001

— mistakes are disguised lessons—

March 19, 2021

Dayton Labs, San Francisco

THE LAB HAD BEEN SEALED MONTHS AGO, YET DAMAGE WAS LEFT BEHIND. Nightwing motioned ahead and Hazel nodded. Hazel rushed to the stacked pods of water, and jumped on top, grabbing the window edge. She pulled herself up, sliding in without a sound. Hazel brushed off her gloves and stood. She wore the same dark green and gold suit Bruce Wayne had gifted her, except now it was paired with a pair of Terran's dark boots.

Dayton Lab was San Francisco's head lab of chemicals research and experimentation, holding some of the dangerous diseases and sicknesses. Gizmo, an annoying rising threat, had been looting banks and smaller chemical warehouses for just under a week. With the danger level of the chemicals growing and the Titans closing in, he made a run for Dayton Labs. But in his rush, a witness saw him and less than five minutes later the Titans were on scene.

Hazel leaned against the railing as rushing footsteps grew closer. A dozen of Gizmo's men rushed down the upper stairs and tried running across the metal bridge closing the gap of the floor, but Hazel whistled quickly. "Hello, boys," Hazel cooed, pushing herself off the railing. They stopped and before any of them could shoot at her, Hazel threw her hand up, willing two thick vines to break through the floor to knock the men back.

The closest one quickly pulled himself to his feet, grabbing his gun tight. Hazel kicked his knee and grabbed his arm, swinging him into the railing. She kicked him off, a vine rushing to grab his foot to hang him off the edge. The others scrambled to the feet and Hazel quickly shot a flare out, making the men groan. She kicked two others over the railing, vines weaving to grab them as well.

The last stood and Hazel ran at him. Her legs locked around his neck and swung him around, slamming him into the metal grate floor. She waved her hands and vines wound around him to hold him in place. "Too easy," Hazel said with a laugh.

Hazel jumped over the railing, landing on her floor with a slight huff. She looked around before heading towards the sound of tiger growls. Hazel chuckled to herself as she walked by Gar's discarded clothes, his jacket folded neatly but his pants, shirt and shoes and been tossed aside carelessly. Hazel scooped them up and walked down a flight of stairs, catching up to Conner, Krypto and the very green tiger.

Hazel set Gar's clothes behind a wall and Gar ran behind it, his bones cracking as he transformed back. "Any trouble?" Hazel questioned Conner, crossing her arms.

"Nope," Conner confirmed with a smile. Gar joined them and they caught up to Kory and Dick who stood a few metres away from Gizmo's van. Gizmo threw himself from the van, a ray gun in his hand and wide, victorious smile on his face. He turned towards Nightwing, his smug smile dropping as he noticed the other Titans standing with him.

"Krypto," Conner ordered and the dog whined softly. "Speak." Krypto barked, a large reverberating yell bounding towards Gizmo. Once it hit his ears, Gizmo crumbled to his knees, pressing his hands to his ear as he cried in pain.

"Good dog, Krypto," Hazel hummed. Hazel flicked her hand and vines wrapped around Gizmo's body, pinning his arms to his sides. The sounds of sirens cut through the air and Dick disappeared in an instance. Kory walked ahead with Conner and Gar, ready to meet the police and news vans. Conner rushed away in an instance before reappearing with his leather jacket.

Hazel shook her head and looked down at Gizmo. He wriggled against the vines, trying to shuffle away but Hazel raised her hand the vines tightening. "Stay," she ordered, pointing at him. She walked around the side of the van, opening the driver's door. She took the green glowing tube; her eyes lightning up as she looked over. She twisted the vile, watching the chemicals spin into a deadly gas. "Cool... but deadly," Hazel muttered. She grabbed the case Gizmo had stored it in, and placed it inside, storing it safely.

"Venom!" Conner called, motioning towards the scientists walking towards her. Hazel closed the van door and met the scientists halfway.

"We'll take that off your hands, Venom, thank you," The first man said, his smile clear through the see-through mask.

