A/N) sorry for the long wait. Yes I am working on the other fic :P Yes I will be completing both.
Chapter 5
Beast Boy nervously shifted from one foot to the other while the elevator descended. Why was it that elevator rides always seemed so much longer when he wanted them to go faster? He anxiously watched the floor numbers decrement. The doors finally opened and the green Titan strode out into a cavernous work area under the main building. To one side Cyborg was putting the finishing touches on the T-Car's wax. To the other, was the currently dark and empty area Robin used for working on the R-Cycle. The T-Sub loomed in the shadows, silently ready for action.
"Hey Ya'll!" Cyborg greeted, wiping his hands on a rag.
"Hey Cy!" Beast Boy greeted as if it were any ordinary day. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes though, making Cyborg worry. Beast Boy turned back to his parents and gestured to the cavernous room. "So this is the garage. Cy's in charge of most of the stuff down here as well as tower security. Cy actually built most of the stuff in here."
"Really?" His dad politely shook hands with Cyborg again and looked at the T-Car.
"Yessir," Cyborg grinned and leaned against the gleaming car. "She's my baby," he gave the machine one more loving rub with the rag. "Built her from scratch. 100,000 horsepower plasma turbine engine, all-terrain hover jets, anti-lock air breaks, leather seats, power windows and boomin' stereo." With a flourish Cyborg tapped a control on his arm and activated the T-Car's sound system. The massive stereo sprang to life with a heavy backbeat, blowing the Logans' hair back. Beast Boy clutched the nearest tool cart to keep from being blown away by the sound and noticed that anything not nailed down in the garage was vibrating in time to the music.
"It's very nice," Beast Boy's mother shouted.
"What?" Cy asked, putting a hand to his ear.
"I said it's very nice!" she repeated.
"What?"
"It's nice!"
"What? I can't hear you, Let me..."
"I said it's very nice!" his mother screamed - just as the sound went off, of course. She daintily covered her mouth and blinked a few times as her shout echoed across the room.
"Thanks," Cyborg grinned.
"So I take it you're old enough to drive then?" She asked.
"Yes Ma'am," Cyborg replied and whipped out his driver's license. She took it after a moment's hesitation and examined it while Cyborg continued to grin pleasantly. Cyborg was determined to show BB's parents that they were serious super-heroes. From BB's tone moments before and his unusually serious attitude he gathered that the visit was not going well. The team needed the little grass-stain and no way was Cyborg going to let BB's parents be convinced they needed to take him away. Unfortunately his slightly manic grin was beginning to unnerve Beast Boy's mother. "I also built the T-Sub but that's not as much fun as the car," he said confidentially. She smiled and nodded as she handed back the driver's license.
"Right so, do you er, want to see the T-sub?" Beast Boy asked.
"What?" His father asked. "Do you hear that ringing?" he asked his wife. She smiled sweetly and patted his arm.
"The T-what?" She asked her son.
"The T-Sub! He gestured grandly to the submarine as Cyborg helpfully threw the lights on, illuminating the sleek vessel.
"And what does that do?" His father asked, now that the ringing in his ears was going down finally. Beast Boy slumped.
"T-Sub. It's a submarine."
"Right," his father nodded. Beast Boy shot Cyborg a panicked look; he couldn't decipher his Dad's comment. Were they not believing him again or did they believe him completely and that was the problem.
"Well," his father said then cleared his throat, "This is an....interesting place."
"Uh , yeah. I like it," Beast Boy replied.
"Well," his mother interrupted the silence before it became too awkward again, "Gar we'd love to really catch up with you and talk with you for a bit."
"Uhm, ok," Beast Boy slouched towards the elevator door, his parents following. Cyborg frowned as he watched them go, hoping for the best.
He pressed the button and waited for the doors to close, fully expecting another torturously long and silent ride. Unfortunately his parents had other ideas.
"I'm really not sure I like this Garfield," his father told him.
"But-"
"We'd like to take you out to dinner with us. We really do want to catch up and we have some exciting news about the university," his mother added.
"Uhm, ok. Do you want to see the rest of the city before then?" he asked. They smiled for the first time in what seemed like ages.
"Sure,"
"Sound's good," they both agreed. "But first I want to see what state your room is in," his mother said sternly. Beast Boy breathed a sigh of relief that he'd cleaned it and nodded.
