A/N: Hello, all! I apologize for the incredibly long gaps between chapters. First a seven month gap and then a five month gap? I'm sorry for what I put my readers though. I don't like keeping you in suspense. Sometimes life happens and writing gets shoved aside. I'll do my best to update at least once a month from this point forward, but there are no guarantees. Either way, know that I'm not about to quit writing "Firelight". Updates may be delayed depending on life circumstances, but know that a new chapter will always come sooner or later.
On a different note, do you know how long this story has been around? I have been writing "Firelight" for two-and-a-half years! I was nineteen when I started posting and am the ripe age of twenty-two now. It's hard for me to believe that I have been working on this story for so long. Hopefully you give your humble author credit for dedication :)
Anyway, onward with the chapter! We're getting close to the end of Part Three. There is this chapter, the next chapter, and then we should be onto Part Four. These next couple chapters are going to be super intense, and I'm excited for you read them! Thank you all for being so patient! You have no idea how much I appreciate your patience! Enjoy the chapter!
Side Note: When my OCs are speaking amongst themselves, assume that they are speaking in Dabnodian unless stated otherwise.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Part III: Secrets: Chapter Thirty-Two
Metal grating cuts into the soft flesh of Damiana's legs, and the coarse texture of bricks into her back. The city of Metropolis is bathed in as much darkness as an urban setting will allow. Headlights from buses and taxis shine from the street below. Off in the distance, the windows of skyscrapers can be seen shimmering like stars. Not to mention the glow of streetlights and traffic signals. Somehow, even though the world should be painted in blackness, it is brilliantly lit. The world should also be silent, but the honking of horns and rattling from monorails won't allow that. When adding the swishing of helicopter blades, there is as much noise as there is midnight light.
This doesn't surprise Damiana, though. Each city she has lived in, and left, has had these attributes. Metropolis is no different.
Knees are pulled tight against her chest. The young Dabnodian peers up at the starless sky, false green eyes following a lone helicopter. A cool gust of air sneaks between the cracks of Adriel's secluded fire escape. When her eyes begin to grow moist, Damiana claims that this is the reason. The wind must have gotten to her. Wiping the tears away with an index finger, she shifts her eyes to horizon. Skyscrapers. Endless rows of skyscrapers as far as her vision can reach. Some of them towering, some of them shorter, all of them magnificently bright against an ashen backdrop.
From where Damiana sits, this could be any number of cities that she has passed through during her five-year trek to nowhere. Chicago. Indianapolis. Philadelphia. Gotham. Manhattan. Steel City. The young Dabnodian has lived in each of these places and left them all behind. For a brief span of time, she thought that she could finally stop worrying. What a fool she has been.
"Hold on! What are you talking about?! I thought Dabnod was destroyed in some kind of accident with meteors or something!"
"You're wrong. It was nothing like that. My planet was destroyed in a war."
She confessed the truth to Roy right there in Adriel's living room. Right there in Adriel's living room, she and her brother yelled at Starfire. Not in English, but in the Dabnodian language. Starfire and Roy are probably filling Cyborg and Robin in on everything. From there, they will most likely contact the rest of the Titans and inform them of the truth as well. Her future with the Titans is over and so is Saeran's. Her, Saeran, and possibly Adriel are going to be set adrift to wander Earth together. No home. No rest. No solace. Always looking over their shoulder to make sure nobody finds out the truth.
Salty tears creep down each of her cheeks. Roy found out, and she was so happy that he did! There is no way that Damiana can be happy about it now, though. Roy knows about the war. He learned the full truth. He saw her yell at Starfire and storm out of the room. It is impossible for Roy to still be supporting her. Not with Starfire inside, most likely giving the Titans her side of the story. The fact that Saeran froze him in a block of ice earlier this evening doesn't help the Dabnodians' case any, either.
Roy…he probably thinks that Dabnodians are monsters…
Damiana sobs relentlessly, glaring into the night with venom. Reaching out a hand, she smacks it hard against the grating beneath her. The fire escape shudders, but she doesn't notice. All the girl's focus is on her enraged, alien, shouts.
"Why do the Fates torture me?!"
"The Fates torture all Dabnodians, Dami. Don't think of their actions as specific to you."
Five feet to Damiana's right is a window at the end of a long hallway; the fire escape's single entrance. She was certain that not a soul would locate her here. Until frantically searching for a place of solitude, she herself had no idea that Adriel had a fire escape. Much to her relief, however, it is not one of the Titans that have discovered her hiding spot. The person climbing out the window and onto the iron grating is none other than the girl's brother.
Saeran shuts the window quietly behind him, as if afraid that the tiniest creak will send the studio's inhabitants sprinting in their direction. Damiana doesn't mind this, though. Thirty minutes ago, she'd closed the window in the exact same fashion. Once the window is securely shut the man crawls toward her, resting a gentle hand on his sister's shoulder. Much to Damiana's astonishment, Saeran's eyes are turbulent gray. As for the ponytail at the nape of his neck, it is blacker than coal. Some point after she'd fled the room, the man discarded his azure contact lenses and blonde hair entirely. Now the girl's brother sits next to her as his full Dabnodian self.
This entire situation almost feels like a dream. Whether it is good or bad, Damiana does not yet know. Although, if she was forced into choosing, she would say it feels almost like a nightmare.
Clinging to the front of her elder sibling's shirt, Damiana sobs buckets. Part of her still questions if Saeran is real. The Saeran she knew would not reveal his natural features on a foreign planet so easily. Neither would he attack her teammate and reveal himself to her immediately. That would put their identities in jeopardy. She is certain that he is real, as he smells of frost and his skin is slightly chilled as it has always been. Yet, the man's actions are so out of character. So careless.
Maybe Earth has changed us both.
Despite her uncertainty, Damiana clings to her brother more tightly than she can ever remember. Every unpleasant feeling trapped inside of her hearts comes out in a flood.
"I'm so happy you're here, Saeran." She continues after a spell of ceaseless crying. "I didn't think I'd ever see you or Adriel again, and now I have you both. I missed you!"
Saeran pats Damiana on the head and embraces her, his voice soothing.
"I missed you, too, Dami. With all that has happened, I never got to express how much. I am so happy to be reunited with my baby sister."
An endless moment of silence passes, the only backdrop the sounds of traffic. Damiana longs to ask her brother the things that she got to ask Adriel after their first meeting. Where has he been for five years? How has he been faring? How did he end up in Metropolis? There are innumerable questions.
Before she can bring any such questions to light, Saeran is already speaking.
"Earth has been hard on you and Adriel. One look at the both of you is all it takes for me to tell. The Fates have put the Dabnodian people through a lot these past several years." Sighing, he confesses, "I should know. Until putting my elemental abilities to use as a crime fighter, I was a professional panhandler. That's pretty pathetic for your big brother, huh."
Eyes widening, Damiana examines him in surprise. "You panhandled? For how long?"
Saeran frowns deeply. "Not for very long. About seven months. At some point I took notice of the Justice League and saw how they used their powers to fight crime. The crime rates were high where I landed on the west coast, so I took to doing the same thing. A couple months was all it took for Jump City to take a liking to me. They started giving me a paycheck for my assistance, and at some point, granted me an apartment. They didn't ask for a name, a background, or anything. Everything just seemed to work out." He releases an aggravated hiss of air. "Until the Titans invaded my town a couple years ago, anyway. It hasn't been the same since they moved in. I tolerate them, though."
