Disclaimer: By this means, I rightfully claim ownership to this fanfiction story and my original character within it, by my trademark signature T.M.O at the conclusion of every update. Any other characters that may appear in this work and are new, these are the rightful properties by their creators as well and cannot be reproduced or duplicated without their individual consent. I do not own anything within the DC Universe, from Warner Brothers or on Cartoon Network. The only original character and the name that I created for him; that I accept half ownership on is Falcon from this telling. Scififanfreak222 owns the second half of him as well, for drawing him upon a collaboration of various new designs and sketches within the year of 2010; and cannot be knowingly placed into another literary document, writing community, comicbook series, and or televised broadcast without either of our written or verbal consent in front of legal consultants. TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne, Scififanfreak222, xSaffire55x, Novus Ordo Seclorum, and RavenxIsxAxBlackxRose; each of these fellow writers have helped me to press onwards with this story, everytime I have come across writers block. Without their outstanding guidance, the updates would have taken me even longer to complete.
Chapter 3 is here! A darkside about Falcon is discovered, while old pains quickly become new issues. "The past may not be your fault, but the future is your responsibility alone." –Gene Cruz–
Chapter 3 - Cursed
"We have arrived at the room you will be sleeping." Starfire's voice cooed to their guest while she stood in front of the door.
Cyborg rapped his fist against the steel frame, wanting to show that it was sturdy and that the sound from within would not seep into the hallway, to maintain the occupant's privacy.
"Thanks." Falcon turned from the technician, and then back to the red head who guided them all down the end of the corridor. "Really, thank you."
Cyborg rubbed his neck before creating any witty response.
"Sure thing."
The door whooshed open upon the gearhead waving his hand in front of the motion sensor, and everyone stood at the entrance while Falcon stepped inside.
The room was rather large, there was a soft king size bed with the white sheets tucked in, the mattress was resting low and placed next to the window that carried a view to the magnificent ocean beyond the backside of Titans Tower. The necromancer moved his eyes about his recent abode, the walls were painted dark red yet the texture was slowly peeling off giving the room a definitive rustic appearance, while the carpet was gray. Sitting upon a wooden mantle to the bed, a black alarm clock with red LED lights revealed the time was 4:36 PM.
Falcon bowed his head and closed his eyes for a brief moment, to soak the place and its details into his memory. It also gave off a sent of a room that had been vacent for years, and was only now being reopened for its original purpose.
"This will do." Said the necromancer as he reopened his eyes, and he found the others were looking in with their heads around the corner, like they were the faces of a totem pole and were stacked ontop of eachother.
"I thought you might like it." Robin walked forwards, and he was quickly flanked by Cyborg and Starfire.
Falcon nodded with a smirk.
"This is quiet a place you guys live in, and I still haven't seen the entire building yet."
"I know." Cyborg replied; "We'll show you more of the tower later.
"But surely you must be exhausted." said Starfire.
"Eyah." said Falcon; "Are you guys sure that this is fine, that I'm not encroaching on-"
"It's alright dude." said Cyborg; "This was a spare room that I was thinking of turning into another storage area. Being that we rarely have guests decide to stay over."
Falcon raised his right eyebrow with inquisitiveness.
"Really?" the necromancer looked at the walls; "That would be a shame."
"I know."
"So just sit back, relax and enjoy the view." Robin spoke up.
"Alright, but I don't know how I'll be able to repay you guys back for this." Falcon's grin faded.
"You don't have to worry about that." Cyborg said. "The room is free for the night, think of it as our treat."
The three heroes left their guest with his back turned to them. The door hissed indicating to Falcon's ears that it had shut, and he was entirely alone.
A new night was setting in, a long and cold one and after he was hurried into his room, Falcon found it a little strange as to the constant generosity of others. With his hands clenched against his thighs, he began to think back to how he had ended up in Jump City. His stomach gurgled a little bit; he was hungry but decided he should rest. He was sorting through the events of the day, of the battle in the streets with the criminals, and the long debate with the Empath and her friends which was uncomfortable to muse over.
Slowly, he found himself resting on the silk sheets and soft white pillows. Blinking his eyes at the ceiling, he found a calm sensation flooding his body, working up his back and down his legs. His eyelids began to grow a little heavier, it had been a long day of seaching for anwsers, there was a tiresome fight with the sorceress, while the questions of his deeper feelings and rage was unsettling for him, and he rubbed his eyes trying to keep awake.
In a flash, he jumped up after realizing that he had forgotten to bring his belongings he kept in storage at the train station, but the moment he saw Dr. Light scurrying out of the tarmac, Falcon knew that there was a connection from this stranger and the enemy he came in search of.
He could retrieve his luggage at another time. The criminal had a certain aroma that smelt odd for the teenager, it told him that this was a bad man, a simple hunch but it was the best lead that could bring him to a much larger prize. Like all villains, they leave a trace whether they know it or not, and even if it is bearly noticable, Falcon could detect things that many investigators at the FBI would overlook, while putting the abusive Transportation Security Administration agents to shame.
Falcon had been around enough riffraff in their rundown bars, to be able to spot out someone who might not be a regular and hard working citizen. It quickly became a sixth sense, a natural instinct and as he observed the tall man in a strange black jogging suit, with some type of energy backpack his radar immediately picked up on him.
-Flashback-
Upon planting his right leg off from the train and onto the concrete floor, the smoke from beneath the iron wheels and the loud whistles blowing from the other locomotives departing and coming in, these things startled the seventeen year old where his heart raced a little, as he kept one hand firmly on the strap to his duffle bag. His spare clothes, what little savings he had to amount in several hundred dollars folded cash and pocket change, some basic books he enjoyed, his journal and the final rations he had gathered to last him a week were tucked neatly inside.
He had come far, and everything he owned was in this green beat up army sack that his father used. Now it belonged to him.
People pushed and shouted to one another, brushing their shoulders by as their echoes bounced across the vast station. The hooded stranger looked up to the roof, where the dome was arched and the glass allowed the warm sunlight to glow within the building.
As he stood in the middle of the moving crowd, one little girl stopped to look at him. Even with the sharp hood obscuring his face, she seemed to notice the scar across his right eye but it did not bother her. There was something good about him, and she giggled while waving towards him, where he slowly glanced to her and stared back without any emotion. The father holding her hand notices this, where he tugs her arm and the pair vanishes into the bustle of people. Falcon turns away, feeling to have received the same treatment from everywhere he went, why would this city's inhabitants treat him any differently? He was stumped however, as to what she saw that made her smile.
After getting a key to put his bag into storage, he walked to a pillar and observed the many square lockers with bold numbers on them. Looking at the tag the numbers read 479, and he goes to the mid hundreds section to scan the many rows, searching for his. He locates the green cubby, places the duffle bag inside and is comforted to know that he had just enough space, and he locks the key. Looking at the great clock upon the wall the time reads 11:32, and he sighs in understanding that he still had a long day ahead of him.
A devistating earthquake hit a school house in central Texas leaving many injured, this was a minor clue he had and the details about the event led him to believe that one person was responsible. It was not entirely suspicious because the small town was on a fault line and the people in the surrounding areas were used to the uneasy dirt below their feet, but that was not the thing that churned his interest.
