CHAPTER THREE
TEAL
For Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy, the colossal wait for Robin and Starfire to stop running in circles and finally become a couple had been painful. At times, excruciating even.
From the instant they met, the chemistry had been there for all to see, and though nobody would voice it, they all knew it was merely a matter of enduring and remaining patient until one of the two inevitably caved.
Mainly it was a wait for Robin; for the obsessive, workaholic leader to take the time to set aside his papers, his weapons and fixations in order to see that, from Day One, Starfire had been there. That she had weathered all his outbursts, his sleepless nights and manic tirades, and given him every chance to come to her when he ultimately decided he was ready to do so.
Some days Raven found herself wondering which of them had had it the worst: the team, or the alien princess.
It was to everyone's relief when, merely three weeks following the Titans' return to Jump from the Brotherhood battle, Robin had gathered all his courage and awkward charm and used it to tell Starfire how he felt about her.
How he had always felt.
How he had been so stupid, so completely idiotic to not have said it all the week she'd fallen to Earth and he'd had his heart forever stolen away from him.
This meant that the two had been officially together for just over a month now.
Past the celebration and satisfaction, none of the couple's teammates were to know that, very soon, they would be made to endure a completely different kind of suffering.
In truth, no one could be happier for the pair than their friends. But it was only fair to concede that, for all this happiness, it had been ruthlessly put to the test by the time they'd each walked through the halls of their home, their communal kitchen, their shared gym, to be met with the sight of roaming hands and sensuous lips.
It just kept happening.
"Dude!" Beast Boy had yelped one afternoon when, for the umpteenth time that week, he stumbled upon the scene whilst casually going about his day.
He had flinched with his hands shielding his eyes, determined to un-see the image of his precious, innocent sister being groped at the back of her skirt.
"You have a room. Two of them!"
From behind his hands, he heard a little meep from Starfire.
"Our apologies," the alien said through a bashful smile. If Gar were to dare a glance, he'd see how Robin now had his head ducked into his girlfriend's neck to hide the fierce blush spreading over his face.
Raven and Cyborg shared in their response to such spectacles, with the two having made a habit of pausing, glaring, then leaving the room without a word.
It was seeming more and more to be the case that Tamaraneans were a lot less modest in their intimate displays than the easily-embarrassed bird that was their leader.
For the most part, they all saw each other as siblings. And it was fine to see your siblings express their affections through a cuddle or a kiss. But Jesus, that's exactly where it should stop.
At first it had been pardoned. In these early days, especially after so many years of tension, it was somewhat expected for the new couple to be all over each other. Plus, they were all late-teens; it wasn't exactly surprising that hormones ran high.
But quite quickly it reached a point where it was no longer carelessly cute and instead had become downright gruelling - a word not often associated with Starfire, but one they could all agree was accurate nonetheless.
Though the trio shared in their suffering during this time, Raven would assert that hers had been that touch more exclusive.
"And then, when they brought out our drinks, he reached across the table and placed his hand over mine!" Starfire would gush to her ten days into dating Robin, a pink pillow hugged tightly to her chest. Raven would be sat at the bed's opposite end, nodding through a languid smile that veiled her distaste for the topic surprisingly well.
"That's nice, Star," she would say in a fading voice - fading for it would be the twelfth time she'd repeated the phrase in the last half-hour alone. She was certain Cyborg and Beast Boy didn't have to sit through these anecdotes with Robin.
Even so, for all her cynicism, the enchantress simply did not have the heart to dismiss her sister's happiness. Not when it was like this, in its purest form.
The girl had been an unyielding beam in that first month, illuminating all rooms she chose to enter until the entire space became awash in the dazzling light of her smile.
Today, Raven sat at the kitchen island with a newspaper in one hand and her morning tea in the other. Upon reaching the common room at 9:30am to discover it empty, she had quickly decided to make the most of the peace and quiet while it lasted.
As it happened, she'd been third of the five to wake up and pry herself out of bed.
As they all knew, Cyborg attended his sailing class on Thursday mornings (in fact, if she were to feel so compelled, she could glance out the window and likely spot him on the waves below with his instructor), whilst Robin had already guzzled his morning coffee (evident by the stained mug left on the side) and disappeared off somewhere else.
Probably gymming it, Raven suspected.
There was surprisingly a lot of good news in the paper. Crime-rates had been on the decline as of late, a Renaissance art exhibition was being set up at the local museum, and in the coming months there would be a grand reopening of their newly-refurbished Town Hall - a long-awaited project of which Jump's mayor took great pride in.
She let her eyes skim the black print, once again bringing the rim of her steaming mug to her lips. It was only at the sound of the doors sliding open behind her that her head rose to the face of her teammate.
"Pleasant risings, friend!" Starfire greeted through a wide smile. Even as she made her way from the entrance to the main level, she remained floating high above the floor with a wave of coral hair cascading behind her.
"Morning, Star," Raven said softly into her tea.
