A/N: This is an updated chapter. I rewrote it.
Disclaimer: ditto
I looked around as the group continued talking. To make a long story short, they were just pretending to know what they were doing. Nothing against them, but they were dealing with a race they didn't understand.
I sighed and stood up, running a hand through my hair. I looked over at Robin, my movement catching his attention, "I think I'll head out and find out what I can dig up," I informed him. It was odd, but I felt like I was asking permission to go play, and was waiting for a curfew.
He nodded, "Good idea, just sitting around won't do any good." With that sentence all of the teens inwardly groaned and leaned back. An exhausted look was on all of their faces, and their chants screamed how discouraged they were. That was mostly why I wanted to get out of there; I couldn't handle their tone anymore.
He continued, "Are you planning on speaking with Powers?" he asked; I could tell there was a hitch.
I looked at him warily, "Possibly… why?" I asked, my eyes digging into him.
Unlike most, he didn't flinch at my gaze. No, he just stared back; completely unperturbed. With an arrogant smirk he said, "Raven, you should probably go with Mage," giving me an I-won look. I doubted he realized just how much we chaffed against each other.
Raven sighed and stood up, "Fine," was her less than pleased reaction. Yet her chant was singing its interest. Raven had been watching me, and was hoping to decide…something about me by seeing me work. Or at least that's what I picked up from her chant.
My eyes widened, "No." I said firmly, "Bad idea," I put in; more for my sake then hers.
Raven gave me The Look, and her chant whispered its offence. Robin spoke up, "Why not Mage?" he asked, in what was clearly a challenge.
I was less than impressed with having a power struggle in front of Speedy, but I wasn't backing down. I did not need the teens knowing about the Power side of me. Yet I couldn't think up an excuse, and he knew it. I finally just decided to tell him the truth, or part of it, "I just would rather do this alone."
He looked at me; both Raven and he knew that wasn't the real reason. "I don't need to find out that you DIED because you 'would rather do this alone' Mage," he said. Despite how it looks, he meant it. The real reason for him wanting me to go with Raven was that he didn't want me to get hurt. If I wasn't so pissed I'd probably have hugged him. As it was, I couldn't stay mad at him; I lowered my eyes and sighed; shaking my head at myself. With a small smile at myself I gave in, "You're right," I said with a shrug. Inwardly I screamed –YOU'RE BACKING DOOOWWWNNN!-
When I'm not being dramatically depressed (which is seldom) I always end up backing down. It just seems to be the mature and responsible thing to do. Oh well, I'll probably regret this later. –YES YOU WIILLLL!- I once more yelled inwardly.
He looked up at me suddenly, and quickly masked his surprise. 'WHAT?' his chant screamed, as he studied me for a second. Finally he blinked and looked away, "Ahhh," he caught himself. "Call in a half hour."
Raven and I nodded, and then she rolled her eyes, "Come on," she said in a bored tone. We both left, I quickly grabbing my coat as we went out the door.
This was going to suck, oh well; I'd just have to deal with it. Raven looked at me expectantly; I looked over at her in confusion. Then I remembered, Raven's here to make sure I don't DIE, I'm the one who's in charge. …Well, until I start to die…
Without a word to her I started to walk towards the Power's section of the city. Raven trailed after me, her chant whispering its uncertainty; as I seemed to aimlessly wander. As we walked through a street I caught the sound of a Power. It was nearby, but masked; probably some form of a Mind, or Healer.
I could normally sense Minds and avoid their blocks because they didn't know of my form of power. You see, it wasn't that it was unusual for 'people' to be born with my abilities; they just normally don't have it as strong as I do…and end up going insane. Think about it, never ending chatter; some of which is horrifying while others are so profound it's literally mind boggling. I used to try and understand the brief snatches of the World's chant when I could; but Wind stopped me. It's a good thing too, I was too young then; I still am; and looking back I can see early signs of insanity.
The Power sounded young, not obviously male or female (a classic characteristic of the young). I casually ambled over to a store window, and gazed at a rather stunning dress if I do say so myself. The Power was definitely a Mind. Its chant contained the involuntary order and control that all Minds have (translation: Mind Power, could have telepathy, empathy, etc…).
Its chant shivered, 'Is she watching me…' That was a blow to my pride; I had thought I was being stealthy! With mild irritation I dragged Raven into the shop, taking honest joy in her disgust.
I giggled somewhat, and Raven glared, 'Death, Torture, PMS, PAIN!' her chant whispered menacingly at me. I wasn't worried, she didn't mean it. Well…she meant the PMS, but other than THAT she didn't mean it. I started checking out some scarves, and the Power relaxed.
Another good thing about my abilities, they weren't easily detected. Quite useful; and I'd had my entire (short) life to practice acting normal. Which you get surprisingly good at in your Teenage years, oddly enough. Admittedly I didn't enjoy acting normal, which is why I normally spent so much time by myself; but I still prided myself on my ability to blend in. Though I no longer prided myself on stealth, and that ability to blend in was slowly being questioned. Stupid self-esteem killing Mind!
I shook of my thoughts and once more concentrated on the Power, trying to see if she could tell me anything. At first all I heard was the usual, 'Power Snatcher (aka Slade), Fear,' then she let drop, 'Alliance, plan,' and the vague impression that she was heading to a meeting.
