LOVE WRITTEN IN STONE

CHAPTER EIGHT

"It's Terra." PT TWO

"Beast Boy?" 

The voices were distant. He couldn't quite hear them. His mind was focused elsewhere; he was unable to comprehend anything. 

'This.. Can't be happening ..' repeated in his thoughts. 

"Beast Boy!" This time he felt his limp body shaking forcefully. It roused him from his trance, forcing his neck to crane upward, seeing Cyborg above him with an apprehensive expression. 

"What's going on? Who's communicator is that?" Robin pointed to the yellow device protected by Beast Boy's soft grip. 

Beast Boy himself absently stared at the two of his teammates, seemingly unaware. He then turned his eyes to the blazing building and staggered to his feet, preparing to run inside. 

His arm was grabbed tightly, yanking him to a stop. He turned his anxious expression to the one holding him back. Raven knitted her brows with worry and uncertainty. 

He stared at her, shifted to look away, and shook his head pulling away from her with a simple word. "..Sorry." With that, he bolted for the building fast as his legs could carry him leaving the others bewildered and shouting for him to stop. Raven was silent as she watched him running further and further away from her. 

Slade, watching from the darkness several yards away, held a small device in his hand. He pressed the button on the top of it, and in the next instant, the creature from before manifested as if from thin air. It made no sound as it tried sinking its claws into Slade from behind, only to be engulfed by electricity, bending it to the ground as it twitched helplessly. 

Slade barely turned his head to acknowledge with mild amusement. "You should know better than that, dear pet." He mocked, shaking the device from before teasingly. "Although, your many attempts to kill me are adorable. You and I both know it's impossible as long as I have this. However, I'll let this small bit of disobedience slide since you performed the first half of the plan perfectly." 

Slade turned back to the scene unfolding. He relaxed his thumb over the button allowing the silent creature a chance to breathe. It stayed on the ground, in too much pain to stand. "Now it's time for phase two." Grabbing hold of its neck, Slade dragged the thing with him into the darkness. 

Covering his face with his arms, Beast Boy burst through doors shattering them to splinters. He kept one arm over his mouth and nose hoping to help shield the toxic fumes from his lungs to no avail.

"Tara!!" He screamed, coughing. "Can you hear me?!" The flames were ravenous; unable to satiate its appetite. The roaring from its destructive feast was almost impenetrable. Even if he could scream loud enough for her to hear, he wasn't sure if he could hear her. 

The search was on. 

Avoiding the falling pieces of roof and other debris, Beast Boy hurriedly trekked the dangerous Hellscape, desperately calling her name and lifting heavy objects to see if she were trapped. 

"Tara!?" He would call, still, no one answered. 

Not until, "Help! Is someone there?!" A girl cried out.

He gasped, then coughed violently when smoke choked him. He continued to hack away as he traversed through the flames, carefully dodging the coils. "Where are you?!" 

"I'm under here!! Help me, please!" Her desperate sobs helped him find her. To his disappointment, she wasn't Tara, However, he instantly smiled. 

"Don't worry! I'll get you out!!" He morphed into a rhino, dug his horn into the bottom of the rubble, and slowly lifted it so she could scurry from beneath. Once he dropped it, he went back to normal. The girl cried hysterically as she clung to him. "Can you walk?" He asked calmly, helping her to her feet. 

She nodded, wiping tears from her eyes. He gripped her hand and ran helping her avoid the dangers along the way until another cry reached his ears. 

"Please, help me!! Someone?!" A male student. Beast Boy screeched to a halt.

The girl bumped into his back as she covered her mouth, coughing. He turned back and forth, unable to make his mind up. Quickly he turned to the girl and grabbed her shoulders. "Can you make it out on your own?" He asked.

"Y-Yes." She replied through a cough. 

 "The doors are open, just be careful! Someone will be there!" He helped her over a piece of debris and watched her exit the door down the hall. With a faint nod, he quickly turned on his heels to pursue the other trapped. 

