These Black Eyes

by P0ST

The ongoing adventures and experiences of the Teen Titans, as witnessed through the eyes of a silent newcomer.

129. Fish Out of Water

129. Fish Out of Water

Dear Diana,

Before I first joined the Titans, I was living alone in a one-room, broken down apartment at least five stories above the streets of the most impoverished districts of the City. I worked full time at a funeral home, acting as security and ushering services for families' deceased loved ones. I earned enough money to acquire one day meals...which I had to divide among two days each to remain secure. Every evening there was always an incident of robbery or mugging or domestic violence to deal with on the way back home. I decided to make the best of things by taking the vigilante's role. With Myrkblade by my side, I leapt out into the blackness of night and battled all manners of disturbances. Thieves, murderers, and molesters fell from my wielding of justice. I was 'black eyes', the noirish angel of good. But no matter how hard I worked, I could not meet every manner of horror and evil. I watched people bleed to death from knife attacks I couldn't stop quickly enough. I saw zombies to Dragonflare wander the street, broke and emaciated. Shelters were jam-packed with families from the street, and living conditions were filthy and unsanitary. Once I was sick for an entire month, with no time or money to go see a physician. My life had become the epitome of destitution as much as it had achieved the epitome of valiance. I simply could not be a vigilante on my own...and that was when the Titans and I met.

In hindsight...I realize that I was so, so very lucky.

The Titans have a new member. Prince Garth of the Hidden Valley. Batman and the Jusice League probably has him listed under 'Aqualad', as surface dwellers are prone to call him.

Aqualad has joined us at the tail end of a disastorous chain of events. Truly, it may be unfair to call it 'disastorous'. With the combined actions of Aqualad, the Titans, and Princess Tula of the Poseidonissians, an evil sorcerer by the name of Slizzath was prevented from emerging once again into the undersea kingdom. His evil presence would surely have brought harm to the entire world, especially on the eve of a major political reunification underway in the City of Atlantis. Today, the seas are a safer and more promising place...and King Orin's nation may be a prospective ally to all of us in the future.

The disaster—of course—embodies itself in the sacrifices made to achieve such a victory. And Aqualad is in the center of all of it. His closest relative, his best friend, and his lifelong love all perished to defeat Slizzath. Yet Aqualad survived. And in his survival, he carries a curse linked to the very evil that snuffed out his companions.

We all sense a great weight of guilt in him. It manifests itself gloomily in the way he walks. His thinned eyes of dismal darkness. His quiet sighs and brooding pace. The Titans have on their hands a very cold, weathered Tempest.

And as much as we would desire otherwise...there seems to be no calm after this storm...

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

"Hiiii-YA!!!" Robin countered and swung his fist backhanded. "Wa-taaa!!"

Beast Boy blocked, his teeth gritting. He stepped back across the mat.

Robin paced himself—the soles of his feet dancing—and then he spun in with a high kick. "YAH!!"

Beast Boy ducked. He pounced forward.

Robin expected this. He dove over, swung his glove down, hand-stood off of Beast Boy's head and vaulted himself off.

"Whoaah—AUGH!!" Beast Boy stumbled.

Robin flipped, landed, and spun around with a heavy kick. "YAUGH!!"

"D'OH!" Beast Boy tumbled down across the mat. "Ugh...."

Robin straightened his cape. He looked across the gym to where Aqualad, Starfire, and Nova'm sat. "And that...," he breathed, "...is a taste of the sort of thing you'll see in the field."

Garth blinked.

Starfire cleared her throat. "Assuming—naturally—that Beast Boy was acting the part of a criminal."

"Not a very smooth criminal," Nova'm added.

Beast Boy sat up. His eyes swirled. "Dude...we gotta throw that kid out..."

Nova'm simpered.

"You did quite an awful lot of.........flipping," Garth said.

"That's my expertise. Of course, every Titan has a different way of combatting an attacker," Robin said.

Starfire held a finger up. "Robin is a prime example of how to eliminate an enemy in absence of powers."

"Really now...," Garth's white on black eyes narrowed. "Just why're you holding back, Robin?"

"I never hold back," Robin smirked. "What I do is my gift."

"So......you mean you don't have any superpower?" Garth asked.

"He's like an ultra-cool, handicapped hero," Nova'm said.

Robin glared from afar, his arms crossed.

Nova'm sweatdropped. "Um....'handicapped' as in very handy at capping off bad guys?"

"He is human," Starfire said. "All of his abilities are learned."

"Okay...," Garth nodded. "So you're like any other surface dweller..."

Robin smirked. "Now that's a matter of opinion."

Garth glanced at the still-dizzy Beast Boy. "And he's acting like any other surface dweller attacker."

"Precisely."

"What if he had a weapon?"

"Good point. B.B. Get up again."

"Another round?? No can do, dude!"

"Why not??"

"I'm embarrassed enough as it is!! You wanna teach Aqualad stuff, then have him come in there and spar with you!"

"Eep!" Starfire remarked.

Garth's eyes twisted. "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing," Beast Boy simpered. He scratched his neck. "Just that...sparring with Robin is like trying to resist gravity."

"I can resist gravity," Nova'm blinked.

Starfire thwapped his shoulder.

"Ow!! Kory!!"

"X'Hal! You are liken unto a little brother!"

"I thought that was a good thing!"

"Er...yes well....at this present moment it is not!"

Robin cleared his throat. He gestured: "Aqualad, if you'd like...I can train you for street combat. Fighting thugs on dry land is very different from underwater battle."

"I've had my fair share of fist-fighting outside of the water," Garth said. "And without using my magical powers. I think I'm pretty much set."

"I don't think you are," Robin said.

Garth raised an eyebrow.

"Here on the surface, you've got all manners of dangers to deal with. I'm sure the underwater world is more than enough to tackle...but that's a completely different world entirely. I have every bit of confidence in you, Aqualad...but even for a veteran hero such as yourself it's important to be prepared......"

Silence.

Nova'm and Starfire looked at Garth.

A beat.

"Alright, Robin...," Garth stood up and marched over towards the mat with fists raised. He smirked. "Prepare me..."

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

Cyborg's fingers typed away to the console of the Tower's computer in the Main Room.

He finished a string of alphanumerics and hit 'enter'.

Beep!

'Net Five Through Eight operating at efficient parameters. Initializing system scan of primary structure. Estimated time till completion, thirty-eight minutes."

Cyborg sighed and leaned back in the office chair with a bowl of pretzels. He yawned, his human eye thin. "Keeping our children safe...." He nonchalantly tossed the snack food into his mouth.

A swishing sound announced the opening of elevator doors. Another swishing sound announced Raven's trailing cloak.

"What are you up to?" she droned.

Cyborg munched on a pretzel. "Performing a system diagnostic scan on the Tower's security." He munched on another.

Raven thinned her eyes. "Glad to see you tackling such strenuous work."

"You and me both, cutie."

FLASH!!!

The next handful of pretzels exploded in the android's palm.

POP!!

A beat. He blinked...then smiled and bent his head back to look at Raven upside down. "Nice one, Rae."

"My aim is deadly...," she uttered. She walked around the counter of the kitchen unit. "Remember that the next time you try and fix your zipper."

"I don't have a zipper."

"Fancy that," she got out a mug from a cabinet.

"And just what are YOU up to?"

"Herbal tea..," she uttered, gathering the items necessary. "It always relaxes me following meditation."

"I thought you were in your room all morning."

"I was."

"Oh......so that's what you do in that place all day!" Cyborg remarked.

Raven looked up, blinking. "Why...what did you think I do?"

Cyborg smiled to himself and ate another pretzel.

The dark girl shook her head. "You're wyrd."

"Proud of it."

Raven filled her mug. She spoke: "How is Aqualad fairing along?"

"Don't know," Cyborg munched. "Robin's had his hands full of the new-newbie all day."

"Really....with what?"

"They're in the gym. Bet they're sparring by now."

"Lovely...," Raven heated her tea. "Does Robin want to kill all of our newcomers?"

"It's not that bad, Rae," Cyborg smirked. "Remember the first time Robin and Noir went at it?"

"I'd rather not..."

"Heheheh...man oh man...I'd never imagined the gym mat catching on fire."

"Physics leaves no room for the vigilante at heart," Raven said. "I think we can all appreciate Noir for his...patience."

Cyborg munched. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Raven leaned against the counter and gestured. "Noir had what can honestly be described as a rough experience in joining us. If Robin's training didn't nearly bust his skull, then there was the difficulty with memorizing the layout of this city for special missions and the constant pestering by Beast Boy and—well—you...."

"Heh."

"There were a few weeks when Noir faced nothing but the pure chaos and perplexity of becoming a new Titan. He took it all in remarkably—both from the ugly villains of this City and from his new companions' standards. By the time he and Beast Boy went on that mission to Westhaven, Noir had finally gotten the hang of things."

"That's also the time you developed a crush on him....," Cyborg raised his human eyebrow. "Right?"

