These Black Eyes

by P0ST

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

143. Picture Frames

143. Picture Frames

Loading....

Loading....

Loading....

Loading Complete

Initialize Surveillance Protocols 75/02-SF (Yes/No)?

"Yes"

Initializing....

Initializing....

Initializing....

Initialization Process Complete

Protocols 75/02-SF In Effect

Input Devices at 115 Efficiency

Power Resources 99 And Holding At Nominal Rate Of 0.002 Decrease

Automatic Sensors In Effect

Opening Program "Rahab's House"

Subject: Teen Titans

Location: Titans' Tower

Date: October 22, 2004

Time: 0801 Hours

Focusing In....

Recording...

Recording...

Recording...

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

He sat on the edge of the Tower's rooftop.

The early afternoon Sun lingered over the City.

A beautiful golden shine dripped over the landscape.

The waters of the Bay sparkled.

The suspension bridge in the distance glowed.

The skyscrapers and building tops and apartment complexes jutted up into the air.

A chaotically pleasant, uneven horizon....

Cool autumn air drifted upwards, was caught up in a heavy wind, and rushed through him.

Coursing through his dark black hair.

Swimming around his limbs.

Closing his eyes.

Filling his nostrils.

Reminding him of a colder place.

Where the air was anything but crisp....

And the seas were anything but shimmering.

And the last thing that the sky was.....was blue.

A beat.

He sighed.

Slowly, he got up, turned around, and walked towards the stairwell in his costume.

....

By the time he was inside, Robin made sure that his eyemask was back on.

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

The Main Room was full of people.

Parents. Children. Titans. But mainly children.

Even a few City Officials and local celebrities were there.

Ribbons and paper bands of orange and black arched down from the ceiling.

Various cutesy-dark decorations lined the walls, such as rubber black spiders and rats and hair-raising cats.

There were pumpkins galore in the corners, stacked with bits of 'borrowed' hay and a scarecrow or two.

Musical instrumentals of violins, dulcimers, and a great country flare played from a uniformly spread sound system throughout the interior.

The windows were open.

The air was filled with Autumn crispness and happy conversations.

Children giggled and ran around and played with the various minigames set up around the place and operated by volunteers from the City.

The Autumn Festival was in full effect.

Besides a line of 'Trick or Treat' tables adorned with candy, a green figure emerged. Beast Boy was dressed in an emerald tunic with white leggings and an elongated cap. He stepped backwards with a prop sword and shield dangling from behind as he gestured emphatically to the shadows.

"Dude...come on! I went through all that trouble to make you look so kickass! Don't back out on me now!!"

An Atlantean voice grumbled from the other side. "I can't believe what you've done to me...."

"What?!?! You've seen a mirror, haven't you?!?!"

"Yes. And believe me....never before was I more homicidally inclined....."

"Just walk out! I swear, nobody's gonna castrate you, dude....."

"........," Tempest walked out of the shadows into the lavishly decorated Main Room. He had a dark leather jacket, black pants, and intensely black shadow around his already dark eyes. On top of that, his black hair was frazzled and framed his head where a fake, rubber snake hung suggestively around his neck. "Why....why did you make me a girl??"

"Dude...Alice Cooper isn't a girl!"

"Then why is he named—"

"It was a badass thing at his time. He was the king of all musical rebellion, dude!! Now....you got your lyric sheet, right?"

Tempest glanced at the nefarious scrap of paper in his leather grasp. "Uhm...with all of these children around....should I really insist that 'I'm their gun'??"

"Eh....what'll they know," Beast Boy waved. He smiled. "Starfire's got this place done whiter than a Victorian Confirmation Ceremony. We need an element of the dark! Besides....Raven doesn't let me pick her costume and character."

"Why, because you'd turn her into a guy??"

"Dude! You....are...not...a....girl!!"

"Thanks for the insistence....," Tempest sighed. He shrugged. "Well....at least there's one thing about this." He smirked and lifted the lyric sheet. "I AM eighteen."

"There ya go! Keep it up!!"

Two kids in stormtrooper outfits scurried by, giggling.

Tempest cleared his throat. "So....uhm....just what are you, Beast Boy?"

Beast Boy proudly brandished his 'sword and shield'. "I'm Link!!"

"........"

"Protector of the Triforce of Courage! Hero of Hyrule!"

"........"

The green elf narrowed his eyes. "Um.....from the Nintendo Video Game saga 'Zelda'?!??!?!"

"What's a video game?" Tempest asked.

"Oh my god, your civilization is so doomed....," Beast Boy stammered. "Look....," he walked over and leaned up towards Tempest's ear. "One day when we're not fighting crime....I'm going all old school on you."

Tempest raised an eyebrow. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a proposal."

"You don't say....," Tempest folded his leathery arms and smiled. "Keep wearing that merry-men outfit, man."

"Dude!!"

"Hahahahaha!" Tempest laughed.

Beast Boy frowned, but couldn't avoid a slight chuckle or two.

A petite figure walked up.

The boys looked over.....and jumped.

"Whoah!"

"Ackies!!"

"...................," Raven stared at them. Her skin was twice as pale. Fake blood and bruises leaked around her eyes and lips. She wore a tattered, black peasant's outfit with a rope's noose hanging around her neck. "You two don't need costumes to be goofy. Do you?"

"Look who's talking," Beast Boy waved.

"Nice costume, Raven," Tempest gestured. "Who are you, exactly?"

The dark girl blinked. "I'm being hung."

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

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

"............um....that's uh......th-that's very nice, Raven....."

"I was originally planning on buying fake cellophane tubing to hang from my womb and paint various shades of red."

Beast Boy gulped and put on a nervous smile. "So you were almost disemboweled."

"Yes. But with the last minute preparation for this festival, I had very little choice."

"Well....looks like you're out and about and taking full part in this event!" Tempest smiled. "I may be a nooby, but I'd say that's rather generous of you!"

"Tempest, it is very....very generous of me."

Beast Boy folded his arms. "Robin and Star forced you into it, huh?"

"The list of desired recompenses is unbelievably long....," the girl droned with clenched fists. A beat. The fists relaxed. "But I digress. This is a nice costume—in my opinion—and the outfits of these children this year are entertainingly horrible. I actually don't mind passing candy out."

"You're killing them by carbohydrates. No wonder you're being hung," Beast Boy smirked.

Raven's eyes narrowed. "And just what are you?"

"Dudette!! I'm Link! Link from The Legend of Zelda!!"

"Ah.......," Raven nodded. A beat. "I wonder if Noir's Simon Belmont."

"Er....huh?"

"Castlevania...," Raven droned and walked off.

"Dude! She plays Castlevania!! Hey, Raven—"

She was gone.

"Dammit! She always does that!!"

"She always gets hung?"

"No, Garth...she....snkkktt....rrrrgh....let's go and see how the festival's going."

"Allright....."

"And whatever you do, don't touch any chickens."

Tempest blinked his shadowed eyes. "Huh?"

"Never mind...."

The two wandered off.

They found Starfire and Cyborg in the center of the room where most of the children had gathered in a ring. Parents formed an outer shell, smiling and chatting away as their youths were entertained. Those who were invited into the Tower were chosen at random from various communities within the City....but mostly from the communities where the neighborhood proved less friendly than desired. Thus this Titans' Tower getaway was solace for a few needy young souls.

"And when the Chrysalis Eater threw itself upon my person like this—" Starfire dramatically clawed the air with her hands and floated in a suggestive position of 'pounce!' "Rrraaawrr!!"

The children gasped and giggled.

Starfire smiled and floated back to the ground. "That is when the Titans rushed in to my rescue!!"

Kl-Kl-Klak-Ka-Klak!! Cyborg waved a sonic cannon. "And that's when we laid down the celestial law!!!" He pretended to fire straight into the ground with a glistening strobe of blue light. FLASH!! "Boo-Ya!!!"

The kids clapped and cheered.

"Was the Chrysalis Monster destroyed??"

"How did you survive?!?!"

"It must have been dangerous!!"

Starfire giggled in mid-air and said: "It truly was dangerous. But my friends were there for me...even though—at the time—there was very little if anything that I could do."

A little girl in a Dorothy outfit uttered: "W-Were you scared?"

Starfire walked over. "Oftentimes in battles....I am scared, little Terran. It is not an absent of fright that makes a superhero brave....but rather the ability to face fears in hopes of a blessed retribution."

"Besides...it was Star we were talking about!" Cyborg smirked. "No ugly-butt-alien was gonna take her away from us with its stomach!!"

The kids laughed.

Cyborg smirked.

A little boy dressed as Batman raised his hand. "Were you scared when you fought Slade?"

A beat.

"Yes.....we were," Starfire breathed. She smiled. "But we are frightened no more. Slade was a very, very bad man. But he is no longer alive. His chance to grace this beautiful planet was stolen from him by his own misdeeds. That is why you must always be good, children. The universe has a way of taking back from you that which you might steal. There are many things in existence that deserve reverence and respect."

"Yeah....like your parents!" Cyborg folded his arms.

"Awwwwwwwww."

Chuckles.

"Now here is something you need not fear!!" Starfire held a finger up joyfully. She flew over, grabbed a 'pumpkin' basket, and started tossing assorted foodstuffs out. "Candy for the communal lot of you!!!"

"Hooooooraaaay!!"

Kids hands groped and waved through the air, snatching away the flying treats.

Starfire giggled.

Cyborg glanced over to the side. "Hey guys!! Where've you been?"

Tempest looked at his sheet. "Uhh....," he looked up. "Passing a gun around and giving everyone a shot?"

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

Beast Boy simpered: "We're catching up, dude. We're catching up. Looks like you and Star are...heh....the STARs of the attraction here."

"Nah....I think it's just my sonic cannon they like," Cyborg shrugged. "If I were a kid, I'd like my sonic cannon too."

"You mean you don't like it now?"

"Well, it doesn't win girls."

"You got a button that does that? Don't tell me you've been holding out on me, man."

"B.B......what's to hold out on when it comes to you?"

"HAAA!!" Beast Boy struck the dinky sword against Cyborg's metal chest. "Avast ye, you dirty moblin!"

".........," Cyborg blinked boredly. "Is that something Link would say?"

"Actually, Link wouldn't say anything...," Beast Boy muttered as he stepped back and straightened his cap. "He'd just leave it at 'HAAAA!' and slice the rest of you to ribbons. All the fangirls seem to love him for that or something. Ahem. So.....decided to give up this year?" the changeling asked with a smug smirk.

Cyborg was—indeed—his usual titanium self.

"Are you trying to insinuate something?" Cyborg remarked. He grinned evilly. "Cuz....seeing that I kinda sorta beat you the last two years in a row in costume competitions, it would make sense for you to insinuate something, huh?"

Beast Boy took a deep breath. "Now don't anger me.....I've got Faerie Goddesses on my side."

"Cyborg, you've got twice the metal and twice the taunt," Tempest smirked.

"Nuts to you, Flipper. Go get a haircut."

"Yeah....well.....welcome to my nightmare.........or s-something."

"Admit it, Cyborg!! You gave up this year!!" Beast Boy pointed a leather-gloved finger. "What...did you get lazy or something?? Certainly you could have gotten an oil change on behalf of these shrimps coming to visit us and see the almighty, color-changing 'Cyborg'!"

"Allright, little man. I was gonna save this for a rainy day....but I guess I'll settle for blowing you away now...."

That uttered, Cyborg slammed his fists together. There was a fluctuation of blue and white light throughout his translucent, metallic skin. Then tiny slots opened up at random spots cascading down his figure. White material ballooned out and formed a ribbed surface of rubbery ivory from head to toe, complete with a cartoonish 'mask' airbagging out to encase the android Titan's cranium.

