Italics are thoughts

I've said this once, and I'll say it again. The only person in this story who belongs to me (so far) is Setsuna. Steal her and feel my wrath!!!! Just kidding.

The rest of the Titans found out from one of Setsuna's friends, a pigtailed blond named Roxanne, that Setsuna had left arm in arm with Robin just a few minutes before school had let out. No one was really sure why the two had left together, or where they had gone, but Roxanne was absolutely positive that she could see romance blossoming and wasn't it oh so romantic? They didn't know how to answer the girl on that score, but did agree to ask Setsuna why she was friends with such a silly person.

They returned to Titans tower to see a strange sight layed out before them. Upon reaching the level where the entertainment and kitchen areas were located, they found Robin leaning over the girl of their recent inquiries, trying to force a piece of pizza on her. He had one knee on the couch and one arm braced against the back of the couch. A slice of pizza was held in his other hand, and he wore a stubborn look which had been noted as his "trying to budge a mountain" look. If he had that look on his face, sooner or later you would give in. She was leaned back about as far as she could go over the back of the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and a look of confusion and amusement plastered on her face. Their bodies weren't in contact with each other at all, but as soon as the other Titans walked in, Robin jumped back a little.

"Oh, hey guys. You wanna help me get this stubborn girl to eat something?" Setsuna spoke up in her own defense.

"I don't need to be stealing your food. I've got money to buy some of my own!" She had a look of frustration on her face, as though she had already tried to explain this to Robin several times. The rest of the Titans surged into the room, plopping in their respective places on the couch. Even Raven took an interest in the conversation that she knew must soon follow.

"So Setsuna..............." BB looked at her and suddenly found himself feeling very awkward as the girl's forthright gaze fell on him. "You gonna tell us what's been going on? Why you're missing school. I mean, you look kinda tired and stuff, ya know?" He seemed to be trying very hard not to offend her. When she let out a brief chuckle, he looked up in relief.

"No! She needs food first. She hasn't eaten in about four days!" Robin looked incensed at the very thought.

"FOUR DAYS?!?" Cyborg and Beast Boy both lifted the couch with Setsuna still sitting on it, and, with her protesting loudly, sped her into the kitchen. As soon as they had managed to fit the couch squarely in the smaller kitchen area, they dived into the fridge and literally began pouring food onto the table, not taking long to get into a rough and ready argument about whether real food or synthesized food was better. Setsuna sat on the couch, trying in vain to catch somebody's attention. Even Starfire got in on it, setting down a bottle of mustard in front of the startled girl.

"This is a most delightful beverage! And I shall fix you the pudding of wellness, so that you may be better!" She smiled at Setsuna, and she suddenly couldn't find the heart to argue. Sighing in resignation, she gave the yellow bottle in front of her a glance.

"I don't really appreciate the flavor of mustard, but I would really appreciate some water."

"Glorious!! Water it is!" Starfire gave the girl a large hug that seemed to squash the remaining resistance out of her. While she was busy trying to put her ribcage back together, the food was piling higher and higher.

"Try some of my barbeque ribs, you'll love 'em!"

"No way. How about some tofu eggs and bacon, huh?"

"Man, she doesn't wanna eat that rubbish! We have some chocolate cheesecake left over from that party last week. Or maybe some pizza?"

The suggestions flew fast and hard as the food stacked up. Setsuna, somewhat resignedly, reached out and took a small piece of ribs from a tall pile. She then sampled a little of BB's tofu eggs, which she said weren't bad. The boys, seeing that she wasn't going to eat nearly as much as they had set out, settled down to help her, wolfing down their own favorites and continuing their argument about which was better. Starfire had long since returned with Setsuna's glass of water, ice clinking against the side of a glass cup, and was now bombarding her with questions that had to do with favorite colors, hairstyles, clothing stores, and many other ""girly"" topics. Raven sat back, watching them all with her calm, blank eyes. But there was more going on behind that stolid mask than she was letting on, and Robin noticed it.

"What's up?" He looked directly at her, not needing to worry if anyone was watching. Starfire was animatedly shooting rapid-fire questions at the newcomer, the other two boys were swallowing platefuls of food down, and Setsuna was caught between trying to keep up with Starfire's exuberant attitude, and watching the boys eat with a half amused, half dumbfounded look on her face.

"I get a feeling of power, not unlike my own. But there's also a lot of anger, and hurt." She held up her hand to forestall any oncoming arguments. "I'm not saying that she's a bad person. But everything is not just smiles and laughter with her. She hides a lot. She suppresses a lot. And if she keeps doing that, sooner or later her powers, whatever they might be, will respond. We need to find out what's going on. And fast." Robin's jaw hung open in shock. He had never heard Raven say so much in his entire life.

"So as soon as she's done, we'll get her to tell us what's been happening, and why she isn't with her family."

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As soon as the plates were cleared, and the couch had been put back in position (once again with Setsuna still sitting on it), and settled down. Setsuna seemed to have sensed the gathering tension in the air, because she sat up straighter and took on the air of a professional storyteller. Though she seemed to simply be getting ready to tell them her story, both Robin and Raven caught on to what was really going on. What she was about to tell them obviously pained her greatly, so she was simply playing another part. She was separating herself from the pain, by pretending to be someone else.

"Well" she took a deep breath. "Where to start?"