. His eyemask was round and his lips curved as he folded his arms and said: "I swear...I rested last night like I've never rested in ages. How could anyone miss sleep?"

"Yeah....tell me about it," Beast Boy grumbled, refusing to look at the Boy Wonder.

Robin glanced at him curiously...but shook it off. He cleared his throat and raised a hand. "Ready!!"

Starfire glowed brighter. Her red hair billowed behind her as she hovered.

"Set!!"

I gripped tightly to Myrkblade. My legs parted...ready to spring. My metal left fingers posed meditatively....

"Go!!" Robin's hand fell.

Starfire's body shot up in the air and launched down a huge, pulsing starbolt. "RAAAUGH!!"

FLASH!!!!

I dove under the blast and rolled into a kneeling position.

Starfire launched two smaller pulses. "RAA! YAAH!!"

I twirled Myrkblade from where I crouched, deflecting the blasts. CLANG!! CLACK!!

I bolted up to my feet, blurred across the ceiling, and leapt up towards her.

Starfire grit her teeth and spun her body to the side in midair.

SLASH!!!!

My sword missed her.

She grabbed my side and tossed me over her shoulders with Tamaranian strength.

SWOOOOOSH!!

I flipped, flailed for a moment, and extended tendrils of smoke from my inner torso to guide my fall and land myself barely on the edge of the rooftop. I teetered on the side, panting.

"RRRRrrrghhh!!" Starfire soared straight down at me with her shoulder in a ramming position.

I took a breath.

FLASH!!!

I teleported backwards in a stream of smoke.

"!!!!!!!!" Starfire gasped as she 'skidded' to a stop in midair where my body was.

I gripped her shoulders from behind and used agility as my weapon. I tossed her swiftly over my body like a missile towards the center of the rooftop.

"EEEK!!" she righted herself at the last second.

I twirled Myrkblade and dashed towards her low-hovering figure.

She gritted her teeth, charged starbolts into her wrists, and blocked my sword-slashes with the energy around her hands. CLASH!!! CLANG!! THWACK!!

Sparks flew from the contact of my sword and her shielded fingers. In such a fashion, the two of us deflected and parried across the length of the Tower while Cyborg and Raven watched on.

"This isn't a fair sparring...," Cyborg muttered.

"Why not?" droned Raven.

The android Titan gestured with one hand. "Come on!! Even if they were fighting to the death, one good swing of Noir's sword and Star's head would be off!"

"....and Starfire could strike Noir's torso with a well-timed Starbolt and liquidate his internal organs on the spot. What's your point?"

"Eh heheheheh...," Cyborg sweatdropped. "Never mind. I like your point better."

"You mean you 'respect' my point better."

"Y-Yeah....that."

".................."

".................."

"................."

"..........I wonder when you and I get to spar."

"Hmm?"

"You and me, Raven," Cyborg smirked. "Duking it out."

"Pffft. Heaven forbid."

"What? Afraid you'd lobotomize me before Robin even declares the match started?"

"I'm not afraid of anything..."

"So you would lobotomize me just any day of the week, hmmm?"

"If you so tempt me...."

"Heheheh....well I won't spare my sonic cannon, then!"

"Do whatever you wish," Raven droned. "Robin has never assigned me to engage in a sparring lesson before. And I doubt he ever will."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Training is fine. But sparring is a manner of competition. And competition evokes many emotions....frustration, anger, humiliation, joy, sadism—"

"The no-touchie fruits of the spirit, right?" Cyborg smirked.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. The stuff that's not part of my......mental diet."

"Good analogy."

"I wasn't trying to make one."

"But you did," Cyborg pointed. "And if I may be so bold...I think you should give it a shot."

"What? Analogous statements?"

"Well, that too...but I mean sparring."

"I thought I just told you---"

"I know what you told me. I may have a bunch of metal between these ears of mine but I can still hear things, can't I?"

"........"

"You only learn by trying. Training is one thing, but sparring helps simulate the real deal, ya know? Give it a shot sometime. I could even spar against you just so you can start out slow or whatever. Not that you'd need to....you're a kickass crimefighter. Probably the most kickass on this team! But it doesn't hurt to play out scenarios ahead of time. That way, you can learn to be better prepared so that legitimate competition with criminal baddies out there don't REALLY bring out the bad in you. Rage and whatnot...."

"..................I it, Cyborg," Raven eventually nodded.

"Well, I hope you do!"

"After all........I am kickbutt, apparently."

"KicASS."

"I know what I said."

"Heheheheh..."

Meanwhile....

"Raaaugh!!" Starfire grabbed me by the arm and threw me towards the side of the Tower again.

I planted my feet into the ground and skidded to a stop. I spun around.

SWOOOOOOSH!!! Starfire soared at me. She charged a starbolt.

I gripped Myrkblade tightly. I inhaled. I surged murk energy throughout my body.

Starfire came upon my position and unleashed a huge, green pulse.

FLASH!!!!!!!!

The starbolt flew through me......and I was gone.

"!!!!" Starfire's green eyes flashed open wide. She gasped and flew to a stop. She spun around, panting. "Noir?!?!" she darted her head every which way. She panicked. "Noir!!!"

Beast Boy snickered.

Robin cupped his hands on either side of his mouth and shouted out: "Noir's allright, Star!! You're letting down your guard!! You're letting down your guard!!"

"I'm what?!?!" the Tamaranian cackled.

SWOOSH!!!

A curtain of smoke materialized as I came out of stealth mode, standing right behind her. I smirked, grabbed her upper body with both hands, spun her like a top, and let her go in the direction of the buildingtop's edge.

