Disclaimer+A/N: I do not own "Teen Titans" or any other DC characters that may appear in this fic. My OC's name is taken from the Class of the Titans episode #40. However, this OC is NOT the same character as her namesake, nor was she modeled of off the original COTT character. I had developed this OC on my own, and, realizing how perfectly the name fit with the concepts and another character I will be working with, decided to give it to her. Also, the single most important trait of the COTT character, as well as much of her personality and actions, have no application in this fic. This is why I do not consider this story a crossover. For those of you who have seen this episode of COTT, you will probably very quickly realize who and what I am talking about. Now, let us commence!
Ryan stood deliberating in front of the old-fashioned card catalogues, only the slight frown on his face betraying any hint of frustration. There was no way he would be able to find what he was looking for at this rate.
He heard a gentle, attention-grabbing cough from behind him, and he turned to see a blonde girl with hazel eyes of about sixteen years of age smiling sweetly at him. The library staff card on the lanyard around her neck identified her as "Josephine". "May I help you?" she questioned, shifting the pile of books in her arms to her other hip.
"Uh . . . yeah. I'm looking for information on use and storage of radioactive isotope based fuel compounds . . . ?" He trailed off, still shocked by her sudden appearance.
"Josephine's" smile broadened. "Follow me. I think I know of some books that might help you." She headed towards the back of the library, and he stayed close behind her, slightly off to the side.
"So, how old are you?" she asked, and abruptness of the question startled him.
"Seventeen," he replied, too flustered to consider the wisdom of revealing his age to a complete stranger, albeit a very pretty and amiable one who couldn't be out of high school yet. Still, curiosity nagged at him. "Why do you ask?"
"You just seemed a little young to be interested in university-level chemistry," she explained, pausing for a moment to orient herself among the shelves.
Ryan tensed very slightly, knowing he would have to tread carefully to avoid revealing too much. "It's for an extra credit assignment for my science class," he offered in the way of explanation.
"Ah, the industrious sort," Josephine said as if she now comprehended the situation.
"You might say that . . . " he replied, in an admittedly awkward attempt to evade further questioning without revealing too much. Luckily, the girl seemed unaware of his distress, having found the aisle she was looking for and leading him down it.
"Here we are," she announced, stopping before one of the shelves. "Let's see . . ." she murmured, running her fingertips across the weathered spines. She pulled three volumes that resembled textbooks off the shelf and handed them to Ryan, still cradling the books she had been carrying before. "These should be able to help you out." The hardcovers she gave him were surprisingly heavy, and he found himself impressed with her strength.
"Thank you . . . Josephine?" he attempted, and was reassured by her smile.
"You're very welcome . . ." she drew out the word, giving him a look of expectation, and he realized she was waiting for a name.
"Ryan Scott," he answered after a brief mental scramble.
"It's nice to meet you, Ryan," she said with another brilliant smile. Before he could reply, she went on, "You know, there's another book that I think would be really helpful for you; it has really good info and great diagrams, but it looks like all the copies are currently checked out. I have my next shift Monday evening, though, and one of the copies is due that day, so if you come back then I can set it aside and make sure it gets to you."
"Really?" he asked, and when she nodded and made a noise of confirmation, he said, "Wow, that would be great! Thanks!"
She nodded again, still smiling, and said, "I'll see you on Monday then."
As she began to turn away, he realized something, and, wanting to see her reaction almost as much as to know the information itself, called after her, "You know, I never got a last name from you."
She paused and looked back over her shoulder with that same radiant smile on her face. "X," she said simply, before turning again and walking calmly out of the aisle.
Ryan was stunned by her answer for a moment, unsure whether he had heard her correctly, then recollected himself and rushed out past the shelves after her. She had already disappeared. He slowly returned to the spot where she had taken the books from, not knowing what he thought or even how he felt. His brow was furrowed and his gaze unfocused as breathed a single syllable into the silence:
"X?"
On the other side of the shelf that Ryan stood beside, a brightly-clad figure narrowed masked eyes. Robin wasn't sure who this girl was, or what exactly her intentions were, but his intuition told him that, despite her seemingly candid demeanor, she was up to something ulterior. Even besides that, what he had just overheard was beginning to raise some suspicions and theories about her new "friend".
He was definitely going to be here on Monday evening.
A/N: Wait, Robin was watching them the whole time? But was that WHY he was there in the first place? And who are "them" exactly? "X" can't be Josephine's real last name, can it? (Speaking of which, three cheers for any of you COTT fans who know the title of the episode "Josephine X" comes from and leave it in a review!) And why did Ryan react the way that he did when he found out? But, wait, is "Ryan Scott" Ryan's real name either? What are these theories that Robin is formulating about him? What exactly does he want to know about radioactive isotope based fuel compounds? Why is he trying to research it in a library when there's an internet cafe just down the street with free WiFi? If your head isn't buzzing with at least this many questions after reading, drink some coffee, make sure you're awake this time, and try again. If you're still having problems, please leave a review telling what I did wrong so that this fic can be worthy of the genre "Suspense". If you ARE asking yourself any of the questions above, stay alert for future updates! And, feel free to post any of your own theories in a review, though you might find yourself surprised in later chapters! After all, even I'M not entirely sure what all the answers are yet!