There were many of these incidents that took place away from major cities, there seemed to be a series of common occurences in other schools across the state. In each of these places, the locals would explain the same things; that life was normal and there was no sense of fear before a lone stranger appeared. The only descriptions about the outsider, was that she was very slender, she had stern blue eyes and long blond hair. This case never caused much of a tinkering for the cloaked necromancer, it had nothing to do with him but there was something about that girl; that made him pick up the case when other agencies dropped it.
Falcon caught whiff that this wanderer later joined up with Slade, and that rumors were circulating about Jump City. The minor events were showing him to the bigger picture; and the devious mastermind looked to have a perminate residence here.
In secret he did his own investigating, he was a seventeen years old after all, and had no affiliation to any superhero leages or detective agencies. This allowed him to freelance at his own time, in his own ways without repercussions or reprisals from anybody, Falcon was his own boss and he had a mean way to getting his answers. If he needed to break someone's arm to get a person to talk than he would do it without hesitation.
All he wanted was to find the person who destroyed his life, and if picking up the pieces to crimes that had the potential to bring him to the person accountable, than he was on board with the idea of being nothing more than a wanderer, bent on vengeance. Even if it would take him years, he could wait, it would allow him to grow stronger and his vile temper would know no bounds of restraint when he could catch up to the monster that took everything he loved, and ended it for him as a child.
For some reason, his instincts were telling him that this girl could lead him to the greatest mystery of his life, and that this case of all the others was like unearthing a massive gold mine right below his feet. It was more of a theory but he had a burning feeling about it, and after learning about her last known wearabouts in Jump City, he took the first train out of Texas and headed further west; and into California.
Blinking his eyes he found himself leaning against a fat column with the key in his right hand. He felt like he was a bird watching for prey, and that he had no idea where he should even begin his search.
The passerbuyers shoved past him, this allowed him to feel their pains and bits of their memories. Standing still would appear pointless but to Falcon, it was actually a secret power he possessed. If someone was to touch his bare skin with their own, a doorway into their memories would open and he could see things that nobody else could. He began to feel that this gift, this power was more of a burden yet he needed to use it, he had come so far and to find any link, any leads on the girl from El Paso was his only driving force. He'd have to use this power to grow closer to the city, and the people in it.
Not even thinking about the faces around him, one memory hits him. It flashes across his mind as the stranger is seen laughing, after robbing a bank and he hurries away with heavy bags of money. The stange man is in the train station awaiting a package, a power cell to enable him a much more potent beam for his ultimate weapon.
Falcon opened his eyes as the strange man slithers into the mass of travelers, where the necromancer feels a rush of adrenaline coursing through his body. The chase for his next piece to the puzzle was on, and he was determined to follow the villain in his black suit yet he quickly turned behind a blind curve, where he appeared to suddenly vanish! However, the teenager is quick, he races into the darkness and plans on a way to out flank the hidden fiend, hoping to cut him off.
The older man picks up a suitcase and after scanning behind to see if anyone else was watching, he unlocked it and the yellow glow seeped from within, and he shuts it as an evil smile grows to both of his ears. After retreiveing what he came for, he walked towards the main exit beyond the granite stairs, as the boy noticed he was not carrying the case and left it against a bench. Falcon dashes over and picks it up, only to feel a moment of shock at what was happening. The silver container was empty, and he allowed it hit the floor, giving out a loud thud! The object was taken and hidden in the clutches of the evading foe, and the necromancer understands his delima.
Dammit! I knew that I should have kept my eye on him, and not on what he was carrying.
After calling out his own flaw, he stands for a brief moment to take in the problem and think of his options. He had come here in search of anything, this law breaker was something to go after and he failed to stay ontop of this. The crowd was too big, and as he looked up he could only deduce that the criminal went outside.
Wasting no more time, Falcon ran out of the train station and was looking down both sides to the main street. He had hoped he could locate the tall man, but he had taken too long. The breeze from the cars and trucks driving past caused his outer attire to sway, while pedestrians remained on the sidewalks near him.
He would find the scoundrel, and if he could not do it in the streets, then a view from above would be the perfect vantage point.
-End of Flashback-
"Hey Falcon we ordered some dinner, you want in?" Cyborg's booming tone came from the hallway.
The somnolent new kid sat up from the bed, he looked to the clock and was baffled to realize that he had slept longer than a few hours. The view outside his window was getting darker, as the radiance from the electrical juice across the city was turned on.
"Sure." Falcon deadpanned as he made his way to the door.
The sophisticated repairman took a few paces backwards as the door slid open. Falcon was there, and he yawned.
"Wow, I guess you did need some sleep after all."
"It was just a nap."
Cyborg lifted an eyebrow before speaking.
"I'll say." He paused for a second. "Is uh … is everything okay in there?"
Falcon blinked.
"Sure is. I just needed to sort through some things."
The odd pair began to make their way down the corridor, where the sent of something having been baked in the oven, tickled Falcon's nose.
"Are we having pizza?"
"Yup, being that it's our Friday special ordeal." Cyborg said with a smile. "I think you'll find our customs are to your liking scruffy."
"Scruffy?" Falcon's eyes expanded while the teenagers continued their journey.
"It's somthin BB said, that it seemed to fit your personality." The technological titan glanced over his shoulder. "Now that I think on it, it does seem to make sense."
"Oh great, a new nickname." replied the necromancer in his raspy voice. "You guys are just full of surprises."
The door to the Common Room parted, and Falcon with Cyborg walked in as the gathering of friends was sitting by a central table at the long upholstered seat. The top flap to the cardboard box was hung open and Beast Boy kept his eyes fixated on the massive flat screen, while in his hands he held onto a triangular slice of the gooey, cheesy and steaming pizza.
"So, is there anything good on television?" The newbie asked as he took a slice, and sat next to the changeling.
"Dude!" Beast Boy jumped up; "You're really quiet, like a ninja."
Everybody turned to observe their guest chew his dinner.
"Oh, I don't know about that." said Falcon. "I'm here for less than a day, and already you have another nickname for me."
"So I take it that Cyborg told you." Beast Boy glared at his older teammate. "Thanks tin man, you sure know how to blow a lid, don't ya?"
Cyborg walked over and after ruffling the prankster's spiked hair, he takes a slice of dinner for himself.
"I told ya that I would get'cha back."
Robin in the corner seat giggled with Starfire, both were thinking of the pair as though they were a comic routine from Laurel and Hardy.
"Dang it!" Beast Boy whined.
Falcon smirked at this while the Empath was nose deep in her book, ignoring the humor. The voices from the group drained out of his ears slowly, and the newbie felt out of place. These were nice people, but he could not afford to spend time with them when it only led him away from his objective.
"Hey Falc, are you okay?" Robin asked as he placed an arm around the necromancer.
Since he was with the titans, any touch had been against his clothing or theirs, but Robin tapped his neck as his bare upper wrist outside of the green glove glides past, trying to put his arm over his shoulder. Falcon clenches his forehead and gives a brief groan of discomfort, then his eyes roll back and while panting his heart beats ever faster in his chest, he kneels over as the group sits by.
-Flashback-
"I think that it's time for practice." A young voice was heard.
"That must mean you finished everything on your plate, Dick?" a woman asked in a beautiful tone, where the boy at the table looked up.
He observed that she had brown hair that was tied back in a bun, with loving blue eyes. She was his mother and held her utensils with a smile.
