Chapter 50: Bonds (Patreon)

Chapter 50: Bonds

My head nodded forward as M'gann finished braiding my hair. “There!” She said. “Your hair is so smooth and glossy. It's like it's made of air!”

From where she was sitting on the bed, Raven coughed once. M'gann gave a startled, “Oh!”

I just smiled. In the mirror, it looked tired and weak. I took a moment to make a more genuine one. Raven coughed again. I let my expression collapse under its own weight. “It's fine,” I said. Idly, I reached up and brushed my fingers along the braid. It felt too light.

When I looked back at the mirror somehow my expression had shifted into an annoyed frown.

“You don't like it?” M'gann asked, worrying at her fingers. “We can do another one? Maybe a plait, or a bun? Oh, I'd love to try, uh, cornrows?”

“I said it's fine,” I repeated. Then, I winced. “Sorry, I wasn't trying to be short with you. It's not the style, M'gann, it's...”

“Not all of us are born with your protean composition, Martian,” Raven said dryly. “Give Destiny time to adjust.”

I let the braid fall from my hands and did my best to ignore how it flickered once as it fell back into place. I stood without giving myself a second glance, taking extra care to ensure that I moved using my legs this time, instead of just transitioning between states like some sort of freak science project.

I felt my spark pulse once against the tides of my form, as if threatening to unravel me. I bit my lip. God, if Kent could see me—

Raven snapped her book shut. “Why did the chicken cross the road.”

I turned, blinking. “What?” I said.

“Do chickens cross roads here?” M'gann asked. “I haven't seen one yet. I actually thought they were more common before I came to Earth though...”

“What?”

“Good job, Martian,” Raven said. I blinked again as she took my arm. “Now quick, let's go before she realizes that I just distracted her.”

She pulled me into the air and out of my room in one move as M'gann flew along behind us. “Is that what we were doing?” she murmured. She looked as confused as I felt.

Or rather, she looked as confused as I did.

Raven scoffed. “I don't keep you both around for the scintillating wit, do I?”

I ignored M'gann's 'ah' of understanding. Instead, I focused on keeping myself air born in one, contiguous Taylor-shaped, piece. Flying itself was...honestly as enjoyable as I thought it would be. I winced as my foot hit the wall; if only I could stop clipping corners, or turning into energy halfway through.

I still felt disjointed when Raven pushed me into a chair in the kitchen. She then turned to M'gann and said, “I can't cook.”

M'gann blinked once, before smiling. “Hello, Megan!” she said. “Baking!” With a flick of her wrist a dozen cabinets flew open and their contents poured out. My eyes widened as a dozen eggs started to wobble, I reached out and caught it, a twist of my own burgeoning telekinesis.

“Do you want to cook the eggs, or bathe in them?” I asked. Then I clapped a hand to my mouth. “Sorry,” I bit out. “Filter.”

M'gann just smiled, humming as she pulled the carton of eggs from my mental grip. “You're coming along great on fine control!” she said. “I don't even think you cracked one this time!” I stared at her for a second as she went back to preparing...something.

Then, I turned to Raven with a glare. “I know what you're doing.”

She flipped a page in her book. “Congratulations,” she said, voice dry as the desert. “Do you think she'll make cookies again? I liked the brownies more. They were dark, like my soul.”

“Dammit I don't eat anymore, Raven!”

“False,” she said. “You can consume as much food as the bottomless abyss that the locals call 'Kid Flash'.”

“Don't need to, then.”

Raven paused, mid page turn, to give me a scathing look. “And you think I do?” she said. Then she sighed, folding her tome shut with a creak of the leather binding.

I shook my head, “That's—”

She met my gaze, amethyst eyes flashing. “If you want to be miserable, do it on your own time.” Then she buried her face back in her book.

I opened my mouth, but M'gann slid between the two of us with a tray in her hands. “You said you wanted more of the brownies?” she asked. “These are the last of them. I think I finally figured out how to bake enough for the whole team! I just take every ingredient in the recipe and add another zero.”

