5. An early breakfast.
As he came to Chris was dimly aware of Raven standing above him with an almost bored look to her face.
"Ow, how long was I out?"
Asked Chris rubbing his head.
"Oh about 12 seconds, give or take."
Answered Raven offering a hand to Chris. He accepted the hand and was soon upright again.
"Hmmm, must be a record."
He said trying to get Raven into focus.
"Yes, you certainly seem to have a talent for injuring yourself."
Said Raven gazing with a look of wonder at the wavering boy before her. Chris saw the look and raising both eyebrows while tilting his head forward in an expression that said 'your point being', she quickly turning around and headed for the main room, he followed, though careful this time to watch where he was going. They both arrived back in the main room to find Beast Boy and Cyborg in the middle of a bitter argument over something or other. They exchanged glances and then silently watched the argument progress, after a full thirty seconds Raven sighed again and looking at Chris with a look that said 'welcome to my life' made their presence public.
"Ahem."
Announced Raven. Both of the combatants ceased their argument, they looked up at the raised platform in front of the door where Raven and Chris were standing, then after a few seconds they looked at one another, then back to the doorway. Raven sighed and muttered.
"Boys."
Before walking down the stairs and heading towards the dining table to collect an apple.
Cyborg and Beast Boy watched her move in silence and then looked up at the still stationery Chris with identical 'so what happened' looks. Chris grinned and then with a simple movement brought his hand up and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together in the universal 'money' symbol. Beast Boy's jaw dropped and he looked stunned. His gaze travel from the now descending Chris to the silently eating Raven and he simply couldn't fathom just how he had lost such a sure bet. Chris wandered over to the two standing Titans and looked at them in a smug way.
"Sweet man."
Said Cyborg quietly, looking towards Raven so as to be sure she wasn't listening.
"What did you do?"
He asked, as if he would learn some invaluable secret from Chris's words. Chris just shrugged and said.
"A gentleman never tells."
He winked and then walked over to where Raven having finished her apple sent it flying gracefully into the bin. Cyborg watched him go with a disappointed if somewhat admiring look on his face. He exchanged looks with Beast Boy and then they both headed over to where Chris and Raven were standing.
"So, what's everybody having?"
Said Chris as he looked at the interior of the fridge with a look of distaste on his bruised face.
"Having?"
Asked Beast Boy looking around for an answer.
"For breakfast."
Answered Raven in a depressed voice. Cyborg looked at the clock built into his forearm and gave a surprised start.
"I didn't think it was that late."
He said. Beast Boy added.
"Or early, depending on which way you look at it."
The three others looked at Beast Boy and then at each other, as if he had said nothing. Chris looked back in the fridge and shook his head.
"Well come on then, get your orders in."
He said.
"What, you're cooking?"
Asked Beast Boy.
"Why not, it's been a while since I've had access to a proper kitchen, besides it's the least I can do for my most gracious saviours."
With this he directed a small bow towards Raven who returned a small nod.
"Choices are usually limited I assume, and somebody certainly likes Tofu."
He said closing the door and looking at the three Titans behind him. All three nodded but for different reasons.
"So."
Chris said in a surprisingly chirpy voice considering the early hour and his many wounds.
"Who wants what?"
Surprised by this apparent offer from the new arrival, two of the Titans went straight for the kill.
"At a time like this there can be only one possible choice, Waffles!"
Said Cyborg his one human eye going misty as he said the last word.
"Tofu, waffles."
Cut in Beast Boy with a surprisingly firm tone to his voice.
"No way man."
Responded Cyborg in a decisive tone as if he had successfully ended the matter there and then.
"Yes way!"
Came back from an unperturbed Beast Boy.
"No way!"
Came back just as resolutely.
"Yes way!"
Again was sent flying at Cyborg.
"No way!"
Came back just as eagerly.
"No way!"
Said Beast Boy in a surprise move, this rather old trick caused two eyebrows to be raised on the faces of both Chris and Raven, while Cyborg shouted triumphantly.
"Sold, a wise choice my little grass stain!"
Horrified at the failure of his plan Beast Boy tried to start the argument anew.
"I didn't mean it, yes way."
"No way."