Raven performed a long-winded, sluggish rolling of her eyes. "I did not have a crush on him...," she breathily spelled out.

"Hey...," Cyborg shrugged. "It's allright that you did! He was new and fresh and...well...Noir! I'm frankly surprised that you and Star didn't gobble him up the first week he was here! Heh...I'm surprised that you girls aren't trying to sweep Aqualad off his feet now that he's with us!"

Raven's eyes were firm as she said: "Given the circumstances—even if we were under that inclination—would it truly be appropriate given the circumstances?"

Cyborg had no response to that....until after an uncomfortable half-minute of silence later. He rubbed his head, sighed, and said: "Come on, Rae....you gotta lighten up a bit."

"I don't do 'lighten up'," Raven droned. She acquired her steaming mug of tea and walked over to a reading chair behind Cyborg to sit down. "What's happened to Prince Garth as of late has been an unfortunate thing. He's had to deal with the deaths of Tram, Ivan, and Tula...not to mention the fact that he's banished from the Atlantean seas for the next foreseeable future. Given those circumstances....if I was in his place I would be more than capable of handling my emotions with meditation. But in Garth's case, the best way he can survive pain is to escape from it. To punish himself by living a hermit's life. Now he can do neither. He's stuck with us and we're stuck with him. However he plans to deal with the recent tragedies in his life is to deal with them in our presence. I don't know about you, but it does not look to be a pleasant situation."

"Well if you're feeling paranoid, you're not alone...to tell the truth," Cyborg relented. He gestured towards the flashing icons on the computer screen as the program went through its system check. "I've been doing nothing but security screenings since we came back from the seas. Guess I can't get the image of that glass dome around Atlantis cracking open and letting the water rush in like all get out."

"For emotional people, I suppose obsessive tasks keep the mind off of traumatic things," Raven sipped from her tea. "It's healthy."

A beat.

Cyborg leaned over the back of his chair and smirked. "Ya know, Raven...if you were a psychologist, I'd pay you in diamonds."

Raven lowered her mug and looked up. She knew where this was going. "And where would you get these diamonds, pray tell?"

Cyborg smirked. "Straight out of my---"

"But you don't have one...," she pointed.

"Yeah....well....I'll find someone else's!!"

"Oh, please," she rolled her eyes and sipped again.

"How about Beast Boy's?! I'd drag him in here and make you watch! How'd you like that?"

"Don't make me destroy you."

A beat.

"You really think Aqualad's gonna have a tough time?" Cyborg asked.

"You're asking the psychologist?"

"I'm asking Raven."

She leaned back in her chair, holding the tea mug up daintily.

"Aqualad already has had a 'tough time'," she said. "If he's looking for a chance to recover....if we're all looking for him to recover, then the Titans aren't right for him."

"Then just what is?"

Raven looked at him. "I don't think that's the issue here. At least, it shouldn't be."

"How so?"

"Aqualad's here to help out the Titans," Raven said. "That's what Titans do. We support each other and stick together. Titans have to purposes. The first and foremost is to protect society. The second is to protect each other. Oftentimes, these two purposes merge into a confusing one. But—safe to say—the second purpose tends to get too much focus at times. And when that happens...the first purpose—to protect society—gets into question and in such an occasion it's important to sit back and think if the reason why the second purpose became so inflated was legitimate or not."

"We didn't accept Aqualad in out of pity," Cyborg frowned. A beat. He blinked. "D-Did we?"

"I know I didn't," Raven sipped.

"He's an imporant asset to the team!" Cyborg gestured. "I mean...this City is a Bay Town. We need him to get a jump on the drug trafficking arenas and the sewer hideouts of criminals and all other stuff around the water ways. The Titans must make good on the land, sea, and air. And so far...we've done well on all parts except the 'sea' one. Granted, Noir does a good job running on water and the T-Sub....," Cyborg winced at having to spell that word out, "...that ship was awesome. But nothing matches Aqualad's expertise. I mean, it's all in his name! And now that we realize he has this....erm....black magic fountain-controlling stuff...there's no telling what he can do! I mean...he's like the next wildcard! Heh!"

"But unlike our last wildcard...," Raven pointed. "There is a difference of self-confidence."

"Really?" Cyborg leaned his head to the side. "You sense that in him, Raven?"

She stared. "And you don't?"

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

THWUMP!!!

Garth winced as he fell down on the mat, facing up. He inhaled the breath back into his shocked lungs and stared at the gym ceiling.

Starfire and Nova'm bit their lips.

Beast Boy scratched the back of his head.

Robin stood over Garth...having barely broken a sweat. "Okay....," he sighed. "That's the fourth time now. Try slowing down, Aqualad. Concentrate. Think of where I'm trying to strike and counter me."

"How can I slow down??" Garth stood up, panting. "You're way too fast!! It's like your fists are moving a mile-a-minute!"

"Actually...," Robin simpered. "I was h-holding back.....some...."

"..........," Garth blinked.

Beast Boy cleared his throat. He smiled exuberantly and uttered: "Hey! I know! How about we get out those giant, padded ear-swab looking combat tools! Ya know...like they used to joust with in American Gladiators??"

Garth and Robin glared his way.

The changeling simpered and stepped back. "Or...just pretend I wasn't born so that I didn't just say that...heheheh..."

Nova'm leaned in to Starfire's ear. "Beast Boy makes me feel good."

She nodded.

Garth looked over at Robin. "One more round....."

"You sure you don't need a brea—"

"One more round!" Garth swung his fists into a ready position. "I-I'm just rusty...I can handle this...I can handle you. Okay?"

A beat.

Robin sighed and held up his gloved fists. "Allright then...let's try one more time---"

"And don't hold back!" Garth said.

Robin blinked under his eyemask. "Now look, Aqualad—"

"Don't insult me!!" Garth charged forward. "Rrrrrrrghhh!!!" he swung his fist.

Robin gasped. He swiftly stepped back, raised a gloved hand, deflected Garth's punch, hooked his forearm around the Atlantean's shoulder, pulled inward, flipped his body over Garth's back, twirled on descent, planted his knees on the mat, gritted his teeth, used his lower body as a fulcrum, tensed his upper body, and---

"YAUGH!!" flipped Garth over him.

SWIIIISH-WHUMP!!!

All in a span of four seconds....

"Nnnghhh..," Garth groaned. He slowly sat up with some strain.

"That....," Robin dusted his gloves off. "....is 'not holding back'." He narrowed his eyemask and pointed. "You need to train, Garth. Not because I want to wail on your ass any more...but because I don't want you getting hurt..."

At those last few words, Garth glanced over and frowned. His dark eyes were narrow. He stood straight up, adjusted his wetsuit, and marched towards the doors.

"Dude....wh-where're you going?" Beast Boy asked.

"Where else?" Garth griped. "To go dunk my head in the Bay."

He stomped out of there...and was gone.

A beat.

"I do not believe....," Starfire said, "...that he is afraid of being hurt."

Robin sighed and ran a hand through his spikey black hair. "Tell me about it..."

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

SWOOOSH!!!

I slashed Myrkblade forward.

The blades of sawgrass danced in the late morning light.

I stepped back, coiled my limbs, and sprang sideways into a horizontal swipe of my blade.

SWIIIIISH!!!

Smoke danced out from underneath my shades.

Clad in combat fatigues, I twirled about and went into an awkward pose with my weapon. I meditated...coursing murk through my arms and into the length of the sword. I held my breath, then sank forward in a jab.

More blades danced. Sand rippled on the beach beyond.

I missed doing this......

Smiling, I twirled Myrkblade, stepped back, spun myself around, and prepared to charge up a monumental swing--

"Whoah!!" Garth's body flinched in the path of my blade.

"!!!!!!!!"

I froze in mid-swing....something only constant meditation like this could have trained me to do.

The smoke-flickering sword ended right at the new Titan's neck.

He sweatdropped.

I simpered.

I stepped back, cleared my throat, and extinguished the dancing powers of Construction and Destruction around Myrkblade. CHIIIING!! I sheathed it, took a breath, and waved.

Garth shakily waved back and swallowed nervously. "H-Hello....you come here often?"

I shrugged.

"Just what were you......swinging at anyways?"

"......."

Garth looked around at the sawgrass, rock bluffs, sand, shoreline. "Just swinging, eh?"

I nodded with a wyrd smile.

"Well, don't mind me. Swing away...," he said. That done, he simply headed for the shoreline.

I couldn't help it. I watched him.

The Atlantean walked effortlessly against the waves of the surf and dove in.

SPLASH!!!

A few seconds later....a half minute later....a minute....two...

SPLOOSH!!!

He came back from the shallow depths, tossed his wet black hair out from his eyes, and sighed in satisfaction.

"I missed doing this...," he said.

I smirked...

He treaded water in a circle. "So...what's your name again? Necrid? Noir? Noir! That's it...my bad, Noir..."

