Our Time in Reverse- What it Takes –

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Chapter 36: Torrents of the Deep – Working Together

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Tara was waking as Will had told him. He stayed by the door, careful not to intrude lightly. He opened the panel and made himself at home. Tara was in her cot. Her legs dangled over the bed in what looked to be a set of plain light blue, two pajamas that were in her size. Will had insisted upon not making her feel totally trapped here. Underground.

"I'm coming inside now, Tara." He shut the door, making sure her eyes were still to the wall. Her way of coping was normal for those her age. Too bad. Richard was too good for his own good to his teacher. She could learn a decent inkling of respect just by watching how he responded in conversation. They'd cross that bridge eventually. Tara muttered and chewed the inside of her cheek pensively. "You've been dressed in that, did Wintergreen bring it in yesterday?"

He leaned against the wall as she huffed and blew a strand of her long blonde hair out of the way. "You've been away. I guess he's my only person visiting these days."

"My work takes top priority-

"Am I not supposed to be making a deal with you for my freedom or something? Is that why you gave me someplace to sleep finally? I was locked up in a lab for days!" She groaned and rolled onto her side. "My real parents would have wanted me to be brave. To not run away. But I can't go back."

"What about Bryon."

She blinked back tears and wiped her face. Sitting up, Slade was so clever in her mind that he'd try that card. No way.

"If I say yes, help you. Then… you have to help me while this thing you want is happening. I don't want to be used. You can't hurt me when I have more control –

"But that'd be why, my dear. You just DON'T." His eye narrowed at her as they locked in on each other. "YOU were the one that lost control of those impressive and dangerous abilities. Luckily, the ability to control earth is not something I'm unfamiliar with, observing. I'd like to train you. Redirect that energy to make it shine through as it should." He held out a hand. Slowly coming closer, she was sure caution was needed when taking candy from strangers.

"So…you've had students before? Like me or something?"

"I do have, just one. The last never stayed long enough to be much." The man lowered his hands then raised them to release the clasps of his mask – his face showed a sheen of perspiration that wasn't even cracking. His hair was pushed away, a small smile to show his real side. His human side beyond the façade Tara had fabricated out if her head.

"Whoa…then, you're not….how old are you again? What stipends? It's like I'm talking to-

"Someone, else?" He raised a brow, shocking her even further. "Yeah. You do. And for some reason…"

"I only saw you by way of a small…bit of intelligence. I have my own ability to see through others. Unlike your gift, it has its uses in specific scenarios. Precondition, strategies being placed in a line. You'd be thrilled to know that I can get Bryon back by all if resources. All if my power, just if you trusted me, Tara. Trusted that I can do this one thing. Make it up to you for trapping you in this room. It was only for your own good, to protect you."

"Or. To protect you." Snorted the girl. "If I give that much control to you, how will I get what I need? You're not going to do it. Sone part of me is saying not to trust you."

"Listen to it, and you'll have no future again, dear child. You'll be shipped to be cared for by others that won't understand."

"Wh…what do you mean?" Her voice cracked a bit.

"A foster family? I could pull some strings. Get you out, but…they may not be as forgiving. If they saw what you were. How you can't control your powers, they would put you back in the lab. You'd be less than human. Less than protected-

"No, no way! I…I have rights –

"Your uncle took your title. You're a runaway without any rights or even a citizenship title into your name in THIS country. You'd fumble and hurt and keep hurting, Tara. But it doesn't have to be so painful." She didn't even see him step closer. Completely eaten away was her barrier. He just came up to her, one knee…one question.

" Join me. Let me train you to keep yourself together and find your brother in the process. Terranova."

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The one thing Robin had expected, was to be grounded in less time and in the water in less than ten. Starfire was all about cheering on Bb and Aqualad from the background. A whole big debacle could raise suspicions among the other sea inhabitants, she wondered. Yet Kaldur told them all; the sea wasn't just his home, he communicated with every being through a telepathic link as Bb had the Titans earlier.