Came back, but this time it was surprisingly Raven who had delivered the comment. So surprised was Beast Boy by her intervention that he failed to answer back. Sensing a stalemate Chris ventured with a suggestion.
"How about both."
He had said it with no particular expression or in any voice that would suggest a joke, now however he was unsure as the three Titans looked at him with sceptical expressions.
"What?"
He asked with a questioning expression.
"What, have I done something wrong?"
Asked Chris with a now slightly worried note to his voice. The other three exchanged glances and then looked back at the boy before them. Cyborg was the first to answer.
"Well no but, you actually want to make both"
Chris took a pondering expression and then replied.
"Well, yeah, why not if that's what you want."
For a moment both Beast Boy and Cyborg looked stunned, however after a few seconds of this they both leapt at this golden opportunity to eat just what they wanted and with no effort or arguing involved.
"Regular waffles for me."
Said Cyborg that familiar misty look returning.
"And tofu waffles for me."
Added Beast Boy with a very pleased expression plastered all over his green face.
"On their way."
Said Chris happy to finally get started. He began removing what he needed from the fridge but stopped when he thought of Raven still standing silent behind him.
"And for you?"
He asked. She seemed to come back out of a trance, she looked at his face then quickly looking away shrugged.
"Don't mind."
Chris thought for a moment and then suggested.
"Tofu waffles then?"
"No."
She replied with surprising force for someone who 'didn't mind', looking up again she gave Chris a look in the eye that left him in no doubt as to her attitude towards 'tofu waffles'.
"Ah, normal waffles then?"
She sighed and gave him the same eerie look.
"No Chris, not waffles, anything but waffles, I don't mind what you make for me as long as it isn't tofu or ordinary waffles, I never want to eat another waffle in my life if I can help it."
As this statement came to a close she directed a look if intense loathing in the direction of the other two Titans who simply smiled back like naughty schoolchildren. Chris nodded with a somewhat troubled expression on his face.
"Hmmm, not much else lurking in this disgrace of a food storage unit."
He commented assuming a higher class accent as he did so. At this Raven smiled and nodded with what Chris would learn was her 'and yet nothing ever changes' look.
"Er, how about."
He paused and stuck his head almost fully into the refrigerator.
"Omelette."
He suggested with a vague look of panic on his face, for he knew that there were very few other options. However he need not have worried, at his suggestion Raven nodded happily and then proceeded to help while the others wandered back over to the sofa.
"No no."
Chris said smiling happily while waving a finger.
"I'll do this."
She was just on the verge of protesting when Chris in a tone exactly like hers quoted her from earlier when their roles had been reversed.
"No thanks, I'll do it myself."
Realising the quote was of her and not wishing to start another slogging match of an argument, Raven simply nodded and sat at the table watching his movements with interest. Chris noticed her staring and stopped his preparations.
"Yes?"
He asked not quite sure what he was doing that was so enthralling.
"Nothing."
Said Raven, now looking at his face again. Puzzled Chris searched the room for some means of escape from this awkward silence.
"Well stop it, why don't you go over and sit with the other two and enjoy the conversation?"
At this Raven simply responded by raising an eyebrow, looked over at the two indicated Titans, who were once again arguing about something and then back at Chris, the eyebrow crept a little higher in the process. Chris examined the eyebrow and then catching on to what she was thinking said.
"Ah, I see what you mean."
Shrugging to himself he turned around and continued with the task in hand. After a few minuets he was well on his way, with the waffles moving along happily and the omelette seemingly ready to start cooking. As a precaution Chris turned to the now reading Raven and asked.
"Anything in particular you want in this?"
Raven looked up from her ancient book and pondered the question for a few seconds.
"Such as?"
She eventually said. Chris looked into the several neat piles of chopped ingredients he had prepared and sighed in a bored manner.
"Well, you can have tomato, onion, mushroom, bacon, sausage, ham, pineapple or whatever this stuff is."
He said holding up a very strange vegetable looking object. Raven saw it and looked repulsed.
"If you know what's good for you, you will stay away from Starfire's native food."
Chris looked more closely at the foul smelling object and sniffed cautiously, he held it at arms length and then placing it carefully at the very back of the refrigerator turned and asked.