"AACKIES!!!" Starfire spiraled like a rocket but floated herself upright at the last second before possibly plummeting out of bounds. She floated in place and clenched her hands tightly. "Ooooooh!! That was most dishonorable and wretched and trademark of a Morwilk Vorgrablarf!!!"

I chuckled breathily.

"RAAAUGH!!" Starfire flew at me like a missile.

".........," I sweatdropped.

WHUMP!!!!

She plowed me to the ground and soon, the two of us were wrestling mercilessly across the rooftop.

"Nnghhhhh!! Your Terran strength is holding out.....stubbornly!!" Starfire strained as she tried to force my hands behind my back.

I gritted my teeth, blurred murk, and teleported so that I was in back of her. I pressed her chest-first into the ground and tried to get HER hands behind her back as we struggled and struggled....

"Yeah!! You go, Noir!!" Cyborg winked his human eye from a distance. "Now let me just get a rope so that you can hog-tie her!!"

I gave him a double-take.

Distracted....

"HA!!!" Starfire reversed kick me in the chest.

I wheezed and toppled over.

She pounced on top of me, charging a starbolt threateningly into my face. "NOW who is in possession of the hand of the upper?!?!"

I struggled beneath her, wriggled my hands down and..............tickled her.

"WAAAH!!" the Tamaranian flinched on top of me. "No!! NOO!! EEK!! What—hahahaha---what manner of Terran guerilla warfare is this?!?! Hahahaha!!"

Twitch and flinch and shake as she might, she couldn't block my fingers from tickling all over her midriff.

"Hehehehehe!! Ack!! This sparring---hehehe—match is---hahahaha---c-coming to a close!!!"

I grinned helplessly.

She finally batted my hand away and tried wrestling me into submission again....but was caught unaware by my metal left fingers onto the small of her exposed back. Cold and tickling.

"EEEK!! Treacherous—hehehehehe!!"

"Oh for crying out---," Robin smacked his forehead. "No!!! That's not how you practice for combat!! How in the blue Hell can that be practice for combat?!?! Damn it all!!"

Beast Boy was laughing his head off. "Hehehehehehehehe!!! Fight to the death, you savages!!"

"Beast Boy...."

"Cry havoc!! And let slip the feather dusters of war!!!"

"Beast Boy, you're not helping!!"

"Dude, you gotta admit...that would have soooooooooooo caught Slade unawares."

"Hehehehehehe!!!" Starfire finally gave up in a fit of blushing, endless giggles as she curled into a fetal position besides me. I smiled and bent over her...tickling...tickling. "Stop it!! Cease! Desist!! An end to the mammalian digits of fury, I beg of you!! Hehehehehe!!"

"Good lord....," Raven blinked. "If that's what sparring's gonna have from now on, I don't think you and I should take part in it, Cyborg."

"Uh.................yeah."

Robin groaned. "Okay. Game's over. I think you two have practiced enough."

"Hehehehehe!!" Starfire shook all over. "Y-You heard his command, Noir!! Hehehehe!! Please abort the sparring!!"

I chuckled and kept at it.

She shook and giggled more. "Hehehehehehe!! Please abort the sparring!!" As if on reflex, Starfire shoved her hand into my chest. But at that particular time and moment, she let slip the fact that she was well over eight times stronger than myself.

WHAM!!!!!!!!!

My body flew back from her blow and I was sent flying clear over the edge of the Tower Rooftop.

Starfire and Robin gasped.

Cyborg's and Raven's eyes went wide.

"Noir!!!" Beast Boy called out.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

SWOOOOSH!!!

I plummeted down towards the Earth.

"!!!!"

I reached a hand back to my sheathe....and realized I didn't have Myrkblade.

I gasped into the rushing air.

I must have dropped it during the spar!!!

I pivoted my body about. I faced the wall of the Tower blurring up past me. I summoned a wave of murk and covered my limbs with smoke. I gripped the speeding structure with black, elongated 'talons' or 'fingernails'.

SCRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAAAPEE!!!!!!!!!

I gritted my teeth.

Sparks flew.

SWOOOSH!!!

I slipped loose.

I fell back.

I twirled and twirled helplessly in mid-air.

All in a matter of seconds...I found myself falling to the point of impact face-down.

My black eyes saw nothing but a quarry of rocky, cragged sea bluffs through my shades. Sailing up at my face.

I winced---

GRIP!!!!

YANK!!!!

I stopped suddenly. The blood rocketed down into my head through centripetal force before boiling back over through the rest of my body. My shades were a mere three feet away from the hard rocks.

I panted.

And then...a strong womany voice uttered: "So.....Mr. Noir....is this the sort of stuff you don't write to me in your letters??"

"????????" I dangled upside down and looked up.

A woman with full, dark black hair looked at me....upside down. With the sunrise behind both her and the Tower, it was next to impossible to detect any features right away.

"Like spending time tickling poor alien girls and falling to your death for me to save you?" the woman smiled.

I ....helpless....

I was gently lowered to the ground.

Plop!

I sat upright and shook my head...chasing the dizziness away.

"I'm only teasing of course," the stranger chuckled. "But still...it worries me if Titans are this clumsy."

I finally glanced up and got a good look at her. And once I did, I bounced to my feet with a jump as if standing at attention.

"At ease, Noir," said Wonder Woman. "It's typically the Man of Steel to enforce authority over other superheroes on this continent. Though we share some of the same colorful fashion statements....we don't share the same ego." She winked.

I simpered. I didn't know whether to salute her, bow down, hug her, or what......

Thankfully...that was exactly when Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy settled down in various forms of flight to join us.

"Noir, dude...," Beast Boy murmured. "How on earth did you---" He stopped in mid-step and went bug-eyed. Blinking.

".......," Raven stared.

