Fan Fiction ❯ Relative Ways ❯ Title And Registration ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

As the liner cross under the bridge he removed a small black book and a pencil from his jacket pocket. He began to write:

I like the sea. It's weird. Never pictured myself as a sea fareing person. It's so blue. Vast and blue. Crystaline blueness.
Is "blueness" even a word? No. No it's not. Blueness. Vast blueness. Shimmering blueness. Just so blue.
The sea is dull. Only tides and currents. It doesn't look like much. There's probably a whole world under there I'll never understand.
Why am I not happy that I don't understand? What is it with me and understanding?
Maybe I try to hard.
Maybe not hard enough.
Dad sent me out to get Mia. I guess he's hoping we'll get closer. I don't know. Don't know how I feel about Mia. Mia, Mia, Mia.
She's cute
She's nice
She's
She's Mia.
This liner is big. Filled with people. I like people. I don't consider myself a social person though. I'm not anti-social. I'm just...not social.
That's cheesy. Bad excuse. Maybe I should talk to that girl. She's cute looks lon nice. Maybe I'll talk to her.
Alright, how about now? Just walk up to her. Just walk up to her. Just walk up to her.
I wonder what she's thinking? She's staring at the sea. Probably something deep. She looks like a person who has depth.
Maybe I should give Cherl a call. Roy gave me her number for some strange reason. Don't know.
Maybe I'll talk to her on the way back. I'll be busy with Mia then, it'll give me an excuse.
Probably not. I won't talk to her.

He drops the pencil where he stands as the liner docks. From the wharf he'll catch a transport to the island and then he'd meet Mia. It was one of his few times in San Fransico, back when he was considered a Titan and back when The Titans were consider "The Junior Justice League". He wasn't even sure he was a Titan offically. He couldn't recall much of the people there, save for Kyle who brought him aboard in the first place. Kyle was that kind of person back then. Conner hadn't seen him recently, though he thought when Ollie told him about Hal that Kyle seemed to act like an adult. Hopefully Kyle didn't change that much. He thought it would reflect poorly on him in that light.

The pier overlooked the island, to when the boats docked one would have to look over their shoulders to see the giant "T" shaped structure that stuck out of a small piece of land just a few miles off. When it would fog the building would act like a lighthouse for oncoming ships. Captians would not, however, navigate too close to the structure for fear of the defenses mistaking their intent. Nevertheless, the adjacent dock was a hotbed of commerce, attracted by tourist that wish to view the home of the famed Teen Titans. The small shanks and rug shops that littered the boardwalk were filled by vendors hawking cheap imitation wares with the Titan faces. Conner noticed a "Robin action figure" with yellow and green discoloration. It looked as if it was carved out of soap.

It was a nice day, thought he, the breeze blowing the salt air onto the shore. Waves crashed underfoot. The sun hung high overhead, basking the city in it radiance. A nice day. He squinted his eyes in the light, his head craned up watching the endless blue of a California sky. A shadow passed over him, obscuring his light. " Hi. " said a shadow in a pitched, peppery voice. Heels clicked onto the boardwalk. The first notable thing about Cassandra Sandsmark was her hair. It was long and blonde and came down in waves and layers. She had a small, darling face, and large pouty lips. Her eyes were sky colored, he liked them very much. Her pants were a kind of leather, red to match her top. The top was a tank with spaggetti straps holding everything together. Cassie had the body of a young woman, not completely curved but not slender. She had hips. On those hips hung a small roped looped upon itself. Across her chest, a double "W" insigina.
" You must be Connor. " She said, extending her open palm sideways. Connor grasp it softly and shook. " Yes I am " He said quietly. " I'm here for Speedy. " He added.

A second shadow obscure them both. " So this is the other Connor? " said the second shadow, his sneakers made no sound as he touched the boardwalk. Conner Kent was broad shoulders and a square jaw. His hair was fairly black and short, his eyes were a dark shade of the same blue he saw in Cassie's eyes. Conner would have a squinting look to him. He was muscular and wore simple jeans, a simple black t-shirt with a red "S" insiginia. Conner looked very much like a adolesent boy. Square built and sturdy. They were both far from adult, thought Connor. Cassie elbowed Conner suddenly. " Be nice, this is Connor. " Conner gave her a befuddle look, before being replaced with a narrow eyed stared. " So? " he asked aloofly. " This is Green Arrow. " She replied. Conner gave Connor a look. Connor looked at Conner. Conner turned to Cassie. " Isn't he suppose to have a hat? " He said. " Yeah, that's my dad. " replied Connor. Cassie and Conner looked at each other briefly. " I know, you thought I was mute. It happens alot. " He added.

