Find Him

"I'm sorry, what?" Robin's voice echoed through the whole tower. Raven repeated herself. "I said Chris is a Healer." Beast Boy looked up. "Like you?" he asked. Raven shook her head. "I can't heal myself. Only others. But he can." Robin looked at her. "How did you come across this information?" he asked. Raven, with difficulty, explained what happened outside the tower in Chris's car.

The other Titans were trying to take this in. "I thought there was something about that kid," said Robin, breaking the silence. "What was the purpose for calling the meeting?" asked Starfire. Raven addressed the group. "I would like to admit Chris into the Teen Titans." Everyone's jaws dropped.

Robin was the first to speak. "But you said yourself he can't do anything except heal." Raven looked at him. "I can teach him to not only use his gift for healing purposes, but as fighting power as well." Robin stood and thought about this for a few moments. "Plus," she added. "He's a great actor." "Hey!" cried Beast Boy, indignantly. "He's better. He performed a couple of monologues in his car the other day. Shakespeare monologues. They moved me and we all know that doesn't happen often." said Raven, looking over at Beast Boy. Robin snapped out of his thoughts. "What's that got to do with anything?" he asked.

Raven thought about how to say this. "I feel he could be a great addition to the team as sort of an inside man. If we don't need the powers I will teach him to use, he can get close to the enemy without them knowing about it." Beast Boy looked up. "You mean like Ocean's Eleven?" Raven looked back at him. "Yes, except that was a movie." Everyone agreed with her idea. Everyone except Robin. The last time he let another person join their group, she betrayed them.

Raven sensed what he was thinking. "Chris is different. I don't sense evil in him." Robin turned around but said nothing. Tears started welling in Raven's eyes. "Fine!" she shouted. "You don't have to let him in if you don't trust him! But talk to me please! You don't have to give me the silent treatment!" She stormed out of the room cursing to herself and shattering various items along the way to her own room.

Eyes turned towards Robin. "I don't think I've ever seen Raven that upset before," said Cyborg. Starfire spoke up. "I believe Chris would be an excellent addition to the team as well." "Raven's confident she can teach him to fight," added Beast Boy.

Robin was about to protest, but he remembered the previous day's conversation. "Raven told me she loved him. We all know Raven doesn't love easily, so this must be the real thing," Robin said to the group. He stood in thought for a few minutes, while everyone waited with baited breath. "Starfire," he said, breaking the silence again. "Call Chris's house. I want to speak to him." Starfire hovered to the phone and found his number in the memory bank.

She dialed the number and Chris's mom answered. "Hello. My name is… Kori," Starfire said, not using her Titans name. "May I inquire as to whether or not Chris is available?" she asked. "No, he's on a date. I'm starting to worry, though. He said he'd be home at around eleven and it's almost eleven thirty. He hasn't called or anything." "Thank you," replied Starfire as she hung up the phone. "He is not home."

Robin thought some more. "I'll bet he drove off, ashamed of what happened," said Cyborg. "Beast Boy!" called Robin. Beast Boy looked up at him. "I want you to find Chris. Search everywhere for a blue Ford with a Pimp My Ride bumper sticker. If you find him, bring him back here." Beast Boy nodded and ran to the window. He transformed into a hawk and flew off into the night.

I don't have plans and schemes
And I don't have hopes and dreams
I, I, I don't have anything
Since I don't have you

And I don't have fond desires
And I don't have happy hours
I don't have anything
Since I don't have you

Happiness and I guess
I never will again
When you walked out on me
In walked ol' misery
And she's been here since then

Yeah, we're fucked!

Sing it Axl, Chris thought to himself as he drove. He found himself mouthing along with the song. Just something he did out of habit.


I don't have love to share
And I don't have one who cares
I don't have anything
Since I don't have you

You, you, you, oh, oh!
You, you, you, oh, oh!
You, you, you, oh, oh!
You, you, you, oh, oh!
You, you, you, oh yeah!

The words of the song echoed through Chris's head as he listened to the radio. He just drove, not caring where he wound up. He just wanted to get away from the feelings of shame. He needed gas, though. He pulled into a gas station with a nearby diner. He bought his gasoline and went inside for something to eat. To help take his mind off things. He walked inside and sat down at a table.

Meanwhile, Beast Boy was searching from the skies for the car described to him. About half an hour later, he found the car outside a roadside diner. He flew down and changed back into his normal self and walked to the door of the restaurant. Wait a minute, he thought. I have no idea what this Chris kid looks like. I'm not going to be able to recognize him.

Twenty minutes or so went by, and Chris came out of the diner, still looking miserable. He walked over to his car and noticed a small lizard on the roof of his car. "Hey there, little fella. Where'd you come from?" he said to it. He picked up the lizard and set on the ground a few feet away from the car. He walked over to the driver's side and started to open the door. "You know, running away isn't going to help anything," he heard a voice say. He looked up over to the other side of the car and saw a green teenager.

