Once again I do not own Teen Titans. Hope it makes sense and hope you enjoy.
Chapter 3: Reflections
A girl with hazel blue-violet rimmed eyes walks alone down the streets of downtown Jump City. She cannot remember the last time she had a decent meal. She is certain that stale bread, half opened cream cheese, water from a warm bottle, and a too ripe apple is not proper food. Needless to say the delicious aromas of the corner store bakery is enough to drive her crazy. Of course she is discouraged from entering due to the suspicious, slightly bewildered gazes she receives from the customers inside.
She could not help feeling jealous. The people ride in their fancy cars and sharp looking suits, and stuff their faces with expensive food; while others starved on the streets not five feet from them. Did no one care about the homeless ex-executive businessman waiting in a Soup Kitchen line because his house was foreclosed? The elder couple kicked out of their senior citizen home because it lost all its funding, so now they have nowhere to go. Or the mother running away from an unsupportive family, lost her job to overseas labor outsourcing, and now must raise her two kids on the streets? No one would think twice about them or her; the starving girl with no memories.
"Is it my fault I have no memories of myself before I came to this city? Contemplating the plight of the less fortunate will not put food in my stomach so what do I do? I doubt the bakery will give free handouts just because hungry girls ask for it. I would wash as many dishes as they want. Can anyone give me some food that is not half rotten or that came from a trash can?"
Her headache did not help matters either. The gift of sensing what people were feeling at any given moment was a blessing and a curse. It was helpful in lowering people's defenses around her. She looked dazed with tattered sea foam green t-shirt, dark blue jeans with holes, and sneakers with flapping soles. Others on the streets did ignore her and some cast sympathetic glances, but most continued on their way.
Before she could walk to the end of the block she ducks into a side alleyway. Considering she was new to the neighborhood certain common occurrences would be quite bizarre to her. Seeing by standers fleeing for their lives from a short boy with blonde hair, a green-black outfit, and a silver jet pack on his back was odd. Unfamiliar names screech past her ears as she tries to concentrate on what the boy is doing at the bank. It seems obvious that the boy is robbing the bank. However the situation took another odd turn when a chubby older man with a short gray coat, brown pants, dirty orange hair, and she guessed is a tiny remote twirled around the frightened crowd. The last stranger flies over her head in a bright flash of light. The group of bank robbers, she does not know what else to call them, laugh with glee as they continue their mayhem.
"If I did not know better I would think I was in the middle of a video game. I think it is time for me to make a quick exit, stage right."
However before she could make her escape she is trampled by a stampede of people. Police sirens blare in her ears as they screech to a stop in front of the bank. The officers open fire on the crooks but have to stop when electrical sparks shoot from their cars and some of the cars explode. The man shooting electricity fires bolts next to the curly pink head and she screams.
"Oh lookie here boys I found a lost goody-goody. Do you think she wants some money? Maybe daddy forgot her allowance. Or maybe mommy cut her credit card because she over charged her cell phone bill. Oh well no matter, say good night sweet heart."
After the little speech from Mr. Lightshow she is forced to run for her life from the bolts. Unfortunate her sprint brought her in the path of the officers shooting their laser guns and in the middle of the Mr. Couch-Potato with the remote that made video games come to life. While over her head the Trigger Happy Shorty bombards the surrounding stores and homes with machine gun fire from his jet pack. As luck would have it she escapes the bolts and gun fire through a surprising force.
With no prior warning a rainbow-colored whirlwind surrounds the girl and sort of carries her away. Mr. Lightshow and Mr. Couch-Potato stare in wonder as she lifts herself in the air. Shorty with the jet pack growls about her being a snot-munching Titan and shots a missile at her whirlwind. The resulting explosion sends her flying into a nearby construction site. Now that she is in complete disarray and absolute disorientation she struggles to catch her breath.
"I should be grateful I landed on the plastic and not on the wooden floor boards. Well I should have known breakfast was going to be a near disaster, but I never thought it would be this bad. Maybe I will get a chance to swipe an unsuspecting worker's lunch box. If I do not fall into a coma before I get to the lunch."
She coughs out the dust trying to choke her lungs. She wipes away the dust on her shirt and jeans and realizes what good would that do? The last time she had a shower was… she could not remember. Her hair is a mess, her legs are torn and scratched up, and she is pretty sure the sticky red liquid on her forehead is not paint.
The sounds of the construction do not help her growing migraine. With blurry eyesight, ringing ears, and wobbled steps she hopes she can find a place to rest before she ends up taking a nap in a cement mixer. Under the noise and clatter of the workers a quiet voice whispers to her. She did not have many other options but follow the voice. The last thing she needed was a worker or the foreman asking questions about her non-existent parents or family. Heck the only thing about her past she remembered was her name.
"Now I know I must be hallucinating because I'm following voices in my head. I am so tired. I am so hungry. I am so … lost. Oh no lost is the last thing I need to be today. Heaven help me I am such a klutz." Unsure of where this mystery voice is taking her she follows nonetheless. Out of nowhere a delicious aroma hits her nose. She clutches her stomach in despair. Now is not the time to get hopes up about imaginary foods that her delirious mind could come up with.
"Hello my dear. I saw your little wind show with those three goons. I must say I am quite impressed. You remind of another young girl I once knew. Would you like something to eat? I assure you it is not poisoned or rotten or have any mind controlling agents inside."
