I can only hope I don't get writers block. It's difficult when I need to think up some filler so I can connect the plot points.
Anyway lets keep this story rolling.
Chapter 14: Trios United
The green shape-shifter continued to stare dumbfounded at the sight of seeing the familiar red headed alien steep out of the old truck and trying to figure out how to use the gas pump. After another few seconds he finally found his voice and called out the drivers side window.
"S-Star! STARFIRE!"
The orange skinned girl looked around at the sound of her name being called.
"Huh? who is there ?"
"Starfire! over here!"
It was then she spotted her former teammate sitting in the white muscle car on the other side of the pumps, his green skin being a dead giveaway.
"F-friend Beast Boy!" She gasped with joy.
He quickly leaped out of the open window as she ran over to him and threw her arms around his smaller form. She held him in a warm embrace against her chest.
"I am so happy to see you again friend!" She beamed with glee.
"So am I star, I missed you the most." He looked up at her with his goofy grin.
It was then he released something that made his recent happy state quickly turn to fear, he quickly broke the embrace and looked at her in a panic.
"Wait a second, what are you doing here? are the other Titans nearby? Are they still mad at me? did they follow..."
Starfire silenced him with her fingers against his lips.
"Please, do not be doing the freaking out, let me explain..."
Starfire began to tell Beast Boy the events that had transpired after he left the team, he smiled at the fact that she had kept to her word and not reveled where he was going to the others. After she gave him the explanation of why she was currently driving alone in the desert, he sat on hood of the car and requested her to join him.
"So how have you be doing with the 'Going of Solo' friend?"
Beast Boy smiled lightly at his alien friend.
"Well... to tell you the truth Star... I haven't gone solo."
"Oh... you have not?" She looked at him in surprise.
"No, in fact I've met someone who's been helping me out, he's given me a place to stay and food to eat, we're even sitting on his car right now." He joked.
"Oh, that is good to here."
Just then the front entrance door to the gas station opened and Arny stepped out, holding a water bottle in one had and carrying an old boom box in the other. He then saw the former Titan talking to a red headed female which he instantly recognized as Starfire.
"Heh, I guess it is a small world." He chuckled and headed over to the two friends.
"Hey is this a reunion or somethin'?" He smirked.
Beast Boy looked over and smiled at him as he appeared.
"Starfire, I want to introduce you to a totally awesome dude, he's called-"
Before he could finish his introduction, Arny beat him to it.
"Howdy ma'am, the names 'Anonymous' but ya'll can call me Arny for short." He announced in a fake county accent.
The alien smiled at the rather mysterious teen, he held out a sleeve covered hand to which she shook gleefully.
"Hello Arny, I am pleased to see that Beast Boy has made a new friend."
She then took a good look at Arny's attire.
"My, you have quite the interesting choice of the wardrobe."
"Why thank you, and you are quite the great example of Tamaralien beauty, aren't I right Beast Boy?"
The purple dressed girl giggled with a light blush while the shape-shifter tugged at his collar nervously.
"Uh... yeah she... em... d-definitely is a sight to be seen." His cheeks glowing red.
"And I'm sorry to her what Robin did to you, you didn't deserve what he did."
Starfire sighed sadly.
"Please, do not threat about my own problems of the ships of relations. I have vowed not to let Robin's sudden departure as my boyfriend affect me, he is not worthy of my affection."
The green boy looked at her curiously.
"Well that's good to here. So... what do you plan on doing now?"
"I do not know, Robin's plan was to find you and somehow do the 'convincing you' to rejoin the team." She explained.
Beast Boy just shook his head.
"Well, I'm afraid that won't be happening anytime soon Star. They've given me so many reason's to leave and as of so far, leaving has been the best decision I ever made."
"They have been most regretful for their negative treatment of you, especially Raven. She has not been herself since you left."
Beast Boy let out a mocking laugh
"Huh, Raven actually feels bad that I left? like that would be the day."
"No Beast Boy, she has been acting this most differently than normally and hopes for you returning."
Even though it was Starfire telling him this, Beast Boy still wasn't convinced.
