"I'm getting antsy," Beast Boy said from out of nowhere.
Raven glanced up from her book, peering at him from her end of the couch. He was stretched out to the limits of his diminutive stature which left ample room for her to sit with only minimal, largely accidental contact. The only other Titan in the room was Cyborg, sitting low and easy in one of the chairs. "Antsy?" she asked. "Is this some kind of prelude to you turning into an ant?"
"No," he said, nudging her with his foot, which she tolerated with good grace. "I mean I feel like doing something."
"So do something," she said, going back to her book.
"No," he said. "I want to do something with you."
Raven put her book down and sort of shrugged, "What do you want to do?"
"Well," he said, slightly drawing out the word. Raven felt a now famaliar combination of mild amusement, annoyance and affection. She knew quite well that he had something in mind that he felt he would have to persuade her into. "It occured to me a few minutes ago that we've only been on two dates."
She gave him a look that he read as easily as she had him. She thought that what he was saying was patently ridiculous but she had learned exactly how often there was a method to his madness. It made him grin. She replied with the smallest eye roll. "What do you mean? We're together constantly. Too constantly sometimes."
"You love it," he said dismissively. Cyborg chuckled but both ignored it.
"We have not just been on two dates," she said dismissively.
"Have so."
"We've done tons of stuff. Eating out, you know... stuff."
"Group activities don't count. I mean a real date. Just the two of us and pre-planned, romantic activities."
"We stayed at that B&B. That was nice," she said.
"That was a stakeout. We neither used the bed nor did we eat breakfast." That was the first part of this conversation that caught Cyborg's full attention. As much as he made an effort to be a good friend and respectful neutral party, there were certain things that he simply didn't need to know about Raven and BB as a couple. Not that it was any of his business but you can't help being curious about your friends and their happiness. Yes. That worked. This was in no way an unseemly curiosity. Did they... use beds?
Raven made an acquiescent half-shrug. "Okay. That's true. What about..." she trailed off, thinking. She was dangerously close to being forced to admit he was right. "Group activities don't count?" He shook his head. "OK, if you insist, we've only been on two dates."
"Two dates in four months," he said plaintively. "I feel I'm being taken for granted."
"I gotta say," Cyborg interjected, "two dates in four months is not impressive."
"Oh, no," Raven replied sarcastically, "What will we do? We only became a couple in order to impress you. We worry about it constantly."
"Good. You two clearly can't be trusted on your own," Cyborg said. "You better step it up. You're dropping the ball and I got a biannual performance review planned."
Raven rolled her eyes and very deliberately picked her book back up. Beast Boy opted to just ignore it. Starfire had walked into the room in time to hear Cyborg's remark and asked "What are we reviewing biannually?" she asked.
"Mine and Rae's relationship apparently," Beast Boy said, becoming a bit annoyed now.
Starfire looked confused "Would a biannual review not be for two more months?" Raven tried her best to hide her annoyance and exasperation. She failed. "Also, they have been out on a real date only twice and that would make for a very poor review." For once, the powerful, beautiful, innocent alien contrived to look just a little too innocent. Cyborg enjoyed a belly laugh, Starfire covered her mouth and tried not to giggle. Beast Boy grinned despite himself and Raven again tried to mask her response and failed.
Now it was Robin who came in and inserted himself into the conversation. He leapt gracefully over the back of the couch and landed neatly, his laptop under his arm. "What's funny?" he asked.
"Apparently, Gar and I," Raven said acidly.
Robin's eyebrows went up but he didn't respond. Cyborg spoke up hesitantly. "I'd say that's a radical interpretation of the subtext."
Raven stood abruptly and spoke to the room in general. "I'm sorry. No one has said anything out of line. I'm just having a bad day. Excuse me." She left the room amidst quick apologies from Cyborg and Starfire acknowledged with a tiny wave. As she passed Beast Boy, he raised one hand from where he lay and she took it quickly, releasing it as she passed. It was really more of a handshake than anything else but it was as public as their displays of affection got.
