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Dick storms into the cave with a huff and flops on the couch. He yells at the top of his lungs before bursting into tears. He and Bruce had been fighting a lot lately but this was the worst one. He sinks into the couch thinking back on what happened between them when Donna flies in with red eyes and a tear-stained face. She grabs a drink from the fridge and then sits beside Dick on the couch. They both sit in silence and Donna guzzles down her drink till they turn towards each other. After a few moments, Dick clears his throat and sets his hand on Donna's shoulder.
"What happened to you?"
"Diana happened to me!" Donna slams the cup on the counter causing it to shatter. She inhales sharply and continues "I get one injury and SUDDENLY I'm not ready for man's world!"
"I'm sorry Donna."
" Don't be."
"But it's my fault that-"
"It was both our faults."
"But I ordered you to-"
"Dick, stop. You had no way of knowing what was gonna happen."
"You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"You almost died."
"I'm alive."
"I'm supposed to protect you."
"And I'm supposed to protect you." Donna wraps an arm around Dick's neck and pulls him close. "We're a team, win or lose I'm gonna be there for you."
"And I'll do the same for you." The two hug each other ruffling each other's hair and slowly pull away upon seeing Roy stomping into the cave. He slumps on the couch tossing a can of soda in the bin as he mutters profanities under his breath. He shoots his head up and finds the Wondertwins staring back at him. He takes a long exhale and then sets his bow and arrows on the ground.
"What happened to you, Roy?" Donna asks gently, stroking his arm.
"I got suspended."
"May I ask why?" Dick asks scooting beside Roy.
"I threw some dude out the window." The wonder twins cross their arms and glare at the young archer who in turn glares back at them. "The bitch deserved it. Anyway, Ollie's pissed about my suspension so I won't be here for a while."
"You've got to work on your temper," Dick says.
"This time it's warranted!"
"Again, may I ask why?"
"He's a douche who can't take no for an answer." The two nod at him understanding what's not being said. They hug him and a few moments later Roy hugs back.
"Does Ollie know what happened," Donna asks, squeezing his hand.
"Just what the school told him."
"Have you tried-" Dick asks before getting cut off.
"Talking to him? Dozens of times. But you know how he is. He never listens to anything I say."
"He just needs time to cool off," Donna says.
"So he can talk about how he's "not mad" just disappointed? I've heard the speech countless times Wonderbabe. I know how it goes." Suddenly the Titans find themselves splashed by a small wave of water as Aqualad swims up the small lake and makes his way to them. He sprawls on the couch panting heavily as the other three titans scoot closer to him.
"You ok Garth," Roy asks gently tugging on his arm.
"What do you think?"
"I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's just... Ever since Aqua baby was born my Aquaman and Mera have no time for me. I know babies need a lot of attention but lately, I've felt more like their shadow than their kid. But I shouldn't be too surprised they have their own son now they don't have to worry about me anymore. I was never their kid, to begin with."
"Garth, please don't say that. You're just as important as AJ," Dick says.
"I used to be but not anymore."
"Garth..." Donna says gently.
"I was adopted into the royal family but AJ was born into it."
"So," Roy asks.
"So," Donna says, "the person born in the royal family is next in line for the throne."
"He's the royal heir," Robin says.
"That makes him more powerful than me."
"He's just a baby," Roy all but yelled.
"Right now but when he grows up he'll be king."
"Being adopted by the royal family doesn't make you any less important."
"Roy's right!" Dick pauses for a minute then mutters "Never thought I'd say that."
"Heard you Bird Brain!"
Dick clears his throat and then brings his attention back to Garth. "The point is people may look down on you but Mera and Arthur love you. I'm sure they'd spend more time with you if you just asked."
"I tried but every time I do they're either too busy with work or the baby. It's like they don't even want me around anymore."
"Well you're free to visit this world anytime," Roy says.
"Just make sure you bring tons of water with you," Dick adds.
"Thanks," Garth hugs all of them. "You guys are the best." The Titans nearly fly out of their seats as a yellow blur runs in and sits beside them.
"Hey Wally!"
"Hey guys," he says, waving rapidly.
"Did you get in a fight with Barry," Donna asks.
"Not Barry, never Barry."
"Is it your dad," Garth asks gently, pulling him close.
"When is it, not my dad?"