Tempest's shadowed eyes retreated. "Um.....lemme guess....a bunch of clam shells stacked on top of each other?"

Beast Boy's mouth was dropping to the floor as he gazed unblinking at the white entity in front of him. "Holy Shit....you're the Michelin Man...."

The white-ribbed figure performed a signature wave and uttered: "Mmmmfmmf mmmfmmmf mmmf!!"

"What?"

"Mmmf! Mfmmmfmmf mmfmff!!"

"What?!?!"

"Mmmf mmfm mff!" The 'mask' deflated and shrunk back into Cyborg's metal surface. Cyborg's natural head crowned the ridiculous body beneath it. "I said....it took me well over seven weeks to put this together. So don't go on one of your ridiculously predictable tirades of 'you cheater, you're made of metal and you can't be counted for something like that'!"

"You cheater!! You're made of metal and you—"

WHAP!! Cyborg shoved Beast Boy back.

"Mmmff!" Beast Boy landed against Tempest's chest. "Sheesh!! Nothing's safe riding with you, dude!"

Cyborg flexed his white-ribbed biceps. "I grip in the wet, punk. I'm all around rubber badass."

Tempest smirked and leaned Beast Boy back into a standing position. "Is that costume altogether water proof? I could test that out, ya know."

"Yeah, dawg. And then I'd test your rectum with my foot."

"Feed my Frankenstein!!"

"Well...I'm just gonna have faith then," Beast Boy waved his sword. "Nintendo Power all the way! Someone's bound to vote for me!"

"That's what sympathy's for, B.B.," Cyborg winked. A flick of his wrist and the rest of his white coverings shrunk back into their metal holdings. "Let me know how good the third place ribbon feels to your fingers again."

"Who votes exactly?" Tempest asked.

"That's one of the great mysteries...," Beast Boy grumbled. "Come on. Let's go choke on candy corn or something."

"Just follow the Starfire," Cyborg pointed.

"I haven't seen her outfit," Tempest remarked.

"Whose outfit?" Starfire floated over, her bucket empty.

"See y'all," Cyborg waved. He winked. "I've got more kids to brainwash."

"Huh?"

"Gonna tell the 'Atlas-gets-his-ass-woodshedded' story."

"Ah.....well I wish you good traction."

"Pfft. Go make love to Selene."

"ZELDA!!!"

Cyborg walked off and waved to the ring of attentive youngsters. "Okay....here's a story even cooler than the previous! Only minus the space travel and intergalactic zits!!"

"Hehehehehehe!!"

"Weee! Cyborg!!"

"Anyways, there was this really bad dude named Atlas who tried bossing me and the Titans around. He had no respect for living people....now is that nice?"

"Noooooooooooooo!"

"So I wasn't down with that. I taught him a thing or two one day....."

Tempest and Beast Boy wandered over to Starfire.

"I think he has enough success being inflated on his own...," Beast Boy muttered.

"Hehehehe! Indeed....," Starfire smiled. She was squeezed into a tight....tight....tight red jumpsuit with strips of black material around her joints. Metal 'instruments' were housed around her shoulders and upper sternum. A patch of green and the numbers '02' adorned the area of the jumpsuit above her chest, which was encased in accentuating a lower tone of the color red. The crimson ensemble completely encased her body, save for her head. And her hair was also braided high above in metal red-and-black bands on either side of her cranium. "How do you like my garb? I am Ass Ka of the Langolier!"

"Asuka Langley," Beast Boy said. A beat. "I didn't know you were otaku!"

"Oh taco??"

"No, Star—I....er...I didn't know you liked anime."

"I have been graced with borrowing Robin's D of the V of the D collection of various entertaining material over the last two years. And the one serial concerning schizophrenic children in huge bleeding bipedal machines intrigued me greatly. I do hope that does not appear odd."

"Heh....," Beast Boy smirked and looked Tempest's way. "Starfire likes anime!"

"What's anime?"

"Oh go to Hell," Beast Boy faced Starfire again. "Do you like me? I'm Link from Zelda—"

THWOMP!!!

Starfire hugged him. "Hehehe! Beast Boy, I always like youuuuuuu."

The elf wheezed. "Y-Yeah......sknnkkkt.....any body got a faerie bottle?"

Tempest looked at his sheet. "Uhhh....I got a line on you...."

That's when Robin walked up.

"Hey guys. Good job keeping thing in order with the party and all and—whoah, hello Starfire."

"Robin!!" Starfire dropped Beast Boy. THAP!! "It is ecstatic to see you at last! Cyborg and I have been busy regaling the Terran youths with tales of our victories against morbidity!"

".........," Robin leaned his head to the side. "You look..............red."

Starfire smiled pleasantly with her eyes wide shut. "I drive a homicidal robot!"

"Yeah...," Beast Boy sweatdropped and scratched his head beneath his green cap. ".....I gotta admit that his is the happiest I've ever seen Asuka."

"Someone's been digging around my anime again," Robin smirked. "You'll remember to put Neon Genesis Evangelion back in alphabetical order, right Star?"

"Oh Jehovah....," Beast Boy rolled his eyes.

"And just who are you supposed to be?" asked the eyeshadowed Atlantean.

Robin stood fully geared in a black jumpsuit that stretched up to splash forth a blue set of wings across the Titan Leader's chest. A gray belt hugged his waist and a solid black, V-shaped eyemask clung to his face.

In a devilish smirk, Robin proudly said: "I'm Nightwing."

"..............," Beast Boy stared, thin-eyed. A beat. "Can't you have been more creative?"

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"Well that's what the first Robin became!"

Starfire giggled. "And should we forget my time-bending adventure in which you, Robin, turned out to become—"

"There shall be NO MENTIONING of Starfire's time-traveling!!" Beast Boy hissed with arms folded.

Tempest blinked. "What's his problem?"

Robin/Nightwing leaned over and whispered: "Starfire says that Beast Boy is bald in the future."

"Oh.........," Tempest blinked. "Fancy that."

Beast Boy pulled the cap down past his eye level, sighing.

"You make a most splendid Nightwing, Robin," Starfire remarked. She held her hands together and smiled nervously. "Though....the hair is not exactly in perfect duplication."

"Yeah...well.....," Robin shrugged. "I don't do wigs."

"Hey...I could have been Nightwing!" Tempest smirked. He ran a hand through his then-blown hair. "Don't you think?"

Robin looked at him. A beat. He smiled. "Nah....."

Beast Boy lifted his green cap back up. "There's always Noir. I swear...he should dress in drag and rehearse for one of those Herbal Essence commercials." A beat. "Just where is the dude anyways?"

An arm hooked around Beast Boy's neck and a knee pressed sharply into his back. A prop gun with a prop silencer was planted into the side of his skull.

"WAAAAIEEEEE!!!" the green elf squirmed and shook all over.

Robin smirked. "A regular one-man sneaker...."

I smirked. I shoved Beast Boy forward.

"Nnngh!!" the tunic-clad elf spun around. His eyes rounded. "Dude! Sweet! Solid Snake!"

I struck a pose. I wore a steel-blue bodysuit criss-crossed at the chest and waist with military-brown belts and utility packs. My usual bandanna was replaced with a blue one twice as long and big, so that it dangled visibly below my betrayingly black locks of hair. I purposefully missed three days of shaving to achieve the gruff look of the espionage hero. I gripped a prop gun and silencer loosely. And my black eyes......weren't black.

"You did contacts," Robin smiled. "Nice."

I had spent an hour and a half prior to the festival inside the Tower preparing what—to them—looked like naturally brown eyes. Only if one were to look up close would they find that fake patches of skin were applied to minimize the size of my true sockets and the blackness of my cornea. But at a social distance, it appeared very legitimate. I smirked proudly.

"Solid Snake doesn't have a scar under his neck," Beast Boy smirked.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Nor does he do that to the Colonel," the changeling giggled.

"All present and accounted for!!" Starfire cheered. "Though I must admit...we were rather tardy in our preparation for this event."

"Except for you, Starfire," Robin said. "It's a great job and all....but I think you overdid it some," he sweatdropped.

"Why....however do you mean, Robin?"

"Well....like....picking through the scarecrow's straws for fleas and such—"

"But fleas are such horrid Terran entities!! Do you not forget their notoriety during the Muddy Ages??"

"Middle Ages. And the Bubonic Plague hasn't been that rampant for a long time, Starfire."

"Regardless...there is much that needs to be done!" Starfire glanced over. "Eeep!!" she held her red-gloved hands to her face. "The parents are quickly running out of the cups of Doctor's Pepper!! Quickly!! We must embark upon supplying them with additional volumes!"

"That's a job for a Hyrulian peasant," Beast Boy grunted.

"You are efficient enough!!"

"Now wait a second—WHOAH!!"

Starfire grabbed Beast Boy and hoisted him away towards the other side of the Main Room.

Robin smirked. He folded his arms and remarked: "Why am I not feeling jealous?"

Tempest leaned his head to the side. "I don't know...why aren't you feeling jealous?"

Robin shook his head. "Never mind. It's time for me to make an appearance, I guess..." He walked off.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No. Just relax and keep your hair away from candles."

"......," Tempest glanced at me.

I aimed the toy gun at him and mouthed: 'Bang'.

"Everyone's so full of silt....," he walked off, shaking his dark head.

I smirked.

In the meantime, Link and Asuka Langley converged upon the soda cooler behind the kitchen unit of the Main Room...which was temporarily disguised to look like a pumpkin patch.

"I do thank you very kindly for your assistance, Beast Boy...," Starfire said...lifting two heavy coolers at once as if they were sample trays. "Terran enjoyment is best accompanied by large volumes of carbonated beverages, I do observe."

"You do observe well, Star," Beast Boy sweated and strained as he tried to lift a single cooler of soda up onto the counter. "Me...I-I can do with a glass of soy milk. But whatever makes the Halloween Whole Happy."

"Doctor's Pepper it is!!" Starfire beamed and began pouring cups.

Beast Boy smiled gently. He took his cap off, cracked his knuckles, and started preparing cups himself.

The two were silent while the rest of the Main Room's fifty-plus inhabitants giggled, chattered, and murmured away.

"......"

"......"

"......"

Starfire glanced at Beast Boy.

Beast Boy paid attention to what he was doing.

"......"

Starfire returned to her task.

A beat.

"......"

"......"

Finally, Starfire uttered without looking: "You are.....quite resilient, Beast Boy."

"Am I?" he stated while pouring from Dr. Pepper bottles.

"Mmmmhmmmm," she nodded. "I was......afraid."

"Afraid of what?? Heh....after that speech you gave those kids, I couldn't imagine you being afraid of anything."

"Oh, but truly I was. I was afraid that....th-that you would not be your joyful self this year."

"How do you mean?"

"At this autumnal festival," Starfire said, opening and emptying another bottle. "I was most certain that recent events would have dampened your spirits. But you surprise me. You seem.....a lot more resilient than you used to be. You have maintained your extroverted self upon this hour of celebration. That fills me with joy."

"Well...same here, Star," Beast Boy smiled gently. "Why wouldn't I be happy?"

She bit her lip.

"Look....I know I was really down and out following the first time Terra ran off on us," Beast Boy gestured. "And God knows how depressed I was when I found out she was working for Slade. But.....ya know....I-I've always pretty much gathered that Terra's life hasn't been much to be giddy about. N-Not to say that she was a waste or anything....but.....I-I just didn't know any details. Heh....I still don't. I'm resolved to celebrate the fact that she exists, not mourn it. And....A-And I'm convinced that no matter what unfortunate things have been pressed upon her.....I'm going to make it all worthwhile to her someday."

