Story Description: Get ready to encounter many guest stars, and two OC's ;)
Genre: teen dramedy, action
Rating: T
Mixtape
[PLAYING: TRACK 3]
Humans were strange. Aqualad had thought as much ever since he had begun living life topside. Other than the blatant disrespect towards nature, astonishingly low standards of hygiene, and irrational fear of sharks over, say, mall cops who carried guns, he found one thing about humans to be particularly mystifying:
They could just be so...rigid.
He spent more than a few long, solitary hours in his pool musing over why so many humans adhered to strict norms when it came to interacting with their own kind. Showing affection, especially, was something they seemed to view as equivalent to navigating a minefield. It was mind-boggling to him that humans who possessed far more freedom and privilege than others would still walk around as if they had invisible walls restricting their actions. Such dynamics were vastly different from what he had known in Atlantis. Relations and identities tended to be more fluid there.
With that said, the world was often terrible both above and under the sea. This was in part why Aqualad considered the tenderness and care shared between friends to be most precious. These bonds were also of noted importance to him given how lonely his first few years of existence had been.
Darkness from his early childhood haunted him even now. Being taken to Atlantis as a small child was the first happy memory he could recall, and the individual who had taken him there had been the first person to usher light into his life. He had taught Aqualad to care for himself and others, honing his talent as a magician and a healer, and had also showered him with the love every child on earth deserved and then some.
Yet the fears of abandonment, of being shunned, of being unwanted, always lingered. They were like stubborn ghosts that never left him alone.
Dealing with them had become much worse since his best friend, and first love, had died. Her death had occurred just one year ago, after which he had realized no comfort or advice from his guardian could chase the ghosts away. So when the seventeen year-old had said he needed to go out on his own and work things out for himself, what could his mentor have done but let him? Let him go and pray to the gods that the lonely little child with violet-black eyes he had watched grow into a wistful teenager would find his path. As much as he loved the boy, the man had his own affairs to consider: a pregnant Queen to care for, a new mentee that required his guidance and support, a kingdom to rule.
Aqualad had not told his mentor this, but something that had further motivated his adoptive son's departure was what the boy feared to be a waning relationship between the two. Aqualad preferred to suppress the thought instead of confessing it; for if he confessed to it, it would have been made too real to process. Instead, he put his mind to riding the waves in a new direction, going to where-ever or whomever they led him. It was the way of all young people who came of age in their kingdom, after all. His mentor knew he would return when he was ready.
The waves had led Aqualad to the Teen Titans and formation of the Titans East. Titans East Tower was his new home. The Titans East were his extremely dysfunctional and bizarre new family.
At present, there were no more waves. He was suspended in still water, just hovering over the bottom of the tower's expansive indoor pool. There were zero fish or other sea creatures with whom he could converse.
It was three in the morning on a Sunday and he was wide awake, mulling over the events of the past weekend.
Friday
Aqualad watched Bumblebee clasp her hands behind her back and, with much concentration, crunch a leaf under the pointed toe of her black boot. Her body language communicated that stepping on leaves interested her more than the tall, hooded hero in front of her. Aqualad found this quite odd, since he knew for a fact that she was very interested in him: this staggeringly cool boy who favored dark blue, wore a silver domino mask, did reality-bending things with a trumpet and liked to chill in alternate dimensions for fun.
His official name was "The Herald," but people typically dropped the "the" in casual conversation. Most people other than Bumblebee, of course. She had been talking to him for about ten minutes, and in that ten minutes she had managed to call him "The Herald" three times, even after he had assured her that "Herald" was fine. It was a nervous tic that manifested every time they met.
"Oh thanks, the Herald…"
"You're so great with that horn, the Herald…"
"My bad, I know I can just call you 'Herald,' the Herald—oh, I mean Herald! Sorry!"
Speedy was standing next to Aqualad and shaking his head. From a distance, her two teammates watched their normally bold and self-assured leader proceed to stumble over her words and throw furtive glances in every direction but at Herald's face. His teammates - Jericho, Pantha, Argent, and Kid Flash - were watching the scene play out as well, not sure if they should find it cute or cringe-worthy.
"I don't get it," said Aqualad, pensively holding his chin. "She's always so confident. Why doesn't she just ask him out? "
Speedy was amused by the suggestion. "You really haven't spent much time on land, have you Al?"
Frowning, he didn't say anything in response. No, Aqualad thought. I guess I haven't.
"You're SO great with that horn," Speedy teased, leaning over the side of the passenger's seat and doing a very poor imitation of Bumblebee's voice. "the Herald."
"Shut up," said Bumblebee, glaring at him from over a copy of Sixteen magazine. Aqualad listened to their back-and-forth quietly from behind the wheel of the Wasp, steering the vehicle through a tunnel of pinkish clouds. Más and Menos, exhausted from the mission, were knocked-out next to their leader with drool spilling from the corners of their open mouths.
"You're so into him, it ain't even funny," said Speedy.
"I am not," she snapped. "I just think he's...cool."
Speedy scoffed. "Since when are jazz band kids cool?"
"Oh my gosh," she said, slapping the magazine down onto her lap. "You're only saying that 'cus you're jealous."
He snorted. "Me? Jealous of that dude? Good one."
"It's true," she insisted. "You're jealous of him because he's a million times cooler than you. And a talented musician. And super deep!"
Speedy rolled his eyes. "Right. What's Herald and Jericho's little two-man band called again? Whisper vortex? Vortex whisper? Gee, that's so profound. I just gotta check them out on soundcave. I bet their music is all about how we like...live in a society 'n stuff."
"If you actually listened to their music, you'd think it was amazing."
"Really," he inquired skeptically. "And since when are you into 'experimental dark wave neo-soul folk rock'?"
Flustered, Bumblebee stammered her response. "Umm, w-well—since always! My tastes are very eclectic. What would you know, anyway? You got no taste."
"Right, okay."
"Yeah," she said, muttering the rest of her comment under breath: "you got no taste in music or the opposite sex."
"You say something, Bee?" asked Speedy.
"No," Bumblebee answered, sticking out her tongue.
His brow creased with irritation as he drew his lips into a tight smile. "Well, at least I can talk to girls while maintaining eye contact. But I guess it ain't too hard, since they're always staring at me."
He used a vain, "ta-da"-type gesture with his open palm for emphasis. Bumblebee stared back at him, not the least bit impressed.
"That's because all the girls you're into are psychopaths with crazy eyes," she retorted with a biting grin, in a voice that was as perky as it was spiteful.
Speedy seethed in return, opening his mouth to deliver a sharp comeback of his own.
"Okay, you guys," said Aqualad, breaking his silence before Speedy could say anything. "Let's all try and be kind to one another."
His teammates glowered at each other.
"Whatever," they said simultaneously, both shifting their attention elsewhere. Bumblebee returned to her magazine, while Speedy reclined back in his seat and gazed out at the sunset.
