Fragile Beginnings
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans
A/N: This will probably be the only author's note but yes i have rewritten the chapters. The fic will only be 10-12 chapters long.
Age bump:
Robin: 17
Starfire: 17
Cyborg: 18
Bumblebee: 17
Beast boy: 16
Raven: 16
Raven grimaced as she gazed at the sleeping human form of Plasmus. She was covered head to toe in pink goo and Robin was already talking to the authorities that had arrived on the scene fifteen minutes ago. The street, sidewalks, and unfortunate parked cars were caked in the toxic substance. And all she really wanted was a long, hot shower and to actually feel and be clean. The crime alerts had been high as it always was at that time of year but more so with criminals and robberies than actual villains.
"I believe that I am in need of a shower." Starfire stomped her feet on the way to the T-car in hopes to remove some of the goo from the bottom of her boots.
"Girl, don't we all?" Bumblebee took her hair out of her two afro puffs.
Raven removed her cloak that had been doused with sewer water that mixed in with the unfortunate situation. It was already freezing in Jump City as it had snowed heavily the night before and the wind nipped at their red and irritated noses. She clutched the wool fabric in her right hand before she swung open the back door to the T-car.
She wrinkled her nose as she slid onto the leather seat. "We're gonna need more than just a shower."
"I'm never gonna get this smell out the T-car!" Cyborg had taken to the driver's seat as they waited for Beast boy and Robin.
Despite how cold it was, Cyborg had all four windows rolled down so the smell wouldn't set in. By the time they reached the tower, everyone was chilled to the bone with their teeth chattering noisily. Raven bypassed the Ops room with a mission on her mind. Her indigo cloak was deposited in the washer along with everyone else's uniforms. She pulled out a clean set of clothes and headed for the bathroom that was connected to her own room. She was thankful for Cyborg's recent tower upgrades as this newer one benefited everyone much better.
"I take that didn't go well." Water droplets still trickled from Beast boy's green hair. Nearly an hour had passed by before Raven and Bumblebee appeared in the Ops room.
Bumblebee still had a frown set on her lips. "Let's not talk about it, B."
"Agreed." Raven moved to sit on the end of the U-shaped couch. She had washed and rinsed herself for nearly an hour until her gray skin had turned a light shade of pink. That was when she had decided she was clean enough to get out.
Snowflakes began to gracefully twirl and land on the still snow covered grounds, joined by the howling and whipping of the wind. The winter air was crisp and Jump City had been receiving snow since mid-November. The Ops room was crowded with all six titans busy tending their own activities. Bumblebee had taken up residence in front of the gas fireplace and skimmed through the glossy pages of her magazine. Cyborg and Beast boy were on the edge if the black U-shaped couch, staring intently at the 360-inch plasma display. The large black coffee table was littered with empty soda cans; mostly eaten pizza and trash. Raven had curled up on the couch with her blanket and a rather thick book. Every page or so, she would sneak a glance at the two gamers.
"Better watch out before I kick your metal butt!" The changeling had stood up, his fingers jammed down the controller's buttons.
Cyborg was unfazed by the small comment. It was their normal trash talk. "Look who's in the lead grass stain."
Starfire was busy feeding Silkie a moderate amount of zorka berries as she sat at the kitchen table. Robin sat beside her and ate a cold slice of pepperoni pizza from lunch and watched the plasma screen. Screeching tires were heard as a blue car collided with another in the game; the volume unnecessarily high.
Robin had announced three days earlier on November 29th to be exact, that they would be leaving on vacation to Fiji for a week and a half. The leader had booked their flights in advanced as travel this time of year was always congested.
"Star, Titans East agreed to watch Silkie while we're gone." Robin balanced on his chair so that only two legs touched the tiled floor.
"That's right." Bumblebee said in agreement. "Mas and Menos will take good care of him." The two fourteen-year-old twins were especially fond of Starfire's pet.
Starfire continued to pout at her beloved worm. "Oh my bungorf, I will still miss you dearly." She held the creature tighter to her chest for a moment, her eyes glossed over with tears that wouldn't fall.
Robin had thought it was best to speak up since all the titans were in one place. "Remember, this vacation is mandatory." His eyes drifted to the back of the violet haired woman; implying her. "Be packed and ready in two days."
"Yeah, whatever you say man." Cyborg said absently.
Robin didn't want another incident like their last vacation, when they had actually missed their flight because a certain someone had missed placed their plane ticket. It wouldn't happen this year, he was sure of it and he took extra precautions in doing so. He himself was already packed and ready to leave in two days and on top of that he didn't make the mistake of handing out their tickets and passports.
"…Pass me, but you can't pass me, you can't pass…you passed me!" Beast boy hung his head low before he fell back onto the plush couch; controller toppling from his hand and onto the carpet.
