I heard sparks from the other side of the door. My friends and I glanced at each other before we opened the door and entered the living room. Cyborg sat hunched over on the couch, light flickering off his armor as he worked. Thick cords lay across the floor.
"What's going on here?" Robin said.
Cyborg jumped to his feet with a smile. "The future!" He pressed a button on his arm. Three ceiling-length speakers appeared near the window, framing the new, giant TV behind him. "Megaphonic sound, Ultra-plasma display, and the pièce de résistance- a brand-new, hot-of-the-shelf, impossible to find anywhere else Game Station XL!"
"Where do I sign up?" Beast Boy said, his hand raised high in the air.
"Why would we need all of this?" Raven said.
"To survive!" Cyborg said.
"And what does this device do to enable our survival?" Starfire said, standing next to a white and gray box. She tapped her finger against the front, and a mini cybernetic cannon opened on the top. She ducked out of the way as waffles launched from the cannon and into the air. The front hatch of the device opened and spat out a plate, allowing the waffles to land safely. Starfire picked one up and shoved it in her mouth.
"Don't you think this is a little much?" Robin said.
"Come on, guys! Times are always changing and society is always advancing! New technology is released each and every year. If we don't act now and keep up, we're going to get left behind!" Cyborg said, standing in front of a giant equalizer. "Now, who else wants to test this thing out?"
He turned and reach toward it. A bolt of lightning came down from the ceiling and consumed Cyborg. In a flash, his body was gone.
"Um..." Beast Boy said. "That was not my fault."
"Where has our robotic friend disappeared to?" Starfire said.
"About... 3000 B.C.?" I said. My friends stared at me, flabbergasted.
"I guess this technology will help us out." Robin said. He hurried over to the computer. "We've got to track down his sonic cannon's frequency."
"From 5,000 years away?!" Beast Boy said. "Is that even possible?!"
"I'm not sure... but we've got to try."
While half of the Titans worked and the other panicked, I found myself slowly backing out and into the hallway. The only knowledge I had of today's episode was Cyborg's point of view, but I didn't get sucked back in time along with him.
When I entered my room, I noticed a note on my pillow. I picked it up and opened it.
Park. Now.
The pretty, yet sloppy handwriting looked like the person was in a hurry. However, since they had to sneak into my room to drop this off without being seen, no doubt they were. There was a scribbled signature on the bottom, but I couldn't recognize whose it could be. Sticking the note in my pocket, I exited my room, sneaking past the living room, and out of the Tower.
The people here at the park were different, but the activities were all the same. I stepped onto the grass as a group of kids on roller skates glided by, covered head to toe in protective gear. I continued down the path. I headed over to a park bench. Just before I sat down, a hand grabbed my shoulder and forced me to turn around.
"It's about time you showed up!"
I reeled back in surprise at Jinx's harsh scowl. She tapped her foot against the cement with tightly folded arms.
"You... were the one that asked me to come here?" I said. "Why?"
"Because this is all your fault!" Jinx said.
"Um..." I couldn't tell if she was contemplating attacking me. I hadn't seen her since before Brother Blood's fall. Maybe she was talking about that? "Could you elaborate?"
"Your stupid voice has been nagging me since the last time I saw you. You think I like doing bad things? You think I like feeling as though it's the only thing that I'm capable of doing? I've tried to be good; that never worked out for me! I'm sorry I'm not perfect like you and your friends."
With a huff, Jinx pouted and turned away, the profile of her face toward me. I stared at Jinx, my mouth slightly parted as I tried to think of something to say. Instead, I covered my mouth and quietly laughed.
"What's so funny?!" Jinx said.
"You really think I'm perfect?" I said. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm just as far from it as you are. I've got an assortment of problems I struggle with."
Jinx sighed and flopped onto the park bench. "Then how do you do it? How do you manage to be so frustratingly positive about things? What helps you to keep moving down the right path?"
I watched Jinx thoughtfully. I never knew her to have this unusual side to her personality. I wonder why she asked for me, out of all people, to hear her out.
"Jinx... Do you see me as a friend?" I said.
Jinx looked at me with wide eyes. Our eyes remained locked for a few moments before she looked away again.
"...Maybe."
I smiled and sat down next to her. "That's an interesting twist. I never thought I'd ever become friends with a bad guy. But as I get to know more about you, I see that you're really not so bad after all." I said. "In fact, I never thought I'd make any friends. After I met the Teen Titans, I've been learning a lot about who I am. Going through hard times is a little easier when I know there's someone who'll handle it with me. If bad times ever do come, I imagine their voices in my head guiding me, telling me to remember what's important to me and to keep holding on."
Jinx snorted. "Like I said, you're frustratingly positive."
I laughed. "I'm trying to rub off on you. You could use a little more optimism."
Jinx smiled. The sincerity was strange, yet so warm and welcoming.
"I've yet to ask, but did you ever sort things out from last time?" Jinx said.
"I did. Despite everything that's coming up soon, I feel good about things." I said. "What about you?"
"I have too much free time since you Titans destroyed my school... again."
"Uh... sorry?"
"No big deal. I'll get my revenge on you soon. I just have to figure out what I'll do."
"Oh, well, make sure you tell me about it once you do."
Jinx's smile shifted to a crooked grin once again. She stood up and stretched her arms above her head.
"Well, then, I'll be out of your hair for now." Jinx said. She took a few steps before pausing and turning back to me. "I'll see you around sometime."
I nodded and watched her disappear in the park's crowds. As the recent events hit me again, I sighed and stood up.
That was rather strange... I thought with a smile. But I'm glad to have a new friend.
