Teen Titans © DC Comics

78. Change in the Weather

"Rain. It has to be raining today."

"Yep."

"I was going to the mall, but now it's raining! What the heck is wrong with that weatherman? He can never get anything right!"

Kid Flash whistled at her frustration, sitting on their cobalt couch with his arms behind his head. Their apartment was quaint and simple with white walls and simple furniture. It was a vast improvement over Jinx' previous home, the Hive Five's inadequate lair. Jinx stood, arms crossed, by a rain-splattered window. The drops fell steadily in waves, coming down in squads of watery warriors that mocked her. Tapping her foot angrily, she glanced over to him as he shot to his feet and appeared at her side.

"You know, you don't have to go the Jump City's mall. There are other malls in the world. Hundreds and thousands of 'em," Kid Flash stated, smirking.

Jinx frowned. "Well, if that's true, why don't we go there?"

"Well, I was thinking…instead of a stuffy mall, how about we mosey along to say…" Kid Flash dashed off, but suddenly leaped to her left with a beret and a miniature French flag in his mouth. "…Paris, city of love?"

Jinx stared at him, cat-like eyes wide in shock. Tensing up nervously at his quickness, she shrugged and mumbled, "Fine, since I don't have anything else to do. It's not raining there, is it? I really don't like the rain."

"No, it's not, and I get that you hate the rain. You're part cat, after all."

Her eyes flared vibrant, furious pink as her head snapped over to him. "I'm not a cat, you jerk!"

"Temper, temper," he teased, waving his finger playfully.

Slapping his hand away, Jinx turned away and stomped over to their shared closet. Ripping it open as Kid Flash apologized, Jinx threw on her dark gray coat and started out. Swiping an umbrella, she flipped it open and smirked.

"Come on, Jinxie. It's gonna be a storm soon. Weatherman said so," Kid Flash warned, stepping over to her.

"The weatherman also said that today it would be bright sunny this afternoon." Jinx flung their apartment door open, stepping out into the hallway. "There's a sale down at the mall on shoes. Don't worry, I'm stealing them."

"Well, I might as well go with you. Wouldn't want some creep to go after ya."

"Riiight because I'm just oh-so helpless." Jinx feigned a swoon, hand to her forehead. Snickering, she walked out and added, "I'll be back soon so don't be a creep and follow. It was pretty stalkerish when we first met."

Kid Flash grumbled, watching her go. His head shot out the door after her, calling. "Hey, Jinx! If you see Robin, tell him I want a paycheck!"

She laughed, rounding a corner. "Will do!"

Pausing, he slowly shut the door and hurried over to the window. Opening it, he frantically waved his hands. At his gesture, the rain dulled slowly before coming to an abrupt halt. He glanced down to the street, finding Jinx on the sidewalk, staring up to the still dreary sky. Looking back up to a small parting, Kid Flash made a gesture with his hands and a thumbs-up. There was a pause until a rumble of thunder roared through the air along with a ripple of lightning that streaked down towards an unsuspecting Jinx. Kid Flash darted out the window, landing on his haunches and rushed out with his arms extended. Jinx finally noticed the searing bolt coming her way at the last second when a gust of wind picked up around her and pushed her away.

"You okay, darling?" Kid Flash sneered as the rain started up again, and he held her up bridal style.

Jinx' eyes widened in surprised distress, gazing at the blue-eyed hero whose charming smile persuaded her to dumbly nod. Regaining her composure as he set her down like a princess, Jinx cleared her throat, knuckles to her mouth and thanked him.

"No problem. I love to save pretty chicks."

"Ah, so if there was another 'pretty chick' around, you'd be saving her."

Kid Flash paused, looking up to the sky in a slight panic. Another booming rumble of thunder cut through Kid Flash's response along with a slashing lightning strike. Taking the umbrella, he folded it and asked again if she wanted to go to Paris and escape from the storm.

"Alright, Paris," Jinx conceded to Kid Flash's bliss. "We better get some shoes or get you a haircut. It's getting a little too wavy."

Brushing through his hair, Kid Flash smirked and nodded. Heaving her up into his arms with her hands clasped around his spandex-coated neck, Kid Flash dashed off out of Jump City and into the country of love.

