"Ahhh, just another lazy day." Beast Boy sighed happily as he flopped down on the large, curved couch.
Yuu giggled.
"Sounds like someone's happy." She smiled.
"Well yeah, everything's been quite for weeks now. Dunno how long it's gonna last so making the most of it." Beast Boy grinned, he held up a burger filled hand in front of her.
"Tofu burger?" He asked.
"Hmm." Yuu pondered. "Grilled or fried?"
"Grilled." Beast Boy answered.
"The best way." Yuu declared, happily snatching the burger and taking a big bite.
"I glad someone else here appreciates a good tofu burger." Beast Boy smiled.
Yuu nodded then swallowed.
"I'm guessing you're the only vegetarian here?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?" The green teen asked as he chomped on his own food.
"I've noticed in my own world that westerners only really eat tofu if they're veggie."
"What about you?" Beast Boy asked, taking another bite.
"I'm Japanese, I grew up with this." Yuu said with a mouthful of food. "This, seafood and ramen."
"Sounds delicious!" Beast Boy grinned.
"Yeah, it was." Yuu said, her voice faltering slightly.
"What's wrong?" Beast Boy asked, sitting up.
"Nothing." Yuu said forcing a smile. "Just some bad memories that's all, difficult childhood."
"Don't worry about it, no one's gonna make you spill if you don't wanna." Beast Boy smiled. "We've all got history."
"Thanks Beastie." Yuu said sincerely. "That means a lot."
"No worries man, anything good on TV?" Beast Boy asked, grabbing the remote.
Black Rock Shooter, I think I'm ready.
Are you sure? Rock asked.
Yeah, I can't stay in here forever. Mato replied.
Rock nodded and allowed herself to lose control of her body.
Mato stumbled slightly as she stepped forward.
"Whoa, that's weird." She said aloud.
What is wrong? Rock asked.
It's strange being able to move after so long, feels like everything is numb. Mato replied.
After a few moments she steadied herself and could move with ease, she left her room and went in search of her friends.
On her way up to the main room she stopped by the gym and peeked inside. The only person inside was Cyborg who was lifting a train carriage like a barbell.
He noticed the girl approaching and smiled.
"Hey Rock, how's Mato?"
"Wrong one." Mato giggled.
"Mato!" Cyborg yelled with a big cheesy grin. "Damn girl you feelin' better then?"
"A little, just a few wobbles." Mato said with a smaller smile.
"That's good and hey, don't ever feel like you have to be perfect all day, everyday, it ain't healthy."
Mato nodded then looked above him to the train carriage.
"What are you doing with that?" She asked.
"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm working out!" Cyborg loudly.
"I get that, but why? It's not like your pistons and motors are going to get stronger." Mato stated.
"You're not wrong there, this isn't about getting stronger, it's more assessing the state of things. I can run all the diagnostics I've got but they can't tell me if a part is about to fail, only if something has and why." Cyborg explained.
"So you're… Stress testing?" Mato asked.
"Yep, making sure everything is in working order." Cyborg grinned.
"I'm sure Yuu will be happy about that." Mato said suggestively.
"Huh?" Cyborg said surprised, almost dropping the carriage. "Yuu? I mean, yeah… Erm what?" He said, stumbling over every word and turning a bright red.
"I'm sorry that was mean." Mato said sadly, she bowed low. "It was just a joke, I mean she will be happy, she loves the matches between you and Strength. I shouldn't have implied anything else."
Cyborg burst out laughing.
"That's good, you got me good!" He chuckled. "Yuu's gonna have to wait a few years though, 'til she turns eighteen."
"You realise both of us are thirty five, right?" Mato asked.
"Yeah, but not physically. Her medical puts her age at fifteen and yours at sixteen." Cyborg replied.
"What? But we're the same age!" Mato said wide-eyed.
"Hey don't ask me, I'm not the ones who got sent outside reality and merged with metaphysical constructs of themselves." Cyborg quipped, picking up the train carriage again and moving it to the side of the room. "Wanna find the others?"
"Uh-huh." Mato nodded.
"Lets go."
"Hey guys!" Cyborg yelled as him and Mato stepped into the main room. "Look who I found!"
"Mato!" Yuu squealed as soon as she saw her, she ran over and tackled Mato in a bone-crushing hug.
"Yuu, it's okay, you know I haven't gone anywhere!" Mato groaned, trying to separate herself.
"I know, it's more the fact you're in a better place." Yuu said.
"You make it sound like she's died." Raven muttered, briefly looking up from her book.
"Glad you're feeling better." Robin said smiling.
"Thanks, I'm getting there slowly, had a lot of time to work through things." Mato smiled back.
"Take your time, there's no rush." Robin nodded.
Mato smiled again.
"Friend Mato, I am overjoyed that you are well again." Starfire exclaimed, hugging Mato.
"Thank you Star… Wait." Mato paused. "You speak Japanese?"
"I learnt it from Yuu." Starfired nodded.
"Don't ask how!" Yuu cried.
"Tamaraneans can learn other languages from mouth-to-mouth contact." Starfire explained.
Yuu turned bright red.
"Yuu." Mato sighed then started giggling. "Are you trying to relive university?"
"It wasn't like that! I didn't know this time!" Yuu argued.
"This time?" Beast Boy asked Cyborg who just shrugged.
"I knew it!" Mato laughed. "I knew you were lying about her!"
"Who? Starfire?" Robin asked.
"No, an overseas student when we were at uni. She asked Yuu to tutor her in Japanese." Mato said, smirking at Yuu. "Apparently she was struggling with some of the kanji."
Yuu just groaned.
"How many lessons did you give her?" Mato giggled.
"Like you've never done the same." Yuu argued feebly.
"I never hid it." Mato declared proudly. "You know we wouldn't've teased you if you didn't try to hide it but you had massive hickeys all over your neck and sometimes lipstick."
"I know." Yuu responded, feeling very embarrassed.
"I wonder how they're doing." Mato said quietly, her face dropping.
"Don't think about it, I'm sure the Otherselves would have got them out if something really bad happened." Yuu said.
"Yeah." Mato said with a small smile. "S'pose you're right."
"So what happened with this girl?" Cyborg suddenly asked.
Mato and Yuu looked at the tall titan, who for some reason was eating a bag of popcorn.
"I'll tell you when you get older." Yuu grinned.