"If you don't mind me saying, Bee," Aqualad reasoned. "It is pretty obvious that you really like Herald. And I'm sure he likes you too. Why not just ask him if he wants to go on a date?"
Her face burned at the thought.
"I can't," she said.
"Why not?" asked Aqualad.
"I just can't!" she exclaimed, waking the twins and nearly making him slam the breaks.
Speedy yawned, pulling his cap down over his face and closing his eyes.
"Don't bother, Al," he said. "This one doesn't listen to reason."
Aqualad stayed optimistic. "Come on, it can't be that hard."
"Face it," said Speedy. "Girls always make things waaay more difficult than they need to be."
"I don't think gender has anything to do with it," said Aqualad. "I bet tons of human girls pursue the objects of their affection without a second thought."
Bumblebee maintained her silence, crumpling the cover and back of the magazine she had spread in her hands.
"I mean, it's no different than how someone like...like you would act, right, Speedy?" he inquired.
"Uh huh," Speedy said absentmindedly, beginning to doze off.
Aqualad glanced at him. "I mean, wouldn't you approach a girl you were interested in and say, in a polite and straightforward manner, 'I really think you're great. Would you like to go out sometime?'"
At that, he cracked open an eye. "Are you crazy, fish boy? Of course not."
Bumblebee's looked triumphant. "Ha!"
"Silencio!" said Más crankily. He recoiled when their leader shot him a stern look.
"Ay," Menos added. "No puede un chico dormir un poco por aquí? Necesito mi beauty sleep si voy a ver a chicas británicas mañana!"
Aqualad sighed in defeat.
Yes, humans could be rigid - in ways that he thought were rarely of any benefit to them or their relationships.
Saturday
Yet while they had trouble with showing others their appreciation, humans were old pros at showing their unappreciation, whether it was aimed toward fellow humans or literally anything else.
"The music here sucks," grumbled Speedy. "Why'd you pick this spot again?"
He was crouched between two rafters, in the space where the ceiling beam he was standing on met the wall. It vibrated with the rapid bass rhythm of an industrial techno song.
"I picked it because it's the cover for Johnny Rancid's illegal underground robot dog fighting ring," Robin replied in annoyance. "Which we're here to break up. Or did you forget?"
"Hey, it's easy to forget stuff in such a...distracting environment," said Kid Flash, eyeing a girl with a short hemline and long legs that ended in platform Mary-janes. "Dang, there are some serious babes in this town."
"I see you're already over the break-up," said Aqualad disapprovingly.
"Please, Al," Speedy said. "You know KF and Jinx are gonna kiss and make up by the end of the week. Just like last time."
"I don't know, man," Kid Flash contended while his gaze travelled to another girl, this one wearing tight vinyl pants. "She seemed pretty mad yesterday. Almost brought my own tower down on my head."
"Yeah, so? That sounds like any other night of webflix and chill for you two," said Speedy.
"Boys, focus!"
The chipper voice nearly deafened all four of them, cutting sharp and clear through the commlink: an impressive feat considering how loud the music was.
"W-Wonder Girl," said Robin, gritting his teeth through the painful ringing in his ears. "You need to adjust the volume in your headset."
"Huh?"
They winced again as a feedback screech penetrated their eardrums.
"Your headset," Robin said again hoarsely. "Turn the volume down."
"Oh, my apologies!" Her teammates keeled over in their positions. There was a pause as she adjusted the device accordingly.
"Am I good now?" she asked, thankfully at a normal pitch.
"Yes, you are.," said Aqualad, relieved.
"Though I do think we all have serious hearing damage," remarked Kid Flash.
"I didn't mean to, honest!" said Wonder Girl. "Please, I am new to being a Teen Titan. I really hope you all can forgive me."
Her tone instantly made him regret his words.
"Uh, no worries at all!" said Kid Flash in a hurry. "You're doing great. 'Sides, if you think you need it, I can always give you a personal tech tutorial after the mission."
"Oh, barf," Speedy said in disgust. "Lay off the girl, will ya, KF? Any tutorial you'd give would probably leave her with severe brain atrophy."
"I wasn't talking to you, arrows," Kid Flash shot back. "Why don't you go put on a long blonde wig and find a nice little dwarf to play with?"
"Shut. Up. Both of you. We are supposed to be on a mission," Robin hissed, getting very hot around his spandex collar.
"Yessir, commander bird-boy, sir," said Speedy. "What are your orders?"
"Speedy, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that first part," he said. "But all right you guys, pay attention. I have literally spent days mapping out our every move for tonight. As long as we all maintain our positions and strike when I give the signal, I am positive things will go exactly according to plan."
Things absolutely did not go according to plan.
Prior to his squad's departure, Robin had calculated the time it would take them to complete the mission. The predicted duration clocked in at one hour, tops. Their job was to stealthily infiltrate, acutely intercept, and solidly shut down Johnny Rancid's operation - all with minimal damage to the city and cause for public mania. They'd carry everything out with flawless coordination, easy peasy.
As it happens, they had now been at the club for three hours, and their commlink was thoroughly kaput. Johnny Rancid and his hulking, tattooed subordinates were fighting Robin and Wonder Girl in the basement, ordering the gang's mechanical pets to turn the pair into dog food. Upstairs, a giant robot rottweiler ("It's a Robottweiler!" Kid Flash had said, right before it lunged viciously at him) with a laser blaster built into its back was on the loose. Kid Flash was trying to prevent it from incinerating the frantic club-goers, most of whom were screaming and wetting themselves. Speedy and Aqualad were busy aiding their teammate. At least, they had been until a seven-foot-tall, chain and wife-beater wearing wolf man with a cybernetic arm had descended on them. The two had then become preoccupied with fighting him, or - perhaps more accurately - not getting murdered by him.
They had dodged a punch that had blown straight through the club's back wall. From there, they had fled through the hole into the alleyway to draw the rogue away from civilians.
"You want some of this?" growled the cyborg-werewolf-dude-monster-thing, cracking his metal knuckles.
"That's funny," Speedy said. "your girl asked me the same thing last night. Then she left her dog collar at my place."
Their large opponent bared his razor-sharp teeth, fat blobs of saliva splashing onto the ground.
"What the hell did you just say?" he asked.
"Sorry, did I say 'your girl'? I meant your mom."
"Speedy, for the love of guppies, please be quiet," begged Aqualad. Foaming at the mouth, the man charged at them.
"Oh come on, Al," Speedy replied as they leapt out of the villain's warpath. "You really don't think we can take this lightweight?"
"Lightweight? He's definitely stronger than me - and I have Atlantean strength," said Aqualad. "You have normal human strength. And you're out of arrows!"
"A minor set back," replied Speedy, wielding his bow like a melee weapon. "Hey fido, come get your kibble!"
The archer started to make a kissing noise.
"Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" he jeered. The wolf man, whose yellow eyes were crazed, let out a howl that could be heard for miles.
