Disclaimer: I own a Fender P-bass. It's cool. Really! But I don't own The Teen Titans or any of the bands named in this story. But you're welcome to try my bass when you come over...
Titans on the Run!
Chapter 5: Waiting on You, with Nothing to Do
Song of the Chapter: Waiting, By the Rentals
INITIATING SYSTEMS CHECK...
POWER LEVELS...NOMINAL
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS...FUNCTIONING
INTRO-NUREON SYNAPSE SYSTEM.... ONLINE
ARMAMENTS...ONLINE
SENSORS...ONLINE
"uhh..."
Waking up, Cyborg rubbed his head and looked around his room.
Various, machines hummed quietly. Pink light filtered through the windows. Although a portion of the room resembled the sterility of an ICU, the other portion seemed like a normal room for a teenager. There was a messy closet, with more used sports equipment than clothes. Trophies lined a shelf above a television and gamesation. And finally, a computer desk and chair sat on one side, with pictures of Cyborg's family at a sporting event, Cyborg shaking hands with Superman, and a rather formal-style family picture with a younger Victor Stone. Knocking the blanket on the floor, he sat upright and brought up his system diagnostics on his wrist screen. Finding everything normal, he got up to brush his teeth. After a thorough brush and floss, he sat in a chair and checked the Internet for the daily news, as his repair system scanned for any fluid loss or damaged servos.
Finishing the repair scan, he headed downstairs to thwart Beast Boy's tofu breakfast attempt.
"I know I put it here somewhere..." Beast Boy said, exploring the depths of the refrigerator.
"Beast Boy, what exactly is tofu made off?" Star asked, gathering pots and pans.
"Well, to put it simply, tofu is a product derived from soybeans, Star." Robin explained, not looking up from his paper.
"Hey Rob, If you know so much about tofu, why don't you eat it?" Quizzed Beast Boy, eyeing what was once an edible substance in ancient Tupperware.
".... It's gross."
"Amen." Raven agreed from behind her teacup.
Stopping his search to give Raven an exasperated look, Beast Boy heard Cyborg's signature heavy footsteps descend the staircase. Waving to Starfire, he poured him self a glass of orange juice and made his way to his garage.
"He seems to be spending a lot of time in there lately," The young changeling remarked, digging through the pantry. After not finding his treasured breakfast food, he leaned on the center counter and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"In the cabinet above the stove..." Raven drawled.
"STOVE?!" Starfire cried, instinctively.
"Awesome! How'd do you do that?" Beast Boy asked incredulously, preparing the frying pan.
Raven gave him an astounded look. Robin dropped his paper to gape at the green teenager.
"What?"
In the midst of scattered parts and various tools, Cyborg worked. It was a sudden burst of creativity that kept him in the garage. As his hands nimbly assembled and fastened, he thought back to yesterday's breakfast...
[Flashback]
"C'mon..." Pleaded Beast Boy.
"No." "Nuh-uh." "Never."
"Try it! Even Star tried it!"
"Although I had a highly allergic reaction, for the moments when my throat wasn't swollen closed, it was delicious." Star said amiably, completely destroying Beast Boy's defense.
"Well, I guess it's going to be tofu for one...again." Beast Boy sighed, resigning to the stove.
"Now that that's out of the way, I have some news guys." Robin stated.
"Robin, if it is about the amount of money needed for my stove...my stove unpleasantness the other day, I'm sure we can..." Starfire started.
"No, no. It's all right Star. It's a good thing that my cape is fire retardant." Robin said.
"Yeah, and I can survive a explosion of such magnitude." Cyborg chimed in.
"As I was saying, it's summertime. Crime has fallen significantly..."
"Yeah. I can't even remember what the crime alert sounds like." Joked Beast Boy.
"...And Slade has been suspiciously quiet." Raven pointed out.
"Yes, well not quiet enough for the Justice League." Robin said, revealing his letter to the others.
Passing the letter around, everyone became serious. Most noticeably Beast Boy.
"This is a major development, Rob." Cyborg said, grimly. "The Justice League is like the Major Leagues of crime fighting."
"For them to have to come here..." Raven started with a grave expression on her pale features.
"I know." Robin said finally. "I know. Let's not think about it until I get another communiqué. Besides, this means we can finally go on a vacation of sorts."
The others were a little speechless.
Other than little breaks between villains and patrols, they haven't taken a vacation in the two-plus years they've been in Jump City. And to have Robin, who patrols every night religiously, suggest a vacation...
