Beep...beep...beep…
The machinery sound of the infirmary wasn't an uncommon noise for Raven. She had almost grown used to this sound. She was staring at her best friend in the uncomfortable bed, still beat up from whatever abuse she had received, but it was less noticeable compared to when they rescued her. The hair had been brushed by Cassey, a while after they had arrived, giving her an angelic look now. If Angels had bruises and beat up noses and lips, that is. The dark sorceress had changed her clothing, since the one she had was tattered and barely covering her, so the hospital gown she had covered her enough and the blankets kept her warm. It had been around 4 days since they were back. And she was what they suspected recovering under her unconsciousness.
There was still a problem though.
"What do you mean she's infected?!" Nightwing close to yelled.
"The test results show that she's infected with some virus that her immune system is battling. But she needs it and as soon as we can." Cyborg had explained on the first day.
The once Flying Grayson started pacing. "Alright. So the only person that might have the antidote to whatever Star has is fucking Slade." he paced back after stopping to speak. "Then, we have to start searching. I think a ship that wasn't supposed to dock in Boston did so, and that whoever was so went down to New York. I might need to start there but-"
"Dick!" Raven made a wall so he could crash against it before he kept talking. "Shut up and act. We don't need someone hysterical neither someone that locks himself up" she glared, clearly bringing up his past with Slade. "What we need is results. And those results had to be here yesterday. So what's the plan?"
He stared wide eyed at the small heighted woman. He had forgotten how she could be direct to the point. He turned around and cleared his throat. "Right. Erm. In a few hours I'll have everything set. Please watch over Star for me Raven." She nodded.
And indeed in less than 3 hours, he former leader had formulated a plan. He was to take Superboy, Cassandra, Changeling and Bunker to New York, and search for Slade, given there were some rumors around there. Changeling whined a bit, wanting to stay with his lover instead, but they got to think the job first and then their personal reasons. The other that also was against it was Nightwing's "brother" the current Robin. Tim, claiming he knew best about NY, got to change the whole team, and made it so Nightwing could stay with Changeling. A dispute between Batman's protégés began, and it was once again Raven the one that got to separating the both, having been "fed up" with their emotions. She took the both of the boys into the office room and then they kept it up, while the others just sat around watching tv, waiting for orders. The Teen Titans and the Titans had luggage prepared in case they had to leave next moment. Sensing that they were going to be separated once again, Changeling asked for the empath to accompany him for a while to the beach, where they relaxed in the close proximity of each other, staring out into the sea.
It was a soothing moment for the both of them. Kind of like the calm before a storm. When there is utter peace. Changeling kept talking about how he really didn't want to leave her side but also wanted to go with Dick so they could find the cure. He was also rambling about his past, after the sorceress had asked him to do so, since she wanted to distract him from the pressing decision that was about to come. He spoke of Africa and his time with the Doom Patrol. About how much he loved his family but still went for some time to try out the acting business, and not succeeding, to go back into being a hero and that was when he got to meet her and the rest. During all of this, his companion kept staring at him and nodding at the moments that were required, just as she spoke few. He knew already her past, so she didn't dwell into it but still told him a bit of her time in the temples. That's when she realized, Raven didn't know how long she stopped looking at beast boy as more than a friend, or even as not brother. Since the Teen Titans were her family. Cyborg her older brother, Star her sister, Nightwing her twin (even with the age difference), and Changeling… well, the annoying younger brother. But now, he was not the younger brother, but maybe that guy you checked out in college and told yourself you wanted something with but never brought yourself to do so. And now she had brought herself to do something about it and they were together.
Their communicators rang, and it was Cassey telling them to head back. Both of them looked at each other and sighed. With Raven's portal, they both entered and got to the common room, where the adopted siblings waited for the couple. If they suspected something they didn't say anything. Taking seat at the sofa joining the rest of their team and the young team they watched as the two leaders took place in front of them, blocking the now turned off tv.
