I'm finally updating! I really didn't know how to do this chapter, but this is the best I gots!
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Raven gently, but firmly wrapped Carmen's leg in bandages. After cleaning the blood and grim off of her leg one could see the extent of the injury. The skin had been scraped off her shin, like a cheese grader was used. How she was able to run with her leg so badly disoriented was beyond comprehension. Cyborg was silently getting some ointment out of the large cabinet. Carmen's other injuries were not of the same magnitude as her leg but attention was still needed.
"Raven, help me flip her over. We gotta take a look at her back," they carefully flipped Carmen on her stomach. Cyborg cut the back of her shirt with surgery scissors, being careful not to cut her hair as he did so. A large bruise was forming on Carmen's back. It was that dark blue/purple color. Cyborg rubbed the ointment on her back with as much gentleness as his robotic body allowed him to posses. He felt the deep rise and fall of her chest as she slept soundly. He smirked as he remembered how strong she was and had to be. Carmen was never babied much by her parents. If she got a cut or scraped her knee they would tell her clean it out, put a band-aid on it, and suck it up. If bones aren't broken and bleeding isn't fatal you were fine in her family.
"Hey Cyborg, how long do you think she'll be unconscious?" Raven asked. Cyborg looked at the digital clock on the wall.
"Oh about three hours, I guess. Hard telling' with her," He handed Raven more bandages. "Will you wrap her up? I need to find some stuff to clean out a couple of the deeper cuts," Cyborg turned and rummaged through the cabinets. Raven wrapped up Carmen's chest skillfully. First-aid was one of her best unpracticed talents. Then, she began to wonder. How did they just appear like that? Why does Slade want her so badly? Did Carmen have some kind of power? Cyborg walked over when she was finished and stuck a band-aid on the side of Carmen's face.
"You think she'll only be out for that long? Kind of soon, don't you think?" Raven questioned. "I would guess about twelve hours at least,"
"Like I said, it's hard tellin' with Carmen. She kind of a freak that way, among others, but she's cool. She always had to be strong back when we were kids because no one looked after her," Cyborg explained.
"She didn't have any parents?" Raven cocked her head to one side in confusion.
"Nah, she had parents, just not good ones, in my opinion. They had so many other kids, I guess Carmen was the ignored one eighty percent of the time," Cyborg paused. Should he tell what the other twenty percent was? He told her just about everything else.
"What about the other twenty percent?" she asked. Cyborg put his hand on her sleeping head.
"Two years before the accident, her parents were having…problems. They had so many kids, twelve to be exact, and her father became an alcoholic and had affairs with a couple other women. When her mother found out she took it out on the children that tried her patience. One night, her parents got in a big fight. Father drunk; mother in a tantrum. While they screamed at each other, Carmen mistakenly got in the way and became the punching bag. That became routine very quickly. If I ever invited her over to my house, she always begged to stay longer. After a month or so, the guest room became hers. Though, every now and then she had to return home." Cyborg looked over at Raven. Her eyes cast down in thought. Absorbing the story just told.
"I guess strength would be important to her," Raven finally said. Cyborg nodded slowly. Silently they slipped Carmen into a martial arts gi, generously donated by Robin, and carried her into Starfire's room.
On the way down the hall, Cyborg held Carmen close to his titanium body. She was so small and peaceful. How she was able to survive in the index was puzzling. She had no access to food or water. All one could do in the index was float around like a zombie contemplating your thoughts and go slowly insane. Carmen stirred in his arms. Cyborg shifted her shoulders and opened Starfire's door, where she was preparing Carmen's bed.
"Hey Star," Cyborg greeted. Starfire stood up quickly. Her eyes were full of her typical concern.
"Cyborg, will Carmen be well soon? How badly was she injured?" Starfire asked. Cyborg lay Carmen on the mattress and pulled the blanket to her neck.
"Not too bad, all things considered. She's tough Star. She'll be better by tomorrow, if not sooner." He brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Thanks for letting her stay in your room by the way. That was awfully nice of you," Cyborg smiled at his teammate. Starfire sat on the edge on her own bed and smiled back.
"It is no trouble. I always feel more comfortable when there's someone else sleeping in my room. Blackfire and I used to share a room when we were much younger. It makes me feel less alone," she explained. Carmen's eyes opened slightly, but closed again before they could take notice. She concentrated on the sounds of the voices around her. Aware, but sleeping. Focusing her senses on the voices she could determine who was there and how far they were from her. "I missed having my sister in my room when we grew older,"
"Starfire. About six feet or so away. To my left."Carmen analyzed.
"I understand. Thanks again Star. I'm sure Carmen feels the same way."
"Victor. He's very close. He's near my head. Man, my back hurts," The sonic boom of thunder made the tower vibrate.
"We are getting a lot of rain," Starfire said. Cyborg nodded and looked down at his sleeping friend. She moaned quietly and shifted onto her side.
"That feels so much better," Standing up; Cyborg walked over to the door and stretched his arms out.
"Well, see you later Star. Take care of her for me," he said closing the door behind him. Carmen's brows furrowed.
"Aw, Victor. Don't leave! Stay with me!" Starfire took a fleece blanket out of her closet and stretched it over Carmen's body.
