Disclaimer: I own Teen Titans. Just kidding I don't. (oh god dont sue me please)
As Beastboy and Raven made their way down the hall to the common room to meet with the other Titans, Raven was bombarded with Beastboy's emotions. One moment he would feel confidant and the next he would feel apprehensive. As they got closer and closer to their destination his pace started to slow until he stopped walking.
"Rae?" Beastboy asked quietly, not wanting to alert the others to their position in the hallway. Raven turned to meet his gaze, signaling he had her attention.
"Maybe you should go in first and umm… warm up the crowd a little. I don't look at all like the Beastboy their used to, ya know?" Beastboy quietly asked while he scratched the back of his head. His gaze was fixed to the floor, and the small amount of confidence he felt earlier was replaced completely with apprehension.
Raven needed to ease his worries before they went and talked with the others, or she would never be able to speak. She winced slightly when his confidence left him and was completely replaced with apprehension. Beastboy noticed the mental strain his negative emotions were putting on Raven and quickly tried to better explain his feelings.
"Don't get me wrong; I totally dig the new look and everything. It's just the others might think I'm some creep who broke into the tower." Beastboy explained and replaced his apprehension with calmness, to which Raven was grateful for when her headache instantly vanished.
"I understand… just wait out here while I…" Raven stated until she was interrupted by Beastboy.
"I still want to be in there while you're talking about… us, so be sure to leave the good stuff for when I come in." Beastboy confessed. Raven looked up at the man in front of her and nodded before she turned around and headed for the common room doors.
For an instant, when Raven heard Beastboy explain how he wished to be by her side while she explained their situation, she felt an emotion come from him she wasn't really sure how to identify. It made her stomach tingle, and the rest of her body feel light. She also noticed the small smile on her face before she was about to open the common room doors. Raven quickly replaced her expression with a neutral one before taking a deep breath and slid the doors open with her powers.
Starfire was the first to notice the grey skinned sorceress enter the room and quickly flew to embrace her.
"Friend Raven you are well! I am overjoyed after having worried for days about you and friend Beastboy…" Starfire didn't finish her sentence when she noticed Beastboy wasn't with the empath.
"Is he okay Raven?" Cyborg asked quickly since it was his decision to let Raven have her way with their injured teammate.
"Guys, I'm sure that since Raven's back to normal she's ready to explain what happened two days ago. Give her some space so she can talk." Robin suggested, though the suggestion came out sounding more like an order to the others, so they backed off and gave Raven her space.
"I know a lot happened two days ago, but before I explain anything I want you all to know Beastboy is okay…" Raven explained until she was interrupted by Cyborg.
"See guys, I knew all along Rae would never hurt B." Cyborg professed proudly, earning himself an irritated glare from the empath for having interrupted her. Robin then decided it would be best to tell Raven why they thought it was safe to leave Beastboy with Rage.
"We were worried about the condition the two of you were in when you got to the tower. When we viewed the security footage and I noticed your body language was highly defensive, so we decided that your demon form knew that Beastboy was your friend." Robin explained, and Starfire continued his explanation.
"Yes, and we were just about to do the up checking on you two before you entered the room. Cyborg assured us you would do your best to heal friend Beastboy, and it seems he was right all along. We were just worried after such a long time..." Starfire admitted, and looked ashamed for having doubted Raven.
"It's fine, and I'm glad you all trusted me enough in that state of mind to take care of Beastboy. You were right to avoid Rage, since she would have probably killed anyone who tried to enter the infirmary, but before I explain anything further I want to tell you about Beastboy." Raven explained, and looked at her friends before Cyborg spoke up.
"You said he was fine, why isn't the green bean out here…" Cyborg asked and was interrupted by Raven.
"Before he comes out I want you to know that the healing method I, or rather Rage, used was entirely different than usual… Let's just say he isn't a 'green bean' anymore." Raven admitted and started walking toward the open common room doors. The others watched her walk toward the door and knew she was going to fetch Beastboy, so they waited patiently.
Raven saw Beastboy sitting in the hallway near the door as he listened to their conversation. He lifted his head to look at her, and she nodded her head once to let him know it was time to show the team the new Beastboy.
