Chapter Thirty

"What are you doing?" Raven questioned when he saw Menay getting dressed to go out again. Raven glanced over looking at how Menay had not changed out of his adult body since the night before. Figuring it was quite obvious that he planned on posing as Robin's older brother from here on and continue to chaperon Raven around.

Having the younger version around giving him orders to clean or just plan telling him what to do was bothersome enough but he could easily argue these commands. Where as Menay in this adult form gave off a more authoritative presence than even Raven's father making it harder for Raven to disagree with him.

Menay shrugged not giving a response while he finished putting the gel in his curling hair to keep it forced back. He slowly glanced over to Raven with the reflection of the mirror while arching a brow for a moment before giving a light smile to the question.

"You're not going to a park alone to meet this strange girl when you're getting low on energy." Menay warned tapping his nose to imply he could tell Raven was getting low on energy. Making it clear that he wasn't going to just let Raven have a say about his presence being there or not.

He was not about to let Raven go anywhere without him especially now that he could smell the pheromones already starting to attract the subtle attention Raven didn't like. Though it was subtle, it would still be considered dangerous if Raven were to react to this attention and end up using too much energy to avoid it. With Menay still around he could prevent anyone from causing this reaction and keep track of Raven's levels.

Raven snarled as he rolled his eyes looking away from Menay's grin in the mirror. He was confident that Menay's all of a sudden stubborn protective attitude had something to do with the feelings he had from her that he wouldn't tell him of. Raven suspected that Menay was just wanting to be close so he could protect him if something were to go wrong but he knew it would be easier to accept if Menay would just trust to tell him the truth. Even though it bothered him he was a little relieved with knowing Menay could be there if he needed. The whole idea of losing his energy in public scared him but he still knew Menay would just make things more uncomfortable with Ashley.

Raven just wanted to get the clothes she had for him and find a reason to leave as soon as possible by using Medwin as an excuse to leave. Raven knew if Maney was there it would be even difficult to talk to her and then he also couldn't use him as an excuse to leave sooner.

Raven waited for Menay to step out the bathroom before he too stepped in for a moment. This action caught Menay's attention causing him stop and look back at Raven wondering if he were going to willingly use the restroom finally. However instead he watched Raven look at himself one more time in the mirror, checking the way he looked, before rushing out the bathroom like it were some dangerous room.

Menay chuckled to this over action while he watched Raven go to grab an empty book-bag from the couch. Knowing this was the bag he planned to hold the clothes in Menay knew he would need to stop him there before he tried to rush out the door with it. Menay rushed over reaching out grabbing the bag at the same time holding it firm while he stared Raven down from where he stood not letting the bag go.

Raven jerked looking up trying to pretend it didn't bother him with what Menay was doing pulling at it he was about to say something back. Though when he glanced back up at Menay's once sneering expression it had changed and was now a glare that made Raven waver. It reminded him of the sort of scolding look that he should be receiving from a father figure yet he was getting it from Menay. His cat of all things was using an adult male body to intimidate him.

Raven snarled thinking of how much he hated it shaking off the clutching feeling Menay's eyes gave him knowing he had to stay strong, "You're not coming" Raven growled in response jerking the bag away from Menay with force.

He was almost impressed when it actually came to him but he knew Menay had given it to him. In a strange way he was hoping this meant he wouldn't fight him over coming.

Menay looked down at Raven not moving or changing his expression, "This isn't a date Raven, you're in no condition to be going out in public alone, I need to be there." Menay snarled scolding Raven being direct no longer playing games with the fiery teenage boy.

Raven's stance shook almost giving way when he heard these words and became instantly embarrassed, "I know this idiot!" Raven snapped to this statement while his face began to become warm.

Raven became noticeably conscious of this statement, he wasn't expecting Menay to call it a date in such a blunt manner. Even though he had been thinking of it like one the entire time himself, he even needed to work up his nerves for their meeting, trying to convince himself that it wasn't one. Knowing he thought of this too only made it harder for Raven to think of it in any other way so Raven wasn't about to let Menay think of their encounter in that way.

