Overture
Hey, readers! Sys is back! Here's the second chap of this fic... I've got too much ideas, so I don't REALLY know what will be next. I have three thousands ideas for the third chap and I don't know what's the best... Anyways, welcome wonderful readers, read my story and leave your comments...
Stormbringer - Exit Light, Enter Night
The dawn came silently, as if it was going to lay an ambush… or as if it knew the dark events of the day. Well, it came silently but it brought with it dark clouds filled with billions of raindrops that were going to fall upon Jump City. In other words, the weather knew that that day was going to be extremely unpleasant, like some kind of hell.
But let's proceed in order. Announcer of its coming was a blow of the wind that moved something and made a noise, like wood against wood. The snap awoke Beast Boy, who was peacefully sleeping. He had some nightmares, hard to remember, and the snap made him start with fear.
My God! Why am I so nervous? How was that nightmare?
Little by little, fragments of nightmare appeared in front of his eyes, as if he was inside the nightmare. Then, he realized why it disturbed him so much: He saw images of Raven being… punched? Oh, yes, that was a punch. Of course. She cried, the tears silently fell down her face. She did not open her mouth. And the man that was punching her was Trigon. Her own father. Beast Boy watched in fear a nightmare that would torment him for the rest of his life. Even close to death, he would remember those crying eyes and that evil grin. The image crashed, blackened, his mind turned off… and then turned on again with another scene. Now Raven was lying on the floor of an unknown place, her clothes soaked in her own blood, the tears stopped their fall. She seemed dead. But she wasn't, she continued to breath imperceptibly. The point of view of the image changed, like a camera (these fast changes of P.O.V. were making Beast Boy feel nauseous, as everything else in this nightmare) it turned towards a dark corner of the room where, in a complete silence, a familiar figure was enjoying the gory scene. The figure moved under a light cone (light? Where was the lamp? Can a dream be logic?), which lightened the wonderful red hair. Then the eyes, green and full of pleasure. Then the smile, of a sadistic executioner. The whole formed the grinning image of Starfire. Now he understood why he was so scared. That image, a smiling Starfire and a bleeding Raven, hit his heart hard. He brotherly loved Starfire, she was a true friend and a sister to help. Seeing her smiling in front of so much violence was terrible… like Raven's condition. It was a nightmare created by his (sick? disturbed?) mind, but his mind was extremely right: every cut, every bruise, every excoriation was described with chirurgical realism. He had to see Raven, but he couldn't help her, and that was making him vomit… a noise from his stomach warned him, but he calmed himself with a couple of deep breath.
It's just a dream. A damn dream, fucking horrible, but still a dream. Raven's good, she just wants to come back home… and I'm gonna find her, even if it will take a thousand years.
TTTTTTTT
Fear of living on, natives getting restless now,
Mutiny in the air… got some death to do!
Mirror stares back hard…
"Kill," it's such a friendly word…
Seems the only way… for reaching out again!
(Welcome Home -Sanitarium-)
One Hour (And A Shower) Later
The steam exited and spread inside the narrow bathroom as Beast Boy got out. He looked at the infinitesimals pearls of condensation on the mirror. Luckily, the mirror wasn't able to reflect his image because of the condensation. He was sure of his horrible aspect. He didn't care very much, but… While he was putting on his pants, a slight tock-tock came from the door.
'Beast Boy…?'
Starfire. What happened?
'What's wrong, Star? Are you alright?'
'No… I mean, yeah, I'm alright. I wanted to say that Cyborg cooked some tofu-pancakes…'
Cyborg hates tofu. He wants to excuse. For yesterday.
'… and they're still hot. Have you finished?'
'Yeah, just one minute…'
He heard her silent steps going away. Then he heard the familiar noise of a stereo opening. Star was listening to music. Strange, he did that only when she was very nervous.
