"Dude, then I did the dance, and flash! Control Freak was sealed up in a two-dimensional panel…it…was SO…SWEET!"

Beast Boy stood in front of me, having just related their adventure in the world of television with Control Freak while I had been at the theatre. It was really kinda interesting.

"Yeah," I responded, "My mission wasn't all that interesting, talked my way into a theatre, did some snooping, kicked butt, and left."

"Yeah, but it was HIVE butt you kicked!"

"Eh, it wasn't too bad."

Cyborg looked back over the couch from where he had been watching TV, "I'm still kinda wondering about one thing in your report."

"What's that?"

"You said Jinx knocked you into the lake, and you stayed in there all night, and most of the next day. What's up with that?"

I shrugged, "I couldn't find my sword, it buried itself in the mud."

Cyborg gave me a strange look, "Not what I meant man."

"Then what?"

"How did you stay underwater that long without drowning?"

"Oh that…part of my magic, called Underwater, it forms a magical barrier aver my mouth and nose that filter oxygen out of water, letting me more-or-less, breathe water."

Cy's human eye blinked a few times, "Soooo, what can't you survive?"

I smirked mischievously, "Don't know, I haven't found anything yet."

Both guys in the room snickered, then Cyborg looked back at the TV, "Oh, it's on."

BB and I vaulted over the couch, landing next to Cy as he turned up the volume.

This is April Langosta coming to you live from the Tri-County Theatre where a kidnapping of a Navy Admiral by members of the criminal organization HIVE. The attempt was stopped by the latest addition to the Teen Titans, the rumored and much debated Shadow.

We have eyewitness accounts of his combat with the three criminals. He is reported to be about six feet tall, have short brown hair, and unusual blue eyes."

The view switched over to a series of sketches of what I supposedly looked like, some were accurate, others were way off.

"He reportedly wields a massive sword, about as long as he is tall, and possesses very unusual powers, no one could give us a definite answer as to what they are."

The camera again switched to show a fuzzy camera shot of a dark figure on a motorcycle.

"Here we have what we believe to be the first documented taping of this mysterious Titan as he leaves the scene of the theatre on what appears to be a highly customized motorcycle."

The picture shifted again, back to the reporter, "We will keep you updated as we learn more, this is April Langosta, Jump City News."

Click, Cyborg shut the television off and looked straight at me, "You didn't stay and talk to the press?"

I shrugged casually, "Nah, I wanted to maintain my shadowy mystique. Besides, if reporters in this day and age are half as bad as Star claims them to be, it was wise of me to escape."

Cyborg just rolled his human eye, "You're nuts man."

"No I'm no……wait, yeah you're right, I am."

We were silent for a solid four seconds, then B.B. called out, "Well, enough of this…HALO time!"

Both him and Cyborg dove for controllers and within moments had entered into fierce combat with the Covenant.

I watched for a moment, then looked over to where Raven sat reading, as usual, then said aloud to anyone who could hear me, "I'm going out for a walk, k? see you all later."

Raven slightly nodded as Beast Boy yelled, "Ok, see ya later."

This was immediately added to by Cyborg with a "Oh no you didn't! Die you Covenant scumbag!"

I laughed and walked out the main door to the elevator. Just as I was about to press the button, the door chimed and opened; I stepped to the side to allow Robin and Starfire to step out.

"…and that is the story of how King Drenthar reclaimed the crown from his evil brother," Star was saying, "Oh, greetings friend Shadow, how is it that you fair on this particularly glorious day?"

I smiled shaking my head slightly, "I'm doing alright, how 'bout you two?"

"Glorious!"

"I'm good."

"Well, see ya'll later."

"Where ya goin'?" asked Robin.

"Just outside, sit by the ocean."

Robin looked at me a little strange, "Oh, ok, see ya." They continued on their way down the hall and into the main room, but not before Star shot another quizzical look over her shoulder at me.

I sighed and stepped into the elevator, I rode it down in complete silence, then walked out the doors and out of the tower.

My wandering path took me to the edge of the island where I sat down on one of the many rock bluffs, letting my feet hand freely over the edge. I sat silently watching the waves roll in, and crash against the shores of the island.

I soon found myself staring right through the waves, and wandered off into my thoughts. They roamed freely to my home, the urban hellhole that was the slums of Midgar, that I still had loved so much.

