Hello, my beautiful readers! By the time you're reading this, I'll more than likely be on my vacation already. Enjoy!
She leaned heavily against a building and panted. He was no where to be found. She had searched every vegan pizza place- or every vegan restaurant in Jump City, if she was honest. There were very few places that offered non-animal product dishes.
Yeah, if you can call fifty places only a few. A small voice snickered in her mind.
Shut up. I don't have time for you, whoever you are. She mentally snapped back at it. Back to her list, she had also looked at the major arcades, bowling alleys, and even did a quick scan of the Jump city movie theater. Beastboy was nowhere to be found.
"Maybe I should call Robin." She muttered to herself. "He could have just gone off to join them when I didn't respond." She tried to ignore the sink-y feeling in her chest at the thought of him abandoning her, no matter if it was completely her fault.
Shakily, she pulled out her communicator and pushed the button, not even attempting to compose herself.
The screen came to life. "Raven? Why are you calling?" The masked leader inquired.
"Is Beastboy with you? He's missing." Somehow, her voice still sounded flat and apathetic, even when she was bursting with worry.
"Nuh-uh. Why don't you go back to the tower, meditate, and take his absence as an opportunity to relax. I know it's hard on you when he's constantly harassing you, and you look... Stressed."
She almost snorted. "Thank you, Robin, for that wonderful compliment. I suppose you're right. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Raven. When he comes back around, tell him I said to stay away from you while you're resting."
She didn't respond, she simply turned the device off. She wanted to yell at him, demand they come back and help find him. She was horrified to realize she almost snapped at Robin to stop blaming Beastboy. It's my fault. She thought remorsefully. I'm the one who wrecked the tower. I'm the one who can't open up and let anyone in. I'm the one who has to reject anyone who makes an effort to get me out of my shell. Robin should be blaming me.
She didn't know what she'd do without the changeling pestering her, without the special annoyances that were reserved specifically for her, that made her feel so wanted, even if it irritated the hell out of her. She loved his attention, but hated how it made her feel. Feelings were supposed to be forbidden.
What if he doesn't come back? What if where're the reason he leaves the Titans. Or worse, what if he got himself hurt because of us and is out dying some where? Or-
Shut up. She growled at what was no-doubt an emoticlone worming it's way to the forefront of her mind. From it's dark, depressing presence, she'd guess it was Timid.
"Robin is right. I need to meditate." She rubbed her temples, attempting to soothe the pounding emotions in her mind, and with it, the weight of guilt that was getting heavier by the minute. She really wanted to go back to not-feeling; it was a lot less headache.
Brave tugged in his arm and yanked him through a huge set of wooden doors. Inside was more books that he had ever seen in his lifetime, combined. Giant shelves covered every wall, and several more bookcases were neatly arranged in rows. Large, colorful volumes lined every shelf.
"I know; it's a lot to take in." Brave pulled him away, effectively breaking his trance. He turned his attention to the sprawling set of tables. A yellow-cloaked emotion glanced up from where she was sorting a pile of novels and gestured for them to come.
They complied and approached her.
"Hey Bookworm, do ya think you could babysit BB until Raven realizes where he's gone?"
Knowledge glared subtly at Brave before turning to him. "Yes, if he wishes to stay here."
"Good. Stalker-girl knows he's here, and the heavy doors are a decent deterrent. I'll be around in case she decides to snoop around."
Knowledge simply sighed, and returned to her work. Unwilling to disturb her, he cautiously watched from across the table. She must have felt his gaze boaring into her, because she glanced up, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I assume you have questions." She resigned and pushed her stack out of the way.
"Actually, yes, I do. How'd you know." He scratched his head.
"Your expression." She replied plainly. "Raven has it marked in her book on you that you tilt your head and fidget with your hair in some way when you're confused."
"Hold on a second, you're saying that Raven has a book about me?" He stared in disbelief.
"Yes. Look around you. In this library, there is a book on every topic, every person that Raven knows anything about. Some of them are just pictures of random people that she's seen, because all she knows about them is what they look like. You are no exception to this rule, and as Raven would say, you often look confused." Knowledge replied, but he could have swore he heard a small snicker in her voice.
Wow, Raven knows a lot. He thought in wonder. "Anyways, my question was kind of about you guys, I mean, the emotion people." He struggled to find the right word.
"Emoticlones?" She asked gently. "What about them?"
"What are they, exactly? And how do they form? Does everyone have them running around in their mind, or do you have to have a mirror like Raven's to have them?"