Beastboy watched Raven reenter the common room and took a deep breath as he prepared to do the same. The short distance felt painfully long to Beastboy, but once he was in full view of his teammates their expressions at his new features showed their obvious surprise.
Robin and Cyborg were in awe that the being in front of them was actually Beastboy. Starfire blushed when noticed she couldn't take her eyes off the well-proportioned changeling. She shook her head to rid her mind of such thoughts, and instead tried filling her mind with images of her leader.
Beastboy watched Cyborg and Robin looking at him like open mouthed fish, while Starfire shook her head in what appeared to be a nervous fashion. Beastboy decided to break the silence the only way he knew how.
"Umm… did I break them Rae?" Beastboy asked and looked over at Raven who actually let out a small chuckle at his joke.
Raven quickly covered her mouth when she noticed her teammates gazes suddenly shifted over to her, due to her sudden break from character. Raven cleared her throat and decided to answer Beastboy's question.
"I don't think so… but if they don't snap out of it I might be the one to break them." Raven threatened. As soon as her threat registered Starfire quickly hovered to Beastboy's side to get a look at his new body and noticed the area he had bandaged before their fight the other day was uncovered and boldly displaying a red raven marking. Her face showed she was visibly curious at the sight of his new body, but more so about the mark on his neck.
"Is this what has caused your transformation?" Starfire asked before she took her index finger and touched the mark on Beastboy's neck. The mark flared bright red before one of Beastboy's clawed hands shot up to grab Starfire's wrist. Within moments of grabbing the Tameranean girl he had her pined against the wall with one hand holding both her wrists above her head. Despite Starfire's superior strength, she seemed too surprised by his quick movements to even attempt an escape.
Robin and Cyborg reacted almost as fast. Robin had his bo-staff equipped and Cyborg had his sonic cannon locked on target. Raven's eyes widened at how quickly their conversation had changed into the beginnings of an all-out brawl. Raven saw Beastboy's teeth were barred at Starfire in what looked to be the expression of an animal that had just been thoroughly ticked off.
"Whatever you did Rae it made him pretty touchy." Cyborg quipped, despite his serious tone and his weapon being aimed at his friend.
Raven could feel Beastboy's anger as well as his possessiveness, and assumed his new demon instincts were driving him. The touch of another female was more than enough to activate the mating mark and make Beastboy see Starfire as a threat to Raven. Unfortunately Starfire's curiosity got the better of her before Raven could explain the mark to her.
"Don't move, I can resolve this without fighting. It also might help to explain what's going on." Raven pleaded, and a few moments later Robin nodded his head, allowing her to do as she pleased.
Raven walked over to the snarling red man with purpose. Beastboy's eyes darted over to Raven as she got closer. He gripped Starfire's wrists tighter due to Raven's close proximity, causing his black claws to dig into Starfire's skin. Cyborg and Robin noticed his aggression was completely on Starfire as Raven was well within striking distance. Raven walked in-between Starfire and Beastboy and embraced him. During their embrace Raven moved one of her hands to lightly stroke the mark on Beastboy's neck and sighed in relief when her touch made the glowing mark dim. As soon as the mark dimmed Starfire let out a yelp as she was unceremoniously dropped to the floor.
Beastboy suddenly felt his own will return and quickly turned his head to his team mates who looked shocked at what they were seeing. Beastboy was confused and concerned since he just witnessed the whole exchange he had with Starfire. Her touch made him angrier than he ever felt before, even though in his right mind he knew she was just curious.
"I'm sorry Star; I don't know what came over me…" Beastboy started to say but was interrupted by Raven.
"No, it's my fault I didn't warn her quicker. I'm sorry for not warning you fast enough Starfire." Raven apologized and looked to see the Tameranean girl come to her senses.
"I am the one who should do the apologizing, friends. I did not know I could cause such a reaction to occur by simply touching Beastboy's…" Starfire's voice trailed off as she tried to think of what to call the mark on Beastboy's neck.
Robin and Cyborg put away their weapons and walked over to Starfire, who just got done picking herself up. Robin checked her over to see if she had any injuries and saw her wrists had claw marks that were starting to drip blood onto the floor.
