Camera 15: Cyborg's Eye
He felt like fire as his cheeks flushed bright red right through his green and then beige skin. How he had waited forever for this moment… It felt like hours just standing there—bodies so close… His lips pressed right up there against hers. Starfire's screams from the pressure and Cyborg's yelling faded away as all Beast Boy could concentrate on were this moment—caught forever in time (and tape). He didn't want to pull away… He didn't want to pull away…
"Want some tofu?" "No." "Then what do you want?" "Tea would be nice." "I won this for you!" "A giant chicken… I must be the luckiest girl in the world." "I didn't know Raven played with her hair…" "Dude, I wouldn't touch that!" "It's a portal into my mind!" "Dude! Raven—chill!" "Where'd he send you?" "The gym." "I hate you, Raven!" "Good riddance!" "Don't talk to me anymore you bitch!" "What grudge?" "He's over it."
…Raven and Beast Boy? You're talking about a whole new ballpark.
Beast Boy pulled away sucking in some much needed air. He gasped. It seemed like his whole life had flashed before his eyes. Whoever said that only happens when you die was a liar. Even five feet away from Raven, he could still feel her lips upon his. As a unconscious action he was implied to touch the tingling it left behind. It was a first kiss… For them both.
The sewers came whirling back to him snapping him from his dream-like state. Starfire was running to Nightwing's side as Cyborg dismantled Adonis. So… Everything's okay? Beast Boy's fleeting thoughts ran circles in his head, What about… What about Raven?
He blanked out before he hit the ground.
Camera 3: Gym and Medical Bay
"Gee… It seems we've been coming back here a lot lately." Richard commented the situation. Kori fussed over his minor wounds as Vic checked out the security monitors. "What happened anyway?"
"I just told you!" Kori whined, "Did you lose your memory too now?"
"No. Can't you repeat it one more time please?"
She sighed, "Fine. But only because you asked nicely." Her smile brought a cocky grin out of him. "Rachel… Got a little P.O.'d when Adonis tried to hit on her. And well… She lost control when she tried to overly kill him."
"Kill him?" Dick exclaimed shocked.
"No no," Kori waved her hand around to fan away Dick's assumption, "She wasn't planning to kill him… I hope." Kori muttered quietly. "But anyway! You know that's not the point, she didn't even harm you! And Beast Boy helped!"
"Oh yeah, I remember that, you told me that part."
"Ugh! Dick, you said you wanted me to repeat it!"
"Fine! Repeat it!" Dick said a little angrily.
"Well, too bad now!" Kori said steaming.
"Hey hey, quiet ya'll!" Vic popped his head through the door, "We got patients here ya know."
Dick stole a glance at his wife, but she was already heading for the exit. Gar groaned loudly and tilted his head up. As soon as Gar noticed Dick and Kori were gone he sighed and shrank back down onto the soft pillows of the Med Bay. Staring at the ceiling, he contemplated on the recent events. Truth be told, he was actually awake for over an hour listening to the other Titan's conversations.
Surprisingly Kori and Vic had kept Dick in the dark—not telling him Gar's (now biggest) secret.
He sighed again. Why did he even do it? Because Vic told him to? To save Nightwing? Or was it really because he loved Rachel? His fingers found their way to his lips again. What was this feeling? He couldn't stop thinking about her… His thoughts just kept drifting back to that moment…
Why?
He resolved to start with getting out of this bed first. But he wouldn't look at her. Gar knew exactly where she was—in the bed right next to him. And… How should he say this? Coat-less. She had a plain dark purple tank top on underneath, but that didn't stop him from blushing. Fuck Adonis for ripping her coat off.
The metallic whoosh of the automatic sliding door was heard as Vic rushed into the Med Bay.
"Vic?" Gar said suddenly and jerked up.
"Yo B! Are you all right? When did you wake up?"
"Um… Not long ago… Five minutes at the max." Gar lied.
"You should lay down man…" Vic suggested. Gar nodded and did as he was told.
"You know Vic…"
"Yeah."
"I was just wondering… If the Titans get back together…" Gar sighed, "Will I have to quit my job and move in here and everything?"
Vic was silent for a moment. How should he know? To his co-workers, he was on a nice vacation somewhere in Hawaii. The pay was nicer as a superhero, and the benefits were great too… But it was as Rachel had said fifteen years ago: They were just getting too old. By now, he would've considered himself married and with kids. Starting a family—not a team. To his realization Vic had never actually thought about it. He had never really thought about what he was going to do after he had gotten a stable job and climbed to a high position. What was he going to do? He shook his head, right now he had a television show to tape and distractions weren't part of the plan.
"I don't know Gar. Really. I don't know."
They both sat there thinking… About their lives, their futures, their pasts… But it was interrupted by a soft groan from the other bed. Gar immediately shot up to see who it was—even though subconsciously he already knew—and shot back down after realizing what he was doing. He grabbed the pillow from under his head and smashed it into his face trying to block out any light and noise. Vic looked at Gar strangely but knew better than to tease him.