"That is a very deep topic, and one Raven only knows a limited amount about, but I will try to answer your question fully. Emoticlones, in essence, and mental beings meant to represent a variety of feeling that encompass an emotion. New feelings don't necessarily develop, but a new emoticlone might. Emotions, feelings, thoughts: they are all fluid, constantly shifting and changing. It would not be possible to have an emoticlone for annoyance, anger, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, and rage. Instead, they are all represented by one, red-cloaked emoticlone, known as Hate. If Raven hadn't learned to relax a little, there very well could have been an emoticlone for Annoyed, but she did. The emoticlones that are present in her mind are the ones that she feels most often and smaller feelings that are associated with it are grouped in."
"I seriously annoy Raven so much, that I almost caused a change in her mind?" He gasped. He knew he was a pest, but he didn't think it was that bad.
"Technically, you already have, but no, not anymore. It doesn't bother her as much, but she doesn't want you to take that as permission to pester her more. And before you ask more questions, let me finish off this set, so I don't forget any. From what Raven knows, everyone has them, but only a select few are aware of their existence. Using a meditation mirror does bring light to them, but there are other ways. One is intensive meditation, and another is creating a portal into your own mind. Both usually work only for empaths and those with telekinetic abilities."
"Sweet." He cooed. "Also, it probably sounds silly, but why do different emoticlones have different colored cloaks? And, if it's not prying too much, could I ask about Obsession?"
"The different colors of cloaks correlate to what Raven associates with that color. For example, Brave's cloak is green because she thinks of the green forests, the raw power in the animals that live there, the sheer determination necessary to survive there, and the strength needed to overcome the obstacles of the woods. She also finds several individuals who are associated with green to be especially brave. I suppose I could tell you about her. What do you wish to know?"
"How did she come to be?" He asked quietly. "I mean, who lost pieces of themselves for her?"
"Love lost some, as did Hate. If I am correct, she's been assembled by affection, idolization, lust, passion, jealousy, and bitterness. She's a bit more of Love than she is of Hate, but it's a rather combustive mixture of emotions to make up a whole. It's a ticking time bomb, and it's anyone's guess as to when she'll go off." Knowledge replied dryly, finishing with a dark chuckle.
He could only follow up with one word. "Why?"
"Why what?"The yellow emoticlone responded brusquely, although he had a feeling she knew exactly what he was referring to.
"Why did she take form? I'm pretty sure it didn't just happen randomly. It has to have a cat-er-list." He asked quietly.
"Catalyst." She automatically corrected. "That is difficult to explain. In my opinion, it was because of how blurred the boundaries between the two doppelgängers were when it came to you. She was torn between her affection for you-" She broke off when she noticed him eyeing her skeptically. "Don't look so shocked; she doesn't throw you out the window the second you walk into the room, does she? Anyways, she was torn between her affection and admiration of your fighting abilities and how you were able to continue a happy existence after everything that's happened to you, and her jealousy and bitterness that you could be so expressive. It's quite complicated actually, and I'm sure Raven isn't willing to spill the beans yet."
"So, it's my fault because I'm so annoying, yet loveable at the same time?" He asked, his tone teasing on the surface, but serious enough.
"In essence, yes, but it really not your fault."
"Don't try to make me feel better." He sighed. "God, even when I'm not trying, I screw things up and make things more difficult for her. I deserve the World's Lousiest Friend award."
Knowledge opened her mouth to protest, but was distracted when a trio entered the building. Love and Hate were arguing in hushed voices, while Happy trailed along behind like a puppy. She immediately perked up and sprinted for him, tackling in a hug. "BB! I've missed you." She exclaimed with a enormous grin.
Love snuck up behind him and gave him a gentle hug. "It's good to see you, Beastboy." She smiled softly before ever-so slightly pecking his cheek. He couldn't help but stare at Knowledge incredulously.
"I told you Raven liked you." She gloated slightly.
Before he could argue, another trio entered the building, only this time, bursting through the doors and slamming them behind them. Timid, Rude, and Brave all leaned against the door, virtually hyperventilating.
Brave was the first to recover her wits. "Stalker girl is on her way."
Yay! Another chapter done. I know Knowledge talks a lot, and is kind-of boring, but I wasn't quite sure how to write her character, so I went for quiet-but-smug-know-it-all. Take note, there will more than likely only be three more chapters after this (unless my Muse discovers an inspiration mine), so be sure to let me know what you think in the reviews! :)