Frown transforming into a smile, Saeran makes a final remark. "Even with the irritation they've caused, tolerating the Teen Titans has worked to both of our benefits. We never would have found each other without them."
Damiana manages her own smile. "That's true. We owe the Titans a thank you. Even if they ostracize us after today, they did bring our family back together." Smile brightening, she adds, "They also gave me a home after five years of wandering the streets. Before I met back up with Adriel, and then you, I thought that they were going to be my family. They've really helped a lot."
Saeran, despite his smile, turns cold at her tale. It is not his facial expression that gives Damiana this impression, but rather, the sudden frigidness of her brother's posture.
"Family is a bold word, Damiana. They only accepted you as long as you were human, and as long your powers benefited them. They would have left you homeless otherwise. That is the way superheroes work." Petting his baby sister's hair once more, he continues. "I'm sorry to hear that you struggled for so long. I don't know the details of your suffering, but just know that none of that applies anymore. We're together now. You will never be alone again. Your real family is Adriel and I."
Damiana doesn't let go of her brother. Although, she does frown.
"Of course you're my real family. I never said that you weren't. I love you and Adriel more than anyone else." She hesitates momentarily prior to continuing. "It's weird, but I wish that I could stay with the Titans East, too. I told Speedy that I'm a Dabnodian, and he accepted me. Now that he knows about the war with Tamaran he probably doesn't, but who knows? Maybe if all three of us explain, I can still be a member of Titans East. You and Adriel could relocate to live in Steel City close to me. Maybe if we give it time, we can make this work."
The girl looks her brother in the eye the instant she turns silent. To her dismay, Saeran's irises are now black the same as his hair. They also contain a small tint of red.
"I hate to say it, Dami, but our relationships with the Teen Titans are unfixable. I spoke with Robin and Cyborg. The way everything looks right now, they won't tolerate us."
Were her contact lenses removed, Damiana's eyes would match the persona of a tumultuous thunderstorm. Her downcast expression already does.
"What about Ro…..uh….Speedy? Did he say anything?"
Saeran's gaze does not stray from hers in the smallest amount. This, along with his words, is enough to cause a fresh bout of despair.
"I would rather not tell you. Speedy's opinion no longer matters."
Aside from a sigh, the girl gives no immediate response. Never has a small sound been filled with greater depression.
"Oh. I guess that's all the answer I need."
Damiana collapses against her brother, prepared to stay outside on the fire escape all night. Not a thing could force the girl inside of the building. Nothing, that is, besides Saeran's words.
"We should go talk to Adriel. We need to tell him that us three Dabnodians have made a change of plans."
Brow furrowing, she gazes at him. "A change of plans? What do you mean by that?"
"The Teen Titans no longer want us involved. I know you don't like it, but we need to accept it. If they don't want us, then they will have to handle Black Shadow without our assistance."
A room can be ear-piercingly silent. Yet, a person's thoughts so loud that a tornado may as well be spiraling through. No matter how silent, this is how Adriel feels the largest majority of the time. In fact, the quieter the environment, the more echoing his thoughts. On this night in particular, such a fact has never felt truer.
Aside from the steady dripping of the kitchen's faucet, Adriel focuses on nothing. His brown-red hair is freed from its ponytail. It hangs limply over his shoulders as though it is wilting. He runs large fingers through the colorful locks, tugging in an anxious manner. Until reuniting with Damiana, Adriel had never touched his hair this way.
"It's almost time," agonizes the man. "I'm so sorry to put you through this, Dami, but it can't be helped."
Locked away inside Adriel's brain is a timer. It has been counting down for far too long. It is almost the fifth of April. Every year since coming to Earth he has braced himself on the day of April fifth, wondering if he had been told the wrong year. Was it really the five-year mark he was waiting for? What if the events of that day happened at the three or four-year mark instead? Or what if everything happened two years after his planet got destroyed? Being given the wrong year would have flushed every ounce of Adriel's hope down the toilet. True, this phobia was an unlikely one, but it concerned the man nevertheless.
Luckily, all that worry was for nothing. Just as he was starting to give up hope, he ran into a sixteen-year-old Damiana in the Earth city of Metropolis. Not only that, but he ran into her mere days before the fifth of April. All these years Adriel had begun questioning if his bizarre experiences were a dream. If all that had happened to him in the weeks before Dabnod's destruction was a delusion. Perhaps Damiana was destroyed along with all the others, and he was on Planet Earth alone. Perhaps he wouldn't meet her. Perhaps that flicker of hope was gone.
Never did the man guess that a tiny, flickering flame, would turn into roaring fire. Both of his hearts ache to their very centers. Yet, he cannot help feeling hopeful. Even if the girl he cares so much about is going to feel tremendous pain, the results will be worth their while.
"Sweet Fates, watch over Damiana. Guide her steps. She is being counted on far more than she knows. Sister Destiny, pull her down your path."
More than anything, Adriel has a desire to go to his bedroom so that he can pray to the Fates. Not a brief prayer, but one that could last many hours. Specifically, he would like his prayer to be to Sister Destiny. He knows that this isn't possible, of course. Of all days for time to be on his side, this is certainly not one of them. Rattling can be heard from outside; rattling that is easily identified as the ladder of his fire escape. A minute later the glass double doors of Monique's belly dancing studio are being pushed open. Two pairs of footsteps are heard making their way through an empty room of wooden floors and broken mirrors. Thirty seconds after this, the door leading to his kitchen is forced open as well.
Standing in front of Adriel, their hair tousled by the wind, are Saeran and Damiana. To say the least, their faces are grim. It is exactly as Adriel could have expected with the horrors that have happened today. Considering the additional horrors that will soon befall them and the Titans, their current demeanors seem cheerful by comparison.
"Black Shadow stole Zenotrum from the Metropolis Museum of History and Astrology. He created a large dragon that attacked Damiana, myself, Speedy, and Cyborg. Saeran appears out of nowhere. The Teen Titans know about our Dabnodian lineage. And it is still going to get worse from here." The man gives a despaired internal sigh. "Poor Dami."
As Adriel's head clears from his many turbulent thoughts, he motions for the two of them to sit down. In spite of his general cheerful exterior, the man's face is every bit as dour as the siblings'. Why shouldn't it be? He has far more reason. Especially considering how nobody ever informed him of Saeran's survival… A minor bump in the road, but one that can be worked around.
Saeran, hair and eyes as black as a starless night sky, sits directly across from him. Damiana sits to the belly dancer's right. A long time passes without words. They simply look at each other. The atmosphere of the room is heavy enough to break a person's spine.
"Strange day, huh? This morning we had the simple goal of stopping Black Shadow. Tonight, we're sitting in my kitchen reunited and…well…waiting."
Narrowing his eyes, Saeran scoffs. Somehow, even with the inconvenience of his existence, such a familiar reaction provides comfort.
"It stuns me how little you've changed. All of us are in the dire situation of having our lineage revealed. As we speak, Robin, Cyborg, and Speedy are contacting the other Titans. Yet, you are able to make it sound so minimal."
Adriel shrugs. "What am I supposed to say? We can't reverse what happened. All we can do now is wait."