Raven glanced up. Even with the book covering her mouth and her hood shadowing everything else, it was easy to see the avaricious gleam in her eyes. “Just leave them there,” she said. Her voice betrayed nothing. I felt a shiver run down my spine. “I'll...get to them.”

M'gann nodded, setting the tray on the counter, she performed what looked like nothing so much as an underwater somersault back into the kitchen with grace I could only envy. A rogue sigh escaped my lips. Betrayed yet again. Aloud I only said, “You two are impossible.”

Raven flipped a page idly.

I reached out and took a brownie, putting it in my mouth. I bit down, tasting the cool chocolate crumble softly into my mouth. Did it really taste exactly the same? I didn't know. Or maybe I just didn't remember. They were good brownies though.

Raven's hand reached out and snatched a brownie. She nibbled on it daintily behind her book. Soon enough, the smell melted chocolate and baking dough filled the kitchen. I breathed in lightly, savoring the normalcy as M'gann settled on the chair to my right.

“There we go!” she said. “I remembered to set the timer this time, so we definitely shouldn't end up with any burnt ones.

I hummed, while Raven only chuckled. “Or so you say.”

M'gann puffed out one of her cheeks. It looked...oddly adorable. “That was only one time, I'll have you know! On Mars, we don't even have ovens.”'

“That sounds like a personal problem,” Raven said.

“Well if you're so sure I'm going to burn some, then you don't have to eat any at all,” M'gann said. “So there.”

Raven tilted her head down slightly. “I wouldn't force Destiny eat them alone,” she said.

“I suppose I can save them all to myself, then,” M'gann replied.

I chuckled. “I was promised cookies. And I intend to collect.”

When I glanced over both the girls were staring at me and smiling. “What?” I said.

M'gann covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh, nothing...” she said. Raven only nodded in agreement. I had to hold back a shudder, those two in lock step never meant anything good for me. Hell, they were the only reason I was still taking therapy sessions with Canary. I could feel Raven smirking at my reaction.

The door to the kitchen hissed open. And a yellow blur flashed into the room. We all turned as Wally skid to a stop against the counter. “Ladies,” he said. I rolled my eyes at his smile. “Is that.” He took a deep breath, “another batch of M'gann's famous cookies I smell?”

“Steal any and die,” Raven said. I had to choke back a laugh at his gobsmacked expression.

“Hey now,” he said. “That's hardly an appropriate response!”

“Doesn't mean much, anymore,” came another voice.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment as another person walked into the room, before turning to face the Boy Wonder. He was in casual clothes this time, secret identity protected by an absurdly reflective pair of sunglasses. His carefully blank expression did nothing to hide the emotions swirling around inside of him.

That sense had only grown more acute in the wake of my battle with Klarion. I turned back to the counter, letting out a single, slow breath. Raven glanced up at me, but aloud I just said, “How long until the cookies are done?”

M'gann glanced between Robin and eye, brow furrowing in an incredibly human like manner. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy wonder raise an eyebrow at her scrutiny as Wally continued raiding the fridge. “Cookies seem nice,” he said. No one replied.

When Superboy and Kaldur walked in, the air turned stifling. I felt Superboy's regret spool out beneath the surface, mingling with other, darker emotions. But he said nothing. Instead, he sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. Antiques Road Show. He didn't change the channel.

“Conner...” M'gann said, drifting listlessly towards him before stopping. Superboy didn't reply.

“Hey,” Kid flash said. “Don't mind the big lug, he'll come around. Or, you know, he won't”

“He can hear you,” she said. “We can all hear you.”

Kid flash just shrugged. I put my head into my hands, took another deep breath.

“Jee, you've done a number on this team,” Robing said.

My head snapped up. I glared, trying to ignore the heat behind my eyes. “Are we doing this now?” I said. “Do you really want to do this right now?”

Robin shrugged. “Hey, I'm just making conversation, don't get your panties in a bunch.”

“Make it elsewhere,” Raven said, flipping a page. Even I could tell it was for effect. “You're ruining my appetite.”

