And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
- Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
The day of reckoning had finally arrived.
Robin's two week deadline.
Over two and a half million shares on Cyborg's post and thousands of wishing well and luck comments but no one had claimed Apache. Which Apache was relieved and unsurprised about.
Three Titans sit stiffly around the common room, two in the kitchen, one on the couch watching TV. It's not that Robin was late, oh no. The three of them are worried about their leaders verdict, two more so than the third. Though Raven would never admit it, she was a tad bit nervous herself. If her taking longer than usual to flip pages in her book gave Apache anything to go by.
Apache currently sits with Cyborg, splayed out next to the side of his leg. His right leg keeps persistently bouncing up and down, which Apache had never seen him do. He absentmindedly rubs up and down her side, occasionally passing over her exposed ear. Starfire keeps sighing and splaying herself over the counter she currently sits at, obviously impatient, which was pissing Raven off to say the least. Each Titan stays quiet despite themselves, Apache more than happy to join in the stiff silence.
All four perk, even if ever so slightly, when the door to the common room swishes open. Of course it would be the Boy Wonder himself.
"Good morning, Raven. You two are up early. Is there a special occasion?" Robin smiles as he absentmindedly pours himself a cup of routine coffee, adding a small amount of sugar before taking a sip.
"There is no important occasion to speak of, really. It is moreso of a deadline that was set that we are quite eager to hear what you have to say about. We are the nervous you could say." Star's eyes twinkle with hope. At this, Apache pulls her head up, glancing at Cyborg, who had his head tilted ever so slightly toward the kitchen area. She stares at the couch's back, wishing she could see through it. She tilts her head farther to the side, enjoying the smell of fresh brewed coffee.
Robin crosses his arms, one in front of the other on the kitchen counter right in front of Star, his cup of coffee right next to him as he leans over. "I take it you're talking about Apache?" Robin has a slight smirk about his features, unnerving the two female Titans, one masking it and straight up acting like she can't see him or is even listening.
"That would be correct." Star sounds slightly worried, wringing her hands.
Robin is quiet for a good minute, just staring around. Asshole, Apache thinks. He's dragging this out on purpose. Apache drops her right ear, uneasiness brewing in her gut.
Finally, finally, he speaks up. "If you guys had forgotten, I wasn't going to say anything. You're all so attached to her and it's working so well there's no point in getting rid of her." Robin sips his coffee. Apache can breath again. She hadn't even realized she wasn't breathing. "If she's not fixed, she'll have to be though. What kind of example would we be setting by not getting our pet spayed?"
"Oh, thank you, Robin! This is simply glorious!" Star literally flies out of her seat and spins Robin around in the air. Robin is not too happy about it on account of his arms being pinned to his side's while Star crushes him in a death hug. Apache knows he secretly loves it as she inwardly laughs at them. She can see them all the way up in the air from where she lays. Cyborg chuckles and gives her a hearty pat on her head. She fwaps her tail happily, it thumping against the couch.
She lays her head on Cyborg's robotic leg as the metal man turns around, a grin on his features. "Yo Rich, what's on the agenda for today?"
Star sets Robin down and she sits back in her original seat, grinning ear to ear. Robin clears his throat. "Well, I would like a training session sometime this week, but other than that I don't really have anything planned unless someone would like to spar or the like."
"How 'bout a trip to the park? It's been awhile since we've barbecued and the last few days have been quiet."
"That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea." Robin sounds interested.
"That sounds absolutely amazing! The last time we went to the park it was so much fun!"
"And if I recall correctly, Beast Boy caused mayhem as usual. The secluded beach a little ways down the bay sounds like a much better place to go. There won't be as much temptation for him." Raven doesn't even lift her eyes from her book.
"The beach sounds even more fun." Star's eyes twinkle at Robin. Apache agrees, despite already having had her fill of saltwater. She would love to go to the tidepools and see what she could find.
"Except we'll be farther away from the city if something happens. The beach does sound great, but we won't be able to respond as quickly." Robin reasons, sipping his coffee.
"You're forgetting I can teleport everyone right to the scene, you just don't like the feeling." Raven rolls her eyes. They always forgot just how powerful she truly is, Apache guarantees. She feels irritation at that speculation. Raven shouldn't be one to be underestimated.
