Raven appeared beside him. "Everything okay?"
He glanced at her. "It's... nothing."
Her violet eyes studied him with uncomfortable perception. "You think she could be trouble."
"Potentially. It's just a feeling for now." He chose his words carefully. "She probably has her own story, just like we all do. Maybe what she needs is a real home. We should make her feel welcome." He met Raven's gaze. "Just keep your guard up around her."
Raven nodded. "Always do."
They flew back together, arriving at the Tower to find Terra already inside, standing at the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Whoa! Nice digs!" She pressed her hands against the glass. "And check out the view!"
She flopped onto the couch, boots hitting the coffee table. "I can't believe you guys actually live here!"
Beast Boy vaulted over the couch back, landing beside her. "Su casa es mi casa."
"You got it backwards, Beast Boy," Hikaru laughed, settling into a chair.
"Tomato, tamoto..." Beast Boy waved dismissively. "So do you want the grand tour, or..."
"Got any food?"
Ten minutes later, Hikaru watched Terra systematically clean out their refrigerator. She wolfed down an entire pot roast, he could of sworn he saw her jaw unhinging slightly to accommodate the mass. After she finished all the food including Starfire's homemade glorg she let out a thundering belch, that echoed through the common room.
"Sorry," Terra said without sounding particularly apologetic.
Wally whistled. "Impressive. I didn't think anyone besides me could eat that fast."
"I guess I was hungrier than I thought." Terra said wiping her mouth.
"The shower's down the hall," Cyborg offered. "Third door on the right."
"Thanks." Terra grabbed her backpack and disappeared.
The sound of running water filtered through the Tower. Hikaru exchanged glances with his teammates. Robin stood with crossed arms, thinking. Starfire radiated innocent concern. Cyborg looked thoughtful. Raven maintained her usual inscrutability. Beast Boy couldn't stop smiling. Donna perched on the couch arm while Wally tapped his foot rapidly in thought.
Terra emerged eventually, hair damp, wearing some spar clothes. She'd thrown her travel-worn outfit in the wash. A portable music player materialized from her bag—an old-school mp3 player. She settled onto the couch, curling up with visible relief.
"Wonder how long it's been since she had a decent place to crash for the night," Beast Boy murmured.
Terra stretched, yawned expansively, and fell asleep almost instantly. Snoring filled the common room. One foot dangled over the couch edge.
The Titans gathered across the room, speaking in low voices.
"She needs more than a place to crash," Robin said.
"She needs a home." Starfire's voice held conviction.
Beast Boy's expression brightened. "Why not our home? She could stay here with us."
"Yes!" Starfire clasped her hands together.
"I don't know." Raven's doubt was palpable.
"She would make a good addition to the team," Cyborg countered.
Donna crossed her arms. "Her power's impressive, but there's something... I can't explain it. Something she's not telling us."
"Everyone's got secrets." Wally shrugged. "Doesn't mean she's bad news."
"True," Donna acknowledged. "But Amazons are taught to trust our instincts."
Robin considered. "Maybe. Let's ask her to train with us tomorrow. We need to see what she can do."
Hikaru woke up in the middle of the night, unable to get a good sleep. So he decided to go to the source. He made his way to the common room and found the couch empty except for Terra's music player and a blanket.
He checked the roof first—empty. The training room—dark. Finally he headed down to ground level and found her sitting on the shore, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the bay.
"Can't sleep?" He said as he approached.
Terra didn't startle. "Something like that."
Hikaru sat beside her, leaving respectful distance. Waves lapped against rock. The city glowed across the water, never truly dark.
"They're good people, you know. The team." He picked up a pebble, rolling it between his fingers. "Chaotic, but good."
"I know. They're awesome." Terra's voice softened. "I'm just not sure if I fit in."
"That depends." Hikaru tossed the pebble into the water. "They're genuine people. You seem like a good person too, but to really become one of us, you have to be genuine too." He met her eyes. "It can be hard to let your guard down, but if you do, I think you'll love your life here together with us, more than your old one, traveling alone."
Terra looked away. "It's not that simple."
"It never is." Hikaru stood, offering his hand. "But it could be. If you want it to be."
She stared at his hand for a long moment before taking it. He pulled her up.
"Get some sleep," he said. "Tomorrow's going to be interesting."
Morning broke with Cyborg hauling equipment outside. The team assembled near the shore where he'd constructed an elaborate obstacle course—spinning blades, moving platforms, projectile launchers, the works.
"Check it out!" Cyborg gestured proudly. "Remote-controlled difficulty settings, modular design, the whole nine yards."
"Wanna demonstrate?" Robin asked.
"My pleasure."
Cyborg charged forward. His cybernetic body handled the course with practiced ease—dodging, weaving, jumping. He crossed the finish line in forty-eight seconds.
"Not bad." Robin turned to Terra, who'd watching Cyborg looking nervous. "Want to give it a try?"
"I... sure. Okay." Terra cracked her knuckles.
She raised both hands. Rock erupted from the ground beneath her feet, forming a surf-board sized platform. She rode it forward, destroying obstacles with hurled boulders rather than dodging them. Spinning blades shattered against stone walls. Moving platforms crumbled. She crossed the finish line in thirty-two seconds, breathing hard but triumphant.
"Yes!" Beast Boy cheered.
"Impressive," Cyborg admitted.
Donna's eyes widened. "That was incredible for someone so young."
"Or she just likes breaking stuff." Wally grinned. "Which is also cool."
"We're going to need a new obstacle course," Raven said flatly.
Terra flushed with pride and embarrassment. Hikaru noticed her hands trembling slightly—not from exhaustion, but from the effort of maintaining control. The destroyed course bore testament to her power and her difficulty containing it.