"Did he hit you," Roy asks and Wally nearly jumps off the couch.
"No!" Wally panics and flails his arms. "Why would you think that?"
"Cause you have a huge bruise on your arm," Dick says pointing to a tear in his costume which shows a long discolored mark on his upper arm.
"Oh... I fought Pied Piper on the way here and I sorta... fell on it." The Titans sat quietly for a moment. Everyone knew Wally was lying about his injury but they didn't want to call him out on it. They saw him come back with bruises once in a while but when they questioned him he'd swear up and down that everything was fine. They want to help him but they're afraid if they call the cops it could turn out to be a huge misunderstanding. Wally's dad was falsely arrested once and Wally's still traumatized from what happened. They don't want to risk traumatizing him again. So they keep quiet and simply nod their heads. A moment later Roy breaks the silence.
"So what happened between you and your dad?"
Garth speaks softly "We've all had problems with our mentors lately."
"Talking about it helped," Donna says.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Are you sure," Robin asks?
"Yes, I'm fucking sure!" Wally snaps and feels immense guilt when he sees the other Titans flinch and scoot away from him. "S-sorry. It's just the same as usual. No matter how hard I try I'll never be good enough for him." The other Titans look at each other for a moment then lunge at Wally and wrap their arms around him.
"I'm sorry Wally," Donna says while rubbing his back.
"No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled like that. I know you were just trying to help me."
"If you need anything," Robin says before getting cut off.
"I'll let you know."
"What happened to you, Bird Brain?"
"The usual."
"I'm sorry he's has problems with you," Garth says leaning into the sofa.
"It's not me he has problems with." He sighs, "Bruce said I can't trust you. He said I shouldn't get too close to my teammates."
"So he's still pissed about the secret identity thing," Roy asks.
"Yes."
"We won't tell anyone," Donna says.
"I know but Bruce... I know he means well but sometimes he drives me insane."
"Guess we're dealing with the same problem," Wally says, staring downcast at the floor.
"Your dad doesn't think you should trust us?"
"W-well... er... it's complicated."
"I'm tired of them!" Roy slams his fist on the armrest "They always dictate what we should do, where we should go, what we should do!"
"It doesn't matter how hard we try, we'll never be good enough for them," Donna shrieks.
"Not even Dick and he's practically perfect," Garth yells.
"I wouldn't say I'm perfect. But thanks." He puts his face in his hands. "I wish we could get them to leave us alone."
"Maybe we can," Wally smirks.
"And how would we do that," Roy asks.
"By going somewhere they'll never find us."
"And where would that be," Dick asks.
"You'll see." Wally winks and before the others could react Wally runs out of the cave and the wind picked from his speed blows the Titans off their couch causing them to fly behind him. He runs for five minutes before he stops on an island surrounded by water. The Titans fall to the ground groaning in pain as they pick themselves back up.
"I hate when you do that! It makes my ears pop," Roy exclaims gently tugging on his earlobe.
"Where are we," Dick asks.
"An island park in Jump City," Wally says.
"Jump City," Garth asks.
"It's where I go when I need to get away from everything." Wally says, "And don't worry about wearing masks, we're so distant from the city they won't be able to see us."
"We should probably leave them on. Just in case," Dick says, straightening his domino.
"You sure the league won't find us," Roy asks.
"They never found me here."
"This place is beautiful," Donna says walking towards the ocean and taking in the view. The island was full of bountiful plants and trees as far as the eye could see. She hums and closes her eyes as she listens to the seagulls squawking over her. Once they fly away she lays down. The sand was hot but the water cools her down while making its way on and off the beach. Roy sits beside her and wraps an arm around her shoulder. She opens her eyes and smiles scooting closer to him.
"Romantic isn't it?"
"Yes it is," Donna says, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Makes me think of how our date could've went if Ding Dong Daddy didn't steal your car."
"I'm sorry I acted like a jerk that day."
"I already forgave you."
"I know but-"
"Ro- Speedy... That happened almost a year ago. I'm over it. I gave you another chance. Now are you gonna waste it moping about the past or do you want to swim with me?" She laughs dusting the sand off her as she lifts herself up. She holds a hand out to him and he firmly grasps it. They smile and lock eyes for a moment then run in the water laughing at the top of their lungs. Meanwhile, the other three Titans sit on a tree branch listening to the sound of the ocean and animals nearby.
