Summary: Jump City had been peaceful for the past two years. Slade was out of commission after a grueling fight, super-villains were far and few, and the crime rate was low. So the Titans had pursed their hobbies. Beast Boy volunteered at a wildlife museum for children and enjoyed the work. The 19-year-old had nothing to fear…until Slade reappeared. (One-sided Slade x Beast Boy)

Trapped Chapter 10

Weird as it was, Grant sat himself at a bench and watched Beast Boy's guitar and the girls' stuffed animals while they ran around the park and played tag for a while. They were having a blast and had switched from game to game to song to song and were currently playing hide and seek. Beast Boy had tucked himself behind a tree, guitar in his hands and sitting not far from where the girl had finished counting. After the heartache earlier, the girls had cheered up.

Until Becca shrieked.

Beast Boy burst out of hiding and slung the guitar to his back as he sprinted towards the sound. He curved around a bunch of bushes, rushing to his child. When he caught sight of black hair and a familiar face staring up at something with wide eyes, he panicked. He launched out from behind a tree, swept the baby girl into his arms, and skidded to a halt to stare down the threat.

His jaw dropped as he registered a familiar half-human, half-robot face. "Cyborg?"

The Titan lifted his brows, startled. "Who are you?"

Becca bounced in his arms, short hair thwacking against his face. "Daddy, that's Mr. Cyburger."

A brown brow rose to a metal hairline. "Excuse me, little lady?"

Beast Boy chuckled, relaxing slightly. Though he was disappointed that his best friend hadn't recognized him through the disguise, he knew it was for the best. To tell Cyborg the truth would cause an explosion of an aftermath that he couldn't risk. Especially not with his girls stuck in the mix. It had been months since Grant had stated he would murder the children if Beast Boy dared escape, but the threat still haunted him.

He wouldn't risk his freedom for their lives.

"You're Mr. Cyburger! Daddy says so!" Becca clapped her hands, delighted.

Cyborg turned his stare onto the disguised green man. "You're her dad."
He shrugged, trying not to feel hurt by the doubt. Yeah, he was only twenty and they were adopted but he was still the best dad they had ever had! "Kinda. But, uh, sorry about all this. We'll let you be now."

Before he could turn away, Cyborg waved a hand, metal whirring mutely with the movement. "Not a problem. But what's this about a burger?"

"Uh…." Beast Boy freed one hand to fidget with his hat. "Well, you like hamburgers so I thought it'd be funny. Becca here thought it was and she hasn't stopped calling you that since."

"Yeah? Do the other Titans get nicknames or am I the lucky one?"

Beast Boy smiled, sheepish. "Well…"

And then someone screamed. He whirled as more screams followed, one very familiar. That was Angie's voice.

"Daddy!" His daughter shrieked and Beast Boy broke into a dead run, Becca tight in his arms and the guitar thudding against his back. "Help!"

Cyborg followed behind him. The younger man wove between trees until he slammed on the breaks and stopped in a clearing. Standing in the middle of the grass, a lithe man in a black jumpsuit streaked with paint splatters and a black mask held Angie in his arms. She was blue in the face and clearly trying not to cry.

Beast Boy saw red. "Put. Her. Down." He bared his fangs.

The stranger cracked his neck as he faced the younger man. "You the brat's father?"

"Yeah," he snarled. "And you better put her down. Now."

"She needs to be taught a lesson in manners." The stranger shot back.

Cyborg stepped forwards with his canon aimed. "Put the kid down, Artilleo."

Artilleo scoffed. "You shoot me, you shoot the kid, genius."

While the two argued, Beast Boy's mind whirled. He crouched, placing Becca to the ground and murmured. "Rebecca, I need you to do something important for me, alright?"

She nodded, shaky and scared.

"Do you remember where Papa is?"

She nodded.

"I need you to run to him and I need you to stay with him."

She shook her head. "Papa's scar–"

Vibrations spidered up his calves and the hair on his neck prickled. His ears pricked, searching for the cause. Static crackled and he grabbed his daughter with one arm and leaped just as a blast exploded near his feet.

"You are not going anywhere, Garfield Wilson."