Rather than join her comrade in the kitchen, the Tamaranean sailed straight for the great glass wall overlooking the skyline. She took a moment to gaze out, bringing her clasped hands beneath her chin.
"Is it not the most glorious of days?" the magus heard called back to her. She had returned to flicking through the paper and refrained from sighing aloud.
"So glorious…"
Since 'that day', every day had been the most glorious of days.
Be it sunny, overcast, rainy, or windy as it was today (perfect for Cyborg's sailing, actually), it simply didn't matter. They were all the most glorious of days, and at this point, Raven felt a miserable one was well overdue.
"Have you any plans on how you wish to spend it?" Starfire asked, finally flying her way over to the kitchen. Raven kept her eyes to the page then flipped to a new one.
"Sit tight and hope it stays quiet," she said honestly.
Starfire pulled her head from an open cupboard, lips pursed into a pout. She scoured her thoughts for a moment and soon her eyes were alight as she nestled in close to Raven's side.
"I have the idea!"
Oh no, Raven thought.
"We have not dedicated a day to each other since before our travels abroad." It was true, but only because the alien's every waking moment had been spent with Robin.
"It has… been a while," Raven admitted. A look of genuine guilt overtook Starfire.
"Oh, this is the fault of mine." She lowered herself from the air and claimed the closest chair to Raven, making a point to draw the girl's attention as remorse seeped into her voice. "I have been most neglectful. I owe you the apology."
Understanding Starfire's train of thought, Raven was swift in her assurance, letting her newspaper rest at the table's edge.
"You don't, Starfire. Honestly, after the Brotherhood, I've needed some space to recuperate."
"Ah, I suppose you are right. It has all been quite exhausting."
That was an understatement.
Upon banishing her father, Raven had felt she was deserving of a long and restful break. But she knew as well as any that evil didn't rest, and the fortnight that followed her birthday had passed by in the blink of an eye. Before any of them knew it, they were once again setting out on a new mission against a new foe, though this time it had been far beyond the sanctum of their West Coast home.
There had been concern and loneliness. There had been endless nights of sleeping in cramped spaces rather than their own beds. There had been foreign climates, close calls, fighting without their friends at their back. And though by now she had pushed it all aside, for Raven it had been a painfully emotional trial; a test of her endurance and will.
The pair shared in this quiet agreement before Starfire spoke again through a patient smile.
"Perhaps, now that you have had the rest, you might wish to accompany me to the mall this afternoon?"
Raven's eyes softened. She was genuinely surprised by this offer. She didn't know if Robin had plans taking up his day, but it seemed to be the first time in a while that Starfire was willing to spend it with someone other than him.
A strange part of her felt tempted to pry into this request, but knew it was best not to. Perhaps it was simply the case that the couple had reached a point where they felt it healthy to take some time apart.
Reasoning that she wanted to encourage this, Raven felt herself slowly surrendering her quiet, placid day to instead go shopping with her friend in the city.
"I could do that..."
"Wonderful!" the redhead exclaimed, then turned to the cupboards again to prepare her breakfast. Before Raven could go back to her tea and paper, there was the sound of doors hissing open once more.
"Ladies." Gar saluted as he strode down the red set of stairs to join them in the kitchen.
"Good morning, Beast Boy," Starfire replied, her signature smile returning in full. Raven greeted him with eye contact alone.
He sauntered past the two and bent to rummage through the fridge, only to rise again with an apple in hand. Taking a generous bite, he leaned back on the countertop with his elbow propping him up.
"You gals got anything on today?"
"Indeed! Raven shall be joining me in journeying to the mall this afternoon," Starfire told him as Raven sipped her tea in the background.
"Nice, nice," he nodded along. "You probs know, Star, but me 'n' Rob are gonna go whack some sandbags down on the beach."
Despite herself, this phrasing had Raven raising her head and peering at him from over Starfire's shoulder.
"You're going to what?"
"They are to pursue fraternal recreation through the pillaging of sacks," Starfire assisted happily.
There was a pause while Raven blinked back at Beast Boy through large eyes, pleading for insight.
"Sparring," he explained.
"Ah."
So, that was it. Beast Boy had somehow wrangled Robin into spending the better part of the day with him, so Starfire was simply following suit (not that Raven really minded).
"Oh, Robin did request that I inform you, he is 'getting the head-start on your lazy ass', and you may join him at the beach whenever you are ready."
Gar rolled his eyes and scoffed through another bite of his apple.
"Figures."
These days, rather than see himself as lacking and Robin as a goal to be reached, the changeling had determined that, actually, his routine was perfectly healthy whilst his leader's was bordering unsustainable.
Like always, the man would burn himself out then have to start all over again. It was a shame he had yet to grasp the art of chilling out for once, but Gar supposed that's what being raised by The Dark Knight got you in the long-run.
The shifter knew he would never be large or hulking, but now that he was at least growing out of his ropiness, he'd decided he was okay with that.
Like a swimmer, Gar was built lean, and beneath the stretch of his uniform, his physique had become undeniably defined. When he moved, the makings of firm, corded muscle moved with him, and he revelled in knowing that alongside his new height, his arms and chest had become a little broader too.
