Chapter 2: Friendly Fire

I wake up in a bed that is most likely the same size as my room back in the lab. I've been bathed and changed, and although I should worry by whom, I've been violated enough that I no longer care. I sit up and ruffle my hair. A strange sensation ripples through my body. 

My arms, I scream inside my head, they're free!

I shoot them in front of my face, turning them around so I can examine my palms. They're weak, and the skin is rough. But they're my hands, and I can finally use them. I shake them up and down like a crazy person, a smile taking up my entire face. 

"You're awake." 

My body shoots back against the headboard and my knees slam into my chest. 

"Stay back! Don't step any further, or I swear to every single god there is I will kill you!" My breaths are labored and laced with anxiety. This has to be one of the first people I've seen without a lab coat in years. 

"Dick, you better get in here!" The boy shouts. He looks to be about 5'8, with fluffy green hair and pearly white teeth. If I wasn't scared so shitless, I might even think he's attractive. 

"What the fuck did you just call me Green Giant?!" 

Several footsteps race to the scene. When they arrive, I recognize the man who took me from my bed. A tall woman with pink, spiraling hair follows in suit. A couple seconds later, a platinum blonde woman with soft features also rushes in. The man begins to take careful steps towards where I'm sitting. 

"Hey, hey. We're here to help. What's your name?" 

I hesitate. Would they believe me if I were to say I don't know? I take my chances and say, "I- I don't know my name. I don't know where I am or where I came from." I look back down at my hands. They're shaking. 

The group exchanges curious glances. The man tries to take a couple more steps forward.

"I said stay back!" My hair glows magma red as flames leave my palms, shooting wildly in his direction. He ducks out of the way just in time, his eyes wide. My hair returns to normal. 

"Now would you look at that, just like me." The woman with pink hair takes a long stride closer to the bed. 

"Jesus Christ, do you people have ears? Stay where you are!" Turning a striking cobalt, my hair changes once again. Water leaves my hands and swarms her, encasing her in a swirl of blue. Feeling myself weakening, the water drops to the floor, the woman and I both gasping for air. The green-haired boy kneels at her side, patting her back. 

"Okay, okay. No more moving. I'll tell you our names if you can tell us yours," the man states. "Can you do that?"

"Tell me yours first," I demand. 

"I'm Dick Grayson. The woman you half-drowned is Kori and the boy by her side is Gar. The blonde is Dawn. We're just here to help." I study his features carefully, scanning for any deceit- I cannot detect any. 

"Subject L53," I say flatly. Dick gives me a examining stare. 

"Huh?" Gar exclaims.

"That's the only name I know. Subject L53." I hunch my shoulders. 

"Oh," Gar pants, "L53."

"Subject L53," I correct. 

"My bad, Subject L53." I fight back a smile, and I can tell that he's doing the same. 

"You really don't remember anything at all or how you ended up in that lab? Do you even know how long you were there for?" Dawn asks delicately. I frown and close my eyes. 

"I don't, I really don't. I was there for a little over 650 days." I open my eyes again. "I recognized Dick, though. When he came and got me, I felt as if I recognized his face. But he was wearing a mask, and why would I remember somebody who wears a mask?" 

"Do you recognize the name Titans?" Kori questions politely as she stands up, crossing her arms. A quiet bell rings in my head. 

"Only a little bit, why? Is that what he is?"

"It's what we all are," Kori explains, "we're all Titans. I guess you could call us heroes, of sorts." 

I squint my eyes. "You're telling me you guys are all superheroes?" They stare back at me with funny expressions. 

"Yes." They all say at different times. 

"Oh." I fidget with my hands. "Do you guys have superhero names, too?" I fight back a smirk. 

"We do, actually." Dick says. 

"Do tell." 

"He's Nightwing," Gar interjects. "And I go by Beast Boy. Dawn is Dove, and Kori is Starfire. Any of those names help you remember?"

I turn the name Nightwing over and over again in my head. It might've been mentioned a handful of times back in the lab, but I'm not sure. 

I shake my head. "No, not one." The room is silent for a minute, and this time, I'm able to break the tension. 

"Any cool villains you guys fight?" Great conversation starter, good job me! Ugh. 

Dick looks to his feet, and so does Dawn. It feels as if I've struck a nerve. 

Gar answers for them. "There's this new guy... goes by Red Hood. He, uh, used to be a Titan, with us. Now he's not." He looks around the room, "in fact, we should probably go handle that right now." Gar turns towards Dick. "I got an alert back downstairs. There seems to be something going on at Arkham Asylum: two guards delivered wearing red hoods at the front gate." Dick lets out a sigh and brings his view back to me. 

"We'll bring you downstairs to the Bat Cave, it'll be safer while we go and check that out. I'm trusting you won't find yourself into any trouble, uh-"

"Elle," Gar blurts. The room, including myself, stares at him. "Her name. We can refer to her as Elle instead of Subject 123 or whatever."

"Subject L-," I pause and inhale sharply. "You know what, sure. Elle is great." Gar smiles. 