Starfire watched her go, concerned that they had upset her. Robin opened his laptop and began working intently. Cyborg watched Beast Boy. The younger hero had smiled up at her as she took his hand in passing and then relaxed with every sign of unconcern. "Not going after her?" he asked.
"Nah, not yet." Beast Boy said. "Something's bugging her but it isn't you guys kidding her. I'll let her get the edge off and then I'll talk to her."
Cyborg considered his friend and made just a little adjustment in how he thought of Beast Boy and of his two friends as a couple. "I take it back. You guys are just fine."
"I'm aware," Beast Boy said, not without some asperity.
A bit less than an hour later, Gar stepped into Rae's room. She came out of her meditations and settled onto the bed. "Are they upset?"
"Of course not." He stepped towards her and they exchanged a quick hug. He sat on the bed near her. "So, he said, "It seemed to me there was more going on then the obvious."
Rae nodded and sighed. "There was more." He started to speak but she knew very well it was going to be some variant on "If you want to talk, I'm here and if not that's OK" so she forestalled him. "It's just..." she hesitated, formulating her words and he waited silently. "You were talking about us having only been on two dates. After two comes three and you know what the romantic comedy, bad sitcom trope about third dates is."
"Oh," he said, sounding distressed. "Rae, I hope you know I didn't mean it like that."
"I knew. You would never be so cavalier." She hesitated and actually opened her mouth and shut it. Gar waited. She shook her head and chuckled ruefully. "There is no way to say this without sounding either maudlin or stupid." Rae reached towards him and he moved to hold her. She settled comfortably with her back to him. "I think it would be nice if we did go on a third date," she said softly. "A real third date." His eyes opened wide enough that had they been in nearly any other situation she would have laughed. "Gar... that B&B actually was really nice."
He nodded slowly, letting her words and their implications sink in. "Yeah," he said quietly. "It was." They shared a slow, sweet smile and Gar waited to see what she would do. Rae could be hard to predict and he had quickly learned that when she was like this, it was best to let her have her head. It was just as likely that she would need to pull back and meditate as anything else. She turned in his arms and touched his face. She wanted to say something but felt flustered and embarrassed. It bothered her that she still felt that way with him sometimes. He leaned in, sliding his hand into her hair and kissing her. They separated after a long, wonderful moment.
"I like your hair," he said, amusement in his voice. That got an honest smile out of her. "I have for a while."
"You're weird," Rae said fondly. She had quickly realized exactly how much he liked her hair and while she would never say anything and embarrass him, it privately both amused and pleased her... mostly the former. Since they became a couple, she had let her sensible, short bob begin to grow out.
They kissed again, resting their faces very close together on her pillow. "Am not," he whispered. His hand settled on her hip and began moving slightly, stroking her side and back. She smiled her barely-there smile and he pulled her in close.
Just then, an alarm sounded. Gar rolled over on his back and actually banged his head against the headboard. Raven sagged and lowered her forehead onto his shoulder with a theatrical groan. "Is there any way we can plausibly claim not to have heard it?" she asked. After lying limply for a few breaths, she rolled off him and he bounced to his feet.
"Time to go to work," he said.
They hurried downstairs together, where the other three Titans stood around the large monitor. It was paused showing several police cruisers parked tactically around a bank. "This is from a few minutes ago," Robin said as he started the recording. A man in a black, bulky costume stepped out the door. "They aren't firing because there are hostages," Robin murmured.
"He's wearing armor," Cyborg said, taking control of the viewer, pausing and zooming in. "That looks like Kevlar." He zoomed in closer and added "No threat plates." He restarted the video. The man jumped into the air, flying out of the top of the image and reappeared from above, slamming down on a cruiser. It was smashed nearly flat. He then flipped it over and grabbed the wreck in one hand. Cyborg again paused. "He bent the axle. With just his grip."
"And then he one-handed the car about four blocks and into the ocean," Robin said. "He's tough and he's still there. Keep your distance. Let's go."
