Diamond nodded and stood up. She had also been in Aria's position before. Being bad wasn't the first career choice she had in mind, but it was the only one she could find. At first, it was just pick-pocketing people in the street, but now, she's full-on robbing banks and armored cars. She was in no rush to get a response from the powerful girl before her.
"Eat. I'll be back later." Diamond promised. Aria nodded and the glitter girl vanished, only to reappear on the other side of the one way glass.
Aria sighed and ripped open the bag of potato chips, being a little famished. She cautiously placed a single chip in her mouth, tasting nothing strange, and chewed it. She continued this pattern until the bag was empty.
"I feel bad for her." The usually heartless and sarcastic Diamond said. "She looks lost. Man, do I want her to join us."
"And she will." Red X said, standing next to Diamond. Silhouette and Sonic Boom were currently training and out of the room. "Look at her eyes. She looks like she's leaning in our direction."
"How can you be so sure?" Diamond raised an eyebrow. "I doubt she's easily influenced. Like you said, she's a strong girl, that one." Red X nodded.
"Exactly." He said. "Don't you think she could bust out of here single handedly at any time if she wanted to? She hasn't once tried to escape. You know what that means? It means she is seriously considering joining us." Diamond chuckled.
"So, what? All we have to do is apply a little more pressure and she's as good as bad?" She asked and Red X nodded. "That's so deliciously evil."
"Isn't it great?" Red X asked, then sighed. "She's right, though."
"About what?" Diamond turned to Red X and leaned against the glass. Red X turned to her as well.
"The Titans are looking for her, after all." Red X explained. "They're going to have a whole new type of determination. They think their teammate's life is hanging in the balance. What length would you go to if Sonic were kidnapped by the good guys?" Diamond stiffened. "Exactly."
"Hey." Aria called from the room. Her voice came through a small speaker box to the right of the window and behind Diamond. "Could I lose the chains, please?" She asked.
Diamond looked at Red X, who nodded. Diamond spun around and grabbed a set of keys from a hook that was behind her. She then appeared into the small quarters that served as a confinement facility. Aria didn't react when Diamond showed up in front of her. She had anticipated it, so she wasn't scared. She was actually beginning to not hate the Trio and Red X. Diamond, without a word, walked over to her prisoner, stuck the key into the lock that was on her wrist cuff and turned it, freeing Aria's hand.
"Thanks." Aria said after Diamond released her other wrist. Aria was soothing her sore hands as Diamond nodded.
"Sure." She said and disappeared for the second time. Aria sighed and stretched.
'They aren't too terrible.' Aria thought while bending down to touch her toes. 'Maybe I should...No! What am I saying? I'm not them. I'm not...evil. Am I?'
Aria stood up and looked at her reflection in the one way glass. She touched her face and her hair. Who was she? She didn't even know anymore.
"Maybe it's time I lost the mask." She whispered to herself. "A few mistakes can turn into a lot, right? Why postpone the inevitable? This isn't even my true form."
Aria was talking to herself, unaware that others were watching. On the other side of the glass, Red X and Diamond were watching with wide eyes. They had no idea what was happening. Did their prime target for a new member of the team go insane within a few short hours?
"What the hell is going on?" Diamond hissed. "What is she talking about? This isn't her true form? What does that even mean?"
"After years of conditioning," Aria went on, staring blankly at her reflection. "It hasn't occurred to me to just...be bad." Aria laughed wryly. "Duh. Why didn't I see it? It was right in front of me..." Aria reached out in front of her and lightly touched the glass. "So obvious." She whispered.
"I don't know what she's talking about." Red X whispered. Aria's head snapped in the direction of Red X, like she heard him. "Did she hear me?" He asked and Aria smiled.
"I think that's a yes." Diamond whispered. Aria chuckled.
"Why be good?" She asked. "When you can do whatever you want?" Diamond smiled.
"You've accepted our offer, then?" The leader asked and Aria shook her head.
"It's called stalling." She said.
Diamond gasped and spun around only in time to see Starfire kick her in the face. Diamond was slammed so hard against the glass, it knocked the wind right out of her. Robin went head on with Red X as Raven phased through the glass to retrieve the stolen Aria. Cyborg and Beast Boy were busy keeping Sonic Boom and Silhouette away from the scene. Raven grabbed a hold of Aria and whipped out her communicator.
"Titans, fallback!" She commanded and disappeared under her cloak with Aria. Starfire left her fight to pick up Robin and flew away. Beast Boy phased into a pterodactyl and carried Cyborg out of the lair they worked so hard to find.
The six of them regrouped in the Titans' Tower. Raven actually did hug Aria, seeing that she was safe and unharmed. The next group to arrived was Starfire and Robin, the former nearly squeezing the air out of Aria's lungs.
"Friend! I knew we would find you! Oh, how I missed you!" Starfire cheered. "I am glad you are undamaged!" Aria laughed and returned the embrace that was given to her.
"Me too, bud." Aria said simply. She was soon released and it was then Robin's turn to hug his friend.
"We missed you, Aria." He said as Aria's head fit perfectly in the nape of his neck. "Don't scare us like that again, okay?" He asked and Aria laughed.
