Eh, I didn't like the last chapter all that much. But some of you did, so thank you for the reviews!
---Jaime
Disclaimer: The Teen Titans and Red X are not mine. I only own my original characters.
Ch. 20: New Recruits
Raven and Logan ended up spending the night at the Tower; it was now Sunday, July 30. After everyone had woken up and eaten breakfast (minus Raven and Rune, who opted for herbal tea instead), they had a few more hours to wait before the other titans would return. Raven decided to use this time to help Rune.
Currently, the two women were in Raven's old bedroom. She wasn't suprised to find all of her belongings to be very dusty; it made her happy that they respected her personal things when she left. As Rune looked around the dimly lit room, she fell in love with it.
"You gave this up to live in an apartment?"
"Yes. I didn't have the time to pack everything, and besides, your father's apartment -large though it may be- would never hold all of these things."
While Raven searched through her book case, Rune inspected her CD collection.
'Disturbed, Linking Park, Cascada, Nightwish- I've never even heard of half these bands. I wonder what kind of music it is? Eh, maybe I can listen to them later.'
"Aha! Found it," Raven said, dusting off a large book. She sat on her bed, and motioned for Rune to do the same. When both were settled, Raven searched through the book until she found the chapter she was looking for. "You don't understand this, do you?" she asked.
Rune looked at the pages her mother was indicating, then shook her head. "No. I can read the words, but I've got no idea what they mean," she answered. Raven nodded.
"I figured as much. That's because this book is written in anceint Azarathian. Do you remember when you were thirteen, and I taught you a new language?" Rune nodded. "That was modern Azarathian. There are only a few people in the universe who can read anceint Azarathian, including myself."
"Is it something you can teach me?" Raven smiled.
"Nope! It's something you're born knowing." Rune pouted, and Raven laughed. "Okay, so let's cut to the chase, shall we? Look at each of the sentences in this chapter, and tell me which one sticks out the most." Rune nodded and did as she was told.
Rune looked at each sentence, one by one, never finding one that caught her attention. Fifteen minutes had passed, and even though her mother didn't seem to mind, it bothered Rune.
'Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Corenum Orezon Xinoths, Necronom Hezberek Mortix--Aug! None of these seem right!'
Calm down. Patience is a virtue, you know.
'Yes, but I thought this would be easier.'
Nothing in life is easy.
Fear: What if you're not powerful enough to have a mantra? What if your parents disown you for being so weak? What if they kick you out, and you spend the rest of your life on the streets as a prostitute!
Sadness: (crying) I'm s-so sorry! Th-this is all my fault! Maybe-maybe I should just die, and then-then you'll be able to s-stay with your family!
'...I don't think you're sadness, I think you're insanely depressed. Fear, shut up. My parents won't disown me, and I am not weak! I'm just being impatient.'
See? Just keep looking. You'll find it eventually.
Deciding that the only sane personality side was right, Rune continued her search for a mantra. A half an hour later, Rune found herself staring at an interesting line on the paper.
"Rune, you're eyes haven't moved for about five minutes now. Did you find it?" Raven asked.
"...I ...I think so."
"Which one is it?"
"This one. It says, 'Nalthos Solen Lyrisnor'. What does that mean?"
"Hm... Nice choice, Rune. This one sticks out the most?"
"Yes. What does it mean?"
Raven smirked. "That's something you'll have to figure out on your own."
'Do do do da DOO do do da do!'
"Hey Raven, Rune, the others are back!" Andrew called over the communicators.
"We'll be there in a minute," Raven responded, then she put her communicator away. Turning to Rune, she said, "Remember that phrase, Rune. Not only is it the mantra you'll use when meditating, but it can also help you in battle."
The two girls walked out of Raven's room and went to go greet the others.
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Everyone was standing in the main room together, listening as Nightwing explained a few things to them. One of them being the three new teenagers he brought with him.
"Our mission was a success. These three -Kimi, Selina, and James- have now officially proved themselves worthy of being called 'Teen Titans'. They will be living with us from now on."
Kimi was about average height and weight, with light brown skin and French-braided, shoulder-length black hair. She had bright green eyes, and was smiling. She was wearing baggy orange, knee-length shorts and a white T-shirt, along with a pair of white sneakers.
Selina was a little shorter than Kimi, at about 5'3", and was average weight. She had light brown hair that was drawn up in a tight bun, with a few pieces hanging loose in the back, and cream-colored skin. She was looking down at the ground, but you could still see her cat-like yellow eyes. She wore a pair of jeans, white sneakers, and a loose-fitting green blouse.
James was taller than the two girls, and looked fit. He had short, blood red hair and teal colored eyes, combined with light skin (like Selina's). He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't frowning either. Infact, he was winning in a glaring contest against Covyll, at the moment. He wore black jeans, a red shirt, a black trench coat, and black sneakers.