No, not this, anything but this; please God … no! Falcon heard himself speak like he was trapped within a cave that carried a slight echo, as he saw the view from this boy's eyes. He understood where he was, and he did not like it.
The boy was very young, no older than twelve years of age and as he peered to his glass on the table. Falcon noticed his short black hair that was parted in the middle, and his blue eyes. In a matter of seconds, he quickly scarfs down the brussel sprouts and turns to his father ready for his answer.
"Okay, okay." The older man chuckled as his son held his food within his mouth, like he was a chipmunk. John was very muscular; his arms were well defined from years of healthy choices and a rigorous workout. His black har was cut in a military style, and his face was clean shaven while his brown eyes were warm and welcoming.
"Lets go." said the father after a quick pause.
Dick wasted no time, he ducked beneath the table and raced for the door in his red shirt and jeans; spitting the unapealing remnants of his meal into the garbage bin. Upon stepping outside, he volted upwards and did a quick front flip and landed on his feet, away from the homely caravan. As the boy continued to dart across the open area, his mother and father stood behind and watched as their son entered the circus tent while the skyline of a gothic city was in the background. An elephant blew his trunk in the distance, as other preformers were getting themselves ready.
"I'm telling you Mary, a leash is the only answer for that boy." The father was heard on the porch as his wife embraced him. "Wait for us son."
"Dick, your father said to wait." Mary spoke as she pulled the curtain away, only to gasp at seeing her child backing away from a shadowy figure.
The slender man came forwards, with a toothpick in his mouth hanging to a side. He grinned yet the boy held his gaze to the man's unnatural eye set. His right was blue, while the left was brown.
"Looks like the circus is in town." The neatly dressed man said as his shadow towered over Richard's. He bent forwards and held out his hand; "Tony Zucco, welcome to Gotham City."
Dick stood with his legs frozen and his mouth agape; he was not sure how to handle the situation. His father's firm grip brought a calm notion back to his senses, and the boy allows the two men to talk.
"John Grayson, the circus manager." He took a step closer to the intruder. "Can I help you?"
The slick buisnessman stood upright, and focused his eyes on the father.
"I'd like to think I'm here to help you, John." His smile became devious. "For a small fee, my brothers and I will provide your circus with … protection."
A massive man walked forwards with a golden chain around his neck. He had stubble across his chin while his head was completely shaven; he stood by as two more men came from behind Dick and Mary now. The others were different; one of them was slim and had a long mustache, as the third was a little person.
"Protection?" John spoke in his confident tone. "I'm not sure why we would need your protection."
"Humph." Dick crossed his arms as he agreed with his dad, the pair gave the same answer in their expressions as in their tone, and they did not like being pushed around.
Tony walked forwards as he tugged upon his jacket.
"I come from circus folk myself, so let me put this in terms you can understand." He pointed to the colossal brother. "You don't pay us; you'll have to deal with the strong man."
The man wearing the neck chain turned and sliced through eight barrels stacked upon one another, smashing them to bits! The Grayson's grouped together as they observed the mighty show of brute force.
"A lion tamer." Zucco's voice allowed the slim brother who had a mustache to walk forwards, with a whip at the ready. He unleashed the weapon and pulled down a light that was hanging from the rafters, causing it to shatter in the dirt.
"And, a juggler." The smallest of the crooks stood upon a platform, and as he tossed heavy pins in his hands, he creatively hurled them one by one at signs planted about the stage, smashing them down.
Having seen enough of the show, the boy scowled at waiting and decided to do something. Falcon in his mind could only watch, as the boy dashed across the room, and blocked the juggler from his performance with his arms raised apart.
"STOP!" The boy cried out, while Mary lifted a hand to her cheek.
"Dick!" she called to him, where an eerie silence filled the room.
"You've got quiet a family here John." Zucco walked towards the boy. "My pops always said; family's the most important thing." He placed his hand onto Richard's shoulder where the kid looked back with disgust. "I know my brothers mean the world to me, I'm not sure what I'd do, if something … happened to them." Tony made his grip tighten like a vice, and Richard clenched his fists in the process.
John growled and rushed into the pompous criminal, knocking him to the earth. The smallest of his brothers looked back, and decided to join into the action, but he was no match for the head of the Grayson family and was easily dispatched into the bleachers. The snapping of a whip came from the corner, and Richard watched as his dad turned to the new threat coming after him. A fast diving summersault followed quickly by a cartwheel allowed John to jump right over the second brother, and he stood far enough away to make his next move.
Tony Zucco groaned as he rubbed his neck, and he looked at the brawl that was supposed to be a negotiaton at first but now was transforming into a fiasco. While John stood with pride, he did not account the third and biggest of the others, and he was quickly reminded once a powerful fist slapped him to the floor, hard! He lay on the ground for a while, not moving as Tony smiled to see his victory was close at hand; as Dick and his mother could only stand on the side.
"Let me be blunt John." Tony said as he walked forwards. "I don't think this circus or your family can afford not having our protection."
"Funny." Dick replied with ire building in his heart. "Cause I think we can."
"And what makes you so sure of that, sonny?"
Falcon grinned as he saw the boy lift his hand, and a cell phone was in it.
"Because I just called the police five minuets ago."
Tony Zucco's evil smirk quickly diminished.
"And guess who intercepted that call." Came a stern voice from the entrance, the blackness cloaked him but his outline was that of the city's savior. Tony's eyes grew wide.
Richard was counfounded at who it was, and his mouth nearly touched the floor as the Batman hit the leader of the crooks to the ground with a hard blow to his chin! The lion tamer did not wait for his cue; he went toe to toe with the world's greatest detective as his weapon cracked and spun. Batman stayed on him and the white eyes of the mask were locked onto the new assailant, while Tony and his remaining associates were dumbstruck by this unwelcomed intrusion.
"Come'on, we gotta go!" said the strong man as he and the juggler hurried to the exit. Tony turned and followed them, where his eyes met with Dick's.
During the fight, the lion tamer missed a clean shot around his opponent's neck, where Batman took out a batarang from his gold tinted belt, and threw it slicing into the air and taking out the whip. It spun behind the criminal and hit him in the back of his head, knocking him out as the tool was caught in the hand of the thrower.
Richard and his family were standing together, where Falcon felt something inside that he did not expect to witness, it was the love in these parent's eyes to their son, they were all safe. Turning to look at their hero; Richard smiles to the Dark Knight who in return gives a tiny grin back. Sirens from police cruisers are heard to be getting closer, while Tony Zucco and the other two stand by a trailer in the distance. As Dick and his parents remained in eachother's arms, Falcon peers towads the distant figures and can just barely decipher what they were saying.
"Our family has been devided." Zucco looked back. "I think we should return the favor."
-End of Flashback-
"Falcon, what's wrong?" The Boy Wonder asked as the necromancer found himself bent half over, clutching his abdomen on the sofa.
"Whe-where am I?"
"You are with friends, in Titans Tower." Starfire's voice picked up.
"Ough, my head." Falcon moaned. "Stay away from me, all of you."
Robin pulled his arm away, and it slid upon the new kid's neck once again.
"Noooo!"
-Flashback-
Falcon saw himself transported back into the mind of the Teen Titans leader, and everything was different now. It was nighttime outside the circus tent, and Dick could hear the voices of his parents behind the red curtain. Fireworks exploded in the sky, while clowns and other members of the performance kept the people who entered the red and white striped canvas tent entertained.