Before he even had the chance to help his friend, he had pulled out four people from the fire. His head was starting to become hazy as the lack of oxygen started to weigh him down. He suddenly stumbled onto his knees coughing until his lungs stung and his throat burned. 

.."Tara!" His raspy voice called to the raging flames. 

There was a creaking coming from above. He turned his wayward eyes up in time to see a piece of the roof come down. His tired legs fumbled beneath him, unable to move in time. When the dust cleared he felt the pain of what happened. He was sure his leg was broken as he cried out in agony. With clenched teeth, he struggled to crawl out only for the rubble to topple in on itself making it nearly impossible to do it on his own. He was too weak to try anymore. He couldn't even transform at this rate. His body was too weak. He wheezed, trembling. His hands lightly closed over the ashes he had found himself lying upon. 

It was so hot.. It was so loud.. He felt so weak.. For the first time in a long time, he was truly afraid for his life. 

Could he make it out? Could he save Tara? He truly didn't think he could. 

"But...  I can't just give up!" He struggled, pulling himself up as hard as his wobbling muscles could before failing. 

"You always were the persistent one." 

The voice above Beast Boy seemed to tame the flame's rage, and even though it was definitely as hot as the peak of a summer's day, Beast Boy felt the cold touch of panic brush through him, shaking him to his core. His eyes lifted cautiously to gaze at the one person he truly feared. 

"..Slade." He growled, clenching his fingers over the ash. He struggled to transform and attack, but his body forced him to retreat back to human form. Slade chuckled, kneeling to be face to face with the struggling boy. "Oh please. Don't get up on my account."

"It was you!.. You set the school on fire!" Accused the hero between wheezes.

"Hmm, yes. With some help." Standing, The calculating villain stepped to the side allowing the creature the Titans had been after to appear beside him. "I know you've already been acquainted with my pet so I'll spare the formality."

"What do you want?!"

"The same thing you do." He paused, "For Terra to come back." 

"Terra died trying to kill you! And once I get my hands on you, I'll avenge that!!" 

Slade clicked his tongue. "You truly have made yourself believe that, haven't you? Although, I suppose it's easier than dealing with the fact she doesn't want to remember you."

"I'm not playing your games! She isn't alive anymore! She's gone!"

"And yet, you've seen her. You've talked to her. You've even spent some time together." Beast Boy showed fear for a moment in his eyes before snarling. 

"Spying on teenagers is pretty creepy." He snapped, "And if you were spying on us, you'd know she's not Terra, but if you lay a finger on her so help me-!!"

"Oh, I believe you'll come around."

"..Hello??" 

All three glanced behind them as a voice called from beyond the flames. Beast Boy gasped. "Don't! Get out of here!" 

"Beast Boy??" 

He recognized it now. Tara was calling him. He shook his head desperately calling her to stop. "Tara, get out of here! Don't come near me!"

"Beast Boy!" 

"My, my.. Seems I was right then. There is still a connection. You'll still be able to bring her back." Slade remarked with sly smugness. 

"I'll kill you if you come near her!" With pure rage seething through his strangled breath, Beast Boy claimed this as he fought desperately to escape the rubble trapping him. 

Slade watches in amusement until the shuffling of Tara's feet drew closer. "Don't worry. I'm not here for her, at least not yet. Actually, all I really wanted was you." 

"..Me?" Beast Boy scowled, "Like I'd do anything to help you!"

"Good thing you have no say in the matter." Slade snapped his fingers and as quickly as a strike of lightning, the creature beside him stabbed Beast Boy in the neck with its morphed arm in the shape of a needle. 

Shrieking, Beast Boy arched his back, twitching as the creature injected him with some kind of strange, blue liquid. The process was agonizing. To Beast Boy, it felt like thousands of needles were piercing his insides and tearing him apart. His eyes became consumed in blue light and his veins popped out from his body glowing the same color. The creature finished the injection and removed itself from his neck leaving a large gash.