Chris jumped back a bit. He hadn't been introduced to the other Titans yet. "The name's Beast Boy," he said. "I'm one of the Titans. Robin sent me to look for you and bring you back to the tower." Chris looked down at the ground. "I can't go back there. Not after…" he trailed off. "No one's ashamed of you." This perked him up a bit. "Really?" Beast Boy nodded. "In fact, we came up with an idea. But you won't know what it is unless you come back to the tower with me." Chris nodded and let Beast Boy into the car. They drove off toward the tower.

"I see the blue car approaching!" cried Starfire as Chris pulled up. They walked into the tower and Chris was greeted by Starfire, who rushed up and almost hugged the life out of him. "I know we have just met, but I am glad you are safe!" she cried. She let go and Chris edged back a bit. He stumbled right into Cyborg. The feeling of metal and flesh made him edge away from Cyborg and turn around. "Nice to meet you Chris. I'm Cyborg. That's Starfire. And I believe you know Robin and Beast Boy," Cyborg said, reaching a metallic hand forward. Chris breathed something indistinct and fainted.

He opened his eyes and saw Robin reaching a hand toward him. "Let me help you up." Chris got up and took in his surroundings with a clearer head. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up. "What's this all about?" he asked. Robin stepped forward. "Raven really cares about you. This isn't something she does often, so you must be incredibly important to her. She had an idea that we all eventually agreed upon. She told us before she ran to her room, crying." Chris looked confused. "We feel," Robin continued, "that we could use you as an addition to the team as an inside man." "You mean like in Team America?" asked Chris. "I was going to say Ocean's Eleven, but yeah," responded Robin.

"I suggest that we give him an audition," suggested Starfire. "We can be sure of his talent for acting." Everyone thought that was an excellent idea. Robin looked at Chris. "Go ahead. Give us the first monologue that comes to mind." Chris thought for a moment. The only thing he could think of was… "Okay, here goes."

"I will tell you why: so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen molt no feather. I have of late- but wherefore I know not- lost all my mirth, forgone all customs of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of the animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so."

He took a deep breath as he finished. He looked around the room. Robin, Cyborg and Beast Boy were all nodding. Even though she didn't know what any of it meant, Starfire was crying her eyes out. "It was so moving!" she cried. Chris smiled. Robin walked over to him as a nervous look grew on his face. "Chris, welcome to the Titans." Robin opened his palm and inside was a communicator device. Chris's eyes grew wide. "I'm really a Teen Titan?" he asked, not believing it. Everyone nodded.

This was the happiest day of Chris's life. "I gotta call my folks!" he cried as he ran to the phone. Robin stopped him. "No! You can't tell them about what happened!" Chris moved Robin back a bit. "Relax, I know the rules. I'm just calling them to say I'm staying over at a friends' house for a few days."

He picked up the phone. "Mom? Hey, I'll be staying over at my friend… Dick's house for a few days," he said using Robin's name. "I don't have to work until Thursday. No, I'm wearing glasses. I'll find some clothes. I'll see you later. Tell dad and Andrew I said hi." He hung up the phone. "Mothers," he muttered.

"We should probably be getting ready for bed," yawned Beast Boy. "The guest room is kind of messy," said Cyborg, turning on the tower security monitor. "I'd rather sleep in Raven's room," said Chris. "I think she could use the company." Robin started heading upstairs. "She only has one bed," he replied. Chris shrugged. "I don't mind sleeping on the floor." Starfire flew to Chris with blankets and a pillow. "Here, so you do not find your evening completely uncomfortable." He smiled. "Thanks."

He walked upstairs and found Raven's room. He took a deep breath and knocked. There was no response. He opened the door. "Raven?" he softly called. She must be a heavy sleeper, he thought. He walked into her room and set up a little space on the floor. He took off his shirt and folded it next to him on the floor. He removed his glasses and placed on Raven's bedside table. He started to pull the covers over him, but he stopped. He got up from the floor, walked over to Raven's bed, and kissed her ever so gently on her chakra.

Raven woke up at around seven the next morning. She sat up and yawned as she noticed a pair of glasses sitting on her bedside table. "Strange," she muttered. She saw a pile of blankets on the floor next to her bed. "Huh." She stepped off the bed and was greeted by a loud muffled sound of pain. She jumped as she saw Chris crawl out from underneath the blankets on the floor. At first she was enraged, but that gave way to happiness. She didn't lose Chris after all.

Chris got up and was wiping the sleep from his eyes as he saw Raven sitting on the edge of her bed, looking down at him. "Morning, Raven." She smiled. "Good morning, Chris." Her smile faded. "Did Robin talk to you last night?" He nodded. "And?" He smiled. Raven was so happy. She got to be a teacher. To her true love, no less. She didn't realize her bed was floating about four feet off the ground. The bed fell with a crash, waking the rest of the team. He held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let's go have breakfast."