Beast Boy tucked his girl close and cartwheeled with the momentum. He landed on his feet and braced his stance, facing the villain. The stranger waved a hand, drawing a squarish symbol in the air, and pushed outwards. A cage materialized and barreled towards him. He jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the trap.

Artilleo sneered. "For a housewife, you're fast. But not fast enough!"

They continued the game of throw cages and dodge, with the occasional blasting aside Cyborg but Beast Boy was tiring. His chest heaved as he stumbled to his feet after falling and the villain panted.

"Dude, what is your deal?" Beast Boy snapped. "What did I ever do to you?"

"It's what your husband did to my son."

The man lifted a hand to cast another spell but Beast Boy had frozen. "He didn't…" he paled. "What did he do? Please tell me he didn't hurt your kid."

Artilleo paused, tone wary. "And if I said he did?"

Before the young man could respond, a black aura surround Artilleo and separated Angie from the villain. The familiar aura placed Angie to the ground but kept a firm hold on the man. Angie rushed to her father's side.

"Daddy!" She yelped, arms outstretched.

He gathered her into his arms just as Raven flew into sight. He relaxed as the other Titans appeared, drinking in their faces, and soaking in the fact that they were there. Right there. Alive and well and so real. And though he knew they could handle the man, there was something he needed to know.

"Wait!' He strode forwards, girls cuddled close in his arms. "I need to ask him something."

The Titans exchanged puzzled expressions. Nightwing's brows furrowed with suspicion, Starfire looked curious, Raven didn't seem to care though she did look at him oddly, and Cyborg shrugged. "Go ahead."

He placed the girls to the ground. "Wait here."

Artilleo watched him with a scowl as he approached. "Come to gloat?"

"No." Beast Boy crossed his arms. "That's not…is your son okay?"

"He would be if his grades hadn't dropped to the point that he might flunk out of school."

Beast Boy winced before confusion spread across his features. "Wait, what does that–"

"I talked to the teachers. Your husband," the man spat. "the oh so great owner of the school had blackmailed them. Either flunk my kid or lose their jobs. Which do you think they picked?"

The words took a moment to register but when they did, his anger flared. "That–that son of a gun. Just because he can bully people with his money and fists does not mean–"

"Garfield!" Grant jogged into view. Subtly, he stiffened as the Titans turned to study him in sync.

Beast Boy gathered spit in the back of his throat and growled low. "You. This guy says you blackmailed the school and tried to get his kid who I'm guessing is Tommy flunked out!"

Grant raised a cold brow. "I did no such thing."

Reading the smugness emanating from the man in silent waves, Beast Boy shrieked. "You're a filthy liar!"

"Garfield." The man warned.

"Don't you Garfield me!" He crossed his arms as hurt bubbled to the surface. "I am sick of–of you! You hurt people! You try to hurt people!"

"Garfield."

"No!" He cocked a hip, guitar shifting with the movement. "If you let me leave your terrible life with Angie and Becca, I would and you know it."

The jerk's gaze darkened.

"Admit it!" He yelled. "You won't let us leave because you're a selfish, horrible, monster, Slade!"

Everything stopped. Beast Boy slapped a hand over his mouth as Nightwing whipped on the unmasked criminal. The Titans readied their powers but Beast Boy's attention were on his daughters, dangerously close to their captor.

"I knew I recognized your voice." Nightwing says. "But that confirms it."

"Hasty, Nightwing. Too hasty." Grant smiled, just a slight curling of his lips. "I've got two children within reach. Move and I'll kill them."

Beast Boy gasped, reaching out a hand. "No, no, no! Don't–"

"But I'll make a deal with you, Titans." Grant continued, tone light and the Titans tensed. "I won't kill them if you let my husband and me leave without a fight."

The young man worked his jaw before a plan crawled into his mind. He was a dead man for sure, but his daughters weren't. He slowly approached Grant as the Titans exchanged silent conversations. He knelt by the children, hugging them. Grant watched, stone cold and unreadable. Beast Boy pulled away, one girl in each arm and kissed their cheeks.

"Sorry about this…" he murmured, regret tugging at his heart.