"Wondergirl's right this place is beautiful," Garth says pulling a leaf and
"How did you find this place," Dick asks.
"Funny story actually. One day after me and Flash defeated Captain Cold we both rushed home. Usually, Barry would take me but he had to go to this mandatory meeting or something. Captain Cold somehow managed to freeze all my usual routes so I was running like a chicken with his head cut off trying to find my way back. I got lost and found myself here."
"How'd you get home," Garth asks.
"I didn't," Wally chuckles. "I stayed here two days waiting for the ice to melt so I could get home. My parents thought I snuck off to some party I wasn't supposed to go to and I got grounded for three weeks but it was worth it."
"Why didn't you run through the ice," Garth asks.
"Cold temperatures cause molecules to slow down. It would take me more time to get out of the ice than just waiting for it to melt. Besides, I haven't mastered phasing yet."
"Wait, all that ice melted in just two days?"
"Yeah."
"And I thought speedsters had accelerated metabolisms. How did you eat?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." They all laugh and tell stories about crazy things that happened to them during missions. As the sun sets they climb down the trees and make their way back to the beach. They find Donna and Roy soaked head to toe with seaweed tangled all over their bodies.
"What happened to you," Garth asks, stifling a laugh.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Roy says, picking the seaweed off him and Donna.
"Wait Aqualad?" Donna asks with a shaky voice "Were you in that forest the entire time?"
"Yeah... Why?"
"It's been at least two hours since we got here. How are you not gasping for air right now?"
"I guess the amount of time I can spend on land extended."
"Get your ass in the water before you dry up!"
"Okay! Okay!" Garth holds his hands up and walks towards the shoreline. Roy worried about the amount of time Garth spent without water mutters profanities as he kicks Garth causing the marine marvel to tumble and roll into the ocean with a loud splash. As Garth rises from the water the sound of his friends' laughter fills the air.
"Roy!" Dick says between laughs "That was mean!"
"Wouldn't have done it if he walked quicker."
"Yeah Yeah..." Garth walks back to the beach and rejoins everyone "Laugh it up."
"Could've been worse," Wally says "You almost missed the sunset." The Titans lay on the now cool sand and cloud gaze till the stars come out. They lay in silence listening to owls hooting, waves crashing, and the light breeze that eventually dries Roy and Donna.
"You think our mentors are worried about us," Wally asks as he tries and fails to stifle his yawn.
"Yeah but..." Roy yawns loudly "I won't be moving for a while."
"Same," Garth says.
"Me either," Dick says over them.
"Look over there!" Donna sits up pointing up at the sky.
"A shooting star," Garth says happily. "I heard if you make a wish on one it'll come true."
"I wish for a new car." Roy smiles, "Ollie won't let me get another one after what happened to the last one."
"I wish for a new house," Wally says "Oh, and a million bucks."
"We could give you a million bucks!" The other Titans yell simultaneously.
"It's not the same."
"I wish to become one of the most famous people in the sea." Garth says "And a new bed. I hate the one I have now."
"I wish for more dresses." The other Titans stare in confusion and Donna says "What? I don't have a lot of dresses. I don't need a car, I've got more than a million dollars, and I'm already famous. There's really nothing else I could wish for."
"You guys know your wishes won't come true if you say them out loud. Right?" Dick roars seeing his friends pale and shriek at the top of their lungs.
"FUCK!" Roy and Wally yell at the same time.
"WHAT!" Donna squeals.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?!" Garth cries out.
"I was caught in the moment." The other Titans laugh and playfully punch Dick. They look up to the sky and for the first time in a few months, they have hope about what happens next. They don't have to worry about tests, bullies, training, fighting crime, or dealing with their mentors. They can just be regular teenagers well... as regular as a group of heroes can be. As long as they have each other it will make everything worth it. One by one the Titans all fall asleep. First Roy then Donna then Garth then Wally. Dick stares at his friends and he grins from ear to ear hearing their steady breathing. He holds them firmly as if he was never going to see them again. He knows once he gets home it'll be a long time before he's allowed to leave the cave again so he savors this moment while he can. He tries to stay up but after a while, he too starts yawning and his eyes grow heavy. As Dick runs his fingers through Donna's hair he shuts his eyes and makes his one and only wish.
I wish we'll stay friends forever.