Beastboy saw her blood and instantly felt ashamed for what he did. He felt Raven tighten her grip on him slightly and instantly realized his negative emotions were affecting her. He gently grasped her shoulders and pushed her away from him so he could apologize, but was caught off-guard when Raven spoke first.
"It's okay Beastboy, I'll be fine. It's just a headache" Raven whispered. When she noticed the others watching them she shrugged Beastboy's hands off her shoulders and walked over to Starfire. Raven chanted her mantra and her hands became enveloped in a soft blue aura. Starfire knew her friends intentions and let her friend's hands hover over her injuries. In a few moments her wounds were closed and Raven stepped back to allow Robin to help Starfire to her feet.
"This isn't going to be a problem in the future is it?" Robin asked and looked at Beastboy with a stern expression. To Robins surprise it was Raven who answered him.
"Not if any girls touch my mark again. With demons if another female tries to tamper with a male demons mark they would see it as a challenge to their master, who placed the mark on them in the first place." Raven explained, and heard Cyborg gasp.
"Master? Like now you own Beastboy? Man, Rage must really hate you B to want to keep you alive as a slave." Cyborg quickly assumed. Beastboy corrected him since he couldn't be more wrong.
"Not hate dude. I think Rage is kinda in love with me, since you can only get a mark like this if a demon wants to… uh… you know." Beastboy then put his hands up to show his right index finger going into a hole made with his left thumb and index finger. The gesture explained everything beautifully in a way only Beastboy could accomplish. Raven pinched the bridge of her nose in slight irritation at his impression of what they had done.
"You mean that you and Raven had…" Cyborg yelled, but was interrupted by Raven.
"Technically it was Rage. It happened the night before we went to battle and Beastboy had that bandage covering it up. The way he looks now is also a gift from Rage after Beastboy got injured." Raven explained which gave Cyborg and Robin shocked expressions.
"Please what is this finger hole gesture we are saying Rage has done to friend Beastboy?" Starfire asked innocently her focus more on Robin, since he was the one to usually explain earthly customs to her.
"Well uh it's… uh you see…" Robin stammered until Cyborg came to the rescue.
"It means intercourse Star." Cyborg answered and luckily Starfire knew what intercourse meant.
"Friend Beastboy and friend Raven have done the mating with each other?" Starfire asked, and Raven answered by busting most of the lights above their heads with her powers.
"Can we turn the conversation elsewhere?" Raven mumbled, and the others quickly agreed to change the subject.
"One thing I'm curious about is how this change is going to affect your powers Beastboy." Robin mentioned and saw that Beastboy had a worried look when he mentioned his powers.
"I haven't even tried them yet." Beastboy said and was about to change when Cyborg interrupted him.
"Whoa, take it easy. If you say you haven't morphed yet, then wait until I can get some equipment ready to scan your different forms to test for differences in their physical make up." Cyborg asked and Robin also pointed out another minor detail.
"We also probably need to get you some new uniforms, since you can't go around wearing scrubs into battle." Robin smiled and Beastboy chuckled in agreement.
Raven almost forgot she was still wearing scrubs and wished this conversation was over now that what needed to be said had been said. Her stomach suddenly growled and was audible to everyone.
"Rae's right guys, we haven't eaten in two days. I think we should take five for lunch." Beastboy suggested and everyone agreed.
"I'm going to change first. Don't wait up." Raven said and started walking to her room.
Raven entered her room and started heading for her closet when she spotted Beastboy's 'lucky' uniform on her dresser. She picked it up and saw the claw marks along the front of it. Mending those wouldn't be much help now since Beastboy's recent growth spurt. Raven felt bad that he had to go around wearing scrubs until he got a new uniform, and she didn't know any spells to change it into something better. Or did she? Suddenly Raven remembered the existence of a particular spell book that just might help Beastboy's lack of uniform problem after all.
Raven decided to change first and got out a fresh cloak and leotard. After she was done changing and was clad in her proper superhero attire she walked to her bookshelf. She searched for the tome which she thought would solve her problem. When she found it she cracked open its dusty pages and searched for the correct spell.
"What's takin Raven so long? She's gotta be hungrier than me since she probably used up a ton of energy to transform me." Beastboy said between large mouthfuls of tofu.