"Wait for what?" Damiana pipes up. "For them to come down here to toss Saeran and I out of the hero world? For them to call all three of us monsters? For our little group to become targets when all we've done is tried to survive? We can't just sit here and wait for something to happen."
The tone of her voice causes both the Fire Phoenix and the Ground Badger to gawk. Never has a young woman sounded angrier or more pained. With or without her green contact lenses, the bitter emotions are so palpable that Adriel can nearly touch them. If he could, he would sweep Damiana into a hug; not just one of comfort, but one of early apology. Although the man cannot see himself, he is more than certain that his eyes are becoming an empathetic shade of violet.
"I'm surprised that you of all people would say something like that." Adriel's hearts break in two with each spoken word. "It seemed like you were getting attached to the Titans. You don't want to give them the benefit of the doubt?"
It doesn't go unnoticed the way she bites her lower lip. Her two front teeth nearly draw blood.
"There isn't much point to it. Saeran talked to them earlier. They aren't going to tolerate us. Not even Speedy."
Damiana shuts her eyes tightly. To her brother, it might appear like she is having a migraine. Adriel, on the other hand, is fully aware that she is creating a barrier to tears. He rests a hand on the girl's shoulder. Although his words are to Damiana, a wary gaze lies on Saeran.
"Are you sure what you're saying is true? Speedy acts like he genuinely cares about you. It's hard for me to believe that he would let the rest of the Titans boot you off the team without a fight."
Her eyes close so tightly, it surprises Adriel that the lids don't tear. "Well it's true, okay? The Titans are on Starfire's side. They don't want us around anymore. Saeran said so." She unleashes a long, bitter, sigh. "I already know how my team feels. I'd rather not stick around so they can tell me to leave in person. This might sound out of nowhere, but I want to go."
He tightens his grip so that the light touch becomes a gentle squeeze. Large hand never leaving Dami's shoulder, he keeps his gaze trained on her brother. Saeran's onyx eyes are cold in a way that Adriel finds unsettling.
"It took a bit of convincing, but Damiana and I came to the consensus that leaving is our best option." Muscled arms cross over the water user's chest tautly. "You seem to have partiality toward the Titans; both of you. I'll have you know that the Titans should no longer matter. We're together now. The only thing that matters is each other."
Damiana doesn't say anything verbally. All her thoughts are written on her face like chalk to slate. Even with the girl's most recent claim, Adriel sees it. Doubt. Damiana doesn't want to leave the Titans behind. This causes the Ground Badger to smile internally. Everything will still work out.
Saeran deciphers his sister's facial expression as well, because he replies as if she had spoken.
"Starfire is the Princess of Tamaran and has the support of her entire team. Do you see any reason for us to stay, Damiana? Not to mention that Robin is a hothead. He has made more than one rash decision. Do you honestly think that you will still have your spot on the Titans East team when all is said and done?"
She shuts her eyes again. Not a single tear slips out. Unfortunately, a lone, crimson, droplet emerges from a crack in her lip. Her front teeth punctured two tads too deep.
"I know I won't. It's an obvious answer. That's why I said I want to leave." Her gaze, which was previously aimed at the wood of the table, turns to Adriel. Her eyes are forlorn and desperate. "Saeran and I don't want to leave alone, though. We want you to come with us. We're the only family that we have left. The three of us should stick together."
Like night miraculously turned to day, Damiana manages a small smile. Likewise, so does Saeran. The man's dark eyes turn the color of honey. As for his hair, it lightens to coppery brown. When Adriel finally responds, the water user's features lighten farther.
"If anyone else was asking, my answer would be an automatic no. Not with my job at the museum and my home here." Neither sibling takes notice, but the Ground Badger's hearts nearly beat out of his chest as he continues. "Of course, since it is my Dabnodian family doing the asking, I will reply with yes. I would go to any length possible for the two of you."
Saeran and Damiana's beaming grins should bring him joy. Yet, they do not. Far from it. Adriel fought Black Shadow's dragon alongside the Titans at the museum; his job is more than certainly gone. The Teen Titans have been staying with him in the second-floor apartment he is renting to avoid the Justice League. His apartment will be gone soon enough, as will his additional job with the belly dancing studio. Not to mention, the man's identity as a Dabnodian is at risk. Only a few short days have passed, and so many sacrifices have been made already.
Now Adriel is making another sacrifice. Abandoning everything to run away with Damiana and Saeran to a place called "nowhere". What is all this worth?
A few days from now, every sacrifice Adriel has made on this planet and the previous will seem like nothing. April fifth. From that day forward, the sacrifices will get far steeper.
Meanwhile…
The guest bedroom that they stand in is little and dark. Dim, artificial, light filters inside from a streetlight situated by the window. Scant luminescence also comes from a screen haphazardly set up by Cyborg. Aside from these two small sources, nothing illuminates the tiny space. If Robin has a specific reason for choosing this room, Roy isn't sure what it is. Perhaps it is the sturdy lock on the door's handle. Or perhaps it is because this is the apartment's backmost room. Whatever the Boy Wonder's reasoning, Roy doesn't truly care. All the archer cares about are the faces of his teammates back home in Steel City. Particularly, the face of Bumblebee.
His team leader wears an expression that he won't ever forget.
"Firelight is not an alien! You're pulling my leg! If a girl I let on my team was alien, I'd know!"
Bee appears so indisputably flabbergasted that it's frightening. Her deep brown eyes look similar to black holes, and her entire body is stiffer than a plank. Were she here in person, it wouldn't be surprising if she grabbed Robin by the collar.
When Robin replies, his arms are crossed with intensity. Etched into his face is a scowl.
"Do you think that any of us would lie about something like this? I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. Firelight isn't human. She's an alien."
He stands directly in front of the screen, staring Bumblebee down relentlessly. She returns the gesture full-force, as if determined to discover that this entire revelation is a joke. Bee learns quickly, however, that it isn't a joke. Cyborg looks at the team leader with a dour frown. As does the uncostumed Speedy. Starfire, who stands against a wall behind the trio, makes no eye contact whatsoever. The Tamaranean hangs her head low while sighing in depression. It is only after drinking in the sight of each of them that her eyes widen farther.
"I don't understand how she can be an alien. She looks and acts just like the rest of us."
Aqualad stands beside her, appearing on the verge of passing out. As for Beast Boy and Mas y Menos, they are in similar states of disbelief. It is a wonder that their mouths haven't caught flies.
"Robin, dude, are you sure your research isn't wrong? Bee's right. Leila acts like every Earth kid I've ever met. Her skin isn't orange or blue, either, and she can't fly."
Although his eyes are concealed by sunglasses, Roy can practically feel them narrowing. Less than three seconds is what it takes for Robin to shoot hidden daggers in the archer's direction.
"If you have questions, you should ask Speedy. He found out about before most of us."
Seething in his tone, he turns his head back toward the screen. Hidden behind Beast Boy and Aqualad is Raven. Her hood was down a moment prior. In the current moment, however, it obscures her entire face.
"The only person who found out that aliens have been posing as humans before Speedy is Raven. Frostbite is an alien, too; the same type of alien as Firelight. More than that, Frostbite is Firelight's brother. For some reason, Raven never told any of us that she knew this even though she has known for weeks!"
