Orpus does not own any of these characters. Seriously. None of them.

Chapter Ten: Splish-Splash, Take A Bath



The screen opens on Raven, chanting her trademarked mantra: Azarath metrion zinthos... azarath metrion zinthos... azra-*

GET OUT HERE, B! screamed Cyborg, sending Raven plummeting to the floor. I KNOW YOU GOT FRITOS IN THERE! FORK EM OVER NOW!

With Beastboy holed up in his room, the tower was oddly quiet. Though she found it refreshing, Raven knew the silence wouldn't last; Cyborg and Starfire shared a strange flaw that caused them to break such moments of peaceful quiet. she asked, fearing the answer, why are you so obsessed with Fritos? They're just a snack.

But... they're so crunchy and salty and good!

I'm sorry I asked, she said to herself. I'm going to take a bath. Don't bother me. Heading to the bathroom, she thought she heard a sound like metal breaking; she deemed it inconsequential and ignored it with enthusiasm.



Elsewhere, Robin was washing the dishes. It was slow going, considering how Starfire could find dirty kitchenware that had been supposedly lost for decades.

Robin, more dishes! she cried with sadistic glee as she placed another considerable mountain of dishes on the counter.

I can understand the laundry, but how did we ever get these many damn dishes!?

she started, every time we eat, at least one piece goes missing. With us all eating so often, we begin to lose a sizeable amount of kitchenware. When so many things have mysteriously' disappeared, we are forced to purchase more. By finding all that has been lost in the past few years, we find that we are stuck with a great surplus of bowls, spoons, plates, forks, and whatever else we have.

Frightened by Starfire's out-of-character response, Robin nervously continued washing the accursed eating utensils.



Neck-deep in the bubbles, Raven could block out the rest of the world with less effort than it took for her to fly. It was so easy, in fact, that she didn't notice the bathroom door open.

Shut up, asshole! This was the catalyst needed to wake her. You broke my door down and tossed me in the... no, I don't know where Raven went! Leave me alone! Beastboy quickly shut the door and, turning around, saw Raven peering out at him from beneath the bubbles. was the only thing he could say before fainting, a crimson trickle falling from his nose.





Yeah, Star?

Would you like some pudding?

A flash of panic crossed his face. Wh... what kind?

Celebration. The flood water should be gone tomorrow, and many people have already returned to the city; the delicious pudding, however, will make our victory all the sweeter.

What victory? he asked. Just because the flood... As Starfire took his pruned hands in hers and gazed into his eyes, he realized what she was talking about.



Coming to, Beastboy saw bubbles. Lots of bubbles. Pushing them from his face, he saw Raven there, washing her hair. His towel was on the floor. The small red river returned to his nose, and he asked: Am I dead?

His question prompted a giggle from Raven, which in turn prompted the soap to explode.

Am I dreaming?

Ready to reveal to him her secret, she asked him, Would you like me to help you wash your back?

No, I'm cool, he responded, his cheeks tinted red.

lied Raven, I've got some soap in my eye. Could you help me get it?

Uh-uh. Too nervous.

Opening her eyes and looking at him with an amused smile, she shook her head and folded her arms under her breasts, forcing them out of the bubbles. This made his face grow to a deeper shade of red, and the trickle from his nose intensified.



In the kitchen, Starfire had completed her pudding, which would turn out to be far more edible than her pudding of sorrow. I shall ask Raven if she would like some, she said, skipping off to the bathroom. Starfire forgot all she was planning to say when she saw Raven assisting Beastboy in what she would call the cleansing of one's back.' All three of them turned beet-red (an accomplishment for Beastboy, cause he's green), and Beastboy lost even more blood; in a somewhat related incident, the sink fell over and burst into flame. As the other Titans entered and learned, they all laughed a hearty laugh and continued about their business.

-Epilogue-

The city returned to normal, the world moved on. Eternity is relentless; young love turns to deep affection, deep affection turns to noble passion. Although everything changes, one must press on. Time goes by, people come and go; the Titans, however, were always there, with each other, for each other...

... Forever.