Teen Titans; Foxes Upon Foxes – Snippets and Magical Galore

/

I'M NOT GONNA GROW UP!

/

Is literally the title. The kid's parents look back on when their little bumgorfs went through puberty abd caused mass hysterically, earthquake s and sea levels to rise…or not? Can the senior Titans' kids handle this much of a flashback?? Find out! Takes placevafter Gakactic Eros Arc wgen Raku goes to stay and train with Johnny C. Read on!

/

Raku had no idea what had gone on last night. He woke up sweating like a stripped sheet set in the humid jungles, his hair was a mess and he had his very first…

"No…it's not possible!!" Running to where Aiden was sleeping in today ( this is before he goes with John,) Raku shoved the blonde's shoulder. His panic rising; the boys had been up last night watching a series with a detective in Paris. Something for the mind, but still…

Raku groaned and touched his cheek. "Wake up…"

~ AH, what a tale! You're much less enthused about these changes, my young lordship. ~ Ignito was sitting in his room, over the side and holing an interesting covered tome in hand. ~ Djinn don't experience what you are about to. ~ Chuckled the aspect as it opened the book and turned to a dusty page. ~ Ah, the occurrence in mortal young adults that begins at different times from 10 to –

"I'm…"

Raku was sorely distracted from their internal monologs as Aiden rolled over and opened his half sleeping eyes at the boy above his head. Raku pulled back, blushing and swearing under his breath in whisper as he finally took on the courage to say something. Anything.

"I….my face, there are….strange boils….you must tell me what is…happening!"

/

Thankfully, Aiden was off from his course this week to return home, as was Raku before he'd end up in Japan with the kid a few months later. Raku had embraced the part of himself that was neither human nor sorcerer, yet this wasn't that part he was rejecting.

Being a mortal – born demi god wasn't every bit as pleasant as Raku scrubbed his poor face until it lacked structure. "I need a spell. I'll call –

"Nope." Aiden went to the drawer below the sink and pulled out a small white container. "THESE are what I used at age fourteen and k never saw a bump again. It's not just mom's looks – er…just." He handed the kid the alcohol pads abd explained, "You may not be all human, but that part of you still gets teen acne. You're just a late bloomer. See?" Aiden pulled up on his phone a person applying a special cream and the after images. Raku, felt deceived by his own carelessness. "No, I refuse to believe that…that I am a monster with this…this is an herbal tincture? Will it banish the curse mark –

"AC – NE." Zaiden used air quotes as Raku shook his head and stared at his lacking reflection. "Humans cannot be gods, or…what if this takes away my powers??"

"Are you –

Aiden clicked his tongue like any big brother and swiped up a pad with a twist of the lid off of the container in Raku's hands. "Observe, lil magus." Aiden flawlessly did as the picture while the skin seemed to highlight what he saw in real life. Now, you try. Just one use. You use it once a week and the skin is bound to never get bumps again." The younger teen shakily reached for a pad as he held it between to sets of fingers. "L- like this?" HE patted the spot down. It…felt cold as he pulled it away with a hiss. "That stings me! What is this poison-

"Medicine, mild witch hazel. Stride – ex." Aiden told the kid. "I use it on all of my ugly spots and the bridge where most ache shows up. But do not overuse this." He took away the rest of the canister and placed it back into its compartment, shutting the drawer with a close on their earlier than average morning. "By next week, same day, you use it again, and id it gets any less apparent on your face, it's healing up. But!" Aiden held up a finger. "DO NOT use it more than that…cause I don't want to run out and keep reading it if we don't have to. Kay?"

Raku bobbed his head, feeling his cheeks tingle start to go down. "Why does this happen to humans?" Raku asked as Aiden was about to leave the bathroom to get some coffee started. He'd learned it was something he now craved if not at times. "Hormones, our bodies being nothing but a mess since evolution. But, I dunno. You can ask any doctor here. They all have different ideas and things to se you on. Me? Puberty, stress. Hormones. Same as you –

"Did you say…" Raku gulped. "I…was never an adult after my ceremony??"

