Again I have a little of a shorter chapter, but I updated earlier to make up for it. This was a difficult chapter to write and I hope everyone stayed in character.
"Aw, look at the widdle baby Cyborg all curled up in his sleep."
Cyborg creaked open an eye, his systems switching on. Above him were Beast Boy, Starfire, and Robin, all grinning with what seemed to be evil expressions. In fact, the single individual with such a look was Beast Boy. Starfire actually thought Cyborg looked adorable while Robin was just smiling at the sight of his teammate stretched out on the sofa. In the kitchen, Raven rolled her eyes and went back to preparing her tea. Cyborg sat straight up, turning a little red.
"Did the widdle baby Cyborg have a nice nappy-poo on the couchy-wouchy?" Beast Boy cooed in baby-talk, clutching his hands together.
Cyborg snorted. "I'll show you who's gonna take a nappy-poo!" he roared suddenly, leaping to his feet. Laughing, Beast Boy scurried ahead of Cyborg, who continued on to chase him in circles around the room. The two tired after about sixteen laps, and in due time made their way over to the table where Robin had cooked pancakes. It was a rare occasion that the entire team ate breakfast together, but Robin had felt like doing something nice that morning, and no one was about to pass off free pancakes. The Titans each took their share, and before long, everyone was munching on the golden-brown meal.
"So dudes," Beast Boy began with his mouth full, "what did you think of the movie last night? Pretty good, huh?"
The rest of the team glanced at each other, all but one having not finished watching it. Robin smiled. "I thought it was interesting," he offered.
"Yes, most enjoyable," Starfire added, nodding.
"Meh," Cyborg shrugged, still irritated at Beast Boy for waking him up like he had.
"Considering I didn't see the whole thing," Raven said, "it was fine." She'd woken up around three in the morning on the couch to see Starfire and Cyborg passed out on either side of her. Grateful that they weren't awake to see that she'd also been asleep for so long next to them, she'd faded into her bedroom and went back to bed. Unknowing to her, Starfire had opened her eyes a few minutes later and likewise made her way into her own room, while Cyborg had gone the whole night through without waking, and therefore had suffered accordingly at the words of Beast Boy that morning.
"Beast Boy," Robin said, changing the subject, "how did the interview go yesterday? We never got a chance to hear about it."
"Oh," Beast Boy thought about it. "Well, as I said to Raven afterwards, I think we did okay. I tried to play up our relationship a bit." Raven sighed. Yes, he had.
"So BB, what the real question is," Cyborg interrupted, having forgotten about being mad at his friend due to the mention of the competition, "how much money would you win?"
Being the dramatic boy that he was, Beast Boy paused theatrically for a moment before answering. "Ten thousand dollars." The shocked silence around the table was absolute, save for Raven, who sipped her tea and rolled her eyes.
"T-that's a lot of money," Robin stammered.
"But just for first place," Raven reminded. "Anything lower and there is no money."
"That just means we have to win!" Cyborg exclaimed unexpectedly, standing up and slamming his hands on the table. Raven snorted. We? Cyborg was already imagining all the potential equipment he could buy with such a large quantity of money. "I'll start coaching ya if I have to!" Cyborg cried. "Training starts now! Get up and hold hands! Maybe add a little hug in there somewhere, or a quick smooch!" Raven and Beast Boy didn't move, looking at him with frowns on their faces.
Raven crossed her arms. "Um, no. I pity whatever being falls under your training for such a thing."
Cyborg huffed angrily, taking pose that a boxer in a fighting ring might use. "You wanna go, Rae? Bring it! I'll show you that I know more about relationships than you ever will!"
Raven shook her head. "I refuse to have a battle of wits against an unarmed opponent."
While Cyborg was stammering for a response, Robin spoke up. "Actually, Cyborg is right." Cyborg blinked, surprised that the leader had agreed with him, and then grinned at Raven as if he'd known all along. "You and Beast Boy will need to step up your game if you want to win against other real couples." Robin reached into one of the many pockets on his utility belt and withdrew a colorful flyer. The rest of the Titans leaned in closer to look at it. "You guys know that old amusement park down by the beach that's been abandoned for a while? Well, it's reopened recently and I was thinking we should go. Crime has been lying low as of late and we might as well have fun. They've constructed a few more rides and games. What do you say, team?" Robin leaned back in his chair. "I've got no additional plans today, and it should give Raven and Beast Boy a chance to practice building their relationship, not to mention it would be good for their publicity as a couple."