A slight but noticeable improvement, he thought. And he concluded that he'd rather sacrifice any excessive bulk if it meant he could spend some days skipping a workout whilst he recovered from the last one. (It also went without saying that, when you can transform into an elephant at the drop of a hat, you don't really need to be carrying around a load of extra mass anyway.)
With this in mind, he let Robin's comment fly over his head and set about cooking up a warm, vegan breakfast that would get him through the session. Raven's eyes broke from her reading when she heard the radio crackle to life, but she let it happen. It was their kitchen as much as it was hers.
Starfire made quick work of practically inhaling her cereal, suddenly restless at the prospect of venturing out of the tower with her sister. She wiped at her mouth and chucked her dishes into the sink, then snatched up a clementine from the fruit bowl.
"Shall we endeavour to depart in thirty minutes?" she asked Raven eagerly, beginning to unpeel the fruit in her hands.
"Sounds good," the sibyl said, though with noticeably less fervour.
"Glorious. Then I shall meet with you back here shortly!" She made to soar off but caught herself, looking back to Beast Boy. "Do enjoy your bonding, Beast Boy!"
He raised the glass of pineapple juice he'd just poured himself.
"Will do!"
In a flash of purple she was gone from the room, leaving her two teammates alone with only the murmurs of the radio. Gar was first to move, leaving his spot at the far counter and dropping down onto the island seat opposite Raven.
"Can't believe we did it," he said with a smile, setting his breakfast plate down on the table before him. She looked up from her paper in puzzlement.
"Did what?"
"Got those two to spend a day apart." He gestured to the door where Starfire had just left. "Pretty good teamwork, no?"
He was obviously joking, but even so, she couldn't deny there was a degree of triumph in the point he made. Though it hadn't at all been intentional on Raven's part, she supposed some 'girl time' would do the Tamaranean a lot of good. Maybe even herself, if she was being completely honest.
The sibyl straightened her newspaper and offered him a curious look.
"So, you had a master plan?" she said. "How long was that in the works?"
"Actually, Robin asked me to spar," Beast Boy admitted, much to Raven's surprise.
It was surprising for two reasons: the first being that Robin had only wanted to be around his girlfriend as of late, and the second being that in all the time they'd known Robin, he had hardly ever asked just one Titan to spar with him.
It was either a solo affair, or a whole team-training session. Never something in-between.
A dark eyebrow rose on her head.
"I know. Weird, right?" The boy continued digging into the plate before him, though now he had one temple atop his knuckles and his head at a tilt.
"I dunno. Maybe he really thinks I'm slacking," Gar said with a far-off look in his eye, drawn somewhere to the side as though he were mulling it over.
"You're clearly not slacking," Raven supplied. And what she had meant by this was that, since the Brotherhood, his work-ethic had advanced.
Like everyone in the tower, she was aware of how Beast Boy had decided to complement his newfound confidence with a sufficient training regime. Though this was just for him, it naturally went alongside all their regular group practises throughout the week, and that amount of labour certainly paid off.
So he clearly wasn't slacking, for he had improved and been putting in the work more than most of them. What she hadn't considered was that, in how she'd said it, it sounded a lot more like Beast Boy was 'clearly' much fitter now… and that she had noticed.
"Oh, really?" You could bet the shifter latched onto her comment, with a smirk and hooked brow to match his smug tone. Realising her mistake, Raven frowned and threw an unimpressed look his way.
"That's not what I-"
"If you wanted to check out the merch, you know you could've just asked," he taunted (all in the spirit of teasing a friend, of course). Lowering his fork to the table, he raised his free arm and gave a bicep-flex, taking the opportunity to eye it himself.
The girl's temple throbbed as she glared on at him a moment longer, before stretching her newspaper wide and dipping her head beneath it.
"Don't you have some 'sacks to pillage'?"
"That I do," he shot back before giving a loud kiss to his upper-arm. This earned him a look from Raven as her judging eyes peered over the top of her paper. "Those bags-o'-sand won't know what hit 'em."
He swallowed down what remained of his meal and she was only able to follow his movements as he went to drop his dishes into the sink. On his way out of the kitchen, he made one last pit-stop next to her, flexing again and placing the muscle obnoxiously close to her face.
"Last chance. Offer expires in five seconds. Exclusive 30% discount, better grab it quick!"
From this proximity, he could swear he saw a soft blush touch her cheeks.
"Go to the beach, Beast Boy," she said in perfect monotone. Though his smile remained, his arm-curl turned effortlessly into a finger-gun as he heeded her warning.
"Gotcha."
With that, he swivelled on his heel and strolled off towards the exit, bringing his arms together and stretching them high above his head on his way out.
"Have fun in paradise, Raven!" Gar called over his shoulder, knowing full well that the shopping mall was her idea of anything but.
"Have fun in Hell," she returned with another flip of a page. She was fairly certain any form of training led by Robin fell somewhere into one of those seven circles.
