Missing You Part One
Amethyst eyes gazed at the digital numbers before her, waiting for the insufferable blaring wakeup call she received every morning; seven thirty on the dot. She watched the numbers shift to the next minute and the all so familiar noise echoed in the dark room.
With a quick press of a button Raven, rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling; not ready to get out of bed just yet. Her thoughts rapidly changing from her morning plans to the mindless drills her team leader will order them to conduct today and then to the one person that seemed to have plagued her mind for the last eleven months, him.
Letting out a dismissive sigh the empath rose from her bed, walking toward her personal bathroom to get ready for the day. Fifteen minutes later, all showered and dressed Raven scanned her room for a book before deciding to get her tea and breakfast. Finding an unfinished book on her bureau, she pulled it toward her with her powers. Now book in hand she made her way to the door before stopping to give her sanctuary one last look over.
The room hadn't changed much in the last 6 years, same bed, same colors, same dark furniture holding mysterious and ancient artifacts and scrolls. Her magically sealed chest holding her most dangerous possessions and the book that's imprisoning the dreaded dragon Malchior still resting in the same corner. Her bookshelves still packed full of tomes and literature from both Earth and her home in Azareth.
Giving a curt nod of approval Raven finally opened her door and then was immediately reminded, once again that she was no longer in Titans Tower. Not when she could see Earth right outside her bedroom door in a nearby window. Taking small slow steps toward the large glass window, Raven gazed at the planet below her; almost not noticing that she now had company.
"It still boggles my mind every time I see it. We'll get used to it eventually; at least that's what the Bat says." Her companion said.
"Yes, we just might." Raven spoke mildly before starting her trek toward the Watchtowers mess hall. Her companion quickly matched her pace walking right beside her, grinning as he did.
"He also said we'd eventually get used to us being members of the Justice League, but it's been over a year and I still can't wrap my mind around it. I mean, we're big time now! No more of that we're too young or any of that small time stuff." He praised. Giving her companion a bored look, Raven felt her eyes roll when he gave her a wink.
"Being a Titan wasn't small time Wally. We still face the same villains we did back then. We just have more jurisdiction and access to confidential files than before." The Empath said with a slightly irritated tone which her speedster companion easily brushed off with a smile as they continued to walk toward the mess hall.
"Yeah, but now? Now, we get to be on even footing with the Bat, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, Barry and everyone else! They respect us as equals now, not just as sidekicks or kids." Wally West enthused.
"I suppose you're right about that. The big leaguers have been giving us more respect since we joined. But that doesn't mean being a Titan wasn't great. The Titans were my family and it was my home. Being a member of the League is nice, but I prefer my home with my family." The empath explained as she walked shocking the speedster with how much she just said.
"Don't get me wrong I loved being a Titan as well and every one of the Titans felt like family, but, Raven almost every Titan from our generation is a member of the League now. Your family is still here, granted sometimes we do get separated from time to time because of missions, but we're still here!" Finally reaching the mess hall, door sliding open with quick hiss and Raven walked in followed by her companion.
"Almost every Titan" She drawled, her voice sounding slightly strained before excusing herself from his company. Eyes widening for a brief moment, Wally gave his empathic friends back a sympathetic look.
"Right…sorry."
Ignoring the strong wave of sympathy and guilt being projected by Kid Flash, Raven quickly walked to the end of the mess hall where a small kitchen nook stood, containing a full functioning stove and oven, microwave, sink and refrigerator. Its cabinets packed with snacks, packaged foods, tea bags, and anything else a hero might grab for a quick bite before rushing to their next mission. Grabbing the tea kettle resting on the counter, Raven quietly filled and placed it on the stove before turning the burners on; she waited for her water to boil.
Deep in thought, Raven's stare bore into the countertop as her fingers tapped against the ceramic counter. She just couldn't get him out of her head today and Wally's comment didn't help her in any way. Letting out a resigned breath, Raven looked up from the counter in search for the computer console every room of the Watchtower was obligated to have.