"Out of the silent planet,
Dreams of desolation…
Out of the silent planet,
Come the demons of creation…
Out of the silent planet,
Dreams of desolation…
Out of the silent planet,
Come the demons of creation…"
She adored that song. She sung the lyrics with a childish voice, fascinated by the vocal extension of Bruce. His father, with blues and jazz, raised him up until metal and his by-product destroyed Armstrong and company. He liked that song too, he considered Maiden as Gods… But his mind asked a little question to the owner.
If she listens to music when she's nervous, why she's listening it now? What happened?
Exactly. But maybe because she just liked it, because she just wanted it…
Are you kidding me? Starfire lives in this Tower from a long time. You know…
… that she turns on the stereo when she's angry or nervous. Something surely happened. But what?
Eaten by curiosity, he looked one last time towards the mirror (god, I look like a dead…) and got out the bathroom. He entered in the kitchen. He didn't have spider's sense. He was able to transform into a spider, but he had not that great (for him) sense. Even without it, he realized that the atmosphere inside the kitchen was… let's color it: red, black and purple. Unbreathable. Aggressive.
He noticed Cyborg who sat next to Robin. Cyborg was faking him another smile. He ignored him, he needed some more time to forgive him. After what he had say. He looked Robin and something rang inside his head. The mask hid Robin's sight, but he looked like someone that hated the whole world. He was torturing his fingers, another bad sign. Cyborg nodded towards the plate.
'Good morning! Pancakes are hot and…'
He continued to speak, but Bb ignored him after the third word. He sat down and begun to eat slowly, making great efforts to not scream. This surreal atmosphere was killing him. Where were the Teen Titans? The five friends, always ready to help each other and save the city?
'Bb…' Robin begun to talk 'I need to talk with you'
Beast Boy raised his eyes and looked him 'C'mon, tell me…'
'I need to talk with you alone… this is a story between you and me'
Let me finish my breakfast then we can talk. I swear sometimes, but your savoir-faire really sucks, my friend…
The situation looked like a western: Beast Boy was unperturbed eating, but his sight was perforating Robin who was looking him too, hidden by his mask. Cyborg felt like lost. At least, he had some common sense to run away.
'Hey, I think I have to wash the T-Car… See ya later…'
He left the kitchen with a great weight on his heart. Beast Boy was still mad at him, Robin looked like a stormy sea and Starfire, after a talk with Rob, didn't touch her breakfast. He wasn't able to hear their discussion, but Star was probably shocked if she turned on the stereo. Getting out, he saw her on the sofa singing with palpable agitation the lyrics of an unknown song.
"Today I've seen the shallow face I wear…
Inside this shell, a living hell endures…
I'm held captive by my fear,
Decaying hope and wasted years…
The knife of time carves another line around these eyes…"
Another crap Bb taught her to love. Pure sewage, that's what it was. He still decided to warn her about the two.
'Hey Star…'
The girl turned herself, looking at Cyborg 'Huh?'
'I just wanted to say… don't get close to the kitchen, ok? Things are getting… stormy, round here'
'What is happening, Cyborg?' she anxious asked.
'Rob and Bb are talking. Believe me, leave 'em alone. They scared me, y'know…'
He went down to wash his car with a thoughtful expression, leaving the alien girl alone with her doubts and fears. She decided to not take the advice. She turned off the stereo and she got closer to the kitchen's door, hoping that nobody would find her. She wanted to hear.
TTTTTTTT
I had a nightmare
The Wolf eating The Raven…
Entrails of life on my plate
And I ate ´em…
Interested in what I see,
Try that Rorschach test on me…
Have you seen the beauty of the
Enticing beast?
(Wolf & Raven)
In Odium Veritas, Anger Break Out
Beast Boy had just finish his breakfast when Robin spoke. Robin begun the dialog; that dialog was going to break a great friendship, that dialog was going to destroy what other villains weren't able to do for a long time: the Titans.
'So… have you slept well?'
Do you want to take it slowly? Let's take it slowly.
'Sure… some thoughts, but it was a good night'
'Ah… what kind of thoughts?'
Too slowly. Let's cut it.