A relieved cry was the last sound from Beast Boy as he collapsed. The skin visible on his body began to change from green to several patches of creamy peach. Even his hair began to change in certain areas, turning to a carbon red. Slade watched in delight. 

"Perfect." He said hearing the terrified squeals of the girl calling for her friend. "We got what we came for." He said to the creature as the blond herself stumbled into the hallway.

"Uh?! Who the hell are you?!" She noticed the creature and staggered to get away, terrified. 

"An old friend," Slade remarked sincerely before crossing his arms behind his back. "One you haven't seen the last of." and with that, the creature rammed his overly large body into the crumbling wall to form an escape. They both fled leaving the two of them behind.  

Panting, Tara slid down the wall, then coughed. She glanced around, her eyes falling onto the limp figure on the ground covered in soot and debris. "Beast Boy!!" She yelled, crawling quickly to his side. She came to him and shook him, tears forming in her eyes. 

"Beast Boy! Beast Boy!! Please, wake up!!" She leaned down to listen for breathing, she heard his shallow breaths, urging her to keep trying. "Beast Boy, get up!! You have to get up!! I can't get you out of here alone!" 

A meek cough caused her to stop. His eyes lazily opening encouraged an elated gasp. "Beast Boy!"

"..T..Tara.." He muttered. 

"Yes! Oh, thank god!! What happened? Are you okay?? Why do you look like that??"

"..It doesn't ...matter. You need to get ...out of here.."

"I can't just leave you here to die! Especially not after you saved my life!"

"You have to.. I can't lose you again.." Unable to keep his eyes open he let them close, his breathing deteriorating. 

"..Again? You still think I'm her??" She paused seeing him passed out. "..Beast Boy?.." no response. "..No! I won't let you die on me!" She stretched out to pull rubble off of him. She Desperately grasped and pulled the pieces of brick, cutting her hands in the process. "I will save you! I will save you!" around her the air began to stir. The ash and pieces of broken brick lifted into the air, twirling around her. She felt her heart thumping heavily in her chest, making it harder to breathe. Her brain felt like it was being ripped apart from a headache as her eyes were drowned in a bright, yellow coating. Without any warnings, her body was engulfed into the same light and an explosion erupted, blowing everything around her to dust, except for Beast Boy. 

The rubble had been removed from his pummeled body, but her newfound, monstrous ability that had rescued him had overpowered young Tara. With a piercing scream, Tara pulled at her scalp, arching her back in pain. Anything containing earth began to swirl around them, even quenching the flames from the intensity.

 From within her, a burst of golden light blew in a cylinder shape causing the ground below them to burst from its place. The explosion flung them several hundred feet in the air. In the process, a piece of broken brick that had been whirling around collided with the girl's head, rendering her unconscious. Once she slipped into the darkness, the swirling and trembling of the earth ceased. 

Now freefalling in the air, Beast Boy slowly reopened his eyes, his head swirling like a storm. It took him a moment to get his bearings before he cried out in panic, realizing the inmate danger they were in. He desperately attempted his transformations but nothing happened, he flailed in the air trying to fly. He never turned. Now he turned his attention to the limp girl falling next to him. With all his might, he fought through the pain and stretched his arm out to grab her hand, but just as his fingertips brushed hers, his body was jolted to a halt as he fell into someone's arms. 

"You are safe now!" Chirped Starfire. She then blinked, startled. "..Beast Boy?? You are--"

"Tara!!" He interrupted, trying to push away from the red-haired princess as he watched Tara continue to dive closer to her doom. "No!!"

 "Gotcha!" Raven, using her telekinesis, fathomed a raven- like hand to catch Tara. She laid her on the warm grass as Starfire landed letting Beast Boy down.

 Unable to stand, he fell, but instead of letting the others help him, he scrambled to be at Tara's side, holding her in his arms. He breathed heavily, feeling her pulse. With relief he found it, causing him to smile despite the pain he felt all over. 

"..Beast Boy.." Cyborg spoke up, cautiously. "..Is that?.."