Rachel groaned again.
"How do you feel?" Vic asked her.
She shook her head, "Like shit."
"Want anything?" Vic asked, "Food… Water… Pills…?"
She shook her head. She was silent for a while and without looking over she asked, "Why is Garfield blushing?" Gar pressed the pillow further into his face.
"Um… I don't know." Vic said nonchalantly. He snatched the pillow out of Gar's hands revealing only what Gar was trying to hide.
"What was that for?" Gar whispered.
"Stop pressing the pillow into your face!" Vic said and then in a softer voice he asked, "Why are we whispering?"
"Because I don't want," Gar jerked his head toward Rachel, "To hear me!"
"What do you mean?" Vic whispered.
"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Gar whispered back angrily.
"I can still hear you—if that's what you mean." Rachel answered.
Camera 9: Roof
Dick's spikey hair rustled softly in the light breeze. He watched the endless ocean churn in small circles and crash about the shore. He turned around as he heard the rooftop door open and close.
"So this where you've been?" Vic said. Dick nodded.
"Yeah… It's really peaceful up here. I never really thought about it… Aside from the occasional storm or something, it's nice up here." Dick commented.
"That's why every building's got one Nightwing." Vic said a little sarcastically. Dick nodded again.
"Well, now I know why Rachel used to come up here a lot…"
"Yup. This sure was her favorite place to be." Vic said.
"So…" Dick started, "How's life? Doing good?"
"Mmm Hmm. Still trying to pick up a girl… Not so much luck." The metal man sighed.
"Eh. You'll find someone someday." Dick reassured him, "I mean, look how long it took Kori and I. Now that's long."
Vic snorted and rolled his eyes, "You're telling me."
Camera 13: Raven's Room
Rachel landed on her old bed unceremoniously. Soaking up the old scents were like soaking up the past. After the awkward chat in the Med Bay, Gar had offered to take her to her room but she had declined and now regretted having him here to talk to.
Why?
What did she deserve to have go through this guilt again? This was only supposed to happen in your teens! She was always the one who said no to everything… And yet, was always the one who said yes in their heart. She sighed. What did she want? For Gar to come and visit her or something? She shook her head. No, that wasn't it. When Rachel wants something—Rachel goes and gets it.
The door was closed and the curtains shut tight. Lights were off, no night light, no nothing... Save the few strands that managed to make it past the window curtains. Almost everything was exactly as she had left it fifteen years ago.
So was that it Robin? To make each and every one of us come back to this tower and reminisce? Is that it? She was a bit angry with him. Why not clean out the rooms and make it into something else? Another gym perhaps? Storage closet? Game room? Why leave it the way it was? …Why Robin? And why go change your name and not your home? Why?
Rachel rolled over groaning. Too many questions to be answered in too little a time. Another five minutes and she had more questions pouring in left and right.
When would she go? Tonight maybe? Tomorrow? The day after that? Never…? Ever since Gar had intercepted her departure on the roof, she was always wondering when she would go. It was only natural. Then would she follow him? Follow Garfield. When he goes, she goes. But what if he stays—forever? Would she too?
Rachel moved her bangs out of her face revealing her trademark charka. How long she had kept it hidden from the world… How long she had kept these questions hidden… And more.
And what was up with Gar today? After the fight with Adonis it was painfully obvious something was up. Gar kept trying to avoid her gaze... avoid eye contact. Wait-no, scratch that, he wouldn't even look at her. At all hardly! Well, she'd find out sooner or later.
Her eyes wander the ceiling counting the dots like stars. The dull light that shone through the curtains wavered slightly. There was only one solution: To answer most of her questions she'd need to find a certain someone. And that certain someone would probably be in the lobby eating tofu at this moment.
"What a pain." She mutters quietly before getting up and opening the door to the hallway.
Camera 5: Elevator
As Rachel stepped into the elevator, she caught Kori rounding the corner. In a light sprint, the redhead joined Rachel in the confined space.
"What floor?" Rachel asked.
"One." Kori answered, "You?"
"Two."
"The Lobby huh? Hungry?" Kori asked once the elevator doors closed shut.
"No." Rachel said curtly and added softly, "I mean…not really."
"Giving people a slightly different answer that means the same thing…" Kori paused, "That won't change anything you know." Rachel sighed. Powers or no, Kori could see right through her.
"What do you want me to say then?" She asked turning away to break eye contact.
"I don't know." Kori shrugged, "Why don't you ask him?" She smiled as the elevator stopped upon reaching the Lobby. Rachel scowled and muttered something incoherent knowing exactly who she was referring to.
Camera 2: Lobby
As Rachel stepped into the Lobby she spotted Gar. He wasn't eating tofu, he wasn't playing Game Station, and he wasn't reading comic books… He was resting—peacefully—on the couch no less. She silently walked up to him leaning over the back of the couch to get a better look—still amazed he could ever be silent.
