Disclaimer: I own nothing but the premise. I just wish I owned Jinx =P
A/N: I've got so many ideas for this story, but I'm already starting to slip and lose focus in favor of my other project. But I refuse to give up! Rawr!
As the bell signaling the end of second period rang, Tara sighed in relief. Slipping her math text into her shoulder bag, she stood and made her way out into the throngs of students heading for their lockers. Upon reaching hers, she traded her book bag for her lunch bag and headed out to the courtyard.
"Tara!" a red headed girl with freckles called to her, waving from her spot by the big oak tree.
"Hey Sam." Tara smiled at her friend as she sat down next to her, pulling out her sandwich. "How's Melonie doing?"
"She's still sick, she probably won't be back until next week at this rate." Sam said, taking a drink out of her thermos. "I was going to go see her after school, want to come? She would love the company." She grinned at the blond, but Tara could see it was forced.
"No, I've got something I want to do tonight, maybe tomorrow." Tara evaded. She and Mel had had a fight, and Sam's tone had told her their friend was still angry. Sam was just trying to be polite like she always was. Leaning back against the trunk of the tree, the blond teen watched the clouds pass by.
Noting the distant look on her friend's face, Sam didn't push for info. She recognized that look, the one Tara always wore when she was thinking about something she didn't really want to. She recognized it because she had been seeing it more and more as the school year progressed. The red head was beginning to worry about her friend, but she knew Tara was smart enough to understand that if she needed someone to talk to, Sam would always be there to listen.
In truth, the blond was restless. She had never spent so long in one place before, and she wanted to see new places... not to mention the fact that the longer she spent in Jump the better the chance that some day she was going to stumble across the Titans again. Beast Boy already suspected she remembered more than she claimed... which she did. Her stone slumber hadn't erased her memory, she just didn't want to remember. She wanted a fresh start, and had thought school would give her that.
It had, in a way, but it could not sate her appetite for adventure. It couldn't give her the excitement exploring hidden ruins in the amazon could, or the adrenaline rush jumping off the grand canyon did. School was to... safe. Boring. She had made a few friends sure, but she couldn't help but compare this new life with a cage. She honestly didn't understand how everyone else could stand it.
The pair finished their lunches in silence before heading back inside to wait for the third period bell. It rang at 12:21 PM, just like it had the day before, and the day before that... just like it was going to tomorrow and the day after that.
'Every day is exactly the same.' she sighed inwardly. If she couldn't find something interesting to do, she was going to go insane.
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The sun was setting as Tara made her way towards the park. She followed the paved path for several minutes before turning off into the trees. Approaching the crevice leading down into the earth, she reached into her bag for the small flashlight and slowly began her descent. Distracted by her own thoughts, the blond didn't realize she had arrived at her destination until she stood within the center of the large cavern.
Setting her bag down, she sat cross-legged and pulled out her homework, feeling a familiar calm wash over her. It wasn't the memories that brought her here as often as she came, but the peace. For almost two years she had been one with the earth here, and the feeling of being so deep within it again always made her feel better. Like coming home after a long trip away.
So content was she, in fact, that it took her several minutes to realize she wasn't alone.
Setting her textbook on the ground, Tara's eyes flicked around the cave. She could hear quiet breathing, but the echos made it hard to tell where from. "Hello?" she called, and stood when she received no reply. Looking around her, there were plenty of places to hide. Chunks of rock jutting from the ground, ledges and dips in the stone... gripping her flashlight she tiptoed around the edge of the cavern.
When the beam of light fell on a patch of bright pink Tara nearly dropped the metal object, her breath catching in her throat. Careful not to shine the light directly at it, she stepped around the side of the rock and was rather surprised to find a girl. She looked a bit older than Tara, her hair a tad longer than shoulder length and a shade of bright pink, her clothes a deep purple and black blouse and skirt. She was hugging her knees to her chest and leaning against the rock as she slept, and Tara couldn't help but giggle at how much she reminded her of a sleeping cat, all curled up like that.
The pink haired girl murmured softly in her sleep, one hand sliding up to rub at her face. She seemed so familiar, but she didn't know where from. Tara sat back against the wall, facing the girl. 'I wonder why she's down here, of all places.' the blond thought to herself. 'Maybe she can feel the calm too.' Smiling softly, Tara let her eyes drift shut as well. "Maybe a cat-nap wouldn't be so bad after all." she muttered.
A soft laugh made her head snap up, looking at the other girl. The pink haired teen had one eye open, looking her over. The blond could do nothing but stare, she had never seen eye's quite like hers. The laugh was repeated.
"Have I got something on my face?" the girl said smiling a cheshire grin. Tara's throat felt like it had closed off. Realizing the girl was expecting an answer, she dumbly shook her head. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. 'Snap out of it Tara, you're making a fool out of yourself!' she mentally berated herself. Why was she suddenly acting like a headless chicken?
The girl stood up and stretched, her hair seemingly pushing itself up and back into her trademark horns. It was one fluid motion that only seemed to reaffirm Tara's earlier line of thought. Definitely a cat. The blond slowly stood, brushing the dirt off her skirt and looked up, gasping as she saw the girl's face inches from hers. 'I didn't even hear her move!'
The older teen seemed to contemplate her for a moment before stepping back. She extended her hand, her cheshire grin fading to a softer, more honest smile. "You haven't started running for your life, so you can't be all that bad. I'm Jinx."
Tara took the offered hand gingerly. "Why would I run?" she asked, before suddenly realizing why the girl was so familiar.
'H.I.V.E Five hits Egyptian exhibit at Jump City museum!'
That's what last week's headline in the paper was, along with a picture of the... errm... six members. The pink haired teen must have noticed the look on her face.
"Yeah, that's me." she used her free hand to cover her mouth to stop from laughing. Tara gulped, noting her hand was still in Jinx's. "Well?" the taller girl's head tilted curiously.
"Err... Tara." the blond said, trying not to look as nervous as she felt. Jinx seemed nice enough, if a bit odd, but she was still one of Jump's most well known villains.
"Well, err-Tara, it's so nice to meet you." Jinx shook the blonde's hand vigorously before letting go. Her head tilted to the other side, one finger resting on her lip in thought. "Umm... You seem familiar, have I threatened you before?"
Tara's heart skipped a beat, praying to whatever divine influence was listening that Jinx didn't recognize her. Though the Titans had never been called to battle the Hive-Five during her stay with them, Tara had spent three days almost leveling the city under Slade's command. She slowly shook her head, eyes flicking up to Jinx's.
"Hmm... must be imagining it then. Well, time for me to get up and get out for a bit. I'll see you around, cutie." Jinx batted her eye lashes as she backed away before turning and walking out of the cavern. For several minutes Tara stared at the entrance of the tunnel before realizing what she was doing.
'What just happened? Why was it I couldn't put two words together? Why did she call me a cutie? And why, for the love of all that is bright and sunny, is my face as red as a cherry?'
There we have it! Introductions are made. Jinx is strange, Terra is shy, and all is right in the world. Next chapter will take a little longer before it's posted then this one, seeing as how this one was half written when I started.