Ok its now chapter 7, please Review
Chapter 7: The Calm Garden
Back at the Tower while Shadow was making reservations for a supper at a friend's restaurant, the other Titans prepared for the evening. Shadow trying to impress his new friends wasn't cutting any corners he arranged with his old mentor Mr. Ben Li the owner of the calm garden restaurant, the balcony seat.
"Come on guys we got to get going if we're going to go at all." Shadow waited at the entrance of the garage trying to understand how the T-car worked.
Robin was the first to finish getting ready; he wore a tuxedo that looked like it was used once in a while, well with a step-dad like Bruce Wayne he probably went to fancy things a lot. Next came Starfire; she wore the dress that she used when Robin was forced to go to the prom with kitten.
"Nice duds dudes."
"Thanks, are you sure you're going to wear those rags to your friends restaurant?"
"Why what's wrong with them Robin?" Shadow asked a little annoyed that his pants weren't good enough, until he remembered he forced the others to wear these clothes.
"Yes, Shadow you must wear the clothes of fancy as well."
"I don't know I've worn these pants for quite a while now, and I'm kind of attached to them."
"YOU DON"T WASH THEM?" Robin yelled a little worried.
"Of course I wash them."
"Oh sorry…" Robin tried not to look so surprised.
"I'm here" Beast boy shuffled in not looking happy, he wore what looked like Robins extra pair of dress pants and an un tucked white collar shirt with a crooked Santa tie.
"Good… enough."
"Lets just get there and eat."
"Let the feast begin!"
"Looking good Cy." BB joked.
"Hey I look awesome ok grass stain!" Cy didn't look bad this was true; Cy was wearing a loose suit, which he barely got over his huge mechanical stature, but he pulled it of good.
"Isn't Raven coming?" Shadow asked after 5 more minutes, the others only averted his gaze small smiles on their faces.
"Yes, I'm coming." Blake did a sharp 360 turn at the sudden voice.
"Uh Raven…you, you look great." Shadow turned redder then Stars hair. She looked dazzling, she wore a black dress that bended to fit her and it let a little leg show.
"Yeah well since I was last done I had to bring your suit." Raven slightly blushing held up a suit resembling Robins, but somehow better. There was just one problem.
"Um thanks guys but, I don't think it fits me." It was true if it did fit it was going to be tight.
"Try it on man, you'll look even better if you actually bathe." Robin persuaded.
"I'll be back soon." He walked up to the bathroom, how convenient now if they we're going to be late it would be his fault.
In the shower Shadow tried to clean himself the best he could, he did have to make up for 2 months of not bathing. His last bath was when he was fighting one of the Super Soldiers K'jik sent after him and he fell in the lake.
Beast Boy's POV:
"Dude finally he's going to take a bath like he totally reeks!" I held a finger over my nose.
"Beast Boy you could maybe put it a little nicer."
"Robin have you stood in a proximity of 5 miles of the guy he SMELLS!" Cy who was backing up BB yelled.
"He does not smell that bad, it reminds me of my Korfka Galfore." Starfire reminisced of her male nanny behemoth Galfore.
"Ok that's maybe not such a complement, you know." I said to Star.
"Yeah they both smell like compost." Raven added. She said it in monotone, but I could tell she was thinking of him.
"Well if you two get married you'll have to get used to the smell." I teased, though when the wall almost came toppling on top of me I decided to let it drop.
Everyone waited in silence except Cy who had started up the car and was inside listening and singing along to some songs on the radio.
Shadows POV:
"Well how do I look?" wandering down into the garage with my suit on.
"Looking good man, now lets get going." BB called already in the back of the T-car.
I admit I did look good, with my hair washed and spiked up similar to Robins but a lot longer. Star was the only one with longer hair then me. I hadn't cut it for about 3 years now. Besides now with my powers my hair was like suicide for scissors they just can't cut it. My suit looked good though I had to take the arms off so it showed my arms and shoulders. (Actually they ripped when I put it on)
"Looks good Shadow, who knew your hair was the same colour as Ravens." Robin called now getting onto his R-cycle.