"So that's alien food then."
Raven nodded.
"Unfortunately so."
Chris took one last look at the object that he could be sure was now moving and throwing quiet obscenities at him, apparently in protest at its handling, he shut the door on it, severely hoping he wouldn't have to encounter it again. He proceeded to wash his hands four times before the smell and strange goo substance began to fade.
"So, what do you wish me to place on this omelette?"
She thought for a moment and then said.
"Whatever you're having."
Chris's face lit up at this.
"Ah, good, all thrown carelessly into the pan, my speciality."
She smiled but hid it, and he proceeded to add all that was required to make the omelette. By that time the waffles were done. He placed the respective types of waffles onto their respective plates which Raven was supplying with her powers. Happy that they were not mixed up and that the omelette had yet to start burning he shouted.
"Come on then, grubs up!"
At this shout both arguing Titans looked up and then ran over to the dining table. They jumped into the seating area and were soon hacking away at their own little pile of waffles.
"You chaps want anything to drink?"
Said Chris, already with two cans of soda in his hands.
"Yeah sure."
Both responded as one, causing pieces of half eaten waffle to fly across the table in graceful arcs.
"Soda?"
Chris enquired. Both nodded and were thus rewarded with a can apiece deposited before them. Chris watched in awe as the waffles he had just served up disappeared rapidly, in a noisy and quite messy manner. Hearing the beginnings of burning Chris turned and evacuated the omelette from the pan just before it began to burn properly. He transferred it on to a plate and then gently, with another of his little bows placed it in front of Raven.
"Thanks."
She said with a look that said 'you are a real weirdo'. She retrieved a knife and fork using her powers and then with an eagerness that betrayed her hidden hunger took a bite of the food before her. Chris watched nervously as did the other two Titans who had consumed their waffles in record time. Raven casually chewed the mouthful of omelette and then with an almost unperceivable smile nodded and said.
"Not bad."
Chris let out a relived breath and turned to the others; he winked and again made the 'you owe me money' sign to Beast Boy who nodded resignedly. Suddenly remembering just how thirsty he was Chris turned towards the kitchen area again and stopped dead as he remembered his manners.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
The question was directed at the now happily eating Raven. However it was the others that answered.
"Raven drinks tea, just like you do Chris."
Said Beast Boy in a voice that sounded proud, as if he had just revealed some lifelong mystery.
"No she doesn't BB, she drinks herbal tea, there are different kinds you know."
This time the comment came from Cyborg. Chris looked at them both and pondered just how to respond sarcastically to these two useless statements when Raven saved him the trouble.
"Herbal tea will do just fine."
Chris nodded and then scanning the different brands of herbal tea that stood on the worktop before him noticed that one box was almost empty, that must be her favourite, he said to himself inside his still throbbing head. He made the necessary actions and then proceeded to boil the tea kettle. While he waited for the kettle to boil he found a reasonably clean glass and filled it with water, downing it in one he refilled it and then sat down next to Raven and opposite the others. There were still a few questions floating around his battered head and he wanted to have them answered now while everyone was feeling friendly. As he sat down a whispered and covert conversation came to an abrupt end, all eyes on him.
"So, er, how did you guys find me out there last night?"
He had asked the question in as casual a way as possible but from the three Titans responses or lack of them he knew he had stumbled onto a touchy subject, he didn't know why but decided not to push for an answer, as far as he was concerned it didn't matter why they found him as long as they had. With this bad start he decided to try for a much simpler question.
"What do you call this city of yours then?"
At this new question the awkward silence that had followed his first question broke and he was soon enlightened as to the identity of this mystery city.
"Jump City."
Said Beast Boy, a little too quickly Chris noticed, as if he was trying to move the conversation as far away from Chris's first question as possible.
"Ah, well that's that mystery revealed."
Said Chris in a humorous voice, the others nodded but it was obvious that they were deep in thought. Chris looked from each of them until finally he decided that something was definitely up.
"Look, what's up, you all look as if I've just fed you raw sewage, which I haven't."