"Fourteen for us, so… maybe?"

In a way, Ignito shut the book on this and knew it would go very, very poorly from here on out. ~ Not the best choice of words, dear Chosen. ~ Sighed the aspect as he limited his comments to pick up another story. One bound to the first, in …

/

"I can't go out like this. No way!"

Slade rolled his eyes as Anna made a fuss about her legs. My family shouldn't biologically HAVE hair! On…legs or…"

"You have more androgen to deal with than most." Slade commented as Rose shot him a dirty look. "You are tough, and it's all about becoming an old fart like him…I still tweeze and it never gets easy. Rip it off and move on. Spa date!" Anna was tugged over to the door as Rose knew this mission involved her wearing red sequins, THEN burning down the entire venue like some deadly weapon. "Annie will be fine, dad." Rose told the fire bird's keeper. "If I have to come pick you both up –

"Got this. She's gonna look way better than disco night. You really need a new tailor, pop. Collars are out . It's all about loose and free –

"My generation INVENTED Carefree!" Slade snapped, up from his coffee as the door slammed shut to his pent / safe house.

"Rose…this is a very bad plan." He sighed, recalling Grayson force horror stories of Anna's temper down his bulging neck. That was reason fir alarm. Volcanoes did not belong on a massage table.

/

Kori was busy going through a few old photos on her phone when Donna called out of the blue. She was done with her latest shoot and her throat needed a sweet touch to it since that jumpsuit….was not a great theme at all.

"What a very nice surprise for you to call! Is everything alright at the tower?" Ah, she missed the effort of heroism. By damn. One day, it wouldn't kill them to stand watch?

~ Actually, I wanted to ask you a question. Did any of your kids go through…puberty problems? ~

Kori let her mouth drop open. " Ah…yes! Ava had her first cycle begging abd started to panic so very badly that she contacted the emergency care to pick her up and froze the phone to her hand. Sixteen, she was not an early to bloom. And Ami was very upset that if her voice dropped an octane she would start to wear black. And start listening to the Bad Religion…who I do not know who that is."

~ DID SHE? And, this is about one of our Titans. I can't get through them so alien to alien, would you be able to swing by? She's super shy and every time I mention age she thinks she's got two weeks left to live before she turns to stardust. ~

"Yes! Very similar to Anna as well, she had her first cycle and the pain was only bad the first year. Her screaming made the walls shake because of my side if the family tree. Aiden got a zit the same year and he refused to go to school and snuck out – then asked his father if he could join the circus. Very ridiculous because Haley's is his father's -

~ You, told him no, right. ~ Deadpanned Donna.

" Oh, we did! Yet…he tried to run away anyway and was chased by Raven to stop. He did, only after she used a formula to get rid of the zit and have him a book. Then we sat Aiden and Anna down for…the talk."

~ Just, promise me. That you won't go overboard with those stories to our new recruit. She's from a foster system and just started recognizing her powers were half alien today. Literally, why I called. ~

Starfire nodded into the line as her heels cracked the pavement. "I do understand. It is as a friend always should be; honest, yet not so much as to turn Jump City into a massive crater. Understood, I shall be right over very soon."

~ Thanks a ton, Kori. We'll make it up to you. Lunch, maybe next week with us three? Raven said she'd go if you were. ~

"I would be most delighted to attend your later gathering, friend Donna!" Starfire beamed and took her time in finding the correct room to change and set off to the skies easily by her license within the Jla.

"Here I go!"

/

Raku was busy preparing to start his pre registration exams for his college of choice in London. He had forgotten to however, turn his phone to silent as it rang, not once.

But many times in a bleeping second.

