A/N: Due to various distractions and life circumstances it took me a bit longer than I thought, but the last chapter of Part Two is finally finished! This chapter might seem a bit slow, the calm before the storm you might call it, but everything in this chapter has a purpose. As a whole, it is meant to set the stage for Part Three. Hopefully this chapter makes you as excited for Part Three as it does me! I can't wait to start writing it!
Anyway, fall quarter starts in approximately three days, I'm taking 16 credits, and this is the last set of classes I have to take for my Associates Degree, so it could possibly be a while before I update this story again. Usually I only take 12 credits, so 16 credits is definitely a lot! Nonetheless, even if it is a lot of work, I love going to college and I love the Human Services field, so it is completely worth it! Hopefully you guys understand if I have to go a while without updating this. I love writing, but nonetheless, it is a hobby not a career.
Well, that's enough out of me. Onward with Firelight! Enjoy the chapter! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, but by December 2016 I will own an Associates Degree!
Part II: Shadows: Chapter Twenty-Two
"I can't believe you guys! You actually bought three pounds of sushi!"
Speedy, Aqualad, and Damiana hike up the stairs from the garage to the common room, each of them carrying an armload of groceries. In Speedy arms, among other items, are three pounds of sushi. Unable to refrain from snickering, Damiana glances at Aqualad as she responds to him.
"Hey, the rule was one pound of sushi for every five dollars we threw out the window. We threw out sixteen bucks, so that's three pounds of sushi."
Digging through one of the bags he's carrying, Speedy pulls out a small box prior to adding to her statement. "And a box of crab cakes for the extra dollar."
Wincing, Aqualad gives an irritated sigh. "I had no idea how many fish I would be killing when I joined this team. If Poseidon exists, I hope he forgives me."
Once the Atlantian is through speaking, Damiana turns her attention to the archer. Her previous enjoyment fading, she shoots him a harsh glare.
"As for you, what the heck was going through your head?! Why would you pick me up and toss me into a shopping cart?! Who does that?!" Glare deepening, she adds, "You carted me down four aisles in that thing! Do you have any idea how many people were staring?!"
Much to her irritation, Speedy doesn't appear the slightest bit remorseful. The only response he gives her anger is his trademark smirk.
"Actually, I know the exact number of people who were staring. The same number of people who were recording us on their phones." Smirk broadening, he adds, "And I'm sorry about the cart. I didn't have access to an actual 'noble steed', so I had to improvise. But, hey, look at it this way. Firelight has been established as a member of Titans East, which in essence, was my goal. It just happened differently than I thought it would."
Smiling in amusement, Aqualad puts in, "Within a few hours the entire city should know that we added another person to the team, and by tomorrow the entire country should know. Congratulations."
Irritated with him every bit as much as she is with the archer, she gives him a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow prior to responding sarcastically.
"Thank you very much, fish-for-brains. I couldn't have done it without you."
From here, the three don't say another word. They emerge from the stairwell and into the common room, expecting to see Beast Boy and Mas y Menos playing the Game Station, and for Cyborg and Bumblebee to be in the evidence room working on Black Shadow's machine. During these past few days Damiana has heard a lot of talk about this machine, and even snuck into the evidence room to look at it once. Now that her room is finished, she is actually looking forward to seeing what she can do to help them with it. Not only that, but it will get her mind off of the horrors that happened at the store today. Whether Speedy has gained her respect or not, he's still unbelievable! So is Aqualad, apparently.
Before her thoughts on the matter can go any further, however, Damiana finds herself taken aback. Apparently Aqualad and Speedy are caught off guard as well, because similar to her, they stop in their tracks and gape at the scene before them. Standing in front of the common room's sofa and facing the large screen built into the wall are Bumblebee, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and the twins. On the other side of the screen are Robin and the pony-tailed mystery hero clad in icy blue.
The single factor that sticks out about each one of them is that their demeanors appear both grieved and apprehensive. Never has Damiana seen facial expressions more mournful or more filled with anxiety than these. The same can be said for their postures, which are slumped over and wrought with depression. If Damiana didn't know any better, she would guess that somebody died.
A mere second is all it takes for Speedy to set his bags down at a random spot on the floor, to shove past both she and Aqualad, and to walk solemnly over to the others. Though he wears the mask that covers his eyes, it isn't hard for Damiana to see the dark, serious, expression that overtakes his features. All of the sudden, it's like the arrogant, teasing, redhead that picked her up bridal style and threw her into a shopping cart doesn't exist. The Speedy that has taken over right now is nothing but serious, reminding Damiana that he is indeed a Titan.
It doesn't take long for Aqualad and Damiana to set down their share of the bags as well, the two of them walking over to join the others along with Speedy. Before they can make it to the other Titans themselves, the archer is already making an inquiry.
"Something happened while we were gone. What was it?"
Damiana takes her place between Bumblebee and Aqualad, examining each of their faces closely as she waits for an answer. It isn't a secret that whatever happened was detrimental, because each of their expressions grow darker times ten. It takes what feels like eternity, but at last his question is answered by Bumblebee.
"We finished Black Shadow's machine, and figured out what it does. That's what happened," the winged girl states simply.
"He was trapping us this whole time, and we walked right into it," adds Cyborg in anger and disbelief. "The technology was too advanced for him to put together, so he gave it to us hoping that we'd finish it for him. That's exactly what we did, too. The moment the machine started working, the lights went out and he showed up out of nowhere. He didn't take the machine with him, but he did send out a signal. As far as I can tell, he sent the schematics for the finished machine to one of his hidden bases so that his people can start making them. We either have to work fast or hang it up, because if even one of those machines get finished it's over."
Shock fills each of the three newcomers faces to the brim. The first to make an inquiry, again, is Speedy. His mouth hangs agape the whole time.
"You're telling me that in ninety minutes we were at the grocery store, you finished the machine, Black Shadow showed up and stole its blueprints, and he left?! How is that possible?! Our Tower has the best security system there is! Nobody can just sneak in here!"
"Not to mention the part about his device," adds Aqualad in a much calmer fashion. "Even if he isn't overly capable with technology, Black Shadow should know what he's doing to some extent. Why would he need us to finish his machine for him?"
