Later that afternoon, Hikaru found Terra back at the demolished obstacle course, practicing alone. She lifted rocks in sending them forward in complex patterns, as sweat beaded on her forehead.
"Want some company?" he called giving her a friendly smile.
She dropped the rocks with a crash. "I was just—"
"Training. I know." He approached, hand resting on his sword hilt. "Want a sparring partner?"
Terra hesitated. "I might hurt you."
"I'm tougher than I look." His wings manifested, spreading wide against the afternoon sky. "Besides, best way to improve is training with someone who pushes back."
"Okay." She squared her stance. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
They started slow. Terra launched basketball-sized boulders. Hikaru dodged or deflected them with light constructs. She was quick to adapt, sending multiple projectiles from different angles. He countered by creating barriers, testing her ability to multitask.
"Not bad," he admitted, dodging a rock aimed at his head. "But you're telegraphing your attacks. Your shoulders tense right before you throw."
"Yeah?" Terra grinned. "How about this?"
The ground beneath his feet liquefied. He took flight instantly, but stone spears erupted from the ground where he'd stood.
"Better." Hikaru created a light sword, not attacking, just holding it ready. "Now try to anticipate where I'll move."
They fell into rhythm—Terra attacking, Hikaru evading and offering corrections. She was a quick learner, adjusting her tactics mid-fight. Her control improved with each exchange, movements becoming more fluid and less desperate.
"You're holding back," Hikaru observed after twenty minutes.
"So are you." Terra wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Fair point." He dismissed his sword. "But I meant emotionally. You're afraid of your powers."
Terra's expression shuttered. "They're dangerous."
"All power is dangerous. Doesn't mean it's bad." He gestured at the bay. "Starfire can level buildings. Cyborg's got enough firepower to fight tanks. Raven could probably tear holes in reality if she lost control. We all carry that weight."
"It's different." Terra's voice dropped. "I can't always control—"
"Then we help you learn." Hikaru's tone stayed gentle. "That's what teams do. Nobody expects perfection. We just expect you to try."
Terra studied him for a long moment. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I think you deserve it." He meant it. "And because I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong anywhere."
She blinked rapidly, turning away. "We should get back. Dinner's probably soon."
"Terra." He waited until she looked at him. "You're allowed to make mistakes. Humans are fundamentally imperfect. That's why we form bonds, so we have someone to pick us up when we fall."
She didn't respond, but something shifted in her expression—walls cracking, still standing, but that was enough for now.
Later that night, an alarm shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Robin's voice boomed through the Tower. "Titans, we've got a situation! Downtown, multiple hostiles!"
The team was quick to gather. Robin briefed them during transit. "Villain calls himself Killer Moth. He's threatening to release an army of mutant moths unless the city surrenders."
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Wally muttered.
"Agreed," Robin said. "Which is why he's probably dumb enough to actually do it."
They arrived to find chaos. Giant moths the size of humans swarmed the streets, their wings creating hurricane-force winds. People screamed, running for cover. Killer Moth stood atop a building, directing his forces with some kind of control device.
"Titans, go!"
Hikaru took flight immediately, creating light nets to trap moths mid-air. Starfire's starbolts detonated against the creatures' bodies. Cyborg's sonic cannon disrupted their flight patterns. Beast Boy transformed into various flying forms, herding them away from civilians.
Terra rode her rock platform into the fray. She raised walls to protect fleeing citizens, created barriers to funnel the moths into kill zones for the other Titans. A family cowered in an alley as a moth descended toward them. Terra thrust her hands forward—stone spears erupted from the ground, skewering the creature before it could attack.
The mother clutched her children, sobbing with relief. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Hikaru landed beside Terra as she stared at the family. "Feels good, doesn't it? Being a hero."
Terra watched the family run to safety, her expression complex—pride, wonder, fear, longing. She nodded. "Yeah. It really does."
"Then maybe that's worth fighting for." Hikaru took off again, diving toward three moths threatening a bus.
Terra followed, her movements more confident now. She shot moths out of the sky with boulders, buried clusters of grounded moths. Her power flowed more smoothly, less erratic. Purpose seemed to focus her control.
Robin coordinated from the ground. "Seraph, Starfire, clear the airspace! Terra, create a perimeter! Everyone else, push them toward the bay!"
Wally vibrated between buildings, creating wind tunnels that disoriented the moths. "This is like the world's worst bug zapper!"
Donna grabbed a moth mid-flight with her lasso, and slammed it into the pavement with Amazonian strength. "I've fought Harpies more coordinated than these things!"
The battle became a scene of coordinated chaos. Within twenty minutes, the moth army was decimated. Killer Moth tried to flee but ran directly into Robin's explosive disc. He went down hard.
Police arrived to secure the scene. The Titans gathered, breathing hard but victorious.
"Great work, everyone." Robin's gaze settled on Terra. "Especially you. Those barriers saved lives."
Terra flushed, ducking her head. "Just doing what anyone would do."
"Not anyone could," Donna corrected. "Only you."
Beast Boy sidled closer. "Dude, those rock spears were so cool! Can you teach me that?"
"You don't have earth powers," Terra pointed out, but she was smiling.
"Details, details."
Wally stretched, joints popping. "So is crushing giant bugs a regular Tuesday for you guys, or...?"
"I've seen stranger," Cyborg said.
Terra's eyes widened. "It get weirder than this?"
"Welcome to Jump City." Hikaru grinned.
Starfire gave Terra a sudden hug from behind. "You were magnificent, friend Terra!"
"Thanks." Terra's voice came out strangled again. "Can't breathe..."
"Sorry!" Starfire released her.
The team headed back to the Tower together, energy high from victory. Hikaru hung back, watching Terra laugh at something Beast Boy said. She fit in well, her earlier tension absent for the moment.
Maybe knowing the future means I can change it.
Raven appeared beside him in shadow. "You're doing that thing again."
"Sorry."
"She's still hiding something." Raven's insight cut straight through. "I can feel it."
"Yeah." Hikaru sighed. "She probably is but she's also just a scared teen who just wants to belong somewhere."
Raven studied him with those unreadable violet eyes. "You have too much faith in people."
"I just don't want to preemptively push her away before she has done anything wrong." He gave her a faint smile. "Isn't that better than assuming the worst?"
"Depends on whether that optimism gets us killed." But Raven's tone held less bite than usual.
They returned to the Tower together. Inside, Terra had claimed the couch again, surrounded by the team. Beast Boy showed her his various animal forms. Starfire described Tamaranean culture with wild hand gestures. Robin observed with quiet approval. Cyborg offered her a communicator, Wally challenged her to a mukbang, while Donna recounted Amazon training methods.
Hikaru settled into a chair, content to watch. Terra glanced his way once, offering a small genuine smile. He returned it.
For now, this is enough.