Raku gripped the thing and saw Dick's face pop up onto the screen. He looked well rested. Unmarred by the thing that Raku forced himself to hide. ~ Hey, kiddo…you doing alright? I was just checking to make sure you'd adjusted while the team is away on a mission. Kori is there…ah, is Aiden? ~

"He is showering. I am studying. Why would you call during special event as you claim?" Raku used his old dialect as it popped out in a fit of frustrated angst. He bit his lip. "Please, this is not a very good time –

~ It is a better time as any to help you out. You're under our roof until John takes over my role as your guardian. That's how custody works here, no one says against the law anything that could endanger someone being taken care of. ~

"I, your family was strange before I, correct at this age?" Raku turned but did not present his cheek to the male cop. "They talked of growing up, but I had a ceremony to my age in the past! I was already even older so…why? Tell me why Aiden has told me that …"

Raku moved his cheek into view. Dick didn't even bat a lash. ~ Mine was bigger. ~ Dick smirked. ~ That little guy will go away in no more than a week. You decided to live with us, so that part of you is just, well –

"I am not a mortal, though!" Raku whined. " I am a demi god with the power of a an related to the might Solomon! I am son of Lord Azag and student of Lord Thoth, Lord Azag and Lord Dreamweaver of the Dune Capital of the past….I…cannot have a blemish such as –

~ I think we call it a pimple. A white head. ~

Raku's palms began to fill up with light as je swisher his magic "I could lose my powers…why did this happen?"

~ I TOLD YOU . ~ Ignito chimed in. ~ Puberty, young lordship. You were only grown in face as the past foretold but in this world, your mind still has some growing UP to do.~

~ It could be hormones, diet and exposure to dead skin cells but you were nervous about going to this new place with John. I know you can get past your fears –

~ Don't distract –

"D- diet?" Raku turned his head like an owl, eyes wide and the fear clouding them over harshly as Grayson blabbering on, thinking he was helping. ~ Well, sure. In the gut if a normal mammal are tiny microscopic parts of life known as bacteria. And when you feed some bacteria one thing, it can do different things to us. If you eat a lot if food that isn't healthy, you can end up like Aiden was until we made him join a sport and get outside more. Took a lot of Kori's strength…~ Sighed the cop.

" I ….eat , flexitarian!" Raku gasped. "I am the pinnacle of health and I exercise with my entire mind and body on a regular basis. I have no need for this. Why am I-

~ A lot of oils for instance can clog pores. Even healthy ones. ~

Dick was in hot water as Aiden slammed the door back, in only his towel. "No, tell me you didn't ask my dad anything! Raku. Don't listen to –

"I…know the answer…but I cannot give up my means! What must I do-

~ Did you eat anything sweet this month? It can –

"Shut up!" Aiden screamed at his dad abd pulled the phone from Raku's grip. "He…he's right."

The next few seconds was a storm brewing. The kitchen started to pop like popcorn as boxes of cereal, even oil bottles and sugar in the pantry combusted into a mass of items that were no longer usable to an average cook. When it came to the freezer, Aiden knew he had to make it all stop.

"RAKU!"

The teen didn't kitten as his eyes started to glow with the magic of a God of creation and destruction. His ears started to become pointed as his fae in self, while Aiden jumped as early as je could and pulled the kid into his arms. He knew it was sloppy, desperate and sort of improper as Raku hiccups and blinked. The boxes of Crocky crunch were lastly spared, yet the rest…would mean a late start to someone's day. "I got over it. It happens! You're growing up! You're not a freak or weird, you're like I told you…you're just, growing into a real person who lives on earth now…you can change everything, be as perfect as you want but, in the end, you still want to be happy. Even fir a little bit." Aiden pulled away as Raku looked ready to burst into tears like the first time Aiden had grew the boy from the witch's curse. "Trust me. Dad just was an athlete all his life, but his frickin' B. O? If I EVER told you the horror stories my mom had to go through…" Aiden chuckled as Raku started to laugh. "He…he's human…but, I…I'm not supposed to be –

"You as Raku, not as a dragon or a warlock or anything. YOU ." Aiden declared. "Are as real as me, so you're going to go through…some, maybe kinda…late changes. It won't be forever. You only just got here. See?" Aiden pointed to Raku's cheek as he pulled out his cell and showed the mirror back, of a blemish free demi God. "You are ok. So, chill. I'm here. I'm going to tell you right now, you're fine. Just as you are. Ok?"