Giving a deep, mournful, sigh, Bumblebee explains. "To answer both of your questions, it's crazy, but it's all true. Our security system protects against invaders, not shadows. If Black Shadow was in shadow form and hiding in the walls, he would've been able to slip right past it. Also, even if he's decent with technology, decent doesn't cut it for this device. It's so advanced that if we asked a trained professional to make one, we'd get laughed out the door. Until we finished it, I didn't even think the thing we created exists! So of course Black Shadow wanted us to finish it for him. With all of us putting our heads together, he was probably counting on it that we'd have the technological knowhow to do it."
Bumblebee's words do not go ignored. The moment she's finished speaking the room falls silent, everybody allowing what she said to sink in. It takes a long time, but eventually this silence is broken. The one who breaks it is Damiana, who says something that should have been said much earlier. When she speaks, all eyes turn in her direction. Even so, this doesn't faze her. Her only focus is on speaking.
"I don't mean to put a rush on things, but if Black Shadow's machine is so dangerous that only one of them would mean the end, then we need to come up with a plan to defeat him. I'm not sure what his machine does, how we would counteract it, and I have no idea how we're going to stop him, but I know that we need to do something."
Damiana's gaze moves to Cyborg and Bumblebee, expecting one of them to respond. Although, neither of them do. The person who replies to the young fire user is none other than the Boy Wonder on the opposite side of the screen. This surprises her temporarily, but all it takes is the sight of his grave expression for all forms of astonishment to dissipate.
"You're right. We do need to do something, but it isn't going to be easy. Black Shadow's machine isn't just your average doomsday device. It opens up rifts in the fabric of space and time, and it gives him access to every planet and time period in history. If we're going to go after him, this isn't going to be like fighting a normal criminal. We have to be prepared to do some real fighting and to sacrifice. Unless we go in giving everything we've got, we might not be able to win this."
Once Robin is through, silence lapses yet again. If the atmosphere wasn't thick with apprehension previously, then it definitely is now. The whole time, Damiana's mind is in a whir. A device that opens rifts?! Black Shadow really has that kind of technology at his disposal?! If that is truly the case, then it is much worse than she ever could have guessed. With that kind of technology, he could destroy more than the world's heroes. He could go through time and alter history!
Apparently she isn't the only one who feels horrified by this thought, because eventually Aqualad speaks. Terror is the only emotion heard in his voice.
"It opens rifts?! You can't honestly mean that! If Black Shadow had the schematics to a machine like that, he could go back in time and change the past! He could go forward and alter the future! He could use it to steal technology from other planets, and he could use it against us! The possibilities for how he can destroy the world are endless!"
"And that's only with one machine!" Speedy exclaims, equally terrified. "If he has two or three of them, he could open up a rift so huge that it sucks in planets! Heck, if he's the one controlling all the machines, he might even be able to control the rifts! Do you have any idea how impossible it would be to beat him if he has access to a rift where he can decide who gets sucked into it and who doesn't?!"
What Speedy says only causes Damiana's fear to deepen. The idea that he could create one machine is bad enough, but multiple machines? That shadow-using maniac would be undefeatable! What are they going to do if that happens? Fighting him was hard enough already, but this? This is…impossible!
Giving a long, deep, sigh, Damiana speaks once more. It is with a bit more hesitation than previously, but still she shares her thoughts. She doesn't notice right away, but Robin and the mystery hero are no longer the only two on the Titans West side of the screen. Now, standing alongside them are Raven and Starfire. As she talks, every pair of eyes stares at her intently.
"If that's the case, and if Black Shadow can really open up rifts, then that just means that we need to work faster to beat him. If we're going to stop Black Shadow, then it has to be now. Everyone's saying that if even one of his machines get finished, that it's over for all of us. If that's true, then are we really going to stand here and give him time to finish one?"
A short time passes where the Titans don't respond. During this time, Damiana is afraid that she might have spoken a tad too bluntly. Especially since she's the newest member of the Titans. A second later, however, Damiana learns that this isn't so. The one who responds to her, once again, is Robin. Astonishingly enough, he does not sound angry. Rather, he sounds pleased.
"If you're thinking about selling yourself short because you're new, then don't. What you're saying is true. There's a criminal on the loose with enough power to tear this planet in half, and it's up to us to stop him. It's like I said; defeating him isn't going to be easy, but we can still do it. After all, the Titans have done it before."
In spite of the intensity of their situation, Damiana gives a small smile. "Easy doesn't matter. We just need possible."
Upon hearing her words, everybody else smiles as well. Their smiles are so small that Damiana questions for a moment whether or not they actually exist. Yet, with as minuscule as they are, their smiles are filled with confidence.
When someone finally responds to her statement, it is none other than Raven.
"It may not seem like it, but defeating Black Shadow is more possible than we think. Starfire and I heard what you were saying while we were walking down the hallway. Specifically, we heard what Cyborg said about Black Shadow sending out the signal." She hesitates briefly prior to continuing. "Even if Black Shadow managed to cut the Tower's electricity, Cyborg's sensors still should have been able to get a lock on where the signal was sent to. If Cyborg's right and he sent the machine's schematics to a hidden base, then maybe we can pinpoint the base's location."
The instant Raven has concluded her statement, everybody exchanges glances prior to making exclamations filled with acute triumph. Nothing that any of them says sounds like victory screeches, but the things they say do reflect hope and determination. In a way, this makes Damiana feel more confident than preconceived victory ever could.
Meanwhile, sounding the most cheerful out of all of them is Beast Boy. Damiana wasn't paying too much attention before, but he is standing directly behind her.
"We can track down Black Shadow using his own signal? That has to be the coolest thing I've ever heard! Dudes, if we can find out where his secret base is, then maybe we can win this!"
From the other side of the screen comes Starfire's voice. Damiana doesn't look at her for fear that she might give her a bone-chilling glare. Nonetheless, her innocent and cheery voice manages to pierce Damiana's eardrums, causing the thick emotion of hate to fill her soul to its very depths. The fact that the princess of Tamaran, the princess of the planet that destroyed her one and only home, sounds so sweet makes the fire user feel sick with disgust.
The whole time she's having these thoughts, Starfire speaks in a sugary voice. "Your idea is most excellent, friend Raven! Together we shall find Black Shadow, and put a stop to his evil plans! There is still hope that we may defeat him!"
Damiana can't help but cringe at the words "friend Raven". Since when do evil, malicious, killing machines born on warrior planets have friends? It isn't fair. That pampered Tamaranean princess got off so easy when coming to Earth. The same day she arrived she met the other Titans, became their best buddy, and has gotten to save the world wearing that disgusting cheerful smile. She destroys Dabnod, and the fates pour out blessings on her!
