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Jason sprinted down the corridor to the armory, his heart pounding. “Roy?” he called, voice echoing off the steel doors.
A moment later, Roy emerged, breathless but alive. “Y‑yeah, I’m here. Give me a minute,” he replied, relief evident in his tone.
Jason’s eyes swept over the rows of Titan suits, stopping on a sleek black uniform marked with a crimson star—one he didn’t recognize.
“What’s up, Todd?” Roy asked as he slipped through a side door.
Jason lunged forward, throwing his arms around his friend. “You’re alive!”
Roy blinked, confused. “Yes, I’m alive. What’s this about?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Jason said, his voice thick. “You’re here.”
“Are you okay? Did you hit your head during training yesterday?” Roy asked, concern sharpening his words.
“I’m fine now that you’re back,” Jason replied, a grin breaking through his tension.
Roy’s smile faded. “What the hell is going on? I’m in Titans Tower, and Donna and Garth say I’m a Titan now?”
“You are a Titan, Todd,” Roy confirmed. He glanced around, then pointed to the mysterious black suit. “Where’s my Red Hood helmet? If I’m a Titan, it should be here.”
“Red Hood? Like the villain?” Jason frowned. “Your suit’s right there.”
Roy followed his gaze. “That’s mine?”
Jason stared at the uniform, the red star glaring back at him. “It looks like Dick’s costume.”
“Exactly,” Roy said, nodding. “Nightwing and Flamebird—the Kryptonian birds. That’s where the names come from.”
Jason’s mind raced. “Wait, where’s Dick? He’d know what’s happening.”
“He should be in his room,” Roy replied. “I’m worried about you, Todd.”
“I’ll be fine,” Jason said, determination hardening his voice. “I just need to find Dick.”
He left the armory and hurried down the hallway, the surreal feeling of a dream clinging to his thoughts. The door to Dick’s quarters bore a simple sign: “Dick.”
Jason pushed it open, his breath catching. Inside, a note lay on the desk, half‑written in Dick’s unmistakable hand:
“Dick, you won’t believe what’s happening. Apparently I’m a Titan called Flamebird, which—”
He stared at the unfinished sentence, the weight of the revelation crushing his chest. The room was empty, but the truth hung heavy in the air, and Jason realized his world had irrevocably changed.