"Friends? Why the sudden muteness? Is Noir damaged---EEP!!" At the sight of her hero, Starfire immediately blushed and hid behind Raven's cape. Her wide green eyes peered up over the blue shoulder. "Mmmmmmmm??" she whimpered.

"Well...if I expected a warm company, I would have knocked on the front door," Wonder Woman mused. Her hands on her hips....trademark style "But honestly I wasn't sure if the Titans would be up at this hour. So I waited around the island and meditated till I thought I could approach the Tower. Little did I expect to find myself catching falling swordsman."

I blushed, still trying to catch my breath.

"Regardless...," the Amazon continued, "I'm impressed with your diligence in training this early."

"We weren't aware that you needed to be impressed," Raven droned.

"Ah...and you must be Raven," Wonder Woman smiled. "Co-Founder of the Titans and powerful young sorceress. Noir's quite accurate in his letters. You are wise beyond your years."

Raven glanced at me.

I sweatdropped.

She glanced back at the woman. "I am what I am. But I'll take your words as a compliment."

"I do hope you do. I meant it as one," the superheroine said.

Beast Boy cleared his throat, broke the ice, and jumped forward with a hand outstretched. "Howdy! I'm Beast Boy!" A frozen....uncomfortable pause. His entire face fell. He let out a frustrated groan and clutched his head of hair. "Rrrrrgh!! Idiot!! You meet Wonder Woman finally and the first thing you say is 'howdy'?!?!"

"I hear you have unique talents," Wonder Woman says, unaffected. "Capable of mimicking the form of all animals that have ever existed. Tell me....have you ever given a minotaur or a gorgon a try?"

"I b-beg your pardon........Wonder Ma'am??"

"Why....the creatures of the world's distant history. Classified as 'mythological' they may be....but I assure you, they do exist." She leaned forward and gently uttered: "I would so enjoy seeing one of those long lost wonders of creation again..."

Beast Boy stared in her face. ".........." His right nostril bled. "Eheheheh....I-I'll see what I can do. SNIFF. Excuse me...." He walked off, flushed

Wonder Woman glanced over at the sound of shy, Tamaranian murmuring. She blinked. "Am I missing someone?"

"Only Starfire...," Raven said.

Wonder Woman glanced at me.

I shrugged.

She glanced back at Raven. "Have I....offended her??"

"Hardly...," Raven sighed. She stepped aside, fully exposing the cowering redhead.

"Eeek!!" Starfire clasped her hands together and blushed. She bit her lip and backed away from Wonder Woman as if she was the Sun up close.

"Starfire, I presume," Wonder Woman spoke. "Whatever seems to be the matter?"

"She is.........a big fan," Raven droned.

Wonder Woman glanced at me. "And here I thought you were joking!"

I shrugged with a crooked smile.

"You need not be afraid," Wonder Woman gestured to the Tamaranian. "We are both superheroines. I consider us all equals."

"But....but....h-how can I compare to the magnitude that is Princess Diana, Wonder Woman of the Amazons?!"

"Flattering....heheheh," Wonder Woman chuckled. She rested her hand on her hip. "I assure you, Miss Starfire. I do not want to be considered by you as more than a friend or a comrade in the battle against evil everywhere."

"As....a f-friend???" Starfire blinked.

"Mmmmhmmm," Wonder Woman nodded.

Raven and I winced simultaneously.

"Wait, Wonder Woman," Raven gritted her teeth and held a hand out, "....look out—"

SWOOOOOSH-THWUMP!!!

Wonder Woman's eyes bugged as Starfire hugged the stuffings out of her.

I covered my shades with my hand.

"Hello new friend!!! Hehehehehehe!!!! I am elated to be in fellowship with her most respectful Queen of the Lasso!!"

"Queen of the Lasso....that's a new one...," Wonder Woman wheezed. She pried the giddy fangirl off of her and took a deep breath. "Well then....now that's over with...."

"Let's get down to business," Robin's voice said.

All of us looked over.

Cyborg and the Boy Wonder emerged from the front door of Titan's Tower. From the look and sound of it, they must have been running in a hurry.

"Looks like Noir made it all right," Cyborg said. He smiled suggestively. "Soft landings?"

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Wonder Woman.....," the Boy Wonder's eyemask narrowed.

"Robin....," she smirked back at him.

He folded his arms. "This is rather......impromptu."

"Yes, I do believe it is."

"I assume you came here for something important."

"Otherwise I wouldn't have come at all," the Amazon shrugged.

Starfire glanced from caped crusader to femme fighter and gulped.

Robin leaned his head to the side. "Couldn't you have at least sent us a message first?"

"I've been a little busy as of late. All of the Justice League has. I'm sorry I couldn't......'warn' you about my visitation."

"If it was so necessary for us to meet, we could have invited you."

Then and there, Wonder Woman let out a belly-full laugh.....with whatever 'belly' she truly possessed.

Raven and I raised eyebrows.

Cyborg rubbed his human head.

Beast Boy modestly sauntered back into the ring of conversation.

Wonder Woman caught her breath and sighed with a smile. "So like your mentor, Robin. So like him in many ways...."

Robin frowned. "Get to the point."

Wonder Woman held up a fan of.....envelopes.

We all blinked at her.

"For Noir....," she clarified.

"Ohhhhh," Cyborg smirked. He looked my way. "Looks like you've had a belated pen pal, dawg!"

I simpered.

I felt a handful of papers shoved into my hands.

I took them with a slight bow.

"You're welcome," Wonder Woman mused. "I thought it would be rather impersonal to simply mail all of those responses to our correspondence late. So I came here in person."

"As we can see....," Raven said.

"And in the meantime.....I thought I might get to see you brave young souls in person. For even though I've had a difficult time responding to your e-mails, Noir---"she faced me as she went on "—that didn't stop me from reading what you had to say. And quite interesting your reflections were, too."