"Okay Dick, come'on out now." Mary spoke while standing beside her husband.
"No." Dick replied; "I look like a loser."
"Your mother put a lot of work into the new costumes." said John.
A long pause held over the family of acrobats, where the father was the first to speak up again.
"Well, are you just going to stand there?"
Dick sighed, and he walked out from the darkness where Falcon could see what the boy looked like in the mirror. He was slender and the outfit he donned made the necromancer immediately recall how he appeared to him in the tower, except now he could see the boy's true eye color for their was no mask, he was not wearing green gloves or a cape, and his spiked hair was much shorter and combed down. The tight green pants and red shirt, the three yellow slash marks along the middle of his chest, and the bold letter R encased in black ink, in the middle of a gold circle upon his left breast were the things that stood out the most.
The twelve year old pulled his collar against his neck, while he expressed nausia on his face.
"Is there a reason why this costume has to be so … colorful? Dick asked, and his mother knelt by him.
"Because when I see you up there, Richard. You make me think of a little robin." She smiled while placing her hand onto the embroidered letter.
"Ugh, a robin; like the bird?" He turned his eyes to his father during the pause. "You know, kids my age get beat up for nicknames like that."
John placed a hand onto his shoulder before speaking.
"How about if we called you our flying squirrel?" John grinned. "Better?"
"You know dad, I'm not the only one who looks like a loser."
"Loser!" The father huged his son and his wife. "Oh, I'll teach you."
The group chuckled, and Falcon watched where he was curious as to why this memory was so tragic?
"Ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls, children of all ages!" A booming speaker was heard from the other side of the stage, and the family broke their tender embrace to get ready, as Dick put on a robe to conceal his attire until the moment came.
"I present to you, the fearless, Flying Graysons!" The speaker tips his hat and the lights shine up at one of the towering posts.
The crowd cheers with great excitement, and everyone has their eyes glued to the husband and wife. They remove their robes and show their stylish red costumes, waving to the mass of people in their seats.
"As always, preforming their daring feats; without the safety of a net!"
John winks to Mary, and he leaps through the air and grabs hold of one of the rungs, his body was arching and bending with great strength and he does a magnificent job.
The mass of people let out a roar.
"Aren't they fantastic?"
Zucco says while blended in with the crowd, he was sitting next to his brothers and passes the bigger one his popcorn box, where he turns it over and a pair of shining bolts for the rung are in his grasp. He claps his hands while John Grayson sways back and forth high above the tent, and his eyes are fixated onto what the coming spectacle will be.
Next, Mary grabs the rung that her husband had come off from, where she smiles and dives into the air, twirling as she goes. As she leaves the bar, her momentum causes one of the wires to shift closer to the end that supported the metal, and she grabs her husband's hands where their eyes meet and the feeling in their hearts is of complete trust and love for one another.
"And now, the youngest member of this amazing family!" The speaker booms and crowd turns back to the first pillar. Dick was still wearing his yellow robe, and he grinned as the jidders were finally out of his system. He felt to have triumphed over his doubts and was proud to be in a city of so much history with his family.
The stage lights were concentrated at him, everything was going by so quickly and he stood with pride, ready to disgard the outer garb covering his outfit. After a brief wave to the applauding citizens, his eyes were quick to lock onto something entirely different as a disturbing ruckus from above him was heard. The bar that supported the trapeze artists main rung, it was inches away from snapping off now, and Dick was fast to comprehend their act had been sabataged and his parents were too far out to reach saftey themselves!
Falcon listened to the boy's heart pumping faster, as everything in his eyes was now in slow motion. Dick's expression had transformed from joy and pride, into pure horror and fear in a matter of split seconds while his parent's lives were in jeporady.
Mary swung upwards, her hands were extended and she reached out for her child while her legs were held by John. They now had the exact look that their son did as they each observed the loose bar, it was fear and their combined weight was causing the rung to slip until finally, it gave out!
"DICK!" Mary gasped, as her son tried to grab her fingers but he was just out of reach.
"NO!"
The cheering mass of people became stunned into shock and disbelief, as the boy's parents hit the ground violently. A dark crimson pool formed around their crumpled bodies, and the boy at the top trembled. Soon, his legs gave out, and he collapsed with endless tears streaking down his face. Falcon tries to open his eyes, to get out of this memory but the arm from the Boy Wonder within the Common Room is still around his neck. The mind hacker cringes as everything turns to blackness, and the next thing he hears is the sound of rain.
He looks out from the eyes of Dick to see a graveyard. This was a very dark nightmare he had stumbled into, and the downpour of the day after the death of his parents, it only made Falcon realize how deplorable the hero felt as a twelve year old. The weather was a perfect tone for the mood everyone was in; it was cold, and unforgiving.
Dick was wearing a tie and black suit for the bereavement, as a strong and muscular man with his butler remained beside him, in similar attire during the ceremony.
"Hello Dick, I'm Bruce Wayne." The tall man placed his hand onto the boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry about your loss."
The once acrobatic entertainer glanced at it, and then back to the tombstones.
"Thanks Mr. Wayne, for everything." Dick replied in a monotone. "I heard you paid for all this."
"So, how are you holding up?"
"I'll be okay." Dick closed his eyes. "At least, that's what everyone's been telling me."
A long silence befell them, and tears began to trickle down the boy's cheeks.
"I miss them. It's just not fair."
Bruce focused on the graves, while the young boy released a sigh and turned away before finishing his sentence.
"Anyway, thanks again."
While Dick departed from the slim majordomo who had a nice mustache, the butler looked at Bruce.
"His parents were all the family that boy had."
"That's why I've decided to take him in, as a foster son." Bruce's words caused the older gentleman to raise an eyebrow. "If he'll have me. I was lucky enough to have you, to guide me through those dark days Alfred. Dick deserves the same."
-End of Flashback-
Falcon blinked his eyes while on the couch; he had never intended to use his power on his new friends.
"Hey, are you alright dude?" Beast Boy's voice caused their new guest to turn his head.
"You gave us quiet a scare." said Cyborg.
"I'll be alright." The necromancer sat upright after releasing a heavy sigh. "Just, give me some space."
"Are you sure that you're fine?" Beast Boy asked.
"Yes, just don't touch me."
The others coiled back from an unknown fear.
"What's going on with you?" Raven's deadpan caused him to narrow his eyes at her.
"I don't want to hurt you, any of you."
"Hurt us?" Cyborg walked over as the new kid grabbed the edge of the seat."Just chill out man, I know you don't want to hurt us." He tapped Falcon's wrist with his mechanical hand. The touch of his body was cold, but it did carry memories with it, a story.
"Arghhh!" Falcon tried to pull the grip away, but he could not and everything in the room was turning white.
-Flashback-
The sound of hot water coming out of a faucet churned, as the steam slithered upwards to the bathroom vents. As the teenager pulled his hands away from his wet face, the reflection from the wall revealed a very different Cyborg. The black young man with no hair on his head was very muscular and his body was fit, he was built like an Olympic athlete and he did not have any robotical limbs or components. He did not have a heavy chassis around his toso, encasing him in some strange blue and white armor.
He was very human.
No, I told them all to keep away from me. Falcon's voice carried the echo. I do not want to see this, I did not want this!
