I'm sorry this chapter so long to write. I had trouble writing a believable scenario where two people that don't talk a lot start a conversation with each other. If you find it believable then great, if not well it is fiction. So without further ado the next chapter of The Doctor Is In.
I woke before my alarm went off for once. My alarm clock read 5:55 am. It will go off in five minutes so I decide to get up anyway. I've started getting up early after the robot attack on the roof of the warehouse to workout. I figured it would help me if I get into trouble again.
I started into my routine. My job barely covered my rent and food so I didn't have money for any pieces of equipment or weights. And a gym membership was way out of my price range. I also thought about formal training in martial arts but minimum wage is called minimum for a reason. But enough about the sorry state of my financial life. I stick with body weight exercises such as push-ups and squats. I spend an hour or so on my workout before I get ready for school.
I left my apartment and headed for school. My walk was uneventful. I made it to school quickly and I made my way to my locker. As grab my books Slide and Kelsey join me. Two days ago they started bringing me to school clubs to help me meet new people. It hadn't gone so well. I had knocked over a paint bottle in art club covering several people's pictures in paint. And in the newspaper club I somehow managed to jam their printer right before they were about to print their weekly issue. Both clubs were really nice about it and they invited me back but I could tell that they didn't really want me back.
"I've got the perfect club for you." Slide bragged. " I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. Today you are going to join the, drumroll please, superhero club."
"And why is that the perfect club for me." I asked. I had already gotten used to their attempts at being friendly. I just go with whatever they say now.
"You know Starfire and she's a superhero" said Slide as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Fine I'll go. I'm guessing it's at lunch?" I ask.
"Yep" pipes up Kelsey.
And with that we left for class. My morning was boring but it passed quickly. Lunch came and in no time I found myself in a classroom with about 20 other "superhero enthusiasts" as they called themselves. The leader of the group was a guy named Ian. Everything about Ian is average. He has average grades, height and build. The only distinguishing feature are the square glass he wears that constantly slide down his face.
"Alright let's start this meeting" Ian says a few minutes after I sat down. We are all seated in a circle on chairs. "Today we are going to do the much requested Danny Phantom debate. Was he a hero or villain. We will be following our standard debate rules which means one person talks at a time. When they are done all people who wish to speak must raise their hands and the person who just finished will choose the next speaker. Everybody got that. Good, let's get started."
I can't help but admire the irony of the situation. Here I am at my first meeting and they're already talking about me or at least who I used to be. I sit back in my seat and get comfortable. This will be interesting seeing what people outside Amity Park think of me.
"He's definitely a hero." One guy sitting 3 seats to my left said. "Look at all the times he's fought ghosts trying to hurt people. And he stopped that ghost that covered the earth in a storm."
"What about the times he stole and attacked people," retorted another guy.
"The person he attacked was the mayor and it really wasn't the mayor. His eyes were a different colour. Phantoms eyes were different as well when he committed the robberies. I personally think he framed by a shape shifting ghost." Replied the first guy.
"The videos of those incident are too shaky and grainy to be sure if their eyes are different. And even if they are different and he's innocent like you say, how do you explain him kidnapping that kid. No hero would kidnap someone." Piped up a girl sitting opposite me on the other side of the circle.
A third guy spoke up "Well if there is a shape shifting ghost out there, it could have kidnapped the boy as Phantom to frame him. He's got to have some enemies after he fought all those ghosts"
By this point I am getting nervous. The conversation is getting too close for comfort. Sure they weren't really close about the whole kidnapping thing but they might start getting closer. Also I'm the kid who is supposed to be kidnapped. What if someone recognizes me. I have to get out of here.
I stand up from my chair as quietly as I can and sneak out of the class. Slide and Kelsey follow me as I go. I walk about 10 steps before I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to find Kelsey looking at me with a worried expression.
"Danny, are you ok?" she asks. "You look a little pale."
"I'm fine," I say as my brain starts working overtime to come up with a plausible excuse for my actions. "I use to live in Amity Park before I moved. I was saved by Danny Phantom and I don't like seeing people think he's a villain."
They both seemed to deflate after I said that. "Sorry, we didn't know" said Slide. "I shouldn't have picked that club."
"That's alright. You didn't know" I said. I don't know why I'm trying to make them feel better.
After my comment Kelsey's face lit up. "That's the first time you've told us something personal about yourself. And it was voluntary too."
"That's the only time so don't get your hopes up" I retort sharply hoping to cover up my mistake. Now that I'm away from the class I realize that if my photo had been released, I would already of been recognized. The nervousness I felt leaves me instantly.
"Sure, whatever you say" said Kelsey. "Lunch is about to end so we should probably head to class."
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Compared to this morning, the afternoon seemed to drag on. Thankfully, Slide and Kelsey didn't press me for anymore details. They still tried to talk with me but they weren't trying as hard as usual.
