This chapter is for everyone who's been asking for more Bee/Cy and Flinx. Sorry it took so long! I love all of your reviews (as always) and hope you enjoy!
"Sparky! You made it!" Bumblebee exclaimed, flying over to him with a wide smile. "I was afraid the weather would have been as much of a problem this mornin' like it was earlier!" Cyborg hopped out of the small orange pod and approached the leader of the Titans East. The snowstorm had not reached their tower luckily, and, after a half hour or so of driving, the snow disappeared to leave lush grass in its place. Unhindered by the weather, Cyborg reached his destination soon after.
"How's it goin'?" Cyborg asked, smiling. "This place fallin' apart without me here?"
Bumblebee shook her head sadly, settling on the ground. "You'd better believe it. I swear the only thing that works right now is the microwave, and even that has got problems. It keeps blinkin' lights and making annoying bleepin' sounds."
"So, really nothing works?"
"Yep!" Bumblebee replied happily. "Looks like you'll be stayin' here for a while, huh?" She smirked, leaning up to him to poke his metal chest. "Hope that's not a problem."
Cyborg chuckled, cracking his fingers and looking up at the tower above him. "Hey, if it's broke, I can fix it. Show me where to start."
"Great!" Bumblebee drew back, taking to the air again with a buzz of her wings. They walked toward the entrance together, the Titans East leader chatting all the way. "So first you can deal with the computer. Those bozos in there destroyed it pretty bad, and there's somehow sushi inside the wires and metal and stuff. I think half of it is under the carpet too, so you probably should just build us a new one. Startin' from scratch would be easier, I figure. That way you can give us a buncha new updates on it too, Sparks!"
Processing all the information, Cyborg crossed his arms, drumming his fingers thoughtfully on the crook of his elbow. A new computer wouldn't be too hard unless he tried to make one like back at the tower. He remembered Bumblebee saying something about the television being broken as well, so that and the computer could take about three days. Depending on what else needed fixing, he added another day or two onto his estimate. Altogether, Cyborg's prediction was for him to be there about five days and two minutes, the two minutes being how long it should take to deal with the microwave.
Cyborg and Bumblebee entered the tower and walked up to the main room, halting to pry apart the doors that had mysteriously stopped working. As Cyborg strained separated them, he shot a curious glance at Bumblebee. She smiled back at him, shrugging. With a creak, the doors separated, and the Titans entered. Inside, the room looked worse than it had over the communicator. Wires dangled from the ceiling, there was a large flat screen television lying on the ground, and a large lump of metal clumped under the carpet, presumably half of the computer. Sushi covered the walls, or at least it was what Cyborg hoped was sushi. It looked like a tornado had hit, which might have been very possible with Más and Menos's powers. "So this is what happens when you're away from your team?"
"Not always," Bumblebee declared, strolling into the ops room alongside him. "Sometimes there are flooding problems. Not that I'm going to mention any…A-A-Aqualad," she coughed into her hand, and Cyborg smirked as she went on. "But they usually listen to me. I just guess that lately they've been cooped up for too long. We need a good bad guy to take out their energy or something." She paused. "Or a better workout room. Think you wanna help us out on that too, Sparky?" Cyborg chuckled, but before he could reply, the two were distracted from their conversation by a streak of red and white flying across the room, jumping above the lumpy carpet and knocking over the barely standing microwave. Más and Menos screeched to a stop, guilt flitting across the twins' faces as the machine's window cracked.
"What do you two think you're doing?!" Bumblebee demanded, zipping over to the two with her hands on her hips. She gestured to Cyborg. "We have a guest!"
"Senor Cyborg!" the twins exclaimed in synch, and in a flash they were right in front of the robotic teen, both shaking an enormous hand with him. "It is so good to see you!" they greeted with accented English.
Cyborg grinned, finishing the handshake and patting the two on their heads. "Nice to see ya'll too! Miss me?"
"Sí, sí!" Más and Menos laughed together. "Muy mucho!"