The doors swished open and Beast Boy led them down the hall. On the way to his room, Star and Raven turned the corner. Star gasped in delight and took off to greet the group.
"Friend Beast Boy has the family time been most bonding?"
"Hey Star. Er, yeah."
"Glorious! How fortunate you are to have such times. Blackfire and I never have had such moments of bonding." She landed lightly on the floor and tilted her head, placing one finger on her cheek as she considered. "Although that may be because Blackfire has been in prison and exile recently."
"Prison?" His parents asked.
"Yes," Starfire beamed innocently, oblivious to Beast Boy's urgent motions to stop talking. "My sister has been recently imprisoned by the Centauri for thievery." Her smile dropped somewhat, "It was very nice to see her but we had to turn her over to the proper authorities. Then when she took over Tameran-"
"Uh, Star," Raven interrupted.
"Yes friend Raven?" Starfire's expressive eyes widened. "Perhaps I have shared too much?" she asked in a small, fearful voice.
"Yeah, maybe," Raven said.
"Oh! Then I shall make the pudding for forgiveness!" Aghast at her own lack of tact, the Tameranian few off down the hall towards the kitchen.
"We were just about to go out after Mom sees my room," Beast Boy said continuing down the hall. Raven fell into step beside him.
"Go before Star comes back with the pudding," Raven advised. Beast Boy nodded rapidly in agreement. They arrived at his door and he let himself and his mother in. Beast Boy's father's voice stopped Raven as she took her leave.
"So, Raven was it?"
Slowly the dark girl looked back over her shoulder. "Yes," she answered in a cool monotone.
"I just wanted to say sorry for looking at your book earlier. The book of a tzar, was it?"
"Azar," Raven corrected, turning fully around to glare at him.
"Ah. Yes. Well," he fidgeted slightly under her stony look. "I'm sorry anyway." Raven turned to leave but was stopped again. "Uhm, so what was it? I only read a little but it seemed like it was notes on meditation."
"Yes. Among other things." She replied.
"And then some of it seemed like a history? Or perhaps it was a metaphorical tale? What's Azerath?"
Raven silently counted to ten and let out a puff of air. "Azerath is where I am from," she replied and nothing more.
"Where's that?"
"Where's what?" Beast Boy's mother asked from the doorway.
"Azerath," He replied.
"Oh, is that where you're from?" His mother asked Raven.
Raven looked beyond her to where Beast Boy stood, looking stricken. He knew from painful experience that with Raven it wasn't wise to pry.
"Yes." Raven replied glaring once more.
"You said you weren't an alien, so you're human then?"
Raven considered her options and the slightest smirk tugged at her lips before she answered. "No." She paused for effect. "I'm a demon." The look of confusion and shock on the Logans' faces was worth the annoyance she'd just been through. She couldn't help the small, evil smile before she teleported away in a flame of black energy.
Mark and Marie Logan turned to one another then their son. Beast Boy chuckled uncomfortably and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, that's Rae," he laughed half heartedly and rocked on his heels nervously.
"Where'd she go?"
"Oh, probably to her room," Beast Boy shrugged. "That's where she usually stays. She has to meditate a lot to control her powers and the rest of the tower is usually kinda loud, so she stays there because it's quieter. So, uh, want to get going?"
"You aren't going out like that are you?" His mother asked.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"It's spandex Garfield."
"For the last time it's not spandex," he muttered, "It's actually some sort of poly-ma-mer-something-ized steel or titanium or something. Robin knows. Cy probably does too."
"Well whatever. Put on some normal clothes and let's get going," his mother urged. Grumbling Beast Boy did as he was told and emerged from his room moments later in a black t-shirt and slightly wrinkled jeans. They walked back to the common room and waited for the elevator. "Don't you brush your hair?" His mother fussed. She pulled a comb from her purse and began brushing his hair into some semblance of order.
"Mom! C'Mon!" he protested, trying to duck away.
"Oh, honestly Garfield," she said in exasperation as she finally managed to hold him still long enough to properly comb his hair. This was, of course, when the elevator doors opened to let Cyborg out onto the floor. The mechanical teen had to put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. The Raven-worthy glare Beast Boy gave him only made him want to laugh harder. He stepped aside to let them enter the elevator and a small snigger escaped.