"She probably needed to meditate since she probably hasn't been alone after you two got hitched." Cyborg quipped which made Beastboy open his mouth to reject, but he closed it knowing he was probably right.
"I'm going to go check on her and bring her some lunch if that's the case." Beastboy replied, choosing not to get goaded into an argument whether he and Raven were 'hitched.'
Beastboy picked up a sandwich he had made her as well as a cup of her herbal tea. After watching her make it so many times he knew exactly how she liked hers made. He walked with the food and drink until he made it to Raven's door. Just when he was about to knock the door glowed black with power and opened.
"I guess now knowing where I am at all time is another perk from the mark?" Beastboy asked with a chuckle before letting himself in.
"Yes, I can sense your emotions at all times and they are much more powerful the closer you are to me." Raven replied, and then noticed the tray of food in Beastboy's hands which made her stomach growl audibly.
"Herbal tea and a sandwich piled high with vegies, cheese and chicken comin' right up!" Beastboy enthusiastically announced as he walked over to where Raven was sitting on the floor with a large book and various spell ingredients spread out in front of her.
"Thank you Beastboy that was kind of you." Raven said before accepting the food. The sandwich was larger than normal, which she was thankful for since she felt literally starved. The herbal tea was made well and tasted exactly the way she liked it.
"When did you learn to make herbal tea?" Raven asked and Beastboy crossed his arms confidently.
"Well when you watch someone who makes it every day, it's kind of hard not to learn right?" Beastboy smiled when he answered which made Raven blush lightly under his gaze. His smile was already charming to begin with, but now it was downright dashing. Raven quickly collected herself and took a bite of her sandwich.
"So Rae, what's this little project that's got you skipping lunch?" Beastboy asked when he looked at the various powders, and leaves strewn about on the floor. Raven chanted her mantra and from Raven's bed an article of clothing flew and landed in Beastboy's hands.
"My old uniform?" Beastboy asked and noticed it was the one from his night together with Rage since it had a large tear down the front of it.
"Yes, I think I have found a spell that can change it into a new one that fits you." Raven answered.
"You don't have to do that Rae. Cyborg can have a new one drawn up and made…" Beastboy started to say when Raven interrupted him.
"In a couple of weeks. This should take a few moments and will get you out of those scrubs." Raven also didn't mention she was curious as to what he would look like in a skin tight uniform. She would die if he ever found that out, so she held onto that thought.
"Well if you make it sound so easy… do you have everything you need?" Beastboy asked and Raven looked over to her book and scanned the pages to quickly make sure her ingredients list was in order.
"Ah, one more thing." Raven chanted her mantra and a sharp blade of magic appeared and disappeared in a flash over Beastboy's head, taking a lock of red hair from his head.
"Dude! A little warning would have been nice!" Beastboy whined, while Raven picked up the small clump of red hair off the floor and added it to an earthenware bowl to be mixed.
When the hair and ingredients were mixed, the hair sparked and disintegrated, leaving only a fine powder. Next Raven laid out the old uniform, including his shoes, belt, and gloves in front of them and dusted it entirely in the powder, not leaving any part uncoated. Next she took some of the powder and laid some in a circle around the uniform before reaching for the book and reading the incantation.
"Accipe Vestimenta Vetus Lacerabuntur et deferre ad novum!"* Raven chanted and the garment glowed bright red before bursting into flames. Beastboy grabbed Raven and rushed away from the flames, but noticed as he grabbed her the flames were not that hot. When the flames died down they revealed an all-black uniform with three dark red tear marks starting from the left shoulder and ending at the right waistline. The back of the uniform had the same three tear marks but started on the opposite shoulder and ended on the opposite waistline. The belt was red chrome with black ebony inlay and the buckle had a red chrome wolf skull with its mouth open as a focal point. The black gloves had the red raven mark on the backs and his shoes changed into black combat boots, with the red raven mark facing outward on each side of the boots.
"Umm, you can let go of me now." Raven asked and Beastboy quickly let go of her.
"Oh right sorry, heh." Beastboy said and scratched the back of his head nervously.
Beastboy and Raven looked down at the uniform and Beastboy smiled in approval.