I couldn't follow her, apparently I wasn't sneaky enough. At the same time, once she was no longer within 30 feet of me; I'd loose track of her. The fact that I was in close contact managed to override all of her mind games… I began to wrack my brain, I could ask Raven to follow him.
No. I could not do that. Powers were seriously outnumbered by humans as it was. We were slowly gaining status, but still had to hide. It was every Power's dream, even an outsider like me, for humans to be bred out; and for it to be a Power's world. For the world humans and Powers see is (quite literally) different. A Power must never allow a human (or human minded) creature to step into our affairs. Other wise we feared that they would be lost.
Raven couldn't be asked, and I couldn't follow. I'd have to leave her be. I bought a scarf to justify my visit to this particular store (if Raven got suspicious. I was aware it wouldn't stop her, but it might buy me some time.). With that I left. Raven and I wandered a few more streets and alleys; and I gradually came to notice that there really were no Powers.
Or rather, there were. For without its Powers (specifically Minds) a city would morn. This city was fine, and I even had the distinct impression that the Powers were in this city. Yet I couldn't pinpoint them; I knew they were there…yet I couldn't remember how I knew.
I sighed and started to head back to the tower. I'd have to talk with Beast Boy, he was a fellow Power; maybe we could figure something out. Raven floated beside me silently as we walked back to the Tower.
I was extremely frustrated, there were many places I would have liked checking. With Raven there I couldn't go anywhere near a Power place… If only I hadn't agreed to Robins terms.
Or, I could go out with Beast Boy tonight; and we could sniff around. Safety in numbers, and a Night Creature (more than a ¼ makes you a Night Creature) would set me at ease. Maybe Beast Boy would be able to help, if Night Creatures didn't have a code against Powers the way Powers did against Humans…
My mind was whirling as I walked back into the tower. Robin sat on the couch, playing a one sided video game. He looked up as we came in, his tousled hair a sure sign of his exhaustion. I gave him a small smile, "Are you alright Robin?" I couldn't help but ask.
He just waved the question away, leaning forward eagerly, "So, what did you learn?" he asked hopefully. Raven looked at me, awaiting my reply.
"Um," was my intelligent response, accompanied by a sheepish smile. Robin sat back slightly, a confused expression settling across his face.
'Why is she nervous?' I could hear his chant whisper 'Is something wrong?'
I sighed; I didn't want to lie to them. So, being the truthful imbecile that I am, I said flat out. "I'm not going to tell you," and waited for the reaction.
Both Robin and Raven stared at me. "What?" Robin asked oh so intelligently.
I began to nervously rub the back of my neck, "I'm not going to tell you," I repeated apologetically.
"Why?" Raven asked in dry disbelief.
I instantly felt like shit, "I'm not going to tell you that either…"
I trailed off under Robin's disbelieving stare. "What do you mean you're not going to tell me!" he yelled suddenly, leaping to his feet and glaring down at me.
I shuddered and backed up a little, "We both know the answer to that," was my foolish response.
He just stared at me, then in a sudden fit yelled out, "Can we even trust you?"
Then Raven stepped in, calm and cool; "She didn't lie to us," she said quietly. I looked over at her, lost as to why she was defending me. "If Mage wanted to betray us she could have made up a story, or she could have said she hadn't learned anything." Robin glared at her, and Raven's quiet gaze gradual calmed him down till he let out a sigh and ran a hand over his tousled hair.
"Fine," he said in futile anger. The poor guy was trying to save the world, and we both knew he couldn't.
I gave him an apologetic smile and left the room. Deep in thought I climbed to the roof, passing Beast Boy on the way. I climbed all of the steps till I reached it, and there I sat; overlooking the city.
Soon enough I heard Beast Boys footsteps as he walked across the roof towards me. He sat down next to me, and a companionable silence ensued. I listened, double checking that there were no cameras or recording devices on the roof; when I was certain I spoke.
"I think the Powers have formed an alliance Beast Boy, at least in Guardian." (The Powers name for Jump city. The Teen Titans were there, so most humans weren't as worried about Powers. This city had a higher concentration of Powers than any other Human city.)
He looked at me, his eyes growing wide. "Dude, are you serious?" he asked in his usual manner. Yet his chant said something far different, 'How did she figure that out?'
I nodded, "I came across a Mind today, and her chant spoke of an alliance, with a vague impression that it was against the Kidnapper." (Once again, this means Slade; all Powers know his various titles.) I gazed out over the bay, and we lapsed into silence once again. Our eyes locked on the horizon, as if we could force it to tell us the answers.
Then he looked over at me, "Mage, how 'bout we meet up here tomorrow," he began to suggest. I looked over at him, curious; but I didn't interrupt. "We could go into the city, and maybe learn something…"
He was clearly hiding something, but I didn't push. "Sure," I said calmly, and we both sat their; staring out over the horizon. The sky and water mingled in their song to form a beautiful melody, and I couldn't help but wish to be apart of it. Why did I have to be caught up in human and Power difficulties? Why couldn't I just exist? I sighed, and we just thought to ourselves; not bothering to break the peaceful silence.