" Alrightie then, now that we all know each other, and before we all start making out, lets get to the tower. Everyone is very anxious to meet you. " Cassie smiled brightly once more. Conner smirked knowingly. Connor Hawke thought to himself how strange it was that people were anxious to meet him. He wondered why to himself, seeing as he was only there to retreive Mia. Something was definately afoot, he thought to himself. How many people think the word "afoot" when somethings up? He added, then shook it off as Conner spoke. " You get airsick much? " Ask the young lad. " Heights don't really bother me one way or another. " replied Connor. His eyebrow quirk. " Why? " he added. Conner just smirked. Connor's brow knotted. He felt the ground underneath him slowly giving way under him. He looked down to see his shoes no longer touched the ground, hovering a just a few inches up. Cassie and Conner smiled at each other and gave him their backs. In one swift motion they were off, and as if a invisible cord had been secured around his waist he followed suite, rocketing forward with a light yelp that carried across the sea.

" Is he alright? " Cassandra passed waved her hands across his face. Connor stared unmoving at the distance. She snapped her fingers in front of his face a few times. He remained motionless. His skin was awfully pale. " I think we killed him. " said Conner, bring a level of insight into this conversation. Cassie gave him a look that came from the side of her eyes and then turned his attention back to Connor. " Think we should tell Cyborg? " She said. Conner shook his head rapidly. " Noooo. No, No, No, No, No. He's just alittle panic stricken, is all. " He exclaimed animately. " He's quivering. " noted Cassie. " He's just cold. " explained Conner. " Aaaargh! " said Connor. " Ah, there we go. " Cassie nodded, as she waved her hand in front of Connor's face.
" Back to normal? " she said.
" Arrrgh. "
" Good. Follow us. "
" Arrrgh. "

The island was a small green/brown landmass about a two miles in diameter and perfectly circular, shaped by years of erratic currents, strange erosion patterns and just plain luck to be perfectly rounded. Most scientist were bafulled by the existance of the island, citing the incredible amount odds of something so conviently placed and stuctured be just off the coast of a major city, overlooking the pacific sea board and be able to sustain a massive " T " shape structure without sinking. Most normal people just thought it was really niffy that they had a " T " in a island somewhere nearby where they could pay a nickle to see it through binoculars. The walkway was mostly naturally paved, cutting a swap through the fanna and tropical-looking botany that was on parade around the island. The trees moved with monkeys and other exotic animals, seperated by a small wire fence that sheilded the inhabitants of the island from the people that rented it from them. Conner looked back once or twice at the other Connor, who had somewhat regain his composure though he was still a uncomfortable. Later Conner would remark that that must have been the other Connor's state of equilibrium, but not as elegently as just put.

" So " said Conner, initiating a conversation. " Your Mia's beau, eh? "
Connor quirked a brow. " What? "
" Well, aren't you? "
" Aren't I what?"
" Mia's beau ?"
" What do you mean? "
" Aren't you and my..." He made a gesture with his face. Connor wasn't sure what that meant.
" Well " Conner said impatiently. " Aren't ya? "
" I have no idea what your talking about. "
" Don't worry. " Said Cassie reassuringly. " It happens alot. "
" Okay, appearently you can speak his languague. " quiped Connor. " What is he trying to say? "
" What he's trying to ask you is- Oh, here we are. "

The site was magnificant. A testiment to an engineering wonder. The Titan Tower rose from the grounds like a monolith. A giant of steel, plexiglas and concrete. It was nothing short of breathtaking. Connor followed the structure from it's base, starting slow then moving up from window to window until it broke in two wings around the sky. Based on how the tower was constructed he would assume that the dormatories and sleeping quarters would rest on either arm of the " T " while the stalk base would possibly be the training room, living room, study and a recreation facility. He would image several sets of stairs, perhaps even an elevator or two. His eyes darted to his sides to glance around. He noticed twin set of cameras in the immidate trees. He glance lower, his eyes sweeping around the dusty walkway. Pockets in nearby bushes confirmed steel, most likely arms of the Tower's defenses. He check the grounds and notice a break in the conglomerate panel of stone within the walk, every few feet or so
there would be a break. Again, he summized that these were for the defense equipment. He made a note about these as he followed Cassie and Conner down the path.

" This placed is well defended. " he said after a while.
" You noticed. " replied Cassie. " Preceptive aren't 'cha? "
" I notice stuff. "
" Heh. "

" Why do you have the founding members in bronze on your front lawn? " He asked as they passed the foyer. They all looked up. They all blinked. " Dunno. " Conner said finally, the continued down towards the enternce.