"This is totally wicked Rae, I thought your spell would give me the same uniform and make it pink!" Beastboy joked, and Raven sighed when she saw what she had made for him. The uniform would definitely look good on him, no doubt. She just hoped she could handle herself around him when he wore something so clingy.
"Well since the spell required a lock of your hair, I'm assuming that is what makes the spell alter the clothes to a specific person." Raven explained and while Beastboy traced the sewn raven mark on the combat boots.
"Well this will definitely do for now, and I can get Cyborg to make copies. I don't want you doing that spell again and burning the place down." Beastboy replied. Raven was about to retort when Beastboy grabbed his things and started to make for the door.
"I can't wait to try these out Rae! Finish up your lunch and I'll be in the common room showing this off to the guys!" Beastboy exclaimed and rushed out her door. Raven sighed and looked at the half eaten sandwich on the floor along with the messy dust ring that contained the non-dangerous fire which she had to pick up. She decided she would eat first.
Beastboy slipped on the full body suit, pulled on his gloves, attached his belt, and laced up new boots. He walked over to his full length mirror and liked what he saw. He did a few mock poses and watched the muscles underneath ripple and quake.
"Oh yeah, this will definitely work. I look even cooler than that Red-X dweeb!" Beastboy laughed and decided to show the others his new uniform.
Beastboy walked confidently down the halls and decided he wanted to stop and show Raven his new uniform instead of waiting for her to see with the others. After all it was her handy work, and she should be the first to see. Raven's door glowed black and slid open due to his presence at the door. He walked in proudly and proclaimed his appreciation for the new uniform.
"Look Rae, I thought you should see before the others. Doesn't it look totally awesome?!" Beastboy exclaimed, and Ravens eyes widened at his form. She was right about her earlier assumptions and had a hard time stammering out her next few words.
"It looks good on you." She replied curtly, not wanting to stumble over a longer appreciation or to give him an unneeded ego boost.
"Good? That's it?" Beastboy asked slightly deflated at her remark. Raven sighed and decided to answer a little more truthfully, just to keep his spirits up.
"Really good." Raven replied, and Beastboy smiled. He saw she had finished her meal and went to pick up her dishes. Raven chanted her mantra and the dust on the floor floated into the trashcan. The two walked out to the common room to meet the others again.
"Woah B, I'm digging the new threads!" Cyborg proclaimed and looked around him at the new clothes the changeling wore.
"Yes they are indeed the cool." Starfire added and took a turn to look at them as well.
"How did you get those here so fast?" Robin asked and Raven decided to answer.
"I found a spell that took one of his old uniforms and changed it into a totally new one. Though it did almost set my room on fire, so it would probably be a good idea to make replicas of this one rather than perform that spell multiple times.
"Alright we will make sure Beastboy has more uniforms. But now I think would be a good time to test out Beastboy's powers. We can take the testing equipment outside on the beach that way Beastboy will have plenty of room and we can test out his aquatic forms." Robin explained, and Beastboy smirked proudly.
"It's been too long already, and I'm dying to see how my animal forms have changed." Beastboy confidently stated and Robin nodded in approval.
"Alright I want everyone out on the beach in ten. Cyborg and Starfire start carrying the testing equipment down to the beach, along with the portable generator. Robin ordered and the two nodded and headed off to collect the testing equipment that would analyze Beastboy for any abnormalities. Robin walked with them to supervise, leaving Raven and Beastboy together in the ops room until it was time to head down to the beach.
"Take these garments old and torn, and make them new to be worn"* That's what I was trying to go for with this, but if you go to Google translate it you might get something hilarious. Don't blame me blame translate! Anyways I am glad to say I am done with my week long sickness and week long procrastination. Last week I was sick with High fever all week and before that this chaper hadnt hit my brain yet, so I apologize! Kind of a filler-ish chapter but still necessary imo. How do you like Beastboy's new uniform? Badass right? I hope you guys think so since thats what I was going for. I don't know what new 52 BB wears and I don't care because I wanted to create my own uniform haha! Review and tell me how well you thought the teams reactions were. Review telling me whatever. Just Review!
-Rebellion Rising
