Hey there Fanfictioners. Here is the updated and hopefully improved version of 'Changing Luck' for your reading pleasure.
There are probably still tons of typos but whatever.
Bad luck, that's me.
Since the day I was born, all I ever had was bad luck. Of course, the pink hair and eyes didn't make for the best start to life. You can imagine my Indian parents' shock when I arrived, all sickly grey skin and slit pupils.
It's no wonder my father didn't like me. He all but abandoned me when I was a baby, and mother died not long after. The super powers were a nice perk; blowing up cameras, blasting people into the air with a bright pink flourish… but it still wasn't enough. It was never enough. It couldn't replace the friends I didn't have, the family who didn't want me. Disgust followed me everywhere I went.
Boo hoo.
Bad luck followed me. If I went on a fair ground ride, it would break. If I wanted an ice cream, guess what? The freezer's broken, will soup do instead? Technology was always a no-go; laptops and computers fell victim to viruses the moment I touched them. The number of dresses ruined by cars driving through muddy puddles in front of me, the earrings I lost because they fell out my ears, number of hair bands I broke. The shoes thrown away because I couldn't get rid of the stench from having stepped in dog poo.
My life was like I had broken hundreds of mirrors while stepping on a crack in the pavements whilst thirteen black cats charged around knocking over salt shakers.
Then there was the H.I.V.E Academy, rising up like a plastic-yellow beacon. A place where they might understand me, where people wouldn't laugh at my hair or eyes or skin… I could- no, I would be somebody. I'd get respect.
Sadly, nothing ever goes right for me. Though, in hindsight, I really should have seen it coming.
I was top of the class, cruising through with ease. Picked to go on a special mission to destroy the Teen Titans. And we did! Except we didn't, and we got our butts handed to us.
Back to lessons. Back to training. Get stronger, but faster, get smarter, get better.
And then there was Stone. Stone, who was so perfect in every way, who didn't hide behind a mask, who didn't make stupid insinuations based on my gender or appearance. Who listened to me… and that night at the ball when he danced with me, and for once nothing went wrong. I didn't get punch spilt all over me, or tear my dress, or break a heel.
But then it did go wrong when revealed himself as a Teen Titan.
Just my luck.
And after I graduated? Life became… dull. The only good thing was the fact I had managed to control my own luck to some extent, or at least keep the worst of the bad luck at bay. No more huge, unfortunate incidents, no computer malfunctions. But no more excitement either. The humdrum of everyday life was a struggle, especially when I got stuck with the brainless H.I.V.E Five. Skilled? Yes. Easy to live with?
Not so much.
So there I was, trapped in a garish lair. My sound track was Gizmo's constant whining as we robbed car park metres and pillaged corner shops. No ambition to do more, no yearning to be noticed by the Brotherhood of Evil. No plans to be…more.
This couldn't get worse. Except it did. When he came along.
Kid Flash. Speed demon. I thought we had a chance to do something big as the Titans East had skipped down for a while. Out first stop was the Egyptian exhibit at the museum, and after that countless opportunities to ransack Steel City.
But he stopped us. Let us escape as some sort of cruel joke. Gave me a rose as an even crueller joke. And just when we thought we'd caught him, when I thought I could finally prove myself to Madam Rouge… He destroyed our base, got away, and made me look like a fool in front of my idol. And when I did finally catch again, what do you know? Madam Rouge turned out to be an utter cow.
I let him go that night. Out of spite. In that moment I knew I had rejected the Brotherhood for good. And the H.I.V.E Five? As I picked up the rose he left me - like it meant anything - I realised there was nothing left for me there, but it was the only place I had. There was no choice but to go back.
I'm still bad luck and nothing's about to change that.
It's a rare relief being alone, but that's how I found myself this morning. The others are out, probably raiding a vending machine. I don't have the motivation to do crimes any more, instead planning more complex ones for the boys to carry out.