At this remark Cyborg and Beast Boy laughed but stopped suddenly at a look from Raven. Chris noticed this and thought, what was she signalling, and why was she doing so? He thought for a moment that he saw a look of pity from Beast Boy, but it disappeared as soon as he turned to face him. Something was wrong Chris knew it; there was no point in the three of them trying to hide it. Raven could hide it well, but the other two Titans could not, Chris could read people quite well, he thought, but with these two there was no point.
He was just about to ask the simple yet awkward question that would both let them know he wasn't fooled and at the same time force them to let on what the trouble was, when the sound of the kettle boiling gave him an excuse not to. He stood up without a word and poured the boiling liquid into a cup which he had readied earlier. As he returned to the table with the steaming concoction the same routine as before took place, with the three at the table quickly hushing their conversation. This time however Chris with his impressive hearing distinctly heard the words 'we've got to tell him'.
Tell him what, Chris felt that familiar feeling of impending doom wash over him, where they going to tell him to leave, had they been told to tell him to leave? He did hope not but couldn't think of anything else that they would have to tell him. He sat down and pushed the tea in front of Raven, who nodded curtly. This was great, he thought to himself, not only had he been beaten and nearly died in the last few hours but now he was being thrown back out into the world, like some stubborn sacrifice that refused to succumb to the lions. Well he might as well get it over with he thought, and so said.
"Tell me what?"
With this small but to the point question the three Titans before him all looked shocked, as if he had uttered some obscenity. Chris did feel slightly bad about forcing the issue on them like this, but if they were throwing him out he might as well be curt about it.
"Well?"
He asked with a hint of anger betrayed in his voice. The others all looked away as if they had heard nothing, as if ignoring the question would make it go away. Chris was having none of it.
"Come on, spit it out, what do I need to know?"
He asked in a voice that radiated frustration. There was no response, gritting his teeth Chris decided that the sham had gone on long enough.
"You want me to leave don't you, I will, don't worry, I will just go and get my jacket."
The Titans looked up as one, all with shocked faces, Chris stood up wordlessly and turned to leave for the infirmary, he was nearly at the door when he felt a strange sensation about his feet. He looked down and saw that familiar dark energy crawling up his body to engulf all of him except his head. He was powerless to resist but didn't anyway, he now had a glimmer of hope, perhaps he had been wrong in his thinking that he was to be thrown out. He floated silently and was deposited back into his seat, he sighed folded his arms and simply said.
"Well?"
Again there was silence, he was just beginning to get up again when finally Raven pushed her now empty plate into the centre of the table, sighed loudly in obvious frustration and said.
"We don't want you to leave."
"At least not until you are well again."
She added quickly as if to leave no doubt about her uncaring attitude. Chris looked down at the table in shame; he had been too quick to judge. Raven looked up at her fellow Titans as if looking for some form of support. None came, with another sigh, that of a person being forced to do some unpleasant task which they had not been looking forward to, she cleared her throat and began to speak again in a very clear and unfeeling voice, as if she was relaying some article from the paper.
"Chris what we have to tell you is, well it's about tonight."
"So I gather."
Said Chris with a puzzled look on his face.
"Right, well when we found you, you were in a real mess."
"Yes I noticed."
At these words Raven looked close to saying something insulting back but she held herself back by taking a drink of her tea, she smiled slightly as she tasted it and gave Chris a look of surprise, she shook her head slightly and again began in her matter of fact delivery.
"So you were messed up and it was obvious that you had done your best but, well."
She paused and looked at Cyborg and Beast Boy with a pleading look; they simply looked back and shrugged. Raven's eyes narrowed on her friends and she again turned to Chris.
"Perhaps it would be better if we talked in, private."
It wasn't a suggestion, Chris noticed, but more of a request, even an order perhaps. Chris nodded, now desperate to find out just what he was being told. Raven saw the nod and then looking at the two others with a look of distaste summoned Chris over towards the couch, Chris followed and soon the two of them were standing out of earshot of the others. Chris looked in to Raven's eyes and didn't like what he saw; the usual surefooted look of certainty was missing, replaced by an unsure almost lost expression.
"So, what is this, delicate piece of news I must know?"
"Perhaps you should sit down."
Chris knew from this alone that what must soon follow could not be good.
