Skipping Stones

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(A/N: Takes place post "Things Change", for the most part. I happen to be a firm believer in the idea Jinx's power is closer to psionics then sorcery, and the way several characters use their powers will also be altered to how I see them, and may not fit cookie-cutter with everyone else's ideas. Anywho, I'll shut up now hehe. Don't own anything but my premise, yadda yadda yadda... I just wish I did.)

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Prologue

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Purple-black platform shoes softly echoed down the alleyways as their owner slowly made her way down a familiar path. She didn't have any particular destination in mind, she simply needed time to think. The scent of the rose in her hand made her mind slip back to the boy that had given it to her.

"There's something about you that's... different."

Understatement of the year. Her uniqueness was something she took pride in, flaunted even. Somehow, though, she knew that's not what he had been referring to. What was it he had seen, if indeed he had seen anything? He could have just been messing with her head.

"I think you can do better."

Now THAT she understood, to a degree. As much fun as she had running heists with her friends, they had a horrible tendency to... well... suck. As long as everything went perfect to the plan, they were fine... but when anything unexpected happened *cough* Titans *cough* everything fell apart like a house of cards in a windstorm. It would be nice to work with people who actually knew what they were doing... even if it meant an honest job.

"... Can I get some mustard? This looks a little dry."

The pale teen stopped and scoffed, tossing the flower in her hand aside. Okay, the kid had been an idiot... but what he had said did seem to make sense. What if she was playing for the wrong team? True, her powers didn't seem the type to help anyone... bad luck was bad luck. Would anyone really want to take her in?

Sighing and looking up, she realized where her feet had taken her. Standing at the edge of the pier, she looked out across the water at the large tower shaped like a giant T. She shook her head, a frown spreading across her lips. 'Who am I kidding... the things I've done? The people I've associated with? No one is gonna take me in... except maybe to the station.' she thought sadly to herself.

Turning again, she let her feet guide her once more as her cluttered mind sifted through her options. Where could she go? She had seen what the brotherhood was really like, that wasn't she wanted to become. She couldn't go back to the H.I.V.E, there was nothing to go back to. She couldn't really see herself finding a place on the right side of the law, though, she was just to... impulsive.

'I could always go solo...' she mused, shoulders falling just a bit. She could pick her own targets, call her own shots... by herself... alone...

The pink haired teen sighed again, for what seemed like the fiftieth time that night. The cool night air kissed her skin as she felt a breeze blow past her. The sound of the trees rustling around her told her she had wandered into the park that spanned the center of Jump, and for the first time since she had started walking she smiled. The teen loved walking in the park at night, especially with such a delicious breeze.

Forgoing the path that lead to other sections of the park, she wandered into the trees to explore, to make her own path. For several minutes she let her mind quiet, letting go of her worries... until she tripped over a rock, landing face first in front of a downward tunnel.

Pushing herself into a sitting position, she winced and gripped her knee. A rip in her right stocking showed a line of red beginning to form across her pale skin. Her eyes flicked back up to the mouth of the small tunnel, feeling her feline curiousity slowly taking over her better judgement. 'I didn't think there were any caves in the park... where does this go?' she wondered. Letting it get the better of her, she decided to push her luck and see what it had in store for her.


Well, there it is. The first chapter is already on its way and I have a general plot in mind, but I still appreciate any and all feedback! I'm notorious for starting stories and never finishing them when I burn out of ideas, so everything helps! This will be a Jinx/Terra story, with a possibility of a bump up to the M rating later on.

If I start slipping into OC-ness, give me a prod will you? I try to keep the characters as close to themselves as I can, but if you notice something blatant that I missed, feel free to smack me =]