16. One of us.

"Ow!"

"Owwwwww!"

"Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, will you just get off!"

"Look man, I gotta do this, it's for your own good."

"Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, right that's it!"

Chris pulled his burnt, and now mangled arm away from the massive and apparently clumsy titanium hands of Cyborg.

"Chris, man, I know it hurts, but you gotta let me look at it, it won't stop hurting until you let me look at it."

Chris made an offensive gesture with his good hand and then sitting on the other bed in the infirmary he crossed his legs and began picking away at the wound himself.

"Awwwww man, that's just gross, let me do it will ya, you must be doing more harm than good."

Chris looked at Cyborg with a deadly serious expression and said.

"Look, I know you mean well, therefore it is with the utmost respect when I say, will you kindly go and stick you're head in a microwave or something else unpleasant."

Cyborg shook his head, he knew how Chris felt, he had suffered from the most hideous operations himself, and even though Chris had nothing to complain about by comparison, it was still the same feeling of frustration and annoyance that he now endured. Chris winced as the scalpel dug deeper than he had meant it to and opened up a cut that bled enthusiastically. Cyborg shook his head and retrieved some things from the first aid kit. It had been an agonising twenty minuets, the fire had been a fierce one, full of burning liquor and as a result the apparently tiny burns Chris had received had been much much worse.

Though it had only been when he stripped to his t-shirt that the full extent of his wounds had been discovered. The burning had rendered many if the nerves in Chris's arm numb and he had also tried to ignore the pain, thus the shock had been that much worse when they had peeled back his shirt sleeve to reveal a very unhealthy looking arm. The worst part was that there were many tiny fragments of glass embedded in the skin as well as pieces of cloth from his sweatshirt; these pieces of debris had to be removed before a bandage could be applied.

So it was now, during this unpleasant task, that they had come to the present moment, Cyborg had been doing fine, but even he had to admit that his none too gentle touch had been causing Chris much more agony than was necessary.

"Is it hurting again?"

Chris glared angrily at him.

"I will take that as a yes."

Cyborg said, taking a hypodermic needle and moving cautiously towards Chris, who spotting the movement pointed a warning finger and said.

"If you come near me with that I will stab you in the eye with it, then you will have two matching red ones."

Cyborg halted his advance, he was sure that Chris wouldn't actually do it, but even so, better to be safe than sorry.

"Look, either let me give you a shot for the pain or let me take care of you're arm, you are just messing about, with things that you shouldn't, how are you going to be a Titan if you end up cutting you're arm off by accident?"

Chris sighed in resignation and leaned back on to the pillow at the end of the bed with his good hand over his eyes, Cyborg noticed to his horror that Chris had left the scalpel sticking deeply into his arm.

"Er, Chris."

He ventured.

"I know, but I can't feel it so I may as well take advantage."

Shuddering he very very gently pulled the steel instrument out of the wound and placed it on a table.

"You need help man, will you please stop threatening me with violence and let me treat you're wounds?"

Chris moved his hand slightly and glanced from under it at his towering titanium nurse.

"Why can't Raven do it, no offence but I know from experience that her touch it a tad more delicate, and also she's…"

Chris paused and seemed to become much more aware of what he was saying.

"And stuff."

He finished quickly; Cyborg raised his eye brow but said nothing.

"You had you're chance, but she left, I don't know where and besides, I can do this almost as good."

Chris made a sound of disgust and tried to roll over, but stopped when his burnt arm moved with him. Cyborg picked up the needle once more, and was just about to administer its reliving contents of anaesthetic when the door opened to reveal an irritated looking Raven.

"What are you doing to him, I was in my room and I could still hear him screaming."

Chris let out a relived sigh, and then said in a child's voice while pointing at Cyborg.

"Make the nasty man go away."

Raven rolled her eyes and stepped into the room, she surveyed the scene and eventually her gaze fell on Chris's grizzly arm, she gave a mild look of shock and then angrily glared at Cyborg. He, not wanting to have to argue, and secretly glad to be away from the angry mangled Englishman put down the needle and walked out of the room.

As he left he let out a sigh of relief and then heard Raven call after him.

"Robin is waiting in the main room for you, he wants you're help for the coming, er, festivities."

