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Alphabetical Observations of the Titan Kind

Chapter One: Aqualad

Hi, I'm Aqualad, and I'm a member of the Titans East. Yes, that's right, Aqualad. Don't ask me, it's Arthur's fault. I would have been happy with Aquaboy, or Aquadude. But, Aqualad was what I was given, so that's what I stick with. I haven't got much right to complain, considering how much Arthur has done for me. Arthur is my adopted father, by the way. You probably know him better as Aquaman, the King of Atlantis. It's a nice place, but a bit too… regal, if you know what I mean. There isn't much to do by the way of relaxing, you know? It's pretty tense and formal almost all of the time. Now that I think of it that's probably why I joined the Teen Titans in the first place.

Anyway, I'm getting off the point. Today was like any other day, except we got a communiqué from the Titans West. They don't like being called the Titans West though, because they were here first. Which is fair enough, I suppose. It doesn't bother me. Anyway, usually these communiqués are from Cyborg, since he had a hand in creating the Titans East, not to mention building the tower. I like Cyborg. He's a cool guy. He can get a bit too stressed out over little things, but then again that could just be a matter of opinion. The others probably don't think it's a big deal to eat fish, but I do. I just don't understand how you can actually eat fish. It just… ugh. Anyway, getting off the point again.

It wasn't Cyborg this time, it was Robin. Usually that would mean something pretty serious, but he asked specifically for me. Now that seemed weird to me for a start. It's not that Robin and I don't get along, it's pretty much the opposite, but we never really… well, we were never really good friends. But I figure that if I can become good friends with Speedy, then I can be friends with anyone. So, Robin asked for me. I wasn't busy at the time (just playing console games) so I took the call. Mas and Menos get so enthralled by those things, and I just don't really get why. Maybe it's my Atlantien upbringing, but I just don't find those games that interesting. Sure, they're entertaining and all, but overall… I prefer movies. Now those are interesting.

Back to Robin. It was obviously a private thing, since he hadn't used the big screen to talk to me, but instead used the private line that each of us have in our rooms. I can't remember the conversation word for word, but I'll give it a try:

Robin looked a bit troubled as he started speaking. "Aqualad," he said, nodding his head in greeting.

I nodded back, and tried to smile without seeming too friendly. "Robin. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could ask you for some advice?"

"About what?"

"Well, uh… about, uh… relationships… within the team."

I nodded slowly. I knew what he was talking about, but I couldn't resist stringing him along. I was having a boring day. Sue me. "What kind of relationship?"

He didn't like that, and I tried to hide my smile. "Well, uh… a, uh… romantic… one?"

"Okay… well that would depend."

Robin raised an eyebrow, his earlier nervousness fading. "Depend? On what?"

I removed all amusement from my mind as I noticed that Robin was pretty serious about this. "On whether it's serious or not."

"It is. At least, it feels like it is."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I can't just… what about the danger?"

"The danger?"

"If our enemies found out, then she could be… I mean…"

I raised a hand. "She's a member of the Titans, right?"

"Right."

"Then she can take care of herself. You know she can."

Robin nodded, and swallowed hard. "Yeah… right… uh… thanks Aqualad."

"Anytime. Say hi to the others for me."

"Will do."

And that was it. That was what Robin was calling about. You've got to pity the poor guy. I mean, I noticed it (it being him and Starfire) as soon as I met the Titans. Hell, most of the fish knew it. I wonder if it's some kind of running joke amongst the Titans West to just pretend it isn't there and torture Robin, or if they're really unaware of it. I'll have to talk to Cyborg about it later. Anyway, talking to Robin about relationships within the team got me thinking about the other Titans and the relationships I have with them. Not romantic ones, mind you, though I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind now and then. My thoughts went on to when I first met the original five Titans.

Beast Boy. Now there's an annoying guy. I tried to let it slide, I really did, but he really has a way of getting under your skin. I didn't even know what his problem was with me. I still don't, really. I'm just pleased we have a relatively friendly relationship now, so I don't want to push it in the wrong direction by hassling him about it. I never know when I'll be working with him again, after all. On the flip side, it was kind of cool to know someone my age who could swim around the ocean with me who wasn't from Atlantis and thereby had a stick up their behind as a result. Say what you want about Beast Boy, but he's a pretty okay guy when you get past the whole annoying thing.

Like I said before, Cyborg's a cool guy, but he can get a bit stressed over little things. But that's been covered. You know, Beast Boy is seen by the public as the funny man of the group, but Cyborg has a better sense of humour. At least, in my eyes. I mean, disco lights in the tower? I can't tell you how much that confused me at first. Anyway, Cyborg is kind of strange in that he can be really goofy and immature one minute, and really calm and controlled the next. It's a weird combination, but it works. Just like Cyborg himself, really.

