13. A trip to remember.

The city was quiet, surprisingly quiet, winter was coming and it was bitingly cold, even so, Chris was glad of it, while he was nothing special and Starfire was dressed in normal civilian clothes it was doubtful that Beast Boy's true identity could be hidden. Not that he had even attempted to do so. Chris had been told that Beast Boy revelled in his near celebrity status, and that he was one of the few Titans that actually read all of his fan mail, or actually cared what the papers said. Chris heard the muffled thud of music and turned to see a club across the street from the entrance of the mall.

Not giving the building a second glance he followed the eager Starfire into the mall, not knowing that he was to be compelled to visit that very same club shortly.

Chris at the moment however was far more concerned by the talk of just how much attention the Titans got, while he didn't mind a little attention, and would certainly not mind a little more from a certain someone. But besides that and his new friends he was in no mood to be harassed by complete strangers. So in his opinion hanging around with an alien beauty and a little green man was highly likely to achieve just that. But here he was, and now he was feeling somewhat exposed.

They had been everywhere conceivable, Beast Boy had been in virtually every store in the mall, and Starfire had simply bounced speedily around the interior of the building like it was some giant pinball machine. Chris had been lucky Beast Boy said, he had after all only been dragged into a small number of shops by the giggling female Titan. He hadn't minded at first, but after the pet store, the plant and flower shop and several other girly locations he had finally given her the slip and found Beast Boy. Not that he had been much better, after ten minuets of waiting for him to make his mind up on his choices in the video store Chris had just left, intending to get some real work done.

It had taken him a grand total of twelve minuets to find himself a new wardrobe, dark pants and tops, perfect for disappearing into the crowds or background. That done he had spotted Beast Boy and Starfire handling the groceries, deciding that that would keep them occupied for a while he took the opportunity to make his way towards the bookstore he had been informed that Raven, on her very rare group visits to the mall, sometimes entered.

Now here he was in the most disturbing shop he had ever had the misfortune to enter, but Raven had accepted his offer and now he was on a quest, a holy crusade to retrieve the sacred item, and dump another in the process. That was his mission, and one way or another he would succeed, or die trying. Which considering the darkness and blatantly 'evil' air to the store, dying wasn't completely out of the question. He stepped further into the store and put down his purchases, he looked at the counter, it was empty, and that wasn't good.

Chris had seen films like this, he was supposed to wander in, look round, head to the counter, and then have the life scared out of him when the stereotypically crazy owner jumped out from wherever they were hiding.

Well not today, and not to him. Chris was determined that no such incident would occur, thus he made his way to the counter with a mind to find the proprietor first and then make the necessary exchange of books. At the time it seemed like a good idea, though Chris would learn to regret it in the none too distant future.

"Er, hello."

He said, trying to sound confident, and failing.

"Is there anybody there?"

He asked, scarcely a decibel louder. Chris was just about to try again when exactly what he had sworn wouldn't happen happened. Though it was so brilliantly done that later, after his heart had remembered to start beating again, even Chris would be impressed.

From behind him Chris heard the slightest of sounds and closed his eyes, he knew something was there, and even as he began to dare to turn, a question that in most circumstances would have been welcome nearly ended Chris's blighted existence with the sheer shock of itself.

"Can I help you?"

While inside he simply exploded, Chris's face gave little away, this was in no small part due to the fact that he was frozen by the shock of the voice.

The girl was not much older than Chris, perhaps seventeen, at the extreme outside nineteen, though this would only become apparent to him after his brain had begun functioning again. She had dark hair and glasses, plus she seemed to be wearing what could only be described as a witch's cloak. It occurred to Chris that he was staring, and that his left eye was twitching. Deciding to carry on with the business at hand Chris began to sift through his destroyed mind for his voice, she however had her own ready.

"You're not one of those mimes, are you?"

She asked, tilting her head slightly to emphasize the question. Shaking his head Chris managed a scared laugh, and was finally able to manage the words he so desperately wanted to get out.

"No I er, I'm here to return a book, and to get another out."

He handed the girl the book and retrieved the piece of paper from his pocket. He inwardly sighed as he handed over the piece of paper, and hoped he would get it back.

"Dear dear, guy, that's just wet and pathetic."

Said David, making his feelings about Chris's own all too apparent. The girl had moved round him and to the counter, and only now looked at the book and piece of paper. It was when she did this that she looked at Chris again with her quizzical eyes, through her surprisingly thick glasses that made her eyes seem unnaturally big.

"You're not who I was expecting."

She said, indicating the book and note.

"I would expect not."

Responded Chris, a picture of some devil spawned creature plaguing his mind, and then being replaced by Raven as he understood. At the time he didn't think anything of that brief scene, but in the future he would remember it as a sign of things to come.

"We don't get too many customers, so I tend to know every one of them, especially the more, er, gifted ones."

Chris didn't want to have a conversation, not here and not with this particular person, as a result he was far less charming than he could have been.

"You don't get many customers, I can't see why."

He said looking round the store with the manner of a mouse caught in a trap. The girl smiled ever so briefly, then in a manner that explained her apparent disappointment with the absence of Raven said.

"You know sarcasm is the outlet of a troubled mind, or a guilty conscience."