"Alright, alright, quit hogging the guest," Bumblebee interrupted, gently separating her teammates from Cyborg. "He's got enough work to do as it is because of you two. Unless you'd like to help him clean up?" The twins smirked at one another, and, grasping hands, dashed off. Bumblebee crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Figures. Well, don't worry, Sparky," she declared, facing the robotic teenager. "I guarantee you'll have at least one helper." She jabbed her thumb at her chest. "Titan Bumblebee at your service!"
Cyborg gave her a warm smile. "Good to know. Now," he said, turning back toward the center of the room, "I was thinkin' we should start with the-."
"I heard that Cyborg was here to help us out, but I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it was true." Aqualad and Speedy entered the room, grinning widely at the sight of their large friend. Cyborg chuckled, going over to greet the two and leaving Bumblebee behind him. The leader of the Titans East grumbled irritably beneath her breath and buzzed over to the small group.
"How's it going, Cyborg?" Aqualad asked, bumping fists with his fellow Titan. "What's it like back at your tower?"
Cyborg nodded, smiling. "Pretty good, man. Better than here, by the looks of it. Seems like you're fallin' apart without me, guys!" He motioned to Bumblebee who was now at his side. "You been givin' Bee a hard time, I hear?"
"Only a little," Speedy snickered, jumping a moment later to hide behind the robotic teen when Bumblebee reached for the stingers strapped to her side.
Holding up his arms, Cyborg smirked. "Hey, hey, now, Bee. Don't shoot the prisoner!"
"Not planning on it," she replied, her stingers crackling with energy. Still, the girl placed them back at her hips without taking a shot at Speedy. The archer looked relieved and moved away from Cyborg who was watching the whole thing with amusement.
"Now it seems to me," he started in an authoritative tone, "that this team needs to go through some group buildin' exercises!"
He expected this statement to be met with grumbles and groans, but instead Aqualad and Speedy just looked at him in curiosity and confusion. "What are those?"
Cyborg lifted an eyebrow, turning to Bumblebee. She caught his look. "Hey, I've tried! They just ignore me and start fighting about sushi or something!" This time it was the boys who suffered Cyborg's questioning glare, and they fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Well, I, uh, it just seems so boring…"
"I'd rather be swimming…"
The metallic man shook his head in disappointment like a parent would do to a child. "'Course it's borin', but that doesn't mean you can skip out on it! Alright, this is usually the schedule Robin gives us back at home. First, get up early in the mornin' about six o' clock, of course when no one but him and maybe Raven is awake. Next, get your butts out to the weight room and wait about ten minutes while Rob rouses BB. After a quick warm up, head to the trainin' course, take a few runs -together or in teams- until Robin deems it enough, and then you can finally chow down breakfast before the next session of trainin' starts."
In all actuality, Cyborg was over-exaggerating about the roughness and exhaustion of the workouts. Yes, sometimes when Robin was irritated with his team he'd make them do just what the robotic teen had described, but it was a rare occurrence and very unlikely. Cyborg had only told the others about it to intimidate the Titans East. They needed to build up teamwork, and Cyborg was there to help one way or another.
"But being the nice guy that I am," he continued with a smile, "you don't have to do that. I'm just gonna have- err, suggest to Bumblebee- that you all run through your trainin' course once today." He looked to Bumblebee, and she nodded with approval.
"You heard him! Get going before I have to carry you there myself!"
Aqualad and Speedy scurried off to find the training course, calling to Más and Menos to help them locate their destination. Bumblebee had faced Cyborg, about to speak, when he smirked at her and shook his finger. "Ah-ah, Bee; that includes you too. You're as much a part of the team as they are. Now go and lead them! They'll need your guidance, especially since they have no idea where your training course is."
Bumblebee opened her mouth to complain, but then shut it and just smiled. "Alright Sparky, but I'll be back to help after I'm done."
As she flew off, Cyborg watched her go with a chuckle that created happy crinkles around his human eye. "Countin' on it."