The young man turns the handle and the water shuts off. After wiping his face with a paper towel to dry himself, he exits the lavatory. The sixteen year old heads down the corridor where the name; S.T.A.R. Laboratory Level 5 is written on the wall in yellow paint.
Where is he going? Falcon thought.
In a matter of minutes the burly teenager walked into another room, the wide windows revealed scientists in white lab coats working alongside engineers. They were welding metal and checking their calculations, as the sparks jumped out.
"Dad, I told ya before that I just wanna play football." The black teenager roared to a tall man with his body turned away. "You had no right to tell the coach, to take me out of practice to help you!"
"Victor, there is a time and a place for everything, we'll discuss your future later."
The necromancer studied the features of the father. His hair was white and he wore a coat with three pen caps neatly sticking out of the front breast pocket. He was holding a clipboard and jotting things down onto the paper.
"No! You never have the time to discuss what's going on in my head; all you care about is this stupid science stuff!"
"Calm down Victor." Silas replied in a soft tone as he looked at his son. "My hands are tied up right now; this isn't the best place to talk about this."
"Exactly, you're always busy!"
The boy raised his hands into the air, and he slammed the door shut behind him. Walking down the corridor he stopped and stood outside to brood; the older man chased after him and the duo found their shadows nearby.
"I'm never too preoccupied to talk with you, son." Silas placed a hand onto the teenager's shoulder. "What's the problem?"
"Yeah, it's not like I haven't heard you tell me that one before."
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
Victor sighed and turned his attention to the man's face, he wanted to hear something other than a promise.
"Vic, I agreed to let you into public school and to be apart of certain sports; but you and I both know that it will only last for a while. You have to see the broader picture, it's just a game."
"It's not just a game." Victor walked away. "This means something to me, and I don't like having my beliefs yanked out from under me."
"You should be involved in other things. Science, math, engeneering; these things have a promising future that lasts beyond twenty or some odd years. With a career in sports, you would only be able to stay on that path until your youth was gone, then you would be outdated and be dropped the second that new prospects would appear."
"That's bull; you never give me a chance old man."
"I give you all the chances in the world son." Silas frowned. "I've seen many things; sport competitors have a harsh life where football is truly a violent game. I never wanted you to regret anything, and in this line of work you would, eventually. Either you would become injured and no longer be able to keep up with the others, or you would retire and look back, longing to return but never being able to do so." He stepped closer; "You would hate yourself, and I don't want you to carry that."
Victor looked to his feet.
"That is not your choice to make. How can you decide what's best for me when this is my life, not yours."
During the silence, the two remained staring at one another, where a woman comes down the hall and places her hand on the older mans shoulder.
"Dr. Silas, we're awaiting for the confirmation access codes."
The old man blinked, and then he turned his head to the other scientist.
"I'll be with you in a minute." He refocused his tired gaze onto the teenager. "Just think about what I'm saying, I asked for you to be taken out of practice because I have something I wanted to show you."
Victor linked his arms.
"I don't care about this-this so called plan you have for me." He turned and went for the exit. "We're done here."
As Victor walked out in aggravation, an alarm started to whine in the background as two more people in white lab coats hurried into the hallway from another door, to meet with the boy's father. The sixteen year old halted and looked to the flashing red lights.
"Silas!" One of the engineers cried out. "We tried to hold it back, but the interdimensional portal is too weak, the worm hole is collapsing within itself."
"What?" Silas replied as the group of workers began to run.
"Just walk away Victor, its easy." The football star said just below his breath. "Just walk out and leave."
"One more thing." Another voice was heard as the men raced out of view. "Five members of the team are trapped inside, Elinore is one of them."
Victor's eyes became wide.
"What!" The teenager quickly followed after his father. "Damn, I was so close but I can't leave now."
Dr. Silas Stone did not turn to look behind him, yet he knew that he was being persued. Whether he felt terror or not about the unfolding situation, the brillaint scientist did not show fear on his face, only a cold and emotionless stare.
The three men and their female co-worker stood in front of a computer panel, the lights from the keyboard were blinking greens and reds, while their attention was to the long window and what was inside. Victor's jaw became slacked at what he saw in the next room. There was a massive metal ring standing upright, it was a gateway.
The military experiment was not supposed to be on, it was not ready yet a blue jello-type substance was bending outwards from the hole in the middle, it appeared to be a liquid compound that connected this world to another. It was a doorway to another plain. Something was wrong with the gate however, as electrical sparks dashed across the ceiling, while the five scientists inside the room cowered their bodies away from the machine, as the ground shook below their feet.
"How did this happen?" Silas questioned one of the men.
"We don't know; the program just started to run by itself."
"Is it aware?"
The group turned to look at eachother, and then the woman spoke up next.
"I don't know how to put into logical terms, but the codes weren't even put in. I came to you for them."
"How the hell did it override my security clearance?"
"Because I allowed it to do so." A coarse voice from the side picked up, where the man walked forwards and revealed himself to everyone.
"General?" Silas sputtered as their eyes were locked.
Victor studied the man's head, he was bald and he carried a scar over his right eye, while the green uniform with red piping along his pants and two gold stars along the top of his shoulders; these indicated he was a man of dedicated service to his country.
"Your research has taken too long, you have taken too long." The general glanced out the window with the cap tucked beneath his right arm. "I am simply doing what is required."
"The portal is destabilizing sir!" said the other male scientist.
"You gave me your word, this was never part of the arraingment!" said Silas as he ignored his co-worker.
"The deal you made was with the United States Army, I am doing what is in the best interests of my superiors."
"This is wrong."
"You dare to step out of line with me?" The general glared. "It was either I do this, or we pull the plug on your funding. I did what you could not; I am bringing the years of failed efforts of you and your staff to reach success, to fruition."
The room began to shake, as the people on the other side of the glass began to pound their fists to be let out.
"If maximum power is not destributed right now, we will loose her!" said Jim, one of the co-workers.
"We cannot do that." Silas replied.
"You will."
"My wife is in that room!"
The general blinked.
"I am sorry, but she made her choice, as did the rest of us."
Victor walked over; his heart began to beat quickly as the sweat trickled down his face.
"My mom is in there, you cannot just let her die."
The military officer turned around.
"This is no place for a child."
Victor took another step, as a scorching fury rose within his heart. He clenched his fists and was ready to punch the man in the eye, but was stopped as his father's voice came between them.
"We must shut it down; I will not allow this project to murder good, innocent people."
"We're at seventy percent, once we reach the threashold it will be too late." Jim spoke up. "The core cannot take much more of this, we need to give it more power or it will burn out."
"Increase the turbines!" The general pointed to Mike, the other assistant.
"You cannot do that." Silas cut-in. "You will be condemning their lives!"
"We're at seventy-five percent." said Jim.
"Elinore! Get out of there, now!" Silas called to his spouse.
"The room is in lockdown mode, the program cannot be cancelled once the main initiative has been activated." Replied Mike as he feverishly typed on the keyboard.
"Eighty percent." said Jim.
"No, open that door and get them out of there!" Silas bickered with his co-workers. "We're running out of time!"
"Eighty-three percent."
The boy's father grabbed the general by the collar and shook him; the same powerful ire noticed across Victor's face was seen on his now; his forehead had wrinkles.
"You will shut this thing down. NOW!"
"Eighty-six percent."
