Hello everyone!
Thank you for all the favs, follows and reviews for the last chapter. My fiancé and I have agreed and it looks like we'll be getting married in a few months! All she has to do is publish three chapters before September (its currently mid-May) and I'll be there.
No joke, that's the agreement. So, I hope you all look forward to more chapters till then!
Onwards!
Cyborg was currently driving down the street, blasting music with Beastboy and Robin rocking out to it. The boys' plans were just to drive around the city; they just wanted some time to pass. The original plan was to go to the club but they had already forgotten. Robin wasn't much for dancing expect when Starfire asked. Cyborg didn't mind getting down with anyone and everyone. As far as Cyborg remembered, that was how he had asked Bee out. Lastly, Beastboy was happy to dance by himself or with any girl that spared him a minute. Beastboy always tried to get Raven to join but that was just a dream. Only once, Beastboy remembered, that it seemed like a dream come true.
It was last years Halloween party and Raven was feeling a bit daring; it didn't help that Beastboy happen to just said the right words. The Titans caught a rare sight of Raven enjoying herself at the party. Everyone noticed that her eyes were fixed on Beastboy and his were on her. They shared an awesome night of dancing, smiling, laughing, and going on the roof, just relaxing together. Beastboy felt like everything was aligned that night. The last thing he wanted to do was push-it and break the magic of the night. After the party, Beastboy had walked Raven to the room. The two shared a silent moment, just looking at each other.
Not knowing where he stood with Raven didn't seem to do him any favors. Beastboy seemed content with just having fun with Raven and nothing more. What really made his night was when she hugged him. Raven was never one to hug anyone unless something amazing happened. Either it was because they saved the world or when she was saved from the likes of Malchior. His thoughts were quickly interrupted when the music was lowered.
"Hey," Cy started to yell, "What did I tell you about touching my radio?"
"Sorry. I just remembered something important I had to ask Beastboy."
"What is it?" Beastboy asked.
"Did you get a chance to talk to Mento yet?"
"About the ring? I did."
"What did he say?"
Beastboy flexed his chest, deepening his voice. "He said that a man should ask for something like that himself. He said it should be him and not their friend." Huffing, Robin crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.
"I think that's the right thing to do," Cyborg said.
"I know. He just gets under my skin."
"I think that's why he wants you to ask, Robin," Beastboy said, laughing, "But the good thing is that that means yes. All you gotta do is ask."
"Fine. I'll call him tomorrow."
"Dance?" Beastboy asked. Cyborg paused at the red light, glancing back at Beastboy though the side-view mirror.
"What about it?"
"No. I'm asking if we should hit the dance floor, Cy."
"Not sure," Robin said, "We did dress up but I don't think hitting the club will top the pillow fight."
"Yeah, you're right. So, what are we going to do?"
"Pizza?" Beastboy asked.
"Maybe something different would be nicer," Robin regarded.
"But…Robin…Pizza?" Cyborg practically whimpered.
"I get it. But, I'm in the mood for some pork ramen tonight," Robin said.
"You know, ramen doesn't sound so bad. That might be the best idea you've had in a while."
"Whatever, Beastboy. Cy, hit it," Robin ordered. The trio returned to jamming out in the car as they drove down the streets. They drove down to the nearest ramen shop in the city; it was pretty far to begin with. Everything was fine; the boys sang along to the tunes in the car till they reached the shop. Once there, they filled their bellies on noodles and broth. Cyborg was first to finish.
"Wait a minute. We're here alone with Beastboy, Robin." Robin continued to slurp, finishing his bite of food first.
"Yeah. What of it?"
"Dude, c'mon. Let's talk to him," Cyborg said. Beastboy leaned in closer when he heard his name. He was listening in already, simply waiting.
"Guys, I can hear you, ya know? I don't have any pranks set if that's what you're talking about," Beastboy said. Cyborg playfully elbowed Beastboy.
"No, Rob. We're going to talk about that thing with Raven." Hearing her name made Beastboy cough on his miso noodles. He grabbed the nearest glass of water, chugging it down. Robin finished his bowl and set it down, grinning.
"Oh, I got you."
"Come on, guys! I told you that it's never going to happen."
"We know," Robin replied.
"Really? Not even a little bit of hope?" Beastboy asked. He pushed away his bowl, suddenly not so hungry anymore.
"Come on, Rob. Have a little faith," Cyborg said.
"I do. Beastboy will find someone sooner or later. Raven just won't give him that day or time."
"Ouch. You're really pulling the punches, man."
"What makes you so sure, Rob?" Cyborg asked. Robin took a moment, clearing his throat.
"Their history."
Cyborg nodded in understanding. Beastboy and Raven were both complex individuals and even more towards each other.
"I see. Well, you got me. But, what about their current history?" Cyborg asked. Robin took out some cash and paid for the meal.
"Doesn't change a thing."
"Then let's double it. Double or nothing," Cyborg said. He had a feeling he would win his best with Robin. He wanted more from Robin's loss. Beastboy glanced between them, more confused then anything. The boys stepped outside and went into the car.
"Wait…what?" Beastboy asked.
What are they betting on?
"You're on. But, if I win that you need to build me a new R-Cycle," Robin said. He slid into the front seat, buckling in. "I have some new blueprints I've been meaning to show you."
"Fine. But, if I win, I'll be leading the team for a week," Cyborg said. He really didn't want anything since he had just about everything he needed. But, he did hate when Robin ordered him around; it got worse when he was angry. Years under Batman seemed to do that to him.
Robin paused in the agreement, eyeing Cyborg.
"Why a week?"
Crime has been kinda low. I guess that's alright.
"That's how long it would take for me to make you a new bike," he explained, starting the car. If he really wanted, Cyborg could have it done in a few days, two or three at best. But, he wanted to take his time and drive Robin crazy.
"Wait. Are you guys betting on if I get with Raven?" Beastboy finally asked. He found the right moment to put his two cents in.
"Yeah, man. I'm on team green and Robin on his team solo."
"Why?" Beastboy asked Robin, a hurtful look on his face.
"It's not like that. Cyborg doesn't see how you and Raven wouldn't work out," Robin explained, "You two are just too different."
"So are you and Star," Cyborg pointed out.
"But, Raven is like a sister. I want the best for her."
"She can take care of herself, Rob," Cyborg said with a sigh. He knew Robin was right. He didn't know what he would do if Beastboy hurt Raven.
"Still, we have to protect her," Robin said.
Am I really that much of a threat?
Beastboy lowered his head for a moment. He looked out to the window, staring at the streetlights as the passed. He wanted to tune them out but his mind was dead set on the conversation.
"So, don't act like her guardian," Cyborg said.
"How many talks have we had with Raven? How many times have we talked to her about sending Beastboy to another dimension?"
