Disclaimer: I don't own Green Day or the Teen Titans. I know Raven's shoe size though.
Titans on the Run!
[Thoughts]
"Dialogue"
Noises, etc
Chapter 7: Every Guy's Crazy for a Sharp Dressed Girl
Song of the Chapter: Brainstew, by Green Day
"G-o-o-o-o-o-d morning Columbia! It's a beautiful day here at the station, where our time is half-past four. Don't touch that dial, as we're the only station in a-l-l of the Show-Me state to give you all the blazing power ballads of the eighties and..."
Click
Cyborg turned off the radio. He didn't like power ballads.
Turning his attention to the map-screen and his thermos of coffee, he marked their present location.
[Wow. We've made good time. We might make it to Dakota after all.] He mused silently.
Sipping his drink, he looked out at the sprawling expanse of trees that surrounded the rest stop, their looming forms made less intimidating by the increasing amount of pink in the sky. The highway wasn't far away, as he could still hear the occasional sounds of a car passing in the quiet of the early morning.
The others slept.
Robin slept in a ridged pose, just how he sat normally, but asleep. His head leaned in with Starfire's, who was in a deep sleep against the Boy Wonder's side. She snored softly, shifting in her sleep ever so often. Watching this scene conflicted Cyborg.
Part him struggled not to say "awww" like a laugh track from a sitcom. It was just too adorable how they acted around each other.
The other part wanted to tease Robin about it. It was one of his favorite pastimes.
Raven slept, wrapped in her cloak. She leaned against the window with a pilliow. It was then that Cyborg noticed she had the whole seat to herself.
[Where's BB?] He wondered, turning around.
He was curled up in a fetal position under Raven's seat, drooling on the carpet. Cyborg's eyebrow twitched.
[I'll make him shampoo the interior later.] He reasoned, sighing.
The metallic teen didn't need a rest, as of yet, he just wanted to cool the T-Van a little before he gunned it to Illinois. He also wanted some breakfast. He didn't want to have to stop for anything, once he started up again. Weighing his options, he studied the map, and started the engine.
About thirty minutes later Raven woke up, jolted slightly from the van's resumed motion. Taking in her surroundings groggily, she silently made her way to the front seat.
"Morning." Cyborg greeted.
"Hey. Where are we?" She asked, producing a comb and brush from the depths of her cloak.
"Missouri, more than halfway across. You missed the capital by the way." He said, pointing to a postcard of the capital building he got on a fuel stop.
"Hmm." She murmured, studying the picture of the rotunda.
"Where should we stop for breakfast?" Cyborg asked, arriving in town and succumbing to the tyranny of stoplights.
"Well, anyplace with a nearby grocery store." She answered, combing her hair in the vanity mirror.
He gave her a sideways look.
".... for tofu..." She said, not catching his stare.
In the parking lot of the grocery store, Robin leaned against the side of the van, as Cyborg busied himself under the hood.
"So this is Missouri, huh?" Robin said to no one in particular.
"That's what the signs say, man." Came the answer from the bowels of the van.
Robin watched cars line up at the stoplight. Raven and Beast Boy were in the store, buying tofu and tea. Starfire was changing in the van. By now it was six-fifteen, and everyone was either hungry, groggy, or tired of sitting. The suburb they were in seemed calm and pleasant, as people got up early to water their lawns in robes and slippers. Every so often, a group of children could be seen, taking early advantage of the summer day.
"Pleasant morning, everyone!" Starfire proclaimed brightly, hopping out of the van.
Robin's attention was immediately on the cheery alien stretching in the doorway of the T-Van. Remembering the drive from Utah, the mighty leader of the Titans reddened visibly. Robin noticed that she had opted for street clothes, having dragged Raven to the mall prior to leaving California. Besides her natural amber-hued skin, she resembled a normal earth girl, with her hip-hugging jeans, eye-achingly bright pink baby t-shirt, and Doc Martin's.
[Uh.......wow.] Thought Robin, densely.
"Looking good!" Cyborg said, whipping his hands in a cloth. Star giggled.