Damiana's planet gets destroyed, and how do the fates treat her? They force her to spend five years homeless, and she gets to sleep in alleyways, and eat spoiled food! She has to go five years without knowing hugs, joy, or friendship, and has to hide her Dabnodian features! Seeing Starfire's life compared to her own, it makes Damiana wonder exactly how twisted the fates are.
It takes what feels like ages, but at long last Cyborg's voice drags Damiana out from her enraged stupor. When it happened she has no idea, but at some point the metal man made his way over to the Titans East Tower's main console. Connecting his arm to their chief computer is a type of metal cable, which is plugged into a large port on the control panel. As he speaks his eyes remain glued to the lower left-hand corner of the screen that is being used to speak with the Titans in Jump City. It shows a map of the entire continent of North America with latitudinal and longitudinal lines crisscrossing it. There is a main horizontal line and a main vertical line that skim over the map the entire time.
"You know, Rae, I think you're right. When Black Shadow sent out the signal, my scanners did pick it up. He probably cut the power to the Tower earlier to stop us from picking up the location it was sent to, but he forgot about the scanners that I have built into my systems. He must've been so focused on getting the blueprints of his machine sent out that he missed that fact."
All it takes is an instant for the primary horizontal and vertical lines to cease their movement, the map of North America zooming in so that it transforms into a map of the United States. Another second passes, and the map of the United States becomes a map of the upper portion of the country's east coast. As this happens, Cyborg continues.
"Black Shadow messed with the wrong group of heroes. If he thought that infiltrating the Tower and getting away with the schematics of the machine would cripple the Titans that bad, then he's got another thought coming. As soon as we have the location of his base pinpointed, we're going after him."
Once this is said, both Towers fall completely silent. Apparently the diagram of the map that is in the lower corner of the Titans East's screen is on the Titans West's screen as well, as their eyes also remain glued to that area. As they watch, the map of the east coast shrinks into an even smaller map. This map, Damiana realizes, is one that engulfs the cities of New York, Gotham, and Metropolis. Upon seeing this, Damiana can't help but feel greatly astonished. She thought for sure that any base of Black Shadow's would be located near Jump City or Steel City. The idea of him having a base located in Justice League territory is completely implausible!
Even more implausible is when the map zooms in further, completely encasing the city of Metropolis. Once Metropolis is on the screen in its full glory, a specific portion of the city lights up and begins blinking rapidly. Within the blinking area is a glowing red dot, suggesting that this is the exact location of the base. As it blinks Damiana does her best not to show it, but she is secretly very nervous. Black Shadow's base isn't just in Justice League territory, but is in Superman's city! Not too far away from Metropolis is Gotham, so that means that Batman is only a short hop away. There's no doubt that Black Shadow is counting on doing some serious damage with the rifts he plans on opening. He has jumped straight from the Teen Titans, to the big heroes…
Apparently Damiana isn't the only one withing the group who feels nervous. As the red dot glows, as that section of the city blinks, and as the word at the top of the lower portion of the screen boldly reads Metropolis, nobody hesitates to gape widely. It doesn't take long for the others to start expressing their shock verbally.
"Metropolis?" states Aqualad from beside her. "Black Shadow's base is in Metropolis?"
Speedy gives a sigh that sounds frustrated as much as flabbergasted. "Great. For us to beat this guy, we're going to have to go into Justice League territory. How the heck are we going to explain it to the League when they catch us in Superman's city chasing down a criminal?"
"The answer is simple," replies Robin from the screen's opposite side. "I'm going to get in contact with them, and explain what's going on with Black Shadow. This situation is serious, and the League needs to be aware of what's going on as much as the Titans."
Rolling his eyes, Beast Boy replies to Robin with a startling sarcastic bite. "Yeah. We'll just shove past the big guys, say that we have a villain to catch, and tell them to get out of our way. When we tell the Justice League that our villain is some creepy shadow man who has a machine-thingy that can open up rifts, they'll totally believe us and let us chase him. Genius idea, Robin."
All eyes turn to stare at Beast Boy before turning back to the Boy Wonder. In truth, Damiana can't help but agree with Beast Boy. The Justice League is seriously going to let a bunch of teenagers stomp around Metropolis looking for a criminal base and for a device that, according to Bumblebee, isn't supposed to exist? Yeah right! Damiana has only been part of the Titans for a week, and even she knows that there is a dividing line between the big heroes and the small heroes.
It doesn't take long for someone to chime in agreement with their green teammate. This person would be none other than Aqualad.
"I'm sorry to say it, Robin, but I have to side with Beast Boy. Black Shadow has his base set up in Justice League territory, so they're going to want to consider him their problem. They're not going to let us run rampant through Metropolis in attempt to catch a criminal who, in their eyes, Superman can easily deal with. We're never going to get permission to search the city."
Robin's response to their negativity, amazingly enough, is nothing but calm. For a long moment this confuses Damiana, but once he explains himself, her confusion starts to dissipate. All of the sudden, she sees exactly why he's the leader of the Titans. The idea he pitches is bold in more ways than one.
"Do you honestly think I'm that unaware of what the Justice League is like? I know that they won't give us permission. Permission doesn't matter, because I already know how the Titans are getting into Metropolis to look for Black Shadow's base. The Justice League isn't going to like us for this once they find out, but sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. By contacting them, I'm making them aware of Black Shadow, not of the Titans."
Raising her brow, Damiana makes a simple inquiry. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I mean that the Titans are going to Metropolis and finding Black Shadow. It's going to take all of us working together. Not all of us are going to Metropolis, and those of us who do go aren't going to look like Titans, but we're still hunting down Black Shadow's base. That way if worst comes to worst, the Justice League won't have time to enforce their guidelines and will be forced to back us up."
Less than a second is what it takes for Beast Boy to respond. Unlike previously, he doesn't sound sarcastic in the slightest. Instead he sounds only shocked.
"Are you saying that we're sneaking into Metropolis? Dude, are you sure you're Robin, or are you a clone of Robin? The real Robin would never tell us to ignore the League and break the rules!"
"I must agree with friend Beast Boy," Starfire puts in. "Suggesting that we search the city of Metropolis without seeking the permission of the League of Justice does sound most unlike you."
Damiana doesn't miss the notable sigh that Robin gives at their remarks, nor the strain heard in his voice.
"I know it's unlike me, but what other choice do we have? Black Shadow has a hidden base, schematics for a machine that can open up rifts, and an entire team of henchmen who can put it together, while all we have is a clock that's ticking! If we take time to argue with the Justice League, all we're doing is handing more time over to Black Shadow. If it was Slade, or Brother Blood, or the Brotherhood of Evil hiding out in Metropolis, I wouldn't react any differently."
