Hikaru set his backpack down carefully, keeping his movements quiet out of courtesy, because well it was Raven. Rachel Roth herself, daughter of the demon Trigon, one of the most powerful members of the Teen Titans, and all that—she didn't so much as twitch as he sat down.
Her eyes stayed fixed on her book, one finger tracing along the margin as she read. The chakra-like gem in the center of her forehead drew his attention as it caught the light from the ceiling.
Hikaru leaned back in his chair, pulling out a notebook and pen from his bag while the teacher launched into beginning of homeroom.
He snuck one last glance at Raven from the corner of his eye. She'd turned a page, her expression unchanging—serious, distant, locked away behind walls that she'd probably spent years building.
Well, Hikaru thought, fighting down the urge to smirk, this should be interesting.
The bell rang, cutting through the low murmur of homeroom chatter.
Students filed out, chairs scraping against linoleum as everyone rushed toward their first class of the day. Hikaru took his time as was in no rush, organizing his things and putting them back into his bag.
Raven closed her book and stood.
Then she paused.
Turned.
"You're not human."
Direct. Matter-of-fact. Not a question.
Hikaru glanced up, meeting those violet eyes with his own gold ones. He'd been wondering if she'd notice.
"Partially," he said, zipping his bag shut. "And you must be Ms. Roth? Nice to officially meet you."
Her eyes narrowed. "How did you—"
"Teacher told me when assigning my seat. You were too engrossed in your book." He offered a small smile, slinging his bag over one shoulder.
"What are you?" She said, pressing on.
She stared at him for a long moment, expression unreadable behind that carefully constructed mask of hers.
"New," he said, standing. "And probably in your next class too. Care to show me the way?"
Raven stared at him a beat longer before turning and walking off without answering.
Didn't say yes. Didn't say no. Just left.
Hikaru followed, lengthening his stride to keep pace. "Umm, not sure if you're ignoring me or showing me the way. You left it kind of ambiguous?"
A loud, exasperated sigh escaped her.
She didn't slow down, but she didn't tell him to leave either. Causing Hikaru to nod in understanding.
"Ah, ignoring. Got it." He kept walking beside her anyway, matching her rhythm through the crowded hallway. Same class destination, after all.
Other students stared as they passed—some with open curiosity at the handsome new guy, others with barely concealed surprise because Rachel never walked with anyone.
"Dude, should we warn him?" someone whispered to their friend a few lockers down. Possibly debating over rescuing him from a brutal rejection.
Hikaru seemed oblivious to the attention, comfortable in the awkward silence that stretched between him and his taciturn companion.
Raven's shoulders tensed slightly, but she said nothing.
They reached the classroom door without another word exchanged.
Raven entered without acknowledgment, heading straight for a seat near the back corner—her usual spot, if Hikaru had to guess.
He grinned to himself.
Well, that went… exactly as expected. At least she didn't immediately try to exorcise me. Off to a good start I guess.
He followed her in, scanning the room. The only seat left happened to be right next to Raven… again.
She glanced at him as he sat down, expression flat, but didn't object.
Hikaru settled into his chair, pulling out his notebook again as the next teacher began taking attendance.
Well, I've officially met my first Titan, he thought, stealing one last glance at the girl beside him. Now let's see if I can meet the rest of the team tonight.
Before Hikaru knew it the final bell rang, and he was already moving. As everyone filed out toward the parking lot and bus loop, Hikaru slipped through the crowd.
He caught sight of purple hair near the lockers and immediately changed direction, cutting through a side hallway and out a different exit entirely. Preemptively cutting off the chances of a continuation of their earlier conversation. He wasn't ready to finish it just yet—not before he'd had a chance to meet the rest of the team on his own terms.
The afternoon sun hit his face as he walked down the sidewalk, putting distance between himself and the school. Three blocks later, Hikaru ducked into a narrow alley between a laundromat and a boarded-up shop.
Seeing it deserted he nodded to himself rolling his shoulders, feeling the familiar pressure build beneath his skin. Then he let go.
White wings burst free, unfurling to their full impressive span. The feathers gleamed even in the shadowed alley, and Hikaru stretched them out, working out the tension from keeping them retracted all day.
Much better.
He crouched, then launched himself skyward in one powerful beat.
The city dropped away beneath him as he climbed—buildings shrinking, cars becoming toys, people reduced to moving dots on the pavement. Wind rushed past his face, cool and clean, and Hikaru couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
Never gets old.
He banked toward his apartment building, wings cutting through the air with barely a whisper. A few more minutes and the rooftop came into view—his designated landing spot, far from prying eyes.
Hikaru touched down lightly, wings folding as he strode toward the roof access door.
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, eyebrows rising at the caller ID.
"Mom?" He answered, pushing open the door and starting down the stairs. "You're off work already?"
"Just on a short break," Kimiyo's voice came through. "How was your first day?"
"Fine. Met some interesting people." Understatement of the century.
"Are you going to meet the team later?"
Hikaru paused on the landing between floors, leaning against the railing. "I want to see them in action first. Before I introduce myself."
Silence stretched for a moment.
Then Kimiyo sighed—that particular sigh that meant she disagreed but wasn't going to argue. "My break's almost over. Be safe, Hikaru."
"Always am."
"That's not remotely true."
He grinned. "Love you too, Mom."
The line clicked dead.
Hikaru pocketed his phone and continued down to his apartment, already planning his evening. The Titans operated out of that massive T-shaped tower on the island—hard to miss. They usually patrol the city in the evenings, its a good opportunity to watch them work, see if they live up to the reputation he remembered from his past life.
Then he'd decide how to approach them.
His keys jingled as he unlocked the door, stepping into the still-unfamiliar space. Boxes still lined the walls, half-unpacked. He'd get to them eventually, or not if he ends up moving into the Tower later.
Though that's not what's important right now, he had more important things to do. Tonight was destined to be busy.