A/N: Well, here it is. My next chapter. I re-did it twice, and made it longer every time. I just always had something else I wanted to put down! At the moment writers block is the thing farthest from my mind!

Disclaimer: Ditto

Unable to contain my giddy happiness (or do I mean hyper ness?), I skipped down the hall. Well I skipped twice anyway, 'Hey stop that thumping!' the floor yelled up at me.

I quickly stopped skipping, annoyance beginning to sift in through me. I slowly and carefully walked towards the laundry room; my energy was making me fidget sharply. Each step I took was restrained, even the WAY I walked was held back. Finally I couldn't stand it any more and broke loose.

I began to race to the stairs, unwilling to use the elevator at this moment. With a leap I grabbed the door handle and swung it open. In one swift motion I slammed the door closed and jump to the stairs. The wind seemed to be pushing me forward, I hardly felt like I was touching the ground. Two at a time I bounded down the stairs, almost missing the right door.

At the last minute I grabbed the door knob, my force yanking me forward as I held back. With a snap the door was opened to a dark, almost pitch black hallway. I sharpened my hearing, listening to the sounds of the floor, walls, and even the air.

I didn't pay attention to what they were saying, but with my hearing I moved as easily as if it had been mid day. I slammed through the door to the laundry room and grabbed my hat.

It was then that I paused; taking calming and delighted breaths I walked to a small window. A few seemingly blinding rays sang through a narrow sliver of glass. I stepped forward and put the hat under them, asking in a polite voice, 'Would you mind drying this off?'

In reply the light began to chatter, each indistinguishable ray giggling at each other. The light began to flicker around my hat, changing to heat with hardly a thought. The heat flowed through and around the black wool, drying it instantly.

'Thank-you,' I said with a slight bow and pulled on my hat. The light cheerfully freed itself, swirling once again around the window and racing each other through out the room. I grabbed Raven's now washed cape from the washing machine and stuffed it into the dryer, turning the knob to high and pressing the 'on' button. I raced out of the room to the sound of a roaring dryer.

I once again bounded up the stairs, and this time came out on the hallway by the living room and kitchen. I had finally worked off my energy, panting I walked into the living room.

Immediately I was assailed with the sounds of video games, the stupid background music began to quickly bother me. The now clean boys were eagerly leaning forward; every inch of them seemed to strain to past each other. I heard an odd beeping sound and Cyborg's chant screamed victory.

He leapt up, the air whistling around him, "BOOYA!" I couldn't help but wince, his voice was far too loud.

"Awe man!" Beast Boy whined, "I SO would have won, you were just lucky!"

Immediately Cyborg whirled to look at the little green boy, they stared at each other angrily.

Robin got out of his sulk and gave them a superior look, "If you hadn't used those turbo jets I would have won." He preened under the two boys' furious gazes, "You just weren't playing fair."

"No WAY!" Cyborg yelled, his voice seemed to echo through my head.

All three boys started talking, I'm sorry I mean SCREAMING at once.

"I did not..."

"You so lost..."

"What makes you...?"

My hearing is very sensitive, and these idiots were making my head pound. I felt as if each syllable was a hammer, each yelled a nail. Every time they spoke that nail was hammered through my ear and into my brain.

"Will you please," I began at a whisper, unwilling to let loose my annoyance. I was drowned out, "Excuse me!" I almost yelled. I felt my anger rising, I could barely concentrate this was almost as bad as when Fang started yelling. I began to whisper, my voice softly wrapped around the room. I used the dialect of silence, patience's, and binding.

I won't use my powers against a family or friend, and I didn't do that now either. When you just use a dialect of something, all you do is suggest what you want them to do. Pressuring is possible, but the final decision is always theirs.

'My head is hurting,' I breathed; I could hear my words begin to swirl around the three boys. 'Your anger is not needed, why don't you calm down?' I asked in a sweet charming voice. I began to make my voice firmer and surer, 'Video games are not important enough to yell about,' I spoke clearly. None of this was English, so all that could be heard was sound.

It was like when you are too far away from a person to understand their words, but you can hear their voice and emotion behind it. You can get just as much across that way as with words, sometimes it works even better.

I noticed the boys begin to quiet, not much, but as if they were listening to someone. 'It's not kind to force people to hear you yell,' I knew it sounded sappy and not worth listening too. I was using the clearest way of communicating, well second clearest way, and when you strip anything down to its point people listen. By now the boys were looking at me, I switch to English. Now they would listen, "Please stop yelling," I asked pitifully. They stopped, like I knew they would. "You must have something better to do, like train," I suggested off the top of my head.

Robin glanced up at the clock, "Good point, let's put in a couple of hours training before dinner," he said and then headed down the hallway.

The boys followed him; Cyborg spoke up bitterly, "I still won fair and square." That was it; the three IDIOTS went the rest of the way yelling. I heard Robin yell back at me, "Put on some pants Mage, and meet me there!"

I couldn't help but glare at the wall, it didn't help that Raven was in the room. I heard her cape whisper as she floated towards me. I knew she had noticed my manipulating the boys; quite honestly I was unsure of how she would react.

She floated next to me, "What did you just do?" she asked in her oh so cold voice.

I didn't look at her and answered the wall, "I used one of the languages I know to SUGGEST that the boys be quiet."

"Just suggest?" she asked seriously.

"Yes," I replied honestly. She nodded and floated down the hall way to the gym. Another thing I love about Raven, she's so talkative. I won't fill you in on the details, but I ran up to the guest room and changed into my smelly jeans and T-shirt.

Sprinting I reached the training room; I couldn't help but be acutely aware of the fact that I was exhausted. I had just puckered myself out by chasing what's-his-name, then I ran all over the tower, refusing to use the stairs.

I composed myself and calmly entered the room. I heard Star's chant begin to rise in pitch. Its tuneless rhythm began to gain a song. The notes soared upwards and reached a crescendo; her bolts hit the wall with a sound of thousands of unknown instruments playing a single sweet chord. I closed my eye's as I walked, enjoying the sounds of training.