What?
Rachel shook her head, chastising herself for assuming fifteen years worth of life. Why should Gar still be the same as he was back then? She shouldn't assume such things… And yet she did. Why? Because she was still tied to the past that she can't get rid of no matter how hard she tried? Then let her assume… Let her assume.
As Rachel was deep in thought, Gar smelled someone in the room. Almost jumping at the sight of Rachel right in front of him—staring straight at him no less—he almost screamed. How he managed to keep a cool composure even he himself didn't know.
"Hey… Rachel?" Gar asked having not moved an inch. She didn't move. She seemed to be concentrating on something far off into the distance even though she was standing right here… Right in front of him. His cheeks flush red remembering the last time they were so close… Why can't he forget that moment? That moment he was waiting for the whole time…?
"Rachel?" He asked again this time a bit louder. She blinked twice but didn't seem surprised to see him.
"Hey."
"Umm… What are you doing here?"
"To talk I guess." She shrugged.
"What about?" Gar answered silently dreading that it wasn't about what happened back with Adonis. If she did ask, he wouldn't know exactly what to say—if he should lie.
Rachel pondered over Kori's words, "Gar… Do you think? Do you think I've changed…?"
"What?" Gar was taken aback, "You? Changed? Um… Well, you sure look different. But it's the inside that counts right?"
"…Right." Rachel sighed. She looked towards the window with that same gaze she had when she was looking at him.
"Are you… Okay?" Gar said a little embarrassed, he couldn't shake the thought of dragging a mentally ill Rachel back to her room getting blank stares the whole way there.
"No." She answered curtly. And he nodded slowly just letting her think and sort things out by herself. She didn't need Gar to say anything or do anything... She only needed him.
"Um… I'm sorry about your coat, you know, Adonis doesn't have any manners." Gar laughed, "He doesn't know that when you rip off someone's jacket, you don't have to literally rip it off!" Rachel eyed him strangely, but she couldn't catch his eyes… It was as if he was avoiding her gaze.
She sighed, "It's okay, I can live without it."
"Oh, well, you know, if you want I could get you another one."
"No thanks, I'm fine… Really." She replied. The only reason Gar had pushed to buy her another one, was that he couldn't ever look at her again without it—he'd start blushing even harder… Something he didn't want her to see. They sat in silence together until Rachel broke the tension.
"So… I haven't changed at all…" Rachel mused to herself out loud. Gar chose not to answer incase whatever he said was interpreted wrong. Gar waited for Rachel to leave but gave up after the next ten minutes, and she stayed there until Gar was comfortable enough to eventually fall asleep again.
Camera 7: Center Hallway
Vic caught Rachel in the hallway. She had just come back from visiting Gar and was heading back to her room when Vic stopped her.
"Hey Rachel, I haven't talked to ya since we got here."
"Yeah…" Rachel said not really paying much attention.
"You know, we never used ta talk much."
"Yeah I know!" Rachel snapped back on accident.
"A-Are you busy or something? Because I can leave you alone if you want…" Vic said uneasily.
"No… it's fine, I'm just thinking." She said quickly to avoid conflicts. To the normal eye, she wasn't doing much, but her head was spinning from the last half an hour she had spent watching Gar and the clouds outside.
"Geez, you haven't changed a bit—always thinking." Vic laughed and passed her by, "See ya around!"
She didn't bother to wave back and instead resumed her trek back to her room, this time in a much faster pace.
Camera 13: Raven's Room
Back in her own safe security Rachel rushed to the window, pushing back the curtains and basking in the fading sunlight. She collapsed on her old bed briefly forgetting all that had happened up to now. Gar was right… She hadn't changed at all. At least not on the inside… Why she had questioned herself she didn't know. She was grateful she had more control over her powers—if not, she would've been a walking tornado for the last couple of hours. The fact that she had harnessed her powers meant she changed right?
"What do I want?" Rachel asked to the empty room.
She cursed herself quietly. The other Titans hated the person she was, but did they accept her now that she had changed? But according to Gar and Victor, she hadn't changed at all. She would wait and see. Flopping down on the purple bed (that matched her hair), she stared at the ceiling just as she had done with Gar and the ever-moving clouds.
Something strange caught her eye. Why she hadn't noticed it before was probably because it was so tiny and blended in with the ceiling. The sunlight from the window had bounced off the thing straight into her eye.
"What is that…?" she asked herself. Standing up on her bed she wasn't tall enough to reach it. It was very tiny and hard to grasp. Summoning her levitation powers and pulling at it slightly she managed to get it off the wall taking some of the paint with it. Examining it more closely she could see now it was very small… Almost as big as one's fingernail. If it wasn't for the sun reflecting it into her eyes she might not have caught it. But what was it?
After a while Rachel came to a conclusion, "A… Camera…?"