All of a sudden, Bumblebee's eyes are no longer on Robin. Neither are anyone else's. Everyone turns to face the dark girl, features wide with shock. Raven does not respond. She merely gapes back. Meanwhile, feeling in Raven's exact same boat, Roy speaks up. Emerald eyes fully revealed, he glares sharply at the Boy Wonder.
"What were we supposed to do, Robin? If you have a friend who tells you a secret, you don't just rat them out. Firelight and Frostbite stayed hidden for a reason. They were scared! They were scared then, and they're scared now! Before you paint them like villains, Firelight and Frostbite aren't evil. Dabnod got destroyed, and they have nowhere to go! Earth is their only option."
Although he isn't looking at her, Roy feels it in his gut that Raven agrees. Her calm, monotone, voice floods the room a second later.
"Saeran really isn't a bad person. Even though I kept his identity hidden, neither am I. I'm sorry for explaining this so bluntly, Starfire, but Saeran and his sister are from a planet that was once called Dabnod. It was destroyed in a war with Tamaran." Raven pauses briefly to gather her thoughts. "It was a brutal war, and if Dabnod hadn't been destroyed, then Tamaran would have. Either way, it would have ended in destruction. The war might have been against Starfire's people, but there is no changing that. Saeran knows this and so does Damiana. They do not want to cause trouble. The only thing they want as survivors is safety and stability."
An endless silent period passes. Each and every Titan gapes. Both from the Metropolis side of the screen, and the Steel City side. As Roy stares, he stares with a smile. He never would have imagined Raven learning the exact same secret, and weeks before him to boot. Yet, such a strange coincidence works as a marvelous advantage.
Eternity goes by, but at long last, someone speaks. This person is Aqualad. The Atlantian still appears in unimaginable shock. Nevertheless, he shares some very insightful thoughts.
"Instead of being so upset, maybe we should consider what Raven and Speedy are saying. Even if Dam-ee-ah…uh...Firelight and Frostbite are survivors of this awful war, they might not be revenge seeking. They might just want to move forward. Alien superheroes are so common on Earth, that they might see crimefighting as a way to do it." Shrugging, he adds, "Frostbite did make it to Jump City before the Titans, and Firelight showed up near the East team instead of the West team. That doesn't sound like a method of attack to me."
"That's because it isn't," says Speedy with a growing smile. "Damiana doesn't want to hurt Starfire at all. Did you forget that she was horrified of joining the Titans at first? It was because she didn't want her identity to get found out and have it cause trouble. Not to mention Saeran. He has lived in Jump City for years, and never made any vengeful moves."
Roy's emerald eyes glisten. Even if it is only Aqualad and Raven, it makes him happy that at least a couple teammates are on his side with this! As for the remaining Steel City Titans, their eyes are filled with hesitation.
"I don't know…" says Bee. "I'd love to believe the best of the Leila you introduced us to, Speedy, but it's hard to knowing the truth. She seems genuine, but it's awfully convenient that she reconnected with her brother on a combined mission with our teams. How do we know that they don't have a plan to hurt Star? It's not like they don't have a motive."
Beast Boy moves ten feet closer to add his input as well. The green Titan's face takes up most of the screen.
"Dudes, I know that Starfire's planet destroying Frostbite and Firelight's planet is majorly bad, but I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that they're aliens! How can you even tell that they're aliens?! Maybe they're actually humans, and you're just imagining this. That could save us a ton of worry."
"Their hair and eyes change color, Beast Boy," states Robin bluntly. "Frostbite took out his contact lenses and melted off his hair dye. We saw it with our own eyes."
Shrugging, Roy adds, "Damiana's eyes do that too. She took out her contacts one time and let me see. She also has a second heart. If you look at her wrists, there are orange blood vessels next to the blue ones."
"There's also the fact that Frostbite and Firelight, plus Adriel, spoke in their own language earlier tonight. For me, their alien language is all it took with or without seeing Frostbite's hair and eyes."
Beast Boy gives a nervous laugh at their explanation, his features deadpanning. "Oh. I guess they really are aliens. I shouldn't have doubted you…"
He edges away from screen, the rest of them coming into view as he resumes his place beside Mas y Menos. The tiny twins haven't said much. They whisper in astounded Spanish amongst themselves. As for the others, their uncertain expressions remain.
From behind the duo of Titan boys, Cyborg speaks for the first time. His frown remains firmly attached to his face. Even so, the metal man doesn't appear distraught. He seems to be considering, in depth, the situation at hand.
"You know, Rob, I'm half tempted to take Speedy and Raven's side on this. It's a weird coincidence that all of them are together, but maybe we shouldn't be too harsh. Before we decide what to do, why don't we go get them? Nobody can explain why they were hiding better than the Dabnodians themselves."
More than anything, Roy wants to shout with approval. Afterward, he wants to scamper off to find the girl he once called Leila. Bringing her, and possibly Adriel, in here to explain might help. Saeran seems more on the temperamental side, so maybe not him… He could always pretend that he can't find the water user…
Before the archer can speak, however, Bumblebee does. As do several more.
"Sparky, are you sure bringing survivors from Starfire's enemy planet into that room is a good idea? Starfire is there with you, you know!"
"¡No lo hagas!"
"¡Causarán derramamiento de sangre!"
"You really want to go get them? Dude, that's insane! How do you know that they won't kill Star?!"
The room only grows louder, each person protesting. Even Raven admits that bringing in the Dabnodians could be counterproductive. Roy sighs internally.
When someone finally speaks in favor of Cyborg's idea, however, it is the last person that anyone would have expected. Least of all Roy.
"Friends, your concern is appreciated, but it is not necessary. I do not wish to be protected. If I could make a request, I wish for someone to fetch Damiana and Saeran of the Fire Phoenix, as well as their friend Adriel."
Starfire stands in the tiny room's farthest corner. Her head hangs low, the Tamaranean appearing distressed. Nevertheless, she manages an uncertain smile. Upon seeing her reaction, the remaining Titans exchange tentative glances.
"Starfire… You want us to go get them?"
Moving out from the corner by a single step, she nods. "Yes. I believe it is for the best. Who are we to decide their fate?" Her chin tilts closer to the floor. "My people decided their fate without considering the pain it would cause the living. We were arrogant. Tamaran made the assumption that we had the ability to terminate their planet without any Dabnodians surviving. Tamaran was wrong. Now I wish to hear what is in their hearts so that I might help repair them."
There are no words, neither is there the exchanging of glances. They look at Starfire, each of them disbelieving.
"Starfire, are you sure you want to do this?" says Robin at last. "As much as you want to help them, they might not accept it."
"I am certain, boyfriend Robin. I have never felt more certainty over anything."
"You might want to take a few minutes to think this through," says Aqualad. "We don't want you getting hurt. Whether or not Firelight and Frostbite have pure motives, there's still bound to be anger."
"I understand. I wish to speak with them despite that."
Silence ensues once more. There is no longer protesting. Rather, there is unspoken doubt. The first person to break free from the silence is Roy.
"Alright. Since you seem so sure about this, Starfire, I can go get them. We might not be back too quickly. I want to talk to them first. Maybe calm them down a little. Damiana, her brother, and Adriel might be Dabnodians, but they aren't unreasonable."