Cyborg's chant was like that of the rumbling of the earth. Each word ground against each other, each supporting each other against some form of weight. I heard his chant compress in the bass key. Slowly more weight was being added to push him down. Yet each word and syllable seemed to compress into solid immovable rock. It reached one soft and steady note, a note that meant persistence and stamina. It floated gently; you would almost miss it and just let it blend into the background. Yet you could forget it because you knew it would always be there.

Raven was meditating and moving heavier and more awkward objects. Her chant was in middle key, like middle 'C,' for you music lovers. It was in that area where it was neither high nor low, it just was. It was those notes that linked high and low together, the most flexible and relaxing notes of all. She began with a higher note, like the soft whistling of the wind. It wound itself around a block, and then it deepened. So subtly and softly, almost like a slide whistle at its softest volume and slowest speed. The notes began to branch out; creating a haunting cacophony that resonated in your heart. As the box was lifted the chord continued to gain in volume and notes. Then it quickly spun itself down to a single thread, a single note. The deepest note in Raven's key, a note that instilled calm and awareness. A note that let you understand all of the world's horrors, and still except them and be content.

Then I heard Robin's, it was almost like the sounding of the purest most impatient trumpets. He was attacking a punching bag; at each punch a 'trumpet' let out a sudden BLAT. Yet behind the unskilled and amusing notes there was a calmer more stable tune. A tune that wove the random note's into its lines of music. It sounded oddly like tabs, that haunting melody that carries your heart farther and farther with each trumpet player. So it seemed that he progressed, carrying himself along with each new step. Robin's song had no final note, his was the kind that ran along unwilling to stop and rest.

With a sigh I softly lessened my hearing and opened my eyes. I was standing in the middle of the gym, the rest of the teens were surrounding me. I walked over to Robin, feeling oddly at peace after that brief moment of 'meditation.' With a roar he lunged at the bag and sent it swinging back, I was impressed. Even if I had damaged one, and that was hitting where there wasn't any seem, it hadn't swung at all. It had hardly shivered; I had hurt my ankle a little also.

Robin shook out his hand and looked up at me, wrinkling his nose in slight distaste. He decided to ignore my smell as best he could, "Start jogging around the gym," he told me. His attention wasn't entirely on me, or he would have noticed my horrified look. My legs were already beginning to cramp up after all of my previous running. He adjusts his gloves and settled into a ready stance, "About twenty-thirty laps should do it." At that he switched his entire attention to the bag, each punch making it shiver.

With a roll of my eyes, when I was sure he wasn't looking, I headed over to start running. When I first started I could feel my muscles protest, but I quickly worked the kinks out. It was true that I was out of shape, for me anyway, but I still remembered using my legs as my only means of travel. For about ten minutes I had a smooth and even gate, quite relaxing by the way. Then my legs began to stiffen, the inside of my thighs felt as if they were on fire. Two side stitches had worked their way up my waist, causing each breath to burn. I didn't realize it, but I began to slow down. My sprint had become painful jog.

I dimly noticed Robin step away from his exercises and watch me. I hated it when people watched me, I always felt so stupid. It didn't help that since my face was so pale; I turned red from exhaustion easily. I also blush, not often but when I do it's horrible, I sunburn TERRIBLY, and if it's too hot out I turn red. Also if it's to cold I turn blue, that is REALLY scary, let me tell you.

All of a sudden Robin jumped in behind me, "Come on Mage, you know you can do it!" he yelled in what he believed was an encouraging voice. It was possible that he had been right; I did pick up my speed considerably. After ten minutes I began to slow down again, I don't know how these teens manage to practice right after a fight. Robin ran up till he was right beside me, "Come on Mage," he began in an honestly sympathetic tone, "I know you fought and are tired, but the rest of us did also." He immediately did one lap and caught up to me once I had gone half way.

Once again he continued to run beside me, I gave a sigh and pushed my self to speed up. I was reaching the point where the exercise was making my mind foggy, all I could focus on was my steps. I was never good at focusing when working; I put all my attention on one thing at a time. Each stepped caused some sort of pain, a sort of draining of strength.

Robin ran in front of me and started jogging backwards, he hadn't even broken a sweat. Or it was possible that the stench of my clothing was hiding his smell... "An other ice age has all ready passed while you dawdled," he taunted, trying to provoke me.

It worked. I put on a burst of speed that carried me into my second wind. He grinned and kept on going, "I swear Mage, a snail could pass you," he commented SO originally. I grimaced and kept pushing myself, I was steadily gaining speed. "Anyone on this team could beat you without THINKING about it," he told me in a particularly nasty way.

Now I KNEW he was just trying to make me speed up, but I was going to hurt him any way. I don't know why I reacted so violently, I could only guess that it was left over stress from the fight. That was when he just went too far, "Your slow enough that you're not even worth chasing after," he said in particularly BAD, as in stupid, attempt to get me angry.

I knew he was running out of ammunition, I KNEW he didn't understand the problems with saying that. It's just that I had been run out of a town before, and the mob had left me alone after saying that. 'My kind' weren't welcome around there. They would have seriously wounded, if not killed me, except I hadn't been worth the trouble.

I suddenly slammed forward, forcing the boy wonder to turn front wards and honestly start running. I had forgotten my exhaustion and all I could focus on was him. I leapt forwards and sent him stumbling, I knew he let me. I landed on his stomach, glaring angrily with a fist raised near his face.

Then I stopped, what was I going to do now? I wasn't holding back, I just didn't hit people. I looked at him, willing myself to hit him just so that I knew I could. He stared up at me calmly, though I could tell that I had shocked him. With a sigh I lowered my arm and climbed off him, he rolled and stood up also.

I looked around and realized that all of the teens were staring at me; they had all grouped around us to protect Robin. I sighed and rubbed my arm, feeling foolish and childish now. "Sorry," I mumbled to no one in particular.

I turned to leave; it was an awkward situation so I was going to get out of it. Cyborg stepped in front of me, his look worried and more than a little confused. "Mage," he asked, his voice was surprisingly gentle. Right then his chant was soothing, like when sand trickled through your hands. I looked up and he pinned me with his gaze, "What did Robin say that bothered you so much."