"Of course. I've checked it, the chemicals are stable," Haze informed and they nodded, carefully placing it in a second case before walking it to a research van.

Hazel looked around, debating with herself for a moment, Kory was surrounded by the press, a camera rolling in her face, Conner and Gar spoke with the police, smiling politely as they took Gizmo to a police car. Hazel took a breath and walked to Gar's side, the police nodding as she joined them.

The policewoman pulled out a notepad, scribbling down her words quickly. "Do you know what they were after?" She asked.

"Oh, its street name's the Clench," Conner explained, his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. "It's a bioengineered strain of Ebola that struck Gotham a few years back, but it was contained."

"Gizmo here was looking to sell it to the highest bidder," Hazel finished, looking over her shoulder at the police car Gizmo was pushed into.

"What was Dayton Labs doing with it in the first place?" The officer asked.

"Research. I hope," Gar smiled.

"We really appreciate what you and the Titans have done for the city," The woman said with a smile. "Thanks." Gar smiled and shook the woman's hand.

"Uh, excuse me, Super-boy," An officer spoke up, walking around to stand by the other officer. "Uh, can I get your autograph? My son will go nuts."

"Oh. Sure," Conner agreed, taking the small notepad and pen. He quickly signed it and handed it back.

Gar looked between them, a bright smile growing, "You want mine, too, right?"

"Oh, um, I'm good," The officer stammered, looking at the signature. "It's hard to top a Super," The officer shrugged, still smiling at Conner.

"You heard the man," Conner smiled, knocking Gar's shoulder softly. "'It's hard to top a Super'."

"Unbelievable," Gar scoffed.

Hazel laughed softly and pet Gar's shoulder. "You're still my favourite Beast Boy," Hazel chuckled.

"Uh, sorry, but if you're doing autographs can I get a flower or something for my daughter?" The woman asked, looking up at Hazel. "You're her favourite." Gar sighed softly, but Hazel nodded.

"Yeah, absolutely," Hazel nodded. She twisted her hands and created a small crown on blue flowers. "Here."

"Thank you so much Lady Light," The woman smiled before stepping away.

Hazel rolled her eyes, sighing through her nose as Gar and Conner began to laugh. "Lady Light?" Hazel scoffed which only made Gar laugh harder. Hazel rolled her eyes and shoved Gar's shoulder. "Shut up Garfield. You too Super-Douche."

"I think that's the worst one yet," Gar chuckled.

"No, no," Hazel denied. "Remember the mission two weeks ago? The one that thought I was invisible."

"Oh!" Conner called, remembering the moment. "Agent Clear!" Gar started to laugh again, and Hazel sighed.

"Why can't people just call me Venom?" Hazel huffed. "And if I hear the excuse that it sounds evil, Batman is not the most comforting name."

"Venom!" Starfire called waving at her. Hazel sighed and fixed her smile as she walked to the press as Kory turned and walked away. Hazel turned to the reporters, answering the questions they had until Kory called for the Titan's to leave.

March 20, 2021
Titans Tower, San Francisco

THE AFTERNOON SUN CARRIED THROUGH THE FLOORS OF THE TOWER, LIGHTNING THE KITCHEN. Krypto raced around the kitchen, weaving through Hazel's legs as he chased the ball Conner tossed around. Gar laughed softly as Hazel cursed, but he kept his attention on the new dish he was making for Conner and Hazel to try.

Hazel shook her head at Conner and tossed her book on the counter. "What is it this time?" Hazel asked, leaning on the counter, watching Gar's hands move quickly.

"Carrot and Habanero Tamales," Gar said, putting the knife down.

"Tamales?" Hazel repeated, raising her eyebrows at Gar.

Gar's hands stammered and he stared at Hazel. "Just... go easy on me?" Gar said, though it sounded more like a question.

Hazel laughed softly but stopped when Kory stepped from the hall. "Hey, Gar's tryna make Tamales."