It was strange seeing Roy in bronze, thought he. He felt a slight breeze to his immidate left. His eyes caught a flicker of yellow. He turned around. " HI! " he said brightly. Connor's brow quirked, his brow nodded. " Hi " he said quietly. " I'm Bart. " his hand came up in a yellow/red blur. Bart was a red-head. A bright red-head, though most of his head was covered by a mask, he had cut the top to allow his bright crimison tressles, all messy and misconstrude, out and wild. Bart was short, though the his body seemed to quiver impatiently would make him seem shorter. Connor looked at him deeply to try to catch his true height, but Bart would just keep moving making it hard to take in any details. " Connor. " said Connor. " Pleasure to meet you. " He extended his hand. Bart disappeared. He felt a tap on his shoulder. The finite dread came about him just then. He turned around slowly. " Too slow. " Said Bart and with a thin smiled disappear in a blur of yellow/red. Cassie and Conner stared. Connor look back befuddled. " Oh...kay..." he said slowly. " Don't worried about Bart. " assured Cassie once more, she seemed to be good at that. " He does that to everyone. "
" Heh. " Chuckled Conner. Cassie gave him a thin eyed look as the elevator went bing and open. It went bing again several moments later.

The room was filled with Ikea stuff. Or as Ikea like as you can get. There was something about this room that screamed "Rent-a-center" though it all looked clearly bought. There were comfortable seats and a comfortable table with comfortable books. The group that sat sat comfortably or stood comfortably on the comfortable carpet. There were no televison on but a radio playing Sonic Youth stood lightly in the corner. Everything seemed almost prearranged somehow. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he sincerly doubted that people would lounge around like this on a Sunday afternoon without anything to do really. Something just wasn't right. One of them stood in the corner closest to the elevator giving him a proper nod as he introduced himself. " Hello " he said. " I'm Robin. " Another, a green man, turn in his seat. " Hey there' budd'eh. Names Beast Boy. " A woman sat next to him in black turned, glanced, nod, and return to her book. " Raven. " she said softly. A orange woman who wore very little approached him next, floating from her place near the large windows that filled the room with a comfortable light. "Greetings. " she said, her face bright. " My name is Koriand'r. " Bart rushed by to correct her. " Her name is Starfire. " he zipped back to somewhere, darting quickly back and forth through that somewhere and the living room. The last approached, he was a contridiction. Shiny bright parts attached to dark skin. He smiled cheerful and shook firm. " Hi, I'm Cyborg. You must be Connor. Nervous? " he asked, leading Connor away from the group. Connor, rightfully, was a bit overwhelmed. His face knotted, his eyes darted around. " About what?" he asked clamly. " About your, well lets just say, trail. " Connor face knotted furthur. " Excuse me? " The man-machine's brow-the part that wasn't metallic- stiffen, his eyes stared inquiriously. " You don't know? " he asked. " Know what? " Connor replied. " Your suppose to be inducted to the Teen Titans today..."

" Maybe you should join the Outsiders. " Woosh thunk.
Connor looked over his shoulders, his eyes narrowed. " What? " He let go of the arrow. Woosh thunk.
" I mean it, maybe you should join a team. " Oliver lowered his bow to notch another arrow. He met Connor's eye incredulously. " What? "
Connor said nothing. He notched his arrow and took aim. " No. " He said quietly. Woosh thunk.
Oliver cleared his throat and stiffen up. He took aim. Woosh thunk.
Woosh thunk.
Woosh thunk.
" How about the Teen Titans? " Twaaang.
Connor stoped and stared. Oliver stoped and stared. They stared at each other. Oliver grabbed the arrow, he leaned on his bow. Connor grab his bow.
" Dad, no. " Woosh thunk.
" Connor. Listen. Our house have been blown up. "
" I know Dad, I was there. "
" The people that did this were obviously after me. "
" What gave you that idea? The blown up house?"
" Connor, I'm serious. We're lucky Roy let us stay with him and the Outsiders. "
" Yeah, easy for you to say. You don't have to bunk with Roy. "
" Connor. What I'm saying is? "
" What your saying is you're worried about me and Mia and think that it's best that we surround ourselves for extra protection so you don't have to keep us in a steel box to make sure people don't get to you through us. Your suggesting that me and Mia can't possibly take care of ourselves without your protection, Dad. That's what your saying."
" Exactly! Now join The Outsiders. "
" No. "
They notched their respective bows. They fired their respective arrows. Woosh thunk.
" Then at least pick up Mia for me this weekend. " said Ollie. Woosh thunk.
" Why? " Woosh thunk.
" I got business. " Woosh thunk.
" Let Roy pick her up. " Woosh thunk.
" I got buisness with Roy. " Woosh thunk.
" Your lying. " Woosh thunk." I'm not lying. " Woosh thunk.
" Why do you want me especially to pick her up? Can't she get home by herself? " Woosh thunk.
" Would you trust a seventeen year-old girl on a cross country trip with a wad of cash? " Woosh thunk.
" Wad of cash? " Woosh thunk.
" Plane ticket money. " Woosh thunk.
" Oh. Well no. " Woosh thunk.
" See? Anyway, It'll give you two a chance to bond more. That's a good thing, bonding. " Woosh thunk.
" I trained Mia for a year, we bonded enough. " Woosh thunk.
" No. More bonding. " Woosh thunk.
" How come you never want me to bond with you? " Woosh thunk.
" Because I don't like you. " Woosh thunk.
" Oh? "
" I love you. But I don't like you. "
" Oh, alright. " Woosh thunk.
" So, you gonna do it? " Woosh thunk.
" Only if you stop making cracks about my sexuality. " Woosh thunk.
" Deal. " Woosh thunk.
Woosh thunk.
Woosh thunk.

