Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. Never have, never will. Now that that's covered, please enjoy the story, and don't forget to review!
The Feud
It was a really bad week to be a Titan. On monday, Mumbo Jumbo managed to get the drop on them, trapping each of them inside into specially designed water tanks. Everyone but Beast Boy was trapped in extremely resistant glass containers, not even Starfire's Tamaranian strength was enough to break it, while Beast Boy's aquatic prison was fitted with electro-emitters which prevented him from transforming.
As Mumbo exited stage left, Beast Boy managed to change into an electric eel and then into an orca to break out of his cage. Thinking quickly, Beast Boy freed Cyborg first since he was closest and had the best chance of knowing how to break his team mates out of their cages. The pair then moved to free Starfire and Robin because they were the closest. Beast boy just barely made it in time to save Raven after freeing the Boy Wonder. After they had all caught their breath, that was when the arguing began.
"Way to go, Beast Boy, you gave him the perfect idea to nearly kill us all." Raven remarked.
"C'mon, Rae, how was I supposed to know he could do that!? Besides, it seemed like he already had it planned." Beast Boy defended.
"Woah, guys-" Cyborg began.
"Yeah, you just brought it to the forefront of his mind." she said. "Your no Houdini. I bet we could get out of a water tank easy." She mocked. "Azar, what idiot says that in the middle of a battle? Huh, that explains everything."
"Friends, we should do the stopping of the fighting. I would not want-" Starfire started to say.
"At least I was able to escape. Wait a sec, you're just upset that you were the last to be rescued, aren't you?" He asked.
"That doesn't have anything to do with what we're talking about," Raven yelled.
"It has everything to do with what we're talking about. Well as you've said before, Raven, someone has to be last!" Beast Boy was referring to another argument that was never resolved where Raven referred to him as the weakest link in the team.
"Seriously, you're going to go there-"
"ENOUGH!" Yelled Robin. "Thanks to you two Mumbo Jumbo has escaped. Seriously, What has gotten into you two, huh? You've been at each other's throats all week. If something doesn't change soon, I'm going to intervene. And trust me, you don't want me to do that." And with that, he and the other two left without a word.
The two stood in silence for a moment before flying off to the tower without a word. That was monday.
Tuesday was not much better. If they had had any villains to fight things would have been better. Raven would have had an excuse to let out her anger, Beast Boy would have had a distraction from the downcast mood he'd been in, and the others would have been able to escape the tension in the tower that lay so thick you probably couldn't cut it if you tried. Unfortunately there was no criminal activity that warranted their attention.
Beast Boy and Raven avoided each other at all cost to prevent the punishment Robin would surely dish out if they fought again.
It was wednesday, and things were still tense around the tower, when suddenly the alarm rang. Everyone met in the Ops room to be briefed. It was the first time in over twenty four hours that Beast Boy and Raven had been in the same room, and everyone was rigid, no one wanted to spark an argument.
"Cinderblock is rampaging downtown, I want a quick takedown and minimal damage. Raven, Beast Boy, are you two going to be a problem?" Robin asked.
"No," they replied curtly.
When they arrived Cinderblock was smashing cars with a lamp post.
"I wonder what he's trying to accomplish?" Beast Boy wondered allowed.
"He probably just wants attention." Raven replied. "He just goes about it a different way than you do, Beast Boy."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Beast Boy whined.
"Alright," Robin said, cutting off any further argument. "Starfire and Raven I want you two to take to the air and perform those aerial assault maneuvers you've been practicing. Raven try to use the cars and lamp posts that are already busted up."
"Of course," She replied. With that the two heroines took to the air to begin their attack on the giant rock monster. Robin turns back to the other two.
"Cy and I will use our ranged attacks to do what the girls are doing in the air down here on the ground. Beast Boy I want you to keep his focus on you. Trip him, charge him, dodge his attacks, whatever it takes." Beast Boy looked like he was about to protest, but Robin interrupted. "If he's focused on you he won't be throwing things around, destroying property."Beast Boy gave a nod of understanding, and with that they entered the fray.
Starfire bombarded the giant beast with her starbolts, simultaneously flying around in a random pattern him so that he might disorientated. The brute roared as his back was showered with starbolts, and as he turned to face his enemy he was struck in the chest with a car encased in a black aura. Before he could retaliate a green elephant's trunk had wrapped itself around his ankle and pulled it out from underneath him, forcing him down onto the street.
"Watch your step, blockhead! Ya never know when an elephant might mistake you for a tree." Beast Boy taunted. Cinderblock roared as he got up and charged at the green boy who had dared to knock him over. Cinderblock was not a very smart creature, but he knew one thing: he did not like to be on the ground, and he hated it when he was put there by force.
