I finally own the Teen Titans!
... But not really
Ghost found something amusing the night before. One, it was way to easy to scare the new guy and two, Adriana hated the name Aqua Lass. He planned to use both of these variables in the equation of the day. He walked up to the abandoned video store that was starting to become a sight of pleasure for him. While his body mindlessly droned through lectures and busy work at school, he could fight crime and no one would be any the wiser. It was a truly wonderful life and nothing had even gone wrong yet.
Ghost stood over the bomb-shelter/hideout and looked down. He then got on his knees and poked his head through the pavement, then the ceiling of the hideout. The main room was empty except for Hammer who was still asleep on the couch.
"Hammer," Ghost whispered.
The oversized teen stirred in his sleep.
"Haaaaammerrrrrr," the young soul whispered again. Hammer opened his eyes. Ghost spread his arms wide and let himself fall on top of him.
"Ah!" Ghost yelled ghoulishly.
Hammer's eyes tripled in size.
"AAAAAAAAAH!" Hammer screamed. He rolled off the couch and fell on the floor. Ghost became solid just before he hit the couch giggling. Hammer slowly picked himself up with his weapon in hand. His eyes were wide and crazed. He barely had the restraint to keep himself from attacking the soul. Ghost, for whatever reason, didn't seem to notice this. He pointed at his teammate and giggled uncontrollably.
"You..." Ghost said rolling onto his back still laughing hysterically. "You should have seen your face." Hammer glared at him and stood up straight.
"You shouldn't do that," Hammer said almost warningly. Celestial walked into the room in halter top and black capri pants.
"It's just a joke. He doesn't mean anything by it," she assured. Crimson walked through the room from the kitchen with his coffee mug.
"Morning Crims," Ghost greeted happily.
Crimson shot a glare in their direction, or more specifically Hammer's, and muttered a response as he sipped his coffee. Hammer lowered his head under his gaze and looked at the floor. Ghost didn't seem to notice the exchange as he rolled off the couch onto his feet. Hammer looked at Celestial.
The corner of her mouth twitched in though. She didn't want to have to confront anyone. She was terrible, too meek and small to really sound convincing. But these were the people in her vision. These were the people she was supposed to see. Celestial breathed in a big sigh and followed their leader into his room. Come to think of it, she'd never seen his room before. Celestial knocked on the metal door and then let herself in.
The room was dark, black and red lining on the sheets. Red carpeting and dark wood for the furniture. Crimson was at his desk already dressed for the day. The only thing that gave away his sleep depravity was the slight bags under his eyes and a perfectly made bed. He sat at his desk slowly sipping his black coffee.
"I don't want anyone in my room," Crimson said as politely as his weariness would allow his tone to be.
"What do you think is wrong with Hammer?" she asked slowly closing the door behind her. Crimson picked up his dark eyes, glad that he was finally able to speak on the subject.
"You shouldn't have invited him to stay with us," Crimson said. Celestial nodded and looked away cheeks burning with shame and embarrassment.
"That's what this is about. You're upset I offered a perfect stranger to live with us," Celestial said shyly.
"No. We're all perfect strangers to each other. We've only known one another a matter of days," he said putting down his mug with a gentle thud on the desk surface.
"I know," she said. "But he's the only one you don't trust."
"That's not true. I don't trust any of you," Crimson said. Celestial looked up at this, seeming somewhat hurt. Crimson caught himself looked in her direction. "I did not mean..."
"I know what you mean. You're trying to convince me that you don't have anything against Hammer when clearly you do," Celestial said raising her small voice only a little. She swallowed hard. "Friends don't keep secrets. I guess that's why we're only teammates of a mediocre team." Crimson turned around in his chair to face her.
"We are not mediocre," Crimson argued. It was clear that Celestial didn't agree.
"We have potential, but a team needs to work together and trust one another. I guess that's why you were such a great solo artist. You only trust in yourself. I know you don't trust Hammer. None of us really trust him after what we saw, but the least you can do is give him a fair chance or we're all doomed," Celestial said. Crimson cocked an eyebrow.
"Doomed?" he echoed. Celestial looked away.
"Yeah," she said lowering her voice again. There was a pause in the conversation. She turned to face him again. "You can trust us, Crimson. It's the only way we'll be a great team of great heroes. Most of all you can trust our judgement." With that she left the room. Crimson was alone with his thoughts.
Celestial entered the living room where the room was buzzing with activity as it usually was.
"Come on. I think we should make some snow cones," Adriana said light heartedly. "All we need is juice. I'll take care of the rest." Hammer, Adriana, and Ghost hogged the couch while Celestial flipped through channels from the remote in the armchair. Her dark wings spread wide and she wiggled her body against the cushions trying to get comfortable.
"I don't see the point. I can't eat without my body," Ghost said.
"Well, just go get your body and bring it back here," Adriana said.
"Yeah right! I'm not giving away my identity," Ghost said. Adriana smiled wickedly.
"Who's to say we don't already know your identity. I'm sure Red bugged you with a tracker already and they know where you live and everything," Adriana said. Ghost seemed momentarily alarmed. Then he squinted his eyes in disbelief.
"Not uh!" Hammer let out a deep sigh. "You just want to show off," Ghost said to Adriana who gave him an unamused look, then she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Whoa! Your tongue's not blue!" Ghost shouted.
"Shut up!" Adriana said blushing a darker blue.
"Nothing's on," Celestial announced dropping the remote to the floor in defeat.
"It seems like nothing is ever on. So much for having five hundred channels," Ghost muttered. Adriana brightened. He raised a finger as if suddenly coming upon an epiphany. "I bet the Agency did this on purpose. They're trying to make us work!"
"Yes, I'm sure its one big blasphemous conspiracy," Adriana said rolling her eyes.
"You bet your blue ass it is!"
"Snow cones it is!" Adriana shouted jumping to her feet and racing toward the kitchen. Ghost looked at Hammer.
"There's gotta be something better to do while we wait for hell to break loose somewhere," Ghost said.
"We could train," Celestial offered as she turned off the television. The screen reverted back to computer screen showing icons and the mouse of the keyboard. As if on cue, Crimson entered the main room. He was still grumpy as usual, but he stood in the middle of the room hands in pockets as he commanded attention.
"She's right. We should train together," Crimson said. "Get to know one another better." He and Celestial looked at each other exchanging a brief moment. The angelic smiled softly.
"Nice goin'. Now we're going to have to work," Ghost said to Celestial. Hammer smiled.
Adriana came in from the kitchen.
"No snow cones? Come on boss man, you gotta try a snow cone," Adriana said. Crimson ignored the offer.
"We have a new addition to our little hideout," Crimson said. "The Agency has been working on it, without our permission of course."
"What? You mean the stuff downstairs?" Ghost asked. Crimson was momentarily surprised.
"How did you know?"
"I checked it out a couple days ago when I phased through the floor," he said. He turned to Hammer who was sitting beside him. "Hey! Wanna take a short cut?" Hammer scratched his head.
"What short cut?" he asked. Ghost grinned mischievously. He put his hand on his shoulder and soon the two of them were through the floor and out of the room. Crimson shrugged.
"Or you could take the elevator that has conveniently appeared in the kitchen overnight," Crimson said looking accusingly at one of the many cameras the Agency had placed in the Nuclear Shelter. He turned and led the way with the remaining team members at his heels.
Ugh... I hate writing about training. It might take a while but it will get done eventually.