"Ok."
He said, still standing.
"Well this can't be good, but I would like to face it standing up."
Raven nodded and then herself sat down.
"As you wish…"
She said but stopped short as if unsure how to continue. Raven looked down and then with a sharp intake of breath she looked up and began once again.
"It's about your girlfriend."
The sentence didn't seem to make sense to Chris, he re-examined it in his head a full three times just to make sure that he wasn't missing something. He took a quizzical expression and asked.
"My girlfriend?"
"Yes."
Replied Raven, apparently not understanding that this was in fact a question in itself and not just a reaction. Instead of clarifying Chris's confusion for him she instead continued to plough ahead only serving to confuse him more.
"While you did your best to protect her, she, well she didn't make it."
Again Chris looked at Raven with a blank look on his face, what was coming out of her mouth didn't seem to match anything that was already in his head, he was just about to ask what on earth she was talking about when she in one fell swoop revealed all and more.
"While we were able to save you, she was already dead, when we got to her, I'm sorry Chris."
Inside Chris far too many things started to happen at once. First there was more confusion then half a second later there was comprehension, after that there was a deep feeling of self loathing, but soon even that was pushed aside as a convoy consisting of anger, pity, worthlessness, failure, loss, shame and many others that all struck him with a force that did more damage than any of the thugs ever could.
His eyes widened as he realised that once again he had failed to protect those who needed it most, that despite what he was sure were his best efforts he had managed to fail the person who needed him most in the world. Soon those all too familiar screams began to flood his mind, the defences that he had erected within his mind were swamped with this fresh assault and he was soon at the mercy of something that had none, his own self doubt. He was lost, lost in a sea of his own misery, what little he had had to hold onto had now been washed away in a single killingly powerful wave. He felt his knees buckle and slowly he sank down onto the couch behind him. He felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Cyborg and Beast Boy standing behind him, they had it seemed finally made an effort of condolence now that the hardest part had come and gone.
Deep within himself Chris was fighting a losing battle, he was besieged by the unrivalled feeling of guilt, and victory against such a powerful army was impossible. He had sallied forth with the support of that comforting hand and the kindly way that Raven had broken the news to him, but now that moment of respite was gone and he was alone again in his perpetual misery. Fighting back to back with his few loyal companions in this never ending war, but confidence and all his other positive emotions in their weakened state were and never could be enough to win this battle.
"Are you ok dude?"
Asked Beast Boy in a saddened voice that didn't seem to fit in with the green Titans normally happy attitude. Chris looked at him, for a moment he was tempted to answer in the manner he felt appropriate, however he couldn't muster the will to do so, he felt broken and useless. His shoulders slumped in defeat and he let himself be taken to that place he loathed the most, his own personal hell, where everything was specifically designed to lower his resolve and crush his spirit. His head sank and his eyes closed, he was there again, back in the old haunt. He simply sat there, consuming himself, he had striven to be free from this place a dozen times before, but now it seemed he was there for keeps.
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He could see it in his eyes; he was a broken boy, an empty shell that no longer seemed to contain life. Cyborg knew how that felt, he knew all to well. With a gesture he indicated that the others should say something, they looked back and shrugged. Cyborg felt that someone should say something, anything, even if only to break the sorrowful silence that had descended upon the group. Removing his hand he manoeuvred around in front of the silent boy and tried to lower himself enough to be face to face, it was pointless, the boy was looking down and even if he wasn't his eyes were closed. Cyborg couldn't stand it any longer he simply had to say something.
"Listen, Chris, you did everything you could, no one could have done more."
The comment sounded hollow, even to Cyborg himself, they all knew that had the Titans been there then the girl would most likely still be alive. But that wasn't the point Cyborg told himself firmly, they hadn't been there and nothing could change that, what was the point was that this little Englishman had fought, almost to the death, to save her, that mattered.
"You must have loved her a lot…"
Chris looked up at this with a blank look on his now pale face.
"To have fought like you did to save her."
Cyborg added as a means of explaining. He felt sorry for Chris, he seemed to be confused by his grief, who else would they have been talking about other than his now dead girlfriend?
"You don't have anything to feel ashamed about Chris."