Robin looks at the other two Titans, silently asking for help. Star obviously didn't want to help him out worth anything if her raised eyebrow was anything to go by. Raven's logic was more than good enough for her.
"How 'bout this, Rae. Let's just go to the park today, cause we have to make a pit stop at a few stores anyway and it'll be easier, and I'll make sure Beast Boy doesn't cause any trouble? We'll go to the beach next time." Cyborg says after a moment, ever the compromiser.
"Whatever suits your fancy." Raven flips another page. If you really looked you could see Robin deflate in relief.
Star claps her hands together. "I can't wait for next time."
"Well, when do you all want to head out?" Robin asks.
"I say let's give it an hour or two, so we have time to pack our things up and get BB up and ready." Cyborg suggests.
"Sounds good. So let's say," Robin looks to the clock on the microwave. "Seven thirty? I'm sure it'll take a minute at the stores and I know it takes a while for the briquettes to burn."
"Yeah, we won't be barbecuing until at least noon." Cyborg assures. "There's that pond at the back of the park we can fish from if that's something anyone wants to do. I'm glad it's a catch and release only thing." Cyborg stands, giving Apache an apology pat at her put out look. She jumps off the couch and follows behind the metal titan. Her tail was ever a feather duster.
Three Titans chatter as they make their ways out of the common room to pack up whatever they'd need for the day, the door swishing shut behind them as Apache looks up at Raven, who hadn't moved.
Oh how Apache wished she could talk! Yell, scream, anything! Heelllllooooooooo! She screams at Raven in her head to no avail. She huffs, laying down where she is.
The last week and a half had been fun, but its irritating and taxing that she can't communicate. She's completely alone until someone talks to her offhandedly. She can't interact with Beast Boy's jokes, physically help Cy with his gadgets and working on his car, braid Star's pretty hair, talk, flirt and attempt to joke with Raven. She'd hung around them all in the last week and a half, and she desperately wants to do more than lay there or perform tricks when they wanted to do a 'training session' with her.
She plasters her ears to her skull, hard heterochromia eyes gazing at the pretty girl immersed in her book.
Seven thirty rolls around extremely quickly and before the Titan's know it, everyone's piled in the car ready to go. Apache is once again tucked under Robin's legs, and Beast Boy is slumped tiredly against the window, drool dribbling down his chin.
The kicker is that they're all dressed in civilian wear. Robin in a red T-shirt and light washed jeans and his usual boots. He kept his mask, which didn't surprise Apache at all. Robin is too recognisable on the streets of Jump City. Star decided to throw on an adorable purple sleeveless blouse with a lightly ruffled front and a Jean skirt with a black pair of boots. No surprise Beast Boy threw on some clothes that HAD to have been worn before and that had to have been laying around for a long time on account of their smell. An orange and white baseball tee with a pair of black pants, an orange hat and black tennis shoes with orange laces complete his outfit. Raven threw on a black three quarter sleeve shirt, dark jeans, navy shoes, and for the chilly bay morning, a navy sweatshirt. Cyborg again adorned the track suit, but with the hood down.
Apache figured by the down hill decline then steady rise that they were driving through an access tunnel. It makes perfect sense that they would have to use one living on an island. Last time they'd went through the tunnel Apache had been passed out, so of course she missed it. The road is so smooth and flows so well Apache doesn't know what to think. She's never been on such a smooth road before and she would be lying if she said she wasn't a little bit impressed. She wouldn't be surprised if the tunnel is made up of some type of metal or smooth concrete. It's certainly dark in the car, all but the lights from the dash.
It was probably about twenty minutes of silence before the car stops and it jolts upward suddenly. Apache attempts to jolt up, catching herself on Robin's legs and can't quite see out the window, which is being flooded with light. Robin shushes her, gently pushing her back down and telling her to lay down. Apache grudgingly does, again put out. She feels like baring her teeth at him, but doing so in this cramped car was probably not the best time. She keeps forgetting just how much she can't stand having to obey someone. It was all fine and good two weeks ago but now it's just getting old.
The car drives down a bumpy and short path, before pulling into early morning Jump City traffic.
"Alright guys, here's the plan. We have two stores to hit, five people, and one dog. We need to stop at Walmart and a pet store. Whose going where?" Cyborg asks, glancing around the car and in the rear view mirror.