"A couple of times," Cyborg answered, glancing at Beastboy. He knew the answer was actually a lot but the last thing he wanted was to prove Robin right. Beastboy sighed softly; he knew they both wanted the best for Raven.
I don't see how this is any of their problem.
"She never put him in any real danger."
"How many windows has be been sent through?"
"I get it, Rob. But, Beastboy can always fix it."
"I'll go with Robin on this one," Beastboy answered, his voice soft. Yet, both Robin and Cyborg heard him clearly.
"Beastboy, I know you think you Raven," Robin began, his voice taking the leader tone.
"Ready?" Cyborg asked Beastboy. He knew what Robin was going to start. "Are you sure man?" Robin didn't even pay attention to Beastboy or Cyborg. Once he got into the role, he had to finish.
"Yeah, Cy," Beastboy said, still looking at the window, "Robin is right."
"So you have to understand…Wait, you don't think you can get with Raven?" Robin asked, confused.
"Yeah, dude. You're right, I can't. So, I'll just make sure not to bug her too much."
"Come on, BB. Don't quit!" Cyborg said, pausing at a red light. Robin didn't know what to say. He lived with Beastboy for a few years now. He knew Beastboy didn't quit on anything.
"I don't know, Cy. If something were to happen, it probably would have already, right?"
"That's not true, Beastboy. Raven is slow to warm up to people," he said, pulling the car into park. Robin remained silent whilst Beastboy listened carefully.
"I know," Beastboy said, "It took her a bit to warm up to you guys. Even more with me." Beastboy stepped out.
It was an uneasy silence that settled between them as they pulled into their favorite spot. Robin didn't have much to say at this point; his mind was already working on all the witnessed interactions between Beastboy and Raven he could remember. Beastboy stepped out without a care in the world, sitting by the lake. Robin and Cyborg took a seat by the nearby bench.
"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" Cyborg asked.
"Can we just stop talking about this please?" Beastboy asked. He had enough of the conversation. All he wanted to do was enjoy his time outside of the tower.
"Well, are you going to find another girl for yourself?" he asked, prodding his green friend. His response was silence; Cyborg and Robin shared a glance and shrugged. Beastboy kept his eyes on the moon.
"Don't know. Maybe one of these days," he finally answered, sighing deeply. From what Robin could see, Beastboy cared deeply for Raven. He could tell that the changeling did not want to hurt her. He was willing to keep his distance for her happiness. It didn't take much detective skill to tell that. He just couldn't see when Beastboy fell in love with her.
"Beastboy?" he asked, waiting for a response. He got none initially. "Beastboy?"
"What?" Beastboy asked back, slowly sitting up. He joined his friends on the bench.
"I know it's none of my business but, when did you fall for her?" Robin asked, feeling uneasy. He had never been good with his own feelings but he needed to know.
"Rob, he asked to drop the subject."
"I know. I just never saw when he did," Robin explained, "I know it wasn't recent so it must have been some time ago."
"Yeah. But does it matter?" Cyborg asked.
"Kinda if we're going to help him," he said. He waited for some reaction from Beastboy.
"Wait. You want to help me?" Beastboy asked.
"Maybe. Will you tell me when and why?" he shot back with a smile, "Even if the chance is low, you've helped me with Star. I can return the favor."
"Wait. Do you really want to know?"
"Yeah. Do we have a deal, Beastboy?" Robin asked. Beastboy smiled, nodding.
"Sure! I don't know how much help you'll be. Starfire was the one who came to you first."
"You know that Starfire did everything," Cyborg added.
"You're right. I mean, she was like in your face with it and you still didn't get it," Beastboy pointed out. All Robin could see was how dense he was with Starfire; it just felt like she was curious with Earth and nothing more.
"Man, Rob, you must have been the only one in the world that didn't see it," Cyborg said.
"We are not talking about me. We are talking about Beastboy, alright?"
"Fine, I'll stop messing around," Beastboy said, laughing, "I always liked her, you know?"
"Like, always?" Cyborg asked.
"Yup."
"From the beginning?" Robin asked.
"Yep, right when we met up," Beastboy said with a grin. He had memorized that day. "She called us her friends; that was the first time in a long while I heard it. It's also when I saw her with her hood down. Everything just froze. I didn't know anyone could look so beautiful," he explained. Cyborg and Robin chuckled to themselves, "I know. It's funny to me, too. If I'm being honest, I was really won over when she smiled at my joke that day."
"Oh yeah! That's when you said your first lame joke," Cyborg said, laughing, "Man…You still suck to this day." Robin high-fived him.
"Yeah, I wish I knew I liked her. I felt something different but I was so young to understand it."
"What do you mean?" Robin asked.
"Well, you know how I was always willing to go mess with her stuff, prank her and whatnot?" he retorted. Cyborg and Robin both nodded, "I used to think it was because she was always alone or because I wanted to prove that I can get her to laugh. But, what I really wanted was to get to know her, hang out with her, and show her I was cool. I wanted her to show some interest in me."
"A lot like Starfire would try to hang out with Robin back then," Cyborg pointed out. Robin began to see all the time that she did approach him with a hopeful smile.
She just wanted to spend time with me…
"So, all you wanted to do was hang out with her? Just like you have been doing recently," Robin said. He did take note of all the quality time they had as of late.
"Yeah."
"I don't get it, man. If you're doing good now, why don't you just give it a shot?" Cyborg asked.
"Simple. I've lost the right to ask her out."
"I don't get it," Cyborg said.
"All those pranks, fights and all the time she blew something in the tower, and the times she sent me to the bay…She asked for peace and I never gave it to her. I don't think she wants someone to ruin every moment of peace she has had in the past few years. So, I'll give her all the peace she wants right now." He glanced up at the night stars. "If I realized I liked her before everything, the outcome might have been different."
"I don't think so," Robin said.
"Huh?"
"Gotta agree with Robin on this one, BB."
"I just told you guys why I can't and…"
"No, you should listen to us, Beastboy," Cyborg said, cutting him off. There was a fierce look in his eye.
"Beastboy, I am going to tell you the truth. You did mess up with Raven," Beastboy nodded, waiting for an explanation, "And you even went far on a few occasions. But, she needed that. I know that it makes no sense to me but, when I once asked her if she wanted to join Titans West, she told me no."
"Wait, you wanted to kick her out?" Beastboy asked. There was a look of grief and rage all over his face. Cyborg put his hands up in defense.
"Let Robin finish," Cyborg said. Beastboy calmed down, nodding his head.
"First, she was mad that I would even think of something like that. Second, I told her it was because of you. I asked if she wanted to talk to the team and see if you we can find a better place for you, Beastboy." Another look of hurt appeared over Beastboy's face.
"Raven slapped me as soon as I asked," Robin laughed. Cyborg joined in.
"Impossible?" Beastboy was too confused to find joy in his statement.
