"You ever think about what would happen if robots took over?" Garfield made desperate small talk, attempting to distract the confused Garth. "Like what if we were all just mass murdered by phones and shit?"
The prince sunk into the cushions of the sofa as he brushed a chunk of black hair out of his face. "Doubt it. Technology is so fruitful and has so much potential. There isn't anything like this back in Atlantis."
"But like what if robots and androids started revolting against humanity? It's totally possible. And I doubt you'd like tech as much if you knew what I knew."
"Garfield," Garth rolled his eyes and said, "weren't you the one who couldn't figure out how to change the time on the microwave just yesterday?"
"Why does Dick always gotta tell you everything? I'm gonna break his kneecaps the next chance I get."
"Well, I think it's rather nice of him to keep tabs on you like that. It's probably our only way of keeping tabs on you all." He chuckled to himself, probably thinking of something stupid Garfield did in the past. "So much has changed in a couple of years that it's hard to visit and not expect you to become someone else?"
"What do you mean, someone else?"
"Like how you're all different now. You're less—how do I put this—springy." Garth's eyes thinned like he was studying something on Garfield's face; blooming insecurity rose as Garfield assumed the worst.
"I don't have a mustache, right? I would look so stupid with a green mustache."
"No, you definitely don't have the testosterone for that." Garth grew silent as his companion snorted and looked the other way—hiding his bothered face.
Garth and Garfield never usually saw eye to eye. Back in the beginning years of the Teen Titans, it was just the scrawny shapeshifter, former member of the Doom Patrol, and a tall, dark, and mysterious fish from Atlantis. Beast Boy didn't see the handsome prince or rugged swimmer his teammates saw; Aqualad was just competition for Beast Boy's spot on his team. No matter how many times he'd watch Aqualad salute Robin and dive back into the ocean, there would always be an eerie fear that Beast Boy would be kicked to the curb sooner or later. It wasn't fair; Aqualad had a home under the crashing waves and a mentor to grow old with and replace—a threatening knife against Beast Boy's throat every time he felt himself crash into the salty ocean.
But as Garth prodded further with questions about Starfire, Garfield's chest steadied to the sound of discomfort and curiosity. Now he realized that Aqualad would never be what Beast Boy was to his team. The Atlantean was unreliable and had nothing holding him back; Garfield had nothing without Beast Boy and the Titans.
"The robotic man grumbled under his breath, cursing the rugged stud's charm. Jealous? Perhaps. He was after the still human, held down by pitiful sins. As his grip tightened around the syringe, he neatly pierced the top. As a man of science, there was a manner he had while examining the strange antidote; his steady hands and clinical stare matched the room of monitors and machinery. Yes, he was one with the ship. Despite his cold exterior, he was a very nice friend, both giving and cautious. He always meant well and looked out for his devilishly handsome pal's back, even if it meant letting him off his shot!"
"Nice try, string bean!" Cyborg carefully gripped the syringe as he approached the screeching toucan. "Come on, BB. I'm not about to watch you kick some alien butts only to catch the flu."
"Fat chance! I bet needles get all weird up in space; Robin would never risk his strongest member." Suddenly, their ears twitched towards the sound of crunchy metal.
As the strongest member of the team accidentally crushed the mini-fridge, Cyborg said, "Starfire could easily take you with a fell swoop, string bean." Their friend apologized cheekily before gently removing the dented soda cans and water bottles.
"My apologies, dear friends. I am feeling a bit jittery and I do think the stress is beginning to get to me," she said softly.
"No worries, Star," Cyborg said as he opened a can, "I wouldn't be jumping for joy if I had just escaped another arranged marriage-"
"-or found out my sister exiled my parents-"
"-or got kicked off the throne-"
"-not to mention, she also banished Starfire from ever returning to Tameran."
"Beast Boy, shut your mouth," another voice snapped as her book clattered onto the control panels and her chair swerved around, "you aren't helping."
"Oops."
Starfire waved a hand. "It is alright, Raven. I am not upset about my throne, or my arranged marriage, or my humiliation. These are superficial things to dwell upon."
Raven raised her voice as she placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Grief is a formidable emotion, Starfire. Like jubilance and curiosity, you must accept it. After all, you are only human," she cleared her throat, "alien."
"Yeah! And earth is so awesome, I bet you won't miss a thing." Beast Boy jumped into Starfire's arms as a kitten and nuzzled her chin. "Like your favourite mustard, National Geographic, thunderstorms, and rollercoasters!" Hopping into a flying squirrel, he grasped onto Raven's head.
