A Friend in Need
I don't own Teen Titans
The blonde-haired boy ran through the thickets of the forest, laughing along with his unrelated twin.
"Come on, you're going too slow!"
"Hang on!" Shouted the younger blonde, flailing his freckled arms.
They ran out to the level plains where the tall grass came up to their hips. The two boys bolted and inched their way to a wide, deep-rooted Sagole Baobab tree. They reached the top and looked out on the vast terrain.
"Wow! This is so cool! You can see the Marrah Mountains over there."
"Yep," the older blonde smiled proudly. He had found the perfect spot. He rested his bum on the sturdy branch alongside his younger lookalike. "What are the Marrah Mountains like?" The older blonde asked.
"Hehe, they're not really mountains. It's a big hole in the ground with a bunch of trees... Oh! But there's a lot of mist and fog in the morning. It's so cool."
"Aww man, I wish I could go there."
"What do you mean? You live here."
The older blonde huffed. "My parents say that they're 'dangerous.'"
"Hehehe, they're right. Cellphones don't work there. You can get lost."
"PFft," the older blonde waved his hand in dismissal. "I always know where I'm going."
"You mean like when you got us lost on the lake?"
"That was an accident! Besides, I had my reasons."
"You always have your reasons. Or when we accidentally walked into that lion's den."
"We're still alive and... HEY! That was your fault!"
"I don't know," The younger blonde mumbled, playing with his cute boyish hands. "The mountains are next to Brothers' Mountain. That place gives me the creeps."
"Haha, don't worry, Gar," Smiled the older blonde. "Nothing can scare us. I always have the plan and you have the," he paused cheekily, "weirdness!"
"Hey!" Gar whined.
The older blonde's laughter was interrupted as they heard a motherly voice calling.
"Garfield and Toros! Get down here now! You'll hurt yourselves. Garfield's parents would kill me if they knew I let you climb up a tree!"
"Yes, mom," mumbled Toros. Toros's mother, Rebecca, scowled at her son's recklessness. Her dark radiant hair and fair blue eyes gave her mid-40's body a young appearance. Of course, the freckles and budding crow's feet near her eyes betrayed her youthful dark peach complexion. As Toros climbed down first, Garfield's gaze drifted towards the Marrah Mountains. A flat elevated plain sparsely covered with shrubs and trees. Garfield shivered. The mountain felt... off.
CRACK!
"WAHAAAAAAAA!" Garfield tumbled down the tree, falling straight for the ground. Toros' mom dove for it and caught Garfield just in time.
"Oh my goodness! Garfield! Are you alright?!"
"That... was... awesome!" Raved the younger blonde. "Let's go again!" Rebecca sighed.
"If you two keep running around like mad men, I'll have to name you two the Rampaging Bulls."
"But mooooom! That's my nickname!" Toros whined proudly. His mother just laughed.
The Tower was silent as his shoes tapped lightly down the lonely halls. What's a guy to do when video games bore him? Beast Boy paused and rubbed his green hairless chin as he contemplated methodically, "Hmmm."
He had friends, but it was difficult. Starfire was practicing martial arts with Robin, which was only a disaster waiting to happen. Moreover, he didn't feel like getting owned by Cyborg at the moment. That didn't stop him, of course, but his boredom of video games continued to rise steadily, and with that, desperation came.
That meant he was left with one person.
Beast Boy gritted his teeth as he stopped just before the Common room door. It was always a gamble with her. Though the two were better friends now, it often seemed to be an unpredictable game of chess. Of course, the green teen loved games, but her being in a bad mood could send him into the nightmare of his darkest fears. Or hurt her, which was worse. Beast Boy shook his head and did the one thing he didn't do unless it was serious: he came up with a plan.
"Okay, if she's there, I'll ask her. If not, I play with Silky."
He really was willing to do anything possible to pass the time. He needed an activity to do. Using the brains he was given, he repeatedly came up with things he could do with her. As the sliding door opened, there was the mystical sorceress, Raven, cross-legged and hovering above the floor in a meditative state, chanting her mantra. Beast Boy's eyes combed the room for an idea, but then,
"Beast Boy, what do you want?"
"Huh? I didn't say anything."
"You always want something when you come here," Raven said and set her feet back to the floor. As she walked over to the green teen, Beast Boy glanced around the room. "What are you doing?"
"Uh... I don't know... what you mean. I was just..." His eyes spotted the kitchen, and an idea exploded into his mind. "I was wondering if you wanted to cook with me," He said in a grand grin. Raven's neutral face raised an eyebrow; her body and arms were mostly covered by the deep blue cloak she wore.
