Cindy, who appeared to be in daze, exited the elevator, until she saw Garfield, who saw her at about the same time. At first they froze, then ran to each other. They stopped short, about five feet between them.
"Whoa!" She gurgled.
"Dude!" He replied.
Cindy was blond and slightly shorter than Garfield, who was now taller than Raven. The sorceress watched carefully as the scene unfolded. The girl appeared to be younger than they were, fourteen or maybe fifteen years old.
Gordon Howe opened his briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers.
"Once you sign these papers, I'll be on my way."
Cyborg was the only one present who seemed unimpressed with the young blond.
"I'd like to do a DNA test first, before B signs anything."
Howe pursed his lips before answering. "Understandable, but it's obvious they are kin. Will this take long?"
"Ten minutes, tops."
"Very well, proceed."
Cyborg took saliva samples from both Beast Boy and Cindy, and quickly left for the lab. Robin gestured for everyone to sit at the table, which they did. Once they settled in, Raven spoke.
"Cindy, I know you're going through a very difficult time, and I will share with you that all of us have also lost our parents; but we, and that includes Gar, are wondering why we've never heard of you or your parents. Gar had no idea any of you existed."
A sad expression spread over her face.
"I didn't know that Garfield existed, until a few days ago, after the accident." Her voice warbled.
Raven placed a hand on her forearm. "We aren't angry with you … it's just been very unsettling for Gar to learn all this; and I will admit for me too."
Cindy wiped away her tears. "My parents explained it in their will." She looked at Howe, who nodded.
"I'll explain. Cindy was born around the time Garfield got sick. Her parents were afraid that he was contagious. They wrote to Mark and Marie, telling them that they would like to wait until there was no doubt that they couldn't catch Sakutia and that Garfield would survive … then there was the canoe accident. They thought that Garfield died with his parents, since their remains were never found, they had no idea that he could morph and save himself. Then the government came to collect Garfield and when the agents became aware of his powers they chose to not tell Bill that Garfield was still alive. And given that Garfield lived far away and was very young, he never met his uncle and apparently was not told about him or he simply forgot."
"That's quite a story … you wouldn't happen to have a picture of Bill Logan?" Robin remarked.
"I have one in my briefcase."
Howe rummaged through his attache case and handed a photo to Beast Boy. Gar looked at it and frowned.
"Is something wrong?"
"This is a picture of my dad."
"While I cannot ascertain this, I believe that your father and uncle were identical twins. We know from their birth certificates that they were twins, but we weren't sure they were identical. It now appears that they were." He handed Gar a copy of Bill Logan's birth certificate. There was an X in the 'multiple births' checkbox. The birthday was the same as his father's.
Just then Cyborg returned from his lab.
"Well?" Howe asked.
"They're related all right … but what's odd is that they share 65% of their DNA. That's kind of rare for cousins."
"Gar and Cindy are the half siblings." Starfire quickly remarked.
"What!?"Cybirg shrieked.
"Gar and Cindy do not share parents, but since their fathers were identical twins, from a purely genetic perspective they are half siblings, and the DNA test proves that." Raven calmly explained.
"Their dad's are twins?" Cyborg shrieked
"They are."
Gar stood up. "Cy, is what Raven just said correct?"
"Uh … yeah … it would explain why you and Cindy share so much DNA."
He turned to the blond girl. "So you're my sister."
She wiped away some tears with the back of her hand. "And you're my brother."
Howe cleared his throat. "Legally, you're cousins, even if biology says something else."
Beast Boy grabbed the papers. "Where do I sign?"
"Here … as Garfield Mark Logan please, and here … and here. I need a witness too , someone without a secret identity, if you please."
"I can do it." Raven replied. Howe showed her where to sign and she signed "Raven Roth". Howe collected the papers and gave Garfield a copy of them.
"Cindy has an insurance paid trust fund, it should be more than enough to cover all her expenses. Garfield you will be her trustee until she turns 18, then she can spend it as she sees fit."