When he reached the place where the green boy was he realized that he was no longer there. He also realized that he was going to fast to stop himself and he smashed into a building. As he pulled himself out of the wall, he was hit by a flurry of attacks. Green bolts of energy that struck his shoulder, a blue beam of sound that rattled his jaw, explosive disks that he had blocked with his arms, and a lamp post that he had dropped when the green boy had tripped him had hit him in the stomach when he raised his arms. 'The green boy,' he thought. 'Must get the green boy.'
The brute spotted his foe and charged, ignoring the barrage of attacks that were showered upon him.
"Back for more, Big Guy?" Beast Boy said as he dodged a punch that left a small crater in the street. This continued for a while, Cinderblock would charge Beast Boy, attempt some sort of attack, be it a punch, jab, kick, or tackle, and Beast Boy would dodge, sending the monster into a building, car, lamp post, or anything else behind him at the time. It was much like a bull fighter in the arena, with Cinderblock staring as the bull. Meanwhile the others would let him have it with everything they had when Beast Boy was far enough away so he wouldn't get hit by their attacks. Eventually the monster grew tired, and didn't see Robin and Cyborg planning their final attack.
"I'll bring the Sonic if you bring the Boom." Cyborg said.
"Bringing on the Boom," Robin answered. With the villain down for the count the team looked up to assess the damage. There were craters everywhere, craters in the walls, craters in the streets. Cars were crumpled up and street lights were laying on the ground, sending sparks flying.
"Azar, Beast Boy, you've set a new record for most property involuntarily destroyed," Raven remarked with a smirk. She meant it as a joke, to try and lighten the tension between them, but just after she had said that, some sparks hit a pool of gasoline, igniting it and a nearby car. The car exploded, setting of a chain reaction demolishing three other cars one at a time. Everyone's eyes went wide as they watched the scene unfold, well, almost everyone's. Beast Boy's squinted as he angrily inhaled, preparing to yell at the offending empath. Starfire and Cyborg opted to stand over by Cinderblock to wait for the authorities and to avoid the huge argument that was about to ensue.
"Really Raven, I just spent the past ten minutes trying not to let a giant rock squash me into jelly so that you guys could wail on him from a safe distance!" Beast Boy shouted.
"Beast Boy, I didn't mean to-"
"No, Raven," he cuts her off, "I don't want to hear about how you didn't mean to insult me. You always do it, you know you do. You know it hurts my feelings, cause if you don't you're a pretty lousy empath, well either that or you're just heartless." Beast Boy glared at her while she just stood there trying to keep a stoic face, but inside her emotions were raging. Rage was angry that he had just called her heartless, while Timid couldn't help but agree with him. Brave wanted her to be the bigger person and apologise, but Wisdom commented that apologising while he was still fuming would only lead to more arguing. Just then Robin spoke up.
"Beast Boy, fly back to the tower to cool off, I don't want to have to deal with this in front of the public. Raven, you're riding back with Starfire and Cyborg." Beast Boy growled something about spiky-haired tyrants thinking they know everything, but complied and left in the form of a Golden Eagle before Robin could retort. He turned to Raven and spoke calmly. "I'm gonna take a small ride, and when I come back I want you and Beast Boy to meet me in my office so that we can discuss the changes that are going to be made around here."
"Robin, I didn't mean to hurt him like that, I just wanted to-"
"Save it. I'm just as mad at you as I am at him. I'm taking the drive so that when we do talk I won't become the 'spiky-haired tyrant' I'm made out to be." He finished with a growl before stepping on his motorcycle and speeding off. She walked over to the other two who were just about finished with Cinderblock's transportation arrangements. When they were finished they all climbed into the car. Cyborg was driving, and Starfire was in the front seat telling herself that whatever Robin had planned for her to friends was for the best. 'I just wish that Friend Raven and Friend Beast Boy would cease their quarreling. It is most unnerving to see them yell at one another so often.'
This left Raven the whole back seat of the T-car with her own thoughts. 'Azar, you've really done it this time, Raven. In all our fights he's never once brought up my empathetic powers, and from the way he said it I know he's had it at the back of his mind. It's not my fault that I can't tell what his emotions mean. They always seem to scream at me, he feels so much, but it's like his emotions speak another language. He has a good point, though, why do I insult him all the time. Chances are I was the one that started this feud between us with a snarky comment in the first place.'
'You know exactly why you do it, Raven.' Knowledge stated. 'You have a reputation to keep. The Dark Untouchable Empath. If they knew, if he knew, what you really thought and how you really feel he would think you had gone soft and that reputation would be ruined.'
'When you say it like that I sound like a bitch from one of those prepy reality shows Starfife always watches.' Raven replied.
'She's just calling it like it is, Rae Rae,' Rude stated. Raven huffed in disagreement.
'The whole Ice Queen routine is really getting old, Raven.' Brave interjected. 'You wanna know the times he's been the happiest, well, around you anyways. Its when you're real and honest with him. Remember how quick he cheered up when you talked to him after the Beast incident. Or his pleasant surprise when he last came to Nevermore and you told him you didn't not like him. If you let him see the real you, he'd probably ecstatic to find out that you love his jokes, as corny as they are, that you love his goofy smile, that you love the way he brightens up the room when he walks in, or how nothing ever gets him down. I'd remind you of all physical stuff you love about him, but that's more love and lust's departments. Ya gotta be brave and tell him the truth.'
