The reason I titled this chapter To Cut A Star In Half is simply this: a star is out of the reach of mankind. To cut a star in half would be to split something so powerful that it would be impossible for us to even conceive. The same is said for love. One can break apart two people, but one cannot break apart the connection these two have. In this chapter, Gar and Vesper admit their love – not to each other, but to their friends – thus the star is forming. Once completely formed, their bond (and the symbolic star) will never be cut.
DarkRae4Ever – Thank you: ) Enjoy the next chapter!
Fernnu – I have honestly the hardest time replying to your reviews, because every time I feel like I can't show you just how grateful I am. I feel that every situation in life calls for a bit of humor. I take it from my own life. My world isn't exactly wonderland. I've been very sick for a while now, but through it all I find enjoyment in things that make me laugh and grin. It's a needed part of existence. It's a needed part of my existence too. Sorry, didn't mean to throw that curveball at you. Otherwise, I'm so thankful you like my story! You make writing it so much more fun. As for your story, I love it! I hope you update it soon! Thank you so much!
Currently deceased and not happy about it – Let me start off with saying that I LOVE YOUR PEN NAME! I'm glad you love Sal! I'm glad you love all my loonies! I love them too. (Hugs loony people) I'll add more, surely!
DarkElf6 – Babe, no need to worry about the second job thing anymore. Couldn't handle it. But Neko could. Darn Neko, being able to handle everything. (lol) I'll be okay, I promise. Just…if anything happens, could you please…uh, I'll ask you somewhere else. I GIVE YOU MANY COOKIES! (sticks them in disc drive) Maiden wubs you! Hugs!
shadowstar2s – Your name is Beatrix? Get out. Man, I love that name! That's so cool; I like Beatrice or Beatrix. I gave her earrings because of her wings. Just like Cy and BB wear them to hide their extra-special features.
RavenluvsBB – It makes me happy you like Sal. I'll certainly do Jinx!
Robyn J. – You live in the Philippines? (checks your profile) Hey, you do! Boy, I'm dense. Korean students, eh? That little dashed word means that entire phrase? Maybe I should learn Korean… Yes, me loves Scheisse. You're writing a one shot? When? If you already made it and I missed it, can you send me the url? I'll read it and review! Yeah, I've also read quite a few fanfics with OCs that didn't seem to work so well with the plot. Trust me, if it had been any other setting, I wouldn't have used Sal. She's a special case. I'm so friggin hyped that you like her that much! Truth be told, I'm more like her in real life than I am like any other character I've ever made or read. Thanks for the site! I checked it out; it's really cool! I'll certainly do your villains! And you snap my crackle and pop! O.o
Nightmare and Shadow – You guys…worry me. I'm not even that insane when I'm manic, and I'm bipolar. Are you bipolar? Or just ADHD? Speaking of mental illnesses, would you like it if I made a fanfic diagnosing each Titan with a mental illness? The ADHD thing isn't bad. I have a friend who's ADHD and boy is he a bucket of fun. No, I'm serious. And in the bar scene I'll place your 'dashing' song! I absolutely love the lyrics! And if you sent me your email, I haven't gotten it yet. Either that or my computer is unwilling to show me. My computer is a bitch. I'll NEVER call you Catastrophe again, I promise! (gets on knees and begs forgiveness) I'm an ass, spank me! Besides, if you kill me, how will I finish the fic? There's some more Cyborg bashing in this chapter, does this please you ladies? And of course you're girls! No male would behave like you guys do, and that's a damn good thing. Women rule.
Disclaimer: I can't own anything without breaking it. Do you want me to break it?
Ch. 13: To Cut A Star in Half
Turning around, she reentered her room and slammed the door. She ran over to the phone on the corner nightstand, and as delicately as she could, picked it up and pressed the six.
Listening with bated breath, Vesper took in the conversation with valid interest.
"Hello, sir." James' rounded voice said, hushed and hesitant.
"Why, hello, James. Having a good day?" It was unmistakable. The sarcastic, lilting voice of Slade filtered through, as clear as ice and just as cold. Vesper felt her insides go numb and her head swim in black pools of fear.
"As good as they get, sir." James lied. Vesper knew he lied, but she didn't know if Slade would buy it or not.
"And pray tell, James, what is so good about blowing your cover?"
Vesper flinched and she was sure James did too.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I mean your little rendezvous with you dear ex, Raven, last night." Slade said, his voice growing sharper by the word. "Did you honestly think you could get away with a trick like that? Do not underestimate me, boy."
