Author's Note: As promised, here is a lighter chapter to get your minds off the heavy subject matters prior. Enjoy!
"Hey Kaldur." Rachel reclined in one of the seats in the Cave. Kaldur looked at her. "You doing okay?"
"I am fine." Kaldur smiled. "I appreciate the concern, though. Any particular reason?"
Rachel sat up straight. "Well, M'gann keeps asking how we're doing…and I don't know what she's talking about."
Kaldur frowned. "I'm afraid I do not understand. How we're doing?"
"I think she thinks we're together."
"Why?"
Rachel grinned. "Maybe cause I kissed you on New Year's?"
"It was on the cheek." Kaldur said.
"Exactly, I didn't want to be left out of the kissing….which was pretty simultaneous if you ask me." Rachel saw the confused look on Kaldur's face and waved her hands frantically. "That not there's anything wrong with that!"
"Hello my friends, may I ask what you are both discussing?"
Kaldul and Rachel turned their heads at the sound and saw Wally grinning at them while chomping on a bag of potato chips.
"It's rather odd that both of you have stopped speaking." Wally continued. "May I ask what is the matter?"
Kaldur glowered at him. "Are you mocking me?"
Wally's face went pink with surprise. "No! I'm rather concerned with the silence and change in attitude, Kaldur. Simply a friendly question that-"
Kaldur lunged at Wally and pinned him to the ground. Rachel moved to break them apart, but struggled against Kaldur's strength.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FRIEND?!" Kaldur demanded in a loud voice.
"Might I ask what the problem is?" Conner walked in, his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
"Wally started talking really formal like he's some kind of English gentlemen and-" Rachel said before she stopped. "You're talking weird, too."
"Am I?" Conner raised an eyebrow. "I thought this was how I have always spoken. Where have you been? We were all concerned for your safety."
Rachel slowly took a few steps back, not sure if Conner was joking or not. She reached out in her mind, trying to get M'gann to sense her and link up. M'gann, where are you? Weird shit's going down.
I would appreciate the disuse of swear words, Rachel, it isn't proper and rather rude. Rachel's eyes widened with horror at the scolding tone she heard in her mind. Either she was going crazy or M'gann was. Neither prospect was appealing to her.
"Don't worry, you're not going crazy." Artemis' voice called out from the Zeta tube, where she was watching this happen. "And get off Wally, Kaldur, you're going to hurt him."
"I must agree with my friend, Artemis." Artemis' eyes widened and she slapped her forehead.
"Dear God, help us all." She moaned. "I thought Wally was bad enough."
Wally looked up at her with a hurt expression.
"I'm not saying you're bad company." Artemis huffed. "I meant it was bad enough that you were talking super-fancy."
"What is the meaning of this nonsense?" Zatanna walked in with a glare on her face. "I am attempting to enjoy-"
"WHY ARE YOU ALL TALKING LIKE YOU'RE OUT OF SENSE AND SENSIBILITY?!" Rachel screamed. Conner winced at the loud noise; Rachel remembered that he had super hearing and winced in sympathy.
"Is someone talking about Sense and Sensibility?" M'gann's voice echoed off the Cave's walls. "I certainly love that book!"
Rachel looked at Artemis and Kaldur. "On three, we all run. Agreed?"
She clamped her mouth shut in horror while Artemis and Kaldur ran for the Zeta Tube, right as Robin was walking in.
"Robin, if you start speaking too properly, I will murder you on the spot!" Artemis threatened.
"Ouch! Death threats already, Arty?" Artemis sighed in relief at the sarcastic response. Robin continued with a huff. "I must say, you are not acting like a level-headed individual like one should expect from you."
Artemis screamed in horror while Robin cackled. "Just pulling your leg, Arty? But seriously, why are you screaming?"
"Everyone in the Cave is speaking similar to me." Kaldur explained. "None of this is within character and Rocket is succumbing to the insanity!"
"I can still talk normal, you guys." Rachel said with an edge in her voice. She gestured to the others surrounding her. "I'm not an English zombie like those guys are."
"Why must you call us zombies?" Conner said in a hurt tone. "Is it because I prefer watching the channel with static on? It's rather soothing for my mind, I will tell you."
"Okay, let's get out of here!" Robin headed back inside of the Zeta tube while Rachel ran after them.
"Friends, come back!" M'gann flew in with a tray of grilled cheese sandwiches. "I have made you all a tasty snack that offers no sugar in it."
"I'll pass, M'gann, but thanks for the offer." Artemis called after her before disappearing within the Zeta tube's light."
Kaldur and Rachel followed suit, but not before Rachel showed them all the middle finger.
Everyone else looked at where the four left in silence.
Wally broke it by breaking into chuckles, which devolved into laughter. M'gann started giggling while Conner and Zatanna snorted under their breath.
"I told you we could scare them like that." Wally said in-between laughs. "Kaldur's gonna be pissed at us, later, though."
"Worth it." Zatanna said as she collapsed on the ground in laughter.
Author's Note: Not sure if this is a cliche or not, but there have been a few fanfics where everyone just starts talking so proper. Words like rather or within are used by people like M'gann or Conner and they've demonstrated more relaxed phrases...or is the term I'm looking for, realistic? Anyhow, it takes away from a story, so in combination to giving Rocket and Aqualad a bit more of a role in this chapter, I made them one of the few to realistically react to the odd diction used by their peers.
Also brushed on their shipping (Rocket was added to the Team in the last two episodes of Season 1, which is annoying because it was last minute), they knew each other for two days at best, so I think Rocket just gave a peck on the cheek to make sure Kaldur wasn't left out of the love.
Sorry again about the heavy chapters, this was the reason I had to change the genre from Humor to Humor/Drama. Some of this stuff can't really get much laughs and it needs to be addressed. Love the thoughtful reviews, I'm touched by what you guys wrote.
Zez, I'm glad you like this story. I hope I won't let you down. :)
Next update is Sunday, June 4th. See you then!