Chapter Seven: Unholy Caduceus
Someone spoke. "Blackfire?"
"…Hey Raven, what's up?" Blackfire said, giving Raven a strange mix of grimace and forced smile. "I hope you're having a better night than I am."
Raven sighed as she sat down next to Blackfire. There were some times when meditation training could really help. "I was looking for Beast Boy," she said evenly. "Where is he?"
"He went out the window, Raven," she added, pointing at the opened window.
"And why did he go out the window? We do have a door," Raven said, her expression and tone still as icy calm as ever.
"I don't know, maybe he got bored?" Blackfire retorted.
"You argued with him again, didn't you?" Raven asked, and that was when Blackfire's cheerful façade crumbled, and she whispered something. "What was that?" Raven asked.
"…I'm sorry," Blackfire said, hating herself for saying the words. Scowling, she turned to Raven, telling her, "I'm sorry, okay? Isn't that what you wanted to know?"
"No," Raven said simply. "I want to know why you two were arguing. Again."
Blackfire's eyes glowed slightly, and for a moment Raven feared that she was going to lose her temper, and she tried the best she could to covertly raise her own magical defenses.
All that proved unnecessary, however, as Blackfire's eyes returned to normal, and she sat back, smiling bitterly. "Would you believe me if I said all I wanted to was to try make things better?"
"What do you mean?"
"I tried to apologize to Beast Boy," she stated.
Raven didn't show emotion much, so when she gave Blackfire a look of sheer disbelief, Blackfire knew she meant it.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either." Blackfire's voice, already strained by the forced cheer she was putting into it, was made even more so by the sugar she was infusing it with. "But there I was, doing my best to… to…"
Blackfire sighed, and pointed to the window. "As you can see… it didn't quite work out." She turned back to Raven, her eyes glistening slightly. "Personally, I don't care what Beast Boy thinks about me. If he wants to hate me, fine. Same goes for everybody else. Everybody else except you- you're different. I didn't want to hurt you, Raven, and I've never been good with saying sorry."
"I've noticed," Raven said dryly.
"So I decided to swallow my pride and tell Beast Boy I was sorry," Blackfire explained. She laughed ruefully as she added, "He thought I was setting him up for something, and who could blame him?"
She ran a hand through her hair sadly. "All I wanted was to say was I'm sorry. To Beast Boy, and to you. Mostly you, of course, but I figured Beast Boy- I can't believe I'm saying this," Blackfire sighed.
"Me neither," Raven said softly as she stood up, her hand held out, inviting Blackfire to join her.
"So… forgiven?" Blackfire asked hesitantly.
"Forgiven," Raven confirmed, kissing Blackfire on her cheek. "Come on, let's go look for Beast Boy-"
Raven's communicator bleeped. Upon answering it, she heard Cyborg's voice coming through the channel. "Hey Raven- uh, you weren't in the middle of anything important, were you?" In the background, several hissing and sparking noises could be heard.
"No, Cyborg. At least," she said, looking at Blackfire, "not anymore. Is something wrong?"
"Wrong? What makes you think something's wrong?" Cyborg babbled, as something popped loudly in the background. "But now that you mention it, I could use some help down here, and since Rob and Star ain't back yet-"
"I'll help," Blackfire chimed in.
"Blackfire? You there too? How are you, heh?"
"Better than you," she retorted. "Much better. Where are you?"
"In the garage-"
"Good. I'll be there soon," she said switching off the communicator. Turning to Raven, she said sweetly, "I'll go handle this, you go handle Beast Boy, okay?"
"You're pushing it," Raven said, smiling.
"Raven, Raven, Raven," Blackfire said, as if explaining something to a small child. "Cyborg and his problems, I can handle. Beast Boy and his, nope. That's your job." Growing more serious, she continued, "He'll listen to you."
"And what do I tell him?" Raven asked knowingly.
"Tell him- tell him I'm sorry," Blackfire said, forcing her words out, before the impish glint came back into her eyes. "And tell him I win."
Raven nodded, her small smile seeming to widen slightly. "I'll do that," she said. "You'll be careful?"
"Only if you are."
(scene change)
"I'll be careful, Starfire, I promise."
"But Robin, on such a dark night it would be easy to get lost, and you might meet something or someone dangerous, and-"
"Starfire, I just want to walk home, or at least take the R-cycle," Robin said with could only be described as good-natured exasperation as he looked down from Starfire's arms onto Jump City. "Besides, fighting crime's what we do."
"But you might get hurt, Robin!" Starfire said.
Robin sighed, but decided not to press the issue for now. Starfire meant well, after all. "Okay, Starfire," he said, admitting defeat, "I won't- uh oh, looks like rain."
"Oh no! Robin, we must find shelter!" Starfire said, heading downwards. "You might get struck by lightning, or catch a cold, or, or…" she said, trailing off in indecision.
"How about we go there?" Robin said, pointing to a restaurant with the sign 'Capo Di Tutti Capizza' above the front door. "I could use something to eat anyway."
