First of all, if anyone's wondering about the change to first-person, I needed the first chapter to be a bit more distanced from everything. Also I realized this probably wouldn't work with third, so what better to do than fix early? Anyways, I've got to get my slaves back on duty writing this…
Second of all, I hate mail. It scares me. It makes me want to sob with pain. Something like that. If I just ignored mail, my life would be infinitely better. But alas, I must succumb to the allure. First reviewer, you were born with a great privilege. The right to live or die. Actually, wait, I control that privilege. But you still deserve a prize. So when I get married, tear my wife apart and eat her alive, you can have our wedding rings.
To answer, it is meant to be slightly confusing. Perhaps a second read would help, I am not here to die on your doorstep. In fact, disregard everything I just said. I'm very confused right now… um… yeah… enjoy.
My eyes attempted to crack open once again, although this time it took several tries to force them completely up. The soft comfort of a pillow propped my head up, and a toasty blanket was spread over the rest of my body. My gaze fixed itself upon a set of five little ducks hovering above my head spinning in a circle. Since when did I have that in my room? I pushed myself up into a sitting position, and surveyed the rest of my room. Since when was this my room? So neat and tidy, it almost scared me.
A painful spark leapt off my wrist, reminding me of the watch I was still wearing. Well, it used to be a watch, but now it was a burnt husk. Even so, I was having great difficulties recalling just what it was for. Then it occurred to me that I had no idea what had happened last night, or the night before.
I clambered out of the bed and headed for my bathroom. Where was the pile of dirty clothes I always had to step over? I was beginning to think this room belonged to someone else. I scanned myself in the spotless mirror, realizing I looked much older now. Ok, maybe that was an exaggeration, perhaps more like a year or two older. Definitely taller, and looking happier than ever.
Was I supposed to be happy? I can't even remember. I finally noticed the new clock on my wall. I never cared about the time, I tore my clock up, I'm pretty sure. So what the hell was this doing here? Seems like an early time to be up. 6:00. You know, maybe if I just sat down and did something odd like meditate everything would come together…
Then my memories began to return. The unfortunate time travel of the watch. The cold-blooded killing of Raven. Talking to her past self at the door to this very room. Except this wasn't the same time.
Remember Beast Boy, act normal, I told myself. There's nothing out there that can shock you more than what you've seen before. I forced a new set of confused tears back, pasted on a bright, cheerful face, and stepped out of my door.
Wow, new paint job. Can't say I like the dark red, but it certainly looks better than the dreary factory look we had before. I deliberately walked down the hall, trying to delay whatever entrance I was about to make as long as possible. That's when I felt a set of arms wrap around me from behind and tackle me to the ground.
Someone was pressed into my back now, giggling into my ear. I don't think I remember someone ever wanting to tackle me like that, especially a girl. I felt the weight lift off my back, and I got up on my feet, brushing myself off.
"What was that for…" I began, turning around, but I couldn't finish my sentence.
Terra's long forgotten face was smiling back at me. "Beast Boy, which way did you think you were going, we're having the party back in the main room and you have to help me set up; I got up at 4:30 for this!"
"T-T-Terra?" I managed to sound out.
"Is there something wrong?" She said, suddenly looking concerned, "if you don't want to help, that's fine with me. I guess I'll just have to take the moped into my custody."
Moped? I have a working moped? The day wasn't all bad. "Sure, I guess I could help."
"I knew you'd agree!" she said, beaming.
Some answers would be nice right about now. But, now would be a horrible time to ask, right? As I was struggling to sort through my thoughts I felt a kiss on my cheek. I could have just about jumped out of my skin and die right there. This was getting far too complicated for me to handle all at once.
"Come on, hurry up, we have to get everything ready before they arrive!" she said enthusiastically, but I just sat there dumbfounded for a few more seconds, focusing on an exact point in the nothingness of space. Ok, so Terra was a statue, at least in the time I came from. So I either arrived before she had betrayed all of us, or she somehow got free. Sounded like a reasonable conclusion. I think.
"Hello, Beast Boy, stop daydreaming! I SAID WAKE UP!" That certainly got my attention, probably blew out my eardrums too. I rubbed my ears tenderly.
"How'd you come back to…" I stopped. Everything seemed so happy. This wasn't a good time to be asking these questions.
"How'd I come back to what?"
"Nothing, let's get the party decorations set up. What's the party for again? I kind of forgot." I tried to make myself look embarrassed, but I don't think she bought it.