"Why?" Raven asked. Beast Boy was asking the same question himself.
"Because... it would be... a nice experience for you? Besides, you could learn a thing or two about it."
"And if I don't want to cook vegan food?"
"Then you can get Robin or Cyborg, but come on! The vegan stuff I make isn't that bad!" His bottom lip slightly protruded out as his green eyes narrowed. His precarious lean forward gave him a small yet fleeting charge of confidence. Raven stared at him for a while. He didn't seem too excitable. Maybe it wouldn't be as annoying as his other shenanigans.
Raven sighed, "Why cooking?"
"Because you can't cook. And!" He quickly added due to her red-eyed demon glare, "it probably won't annoy you as much." Raven paused for a moment, measuring Beast Boy's shaky grin. With her hood off, she stretched lips into a small smirk as her pale skin glistened in the morning light.
"Okay."
"Wait, really?"
"Don't make me change my mind."
"Right-O!" Beast Boy charged to the kitchen and flung several ingredients onto the counter as Raven quietly and amusingly watched cups, pots, and mixing tools fly to the yellow countertop. "Alright! We're gonna make," Beast Boy looked around and whispered to Raven, "Pancakes."
"Why are we whispering?"
"Because if Cyborg hears, he'll eat all of the pan-uh... he'll want to eat all of them before we can," Beast Boy said. Raven nodded. "Okay, let's get cooking. Now watch carefully. You'll be quizzed afterward." Raven only crossed her arms. "Hey don't look at me like that! You remember the last time you cooked for us." The half-demon still held her arms crossed. She always crossed her arms when she was annoyed; that or glare at him with the rage of a demon. Though mostly stoic, Beast Boy could figure out Raven's evasive emotions relatively easily. In a quick minute, the batter was made, and Beast Boy passed the bowl to Raven to stir, but he stopped her hand. "Can you use your powers to do it?"
"Why?"
"It might calm you. Just a suggestion," Beast Boy shrugged. Raven simply stared before lifting her hand and mixing the bowl with her powers. "Great! Keep going and focus. I'm going to get the plate ready."
"Are you sure this is the right amount? It's pretty heavy."
"It's alright. What's one or two more pancakes?"
They ended up making sixty pancakes piled high on plates. Beast Boy and Raven were already full after three fluffy pancakes. "UUUGGGGHHH!" Sitting on the kitchen stool, Beast Boy groaned with his face plastered against the kitchen counter. Though full, Raven smirked. "Don't say it. Don't you dare say it, Raven. I know you were right, okay?" Beast Boy grunted and pointed his gloved finger at her. So, the purple-haired teen stayed silent with a small knowing curl on her lips. "Okay, now we have to figure out how to clean this up."
"We still have the other pancakes," Raven pointed out.
"I know, I know," Beast Boy fussed as he pulled his face off the counter. "Ugh, I didn't want to do this. PANCAKES!"
ZZOOOMMMMMMMMM!
"Pancakes!" The metal man savagely gasped; his mouth watered the carpet. With one leap, Cyborg closed the gap between him and the counter, looked at the piles of pancakes, and ate all of them in under a minute. "BURRRRRRRRPP! Hehe excuse me," Cyborg shyly said and grabbed a gallon of orange juice to watch it down.
Beast Boy sighed, "It's nice to know we have a walking, talking garbage disposal." Raven softly chuckled as Cyborg's wide mouth gulped another gallon of OJ. Her chuckle sung so quietly in the air that, at that moment, her name was ironic to Beast Boy. Ravens caw but doves... No, songbirds sing melodiously. That it was, melodious laughter. He smiled as she continued chuckling. When she stopped, she noticed Beast Boy's eyes on her. His head turned away and he ran his fingers through his hair.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing. I'm just glad you enjoyed the cooking," Beast Boy grinned.
"I did," Raven said. Beast Boy looked at the small curl up on her lip. He smiled wider just as Cyborg made another belch.
"Wow, you guys made some great pancakes. Even though they were vegan," the metal man said.
"They're not." Cyborg's metallic chin dropped as Raven's eyes widened. "Kidding! I tried a new egg substitute. Tastes like the real thing."
"Awww man, I thought I finally turned you over to the great meat side!" Cyborg gloriously declared.
"In your dreams dude," Beast Boy mumbled, watching the metal man crash to the floor. "Hahahaha."
Just then, the room began flashing red. The door to the Common room opened up and Robin uttered that all too familiar word. "Trouble."
"Come on! I didn't even get to drink my third gallon of OJ," Cyborg sobbed.
"Come on, trash compactor," Beast Boy smirked, "We've got to go."
Continued…