"Thank you, friend Speedy. Take as much time as is necessary. We will be patient."
When the archer observes the Tamaranean's downcast face, the miniscule smile she wears seems genuine. As a result, he returns the gesture.
"No problem. It shouldn't take longer than an hour."
With that, Roy exits the room without question. As he leaves he hears a shout from Beast Boy.
"Wait. That belly dancing guy you told us about is an alien, too?!"
He doesn't take time to listen to the rest of the conversation. Roy shuts the door behind him.
The first thing he does is saunter toward the living room. The entire time the archer runs various phrases through his mind, trying to figure out how to coax the three of them into facing the rest of the Titans. Damiana was horrified to face him alone with the news of her secret. As for Saeran, the man is more than moody. Imagining them talking to both teams of Teen Titans seems a tad on the impossible side. Adriel might come without a fight, but then again, who knows with that one?
When he finally emerges into the living room, however, a surprise greets the archer. Every space from the crimson sofa to the armchair is empty. As a result, Roy raises a puzzled brow.
"Did they get tired or something? Maybe they all went to bed."
From here he makes his way back up the hallway, knocking on doors. When he doesn't receive a single answer, he risks peeking inside. There are three bedrooms total. Each of them is vacant. Scratching his ginger locks, Roy decides to make his way downstairs. Certainly enough, the kitchen and the demolished dance studio are in the same condition. Empty.
A long moment passes where the redhead doesn't move. He loiters in place, staring into the studio's shattered mirror as though it contains answers. More than anything, he is confused. Did all three of them leave for pizza or something? Or maybe they took a walk? After everything that happened, they might have needed some air.
Curious about the time, as he has lost track over the course of the night, Roy gazes above the kitchen door at a face clock. The hour causes emerald orbs to widen. It is one forty-seven in the morning. Damiana, Adriel, and Saeran didn't leave for pizza. Not at one forty-seven in the morning.
Another ten seconds pass in slow motion before reality suddenly hits. When it hits, it feels like he was punched in the stomach by brass knuckles.
She left. This time with her brother and Adriel. She left.
At two AM, Damiana should be horrified of traveling through a big city. Most sixteen-year-old girls would have a heart attack at the very thought of it; especially if the subway is involved. As they ride from the residential side of Metropolis to the inner city, this is what Saeran is expecting to see from his baby sister. It is much to the water user's surprise that she gives no such reaction.
In the car they currently ride, there are multiple homeless men. Two of them are sleeping in corners. One dozes while sprawled out on a seat. Another sits across from them reading a newspaper, wearing an odd smile as he sends occasional glances Damiana's way.
His sister doesn't quiver fearfully and move closer to him. Neither does she ignore the man so that he might stop looking at her. Instead, Damiana sends him a glare filled with poison. The homeless man immediately scowls in disappointment, turning his full attention back to his week-old newspaper. Damiana doesn't look away. She persists in her glare, eventually gaining confidence that he has given up. If a girl doesn't appear easy prey, less people will attempt making her a victim. This is a lesson that was learned during her first few weeks on planet Earth. Damiana doesn't notice, but while Saeran sports an expression of surprise, Adriel smiles proudly.
The trio remains tight against each other, Adriel holding onto a metal bar and Saeran and Damiana sitting close together on a nearby seat. One of the men, who'd previously been passed out at the opposite end of their row, is now directly beside the water user. The man's bearded face rests on his knees, both scroungy arms wrapped tightly around her brother's torso. He snores loudly, the only thing more overwhelming being the smell of cigars. Even with a hooded sweatshirt hiding his features, Damiana still notices Saeran's harsh glower.
She is unable to resist snickering softly. "What's the matter, big brother? Aren't you comfortable?"
Adriel releases a few chortles of his own, the two Dabnodians breaking into a bout of laughter. Saeran sighs irritably. Giving the man a final glare, he pries large, meaty, arms off his waist. The man struggles, making a semi-conscious effort to grab back on. Before he can succeed, Saeran takes hold of broad shoulders. One hard shove is all it takes for him to slide halfway back to the row's other end. He falls off the seats partway due the shove's impact, although it doesn't seem to bother the guy. When he meets the ground completely, he slumbers against the cold metal without complaint.
"I'm comfortable now," states the water user. "After showering and washing my clothes, I'll feel more comfortable yet."
Damiana and Adriel laugh harder than before. Despite feeling annoyed, Saeran smiles.
"Laugh all you want. When something strange happens to the two of you, it won't seem so funny."
The Ground Badger shrugs. "If something strange does happen to me, it won't bother me as much as it does you. I tend to accept my circumstances no matter the situation."
"Yeah! You preach it brother!"
So abrupt is the response that it causes the Dabnodians to jump. Until now, none of them even noticed that Adriel's words were in English. Turning in the direction of a far corner, they see that it is a shorter, much scrawnier, homeless man that spoke. He is certainly far more conscious than the previous guy. While speaking, he wears a large grin.
"I've never heard anything more true! Don't fight Father Time and Mother Nature; don't build your own destiny. The Universe knows what she's doing. Just accept your circumstances, go with the flow, and the Universe will reward you!"
Adriel arches a bemused brow. "Uh… That wasn't exactly what I meant…"
"What? You don't believe me? The Universe is on my side! Soon she's going to reward me with a mansion!" None of them noticed until this very moment, but the scrawny man lounges beside a colorful pile of paper. Picking up a thick, red, piece of parchment, he scratches at it with an old penny. "One goldfish… two goldfish… Ha, this is my lucky day! … Huh? What's that purana doing there?!"
The trio watches wordlessly as he tosses the red parchment aside for a green one, grumbling to himself about how he might have better luck with Lucky Thirteens. Giving Adriel's ponytail a gentle yank, Saeran pulls him so that he is within hearing distance. This time they're careful to speak in their native tongue.
"Can you explain why the subway was such a good plan and why my taxi idea was ignored?"
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "I was thinking of the monetary value, but you're right. Maybe a taxi would have been better."
At two-thirty in the morning, it is taking every ounce of Damiana's effort to remain alert. She loiters in the hotel lobby beside Saeran while Adriel talks to the balding, middle-aged, man behind the front desk. Shoved against a wall is a table containing assorted options for tea, hot chocolate, and coffee. There are options for crackers and granola bars as well, but the girl pays these no attention. Removing a Styrofoam cup from a large stack, she fills it to the brim with coffee. After adding various sugar packets and creamers Damiana risks taking a sip. It tastes awful; in her opinion, all coffee tastes awful. Nevertheless, she takes another drink.
Saeran, hood still covering his dye-free hair, shoots his sister a surprised look. "I didn't know you like coffee. The beverage is so bitter."
Damiana shrugs. "I actually hate coffee, but if I don't drink something with caffeine, I'm going to pass out."
"I understand your pain, baby sister. I'm tired too." His eyes currently the color of stainless steel, he asks, "Can I have some of that?"
Nodding, she gives the Styrofoam cup politely to her brother. He takes several sips. Based on his facial expression, he dislikes coffee every bit as much as she does. Nevertheless, they end up refilling their shared cup. When Saeran refills it, there is more sugar than coffee.
