010

— silence as loud as bullets —

THERE WAS A DEAFENING SILENCE OVER THEM ALL, DROWNING THEM IN CRUSHING NERVOUSNESS. Gar, Hazel and Terran crowded around the back counter of the kitchen, the others sitting at the island, expert for Jason who sat alone at the glass table. Kory sat behind Dick on one of the armchairs, and Dick stood in front of her, telling the truth. Deathstroke was dead set for revenge because Dick was the reason his son, and Rose's brother, was murdered.

He told them everything, the way Hank, Dawn and Donna were complicit in manipulating the boy into giving up Deathstroke. They used him to give up personal information, to Jericho they were his friends, to them he was a piece on a chessboard. Yes, Deathstroke had killed their friend Garth, but that didn't excuse them using a kid to get revenge.

The worst of it was when Deathstroke wanted to speak to Jerico and Dick had followed him and in the ensuing mess of a fight, Jerico gave up his life to protect Dick. Hazel would have defended it as terrible luck, but the fact that Dick had gone against what Jerico, and the other Titans had wanted, got Jerico killed.

"I lied," Dick finished, his face stern. "I lied to you guys because I was afraid you'd leave this place. And me," Dick said, his direction cast at the kids, especially Rose. "And if that happened, there would be no Titans." Dick sighed and turned his attention to the older Titans. "And I lied to you, too. I told you that Jericho was dead when I got to the church, but he wasn't. He was alive. He died trying to save me from his father. I'm sorry. You all deserved more."

Hank leant forward slightly, casting Dick a look before pushing himself to stand. He paused when he got face to face with Dick. Dick sighed and Hank swung a punch across Dick's face.

Dicks head snapped to the side, his nose bleeding. Dawn jumped up, taking Hank by his arm. "Lying sack of shit," Hank said coldly. Kory jumped up as well, walking closer to Dick.

"How many other fucking half-truths have you told us?" Donna growled her tone cold as well.

"At least you got a half-truth," Rachel mumbled, looking at Donna.

"My brother's dead because of you," Rose snarled, her voice dripping with venom. Rose stood. "I'm out."

"I'm going with her," Jason said finally, standing as well.

"Jason, Look-"

"You don't decide what I do anymore," Jason interrupted Dick. He stopped and looked around for a moment. "What anybody does." Jason cast a final glare at Dick and followed after Rose.

"I'm out, too," Donna muttered with anger.

"I'm going with Donna," Rachel announced, sliding from the island. "Can I go with you?"

"Sure," Donna agreed.

"Rachel," Gar called, his voice soft.

Rachel turned to him, "I can't stay here." Donna and Rachel stepped away and Hazel hung her head.

"Let's go," Hank said to Dawn, and they walked off as well.

By the time Hank and Dawn had disappeared to grab their things, Donna and Rachel were already taking the elevator down. Terran sighed and slid from the counter. "I have to go home," Terran spoke up, turning to Hazel.

"What? No, no. I just found you," Hazel pleaded, standing as well.

"I'll come back, but, Deathstroke got into my house, Haze. He stole from my mother, I have to make sure she's okay," Terran explained. Terran squeezed Hazel's hand before rushing for the hall. Hazel stood still, her eyes spacing out as she stared at the elevator.

"Kind of messed up, Dick," Gar said, cutting through the silence.

Kory's phone vibrated and Kory sighed as she texted someone. She rolled her eyes and started to walk away. "You're leaving now?" Dick called, his voice breaking.

"I got a loose end to take care of," Kory explained. "Sorry. At least it's out now. The truth. I'm sure they'll get over it soon." Kory nodded at Dick, she paused to hug Gar and squeeze Hazel's shoulder before walking to the elevator. The doors closed and Dick sighed, walking off. Gar hopped up and quickly chased him.

Rose and Jason walked from the hall. He stopped and turned to Hazel, pulling her close and squeezing her tight. "If you need anything, call. I'll answer," Jason mumbled. Hazel nodded and let her arms drop. He and Rose walked to the elevator, Rose giving her a soft nod before stepping into the elevator.