She heard the main doors shut behind him and was once again left in peace. Raven stared on at the spot where he'd last been, just at the top of the small flight of stairs, and noticed the feel of a fond smile slipping over her before she could stop it.
- T -
Achilles Island was largely made up of foliage and bedrock, but if you were to wander to the Eastern side, you'd find a patch where the current ran stronger and had over many decades worn down the stone to form a humble beach.
Beast Boy hopped into the elevator that would take him to the ground floor and tried not to think over his interaction with the Azarathian.
Always one to be tongue-tied and completely awkward around his fleeting past-crushes, this just very seldom seemed to be the case with Raven.
But then, she was neither past, nor fleeting.
Talking with her was easy. Playing around, pushing her buttons, and even casual conversation - it all just came naturally to him, and in truth, it was a ridiculously nice change.
He could only put it down to the fact they'd been friends for so long and housemates throughout. He knew he was already her family, he knew she already liked him as a person, and that alone took a lot of the pressure off his shoulders.
It also meant there was more at stake.
It meant he'd better not do anything stupid that might ultimately shatter their connection, because he didn't think he could ever forgive himself if he somehow screwed up, spilled everything he was feeling and scared her away from one of the few people she probably saw as a brother more than anything else.
The changeling supposed he could appreciate what took Robin so long to make his move on Starfire, but he also reasoned that their situation was completely different. It was obvious that they liked each other. Really, there was hardly any risk there at all - just a tedious delay of the inevitable.
Thinking on how he would even begin to approach something beyond friendship with Raven had Beast Boy in pieces.
He could convince himself that there was something there; that at some point throughout the years, a certain sense of attraction, something subtle but sure, had begun to underscore all their banter and their teasings.
But the reality was that he could never be certain if this was merely imagined, or real.
By the time the elevator dinged open for him, he scolded himself.
He'd gone and thought it over.
Releasing a long sigh and shaking his musings away, Gar tried instead to hype himself up for training as he stepped out through the doors and continued on towards the beach.
He spotted his leader at a distance, like a rapid blur of red and green caught in the wind.
The man's battle cries crescendoed in his ears as he neared the scene, and for a moment Beast Boy watched his teammate perform a six-foot lunge at the nearest sandbag tied to a pole. His steel boot collided and sent the sack soaring through the air, leaving the metal of the pole bent from the sheer force behind his kick.
"Damn, what'd that sack ever do to you?" The changeling made his presence known, hands on his hips and weight tipped to one side.
Robin was in perfect form, barely breathless and not a dapple of sweat on him. He stood straight and turned to his companion.
"Nice of you to join me," he taunted in good spirits. Beast Boy rolled his neck and gave a 'pshh' from behind his teeth.
"Some of us need more than black coffee to get through the morning," he shot back with a grin. Robin grinned as well, his cape catching behind him in the breeze. He uncrossed his arms from over his chest and took a side-step.
"You wanna take this one?" He gestured to another sandbag. Unlike the one that had been mounted, this hung from a metal rig like their punching bags up in the gym. "I caught him looking at you funny," Robin said with a smirk.
That was something Gar had noticed lately.
Since confessing to Starfire, Robin seemed visibly less uptight most days. He would crack jokes, goof off, join in, quite like a mirror of who he had once been before the Titans had ever even heard of a man named Slade.
But Beast Boy was certain he wouldn't have changed too much at his core.
He recalled the face of familiar determination that overcame his leader when reporting back that a Slade-bot had attacked him at the fair upon their return to Jump. He recalled the subsequent mutterings around the tower, of how the common room would be still but for the tapping of a keyboard, and dark but for the blue light of a computer screen at four in the morning.
They had all known Slade was still lurking after escaping his deal with the Devil, but none had known when exactly the villain would choose to reveal himself again. And with the Brotherhood, it was likely the case that Robin had been too distracted to dwell on the whereabouts of their copper-faced foe in the time that he remained latched to the shadows.
After some weeks, the team noted that Robin's paranoia seemed to lessen, as though some green-eyed girl might have divulged behind closed doors that she hated seeing him run himself into the ground. As though hearing her say such a thing might have gotten through to him somewhat; let him know that he need not take on such a burden alone.
So Garfield wasn't sure if his friend was in but a temporary haze, a lovestruck high that allowed him to ease on the shackles tying him to Slade. But he could at least content himself in knowing that, now, he had someone to pull him away from the blue screen. Someone to hold him at night when the paranoia threatened to creep in.
"Can't be having that," Beast Boy played along, sauntering over to his target. The shifter took a second to hone his concentration, to roll his ankles and shoulders, shaking all his muscles loose in readiness.
He considered what animal form he should adopt, but stalled in place.
Robin had never specified what kind of training this was. In truth, Gar was still at a loss as to why he was even there, working out alongside the man who he was sure would prefer to do so alone.
Instead of transform, he felt himself press forward on human feet. The soles of his boots dragged against the sand - it was the challenge of the terrain that made Robin favour this place - and he gained speed to attempt a lunge-kick as he had seen the other perform earlier.