"I bet....," Raven droned.

"Yeah....he's sorta the......'listener' of the group," Beast Boy suggested, scratching his head. "Then again, we did kinda sorta dump it on him."

"Oh.....really?" Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow. "I would have imagined he volunteered---"

"He was more than happy to communicate with you," Starfire pleasantly said, her hands joined together. "I myself would have been most happy to do so too....but....I-I have not gotten used to Terran keyboard equipment, not to mention that my fingers shake when I am nervous and---"

Raven stepped in between the two. "Was it a tour that you expected?" Raven asked the Amazon. "Because we were rather busy when you came."

"Training?"

Raven nodded.

"Well then, I do apologize," Wonder Woman shrugged. "Next time I shall arrive late when your companion here is falling to his death."

I winced.

Raven stared at her....unphased.

"Speaking of which, butterfingers....," Cyborg smirked. He tossed me something.

GRIP!!

I caught it. Myrkblade. I smiled. I twirled it about and sheathed it.

CHHHIIING!!!

Wonder Woman eyed my sword. She eyed me. "Fascinating."

I raised an eyebrow over my shades.

Beast Boy cleared his throat.

"Well.....," Robin sighed. "You came this far. I can't just tell you to turn around and go back to the Watchtower or Metropolis or wherever. The Tower is an abode for heroes and heroines. Young and old alike. You're welcome to stay here."

"Heh....and to think I'm never invited to the Batcave. Not once."

"Okay....if you're going to pay us a visit," Robin pointed, "...you gotta stop doing that."

"Doing what?" Wonder Woman asked innocently.

"Yes, Robin?" Starfire giggled. "Doing what??? Hehehehe."

".............," the Boy Wonder stared. "Never mind....." He turned around and walked up towards the Tower door with a sigh. "Everyone follow me...."

"Oye....," Raven rubbed her temples and ventured forth. "This is going to be a long day."

"Best spent together, eh princess?" Cyborg nudged Raven.

"Don't touch me."

"Love you too."

Beast Boy chuckled. "Oh man...this is rich."

Starfire floated around like a happy dragonfly as Wonder Woman and I were the last to ascend the Tower.

"It must be a real challenge, Mr. Noir...," Wonder Woman said.

I glanced at her.

She smiled. "To manage a team with so many......hormones....."

I blinked. I looked off into space.

I never thought of that.......

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Clack!!

The birdarangs extended to full length.

Robin narrowed his eyemask. He gritted his teeth. He flung them---

SW-SW-SW-SW-SW-SW-SWISH-CRACK!!!!!

All three severed a wooden target each. The objects hung on metal supports from the top of the training gym's corridor.

"Next batch!" Robin shouted.

"You got it, dude," Beast Boy winked and pressed a remote.

WHUUUUUUURR-CHUNG!!! Four fresh targets descended from the ceiling, further spread apart and at random.

Robin grunted and flung with two flicking wrists.

CRACK!!! C-CRACK!!!

The targets shattered. A perfect strike again.

"Next!!"

Meanwhile, Starfire stood in front of a metal slab across the way. A robotic laser-pointer stood beneath her. It flashed a red strobe in various places on the wall. Wherever the strobe appeared, Starfire concentrated her energy into her eyes. Frowning, she let loose stream after stream of green optic blasts with righteous fury. It was a relatively new talent of hers, and there was no time like the present to exercise it. ZAP!! ZAAAAAAAAAP!! ZAAP!!!!

Over in another corner, Raven was doing.................sit ups. She had her cape off and was sweating in her tights as she bent up over and over, her hands folded across her chest.

"...forty-seven.....forty-eight.....forty-nine...," Cyborg counted. He was kneeling in front of her, holding her feet down. Spotting.

"This is.....pointlessly.......strenuous...," Raven huffed and puffed. "....I should be.....exercising my.....mind, and not.....my abs...."

"Come on, Rae. Just a little more. It was you yourself who said you need to get in more physical shape," Cyborg winked. "Though I have to admit...I like your shape the way it is."

"You're quite.....the cunning.....robot....."

"How so?"

"Waiting till.....I'm out of.....breath to.....make me want.....to in the family."

Also meanwhile.....I was at the far side of the gym from the others. I had a stretch of mat laid out before me. Piercing the map in nearly a dozen places were thick metal bars pointed up at the ceiling. I held my breath at one end of the map. Crouched down. Concentrated....and.....

SWOOOOOOOOSH!!!!

I blurred forward, turning into smoke form, and teleported through the metal bars before solidifying on the other side.

I panted.

I turned around.

I flexed my limbs.

I took a breath.

I knelt down.

"....................."

I did it again, the other direction.

SWOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!

I solidified on the other side, breathing heavily. I wiped my brow.

A clapping sound.

I looked sweatily to the side.

"That must take a lot of effort," Wonder Woman applauded. She rested her hands to her hips. "Are you actually going through the bars? Or just running around them really quickly?"

"..............," I blinked under my shades. I glanced at the bars. I scratched my head. I looked at the Amazon, shrugged, and mouthed: 'I don't know'.

She chuckled. "I suppose that's an honest answer. Let me see how you do what you write about. The 'pulsing murk' as you call it."

I nodded. I held my right hand out. I concentrated. Trails of smoke started running down my wrist in a current. Tendrils of murk danced off my fingers and dissipated into the air. Eventually, it was hard to tell if my hand was still solid or gaseous.

I glanced over at Wonder Woman.

She watched, mesmerized.

I smirked. I showed off by slowly moving my hand 'through' a nearby bar. The smoke simply parted and remolded on the other side. After a few times of swaying my limb, I materialized it back to its true form.

