p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven awoke slowly feeling the relative softness of the med-bay bed under her and a familiar warmth at her back. She opened her eyes and looked down to see Beast Boy's arm around her waist under the blanket. She closed her eyes letting the warmth envelop her and lure her back to sleep./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Rae… how are you doing?" Beast Boy asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Better…" she replied wishing she could take the brace off her wrist but not sure it was fully healed yet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She sighed and gave him the story from her perspective and how Syphon used every detail, every choice she made to try to make her second guess herself and how Jean evicted him from her mind. Beast Boy's arm tightened gently around her waist as the realization set in that Jean had saved her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven had seen Jean protect Amanda, but his actions towards her surprised her as she had made it abundantly clear that she didn't like him. Truth be told, he would be forgiven for thinking she absolutely hated him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Raven what are you thinking?" Beast Boy asked after several moments of silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He saved me… after I made it perfectly clear I hated him. He still saved me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I don't see why he wouldn't he is friends with Amanda after all and you are her family…" Beast Boy pointed out gently "Not to mention I get the feeling he'd do the same for anyone no matter how they felt about him"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven nodded quietly acknowledging what Beast Boy was saying./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy looked at the clock on the medical bay wall that read in large red numbers 0315 indicating it was three fifteen in the morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Go back to sleep, Rae, it's too early for anybody to be awake" he told her gently nuzzling the back of her neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She didn't say anything just leaned her head forward at the contact. His left arm was under her neck, and she reached up with her right hand clasping his in her own before closing her eyes and succumbing to sleep again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy stayed awake longer his thoughts going over what Syphon said to Raven and praying that she didn't take any of what he said to heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Nightwing had awoke and went on a walkthrough of the tower only to find Amanda standing in the kitchen nursing a cup of chamomile tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Hey, what are you doing up?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""After what we did… I had some really bad nightmares." she admitted not looking at Nightwing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing put his hand on her back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It's okay… let's go sit on the couch and you can tell me about these dreams." he said softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She followed Nightwing to the couch and placed her cup of tea on the coffee table before telling him about the nightmares she had, and he listened carefully trying his best to comfort her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Amanda it's way early, why don't you just lie down and see if you can't get any more sleep." He suggested while guiding her to put her head in his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She did but then a thought crossed her mind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened to the girl that helped us… I believe you said her name was M'gann."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""She went home… she said she'd keep up with what was going on, but she decided it was best to let us handle this for ourselves." Nightwing explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay, good night… Nightwing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Good night, Mandy…" he replied running his fingers through her hair gently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Jean was plagued with nightmares and awoke suddenly breathing like a marathon runner. That was bad what was causing these dreams./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You ready to lose everything, Jean… you know what I can do… you know I won't leave you alone." Syphon said in Jean's mind "The longer you stay in that tower the closer you get to them… the more they will want to protect you and in the end you know that they will fall to me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Shut up, Syphon… leave me alone!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""But Jean-y where's the fun in that!" Syphon laughed sadistically./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean got out of bed and got dressed again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You know what… let's end this…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Sounds good to me" Syphon replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Syphon opened a portal and Jean stepped through./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"It was about eight in the morning when Cyborg entered the room and noticed Nightwing sitting there his head leaning on the back of the couch sound asleep. He then walked around to see Amanda curled up with her head in Nightwing's lap asleep as well. Cyborg gave a gentle smile then went into the kitchen to make breakfast. He pulled out the waffle iron and started on some waffle batter all the while trying, unsuccessfully, to be quiet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing sat up at the sound of Cyborg in the kitchen hoping not to wake Amanda, but this wasn't to be as she sat up wiping her eyes with her hand muttering something indecipherable. It took Nightwing a beat longer than it should have for him to realize that the reason he couldn't make out what she was saying was she wasn't speaking English./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well okay… guess I'm no ninja… or Batman." Cyborg sighed noticing he had woken Amanda and Nightwing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No, that's my job… what's for breakfast?" Nightwing asked, getting up and grabbing Amanda's abandoned cup of cold tea and taking it to the sink to dump out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I was thinking waffles" Cyborg replied with a smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Sounds good." Nightwing replied, refilling the electric tea kettle so Raven and Amanda could have their morning cup of tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda watched him and grabbed a clean mug and a tea bag to wait for the water to get hot so she could have her first cup of tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire flew into the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Good morning dear friends." she said in her usual excited tone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""emIt is too early in the morning to be that cheerful/em" Amanda muttered in Filipino her monotone reminding everyone that she was Raven's cousin and protégé./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl entered the room a few seconds later./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Supergirl… is it not a glorious morning." Starfire said going for a hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wow… it is a little too early in the morning