I just shrugged, "He was trying to upset me, and it worked," I told him unconvincingly. All Cyborg had to do was give me a look; I let out a sigh, "That last comment."

I wasn't going to elaborate; Robin decided to push the point. Part of me was glad that he chose to, it would just get the problem out of the way. Another part of me just didn't care enough to want to talk about it. It was an odd feeling to not care about something and be hurt and furious at the same time.

Robin grabbed my arm, "Mage, why did 'Your slow enough that you're not even worth chasing after' bother you?"

I shrugged, "I know it was pathetic, it just has particular meaning to me." I shuffled a little, "I guess the stress from the earlier fight made me react violently."

Starfire jumped in, putting an arm around my shoulders. Every one was being so touchy right now. "Friend Mage, you can trust us," she told me in her most sincere voice.

I gave a slight smile, "I was run out of a town once, and someone said that to me then." I gave a shrug and tried to grin, "It's just silly little thing that I attached too much importance too."

"Why were you run out of a town Mage," I heard Raven ask. Her voice seemed to come from nowhere, I couldn't help but shiver.

I looked up and saw her staring at me, daring me to change the subject. I finally gave in; if it wasn't important it wouldn't matter if I told them. "People like me, people with powers, weren't welcome there." The rest of the team bristled, "It's not that they thought we were less than them... It's more that at my age then most people with powers couldn't control them. So it was dangerous if I stayed."

"I can see why that made you angry," Cyborg told me, his voice was tinted with watered down rage. "I was chased out of a town, they would regret it," he said to no one in particular.

I shook my head, "Being chased isn't what bothered me, I wasn't mad at them because they were cruel."

Starfire looked lost, the poor thing, "Then why does this angry feeling come when you remember that?" He head was cocked to one side with her hands clasped in front of her innocently.

"I was angry because they made me sad," I told them, suddenly feeling a lot better. I felt like something that had been tangled in me had just been cut away.

"Mage will you stop making us prompt you?" Raven asked calmly, though I could hear an edge to her voice.

I swallowed nervously, "I was sad because..." I trailed off feeling embarrassed. "Because they didn't know what they were missing. I grieved for all of the people they had sent away that mightn't have been able to find a home." The rest of the teens were staring at me as if I was insane. "I don't like being sad, so that sadness was quickly kindled to anger at their foolishness and how I couldn't change it. ...I felt helpless." I stopped then, feeling embarrassed, but the normal block that kept me from wanting to talk about it wasn't there.

"So you weren't mad because they were mean to you?" Robin asked. He rubbed the back of his head and seemed to be looking for sanity somewhere in the room.

"No," I told him simply, "I didn't care enough about them for their contact with me to matter." I heard a hint of scorn creep into my voice, "They were just foolish sightless idiotic people," I spat out.

I couldn't help but be shocked at my vehemence. Cyborg gave me an amused look, "Sounds to me like you're mad at them 'cause they chased you," he said in a superior way. Starfire nodded silently, agreeing but not willing to openly provoke me.

I shrugged, "You're probably right, but I'm also sad for them."

The climax had ended and with a shrug the rest of the teens headed back to what they had been doing. Robin rounded on me then, "Mage," he began darkly, "I want you to start doing sit ups," I stared at him, "I'll tell you when to stop." I just stood there, in disbelief I stared. I was exhausted and he wanted me to do SIT UPS! Robin gave me an exasperated look, "Well?" he asked, I sighed and got on my back and began to exercise.

I am going to skip over that horrible hour. Basically I did push ups, sit ups, chin ups, ATTEMPTED weight lifting, and finished with a weak run.

At my last lap, with Robin shouting 'encouragement' beside me, it was horror. I was panting and almost doubled over; I could feel pain up my side and down both legs. I had hands clasped to my sides and felt like I was limping.

"Mage this is the last lap," Robin told me, "You can make it, you're a tough girl."

I closed my eyes and focused on not stumbling, and then I crossed the line and sat down HARD. My arms hurt, my legs hurt, and my stomach hurt, hell even my head hurt. I lay on to my back and watched Robin loom over me; he gave me an apologetic smile.

He gave me his hand to help me up, and I took it. I stood up feeling exhausted, "Good job Mage," he told me. "You did far better then I expected." I looked over at him, gasping and holding my side. He winced, "I'm proud of you," he told me as he went to leave. Somehow that made me feel special, it had been years since any one said that to me. I felt myself smile and stand a little straighter, "Oh and go take a shower," he told me with a laugh.

I stuck my tongue out at him and did just that. The warm water soothed my muscles, killing any future cramps I was probably going to get. With a sigh I toweled my hair...again, and got dressed (with raven's cape). Still drying my hair I walked down to the elevator, I had a hair brush in my mouth for future use.

That's how I entered the living room, with damp dark silver hair that was SO snarled. I had a towel rubbing my head (in an attempt to get rid of the moisture) and a brush in my mouth. Luckily the teens were too busy to notice me. I finally finished making my hair only mildly damp. I took the brush and tried to pull it through my hair; it slid two inches and stopped. As in I couldn't move it stopped.

My eyes widened, my hair was hell when it did this. With great difficulty I managed to untangle it and try again. Ten times I tried, each time the brush got stuck. What was I going to do...?

Then it hit me, Starfire has lots of hair. Her hair is always loose, and it always does what she wants it to.

I walked over to her (she was sitting between the boys on the couch) and put on my most helpless face. "Star, I can't untangle my hair," I told her with a slight sniff, "Could you help me?" I held out my brush to her and she took it, standing up and moving to an empty corner of the couch.

"Is it also customary for friends to do the brushing of hair?" she asked innocently. She pushed me down so I was sitting on the floor, and she sat on the couch.

I thought for a second, "Yes it is, though the brushed hair is often braided after wards, or put in some interesting style." Some styles I have seen have definitely been...interesting.

"Should I put your hair in a style of interest called a braid?" she asked awkwardly.

"Um, you need to brush it first," I told her, "But after that I would appreciate it if you'd put it in two French braids."

"I would love to braid your hair French, friend mage!" Starfire said joyfully, I immediately felt her tugging at the top of my head. Oddly enough it didn't hurt; my hair was long enough that braiding it ALWAYS hurt.