"So....you're a smoke elemental?" she asked. "Or something in that vein?"

I shrugged.

"And here I was thinking that you were simply in possession of something indicative of the Flash," she smirked. "I suppose being able to move fast is just a side-effect."

I tapped Wonder Woman on the back of her shoulder.

She blinked. She turned around and jumped with a hand over her heart. "Great Hera!! You almost do that as good as he does!"

I grinned. I shook my head.

"True. There is only one 'fastest man alive' on this Earth." A beat. "So the smoke is how you make that sword of yours....so strong?"

I nodded. I started to hand-sign.....

".............," Wonder Woman blinked dazedly at me.

I winced. I cleared my throat. I walked over and picked up a dumbbell from a weight rack. I pointed at it. I began to concentrate and extend Murk from my right hand over the object itself. I released my concentration and the smoke drew away, returning the item to normal. I shrugged.

"So you can do that with any item?" she asked. "But your sword is your weapon of choice."

I grinned proudly and nodded.

"Hera forbid I see what that power could do to my lasso...."

I scratched my head at that. I put the dumbbell back and returned to the bars...teleporting back and forth through them.

Wonder Woman continued to watch silently.

By the time I was out of breath again, I slumped down on a nearby bench and sipped some water from a cup. I took a deep breath and rested....

"............"

I blinked. I glanced through the side of my shades.

Wonder Woman was still staring....but a little lower. I followed her eyesight to my metal left hand.

I smirked slightly. I wrapped the titanium fingers.

She winced. "Forgive me, I was.......only curious...."

I glanced at her curiously.

"I know that you wrote about the loss of your arm to me in the letters but....I was not aware that you had lost so much. It's almost half of your left limb. Not just your hand."

I shrugged. I held my left hand out and with my right hand I unsheathed Myrkblade---CHIIING!!!---twirled it, and brought it down hard across the metal wrist.

CLANG!!!!

The Amazon winced.

I smirked.

There was no damage.

"Well....I suppose there are some advantages to be had," she smiled awkwardly.

I nodded.

"I do not believe you ever wrote to me exactly why you lost it....," she said.

I blinked. I had forgotten about that.

My gaze fell to the floor.

And she saw that.

I think I shall....go see how your team leader is doing," she hesitantly uttered. Within seconds, the goddess was on her feet and sauntering away.

I watched her walk off.

A beat.

I looked at my left hand. I flexed the fingers a bit....and sighed.

I sheathed Myrkblade.

CHIIIING!!!

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"And this..."

Click!!!

The lights to the garage turned on. The R-Cycle and T-Car glistened in the electric light.

"...is where we keep our rides," Robin said. He smiled proudly and leaned against a wall near the doorway leading in. "We're strictly a local team of crime fighters. So our missions are mostly limited to just the City and the nearby counties. But when we need to get around, we can get around."

Wonder Woman stood, nodding. Cyborg and I were behind her.

"How pleasant...," the Amazon said. A beat. She glanced at Robin. "You Titans are old enough to pilot these?"

Robin bit his lip. "Barely....but in a good way."

"I don't see how I couldn't pilot my baby!!" Cyborg practically frolicked over and gestured at his T-Car. "Isn't she a beauty?"

"Baby??" Wonder Woman made a face. "You're a father?"

Cyborg blinked.

I snickered breathily.

"Wow...haven't heard that once since the early Starfire days...," Cyborg muttered. He shook it off. "Ahem. Anyways this is my pride and joy! Streamline titanium body!! Advance polymer plastic windshields! Fire resistant, super durable tires---"

"What does this do?" Wonder Woman asked, picking something up from a nearby bench.

Cyborg sweatdropped. "Um.....that's a 'screwdriver'."

"The world of Men is so complicated...," Wonder Woman remarked. "On Themyscira, my sisters never worry themselves over the detailed subordination of machine and fuels. However your society keeps managing this way of life is a wonder to behold."

"Uh huh.......," Cyborg nodded. A beat. "Sisters?"

"Don't you know, Cyborg?" Robin gestured. "Wonder Woman comes from an island comprised entirely of women. Sisters and relatives under the culture of the Greek Gods. More or less."

"Ohhhhh," Cyborg pointed. "Sorta like the island of Lesb—"

I cleared my throat.

Cyborg winced. "Amazons. Right...I heard of them. Heheheheh...."

I simpered and looked Wonder Woman's way.

The princess glanced at all three of us strangely. "You........youths have spent far too much time breathing engines, I'm tempted to believe..."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"And where are we now on my.....'tour'??" Wonder Woman asked with a smirk.

"Thissssss is none other than the villains' lame-prop-o-rama museum!!" Beast Boy dramatically entered the brightly-lit room and gestured towards all the glass displays.

"I beg your pardon?" Wonder Woman and I stood in the doorway.

"This is the evidence room....," Beast Boy paraphrased. of Robin, of course. All the wyrd-ass gadgets collected from our infamous villans! Eep!" the changeling blushed. "I-I just said 'ass'....I'm sorry, your highness."

"Oh please....I don't know what the newspapers and superhero critics tell you...but I'm getting over the whole 'princess' part." Wonder Woman rolled her eyes, strolled forward, and patted Beast Boy's head. "But it was sweet of you to care, nonetheless."

Beast Boy blinked. His nose started bleeding again. "Er.....sniff....e-excuse me...," he sauntered alone into a corner.

I shook my head.

"What exactly do you do with all of these things by keeping them?"

I simpered, shrugging.

"I do suppose they could become good sources of research and information....providing you possibly run into these said villains again," Wonder Woman remarked, strolling through the room and between the displays. "But otherwise it seems a tad bit obsessive to me." A beat. She glanced over at me. "Allow me the pleasure of guessing....but about the way you describe Robin in your you also describe him as 'obsessive', 'dark', and 'workaholic'."

