Chapter One

Running’s End

“Me? Really?” Terra held up the yellow and black Titan communicator in her hand, in too much disbelief to speak. The Titans wanted her to join their team? Her, Terra, the girl everyone cast away?

“Of course, you’ll need more training,” Robin told her. “I know you have trouble controlling your powers, and we can help—“

Terra dropped the communicator, turning on Beast Boy. “You told him?” she demanded angrily.

“No...I didn’t—“Beast Boy held out his hands almost protectively as Terra glared at him, his ears drooping as he stared into her smoldering gaze.

“You promised,” she said. “You lied to me—you lied!” Terra turned and ran from the room, tearing down the corridor to leave the tower.

“Terra, wait!” Beast Boy called.

Terra felt familiar tears spring to her eyes as she charged out of the tower. She could hear Beast Boy’s footsteps ringing behind her. She ignored them and ran, until she reached the outside. The tears were now pouring down her pale cheeks and stung in the wind.

This was all too familiar.

“Terra, wait! Please!” Beast Boy caught up to her, grabbed her arm, and Terra jerked to a stop. She didn’t dare face Beast Boy while her eyes and nose were streaming, so instead she ducked her head and pulled as hard as she could against him, trying to free herself.

“Let me go!” she yelled shrilly, and for a moment the earth trembled.

“Terra, just listen--I can explain!”

“Explain?” Terra forgot her shame and spun on him, eyes wide with hurt and rage. “Explain what? That you lied behind my back? That you betrayed me and treated me the way everyone else does?!”

“Terra, how could you think that?” Beast Boy looked into her eyes pleadingly. “Look, I didn’t know Robin knew, okay? I didn’t tell him. I don’t know how he figured it out.”

Beast Boy released her. Terra backed away from him, shaking her head in confusion. A suspended tear slipped from her cheek and landed in the dirt.

“I’m...I’m so confused,” she sobbed, gripping the sides of her head and sinking to the ground. “Beast Boy, please...don’t do this to me.”

“Doing? What am I doing?” Beast Boy knelt down to face her, putting a hand on her shoulder and trying to meet her down-turned gaze. “Terra, I just want to help you.”

Terra pulled away from him. “I don’t need your help! Why does everyone want to help me all of a sudden?!” She covered her face with her hands, crying.

Beast Boy reached for her, pulling her into an embrace. Terra didn’t resist, sobbing against his chest. “We want to give you a home, Terra. We don’t care about your powers. We’ll help you learn to control them.”

“You’ll reject me in the end,” she told him, her voice muffled. “Sooner or later I’ll hurt you and your friends, and you’ll tell me to go away. Just like everyone else.”

“No, Terra. We won’t. We’re the last people who would do something like that. We know more than anybody what it’s like to be different.” Terra looked up at him, and Beast Boy caught her gaze. “Terra,” he pleaded, “just stay.”

Terra slowly pulled away from him, her eyes filled with something close to awe. She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her glove.

“R-really?” she asked softly. “You want me? No matter what?”

“Yes!” he practically exclaimed, throwing out his arms. “Terra, it’d rock if you stayed with us!” Terra flinched at the term, and Beast Boy’s skin paled to a light green. “Uh...heh...I mean...it’d, you know, it’d be great.”

Terra stared at him for a moment, then she began to laughed--laugh at Beast Boy’s blunder and his attempt to cover it up. She laughed so hard she almost tipped over, falling onto her back in her delight.

“So...is that a yes?” Beast Boy asked warily.

Still laughing hard, Terra nodded, unable to speak. “Yes,” she said finally when her laughter started to fade. “Yes, I’ll stay. If they’ll still let me, I’ll stay.”

“AWESOME!” Beast Boy tackled her in his joy. “This is gonna be great!”

“Yeah, I—” The two heard footsteps behind them, and turned to see Robin cautiously approaching. He smiled nervously.

“Everything...okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Beast Boy and Terra stood up, suddenly embarrassed.

Robin nodded and walked up to Terra. There was a look of guilt on his lowered, face. After a moment he raised his masked gaze to meet her own. “Look, Terra, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.”

Terra nodded somberly. ”I’m sorry for...you know, freaking out.”

“It’s okay. I think I understand why,” he said. “And you’re at the right place. We’d be happy to help you out.”

“You’ll still let me be on the team?” Terra asked hopefully.

“Yes. Welcome to the team.” Robin held his hand out to her, and Terra took it dumbly, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“IS SHE ON THE TEAM THEN?” Cyborg bellowed down from a tower window.

Robin yelled back, cupping his mouth. “YEAH! SHE”S ON THE TEAM!”

The rest of the Titans zipped outside at record pace. Cyborg and Starfire charged at Terra, sweeping the girl off her feet and congratulating her exuberantly. (“Nice to have you on the team, Rocky!” “Welcome, new Titan!”). Beast Boy and Robin joined in and Terra was lost in a sea of hugs, pats, and people ruffling her blonde hair.

After a few more moments of excitement, the five teens realized Raven hadn’t joined in on greeting their newest member. They turned to see the girl hunched in her dark cloak, emotionless as ever. Everyone quieted, holding their breath as they waited for Raven to speak.

“Just...stay clear of my room,” Raven said evenly.

“Fair enough,” Terra said.

Raven smiled slightly. The other Titans let out their breath in relief.

“Glorious!” Starfire said, clasping her hands once more. “I suggest we celebrate with pizza and candies and beverages!”

“And,” Beast Boy added, “an all-you-can eat, free-form—“

“BREAKFAST EXPLOSION!” he and Cyborg shouted together, lifting Terra into the air once more.

“Be...afraid,” Raven said gravely.

“Yeah,” Robin added, a smirk on his face as he gazed up at Terra. He crossed his arms almost casually. “Because once you’re a Titan, you’re stuck with us for good.”

“Oh, and new members have to do the dishes,” Beast added quickly.

“What?” Terra yelped as the carried her between them into the tower. “That wasn’t in the job description!”

To be continued! But it’s only fair to warn you—I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. ;)