"Truly?"

"Yup...," Beast Boy poured some more sodas. "We're all gonna get her out of that stony mess and I'll be there—waiting—once she's free again."

"Despite any challenges you may face...."

"Exactly. You don't need to pep talk me, Starfire," he winked. "I think I'm pretty sane about things now."

She took a breath and smiled. "Happiness fills you, Beast Boy. I am pleased at its legitimacy."

"Hey...I'm always happy," Beast Boy shrugged. "That's what I'm here for." A beat. "That and the occasional Tyrannosaurus Rex morph."

"Hehehehe!" Starfire giggled.

As she did so, Beast Boy smiled. But as he stared off into the shadows of the rooms, something in his eyes faded. He exhaled long and slow...

In the meantime, Nightwing walked over to an unlikely pair of guests at the event.

"Well....I heard about it....but I didn't believe it," Robin smirked. He held a hand out to two gentlemen. "Welcome to the Tower."

"Hey....more than happy to be here," Decker's lieutenant uttered, shaking the small hero's hand. He was subtly dressed to look like a rock star. Quite definitely 'out of uniform'. He leaned back and smiled. "I'll take a day off....even if it's in the same place as a bunch of squealing munchkins. Thanks for the snacks, by the way."

"Thank capitalism," Robin said. He glanced over, crossed his black-suited arms and smirked. "And who might this be?"

".................," Commissioner Decker stood beside his lieutenant in completely natural garb. His usual quasi-organized dress shirt and slacks hung loosely on his gruff figure. The only thing out of the ordinary was a single red, Styrofoam ball planted at the end of his nose. "I'm a clown....," he grumbled.

The lieutenant chuckled.

"Really?" the Nightwing eyemask on Robin's face narrowed. "But aren't you supposed to have face paint and floppy red shoes and—"

"I'm a clown, dammit."

"Allright," Robin shrugged.

"He practically had to kill himself to come here," the lieutenant said.

"Oh really."

"You're shit right, really," Decker grumbled. He folded his arms and swirled a cup of coffee. "I have better things to do than stand around here gawking at outfits." A beat. "Though the City Recreation Chairwoman over there makes a mighty fine cheerleader."

"Err....."

"Anyways...," Decker's red nose twitched. "The Mayor would have had my foreskin in a vacuum cleaner if I didn't follow his advice and come here. Okay...I know what you Titans are doing is great for the kids in the community and all....but if I had my way, I'd have Halloween completely torn off of the national calendar. It's nothing short of an open invitation for predators and sick people all over the country."

Robin smiled. "Well...that's what you and I are here for, Decker. With these kids. To let them know that they have good people on their side....while at the same time reminding ourselves just how valuable the souls are of those whom we're protecting."

"Yeah yeah......when're you gonna serve the drinks already?"

"Starfire and Beast Boy are over there with the soda bott—"

"No, I mean the drinks drinks."

The lieutenant cleared his throat.

"What?? Did I give you permission to cough?"

"No sir."

"That's right." A beat. "Ah screw it. I'm sure I can take a bunch of candy corn home and build a still."

"Yeah....," Robin waved with a Nightwing glove and walked off. "I'll turn a righteous eye away."

"You do that."

In the meantime, Tempest stood in the corner of the place like a good wall flower.

Alone.

"I swear....," he grumbled as his shadowed eyes scanned the pages of Beast Boy's lyric sheet. "...no Atlantean knack for rhythm and orchestration. Surface dwellers have the musical talents of a humpback whale with arthritis...."

A figure walked up close. There was a tiny, rattling sound.

"....." Tempest glanced up.

The first thing he saw was a slender hand encircled with a bracelet of tiny dolphin ornaments.

"......"

He glanced up further. The Atlantean was graced with a familiarly freckled face of a teenage girl with stringy blonde hair.

"So there you are," she said.

".....," Tempest's black eyes blinked. "Excuse me?"

The girl had a toddler propped up on her shoulder and dressed cutely as...well....a 'pumpkin'. The baby girgled as the teenager readjusted her support of the infantile boy and smiled at the Titan. She herself was dressed as a female pilgrim. "I was playing a game of guessing which Titan was which, since all of you are costumed. Robin was a dead give away....and so was Raven. But you were the last one for me to find. How are you doing?"

Tempest leaned his frizzled head to the side. "Uhm....should I be 'doing' in any specific manner?"

"You don't remember me, do you?"

"........"

"I'm Lindsay. From Carman's Diner. Ring a bell?"

Tempest exhaled: "Ohhhh. Right. The feminine procurer of my water when I first arrived in this concrete purgatory. Yeah, I remember you."

"Hehehehe...you make it sound so special," she winked.

"Uh....sure," he glanced down and pointed at her bracelets. "I see you're still adorned with King Orin's foster parents."

"Hehehehe....yeah. How quaint," she shrugged the shoulder opposite of the baby. "And I see you're still......'new' to things here."

"I guess so," Tempest nodded. He looked over at the pumpkin-child. "Who's the larva?"

"Oh, this is my younger brother Phil. All he does is poop and steal oxygen from the atmosphere. But someday he's gonna grow up and ask for help with algebra homework, so I better take care of him now and make a good sisterly impression, don't you think?"

"I think so now. Cuz you just told me."

"Hehehe! So literal....say hi, Phil! Say Hi!"

The baby giggled: "Dicky Cheney!!"

Tempest did a double-take.

Lindsay blushed. "Er....h-his dad watches C-Span a lot."

"It begs the question..."

"Not now it doesn't," the girl cleared her throat, then smiled again. "So....you growing into this Town all right?"

"I'd say puberty is all well and done with."

"I meant figuratively," Lindsay smirked. "You seem to be holding yourself as a hero."

"I despise evil, if that's what you mean," Tempest leaned forward. "Even evil is definable in this Town. I'm more than happy to help the Titans in dismantling it."

"Well...the simplest motive is the best motive, I always say," Lindsay shrugged.

Phil gurgled.

Tempest raised an eyebrow. "I must ask.....am I.....how should I put it........."

"A household term now?" Lindsay nodded. "Indeed. Every Titan is. Especially the new ones."

"Really?"

"Yes. If only you could imagine how long it took us to stop talking about Noir when he first joined. Not to mention that he was totally hot and—oh my god, Wyldecarde—heeee."

Tempest sweatdropped. "Don't drop the C-Span larva."

"Eep!! You okay, Phil?? You're an anti-gravity rugrat! Yesss you are! Yessss you are!"

"Enron!!"

Tempest cleared his throat. "Well...uhm....I hope I don't get too popular."

"Why not?" Lindsay leaned her head to the side.

"Well...I.....it.......uh...."

"......."

"......," Tempest exhaled. "I'm here in this City for a reason."

"You are?"

He nodded. "And....I-I don't want to get that popular. I don't want people to kn-know that reason...," he nervously glanced aside.

Lindsay nodded. "And you know what? A great deal of that really respect that."

"Y-You do?" Tempest blinked. "How??"

"You know how many fanboys and fangirls there are of the Teen Titans? And of Robin and Raven alone?? And imagine all of the secrets those two have!! We might speculate and guess about their true backgrounds or identities....but we know that their secrecy is important. It's....It's a superhero thing, ya know? That creepy guy in Gotham City pretty much popularized that. Not to mention Green Arrow on the West Coast. When Robin and the like moved into the City, the last thing we ever wanted to do was lynch him, peel off his mask, and toss him out of Town. No, we respect the sacrifices that the Titans make. So whatever secrets you all have.....we trust you enough that it's okay. I think the issue here is....can you accept that?"

Tempest said: "I don't know what to accept or not accept. Right now.....a-all I'm doing is existing. And...well...," he pointed at his dark getup and leather jacket. "....look what I've suffered."

Lindsay giggled.

Tempest gave in with a chuckle.

Lindsay gathered her breath and said: "Quite a nice looking suffering too."

Tempest was quiet.

Lindsay blushed and looked away, clearing her throat.

Tempest smirked, his eyes narrow. "Just....what are you here lecturing me for...anyway?"

"I just wanted to thank you," she said.

"Erm.....you're welcome." A beat. A longer beat. "For what?"

"My cousin Helena is okay, thanks to you."

"I....I-I don't know a Helena..."

"But she knows you," Lindsay smirked. "She was in the sewer tunnels."

"......."

"......you know....in downtown?"

"......."

"When Dr. Light's bomb went off?"

"Ohhhhh," Tempest nodded. "That claustrophobic adventure in the dark! I recall that."

"It was barely a week ago."

"True."

A beat.

"Your cousin was there?"

"Mmmhmmm," Lindsay nodded with a smile. "And she was so happy to get out of that deathly fiasco alive that she's been crying happily ever since she reunited with us."

"Er....sorry about that."

"About what?"

"The crying."

"Nuts to you!!" Lindsay barked, repositioning Phil. "She's happy! My whole family owes it to you for what you did for Helena and all those poor people in the blackout!"

"Yes...well....," Tempest simpered and scratched the back of his neck. "I was merely following Robin's orders to retreat back into the light..."

"........"

Tempest narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," she smirked and walked off with Phil in tow. "It's just fun getting used to you is all!"

"What do you mean 'getting used to me'?!?!"

She was gone.

"I don't even know you!!!" he cackled.

A beat.

He turned and faced a plastic skeleton. "I don't even know her...."

"......," the skeleton replied.

Around this time, I had wandered over and was leaning against the kitchen unit's counter besides the bails of natural and unnatural hay. Beast Boy sat on one bare stool, spinning his green cap by one finger. We both watched as Cyborg kept telling dramatic stories and Starfire kept passing out treats, sodas, and smiles.

"I think Starfire wants everyone in the world to be happy....," Beast Boy uttered in a slightly dull voice.

I nodded, brandishing my 'gun'. My eyes were getting tired. I tried my best not to rub them so as to preserve the humanlike contacts.

"Lord knows...if there weren't any supervillains or whatnot....she might even succeed," the changeling added.

I nodded.

I heard a giggle from across the way.

I glanced over.

Two teenage chaperones were watching over their younger siblings. They were high-school aged girls and their glances seemed intermittently fixed on me. They giggled and whispered something to each other. Both were dressed in 'supergirl' outfits.

".....," I chuckled breathlessly and pinched myself.

"Say Noir..."

I looked over.

The Hyrulian Beast Boy looked at me sideways. "Do....y-you think I'm a happy person too?"

"......," I tilted my head. I slowly nodded....a curious expression bleeding through Solid Snake's contacts.

"At least I think I am. I told Starfire that I am," Beast Boy glanced down past his dangling legs beneath the stool. "I guess I am happy. Just....it's a little hard to be."

I took a deep breath.

Go on......

"I'm just not....I'm just not depressed about things. I know it's tough what Terra's gone through. And it...hurts me everytime I think about just how farther away she is now in that stone...," he ran a hand through his short green hair. "But....I know what she would want for me, Noir. I know that she would want me to be happy. Just like the rest of us."

I listened. Simply listened. I—of all Titans—would be the least expert at understanding Terra.

Then there's Garth......

"When Terra was with us...in the Tower....," Beast Boy took a deep breath. "It was.....the happiest time of my life as a Titan. I....I-I felt so sure of myself and I felt so blessed that I could know someone as beautiful and as....as 'Terra' as Terra." He smiled crookedly.

I smiled back.