Meanwhile, they shift their attention to Adriel. The front desk guy, to their befuddlement, stares him down with an odd expression. The Ground Badger shoves a credit card in the man's direction with a quirked brow. Damiana and Saeran move several yards closer, wondering what exactly is happening. When the man speaks, each Dabnodian feels internal alarm bells ringing in their gut.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't accept that card."
"Why not?" Adriel asks. "It's completely valid. It should work if you try it."
The desk guy's eyes rest on Damiana. He stares her down sharply prior to looking back at Adriel.
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but half the city of Metropolis is looking for you. Is this you and your gal pal that I'm looking at? You were on the News earlier."
After adjusting several cords, he sets the monitor of a desktop computer atop the counter so that it is facing them. Certainly enough, painting the screen is the inside of the Metropolis Museum of History and Astrology. In the screen's center is Black Shadow's roaring, three-headed, dragon. The trio is currently watching a clip of Damiana lassoing the dragon with two lengthy fire whips. One of its heads is missing, leaving Damiana to keep the remaining two restrained. Whoever managed to film her so that her doll-like features show up so clearly, Damiana wants to hunt them down and strangle them.
The doorman looks from the screen to the Dabnodian girl and back again. Damiana's features immediately begin paling. In the video, Speedy releases an onslaught of arrows on the dragon, enabling Damiana to extinguish her fire whips and breathe a torrent of flames out from her mouth. The entire time her identity remains painfully clear. She shifts her focus to a concerned-looking Adriel and a dumbfounded Saeran. Adriel's features are paler than her own. When she glimpses back at the screen, said rock user is launching a massive boulder at the beast. His features have also been captured flawlessly. Then again, even if they weren't, how many men are there in Metropolis that have back-length, brown-red, ponytails?
When an anchorman speaks, Damiana and Adriel share a combined grimace.
"If you have been hearing throughout the day that the Teen Titans are in Metropolis, then you heard right ladies and gentlemen. These young heroes followed a recently escaped criminal into Justice League territory. This criminal goes by the name Black Shadow, and he broke out of Jump City's Swarzberg Prison last month. According to our sources, the Teen Titans seem to have entered Metropolis without receiving approval from the League. We are still trying to contact Justice League officials to confirm the truth behind this statement."
It is here that the video is paused. Both Adriel and Damiana are seen on the screen at once. The desk man persists in his brutal stares the entire time. Saeran's eyes remain wide with disbelief.
"It is you, isn't it? The Titans East newbie and that rock-moving, ponytail, guy. Your little group is trespassing in a Justice League city. You're lucky I don't hold you here and call the police."
Not one of them denies the desk man's accusations. Rather, they do their best to be civil. If not all of them, then at least Adriel retains his kindness…
"Sir, I know this must be surprising for you, especially at this hour, but we aren't here to cause trouble. Titan Firelight, her brother, and myself are only here for a goodnight's rest. We don't plan on staying long. We wanted to sleep until ten, eat breakfast, and be on our way." The Ground Badger uses his sincerest smile for this last remark. "Even if Titan Firelight and her brother are trespassing, they're protecting Metropolis while Superman is away on his mission with Batman. You wouldn't call the police on two people trying to protect the city."
"Of course I would," snaps the desk guy. "You're trespassing. The police would like some answers. When the Justice League finally makes contact, I'm sure they would, too."
Sighing in exhaustion, Damiana shoves past Adriel to put her full weight against the counter. Slamming her coffee against the granite surface, she scowls.
"They want answers about what exactly? The Titans didn't come here for a complicated reason. Black Shadow is an evil criminal who is trying to destroy the world, and the Teen Titans are trying to stop him. We didn't have time to talk to the League! The only thing we had time to do was act!" Taking an aggravated sip of coffee, the girl continues. "If you actually took time to look at us, you would see that we've had a very long day of crime fighting and that all of us are tired. Give us a room and let us sleep!"
His only response is narrowed eyes. "I don't care who you are. A lecture from a mouthy brat isn't going to change my mind. You three are staying here while I contact the authorities."
Damiana narrows her eyes right back at him. "You honestly think that you can force three element-wielders to stay here? Why don't you just give us a room?"
"Because even if you're trying to do good, the Titans are breaking Justice League guidelines. Turning you in is my civic duty!"
Growing more frustrated by the second, the girl is prepared to continue arguing. When Adriel lays a large hand on her shoulder, however, she finds her mouth closing. The Ground Badger's grip is an odd combination of stern and comforting. Upon looking at him, the firm set of his jaw and the tightness of his lips is telling her that they should leave. Frowning in disappointment, Damiana nods and turns to Saeran. Unfortunately, her brother also seems to agree that they should leave. They saunter toward the automatic doors with their heads drooping.
The desk guy can be heard picking up the hotel's phone, though he hasn't started dialing. Luckily, before he can hit a single number on the dial pad, Saeran summons a small amount of water out of a nearby fish tank. Transforming the liquid into a flurry of icy daggers, he knocks the phone off the desk and severs its cord. Once the phone is dismantled, the ice is melted back into water and flies rapidly toward the man. Less than a second later his back and legs are frozen to a leather chair. He appears more than a little frightened.
"As soon as you fix that phone and unfreeze yourself, call the police. I dare you."
The trio of Dabnodians leave the hotel behind without another word.
Sitting atop a dumpster in a blackened alleyway, feeling far too proud to go inside of it. Relying on sweatshirts and her fire breath to keep warm. Only willing to go inside the large, stench-filled, garbage container if rain, snow, or cold become overwhelming. A mere seven months ago, this is how the girl was living. Never did she believe that she would end up in this spot again. A spot where she had to choose between staying as clean as possible to the option of sleeping with molding food and dirty diapers for survival.
On this particular night, at least Damiana can say that she feels somewhat fortunate. It's warm. Therefore, the inside of the dumpster will not be necessary. What makes her feel more fortunate yet is that she is not alone. Adriel and Saeran sit on either side of her. One of the two men stares at Damiana as though she has finally turned crazy.
"No. Absolutely not. We are not sleeping here!"
Despite affection for her brother, the girl scowls. "Why not? The Titans know what we are, and half of Metropolis is looking for Adriel, me, and the others. This is necessary. I know you don't like it, Saeran, but we need to do what's necessary. Even if it means sleeping in alleyways." Scowl expanding, she adds, "I slept in alleyways and on park benches for four straight years; almost five. If I was lucky, I found an abandon building or an unlocked garage. If I could handle years of doing this, I'm sure you can handle doing this for one night."
Saeran and Damiana lock eyes. What appeared as disgust and frustration a mere instant ago transform into sympathy. The water user shifts his gaze to a rat that scurries by, as well as to a cockroach less than an inch away from them. Garbage litters the ground surrounding their foul-smelling shelter. Empty pop cans, half-eaten food, and animal feces. Ironically, the top of the dumpster is the cleanest area. Releasing a sigh, he looks back to his sister. For the first time since reconnecting, Damiana feels like he is finally starting to understand how different things are.
"For five years you did this?"
"Not quite. It was four years and six months. I had a motel room for a while, but it wasn't great. The only time life started turning around is when I met Speedy."
Damiana is well aware that they cannot go back to the Titans. Not with everything that has happened. Even so, there is still a painful yearning. It is the same yearning she felt when she ran off the morning after their fight with Black Shadow; the same yearning she felt back in Steel City when she joined up with them for that fight against Scurvy Dog. Even if going back is the wrong thing to do, more than anything Damiana wants to.