Finding it easily she steadily walked toward the console, feeling herself getting anxious with every step before realizing that she was letting herself get worked up. With a quick chant of her mantra, Raven forced the anxiety away chiding timid in her mind as she reached the console.
Typing in her league passcode and ID, Raven browsed the Justice League's channels and files until she found what she was looking for. A list and status of all registered heroes that have had any interaction with League since its founding; its interface showing where the hero was last seen and what they were doing all around the globe. Clicking on the search tab Raven quickly typed in his name, her anxiety already building in the pit of her stomach as she waited for the computer to search for his status.
Within seconds she had received her answer; the same answer she received for the last eleven months:
GARFIELD LOGAN
ALIAS: BEAST BOY
AFFILIATIONS: DOOM PATROL (CURRENT); TITANS WEST (FORMERLY)
STATUS: UNKNOWN (M.I.A.)
Sighing, feeling her disappointment envelope her, Raven typed in another name, hoping that maybe she could get a lead. Punching in the name Raven waited.
STEVEN DAYTON
ALIAS: MENTO
AFFILIATIONS: DOOM PATROL
STATUS: UNKNOWN (M.I.A)
Letting out a frustrated groan, Raven glared at the computer screen that failed to give her any positive information. She began to type in the next name.
"I already went through each member this morning. They're all still M.I.A. Rae; there hasn't been a sign of any of them for the last eleven months." A deep voice said from behind, surprising her. Jumping from the sudden sound of her new guest Raven whirled around to see her long time teammate and big brother, Cyborg. Calming herself and giving him a brief nod, Raven stepped around the cybernetic hero and begun her trek back to the kitchen nook. Cyborg following right behind her.
"Of course you did. I don't even know why I bother to keep looking at that stupid screen. I keep getting the same answer and any lead that we may have found always ended with nothing." Raven drawled, her voice making minor influxes with every word; the only indication to anyone that knew Raven as well as her family did that she was taking this news harder than she showed.
"You keep looking because you hope that one day his status will no longer be M.I.A. It's the same reason why Dick, Kori and I check every day. We all miss the Grass Stain and we all still hurt that he went back to the Doom Patrol instead of joining the League with the rest of us." Cyborg explained. Raven clenched her fists and looked at the floor as an old anger flared up in her.
"He didn't have a choice Victor. He never received an invitation to join the League remember? The League didn't want him and he couldn't stay with the Titans once the new generation moved into the tower. He had nowhere else to go." Her tone now bitter as black sparks flickered about her clenched fists, as she let her old bitterness swell within her chest once again. Feeling a heavy hand rest on her shoulder, Raven raised her head and saw the look of sympathy and agreement on her friends face.
"Oh believe me, I remember. I don't think I'll ever forget that call. It was a little over two months after you joined Kori, Dick and I up here on the Watchtower. We all thought he was calling to let us know he needed help moving everything he owned up here. I still remember that look on his face, do you remember?" Raven nodded solemnly. "I don't think I have ever seen him that upset, not even Terra's betrayal all those years ago got to him that badly. He looked like he was almost ready to break down when he said the League never sent him an invite and he was rejoining the Doom Patrol."
"He wasn't the only one that was ready to break down. I remember Kori crying for the next three hours after the news and I destroyed every light bulb and computer console on my way to my room that night. I think; we all took it hard." Raven admitted.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I broke five punching bags and over a dozen training robots in the training room after I heard the news. The only one that seemed to hold himself together was Dick, but I know that wasn't true. I heard he gave Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman an earful later that day. I wish I was there for that, I would have added a few things I wanted to say to them." Cyborg said with a small grin.
Taking a deep breath Raven took a few steps away from her friend, certain that she had control of her anger but nowhere close to content. "Yes, I had a few things I'd like to say to them as well, especially Bruce. I'm fairly certain he's the one that made the initial decision not to include him, something Richard probably brought up when he gave them an earful." Cyborg nodded in agreement as Raven grabbed a mug and begun to pour the boiling water into the mug with a type of teabag that Cyborg was sure he never heard of. "Speaking of Richard, where is he? I thought his assignment with Hal ended yesterday. He's usually down here by now." She asked causing Cyborg to snort in amusement.
