The doors slide open as Terra enters, her expression somber and maybe a little regretful. She'd been looking for Aqualad ever since she read over his report -- since she'd had nothing else to do, that was how she had decided to spend her time. That, and she figured it was pretty urgent.
So it's a lucky thing that Aqualad's right there. Even if she can't think of much to say. So why not start with the truth?
"Aqualad," her voice comes out, quieter and more concerned than normal. "I... read the report."
*still staring out at the water* Then... then you know how I lead everyone into danger. That I took my teammates, and the ship, into a hostile territory... All for questions that I never had a chance to get answered. I'm sorry Terra... I put myself before the Titans...
Those are all excellent points, but not what she had planned to bring up at all. So she decides to just go with that for a bit. "That's all true, yeah, but... that really doesn't matter. The important part is that you led your teammates and the ship into hostile territory and everyone got back alive." Because really, the team doesn't need another loss. "I'm... more worried about how you're handling it."
"Sometimes. Most of the time." It's now she deigns to take a few more steps into the room, closer to the TV area. "And sometimes you talk about it. Because... look, I'm not good at that whole sealing away my emotions thing, like Raven and Robin. This team's gonna be run different now." She exhales a little, sharply, still in some disbelief that she's actually running the Titans. "If one of my friends is having a problem, I wanna hear about it. I wanna try to help." She's not going to flat-out say anything yet, instead hoping Aqualad will get something out in the open first.
... Terra. For a team to run, someone has to do that. I'm not saying... and I'm not saying that's what's happening with me. But someone has to stay steady. It doesn't have to be the leader, either.
"Ever hear of 'united we stand'?" She smirks a little. "We can all stay steady. It's just... it's too much for one person to take on, if you ask me. I mean, you know how much I was stressing about being the new leader who's supposed to be rock steady and all that." A few more steps and she's nearly next to Aqualad. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with some inter-team bonding."
... *he sighs* Terra, have you ever stopped to look at the ocean? The tides, the waves. It's all cyclical. It's subject to the push and pull of something else, so, something is always being carried away from where it started out...
I was. I washed away from Atlantis. It's fate. Who am I to question it? Or regret it.
I. I'm capable of doing this alone. I have to be...
"Don't talk to me about fate, Aqualad. Even if it's the way the ocean goes? You've always got a choice." She's not looking at him, instead gazing straight ahead, almost lost in memories. "Always. You can question it. You can change it. If you choose to."
She can't help but shake her head and grin a little, even though she knows the seriousness of the situation, in contrast to her insistence of only a few seconds earlier. "Aqualad, you don't have to do this alone. If you did, what would be the point of being on a team, huh?"
"No, it's..." She sighs, more defeated than anything else. She doesn't have to reveal anything more than she wants, though, which is something she likes. "You're right. I can't go back home. But I... it took me a bit, but I started to realize it wasn't all that great back at home." Which is only half a lie. "So I just went with it, 'til I found the Titans." She doesn't mention how she didn't have anyone else, to justify her apparent hypocrisy.
"Yeah... yeah," she says, relieved he's not going to harp on it any more. "It's sort of like rolling with the punches, but you still have to ask other people if you can. Because... I mean, hey, look at this. I knew what you were talking about, and I hope I helped." She smiles a little, not knowing what else she can say, since the conversation they'd just had was really the reason she'd been looking for him.
*he nods, and stands* ... You read the report, right? I've lost a home twice. And... even if I've been cast aside, someone out there taught me not to give up. That... that would really be letting everyone down, wouldn't it?
So it's a lucky thing that Aqualad's right there. Even if she can't think of much to say. So why not start with the truth?
"Aqualad," her voice comes out, quieter and more concerned than normal. "I... read the report."
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I was. I washed away from Atlantis. It's fate. Who am I to question it? Or regret it.
I. I'm capable of doing this alone. I have to be...
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She can't help but shake her head and grin a little, even though she knows the seriousness of the situation, in contrast to her insistence of only a few seconds earlier. "Aqualad, you don't have to do this alone. If you did, what would be the point of being on a team, huh?"
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*sighs, buckling finally, deciding to ask her* How... how did you figure it out, Terra? Not being able to go back home?
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But on the second part, suddenly her voice sounds defensive and more shaken. "Huh? What are you... what do you mean?" Hah hah! Misunderstanding.
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I'm sorry. I made an assumption.
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Thanks Terra. I won't ask anymore. *he owes her that courtesy, at least*
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