Chapter Four – Part II: Bonding

Author's Note: This chapter is so long that I have decided to divide it into to individual parts.

Disclaimer 1: I do not own teen titans or the teen titan's characters – though I do wish I did.

Disclaimer 2: I do though own Max Steeler. She is a character of my original thought and design. Steal and die.

Max Scampered inside the cavern, retrieved her disc, and hurriedly returned to the cliff's edge. She peered down at Terra's falling figure.

"Come on Terra," she whispered to herself, "you can do this. I'm giving you halfway." She watched earnestly as Terra continued to descend.

Out of sheer panic, Terra whipped her legs beneath her. I can do this! I can do this! Terra thought fearfully. Her hand began to radiate with a yellow glow. She spread her palms flat and lifted her hands sharply. A chunk of rock separated from the ground and rose to meet her, though it still remained fifty feet below. Terra braced herself for impact.

Max bounded on her disc and plunged downward, toward Terra. Max quickly reached Terra and yanked her aboard. She floated to the ground and both leapt off.

"What'd you do that for?" Terra exclaimed, "I had it under control!"

"If your definition of 'under control' is shattering you legs and possibly paralyzing yourself for life, then yeah, you had it alright," Max sighed and grinned slightly. "Let's try it again."

And they did. Terra and Max trained continuously until at last the sunlight faded and the first stars appeared. Soon both girls sat warming there hands by a small fire, safe within the boundaries of their den.

"So, what about you?"

Max looked up at Terra, "What about me?"

"No, I meant what's your story. You don't just start randomly working for a criminal mastermind."

Max gave Terra and intense look, then sighed looking to the ground.

"My parents were killed when I was ten…".Max began.

"I am so sorry," Terra comforted.

"It's okay. They weren't my real parents."

"You were adopted?"

"Not exactly. You see my parents, my real parents, had me knowing they were going to give me up. The had me for a research organization. Anyway, the night my caretakers were killed I was shot and dumped in an alley. Slade took me in and I've been here ever since."

Terra sat still, taken back, as if realizing something.

"Do you have powers?"

Max kept silent for a moment. "What about you? Why'd you leave the titan's tower? I mean really, why?" Max had changed the subject. Terra took this as her answer.

"Beastboy broke his promise. He promised he wouldn't tell my secret, but he did. That's the real reason I left."

"What secret?"

"That I can't control my powers."

"Well that's not really a secret," Max smiled.

Terra glared at her, and Max changed her reaction.

"Okay, how do you know he told?"

"Robin knew. He told me that he knew I couldn't control my poweres and that I'd need more training."

"Well Robin's a pretty smart guy."

"Huh?"

"I mean did you ever think that maybe Robin figured it out. I mean it wasn't that hard for me to tell, and I'm not even a superhero!"

Terra stared at the flickering flames, "I guess I never thought of that."

The next three weeks Terra and Max vigorously trained. Hour after hour, day after day, until Terra had finally harnessed her gift. In that short time the girls had bonded till they were almost inseperable. That night (three weeks later) the girls returned to Slade's lair.

"How are things progressing?" Slade asked as he meandered up to the pair.

"Terra has mastered her powers and all else is going according to schedule," Max stated softly.

"Excellent, then I wish to speak to Terra…alone."

For a moment it looked as if Max might protest, but in the end she nodded, backing down. She watched as Slade and Terra exited the room, shutting the door. Max waited anxiously on the other side, until at last Terra's frame slipped quietly through the door.

"what'd he say?" Max asked immediately.

Terra held the tears back as she attempted to explain, "He gave me these…" Terra held out her hand, "to plant when I return to the tower.

"My cameras and listening devices? Terra you can't."

"He also said to find their weaknesses…"

"Terra!"

"I have no choice. He said I owe him. He helped me control my powers, saved me from myself, and now I am in debt to him. For that I am his apprentice."

"He didn't help you, I did. If you owe anybody anything, then it's me. And I say you don't owe nobody nothing!"

"I have to Max."

"Terra…"

"I have no choice."

"Listen!" Max whispered harshly, blinking back the tears, "The moment you betray the titans, our friendship is through."

"Max!"

"No Terra," Max stated firmly, "the moment you plant those devices, the moment you relay back information to us, is the exact moment our friendship will cease to exist."

"You don't meant that," Terra answered, hurt.

"Follow the plan, gain the titan's trust, but then just simply become a titan. If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for me. Don't become a traitor. Don't get sucked into Slade's trap. You don't want to end up like me. I mean it Terra. I really do."

"But Max, what about you. If I do that, Slade will take it out on you!"

"I'll cover for you. He won't do anything he hasn't done before. I'll be fine. What's a few bruises compared to what you have to lose," Max smiled, placing her hand on Terra's shoulder. "Just think about it."

Terra stepped forward and hugged Max suddenly. At first, Max was unsure of what to do, but eventually she returned the hug. "I will," Terra whispered, releasing Max.

Terra turned and walked away, heading for the titan's tower. Max simply sat there hoping, praying that she'd make the right decision.

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