Menay nodded briefly to Raven's words, "Mhm, so that little rehearsal earlier in front of the mirror was just a little constipation?" he taunted while his eyes narrowed like they were looking straight through Raven. He knew exactly how Raven's inexperienced mind was comprehending the situation and knew he needed to convince Raven that it wasn't. He leaned closer a bit making Raven back down a little while he arched a brow waiting for the response that Raven would give him now.

"Tsk, shut up" Raven hissed in frustration as his face flushed red with embarrassment finding out now that when he was rehearsing what he was say to her before he had been heard by Menay. "I was just trying to make sure I didn't mess up any lie..." He barked in a grumbling tone hoping this was believable.

Menay kept looking down at Raven's avoiding behavior as he tried to lie and gave him a blank stare in response.

Raven quickly became bothered by the silent response too as he looked away from Menay's scolding eyes, "What, can't I be prepared?" he muttered wanting Menay to stop, folding his arms over one another with attitude.

Menay smirked arrogantly at Raven before he taunted him further, "Then why are you caring so much for your appearance?" He sneered having smelled the cologne Raven put on to mask the stench of not taking a shower before he left his bedroom. Even taking notice of how hard Raven was trying to fit into his more stylish old clothes even with his small figure trying to appear more masculine with every effort.

Menay's statement only made Raven flush a deeper red and he hated it, "You're not coming!" He snapped once more this time adding a swing of his bag towards Menay.

Menay stepped away avoiding it giving a smirk in response to Raven's anger. This infuriates Raven all the more making him push Menay aside so he could pass, "I'm taking a bus" he growled stomping his way out the door embarrassed by all of what Menay had said, he just wanted to get away from the cat at that moment.

"Hold up, let me get my shoes" Menay stated as he watched Raven storm towards the door furious with him.

Menay sighed as he took his time not expecting Raven to actually leave without him knowing Raven would need to pay for the bus. So he wouldn't take it anyways since they were running low on the spare change as it was already.

Tying his shoe he made his way to the door about to catch the fake run away only to hear the house phone ring. This caused him to pause and look back into the kitchen at the ringing phone that sat on it's base.

Not sure if Raven was going to actually leave or not he took his chances knowing that he could catch Raven before the bus came if he did run and went to answer the phone.

Lifting the phone off the base he held it within his grasp and looked at the number not recognizing it right off he paused to answer. He wasn't sure if he was going to like what may b on the other end but he knew he needed to know first. Glancing back to the door subconsciously checking for Raven he pressed the answer key and held it up to his ear, "Hello?" He answered while leaning against the counter knowing if it were someone he knew it could only be a few people; Raven's mother or father.

"Menay?" Raven's father exclaimed in a questioning manner to hear his adult voice but happy to have Menay answer the phone after calling the day before while they were out. "I am so glad you are still there, I'm on one of the satellite phones I only have a little time before I lose signal again, is Raven around?" his father asked.

"Joseph?" Menay arched a brow a little shocked that it was Raven's father at this point expecting he would hear from Raven's mother, Salem, first by now. He looked to the door that was closed again wondering about Raven and why Joseph asked for him, "He's outside we're heading out, why?" Menay claimed curious.

There was a pause for a moment on the other end making Menay suspect they had lost the call though suddenly he heard Joseph speak up again, "I have been sending Raven text messages since Friday. I was beginning to worry, is everything alright?" he asked wondering why Raven hadn't been answering his text knowing now that Raven was no longer human he could get hurt.

Menay groaned in regret knowing he should have told Joseph about the recent dilemma they faced, "Yeah, we had a bit of a gender issue and left his phone behind at the school, sorry" he explained while apologizing.

"Really, so Raven's a girl again?" He asked sounding concerned with how quick the change happened again even while Menay who was supposed to protect him was around, "Should I worry?" he questioned showing his lack of faith in Menay.

"No," Menay snarled for a moment then calmed himself once again, "We're actually on our way out to fix the issue right now, needed to get him some clothes. Though you may need to call the school and get him some passes for the days he's missed I tried but I don't think I convinced them" he informed giving a counter suggestion for him to worry about.