"Robin, is my appearance pleasing to you as well?" She said, with expectant eyes. She hadn't tried this outfit out yet, wanting to save it for a special occasion. She went as far as to solicit advice from three fellow shoppers on the latest fashions.
[Uh........wow.]
Noticing that he was gaping slightly, Robin collected himself as coolly as possible.
"Yeah Star, looking good." He coughed, earning a weird look and smile from the Tamaranian, and barely contained laughter from Cyborg.
"Well, I shall go fetch the others. They're in that market, I gather?" She asked.
"Yep." Cyborg said, giving Robin a mischievous look. Robin glared back daggers.
When she was safely out of earshot, Cyborg had a good laugh.
"You... you looked like a deer in...a deer in headlights!" He mocked between laughs.
Robin ground his teeth together. "Shut up!"
"Oh, excellent comeback! Been working hard on that one?" He countered, laughing harder at Robin's frustration.
Retreating to the van, Robin slammed the door with a growl.
"Beast Boy, how long does it take to pick out tofu?" Raven asked, thumbing through a newspaper.
"Well, it's a very hard decision, Rae." He defended. "It's a battle between firm tofu pancakes, or a tofu omelet. Oooo wait, I could make tofu grits..."
He was clad in his Jump City usual: worn board shorts, comfortable old skate shoes, and a white button-up shirt that hung a little loose on his frame.
Sighing as he rattled off potential breakfast decisions, Raven felt her patience leave her.
"Beast Boy..." She started.
Brought back to reality, he turned to look at her when he heard an intense edge develop in her tone.
His gaze became instantly serious as he locked eyes with the annoyed girl.
She lost her bearings for a moment as her words of complaint faltered, and her breath remained trapped in her lungs.
"What is it Raven?"
[Control.] She urged herself as she saw a nearby shopping cart enveloped in a black aura.
[CONTROL, Raven]
"Raven...are you okay?" [Azerath...]
"Yes..." [...metrion...] She said, her voice lowering, but her gaze remaining locked with his.
"Then why don't you..." He started, putting a hand on her shoulder.
A furious blush stained her pale features.
"...choose the tofu for me?" He finished, grinning.
[Zynthos.] She finished mentally.
"Robin!......Robin come out of there and stop sulking, you baby!" Cyborg asked, knocking on the windows.
The van remained silent.
"Robin, Robin, Robin... you seem to forget that this is MY van. I have ultimate control, man." He explained unlocking the doors via remote.
No response.
"Now unless you what Star to see you in your skivvies...say something."
The door opened slowly, revealing The Boy Wonder in denim shorts, a Gotham Knights jersey, and a baseball cap pulled down covering his mask. He kept his usual shoes, but sported black socks. Silently walking past his snickering teammate, he made his way to the restaurant the market shared a parking lot with.
"You know," Cyborg called to his embarrassed friend. "You guys are adorable!"
"Raven! Beast Boy! Glorious morning to you!" Star cried, gaining stares from the other shoppers in the checkout line.
Paying for their goods, the three made their way to the restaurant after seeing Cyborg head in that direction.
"Hey Rae, do you think I should have gotten some onion sprigs or--?"
"Starfire," She interjected coldly. "Your outfit looks good. It appears my ordeal at the mall was worth it."
"Oh, most defiantly." She agreed, quickly sensing her friend's intention. "That store has the most exquisite color selections."
"Rae, what about the- -?" Beast Boy began, as he was mercilessly cut off.
"I agree. They had an amazing variety."
"As I recall, we bought clothes for you as well?" Remembered Starfire.
[Boy, did we.] She thought, rolling her eyes. She then thought of a great idea.
"Yeah, Starfire. I bought a ton of new outfits." She said smirking slightly, as she caught sight of their green companion preparing to speak
"You would, perhaps, try them on, as we are in a state of vacationing?" The Tamaranian said, gesturing towards the van.
"I'd love to." She declared, inwardly laughing at Beast Boy's expression as she walked back to the van.
"How many people are eating this morning? Just you two?"