"Ha-hey!" a jovial, rotund Italian man with a huge mustache greeted them, as waiters in 1930's style pinstripes clustered round. "Robin, Starfire! Howyadoin' eh, howyadoin'! You okay, Robin? Heard you was in the hospital after fightin' that big lizard."
"Nah, it wasn't much," Robin told him modestly, apparently ignoring the distressed look Starfire was trying to repress. "So, Pete, you got a table free? I'm starving"
"For you two, I always gotta table free," Pete said, ushering them to a table. "Can't have you two sitting outside, can I? Ah, here you go, nice quiet place, good for some romance, eh?" he said, and Starfire blushed a little. "So, one with everything on for Robin, and mustard topping for the lady, right?"
"That is correct, Mr. Pete," Starfire told him.
"What can I say, you guys come inn'ere too much," he said, smiling. "Now if you two'll excuse me, I'm gonna personally see to your order."
As the restaurant owner walked to the kitchen, so did Robin turn to Starfire, giving her a kind, but piercing look. "Okay, Starfire, what's up?" he asked.
"What do you mean, Robin?" she replied nervously.
"Starfire, you know I can take care of myself, but since I've got out of the hospital, you been doing nothing but try to keep me safe!"
"Is it wrong for me to do so?" Starfire asked hotly. "Then tell me if it is, and I won't do it any more."
"Starfire," Robin said softly, taking her hands in his, "It's not that I don't appreciate you trying to keep me safe, but you've never acted like this before. Come on, Star, it's not like that was the first time I was hurt, and certainly not the first time I ended up in the hospital."
"I know," Starfire whispered. "But this- this was different."
"Different? How?"
Starfire fell silent, and Robin had just about decided to admit defeat again when she asked, "Robin, will you promise not to be angry at me?"
"I'll try," Robin said.
Starfire nodded, before adding, "Robin, do you remember what happened when we fought that giant lizard?"
"How could I forget?" Robin said ruefully, rubbing his arm.
"When you became injured, I felt- I felt afraid."
"I told you, Star," Robin said gently, "That wasn't the first time I was hurt-"
"But it was the first time I thought you would die! I was afraid, Robin, so afraid," Starfire said, fear and sadness in her voice. "And I do not wish to feel like that ever again," she ended quietly.
"So what do you want me to do, Starfire?" Robin asked. "Quit the Titans? You know I can't do that."
"I just want you to be safe, Robin," Starfire pleaded.
"I'll try to do my best," Robin promised, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry, Starfire, I'm not going anywhere."
(scene change)
Great, just great, Beast Boy thought, as he walked along Jump City's streets in cat form, feeling the first raindrops begin to fall. I try to get some fresh air, and all of a sudden I'm in one of Raven's poems.
Raven. Now there was someone who he didn't want to think about- not that he appeared to have much choice about it, he realized glumly as he got under the roof of a run down bus stop near the ruined district. Her, and Blackfire…
Stupid Blackfire, coming in and showing off, making everybody think she was 'so cool', doing the exact same thing she did the last time she got here, except that this time Beast Boy was the only one she didn't fool, while the last time it was Starfire who-
"Fools are the ones least fooled," someone said from beside him.
Beast Boy looked up, surprised out of his reverie. "You were talking aloud," the bum sitting next to him rasped, his outline barely discernible in the darkness, even when seen through Beast Boy's feline eyes.
"Oh, sorry," Beast Boy said sheepishly, before the thought hit him. "Wait, you do realize you're talking to a cat, right?"
" 'Course I do," the bum said. "Tell the truth, you're pretty tame compared to what I normally see when I'm drunk, Beast Boy," he added good-naturedly as he drained the bottle he held.
"Heh, I'll bet- wait a minute, how did you know I'm Beast Boy?"
"Well, I am sober, and I have much better night vision than most mortals," Legion said, reverting to his normal voice. "Oh, look at yourself, Beast Boy," he said, smiling. "You look like a deer caught in the headlights! An apt description for someone of your talents, don't you think?"
You can take him, Beast Boy, you can take him, sure you can, his heart told him.
Yeah, right, his brain countered, the fur on his back standing on end as Beast Boy hissed and bared his teeth, ready to strike. The first move Legion made, Beast Boy would be ready.
"Go ahead, Legion," Beast Boy said, no mean feat for a cat. "Bring it on."
"Beast Boy, Beast Boy, Beast Boy," Legion said, shaking his head disparagingly. "Whatever makes you think you could defeat me? Especially now that you're all on your lonesome now?"
"Did it at the museum, didn't I?" Beast Boy said defiantly, and with perhaps a great deal more bravado than necessary.
Not that Legion seemed to mind. "Touché!" he laughed, adding, "That you did, my little green friend, that you did. And in single combat too, unlike your cheating 'friends'-"
"What do you want, Legion?" Beast Boy snapped, hoping that Legion wasn't able to see the momentary blush caused by an equally temporary surge of pride.
"Well, for one, it's not to fight," he said, holding up two empty hands. "Look Ma, no knives. Had I a white flag, I'd be waving it."
