The T-Car drove down the Bay Side expressway. Soon they reached the iconic bay bridge and Beast Boy saw Titans Tower, standing like a protective sentinel with its arm spread over the city, promising to always defend it.
He was seated in the back, with Raven on his left and Starfire on his right. Raven took his gloved hand and gently caressed it with her thumb. Starfire noticed the gesture and subtly smiled.
The ride was quiet and he felt he was in a trance. Ever since his Doom Patrol days he thought of himself first and foremost as Beast Boy. Garfield Mark Logan was his alter ego, one that had been hastily stashed away in a messy junk drawer in his mind. It's not as if he had forgotten where he came from or what his real name was, but … that was in the past … a painful past. There was a reason he didn't talk about his past. He rarely spoke about the Doom Patrol, but he never spoke about his parents. He only told his teammates about them once, shortly after the time Elastigirl called him by his real name in front of his friends. Star later asked him more about his life when he was a child, but he clammed up. Raven discreetly told her to stop asking and she did.
Gar looked up and saw they were exiting at the airport off ramp. Cyborg was at the wheel and Robin was in the passenger seat. The Boy Wonder pointed at a sign the read "Private Aircraft, Next Right". Cyborg nodded and soon they were parked next to a Gulfstream executive jet with United Nations markings on it.
"There's your ride." Cyborg announced in a very matter of fact tone.
The airplane's hatch with its built in stair case was lowered and a lone flight attendant was standing next to it, waiting to greet them. They got out of the car and said their goodbyes.
Robin shook his hand. "Good luck Beast Boy. I hope this brings some closure for you."
"Me too, Rob. Thanks."
Starfire wrapped her arms around him and pecked him in the cheek. "Do return soon. It will not be the same without both of you."
"Don't worry, Star, we'll be back soon."
She smiled, and then whispered in his ear "Be nice to Raven."
Next it was Cyborg's turn.
"Good luck B. I'm pulling for ya." He said as they shook hands. He then looked at Raven and winked at her as he said. "And don't spend too much time foolin' around with your girlfriend."
Raven glared at the Tin Man. Gar crossed his arms. "That's not cool, Cy."
"Hey, I'm just messin' with you guys. I know you're not really a couple."
Robin pulled Raven aside. "Take care of him. He isn't in a good place right now."
"I already know that."
A small smile appeared on Robin's face. "So, is he your boyfriend, or not?"
Raven gave him one of her blankest looks and without saying a word she boarded the airplane.
Robin's smile widened into a grin. "I knew it."
Beast Boy followed Raven up the steps and waved good bye to his friends. The hatch was closed and the Titans watched the jet taxi away and take off before heading home.
-(-)-
As soon as the jet leveled off at cruising altitude the flight attendant informed the pair that there was a meal ready for them. The airplane had a table with opposing airliner seats, so they could sit as if at a proper dining table. They moved to the table and settled in. The attendant had already set it up with a table cloth and a small vase with some flowers in it. She then came back with their meals: some vegetarian dish for the changeling and a small tenderloin filet for Raven. Without asking she poured them some wine. She then said that if they needed anything, she would be in the galley in the back.
At first they ate in silence, until he broke it: "This Eggplant Parmesan is pretty good."
"So is my filet." She replied. "Gar, when was the last time you ate meat?"
"When I ate Robin's breakfast."
"That doesn't count, you weren't yourself."
He stopped eating. "I'm not sure, I guess it was when I first joined the Doom Patrol, when I was eight, I think."
"Do you remember what it was like before you became Beast Boy?"
He shrugged. "Not a lot, mostly fuzzy memories of my parents."
She put her fork down, her meal now forgotten. "I'd like to hear about them. I mean, if you'd like to talk about them."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
He got up and walked back to his seat, where his carry on bag was. He opened it and pulled something out before returning to the table. He handed a small picture frame to Raven. She looked at it.
"This is the picture Cyborg restored for you? I've never seen it before."
He nodded. She took a second look at the picture. She was first drawn to the small boy in the picture. Even though the child was blond and very light skinned, the resemblance was there, especially that smile, the smile she had grown accustomed to, and actually missed when it was absent.
She then looked at his mother. While it was only a still image, she saw a very feminine softness in the woman, both in her expression and her body language. She was clearly a strong woman, obviously as she had gone to live in the African backwoods without virtually any creature comforts. Yet, she seemed so relaxed and content, her arms wrapped around her son. She looked maternal and feminine, which was utterly foreign to Raven, who was convinced she was neither.
Finally she looked at his father. Much like Garfield he wasn't tall. And while he didn't fit the stereotype of the bushman who lived in the wild, she saw subtle signs that he wasn't a city slicker on a prepackaged safari. His hands looked rough, and he was lean and ropy, much like his superhero son. As she continued to look Raven saw what some would call a quiet strength in the man. It then crossed her mind that they died without knowing that their son would became a great superhero. They would no doubt be very proud of him if they were still alive.