I blinked at her from under my shades. I nodded dazedly.

"Heheheheheh," Wonder Woman chuckled. "Would it surprise you that his mentor is quite similar in those respects?"

I smiled. I shook my head.

"Gaia only knows if Nightwing is like that as well," she said. A beat. She turned and looked at me. "But....I would be wrong to generalize. There is more to Batman and his 'family' than meets the eye. In fact...underneath the darkness of most men—I find—is something very endearing and worthy of being cherished. From your letters and the media's portrayal of you as the sixth Titan, Noir, I've always assumed that you were quite the dark personality. But I think you too have secrets. Secrets that....are not necessarily as forboding as any exterior you may possess."

I leaned my head to the side, curious.

"Is it really that hard to believe?" Wonder Woman asked. "In general, the world of men has turned out far more redeemable than I was ever taught. Day after day, I see how truly beautiful unassuming things are. These infamous 'vigilantes' with whom I combat evil....they are also multi-layered and revealing. You couldn't possibly be ignorant of this. Your letters speak volumes of how you've discovered this about your Titan teammates," she smiled.

I grinned slightly....blushing.

Beast Boy walked back into the immediate area.

"Ahem....so...wh-where were we?"

"What is this about a Titan Computer?"

"Ah yes!! The very best in electronic databases!" Beast Boy winked. "If we hurry up, we'll catch Raven doing a profile check on the latest bank robbers."

"Then let's make haste!"

"Righto!!" Beast Boy swiftly changed into a green stallion. "Need a lift?"

I elbowed his mane.

"Ow!!" he shrunk back into elf form and rubbed his shoulder. "Jeez, Noir. Get off your high hor---oh wait....."

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"You mean to tell me that this apparatus was not constructed by Batman?" Wonder Woman remarked in awe.

Raven shook her head as she sat at the computer in the Main Room. She absent-mindedly shifted through multiple images of robber suspects. The computer's hard drive worked at the speed of light. Starfire stood besides Raven, leaning her hand against the back of the chair. Watching.

"This computer, this meeting room, this whole Tower....it was all constructed by Silas Stone," a busy Raven explained.

"Stone....," Wonder Woman rubbed her chin. A beat. "The forbearer of Victor Stone."

"Cyborg," Raven nodded. "It sounds like you've done some research."

"It was Batman's suggestion that we keep ourselves knowledgeable of other superheroes in the region," Wonder Woman leaned a hand on her hip and smiled. "Superman—however—went the distance of suggesting that the Justice League and the Teen Titans maintain some sort of correspondence."

Starfire smiled. "I have always admired the Kryptonian spirit of friendship and heroic camaraderie." She then hung her head with a sad face. "How tragic it is that his people had to perish so...."

"I'm sure he would be honored by your sympathy," Wonder Woman said.

"He is a stranger to this planet much like myself," Starfire gestured. "I suppose it is only natural that I feel drawn to his kind. I often wonder about the life and wisdom of the Martian Manhunter too."

Raven suddenly blushed....pausing in her task at hand.

"Raven? Is there something the matter?" Starfire asked innocently.

"Ahem.....n-no...nothing," Raven spoke. "I was just....uhm.....about to explain the intricacies of this state-of-the-art criminal profiler..."

"I can definitely see how the software is............more friendly to the user than the interface Batman has set up," Wonder Woman hesitantly admitted.

"Hehehe!! That is rather amusing!" Starfire giggled. "Robin vehemently hates this machine!" She turned and looked my way. "Is that not right, Noir?"

I smiled from where I sat on the sidelines. I was leaning back, relaxed.

"He has been quite the good little boy," Wonder Woman uttered. "Accompanying me on the visitation of this Tower in almost every room."

"Hmmmm...," Raven hummed while going through the system. She was deadpan as she blinked at the monitor and uttered: "Perhaps you should save him the trouble by lassoing him to your pelvis."

Wonder Woman and Starfire giggled.

I frowned.

Suddenly, my communicator chimed.

I jumped momentarily before holding it up and into sight.

"Noir. Could you help us with something??" Robin's voice uttered.

I attached the communicator to my metal arm and clicked a morse code response with my fingers.

The Boy Wonder's voice replied: "We're downstairs in Cyborg's laboratory. Come as soon as you can."

I nodded and clicked one last response.

I stood up, saluted the girls with a smirk, and walked off.

"Work on the scarlet pigmentation of your skin, Noir!!" Starfire mused.

I did a double-take at her as the elevator doors closed and I was gone.

"...........," Wonder Woman looked at where I had left. She turned and faced the two girls as they focused on the computer. "Sisters, I'm very curious about something...and I hope you won't take offense in my asking."

"We're heroines...," Raven droned. Perhaps seriously. Perhaps not. "We can take it."

Diana took a breath. "Do you know how....he lost it?"

The two froze. Raven slowly swiveled around while Starfire bit her lip.

"You mean Noir's arm?" the sorceress asked.

Wonder Woman nodded. "Is it a secret?"

"I....do not believe it is a secret," Starfire uttered. "Only....we are rather surprised."

"Noir didn't mention it in his letters?" Raven asked.

"He may have hinted to it....," Wonder Woman spoke. "But....I'm afraid to interpret too much from ambiguity."

"......."

"Then I suppose that it is a prudent thing that you inquired the reason from us," Starfire simpered.

Wonder Woman listened....

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"I feel.....unease....," Robin muttered, his arms folded as he leaned against a wall.

"You're always feeling unease," Cyborg chuckled. He was busy hotwiring a spare sonic cannon, attempting to fix a few internal glitches. He sat a titanium work station on the far side of the bedroom/laboratory. "I think they should have named you 'Goose Feathers' instead and let it be."