Star jumped in the front of the T-car and Raven paused for a moment as if she had to say something, but decided not to and got in the center back seat. Now I had three choices: Run beside them, ride the back of Robins motorcycle or sit in the back of the car with Raven.
"Move over a little you two." I tried to sit as comfortably as I could in the back of the car.
I knew the ride would take about half an hour, plenty of time to talk with everyone.
Outside the Calm Garden:
As we pulled into the parking lot I already had a full schedule the next few days. Tomorrow I had to play video games with Beast Boy then on Wednesday I promised I'd go to the mall with Starfire and Robin. Later in the week I was going to help Cyborg with a few things around the tower then he was going to show me how the T-car worked. What I like cars ok?
Then on Saturday I was going to learn how to meditate better with Raven, doesn't sound fun but…
"Ok Shadow, where's this friend of yours Robin?" asked now walking into the waiting lounge.
"He will be with us shortly, he might be eating with us is that ok?"
"No problems buddy"
"Dude do they have vegetarian food?" BB asked.
"I think they have a separate menu."
Beast Boy merely perked up after this now happier that they had vegetarian food.
"How are you my old student?" An old man walked in greeting Shadow.
"Hello master Li, these are my friends that I spoke of."
"Ah, I am glad to meet you how things change when I first meet you, you we're wearing an old pair of pants now a 300 dollar suit. My I am impressed I also see you made it more comfortable." Ben pointed at the missing arms.
Shadow couldn't think of anything to say he never thought how much it must of cost his friends and he just ripped it. Feeling a little guilty he turned to his old master.
"Thank you sir, but can we discuss more over supper?"
"But of course and I see something's don't change." Chuckling the elderly gentlemen lead the team to the roof where a fancy table was set up.
Robins POV:
They must have been there for hours because there was no light left and BB had passed out from eating 3 times his body weight in tofu. Cyborg and Star had eaten so much that they seemed ready to burst.
"Your friends can sure eat a considerable amount of food." Mr. Li commented.
"Yo guys I'm going to take BB back to the car because I really got to lay down man and he's already out."
"May I come with you friend as I too must lay down for I fear that I will burst if I do not.
"See you guys" Robin called. Shadow, Raven and he had managed not to make pigs of themselves like the others.
After a bit more food, Robin decided to ask a few questions that had been bugging him.
"Mr. Li if you don't mind me asking how did you find Shadow and why do you owe each other your lives.
"Ah, the young detective, well you see about two years ago a young man came upon my doorstep looking for a hospital:
Blair knocked on the door of the closest building he could find, he needed a hospital to remove the two bullet wounds embedded in his skin and to patch up his is side.
"He…llo is anyone there?" Shadow begged at the door. Eventually a light came on and an old Chinese man answered the door.
"Oh my goodness, are you ok?" The man seemed aware of my appearance but did nothing like screaming or yelling, I felt safe with him.
"I shall call an ambulance for you."
"Thank you." I managed to get out before the blood loss made me pass out.
I must have woken up a few hours later because it was now morning; I surveyed my surroundings I was in a hospital bed. Then I saw the man looking me in the face a gentle smile on his face.
"Ah you are once again one of the living."
"Thank you sir, but why did you help me?" I needed to know; so far he was the only one not to run away at the mere sight of me.
"Because in these times of doubt in peoples hearts we must not judge by appearances but by what is in inside."
I swear I must have looked immature trying to comprehend what the hell he had just said.
"Well young one can I ask why you we're shot two times?"
"Well I guess the best reason is because I, look like this and my parents didn't know it was me."
I fell silent.
"You mean your parents shot you!" This was and is the only time he has ever seen the old man angry.
"Yeah they did." I started to feel very alone.
"Don't worry you can stay at my restaurant if you want, it is quite nice."
Feeling that I had no other choice I shook the hand of the man who would be my friend, mentor and teacher for the next two years.
"That was the first time we met." facing Raven and Robin I had a look of happiness thinking of times long past.
"So did they get those bullets out?" Raven inquired.