"I understand, I had one of those too, except my trustee stole it."
"Yes, we learned about Mr. Register. That was most unfortunate. Anyway, it's time for me to leave. I'll have Cindy's possessions sent from the foster home tomorrow." He looked at Raven. "You have something she can wear until then?"
"We are about the same size and I do have some civvies and some pajamas she can wear tonight."
Cindy looked overwhelmed. "Thanks … I know that we've never met before … but I feel … OK … I'm not alone anymore."
"You're a member of our family now." Robin remarked before escorting Howe back to his car.
Cindy took a deep breath. "I still can't believe it ... my parents died three days ago and now I learned that I have a brother, a brother who's a super hero. I've lived all my life here in Jump and you were here and I didn't know ..." She broke down crying.
Gar wrapped his arms around her. "You have three brothers and two sisters."
"Friend Beast Boy is correct. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Starfire, I am from the planet Tamaran, where my name is Koriand'r. I have long considered Beast Boy to be my brother, so you are now my sister."
"Star's also a princess … pretty cool, huh?"
The sorceress nodded at Cindy. "And I'm Raven."
"Yes, I know who all of you are, I mean, everyone in Jump knows who you are … are you also Garfield's honorary sister?" She sniffled.
"Actually, I'm his girlfriend."
Cindy smacked her forehead. "Of course you are. Everyone knows that … so, does that mean that someday you're going to be my sister in law? And … are you also a princess?"
Raven smiled one of her tiny Raven smiles. "I think it might still be premature to assume that, but; it isn't out of the question. As for being a princess … not exactly. I also welcome you to the Tower and our extended family." She then gestured at the Tin Man.
"I'm Cyborg, but you can call me Vic. I'm the Tower's quartermaster. I'll be getting a room put together for you soon. Until then I'm sure you can bunk with one of the girls."
"Oh yes, yes! You can stay with me! We can do the hair braiding and the painting of the toenails. And I will take you to the mall of shopping! And tonight will also eat the iced cream … Raven, you will join us?"
Raven felt a sensation of relief flood over her. Cindy was clearly distraught and would be in far better hands with Starfire.
"I suppose I can join you later."
"Welcome to Titans Tower." Robin exclaimed, as he had already returned.
-(-)-
As promised, Starfire took Cindy to her room, with a tub of ice cream and a box of cookies in hand. As they entered the room Cindy's eye grew wide.
"Pink is your favorite color, huh?"
"Oh yes, it is the most glorious of colors." She put the food down and began to call out in a sing song voice: "Here Silkie, come here Silkie! I am home and have brought a new friend!"
The blond looked a little perplexed. "Is Silkie your cat?"
"He is my bumgorph … Silkie, where are you?"
"Bumgorph?"
"There you are!" Starfire exulted as she bent over on the far side of her bed to pick up the still unseen pet. She stood up and turned around, proudly presenting her beloved larvae to her guest.
"What is that thing!?" Cindy shrieked.
"He is a giant moth larvae."
"You mean he's one of Killer Moth's monsters?"
Star kissed her dear bug. "Silkie is not a monster."
"He will be once he goes through metamorphosis!"
"They only become moths when subjected to a special hormone developed by Killer Moth, and even then the process is reversible." Starfire then attempted to hand Silkie to her new friend. "Do you wish to hold him?"
"I'll pass."
"As you wish, So, shall we begin with the braiding or the toenail painting?"
"Braiding … I'll braid you first. You have nice hair, Starfire."
"Glorious! Let us sit! Friend Raven does not do the braiding, as her hair is too short."
They were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door."
"That must be Raven. Enter friend! The door is open."
Raven had to suppress a smile as she entered, because Silkie was trying to snuggle up to Cindy, who tried, as discretely as she could, to push Silkie away. Using her dark energy, Raven scooped up the grub and deposited it in it's crib. Cindy mouthed a silent 'thank you' to the sorceress. Raven sat down on the floor with them.
