Chapter……… 4?
I really have lost track now, doing this, Spitfire, finishing that chapter for UtterlyPointless and planning my epic (which unfortunately isn't a fan fic so you may not have the chance to read it!)
Anyway, here goes. It's possible that this is the penultimate if not the final chapter. It's been fun, I'll tell you.
'Cy, I think I can reach that bunker and 'nade it if you give me some cover!' Beast Boy shouted, hefting his rifle and ducking just below the line of the trench.
'I don't know man; it's at least twenty yards covered by that MG42. I don't think you could make it.' His metallic friend answered, glancing at the other troops, some of whom looked practically queasy.
'Just give me some smoke and suppressing fire and I'll reach it.' He readied himself as Cyborg unclipped the smoke grenade and pull back before his throw to 'cook' it, he launched it toward the bunker and Beast Boy counted.
'1...2...3...4...I'm gone!' He jumped over the trench and sprinted towards the bunker, unclipping a grenade as he did.
He ran through the smoke, hearing the gunfire of his comrades booming behind him and encouraging shouts from Cyborg. He launched the grenade at the slit of the bunker and waited for the explosion.
He had missed. The grenade exploded at his feet, momentarily paralysing him, it was enough time for the smoke to clear and the MG42 to spot him.
'BB!' Cyborg screamed as the bullets tore through his friend, rendering their attempt at completing the level useless.
'Can you keep it down?' Raven asked from her part of the couch.
It was two weeks since Beast Boy's big gig and his enormous confession, to which Raven had replied in kind. For the whole two weeks since the green teen had been trying everything he could think of to be romantic. Raven actually found it rather endearing.
'I'm sorry, Raven, but we were just trying to finish this level, we'll turn it down. Heck we'll turn Cyborg down.' Beast Boy tried 'the face'.
'Oh, ok, fine, keep playing.' She gave in, cringing as the sudden sound of an explosion from the tv rocked the tower.
'Thanks my little blackbird. I'll treat you to a special night out for this.' Beast Boy turned back the screen and shot at someone who was running towards the screen brandishing a bayonet.
'We've been out every night this week and last.' Raven sounded both impressed and exasperated.
'We'll stay in then. I'll cook you something, no tofu.' He threw a grenade at the enemies grouped around a bunker and laughed as he watched their bodies fly in all directions. He could actually be quite disturbing while playing games.
'Ok, sure. I'm gonna go meditate.' She stood and kissed Beast Boy on the forehead, then left.
'I'll come and get you when it's time.' He shouted after her.
'Dude, whipped.' Cyborg said, simply.
'Nuh uh!' Came the childish reply.
This lasted for at least three hours.
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'Are we sure, guys?' James asked his bass player and drummer, a look of consternation on his normally placid features.
'I am if you are dude.' Jake replied, gaining a nod from Suzy.
'All right, we'll call it in.' He picked up the phone and hit speed dial one.
'Hey?' Beast Boy's voice answered.
'Hey, EG, we need to talk, can you get out here? We're at the theatre.' James asked, hitting the speakerphone button.
'I dunno, I think Robin wants us to stick around, also, I was gonna cook for Rae.' His voice came from the phone.
'Well how 'bout we come there?' Jake asked boldly.
'Erm…' Came the reply, 'I dunno, I'll ask Robin.'
For a while We Were Once looked at each other, no one was smiling.
'Ok, come on over whenever you like.' BB's voice came back.
'Right now then.' James said, hanging up.
'Say goodbye, why not?' Beast Boy said irritably.
He didn't have to wait long, soon a loud knocking was heard at the massive door to the tower. Robin was the one to let them in, gracing the world as he did in a We Were Once t-shirt.
'Hey EG, I need to tell you something.' James said instantly when shown into the common room where BB was waiting. The look on his face seemed like he would burst into tears any second.
'What's up, dude? Someone steal your PRS?' Beast Boy half-joked, he knew it would utterly kill his front man to lose his baby.
'Well, Jake and Suzy…are getting married.' He said, grabbing a glass from the counter and filling it from a hip flask.
'What, that's fantastic!' Beast Boy shouted in confusion, the whole of the team had gathered now to watch the events unfold.