"Oh yes, where is your necklace Blair?" Ben asked.
"Its in my pocket I haven't been wearing it recently because I feared it would break because the string is ready to tear."
"What necklace?" Robin asked.
I pulled out a string with two bullets hanging off it out of my pocket.
"Are those the very same bullets?"
"Yes, it's the only thing that I have left of my parents."
"Are you sure there gone though? Did you ever check back, look for missing persons reports?"
Sensing that Robin was treading into dangerous ground Raven suddenly changed the Subject.
"Does anyone know you're name besides Mr. Li and the two of us? Thinking back she couldn't remember telling the rest of the Titans Shadows real name except for Robin.
"I don't think so, well not anyone besides my old family, friends, K'jik and Tommy.
Raven wasn't about to ask what he meant by old family but she wanted to know who Tommy was.
"Ah how is old Thomas?"
"Not bad the last time I asked. He and the rest of the SS fighters are leading the resistance on planet Gazarith."
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh ya I didn't tell you guys. Well you see the planet that is fighting against the planet K'jik is Gazarith."
"So what is your friend doing up there?"
Note: At this point Robin is out like a light.
"Well I was too but we needed someone back on Earth to help ready for any attacks, so I volunteered."
"Like you I must be a volunteer, I will return but first I must take Mr. Grayson back to your car."
Mr. Li wrapped Robins arm around his shoulder and proceeded to take him back to the car. Leaving Raven and Shadow.
"How did he know robins name?"
"My mentor is a very smart guy you would be surprised what he knows, like for one thing he knew I was going to call before I even picked up the phone."
"Is he Psychic?"
"No just really aware of things."
At this point the two seemed to lose all interest in talking, Shadow started to stretch to keep himself awake and in the process touched Ravens leg.
"Sorry." He quickly drew his bare foot away.
"Its ok, besides we should get going soon anyways. Though it felt nice his foot against her leg, the smooth claws that should have been his toes we're more comfortable then she thought.
"Well I guess we should get going." Looking at the bill Shadow forked over the money that Mr. Li had said he had to pay, now he was a very generous man he only had to pay 25.
Opening the front doors of the building to outside the two walked to the car. Where Mr. Li had attached the R-cycle to the back of the T-car and was sitting in the driver seat.
"Your friends are all sleeping and I know that both of you don't have licenses, so either sit on the bike or you two can walk home because there is no more room in here." Mr. Li gave the two teens their options the whole time giving Shadow a nice grin that Shadow returned getting the message behind his old friends options. He is a very smart man Shadow thought.
Looking towards Raven Shadow was waiting for her choice.
"I guess we'll ride the bike because I really don't have the energy to fly home."
Sitting on top of the bike, Mr. Li turned the engine and drove to the Titans tower pulling the R-cycle behind him.
"Hold on tight, he might be old but he likes to drive fast." Shadow warned Raven.
Raven wrapped her arms around Shadows Waist, he was so strong, so handsome, so… like her he had problems with his past and so did she they we're one in the same.
His breathing was so soothing…. you could almost fall asleep…against his back.
Shadow turned around, Raven was sleeping he tried not to wake her up, but also he didn't want her to fall off so he had to hold onto her hands to make sure she wouldn't let go.
"You're pretty cute when you're sleeping, well more then usual."
It's probably a bad thing for Shadow that Raven was a light sleeper.
As they approached the tower Shadow nudged Raven.
"Hey Raven we're here you should probably get up."
"Wha? Oh ok." She fell back asleep.
As they pulled up into the garage, Shadow woke everyone up and they all headed to bed, tired but happy.
"How you getting back old man?" Shadow joked.
Mr. Li laughed "This old man will walk for two minutes then use the boat I saw over here get in it and head home."
"Okay see you some time maybe?"
"Yeah sure, good bye friend."
Watching his friend walk away he paused turned off the lights and went to his guest room.
Well what do you think, not every hero has some legendary mentor, some have an old Chinese guy who knows how to make peace within himself and some damn good food. This was the chapter to find who Shadow likes…