"N-no, sir," James' voice sounded shaky. "I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the mission. I want to see her dead just as badly as you."
This was certainly a new side to the Brit. Vesper had never heard him so servile, so puerile, so weak. He'd always come across as an arrogant bastard, but now he seemed bizarrely human, especially now that he was working for someone who was so obviously not.
"Then why the story time?" Slade mocked. "Last time I checked you were a doctor, not a raconteur. Do you want her to know the truth? You keep this up, boy, she'll learn the plan and stop you before your chance at revenge is complete. These last few months with her have been petty fun, James. It's time to step it up. Do you understand?"
A pause ensued. "Yes, sir, I understand."
Slade continued: "I know you once loved her, James. No doubt she is a… special …woman. But she killed Terra. She murdered your beloved sister. No one wants a monster like her to continue having what she took away so disastrously: life. The sooner she's dead, the sooner the world can rest in piece. Trust me, James. Do you trust me?"
This pause was longer, more pensive, more lost. "Yes, sir…I trust you."
"Good boy." She could almost see Slade's victorious eye. "The final steps towards the witch's demise will be set on the second of next month. Doubtless I'll see you there."
"I'll be there."
"Then the second it is. No more pretending, James. You don't have to feign ownership of her anymore. But Beast Boy on the other hand… Will you still have your fun with him?"
"Oh, yes, I will." James' twisted anger seemed to reform. The anemic tone in his voice was going away. Slade was feeding him what he craved most: a reason to hate. Just like Terra. "I'll make the naffing pig wish he was never born. Or at least, never met Raven."
"That's why I like you so much." Slade's voice lightened. "The second, it is."
"Indeed." James said. "Farewell, then."
"Farewell, Apprentice."
Two clicks followed. They were off.
Vesper put the receiver back, her form stiff and sore. So she was right; James was Terra's brother. He sought revenge. He sought an end to the life of the one he believed killed her. Unable to contain it, Vesper slammed her hand on the nightstand. How stupid could one get? Slade was obviously not the most trustworthy or safe person in the world. He worked for her father once, for Christ's sake! And her father was a reincarnation of Satan! She could understand completely from that vantage point why James or anyone would hate her, being the spawn of the devil and all, but to trust in a monster such as Slade to bring justice was inconceivable.
So.
She sat there, recounting all that happened in the last few days:
Ex-fiancé was not only a prick, but a prick working for an evil mastermind.
Said mastermind is Slade, once thought to be dead, but isn't.
Has – or had – imaginary friend.
Needs to confront Gar about true feelings.
Can't tell anyone about following James on the second to wherever it is he's going.
Apologize to Terra's…memorial…thing.
"I need a planner…" Vesper grumbled.
Jolting her from her mind was the insistent and loud scream of the phone. Gazing over at it fearfully, Vesper did not dare to pick it up at first. Not a lot of people called on this phone. Could it be…?
Just pick it up, she scolded herself, picking up the receiver.
"H-hello?" She closed her eyes. Please, don't let it be –
"Raven?" a lilting female voice queried.
Vesper opened her eyes, a thousand pounds of relief washing away from her. It seemed that whenever mental pressure was overwhelming it infected the body and made a momentary sickness sweep through the system. "S-Star?"
"Raven!" the voice perked up, and Vesper had to pull the receiver away from her ear to keep from becoming deaf.
"Yeah, it's me. What's going on?"
"My dear friend, I –"
"Wait." Vesper stopped her in advance. "Whenever you start the conversation with 'my dear friend', it means this isn't an ordinary check-up. Are you worried about me?"
"You are…quite insightful, friend." Kori said, her voice lacking in its brightness from the previous moment. "I fear that both Dick and I worry for your safety."
Vesper frowned as Kori said this, terrified of what she was insinuating. Was there some sort of possibility that they, too, were aware of something abnormal? "Th-there's no need to worry, Kori. Really, there isn't."
A shuddering breath cackled on the other end. "But Vesper, we are concerned about you and James."
"She's right, Vesper." Dick's voice followed a click. He was probably using the phone upstairs in the master bedroom. "Are you two okay? I mean, what happened on Christmas was rough. Are you guys better now?"
Tears began to well up in her eyes. Her friends cared. They really, truly cared. A multitude of times they had proved it to her, and she had always believed that love was best shown, not said. But even this day, so many years later, here they were, concerned for each other like they were still in the Tower.