"Aw, don't make me put a muzzle on you now," said Speedy, wagging his finger.
Aqualad looked on, face white with terror. The minutes that followed were very long and very, very painful.
"Okay guys, I got good news and bad news!" said, Kid Flash, appearing in the hole. "The good news is that I saved everyone from the Robottweiler. It's currently in pieces on the dance floor. The bad news is that it managed to hurt my ankle pretty bad before I took it apart..."
He entered the alley and limped towards the two other boys, noticing that Aqualad was panting hard and holding Speedy upright. The latter sported a large bruise visible around the left corner of his mask, a gruesomely bloody nose, and the broken half of a bow in his hand.
"Duuude, are you okay?" asked Kid Flash.
Speedy gave him a bitter smile, a trail of blood running down his lips and staining his teeth.
"What the heck does it look like?" he asked.
"Oh, well," said Kid Flash, cocking his head. "It looks like you got your butt kicked real bad."
He felt hot, damp breathing against his back.
"Crap," he said. "That wolf guy is right behind me, isn't he?"
Speedy and Aqualad nodded. Kid Flash whipped around, wincing when a searing pain shot through his leg. The man snarled and raised his cybernetic fist while the Titan under him remained wide-eyed and frozen in place.
"KF, get out of the way!" cried Aqualad, but his teammate could only cross his arms over his head.
Suddenly, a barrage of flying discs collided with the man, exploding on contact. Smoke filled the alley and clouded his vision.
"Titans, move!" came a familiar voice. Kid Flash felt a hand grab his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I got you," Robin reassured in the boy's ear. He slung Kid Flash's arm over his shoulder and guided him away. Aqualad trailed behind with a concussed Speedy. Robin tossed a silver sphere at the man, and it bounced off him and burst into a spider-claw contraption that clamped around his torso.
"That won't hold him for long," said Robin. "So let's get some distance while we can."
They all escaped onto the street and managed to travel a few blocks. Aqualad let Speedy onto the ground, leaning him gently against a car. Robin did the same thing with Kid Flash. The two able Titans stood in front of their injured teammates. Aqualad summoned the water out of a nearby fire hydrant. It rose above their heads in a swirling torrent. Robin assumed a fighting stance.
"Where's Wonder Girl?" asked Kid Flash.
"She's still inside, keeping an eye on Johnny Rancid and his goons," Robin replied.
"You left her alone with them?" said Speedy in disbelief.
"She tied them up pretty tight with her lasso," Robin said.
"So?" retorted Speedy. "What if they find a way to get free? She'll have to fight them off by herself!"
"She said she could handle it."
"Don't give me that," he said angrily. "You left a girl alone with a bunch of sleazy villain dudes twice her size!"
"That girl can crush a car like a can," said Robin. "Wonder Girl can protect herself. And others too. Which is why I left her in charge of attending to the people in the club. I have faith in her, Speedy."
"It's not like I don't," Speedy replied. "But she's inexperienced, Robin."
"And you three would have been mincemeat if I hadn't showed up," Robin countered.
"I coulda handled myself," snapped Speedy.
"Doubtful," said Aqualad.
"Can it, fish boy."
"Uh, guys?" said Kid Flash, pointing. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I think Mr. Tall, Robotic, and Furry wants to play again."
Broken free of his restraints, the wolf man was bounding towards them on all fours. Aqualad began hosing a large jet of water at him, managing to slow him down.
"What else you got in that utility belt, Rob?" asked Speedy.
"Nothing," replied Robin.
"What?" he said in alarm. "You're out of toys?"
"Yeah, but I've still got my fighting skills."
Speedy laughed dryly. "Hate to break it to you, but a judo kick isn't going to be enough to stop that thing. I tried that already and look what happened to me."
"I'm a better martial artist than you."
"In your dreams, pigeon."
"Guys, can we concentrate on the matter at hand?" asked Aqualad desperately as the hydrant water dissipated.
"You mean the matter of us getting slaughtered?" said Kid Flash.
The man, now fully soaked, sprinted at them with a manic expression.
"Um. Yeah," Aqualad replied, his hope fading by the second.
"Well, dudes," said Speedy. "it's been nice knowing ya."
The coppery taste of blood had filled his mouth. Kid Flash gulped. Robin held his ground, looking determined, but his heart was about to beat through his chest.
The man let out a beastly, guttural sound and pounced. The four Titans braced themselves for impact, and possibly death.
SMACK.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the rogue flew to the side and shot into the neighboring alley like a tennis ball. He smashed into a wall, stuck on its cracked surface for a few seconds before whimpering and falling pitifully into the dumpster below him. Aqualad, Speedy, Kid Flash, and Robin were all stunned.
Mouths hanging open, they watched as Wonder Girl glided into view. The muscled teenage heroine, dressed in a form-fitting, sleeveless crimson jumpsuit with ornate gold shoulder plates, was looking over her shoulder in the wolf man's direction. She was also in a sitting position several feet above the ground, appearing to be seated on nothing but air. Her hands were holding onto something in front of her.
Wonder Girl turned towards her teammates.
"Great Hera!" she said, beaming. "I am so glad I got permission to drive the invisible jet tonight!"
An entire battalion of police cars and ambulances had arrived on the scene before Wonder Girl had gone off to save the boys. Their team was lucky the authorities had shown up when they did, or she wouldn't have been able to leave her post.
She and Robin were talking to the police chief, whose men were taking in all the members of the successfully-busted robot dog-fighting ring. Speedy and Kid Flash were receiving medical attention from a couple of paramedics. Aqualad was sitting on the curb in front of the club's entrance, catching his breath.
Sweet Poseidon, he thought. What a night.
"You okay?" asked a masculine voice from behind him. Aqualad shifted around to see a young man that looked to be about his age. He was wearing a fishnet shirt and leather pants, had luscious brown hair, and was looking down at the Atlantean with striking green eyes.
Lost in the handsome stranger's arresting gaze, Aqualad found it hard to form words.
"I…" he replied, beginning to stutter. "G-god. I mean 'good'!" I mean I'm good. Err no, wait, I—oh, suffering sardines. I mean yes, I'm okay."
The stranger smiled. "I'm glad," he said. "You Titans went through so much to protect us from Johnny Rancid and his goons. I saw Speedy and the flash kid got hurt. I was worried that you might have gotten hurt too."
His concerned tone made Aqualad's insides flutter.
"No need for worry," he said, running a hand through his shiny black hair while attempting a subtle flex of his bicep. "I'm a lot stronger than I look."
Since when do I have this much bravado? he wondered. I think I may be hanging around Speedy too much.
"Yeah, I noticed that when you punched that huge robot dog across the room," replied the young man with a small chuckle. "May I join you?"
Aqualad made a confused face. "Huh?"
"On the curb," he said. He could almost see the gears turning in the other boy's head.
"Oh," said Aqualad, glancing down at the sidewalk. "Yeah, of course."