"It's decided." Nightwing began. "The Teen Titans will be going to New York. The Titans stay." There were smiles. "BUT! The Titans will be doing research in the west as they go east. I already called the Titans East to help out in the south. With Ravager and Batgirl now part of their team, I could say they got more ground to cover. I trust you are all prepared to leave now?" he looked at the new generation of Teens. They all nodded. "Then start preparations that you will leave in 2 hours., If before, it's better. Maintain communication twice daily." The group left.
Now it was the original Titans to get attention.
"Cy, I want you to work from here, so please bring Bumblebee to live with you in the tower. I will be scouting Jump City for whatever I can find. Now, Changeling, I want you at Los Angeles and San Diego, taking lower California too and if you can, Arizona. Raven, take San Francisco and up to Washington State. We need to be wherever he can be for info, and later we can group and take on Slade. Questions?"
No one dared to question his rules.
"Ok. Same time for leaving. Now go." he turned and went to do his own search.
The couple once again were going to be separated. They sighed and went to take their bags for leaving, given they still had an hour to share, Changeling met up with Raven in her room and they discussed about how they could meet up while he was in LA and she in SF.
"Hey, Rae…"
"Hmm?" she sounded as she rested on his chest.
"When this is all over, will we tell the others?"
"I believe Nightwing, Robin, Cy suspect but don't mention it."
"Hmmm…"
"And Ravager technically knows. She had been spying on us on the airplane and our kissing there wasn't that hidden."
He laughed a bit. "I remember. She kept smirking as if she had caught her sister doing the lewd with her boyfriend."
Raven flinched a bit. "So… you are my boyfriend. That means you are mine."
"Mmm. And you're my girlfriend. So don't start thinking while we're separated on fooling with some guy now." he poked her nose, making her blush.
"Says who that I'll get suitors? More like you should be careful with who you get tangled with while these days we're away." she had a frown as she spoke. "If you do, I'll mess you up and then maybe marry an irish or russian."
"Oh Rae, don't you know? I will never let you go…" he sang smirking.
She kept staring at him, blushing."Did… Did you steal my cds? That's the only explanation for you to know that lyric."
"Or maybe I know it because of how much you play that band? You almost got it on repeat alongside those other girly sounding guy bands."
She glared, but one glance at the clock and her eyes lowered and moved to get her stuff to leave, dressing in her civil clothing once again. "We should go. I don't want to face Dick's fury."
"My dick's fury of Dick Grayson's fury?" he joked. But one look at her made sweatdrops come as he tried to smile. "Joking, Rae!"
She sighed. "I fell for a fucking idiot" she thought as they left.
They had been 3 days away, when Raven was starting to get down from Oregon and finding nothing, moving towards San Francisco. She had agreed to meet up on that day with her lover near Pier 39, after he had taken to going from San Diego and back up. They were both excited to meet up after separated for long again, when a call from Nightwing made them change course. And that was for the Titan's tower.
Bumblebee was in Labor.
They all rushed into a separate room of the infirmary and Cyborg needed Raven's help to the process. With her telekinesis and knowledge she was the perfect nurse to Doctor Cyborg and proceeded to do the "help out on the act of giving" like Starfire would say, and delivered a healthy baby girl. "Welcome to Earth, Victoria Stone…" Karen whispered smiling at the baby after Raven had handed the newborn to the mother. Bumblebee was tired from the labor, but it was worth staying awake a little while to see the cute girl in her arms.
And then on the 4th day that it was today, Dick had decided in the morning that Raven had to stay and help out with Karen as Changeling joined him to NY, where the Teen Titans had found a trail on Slade and the possible antidote. Changeling had kissed her passionately that morning before rushing out the door, leaving Raven holding the newborn all alone in the common room. Cyborg was currently preparing still his room and making some areas childproof and the former Titan's East leader was resting. Raven sighed and took the girl with her towards the hospital and checked on Kori.
Beep...beep… beep...
The half demon sighed again, fixed her best friend a bit and checked her vital signs, and later moved to the common room with her niece. She wasn't going to take the baby to her dangerous room so she was planning how these days she was going to be a nanny. Since the girl was sleeping, she took the opportunity to do a bit of meditation. Chanting her mantra of Azarath Metrion Zinthos, she floated with her legs crossed and hands outstretched except her thumb and ring finger connecting. Her hood was down, showing her short purple straight hair and closed eyes. About an hour in her meditation, she heard quiet footsteps coming into the room, and she opened one eye, looking at a better looking Bumblebee.