"The park of amusement?" Starfire asked. "It sounds like a wonderful idea, Robin!"
"I'm up for it man!" Cyborg grinned, giving him thumbs up.
Raven shrugged.
"I guess then we're going!" Robin determined, getting to his feet. "It should open around ten this morning, so how we've got an hour until we can enter the park. Let's meet up at the T-car five minutes to ten?" The other Titans nodded and then dispersed in different directions to go about their business until then, all save for Beast Boy.
Watching them go, a familiar pain he hadn't felt in a long time touched his chest. "Sounds fun…," he mumbled softly.
The amusement park was nothing special. The Titans arrived there at elven, the hour delay being because they had to wait for Starfire, who had been trying to get her shoes back from Silky who decided that they made a perfect meal for him and no one else. It was a typical theme park, what with a few roller coasters, impossible game booths, varying other rides, and, of course, the giant Ferris Wheel at the center. At the start, the team had moved around in one group, riding rides and using up their money on the games, but after going on a particularly punishing ride called the Spinning Top that revolved in circles both upright and sideways, and caused Cyborg to throw up while still on it, they split up. Cyborg groaned that he would be in the bathroom for a long time, so after a little conversing, Robin and Starfire went one way while Raven and Beast Boy another. Raven had expected Beast Boy to want to go on all the fast rides like roller coasters and such, but he had hardly spoken a word since they'd gotten to the amusement park, quietly agreeing on whatever Raven suggested. She didn't ask him if anything was wrong. She respected his silence, and if he needed to talk, then he would; he always did. The rest of the day continued without much of a change, and when the night at last started to fall on them did Raven really get worried. Beast Boy had gone the whole day without a stupid comment or joke, and he'd made no attempt to pretend that they were a couple when they were apart from the other Titans. For the final ride of the day, Raven led him to the Ferris Wheel, for she had no interest in roller coasters, although she had gone on one to try to cheer Beast Boy up. It had done little to change his demeanor.
Inside the Ferris Wheel cart, Beast Boy was as soundless as he'd been before. Caving into impatience that Raven didn't know had been building, she at last asked, "What's wrong?"
He turned to her curiously. "What? Nothing's wrong." He narrowed an eyebrow. "Why would anything be wrong?" He said it with such conviction that Raven almost believed him. She looked away from the boy beside her, but a moment later sneaked another glance in his direction. Beast Boy had his elbow on the edge of the screened window, his hand propping up his head. A rare serious expression was on his face, and his eyes were glassy, like he was looking at a distant memory. At such a scene, Raven's concern for him deepened, and she reached out, grasping his hand. She closed her eyes, and flashes of a familiar smiling blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl entered her mind. Beast Boy jerked his hand away, and Raven stared at him.
"Oh," she breathed.
"There are some thoughts I want to keep myself, Raven!" Beast Boy snapped. He faced the window angrily, and Raven looked to the ground. She shouldn't have invaded his thoughts, but Beast Boy's behavior was so off that she had been sincerely concerned. But it made sense now; he was thinking about Terra. What Raven didn't understand was -of all times- why now?
"I'm sorry," Beast Boy mumbled, not moving away from the window.
Raven shook her head. "I shouldn't have done that without your permission. I'm the one who's at fault."
"It's just…" Beast Boy shifted uncomfortably. Raven waited for him, not pushing the conversation. "We… Terra and I… went on our first date here." He swallowed. "O-our only date." Raven watched him, calm and without a sound, but internally thoughts were flying about her head. They had gone on a date? When? Terra hadn't stayed with the Titans that long. When had Beast Boy gotten the chance? When Beast Boy turned to Raven at last, his eyes were wet. "It's just that a lot of memories are here," he whispered.