I arrived at the Coffee Beam and started my shift. It had been about 2 weeks since I went to the dance at the warehouse. Since then Starfire has come to my work every few days to see me. My manager was fine with it as long as she paid for something. I found out the hard way that Starfire and coffee don't mix. The first day she was here I gave her a cup of it and it caused her to fly around the room at top speed while speaking faster than I could understand. Thankfully that only lasted about an hour before she crashed … literally. She flew into the wall before she fell to the ground. I was able to catch her before she hit the ground but after that I managed to get her to buy hot chocolate instead.
When Starfire comes here she would spend an hour talking to me. It was more like she would ask me questions, I would deflect them by asking her about the Titan's adventures, and she would tell me what happened to her and the Titans. Than she would usually be called away by an emergency.
It was kind of nice having something to break the monotony of work. She was also great for business. Word spread quickly that a Teen Titan frequently visited one coffee shop and people flocked to the Coffee Bean in hopes of being there when Starfire visited. There had been one incident with a guy that decided that he was going to go on a date with the superhero no matter what and the police had to be called. After that most people were just content to see her from a distance. The problems came after she left. A lot of people came up to me afterwords asking about how I know Starfire, what's she like, and can I introduce them to her.
The Coffee Bean was busy this afternoon. The rush of people buying a coffee on their way home had just finished and the tables inside the store were full. I was currently cleaning one such table after the previous user had spilt his drink and left without cleaning it up. I was halfway done cleaning when the bell above the door range signalling that a new customer entered. I looked over to see a Teen Titan, just not the one I was expecting. There standing in the doorway was Raven.
I had never seen Raven before. Even on the roof of the warehouse, I had only caught a glimpse of dark blue in the corner of my eye. But here she was with her dark blue cloak and hood covering her face. The people inside looked at her for a few seconds before turning back to their drinks. They are already used to seeing a superhero in the store.
Since I was cleaning, the register was left unattended. I know that's a bad business practice but that's the way my manager Joel runs things. The Coffee Bean isn't a large business and even with the extra business we are getting, there isn't enough to hire more people. There is one other girl on payroll other than Joel and myself. She works the days I don't and Joel covers the morning shift everyday except Saturday. The arrangement works pretty well except for, like today, when it gets really busy and I have to make drinks, take orders, and take payment for the drinks at the same time. The Coffee Beans is no Starbucks so the drinks aren't incredibly hard to make but doing all that with twenty people waiting can stress me out. I leave the table half cleaned and head behind the cash register to take her order.
"What would you like to order" I ask.
"A small green tea" replied Raven.
"Coming right up" I take her money and start preparing the tea. The tea we serve is loose leaf so I have to make it and let it steep before I remove the leaves and serve it. The whole process takes about five minutes and I end up awkwardly standing there while the tea steeps. I want to relieve the awkwardness and I'm wondering if Starfire has talked about me to the other Titans. So I decided to start a conversation with my tried and true line. "So why are you here by yourself. Shouldn't you be with your team."
"Beastboy and Cyborg started a prank war in the tower. I left for some peace and quiet" she explained.
I felt kind of bad for her. Pranks with superheroes can get out of hand. The time Vlad and I had one several buildings were destroyed and Vlad became mayor. "I see, because going to a public place when you're basically a celebrity will give you peace and quiet." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yah, because a coffee shop is so loud" she replied just as sarcastically.
"Touché" I say as I nod my head in approval. It's not everyday someone can keep up with my sarcasm. "So how did you hear about this place?"
"I was walking down the street while I wanted tea and saw a café. How else would I have" she snapped at me.
It's a relief to know Starfire hasn't blabbed about me to the Titans. I never told her she shouldn't but I had heavily implied during one of our conversations that I didn't want to be mentioned to her friends. Thankfully she had understood or she was air-headed enough to forget me every time she left. Now that I know I'm not about to be interrogated I need to come up with a believable reason as to why I would ask that question.
"Sorry it's just we put a new ad in the newspaper and I just wanted to see if it was working" I lied easily due to years of evading questions from my parents. The tea finished steeping and I poured it into a paper cup. I handed it to her.
"Actually I should be sorry. Most guys try to talk to me to try and get in my pants." She explains as she grabs the cup. She turns and heads to the half cleaned table I was just at. It's the only free table in the café.
"Let me finish cleaning the table before you sit down" I call as I leave from behind the counter. I grab the cleaning supplies I left on the counter and head over to Raven. I spray cleaner on the table as Raven takes a sip of the tea.
"This really good for a store" Raven comments slightly surprised.
"My manager knows a guy in China that can get us top quality tea relatively cheap" I say as I finish cleaning the table. "If that's everything I have a cash register to run." I walk back to the cash and get ready for the next rush of people due to begin soon.