Several lengthy seconds pass, the group of young heroes exchanging glances amongst themselves. At some point, it is Speedy who replies to the Boy Wonder.
"I'm not sure about everyone else, but if it means stopping Black Shadow, I'm willing to risk taking a hit from the Justice League. You said it yourself that if we're going to stop Black Shadow, that we have to be willing to sacrifice. Going against the League and making them angry is one of the sacrifices that we're going to have to make." His trademark smirk hinting at the corners of his lips, he adds, "Besides. I don't mind breaking a few rules every now and again, anyway."
It isn't missed as Bumblebee scoffs in irritation at his concluding remark. "Ain't that the truth."
The next person to speak is Raven. "I hate to say it, but I think that going to Metropolis without the Justice League's permission is our best course of action. Our first priority is stopping Black Shadow, and I see no other way to do this than to sneak into the city."
Damiana feels as she grows continuously more nervous. Going against the Justice League and sneaking into Metropolis? It sounds crazy! Yet, at the same time, she finds herself agreeing with them. If they're going to take Black Shadow down, then there really isn't another way to do it.
Clearing her throat slightly, Damiana voices her opinion. Luckily, she doesn't sound nearly as anxious as she feels. Somehow, her voice sounds nothing but strong and self-assured.
"I agree," she states boldly. "I'll be honest when I say that I don't like it, but if we're going to take down our criminal, then it has to be done. Robin, I'm still not sure exactly what you're planning, but whether you want me to stay with the Titans East or go to Metropolis, I'm willing to do either. Black Shadow started out as the Titans West's criminal, and it's your plan, so I'll do whatever is best."
To both her pleasure and her surprise, Robin responds by giving a small smile and a nod. Following this, he looks around at the rest of the Titans.
"I've already heard from Raven, Firelight, and Speedy. Is everyone else on board with this?"
A lengthy moment passes, the exchanging of glances and quiet chatter filling both common rooms. It is only after what feels like eternity that the others start to respond.
"Dude, you don't have to worry about me saying no. You're our leader. Whatever crazy plan you have, I trust it," says Beast Boy easily.
"I have to admit that I don't like the idea of clashing with the Justice League, but you're right. When it comes to catching dangerous criminals, it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I say we do this," states Aqualad.
Mas y Menos shout an easy, "¡Hagámoslo!" in unison.
"Though the idea of angering the League of Justice makes me nervous, I do not wish for Black Shadow to destroy the Earth. Let us go with your plan," says Starfire.
Cyborg's response is plain. "Man, I've been on board with this from the moment the map on the screen said 'Metropolis'. Let's do this."
Bumblebee gives a sigh, but that is only before she nods in agreement. "I can already tell that the Titans East and Titans West aren't going to stay separated for this mission. Of course, with Black Shadow on the loose, both teams coming together might be for the best." Giving a small smile, she adds, "If what I'm saying is true, I hand the reigns over to you as the combined teams' leader."
The only one who doesn't give a response is the mystery hero with the ponytail. He stays in the background and keeps quiet, making Damiana even more curious about his identity. Before her curiosity can go too far, however, Robin speaks once more.
"Good. I'm glad that everyone's in agreement; especially with combining our teams. I don't think either team is capable of handling Black Shadow alone, so we're going to have to depend on each other." The Boy Wonder pauses slightly before continuing. "I already have a plan. The plan is for all of us to end up in Metropolis by the end of this, but before that I only want to send a few of us. Black Shadow is already expecting us to make a move, so I don't want the Titans barging in full force. We will at some point, but we need to track down his hideout, discover the layout, and form an invasive plan first."
A small lapse in dialogue ensues, everybody taking time to digest Robin's words. When someone responds, it is none other than Bumblebee.
"How many people are you planning on sending? Between four and six? I don't think that tracking down Black Shadow's hideout would work with less than four of us."
"No. It wouldn't," replies Robin. "I want to send six of us. That way we can split into teams of three if we need to. Not only that, but whoever I send needs to be able to blend in. Anyone who goes to Metropolis can't look like a Titan. Getting caught could ruin our whole operation."
Another moment of silence passes, but this one doesn't last long. Before Damiana knows it, Cyborg is moving from his previous spot beside the main console, grabbing her by the shoulder, and dragging them both so that they're next to Speedy. Once he's in between them, he places a hand on Speedy's shoulder as well prior to speaking.
"If blending in is what you want, then you should send Speedy and Firelight for starters. They don't have any wings, or mechanical parts, or weird hair and eyes to hide. All they have to do is take off their uniforms, and they'll look like any other civilian walking around Metropolis."
Upon hearing Cyborg's statement, Damiana can't help but cringe inwardly. She said that she would be willing to go to Metropolis, but with Speedy?! It was bad enough going to the grocery store with him! He picked her up bridal style and threw her into a shopping cart! If they're at the other end of the East Coast, away from Steel City and the other Titans, how would it go? Sure they get along pretty well, but if he gets into one of his 'it's time to tease Damiana' moods, it could definitely get annoying…
Nonetheless, when Robin makes an inquiry, Damiana finds herself answering in the positive.
"Actually, I was already thinking of sending Speedy and Firelight. They really would blend in well." Pausing, he asks, "Speedy, Firelight, are you two up for this?"
The redheaded archer is the first to respond. Oddly, his words are a mixture of seriousness and light-heartedness. "Of course I'm up for it. The Justice League already views me as the bad boy rule breaker. I really don't have anything to lose by doing this."
Doing her best to keep her composure, Damiana answers next. "I said once that I'll do whatever I have to do, and that promise still stands. If it means stopping Black Shadow, then I'll go."
Jump City
Later That Day
"Frostbite, are you sure that you don't want to go to Metropolis? We need people who can easily blend in with civilians and, well, you fit that description."
Saeran sits in the center of the sofa in the common room eating a sandwich nonchalantly. After what felt like ages, the Titans West and the Titans East finally decided on the majority of individuals who are being sent to Metropolis to go undercover. After deciding to send his baby sister and that arrogant playboy who they call a superhero, Cyborg said that he always keeps a pair of holographic rings on his person. They worked to hide his identity well when he was going undercover at HIVE Academy, so he said that they would work for him this time too. As long as he doesn't go overboard with punching anything, that is. Admittedly, Saeran is relieved that Cyborg is going on this mission. Not only is he a capable hero, but this way Speedy won't be alone with his baby sister.