'Nothing to worry about. Why you have to talk to me?'
Robin was looking an indefinite point of the table. He raised his eyes and, even though his sight was hidden, Beast Boy knew that his eyes were burning with fury.
'You kissed her in your room, didn't you?'
Beast Boy was stunned. He kissed somebody in his room? Little by little, images of yesterday begun to appear in front of his eyes. He saw Starfire getting closer and kissing him on a cheek. But with affection, just with affection. But how did he know it?
'You were spying us… Were you spying me?'
'So what? I didn't hear very well but I saw…'
'Honestly, I don't care of what you saw. On the contrary, you must realize that Star…'
'… loves ya? I thought I realized it. Starfire loves you, but I don't care Beast Boy, I really don't care if you love Starfire. You can do whatever you want, I…'
'… you're an idiot. A huge idiot. You misinterpreted everything. Let me explain…'
'I don't give a fuck!' Robin was swearing. Incredible but true 'How the fuck can I care of somebody I don't love? I…'
'… will probably be repetitive, but you're seriously an idiot! And I bet you love Raven, right?'
Finally, the heated dialog stopped for a few seconds. The two heroes were standing in front of each other overflowing rage. Outside the Tower, the first thunder cracked loud. The storm had begun.
'How… how do you know that?'
'Maybe I'll explain it to you later, if you'll stop to be so blind and you'll let me say…'
'What do you want to say? What the hell…?'
'Robin, really you don't understand…'
'Understand what? There's nothing…'
'ROBIN, SHUT THE FUCK UP!'
He didn't want to scream, especially in that angry way. His lungs and his vocal chords acted without brain's consensus. But those irate words had the desired effect: Robin stopped moving or talking. Out of the room, Starfire had silently started while a tear ran down her cheek. In the basement, Cyborg heard it and ignored it. He knew that it would end in this way. He just hoped they would finish soon. Outside the Tower the first raindrops started to fall. The sky was blackened, the clouds were thundering their fury and the lightning lit the city with their energy.
'I didn't want to scream. You forced me. Now, let me talk just for one minute. Yes, yesterday Starfire kissed me. But on my cheek' He saw a quiver in Robin's eyes. His protecting wall was falling down 'She did it because I promised her that I would talk with you. Something that I now regret. Maybe, from the keyhole, you imagined something else, but nothing happened. You love Raven, but you should understand a little thing: Star doesn't love me. Star loves you'
Following his wall, Robin fell down on a chair. He looked like a puppet without his beloved strings. He fell silently, still looking Beast Boy in his eyes.
'I hope you've understood everything. Your blindness really shocks me. And, being here, I want to say one more thing…'
Beast Boy, who was talking with a normal tone, changed his voice. It became furious.
'… leave Raven, forget her if you want. You have to know that I'm waiting the right occasion to talk with her, and I've been waiting for years, and I'll never lose this occasion because of you…'
His eyes were dangerously sparkling. Robin… was smiling, the shadow of a smile, but still a smile. He stood up again, this time looking in Beast Boy's eyes with hate.
'Unfortunately for you, I love Raven too. I'm sorry for Starfire, but I love Raven. I miss her presence here in the tower, her voice, her footsteps, her dark self… I miss her too much and I can't suffer this situation. I'll find her, even if it will take a thousand years…'
He used Bb's same expression. The same words. Was he really…?
'If you love her so much… why are you so angry for that kiss?'
The smile disappeared. Like a lamp without electricity, it just turned off.
'I'm gonna say you why. Because you think you love her… You don't know who you really love and this situation is killing you because you always had all under your control. The fact that this slight emotion is escaping your hold is destroying you, terrorizing you. But don't worry about her. I am gonna find her and I will talk with her anyways. I want to see what will she say, what will be her reaction, because I have an idea…'
Beast Boy wasn't mocking him. But Robin thought the contrary. He stood up with supernatural speed, grabbing his neck. Beast Boy couldn't dodge his attack and his neck's nape knocked against the wall. Before the pain, an explosion of yellow and red dots in front of his eyes. Robin's face was too closer, he could smell his mint breath. His words were like ice and fire in the same time.
