Teen Titans

New Kids on the Block

Chapter 4

Rose Interrogated

A/N: Wow, it's been awhile since I've touched this beast! To anyone who was actually following this with some degree of interest, I do apologize! Life got busy for me during my last few years at university and any creative writing took a bit of a back burner. Now that I've finished up my schooling, I have a bit more free time on my hands and I'll try to upload a chapter every couple of weeks. I'm also going to be picking up a few other stories that I've been meaning to finish (specifically The New Arrival, a Star Wars story set around the time of the Jedi Academy games), so if that's your thing, expect some new chapters there as well… well… at least after a reworking of the few chapters that are currently up there…. (plus needing to remember things about the characters not even on paper yet… sigh…) Anyways, here's the newest chapter of THIS story.

The door closing behind Rose could never had sounded more ominous. Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she heard her father behind her clear his throat. "Did school decide to extend their hours for the seniors?" Xavier asked, eyes narrowed, arms crossed across his broad chest.

"I… umm… well, you see…" Rose stuttered, staring down at the tile floor.

"You know you're on probation right now, young lady!" Xavier said with a sigh. "I suppose this is your mother's rebellious side rearing its ugly head. Either way, we're going to sit down and have a chat about this. Living room. March." He pointed towards the room to their left and waited until Rose had seated herself on the couch before he went upstairs to get Kori. "She's finally home."

Kori looked at the reflection of her husband in the mirror of her vanity while she finished running a hairbrush through her long, fiery red hair. "I really think you're being a bit too hard on her, X. She's a teenager. Let her live a little." She turned around, her green eyes flashing with a youthful vigor.

Xavier shook his head firmly. "No Kori, we discussed this. The children need to learn that when rules are broken, there are consequences."

"You're right – there are consequences and I freely admit that, but at the same time, I think your expectations are a bit too tough." She rose, crossing the room swiftly, planted a quick kiss on her husband's cheek on her way downstairs to find Rose and Mary sitting quietly on the black leather sofa. "So, out with it," Kori said after making sure Xavier was within earshot. "Where were you off gallivanting tonight?"

"I was invited to hang with Tony and Elisa over at Phoenix's place after class got out," Rose said quietly. "Once Mrs. Spitfire got home, we were all invited to stay for dinner, and we got to chatting. I meant to be home before now, but we just honestly lost track of time." She glanced at her stepfather, hoping to get some sort of reprieve for at least socializing with his coworker's family. She was met with a stony gaze that rivaled the faces on Mount Rushmore. "It won't happen again."

Before Xavier could say a word, Kori smiled. "I think that's nice that you're making an effort to get to know the new family. I'm sure they are very grateful to have made some friends so quickly. I know it can be a bother moving to a new town, especially with teenagers in tow." She too glanced at Xavier before continuing. "However, we did specifically tell you to be home by 9:30 on school nights and seeing as it's almost 11:00, there is a matter of punishment to discuss."

"But Mom…"

"No buts, young lady," her stepfather replied firmly. "You're already in trouble for… well, you know what. We set that curfew in place to make sure you avoided being put in that predicament again, at least while things boil over. We made it clear that these curfews were to be followed. Seeing as this was a small breach of contract, AND how you were with the Spitfires, your additional punishment is simply staying home for the weekend."

Mary spoke up now, having remained quiet for the entire situation. "Dad, you know the staff barbeque is this weekend, right? Both Rose and I signed up to help for most of the day."

"Right! I honestly forgot you two volunteered for that." Xavier rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose we'll have to push your additional punishment back a week then. Now… off to bed with both of you. You've got class in the morning."

The girls quietly exited the room and went up to their shared bedroom. It was a fairly large space, giving each girl enough room for a desk, their bed, and a small walk-in closet. Rose had her half decorated in darker colors, reds mingling with purples, coppers and blues, while Mary chose to embrace the lighter side of the palette by using pinks, light blues and purples. "Sooo… details. Now." Mary had plopped onto her bed and began casually changing into her pajamas.