"Allow me to introduce myself," Andrew said, walking up to Kimi and taking her hand in his. "My name is Andrew, and it is an honor to meet you, my lady," he said, then he kissed the top of her hand.
Kimi giggled. "The pleasure's all mine, good sir," she responded, giving a graceful curtsy.
Sebastian, Rune, and Covyll all sighed when Andrew and Kimi ignored the rest of them to continue their conversation. The three of them stepped closer and introduced themselves.
"Hey. I'm Sebastian. These are my friends, Covyll and Rune."
"...Hello. I...I'm Selina, and this is my older brother, James," Selina said shyly, not making any eye contact. Covyll smirked at her, and received a hateful death glare from James.
"Where are you two from?" Rune asked.
"New York...City," Selina replied softly.
"Well, It's certainly a pleasure to meet such a pretty girl like you," Covyll said smoothly. Selina blushed and looked away; James glared at Covyll.
Kimi and Andrew ended their conversation and joined the other five teens.
"So, what do you guys want to do?" Andrew asked. By now, the adults had all gone to other parts of the Tower and continued with their day.
"Hm... How about we go to someone's room and get to know each other a bit better?" Sebastian offered. It was unanimous (well, minus James. He didn't say anything). So, the seven of them went off to Covyll's room to hang out.
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Covyll's room was the standard size of all the bedrooms in Titans Tower--large. He had the normal things you'd find in a room; a metal desk with flat screen computer, a king sized bed with a white comforter, a closet, a couch, and white curtains on his giant window. But the thing that made his room special was the wall-to-wall aquarium that his bed faced, which was filled with colorful saltwater fish.
"Make yourselves at ho-ah! No, Yuho, no! Step away from the fish!" Covyll yelled. The other six looked in the center of his floor to see Yuho looking innocently up at Covyll while he slowly backed away from the clown fish on the ground.
Rune walked over and picked up her cat, then watched with the rest as Covyll used his powers to stick the fish in a floating ball of water. He then floated the fish back to the tank, and watched as it swam around happily.
Covyll turned to face Yuho. "What did I tell you about playing with my fishes?" he asked sternly.
"Meow!"
"Don't talk back, mister! I know it was you!"
"I didn't know you could understand what Yuho says?" Sebastian said.
"I can't," Covyll replied. The room went silent. "...Anyway, now you can all make yourselves at home."
They all found places to sit; Rune, Kimi, Andrew, and Covyll on the couch, James on the floor by the window, and Sebastian and Selina on the bed. Before Selina sat down, she saw a few magazines on the bed. When she went to move a few so she could sit, she noticed the covers.
Sebastian looked at her. "Hey, are you alright, Selina? You're face is really red. What's-?" He caught sight of the magazines. "Oh..." Then, he began laughing. "Hey, Covyll, you really need to clean up your room before you let people in here, man," Sebastian said, holding up one of the magazines for all to see.
On the cover, there were two girls doing...R rated things. Covyll's eyes widened and he ran to clean up the magazines. James, Kimi, and Rune glared at him, Andrew joined Sebastian in laughing at him, and Selina decided to just sit by her brother, her face glowing red in both shock and embarrassment.
"Okay, now that that has been taken care of," Covyll said, sitting next to Sebastian on the bed, "what shall we do?"
"How about Truth or Dare?" Kimi suggested.
"Finally! Someone who understands the brilliance of that game like I do!" Covyll said enthusiastically, stars in his eyes.
"No offense, Kimi, but Covyll wears us out with that game," Andrew said. Kimi smiled.
"Well, we could always watch T.V.," Sebastian suggested.
"Or go to the movies," Rune pointed out.
"Sweet! Who's up for a movie?" Andrew asked.
"I'm in!" Kimi said.
"Why not?" Covyll said.
"Sure," Sebastian agreed.
"Okay," Selina answered softly.
James didn't answer. Selina looked at him to see him staring absently out of Covyll's window. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, and nodded oh-so slightly. Selina smiled.
"Then it's settled!" Covyll said, walking over to his computer to see what movies were playing.
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They all went to the movies a while later. Andrew and Kimi both started speaking in French halfway through the trip, so no one understood what they were saying anymore. Covyll kept hitting on Selina, making her blush and look away uncertainly, and James kept pulling her away from Covyll, being overprotective (and just plain hating Covyll). All in all, Sebastian and Rune were the only normal one's there.
Hey! I hope you liked this chapter. Please leave a review! They make me really happy.
I don't know how many people this will interest, but I'll put it here anyway. These are the meanings to the teens' names:
Andrew: Manly; brave
Covyll: Lives at the cave slope
James: Replace
Kimi: One without equal
Rune: Stealth; secret
Sebastian: Adored; idolized
Selina: Moon
---Later!