"Do you know when this picture was taken?"
"Well, the monkey bit me just before I turned five."
She nodded. "You look like you could be four in this picture. Garfield, tell me anything you can about them. What were they like?"
A small smile appeared on his face. "They were a lot of fun. I had no idea at the time what they did, that they were scientists working in vaccine research. But they always had time for me … I don't know when they did any work … maybe it was when I slept."
He paused and a wistful look appeared on his face. "Mom was a great cook. She learned how to make all kinds of local dishes … sometimes I wish there were some Lamumban restaurants in Jump."
He paused and looked at his plate. "The food's getting cold."
She nodded and they resumed eating. They quickly finished their meals. She picked up her wine glass and sniffed it. "I've never had wine before."
"Me neither. Wanna try it?"
She shrugged. "I guess it can't hurt."
He clinked his glass with hers. "Thanks for coming with me."
"You're welcome … cheers … I think that's what you say when drinking wine."
The raised their glasses to their lips and took a swig. His eyes bulged and he almost spat it out.
"Dude, that's gross … people actually like this? What does is say on the bottle? Dragon spit?"
Raven grimaced, but also did not spit it out. She read the label on the bottle. "It says Sauvignon Blanc."
"What does that mean?"
"I have no idea." She replied. "It must be the type of wine it is."
"I think I'll have a soda next time."
"Me too … how about we move to that couch over there. I'd like to talk some more."
He looked at the couch. "Huh, a sofa with seat belts. Sure, let's move over there."
After they moved, she resumed the conversation. "Do you remember what it was like being normal … not having powers?"
"Yeah, I do."
"I've always had my powers, I can't imagine not having them. So, what was it like?"
He shrugged. "I dunno, it was just who I was, I guess. Until the monkey bit me."
"Your powers, they come from the virus, right?"
"That and the serum that saved me … it's kind of weird to think that I should be dead."
"It was fortunate that your parents were working on the serum."
"I think it was a long shot they took, they had no idea what it would do to me. I mean, it was worth trying, otherwise I would have died and they would have buried me in the jungle …" his voice trailed off and he lowered his gaze"... and I would never have been Beast Boy or a Titan … " he looked up at her "… and we never would have met and … you never would have kissed me."
Raven blushed and looked. away. "I owe you an apology for that." She mumbled.
"An apology?"
"I … it was … I should have asked you first if it was OK to kiss you." Her blush intensified.
"Raven, look at me."
She slowly turned to face him.
"Raven, was it your first kiss?"
She nodded. She was about to apologize for her brazenness when he leaned forward and gently kissed her. She felt her whole body tingle and she kissed him back. They continued kissing. She took his hands and gently removed his gloves, tossing them aside and interlaced his fingers with hers. After a few minutes they stopped and leaned away from each other.
"That was way better than the stupid wine." He said as he grinned.
"It was … exquisite." She replied in a breathless tone. "I never would have imagined that it could be so pleasant."
The curtain that separated the galley from the passenger compartment parted and the attendant, who was a perky brunette, called out to them.
"Can I get you anything?"
"NO!" They shouted in unison.
"Just call me if you need anything." She said as she returned to the galley, closing the curtain behind her.
Garfield noticed they were still holding hands.
"Raven … uh, I have a dumb question to ask … are you my girlfriend?"
"I don't know."
"But we kissed."
"A lot of people kiss … you know … casually."
"Uh, I don't think there was anything casual about our kiss."
"There wasn't?" She asked.
"You tell me."
She nodded. "You're right … so I guess I am your girlfriend. Are you my boyfriend?"
"I am." He leaned forward to kiss her, but she pulled away.
"Gar, I owe you an explanation."
"You do … for what?"
"For all the times I've been rotten to you."
He laughed. "Oh, I know. It was because you didn't want anyone to know that you liked me."
She frowned. "Was it that obvious?"
"Of course. You were shy and stuff. You were probably afraid of being teased. I mean, Chrome Dome can be pretty merciless. We weren't on the plane yet and he already started. I can already hear him when we get back: BB and Raven, sitting in a tree ..."
"He can be an idiot sometimes. But he never teased you about Terra."
"Well, she never was my girlfriend."
She crossed her arms. "I beg to differ."
"No, really. Sure, I had a huge crush on her, but I never even kissed her."
He leaned forward and kissed his gray girlfriend.
"But I know you're a better kisser than she is."
"For some, reason I believe you."
"I would never lie to my smart, beautiful and super hot girlfriend."
-(-)-
I'm extending this story at the request of Golem XIV. If you like it, let me know. Encouragement brings more frequent updates.