Teen Titans © DC Comics

Set right after Lightspeed.

46. Reflection

The scent of the rose lingered into her small nostrils as the sky's darkness dawned on her. Jinx could only stare forward as she bid See-More farewell, wondering if she would ever see him again. See-More was kind, genuine, someone who really cared for her, but he could not provide her with a real life. On the other hand, Kid Flash promised light and hope, to be a hero with the Titans. Yet, Jinx had mixed feelings, torn between her villainous family of knuckleheads and the opportunity for justice and respect from her peers and the world.

It should have been an easy choice, but Jinx hated it all the same. She wanted to be like Madame Rouge, winning over cowards through forceful intimidation. Jinx would sneer down at the defeated fools, insult them in the past, but now she knew what Rouge was really like, and she despised her. If what she idolized was false, she should have turned a leaf, started to rewrite her autobiography. However, Jinx continued to walk in the shadows of the alleyway, pondering if she had a home still.

Jinx walked the lonely, abandoned streets of Jump City. All of the Titans were dispersed around the world, leaving the city wide open for a thief like her to do some shopping, but after the day's events, the cold comfort of stolen treasure could not fill the hole in her heart. Even if she did something illegally, no one would stop her unless Kid Flash came back, but that would be a long shot. He was probably in Gotham City or Metropolis by now.

Sighing, Jinx sat on a bus bench, leaning back with a troubled air. It had recently been raining when she noticed the murky puddle nearby. Glancing over to inspect her looks, she gasped lightly. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were weary with a light hue of purple underneath them from lack of sleep. A noticeable dark blue splotch tainted her cheek from where Rouge struck her. Touching it, she winced and pulled away.

Rage bubbled up inside of her for looking so weak as if she were a homeless bum. This was no supposed to be her, alone and appearing so frail as if she were a disparaged toy left on the sidewalk. Throwing her hand out, pink slashes cut across the water, but some nicked the bench's wooden legs, cutting them in half. Yelping, Jinx slid off into the water and fell shoulder first into the crude liquid. Struggling to sit up, Jinx wiped her eyes and slammed her hands against the ground.

"This isn't fair! I'm supposed to be great!" Jinx shrieked on her hands and knees. "Look at me now! Here I am in this stupid city, all alone. I don't have anyone, not even the boys to rely on. I hate this."

A dark hand was gently falling in front of her. Gasping lightly, her head jerked up to find the Honorary Titan Thunder kneeling by her with the kindest smile she ever saw. Concern was vivid in his tiny, jet-black orbs when he asked if she could stand.

"I'm fine. I don't need help," Jinx insisted, getting to her feet.

Thunder seemed surprised at Jinx' grating tone, but stood as well. "Are you certain, miss? I-"

"Look, buddy, I don't need help." Jinx brushed past him, storming off into the night.

"I will presume you are Jinx. I know about you."

She stopped, glaring suspiciously back to him. "And you're Thunder, a goodie-goodie Titan. What do you want? We're enemies."

"I noticed your distress-"

"Seriously, I don't need anyone pitying me, got it?" Fully facing him, she crossed her arms and frowned. "Just leave me alone or else."

Thunder gaped at her heatedness, shocked she would hold so many barriers to guard her turmoil. Before the blue elemental could speak, she was already storming off in the deepest part of the city. Hurrying after her, Thunder called her name, but his response was her shouting at him to go away. Frowning perversely, Thunder summoned his cloud and swerved in front of her.

"What do you want? I've already been through a Titan following me around all day! I don't need another one!" Jinx cried in exasperation, throwing her hands up.

"Your mind is troubled. If you go our further in this state, you may end up injured," Thunder warned.

She sighed, hand to her forehead. "I'm not gonna get rid of you, am I?"

Thunder cheekily smiled.

Jinx rolled her eyes. "Well, whatever. It's fine if you wanna tag along."

Leaping from his cloud, Thunder landed next to her, and they began strolling down the dimly lit streets. He glanced down to her, finding her posture rigid and tense as if she were strenuously cold. "Jinx, it has come to my attention that you are having a battle with your mind."

She shrugged. "I guess."

"Why did you attack the puddle?"

"I just didn't like how I looked so pathetic." Subconsciously rubbing her cheek, Jinx sighed and smirked. "It's funny. When you think about it, I'm some fearless leader to the H.I.V.E Five, but now look at me. Broken down and wet, left alone even though I chose to leave See-More behind. I don't know what to do."

Thunder pointed to her cheek, asking what occurred. Noticing her aura of morbidity, he wanted to personally heal her when Jinx gave a slightly amused chuckle.

"This? This is my punishment for idolizing one of the worst people in the world. I was demoralized, discouraged, and everything I wanted to be was taken away with a slap to my face." Hoarsely snickering, she shook her head. "I'm bad luck. I bring it everywhere I go. Everything I do or believe in is taken away from me."

"No, that is not true."

Jinx quirked an eyebrow, frowning at the soft-spoken Titan. "What do you know?"

"The look in your eyes is different. They are filled with a new light, shining much brighter than before when I was shown your picture during my induction into the Titans." Thunder laughed heartily. "I can see my reflection in them."

"You're pretty weird, ya know that?" Jinx bluntly stated as Thunder's laugh trailed off nervously. "And what do you mean by that?"

"When my brother and I were enemies of the Titans-"

"Wait, you fought the Titans? When? I thought you were always a member."

Thunder nodded, noticing the park coming up shortly. Asking if she would like to sit, he smiled when she simply shrugged, and they entered the still, quiet park. Dim lights guided them through the paved sidewalks like a maze in the many shadows. They sat together on a bench, and Jinx tensed considerably, not fully trusting Thunder as he sighed in remembrance.

