Chapter Ten: The Contest
The next two weeks were like a blur to the two. They were getting ready for midterms and Beast Boy found out about a contest he could enter. Not to mention Raven found out exactly who the music teacher was.
Flashback
Beast Boy had been gone abnormally long tonight and Raven was starting to worry that maybe their plan to get him kidnapped worked a little too fast for her liking. Running down to the music building she began to panic when she didn't hear anyone singing, playing an instrument or listing to music at all. She ran faster down the halls toward the room with the pianos in it. She had only been in the room once when Beast Boy forgot his music book in there.
Skidding to a halt in front of the room she nearly fell over. There was Beast Boy talking to the teacher about the tower. A picture of all the Titans and everything out for the teacher to see, Raven nearly blew a fuse seeing this.
"What do you think you're doing Garfield Mark Logan!" It was far from a question; no he was in trouble now.
"Rae, I was just telling…"
"Oh I know what you were telling him! Are you crazy, you could blow everything we've worked for just now." Looking a little sheepish Beast Boy walked forward and took Raven's hand. Looking at him in shock of this bold move she went to pull away. However, he only tightened his hold on her and pulled her into the room. Shutting the door behind her he let go of her hand and dodged the slap coming at him.
"Raven calm down!"
"Why should I? Our cover is blown because of you!"
"No it's not Raven!"
"Garfield is quite correct Raven. You see I'm Garfield's sort of Uncle. I worked with his parents in Africa so I knew about him becoming green and part animal."
"Uncle Jeff was one of the people to save my life when it happened. To be truthful I wish he would have been my guardian rather than Galtry but hey my parents didn't know the man would try to kill me."
"Nobody would have guess that Garfield." Giving the man a soft smile Beast Boy looked back to Raven.
"So Raven he already knew who I was the second I entered the academy. However, he was only a little shocked to find out I wasn't green. Uncle Jeff is also the one who taught me how to play all the instruments and how to write the music for them. Again that formal education combined with a wild one took more than one or two people to teach me." Giving her a big smile Raven nearly hit him with all her might.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this!" Beast Boy now had to dodge Raven's punches and kicks all over the room.
"I didn't think it was important and I knew Robin would flip out!" Stopping in her assault she looked at him; he had a point Robin would have flipped out knowing someone knew their secret.
"You have a point, he'd want to call the whole thing off and so far he hasn't told on us. I don't see why we can't keep it from Robin longer." Smiling at this Beast Boy jumped.
"Yes! Alright then, Uncle Jeff this is Raven."
"Ah yes I've heard tones about you Raven." Giving him a skeptical look she looked over at Beast Boy who was now blushing lightly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well not tones Uncle Jeff. I've told you about the same amount about Raven as the others I think." Jeff gave the young boy a smile and nodded.
"Maybe so, well why don't we get back to work on your piece for the Contest?"
End Flashback
It had been two weeks since Raven found out about Beast Boy's uncle of sorts. Raven had started to go with Beast Boy to the practice room to talk with Jeff or to listen to Beast Boy practice. It had only been recently that Beast Boy and Jeff started to teach Raven how to play too. All things considered she was not nearly as good as Beast Boy in the music department. Today Beast Boy was finishing his music for the song he was writing.
He was playing the piano slowly with a soft smile on his face. He seemed to be ignoring everything but the piano. Raven watch how peaceful and in tuned he was with the instrument in front of him he was. Jeff walked up behind Raven and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jumping slightly she looked up at him. Smiling he nodded to his office and gave a soft smile. She followed him in as he shut the door.
"Garfield has a contest in two days; do you know how the lyrics are coming for the song?" Shaking her head no she didn't have a clue.
"No idea, do you know what the song is about?" Giving a soft smile to Raven he answered.
"Yeah, I do. It was a song his parents were helping him with before they died. He wanted to finish it for them. He's just been having a few issues with the lyrics. He only had what his parents came up together and the music he came up with." Looking out the office window as Beast Boy played made her smile and sigh.
"I hope he figures it out. I want to catch this person before they hurt him or…"
"You fall any harder for him?" Raven snapped her head up to look at the teacher. There was no possible way Jeff could know.
"What, I don't…" Jeff gave her a knowing smile.
"Don't try to deny it Raven. The way you look at him is just like his mother looked at his father. Those two were inseparable. You could never find one without the other. Even before they were married it was like they already were. Marie was always by Mark's side. Everything they did with the other and then more. It's like watching them in you two. I miss my best friend more than anything and the only link I have left is Garfield." Raven stood looking out the office window looking at Beast Boy. She felt her heart flutter a little bit as he smirked.