Standing, he flung them at Raven. Knowing she'd catch them, he pivoted and nailed a right hook against the startled man's nose, cracking bone and toppling the jerk to the grass. Grant cursed and reached for him but he hopped out of reach.

"Titans!" He snapped. "Go!"

The superheroes snapped into action. But it was only a matter of time before Sladebots swarmed. Raven had long since returned the children to his arms. But he needed her help again.

"Raven!" He shouted, watching the Titans be knocked around. "I need you to teleport my girls somewhere safe! Gr–Slade wants me but not the-eeeeem!"

Black aura dragged him into the ground. Just before darkness swallowed him and the children, Raven replied. "We can't let Slade have what he wants."

~oOo~

They resurfaced in the common room of Titan's Tower. He stumbled, disoriented, and placed the children atop the couch. Despite the nausea, he crouched and checked them over. Other than the scare from the fight, they were technically fine. Didn't stop him from fussing, though.

"Daddy!" Angie batted aside mother-henning hands. "I'm okay now."

He relented, sat back on his haunches, and took off the guitar. "You sure?"

"Yeah!" Becca booped his nose. "But where are we?"

A feminine voice crackled like gravel. "Titan's Tower."

Beast Boy leaned the guitar against the couch as he stood and patted his thighs. "Thank you for helping us Rae–uh, Ms. Raven."

The empath studied him. "We have some questions to ask."

He muttered. "Was afraid of that." Louder, he said. "You'll get answers so long as Night–er, Mr. Nightwing." He corrected himself. "Doesn't flip out and scare my kids."

Rae eyed him, as if debating on asking something or not. Finally, she said. "We'll question you once the others get here."

Beast Boy bit his lip, half-pivoting to look out the massive window. The Titans were in Roseville–not only far from the tower but clear outside Jump City. With his former captor's 'accessories' decorating his limbs, Grant would send someone to track his location before the Titans could arrive. Now that things had exploded, he had to run.

Returning to Grant meant death for the girls now. So he had to run. Run and hide and never look back. But first he had to deal with the Titans and then find a place to stay. Grant would know to check the Tower and had broken in too many times in the past. He couldn't risk staying.

He faced Raven. "They might want to hurry up. I'm kinda running on a time limit."

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that exactly?"

He rolled up one sleeve just enough to show her the thin but long metal bracelet.

"Trackers." He supplied and showed the other arm and unbuttoned his collar. "Grant–I mean Sade wasn't too keen on letting me go, you know. There's also one on both my ankles."

Raven stared, expression blank, before her features hardened. "What did he want from you?"

The young man shrugged. "Honestly? I still don't know."

She opened her mouth but shook her head. "If those really are trackers, then I'll take them off. We'll talk somewhere else."

He tried not to let hope show as he showed a wrist. "Good luck but they need a code to–"

Black light encompassed the bracelet. Moments passed and Beast Boy was about to pull away when the metal clicked and opened to reveal the worn leather beneath it. Im–impossible. His eyes widened and he tucked his arm close, removing the remains and hiding his skin with the sleeve.

"Whoa…" his body trembled, skin breathing after so long. "You actually…"

"Your other arm."

Beast Boy held out the other wrist. The process repeated until all jewelry had been removed. Giddiness wriggled in his gut and only years full of restraint around the Titan kept him from gathering the empath into a hug. The urge to dance as the welcome strength returned was hard to stifle and a spark lit within him.

"Thank you." He said instead, voice cracking with gratitude. "Thank you."

The girls watched with saucer eyes. They could tell he was grateful, and they vaguely knew why since he once explained it, but he wasn't crying yet so they weren't hugging him.

Raven waved a hand, noticeably off-put by the tone. "Grab the kids, we're talking somewhere safer."

He nodded and tucked them into his arms. Black surrounded them as Raven teleported them and he blinked.

"The canyon? Isn't this a bit…"

"Open? Yes, but that also means we'll see anyone approach."

The Titan pulled out her communicator and informed her leader of their location. She clicked the device shut and crossed her arms.

"Better get comfortable." She leaned against a stone wall. "They'll be awhile."

Beast Boy plopped into the dusty dirt and leaned against the nearby boulder. He set the children onto his lap and combed their hair.

