Mind Trap

Chapter 6

Gar walked into his dorm room and dropped his book bag. He looked around the small room, but saw only Vic hunched over his computer. "Hey, man, where's Raven, she should be back from class."

"Yeah, Dick and Kori took her to the mall."

"Oh." Gar tried to not let his slight hurt register, "I was planning on taking her."

"Yeah, well Dick said he has the cash to spare and Kori wanted to help her pick out an outfit or somethin'"

"Right." Gar opened his book bag and pulled out an English text book. He sat at his bed and dropped the book into his lap with a sigh, "English is the bane of my existence."

"Uh huh." Vic replied distractedly.

"What are you working on anyway?"

"Nothin' big, just a little project."

Gar walked to Vic, and attempted to look over his shoulder. As he leaned past the larger teen, Vic flipped the monitor off. Though he had only gotten a momentary glimpse, he was sure that it was a picture of him on the screen. "What project?"

"Nothin' big, just updating my personal website."

Before Vic could stop him, Gar's hand shot forward and punched the power button on the monitor. The screen lit up revealing a picture of him and Raven asleep on his bed. Vic laughed nervously, "Dick gave me these, wanted me to get 'em up before Raven killed him. I think she forgot though, she didn't say anything about it yet."

"Raven forget? Not likely." He leaned forward and hit the delete key, wiping the photo off he computer, "If she knew what you were planning, she'd kill you too."

"And you're not gonna tell her, right?"

"Depends. Where are the originals?"

Vic opened one of his desk drawers and withdrew a photo envelope. "This is all of 'em."

Gar took the envelope and walked back to his bed as he pulled them out and looked through them. He sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled one out that he slid into his own desk drawer. The rest he put back into the envelope and dropped on the desk.

"So, you're not goin' to tell her, right?"

"Like I said," Gar grinned evilly, "it depends."

--------------------

Dick used a foot to push open the unlatched door of the dorm room. Behind him were Kori and Raven, and all three of them had several shopping bags. They walked in and froze at the sight that met them. Vic was standing behind and to one side of Gar in a pink apron. He was holding a pitcher of something, and pouring a glass for Gar, who was lounging back on his bed. "What's going on?" Dick asked.

"Not much." Gar answered with a grin.

"Please help me." Vic pleaded with pain filled eyes.

"Momo, what did I say about talking?"

"Sorry, master gamer, I won't speak again."

Dick, Kori, and Raven stared open mouthed at the sight. "Vic lost a bet, now he's my slave." Gar told them.

"Right, this is just too disturbing for words." Raven dropped her bags by Gar's bed. "I need to lie down."

Gar jumped off of his bed and dropped onto Vic's, while Raven carefully lay down on Gar's. "Your ribs?" Gar asked.

"Yeah."

"I don't know if they are broken, or just bruised badly. If they're broken, it could be a while before they stop bothering you."

Kori walked over and knelt by Gar's bed. "Are you really sure you want to stay in here? I'm sure Kitten wouldn't mind the extra room mate."

Vic interrupted whatever Raven was going to say, "Nah, I'm sure she'd much rather stay with her boy friend."

Dick shook his head as he dropped the shopping bags near Gar's desk, and grabbed his gym bag, "I've got to go to practice, I'll be back later."

They all waved as he walked out. As soon as he was gone, Vic pulled off his apron, "I gotta go, I got a date."

"Have fun!" Kori shouted as he ran out the door.

As soon as the door was shut Kori turned to Gar and Raven, "Boyfriend?"

Gar and Raven looked at each other then at Kori, "Maybe a little." Raven conceded. "Did you get what I asked for?"

Kori grinned as she pulled a package of water balloons and a can of shaving cream out of one of her bags. "What did you need this for anyway?"

"Revenge."

Gar sat up, "I almost forgot. I managed to get my hands on the photos. They're on my desk."

Raven sat up with a wince, and grabbed the envelope. She pulled the pictures out and flipped through them, "Jeeze, how long was he taking pictures for?"

Kori leaned over Raven's shoulder and looked at the pictures, "Oh my, I never realized that you two were so..."

"Don't finish that thought, it's not what you think. I wasn't about to make Gar sleep on the floor, and we just kind of ended up that way."

"I'm sure." Kori answered with a knowing grin.

"You know," said Raven as she took the item Kori held, "One of these balloons could have your name on it."

"Alright then, I've got to go. See you later." Kori grabbed one of the shopping bags and left.

"Shaving cream filled balloons, it doesn't seem to suit you somehow."

"Nope, but they're perfect for you." Raven tossed the bag of balloons and can of shaving cream to Gar, "Knock yourself out."

Gar regarded the items that she handed him with a critical eye, "I'm going to need some string."

"Can't help you there."

"That's okay, we can just pick some up tonight."

"We?"

"Yeah, on our date."

"About that."

Gar's face dropped, "What about that?"

"I think we should hold off for a few days, maybe a week. My father's going to be looking for me, but if he doesn't see me for a while, then he'll stop looking."

"So we wait."

"Yeah."

"For a week."

"At least."

"I can wait."

"Thank you."

"No problem." The phone rang, and Gar quickly scooped it up, "Jump City Asylum, how can I place your call?"

"Um, I'm..."

"Just a second." Gar interrupted him. He held one hand loosely over the mouth piece and yelled loudly enough for the man on the other end to hear him, "Jojo, you get back in your cage. Don't make me get the house out!" He returned the receiver to his ear, "Sorry about that, the inmates are always a little unruly around the full moon."

There was a long pause from the other end, "I'm sorry... I must have the wrong number." At this Gar couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Or not. I this Dick's room?"

"Yup, but he's not here right now, could I take a message?"

"Sure tell him Bruce called... Actually, maybe you can help me. Has he mentioned to you that he lost a credit card?"

"Lost a credit card? No, why?"

"Just some weird charged."

"Oh, you must mean the woman's clothing."

There was another long pause, "Yes."

"And I think I saw some makeup in there too."

Another pause, "Yeah."

By now Raven was listening, wondering what Bruce would think of all the money that Dick spent on her. "Yeah, he brought a bunch of stuff in and stuffed it all in his closet. I wasn't paying too much attention, but that's what I saw. Then he said something about something coming out of closets before he left."

"Out of..." the voice trailed off, sounding almost dazed.

"Yeah, out of closets."

"Thank... thank you, just... let him know I called."

"Yeah, no prob, man."

Gar managed to hang up the phone before he succumbed to wracking fits of laughter. He managed to get control of himself to see Raven staring at him, open mouthed. "That was... that..." Raven shook her head, at a loss for words.

"Pure genius?"

"Evil is more like it." She grabbed the balloons and shaving cream, "I think you've done enough damage."