for all of that." Supergirl replied good naturedly putting a hand up to block one of Starfire's bone-crushing hugs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire frowned, not sure what to make of what Supergirl had said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Look, let me get some breakfast and coffee and I'll be better, okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay…" Starfire replied looking at Amanda curious as to why she felt like it was too early. She could only assume she didn't sleep well since it was eight o'clock in the morning, or by Nightwing standards, late./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I wonder if your friend is up yet." Starfire said referring to Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looks up after taking a sip of her tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Yeah… I haven't seen him this morning… I hope he's okay." Amanda sighed taking another sip of tea as she went to check on Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing watched as she walked out of the room. He was tempted to follow her, but he decided against it. Jean was her best friend, so it made sense to let her go alone to check on him. Suddenly the sound of the porcelain shattering on the floor pierced the silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing!" Amanda screamed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing had a cup of coffee in his hand and walking out of the kitchen, Beast Boy and Raven were coming towards him when the scream ran out. Nightwing had a mouthful of coffee and suddenly spit it out nearly hitting Beast Boy in the face, he was only rescued by one of Raven's energy fields./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You do realize there was a time when you would have let him nail me with that." Beast Boy commented offhandedly but it didn't get any laughter for fear of why Amanda screamed out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing wasn't listening to the banter he had dropped his coffee cup to shatter on the floor and started running in the direction of the scream. He didn't notice the portal until he and the others were on the other side of it looking at Amanda who was on her knees in Jean's doorway sobbing her eyes out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened?" he demanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Jean… he's gone!" Amanda cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing ran to her side to see the room empty./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What…" he muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire looked at Amanda in concern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How do you know that he is gone…" Starfire asked/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda silently held a gold pocket watch up for them to see./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I do not understand." Starfire replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""The emblem is from his uncle's school… he never goes anywhere without this." Amanda explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""We have to find him!" Nightwing growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Welp there goes breakfast…" Cyborg groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl was sitting back watching this all play out in confusion. Why had Jean left? Why did he leave the pocket watch that he never left anywhere, behind? She didn't know where to start with her questions and they had little time to answer them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Let me see that." Raven said coming forward as Beast Boy was sniffing around the room as a bloodhound./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Damn…" he muttered as he returned to human form. "He must have had some help getting out 'cause his scent just vanishes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I figured it wouldn't be that easy" Raven sighed "I'll try a locator spell… see if I can't track him that way…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Mockingbird nodded backhanding tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe Jean would leave like that, but she was also acutely aware of Syphon's fixation on him and how much he desired to protect her. She handed the pocket watch to Raven then went back to hugging herself as she knelt there waiting for some sort of answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven squeezed Amanda's shoulder gently then teleported herself back into her room to start on the spell to find Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing, however, was now turning his full attention to Amanda. He pulled her to her feet then guided her into his arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Don't worry, Mandy, Raven will find Jean… you know that… just give her time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I know, Nightwing I just… I can't believe he left like that." She sobbed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""We know… but we don't know what is going through his mind, what he thinks he accomplished by leaving that way." Supergirl pointed out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"It didn't take long for Raven to get a fix on Jean's location. It was clear he knew the pocket watch would be a good object for her magic to get a read on him and point her in the right direction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven returned to ops to see everyone had gathered and were waiting for her to have news./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I found him. but I don't think he's alone." She went to the computer and pulled up the location where her magic had indicated he was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey pulled it up on the screen to see Jean facing down Syphon and Blackfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do you have cameras everywhere or something?" Supergirl asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No time to explain" Nightwing replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They started towards the t-ship, but Nightwing stops Amanda./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No, you're staying here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing!" she protested "No… that isn't acceptable…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Amanda you're too emotional."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing listen the way I see it there are two options… because I am going no matter what you say. First is you all leave and once you're gone I follow you… you can lecture me when Jean is safe. The second is you save us all the time and headache let me go with you!" she protested in anger. "You better decide fast because if he dies while we're debating this I will never forgive you, Richard John Greyson so you had better think fast!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wow… full name… dude she means business." Beast Boy commented./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda glared at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nobody asked for contributions from the peanut gallery!" she muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… rude… I'm on your side here!" Beast boy croaked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How did you…" Nightwing stuttered looking at Supergirl then back at Mockingbird surprised that Amanda knew his full name and had the audacity to use it in front of Supergirl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You know what we will have this conversation later." Nightwing groaned. "Come on we don't have a lot of time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Syphon was standing over Jean tauntingly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You don't have anyone to defend you now…" Syphon reminded him until a bird-a-rang landed between Jean and Syphon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He has us" Nightwing said "Titans go!