AN: OH MY CRAP. I was stumped for so long, you guys! But here it is: the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.
Damsel
Why do I always get myself into these kinds of situations?
If it's not evil spider-head-thingys, it's evil ice-skaters, annoying light nerds, or something worse.
... Please don't tell Dr. Light that I called him a light nerd.
It would hurt his feelings, and he's a pretty sensitive guy from what I've heard.
I know he's mean and evil and Gnarrk hates his guts, but no scientist should be ridiculed for his life's work.
Not ridiculed.
Not cast out and left to his own devices.
That scientist might be someone really big and important someday for the same reason you're picking on him.
You might want to watch yourself.
No one likes to have to eat their words, especially in front of an "inferior".
"I'll stop you right there, Kole," a man in a red turtleneck halted her typing, or "free expression", as he had so termed it.
"Why? Did I do something wrong?"
The doctor patted her on the back reassuringly. "No, nothing's wrong with what you wrote, and I really think we're getting somewhere based on what you're writing. However... that last sentence has a word that is just leaping off the page at me." Hands clasped together, the man asked, "Do you know what word that is, Kole?"
"... N-No, I-"
"'Inferior' is the word that's bothering me. That word means 'less valuable' or 'less important' than someone or something else. So tell me... do you feel important, Kole? Needed? Helpful? Or just... like you're just kind of there, neither helping nor needing help from your friends and teammates?"
"Well..." unprepared for that kind of question, she answered, "I don't know. Maybe it's just that I keep getting caught by these bad guys and held for ransom, and that's getting to me somehow."
The doctor nodded in understanding. "That's why you're here, Kole, to be evaluated for any mental strain or stress caused by those specific ordeals. Usually the victim has nightmares or intense flashbacks to their time in captivity, but you have none of that." He leaned forward. "To be frank, the only concern I have for your mental health is your self image."
Kole leaned back. "I don't really see what makes it so important."
"Why is your self image important?"
"Yeah, why?"
Smiling, the doctor said, "Well, let's see. Keep typing."
"Okay..."
What do my teammates think about me when I get caught?
I'm not much help in a battle.
My powers aren't useful unless I have someone strong around to swing me around or throw me.
Technology hates me.
Hot Spot thinks it's funny when nothing works when I'm around, and then I leave, and then everything starts working again!
He calls it "Kole's Kurse".
And, yes, it has to be spelled like that.
It drives Jericho crazy.
Writing is like speaking for him, so he's very picky.
Sometimes he'll whack Hot Spot with his notebook when he gets really annoyed.
Jericho will, not Hot Spot.
Hot Spot would probably torch him instead of just thwacking him.
Those two don't get along very well, since Hot Spot has such a big temper and Jericho is so icy and far away.
Neither of them really like me, but they do come and save me whenever I get caught.
Jericho is usually stuck having to untie me while the others fight.
We always get something to eat right after that, just us, but it's not a real date since he never asks me out officially.
Argent says that's important, and she's the expert.
Since I resurfaced, Argent has been my closest friend.
Probably because she's a girl, and girls are easy to talk to about "boy stuff".
I tried it once with Herald, but it was really weird.
He asked me to talk to Argent instead, and that's how I found out that she was the expert.
She's a good leader.
"All right, Kole, I'm gonna stop you again," with a knowing smirk, the doctor asked, "Who is this Jericho person you keep mentioning? Is he important?"
Kole stalled. "I thought we were talking about my self image."
Nodding, the doctor replied, "Which can be affected by your peers."
"... Jericho is my peer?"
"Strange how you only wonder about him."
Red flooded Kole's cheeks, and she crossed her arms. "So?"
"So... what's up? Who is this guy to you?" The doctor readjusted his glasses so he could better read her expressions. "A love interest can do as much good to your self image as he can do harm. And this boy is no mere teammate, is he?"
Kole began to squirm in her seat, and answered, "He's... warm. Does that help?"
"No, that's not very specific."
"Then it's like... he's not scary or creepy. At first I thought it would be weird having someone mute around all the time, but Jericho isn't weird," she giggled. "I'm actually starting to hear this voice in my head talking whenever I see him make a face or read something he wrote."
The doctor's interest was piqued. "And these voices in your head are good voices?"
"Yes."
"All right, just checking."
Kole started laughing. "I'm not crazy! I just put a voice behind his words and expressions."
"Good... good, but if those voices do turn... sinister, please, call me."
"Will do!"
After a quick glance at the wall clock, the doctor announced, "I'm afraid our time together is over, Kole. I think we really made progress today, and I hope to not see you in the future."
In genuine confusion, Kole asked, "Why not?"
"If you walk through that door again that would mean something as traumatic or more traumatic than kidnapping will have befallen you," the doctor chuckled. "I do love my practice, but I don't wish that on you."
"Oh," Kole stood up and smoothed out her skirt. "Thank you for everything."
"It was my pleasure... but, before you go, I do have a final question," Kole seemed open to it, he surmised, and continued, "Would you consider Jericho as a hero?"
"Of course. I mean, he is one, officially."
"But personally - to you...?"
"He's the one that unties me, takes me out, and repeats over and over again. So, yeah, he's a hero to me."
The doctor ended up smiling again. "Exactly what I wanted to hear."
