Part 3 - Decisions, decisions ...

Back at the tower the titans rushed Rage to the infirmery to save his life as he was aparently shot 8 times by one of the members of Team Anarchy, thus saveing Starfire's life. It was the second time he saved the titans from a critical condition, almost with the price of his own life.

At the infirmery Cyborg and Robin placed Rage on the bed.

"Take his shirt off, fast! He's been shot in the chest" said Raven.

Cyborg took off Rage's shirt but observed that he was wearing a bullet proof vest that had 6 bullets imbeded in it. Even though, he still had 2 other scars on his chest, but those were older. Even so, Rage was still hurt, it seems that he had been shot by 8 bullets, 6 of which hit him in the vest and another 2 that hit him in the right shoulder.

"Looks like he was prepared for a shoot-out" said Cyborg who took the vest and placed it on a counter.

"Should I take his mask off?" asked Beast Boy who wanted to lend a hand.

"No!" exclaimed Robin "He probably wears it for a reason. Plus, I don't think it's necessary".

Rage was laying on the bed shirtles with 2 wounds on his right shoulder. Cyborg took an oxygen mask, lifted Rage's ski-mask a little bit and placed it over his mouth and nose. He aparently had a short trimed beard. Then Robin placed a couple of sensors on Rage's chest and hooked them up to the main computer in the room.

"Cyborg, I want to see in what kind of condition he is" said Robin who held a forcep in his hand "Check the monitor and give me the data a.s.a.p. I'll take the bullets out of his shoulder".

Robin operated on Rage and to his surprise the bullets came out quite easily seeing how they only pierced his skin about 5 centimeters, with no real damage except some small blood vesels that were split.

"Hmm, looks like he has tough skin" said Robin to him self as he looked at the bullets to check if they were indeed real.

"Cyborg, what did you come up with?".

"Well, to be honest ... nothing" replied Cyborg "His vital signs are okay. Blood presure normal, his heart is beating just fine, he doesn't have any problem breathing, no internal bleeding, no nothing. In fact he seems to be just ... well ... sleeping".

"Are you sure this thing is on or working right?" said Robin who lightly punched the computer.

"It's working just right!" replied Cyborg who grabed Robin's hand so that he would stop punching the computer.

"Okay! So let me get this straight" said Beast Boy "He gets shot in the shoulder, he fights of 10 bad dudes, he almost kills the leader of Team Anarchy, passes out and now he is sleeping?".

"Well ... Yeah!" replied Cyborg shruging his shoulders.

"Does that mean that friend Rage will be healthy?" asked Starfire who now looked happier.

"Can't say that for sure, but from the data I have a good night rest is all he needs right now" said Cyborg yawning and bandaging Rage's wounds "... and as a matter of fact, that's what we should all be doing".

Robin turned to Cyborg and asked him "Are you positive that Rage isn't in any kind of danger?".

"Man! If he was in any type of danger would I be standing here doing nothing or would've I been operating on him right away?".

As Robin was speaking to Cyborg, Rage started to move and talk in his sleep. The titans turned their atention to Rage imediatly. They didn't understand the language he was speaking but remembered that Rage spoke with an accent so they asumed he wasn't American. Rage turned and turned and it seemed he had a nightmare, a real ugly one.

"What's going on?" said Beast Boy to him self out loud.

"It looks like friend Rage is having the mare of night" replied Starfire.

"Raven" said Robin who turned to his team mate "... can you enter his mind and see what he's dreaming?".

"I don't know" said Raven adresing Robin "I entered other peoples minds and read them while they were awake but the dream stage is very complex and I don't know if I can make out much, but I guess I could try".

"Good!" exclaimed Robin "... then give it a go".

Raven placed her hand over Rage's masked head and chanted "Azerath Methrion Zynthos" and entered a trance. During the trance Rage stoped moving but Raven started to shake. She woke out of the trance breathing hard and looked shoked.

"Oh my God!" said Raven who steped away from Rage and placed her hands over her mouth.

"What did you see Raven?" asked Robin impaciently.

"I saw a battlefield and soldiers dieing" replied Raven trying to catch her breath. "There were cities leveled to the ground and people dead. Blood every where. Men, women, children, elders, soldiers ... all dead".

The titans listened carefully.

"Anything else?" asked Robin.

"I remember seeing a lab. Someone was performing experiments on young soldiers. I also recall seeing a woman leave. I don't know what it all means but I think they are memories".

The titans looked at Rage and remembered about the two unknown scars on his chest. They felt they knew where they came from but didn't speak about it.

"It seems as though he has a very troubled mind" said Starfire.