I held an 'okay'sign and unsheathed Myrkblade. CHIIIING!! I took a breath...I concentrated my power into the blade and began slowly exercising again.

"Sorry I had to move in to the Tower," he said.

I glanced at him curiously.

"You're no longer the baby of the household," he smiled.

I chuckled breathily and continued with my exercise.

He dove under again. A minute later, he came back. He seemed more depressed than before.

I couldn't help but glance at him through my peripheral vision while going on with my sword maneuvers and poses.

Silence.....

Wait for it...

Silence..........

Wait for it...

Silence..................."I just don't understand...ya know?"

Ah-HA!

I paused in the middle of my meditation and paid attention to him.

"I mean...everyone should know that I kick ass, right?" Garth released. He swam on his back and sighed into the clouds. "I beat up Trident really good the first time all of us met. And then when Mist and his crew attacked the Tower..."

I nodded. I almost wish I was there.

"I can be pretty strong," Garth frowned. "I don't know what Robin's trying to do with his whole training thing, but it's just making me look stupid!"

I raised an eyebrow.

"I mean...that guy's insane! Who could possibly be fast enough to combat him??"

I whistled innocently.

Garth looked at me.

I cleared my throat and motioned for him to move along.

He trailed a suspicious, dark eye on me and continued: "If we were underwater....I'd so teach him a thing or two."

I slowly balanced myself in an awkward pose with Myrkblade.

"But........," Garth sighed. "He....He's right......what's to fight underwater? I can't go underwater. Not while I'm banished...."

I was silent. I listened to him while slowly bending my limbs and moving about in impossible exercise.

"If Robin...a kid with no powers...could finish me in four seconds flat...then how good can I measure up to someone like Cyborg? Or Starfire? Or any of you guys?"

I glanced at him.

Garth's dark eyes closed. He took a breath with his half-submerged shoulder gills and spoke: "I just...I just don't understand why you people invited me on your team. I was glad at first...because I needed a home. But as much as I need a home, you people need a Titan. Wh-Where's the fair exchange in that? This place provides me with a shelter from the banished waters around it...and I can't even land a punch..."

".......," I looked off past the Bay...the Suspension Bridge...the galaxy....

"I tell you what, Noir...it doesn't look good," Garth said, drifting. "It feels good, but it doesn't look good at all." He glanced over at me. "You had that sword and smoke-stuff before becoming a Titan, right?"

I nodded.

"Bet you had no trouble fitting in."

I simpered.

"Actually, he suffered two concussions in a row and once we thought he was going into a coma," said Raven's voice.

I blushed at that. I turned and watched as the dark girl stepped onto the beach.

Garth treaded water upright. "Good morning to you."

"It depends," Raven came to a stop and planted her hands on her hips. "How are you feeling?"

"Beast Boy tells me you're not one to be concerned about feelings," Garth said with a suspicious look.

Raven replied: "Beast Boy has suffered at least nine permanent bruises since he first ever tried talking to me." She leaned her head to the side. "I doubt he's gotten close enough to know enough about my 'concerns'."

"Did Robin send you out to coach me or something?" Garth asked.

I glanced between the two.

"No," Raven blinked. "I sent myself. I think it would help you to know a few things."

"Like what?"

"Robin can be extreme sometimes. He trains people with near-Spartan ferocity and expects them to be ready to save the world tomorrow."

"Tell me about it," Garth swam over and sat in the shallow surf. "Did he do the same thing to you?"

"Actually, I'm one of the Titans' two founding members," Raven said simply. "When Robin and I met, I was more concerned about my ability to destroy the world."

"Interesting....," Garth leaned his head to the side. "But what does this have to do with me?"

"If I'm not mistaken...you just got done saving a world already," Raven said. "Your world. A world you were born in...a world you were raised in...a world where you proved your heroic abilities."

"A world where I can't return to...," Garth said. He rested his folded arms on his knees and looked off down the beach.

Raven nodded. "Indeed. And now that you're in this world, it would be wrong of us to assume you capable of understanding the planet surface overnight...as much as we have wishful thinking."

"Yeah...," Garth scratched his head. "I think Robin's the dreamer of your group."

"Our group."

"Whatever," Garth sighed. "What I mean to say is...you seem understanding of my awkwardness here and all, but Robin wants to make a soldier out of me. Well...I was a soldier once, but I was self-employed and—um—underwater then."

"Robin isn't quite as narrow-minded as he seems."

"What, you mean he's more so?" Garth asked.

I chuckled breathily at that.

Raven glared.

I cleared my throat and stood quietly.

Raven looked at Garth. "When Starfire joined our group, she was unimaginably incompatible with the nature and functions of Earth. She was an extraterrestrial full of questions, full of confusion, and full of helplessness. To be honest...Cyborg, Beast Boy, and I wanted to vote her out."

My jaw dropped.

She merely nodded. "It's true. Starfire seemed to be merely a burden. None of us wanted to give her the attention she needed to...'adapt'. It was an utter calamity."

"Why'd you all keep her, then?"

"Because while the rest of us were dubious...Robin didn't give up on her," Raven said. "He hung out with Starfire. He taught her all the idiosyncracies that she perceived in our culture. From table manners to currency to public etiquette to politics. They had extensive talks about the silliest and most ridiculous things. Like teacher and student. Robin even forewent his own training and criminal investigations to assist in her induction. He did it because he saw the power and potential in her. He knew that—when properly grounded—Starfire would be a Titan warrior to contend with. And he was right. Today, Starfire is quite possibly the most powerful Titan and strongest fighter amongst us. She is also the most reliable and most trust worthy...and on the side of things, she and Robin have an inseperable bond that helps hold this team together."

I smiled, shaking my head. I had never heard it explained that way before...

Maybe I still am a newby...

Raven strolled a few steps towards the surface and added: "Robin may be a real pain in the butt right now, Aqualad. But he's pushing you for a purpose. He may be short, egotistical, and overbearing...but he's still the leader of the Titans and none of us ever seem to understand where he's going until he takes us there and impresses us. I'm sure that whatever he has in mind for you—however ambiguous—is still a way to point you in the right path."

"The right path to what?" Garth sighed. "I thought I had power and potential...but Robin's showed me flat-out that they mean nothing in this environment." He looked into the surf somberly. "I just don't think I'm here for the right reason. I feel like....like....like a seventh wheel."

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

I bit my lip....then my communicator vibrated.

"????" Raven ran a hand to a pocket under her robe. Hers was vibrating too.

The New Titan didn't have his yet. He stood up in the water.

"What's going on??"

"Trouble....," Raven stared at the device. "...in the downtown."

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

BOOM!!!!

The brick wall to a bank blew open with flame and smoke.

Debris flew, raining down on the police barricade formed in a semi-circle around the building.

Officers in the City Street flinched behind squad cars, holding arms over their heads.

"Heads up!!"

"Ugh!!"

"Watch out!!"

Nearly a dozen armed men dashed out onto the City street. Half of them were hoisting money bags over their shoulders. And the other half--

RAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!!

Uzzi fire streaked over the asphalt, pelting the squad vehicles.

The cops hid behind the aluminum bodies.

PING!!! PING!! CLANG!!

"Return fire!!"

BANG!! BL-BLAM!! BLAM!!

One crook fell, clutching his ankle and groaning.

The others focused fire on the center of the barricade and overwhelmed the cops there...forming a hole in the defense.

"Let 'em have it!!'

"Send for backup!!!"

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

SCREEEEEEECH-VROOOOOOM!!!!

The T-Car rounded a corner. It throttled down into the heart of the City's central district.

Inside, Cyborg gripped tightly to the wheels.

Raven sat in the front passenger's seat, reading off of the dashboard's computer. "We're closing in. The firefight is five blocks away. To the right."

"Unless they're out of bullets by now," Cyborg muttered. He looked in the rear view mirror. "How're you doing back there, Flipper?"

"Uhm...," Garth fidgeted. "What exactly is this synthetic leather strap supposed to do?"

"Er...that's a seatbelt. You're supposed to have it on ya."

"What for?"

"To keep you safe when we crash."

Garth's eyes widened. "You intend on wrecking this vehicle??"

Cyborg's human eye widened too. "You mean you haven't been buckled in all this time??"

"'Buckled'???"

"Jeez...," Cyborg winced. "We should have left him back at the Tower with Nova'm!"

"Cyborg....."

"What??" he glanced at Rae.

"........," she pointed. "We're at the turn."

"Huh??" Cyborg snapped. "Aw shit!! Hang on!!!"

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!!!!!

The T-Car nearly spun as it wildly swerved into a turn and veered down the street heading east.

"Whew! Prompt navigator. Gotta love you, Rae."

"Whatever."

Cyborg glanced back again. "No hard feelings, eh Aqualad?"

".............," Garth blinked. He was lying upside down between the seats. "I think I finally understand the importance of being 'buckled'."

"Cyborg! Raven! What's your location?"

Raven held up her communicator. "Heading due east to the site on Vicksburg Street."