Aiden was…his sun, while the moon eclipsed, felt very strange. He cared. But that caring, that yearning to be close…

Raku blushed and headed to the kitchen, his eyes shifting to not see the teen who had lived through his pains with him.

Who didn't like him, like that…

"I…have to get ready, I'll clean up. I'm sorry!"

Aiden sighed as Raku went to the kitchen and did just that, and was silent for some time. All while Ignito had to shake his head and snort to the idea of Aiden ever rejecting a God's love. But, he had.

~ That boy is a fool, yet you still pine for him. Why? ~

"He saved my life. I can never repay him but, I can learn to protect his earth. Our new home." Raku smiled as he crouched low and picked up every shard of glass, with only gloves and no magic. "I have to, it's our contract and I don't care how long for. Even with my new teacher, he'll still always be my first…"

Growing up, as he watched Aiden twist that towel a bit tighter, wouldn't' have to be so bad. Raku went back to his chore, attempting to think of a future that could not happen in another decade if he tried to make it so.

/

At the airport, Raku, his new family and of course the Titans all watched him off while Dick and Aiden had an honest face to face chat. "You shouldn't do that again. Let me –

"I'm sorry, Aiden. I had no idea he was so conflicted about knowing it." Dick rubbed his neck as the plane was ready to fly off towards London's rainy days. No more California until next time. "Are you sure John won't be too honest? He's sensitive, like a kid honestly. It's why even if he has a crush, I have to keep saying that he has to move on." Aiden pursed his lips, and he already had the gist by now. Ever since the whole jealousy kick that Cecilia Crescendo Daia had shown Aiden the dark side of dual obsessions. He looked at his father and knew it could never be enough. Raku was always unstable, young and clingy. If he wanted to get away, the fight with Mir should have explained that it wasn't Aiden's fault that he was made in the image of a character that Raku adored secretly. It was…

Not flattering, and John hopefully could get the kid's head out of the middle ages to see that.

" I know how it is, to be worried you'll say the wrong thing a lot. If you to him the truth, it would hurt a lot more to you than lying and pretending everything is fine." Dick swallowed as Aiden turned to the window outside. "It has to be this way. I promised he'd be ok and not be so…"

"You're not going to help him grow from it. He has to make mistakes. All of him now, John can't fix or help on his own. I feel like I've failed us both –

"You are the one he clung to. But, how did you do ,it? Reject him?" Aiden begged his father for the answered he sought after. "I don't gave a kid of my own, so this…is like being in a paradox. Big brother? I know he's not going to change-

"Raku confused fir a long time, love as painful or even wanted it so much that he used force because no one told him what that really did. How being hurt made him hurt others to forget that he was still forced before and then to keep his mask on and never take it off." Dick expressed openly to his son. "Raku, despite what you want to think, is a sexual abuse and domestic abuse victim. I know you think it's not all there; that he tried to subjugate spirit world races and became their king through sheer force, but under that…a child was on that throne. Always, and I never noticed it. You saved him to become his true self, so. It will be hard for us all. He's going tk change, though. Aiden" Dick smiled to the blonde and waved at Kori, her eyes looking nervous and hearing a good chunk about what was being said.

"Have to head back. He'll text us when he's up by tomorrow. John promised. He said that Raku is a second chance and they both want to prove that time can't measure healing. I think, John can somehow relate to Raku being afraid of his own powers and feeling all alone because of it. He's the perfect teacher, even if you think there is nothing left he can do. Have faith in your family."

"He's-

Aiden bit his tongue. "He's been here a bit, but can he adjust enough to act like it? I'm not his love interest. I just want him to find someone else."

/

In London, Raku was exhausted and fighting a bitter wave of nausea for the first time since going to Tokyo – where Slade had just happened to be boarding, coach.

The gates parted, his bags were collected and Raku allowed the smooth case to roll along the marble floors to his last destination.