Going back is impossible, though. Especially now that Roy is against her…
Practically out of nowhere, Saeran gives a disheartened groan. Damiana raises her brows in perplexity.
"Speedy means a lot to you, doesn't he?"
If Damiana would wake up and see Roy tomorrow, she would respond to this query in a flustered fashion. Better yet, if the arrogant archer were right beside her, the girl would argue that her feelings are strictly that of friendship. Whether or not she feels for him romantically, giving Roy any impression that she does is always humiliating.
Roy isn't beside her, though, and he never will be. His smirk. His smile. His laugh. His frown. The thoughtful expression he wears when trying to solve a archer's glowing, forest green, brown-flecked, eyes that overflow with emotion. Damiana will never get to see Roy again. It has been a long five years since the Dabnodian girl has felt this kind of intensity, but the fragments of her heart are in agony.
Damiana doesn't cry, though. Instead, she smiles.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Saeran. You and Adriel are the only people that matter, just like you said. All we need is each other."
The siblings lock eyes once more. As a result, Saeran frowns deeply.
"Dami… About Speedy…"
Brows raising higher, she studies him curiously. His behavior is odd, especially for Saeran… However, before her brother can continue, Adriel speaks. This is the Ground Badger's first time talking since exiting the hotel nearly forty minutes ago.
"I didn't think of this until now, but I just remembered something important. We might not have to sleep in alleys. Metropolis has a large variety of beaches."
Adriel hesitates. The man almost appears nervous. By this point, both Fire Phoenixes are watching him intently. It baffles Damiana how easily her conversation with Saeran is shoved aside.
"There is one specific beach that I'm thinking of. It's large and has a rocky shore. The waves can get rough, and even during the day, it's spooky-looking. Nobody likes to go there."
Saeran licks his lips skeptically. "What are you expecting us to do exactly? Sleep on the rocks with the waves? I would have trouble protecting us from the water twenty-four/seven. I may be a water user, but I'm not Poseidon."
It seems forced, but Adriel chuckles. "No. That's not what I'm saying at all. I wasn't done." He coughs prior to continuing. "Since it's so deserted, I like to go there to collect rocks and practice with my abilities. When I was there last time, I practiced by opening crevices. You won't believe what one of my crevices ended up uncovering; the entrance of a cave! I went home, got a flashlight, and did some exploring. It ends out there's an entire system of caves! There were metal tracks in some of them; it might have been a mine from Metropolis' early years. I told Damiana, Cyborg, and Speedy about how Metropolis started out as a mining town. The museum used to have an exhibit about it."
It takes a lengthy period of thinking, but eventually Damiana's memory is jogged…
*Flashback*
…What is left on the screen is the layout of a rather small room. Besides a few rough images of glass display cases, the room doesn't seem to contain much. In the bottom corner of the section of map are bold white letters, red letters in all capitals placed directly beneath them. The white letters read "Metropolis Mines 1760s Exhibit", while the red letters spell a simple "Closed".
Furrowing her brow, Damiana is prepared to inquire about the exhibit. However, Roy manages to beat her to it.
"'The Metropolis Mines'? I didn't know that this city ever had a mining industry."
Although the man's businesslike demeanor remains intact, an eager smile manifests at the archer's remark. "It sure did. A few years before the Revolution, Metropolis was the largest mining industry in the colonies. For a period of ten to fifteen years, this place was a boomtown! Until its prosperity was destroyed by the American Revolution. It turned into a ghost town after that, and didn't get put on the map again until the 1830s. The 1830s is recorded as Metropolis' official beginning, as if the 1760s-mining period never happened."…
*End Flashback*
Damiana finds herself gawping at the Ground Badger. "You found the actual mines from the 1760's? Why didn't you tell us?"
Adriel shrugs while giving a peculiar chuckle. His eyes aren't their usual cherry red, but rather, they're an off-color brown.
"That story would have gotten in our way this morning. We needed to get to the museum to search the exhibits."
The girl nibbles her lower lip tentatively. Fortunately, Saeran responds to the news more lightly.
"Well, I don't see what we're sticking around here for. I don't care if it's an abandoned mine or a regular cave. It has to better than this."
Damiana crosses her arms over her chest stiffly. For some strange reason, she doesn't feel overly happy. Even as a cockroach dances across her shoe, the unhappy sensation remains. Yet, the girl ends up giving a reluctant nod.
"Alright. We can go to the mine. What do we have to lose?"
Meanwhile…
"I feel truly, horribly, awful! We should not have given friend Frostbite and friend Firelight the opportunity to run away! I should have spoken with them immediately!"
"It isn't your fault, Starfire. They felt targeted, so they left. That's all our faults. Cyborg and I shouldn't have been so harsh on Frostbite."
Broken glass is disseminated across russet planks. Shattered mirrors glare at the four teens, intentionally warping their reflections. Five separate sets of forest green eyes stare back at Roy, mocking him with their despair. Two mouths quirk into downward snarls, scolding him with their rage.
"Why did you let her go?"
The sallow glow of streetlights ignites the studio just enough so that it draws attention to the twinkling shards that bedeck the floor. A narrow trail stretches as far as the ajar front door. It's as if the tiny, glass, fragments were chasing the trio in attempt to stop them. They certainly did a better job than Roy, this is for certain.
As the redhead lifts his gaze to view the full moon through the picture window, he is half tempted to ask it questions. The floating, silver, orb can see the entire city of Metropolis. Certainly it has seen Damiana, Adriel, and her brother. When thin, ghastly, clouds move to cover the moon, this acts as Roy's answer. Even if it were sentient and capable of speech, it would not be able to assist him.
Many feet behind the archer in a far corner, Robin hugs Starfire tightly. The Tamaranean sobs hopelessly as the Boy Wonder frowns. Loitering close by them is Cyborg. The robotic man's single hazel eye locks onto Roy from the other side of the room. He hardly notices, though. All of Roy's focus is on the outside world, wondering where in it Damiana is going. Feeling anguish radiating off him in waves, Cyborg crosses the expanse. A metal hand grasps his shoulder in comfort, but it barely helps. Roy's snarling frown only grows.
"Speedy, are you okay, man?"
The archer turns away from the window at long last. He grimaces while facing Cyborg.
"Damiana left. Again. This is the second time she's done this! Does it look like I'm okay to you?!"
"Uh…not really… I just thought you might want to talk about it. You're looking pretty upset."
Forest green eyes are set ablaze. As for his voice, it cracks. "Of course I'm upset! Damiana is a Teen Titan and my friend. She was supposed to help us stop Black Shadow. Instead, the moment her brother and Adriel come back, she leaves! How can someone who is supposed to be my friend walk away so easy?!"
Despite the archer's intensity, Cyborg shrugs. "Maybe it's because she's an alien from Starfire's enemy planet, the whole team found out, and she doesn't know if we want her? That could be a reason. Especially if Frostbite and Adriel were thinking it, too."
Roy's shouts increase in volume. "That's completely insane! Why would she think that?! I have done nothing but accept her and be nice, even after I found out that she's from Dabnod! I'm her friend! What could possibly make Damiana think that I would turn my back on her?"