They arrived at the scene quickly and Robin went straight to the officer in charge. The other four stood together watching the building. They all tensed as the door opened and a deep voice called, "Hold Fire! Hostages coming out! Hold Fire!" One by one, several people ran from the building and to the waiting police. After a few minutes, the stream halted.
Robin ran over to the Titans. "All hostages accounted for, now…"
The bank door opened again and the man in the black armor stepped out. "Hey," he called calmly with a small wave.
The Titans exchanged confused looks. Finally, in a very tentative voice, Robin said, "Hey?"
"So," the man said, "We're going to fight. We all know that. What say we give these nice folks a chance to clear out before we start tearing the place up?" His accent wasn't thick but it was clearly southern. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "I'll wait."
His declaration stunned the Titans. They actually huddled up. "Is he serious?" Cyborg said is a whisper.
"I think he may be," Robin said. "In any case, if he's willing to let the area clear out, whatever his goal is, we need to do it. I'll tell the police. Get ready in case he changes his mind." He walked away.
Cyborg stepped a little way away from the group. "So," he called. "What do we call you?"
The man shrugged. "Mike," he said.
"Mike?" Cyborg said dubiously. "Not super- mega- awesome man or something?"
"Mike's fine," he said.
"What do you want, Mike?" Starfire asked. He only shrugged in reply. Around them, the police cars began to pull out. Most of the civilians were already gone. "Are you aware that we must subdue you and you will have to answer to the authorities?"
"There's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip, kid." He grinned at her confused expression. "Hell, I'll tell you what. You guys can even say 'go' to start us off. I know how much you like that."
From off to his left, much to everyone's surprise, Robin said. "Fine. Teen Titans go!" A lot happened at once. Several of Robin's explosive projectiles struck him, which he more or less ignored. Starfire began throwing her green bolts in rapid succession. Beast Boy transformed into his T. Rex form. Raven levitated in to the air and formed her protective shields. Cyborg fired his sonic cannon. Mike launched himself through the air in a flat trajectory. He was blindingly fast and slammed into Raven's shield before it was completely formed. It shattered into black shards that faded out as they scattered. He struck Raven once across the jaw and she went down hard. The remaining Titans had to hold fire for fear of hitting her. The green T. Rex bellowed and charged, jaws wide open to bite. Mike ducked under the massive maw and drove upwards with his legs and body, striking with an enormous uppercut. Beast Boy's head snapped up with a cracking sound. It didn't knock him out or jar him back into his human form but it did make him wobble drunkenly and almost tip over.
Robin vaulted through the air, spinning and delivering a kick with power that utterly belied his small frame. Mike's head was moved a few inches and he grunted. Robin was bounced away, hitting the ground gracefully. "He's heavy," Robin barked, "like really heavy!"
"About half a ton," Mike said conversationally. He swung at Robin a few times but was evaded. His attacks were inhumanly fast but he not fast enough to cancel the vast difference in their skill levels. He didn't notice that Robin was leading him into an open field of fire. Starfire and Cyborg opened up on him while Beast Boy moved to flank him on the right as Robin was on the left. He took the incoming fire with a gasp of pain, covering his face with crossed arms, but weathered it. After a moment, when the onslaught slaked, Robin began an acrobatic series of attacks. Their purpose was clearly not to do real damage but rather to distract. Beast Boy was in position to take advantage and stormed in, bent low, and bit. Mike looked up at and saw it coming. "Well, crap," he said in a phlegmatic tone. The massive jaws closed cleanly and Beast Boy chomped, shook and threw him. As he arced through the air, both Cyborg and Starfire struck him and he flew in a much higher arc out over the city.
Beast Boy transformed back into himself and he had blood starting from his mouth. Raven was moving and moaning, a livid bruise already starting on her chin and cheek. "Jesus, Rae, can you hear me?" he said as he slid to a stop on his knees next to her.