As for the other three, Bumblebee, Aqualad, and Beast Boy all volunteered, but in the end were decided against. Bumblebee, while she has jackets that are long enough to hide her wings, the idea of her wings being discovered is far too risky. Even with her jackets, the very edges of her wings can still be seen. Because of this, Bumblebee was marked off the list. Aqualad, while he otherwise appears normal, has eyes that are completely black without any whites or pupils. Not only that, but he admitted that he has gills as well as a scaled texture to his skin in some places beneath his unitard. Because of this, he was marked off the list as well. As for Beast Boy, he was denied the opportunity to go undercover for obvious reasons. Unless he wants to hide as Cyborg's pet gecko the whole time.
It was only after all of them were marked off of the list that Robin volunteered to go himself. Like Speedy and Damiana, all he has to do to blend in is take off his uniform. True, Robin admitted that he's going to spend all of his time in Metropolis wearing sunglasses, but nonetheless he will blend in. After this, Starfire volunteered as well. At first she was denied due to her odd speech tendencies as well as the yellowish-green color of what would otherwise be the whites of her eyes, but somehow she managed to convince them anyway.
Apparently she has these special eye drops from Tamaran that, when applied, can transform the yellowish-green into white. She went off on this long tangent about how her sister, Blackfire, uses them all the time because she doesn't like the whites of her own eyes, which normally appear light purple. Saeran didn't hear most of it, though. He stopped listening to the eager Tamaranean around the word "Blackfire". Few things disgust Saeran more than a happy Tamaranean.
One of the few things that does manage to disgust him more, however, are people who won't take no for an answer. Right now, Robin is one of these people.
Standing directly in front of the sofa, preventing Saeran from finishing his sandwich in peace, is the Boy Wonder. Curled up on the sofa at Saeran's side is his cat, Mr. Whiskers. Apparently Mr. Whiskers isn't too fond of Robin hovering over them either, because he glares at him with narrowed blue eyes before leaping off of the couch with a swish of his fluffy gray tail. Giving an aggravated meow, he glares at Robin once more and curls up near the window that overlooks the bay. In a way, Saeran wishes that he was Mr. Whiskers. If he was, he wouldn't be having this conversation.
Swallowing a bite of his sandwich, Saeran gives a sigh as he responds to Robin's inquiry. "Robin, I already told you that I'm not going to Metropolis. Under any other circumstances I would jump on it, but in this case it's best for me to stay here in Jump City. By bringing me to Metropolis, things are going to get very complicated very quickly. Trust me."
Robin doesn't respond to his statement right away. Instead, he takes a moment to stare at him. When he finally does respond, it is with bewilderment.
"I don't understand. How would bringing you to Metropolis with Starfire and I make things complicated? If you're concerned about the Titans East not knowing you too well, then don't worry. We're on a mission, so we'll be focused on business. Even if we weren't, they would get to know you soon enough anyway."
More than anything, Saeran wants to tug on his ponytail in frustration. Worried about the Titans East?! That's what Robin thinks his hesitation is about?! That isn't the problem in the least! His primary concern is Damiana. When it is revealed that he and "Firelight" are siblings, it will get in the way of their search for Black Shadow's base on so many levels. It will turn into a reunion instead of a villain hunt, first and foremost. Then, once they reveal themselves to each other, the fact that they're Dabnodians could slip out so easily. With Starfire going on this mission, revealing that they're Dabnodians definitely wouldn't be a good thing.
If she finds out what planet they're from, Starfire won't stay sweet and joyful for long; their planets were at war. Tearing apart half of Metropolis in a Tamaranean-Dabnodian fight to the death would blow their cover for sure. In all, having two Dabnodians and a Tamaranean together on the same mission is an absolutely horrible idea that would never turn out well. Quite honestly, Saeran is worried about what Damiana might do to Starfire all on her own. True, his baby sister showed an excellent amount of restraint with her powers in the past, but could running into the princess of the planet that destroyed their home change that?
It takes a long couple of minutes, but at last Saeran speaks again. "Robin, believe me. The reason I want to stay here has nothing to do with me 'fitting in'. My reasons are more personal and more complex than you could ever imagine. If you knew even half of what I'm talking about, you wouldn't want me in Metropolis with you either. When I say trust me on this, I mean it."
Upon hearing his words, Robin's expression shifts from bewilderment to concern. His features showing deep worry, he sits beside Saeran on the sofa in the same manner that he would if it were an elder brother who is in distress.
"Frostbite, can't you give me a hint about what the problem is? Usually you're so determined to catch these kinds of criminals. What problem is so big that it could hold someone like you back from hunting down a villain?"
The set of his mouth growing firmer, he glares at Robin with concealed eyes that shift to stormy gray. "It's a problem that you don't know about, and that I have no intention of telling you. If you knew about everything, that alone would be a setback to our progress." Pausing to take an irate bite out of his sandwich, he adds, "What I'm doing is for the good of the Titans. There is nothing that can convince me to go to Metropolis, so I would appreciate it if you would quit asking."
Opening his mouth partway, Robin appears ready to make another inquiry. Luckily he doesn't get the chance, as the metal doors leading into the common room open widely. When this happens, he is hoping to see Raven. She knows the details of his situation, so maybe she will back him up. It is only upon lifting his gaze to the entryway that, unfortunately, Saeran's hopes are dashed. Raven is not the only one standing there, for directly beside her is Starfire. He can't help but groan internally at the sight of the Tamaranean. With her in here, Raven will never be able to get a word in edgewise. There go all hopes of getting support.
Before any other thoughts can enter his head, Starfire flies into the room while chattering away cheerfully. Much to his surprise, the eye drops she spoke of earlier really do exist, because the whites of her eyes actually do appear white! Once he starts to process the words coming out of her mouth, however, his surprise morphs into annoyance. Even if Starfire wasn't a Tamaranean, Saeran is certain that he still wouldn't like her. Her personality is so bright and cheerful that it's abnormal. Sure, Mama, Damiana, Jaegana, and even Queen Guayusa were cheerful at times, but their cheerfulness was within normal bounds. Starfire's happiness is just…overbearing.
"Friend Frostbite, boyfriend Robin, you must see what Raven and I have to show you! After doing the testing with the eye drops to be sure that they function properly, I did the checking of my pages of social media on my laptop computer! Friend Firelight of the Titans East has become quite popular within these past few hours! You must see."