Cyborg's face lit up like a child's, and he hurried off towards the main door, however, before he could leave Raven's voice delivered a curt and to the point statement, one that sounded both a stern command and a possible threat.

"Ten minuets, I mean it."

Cyborg winked, then, stealing a quick glance at Chris, he quickly left the room; he had been looking forward to this all day.

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The echoes of Cyborg's bulky titanium feet died away. She turned to look at Chris once more.

"Back in the old haunt, eh?"

Chris grinned.

"Yes, like you said, I seem to have a talent for injuring myself, oh what a team we make, I knock myself apart and then you put me back together, could go on forever we could."

She did not smile, though she felt like doing so.

"You know, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

Chris rolled his eyes.

"Well what type of wit do you expect me to have, we can't all have natural intellectual wit like you, some of us commoners have to make do with sarcasm and crude jokes."

She resisted the temptation to laugh and instead gave him a silencing cold look. Then, sighing as if the entire thing was an incredible bore, she leant over him and looked at the abused arm.

"Get ready."

"What forahhhhhhhhhh!"

In one graceful flick of her thin wrist, she commanded her power to remove every single piece of glass from Chris's body, which unfortunately didn't only include his arm. The offending pieces of glass floated around in a lazy circle just above Chris's face, he was amazed at just how much there was, as in fact, was Raven.

"Hmmm, you must have broken a fair few bottles, and you smell like a brewery, by the way."

"Why thank you."

Said Chris wiping the tears from his watering eyes, Raven shook her head and concentrated on his arm. Without even looking she commanded the glass to the surface of one of the many medical supply storage cupboards, they landed and arranged themselves in the faint shape of a bird, though if Chris noticed, he didn't say. One minuet of her skilled work and Chris looked up in surprise to find that his arm no longer hurt, and in fact felt good. He sat up and examined the limb, as if looking for a fault. Raven subconsciously congratulated herself and awaited the inevitable words of thanks; she was however destined to be disappointed.

"Have I always had that mark?"

He asked indicating a small patch where the skin was discoloured and stood out from the surrounding tissue. Raven, secretly slightly hurt, answered, but was content as she planned the embarrassing moment to come.

"Yes you have."

She said in a very sure and confident voice. Chris raised an eye brow.

"How do you know?"

He asked in a slightly wary voice.

Raven inwardly smiled, he had asked just what she had expected, and thus walked into the trap, ah, the predictability of the male species, always reading into things that way, and vulnerable because of it.

Raven gave the faintest hint of a suggestive expression and shrugged; Chris looked mildly shocked, and then assumed a deep thought expression. Raven knew that Chris would now be frantically searching for the incident in which she could have acquired that piece of intimate knowledge, and she also knew that he would rapidly come to the night of his arrival and the long time he spent unconscious in her company, and also, at her mercy.

As these very thoughts registered on Chris's now suddenly panicked and rapidly reddening face, Raven was satisfied with a job well done, and decided to bring his suffering to an end, temporarily at least.

"Don't worry, the night is still young, plenty of time for further embarrassment and suspicious comments, and trust me, you will be getting plenty of both tonight."

"Well, er, that's good."

Raven raised an eye brow, in her opinion it was not good in any way, in fact as far as she was concerned it was very childish and unnecessary. But if it brought the rest of the team closer together and thus kept them distracted from her, then Raven was content to let it pass, in fact secretly she found it just a tiny bit amusing, and was slightly curious to see just how Chris would react to his rapidly approaching initiation.

"Hang about."

Her comment seemed to have aroused his suspicion somewhat.

"I beg you're pardon?"

She responded, still not fully comfortable with his peculiar mannerisms and sayings.

"What did you mean by all that 'night is still young plenty of time for further embarrassment and suspicious comments stuff'?"

She didn't answer, just gave the same vague shrug that said, I say that I don't know, but I actually do know, you know that I know, I know that you know that I know, but I am still not going to tell you what you want to know about what I know.

Chris reading this gave up and just sighed in an accepting sort of way.

"Anyway, thanks for this, its good work."

He put extra emphasis on the word 'anyway', to move the conversation on and forcefully change the subject; he also indicated his healed arm.

Raven once more raised that most overworked eye brow, in her opinion it was exceptional work, he wouldn't even have a scar this way, which was lucky considering his and Cyborg's clumsy efforts prior to her arrival.

