015

— a haunting tune —

THE SUN BATHED THE CITY IN ITS WAR EMBRACE, THE LIGHT REFLECTING OFF THE WINDOWS AND BUILDINGS. Hazel had originally argued for them to stay in the tower for the next few days, but Gar was insistent on Conner needing real word experience. And that he and Hazel hadn't left the tower in almost a week.

Gar led Conner down the street, pointing out different things and telling Conner about things he might want to know. "So, think of all of this, San Francisco, like one big, totally immersive, three-dimensional, interactive, multiplayer video game," Gar explained, motioning around the city. "And you're Player One."

"Okay," Conner nodded.

"Your job is making sure everyone stays safe and well, and no one gets hurt," Hazel agreed, looking up at Conner.

Conner nodded; his eyes wide as he watched everything around him. "Is that what the Titans do?" Conner questioned as they walked into a small outside cafe garden.

"Well, we don't, but the old Titans did. Dick mostly just kept us locked up in the Tower," Gar chuckled, his hands toying with the strap of his satchel.

"Gar, Jason, Rachel and I always talk about how we wanted more real-life experiences," Hazel went on. "And once everyone's back together, hopefully, we'll get it."

"Hopefully," Gar said, his hands falling to his side.

"Keep the faith Gar," Hazel recited, and he shook his head.

Gar turned back to Conner, continuing his explanation. "I know this sounds crazy, but once the team knows you're awake and can see what you can do, they'll be back in a hurry," Gar promised and the three slowed to a stop.

Conner nodded, his eyes looking over the garden cafe before focussing on Gar again. "So, Gar what can you do?" Conner asked.

Gar laughed softly, his hands toying nervously with his bag strap. "It's- It's no big deal," Gar muttered, shaking his head.

"That's bullshit," Hazel snapped, softly hitting Gar's shoulder. "It's super cool."

"Can you show me?" Conner asked with excitement.

"Now's not the best time," Gar shrugged, looking away.

"Well, can you tell me?"

"Yeah, yeah," Gar nodded, letting go of his bag. "It's kind of weird, but I can turn into a tiger."

Conner started to laugh, and Hazel couldn't help but smile. "No way!" Conner shouted in astonishment, making Gar nod and laugh with Conner. Conner's laugh calmed down and he looked at Hazel. "What's a tiger?" Hazel doubled over in laughter and covered her mouth with her hand.

Gar shuffled the three away from people and cleared his throat. Gar exhaled sharply, a soft growl taking over his breath. Gar let out a soft roar, his eyes and head contorting to a tiger for a second. Conner exclaimed in surprise and Krypto barked at him. "That's awesome," Conner said with a smile.

"See, it's super cool," Hazel repeated, nudging Gar's shoulder.

Gar smiled again, his hands going back to fiddle with the strap of his bag. "Look, there's more to it, but I'll show you later."

A man's screams echoed through the air, tearing Conner's attention away. "Help! Help! They're hurting me! Help!" Two police officers held a man against their car, who struggled against them and the cuffs around his wrists. A dozen others had turned to him, muttering amongst themselves.

"Game on. Hero time," Conner called, rushing past Hazel and Gar at super speed.

"Conner-"

Conner sped to the officers, grabbing the first one and smashing his head through the window of the police car. "Conner, no!" Gar shouted. Gar's plea fell on deaf ears as Conner grabbed the officer and tossed him towards the café. Hazel quickly threw her hands out, creating a blanket of vines and leaves that broke the majority of his fall.

A second officer tried to pull out his gun, but Conner grabbed his wrist and throat and slammed him into the road. The crowds exclaimed in disbelief, recording the ordeal as they watched in frozen panic and confusion. Conner looked up at Hazel and Gar, giving them a smile and a nod. Gar motioned for Conner to stop and shook his head.

Hazel heard another round of cars approaching and she cursed under her breath. "Hold this," Hazel ordered, shoving her bag in Gar's arms. "Conner!" Hazel shouted, stepping out into the road. Two more police cars sped towards Conner, stopping a few metres short. Two men stepped from the cars and trained their guns on Conner. He turned to them, but Hazel called his name again. "Conner, hey. Just listen to me-"

"Get down, now! This is your last warning," One officer shouted.