Beast Boy gazed at the different faces of his comrades. He could see the shock and disbelief written deeply in their eyes. With a nervous nod, he continued to look only at her as the fire truck siren blared close by. 

"Yes. It's her. It's Terra."

…..

To say the Titans were shaken would have been a grave understatement. When Beast Boy told them of what had transpired inside the school, all of them had mixed emotions. On the one hand, Terra was their friend. They had loved and missed her, having thought her gone forever. Having her back was nothing short of a miracle. However, the fact remained that Slade was involved somehow.

 He still wanted her, and now he possessed a weapon that could aid and, more disturbingly, defeat the team. Not to mention, this weapon seemed to be a living being. 

"..And it stabbed you?" Raven grimaced, healing the bulging wound on his neck the best she could. Cyborg stepped in to bandage what remained. Once that was done, Raven moved on to heal his leg.

"Yeah.. And I think it did something to me.." Beast Boy hoarsely replied, gazing at his discolored hands. 

"No kidding, you're partly reversed to the normal person you used to be before the accident," Cyborg stated as he held a mirror to Beast Boy. 

As he sat up in that hospital bed, Beast Boy took the mirror. He swallowed dryly, lightly touching his cheek and running his fingers through his discolored hair. "..Whoa.. I never thought I'd see that again." He shook his head, placing the mirror face down on the table beside his bed. "Whatever Slade did, it changed me. I can't even transform now and I'm almost one hundred percent."

"Well, the good news is that it's only temporary," Cyborg replied, tapping at the screen on his arm. "Your DNA hasn't been totally rewritten. That's why only parts of you are changed. Over a day or so it should fix itself. Your leg, on the other hand.."

"It'll take a few days, maybe a week for my magic to heal it." Raven pulled away, unable to exhaust the rest of her powers. 

Beast Boy gave her a grateful smile. "Yeah, I know.. That isn't what I think we should be talking about right now, though.." Beast Boy leaned his head toward the unconscious blonde Peacefully resting next to him in an adjacent bed. "I know I've got some explaining to do, but-"

Robin raised his hand to stop him. "You tried to tell us, we didn't take you seriously.. And then you felt like you had to hide it. That's on us.." Robin crossed his arms. "..But is she really Terra?"

Beast Boy grasped at the blanket. "Not only is she Terra, but Slade specifically said he was after her."

They were silent. Starfire timidly spoke first. "..I did not believe I'd ever see her again. But she is right here."

"Don't.. Don't get your hopes up..she doesn't remember anything. Her using her powers was a total accident." Beast Boy sighed.

"So, she's a threat," Raven remarked. They snapped their attention to her. She continued, "Don't you all remember the last time she couldn't control her powers? She created a volcano." Motioning with her arm, Raven spoke very seriously. The others shuffled. 

"Yes, and then she stopped it." Starfire defended. 

"But don't you think we should be cautious here? Her powers are on par with mine. If her emotions go out of control, like today, she might hurt-- or even kill someone!"

"You're right." Beast Boy interrupted. It surprised the others as they were convinced he would never agree to something like that. His eyes were grave as he stated, "She's lost her memory, she has no idea how to control her powers, or that she had any to begin with. On top of that, Slade is once again seeking her out despite knowing she can't control it. I think it's obvious what we need to do."

"..She needs to stay with us." Robin finished. 

"What?" Raven gasped. 

"With her at the tower, we can keep an eye on her as well as keep her away from the city so no one will get hurt and Slade won't be able to penetrate our security."

"Yes! We could surely keep her safe while we find a solution to defeating Slade." Perfectly on board, Starfire hovered, elated. 

"Works for me. I missed having that little rock n roller around." Cyborg simpered. 

Reading the room, Raven purses her lips and slumped back against the wall with her foot resting against it. With crossed arms, she turned her head away. 

"I know there are risks. But it's the right thing to do." Robin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder causing her to lift her anxious eyes. She heavily puffed, then nodded. 

"You're right."

