Disclaimer: I have no ownership of Teen Titans
Chapter 25
The two stood outside of King Tawaba's hut feeling rather uneasy. Beast Boy was far more nervous than Raven was, but he did his best to act cool. Both had been dreading this moment, but it had to be done.
"Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Raven asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Beast Boy. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Beast Boy took in a deep breath and then entered the hut. He saw King Tawaba waiting for him and, by the look on his face, he already knew what was going on. Beast Boy took a seat in front of him and cleared his throat.
"I think you know why I'm here," he said.
"Yes, I have some idea," said King Tawaba. "It's about the final trial, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," said Beast Boy. "I won't be completing it, sir."
King Tawaba sighed and said, "I thought not."
"I know that you really wanted me to complete the trials, trust me I did too, but I can't," said Beast Boy. "I care too much about Raven."
"So, you're leaving the village, then?" he asked.
"Well, I've gotta, right?" said Beast Boy. "But I'm only gonna be a few miles away. I'm not leaving Upper Lamumba."
"You're going to live in the jungle?" asked King Tawaba.
"Raven and I are gonna build ourselves a place," said Beast Boy.
"I see," said King Tawaba, sitting back in his seat. "Well, I knew your destiny would be to stay here, but I thought it'd be under different circumstances."
"You're not disappointed in me, are you?" asked Beast Boy.
"No, Garfield, I'm not disappointed," said King Tawaba. "I'm glad you'll be staying here with us, even if you won't be here in the village. And I know you'll be very happy with Raven."
"I'm sorry about Aiyana," said Beast Boy. "I hope she gets paired up with a guy who'll like her as much as I like Raven."
"There are many boys who are going through the trials as we speak," said King Tawaba. "You nearly completed your in record time. Usually it takes at least three years, but the average is four. Whichever one finishes first shall be meant for Aiyana. But it'll take her some time to abandon her hope and her heart for you."
"I know," said Beast Boy. "Trust me, I've kinda been in her position. But as long as she doesn't attack Raven again I think she'll be okay."
"Garfield, I've been thinking, and I have a proposition for you," said King Tawaba.
"Uh, thanks, but I've already chosen to be with Raven," said Beast Boy, scratching the back of his neck. "Not that I'm not flattered."
King Tawaba laughed in his throat. "Not a proposal, Garfield, a proposition," said King Tawaba. "I really want you to complete the trials. You've shown to me and to the entire tribe that you're worthy of our respect and the title of a man. So I'm willing to make a few adjustments so that you may complete your final trial."
"A few adjustments?" said Beast Boy. "Like what?"
"If you marry Raven then I will consider your Trials of Manhood complete," said King Tawaba. "You'll still be forbidden from living in the village, but you'll have our respect. What do you think?"
"You'd really do that for me?" said Beast Boy. "But, what about the traditions?"
"Garfield, I've made many adjustments already to allow you to take on the trials," said King Tawaba. "I might as well make one more so that you can complete them."
"Wow, so all I gotta do is marry Raven and I'll be a man?" said Beast Boy.
"You're already a man," said King Tawaba. "And a great one at that. Would you like to take my up on my offer?"
"Well, can I talk to Raven, first?" said Beast Boy. "I mean, I know we're gonna be together forever and all, but we never talked about marriage or anything."
"Go ahead," said King Tawaba.
"Thanks," he said and quickly headed out of the hut where Raven was waiting for him.
"How'd it go?" she asked.
"Fine," he said. "Actually, way better than I thought it would. He said that if we get married then he'll consider my trials complete, but we still can't live in the village. I think it's a great idea, but I wanted to make sure you're okay with it."
"Of course I'm okay with it," said Raven. "We're going to spend the rest of our lives here and we're going to be together. I suppose getting married would be a wise thing to do. And I'm guessing it's only a ceremony."
"Yeah, from what I understand," said Beast Boy. "So, we're gonna do it?"
"Yes, now go tell him!" said Raven, pushing him back into the king's hut. Of course, he quickly jumped back out to kiss her, and then went right back in.
"Sir, I'd like to take you up on that offer," said Beast Boy with a smile.
"Wonderful," said King Tawaba. "I'll marry you tonight and then we'll have the official Trials of Manhood completion ceremony."
"Cool," said Beast Boy. "Do I gotta do anything?"
"Both you and Raven should come to see me at sunset," said King Tawaba. "I'll help you prepare and I'll have a few women help Raven. Now go rest, you've got a long night ahead of you."
"Okay, I'll see you in a few hours," said Beast Boy, getting up to leave. But he paused. "Uh, does that mean we gotta move out of the village tonight?"
"I'll give you a month to get yourself settled in the jungle," said King Tawaba.
"Wow, that's really generous of you," said Beast Boy. "I don't think I can thank you enough."
"No thanks are necessary," said King Tawaba.
"What do you mean?" asked Beast Boy. "You've done so much for me I have to thank you."