"Ugh well..." Joseph paused waiting a bit allowing Menay to calm down thinking of what he would say before he spoke, "That's actually why I called, I heard from Salem and she wants Raven to be pulled from the school and start traveling with her now that he's one of them." He explained with a heavy regretting tone.

"What, when did you talk to her?" Menay exclaimed having not been able to get a hold of her since the night that Raven had changed the first time. "Wait, why?" he asked finally catching what Joseph had said about Raven being taken out of school.

Joseph paused for a moment hating what he was about to say next, "She thinks when you were with her they might have followed you to Raven" He says with a reluctant sigh not wanting to be the one to bring this up.

Menay snarled biting at his tongue as he had to take the phone from his head for a moment knowing the exact moment they were talking about hoping they wouldn't have found out. He knew they would react this way if they knew he was followed though he had already handled that situation last Friday night they wouldn't risk it. Calming his nerves he made sure he was positive in his belief that he handled it before he brought the phone back.

Taking a firm deep breath he spoke, "I already dealt with that" he declared without a shadow of doubt.

"Are you sure?" Joseph still inquired in a cautious manner not wanting Menay to hang up on him, "I don't like it either knowing how excited Raven was to go to school but still I agree with her, even if you have dealt with it without being close to Salem you may not be strong enough to protect Raven next time." he adds with his concerns for his son.

Menay grit his teeth to this statement knowing he was already losing a lot of his strength every day but he wasn't going to just give knowing Raven would be the most affected by this at the end of it all.

"We're talking about pulling Raven from the only connection to people he has ever made like a real kid" Menay claimed not wanting to take Raven from the school knowing just how happy he had become since being in a physical school making friends with Carson, "I dealt with them, don't worry about it." he adds becoming testy with Joseph.

"Ugh..." Joseph sighed as he listened to Menay taking what he said to heart knowing why Menay was this protective over Raven, "Menay, I know you have the best interest in heart for Raven but maybe it's time you let go of this unnecessary responsibility." He warned Menay lightly knowing it was likely best for Raven to start traveling with his mother learning from her how he was going to survive from now on.

"This isn't about me," Menay growled, "Raven needs to learn these things where he feels safe, besides he barely knows her." he snapped in defense.

Joseph snarls to the insult, "Can you say he knows you either?" He snapped back defending Raven's mother knowing it wasn't her fault.

Menay pulls the phone away knowing that Joseph meant to hurt him with that comment since he didn't choose to go into secrecy from Raven. Having to hide his true self when Raven was younger as a mere house cat against his will broke him, "I wasn't talking about me, right now Raven needs what he already knows don't take that from him too." he claimed.

Raven's father regretted what he said as it left his mouth especially after hearing how defeated Menay's tone had changed, "Are you sure you can keep him safe?" He questioned one last time before he allowed himself to trust Menay.

"Confident I can" Menay claims in a firm voice while looking to the door knowing he had wasted too much time with Joseph over this discussion. "Now I need to get off, he's probably getting annoyed waiting by the car." he informed wanting end their discussion.

"Yeah sounds about right," Joseph scoffed as he gave in to Menay's wishes hoping everything would be alright, "Alright well I'll send you some money so you can go buy him some clothes, tell him I love him and to text me when he gets his phone back. And Medwin... take care of my son" He states waiting for Menay's response.

Menay smiled gently happy that Joseph gave him the consent to continue looking over Raven even if he was reluctant, "Always will, bye Joseph."

Hanging up the phone Menay let out a sigh while rubbing his head not sure if he could really handle teaching Raven how to adjust and feed while protecting him at the same time. Raven had been so set on staying human neither of them were truly prepared for what was about to come their way.

Recalling Raven was outside or possibly down by the bus stop he needed to stop him and let him know he no longer needed to meet with that girl that he didn't like. Grabbing his keys from the counter just encase he walked out the door hoping to see Raven within his sights. Though after looking around he snarled finding that Raven really did take off to go catch the bus.

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