A few of the emergancy lights in the hall were heard shattering, while the entire building began to tremble. It was like a massive earthquake was happening, and nobody could stand still as the shelves were tipped and loose bindings and papers scattered across the floor.
"Increase the turbine speed!" The General narrowed his eyes.
Silas tossed the man to the side, and he raced to the panel as his co-workers lost their train of thought and were fixated at this new spectacle.
"Shut this thing off!"
"Eighty-nine percent." Jim's voice was heard.
The window had a long crack in it; one that quickly spread upwards in the formation of various lightning bolts and created countless others.
"We can't." the woman said. "It is too far into the process."
Silas grasped her by the collar now.
"We've hit ninety percent!"
"Mom!" Victor shouted, where he ran over and frowned at the group of scientists. "I'm sick of this, I have stood by and watched, but now I'm going to do something!"
"Victor, what are you-" Silas asked.
"Stay out of my way!"
The teenager hurled a fire extinguisher that was behind him into the window, causing it to rupture. The glass fragments crashed onto the floor, and everybody turned to look at the new mess.
"The radiation levels are off the charts." Mike said as he focused on the buzzing of the electrical beams, that popped outwards from the great ring.
"Ninety-three percent!" Jim continued to recite the graphs from the screen.
"Kill the power; I'm going to get her out of there." Victor stood on the window sill.
"No!" Silas called out to his son, desperatly trying to grab him but he could not. "VICTOR!"
The muscular athlete shielded his face with one arm, and he ran into the chaos not looking back. As he leaned forwards, the trapped workers were huddled together, while the portal to the gate bent outwards as a slimy massive blob-like creature slid down the ramp, and everything it touched caused a trail of smoke to rise in its wake. The floor was melting, as tables and objects within the room close to the portal became dissolved from the outer coat, it was a destructive acid mixture that could not be stopped.
One of the engineers screamed in agony, as his left leg was trapped beneath the alien goop, and everyone became terrified!
"Silas, we must contain it." The female aid responded.
"But my son is in that room now." The prestigous man of science was dumbstruck.
"You know the only option we have left." said Mike. "It must be destroyed."
"My work, my family, everything that made my entire career is in that room." Silas sighed. "How can you ask me to do such a thing?"
"Dr. Stone." Came the general's voice as he stood up; "I am ordering you to terminate this abonimationat at once!"
"We're reaching nintey-four percent!"
Silas found himself stuck in a pivotal decision, he understood what he had to do in order to end the problem, but he was horrified by what the consiquences would result in. The group of workers looked on, while young Victor helped those trapped near a corner to their feet, and back to the window he came through.
"If we don't stop this now, countless lives will be lost!" The general planted his hands onto a computer.
"We cannot sacrifice them." said Silas.
Three of the workers stumbled their way out, while Victor was approaching his mother who was helping the man on the floor who had lost his leg, he was bleeding to death. The menacing blob was getting closer to her now, as a deep red trail from his open wound smeared across the floor. The head of the research division had his hand ready on the self destruct button, Silas was prepaired to demolish the gateway.
"Do it, there are more lives than theirs are at stake!" The general bantered.
"Not yet."
"DO IT!"
Silas hesitated; he lowered his head and shut his eyes. Without uttering another word, he presses the key. A massive explosion erupts deep within the compound, and everything goes from a sharp tint of white light, to black in Victor's mind. The final things he can remember feeling is a chunk of metal falling onto his chest, pinning him to the ground and he is unable to move; as the last view is of his mother screaming while the creature was inches away from them both.
Falcon cannot see anything; he cannot hear anything further except a dark long void of total blackness. Then, a light penetrates through, and the sixteen year old opens his eyes slowly. He notices that he was in a hospital bed, his arms and legs feel heavier than normal, and everything out of his left eye is red, as though he was looking through a night scope.
"Huhhh … wha … what happened?" Victor spoke where his throat hurt and he was fatigued, as he looked around the room in disorientation.
Then a blurry image of a man in a suit comes into focus, it was Silas.
"Easy, just take it easy Victor. That was a very brave thing you did, you saved many lives."
Suddenly remembering the explosion and him falling down, his right eye became wide.
"MOM!"
The older man looked down in anguish; he understood that he could not hide the truth any longer.
"Victor, she …" He closed his eyes. "She's gone."
"What!" The teenager shouted, his heart was racing and Falcon sensed wave after wave of guilt flood across his brain.
"There is more." He locked into his eyes. "I'm sure by now things feel, different to you."
Victor scowled.
"What the hell is going on?"
Silas placed a hand onto his wrist, but the boy was having difficulty feeling the touch of any human contact against his broken body. His father cleared his throat before speaking.
"We tried to salvage what we could, we tried to save what could be saved but it was very difficult."
"Come on old man, just spit it out already!"
"As much that I regretted you joining sports, competing and chosing the path that you did … it seems that your choices have saved your life." Silas lightly chuckled. "The irony of it all."
"Ironic?" Victor gasped while he felt different, it was like he was trapped inside something and that his limbs were not his own. "Why does everything in my left eye seem red? Why can't I move my arms or legs, why do I have a chunk of metal strapped over the left side of my chin?"
Silas swallowed the air in his mouth, and he turned his gaze to the doors where two hospital members wheeled in a giant mirror. Victor observed the person in the glass, and it looked nothing like the sixteen year old that he was, where Falcon within his mind saw the Cyborg he first met.
"NOOOOOOO!" Victor hollers as he sits upright, touching his face. "What did you do? This, this thing isn't me, THAT isn't me!"
Tears begin to form in his eyes; where Silas put his hand onto his son's wrist again.
"Victor, you must understand that there was scarcely anything left, you were crushed and your legs and hands were inoperable, your left side of your brain sufferd too much trauma and had to be fitted with a new stronger skull, thus causing the blindness and having to be replaced with the red senser. I-I am truly sorry."
The once promising football quarterback was left in complete disbeleif; and Falcon could only feel that rage had replaced any sorrow that he had.
"You did this!" Victor pointed to the mirror. "Why didn't you just let me die? Why didn't you just leave me instead of turning me into a Frankenstein project?"
"Victor I-"
"SHUT UP! Just. Shut. Up! You used me." A single tear traveled down his face. "All my life you have and I fought you … hated you! Why couldn't you just leave me to die? Why didn't you just let me DIE?"
-End of Flashback-
Cyborg removed his arm while the necromancer held his skull from the harsh tug from both worlds.
"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?"
Falcon stood up, and after running his right hand into his hair, he left the couch and walked away. Before he could leave however, Starfire was blocking his path.
"Friend, what is the matter?"
"Star, I think you should just leave em be." said Cyborg as he and the others looked on.
"Stay back; I never wanted any of this." Falcon revealed a creastfallen look at the princess. "Please, just let me go."
"What are you talking about?" Beast Boy interjected.
Falcon turned to the changeling before answering.
"You do not want to know." He paused. "I need to meditate."
While he brushed his way past the superheroine, Starfire grabbed his hand frocing him to stop in his tracks. Her fingers toyed with his and the room began to spin like a merry-go-round.
A long hush crashed upon them all.
"Falcon, what is wrong?" Starfire quizically asked as he bent onto his knees.
-Flashback-
The necromancer discharges the stagnant oxygen within his body. He was now watching a new memory play before him, and he knew the moment she rested her warm hand into his, that he would be taken to a place out of this world.