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

Robin sat perched on a rooftop over the battle.

"We're here," he said into the communicator. "And the gunfight is out of control!!"

SWOOOOSH!! I blurred to a stop beside him, holding Myrkblade.

He glanced at me slightly through the edge of his mask. "Noir and I can't wait for you guys on this one. We have to dive in before anyone else gets hurt."

"Just look after yourselves."

"Yeah...."

Robin holstered the communicator and whipped out a grappling hook.

"Got anything to say against immediate action, Noir?"

"........."

"Thought so." POW!!! Robin shot his grappling hook and swung out onto the scene.

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

BANG!! BANG!! BANG!!!

The lead thug took out the windshield of a squad car from long range with his pistol.

B-BANG!! BANG!!

"Hahaha!! These guys are too weak! Hey Karl! Think I should shirt them the bird while I'm at it??"

WHAM!!! Robin swung into him.

"OOOF!!" the thug tumbled into the front of the bank building. THUD!!

The others looked over and gasped.

"The Teen Titans!!"

Robin extended his staff. Snnkkt!! "Thanks," he smirked. SWOOOSH!! He dove in. "RAAAUGH!!"

WHAM!!! He sent his staff flying across the chin of one thug, pivoted, and slammed the blunt end of it into another crook's chest. WHUD!!

"Smoke him!!!" the other gunmen shouted. They all aimed their pistols and uzzis.

BLAM!! BL-BLAM!!!

RAT-A-TAT-TAT!!!

SWOOOOSH!! I blurred in, anchored myself in front of them, and spun Myrkblade in the blink of an eye. CL-CL-CL-CLANG!!! I deflected the bullets. Smoke danced under my shades. I teleported forward, materialized between two crooks, and slashed the broadside of Myrkblade in a circle underneath me, tripping them both. TH-THWUMP!!!

In the meantime, Robin was plowing through two more thugs. THWACK! SLAM!!

The ones left over stumbled back with guns raised.

FLASH!!! FLASH!!!

Starbolts pelted around them, knocking a few of the guns out of their grip. They looked up.

Starfire flew down at them. Her teeth grit. Her eyes glowed.

ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!

Green eyebeams tore through their ranks. The ground split open, shaking the street's foundation.

"Augh!!" one of the loot-holders fell down on his rear, dropping the heavy money bags. While he dizzily groaned, a green mouse scampered in from a gutter and perched on his belly. The thug eyed the mouse curiously. The mouse twitched its whiskers.....squeaked...then morphed into a huge gorilla.

Crunch!!

"Ughhhh!!!" the thug twitched as the breath left him.

"Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!" Sitting on the man, the emerald primate effortlessly lifted both money bags in each of its paws and flung them at the crowd of thieves.

SMACK!! CRASH!!!

Two other thugs fell from the exploding money bags. The ones leftover shouted and let loose a birrage of uzzi fire.

RAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!

Starfire and a green cheetah dashed over behind a remotely parked van while Robin and I strategized a way to attack on the flank.

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

"Looks like the party's going on without us," Cyborg said as he saw the upcoming street battle through the windshield.

"I don't like parties...," Raven said.

"Don't worry...we're here to crash it!!"

Garth finally sat up straight in the back. "Crash??" he remarked. He parted his messed up hair. "Is now the time for 'buckling'?"

"Ha ha ha ha!!" Cyborg laughed as he slammed on the brakes. SCREEEECH!! "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Starfire!!" He parked the car harshly, kicked his door open, and rushed out. "Teen Titans! Go!!"

Raven teleported out.

"Hey! Wait!!" Garth stumbled into the front seats and fell out the open doors. "Ooof!!"

Raven floated upwards with a protective shield while Cyborg readied a sonic cannon. "Hey! Punks!! Listen and learn!!"

ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!!

Garth ran up, huffing and puffing. "What do I do??"

"You just stay around here and keep safe for now," Cyborg said, lost in the moment.

"But—"

"Don't worry! We can handle this!!" he ran forward with his titanium fists clenched. "Raven! Come on!"

Garth winced. He looked up at Raven.

"...........," the dark girl glanced at him before quickly hovering into action.

BL-BLAM!! BLAM!!!

ZAAAAAAP!!!

RAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!

FLAAAASH!!!

Garth stood still on the sidewalk.

He watched.

He blinked.

His arms dangled at his sides.

SWOOOOOSH!!!

CLANG!!!

BLAM!!! BLAM!!!

FLASH!! FL-FLASH!!!

ZAP!!!

Garth took a deep breath.

He rested a hand to his hip and boredly leaned to the side.

His eyes were thin.

He tongued the inside of his cheek.

SM-SMACK!!!

CL-CLANG!!!

ZAAAAAAAAAAP!!!

FLASH!!!!

Garth groaned and tossed his arms.

"This is hopeless...," he exhaled.

SMACK!! "AUGH!!!" SLAM!!! Beast Boy's body fell hard onto the sidewalk.

Garth gasped. "Beast Boy!!!" He rushed over to his side. "Are you alright?"

"Urghhh...," Beast Boy groaned. "I wonder if there's gonna be blood in my throw-up this time?"

A cocking sound.

Garth looked up.

An angry, panting thug reloaded his pistol and marched over.

Garth frowned. With thin eyes of darkness, he stomped towards the thug.

The gunman raised his pistol.

Garth kept incoming.

The gunman pointed the weapon at the teen's chest.

Garth kept marching, regardless.

Floating nearby, Starfire caught sight of this and gasped. "Aqualad!!!" she zoomed down in a green streak.

The gunman fired. "BLAM!!!"

SWOOOOOSH-WHUMP!!!! Starfire shoved Garth and herself out of the way of the bullet. The two heroes collapsed in the front display of a garden shop.

"Umfff!!" Garth grunted. He shook his head. "Starfire?!?! What are you—"

"The man had a gun, Aqualad!! He could have damaged you!!"

"A gun??"

"Terran weapon," Starfire explained. "Much like the magical tridents of Atlantis, only they launch ballistics instead of energy bla—"

"Look!" Garth pointed behind her.

The both glanced.

The thug came around the store display and pointed the pistols at their forms.

The two flinched.

SWOOOOOOSH!! I blurred in out of nowhere with a slash of Myrkblade.

CRACK!!!! The pistol shattered into halves in the man's hand.

"Augh!!" he stumbled back.

I slammed the hilt of Myrkblade into his chest.

He bent over from the blow.

I twirled and slapped his back with the broadside of my weapon.

"OOF!!" the man fell down chest first...out cold.

I took a deep breath and looked over through my shades.

Starfire blinked.

I motioned for her and dashed back into the chaotic battle.

Starfire nodded and flew out.

Garth stumbled to his feet. "Wait---!"

The Tamaranian gestured back at him. "Stay clear of hazards!!" SWOOOSH!! She streaked into battle.

FLASH!! FLASH!! FLASH!!!

RAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!

ZAAAAAAP!!!

CL-CLANG!!!

Garth sighed. He jogged out onto the sidewalk and observed the battle.

Starfire was flying everywhere.

I was blurring everywhere.

Raven was floating everywhere.

Cyborg was smashing everywhere.

Beast Boy was lying on the ground....

And Robin was in the foreground, swinging his staff and beating back two thugs at once. The goons looked like they could overwhelm the Boy Wonder at any second. Inevitably, Robin would need assistance.

And Garth found it as the perfect opportunity to make a good impression.

"I've gotta help out...," he muttered to himself. He nervously wrung his hands and looked all around. "There's gotta be some water around here somewhere." He took a deep breath and extended both hands out. His eyes flickered violet. The digits of his fingers pulsed purple. "Come on..." He waved his hands across the cityscape from afar. "Come on........!!!!" He gasped as his magic sensed something. "There!!"

Garth's hands were pointed at a fire hydrant a good twenty feet away.

"There's some water in that thing!! Now.....nghhhhhh!!" he concentrated as he fisted his hands and focused in on the liquid before him. He pulled his hand up...but felt an incalculable strain. "Rghhhh....what....gives?!?!"

The fire hydrant started to shake and vibrate.

Garth wrenched to hands together and intensified the purple magic. "It won't....let loose...the water!! Why's it being....so.......st-stubborn?!?! NghhhhhhhhRAAAAAH!!!"

CRUMBLE!!!!!!!

WRKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

The fire hydrant lifted up by fifteen feet. Consequently the water pipe that it was attached to ripped upwards through the asphalt and parted the street in a growing mountain ridge of concrete and dirty debris that streamed over......and under the police barricade.

CRASH!! CRASH!!! "WAAAAH!!!" Two police cars and an officer went flying in opposite directions.

Garth gasped. "Neptune damn!!!" He released his magical 'grip' too quickly.

CRAAACK!!!!

The pipe burst down the center. Water spewed out in a freakish torrent and cascaded Robin's way.