"The first time we had her here at the Tower....before Slade came in...," he shuddered a bit at the name that came out of his lips, but he moved on: "....it was like clockwork. We all loved her and she loved us. She was the perfect stranger. Energetic. Friendly. Virtuous. She fit in with us like a glove. Starfire's a bundle of joy and all...but we needed someone as....as 'vibrant' as Terra too. Someone to complete the circle. Kinda like how you came in and gave us an element of 'patience'."

I smiled proudly.

"Hehehehe," Beast Boy giggled. A beat. He sighed. "Most of all....Terra made me feel like there was someone there who I didn't have to impress. I could just act naturally with her. And when she entrusted me with her secrets...about her powers and all...I felt honored to help her. I felt honored to share that trust."

"......"

"I know it sounds......disastrous to talk about Terra and 'trust' in the same sentence. But I never stopped trusting her." He stared off into the blurred chaos of the social event inside our home. "I still trust her now. In fact....I trust that....that whatever happened to her....."

A beat.

"........"

He sighed. ".....whatever happened.....I-I trust it was not in her best interests."

He hung his head.

I silently gazed at him. I was thinking of patting my hand on his shoulder when--

"Oww! Let go!!"

Two young boys in Mortal Kombat outfits were carried over by telekinetic 'hands' of black. Raven walked through the crowd—rope noose and all—and lowered them with glowing eyes of concentration in front of their mothers.

The parents knelt down besides their two boys. "What's the meaning of this??"

Raven planted her hands on her hips and frowned. "I found these two trespassing on the sixth floor of the Tower. They were trying to break their way into Robin's weapons vault."

"We did no such thing---owie!!" the Sub-Zero mimic yelped as his mother pulled his ear.

"Just a second, young man!!" she frowned at the dark girl. "How could they have gotten to such a dangerous place?? Aren't you Titans keeping an eye out for trouble??"

Raven nodded. "And believe me, ma'am. I was fully observant of your and your friend's boys." A beat. An artery pulsed in her temple. "I even saw them as they ran up and kicked me in the shins."

A gasp.

"Johnathan!!"

"Richard!!"

"I-I didn't do it!!" an SD Johnny Cage shivered. "Honest!"

"........," the one mother glared.

The kid gulped. He pointed at the other boy. "He made me do it!!"

"Come over here!!"

"We're gonna have a little discussion!"

"Waaaaaah!!"

Raven folded her arms. She eyed the screaming and wailing brats in the distance.

Beast Boy smirked. "Rae.....you enjoy that sort of misery, don't you?"

Raven's lips curved ever so slightly. "Best to mix the trick with the treat."

"Yeah, whatever."

Raven glared at him. "I'm serious." She looked at me.

I aimed the gun at her and mouthed 'bang!' with a smirk.

"........get a shave."

"CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE??"

The three of us looked over.

Robin/Nightwing walked to a standstill at the perimeter of the gathering. Starfire paused in mid soda-offering. Tempest shuffled out from the shadowy corners.

Cyborg gestured to everyone with a glowing arm of titanium. He grinned wide, flanked by a handful of young children and their respective guardians. "And now...without any delay...the winners of the kids' Halloween Costume Contest!"

Parents chuckled and clapped happily. Children giggled and murmured. Commissioner Decker rolled his eyes.

"Glorious!" Starfire tossed the tray away. CRASH!! She clasped her hands together. "Cuteness supreme shall commence!"

Raven rolled her eyes. "Okay....I'm going back to the weapons vault."

She turned around.

I held her in place by her shoulder.

"Don't grab me," she grumbled.

I smirked at her.

".........," she folded her arms again and watched the proceedings boredly.

"Our judges have made their well-thought decisions and votings!" Cyborg gestured. "Isn't that right, Miss Chambers?"

"Absolutely!"

"How about you, Mrs. Nguyen??"

"Heheheh....way ahead of you."

"Commissioner Decker??"

"Go to He—"

"Allrighty!! The voting is done! The results are in!" Cyborg dramatically held up a card and read from it. "First off...from the girl's side...." A heartfelt pause. "Boo-Ya!! Little Miss Claire Morgan from the Western District!"

Applauds.

Juvenile cheers.

A shy girl dressed quite believably as a mermaid 'hopped' forward and performed a blushing curtsied. She nearly fell, but was caught and balanced at the last second by her amused mother. Cyborg handed her a ribbon.

"They get younger every year," Beast Boy said.

"What's it to you?" Raven said.

"It's nothing to me—What's up with you today??"

She 'shrugged'.

"Snap your neck already, girl...," Beast Boy muttered.

Raven smirked and tossed the end of the noose around her shoulders.

Robin rolled his eyes under his mask.

Starfire was still giggling and clapping by the time Cyborg pivoted about and faced the side where the boys were.

"And for the little men....we have a winner straight out of the Downtown Apartments....," he flipped the card before his red eye, smirked, and pointed like a game show host. "Mark Hathaway!!"

An African American boy in a Roman Gladiator outfit marched forward and bowed dramatically. His mother and father couldn't contain some chuckles in the background.

A photo or two was taken of the event.

Cyborg smirked. "Let's give them a hand, shall we??"

Applause.

Clapping.

Starfire giddily whistled.

Beast Boy and Tempest plugged their ears.

Cyborg knelt down between the two kids and placed his hands on their shoulders as a camera or two flashed. "Hey...good job you two. You look great! Must have taken forever to make those costumes, huh??"

The girl giggled. "Actually, my mom made it for me!!"

"Well....I'd say it's a great compliment," Cyborg winked.

"Cyborg!" the boy held up his hand. "You're my hero!!"

Cyborg gave him a high five. "Well look at you, little man! I've got a fan every these days!!"

"Whoah....is that the same arm that becomes a sonic cannon??" little Mark exclaimed. He jumped up and down, his gladiator outfit rattling. "That's so cool!!"

"Actually, it gets pretty darn hot from time to time," Cyborg said. "But I like your arms too, kid! You been lifting weights or what??"

The boy giggled. "To be like you, Cyborg....I'd lift a whole BUILDING!!"

"One thing at a time, kid."

"Can I feel your arm?"

Cyborg proudly flexed his Titanium biceps. "Give it your best shot."

"Whoaaaaah...," Mark ran his hand across the forearm. "It's really metal!!"

"Rust-proof American goodness," Cyborg smiled a flashing grin. "And I assure you...it's down many a punk from Slade to Killer Moth!"

"Oooh...what's this? A button?" Mark's hand traveled higher.

"Heheheheh....uh....don't touch that kid. Kid? Hey...don't...YO!! Watch where you're---!!!"

-Click-

POW!!!!

A secret trigger was pressed.

Cyborg's right arm ejected with a plume of heat.

SWOOOOOSH!!!

And Mark's hand was caught.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Mark and the flying 'arm' zoomed across the Main Room. Parents and guests gasped and parted ways as the projectile rocketed towards the elevator.

"My baby!!!" Mark's mother shrieked.

Starfire gasped.

"Whoooooah du-u-u-ude!!" Beast Boy chuckled.

The arm was about to collide with the elevator doors.

Raven's eyes widened. "Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!!" she flung a hand forward.

FLASH!!!

Encased in black, the elevator doors flew open.

"WAAAAA-AAAAA!!!" Mark bellowed as the rocket arm flew into the elevator shaft and flew straight down the corridor. The roar and smoke of the exhaust dissipated in the echoing distance.

"Uhm......," Tempest blinked. "....that can't be good."

"Shit!!" Cyborg jumped up. He flinched. He eyed the children in listening distance around him. "Er...I mean Shiatsu!! I-I-I need to see my Japanese Masseuse! Y-Yeah..."

"Cyborg!!!" Robin ran towards the shaft. He pointed down it with a black glove and yelled: "He's plummeting!! Stop that arm of yours!! NOW!!"

"Yeah! Sure thing, dawg!!" Cyborg flicked his left arm and popped open the computer console in his wrist. He literally 'typed' with his nose. "Mmmmff....ngnnhh...just gotta....trigger....the....return...p-protocol!!" Beep! FWOOOMP!!! The white airbags popped out of his entire body, and soon a one-armed Michelin Man was rolling helplessly across the floor. "Mmmf!! Mmmmfmmf—mmmmfff!!"

Robin clenched his teeth. "Great...."

"The poor young gladiator!!" Starfire flew down the shaft. "I shall rescue you!!!"

"That's right!!" Robin shouted. "Titans, move!!" He felt around his utility belt....but then realized that it was all part of the Nightwing costume and nothing more. "Dang it.....I'm empty..."

".....," I glanced at the elevator shaft. I glanced at Robin. I glanced at the elevator shaft again. "........."

Screw it.

I tossed the prop gun away, cracked my neck, and ran straight towards the elevator shaft. I took a breath and—with Solid Snake's finesse—dove suicidally down the full length of the chamber.

"Noir!!!" Beast Boy dramatically gestured towards my plummet of death. "Noir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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

SWOOOOOSH!!!!!

I angled my body just right and practically flew down the elevator shaft. My black hair and bandanna whipped behind my cranium.

Even I was surprised as I found myself sailing down past Starfire's green-and-red streak.

"Eeep!!" she tossed in mid air.

".....," I blinked my contact-covered eyes.

I saw a trail of exhaust leading through an open doorway two flying floors below.

I held my breath.

Murk coursed through my body.

I pivoted my legs against the opposite wall of the elevator shaft as I reached the level of the open doorway.

I pulsed the smoke energy outward from my feet.

FLASH!!!!

I darted out into the hallway after the trail of smoke from Cyborg's rocketing arm—and Mark. I rolled onto the floor, got up in a kneeling position, took a deep breath, and blurred hurriedly after the projectile. Starfire soon darted down and joined me.

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

Raven, Tempest, and Beast Boy ran up to the computer console.

"What are you doing??" Raven asked.

Robin/Nightwing was typing madly away at the controls to the Tower. The nervous guests and parents watched from behind.

"I'm taking whatever precautions are necessary."

"What kind of precautions?" Beast Boy remarked. He glanced aside and sweatdropped at the sight of the grounded-and-rolling bundle of white ribs that was Cyborg. "The night's officially wyrded out, dude."

"I'm opening every door inside the Tower," Robin said. "I don't want to incur a deadly crash."

"Good thinking," Tempest nodded.

Raven pouted. "Don't open every door...."

"....," Robin glanced back at her. "I have to, Raven. Deal with it."

She folded her arms and exhaled. "Somehow I think a skull-crushing impact is going to be the least of this kid's worries."

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

"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" Mark smiled and cheered.

SWOOOOOOOSH!!!!

The rocket carried the gladiator with murderous momentum down the hallways. The collision detection system built into the arm's titanium fingers kept it from crashing into any obstacles, but it didn't slow the thing down any. The arm curved around turns in the hallway, skimmed alongside the walls, and spun circles at random moments in the spacious interiors of the Tower before skirting off to accelerate senselessly again.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEE!!!!"

FWOOOOSH!!!

I dove into the hallway, skidded, ran my legs, and blurred after the soaring two. I sweatdropped. I strained to inch my way closer to the detached arm in pursuit. I reached my metal hand out a few times...nearly touching the dangling legs of the little boy ahead of me.

Another turn in the hallway.

SWOOO-OOOOSH!!

"WEEEE!!!"

"!!!!!"

I held my breath and teleported in and around the curve so that I could solidify in mid-sprint without having to turn. It took a lot of energy out of me, but I did manage to gain a crucial yard in my pursuit. I was then running practically alongside the rocketing arm by murking momentum alone. I took a deep breath. My brown contacts glistened.

"!!!!"

I leapt and grabbed onto the broad side of the arm.

