Thank you so much to everyone who favorited, followed and reviewed my story (even that anon that left a four review long story). I was surprised to get any responses at all, especially so quick, so I worked super fast to finish and edit this chapter! As a little note, theres a perspective shift in the beginning that somehow made sense to me yesterday, but I'm sick and too lazy to completely rewrite those few paragraphs, so sorry! I hope you like it and please review!
We have arrived at a large, gaudy building in the shape of a "T", what I assume is the tower they were referring to earlier. Still cuffed, the robotic one leads me into a classic interrogation room with nothing but three steal walls, a table, a pitcher of water and a large mirror taking up the majority of the fourth wall. I am released from the handcuffs and momentarily left alone in the room.
The first thing I do is analyze. The steel walls were obviously designed to keep someone stronger than me from breaking out, so a means of escape would not likely be present through them. The table, though sturdy, would probably not withstand the impact if I were to try to break the mirror. The mirror is not even a real mirror, but one way glass, evident in the fact that I can touch my own reflection when doing the fingernail test. If one puts their finger nail against a regular mirror, there will be a gap between the actual nail and its mirror image. If there is no gap, it is most likely a window for observation.
The only realistic means of escape would be to manipulate the water into a weapon, either cutting the door or the mirror/window. This, however, does not eliminate the threat of the five young adults keeping me hostage. Therefor I decide to shift my focus away from escape and towards manipulation. My only chance of freedom is to make these strangers believe I am no actual threat. Theres only one way to do that.
I reach into my pocket for the plastic cylinder of supplements and remove it discreetly, not lifting it above the table. I take one out, close the container and slip it into my pocket. With my other hand, the one not holding the pill, I poor myself a glass of water, calmly taking a sip. Then I move as if I am scratching my nose, popping the pill in my mouth with only my thumb and pinky.
Behind the screen, the Titans are observing Mirabelle's actions, from her carefully taking in the details of the room, to checking the mirror, to drinking her water.
"This girl is crazy, man," Cyborg sighs. He is taking a constant vital check with his bionic eye so as to sense any dishonesty when she is being interrogated. "It's as if she aint worried at all! Her heart rate is normal and shes not even sweating, no shifty eye movement, no fidgeting. She is cool as a cucumber in there."
"Well, lets see if she can stay so cool when were asking her questions," Robin answers, scratching his chin. "Something about her seems off."
"Perhaps she is not the villain at all?" Starfire chimes in hopefully, floating a foot above the ground.
"Theres only one way to find out." With an air of confidence, Robin slips out of the Observation unit and heads to the Interrogation Room.
One sharp knock on the door is Maribelle's only warning as Robin enters the room, swiftly pulling out the chair on the opposite end of the table and taking a seat. Maribelle watches dully as Robin opens up a file he brought in and spreads the scant few papers within across the table.
"May I begin by asking your name?" Robin asks, formally.
"Only if I may receive a name in exchange," Maribelle responds coolly.
Robin looks her in the eye, unused to not being recognized, before stating, "I am Robin, leader and founder of the Teen Titans, a team of super humans whose goal is to keep Jump City and all of its inhabitants safe."
Maribelle maintains the eye contact while mimicking his confidence, "I am Maribelle Moore, fellow super human, if I can even be considered that."
Robin stares at her, dumbfounded not only by her response but her demeanor as a whole. He had never faced a villain this calm and collected before, especially one with no underlying desire to gain respect or attention. Quickly, he regains his composure and begins to ask her basic questions.
"Where are you from?"
"Jump City."
"Do you have family?"
"Only my father."
"Do you have any illnesses?"
This question gives Maribelle slight pause, as she is unsure if her… condition quite counts as an illness. She sighed, "I suppose, but you will find out about that soon enough."
Robin stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and moving on. "When is your birthday?"
"April 21, 2014."
Robin pauses in his writing, not sure if he had heard her right. He looks up at her, about to ask her to repeat the answer when he notices her pupils are extremely dilated and that she is staring off into space. Suddenly his communicator beeps and his screen lights up with the image of Cyborg.
"She just shifted like crazy. Her heart is racing but her respirations are low, whats happenin', man?"