Saeran can't help but quirk a hidden brow at her statement. Whatever it is, it probably isn't that big of a deal. Damiana was always a good child who never stirred up trouble. He can't imagine that she would have pulled some stunt for recognition. Someone probably got a picture of her while she was out with Aqualad and Speedy.
Hoping that his thoughts will be validated, he shifts his masked stare over to Raven, who is holding Starfire's bubblegum pink laptop. Upon catching the uncertainty in her gaze, Saeran feels as his previous confidence vanishes. It was just a picture that some random civilian caught… Right?
Obvious hesitation heard in her normally monotone voice, Raven keeps their gazes locked as she speaks. "For once, I agree with Starfire. You should probably see this."
With that being said, the two girls walk over to the common room's sofa to join them. The whole time Saeran can't help but eye Raven curiously, his sandwich long forgotten. If she thinks that he should see whatever it is that Starfire's talking about, then it must be more extreme than he initially assumed. Moving over, he allows Raven to take a seat between himself and Robin before bringing up a video and pressing play. Prior to enlarging the video, he notes that the title of it is "Speedy's Feisty Princess", the video immediately having Saeran's full attention. Hopefully Speedy's feisty princess is a random fangirl and not who he thinks it is…
The first thing Saeran notices about the video once it begins playing is that it is being filmed at a location that has perfect white tiles and multiple rows of shelves in the background, suggesting they are at a grocery store. Standing closest to the front, next to what appears to be some sort of counter, are Speedy, Aqualad, and of course, his baby sister. He sees a shock of tan skin and brown hair as well, making it known that they are conversing with somebody. Or, at least that they had been before the person started recording.
When dialogue can finally be heard, the person speaking is Aqualad. His demeanor is one that, to Saeran, can only be described as impish.
"… Speedy and Firelight hated each other when they first met, but within the past couple weeks they've become best buddies. They were giggling with each other the whole drive here. Not to mention the taco date they had on the dock, that romantic drive they took on the Speed Cycle, and that time they were alone in the workout room. Come to think of it, they were alone in the workout room for quite a while, and it was very, very, quiet."
All of the sudden, Saeran, who was calm only a couple of seconds ago, feels as his eyes start to widen. That arrogant redheaded playboy with the arrows, the one who has probably been with every teenage girl in Steel City, went on a date with Damiana and she rode on his motorcycle?! And what the heck were they doing alone in the workout room?! If Speedy is anything like Adriel used to be, then he can only imagine… The thought that his innocent little sister would feel… grownup feelings…for someone like Speedy making him sick, he forces himself to continue watching this video of horror. Apparently what Aqualad said is true, because Damiana's face is the color of her hair on a happy day.
"Quiet? You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about! There is no way that workout room was quiet! Speedy had 'Sexy and I Know It' blaring, and he was singing along with the chorus! Nothing about that was quiet!"
A split second is all it takes for anxiety to flood his veins upon hearing his sister speak. Those are defensive words if he's ever heard them! They were definitely doing something while they were in the workout room! Suddenly, Saeran doesn't know whether to feel nauseous or angry.
Meanwhile, Aqualad speaks once more. "Say what you want, but I'm only making a statement. While the music was blaring, you could have been doing anything. Having a pleasant conversation, sitting on Speedy's lap cuddling, making out, the possibilities are endless. It won't be too long before you're snuggling on the couch, and before Speedy is whisking you away in the middle of the night on the back of the Speed Cycle. We know that you love that motorcycle."
Damiana marches over to him and responds to his statement, but Saeran doesn't hear a word of what she says. His only thoughts are on the relationship between his baby sister and that smug playboy. What the heck has happened to his sister?! She never used to have feelings like that! Speedy must really know how to play the game right if he's capable of tricking someone as smart as Damiana into…doing things…
His nausea dissipating, all of Saeran's feelings are suddenly replaced with anger. Speedy had better grow eyes in the back of his head, or learn to sleep with his eyes open. If he touches his sister even a little bit, that horny, egotistical, jerk is going to answer to him!
Saeran doesn't have time to get in many more thoughts, because all of the sudden, his eyes are drawn back to the screen. If he thought he felt angry before, the man is completely livid now. Damiana, who was previously standing in front of Aqualad, is now being held in Speedy's arms bridal style. She kicks, and squirms, and shouts at him loudly, but Saeran pays this no attention. All he sees is the smug smile on Speedy's face as he carries his baby sister in his filthy arms. What the archer says makes Saeran wish that he was in Steel City. If he was, he would freeze Speedy in a block of ice and lock him in a freezer!
"It's true, girls. Aqualad doesn't lie. Firelight is too shy to admit it, but the romantic tension is too much. There's no holding us back anymore! Now, as a declaration of love, I am going to whisk away my feisty princess on my noble steed."
Damiana says other words, but like most of the other things she has said, Saeran doesn't hear. The only thing he notices is Speedy hugging her tightly prior to placing her inside of a shopping cart; most likely his alleged "noble steed". The whole time his smug expression never leaves. When he gives a bold two fingered salute and tells the ladies they were conversing with to "not wait up", Saeran is surprised that his hair isn't turning to frost he's so wrought with fury. Though he isn't certain, he knows that his eyes are probably an enraged shade of midnight blue by now; one of the Dabnodian race's most dangerous colors.
The video hasn't ended, as he hears snickering from the girls who are recording, and angry shouting coming from Damiana. Even so, Saeran doesn't stick around. Instead he stands up from his place on the sofa, and marches to the common room's exit with his jaw set firmly. So abrupt is his departure and so furious are his steps that the others can't help but stare as he walks away. Starfire and Robin gape at him in shock, but not Raven. If anything, her expression is a nervous one.
"Frostbite, where are you going? The video isn't over yet," says Robin in puzzlement.
"Yes, please do return to the sofa and join us for the remainder of the video! The adorable arguing of friend Speedy and friend Firelight is most delightful, as is the comment section below! Many people are in agreement that they are quite cute together. I, as well as many others, have started to use the name 'Speedlight' as a name for their romantic partnership!"
His jaw locking so firmly that it should technically be broken, Saeran's earlier conversation with Robin flies completely out the window. He knows that what he's doing could end up being a mistake, and a huge one, but for the first time in five years he doesn't care. After all, allowing Damiana to contract some disgusting Earth STD or an STI would be an even bigger mistake. Knowing how Speedy most likely spends his free time, he doesn't doubt it that he has an abundance of them.
