Nope, still don't own the titans...
Chapter Eleven: Waiting For The Fat Lady
The titans and HIVE students found their box easily. It was very spacious and had a wonderful view of the stage below. Starfire leaned out over the railing and took in the sight of the opera hall. Robin stood beside her telling her everything he could. Aqualad and Raven took their seats and started looking through the Playbill. She wrapped her arms around his and leaned her head on his shoulder as they read through the synopsis.
Aqualad read a note in the program and looked up towards the stage. "So they're projecting subtitles onto the wall above the stage? That's good."
Raven nodded. "This is so exciting, I can't believe we're here." She sighed and looked into his dark black eyes. "I wouldn't be here with anyone else."
Aqualad smiled and took her hand in his before giving her a soft kiss. "You're right. We should ask the HIVE to attack near the opera house every time a show is opening."
Raven looked around for the villains. Jinx and Speedy were similarly reading the Playbill and sitting close together. Mammoth was laughing at a joke that Beast Boy had explained to him and Gizmo was looking positively uncomfortable in his tuxedo, sitting in the corner of the box.
She smiled and caught Aqualad's eye again. "I don't think they'd do it, they have to write a paper, remember? But if you want to do this again, I can guarantee you won't go alone."
They were interrupted by the house lights flickering. Aqualad sat up and smiled. "Showtime."
The others took their seats in the box, which was set up for fifteen people with a row of seven in front and a row of eight in back. Being the only ones in the box, they were able to arrange themselves as they wanted. Gizmo sat in the front row with Beast Boy, Terra, Robin, Starfire, Aqualad, and Raven. Behind them, because of his height, sat Cyborg, then Bee, Speedy, Jinx, and Mammoth, who sat in the middle of the empty seats so as not to crowd anyone out.
As the lights dimmed, Cyborg tapped Gizmo on the shoulder. The short man looked back and grinned. He put his glasses on and Cyborg did the same. Beast Boy had his on already. Terra looked over at her date.
"I didn't know you wore glasses."
Beast Boy fumbled for an excuse. "Oh…um…well, I kinda wore these so I could look, you know, smart?"
Terra giggled. "That's silly, you always look smart. But if you want to, whatever." She shrugged and kissed him before returning her gaze to the stage as the curtain drew back to reveal the first act of the play.
Inside the three sets of glasses, three race cars toed the line, waiting for the green light.
Beast Boy smacked Cyborg on his metallic arm. "Look, I don't care how softly you say it. If we get caught, the girls will have our heads!"
Cyborg looked dejected. "But I always say 'boo-ya' when I win. Besides, those ears of yours would pick up a mouse sneezing on the other side of the theatre."
It was intermission, between the second and third acts, and they were milling around the foyer of the opera house and stretching their legs. Speedy hadn't been kidding when he said that the opera would last five hours.
Terra and Bee returned from the powder room and insinuated themselves into the arms of their respective dates. Terra was smiling happily. "This is amazing, I've never done anything like this before. I could live like this." She leaned against Beast Boy. "I feel like aristocracy."
Beast Boy smiled. "Nah, royalty. You look like a princess."
Terra giggled and kissed him on the cheek. "Well then, fair knight, why don't you go get this princess something to drink?"
Beast Boy slipped away, laughing. "Yes, your highness."
On his way to the concessions bar he passed by Speedy and Jinx. She was showing off her leg, perfectly healed and bandage free, which had been repaired, courtesy of Raven, in a few minutes in the powder room. He only caught a small bit of what Speedy was saying. "So, are we still on for tomorrow?" He laughed to himself, apparently they had been getting along well for a while now.
There was a short wait for Beast Boy to get two bottles of water. A quick look at the way he came revealed that it would take a long time to navigate the crowd, so he decided to take the short way. A few seconds later, a green eagle grasping two bottles of water took flight and flew to Terra. As he came closer, she saw him and held out her hands and took the bottles from him in mid-flight. A split second later he popped up beside her in human form.
Terra handed him a bottle and took a sip from her own. "Show off." Beast Boy just nodded.
The third and final act of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg was nearing completion. High up in the VIP box, the majority of the titans were caught up in the tale of love conquering all. Starfire was grateful she had learned to read English and sat in rapt attention, watching the denouement of the opera play out. Robin sat beside her, leaning back in his seat, her hand held safe within his.
Raven's head lay nestled in the crook of Aqualad's arm. Every so often she would look up to him, his black eyes concentrating on the drama before him. He would pick up on her gaze and look down at her for a second, then give a quick smile before they both returned their attention to the opera.
Behind them, Jinx rested her head upon Speedy's shoulder and Speedy rested his head upon Jinx. They, too, concentrated on the action on the stage below. Mammoth watched with the concentration of a seasoned opera buff, and Terra and Bumblebee both kept their arms wrapped around their date's arm. Only Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Gizmo wore masks of supreme concentration, manning their cars through a grand prix road course.
Down on the stage below, the finale neared the end, the last verse beginning. Beast Boy took the lead with only a half mile left on the course. The actors on stage all took their places, the finale rising to its peak. Gizmo pulled a wicked cut and run on Beast Boy, spinning both their cars out. Cyborg took the lead. The orchestra finished with a flourish and the curtain came down. The crowd in the opera hall cheered. Cyborg stood up, his arms upraised.
"BOO-YA!"
The other titans rose to join him, applauding loudly at a performance well done. Bee nudged him in the side. "I think you mean bravo, not boo-ya."
Cyborg looked around nervously. "Ummm…yeah. I meant bravo." He began to applaud politely. Behind him, Beast Boy was staring daggers at Gizmo.
The titans walked down the stairs of the opera house to the valet. The clock atop the opera house struck midnight and there was a chill in the air. Raven had her cloak on, but Aqualad stood behind her with his arms around her to keep her warm. Even though Starfire was warm in any weather, she and the other girls all wore the tuxedo jackets of their dates. As they waited for their limo to pull up, Speedy suddenly realized the evening was coming to an end.
Jinx realized this, too, and slipped from his jacket. He took it from her and put it back on before holding her close, wrapping her up as best he could to keep her warm. This left her very close to him and easily able for them to share a quiet conversation.
Speedy kissed the top of her head. "Tomorrow at six?"
Jinx snuggled in closer, her voice dreamy. "Lasagna."
A black car pulled up and Gizmo and Mammoth walked towards it. Gizmo called back over his shoulder. "Come on, Jinx. You turn into a pumpkin at midnight."
Jinx reluctantly pulled away but before she could get very far she was back in Speedy's arms, locked in a kiss that warmed her to the very core. He broke the kiss slowly, hesitantly, and whispered softly into her ear. "Good night."
She nodded and turned; he followed and helped her into the car, closing the door behind her before the car sped off. He returned to his fellow titans who stared quietly at him. Speedy cleared his throat and turned to Cyborg, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"See, I told you I had it worked out."