Maribelle gasps, causing Robin to flinch and turn to her ready to defend himself, but she is still just sitting in her chair. Slightly dazed, she looks around the room as if she has never seen it before, then she stares at him.
She is analyzing him.
Spiky black hair, mask over eyes, cape, colorful suit, belt with too many compartments, confident stance, steel toed boots, sharp jaw, lips parted over perfectly white teeth, worry lines on side of mouth and between eyebrows. All the unnecessary details she had not noticed earlier.
She smiles warmly at him before apologizing, "Sorry if I was being a little rude earlier."
Everything about her had changed. Her voice was softer, her face more expressive, her posture more relaxed.
Robin clears his throat before carefully posing his question. "Could you, perhaps, explain what just happened?"
She laughs lightly, almost melodically, "Oh, that? That was just my supplement kicking in." Noticing his questioning stare, she sighs. "Maybe you should invite the rest of your friends out from behind that window so I can explain it to all of you."
He sheepishly smiles at her, not expecting to be caught, before turning and waving his hand at the mirror, gesturing for the rest of the team to come in. They all gather around the table and she explains her story, paying attention to all of the teams reactions. She pays special attention, however, to the one who introduces himself as Beast Boy. He seemed completely different from how he was when he was ready to battle, and she still doesn't understand him.
"So basically, Dr. Avidi decided I was ready to run a little errand for him, and you know the rest."
The team shifts uncomfortably and glances at each other and then Robin. Cyborg sensed no dishonesty and Raven sensed no ill will or negative emotions, just confusion and a small hint of sadness, throughout her story telling.
"So you did not rob the building of finances for your own benefit?" Starfire inquires innocently.
Mirabelle looks at her, brows furrowed, shocked at the question. "No. It is was what Dr. Avidi told me to do."
"But you did not try to deny his request?"
"How could I? Dr. Avidi is the only person Ive ever known, he's my father. Beyond that, losing him isn't just losing my only family, its losing myself." Mirabelle looks away, into the corner of the room. She really had no choice, not that she had given it much thought while in her.. other state of mind.
"What do you mean?" Starfire questions further, not making the connection. Luckily for her, Cyborg decides chime in to explain.
"She needs the supplements, remember Star? Otherwise she will be like how she was when we first brought her here."
Everyone looks back at Mirabelle, who for once would not make eye contact, and then at Robin.
"Demonstrate your power."
Everyone in the room stills, the silence deafening in the confined space. Mirabelle's eyes snap up to Robins, then Beast Boys. Beast Boy seems shocked not only by the request his leader had made, but the eye contact Mirabelle had made with him.
Slowly, she stands and reaches for the pitcher of water. Emptying its contents onto the table, she holds the pitcher in one hand while holding the other over the puddle she had created. The air hums with new energy as the water lifts and forms a ball a few inches over the table, under Mirabelle's palm. Suddenly, she tosses the pitcher in the air with one hand and cuts the air with her other hand. The water forms a thin blade and slices straight through the pitcher in less than a second. Not only that, but Mirabelle keeps her hand extended after swinging it, manipulating the water to catch the two halves of the pitcher. Then, with just movements from her fingers, she makes the water surround the pitcher, freeze, and shatter. Tiny shards of ice and glass rain onto the table as everyone stares at Mirabelle, dumbfounded by her power and control. To finish off her little performance, Mirabelle separates the water from the shards of glass, filling her cup and taking a sip.
The team continues to stare at her while she retakes her seat, waiting for some sort of reaction. The first one to speak is Beast Boy.
"Dude, that was crazy! She was like swshh and the pitcher was like kapow and then it was like keehrshh!"
Beast Boy's wild gestures and sound effects make Mirabelle laugh, holding her side as she leans against the table. Her laughter seems to calm the tension the rest of the team had been feeling, wondering if she was going to be a bigger threat than anticipated. Everyone looks to Robin for the next course of action. He notices this and stands, clearing his throat. "Well, Titans, theres only one thing left to do," Robin says calmly as he steps around the table and extends his hand. "Mirabelle Moore, I want you to join the team."