Sounding remarkably stern, he replies to both of their statements. "Starfire, let's make something clear. 'Speedlight' is not happening, so don't use that name! I'm going to my room to pack my things. I don't care what anyone says. I am going to Metropolis, and nothing is getting in my way!"
The Boy Wonder sounds five times more puzzled than he did before. "You're going to Metropolis? But you just gave me a speech about why you're staying in Jump City!"
"Forget what I said about not going, because I'm sure as heck going now! That horny little playboy had better watch his back, because once I'm standing behind him it won't be safe!"
With that being said, Saeran exits the room, leaving two very confused Titans in his wake. The one who isn't confused wears a small frown, not sure if she did the right thing by showing him the video. Hopefully she didn't just condemn a member of the Titans East to an early death.
"Uh… Am I the only one who has no idea who has no idea why he's this upset?"
Raven replies to Robin's question with a sigh.
"Don't overthink it, Robin. Once you get to Metropolis, everything will make a lot more sense."
Steel City
Meanwhile…
Damiana sits in the center of her bed with her knees pulled to her chest, apprehension flowing through her veins. Leaning against the wall beside her door is a large duffel bag. Within the bag are four changes of clothes, toiletries, several bottles of hair dye, multiple cases of contact lenses, and money just in case she needs it. The only thing Damiana's mind will let her think about is how things have spiraled so out of control so fast. This morning she was out grocery shopping with Speedy and Aqualad, planning on staying in Steel City for at least another few weeks before having to deal with Black Shadow. Now, by some fantastic turn of events, she is in her room preparing to track down a criminal base in Metropolis. Things were so normal this morning. Why did everything have to change?
Sighing deeply, Damiana immediately corrects her thoughts. It doesn't matter if she had fun this morning, neither does it matter that she is comfortable at Titans Tower. The only reason she got involved with the Titans in the first place is because of Black Shadow, and the reason she went as far as joining their team is to help stop him. Black Shadow is her criminal as much as theirs, so it is her responsibility to go to Metropolis to assist in tracking down his base. She told Robin that she would do whatever she has to do, and she meant it sincerely. So, if she is with the Titans East by choice, and if she is choosing to help stop Black Shadow, then why is she so nervous?
Running both hands through her false brown tresses, Damiana lays back on her bed and stares up at the ceiling. Right now, all she wants is to stay locked in her room until tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning is when she, Speedy, and Cyborg have to set out for Metropolis by order of Robin, so she could use a night of alone time to help prepare herself. This is her first time helping track down a criminal, after all. Maybe staying in her room, surrounded by her beautiful walls is exactly what she needs. Admittedly, the walls of her room are incredibly soothing to her.
Unfortunately for the Dabnodian girl, however, she doesn't have much time to let her surroundings sink in. Only a few seconds later, loud knocking is heard from the other side of her door. Her first assumption is that it is Bumblebee coming to tell her the rest of Robin's plans. It was already confirmed that she, Speedy, and Cyborg are going, but the other three were still undecided when they ended their transmission. Robin said that he's going, and Starfire also said that she would like to go, but none of this is certain; especially since they haven't stated whether it will be Raven or the mystery hero, Frostbite, who accompanies them. Of course, based on the soft tapping on her bedroom door, this small gap in their plan has finally been covered.
Her assumption that it is Bumblebee on the opposite side of her door never leaving, Damiana sits up so that her legs are dangling over the edge of her bed. The moment she does this, she doesn't hesitate to call loudly so the person on the other side can hear.
"Come in!"
When it is a voice other than Bumblebee's who replies, Damiana feels as her posture stiffens in a startled fashion. Nonetheless, the voice's owner isn't one that bothers her. Once she processes who it belongs to, it actually manages to bring a smile to her face.
"Okay, I'm coming in, but only because you said I could. Don't blame me for this later."
With that being said her bedroom door slides open, revealing the redheaded archer with maroon-clad arms folded over his chest. Similar to her, a small smile paints over his features. It isn't arrogant, or smug, or teasing, but rather is a smile filled with kindness. The sight of his facial expression makes her own smile grow slightly larger. Standing up from her bed and walking toward the entrance, she meets him as he steps just inside of her doorway.
"Hi, Speedy. Is there something that you wanted?"
"Yeah," he says meeting her gaze with masked eyes. "I just wanted to see if— Whoa."
Before Speedy can finish speaking, Damiana notices as his hidden gaze turns in the direction of her bedroom's walls. For a moment she is confused as to why he abruptly cut off in the middle of his sentence, but then she remembers the reason. Unlike Bee, Mas y Menos, and Beast Boy, Speedy has never seen her room before. When first seeing her walls, the others all gave the same reaction; wide eyes, agape mouths, and stunned silence. Damiana loves her walls, but she had no idea that her teammates would be this amazed upon seeing them. Then again, she doesn't mind their reactions. It means that she did a better job with the painting than she ever imagined she would.
Turning her gaze toward the wall that Speedy is currently observing, Damiana looks to her left where her desk and several bookshelves are at. Painted on this wall, in a vivid mixture of vibrant violets and soft lilacs, are tall purple grasses. Back-dropping the grasses is a sky that is a perfect mixture of blue-violet and soft peach, the occasional streak of bright rose mingling amongst the two colors. Dotting the violet grasses from the front all the way back to the horizon line are flowers of red, gold, orange, and yellow, many of these colors blended together into dazzling patterns. This field is currently one from her imagination, though it used to be very real. It sat directly behind her family's cabin, and had flowers so beautiful that she spent hours there just so she could run amongst them.
The wall next to that one, the wall that her bed is shoved against, contains a picture of more vivid violet grasses. What's different about this painting, however, is that the grasses are arranged so that they form a hill. At the top of the hill sits a tiny cabin crafted from stones that are the colors of gray and rose. In spite of its size, it is a clean and sparkling cabin that shines brightly amongst the grasses. At the bottom of the hill, at the picture's forefront, is a pond with bright red fish and rippling water. The pond isn't empty, because playing in it are two shirtless boys in swimming clothes, one with a bright golden ponytail at shoulder length, and the other with a waist-length neon orange ponytail. There are two girls as well who also wear swimming clothes, one girl with waist-length rose red curls, and another with long, smooth, lilac-colored tresses. All four of them appear blissfully happy.