"You telling me that was so out of characters." Taking a deep breath Robin continue. "She told me she needed everyone in the tower to stay close. She told me it helped her stay human; it made her know what was important."
"Man, I remember Star was so mad at Raven," Cyborg started, slapping his knee. "Robin told Star and me what Raven said. We just kept thinking about it. We didn't do much with Raven so, how did we help her stay human? Robin and I had no idea but Star said it was because of you, BB."
"Huh?"
"I didn't get it either so Rob and me kept tabs on you and Raven. When you fought each other or worked together, we started to understand what Star said."
"Please…just explain."
"You always got her mad right?" Cyborg started, smirking. Beastboy nodded, "You kept talking to her." Beastboy nodded again in agreement. "You try to get her out of her room, right?"
"Yeah…"
"That's what she needed, Beastboy. She needed someone that saw her human side and to treat her as such," Robin explained.
"I kinda get it," Beastboy said.
She needed someone to take her out of the darkness.
"Look at this way, Beastboy. Her powers come from her emotions. So, every time she sent you flying somewhere, she felt human in every little fight you had. It helped Raven in some small way. Sure, Star helped as well. Cyborg and I didn't do much but you always interacted with her. You made her forget she was the daughter of demon lord."
"Oh! So, me bugging her over the years helped her feel human," he said to himself, a small beginning to form, "But, how does that help me?"
"If you always got her to use her powers in some way, that means she felt something. I don't know what it is but it's still something." Beastboy raised a finger, ready to speak. "And before you say anything, she doesn't hate you. If she does, why is she letting you go in her head?" Cyborg reasoned. Beastboy lowered his hand, understanding the situation better.
"Okay…So, its not so hopeless," Beastboy said. He left the bench, lying down on the grass. There was a feeling his chest that spread; he couldn't help but grin.
"Might not be but you know we'll kill you if you try anything. But, ya know, you can still try," Cyborg said.
"I'm pretty sure she beat you to the punch," Beastboy said, chuckling to himself.
"I have one more question, Beastboy," Robin said.
"Yeah?"
"What was up between you and Terra? Especially if you liked Raven so much?" Robin asked.
"Well, I never saw myself getting anywhere with Raven. It was nice to have someone go halfway with you."
"Makes sense," Robin replied, nodding to himself.
"So, Rob, how are you going to ask Star to marry you?" Cyborg asked, turning his attention to the boy wonder.
"I don't know. Just ask, maybe?" He said, scratching the back of his head. Beastboy and Cyborg shared a look. "I'm still working on it, OK?"
"Dude, if you just ask her like it's something causal, I hope she says no," Beastboy said. Cyborg nodded in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. Starfire needed something special for the proposal.
"I said I'm working on it."
"Did you tell Batman?"
"Yeah. He said it was about time. He'll pay for the whole thing; he just wants to be there. Fingers crossed that nothing will happen in Gotham that day."
"I bet he wants to see his half alien grandkid too, huh?" Cyborg teased. Robin started to flush.
"Shut it! We are nowhere close to that with all this hero business," Robin hissed out, "Can we please go or stop talking about this?"
"Fine. But you got to get the details down, man. We wouldn't want you to keep your Star waiting."
"Yeah yeah," Robin said, slowly getting up. He made his way towards the car. They had a long night ahead of them.
"We can kill sometime at the docks," Beastboy suggested. Robin and Cyborg shrugged in agreement. They really didn't have any other ideas. They did enjoy themselves on the docks. Playing games and winning some prizes amongst the crowds. Cyborg kept an eye out for something Bee might have liked but found nothing.
Robin knew that whatever he got Star, she would love it. The problem was that he wanted to get something really special for her. As Beastboy and Cyborg went from game stand to game stand, they continued to gather the prizes. Robin just walked along the stalls, checking the rewards; he didn't want to play if it wasn't worth it. As he strolled past another stall, something shiny caught his eye. He spotted a star shape case that was parted open, revealing a crystal flower with a green gem in the center.
That. That is perfect.
He approached the glass case and inspected the prize. Approaching the clerk, he demanded to know the amount he needed for the prize.
"10 Bill, kid. You'll need a friend to earn enough points, though. Points can be earned with the new Dance King display over there," the clerk explained. Robin looked at the dance station and took mental notes of it. With that, he was off to his friends. He grabbed Beastboy, causing him to lose his current match with Cyborg.
"What gives, man?" Beastboy groaned.
"Sorry, Beastboy. I really need your help," Robin said. His serious expression caught Beastboy's attention. Cyborg approached them without a prize.
"If you wanted to play, Rob, you could have called next."
"No, I need Beastboy's help."
"What you need?"
"I found something I want to give to Star. But, I need two players. Can you help?"
"Sure. What is it?" he asked. Robin pointed to the Dance King station. Nearby was the crystal flower on display. Beastboy shrugged. "I'm in."
"Hold on…What about me?"
"I inspected the station, Cy. You're too heavy for it. Sorry," Robin explained. He led the boys towards their destination. "I also wanted Beastboy because he has a better sense of balance then you."
"Sweet!"
"It's cool. I'll just scan it and make a better one for later," Cyborg said.
"So, what are you getting for Star?" Beastboy teased, winking at Robin. The serious look on Robin's face made Cyborg and Beastboy stop.
"Dude, he's really serious," Cyborg said. When Robin wanted something for Star, he wouldn't care who knew. In that moment, his moment was the mission for Star; he never took it lightly.
"You better not let him down."
I better record this for later.
Cyborg wanted to have something for the girls for later.
"We would like to play for the prize," Robin said to the clerk.
"Sure thing, kiddo. Here are the rules. If one of you fail, you both lose. Both of your scores will be added at the end of each song. All songs must be played on the highest difficulty. The total you need is 10 billion. Now, follow me to the stage."
"We aren't playing on this one?" Beastboy asked, pointing towards the nearby display.
"No. That's just a display model so people know what they're getting themselves into."
The clerk lead Beastboy and Robin onto the stage.
"Good luck, Titans. Give us a good show," he said with a grin. The clerk marched over towards the control panel. "Oh, the name's Luke, by the way."
"He's nice about us being Titans," Robin remarked.
"We come here a lot. I'm sure he's seen us a couple of times now. He's not gonna make a huge deal about it." As Beasboy said those words, a feeling drifted in his belly. He didn't realize how much he'd regret those words.
Luke grabbed the microphone attached to the panel. He hit a switch, starting up flashing lights. Smoke drifted from the machines, covering the Titans' feet. Loud music began to play, drawing the attention of everyone in the park. Soon, huge crowds of people were watching the two on stage. A giant screen flashed on, showing the boys for a few seconds; it soon cut to Luke walking to the center of the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a new spectacle for you. These two amazing Titans will try to win the priceless flower known as the Sun Drop!"