'But my powers-'
'Won't be a problem.' Love, previously known as Affection, stated. 'When you loved Malchior you were in perfect harmony, you could feel anything you wanted to feel with no repercussions.'
'Because I thought he loved me back. When he broke my heart it took everything I had took keep my powers from destroying the city. What would happen if Beast Boy rejects me, or worse, goes along with it even though he doesn't feel the same,' Raven said. 'If, more like when.'
'Trust me girl, when a boy showers you with corny jokes just to get you to smile, he likes you.'
'Not in the few days. He hasn't tried to make me smile once since this little feud began.'
'It isn't little.' Timid spoke. 'He doesn't talk to us unless we're yelling at him and he never looks at us with a smile anymore.'
'I just don't know what to do anymore.' Just then a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hey, Raven, we're home." Cyborg told her looking through the rear view mirror. Starfire had already left, she knew that in times like this Raven wished to be alone, and she did not want what had happened between Raven and Beast Boy to happen between her and Raven. Cyborg saw she hadn't moved, nor did she answer him. 'She's probably havin' one of those internal debates with her emotions.' He guessed. He learned that she had these little debates when she zoned out working with him on the T-car once. 'She never did tell me what she was debating over.' he thought idly as he waited for her to come back to the world.
While Raven was having a debate with her emotions, Beast Boy was having a discussion with his darker side, known to all only as The Beast. The Beast was not an evil being living inside Beast Boy everyone else assumed. It had always been a part of him, ever since he had gotten his powers. He just hadn't realized what it was until it had been given the ability to take form as the monster everyone saw it as in what was dubbed 'The Beast Incident'. He was a primal being of instinct, unadulterated by human culture and uncaring of societies ways. His instincts would constantly clash with Beast Boy's human instincts, which followed certain rules and moral codes. And yet he was still inherently Beast Boy, and yielded to his will. Though that's not to say he does so quietly.
'You should not have to subject the walking rainbow's lead.' The Beast argued. 'You hold the power of the entire animal kingdom at your fingertips and could easily become the alpha of this pack.'
'Dude, I know you're only trying to look out for me, but not everyone can lead, I mean who would be left to follow after?' Beast Boy countered. He knew where this was going, he'd had this argument before.
'The strong are destined to lead, it is the way of life.' The Beast replied.
'I'm perfectly happy with my place on the team. Sure Robin can be overbearing sometimes, but he's a better leader than any of us.'
'What the Mate would say had she heard you thinking such long words. I'll never understand why you hide behind idiocy. A beast such as us should not have so stoop so low.' The Beast growled.
'Dude, why do you still call her that? She absolutely hates me!' The Beast noticed the subject change, but decided to let it go. He loved to discuss The Mate, it always drove the master crazy. It was the same every time. And cue his declaration of love…
'I mean of course she hates me. I'm the idiot that's fallen in love with her, and she's disgusted by it.' And the self-deprecation…
'I'm loud, obnoxious, I smell like wet dog, though that's not really my fault. It's not like I can control the fact that my hair is practically fur! And that's another thing, I'm an animal. I'm probably more like a pet that can talk to her than anything.' Now the exaltation of The Mate…
'And she's so perfect. Always aloof and untouchable, nothing ever gets to her. She changed her own destiny for, Gods sakes! Destined to be the end of the world, and she still did everything she could to be a hero before the end. So strong and independant, I would just drag her down. And she's so beautiful, like a porcelain goddess. And look at me, I'm a green, savage looking freak! My fangs and skin tone alone send girls running. If they knew I had freakish claws on top of that...'
'Who cares what they think? They are but petty humans who shun any who are different. The wilds welcome all, from the mightiest beast to the smallest prey. The strong thrive, and the weak die. You're petty insecurities will be the death of you. You are what humans call a superhero, above the rest, and you deserve the best.'
'I am not! I'm done talking for now. Ugh, if people knew I argued with myself on a regular basis I'd have been locked up along time ago.'
He went into a nose dive as he reached the bay, pulling up just soon enough to skim the water. Robin was smart in telling Beast Boy to fly home, since he knew that flying was one of Beast Boy's favorite escapes from the world, well that and video games. When he got back to the tower he went down to the gym to release those fighting instincts on a punching bag. Even though he was tired from dodging Cinderblock's punches earlier but there was no retaliation. His predator instincts were practically begging for a fight.
"Hey, maybe that's why I've been so ready to fight Raven lately," He mused aloud.
AN- Don't worry, it gets better. This is all just so that I can set up the main story. I already have chapter 2 typed up (and the outline for the next 12-15 some chapters), but I won't post until I get a couple reviews, and trust me I really want to post chapter two. Until next time!
- Dahk