They looked at the police, but Conner turned his attention back to Hazel. "Conner you have to listen to them, okay?" Hazel said slowly. "We'll handle everything-"

"Stand down!" The shout made Hazel jump.

"They're scaring you..." Conner mumbled. Hazel tried to stop him, but Conner turned back to the officers, his dark stare made the police open fire, the bullets bouncing off his body. Hazel threw her hands out, the bushes from the cafe expanding over the crowds that ducked away.

Conner grimaced and reached back, tearing the door off the police car and tossing it into the other car's window. The glass shattered and the officers ducked to the ground, but Conner ran at one. He grabbed him by the shoulder, slamming the man between the police cars. A final harsh shove and the man dropped to the floor, rolling in pain. Krypto barked and rushed to the other officer, biting into his vest and slamming him to the floor.

Gar grabbed Hazel, pulling her off the road. "Gar-"

"Haze, we have to go," Gar shouted, tugging on her hand. "We can't fight the police, or Conner!" Sirens pierced through the air again from three more cars that sped through the streets. "Haze!" Hazel nodded and Gar spun around, lacing their fingers together and running as fast as they could through the city.

Hours later, the adrenaline had refused to wear off. Hazel paced around the living room, the news playing from the large TV. Hazel twisted her hands in anxiety, the words seeping into her bones, "-earlier today of what witnesses say was a brutal attack carried out by what appears to be one man, still unidentified, whose whereabouts remain unknown," The female broadcaster relayed. Hazel sighed and reached for her phone. "Ten officers were injured, but the video evidence shows evidence of a young woman, who also remains unidentified, saving both civilian lives and a young officer Jefferson Davis. Mr Davis has been seen by medical personal and escaped the attack with minimal bruis-"

"TV off!" Hazel shouted and the TV switched off with a simple electronic buzz. Hazel opened her phone, checking her recent messages with Terran.

Old messages | June 26th

12:26 pm

Terran :)

12:26 Missed Call

12:27 Missed Call

12:28 Hazel I saw the news

12:28 Pick up the phoen

12:29 Hazel

12:29 Haze

12:47 Tell me your ok

Haze Maze

We're okay, tryna handle it 12:54

Terran :)

12:54 Your safe?

Haze Maze

Yeah we're fine 12:57

Don't really know what to do tho, Dick's not answering 12:57

Can't call the others they just left 12:58

Terran? 1:02

Terran :)

1:07 Fuck

Haze Maze

Terran? 1:10

T? 1:13

? 1:21

Terran :)

1:29 They've delayed my flight

Haze Maze

Fuck 1:29

Terran :)

1:34 I'll sort this

Haze Maze

Just text me if anything happens 1:35

Terran :)

1:36 Vise verca

New Messages

3:47 pm

Haze Maze

Any news? 3:47

Hazel tossed her phone aside and ran her hands down her face, her body burning with frustration. "Fuck!" Hazel shouted, throwing her arms down. The light flashed with her, the closest ones smashing above her head.

Hazel stormed down the hall, slowing to a stop when she passed Gar sitting in one of the empty suit displays. "Gar?"

Gar looked up, sniffing slightly as he wiped tears from under his red, sunken eyes. "Hey." The crack in his voice made Hazel's stomach churn and her heart shatter.

Hazel walked to Gar, kneeling in front of him. One hand rested on his knees, the other reaching for his hand. "Gar, are you okay?" Hazel asked, her voice soft.

Gar shook his head, more tears falling, his body starting to shake. Hazel pulled Gar forwards, wrapping her arm around his, pulling him into a tight hug. Gar's arms encased her, shaking as he cried, his face buried against her neck. They stayed like that for a moment, hoping Hazel could absorb all his worries. Gar let out a silent sob as he tried to speak, "It's my fault. It's my fucking fault. I should've listened to you."

"No, no, no, no," Hazel repeated, shaking her head. "None of this is your fault."

Gar pulled away, throwing his hands out, "How? I took him out there. I told him it was a fucking video game."

Hazel placed her hands on either side of Gar's face, her thumbs stroking his cheekbones, trying to calm him. Gar looked up at her through teary eyes, his breath shallow but it had become steady as Hazel traced her fingers along his cheek bones. "I took him out there as well, I agreed. So, it's my fault, I should've stopped you."

