Chapter Eight: Fun in the sun, 1912 Style
Raven escorted the Titans throughout the ship, touring many of the places she had been to in her fit of rage. She pointed out several features, as well as showing them how to get to certain important places, such as the elevators, the boat deck, and the dining areas. On the Boat deck, they enjoyed the sun and fresh air. Eventually, they all found some benches to sit on and relax.
Beast Boy inhaled the fresh, sea air. "Wow, we ought to go on cruises more often!" he said.
"Yeah, right!" Cyborg said sarcastically. "It costs, what, at least a thousand bucks?"
"Oh, I don't think it's that much." Terra said. "Rob-, er, Tim, do you think Bruce can spare some change when we get back for us to take a trip to sea?"
He laughed. "Yeah, if I can get a hold of him!"
Cyborg snapped his fingers. "What about Dick? Isn't he rich too?"
He referred, of course, to Robin's predecessor, who was now Nightwing (an identity that Robin, according to Starfire, would one day have).
"I'd hate to ask him. He's like a big brother to me, but I'll see if he can spare something."
He stared out to sea, hoping that he would be able to see his old friends again. He shuddered at the idea that they might be stuck in the past. His reverence was interrupted by Beast Boy.
"Hey, um, Rachel! What other things are there to do?"
"Getting bored, Garfield?" she said, smugly.
'Don't start this again!' Robin thought.
"I just would like something to do, aside from walking around and staying in our room all the time! We're not all like you, you know."
Raven was tempted to smack him, but contained herself.
"Let's find a brochure or something and see what there is."
She got up and led the Titans to the gymnasium. While there, she picked up a couple of brochures. Starfire, meanwhile, looked around the room.
"This is a gym?" Beast Boy muttered.
Starfire ignored him, her attention caught by the pair of exercise bicycles.
"Tim! Those look like fun!" she said pointing to the bikes.
"You want to ride them?" he asked her.
"I want both of us to ride them!"
She looked at him with the expression of a needy child. Robin couldn't resist.
"Okay then." he said. "Where can we meet you, Rachel?"
She thought for a moment. "I don't know. Try our room for starters. If we're not there, then one of the places I showed you."
Robin nodded. "Fine. Okay, Kori, let's see what you got!" The two of them walked to the bikes.
"Cute." said Terra.
They left the gym and sat down on one of the benches to look through the brochure.
"Hey, a swimming pool!" said Beast Boy.
"Yeah, but look at this part." said Terra, pointing out something.
"What?" the changeling exclaimed after reading it. "Separate hours for men and women? What the hell? What fun is that?" He sighed.
Raven shrugged. "It's 1912 fun, so deal with it."
Terra noticed something else. "Here, look at this!" She pointed. "A tennis court! You know, I used to play tennis as a little girl."
Beast Boy stared at her. "I guess that's how you're so fit, huh?" he said.
She nodded, smiling. "Come on, let's try that!" she said, excitedly. "Rachel, can you show us how to get there?"
Raven sighed. "Sure, anything to get you two out of my hair."
Terra chuckled. "Yeah, what there is of it!"
Raven glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing!" Terra and Beast Boy laughed together.
Raven sighed in annoyance. They went inside, took an elevator from 'A' deck down to 'D' deck and walked the rest of the way until they came to the tennis court.
"There you two go." Raven told them. "Hope you have fun. You know how to find us."
With that, she and Cyborg left them.
"Well," he said. "Where do you want to go?"
She thought for a moment. "Come on, I have the perfect spot!"
They took the elevator back to 'A' deck. From there, she led him to the forecastle and eventually to the prow, where she was earlier that morning.
"What are we here for?" he asked.
"Just come here and look!" she told him. She brought him to the railing. Cyborg looked down, seeing the bow cut through the water. He slowly looked up, stopping at the horizon.
"Incredible!" he whispered, holding the railing tightly. "It's like the power of the ship is behind me! I can feel it! It's amazing!"
Raven smiled at him. "I know, Cy." She sighed.
"This is where I really changed my mind. I felt guilty after seeing all the other kids on board. I just couldn't face the fact of letting them die."
Cyborg put a hand on her shoulder. "We all make decisions like that once in a while. Sure, not all of them will end up with someone dying. But we do make choices that seem right to us at first, then turn out to be stupid and foolish later."
Raven glared at him. "So you're saying I was stupid and foolish?"
"No! Of course not!"
"Why not? It would be true."
"Well, your decision was foolish." he admitted. "But you yourself aren't stupid!"
She stared at him. "Thanks." Her expression brightened. "Come on, let's go some place more comfortable."
"Where'd you have in mind?"
She thought for a moment. "I was thinking of the First Class lounge. Come on!" She led him to their destination, which took nearly ten minutes to get to from the forecastle.
The lounge was beautifully furnished and richly decorated. It seemed a perfect environment to relax in. Raven took Cyborg to one of the few unoccupied sofas. They both sat down and let out a sigh of relief.
"You really think things will be as easy as Tim thinks they will be?" Cyborg asked.
"What do you mean?" she replied.
"You know," he whispered. "That all we have to do is shove a big piece of ice aside to save the ship?"
"Oh! Well, there could be some challenges, but I don't see why there would be anything that would complicate it. It's a simple plan."
"Earlier today, you didn't think so."
"What do you mean?"
"How opposed you were to the plan to save the ship."
"Look, I told everyone I was sorry, okay, so let's drop it."
"Okay. I just wanted to make sure you're cool with things now."