"All right!!!" Robin held the thug leader up by the collar and frowned in his face. "Listen up, creep! You're going to tell me who hired you or else I'm gonna—ACK!!!!" The water slipped under the Boy Wonder's boots and tripped him into the thug's chest. "OOF!!!" The two tumbled across the sidewalk like passionate lovers while the water rippled down the street and swept up a police detective. The detective floated down the street, flailing his arms and crying for help. Two patrolman rushed after him, hands outstretched.

Garth winced.

The gunfight was over.

Water trickled and splashed everywhere.

The police, the Titans, and even a few of the captured thugs stared the Atlantean's way. "....................."

Garth blushed. He walked backwards and tried to hide behind a streetlamp.

Beast Boy stood up. He took one look at the shattered street, running water, and floating detective. "Um....," he sweatdropped...then simpered. "Hey!! Not bad for a first day!!" he patted Garth's back. "Beginner's luck, huh?"

Garth frowned down at him.

".........," Beast Boy smiled nervously. "Eheheheh....I-I think I'll be going back to lie down on the sidewalk now..."

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

Prison vans carted off the crooks.

The money bags were recovered.

Emergency crew started taping off the area.

The Titans gathered around the T-Car a few meters down the road where an alleyway opened into an artificial water canal running through the northern end of the Central District. Cyborg and Beast Boy leaned against the side of the car together. Raven and Robin stood behind it. Starfire sat cross-legged on the hood next to me and a streetlamp.

Garth seemed alone. His feet were in the side of the street. He folded his arms and looked away from us.

After a sigh, he glanced over his shoulder and said: "Look...I saw Beast Boy hit the ground and I couldn't let that one creep get to him. And then when I saw Robin tackling those two crooks at once....well...I had to do something! How can I just stand idly by while you all put your lives at stake?!"

"We weren't putting our lives at stake," Robin said.

"We had a handle on it," Cyborg said. "This was a bank heist. It happens all the time in this City! It's normal business!"

Garth spun around, his dark eyes wide. "You mean that sort of chaos happens all the time here?!?"

"Indeed, it is most trivial....and unfortunate all the same," Starfire nodded.

"It's been a boring week, actually!" Beast Boy grinned. "Man, I envy you. We had a bomb threat and a hijacked airliner the very day that I joined!"

"Yes...that was quite enjoyable...," Raven muttered.

Beast Boy burned red.

"Then if it was routine...why didn't you let me fight by your side??" Garth asked.

"We had it covered. We didn't need you."

Garth frowned. "You didn't need dead weight. That's what you mean!"

Cyborg's human eye twisted. He held a hand up. "Now wait just a damn second—"

"I'm not really a Titan am I?? I'm just some annoying, pointy sea urchin in the way!!"

"That's not what I meant, man! And you know it!"

"No! I don't know it!" Garth pointed. "I know nothing about this place! The only blasted thing I do know is that the only times you guys actually let me lend a hand is when I'm bound to do something screwy! Why can't you trust me??"

"But we do trust you, Aqualad," Starfire clasped her hands together and expressed a sincere face. "It is only that you are not fully ready."

"Meaning...."

"Like I said earlier," Robin gestured. "You need training. We know this place is really exotic and new...especially for an Atlantean. But you have talents, Garth. You have power that we can't use without!"

"........," Garth looked at Raven.

Raven was silent.

Garth looked at Robin again. He grumbled: "Yeah? Well I don't believe it."

"Then what do you believe, dude?" Beast Boy uttered.

Garth folded his arms and looked away. "I don't believe you need me at all. At one time you did, but that was on my side of the spectrum. Now that we're not undersea and we don't have Trident or some other Atlantean creep to deal with...the best I am is a fish out of water. What's to believe in that?"

"Garth, you just have to realize that things take time—"Robin began.

Garth interrupted: "Like it took any time for you to ask me into your Tower??" Garth pointed towards the afternoon horizon where the Bay was. "That place is the only home I have now! Everything I've been through has tossed me in that place!! I have nowhere else to go!! You knew that!! You invited me along with the excuse that I was becoming a Titan when all I really am is your poor, tragic house-guest!!"

I whistled without looking.

Garth frowned at me. "What? Think I'm overreacting?"

I looked up boredly at him.

"Not all of us are perfect little soldiers like you, Noir!! Some of us have a voice to talk back with!!"

I clenched my fists.

Raven held a hand out in front of me. I had no idea how she got there all of the sudden...

"Garth...control your emotions," Raven said, looking over at the irate Atlantean. "Be patient. You'll have your time to improve your knack for dry-land battles. Sooner than you think, what happened this afternoon will be but a fading memory—"

"Listen to yourself!" Garth shook his head and sighed. "You're treating me like some kid! Heck...I guess I can't blame you. Any surface-dwelling kid of even an infantile age could have grounded a crook better than I have!"

Raven was about to say something else when suddenly Robin walked past her and faced Garth up close. "You know what Aqualad? Ignore what Raven said. Forget about controlling your emotions. Cuz you're right. We're treating you like a baby. But we have a damn good reason to."

Cyborg bit his lip. "Um...."

"Dude??" Beast Boy tapped Robin's shoulder.

The Boy Wonder batted the changeling's hand away without looking. He frowned at the Atlantean. "Ever since you got here, Aqualad...you've been nothing but a big whiny infant. If you can't be around enough water, you cry that we're starving you. If you have too much water, you cry that we're pampering you. When are you gonna be satisfied?"

"What's this all about??" Garth narrowed his eyes.

Robin walked up to him and planted his hands on his hips. "You really are a Prince, aren't you?? Expecting everything served before you?? Well welcome to the real world, Aqualad. This is the place where you fight hard to become something great. And ever since we've inducted you, you haven't been fighting hard!!"

"Only because you guys haven't let me!!" Garth barked back.

"Ha!! Some excuse that is!!" Robin smirked and folded his arms. "You only ruin yourself, Aqualad. I'd imagine that after all you've been through, you would be showing a little more guts!"

Garth glared. His fists clenched. "You're walking a thin line...man..."

"Am I now?? What are you going to do to me? You can't even lift a damn finger against me in training!! You try and stop a bunch of crooks and end up sending our collateral damage factor a mile high and nearly hurting the law enforcement here!! You're a total wreck, Aqualad!!"

My lips parted.

Raven's eyes were wide.

Starfire had her hands over her mouth.

And Robin went on: "You know what I think? I think it's that curse that's been on your family for generations!! You've waken up to the fact that you're nothing but a demon's half-spawn and it's gnawing at your potential!!"

Garth's teeth showed. "Shut up...."

"Why should I???" Robin was nose-to-nose with the Atlantean. "I'm the leader and you're my responsibility!! You're the young pup that landed in my team and already I can see that you're nothing but a has-been!! Why on earth would Tula ever give her life just to burden us with you?!?"

Garth's eyes exploded. He let out a shout and socked Robin hard in the jaw.

WHAM!!!

Robin teetered back.

"HOW DARE YOU?!?!" Garth growled. He pounced. "RAAAAUGH!!!"

The Titans gasped and parted ways as Robin and Garth tumbled across the top of the T-Car and collapsed onto the other side. After a fit of wrestling, Garth kicked Robin off of him. The Atlantean got up and charged the Boy Wonder.

"Tula gave her life to save me and all of Atlantis!! Even when I loved her to the bottom of my heart!!" Garth charged in with a fist which Robin ducked and sidestepped. "How dare you insult the sacrifice that she made?!?!?"

Robin jumped back, whipped out his staff, and spun it. He motioned with his free hand. "Some sacrifice!! You can't even hit me!!"

"RAAAAUGH!!" Garth charged. He swung his right fist.

Robin blocked it with pure metal.

Garth swung his left fist.

Robin spun his staff and met it.

"YAAUGH!!" Garth shouted and lifted his foot.

WHUMP!!! Robin stumbled back from the blow to his mid section.

"I thought you were a true Titan!!" Garth heaved.

"What would you know about a true Titan??" Robin spat back.

"Nothing as wretched or dishonorable as you!!!" Garth charged.

Robin flipped over him.

Garth spun to the ground and swept his leg out.

THWUMP!!!

Robin tripped. He spun in mid-air, handplanted off the ground, and backflipped to safety. He spun his staff, shouted, and dashed at Garth with his staff jabbing everywhere.

SWISH!! SWOOSH!! SWOOSH! SWISH!!

Garth ducked and dodged expertly, his face tense in anger, his adrenaline pumping. Robin chased him with the staff into the alleyway. The other Titans and I followed nervously at a distance...watching...

"Tula trusted you to live out your life to your fullest!!" Robin shouted as he constantly jabbed and attacked with his staff. "And you call me dishonorable?!?"

"I will not have you judge my life!!!" Garth blocked one jab and shoved Robin back. "Yaugh!!!"

Robin countered and swung hard low.

SWOOOSH!!!

Garth leapt the blow, bounced off the alley wall, spun in mid-air, and acrobatically kicked Robin across the cheek.