"Just think about it...," Robin looked our way and gestured. "First the JLA wants to do correspondence, then they send Wonder Woman in here as a surly reminder that we should be 'buddy buddy'...I tell you, I am not cool with such intimidation."

I nodded off, my face blank. I shuffled playing cards in my metal hand as I stood between the two in the center of the room.

"Okay, Robin, two things...," Cyborg lifted a spare hand while hotwiring. "One...I'm inclined to believe that the JLA didn't send Wonder Woman. She came on her own accord. And for another....she sure as Hell ain't surly!! S'up with that, man?!?! Hahaha."

I chuckled breathily.

"Rghhh," Robin pressed his palm into his forehead and grit his teeth. "He's behind this....all of this....I just know it..."

"Who're you obsessing over now?? Slade's dead, man..."

"Batman," Robin spat. "He's never trusted me with this team. I can bet you a billion dollars on that."

"Heh...as if you're the son of a billionaire...."

"......."

"Robin, stop being paranoid. The last thing we have to worry about on this god-forsaken planet of scum and villainy is a team of superheroes." A beat. He swiveled about and faced me with a bright grin. "HA! I should include that in my latest fanfic chapter!"

I smiled.

He swiveled back. "Darth Vader monologue ULTRA!!"

"What the Hell are you talking about?"

"Nerd stuff. Now on with your rambling."

"I almost wish I was writing to her instead of you, Noir," the Boy Wonder looked my way. "No offense to you or anything. But...I just don't see how the JLA could ask so much from you and not give any in return until NOW. I mean...all of those replies being nearly three months late?? It hardly seems professional. Especially when Wonder Woman is concerned. You understand that, don't you Noir?"

I nodded gently. I took a deep breath.

"Something's being hidden....by someone....," Robin rubbed his temples. "...and if it has to do with Batman and his egotistical....er.....egotism, then I don't know what I'll do."

"Not like you can beat him up, man."

"Yeah, good point—H-HEY!!"

Cyborg chuckled.

I smiled slightly.

Robin's communicator chimed.

He blinked under his mask.

He flipped the device open with a Star Trek sound.

"Robin here."

"Sad news, dude...," Beast Boy's voice said. "She's leaving."

Cyborg glanced over with a human eyebrow raised.

"Wonder Woman?" Robin asked blandly. "Where to?"

"Says she got a call from the JLA. Some Ghul guy is raising havoc in Europe and they need her help in tracking him down."

Robin seemed to understand that somehow. "Gotcha."

"Gonna come down and help us see her off?"

"Sure thing. Thanks for telling us, Beast Boy."

"No problem......"

"Try not to cry too hard, B.B.!" Cyborg uttered.

"Man, shut up!!"

Snkkkkt!!

Robin switched the communicator off. "Ahem....," he coughed. "How did I not expect this?"

"You happier now?" Cyborg put his instruments away, smiling.

"Not really," Robin sighed. "Come on, Noir. Gotta say bye to your pen-pal."

I shrugged and pocketed my cards away.

'Bye', I mouthed to the air.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

Cyborg, Robin, and I emerged from the front door of the Tower.

Wonder Woman and the other Titans were already assembled, in the middle of a conversation.

Beast Boy dramatically waved his arms with a cute frown: "Dudes!! What took you so long?! You kept her royal highness waiting!!"

Starfire giggled.

"Robin...for the last time, she's—"Raven began.

"I think I've explained it enough today," Wonder Woman pleasantly smiled.

"Just making sure you get the respect you deserve!" Beast Boy folded his arms and smiled proudly.

"......," Wonder Woman stared at the changeling. "You know, Beast Boy, if you're attracted to me...I don't mind you saying so out loud."

"!!!!!" Beast Boy's eyes went wide. "I....er....."

"Maaaaan," Cyborg laughed. "Ha ha ha ha! Straight for the jugular!"

"I....er......ehm......," Beast Boy blushed and scratched his head. "Wh-Wh-Whatever gave you that idea....your highness??" He blinked. "................." His nose bled. He winced and sped off over the edge of the bluffs.

"Disastrously adorable," Wonder Woman remarked, shaking her head. "He must be amusing to live with."

"I will admit," Raven held the tiniest of smirks. "He makes good fodder."

"For what, pray tell?"

"Everything," half of us uttered.

"Hehehe!!" Starfire uttered.

I smirked.

"I'm sorry if I.....'tease'," Wonder Woman's face scrunched up. "The Flash says so all the time. But I believe he's merely hoping for much. Besides...I'm celibate."

"Go figure...," Raven droned.

"She's what?!?!" Beast Boy's panicked voice uttered from the other side of the bluffs.

"SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T MARRY YOU!!!" Cyborg cupped a hand over his mouth and yelled.

"Hey!! I didn't ask---STOP PICKING ON ME!!!"

Robin cleared his throat. He stepped forward. "I'm sorry we didn't get to show you everything here."

"Oh, don't worry," Wonder Woman winked. "I've had the rest filled in regarding this place."

Robin glanced back at me. "I imagine so...." He looked back at her. "So...we'll be—er, I mean Noir will be hearing more from you from now on."

"Indeed," she nodded. "And I apologize for my inability to correspond earlier. I volunteered for this task because I felt that I had to pull more of my own weight as a Justice League member. I did not realize how complicated it can be to send notes across great distances according to the laws of men. With so many papers flying every which way these days, you'd think the weight wouldn't stack up to much."

"Um......yeah....," Robin blankly stared.

Starfire and Raven exchanged confused looks....shrugging.

"Well, we'd love to have you back sometime!" Cyborg went out and happily exclaimed.

Robin winced.

