After the simulations, the Teen Titans gathered in the common room to get to know the two new members better. At least that is what it is supposed to be. Most of the team gravitated to Caleb since he was the bright and shiny guy who tried to do his best on the Level 7 simulation. Roy and Dick were trying to advise Caleb on where he could improve so he listed to them both seriously.
While others were talking to Caleb, Donna and Illyana were having a conversation where the blonde was trying to get more info on Mark.
"So... Hex," Illyana trailed off before finishing her sentence, but not her thought. Still, Diana knew what she was saying.
"What do you want to know? His workout routine or if he likes blondes?" Donna raised an eyebrow and smirked
"Doesn't matter what his preference is. I can tell he's into me," Illyana flipped her hair playfully, causing both girls to laugh.
"But seriously, what he did there was awesome. Caleb was trying to prove he earned his name and failed, while Hex did the least to secure a spot on the team," Illyana continued. "Other guys don't do that. They wanna be like Caleb and prove how awesome they are."
"Hmm. That's cause Mark already knows how awesome he is. He isn't the type to prove himself to others," Donna smiled while remembering Mark's first few trips to Themyscira.
He was an outsider and looked down on for being a man on top of that. But Mark never once complained, nor did he look to be accepted. He just trained his hardest. And that is why he was eventually accepted among the Amazons. At least for most of them.
While everyone was chatting and Raven was reading her book in the corner, everyone smelled it before they saw him. Chocolate, cinnamon, caramel—like a dessert-scented warlock had just apparated into the tower. Mark strolled in holding two mugs. One read "I'm Hex-y and U Know It", the other, "Best Big Sis".
He handed Donna her mug and wordlessly dropped into a corner seat, pulling out his phone and sipping like he hadn't just cast a spell with sugar.
The other Titans looked at the pair with mugs, their expressions saying that they had a hundred questions and all of them were related to when they could get a taste of the hot cocoa.
"Don't even think about it," Donna Troy warned with a smug expression. "Mark regularly puts curses on his stuff. I'm the only person in the tower he wouldn't dare to try that on."
Mark snorted when he heard her explanation. "Yeah, sure. Let's say it's that and not that you just wanna be the only one who gets a mug from now on." He responded without even looking up from his phone.
"You can cook, dude?" Wally asked
"Nope. I'm shit at cooking. Baking and confectioneries, though? I'm the Wonder Woman of that field," Mark replied with his usual smirk. Living on an island of women with limited sweet treats and trudging through cursed houses, Mark had to learn a few tricks to have a sweet treat wherever he was.
"Made some more?" Dick asked, licking his lips trying to taste the steam in the air
"Nope. Only brought so many ingredients and don't get paid for a while. Gotta save up."
"I will turn supervillain and steal whatever ingredients you need for a taste of that," Wally offered, half-joking and half-serious.
"No thanks. I'm not the type to make stuff unless I'm in the mood, unless it's for certain people. I felt like making some for myself, but I know DT will suplex me from the roof to the basement if I only made one mug," Mark almost shivered, remembering the last time he made some sweets and ate them in front of Donna Troy. She had him stuck in the training arena for an hour, where she tried out several new holds to 'perfect using the right amount of strength on a weaker opponent,' as she put it.
Illyana tilted her head toward Mark, eyes gleaming with amusement. "So you're a sugar warlock on top of being the mysterious bad boy. Dangerous combo."
Mark looked up for a few seconds to meet her eyes. "You got no idea. But you're welcome to try and find out more."
Donna sipped her cocoa with the elegance of a queen at court and the satisfaction of someone who had very much earned this moment. "This is why I sponsored Mark. Half for how good of a hero he is. The other half, so I can have treats like this daily."
"Hmm," Raven murmured, closing her book for the first time. "Acceptable logic. Sugar-based recruitment is rarely wrong."
Illyana smirked. "So what's your thing, Hex-boy? You just pop in, flex with magic cocoa and sarcastic commentary, and keep your mystery levels at max?"
Mark leaned back in the chair, looked up with a lazy grin. "Nah. I also look really good in leather jackets and make eldritch horrors feel insecure."
Raven snorted, Illyana cackled, and even Roy, who had been trying to play it cool, cracked a grin.
The group spent a few more minutes trying to figure Mark out, but he only gave some short answers, not really diving into his training or his powers.
"Gotta keep some mystery to make sure my level doesn't get lowered."
Just as Wally was about to ask another question—probably about marshmallows or magical sugar ratios—Nightwing cleared his throat and stepped into the center of the room, finally pulling the team's attention back to reality.
"Alright, Titans," he said, voice cool but commanding. "Sorry to break the news, but make sure you rest up today. We've got our first team recon tomorrow morning. Small gang led by a Meta was seen in a small city in New Mexico, probably nothing serious, but it's a good warm-up to see how we work in the field."
Mark sighed, slipping his phone into his jacket. "Nothing says bonding like potential street violence."
"Be ready by 0700. Briefing at 0645," Nightwing added, completely ignoring Mark's sarcasm because at this point, it was like trying to ban gravity.
"Ugh," Mark groaned while getting up from his seat, his mug never leaving his hand. "Always hated getting up early for school and training. Now missions too?"