"Not troubled Starfire, but very very loaded" replied Raven "When I was in his mind I didn't only read his thoughts, I also could sence what he was feeling".

"What kind of feelings did you notice?" asked a surprised Cyborg.

"I felt fear, courage, determination, endurance, pain, regret and other really powerfull feelings, but most of all I felt anger and rage".

"Anyway, he looks okay now!" said Beast Boy.

"Yup! BB is right" replied Cyborg "... we should all head to our rooms and get some shut-eye our selfs".

"Well, if you say he's okay, then I'm fine with that" said Raven leaving.

"Me too, I'm off to my beauty sleep" replied Beast Boy yawning.

"You guys coming?" asked Cyborg adressing Robin and Starfire.

"I'm staying" responded Robin "I'm going to see if he's really okay ... I can't take any chanches".

Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven got out the infirmery heading for their rooms. Cyborg was standing at the entrance and looking at Robin.

"Man seriously, relax! He just needs some sleep, he probably hasn't been sleeping for days. You should do the same".

Robin was keeping a close eye on Rage and didn't even lift his head.

"I'll stand guard over him tonight, I don't want anything to go wrong".

"Suit your self" said Cyborg leaving towards his room.

In the infirmery remained only Robin, Starfire and Rage who was sleeping. Starfire aproached Robin and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Robin, you need your rest".

Robin kept looking at Rage worried.

"I can't leave him out of my sight Star, he saved my life and yours, I don't want anything to happen to him".

"I am aware of your concern for friend Rage" said Starfire who took Robin's hand " ... but I am also concerned for you, you are weakened and need to lay down".

"No Star, I can't, I have to stand guard over him tonight" said Robin who looked Starfire in her eyes and kissed her on her forehead. "You should go and sleep, don't worry, I'll be okay".

Robin took a chair and sat down next to Rage. Starfire pulled a chair her self and sat next to Robin.

"In that case, I will guard you both if that is fine with you".

"You sure you don't want to rest? You had quite a day today".

Starfire took his hand and looked at him with afection.

"Robin, my day has not been made by the attack of the Team Anarchy, but by you" and in a split second kissed Robin on the lips.

The moment was magical for the both of them, their lips togheter, their tongues swarming and touching, their eyes closed. It was like a trance that kept on for several minutes, hours or even days for the two.

At about 2 A.M. Robin noticed that Starfire fell asleep on his shoulder. He never saw her asleep and was amazed by the beauty and innocence of his girl while she wasn't awake. He carried her in his arms to her room where he placed her gently on the bed, tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead 'good night'. As he turned around Starfire woke up.

"Robin, where are you going?".

He yawned. "I'm going back to check on Rage". He seemed sleepy and drowzy ... no way he was staying up.

"Robin, you are highly exhausted and need to regain your strenght" said Starfire who winked at him and made him understand that she wanted to sleep next to him.

Robin went next to her bed.

"Would you mind if I sleep over here tonight?" he asked sitting next to her.

"Please do! I will help you with your sleeping" answered Starfire who scoutched over.

Robin took off his boots, cape and shirt and got next to Starfire who placed her arm around him and placed her head on his chest.

"Good night Robin" said Starfire closing her eyes.

Robin embraced her and closed his eyes.

"Good night Star".

The next morning, at about 8 P.M., Robin woke up and noticed that Starfire had her hand around him all night. The rays of the morning sun fell over her charming alien features makeing her even more beautiful. She looked so sweet and peacefull that Robin didn't want to wake her up so he slowly got out of bed, got dresed and quietly left her room. He went straight to the infirmery to check on Rage but when he got there Rage wasn't in bed. The oxygen mask and the sensors were lyeing on the floor, his shirt was gone and it seemed that he left. Alerted, Robin woke up everybody and they all met in the hallway.

"What's going on?" asked Raven who was drowzy and just got up.

"It's Rage, I woke up and he was gone, he ran away and he could be in trouble" answered a shoked Robin "We have to find him!".

"Whou, whou, slow down man!" interupted Cyborg "What do you mean he could be in trouble?".

"Are you crazy?" Robin replied "What if he is still hurt, what if he is weak, what if he was kidnapped, what if ... ".

Cyborg placed his hand over Robin's mouth trying to make him quiet.

"Dude, do you honestly think that an injured man can just run away in the condition he is? He's fine where ever he is, trust me".

Beast Boy morphed into a dog and started smeling the air atracting the atention of his friends.

"What are you doing?" asked Raven in her sarcastic.

Beast Boy morphed back to his human form and answered. "I smell breakfast. Ham, eggs, tofu, waffles, coffee ... and it's coming from the kitchen".

Robin ran towards the common room that was conected to the kitchen.