Anyway, this morning, when I'd had a wander around the base to check they were really gone, I walk back to my room and there he is. Sitting by my desk in that ridiculous yellow costume of his, orange hair slicked back, mouth pulled into a half-cocked grin. And in his hands is MY NOTEBOOK.
I raise my arms, fingers crackling with pink energy, before I recalled what happened last time I tried hexing him in my room and the disastrous consequences. Perhaps not the best approach.
"Get out of my room." I tell him bluntly. He looks up, still grinning like Mr Happy from Happy Land who'd just won the lottery and bought a puppy.
"Hey Jinx!" is his reply as he suddenly appears right in front of my face in an orange blur.
"Get out of my room," I repeat, although I realise he isn't going to.
He pouts, eyes twinkling. "Aww, but I wanted to show you something!"
I sigh, folding my arms. "What?"
"Just a moment!" He disappears briefly only to reappear a second later, arms spread out. "What do you think?"
"What do I think of what?" I ask before I notice.
…Oh.
"Why," I say, rubbing my head, "are you wearing green?" It's the same costume. Same lightning bold design, same silly boots… but all in green.
"Because," he begins replying but stops suddenly. Then he steps forward, and pinches my arm.
"Hey, what was that for?" I ask, eyes narrowing.
"Because you're not wearing green."
"Well observed. Are you going to tell me why you are?"
He laughs and shakes his head. "It's St Patrick's Day! It's tradition!"
Of course. Because that makes so much sense.
"So what, you've decided to dress up as a hyperactive shamrock?"
He snortes. "Ha, good one. Now come on, we're going out!"
"Oh no we're not." I pull my arm away before he can grab it. "Why do you think I would just randomly go out with you?"
"Aw, it'll be fun!"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to."
"Why?"
Doesn't this guy ever let up?
"Because I don't want to!" I repeat, snarling. "Can't you get that through your thick head? Or is the green obstructing your ear canals?"
His shoulder droop. "But I got us matching hats!"
Matching what?
Suddenly he's holding two hats. Tall and floppy, they're bright green with a black strip and a felt buckle. They look a little like leprechaun hats; even more reason not to wear it.
"There is no way that thing is going anywhere near my head."
Too late. He's already pulled my hair bands out and jammed the hideous thing on me. He also produces a matching scarf and long coat, both of which he throws around my shoulders.
I look at him incredulously. "You're not going to leave me alone, are you?" I ask, the reality of the situation finally dawning.
"Nope." He has an impish grin.
I sigh, beaten. There's only one way to get him to go, and that's to play along with his silly game. Showing the displeasure clearly on my face, I slip on the coat and scarf.
"Great! Let's go!" He grasps my arm and leads me out of the base. Outside, the day is crisp and cold, and I'm suddenly glad of the coat. My cheeks burn in embarrassment. Some villain I am, waltzing around outside in this ridiculous get up with a Titan. If the others could see me now…
It is actually rather pleasant, walking around with Kid Flash; strolling down an empty street towards the town, cloudless sky above, no noise but the chirping of wildlife and an upbeat violin in the distance. It all changes once we reach the heart of Steel City.
Green. Green everywhere. And people, loads of them, milling around. Traditional folk music is playing on every corner; vendors are selling emerald drinks in tall, plastic cups. However, despite the sheer number of civilians, no one seems to recognise me. Maybe it's the stupid hat covering my hair and face, or the long coat. Or maybe they're all wowed by the fact I'm on the arm of Kid Flash.
Suddenly, he steers me sharply to the left and into a small bakery. "Jinx, you have to try these cookies! They're amazing," he says, pointing to a tray of very green cookies beneath the glass counter top. The woman at the till happily scoops a few into a paper bag and hands them over.
"On the house, just this once," she says with a kind smile. Looks like it's not just criminals who get free stuff… He takes a cookie out of the bag and shoves the whole thing in his mouth, and then pulls out another to offer it to me. It turns out to be clover-shaped with piped green icing. And surprisingly delicious, I realise as I cautiously chew it.
