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Titans Tower, Meeting Room. 6:47 PM.
The silence was heavy.
The Titans sat around the large table—Robin at the front, his face serious as stone. Cyborg to his right, arms crossed. Beast Boy on the left, looking uncomfortable. Starfire hovering in the air, her eyes worried. And Raven...
Raven stood by the window, looking at the city, her back to everyone. But Kayleth knew she was listening. Listening to every word.
And Kayleth? He sat at the end of the table, leaning back, his hands behind his head, looking completely relaxed. But his eyes—his green eyes—were sharp, focused, ready.
Robin placed his hands on the table. Looked at Kayleth. "Joker is dead."
Silence.
Kayleth didn't move. Didn't blink.
"Jump City police found his body in the alley an hour ago," Robin continued, his voice calm, but carrying suppressed anger. "Neck broken. Precisely. Like someone... twisted his head." He paused. His eyes—hidden behind the mask—narrowed. "You said he escaped. You said you couldn't catch him. You lied."
Kayleth tilted his head. Smiled a small, sad smile. "Is that a question, Robin? Or an accusation?"
"Both."
Everyone looked at Kayleth.
Beast Boy looked shocked. "Dude... tell me you didn't—tell me you didn't kill him."
Starfire covered her mouth. "Kayleth... this cannot be true. You... you promised. No killing."
Cyborg was silent, but his jaw was clenched.
Kayleth looked at each of them. Then sighed. Sat up straight. Placed his hands on the table.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Let me tell you a story. A story about a man who was a soldier. A man who received orders to kill people—innocent, evil, no difference—because his government told him to. And he did. Killed hundreds of people. Because he believed he was doing the right thing." He paused. Looked at his hands. "Then, one day, he woke up. Saw what he'd done. Saw the monsters he'd created. And worse? He discovered his government killed his family—his wife, his little daughter—to cover up what they'd done to him."
The room was silent.
Kayleth looked up. His eyes were full of something ancient, dark. "That man tried to kill himself. Many times. But he couldn't. Because he was immortal. So instead, he killed everyone responsible for his family's death. Then lived in isolation, for years, trying to forget. But he couldn't. Because guilt—guilt—never dies."
He looked at Robin. "Then, thanks to a divine mistake, he got a second chance. In a new world. A chance to be something better. To be a hero. And he tried. God, he tried." His voice trembled slightly. "But today, I saw a man—Joker—a man who would continue killing innocents, over and over, just for fun. And I saw all of you—you, the heroes—trying to stop him without killing him. Because you have rules. Because you're better than that."
He stood, slowly. "But I'm not. I'm not a hero. I'm a soldier. And I know—I know—that some people can't be saved. Can't be changed. Can't be stopped except one way." He looked directly at Robin. "So yes. I killed him. Broke his neck. And I don't regret it. Because I know that every day he lives, innocent people will die. And I won't allow that. I won't allow that again."
Absolute silence.
Beast Boy looked at the floor. Starfire had tears about to fall. Cyborg closed his eyes.
Robin stood, slowly. Looked at Kayleth. "You betrayed our trust."
"I know," Kayleth said quietly.
"You promised me. You promised not to kill."
"I know."
"Then why?" Robin's voice was angry now, full of frustration. "Why did you do it?!"
"Because I'd rather die than see another innocent person killed because of his madness!" Kayleth shouted, his voice echoing in the room. "Because I've seen what happens when you leave a man like him alive! I saw it in my world—I saw stories about how many times he escaped from Arkham, how many times he killed, how many times he destroyed Batman's life, your life, the lives of everyone around him. And in my world, you're a fictional character. But here? You're real. And the people here are real. And I won't stand by and watch real people die because I was too cowardly to do what's necessary."
Robin stared at him. Then said, quietly, coldly: "Get out."
Kayleth blinked. "What?"
"Get out of the tower." Robin's voice was final. "You're not welcome here anymore. We have rules. And you broke them. If you can't respect that, you can't stay."
Kayleth looked around. At Beast Boy, who was looking away. At Starfire, who was crying silently. At Cyborg, who was not looking at him.
Then at Raven.
Raven turned, finally. Looked at him. Her violet eyes were full of something complex—sadness, anger, understanding.
But she said nothing.
Kayleth smiled sadly. "Alright. If that's what you want." He walked toward the door. Stopped. Looked at Robin. "But let me tell you something, Robin. One day, you'll face a choice. Between saving an innocent life, or keeping your rules. And when that day comes, I hope you choose life. Because rules?" He shook his head. "Rules don't save people. People save people."
He opened the door. Walked out.
And the door closed behind him.
Hallway, outside the meeting room.
