Kori had been more than pleased to see her friend once more, and strangely enough it seemed it was Monday morning. A small niggle in the back of her mind told her that time must be different in the death gods world. The French girl clung to her arm, leaning in closely and grinning all the while chatting animatedly.

"Friend, it is so good to see you. I was having the worries when I saw your home to be taken. Where are you staying?" It was a simple enough question, but a tugging in her stomach told her there was much more Kori wanted to say.

"I'm staying with Robin."

"Robin? You could have stayed with me friend."

"I always stay at yours, I didn't want to impose."

"Do not be of the silly friend. You can always stay over at my home. Mother would very much love to see you again. So, friend, what happened at your house? When it was being taken none of you were there, all of your belongings were gone too. Police think it's a robbery." The girl explained, gaining bemused looks from Rachel.

"Robbery? Kor, do you even know what happened there?"

"No."

"My dad died." She froze as she walked beside her friend, staring at her with wide eyes.

"Friend, I do not know what I can say. I apologise, but you may be happy about this fact."

"I suppose to a point I am. But with everything else I found out I can't believe it."

"Why, what has happened? Friend, I will listen. Tell me."

"I can't Kor, you'll end up hating me." She didn't let her gaze waver from the grey girl, waiting for her to say something. "...I...I killed him." Her voice failed her at the end, breaking of in a crack as she whispered her confession.

Kori stared at her, checking for any signs of lying. When she found none she wrapped her arms around Rachel, hugging her tight. She could hear the shocked intake of breath as she was held against the French girl's chest, her painted nails gripping onto Rachel's clothes, as though she were afraid she'd vanish should her grip lessen.

"Friend, I do not know what I should say. But I would never hate you. Never ever." She declared as she clung to her thin body. Rachel relaxed into her, breathing a heavy sigh of relief as she was comforted.

"Thank you, it's a relief. I admit I thought you'd hate me Kor. I'm a murderer."

"No, you had a reason, I'm sure of that much. You must have had a reason."

"He was hurting my mum. I couldn't take it anymore." A smile brightened Kori's face as she clasped Rachel's arms.

"See friend? See, you have done nothing wrong, you should be rewarded."

"No, it wasn't his time. Strangely enough he was going to save a bunch of lives. I've gotta take his place now and make sure those guys don't die."

"Who are they?"

"I don't know yet, it hasn't happened. But there're supposed to be some hostages, and he was supposed to inadvertently save their lives."

"Must have been very accidental." Kori muttered bitterly, her eyes narrowing in distaste at the thought of her friend's vial father. "Oh, sorry friend, I shouldn't speak ill of him."

"Speak ill of him all you want, he's dead and once I do his dirty work I'll be free of him for life."

"How is Mrs Roth handling all this?"

"Last I saw, badly. I've been living at Robin's for the past few days, I haven't so much as seen a hair." She responded, eyes narrowing as she mimicked Kori's earlier gesture.

"Where is Mrs Roth?" Kori asked, neither of them having moved since the conversation had started, they were sure to be late at this rate.

"I don't know. She kicked me out and I haven't seen her since." Kori looked at her startled, not sure how to respond, she opened her mouth, gaping like a fish as she tried to find the words. Never had she thought she'd be capable of that. "It's alright, if you want we can talk later, right now though, we need to get to school, we're going to be so late."

"That's ok, let's keep talking."

"No, your mum'd go insane if she knew I'd blemished your perfect record." Laughing half-heartedly to herself she started to walk again, feeling Kori's eyes at her back.

Staring after her for a moment Kori jogged to catch up, pushing the unpleasant conversation to the back of her mind.

0000

The school day ended quietly and with little happening. Kori had spent the majority of the breaks dragging Rachel around in an attempt to find Garfield, but the boy was nowhere to be found and they gave up mere minutes before the end of dinner. Their lessons were boring, neither of them really listening to the teachers, their minds elsewhere. Rachel's on how she was supposed to save those people while Kori flitted between where her friend was and what she was supposed to do to help Rachel.

They left together, not looking at one another nor talking.

It wasn't until they reached their parting that Kori spoke.

"Friend, I am no expert on how to handle this. But I wish to help if you need me. Even if it's only minimal I want to help."

"Thanks Kor, I don't know what I'm goin to do yet so don't be surprised if you don't hear anything. But I want you to help. I don't think I could do it without you."

"You won't have to friend. I shall see you tomorrow." They bid the other goodbye and left, Rachel walking with her head down staring at the cracks in the pavement.

"Psst!" A hiss from the corner made her jump, looking around she couldn't see anyone. Spinning on the spot she looked all around, returning to the first spot to be confronted by a green boy smiling up at her.

"Ah!" She cried, stumbling back in shock as he grinned up at her.