"Don't you want to brush it out first?" I asked cautiously. It hadn't hurt nearly enough, or lasted long enough to be brushed.

The tugging continued, "I already have," Starfire told me cheerfully. "All done," she said as soon as the tugging ceased.

There was no way she could have finished it that quickly, I reached up to feel my hair. My fingers slid over the smooth bumps in my hair. Each bump made a pattern that led down to a braid that hung to my waist. A thick braid, about two inches thick. I pulled my two pig tales over my shoulders, and looked at them in shock. My silver hair was nearing a dark almost black color, it was wet after all. "I don't know how you managed to tame my hair, but thanks Star," I told her in awe.

I glanced around and suddenly the question of Gizmo popped into my head. "Hey, who's Gizmo?" I asked in one of my, oh so GREAT moments of tact (sarcasm).

Cyborg froze; his chant began to rise with remembered anger. Cyborg's car in the video game drove off a cliff, huge red letters started blinking. BEAST BOY WINNER! Nervously I glanced over at him, praying that he wouldn't be the one to answer.

Luckily Raven noticed the obvious tension and spoke before any one else could. "Gizmo," she began coldly, "is a boy who works for Slade." I heard Robin automatically stiffen at you-know-who's name, I couldn't help but regret asking that question. "He and two other people are a team that belongs to HAYEP." (A/N: I highly doubt I got that right, what is it really?)

Robin intersected then, "The two other people are Jinx and Mammoth. All three are enemies of the teen titans." His voice had gone into lecture mode, though his expression showed far more anger than I had expected.

"How did you know about Gizmo?" Beast Boy asked in one of his rare moments of genius.

I decided on the most straight forward answer, "The tower thinks that the evil-bug-thing that was in the kitchen is Gizmo's."

Instantly Cyborg started thinking, "Of COURSE! That explains the workings and the..." he began to mutter to himself. I picked out, "I had thought it was him," and, "That little snot faced brat!" I could hear the rest of what he was saying; it was all just technical mumbo jumbo.

I decided that I needed to change the subject, so I delicately turned all thoughts to an other interest. "When's dinner?" I blurted, unable to think of anything else.

Everyone's head snapped up at me, who would have thought that 'dinner' would have such a strong reaction. I heard a large rumble from Beast Boy, his eyes widened in embarrassment. Suddenly he let out a huge grin and looked down at his vibrating stomach. "Who's in the mood for TOFU!" he yelled deafeningly.

What is it with Beast Boy and yelling?

"NO pizza!"

"I would like some food of the Chinese."

"Subs!"

"Hamburger!"

"Man that is so WRONG, the poor COW!"

"Anything with real MEAT!"

I cut in as the two started to stare at each other. Cyborg glared down at Beast Boy, their chants clashing. "Um, Raven," I tried desperately; she looked up at me in obvious disgust. Something told me that she didn't want to be dragged into this, "Is there anything you would like?" I asked her politely.

She just shrugged and went back to her book, the yelling match began again. I tried again, "You know, I would like to rent a movie..."

"PIZZA!"

"TOFU!"

"MEAT!"

I sighed and massaged my forehead, "Raven, could you PLEASE do something to shut them up?" I pleaded despairingly. "I just want to EAT," she looked at me with an unimpressed gaze. Finally I gave up and sunk quite low, "I'll buy you what ever you want for dinner," I told her calmly.

She raised an eyebrow, suddenly her aura was singing a single sweet melody and all of the boys had shut up. I glanced over at them and saw a black circle surrounding their heads. I couldn't help but giggle, "Now, I was thinking that we could split up and each get what we want. Then we could meet back at a certain movie rental place-thing and have a movie night." Raven removed the mufflers, "What do you think?"

They looked at each other, Robin amused, Beast Boy uncertain, and Cyborg pissed that Raven and I had ganged up on them.

Then Robin shrugged, "Sure, sounds good to me."

Beast Boy nodded, "I'll make sure to get enough tofu for everyone."

With a frown Cyborg broke in, "As long as I don't have to eat tofu, I'm fine."

I glanced over at Starfire, "What do you think Star, does the plan pass?" She nodded, as did Raven. "Then let me get my wallet, and we can head out," I said cheerfully as I immediately sprinted out of the room.

After I went about two steps I remembered my earlier exercises, and slowed down to a walk. I won't bore you on my wallet getting trip, but I managed to get it without killing myself.

I entered the living room wearing the newly retrieved and washed, Raven's cape. The hood was pulled back, but it covered me, and it was really cool! The rest of the teens had waited for me, how sweet. Robin looked up at me and turned off the TV, "Ready Mage?" he asked in his normally unreadable tone. I nodded, "Titans, GO!" he yelled urgently, and then he and the rest of the titans ambled out to the t-car.

Raven was in front of me, floating along so she looked like a rag doll. 'Hey, Wind,' I asked at a whisper, 'Would you mind making me float like Raven?' My answer was being lifted up in the air, with a grin I took off my hat and slipped on the hood.

I bobbed along RIGHT behind Raven, making sure to scowl just like her. Robin glanced up as my shadow fell across him and smirked. As soon as Robin was looking at me everyone but Raven turned to see what he was grinning at.

Wind made me bob a little as I gave them the fleeting smile that Raven sometimes graces us with. Cyborg chuckled at me, as Starfire gave me a worried look. "Friend Mage, are you sure that is an advisable action?" she asked sweetly.

I gave her a large smile and just nodded. I saw a grin light up Beast Boys face, "Hey Raven," he said with an evil glance sent my way.

I began to energetically bob up and down, thanks to Wind's far too eager HELP, as I frantically waved my arms and shook my head in a NO!

He just grinned even larger, "Did you ever wonder what it would be like to have a twin?" Raven gave him a guarded look, "I'm sure Mage has," he told her dangerously.

Suddenly I stopped bobbing and started to make myself look just like Raven, it worked. If I was going to get caught, I was going to enjoy it. Meanwhile Beast Boys one sided conversation continued, "I guess you could say that you a have a bit of a split personality!" he said joyously.

I couldn't help but let out a groan, "Beast Boy that was so bad it was physically painful," he was told darkly.