My mind wandered across the wide plains that my many adventures had carried me over, to the city of Wutai, the Nibel Mountains, Costa Del Sol, even up to the northern glaciers.

Visiting these places in my mind drew me to think about the war, the more I did, the harder I tried to thin of other things.

My thoughts finally obeyed, and snapped to a much happier memory, one with long dark blonde hair, a cheerful smile, and crystal blue eyes.

But as I saw here eyes in my mind, they shifted from bright, to pained. In an instant my mind shifted to see the last time I had held her.

My hands instantly clenched into fists as I forced that memory from my mind.

I was instantly snapped from my memories as I heard someone softly clear their throat from behind me.

I turned to see Starfire standing there with her hands neatly folded in front of her.

"Hey Star," I said softly.

"Hello," she responded cheerfully, "May I join you in your observation of the ocean?"

"Sure," I slid over to give her space to sit, she did so gracefully, "How long have you been standing there?" I asked.

She folded her hands across her lap, smoothing her skirt, "Not a long period of time, you seemed to be thinking upon something of importance, I did not wish to interrupt."

I half smiled, we sat for a moment in silence, until Star spoke up again,

"I have seen you drift off into your thoughts like that several times in the period that you have been residing at the tower. Where is it that you go?"

I sighed and looked back at the ocean, then replied softly, "Just going back to old memories of my old life, ya know, memories that don't matter any more."

Her eyes softened, "You must not say that."

"Huh?"

"All memories that you have of home are most precious, they will never cease to matter, you must not attempt to forget them."

"Yeah, but a lot of them, I really wish I could," I muttered softly.

"I apologize, what did you say?" she said looking at me.

"Oh, nothin'."

I continued to stare calmly at the ocean, but still felt Star's eyes on me, I glanced back at her, and realized that she wasn't staring at me, in general, but at the top of my head.

I turned to fully face her, "Something wrong?"

She gasped and looked away, her cheeks flushing brightly.

"What?" I asked.

She looked at her feet intensely, still blushing, "Forgive me, I-I have never…really…seen someone up close who possessed hair of the color brown."

I shot her a confused look, "huh-what?"

She turned an even more vivid shade of red, her face now almost matching her hair, "Y-you see, on Tameran, hair of red is the normal, Tameranians born with hair of black are very rare, my sister being one of these, and are considered highly attractive, but…no Tameranian in history has ever possessed hair of brown."

I thought for a moment, then took on a slight smirk, "Soooo, if black hair is considered 'highly attractive' because of its rarity, what would that make people with brown hair on Tameran?"

Star turned completely crimson and looked away, back at the ocean. "The sea is most beautiful today, yes?"

I just laughed, "So, what brought you down here to see me anyway?"

"Oh, yes! We are preparing to commence with a game of ball to the volley on the roof, and we wish for you to come and join with us."

I was slowly learning how to interpret Starfire's version of English, so I rearranged a few words, "Volleyball?" I said, somewhat confused.

"Yes, that is it!"

"Uh, sure, I'll come, but…what's volleyball?"

"Oh, a most glorious athletic event of knocking an inflated bladder over a web of woven cloth."

"Um, yeah, ok."

"HEEE!" exclaimed Starfire, then grabbed me by the wrist and launched into the air, with me in tow.

"GEEZ!"

We shot at breakneck speeds to the top of the tower, when we got there, I saw the 'web of cloth' already set up, and Cyborg and Beast Boy trying to convince Raven to play.

Star landed near them, dropping me next to her.

"Friends," she said, "We have a most glorious occasion, this shall be Shadow's first game of ball to the volley!"

Everyone looked at her, then at me, then at Raven.

"Come on Rae," pleaded Cyborg, "You heard Star, this is the noobie's first game, you gotta play."

Raven just stared at him.

"PLEEEEEEEZZZZZZZEEEEE!" Said Beast Boy.

She finally rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'll do it, IF you shut up." She floated over to join the rest of us in a line of some sort.

Cyborg and Robin stepped forward as 'captains'.

Robin spoke first, Star, you're with me," Star smiled and floated over to join him.

Then Cyborg, "Chris my man, over here." I walked over.

"Raven, called Robin.

"And I've got B.B."

Both teams moved to our respective sides, Robin's team with the ball.

"Uh, guys?" I started.

"Zero-serving-zero" called Robin as he wound up.

"Guys."

I looked around quickly as Robin tossed the ball into the air.

"Guys."

