Chapter two: What if God was one of us...?
Disclaimer: I know, I know, I don't own the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne...come to think of it, I still don't own anything...
Raven and Beast Boy were the only Titans present at the funeral, though literally every citizen of Jump City was there. From the mayor to some prison inmates, every citizen was present for the funeral of the only Tamaranian left in the quadrant. Raven and Beast Boy both spoke about Starfire's life, and how she would be missed as a Titan and a friend... After the funeral, Raven decided to walk around the park for a while. She saw people—couples, to be more precise, walking around in the chill late fall air, returning home after the funeral. Tears fell in near puddles all over the white sidewalks and sobs rang out above the nearly absent twittering of birds. It seemed like one of those scenes in movies where everyone is humming the same sad tune, and the sound can be heard all around the character that is being focused on. A young couple with a boy who looked to be about six years old walked past. Raven could hear the little boy asking his mother why everyone was so sad. "We just—it's not important. You're out of school tomorrow on a remembrance day, so be happy," his mother said in a voice laden with sadness at the loss of a hero and exasperation at her son's ignorance. Raven felt an itching desire to enjoy watching the woman's blood mix with tears on the sidewalk. But she did no such thing, preferring instead to head over to the furthest part of the park; the highest bank of the bay, a steep cliff falling sheer into Jump City Bay. Beast Boy was already there, leaning on the safety rail and staring out at the horizon. Raven came up beside him, also leaning on the rail park officials had placed there for the safety of the citizens of Jump City. "I guess she really is gone, huh?" asked Beast Boy listlessly. "Apparently so. I wonder just how Robin's going to kill Slade. I want to watch." "Isn't that a little cruel?" "I guess. But I don't care. I just question the future of the Teen Titans. We will still be friends and everything, but we won't be the same, just like Cyborg said." A voice interrupted the duo's musings from behind. "If I may politely interject?" Raven and Beast Boy turned around to see a young woman they had not seen at the funeral. "What do you want?" asked Beast Boy. "I just want to ask something." She paused. Raven nodded, so she continued. "When did the future of Jump City switch from being a promise to being a threat? When the Teen Titans arrived, we thought our troubles were over. Now they have been defeated, and we wonder whether or not Tomorrow will come after all. If Starfire can be killed, who knows what will happen next? Now, anything could happen." Through the light mist that was now falling, shadows of other citizens dressed in black could be seen moving behind the speaking girl, who continued. "I just want to know if the Teen Titans are finished or not." Beast Boy spoke for Raven, who had turned away, preferring not to think about their future at the moment. "We would never split up. How can you even think about something like that?" The girl turned and left as lightning flashed across the sky and rain began falling softly over the park. Beast Boy returned to his place beside Raven leaning against the railing, only a little closer this time. He put a warm arm around her shoulders as a tear fell from her eye all the way down the cliff to mingle with the seawater. Training with Cyborg siphoned off some of Robin's anger and he could think a little clearer. He was going to kill Slade, whatever it took, even if it meant killing himself in the process. * Flashback to seven days before* In some cliffy area beside the ocean around Jump City, the Teen Titans fight Slade. Raven puts up a shield around herself and Beast boy as they are attacked by too many robots at once. Cyborg blasts them away with his sonic cannon, while Starfire blasts away some more with starbolts. Robin nearly lands a good punch to Slade, but he dodges. Flipping backwards, Slade pulls out a gun and aims at Robin. In almost slow-motion, a robot runs between Robin and Slade. Before either villain or Boy Wonder can react, Slade pulls the trigger just as Starfire swoops after the robot. Time speeds up again and Starfire falls to the ground with a sickening thud. *end flashback* Lost in thought, Robin kicked Cyborg a little too hard. Cyborg went flying into the opposite wall, shaking the whole tower. "Sorry. Are you okay?" asked Robin. Cyborg groaned. "Maybe we should take a break, Robin." Robin nodded and helped his friend up. In the kitchen, they found Raven sipping her tea at the table. "How was the funeral?" asked Cyborg, unsure what her reaction would be. "It was cold. The entire city was there." Robin jumped as the toaster glowed black and exploded in front of him. Cyborg flopped down next to a kitten Beast Boy, who was curled up again on the couch. Robin also sat down on the other side of Cyborg. Raven sat down on the other side of Beast Boy. Again, all four Titans sit in silence until the TV clicks on again. But this time, it held no warning. It was just the news. A female reporter came on and began the broadcast. "And a massive black parade was seen in the streets today to mourn the death of Teen Titan Starfire. It is estimated that close to fifty thousand people attended the young Tamaranian girl's funeral, though only two of them were fellow Titans, Beast Boy and Raven." The reporter sniffed and wiped her eye before continuing. "Sorry about that. We would now like to take a minute of silence to remember the Teen Titan called Starfire, killed on November 24, 2003 by yet unknown sources." The reporter could be seen ducking out of the picture, mascara running, before an orange screen came on, with the words "We will always remember Star Fire." Tears ran down Robin's face silently. Cyborg started muttering again, "She's not gone...She's not gone...She's not gone..." Kitten Beast Boy jumped into Raven's arms. His green eyes brimmed with salty tears as he buried his head in her arms. Objects all over Titans Tower glowed black and hovered. Tears ran unchecked down Raven's face as she cried. She thought they would at least get her name right.
