"Don't worry Rae, I'll be fine."
The infirmary was the one place in the Tower that nobody liked. It always smelled of harsh antiseptic, it was always cold and it was noisy. Plus if you were spending the night there it meant that either you were injured or ill. And if there was anyone who truly hated the place, it was Beast Boy.
"We just need to check him out Raven." Cyborg interjected. "He won't miss the wedding. Now why don't the two of you go do some catching up?"
Raptor placed a hand on Raven's shoulder.
"Maybe we should go rest too."
Raven nodded her agreement and the two sorceresses vanished in a single black hemisphere.
"Man, I just can't get over how much alike they are. I shouldn't be surprised, I mean they are DNA twins after all … say … B … can I ask you something?" Cyborg remarked as he placed some ECG electrodes on the changeling's chest.
"What's on your mind, tin man?"
"Have you ever thought about … you know?"
Beast Boy gave him a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"
Cyborg gave his bud an evil grin.
"Come on man, you've been with both of them. You know what I mean."
"Don't remind me. And how can you even ask me that? Raptor's still mourning her Gar. I mean, just to even think about that … that's sick … and not in the good way."
"You mean you don't ever think about it? A Raven lying next to you on the left and another one on your right. You'd have trouble just telling them apart from …"
"Dude! What's with you? I'm engaged to Raven. And besides, I'm not into the kinky stuff!"
"C'mon B, relax, I'm just messin' with you. I know your heart belongs to Raven … but c'mon … don't tell me you never think about it."
Beast Boy hopped off the med station as he plucked the electrodes off of his chest. He glared at his friend.
"If you're trying to remind me that I've slept with Raptor, yeah, I haven't forgotten. I wish I could forget, but I can't … and if you want ask me who's better in bed … just don't, OK?"
Beast Boy slipped his shirt back on as walked out of the infirmary. Cyborg shook his head.
Most guys would brag about that. I guess the grass stain isn't like most guys.
-( scene break )-
"Have a seat Raptor, or would you prefer I call you Raven?"
"It's OK Raven, for what it's worth Gar always called me Raptor … I'm sorry about my outburst when we arrived … when I saw Beast Boy, everything … just came back."
Raptor sat down on the edge of the bed in Raven's room and her twin joined her.
"Where you there when it happened?" Raven asked uneasily.
Raptor nodded her head sadly.
"I was there. I almost raised a shield on time; I was just a second too late. That guy, he got those shots off so quickly … Gar died in my arms … "
Raptor choked back a sob.
"He died because I'm an incompetent … I couldn't heal him because of my lack of skill Raven … he died because I skipped that class to go make out with a boy, a boy whose name I can't even remember … why couldn't I have been more like you?"
Raven stared at her twin. Ever since they returned from the alternate dimension Raven felt completely inadequate compared to her "sister". Now the tables were turned. Raven could only imagine the guilt Raptor was feeling.
"The worst thing of all Raven … is that I treated him like dirt … and I enjoyed it."
"I'm guilty of the same sin, Raptor."
Raptor shook her head in self disapproval.
"I suppose it comes from being Trigon's daughters … but your Gar is alive and mine … is dead. You can still make it up to him."
"I don't know how … I'm the repressed Raven, remember? I still struggle with physical intimacy with him … we only started a few months ago … he never nagged me once either. It's getting a little easier, but there are still nights when I have to sleep alone … I hate being me."
"Just make sure he knows you love him. I'm not kidding. And be patient with yourself."
Raven averted her gaze towards the floor.
"Even that's hard for me … sometimes … sometimes I think he would be happier with you."
Raptor snorted.
"Yeah, right. Listen Raven, all those months he was with me, he was trying to turn me into you. It wasn't the sex Raven; I didn't win him over with sex. I tried to be like you … I didn't know you back then, but he wouldn't shut up about how much he missed you. So I began to dress like you and even tried to act like you …"
"You still slept with him."
"Can you blame me?"
Raven glared at her.
"Yes, I can."
Raptor shrunk back, looking contrite.
"Raven, he was the best thing that ever happened to me. Before I met your Gar I saw mine as a mere plaything. Beast Boy taught me how to love, and I mean with my heart. After you guys left things between me and my Gar … it was wonderful … I didn't know it was possible to be that happy … and then it ended … just like that … no warning … it was bang and he was gone."
"I don't know what to say Raptor, except that I know this could happen to me too."
"You guys should get married and quit the hero biz Raven, just run away somewhere and have a bunch of kids…"
"I'm sterile …"
"We are? I guess that makes sense, we are hybrids, another gift from father that keeps on giving."
Raven stood up and stared out the window. The sky was overcast as a winter storm was sweeping into town. Raven's emotions were a jumbled mess as she was feeling as somber as the sky overhead. It was only now that she fully understood the link she had with Raptor. Gar's death was affecting her in a way she did not expect. She recalled when she first met him, how she found him to be repugnant and even evil … and now … she was beginning to feel grief over his untimely death … it didn't make any sense … she hardly knew him and yet … she was feeling grief … as if it had been Beast Boy who died.
"We need to meditate; the wedding is in two hours."
"I also skipped that class …"
"It should come naturally to you. At least it did for me." Raven said as she sat down on the bed, crossing her legs.
"Now adopt the lotus position … do you have a mantra? I've never heard you use one."