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda ran to Jean as the others formed a line between Jean and Syphon who had jumped back to avoid being hit with the bird-a-rang./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Syphon grins as Blackfire immediately goes after Starfire and Supergirl. Then the titans find themselves fighting illusions of their past enemies. Nightwing is fighting Slade while Beast Boy faces the beast version of Adonis and Cyborg is squaring off against Atlas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven and Mockingbird make eye contact and a share a curt nod before Mockingbird starts to heal Jean and Raven goes for Syphon only to be faced with a red clad version of herself. The clone looks like her rage emoticlone down to the fact that it has four eyes instead of two./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Seriously!" she groaned and went into the fight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You've gotten sloppy since I left, Robin… or should I say Nightwing… it's fitting but you need to be careful… having a lover could lead to bigger weaknesses than you already have being a mere human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing gritted his teeth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It was obvious from the start you and Starfire would end up together… you never could stand the idea of her being hurt."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing attacked Slade hard and fast./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do not say her name!" he roared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Cyborg squared off against Atlas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I beat you once and I will do it again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Oh really… you're only half robot, what makes you think a half robot can beat a full robot, like Atlas."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'm half human… and the human half is what will ALWAYS win!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Within moments Cyborg had the illusion Atlas in pieces./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""See I told ya… I did it once I'll do it again… and you were a pale imitation of the original!" He then turned to see how the others were fairing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven clenched her teeth as she looked at the demonic version of herself as it gave off an evil laugh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You really think it's safe for you to love?" it mocked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You were defeated… I am in control of my own life… my own destiny… I fear no force of my father… including you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do you now… then why did it take Amanda interfering for you to admit you were in love with him… losing your powers completely and almost losing him to that parasite to force you to admit your relationship to your friends?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Shut up!" Raven growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Aww did I hit a nerve?" the rage clone mocked then Raven attacked the clone first dodged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Looks like I did…" she continued then Raven got the upper hand and defeated the clone then fell weakly to her knees./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean and Amanda were watching her, Jean was intrigued by all he was learning, Amanda was concerned at how far Raven was pushed into dangerous territory with her control not as it should be./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You should help her… it's Syphon that's doing all of this." Jean said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Are you sure you'll be okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'll be fine, don't worry I promise I'm not going anywhere."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda ran forward her hands landing on Raven's shoulders as she pushed some energy through the touch to heal her cousin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Come on… Syphon is the real target."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Got it…" Raven replied then pulled herself to her feet and joined Amanda in the charge./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast boy looked at the beast that once was Adonis./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""So… Raven is your girl now" he sneered his voice sounding too human to be coming from the beast's throat. "I still want her… you know that… I will still have her… like it or not!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Don't talk about her like that… you will never touch her!" Beast Boy growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Ooo… I hit a raw nerve… don't worry little man…" Adonis then got close enough to whisper into Beast Boy's ear and described in vivid detail what he wanted to do to Raven with our without her consent and that was more than Beast Boy could handle./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy went beast and attacked him no longer holding anything back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"The battle ended quickly but Beast Boy didn't stop his assault and it took Cyborg grabbing him in a bear hug to pull him back to the reality that his foe had been slain and he was just attacking sand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Beast Boy…" Nightwing yelled though it took a few repeats to get through to Beast Boy himself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What?" Beast Boy snapped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It's over, man… you killed it!" Cyborg said into his ear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What did he say?" Nightwing asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He was talking about Raven… you don't want to know what he said he wanted to do to her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Enough said…" Cyborg said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing just glared at Syphon trying to understand why he'd project a character that would come up with something so infuriating and inappropriate./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Syphon is floating in the air with a glass of iced tea in his hand watching the fight with vested interest. His barrier doing its job of keeping the two girls from getting too close to him. Then Mockingbird got too close and with a lazy flick of his wrist he sent her flying backwards but before she could hit the ground hard enough to get hurt Jean has sprung into action catching her and easing her fall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looked at him her gratitude showing in her expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Y'know this would be funnier if that was apple juice… then we could say he really was an asshole." Jean commented lightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looked bewildered but said nothing, she figured Jean wasn't too badly injured if he could come up with jokes like that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Why did you come out here alone?" she scolded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Later" Jean snapped as Mockingbird stood and used a spell to