"I am cool, okay? Look, if we're just going to talk about what happened this morning, than I can just leave."
"I'll change the subject, okay? Please don't leave."
Raven sighed. "Alright. But no more about this morning."
"Sure. One thing though..."
"What?"
"I think it was funny how you teased Beast Boy!"
"Did you see me actually doing it?"
"Part of it. I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to get you in trouble."
"I appreciate that."
"I would've done the same thing if I was in your position."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'd have teased him somehow." He glared at her. "Think you would've covered for me?"
"I think so. That or I would've just ignored the whole thing."
"That's good to know." He sighed. They regarded each other for a moment,
"Mind if I ask you something?" Raven asked.
"Not at all."
"Do you...that is, um. Do you ever feel the need to have someone?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know how Robin and Starfire have each other? And how Terra has Beast Boy? Do you ever feel you want someone?"
"Oh." He sighed. "I'll be honest with you. Sometimes, I get that way around Bumblebee."
"Really?"
"Just sometimes! Not all the time. Besides, I'm not sure if she feels the same way."
"She might. You just have to ask her."
"I know." He chuckled. "I did sort of have something for Jinx once."
"What!"
"It was only for a short time when I was at the H.I.V.E academy."
"I can't believe it." Raven shook her head.
"Neither can I. But I'm over her now."
"That's nice to know." She sighed. "You know, I often had the view that you're a ladies man."
"Really?"
"Yeah. When ever we go out, you somehow get the attention of a number of girls. They hang around you and Beast Boy. Well, that is until Terra came back. Then they just hang around you."
"I see. You know, they also take off when you're around too."
"I guess they don't know that I'm only keeping you guys out of trouble."
"So I just have to say that you're our mother?" He laughed.
"Please! I've had enough with mothers after Mother Mae Eye visited us!"
"Oh yeah, I remember that one! You looked cute in that dress!"
"Watch it, tin man, or you'll be in a raincoat and tutu."
"Oooo, that's cold!"
Raven laughed at him. "Come on, I need to meditate."
"Mind if I come with you?"
"Not at all."
They left the lounge and made way for their cabin. Raven unlocked the door to the girls' room (she had taken the key back from Starfire before she served as the Titan's tour guide) and sat on her bed. Cyborg closed the door and took a seat on one of the chairs. Feeling relaxed, Raven opened the porthole, allowing a fresh cool breeze inside.
"Wonderful!" she said.
Cyborg cleared his throat. "Mind if I ask you something?" he said, a tinge of nervousness in his voice.
"What?" Raven replied.
"You ever wanted someone?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, you asked me, so I'm asking you."
Raven sighed, regretting her conversation. "I sometimes get that way."
"I remember how you feel for Aqualad once."
"Please! That was nothing more than a stupid crush!"
"Ah, so you did have a crush on old pretty boy!"
"He wasn't a pretty boy. In fact, Speedy matches that description a lot more than Aqualad did."
"You ever have a thing for Speedy?"
"No. And neither for Aqualad."
"Liar!" He laughed.
"I just thought he was cute, that's all. So did Starfire!"
"Starfire, I could see. Emotions are a big part of her life. You on the other hand..."
"Emotions are big in my life too, just in a different way than Star's. Look, can we drop the thing about Aqualad? That's ancient history. "
"What did happen to your crush on him?"
"Lost interest."
"That's it?"
"I never got to know him. Plus, he gave me the cold shoulder anyway."
"Uh huh. Anyone else."
"Not really."
"You never had a thing for Beast Boy?"
"Where'd you get that idea?"
"Some friends of mine on the internet asked about it. Some think that the two of you got it going on and that Terra barged in."
Raven scoffed, trying to contain her laughter. "Of all the...! Look, Beast Boy is definitely not my type! He's more like a little brother to me if anything! Sure, I care for him and sometimes tolerate a hug or two from him. But as for a thing between us, forget it!"
"So seeing him with Terra doesn't make you jealous?"
"She can have him all he wants! He's happy, she's happy, and I'm happier that he doesn't try his lame jokes or moves on me all the anymore. And of course, he stopped trying to get me to play video games."
"Some people also think you and Robin might have a thing. That you two make a cute couple."
Raven laughed more than Cyborg had ever seen her laugh before. "Of all the ideas!" She managed to catch her breathe and wiped the tears out of her eyes. It was, of course, a rouse. She couldn't tell Cyborg the truth. Otherwise, he'd never let it down. Plus, he could accidentally mention it in Starfire's presence and she would probably attack her in a fit of jealousy.
"Robin is also like a brother to me, a big brother. Besides, I know that Starfire would go nuts if I or anyone else tried anything on him."
"So you two aren't love birds then, huh?"
"Not a snowball's chance in hell." She started to believe her own lie. "And that goes double for Beast Boy." That needed no effort in believing on her part.
"Hmmm, my friends are going to be a bit surprised then." He then chuckled. "Some even owe me money now!"
"Any more questions?"
He thought for a moment. "Yeah, what was up with you and Malchior?"
She heaved a sigh. "I regret that. I let my feelings of longing cloud my judgment. It was a stupid thing to do. I just was tired of being alone and unloved."
"But you realized that you're not alone, and that you do have love, right?"
"True." She regarded him. "I learned just how much I was loved when you all risked everything to save me during the end of the world."
"Yeah, that. Of course, you helped us too, you know."
"I know." Raven sighed. "I think I ought to meditate."
Cyborg nodded. Seeing nothing better to do, he decided on a nap. He heard Raven mutter her chant as she drifted off to a meditative state.