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It had been a week or so since Raven first came to the Coffee Bean. She would show up whenever the Titans were too rambunctious for her which was usually every day or two. She never came when Starfire was here so I haven't had to deal with that problem yet. Raven would come in and order a tea before sitting down at the same table. If things weren't too busy we would have a short conversation while the tea brewed. Usually we would talk about tea, things like types and brewing tricks Yah I know that's lame but it's not like there was anything else to talk about.
Today was a Saturday and that meant I had the morning shift. I didn't mind it. It is nice to get up early. It's as just after 10am and the breakfast rush was just slowing down when Raven came in today. Something was different about her today. Instead of the cold emotionless expression she usually wore, she was scowling and she had a dangerous glint in her eye. Raven walked up to the counter.
"Tea" she half growled at me. I quickly took her money and started making her order.
"Having a bad day?" I asked as I poured the water over the leaves. Raven's eyes turned red and started glowing as she glared at me. As small hiss escaped her mouth. I got a little nervous at this. You don't want a pissed off superhero in a confined space and glowing red eyes are never a good sign. I just have to remain calm and try and calm her down. I manage to keep my face blank during her glare and say "I'm sorry I asked."
Raven's eyes immediately turn back to their normal colour and she almost looks sorrowful. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little angry." She said.
I should just leave it there and end the conversations. She can sort out her own problems. At this point, I had the image of the angel and devil that sit on people's shoulders in my head. But in my case it was a Danny Phantom with a bed sheet tied around his neck and a Danny Fenton with long hair and a baseball cap and they were arguing.
"You must help her. She needs it" Phantom said heroically as his cape billowed in the imaginary wind.
"That would take too much work. Plus she could end up arresting you if she finds out too much" yawned Fenton as he lay on an imaginary couch.
"But would we be able to live with yourself if you don't help" replied Phantom and he was right. I probably couldn't live with myself. I hate my hero complex sometimes.
The strange conversation only took a few seconds. So I quickly said "Do you want to talk about it. It might help you."
"Not really" she replied.
"Well if you ever change your mind it's not like I'll be leaving anytime soon" I say as the tea finishes steeping. I pour it into her cup and hand it to her. Raven takes the cup and starts heading towards her usual table. She suddenly stops as if contemplating my offer. "If your worried about my work, the breakfast rush is ending so I can probably take my break early. If someone does come in, the table is close enough to the counter for me top hop over and take their order."
"Fine" she says with a sigh.
I walk to Ravens table and sit down opposite her. "So what are you so angry about?" I ask.
Raven paused as if to choose her words carefully. "Nothing, I'm not angry at anything. I'm just angry" she said.
"Ok then are you depressed" I asked.
She looks confused at my comment and I don't blame her. The two don't seem related. "I'm angry, not sad" Raven replies.
"Yes but depression can manifests itself as anger in certain people" I explain.
"I'm sure I'm not depressed and I know why I'm angry. I'm just not angry at anyone or anything." She said but I could tell she was lying.
"That's a lie or at least a half truth" I accused.
Raven seemed taken aback at my comment at first. Surprise quickly followed. "How do you know that" she warily replied.
"You averted your gaze and stiffened while you spoke. Those are classics signs a person is lying" I explain.
"How do you know all of this stuff" Raven asks trying to distract me from the fact she lied to me.
"I had a sister obsessed with psychology who taught me a few things." I say. Also thank you Jazz for cramming body language reading into my head. She thought it would help me if one of my enemies was trying to pull a fast one on me. "So what is the real reason your angry? I can't help until I'm told the truth."
Raven sighs before answering. "My powers caused each of my emotions to manifest as a version of myself in my head. Rage was the strongest so I locked it away. It escaped last night." She said. She still showed signs of withholding something but nowhere near the level of before. That's fine by me. Everyone deserves to have secrets, including me.
Unfortunately I have no experiences similar to this. "I'm assuming you can't lock your rage up again or else you'd of already done it." I ask.
"I can't. It's too powerful." Raven says.
"If it's so powerful why aren't you angry right now." I ask curiously.
"When I'm not in my mind it can only influence me. I can deal with it." said Raven.
"Wait, you can go into your mind? And there are other emotions manifested as you in your mind?" I ask as the start of a plan entered my mind. She nodded. "How many other emotions are there?"
"There are 7. Why?"
"Why don't you ask for them for help. I mean the 8 of you should be able to defeat one emotion. Right" I say. Raven seems surprised. I guess she's never thought of that before.
Suddenly Raven burst out laughing before she put her hands over her mouth. "Those idiots. What have they done" she spoke under her breath. She then said to me as she stood up "I'm sorry Danny. I have to go."
"Wait. How do you know my name?" What if Starfire has told the Titans about me.
Raven smirks and points at the left side of my chest. She the disappears in a flash of black light. I look where Raven pointed and saw my uniforms name tag. Wow I can be really stupid sometimes.