As he cross the foyer, he heard a voice. " Connor, wait up! " He stopped. The familiar voice rose once more and swept in. He sighed and shook his head. Mia was shorter then he, she came just about to his chin. She'd designed her own costume, drew up plans and everything, he was surprised how good she looked in the yellow cloak and red jumpsuit. He looked down to her. She looked up to him smiling brightly." Connor, didn't ya' hear me yelling after you. " She said, a mild twinkled crossed her eyes. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. " Connor, what's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me? " She asked, her face contorting into a worry pout. Connor maintain his icy glare. " I told you, and I told Dad that I didn't want to be a part of the team. I told you guys repeatedly that I didn't want to a part of a team. And what do you do? You go behind my and signed me up for the Teen Titans. Dad even sent my costume in ahead of me so that I could take this...this...initiation. " he tugged at his clothing. Sighing, he walked away. Mia stood there for a moment in stun silence. Then she scowled, took to steps and follow him down towards the entery way. " Connor. I had nothing to do with this. " she said after him. " But if your going to be a jerk about this, that's fine. Good luck on your test! " she yelled as disappear behind the door.

The garden was lush but silent. Beauitful but deadly silent. He stood in the center of the walkway, his eyes closed in medatative prayer, his bow hoisted up parallel to his chest. He took a long, deep breath and opened his eyes. The garden was desolute, mostly botany and a modest walkway that wound around much of the agriculture. He spied the white doam that canopy over the lush tropic, keeping out unnessecary rain and vermin perhaps. He wondered why they weren't clear to allow in sun, but he conceeded that possible the humidity would be unbearable to anyone human. The lights attached to the rafters could produce the same effect as a sun without the effect of heat, but that would be quiet a technological feat to create a source of light that produced little or no heat. Again he conceeded that with the amount of technology availble to the Titans it could be possible to do just that.

A bush russled to the left, he tossed it a look. Beast Boy leaped out quickly from the brush to the immidate right in form of a cheetah. He skipped across the walkway towards his target lightly, spanning the full five yards it would take to reach Connor from the brush that he'd emerged from in only a matter of seconds. Garth would smile internally as he neared his quarry. Connor head still stared at the bush to the left. Garth paws touched the warm walk only lightly, he purred softly as he prepared his front legs for one more jump. He tense his hind legs and went verticle in an arch, cummulating with his form upon the lean young archer.

That would have been the case, in essence, if Connor didn't at that exact moment took flight over the decending emerald cat that was now the form of Garth Logan. Connor toss his legs over his head, keeping his body straight as he inverted over the feline Beast Boy, his bow hung vertically over the ground. In this form, Garth eyes widen as the bow came down on the crown of his head, smashing it down onto the stone while his body inertiatically flipped over his skull. The bow lifted as Garth tumbled end over end, his form enlongating and compressing as he began to change, ending with his body sliding in his humanoid form just short of the underbrush. Garth sat up and rubbed the top of his head. " Ow. " he exclaimed as Connor's boots gingerly met the ground with a click.