cushion Raven's fall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'Dance, puppets, dance' Syphon thought taking a sip of his tea his eyes falling on Blackfire who is obviously in over her head with the Kryptonian along with her sister./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Syphon… I could really use some help here." She says as she's thrown into the sand at Syphon's feet. This is when she noticed what he was doing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Are you seriously drinking iced tea at a time like this!" she roared coming to her feat, and floating so she was right in Syphon's face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Yes…it's hot out and this is refreshing… you want some?" he asked offering her his glass that she immediately knocked out of his hand spilling the contents on the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No… I don't want tea… I need help!" she roared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… okay… in that case you might want to look behind you" he says as she is struck in the back with star bolts and heat vision./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Oops… too late" he chuckled then noticed that the titans had defeated their various illusions and were headed for him their expressions filled with rage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay, that's my cue to leave." He says then vanishes leaving Blackfire to handle the full brunt of the titan's power alone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What about me!" she screams./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'uWhat about you?'/u he replied telepathically./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Before she can reply she is taken down by the titans./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They don't hear Jean mutter "Coward" under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'At least I'm not hiding behind wannabe heroes'/span/uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" Syphon replied telepathically to Jean which has the effect of angering him even more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Mockingbird watched as Raven's energy field rendered Blackfire no longer a threat. They could hear Blackfire cursing them for all they were worth, or that was what they were left to assume since she had quit speaking English./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Why don't you just shut up? A princess shouldn't talk like that!/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"" Mockingbird said not realizing she hadn't said it in English until she saw the various odd looks she was getting from the rest of her team. Blackfire even went silent staring at her in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Since when did you speak Tamaranean?" Nightwing asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""T… wait I wasn't speaking English?" Mockingbird said in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No…" Jean replied coming to stand beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How… how is that possible?" Mockingbird asked in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean stops to think for a second then turned to Starfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How did you learn Filipino?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I acquired it the way all Tamaraneans acquire language…" Starfire replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Who did you acquire it from?' he continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Mockingbird, of course… she is the only one in the tower that speaks that language."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well then… there is our answer." Jean sighed looking to Amanda "You must have imitated her ability to acquire languages so that while she was acquiring Filipino from you, you were acquiring Tamaranean from her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay…" Nightwing trailed turning to Supergirl "Why don't you take her to the proper authorities…" he said pointing to Blackfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wait… I want to know something… why is Syphon so obsessed with you?" she asked looking to Jean. Raven's energy field rendering her still unable to move anything other than her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""That's really not for you to know, but if you must know… we're one and the same but from different universes." Jean said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl escorts Blackfire off to a special prison that was designed for her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing turned to Jean clearly curious as why Jean would risk himself when he knew he had no power./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean looks at Amanda who wears a matching glare./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I know… I know I'm in trouble."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Understatement of the month at least." Amanda replies./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They return to Titans tower and take seats around the living room to find out his explanation for all this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean sighed "It's not like I was really hiding things from you… you did get my message after all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You mean this?" Amand asked holding out his pocket watch./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'm going to want that back, if you don't mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Here… take it" she replied handing the watch to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Thank you" he said taking the watch from her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… now back to my question, what were you thinking?" Nightwing demanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""To put it simply…" Jean says looking at Nightwing "I wasn't thinking… all I wanted was for this to be over. I have been fighting Syphon for too long and I wanted to set my mind at rest that it was finished and the people I care about are no longer in danger."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wait… how old are you?" Raven asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Eighteen… and a half"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"One could have heard a pin drop when he finished speaking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Dude how is that possible?" Cyborg asked in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean shrugged "At some point I just quit aging… I don't know I can only assume it has something to do with my powers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing bit his lip, that explained why he looked the same now as he did when Amanda's mother died./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Guys this is interesting at all but… can we at least eat usomething/u… it is almost noon after all!" Beast Boy says in exasperation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well, it is getting late for waffles." Cyborg sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I don't know about anyone else, but I could go for waffles." Jean replies relieved to have the topic of conversation on something other than him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Fine" Amanda spat "But this isn't over… clearly you've been keeping secrets from me, and I don't like that!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean nodded "Fair enough, full disclosure… but after we have some waffles."