"You know Jeff now that I think about it Gar and I never do anything anymore without the other. Fighting we don't leave each other's side ever. It is almost like we are scared we'll lose each other if we do. I hang out more in the common room even though he annoys me to no end. I didn't know before why I did but I discovered it a little while ago why. Even now I share this with him, a mission, a musical instrument, a plan, and a song. A song only I can hear but still it's a song." Jeff smiled as Raven watched him play it was true what he said she looked at him just like his best friend and his wife looked at each other. It was a pure loving look that the other doesn't see till it's either too later or pointed out to them.
"So does that mean what I think it means?" Turning to look at the music teacher she smiled.
"Lord help me, but I think I'm truly in love with the little green bean." They smiled at each other and came out just as Beast Boy finished practicing the music piece.
"Alright, Garfield two more days till the contest. Finish your lyrics and you should be fine." Nodding in agreement he left with Raven. Both hoping this would end soon so the new adventure could begin and both hoping it will be with the other.
Beast Boy was starting to panic a little bit. It was the night of the contest and he was a bit worried by it. He'd never played in front of a large audience and he wasn't sure he could do it. Raven walked up behind him and watch him fidget a little bit before finally taking pity on him.
"Will you calm down; you're going to be fine. Just play and show everyone what you can do." Nodding in agreement he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Alright." Giving him a smile, and not just the small ones but a full smile she walked out.
"I'll wait for you after the show, alright?" Nodding he watched her walk off. Once out of view she let go the breath she was holding. In all honesty she was nervous after tonight he'd be in more danger then he ever had been with them. Walking to the back she looked out in the hall she had invited the other Titans to come watch and give their support to him. She knew they'd be in holo-rings and wouldn't look like themselves but she should still sense them if not recognize Cyborg as Victor Stone.
"Hey Rae, looking for us?" Spinning around she was met with the site of her friends in their normal or human, in the case of Starfire, forms.
"Vic, Dick, Kor I'm so glad you guys could make it."
"Friend Rachel we wouldn't miss friend Garfield's first big performance for anything in the world." Starfire reached over and gave Raven a hug which she returned. Robin looked on in shock. Speaking softly so only the Titans would be able to hear it he leaned toward Raven.
"It seems you've gotten ahold of your powers with your emotions." Looking up a little shocked but then she softly smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, the book helped a lot and so did Gar." Giving everyone a smile she looked back to the stage. "Gar is last to preform we should take our seats. I've got us all seats in the third row that way he'll be able to see us and us him." Nodding they all filed in to watch the show.
The many acts, songs, and tricks preformed were amazing but for the Titans they were all waiting for Beast Boy.
"Lady's and Gentleman, for our last act we have the young and talented Garfield Mark Logan preforming. Tonight Mr. Logan will be playing a piano solo and singing a song that he worked on with his parents. I hope you all enjoy the final performance." The room was filled with clapping as Beast Boy walked over to the piano. Standing just in front of it he turned out to the audience.
"Tonight I'll be playing a song my parents and I worked on with my parents. So without further delay, 'Bless the Broken Road'." Smiling weakly till he spotted the others his smile grew stronger as he waved at them. [Bless the Broken Road belongs to Rascal Flatts Dedicated to my late Aunt Jessica who died this year from cancer.] Sitting down at the piano he started to play.
'I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you'
The Titans sat shocked at the voice that came out of the goofball of the groups mouth.
'Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true'
The Titans didn't know what other kind of dreams the shape shifter had but a lot of them were broken when he turned green they were sure. As for those who broke his heart all the Titans thought of Terra first, Raven however thought of the others who had.
'That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes He did'
None of the other Titans other than Raven knew about Beast Boy being religious at all. However, they all knew now.
'I think about the years I spent, just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true'
The Titans all began to wonder where he just passed through. With a little thought they remember before joining the Titans he had been on his own for a year or so. They had taken him in when no one else had and it was the first time and what she thought was the last time she smiled at him.
'Every long lost dream led me to where you are That God blessed the broken road
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That led me straight to you'
The Titans all wondered who he was talking about.
'But now I'm just rolling home into my lover's arms That God blessed the broken road That God blessed the broken road
This much I know is true
That led me straight to you
That led me straight to you'
Beast Boy finished the song strong. It took a minute before the whole room erupted into applause and cheers for him. Standing up he took a bow before hurrying off the stage. Laughing the Titans all rushed to go meet him in the back.
"Man that was awesome." Cyborg shouted out at the changeling but stopped once he saw the poor guy leaning over a trash can.
"Oh, poor Friend Garfield." Hurrying over she patted him on the back and smiled. "You were wonderful friend."
"Thanks Kor. Oh I feel like crap." He once again lost his cookies so to speak. Cyborg and Robin walked over laughing.
"Yeah, Garfield that was amazing, nicely done." Giving a weak smile he stood up and whipped his mouth.
"Yeah thanks, now we just have to wait for me to get kidnapped." Laughing a little bit he turned a little pale again. "I'm going to lose it again." Turning away Raven walked forward.
"You're not getting kidnapped if I have anything to say about it."