"Karen… is it alright for you to be walking?" She asked softly.
"Hey! I know my hubby said about staying in bed for a week but I can't work with that! B'sides. I want to see my baby as much as I can" The dark skinned girl walked over to the sofa, smiling at her sleeping baby. She sat there and cradled the bundle of joy in her arms. Her eyes shined with something that Raven wished she hadn't seen in her own mom; "Love".
"Thanks… Raven. For staying over and helping me out…" Cyborg's wife spoke still not looking at her since her eyes were hipnotized with her dark skinned curly haired daughter. "I know you would've prefered to be out and helping on searching for Starfire's antidote and all… especially since Changeling left to aid Nightwing…"
The sorceress shook her head. "It's no problem. Motherhood is a complicated state, and I know you'll need all the help you can get. And with Cyborg still working on the clock…"
"Hmph." Her cheeks puffed. "Sparky sure can get his job before his family sometimes."
"Well…" Raven smirked a bit. She knew that her brother figure was purely working because Dick was demanding him to do so. "More or less. Just blame Nightwing…"
"Damn... I made this baby. She's my flesh. Mines and Victor's of course. But…"
"Impressed?" The dark girl smiled.
Bumblebee jumped a bit, since she had been in a trance once again. "Yeah…" she smiled. "And that she was premature… 8 months. I mean, I know it's not much but, she's strong yet fragile…"
"I wonder… will she have my powers or will she be like Cy…?" Raven asked herself.
"However she is, I know we'll love her. She's special…"
Having enough of that motherhood emotions from Bumblebee, she retreated to prepare herself tea. The next few days was almost the same. Raven would help out when her "sister -in-law" would be about, and when she was back, she would do her meditation and reading. Often times she felt bored, having grown used to her favorite companion making ruckus around the tower or simply him following her around. It was all a matter of time for them to come. Another thing had come too. She began chanting "tomorrow is going to be the day I see Gar again." unconsciously. She was enjoying the social girl times she had with the african american woman, but she really missed her lover.
Another thing she kept doing new was visiting Star every day and talking to her. It was an easy feat, since her best friend was unconscious, and wouldn't respond. Cy had explained to her that the virus she got was because the ones that kidnapped her were probably trying to enhance her powers and transfusing her blood to the victims so they would acquire her powers. "But by the looks of it" he had said as he fixed the IV, "They created mutations in body instead of actually giving powers to the humans… We'll need to stay vigilant of any metahuman kidnapped, just in case."
It was on the 5th day, the Teen Titans and the other two boys from the Titans came back. Raven was reading a book when the doors of the common room opened and a cheetah came straight at her, knocking her off from the sofa, and the green man was again a man, kissing and hugging her on the floor. She got pissed at first, but the empath had missed him so much she let him be overjoyed for the both of them.
"Rae! Don't let me leave for so long you don't know how much I missed you!"
"Gar, you're being a kid. Stop it." she smiled a bit, liking this change.
Cyborg snickered. What wasn't obvious before now it clearly was.
"It was a tough mission. But we finally did it. Cy, run a drop of the antidote for testing and multiplying it before we give the sample to Star. We might need it-." the red lights began flashing.
Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep!
"It's Star! Something must be happening with her condition!"
Before Cyborg finished his sentence, Dick Grayson was flying towards the infirmary with the antidote.
Aaaaand yup another cliffhanger. I finished this chapter writing it on my phone (thank youuu google drive!) so I couldn't make it anymore longer. again, the song used here is another one from I the Mighty and what Changeling means by girly voices is well, most of my favorite bands
Good news! I already got plans for the next few chapters.
Bad news! this story might end in chapter 16! i know i haven't given much light to the BBxRae relationship. But I want to make a full on chapter on both of them without the others. So expect that.
Without further ado, R&R and hope you guys like it!