"So, braiding hair … looks like fun. Too bad my hair is too short for that." She droned in her monotone. "Cindy, would you like some ice cream or cookies?"
"Both please." She replied as she took a good look at Raven. She had seen pictures of both girls in newspapers and magazines before, but they didn't do justice to their unusual pigmentation. Starfire had orange skin and unnaturally red hair. Raven was as gray as an overused ashtray in in a bar and her hair was violet. It occurred to her that Raven did not dye her hair.
"So you ladies have super powers, that must be really cool."
"Actually neither of us do." Raven replied as she scooped ice cream for all three of them.
"But you can both fly and ..."
"Starfire is not human. Her abilities are natural for her species. Hence they are not 'super powers', at least not for her."
"I … see … Raven are you also ..." Her voice trailed off.
"I am half human. My abilities are natural for my non human half.:
Cindy considered asking Raven what that half was, but thought better of it. She would ask Gar later.
"You must attend high school." Raven asked.
"Yeah, I go to Murakami school, I'm a freshman."
Starfire leaned over and sniffed the girl.
"You do indeed smell fresh, but you are a female and not a man. I am confused, but then I am often confused by the Earth terminology."
"It means that she is a first year student in high school." Raven attempted to explain.
"I see, but wouldn't she be a freshwoman and not freshman?"
Cindy giggled as she finished braiding Star's hair. "I've thought the same thing. Raven, do you like being my brother's girlfriend?"
"I wouldn't be his girlfriend if I didn't … Cindy, I was just with Gar before coming here. He is just as flabbergasted learning about you as you are learning that he's your cousin. I am wondering if you should consider yourselves siblings, in fact I talked with Gar about this. He seems OK calling you his sister, but I have to admit, I find it somewhat … strange … and I know I'm one to talk. If I had a middle name, it would be Strange."
"I … I guess I find it comforting to think of him as my half brother."
"Which I fully understand."
"Friend Cindy, do you have the boyfriend?"
"My parents wouldn't let me date."
"Hopefully, that will change. But for now you'll have to stay in the Tower." Raven calmly remarked.
"I do? Why?"
"We have many enemies. And since you do not have powers nor were trained by Batman you could be a target."
Cindy paled. "A target?"
"You could be kidnapped and held hostage to control us. Don't worry, we'll figure something out so you go out. Cyborg has some holographic disguising technology you can use. Gar and I are taking you out to lunch tomorrow, so you don't get cabin fever."
"Thank you, Raven."
The sorceress got up.
"You ladies will excuse me, I need to go meditate. I'll see you in the morning."
Raven left and closed the door behind her.
"Does she always talk in that deadpan?"
Starfire nodded. "Raven is complicated."
"Complicated? What do you mean?"
Star smiled. "Perhaps that is best left to discuss another day."
-(-)-
Raven walked quietly walked down the hall, but walked past her room. Instead, she stopped in front of Beast Boy's room. She knocked on the door, which he opened.
"You're back?"
She entered his room closing the door behind her.
"We're taking your cousin out for lunch tomorrow. I suggest we take her to the Good Earth. They can handle bunny food munchers like you and people like me who eat real food."
"Very funny, Rave. But yeah, it's a good choice."
She sat down on his lower bunk.
"So what'cha wanna do? Watch a video?" He asked.
With a complete poker face she replied.
"I made you a promise this afternoon. I intend to keep it."
-(-)-
The next day, lunchtime ...
A seagull hovered overhead, gliding on the warm afternoon thermals, poised to steal an unguarded morsel from the bay side restaurant's outdoor terrace. It was a perfect day, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature was pleasant. The seagull swooped down to poach a stray piece of bread left on an empty table, but was intercepted by a scary looking obsidian colored bat like creature, which chased it away. Its mission accomplished, the bat dissolved and disappeared.
