Brief Explanation.

I was not going to bring this specific project to the attention of my fans. However, after much inward debate, I have relinquished my secrecy. I have decided to rewrite and edit "The Untold Story of Max Steeler." The beginning chapters do not vary much from the original version of this story. The only differences evolve from improved writing and perhaps an addition paragraph or two. As the story progresses, however, much will change. I am rewriting this story to fit into the completed animated series, including the last season. Slight changes have been made to both plot line and characters (both biographical and personality) changes in order to accomplish this.

Unedited summary

Slade. A criminal mastermind obsessed with the Titan's destruction. He is possessor of both machinery and weaponry. Who designed his weapons? His drones? The apprentice suits? The mechanical worms?

Three choices, two girls, and one secret. Meet Max Steeler. Learn her story. And prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about the Teen Titans.

Disclaimer

I do not own Teen Titans or the Teen Titan characters. However, Max Steeler is a character of my own creation. Please do not steal.

10: Things Change

"Hey Terra! It's me, Beastboy!"

Max looked up from her book. Her eyes first fell on the green changeling and immediately flickered to the group of girls he was talking to.

"You know him?" The freckle faced girl's voice was whiney, obnoxious. Max cringed.

Terra shrugged, and the group started walking away. False alarm. Max took a steadying breath.

"Terra, wait up!"

Beastboy leapt in front of the girls. As Terra's eyes connected with Beastboy's, Max stood to her feed. The changeling lifted his hand, giving an awkward smile. Max's fist clenched tight.

"Sorry, you've got the wrong girl," muttered bluntly.

His smile dissipated.

"You don't remember me?"

Terra's reply was quick.

"Should I?"

"I'm Beastboy. We used to hang out together. You thought I was funny."

Beastboy's hand drifted to the back of his head. He rubbed it, biting his lip nervously. Bringing her hand to her face, Terra laughed softly.

"Haha! See? I can still make you laugh!"

Terra swallowed.

"Like I said, you've got the wrong girl."

Terra turned and started walking away. Beastboy's hand shot out, grabbing Terra's shoulder. Max watched at a distance. The hurt in Terra's eyes was unbearable. Terra was playing her part brilliantly.

"Maybe if we just talk you'll remember?"

"I've gotta go."

"Just one pizza? I'm buying, what've you got to lose?"

Terra's two friends stepped in, crushing the changeling's hand between their shoulders.

"She's not interested."

"Yeah, get lost Bratboy."

"It's Beastboy," he muttered, nursing his hand.

Terra looked at the dejected changeling. Max stood, walking closer, ready to step in.

"Maybe one slice."

Max stepped back. Terra's friends turned in shock. Beastboy grabbed Terra's hand excitedly.

"That's great! I'll take you to our favorite place!"

"You sure you want to go with this guy?"

"It's okay," Terra comforted. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Max's eyes connected with Terra's. Terra flashed a half-smile in her pretend sister's direction. Max shook her head, obviously displeased. As soon as the two were out of sight, Max turned on Terra's friends.

"How could you let her go with that guy?"

"It's, like, not our fault," freckle-face muttered.

"Yeah, we didn't realize your sister liked losers."

Max's cheeks grew warm. Her fist clenched; her body trembled.

"See ya round, loser."

The girls giggled and walked away. Max shrugged off her anger and ran after the geomancer. When she arrived at the pizza place, she spotted Terra sipping a glass of water. Beastboy stood on the chair, in the middle of a story.

"And then we pushed the brain in the freezing machine."

Terra laughed. "Brain freeze. That's funny."

Max swallowed. She understood what Terra meant about real laughter.

"Finally someone gets my joke!" Beastboy rested his head on his hand, smiling. "You haven't changed a bit, Terra."

Terra looked down at her glass, uneasy.

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because you are Terra."

"What makes you so sure?"

"You look like her, you talk like her, you laugh like her. Don't you remember anything from before?"

Terra's fist clenched.

"I just remember high school."

"You used to live in the desert before joining the Teen Titans. You couldn't control your powers at first then Slade helped you, and you wanted to take over the city. But you couldn't go through with it, and you saved us all."

"Why would you want to be friends with someone who was so much trouble?"

"Because I know who she really is."

The waiter placed a pizza in front of the two teens.

"One supreme pizza with extra anchovies, hold the mushrooms. Just the way you like it."

"I don't like anchovies. I'm allergic. I should get going."

As she stood, she accidently knocked over her water.

"No stay! I don't eat anchovies either! We'll get whatever you want."