"Just fine," she murmured. "I promise. We're over. It's all over. We're co-workers now. He and…Kelly are just fine together. He told me he was sorry about Christmas night and that the baby is doing well." This was all a lie. A lie about a lie. She felt as low as James, and probably deeper. Six-feet-deep kind of low. But if they knew the truth, it would tear the group apart.
Dick would fall back into his obsession, the nightmares once gone would return. He and Kori would suffer endlessly. Victor would risk all he had for his friends. Bee would join the fray if her husband would. What about the twins? Roland? What about Gar? Damn, it would hit him the hardest. He loved Terra. Loved her. If she had stayed alive the outcome would have been so different. She and he would have probably been married, too. In some respects, Vesper knew she could never compare to Terra. For Gar to know that she was being pulled into the ring around the sinner's death…it would devastate him. Reawaken old wounds. Pull them apart. He couldn't know. And if James was still going to 'have his fun' with the one man she ever truly loved, all would be lost.
"Are you sure, Vesper?" Kori asked one last time. "Will we see you tomorrow at Cale's?"
"Yes, of course!" Vesper said with mock-cheerfulness. "In fact, Gar's going to be my date."
Kori squealed. "Truly?"
"And this is the part where I hang up." Dick said, chuckling. "Are you sure you'll be okay, Rae?"
"Will be and already am." Vesper said again. "Don't make me burn that into you. Literally."
"Ehehe, bye, then." Dick said, and his line clicked.
A moment followed before: "So, you and Gar will be there together? As a date?"
Vesper smiled. "Yeah, Kor. As a date."
"I am so pleased for you, Vesper." Kori sounded sincere. It was wonderful to have a friend like her, now that she could appreciate all the years behind them. "Do you love him?"
A long pause followed. This was it. "Yes, I think I do."
Instead of squealing again, Kori said in a very satisfied and warm voice: "I am sure he feels the same, if you do not mind my saying. I am very happy for you."
"Thanks, Star." Vesper murmured. "You're a great friend."
"As are you, Raven." Kori took a breath. "Then I shall see you tomorrow! Roland and I look forward to seeing you!"
"I look forward to seeing you too. Bye, Star."
"Farewell, Raven."
Vesper rubbed her eyes, exhaustion settling in. She had to call Gar before –
"Have a nice little chat?"
"None of your business," she raised her head to see James standing at the entrance to the room. He had a cocky grin plastered over his face. Once she would have melted into that smile, but now was so different. She had lived many lifetimes between then and now. Standing up, she pushed past him, entering the hall and walking on.
"Where are you going?" he asked as she stormed off.
"Don't be such a cock-arse," she sneered. "Go away."
"Well, ouch," James frowned as he watched her turn the corner. But as she did, his demeanor changed yet again. He slinked into her room, eyes very guarded and alert. It had to be here somewhere. Ah, yes, the stand! He went to the white cabinet next to the bed and opened the drawer. There, next to a stack of medicines, was her purse. He pulled it out, knocking over bottles of Zoloft and lithium. Their contents spilled on impact, but he kicked some under the bed.
"Let's see here…" he placed the purse on the bed, digging around in it until he found what he desired. It was fairly empty, surprisingly. Most abysses in this universe were found in women's bags. It made it rather easy to find it – her phone book. Flipping open the pages, he found the number under the 'L' section. "Garfield Logan…" Looking at the digits, he memorized the cell number before putting everything back where it was. The purse was slammed back into the cupboard and he scooted out of there faster than anyone could say 'crazy ole' Brit!'.
As he turned off down the hall, he saw Vesper bolting from the room where Loraine was working.
"What the hell do you mean, the hair on the back of my head is blue!" Loraine screamed from inside the office, clearly still fighting the hangover. And clearly she had more fun after most everyone went home yesterday.
He couldn't help but laugh. As Vesper passed him, she threw him a crooked smile, and he couldn't help but smile back. But as she left, he dropped the smile. Raven was a monster. He hated her. Didn't he?
Didn't he?
"About time!" Garfield Logan hollered as he greeted his friends.
Vic and Bee Stone sauntered into the restaurant, the wife not looking the husband in the eye and husband following the wife like a whipped puppy. Gar knew better than to ask. He had been waiting for fifteen minutes in this lovely, quaint French restaurant twenty minutes from Dick's residency for his dear friend and his wife. But maybe it had been better to have called ahead and asked if anything was wrong. Because something was.
