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Reestablishing Bonds, chapter 3

Conner and Max were in their respective beds when Conner suddenly asked, "Is there anybody that you like?"

Max blinked in surprise. "What brought this on?"

"It's just something that popped in my head. No avoiding the question! Is there someone that you're attracted to?"

"There...there is someone. But it wouldn't work out."

"Why not?"

"It just wouldn't."

Conner thought of something. "Is this person not interested in boys?"

"This person is interested in boys."

There was a pause.

"Then what's the problem?" Conner asked.

Max sighed. "It wouldn't work out with her. Trust me."

"But..."

"Goodnight, Conner."

Kon took Max to the Titans that weekend. There, he tried to enlist others to find out why Max was certain a relationship between him and this unnamed girl wouldn't work.

"He's probably too shy," Wonder Girl suggested. "If he's afraid to approach her, it can't work."

"That can't be the reason," Kon argued. "He's not the shy type."

"Match, why are you so certain that it wouldn't work out with this girl?" Robin asked. "You're going to continue getting questions until Kon's satisfied."

Match sighed and put aside the book he was reading. "He would pester me with questions until I gave in, wouldn't he?"

Sensing a momentary weakness, Kon answered, "Yes. Yes, I would."

"She's already going out with someone."

Kon paused. "You could take her away from this guy."

"Kon, that's terrible!" Wonder Girl exclaimed.

"All's fair in love and war," he retorted.

"I think he's good for her," Match explained. "She's also good for him. If I were to break them up just so I could get a chance at her, I'd feel guilty every time I saw either of them."

Raven shifted uncomfortably. The emotions swirling around made her tense.

"I just want you to be happy," a downbeat Kon said.

Match smiled. "I know, and thank you for that."

Later that day, Match was on the roof, staring out at the water. He heard someone else come on the roof.

"Hello, Raven," he said without turning. "I've been expecting you."

"I sensed your turmoil," she replied. "I wished to offer you assurances of my silence."

"Thank you. The feelings will eventually recede, and I'll be attracted to someone else."

"Conner doesn't suspect it at all. None of them do."

"I didn't think that they did. Conner has an enormous capacity for forgiveness, but this would strain that."

Match continued. "I feel guilty enough about it as it is. Of all people, why did I have to be attracted to her? Is it some sort of genetic predisposition? She doesn't like me in the first place, and she's my brother's girlfriend. It's impossible on several levels."

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This one was just a very short and direct chapter as opposed to the very long previous chapter.

Any and all comments welcome!