His left heel dug into the ground as his right swung out from beneath him, then struck its mark at the seam. The weighted mass hurled away on its rope, and when it came barrelling back, Beast Boy used the momentum to land a strong punch directly to the centre.
He absorbed the impact at his knuckles, gritting his teeth against the sting, then threw another punch with his opposite fist. As before, the bag flung out on its tether despite its ample weight, and he heard its iron rig let out a whine of protest.
At a guess, Gar would say there was around 60kg of sand stuffed into this burlap lining; half the weight of what Starfire and Cyborg trained with, but neither of the men took any shame in this. It was what was realistic for their capacity and frame, and even then, they knew that many twice their size couldn't hope to shift such a load, let alone send it flying as they were able to.
Much like hitting a suspended wall of concrete, their typical training would have other men falling to their knees with a crippled hand, should they attempt such blows. And in knowing this much was true, the boys allowed themselves that small, silent sliver of pride.
As he sensed Robin's approach, Beast Boy reigned himself in, straightening from his battle-stance and grabbing for the sandbag to still it.
"Good, your form's gotten better," Robin said, stopping at the younger's side. "But when you kick, try to land it with the blade of your heel. That's where the power is."
Beast Boy looked to his leader with a focused expression, nodding along with his words. He didn't mind that he was playing the student here. Relying on nothing but his combat skill alone, it was no wonder that the only non-superpowered member of the team would be the master of hand-to-hand.
Truthfully, Gar was grateful to have such a teacher at his disposal, and more than willing to shut up and listen when being advised on how to improve.
"Here." Robin lifted his leg to reveal the sole of his boot, then gave a rap with his fist at the spot he referred to. "That's where you want to make the blow. Try aiming it high and leaning your weight back deeper this time."
"Aim high, lean deep. Got it," Beast Boy uttered, more to himself than anything else. Again, he shook his limbs loose then dropped into a sturdy squat, his fists clenched before him as they would be in a fight.
He backed up, putting some space between himself and his target, then with a twist at his torso he sent his right leg whipping out and let his heel guide his aim.
The kick collided with the side of the bag, but with a small yelp, Gar felt his leg recoil into his chest and his hands grasp for his boot.
"Oof," he huffed, shaking his limb free of the ache. "Your way kinda hurts, dude."
Robin gave a sympathetic chuckle.
"Yeah… You've really got to support the blow. You get used to it with practice."
"Heh. Or maybe I just need some of those diehard kicks you got." He stole a glance down at the black boots with chrome-plated soles. Granted, Gar doubted he'd ever be able to swap them in for his beloved paw-print shoes.
Robin's arms crossed over his chest again, and even through his mask, Beast Boy could detect the eye-roll.
"The technique is what makes the difference," he reminded. "It's the same with your punches. Your form is good, but your centre is slightly off." The caped boy stepped up to the rig and curled his hands into fists.
"Let me show you."
- T -
An hour went by before the two finally took a break.
Beast Boy's chest stung with every pant, his breath dry and burning in his throat. He was hunched over with his palms pressed to his knees, but it felt good.
It was all a good hurt. A hurt that told him he'd done something right.
Though Robin wasn't quite as drained, he was at least sporting a generous line of sweat across his hairline now. The pair dragged themselves to the rocks skirting the bay, and when Robin knelt down to splash water onto his face, Beast Boy followed his lead.
In an instant, the boy had shifted into a penguin and dove right into the shallows, letting its brisk chill soothe his skin like a cooling balm. Robin watched as, moments later, he emerged from the waves and shook the excess water from his slick feathers.
The Titan leader dropped down onto a boulder, adjusting his suit whilst Beast Boy became human again and took a seat beside him. The younger boy removed his grey gloves and rustled a hand through his hair as he caught his breath, but was soon being nudged with an elbow to his side.
He looked to Robin, but Robin had his sights set to the sea, one arm stretched to point out at something in the distance. Green eyes followed and found a boat, rocking perhaps a bit clumsily on the lawless tide. He could just make out the great metal arm waving at them and glinting in the sunlight.
The two shared in a laugh, unsurprised when a shrill ringing came from Beast Boy's belt. He grabbed for his communicator and flipped it open, seeing the face of his friend with a large, billowing sail behind him.
"Hey, look at me! I'm sailing!" cried Cyborg through a wide grin. The shakiness of the video alone was enough to make Gar feel seasick.
"Sure are, buddy," he smiled, letting Robin also poke his head into view.
"Sea's looking pretty rough out there. Think you can make it back without capsizing?"
"Pffff, you know who you're talkin' t-?"
Cyborg threw a look over his shoulder as he was cut off by a gruff voice yelling above the surf.
"Vic, you're in irons again! Ease up on the mainsail!" He sheepishly turned back to his communicator.
"I might have to call you back."
"Aye aye, cap'n," Beast Boy smirked before shutting the lid and restoring his communicator to the latch on his belt. Now when he eyed the boat, he could see a little figure wrangling with a rope and fighting for balance as the vessel tipped from side-to-side.