Connor notched his head to a sound. Or rather, a silence. A noiselessness came over the garden, drowning out Beast Boy's moans and the tap of Connor's green bow as he struck it lightly on the ground. The noiselessness grew and focus into a pitched quiet. At the optiumum crescendo of nothingness came to a head at the form of a illuminescent white beam. Connor throw himself from it's path as it buried itself into the ground, upending pieces of rock, soil and dirt as it went. Connor exhaled heavy and rolled to his feet once more as a second shot destoryed a helpless Spanish palm tree minding it's own business. Connor breath through his nostril and notched an arrow, he stood breathless just then, waiting for the noiselessness to fill the gardan. It came as beckon, but he was prepared this time as he leaped from the path once more, twisting on back and extending his arms. In the disorientation he fired, knowing his aim to be true-as cliche as he was when he thought it just then. " Arggh" said Cyborg, as blue/white sparks popped from his arm/cannon. He pulled at the arrow, sucessfully removing the obstruction as his arm flickers and falls limp at it's side. " Damn! " He yelp.

Connor let go his breath, his eyes darting around the fanna, he gripped his bow tightly. A grouping of bird suddenly broke the organic silence, Connor snapped his head to watch the white sky. His hands relaxed as the group, floating needlessly overhead. " X'hal!" she yelled, breaking throught the thicket. Bright orange hair forming a tail as she sheared the sky, packets of exploding green energy streaking through the sky towards the second emerald archer. Connor didn't hesitate a moment, running for the thick canopy of trees, trying to sheild himself from the blast that rained down. A storm of bolts came down at the border where the walkway met the rest of the trees. " Stay out of my garden! " he heard as she went up to sweep once more. " Okay. " he muttered to himself, reaching behind him to pulled remove a arrow with a thicker shaft then the regular batch. She streak through the complete arch and came at him furiously, her hands glowing with the crackling jade energy. He aimed the arrow with a boxer mitt at the edge, and smirked knowingly as he let it fly. The fist cut the air, striking that Tamaranian right above the eye, the force causing her to tumble end over end before crashing in a hedge nearby.

Connor cough when he began to catch his breath, doubling over as he brush the sweat off his brow. " That's all of them. " He looked out onto the rest of the group. Garth was still scratching his head but he seemed he'd be alright. Cyborg had already pulled out some tools and began working on his damaged arm. He'd hope that Starfire wasn't hurt, but as he heard the Clunk sound of a breaking branch and a otherworldly obsencinity fill the gardan, he surmmized that she was doing well. Angry, but well. He through a glance left, nothing leaped out at him. He glanced to the right, nothing leaped out at him. He glanced above him, nothing leaped out at him. He glanced down...The circular shadow where he obscured the light bubbled suddenly, or seemed to. He narrowed his eyes and focused on the point where he believed would be the center. He watched the edges, the areas where his feet stood apart. His brow quirked as he notice them growing, then widen as he watch the shadows undulate up. It rose from underneath him with aplomb. Toss him like a paper bag in the strong wind. He tumbled end over end, grasping at his quivers, trying to find the string to notch those arrows. He wasn't sure what he was aiming at. He aimed for the darkness and fired before plummeting the rest of the way. Fsoooh crash.

He cringed as he felt that root stabbing him in the lower back, he shifted his weight to get comfortable. Raven looked down at him impassively, extending a delicate hand out to him. " You did good. " she said softly as he grasped, noting the smoothness of her skin. He hoisted himself up on her weigh, removing his frame from on top the snap root where he had landed. He grimaced as a sharp shooting pain stung him as he began to follow her out. She put her hand under the crux of his arms. His eyes widen, he looked at her as attempted to carry the partiality of his weight. " I apologize for any injury you may have sustain. " she said, leading him out. He smiled before feeling that shooting pain once more. " Ow " he said softly. " We got carried away Mr.Hawke. " She replied as she brought her hand up to take adjust her cloak. He notice the red scrap upon the back of her hand. " So did I, appearently. " said he, giving a nod in the direction of her injury. She looked to the wound, then to him. He thought she was going to say something else, but all that happen was that a corner of her mouth turned up. She half smiled at him. He didn't know why, but he got the distict feeling that that didn't happen often. He smiled back as he met the group once more.

The first to approach him was Cyborg, who extended his a hand--held together with gray industrial tape--and smiling brightly. Beast Boy stood not far, rubbing his head with one hand, holding his thumb up with the other. He smiled also. Starfire watched him out of the corner of her eyes, her hands on her hips and a piece of tree bark trapped in the mess of her bright orange hair. She didn't smile. " Congradualtion. " Said Cyborg, taking Connor's hand in one large, extended shake. " Welcome to the Teen Titans, Green Arrow. "