This is Narroch here once again to bring you the next sin in Seven! Pride played by our favorite Speedy. "The agile archer with an unstoppable arsenal of energy arrows!" as Control Freak eloquently put it.

Yes, I wrote this. I don't know how I did it. It was painful. Usually when I write, things just come out easily and they flow…but that was not so with Pride. I was playing Red Light-Green Light with this chapter for a long time, but I finally finished it. All for you guys!

So without anymore annoying ANs, enjoy…

Seven

Pride - Speedy

I am so proud of this team.

So proud of the team we made, that I made.

It was unbelievably hard at first. Getting everyone together, finding a base, building said base, working out the 'teamwork' aspect of this newborn squad, deciding who would fill the role of leader.

And even after all that work, still not getting the recognition we deserve; always dragging behind the reputation of the original Teen Titans.

I have even been mistaken for Robin. That cocky little spiky haired kid.

Aqualad loves to bring that identity challenged comment up at all the wrong times.

I don't know what gave them the idea, since I am much better looking than Robin to begin with. But it still burns.

The citizens don't know us, other superheroes don't know us, and hell, not even the villains acknowledge us.

We are too small, too new, and too weak to deserve recognition.

But I know it won't stay that way forever. The original Teen Titans were virtually unknown when they started the team gig as well and already, the news of our victory over Control Freak while guarding their turf is spreading.

We are growing, getting stronger, more organized.

And that is why I am proud. We were able to stick out the worst of it; we never gave up or retreated even when our team was tested past our limits and expectations.

Like being invaded by the Hive within a few hours of officially opening up for superhero business.

Being forced to fight against our comrade.

A lesser hero would have buckled under the pressure.

But we pulled through, saved the day; and hey, my hair even stayed in place!

They do criticize me for that – they call me vain, conceited, proud.

Especially Mas y Menos. Even though I don't understand their exact words, the general meaning crosses the language barrier loud and clear with their laughing and mocking.

But I know I look good, and I like to look good, and I don't see what's so wrong about fixing my hair.

As an up-and-coming team, I think it's important for us to look sharp; who wants to be saved by a bunch of scruffy teens in stained T-shirts and baggy jeans?

Look at the Teen Titans; the originals. They all look great – you know Cyborg would never go out if his metal wasn't gleaming, and Robin would never go out without every spike of hair exactly in place, and Beast Boy always has his official Doom Patrol outfit that fits like a second skin, and those two chicks…

How will we ever be taken seriously if we don't present ourselves the way they do?

They don't just have the skill.

They have the look.

So of course I always try to emulate that.

For professionalism's sake.

And if you look at it like that, then appearance is everything.

So that is why I spend hours preening in the mirror. Why I wake up early to shower, shave; apply lotion, anti acne, and that smooth scented body spray.

Gotta smell good for the girls I save.

Even though it doesn't save me from Bumblebee's fury when I cut into her bathroom time.

It figures that someone who could withstand Brother Blood's mind control powers wouldn't be swayed by the advertised 'manly' scent.

I did think that as a female, she would appreciate what I go through to look my best.

But she is as bad as the rest of them, and her jabs are always more biting than the others. Brutally honesty edged with that spunky attitude of hers.

As if she has the right to say anything with those balloons on her head. Her fashion sense is hopelessly stuck in the 70s…

And yet, even with those high maintenance afros she's got, I am still the one who spends all the time in the mirror.

They act as if it is a bad thing, as if there are better things to do.

But this world is built on appearances, and if you don't look good, then you are ignored.

Worthless.

And that is what I want to avoid. So I will keep preening, and being my arrogant beautiful self.

Even if beauty is only skin deep, skin is the only thing you see of a hero, and even that is covered with a mask.

So I have to work hard to show who I am;

Who I want to be.

Proud.

Wow, that was fun right? Yeah, I admit it's not my best work, since Speedy is such a shallow character it was hard to get anything profound out of him. But, I am still proud of it.

Uh oh, gotta be careful not to be too proud. Heh heh...

Anyone ever see those Tag body spray commercials with the girls tackling any guy who puts it on? Yeah, Speedy probably wants to smell like that.

And I am digressing quite rapidly, better stop while I'm ahead…

Well, next chapter will be coming soon from RobinRocks, so look forward to it!

Oh and leave a review! They keep us going!