He scooted over to make room for his guest, who took a seat next to him.
"My name's Beroe," the boy said.
Aqualad was taken aback.
"Beroe?" he said. "Like the Greek sea nymph, Beroe?"
Beroe shrugged. "Something like that, I guess," he said. "My parents were really into mythology when they were young. I never dwelled much on the meaning of my name. I was too busy avoiding the bullies who made fun of me for it."
Brow furrowing, Aqualad scraped at the cement beneath him with his fingernails.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Humans can be really cruel."
"Yeah."
"I'm Aqualad, by the way."
Beroe laughed. It was a lovely sound.
"I know," he said. "You're a member of Steel's very own Titans East. Everyone here knows who you are."
Aqualad reddened. "Oh, yeah. Duh. I'm dumb."
"No, you're not," Beroe replied, leaning in a bit closer. "You're a hero."
The night may have been chilly, but Aqualad could still feel a rush of warmth spread over his body.
"Thanks," he said, a little embarrassed.
"You're from Atlantis too, right?" inquired Beroe.
Aqualad nodded. "Mhm."
The boy's eyes were alight with intrigue.
"That's really cool," he said. "I've never met an Atlantean before. You're the only one I see around here and I've...I've always wanted to talk to you face-to-face."
"Well, now you are," replied Aqualad with a hint of playfulness.
There was a sharp intake of breath from Beroe's end. However, his face didn't show any signs of nervousness. The city street bustled around them, filled with bright lights and the sounds of honking cars. Yet Beroe could swear that he and Aqualad existed in a bubble. The space between them felt as placid as the rolling tide under a clear night sky.
"Yes," said Beroe. "I am. It's...nice. Like a dream, or something. Like a serene dream about the ocean."
A flush of pink colored Beroe's cheeks. "Sorry, that was probably really cheesy," he said ruefully.
"It's okay," assuaged Aqualad. "I'm told Atlanteans have that effect on humans."
A short silence ensued, though it wasn't awkward. Aqualad used it to think through his next words.
"So, you come to these kinds of clubs often?" he asked.
Beroe avoided his cool stare. "Not really. Some friends invited me. They lent me these clothes too," he said, pulling at his shirt humorously. "But I do like to try new things."
Aqualad nodded. "It's good to be open. Though I suppose you're regretting your decision to be open on this particular night at this particular place."
Beroe laughed again, gaze returning to the other boy. He admired the elegant shape of his jaw and swan-like neck.
"I will admit that I didn't really expect the place to get overrun by robot animals," he said. "But I wouldn't say I regret my decision to come."
Their eyes locked like clockwork.
"That's a beautiful crown," said Beroe, studying the regal, silvery-white band of shells covering Aqualad's hairline. "It's so simple but refined at the same time. Does it have some special cultural meaning in Atlantis?"
Aqualad's hand went reflexively to his forehead.
"Err, yes," he said, his features smoothing into a debonair expression. "Culturally it means that, well, I'm a...prince."
If they were in some sappy romance novel, his teeth would have pinged.
"Oh, wow," said Beroe in amazement. "That's awesome."
"It's all right," shrugged off Aqualad. Yep, he thought. I've definitely been hanging around Speedy too much.
"Yo, fish boy!"
He screwed his eyes shut in frustration. Speaking of whom...
Opening his eyes, Aqualad turned in the direction of the obnoxious voice. Speedy, whose face exhibited fresh bandages, was standing next to Kid Flash, who was on a single crutch with his leg wrapped up neatly.
"Get your scaly ass in the jet," yelled Speedy. "We're going home!"
Aqualad glared.
"Sorry," he said to Beroe as they both stood. "My teammate can be a little...well, you know."
"No, it's fine," Beroe replied, shaking his head. "You gotta go. I get it."
Aqualad tucked a silky black strand behind his webbed ear.
"I really liked talking to you," he said.
"I liked talking to you too," said Beroe, his green eyes glittering in the moonlight. "I'd like to talk to you again sometime, if that's okay."
There was something in the boy's voice that Aqualad couldn't quite distinguish. However, it made his insides stir. It coaxed out feelings that both thrilled and unsettled him. He couldn't track where one emotion ended and another began.
"It's more than okay," he said.
Sunday
"Hail Aphrodite!" proclaimed Wonder Girl from behind the wheel. "What a phenomenal development, my sea-born friend! That the very first few minutes of a new day should start like this is evidence that the Gods have smiled upon you. I am bursting with joy."
Aqualad was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Why thank you, my Amazonian sister," he replied from the passenger's side, good-naturedly matching her noble diction. She tended to speak like that when she was excited.
"Yeah," said Kid Flash. "I got zero numbers tonight, so I'm glad my boy here walked away with at least one. Not that it's too surprising, since you're almost as handsome as me."
Speedy lightly shoved him. "Dude, literally none of us think that. Not even me, and I have some serious brain-fog right now."
Kid Flash made a face at his teammate.
"Excuse you," he said, proceeding to then give their driver a pointed look while waggling his eyebrows. "Wonder Girl thinks so, don't you, my little filo pastry?"
She smiled brightly. "I think you and Aqualad are equally good-looking. And I adore the both of you like brothers!"
Speedy smirked. Kid Flash sighed and sunk back in his invisible seat. "Great…"
Robin laughed, reaching over from behind to touch Aqualad's shoulder.
"I'm happy for you, Aqualad," he said, his hand warm and comforting even through the kevlar glove.
Aqualad threw him an appreciative glance, about to say something when Speedy interjected.
"So, when's the date?" he asked.
"You guys should go down to the pier next weekend," suggested Kid Flash. "It's a classic first date spot. And I heard that they're opening a tunnel of love."
"First of all," challenged Speedy. "Where did you hear that? You don't even live here. Second, why would Al want to go there? He's pretty much around water twenty-four-seven."
"Your point being? Wait, I have an even better idea," Kid Flash said as if epiphany had struck. "Take the dude under water. Show him all the fishes and coral and...I don't know, the other stuff in the ocean."
"Uhhh?" said Speedy. "I don't think Beroe can breathe underwater?"
"I know that. That's why Al should take him in one of those air-bubble thingies," replied Kid Flash.
"I'm still not really good at maintaining those over an extended period of time," said Aqualad, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Aw, come on, I bet being around a hot guy would up your magical mojo for a night," said Kid Flash, after which he immediately blanched. "I mean, not that I think he's hot. 'Cus you know, I'm not...well, obviously there's anything wrong with-um-"
Like always, Robin came to the rescue.
"Regardless of where you two go," he said. "I'm sure you'll both have a great time together."
"Oh yeah, me too. In fact, I bet he'll be the one to come up with the romantic itinerary," said Speedy, the white eyes of his mask somehow giving off a suggestive glint. "He did ask you for your number first."
A pale fuchsia blush bloomed across Aqualad's face. His grin remained as he looked through the floor of Wonder Girl's jet.