'If you think you can steal her from me you're wrong, you nature's mistake…'
Right in that moment, Starfire suddenly opened the door and entered inside. She was desperately crying.
'Stop fighting, now!'
Robin left the stranglehold, Beast Boy went down the wall massaging his neck.
'This is not over…' Robin words sounded very low and dangerous. That was a pure menace. He got out the room ignoring Star and her presence. Beast Boy on the floor was rattling with fury.
I will kill you! Nobody talks me that way and nobody calls me that way! I will kill you, you can be sure of it!
He heard those words inside his mind and he was surprised by his hate. Could it infest a mind that just some days ago considered friendship one of the most important feelings?
Starfire got closer, maybe to help him, but Beast Boy refused her help raising a hand.
'I'm okay. I just need some solitude…'
… and a night, and a knife, and Robin…
Ignoring this voice that came from some dark corner inside his mind, he left the kitchen staggering. In a corridor, he met Cyborg.
'Bb, what happened? I heard… were you two screaming for Raven?'
He wasn't able to control himself. He wasn't really angry at Cyborg. But his anger, his fury, was just too much. His right punch broke on Cyborg's left cheek. He heard the snap of his knuckles against Cy's jaw. Maybe he cracked it? He didn't care. Cyborg, who was bigger than Beast Boy but didn't expect the blow, fell to the ground with one punch. Starfire got out the kitchen and saw Cyborg's body upon the ground. She raised her eyes (her eyes are screaming with fear) and looked Beast Boy.
'Beast Boy… what have you done!'
'Honestly, I don't know. But he said a word, no, a name he shouldn't even pronounce and my hand moved by itself. He will learn to shut up'The calmness in that tone was glacial.
He left a shocked Starfire and an unconscious Cyborg and entered in his room. He locked the door, grabbed his portable cd-player and turned it on, listening to his favorite song.
"I could see my life, short film passing my eyes,
I tried to look away from her, as always I just tried…
Sweetness in her eyes, gone thru one million miles…
How could I turn my back on her, the sweetest thing alive?
I was eager, day time dreamer, waiting time when I'd come alive!
Sun of San Sebastian, eighteen years young today,
She's all I ever dreamed, but now my skies are turning gray…
It was good I got to know her well, because it made me see
That the sun of San Sebastian is just too hot for me…
Look what I have done to my San Sebastian,
I wasted all my childhood dreams by staring at sun…
Back in time with a dream of mine
I try to find my way back to life…
Burning fever, night time screamer, waiting time when I'd come alive!
Sun of San Sebastian, oh why I cannot stay,
She's all I ever dreamed, but now my skies are turning gray…
It was good I got to know her well, because it made me see
That the sun of San Sebastian is just too hot for me…
Every single day, for the rest of my way,
I live without my love, my God, I have to stay in shade…
When I'm old and gray, I remember that day
When she came, that perfect dame and she blew me away…
I was eager, day time dreamer, waiting time when I'd come alive!
…oo-oo…
Was it good I got to know her well although it made me see
That the sun of San Sebastian is way too hot for me?
…oo-oo…
Now I live my life in shades and I am married to the moon
And the sun of San Sebastian is warming someone new…"
He was hearing the wonderful song and crying bitter tears. He was sad, he felt the anger, the hate… his heart was sinking in a sea of horrible feelings.
In another room, muffled by the walls, an alarm rang.
Finale
And that's it! Second chap is up! Now, back to the question about the third chap... I have one idea that looks better than others: one chap all around our superheroes mind and soul. I want to see if I can describe their emotions well... or will I ruin a beautiful story? We'll see... I hope you've loved the lyrics, they have some sort of meanings to me... Plus, the songs are wonderful...
For today, that's all! Read and review and I swear I'll publish the third chap very soon. BYE!
Symphonies in Sorrow