"Friends!" Starfire called out. Beast Boy groaned and mentally cursed Murphy and his stupid law. "You must have some of the pudding of forgiveness!"
"No, really, you didn't do anything St-Mmupf!"
Starfire withdrew the spoon from beast Boy's mouth and proceeded to force-feed his parents as well. Cyborg lost it as the Logans turned as green as their son. Eyes watering they swallowed and gritted their teeth. Beast Boy gagged and hurried his parents into the elevator before something else embarrassing could happen.
"What was that?" his mother asked.
"I really don't think we want to know," her son replied. They walked out of the tower doors and Beast Boy slumped again. He'd forgotten that they needed a way off the island. "One second," he told them. Sighing he turned around and hit the comm. panel.
"Hey Cy?"
"He's busy laughing," a dry voice answered.
"Great," Beast Boy groaned, "anyway, is there any chance I could get some help getting off the island?"
On the other side of the connection Raven considered telling Cyborg to get himself together and drive them over. After all that's what the all-terrain hover jets on his car were for.
"Friend Raven! You must try my pudding!" Starfire called over to her. Raven took one look and decided that nothing was more menacing than a cheerful alien with a bowl full of god-knew-what.
"Sorry Star. Going to help the Logans across the bay then do some errands." Raven was gone before Starfire had a chance to react.
"Helooo?" Beast Boy pressed the comm. button rapidly a few times. "Anyone there? Heloooo? Little help here!"
"Sure."
"Yeagh!" Beast Boy felt like he'd nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled to face Raven. She had her hood down so it was fairly easy to tell she was amused by his reaction. Well, easy if someone knew Raven well Beast Boy thought. "Dude! Why do you keep doing that? I thought you'd get Cy to come help." Raven rolled her eyes.
"Star made pudding." It was all the explanation she needed and he understood immediately.
Raven walked over towards the Logans, who, she noted with amusement, took half a step back as she advanced. She looked over at Beast Boy and asked "where are you going?"
"Uhm, well," he scratched the back of his head as he thought. "I thought maybe we'd start at city hall and then go from there?"
"Ok, I can take you there."
"Really?" I mean isn't that really tiring or something?" Raven shrugged. One of her favorite stores was in the area and she was getting low on the incense she sometimes liked to burn. Raven's eyes glowed - it was the only warning the Logans had before darkness in the shape of a bird washed over them and they felt rapid movement and yet utter stillness. Suddenly they were in a grassy park beside an official looking building. The Logans staggered a bit but Beast Boy wasn't even fazed. "Thanks Raven,"
"Whatever. Call when you need a lift back." She strode off in the direction of the store, the gawking pedestrians clearing a wide aisle for her.
"Uhm...?"
"Raven can teleport," Beast Boy explained. "So, this is city hall" he gestured to the building behind them and began the tour.
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Early evening found Raven, Starfire and Cyborg lounging around the tower. Cyborg was watching TV and Starfire was instructing Raven in the basic Tameranian alphabet since she'd decided that teaching the dark girl immediately would be the best thing to do.
Raven watched Starfire quickly make a series of elegant strokes to form the characters, and copied her motions. She couldn't tell if she was actually doing well since Starfire was hardly critical. The TV beeped and an icon flashed in the corner. Cyborg switched it to conference mode with a call of "Hey Ya'll" over his shoulder.
"Hey guys," Robin greeted them.
"Friend Robin! How is the city of Gotham? Was your journey uneventful? Have you been able to assist your mentor the Batman? May I visit at some future time? When are you returning home? Will you be long? Do you need assistance from us?" Starfire asked in a rush that made the other Titans feel winded.
"Er, fine, yeah it was pretty boring, yes and I have a few things left to do, I don't know, soon, probably not, not this time but thanks for asking," the Boy Wonder answered. He looked out the corner of his eye thinking he'd heard a snicker, but Bruce seemed to be totally absorbed in his work at the moment. "How's the city?"
"We're fine Rob. I told ya we could keep everything together."
"Where's Beast Boy? What was up with him?"