"Can I talk to you guys?" Kory asked, looking over the three. Hazel glanced back at Conner who furrowed his eyebrows. "You might wanna sit down," Kory encouraged, letting out a soft breath. They all paused, and Krypto dropped his ball. Hazel and Gar slipped out of the kitchen, sitting on the steps beside Conner.

Kory took a deep breath and moved to stand in front of them. Hazel looked at Gar, her stomach churning as they waited for Kory to speak. "Jason's dead," Kory announced. Hazel's shoulders dropped slightly, and she glanced at Gar, who looked back at her. Hazel took a shaky breath and looked up at Kory. "Dick got the call yesterday. Said he went after the Joker."

Silence held in the air for a moment, but Gar spoke up, "So the Joker just killed him?"

"Mmm-hmm. Sounds like Jason went after him the same way he went after Deathstroke. Alone and unprepared," Kory explained. "I'm so angry."

"At the Joker?" Conner questioned.

"No, at Jason," Kory clarified.

"What? Jason? Why?" Hazel asked in a rush, confusion filling her chest.

Kory shook her head and scoffed, "Because he never learned. When Jason left the Titans to go to Gotham, he was alone and angry, and I get that, but Dick was hoping he figured things out with Bruce, but he never did. He clearly just kept making the same mistakes over and over, and it finally got him killed."

Hazel's confusion left in an instant, anger rising in her throat as Kory's words. Hazel hands clenched, lights sparking in her palms. Hazel let out a shaky breath and stood up, walking past Kory. "Haze?" Conner called.

"That's bullshit," Hazel snarled. She grabbed her book and turned for the hall, the anger boiling inside her only fuelled by pain.

"Excuse me?" Kory snapped.

"That's bullshit!" Hazel shouted, spinning to face Kory and throwing her book down. She shook her head at Kory, her fists clenching at her sides. "You never gave him a chance! You let him stew in his own emotions and when Dick wasn't bothered to help, he sent him back to Bruce! Who, may I remind you, sent him here 'cause he didn't want to deal with him! So yes bullshit." Kory turned her head away and Hazel stomped down the hall.

"Fuck!" She slammed her door behind her, a pot smashing as it slipped off the shelf. "Fuck..." Hazel walked to her bed, sinking into the quilt as she stared at the ceiling. She twisted, pulling a pillow into her arms as she tried to keep her breath steady as she squeezed the pillow tight in her arms, hiding her face. Her shaking stopped for a moment, but Hazel sobbed, her body shaking as a feeling of emptiness filled her chest, a terrible pain, that no matter how hard she tried to think of anything else, latched onto her.

Top Pot Coffee Shop, Gotham City

SOFT GUITAR MUSIC PLAYED FROM THE SMALL SPEAKERS POSITIONED AROUND THE RUSTIC CAFE. Cole wiped down a table, still holding the empty coffee mug in his hand. His brown hair grew out slightly and fell slightly over his eyes, covering his dark eyes when the wind caught his hair. He stuffed the cloth in the pocket of the black apron and flipped his phone in his hand, scrolling for a few moments. "Cole! Can you get the sign?" Nina called, her voice echoing from the stairs.

"Sure thing mom," Cole answered.

"And get off your phone!"

Cole rolled his eyes and slipped his phone in his pocket. Cole clicked his uneven jaw and strolled to the front glass doors and flipped the sign to say sorry, we're closed! He locked the door and gasped softly as a pain shot through his head.

A terrible emptiness filled his stomach, and his body shook in sorrow. The empty mug slid from his hand, the shattering sound making him jump, the unfamiliar pain left his body as quick as it came but he stayed frozen, staring at the broken mug on the floor. His hands shook, a red colour filling his eyes.

"Cole? Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah," Cole mumbled, blinking the colour from his eyes. "Yeah! Dropped a mug! Sorry!" He quickly scraped the broken cup into his hand, dumping them into the bin. He cursed, a small shard cutting his palm. He clenched his hand, a green flickering in his eyes as he healed the small cut.

— rage —