Raven's cape swirled and whispered as she turned to look at me. I forced myself to look just like her. She spun herself in mid air until she was facing me, her look was incredulous.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly, as she tugged down a rebellious smile. "Mage," she asked dangerously, "What are you doing?"

It was time for some smooth talking, "I'm trying to be just like you Raven," I told her smoothly. I forced myself to sound sincere, and I wasn't entirely lying either. "You are a very kind, intelligent, and admirable person, so I've made you my role model." Softly I lowered my eyes and fidgeted, "I went too far, I'm sorry, I was just wondering what it would be like to float like you do."

She sighed and gave me a reproachful, I'm-not-really-mad-I'm-just-pretending-for-my-image look. "You're just saying that so I don't hurt you," she told me in a bored tone.

One of these days I have to get her to laugh, "Well...YES!" I said defensively, "But that doesn't make it any less true!" I straightened myself and stood in a hopefully regal manner, "When you're sucking up, it's best to speak the truth. That way the person is willing to be flattered, and not kill you," I added suggestively. "Hint hint."

Raven rolled her eyes and floated the rest of the way to the car, though I could have sworn that her chant started chuckling. When I reached the car Wind lowered me gracefully to the ground, and I put back on my hat as I climbed in.

I was in the back, AGAIN, and feeling squished. It always seemed that Raven and Robin were the only ones who could sit up front. Maybe that's because Raven, Robin, and Cyborg are the most obviously frightening...

"So," I began, knowing the danger of what I was about to ask, "Whose going to get what for dinner?"

Immediately it became a yelling match.

"I'm getting TOFU!" Beast Boy yelled in his squeaky little voice.

"I want meat lovers PIZZA!" Cyborg yelled over the noise.

"I would like to have some food of the Chinese?" Starfire queried nervously.

"How about some veggie pizza?" Robin asked calmly.

I sighed and put my head in my hands, forcing myself not to say ANYTHING. Eventually everyone quieted down, and then I spoke up.

"How about Cyborg parks us at some movie rental place, then we split up and get the food?" I asked slowly and clearly.

In answer Cyborg pulled into some small rental store with the comment, "This place has the newest and most classic movies."

Everyone filled out, then formed a half circle around Robin. He sighed and dug into his pocket, "Here Beast Boy, that should be enough for your Tofu," he said as he handed out some green bills.

Robin pulled some more money out of his wallet, and started to hand it to me. I felt myself back off a little; I didn't want the Teen Titan's money. It just felt wrong, like I was using them. He stopped and looked at me, his voice firm, "Mage, you're a part of the Teen Titans, you've every right to have this." I felt my resolve crumble, he had a point. "You've fought with us, you've earned it." I felt a slight smile tug at my lips as I took the money.

He gave me a slight smile, as did the rest of the team, "All right Titans, we'll meet back here after you've gotten your food."

Immediately we split up, though Raven and I stayed together. If I was getting her food I need to have her pick it out. "So," I asked contentedly, "Whose food do you want to get first?"

She shrugged, "We'll get yours first, and otherwise you might not be able to eat." With that cryptic message she began to walk off.

With a painful jog, Robin could definitely be evil, I caught up with her. Finally we arrive in front of a store that smelled far better than you'd have ever imagined. I opened the door and walked in; I could smell fried chicken and roast beef. I was finally going to have a REAL meal.

Softly my lids closed, light turned to a soft golden color as scents whispered to me. I continued to walk with my eyes closed as I heard the sounds of home cooked meals. This place was a favorite of college students and other young people.

With a contented sigh I began to look around, and I saw Raven begin to let loose a suggestion of a smile. I already knew what I wanted, fried chicken with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and a glass of soft apple cider. I quickly ordered it and it was just as quickly handed over to me. After paying with the Teen Titans...with my money I turned to Raven.

"Lead the way," was my oh so magnificent comment. She smirked and floated out of the shop. I watched her figure bob up and down, her cloak swaying with her unearthly movements. I couldn't resist, 'Wind, would you please make me float like Raven again?' I asked in a rush. 'Only, if she can see me, please put me down.' I heard Wind chuckle as it picked me up and I started to imitate her movements.

We bobbed through the crowds that parted like a wave, quite a few of them staring at me. I could hardly blame them, as I traveled I winked and waved along the way. Quite unlike Raven, if I do say so myself.

I hadn't switched my hat for the hood though, that was probably why the citizens were amused instead of nervous. Wind played with my hair as a man walked up to me. He looked up at me, his eyes crinkling and lips pulling up in an honest smile. Wordlessly he handed me a card:

FRANKS FUNERAL SERVICES:

WE PROVIDE THE CASKET, AND FUNERAL

HOME

456-2235

I began to cough in a furious effort to hide my giggles, and gave the brazen man a wave. Suddenly I felt the ground beneath my feet and looked up to see Raven looking at me. After a second she turned back and continued to lead.

Finally we reached a building that was in a cathedral style, if somewhat Goth. It sounded dark and mysterious, and at the same time just like ever other building on the street. Raven continued to ignore me as she floated in. Wind brought me in after her, where I saw her just standing there.

In confusing I looked over her shoulder and saw myself staring back at me. It was a huge wall to wall ceiling; Raven was gazing in it, glaring at my wide eyed image. Following my gaze Wind immediately put me down, and I stood there in nervous tension. Slowly I saw Raven turn, her cape rippled in her own breeze, and she faced me full on.

I swallowed and gave her a weak smile, "Same reason as before," I squeaked, coughing to clear my throat. Raven smoothly raised an eyebrow and gave me a dangerous glare. I straightened and cocked my head slightly to the side, "Why is it that I'm getting the feeling your more amused than mad?" I asked her in befuddlement.

She let out a slight smile, "Come on," she said in a tone that belied her evil glare. I followed her to a counter with various foods and teas behind it. It was then that I bother to look and see what my hearing had told me.

This place was a café, the smell of coffee and various forms of bagels and doughnuts flouted through it. There was a huge bar that wrapped around half of the room, and most of the bar stools were taken. Throughout the rest of the medium sized room were round tables of varying sizes with dark red chairs. The color scheme was the darker version of all the colors, creating quite a striking and endearing effect. Maybe I'm just odd, but minus the swarm of depressed people in there, I really liked the place.