By the exit, just outside, was a beat up old looking cab and the cabbie. His teacher. Rough appearance, a cigarette between his lips and a dead set of fish eyes on the road ahead. Raku imagined it was raining pretty hard from the looks of the sky. What a time to celebrate, he sighed and took the only light bag he had to put it over his head. He ran through a puddle but stopped as it nearly made him trip. With a tug up, the cabbie had opened the door to catch the boy, mid fall. Another male brunette was over to his bags and took the luggage up before it soaked through. "Easy, lad. You made it in time. Rough, flight?"

"John! Don't dawdle, please." The brunette chastised. "It's raining like mad all over the roads. We have to quit yammering now and head back before it gets dark."

"In a moment, Chas." John nodded and helped Raku to his seat in the back. It was cushy, remodeled as Raku fell in and buckled up right away.

Chas sat in the driver's seat and like Japan, the side of the wheel was not as the United States. "What was his age, did you say? This might look a bit off –

"Just drive, mate." Snorted the blonde as he threw his cog out the window while the rain pelted the magi's arm.

/

The ride was a longer one than the boy had wanted. His fingers thrummed with anxiety as he tried to forget where and how he was at the moment. "Um, am I staying anyplace I should know about , tonight?"

"You'll be staying with this bloke, then we can swap houses for your training." John answered as Chas backed the boy's question up a bot better. "John us only staying over from the rain. Really. He's not a witch, but the man would be a soggy lab if I let him out during a downpour this large. You'll be staying in a guest room in my apartment. I have the sofa set out unless you'd rather switch?"

"Ah, either is good." Raku nodded. "So, what is your name? Are you familiar with John, sir?"

"That's Chas, lad." John finally piped in. "He's my assistant and college roomie. Been thick forever and no, he doesn't use magic. Not unless I command him to watch my are for me."

"MANY times, might I add." Huffed the brunette. "This mad man hasn't changed a day since college. Raku, was it? Take my advice, lad. If John says to pit yourself against a giant man eating serpent, tell him off. He'll get the memo pretty quick."

"You're just afraid of a little toe to toe action with a basilisk it never ate anyone, or your leg –

"Not the point!" Groaned Chas as John opened a window before Chas shut it. "No smoking in the car, mate. I told you; the cushions don't replace themselves."

Raku didn't do much but watch the two men bicker in a friendly way to one another. He wondered if adult friendships were like that sometimes. Aiden…he wondered if when he got older, Aiden might act the same way.

The car stopped, stalling in the road as Raku felt his fingers go still again. "I'm…I'm sorry!"

"Wait." John told the two as he got out of the side door. " Wait." He said again, Raku knew he'd be in trouble for losing control of his magic….again..

John put a face to the car hood as in the instant it had stopped, it came to life. "Easy fix, and you?" John turned to Raku as his breath got caught in his throat. "We'll have to work on your aim. Nice attempt to get me to lighten up, lad."

Raku blinked. "But, I didn't-

"YOU didn't, but in your mind, bickering is negative. Ignito hates conflict, so of course you'd want it quiet again."

Raku didn't know how to respond. Did he just…have John stop so he could feel better about them not fighting anymore?"

"Your aim was to stop conflict through action, even involuntary. Chas and I must warn you a bit about London, here. Taking like we do, even to discuss the weather is going to be a very, very common ordeal." He grinned as Raku puzzled over those words. "We'll head out for a walk, see what I mean tomorrow morning. Have to do some work. You'll accompany me there. Chas?"

"I have no complaints on how you'll handle your student, John. No implying I'll be baby sitting too often is all I ask. Unless in an emergency."

Cleaning his throat, John sat back down properly as Chas turned to another street close to home. "Here, if you want to get along with anyone, being honest the first time will help you plenty along."

"Yet the second time, no one is to be trusted once I take you on as my official pupil in the dark arts. Understood?"

John took over as Chas sighed and went to park the vehicle in a lot nearby. "Remember. John's word goes as saying. I'm going to be here for now if you need anything. Tomorrow, you both on are on your own." He unlocked the doors as all three plucked themselves and the boy's luggage up to head inside.