"I think the girls should go to the pet store and we'll take Walmart." Robin says. Beast Boy doesn't object on account he's passed out in the back seat. Apache lifts her left ear.
"What?" Raven asks in disbelief while Star squeals happily.
"Oh how I love pet stores! They're so interesting and have such cute animals." Star gushes, a twinkle in her eye.
"And you can take Apache in with you. We can't take her into Walmart with us." Apache rolls her eyes.
"Here's your list, Raven." Cyborg passes a slip of paper along with two $20 bills. Raven sighs in distaste as she carefully takes the items from Cyborg's grasp, stuffing them in her sweater pocket. "We'll drop you girls off first and pick you up as soon as we get what we need."
Cyborg cruises through a yellow light, which Robin chastises him for. Apache all but rolls her eyes, a huff making its way past her muzzle.
Ten more minutes of stop and go before the car pulls over an all too familiar bump in the road signaling the car entering a parking lot. Not like Apache can see anything. She did know the traffic was flowing pretty smooth this morning so that was something.
The car comes to a complete stop. "Here we are! It shouldn't be more than forty-five minutes."
"Great." Raven says sarcastically as she opens the car door and steps out, followed by Star. Star shuts the door as Robin opens his. Apache jumps out quickly, before he changes his mind, she decides, and quickly comes to sit right next to Raven as the car pulls away, for once her tail remains motionless.
"Let's just get this over with." Raven pulls the list from her pocket, reading it over before glancing down at Apache. The dog stares back, one ear lowered.
"Do not be the downer, this will be fun." Star smiles as she looks both ways before striding across the parking lot. Raven follows absentmindedly with Apache at her side.
The little pet store is adorable as any other. Bird and rabbit cages are set right outside the glass door and display window, cheaply priced for the local pet shop that it is, rabbits and guinea pigs sit in a glass display within the display window, nestled in little piles, playing and shifting through the pristine shavings.
Star holds the glass door for her companions and they enter into the slightly musky smell that accompanies any pet shop, along with the sounds of chirping birds and running fish tanks. The shop had to have only been open for a few minutes at most, its deserted, not counting the young geeky looking college boy at the counter.
"Good morning." He grins happily at the three of them.
Apache wrinkles her nose slightly at the shops irritable looking toucan in the corner behind the boy. Obviously not for sale.
She sees a cage of cockatiels, beautiful yellows, greys and oranges flooded through the clean cage. Her dad used to have a male one, before he gave him to her aunt. In the cage above them is a beautiful white cockatoo. Oh how she's always wanted one. Chinchillas, rats, mice and hamsters in a little 'rodentia' type facility on the other side of the rabbits and guinea pigs catch her eye for a split second.
"Um, good morning," Raven begins to hesitantly converse with the man.
Apache watches as the boy becomes slightly flustered as Raven approaches him. He smiles at her shyly, his cheeks dusting. Apache lowers her ears, growling quietly. She watches Raven, who looks as if she takes no notice as she explains what it is she needs. Apache huffs in relief, still feeling slightly defensive of the pretty girl.
Apache glances around the little shop once more when a flash of blue and light catches her eye.
She instantly takes off running through the small isles toward it.
She ignores the two female Titans calling her name as her claws skid across the enamel in an attempt to slow her momentum when she reaches her destination. Her body taps lightly against the glass, slowing her the rest of the way. She backs up a few feet and firmly seats herself in front of the wall of fish tanks containing jewel like fish flitting around in each of the many small tanks. Cichlids, catfish, guppies, arowanas, loaches, snails, shrimp, tetras, and many more. Star is right there next to her within a split second.
"Apache, you must not do that again." Star says. She's too innocent to sound cross, Apache decides. "Look at all the little fish." Star crouches down next to her, and points into the bottom take at a cute little Panda Corydora. "That one is simply adorable!" Apache's eyes fall half lidded in smugness. She's not the only one that thinks those cute little things are cute. Take that her mom!
When Star stands and begins cooing at the fish in the top tanks Apache can't see, she stands on her back paws to the best of her ability to see.
"What... are you doing?" Raven asks hesitantly, trying not to ruffle the plastic bag in her grasp. Apache drops back to all fours, turning her head to glance at the usually cloaked Titan.