WHAP!!!

Robin stumbled back.

Garth landed. He cracked his knuckles and rushed in. "Nnnnghh!!!"

WHUMP!!! He head-butted Robin in the chest.

"RGHHH!!!" he gave Robin a right-hook. SLAM!!

"NNNGHHH!!" he gave Robin a left hook. WHAM!!!

Robin stumbled back into a chain-link fence bordering the water canal. He panted.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Garth charged.

Robin held his staff out horizontally.

SWOOOOSH!! Garth jump-kicked.

CRACK!!! Robin's staff broke in half from Garth's foot. WHAM—CLANG!!! The Boy Wonder was plowed straight through the chain-link fence, breaking it.

WOOOSH-SPLASH!!! Robin landed knee-deep in the water of the concrete canal.

SWISH!! Garth flipped forward and landed before Robin. He gripped the boy's shoulders, growled, and flung him into a nearby wall of the ravine.

SLAM!!!

Robin groaned.

"YAAAAH!!!" Garth raised his arms. His eyes flickered purple. Tentacles of water rose from the bottom of the ravine and snaked around Robin.

"Nnnghhh," the Boy Wonder struggled in the liquid grip. He was raised up...then slammed back down by the tentacles.

WHAM!!!

Again.

WHAM!!!

Again.

SPLASH!!!

The Titans and I watched—horrified—from the edge of the ravine.

"Nnnnghh!!!" Garth twisted his wrists.

Robin gasped and sputtered as he was lifted mightily towards the Atlantean by the magic, watery arms.

Garth's eyes were on fire as he raised a fist and flew it mercilessly at Robin's incoming face.

SWOOOSH-GRIP!!!!

Robin's gloved hand seized Garth's wrist just inches before it struck his nose.

"Aqualad!!!"

"RAAAH!!" the Atlantean swung his other fist.

Robin gripped it too.

"GARTH!!!" he emphasized.

The boy panted. The purple faded in his round eyes.

"Look at everything!!" Robin said.

Garth blinked. He saw the Boy Wonder's face. Robin had the same eyemask....but the wicked expression of the young man taunting him was gone. In its place was something akin to the sympathetic Titan leader who had inducted him. It melted something inside of Garth, and his eyesight fell to see the fresh bruises on Robin's skin and the menacing tentacles of water encircling him and how his fists were about to pummel the Boy Wonder's daylights out.

Something inside of Garth wanted to whimper and shout at the same time. He didn't know what to do. So he trembled and looked up at the prone Titan Leader in front of him.

Robin leaned his head forward and spoke firmly in a low voice:

"Garth...you are a Titan. You ARE a Titan. Like the rest of us, you've gone through unimaginable pain and suffering to get you to where you are now. It was never out of pity that we inducted you...but out of respect. We respect you because we know that the very pain that has ripped you apart is the very same thing that mends your talents together. Learning to find a balance amidst it all is part of what being a Titan is. It's not something that lasts only through the end of training or your career...but your entire lifetime, Garth. And I promise you, from now on, you won't be alone with it!"

"I....I....," Garth swallowed a lump in his throat. "I-I almost beat the crap out of you!!"

Robin slowly nodded. "And you always could have. Only—unlike me—you weren't giving your all. And a lot of times, Garth, for all of us....it hurts to give our all."

Garth shuddered. He returned the color of his eyes to their white on black. The watery snakes wrapped around Robin melted away. He let the Boy Wonder down on his wobbly legs.

Robin took a deep breath and patted the Atlantean's shoulder.

"Did I hurt you?" the Titan leader asked.

Garth looked at him. He gulped. "N-No...," he simpered. "Not really...thanks." A beat. "D-Did I hurt you??"

Robin blinked under his mask. "Almost."

Garth chuckled.

Robin raised an eyebrow above his mask.

Garth cleared his throat. "C-Can I be happy?"

Cyborg walked over from behind. "You can be proud," he smiled.

Starfire flew down and hugged Aqualad. "Hehehehe!!"

"Woohoo!!" Beast Boy hopped over. "Go Aqualad! Pure badass!!"

I smirked and folded my arms.

Raven was silent.

"I'm.....I-I'm a little confused....," Garth said, hugging Starfire back.

"So was I when Robin did it to me," Cyborg said.

"You m-mean...," Garth stepped away from Starfire and looked at the android Titan suspiciously. "He got on your bad side too?"

"Yup," Cyborg nodded.

"Same here...," Raven droned.

Garth made a face. "How could he have done that to you??"

Raven glanced Robin's way.

Robin scratched his head and sweatdropped. "I-I'm still getting the burn marks off from that," he smirked.

Garth ran a hand over his head. "I...I-I feel so stupid...I can't believe I lost control like that..."

"It's a good thing...in part," Raven said.

"A good thing, Raven?"

"Now that you know what power and focus you're capable of...," Raven walked up and spoke, "...you can work on separating it from the anger and pain that courses through you. All of us, Garth, in some way or another have pain that we deal with. And ironically, our powers are related to that pain. But being a Titan means taking that power and using it for good. It's a slap in the face of the evil that threatens to bind and control us. True heroes must conquer themselves before conquering villainy around them."

Garth took a deep breath. "Slizzath's curse...my banishment from the seas..." He clenched his fists. "How am I ever going to forget about all that?"

"You don't ever forget it, Garth," Robin said. He raised a gloved hand. "You use it."

"How?"

"As a reminder. In time...when you're properly trained and pointed in the right direction...you'll look back at yourself and be proud of what you've become. Believe it or not...being a vigilante can be personally rewarding."

"But only if you give it a try," Starfire said. "And stay with us. Please?"

"Yeah, dude!" Beast Boy hopped. "Please??"

"..................," Garth sighed.

I leaned my head to the side.

A beat.

Garth smiled. "A-Alright..."

"Yes!!"

"Boo-ya!!"

"Allright! Dude!!"

"Come on...," Robin led Garth limpingly back up to the street. "Let's go home...your real home."

The others followed.

I was the last. I smiled with a happy breath.

Did I mention how much I love being on this team?

I walked up the side of the canal.

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

"Woo hoo! So glad I recorded that!!" Cyborg 'blinked' his red eye and laughed as he gripped the wheel. On the ride home in the T-Car, the looming Sun started to hint of its descent towards the horizon. He and Raven were riding alone. Garth had decided to stay a little while in the City with Robin and Beast Boy while Starfire went back to check on Nova'm and I strolled off for a walk.

"Sure, Robin may have been egging him on...but you gotta admit that Aqualad sure has sweet moves to dish out!! Ha ha! Man oh man, it's gonna be cool fighting alongside him after he's gone through some training simulators and all!"

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

Cyborg smiled. He glanced aside. He looked back through the windshield again.

"You've been awfully quiet the whole way back, Raven," he said.

She droned. "Is that anything unusual?"

"I dunno. But then again, what's not unusual about you?"

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

Silence.

Cyborg glanced aside again. His smile faded.

There was something peculiar lying underneath the stoicism in Raven's expression at that moment.

"Rae??" Cyborg uttered. "You okay?"

Raven took a deep breath and scrunched back in her seat. "I don't think what Robin did was wise, that's all."

"What? Getting Garth to show his true potential?"

"It's the way in which he got Garth to show it."

"Well, the Boy Wonder did it to you and I as well, remember? It sure got us out of our funks!"

"Perhaps," Raven sighed. "But....it's been so soon after what Garth's been through and—"

"Raven??" Cyborg smirked a little. "Sorry to interject, but you're sounding 'concerned' and it's scaring me. Heheheh."

"............well perhaps I am concerned," Raven said.

And something about the way she said it stabbed Cyborg hard.

"Uhm...I'm sorry, Rae. I must be missing something. I—"

"Don't mind me, Cyborg," she said.

"You know I never do that," he winked.

She glared momentarily. Then spoke: "All of us Titans—in some fashion or another—were there in Aqualad's life to witness the tragic deaths of three of his closest companions. And all of those friends and relatives of him died as a direct result of the evil curse set upon his household.....the touch of the demonic Slizzath."

"Yeah........and.....?"

"And.......," Raven bit her lip. She looked a hundred percent less graceful. "A-And it reminded me of how quite possible it is for....f-for my curse to get loose..."

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

"......and end the lives of everyone and everything I know."

"Come on, Rae...," Cyborg said gently. "It's not the same, ya know? Aqualad, he...."

Silence.

"It's...it's not the same!" he re-uttered.

Raven merely hugged herself.

Cyborg gulped. He felt a heaviness in his heart. The fleshly part of his throat went sore.

Silence.

Then....a startling thing....

"Cyborg?"

"Yeah, Rae?"

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

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

"...............can you do me a favor?"

Cyborg raised his human eyebrow at that. He glanced over. "S-Sure! Just ask, Raven."

"Talk?"

"About what?"

"Anything....will you, please?"

A beat.

"Y-Yeah...," Cyborg smiled sweetly. "I think I can do that."

