Teen Titans: Never Alone
Author's Note:
I would just like to take a moment to point out that I have written ten chapters in less than twenty days. How crazy is that? :D Crazy like ROBIN! Pahahahahha, ho ho ha ha, oooohhh that's rich.
...but seriously, to those of you who do NaNoWriMo... that's 1668 words a day since I started posting. xD Nuts, right? It's like I'm doing NaNo a month early!
Thank you guys for enjoying this so much! Obviously, I'm really enjoying writing it! :)
*Oh, I'm just a writin' machine, and I won't work for nobody but allmyfanscuztheyareawesome!*
Chapter 10: Challenges
"Rackin… frackin… stupid… Cyborg and his stupid… Creeper? What's he talking about creeper… He's lucky I'm a nice guy or… GAH!"
A clamor echoed through the long hallway of Titan Tower, the hollow sound of a small cardboard box hitting the ground followed by the noisy clatter of plastic items scattering across the floor. Beast Boy gaped down at the chess pieces rolling away from him, an expletive leaping from his throat as he rearranged the other game boxes in his arms.
"Oh, come ON!" he griped in annoyance. He slammed the stack of boxes down on the floor and morphed into an octopus, his tentacles flopping around as he tried to gather all the runaway game pieces into a pile before they rolled to far.
"'Why don't you play a game with Robin,' he says," Beast Boy continued grumbling to himself, human once more as he raked the wayward figures back into their box. "'He could probably use the distraction.' Please. He's either gonna kick my ass or make me sick again…"
As he picked all the games back up and balanced them precariously atop one another in a little tower in his arms, his thoughts shifted to the day before, when he found Robin lying beside his own pool of vomit. He gagged at the very memory. If he ended up in the same boat, he was really going to let Cyborg have it…
He wobbled a little as he carefully carried the stack of games around the corner. It was all Cyborg's idea – he'd forced the stack of games into Beast Boy's reluctant hands, and told him to spend some time with their sick leader. BB had, of course, protested – after all, not only was video games much, much more fun, but he still was trying to learn more about what Raven was up to.
…Creeper… he couldn't believe Cyborg had called him that… what was wrong with being interested in what Raven was up to? Why wasn't he so concerned? Books aren't meant to talk! Didn't people read Harry Potter?
The top game box slid a little atop its brother, causing Beast Boy to stick a foot out awkwardly to balance himself out and prevent the game from falling a second time. He carefully forced himself forward again, moving quicker, feeling the stack of boxes teetering. The hospital wing's door was just ahead, ready to open for him when he got to it…
His toes slammed into heel of his other foot, and he found himself falling with a strangled yelp. The door before him opened in time for him to slam hard on his chin on the hospital wing floor, the boxes scattering from his grasp with an intense, noisy racket.
"Beast Boy! What the hell is the matter with you?"
Beast Boy groaned, lifting an empty box cover from his head, looking up to see Robin upright in bed, a birdarang clenched in his hand as though to defend himself. The green-skinned teenager smiled apologetically, getting himself to his feet.
"S-sorry. Cyborg sent me in here… and I lost my balance and…"
He glanced up at Robin as he began organizing the overturned contents of the boxes, and found himself a little taken aback by the Boy Wonder's appearance. How his fingers shook as they gripped his weapon, how he gripped tightly onto his sheets with his other hand, how unkempt his usually tidy hair was… the paleness in his face, the wild look in his eye, the way he barely breathed, as though he were still in danger. Beast Boy sat back on his heels, raising an eyebrow. "I… take it I woke you up?"
Robin's shoulders slunk a little as he relaxed a bit, his hand falling, snapping the birdarang closed. His face fell into dark disapproval. "You think?"
"Look, if you want me to leave I can, but Cyborg thought maybe I could come cheer you up—"
"Not interested."
Beast Boy's face darkened. He didn't know why he hadn't seen this coming. Robin was speaking to him the way he always did, like a child, like a nuisance. He wondered why he'd even bothered, why he hadn't simply ditched the games after leaving Cyborg and done his own thing. He straightened up, clutching a rook tightly in his hand. "What the hell is your deal? Look, I know you're sick and cranky. I get it. But for once, would you not treat me like a pesky little brother and instead treat me like your friend? I'm so fed up with it!"