"Looking at the fish. They're so pretty and interesting." Star replies with a huge smile.
"You've been standing here for twenty minutes. There's puppies over there."
"Puppies?!" Star disappears through the isles to the other side of the store. Apache stays rooted right where she is, inspecting a blood parrot fish thats trying to attack her through the glass. Raven kneels down next to her with a hum.
Apache looks over to Raven as she grasps her collar, turning it til she finds the metal loop she's looking for. In her hand is a navy colored spade shaped dog tag, a name and number etched into its front in light blue lettering and numbers. Raven attaches the tag to Apache's collar and stands. Apache feels a burst of pride and excitement before losing it again. She huffs, dropping Raven's gaze to look back to the parrot fish.
Raven hums after looking Apache over for a moment and heads the opposite way that Star did. Puppies and fish are nice, but reptiles and tarantulas are more interesting to her.
Apache sighs, laying her ears back. This is a huge adjustment she'd only just begun to grasp. She couldn't even remember why or how she ended up here to begin with. She knows she has a mom, but can't remember a name, face, anything. It's killing her on the inside. She knows she has a dog, yet can't remember. She can't even remember friends, a school, her last memory on her Earth from her universe. Yet she knows it's there. Its little things she has to physically see to trigger memories, like these fish.
She didn't know she loved fish so much. She has a fish tank at home too. And a part time job at a pet store. Well there goes that job.
She knows more about superheroes than she knows herself. She knows all five of the Titans real names, yet not her own.
This unnerves her.
She knows she's an imposter in this universe, yet the last two weeks are the only world she knows. She knows the DC universe should only exist in comics, movies, TV and pop culture. She knows she would take Marvel over DC any day. Yet here she is. She knows herself yet doesn't at the same time.
For a moment she feels violated, like she hadn't had a choice in the matter, that she had been forced here. But she also remembers how fortunate she is at the same time. How many fans would conduct a literal Hunger Games for what she's going through right now? Probably at least 99℅ of them.
This scares her.
Was this a time when the saying be careful what you wish for applies? She honestly didn't know.
What a fanfiction that Hunger Games idea would be though...
She hears her name being called and turns around. She can see the glass door to the shop, being blocked by the two female Titans. The boys must be back.
With a huff and her head low, she trots down the aisle toward the two young women. The boys are waiting in the car right outside the door.
"Took you guys long enough." Raven says as they pile back into the car.
"Beast Boy was the one that kept getting sidetracked."
"Hey! I did not!" Well, Beast Boy' obviously awake now. Apache rolls her eyes fondly.
"Dude, when you start going through the clothes and hats and start trying everything on and purposely divert to the electronic section to look at movies, you're sidetracked." Cyborg says. He can't help but be slightly amused. Apache is dying to make a comment on that as she chuckles inwardly.
"That doesn't mean anything..." Beast Boy grumbles.
"Whatever you say, man."
So apparently at the park dogs are supposed to be on a leash at all times. Hopefully this day wouldn't get any worse for Apache.
Cyborg had to carry the little portable barbecue and food, Star carried the blankets, Robin carried five fishing poles and a tackle box, and Beast Boy phased into a dog to run around, so that left Raven with the task of keeping hold of Apache's black leash. Not that she minded anyway.
Apache was surprised at how quickly she was becoming Raven's dog. At this point, she sort of didn't care that she was a dog.
Then she looks over at the fishing poles in Robin's grasp and immediately begins to resent it again. It had been years since she's been fishing, and she would jump at the opportunity to go again.
She's torn between the awe that has lasted the entire time by being in the DC universe, and the growing resentment at being a dog. She regrets all the times she looked at dogs and thought how awesome it would be to be one.
She walks half heartedly at Raven's side as the Titans set up camp under a few shady trees by the pond they would be fishing in, the rotten smell of stagnant water thick in the air. A sign reads in big bold red letters, ''CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY. NO SWIMMING.'
Mallard ducks swim idly out in the center of the pond, diving and wagging their fluffy little tails. Apache watches them intently.
"Anyone up for some football after I get these coals going?" Cyborg asks happily.
"You know it!" Beast Boy says, still a dog, which disturbs Apache.
"I would like to play the game of football!" Star says happily as she smooths a large blanket over the plush grass.