"Beast Bo-"
"And look! You have your friends. Me and Cy can play scrabble with you, and you can go shopping with Rae," he paused as she began swatting at his tail, "and you can plan your second date with Robin. You wouldn't be able to do that if you were in Tameran."
As trimmed nails gripped against the fur on his back, Beast Boy squealed as he was thrown into a hard metal chest. Cyborg chuckled and sat him on his sonic canon as their grumpy friend patted her hair down. "What BB is trying to say is you have another home, with us."
"While it is true that I do enjoy being on earth, I cannot help but wish I could still see Tameran. There isn't anything like it in this galaxy; full of lush plants, wonderful o'phofa that smell like fresh kamlor, and the rush of fighting against my fellow people," she sighed as her feet drifted to the ground, gently thumping against the metal, "there is nothing like the joy my people have when they see me, their princess, fighting. They rise from their seats and cheer, crying tears of joy and embracing their loved ones. Our stadium games are quite similar to Earth's soccer games except on Tameran, war is our blood. We are nothing without our armour, shields, and spears. That is why I accepted my exile. I know that my affiliation to Earth would not allow me to rule as passionately as my ancestors did. Although I do not agree with my sister's industrial approach, my people are happier knowing that their queen will lead them to many future victories."
Beast Boy peered at the metal man pretending to fiddle with some bandages. Cyborg's lips quivered as he tried to focus on his task at hand. The room grew increasingly cold as he watched Starfire prop her arms on the dashboard, staring longingly into the vast solar system.
Suddenly, the shield of the ship began to lift upwards. Startled, Starfire got up from her seat and spun around to meet her teammate in the eye as the burning stars streamed white light into the cold ship, coating the desks, chairs, and controls with warmth.
"You don't have to pretend you are okay with leaving Tameran. You are allowed to miss your home," Raven said as she stared down at the numerous keys and pads of the dash, "Tameran is a very beautiful planet."
"Raven, I-"
"No Starfire, listen." Beast Boy spun around the room slowly as he watched the hundreds of buttons and switches and screens that he'd never end up understanding. They glistened bright yellow as a shadowy fog began to creep around the room. He let out a small yelp as the fog lifted him upwards; he couldn't help but smile at the sight of his friend pretending to swim in the air as Raven's powers carried them about. "You may never learn to like living on earth if you don't acknowledge your grief. You may never learn to like living on earth at all. I don't think I will."
"But how do you deal with that, Raven? That disgusting feeling that resides in your abdomen: how do you continue to hold your head up high with it?"
"I don't know. But what I do know is that sometimes when I cannot deal with that feeling, I visit a mental capture of my home. It's destroyed, as that was the only time I've ever seen outside the palace walls, but it still brings me comfort to see that my home won't be going anywhere."
"But I cannot open portals like you, Raven."
"Then imagine Star. You can paint your room in the colours of your castle or grow some of your favourite flowers on the tower roof. Appreciate everything you have, whether physically or in memory before it is truly gone. Whatever it takes," she paused and sat back down, causing the objects in the room to float down as the seeping black fog returned under the cloak, "you can always ask me for anything."
Beast Boy never seen the alien's eyes shine so brightly. It could've been the fact that they were next to the sun, but he liked to think that there was something that changed that moment. He would never know what had shifted between the two, yet he had an eerie feeling as Starfire walked up beside her friend and placed a comforting hand on Raven's shoulder.
"I do not have any more fear in my heart, my dear friend. Let us return home."
He wanted to run-up to the dashboard and hug his teammates. Beast Boy wanted more than anything to see their tearfully happy faces and he would've been more than okay to get thrown across the room like a rabbit.
A sensor beeped. A lithe hand scattered across the keyboards and a familiar face popped up on the monitor.
"Robin, turn away."
"How large are the comets?" The leader looked down at the screen from his pod at the very front of the spacecraft.
"Not comets—too large. I sense the presence of hundreds, maybe even thousands. We will be under attack if we do not turn now."
He gulped and clutched to the arm of Cyborg. As a shadow was cast over his friend's work station, Beast Boy turned around just in time to read Dimitris IV on the side of the alien ship.
I'm thinking about writing a sequel to this after I am finished. I have a plot already written up. I may choose to write a full-blown second season or I might skimp on it and use the epilogue I have written up. Who knows? I'll try to get at least five more chapters by the end of this year. The slight delay between 18 and 19 was from an overwhelming amount of new projects I am working on.
-Catisa~Orsilla