"It's the same as yours, I just never use it."
"Good, we can recite it together. Now find your center and close your eyes…"
-( scene break )-
Beast Boy spent the hour after leaving the infirmary helping Alfred Pennyworth greet the arriving guests. Robin and Starfire were busy getting ready and the Titans East were helping down in the common room, where the guests were congregating and being fed a steady diet of snacks, wine, beer and soda pop. Fortunately there were no stragglers and once all the guests arrived he ran off to their room to change into his tux.
As the door slid open BB saw the two Ravens levitating in the air, their legs crossed, eyes closed and both deep in a meditative trance, chanting 'Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos' as if in a single voice, over and over.
He marveled as he watched them. Other than for the scar on Raptor's face the two women were identical. Cyborg's mean spirited taunt rang in his ears. It really was a strange situation. Both women were or had been his lovers, and while he never shared this with Raven he thought that the two were comparably talented when between the sheets.
He stared at Raptor, remembering the brief romance he had with what at first seemed like a wild and out of control version of Raven. Of course it was true that Raptor would always be less inhibited than Raven, but he also knew that Raven wasn't as repressed as she believed she was either. The real truth was that they really weren't all that different from each other, with the main difference being that Raptor's powers weren't as closely tied to her emotions as Raven's were.
He continued to stare at the paradox before him: one woman who was present in two different instances. Raptor was the first to open her eyes.
"Hello Gar."
"Uh, hi? How are you feeling?"
Raven opened her eyes as her twin replied.
"Refreshed. I never knew this could work so well."
Raven acknowledged her with a nod and noticed that Beast Boy looked … surprised?
"Is something wrong Gar?"
"Uh, no, not really, it's just that you seem to be getting along so well."
"Would you be happy if we fought instead? Raven has a pretty mean punch."
"And your palm strike is nothing to sneeze at, Raptor. So tell us Gar, did you feel special when we fought over you?"
He grinned sheepishly.
"It was kind of cool, actually."
"Well, we aren't going to fight. But it is time to get ready for the wedding," Raven replied.
-( scene break )-
The Tower's larger foyer had been converted into an impromptu wedding chapel. The array of small couches that lined it was removed and replaced with hundreds of chairs for the countless guests.
The front rows were occupied by The Titans from both dimensions, as well as the extended Titan family. Batman, Superman and other heavyweight Justice League members were also placed in the seats of honor. The place was packed and other than 3 unoccupied seats in the front row is was standing room only.
When the sliding doors opened at the far end of the room everyone turned, expecting to see Robin emerge. What they saw was unexpected by most present as Beast Boy emerged from the elevator with Raven on his right, her arm wrapped around his own, and with Raptor on his left. Both women were wearing their winter costumes, the ones with pants and fur trimming on their capes. Raven's outfit was white while Raptor's was the old school black and blue. Beast Boy was wearing a tux and began to sweat drop as they walked down the aisle towards their seats at the front.
"Why's everyone staring at us? It isn't our wedding." He asked.
"Most of the guests don't know about Raptor." Raven replied. "Let's just take our seats and not draw attention to ourselves. This is Starfire's and Robin's day."
"I think it's too late for that Raven."
It was then that the elevator doors opened a second time, this time revealing a tuxedo clad Robin, who wore his mask, just as he did at the prom he was forced to attend with the villainess named kitten. The trio were grateful for the distraction and the quickly took their seats. As the made themselves comfortable Beast Boy saw a small tear drip down Raptor's left cheek.
"Raptor, are you ok?"
She wiped her tear away and forced a smile.
"Gar and I were married in this same room … well, the one in the other dimension. It just … brought back memories."
-( scene break )-
Alfred double checked his guest list; just to be sure that everyone had arrived. Satisfied that no one was missing he began to shut down his post, which was located by a door near the rear of the vestibule where the wedding was being held. As he gathered the remaining "Hello I'm" stickers into a manila folder he saw a lone figure walk up to the tower from the shoreline. Perplexed at who it might be he watched her approach. From the distance he was able to discern that it was a blond female who was wearing blue jeans and a light jacket to shield herself from the chilly elements. As she approached he recognized and addressed her in a stern tone.
"Miss Markov! I thought you were already seated! The ceremony is about to commence … and look at the way you are dressed!"
Terra stared at the Englishman who for some odd reason seemed to be familiar with her.
"There won't be any time for you to change into something presentable … at least your clothes are clean."
Alfred opened the door.
"Follow me please, I'll show you to your seat."
Now Terra was completely nonplussed but she obeyed Alfred's order. The majordomo was clearly irritated but said nothing more as he led the geomancer to the front row. As she followed Alfred she heard hushed whispers from the assembled guests.
"Your seat is right here Miss Mar …"
Alfred stopped dead in his tracks and Terra's eyes began to boggle. Beast Boy was sitting in the front row, which was always a welcome sight for her. It took a split second, but she then noticed that there were two Ravens, seated at each side of Beast Boy. Then she noticed, sitting next to the Raven who had a scar on her face was … herself?
"What the hell is going on here!" Local Terra shrieked.
-( scene break )-
I just had to bring local Terra back into the fray.
Only 136 hits? Where has every one gone? The original final chapter had 800 hits.
Thanks to all 8 of you who reviewed. It is because of your encouragement that I have decided to keep on going with this story.