When the news came back on after the minute of silence, Cyborg wandered off Heaven knows where, still mumbling "She isn't gone. She isn't gone." Robin followed him Heaven knows where to keep training. Things gradually settled down and no longer glowed with black energy, but tears still ran down Raven's face as Beast Boy jumped back onto the couch beside her, tears pouring down his face. He leaned back, and they both cried silently until Raven fell asleep, leaning against Beast Boy, who wrapped his arms around her without thinking about it.
Raven awoke later to the feeling of being warm and safe in someone's arms. Without even thinking, she knew it was Beast Boy. And she was glad. Well, maybe not glad, because if she had been glad, the whole tower would have gone up in smoke...but she liked the feeling nonetheless. She snuggled deeper into his embrace and thought more about the current situation. Starfire was dead. Robin was sure as hell gonna get revenge. Cyborg was suffering severe mental rust. Beast Boy and Raven were falling in love. And Starfire was dead.
Disclaimer: I know, I know, I don't own the song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne...come to think of it, I still don't own anything...
Raven and Beast Boy were the only Titans present at the funeral, though literally every citizen of Jump City was there. From the mayor to some prison inmates, every citizen was present for the funeral of the only Tamaranian left in the quadrant. Raven and Beast Boy both spoke about Starfire's life, and how she would be missed as a Titan and a friend... After the funeral, Raven decided to walk around the park for a while. She saw people—couples, to be more precise, walking around in the chill late fall air, returning home after the funeral. Tears fell in near puddles all over the white sidewalks and sobs rang out above the nearly absent twittering of birds. It seemed like one of those scenes in movies where everyone is humming the same sad tune, and the sound can be heard all around the character that is being focused on. A young couple with a boy who looked to be about six years old walked past. Raven could hear the little boy asking his mother why everyone was so sad. "We just—it's not important. You're out of school tomorrow on a remembrance day, so be happy," his mother said in a voice laden with sadness at the loss of a hero and exasperation at her son's ignorance. Raven felt an itching desire to enjoy watching the woman's blood mix with tears on the sidewalk. But she did no such thing, preferring instead to head over to the furthest part of the park; the highest bank of the bay, a steep cliff falling sheer into Jump City Bay. Beast Boy was already there, leaning on the safety rail and staring out at the horizon. Raven came up beside him, also leaning on the rail park officials had placed there for the safety of the citizens of Jump City. "I guess she really is gone, huh?" asked Beast Boy listlessly. "Apparently so. I wonder just how Robin's going to kill Slade. I want to watch." "Isn't that a little cruel?" "I guess. But I don't care. I just question the future of the Teen Titans. We will still be friends and everything, but we won't be the same, just like Cyborg said." A voice interrupted the duo's musings from behind. "If I may politely interject?" Raven and Beast Boy turned around to see a young woman they had not seen at the funeral. "What do you want?" asked Beast Boy. "I just want to ask something." She paused. Raven nodded, so she continued. "When did the future of Jump City switch from being a promise to being a threat? When the Teen Titans arrived, we thought our troubles were over. Now they have been defeated, and we wonder whether or not Tomorrow will come after all. If Starfire can be killed, who knows what will happen next? Now, anything could happen." Through the light mist that was now falling, shadows of other citizens dressed in black could be seen moving behind the speaking girl, who continued. "I just want to know if the Teen Titans are finished or not." Beast Boy spoke for Raven, who had turned away, preferring not to think about their future at the moment. "We would never split up. How can you even think about