Chapter Three: Shadowy

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans

Beast Boy punched the bag as hard as he could sending it swinging into Robin who was practicing alongside him. He landed in a heap on the mats looking dazed

"You okay man?" Beast Boy asked leaning over his leader. The Boy Wonder nodded and got to his feet slowly. He brushed himself off then looked at the changeling

"Where'd you learn that punch? I never taught you any martial arts moves." Beast Boy's ears pulled back a few inches like they always did when he was nervous or angry

"I… uh…" he stuttered. Robin uncrossed his arms and touched his friend's shoulder

"You okay Beast Boy? Ever since that last fight you seem… jumpy."

"I'm alright. I just haven't been sleeping too well." Robin nodded then took note that the green teenager was rubbing his hand. Usually he rubbed his neck. Strange

"I'm going up to the roof. Okay?"

"Sure BB. Go ahead."

Beast Boy peeked out onto the roof. Raven was floating near the edge in her customary meditation position

"What is it Beast Boy?" she asked softly. Beast Boy walked over to her and sat down. Raven waited patiently as he played with his shoe strap

"Raven, if I told you something bad… something bad that I did… you'd still be my friend right?" Raven looked at her friend oddly. What was he getting at?

"That would depend." she responded quietly "If you were truly sorry for whatever you did, yes Beast Boy. I would still be your friend. You were still my friend when you found out about my father. I owe you that much." Beast Boy looked up at her

"Even if it was something really bad?"

"Yes. Even if it was something really bad." they sat in silence for a long time. A gentle breeze came off the bay bringing the salty smell of ocean water to the top of the Tower

"Do you want to talk about it?" Raven questioned

"Not now. Maybe later."

"Alright. Just tell me when you want to and I'll listen." Beast Boy looked over at her, cocking his head to one side slightly

"You know, you're not so bad Raven." he stood abruptly and jogged back inside. Raven watched him leave then looked out over the ocean

"You're not to bad yourself, Garfield." she whispered into the wind. Then she closed her eyes and settled into her meditation.

Beast Boy locked his door tightly then pulled off his right handed glove and began scratching furiously at the pale green skin. As he did anger burned through him like a fire. He never asked for this. He thought he was dead. He wasn't supposed to be able to find him. But then how hard was it to find the only survivor of the deadly African disease Sakutia?

"Stupid chip." he growled. Suddenly and simultaneously his whole hand started glowing red and the alarm started whining

"Great. Just great." he muttered. He pulled on his glove and ran out the door into the main room. He slid to a stop next to Starfire and looked up at the screen. His heart sank as he saw the man who they had now gone up against twice

"Titans Go!"

The man was robbing a bank when the Titans pulled up. They entered the building and saw him stuffing money into a bag. He looked up and locked eyes with Beast Boy

"If you would come back I wouldn't have to do this." he growled. Beast Boy backed up a step seeking comfort in the presence of his team

"What is he talking about man?" Cyborg asked looking down at the 'grass stain'

"Yes Beast Boy? What does this man mean?" Starfire repeated

"So you haven't told them." the man chuckled and slung the bag over one shoulder "Well then I won't stop your explanation." before anyone could react he had disappeared into thin air.

Robin looked down at Beast Boy who was staring at his feet. He sighed and jerked his head towards the door

"Let's get home. I think you have something you need to tell us."

Beast Boy sat on the sofa in the main room, hands folded on his knees, eyes down looking at the floor. Robin was pacing in front of him. Starfire and Cyborg stood to the side while Raven sat next to Beast Boy ready to defend him. Finally Robin stopped his endless pacing and turned to the seated changeling

"What did he mean Beast Boy?" the teen in question glanced up briefly then looked back down at his hands. He remained silent

"Beast Boy, we can't help you if we don't know what's wrong." Raven coaxed gently

"Stay out of it Raven." Robin ordered. Beast Boy's head shot up

"Just because you're the leader doesn't mean you can treat her like dirt." Robin looked ready to punch the teen in the face

"It's something bad isn't it?" Robin asked. Beast Boy looked down and nodded

"I… I used to be a thief."

Robin's mouth dropped open. Starfire's eyes widened in shock and Cyborg took a sharp intake of breath. Raven's face remained emotionless but her voice was filled with emotion

"Beast Boy," she rested her hand on his arm gently but he jerked away and glared at Robin

"So now what? You gonna kick me off the team? Throw me in jail?"

