A/N: Sorry. Oh, and you wonderful reviewers; the few that have survived my bad updating; I am still reading and appreciating your reviews. I admit it, if I write a chapter; I get up the next day eager for reviews. I need to know how this is going. It almost seems like Mage is too aware of her self importance. I'm trying to fix that. Yeah, a bad habit of mine got passed on to her. So, please help me on that.

Disclaimer: You know the drill

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The rest of the day the Titans and I avoided each other, even Starfire seemed to be aware of the tension. In all fairness, I tried to pretend that everything was just fine, but Robin kept giving me looks. In the end I just left, even if everything had been fine; I would not have felt welcome.

Either way, Beast Boy and I met at the top of the tower right when darkness began to descend. He looked over at me as I waited, staring out over the starlit sky. Wordlessly I built an air bridge to the mainland, Beast Boy changing into a bat beside me. The mist from the cool water was almost relaxing, soothing me as it hummed in that quiet tone it had. Mist was perhaps the only thing that was timeless, time wasn't even a concept it could comprehend.

The pavement was rough after the smooth air bridge. We seemed to whisper into the city, Beast Boy leading me into an alley. His leathery wings were almost unnoticeable even to me, stirring no reaction from the normally loud Wind. The shadows of the alley wrapped around us as we faced each other.

His chant distorted, then smoothed into that of Beast Boy's elfin form; his trade mark smile lighting his face. "I'm going to take…us…to see the Night Creatures," he had only the slightest pause, watching my face to gauge my reaction.

I felt myself grow pale; every Power knew to fear the Night Creatures. It had nothing to do with a Power's strength; a Night Creature could still win. We respected them and let them be, not wishing to anger our distant relations.

He noticed, "It'll be fine Mage," his voice was not the childlike sound he often used. It was deeper and more trustworthy. Perhaps I had been listening more to his chant than his words, I do have a habit of doing that. Often, I can't even tell if someone had actually spoken to me. He gave me a small smile then led me into the alleys.

It was then that I noticed he wasn't wearing his uniform. It had been replaced by a pair of jeans and a ratty t-shirt, managing to make him look far older; and a great deal less gangly I might add. The previously tame alleys were suddenly a wild jungle, each shadow a feral thing. In all fairness, the alleys were making creepy sounds to frighten me. So I wasn't being an entire chuckle head.

Beast Boy stopped and turned to me, "Mage, calm down or we aren't continuing," he told me in an exasperated sigh.

I swallowed, taking a few deep breaths. A can tipped over besides me and I jumped about ten feet, holding in a rather girly shriek.

Beast Boy put his head in his hands, muttering something unintelligible; but definitely derogatory. "Look, Mage, Night Creatures can smell your fear; and you reek of it, so you need to," he stopped and sighed as my fear upped about one hundred percent.

-They can smell me!- I couldn't help but think in horror, -yeah, alright, note to self, don't try to sneak around anymore.-

He sat down and looked at me, "Calm down or we're not leaving," he ordered, crossing his arms in annoyance.

I nodded, taking a few deep breaths and feeling a calm wash over me. After a second I opened my eyes and nodded to Beast Boy. He stood and wordlessly led me to a corner, we had quite clearly entered the Night Creatures' part of the city. Wood and cardboard worked as a rough roof that covered all of the alleyways. Boxes and piles of rags were littered everywhere, serving as excellent cover for anyone who wished to hide.

I listened carefully, there was no one around. With a sure step Beast Boy led us to a corner, there I heard two more Night Creatures, I was unsure of their gender. They looked up, their catlike pupils shining in their yellow eyes. I held down my gulp and forced myself to stay calm.

Beast Boy paused and bowed, well; I suppose you could call it a bow. It had the same ritual importance. But it was more of a sort of crouch, yet done with disturbing grace. In a low voice he began to speak, making it clear that these three had met before. "This is Mage," he said in a low rumble, only my fine hearing let me understand him. I reclined my head to the two other Night Creatures; they gave a courteous growl.

The taller of the Night Creatures stepped forward to look at me, more interest then hunger in his gaze. He looked me up and down, and then carefully scented the air; his slitted nostrils quivering. I couldn't help but shiver, and he smiled, "We're not going to eat you," he said in a friendly sibilant hiss.