The fifteen year old girl was looking out from a doorway with her arms bound in futuristic handcufffs, where a range of high mountains soared up to the clouds in the distance, while closer to her kingdom; the high rises of buildings were all stacked around the palace. The temperature outside was damp, as a swift gust of wind moved across the long deck that she was standing on.
"Dear sister, you are going to leave because you must." A bizarre alien dialect was spoken, yet the memory played in English for the necromancer.
"But Komand'r." The red head looked at her older sibling; the other girl had a similar appearance except that she was a little taller and had much darker hair. "I do not wish to leave."
Komand'r stepped forwards before speaking.
"You leave because if you do not become the servant as so discussed in the treaty, then war shall come to our home. You are a trade off … and since I am rightfully older, my bidding is final."
"Don't do this, I love Tamaran." Falcon felt the girl's emotions dash into terror. "I never want to leave, I am … afriad. There must be another way!"
"If you truly love our home, our way of life Koriand'r, then you will go."
The older princess nodded towards two green reptilian guards and they walked over. As the other girl went back inside the castle, Starfire looked down in shame and Falcon could feel a wave of deep mourning, in not allowing herself to stay, but understanding the reason behind it.
"Please don't do this."
The other sister waited as her own Nordic soldiers stood at attention, and she turned her head to the side.
"This discussion is over. You will enjoy your new life little sis, don't worry … Tamaran will be in good hands."
Starfire was then escorted up the ramp of the ship with her head hung low, as the last view of the life that she was raised to grow up in, it was quickly concealed from the mighty doors being shut, and she sighed. She had hoped that she could return to her home one day, but it was unclear as to when that would be.
-End of Flashback -
"Get away from me!" Falcon squirmed his hand free from hers. "Why can none of you just listen?"
Beast Boy moved in while Starfire was heartbroken.
"Hey man, why do you keep saying that? She never meant to-"
Before the changeling had a moment to finish his sentence, the crimson cloaked wanderer encased Beast Boy in mystical black aura, and he tossed him to the side as he did not wish to feel another person touch his sensitive skin, and unleash another migraine. The rest of the titans studied the rude action against their teammate, and Cyborg did not like it one bit.
"Whoa, I didn't want to have to do this, but you're leaving me with no other choice." The sophisticated repairman held out his sonic cannon and was ready to fire.
"No." Falcon used his left hand and trapped the gearhead into another black aura, sending him into the same wall.
"FALCON!" Robin entered the scene. "Let. Them. Go. NOW!"
The necromancer closed his eyes and released Cyborg and Beast Boy, dropping them to the floor. The two that were pushed away groaned for a moment, as they slowly got back to their feet. Falcon stepped further away, and his hands trembled.
"What have I done?" Falcon spoke to himself while scanning at his fingers.
"I don't know." Beast Boy rubbed his sore neck.
Falcon turned and saw the Empath with a disconcerting glare; where her blue outer attire swayed behind her legs. The newbie's rage had settled the desired distance he wanted, but now he was showing something very evil that he had kept to himself.
"You are pushing us away." Raven deadpanned.
Falcon blinked.
"What is your deal?" Beast Boy spoke. "First we are sitting together and having pizza, then the next thing you know, you tell us to back off."
"If I told you, you would hate me and never trust me."
As he took another step backwards, the shadows behind him began to cover his presence.
"Falcon, what's going on?" Robin questioned as he stood next to Starfire.
"BACK OFF!"
The group stopped their movements, fearing another attack from his mysterious powers.
"I told you not to touch my skin. I told you to keep away but you refused, you felt compelled to be closer, why?"
Robin, Cyborg and Starfire recalled the moments of their skin touching his own, and they were not quite sure of how to respond. Beast Boy and Raven were the only two he had yet to touch. During the silence, Falcon made his way out of the Common Room, and he stopped right at the doorway.
"All of you must understand; I never intended to hurt any of you." He waited; "There is no point in saying it but, in what little comfort it will bring, I'm sorry."
Starfire wrapped her right hand over her wrist, before her gentle voice was noticed.
"You inflicted no harm to me."
Falcon partially moved his head in her direction.
"Yes I did Koriand'r."
Then he walked out, leaving the group stunned at what they had just heard.
"He knew my name from Tamaran?" Starfire lifted a hand to her lips. "But, how is this possible when I never spoke of it before?"
Robin kept his eyes glued to the door, as the princess looked to her beau for an answer.
"When my arm touched his neck." Cyborg spoke up. "I think he somehow, got inside of my head."
"Dude." Beast Boy scratched his hair. "That's heavy."
"You three touched his skin." Raven said causing the group to look at her, excluding the Boy Wonder. "Which means he can see things about us; things we never revealed to anybody but eachother."
"What was that thing he did to the tin man and me though?" The prankster said back. "It was like he was able to control the shadows around me or something?"
"Yeah." said Cyborg. "I think that power, that darkness, it's a part of who he is."
"A shadow manipulator."
Everyone focused their eyes back onto the Empath.
"A what?" asked Beast Boy.
"I'm not entirely sure, but from a few books that I've read on the occult, it says that a person who is able to bend the darkness around their opponents when threatened, they can also have the power to read peoples minds." Raven interjected. "Or their memories."
"Okay, now you're starting to freak me out."
"I did not intend to inflict harm upon him." Starfire said in a quiet tone. "I only wanted to make him feel welcomed."
"I know." said Raven. "There is something else though, and I don't feel comfortable about it."
"What's that?" Robin spoke up.
"Whether he intended to use those powers or not, they are very strong." Raven continued with her theory. "His emotions can get the better of him, and he has a difficult time in trying to come to terms with it. If what I know about these types of sorcerers is correct, than a demon from another world has bonded with his spirit."
The team leader walked over, and he crossed his arms before talking.
"I can see why he'd think that we wouldn't want to help him. He feels that he's a danger to be around."
"I'm sure there is more to him that meets the eye though." Raven finished and the group of heroes turned their attention back on the door.
Falcon was overly discouraged with how he had acted in front of the Teen Titans. He had just wanted them to stop grilling him with their pesky questions, he wanted to have space and the invisible boundry was crossed over many times, even after he demanded to be left alone.
I can't allow them in, they are not yet ready to understand the real me. They already hate me!
The necromancer entered his quarters and leaned against the bed, as he looked to the ocean outside his window for solace. The memories continued to flash across his brain, of Robin's parent's falling, of Cyborg being crushed, and of Starfire being forced to leave her home. After closing his eyes and taking a second deep breath, he crossed his legs upon the sheets and he brought his middle fingers on each hand to touch his thumbs.
Soon, he felt himself lifting off the mattress and the shadows in the room enveloped around him, swirling as though the darkness and light were part of a light show. The images fade out and all he can hear is the pulse of his heart, he was finding peace.
Footsteps could be heard approaching the door; without turning his head and before the knocking was applied, he felt the presence of the sorceress. Falcon could still taste the sweet lavender perfume in his mind; the fragrence was trapped within his nostrils.
"Enter." Falcon responded soothingly.
Raven held her hand above the door.
How did he know I was here? She thought to herself.
"You don't wish to be disturbed, but there are things that need to be cleared from the air." Raven spoke up.
In a few seconds the door slid apart, where the Empath stepped inside. The light from the hallway changed into a darker color as she drew nearer to him. His cloak floated with his body, and he lowered himself to the bed and opened his eyes.