"Hear, hear!" declared Wonder Girl, punching a fist in the air as she smoothly landed the jet on top of Titans East Tower.
Robin was never one to impose. However, Wonder Girl had never seen the inside of Aqualad and Speedy's house, and when the young Amazon wanted to do something, everyone else usually went along with it as well. So instead of dropping off and saying goodbye to the members of Titans East, Robin found himself being dragged into their tower by the arm, which was nearly bruising under Wonder Girl's tight grip.
"Great Hera!" she said as they all ambled into the living area. "Your home is magnificent!"
"What, this old place?" quipped Speedy.
Her stare swept over the space in front of her, which was a calming shade of cerulean that matched her eyes. At the center of the main balcony was the team's round table, bearing a large "T." They walked past it and over to the left, where a sleek and modern couch was stationed in front of a hanging, ultra-wide panoramic television screen.
Lounging on the couch were three girls in pajamas, one of whom seemed very alarmed.
"Wonder Girl? Kid Flash? Robin?" exclaimed Bumblebee, adjusting her honey-comb patterned bonnet and scrambling to her feet. "What are you-I didn't know you'd be-Speedy, Aqualad, you are so dead."
"What?" asked Speedy, unfazed by her livid stare. It looked much less intimidating when she was wearing pink sweatpants and a tiny tank-top that said "Not Your Honey" in cursive.
"You should have told me beforehand they'd be coming over," hissed Bumblebee.
"Clearly," he replied. "Yikes, Bee. What the heck is all over your face, dried mint ice cream?"
"It's a purifying mask, you idiot," she snapped. "It's imported from Korea."
"Why do you need to import ice cream all the way from Korea?" inquired Kid Flash.
"It's not made of ice cream! It's-oh, forget it."
"Please, Bumblebee," Wonder Girl apologized with her head bowed, going to clasp Bumblebee's hand. "Forgive me for my rudeness. I should not have barged in like this. I just really wanted to see the inside of your astonishing home. It is certainly on the cutting edge of technological advancement, no doubt due to your engineering expertise."
Bumblebee pressed her open palm against her chest, clutching imaginary pearls.
"Erm, why thank you. I try," she said, taken by Wonder Girl's boldness and kind words.
"Hey," said Speedy, tone leery. "Didn't Cyborg design most of the-"
"Shut it, Speedy," interrupted Bumblebee. "She was giving me a compliment."
He frowned. "Whatever. Rocket, Sable - what's up?"
Bumblebee's friends waved their hellos. Rocket was a tall, lean, brown-haired girl with a buzzed pixie cut. She had multiple piercings in her ears and one in her nose, and her skin was a shade lighter than Bumblebee's. She was wearing a pair of soft plaid shorts and a band tee full of holes. Aqualad was willing to bet Speedy owned the same shirt, since she and him had a similar taste in music.
Sable was shorter and fuller-figured than Rocket. She had pointed ears and white-blonde fulani braids that spilled down her back. A pair of dusky, bluish-gray horns grew out of her crown like a stately headdress. Her deep umber complexion, darker than that of the two friends next to her, contrasted dramatically with the large, colorful dashiki draped over her body.
They weren't close, but every time Aqualad ran into Sable he thought that she was someone with whom people could easily fall in love. She was kind, intelligent, and one of the most beautiful people he had ever seen.
"Hey," greeted Rocket. "You've definitely looked better, Speedy."
"Tell me about it," he grumbled, touching his sticky face bandages and wincing. "I haven't bled this bad since that Nun Wanted show we were at last year."
"Oh yeahhhh," Rocket replied, dazed as the memories rushed back to her. "That was a sick concert. I'm guessing you didn't get that from stage-diving, though."
She gestured to her own nose and he shook his head. Sable eyed Kid Flash's crutch and wrapped leg. "What happened to you?" she asked him, pointing at the afflicted limb.
"A giant robot rottweiler," he answered.
She blinked.
"We've had a rough night," said Robin, sporting an awkward grin. "Though it's great that we were able to form this squad while all our other teammates are on different missions."
"And having slumber parties," said Speedy.
"Hey, you guys said you didn't need our help tonight," Bumblebee replied, taking umbrage. "And we had a full day, what with that unexpected excursion to Metropolis to chase down the Hive Five. Which I guess is now the Hive Four. Or is it still the Hive Five, since there were originally six? Anyway, we've been pulling our weight quite well, thank you very much - especially considering Más and Menos are gone on that mission in the UK with Argent."
"It's okay, Bee," Aqualad said. "You guys deserve the break, especially since the three of you rarely get to spend time together off-duty. The five of us got through our mission mostly unscathed."
"Speak for yourself! I nearly lost a leg to that Robottweiler," said Kid Flash, bending over the couch to address Sable in his suavest voice. "If only you had been there to help calm ol' Fido down. I hear you can communicate telepathically with animals."
"Aha, well," she said, very entertained by his efforts to woo her. "I don't think my powers apply to mechanical animals."
"Do they apply to human animals?" he asked. "Because if so, then you'd know that I'm thinking-HEY!"
"Leave Sable alone," said Robin, jerking Kid Flash backwards.
"Dude, be gentle!" he complained. "I'm injured!"
"You're gonna be more injured in a second if you don't quit it."
"Ughhh, you're no fun, bird boy."
"Anyway, girls," Robin continued, ignoring him. "We're sorry for interrupting your sleepover. KF, Wonder Girl and I should really be on our way."
Rocket perched herself atop the couch, leaning up towards the masked boy. "Aw, really? I was about to suggest a round of spin-the-bottle."
"I'm down!" said Kid Flash eagerly.
"I think I've heard of that game," asked Wonder Girl, tapping her chin. "I don't exactly know the rules, but I would love to learn."
Robin's face felt hot at the sight of Rocket's entrancing amber eyes and pursed mauve lips.
"Interested, Boy Wonder?" she asked.
His fingers went to his head, entangling themselves in his disheveled black hair. "I…"
Speedy elbowed Robin, whispering into his ear.
"Think carefully, pigeon," warned Speedy. "Unless you want to wake up to a shower of starbolts."
"All right," said Bumblebee, hands on her hips, recapturing everyone's attention. "There will be absolutely no spinning of the bottle up in here."
Kid Flash and Rocket groaned in unison.
"Phew," said Robin, pulling on his sweaty collar.
"Is every leader in the Teen Titans required to hate having a good time or something?" asked Rocket, crossing her arms.
"Yup," said Speedy.
"I resent that," Bumblebee said. "We were already having a great time. Weren't we, Sable?"
"Yeah," Sable replied, grabbing a dish from the coffee table. "In fact before you guys came in, Rocket and Bumblebee were about to tell me how much they liked my
organic-vegan-coconut-apricot-cookies."
She held up the plate of pale, crumbly yellowish sweets. Two of them had bites taken out of them - very small bites.
"Right?" she inquired cheerfully at her two friends, who avoided her eyes.
