Chapter Six: And So It Begins
Disclaimer: I own Teen Titans, if only in my mind.
Flying back to their Tower was hard—if only because it was so easy. Squinting against the setting sun, I thought about the fact that it was so easy, solely because of Slade's training. He wasn't a very encouraging person, but he did teach me everything I know. For some reason I'm nervous now, now that I can see the imposing steel and glass structure that makes up their home.
I fly to the bottom, sitting cross-legged on my rocky platform as I try to decide what to do. Unbidden, Slade's words came to my mind.
"Ostentatious, really. One should never flaunt their occupation or location, especially not with such an elaborate building."
I nodded and remained standing while Slade pressed several more keys on the keyboard.
"Do you even know what ostentatious means, Terra?" He asked in a condescending tone, "Of course you don't."
I tried to keep from glaring at him, I really did.
"It means overly showy or elaborate. Sir," I added, looking at him with absolutely no expression.
Slade's eye widened behind the mask.
"Interesting," he said, "Perhaps your vocabulary is not as defunct as I once thought."
I let a smile cross my lips.
"I try not to be ostentatious, Slade."
"Oww!" I gasped, starting as a bump on the head interrupted my thoughts. The volleyball bounced harmlessly to the ground and I picked it up. They must be on the roof or somethi—
"Aww, man Raven! There goes our only ball!" A familiar voice said.
My heart lurched to my throat in that instant and I picked up the ball, suddenly as nervous as if I were about to go onstage for a play. In a way I was. Bumping the ball back up to the roof, I waited a few seconds and smiled confidently, remembering that Slade was my ally and with him I couldn't lose.
"So who's team am I on?"
Everything from there was a blur. I endured bone-crushing hugs from Starfire, Cyborg's deathly handshake, and Robin's quizzical looks before I came to Beast Boy.
"Um…hey, Terra!" He said shyly, and I found myself smiling for real this time.
"Hey! What's up?"
"Nothing much," he said, giving me an awkward hug-handshake thing which I returned in a no-less awkward fashion.
"I'm ready to take you guys up on your offer. I want to be a Teen Titan," I said, trying to sound perky and hopeful.
For some reason it wasn't hard.
"Well…" Beast Boy said, "Last time you kinda freaked out because…"
"You couldn't control your powers," Raven hissed.
Raven. Locking eyes with her was like blurting out your life's story, because I swear…
She knows.
My stomach dropped like a lead balloon.
"Oh," I said dejectedly, while on the inside I was screaming bloody murder.
Slade's gonna kill me!
"I…didn't realize your offer had an expiration date."
I am so dead. I mean, that's it. He's going to punch me until I literally bleed to death. And he'll like it.
Beast Boy. I could totally convince him!
"He-llo! That's why I left! I've been practicing you guys!"
In the next few minutes I proceeded to dazzle everyone with one of the very first tricks I learned while staying with Slade. The whole time I was doing it, lifting the rocks, shooting them in the sky, I was thinking about what he would say.
"Keep them higher, girl!"
"Terra, make sure they stay in form."
"This is a training exercise, NOT play time."
"Terra—that's right."
"Dude! She really has gotten better!" Beast Boy said, after my cheesy landing.
"She learned a few tricks. Doesn't mean she's any less dangerous," Raven sneered.
Suddenly the ground began to shake. I blushed on a reflex, but it wasn't me.
"Wasn't me," I said, instead of the "I didn't perform that action, sir,"that I was used to.
"Trouble," Robin said sharply, "Terra, you coming?"
"Does this means I'm on the team?" I called.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm on the team—
"It means we could use your help."
Damn it.
Author's Note: Thanks to all those who review! Here's another update for you to sink your teeth into, and I really appreciate comments on how to improve, (not that compliments aren't very nice to receive.) Tell me if I keep everyone in character. I DO realize that the rooftop conversation isn't quite exactly what was said as well.