My added weight to the flying projectile offset the balance. The automatic systems in the arm's thrusters calibrated. Mark and I twirled sickly down the hallway like a rogue agent of the Blue Angels.

"WEEEEEEE!!! THANKS FOR JOINING ME, MR. TITAN!!!"

I panted.

I pulled at the metal mass.

The arm veered left and right in the hallway.

My legs dangled.

My hair and bandanna whipped.

"Hehehehehe...AGAIN!!!"

I gritted my teeth.

I shoved my legs down.

My boots met the floor. They ground into the metal, causing sparks to splash.

SKRRRRKKKKKK!!!!!

"Wuh oh!! Hang on!!!"

"????" I glanced up.

A dead end.

"!!!!"

I held my breath and fiercely kicked my legs into the floor with a pulse of murk.

PLANT!!!

The rocket shot up.

Before we could hit the ceiling, I teleported and materialized upside down, still holding onto the rocket.

THWAP!!!

I kicked off the ceiling this time and ran my legs against the wall so that we turned around and rocketed towards the direction from which we came.

Which meant...

SWOOOSH!! Starfire flew straight towards us. "EEEEK!!!"

"!!!!!!!"

"WOOOHOOOO!!!"

I winced as the collision with the Tamaranian girl seemed inevitable.

The arm 'saw' this too. The collision detectors clicked...whirred....and took a sharp right turn....

.....directly into the yawning entrance of Raven's room.

SWOOOOOSH!!!!

"!!!!!"

"WEEEEE!!!"

I kicked my legs like crazy to hit a wall, floor, ceiling, anything to stop us.

The collision detector went insane inside the dark, claustrophobic space of Raven's forbidden domain. It spun around in circles, creating a twirling globe before my eyes.

I gasped. I felt sick.

And Mark felt....

"Hehehehe!! Keep it up!!!"

SWOOOOSH! Starfire flew in.

"Noir!! Do not move!!"

"?????" I tried my best to give her an incredulous look.

The Tamaranian hovered in the doorway. She summoned a fiery green starbolt that shimmered off her red jumpsuit. She focused. She concentrated. She--

FLASH!!!

SWIIIIISH-CLANG!!!

The starbolt struck dead center in the metal forearm of the detached rocket.

ZZZTTT!!!

The thrusters short-circuited.

"WHOAH!!!" Mark yelped.

The rocket spun one last time.

THWOOOSH!! Mark was thrown loose. PLOP!! He landed in Starfire's strong arms.

FWOOOOSH!! I was shaken off. CRASH!!!! I plummeted straight into Raven's closet.

ZZZZzzzZZzzzZZttTTTTttt!! The rocket arm sparked a few times, lost its glow, and fell down dead in the center of the room. CLANG!!! It smoked...and all was quiet.

Starfire let out a sigh of relief.

"Yeah!! Ha ha ha ha!!" the little gladiator in her arms cheered. "Again!!"

She sweatdropped and smiled helplessly. "I do believe your excitement has culminated for the evening, young warrior of childish ilk!"

"Awwww," he pouted.

She gently let him down on her feet and took his hand. "Come.....I must reunite you with your parents for surely they must be worried to the sickness." She glanced across the dark room at the smashed closet doors. She winced. "Noir.....you are....undamaged?"

I stirred amidst the wreckage of door splinters and fallen cloaks. I held up a weary hand with the 'ok' symbol.

Starfire simpered. "Very well. Brave work, Noir. I....erm...s-suggest that you make haste in exiting Raven's sacred habitat." And she hurriedly rushed out into the hallway to ascend back to the Main Room.

I groaned inwardly.

I fought and swam my way out from the mountain of feminine linens. I shook my head, inhaled, and rubbed my aching head.

A beat.

I glanced around at where I was.

"....."

I blushed.

I got up. Nervously, I started tossing random sets of clothes back into the closet. I set what was left of closet doors up against a nearby wall. I bundled up some cloaks and set them in the corner. I grabbed a painting and placed it back where it had fallen from---"

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

Slowly, icily, I gripped the painting tighter and turned it bare before me.

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

My disguised eyes quivered.

The hair.

The face.

The eyes.........

My lips parted.

The sword...

The......r-red......

A mammoth chill ran over my body. But this time...it wasn't from the arm.

"........."

I exhaled.

Shaking, I looked over my shoulder.

.....

....

....

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

Starfire flew up and landed with Mark in tow.

Parents cheered and clapped.

The mother ran over and hugged the little boy. The father stood and looked at Starfire. "Thanks."

She smiled happily with her eyes shut. "Extremely ecstatic to assist!"

Robin walked over. "Well done, Starfire. I'm so sorry, Mr. And Mrs. Hathaway. You see...Cyborg has secret switches on his arms placed strategically for situations in which it may become necessary to—"

WHUMP!!

"OOF!" the Nightwing-garbed hero fell aside as a green elf stomped up. "Everything's back to normal!! Partyyyyy!!!"

Children giggled and cheered. Commotion resumed to normal as conversations took place between the grownups and guests and the Autumn Festival continued unhindered.

Raven stood on the sidelines. She had her arms folded and seemed full of thought.

"......."

Behind her, a deflated Cyborg struggled up to his feet. "Nnngh....mmf....damn.......remind me to pick a mascot next year who doesn't fill with air."

"Are you okay?"

"I could use a spare pitching arm...," he gestured at his missing member. "But otherwise, I'm just dandy."

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

"What about you, Rae?"

"I'm hanging in there....," she said.

Cyborg eyed the noose. His human eye thinned as he smirked. "Ha...Ha...Ha....you're a million dollars rolled up in estrogen, girl."

"Love you too, Cyborg."

The android Titan walked off.

"........," Raven found herself staring at the elevator doors. Her mind wandered.

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

Hours later...the party became quieter. The children became sleepier. And the night waned gentler.

One by one, the guests and families and groups of kids left through the designated passages to the exit of the Tower. They were led by police cars and caravans safely back home that autumn night in the City. Decker and his lieutenant were the last to leave. Robin and Starfire bid them goodbye at the door to the Tower.

"I'd say it's been fun....but.......I'm an honest man," Decker growled.

"So am I, Commissioner," Robin smirked. "Now get the Hell out of my Tower."

"Ha ha ha ha!" the lieutenant laughed. "I bet he's been waiting to say that for ages."

"Darn kids. Come on....let's go arrest a donut or something."

"Hehehe!! Much merriment be to your travels, officers!!" Starfire exclaimed.

"Uh....sure. Happy Halloween."

CLANG!!!

The huge doors closed.

Starfire and Robin turned around.

A beat.

Starfire looked at Robin's black garb.

Robin looked at Starfire's red jumpsuit.

Silence.

"Nice outfit." Both said at once.

A beat.

They blinked....and looked away from each other, blushing.

"Hey!"

They both looked up.

Cyborg stood on top of the steps leading to the elevator. "The Main Room looks like a rodeo after the philistines invaded. When are we gonna clean all that crap up?"

"Eh....tomorrow," Robin waved a black gloved hand. "It was a mess last year too."

"Can we not leave the decorations up for a short time??" Starfire giggled. "It is so festive and.....f-festive!! Hehehehe!!"

Cyborg sighed. "Man...she never runs out of energy."

"Tell me about it," Robin said. A beat. He winced. "Er...."

"Ha ha ha!!" Cyborg laughed. "Oh man, that was rich."

"What I meant to s-say was—"

"Good night, Nightwing....," Cyborg mused as he walked off into the elevator.

Starfire giggled again and flew away, blowing a kiss at Robin.

The Boy Wonder folded his arms. "Heh....good night, scrap metal."

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

"......." Raven wandered silently down the hallway.

"Say....," uttered Tempest. He and Beast Boy walked a few paces behind Raven. "....where's Noir?"

".....," Raven glanced back tiredly. "Huh?"

"Noir, he's.....been gone since the rocket-arm incident," Tempest said.

"Oh right...," Raven shrugged and glanced up ahead. "....go figure."

Beast Boy yawned, his green tunic stretching. "Probably got tired of the insanity. I can't blame him."

"Or maybe you didn't want him there to see Cyborg snatch the first place again," Tempest smirked.

Beast Boy frowned. Pinned precariously to his chest was a mold-colored ribbon inscribed with 'Third'. "Remind me to put acid in your water squirty thingy next time we take on a bad guy."

"Duly noted," Tempest winked. "Now to get this blasted 'Alice' off my body." He yanked at his hair. "Ouch!! O-Oh right...it's not a wig."

"Heh....I'd laugh at that, but I'm way too tired dude."

A beat.

Beast Boy glanced ahead. "Never thought I'd say this....but you sound quiet, Raven."

"You know what happened in my room....," she grumbled. "I'm not too enthused about scraping scorch marks off my wall and picking up random debris."

"Hey....it can't be that bad," Beast Boy smiled. "Besides....Star told me that Noir cleaned the place up after she and him saved the kid."

"........," Raven glanced back. "You mean to say Noir was in my room?"

"Er....yeah. Didn't you know that?"

"............," Raven stared off into space.

"Raven???"

"Uhm....I-I'm tired. I think I need to go to bed. Now."

"Suit yourself," Beast Boy shrugged. "I thought that's what you were gonna do—Raven??"

She was half-running down the hallway.

Tempest blinked. "What's up with her?"

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

Raven panted.

She skidded around a corner...not the most expert runner in the world. She huffed and puffed her way to the door and came to a screeching halt.

"...........," she breathed. She stepped through the still-open doorway. She glanced all along the floor. Cyborg's discarded arm lay dormant in the center of the room. Scattered scraps of clothing and robes and other articles littered in a tiny hill by the closet doors.

"......"

Raven wandered over. She peered inside the closet. Her eyes narrowed. She scanned the interior.

A beat.

It was nowhere to be seen.

She turned around.

"......"

Her eyes lowered.

She saw it.

The painting was placed suspiciously neatly in the square center of a plush chair against the wall. The girl appeared happy...almost glowing in the darkness of the sorceress' room. The red halo shimmered and the three letters 'A' and 'N' and 'A' seemed to have a ghostly aura about them.

"....."

Raven subconsciously wrung her hands together. She exhaled. Her eyes traveled to the floor...and she saw something. Her body went numb. She knelt down and picked up in gentle fingers what turned out to be two patches of fake skin and brown contacts.

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

Raven got up slowly. She shuffled over towards a desk on the far side of her dark room, opened a drawer, and took out her communicator. She flipped it open with a Star Trek sound. "Robin....I need to see you, please...."

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

"It's the painting, Robin....," Raven said.

"The painting?"

The Boy Wonder and the dark girl stood in a dark corner of the hallway that night where they had met from two converging paths. That was certainly a sign of urgency from the two Titan founders.

"The one that I drew....long ago....," Raven droned. "Drawing inspiration from my visions of Noir granted me after Trigon's possession of him."

Robin's eyemask narrowed. He was still clad in the 'Nightwing' garb. His body posture suggested tiredness. "The girl...," he said. "The girl with the sword like Noir's...."

Raven nodded. "The one that may have shown up in the testimonies of your investigations long ago."

A beat.

"You're saying....he saw it?" Robin asked.

She held out the contacts. "And....I-I believe he is not taking it nicely."

A beat.

Robin rubbed his temples. He sighed. "He hasn't shown up since the rescue of the kid, has he?"

She shook her head. "And I don't believe anybody else has seen him either."

".....," Robin turned about swiftly and marched towards the elevator. "Follow me."