"Errr…" said Bumblebee.
"Oooh, can I try one?" asked Kid Flash.
"Sure," answered Sable.
"No. No cookies for you," said Robin, pulling Kid Flash by the ear. "We're going."
"Ow, owwwww," Kid Flash squealed in pain.
"Again girls, sorry to barge in unannounced!" Robin said, dragging the other boy away. "Hopefully we can all officially hang out together soon. Wonder Girl, we'll be waiting by the jet."
"Hey, watch the leg," Kid Flash said to Robin and then looked over his shoulder. "Oh, by the way, Bumblebee - Herald told me to tell you he'd call you tomorrow. Which, I guess, is technically today!"
Her eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah, he says he can't wait to talk about...Rob, slow down, man, I'm on a crutch here!"
As they stumbled off, Bumblebee pleaded, "Wait, wait! Talk about what?"
It was no use; they had already disappeared behind the closing double doors. She sighed.
"Yeesh, thought they'd never leave," said Speedy, swinging over the couch and planting himself in its soft cushions. He placed his hands behind his head and reclined leisurely in his seat.
"Now, which one of you wants to tap into your nurturing, feminine sensibilities and replace ya boy's bandages?"
Blood was dripping down the side of his chin and onto the couch. Bumblebee did not look happy.
"Leave. Now," she said, speaking in a tone that indicated she was not in a mood to be trifled with at all. However, Speedy was a natural thrill-seeker. Thus, of course he had to trifle anyway.
"Aww, why?" he asked. "So you guys can keep talking about boys? Who's the hot topic tonight? Static? Superboy? Yawn. Maybe having a male perspective on girls would balance out your discussion. I happen to know all about what girls want."
If that were true, then he'd know Bumblebee currently wanted to slap the arrogant grin off his face.
"What a coincidence, Speedy. So do I," said Rocket, wearing a smug expression of her own. "Actually, all your exes tell me that I know better than you."
She winked. Wonder Girl nearly choked on a vegan cookie.
Damn, thought Bumblebee. Guess I didn't have to slap him.
Bumblebee high-fived her friend. Speedy wasn't amused in the slightest. Sable and Aqualad, who had been having a pleasant side conversation of their own, burst out laughing.
"Oh, ha-freakin-ha," Speedy muttered sourly.
"Come on, Speedy. I can heal you right now, " said Aqualad, chuckling and beckoning his teammate as he began to walk towards the door. "I got all the feminine sensibilities you need."
"Hey, don't be coming onto me when you're almost a taken man," said Speedy.
"What?" asked Bumblebee, eyes wide. "Aqualad, since when-"
"He's exaggerating," said Aqualad, shoving Speedy along. "I'll tell you all about it later. Just go back to your slumber party and have fun."
"Fine…" she said, smiling as Aqualad left with their grumbling teammate. After the door closed and the girls were alone, Wonder Girl gulped down the rest of her cookie and reached for another one.
"Boys are weird," she said.
"I heard that," said Rocket.
"Ditto," added Sable.
Aqualad lowered his hands into the basin in front of him. The water infused into his fingertips simultaneously as his own energy flowed back through the water. Speedy sat on the edge of a hospital bed, eyes focused on the impeccably clean tile below his feet. His arms rested above his knees, and calloused fingers held his cap by its bill.
"Ready?" asked Aqualad, who had returned to his side, hands up in front of him and emitting a soft blue glow. In the fluorescent light of the infirmary, Aqualad's supple skin looked translucent. The pale white flesh took on a lilac tinge from the intricate networks of veins underneath.
"As I'll ever be," said Speedy, pulling the bandages off his nose and gauze out of his nostrils. Despite the harsh lighting and initially sterile feel of the room, the air around them had become quite tranquil.
Aqualad lifted his hands to Speedy's broken nose. Speedy barely flinched as the other boy began the healing process.
"You okay?" asked Aqualad, pausing. "It doesn't hurt, does it? It shouldn't hurt. It should feel the opposite, like…"
He trailed off, and Speedy trailed in with his ruggedly fatigued voice.
"It feels amazing," he sighed. "It's just awkward."
Aqualad made an inquisitive face. "How?"
"Never mind."
He didn't push the subject further. They stayed in silence for a few minutes, Aqualad primarily concentrating on the repair work. Though, he couldn't help when images from earlier that evening began to play through his mind like a slideshow. The image that stuck out most was Speedy's enduring daredevil grin covered in blood after he had been slammed into a brick wall.
"Why are you like this?" he asked abruptly.
"Like what?" asked Speedy.
"You...you just run headfirst into danger," said Aqualad. "Like when we were fighting that wolf man earlier. You kept egging him on even after getting your butt kicked."
"What was I supposed to do?" Speedy said. "Run away?"
"No," Aqualad replied. "But you could have kept fighting without trying to get him so angry. The way you were talking to him felt like...like you wanted to get killed or something."
Speedy smirked. "It ain't a fun mission unless I flirt with death at least once."
Aqualad frowned. "You shouldn't be so careless with your own life. Especially in our line of work."
"Eh, who even knows how long I'll be doing this hero gig, anyway," replied Speedy.
"That's not the point. Right now, you're a Teen Titan."
"And? Us Titans are always in danger, even when we're not on a mission. Like, an oozing mutant slime monster could literally tear the roof off the Tower right now. So why not lean into the danger? It makes things way more entertaining. Live fast, die young, y'know?"
Aqualad's eyes narrowed. His hands dropped to his sides, balling into fists.
"How could you think something so stupid?" he shouted. Speedy was startled by the uncharacteristic rage.
"Woah," he said calmingly. "Chill, fish boy."
"I will not chill," snapped Aqualad. "Not when you could care less about the responsibilities you have."
"I care plenty."
"No you don't," Aqualad insisted. "You don't care about the responsibilities you have to yourself, or to the people you're supposed to protect, or to your friends…"
He trailed off again, anger constricting his tongue. Speedy was impassive as he watched his teammate struggle with his emotions. Like Bumblebee, Aqualad hated how listless the boy was sometimes, though he could be tempered like a spitfire on occasion. A lot of times, however, talking to Speedy was as dynamic as talking to the wall that had broken his nose.
He just sat there in a sloping posture, his exposed, sculpted arms covered with cuts and contusions: a bored and battle-scarred Apollo even without his bow in hand. That's it, thought Aqualad. He was a young, teenage God. He'd gladly take a dive off the top of Mt. Olympus straight into the pit of Hades, just for kicks. Granted, as open as Speedy was when it came to achieving that adrenaline rush, he was still fairly closed off when it came to other issues. Perhaps that was all purposeful.
"Why…" started Aqualad, interrupting the strained quiet between them. "Why would you want to die young?"
Speedy rolled his eyes. "I don't want to die. But even if I did-so what? The world's a pretty terrible place, Al."
Aqualad's lips quivered. He didn't need Speedy to tell him that. Although the boy had said it like he was telling a bad joke.