The deep hypnotic voice leads her to an abandoned part of the site. A gentle breeze flows through the unfinished building frames. To her heart's delight the food was not an illusion. She stumbles towards the metal container filled with all kinds of goodies. Honey ham with gravy, fresh salad topped with apricots and strawberries, a soup can filled with cool water, baked beans, a veggie burger on a wheat bun and even buttery fresh baked rolls. Her mouth drooled at the feast. Her outstretched hand goes for the roll before she stops herself.
"You should know sir I do not have any money to pay for this. But if you are willing to share your dinner with a street urchin like myself, I am more than willing to work to pay you back every cent. If you want I can eat the burger and one of the buns and you can fill the soup lid with water and I'll be on my way."
The deep voice spoke again. She falls on her butt because until this moment she had not seen the person she was talking to. Now she saw that the man was covered in black body armor from head to toe except for the orange on the right side surrounding his right eye. Covering her mouth with her hands she scoots away from the man. For the second time today she is engulfed in a rainbow of colors. After the onslaught of emotions pouring from the man he places his hand on her right knee.
"Now, now there is no need to get excited. You are not in any danger from me. You do not have to worry about paying back this meal. And before you ask, yes I did pay for this little feast. I do not typically venture the city during the day but I had a feeling I would be meeting someone special today. So please do eat the lunch; I admit it is too much for me and you are near starving. I insist you do, Kiara."
Overcome with shock she means to ask, "What do you want and how do you know my name?" All that came out of her mouth is a breathy whisper. The man's one visible eye curls up in a smile. He picks up a roll and places it in her left hand. She stares back and forth between the man and the roll. Hunger rules out her reflex to cower in a hole and scarf down her meal. She nibbles on the roll like a squirrel as the man sits back with the lunch box in between them.
The overwhelming rush of emotions and thoughts blinded her. She could not make sense of the images and feelings flashing behind her eyes as she glimpses at this man's memories. She squishes her bakery roll as numerous people whip in a blur through her mind. These images last a full six minutes before they slow down. How could one man have such a secretive past? Yes the Titans were the most interesting of his memories but as far as his own personal life; she might as well have been trying to stop a tidal wave with a leaf. What Kiara thought would be the most interesting things to know about this Slade person were blocked by a mental wall so strong; she would have better luck swimming up a waterfall.
"Did you enjoy your little trip down memory lane?"
His voice makes her tremble. No wonder the Titans in particular Robin were so conflicted in dealing with this man. Why would Robin hate being his apprentice and Terra would revel in it instead? She could understand why Beast Boy hated him, if it was not for him Terra may never had left them to end up taking over the city and she guessed getting amnesia in the process. What did he have in store for Raven? The only ones that seem safe from his calculating, manipulative schemes are Starfire, Blackfire, and now Terra-because she has no memories.
"How did I do that whirly wind thing earlier?" Kiara figures it would better to ask something that did not relate to the Titans. As a feeble attempt to hold on to whatever sanity she may have left. He smiled again offering her the salad. Kiara felt too hungry and weak to argue with the man about the meal anymore.
"That is an excellent question, my dear. The answer would take quite a while to explain. I can show you how you created that whirly wind as you so put it and much more. But that would require you to trust me and be willing to learn from me. Do you think you can do that Kiara?"
"How should I know? I did not even know super-powered teenagers existed until this moment. I don't even remember how I got to this city in the first place! Now I'm supposed to believe that you go searching the alleys and underbelly of the city for prospective new apprentices? Forgive me for being skeptical of your little plan. I suppose you would want me to eliminate the Titans in exchange for training, the meals, and the more than likely stealing that is involved. Am I right, Mr. Slade?"
Slade slides closer to her wrapping his arm around her shoulder. For a moment she allows herself to be comforted by the warmth; before she recalls what he was capable of. She shrugs away from; him crosses her arms, and stands on unsteady legs. He looks at her with an amused expression. What was he waiting for? It is as if he already knows I'm going to come with him so I'll just wait for her to say it. Well he is in for a rude surprise, Kiara thought as she turns on the tips of her toes to walk away.
"You know where that road leads Kiara. You know what is out there and you do not want that. I'm just asking you to trust me. I know you have a special gift. I would be honored if you let me train you to reach your… full potential. For your information, I am not waging a war against all that is good. But will you at least consider this? If you walk away now where will you go Kiara?"
Kiara has a lot to think about. This decision would impact her life in ways she could not yet imagine. It was hard to not think about his strength, his hypnotic voice, or the powerful currents that rolled off of him in waves. His whole demeanor emanated power and mystery. Against all reasonable odds could there be good in such devious man? She is beginning to believe she is insane to even try looking in the first place. Then again who is she to give up the chance to fly?
"What is my first assignment Sensei?"
Author's note: This may be a confusing chapter given what happened in the last chapter. My original plan was to give a background on the mystery girl. She will be paired with our favorite masked man from the series for the remainder of the story, but others will come into the picture. This was supposed to happen earlier in the day, when Blackfire was giving Terra a tour. She was wandering the streets, runs into trouble, and gets saved. Because after-words we go back to the Titans; after they meet mystery girl and have to deal with Blackfire's shackle dilemma.