Munching the rest of the confectionary, we go to the park. It's weird seeing Kid Flash walk at a normal pace, and I wonder if he finds it frustrating or boring to have to go the same speed as the rest of us. However, he seems content enough as we sit down on a bench next to a pond.
Other people are milling around, playing fetch with their dogs or just ambling and chatting. It's all so… normal. Although I hate to admit it, I can't help but feel slightly envious of these people, allowed to live a normal life, doing normal things. Go to school, make friends, meet someone to marry, get a dog, walk through the park… all without worry. It's always been just out of my reach.
My thoughts are interrupted by a young girl. She looks to be about ten, wearing a green skirt with pleats and a white blouse. Behind her is a woman who can only be her mother, sharing the same dark hair and eyes.
"Top of the morning to you both!" she chirps in an accent. Irish, I think. Patchy, but not a bad attempt. Kid Flash returns the sentiment in a very flawed accent. The mother and daughter move on to find someone else to greet.
"Does that happen every year?" I ask when they had gone.
"Well, I guess. Happens to me every day."
"People come up to you and say 'top of the morning' in an Irish accent every day?"
He laughs, adjusting his hat which is slipping over his eyes. "Well, not exactly! But lots of people say hi when I'm in uniform. Just another perk of being a hero!" He grins. I sink in my seat.
"Are you trying to convert me again?"
"Of course," he replies. "And I'm not going to give up."
"You should. It's a lost cause. I'm a lost cause." I look away, staring at my stripy tights sticking out from the green coat as I curl my toes in my boots. Kid Flash gently takes my hand in his. From the corner of my eye I see him duck his head to try and look at my face.
"I don't think you're a lost cause," he said softly. "That's why I won't give up. There's good in you, I know it. Why else would you have let me escape from Madame Rouge?"
Did he have to bring that up?
"That wasn't goodness," I snap. "That was spite. That was disliking Madame Rouge more than I dislike you. I'm not good. I'm bad."
"Really? Because you haven't been committing many crimes recently." I catch myself staring at him, his blue eyes boring into mine.
"How do you-"
"I've been keeping an eye on H.I.V.E. Five activity." He chuckles uneasily and draws back, rubbing the back of his neck. "I realise that sounds a little stalkerish."
It is a little. But at the same time it's almost comforting, his keeping an eye over me. Like the guardian angel I didn't want.
"Yeah, well, that's because I haven't been able to do that stuff lately." I can't believe I'm telling him this. "I don't know why, but I just can't…bring myself to." I press my lips together and quickly add, "I still plan them, though."
"I'm sure." He smiles that easy-going smile of his again and looks out over the water. It ripples slightly in the light breeze. "Have you ever thought about going good?" He asks after a few silent seconds.
I hesitate before answering. "Yeah." It's the truth. The thought has crossed my mind. "But then I remember that they'd never accept me."
"I'll make them!" He's looking at me again, but I keep my gaze firmly ahead, watching a duck glide slowly over the pond.
"Mm-hmm, sure."
Like that'll ever happen. Not even Kid Flash's persistence could break the stubborn traffic light's resolve.
"Come on, Jinx!" And just like that he's up again, tugging on my arm until I get to my feet as well. As soon as I'm standing he starts skipping out of the park, dragging my behind him. "There's a place that does these super cool milkshakes today. They're mint, I think, and bright green with a load of whipped cream on top."
Amazingly, I don't jerk away, even when he loops his arm around mine and slows down to walk by my side.
I cannot believe my day so far. I let myself get taken out by a Titan, I admit to him that I can't do crimes, that I've thought about changing sides, and now I'm walking arm in arm like some loved-up teenager.
Ridiculous.
But, as the morning sun sends glimmering shards of light over the joyful city, I can't help but lay my head on his shoulder, and I hear him sigh with contentment.
Maybe my luck really can change.
Apparently it was 5.30pm when I finished this chapter for the first time in 2009. About eight years later it's nearly midnight and I'm not even sleepy. This is what being a student does to you. Also the English weather is proper going for it so I couldn't sleep if I wanted to.