Raven let out a shuddering sigh.

Cyborg cleared his throat. He looked at the road as he nonchalantly blabbered: "There's this fanfic I'm working on lately that takes place in between A New Hope and Empire Strikes back. It's a story about Luke Skywalker obsessing over clues as to his mom's possible existence while he and the Rebellion are relocating to planet Hoth. Everything goes fine until Luke and Leia discover that they have identical birthmarks on their ankles and though they're not sensible enough to realize they're twin siblings, they still try and solve the mystery of Luke's mother together. And then........"

Raven nodded while Cyborg spoke. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as they road along.

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

Later that evening, I came back home from my walk. It was evening time...with the sunset in full, crimson effect.

I returned early.

I took the elevator up to the Main Room. I stepped out and sought to access the Main Computer and log onto my account.

A Titan needs his e-mail.

I smiled to myself.

"'Slade'...."

I froze.

My black eyes darted around under my shades.

Finally my gaze settled on a dark figure sitting in the computer chair with his back to me.

"'...nemesis to the Teen Titans. Guilty of murder attempts, violent conspiracies, bomb threats, and political upheaval'," Garth read off of the bio on the computer screen. He swiveled around so that his body half-faced me as he continued reading. "'Coerced Robin into being his apprentice using nanoprobes and death threats against his friends. Used a girl named Terra to do his building and spread ruin throughout the land. Tricked the former H.I.V.E. member Jinx into performing his dirty work during the last bombing runs of the City. Throughout Slade's frightful career, he released over one hundred high-level felons from prison, robbed a diamond mine, blew up at least four skyscrapers, killed well over five hundred innocent people, and nearly brought the end to the Teen Titans'."

Swiftly, Garth turned and faced me.

He spoke: "And you killed him...."

I took a deep breath. I nodded.

Garth glanced back at the computer screen...then in my general direction again. "How does the Sixth Titan before me turn from Newby to Villain-Slayer in nearly two and a half months??"

I smiled and shrugged.

"Heh....humble to the end. I'm sorry about my comment earlier...ya know, about you not being able to talk back and stuff?"

I waved him off.

A beat.

"Starfire suggested I catch up on some reading," he said, gesturing to the computer. "You gotta hand it to the Tamaranian. It's helping me get caught up. Though....it would seem..." he looked at the ill-fated portrait of Slade. "The fun's been had."

I coughed.

"Huh??" he looked my way.

I shook my head.

"Whatever. I've got a lot to learn, is all I know."

I nodded...smiling.

Garth got up. He paced before the wide windows bordering the Main Room and sighed. "I guess it's not so bad being dry all the time. Kinda makes me like water more, ya know? And it's not like this Tower runs out of it. You've got these 'showers' everywhere that do me just fine. Honestly...with so much plumbing and sanitation equipment lying around...I don't know why surface dwellers bother to stay out of the ocean when they love water so much."

I chuckled breathily at that.

Garth kept his back to me.

I lifted an eyebrow. I walked over and stood a few paces behind him.

The Atlantean stared out of the windows. He took a deep breath. "I......d-didn't mean to blow up like I did. I mean...I'm glad I got out of my stupid rut for a moment at least, but still. If that's what it takes to wake me up to my true potential...then I've got a lot to worry about." He glanced back at me. "The rest of the Titans....you all seem so focused. So calm and collected. I can't imagine what level of meditation it must take to...achieve that sense of balance. That order."

I leaned my head to the side.

"Especially Raven...," he added. His dark eyes drifted off. "She's just like me. Of all the people I know now....I wonder if she can best understand........"

His voice lingered.

Silence.

He gazed out the window again and ran a hand through his upper hair. He sighed...his whole body sagging. "For once......I have what I've always wanted. So few people to choose from. So few to trust. Banished from the seas...."

A beat.

His hand ran down to where it covered his face and his shoulders started shaking. And soon that shaking turned into a gentle weeping as he shakingly muttered: "I don't want to be here......" He sniffed. He shuddered. "Why'd you have to d-do it, Tula?? I don't want t-to be here....I want you to be in that palace of yours. Where you deserve to b-be. Where you were born to be." His arm quivered and he sobbed intermittently into his palm.

I couldn't see his tears from where I stood. I shifted uncomfortably...my throat was sore.

I don't know whether he sensed it or not, but he waved without looking. "You don't have to stay here, man....," he wheezed. "I'm sorry for b-being such a wuss. I....I-I just need to be alone is all....I always n-need to be alone..."

He took a whispery breath and limped over to a couch in the far corner of the Main Room. He slumped down and sat alone with his tears.

I slowly turned around and walked out of the room down the nearest corridor.

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

Down in my cellar room, I had already stripped out of my combat fatigues and put on casual wear. White shorts and a black tank top. I sat at the front of my bed with the laptop before me. I squinted my black eyes—the shades off—and typed.

Spsquirrel: Do you have a moment?

InzeUltima: sure! whats on yur mind Jordan?

Spsquirrel: Actually...I was wondering if you could do me a favor.

InzeUltima: oooh...how mysterious. hehehe. ;) go ahead and ask.

Spsquirrel: Can I call you?

InzeUltima: u mean on the phone??

Spsquirrel: Yeah...

InzeUltima: uh sure but didnt we both agree that this was the easiest way to communicate with each other?

Spsquirrel: I'd like to hear your voice.

InzeUltima: By all means! When did you want to call?

I immediately dialed the number on the cell phone in my hand.

A dial tone.

A pause.

Click.

"Well hey there! This wouldn't be an obscene phone call, would it?? Hehehe."

Kara's voice.

I took a deep breath. I leaned back against the headboard of my bed. In the lanternlight, I stretched my hand out and typed.

Spsquirrel: Hey...

"Hehehe! Hey! What's up?"

I cradled the phone to my ear.

"I must say...thanks for taking the initiative to call me, Jordan. I mean...not that Ma and Pa don't like me calling you or anything...but the long distance seriously slaughters us unlike you guys and your Tower's bottomless wallet. Heh. You see, this one time—back when I was talking to a kid named Jimmy Olsen a lot—a huge-ass phone bill stacked up and Clark nearly clobbered me!! Oh man, I've never seen him that mad! It's a funny thing, seeing the evil side of Superman. A lot of people aren't gifted with that perspective. It's a once in a lifetime thing and..................... Jordan??..................... Jordan, are you okay??"

I was hugging my knees to my chest. With one hand I held the phone to my ear. With my other hand, I covered my black eyes. They were moist around the corners. I took a painful, shuddering breath...swallowed...and typed.

Spsquirrel: Never been better, Kara. Never been better.

I bit my lip, sniffed, and desperately held the phone to my ear.

Listening....

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

I have a very painful past, Diana. Long before I joined the Titans, I learned what true pain is.

You know true pain the moment that you give up on life. And at one point, I did just that. It is only by a miracle that I ever survived, headed west, and landed in this Town. Now that I fight alongside my friends...now that I'm a Titan...I realize that pain is merely that. Pain. It's everywhere and it's everything. But life as a Titan demands that I go on in spite of what I have gone through and what I will most likely go through in the future. Everything is constantly moving and changing and exploding into surprises and I have no time to have a pity party or beat myself up about the past. Sure, I may cry every now or then or sleep past the sunrise to chase it all away...but I've since become a legend and I can only think about others. It's like a platinum rule of bravery...and I'm sure that—as a superheroine—you yourself can relate.

It's very easy to want to take pity for Aqualad. It's very easy to want to offer him a place to stay and let it rest at that. But Titans don't do the easy thing. We accept people not for what makes them...but for what they make themselves. And a long time ago, Prince Garth became a symbol for strength against adversity....perhaps a long time before Robin ever fought by Batman's side or Starfire ever fended off an alien invasion or Raven ever confronted her father face-to-face.

I can only imagine that—in time—Aqualad himself will realize that he is the hero that he strives to be and nothing less. It's inevitable...for it's part of his becoming a Titan. The induction—influenced by pity or not—was just the introductory phase. Now...the rest is up to him.

Though he can afford a little motivation...

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

I opened the door.

I flipped on the switch.

Garth shaded his eyes. "Wh-Where are we?"

I smiled at him and motioned for the Atlantean to step in.

He did so....hesitantly. He looked around and found himself surrounded by glass casings and wall racks exhibiting an array of odd props, tools, and weapons.

"Um.....interesting....," Garth's dark eyes narrowed. He strolled past Mumbo Jumbo's camera, the Puppet King's hovercraft, Viper's sword, Johnny Rancid's helmet. "Do these belong to anyone in particular?"

I nodded. I pointed at an example.

"Hey...that's a piece of Slade's mask...," Garth recognized. He smiled at me. "This is like......a showcase of villains' stuff?"

I nodded with a grin.

"Lemme guess....Cyborg's handiwork."

I shook my head.

"Robin's?"

I nodded.

"That makes sense. He'd keep trophies, wouldn't he?"