"Well don't let it happen again, I am getting tired of this, interesting as it is to heal an apparently talking crash dummy, I have better things to do with my time."

Chris grinned, he didn't appear to mind being insulted by Raven, it was a strange characteristic, one which both frustrated and amused her in equal measure, though she showed no sign of either.

Chris rolled his shirt sleeve back down and rolled of the infirmary bed, wincing slightly as he did so, Raven felt a moment of concern, for he had clutched at his ribs, and she knew that despite her best efforts he would still not be fully healed down there. She didn't say anything at first, for she didn't want to show any sort of caring emotion, but she was still compelled to ask.

"You alright?"

He glanced her way as he straightened up.

"Fine, took a fair tumble through a hole in the first floor, but I will be alright."

Not sure just whether to believe him or to press the issue she had to make an effort to stop him no matter what, for that was her part to play, she decided on a simple test that never failed to find an injured rib, and would also hopefully buy her a few of her desperately needed minuets.

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The black energy of Raven's telekinesis engulfed his torso, Chris didn't know what was happening at first, though he welcomed it, he soon wouldn't.

"Are your ribs hurting again?"

She asked as her power finished encasing his torso. Realising just what was about to happen Chris began to desperately try to think of a way out, while simultaneously attempting to struggle his way from Raven's all powerful grasp and pulling towards the door.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear."

Said David, clearly overjoyed at the prospect of Chris suffering some further embarrassment and un-comfort in the presence of Raven.

"No, I am fine, and I would thank you to let go of me."

He said as he pushed with all his might against the inside of the now rock hard energy around himself, it didn't budge, but instead lifted him a few inches of the floor so that his attempts to reach the door were effectively halted. Raven grinned evilly, she was either enjoying this or was in no way fooled by his blatant lie, neither was a pleasant proposition for the trapped Englishman.

"I don't think so, and if you are fine then why are your ribs still hurting?"

Chris prepared himself for the coming embarrassment; it was bad enough that he felt like a village idiot in Raven's presence, but for her to actively peruse his humiliation, that was going just too far. An idea came to him, it probably wouldn't work, but then, he was desperate.

"I don't think this in necessary, but if you enjoy my company that much and therefore feel the need to prevent me from leaving then who am I to argue."

He said in a smug voice, fully knowing that the comment would either embarrass or anger her, he was hoping that the latter would not be the case. She smiled slightly, and simply said.

"Nice try."

"Pathetic."

David added, apparently disgusted by the total failure.

The inevitability of what was going to happen was apparent to them both, deciding it was pointless to struggle against this plainly superior Titan, Chris decided to just give in there and then, besides, this way he had a good excuse to spend a little more time alone with Raven. He was just on the verge of slumping his shoulders in defeat and allowing Raven to do what she felt was necessary when she apparently felt that a little speech was in order.

"Chris, we both know this hurts, and we both know that you are in need of my help, look, I wont think anything less of you, and it is of no importance to me just whether you ask for it, I offer, or I am forced to ram it down your throat, either way I will do what is required and nothing more, just stop trying to be so little of a burden, if you continue like this then you will just annoy everyone, we are a team, and a team helps each other when it is needed, alas even when we don't want them to."

Chris was rather taken aback by this, while he had no misconceptions about the lack of feelings that were returned from Raven's disapproving form, it was still a very comforting feeling to know that she cared enough to go out of her way, even if a mild threat was involved.

"Thanks Raven."

He said awkwardly. The energy holding him eased and he walked back to the infirmary bed and lay down in silence. Raven sighed and then positioning herself over him asked.

"Where?"

Chris pointed to a spot just below his right third rib, she tuted, and responded sarcastically as she began her healing process.

"Do you and this rib have a special arrangement or something, you mistreat him and he causes you discomfort, because I have had to attend this one about five times now."

He grinned to himself, for some reason when Raven insulted him it was amusing, her natural disapproving dry wit hit a certain note with him that he did not dislike.

"Aw come on, it's not even broken, you can't say that I am not improving."

She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing; apparently she had shown enough emotion for one encounter.

"Done."

She said in here monotone. It was as good as a dismissal, for that was what it was, the job was done, there was no need to remain in one another's company.

"Thanks."

