Chapter 3
"Apprentice"
**
Hawk stood in front of Slade who looked at her amused.
"So, Red X, you say that Hawk here came to you?"
"She didn't come to me. Just saw me stealing and I thought she was going to put me in jail right, Flighty?"
Hawk nodded not very pleased with the name Flighty. Slade looked at Red X.
"Red X, you have done well. But, what I hear that you work solo."
"I'll work with the girl, Slade."
"Whenever I need someone I'll get you and you can work with Hawk."
"So I guess I'll see you around, Flighty, ok?"
Red X looked at Hawk and then left. Hawk then looked at Slade and then he held up a suit.
"This is your very own apprentice suit!"
Hawk just stared blankly at Slade and then took the suit.
When Hawk was done changing she stepped out of the bathroom and looked at Slade.
"Why don't you take off your mask?"
"I don't take off my mask. It's a part of me."
"I see."
Slade nodded, but then he had Hawk pinned on the ground. He then slipped off Hawk's mask and then he gasped. He got off as Hawk sat up and she touched her face not feeling the mask on her.
Hawk's hair was a jet black letting her clear blue eyes shine brightly.
"Are you happy now, Slade? You're the first one to see my face."
Slade couldn't answer because he was shocked at Hawk's beauty. Someone who acted so tough you wouldn't guess that they would be so extraordinary.
"Um…Slade, are you ok? You're really quiet."
Slade noticed the worry in Hawk's voice and it confused him. Why was she worried about him? He was the huge super villain of Jump City after all.
Hawk got up and Slade did also.
"Your mission, Hawk, is for you to go undercover in Steel City with the East Titans."
"I've heard of them from the other Titans. They seem like a good bunch of teens."
"I've never fought them before so I don't know. I've heard of them. So you will go undercover and say that Robin informed them that you were coming. I know that he informed some Spanish guys to keep a look out for you."
"Well then I guess I should change?"
"I have some normal street clothes in the closet. Pick out some. Don't get freaked out though when you see female clothes. I have a daughter named Rose. She keeps some of her stuff here when she visits."
"Ok. At least I know you're not a pervert."
Hawk said and then went into the closet and then the bathroom forgetting her mask.
Hawk went out of the bathroom and then Slade eyed her. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans and she also had a silver tank-top on.
"Your daughter has never worn these."
"How'd you know?"
"They still had a tag on them."
Slade sweat dropped and Hawk smiled at Slade. She then was at the door until Slade stopped her.
"What about your mask, Hawk?"
"Oh…Well what do you think I should do?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well you are my master now. I am your apprentice and all."
"Ok, then. This is your decision, Hawk. You wear it or you don't."
"Just keep it here. I'll be back so don't worry."
Hawk said and then left the lair. Hawk was looking at a huge door and then she pressed the doorbell. The door opened and showed a boy with black hair.
"Hi, are you lost?"
"Um…Robin sent me here."
"Robin? You mean in Jump City."
"No dip, Sherlock. I'm Hawk."
Hawk rolled her eyes and the kid's face turned red.
"Robin said that you always wear a mask."
"He doesn't know me that well now does he?"
"I guess not. Come in I didn't know one of you guys would be coming."
"He told some little kids I remember them speaking Spanish."
"You're talking about Mas y Menos."
"I didn't know their names."
Hawk shrugged and then saw the rest of the East Titans. Two little kids stopped running and looked at Hawk then they started flapping their arms like a bird and yelled something.
"Hi I'm Bumble Bee. You are?"
"I'm Hawk. I'm a member of the Teen Titans in Jump City. Robin sent me here to get away for awhile. He told those two over there."
"That's how we didn't know that you were coming."
"I don't want to be a burden. I could just leave and go back."
Just then Slade's voice appeared in Hawk's ear.
"You don't want me to hurt you do you, Hawk? What are you thinking?"
"I'm getting them to fall into my trap, Slade. I'm going all innocent."
A red-haired boy came over to Hawk.
"Hi, I'm Speedy."
"I'm Hawk."
"You can stay in our loveable home. Care to join me in a salmon dinner tonight?"
Hawk was just about to answer when Bumble Bee started yelling at Speedy.
"We are all going out for pizza! Not having your horrible cooking!"
"My cooking is not horrible, Bee! Why can't we just stay at the tower and have real food instead of pizza?"
"Pizza is just as real as any food!"
"I can make pizza!"
"You can make fish pizza!"
"I make the best fish pizza!"
"Can't you get a clue that we all get tired of fish for every single meal?"
"Maybe I can't take a hint because your head is so big."
"What did you say, Arrow Boy?"