“Woah, woah!” Wally said. “Why's everyone so mad all of a sudden?”

Robin started to say something, but Kaldur cut him off. “All of our emotions are running high,” he said. “After our last mission. It would do us all good to allow time for tempers to cool.”

Robin snorted. “Are you gonna start censoring us now?”

“All that needs to be said will be said,” Kaldur replied. “But harsh words should never be given heedlessly, or without thought. We are still a team.”

“You sure about that, coach?”

I flinched.

“Robin!” M'gann said. “What—you!”

“What, gonna dump me too, princes?” Robin asked. Something over by the TV snapped audibly.

Raven frowned. “I told you to leave,” she said. “Don't make me ask again.”

Kid Flash zipped around the counter. “Hey now, nobody making anyone do—”

“What part of 'butt out' don't you understand?”

Robin leaned forward.

“Maybe the part where—”

I stood up. Everyone stopped talking, turning to stare at me no doubt. My eyes were shut, if I had to look someone in the eye right now... “I'm not hungry.” With that, I turned and fled. My feet stumbled as I tried to turn a full run into something with dignity, I don't know if I succeeded. The door hissed open, and I spun past an entering Artemis without looking.

“Dammit,” Raven said. “You were suppose to run interference!”

“Wha—how the heck did you get here so fast?” Artemis.

I heard Robin's harsh laugh. “Maybe because I didn't like you following me?”

Raven's voice was low and angry, “It took me three days to get her to eat anything, you—”

The door hissed shut, leaving me in blessed silence. I bent my head down, cheeks wet, and ran.

***

A short bit later, I stood in my room, looking at all of my worldly possessions.

I had...little.

The crystal from Ivalice, if it even counted. Ikoma's broken knife, and my kimono, still in its box where I'd packed it before running into Biba on the wall. The rapier from Morthol. Everything else... knowledge, power...things that were easy to pick up, but so very difficult to carry.

I looked down, and saw my hands trembling at my sides. I froze the currents of energy within me, and they froze as well. The golden sheen my hands took on gave away the trick, however, no matter how much I tried to hide it. I looked back to my possessions, so few that I could fit them all in a bag and go, without pause, without giving a second thought. At my side, my hands began to tremble again.

I startled as Raven threw open my door. Her eyes flicked to the pile on the bed as she floated over to her favorite seat, but she said nothing. Kaldur followed a step behind, pausing at the door before I waved him in.

“Sorry,” I said. “About earlier.”

Raven's “You should be,” drowned out Kaldur's self effacing reply. I gave a wry smile as he shot a glance at the hooded caster. She just shrugged. “You didn't spend a day and a half getting her to leave the room.

“If you're here to make me feel like shit,” I said, “then mission accomplished. Come back tomorrow when my dignity has had a chance to recover, or else die in a hole.”

Raven grimaced. “Sorry,” she said. Then she pulled out a her book, setting it on the bed so that I could see the title. On the Planes, it read. “This was supposed to be a good news visit, I think.”

I looked between the two of them. “So?”

“So,” Kaldur said. “Raven and I have suggested the idea a sabbatical to Red Tornado. He thought it was a good idea, provided that you agree to check in on the mountain every few days.”

“A sabbatical,” I said, voice dry as Bialya.

“If you wish to travel to the conservatory at Atlantis, my queen has said personally that she would be honored to host you,” Kaldur said. “But, I have also heard that you have discovered a 'College of Magic' during your travels?”

“...I have,” I said. “But what's this got to do with Raven's book?”

“The book,” she said. “Means that I've figured out a way to tag along... but we'll need to find an unspoiled virgin and a goat.”

I blinked, “What?”

The look she gave me could have thawed a glacier. “It was. a. joke.”

Kaldur was the only one who laughed.

***
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A/N: Last week I was out of town for a funeral. I wasn't in the right space to write, but now that's all sorted. My concerted efforts to make more time to write are paying off, now I need to shift some of that time to this, instead of more plot bunnies...

As always, hope you all enjoy.