Kayleth walked down the hallway, hands in his pockets, head down. He felt heavy. Not because of the wounds—those had healed. But because of the guilt.
(I did the right thing), he told himself. (Joker would have killed more. I had to.)
But another voice whispered in his head:
(But you betrayed their trust. You should have found another way.)
He stopped. Leaned against the wall. Closed his eyes.
"Kayleth."
He opened his eyes.
Raven stood in the hallway, a few feet away. Her cloak billowing around her like a living entity. Her eyes—her violet eyes—were fixed on him.
"Raven," he said quietly. "I didn't expect—"
"Why did you tell them?" she asked, her voice calm. "Why did you confess? You could have denied it. You could have lied."
Kayleth smiled a small, sad smile. "Because I'm tired of lying. I spent years lying—to myself, to others. And I don't want to do that again. Especially not to you. You deserve the truth."
Raven walked toward him, slowly. Stopped in front of him. Close. Close enough to smell her—lavender and incense and ancient darkness.
"Do you regret it?" she asked. "Killing Joker. Do you regret it?"
Kayleth looked at her. Looked into her eyes. And saw the test in them. The test to see if he was telling the truth.
"No," he said quietly. "I don't regret saving the lives he would have taken. But..." He paused. "...I regret breaking trust. Robin's trust. Your trust. The team's trust. That I regret."
Raven studied his face. Then, slowly, nodded. "You're broken. I can feel it. The darkness in you. The guilt. The pain. It's... heavy."
"I know," Kayleth said. "But I'm trying. Trying to be better."
"Are you?" Raven asked quietly. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're just... repeating the same mistakes."
Kayleth looked at the floor. "Maybe I am. Maybe I can't change. Maybe I'm just... a killer who will always be a killer." He looked at her. "But I want to change, Raven. I want to be someone better. Someone who deserves to... stand beside you."
Silence.
Then Raven said, in a very quiet voice: "I don't know if I can trust you again."
"I know," Kayleth said. "And I don't blame you."
He turned, started walking toward the main door.
"Wait."
He stopped. Turned.
Raven was looking at him, something in her eyes—something soft, vulnerable.
"I... I understand why you did it," she said quietly. "I know what it's like to carry a power that can hurt people. And I know what it's like having to make hard decisions to protect others. So I..." She paused. "...I don't hate you. But I need time. We need time."
Kayleth nodded. "Take all the time you need. I won't go far."
"Where will you go?" she asked.
Kayleth shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe find an apartment in the city. Get a job. Try to live a normal life, for once." He smiled sarcastically. "Or maybe I'll become an independent mercenary. Working for myself. Saving people, killing villains, and breaking all the rules. Like... well, like me."
Raven didn't smile. But her lips trembled. Barely. "Kayleth."
"Yes?"
"Don't die," she said quietly. "Even if you can heal. Even if you're immortal. Don't... don't die."
Kayleth stared at her. Then smiled—a real smile, warm. "I'll try not to, demon lady. Promise."
Then he turned. Walked toward the main door. Opened it.
And looked at you—yes, you, dear reader.
"Alright, my friends," he said, with a sarcastic smile. "That was a dramatic chapter, wasn't it? Kicked out of the team. Lost their trust. But hey, at least Raven didn't open a hellish portal and send me to the abyss. So... small victory?" He shook his head. "Now, let's see where this mess takes me. Maybe I'll meet Batman next. And that'll be... fun."
He walked out.
And the door closed behind him.
Meeting Room.
Robin sat, his head in his hands. "Did I do the right thing?"
Cyborg placed his hand on his shoulder. "You did what had to be done, man. We have rules. If we don't follow them, what makes us different from the villains?"
"But he saved lives," Beast Boy whispered. "I saw him. He went into that building. He could have died—well, sort of—but he did it anyway. That's... that's heroic."
"Killing isn't heroic," Robin said sharply. "Never."
"Even if it means saving innocents?" Beast Boy asked quietly.
Robin didn't answer.
Starfire wiped her tears. "I... I understand both. I understand Kayleth. And I understand you, Robin. But..." She looked at the door he'd walked through. "...I wish we could find a way to fix this."
Raven entered the room, silently. Sat in her place.
Robin looked at her. "What did you tell him?"
"The truth," Raven said quietly. "That I don't know if I can trust him. But I understand him."
Robin nodded slowly. "Maybe... maybe one day, we can trust him again. But not now."
Everyone was silent.
And outside, Kayleth walked through the streets of Jump City, alone, hands in his pockets, staring at the sky.
(This isn't the end), he thought. (This is just... the beginning.)
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If you like this story! and you wan read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at:
https://www.patreon.com/c/zikou66
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you wan!
And be sur am happy just by your reading
And be sure I'm happy just by you reading it.
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