"If he's the fastest kid alive, then why is he always late?" Jinx grumbled, checking her watch for the third time in the past five minutes. She rubbed her hands over her arms, warming the muscles there. The snow had taken as much of a toll on Keystone City as it had in Jump, and the temperature was so chilled that small flakes of frost formed in the air around the pink sorceress. "Kid, I swear, if you don't show up in the next ten seconds…"
"You'll kiss me?" Kid Flash skidded in front of her, smiling, but managed to stop on a sheet of ice and slipped. He fell on his butt hard, and, with a groan, looked up at his girlfriend. "Hey Slowpoke. Miss me?"
Jinx smirked, squatting on the ground beside him. "You know," she said, "I think that just made up for your being late." Kid Flash got to his feet, balancing carefully so not to fall again.
He grinned. "Sorry 'bout that. Hope you weren't too cold while waiting for me."
"I managed," Jinx replied, crossing her arms. Kid Flash took her by the hand and guided her into the restaurant they stood outside of. The sorceress glanced around the almost empty diner, breathing out as the heated air relaxed her body. It was a traditional café, one containing small booths and round tables decorated with warm colors. The door shut behind them, and a bell signaling their arrival chimed. "This snowstorm just came up out of nowhere. What's nature thinking?"
She and Kid Flash approached a booth, sitting on the same side next to one another with Jinx closest to the window. The speedster laughed lightly, putting his arm around her. "Well, actually I mighta had something to do with that."
Jinx massaged the bridge of her nose. "Of course you did. What did you do this time, Kid?"
"Well…" He stopped as a waitress drew near, a small blush on her face. She obviously recognized at least one of the heroes.
"Welcome," the waitress greeted, all eyes for Kid Flash. Jinx huffed irritably. This happened every time they went out together; she would have to convince the speedster to learn to cook homemade meals if this problem continued to come up. It didn't help that Jinx's boyfriend loved the attention.
"Hi," Kid Flash flashed a smile at the blonde waitress, and her blush deepened. "I'll have a caffeinated coffee. And my lady here will have…"
Staring straight at the woman with a pen and pad her hand, Jinx interrupted. "Decaf." The waitress opened her mouth, but Jinx made a "shoo" motion with her hand, and the woman drew away. The pink sorceress faced Kid Flash again. "You were saying."
Kid Flash laughed, making Jinx only glare at him harder. "You're so funny when you're jealous, Slowpoke."
She turned away from him, looking out the window at the snow-covered streets and muttering, "Maybe I wouldn't have to be jealous if you didn't bask in the attention so much."
"It's not my fault I'm so charming." Kid Flash cupped her chin in his hand, making her face him. Her skin darkened into a deeper pink shade, but Jinx continued to frown. The speedy superhero chuckled. "But Jinx, why do you still gotta be more adorable than me?"
"Pft," the pink girl rolled her eyes, but lifted her arms to his shoulders. "As if that's possible." Kid Flash placed one hand on her waist, pulling him up to his chest, and their noses drew closer together, but before the two could complete the action, they were broken by up a quiet cough. Jinx caught sight of the embarrassed waitress hovered nearby, holding two steaming cups on her round tray. She was blushing worse than the last time, and, mumbling an apology, the woman placed the coffee cups on the table, quickly retreating out of the heroes' lines of sight immediately after.
With eyes sparking magic, Jinx glared at the waitress until she could see her no more, and the pink girl exhaled, turning to her coffee and releasing her boyfriend. She took a big gulp. "Anyway, what were you saying about the weather being your fault?"
Kid Flash sipped at his caffeinated beverage, wiping the brown liquid mustache that resulted from it off his lip. "Oh yeah. Well, in short, it had to do with me dealing with some villain who had an ice snow gun thing just outside Keystone City and resulted in me kicking butt. But I guess their storm followed me into town without my knowing it." He shrugged, leaning back and putting his feet on the table. "Eh, it'll probably fade after a day or two."