"I have a lot of homework, and I need to get to the computer lab."

"We've got an awesome computer at the tower. You can work there! Be finished in half the time."

Terra stopped again. She turned, ready to say no. When her eyes connected with Beastboy's, she faltered.

"Okay, but I have to be home before dark."

"Okay."

Max watched the pair walk away. She shouldered her backpack and headed home. The hours crept by slowly as she waited for Terra. When the blond finally made an entrance, Max was beyond ticked.

"Before you say anything…" Terra begged.

"What were you thinking?" Max interrupted. "You encouraged him! You think he's going to go away now? You'll ruin everything!"

"You didn't see his eyes."

"I saw everything, Terra. You're flirting with danger."

"Beastboy's not dangerous."

"It's not Beastboy I'm worried about!"

"We can't hide forever." Terra sighed, "I'm tired of running, Max."

"There's a huge difference between running and hiding. I have to protect you! I have to keep you safe!"

"I didn't tell him anything! He threw mud at me, and it took everything in me not to stop it. I'm trying my hardest, Max. I'm not going to screw this up, okay? Why can't you understand that?"

"I saw him the other day. Slade. He approached me."

"What?"

"He wants us back. He's staying away because of your amnesia."

"And you're just now telling me this, because?"

"Because I was scared-I am scared. I lost you once. I can't do it again."

"You don't have to. I'm playing the part, okay? You have to trust me."

"I trust you."

"Doesn't feel like it."

"I'm trying my hardest," Max offered.

The next day, Beastboy followed Terra around like a lost puppy. Max spotted him talking to Terra's two friends. She wanted to crush him like a beetle. She suppressed the urge.

"Where is she? I need to talk to her."

Terra stepped outside her classroom, locked eyes with the changeling, glared and walked away.

"Terra wait! I'm sorry about yesterday."

"I'm going to be late for biology."

She closed the door in his face. The changeling sat outside the door for an hour. He jumped with the clanging of the school bell.

"Are you going to keep running away from me?"

"I'm not running from anything." Terra replied. She wasn't running. She was hiding. "Go home."

"Not until you talk to me."

"You can't keep following me."

"Why not?"

"It's the girl's locker room."

From biology, to gym, to English, to the library-Beastboy persistently followed the geomancer. In the library, Terra shoved her nose in a book, determined to ignore the changeling. His communicator beeped to life.

"I'm awake!"

A chorus of "shhhh" followed.

"Go outside!"

"So you're talking to me now?"

The librarian pressed her forefinger to her lips.

"You're going to get me in trouble. Go outside!"

"Not unless you come with me!"

With the sound of a ruler smacking flesh, Terra stood and angrily followed the changeling.

"Okay, you've got two minutes."

"Maybe you don't remember, but I do. You're my friend. You're a Teen Titan."

Beastboy reached out. Terra stepped back.

"You're wrong."

"You don't belong here, Terra."

"Stop calling me that!"

She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A dead giveaway.

"It's who you are."

"What do you want from me?"

"Why can't things just go back to the way they were? You were so happy then."

"Things were never the way you remember. Now just leave alone."

"Here, take this. In case you're in trouble, in case you need me, you can call me anytime."

"I don't need it."

"But…"

"Time's up."

"Terra."

Terra stopped. She took a deep breath and turned.

"Things change, Beastboy. The girl you want me to be is just a memory."

"Come in, Beastboy! We need your help!"

"Come with me," he begged.

Terra shook her head.

"You go. You're the Teen Titan. That's who you are. That's not me. I'm not a hero. I'm not out to save the world. I'm just a girl with a geometry test next period, and I haven't studied."

As the bell rang, Max stepped from the shadows. Terra disappeared into the sea of high school students. Max passed by the Titan, tempted to bump shoulders with him and knock him to the ground. Again, she suppressed the urge for Terra's sake.

"Beastboy to Robin. I'm on my way. Over."

The geomancer had tucked herself into a corner. She looked a mess. Tears covered her cheeks and bits of blonde hair were matted against her face. Max knelt beside her.

"I'm so sorry," Max whispered.

"Is it wrong to want to be a Titan?"

"No, it's not wrong."

"They could protect us. We wouldn't have to lie."

"I'm not a Teen Titan, Terra. Never will be."

"I was."

"You were."

"Things change."

"Yeah, they do."

Max slid into the spot beside Terra and hugged her tight. Terra cried. Max comforted.

"How about we skip the rest of our classes and get some ice cream?"

Terra nodded, unable to stop the tears.