Robin stared at him with mouth agape, completely flabbergasted and lost for words. Beast Boy glowered darkly, picking the half-filled chess box off the floor and throwing it angrily on the bed at Robin's feet. "Look, if you don't want to hang out with me, fine! I'll leave you alone. But I am your friend, and you look like you could use some cheering up. But whatever. Be alone and miserable! It's your choice."
Beast Boy turned from Robin's stunned face, kicking aside another board game container with his foot, more pieces scattering across the floor. He crossed his arms, and glanced at the door. He really wanted to walk back through it. Robin was always such a…
"I'm sorry."
Beast Boy glanced over at him. It was his turn to be stunned. That was not at all the reaction he'd expected.
"Dude, did you seriously just apologize?"
Again, Beast Boy expected a certain response: an annoyed quip, some kind of irritated "Yes, I said it, let's move on." But Robin remained silent, his eyes focusing on his knees hidden beneath stark white hospital sheets. Beast Boy felt the last of his sore temper trickle away, only to be replaced with confused incredulity.
"O…kay… this isn't freaking me out at all," he murmured to himself, shifting awkwardly. He had no idea how else to respond, or what to do. This was complete uncharted territory.
Robin's gaze drifted, focusing somewhere in the middle of the room. Beast Boy followed his gaze, but didn't notice anything.
"…we can play something. That'd be great," Robin suddenly croaked, rubbing the side of his face with his palm, as though massaging away a headache. Beast Boy didn't move, surveying him closely.
"If you don't want to I can leave—"
"No… no. It's fine. In fact, I… I could really use the company."
Beast Boy found himself taken aback again, this time by the look in those masked eyes. It was an expression completely foreign to that face, so foreign Beast Boy had a hard time placing a label on it. It almost looked… pleading…? Scared…? Helpless…?
None of this was making any sense to the changeling… was Robin just sick or...
"Oh… um… well, what should we play?"
This felt so awkward.
"Well, the chess board is right here… do we have all the pieces…?"
"Um…"
Beast Boy's eyes scanned the mess of jumbled board games on the floor before him, already noticing some wayward pieces. This was all so awkward. They'd lived together for how long? As Beast Boy sifted through the messy pile and pulled out pieces, he tried to recall the last time they'd even played even a video game together, just the two of them… But, as he thought about it, he realized he couldn't think of any time they had… in every memory he dredged up, Cyborg had sat between them….
Despite the uneasiness, a little smile played on his lips as he snatched up one last white pawn and straightened. "You know you're going to kick my butt at this, right?"
Robin smiled weakly. "You said you wanted to cheer me up."
Beast Boy cackled a little, sitting cross-legged on the foot of bed as Robin set the checkered board between them. "I would think you'd like a little more of a challenge. What's a win if you don't fight for it?"
"Still a win," Robin proclaimed smugly, setting up the pieces on his end of the game board. Beast Boy got to work on his own side, moving swiftly, clumsily, as though getting his pieces up first was part of the overall game. Robin clued in on this very fast, his own green-gloved hands a blur as he stood them all up. "HA!" he shouted victoriously as he placed his final pawn with Beast Boy still three figures short.
"Oh fine. Then you go first."
"I'm white. I go first anyways."
"…right, I knew that."
Robin moved a pawn. Beast Boy considered all the pieces, then moved one of his knights. Robin moved another pawn. Beast Boy scratched his head. The other knight? No… a pawn. Robin moved out his bishop. Beast Boy, the other knight. A third pawn. A second pawn. A knight. A rook.
They played silently, falling into a rhythm. Beast Boy honestly tried to think up some strategies – he'd played enough Starcraft and Age of Empires in his life… that had to have given him some kind of advantage, right?
Robin quickly stole a pawn, then a dark knight. Beast Boy's teeth chattered on his fingernails through his gloves as he contemplated his next move. No… he couldn't do that… that would put his queen at… but what if he…
He moved a bishop, and sat back with his arms propped behind him on the bed, grinning up at Robin. He would never guess what he was planning…
Robin gazed down at the board a quiet moment. But his eyes remained fixed on no spot in particular, not glancing around thoughtfully like they ordinarily would. After what seemed like a few minutes, he blinked, as though suddenly remembering what he was doing, and moved a pawn.