"Yeah, sorry." Robin released her and looked into her gray eyes.
"It's good to have you back." He said.
"Where is she!?" A high pitched, male voice asked as he entered the living room where the group of five already were.
"BB!" Aria cried. They ran into each other's arms and Beast Boy kissed the top of Aria's head.
"I'm so sorry." He apologized. "Sorry for letting them take you. Sorry for being an asshole. Sorry for everything." With each pause, Beast Boy pressed his lips onto Aria's head. Aria pulled back.
"It's okay." She forgave. "It wasn't you fault. You-"
"No, it was my fault." Beast Boy admitted. "It was...something inside of me. Something I don't like. I can control it and I will control it for you." Beast Boy kissed his girl's nose and leaned into his girl until their foreheads touched. "I will never lose control with you again."
"Alright, alright." Cyborg interrupted the moment. "Step aside, bud. Let me get a hug in." Beast Boy smirked and released Aria after planting a warm kiss on her lips. "Good to have ya' back, girl!"
Cyborg wrapped his arms around Aria's shoulders and picked her off of the ground. He spun her around and Aria squealed. Cyborg laughed at Aria's reaction to his affection. Aria had her eyes shut tight and had a grin stretched across her face. Cyborg set her down and tussled her hair while doing so.
Everyone temporarily forgot about Aria's interrogation at that moment. Everyone was glad to have her back home, safe and sound. Cyborg beefed up the security of the tower to keep Aria safe and she was to continue her training immediately, meaning the next day. The sun was setting by the time the homecoming celebration- which included ice cream sundaes- ended. Eventually, Beast Boy was challenged to a videogame competition and was forced to leave Aria for a short time. She was fine with it, though. She had other things to worry about.
'I can't believe I almost went dark again.' Aria thought to herself. 'It only took a few hours for me to lose it? After all my conditioning and hard work? Never again.' Aria shivered.
"Are you alright?" The familiar raspy, feminine voice belonging to Raven asked. Aria looked up at her witch of a friend and smile.
"Yeah, just...cold is all." Aria said.
Raven nodded, having no reason not to believe her, and walked away. Aria sighed and rubbed her temples. There was suddenly an arm around her shoulders that pulled her into a warm body. Aria smiled and allowed Beast Boy to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"I lost." Beat Boy said with a smile. Arai chuckled.
"Good for you?" She asked and Beast Boy laughed. Aria rested her head in the nape of her boy's neck and Beast Boy held onto her. Aria's mind kept on racing.
'I can't believe it.' She silently told herself. 'I almost gave all this up and for what? People who don't deserve it? Yeah, right. I can never forget what I have.' Aria slowly shut her eyes, only to be addressed moments later.
"Hey," It was Beast Boy. "Do you want to go to bed?" He asked.
Aria yawned, unaware of how tired she was, and nodded. Beast Boy smiled and picked Aria up, bridal-style. Aria made a small squealing noise and allowed the boy to carry her away. She had her arms wrapped around his neck as he walked. Robin and Starfire had gone to bed, so Beast Boy merely nodded goodbye to the remaining two. They made the trek to Aria's room and as they stepped passed the threshold, Aria pouted.
"What?" Beast Boy asked innocently. Aria looked up at him.
"Aren't you going to stay?" She asked and he chuckled, then nodded. Aria's pout was quickly replaced with a satisfied smile.
Beast Boy returned the smile and set Aria on the bed. He allowed her to settle into the covers before crawling in next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, feeling to warmth of her body melt into his. Aria giggled softly, nestling the back of her head into the nape of Beast Boy's neck.
"Hey, Aria?" Beast Boy asked after Aria got comfortable.
"Hm?" She asked, on the verge of sleeping.
"What's under your mask?" Beast Boy asked as simply as if he were asking about the weather.
Aria tensed up so badly, Beast Boy felt her stiffness instantly. Though he felt her distress, Beast Boy remained silent, allowing Aria to process what was to come out of her mouth. Aria sat there, wide-eyed and speechless. What was she to say to this boy? The truth? No. Lie? She couldn't handle that. Nothing was the best option for her, so she didn't respond at all.
"Aria?" Beast Boy said after a long time of no sounds.
"BB," Aria sighed, attempting to elude the question for one more night. "I'm tired and I don't want to talk about it. Can we please just...not?"
Beast Boy tightened his grip a bit, thinking about the offer. He couldn't let it go. He knew he couldn't. There was something he needed to know desperately, but Aria was trying hard to keep it to herself. He knew that he couldn't press extremely hard, in fear of losing her entirely, but he did need to apply just a bit of pressure.
"Are you sure?" He whispered into her ear. Aria shivered as she felt his breath on her neck. "Please?" Aria swallowed hard.
"N-No, Beast Boy. I need to rest." Aria said shakily. "In the morning. I promise."
Beast Boy sighed again and nodded. He shut his eyes and listened around the room. The even breathing coming from Aria, the subtle buzzing of the air conditioning and the distant noises of Jump City were all very calming for the green hero. He eventually let his mind wander as he slowly drifted to sleep.