Teen Titans © DC Comics

Gateway

A small chuckle, a little sneer, and a roundhouse kick to the head was all it took.

The Herald watched as Punk Rocket was dragged off to jail in a police cruiser, crossing his arms as he smirked over to a fuming Bumblebee. He ignored her cries of 'we didn't need your help' and 'go back to your own dimension, horn boy' since she and him had developed a friendly rivalry ever since they met. Speedy constantly teased Bumblebee, stating she was crushing on him, which resulted in him being thrown out the window, wrecking his hair. Waving to Bumblebee, he winked and ignored her scowl. Ducking one of her stinger's rays, he blew open a hole and darted inside.

Inside was his personal paradise. This home was Dimension X, a secret place hidden in the farthest reaches of the galaxies. Herald remembered how he got there, sneaking in while his father was working on the Gabriel's Horn and accidentally using it as a wrong boy that ended up with him getting sucked in the portal. Back then, he was thirteen and Mal Duncan, but soon took on the goal of the protector of that dimension when alien invaders started barging in. He had bonded with the people there, small gray humanoid creatures, and they referred to him as their hero.

Herald gazed at the white walls with black blotches and pink globs in the sky. It looked like a gothic child's painting gone wrong. He stood on one of the many demure, purple moons and leaped through each one. Sitting down, he brought out his horn and slowly brought it to his lips. Instead of blowing out another portal, Herald began to play sweet, smooth jazz music. He was never one for rap or rock, but preferred the high-beat, jumpy rhythm of jazz. How the notes strung together in chords of melodic insanity mystified him as he continued to tap his foot to his own tune.

This was his home, his own personal paradise. A creeping smile came to Herald's lips as he continued to blow air into his horn, creating lustrous music that attracted the little alien people's attention. He was not only their hero, but also musician as they gathered around him, coming up to his chest in height comparisons and danced. Herald swayed, closing his eyes as he allowed the music to wash over him.

He really wished he watched his foot when he tripped off the violet, massive rock.

A startled gasp ruptured from his throat, falling backwards into pits unknown. The alien people screamed gibberish, flailing about as Herald continued his descend. Herald flipped himself over, watching the pink and black dash by him like awkward lightning, tumbling into a white pit of an unknown fate. His shriek was caught in the streaking wind, hovering above him like a whisper. Herald fumbled with his horn, trying to get it to his lips, but his butterfingers cursed him.

The panic had consumed him so much that he released his horn. It fluttered above his head, getting higher and higher until it landed on another moon as he continued to fall. Herald's mouth gaped, eyes widening underneath his mask as a gunshot of terror punctured his chest. Managing to look down, he saw a demonic black pit of emptiness, coming closer and closer, devouring the pure white. Herald's life flashed before his eyes, exposing his childhood of his loving family, playing music with his band, his friends in the Titans and his love/hate relationship with Bumblebee. He could not help but smirk at the memory of Speedy and Aqualad berating him, saying that if he ever hurt their precious leader, they would kill him. Yet, as the black came closer, his bliss died. The white was suddenly eaten up, throwing Herald into a shadowy realm, but he just kept falling. He tried to scream, but his lungs refused to respond. Suddenly, his body connected with a dull thud.

He woke up.

"You all right?" Aqualad asked, offering his hand as the faces of Titans East blocked the sun.

Herald gasped, taking in the breath raggedly and sharply. His eyes swiftly locked onto Aqualad, uncertainly grasping his hand as the Atlantean helped him to his feet. "Wh-what happened? I-I was asleep?"

"Knocked out, actually," Speedy sneered, nudging his shoulder.

"How?"

"Punk Rocket-" Aqualad pointed over to the police van that carried away the British villain. "-smacked you in the head with his guitar, stating your music sucked. You blacked out instantly."

Mas and Menos giggled at Herald's blank expression, still looking around blearily until Bumblebee punched him playfully on the shoulder. Herald gazed at the buxom woman, asking how Punk got the jump on him.

"You were boasting about how much jazz was awesome," she jeered as Speedy snickered. "You let your attitude get to your head, stupid."

"Oh, well…" Herald cleared his throat, crossing his arms. "…shut up."

"Did you have a nightmare when you were unconscious?" Aqualad wondered as Mas and Menos began playing with Herald's Gabriel's Horn when he was not looking.

"Uh, yeah, I guess. Man, it started out so good, too," Herald grumbled. Hearing the familiar blow of his horn, he jerked his head around and snatched his precious instrument from Mas. "Don't touch this, runts!"

Both apologized in their Spanish tongue, giving him sheepish, kicked puppy faces. Herald sighed, patting their heads and was ready to leave when Bumblebee called his name. Without warning, he was smacked over the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" he barked.

"You were muttering about me naked in your sleep. If I ever hear that again, I will go to your dimension…with 'special' boy love fanfics," she sneered, "of you and Jericho."

Herald paled considerably, nodding blankly and stepped inside. Once the portal closed behind him, he gazed around at his home and sighed. "I really hate this place…"