"Details? About what?" Rose asked, tossing her outfit into the nearby laundry hamper with a soft thump and after wriggling into her own set of pajamas, climbed into her bed and got comfortable.

"Phoenix, duh!" Mary's eye sparkled with mischief as she wiggled her eyebrows. "You don't just spend an entire day with a new guy and NOT tell me why!"

Rose rolled her eyes. "You're such a gossip. Geeze," she sighed, but propped herself up on her elbows. "He's fine on my first impressions. I mean, you obviously know he put a beating into Rob. Anyone who stands up to that asshole gets a massive point boost. He did manage to beat me in dodgeball today though…"

"HE BEAT YOU IN DODGEBALL?!" Mary shrieked, launching herself forward to the edge of the bed, tucking her legs underneath her. "Is that even possible? I mean… we have Mom's reflexes and Dad's natural ability for reading people…"

"I don't understand it either! That's one of the reasons I went to hang out after school, so I could try and get a better read on him. I didn't get anything except for a killer jam session – speaking of which, his bedroom is a music studio – and some pizza with his mom, who was as tight lipped as a CIA agent on a sting." Rose grunted quietly to herself. "I'll find out about your story yet Phoenix Spitfire… mark my words…"

"Rose has got a cruuuush," Mary playfully sing-songed before adopting the darker tones of her sister's voice. "Oh Phoenix, thou art a true work of art! The sight of…"

Rose quickly interrupted her sister's Shakespearean soliloquy. "Oh shut up and go to bed already!" she laughed, tossing one of her decorative pillows across the room into her sister's face with a soft rush of air. Mary went quiet, her mouth agape for a split second before another decorative pillow launched across the space between the beds with lightning speed. Before long, the two sisters were involved in an all out pillow fight, laughter drifting throughout the hallway.

"GIRLS!" Kori hollered from the lower lobby. "SCHOOL NIGHT! SLEEP PLEASE!" When the room had sufficiently quieted to her liking, she returned to the sitting room and flopped into the leather chair nearby the window. Xavier had take up residence on the couch opposite her, a thick book in his hands and a glass of red wine sitting on the end table. "So, don't you think we're being a little TOO hard on them?" she asked after a minute of silence.

Xavier's gaze never left the pages of his book as he replied. "No. They have responsibilities and should be required to uphold them, especially considering the circumstances. Do you remember how much paperwork I had to go through?"

"Regardless of your paperwork, it was an honest-" Kori didn't get a chance to finish her thought.

"Those children are blessed, or cursed depending on your standpoint, with special gifts not everyone in Jump City is prepared to have re-appear. It's been years since the Titans were around, Kori. Until such a time that their gifts are needed, I would prefer to have my children not be labeled as freaks of nature." Xavier's book closed with a sharp snap as he finished his argument. "You know damn well how much I am not willing to budge on this."

"Fine," Kori sighed and stared out the window, defeated once again. "I just still think they shouldn't be punished for something they are, something beyond their control. You knew what you were getting into when you married me Xavier." She looked up to find her husband placing his untouched glass of wine on the table beside her. "I'll ever stop asking." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before taking a small sip of the dark red wine, savoring the flavors of cherry and plum.

"And I will continue to give the same answer, dear," Xavier said with a small shrug. "Are all you Tameranians so stubborn?"

"Just as stubborn, if not more so, than some of you Earthlings," she teased, her green eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I'm glad your sister isn't here. I'd be in real trouble then." Just then, the clock chimed in the hallway – 11 PM. "I'm going to head to bed. I start late tomorrow, but I think I'm going to head out early for my morning run. Maybe we'll have a chance to actually get breakfast together for a change."

Kori smiled, taking another sip of wine. "I'd like that. It's been awhile since we've had that luxury. Any special requests?"

Xavier gave Kori a gentle kiss on her forehead and murmured, "Just your company will be fine. Coffee, a bagel and an amazing wife should keep any man happy."

"Oh stop it, you!" Kori giggled, giving him a playful slap. "Always the romantic. Get to bed, Mr. Red. I'll be up shortly." With one final kiss, she gently pushed him out the door and sat back into her chair to finish her wine as the moon glowed gently above.