Beast Boy felt a jolt of electricity through his heart. Robin had just left himself wide open! His dark eyes glanced around the board. No, there was definitely no way he could…
He moved his bishop, capturing Robin's queen.
"Sucka!" he whooped, holding up the queen over his head like a trophy, a victory fanfare from a video game going through his head. "Now, now, it's nothing to get upset ov—"
He looked up, and realized Robin had stopped paying attention again. He hadn't even seemed to notice what'd happened. His gaze had wandered into the room again, as though he were lost in thought, or listening for something. The green changeling frowned, holding out a hand and snapping his fingers a few times. "Hellloooo. Earth to Robin! What's capturing the best piece if you won't even let me brag?"
"…Huh?"
Robin looked up at him, a dazed look to his face, still. Beast Boy pouted a little in annoyance.
"…it's your turn."
Robin glanced down at the board. He didn't comment on his missing piece, moving a knight into place. Beast Boy surveyed his move, and immediately moved a pawn, taking the knight out.
"Okay. Are you just trying to let me win, now?" Beast Boy asked, waving the knight in the air like it was evidence.
Robin didn't speak, his gaze focused toward the game board again. Beast Boy frowned, beginning to grow restless, impatient. He leaned back on his hands again, letting his head fall back against his shoulders, chin up towards the ceiling with blood rushing to the top of his skull. His foot bobbed impatiently next to the game board.
"Beast Boy…?"
"Hmm?"
"…are your parents still alive?"
Beast Boy straightened slowly, eyes widening as he looked over at the other boy. Robin's gaze remained low, a hand absentmindedly toying with one of his pieces. He moved it without a sound, and sat back, waiting for Beast Boy to move. The green changeling simply stared a long, tense moment, unsure what to think, or feel, or answer. He glanced down at the game himself, choosing a pawn to move with little thought.
"…no. They aren't…" he finally said, looking up at Robin with a mixture of curiosity and vigilance. Robin never asked these sorts of questions… with any of the Titans. When Beast Boy had been so concerned about Raven when the Titans had first formed, it'd been Robin who'd said the past didn't matter. … He'd been so quick to let Terra in without knowing anything about her past, was willing to even let the Titans form without even knowing any of their real names… So why this? Why now?
Robin moved his remaining knight, knocking out a dark pawn. He swallowed noticeably. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if they hadn't died?"
Goosebumps prickled on Beast Boy's skin. He eyed Robin carefully, feeling uneasy and wary. He tried not to let it show too much on his face, shrugging a little, glancing down at the little figures spread out between them. "I dunno. Never really gave it all that much thought. I mean, I'm green and I can change into any animal. Even if they were still alive, I definitely wouldn't have ended up with any kind of normal life…"
Robin nodded a little contemplatively, his gaze still distant.
"…do you ever wonder if maybe… maybe you're better off this way…?"
Beast Boy snapped his head up, offended. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
Robin blinked and looked up. Horror crossed his face, as though he was just realizing he'd even been talking. His eyes darted around the room, as though looking for something to cram into his mouth other than his own foot. "Look, I didn't… I didn't mean it like that… I just…"
Robin lapsed into silence once more, and Beast Boy felt himself settling into tense concern. He realized just how worn the Titan leader looked… like a sand castle, battered by the tide, just realizing he would eventually be washed away.
"Robin?" he asked after he felt too much time had passed. The Boy Wonder looked up, his expression empty, lost… almost pleading again. He quickly glanced away, a breath hissing through his teeth as he bowed his head, shaking it a little.
"F…forget I said anything…"
Beast Boy sighed, scratching his arm absentminded as he fell into thought. He was still so confused by all this. Why was Robin acting this way? Why would he ask such personal questions? After a moment, something dawned on him, and he glanced up. "We're not really talking about my parents, are we? We're talking about yours."
Robin didn't respond. As though to occupy himself, to just do something, he moved a piece on the board. Beast Boy watched him silently a long moment before moving a piece of his own, not really paying attention to what the piece was, nor even if he was moving it in the right pattern. The game had simply become a means of distraction now.
So…. Robin didn't have parents either… but what was all of this? All of this wondering of whether life would be different… better off…? Beast Boy glanced back up at Robin, and curiosity consumed him. What would Robin's life have been like, then? Would he not have become a hero? Would he maybe not even have been Robin if he hadn't lost his folks? A million questions began bombarding him. Then, was Batman Robin's surrogate family, like the Doom Patrol had become to him? If Robin had never become Robin… then what?