Beaming, Beast Boy laid back in relief. It was then the door burst open and a frantic, plump lady rushed in followed by two nurses urging her to wait in the lobby until the doctor was available. However, she ignored them as she shoved past the four Titans to be at Tara's bedside. 

"My precious girl!" She strained as tears wheeled in her eyes. Gently petting her bandage forehead tenderly. 

"You're her mom?" Beast Boy questioned, intrigued. 

"Yes. You're the boy that saved her life?" She smiled, dabbing her eyes. "Well I suppose you did twice now, haven't you?.. I can't thank you enough. There are no words." She choked back a sob between her fingers. 

Beast Boy shuffled uncomfortably as the knowledge of Slade weighed him down. 

"I'm afraid she's not entirely safe yet, ma'am." Robin decided to break the news as he stepped closer to the frazzled mother. 

"I'm sorry?" She gapped.

"Maybe we should talk outside." Replied the boy-wonder. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and escorted her out into the hall to reveal the information. The other Titans decide to follow them with the door slightly cracked open. 

Beast Boy stared through the opening, seeing the mother's distress and disbelief grow. He could hear her saying something, surely trying to argue about what they knew to be all too true. Then she finally nodded with a heavy motion, clutching her purse.

While Beast Boy closed his eyes, silently praying Tara's mom would be okay, he felt his hand being brushed weakly by slender fingers, followed by a voice. "..Beast Boy?" 

"Tara?" Snapping his head, he was met with the exhausted young lady reaching out to him. He took her hand. "How do you feel?"

"Like someone hit me with a train." Slowly, Tara rose from her bed, cradling the wound perfectly bandaged on her forehead. Her confused expression concerned Beast Boy. 

"Do you remember what happened?" He asked, gently squeezing her hand. 

Her glassy eyes gazed into his until the light returned and realization struck. "B-Beast Boy, you- you're.." Unable to fathom words that didn't seem offensive she paused, but he only nodded.

"Yep. I look like more of a freak than when I started." He snickered

"No! No! That isn't what I meant!" Shaking her hands, Tara tried to apologize but he only smiled. 

"I know. Don't worry though. I'll be back to my green self in no time." With that reassurance, Tara sighed. 

"I'm glad it wasn't serious."

The silence was peaceful for Tara, but horrid for the boy next to her. His throat was dry, unable to think of words to break the news of their discovery. 

"Do.. You really remember what happened..?" He forced out. 

"..Oh, mostly. The end there is a bit hazy. There was this man and the creature that had followed me to school was there. You were trapped and I think he talked to me, but I don't remember clearly after that. Good thing the firefighters got to us in time." 

"..It wasn't the firefighters that rescued us."

"Oh, the Titans then, right? They were able to-" One look was all it took to lodge those words in the back of her throat. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She cautiously continued.

"It was you. You rescued us."

Tara chuckled unsurely, "Me? How could I? There's no way. I mean my ankle was hurt and I'm not strong enough to.." trailing, she blinked as Beast Boy continued to intensify. 

"..Do you trust me?" Beast Boy grasped both of her hands, forcing her eyes to glance down then back into his trance. 

"..Of course." Tara quirked her brow. 

Beast Boy licked his lips gingerly as he gathered his words. "Then you have to believe me when I tell you that I was actually right all this time."

Her brows narrowed and she began to tug her hands away. "..About what?" Her words seemed to steam from her mouth causing the other to wince.

"You're Terra, the Teen Titan."

She breathed deeply through her nose putting space between them. "I thought we had already been over this." She replied with an agitated smile. 

"It's true. You were trying to rescue me and I was about to die. But your power reawakened and you were able to save both our lives." 

"You think just because I don't remember what actually happened you can manipulate me, right?" With that harsh accusation lingering like musty air, Beast Boy was stunned to silence, light shaking his head. "I should've known better than to let you in. I knew I needed to stay away from you."

"Terra, no.."

"Don't call me that!" A sudden rumble caused the building to tremble. Both teenagers hurriedly glanced around until the tremors stopped. "What the hell.." She breathed.