"Wouldn't we...Robin?" Cyborg elbowed the Boy Wonder.

"Ow!!" Robin frowned and rubbed his upper arm. "What's your deal??"

Beast Boy wandered back, clean. "What's anyone's deal?? It's not like Wonder Woman's dead! Let's let her leave in peace already..............er.....i-if that's okay with you, your highness."

"Heheheh....don't be so modest," Wonder Woman smiled. "You Titans are far more entertaining than I believe you give yourselves credit for."

SWOOOOOOSH-THWUMP!!!!

Wonder Woman wheezed under a familiar, Tamaranian hug.

"Oh, do please....please....please come again!!!" she exclaimed, her eyes happily closed. "I will deeply miss your virtuous aura of goddessonica!!"

It took the other five of us—one in green gorilla mode—combined to pry the redheaded alien of joy off of her.

"I-I'll keep your....admiration in mind," Wonder Woman wheezed. She snapped out of it, smiled and bowed her head slightly. "But now...I must be off. The other League members need me." A beat. She smiled over at me. "Noir...care to escort me off the premises?"

I did a double take. I glanced Cyborg's way.

He winked and smiled suggestively.

I stuck my tongue out at him and indignantly walked off to be joined by the Amazon.

Robin watched silently.....taking a slow, quiet breath...

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

"I am impressed, Noir....you're quite the honest person..."

I glanced curiously at the heroine.

The two of us walked towards the land ridge leading towards the City....or in Wonder Woman's case, an airborn takeoff.

She explained to me: "Practically everything you have written about in your letters...they are most true and accurate to the things you live around. Your friends....your City....your lifestyle...."

I nodded.

"I can only hope my responses are similarly satisfying...," she said.

I smiled.

A beat.

She looked off. The wind of the waning afternoon kicked at her full, black hair.

There was something on her mind.

I knew it. I leaned my head into her vision.

She hesitantly looked at me. But she appeared more wounded than suspicious. She sighed and braved a smile as she said: "Noir...there is a reason why I didn't reply immediately to your letters. And it is not because of laziness or my being occupied fighting the forces of evil. But rather.....I felt it was best for myself—and the league—that I see the things you've written about for myself."

I blinked. I was curious.....

"One of your earliest writings......they were.....they were orchestrated when you were not exactly 'yourself'. But rather, you had assumed the personality of 'Wyldecarde'...."

I mouthed: 'ohhhhhh'. I slowly nodded.

"I remember you emphatically asking me not to respond to that letter. And I abided by your words. But that's not the reason why I've hesitated until now to respond," she explained regretfully. "I....wasn't sure that I could trust you, Noir."

I took a breath. I nodded again...somber.

"And I was not sure if I could trust you with the knowledge of life with the League. But regardless, I didn't want to give up on you. So I wrote responses to all of your letters that I read. I just didn't go about sending them until....I could be sure that you were as virtuous as I felt hinted to me. And today....I...."

A beat.

She continued, "...I expected good news. And I got it. But it pained me to hear it. It would seem as if you didn't trust yourself either, Noir, because of Wyldecarde. You had to do something to prove to yourself and the Titans that you were a man of virtue and honor. Nothing less."

I felt a firm hand gently grasp my metal fingers and lift my prosthetic hand up. I stood still as Wonder Woman held her palm against my Titanium one and clasp my wrist.

She said: "The girls truly informed me of your sacrifice. Of what you purposefully lost to save your closest loved ones. Nowhere in your writings did I truly grasp the nature of what you've done and what you've gone through. But I do understand now. And I only hope that—as truthful as you are—you do not hesitate to admit your good over that of your bad, Noir. For I do believe the good things about you—as always the good things about all of us—shall always be remembered. And not what we perceive as the 'bad'."

".......," I slowly smiled. Thankful.

"Hold onto the virtue that you have, Noir," she said. "Do not blind yourself to it like I have. It is a shameful thing to do to someone as brave as you. Embrace that which is good inside of you. To obsess over anything else....that will only destroy what is already a precious and noble soul."

I nodded. More of a bow, really. Heh......

She let go of my hand, smiled, and uttered: "Until later, Noir. Oh....and you are welcome, by the way."

I raised a curious eyebrow.

She winked. "For connecting you to Supergirl's phone number, of course."

SWOOOOOOOSH!!! She flew off.

I bit my lip, blushing.

I sensed a shadow to my right.

I glanced over.

"Correct me if I'm wrong....," Raven droned, "...but why is it that whenever we have a famous or heroic female in our presence...she always has a private word to say with you?"

".......," I stared at Raven through my shades. I scratched my head. I suddenly smiled and walked over.

"........," Raven watched.

SWOOOSH!! I reached my hand to her ear.

She flinched.

THWIP!! I suddenly produced an ace of hearts 'from her ear lobe'.

"........," she stared at the card. "Am I supposed to say 'cute' now?"

I grinned like a clown and nodded.

She rolled her eyes. She turned around. "I wonder where Cyborg is...."

I shrugged. I pocketed the card away back from where I teleported it into my hand. I strolled lazily back up towards the Tower.

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

That night, I lit the lanterns in my dim room.

I shuffled about with my shades off, drying from a comforting shower.

I slipped the last of my nightclothes on and sat cross-legged on the bed with a pile of envelopes before me.

I rubbed my hands together, smirked in a humored way, and opened the first envelope.

I had prepared myself for a diligent, all-night reading of what the Amazonian Princess had to inform me as to the social and technical lifestyle of the world-renown Justice League.

Riiiiip!!


Ruffle!

I cleared my throat and scanned the first page.

"Dear Noir,............"

-T-T-T-T-T-T-

About forty-five minutes into it, my head nodded for the last time and I fell asleep.