"He got a letter from his parents," Cyborg chortled. "They're in the city right now. He's out showing them around and then having dinner with them. Oh man, Robin you should have seen it!" Cyborg began laughing, "His mom showed pictures!" Cyborg clasped his hands together and brought them up to his cheek. "Widdle Garfield's fiwst steps!" he gushed mockingly before bursting into a full-out belly laugh.
"Oh man," Robin rubbed a hand down his face, half sorry he'd missed that and half in pity for his green teammate. "They're visiting? How is that going?"
"Beast Boy's parents are...most unusual," Starfire answered. Raven rolled her eyes at the complete understatement. "At first they did not believe that Beast Boy is a Titan. They have not heard of the man who is super and lives in Metropolis," Starfire paused and this time Robin definitely heard a snicker. "And they had not heard of the Batman either."
"Really?"
"Really. They did not believe Beast Boy was a superhero. They thought he was at a school of boarding." Cyborg had erupted into another laughing attack by this point and Robin could only shake his head in bemusement. "He's ok though, right?"
"He'll be fine," Raven replied.
"Yes I believe he will be fine as well," Starfire said. She and Raven exchanged a glance and Star continued. "However we are concerned that Beast Boy might be asked to leave."
"Leave?" Robin frowned. "But why?"
"Robin, we run around the city unchaperoned doing what amounts to vigilante justice while wearing spandex, and none of us can even vote yet." Raven put it succinctly.
"It's not spandex," Robin muttered, "But I guess I can see your point." Raven and Bruce both arched eyebrows that said "you guess?" but Robin ignored them. "Right. Well I should be back in a couple days." He looked over at Bruce who nodded, eyes back on his own display. "Yeah a couple days."
"Is the man bat there?" Starfire asked curiously.
"Uh," Robin paused, "yeah."
"Oh! So you are in the cave of bats that you have mentioned?" She asked.
"Y-es."
"It is wonderfully dark and dismal," Starfire said cheerily and she leaned to one side then the other as if she could see around Robin. A much taller figure in grey and black walked into the frame next to Robin. Star made a little delighted sound.
"Mr. Man-bat!" she greeted, flying towards the screen. "I am most pleased to meet you even if we are not actually meeting in person but instead are conversing over a monitor."
"Starfire, right?"
"Yes," Starfire nodded.
"Hmm. We need to get going."
"Right. Bye guys! I'll check in again." The connection went dead as he cut it.
"So."
"Uh," Robin replied.
"The red-head?"
"Uhm." He blushed in spite of himself. "Star's just a really good friend Bruce."
"Right," Batman stretched the word out.
Robin scowled slightly as his friend walked away. "What? She is!" he protested.
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Beast Boy idly fiddled with the silverware in front of him. Resting his chin in one hand he watched the room as the waiter finished taking their order. They were in a Chinese place that the Titans often ate at so Beast Boy felt he could keep a low profile there. The tour had been a trying experience. Save the city often enough and people notice. People also notice if you're green. People especially notice if you're a green teenage superhero who desperately didn't want to be noticed for once.
The Mayor had bustled out to briefly speak with him and thank him and pass his thanks on to the other Titans for once again saving the city from utter ruin. Then at the museum a group of fourth graders on a field trip had spotted him and begged him to turn into a Tyrannosaur next to the skeleton in the museum entryway. Feeling slightly dazed from the flash photography he'd lead his parents to the municipal park for a quick lunch at a café near the center. That had gone well until he'd been asked to sign autographs. "Where are these people on a normal day?" he wondered.
"Gar," his father began, "We aren't sure this is good, what you're doing."
"But-!"
"Hold on," his father held up a stalling hand. "We can appreciate that you're doing good deeds and have the best intentions, but Gar, it's dangerous."
"So's Africa,"
"Exactly. Which is why we sent you back here to begin with! Look,w e just don't want you to be hurt again."
"Mom, I'm fine. Really," he insisted and tried to change the topic. "So what are you doing here? African research finally get boring?"
"Well we really wanted to see you. Letters and the occasional email just aren't the same, you know. We also anted to tell you that we're going to be moving to Gotham for at least the next few years." His mother explained. Nodding his father continued.
"The university has made a deal with Wayne enterprises. As part of that, we're going to be conducting research in the Wayne labs in Gotham."
