Review Reply (is that what they're called…? Oh well.)

Shinju-Taitei- Thanks-first reviewer! Hopefully they'll be longer in the future….

If you read this story, please review!! I'd LOVE creative criticism (After all, you get better writing and I write better….so everyone wins!)

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A Personal Charity Case Ch. 2

She was put in the infirmirary and hooked up to an IV (According to Bee, it seemed as if the girl hadn't eaten a full meal in at least a week, maybe more). While they waited for their new charge to wake from Bumblebee's shock, the three older Titans stood around awkwardly in the kitchen, pretending to watch Mas y Menos play video games.

Finally Bee turned to Speedy. "What do you think we should do?"

Both of the male Titans were shocked. Bumblebee, their doubtless leader, asking Speedy for direction?!

"Well," Speedy cleared his throat. "First we'll have to wait till it all gets out of her system. Shouldn't take long, she was pretty hungover when she attacked us. We'll have to figure out who she is, WHAT she is, and if she's a threat. Right?" He glanced at the others.

"Do you think it would be of merit to find out where she got this….substance?" Aqualad asked haltingly.

"Yeah," Bee replied. "But we'll have to get her to trust us first…I think. I don't know if she's enemy or friend." She looked at Speedy. "I want you to talk to her at first. Get to know her…I think you're the one who'll know the most about what to do."

Aqualad looked back and forth at his teammates bewilderedly. What was he missing? Why would Speedy…?

"Okay," Speedy nodded. "It's probably better if the twins stayed away-they're annoying to people who actually know them. I can't imagine how they'll be to a hungover superhuman."

A buzzer beeped, telling them that there was movement in the infirmirary. "Showtime, pretty boy," Bee smirked grimly.

The two Titans strode out of the kitchen leaving a confused and unsettled Aqualad behind.

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Speedy strode into the room while Bee watched through the window outside.

The girl was sitting up in the hospital-like bed rubbing her temples with an anguished look on her face. "I refuse to pay the medical bill," she said hoarsely. "And if you wanna argue about it, I suggest you talk to my law-" She stopped as soon as she saw Speedy walking up to her. "What. The. Fuck?"

He smiled with as much friendliness as possible and offered her his hand. "Speedy. Titans East."

She shook his hand warily. "Hello," she let out as she tried not to let her disbelief show.

"What's your name?" he asked, trying not to grimace at her appearance. She was filthy from all the dirt in the mountains that was caked on her body, and her hair was a combination of scraggly and greasy. It hung in her face and she did nothing to let it cease hiding her eyes.

"Sigren. Sigren Rune." She said, straightening up. "And if I may ask, what the hell am I doing in Titans Tower?"

"We found you in the mountains. Sick," he glanced at the bruises on her arms as she followed his gaze back up to her eyes. "I'd like to talk to you about it."

"Oh." Sigren smirked mockingly as she rubbed her temple again. "What is this, like an 'intervention'?" She narrowed her eyes Speedy. "I know why I'm here. And thank you, but I think it's time I go." She started to get up, but he pushed her lightly back on the bed.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Rune, but do you have any idea what happened out there?"

She frowned at him. "Of course I do."

He cocked his head at her, ready to listen.

Sigren led out a big breath. "Okay, I don't. So what? I was out in the mountains. As in, there was no one there to hear me. Or for me to bother. But it's not like you don't have the same problem here in Steel, right? You can't honestly tell me that I'm the only shooter in Steel City."

"Huh?" Speedy was caught off guard. He had assumed that the first thing she would've mentioned would be her shifting. "Well, no. This is a problem because of the way we found you. Or rather, you found us."

Sigren's face remained blank. "What do you mean?"

"You attacked us," he said pointedly.

"Wow," she snorted, grinning crookedly. You're telling me that the, what? Five? Titans out in the desert were caught off guard by an unarmed, defenseless and stoned teenage girl? Wha'd I do, puke on your rocket ship? Oh boy, that must've got your tights in a knot." Her eyes never wavered from Speedy's face, and through her hair he could see that they showed no emotion at all.

He tried not to show that he was unsettled. "No. You attacked us. Not as a girl," he leveled his gaze, "but as a…thing. First an eagle, then a scorpion."

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you didn't find some of my stash up there? Sounds like I wasn't the only one off in dreamland."

Speedy stood up, trying to hide his frustration. "Fine. I'll be back when you start to get your memory back." He strode towards the door.

"You're just gonna leave me here?" she called after him. "Isn't that illegal? Not very good behavior for a Teen Tit-" He slammed the door behind him.

Bumblebee was waiting for him outside. "Nice self-control," she complimented him. "I thought you were gonna throttle her when she made fun of your tights."

He grunted. "Whatever. Once someone like that sees their interrogator fall apart, we'll never get anything out of her." He walked authoritively back to the kitchen. Mas y Menos were still playing their game, and Aqualad's silhouette was visible beneath the ripples of his pool.

Bee smiled at his seriousness. "I'm gonna get her cleaned up. Why don't you make somthin' for lunch?"

He nodded and began to cook.

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Aqualad was still perplexed with the morning's conversation- why would Speedy know more about that type of person? True, he was more street-smart, but did that make him the main interrogator?

He was also a bit irritated that he hadn't been asked to talk to the girl. Traditionally, Aqualad had been the Raven of Titans East-willing to be the mediator to his more fiery-tempered teammates. If he could be the team counselor, why couldn't he talk to this girl?

And the deepest thing that was bothering him. In Atlantis, there were no narcotics, no drugs, barely any alcohol. He had no idea why anyone would be driven to do such things to themselves. He was troubled by the fact that there was someone who he didn't understand.

He had watched the security tape of Speedy and the girl. She had called herself Sigren. The name reminded Aqualad of secrets. He had seen the way her unreadable eyes seemed to look right through Speedy's mask and into his mind.

It terrified him.

Fine, he told himself. I am an Atlantean of the highest ranking-I will have to do as my ancestors did and face my fears. He glided up to the surface of his pool that led to his room. Hopping out, he grabbed a towel and dried himself, bracing himself for whatever he was about to meet.

He strode down the hallway and turned the corner, walking towards the infirmirary door. He peered through the widow in the door. The girl was sleeping. Her lanky frame was sprawled out across the bed and her head was tilted off the corner of the bed, her mouth open as she breathed softly.

Aqualad hesitated, and then turned around back towards to his room. I wouldn't want to disturb her sleep, he rationalized. Besides. She'll be awake soon. I'll go later.

With that thought, he took large strides back to his room and dove like an arrow to the depths of his pool.

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End of chapter 2!!!!!!

Yeah, so I didn't really get a chance to introduce myself- I'm Shutter Shades (duh), and this is my first story. I already have a good idea of where it's gonna go, so combined with that and the fact that today is a snow day PLUS the beginning of my winter break (YESSS!!!), expect plenty of updates over the next few weeks!

Unless you don't review….Like I said earlier creative criticism is really appreciated…plus I'd like to know that I'm not the only one reading this story 

Until next time……peace, love and fruitcups!!