"You heard Ra–Ms. Raven. We're gonna be here for a long while but you're safe, okay?"

Angie nodded and pointed at the now hooded Titan. "Can I talk to Ms. Raven, Daddy? I've always wanted to meet her and you said she's really cool!"

The young man hesitated. "She might not want to talk right now, Angie. How about you, Becca, and I play a game instead?"

She frowned. "But Raven's my hero."

Steadfast, he ignored the puzzled stare watching them. "That's Ms. Raven to you, missy. And even heroes need alone time."

"But…" she protested, unsure how to respond.

As she deflated, an idea worked its way into his mind. "Hey, now, Daddy has an idea."

Angie and her sister tilted their heads.
"Ms. Raven may not want to talk but you want to know the next best thing to talking to her?"

Angie perked. "What?"

"Well, fun fact! Ms. Raven here likes to meditate. Wanna know why?"

Becca chirped. "Why?"

Angie raised a hand and blurted. "It helps her relax. I remember now!"

"Right," Beast Boy patted the ground next to him and they slid off his lap. "So let's be like Ms. Raven and meditate really quietly, okay girls?"

"Okay." They whispered.

"So here's what you gotta do." He crossed his legs in a lotus position, curled his middle finger and thumb, and placed the back of his hands onto his lap. "Then close your eyes and quietly chant…"

Angie filled in. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos…"

"That's right, good, keep going." He encouraged.

He chanted with them before they started to doze. They leaned against his side and slept. He trailed off the last mantra, unfolded his legs to cross them the way he preferred, and wrapped his arms around little waists. They slid onto his stomach as he sank the full scale of his weight against the rock and relaxed.

Raven would keep watch. But for now he was exhausted.

He closed his eyes.

~oOo~

When a force pulled at the warmth in his arms, he snapped awake and tightened his grip. The black aura dissipated as he shot upright and bared his fangs.

"Don't touch–" He blinked, registering the walls of stone and dirt.

He twisted, girls grumbling in their sleep as they curled closer, and realized the Titans had arrived. And were standing in battle-ready stances. He frowned.

"Hey, whoa, hold up." He shot a glare at Raven. "You tried to take my girls."

She looked ready to reply but Nightwing stepped forwards, taking control in a way that made Beast Boy force himself to sit straighter and not avert his eyes. The Titan was a lot like Grant in terms of leadership. It was scary. Nightwing was scary. The notion burned his throat. He hadn't feared his leader a year ago.

"Are they even your own?" Nightwing interrogated, voice harsh and low.

Fear faded fast as his hackles rose. Inwardly, he chanted. Protect the girls.

"Would you rather they were Slade's?" He spat back. "Because legally, they are. Are you gonna take them from me and give them back to him? Cause guess what? They're mine too."

Nightwing bristled. "You–"

Cyborg placed a hand atop his leader's shoulder. "Nightwing."

Beast Boy snapped. "No, let him talk. I want to hear what he has to say."

He was hurt and tired. But most of all he was angry. Angry at Grant for being a horrible person and threatening the lives of their–his children. Angry at the bullies and Artilleo for hurting his daughter. And angry at Nightwing for acting like Grant.

He was ready to fight.

Nightwing bared his teeth and shrugged off the metal limb. "Tell me everything you know about Slade."
"And if I don't?" Beast Boy narrowed his eyes. "What'll you do? Throw me in jail and let the court return my girls to that criminal? He'll just kill them and then," he licked dry lips and took a dig. "You'll be no better than Slade."

Nightwing snarled. "Don't you ever compare me to him."

Beast Boy let the girls slide to the ground and he stood as Nightwing stalked closer. "Or you'll what? Beat me up? Funny, that's what Gr–Slade would do whenever I made him mad."

That was a lie. Grant wouldn't beat him up. He'd feel him up. The man got handsy when he was mad, after all. But he wasn't going to tell them that. Beast Boy stood his ground as Nightwing towered over him. The need to submit pounded in his chest but he ignored the feeling.

"So?" He challenged. "What's it gonna be?"

Nightwing stared him down but, compared to Grant, he was barely a threat.

