Disclaimer: This is a fan work created at no profit and for entertainment purposes only. The author acknowledges that Teen Titans and related characters are property of Warner Entertainment.
Teen Titans: Menace in Mexico City
Chapter 6 – How the Other Half Lives
There was a thump against the door, followed by a feminine groan and the sound of paper and plastic bags being shuffled. After several seconds of this, the electronic lock beeped and M'gnn stumbled into the hotel room, laden with bags and a cut-off box containing several Styrofoam containers.
"Hi guys, I'm back!"
She was in her human form, all pink skinned and freckled for the benefit of anyone she might run into in the hall. That was also why she was carrying the bags as well. The moment she kicked the door closed, however, she caught up everything with her telekinesis and moved it to the table.
"Ugh. They were extra impossible today. It took me forever to explain what a 'weekend' was and why the archeology students might be missed if they didn't go home for it. It's like they never watched a single Earth program—which makes no sense because they're both informative and entertaining."
As she spoke, she used her powers to empty the bags of groceries. Paper plates, red plastic party cups, plastic utensils, and napkins were all arranged on the little island next to the hotel suite's coffeemaker and microwave. A package of chocolate sandwich cookies were opened and one of the treats floated to her hand.
She regarded it with curiosity. "They say the Martian Manhunter loves these things, so when I saw them, I just had to try them." Following the example of the kids she'd seen in the commercials, she twisted off the top of the cookie and licked the cream off it. "Mmm. Wow, I can see why he likes them. Would you like one?"
No answer. She looked at her two 'roommates'. Cassandra, still in her costume (for M'gnn gleaned very quickly that Bat-clan training ingrained the sanctity of the secret identity so heavily that trying to make her remove the mask nearly broke her mental control) was on the floor behind the couch, doing sit-ups. Jaime, powered down, as on the couch itself, watching a telenovela.
It took her a moment to remember that she's told them to 'forget I'm even here' that morning when she left. She wasn't the best at fine-tuning her mental control, however, and so now they weren't even registering her presence. "Hello Megan." She said, smacking herself on the temple. With a small mental effort, she rescinded that order. "Sorry about that. Are you guys hungry?"
Jaime shook his head as he became suddenly aware of her again. There was a moment where his mind recalled that she had a mental chain on him, and almost called upon his scarab to armor up and attack. Those thoughts were quashed by layers of M'gnn's power, however and in less than a second, he 'remembered' that 'Megan' was his friend and he was helping her on a project.
"Starving." He said, gesturing to the television. "Seeing Maya throwing her life away over that deadbeat Manuelo even though she knows he's only with her because he can't be with her famous novelist twin sister has me totally drained. What's for dinner?"
Cassandra stopped her workout routine and sat up long enough to wave off the offer. Then she went right back to it. After all, downtime was a time for keeping one's body in peak performance. Plus, the mouth of her costume was sewn shut—she would have to eat in her room where she could be alone with it off.
M'gnn blushed as she looked over the bounty of containers she'd brought. "Well... are first I thought pizza, because that's a normal food for Earth teenagers hanging out." She moved the Styrofoam boxes aside to pick up a medium pizza box.
"But then I thought to myself that we're in Mexico and we should try authentic Mexican food. There's a place just up the block that the locales say make amazing enchiladas, so I got us these." She picked up two boxes.
"Except then I thought that might paint us as total tourists, so I looked around and found a place that sells Chinese food and got shrimp toast and lo mein." She pointed to the cartons. "Oh! And we also have cookies!" She floated the package of cookies over to her hand and pulled one out for him. "You have to try one, they're great."
Jaime laughed at the Martian's excitement. "Sounds like we're set for food for the rest of the weekend." He accepted the cookie and took a bite before strolling over to a chair. "You know, these would go really good with some milk."
She gave him a blank look. "Milk... isn't that for baby mammals?"
"Um, yeah. But humans drink cow's milk too. Also goat. And rice."
"Rice isn't a mammal." M'gnn pointed out, wondering if she'd done something awful to his brain.
He smirked and finished his cookie before helping himself to a slice of pizza. "Just a joke, MM. See, 'cause some people drink fake milk made of rice or soy beans. That's how much we love our milk: if we can't have it, we fake it."
"I'll remember to get some next time I'm out." M'gnn resolved, dropping into a chair opposite him. "I'm kind of tired now. I have to say, if a bunch of college kids and their professors are this difficult to control, I honestly don't see anyone getting very far with the whole 'enslave humanity' plan."
Jaime gave her a look, chewing carefully. "And... that's a good thing."
M'gnn laughed nervously and grabbed one of the boxes with the enchiladas as cover. "Right. Of course."
That was god enough for Jaime. M'gnn was his friend, after all. "So what's the plan for the weekend. You mentioned the next thing we have to collect won't be across the border until Sunday."
It hadn't actually occurred to her until then. With the students home for the weekend and the next component they needed to steal, M'gnn actually had the next day... off. If that was really how one could characterize a day in which she wouldn't be committing crimes both of the 'civil' and 'against humanity' types.
"I... don't know." she said honestly. "Maybe explore the planet a little. At least this city. Maybe we could hang out like the kids on TV?"
Just asking the question hurt a little. She'd been watching Earth programs all her life and hoping that one day she might get to visit the strange, blue planet with its oceans of liquid water, thick atmosphere and pop music. And she always wanted an Earthling for a friend. Maybe in another life (one where she hadn't laid a powerful dose of mind control on him) Jaime could have been that friend.
"Yeah, sure. We can watch Corazones del Fuego together. I can explain the plot to you." Jaime smiled and took a huge bite of pizza.
M'gnn returned the smile, but it only made her feel worse. She looked down at her food. It looked and smelled delicious, but she had suddenly lost her appetite. "Um... make sure Cassie get something to eat, okay? I think maybe I should go for a walk."
He raised an eyebrow. "You okay, MM?"
A hysterical little laugh bubbled out of her and she waved him off. "Oh of course. I'm just complicit in a plot against your planet, am forcing a bunch of innocent people to work themselves to the bone—oh, and I've completely violated your mind with my powers."
The horns of the Blue Beetle armor started to rise from behind Jaime's back. "Say what?"
"Forget I said anything." she said quickly and made sure both he and Cassandra did just that. That moved her from not being hungry right on through to nauseous. Without another word, she hurried out of the suite.
TT – TT – TT
No AN this time. I just felt I should advance this story to remind people it's not dead.