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;"stronguspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"To Be Continued…/span/u/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Rae… how are you doing?" Beast Boy asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Better…" she replied wishing she could take the brace off her wrist but not sure it was fully healed yet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She sighed and gave him the story from her perspective and how Syphon used every detail, every choice she made to try to make her second guess herself and how Jean evicted him from her mind. Beast Boy's arm tightened gently around her waist as the realization set in that Jean had saved her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven had seen Jean protect Amanda, but his actions towards her surprised her as she had made it abundantly clear that she didn't like him. Truth be told, he would be forgiven for thinking she absolutely hated him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Raven what are you thinking?" Beast Boy asked after several moments of silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He saved me… after I made it perfectly clear I hated him. He still saved me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I don't see why he wouldn't he is friends with Amanda after all and you are her family…" Beast Boy pointed out gently "Not to mention I get the feeling he'd do the same for anyone no matter how they felt about him"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven nodded quietly acknowledging what Beast Boy was saying./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy looked at the clock on the medical bay wall that read in large red numbers 0315 indicating it was three fifteen in the morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Go back to sleep, Rae, it's too early for anybody to be awake" he told her gently nuzzling the back of her neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She didn't say anything just leaned her head forward at the contact. His left arm was under her neck, and she reached up with her right hand clasping his in her own before closing her eyes and succumbing to sleep again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy stayed awake longer his thoughts going over what Syphon said to Raven and praying that she didn't take any of what he said to heart./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Nightwing had awoke and went on a walkthrough of the tower only to find Amanda standing in the kitchen nursing a cup of chamomile tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Hey, what are you doing up?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""After what we did… I had some really bad nightmares." she admitted not looking at Nightwing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing put his hand on her back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It's okay… let's go sit on the couch and you can tell me about these dreams." he said softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She followed Nightwing to the couch and placed her cup of tea on the coffee table before telling him about the nightmares she had, and he listened carefully trying his best to comfort her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Amanda it's way early, why don't you just lie down and see if you can't get any more sleep." He suggested while guiding her to put her head in his shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"She did but then a thought crossed her mind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened to the girl that helped us… I believe you said her name was M'gann."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""She went home… she said she'd keep up with what was going on, but she decided it was best to let us handle this for ourselves." Nightwing explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay, good night… Nightwing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Good night, Mandy…" he replied running his fingers through her hair gently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Jean was plagued with nightmares and awoke suddenly breathing like a marathon runner. That was bad what was causing these dreams./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You ready to lose everything, Jean… you know what I can do… you know I won't leave you alone." Syphon said in Jean's mind "The longer you stay in that tower the closer you get to them… the more they will want to protect you and in the end you know that they will fall to me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Shut up, Syphon… leave me alone!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""But Jean-y where's the fun in that!" Syphon laughed sadistically./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean got out of bed and got dressed again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You know what… let's end this…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Sounds good to me" Syphon replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Syphon opened a portal and Jean stepped through./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"It was about eight in the morning when Cyborg entered the room and noticed Nightwing sitting there his head leaning on the back of the couch sound asleep. He then walked around to see Amanda curled up with her head in Nightwing's lap asleep as well. Cyborg gave a gentle smile then went into the kitchen to make breakfast. He pulled out the waffle iron and started on some waffle batter all the while trying, unsuccessfully, to be quiet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing sat up at the sound of Cyborg in the kitchen hoping not to wake Amanda, but this wasn't to be as she sat up wiping her eyes with her hand muttering something indecipherable. It took Nightwing a beat longer than it should have for him to realize that the reason he couldn't make out what she was saying was she wasn't speaking English./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well okay… guess I'm no ninja… or Batman." Cyborg sighed noticing he had woken Amanda and Nightwing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No, that's my job… what's for breakfast?" Nightwing asked, getting up and grabbing Amanda's abandoned cup of cold tea and taking it to the sink to dump out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I was thinking waffles" Cyborg replied with a smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Sounds good." Nightwing replied, refilling the electric tea kettle so Raven and Amanda could have their morning cup of tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda watched him and grabbed a clean mug and a tea bag to wait for the water to get hot so she could have her first cup of tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire flew into the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Good morning dear friends." she said in her usual excited tone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""emIt is too early in the morning to be that cheerful/em" Amanda muttered in Filipino her monotone reminding everyone that she was Raven's cousin and protégé./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl entered the room a few seconds later./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Supergirl… is it not a glorious morning." Starfire said going for a hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wow… it is a little too early in the morning for all of that." Supergirl replied good naturedly putting a hand up to block one of Starfire's bone-crushing hugs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire frowned, not sure what to make of what Supergirl had said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Look, let