New Beginnings (Teen Titans)

Cassie let the conversation continue for a good few moments, revelling in her friends’ laughter and the good humour that filled the room. There was a chance, however small, that things could have been awkward or strange: new leadership, new members – she’d have understood if people were shy or quiet, nervous about finding their place in a new collective. It was, after all, one of the small fears she’d harboured, the sort that had quietly gnawed at her subconscious before her arrival. However, Bart’s desperation to hug anyone and anything that moved seemed to alleviate any sense of ‘otherness’ that people might have felt. New or old, they were embraced, quite literally dragging them into the team’s folds.

A few more moments passed, and Cassandra felt the natural ebb and flow of conversation begin to slow almost expectantly. If she remained quiet, she was sure it would quickly pick back up again, as people moved on to talk to others they’d yet to catch up with. But it was as good a time as any for her to bring her team to order, to begin the inaugural meeting of the new Teen Titans. Raising her arms, she tapped the metallic bracers about her wrists together, a clear, ringing sound filling the room. She did so twice, and then cleared her throat, before blushing a little and gesturing at the table. “Uh…I didn’t come up with a seating chart or anything so…wherever is good I guess.”

Waiting for people to take their seats, she shifted her weight from foot to foot awkwardly. She felt something churning in the pit of her stomach, perhaps a little nervousness, perhaps a little uncertainty, and she glanced at Tim, taking instant reassurance in his presence. He’d chosen her to lead them; he trusted her enough, even after her last tenure ended rather badly, to head up the group. Bats scarcely trusted anyone, and so his endorsement meant more than she could put into words. Her shifting stopped, and she placed her hands on the back of her chair.

“I suppose I should start by saying 'welcome to the Teen Titans.' It’s really great...” she glanced at Conner, who was only recently back from the dead, at Bart, one of her oldest team mates, and at Tim, who had been gone on solo expeditions for far too long. “Really, really great, to get this team, as it stands, together in the same room. She paused, offering those gathered a smile. "If someone had said, even just a year ago, that this group of people would come together to form the newest incarnation of the Titans...I'd have probably said it was impossible. I guess I've been reminded of a valuable lesson...in our line of work, nothing's impossible.”

Conner Kent

Conner's face was buried exasperatedly in one palm, mortified at Bart's comment about washing (or not, in this case) super-suits, because... Well, Bart was one of his best and oldest friends, and Conner still didn't know whether or not he was joking. He was still massaging his temples when the notes from Cassie's bracers cut through the chatter.

He looked at Wonder Girl, who was suddenly pink in the cheeks from all the attention tossed her way. Maybe that was one of the reasons she made such a good leader? No matter how long she'd been one, or how much experience she had under her belt, Cassie still didn't like the spotlight. Conner glanced at the chairs, then at the room at large.

With a pulse of super speed and color, he was kicked back in the chair two from the end where Wonder Girl stood. Next to him, and right beside Cassie, was Tim, not even thrown off guard by being forcibly whisked there by his friend. Conner didn't say anything, either, just leveled a smug look at Tim. He knew that there was enough Bat in him he'd try to stay off on the edge like a shadow.

That wasn't gonna fly in the Teen Titans. Superboy wasn't going to let it. Partially because Tim needed the people in that group to pull him out of his Bat-ways. And partially because it was funny as hell to piss Red Robin off.

Bart Allen