"But it can also be brilliant," replied Aqualad. "when you have good friends. Don't you think you have good friends?"
"I have the best friends," said Speedy, staring straight into Aqualad's eyes. There hadn't been a smidgen of jest in that statement.
"Well you can't keep them if you die," Aqualad said gravely. "You can't save others if you die. You can't learn new things about the world if you die. You can't meet new people if you die. You can't fall in l-"
Catching sight of Speedy's bemused expression, he cut himself off. Aqualad blushed. In the current lighting it looked like a more vivid shade of purple was intensifying over his thin nose and high cheekbones.
"Look, Speedy," Aqualad said, now more bashful. "Shouldn't the bonds you have with people who you really care about, and who really care about you, make you think twice about seeing your life in such a disposable manner? Just think how devastated we'd be if something happened to you. How lost we'd be."
He scoffed. "No one would be lost without me."
"You're wrong," replied Aqualad. "I would be. Más and Menos would be too. So would Robin, Cyborg, KF, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl...you-you like Wonder Girl, don't you? I mean, you really like her."
Speedy's eyebrows raised in response to Aqualad's sporadic and forward demeanor, but the surprise didn't reach the rest of his features.
"Heh, sure. I like a lot of girls," said Speedy, stroking the back of his shoulder and wearing an absentminded smile. "But yeah, she's cool."
"Bumblebee too, right?"
At that, Speedy's whole face went red.
"What's with the third degree, fish boy?" his teammate barked. "Geez, fiiine. I take back the live-fast-die-young-thing. Happy?"
Aqualad sighed.
"I guess," he said.
"Cool. Now can you hurry up and finish healing my face?" asked Speedy irritably. Looking solemn, his teammate nodded. He then lifted his hands and went back to his ministrations, realigning Speedy's bones with a liquid touch.
After about ten minutes of silence, Speedy was allowed to examine the magician's workmanship. A freckled hand went to find a nose so soft and smooth you'd never know it had ever been broken.
"Damn, nice job!" said Speedy. "You fixed it perfectly. Really cleared my sinuses too. Thanks, Al."
Aqualad smiled. "No problem."
He then cleared his throat. "Ahem, now for the black eye."
Speedy stared back at him. "No, it's fine. I'll just let that heal on its own."
"Speedy-"
"I said it's fine, Aqualad."
He hadn't raised his voice, but Aqualad could tell he was tense.
"I won't look," Aqualad assured. "I promise."
The archer's gaze averted to the basin at his left. "...do you even got enough juice left to heal my eye?"
"I've got more than enough in my hands alone."
"Well, have you ever healed someone with your eyes closed?"
"Sight isn't the key element of this process," said Aqualad, moving in close. "Touch is."
His glowing hands hovered in front of Speedy's mask. The aura they emitted immediately began to soothe the bruised skin underneath the fabric.
Speedy tilted his head in a quizzical fashion. His tempting lips formed a smirk.
"Fish boy," he said, cocky as ever. "You don't actually have the hots for me, do you?"
"Hold your head straight or I'll give you a black eye to match the one you already have."
Chuckling, Speedy did as he was told, saying, "Fine, but you gotta close your eyes now."
"All right," said Aqualad. He closed his eyes and waited, soon hearing a delicate peeling sound.
"It's off," informed Speedy.
"Okay, here I go."
His cool, gel-textured fingertips brushed the injured flesh. Speedy exhaled heavily as he felt the mending of tissues and veins, microscopic streams of vitality flowing through the reconstructed parts.
The eye took less time than the nose. Within a couple minutes, Aqualad was done.
"You're all good," he said.
"Great, thanks," replied Speedy, putting his mask back over the healed skin. "You can open your eyes."
He saw the black, pupil-less eyes appear once again under epicanthic folds. They looked like shiny obsidian beads, embroidered into an ethereally handsome face. Aqualad gazed back at the black and white domino mask hiding the full extent of his handiwork.
"A shame I can't see for certain if I got everything right," he said.
"Hey, you did say seeing wasn't the important thing here," Speedy replied.
"Doesn't mean that I still don't want to see."
"Maybe you will," said Speedy, pushing himself off the hospital bed. "one day."
Aqualad was about to say something, but he continued speaking.
"Ugghhh," Speedy said, stretching and placing his cap back on his head. "welp, I'm beat. I think it's time to turn in."
The glow left the Atlantean's hands.
"Yes, I think it is too," he said, walking towards the basin. Draining it, he turned back to his teammate.
"I wonder if the girls have gone to bed."
They both jolted in place as a chorus of giggles could be heard from the hallway.
Speedy made a semi-annoyed face. "Yeah, don't think so."
Aqualad took a brief moment to straighten out the few things that needed straightening in the room. Afterwards, he walked with Speedy towards the door and shut off the lights. When they exited the infirmary, they saw that Bumblebee, Rocket, and Sable were approaching from the left side of the hall.
"Girl, I don't know," said Bumblebee, face bright since being cleared of the mint-green "ice cream." "Superboy's cute and everything, but that fade is so nineties…"
"I'm into it," replied Rocket. "I ain't about to fool with him since he's a total player, but the boy can dress. He be looking fly with that earring and leather jacket."
"You do have a thing for leather."
"He doesn't have a thing for me though," said Rocket in mock sadness. "He likes Sable. Ain't that right?"
She grinned suggestively at the girl in question, who looked away in innocence.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sable said. "And as you just implied, Superboy likes every girl he sees."
"Yes but, he could always change his ways for the right girl," Rocket said. "A babe who can wrestle a lion into submission, maybe?"
"I would never want to wrestle a lion. Some of my best friends are lions," replied Sable. "Also, we are not switching the topic to me when you still haven't told us what Static texted you a few minutes ago."
Rocket blushed at the thought. There were not many things that could make her blush.
"That's right!" said Bumblebee. "You need to spill all the de...oh, hi guys."
She folded her arms when she saw her two male teammates.
"Speedy, lookin' good," Rocket said, giving him finger-guns.
"Thanks, Rox," he said, preening now that his face was fixed-up all nice and pretty. "All due credit goes to Al."
"Really?" she asked in amazement. "Hey, next time I get bloodied up real bad, I know who to call."
She winked at Aqualad, who seemed embarrassed by the compliments.
"You're too kind," he replied.
At that moment, it dawned upon Speedy that only three out of the four girls he had seen last were present.
"How long did Wonder Girl hang out with you guys?" he asked.
"Oh, she dipped a little while after you guys went to the infirmary," answered Bumblebee. "It was great to see her, though."
Sable nodded. "She's super sweet. But she ate all my cookies."
Rocket mumbled under the breath, "And thank goodness for that."
"Hey!"
Bumblebee slung both arms around her friends.
"Ohhkaaay," she said jovially. "The three of us are going to bed. I take it you too are as well?"
"Yup," said Speedy. "And I'm definitely sleeping in."