Cyborg grinned and pumped his fist in the air, "Booyah! In your face, BB."
"Whatever." Beast boy mumbled.
Cyborg continued to gloat. "Told ya, you couldn't beat the master."
Beast boy stood up and retrieved the controller and placed it on the small table. "Hey Raven, wanna play battleship?"
Raven folded a corner of her page. "Sure, why not."
"Great." Beast boy hopped over the back of the couch and jogged out of the Ops room towards the game closet in the hallway.
Raven placed her book on the cushion of the couch. With her powers, she cleared off the garbage from the coffee table. All the while ignoring Bumblebee's teasing smile and Starfire's giggles. She wrapped the knitted gray blanket around her shoulders and took her place on the floor.
"You can go first." Raven said as Beast boy returned to the room.
He placed the blue and red box down and took out the pieces. "Alright."
"You're that eager to get your butt kicked again, green bean?" Cyborg continued to tease him.
"Shut up." Beast boy said but the words sounded harsh. The half robot moved to eject the game out of its system. In a matter of seconds, the TV reverted back to its normal station.
Robin pushed his chair in, "Whose playing?"
"It started an hour ago." Cyborg plopped down on the far end of the couch near his girlfriend. "Dallas and Green Bay."
"Cool." Robin trashed his paper plate. He then swiftly kissed Starfire before he made his way to the commons area.
Raven's purple eyes studied the blue plastic grid. They had already been playing for fifteen minutes. "B-7."
"Hit." Judging from Beast boy's tone, he was already losing. "You're not reading my mind are you?"
She rolled her eyes. "If that was the case, this game would've been over by now."
"Face it, you just suck at winning." Robin smirked at over hearing their conversation.
Beast boy crossed his arms over his chest, "Will you guys please quit?"
Cyborg shook his head, "Not a chance."
Raven studied his irritated green face. It was almost…adorable in a way. "It's your turn." She had decided to ignore the harmless teasing.
"H-10."
"Miss."
Raven studied her own grid for a moment, "A-9"
Beast boy groaned even louder, "You sunk my ship."
"That is the point of the game." Raven deadpanned. "C-2."
Raven ignored the next glare that he gave her. "Hit."
The two continued on with the game and Beast boy's grouchiness became worse. Cyborg and Robin were completely absorbed in the football games to tease their friend anymore. Starfire had let Silkie freely roam the tower and took to braiding her own hair. She sat with her back against the couch and animatedly talked to Bumblebee.
"That's game, Rae-Rae." Beast boy grinned at her, his bottom fang poking out. It was surprising enough that he had pulled through and actually won.
Raven nodded and began to place the small gray pieces back into the container. "Please refrain from calling me that."
"What no rematch?" He gestured as she continued to clean up. "Maybe we could play Phase 10 or Chess."
Raven placed her grid into the box. "Thanks but no thanks."
"Why not?"
She rose to her feet and reclaimed her heavy book from the couch. "I still need to pack. And I'm assuming that you still need to as well."
Beast boy's hand wandered to the back of his neck. "I still have another day." It was typical Beast boy and his last minute packing habit.
"I'd figure you'd say that." Raven stared into his green eyes for a moment longer. "If you don't mind…I'm going to go."
After Beast boy nodded at her, Raven had turned and made her way out of the room. Once there, she placed her book back in its place on the shelf and lifted her lavender suitcase onto her bed. She had opened the door to her closet and pulled open her bottom dresser drawer. She hadn't even been alone for eight minutes before she heard a knock on her door.
Raven gritted her teeth, "What?"
"We wish to come in." The voice obviously belonged to Starfire and Raven could sense Bumblebee on the other side.
"Do you think it can wait?" Raven called back and placed another pair of socks on top of white flip flops. "I'm busy."
There was a moment's pause as the two girls whispered to each other. "No but it is of importance."
She debated the fact of considering the two women to even step foot in her room. It wouldn't be the first time she allowed in Bumblebee and Starfire into her room. It had been during one of Starfire's sleepovers when she invited several other female titans. And Raven had sulked through the whole experience of her room being violated and as Starfire called it 'the talking of boys.'
Without further thought Raven slid open her door with her powers. "Then what is it?" Her voice was soft and she kept her back to them.
"We wish to assist you in the packing." Starfire floated two inches off the ground and anticipated Raven's answer.
Raven paused, "And why do you wish to do such a thing?"
"So you don't forget your swim suit," Bumblebee gave her an evil grin. "And other essentials."
She sighed as they approached her, "What makes you think that I'll be swimming?"
"What makes you think you won't be?" Bumblebee shot back and sat beside Raven's luggage.
"Fine, I'll take it." Raven moved to retrieve the offending black two piece from the bottom of her drawer. She wasn't anticipating a debate which she knew she would lose against her friends. "Anything else or is that all?"