"Don't be so harsh on her, man. Cut the girl some slack. She has been running from people and hiding her crazy alien hair for half a decade. If anyone found out in the past, that's probably what she did was run. Old habits die hard." Hesitating, the metal man adds, "And she does have her family now. Maybe she doesn't see a reason to stick with the Titans anymore."
The blaze in his pine-colored eyes strengthens. "Oh. That's it, huh? Now that big brother and their loopy friend are here, who cares about the Titans? They can handle Black Shadow themselves! And who cares about Roy? He was flirting with girls the first time we met. It's not like the guy has feelings!"
He didn't notice originally, but Starfire and Robin have their full attention on him.
"I was unaware of the amount of friendship you feel for friend Firelight. Perhaps she has noticed it. If Firelight is truly your friend, then she will come back."
"She came back once already. Don't forget that."
Roy's anger should continue growing, but strangely enough, it doesn't. The archer points his gaze back toward the overcast moon. The orb no longer strikes him as silver. Rather, it appears slate.
"This isn't the same as the first time. Something's different." Pausing, he makes a final remark. "I have a really bad feeling."
Whether it is the coffee she drank earlier, the icy chill of the very early morning, or pure adrenaline, Damiana does not know. The only thing the girl is certain of is that she has never felt more awake. Another thing of which she is certain is that she would rather take her chances with that dumpster in the alleyway. Adriel wasn't wrong. This beach is creepy.
Lining the beach are what Damiana would describe as boulders rather than rocks. Some of them reach higher than her waist. The single comparison she can think to make would be to a large, predatorial, fish that devoured Dabnod's aquatic life. It had the capability of swallowing Queen Guayusa's lead phoenix according to the books she'd read. By the way she remembers, it was called a black fin. It would have been similar in size to Earth's prehistoric megalodon. As she walks amongst the rocks, this is what it feels like she is balancing on; black fin teeth. The girl moves from boulder to boulder with utmost care, least she become a sea monster's snack.
Time and again, Damiana lingers to stare out at the Atlantic. This is only her second time viewing it. Her first time seeing it was at the dock with Roy. As she thinks back to a day that seems so long ago now, Damiana remembers the ocean looking beautiful. Sunlight danced off the waves in magnificent flashes of orange and gold. It was truly breathtaking. The fact that this same ocean looks so sinister is unbelievable.
Dark, inky, waves go as far back as the girl's vision can reach. Some sections of the sea are blacker than soot, dips in the water are smoke-colored, and the tips of cresting waves are a pallid gray. The very edge of the Black Fin boulder shoreline is fifteen feet away, gray droplets leaping into the air to find salvation from the sea. Unfortunately, the only haven they find are jagged, knife-like, stones. The more Damiana studies the water, the more she finds herself believing that there might actually be a black fin in the Atlantic. If not a black fin, then perhaps megalodon didn't go extinct after all. Who knows? The sound of lapping waves might be flapping tails.
As for the four-thirty AM sky, it is darker than she has ever seen it. Considering how the gargantuan city of Metropolis is a mere five miles away, this seems especially strange. Somehow, it is as if the urban lights have no effect. A large, silver, moon should be providing some light, but this also proves untrue. Small portions were showing themselves earlier. Now, however, the moon is completely overcast. Damiana isn't sure why, but it feels like the glowing orb is begging for help.
Apparently the girl observes their eerie surroundings for a minute too long, because Saeran urges her forward.
"Come on, Dami. I know you're tired, but we need to keep going."
Despite her elder brother's assumption, Damiana doesn't feel tired at all. Due to his strained voice, on the other hand, she can tell that Saeran is. It is because of this that she continues moving. Adriel walks ahead of the two siblings by several yards. The Ground Badger mounts boulders with high levels of caution, though his efforts don't seem necessary. With the distance between them as well as the darkness, the girl is still able to notice how rehearsed his steps seem. Any soul around would be able to tell that he has walked this path on numerous occasions. Saeran doesn't notice, though. More than anything, the water user is exhausted.
How long they continue down the jagged beach, Damiana doesn't know. It seems like an hour passes, but the sky doesn't grow any lighter. Because of this, she knows that it has only been a few minutes.
Eventually the beach begins fading, the boulders lessen, and the endless stones become somewhat of a trail. A hill forms; a steep, grassless, one with only a few underdeveloped trees. Those few spineless trees become more trees. Grass begins to sprout up amongst the rocks as well, though it is still stone more than anything. By now, the sky is no longer so black. A faint glow can be seen on the horizon, though it is nearly snuffed out by clouds. Surrounding them are a great many rocky hills with scant foliage. Wondering how much farther they have to travel is the primary thought in Damiana's mind by now as well as her brother's.
Luckily, Adriel finally stops walking.
"We made it," he says with a weary smile. "It's been a long night, but we can sleep now."
The Ground Badger barely moves. He doesn't move his legs, his head, or even a full arm. A quick motion of his right wrist and clenching of the fingers is all that is necessary. When the ground opens in a swift, silent, fashion at the base of a tree, Damiana can't help being impressed. Never in her life has she seen Adriel use his abilities so quietly. Saeran, however, is not so impressed. Rather, he appears happy enough to sob buckets.
Giving a tight-lipped smile, Adriel makes his way down into the wide crevice. "Come on. It will be comfortable enough for tonight."
Damiana hesitates at the sight of the gaping entrance. For some strange reason, an odd feeling enters her gut. The only thing more foreboding to her than the inky sea and abyss-like sky is a dark hole leading underground. The man urging them into it is Adriel; she can trust Adriel, and Damiana knows this well. Yet, something is holding her back…
"Dami, aren't you coming?"
Much to her dismay, Saeran stands in the underground entrance directly beside the Ground Badger. His eyes shine amber and his hair is bright gold. Although he is fatigued, Saeran also appears happy. Without asking or speculating, the girl automatically knows that the only reason for Saeran's joy is herself and Adriel. This is why, despite the fact that it unnerves her, Damiana edges toward the crevice.
"Yeah. I'm coming. Sorry. I spaced out for a second."
When Adriel closes the hole behind them a minute later, she does her best not to feel frightened.
A/N: That's it for this chapter, folks! I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed it! :)
My plan is for the next chapter to be the last chapter of Part Three, but it could possibly take a couple chapters. I'm not quite sure yet. I would like to have the next chapter finished and posted by mid-July. There are no guarantees, though. Either way, know that I'm not about to quit writing Firelight. Life may be busy, but I absolutely love writing this story! I'm excited to write the Part Three finale, and I'm also super excited for what's coming in Part Four!
Also, I didn't do a Previously for this chapter like I did for the chapter before this one. I figured there were enough clues in the text to remind you all of what happened in the prior chapters. If any of you do want a Previously at the beginning of each chapter to refresh your memories, though, I would be happy to add them in. I will be sure to keep them brief so that I can get on with the main story of course. If any of you would prefer a Previously to remind of you prior events in the story, let me know in a review or a PM.
Anyway, thanks for reading everyone! Thank you for 95 favorites, 107 follows, and over 25k reads! When I first started writing this almost three years ago, I had no idea that so many of you would grow to like Speedy and Damiana so much! It lets me know that my love for writing isn't so meaningless :)
I'll see you all in Chapter Thirty-Three! Until next time!
Forever and Always,
~OCQ