A sleepy, high pitched, voice drifted their way. "Daddy…? Why is Mr. Nightwing angry? It's scaring me." Becca sniffled. "Nightwing's scary."

The anger sapped out of him as concern took its place. He needed to soothe his daughter. They couldn't start to think their heroes were bad guys. He retreated a step and crouched to murmur and soothe her. Sighing, he avoided the Titan's eyes.

"Becca, Mr. Nightwing's not scary. He can be very kind! He's a hero, remember?"

"But he's angry."

"Yes, but…" he shifted. "That's…well, Daddy made Mr. Nightwing mad."

She relaxed. "So if Daddy says sorry then Mr. Nightwing won't be mad anymore."

Beast Boy stiffened. Damnit. Why'd he have to teach her manners of all things? Why'd she have to choose now to be so…urgh.

He scrunched his face. "Does Daddy have to?"

She puffed her chest. "Yes!"

"But," he tried to worm his way free. "Mr. Nightwing was mean first!"

"So you both say sorry!" She reasoned, proud of herself.

Beast Boy groaned and stood. "When'd you get to be so smart?"

She clapped her hands once and giggled. "Say sorries!"

Grouching to himself, (he had to set a good example to his kiddo after all) he looked at Nightwing's mask and tried not to blush as he realized the jerk was smiling.

He cleared his throat. "I'm…sorry. I said. Those things."

"Thanks." Nightwing smirked.

Becca pitched in. "Your turn Mr. Nightwing!"

The expression wiped right off the Titan's face and Beast Boy chuckled evilly. Cyborg laughed. "You heard the little lady, Mr. Nightwing."

Nightwing forced out, looking like it pained him. "Sorry. For...reacting. Like that."

Beast Boy grinned. "Your face."

"Daddy!" Becca scolded.

Beast Boy laughed, Becca joining and soon the Titans as well. Angie was roused from her sleep by the noise. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up.

"Daddy?" She mumbled.

"Right here." The young man answered.

Angie pushed herself to her feet and peered around him. When she spotted the Titans, she glowed. "The Titans! It's the Titans!"

He swallowed. "Angie, wait a minute…"

"They're all right here!" She beamed and sprinted to the startled group. She looked up at the Tameranean princess and bounced. "You're Ms. Starfire! You're Ms. Starfire!"

The alien blushed. "Yes, I am. And you, friend, are…?"

She replied. "Angie!"

Meanwhile, Becca had followed her sister but turned to Cyborg and crowed. "Angie, it's Mr. Cyburger! See?"

Beast Boy stifled a groan and turned to the Titan leader. "I'm sorry about all this but they really do like you dudes." He fidgeted with his hat. "I'll call them off and we can do this whole Q and A?"

Nightwing studied him for a moment before checking the smiling group. "Nah, let them have some fun. I'll fill them in later."

The young man relaxed. "Okay, so…fire away."

And fire Nightwing did. "Do you work for Slade?"

"No. Not really." He hesitated. "Kinda?"

"Define kinda."

He blushed. "You heard him. I was kinda his…husband…"

Nightwing cocked a brow. "Elaborate."

"Cooked, cleaned, took care of the kids. Took them to school with a bodyguard, took them to the park with a bodyguard, or went to places on my own with a–"

"Bodyguard." Nightwing finished. "Were you always supervised?"

"Only outside of the house. Also had trackers on me–" At Nightwing's alarmed look, he hastened to add. "But Raven took them off."

Hearing her name, Raven floated over and nodded. "I did. Cyborg already scanned the three of them for any more. They're clean."

"Thanks." The Titan leader turned back to the disguised young man. "Why did you marry him?"

Beast Boy crossed his arms, grumbling. "Wasn't exactly a choice."

"Explain."

He sighed. "He kinda…kidnapped me."

Nightwing blinked. "What."

"A year ago he just kinda…beat me up and grabbed me. Said he wanted a pet or something, but then…"

The two Titans waited.

"A few months later he adopted the girls and forced me to marry him. At first they were home-schooled but, for my birthday, he let them attend a private school. What's really weird though is that he bought the school."

Raven frowned. "Slade bought a school?"