"I'm gonna see if the fish are biting first. If not I'll play." Robin smiles as he sets all the poles but one down. They're all Ugly Sticks, Apache notices. "Want to try fishing, Raven? It's fun, especially when they're biting."
"I'll give it a try." Raven says after a moment. Apache's tail is again a feather duster.
Beast Boy comes bouncing and barking around Apache, going down in a play bow. Apache lowers her ears at him and her tail stills, not in the mood. He bounces up at her again and bops her shoulder. Before she even means to or can think about it, she growls out gutturally with a few clipped snarled barks, pinning the green mutt under her. She's choked as the leash is yanked as hard as Raven can yank it, pulling her away from a stunned Beast Boy. Her throat burns, and she coughs out.
As ashamed as she is, she feels anger rise in the pit of her stomach. She's getting so tired of this.
"Are you okay?" Raven and Robin say in unison.
Beast Boy morphs back into himself. "Y-yeah. I should've listened to her it wasn't her fault." Beast Boy defends her when he sees the glares on the twos faces directed at the black dog. "She's not in a good mood right now, I can tell."
"That doesn't excuse what just happened." Robin says in his leaderly tone, glaring at he ebony dog. Her eyes harden at him in challenge.
"Hey, she didn't bite me, she was just telling me to knock it off, that's not that bad. She just doesn't want to be messed with right now." Beast Boy reasons.
"If you say so." Robin pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh as Beast Boy moves to help Cyborg. Robin sets himself and Raven up poles with greenish red speckled worms on the hooks, something about the particular worms never failing in this pond. Of course they're the notorious Gulp! brand. Apache is far from surprised as she sits at Raven's feet, staring out at the ducks. A few canadian geese had joined them.
After going over the basics of fishing, how to work the pole and casting the pole the first time for Raven, Robin steps a few feet away and casts his own pole into the murky water.
Raven will be an amazing fisherman, Apache thinks. She has the right amount of patients for it, anyway. Raven sits next to Apache, paying the dog, or anything really, little mind. She wasn't holding the leash anymore. She cranks and flicks the pole like Robin had shown her absentmindedly.
Apache only turns to Robin when she hears the wack of a pole. She lowers her ears when he groans. He missed it. He rapidly reels his pole in, pulling his half gone bait out of the water. He fixes the worm and casts out again.
Apache rolls her eyes, setting her head on her paws.
She turns her attention to Raven, who had ceased reeling the bait in all together. She seems spaced. Apache turns her attention back to the ducks. When she gazes around to check on everyone, she notices Raven't pole tip visibly bent.
She jumps up with a clipped bark.
"Raven, your pole! Set the hook!" Robin gushes after seeing what Apache had barked at.
"What? Oh!" Raven jumps up and whacks her pole to the side, and the fight is on. How had she really not noticed it? The fish would have pulled the pole from her hand if her grip had been slack.
The fish pulls and yanks on the pole, and when it jumps out of the water, Apache gets extremely excited, seeing that it's not a small one by any means. Her heart is beating a mile a minute in excitement, and she's shaking happily. She yips in excitement, her tail going a mile a minute. She gives an elated little hop.
"Slow down or the line will snap!" Robin rushes over. The drag is pulling out, and Raven is reeling the fish in almost just as fast. Too much resistance. Without the drag loose the line would snap if the fish is too big. Raven's extra strength is helping her reel the fish in steadily when a regular person her size would have some difficulty. She has a look of concentration on her face and a wide steady stance. She is having a little trouble. It takes about ten minutes to coax the fish to the shore, and by that time it's tired itself out. All Apache could do is pace the bank, yipping excitedly as her tail works overtime.
"Woah," Robin smiles widely as he leans down to take a look at the fish at the edge of the pond. "Do you want to take the hook out or do you want me to do it?" Robin looks up at a slightly shocked but grinning Raven. Apache inspects the fish for herself, elated. She shifts her gaze to an excited looking Raven.
"You do it, I don't know how.'
"It's easy." Robin grins as he puts his hands in the water, picking up the fish by its mouth. "Wow, I'd say it's at least seven pounds. Thats one big fish." Robin digs in the bass's mouth and with a little difficulty pulls the hook from the roof of its mouth as it wriggles in a vain attempt to get away. "Want a picture with your legendary catch? It's your first fish after all."