Said Beast Boy now moving in to do his part.
"Nobody can win against odds beyond them."
Added Raven in an emotionless yet somehow comforting voice. Chris shook his head which was now hanging lower, if possible. Whatever was going through his mind was eating him up from the insides, Cyborg knew, he had experienced it himself. Finally after a leaden thirty seconds had passed Chris let out a low world weary groan and lent back into the sofa. He looked up with his eyes still closed and simply said in a quiet voice.
"Why?"
Cyborg and the other Titans all looked at one another, the question seemed almost like an accusation, an accusation directed at fate itself. Cyborg frowned, there was no answer to that particular question, and there never would be.
"Look Chris, you did your best…"
"But not enough."
Chris cut in darkly. Cyborg wasn't sure how to proceed, he knew that some progress had been made in that Chris was at least talking, but this was no way to leave him, they needed to get him at least accepting his loss.
"You did what was asked of you, most would have run, but you stood your ground, you were willing to give your life for the one you loved, and for that you should be proud, your girlfriend would have been proud of you."
Chris looked up with a definite look of annoyance on his face. He looked into Cyborg's good eye and with a look that could very easily have been passed of as mild amusement said.
"Please stop calling her my girlfriend, I mean I am no particular Casanova but I think I would have the taste to pick a slightly more romantic spot than an alley."
There was a moment of stunned silence, as much caused by his sudden speech as the way in which he spoke. Cyborg looked blankly at Chris for a moment, then looking at Raven in the hope of some piece of vital 'girly' information that would make what he had just heard make sense. None came, Cyborg soon realised that Raven was probably not the best person to have given that particular information, he didn't even consider looking to Beast Boy for enlightenment, and so consoled himself with a question of his own.
"She wasn't your girlfriend?"
He asked in an unsure voice. Chris shook his head and sighed again before saying.
"If you knew me better that would be apparent."
"Well then, what were you doing in that alley with her in the first place, we thought that the two of you were in there to, er, we thought that you were, well er, we just thought that the two of you were perhaps being well, you know, er.."
"Intimate."
Raven finally said, putting an end to the suffering of Beast Boy's sentence. Chris looked at them both in turn before closing his eyes again and leaning back. He smiled slightly before he began to giggle foolishly. The others exchanged uneasy glances; each of them thought for a moment that the giggling boy before them had truly snapped. Cyborg, now very curious, asked the question that Chris's answers had unearthed.
"Well then, what were you doing in that alley?"
He asked, not sure if he really wanted the answer considering Chris's apparent stress related insanity. Chris stopped giggling and sat back up straight with a look of deadly seriousness on his face.
"I was juggling, what you think I was doing, I was trying to save her from those animals, and I failed didn't I, I failed again to save the person who needed saving most!"
The words had come forth in a torrent of shouted venom that had shocked the cyborg more than anything he had seen all night. He had no doubt in his mind that if it came to a physical struggle then he could outdo the Englishman before him, it was something he always pondered when he met someone, a hangover of his previous life as a sportsman, but he was truly shocked by the coldness in the boys eyes, they told Cyborg in one curt and to the point message that this was no person to mess around with, and that if it came to a battle of will and physical strength then the boy wouldn't stop until death or unconsciousness overtook him. Cyborg took an involuntary step back and he noticed that Raven's hands had glowed with her power for the tiniest fraction of a second; it seemed that she too saw the unstable state of this boy who had been through so much so quickly. Cyborg had noticed the 'again' in the emotional outburst but decided that that particular question was for another time. Chris looked back at them all wide eyed, as if in shock at his own actions.
"I'm sorry guys."
He said in a shaky voice.
"You've all been so kind to me and this is how I repay you, I'm sorry, its just I feel like I failed her, well that's probably because I did, but you know I didn't mean that, emotions are running high you might say."
"It's all right, we understand."
Said Cyborg in an obviously relived voice, he indicated for the others to agree, to which only Beast Boy did with an eager nod. Cyborg glared at Raven and she gave a slight nod. Chris actually smiled at this and tried to stand. He felt Cyborg's hands push him back down and said.
"Look, I'm ok now; I promise I won't hit anyone."