Chris stood up and took a few steps towards the exit; he paused as his sixth sense told him not to step through that door.

"Something's not right boyo."

David informed. Chris knew this, he had leaned to trust his instincts, while they usually turned out to get him into trouble they were still usually right enough to be excused.

"Something wrong?"

Raven asked, Chris couldn't be sure, but he could have sworn he had heard something in her voice that suggested his suspicions were right.

"Quite possibly."

He answered, then turning on her fast so as to catch any revealing expressions that she might still be harbouring. There was a definite hint of something, perhaps mild surprise, or it could have been amused grin, he couldn't be sure though, it had fled from her face as soon as he had turned to face her, and quick as his eyes were he still hadn't quite grasped the full details. Now, now her face had returned to its usual, beautiful, but never the less, emotionless and unrevealing normality. He looked deeply into her eyes, and she stared straight and unflinchingly back, he could definitely tell there was something now, he was right in his assumption, though he would in the near future wish that it had not been the case.

"Come on no Chris; let's see your fascination with this lass pay off, what's she thinking?"

David said, it was not a helpful comment, for at the mention of 'his fascination' his thoughts immediately wandered to Raven in general, and that was a most distracting subject indeed. Even so, he was sure now that there was something amiss, surely Raven being the separatist and if unavoidable, confrontational person that she was, surely she wouldn't stand for him staring at her like this, the night he had developed these most troubling feelings for her, he had stared then, and she had not simply stared back, she had spoken. Therefore it was entirely likely that she would have done the same here, but she hadn't.

They continued to stare at each other, both trying desperately to read one another, but for different reasons.

Chris wasn't happy about the current match, while he had never been particularly good at staring competitions, he was even less happy with this one, especially as he was currently matched against a distractingly beautiful, and possibly mind reading heroine of legendary stature, and one with a temper as well.

"Yep you're screwed."

Announced David joyously, while Chris was inclined to agree, it was still not something he wanted to hear. But whatever the odds he was still going to have a go at finding out just what was up, Raven held this information, and while she would inevitably win the verbal battle of manoeuvre to come, he would still do his utmost to find out the answers which she currently withheld.

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"So, does everyone now know what to do?"

Robin sighed and looked at Starfire, ready for her inevitable questions; it did annoy him sometime, with the constant answering of questions related to the most rudimentary of earth customs. But it was all part of what made her her, and he wouldn't change a thing. He smiled slightly at that thought but stopped immediately when he realised that he was now smiling directly at Starfire's face. She didn't seem to notice and continued to look at him with a mildly puzzled expression.

"I understand my part in the coming merriment, but I am still unsure as to the reason that we are required to perform this incantation on new friend Chris."

Robin sighed, he himself had lost count, but this was his twelfth sigh in this conversation alone.

"Look, this is just another of those things that we have to do in order to allow Chris to really become a part of the team, ok?"

Said Robin slowly, as if talking to a small child, Starfire wrinkled her nose in thought, and then did just what Robin hoped she wouldn't, she asked another question.

"But why, is he not already an official Titan, and has he not already proven himself to us in the near fatal accident of earlier today?"

Robin closed his eyes behind his mask; he looked over to Cyborg and Beast Boy, desperate for assistance, to his surprise he got it.

"Look Star, remember when you first joined the team?"

Said Cyborg, Starfire nodded.

"Now remember the time when this exact same ritual was preformed on you?"

Starfire's eyes lit up.

"Oh yes, I remember, the adorable dress up game."

She said clapping her hands together while smiling and closing her eyes. Robin let his breath out, as he watched this alien temptress bob up and down in merriment. His own recollections of that day were less than pleasant, for Starfire, not yet fully understanding English, nor the apparent frailty of both earth objects and people, had caused damage in abundance, least of all not being Robin's pride.

"Ok, so now you understand why we are doing this, so as to give him the same integration that we all have had, it will help with his er, bonding."

Starfire nodded, finally it seemed comprehending. But one more question was asked, and finally, one which Robin had absolutely no idea how to answer.

"May I be inquiring into what we will do when Chris inevitably resists?"

Robin pondered the question for a moment. Then deciding he really couldn't say with any degree of accuracy just what would be the appropriate course of action, he decided to be blunt.

"Just use you're initiative."