"Oh, cool!" Beast Boy smiled. Having lived with two, he knew that seeking research funding was the bane of every researcher. A deal with Wayne meant a fairly significant degree of financial security.
"We thought that, well, since we'll be here, maybe you should come live at home with us." His dad smiled. His mom smiled. Beast Boy looked terrified.
"In Gotham?" He gasped. "Gotham's like a full days drive away!" He flailed in his seat. "How the heck would I be able to help the team? And Batman doesn't seem to need a side-kick right now. I mean that's Robin's job and Robin is primarily with the Titans now."
"Well, Gar," His dad scratched the back of his head, "We were kind of hoping you'd stop playing super hero and go to highschool."
"Playing superhero? Playing?"
"Gar you have your education to think of,"
"Hey! I've learned plenty of...stuff. Most teens haven't been to other planets before." He crossed his arms, "or been to the bottom of the sea, or to different planes of existence or have their own submarine-slash-spaceship," he muttered.
"Gar, you run around wearing spandex in a city that seems perfectly safe."
"It's safe because we help make it safe! Mom, Dad, listen. First of all I told you, it's not actually spandex, it's some form of really flexible titanium polymer or something. It's bullet proof and laser proof. Lay-ser. As in beams of super-concentrated photons that can cut you in half? Does the average High-school kid know what super-concentrated photons are? I have first hand experience! Don't you think a bunch of teenagers would wear more stylish clothing? Don't you think that because we aren't, there's a good reason?"
"Well,"
"I fit in with my friends. Cyborg is half machine, Star is an alien, Robin is Batman's sidekick, Raven and in case you haven't noticed I'm green and can turn into any animal."
"Exactly,"
"No! Mom, Dad, I can help people. For some reason I can do what I do and do a lot of...do-gooding." He frowned. "I can help people and because I can help I should help." He sat back in his chair with a sigh, certain that he wasn't making his point well. "The Team needs me."
"Gar, it's not just the danger,"
"School."
"It's not just school either. Gar you're still a teenager," His dad said.
"Hence the Teen in Teen Titans," he thought. "Hence? Dude. Way too much time around Raven. Come to think of it, how the heck did I know about super-concentrated photowhat- its. Wait, that's not right-"
"Gar, are you listening to us?" His mother asked.
"Uhhm, yes?"
His mother sighed and repeated herself. "It's not just the danger or the lack of schooling but it's the complete lack of any supervision."
"We couldn't help but notice that you all live together, Gar."
"Yeah? So?" Beast Boy replied. He didn't see what his parents were getting at since he was currently too busy envisioning a live in nanny. Or worse- being forced to move out of the tower.
"Raven and Star seem like lovely young women," His dad said.
"Yeah, they're great friends- wait. You think? Oh, come on! Starfire is about 100 times stronger than any of us and those starbolt thingies hurt and Raven... you do not cross Raven. There is no way any of us guys would live if we tried to come on to them."
"Well, son, you are teenagers."
"So we can be entrusted with the protection of the city but we can't be trusted to be housemates?" He knew he sounded surly at this point but even if he DID shamelessly flirt with girls, he liked to think he was a gentleman. Raven and Star were definitely not "loose" girls and he didn't like the implications otherwise.
"Gar, we love you," his mother told him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. His father put one on the other.
"We just want what's best for you. We're not denying that you have gifts or aren't trying to do something good."
"We just want what's best for you and we're not sure that this is it." Beast Boy sighed and relaxed a bit. They were only bringing any of this up because they cared, so he shouldn't be so angry.
"There is a dinner tomorrow night in Gotham for all the research heads and the Wayne Corporation board. We'd like you to come with us. We can talk about this Titan thing later."
"I don't know," Beast Boy said, thinking about the city. They'd be down two Titans instead of just one.
"Please? We haven't seen you in so long." His mother pleaded. Beast Boy signed and nodded.
"Sure," he relented. His parents smiled and he felt a bit better. It was nice to see them. He just wished they were ok with the whole super-hero thing.
Time to smack the button!
Thanks for reviewing: Martine, Kel B, Warrior-wolf, sweet Nymph, Gothic Revival, Lost inside, Murakio, me262, spazzfire, pink-hooligan, evee-shadows, lefufin, regreme erutaerc, Elian Rhoss, Haru (whee Bats:TAS!), Slayergirl1362, lachwen, starfiretheinvincible, cherry, and (just before I posted this) Jade-Monsoons.