Cyborg was unsure and quickly looked at Raven who catching his eye nodded minutely. Cyborg released his grip on Chris's shoulders and the little Englishman sprang up suddenly, like a small jack in the box, for a moment Cyborg thought that they had been duped and that Chris would in fact attack them. However much to his relief Chris simply turned around and walked back to the table and downed his glass of water that was still sitting there, keeping Raven's tea company.
"Your tea is getting cold."
Said Chris in a definitely depressed but not quite as destroyed a voice as before.
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Raven came back to her senses. Realising that the comment had been directed at her, and that he was right she nodded and padded over to the table and retook her original seat. As did Chris and the other present Titans, this time however Beast Boy sat opposite Chris and stared at him with his deep green eyes. Chris had yet again refilled his glass and was slowly draining it of its contents. The others watched in an embarrassed silence. Raven felt the slightest suggestion of guilt about her near tackling of Chris. She wasn't sure if anybody had noticed but she had nearly used her power to restrain him when he had started shouting, also when he had sprung up she had again flinched, but she was sure nobody had noticed that, as all eyes had been on Chris. She silently sipped her tea which was now rapidly cooling. She was on the verge of finding some excuse to leave so that she could avoid any more of the incidents Chris's arrival seemed to have heralded, when Chris looked up and without saying anything proceeded to collect the dishes and empty soda cans and dump them onto the worktop where he had made the omelette.
"What are you doing?"
Asked Beast Boy as the soda cans found the bin.
"I'm cleaning up."
Said Chris not bothering to turn around.
"But why?"
Asked Beast Boy with a look of surprise on his face.
"Because that's what human beings do after themselves."
Said Raven looking back from Chris's back to Beast Boy's startled face.
"Don't worry we don't expect you to understand."
Cyborg laughed at this and Beast Boy grumbled, but Raven simply glared at them with an expression of disbelief. It was terrible, she thought, that all Chris had to do was say that he was ok, and the others would simply take his word for it and say no more. They were acting like nothing had happened, she herself was even acting like normal, she did have to admit that it had been uncomfortable trying to comfort Chris, but even so this total disregard for what she could sense was bubbling beneath his cold eyes was shocking. Raven by design was someone who observed quietly and took note, she had done it with Chris, but now she was having trouble keeping quiet. It was ok for the others she thought to herself as she sipped her now cold tea with disinterest. They could be easily fooled by Chris's fine display of emotion covering. But not her, she could sense the burning hatred towards something, she could also feel the loss of control, that had passed, but for those few seconds of shouting Chris could have done anything, including kill. This fact alone sent a shiver up Raven's spine, to be in such close proximity to somebody who could be an absolute gentleman or a crazed hate filled murderer was not her idea of good breakfast company. She looked up and saw Chris drying his hands and returning to the table with yet another glass of water. He sat and was soon happily draining the glass.
"Dude, what is with you and all the water?"
Asked Beast Boy, breaking Raven's train of thought. She shook her head and awaited the answer; she too was slightly puzzled by the surprising thirst of Chris. He looked up and smiled.
"I just drink a lot, it's just the way I am, I don't eat much though."
He said as if in defence of himself. The others looked puzzled for a second and then Cyborg, apparently having a revelation said.
"Yeah, you haven't eaten a thing since you came here, aren't you hungry?"
Chris shook his head and simply replied.
"Nope, I've already eaten."
"Not this morning you haven't."
Commented Raven in a voice that sounded more like an accusation than a simple matter of fact. It was only when this subject came up that Raven actually noticed just how gaunt Chris was. While his face didn't give anything away because of its bruised nature and slightly swollen, his torso and even his limbs told a story of near starvation. He had a waist that could compare with her own, which alone wasn't right, but now that she thought of it his ribs had been all to apparent when she had been treating his wounds. At the time there had been more pressing matters than pondering his weight, and she had also thanked the fact that his ribs were visible as this factor had made her task that much more simple. But now it was a much more disturbing sight. It seemed that the others thought so to.
"Seriously man, you need to get something to eat, your skin and bones."
Said Cyborg with a expression that mixed interest and disbelief into one face.