The crowd began to scream, ready for the show.
"Now, I know that this challenge hasn't been beaten just yet but, I have a feeling that tonight is the night. Do you wanna know why?" Luke asked the crowds.
"Why?" they screamed back.
"Because our contestants are none other then Beastboy and Robin from the Titans!" he called out. The crowd lost it as the two Titans shinned under the stage light. Robin smiled nervously whilst Beastboy soaked up the crowd, grinning and waving.
"So, what did you get us into?" Beastboy asked, turning to Robin.
"I'm not sure anymore," Robin replied, trying to keep a straight face.
"Now, I know we all know the rules but here's a quick run down. If one fail the song or they fail to meet the points required to cross, they both lose. The points will be added up in the end of every song. If after five songs they hit 10 billion, they win!" Luke said, thoroughly enjoying himself. He glanced at the boys, waiting for a response from them. Beastboy and Robin nodded, ready. "Then pick a song and give us your best!"
The light started to die down as Robin picked a song. Cyborg stood at the front of a nearby crowd, communicator in hand.
"Star. Come on in, Star."
Star appeared on the screen, makeup halfway on her face.
"Yes, friend, what is it?" she said. He could hear Jinx and bee talking in the background.
"I need you to connect your communicator to the screen on the TV."
"How do I do that? Where are you, friend?" She asked.
"Put Raven on," he replied. Star did what she was told, handing her communicator to an annoyed Raven.
"What?" she grumbled. Clearly she wasn't happy.
"Connect Star's communicator to the TV," he said. He looked up, seeing Robin finally pick a track.
"Why?" she asked.
"Just do it. You're going to love this," he said. She grumbled but got to work. Moments later, the girls saw Beastboy and Robin on the stage, ready to dance.
"What is going on?" Jinx asked.
"Give it a moment," Cyborg said.
"Ready…Set…GO!" Luke cried out. The music began to play, the crowd screaming. Robin and Beastboy were moving to the queues on the screen. The girls in the tower watched in amazement; Starfire flew closer, hand clasped over her lips. The rest continued to sit on the sofa, looking on with great interest. It took a few tries in the beginning but Robin and Beastboy were getting the hang of things. It seemed that hero training had proved to be useful for them now. Cyborg adjusted the camera, focusing on the boys. Starfire saw them smiling and cried in happiness. She wanted nothing more then to fly and see Robin dance in person.
Raven put up a front but seeing Beastboy move the way he did caused her to smile. She didn't let herself react so much but her heart was beginning to pound. Her cheeks were turning pink, mouth hanging a bit open.
Why are they doing this? Why is he so good? Why did Cyborg move!?
Before she could even open her mouth, Starfire, Jinx, and Bee screamed at the screen. Cyborg had moved the camera towards the crowd. He quickly moved it back.
"Sorry! I just wanted to show you how many people are here."
The first song came to a close soon enough and results pulled in. The boys did well; the score was tallying up.
"What an amazing beginning! Let's see if they can keep it up!" Luke said.
Beastboy started to notice the crowd growing bigger and bigger around them.
Why are there so many people here?
"Robin?" he asked.
"Yeah, Beastboy?" Robin replied. He was flipping through the song list. He knew they needed a lot of points; there were seventeen songs but he could only choose four more. The only issue was that he had now knowledge of the game or its songs. So his gut feeling was all he had.
"You owe me big time for this," Beastboy said. He pointed towards the crowd. Robin sighed but shook off any nervous feeling. This was for Starfire and he would do anything for her.
"What do you want in return?"
"Take Friday off of the training week for the next two months," Beastboy said. Robin noted he had said it too quickly. He narrowed his eyes. Robin didn't mind training all week; it was something the team needed.
"We need to stay in top shape."
Beastboy didn't let Robin continue.
"I will walk off the stage," he warned. Robin didn't answer, focusing on the next song at first. He paused, looking at Beastboy, hitting the button for his selection.
"Fine, but you have to beat me in this next song to get it."
"A challenge, huh? Alright, you're on," Beastboy said. They glanced at the game, waiting for it to start.
GO!
The boys began to move again as the song picked up. Cyborg got an earful of the crowd, cheering them on. Cyborg didn't care too much about it. Starfire was ready to fly over and give her man a kiss. Jinx and Bee continued to watch; they loved how the night was going. Raven watched on silently.
As Beastboy and Robin danced along the buttoned stage, a free section came up. It caught the boys off guard but they took on quickly.
"Let's spar," Robin said, following the first suggestion that popped into his head. They started to battle on the stage, the movements looking like they were dancing. No one but their teammates knew they were fighting instead of dancing.
"No way they're fighting in the middle of this. That's so cool," Cyborg said. Starfire was cheering on her end, almost wishing she could be heard.
"Now that's impressive," Bee said, elbowing Raven.
"They totally have no idea but look at them!" Jinx said, her jaw dropping. Raven studied the boys as they continued to dance. Beastboy was keeping up but Robin had the lead. The moves were flawless, causing the crowd to go wild.
The freestyle section soon ended and the boys went on to finish the song. Both Robin and Beastboy had hardly missed a step or pose. The score was starting to tally; they waited impatiently.
Come on. I know I won! I was on point thanks to my animal reflexes!
Don't let this be the truth. I know I did better then him!
As the numbers started to slow down, Robin saw that Beastboy was ahead of him.
"Yes! I win!" Beastboy exclaimed, raising his fist in the air.
"You used your animal powers, didn't you?"
"No I didn't! I can't help if I have better reflexes."
Robin sighed, knowing it was true. Beastboy just couldn't turn off his animal reflexes; it was part of his animal DNA.
"Fine. The team gets Fridays free from training for two months."
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to take a quick five minute break! These Titans need a moment to get back into top shape," Luke said. He lowered the lights, hitting another switch. Rave music started to play, keeping the crowd going. Luke noted that some of the lights were acting up; he went to check on them to insure the Titans wouldn't get hurt.
"Hey man…What gives? Why are you making a show out of this?" Beastboy asked. He was going to finish his contest with Robin no matter what; he wanted answers, too.
"I just thought that the Titans need a grand stage. Plus, this is something promoted on our posters. We're sponsored by Wayne Tech after all," Luke replied, trying to defend himself. "By the way, you guys are killing it out there!" Cyborg made his way towards them, flagging their attention down. "I'm going to check the stage and make sure everything is working properly.
"Thanks. But, next time, give us all the details from the start," Robin said, giving Luke space to work. Beastboy followed suit, seeing as how he had nothing better to do.
"Aren't you a detective?" Beastboy questioned. Robin remained silent, refusing to meet his gaze.
Somewhere in a cave, a bat and his butler were laughing…
"Dude, this is unreal. You guys are awesome!" Cyborg said, locking them both into a headlock.
