This is not a hospice. Or at least Robin kept telling himself.
Beast Boy was recognizable because he was green. His wounds didn't recuperate from being shifted, they just shifted. He was stitched together haphazardly. There wasn't any real way to get the various IVs into him, so he was bathed in a complex solution that was half primordial ooze half utopian spa. Fortunately, one last shape-that of a starfish-nearly garaunteed a complete and extraordinarily speedy recovery.
Cyborg was the first up and about. How many back up parts he kept was still unknown to the rest of the Titans. But many were in use. Liquid bandages held what was left of his human side together enough for his machine side to remain mobile. He was responsible for most of the team's emergency care.
Starfire was a completely different story. She still had not awaken. She did look a lot more peaceful. On one side of her hospital bed was what appeared to be an open, purple, giant clam. Inside were several metallic containers with Tameranean etched into the metal with masking tape labels in English under them. "Apply liquid inside to cut along with powder 4." "Press creature contained to exposed bone." "If lung punctured, place orb to hole then use Heimlick Manuever when subject begins chocking." On the other side of her bed was a glaring Robin.
2
In her room, Raven sat in the lotus position on her bed wearing only her cloak. She had reverted enough to herself to wear at least that. She had not contained her claws to the point where she could wear her boots or not rip her leotard. Her four red eyes still leaked a glow even though she had them closed. She daren't float in her meditation, she did not know if she would dare ever use her powers again. But for now, she would expend herself on reclaiming at least her physical lost humanity.
Until her phone rang.
3
Starfire's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she ignored were Cyborg's admonitions not to move. The first thing she cared about was Robin's eyes resting on her.
"I wanted to tell you as soon as you were awake.", Robin said. "I would think you would appreciate knowing."
Starfire tried to nod but winced at the pain in her neck. "is...rafen...gmf...al..l...l"
"Don't strain yourself, Star.", Cyborg warned.
Robin continued. "Yes, Raven is alive. She's in her room recuperating."
"That's not what I needed to tell you.", the boy surprised her. "You did something completely fool hardy and dangerous for someone you cared about, even when it was the wrong sacrifice. I realized that if it was me, you would have done even more-rasher, brasher. I can't let that happen. I won't have other people hurt because you chose me instead of them."
"So I'm breaking our relationship off." And with that Robin limped out of the hospice...er, Medlab.
4
Raven hadn't owned an actual telephone. She only had her affects from Azerath and what was issued her by the Titans. Every message she got would flow through the Tower's communication systems. Hence, Goth got her a cell phone for privacy. Which meant that the ringing tone signified it was only one person.
A clawed hand scraped the phone out of the drawer it was kept. Raven struggled to keep a human voice.
So the person on the other end spoke first. "Raven, you gotta help me.", Goth said. "I was just able to get away from them. I don't know how long it'll take for them to catch me. Jinx is crazy!"
Raven shook her head. What? It was the Red-X that did this to her. She needed to have her heart steeled against him. But Goth sounded so hectic, so penitent, so...sincere. It was the most emotional she had ever heard him, like when her true personality slipped through her mask of emotionless detatchment.
"I didn't want any of this. You gotta believe me. It started out with those Hivers figuring that you would have connections with a goth. It was a matter of time before they found which ones you knew. That's when they targeted me."
When Robin invented the Red-X, he spread rumors that a new thief had come to town. Jinx and Mammoth heard those rumors and kept track of him, hoping to recruit. When it turned out to be Robin's lie, they knew he would have kept the suit in your tower."
They said if I didn't steal the suit they would kill my little sister. You know she's in foster care until I could prove I could take care of her. I couldn't even take her and run. I had to do it."
I tried to get out then. But they showed me pictures of Jinx with ID Gizmo forged for her with my little sister. They told me if I didn't get the synothium, I'd never see my little sister again. All I wanted was to protect her. I didn't want to hurt you guys-that's why I came back and saved you from that mad scientist."
They kept forcing me to do things for them. The worse my conscience was, the more they threatened my little sister-then kids at random. I know what I did was wrong but I couldn't let them hurt all those kids."
I tried to drown myself in you. You were so special. I thought I couldn't be such a bad person if someone like you loved me. Then when you saw my face...it really hurt. The look you gave me."
Then Jinx. When she lied to you about me. She did this. Her and Mammoth and Gizmo. They forced both of us. They're so evil. Not like us."
If you come get me, I can show you where they are and they can be stopped. Then we'll leave this crazy town and its crazy whirlwind of super-these and super-those. We'll leave it all behind and just be us:teens in love. What do you say?"
Raven collapsed onto her bed.