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

A 2D schematic of the Tower was brought up on one half of the computer screen and a map of the City on the second half. After a brief moment of beeps, blips, and scanning....red text splashed across the monitor reading: 'Negative'.

"I'm not getting his signal," Robin said. He sat in the chair while Raven leaned in behind him. "That or there's a glitch. I'm not getting a sign of him at all."

Raven's eyes narrowed. "I don't think he has his signal on at all."

Robin swiveled about. "Raven....do you.....I dunno—"

"Sense a reason as to why he's gone?" she asked. She nodded. "It could be just presumption....but....he is not in a.....good mood right now."

"Tell me about it!" uttered a familiar voice from behind.

Raven and Robin swiveled around.

Cyborg walked in from the elevator shaft. He had Beast Boy, Tempest, and Starfire flanking him. "Look what I found pasted to my frickin' door!" he held a note.

Robin stood up. He marched over and took it. He scanned the paper with a narrow eyemask.

"'Dear friends. Don't worry about me. I just need to get out. I'll be back.....sometime. Sincerely, Noir.'"

A beat.

Robin lowered the paper. "Dammit...."

"Dude....like what's going on all of the sudden??" Beast Boy shrugged. "Noir just doesn't have mood swings or anything......does he?"

Starfire floated down. "I am worried for our silent friend! Has something provoked his temporary departure!!"

Cyborg planted his hands on his hips. "Y'all know something....and you're not telling us, aren't you??"

".......," Raven and Robin exchanged glances.

A beat.

"What do you want to do, Robin?" Raven asked.

"You know what I'd want to do," he said. "But....."

"....," Raven nodded. She sighed and faced the rest of the team. "It's about time we introduced you Titans to someone...."

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

"Tempest, Beast Boy, and Starfire sat on the sofa in the Main Room.

Beast Boy sat cross-legged on top of the coffee table.

Robin leaned against a nearby wall and observed the proceedings with half a glance.

Raven turned around. She had a painting in her grasp.

"This....is Ana."

"...................," the other Titans stared.

A beat.

"Who??" Tempest remarked.

"Someone very close to Noir," Raven said simply.

"Uh....okay....," Beast Boy nodded. He blinked. "So....like...why haven't we ever heard or seen her?"

"Simple...," Raven placed the painting gently down on a stand. "Because we....haven't heard or seen her."

"But didn't you say she's someone close to Noir?"

The dark girl nodded. "That I did."

"Then how—"

"I know very little about her....but what I do know is that she is very prevalent in Noir's mind."

"????" the Titans looked confused.

Raven explained: "Back when Mumbo Jumbo split my emotions, Trigon took possession of Noir through rage. When rage returned into my mind, it took with it some of Noir's emotions and memories. I got scant visions of....of Noir," Raven gestured. "Either his past or his fears or something else deeply rooted in his mind. But the most common image is that of her...." She pointed at the painting. "Ana."

A beat.

Starfire leaned her head to the side. "She's............pretty."

"Yeah," Beast Boy smiled. "Love the lesbian haircut!"

Tempest elbowed him.

"Oof! Hey!!"

Tempest groaned.

"Allrighty....so..........you painted this, right Rae?" Cyborg asked.

Raven nodded.

"You used....inspiration from Noir's vision to paint it or ?"

She nodded again.

"So what's the big deal?"

"I think Noir saw it," Raven said. She glanced Starfire's way. "The last you saw of him was in my room, correct?"

"Affirmative," the Tamaranian nodded her head. "He was situated around your closet to be exact."

".....," Raven took a breath. "Well, that explains it then."

"That explains what?!?!" Cyborg gestured. He actually stood up. "What's going on around here?? Is....W-Was Noir not supposed to see that pic or something??"

Robin glanced silently over at Raven.

Raven took a breath. "I.....I-I have been hesitant to show it to him."

"What for, Rae?"

"When I drew it.....I was.....Robin and I—"

The Boy Wonder spoke up: "We were investigating Noir's background for possible signs of villainy and traitorous links to Slade," he said. He rubbed the edges of the Nightwing eyemask. "Raven showed the painting to me. I knew about it. But we didn't dare tell Noir about it....because we tied it so closely to our suspicions."

"But what is so negative about it?" Starfire remarked. "It is an aesthetic piece...."

"The red...," Raven pointed at the crimson halo surrounding the blonde swordswoman. "...I believe it is blood."

"........"

"Creepy," Beast Boy remarked.

"Blood?" Cyborg rubbed his human head.

"It.....It's backed by other visions...," Raven stated.

"I see....."

A beat.

"But I still don't get it. What's so important about this?" Beast Boy gestured. "Why would this make Noir get all moody and leave the Tower?"

"......," Raven stared at Beast Boy. "There are a lot of things that can.....trouble a young man, Beast Boy."

He seemed perplex.

And then Tempest suddenly blurted: "A lost love...."

The others glanced at him.

Tempest's white-on-black eyes blinked. "Noir has a girlfriend....or at least he used to. And.....something happened. And here he is now....with the Titans."

"That is quite a theory, Garth," Starfire remarked.

"Yeah....what makes you think that?" Cyborg asked.

Tempest took a deep breath and folded his arms. He seemed to shrink back into the sofa some. "I....see similarities in Noir and I. Besides the eyes and hairstyle of course. Wh-What I mean to say is.......I think I can understand what this may mean." A beat. "I wouldn't be so happy if I found out that one of you sketched Tula and kept it locked away in your closet."

Raven's gaze fell to the floor.

Beast Boy's lips were parting. "What......But.....Wait a second....Heheheheh....," he waved a hand. "You mean to say that all this time....Noir's been some lovesick Romeo and none of us ever knew it??"

"That's not what I'm saying exactly," Tempest said. "What I'm saying is—"

"We all have our secrets, Beast Boy," Robin said.

The Changeling looked at him.

The Boy Wonder spoke rather softly for his own good: "And some of us here—some of us Titans are superheroes solely because of the impact of those secrets on our lives. Lord knows I have my identities and issues that I feel heavily at risk of exposure by working with each and every one of you. But I keep mum about it. It's....well....it's a 'me' thing. And you all know that. And by now, you've learned to respect that."

Robin pointed at the painting.

"Inadvertently...one of Noir's secrets slipped out. It got lost in the shuffle of Wyldecarde, Slade, and the Balance of Morals. Nicely for Noir, only two of us discovered something very....very sensitive to him. But secrets don't remain secrets forever. The painting was bound to be discovered. And now that it has....well....I'm inclined to think that the very foundation of Noir's security has been attacked. He respects us all as much as I respect you Titans. But just like me....he has stipulations. He's not quite so bold or forward in announcing him and whatnot—partially because he is mute—but still there are things that he wants to cling onto. Him and himself alone. Whoever Ana is....that was for him to know and for us not to delve into. But now...that's a little unavoidable. He probably feels.....b-betrayed right now. And he just needs his distance."

Tempest shook his head. "No....no no no...."

Robin's eyemask raised.

"He doesn't feel betrayed, Robin...," Tempest uttered. "He doesn't feel anything about us. It's not about the Titans, don't you get it?"

"......"

Tempest pointed emphatically at the painting. "It's about her!!"

Everyone looked at 'Ana' again.

"It's all about her!! Someone very beautiful and important only and SOLELY to Noir!! She may seem to be the prettiest thing to walk the earth—but as Raven seems to hint at....she's quite obviously not here. We may be here....but she isn't. And as nice and friendly as we all are....I'm sure we're a bunch of poor.....poor substitutes."

"........," Robin gazed off.

Tempest sighed and seemed to hug himself. "Neptune knows....I'm thankful for all you people have done to help me fit in as a hero and all.....but every morning I wake up and all I can think of....i-is the way she smelled. Her crystal clean face and smile. Poseidon, how warm her breath was......." He bit his lip, stroked his brow, and sighed.

Starfire swallowed a lump down her throat and gently stroked the Atlantean's shoulder.

Silence.

Beast Boy stood up. With a dead gaze, he paced around the coffee table.

A beat.

"Heh....I.....I-I can't believe myself...."

"Say what?" Cyborg asked.

Beast Boy looked up. "I....I've been there for you, haven't I Garth?"

Tempest slowly nodded. His eyes were still weak.

Beast Boy glanced at Starfire. "And....you've all been there for me when I got emotional....o-over Terra, right?"

"Truly, Beast Boy," Starfire said.

Beast Boy ran a shaky hand through his hair. "How....h-how could I not even begin to imagine that....th-that Noir has gone through something similar?"

"He doesn't tell us, man," Cyborg said. "It's his way."

"Screw his way!!" Beast Boy barked. "Where would you be if we didn't force you to open up after Anderson royally screwed up your Uncle Simon with Triad???"

".......," Cyborg gently blinked.

Beast Boy spun and faced Raven. "And you!! When we first met...you wouldn't so much as talk to me or any of the other Titans!! And look at where we are nearly three years later!!"

"My life is relative, Beast Boy—"

"You have friends, Raven!!"

"I said my life is rel—"

"You have friends, Raven. And you're glad about that, aren't you? And you're a bit more sane about all your problems and curses, aren't you??"

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

Beast Boy slumped back down onto the edge of the coffee table. "I....I feel so stupid. So selfish." He hugged his knees childishly. "Why do we have to let some of us stay so lonely and angsty??" A beat. "How about you, Robin? You got some lousy secrets?"

Robin didn't so much as look at him.

"'Lousy' isn't the word for it," Raven said. "At the same time....this isn't the most drastic situation. Noir is just....." She lingered.

Starfire spoke up: "Noir is selfless."

They all looked her way.

She smiled gently. "I am constantly being complimented and called benevolent things by you, friends. I have been called 'pretty', 'kind', 'nice', and many other platitudes. Hehehe. Ahem....but I have also been called 'selfless'. And though I may understand the motive for labeling me as such, I do not believe that I am the prime example of such a quality in this Tower."

"Noir's some character, huh?" Cyborg smirked.

"He is a 'character' indeed," Starfire nodded. "Sometimes....I-I fear that we are inclined to let him continue in his servitude to us and the City without realizing that—without asking for it—he needs and desires retribution."

"Like what??" Beast Boy asked. "A badass guy like that never asks for anything!"

"He likes eye contact," Cyborg said. "Well...at least I'm the only one here who frickin' knows how to hand-sign with him."

"Perhaps we should orchestrate a way to intercede on his behalf tonight?" Starfire remarked. "Assuming that we can find him first?"

"He wants to be alone.....," Tempest groaned. "....don't you guys get it?"

"But that isn't what's good for him!!" Beast Boy cackled. He looked Cyborg's way. "I know! Let's do a City-Wide search!! Then when we find him....like....l-let's get Kara on the phone then have her talk to him!! Th-They're close, aren't they? Heck....I almost thought the two of them were.......like......a pair! Who's this Ana girl all of the sudden?"

"Kara won't help Noir....," Robin said.

Everyone looked his way.

"How do you know, dude?" Beast Boy remarked.

Robin had been gazing off in thought for most of the conversation. In fact, he was scratching his chin as he said: "Because if she could....he wouldn't be running off at the very thought of Ana right now."

Raven slowly nodded at that.

Cyborg saw her.

"Then what are we supposed to do??" Beast Boy waved.

Robin stood up straight. He hung his arms by his side. "I'm going to go talk to Noir. I'll set things straight."

Tempest raised an eyebrow.

Beast Boy did a double-take. "Dude....what??"

"What did you have in mind, Robbie?" Cyborg asked curiously.

"I....I think I can help. I can't explain it more than that."

"Dude, why not?"

Robin's mask narrowed. "The only thing common between secretive people....is the very act of keeping secrets."