He said, secretly revelling in the horror he may have just unleashed on the sarcastic Englishman. She pondered the advice for a moment and then smiling nodded enthusiastically.

Then there came the familiar expression of bemusement on the pretty alien teen's face; however Beast Boy beat her to it.

"Look Starfire, remember that game of extreme hide and seek?"

Starfire once again looked overjoyed at the memory and was about to speak when for the second time Beast Boy beat her to the punch, as it were.

"Right, well this is just the same, only we have an added game of potentially violent dress up as well."

With this surprisingly competent and problem solving explanation coming from this even more surprising and usually problem causing Titan, Robin at last felt he could initiate the dastardly plot.

A plot that would involve all of the Titans, old and new, in a fiendishly well thought out and potentially epic man hunt, of someone who had already proven himself to be both a master of stealth and very difficult to find if they should wish it so.

Put simply, it would be a most challenging hunt, and that was what made it so special.

"Right then, we all ready?"

The four assembled Titans, now respectively, 'huntsman' one and two, Miss 'lure' and of course the 'seeker' replied enthusiastically.

"Good, off you go then, bring forth the quarry."

Starfire giggled and nodding hovered to the door, she pause and turned to speak.

"And if he should resist, I should be, using my initiative?"

The present Titans nodded enthusiastically, with that she turned and disappeared in the direction of the infirmary. Robin smiled, he turned to Cyborg, who had picked up a box of embarrassing items, items that if all went as it should, Chris would soon be wearing.

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"Come on; come on, look I'm not going to either shut up or leave until you tell me."

"Fine by me."

"Grrrrrr, just tell me, it's blatantly obvious that something is up, and I have no intention of walking into a blatant trap, at least not if I can help it."

"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about."

"That is a blatant lie, in fact it is such a blatantly blatant lie that I am appalled that someone of your obvious intelligence should resort to it, and even worse actually think that I will fall for it."

"It wasn't a lie."

"………"

"Yes it was, the sheer fact that you just said that only serves to confound it."

"………"

"You are acting very strange you know, some might see this as a sign of mental instability, and possibly a stress related disorder."

"…….."

"I am not acting strange; the only one acting strange is you, being as you are, a blatant blatant liar."

"And just what evidence do you have to support this suspicion?"

"…….."

"I don't need any evidence, it's so blatant."

"Stop saying blatant!"

The suddenly shouted response took Chris by surprise, especially considering the annoyingly calm and pleasant voice that Raven had been maintaining throughout the one sided conversation; he took a step back and seemed far more hurt by her anger at him than Raven thought was normal. Still at least he had shut up for a while. She was now wishing that she hadn't volunteered for this 'apparently' simple assignment.

Her intention had simply been to avoid it all together, but failing that she had gone for the job that limited her involvement, that simply being to delay Chris in the infirmary long enough for the others to get ready. She was the 'plant' as the position had been named, she was an insider, using cunning and subterfuge to achieve her required results, she sighed, for while Chris may have been mildly amusing and intellectual, he could be just, if not more annoying than Beast Boy if he should so wish, and now he wished to be so.

"Just tell me."

"No."

She wished she hadn't said that, now his suspicions would be confirmed, and that was bad. He had looked at her with a wickedly thin grin at that one word answer.

"Ah ha!"

He shouted triumphantly, pointing a accusing finger at her as he did so, he took a few steps closer.

"So you do know what's going on, come on, out with it, or do I have to get, persuasive."

Raven actually laughed out loud at this, again Chris's somewhat hurt look surprised her, but she simply couldn't keep quiet at such a pathetic remark.

If only he knew, she thought to herself, if only he and the rest knew just what she was capable of, what she could do, no, what she would do. Usually the very hint of this line of thought would depress her, now though she was at least partially comforted by the sheer foolishness with which Chris had just entertained her, though he couldn't touch Beast Boy in that line of expertise.

"Threatening as that sounds I am inclined to refuse."

Chris growled and muttered something about interrogation.

"Fine then, I am off, I guess I'll just have to go and blunder through it in the way I usually do."

Raven's eyes widened slightly, he might even have noticed had he not already been turning to leave.

"Wait."

She said, desperately trying to both think of an excuse to keep him there for a few minuets longer, and even more difficultly, to make that one worded command sound as unemotional and unimportant as to not arouse suspicion.