"I asked you a question," Beast Boy said, although his fur was already settling down.
"Straight to the point, eh? Alright, alright, fair enough, but I don't think you'll like it," Legion said, his tone still in that same conciliatory manner. "You see, Beast Boy, the matter I wish to speak to you of is, well, quite delicate, very personal, to you and me both, and, well, you understand-"
"It's about Raven, isn't it? That's who it's always about," Beast Boy said flatly, his fur starting to rise again.
"Well, yes," Legion said hesitantly, seemingly ignoring Beast Boy's growing anger. "I mean- no wait, what do you mean, 'that's who it's always about'?"
"None of your business," Beast Boy said.
"Very well," Legion shrugged. "Come now, Beast Boy, what is she to you? A magical hazard, that's what! You could always replace her, you know. I hear Supergirl's looking to join you guys, what about her?"
"You expect me to betray my friends for you?" Beast Boy asked, not quite believing Legion's bluntness.
"Why not?" Legion asked, his voce impatient. "Look, this is how it'd go- I take Raven, give her back to her father, and that's it! I'm out of your hair! Or fur, whichever you prefer. It's not like she would be missed."
There were a few seconds of shocked silence before Beast Boy spoke up. "You know what, Legion? You're right."
"I am?"
"Yeah, I can't beat you one on one, but the problem is, you can't beat me either. I'll just escape, and get my 'cheating friends' to help me kick your butt. So here's my offer: you go disappear, and I wont do that." With that Beast Boy slunk off, hoping Legion wouldn't call his bluff.
He hadn't got more than a few feet away when Legion called out salaciously, "Tell me, something Beast Boy."
"Don't go there, man don't go there," Beast Boy threatened, his voice a snarling whisper.
"It must be very galling indeed, when you find out that your lady love loves ladies! Oooh, how that must have hurt!"
Legion suddenly found himself pinned to the ground by a large green tiger "I told you not to go there, man," Beast Boy growled, his breath fogging Legion's vision, fangs dripping rainwater onto Legion's face. "And for your information, Raven's free to choose whoever she wants to."
"Oh really?" Legion snorted. "Is that what you truly believe, or is it what you tell yourself so you could sleep at night? No, wait!" Legion said, his eyes wide in terror, as Beast Boy raised a massive paw.
"What's the matter, Legion? You got attached to this clone or something?"
Legion said nothing, instead reaching up slowly to Beast Boy's paw, always making sure Beast Boy was paying attention, and quickly drawing the tip of his thumb across one of the claws.
The unmistakable smell of blood filled the air, even through the rain.
"You're real," Beast Boy said, not believing what he was smelling. "I mean-"
"That's right, Beast Boy, I'm the original Legion," he said. "No fakes here. And while you're considering that little factoid, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that while you have me pinned down here, you lifted one of your paws from my arm, which meant I had a perfectly good opportunity to strike you in your exposed belly."
That night was probably the first and only time a tiger went "ACK!" as it jumped off its prey. "Don't worry, Beast Boy. If I had intended to ambush and destroy you tonight, I would have already done so. But I didn't even bring my knives tonight."
"…Why?" Beast Boy asked.
Legion smiled ruefully. "Why all the trouble? I guess it's because I wanted you to trust me."
"Trust you? Why would I want to trust you? You want to hand over one of my friends over to a, a, a Demon Lord!"
"First off, considering how Raven has betrayed you, I don't think she's got the right to be your friend anymore. And second, even if she did, what makes you think I'm really going to hand her over to Trigon in the first place?"
"Huh, what?" Beast Boy asked, his eyebrows raised and his mouth as agape as far as his tiger form would allow.
"That's right, Beast Boy, you heard me. In fact, I promise you that if you give Raven to me, I will not only return her to you unharmed, but," his eyes narrowed into slits, "I will also ensure Blackfire ceases to trouble you, and the Titans anymore. Deal?"
"…I can't betray my friends," Beast Boy said at last.
"I know, Beast Boy, I know that. But I'm not asking you to betray your friends, am I?" Legion said. "At least, not those worthy to call you friend."
"Stop talking about Raven like that!" Beast Boy shouted.
"I wasn't talking about her," Legion said kindly. "I was talking about Blackfire."
"She's… she's my friend too, so you can just forget it."
"I am a demon, Beast Boy. I know when a person is lying."
"I'm not lying!" Beast Boy denied hotly.
The sad smile Legion gave him was all the reply Beast Boy needed. "She is my friend, she is… she is…"
"Don't worry, Beast Boy, I understand; you may need some time to think about it. When you have reached a decision, come to this bus stop. I'll be near."
"How'd you know I won't bring the other Titans?"
Despite the rain, Beast Boy heard Legion as he quietly replied, "You may not trust me, Beast Boy, but I trust you."
And with that, Legion walked off into the maze of rubble and construction areas behind him, while Beast Boy stood and watched, waiting for the rain to stop, wondering why he didn't pursue, and fearing the answer.