I chuckled breathily. I walked along and motioned for him to follow.

"I suppose that this means the Titans have offed a lot of bad guys—hey! It's Trident's.....trident."

I led him past that.

"What are you trying to show me?"

I brought him over to a glass-encased rack in the corner. I motioned towards an array of stuff.

"Hmm...," Garth leaned forward and squinted his eyes.

There was a battered outfit with Slade's insignia, along with razor-edged playing cards, and finally a pair of dangling, onyx-black goggles.

"What's this all about? Looks sorta like Slade's stuff."

I pointed at a newspaper clipping framed amongst the array.

Garth read from the bold headlines: "'Wyldecarde Stages Explosive Attack On Phaser Labs'." A beat. "I don't get it."

I pointed to the front page's photo.

Garth glanced at the figure in the snapshot. A very familiar figure.

A pause.

He glanced at me. "No way...."

I slowly nodded.

"You turned against the Titans?"

I leaned my head and waved my hand from side to side.

"But.....then why are you....how............I-I'm confused..."

I raised a finger...a metal finger. I kept my left hand up and with my right wrist trailed down the forearm to the disc keeping the prosthetic in place. A trademark chill ran through my body as I grasped the disk, squeezed just right, and--

POP! HISSSsssssssss....

The limb detached.

Garth's jaw dropped.

I held it before him.

He took it in unsteady hands and looked the metal hand over.

A beat.

"So...it is completely fake...," he glanced up. "I've never had a chance to see it this up close." A beat. He glanced at the hand...at me...then at the hand again. His eyes narrowed. "You....lost it somehow. And that's why you're here today?"

I nodded with a slight smile. A knowing smile.

"Heh....things make sense when you have someone as King Orin for a friend," Garth said.

I hadn't thought about that. I chuckled breathily.

He handed me my metal arm back and sighed. "You've given a lot...to remain a Titan, haven't you?"

CL-CLICK!!!

I reattached the arm.

A chill.

A bigger chill.

I recovered and sighed.............I nodded.

"But....I guess that was always bound to happen," Garth said. "Before or after joining this team."

I looked at him.

He turned and stared at the display of Wyldecarde material. He was either looking at the newspaper clipping or his reflection. Maybe both.

"I can never lose anything greater...than I lost Tula," he said. "What would she have me do now that I can have a second chance at making a difference?"

Silence.

He thought aloud: "She would....have me bring the essence of our people with us...," his lips trailed open. A beat. He continued: "She'd want me to remember all the happiness of the seas I could have had. O-Of course!!" He snapped his finger. He looked at me with a wide grin. "I know how to make a difference on dry land now!!"

I scratched my head, looking at him strangely.

"Seriously! Oh man...I gotta go see Cyborg...P.D.Q.! Pardon me," he rushed on by and out the door.

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

Two days later...after strenuous hours of overhearing the endless toil of an android Titan and his new Atlantean partner working away in a laboratory...the whole of us were grouped in the indoor pool next door to the gym.

"And so I thought...'Damn! That's a fine idea!'" Cyborg uttered. He patted Aqualad's shoulder. "I provided the goods, of course. But this here dawg had the creativity. You tell 'em, Flipper."

"Gladly," Garth smirked. He was equipped with a streamline metal container strapped to the back of his wetsuit. Finely-crafted cords stretched like pipelines from the container to clear blue metal 'sleeves'on each of his wrists with tiny pipes at the end of them, like nozzels. "There's no name for this thing yet...but it solves the problem of my not having any water in the nearby area. Observe..."

He faced the pool. While the six of us and Cyborg watched...Garth pointed both arms out, aimed, and controlled the water pressure with a focused pulse of his violet-glowing magic. High pressured torrents of water streamed out of both sleeves with the power to knock over a large group of thugs....much less one man.

Applause...Starfire clapped the most.

"Glorious!!! Hehehe!"

Robin smiled. "Very nice."

"So...it's like a water gun of doom!" Nova'm said.

"More than that," Garth smiled. "Naturally...I can control it, see??"

He cut off the jets of water and flicked his hands out. Before the spray of water could settle into the pool, it magically congealed into a floating, clear sphere above the surface and became more and more dense.

"And when controlled just right...," Garth spoke, "...it becomes pretty damn powerful. Wanna help out, Cyborg?"

"Just like we practiced, dawg," Cyborg palmed his fists and held both hands out at ready.

Garth concentrated...and swung his arms. " Nnnnghhh!!!"

SWOOOOSH-SPLOOOSH!!!!

The sphere of water flew across the pool room and contacted hard with Cyborg's palms.

Cyborg was ready, and the blow sent him in his stance sliding teen feet across the tile.

"Whew!!" he lowered his hands and flexed his fingers. "If I still had flesh for fingers, they'd be totally pruned by now!!"

"That's so cool!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "But...that water can't last forever in there. What if you run out?"

"Simple as taking a baby's first breathstroke," Garth winked. "Observe."

He backflipped and dived with barely a splash into the pool.

Robin and Starfire craned their necks to see.

I stood beside Raven. We crossed our arms separately.

Garth swam back up to the surface. He took a breath and pointed at his new, trademark apparatus. "All I need to do is dip into a body of water and recharge the thing. It'll handle almost any liquid...and works great out on the field, I bet. If I conserve my usage of the water between trips...I should be just fine to assist you all!"

"Not bad...," Raven smirked ever so slightly. "Looks like you can take a little piece of home with you anywhere you go."

"Exactly what I was thinking," Garth stepped out of the pool, shook some drops off of him, and breathed. "Someone very special to me assured me of that right..."

Silence.

Everybody nodded.

"Well, Aqualad...I'm impressed," Robin stepped forward. "You've not only proven yourself to be badass...but also ingenious."

"I knew you'd wake up to that sometime," Garth winked.

"Suuuuure."

"Oh, by the way...," Garth raised a hand. "It's not Aqualad."

"Huh?"

"Say what??"

"It isn't?"

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

Garth explained. "That was my old name. Before I was a Titan. Before I learned to embrace that which scares me as much as it empowers me." He took a deep breath. "The name's Tempest from now on."

A beat.

"Well I like it," Nova'm simpered.

I nodded.

"Tempest it is, then," Robin held his hand out. "Welcome aboard."

Tempest chuckled and shook the Boy Wonder's hand. "When're we gonna stop with the introductions already?"

"Depends."

"Which reminds me....," Tempest's eyes wandered. "Beast Boy said that you guys have a tradition that pretty much defines the 'Titans'."

"Oh?"

"Yeah...he said something to the extent of...," Tempest's face twisted a bit. "....'going out for the pizza'..."

"Hehehe!! Yes!" Starfire clapped her hands merrily. "The pizza!!"

"Hehehe!! Good idea, dude!" Beast Boy smiled. He faced everyone else. "How about it, guys?"

"Well alright!" Cyborg planted his hands on his titanium hips. "I've been dying to get out of the lab anyways!"

I held a thumb's up.

"Sure, why not?" Raven droned.

"Titans!" Robin chuckled and pointed a gloved finger. "Go!"

Tempest put his new tool away and lead the charge.

"Hey! Hey! Can I come too?" Nova'm hopped.

"I dunno, little man," Cyborg shrugged.

"You're not a Titan!" Robin pointed.

"Awwww....no fair!!"

"Oh do please let him come...," Starfire innocently pleaded.

Robin laughed. "Of course he can. He's our guest this week, isn't he?"

"Besides...I'm a prince," Nova'm boasted.

"Heh...," Tempest smirked without looking. "Small world."

Beast Boy laughed...and we were gone.

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

To be honest, Diana. Having Tempest here now is a unique experience for me...as I'm sure it will vicariously be interesting for you. As the sixth Titan, I was never a witness to viewing a newcomer teammate from the outside. I was always the one last to arrive at the scene of a crime or having trouble with the Main Computer or getting lost in the hallways.

Which reminds me...I do hope that Starfire gives Tempest a generous tour of the basement levels of the Tower before allowing the Atlantean to do all of our laundry someday....

But hey...certain moments in history only belong to a select few of us. The rest—thankfully—can be shared. And I am happy to be sharing this piece of it...complete with both the things to mourn over and the things to smile over. I wouldn't be proud any other way.

I'm hoping that—even though I'm no longer the newby—Robin will allow me to continue with this correspondence. I feel almost selfish in saying this—but—I've gotten quite used to and pleased with writing back and forth with you, Diana. I feel that the Teen Titans and the Justice League share a unique future with each other. And hopefully it will be on peaceful terms that ever require us to meet.

I look forward to whatever you may have to say on the recent run-in with the Royal Flush Gang. It still amazes me just how many villains Batman has on his 'nemesis' list.

Until then, good luck I sense the cool, refreshing breeze of Autumn wafting down from the North during this fresh, October month. I wonder if the Boy Wonder believes in opening the Tower windows during the afternoon. I would hope so.

Sincerely,

Noir