"Yeah dude, if you don't build yourself up then I might have to resign my post as thinnest guy in the tower."
Added Beast Boy with a smile. Chris seemed to smile back but to Raven it was a hollow gesture that hid the true anguish that he felt. She felt for him, she really did, but she couldn't say so or act upon it, that would only lead down a path that could do more damage than any gang.
"I will eat something just not now, ok."
Said Chris in a slightly annoyed voice. The others looked sceptical.
"I will, I promise."
He added.
"When?"
Asked Raven determined to make sure that he would not collapse and then end up making all her work pointless.
"When the others arrive, ok."
She nodded satisfied that the 'others' would be arriving soon. There was a moment of silence before Beast Boy struck up a conversation about films, Cyborg was immediately engrossed and even Chris seemed mildly interested. As the conversation turned into yet another heated argument between Beast Boy and Cyborg. Raven took the opportunity to leave unnoticed. As she left the room she took one final look at the three left behind, Cyborg and Beast Boy were now well into their argument, oblivious to the silent Chris who had watched Raven go and gave her a half hearted smile as well as a tiny wave before turning back to the verbal battle before him.
Raven breathed out in a relieved sort of way and began striding in the direction of her room. Her mind was in a mess, with all that had happened in the hours since her last spell of sleep. What she needed was some rest and time to meditate so that she could order her thoughts properly. She wandered in the direction of her room, after a few short moments she heard voices ahead of her, she knew who it was but the direction of their approach was what caused her to look up.
"What are you two doing here?"
She asked the two Titans before her. Not waiting for an answer, as she really didn't want to get into a conversation, she proceeded to say.
"How come you didn't come in through the front door, doesn't matter, the guy I brought back is fine, his name is Chris and he seems to be feeling better, he's down in the main room with the others."
Confident that she had relayed all the information necessary, she was thus all the more frustrated when she was called back for further conversation.
"Yeah we heard, Cyborg told us, you er, did tell him about his girlfriend, didn't you?"
Asked the male of the duo behind her. Raven sighed and turned round, not happy about being unable to walk past with only her initial response.
"Yes I did, the others wouldn't so I had to do it, oh and she wasn't his girlfriend."
"She wasn't, then what were they doing in that…?"
"He was just trying to help, that's all."
Answered Raven, not willing to go through all that again.
"Please friend, I have many many questions for you on the topic of this 'Chris'."
Said the other Titan, Raven not in any mood to deal with this particular line of questioning decided to 'pass the book' so to speak.
"Look, don't ask me, just go and talk to him yourself, he seems really eager to meet you."
Said Raven in as sincere and un-sarcastic a voice as she could manage.
"Really, this is true."
Raven nodded with one of the most obviously fake smiles in history.
"Yes, I believe he used those exact words."
To most, even those who had only just met her moments before, the falseness of Raven's words would be apparent. However to the female Titan that was already flying in the direction of the main room giggling loudly it seemed that the fabrication of the truth had been lost. Raven smiled inwardly, not only had she removed a major annoyance from the present conversation, but as an added bonus she had fulfilled her goal of getting back at Chris for the bet on whether she would forgive him. Content with a job well done she turned back to the Titan before her, who was looking at her with an expression of distaste.
"What?"
Raven asked casually.
"That wasn't a very nice thing to do, not only to her, but think of the hug Chris will be getting any second, especially with his ribs."
Raven thought for a moment and realised that he was right, in the distance there was the sound of crashing and shouting.
"What's in the bag?"
She asked noticing a small bag under his arm.
"Just some stuff from the crime scene."
He answered as they listened to the shouting die down. There was the sound of something heavy falling to the floor and then silence. Sighing she once again turned for her room saying as she went.
"I recommend the omelette."
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There then that's number five done, thanks for the, er, review. 'WarpWraith' is officially a genius for their eye-opening review. As for the rest of you well, Pah. Please do review however, as I am running out of ideas and may soon have to find more complicated things other than bashing Chris around to write about. Sorry it took a while, but as you can imagine Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg are not exactly a world class condolence crew, so some thought was needed. Anyway next one on the way, sooner or later please review and give me your thoughts, ideas and opinions, which do matter to me.