Dawn and Hank wandered out, setting their bags down as they waited for the elevator. Hank walked to Hazel, resting a hand on her shoulder. "We're driving Terran to the airport, then we're headed back to Wyoming," Hank relayed. "You're more than welcome to come with us."

"I'm gonna stay," Hazel muttered. "I can't leave Gar."

"He can come too," Dawn added.

"He just left his last home, I can't force him to get up and leave this one," Hazel said, pulling at her sleeves.

Terran walked out with her bag slung over her shoulder. Hank stepped aside and Terran pulled Hazel into a tight hug. "I'll be back as soon as I can," Terran promised. "I swear I am not leaving you."

Hazel muttered a goodbye and Terran joined Hank and Dawn in the elevator, the doors slowly sliding closed. Hazel let out a heavy breath, wiping her hand down her face. She took a long breath before walking down the hall, following Gar's voice to Dick's room.

"This doesn't make any sense," Gar argued as Dick packed his bags. Gar moved frantically to chase Dick around the room, his arms flailing. "Look, I-I get why everyone else is leaving. They're pissed. Okay. Fine. But they left. Logically, that means you don't have to."

"I fucked up, Gar," Dick shook his head, zipping up his bags.

"Yeah, okay, and you admitted it and apologised for it." Dick slung his bag over his shoulder and Gar stuttered as he kept talking. "What more can you do?"

"Nothing here," Dick said with a sigh. He turned to Hazel standing in the doorway and his shoulders dropped. "Is everyone gone?" Hazel nodded softly and he walked out of the room, Gar and Hazel following him closely.

"Okay then... what are we supposed to do?" Hazel asked, her voice quiet as she questioned Dick.

"Hold down the fort," Dick said simply. "The place pretty much runs itself. If you got any questions, there's a manual in the tech room."

"Yeah, hi. Hey, I got a question. What about the unconscious, naked dude down the hall?" Gar snapped, running in front of Dick.

"Kory said Eve gave Hazel instructions, she'll watch him," Dick answered, looking down at Hazel and she nodded. "Just check on him every few hours, but nothing to worry about. He's probably gonna outlive us all. When he wakes up, call Bruce."

"Bruce Wayne?" Gar questioned.

"No, Bruce Springsteen," Dick joked.

"Who?" Gar and Hazel said at once.

Dick sighed and shook his head. "Conner will probably want to get in touch with Superman," Dick continued. "Bruce can make that happen."

Gar chuckled sheepishly making Hazel smile softly. "So he and, uh, Superman are like..." Gar trailed off, a goofy smile on his face.

"Just call him, okay? He's your number one job," Dick said.

Gar's bright smile fell into a dull one as he nodded. "Number one job," Gar repeated.

"All you gotta do," Dick looked at Hazel.

"All we gotta do," Hazel recited.

"Thanks," Dick nodded, holding his hand out for Gar to shake. Gar hit his hand away and pulled Dick into a quick hug. Dick stepped back and patted Gar's shoulder. "I'll be back. So will Terran." Hazel nodded, nervously toying with her fingers.

Dick smiled softly and walked to the elevator and Gar and Hazel moved to stand at the end of the hall, watching him press the button. "Keep the faith, Gar," Dick called and the doors closed.

"Keep the faith, Gar," Gar repeated.

Krypto barked at him and Hazel. Hazel dropped to the floor, scratching behind his ears and the dog purred in happiness. "Hey, baby. Such a good boy," Hazel cooed.

Hazel stood, glancing down the hall before focussing on Gar. She watched him pluck the frayed fabric of his jumper, his tapping foot, and his jaw was clenched tight, from what? Anything from annoyed to disappointed. Hazel reached out and took his hand. Gar turned to her, his eyes sunken slightly. "We're gonna be fine Gar," Hazel insisted. "They're gonna be fine Gar, I promise."

Gar nodded, his lip pulled tight. "Yeah, I know but... y'know."