"No, we've got three more coming. Could we get a booth in Non-smoking?"
"Sure, no problem."
Cyborg and Robin sat down and hid behind their menus.
Making their selections, the two waited for the others in an uneasy silence.
At least in Robin's sense.
Cyborg was scanning the diner, looking at the residents and regulars sip coffee and order pancakes. He then turned to Robin, who was stoically staring out the window.
"Rob...What's up man?" He said smirking, but using a serious tone.
Snapped out of train of thought, He lowered his eyes to rest on the polished silver of the sugar dispenser.
"Nothing Cy. Just trying to unwind." He replied.
Cyborg disregarded that response, and turned his gaze to the brushed metal of the kitchen door.
"You know what I mean..." He said, with a smug, yet subdued edge.
He knew, everybody knew, and everyone noticed. They just reacted in their own way.
"...even if it's been a while." He continued, now watching a mother feed her child scrambled eggs.
"I just forgot who I was," He sighed. "What I was doing. Then it almost..."
"Yeah." He finished, not wanting to delve in the past.
"Well," He started, looking at a waitress carrying several large plates. "We're still here. Jump City is still standing." "Yeah, it is." He said, twirling his fork in his fingers.
"You know, you should tell her..."
"I know..." He said melancholy grin. "When'd you get so perceptive?"
"Dude, it's gonna be lunch when they get out of there!" Beast Boy cried, sitting cross-legged on the roof of the van. Despite his appetite, sitting there gave him a little time to mull over this mornings happening. He wondered why Raven acted so weird in the store. Then that whole shopping thing....
"And now she giving me the cold shoulder?" He muttered, more to himself than to anyone in particular.
Before he could ponder further, the door of the van opened. Starfire gleefully took to the air, and beamed at a slightly unnerved Beast Boy.
"You must see Raven in her new, mall-purchased finery!" She stated/ordered happily.
Jumping of the roof, opposite the door he heard Raven exit the vehicle.
"Let's go Beast Boy." She said, emotionlessly. She was clad in dark-black jean shorts, tight, gray tank top, and a thin, short sleeve jacket, matching the shorts.She looked a lot like the kids that hang out at her café.
The green teen's jaw dropped.
"Behold, our footwear are prescribed by the same doctor no less!" Starfire said, ecstatic that Raven wore the clothes they bought.
[Uh........wow.] He slurred, mentally.
He caught himself, not wanting to offend her.
Or lose any limbs.
Seeing the effect her change had on him, Raven blushed and laughed internally, but regained her focus when a shopping cart on the other side of the lot flung itself to the ground.
She remembered her reason for changing at all, Beast Boy's suffering.
[I guess that mall torture was good for something after all.] She thought smugly. With an air of indifference, she began the walk to the diner. Relishing in Beast Boy's stunned demeanor.
"About time! We've been waiting for you guys!" Cyborg said as he starting on his second salt packet building.
Sitting down, Cyborg gave Starfire ordering suggestions, Raven shared her newspaper with Robin, and Beast Boy sent a nearby waitress on a quest for non-dairy pancakes.
- - -
"Man, I'm stuffed." Beast Boy said, slouching contentedly."You said it." Cyborg said. "I mean, who would have guessed that the owner was a hardcore vegan?"
"Yeah," He said, picking his teeth. "He said he's tried to get his wife to eat smart, but she's too stubborn."
"Well, now that we're all full; what's next?" Raven asked, sipping her coffee.
"Well we hit the road." Cyborg said, sitting up. "We're not far from Dakota. We might make it by nightfall."
"That's good." Robin said. "We should practice some in the van untill then."
Leaving the total on the table, the teens headed to the van.
"...one and two, and three, and four..."
"So I follow you here...and here?"
"...one and two, and three, and four..."
"Yeah, before Star's fill, but after the second chorus."
"Okay...alright. Did you want to use the octave thingy again?"
"....Yes...Yeah. If you're okay with it."
"...one and two, and three, and four..."
"No prob."
"When does the solo end?"
