Jittering and staging around, Robin finally came to the conclusion that something was wrong with him. The connection that Slade had caused it was still missing from his mental notes, but he was putting pieces together one at a time. He watched Slade wander back into the room, his shoulders stiff but slouched, as if he'd experienced some sort of defeat. Slade seated himself back in his chair, put both arms on the armrest, and brought up one hand to prop up his head, covering part of his mask. He sighed.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked, folding his arms. He didn't really care to help Slade solve his problems, he was curious for a personal reason. It made him feel selfish, but if he was to improve his situation, knowledge was vital. Perhaps Slade was experiencing a weakness that could lead him back home.

Slade didn't answer and instead turned, seeming to be lost in concentration.

Frustrated with no one talking to him, Robin took a seat himself. It just wasn't his day, was it? Terra wouldn't talk to him any further and now neither would Slade. Soon, the city would be light again and he wondered what task was awaiting him then. After the thought passed, he remembered his team. They're clueless, he thought, scowling at no one in particular. I didn't get the chance to tell them anything and I should have. I should have ripped Slade's microphone out of my ear while I had the chance and told them they needed to help us. The images of all their faces, friendly and always ready to take on anything, poured into his mind. They had no way of knowing, only minor clues that would lead them to nothing. They knew it was Slade but they had no idea where he was. He could have just left a cryptic note, something, anything, to let them know what to do-but he didn't. Robin huffed out a breath and clenched his fists. Why did he always see the solution too late?

After a very long time, Robin estimated a half hour, Slade stood up and looked at him, breaking his trance of regrets. "I'll have Rose escort her back to Titan's Tower once the sun rises," he said.

Robin stood as well and paused. "You're not serious," he said, assuming Slade was making another, typical cruel joke.

"I'm serious," Slade argued, his tone peeved that Robin didn't take his word the first time. "I've got what I need." Without being specific, he watched Robin, his hands folded behind his back. Robin knew what he meant-he had him. Slade was certain it was the best decision, and the least dangerous to his plans. Without their leader, the Titans were usually disorganized and confused, making them far less of a threat. Sending Terra back would only make them more worried and scattered, to his advantage, he hoped. They'd now know what happened and be even more overwhelmed by their feelings. Too anxious, he hoped, to fight him.

"So you're going to let her go?" he asked, a pain of excitement in his body.

"Don't be so hopeful," Slade said. "I'm letting her back to the Tower. I'm keeping in her in mind, don't doubt me, Robin. She's not entirely free." He looked down to the ground, avoiding eye contact for the moment. "But you and I need to have a short talk about what you're to do when the sun rises, after Terra is returned."

Robin's face went sour and he folded his arms. As he thought.

In a few hours, Rose shook Terra awake. Terra reacted by swatting blindly and she managed to get Rose on the side of the face. She let out a groan of disapproval but didn't say anything. She wanted to get her out of here as soon as possible, so whatever it took was fine for her. "Wake up, stupid," she said. "I'm not trying to kill you. Come on, get up."

Terra pushed herself into a sitting position. "What do you want?" she asked. "I'm not doing anything for you, not-"

Rose glared and silenced her. "I'm taking you back home," she snapped. "Let's hurry up and go." To her surprise, Terra shook her head with a melancholy frown and turned away. "What?" Rose asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Are you crazy? Let's go already!"

"I was thinking," said Terra, "and I'm not leaving without Robin with me. He's got a team to lead and friends to take care of. Friends who know him more than they know me. Jump City's going to be way more upset about the leader of the Titans missing, or in alliance with Slade, than some random girl like me. If anything, I'd stay to replace him." Her face fell significantly and she shut her mouth to avoid talking while feeling choked up. "I-I've got a pretty bad reputation around here anyway, it's better if I just stay here, or, if I just go somewhere else, maybe they won't remember, or-"

Rose rolled her eyes and sighed. "You've got some serious problems, don't you?" she asked. While Terra fought back tears from her comment, she sat down, realizing she wouldn't be up and out as planned. "You also have a team to go back to and friends to take care of. Maybe Robin's the coveted leader, so what? That's like saying none of the others matter too. You can't really have a team with one person, you know. And forget your reputation. You can always make up for it by showing everyone you've changed." She stopped talking and looked off. "I'm not going to be your fortune cookie, telling you how it is. Do whatever you want." She shrugged. It was not her job to give people pep talks.

Terra's tears dried and she thought, not responding for some time. For what seemed like forever to Rose, she listened to Terra's quiet breathing and her slight shifts in position. Terra could feel her heart beating and she put her hand to her chest, just over her heart. Her hair fell in-between her fingers and she played with the strands in-between her thumb and forefinger. Her focus blurred as she drifted into deep contemplation. The world, to her, was too fast to keep track of. Thoughts flew into her mind, then back out, then back in again, like waves rolling up on a beach. She could barely keep track, but soon they formed a clear idea. An unusual strength filled her as the idea settled in.

Finally, Terra stood without a word, her eyes glued on the darkness that led out of Slade's hideout. "Let's go," she said, her voice unusually coated with confidence. "I've got a city to take care of." She wasn't speaking to Rose-more to herself.

Rose raised her eyebrows and felt a loss of words. She has something to take care of suddenly? she thought. This girl's got some weird motivations. But, she reminded herself, at least they're motivations this time. I was getting sick of her pitying herself. Most of all, Rose had worried she would never be able to get her out. Then she'd be the one who would have to deal with all her upset fits and she was not prepared to be a babysitter.

Rose led Terra outside, and as soon as the morning sun fell on her face, a tiny smile came to Terra. Rose didn't bother asking why, but she did notice, and thought it was a little weird. Pushing her hair behind her ears, Terra followed Rose back to the Tower, through streets noisy with honking car horns and people chattering. Terra stopped as they were approaching the bay and looked to Rose. "I can't take myself back now," she said, boldness consuming her voice. She put one hand on her hip and the wind blew her hair as a quick breeze passed. "I've got it. Plus, I don't want you snooping around our house." Terra frowned at her like she was already guilty of a crime.

Rose held up her hands in feigned defense. "Well, sorry," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "Didn't mean to intrude upon your royal territory." I liked this girl better when she was crying, she thought. Her confidence is driving me insane, she's acting like the queen of the world all of the sudden. She turned then, before Terra had a chance to complain again, and began her short trip back to Slade and Robin, thinking more of how Terra's mixed behaviors were getting on her nerves. As her feet carried her away, she couldn't help but wonder what had caused Terra to switch moods so suddenly. Something must have clicked in her mind, but she wasn't sure what. Sometimes she wished she had something to protect herself. She stopped to look back at the Tower. "Good luck, whatever you're doing," she said, even though she knew Terra couldn't hear her. In the distance, she saw the small figure of a girl rise up in front of the sunlit bay on a piece of earth.

Author Note: In response to recent reviews, I guess I'll try working on this-I could use some relaxation, anyway. I've been sick and irrationally busy, so writing without having to put extreme thought into what I'm doing will be good for me I guess. I hope you enjoy tout le monde~