He could barely even believe that reality could've ever been possible. Robin was… Robin. He had another name, sure, just like Beast Boy did, but that name had never been important. He was Robin; the Boy Wonder… the kid he'd always looked up to as a young superhero…
…but he knew as well as anyone: no one ever really chose this life as a hero, especially not so young. You were always thrust into it headfirst, kicking and screaming while your life crashes to pieces around you… just a way to make the hurt go away… to forget about the guilt or pain or grievances of your life…
He thought of his parents. He missed them. He was sure Robin missed his, too.
He was certain that if Robin could, he would gladly give up his life as a superhero, if it meant being back with them… because who wouldn't? He knew he would… in an instant….
But sometimes, he supposed, he, personally, rather liked the life he led… he was grateful for it, felt lucky for it. He was grateful to be allowed to be here, to be a Titan, to help people. He was grateful to have such good friends, a new family. It didn't mean he liked his old life any less… it just meant he knew how lucky he was, under the circumstances… there were millions of orphans in the world… he doubted any of them had it easy…
Finally, he sighed, looking up. He felt the need to say something…
"Look, Robin. I don't know much… about you, about your past… or anything really." He laughed sheepishly, and continued. "But you can't let the "what if's" get to you, y'know? You'll go crazy doing that."
"Tell me about it…" Robin said with a strange smile, moving a pawn forward.
"And I do know one thing for certain...Your parents… Well, I mean, sure, they would be proud to know about what you do as a Teen Titan… but honestly, I'll bet they would've been proud of you anyway… You're one of the good guys, and that's not because of the mask, you know?"
Robin remained silent, his hidden eyes glancing up to look at him with a mesmerized gleam. Beast Boy smiled nervously, unsure if what he said helped, or even made sense, or was even what he wanted to say. He felt a little stupid, actually…
Finally, Robin glanced up, and slowly returned the smile. "Thanks…"
Beast Boy grinned fully now. "No, thank you, Robin."
Robin looked perplexed. "Why?"
Beast Boy looked down at the board, and moved his queen into position. A cocky, beady little grin graced his green face. "Because I think I just won."
"WHAT?"
The green teenager laughed and crossed his arms, looking downright smug as Robin curled over the game board, mouth hanging open in numb shock. "It's okay, dude," the changeling chuckled. "You can't win them—"
"Oh, no wait. Here we go." Robin slid his rook to the side, knocking over Beast Boy's queen. "Checkmate."
"….Dude, you have to be kidding me?" He scanned the board with numb but frantic disbelief.
"Can't win them all?" Robin asked haughtily, crossing his own arms as Beast Boy's face grew surly in defeat.
"…Fine! You win! But I call for a rematch! And this time, we play this!" Beast Boy snatched up a game box from the floor beside him, waving it in Robin's face. The Boy Wonder looked from the cartoony animals and bright colors adorning the box to his emerald-skinned opponent, an eyebrow raising behind his mask.
"… 'For ages three-plus'…?"
"Hey, we're three-plus! You just scared I'll win."
Robin's eyes sparkled with humor. He swept the chess game back into its container, threw it on the floor, and gestured to the newly vacant space on the bed.
"I'd like to see you try…"
"Oh, you are so on, Bird Boy!"
"Who you callin' a 'Bird Boy,' Bird Boy?"
"…point taken."
A/N Okay, seriously, guys. Wrack your memories and tell me – do you EVER remember Robin and Beast Boy having any kind of serious heartwarming moment together? Or even just them hanging out together? Cuz I seriously have no recollection of anything like that ever happening. Robin and Cyborg were BFFs, Beast Boy and Cyborg were BFFs… but Robin and Beast Boy were always kinda just… roommates. Or even just teammates, always getting under each other's skins XD I think the closest instance there is for this is from X, when Beast Boy is like "So… you're probably kicking yourself for not getting rid of that Red-X suit when you had the chance, huh?" Which was so not the right thing to say. XD They'll occasionally try, but it always falls flat. Things like this chapter really never happened...
Anyways, tell me what you thought of this chapter! Really! I mean, how interesting was it to read about people playing CHESS? xP (It was strangely fun to write…)