me get some breakfast and coffee and I'll be better, okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay…" Starfire replied looking at Amanda curious as to why she felt like it was too early. She could only assume she didn't sleep well since it was eight o'clock in the morning, or by Nightwing standards, late./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I wonder if your friend is up yet." Starfire said referring to Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looks up after taking a sip of her tea./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Yeah… I haven't seen him this morning… I hope he's okay." Amanda sighed taking another sip of tea as she went to check on Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing watched as she walked out of the room. He was tempted to follow her, but he decided against it. Jean was her best friend, so it made sense to let her go alone to check on him. Suddenly the sound of the porcelain shattering on the floor pierced the silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing!" Amanda screamed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing had a cup of coffee in his hand and walking out of the kitchen, Beast Boy and Raven were coming towards him when the scream ran out. Nightwing had a mouthful of coffee and suddenly spit it out nearly hitting Beast Boy in the face, he was only rescued by one of Raven's energy fields./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You do realize there was a time when you would have let him nail me with that." Beast Boy commented offhandedly but it didn't get any laughter for fear of why Amanda screamed out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing wasn't listening to the banter he had dropped his coffee cup to shatter on the floor and started running in the direction of the scream. He didn't notice the portal until he and the others were on the other side of it looking at Amanda who was on her knees in Jean's doorway sobbing her eyes out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What happened?" he demanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Jean… he's gone!" Amanda cried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing ran to her side to see the room empty./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What…" he muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Starfire looked at Amanda in concern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How do you know that he is gone…" Starfire asked/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda silently held a gold pocket watch up for them to see./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I do not understand." Starfire replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""The emblem is from his uncle's school… he never goes anywhere without this." Amanda explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""We have to find him!" Nightwing growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Welp there goes breakfast…" Cyborg groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl was sitting back watching this all play out in confusion. Why had Jean left? Why did he leave the pocket watch that he never left anywhere, behind? She didn't know where to start with her questions and they had little time to answer them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Let me see that." Raven said coming forward as Beast Boy was sniffing around the room as a bloodhound./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Damn…" he muttered as he returned to human form. "He must have had some help getting out 'cause his scent just vanishes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I figured it wouldn't be that easy" Raven sighed "I'll try a locator spell… see if I can't track him that way…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Mockingbird nodded backhanding tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe Jean would leave like that, but she was also acutely aware of Syphon's fixation on him and how much he desired to protect her. She handed the pocket watch to Raven then went back to hugging herself as she knelt there waiting for some sort of answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven squeezed Amanda's shoulder gently then teleported herself back into her room to start on the spell to find Jean./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing, however, was now turning his full attention to Amanda. He pulled her to her feet then guided her into his arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Don't worry, Mandy, Raven will find Jean… you know that… just give her time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I know, Nightwing I just… I can't believe he left like that." She sobbed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""We know… but we don't know what is going through his mind, what he thinks he accomplished by leaving that way." Supergirl pointed out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"It didn't take long for Raven to get a fix on Jean's location. It was clear he knew the pocket watch would be a good object for her magic to get a read on him and point her in the right direction./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven returned to ops to see everyone had gathered and were waiting for her to have news./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I found him. but I don't think he's alone." She went to the computer and pulled up the location where her magic had indicated he was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey pulled it up on the screen to see Jean facing down Syphon and Blackfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do you have cameras everywhere or something?" Supergirl asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No time to explain" Nightwing replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They started towards the t-ship, but Nightwing stops Amanda./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No, you're staying here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing!" she protested "No… that isn't acceptable…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Amanda you're too emotional."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nightwing listen the way I see it there are two options… because I am going no matter what you say. First is you all leave and once you're gone I follow you… you can lecture me when Jean is safe. The second is you save us all the time and headache let me go with you!" she protested in anger. "You better decide fast because if he dies while we're debating this I will never forgive you, Richard John Greyson so you had better think fast!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wow… full name… dude she means business." Beast Boy commented./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda glared at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Nobody asked for contributions from the peanut gallery!" she muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… rude… I'm on your side here!" Beast boy croaked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How did you…" Nightwing stuttered looking at Supergirl then back at Mockingbird surprised that Amanda knew his full name and had the audacity to use it in front of Supergirl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You know what we will have this conversation later." Nightwing groaned. "Come on we don't have a lot of time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Syphon was standing over Jean tauntingly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You don't have anyone to defend you now…" Syphon reminded him until a bird-a-rang landed between Jean and Syphon./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He has us" Nightwing said "Titans go!