"Robin, that sounds wonderful!" Starfire said, the first to regain her composure. "I shall explore more of the American region of Earth, sample the local cuisine..."
"Are you sure of that Starfire? After what tofu did to your digestion system?" Raven queried.
Looking thoughtful, Star nodded eagerly. "Raven, I am most certain. When will I have another chance to take a trip such as this?"
"She's right Rae. Besides, how much of earth have you seen?" Beast Boy asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
She looked at him with a steely expression.
"I've seen enough." She said, looking at her tea.
"Well, I guess it's unanimous." Cyborg stated simply. "In three days, we'll take off."
In those three days, Cyborg had been in the garage constantly. When he wasn't in there, he was at the local auto parts store or metal yard. The others had all tried to get in, to see what he was working on, but he only let Raven in. He knew that she could keep a secret and just wanted a place with relative quiet. So, it was there, in the semi darkness of the garage, that Cyborg tirelessly worked. Occasionally, he would hear Raven clear her throat, or leave for a moment. Other than that it was only the clinks and sparse clatter or tools that echoed in the room.
Tightening the final nut, Cyborg stepped back and admired his handiwork. As he wiped his sweat from his brow, a low, steady rumbling could be heard through the far wall of the garage. Shortly after that, a higher-toned noise came in, followed by the unmistakable crash of the cymbals.
"Well," Cyborg started, putting his tools away. "They're at it again."
"So it seems. Well, the quiet was good while it lasted." She said, closing her book. "Want to go watch ?"
"Sure, I'm done here. By the way, they've gotten a lot better, don't you think?" He said absentmindedly.
"I guess. I really don't follow music." She said. "At least Starfire keeps time with the boys."
Cyborg looks at her strangely. "Keeps time? Star's way faster than BB and Rob! And I think you know why..."
Raven looked thoughtful. "Oh yeah. The album. Well, it all for good anyway."
"Yeah, well you can't hear her practicing at three in the morning." He said, starting up the stairs.
"Just try it."
"Beast Boy, please...Put a large crack in its surface! Oh...wait..."
"Do you mean 'Take a crack at it'?"
"Yes, whichever gets you to sing." She said firmly.
Sighing, Beast Boy turned to his notebook and rubbed his temples. The normally dark and foreboding basement was lit with an assortment of lamps, at Starfire's request. Instrument cables carpeted the floor, snaking to and fro between the amplifiers. Robin sat on an ancient lawn chair, holding his bass, and giving Starfire an exasperated look. Starfire sat behind her set with an expectant air about her, sticks in hand. Beast Boy looked at the two of them, looked at his notebook, and looked back at them.
"But guys..." He whined. Robin threw up a hand to silence him.
"I already know what you're going to say." He said.
"I hate the sound of my voice..." The green teenager shyly stated, fiddling with the controls on his guitar.
"Well, if you want to do the 'thing' we talked about. You have to sing. You've done it before."
"Robin is correct. I find your voice quite adequate indeed. Very much like a Altreric opera singer."
"Really? But I've only sung in front of you guys." He pointed out.
"It's cool, BB. Just pretend there isn't anyone else in the room. Alright?" Robin said getting up. "Besides, we need a serious rehearsal before we go."
Beast Boy nodded. "Well let's start with a cover song first, okay?"
"Sure, which one?" Robin asked, turning on his amplifier.
"Hey, how about some early Rancid?" Beast Boy said. "Nah...I'm not that good yet..." Robin replied.
"Offspring?" "Nope."
"Oh, wait Smashing Pumpkins!" "No, we'd need another guitar for that."
"Band mates, let us practice songs performed by the band Slipknot." Star suggested helpfully.
Robin and Beast Boy gaped at her.
"Star," Robin started. "BB and I can't keep up with that."
"Yeah, just because you're approaching Joey Jordison level..." Beast Boy snorted.
"Well, after Raven let me borrow Mr. Jordison 's recording, I've developed a taste for his technique."
To further push her point, Starfire launched into a furious, Slipknot-esque drum solo. Her speed and fluidity in hammering every sixteen note with relative ease and style, spoke against her four and a half month's practice.
Robin's jaw hit the floor. Beast Boy, backing away from Star in astonishment, tripped over it.
After an intense brainstorm, the titan trio settled on a song by the Rentals, Waiting.
Star needed to hear it but once, before she got the gist of the rhythm.
Not too heavy, not too simple, and Star got a small workout out.
