Teen Titans © DC Comics

25. Breaking Away

"Why are you so scared?"

"I am never scared!"

Slade glanced back down to his apprentice, Lightning, and watched as he kept his eyes on the broken body in front of him. As Slade's latest try of apprenticeship, Lightning leaned stoicism and obedience whether he liked it or not. The mastermind turned to Lightning, stating he had five minutes and whisked himself back into the darkness. Over his shoulder, he glanced back to find Lightning still gazing solemnly to the figure that began stirring and looked away.

Lightning's hair waved wildly on his face, and he brushed the annoying, alabaster locks behind his ears. "Thunder, wake up."

Thunder groaned, wearily glaring up to Lightning. His entire body was a massive bruise, pain coursing everywhere no matter he hard he tried to appear fine. Struggling to his knees, he growled, "What have you come for? To mock me?"

Wincing internally at Thunder's harsh, coarse tone, he replied, "Freedom."

Thunder watched in awe as Lightning removed a key from his armor and placed it in the cell's keyhole. It clicked, and Lightning opened the bars, gesturing out. Getting to his feet, Thunder continued staring at Lightning who narrowed his eyes in rage and barked at him to flee.

"No," Thunder hissed.

"What did you say to me?" Lightning quickly demanded.

"Why should I trust you? You betrayed me! All this time, I was your fool! Everything we have been through, all of the troubling times, they have meant nothing to you!" Thunder snarled, remaining where he was. "The saddest part of it all is that I still believe you can change. I still love you, brother. The Titans may believe you are lost, but I do not."

"I want you to leave," Lightning ordered monotonously. "It is for your own betterment."

"What have you done with our friends?"

"How should I know what Slade-?"

"You are the monster's fool, his toy to play with! You should know what he is doing in the shadows!"

Lightning gasped, backing up and hesitantly looked around. Time was running out, and if Thunder continued questioning him, Slade would return. In a panicked voice, he entreated, "Please, just go."

Thunder obstinately stood his ground, but removed a small bag from his dark blue cloth belt and threw it to Lightning. The younger elemental snatched it, undoing to string and gasped as he saw his headband with attached guards for his cheeks. Lightning held the firm orange metal and placed it over his head. His hair was perfectly divided and out of his face, making him appear less sadistic. Lightning glanced down at his feet before hearing Thunder's rustling footsteps take a few cautious steps forward.

"Brother, listen to me. You are not evil. Villainous deeds are not becoming of you. You are still my honorable, somewhat…insane brother." Thunder glanced over his shoulder, checking for any sort of watcher before adding, "I will not leave until you come to terms with who you are."

Lightning shook his head, gritting his teeth. "I have chosen this path. I must lie in my own self-created bed of roses, thorns and all."

"Then cut the thorns," Thunder ordered, but gasped as Slade appeared behind Lightning's unknowing shoulders. "You! You poisoned my brother's mind!"

"No, Thunder, I didn't. Your brother chose to come to me as Terra. Lightning couldn't stand all the regulations done by Robin." Slade snatched Lightning's shoulder, leaning his head down as the frightened elemental gazed frightfully forward. "You weren't about to release him, were you?"

"Master Slade, please, my brother is innocent," Lightning begged.

"You really love him, don't you? However, you didn't love him enough. He'd give his life for you, and you nearly killed him when you both created the fire monster. There is a difference between brotherly love and family loyalty, and you, Lightning, have neither."

Thunder blasted Slade back with a beam of his namesake. He darted out of his cell and grasped Lightning's shoulders. "My brother, please, tell me that you can still be the you of the past!"

"I…brother, I cannot-"

"You can change! Now, you are being utterly selfish." Thunder trembled, glaring over to Slade who ordered Lightning to strike. "I love you, brother."

"Apprentice! I gave you an order!" Slade shouted. "Follow it!"

Lightning's eyes widened in distress as if somebody told him his child died, shaking his head at his master. "Anyone…anyone, but Thunder…"

"Useless idiot!" Slade hissed, running up and slammed Thunder in the face with his knee. Snatching Lightning's throat, he snarled, "I rescued you. I gave you power and control. I molded you because I saw what the Titans and your brother couldn't see. Honor's a big deal to you. Are you really going to be so dishonorable and go back to your pitiful life of making little storms?"

Lightning grasped Slade's face, growling, "I am a fool to have ever believed your lies!"

Unleashing a surge of electricity, he watched Slade cry out as his power washed over him. Breaking out of his grip, Lightning grasped Thunder's shaking hand, and they both ran. Lightning refused to look at Thunder who desperately called his name. They rounded corner black corners, passing several doors that made Thunder wonder what torture lied within them. Kicking down a set of double doors, Lightning shoved Thunder through.

Thunder yelped, dropping to his knees and realized he was in a sewer. Horrid concoctions of waste from the murky, dark green liquid rushed through waterways. Multiple pipes that led to freedom surrounded them, and he turned back to Lightning who began closing the door.

"The others must be saved," Lightning quietly stated and gently smiled. "Farewell, my brother until the next time we meet."

"Lightning!" Thunder screamed as Lightning slammed the doors shut. Furiously pounding on the door, he shrieked at him to open it again, but his cries went unanswered. Backing away, Thunder stared at the door and wiped his eyes. "I knew…I knew you were always a Titan at heart."

Summoning his cloud, Thunder sped through a pipe and emerged somewhere in Steel City. Frowning, Thunder dashed back to Jump City, waiting for his beloved brother to return. He waited days, not sleeping or speaking to anyone. Even when the green one tried to snap him out of his funk, Thunder remained silent and watched the sky for a yellow and orange glimpse of his brother.

Then someone landed on his cloud with crackling sparks emitting from his lower body.

"Forgive me," Lightning sobbed, running towards Thunder and cried into his chest.

Thunder smiled, noticing Lightning was in his old attire and gently held him in an embrace. "I forgive you. Do not cry."

"Everything…everything I have done was horrid," Lightning whimpered. "I went to the madman who deceived us for our father's sake! I am such a fool."

Thunder pulled away, keeping his hands on his shoulders and grinned. "But you are back. You came back to me."

Lightning nodded, wiping his eyes. "Yes, thank you, brother. I have returned."

Pausing, Thunder punched him across the face. Lightning had no time to yelp or defend himself, skidding across the cloud and held his cheek in pain and shock. His stare went blank on Thunder's glower.

"That was for worrying me. This one-" Thunder smacked him over the head. "-was for nearly killing me, and this one-" Thunder elbowed him over the head, and Lightning nearly fell through the cloud. "-was for going to Slade and betraying the Titans' trust."

Lightning grasped his throbbing head, groaning. "I deserve the hits." He sighed, looking away as Thunder sat in front of him. "Why did you trust me?"

"Because you are my brother, and that is reason enough," Thunder deadpanned, smirking and ruffled Lightning's hair. "How did you escape?"

Lightning cringed. "Uh…it is not an amusing tale, and I do not wish to reflect upon it."

Nodding, he brought Lightning into a hug, and they lay back onto their cloud. Lightning sighed, cuddling into his brother and apologized again. Thunder smirked, forgiving him again. Both brothers glanced at each other and smiled. Everything was finally going right.

…

This is a continuation of 69: Shattered where Lightning joined up with Slade and beat up Thunder and the Titans, leaving Thunder in a near-death situation. I couldn't leave people thinking that Lightning killed Thunder. Plus, Lightning redemption for acting like a total tool. XD