something like that?" The girl turned and left as lightning flashed across the sky and rain began falling softly over the park. Beast Boy returned to his place beside Raven leaning against the railing, only a little closer this time. He put a warm arm around her shoulders as a tear fell from her eye all the way down the cliff to mingle with the seawater. Training with Cyborg siphoned off some of Robin's anger and he could think a little clearer. He was going to kill Slade, whatever it took, even if it meant killing himself in the process. * Flashback to seven days before* In some cliffy area beside the ocean around Jump City, the Teen Titans fight Slade. Raven puts up a shield around herself and Beast boy as they are attacked by too many robots at once. Cyborg blasts them away with his sonic cannon, while Starfire blasts away some more with starbolts. Robin nearly lands a good punch to Slade, but he dodges. Flipping backwards, Slade pulls out a gun and aims at Robin. In almost slow-motion, a robot runs between Robin and Slade. Before either villain or Boy Wonder can react, Slade pulls the trigger just as Starfire swoops after the robot. Time speeds up again and Starfire falls to the ground with a sickening thud. *end flashback* Lost in thought, Robin kicked Cyborg a little too hard. Cyborg went flying into the opposite wall, shaking the whole tower. "Sorry. Are you okay?" asked Robin. Cyborg groaned. "Maybe we should take a break, Robin." Robin nodded and helped his friend up. In the kitchen, they found Raven sipping her tea at the table. "How was the funeral?" asked Cyborg, unsure what her reaction would be. "It was cold. The entire city was there." Robin jumped as the toaster glowed black and exploded in front of him. Cyborg flopped down next to a kitten Beast Boy, who was curled up again on the couch. Robin also sat down on the other side of Cyborg. Raven sat down on the other side of Beast Boy. Again, all four Titans sit in silence until the TV clicks on again. But this time, it held no warning. It was just the news. A female reporter came on and began the broadcast. "And a massive black parade was seen in the streets today to mourn the death of Teen Titan Starfire. It is estimated that close to fifty thousand people attended the young Tamaranian girl's funeral, though only two of them were fellow Titans, Beast Boy and Raven." The reporter sniffed and wiped her eye before continuing. "Sorry about that. We would now like to take a minute of silence to remember the Teen Titan called Starfire, killed on November 24, 2003 by yet unknown sources." The reporter could be seen ducking out of the picture, mascara running, before an orange screen came on, with the words "We will always remember Star Fire." Tears ran down Robin's face silently. Cyborg started muttering again, "She's not gone...She's not gone...She's not gone..." Kitten Beast Boy jumped into Raven's arms. His green eyes brimmed with salty tears as he buried his head in her arms. Objects all over Titans Tower glowed black and hovered. Tears ran unchecked down Raven's face as she cried. She thought they would at least get her name right.
When the news came back on after the minute of silence, Cyborg wandered off Heaven knows where, still mumbling "She isn't gone. She isn't gone." Robin followed him Heaven knows where to keep training. Things gradually settled down and no longer glowed with black energy, but tears still ran down Raven's face as Beast Boy jumped back onto the couch beside her, tears pouring down his face. He leaned back, and they both cried silently until Raven fell asleep, leaning against Beast Boy, who wrapped his arms around her without thinking about it.
Raven awoke later to the feeling of being warm and safe in someone's arms. Without even thinking, she knew it was Beast Boy. And she was glad. Well, maybe not glad, because if she had been glad, the whole tower would have gone up in smoke...but she liked the feeling nonetheless. She snuggled deeper into his embrace and thought more about the current situation. Starfire was dead. Robin was sure as hell gonna get revenge. Cyborg was suffering severe mental rust. Beast Boy and Raven were falling in love. And Starfire was dead.