"Kori returned from Tamaran last night. I'm pretty sure they are in the middle of catching up for lost time, even though she was only gone for a week." Cyborg said with an ever growing grin causing Raven to roll her eyes. Just then the doors to the mess hall opened, Starfire and Nightwing stepping into the nearly empty mess hall, stupid happy grins on both of their faces. Starfire clinging onto her boyfriend's arm was the first of the pair to see her dearest friends.
"Friends!" Starfire yelled, pulling away from Nightwing and flying directly to Cyborg and Ravens side. "Oh friends I have missed you so!" She enthused pulling Cyborg in a tight bone crushing hug. "Hello friend Cyborg."
"It's good to see you too Star." Cyborg smiled at the shorter redhead, the only former Titan not affected by Starfire's steel grip. Starfire smiled brightly at the metal man before rounding on the shorter empath ready to pull her into a hug until she saw the boiling mug in the empaths hand. Instead she decided on a gentle side hug which Raven politely reciprocated.
"Hello Kori, welcome back" Raven greeted with a small tug of her lips, Starfire returning it with her own larger smile.
"Friend Raven it is very good to see you. I'm sure we have much to catch up on since my departure to my home world yes?" Raven rolled her eyes for the third time that morning.
"You were only gone for a week Kori, nothing really has changed." Starfire gave her a tentative look as she seemed to have a question she wanted to ask but was afraid of the answer.
"Was there any news on the whereabouts of Friend Beast boy? Richard told me last night that the League has finally made the search of the Doom Patrol a priority and I was hoping that maybe they have been found." Starfire explained.
Surprised from this new information both Cyborg and Raven gave their leader a shocked look; Nightwing giving them a stiff nod.
"Bruce told me last night as I was on my way to see Kori. He told me the Doom Patrol has gone radio silent a few times in the past, mostly because Mento doesn't like other heroes interfering in what he believes are the Doom Patrols interests." The other former Titans nodding their heads in agreement as they remembered the first time they ran into the Doom Patrol and how Mento wanted nothing to do with them other than Beast boy. "But he also said they've never gone dark for this long, the only other time was when Beast boy received that message back when we were Titans and that was only for five months. Bruce finally decided it was time to make finding them a priority for the League. He said he made it a priority five days ago."
"Unless, they have already been found yes?" Starfire asked hopefully looking at Cyborg and Raven. Both heroes felt their moods sour as they couldn't look Starfire in the eye, Cyborg looking at the floor while Raven looked at the computer console, her search still on display.
"Sorry, Star. There still has been no sign of Beast boy or the Doom Patrol. Whatever mission they're on that's keeping them radio silent must still be going on. Mento is an incredibly powerful meta-human, I bet he's using his powers to create a field that hides him and everyone on his team from any psychics that might be able to pick up their mental signatures and locate them." Starfire descended to the ground her mood now somber.
"So still nothing? Could that mean they have been captured?" She asked causing Raven to flinch, the one thought she was too terrified to acknowledge now brought to the surface. She waited for either male hero to respond.
"Bruce thinks that's a possibility, but if that's the case I'm sure we would have heard something by now. A villain wouldn't…they wouldn't keep them alive for this long." Each Titan stiffened at their leaders words, their faces paling as the worst possible outcome was mentioned. Nightwing quickly continued. "But I don't think that's the case. The villain would have probably announced it to anyone who would listen and we would have heard about their deaths by now. The same goes for if they are still captured and the villain wanted to use them as a bargaining chip. They would have already contacted the League or the Titans by now. I don't think they are captured and neither does Bruce, he just said that it could be a possibility." Nightwing reassured which caused each other member to sigh in relief.
Over the years the former Titans have all learned to trust both Nightwing's and Batman's deductions, they almost always seemed to be right in the end.
A loud beeping and buzzing echoed between to the four heroes as all their communicators went off at the same time. Each hero picking up their communicator they all read the same message.
Report to the Hall of Justice for upcoming mission debriefing
The four heroes looked at each other, matching grins on their faces. It was particularly rare for the former Titans to all be on the same mission, most of the time they would be split into pairs or if they were unlucky wouldn't even work with one another during a mission which could last up to several months. So having all four friends on the same mission was a simple pleasure that they all cherished.