"I couldn't believe it either. He told me to call him Grant but I don't know if that's his real name or not. His last name's Wilson but–"

Nightwing raised a hand. "Wait, Grant Wilson? As in the wealthiest man in the country Wilson?"

He shrugged. "That would explain why his house is so big." That would explain a lot of things, actually.

The Titan leader cursed. "His political image is clean. He'll be impossible to take down from that front…" he glanced at Beast Boy and amended. "Not yet, anyway. What's your name?"

Beast Boy hesitated. "Garfield…"

Instead of the expected laugh as his friends had once laughed when they first learned of his name, Nightwing and Raven's expressions softened. Nightwing explained. "We once had a teammate whose name was Garfield."

"Yeah?" He offered weakly, beads of sweat forming beneath the makeup.

While he half-wanted to tell them the truth, he knew he couldn't. If they knew then there was a chance they'd ask him to return and if they did… Well, he didn't know if he would have it in him to refuse. He wanted to return to the way things were. The way they should be. But no matter how much he wanted, it wouldn't change the fact that reality was different now.

Beast Boy had the girls to protect. And they couldn't be protected in Titans Tower. Grant would know to look there, villains attacked the place too often, and he knew he'd want to help fight the bad guys but he couldn't leave the girls alone in the Tower. They'd be taken and held hostage or worse.

He needed to escape Jump City.

But the how and the when and the where he didn't know yet. It was going to be exhausting running from Grant but he had to try. He had his powers back, he could feel them. He could protect them now, but Grant was strong. And if the man's words about building an army were true, then he had to run fast. They'd be outnumbered and easily defeated but if they could just keep a low profile then they had a chance. For the children, he would try.

Nightwing's voice startled him. "And your last name? Your original one."

"Uh…" he couldn't tell them his real one. Nightwing would figure him out even sooner if he did. "…Caulburn."

Hopefully the dude would wait before running a background check. He didn't know what kinda alias Grant had created for him, so he had to leave before Nightwing could interrogate him about his identity.

"Is there anything else you can share?"

Beast Boy tilted his head and hummed. "…there is one thing but I don't know if it's true." With the expectant pause, he continued. "Grant–er, Slade, or whoever, said that he was building an army over the past two years, or well three now I guess. And he said he planned to kill all superheroes and take over the world or something like that."

"Sounds like Slade." Raven spoke before Nightwing as she folded her arms, voice crackling despite the monotone. "But an army of what?"

Beast Boy lifted his brows as he shrugged, unhelpful. "I don't know. Sladebots? He never told me. Otherwise, that's all I know." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Can we go? It's getting late and I have to find a place to stay."

Nightwing lifted a hand. "Slade will come after you. It's best if you stay with us for the time being. You don't have a place in mind, right?"

"I don't." Beast Boy studied the dirt. "But you sure that's a good idea? Gran–Slade will know to look there."

Raven shot him a lidded stare. "Where else would you go?"

He sagged his shoulders. They were right. He didn't like it, but they were right. "If you're offering then I'll accept. So…thank you. Means a lot." He winced as Becca shrieked then laughed. "I'll try to keep them out of your way. And I'll be looking for a place, so–"

Nightwing lifted a hand. "Worry about that tomorrow and get some rest tonight. Raven?"

"On it."

She swept to Cyborg and Starfire and spoke a bit before facing the children. Beast Boy and Nightwing approached the group just as Angie brightened like a shooting star.

"We get to stay in the Titan's Tower?" Her eyes were practically only pupils. "That's awesome."

"I'll teleport you two and your father." Raven said. "Ready?"

Beast Boy grasped little hands and nodded. They sunk through the ground and into darkness before reappearing in the common room. The jewelry on the floor was gone. So was his guitar.

Raven slunk into view. "I'll show you the guest room."

The girls looked to their adoptive father and Beast Boy gestured at the Titan. "C'mon kiddos."

Now cleared for permission, Angie grabbed Becca's hand and trotted to Raven's side. She chirped. "Ms. Raven?"

Beast Boy panicked. His children's cheerful energy were bound to annoy the Titan who preferred calm and quiet. He quickened his pace, ready to call off the girls and prevent any soon-to-be-hurt-feelings.

"Yes?"