Chris turned round, an apparently pleased expression on his face, Raven inwardly cursed.

"Hmmm, well now, why could you possibly want me to stay?"

She felt a mixture of mild anger, surprise and a strange feeling of almost pride, while she had no intention of taking an active part in the embarrassing initiation rituals, she was also equally not going to inform Chris of what was steaming at full throttle in his direction, she had contented herself with dropping her odd hint that had stimulated his curiosity, thus giving him at least a chance of preparing, now it would seem he had finally just about come to an accurate conclusion, and for that achievement she felt proud of him, though she would never say as much.

"No reason."

She said, confident that he would now remain for a few minuets more to try and discover just what she had now almost admitted to knowing, it had been pretty much her last card, short of physically restraining him, and she pretty much already had done that. Even so she was confident that she had slowed him for at least ten minuets, and that was all she was willing to do.

"I suspect not."

He said, looking once more into her eyes, though Raven didn't know it, Chris had rarely felt as confident, and while he was quite possibly on the verge of a nervous breakdown at the sheer gravity of how much 'attention' he was getting from the secret beholder of his affections, he was still determined beyond reason to find out just what Raven was concealing from him, and if he got to spend time with her in the process, then all the better.

She sighed, it had been at lest ten minuets, she assumed that Starfire was causing a delay with her annoying habit of not understanding even the most basic human concepts, and this by comparison was quite a complicated one. Deciding that she would have no more to do with this ridiculous charade Raven was on the verge of just leaving and telling Chris that he would find out soon enough, when, possibly for the first time, Raven was glad to sense Starfire hovering speedily towards the infirmary. She gave the slightest hint of a smile, she had been extending her senses beyond the room since Cyborg had left, desperate to minimise the amount of time that she would have to spend doing her part in this most unsavoury business. Now, now she could sense Starfire's approach, and was thankful for it.

At her small smile Chris had raised an eye brow, he was likely to say something, but she didn't really care, her ordeal was over, or so she thought. Without saying a word she walked to the door and then turned to face Chris.

"I suspect I have held you up long enough."

She smiled pleasantly and then indicated the door to her left with her eyes. Chris's face registered understanding; it was all there she thought, realisation, horror, fear, betrayal, resignation, disappointment, anger and also possibly a hint of amusement or perhaps even something akin to sporting admiration.

"It seems you have succeeded."

Said Chris as the doors opened to reveal the giggling form of the Titan's resident alien. Starfire looked from Raven to Chris and then back again.

"My congratulations on your completion of your assigned task."

Chris frowned at Raven who in turn frowned at Starfire.

"Whatever."

The dark teen said, then, as she left the room.

"Have fun."

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Chris looked at Starfire, while he was in no way sure just what was about to happen he was at least glad and partially comforted that it was Starfire he now faced. He simply could not imagine her doing anything untoward. Even though he knew that she could have easily torn him in half should she so wish to do so.

"Friend, merriment be with you, there is to be an occasion in your honour, with games of most delightful nature, and plentiful bounty of fun."

She said in a reassuringly cheerful voice.

It was this statement that would in the future lead to Chris being very wary of Starfire's merry wording. At that time however, he was suddenly relived to hear this news, which he understandably misinterpreted as something of an unthreatening nature.

"I see, well that's, er, good?"

"It most certainly is friend, please accompany me to the main room where the others are waiting."

Content and blissfully unaware of the real circumstances to this 'joyous event', Chris, like so many sheep before him, went unwittingly to the slaughter.

As he followed Starfire towards the main room his sixth sense once more warned him of impending danger, as did David.

"Something isn't right, I can feel it, never trust an extra terrestrial."

Chris frowned; he agreed that he did feel uneasy about something, though he could not for the life of him think what. But even so, just to spite David he continued after Starfire and towards the main room, and his own social standing demise.

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Could this be counted as lying?

Bending the truth perhaps, but lying?

She certainly hoped not, it was not right to lie to ones friends, but then it was better than having to physically overpower them and then drag them kicking and screaming towards where was necessary. She had after all used her initiative, just as Robin had said, how proud of her he would be, the thought brought a smile to the troubled Starfire's face, though Chris would not notice because he was following.