…

The day was wonderful to put it in a nutshell. Kid Flash rented out a boat, and they sailed out into the bay to watch fireworks. Pink and red hearts exploded in the sky with grandeur, lights, and sound that blasted through the clouds. Jinx had actually laughed, music to Kid Flash's giving heart. The ebony rippled with the joy of couples who were truly and deeply in love. When the festivities ended, Kid Flash scooped Jinx up and brought them home.

"That was actually fun," Jinx mused as they stepped inside.

"Better than shoe-shopping?" he cheekily asked.

Jinx sighed, nodding.

"Awesome. Now, I gotta make a quick call." Kid Flash dashed up to the roof, waving his hands to the dark gray clouds above. Whipping out his communicator, he smirked. "Man, thanks. You're filled with awesome. The rain really helped out."

Thunder chuckled, voice a soft baritone. "Do not thank me. It is fine, my friend."

"Seriously, Thunder! You and Lightning just scored me an amazing day with Jinx. If you want me to set you up with Argent-"

Thunder reddened, bashfully glancing down. "Oh, oh, that is unnecessary, Kid Flash, truly unnecessary."

"How'd you get Lightning to agree to this?"

"He simply wished to help out."

"Somehow, I doubt that since your brother wants to punch me in the face for being a 'clone of Lightning' or whatever, but tell him I said thanks."

Thunder nodded, smiling.

…

"Thanks, Lightning," Jinx murmured to her communicator which showed the face of the vibrant, electrical youth.

"Ah, do not mention it. I only wished to assist you," Lightning sneered, winking playfully. "Your mate is too much of a fool to 'ask you out' I believe the saying is. A push was in order to make the coward ask for your hand on a merry frolic."

"By the way, was that bolt really needed?" she scowled crossly.

"You were leaving, and the sonic fool was doing poorly. I knew he would save you," Lightning argued, shrugging. "So, how was your…amusing time?"

"Fun, needless to say. We had this really romantic time on a boat watching fireworks."

"Oh, the colorful, dancing lights! How amusing." Lightning looked over his shoulder, listening to his brother finish up his conversation with someone. "I am sorry, but I must bid you farewell. If you ever require another storm, simply call Lightning or my brother."

She smiled softly, nodding as he disconnected their chat. Before she could move, two arms wrapped around her shoulders and down to her chest. Jinx blushed as Kid Flash hopped onto the couch, smirking and asked if she really had a nice time.

"Of course," Jinx earnestly replied. "So, who'd you talk to?"

"Thunder. You?"

"…Lightning."

"Wait…if you talked to Lightning, and I made that deal with Thunder…"

They looked at each other and realized what the brothers had done. Jinx smirked, looking over to him with crossed arms as he blushed slightly.

"I get it. You asked Thunder to make that storm so you could ask me out," she sniggered.

"Yeah, well, you asked Lightning for help so I would ask you out," Kid Flash retorted. "You wanted me to ask you out."

A flush of red surged through her cheeks, and she crossed her arms haughtily. "…So?"

"Aw, Jinxie. You know, you can ask me out, too."

"Go die or something."

Kid Flash laughed as he wrapped his arms around her lithe frame. "You don't mean that."

"Oh, I don't?" she snickered, smirking coyly.

"Oh, how adorable."

"…Get the hell out," Jinx snarled at Thunder and Lightning who stood in their doorway with wide smiles of hidden laughter.

"We need to get an alarm system," Kid Flash groaned.

As the one who mockingly spoke, Lightning barked with laughed and pulled Thunder away once the latter finished filming their cuddling. Before Jinx could hex Thunder's communicator, the brothers escaped back to their home in the clouds. Jinx fumed, embarrassed at their stupidity and aggravating presences. Stupid demigods, being able to teleport wherever they wanted.

"Hey, Jinx, there's a carnival tomorrow in Rome. You wanna go?" Kid Flash suddenly asked, breaking away her anger.

Jinx turned back to him, calming down and sighed. "Will there be fireworks?"

"Plenty of 'em"

"Alright, I'm in."

…

Thunder and Lightning watched the young couple through their cloud's parting. The twins glanced to each other with pride and smirked. Lightning's legs dangled off the edge of the cloud as Thunder watched the footage of their friends "canoodling" as Lightning dubbed it.

"Truly a wondrous sight, brother," Thunder murmured, kneeling next to his sibling.

"Indeed! Now, who shall we assist in setting up tomorrow?" Lightning asked, smiling.