/

Raku got something hot to eat, even if it was pretty and and then put out his toothbrush abd items for bed by the guards room. Chas had been honest and kind, as if he'd worked wkth kids like Raku before. John sat on the sofa and watched the news for a time with a scrutinizing glance before the kid walked in on him from the shower. He was already dressed and stall, John wasn't as chatty as the time he'd helped stop Mir and Manifesto from going evil in their world ( galactic eros arc)

"The stall is ready for you." Raku told his teacher, while John seemed to be lost in his screen time. "Give me a moment extra, lad. Sit. I have to talk to you about something important."

Raku did as he was told, hoping the towel in his hair wasn't too damp. He had a good length trimmed back, but it all was long enough to tie up plenty. "I know you're nervous about this promise I made before. Chas is glad to see you in better spirits. He used to have a little girl if his own. It, was a trouble we don't talk about often enough." John turned his head away from the television as Raku tried to hold his gaze, though felt nervous in trying any harder than he had.

"You're a pretty ansty one. I don't nip at all. But, I'd advise fir the next couple of weeks not to stray far on your own. This isn't why you were told to hear me out. Tomorrow, I want to warn you about my work."

Raku kept his eyes glued as John explained, "My work is dangerous, lad. I knew someone with your kind of magic could handle in time, a little bit of the grim and gory to make sense if it all. I'm a professional in the occult. A detective of the supernatural and I specialize in one thing above all else. Exorcisms of the worst kind, lad. You'd be helping me to banish those that old be your enemy, but I know they would be a right to pin me the monster, you s the hapless victim. You can't remain in the sidelines forever if you want to learn my way this craft can help you, Raku. You can take it all back the control you never got with Abi or even Lord Dreamwake."

Raku pulled away as John continued. "I decided to read the myth all of your family talked about you being a part of, what made despise your own magical bloodline. I think, you're similar to someone I recall was also fearful of what he was capable of. At full capacity."

Raku didn't feel ok, he felt like his body was thrusting up a storm again. "Take a deep breath." John instructed as Raku, somehow, heard a more gentle tone as before. John, was here…

"Let it out. Come on, lad."

Raku held on for so long knowing he was never going to be what he wanted without the control he lacked. He was afraid of what he could do in his worst timing. What…

He let his lip wobbled as his head collapsed into John's coat chest. The magi put a hand on the kid's head as he let the other to his shoulder while the boy wept. He didn't know! He could…..could this man be his new, Ardius?

Raku cried, the tension dying in his body as the vibration of magic ceased to keep him chained up. "It's alright, Raku. I'm here to help. That's why you came. I won't hurt you or let you lose control. As long as you want help, I'm for that to happen."

Raku went a bit louder as Chas stayed back to make sure everything was fine to a degree. No shelves moving around. Check. No fires starting up magically. Check.

He'd be fine. Like Astra Nergal, both teased and student were willing to try over. To grow up and into the roles that suited them best, while aiding each other along the way.

/

Raku felt refreshed by morning as the mush on his plate and fried eggs never bothered him in the slightest. He'd brought only the clothing he would get to wear. A more slimming white and black top with a set of matching pants. He didn't like to dress his age very often, and the contracts made him feel like fifteen in body for a little while. "Can you walk in those boots, lad?"

His style was somewhat Gothic and mod to Ami, while Kori had suggested so many things. One was a set of boots that were slim for a lean figure but could be worn by either gender. Raku was non binary and queen in that moment. He still had trouble understanding human cues and for one, the dress codes made him look model ready for a rave instead of a fight.

"Did you bring the entire Gothic label of Killer Topic with you from the states, lad?" Chas gawked. "He can't go dressed like that! Do you have a tie, or even a –

In the end, a button-down punk style resumed as Raku pulled at the chain links on his pants. "I only liked the feeling of it in the store..." He explained.

"You look like a fucking bloody vampire in broad daylight." John snickered. "It's fine. We'll need to blend in and you look a few years old enough to join."