Hazel smiled and squeezed his hand before turning back to Krypto. "How about I make dinner?" Gar asked, wandering to the kitchen. Hazel stood, the dog trotting alongside her. "I could make the Lentil Bolognese."

Hazel pulled her phone out and laughed, "Gar it's two pm."

Gar shrugged, already pulling out all the tools he needed. "I have time to make my own pasta then."

Hazel smiled and sat on a stool on the other side of the counter, watching Gar move quickly. Hazel rested her head in her palm, watching Gar for a few minutes more before her eyes slowly closed. "Haze?" Gar called.

"Yeah," Hazel said, opening her eyes.

He laughed softly and shook his head at her. "Go sleep, you haven't since Conner came in," Gar pointed out.

Hazel nodded and slid off the stool, "Call if you need anything." Hazel pet Krypto once more before walking down the hall and to her room. Hazel closed her door and practically fell to the bed, exhaustion taking over her as she sunk into the cover.

Hazel wandered through twisting hallways, the rough edges of the concrete scraping her hands as she turned corners and skidded down damp stairs. Each step she took echoed with an unsettling resonance, bouncing off the walls that seemed to close in on her. The air was thick with her heavy breathing and the ghostly whispers that chased her. There was no figure chasing her, just the looming terror and fear that chased through the endless halls.

The next hallway offered doors, each identical to one next to it. She raced to pull at the golden handles, but none opened, refusing to meet the erratic pulls and yanks. Door after door, they refused to open. The lights above her flickered and the room shook as the looming terror grew closer, ominous shadows that danced along the walls, creating grotesque shapes that seemed to leer at her. Hazel ran closer to the end of the hall, kicking and slamming her body against the door. It finally gave under the pressures, the lock cracking and swinging open.

Haze tumbled onto the cold floor, rocks and shards of glass cutting her skin. Hazel's breath quickened, and a chill seeped into her bones as she looked at more never-ending hallways. She clamoured to her feet, and slammed the broken door closed, her vines leaping off to try and hold it closed, keeping her safe from the terrible creature.

A haunting humming cut through the silence and Hazel froze. "Hazel..." A British man called, his voice echoing down the hall. "Hazel..."

Hazel pressed her back to the door. The flickering lights only increased as the man stepped closer, his boots thumping against the floor as he stalked toward her. The swinging light obscured his face, but the glass syringe in his hand reflected the sicky light.

Hazel's vocal cords refused to form the words that would curse the man away, but her voice emerged as a mere, stifled whisper — as if she were trapped in the murky depths of a deep ocean, screaming uselessly underwater. The resonating echo of his boots, each step breaking through the eerie silence, bounced off the walls and seemed to creep even closer. The footsteps went from a dull echo to having the pang of a bullet; sharp cracks that ran through the caverns of her mind.

"Hazel..."

Hazel's eyes snapped open, her heart pumping hard in her chest. Her eyes focussed and took in the room, the dark night and moonlight stretching across her room. Hazel groaned and pushed her head deeper into the pillow considering going back to sleep, her body still pained from her stupid decision to stay awake for nearly forty eight hours.

Begrudgingly she pulled herself from her bed and slowly walked down the hall, smiling at the delicious scent drifting from the kitchen. "Gar?" Hazel called out. She checked the time, seven forty eight. Hazel laughed as she saw Gar leaning against the kitchen counter, swiping mindlessly scrolling through his phone. "Hey."

Gar looked up, quickly switching his phone off. "Hey," He said with a smile.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You'll get the same answer as to why you needed to sleep." Gar motioned for Hazel to sit and he carefully pulled out two bowls from the oven, setting them on the counter.

"You finished ages ago," Hazel released, picking up one of the slowly drying basil leaves. Gar nodded and handed Hazel some cutlery. "Now you really should have woken me up." Hazel dug into the dinner, humming in delight. "I hate waiting for your food, it's better thank Hank's. Don't tell him that."

Gar laughed, filling his fork, "Sure thing."

— pain —