"Let's check it out then" he said.

The titans rushed to the common room and when they entered they noticed that something was different. The living room was clean, everything was tidyed up and put to it's place, the dirty dishes were washed and also the windows, and there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. They also saw that the tabel was layed. In the kitchen they saw no one other than Rage preparing breakfast. He looked like nothing even happened. They were so surprised that they didn't move for a couple of of seconds.

"Comrades" greated Rage adressing the titans in a very lively maner "I bit you a good morning. I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of cleaning up your headquarters and preparing breakfast. Please, sit down and enjoy a home made meal".

The titans went next to him and almost overcomed Rage with questions about how he was feeling, when did he wake up, what happened and so on.

"Please, please ... breakfast now, questions later. Sit down and I will bring you your food".

The titans were intrigued by his behaviour but sat down at the already layed table. Rage came and served them ham and eggs, waffles, pancakes, tofu, orange juice, coffee and herbal tea.

"How did you know what to cook up?" asked Beast Boy.

"Yeah! How did you guess?" also asked Cyborg.

"While I was cleaning the refrigerator I took out all the old food and threw it away. Any how, I looked around and observed that you had not so numerous amounts of what I have prepared you, so I asumed that you regulary eat this kind of stuff for breakfast".

The titans started eating and Rage took out from his pocket a pack of cigarettes.

"Would it trouble you if I smoke?" asked Rage.

"Well ... alright, as long as you open a window or two" replied Robin.

"Do you have an ashtray I could use?".

"Use any ol' glass" replied Beast Boy "... we don't mind as long as you clean it up afterwards and we don't drink infested water that could kill us".

Rage seemed to smile under his ski-mask.

"You are funny Beast Boy ... not to worry, I'll take that into account".

"Will you not join us for breakfast friend Rage?" asked Starfire.

"No thanks, you go ahead, I had something to eat earlyer".

As the titans ate Rage smoked his cigarette, lifting his mask over his mouth revealing his short trimed beard. When the titans finished eating Rage came and collected their plates and glasses, took them to the sink and cleaned them, afterwards placeing them to their place.

"That was very good" said Starfire complimenting Rage's cooking.

"Your a good cook Rage" said Cyborg who was cleaning his teeth with a tooth pick "...you should open a restaurant".

"Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you enjoyed my cooking" replied Rage.

After eating the titans went to the living room to unwind. After washing the dishes, Rage headed for the door silently.

"Hey ... you want to chill on the couch next to us?" asked Beast Boy.

"No thanks, actualy I should be leaving" replied Rage who was next to the slideing door "I have to get back to my rounds. Thank you for all your hospitality and care. See you soon".

The titans jumped right in front of Rage who was trying to leave the room thus blocking his way.

"Please, do not leave, stay with us" said Starfire who levitated in front of him.

"Yeah! Hang around man, we don't want you to go!" said Cyborg trying to convince him to stay.

"I don't know ..." said Rage with a bit of doubt in his voice "I don't want to disturb you and your work".

"Trust me, between Beast Boys tricks and jokes, someone as responsable as you can't be much trouble" said Raven who was also trying to tease BB.

Beast Boy noticed that Raven didn't mean it (he could feel it) and also tryed to convince Rage to stay.

"Just look around dude! You have everything you need to live the good life. Come on, stay with us".

Rage looked around and seemed to be impresed by the titans requests.

"Are you sure you want me to stay?" asked Rage a little intimidated. "I mean ... Wouldn't I just be a burden? Wouldn't I just crowd you up?".

Robin went in front of him and placed his hand on Rage's shoulder.

"We have plenty of space for one more. We want to ofer you a home as thanks for saveing our lifes twice. We really think that you would do good if you became a member of the team. Plus, we could use an extra hand with the cleaning around here if you know what I mean".

Rage took of his ski-mask revealing the face of an older teenager with strong features, brown eyes, short trimed brown hear and beard, and a scar that started from the top of his left eye descending near his chin. The titans looked carefully at him studying his features. He had the face of a leader but his face inspired not only friendship, but also a harsh character.

"If you really want me to stay and ofer me a home, then ... I guess I could stay" replied Rage smileing.

The titans jumped all over Rage congratulating him for his decission, and decided to celebrate the moment and headed to the living room. They now had a new friend.

A new titan was born.

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In case any one is wondering how this Rage character might look like I have a schetch a friend made after the descrition: http/img233.imageshack.us/img233/416/ragewk2.jpg

I've kept my promice this one was a bit longer then before ... about 2000 words I belive. Hope it's not too long though.

The story continues, with a new friend also come new problems, new battles but also new pleasnt surprises ... stay tuned!