"Right." Falcon said as he stared at her. "My little display in the Common Room gave you guys a scare, now you want to kick me out."
Raven pulled the chair from his desk out, and sat alongside him.
"While you did give us a shock, I did not come down here to yell at you." She looked into his eyes. "I came to talk with you."
"It's alright if you guys want me to go." Falcon stood up and faced the wall. "I would want to get rid of the creepy kid who just threatened my friends too. Just say the word, and I'm gone."
"You're jumping to conclusions." Raven rose to her feet. "You did attack us, but you also gave us a warning to stay away. My friends can be stubborn at times."
The necromancer blinked during the brief pause.
"It shouldn't matter. I'm a bad omen Raven, I don't think I'll last much longer around here and when the morning comes, I'll be out of your hair for good."
"You never give anybody a chance, do you?" Raven leaned closer. "Not even yourself."
"I never believed in chances."
"Funny. Neither did I." Raven grinned.
The necromancer sighed and he turned around to see her, she was standing directly in front of him. He nodded his head in understanding her words before talking.
"You know, this is the first time I've actually had people take an interest in me."
"Falcon, what are you so afraid of?"
She lifted her right hand, and his eyes became wide. He did not want to see her pain, having to deal with three of the members was too much to fathom.
"Fear is a thing many people run away from." He lightly chuckled. "Yet it always seems to be right on top of me, every place that I turn or go to find some simple refuge, and it always catches up."
Raven stepped closer.
"Are you so certain that you will harm us; that we will kick you out?"
"Trust me." Falcon locked onto her gaze. "The things I am capable of, from what I have done to you and the others, I should never have come here."
"Why?"
"I'm a loner Raven."
"You are twisting your own words."
The Empath began to feel a connection with him; she remembered when she was alone and afriad. Everything changed the moment Starfire came to Earth however, she had a new purpse to stay alive and to fight the doom that she was prophesized to unleash.
"What compelled you to see me, after everything that's happened?" Falcon asked.
"I just want to set things straight for once. The thing is Falcon, that Starfire thinks she hurt you."
"She didn't."
"I know that, but we all watched how you pushed everyone out of your way. Your anger is not a pleasant side to be around."
"I've noticed."
Raven placed her hand onto his shoulder.
"You really need to drop this whole lone wolf thing; you're acting like a class act jerk."
The necromancer glanced out the window.
"There is a lot going on up in here." He pointed to his temple. "I seem to make a mess of things quiet often, but I never tried to hurt anybody."
"But you do."
"Well, I guess you've got this conundrum figured out." He sighed. "Then you know why I'm not good around groups of people."
"I was the same way." She moved her hand closer to his. "You won't hurt me, it's not in you."
Falcon's heart beat faster as the demoness was showing affection.
"Stay back." He leaned away. "I ... I don't want to see."
"See what?" she moved in.
"The others, they bear so much pain." He looked to the carpet. "Now you are willing to befriend me after everything."
"You're focusing on the negative still."
"Raven-"
Before he can continue she was already there, her hand snuck into his and the ever growing torture in his heart was felt by the Empath. He groaned as his head tilted back, he fought against it but his willpower weaned. Memories flashed across his mind and into hers, now she could view what he had observed.
As she held his hand, the sporadic glimpses of Starfire walking onto the ship in saddness blasted across her mind. Then the image of Cyborg screaming in a hospital bed zoomed past, followed up by the trapeze duo falling to their deaths. She clentched her forehead with her other hand, and she sees Falcon getting off the train into the city, of the little girl smirking at him. This moment vanished, and she dug deeper to come across a new image.
Within this distant memory, she noticed a burning building as a boy lay on the ground. A woman screamed in the background as a light snow continued to cover everything. A girl around the age of four cried as she held a teddy bear, as the burning conflagration rages in front of them. The boy looked to be no older than seven.
Falcon broke away from her grasp, where she gasped at what she had seen and realized from the fire in his eyes, that he was upset beyond words.
"I told you not to touch me!"
"Falcon, who was that?"
After standing up straight, he looks in her eyes with dread.
"Well as you could guess, it's from my past. I still have nightmares of it."
Raven blinked her eyes, where Falcon decided to end the new problem.
"That's a topic for another day. Please tell the others again, especially Starfire that I am sorry for how I acted."
"Sure." She deadpanned, where she then left the room.
As Raven stood in the corridor, the illumination from the lightbulbs reflected her shadow over the door, and she tilted her head in shame. Giving a quick shiver of unpleasantness, she decided to go to her own room and muse over the infromation she had learned.
{{End of Scene}}
Reviews from the previous chapter:
Momomiya Ichigo Loves Inuyasha: "Gosh, these people sure are stubborn when it comes to arguments. It was very long, but I love the descriptiveness."
~~ I had a lot of fun writing that chapter. Thanks for the uplifting words of encouragement. ~~
NapoleonVI: "I can see talent in your writing, and for a first timer I can see that you are doing a good job! I too am a first timer, so I can guess how exciting this experience must be for you, and i can say you ought to write on."
~~ Thanks for the feedback! Indeed, this is my first story on FanFiction but it's not the first time I've tried to write something before. This is a fun ride, yet it takes a lot of work and energy for me to post the updates, but I think in the long run, it will be worth it. ;-) ~~
bk00: "It's been a while since I read this, but wow great chapter!"
~~ I'm honored that I was able to bring a smile to you. :-D ~~
SkilletFan000: "Great chapter. I really liked this one. Its nice to see family bonding there, although I think Raven may have belabored the point just a little too much, even considering the situation."
~~ The heroes did bond, but I think the chapter I posted now may have caused some new rifts to spread? Yes, the Empath tried to make things move along with her persistence, but you do have to admit she did manage to get him to explain a few things, when everybody else just wanted to drop it. ~~
Sciffanfreak222: "Read this already but I never reviewed! Okay, so it was a pretty good chap, but I thought Falcon was sort of a jerk. I liked his fight with Raven though, and I think somehow along the way he redeemed himself. Can't wait to read on!"
~~ He had his reasons to hold back, I would be inclined to keep things to myself too if I met new people. They may have patched things up, but there is still a burning issue of trust with any new face that the Teen Titans will need to mend. Terra sure did a number on them. ~~
Merchant of Menace: "I'm guessing that the person Falcon's searching for will either be Trigon or Slade. Great story!"
~~ That is a good theory you have going. I wonder if you're right. ;-) ~~
That guy too: "great chappy, needs more bbxrae."
~~ I think that the next update will be to your liking then. :-) ~~
A/N Well, what did you think? Sorry if the first chapter was long, but I felt that it would help to tie Falcon with the gang a little bit easier. In reality, this was going to be the first chapter, and I would use flashbacks here and combine them into the updates from before slowly and bit by bit, to bring you guys up to speed. (I sure have a strange brain.) But, I think the way it actually came out, was better and less confusing. The scene with Robin was from the episode A Matter of Family on The Batman; I felt like that universe fit into the Teen Titans rather well. You can watch the entire episode on YouTube. Cyborg's came from the older comics in the 80's with some of my own creativity, while the part for Starfire seemed to fold in with how she ended up on earth. I hope you all enjoyed it, there is still much that is going to happen, and the telling is only just getting started.
~~ T.M.O ~~