"Hey, get off! You're messing with my hair!" Robin said, "You know how long it took getting it this way? Especially with the way Star likes it!" He paused, seeing their expressions, "Like…Three minutes."
"You know," Beastboy started, gaining their attention, "I think we needed a night like this."
"You're right. We should let Star have her slumber parties more often," Robin agreed. He felt great getting out and enjoying himself. Granted, Robin checked his communicator daily to make sure everything was ok.
With the Girls…
"Cyborg broke the link," Raven said, checking the sensor.
"Friend, we must know what is happening," Starfire said, looking at Bee and Jinx as they relaxed.
"Relax, Star. They're just having fun," Bee replied.
"I know. But, did you see Beastboy's butt?" Jinx said. The girls glanced at Raven, waiting for her to react.
"So..? What about it?" Raven said, speechless.
Why is he always putting me in these situations? It's not even his fault either! No, this time it's all his fault! Why did he have to dance like that? Why did Cyborg even call us? What is going on?
"Is something the matter, Raven?" Starfire asked. She had floated by her friend, concern clear over her features.
"No. Just thinking," she replied, giving her a half smile. Satisfied, Starfire gave her space.
"So, what now? Putting on makeup isn't as fun as watching it," Bee said, crossing her arms. She yawned, stretching.
"Wanna go see them finish dancing?" Jinx suggested. Star smiled at the idea.
"But we will not get there before the boys begin again. Jinx cannot fly."
"Raven, can you get us there?" Jinx asked, plopping by a pile of pillows. Raven weighed the options in her head. She could see Beastboy dance in person with all the screaming fans. Or, they could stay here and just watch the recording.
"I'm sure Cyborg will call us again when they're up, Star."
"But think about it. We can cheer them on!" Bee said.
"I'm sure Star will be doing most of the cheering," Raven said, looking at her communicator. She was hoping Cyborg would call soon; they wouldn't have to go then.
"Yes! I will cheer for the boys as loud as I can," Starfire said happily, floating towards Raven again.
Raven looked around, knowing they had nothing better to do.
How bad could it be?
"Okay, guys. You've got one minute to get ready or you'll be left behind." The girls' eyes lit up and they started to scramble for their things. Raven made her cloak appear and put it on. The others just had a sweater or coat to cover themselves with. "That was fast," she said, watching them gather by the portal.
"You did say a minute," Jinx said, "My boyfriend is also Kid Flash; you have no idea how hard it is to keep up with him sometimes."
"You know how fast us heroes have to put on uniforms. Especially when there are late crime alerts," Bee added. Starfire nodded, waiting for everyone eagerly.
"Fine," Raven said. She closed her eyes, waving her hand. Moments later, they were in one of the crowds at the port.
"I wonder where they are?" Starfire asked, looking around. She floated higher, hoping to catch a glimpse. The crowd spotted her easily, screaming in surprise.
"You mean Robin, right?" Jinx teased. Starfire flushed, giggling.
"Don't worry, I've got my communicator. I'll call Cyborg," Bee said, pulling the device from her pocket. Raven put her hood up, watching the crowd chat. It didn't take long for Cyborg to pick up.
"Bee, what's up?" Cyborg answered, grinning.
"We're here..?"
"Where?"
"At the docks. Now, where are you? We came to see the show?"
"Oh! Over by the stage!" He answered. Bee heard the screams of Beastboy and Robin yelling in Cyborg's direction.
"Gotcha! We'll be there in a sec," Bee said, hanging up on him. She tucked her communicator away, "Alright. They're by the stage, let's keep moving."
"I cannot wait to see them!" Starfire said, ready to twirl in the air, "Let us go!"
The pack made their way towards the larger crowd. Raven stayed silent; Jinx noticed almost instantly.
"You alright? You've been really quiet, even for your standards," she asked.
"I'm fine," Raven said, avoiding eye contact.
"I can still sense what you're feeling. Even in this chaos of joy," Jinx told her.
"That's because you're standing so close. I'm fine, Jinx," she said. Jinx knew Raven a little better then that but she didn't push it. Then again, she wanted to make sure that Raven was alright.
"Let's talk about it really quick."
"If it will get you off my back then fine," she replied. Raven didn't want to be a bother but she knew Jinx was going to nag her about it until she had what she wanted. Jinx nodded, tapping Starfire on the shoulder.
"Star, Bee, go on ahead. Raven and I are going to check something out real quick."
"Fine. Don't be long," Bee said. With a shared glance, Starfire and Bee flew off towards their destination. Jinx and Raven stood by a nearby food stand.
"So, spill. What has you down?"
"I just don't know."
"Know what?"
"There are so many girls here. They're cheering for him," Raven said. She looked at the floor, kicking her feet. Jinx arched a brow.
"So?"
"I'm not sure he'll notice me if I cheer for him."
So it's doubt that has you.
Jinx smiled and set her arm over Raven's shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm sure his ears will pick up your voice out of the hundreds," Jinx said with a wink. Raven remained silent but the hope was set in.
There was a time last year where she was lost in the desert; this was after a large battle with the Brotherhood of Evil. Raven was separated from the team, her communicator damaged from combat. To make the situation better, she was drained from the battle. Tired, weak and dehydrated, Raven searched for a way out of the sun.
Sliding off her hood, Raven fanned her face. She couldn't take off the cloak; she didn't want to risk getting sunburnt. Her steps were becoming slow and sluggish. She was reaching her limit quickly. Panting, Raven slid, falling forward. Her body dragged down the sandy hill. At the bottom, she found shade. Lying there, Raven whispered her teammates' names.
"Starfire…Robin, Cyborg…Beastboy. I'm tired. I need help…Please," she whispered. Closing her eyes, Raven succumbed to exhaustion.
The next thing she knew, Raven found herself in the medical bay of the tower. Star was nearby, rising from her chair.
"Friend, I am glad to see you awake. How do you feel?"
"I feel…Cooler. How long have I been out?"
"Two day," Starfire answered. Cyborg entered the room, sighing in relief.
"I'm glad you're up. We didn't know how long you'd be out," he said, grabbing her chart. He started to read through the information. "You need to stay here for the night just to be sure." She nodded in response.
"I will bring you some tea," Starfire said soon flying out of the room.
"How did you find me?" Raven asked.
"I didn't."
"Starfire then?"
"No. Beastboy did."
"How?" she asked, clearly confused, "I was alone and drained of energy. There was no sign of anyone for miles there."
"He said he heard you when he was in a sandstorm?"
"Wait…A sandstorm?"
"He kept saying it…Like I'd believe him."
"I whispered all your names before I passed out? Impossible."
"Wait…You whispered our names? Okay now I got to question it," Cyborg said. Cyborg glanced at Beastboy's medical report.
"What do you mean?"
"Star said he ran to get you," he said, scratching his head, "And then he started the ship."