"Join?"

John was to the door with a burlap satchel and a few items placed inside. "We have to make a few stops before we reach our real target. Grab a few waters, would you?"

/

Chas gave Raku a protein bar and two metal flasks to take along as both made it to the train on foot. John said nothing as they got on and were in deep underground before long. At the bottom, was a door that read "keep out."

Raku kept his neck lowered as John instructed the kid to stay natural. Nervous. He was as they said to one profanity here "bloody" anxious.

Raku had seen Lil's world. Lothos's demented tomb. Shadow Von Hurt's mind, even the Puppet Master's dollhouse. He saw Baphomet's throne room and the red Dragon's keep…

But, this was a sewer to his nose and now somewhat HUMAN eyes. Raku was still not a full mortal. If he ever turned away his gifts, he'd start to fall to pieces. He was turned to look at John as the man unblocked the door and whispered to his stunned pupil.

"Stand watch outside. I'll just be a minute."

Raku bobbed his head, scared and afraid to look behind him. This place fed off of fear, and here. He was a tired, walking target.

/

The room was silent, save for a scraping of the gears above them where the vibration rails made Raku's head ache.

~ We can do this easy, or you can't tell it like it is, bloke. Eh so that is what –

The rumble of stone had Raku put his hands over his ears.

~ Had plenty more?? I'm just –

The rattle got louder as Raku realized that someone was casting a spell beyond the door. He promised not to open it. No. John was fine.

The door then swung back as Raku's eyes bolted open to see a green, frog like troll running out –

His amber became an intense sight as the word "run" floated into his second sight.

Run…as in…

Raku blinked as a motorbike fell from the ceiling onto the goblin. The magi panting out as he went to collect it and banish the damned ….

Raku gaped as the creature started to revert back. A man in uniform was panting with his back only thankfully bruised since the troll felt very little pain. It was a distraction, nothing less as John put a palm up to the man's brow and began to chant.

/

Dusting his hands off, John radioed the man's superior in the man's voice. Then, he left the men, all four of them in the room, tied up and there for pick up. "Done here." John saw how Raku was still stalk still. "What…"

John sighed and stood up taller. "These men were possessed by messy hob goblin spirits. In a way, they were going to mess with the trains path but we stopped them just in the nick. Alright making that cycle appear out of thin air. Used your head –

"No. John." Raku breathed out carefully, weakly. "What did we just do?? Why are you acting unfazed by this…I.. thought we were –

"Heroes or something, lad?" Sniffed the magi. "Anti – hero is more like it. Oh, at times we may not be so gentle. I told you. My job isn't easy." He said. "Are you coming or not?"

Raku nodded. "I am, because I want to know what it is you're keeping from me about your job." The boy replied, harshly criticizing his teacher already.

/

Raku moved quick on his toes as the station ended and the pavement above began. He had walked in San Fran and San Diego before. In Tokyo a few Osaka, but never…

London.

It was as if he'd decided to jump into a book, a book on the past. A past that looked familiar even at first glance. "Where is the landmark that used to be here?" He asked the magi. John put away his cigs as Raku seemed to be recalling the time he'd been alive to find Rokuro during a world War in the past.

"Things changed a lot since you were alive, Raku. You'll have to walk a bit farther than this. We've almost arrived."

A few blocks up, Raku took his protein bar and John treated them both to lunch. It was an odd timing. The two were quieter, more reserved and John had a tendency to be more helpful than he'd been rumored as by the Titans. Or the bat.

Dick had said John mostly kept to his work, like batman.

Maybe he had a terrible experience as a child? Raku but into his sandwich and ignored the gnawing desire to know more about the man. That was just a dinn's madness at work.

They were off again; this time a cab as John relented and took the time to keep them on their toes. The last place was a big building with stony steps and its aura was quite enigmatic at first glance.

"Come along." John walked up the steps as Raku followed behind. Not to question, not to ruin his moment as they came to an office building and stepped through the doors with their guards up always.

