Cyan Rush is back! This is a sequel to A Rush of Blood to the Head, so if you haven't read that yet, I highly recommend it if you're the kind of person who likes to know what's going on in a story [:
Please review! I'm trying to make this longer and better than the last book, and I would really love tips and constructive criticism. I do not own the Teen Titans! I only own my OCs.
#**********#
I stare out the window as the doctor drones on. The patter of rain seems to match the pace of his voice. It would be so easy to just nod off, but mom said that this was important. So far, I don't believe her.
Their voices go back and forth. A stray dog runs across the small field in front of me. I peer through the window to get a better look, but it turns a corner and disappears behind another building. I should sketch it later; I haven't drawn dogs in a while.
"That's fine; I think it's just up to Candace, now."
I lift my head at the mention of my name. Mom is looking at me the way she does when I do something embarrassing. Her pure blue eyes are sharp. When I was little, they used to scare me until I learned that her threatening face is just that- a threat. Mom never puts any energy into actually disciplining me. Not that she needs to, I don't get in trouble. What kind of trouble can a crippled girl get into, anyway?
"Candace, have you been paying attention?"
I keep silent, playing with the frayed drawstring on my hoodie.
"Candace, the doctor wants to know if you want this operation- they need your consent."
I raise an eyebrow. What does she mean? They've been planning this for months, and just now they want to know my opinion? Of course I do. This is my chance to finally be normal. I need this.
"I-um…yeah. I do." My voice squeaks.
The doctor pushes a paper towards me. "Good. Sign here."
I shyly take the pen from a cup and sign my name: Candace Dawn Ross. The doctor takes the paper and files it away somewhere.
"Okay. Now, me and your mother need to talk alone for a moment, is that okay?" He asks, even though it's not my choice.
I nod my head and a nurse wheels me out of the room and into the waiting hall. I frown. I can push myself, my arms work just fine.
A few minutes later, mom comes out of the room talking on the phone. By the way she talks so quietly I can tell its dad. He must be working at the library, again.
"C'mon, Candace."
I follow behind mom and ignore the stares that other nurses and patients give me. Mom holds the door open for me and I release a breath when the door closes behind us. I don't like hospitals.
Mom helps me into the car and drives silent, other than the occasional scoff or protest when a reckless driver cuts in front of her. Suddenly, she turns to me, her face concerned.
"Candace, do you hate this?" She motions to my legs.
"What do you mean?" I ask lightly.
"Your-um- condition. Being like this."
I swallow. What does she want me to say? Yes, I can barely get up in the morning, mom. I have to remind myself every day that I'm different, and watch other children play while I stay in my room. All I've ever wanted is to be able to help people, not be seen as someone who needs to be helped. Yes, mom- I hate this.
"Its okay mom, it isn't as bad as it seems. And besides, I'm getting the surgery soon, so who cares?" I smile. Mom doesn't return it. She grips the wheel as her eyes turn back to the road.
#************#
My eyes open as I scream in excitement. Today's the day! Or at least, I'm pretty sure it is. I reach over and grab my phone, unlocking the home screen and looking for the calendar. The eighth! It is today! I hear the door open and I turn. Dad furrows his brows in confusion as I smile like a crazy person.
"Dad, today's the day!"
"I know that, Candace Dawn." He lets a hint of a smile show on his face. "It's almost time to go, which shoes do you want to wear?"
I don't even care, just point at a random pair and throw the covers off, grabbing the safety railing of my bed and pulling my body into the wheelchair with a grunt.
"You're getting stronger, Candace. Usually I have to carry you to your chair."
Yeah, I'm strong enough to drag myself into a wheelchair. Where's my gold star?
I smile the whole way to the hospital and down the hall, even with Nurse Bernadette's usual greeting of stares and "poor little girl" comments. Today, I become my childhood dream.
#************#
My parents wave to me as I begin to be wheeled away to surgery. They seem a little nervous. They're never nervous.
"Okay, you're just going to feel a little prick- alright, honey?" A nurse's voice says.
I stare at the rolling white ceiling. The hospital bed crinkles underneath me. Something tugs at my arm, but then it goes numb.
"I want you to count to ten, okay?"
For a second, I wonder if she means out-loud or in my head, but then I settle on counting inside.
One…
Two…
I see a flash of something out the corner of my eye.