Chris actually took a step back; it was like meeting another Raven, only one that he somehow found that little bit more disturbing. Not sure how to proceed he simply decided to not deal with the frightening attendant.

"So er, can I have that book or what?"

He asked, once again trying to sound confident, and once again failing miserably. She nodded and disappearing into the back of the store simply said.

"One moment, I have to find it first, few ask for these sort of books."

Chris watched her go, and then at the same time as David, mumbled.

"I bet they don't."

Left alone Chris was suddenly gripped by an intense desire to run.

"Let's leg it."

Suggested David. Telling him that he was more than welcome to do so, Chris began to look at the shops vast supply of strange yet wonderful books. Just how they were filed he didn't know, but he soon found himself tilting his head to look at the title of one book.

"Warfare, mans evil."

He said aloud, tempted to pull the book out and look at it.

"Go on, I've got you're back."

Said David in a reassuring voice, for some reason that he would never fathom the comment gave Chris the confidence to pluck the old book off its shelf and open its ancient pages. He was amazed by the picture on the first page, it was a very old apparently hand drawn map of the earth, but it went into such detail and seemed to list every major battle up until the end of the dark ages. Intrigued, Chris turned a few more pages and discovered the books large pages contained vast amounts of tiny almost illegible script. So engrossed was he that he failed to notice the apparently mad shop attendant approaching him silently from behind, a habit that Chris was rapidly growing tired of.

"You are interested in the pointless slaughter of countless millions of innocent human beings and animals, herded to the butcher's yard by greed driven men?"

Chris jumped and almost lost his grip on the book in question, then turned to see the strangely pleased face of the girl, considering what she had just said. What happened to you watching my back, Chris foolishly asked himself, the answer was less than helpful.

"I was, and I think you will find that it is perfectly intact."

Growling internally Chris tried to think of an answer, but the simple truth found its way out in all the confusion.

"Er, yes."

He said and wished he hadn't, the girl raised an eyebrow and turning back to the counter said.

"I guess we all have our interests."

Forever cursing his inability to act normally around the female gender Chris carefully placed the interesting book back into the shelf.

"What are you doing, don't you want to read that?"

The girl asked, Chris stopped, it was true he did indeed wish to read the old book, though the thought had not occurred to him, not to mention this course of action would likely result in another visit to this most foreboding of places.

"Er."

He said, looking from the book to the girl, not sure what to do or say.

"I will take that as a yes then."

She said briskly, saving him the trouble and then reaching out a hand, expecting the book, Chris pulled it back off the shelf and gave it to her.

"Do you want to borrow or buy this thing, it would be simpler to buy it but I would prefer if you became a permanent member of the book club like Raven and then just borrowed it."

Chris, eased slightly by the mention of his favourite Titan nodded. He was beginning to see why Raven liked this store so much, it was out of the way enough for someone like her. The staff certainly seemed to her taste. Not to mention the whole idea of it just seemed to suit his dark new friend perfectly.

"Just fill this in and that's it."

Chris groaned, more papers to fill in, which reminded him of the grim document he had promised Robin.

"Its not that bad, just a few details."

Sighing he took the pen offered and quickly filled in the document, leaving his second name blank.

"I see, not far from Raven's own document."

The girl said, placing the document under the counter and handing Chris the two books, but sadly, not the note as well.

"Pathetic."

David commented with a disgusted tone. Chris was just about to thank the girl and leave when a violent shaking of the ground and the ear splitting roar of an explosion ripped through the mall. The girl fell across the floor and into the path of one of the heavy bookshelves that had lost its balance. Strangely silent she watched as the fatal weight of the hundreds of books slowly tilted in her direction, ready to come hurtling down upon her, apparently eager to put a stop to her life.

They would have done so if Chris had not dropped the books and thrown all his weight against an adjacent shelf, sending it to meet its brother. With a crunch of protesting old wood the two heavy book laden shelves wedged each other up, and it was a surprisingly unconcerned girl that a very relived Chris pulled out from under the half pyramid and then knelt beside, searching for obvious signs of injury.

"You ok?"

He asked quickly, as outside the flying blur of Starfire sped past.

"I am, thanks to you, you better not have damaged those books."

She said indicating his dropped items. Looking at her in disbelief he was only stopped from his chosen angry response by Beast Boy hammering on the window and shouting.

"Yo Chris, dude, c'mon, hero time, there's trouble to get mixed up in!"

Dashing up and towards the half open door he stopped only to say.

"I will be back for this stuff, so don't lose it, ok?"

From her position on the floor the girl saluted and then watched Chris shake his head, and then leave at the sprint, following the other Titans. She rose to her feet.

"Hmmm, Chris, interesting."

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There you go, now I had a mild case of pneumonia and nearly OD'd on Beechams while writing this, so take that into account, please send reviews and thank you to (princessdza) for her continued support, as well as to (hollow echos), a connoisseur of literature if ever I did see one, anyway enough of my snivelling flattery, Hope you enjoy it, sorry nothing actually happened but it was getting long and the curse of the huge chapter is something I am told to avoid. Next one on its way and there should be some sparks, or a lot depending on my mood and state of health, please send you're thoughts, I will be ever so grateful.

(Puppy eyes)

Thanks for reading Bye.