'That's not all. I've decided that I'm gonna go through with my plans. I'm leaving on Monday.' He continued.
'So, you are going to travel the world looking for the perfect sound?' the green teen asked, quietly.
'The perfect everything EG, the perfect life.' He stared out of the window for a while.
'So this means… that We Were Once… What?' BB asked, worriedly.
'Yeah, to make a bad pun, We Were Once, were once.' He chuckled. 'Unless you wanna recruit and carry on without us.' He gestured. 'You're certainly good enough now.'
'I couldn't take your legacy from you.' Came the choked up answer.
'My legacy means nothing where I'm going to be looking.' James again stared out of the window.
'I still can't' Beast Boy was fighting to hold back the tears. As were a couple of the other Titans.
'Well, this is it then, this is the end of us.' James said, picking up the pack he was carrying.
'I guess so. We had a good run. Better to burn out as they say.' BB said, gaining a no from Jake.
'So long, EG, it's been safe, Titans.' He turned to go, following Jake and Suzy.
'Wait, James!' Beast Boy shouted.
'What?' He turned back.
'I answered your question.' He said, pulling Raven into an embrace.
'Oh, yeah. Well, I was born…' He started.
'Yes?' Beast Boy prompted.
'On a boat in the middle of the Atlantic, I really am from nowhere.' He laughed and left the room and the tower.
For a long time the Titans just stared at their friend, who stared in turn at the floor.
'Are you going to be ok?' Raven asked finally.
'Yeah, I'll be fine. Now, how about that special dinner!' He leapt into action.
'If you're sure.' She replied and left him to it, as did everyone else.
For a long time he cooked and prepared with no trouble, until his memory strayed to the good times he had with We Were Once. Of James saving him from himself after Terra's demise. Of laughing with Jake and Suzy after a sold out show.
He began to let the tears fall.
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'Beast Boy, that was wonderful.' Raven pushed her plate away and leaned back, trying to suppress a satisfied belch.
'Glad you liked it.' He said in a distant tone.
'You're really cut up about the band aren't you?' She asked him, stating the obvious to make him admit it.
'Yeah, I guess, all the best things in my life have been because of that band. Including finally telling you how I feel.' He took her hands across the table. 'I really love you Raven.' He finished.
'And I love you Garfield.' She replied quietly.
'Hey, BB!' A voice came through the intercom, Cyborg's. 'There's something you may want to see in the entrance hall.'
'Ok, I'll be right down.' It sounded urgent.
He ran, followed by Raven who floated down to where the message originated.
'What is it?' Beast Boy asked, rushing almost right into Robin.
'This.' Cyborg stepped aside to reveal a beautiful PRS on a stand, a note next to it read 'For EG.'
'Whoa!' was all the green Titan could say.
'Read it!' Cyborg urged, shoving the note at him.
'Ok, 'EG, I won't be needing this where I'm going so I thought you should have it. Along with my royalties and rights from We Were Once. Jake and Suzy can live off theirs so I'm giving mine to you.'' He stopped to wipe a tear from his eye. ''I Thought perhaps you might like it. I knew from your version of '…fell in love…' That I could never reach that standard, you weren't playing it, you were it. It was pure love and passion in music. Raven is very lucky and so are you. Don't lose the music. Your former mentor, James.''
He held the note for a moment, using it to catch his tears.
'Come on, Gar, play it for me.' Raven grabbed his arm and they began to walk to his room with the guitar.
'I think I might like just being a Titan.' He said as they walked.
From outside the tower James, sat on a rock, heard Beast Boy begin to play, he sat for a while, listening to the gifted boy play, then hefted his pack and walked off for the city.
'The road goes ever on and on, down from the door…' He began to sing and descended into a whistle as he ventured to new horizons.
In the tower Beast Boy had stopped playing, for what reason, we shall never know.
Yes, it was the final chapter.
Thank you so much for staying with me till the end of it. I really appreciate it.
I'm getting teary, so I'll sign off with another thank you.
Check out my ongoing story Spitfire if you like my writing. Also, it's no sure thing but I may occasionally finish off a chapter of UtterlyPointless's work, so take a look at it. It's good, take a look anyway.
Reamis, out. For good.