"Two plain bagels and a hazelnut coffee," Raven ordered behind me. "And a box of Rose hip tea," she told him, "Mage that'll be fifteen dollars."

She immediately had my attention, the girl behind the counter passed over the bagels and coffee, along with a HUGE box of the best looking tea ever. I dug a wallet out of a pocket in Raven's cape and handed her fifteen dollars. "Tea is so not dinner," I told her grumpily.

"It's my beverage," she replied calmly as we walked out of the shop.

"An awful lot to drink, don't you think?" I asked, "Or do you like to have really strong tea," I muttered sarcastically.

Raven didn't answer, yet somehow she still won the fight. I won't fill you in on the walk back to the movie rental place thing. It's awful, I'm skilled in unknown languages that people didn't even knew existed, and I can't even name a movie rental place, thingy...DAM!

Anyway, we reached the movie ren...you know what, and walked in to find the titans wandering around the swamped shop. From ten feet away from the door I could hear voices, pounding at me. The store was big enough that there were probably about thirty to fifty of them and it was only a little crowded, but that was a lot of people for me. I can handle large group's better outside, though I still get REALLY uncomfortable.

I reached the door and looked inside, stealing myself for the wave of sound that I KNEW was going to hit me. Raven opened the door as the sound trickled around the crack and seemed to seek me out. Suddenly a wall of sound seemed to hit me and I stumbled back in shock.

Vaguely I noticed Raven stop and look at me in obvious concern; I gave her a half hearted smile and focused on not screaming.

Each person's chant was going at a volume that was unimaginable, and then they were all chattering away in English to top it off. Though a few were speaking Spanish and or French. Quickly I recovered from my shock and just dealt with what to me was an equivalent to a stadium of screaming fans. Sadly enough I had been used to this before I joined the Teen Titans. Their silent tower had gotten me soft again.

I walked over to Beast Boy and spoke in a deliberately quiet tone; everyone else's chants were far louder. I couldn't hear my voice, but from the well know vibrations in my throat I knew I had picked the right volume.

"What's the plan, does each person pick a movie?" I asked him, only knowing what I was saying because it vibrated in my skull.

Carefully I focused in on him, "No," I barely heard him say, "We're going to pick three movies. One classic, chick-flick," he said with disgust, "And one horror!" he exclaimed happily. I nodded, once again glad of my acute hearing, it took a great deal of practice to be able to pick out one sound from what to me was hundreds. "I was thinking we could watch creepy movie three, or monsters five," It was then that I stopped paying attention to him.

I walked away and began to look at the classics; I would watch Beast Boy and follow him when he left the horror section. I began to 'comb' through the shelves, finding some really good movies along the way. I'm a stickler for classics, give me Casablanca any day. Along the way I bumped into Starfire, "Hello friend Mage," she greeted me warmly, "How is your search for a movie of the classics?" she asked me sweetly.

By now I had become used to the noise, so I barely noticed it. It was always adjusting that got me, I hate adjusting. "Hey Starfire, found any good movies?" I asked her cheerfully. I love being around Starfire, she always cheers me up.

"Well," she began hesitantly, "I found a movie that looks enjoyable," she told me as she held up Dangerous Liaisons.

For those of you that haven't seen it, Dangerous Liaisons is a rated 'r' movie about intrigue in the Victorian Age. It has sexual (very sexual) bits, and some violence towards the end. It is the most wonderful story in the world, full of intrigue and plots, stubbornness and foolishness. I can handle the violence and sex because it is necessary to the plot, and the plot isn't focused on the 'rated r' bits. The more mature parts are more like a fact that something is going on than an attempt to shock you. I just didn't think that Robin, Cyborg, or Beast Boy would appreciate it.

Maybe Raven would, and I didn't know very much about Starfire. "Um Star," I began calmly, "That is an absolutely magnificent story, but I don't think the boys would be impressed."

She looked at me in confusion, "If it is magnificent, why would they not wish to see it?"

I sighed, time to explain ratings. I took the box from her and flipped it on to its back, "You see this spot here, with the 'r'?" I asked her,

"Yes," she said slowly.

"Well that means that there is a great deal of sexual...references and or violence," I told her whilst thinking on my feet. "Also this movie isn't action packed, it's focused on people and the things they do. I don't know the boys very well, but I'm assuming they wouldn't be in to it."

"I am not 'in to' their horror movies all of the time, why can they not watch a movie for me that they are not in to?" she asked in a mildly annoyed voice.

Here was the time for total truth, "Starfire, the boys, especially Robin, like to protect you from the worse parts of the...human culture. You just SEEM so innocent and vulnerable," I told her cautiously, "and it always hurts people to watch that endearing innocence die."

She blinked at me, "Do I seem innocent; because I don't understand your culture?" she asked me softly. Her voice was far more serious than I have ever heard her, yet she still had that ditzy tone waiting under the surface.

I nodded, "Yes Starfire, that is why you seem innocent," I confirmed.

She paused, weighing what I had just said, "Do you feel I am innocent?" she asked.

"No," I told her without hesitation, "I feel that you," I began to slow down and started thinking on my feet. "I feel that the culture you have grown up with must have an extremely important taboo," Starfire looked at me in confusion. I let out a grin at myself, "A no-no that clashes with a fundamental part of the human culture."

She looked at me in mild surprise, "What does that have to do with my innocence?"

"I mean that you must be seeing and doing things that back at your home are considered absolutely wrong." I said straightforwardly, all I could think was, please don't be offended.

She thought some more, "So because I would not be considered innocent by my culture for doing things that you consider normal and them wrong," she looked at me for confirmation, I nodded. "You feel that, that makes me...the opposite of innocent?" She slipped back into her sweet tone when finishing.

I smiled in instant gratitude, "Yes Starfire, that is exactly what I'm saying." I paused and looked at her cautiously, "...um, am I right?"

She suddenly let out a sunny smile, "Of course you are friend Mage!" she exclaimed in cheerfully sincerity.