"I'm sorry Star but in all honesty, She's the main reason I left. I just couldn't take the way she treats me anymore, and Bird Boy just made things worse with his 'Everyone must be Perfect!' motto. I just came to the conclusion that I should bale out be for they kick me out."
Starfire slowly hung her head, on the verge of tears.
"I-I understand friend, I am most sorrowful that I could not convince you to rejoin, I shall inform Robin of the bad news when I return."
She stood up in depression and advanced back towards the farm truck. Beast Boy and Arny shared a glance before Arny leaned over whispered something into the green boys pointed ear, after a quick private discussion Beast Boy called out to her.
"Starfire! wait!"
The Tamaralien turned around to see her green friend run up to her and grab her arm.
"What is it friend?" She sniffed with tears visible in her eyes.
"Me and Arny have just made an invitation, do ya wanna come along with us?"
The alien's eyes instantly dried up and her mouth opened in shock.
"I-I... don't... know I-if I should..."
"It will be great Star, me and Arny entered a contest and we're heading to Keystone Cityt. First prize, an original special edition Gamestation."
Beast Boy took out the contest flyer from his pocket and showed it to her.
"That sounds most interesting, but I have to inform Robin and the others that-"
She didn't get to finish as she was swiftly cut off by the green teen.
"Forget the Titans! And forget Robin Star! all he'll do now is hurt you and you of all people certainly don't deserve that sort of pain. I wasn't good enough to be on his Team and you weren't good enough to be his girlfriend! you see, there was just no pleasing the guy... unless your a cold, mean and sarcastic empath." He muttered the last part under his breath.
"You see me and Arny have become partners, I know it sound's a bit sudden but here me out. He's been very supportive to me and has treated me like a true friend should and I only meet him yesterday, sure I don't know much about his history but he clearly has nothin' to hide and it turns out we have a lot in common."
It was then that Arny joined in the conversation.
"He's right about that, we both love music, video games and fast cars, so if you want to, you can join us on our road trip. No catches, just another friend to share the long journey with."
Arny's comforting smile caused the alien to relax and smile back, she then fumbled around in her skirt and took out her communicator. Staring at it in her palm, she remembered the many adventures the team had brought these sacred devices with them, she would always call Robin first when she was in trouble or when she just wanted to talk. Beast Boy sensed what she was doing and took out his own communicator, he looked up to see that she was now staring to the far left of the gas station where a an open dumpster was.
"Starfire..." He spoke and she looked back at him.
"We can do this together if you want." He held out his own communicator.
Starfire sighed.
"Yes friend, I would feel better if we did this together." She smiled warmly and they booth made the long walk over to the dumpster.
They stood next to it's large opening and raised their arms over it. With one final look at the only remaining connection they had with the Teen Titans, they opened their palms and let the communicators drop.
CLUNK! CLONK!
The two now officially ex Titans looked a each other. They shared a smile before the changeling held out his had, which the alien instantly took hold of as she was lead back to the Arny who was waiting patently for them.
"So you decided to join us, that's great. Now we're a couple of good ol' boys and a pruty gal." The stripy teen announced in his fake country accent.
The two former Titans laughed at his humor with Starfire's cheeks glowing read.
"Why thank you new friend Arny." She cheerfully grind.
As they neared the car, Arny walked over too the passenger door and opened it.
"Your chariot awaits, princess." He held the door open as the Tamaralien sat in the passenger side.
"You are most gracious friend Arny." She complimented.
He shut the door behind her as Beast Boy climbed through the driver's side and sat in the center of the bench seat, Arny took his usual spot behind the steering wheel. It was then that Beast Boy notice the boom box which Arny had promptly place between themselves.
"Hey Arn, when did you get this sweet boom box?"
"Oh that thing? heh, well since we didn't have any money I challenged the guy who owns this place to game of pinball, if I won I get the water for free."
"And you were victorious?" Starfire was curious.
Arny smirked in response.
"Lets just say not even Cyborg could beat the score I left of that machine, the guy was so impressed he surrendered his old boom box as gift for my skill."
The green teen raised an eyebrow and smirked at the monochrome colored youth.
"Were you controlling the machine with your powers?"
"Only when I nearly lost the ball, I had to make it look convincing."
Beast Boy laughed but then realized something they had all overlooked.