Cindy did her best to not stare at the Chromatically Challenged Couple. In less than 24 hours she went from living with foster parents who served her disgusting food for dinner to living in the city's most famous landmark and her roommates were the town's beloved superheroes.
But that wasn't all of it. She learned that her previously unknown cousin was the world famous Beast Boy, and he was sitting across the table from her. In the sunlight he looked even greener than when she first met him. His ears looked even pointier and his fang seemed to stick out more than before. But what really unnerved her was how much they looked alike. She figured that if she were to dye her hair and wear green makeup that she could pass as his double.
And then there was Raven, his cousin's strange girlfriend, as in Strange with a capital 'S'. In the bright sunlight her complexion was even more ashen and her hair looked even more violet. If asked she would agree that Raven was very pretty, in a Morticia Addams kind of way. And she always spoke in that creepy monotone. She wondered what she was like when she made out with Gar, but quickly decided she didn't want to know.
"So … I've never been here before. What do you guys recommend?"
"You gotta try the Buddha Burrito!" Gar enthused.
"I don't recommend that." Raven added in her monotone, then frowned. "Gar hoodwinked me once into trying it, but forget to tell me it has tofu in it. I don't like tofu."
Cindy suppressed a grimace as she also hated tofu. It was rarely reported in the news that Beast Boy was a vegetarian, but she remembered hearing that a few times.
"So, Raven; I take that you're not a vegetarian."
"Your take is correct."
"So, what do you recommend?"
"I like the Jump City sandwich."
"Which is a carnivore nightmare." He interjected.
"It has ham, turkey, roast beef and bacon on a crescent roll with guacamole."
"That sounds like my kind of sandwich." Cindy agreed.
"You're a Logan, you can't eat meat!" He protested,
"Gar, were your parents vegetarians?" His gray beauty asked.
"You know they weren't … but just because … oh, forget it. You two go ahead and eat the remains of poor innocent animals that were murdered."
Cindy burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"You are, I didn't know you were one of those."
"A one of what!?"
Raven placed a hand on her beau's shoulder and he immediately calmed down. Cindy was impressed.
The waiter arrived and took their order.
The bay was crawling with boats of all kinds as people took their watercraft out to enjoy the splendid day. As they ordered they failed to notice that one of the boats, a small yacht, had cast anchor a few hundred feet away. A small window on the boat opened and a camera lens poked out, and the shutter could be heard, snapping away dozens of times. After a few minutes the lens receded back inside and the window shut. The anchor was retrieved and the boat quietly moved away.
-(-)-
Not a lot of action in this chapter, but now you know Cindy a little better. Let me hear from you and I'll try to update again by Sunday
And now, since so many of you responded, I'm bringing back the mail bag!
MRAY 4TW – It would be interesting if we could visit our own minds the way Raven can visit Nevermore.
Herpderphollystar – Thanks! I had no idea I was your favorite writer!
RPGPersona – Now you know she's legit.
Thowell3 -I haven't heard from you in a while. I hope I can keep your interest.
The-Fallen-Spirit – Ask and you shall receive.
Guest – I hope I can keep you that way.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast – Yeah, I think that's why Cy insisted on the DNA test.
Johnny Beast – Yeah, she's 14, a few years younger than the Titans in this story.
Golem XIV – They're my "go to" law firm.
Guest – Thanks for your kind words.
TheBigK1 – Glad you like it so far
Sparity101 – Continuing it is.
ThommyPickles – I hope the explanation given satisfies you.
Invader Johnny – Definitely a big responsibility for BB. Lucky for him Raven will help him.
Anonymoose – Considere yourself signed up!
Bob – I have flair? I had no idea!
TheAlienHeart – No clone here. She's the real thing.
Nw150 – We can't have your head exploding!
Knightstef – I will do my best.
Titanfan45 - I'm goingto try to make this different from my previous stories.
Hulkshiny – Thanks!