Chapter 3:

Out With the Old, In With the New

I bring my face up, facing the team leader, "I am in."

Suddenly, the black sphere disappear and Robin's hand reaches out for a handshake.

I took it.

"My name is Robin," He greets himself before pointing to alien girl, "her name is Starfire." Pointing at the half robot and half man, "That's Cyborg and…"

Robin gestures toward a dark girl behind me, "That's Raven."

Raven walks from behind me, "Sorry about tricking you into a trap," She apologize in monotone voice.

'That voice, I never thought I'd miss it.' I sigh internally.

The four members stand in front of me.

"So, whats your name dude?" Cyborg questions.

I racked my brain for a name. I never expected this to happen, I gulps when a perfect name appear my mind.

"Phoenix."

"Man, y'all have no idea how much I hate sewers!" Cyborg exclaims as he pulled himself out of the sewer hole.

"I'd assume we all have the same idea about the sewer," Raven monotones as she hovers out after Cyborg.

Cyborg chuckles at response as he grabs Phoenix's hand and pull him out of the sewer.

Starfire flew out afterward, holding Robin by his hand.

"A'ight, let's hope we won't need to go back there anytime soon." Cyborg mutters as he put the lid back to its rightful place.

Phoenix stands few feet away from the team, 'What did I've gotten myself into?' He thought panicky, 'How I am going to eat without taking my mask off? How I am going to fight against Slade without shifting? They are bound to find out if I stay.'

Phoenix was about to turn and run away, but then Robin clapped his hand on Phoenix's shoulder, "We should go back to the tower and get settled."

Phoenix's throat went dry, 'I've already agreed to this. I can't back out. I can't let them face Slade alone.'

He gulps and nods in agreement, not trusting himself to talk.

Robin smiles before turning to his teammates, "Titans, let's go back to tower. Raven, do you mind staying back for a second?"

Raven nods as the others walk to Cyborg's car.

"So, do you detect anything from Phoenix?" Robin questions as he watch others, especially Phoenix, getting on Cyborg's car.

"I have not detected anything bad from him. He seems to be trustable but I'd give a day or two before trusting him completely." Raven responds.

"That is good." Robin turns his body to face Raven, "Raven, anytime you feel uncomfortable, tell me."

"I will, Robin."

"Good, let's go. They are waiting for us."

Phoenix gulps as the door slides open revealing the common room.

'What have I done?' Phoenix asks himself for thousandth times, following the rest of teammates inside.

"Gather round," Robin orders as he takes his place in front of crescent shaped couch. Starfire sat at the edge closest to Robin followed by Cyborg and Raven who sat rather close at the middle. Phoenix stand nervously for a second before sitting at the opposite edge.

"Before we begin, Phoenix" Robin gestures toward to Phoenix, "We wanted to thank you for helping us. I know we didn't meet at the best circumstances, but it means a lot. We appreciate it."

Phoenix nods, "I-It's no problem…"

"Now, we need to fill you in everything you need to know about Slade. First of all, Slade-"

"There's no need," Phoenix interrupted, "I know everything about Slade."

"How?" Robin questions and Phoenix gulps, 'Stupid, you should have shut your big, fat mouth.'

"W-Well," Phoenix stutters, "I-I… I've been living 'round here for as long as I can remember. I've seen what Slade had done to you guys and this city."

"But you don't know what's like to be up against him."

"I kinda got the idea…"

"Idea isn't enough. Slade is our greatest foe. We have to be completely prepared," Robin lectures, " Slade likes to pick us, one by one and manipulate our minds to his favor."

It took Robin two hours to lecture everything Phoenix needs to know about Slade. Phoenix cheered internally when he hears Robin said, "That covers everything you need to know about Slade."

'Jeez, nice to see Robin's obsession hasn't changed.'

"Ok, it sounds like you guys always beat him at the end. So what's different this time?"

The team went uncharacteristically quiet, sending each other looks.

"Uh… If I struck a nerve-" Phoenix begins, but Starfire interrupts, "No Friend Phoenix, you have not struck any nerves. We were frightened because this time there was only four of us against Slade," Starfire smiles before continuing, "but now, you are here. I believe we will be victorious!"

Robin nods, "She's right. Our dynamic has been off since our teammate passed and you have been helping us ever since. You have an impeccable timing."

"Oh…" Phoenix said lamely, "I'm sorry."

Raven got up and made her haste to the door before anyone could blink.

"I got her," Cyborg stood up before Phoenix could, and followed Raven out of the room.

"Uh…" Phoenix looks at Robin and Starfire for explanation.

"Don't worry about Friend Raven," Starfire sigh sadly, "it was hard on us all, but it was hardest on her."

'Of course she did…' Phoenix thought sadly, 'I didn't think that it will hurt her this long.'

Several minutes later, Cyborg and Raven were still not back yet, Phoenix squirms in his seat.

"Uh, where's the bathroom?" Phoenix asks, keeping his act.

"Down the hall to the left." Robin instructs. Phoenix nods, thanking him before walking out of the room.

Phoenix walks quietly, consumed in his thoughts and feeling bad about bringing up their dead friend.

'I know! I should apologize to Raven'

He follows Raven scent down the hall. Phoenix was about to turn around the corner, but pauses when his sensitive hearing picked up the conversation between Cyborg and Raven.

"… He didn't mean anything by it, you know that Raven." Cyborg's calm voice with trace of sadness.

"I know that" Raven sighs, "But it just… It's something about Phoenix that I can't quite put my finger on."

"What makes you unsure about him? I thought you didn't detect anything from him?"

"Exactly, I did not. I couldn't feel anything from him. It is not the first time it happened, B-Beast Boy was the first… I just-" Raven choked back a sob, "I-"

"I understand," Cyborg interrupted, "I miss him too, but for the sake of the team up against Slade. We need Phoenix. We haven't been the same since BB died."

Phoenix risks sneaking a peek around the corner, Raven is crying and Cyborg rubs his metal hands up and down on Raven's arms.

"I know…" Raven whispers.

The next moment they shared had caused Phoenix's heart to drop.

Raven wrapped her arms around Cyborg's neck and Cyborg's arms around Raven's petite waist. Raven stood on her toes, bringing her face closer to Cyborg's, who leaned to meet her. Their lips collide into a kiss.

Phoenix couldn't help it but stare at them, his heart clenched painfully.

His brain snaps back when Cyborg and Raven broke off their kiss, Phoenix turned around and ran away.

He ran into bathroom and slammed the door behind him. His hands grips the counter tightly as he stares at the mirror, panting. In flash, he removes his mask and looks at the mirror again. Green eyes filled with tears streaming down his face.

"You are dead," Phoenix whispers to the mirror, "the last thing you told Raven was that it meant nothing. There is nothing between us now. You are gone. She has moved on"

He had hoped that the words helped, but it didn't. Phoenix felt worse than before.

"She is better off with you…" Phoenix rips his eyes away from the mirror, staring at the sink detachedly, "She's with Cyborg. That is good. He will treat her well. They deserve each other."

He sighs as he let go his deathly grip off the counter, bringing his bloodshot green eyes back to the mirror, "You are not him anymore." He pulls his mask back, covering his teary face once again,

"You are Phoenix."

I know it has been a long time since the last update. I don't plan on leaving the story unfinished.

Thank you for being patient and writing those wonderful reviews.

If you have any ideas or feedbacks, please do message me. I'd love to improve my writing and the story.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

R&R