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda ran to Jean as the others formed a line between Jean and Syphon who had jumped back to avoid being hit with the bird-a-rang./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Syphon grins as Blackfire immediately goes after Starfire and Supergirl. Then the titans find themselves fighting illusions of their past enemies. Nightwing is fighting Slade while Beast Boy faces the beast version of Adonis and Cyborg is squaring off against Atlas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven and Mockingbird make eye contact and a share a curt nod before Mockingbird starts to heal Jean and Raven goes for Syphon only to be faced with a red clad version of herself. The clone looks like her rage emoticlone down to the fact that it has four eyes instead of two./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Seriously!" she groaned and went into the fight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You've gotten sloppy since I left, Robin… or should I say Nightwing… it's fitting but you need to be careful… having a lover could lead to bigger weaknesses than you already have being a mere human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing gritted his teeth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It was obvious from the start you and Starfire would end up together… you never could stand the idea of her being hurt."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing attacked Slade hard and fast./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do not say her name!" he roared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Cyborg squared off against Atlas./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I beat you once and I will do it again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Oh really… you're only half robot, what makes you think a half robot can beat a full robot, like Atlas."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'm half human… and the human half is what will ALWAYS win!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Within moments Cyborg had the illusion Atlas in pieces./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""See I told ya… I did it once I'll do it again… and you were a pale imitation of the original!" He then turned to see how the others were fairing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Raven clenched her teeth as she looked at the demonic version of herself as it gave off an evil laugh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You really think it's safe for you to love?" it mocked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You were defeated… I am in control of my own life… my own destiny… I fear no force of my father… including you!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Do you now… then why did it take Amanda interfering for you to admit you were in love with him… losing your powers completely and almost losing him to that parasite to force you to admit your relationship to your friends?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Shut up!" Raven growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Aww did I hit a nerve?" the rage clone mocked then Raven attacked the clone first dodged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Looks like I did…" she continued then Raven got the upper hand and defeated the clone then fell weakly to her knees./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean and Amanda were watching her, Jean was intrigued by all he was learning, Amanda was concerned at how far Raven was pushed into dangerous territory with her control not as it should be./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You should help her… it's Syphon that's doing all of this." Jean said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Are you sure you'll be okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'll be fine, don't worry I promise I'm not going anywhere."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda ran forward her hands landing on Raven's shoulders as she pushed some energy through the touch to heal her cousin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Come on… Syphon is the real target."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Got it…" Raven replied then pulled herself to her feet and joined Amanda in the charge./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast boy looked at the beast that once was Adonis./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""So… Raven is your girl now" he sneered his voice sounding too human to be coming from the beast's throat. "I still want her… you know that… I will still have her… like it or not!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Don't talk about her like that… you will never touch her!" Beast Boy growled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Ooo… I hit a raw nerve… don't worry little man…" Adonis then got close enough to whisper into Beast Boy's ear and described in vivid detail what he wanted to do to Raven with our without her consent and that was more than Beast Boy could handle./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Beast Boy went beast and attacked him no longer holding anything back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"The battle ended quickly but Beast Boy didn't stop his assault and it took Cyborg grabbing him in a bear hug to pull him back to the reality that his foe had been slain and he was just attacking sand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Beast Boy…" Nightwing yelled though it took a few repeats to get through to Beast Boy himself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What?" Beast Boy snapped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""It's over, man… you killed it!" Cyborg said into his ear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What did he say?" Nightwing asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""He was talking about Raven… you don't want to know what he said he wanted to do to her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Enough said…" Cyborg said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing just glared at Syphon trying to understand why he'd project a character that would come up with something so infuriating and inappropriate./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Meanwhile Syphon is floating in the air with a glass of iced tea in his hand watching the fight with vested interest. His barrier doing its job of keeping the two girls from getting too close to him. Then Mockingbird got too close and with a lazy flick of his wrist he sent her flying backwards but before she could hit the ground hard enough to get hurt Jean has sprung into action catching her and easing her fall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looked at him her gratitude showing in her expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Y'know this would be funnier if that was apple juice… then we could say he really was an asshole." Jean commented lightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Amanda looked bewildered but said nothing, she figured Jean wasn't too badly injured if he could come up with jokes like that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Why did you come out here alone?" she scolded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Later" Jean snapped as Mockingbird stood and used a spell to cushion Raven's fall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'Dance, puppets, dance' Syphon thought taking a sip of his tea his eyes falling on Blackfire who is obviously in over her head