Disclaimer: see chapter one
Dedicated to my first reviewers for this story, Maiden Samurai and ThSamurai
Raindrop on the Pond's Surface
Alexandra Abbot hurried down the dark, dimly lit street, anxious to be home and out of the cold. She wore a knitted cap on her head, hiding her brown curls, and mittens on her hands. She was bundled up in a dark coat two sizes too big, and she could see her breath every time she exhaled. In each hand, she carried a plastic bag full of groceries, from the grocery store one street over.
But she was not as alone as she thought. As she passed a dark alley, she heard footsteps start up behind her. She stopped to glance back, but did not see anyone. Shivering from more than cold, she resumed her pace, picking up her step. The footsteps resumed as well, and sped up as she did. She glanced behind her again, and this time saw a looming figure not five feet behind her. She broke out into a full run, but was tackled to the sidewalk before she took two steps, and her groceries flew everywhere. Immediately she began struggling against her captor, but to no avail. Whoever it was had her in a grip of iron. "Help!" she cried, but that was all she got out before the person whipped out a knife and put it to her throat, telling her to be quiet "or else." Whoever it was let her go, keeping the knife where it was, and ordered her to get up. Silently, she complied, and obeyed his unspoken command to walk toward the alley.
Just as they reached the alley, another person stepped out, bringing her assaulter to a halt. "Who're you?" he snarled. The new figure just blinked. "Speak up, 'less you wanna be carved up like a roast." This brought a response, but not the one he was looking for. In a blur of speed, the figure whipped a staff out from under its cloak, disappearing and reappearing behind him. Before he could react, a blow to his temple knocked him out cold.
Alexandra stared, first at her savior, then her attacker, then back at her savior, who finally spoke. "Ma'am? Are you all right?" The deep bass voice startled a response out of her, and she quickly nodded. "Y-y-yes, I am," she stuttered out. He (with a voice like that, it had to be a man) smiled at her reassuringly, and walked over to where her groceries lay scattered. Numbly she followed, watching as he put them back in the plastic bags, and taking them as he handed them to her. Finally she found her voice, blurting out, "Who are you?" He looked thoughtful for a moment, tilting his head slightly to one side. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for his response. Finally he said, "You can call me Elm, ma'am."
Instantly she took charge of the situation. "Well, Elm, nice to meet you." She set down one bag to offer her hand. After a moment's hesitation, he took it. "I'm Alexandra Abbot, but you can call me Alex." She had a firm handshake, which seemed to reassure him a little. "Yes, ma'am—I mean, Alex," he replied, letting go of her hand.
"By the way," she said, "thanks for saving me."
He looked down at his feet, shifting back and forth. "It was nothing, m—Alex."
"Nonsense. Not everyone could have done that, or would even be willing to try. Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
He looked up again, opening his mouth to protest that in fact, he didn't need anything, but was interrupted by a loud growl filling the air. He glanced down at his stomach, sighing and shaking his head.
"Tell you what, sounds like you could use a good meal. Come with me." At that, she picked up the bag again and started on down the street, Elm meekly following her.
It wasn't long before they reached her house. And yes, it was a house, not an apartment. The small gate in the surrounding fence opened onto a short little brick walkway that led up to the porch, which in turn had three cement steps leading up to the wooden door. Absently handing Elm one of the bags, she fumbled for a moment in her right coat pocket. "Aha!" she exclaimed, bringing out a key ring with several keys (what else would there be?) attached. They tinkled softly as she searched for the right one, and as she inserted it in the lock. She turned the key until there was an audible click, then removed it and put the ring back in her pocket. She opened the door and walked in, gesturing for him to come in as well. He shut the door behind him as he did.
"Brian, I'm home!" she called, pulling off her coat and hanging it up on the rack to the right. Instantly the pounding of feet was heard, and a little boy raced into the room. "Mommy!" he exclaimed, and in a blur of motion, he rushed Alex, who bent down to catch him. He wrapped his arms around her and she picked him up, returning the hug he gave her with a kiss on his cheek. For several long moments, she just stood there holding her son, smothering him with kisses. Finally he'd had enough and started protesting, so she set him down and lovingly ruffled his dark brown curls. "Brian, I want you to meet someone," she said sweetly. She turned to Elm, and the boy looked at him curiously.
"Hello," he said, walking over to the tall stranger and looking up underneath the hood. Elm set his staff in the corner next to the coat rack, then reached up to pull back the fabric covering his head, revealing short, vivid red hair, made all the more so by the streaks of pure white running through it. He kneeled down to put himself at eye level with Brian. When he looked into the boy's grey pupils, it revealed another curious aspect to the child and his parent—though his left eye was the deep blue of a summer sky, the right was green as an emerald.
He grinned at Brian and returned his greeting. "Hello. Did I hear your name is Brian?" The boy nodded. "My name is Elm. Glad to meet you."
"Me too."
Alex interjected at that point. "He saved me on the way home. He's a hero."
Brian's eyes grew as big as saucers, and began a series of nonstop questions. "Really? A real hero? What powers you got? How many people you saved? How many bad guys have you stopped? Do you know the Teen Titans?"
Elm tried to keep track of the questions, absently holding up a hand when Alex moved to quiet her son. Most of them went right past him but…"Who are the Teen Titans?"
This started another flurry, as Brian explained in his own way. "They're the greatest heroes ever! They have powers, and they use them to help other people. Oh, and they're kids like me! I bet they don't have to go to bed when they're told."
Elm chuckled at that last statement and agreed, then looked up at Alex, clearly asking for further clarification. "They're a team of teenage superheroes who live on the coast of California. Their names are Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, and Cyborg, and they protect Jump City, along California's coastline. If you want to know any more, you'll have to ask him." She gestured at Brian.
Elm didn't even have to ask, as the boy began to elaborate on the subject. "Robin doesn't really have any powers, but he's a super ninja, with a staff and lots of cool stuff. Starfire is an alien who is really strong, can fly, and shoots green lasers from her eyes and hands. Beast Bay can become any animal he wants…I wish I could do that. I want to fly! Oh, and Raven is, um, a witch. She uses this black stuff to pick up and throw things at bad guys. And Cyborg is a robot! Well, not all robot. He's part human, part robot. He's also really strong, and shoots this blue light out of his arm."
Elm whistled. "That's some team of heroes. I'd like to meet them someday…"
I remember the conversation so clearly, it's like it was yesterday. I can't remember any other details, other than the fact that I was walking up to the door. I don't even recall why I was there. However, I do remember that when I heard voices behind it, I tiptoed the rest of the way to that door and put my ear up against it.
"Our tests show that he does have potential, Ma'am, but from monitoring his brain activity, it's dormant under most conditions. From what we've seen, there's only one thing that brings it out."
My eyes widened when I heard the soft voice of my mother speaking. "And what would that be?"
"Apparently, the only time it's active is when he's physically in your presence. I don't understand it."
Silence was all that I 'heard' from the room for several seconds. Then my mother spoke up again. "Well, that's not very practical, is it? You need to come up with a way to unlock it. He'd be heartbroken if you didn't—he's always dreamed of having the power to help others. And I can't be around him twenty-four seven."
Again silence filled the room, this time for a much longer period of time. "I can't, can I?"
We had no idea…