"What?"
"He did it under twenty minutes," Cyborg explained. He pulled a chair and sat by Raven's bed.
"What exactly happened, Cyborg?"
"Well, we were looking for you for a good hour. Then Beastboy radioed in that he heard you. Soon after, you were at the ship before we got there," he said, "Let me look at the GPS data at that time." He hit a few keys on his display screen. "The green dot on the screen is Beastboy. Looking at the weather data, he was in the sandstorm…He wasn't lying after all? Anyways, he was a nines miles away from the ship when he radioed in."
"Ok. So, play it," Raven said. Cyborg nodded, doing as he was told. Raven and Cyborg saw Beastboy cover about ten miles and then stop.
"That must be where he found you," he said. Beastboy covered fourteen miles more, getting Raven onto the ship. "Damn, he travelled fast."
"Where is he?" Raven asked. She realized she had a tight grip on the sheets. Dropping them, Raven dusted her fingers off her sides.
"He's in his room sleeping. He needs some rest; Beastboy has a bad burn from the sun."
"Where?"
"Almost forty percent of his body. You know his hands, feet, and legs all over his back. When Starfire got to the ship, you had an ice pack on your body. Beastboy was nearby; I wonder how he covered the distance so fast," he informed. Raven remained silent, deep in thought. "Look, don't think about it much. Just rest for now. Later, you can get details from him."
"Tell Star to leave the tea next to me," Raven said, yawning. She fell back on the pillow, closing her eyes. Cyborg stepped out of the room, shutting off the lights.
I need to thank him later…
The next day Beastboy stopped in to check on Raven. She had already awoken, reading in bed.
"How are you doing, Rae?"
"Don't call me that," she started, setting her book on her lap, "I'm fine. But, I must thank you for saving me."
"No. Besides, you do the same for all of us."
"Beastboy, how did you hear me inside a sandstorm? How did you get there so fast?" she asked, face turning serious. Beastboy jumped a little.
"I don't really know. I was just thinking of finding you and then I heard your voice. I morphed and ran straight to you."
Oh man…Cy told her. He promised he wouldn't.
"I don't remember much. I was only focused on making sure you were okay," Beastboy rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling, "All the details are kinda fuzzy."
Raven narrowed her eyes but decided to let it go. He did save her life, even getting injured for her.
"Let me heal your sunburn as a thank you."
"You don't need to. I morphed into a snake and shed my skin. I'm all healed up now," he explained. "Had to do it four times…that took so much energy." There was a short pause. "I'll leave you be for now. Glad to see you're okay." He quickly stood, running out of the room.
"What an odd guy," she grumbled. Raven opened her book, continuing on.
Jinx didn't understand what was going through Raven's head. Raven started to walk ahead, leaving Jinx to catch-up.
"Let's get going," Raven said. Jinx ran after her.
"Wait, you can't just leave after what just happened," she said. The two made their way towards the stage. The music had already begun. "Aw, we're late! Let's find a way to get closer to the stage."
"There's Bee," Raven pointed out. Bee flew towards them.
"You two were missing. Come on, we can see it from backstage! All the screaming girls did a number on Cyborg's ears." She led the way towards the backstage door, calling Cyborg via communicator. The second door opened, revealing the metal man.
"Sup. Here for the show?"
"What do you think? Move!" Jinx said, pushing him out of the way. She ran over towards Starfire, cheering them on.
Raven simply followed behind them, standing by the two girls. She looked behind to see Cyborg and Bee close by, intimate and happy. She quickly looked away, finding herself watching the performance. Everything was just how she expected it to be; Beastboy and Robin were doing their best and looking good whilst doing it. She smiled softly, seeing everyone around them was filled with such joy. She kept her composer but inside, she felt like Starfire. Once again, she whispered lowly, making sure no one could hear.
"You're doing great, Beastboy…"
But of course, he had somehow heard her. His smile grew even bigger; he threw a wink in her direction.
Even in chaos you can hear me.
She felt honored and started to enjoy the show more. The song soon ended with Beastboy and Robin striking a sexy pose. The crowd screamed, losing it once more. Beastboy kept his pose, tilting his head to speak to Robin.
"Why did you pick that song?"
Robin felt rather embarrassed now. He looked at the floor, letting go of the pose; Beastboy followed suit.
"Because it was short. I had no idea we would be doing all of that," he said, approaching the screen for the next selection. They were only missing three billion by now.
"Wow! Our contestants are doing really well! They're almost at the finish line; only at the third song, too!" Luke announced, "Let's move onto the next track so the Titans can win their prize!"
"Aww! I wanted to play all five songs" Beastboy said, shrugging. He spotted Starfire waving and screaming her heart out. The alien kept her eyes on Robin only. Jinx waved at him whilst Bee and Cyborg stood towards the back, holding hands and talking. Finally, he saw Raven. The empath gave him a light nod.
"Cyborg said he can make one," Robin said. He paused with the next song selection, "Why don't you pick the next song?"
"Really? Sweet," he said, running to Robin's side. He switched through the songs, selecting one. He let the demo play of each song, awaiting the reactions of the Titans. Star wanted a j-pop, Robin and Cyborg both liked dub-step, Jinx preferred heavy techno metal, Bee and Raven didn't seem to care much for the selection. On the last song listed, he spotted the reactions of his teammates; even Raven moved her head to the beat. With that, he clicked on the screen and got to his position.
The song of a techno mix started, classical slowly easing in. It was the hardest song on the list. The song began throwing everything all at once. Robin's face flew into an expression of terror before he started to focus. On the sidelines, Starfire screamed her heart out. Jinx struggled to keep up. Bee clapped along whilst Cyborg recorded them. Raven watched in awe as Beastboy and Robin continued to dance.
"They're doing really well," Raven said, getting Jinx's attention.
"Yeah. Look at them! Nothing else seems to matter," Jinx said, "Cyborg, why are they doing this anyways?"
"Oh right, you guys don't know. Bee, take Jinx and Raven off to the side and tell them," he said. Bee glanced back at Star, seeing that she was still distracted. Leading them away, she whispered over the information.
"Robin needed help winning a prize for Starfire. He asked Beastboy if he can partner up in order to enter. Things just got out of control and here they are."
"Well, what's the prize that he wants to badly?" Jinx asked.
"Cyborg just said it was something meant for Star."
"Man, I hope Robin doesn't make this part of our training," Cyborg said. Raven arched a brow.
"Why would he?"
"He's got a pretty good sweat going on. He's using all of his muscles," Cyborg pointed out. The next section of the song began, forcing the boys to focus more on their footwork. Beastboy and Robin seemed to have the same idea; Robin took off his jacket, tossing it to Starfire. Beastboy loosened his tie and undid the two buttons of his dress shirt whilst running a hand through his hair. Without losing a step to the beat, the boys sent the crowd onto another frenzy. Starfire and Raven's mouth dropped. Soon, Starfire was a puddle of lustful grins and bitten lips.