A beat.

Robin gestured. "I'll be off."

"Do you even know where to look, man?"

"As a matter of fact, I think I do," Robin turned and walked towards the nearest stairwell. "Now if you'll excuse me...I'm off to my room."

"What for?"

"To change back into my regular costume...," Robin half-lied.

"......," Starfire gazed after him. A beat. "Robin...." She got up and flew his way.

Robin paused. He glanced aside.

Starfire flew down beside him. "You will.......be careful?"

Robin nodded. "Of course, Star. I know what I'm doing."

"You are certain??"

He smiled somewhat. "Absolutely.

She cupped her hands together. "Noir.....has been hurt by us before. It would be a shame if we all hurt him again...." She gazed over at the painting. ".....by prying."

"Noir isn't leaving us, I promise," Robin said. He made way for the stairwell.....paused.....pivoted around....and hugged Starfire suddenly.

"!!!!" the Tamaranian blinked. "R-Robin??"

"Thanks, Star....," Robin breathed gently over her shoulder. He let go and walked away.

"F-For what?" she stammered.

The Boy Wonder was gone.

Starfire held a hand to her cheek. She was blushing some.

".......," Beast Boy looked over at the painting.

The blonde angel looked back.

A beat.

"Terra....a-are you really alone after all?"

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

SCWHISSSH!!

Robin entered his room through the automatic doors

SCHISSSH!

They closed behind him.

He took a deep breath.

He clenched his gloved fists.

His eyemask narrowed, signifying that his optics underneath were closed.

A beat.

".....okay...."

He flexed his arms.

".....I can do this....."

He looked over towards the bedside table. He opened the drawer.

".....you can help me....."

A beat.

Robin proceeded to change into something more....fitting for the City.

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

Dear Diana,

I can't stop shaking. I just don't understand it. I just don't understand. How was she there? How was she anywhere I couldn't expect? I feel so cold. I feel so alone...and yet surrounded all the same. And I want to be mad but I know I can't because there's no reason to be. Or is there? My head won't stop. It's like someone is screaming twenty four/seven. But then again...I think it's always been like that. Only...I rarely ever sober up to hear it. My head wants to split apart. But it doesn't compare to the pain in my throat. It's like a soreness that wants to bleed through my scar. I know you wouldn't understand. I don't even know why I'm writing this to. I just......I just want to write to someone. But I can't. There's no one. I can't tell it to the Titans. Not Kara. God, not Kara. I don't want her in this. This soreness. I almost thought of knocking on Renee's and Daniel's door. But thinking about it makes me sick. Cuz I feel like a bum. A stupid, angsty, aimless bum. I've wandered hundreds of god damn miles to get to this place and still that's not enough for me. Not when I feel like this. Not when I get 'sober'. Not when I'm reminded. Not when I see her face. And those beautifully cold blue eyes. Like diamonds buried in the bottom of the Ocean. The icy kiss of Choral that I only barely touched during training. Oh god her golden hair like sunlight in the early mornings as we danced with our blades in the sawgrass and the air sweat with the Pacific and she smiled and she cried and she bled and she sang all over my eyes when I had eyes to be proud of without the burning sun that ate at my chest and arms as I tried to chase it down and chase it down and oh god oh god I don't know what I'm doing here I don't know what I'm doing here I don't know what I'm doing here I don't know what I'm doing here I don't know what I'm doing here............

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

Somewhere in the vacant streets of a City, a paper napkin rolled across the pavement and fluttered into a gutter.

Before it plummeted into the darkly lit sewers below, a touch of moonlight graced its surface.

A letter addressed 'Dear Diana' quivered in messy, black ink.

Written by a shaking hand of a wandering shadow in the desperation of the darkness.

And tossed away as the shadow shuddered on.

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

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

I gripped my head.

My flesh and metal fingers kneaded through my hair.

Cold, chilling autumn wind blew into my figure.

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

I shuddered.

I lowered my arms.

I hugged myself.

My black eyes stared naked into the night...westward.

I was sitting up high on one of the support towers of the suspension bridge over the Bay. It was the closest Tower to the Main Land. Regardless, dark waters churned ravenously far below my precariously perched position.

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

I blinked.

I wasn't sure what I was staring at.

I wasn't sure what I was breathing in or breathing out.

I felt numb all over. Like a tiny vibration inside all of my cells.

I shut my eyes.

I wanted to disappear.

I wanted to become oblivion.

I felt like a brat...a cry baby....a vagabond.

I shouldn't have been there. I was worrying my friends. The note had to have been more of a cruelty than a consolation.

I shuddered.

But still...

The painting.

The painting.....

I ran two shaking hands through my long black hair again.

Her golden hair.

Her eyes.

Her smile.

I panted.

My heart beat.

What was she doing in Raven's room??

I clenched my black eyes tightly shut.

What did Raven know? What did she not tell me that she knew??

I grit my teeth.

I'm not mad. I'm not mad. I'm......

My fists clenched.....then relaxed.

I bent over and nearly fell over the edge of the tower.

I want to tell someone. I want to tell someone so bad......I want to share everything.

Everything......

I so much want to share everything......

I hiccupped. But somehow, the tears wouldn't come.

Kara......could you possibly understand??

My eyes opened.

Everything was hazy.

Out of focus.

Westward....

Would you......s-still speak to me after I told you???

"You know........for me, it's when I look North."

My breath left me. Almost in a pleasant way. Like the prospect of being discovered....and wanting to be discovered. Such desperate and paradoxical loneliness.

The Messenger??

I turned around and looked.

I inhaled.

No, Robin.........

The Boy Wonder stood behind me, his cape blowing in the wind. I hadn't even noticed him alighting the structure. He was the master of sneaking. And there I was still clad as Solid Snake.

"North is where Gotham City is...," Robin simply stated. "I never told anyone....but that's why I have my room on the north end of the Tower. The windows look in that direction."

"........," I blinked.

I h-hadn't thought of that.

A beat.

What the Hell is he doing here??

I made to get up and salute him....or something.

But he stretched a gloved hand out. "At ease..."

I simpered.

He lowered his glove. His eyemask was unchanging. "I'm not mad at you or anything, Noir...."

I exhaled.

"But.....we were worried," he said. A beat. He sat down slowly beside me. "That is to say....we are worried. I only told the Titans that I would speak to you. Nobody else seems to suspect that you'd be here but me."

"........," I stared away from him. The two of us sat with our legs dangling over the edge of the Tower.

Facing West.

"I once tried to investigate your background, Noir. I bet—by now—you know that."

I shrugged.

"You're from......Washington State, aren't you?"

"........."

"Oregon? California?"

"........," I shrugged and nodded a bit.

Robin leaned back on two arms. "I've been there a few times. Great weather....except when it rains—all the time."

I smirked somewhat.

I hear Gotham City is a hellhole......

Robin wasn't telepathic.

We sat in silence.

Until Robin broke the silence.

"Raven.....painted that picture, Noir."

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

"She never told you about it. I think it's.....one of her many ways of 'protecting' you. Heh....she does seem quite in a habit over doing that."

".......," I slowly nodded.

"She doesn't know anything about.....about 'Ana'," he said. "And—obviously—neither do I."

"......."

"But...we both realize that Ana is very....exclusive to you." A beat. "That is to say....someone very close to you. Maybe no more than a thought these days."

I cringed.

Robin noticed it. Maybe he meant for me to cringe. "It was never our attempt to exploit something....of great value to you," he said. "Or great secret."

I slowly exhaled.

"Anyways....," Robin scratched his black head of hair. "....my room faces the North. I suppose it's my way of torturing myself." A beat. "Kinda like how you're torturing yourself now."

".....," I glanced at him curiously.

"Facing West," he pointed. "I knew that—of all places in this City—you'd be here, Noir. I'm surprised you don't come here more often. But maybe that's a good thing. Like a sign that we Titans haven't encroached on you that much."

I stared ahead of me. Silent.

"Ever since the days just prior to Slade's death," Robin gestured. "I've pretty much figured that the West was a sore subject for you. When Cyborg had us all go on our lovely little vacation....I-I never said anything of it, but I knew it must have been very hard for you, Noir."

I shrugged. A sigh.

"Heh....I'm selfish. Starfire and Beast Boy suggested we go to Gotham City. I said 'no'."

My lips curved somewhat....but not for long.

"Of course....I've been back and forth a few times since you've come here," Robin looked down at his dangling feet. "Between here and Gotham City, I've made my own private trips. My alter ego at work. My own pretty secrets." A beat. "But that's only because I've resolved myself over many things in my past. Or at least....I'm a bit more willing to face them personally."

I glanced at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Not to say you're afraid of your past or anything, Noir....," Robin stated. "That's frankly none of my business and—quite simply—beyond my guessing."

A beat.

"This is how I try to remain sane, Noir....," Robin said.

I realized he was handing me something.

"???"

I looked down and found myself holding a black picture frame. Inside the frame was a grainy black and white image.

My black eyes narrowed.

It was a freeze-frame from some security camera feed. It looked like an airport or a bus terminal. I saw escalators and crowds of people wandering about in stylish clothes suggestive of Gotham City culture. And yet—as chaotically ugly as the snapshot was—there was a figure, howbeit fuzzy, that seemed to be in the center of the accidental composition. She stood at the base of one of the stairs...a petite thing with a mop of black hair and a thin frame.

"......"

Robin leaned over my shoulder and pointed: "This was taken at the Central Gotham City Terminal. Twenty minutes after nine p.m. on the dot. It was a clear night's sky that evening. Four years ago."

".......," I glanced at Robin. I glanced at the photo again.

"If that snapshot was taken a mere ten seconds later, I would have been in the frame," he said. "But that's not what's important." He pointed with a gloved finger. "She is...."

I stared closer. My naked eyes strained.

The figure.........

"I met her that night while on my beat," he said. "She was running helpless across Town. I had to save her from a group of bikers, and yet still she wouldn't stop running. The only thing that stopped her oddly enough were flashing lights.....like the strobe from a police squad car."

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

"Is that what you're running from?" A thirteen-year-old Robin approached her gently in the alleyway. "Are you in trouble with the cops? I just want to help."

"You can't," she stepped backwards. Nervous. Frantic. She shook her head. "I have to keep moving."

"Is there somewhere where I can take you?" Robin asked. "Do you have a family?"

"I-I......," she clutched her head and shuddered. "I can't remember......"

And she ran......

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

"She had no long term memory...," Robin said. He was staring off...but his head turned right from 'westward' as he spoke. "At first I thought she was a victim of trauma or abuse. Like she was blocking some mental crap in her poor little head. I lost track of her a couple of times as she ran all over the place and I got more and more worried. Batman thought nothing of it....even after the girl's deadbeat dad showed up and nearly beat the crap out of her. But....I wouldn't give up. I would help her. I would help her remember everything, no matter what."

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

"You shouldn't be trying so hard to help me...," she uttered pensively, her hands clasped together. "He'll hurt you too."

"I can handle him," Robin stepped towards her and gently said.

"What makes you so sure?" murmured the girl.

"I know his type," the young Boy Wonder smiled. "My dad wasn't much of a prize either."

"So that's why you care," she gently grasped her hands around his glove and smiled weakly. "You're the only person I can remember who ever did."

Robin smiled.

She leaned in and gave him a slight peck on the cheek as if to express 'thanks'.

Bashful, the Boy Wonder merely scratched the back of his neck and pointed: "Y-Yeah.......but you don't remember anything!"

She actually giggled at that.

And then her smile faded as she saw a light looming overhead.