"I've always wanted to ask but why do you have that orange thing on your head? It's really pretty and I want one too but Daddy doesn't know where to get me one."

He swallowed and placed a hand onto Angie's shoulder. "Angie…" She looked at him and he fumbled for words, glancing at Raven and gauging her unreadable reaction. "Uh… Ms. Raven might not want to talk–"

"–right now?" Angie finished, features crumbling. "Did I make her mad?"

The young man flinched, knowing where this was headed. "No, no, n–"

Angie seemed to register her own words and halted. His heart ached as she held her breath, cheeks deepening into red and her eyes glazed with unshed tears. She sucked in a breath, holding it for a moment, before exhaling slowly.

Just like Grant had taught her.

Beast Boy gathered her into his arms and held her tight. "Angie, Angie, listen to me." He pleaded with a low tone. "Rae–Ms. Raven's not mad at you. No one's mad at you. It's okay to cry, princess, just let it out and you'll feel better."

"But Papa always said–"

"But–" he floundered for a counter reason. "But Papa's not here!"

She sniffled, tears leaking as she checked their surroundings. She noticed Raven and blushed, realizing her hero had seen her fall apart.

Angie bit her lip. "Where is Papa?"

He brushed a hand through her hair and set her down. "I don't know but we're safe. Everything's okay because he's not here."

"He's not?" She slowly brightened, still hesitant.

"Yeah," he pinched her nose. "He's snot."

Becca clapped her hands while Angie pretended to sneeze. Becca joined in and Beast Boy pretended to pick his nose. They burst into loud laughter and he was soothed by the sound.

"Alright, alright." He ended their play with a light tone. "Ms. Raven's here to show us to where we're gonna stay. So follow her lead, alright lil dudes?"

Rae blinked, startled out of being an observer to being a participator. She strode down the hallway without a word. They walked down a familiar path and he swiveled focus from door to door until they arrived at their destination. Raven typed in a code on the keypad adjacent to the metal door. It slid open and the girls wandered inside.

"Thanks," he murmured to the Titan as he passed.

She lifted her brows but the door whooshed shut. Beast Boy then looked around. It was empty except for the bunk bed, closet, and desk with a chair. Even his guitar was in there and atop the lower bunk bed. It was similar to his old room in a way, but clean and the walls and floor were beige instead of green. Huh. Did they even still have his old room?

The thought sent a pang in his heart but he curled his fingers and ignored the feeling. "Hey dudettes?"

Angie twisted in the swivel chair while Becca closed the closet door. When he had their attention, he continued. "Daddy's gonna go talk to Ms. Raven about dinner, alright? Stay here. I'll be back soon."

They chorused acknowledgements. So he pushed the button beside the door and the metal slid open. Now to find Raven. Assuming her room was in the same place, he walked through the hallways, wound down familiar stairs, and approached a gray entrance with a plate labeled with her name.

He inhaled and knocked. "Rae–Ms. Raven," he corrected. Best to address them with respect just in case. "I–"

The door opened with Raven standing there. Beast Boy couldn't resist peeking over her shoulder. Her room was just as he remembered it: creepy as ever.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering…" he fidgeted beneath her focus. "What were we gonna do about dinner?"

She shrugged. "Pizza, probably."

He brightened, salivating. "From the parlor?"

He hadn't had such delectably greasy food in ages. Grant was a stinker about junk food. They were only allowed to eat healthy food. 'Edible garbage' was a privilege he and the girls didn't get to have often.

"Awesome!" He grinned like a blinding ray of light but he couldn't help it.

She raised a brow. "What would you like?"

He sucked on his cheek, thinking. Though he'd love to go for the vegetarian order, Angie and Becca weren't too keen with his tastes. They were really fond of meat, so the simplest option would be…

"Pepperoni?" He'd remove the meat, but this way the girls could have more pizza if they wanted.

Raven nodded. "That all?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll find a way to pay you back."

The Titan shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

He tried to protest but the door shut in front of him. Shrugging, he returned to the guest room where soft snores filled the air. He smiled and clambered up the ladder to check on the sleeping children and softened. The girls held one another in their sleep, as cute and cuddly as could be. Actually, they had a good idea.

