I never asked to be crippled. I never asked to have the life-changing operation that would lead to the death of my parents. I never asked to be filled with such anger, when waking up after the explosion in a pile of debris, and realizing that I was just as much of a freak as before. One thing that I've always asked for, though, was to make a difference. To be a hero, a saint, or even just a charitable person. I got my wish the day of the operation. The day of the explosion. The day Candace Ross died, and Cyan Rush was born.
I'm no helpless girl anymore- I'm a Teen Titan.
#**********#
I slowly walk down the long hallway leading to the main room in Titans Tower- at least- I think it's the hallway leading to the main room. I've only been here for three weeks, and I still can't find my way around. This place is like a maze. I finally find the right doorway and peek my head through. Cyborg and Beast Boy are in the kitchen, and Raven is sitting on the couch reading a big, blue book. They don't notice me, and I decide to take this opportunity to just watch their morning routine. Not in a stalker-ish way, just in a people-watching way.
"Guess who made waffles?"
"Guess who made tofu waffles?"
Cyborg looks at Beast Boy like he just committed murder.
"Dude! You made waffles too? Now we're all out of eggs!"
"It's all good, Cy! I didn't use eggs!" Beast Boy tells him.
"No eggs? What are waffles without eggs?" Cyborg cries.
Raven looks up from her book and floats over to the kitchen, where Cyborg and Beast Boy are fuming at each other. She looks at the waffles. First Cyborg's, then Beast Boy's.
"Will you two knock it off-?" She starts to lecture, but is interrupted by a crying Starfire bursting into the room.
"Oh, my friends! It is the most terrible situation! I cannot find Silkie, and I have looked everywhere!"
I have to suppress a gasp. The thing I saw last night- the big worm- must be what Starfire's talking about.
This won't end well. Last night, that worm snuck into my room, and I sort of freaked-out and stuffed it into my purse and threw it in the trash bin.
I slowly start creeping back to my room, as stealthily as I can. Which isn't very stealthy, because my ankle makes a snapping sound when I walk too slowly.
"Friend Rush! Have you seen my dearest pet, Silkie?" I hear behind me.
Crap.
"Um, Silkie?" I turn around to face Starfire. We're about the same height, but I feel like I'm shrinking. "I- um- well; Silkie went into my room a bit unexpectedly last night. I sort of got scared and kind of threw him away. In the trash." I said sheepishly.
Starfire looks at me for a second, then bolts over to the trash bin, and starts savagely searching through the trash, apparently not caring about the disgusting contents inside. I run over to her and start to apologize.
"Starfire, I'm really sorry! I didn't know that that thing- pet- was yours! I just thought it was a giant bug or something!"
Starfire reaches into the very bottom of the bin, and retrieves an -oddly happy- Silkie. She turns to face me, and smiles.
"All is forgiven, friend! Silkie is unhurt! I can see why you would think Silkie was 'the giant bugs'. He does look quite ferocious at nighttime. His eyes can glow much like the splinshlop of my home planet!" She says cheerfully.
I give a little chuckle and follow Starfire to the kitchen. I take two waffles while she gets some mustard from the fridge. I look around the room, and finally notice that someone's missing.
"Hey," I turn to Cyborg, whose cleaning up a spill on the counter. "Where's Robin? Is he still sleeping or something?" I ask.
"Nah, Robin never sleeps in, he must be out patrolling. I swear, that guy never takes a break." Cyborg says.
In the few weeks I've been a Teen Titan, I've gotten to know everyone except Robin. I know he's the leader, and he's got a lot of work to do, but he seems really uptight. He reminds me of my mother- always planning and organizing. But, unlike my mother, he's alive.
"Rush? Hey- Cyan! You okay, girl?" Cyborg asks.
My mind focuses back, and I realize that I'm gripping the fork in my hand so tightly that my knuckles are turning white. I put it down, and suppress a grimace. I've got to stop living in the past. The Titans will never accept me if they see what a mess I am.
I look at Cyborg and give a half-smile.
"I'm fine, I'm just fine."