"Garfield, your parents were very dear friends of mine," said King Tawaba. "They did many great things for the tribe and I'll always be indebted to them. And they once told me that if anything were to happen to them they'd want me to take care of you. Unfortunately, because of legal reasons I don't quite understand from your native country, you were taken away. When you returned to us I knew I'd finally have a chance to take care of you like your parents had wanted."
"Wow, I never knew that," said Beast Boy. "After they died everything became a blur for, like, the next year. I felt I had no place anywhere. If I'd known they wanted me to stay with you I would've run away back here."
"Well, you're back now," said King Tawaba. "And I'm glad to know you won't be leaving us again."
"I'm glad too, sir," said Beast Boy.
"Now go tell your friends of what's going on," said King Tawaba. "I'm glad to know they're still here and didn't miss your ceremony."
"Yeah, me too," said Beast Boy with a smile. "Close call, too. They're leaving tomorrow morning!"
After thanking King Tawaba again Beast Boy, along with Raven, went to tell the others about the two ceremonies that were going to take place in a matter of hours. They were all shocked, to say the least, that they were going to get married. Only days before they thought the two were nothing but pen pals who wrote to each other, at most, once a month. Everything they'd thought had turned out to be completely off.
"But, Raven, where shall you get a wedding dress?" asked Starfire.
"I think they do weddings a little different here, Starfire," said Raven.
"This is possibly the best love story ever!" said Sarah. "I swear, if this were a movie it'd be up there with Casablanca or Titanic!"
"Hopefully this one won't end with the two lovers never getting together or dying," said Raven.
"You guys owe me a hundred bucks," said Beast Boy to Cyborg and Robin.
"For what?" asked Robin.
"Remember? A few years ago we made a bet about who'd get married first out of the three of us," said Beast Boy. "I won so you guys owe me a hundred bucks each."
"What're you gonna do with two hundred dollars here?" asked Cyborg.
"Just put it into my bank account," said Beast Boy. "Then, whenever we need something, we can dip into it."
"So, does this mean we shall never see you again?" asked Starfire.
"You guys are welcome back anytime," said Beast Boy. "And we'll visit you guys every once in a while. Like, maybe for holidays and stuff."
"You guys will always be welcome back at the tower," said Robin. "Maybe you could even come out on a few missions with us for old times' sake."
"Sounds good to me, dude," said Beast Boy.
The hours seemed to fly by and soon the sun was setting. Beast Boy and Raven headed over to King Tawaba's hut to prepare for the wedding. Raven was taken away to be prepared and Beast Boy stayed with the king. He was dressed in ceremonial garbs and was even given a necklace to wear that was supposed to bring good luck. When the time was right he was led out to where it was to take place. Beast Boy was surprised to see that the entire tribe had showed up. Even Aiyana, who was in one of the worst moods he'd ever seen, was there. He saw his friends who each waved and gave him thumbs up. Raven was brought out at the same time as he and they met in the center of the village, the traditional place for holding weddings.
"My children, we're here to witness the union of Garfield Logan and," the king leaned in close to Raven, "what's your real name?"
"Raven Roth," Raven replied. She really didn't have a last name, but Roth had been her mother's.
"The union of Garfield Logan and Raven Roth together in life partnership," said King Tawaba. "Destiny has decreed that these two will be joined together forever. And I have the honor of melding their souls into one."
He took Beast Boy's hands and had him hold Raven's. He placed his own hands on top of the couple's head and then began reciting words as old as the tribe itself. He then took the necklace off of Beast Boy's neck and draped it over their joined hands.
"May luck and happiness be with you through all of your days," he said. "You are now life partners."
The tribe cheered followed by their friends, who hadn't been able to understand the ceremony. Beast Boy stood proudly while Raven couldn't help but blush from all of the attention. King Tawaba grabbed them both and gave them a big hug.
"Congratulations," he said.
"Thanks," said Beast Boy.
"Thank you very much, sir," said Raven.
"And now it's time for the Trials of Manhood completion ceremony," said King Tawaba. "Bring me the paint!"
"Paint?" said Beast Boy.
Karasi had the honor of bringing King Tawaba four different bowls of pasty paint. The king took one of the bowls containing a white paint and covered his hands in it.
"For our guests, I shall perform the ceremony in both our tongue and theirs," he said in Swahili and then in English.
"This represents strength," he said, and pressed his hands to Beast Boy's arms.
He covered one hand in a yellow paint next. "This represents intelligence," he said and pressed his hand to Beast Boy's forehead.
He dipped both hands into a green paint. "This represents respect," he said and pressed his hands to Beast Boy's shoulders.
He then dipped one hand in the remaining paint which was red. "This represents love," he said and pressed his hand over Beast Boy's heart.
He turned Beast Boy towards the crowd and said, "From this day forward Garfield Logan shall no longer be considered a boy. He is a true man among men and is worthy of our respect forever more." And with that it was official. Everyone cheered and there was a great celebration.
"Wow, I never knew paint was what would make me a man," said Beast Boy, touching some of the still wet paint. "I must look pretty ridiculous right now."
"No more than usual," said his new wife with a kiss.