Three…
Four…
A man hands something to one of the nurses. He catches my glance and stares. Why does he seem scared?
Five…
Six…
He types something hurriedly on a laptop and leaves out a backdoor after looking behind him.
Seven…
Eight…
I close my eyes and sigh. I never make it to ten.
#********#
I wake up and stare into darkness. My heart skips a beat, as it always does when I wake. I blindly reach for my mask, and press it onto my face.
A golden-eyed face stares down at me.
"Gah! What the heck, Leon-!"
"Good morning, Blue!"
I push Leon's head away and adjust my mask. Its default setting is always a crappy battery-saving mode that gives me the vision of a ninety-year-old. I wish I- or someone- could fix that, but there's nobody around who could fix a custom-made mask.
With the vision set to maximum, I can make out every little detail around me. My room is still the same standard white and blue that it's been for months, but there's something different here. Leon smiles at me, his dark-orange hair combed unlike usual- but he also seems taller. Leon's always been about an inch shorter than me, but he makes up for it with his straight posture. That's when I realize it- he's wearing heels!
"Leon, usually I'm not surprised by your freakiness- but this is a whole new level." I half-joke.
He twirls around, almost falling.
"They make my look good, don't deny it! But they're not for me," He slips them off. "They're for the birthday girl!" I squint as he hands the blue, sparkly heels to me.
"It's my- wait! Oh my gosh! How did I forget?"
Leon laughs that shrill, ringing kind of burst that used to make me flinch. "Told you yesterday, but maybe it wasn't a good time."
"Yeah, when you're fighting muggers, it isn't really a good time to bring up birthdays." I deadpan.
That laugh again.
I examine the heels as Leon watches me out of the corner of my eye. He's standing straight-as-a-solider like usual. That aspect of him is something that I've never really understood. Leon isn't really the type of guy to be raised in a military sort of household, but he always seems to carry an air of confidence with him, as well as uncontained-energy. It makes me wonder what his parents were- or are- like. Leon's never really talked about his childhood, which just makes him all the more confusing.
"Like 'em?" He asks.
The shoes are just right for my style. The heels don't go high enough to seem suggestive, and the glitter is sprinkled fairly, to give it a slight glint.
"Yeah, you bought these for me?"
Leon rubbed the back of his head. "Um, well, we all pitched in- but it was really Adara's idea."
As if on cue, the brunette herself bounces in, her short hair moving with her.
"Speak of the devil!" Leon greets. Adara cocks her head and scrunches her thin eyebrows.
"Huh? I'm not the devil, Leon. " Adara pipes.
"It's just an expression, princess."
Adara shrugs it off and skips over to me. "Cyan Rush! You have the gift! Do you enjoy it?"
I nod. "Of course, Adara. This was your idea?"
Her freckled-face lights up. "Yes- yeah, isn't it brilliant- I mean… cool?" She emphasizes the last word strangely, as if she's never said it before. She probably hasn't.
"Yeah, how did you know I wanted a pair like these?" I ask.
Her upturned nose scrunches. "I can't reveal my sources, Cyan Rush!"
I smile. When I first met Adara, we became fast friends. There's something funny about her constant prideful attitude and the fact that she isn't really aware of what's around her. Adara comes from some small country in Europe- one that I've never heard of. Her family's heirloom was given to her as soon as she turned fifteen. That heirloom is a powerful staff that can harness energy from the user. Adara told me that she was sent on a one-year trip to explore the world, and she decided to come here- to Skip City- of all places. For some reason, I get the feeling that she won't return to her home. She's definitely the most dedicated out of all of us to helping this city- besides me. Adara wants to help people for fun, but I want to help this city because it's what I need to do. There's a reason I left Jump City, and it wasn't for enjoyment.
"Oh, and Cyan Rush? Mindshift wants to see you in the meeting room." Adara looks up at me as I pull on my boots.
"Sure thing."
My teammates leave.
I straighten my blond hair and take a deep breath as I look in the mirror. The tiredness in my blue eyes are long gone- have been for about a year now. The slight baby fat that I used to have in my cheekbones has disappeared, now my face is a bit narrower. My body is still skinny, but I've put on some muscle. All in all, I seem healthier. I feel healthier, too. My nightmares are down to once per week, but I still get that stupid nagging voice in the back of my head often. Oh well, as long as no one notices, it will be fine.
It will all be fine.
