Authors Note: Greetings! I am aware this isn't the best work out there, and it isn't to the standard I used to hold myself to. But I know to get better again I have to write, even if it could be better. Please review honestly; it's the only way I'll improve. And enjoy!
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"You want us to do what?"
Jinx just stared at the fastest boy alive incredulously. Start her own team, was he crazy? The pink-haired witch shook her head as he continued.
"Come on Jinx, what have you got to lose?" His grin widened as she rolled her eyes, walking over to a cabinet searching for a bowl. "Your sanity? Your dignity? Or are you just afraid Robin looks better in tight spandex then you?"
"You're insufferable, you know that?" She frowned and kicked the lower cabinets, still looking for a bowl. Then she jumped as one was thrust in her face. She calmed and grabbed the bowl from Kid Flash's hand. "Thanks, but I could have found it myself you know."
"I know. And I'm serious, come ooooooon why not form our own team. It'll be fun, just like those old times with the HIVE Five you talk about. Just instead of committing crimes you'll be stopping them. And you won't be working with idiots-"
"-Are you sure because I'm staring at one right now -" She cut in as he spoke.
"-And we even look better," Kid Flash thought for a second before finishing. "Actually, I guess the situations not that similar after all."
Jinx simply rolled her eyes, wishing for a brief instant that she didn't have the hyperactive boy enamored over her. At least then she might be able to eat breakfast in peace. Then again it could be worse, she reflected, it could be Beast Boy.
It had been months since the Brotherhood of Evil's crushing defeat, when Jinx had joined the Titans. Those months had flown for the young witch. Though they distrusted her at first Jinx had proven herself indispensable to the Titans on several occasions, most recently in a fight with the Thing. The Thing was a white chameleonish machine that absorbed the attributes of materials it touched. It seemed immune to most attacks but was apparently highly susceptible to her hexes. Her hexes had prevented it from taking on new attributes, and without it's variety it could finally be captured successfully. Jinx had found what she had always wanted in a team, friends who listened and worked with her. Yet she wasn't satisfied and challenged Robin's authority far more then she knew she should. Kid Flash had hit a sore spot with this subject, and as usual he was too dense to realize when to let up.
"Even if I agreed to it, which I'm not!" She made clear as she glared at him. "You can't make a team with just two people Flash."
"Well we were going to be leaving soon anyway right? Why not just ask if anyone else is interested. If not I'll drop the subject entirely." Jinx glanced over at him as she poured herself a bowl of cereal.
"Why not just drop it now," She rummaged through the fridge for the milk, holding up various unrecognizable substances and making 'ewww' noises. "And do they ever clean this out. I swear this was the same junk that was out of date when we took over the tower."
"Actually I think Mammoth ate all of that." Kid Flash sped around the room making himself a bowl of cereal in an instant.
"How would you know-" Jinx turned towards Kid Flash, and realized he had disappeared again. As she glanced around for him she noticed a new milk carton sitting next to her bowl. And Kid Flash back in his seat again, feet up on the table as he munched on his breakfast.
"-about that? Wouldn't you like to know?" He winked at Jinx as she rolled her eyes again and poured the milk.
"Forget it, I don't want to know," Silence descended on the two for close to a minute before Jinx sighed and looked up at Kid Flash. "You really want to do this?"
He nods an affirmation and she shrugs her shoulders.
"Fine, if you can find someone who's interested in joining a former criminal and you then I'll talk to Robin about starting another team-" Instantly Kid Flash disappeared, reappearing seconds later with Jericho in tow. Both were smiling broadly.
'For some reason I think I've been setup.' Jinx thought ironically to herself. She looked boredly between the two and held up her hands in exasperation. "I'm guessing Kiddy here has already filled you in on the offer?"
Kid Flash looked rebelliously at her at the use of that nickname, but held his tongue for Jericho's reply. Not that he had to as Jericho deftly signed his words to her. Jinx watched and nodded to what he was saying. Kid Flash's expression changed from rebellious to amazed.
"I didn't know you spoke sign language Jinx."
"It was required for all team leads in HIVE Academy, something about silent communications. And you don't speak sign language Kiddy, you sign it," She glanced sideways at him. "If you don't understand it how did you plan this little plot?"
"Easy, I write as fast as I talk," Once again she stared incredulously at him, giving him a 'I'll believe it when I see it' look. "Hey! Are you implying I talk too much?"
Jinx rolled her eyes and turned away from him to hide her smile. "I thought I was being pretty direct, I could imply it if you'd prefer."
Jericho just watched the two of them banter back and forth. He took a seat as the argument heated up and started munching on Jinx's forgotten cereal. This was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
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Jericho watched as the water lapped at his feet, smiling and laying back in the sand. The stars were beautiful tonight and he savored every glimpse he had of them. He loved times like this, out alone enjoying all that nature had to offer. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy spending time with the Titans, but so few of them seemed to really understand how to enjoy the peace they were working so desperately to protect. He traced the stars of the big dipper with his finger as footsteps echoed from the tower. They were quiet, nearly silent footfalls walking closer to the waters edge. Suddenly an upside-down head glanced down at him.
"Couldn't sleep?" Jinx asked as she sat down beside him. Her eyes were caught on the moon glittering on the surface of the water. She drew her eyes away to see his reply, remembering hindsightedly his handicap. He assured her he was sleeping fine, and was just admiring the stars.
"Admiring the stars huh? I guess that does seem like something you would do," Jericho frowned at that, not quite sure what to make of the comment. He shrugged and decided to ignore it. They sat together for a moment before Jinx broke the silence again. "Do you know many of the constellations?" He nodded his ascent. "Could you point some out for me?"
He sat up and for the next half hour or so pointed out each constellation and its name to Jinx. She seemed quite receptive to the knowledge. Then again she had to be a knowledge sponge with where she came from, he reflected, not many ignorant students survive the HIVE. A sigh broke his thought and he looked over at Jinx. She sat with her knees against her chest and her arms clutched around them, gazing across the bay.
"You know, even after all this time this tower still doesn't feel like home. All the other expanded Titans had homes to go back to. I never had anywhere. I gave up my right to be with the HIVE when I joined the Titans. Then again I guess they were never home" He put a hand on her shoulder; she looked at it with her piercing pink eyes before shrugging it off. "Not at home with the Titans, not at home with the HIVE. I guess Kiddy was right, maybe it's time to make my own home."
They sat together in silence a bit longer before Jericho stood up and offered her a hand. She shook her head at it. "No, I think I'm going to stay out here a little longer."
Jericho knew she needed to think, needed to make her own decisions. And if Jericho understood one thing it was that sometimes you needed to be alone. He left Jinx and made his way through the Tower up to his room. He stopped in front of it for a second and thought better of it, turning and opening the door across the hall. As he stepped into Kid Flashes room he reflected. Jericho understood sometimes a girl just needs to be left alone, but tonight was not one of those nights.
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Authors Interlude: Well that wasn't as painful as I expected. The next chapter will be Jinx talking to Robin about the new team, Kid Flash revealing their new hometown, and the awakening of a new enemy. And pie, lots of pie...
This story is intended as a long running series and should span 5 stories in total (barring total loss of interest, which I seriously doubt will happen). I've got them all mapped out, now I just have to write them.
If you enjoyed the story please review. If you didn't enjoy the story, then pleeease review and help me improve. If the story just wasn't your taste... well I can't help you there . Have a great day!
-Zergplex