"Your powers are controlled by emotions. When you're angry, that's what happens.. When you're scared, your powers will protect you. That's what happened in the school. That's how we escaped."

"Stop lying to me!"

"Tara, dear." A commanding voice silenced her, providing both of their attention. "You need to listen to him."

"..Mom?" With the rest of the Titans falling in from behind the reluctant mother, they all waited with anticipation. Tara blinked her eyes nervously, "What are you…?"

"Tara, you know I love you. I love you more than I've loved anything; so does your father. We would never lie to you. So, please believe me when I tell you that I believe they are correct." Her mother sat on her daughter’s bedside and lovingly took her hands with a fragile smile. Tara helplessly listened. "You know you have fourteen years of your life missing from you. And, as you also know, you were found with a suit tied down to your nervous system that gave your doctors a lot of trouble to remove. After I adopted you I was able to keep one piece of it." The mother reached down to her brown satchel purse and tightly clutched it as she continued, "I kept it all this time, just in case you remembered, or if someone who knew you from your past came looking for you, so I could possibly prove they were truthful. The Titans knew exactly what this piece was and they had proof."

"..What is it?" Tara pulled away from her mother, the world shattering in her crystal eyes as her mom pulled from her bag a slightly cracked disk made of bronze. A sharply drawn 'S' was etched into the front. Beast Boy immediately tensed and she sensed it, causing her to glance at him. "..You know what that is?"

"Yes. I could never forget it." He gulped, clenching his jaw. 

"It's the mark of Slade." Entered Robin. "You were wearing it when you went to join his side as his apprentice." He reached into his pocket to pull out his T-phone, then showed her a picture of a similar-looking disk. "This is also his. I've been tracking him for a long time. He's dangerous, he wants you, and he'll stop at nothing to get you."

"No.. No! This is crazy! I'm nothing but a normal girl, I'm not like you!" 

"Tara, it's okay to be scared." Her mother began, trying to soothe her, but she only jerked away. 

"Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant," Raven interjected. "The truth is out. You need to accept the fact that you're in grave danger now and your only hope is us." 

"You can come live with us, we can protect you." Responded Cyborg. 

"But what about school, my friends, I'd be leaving everything I've ever known behind!.."

"Well, considering the fact that the school was burned down, I can safely say that won't be an issue." Raven crossed her arms. Tara shot her a look.

".. And What about my mom and dad?" Tara turned her worries over to her reluctantly smiling mother, " If this Slade person is as dangerous as you say. Then she needs to be protected too."

"That's been taken care of. Our sister location, Titan's East, will keep your parents at their tower far from Jump City." Replied Robin. 

"..So, once Slade is gone, I can get my life back?"

"Yes." 

"...Fine." Tara crossed her arms as she turned away from the others, obviously furious, but her anxiety was also acutely written on her features.  

...

The next few hours were painful to say the least. Alone together awaited Tara and Beast Boy as Cyborg took Tara's mother to pick up her father from work in the T Car. Once the situation was explained to him they made the long drive to Titans East where they awaited their arrival. 

Robin and Starfire had gone to arrange for the release of the other two from the hospital and into their care which was taking longer than what was expected. Meanwhile, Raven stood guard at the entrance to the hospital room they had found themselves in. 

Tara refused to speak or even look at the discomforted fellow in the bed beside her. If she had really been spiteful, she would've drawn the shower curtain between them to separate herself completely. However, she remained there, stewing in her anger and apprehension. 

Beast Boy continuously glanced between his fidgeting fingers, then to her. She had been staring hard at the only window in their conjoined room. It made him shift uncomfortably as the silence was like a constant punch in the gut. He tried to switch positions several times, but nothing made him feel better. Finally, he groaned. 

"Can we talk about this?"

"What's there to talk about?" She snapped, flashing her eyes at him. "You and your friends have already made their decision to rip my life apart."

"We aren't ripping your life apart, Terra."