Then there's the wall across from the first wall; the wall containing her walk-in closet. Painted onto this one is a structure that takes up nearly the entire space. It is a tall, dazzling, Palace crafted from rose-stone. Amongst the rose-stone bricks are carvings of intricate swirls. Each of these swirled carvings is filled in with gold and silver, the occasional emerald stone decorating several of the golden carvings. In front of the Palace are large arches that function as entryways into courtyards, Knights clad in silver breastplates and shining armor seen walking beneath them. There are people in robes carrying scrolls as well, along with women in fancy dresses. Each person in the painting has hair of an astonishingly bright color. Colors of blue, red, bright gold and green; shades that are abnormal by Earth standards.
Finally, on the wall containing her door is a painting of Damiana's most cherished memory. This scene is one that takes place next to the largest river on her province. For the majority of the year the riverside would be completely deserted, but for this one special week it would be so crowded that space to breathe was practically nonexistent. This week was Planet Dabnod's most highly esteemed celebration; the Annual Migration Festival. During that week, every sea creature and bird on Dabnod would move from one side of the planet to the other. While they migrated, their feathers and scales would shift colors rapidly and vividly, like neon lights. It was amazing to see so many animals in one place during the day, but at night everything looked incredible. Seeing the sky and riverside lit up like fireworks was always an extraordinary sight; one that she won't ever forget.
Thus, that is what Damiana painted for the final wall. The riverside at night, lit up vivid neon colors by the scales of the migrating fishes. Then she painted the sky above the river, lit up by the feathers of migrating birds. Somehow, the colors never blended together. Through the blinding lights, each animal could always be seen individually from the others. Damiana isn't sure if she represented how incredible the Annual Migration Festival was in her painting, but she can definitely say that she gave it her best shot. Of course, even if it was her best attempt, this doesn't honestly matter. No painting could ever capture the extent of the riverside's beauty that time of year.
Meanwhile, coming out of her daydreaming brought on by the memories of her walls, Damiana focuses her attention back on Speedy. He is no longer loitering by her doorway, but now he stands in the center of her room gawking at her walls with mouth hanging agape. He turns his head between each of the four paintings, looking at them as though he's viewing rare pieces of art. It takes another couple of minutes, but at last he finally comes out of his trance. Taking one last look around, he turns his attention to Damiana and speaks while sounding astonished.
"Wow. What the heck did you paint? I've never seen anything like it! It's amazing!"
Upon hearing his words, Damiana gazes at her paintings while feeling a mixture of wistfulness and pained longing. It takes a several endless seconds for her to respond.
"Yeah. It is amazing, isn't it? It's unlike anything you'll ever get to see." Unable to refrain from frowning, she adds, "You could say that these places are part of a dream."
A long moment of silence passes after this. Damiana does her best to hide her frown, but unfortunately, Speedy catches it. Walking closer to the girl, he wears an expression of concern.
"Are you okay? You seem pretty down. You aren't having second thoughts about going to Metropolis with me and Cyborg, are you?"
Realizing his question, Damiana does her best to defend herself. "No! I'm not having any second thoughts! None at all! I guess I'm wondering how everything's going to go once we get there, but I'm not really having any serious doubts. Just…last minute jitters?"
His kind smile returning, he places a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you're going on an undercover mission to track down the base of a dangerous criminal, and you're defying the Justice League in the process. Last minute jitters are normal." Tightening his grip on her in a comforting manner, he adds, "Before we start on the road to Metropolis, remember that you're a Titan. When worst comes to worst, the Titans have each other's backs. I had your back when we fought Black Shadow's robots in that abandon building, and no matter what happens in Metropolis, I've got your back this time too. True, I'm not perfect, but I give it my all when it means protecting my teammates. Don't doubt me."
All of the sudden, any amount of sadness that Damiana felt a second ago vanishes entirely. Turning so that she's facing him, she catches both she and Speedy off guard by giving him a swift but warm hug around the neck. The whole time she smiles gently.
"You don't have to tell me what I already know, Speedy. If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that you'll stick by me in a fight. Don't ever assume that I wouldn't trust you."
Toward the beginning of her statement, Damiana attempts ending their brief hug by pulling away. Now that she has actually tried hugging someone again, she realizes how foreign it truly feels. It has been five years since she has hugged anyone. Until now, she honestly thought that her hugging reflex had died. When Speedy wraps his arms around her waist and returns her embrace, however, Damiana learns that her hugging reflex never did die. It simply went to sleep for a while. Less than a second is what it takes for her to fall back into the hug. The whole time he embraces her, Speedy forms a response.
"I'm not sure how much this means, but I trust you too. It doesn't matter what happens in Metropolis, because as long as we have each other's backs, the Teen Titans are unstoppable."
Their embrace lasts for several more seconds until they finally release one another, Damiana feeling an odd sort of calm wash over her. Once they've released each other, they stand in silence for at least a minute until Speedy speaks again.
"You, me, and Cyborg have to leave in the morning. According to what Cyborg told me, we're meeting Robin, Starfire, and Frostbite in Metropolis in a few days, and Raven is coming to Steel City to help take care of things here." Pausing momentarily, he continues, "But for now, let's not worry about that. Instead, let's go to the common room. We've got board games, sushi, and loads of pre-mission fun."
Turning and looking at her walls once more, Damiana considers Speedy's offer. All of the sudden, spending the whole night cooped up in her room by herself sounds like pure misery. Turning to face Speedy with a smile, she replies to him.
"Sure. It sounds like fun. Let's go."
With that being said, Damiana and Speedy exit the room side-by-side. Damiana has no idea what's going to happen tomorrow, but this doesn't bother her. For the first time in the duration of her memory, tomorrow doesn't sound so scary.
~End Part II~
A/N: Well, friends, that is it for Part Two. I will get Part Three out as soon as time permits. My classes start on Monday, though, so there are no guarantees for when I'm going to be able to update this. Not only that, but I'm working on a Gai X OC story for Naruto called "Overcomer" that centers around domestic violence, and it has been ages since I last updated it! Now that Part Two of this is finished, I was going to write a couple of chapters for "Overcomer". Hopefully none of you are too disappointed by this.
If any of you are fans of Naruto, feel free to check out my other stories. I have a completed Itachi X OC story titled "The Hidden Truth", and there is also my current work in progress "Overcomer". My Naruto stories aren't nearly as complex as "Firelight", but if you do decide to check them out, I sincerely hope that you find them enjoyable.
Until Part Three, my friends! Hopefully you found the conclusion to Part Two enjoyable, and if the fates are on my side, I won't take too long getting this story updated! XD
Forever and Always,
OCQ