“Thanks Linn.” Water-lilly-Linn who was always kind to Magara, as much as Mag quietly appreciated that kindness, she did not appreciate it enough to sit with Linn beside Nathan. ‘I’m going to sit over here’ she would say quietly and change directions. 

Nathan had better drugs these days. But he was [i]still[/i] the most difficult Titan for Magara to be around. His rage was ever-present, contained under a frighteningly thin veil of civility. The rage was a part of his power and his strength, a part of his person and his past, like her own titan-gene it could never be completely repressed. [i]Maybe I need some drugs for my powers too.[/i] Plenty of humans took drugs to keep from feeling emotions. Prozac, Lithium... [i]I should ask the nurse when we get back…[/i]

She also steered away from the new Titan, Jack. He promoted himself on her list of people-she-would-avoid-as-much-as-possible. He was now second only to Nathan. The difference between Jack and Nathan was essential. Nathan was unable control his rage, Jack [i]chose[/i] not to. She considered putting his name above Nathans for a moment, but decided second place was good enough for Jack.

The environment on the plane had calmed, Mag released Carl to socialize as he would. He went to Cora immediately. The two were fast friends. Cora didn’t like anyone else, including Magara. Cora was very wary of Mag. It was not an uncommon or unreasonable reaction, Mag knew her powers were invasive by their nature. Yet, there was nothing she could do but stay away from her and try not to make any trouble from it.

Press and Stitches were talking together. Stitches had been especially distant the past month. Magara wondered that her limbs would fall of without any pain. It confused Mag and her senses when the girl separated herself. It actually gave her headaches! Press had been very courteous to Magara, but Mag was always worried about accidentally running into Horus or one of his other inventions that she could not detect with her powers. Press kept a cool mechanical demeanor most of the time, but that is not how Magara perceived him at all. She was unaware of the duality between his face and his feelings, because she never actually saw his face. She left the two of them to talk alone.

Ambrose was in the front of the aircraft, flustered by his teammates behavior and trying to focus on the mission. He was speaking with Jack, so Mag would stray away from them. She was probably not someone who should be making the plan anyhow. She had never been to New York City and knew nothing about it, she was intimidated that their first mission was in such a big city. So many people crammed in together, millions of people, one Titan to find. There was an english adage about a needle and a haystack that applied perfectly, but Magara did not recall it exactly.

The most calm people in the aircraft were Bruce and Azrael.

Bruce had hardly reacted to the fight. It was as if he were on another wavelength than everyone else. He seemed this way most of the time. It likely had to do with his power, he could deal with any problem in his own time and the fame of mind he chose. It was an impressive advantage, or perhaps he just had a calm and temperate personality. Bruce was talking to Ambrose, Jack and Linn about the mission...

So that left Azrael, she sat by him.

Azrael was new like Jack, and that was the only thing they had in common. Azrael didn’t talk about himself of his powers. He wasn’t around for the ice-breakers and Magara was not one to pry into his business. She kept her curiosity to herself. They said that he always wore a blindfold but no one knew why. [i]Is he blind? He doesn’t seem like it...[/i] Many titan costumes involved a special fabric over the eyes, so the titan could see out but no one else could see in. It was likely to protect his identity, or perhaps like Cora and her sunglasses, to conceal an odd appearance, or perhaps he was blind. Magara wanted to ask, but did not. She decided to lay low for now.

She thought about Ink. Ink had been a BAP training. She had been number 07 like Stitches. She left before her training was complete. The report did not say [i]why[/i] she left only [i]how[/i] much destruction she had left in her wake.

The assignment made sense. SEVERAL untrained titans should be able to handle ONE untrained titan. However, there was no indication in her file on her post-BAP-activities. What if Ink had learned some new tricks?

Magara sighed. Breathing in for seven seconds, holding her breath for seven, breathing out for seven more...