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

"Gradually....," Robin said, gazing northward. "....she started remembering things. She remembered a light atop a tall place....shimmering in the darkness. There was only one place in Gotham City that fit that description. So I took her there."

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

"This......all feels familiar..."

The girl walked forward across the rocky bluffs overlooking a bay of dark water. A lighthouse loomed overhead. Its glowing beam of silver and gold swept across the blood-red sky of Gotham City. Robin trailed behind her slowly...curiously...

"I've been here before......," she murmured. She climbed the bluffs. Higher. Higher. With each mounting step, her enthusiasm rose. "I know it!" She rounded the top of the rocks and gazed across the bay to where a cold, dark factory loomed with heavy concrete pipes yawning into the dark currents. "There!" she gasped. She started to scurry down the other side of the bluffs. "That's it! Those pipes! I r-remember!"

"Whoah! Not so fast!" Robin entreated. He hopped down to catch up with her.

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

"Somehow....her memories brought us inside an old chemicals factory. I had a very bad feeling about it. Like it was a trap. But for once...the girl seemed excited. Full of life. Happy. She was on the verge of catching up to herself. To understanding that which she had forgotten. And...I-I couldn't deny that from her. As dangerous as everything felt...the ominous signs that I should have seen earlier but didn't because I was still a young and stupid caped crusader...."

Robin's fists clenched.

A beat.

He relaxed.

A sigh.

"....I led her into her disastrous fate. Her evil father...he was there. He was in the factory. Waiting for us. For her. But he wasn't just any ordinary father..."

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

Robin gasped. "Clayface!!"

Matt Hagen...a shape-shifting monstrosity of putrid mud...stomped forwards. Pure white eyes glaring. Lumbering, thick limbs looming over the two children.

"Now we can cut out the games......," Clayface grinned. And he flung a warbling arm of clay down at the youths.

The girl shrieked.

Robin grabbed her and dove the two out of the way of the sloshing villain.

THWAP!!!!

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

"We ran halfway through the factory...," Robin said. "We tried to get away from Clayface. But it was futile. Especially when I realized....when I realized...." He lowered his head some and took a breath for composure. "I had been closer to Clayface far more than I imagined the entire time."

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

"You okay??" Robin asked as the two knelt on a catwalk.

The girl went silent. Her head hung as she limply traced the scattered drops of mud plastered to her arms and wrists from the flight.

"I understand now...," she breathed.

"Good, cuz I'm lost," Robin leaned towards her. "What do you have to do with Clayface?"

".........," the girl gently held her hand out before the Boy Wonder. She showed him how the mud was sliding into her...becoming one with her...rejoining the body. "I am Clayface."

Robin's eyemask widened as he saw the miniature morphing. He looked at her face.

She gazed up at him with sad eyes. "I remember now......"

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

"She wasn't human. She wasn't flesh and blood like you and me, Noir," Robin said. "She was an extension. A puppet. A drone sent out from Clayface's body itself when the villain resurrected himself from the dissolving waters of the Gotham bay. She crumbled away on the inside. Clayface was there to rejoin with her. To regain the loss body mass he had sacrificed in making her. To become his whole, strong, miserable self again. And she was about ready to accept defeat and 'join' him. She said she wasn't real. She looked me in the face and surrendered to a terrible fate. But....B-But I wouldn't allow it. I told her she was real. I told her to run. I-I told her to......r-run. To live. To keep existing. After all I did that night. All of the running around. All of the searching. The sweating and bleeding. I would not let her die on me. She....she had become that precious to me overnight. I was still young and....and emotional. I-I wouldn't let her disappear. I wanted to hold onto her forever and somehow convince her....show her....that she was so very alive. So very real."

Silence.

A gust of autumn wind.

I was staring fixedly at him by this time.

Robin took a deep breath and continued:

"Clayface advanced. She ran, like I told her. I tried fighting Clayface on my own. But....I-I couldn't possibly have lasted. He was toying with me...pushing me over the edge of a catwalk that rested over a vat of acid. I would have died. I would have stopped being 'real'. But.......But it was not meant to be...."

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

"Nnngh!!" Robin gasped and struggled as Clayface forced him against the railings.

"Wait!!"

Her voice......

Clayface glanced aside.

She came running back up the catwalk. Panting.

She ran like a bullet towards the monstrous villain. "I'm the one you want!"

Robin's mouth flew open. He shouted two words at her. Words he forgot because he was drowning her figure in through his eyemask as she blurred forward into a dive and shoved herself into Clayface's chest.

The two tumbled across the catwalk. And with an explosion of mud and mock 'flesh', the two quivered and screamed and morphed into one.

"N-No......," a beat-up Robin murmured limply.

"Run Robin!!" the last semblance of her sentient figure reached out to him as she was dragged into the warbling mass of Clayface...and absorbed. "Hurry!"

"NO!!"

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

Robin stroked his temple with a finger. He almost seemed to be slurring at this point.

"She....sacrificed herself. And I went on to live instead."

A beat.

He leaned back and stared at the blue sky. "I....I relive that moment. In different ways.....dreaming....flashbacks....passing thoughts. And yet they're all the same. The creaking catwalks. The rusted metal. The putrid mud. That damn red sky and that lighthouse....all of Gotham City, for that matter....."

A beat.

My eyes narrowed.

That......sounds familiar......

My metal left hand twitched once or twice.

"It....it wasn't enough at first to drive me away," Robin continued uninterrupted. "I was....s-sad for the next few days, of course. But I got over it. It's what superheroes do. They get over things. But as the months waned on...and I started seeing things from a new perspective....Batgirl's independence, Nightwing's incessant hatred of Batman's crime-fighting politics....and the jaded opinions of a cynical Gotham City population....I started to see things differently about Gotham City. There were no absolutes. Not even in crime fighting. So....many of my mental shields fell away so that I could....re-analyze things. And I remembered her. I remembered how small and frightened she looked. I remembered how lovely and full of life she was the moment she started remembering things...even if the return of her memories meant her undoing. I remembered the few times she said my name aloud. It sounded so sweet....so full of trust. L-Like she had known me all of her life even though it was just one evening of breath, life, and couldn 't stand to be under that red sky anymore," Robin murmured. "Just like Nightwing....a bird like me has to find a new cage. A new aviary, if you will."

".........," I gazed off.

Robin pointed at the picture frame. "But I took that with me. And nobody knows about it, Noir. Not Raven. Not Cyborg. Not even Starfire. I....I've only told you, Noir. I've told you because....because you're very tolerant and mature. And I think you're the only other member of our team who understands what it means to feel conflicted over what we're doing here. Is it that we're trying to be heroes in a new battlefield? Or perhaps—Noir—you and I are also running away from something? Something painful? Something that has made us colder and darker than the children we once used to be?"

".........," I looked at him again.

He took a deep breath.

"I came here for many reasons, Noir. And one of them is because I don't want to remember the past. And yet I do, to some extent. Either way—cowardice or not—I'm still growing. And I'm still kicking crime's ass. And you know what? So are you."

".......," I slowly nodded.

"She is......very pretty," Robin said.

I looked at the frame with a raised eyebrow.

He smirked. "Ana....I mean."

I mouthed 'oh'. I chuckled breathily. A beat. A deep sigh.

"And....I hope you don't ever feel pressured to tell us about her, ya know...," Robin gestured. "Lord knows, you tolerate my secrecy."

I nodded.

A beat.

"So....how long will you be looking westward, Noir?" Robin asked. "A long time? A short time?" A beat. "Regardless of how long you indulge....I would love you to join us back East....at the Tower."

I nodded. I sighed.

"A part of you will always stay. As a part of me will always be in Gotham City," Robin said.

I smirked somewhat.

"But I want you here, Noir," Robin leaned his head to the side. "Especially because....b-because of my decision."

I raised an eyebrow. I mouthed: 'Decision?'

He nodded. "I'm promoting you, Noir."

"..........??"

"Raven knows about it, I'm pretty sure. She may have been the co-founder of our team...but when it comes to authority, she's stepped back. She's merely a third party member of the team. She's the mediator of all our conflicting interests. So....as you know....I've relied on Cyborg to be my number one. In case anything happens to me, he'll be the one to lead the team. In a way....that's how it's always been. We've orchestrated ourselves in that fashion."

I nodded.

"As much as we may try to deny it....our team is becoming bigger," Robin said. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. I've always wanted to expand the Titans into....well...something more capable of fitting the Tower." He smirked. "Much more than five scant superheroes."

I leaned my head to the side.

"I'm promoting you, Noir," he pointed. "I want you to be Number Two."

I blinked.

"You're third after Cyborg," he said. "If anything should happen to me....you answer to him. If anything should happen to the both of us......w-well.......you lead the team."

My lips parted at that.

"I trust you, Noir," Robin said. His eyemask narrowed. "And....I feel that we have many commonalities."

My flesh and metal fingers traced the frame of the security photo in my grasp. I took a deep breath. I thought of the painting......

"It wasn't easy for me to trust you," he said. "The biggest test....that was the trial of Wyldecarde. You proved to us a long time ago how loyal you are to the ultimate safety of the Titans and this City....and this whole world. You give yourself entirely, Noir. And—like even Starfire said—it's about time you're given back." He produced a communicator...but not just any communicator. It looked like the extra-special type that Cyborg carried...with tiny blue decals that suggested a higher rank.

A higher rank......

Promotion......

"So.....Number Two?"

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

Well, Ana?

".............," I smiled.

Well indeed......

I gently reached a flesh hand out and grasped the communicator.

Robin patted me on the shoulder. He took a deep, proud breath. "In a world that's getting darker by the minute....I'm glad we have a bit of your darkness to fight back with."

I smiled nervously.

He held his gloved hand out.

I holstered the communicator away and eagerly shook his hand.

He tightened the grip.

We shook, twisted our thumbs together, and released them with a snap(!) before pointing at each other simultaneously.

"Heheheheheh....," he chuckled.

I smiled. A sigh.

Robin stood up. "Come on, Noir...," he again patted my shoulder and faced the both of us Eastward. "Let's go home."

And I couldn't have felt better.

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

Recording...

Recording...

Recording...

Stop

Exit Surveillance Protocols 75/02-SF (Yes/No)?

"Yes"

Loading....

Loading....

Loading....

Activate "Counter-Red-Aviary" Program (Yes/No)?

"Yes"

Opening....

Opening....

Opening...

Begin: Project "Counter Red Aviary"

Servers Online

"Pulsade" Server Responding

"J" Server Responding

Third Server Inoperative

Continue (Yes/No)?

"Yes"

Initializing...

Initializing...

Initializing...

Opening Program "Seventh Day Shout"

Location: City Prison – Omega Wing

Date: October 23, 2004

Time: 0701 Hours

Equipment: Accounted For / Maximum Availability

"D" Insurgency Factor: 100 ("IMMINENT")

Transfer of Text: "Dear Old Friend, Red Aviary Has Begun. Be very careful." "J"

System Calibration: Complete

Warning – Warning – Warning – Warning

Counter-Red-Aviary In Effect

Warning – Warning – Warning – Warning

Counter-Red-Aviary In Effect

Begin:

-T-T-T-T-T-

At exactly 7:01 am on October 23, 2004....

In the silent and unsuspecting structure of the City Prison's Omega Wing....

Still dark from the autumnal morning...

A grand and dramatic explosion flared outward from the cold building.

KABOOOOOM!!!!!!

Brick and cement flew.

Frightened cries and insane laughter filled the night from a conglomeration of prison guards and excited villainy.

The burning flame from the explosion plumed high and turned the sky red...

In the distance, sirens sounded.