"It's okay," Raven said, seeing him fighting the tears. Beast Boy squeezed his eyes shut, and liquid streamed down his cheeks. Embarrassed, he crossed his arms over his knees and buried his head in them. Raven made as if to move, but hesitated. Then, giving in, she knelt down in front of Beast Boy and placed her hand over his, not trying to see his thoughts this time, but just wanting to give comfort. "It's okay," Raven repeated, not knowing what else to say. The sorrow coming from Beast Boy was devastating, enough to make even Raven blink back emotion. The air was silent for several minutes, save for the sound of creaking rising from the Ferris Wheel. "Beast Boy," Raven took a breath, not wanting to mess up what she was about to say, "I know how much you cared for Terra, and that she hurt you the most of all of us. We miss her too; even me," she admitted quietly. "I can't heal your pain no matter how much I might want to, but I will always be here to talk or just listen if you need someone there. Whenever you want, Beast Boy."
Raven waited. Beast Boy, with his head still in his arms, closed his eyes and tried to cease his tears. With Raven's warm hand on his, he was beginning to feel better, but there was one memory he couldn't get rid of no matter how hard he tried to expel it; the memory with Terra's bright eyes closing and both of them leaning closer and closer together. Swallowing, he lifted his head. Raven was still knelt next to him, her hand yet on his and a patient expression on her face. Beast Boy blinked, the dark girl in front of him slowly taking place of the blonde girl behind his eyes. Raven caught him looking at her and tilted her head in question. The memory suppressed, Beast Boy rubbed at his flushed cheeks, smiling.
"Thanks Raven," he said. "I feel a lot better."
Raven smiled, if only a little. "I'm glad." She squeezed his hand once, and then leaned back in her seat, setting her sights on the blinking lights of the city in the distance. Beast Boy found himself watching her, grateful for just her and her presence alone. She and Terra hadn't exactly been close friends in the past, but Raven had still found a way to make it sound like she held no blame for the blonde girl. If Beast Boy had to choose any one person to be with him during the time he'd broken down, he was glad it had been Raven. Terra hadn't known him well enough to have known what to do or what to say to make him feel better. Even though she was gone now, Beast Boy had someone here who would always be with him, and Raven wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon.
Raven didn't react to the sudden change of emotion that she sensed from Beast Boy except to shift her position. The distress that previously weighed the shape-shifter down had lifted, and though traces of sadness would always burden him, a warmer, buoyant feeling now radiated from her friend. Raven was subjected to a gentle happiness filling her own chest as the cart's mood changed to one of grateful joy, both of the Titans experiencing the emotion because of the other's company.
The Ferris Wheel rotated once more before the ride was over, and when a recovered Beast Boy and a content Raven exited, they found the rest of the team waiting for them. Waving to the two was Starfire, who held a small pink bear in her arms and stood beside Robin, the leader feeling a lot lighter as his wallet had been all but emptied. Cyborg, not yet at his best from his incident with the Spinning Top, but improved enough to tease his two favorite sources of entertainments, smirked.
"Aw, look at that, the young couple coming back from the Ferris Wheel, the most romantic of all the fairgrounds!" he cooed.
Beast Boy raised an eyebrow. "You know Cyborg, in this lighting I'd say that your face is nearly the same shade as mine. But if it's not, we still have time for one more ride. How about the Spinning Top again? Anyone?"
"Sounds good to me," Raven answered with a glance at Cyborg.
Starfire unintentionally joined in. "Oh, I loved the Top of Spinning! But was it not the ride which made friend Cyborg terribly sick?"
"You bet it was," Beast Boy confirmed, "but I still say we should go on it. Unless Cyborg's…" He transformed into a chicken, clucking mockingly.
Cyborg swallowed and shook his head, backpedaling. "Uh, you know, it's getting pretty late. We probably should, you know, head out soon. Like maybe now?" The Titans smiled, and they began making their way back to where the T-car was parked. Night had completely fallen now, and the lighting they had to guide their way came from the moon.
"So how did the bonding go?" Robin asked Beast Boy and Raven when they were in the parking lot. "Do you think the amusement park helped at all? Do you feel any closer?"
Beast Boy glanced at Raven, and, rubbing the back of his neck, smiled. "I think we made a small breakthrough."
Raven caught his look. "I think so," she repeated impassively.
We all knew a chapter involving a mention of Terra was coming at some point, as there were feelings that had to be addressed, but I hope that I left it off at a good part.
Review please!