"My brother and I were very foolish before we met the Titans. We were unaware of the damage we were causing, harming the ones who ran in fear. In a way, we were like you."

"Me?"

Thunder nodded. "After the noble green one-"

"Okay, just gonna interrupt for a moment. You know his name is Beast Boy, right?"

"Uh, yes, I do."

"Then…why do you call him that?"

He shrugged. "Because…it is our name for him?"

"No offensive, but that's pretty stupid."

Scowling, Thunder scoffed and crossed his arms vehemently. "If you do not wish for my assistance, I will leave!"

"Good! I never asked for you help!"

They glared at each other, sparks dashing between their glowers. Hatred lingered in their eyes before Thunder sighed and looked away. Jinx backed down, glancing to her feet, questioning why he bothered being concerned about her. His hand went onto her lithe shoulder, smiling tiredly, but kindly.

"I have heard of you Jinx, and I see hope in you for a better life much like how the Titans saw good in my brother and I. You can be a better woman," Thunder murmured in his soft, rumbling voice much like his namesake.

"Heh, you sound like Kid Flash." She smirked, crossing her legs and arms, shaking her head. Glancing down, she thought of the charming speedster, reaching down for the rose she placed in her pocket. However, she only felt stale air. Gasping, she searched through every pocket frantically when Thunder tapped her shoulder. He held up the rose with a knight air, smiling shyly as Jinx accepted it and thanked him.

"Kid Flash has been with you. He told me stories of your adventures together," he explained.

Jinx blushed. "I only met that goober today! Wait, you know him?"

"We are friends and Titans. We should know each other. He likes you very much, enjoying your presence around him."

She gaped, eyes widening. "Yeah, w-well, I don't like that idiot."

Smirking, he countered, "If that is so, why are you blushing?"

Jinx was ready to throttle the elemental, clenching her fists tightly. Snatching his armor, she growled, "I don't even-! You better not be insinuating-! I'll kill you!"

Thunder cried out feebly, waving his hands quickly. "N-no! Of course not!"

Sighing, she dropped him and slumped back down. "You might as well continue your story of reforming before I strangle you."

"My brother and I were battling against the Titans when Slade used us. We could have slayed the Titans, destroyed innocent victims' homes and lives if the green…" At Jinx's eyes rolling around in disbelief, he frowned. "…Beast Boy. There, are you pleased?"

"Yes. You sound normal."

"…Beast Boy came to me, entreating for me to see the error of our ways. That which we perceived as amusing was not. It took some time, but I convinced my beloved brother to do what was right. We-"

"Look, Thunder, was it? I'm sorry, but I've got to get going," Jinx interjected to his surprise. "The boys will wonder where I am, and I'm gonna be totally honest. I want to go, but I feel like I can't."

"Why?"

"It's just…! They expect me to be there leader, but now that Kid Flash and I met, I'm torn. I can't choose." Jinx sighed, tucking her hair back. "If you give me a mirror, I wouldn't be able to tell you it's me in my reflection. It would just be the pale image of a lost girl."

Thunder stared at that confused girl, pity rising in him. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, he replied, "Jinx, you are a very proud girl, one filled with power that can be used as you wish."

"But everywhere I go I just bring bad luck! I'm cursed! I can't be a hero."

"Your power is not a curse, but a blessing in disguise. You control your own body and power, and you can use it however you please. For justice, for villainy, it is all up to you. I cannot and will not force my beliefs onto you as that would be rude, but I can advise you to never doubt yourself. You have a gift, Jinx, treasure it."

She stared at him, cat-like orbs widening in surprise. Wasn't she always just bad luck, bringing chaos wherever she went? That was why her parents gave her up, why she accidentally destroyed the Indian monastery where she grew up before she joined the H.I.V.E. Jinx gazed down at her hands, thinking over Thunder's wise words. He said she could be better, that he saw himself in her. Instantly, she was reminded of Kid Flash and how he brought several glimmers of hopeful prosperity. Promise of a better life flashed through her mind, and she saw herself, free and happy, fighting for citizens' safety. They loved and respected her as their savior. Jinx smiled timidly, getting to her feet and faced Thunder.

"I'm going home to say goodbye," she stated boldly. "I'll stay with the boys until the operation goes underway."

"What operation?" Thunder quickly demanded.

Jinx winked coyly to Thunder's chagrin. "Well, it wouldn't be fun with you knowing. So, as a goodbye gift…" Jinx leaned forward, and Thunder seemed to shrink at the sudden intimacy. She took of his helmet, ruffling his short, but wavy ebony hair. "See you soon, Thunder."

Placing his helmet back over his head, he smirked. "Until we meet again, Jinx."

"Oh, one last thing, if you see Kid Flash, don't mention this to him. I don't want him to think I've reformed because of him. It'll give him that stupid male chauvinism that he'll think he's won me over."

Thunder placed his finger to his smiling lips, nodding as they parted ways. Glancing over his shoulder to the prideful girl, he grinned and summoned his cloud, flying off. Once he was a good distance away and on his cloud, Thunder removed his communicator from his cloth belt and dialed Kid Flash.

"Thunder, my man! You seen Jinx? Is she okay?" he eagerly asked.

"I am sworn to secrecy," he stated before shutting his communicator.

Instantly, Thunder's communicator began ringing again, and he found Lightning slumbering peacefully, muttering about, "sugary spheres" which were really donuts. Smirking, Thunder turned the volume on his communicator fully off. Lying down by his brother, he patted his shoulder and fell asleep. Smirking, he muttered, "An excellent choice, Jinx. I look forward to fighting alongside you."