with the Kryptonian along with her sister./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Syphon… I could really use some help here." She says as she's thrown into the sand at Syphon's feet. This is when she noticed what he was doing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Are you seriously drinking iced tea at a time like this!" she roared coming to her feat, and floating so she was right in Syphon's face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Yes…it's hot out and this is refreshing… you want some?" he asked offering her his glass that she immediately knocked out of his hand spilling the contents on the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No… I don't want tea… I need help!" she roared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… okay… in that case you might want to look behind you" he says as she is struck in the back with star bolts and heat vision./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Oops… too late" he chuckled then noticed that the titans had defeated their various illusions and were headed for him their expressions filled with rage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay, that's my cue to leave." He says then vanishes leaving Blackfire to handle the full brunt of the titan's power alone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""What about me!" she screams./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'uWhat about you?'/u he replied telepathically./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Before she can reply she is taken down by the titans./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They don't hear Jean mutter "Coward" under his breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"'At least I'm not hiding behind wannabe heroes'/span/uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" Syphon replied telepathically to Jean which has the effect of angering him even more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/uspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Mockingbird watched as Raven's energy field rendered Blackfire no longer a threat. They could hear Blackfire cursing them for all they were worth, or that was what they were left to assume since she had quit speaking English./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Why don't you just shut up? A princess shouldn't talk like that!/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"" Mockingbird said not realizing she hadn't said it in English until she saw the various odd looks she was getting from the rest of her team. Blackfire even went silent staring at her in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Since when did you speak Tamaranean?" Nightwing asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""T… wait I wasn't speaking English?" Mockingbird said in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""No…" Jean replied coming to stand beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How… how is that possible?" Mockingbird asked in confusion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean stops to think for a second then turned to Starfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""How did you learn Filipino?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I acquired it the way all Tamaraneans acquire language…" Starfire replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Who did you acquire it from?' he continued./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Mockingbird, of course… she is the only one in the tower that speaks that language."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well then… there is our answer." Jean sighed looking to Amanda "You must have imitated her ability to acquire languages so that while she was acquiring Filipino from you, you were acquiring Tamaranean from her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay…" Nightwing trailed turning to Supergirl "Why don't you take her to the proper authorities…" he said pointing to Blackfire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wait… I want to know something… why is Syphon so obsessed with you?" she asked looking to Jean. Raven's energy field rendering her still unable to move anything other than her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""That's really not for you to know, but if you must know… we're one and the same but from different universes." Jean said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Supergirl escorts Blackfire off to a special prison that was designed for her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing turned to Jean clearly curious as why Jean would risk himself when he knew he had no power./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean looks at Amanda who wears a matching glare./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I know… I know I'm in trouble."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Understatement of the month at least." Amanda replies./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"They return to Titans tower and take seats around the living room to find out his explanation for all this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean sighed "It's not like I was really hiding things from you… you did get my message after all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""You mean this?" Amand asked holding out his pocket watch./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I'm going to want that back, if you don't mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Here… take it" she replied handing the watch to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Thank you" he said taking the watch from her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Okay… now back to my question, what were you thinking?" Nightwing demanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""To put it simply…" Jean says looking at Nightwing "I wasn't thinking… all I wanted was for this to be over. I have been fighting Syphon for too long and I wanted to set my mind at rest that it was finished and the people I care about are no longer in danger."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Wait… how old are you?" Raven asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Eighteen… and a half"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"One could have heard a pin drop when he finished speaking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Dude how is that possible?" Cyborg asked in shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean shrugged "At some point I just quit aging… I don't know I can only assume it has something to do with my powers."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Nightwing bit his lip, that explained why he looked the same now as he did when Amanda's mother died./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Guys this is interesting at all but… can we at least eat usomething/u… it is almost noon after all!" Beast Boy says in exasperation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Well, it is getting late for waffles." Cyborg sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""I don't know about anyone else, but I could go for waffles." Jean replies relieved to have the topic of conversation on something other than him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';""Fine" Amanda spat "But this isn't over… clearly you've been keeping secrets from me, and I don't like that!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"Jean nodded "Fair enough, full disclosure… but after we have some waffles."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 0in;"stronguspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Goudy Type';"To Be Continued…/span/u/strong/p