"It's a surprise."
I'm going to set up a party, and I don't even know what, or who, it's for. Of all the things to do I had to get stuck with this stupid f… No. Happy thoughts for happy times, I commanded myself. I'll deal with my baggage later, just enjoy the moment.
I followed Terra out to the commons room. Along the way my thoughts were consumed by endless speculation about why she was back. It was just a concept I couldn't seem to begin to understand. And now, she was acting like she was my girlfriend, of all things. Well, we were pretty close before the Slade incident, but after that a certain other someone had stolen my thoughts. Raven was the reason I was here, not Terra.
Starfire was already setting up some little trinkets. That was at least what she appeared to be doing, although to me it seemed like she was just using them as an excuse to slack off and watch tv.
"Starfire, Beast Boy's up!" Terra yelled across the room. I expected Star to jump straight up from what she was doing and join us at the entrance, but my mind has a knack for being completely wrong. The alien girl very slowly got up from the couch, and with shoulders slumped plodded over to us.
"What's wrong with her?" I whispered in Terra's ear.
"You've really gone braindead today haven't you? She's been like this for a while now, not much any of us can really do about it if that's what you're suggesting."
After what was most likely a minute, she was at the door. Slowly Star raised her eyes to meet Terra's. I don't think I had ever seen her this sad before. Even after Raven's death.
"What do you need?" Star droned.
"Hurry up and get the banner, it's in the closet down the hall." Starfire followed Terra's orders and continued to plod through the door and with heavy feet marched down the hallway.
"She won't be back for a while." Terra said with a grin, turning to me.
I had several burning questions that I was fighting to hold back from being blurted out. I already gave enough of a strange impression. Evidently I had been zoning out again, because when I came back to reality Terra was fiddling with the busted watch on my wrist. "Where'd you get this piece of junk?"
"I… uh…"
"You know Beast Boy, it really doesn't look that bad, it kind of reminds me of my old wandering days before I settled in with the team."
"Yeah… sure…" Being at a loss for words was a pretty good thing right now.
"So where did you get it?"
My struggle to reach an answer continued, but I was saved by a train wreck. Ok, more like Cyborg bowling us both over, grabbing the remote, dropping down onto the couch, and flipping the screen to an action movie. A warning would have been nice.
"Yo, put some eggs and bacon on, I'm starving!" Cyborg yelled from the couch. At least there was one thing that hadn't changed. I made a mental note to talk to him later about the watch. Strange, those events seem so far away now. I thought I wouldn't be able to keep my composure, yet here I am managing to blend in like I had always been here. Maybe, just maybe I could accept life here and forget about what had happened in the past. There were no consequences, at least there shouldn't be.
As I got back up and helped Terra up, Star came back through with the banner. "Where do you want it?" She asked in the same depressed voice.
"Up on the ceiling, just hang it down, but make sure it's curled up."
Wordlessly Star flew up into the air and began to clip the banner to the ceiling. It was oddly mesmerizing to watch her, but I didn't get the chance to ponder it further as a massive metallic hand grabbed me by the neck and yanked me over to the kitchen.
"Look at all of this food!" Cy said, obviously excited. Truly there was a massive amount of food stockpiled in the once humble (and slightly dirty) kitchen. Some of the stuff looked delectable; everything else consisted of massive portions of meat based dishes.
"It's beautiful…" Cy continued, drool making a solid line from his mouth to the floor. I took a few hasty steps away and ran back into Terra.
Terra gave me a huge hug, of which I did not even respond to.
"I'm so happy for them!"
What? For who?
"You know, ours is coming up too, I hope we get a party just like this!"
Our what?
The blare of music interrupted my thoughts. "They're here!" Terra shouted over it, and there was a massive shower of confetti. The banner unfurled.
Raven and Robin walked into the room, holding hands. I looked up. The banner said "Happy One Year Anniversary!" in huge bold type. My first reaction was one of gratitude, that I actually would get to be with Raven thanks to this little watch. My second more educated reaction consisted of my throat constricting, a horrible feeling rising in my stomach, and the incredible urge to just die.
Wasted effort my mind announced, wasted.
Above all else, this will not be a Beast Boy/Terra fic, as the next chapter or two should show. Of course, if no one cares, there's no need to post them and…
I'm confusing myself beyond belief, just do something.
Remember, don't take life with a grain of salt, take it with a pack of mushrooms.