"I haven't decided yet...I guess I'll give you guys a signal or something,"
"...and after that...?"
"Yeah, the slide. Twelfth fret to the nearest G."
"Cool."
"...one and two, and three, and four..."
"Hey Star, let's work on your Paradiddles."
"Alright. Sixteenth notes will be used? "Yeah, any faster and we'll muddle everything.... Ready? Go!"
As Beast Boy began to strum power chords, Star's drumsticks flew swiftly to her practice pad. Robin paid attention, but focused more on the structure of the song. Of their six song set list, this was the most complex. It was to be the "thinking piece", showcasing difficult time signatures and Starfire's percussion prowess. As such they gave it a lot more attention, as the other songs we're more riff-driven, putting the emphasis on the guitar and bass.
Watching Starfire practice, Robin switched from the latest song, to one of the more riff-ish ones, namely the one with his bass solo.
[Man... I hate bass solos.] He griped, as he thought of something to throw in his chord progression. It wasn't that he couldn't do it, it was just harder to think, because he had to focus on the rhythm to come back into the song in time. As opposed to Beast Boy, who could wail away, and just come back in time thanks to the bassline.
Before he could think of any other ideas, Starfire's hand waved into view.
"Robin? Hello? Are you present?" She asked, concerned about his pensive exression.
"Whoa! Oh Star, you scared me." He said, clutching his chest.
She looked at him, scanning his features. He froze when her green eyes pierced his. Not finding anything, or satisfied with what she found, she plopped on the seat next to him, sticks in hand.
Not moving, and having the back to themselves, the two heroes sat and watched Beast Boy talk with Cyborg in the front seat.
"Robin..." The alien ventured.
"Yeah, Star?"
"Would you...I mean to say do you..."She asked, struggling for words.
"Yeah?" He queried, noticing how cute she was when she got like this.
Starfire looked at him a moment. Sighing, she gave him a smile.
"Let's practice the last song again."
"Hey Rae, wanna see the set list for the show?" Beast Boy asked, sabotaging her mission to ignore him.
Not wanting to fall into another situation like the grocery store, she kept her eyes on the words in her book.
"Beast Boy, go practice. You're going to have to perform before you know it." She answered frostily.
"Oh...okay." He said, a little dejected. He still didn't know what her problem was.
[At least she isn't hurling furniture at you like when you first met.] He mused to himself. Not really wanting, to sit anywhere else, he pulled his guitar from where Star and Robin practiced.
"Could I practice here, Rae?" He asked nonchalantly.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Just keep it down." She said icily, glancing at him over the top of her book.
Strumming without the practice amplifier, her hummed the words of the song quietly.
She was slowly drawn away from the words on the page as she listened to his strumming.
Catching her eyes he stopped and smiled. Then he got an idea.
"You know...you really clean up good Rae." He said, giving her a lopsided grin.
Three of his guitar strings broke.
AN: I am SO sorry for the delay. No, it's not work this time. Life is imitating Art I'm afraid. My band is starting to take off. So I've been a little preoccupied. Sorry! You know; giving out flyers, posting signs, getting traffic tickets; that sort of thing. Hey, review and give me some criticism. I love it. I thought romance was hard to write about...but writing about clothes is so hard. (I have no fashion sense...) Now to the reviewers...
KeLLy BeaNz: Thanks, and it's awesome that you're going to continue! Your sensory details are so realistic! (Oh, My Pretty Kitty is so good. Read it. Now.) Sorry you missed FCBD. I still don't have #2 or #3. (Sob.)
Human Lightshow: Yeah, I'm in debt with this comic book business. Oh like I need to pay the gas bill anyway! Thanks!
Tobias Umbra: THANKS SO MUCH!!!! I was really wondering whether I was working the romance right. I just kept things in perspective, I suppose...(Just because they're superheroes doesn't mean they have relationships as fast as speeding bullet...) And the Battle of the Bands...well I have a hair-brained scheme to work it out, but you're absolutely right about it being overused. Let's see where it takes us...
RobinRox13: I will, and thanks!
Review like the wind, Later!