"How is it he can handle a literal weaponised spacecraft, but struggle to control a mast?" said Robin in amusement. Beast Boy shrugged then leant back on his hands, basking in the ocean air.
"No rushing tides in space."
"True."
The wind picked up again, tossing their already messy hair in a salty gust. Robin found himself mirroring his teammate, also pressing his hands into the rock and letting his arms carry his weight.
For a short time, there was silence. Clouds soared through the skies, bringing the sun in and out of view, and Robin felt an awkwardness slowly start to creep upon him.
"So." He let out a small cough. "No powers today?"
Beast Boy took a second to eye him before answering.
"Nah. I already know what the animals can do," he said, bringing his focus back to the horizon. "I've been workin' so hard to see what I can do."
"Oh." Robin's gaze widened, his tone steered by a wave of approval. "Well, great. I mean, you know I think it's important to not overly rely on powers."
Gar knew. Over the years, the Boy Wonder had encouraged training sessions wherein powers were completely prohibited. Though they all knew it was a sensible approach, that didn't mean any of them had to like it.
Robin knew what he was doing without any super-human aid, but for the rest of them, their powers were their identity. They were their comfort-zone, and needless to say, it was simply much easier to fight with them than it was to fight without them.
No one felt this sentiment more than Raven.
The sorceress was undoubtedly the least physically fit of them all. Having come from a realm of pacifists, she had had to learn the hard way what it was to be a true fighter upon joining the team. Beast Boy still recalled their early days, when she would rely entirely on telekinesis in battle and run out of breath far before anyone else.
When Robin started training them in earnest, insisting that they must refrain from using all powers and spar hand-to-hand, the girl had simply sat on the gym floor with her legs and arms crossed.
"Raven. You're versing Starfire. Get up," Robin would say. She'd glare up at him through darkened eyes.
"I'm going to end up on the floor anyway. I'm just saving you time," she would shoot back, and Beast Boy would have to contain his snickers from slipping through the gaps between his fingers.
Back then, she simply had no hope of being able to keep up with the warrior princesses, athletes and former sidekicks of this world.
Really, it had been kind of adorable...
Wait. Stop. Robin's still talking to you.
Gar blinked out of his daze, turning to face his friend and knowing by his expression that he'd missed the last thing said to him.
"Huh?" he stammered, hoping his distraction hadn't been too obvious.
"I said, you've been doing really well lately." For some reason, Robin had this look on his face that Beast Boy rarely saw.
He was smiling, but there was a gravity there too - one that he couldn't quite place the cause of. The changeling's mouth fell loose, but he gathered himself and released an airy chuckle.
"Yeah?" He smiled back and felt his hand move to rub at his neck. "Thanks, man. I've been trying."
"I've noticed," Robin nodded. "What inspired that? You've only ever really trained when you've had to."
There was no straight-forward answer to this. It had been a lot of things.
For the most part, Beast Boy just felt like he was maturing. He supposed being thrown headfirst into leading against the Brotherhood was the real catalyst.
The whole affair had wracked him with memories of his past missions alongside the Doom Patrol, and as he reflected on all the times he'd been scolded, beaten down, told he wasn't good enough, he had felt some unruly fire begin to blaze at his core and drive him on to prove everyone wrong.
As he had led his team to victory, this resolve had led him too.
And something changed after that.
He had potential. He knew.
He had made Steve Dayton eat his words and succeeded where that man had failed.
And in realising this, he thought that, maybe, he deserved to be better. He deserved to progress past what everyone had always expected of him. He deserved to leave them in awe, as something great and worthy emerged from the 'green bean' follower they had all come to know.
It didn't mean everything was okay. It didn't mean he was any less haunted by the death of his parents, by his abusive past, or his need to be seen and heard.
But it was a step in the right direction, and to Beast Boy, who had been stuck in this well of doubt for as long as he could remember, that alone meant everything.
Though his smile prevailed, a gravity of his own glossed over him.
"Guess I just decided to step up," he replied. Robin absorbed his words, a crease forming at his brow, but then he was dropping his head and resting his elbows on his knees.
He huffed once through upturned lips.
"I should be worried. You're catching up to me in height, next thing I know there'll be another martial artist on the team."
Garfield guffawed shamelessly.
"C'mon, Rob. As if I could even pick up a staff without clocking myself in the head."
Robin laughed.
"Good point."
"And you got nothing to worry about. We took down the Big Bad. That's all done. Now all you gotta do is try 'n' relax while things get back to normal. Or... as normal as it's ever been with us."
Beast Boy watched the other nod to himself, his gaze drawn to his gloves hanging in the space between his legs. But then what was left of Robin's simper fell, and his expression slipped into one of disquiet.
"Actually, Beast Boy… I didn't want this talk to be about me," he confessed, and Garfield stilled. His lips pressed together with his fang prodding through, and he felt Robin's sobriety start to reflect in himself.
