A reviewer has mentioned that Beast Boy seems a little too depressed and desperate. I have decided to use this because it is useful for my story. The reason he feels like this will be revealed in later chapters. As for now the first couple has been decided as you could already have guessed, Robin and Starfire. This story revolves around Beast Boy but Star and Robin will get good airtime.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
In the darkness Slade had a feeling of excitement, he could feel his plan finally forming. His newly acquired servants had been informed of his plan and they were on a mission to retrieve the first piece. They wouldn't fail him, he was sure of it. And if they did, he would make them pay dearly. There are always other servants, he thought ruefully.
Settling back into his chair, he smiled at the thought of laid what ahead for the Titans, and his new apprentice.
¨ ¨ ¨
Raven sat down on her bed, deep in thought. She contemplated the fight. Several questions kept popping into her mind, but one more than any of them. Why would the HIVE steal jewels, it's not really their style. Her mind couldn't shed light on this question. Deciding to get up and make some tea, she left her room. Making sure she locked it she walked down the corridors towards the main room. As she approached she could feel Robin and Cyborg's aura already there, with another approaching fast. As it got closer she recognized it as Starfire's, and she could feel her excitement.
Something troubled her though, causing her to stop mid step. She couldn't feel Beast Boy's aura. Normally he would be in the main room with the others, playing their games. Strange, she thought to herself. She decided to try and track Beast Boy and find out where he was. Closing her eyes she sat down crossed legged. Concentrating on Beast Boy she felt her power extend to the entire tower. The lights above her flickered on and off, causing her to lose her concentration. Trying to ignore it, she suddenly felt Beast Boy's aura. It's somewhere to my left, she deduced, most probably in his room.
Suddenly, she felt his feelings too. She could feel his sadness and anger steadily rise in him. She opened her eyes, the lights in the hallway back to normal. She calmed herself, taking deep breaths as she slowly got up. Debating whether or not to go see him, she decided not to and made her way down the corridors to where her tea would be. He probably wants his space…and its none of my business, she thought to herself before entering the main room to a chorus of noise.
¨ ¨ ¨
Beast Boy sat alone in his room, staring at his ceiling as he lay on his bed. Hardly breathing he placed his hands at his side. He began to wonder what the other Titans were doing, and if Starfire had talked to Robin yet. He turned over to look at his small digital clock that was placed on his bedside table. It read 5. 30 pm. He sighed and looked down at his hands, still heavily bandaged. Raven said they weren't broken, he thought, but they sure feel like it. His thoughts remained on Raven for a brief second, and he realized how little he actually knew about her. She's so mysterious, he thought, and she keeps everything locked up. Beast Boy smiled at this thought, realizing that he was exactly the same when it came to keeping secrets. Ever since Beast Boy arrived at the Titans he had never told them how he was green and how he got his powers. They assume I was born like this, he thought. He was too afraid to tell them how he got them, he wasn't sure how they would react. He knew about Cyborg's past, Starfire always told them everything about herself and Robin kept things to himself but he knew a little like how he was Batman's apprentice and his previous life in Gotham. But Raven, he knew about her father. He fought a part of her father when he was in Raven's mind with Cyborg.
Since his life in the Titans that day was Beast Boy's favorite day. He always smiled at the memory of how he and Raven finally connected. He remembered the smile she gave him after they left the mirror. To Beast Boy, Raven was his best friend. He wasn't sure of how she felt about him, but he was sure that they were on friendly terms even though she told him off a few times.
Beast Boy looked around his room, only his eyes moving. He tried to find anything that could occupy his mind and get his mind off his past. All his games consoles couldn't be played, his hands weren't up to the task yet. His eyes moved to his table, avoiding the mirror above it. He spotted a small book, worn and tattered after years of use. The old brown pages were curled after time had taken it's toll. He sighed at the memory of how he got it. He got up, stretching and closing his eyes. He walked over to the table and picked the book up. He read the title, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Slowly opening the cover, he felt the worn pages with his hands. He felt only slight pain, he wasn't pressing down too hard on the book. This was the only book he had, and it was his favorite. The others didn't know he had it and he didn't read in front of them too much, only menu's at the pizza place. He needed something to do, so he decided to read his book.
Debating on whether to read with the rest of the Titans, he finally decided to read on the roof. It was still light and warm outside and he could have a little peace to concentrate. He wasn't the best reader in the world and it took all of his concentration to do it. Opening the door, walked out down the corridors to the roof for the second time that day. I might as well put my bed up there, he thought ruefully.
Reaching the roof, he opened the door and was greeted by the late afternoon sun. He sat down and leaned against the wall of the roof. Opening his book, he was instantly drawn into the world of Charles Dickens.
¨ ¨ ¨
It was all quiet at the Benson Ltd factory, a small animal testing area. The factory and it's employee's had come under attack numerous times, and safety measures were set up to stop these constant attacks. Protestors have been voicing their opinion on the animal testing company, and even Beast Boy had wanted to come. It was only Robin's intervention that stopped him, saying that it was illegal and would harm their reputation.
Three figures silently crept up to the fence, trying not to be seen by the security camera's. Mammoth gently snapped the chain fence, trying to keep the silence to a minimum. They all slid through the fence and towards the nearest building. Hiding in the shadows, they heard a security guards walk towards them in the setting sunlight. As he passed Mammoth grabbed him and knocked him out quickly, not raising the alarm.
They all followed the wall to the edge of the building, spotting the structure that they needed to break into. The small boy Gizmo spotted the security camera watching the space between them and their target. Silently bring out a small device he threw it at the camera, disabling it. They quickly broke out into a run and covered the distance in no time at all. Jinx used her small frame and squeezed through the open window. Grunting, she pushed herself through and landed softly on the floor. Unable to open the door for her comrades she decided to work on her own.