"Shh, keep it quiet will ya? You're gonna draw a crowd, all I did was say hi."

"No you didn't."

"Oh, hi."

She glared at him before carrying on walking, the smaller boy jogging to catch up. He was grinning as he did so, chatting to himself as they walked.

"Why're you following me?"

"Aren't we going to the same place? I thought you'd want some company with your friend walking off and all."

"How long were you watching me? And I'm going to Richard's if you're going I suggest you don't follow me. I'd rather not be kicked out of the place that giving me a roof after my mum kicked me out."

"I prefer to term observing. And for your information I am going to Robin's. If you're not going there then I shall see you tomorrow." As he went to run off he paused, spinning on his heel to face her. "What was your name again?"

"Rachel."

"Well Rachel, I'd be careful walking alone, there's been a spurt in crimes lately and a young woman like yourself should be careful."

"I can take care of myself."

"Are-are you sure? You don't want me to protect you?" He asked, his voice breaking at the end and giving it a whining quality.

"I'm sure, I doubt a boy half my size can do much protecting. If anything I'd be protecting you." He blushed at the insult, puffing his chest out as though that would alter the size issue. He marched by her side, swinging his arms and overemphasising the bulk of his shoulders.

"That was that? I think it's clear that I'm the man."

"You're a boy." She deadpanned, watching as he deflated quickly, his body slumping at the insult as he trotted alongside her. "Go home, I doubt he'd like you arriving with me."

"Is he your boyfriend?" He asked it so casually that she faltered, stumbling over her own feet as she stared down at the boy.

"He's a friend." She couldn't tell if he was relieved or what, but whatever it was he remained silent. Though he did keep following her, looking around aimlessly as they walked side by side.

oooo

Robin's house came into view not too soon after, a car pulling into the drive and Alfred leaving the confines of the house to welcome whichever of his masters it was.

"Oh, so we were talking about the same person? I wonder why you call him Richard? His name is Robin after all." The green child exclaimed, looking incredibly pleased. Rachel only nodded, unsure how to answer the green boy.

"Yeah, well, I suppose I should go. Rich-Robin, might be worried." She excused, moving as quickly from him as she could without revealing that she was running away.

"Oh, ok, I'll just find my own way inside then. See you soon." She didn't stop at his strange words, though when she glanced back he had already disappeared.

She ran inside, closing the door behind her back and trying not to think about the bizarre boy. How was he supposed to get inside? This place was very secure. Yet, he made it sound like it was a daily occurrence.

"Hey, took you long enough." She looked up, Garfield stood there grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"W-Wh...How?"

"I told you I'd find a way inside." She stared at him, waiting for him to vanish into a cloud of smoke, but he remained, staring at her as though he waited for the exact same thing.

"Rachel, what're you doing standing there? You look like a statue." Robin asked, coming around the corner into the hallway, unable to see Garfield where he currently stood.

"Uh, I don't know how to explain it." She admitted, though she tried nonetheless. "Garfield somehow made it in here before me though he said he'd find a different way inside and I don't know of any other unless he scaled the walls in three seconds flat.

He seemed to begin to laugh, thinking she was joking before he joined her and his eyes fell on the smaller boy, his shock not hidden in the slightest.

"Hey Robin, glad to see me?" He asked, grinning to himself, raising his hand in a greeting as though it were needed.

"I suppose, how'd you get in?" He asked, staring at him with wide eyes.

"That's my secret. But, I suppose if you let me help on a job I might tell you." She could see the eagerness in his body, he was one hair away from leaping with joy because Robin had taken an interest. He was dying to just tell him everything.

"I keep telling you Garfield, you're too young and too inexperienced to come on any 'job'."

"But I'm not! Just look, I got into your house easy, I'm good enough. Just give me a chance."

"And when you get yourself killed where should I send the flowers?"

"I'm not gonna die, can't you at least test me? I might surprise you."

"I highly doubt that."

"Rachel, help me out here. He'll listen to you." He turned to her for help, using his hands to try and motion for her to speak.

"I highly doubt that." She echoed Robin's retort, watching with a barely hidden smile as his face fell, lips pulling themselves into a pout.

"You guys are no fun, all I want is one chance. From what I hear you are going to be doing the exact same with much less experience than me."

Robin narrowed his eyes at him, he planned to question the green boy, but Bruce entered, speaking to him before he could open his mouth.

"I spoke to the head teacher, he says it's fine that you weren't there today. I told him it was a family emergency, he daren't question me." He entered the room from the stairs, eyes falling on Garfield in confusion. "Are you joining us again?"

"Yeah, they invited me, aren't they nice?"

"Very well, come along, let's go to the dining room."

Garfield headed after Bruce, leaving Robin and Rachel to trail behind. All the while Rachel's eyes following him.

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