"So… there was a reason you called me out here?" he said in that thin, cracked voice. Robin's mouth pulled to one side in admittance. The whole 'sparring' front hadn't gotten past him, then.
"I wanted to check in." He left a pause to see if he'd been understood, but the changeling just tilted his head to one side. "I know that… a lot has happened in the past few months. And then, the other day..."
Beast Boy's heart plunged to his gut. His eyes strayed from Robin's mask and he inhaled sharply through his nose, only able to brace for the lecture he knew was coming.
It had been two days since the incident, and when he'd been able to seamlessly join the game of cards yesterday as though all was well, he'd suspected he might've gotten off too easy.
"Look, I know I messed up," he began, and Robin noticed how he was already becoming animated in his defence. "But I swear, it won't happen again. It was just a one ti-"
"Woah, hey-" Robin placed a gentle hand at Gar's shoulder, his mask peaking in the middle. "I'm not mad, Beast Boy. I'm concerned. I… wanted to make sure you're okay."
He wouldn't voice it, but seeing his friend let loose on the H.I.V.E. in the city streets had been like holding a mirror up to himself as he took down a horde of Slade-bots to get to their master years ago.
It had been the same rage alight in his eyes. The same fury fuelling his attacks.
"... Oh," Beast Boy breathed out, wearing a look of astonishment. "So, like… I'm not in trouble?"
"No." He said it as though it were obvious, as though he was shocked to learn that Beast Boy would think otherwise.
With a wave of relief, the shifter released the tension in his spine.
"And… You needed this whole setup just to 'check in'?" he asked with a sweeping gesture to the training grounds. Robin might've felt affronted if not for the slight incline of Beast Boy's lips as he called his superior out, suggesting he was already trying to lighten the mood before it had even taken hold.
Robin chose not to declare the whole truth of the matter.
Though his emotional growth had somewhat progressed since being in a relationship, there was only so much a month could do to reform him of his blundering ways. He had expressed his worries over Beast Boy's upheaval to his girlfriend, and she had been the one to put forward the suggestion to him.
Starfire had always wanted to see her two friends grow closer, but knew it wouldn't happen without a push. She assured Robin that this was the opportunity to bridge that distance, to reach out as a source of comfort and solace to his grieving companion.
And who better to do so than the man who could share in this trauma. The only other Titan who could understand the turmoil of that dreaded day coming around every year.
Robin relinquished himself of his pride on a slow sigh, knowing he was stepping into unfamiliar waters.
"I wanted to spar with you. I thought it'd be good for us. And I'd want to do it again, if… you would?"
Beast Boy nodded, touched by the offer.
"Yeah. Of course."
Robin nodded too, but sensed that he was getting off-track. He levelled Gar with a stern gaze.
"Are you okay, though? I know we've never really talked about…" His voice became lost in the rush of waves at their feet. "Well, what I'm trying to say is… I know how it feels."
It somewhat baffled Beast Boy how long they had known of each other's tragedy, and how in spite of this, there had been no attempt made from either party to bond over their premature loss.
A part of him wondered whether perhaps their pasts were too similar; whether this very truth was why neither had ever wished to reflect upon it.
Beast Boy couldn't meet Robin's face just yet. His eyes strayed to the grains of sand trapped in the base of his shoe, and he brought one of his legs up onto the rock as if to inspect it closer.
"Right…" he eventually said, solemnly nodding along. The quiet stretched out as he strove to find his words, to try and summarise all these turbulent feelings into one neat, succinct sentence.
Robin might've been the only one able to appreciate just how impossible such a feat was. When Gar finally spoke, it came out small and meek.
"It's just the worst. Remembering it," he said, letting his leg fall back down to hang beneath him. "I know it was so long ago now, but when that day comes around, it just… It hurts. It feels like…"
"... Like you're reliving it?"
Beast Boy swallowed and felt his eyes weld shut.
"Yeah."
Robin's mouth slanted, his brows drawn in. He peered down at the sea foam on the shore.
"I think you just have to feel it," he said, unsure if it was the best advice, but trusting in it regardless. "I don't think it ever goes away. You just have to trust in yourself to keep moving forward, and allow yourself to embrace the pain when it comes, knowing that it'll pass…"
He heard Beast Boy breathe deeply through his nose and knew he was trying to compose himself.
"I guess you're right."
Robin had kind of hoped for more of a response. He didn't know exactly what he was meant to do or say, just that he wanted to let his friend know he was there.
But maybe it was the case that Garfield had shed all his tears this year. Maybe it was the case that he wasn't yet ready to pour his heart out to the one person he'd always kept at arm's length.
Just when Robin's mouth parted again, the changeling went on.
"I think I'm okay, though. Really." He thought back to that evening. To what Raven had said.
What Robin hadn't expected to see so soon was a smile grace the younger's lips, yet there it was, warm as the morning sun.
"It was a lot all at once. For the past few months, it's kinda felt like the world's been throwing everything it can at me."
Robin licked the dryness from his lips, understanding his teammate completely.