Beast Boy and Robin knew it from before, so they sailed right into it
Raven and Cyborg were in the freight elevator, going to the basement.
"Cyborg, what do you think about this whole vacation thing?"
"Well, I think it's a good idea. We need the time off." He said, crossing his arms.
"That's not what I meant. And you know it." She said, slicing through his façade.
He sighed. "You know, you're too good at that."
"And you're good at worrying about things inwardly." She said, staring at him with an analytical gaze.
"....Raven, I know you're not lecturing me about being open."
Raven took note of this, and answered back with a wry, but unblinking grin.
"But I've had soooo much more practice at it." She drawled.
"....Alright," He said with a grin of his own.
"I'm worried..... Really. I mean, this is the Justice League. You don't get any higher than that. I mean, they even have the Green Lantern Corps on their side.... This is way bigger than Plasmus eating garbage, or Overload shorting out all of Jump City or- -"
"Cyborg, you're babbling."
"Sorry." He said, avoiding her piercing gaze. "It's just that, I feel like I let the City down, you know?"
"Explain." She said, softening her tone.
"Well...The city put it's trust in me. It put it's future in my hands..." He said, looking at his hands.
Raven looked at him.
"And what's wrong with getting a little assistance here and there?"
Cyborg looked at her.
The tone sounded for the last floor, as the door opened.
A curious scene greeted the two teens as they stepped out of the elevator, as Starfire was pounding the drums till their bursting point, Robin was making the walls shake with his steady, distorted bass lines, and Beast Boy was fervently strumming power chords and singing. Starfire's gaze was on the various percussion devices she was hitting, and the boys had their eyes drawn to their guitar necks, checking their fingering, so they didn't notice that they had an audience. Beast Boy was doubly distracted, as he finally took to singing, when Robin and Starfire threatened to stuff him full of 100% chuck roast. While Cyborg was mildly proud of their skill, Raven took great length to hide her surprise, especially her shock in Beast Boy's demeanor as he played. The magnitude of focus set in his features was evident to anyone who knew the usually ultra-causal, laid-back teen.
Nevertheless, it unnerved Raven.
As the band started up from their raucous intro, a bouncy yet driving bass and guitar riff tore through the room. Then Robin and Beast Boy stepped up to the two mic stands, as Starfire shifted to sing in an additional microphone stationed near her drum-throne.
I'm waiting For something to come through
I hoping I can write a real-sweet-tune
No passion, No warmth in these words
I'm trying, But have nothing to offer...
I'm waiting with nothing to do
I'm w-a-i-t-i-n-g
Just a-waiting on you
Sadly just like beforeIt's lifeless, and soulless, and yeah I fall way short
No beauty, no sweet melody
No four-part, Barber Shop melody
I'm waiting with nothing to do
I'm w-a-i-t-i-n-g
Just a-waiting on you...
It was here in the song, that Beast Boy broke away from the normal chord progression, and began a guitar solo. His hands moved so rapidly, that they seemed to move of their own accord. Not like someone playing an instrument with two hands, but two people working together in intense precision. As he did this, Starfire and Robin took over the vocals singing in a complementing harmony.
I'm w-a-i-t-i-n-g on you
I'm w-a-i-t-i-n-g on you
You
As the solo ended, they moved back into the normal style of the song.
I'm waiting, with nothing to do
I'm w-a-i-t-i-n-g
Just a-waiting on you
Waiting on you...
With the last chorus behind them, they slowly faded out as Starfire sang the rest of the lyrics.
Waiting on you
Waiting on you
Waiting on you
Waiting on you...
Waiting on you...
Letting the last chord ring out, they caught their breath, and looked at each other.
"Dude!" Beast Boy cried, smacking knuckles with Robin, and then (albeit a bit awardly) with Starfire.
"Marvelous job everyone!" Starfire said beaming.
"Yeah it did sound good." Robin said.
"...except my vocals, right?" Beast Boy added.
"Nope, you've got some pipes there, Green Bean!"
Beast Boy froze, caught sight of Raven, and then melted into a puddle of greenish purple goop.
"How long were you guys there?" Beast Boy asked, drinking some orange juice on the couch.
"Long enough." Cyborg answered.
"So, comment!" Starfire insisted. "Were we pleasant to listen to?"
"Yeah," Added Robin. "Give it to us, be brutal."
"Well..." Stared Raven, at which all heads (even Cyborg) turned and waited for the sorceress' verdict.