"Oh, um, sure." Raven holds the fish in front of her chest, smiling awkwardly, the fish at least six inches past Raven on either side, as Robin snaps a few pictures, Apache at Raven's side wagging her tail happily. Immediately after Raven gently lowers the fish back into the water, and watched happily as it kicks away from her and back into the murky depths of the large pond. She quickly scrubs her hands in the water before standing back up.
"So, fun, right?" Robin chuckles.
"Yeah." Raven smiles as they pick their poles back up. They go back to fishing, it now becoming a competition of who could catch the most since Raven's fish would most likely be the biggest catch of the day by far.
"Apache," Apache hears. She flicks her ear, turning around to find the source. "C'mere," Its Beast Boy. He glances over his shoulder. Apache fallows his gaze, finding two very pretty girls, one Asian looking, the other African American. They're seated at a table, books scattered around its surface. An apprehensive feeling blooms in her belly.
Did she want to be used for him to look stupid trying to get a date?
No, no she doesn't.
Would she attempt to help him out anyway?
Yes, yes she would.
She hops up, trotting toward the over excited changeling. He picks up an orange bag, rummaging around in it until he pulls out a blue frisbee. "This is to hoping you know how to play frisbee," he points at her with the plastic disc. He picks up the end of her leash, striding to position them a mere fifteen feet from the girls. They have their noses in their books, colored pencils and pens scattered around the table.
Beast Boy clears his throat as he unlatches her leash. Apache sits in front of him, staring up at him.
He waves the frisbee in front of her face, throwing it suddenly, angled to fly near the girls. She watches the frisbee until it lands before staring back up at him. She wishes she could physically bust out laughing at his reaction.
"Well? Go get it!" He very animatedly motions to the frisbee that had landed around eight feet from the girl's table. She just tilts her head at him dumbly. He scoffs.
"You can do every damn trick in the book but you won't fetch a frisbee?" he sounds exasperated. She yips at him, rising to trot over to the frisbee with her tail high, sweeping the air. She paws at the frisbee, taking the edge delicately in her mouth when she gets it between her paws. She eyes Beast Boy before turning to the girls.
She delicately lays her head on the African American girl's lap, startling the girl.
"Oh!" she spies the dog. "Hello, gorgeous. Are you lost?" She rubs at the dog's head. Apache loves the girl's gorgeous afro, her hair in small delicate ringlets framing her face and head in a chocolate halo. Her bright amber colored eyes are friendly and open. Her smile is gorgeous and kind. Her dark washed jeans and jean jacket compliment her healthy form perfectly. "Look at those beautiful eyes!"
"Where'd it come from?" Apache swoons at the Asian girl's accent. She feels scratching on her lower back. Her tail picks up its speed. She could really get used to these girls. She glances over to see an adorable face swathed in an even more adorable shaggy black bob, kind dark brown eyes just as kind as her counterpart.
"I didn't see," she lifts her eyes, glancing around, until they fall on Beast Boy, who is quickly jogging over to the trio.
"I-I'm so sorry she bothered you ladies," Beast Boy apologizes immediately, looking mortified.
"Oh it's no trouble at all, she's a cutie," the African American girl smiles, rubbing the sides of Apache's face. She looks up at Beast Boy, her eyes lighting up farther. "Hey, aren't you one of the Titans?" Apache inwardly chuckles. If any of the Titans could be pointed out in a crowd, it was Beast Boy.
"Ooh! You are, aren't you?" the Asian girl looks up from her book at her friend's words.
Beast Boy instantly becomes embarrassed, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Uh, y-yeah..."
"That's so cool! I'm Nicole, by the way," The African American girl holds her hand out for a handshake. "Thank you for protecting the city and keeping us safe."
Beast Boy grasps her hand gently. "No big deal, it's all in a day's work. Its nice to meet you Nicole, and...?" Apache sits, watching as Beast Boy fishes for the other girl's name. She sets her colored pencil down before grasping his hand.
"Yuka. I'm very pleased to meet you," she smiles politely.
"Pleased to meet you as well, Yuka," he smiles.
"Mind if I toss her frisbee for her?" Nicole asks.
"Not at all," Beast Boy grins, elated with Apache. Apache releases the frisbee when Nicole takes a hold of it.