More than any of them, Beast Boy had endured these months. And Robin's chest swelled with pride to see him come out of it at the other end, still fighting and still smiling.
"I'm sorry you've had to go through all that. I should've said it sooner, but I'm here for you. We all are."
"I know," Gar returned, mirroring Robin's earlier gesture and letting his hand find the top of his shoulder. He gave it a friendly shake. "And hey, at least one good thing's come out of it all, huh?"
Robin might have missed the implication if it weren't for the sly glint in Beast Boy's eyes. He slapped the boy's hand away and tried not to let a blush rise to his cheeks.
"... Shut up," he threw back pathetically. Gar cackled low in his throat, shifting upon the rock to take in the sight of his leader.
"No use bein' shy about it now. In fact, we couldda used some of that modesty when you were macking on in every square-inch of the tower." The masked man could only drag his hand down his face, helpless to the redness he'd failed to keep from flourishing.
"Okay, point made!" he groaned. "I've just waited a long time for this, alright? Gimme a break."
But Beast Boy's grin didn't waver, and he leaned into Robin's space with a nudge to his side, revelling in having gained the upper-hand.
"Yeah well, your own damn fault. It wasn't exactly breaking news that you dorks liked each other, ya' know."
Robin hadn't known it at the time, but as he sat there now, he couldn't deny that his friend was completely right. Letting his hand fall from his face, he sighed out, long and loud.
"I could've had this for years, couldn't I?" Robin said, staring out at the sea as if suddenly thrown by his epiphany.
"Pretty sure that's right, my guy," Beast Boy (not so helpfully) affirmed. He heard a groan slip from his leader's throat and turned to assess the cause.
"What took me so long? I'd felt that way since Day One, and I took… three years to tell her." Robin looked more like he was speaking to the open palms of his hands than to the boy beside him, and though Garfield knew he was just having a moment, something about his words didn't sit well in his stomach when they reached him.
"I mean… you were scared of messing up. Right?" he reasoned through a waning smile, shrugging lightly. "It was a big deal."
"I was scared, yeah…" Robin said, entwining his hands as he often would when thinking something through. "I guess you get to a point where you realise… there's no guarantee of what might happen, where we might all be this time next year. This time next month."
Though Robin seemed oblivious to it, there was a shift in the air around Beast Boy. He didn't quite like where this was going, and it wasn't even his own rumination.
He watched the masked man straighten and throw his hand back to the tower behind them.
"That crime alert doesn't wait for anyone. Every time it goes off, we're taking a risk." After this, Robin seemed to settle again, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "I just wish I hadn't wasted all that time, you know?"
Beast Boy couldn't determine when exactly his heart had clenched like a vice in his chest. When his limbs had grown numb and his breath had caught in his lungs.
There was something sinking over him, cold and profound.
"... Yeah," he said.
"And now, it's just… amazing. Every day, being with her." He was smiling again and wearing his blush with pride. "I just don't know how I got so lucky."
Gar prayed it wasn't obvious that his mind had been somewhere else, but he was able to take up his blithe demeanour once more, assisted by a warm, brotherly smile.
"We're all happy for you, Rob," he told him, meaning it with every fibre of his being. Robin returned the smile before raising a stern finger to the shifter.
"Don't go blabbing that I said all that. I'm trying to not come off too strong, and I've got a reputation to keep."
Beast Boy batted his finger away.
"Dude, the only rep you've got 'round the tower is as the guy with bad music taste."
"Ha. Ha," Robin drawled in a tone dry enough to match Raven's. He dropped his glare and made to stand, brushing the sand from his uniform. "Okay, mushy time's over."
It was with curious eyes that Beast Boy observed his tutor wander back to the course, falling into a battle-stance when he reached a certain spot.
"Let's see how much your training pays off against an opponent who isn't a weighted sack."
Beast Boy eagerly pushed to his feet, also dusting himself off before joining his challenger on the beach. He took the same stance, letting all worries be carried away on the wind that sailed past him.
His lip curled at the edge, revealing the tip of his lower fang.
"I dunno. I'd say that description fits pretty well."
Author's Note:
i've only ever written oneshots and have never written a multi-chapter fic before, so i'm starting to worry that every chapter i post is reading more as its own oneshot rather than flowing as one big story. i think i'll get better at this with practise, so pls just be patient with me for now.
i know i'm only really giving you morsels of bbrae so far, but this is intentional. i did say in the preface that this story would be a slow burn and would address platonic relationships within the team too, and i think bb and robin's friendship was SEVERELY neglected in canon, so this chapter had to happen this way. it hasn't completely resolved the distance between the two, and it wasn't meant to. it was meant to be a start, and i'm glad that robin was the one to initiate it.
i also didn't want to do this scene too long after chap 1, for obvious reasons, but trust when i say we will get more into bbrae-focused territory soon.
i hate stories where you can tell the author just wants to move things along quickly so they make the characters ooc and do things they wouldn't typically do just to pick up the pace. i have no intention of being that kind of writer. remember, patience is rewarded here!