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[color=9e0b0f][b]Location: Training Grounds
Interactions: Nymph, Hex, Rain[/b][/color][/center]


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Talon's embarrassment for quieting down soon turned to curiosity as the pretty girl he just threw knives at smiled at him and skipped away, asking him to sit tight. Hex - the ghost boy that fought valiantly against Black Canary as a volunteer had joined them as well. When he told Talon and Nymph that they had a nice fight as well, Talon nodded at him. These were the kinds of compliments he was comfortable with. Talon sized the boy up and down, nodding to him in recognition of his compliment, as well as trying to say the same to him. Though the outcome of their sparring match was inevitable, Talon was nevertheless impressed that a boy who came off even more shy than he himself did was able to rouse the bravery to willingly trade blows with a member of The Justice League, and in front of everybody. Talon felt this was something that Hex should be truly proud of, and he wished he was able to express that to him.

Meanwhile, on the training grounds, Rain and Cybergirl were exchanging their own haymakers. Talon noted that Cybergirl was throwing incredibly powerful punches, but lacked any sort of real form or strategy. Rain may be physically weaker than her cybernetic parts, but this lack of real training enabled him to keep his edge. Talon felt himself getting more engaged, studying Rain's fighting style. It was evident that he had a similar background as his own - although he was physically taller than Talon and likely stronger, Talon's agility may be the only thing keeping them at some even level. 

By this time, Nymph had reapproached Talon and Hex, and she was smiling down at her phone. She was typing away a message for someone, perhaps her brother or another friend of hers. Imagine Talon's shock when instead she showed him the message - one meant for him.

Her friendly demeanor after such a violent display between the two of them touched Talon. He was at a loss for words that she would go the extra mile in order to attempt to communicate with him. Even though he had only been a part of the team for a night, there hadn't been a moment in which someone tried to get through to him via writing or texting - instead only able to exchange small pleasantries based on missions or skills. But she was already displaying a fundamental difference in her philosophy - she was reaching out to him as if he was a person. These thoughts raced through Talon, interrupted only when Nymph took his hand in hers. He felt his face grow hot only briefly as she put her phone in his palm. He looked down at the keypad between his thumbs. Hesitated for a moment. He wrote out simply:

"Thank you."

He wasn't sure what he was more thankful for, her well wishes that he wasn't hurt, or the lengths that she had gone in order to befriend him - if that's what this was.

When she looked expectantly at the phone, Talon thought for another moment before adding another message:

":)"

He immediately felt stupid. What was wrong with him? Was he blowing it already? What should he say to a girl like this? His teammate, now his friend, formerly his opponent? He wondered if he was looking as foolish as he felt. Luckily, she asked if he and Hex wanted to finish watching the fight between the others. Talon was grateful for the distraction. The fight itself didn't last much longer, and Talon himself was surprised to see that Cybergirl seemingly came out victorious.

As the two teammates walked off the training grounds and towards the others, Talon felt himself grow irritated. How could Rain have been defeated? And by someone with such amateurish tactics? Was it possible that Talon had overestimated Rain's abilities? Or was Cybergirl and the others just that strong? And if Rain was stronger than Talon was - what good would Talon be on the team? He handed Nymph her phone back without another glance and approached Rain. He could feel himself getting angry, like the old days.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"You lost. Were you pulling your punches?"[/b][/color]