My last chapter was very short, so I'll make this one longer. Carmen's self conscious will be making several more appearances until…something I can't tell you yet because of reasons. sticks tongue out Anywho, on with chapter 15!
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As the Titans all rushed in, Carmen whimpered quietly. She missed her chance, maybe her only chance to remind him of her feelings. Carmen quickly came to the assumption that maybe he never felt that way for her; perhaps the way he looks at her might be out of just happiness she was alive, not of love like Starfire and Raven said. Victor's life was so different now. Carmen watched as all the Titans looked at the screen while Victor typed on the keyboard of the mainframe computer. Everything was different. He had a team that he had to be committed to. She could become a burden quickly. She had no special powers, no fancy moves or gadgets. Completely useless in a fight or a problem of some kind. She wasn't good at computers, or coordinating, or anything that would be handy to them. Academics hadn't been the best thing she was good at.
"Damnit, I don't even know my twelves," Carmen looked sadly at her bare feet. "Should I…just give up?" She felt her eyes tear up but she held them back. After figuring out where the emergency had been located, the Titans ran out the doors. Cyborg slowed down and looked back at Carmen.
"Hey, just go back to bed. We'll be back soon," he suggested. Carmen nodded slightly and smiled to diminish any trace of sadness in her face. She avoided eye contact; her inner expressions could be seen by him through her eyes. Cyborg waved over his shoulder as he followed his comrades. Carmen waved back slowly, but let her hand fall limply before dropping her arm to her side. She signed as she walked to the couch. Sitting down, she held her knees close to her chest, and then fell over on her side. Zoning out, Carmen was unaware of the danger that had entered the tower.
Parking the T-Car in a vacant lot near the crime scene, the Titans cautiously searched the area for an explanation. A large explosion had turned a corporate building into ruble. The cause: unknown.
"Maybe it was just some gas leakage that got to close to the main furnace, or somethin'," Cyborg guessed examining the crumbled foundation. On the other side of the wreckage two shadows ran over the ruble. "I'll go with the 'or somethin' for now," Cyborg ran after the two shadows, closely followed by the other Titans. The shadows led the Titans down the twists and turns of a long and narrow ally. Stopping at a dead end the shadows stood ready to face the Titans.
"We've got you now," Robin stood in front of Cyborg. "There's no where to run,"
"Yeah, but think of how far we led you away," a young and arrogant voice said. Gizmo and Mammoth emerged from the cover of the shadows. "You're far from your ride, aren't you?" Gizmo threw a small explosive and the walls of the building behind the Titans fell, blocking the fastest way out. "Your little friend is in the tower all by herself, no one can protect her. She completely defenseless." Cyborg's eyes grew wide with the horrific realization that he left Carmen with no means of defending herself from a possible attack on the tower!
Carmen lay on the couch for a while, completely zoned out in her own little world. Shaking her head to regain control of her vision, she saw the reflection of a man in armor on the TV screen slowly reaching for her. She turned in shock and rolled off the couch to dodge him. She quickly backed up to the window.
"Who are you?" she asked startled. Carmen continued to inch her way over to the door, keeping her eyes on the man. He approached her casually. The quickened her pace towards the door. "Who are you?" she repeated.
"Do not be afraid child, I'm here to help you not hurt you," Slade replied.
"That's not what I asked. Who are you?" she demanded. Slade narrowed his eyes.
'She might be slightly more difficult than I anticipated. No matter,' he thought. "I'm called Slade. You are Carmen Nash, correct?" Carmen raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe. What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Don't use that question for a question technique on me! I was invited."
"Is that so? As for my intentions it's like I said before, I'm here to help you," Slade was much more certain that Carmen would be more of a hassle for him to handle than any of the others he had recruited.
"Help me with what?" Carmen asked, her interest in what this Slade guy had to say was seemingly more than it was a few seconds ago. Something in the back of her mind made her feel uneasy still. "Hello!!! Earth to Carmen! This guy was just peering down at you from behind the couch! Run stupid Run!" Slade slowly walked closer to Carmen. She had stopped moving towards the door and now he was only ten feet from her. "Pay attention! Look how much closer he got!" Seeing his advance Carmen began moving towards the door again.
"You have nothing to fear from me child. I sense that you have a gift. You've been to a bizarre place beyond imagination. I see it in your eyes." Slade was face to face with her now. 'Hm. She's a lot smaller up close,'
"That's not what my self conscious is telling me. Do you really think you can sweet talk me like you can other people? I can sense things about someone by their presence just like you can," she paused for a moment. Slade saw the outer fear drain from her eyes. As his eyes narrowed hers did as well. "Your mask hides only your face from me," Carmen added. Slade was stunned for a moment. No one had ever showed that kind of bravery towards him.
"Very well then. I offer you a chance to join forces with me. You will get stronger in whatever skills you may have. What do you say?"
"No. Thank you, but I'm happy right where I am," Carmen answered calmly.
"Are you?" Slade stared directly into her eyes. She back up as far as she could to the wall behind her. Carmen heard his breathing through the mask of orange and black. "Then why do I see an inner sadness in your eyes?" Carmen blinked nervously. "You feel betrayed and in the way don't you Carmen? Deep down someone has hurt you, hurting you still. You say nothing because you're unsure of what to do or perhaps the outcome of what you would say. Am I right?" Slade's piercing words cut Carmen deep, down to her very soul. The venom of his words stung with the reality of it all. She was hurting inside. She was unsure.
"Don't listen to him! He lied! He IS hurting you! Run! RUN AWAY NOW!" Carmen shoved Slade out of the way and ran for the door. It slid open and Jinx stood in her way. Carmen stopped on a dime, rug-burning her bare feet.
"Where you going speed demon?" Jinx asked with a smirk. Carmen now knew how a zebra felt when it's being chased by lions. Jinx walked down the small flight of stairs as Carmen backed up. Jinx shot a hex at the floor where Carmen's left foot would step. As Carmen's predictable footing took place, her left foot crashed through the small section of floor. She cried out in surprise and in pain as the splintered floor sheared the flesh from her ankle to her knee. Carmen fell to the ground and whimpered as she saw the blood flow from her leg. "I don't think Slade was finished talking to you," Jinx stood over her smiling evilly. Carmen gritted her teeth as she stood up. Her leg and feet burned with intense agony. Jinx giggle when Carmen winced from her pain. Seeing her moment of opportunity, Carmen lunged at Jinx and tackled her to the floor. Getting up swiftly, she ran for her exit. Running through the seemingly endless hall ways, Carmen buckled and fell to the floor in pain. She winced and rocked holding her bleeding leg, as tears streamed down her face. She heard the sound of footsteps following her and began running down the hall again, lost, alone, and afraid.
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I'll bet you can't wait to see what happens. R&R