'Oh Azar please help me! Why are you so hot?'
Can you please go into his room when everyone is asleep?
Lust started to appear, struggling for control.
Screw it! Warp him to our room!
Someone stop her!
"Focus, Raven!" Wisdom called out. Bee stepped over to Raven, nudging her side. She jumped, finally focused again.
"See something you like?" she teased. Jinx giggled; Raven hid her face into her hood.
"A little," she answered.
I need to meditate so much tomorrow.
"Man, I'm so glad I got to record this," Cyborg said as the song came to an end.
"Yes! I would like to view the video from time to time," Starfire said. Behind her, the giant screen started to add up the points. Panting, they glanced, seeing the board score over eleven billion. Once more, the crowd started to scream.
"They did it!" Luke cried. Beastboy and Robin fist bumped, waving goodbye to the crowd. Starfire was flying in a circle whilst the others clapped, cheering them on. "Here is your award, boys," he said, handing them the Sun Drop. "Do you have any words for our audience?"
Jinx, Bee and Raven spotted the beautiful prize at last. The glass rose flower shimmered in the light.
"Told you it was perfect for her," Cyborg said, nudging Bee. Luke handed the microphone to Beastboy.
"This was so much fun!" he called out, handing the mic to Robin.
"Starfire, would you be so kind to c'mere for a second?" he asked. Starfire flew out and gave him a hug.
I wish I had a ring right about now…
"Star, I got this for you," he said, holding out the Sun Drop. She looked at the flower with awe.
"Oh, Robin, thank you!" she said. She pulled him into a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.
At that moment, a scream of terror came from the crowd. The Titans spotted a man in a red hood jump onto the stage, running towards them. Robin moved in front of Starfire, protecting the alien. Beastboy screamed at Luke to run; Cyborg and the rest met with Robin. They bolted towards the man, preparing for battle. Before they could reach him, he morphed into a large animal.
"What?" Robin said, shocked. Before him or Starfire could react, the man ran past them. Cyborg finally caught a full glimpse of the creature; it was Adonis.
"Oh no…"
"Beastboy! Look out!" Raven shrieked out. Beastboy, too occupied with getting Luke to safety, failed to notice. Adonis grabbed Beastboy, flying off towards the beach nearby. He tossed Beastboy onto the sand. The moment he landed, Starfire, Bee and Raven took off towards the air.
"We must help him!" Starfire cried. Robin took out his communicator.
"Titans!"
"We have to do something," Bee yelled.
"It's Adonis, Rob. We have to get over there, quick," Cyborg said.
"I know, hear the plan. Cyborg, Bee, Jinx, and Starfire, make sure everyone gets out safely. Raven and I will go help Beastboy and take him down. Meet up when you finish," he said. "Titans, GO!"
Starfire and Bee flew down the panicking crowd, getting to work. Cyborg and Jinx ran along, guiding them towards the exits. Robin gave Raven a look before he jumped off the deck. Raven used her powers, creating a disc under his feet. He lifted, flying off towards the beach with her.
"Why isn't Starfire with us? She can overpower him."
"No. I've seen Beast fight before. She wouldn't be able to hit him; he's too fast."
"Then why do you need me?"
"If that is really Adonis, you can distract him. I can make sure Beastboy is OK," he answered. Raven nodded, understand the situation.
Beastboy opened his eyes, seeing the Beast approaching him. He groaned, his fist slamming into the sand.
"What? I'm you…How can you be out?" he mumbled. As his vision started to clear, Beastboy saw the creature morph into a man. "Adonis? What do you want?"
"What I always wanted, you green freak! Revenge and that creepy witch. But, you're always in the way! So, you've got to go! Best part is, you're all tuckered out. This makes things so much easier?" Adonis said with a grin. He morphed back into the Beast, running towards Beastboy. Beastboy morphed into a hummingbird, avoiding the attacks. Adonis was quick and strong, leaving Beastboy with no options but running. Raven and Robin were getting closer but Beastboy could not get around Adonis. He was being pushed further and further away from his teammates.
Adonis dug his claws into the sand, lunging towards Beastboy. Beastboy knew he couldn't withstand the damage. He morphed into a snake, digging into the sand. It proved useless; Adonis grabbed him right out of the sand tossing him like a rag doll. Raven gathered a ball of sand, sending it towards their way. Adonis moved out of the way, morphing back into his human form. He tilted his head, looking over at Raven.
"Sup, Babe. It's been a while," he said. Raven's frown seemed to deepen almost instantly. "I'm just making sure that this green boy doesn't bother us ever again." Robin tossed his batarangs in his direction; Adonis morphed and slapped them away. "Ha! Is that all?"
"I thought we cured him for this," Raven said.
"Yeah. I thought so, too," Robin muttered, his eyes narrowing, "Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way. Let's hold him off till the others get here."
"Don't worry. I got this," Beastboy said, slowly standing. Adonis faced the changeling.
"You're the weakest of the Titans. I've seen the way you work. You can't do anything without help."
FOOL.
Raven and Robin moved slowly as Adonis kept his back in their direction.
"Looks like you did some homework. But, there's still plenty you don't know."
"What? That you can still go into Beast mode? I took account of that."
"Not that, idiot. You cant use it like I do."
"What? It doesn't matter. I will end you and the team so I can claim my prize. That creepy witch is mine," he said. There was a flash of anger in Beastboy's eyes, intent to kill prominent. He felt his muscles grow and tighten. His vision cleared, heart thudding rapidly in his chest.
"Robin, Raven, stay out of this."
"Beastboy, this isn't the time," Robin said. He saw the cold look Beastboy held.
"Please!"
KILL.
The word started to echo in his head. His body became lighter, the hairs standing all over the place.
I need a Rhino. No, something bigger…Faster.
NO YOU! DESTROY HIS FANG. HE WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN.
Robin had an understanding to Beastboy's situation. He tugged Raven back, making sure she was at a safe distance.
"Alright. Handle it," he said. Beastboy nodded, exhaling. Raven bit her lower lip, worried about her friend.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"I'm not sure why but, I believe him," he answered, "If anything happens, get ready to launch Adonis into the air."
"Enough. I'm sick of you," Adonis said, morphing. He jumped towards Beastboy, ready to strike. Beastboy smiled, something Adonis instantly noticed. He stopped his next move, landing a few feet away from Beastboy. Beastboy lunged himself forward, upper cutting Adonis in the jaw. As he started to fly, Beastboy grabbed Adonis's ankle, smashing him down into the sand. Robin and Raven were shocked at his speed, frozen in place. As Adonis gave out a cry of pain, Beastboy kicked the male in the gut, sending him into the nearby rocks.