Katergator – yeah I made the Tameranian legend-y thing up. Yes I know that in the comic Starfire can do the starbolt thing because of the Psions, but they haven't addressed that in the show so I'm going with "it's something all Tameranians can do, but specifically in the Ep Betrothed Blackfire didn't send the army out for obvious reasons". As for the story I figure gee, this might be one reason Star's got such a puppylove crush on Robbie-pooh.
Instant Coffee- Thanks for the compliments on the Alfred/Bruce/Dick moments. I've been watching a lot of Justice League too and I got Vol 1 of Bats:TAS so I wanted to include Bats in there someplace. This is sort of headed to how I think the show could transition Robin into Nightwing. ('cause I seriously doubt they'll do what really happened in the comics)
Rurouni Tyriel, yep. I had to go there . Hmm I hadn't envisioned a Mystic that resembles Raven....nahhh. Was just adding that little twist in as another reason Star might like Robin.
Raven Forever – Yes at one point I did know what she was saying but since it's been such a long time I've forgotten. I do remember that generally she mentions the Siege of Knorbak and a vision Dariand'r has of X'Hal and the rest was about some other glorious and honorable battle. Tameranians are sort of like very open, cheerful Klingons. It's almost disturbing.
Keystone- 1) Thank you
2) Thanks there's a method to the madness. A reason for it all really. See it's not so much a story about BB as it is about Relationships. No, really. Sure BB provides the primary A plot and the Primary B plot is his emotional journey, but his isn't the only story exploring the theme. Robin's got some issues to work out as well between how he feels about his new place with the Titans and his old place as Batman's sidekick. Robin's story isn't primary 'cause all of this is classic b-plot stuff for him (all internal struggle with relatively little action compared to BB's parent's visit) Then on top of that there are the relations between the Titans themselves. I did a little Rae-BB interaction and it's probably fairly obvious that I'm going for some rob-bb friendship stuff now, mostly because it's not in the show so much. Star-Raven friendship was just something added in as I went along because it also isn't something really explored in the show.
So, er, that was probably a longer answer than expected hopefully you haven't run away in fear or fallen asleep.
Senagirl - Yeah I know in the beginning that the creators wanted Robin to be all the Robins yet none of them. However they've really been making a strong case for him being Dick Grayson. First with future Robin becoming Nightwing (Dick) then Larry "Nosysrg Kcid" (Dick Grayson backwards) and most recently in Haunted when Raven sees the images from Robin's mind there is a mini montage of Robin's experiences including falling trapeze artists.
So while the creators intended not to be specific they've really been pointing fingers. The entire continuity is its own animal divorced from the other animated continuities and the comics, but given what's been shown I went with Dick.
When TT began they were teens and I am fairly certain that Dick was the original Robin on the team. The TT roster has changed a heck of a lot and the name of the comic has changed too but I'm just going off what I read in titanstowerdotcom, so I might be incorrect. The cartoon is very different from the comic series but they do make a heck of a lot of references to the comics in small ways. I know they're different but I like the little nods to the comic that they include, so why shouldn't I include some?
BB's a bit more worried about his parents than he is about making cheesy comments. It really was a conscious decision to show him being a bit more serious even if he was going over the top in trying to escape in the beginning.
As for Raven, well I try sometimes you win sometimes you don't. Hopefully she was more IC this chapter.
Bob-Chan: I was referring to the regular TT comics, not TT GO! Which is entirely different
CloudsHalo - I'm not abandoning the other fic. Really! I have been working on it here and there. I do like this one more so given the chance I'll work on this first, sorry! But I plan on finishing the other fic in the next chapter if I can. Might mean a double length chapter but I don't think anyone will complain.
Bloodcri- well she told them she was a demon and that just really, really weirded them out. I don't know if they'd have reacted as much to her mentioning Trigon. These people don't know who superman is, remember
Whew. Thanks for all the reviews! Sorry for the LONG wait between updates but things got hectic and I'm also a proud Heroic Citizen in City of Crack Addicts. Raven has a CAPE! But none of you care heh. Cya next chapter!