"Dude! what time is it?"
Arny looked at the old style clock digit on the dashboard.
"Woah, we wre here for quite a long time. It's nearly Four o'clock."
"Ah man, we need to get back on the road fast!"
Arny then turned to the changeling with a crafty grin on his face.
"Roads? with what I've got stashed in the back of the car, we don't need roads."
At that unexpected statement the two former Titans looked at each other before the green colored teen asked.
"Err... what do you mean by that Arn?"
Arny just smirked.
"You'll soon find out, fasten your safety belts."
Arny stepped on the gas peddle and they left the gas station. The force of the momentum caused the contest flyer that Beast Boy was holding to be blown from his hand and out of his open window, it discarded itself near the dumpster as Arny's car became a blip on the horizon.
Many miles behind a certain dark empath was pacing alone on the long empty desert road, she had been walking for what seemed like hours and was no closer to finding her missing comrades. She eventually came to realize that she wasn't getting anywhere fast and decide to take a moments brake and gather her surroundings. She sat on a nearby rock with her legs crossed and started chanting her mantra, it was no less than a minute when she started to sense a presence that wasn't too far way.
Her eyes opened and she turned around to face the open desert landscape, she focused hard and it was then she started to pickup two individuals that both seemed to be having an argument. With that small bit of information she concluded she'd located Robin and Cyborg, she quickly took to the air and flew towards their location.
Cyborg was currently rummaging through the engine compartment of his wreaked ship while Robin was constantly pacing back and forth. They'd been stuck in the desert sun for a long, unbearable 45 minutes and it was slowly taking effect of the two stranded Titans.
"Have you made any progress on the engine now Cyborg?" The bird boy asked.
"For the hundredth time... NO!" Cyborg snapped his head at his inpatient leader.
"I keep tellin' ya! Raven's powers shut down the entire electric system, it was a miracle that she didn't tear the engine to pieces. I swear when I get this thing back to the tower I gonna alter her compartment so it will contain her dark magic."
Robin looked back at the tin man with a look of reluctance.
"I'm not sure she'd be very happy with that Cy, it would be like putting her in a containment enclosure. She'd feel like she was a threat to us."
Cyborg turned to look at his leader with reassurance.
"Relax man, with my technology I'll design it in such a way she wouldn't even notice the difference... and it'll keep my baby's in one piece."
"Who won't notice what difference?"
The two immediately jumped at the sound of a monotone voice from behind them, Robin spun round to face the arrival of Raven who floated down to the ground.
Cyborg sweat-dropped and quickly searched his mechanical brain for an alternative explanation to answer the dark Titan.
"Oh... em... we were just saying how S-Starfire wouldn't notice when I put... err... n-new seat warmers in the cockpits." He grind nervously.
She eyed him for a moment before dismissing the matter.
"Whatever. So what's the situation with your ships?" She folded her arms.
Cyborg sighed having dodged a bullet.
"Well it's entire system is down and all my tools are back at the tower. So to put it simple... mine and Robin's ships are outta commission."
Raven sighed holding the bridge of her nose.
"That make three of us, mine and Stafire's ships are also nonfunctional."
The bionic man placed a metal hand of his face in frustration at having to repair all four ships.
Noticing the absence of a certain Tamaralien, Robin spoke.
"Raven, where is Starfire?"
"She found herself a mode of transport. She went ahead to see if she could locate Beast Boy."
"Well, at least one of us was able to continue with the search." He felt relieved.
Cyborg rolled his eyes at his leaders lack of concern for his ex.
"We're gonna need to get back to the tower, the only alternative vehicles we have are the R-Cycle and T-Car... even though she's still under repair." He muttered.
Robin nodded in agreement and faced the empath.
"Is there any chance you could teleport us back to the Tower Raven?"
"Yes, but it is very exhausting."
"Okay, start whenever your ready."
Raven nodded and crossed her hands in front of her face and did a gesture (Similar to the one she used in Nevermore). When she absorbed her mental personas into herself. A breeze blew around her and she levitated. Energy swirled her and formed a dark sphere which consumed her along with Robin and Cyborg.
Then in a split second they were gone, leaving the desert in complete silence.