Disclaimer: I own nothing, not the world, not teen titans and not the
words to the song Mainstream by Thea Gilmore
Hand in Hand
Chapter Thirteen: Mainstream
"They had better hurry up." Grumbled Cyborg as his stomach rumbled loudly. He glared at the menu and picked several full meals that he would be ordering if the others were any later. One 'o'clock Raven had said. It was now fast past one and he and Starfire were the only ones that had turned up.
"Where do you think they are friend Cyborg?" asked Star as she too viewed the lists of pizza that were written down.
Cyborg shrugged and turned his attention away from the menu as a waitress showed up. She had a notepad in her hand and smiled brightly at them, "Can I take your order darlin'?"
"Should we order for our friends?" asked Starfire chewing on her lower lip.
Cyborg shrugged again, "Yeah, might as well, because Cyborg's getting' pretty hungry and we always have the same anyway."
"Okay, worker at the court of food, I wish to order!"
The waitress looked taken aback at the alien girl's happiness; she did however quickly regain her composure and she laughed, "Go on then darlin'. Order away."
"I will have three pizzas of the cheese. Large and one pizza of the pepperoni. I would also like six cans of the soda and mustard of the hot." Star smiled as she ticked off the meals she knew her friends were like, "Oh and one pizza of the tofu!"
The waitress wrote it all down quickly, "Okay, I'll back in twenty minutes."
##Headstrong heavy weather, going at it hell for leather,
Red lights flashing on some little pop song,
Boys get out your Balzac the empire's gonna strike back,
The critics and the diplomats are living in a tin shack##
The waitress moved away just as Raven sat down next to Starfire, "I see you've ordered. Good."
"Friend Raven! Did you have fun? Did you find what you were looking for?" chirped Star turning in her seat to face her gothic friend.
Raven seemed confused for a minute, her eyes widened, she'd put her book back on the shelf...oh darn...she's have to go back and get it later if she had the chance. She quickly covered her bemused expression, "Oh, no I didn't."
"That is too bad."
"Yeah, yeah that's too bad." Interrupted Cyborg, "Where is everyone?"
Raven looked over her shoulder, "Well I was sure Robin was right behind me..." she trailed off and shrugged, "How should I know? I'm not their keeper?" she snapped out of the blue.
Cyborg held up his hands, "Whoa I wasn't saying otherwise. Chill."
##Break neck full tilt climb the ladders they built,
Angels in the abattoir are junking up a good guitar,
State city bandwidth, you don't get the language,
But don't pick on the girl that's only turning on the light switch##
A breathless Beast Boy suddenly slumped in the seat next to Cyborg startling them all. Seconds later a dizzy looking Aqualad and Terra stumbled into the food court with little imaginary stars running around their heads.
"Sorry we're late..." gasped Beast Boy between breaths, "We were...in the...arcade."
Terra sort of fell into the chair next to Beast Boy, she grasped her head, "Next time Beast Boy, please let go of me when you run somewhere."
Aqualad echoed her suggestion in his own words as he sat between Raven and Cyborg. Raven smiled at him, an empty smile, but a smile none the less. Aqualad grinned back and then grinned at Terra who covertly gave him the thumbs up sign.
"Friends! Tell me where you went?" asked Starfire.
"To the arcade!" cried Beast Boy looking pointedly at Cyborg, "You so should have been there Cy, it was awesome, I was creaming all these people at this new game."
"BB," said Aqualad in a tired tone, "You were challenging passers-by the chances are they have never played a video game in their life."
"Everyone's played video games." Protested the green changeling looking forlornly at them all, as if trying to get them to agree.
"No they haven't and you practically ignored Terra the whole time you were there." Aqualad said glaring at him.
Beast Boy's jaw dropped, "Dude no way." He looked at Terra quickly who smiled weakly, "Is that what you think babe?" he asked in a hurt tone, "I was only having fun."
Terra sighed and leaning over she kissed him quickly, "I know BB, its okay."
##Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Or are you gonna make like lightning,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream##
Robin suddenly dropped into the spare seat between Terra and Starfire, "Hey guys." He said. He had a brown paper bag under one arm. He put it under the table on his knee as he sat down.
"Hello friend Robin please tell me what you have purchased?" asked Starfire grinning at him.
Robin smiled knowingly and tapped the side of his nose, his mood seemed much improved since they had arrived at the mall, "Let's just call it an early Christmas present."
Starfire's hands flew to her mouth in horror, "I have not purchased any of the gifts that I wish to give for the celebration!"
"Relax Star," said Robin leaning over to her and gently pulling her ands down from her face, "It's only November, you've got like a month and a half yet."
Terra wrinkled her nose, "Yeah, I guess I better start buying gifts as well." The blonde pulled out her purse and looked dubiously at the contents, "I may have to withdraw some cash out of the bank."
The sodas and mustard arrived on a silver tray as Beast Boy grinned and said, "Well I've already bought all of mine." He pointed to his chest, "Am I great or what? What about you three?"
Cyborg who was downing his sodas fast as he could, paused wiped his mouth and said with a rueful grin, "I'm all done too, unless you know anything catches my eye in the Xmas sales." He shrugged, "I thought I'd get it done early in case prices went up."
Raven blinked, "I...I hadn't even thought of Christmas."
Aqualad looked at them all, "In Atlantis, we do not celebrate Christmas."
Six pairs of eyes looked at him in surprise. Cyborg's jaw was on the floor, "Say what?"
"You do not celebrate Christmas?" asked Starfire uncertainly, "That is sad."
"Yeah, it's a real shame." Put in Robin smiling slightly.
##Heads up they'll say history was a big mistake,
Chews you up and spits you out then asks you what the lips about,
An old tin army a young James Dean,
And another kind of war that is raging in your bloodstream##
Aqualad shrugged, "We've never had any need to celebrate on December the twenty-fifth. It is not special to us." He looked at their disbelieving faces, "We don't need a special day as a reason to give each other gifts, although we do have a few occasions." He waved a hand, "It doesn't matter."
Beast Boy's eyes were as wide as dinner plates, "Dude how can you not celebrate Christmas, it's like a rule! Everybody does it!"
"Actually Jehovah's witnesses don't celebrate either." Put in Robin helpfully.
"Not helping!" hissed Beast Boy.
"I have an idea!" proclaimed Starfire suddenly as the pizzas all arrived five minutes early, "Oh thank you!" she beamed up at the waitress who smiled back and left without saying a word, Starfire turned back to her friends who were all digging in to their food, "Friends I have an idea!" they all paused and looked at her, "Why doesn't Aqualad spend Christmas with us at the tower?"
This was met by several nods and mumbles of confirmation.
"Oh great." Muttered Robin sarcastically but before any one could notice he plastered a smile on his face, "That'd be great."
Aqualad looked around at them all, "If you're all sure...I wouldn't want to impose."
"Oh you won't be!" assured Starfire grabbing at a slice of pizza before Beast Boy and Cyborg devoured it all, "It will be glorious to have you there!"
"Well in that case," Aqualad said glancing sideways at Raven, "I'd be honoured to." He frowned, "I suppose I would have to but gifts now as well."
"That's not necessary." Said Raven in a dull tone, "We don't expect that of you."
Aqualad smiled, "No...but I suppose I want to. If you're gonna invite me I might as well get you all something."
"Wonderful!" declared Starfire clapping her hands, "As soon as we arrive back at the tower I shall create a new happy pudding!"
Everyone who was eating slowly turned green and placed their half- eaten bits of pizza back on the plates. They swallowed what they were chewing and looked at each other nervously.
##Wildfire, wild card this girl's been barred,
They drew the weapon read the rules and sent the rebels back to school,
They'll book you for the next crime, catch you in the nick of time,
So don't trust the captain who is sailing in a straight line##
"Uh, maybe it would be better if you saved your pudding for Christmas." Suggested Robin gently while at the same time praying to every God he knew that she would forget.