Quietly creeping down the corridor she spotted the door marked CAUTION NO ENTRY UNLESS PERMITTED. Underneath it was written CHEMICAL X23-RGE. Smiling she used her hexes to blast the door open. The high-pitched alarm rung, and she heard a small crash down the corridors from the door she entered. Mammoth has taken care of my escape route, she thought.
Running into the brightly lit room, she found a small refrigerator that was locked. She blasted that open and door swung wide open, letting out a small cold mist. She carefully pulled out a small vial that was placed in there. Pocketing it she made a run for it down the corridors to where Mammoth and Gizmo were waiting for her. As she run out the broken door, she saw Mammoth throw down a security guard.
"Did you get it?" asked Gizmo.
"Yeah, it was too easy. Come on let's go" Jinx answered, breaking out into a run. Her friends followed closely behind as they left through the small hole in the fence. Spotting a manhole, Mammoth ripped it open revealing a dark hole. Jumping down they made their escape as the alarm echoed through the day.
¨ ¨ ¨
Raven slowly stirred her tea, watching the tea bag turn the hot water brown. She couldn't get Beast Boy's sadness out of her head. I've never felt him this sad before, she thought o herself as she brought the cup up to her mouth. Taking a sip, she felt the warm liquid wash down her throat and ease her mind. She heard Starfire chatting happily away with Cyborg and Robin as they watched the T.V. Since Starfire arrived she has paid a lot more attention to robin, she thought, more than usual.
She put her cup down on the counter and sat down, trying to get the mindless chatter out of her head. Sighing through her nose she gave up and joined them in the main room. As she sat down Cyborg turned to her.
"Hey Raven, did you fix up Beast Boy's knuks?" he asked the dark girl.
"Yes I did. I didn't give him pain killers though" she answered, picking up a book she had left there.
"Why?" he asked. Raven looked up from her book and turned to him.
"Because I didn't know if his animal side could take them" she answered, clearly annoyed by the conversation. Sensing this, Cyborg turned back to the T.V not wanting to anger her.
Starfire continued to talk to Robin, ignoring everything around her. Suddenly she got an idea to try and get them alone. Then I can tell him, she thought happily.
"Robin, I am hungry. Do you wish to accompany me to the Pizza Place for some food?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with expectation. Robin thought for a second before nodding and smiling.
"Sure Star" he answered, getting up and offering his hand.
"Where you going?" Cyborg asked, looking up at the two.
"For some food" answered Robin, not bothering o invite him.
"Great I'll come too. I'm famished" said the metallic man, getting up and stretching. Starfire looked disappointed at the prospect that she wasn't going to tell Robin now.
"Raven" she aid unhappily "do you wish to accompany us?"
Raven looked up from her book and nodded. Getting up she placed her book down on the table.
"Where's Beast Boy?" asked Robin, looking at his teammates. All of them shook their heads, not knowing where he was. Suddenly Starfire spoke up.
"He was on the roof when I saw him last" she said looking at Robin, smiling at her and Beast Boy's talk.
"Raven, go get Beast Boy and meet us down in the garage" Robin ordered as he looked at her. Raven glared at him before huffing and walking out down the corridor and towards the roof.
¨ ¨ ¨
Beast Boy sat down. Still reading his book. He had been up here for a while but he didn't notice the time. He felt the gradual drop in temperature and sunlight but he ignored it. He was concentrating on his reading. Suddenly his keen hearing picked up the sound of approaching footsteps, walking up the stairs. He looked up as the door swung open revealing an angry looking Raven. She looked down at him and opened her mouth to say something, but she spotted the book in his hands. Her expression changed into a puzzled one as she recognized the title of the book.
"Yes Raven?" he asked tentatively. Her eyes turned to him and he felt himself being pierced by her purple eyes.
"Where going for pizza. Do you want to come?" she asked, still looking down at him.
"Sure" he said. He tried to get up as painless as possible before Raven helped him up.
"Thanks" he replied, still holding his book gingerly in his hands.
"Is that Great Expectations?" Raven asked, looking down at the book.
"Yeah. It's my favorite book" he said as he nodded. She turned to him and smiled slightly.
"I didn't know you read" she told him.
"Yeah, only a little though. This is my only book" he answered, shifting his feet slightly on the ground.
"Oh. I like it as well" she told him, still smiling faintly. Beast Boy returned the smile.
"Well, should we go meet the guys?" he asked, looking down the corridor. Raven nodded before walking off. Catching up to her he walked alongside her the rest of the way, discussing the book. Beast Boy didn't always know what Raven was saying, her advanced English confused him slightly. Anyway, he enjoyed talking to her and before he knew it they arrived at the garage with the others already waiting for them.
"So guys, are you rea…" Cyborg asked before he was cut off by the alarm shrieking loudly. Robin quickly pulled out his communicator, checking where the robbery was taking place.
"Titans, it seems the Benson factory was broken into again" he shouted as he turned to the other Titans. Beast Boy face quickly darkened as he thought of the animal testing center. Raven noticed his look and turned to him.
"Beast Boy relax. You're not going anyway" she told him sternly, while crossing her arms. Beast Boy started to protest but was cut off by Robin.
"She's right. You're injured and we can't afford anymore injury to you" he told him before stepping into the car. Beast Boy looked downhearted at the decision but went along with it anyway. I couldn't risk it again after what happened today, he thought.
They rest of the Titans jumped into the car, getting ready to leave. The engine roared to life and with one final wave Beast Boy watched them leave.