Oh…I like this.
DEFEAT OUR PREY.
Beastboy slowly approached his target, completely calm with the situation. Adonis stood and started to panic; he threw a nearby boulder towards Beastboy. Beastboy started to sprint, running past the boulder and closing in at Adonis.
"Wow," Robin said.
He's fighting on a whole new level. But, how?
This is not Beastboy! This is his Beast, his true power. No other animal can keep up with Adonis as a Beast, let alone push him back. Why hasn't be transformed like Adonis?
Raven broke away from her thoughts, returning to the battle. Adonis took a swing at Beastboy; he moved out of the way with skillful grace. Adonis threw a swing, using his claws at Beastboy. The swipe seemed to only rip clothing.
"Stop this. You can't win," Beastboy said. Adonis roared.
(Why haven't you transformed yet? WHY? I'll take you down and take my prize!)
"I don't need to be."
"What's going on?" Robin asked.
"They're talking, communicating somehow," Raven answered. The roars continued to echo off between the two.
(I don't care anymore! I'm going to kill you!) Adonis roared. He leaped towards Beastboy and the two started to fight again. Beastboy landed hits on him, slowly taking him down. Adonis finally landed a kick, the surge of pride obvious on his face. Beastboy roared in anger, running the smirk that Adonis had. They continued to battle. By then, Cyborg, Bee, Starfire and Jinx showed up.
"What are you doing? Beastboy is going to get killed if we don't help him!" Cyborg yelled. Robin stopped him from running forward.
"Take a closer look," he said, pointing towards the battle. As they watched, they saw Beastboy winning the fight. It seemed off; he wasn't morphing into any animals.
"Why does he not change?" Starfire asked.
"I don't know."
"He's doing pretty good," Bee remarked, hand on her hip.
"What is that?" Jinx said, pointing to Adonis.
"That's Adonis," Robin answered. Cyborg shook his head.
"No, it can't be. I cured him!"
"Maybe you just suppressed it?" Raven suggested.
"Then why doesn't Beastboy use his? He can win already." Ask Cy.
"I'm not sure," Robin said, scratching the back of his head. Starfire watched over Raven, noting that she didn't say a word. Her focus seemed to be on the fight; she worried for Beastboy.
Adonis was losing his steam; Beastboy overpowered him with ease. Adonis started to look for a way out but his back was against the ocean. The Titans were at his right and Beastboy at his left.
If I can land one hit, I can make a break for it.
He charged at Beastboy once more, trying to slash his side. Beastboy saw it coming and jumped over the move and spun around, roundhouse kicking him in the jaw. Adonis morphed back into his human form, crumpling to the ground, knocked out. The team started to cheer for his victory; Raven remained silent. Underneath the white noise she could sense his range. Something had finally broken his guard and it was not good.
…
'We are nothing like him.'
Beastboy raised his fist, aiming at Adonis. The group sprinted, ready to stop him.
"No!" Robin yelled.
"BB, don't," Cyborg warned.
"We must stop him!"
Beastboy slammed his fist down, crushing the sand by Adonis. He repeated the motion over and over again, releasing his anger. He screamed like a wild animal, pounding away. Everyone had stopped, watching him go on. Finally, two gentle hands took his head. He tilted, looking up to see Raven. She saw his predatorily eyes, ready to strike. She smiled softly, small enough just for Beastboy to see.
"You can stop. It's over now," she said, fingers running through his hair. He blinked, eyes slowly returning to normal. Letting go of him, he slowly stood. The white noise started returning, coating him once more.
"Thanks. I almost lost it there," he said. He turned to the group, rubbing his arm. "Sorry about that."
"Beastboy, what was that? You took him down with no effort," Robin said.
"Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm really beat," he replied. Robin nodded, keeping his distance.
"Raven, take him and the others to the Tower. Cyborg and I will make sure the police take Adonis away," he said. Raven nodded, teleporting them back home. "We need a DNA sample to analyze this."
"Way ahead of you," Cyborg said. They worked in silence, gathering information, "Any idea what just happened?"
"I've got a few but I'm still unsure."
The second Beastboy stepped into the common room, he made way towards the door to the hallway. Starfire stood behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Worry was etched into her features. He knew what she was going to say.
Please, Star. I just need some more time…
"Friend, are you alright?" she asked. Her hands soon tucked behind her back, Sun Drop still in hand.
"I'm," he started, looking at her. He saw his teammates, worried and sad expressions evident, "I…" Her eyes were filled with concern. He knew he had to speak the truth and tell them.
"I don't know anymore," he finally said. Starfire stepped closer, offering him a loving smile.
"Beastboy, it's alright," she said, reassuring him. Starfire was ready to pull him into a hug; he stepped back.
"I just need some time alone."
"Are you sure, friend? You can always talk to us," she offered.
"I'm sure. I just need time alone to get myself together. I'll explain everything soon."
"Come on, Beastboy," Jinx said, annoyed. She had been trying to read his mind but only received white noise.
"Guys, I'll be fine. Plus, this is your slumber party; no boys allowed!"
Starfire approached him again, hugging him.
"Cyborg explained that you helped Robin with this wonderful gift. I owe you many thanks, friend. Please know we are here to talk when you are ready." Beastboy nodded before he morphed into a bird, flying out the door.
"I need some tea," Raven said loudly, cutting down the odd mood. Of all the people, Raven found it funny that she was trying to cut down the tension. She left to make her tea, noting the other girls were talking amongst themselves. With some time to herself, Raven could finally review the events at the beach. What happened to Beastboy? She was thinking about the dance, Adonis's attack and how Beastboy fought him off with ease.
He was pretty cool even when he was angry. Come to think of it…Why was he even mad?
With the tea ready, she rejoined the girls. As she approached, they grew quiet; Raven knew something was amiss. Raising a brow, she waited for a response. The girls continued to stare.
"What?" she asked. Jinx and Star turned to Bee, giving her a nod.
"We talked it out. One of us needs to talk to him."
"He said he needed some time," she said, sipping her tea.
"Yes, that is true. But, we feel that talking to him will do much more good," Star explained.
"And we decided that it should be you," Jinx said. She huffed.
"Fine. I'll go."
"Wait, you aren't going to fight it?" Jinx asked, shocked. The others were equally surprised.
"Why? You already know how I feel about him. Besides, I saw the whole fight; I have a better understanding of what happened," she explained. Raven warped out of the room, leaving the others alone. It felt easy to do this for him. Like it was natural, something she took notice of.
"Well, that was really easy," Bee said. Starfire nodded.
"Indeed."
"She must really like him," Jinx said, laughing with the others.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed this one! Like I said, I should have a few more chapters coming up soon! If you have any questions or anything, feel free to leave a review!
Also Steam summer sale, T-T kill me now.
Best,
SantoRamon