"Beast Boy… I don't want to. But if you're telling the truth I have to enforce the law. It's my job." the green faded from Beast Boy's face leaving him pale and sickly looking

"Robin, you can't just throw him in jail. He's saved hundreds of lives as a Titan. Doesn't that count for anything?" Raven demanded standing up slightly

"Ya man. I mean you said that our pasts were our business; not the team's."

"I know Cyborg. But…"

"But nothing!" Raven yelled. Light bulbs shattered showering her in glass but she didn't notice or she just didn't care "He's our friend Robin. We never put you in jail after the Red-X or Slade incident although you deserved it. You flat out lied to us. Beast Boy was a thief. He's not anymore." the half demon was now up in Robin's face. The fact that she was at least a foot smaller than him didn't make her any less frightening. Just as Raven was about to continue Beast Boy spoke up

"It's okay Raven." the girl whirled around her hood falling down as she did. Everyone was surprised to see small tears in her indigo eyes

"What! You're just going to let him put you in jail!" she screamed. Ten more light bulbs shattered and the TV developed a large crack down the middle. Beast Boy shook his head

"No I'm not." he stood slowly and met Robin's masked eyes. He could tell his leader was torn between his friendship with him and his duty as a superhero

"I'm leaving." Robin grabbed his shoulder as he started to leave. Beast Boy stopped and looked back at him

"I can't let you do that Beast Boy." before anyone could react Beast Boy had turned into an insect and disappeared from sight. Robin stood there stunned for a few seconds

"We have to find him." he finally shouted. He started for the door then looked back when he realized Raven wasn't following him and the others

"Come on Raven." he said angrily. Raven crossed her arms and planted her feet

"I'm not going."

"You have to! We can't find him without you! You have to track down his aurora or whatever you call it." Raven glared at him

"Exactly. I don't go, you can't find him." with that she sank into a black portal and disappeared. Robin turned around and kicked a chair sending it flying

"Why does she pick now to start standing up for him?" he growled. Neither of his teammates responded as he stormed around the room muttering to himself.

Raven reappeared in Beast Boy's room. The changeling jumped as she came through the floor and instantly had turned into a bug

"Calm down. I'm not going to catch you. I just want to talk." there was a pause then Beast Boy turned back to normal. Raven looked around the room. Uniforms were scattered around the room and Beast Boy was pulling several… studded wrist bands out of a drawer? Raven shook her head then pushed him down into a chair

"You don't have to leave you know." Beast Boy stood again and continued his packing ignoring her for a moment

"Yes I do Rae, I won't obey someone who can't trust me." he growled trying to stuff a pair of jeans into the suitcase. Raven sighed and pushed him away gently

"Well if you're going to run away let me help you. Azarath Metrion Zinthos." she waved a hand and all the clothes flew out and began folding themselves neatly

"What do you mean?" Beast Boy asked curiously. Raven flicked a hand again and more clothes began folding and putting themselves either in the bag or in the closet

"Robin will probably freeze your bank account as soon as he can. How much money do you have in there?"

"I dunno. A couple hundred. Maybe a thousand." Raven cocked an eyebrow but said nothing about the amount

"I can try to get the money out before he freezes it. And if you need some extra cash I've got plenty."

"How much?" Beast Boy asked

"That's rude."

"Come on Raven! I was just asking." he whined. Raven turned her back before answering

"About ten thousand." Beast Boy's mouth dropped open but didn't say anything

"Where are you going to go?" Raven asked as she finished packing clothes into the large suitcase. Beast Boy shrugged

"I can't live in the city. Someone will recognize me and tell Robin." he looked out his windows at the rocky outcrop that acted as a natural dike for the bay "I was thinking maybe a cave."

"A cave? Be realistic Beast Boy. You can't live in a cave."

"Why not? I'm an animal changeling remember?" Raven sighed and rubbed her temples. This was giving her a migraine

"If you live in a cave how will you buy food?" she asked. The teen cocked his head. He hadn't considered that. Raven smiled

"I'll tell you what. I'll bring you food and whatever else you need." Beast Boy's green eyes brightened

"Really? You'll do that for me Rae?" Raven nodded

"You're my friend Beast Boy."