Starfire shook her head, "But what about the formal attire?"
Raven wasn't one to discuss her wardrobe or to keep up with fashion statements such as the two before her. Instead she moved to grab her purse and coat off the hook and stopped just before she reached the door. She knew she would regret the words that would leave her mouth. But she didn't want to endure the conversation of what she should and should not pack.
"I'll leave it to you." Raven gestured with her hand. "I trust you not to touch anything else in my room." Her voice was stern to get her point across.
Starfire squealed in delight and Bumblebee fist pumped the air. "Yes."
Raven turned and headed towards the Ops room to notify the rest of her teammates of her whereabouts. She went unnoticed and headed toward the back of the couch. Robin and Cyborg's postures were tense and they leaned forward. The commentary on the football game literally had them on the edge of their seats.
"Go, Go!" Robin had jumped up from his place and Cyborg had clapped his hands together loudly.
The outburst seemed to be enough for the empath that stood behind the couch. She jumped back and clutched her chest in surprise. As if to express that she was startled, a row of Christmas lights burst bulb by bulb. Raven quickly pulled the hood of her coat up to hide the embarrassment that shown on her cheeks from the slip of her powers. It wasn't often that her teammates had surprised her and now she had both of their attention.
"What?" She watched as they shrugged their shoulders. "I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back in time for patrols."
"Where are you going, Rae?" Beast boy stood to the side of her, a can of Root beer in his hands.
Her mouth tugged down in a frown, "Out. And it's Raven, not Rae." She made the special effort to sound exasperated at the given nickname he had given her.
"Can I come?"
Cyborg raised an eyebrow at his friend's question, wondering what had gotten into him all of a sudden. Perhaps it was a new way to irritate her. Cyborg wasn't the only one to find it odd as he shared a look with Robin. They both knew that Raven and Beast boy frequently spent time alone together but boundaries had been placed between them. Raven was able to tolerate the green teenager even more and Beast boy had proved to be less of an annoyance over the years.
"No." Raven replied.
His ears drooped, a look of hurt traced his features before he concealed it and turned to his friends as if nothing happened. He didn't push her with any further questions such as why not? He of all people knew that she needed her space at times. The short girl moved around him and walked up the few steps and the steel doors softly hissed open.
It wasn't long before Raven wandered throughout the crowded corridors in the mall. Despite the fact that her skin was gray, she almost looked normal…for a half demon. She could almost pass for a citizen without her team around which saved her from being smothered by fans and people who didn't like her. It was nearly impossible to walk without bumping into anyone at least every few seconds. People talked, laughed, cell phones constantly buzzed and rang. The aromas of pretzels and sweet cinnamon rolls and other mall foods meshed together.
Raven stepped into her favorite bookstore and pulled off her warm gloves and left her hood up. Her violet hair almost spilled out reaching halfway down her back. She had lost a stupid bet about Cyborg getting the courage to ask Bumblebee out. In result, she had to let her hair grow out and Starfire had enjoyed it all the more as she could braid Raven's hair.
A middle aged woman stood behind a circular counter in the middle of the store. Her brunette curls spilled over her shoulders and cascaded down her back, an elf hat sat atop her head; pink lips set in a gentle smile.
"I'm here to pick up a book I ordered." Raven said in her usual monotone.
The plump woman smiled at her but it faded when Raven didn't return in. "Of course, name please?"
Raven extracted the money from her purse after unzipping it. "Rachel Roth."
Unlike the others, Raven had taken to using her alias when she was out in public. She didn't care as much for the attention when she was being a superhero. The media had pried too much into their personal lives as it was already. Having a source of privacy away from reporters and paparazzi was comforting.
The woman typed a few things on the computer in front of her. "That will be $26.99."
Raven handed over the fifty-dollar bill and accepted her change and a plastic bag that contained her book. A brown gingerbread man stared back at her on the outside of the bag. She nodded her head politely before departing the store and replaced her thick gloves on her hands. If she was going to be on vacation unwillingly, she might as well bring her own entertainment. Once out of sight outside the mall, Raven opened a portal and stepped through. She stood in a familiar alley with small businesses lined up. The slushy brown snow crunched underneath her feet as she made her way through. She stopped once she reached Dark Hat Café. She pushed opened the heavy metal door and a bell tinkled from above.
"Rachel, it's great to see you again." She was immediately greeted by a tall and skinny woman. "What may I get for you?"
"A mug of chamomile tea would be nice."
Raven had visited the café numerous times that the workers and other customers were on first name basis with her. She moved so she sat beside the window in a small booth to herself. A bit of peace and quiet would be nice before their big trip. And she wasn't in anyway eager looking forward to what the contents of her suitcase would hold upon her return.