Author here! New story title suggestions are still open! So please, seriously. I need help.
Anywho, I only own my OC[s]!
Wait, what's that? OCs with an s? Multiple original characters? Whaaatt?
Hahaha, silly readers! Don't listen to me! I know nothing! It's not like there will be a new character introduced….or something…. Why you looking at me like that?! I know nothing!
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"Sit down, guys. We need to talk."
I close the door behind me and toss my jacket onto the floor. My teammate's eyes follow me with question.
I sit on the sofa in the Tower's entryway and motion for them to do the same. Starfire gladly plops down next to me, but everyone else is hesitant. I give my best half-smile to show I'm not angry anymore. I didn't talk to anyone yesterday after the little debacle- except Robin. After our own chat, I just walked off without so much as a goodbye, so he's still worried about me.
"Really, this is important. I'm not angry anymore, promise." I assure them.
Beast Boy, followed by Raven, Cyborg, and Robin, sit down by me. I take a deep breath and start,
"I'm going to tell you all about where I came from. And…and what happened to me."
Robin tries to stop me, "Cyan, I told you that you didn't have to-"
"I know. I want to."
He sits back and shuts up. I continue,
"I- well, as you all know now", I glance at Raven, "I did live in Newburry and I lied to you guys about it. For a good reason. Like I said, I was protecting myself. Protecting myself from this man," I take out a photo I clipped from a newspaper, and place it on the coffee table for all to see.
"His name…is . He…he ruined my life." I take the photo of the smiling, youthful man and crumple it up. I throw it onto the floor like the scum he is. Then, I take another deep breath, and proceed.
"When I was born, I had something wrong with me. I was crippled from birth, and they couldn't figure out why. I was paralyzed from about here," I motion to the top of my stomach, "to my feet. My hands, from the elbows down were paralyzed, too. For fifteen years I was like that. I couldn't learn to drive, cook, clean. Nothing. My parents cared enough for me to teach me to read, and basic things like that…but they were so busy. I know they loved me…but," My voice cracks and I look down at my feet. Starfire puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah, it was just- it was really lonely. Just me."
Everyone is silently staring at the floor.
"I used to," I chuckle at the memory, "I used to draw pictures, things I'd see outside the window, and one day I started thinking that I was like real life Rapunzel. You know, locked away in the tower, never seeing the world. I even had the long hair to match. I guess those were the happiest times, when I was little. When I didn't know any better."
I smile and look at everyone. Robin glances at me and gives a slight nod, as if he understands what I mean.
"Anyway, my dad worked as a lawyer, and he had some friends in high places. A medical research facility had been studying something that could "cure" paralysis. There was this man that my dad knew from college that worked there, and he pulled a few strings. I would be the first one to get the operation. My parents decided it was for the best- even if it wasn't one-hundred percent safe. I wanted the operation, but if I knew how dangerous it was…I don't think I would have felt the same."
I clench my fists. If I had known what a freak it would turn me into, I definitely wouldn't have felt the same.
"That man, Dr. Stormer, was the head surgeon. He replaced the drug they were going to inject into me with his own invention. The original was supposed to be injected into the cerebrum, or the part of the brain that controls motor skills. I don't know the details, but it was supposed to kick-start my motor skills, because my own cerebrum hadn't been fully-developed, or something. Dr. Stormer's own injection, however, was supposed to not only kick-start my motor skills, but- almost literally- speed them up. My brain would be able to process movement a thousand times faster. Not only that, but the injection also had a muscle growth hormone. It obviously didn't do its job," I smile and gesture to my skinny body. "There were other things involved, too. But I don't know what they were."
"Friend Rush, how do you know all this?" Starfire asks me.
"Um…the day of - of the…" I stutter. If I'm not ready to think about the details of that day, then I can't explain it.
"You know what?" I say to everyone. "That's a story for another day. I think I'm done talking- for now."
Suddenly, an alarm blares through the tower. Robin stands up.
"Titans, trouble!" He announces. Everyone quickly follows him to the Main Ops room. I get up and start to leave, when Raven calls to me,
"Cyan, can I talk to you?"
"Uh, sure."
We both sit back down, and Raven folds her hands in her lap.
"I'm sorry, for yesterday."
"O-oh. It's alright." I tell her.
"No, really. It wasn't my place to tell everyone things you should have said yourself. I know what it's like to have a past you don't want everyone to know about." She tells me with sincerity.
I smile- an honest smile.
"Thanks. I'm not going to lie- it really did upset me, but I mean it when I say it's really okay now."
"Good. I promise it won't happen again." She says.
Our communicators flash and Cyborg's voice crackles through,
"Rae, Rush, get down here! We've got a bank robbery! It's the Hive Five!" He tells us.
"On our way," Raven answers him.
We exchange glances, and take off towards the doors. I can't help but feel a little excited, my first battle fought, with my team at my side.
They are my team now. I never thought I'd see the day when Candace Ross had people on her side.