I nodded, "I'm glad...you know what, lets rent that movie just for us, and maybe Raven also." I commented with a grin, she smiled back.

"That would be joyous friend Mage! But you do not wish to...protect me also?" She asked me, "Protect is the right word?"

I nodded, "Yes to both questions, and someday you'll have to tell me all about your culture."

She nodded and the serious moment broke. I grabbed Starfire's hand and dragged her over to the comedy section. "Will you help me look for Arsenic and Old Lace?" I asked her as I peered at the movies.

"Is it a good movie of Comedy?" Starfire asked from the other end of the aisle.

"It's the BEST!" I told her enthusiastically.

"Is it a best as in Beast Boy's best, or as in Raven's best?" she asked me nervously.

I paused, "I know there's a difference, but what is it?"

"A Beast Boy best is...not very good. A Raven best is ALWAYS good, just a little disturbing," she said, neither of us bothering to look at the other.

"It's a Mage best," I told her, pausing to pull it out, "Old yet a definite classic. I guess you could say that when watching it you have to admit its good, but even if you understand its quality, it isn't always your kind of movie."

Starfire stopped and looked at me, "Have you found it?" she asked me.

"Yes," I told her cheerfully.

I followed her as she headed back to a certain spiky headed teenager, "So it is well made, but not a movie that is made for EVERYONE to enjoy?"

I looked at her in amazement, "Exactly, how come you can take my babbling and turn it into a real sentence?"

She just laughed at me, "Most of your human speaking is just babbling to me," she finished with a giggle.

"Especially Beast Boy," I whispered confidentially.

We walked up to Robin roaring with laughter. Giggling Starfire handed Robin her movie, and I gave him mine. He looked at the six movies in front of him, each of them laid out on a table.

There was an honestly terrifying looking movie about Ghosts or something. Then there was a c grade, I take that back, D grade science fiction movie. There was an A grade science fiction movie, I was guessing that was Cyborg's. Starfire's and mine, and it was all finished off with a good old thriller.

Robin sighed, "Looks like we're getting five, six movies, again." He grumpily picked them up and walked over to the register, he had obviously not bothered to look at Starfire's or my movie. After checking those out he used the Titan communicator to tell the rest of the Titans to get their buts to the T-car.

We drove back in close quarters, full of so many smells that I was slightly nauseated. I couldn't help but thank the Gods that dead food didn't have a language. We FINALLY reached the T-tower and I climbed over Starfire and out of the car. For one second I thought about racing Star to the tower, and then I began to feel my legs. This exercise was really killing all my fun!

With my food and video tape (not to mention remaining money) I headed straight to the living room. I plunked myself down on the couch and inserted the DVD, the other teens walked in soon after.

"What are we watching?" Cy asked loudly, he always seemed loud to me. With a thump he sat down on the couch.

"Is it Arsenic and Old Lace, friend Mage?" Starfire asked cheerily, floating into an Indian style beside me.

I nodded, skipping the opening credits; hopefully they wouldn't notice the fact that it was black and white. Beast boy looked at it suspiciously, "This is SO an old chick-flick, isn't it?" he asked in disgust.

"No," I replied shortly.

Robin jumped over the back of the couch, "No, it's not a chick flick, or no it's not old?" he asked dryly.

I muttered darkly, "It's not a chick-flick, and it's a CLASSIC!" I told them defensively.

"Friend Mage, then why wasn't it in the section of classics," ask Starfire innocently.

"Because they have no taste," I told her with a look.

She let out a slightly evil look, "I thought that the movie people were supposed to know movies? Why else are they in charge of what you humans watch?" She cocked her head to the side, and opened her eyes wide.

I stuck my tongue out at her vehemently; she stared at me for a second. Her eyes narrowed and I could hear the muscles around her mouth tighten; suddenly she shot her tongue out at me. As fast as I could I grabbed it, her eyes crossed to look at her tongue.

I started giggling uncontrollable, "Ssh," Cyborg snapped, "We can't hear the movie!"

Starfire and I exchanged bemused looks, but we settled back and watched.

It was a long time watching movies, in the end we watched Beast Boy's and decided to watch the rest tomorrow. Yawning we all went up to bed.

I crawled under my nice comfortable covers, wearing one of Cyborg's old shirts (that I stole) as pajamas. Slowly I relaxed, everything felt warm and fuzzy. Suddenly there was a BAM, and my room lit up.

I sat up with a jerk, clapping my hands over my mouth to stop a scream. The rain was pounding at my windows, each drop like a pin dropping. A crash filled the room, its sound ricocheting off the angles of my walls. Light flickered through my room, sending pains through my eyes.

I tried to sleep for about half an hour, and then I just gave up. Nervously I grabbed a quilt from my bed, it was a comfort thing, and picked up my old teddy bear. I began to walk down the hallway in a shirt that went to my knees, a huge blanket wrapped around my shoulders and dragging on the floor, and an old and worn teddy bear hugged to my chest. Luckily the elevator was working, so in a mild panic I stepped in and tried not to wince at each thunder clap.

I walked down the dark hallway, each step taking me towards an eerily lit living room. I turned around the corner; the fact that I could hear the other teen's chants wasn't helping to dispel my irrational fears. With great care I peaked around the door frame, my heart beating a tattoo into my skull. There were the teens, every single one of them, chatting about the movie they were going to watch.

I felt a numbing sense of relief sweep over me, with an uncharacteristically large smile I walked over to the couch. As usual Star was the first one to notice me.

Her head tilted at the rustling of my blanket along the floor, and she turned to me with a welcoming grin. "Friend Mage! You are unable to sleep in the storm of lights also! How glorious! Now we can all watch Raven's movie together," she explained in a calmer voice.

I gave her a grin and sat down on the couch, choosing to ignore the looks the boys, even Raven were giving me. Suddenly Cyborg gave a good look at my shirt, "Hey! That's where my shirt went!" He stopped and gave me a concerned glance, "Um, Mage, you know how bad it looks to have you wearing my shirt?"

I gave him a slight smile as I nestled against the middle of the couch, "This is ME we're talking about. Do you honestly think someone here is going to make that assumption?"