"No. It wasn't you," Gar argued.

"So, if it's not me and it's not you, it's not our fault," Hazel assured. Gar nodded and Hazel wrapped her arms around him again, holding him close. Gar sighed, and laid his head on Hazel's shoulder, his hands gripping the fabric of her shirt.

She was trapped in a dream again, tossing and turning beneath her blankets as her nightmares pulled pain into her body. Beads of sweat had formed on her skin; a tightness had taken place in chest and her bones felt heavy. A dull ache consumed her body, distant whispers slipping from her dream into reality.

She was covered by darkness, her face pressed into the floor as she tried to squirm, her bones too heavy to let her stand. The floor was flat against her skin, cold and the smooth floor against her made her squirm in discomfort. Her body had been stuck with needles, pushing chemicals and strangely coloured substances deep into her body.

The air was heavy and dry, filled with the metallic smell of blood and the sickening scent of chemicals. Her body tried to move again but the crushing weight of fear suffocated her, her efforts unsuccessful. Blood was stuck to her body, the gashes and wounds carved into her skin spilled blood over her body and across the unsettlingly smooth floor. The thick war blood trickled down her forehead, standing her skin a dark red.

There was a small noise off in the distance that made her jump. Her eyes focused, pushing through the darkness revealing a small, sharp pointed syringe discarded on the floor. The needle had once been filled with a thick, dark red substance that last of it dripped thick clumps from the broken glass.

More sounds reverberate through the darkness, the harsh noise piercing her skull. More syringes and needles fell around her, smashing against the floor. The heavy sound of glass followed quickly, liquor bottles shattering against the floor.

The shards of glass surrounded her, growing closer to her skin as more and more bottles broke against the floor. Panic clawed at her, a vice tightening around her chest and throat, her breath escaping in erratic gasps. She tried to force her body to move, but her limbs refused to listen, staying limp against the icy floor.

Through the haze of darkness, a soft light flickered in the distance. A man was hunched over a desk, his back turned to her, but his presence alone sent shivering through Hazel's paralyzed body. Her mind raced to remember anything about the figure, and then through the silence, the man started to hum. The haunting tune made her shiver, the sound so familiar to her mind. The British man from her nightmares.

"Oh sweet Hazel, what fun we'll have together."

Hazel's scream echoed through the silent night, her body jolting upright in bed. The abrupt surge of panic filled adrenaline sent a painful shockwave through her body, forcing her to scramble backward as if the sheets had been set ablaze. Her chest heaved with the remnants of her fear, the enormous weight seeping into her bones. She let her head fall back against the cool surface of the headboard, the feeling of her control slowly returning to settle her nerves.

She twisted her body, sitting on the edge of the bed, her feet meeting the cold wood floor, the chill welcome to her burning skin. She sat in silence for a moment, settling her breathing as she stared into the darkness of her room. She pulled her blanket around her body, the burning in her body gone and replaced with the cold of the night.

She wished Jason was here, to tell her to calm down and hold her tight through whatever nightmares wanted to scare her. She took a long breath and stood, her feet had carrying her out her room and down the hall to Gar's door. Hopefully he'll let me in. She knocked softly on the door, then a small hum came from inside. Hazel stepped through the door, stepping over stacks of books and figurines that had fallen.

Hazel sat on the edge of the bed; her blanket still wrapped tightly around her. "Gar," she whispered, her hand finding his. His eyes fluttered open just enough to acknowledge her presence. She smiled softly at him, "Gar I'm sorry, can I stay here the night?"

He nodded slightly, still cloaked in the haze of sleep, but he pulled back the blanket, allowing Hazel to slip beneath the covers. His arms enveloped her in a strong embrace, the warmth of his body a stark contrast to her chilled skin. She pushed herself further into his arms, her body shaking. Sensing her distress, he asked her softly, "Did something happen?"

"Just dreams," Hazel muttered, her voice a hushed. "Go back to sleep Gar, I'm sorry for waking you."

But Gar's arms tightened around her, "We'll talk about it in the morning." Gar's soft voice made her nod, and she tucked her head into the crook of his neck.

- pain -