"What a wondrous idea! I shall write it in my calendar!"
There were various groans from around the table.
Robin looked down at his pizza and pushed his plate away he took a few mouthfuls of his own soda to wash away the imaginary taste of 'happy pudding'. He looked around him and wasn't surprised to see others doing the same. "So where are we off to next?"
All eyes turned to Raven.
##Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Or are you gonna make like lightning,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream##
She shifted slightly under their gaze; it was already nearing two o'clock, "Uh, the movies?"
"An excellent idea!" cried Starfire draining the last of the mustard bottle.
Everyone nodded their approval.
"Yeah, let's go see that The Day After Tomorrow!" suggested Robin.
"We'll decide when we get there." Said Raven firmly as she rose from her seat. The others followed suit.
"Oh man, this is sweet!" muttered Beast Boy to Cyborg, "I hope we go and see a comedy!"
"Nah, Sci-Fi is much better."
"Comedy."
"Sci-Fi."
"We'll decide when we get there." Repeated Raven as she turned around her eyes blazing, "Now shut up and get in the T-car!"
"I do not wish to ride in such cramped conditions again!" squealed Starfire as the others piled in.
"You can ride with me then Star." Said Robin handing her a red helmet that he's been hiding God knows where.
The bubbly alien girl jammed in on her head. "I cannot see a thing Robin!"
Robin paled, "Uh, no Star you put it on the other way round." He helped her take it off and she quickly rectified her mistake.
Robin swung his leg over his bike and sat down, he felt Starfire sit down behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"We'll see you there!" yelled Beast Boy as the T-car pulled out of the parking lot at a speed that was not normally classed as safe.
##Say your prayers stay polite, busy saving daylight,
Age plays dirty tricks you're looking like a counterfeit,
Who's gonna train us can you really blame us? ##
Robin's bike roared out into the road after the T-car, it sped past the pedestrians and other cars as if it were in a race, and in a way it was.
##Who's gonna train us can you really blame us?
If we grow up we're all going to be famous! ##
Hand in Hand
Chapter Thirteen: Mainstream
"They had better hurry up." Grumbled Cyborg as his stomach rumbled loudly. He glared at the menu and picked several full meals that he would be ordering if the others were any later. One 'o'clock Raven had said. It was now fast past one and he and Starfire were the only ones that had turned up.
"Where do you think they are friend Cyborg?" asked Star as she too viewed the lists of pizza that were written down.
Cyborg shrugged and turned his attention away from the menu as a waitress showed up. She had a notepad in her hand and smiled brightly at them, "Can I take your order darlin'?"
"Should we order for our friends?" asked Starfire chewing on her lower lip.
Cyborg shrugged again, "Yeah, might as well, because Cyborg's getting' pretty hungry and we always have the same anyway."
"Okay, worker at the court of food, I wish to order!"
The waitress looked taken aback at the alien girl's happiness; she did however quickly regain her composure and she laughed, "Go on then darlin'. Order away."
"I will have three pizzas of the cheese. Large and one pizza of the pepperoni. I would also like six cans of the soda and mustard of the hot." Star smiled as she ticked off the meals she knew her friends were like, "Oh and one pizza of the tofu!"
The waitress wrote it all down quickly, "Okay, I'll back in twenty minutes."
##Headstrong heavy weather, going at it hell for leather,
Red lights flashing on some little pop song,
Boys get out your Balzac the empire's gonna strike back,
The critics and the diplomats are living in a tin shack##
The waitress moved away just as Raven sat down next to Starfire, "I see you've ordered. Good."
"Friend Raven! Did you have fun? Did you find what you were looking for?" chirped Star turning in her seat to face her gothic friend.
Raven seemed confused for a minute, her eyes widened, she'd put her book back on the shelf...oh darn...she's have to go back and get it later if she had the chance. She quickly covered her bemused expression, "Oh, no I didn't."
"That is too bad."
"Yeah, yeah that's too bad." Interrupted Cyborg, "Where is everyone?"