~ We'll check the last place any mysterious activity was spotted and reported from, then we set our course after Triton if we find his where about.~

~ What if he puts up resistance and goes nuts? I don't even know if that weapon is shark friendly…. you'd better not endanger my friends. ~ Bb growled as a great white behemoth. ~ Please, you would turn tail if you ever had to worry about danger. Leave the real heroing to the heroes –

~Say what?? Are we not good enough for ya –

~ Bb, hold up. I think we got something on the radar.~

Robin squinted to see a shadow in the rocks. Red or golden eyes…

"There!" Robin pointed as Cy took the next step forward. "Go, he's in the coral reef! I see a light…there!"

"Not that. Eyes. Dozens." Raven pointed as well, the eyes multiplying as only one remained. Bb and Aqualad ravaged after it in the deep waves Bb shoved as a manta ray, yet Kaldur was much quicker with those flippers. ~ No, fair!~

" This isn't a race! Work –

A rumble from the back of the sub stopped their leader as Cy reacted and turned to the monitors. "We got company. Brace –

A century long war and the tens of dozens if enemies of Atlantis, returned. The creatures Aqualad had foreshadowed had bodies cloaked by the shadows of those dark waters. Kal (to save me the time) swung round but saw a trident too late as he fell back. Bb almost knew it as his ego; though telling him to help his teammates, had the eel in his form strangle round the creature like a deadly anaconda as it grunted and tried to swing back. The next went after the Titans as they were more. More of them. Red eyes and jaws like a shark. Their gills made them greener; more monster than mer- man while Kal telepathically tried to tell the heroes to double their resistance and hold on while he called for help.

"There are too many!" Starfire cried through the comm. "Must we engage in combat??"

"This was…a test run for my girl, the T – ship. Having it get attacked now means in the future –

"Right now??" Robin tried to steady his heart. Slade would come if he grew too distressed. In his mind, the man wanted him to face the toughest fights while cracking under pressure. To show that he could. He was going to wait it out. Cy had to make the call, he could only make suggestions.

~ I'm going to bring in back up. Sit tight .~

~ You can play long distance with them, I'm going after the sea creep's lair-

~ B!" Cy commanded through the boy's suit. ~ Don't act out. We need you to listen –

"You need to Beast boy Cy's right. If you run off, you won't weaken the pack. Hunting 101. Kal. Who are you going to call?" Robin sat back down as the tritons hot their craft in spots that would need a total make over from Tram again.

Kal put a set of fingers to his temple as a mourning cry of two booming voices echoed over the waters.

~ He did know….~ Raven gasped, the blue whales coming in to drop kick the tritons as they supported the craft and lifted it to the surface. Bb and Kal made sure to call one more, as Bb negotiated with tiger sharks which were too small to harm the whales that has since departed anyways.

"Go! Get those fish chowder heads, team!" Bb had the sharks push the tritons down as they were made to retreat into the waves

"Great. No lead, no –

"You have something on your." Kal poked Bb's jaw as he lipped it with a sniff. "They bleed too?? I can help track en! Way a –

Bb turned to the Titans as Kal did the same. "I'll have Tram bring another replacement if its in poor shape. We can go ahead."

"Will that…I can't leave them out here –

"You trust me, right? You helped push back the Tritons whereas I did the rest. We make a pretty good team, when you aren't being such a puffer fish." Teased the Atlantean.

"Y- YEAH…but you owe Robin for getting me to listen. He used to do stuff like this as a reward. Weird parenting. Bet they had him take on a great white shark when he was in middle school."

"Most of my people leave them be… but if you say so. Coming?"

BB nodded and went clowning as their fin and hand touched in understanding. "You bet! Let's stop a sea criminal. Together."

/

It was….unexpected. Again, but validation to the team meant Robin would have their support. Now, for Cyborg…

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Find out!!