"Let's just hope there's no early morning supervillain activity," replied Bumblebee as the three girls walked past. "Night!"
"Night."
Stiff with nerves, Aqualad clasped his hands in front of himself.
"W-wait!" he called out.
Speedy and the girls all turned towards him questioningly.
"I was wondering if I could...talk to Sable real quick," he said.
"Sable?" asked Bumblebee, looking from her to Aqualad. "Why?"
"I need to ask her something."
Bumblebee's eyes widened. "What do you-"
"Come on, Bee," said Rocket, hooking her arm with her nosy friend's. "These two nature-lovers probably want some time to talk about saving the polar bears 'n stuff."
"Huh?" said Bumblebee. "No, I just wanna-"
"I agree, Rox," Speedy said, hooking himself onto Bumblebee's other arm. "Let's give them their privacy."
Bumblebee writhed within their hold as she was pulled forward. "Omigosh. Sable, Aqualad - both of y'all better tell me everything later!" she said as she was swept away.
Before they disappeared around the corner, Speedy looked over his shoulder at Aqualad.
"Geez, fish boy," he said. "why don't you try leaving some hot people for the rest of us?"
"What the heck is that supposed to mean, Speedy?" asked Bumblebee when Aqualad and Sable could no longer see the three of them.
The Atlantean stood next to the pretty horned girl, face sheepish.
"They're so funny," said Sable, shaking her head and giving him an easy-going smile that could quell anyone's anxiety.
"Yeah," he replied. "Thanks for staying back to talk to me."
"My pleasure," she said. "What's on your mind?"
He took a deep breath.
"I wanted to ask you," he started. "If…if you've ever thought it was harder to interact with humans compared to animals?"
Her head swayed to the side, long braids dangling along her shoulder.
"Hmm, what exactly do you mean?" she asked. "Humans are animals too."
"Yeah, but…" he said. "...sometimes I feel like I have a much easier time getting to know a fish than my own friends. Humans are so complicated."
Sable laughed. The rich sound vibrated harmoniously against the walls.
"I see," she replied. "Well, I do think that there exists a certain, unmatchable understanding between me and some of my non-human animal companions. However, I don't think humans are necessarily more or less complicated than non-humans. All of earth's creatures are complex in their own ways."
"I know, I know…" said Aqualad, the words spilling from lips. "It's just that, well...in Atlantis, and in the ocean in general, I was used to people - all creatures really - behaving in a more….free-flowing manner. They liked to be in community with each other. They embraced new relations and feelings and ways of being and just...rode the current. On land, people and the course of their relationships can feel so set in stone."
"I can definitely see why you would think that," replied Sable thoughtfully. "Humans are very reliant on systems of order to keep them in check. Some of them are based on very archaic values and ways of categorizing - or judging - others."
Her fingers went to brush the base of one of her horns before sweeping a braid behind her ear.
"Yes," he said. "It's...it's almost like humans stay in those archaic boxes most of the time, and when they do choose to come out from them, they still act according to some script that tells them how they're supposed to act in the world. They discipline themselves to keep to that same script and always return to those same boxes. I don't know, maybe...maybe it has something to do with how divorced they are from nature?"
She held her chin, thinking for a moment.
"Perhaps," she said, meditative while keeping her smile. "But for every sea creature who swims in a collective of their own, there is likely one who is solitary. And the ocean, like any place, is full of its own rigid structures and hierarchies. You do hail from a monarchial kingdom, after all, your highness."
He considered her words. "I suppose that is true."
"And as for the differences between society above and below," Sable continued. "I think across many different cultures - like the ones of my homeland Zambesi for instance - the border between people and nature as it were, is much more porous than one would think. You will come to know that we humans can also be quite fluid, my friend."
Aqualad looked dismally at the wall. "Believe me, I am eagerly awaiting that day. But the time between knowing things can be scary. We can lose so much interim."
"That is true," she said. "But we lose things even when we know."
The vision of a plucky girl in yellow, with a head full of short, wavy hair like red seaweed overtook him. His breathing became shallow as white light consumed her body.
A warm hand pulled him from the memory. Aqualad looked back at Sable in mild shock.
"Are you all right?" she asked. Her fingers tentatively interlaced with his.
"I'm not sure," he said, though he found himself holding her hand back in gratitude.
Physically, it wasn't possible for him to drown. Aqualad did believe, however, that drowning was possible for him in a figurative manner. He could easily drown in his doubts. His fears. His own state of contradiction. As maudlin as it may have sounded, that was a genuine encapsulation of how he felt right now.
It was a quarter to 5 AM, and he hadn't slept for a minute. Sick of flailing in a whirlpool of emotions, he forced his eyes shut. Speedy, Bumblebee, and her friends were all sleeping. Why couldn't he do the same?
That's it, he thought. I'm done thinking about anyone or anything for the moment. Whether it's fleeting or permanent, Atlantean or huma-
Ding.
His eyes flew open.
The chime had been loud enough to send faint vibrations through the water, making his body tingle unexpectedly. His arms and legs extended outwards in a much needed stretch. With languid movements, he swam to the surface and emerged from the pool. Sitting beside it was his phone, glowing with a new text.
He grabbed the device and read the message:
{ So...I don't know if it's awkward to text this soon? But I can't stop thinking about you. Please tell me that doesn't sound weird. }
Aqualad's pulse quickened.
Indeed, humans were strange. Insufferable. Unbelievable.
They were wonderful too - risk of drowning be darned.
I miss you
But I haven't met you yet
So special
But it hasn't happened yet
You are gorgeous
But I haven't met you yet
-Björk, "I Miss You"
[END: TRACK 3]
A/N: Aqualad gives me Keiynan Lonsdale vibes personality-wise, which is funny since he plays (or used to play) Kid Flash on TV and not any iteration of Aqualad lol. But anyway!
For this story, I really wanted to write a plot with the founding members of the OG Teen Titans, especially Wonder Girl. I also wanted to give Bee a squad of carefree but obv still bossed-up superheroine besties. Naturally, Rocket came to mind. Sable is an original character of mine (so is Beroe); I envision her as a mentee of Vixen, hence the reference to the country of Zambesi. My aesthetic for Rocket is very much a punky, Rico Nasty or Fefe Dobson kind of thing. Sable's is more like a chilled out, boho '90s era Lisa Bonet-Erykah Badu wave. Still plan on having fun with their styles later.
Lastly, exploring queerness as an irreducible part of one's identity and interpersonal relations is very important to me. As far as I know, Garth is not canonically queer in any of his DC incarnations, but idk...my interpretation of him has always been queer. Same goes for Rocket. We stan a super-powered, energy-manipulating bisexual king and queen!
P.S. Aqualad, with his weird and sensitive lil otherworldly mermaid self, also strikes me as a Björk fan.
P.P.S. We'll definitely be seeing a "Part II" to his saga in another installment, though probably not for a few more stories. :)