Robin's a nice enough guy, but he gets stressed out even more than Cyborg, but usually only about the big things. He's a great leader from what Cyborg has told me, but I don't really talk to him or see him enough to really know what he's about. It's kind of ridiculous really. I've only met him once or twice, and yet I can see that he and Starfire are… well, that there's something going on there, while everyone else seems to be oblivious or ignore it completely. It just seems stupid to me to wait around. If I had that kind of thing staring me in the face, I wouldn't try to ignore or it or ask for advice, I'd just... but that's not the point. It's not me, so why complain?

Speaking of Starfire, she seems pretty nice. I mean, I'm a red blooded male, so I can see that aspect of it, and I can see what the attraction is for Robin, but… I don't know, she's just a bit too… blah for me. Does that make sense? What I mean is, she's a bit to loud and happy and… well, I prefer someone a bit quieter, a bit more… introverted, I guess.

Now I know what you're thinking… 'You're talking about Raven! Aqualad4Raven!' But that's really not the case. I like her, she's nice, but she's also got this incredibly dark and secret side to her. Now, I'm not saying she should have come up to me and said 'I'm a portal for the evil Trigon and I will help bring about the end of the world', not at all. But I prefer people to be more open with me. 'No secrets between friends' and all that. Of course, that's not to say I want to know every tiny little detail, but… never mind. It's unfair of me to judge her like that, so I'll just stop there. But, I have to admit, I have considered it once or twice… I don't know. It just doesn't seem like a good match for me. Besides, she seems to have this whole love-hate thing going on with Beast Boy, and I do not want to get in the middle of that.

Then there was Speedy, who I met during that tournament thing. He seemed so much like Robin it wasn't even funny, but as I got to know him as a member of the Titans East, I realised he was very different with Robin. I've been told that Robin can get very obsessed with a target, spending a lot of time alone. Well, Speedy's like that, but with himself. He's got all of Robin's skill, but none of his modesty.

Wow.

That was a pretty good summing up. Here I was thinking I would drone on and on about how much more annoying he can be that Beast Boy, but no, there you have it. Now that I think about it, I don't see that much of Speedy hanging around the tower, especially during the night and the morning. I suppose that's because he spends the morning recovering from the night before. He seems to think he's pretty popular with the ladies, but I've yet to see him with a girl. All I know is, I haven't seen his face on the covers of any magazines in the newsagents, whereas Robin is everywhere. I've even seen my face on some girls' magazines, but I really try not to pay attention.

That's one thing that I really don't enjoy about being a Teen Titan. The fame. Before I met them, I would be able to leap out of the sea and go to a shop, and the only looks I would get would be ones of confusion. Not that I would have wanted to go to a shop back then, but you get my point. Now, if even step foot outside the tower, I have to be ready to run fast.

'Look, it's Aqualad! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!'

Ugh.

The next Titan I met was Bumblebee, and she surprised me. She wasn't what I was expecting. I certainly wasn't expecting to spend a few months straight with her as we gathered the Titans East together and built the tower. She surprised me in that from her appearance and how she acted around Cyborg… I was expecting her to be a rude, brash, loud… well, let me just say that wasn't the case, and now we're pretty good friends. She's probably one of the most mature people in the tower. Except, that is, when Cyborg's around. I'm not sure if there's something romantic there, or if they just have that kind of antagonistic relationship, but whenever they meet, they're always trading quips and insults. They always seem to enjoy it, though, so where's the harm?

Then I met Mas and Menos. Notice how I bunched them together? Because they are pretty much the same person. If they didn't wear slightly different clothing, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Not that it would matter, mind you. They only separate to go to the bathroom. That's it. Now, I know they're brothers and all, but isn't that a bit weird? Even a little? At first I just put it down to them being humans and me being Atlantien. But the more I see the looks on the others' faces… well, let's just say I'm beginning to get more than a little disturbed. Aside from the strangeness factor, I like the little guys, even though I never know what they're talking about.

Ever.

Sometimes it's funny, but most of the time it's infuriating. I can understand if they don't want to learn English, since it's a difficult language (I only know it so well because of Arthur's insistence), but that doesn't make it any more irritating when they're yelling at me for something and I have no idea what to do. The fact that Bumblebee and Speedy just sit and laugh doesn't help.

But, all complaints aside, I enjoy working with the Titans East. They're a pretty cool group, and on top of that, they're relaxed about most things. And besides… oops, there goes the alarm. That's the good thing about this place. You can never sit still and dwell on things for too long. Steel City won't let you.

See you later. And try not to eat any fish.

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(A/N: Fish taste good? Fish taste bad? Review!)