A nap sounded nice.

~oOo~

A knock tapped against the door and Beast Boy groggily opened his eyes. He caught his bearings and hurried to the wall. With a push of a button, the door opened to reveal white metal in front of his face. He craned his neck and offered a puzzled smile. Cyborg jerked a thumb behind him.

"Pizza's here." He smiled. "You wanna eat in here or in the common room with the rest of us?"

Beast Boy bit his lip and pivoted. "Girls…?"

Angie rubbed her eyes. "Can we eat with the Titans? Please?"

He smiled. "That settles that, then. We'll get cleaned up and see you in a few."

"Alright. Bathroom's to the left." Cyborg left.

After further waking the girls and helping them climb down the ladder, he led them to the bathroom. Once there, he grabbed a rag and wet it before handing it to Becca. "Wipe your face and wash your hands."

They cleaned their faces of dirt and sweat and he wished he could do the same. But he couldn't remove the makeup, not at least until he had more to reapply. Though he couldn't wash his face, he did slip off his gloves and the ring to clean his hands. If anything it felt nice to remove the sweat.

"Alright," he hesitated, eying the ring, but put in back on anyways before putting on the gloves. He herded the girls out of the bathroom. "To the common room!"

He grasped their hands and led the way. Doors slid open and, without fear preoccupying them, the children lit up at the sight of the Titans sitting on the couch. He tugged them to the vacant side where an unopened pizza box sat. Angie clambered atop the seat next to Starfire, Becca followed to sit next to Angie, and Beast Boy occupied the edge.

"Hey," he greeted, uncomfortable.

The returned the sentiment.

Beast Boy nudged the girls with an elbow. "What do we say?"

"Thank you!" They chorused.

The Titans smiled and continued to eat in silence as Beast Boy opened the box. He grasped paper plates and filled them with a slice each before handing them to the lil dudes. As he handed the kids napkins as well, Angie looked at the pizza with horror.

"Daddy…is this…pizza?"

Becca scrunched her nose. "Gross."

The Titans watched with wide-eyes. Beast Boy pursed his lips. "Ouch."

Angie made a face. "Daddy."

He groaned. "That was one time."

"Twice."

"But I thought my pizza was good!"
Angie scowled. "You put fake meat on it and said it was pepperoni!"

Beast Boy floundered. "But tofu is good."

"Tofu sucks."

Cyborg cracked up. "I like this kid already."

Angie beamed. "See?"

"Three against one ain't fair!" He whined. "C'mon dudes I swear I didn't put tofu on it!"
Becca huffed. "Promise?"

He lifted his little finger. "Pinky promise."

They accepted his word and, after a moment, bit into the pizza. Promptly, they grinned and Becca cheered. "This is good!"

Beast Boy plucked the meat off his own slice. "Good cause it's actually tofu."

The girls shrieked. "Dad-yyyyyy!"

He giggled as Becca pushed him and hurriedly placed the plate to the table so he could dramatically fall to the floor. He faked a pained groan and outstretched an arm to the ceiling, roughening his voice.

"Aghast, you have defeated me! The evil lord of evilness has been vanquished by the princess Becca!"

Becca clapped her hands and swung her legs, bouncing in place. Beast Boy poked his head above the seat cushion and grinned.

He switched to a squeaky high pitched voice. "But oh noes! The evil lord of evil's friend, evildoer, comes back for revenge!" He snuck behind the couch, making stomping sound effects before shooting upwards, leaning over the backrest, and ruining the girls' hair.

They whined and he laughed. "The only way to defeat him is to eat as much pizza as you want!" His voice returned to normal. "Dig in, dudettes!"

They laughed, the Titans joining in. After the silly show, the atmosphere relaxed and he returned to his seat to eat his own slices. He slid his attention across the room. The Titans chatted with one another, animated and lively. He inhaled the scents of his old friends, warmed by the smell of pizza and focused on his children. They talked to Starfire with bright grins and wide gestures.

He was finally home.

~oOo~

Notes:

Guess who's a slowpoke at updating? Me! To be fair, Final Papers are a pain but at least Winter Break is nearing!

Feel free to leave a review and tell me whatcha think!