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Two Months Later…
Terra woke up earlier than she usually did for the past two months. Unlike previous days, she was watching the sunrise from the rooftop of Shadow's hideout. At first, it was a bit awkward for the blonde to live around Shadow, but she became more comfortable around him after she began to learn more about his routine and his daily activities.
She sighed, What am I going to do? Sure, it's kind of Shadow to let me stay here, but I don't know anything about him really. I don't even know why he's… him. I definitely can't go back to the Titans after what I did, but… what if they find me? No, the last thing I need are the Titans or Justice League on my ass and they might send me to Arkham or worse.
Something is wrong with my powers. I can feel something… different about them. Like they're evolving or something along those lines. No, I definitely can't let them find me now. Who knows what I'll do, Terra agonized in her mind as the rooftop door opened quietly. The blonde turned her head as if someone was peeking in on her bathing.
"Terra, you're up super early today," Shadow exhaled concern. " Normally you sleep until ten. Is something's troubling you?"
"No! No," she sedated her anxiety.
"Terra, I'm an empath. I know when you're lying. No matter what's on your mind, I'm here listening to whatever you could possibly say," a warm smile as smooth as butterscotch skipped like a pebble across his lips.
Sighing, Terra confessed, "Well for one thing, I'm glad that you found me and gave me a home… but I don't know anything about you. For all I know, you could be an evil mastermind trying to use me for my powers…" Just like everyone else I've ever met. A sullen silence gushed from her in place of the unspoken words and clashed against Shadow's receptive ears. She looked back at the sunrise with wistful eyes, hoping for a beautiful new beginning in her life.
"What do you want to know about me?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you want to know about me? I don't mind telling. "
"Really?"
He nodded with the kind of eyes you'd see in a mother by a campfire as she reminisced into the past and told her children how things used to be. Like an elder in a nursing home, he was just waiting for someone to ask about his life so he could educate the junior about simpler, more gracious times when he was in his prime.
"You practically told me everything about you so I might as well tell something about me. How about I tell you a small chronicle about my life and if you nave any questions, I'll answer them. I'll start from the beginning.
"My mother is technically a powerful angel, but most people call her the Goddess of Faith, Light, and Justice. My father," Shadow let a noticeable displeasure flourish in his voice as if he had chewed on bitter soap and bloodied tooth shards. "He's a powerful demon known as the Dark King and he rules a part of the underworld."
"So… you're not human?" Confusion about otherworldly sex started to flood her mind.
"That's correct," Shadow strayed back to a more innocent mindset as if he were a child proudly announcing he were a mixture of two races in the 1800's. "I'm a Nephalem! Half-demon and half-angel. Born in the underworld and raised until I was thirteen. Left home to travel around that time.
"You used to travel? Terra asked still focused on how two entities would fornicate and why. Slowly her mind pried itself away from Lucifer's staff and wondered what it meant for Shadow's character. Sure, Raven was somewhat heroic, but not everyone was raised as an upstanding role model.
Shadow responded with a nod, "Ever since I left home. I've traveled through so many different dimensions before I came here… And to answer your other question, I'm not a hero or a villain."
"If you're not a hero or a villain, then what are you?"
"An anti-hero is what a lot of people would call me though a lot do mistake me for a hero. From what you told me two months ago, it sounds to me that you were only given two paths: a narrow path to altruism or the stepping stones to evil.
"Now, whether you'll follow a guided path to heroism, villainy or wherever you choose to meander between the foggy grey of the philosophical constructs, don't let anyone else tell you how to run your life or you'll never be truly happy."
Like medicine from a needle, Terra had to let his words sink into her. Don't let people run my life or my choices or else and I will never be truly happy. I guess he's right and not only that I always have been running away from my problems even though it doesn't solve nothing, Terra thought to herself.
"Thank, Shadow…" her voice strengthened as his words evoked courage from her healthier heart. Though she was nursed back from malnourishment, she had always been apprehensive about her caretaker; but now, she smiled with complete trust in him.
Shadow smile back, "No problem. This is what friends are for. Which reminds me I got something for you." Reaching inside his cloak, he pulled out a folded, white shopping bag you'd find at a mall. "I assumed you might be tired of wearing the same dress everyday so I bought this yesterday. You were asleep when I returned, so sorry about the lateness."
"You went clothes shopping yesterday!" Not only did gratitude fill her flabbergasted lips, but an inner blush as she found his efforts adorable, if not cute. "Thanks," she managed to whisper as she took the bag from her hybrid friend. "I'll go try on now," she dashed from the roof back inside before she did something as stupid as crying.
Fifteen Minutes Later…
Trying out the new clothes, Terra gazed devoid of vanity deeply into the depths of her reflection. In awe, she examined herself as she wondered how Shadow knew her size and a style that actually looked magnificent on her.
Wearing a sexy-via-innocence, yellow qipao with short sleeves, Terra twisted on the ball of her foot to observe a black butterfly design on the back. She wore black leggings, matching fingerless gloves, and black combat boots.
After she snapped out of gawking at Shadow's fashion sense, she tried to coolly emerge from her quarters for a greetings from Shadow who had seated himself with a small, blue book no bigger than a grocery list book.
His eyes flickered up, amused as he attempted to prevent them from widening. He was like a cat who just noticed the laser, yet didn't comprehend it was to be chased. His eyes were like the cat in the split -seconds between the moments. The flicker of his eyes were so deviously calm, so meticulously sexy that she instantly melted on the inside and had to knock her knees to prevent herself from falling down from wobbling.
He thinks I'm gorgeous. Calm down Terra, otherwise he's going to know you're already fantasising about him.
"You look really good," he commented.
"Thank you," she hid her face behind her hair as much as she could. Her blush was as red as the sunset before twilight.
Hey, Guys sorry if this chapter is late work has been kicking my butt lately. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please follow and review.