Robin started his swing, so I got everyone's attention, with a thunderous roar, some poor unsuspecting fly that was cruising over the net was blasted by a lightning spell.

Robin stumbled and launched the ball straight into the air, Star shrieked, and dove to the ground covering her head, and everyone else looked straight at me.

"Ok, now that I have everyone's attention, the noobie has a question…how do you play?"

Beast Boy immediately jumped in holding up the ball, "Now ya see, this is called a Volleyball, that rope thingie there is a net, the whole idea is that you knock the ball over the net, trying to make it hit the ground on the other teams side, while keeping it from hitting the ground on your side, now your team can hit the ball three times each time it comes over the net, unless it's a serve, then only the server can hit it and…"

"Whoa," I cut him off then grinned, "Give me…two minutes." I cast Haste and rocketed down the stairs to my room, skidding to a stop in front of my computer, I did a quick internet search, and came up with the official rules.

I scrolled through the page rapidly, blinking a few times while my mind copied the image, then filed all the rules away in my mind. In a blur, I was back on the roof, "Ok, let's play."

They all gave me a weird look. "Ok," Robin said slowly, "zero-serving-zero" He dealt the ball a crushing overhand serve, Cyborg dove for the ball, knocking it up and into the air.

I quickly got under it, setting it up for Beast Boy who spiked the ball right back at Robin.

The Boy Wonder easily knocked the ball back into the air as Star jumped up and returned the spike; and so it went, the occasional point scored, soon we were tied at 5-5.

The six of us all stood panting for a moment, until Robin spoke up, "Ok, let's make this a little more interesting, Powers are Go."

Beast Boy smirked, it was his turn to serve.

He tossed the ball up, and in an instant had morphed into a gorilla, smashing the ball at the other team with incredible force.

With a flash of black TK, Raven launched the ball a good thirty feet above the court.

Star pursued the ball into the air, eyes burning brightly, and spiked the ball with full alien strength.

I looked up at the ball, then with a flicker of emerald in my eyes, was catapulted into the air, I rolled forward in a front flip driving both fists into the ball, adding to its tameranian given speed, and redirecting it into the ground.

Robin dove for the ball, but was knocked spinning away from it by the force of the impact. Point.

The ball came back to BB and he served it with gorilla strength, it flew straight over the net and at the ground, no one was even near it.

Beast Boy started jumping around cheering, "Yeah, I got an Ace! Wooo hoooo!"

His celebration was cut off abruptly by a TK propelled ball that nailed him in the head, he staggered back several steps, then looked at the ball laying on the ground in front of him.

"You were right," stated Raven to no one in particular, an evil smirk on her face, "This game is certainly….enjoyable."

Cyborg looked at the dazed elf, "Sorry man, she caught it with her powers just before it hit the ground."

Beast Boy pouted, "Fine, your serve Raven."

The dark girl nodded and floated the ball back to herself, then tossed it up; at the peak of its flight, the ball was catapulted forward with a pulse of black energy, aimed straight at Cyborg's head.

He wound up to hit the ball, his hand switching into cannon mode; as he swung he cut loose a sonic blast that sent the ball sailing off the side of the roof.

Before anyone else could move, I sprinted across the roof, and dove off the side in hot pursuit of the ball.

"What on earth?" yelled Cyborg, "He can't fly…can he?"

As he finished his question I rocketed back up over the top of the tower and landed heavily, then looked up at all the Titans staring at me

"What?"

"You can fly too?" asked Beast Boy with a blank look on his face.

I laughed, "It's not really flying, it's more of a propelled free-fall."

All I got was a collective blank stare.

"Ok, you know how my powers kinda manipulate the elements, gravity is no exception, I can reduce the force of gravity over a small point, or even invert it so it throws me into the air…but it's only good for vertical, if I was gonna try and fly normally, I'd have to readjust the gravity well every centimeter I moved, so I'd be worn out in about twenty feet. So all it's really good for is surviving long falls, and jumping high."

"Ok," drawled Cyborg slowly, "So how many other surprises do ya have for us?"

"Oh, not too many," I really hope they don't see some of them.

Robin smirked, "Come on Titans, we have a game to finish…"

As if on cue, the siren began to wail, and we all rushed into the main room, coming to a stop in front of the screen.

Robin punched a few buttons and a map of the city lit up, "There, major disturbance in the industrial district, cause is unknown. Titans…GO!"

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