"You need to stay warm. On my planet when a person is injured they are kept warm and comfortable so they heal faster," Starfire said tucking the blanket over Carmen's shoulder. Then she took off her boots and lay on her bed to sleep. Carmen smiled and drifted into a dead sleep.
Cyborg entered his room down the hall. He noticed Carmen's bag on his desk.
"I'll have to give that to her tomorrow," he made his mental note and lay down on his bed. Thinking of her as he fell into a light sleep.
Carmen wandered in the tower halls with an unshakable feeling of dread. She heard the sounds of her newest friends scream out in pain on by one. The sounds echoed through out her mind. Her footsteps joined in with the horrific screams as she ran into the darkness, following the dreadful wails. Her breathing was heavy and slow compared to her running feet. The doors automatically opened as she came near. Carmen drew a sharp breath as she saw the scene. The living room area was a disaster. The couch was flipped over; the TV was knocked onto its face. The Titans were scattered on the floor, motionless. Glass littered the room from a shattered window, where a silhouette stood. The form of a girl, who appeared short and slim, stood in front of the broken window. Her long hair pulled back in a high ponytail. Rain poured down on her hidden face. As lightning struck, her eyes shined with in the shadowed body. Seemingly soulless eyes of piercing ice blue locked on to Carmen, as she stood there in shock. Suddenly there were no sounds at all. The pouring rain made no sound, nor did the sound of the cracking glass as the imposter approached. A blue light trailed along the floor, going up Carmen's body until it stopped at her forehead. Her eyes remained locked with the girl. Carmen's voice returned to her as the surrounding room warped out of shape into nothing but darkness.
"Who are you?" Carmen asked as sweat ran down her face. The girl's eyes narrowed.
"Lain," she replied as she pulled the trigger of the gun. The loud clap of thunder was heard through out the tower. Carmen shot up out of her nightmare covered in sweat, she looked around franticly. Relaxing only after she realized her surroundings. Starfire was deep asleep on the other side of the room. Carmen attempted to stand, but a jolt of pain came from her leg making her fall back onto her bed. She lifted her pantleg and examined the bandages, then stood once more, being more cautious. Quietly she slipped out of the room to search for her dearest friend. Leaning against the wall, Carmen made her way to Cyborg's room. The door opened and she peaked in. He wasn't there. On silent feet, she looked around his computerized room. Almost instantly, she noticed something out of place. Her old backpack! She hurried over and held it lovingly in her arms.
"If he isn't here, he must be in the living room," Carmen thought out loud. Carrying her bag, she walked silently towards the living room, where Cyborg sat in front of the TV. He was watching some late night talk show when the power went off.
"Aw man, that's the second time this week!" he mumbled. Carmen limped over to him. He was messing with the remote, not noticing her approach at all. She dropped her bag on the floor to get his attention. Quickly, Cyborg looked behind him. She smiled at his shocked expression. "Carmen, don't do that to me. You probably knocked ten years off my life. So, you felling better?" he asked.
"Why are you up so late? Couldn't sleep?" Carmen leaned on the back of the couch.
"Nah, I was too worried about you to fall into a deep sleep. Course, I haven't been able to sleep well for about two weeks or so."
"How come?"
"I kept dreaming…about back then at…S.T.A.R. labs. When…" Cyborg stopped his sentence short when Carmen wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't say it," he felt her warm breath on the side of his neck. His breathing and heart rate accelerated. "No more of that day," her eyes were hidden by her black and silver hair. "Victor, what was it you…wanted to tell me, back in the index?" Carmen released his neck and walked around the couch. Cyborg felt himself shiver slightly. She sat down beside him. Her dark blue eyes demanding to know. They sat in silence for a while. He couldn't find his words. All of the 'what-ifs' kept entering his mind.
"Do you…remember before the accident when…you said you had…special…feelings for me?" Cyborg stumbled over his words. He felt his face turn red. Carmen nodded. "Well…I…um, I…just wanna know…if you still have those same…feelings…for me. I understand if you…don't anymore," he choked out. He was sweating bullets now. His tongue was dry and he felt like fainting almost.
"Did you think my feelings changed? Why?"
"Well…we haven't seen each other in four years. I just thought…maybe…I," he couldn't phrase it at all. Carmen smirked inside. His face was amusingly beat red.
"Silly Victor." She struggled to fight an urge inside, but in the end, she gave way. She sat up on her knees and put her hand on his shoulder to make him meet her eyes. "My feelings for you will never change. Never have, never will," Carmen let him absorb her words for about two seconds before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Raven had met Beast boy in the hall. They had both been awakened by the storm and headed down to the living room for some way to go back to sleep. Luckily, when the doors opened quietly, Raven spotted Cyborg and Carmen before Beast boy noticed. She quickly covered his eyes and mouth, before dragging him back down the hall way. (A/N: No one saw that coming) Gagging Beast boy, Raven took a last glance and smiled before leaving.
Cyborg had been completely taken by surprise. When their lips parted, neither spoke or left each other's gaze. Carmen herself had been some what surprised. She didn't know what to do next. Slowly her face began to turn red. Thinking of what to do, Carmen looked down at the floor. Cyborg cupped her chin and looked deep into her eyes. He kissed her back softly. She put her hands on his chest making it deeper and forced him down.
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I really have nothing to say. R&R