AN- OMG I am so PUMPED. Yessss new Teen Titans! So in my fit of excitement, let's down this chapter real fast.

By the way... I had a goal for last chapter, but I don't think it was reached. So let's TRY THIS AGAIN.

Blue pants as he dashes down the hall. One leg in front of the other. Right, left, right, left, faster, faster, how much he's picking up the pace, he has to skid to a halt when he comes across Green, who's standing completely still, with his back facing Blue. His shoulders are hunched over, and his posture is stiff. After what he just saw in the cafeteria, it's surprising to see Green in such a weak position. He slowly reaches out for him.

"Blue!" Blue turns his head to see Red racing towards the two, with Shadow close behind. When he sees Green, he stops so suddenly that Shadow runs into him. He shrieks.

"Sorry," Shadow mumbles quickly.

"It's okay," is what Blue thinks he heard Red say. But it's really hard to tell when all of his focus is on Green, who hasn't said a word since he left the cafeteria.

"Green?" he says warily, reaching out for him again. Green flinches as Blue's hand lands on his shoulder, and he shifts so that Blue's hand falls limp to its owner's side. "I... I just wanted to say... thanks."

"It was no problem," Green says firmly, but there's something else hidden in the firmness. Something compressed, something that Blue can't quite make out. But he knows one thing– it can't be good. "You needed my help, and Vaati was being a jerk– as usual– so..." He trails off, and Blue sees him stiffen even more.

"Green..." Red says softly, "if you want... we can be your friends. Really. You seem really nice, and I wanna help."

"Yeah!" Shadow chimes in, a bit loudly. "You see, we have this plan. If Vaati ruins–"

"I'll pass," Green mutters. Without another word, he walks briskly ahead.

The three of them– Big Mouth, Invisibility, and Mr. Mistake– stare at him as he leaves. And as soon as he's out of ear-shot—

"We're gonna go after him, right?"

"Yeah... but not now. Later."

The bell rings.

"Well," Shadow says, straightening his messenger bag."I have chorus fifth period and science sixth." He bites his lip, shuffling his feet as he stares at the ground. "...Wish me luck."

"I'll go with you," Red says. "The band room is near the science wing. What's so bad about chorus?" (1)

Their voices trail off as they walk away from Blue. And even as they're gone, he feels eyes on him. And wait... he smells something.

Lavender.

He turns around and sees an embarrassed head duck down, almost in shame. "That's funny," Blue says as he approaches the bench. "I thought you had no shame."

"Haha, very funny Blueberry," Vaati murmurs, staring at his black and red converse. He's silent for a moment. Blue knows why. Vaati hasn't called him "Blueberry" in years. "...How'd you find me?" he asks softly.

Blue sits down on the bench, while Vaati stays on the ground. "You've been wearing the same cologne since sixth grade."

Vaati hugs his knees to his chest, and Blue can almost see the insecurity oozing out of his pores. "I thought you had stopped paying attention to me by then."

Blue almost smiles, shaking his head. "Never."

Vaati stands and brushes himself off. He picks up his backpack and slings it over one shoulder. And before he leaves, he turns to Blue and smiles. This time it isn't one of his fake smirks. It's a real, genuine smile, and somehow this small smile is enough to convince Blue, that somewhere, somehow, the true Vaati is still locked tightly within.

...Maybe it's just his job to get him out.

AN-

(1)- Guess why chorus is bad. Just guess. I dare you to. If you're reading this, you better guess, dammit.