Raven looked over her shoulder, "Well I was sure Robin was right behind me..." she trailed off and shrugged, "How should I know? I'm not their keeper?" she snapped out of the blue.
Cyborg held up his hands, "Whoa I wasn't saying otherwise. Chill."
##Break neck full tilt climb the ladders they built,
Angels in the abattoir are junking up a good guitar,
State city bandwidth, you don't get the language,
But don't pick on the girl that's only turning on the light switch##
A breathless Beast Boy suddenly slumped in the seat next to Cyborg startling them all. Seconds later a dizzy looking Aqualad and Terra stumbled into the food court with little imaginary stars running around their heads.
"Sorry we're late..." gasped Beast Boy between breaths, "We were...in the...arcade."
Terra sort of fell into the chair next to Beast Boy, she grasped her head, "Next time Beast Boy, please let go of me when you run somewhere."
Aqualad echoed her suggestion in his own words as he sat between Raven and Cyborg. Raven smiled at him, an empty smile, but a smile none the less. Aqualad grinned back and then grinned at Terra who covertly gave him the thumbs up sign.
"Friends! Tell me where you went?" asked Starfire.
"To the arcade!" cried Beast Boy looking pointedly at Cyborg, "You so should have been there Cy, it was awesome, I was creaming all these people at this new game."
"BB," said Aqualad in a tired tone, "You were challenging passers-by the chances are they have never played a video game in their life."
"Everyone's played video games." Protested the green changeling looking forlornly at them all, as if trying to get them to agree.
"No they haven't and you practically ignored Terra the whole time you were there." Aqualad said glaring at him.
Beast Boy's jaw dropped, "Dude no way." He looked at Terra quickly who smiled weakly, "Is that what you think babe?" he asked in a hurt tone, "I was only having fun."
Terra sighed and leaning over she kissed him quickly, "I know BB, its okay."
##Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Or are you gonna make like lightning,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream##
Robin suddenly dropped into the spare seat between Terra and Starfire, "Hey guys." He said. He had a brown paper bag under one arm. He put it under the table on his knee as he sat down.
"Hello friend Robin please tell me what you have purchased?" asked Starfire grinning at him.
Robin smiled knowingly and tapped the side of his nose, his mood seemed much improved since they had arrived at the mall, "Let's just call it an early Christmas present."
Starfire's hands flew to her mouth in horror, "I have not purchased any of the gifts that I wish to give for the celebration!"
"Relax Star," said Robin leaning over to her and gently pulling her ands down from her face, "It's only November, you've got like a month and a half yet."
Terra wrinkled her nose, "Yeah, I guess I better start buying gifts as well." The blonde pulled out her purse and looked dubiously at the contents, "I may have to withdraw some cash out of the bank."
The sodas and mustard arrived on a silver tray as Beast Boy grinned and said, "Well I've already bought all of mine." He pointed to his chest, "Am I great or what? What about you three?"
Cyborg who was downing his sodas fast as he could, paused wiped his mouth and said with a rueful grin, "I'm all done too, unless you know anything catches my eye in the Xmas sales." He shrugged, "I thought I'd get it done early in case prices went up."
Raven blinked, "I...I hadn't even thought of Christmas."
Aqualad looked at them all, "In Atlantis, we do not celebrate Christmas."
Six pairs of eyes looked at him in surprise. Cyborg's jaw was on the floor, "Say what?"
"You do not celebrate Christmas?" asked Starfire uncertainly, "That is sad."
"Yeah, it's a real shame." Put in Robin smiling slightly.
##Heads up they'll say history was a big mistake,
Chews you up and spits you out then asks you what the lips about,
An old tin army a young James Dean,
And another kind of war that is raging in your bloodstream##
Aqualad shrugged, "We've never had any need to celebrate on December the twenty-fifth. It is not special to us." He looked at their disbelieving faces, "We don't need a special day as a reason to give each other gifts, although we do have a few occasions." He waved a hand, "It doesn't matter."