His chant seconded this, and seemed to laugh at me. I pushed down an embarrassed laugh, but gave him a small smile. I didn't want to show too many teeth, not sure how much was a smile and what was a challenge. The girl next to him stepped forward, the slight silky hair that covered her body rustled softly with her step. She cocked her head and looked up at me, her large dog like ears cupping around to face me.

She seemed more curious then dangerous, but her slight fangs and claws spoke otherwise. Her oddly long arms and serpentine back hinted towards the fact that she could run on all fours as well. Beast Boy watched us, knowing the importance of such moments. Then he broke in, "Mage here seems to think that the Powers are hiding," he said with a small smile.

The girl glanced at him then looked back at me, her ears swiveling to me once again. "She's noticed that has she?" the girl whispered in a rough and gravely voice; clearly not meant to speak English.

Beast Boy nodded, "I told you she would," he said with a self satisfied smile. The male glanced over at him with mild annoyance, but nothing more.

"Why are you hiding?" I asked in a soft voice, easily keeping my voice low. Unlike them, it didn't sound like I was whispering. I had merely turned down the volume, something my odd abilities allowed me to do.

They all stopped and looked at me, "Slade and Brother Blood," the male said simply.

I couldn't hold back a note of sarcasm, "No, really."

The girl relaxed, "I like her," she said with a crinkling of her eyes, though her mouth didn't smile.

I nodded to her, "I'm glad," was my honest reply, as I tugged down a smile. "But what have they been doing?"

The male stopped and stared at me, "You don't know?" he hissed incredulously.

"I don't often run with Powers," was my cool response.

"Then you run with humans?" the girl asked, sniffing my sleeve.

"No."

"Who do you run with?" The male inquired with gentle interest. I couldn't miss the fact that these two were being careful not to frighten me. They stood in shadow so as not to flaunt their un-human characteristics, they were also being very careful to keep a playful note in their voices. I doubt they knew how much I could hear then. I knew exactly how they looked, and that didn't bother me. It was how it should be. I also knew that, at the moment, they meant me no harm. In fact, they both thought I was somewhat (ugh, I hate to say it even now. My ego still takes a bruising at this) cute, like a child.

I just smiled apologetically in response; I didn't feel like explaining my abilities to them. They looked at me for a moment, and then realized that I wasn't going to reply.

The male shrugged, "he knows why," he said with a gesture to Beast Boy. With that both he and the girl left, whispering into the shadows like the Night Creatures they were.

I didn't move until I knew they couldn't hear me, and then I turned to Beast Boy. "What exactly was the point of that?"

He began to walk back towards the human settlements, "To find out if they liked you."

I followed him, an unreadable look on my face. I knew they had, I could read it on their chants as plain as daylight. But then again, Beast Boy had already known about the Powers hiding and had effectively tricked me into thinking he hadn't. Perhaps I should be less cocky about my hearing…

We walked back to the tower in silence, me not wanting to press Beast Boy; and him being unreadable. Now that I noticed it, I could only read the surface of his thoughts. Well, without prying; which I refused to do. I still trusted him, well at least I trusted him not to hurt me. As to whether I trusted his honesty…that was another matter.

We reached the bay and he morphed into a bat as I walked across, the mist still our ally. A small smile rose unbidden to my lips as the mist relaxed me. I had no idea what was going on, the Powers and Night Creatures were banning together against (supposedly) Slade and Brother Blood. The Teen Titans were being tipped off to the fact that something odd was going on, thanks to my incompetence, and Beast Boy was just plain confusing. I decided to wait; I'd play it by ear. For the moment I would trust Beast Boy, for the moment.

We reached the top of the building where we stopped and actually made eye contact. I could tell from his expression that he didn't want to talk, but expected me to speak. I just gave him a small smile and headed off to bed, searching for an unused corner of the Tower. As I walked away I couldn't mistake his chant's whisper of surprise at my silence, and a very teenage smirk lit my face. I'll admit it, I felt like a heroine right then. I always was prone to angst and general romance.