Nightwing gave Raven a knowing look and with a curt nod, her eyes glowed white and the four friends begun to sink into a black pit, Raven's teleportation the fastest way for the team to reach the Hall of Justice.
Raven's magic deposited each passenger inside the Hall of Justice around the large table that swallowed most of the space in the room. Each former Titan looked to each other before all heads turned toward the head of the table where not only was Batman standing there but so were Superman and Wonder Woman. Raven gave Batman a resentful look, her grudge against the caped crusader for not inviting Beast boy into the League apparent to most members of the League. Batman simply ignored her glare.
"Good you're all here, have a seat, this shouldn't take long." Superman announced. Each hero sat down and waited for Superman to continue. "Bruce, Diana and I have talked this over and we all agree that this mission is of high importance. A mission that we think you four are the most qualified to handle."
Each former Titan waited patiently for the Man of Steel to continue, curious to find what their next mission was going to be. Raven fidgeted in her seat, sensing a mix of emotions pouring out of the hero standing in front of them. She began to feel anxious as she found that most of the emotions emanating from him were not good.
"Considering the circumstances, I'm sure you all are already aware that we have made finding the Doom Patrol a priority for the League. Having an entire team of heroes go completely dark for over eleven months is never a good sign, even for a team that prefers to work independently without the help of other hero organizations such as the Doom Patrol. Their entire team going dark is a concern to the League, we need to find them." Superman explained.
Raven felt her body stiffen as her mind begun to create answers from what she had heard from the Man of Steel and from Richard earlier. They were going to be assigned to look for the Doom Patrol, she was sure of it. She tried not to let her anxiousness show but from the look Batman just gave her, she was showing more emotion than she should. Sparing a glance at her friends she saw that they were also coming to the same conclusion and were more than ready to look for their lost friend.
They were going to look for Beast boy.
"What you four may not know is that, we three have been searching into this case for the last few months and I'm sure like you four, all our leads ended up being a dead end." He said, the room going quiet as the four former Titans bowed their heads in somber agreement. "But I have some good news. Last night around four in the morning we found a very promising lead." Superman nods to Batman. The caped crusader stepped forward and pulled four manila folders out from under his cape; handing them out to each hero.
"These photos show that a few someone you may know have been seen around Jump City last night." Superman says with a small smile as he saw the four young heroes gape at the images inside the folder, a green hawk flying over a very familiar park, an image of an astral projection of a man flying into an alleyway where a body wrapped in linen laid unmoving, a massive metal body standing guard. "Seeing as you four are the most familiar with the city and all of you have… close ties to one of their members we decided that this mission should be assigned to you. Your mission is to investigate and confirm that these images are in fact the missing Doom Patrol." Superman announced.
The four Titan's stayed quiet as they let their new orders sink in, all overwhelmed by the new mission and the very promising lead the League had just handed them. Raven, shuffled in her seat, silently chanting her mantra to quiet down the now excited emotions celebrating inside her mind about the new lead about their green friend; she felt a second wave of anxiousness, stronger than the last fill her as she now impatiently waited for the debriefing to end so they could move as soon as possible. Taking another look at her friends, she saw them all still staring at the photos in front of them, looks of disbelief, joy and relief etched on their faces.
"Who took these photos?" Nightwing asked as he lifted up the photo of the green hawk. The three other former Titans looked to their leader.
"The photo of what we suspect to be Beast boy is from a journalist for the Jump City Journal who posted the photo to the papers website late last night with the caption 'Green hero spotted in Jump Central Park, Beast boy back?'. The other two are from a civilian that managed to snap them before they were seen. She posted the photos to her social media, thinking that the astral projection and the metal man were the original Titans coming back to protect the city once again. Our systems notified us when they were all posted." Batman explained. Cyborg cut in.