/

It was a seated area. Chairs lined there as the quiet settled back in. John went to the front desk as he pulled out a card from one of his connections here in the city. "Afternoon. I'm here to see …"

/

It came as a blur. The clock was their metronome while the man at this desk was particularly interested in the testing Ramu had done over his wait in the Grayson household. "Very good score. He intends to start right away?"

"He's just gained expat citizenship." John. Wait??

"I can gladly go over anything that wasn't checked off."

The two went at it as Raku sat and stayed mouse quiet the entire time, until the director turned to speak to him.

"Your guardian said you're interested in Philosophy and to work in anthropology as a major. I'm interested to know what you enjoy the most about the subjects you chose here."

A test. Raku smiled and nodded as his mouth spoke something only a God could convey.

"Your passion in unquestionably strong fir someone so young." Grinned the adult as Raku let his head rest on knowing he had passed. "Welcome to our college, young Grayson."

John smiled at the kid as he seemed, delighted at sharing a common surname as his contracted. "I'm more than pleased to have been selected in this process, sir. I won't fail my own expectations to pass every course. It's been my desire to study the past and take to heart all I can from her lessons. There can be no better answer than this."

/

There was a minute that Raku was told to wait out in the hall, so he did. John spoke to the director who nodded. "In his time, it would be a form of autism now, more so."

"I know it, Adam. I'm hating labeling him as much as you. You know our story. Shoji was sure to inform the board as well?"

"That this school is also meant to help people wkth his sort of background, as well? The magic, you mean? Or the shyness?"

"That's the trauma talking." John said. "He was a victim to it for a very long time. I'm hoping he'll open up here. Not be to attached to the past."

"As he said, he wants to learn from it."

"And a magus as a college headmaster isn't a red flag to me?"

"John, I know how it was reconnecting after –

John put a finger up. "He can know it later. For now, my focus is on his elective. This being just a taste once he can well integrate into society as he sees it. I see a way to heal, and I hope he will aa well take that lesson to heart."

Adam nodded. "Your note said that his trauma makes him younger, physically. Can it work both ways if he let's his magic out?"

"That's possibly, why I need him here when my work takes me out of the picture for days. I didn't say he'd be on every mission, but to make him a special case like this and his social quirks, it worries me."

"You're acting like his guardian would." Adam replied. "I know you cared enough to agree to having him train it out of himself, but you will have to tell him one day, Johnny."

"When it comes, that time will harm both of our egos, bloke. " John leaned his head back into his seat and ignored that he had one more stop to make before they were finally home.

"Ah, is he staying in that manor? The one you won in a poker game?" Adam was a fellow magus that made sure that the country's hidden magi stayed that way from the general public. It was a government decision actually, and John had to thank the royal family fir making the call at long last.

"Will you keep your end of I can keep him out of trouble, John? That you won't run off and leave that boy without anyone to relate to?"

"Same way that brat did? Never." John shook his head. "Aiden doesn't understand, not yet. Maybe if he had a reason to stop playing the shallow side of life, to look into humanity as a joke."

"You're a human though." Snorted Adam as John rolled his eyes to the door behind them. "Yes, but I'm superior and inferior for all that I have mastered. Raku might just be pure of heart, yet no one bothered to take a good look for themselves."

"He's not though." Adam said. "Raku is a demi god with a past that almost made him a convicted criminal for eternity. He even was forced to serve a dark master and killed for a living. If he really isn't a threat as you told me, I can see it. He looked reborn to me, like none of that mattered. He's hurt. But you took him in, regardless."

"I did it for him, not me."

We'll see, Johnny. You have our word." Adam vowed. "Raku will be treated as if he's new, not special. I intend to use caution around this one."

"And report to myself or those on the list I have if he's not able to handle a few new changes. There's a lot of work involved."

"Count on it, John." They shook on it like old friends and John rejoined his pupil in the hall. "Ready to shove off, lad?"

/

Either one shots again on this or a series that is in between when John took in Raku as his pupil. I may do that. Yup.