"Sorry, suga!" Bee enveloped Gar in a tight, almost painful hug. "Had some problems back at the hotel."
Taking one look at Victor, Gar bit his lip. "I think I'll sit that one out."
"Good boy." Bee grinned almost evilly. "So, where're we sitting?"
Gar muttered to Victor as a server came and lead the trio back to a table in the corner: "And she used to be so friendly, too."
"It's a woman's curse to bear children," Vic muttered back, "and it's a man's curse to live with it."
"Ow," Gar cringed. Believe it or not, he had always wanted to have children. Many children. Of course, one would ponder if that was the safest desire in the world, especially if one had seen Gar in his adolescent youth. To see the self-proclaimed Prankster Prince be a father – well, it would make more sense to call him a Ringleader. But maturity and life experience always paved a more concrete road, and Gar was sure fatherhood was something he always wanted to live through. And – he noted with a slight blush – he knew just the right woman. If ever that were possible.
"Hey, man, you're kinda red in the cheeks. You okay?" Vic asked as they all sat down.
"Peachy like a mango, dude." Gar plastered a fake grin, embarrassed that they noticed the tinge.
"So, what's up with you?" Bee asked as she flipped open her menu. "I heard you and Vesper got together yesterday."
"Yeah, her work had a get-together and she invited me." Gar shrugged, trying to play nonchalant. "No biggie."
"'No biggie'?" Vic finally lightened up, even under his wife's strict survey. "Man, I know you been hooked on her since the Tower. Try tellin' me that you and her isn't big."
"I-it isn't, dude!" Gar chuckled nervously. "Seriously! Rae and I are, like, best friends!"
"Uh huh…" Bee nodded furtively. "The only time you use 'like' in that context is when you're nervous."
"No, I don't." Gar said a bit too quickly.
"Yeah, you do." Vic chuckled, nudging his buddy in the ribs with his elbow. "And since when do you call her Rae?"
"Since…now." Gar frowned. "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that you're totally denying your feelings for the girl you're whomped over!" Vic raised his voice in amusement.
"I'm not whomped!" Gar snorted. "And your vocabulary skills suck! What are you, sixteen?"
"And what are you? A surfer, dude?" Bee mimicked a surfer's 'gnarly' accent as she said this.
Just then, to Gar's immense relief, the waiter came over and asked for their drink and appetizer orders. Bee and the waiter argued for five minutes. She wanted peanut butter on her mushrooms. The poor man kept insisting that they had no peanut butter. But after a large and unendingly uncomfortable ruckus, someone from the back screamed: "We'll get her the damned peanut butter if she just shuts up!" But by that time Bee had done her damage to the waiter's ego, and he ran off in tears.
"Five more months, just five more months," Vic was pleading and praying to a spot on the ceiling.
Gar just tried to settle it the more adult way, though he had no clue about what he was doing. He laid his hand on Bee's and smiled softly. "You know, you look very pretty today."
Bee flushed at the comment. "Aww, thanks, suga!" She put her hand to her chest.
"Of course!" he said. "You'll make a terrific mother. The twins'll sure be lucky." And truthfully, he meant every word.
"Gar, you're one heck of a man. You make sure to have kids, you hear?"
"I hear." Gar leaned back in his seat, noting Victor's expression of awe from the corner of his eye.
"I'm sure Vesper'd like kids." The husband said out of the corner of his mouth loudly enough so that only Gar could hear.
"I'm sure she would." Gar felt his cheeks heating up again. "Can we change the subject?"
"No."
"But –"
"C'mon, Gar. It's obvious you like her."
"And she likes you too." Bee added.
"Well, it's not like you– She does?" Gar did a double-take.
Bee smiled. "Well, it's not like she outright said it, but it's very clear. I mean, from the perspective of a professional. I can see it in her eyes. She looks at you just like Vic looked at me before I got infected with his spawn." This last part was said with venom. Vic recoiled. Gar sat very, very still. Beatrice just smiled at her husband. "Right, hun?"
"R-r-r-r-right, baby."
"Ummm…" Gar was afraid to speak up.
"Oh, Gar, believe me!" She returned to the topic at hand. "You have got to hook up with this girl or I'll open a can of whoop-ass on your green bootie, you read me?"
"Loud and clear!" Gar grinned anxiously. "But don't worry, Bee, I invited her to Cale's tomorrow."
Victor, who had been curled up in the corner since his wife's berating, sat up straight. "Nu uh!"