"You can follow us, Elle." Kori says, also wearing a smile. 

Elle. I like the sound of that. Elle. 

"Will do," I chirp back as I spring off the bed and on to my feet. I can feel the carpet brush between my toes as I take a couple steps. "To the Bat Cave we go!" 

The Bat Cave! What the fuck is a Bat Cave?

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"Oh, this is a Bat Cave." It's a cave, yes, but covered in expensive technology and outrageous gadgets. 

"Yup, and you'll be right here in front of this screen, where you can hear and see what we're doing," Dawn explains as she pulls a chair up to a set of huge monitors on a desk. I take a seat. 

"And you guys can hear me as well?"

"Me, Kori, and Dawn can, yes. But try not to abuse this power," Dick comments as he makes his way over. He places a comforting hand on my shoulder. 

"Gar will stay here with you to supervise," Kori states, turning to Gar, "I trust you to remain in control, hm?" Gar rolls his eyes, as if she's asking a stupid question. He should really use some common sense. What he saw earlier was nothing. 

"Gotcha. Me and Elle will have so much fun sitting here watching you guys do all the cool stuff."

"I bet you will," Dawn replies. 

The three of them leave the room and return around five minutes later, all suited up. 

"Wow, look at you guys. Make sure you don't eat too much candy, you trick-or-treaters." I sarcastically warn. Nobody laughs, unless you count the weird half-snort Gar lets out. 

Tough crowd...

"Behave. We'll be back in an hour or so, depending on who or what we run into." Dick assures. Gar and I both nod as the three exit the room for a final time. After a couple seconds of silence, I turn my chair back around and face the computers, witnessing a live action feed of Dick's bodycam. Nothing too interesting yet. 

"So, your hair. It changes depending on if you're using water or fire?" Gar says, breaking the silence. I continue looking at the screens, propping my chin on my hand. 

"Not just water and fire- air and earth, too. I bend elements and sub-elements, that's my thing." Gar looks on to me with shock. I've never given much thought to my appearance or to the way my hair changes. I know that I'm about 5'7, pale, and white-haired with jet black eyes. But it's been months since I've been able to look in a mirror, nonetheless pay close attention to my reflection. 

"Oh, wow. That's really cool. I can change into a green tiger." I slowly turn my head to meet his eyes and he gives me a wonky smile. 

"Tigers are nice."

"Thanks." We stare awkwardly at each other for hot minute, ending with me looking back to the live feed. Dick is walking down a tree-shrouded street. It must be later than I thought, because it's dark outside.  Several cop cars line the street, and two tied-up men can be seen wearing, as described earlier, two red hoods. I can't tell if the hoods were already red or if they've been drowned with the blood of the victims. It's too blurry to tell. 

"What's going on, Dick?" Gar asks. 

"It's definitely his work. Any incoming calls or alerts reporting sightings in the past hour or so?"

"Not yet," Gar replies. He lets out a strained huff. 

I bring my face closer to the screen, seeing something engraved on one of the men's arms. 

"What's that," I point to the screen, "on that man's arm? Something is written on his arm." Dick walks closer to the two bodies, bending down to examine the inscription. 

"Dick-" Gar is quickly interrupted. 

"Gar, lock the house and cave down, now." Dick yells. I sit in disbelief.

"What's going on?" I ask loudly.

"Gar, now!" Gar rushes out of his seat to another set of screens and keyboards. As he's typing, a bright light illuminates the cave. The sound hits me once I'm already thrown to the ground. I can feel blood rush down my face from my temples, my ears ringing. I pick my head up from the floor, my eyes searching for Gar. 

"Gar, where are you? Gar!" I strain to yell as something comes to my attention; a couple feet away from me lies a still Gar. I drag myself over to his body and check his chest and pulse.

He's alive and breathing, just unconscious. 

Bringing his head on to my lap, I frantically look around, searching for the source of the explosion. I see something move in my peripheral. 

Setting Gar's head carefully back on the ground, I rise, my fingers outstretched. Now, I have somebody here who needs me to fight for them, to give them my all. If not for me, then for Gar. 

"Hello, Subject L53," a deep, almost robotic voice calls out from behind me. I spin around, coming face to face with the Red Hood himself. 

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(A/N):

Guysss omg this chapter took me foreverrrr and sooo long! I just had to make sure I introduced Jason this chapter, and now that he's here, the enemies-to-lovers arc can finally begin ;)

Also a quick PSA; i wrote this entire chapter at 4am in the morning and I have work ANDDD a school meeting tmrw yall :-( Pray for me

I promise the spice and interesting (romantically) parts are on there way and there will def be some angst in the next chapter, trust. 

Im too tired rn to read this over and check for any mistakes, so pls lmk if there are ant grammatical, spelling, etc errors so i can fix them in the morning when I am fully awake. 

Make sure to favorite, share, and add my story to your library! Comment any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns!

(PS: im also thinking about making a realistic depiction of Elle and putting it at the very first AN so people can get a better idea on what she looks like. LMK if you want me to) 

Love u guys

<3M