"Maybe you can't hear because your words are too stuffed up in your own ears."
"You did not just say that! I'll make you shut up!"
"Make me!"
Speedy and Bumble Bee started fighting and Hawk stood there watching. She thought that the Titans in Jump City were bad in fighting? Just compare them to these guys and you'd want to live with the other Titans instead of these ones. Mas y Menos walked over to Hawk and looked at her.
"Como esta (usted)?"
(How are you?)
"Bien, gracias."
(Fine, thanks.)
"Mucho gusto."
(Nice to meet you.)
"Igualmente."
(Likewise.)
The fighting stopped and Bumble Bee and Speedy looked at Hawk with wide eyes.
"You can talk Spanish?"
"Some. I'm not the one to know a lot of Spanish because I did just learn the basics."
"Wow."
Speedy said and then the black haired boy looked at her.
"I didn't tell you my name yet did I? I am Aqua Lad."
Hawk nodded and then Speedy came over to Hawk with a smile on his face.
"Do you like fish?"
"I love it. I just don't like meat much."
Aqua Lad then sank to the ground and Hawk watched him confused.
"Does he always do that?"
"Yea, you'll get used to it."
Hawk nodded not believing a word that Speedy was saying. How could she get used to a boy sinking to the floor as if he was in pain?
** * ** * ** * ** * ** * **
After awhile Hawk had spent about three months with the East Titans something happened.
** * ** * ** * ** * ** * **
"Hawk, have you seen Mas y Menos or Aqua Lad?"
"Sorry, Bee, I haven't. I thought that Menos said they were going to the movies to see The Little Mermaid 3."
"You have got to be kidding me."
Bumble Bee smacked her face and Hawk chuckled. Then Speedy came in with some fish.
"You should see it! A new restaurant opened and it sells all kind of fish! Here, Bumble Bee, I got you Mai Mai!"
"They had my favorite fish there?"
"They had most of the Mai Mai in stock."
"Give me the fish!"
Bumble Bee said and Speedy laughed handing Bumble Bee the fish. Speedy sat next to Hawk and smiled at her.
"Someone hungry for Shrimp?"
Hawk seemed like a robot as she turned her head slowly facing Speedy. First Speedy was scared that he got on her nerve, but the look on Hawk's face told all.
Speedy laughed as Hawk's eyes shone brightly as he took out some Shrimp and handed it to Hawk as Speedy took out some Salmon. Bumble Bee left the room but not without giving Hawk a little wink. From the day Hawk had stayed at the East Titans tower until now she had a crush on Speedy. Hawk looked at Speedy and smiled. Speedy then cleared his throat.
"Look, Hawk, I've been meaning to tell you something for awhile…I really like you and I was wandering do you want to like go out on dates? If you say no I understand and all."
"Speedy, I would love to."
"You really would? I didn't think that I was your type of guy. I mean I know Raven and Starfire drool all over Aqua Lad and I thought you would turn out like them."
"Aqua Lad is a great friend and you know it's always fun to tease him when we have fish."
"True."
"Speedy, I have something to tell you also. God I hope you don't hate me for this."
"I would never hate you, Hawk! Go on."
"Robin he did inform Mas y Menos, but not in the way I told you guys. He told them to tell you guys to stay away from me."
"What? Why?"
"We got in a fight. You know how when we first met and I started training with you how my powers just destroyed things?"
"Yes."
"He was saying that they could help me. I didn't believe him. I didn't want to believe him. I wanted to learn on my own and you all gave me a chance to do that. If I stayed with the West Titans they would have tried to help me. I just don't hope you hate me now."
"I can never hate you. Unless you break up with me and go out with Aqua Lad then I might be mad until you give me a good explanation."
"Thanks for the support, Speedy."
Speedy chuckled and then Hawk stuffed a piece of Shrimp in his mouth and he started chewing. Speedy swallow and smiled.
"That was pretty good."
"You do know that the Shrimp had a tail on it still right?"
"I couldn't even tell."
"Fish maniac."
"What did you say, Hawk?"
Hawk stayed quiet and Speedy smiled knowing that he had won. Then the once black screen turned to Robin's face and Hawk jumped behind the seat without Robin even seeing her.
"Hi, Speedy, how's it going over there?"
"Just fine, Robin. How's it going over there?"
"Well you know about the new member right? His name is Zero."
"I never heard of him."
Just then Zero's face popped up in the screen.
"Hi! I'm Zero."
"Hi, Zero. I'm Speedy."
Speedy was wandering about if he was Hawk's friend or something.
"Speedy, we'll be over tomorrow."
****