Beast Boy's eyes were as wide as dinner plates, "Dude how can you not celebrate Christmas, it's like a rule! Everybody does it!"
"Actually Jehovah's witnesses don't celebrate either." Put in Robin helpfully.
"Not helping!" hissed Beast Boy.
"I have an idea!" proclaimed Starfire suddenly as the pizzas all arrived five minutes early, "Oh thank you!" she beamed up at the waitress who smiled back and left without saying a word, Starfire turned back to her friends who were all digging in to their food, "Friends I have an idea!" they all paused and looked at her, "Why doesn't Aqualad spend Christmas with us at the tower?"
This was met by several nods and mumbles of confirmation.
"Oh great." Muttered Robin sarcastically but before any one could notice he plastered a smile on his face, "That'd be great."
Aqualad looked around at them all, "If you're all sure...I wouldn't want to impose."
"Oh you won't be!" assured Starfire grabbing at a slice of pizza before Beast Boy and Cyborg devoured it all, "It will be glorious to have you there!"
"Well in that case," Aqualad said glancing sideways at Raven, "I'd be honoured to." He frowned, "I suppose I would have to but gifts now as well."
"That's not necessary." Said Raven in a dull tone, "We don't expect that of you."
Aqualad smiled, "No...but I suppose I want to. If you're gonna invite me I might as well get you all something."
"Wonderful!" declared Starfire clapping her hands, "As soon as we arrive back at the tower I shall create a new happy pudding!"
Everyone who was eating slowly turned green and placed their half- eaten bits of pizza back on the plates. They swallowed what they were chewing and looked at each other nervously.
##Wildfire, wild card this girl's been barred,
They drew the weapon read the rules and sent the rebels back to school,
They'll book you for the next crime, catch you in the nick of time,
So don't trust the captain who is sailing in a straight line##
"Uh, maybe it would be better if you saved your pudding for Christmas." Suggested Robin gently while at the same time praying to every God he knew that she would forget.
"What a wondrous idea! I shall write it in my calendar!"
There were various groans from around the table.
Robin looked down at his pizza and pushed his plate away he took a few mouthfuls of his own soda to wash away the imaginary taste of 'happy pudding'. He looked around him and wasn't surprised to see others doing the same. "So where are we off to next?"
All eyes turned to Raven.
##Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream,
Or are you gonna make like lightning,
Are you gonna swim the mainstream##
She shifted slightly under their gaze; it was already nearing two o'clock, "Uh, the movies?"
"An excellent idea!" cried Starfire draining the last of the mustard bottle.
Everyone nodded their approval.
"Yeah, let's go see that The Day After Tomorrow!" suggested Robin.
"We'll decide when we get there." Said Raven firmly as she rose from her seat. The others followed suit.
"Oh man, this is sweet!" muttered Beast Boy to Cyborg, "I hope we go and see a comedy!"
"Nah, Sci-Fi is much better."
"Comedy."
"Sci-Fi."
"We'll decide when we get there." Repeated Raven as she turned around her eyes blazing, "Now shut up and get in the T-car!"
"I do not wish to ride in such cramped conditions again!" squealed Starfire as the others piled in.
"You can ride with me then Star." Said Robin handing her a red helmet that he's been hiding God knows where.
The bubbly alien girl jammed in on her head. "I cannot see a thing Robin!"
Robin paled, "Uh, no Star you put it on the other way round." He helped her take it off and she quickly rectified her mistake.
Robin swung his leg over his bike and sat down, he felt Starfire sit down behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"We'll see you there!" yelled Beast Boy as the T-car pulled out of the parking lot at a speed that was not normally classed as safe.
##Say your prayers stay polite, busy saving daylight,
Age plays dirty tricks you're looking like a counterfeit,
Who's gonna train us can you really blame us? ##
Robin's bike roared out into the road after the T-car, it sped past the pedestrians and other cars as if it were in a race, and in a way it was.
##Who's gonna train us can you really blame us?
If we grow up we're all going to be famous! ##