"You've got to be more careful, Kid," Jinx sighed, draining the last of her coffee. How she'd become so talented at avoiding burning her mouth when it came to hot liquids, Kid Flash had no idea. "Who knows what could have happened because of this snowstorm?" she wondered, placing the mug on the table's surface and spinning it around.
"Never mind that," Kid Flash dismissed, putting his arm around Jinx's shoulders again. He tilted his head, looking down at his girlfriend, and removed his feet from the table. "Tell me about what you were up to while I was away. I remember hearing something about a sleepover?"
Jinx nodded a little, flicking the cup with her finger and watching her pink sparks dance over it. "It was as fun as a sleepover can be, you know?"
"What did you talk about?" Kid Flash played with her strands of hair a little, and then shot her a playful grin. "Anything involving me?"
"Maybe," Jinx teased, winking at him. She grasped his hand in hers, squeezing his fingers. "Wouldn't want to spill anything."
Kid Flash lifted an eyebrow, his blue eyes curious. "Oh really? Sounds like one heck of a party then." He touched his forehead to Jinx's, whispering, "Maybe we should have one of our own?" Jinx nudged him with her nose, gentle sparks jumping from her fingertips, and smiled.
"U-um, excuse me?"
Jinx growled as she and Kid Flash pulled apart. The poor waitress had a check in her hands, the paper trembling slightly as she lowered it to the tabletop. "I-I'm sorry," she apologized, avoiding eye contact with the couple, especially Jinx. Kid Flash, one arm still on Jinx's waist, glanced at the cost and pulled out a few bills. He grinned at the waitress, winking. "Keep the change. Sorry for any trouble we might have caused."
The money improved the woman's mood considerably, and with a light smile for the speedster, she took the check and disappeared behind the counter. With a frustrated groan, Jinx got to her feet, pushing Kid Flash out of the booth and storming out of the café. Kid Flash drained his cup as quickly as he could without burning his tongue, and then ran after his girlfriend. The door closed behind him with a soft jingle from the bell above.
"Jinx, hang on!" he called, sliding around her with a splash of snow. The pink sorceress crossed her arms, her mouth screwing up in a frown. Kid Flash winced. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know! Enough of the flirting!" he berated himself, running his fingers down over his face. Despite the honest apology, Jinx was still mad at him, and she turned from the boy. "Jinx, please," Kid Flash touched her shoulder. "I'm trying; I really am."
She tilted her head up to look at the lamppost above them. As of now during the daylight hours, the light was off. A small layer of ice covered the bulb, and the metal pole was sheeted with frost. "How would you like it if I hit on every guy I laid eyes on?" she accused, huffing.
Kid Flash flushed, pushing a hand through his hair. "I would probably go crazy with jealousy," the speedster admitted. He slipped an arm around her stomach from behind, underneath her crossed arms, and placed his chin on her shoulder. "But that's why you're so strong," he reminded, his breath tickling her ear. "That's something you can deal with that's so hard for me."
"I shouldn't have to deal with it," Jinx declared, tone angry but already softening at her boyfriend's touch.
"I know. I'm really trying," Kid Flash exhaled, tightening his grip on her ever so slightly and nuzzling her neck. "But you know that you're the one who I love."
A mischievous grin crossed Jinx's face. All she needed was to give him a little push. She whirled around suddenly, pressing her hands against his chest. "Prove it," the pink girl challenged.
Kid Flash blinked, and then realizing what she meant, chuckled, cupping her jaw in his hand and lifting her head up to him. Before their lips could meet, however, Jinx paused. Kid Flash looked at her in confusion, following her line of sight. With a smirk, Jinx flicked her palm at the café. Pink light shot from her fingers, striking the snow overhanging the building, and it crashed to the ground, hiding the heroes from any prying eyes within. "So there are no more distractions," Jinx clarified, and then draped her arms around his neck. Kid Flash laughed, lowering his head, and his lips met Jinx's. The two melted into each other, both far out of sight from whoever would be so foolish to interrupt their long-awaited kiss.