"...It's okay." She said, feeling the slightest bit nervous from everyone's expectant eyes on her.
"Well," Robin said, relieved to hear a thumbs-up from Raven. "Do you guys... think we could perform at a battle of the bands in Dakota?"
"Well now..." Raven said, with a darker tone. "You guys are good for crime fighters, but to compete...?"
"Well we have five days to practice before the show, we could do it on the way there!" Beast Boy begged, with Robin and Starfire making pouty faces at Raven.
Raven crossed her arms, and gave them a stony look.
Robin noted this and whispered into Beast Boy's ear.
He nodded, and transformed into the infamous kitten, letting his eyes mist with emotion.
It took seven whole minutes of this.
Raven sighed in defeat, the others cheered, and Cyborg loudly cleared his throat.
"Well, since we're going to Dakota, I decided that I don't want Beast Boy cooped up in My Baby any longer than absolutely necessary." He said leading everyone in the garage.
"Dude it is so not my fault things break when I'm around!" He cried defensively.
"Well, be that as it may, I have," He paused for emphasis. "...Devised a system of transportation that will revolutionize the midsize van market, putting convenience, style, and functionality in the hands of millions."
"Cyborg, are you going to show us the van or sell it too us?" Robin asked, laughing at his cybernetic friend's speech.
"Rob! C'mon, I had a awesome pitch going?" Cyborg whined.
"Pitch? But Robin lacks the equipment, and the glove to intercept such a throw!" Starfire exclaimed.
"Different kind of pitch, Starfire. Lets just take a look." Raven said flatly.
Disgruntled, Cyborg removed the cover sheet, revealing a large blue and sliver van/sport utility vehicle. It's nose and hood resembled the T-car, but was bigger and has an impressive chrome grill. Overall it looked like someone took the T-car, stretched it, and inflated the back end.
"WHOA!"
"SWEET!"
"WONDEROUS!"
"What's this thing get in mileage?"
Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy pressed their noses to the windows gaping in amazement, and leaving smudges. Raven gave him a covert thumbs-up.
"Cyborg, you've really outdone yourself dude!" Beast Boy complemented. "I mean this is a marvel of engenier- IS THAT A GAMESTATION?!?!"
"You know it. Fridge, computer, massive stereo, sleeps four...This Beast has it all." He said, whipping a tear.
"And the adjustable dimensions axle system...just...brings...me to..."
He looked at the others overcome with emotion.
"Look away!" He barked to the other Titans (Who didn't move.) as he regained his composeure.
"Alright, do we have everything?"
"Everyone's suitcase is here." Raven reported.
"What about the equipment?" Robin asked.
"Present and accounted for Boss-dude." Beast Boy replied.
"Great, and how's food Star?"
"We have bountiful amounts of tofu, meats, vegetation, cotton and non- cotton candies, and lots of prolag for breakfast." She said happily.
"Okay. I guess were ready. Cyborg will you do the honors?"
"My most esteemed pleasure." He said airily. Starting up the ignition, he smiled when the engine growled menacingly.
Everyone (Raven included.) grinned at each other....until the engine died.
"Oh....I need gas."
AN: First and foremost, one million apologies for taking so long! This has been my craziest week in life. To further explain, I work at a local cinema, and Spiderman 2 came out this week. To make matters worse, I have yet to see it myself... (cries) And, (This is not as bad a s working all the time.) My band has played some shows around the city, and it has taken what little free time I have. But on the bright side, it gave me a bunch of ideas to torment the Titans with. And yes, this is my first song fic. If you can download the track, (or you have the album) listen to it as you read.
Enough about me, on to you guys:
Human Lightshow: Well its not weird looking yet...
Dana1313: That's okay. Thanks for reading!
StArRy123: [YAY! YAY! YAY! does embarrassing dance] You noticed my formatting!!! Free guitar lessons for everyone!!! [author calms down] Yes, I take about ¼ of my time writing to arrange the story, so I like how it flows. I only learned that from reading work from really good writers. So, in reality thank them. Rob/Star fluff next chapter, for sure! Thanks.
Aya Sadaka: Well, you got your singer there.
BB: What do you mean? You forced me into this!
Piezo: Quiet you. Don't make me get the chuck roast...
BB: [Runs to Raven, shrieking.]
Raven: [Consoling Beast Boy, then looking around...give thumbs-up.]
Thanks for reviewing, everyone. You guys are too cool. See ya after my shift!