Beatrice was also pleasantly surprised. "There you go, takin' the initiative. I'm proud of you. You gonna tell her how you feel?"
Gar figured there was no turning back. It was as clear as daylight that there was chemistry between him and Vesper, not only when he spoke about it, but when they were together. There was something about the way she so stubbornly hid her susceptibility. Her pride was evident, her fear of weakness was plain, her beauty and wisdom were undeniable, and her determination to survive all made her absolutely the most perfect woman he could ever imagine.
Damn him for not seeing it years earlier.
He had seen her as something similar when they were teens, but he had gone about proving it all wrong. In some instances it had pushed them farther apart, and in some fortunate instances it brought them closer together. Bee was right, now that he thought about it. There was something in the way Vesper – er, Raven – looked at him. Something he had only seen once before, years ago. But this, this was deeper. If eternity could capture her eyes, there would be a second moon. And he was sure, now that he thought about it, that he gazed upon her radiantly pale face with the same adulation. The same yearning. The same…
The same…
Love.
"Yoohoo, grass stain." Victor waved his hand in front of Gar's face. "Listen to my woman, man!" This was an apparent attempt to redeem himself in his wife's eyes.
"Sorry, Vic." Gar said to his best friend, then looked at Bee. "Yeah, Bee. I will."
"You are a good boy." She grinned.
And the waiter came back, tray shaking noisily under his trembling hands.
I am not a sinner
But I can't heal your wounds
I am not a warrior
But I won't live at home
It's a path every soul must take –
Whether to live or whether to break
And your love has given me the chance
To step outside my box
To face the world's demands
Just follow through
Look both ways before you leap
Color outside the lines
Don't underestimate the gift of your wings
Hold on to your secret keep
And in your darkest hour
Don't forget the hope that you bring
I am not a sinner
But I can't heal your wounds
I am only able to tell you what I know:
Belief brings life for many moons
Sorry, terribly short. I've been under the weather lately. I just couldn't make it to the computer.
So, here's next time's menu: The meeting of BB and James and the beginning of Cale's Only about a fifty chapters and a billion years left for this story to finish (I know, that's how it feels for you guys, doesn't it? I'm so sorry. Really, I am.)
Lists! These I am NOT sorry for! (O dear Lord, I just ended that sentence with a preposition…) Role 'em:
Jinx:
You have a thing for 'black chocolate', but the only people who hang around you are midgets
Pink is EVIL! Evil! And you like it that way! You (and your beloved Jinx idol) make pink a maniacal fashion statement
You call your principle 'Brother Blood' even if the principal is a she
When you get into a fight at school – or anywhere else – you holler: "Attack pattern alpha!" Your enemies are then unable to fight because they are laughing too hard
You make witchcraft look sexy
Blackfire:
What's wrong with dressing like people you hate and stealing their boyfriends?
If you had the power, you too, would hire an army's worth of empty spaceships and sit them outside your house
Foreign boys with unpronounceable names have an odd appeal
You get along with everyone, even if you're planning their demise
The little sister should WORSHIP you
Slade:
Even when you're gone, you aren't really gone…
You own a black eye patch and wear it whenever the show is on (I see you, Slade…)
Evil, satanic people attract you. You may be afraid of them, but they'll never know it because not only are you a baddie, you're a mime on the side! (random, excuse me)
You have an affinity for ruining families and stalking the daughter (being Raven)
On one wall, you have a picture of Robin with spears in it. On the opposite wall is the Boy Wonder's piccie surrounded with hearts.
Mad Mod:
People aren't people. They're DUCKIES!
Even when your friends are sick, you drag them to school, because there's no better place to be
Why look for the fountain of youth when you can just steal life from others with a shiny staff that wasn't really real the first time you used it…?
You demand that at school you no longer have to say the pledge of allegiance to the darned American flag
If you were gay, you'd date James, because that blonde is just that swanky
Mumbo:
In your jail cell, you play with finger puppets
You have a voyeuristic side to yourself that just loves the color blue
When you tried to cut a girl in half, she stopped breathing and bled everywhere
You have no hope of magically duking it out with a half-demon if you believe your hat holds ultimate power
You're not afraid of your femininity (I think the dude's totally stretching the queer line!)
Seriously, all, this fic will ultimately be coming to a close. The final encounter is drawing near and, as said in the summary, Beast Boy will have a little 'inner self' issue. Promise. I'm so sorry it takes me so long to do this.
Isaac Out!