I know I'm supposed to be updating my other stories, but I can't help it! I was reading 'The Couple Who Weren't' by BimboBoop (which is so super awesome, by the way; I recommend it to all Dair fans out there) and I was inspired to do this one.
So basically, it's Flinx seen from everyone else's point of view. This set after 'Titans Together'. I hope you like it and please tell me what you think! :)
Disclaimer: I am poor. I own nothing.
Beast Boy's the first to pick up on it.
It catches him off guard, because he's usually the last to figure out anything.
He doesn't know what to think.
He's not really sure what to make of the whole thing.
When a newly-reformed Jinx first appears on their doorstep after the fight with the Brotherhood of Evil - a shy smile glued to her face and pink eyes constantly flicking from the team to her platform boots, he's surprised, to say the least. If he was being honest, he'd admit he almost tries convincing himself that it was just an April fool's prank and half-expects Thunder or Lightning to jump out from the ridiculously realistic costume and holler at how ridiculous they all look.
But no one laughs. Because it is not April and nobody's joking.
His head spins in confusion as Kid Flash animatedly explains how he'd managed to convince the enchantress to leave the Hive Five and later join the battle against the fraternity of deranged psychopaths. His brain doesn't process the information quite as quickly as he'd hoped it would and he knows he's just standing there, gawking like some idiot who hasn't understood half of what the speedster is saying.
Kid Flash finishes with a big smile, looks expectantly at them as though villains turning over a new leaf was an everyday thing for him. Beside him, Jinx shifts awkwardly, suddenly finding interest in the small crack on the floor directly beneath them.
At first, they are all stunned and no one says a thing, but Beast Boy is certain it is only because they don't know how to respond.
Ultimately, it is Cyborg's voice that breaks the silence the changeling swears could've lasted forever.
"He's not kidding, man." The bionic steps forward, fixing his gaze on the four Titans beside him. "I saw her myself. She fought on our side."
"And how do we know she's really changed?" Raven speaks in monotone, but Beast Boy detects the hostility in her words without difficulty. "If she could so easily betray her own, how can we be certain she won't turn on us and stab us in the back when she gets the opportunity?"
"You can't."
Jinx's voice is suddenly small and hushed, and the boy briefly wonders if she really is the ruthless criminal he's known for so long.
"You can't know for sure that I won't deceive you." She sighs, closing her eyes for a moment. "Look, I know I'm the last person you guys would ever trust, let alone join your team. And I don't blame you for feeling like this is some elaborate scheme I've concocted to get my revenge or something. I've done a lot of things in the past that I'm not exactly proud of, and I don't expect pardon from all the crimes I've committed. But I really have changed. Or at least, I'm trying. Being a villain isn't really as great as I thought it would be. I've learned that lesson the hard way.
"I understand if you want to kick me out and never want to see me again. I won't force you to accept me. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for this bumbling idiot."
Kid Flash grins cheekily.
After overcoming the initial shock of the news, Beast Boy shrugs; he decides that if Jinx was good enough to realize that being evil wasn't all that it's cracked up to be, she was good enough for him.
Of course, their fearless leader didn't necessarily agree with him.
Naturally, Robin is more than a little apprehensive about Jinx's sudden change of heart, but that isn't really much of a surprise to his younger teammate. Neither, said teammate notes, is it to the pink-haired sorceress.
"I'm sure I speak for the entire team when I say we're grateful for your help." Robin begins formally, his black cape following the flow of his movements. "But matters like this can't be rushed."
Jinx nods, as though she knew he'd say just that. She doesn't completely collapse under the weight of the Boy Wonder's icy stare.
"Come on, Rob," Kid Flash protests. "Give her a chance."
Robin raises an eyebrow. "You are, however, welcome to join in the festivities and stay in the tower until we sort this out tomorrow."
Starfire takes this as a green light, and before Jinx's lips can form the word 'thank you', she's entangled in the alien's arms, trapped in a bone-crushing hug. The Tamaranean princess starts talking rapidly and Beast Boy smiles knowingly as the witch's eyes widen.
In a split-second, the youngest Titan watches as Kid Flash grabs Jinx; they disappear into a multi-colored blur until they both materialize on the couch.
Beast Boy sees her eyebrows narrow and she opens her mouth, but KF quickly covers it with his gloved hand. She's taken aback and the boy grins at her.
"Ah!" Kid Flash shouts suddenly, withdrawing his hand. Jinx smirks smugly. "Did you just bite me?"
She merely rolls her eyes, folding her arms close to her chest.
He recovers quickly. The smile reappears on his face. "Couldn't get enough of me, could you?"
Her eyes start glowing pink, but he does not move, smiling as though he were challenging her. Then, she sighs in defeat and he grins triumphantly.
Beast Boy notices that they're sitting so close together, their knees almost touching. But neither seems to mind their proximity. They look rather comfortable, actually.
He sees Jinx roll her eyes at something the speedster was saying and she pushes his shoulder roughly. Her hand lingers on him longer than the changeling thought necessary.
Their conversation continues, but Beast Boy can't hear what they're saying.
KF occasionally dashes across the tower and out the door, but he doesn't leave her side for more than a couple of seconds. Sometimes, he returns with a plate of food, a drink, or even with a bunch of flowers.
It is at that moment when the idea occurs to Beast Boy.
Could they be…?
He brushes it off. After all, Kid Flash always has been a pathological flirt. At least that's what Robin says.
But Beast Boy can't help but notice that he hasn't talked to any girl but Jinx since they got here.
When he thinks about it, he realizes that KF has barely talked to anyone but her since they entered the building.
It's as though they're the only two people in the room, lost in their own little world.
He looks around, trying to spot a reaction in his teammates' faces. Maybe he isn't the only who's noticed. Maybe they've sensed something fishy as well and have just kept their mouths shut for the time being.
But he sees nothing. They seem rather indifferent to the display he's just seen.
Starfire's smile takes up her entire face as she listens to Argent narrate her close encounter with a massive panda in China.
Raven's head is buried in a book, keeping quietly to herself in an empty corner of the room.
Robin's immersed in a heated debate with Speedy about the efficiency of the latter's arrows versus his birdarangs.
He's even more surprised when Cyborg laughs after he asks if the two are together.
"Jinx and Kid Flash?" Cyborg remarks incredulously, the corners of his lips turned upward into a disbelieving smile. "I don't know, BB. He's never struck me as a one-woman type of guy." He chuckles and lightly pats his companion on the back. "Besides, I don't really think she's the kind of girl who falls for the Casanova charm."
Beast Boy nods.
He's probably reading too much into it anyway.
There's just something about the way he looks at her.
He can't describe it because he doesn't know what it is.
He steals one last glance at the unlikely pair seated on the couch.
He doesn't miss the way her eyes light up whenever the speedster magically appears beside her. He dismisses it as trick of light. Because really, ex-villains and heroes weren't supposed to be together, were they?
Beast Boy smiles to himself, lets them enjoy their moment.
Because he knows, no matter what Cyborg says, there is something special between the two, something only they understand, and he can't wait for the day when he can brag about how he saw it first.