"Tara!" She instantly corrected, furiously. He swallowed his argument and resorted to talking more calmly.

"...Okay. Besides the point, I understand you're angry, and maybe even scared, but you've been living a lie this whole time. Your mom said it herself, you don't remember who you really are."

"I know who I am. Who I was before doesn't matter to me, because my life in the present moment is as real as it can get."

"But-"

"I don't want to talk to you about this right now." With that final note, she snatched the curtain and yanked it to cover herself from him. 

Beast Boy sighed sharply, flinging himself back to the bed. Moments later, the door opened followed by the other three. 

"Let's go home." Robin Stated, smiling. 

Behind the curtain frail and alone, Tara bit her bottom lip and let her eyes fall shut as a tear rolled down the bridge of her nose, down her cheek, and into the pillow, leaving a small smudge behind.

...

"It's.. bigger than I thought." Staring at the large tower after just arriving, Tara clutches onto the only bag she bought for her 'Trip'. 

"Just wait till you get inside." Robin walked past her punching in the security code to the entrance. The door slid open and the four of them walked inside. 

To say the young girl was taken back would be an understatement. The room was massive, bigger than her whole house. She was sure she would get lost in the damn place if this was their living room. She glanced around unsurely, slowly making her way down the grand hall's red carpet. Several chairs were aligned perfectly on either side, and she wondered just why they would need so many with it just being the five of them. When she came to the door in the end, it shocked her as it slid open on its own. She jumped back with a start, then sighed. 

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Beast Boy remarked behind her. 

"Yeah.." Was her curt reply before hurriedly entering the next room. She paused in awe. "..." This was their actual living room. She could see the semicircle couch aligned with their massive windows overlooking Jump City and a kitchen area just behind it. 

She made her way down the stairs carefully with her hurt ankle. Starfire fluttered beside her excitedly circling her. "It brings me such joy to see you in our home again!" She exclaimed. 

Tara stopped with Starfire in front of her. She wore a vacant expression on her face that made Starfire slowly land back on the floor timidly. "I just want to go wherever I'll be staying." With a hoarse reply, Tara brushed past Starfire without sparing her another glance. 

"I'll take you." Beast Boy pipped, hobbling with his crutch to be next to her. Tara cringed, then sighed. 

"Okay." Reluctantly, Tara followed a few paces behind Beast Boy as he limped in front of her 

When the door shut, the three left behind all shared an uncertain glance.

….

"Does it have to be this room..?" Gripped Tara. 

Beast Boy locked his lip pensively, "Well, it's the only room in the tower ready for a guest…" he cast his eyes over to the girl standing several feet away from him and the door to her new life. His eyes darted from her, to the door, then back to her, "Unless you'd rather sleep on the couch?" 

"Yeah, okay, I get it." She pushed by him, refusing to look him in the eye. When she came to the precipice, the door slid open for her. She paused hearing him speak again.

"Hey, once Slade is taken down you'll be able to go back to your old life.. I promise."

"Yeah, but the only person who could take down Slade was Terra, and all you're left with now is her mediocre replacement."

"That isn't true." Beast Boy hurriedly came to her side. "You're no one's replacement because you are her. " 

His comments fell on deaf ears. She clutched her bag close to her chest as her throat burned with the threat of a sob escaping her. Beast Boy sank back watching her pale face slowly redden, along with her eyes. Her brave facade had been vanquished.

"..Not anymore." She brokenly whispered as the overwhelming situation she had found herself in finally squeezed her too hard. She hurried inside letting the door close behind her. 

Beast Boy was stunned in place, unable to fathom what had happened. Slowly, he did come to his senses as the sadness overwhelmed him. He turned carefully with his good leg and made his way back down the hall to talk with his friends. There was much to discuss. 

Unbeknownst to the young teen, Tara had been standing in that same spot, listening. When she heard him begin to walk away she slowly slid down the door until reaching the floor and laying her head in her knees. Her silent cries were only heard by the deathly silence of the stale air of the room.