It would be nice for Robin to congratulate her, and to see the admiration in his hidden eyes, though with a somewhat sobering thought she realised that this was unlikely, for Robin never showed such things. With a sigh she mentally contented herself with her usual fantasy statement, sometime, somehow, somewhere.

"So er, what's this thing all about anyway?"

Asked Chris from behind, Starfire turned and looked at Chris with a puzzled expression.

"This 'celebration'."

Chris prompted, Starfire realised just what he meant and replied.

"You will see soon enough friend."

Chris raised an eyebrow but followed. It occurred to Starfire that this was at least partially betrayal of a close friend, though she consoled herself with the thought of the merriment to come. The main room doors opened ahead of her, she allowed Chris to pass through the doors, which by some unknown signal from Cyborg slammed tightly shut, Chris closed his eyes sighed and realised that he had just walked straight into a trap, one chilling look at Starfire and it was apparent to all, he would not be coming quietly.

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His own foolishness verbally smacked him across the face, in the form of David anyway.

"You stupid stupid stupid prat, just look at them, they look like a lynching mob."

Chris was not listening, even though he couldn't help doing so, he was far more concerned with what he saw, and that wasn't a pleasant sight. Robin took a step forward and nodded to Starfire, she smiled and then floated to a position behind him, avoiding Chris's accusing stare the entire way.

"Now Chris, it is time for you're initiation, there are two ways of doing this, the hard way, and the really hard way, the choice is obviously yours."

Chris looked at Robin in wonder, he was getting a choice, well that was something. Even as Robin spoke Chris examined the scene, and he didn't like what he saw.

The most disturbing thing though was the selection of objects that were present, the most apparent one being a rubber chicken.

"Well where do you think they're going to stick that?"

David asked, revelling in Chris's discomfort.

There was no chance of fighting his way out of this one, and even if there was, he didn't want to, not against his friends.

But this, this was bad, and he had no intention of just resigning himself to this, this, this travesty of injustice. Even if it did end with the same result, only a few minuets later.

Robin continued speaking.

"So, the choice is yours, Cyborg."

Chris heard the metallic click of the doors emergency lock; he now at least had an escape route, though he suspected that they would have prepared for the possibility of his attempt to flight. Again Robin continued his miniature speech.

"Now you can be a man and face this with dignity, or you can indulge us and attempt to run, but as I said the choice…"

Chris was already through the door and half way down the corridor by this point, Robin looked in surprise at the amazing stealth and agility the Englishman commanded when he needed to.

"The games afoot!"

Came a shouted almost insulting English voice.

"Well alright."

Said Cyborg, already moving into the pursuit, Beast Boy followed at the trot, and Starfire waited only for a second, glancing back to Robin, he smiled and followed, Starfire squealed in delight and joined in what would turn out to be an interesting but difficult hunt.

Chris dived around the corner and came face to face with the elevator doors, he desperately pressed the appropriate button, and was angered by the fact that like every horror film teen before him, he was making the same mistake, but was he? The doors pinged open just as the rest of the team came round the corner, the doors closed mercifully quickly, so that the last thing the four Titans saw was an offensive hand gesture disappearing between the two steel doors.

Cursing they headed for the stairs, but Chris had a plan, instead of riding to the top, he emerged on the floor above, then as a decoy sent the lift to the top floor. It hummed and went on its merry way, as if content in its new line of work. Hiding in a stock room Chris heard the feet pass and stop in front of the elevator. He grinned evilly to himself as the sounds of the pursuers disappeared on the stairs, he opened the door and stole away in the opposite direction, if they wanted him, they were going to have to catch him, and to catch him, they would have to find him.

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Raven was content, she had done her part in the childish plot, and now she was safe from its mischievous amusement. Or at least she thought she was.

A desperate fist belonging to a desperate Englishman hammered against the door, dragging Raven from the poetry book she had been enjoying.

"Raven, Raven, please be there, hey please let me in, please, or at least hide me somewhere, I am desperate here."

She looked up and instantly knew what had happens, she was surprised Chris had managed to elude the rest of the team this long, bit to lose them altogether and have time to knock on her door was an achievement to be proud of, even so, she pretended to not be present.

"Raven please, I'm not joking, this is serious, I need help."