"What's her name?" Nicole asks as she tosses the frisbee. Apache takes off after it in a dead sprint. She isn't quite fast enough to try to catch it in mid air, so she zips over it. It takes a few strides to slow her momentum, then she whips back around to paw at it, lifting it to pick it up delicately. She strides back to the trio, plotting herself next to Beast Boy, dropping the frisbee at her feet. The girls laugh at her antics.
She lets her tongue loll out, her breath huffing.
"Well, I think the name Apache is just perfect for her," Nicole giggles. Apache tilts her head. "Well, Beast Boy, we're going to be late for my cousins birthday party. So," she rips a piece of paper out of her notebook, picking up a purple marker to jot something down. She holds the paper out to Beast Boy. "Maybe text me later?"
Beast Boy looks floored. Apache stares up him happily. "Oh, um, yeah! Yeah, sure!" He takes the paper from her grasp. Both girls giggle, packing their books back into their bags. "You guys have a great day!"
"You too!" Nicole and Yuka call in unison as they stand. The four all turn to go their respective ways.
Beastboy and Apache stride back towards the Titan's claimed area, a hop in both of their steps.
"So, I seen," Cyborg grins, leaning against a tree. "Nice," Cyborg holds his hand up for a high five. Beast Boy happily slaps his hand to Cyborg's metallic one.
"Hey, it's all thanks to my wingman," Beast Boy motions to Apache, a grin from ear to ear.
"Wanna set me up, Apache?" Cyborg chuckles. Apache barks a few times, then whips around, sprinting back to Raven's side. Raven glances down at her with a smile, giving her head a quick pat. Apache lays down, her eyes again finding the ducks.
The food had not been put on for too long and the other three Titan's game put on hold when Apache spots a leathe and lanky figure not too far away under a willow tree, sitting on a gnarled root holding her own pole. The striped leggings look familiar to Apache. The figure is wearing a hoodie with the hood up, obscuring her face and hiding her hair.
Apache observes the figure, tilting her head this way and that. She watches as the figure casts their pole multiple times. Her curiosity and excitement is getting the best of her.
Apache looks up at her two fishing companions, Raven is lightly teasing Robin over his little half pound fish he just reeled in as she flicks her pole.
She quickly makes up her mind and slinks off quickly toward the willow. She wants to see if she's right or not, excitement and adrenaline pumping through her veins.
After sneaking around a few trees and through some tall grass, she comes up on the opposite side and behind the willow. She steps over a large base root, her nails scratching against the bark. The figure whips around, a startled look in her rose quartz cat like eyes.
The meta and dog stare each other down for a few tense moments.
"Hello there," the girl begins, a tuft of pink tourmaline hair sticking out of the side of her hood. Apache dares to slip her head under the girls arm, to which she giggles a musical laugh. Apache is overwhelmed by a pleasant spicy smell, sweet, sugary but also bitter. It reminds her of pumpkin spice and french vanilla coffee. She pets Apache almost fondly. "Come to visit little ol' me? Not that I'm complaining," Jinx smiles widely as she remembers to flick her pole and Apache hears the distinctive plop of a topwater lure. "It gets lonely fishing all alone." Jinx confides. She keeps an arm looped around Apache's shoulders as she fishes, absently rubbing up and down her side.
Apache almost can't sit still.
She was right!
She's elated. Her tail is dusting the bark of the tree's roots.
After a few more casts Apache hears her name along with a loud whistle. She perks up, and Jinx hears it too. Apache considers not listening and staying with Jinx. She glances up at the pale girl.
"Is that you?" Jinx asks. "Go on, don't go getting in trouble," Jinx says, disappointed. "I feel like stealing you, but Gizmo would throw a huge fit." She grumbles. She removes her arm from around Apache. Apache misses the weight and warmth immediately. That actually didn't sound like too bad an idea. It might just be her bad temper at the moment though.
Apache hears her name again.
She quickly licks Jinx's cheek a few times against her better judgment, causing the girl to giggle, before bounding back the way she came. Her irritation grows more and more the closer she gets to the Titans. They see her coming and greet her with 'Where'd you go's and amusement.
Obviously it's time to eat.
Beast Boy flips her a barbecued hot dog, which she scarfs down gratefully.