He didn't bother responding to the obvious answer to that, which I hoped was a no. Beast Boy glanced down at my teddy bear, and gave a soft almost reminiscent smile. I underestimated him, "Hey Mage," he said while moving closer to me. "You know, I'll be your teddy bear, if the movie gets too scary for you."

I shot him a venomous look, "Beast Boy, you'll get to be my teddy bear as soon as you get Raven to laugh at your jokes." I told him sarcastically, Robin coughed lightly.

Beast Boy looked completely undisturbed, "Raven thinks my jokes are funny, she...sorta told me so," he said in a semi confident tone. The sorta ruined my fear of Raven actually laughing.

"Don't push it Beast Boy," Raven growled, pushing play on the remote. I settled back nervously to watch the movie, and then I slowly began to relax.

With the teens to distract me the thunder wasn't nearly as frightening, and the movie didn't seem all that scary. It started out fairly normal, about the life of a present day person. It was done very well; it had the effect of a dream.

Then it got scary. A young boy was hiding in a corner. Slowly a demon was walking towards him. Each step echoed eerily, its chant whispering in a language I didn't know. (If the set and special effects are well done, EVERYTHING from walls to unreal images have a believable chant.) The pale creature floated around the corner, the boy's back was turned. I was the only one who knew what was coming, yet that made the suspense that much more horrible.

Suddenly the creature leapt out at the boy, I instantly clapped my hand to my mouth to stop a scream. The boy's muscles tightened, horror sounded through his chant like nails on a chalk board. Wide eyed I watched the monster back the eight year old child into a corner, then growl darkly. Without warning it leapt, the air whistling around it as the creature landed on the boy.

The camera shot back and all you saw was a silhouette, but I could hear the boy's screams. Without realizing what I was doing I grabbed Beast Boy's shoulders and buried my face in his back.

Beast Boy let out an unearthly shriek; I just wrapped my arms around him and put him between me and the TV. Somehow I was sure that the demon was what had made him shriek, not me. "Uh, Mage," he stuttered, "Y-you can let go of me."

I whimpered, my only form of verbal communicate I could use when terrified. Cyborg leaned over, "Mage are you all right?" he wondered, amused and worried at the same time.

I nodded, not trusting myself to control my powers if I spoke. I carefully let go of Beast Boy and sat back, just about strangling my teddy bear. I lasted well until about the last five minutes of the movie.

By then my nerves were shot, but I hadn't whimpered or clung to anyone at all. Shadows began to gather off stage, I could hear their whispered words. I began to tense, the other teens had learned that meant action and grinned in anticipation. The whispered voices grew until I was about to scream, then they went silent. All sound was gone, silence ran through the TV.

Then the monsters circled the boy, their shapes shadows and thoughts imagined dreams. Slowly they neared him, making his candle flicker. The young boy's eye's widened and his candle went out. It was then that his chant lost all hope, and I heard the demons leap. His chant let out a dieing scream; it's horrified and exalting tones sending shivers up my spine.

Then all was silent, the movie ended and I stared in frozen horror. The other teens began to relax when thunder split the air and lighting flashed. The next thing I knew the light had gone out. I couldn't handle it; with a terrified squeak I grabbed the thing nearest to me. I wrapped my arms around it, not bothering to check what it was, and curled up in the fetal position.

Through my closed eyelids I saw Starfire's bolts glow a pale green. "Mage," I heard Robin say, "Are you okay?"

In response I hugged whatever I was holding even tighter, "Hey! Mage, I'd kind of like to breath," Cyborg told me.

I carefully cracked open my eyes, and saw the teens in a circle around me. With great care I let go of Cyborg, and moved away. Thunder pounded once again, the next thing I knew I had pulled my blanket over my head. "Mage," Raven said calmly, "It's just a thunder storm."

"Yeah," I said defensively, quickly changing my fear into a watery anger, "You can't understand what its saying!"

"Will you be all right, friend Mage?" Starfire asked in concern.

I took a breath and gained what looked like control, "Yeah, now I am." The teens looked at me uncertainly, "That horror movie was just a little too much, I think."

They seemed to accept it, for now. "Well, alright, if you can't sleep feel free to wake one of us up," Robin told me.

I gave him a genuine smile, "Thanks, though I doubt I'll be interrupting your sleep." I paused and look around, "I'll be heading up to bed, that way I'll sleep away the thunder storm." At that I jogged to the stairs and started to my room.

I didn't sleep.

An hour later (midnight) I gave up and decided to take up Robin's offer. I was going to call in the most comforting person I could think of, Raven. Nothing was scarier than her, and if I got her on my side I was safe. The night demons (so to speak) had begun to haunt me. With Raven's borrowed cape and my teddy-bear I headed to her room. I was well aware of the fact that she could be far more frightening than the storm.

I knocked on her door firmly, not awake enough to think properly. Nothing happened, I knocked again. I heard Raven drag herself to her feet, and trudge to her door. It slid open automatically, and she looked down at me darkly. I hate being shorter than Raven, at least I'm bigger than Beast Boy.

She was wearing a black silk nighty; she actually looked really good in it. Luckily she was tired enough that she looked more drugged out than terrifying. I gave her a slight smile, "May I sleep in your room?"

Then Raven looked scary, I shrank away. Without answering she shut the door in my face, it was then that thunder hit again. I had relaxed, stupidly, and let out a shrill scream. I felt my power shoot out from me and illuminate the entire room. The light went out in a ring and traveled all the way through the tower before disappearing.

You see, it had been a scream of terror from the unknown. I wanted security, so my power gave me light. I heard Raven's door open, apparently my light had awaken her. With a sigh she gave me a once over, "Come in," she sighed, "But don't. Touch. Anything!"

I nodded, "I promise," with that I walked in and felt somewhat safer. Raven's room was infused with devises that chanted control and protection. Two things that Raven's chant was well embroidered with. That was probably why I trusted her so much. Using Raven's cape as a blanket I curled up on the end of her bed. Raven had all ready gotten in, and I fell fast asleep the instant I hit her mattress. It's odd, but I find that sleeping on the ends of beds is comforting.

For the first time in a long time I slept deeply and completely, without any dreams.