She smiled; it amused her somehow that he should come to her, when it had been her who had begun the embarrassing deed of treachery by holding him up in the infirmary. She could imagine his face as he tried to think of something that would make her open the door. As it would soon take place, he did.

"Look, you've got a desperate boy hammering at you're door, opportunities like this probably don't come that often, even for one as pretty as you."

It had the desired effect, Raven was so enraged and at the same time amused by his words that she leapt to her feet and opened the door sharply, so sharply that Chris fell into her, as he had been leaning against the door. They tumbled to the floor, and Raven looked up at Chris with a very plainly annoyed expression, Chris, strangely amused, smiled and commented.

"Well I am flattered, but I was joking, and besides, there are more pressing matters at the moment."

She pushed him from on top of herself and quickly stood up; he rose to his feet and began an impassioned outburst. One that was destined to be pointless as Raven was now very much annoyed.

"Ok enough messing around, I know that you were part of this really annoying plot, and I know that you did you're part of it fully, but I would just like to say that I bear no grudges, I suspect you only did that small part because you were forced to and it was the least involve, anyway like I said, I bear no grudges, or at least I wont if you help me now."

He looked at her with puppy like eyes and got down on knee, he put his hands together in mock prayer.

"Pleeeeeese."

He begged, she felt the urge to smile, this was familiar she thought, awfully familiar. While she was annoyed at what had just happened she did never the less feel just a tiny bit responsible for what Chris now endured. But just what to do, that was a tricky one. An idea came to her, one that she found suitable, she smiled evilly, but alas, for him anyway, Chris did not see, for he had glanced over his shoulder at the baying of a closing green bloodhound, one that was firmly on his trail.

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He was desperate; things had not gone well, at first he had definitely been on top, after his plan to hide out on the roof had been discovered, he had been forced to constantly keep moving. For thirty seven minuets he had succeeded, more through luck and random chance to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, but that it would seem was over and now he was scraping the barrel. Chris knew it was unlikely to work, but he had nowhere else to turn, so he had gone to Raven. Seeking protection and the comfort of being near her, it was instinct more than anything else, when being hunted he ran, and he ran to where he felt safe.

In absence of a mother or other family member, Raven was top of that, now, very short list.

"Fine."

She said, almost too easily, but in his panicked state Chris didn't notice, and if he had then the probably wouldn't have cared, Raven took a step to the side. Chris felt a strange joy, it would soon be replaced.

But at that moment, there and then, he was being invited into the bedroom of the holder of his affections, by the holder of his affections no less.

"Well this is a turn up, but might I voice just a slight note of caution."

Chris didn't listen, he took two steps inside Raven's forbidden room and that was as far as he got, at least in that visit. For before he knew what was happening, she had engulfed him in her cloak, and the now familiar feeling of being transported, courtesy of her powers flowed through is body. A few seconds later and he found himself in the main room, staring into the emerald green eyes of a very pleased Starfire.

David sighed inside Chris's head.

"Told ya."

He turned round and looked at Raven, who was wearing a smug look that he couldn't help but find intoxicating, even at this moment of ultimate betrayal.

"Friend Raven, I was not aware that you were playing the, hide and go seek."

Raven grinned.

"Nor was I, I take it you can handle it from here Starfire?"

Starfire nodded enthusiastically, Chris didn't.

"Thanks Raven."

He said coldly as he backed stealthily away from the giggling alien teen, but it was no use, at that moment the odds increased.

The doors opened and in walked the three other members of the team. They halted and simply smiled at the scene they saw before them.

Cyborg cracked his robotic knuckles and said.

"Well all right, let's do this."

"Well that's it, I'm going on holiday, call me when it's over."

Said David, then disappearing from the turmoil engulfed mind of Chris.

He sighed and less than one minuet later, had been wrestled to the ground and his resistance had ceased.

Raven watched and pondered, it was an odd life being a Titan, and now Chris was finally a fully fledged part of the team.

He stood unsteadily, looking, what even Raven would have to admit was comical; she straightened her grinning face, and then simply said.

"Congratulants, you're one of us."

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Thanks for reading, as always a great bucket of thanks goes to my one official fan, she knows who she is, and anyone else who has read this far, please review my story, I will always be glad to hear you're thoughts and opinions. Thanks for reading, hope to update quicker than the last time.

Take care out there, bye.