"If the Doom Patrol is in Jump City and we are only hearing about it now, I can only assume that they had just arrived in the city yesterday. There would have been more photos or videos of them in the city if they were in there longer than a few days. Beast boy is an icon in Jump. We would have known about their whereabouts days ago if they had." All heroes in the room nodded their heads to the assessment.
"And knowing the Doom Patrol, they won't be there for much longer. I've worked with Mento. He won't want to be in such a vulnerable area for long; especially if they are working on a mission that requires them to stay in the dark for as long as they have… If that is in fact the Doom Patrol, then they won't be in the city for much longer." The room fell silent taking in Batman's words, all knowing that the Doom Patrol never liked to stay put for too long. "But we are getting ahead of ourselves; we first have to confirm that these photos are in fact real." Batman looks over the younger heroes, eyes lingering on Raven. "You four need to move fast. I've already contacted Robin at Titan's West, you all will be touching down at the tower roof." He explained. The four heroes gave stiff nods as they begun to stand up.
"There is a javelin in the hanger waiting for you. Good luck." Superman called out as the four former Titans shuffled out of the room, walking quicker than usual to the hanger.
"Do you think it's really them?" Nightwing asked his team once he was further away from the table. Cyborg shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know man. I mean, don't get me wrong I'm hoping it's really them, but I can't say just yet." The cybernetic hero commented.
"Friends, you don't believe the photos the Batman has given us? This could be our one chance to find Friend Beast boy." Starfire added, looking back at the two boys. Nightwing frowned as he analyzed the evidence in his mind.
"I believe that Bruce has a lead and those photos could be that lead, but something doesn't seem to add up. Why would the Doom Patrol suddenly now allow themselves to be seen after eleven months of staying dark? We know Mento, he wouldn't want anyone involved in DP affairs and he knows that staying radio silent for so long has most likely caused a few red flags to rise to the heroes around the world. So wouldn't he want to stay dark until their mission is over?" Nightwing asked as they continued to walk.
"Maybe, their mission is complete?" Starfire asked hopefully.
"No, if their mission was finished they'd be more likely seen back in their home, Dayton Manor in Midway City. No way near Jump City. They are still on a mission Star, if that is them."
"I think you're missing the point. We have a lead Richard. Beast boy could be down in Jump City this very moment. This is the biggest lead we've had in months." Raven added; her pace a little faster than the others. Nightwing gave her a look.
"I know you want to find him Raven, believe me we all do. But we have to be ready in case the lead is a dead end or it was a fake. It could be a trap or it's just not them." He retorted.
"You know better than most that Batman would make sure the photographs weren't fakes. He probably made every possible background check, to make sure those photos were real. They're real Richard." She pauses. "And if it's a dead end, then we would be no different than where we were this morning. But if it is them, then we are wasting time making assumptions or theories." Raven stated; walking a little faster through the door leading to the hanger. The other three heroes looked at each other for a moment, Cyborg giving Nightwing a small smile.
"She does have a point." Cyborg quipped.
"She does, but I don't want to get her hopes up, if it's not them. We all know that there was something growing between her and Beast boy the last year we were all Titans. They spent a lot of time together, even going as far as going out to dinner together when they thought we weren't paying attention." Nightwing commented.
"Yes, friend Raven did appear to be quite attached with friend Beast boy that last year, I once caught them spending the time together on the couch, Beast boys head resting in her lap as she read. She didn't comment on the blatant invasion of personal space, she even ran her fingers through his hair before noticing my presence. I do believe she holds a great affection for our friend." Starfire added.
"And judging by her constant searches in the database for anything new on him and her renewed determination after that debriefing, I'm going to say she hasn't let those feelings go." Cyborg interjected before boarding the Javelin and seeing the sorceress impatiently waiting, already buckled in her own seat. The metal man gave his team leader a silent look stating they will further talk about this later before turning to take his seat in the pilots cockpit and started the powerful engine of the jet. Destination? Home.
Well, it's been a while but i'm back. For how long? i don't really know, but i'm hoping for a little bit longer so i can add new short stories and new chapters to the stories i never managed to finish a few years back. This chapter was going to be massive so i cut it into two. i'll try to have the second half posted soon. Let me know what you think.
-Greenhatred77