She moved spasmodically but looked towards him. Her eyes were unfocused and she slurred, "Bleeding…" Beast Boy checked her for wounds, finding none. "No," she said, her voice clearing a little, "you…"
"I bit my tongue when he hit me," Beast boy said quickly. "No big." She nodded and slumped down. "Rob!" he called, "Raven's down!"
"OK. Stay with her. We're going after him," Robin yelled back. He gave the leader a nod and just as he was about to turn to her, a sudden, loud whistle made him look up. A car was hurdling through the air with frightening speed.
It struck Starfire in midair, drawing a pained cry. She was carried through the air and the huge force of the flying vehicle slammed her into a wall, shattering stone and leaving it blood stained. She fell gracelessly to the ground and hit like a bag of sand, limp and heavy. Mike was visible atop a building where the car had come from. He jumped down at a surprised Cyborg, taking a sonic blast full in the face for his trouble. The Kevlar jacket he wore was shredded and his skin rippled in waves with the force of it. The trajectory of his jump having been altered by the impact, Mike landed several yards away from his target but was up and moving instantly. Cyborg stepped to meet him rather then firing again.
Robin was checking on Starfire and Beast Boy was still with Raven, whose eyes were clearing and voice was stronger, "I'll live. Go help." Beast Boy spun away, transforming back into his T-Rex form. He saw that Cyborg had closed with their enemy, trying to match him on straight strength and durability. They stood toe to toe, both swinging away with power and and deliberate regularity. It looked for a moment that Cyborg might prevail but he took a blow to the face and staggered backwards, stunned. Mike's hand flashed out, grabbing the hero's elbow and simply ripped his arm off. Beast Boy's T-Rex shadow fell over them and Mike spun, using the metal limb as a club, landing a terrible blow to Beast Boy's jaw as he crouched to bite again that lifted the huge dinosaur slightly off its feet. Beast Boy transformed back into his human form in mid air, hit the ground hard, and didn't move. Cyborg was distracted by his friend's fall and the now mangled arm caught him across the head and he went down, a piece of his facial cowling flying lose.
Mike stepped back and surveyed the area. Raven was struggling to rise. Beast Boy and Starfire were out. Cyborg was moving slowly but was clearly badly damaged, with sparks and blue discharges coming from the stump of his arm and from the damaged plating on his face. Robin was unhurt and cautiously approaching. They made eye contact. "About what I figured," Mike said. Robin hurled another explosive, which didn't seem to faze him too much. He jumped away, vaulting easily to the top of a skyscraper and then away out of sight.
"Great," Robin muttered. "He can leap tall buildings in a single bound."
Normally, Robin wanted to deconstruct such a disastrous encounter as soon as possible but his team was just so thrashed, other than him, that he scheduled the post-mortem for the next day. Rae and Gar took advantage and went straight upstairs to her room. He went to her sink and washed his face to get off the blood and discovered that in addition to his bitten tongue he also had two broken teeth. She felt gross and nasty but didn't care enough to shower or do anything but collapse into bed. They both had ice packs on their faces and were loaded up on painkillers. Gar flopped into her desk chair. "That guy kicked our asses," she said.
"Nothing like getting your ass kicked to make your ass hurt. I have to go to the dentist tomorrow," Gar said mournfully. "I hate the dentist."
She tried to sit up and look at the damage but gave up when it just hurt too much. "Lose any?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Broke two," he replied. "Geez," he said. "He went through us like we were nothing. Did we even hurt him?"
"How would I know? He took me out first."
"Yeah, he did," Gar said thoughtfully. He shook his head. "How are you?"
"Hurting. He damn near broke my jaw…" she trailed off. "He could have."
"What?"
"He could have broken my jaw. Easily. He was strong enough to do that to Star and got right in Cyborg's face. He could have cracked my skull like an eggshell. He didn't."
Gar nodded. "So he isn't a murderer. That's something I guess." She shrugged, lacking the energy for much else.
He stood slowly to go back to his room. They did not, as a rule, stay overnight together. There was, of course, no question of her staying in his; that was absolutely not going to happen. Rae stirred enough to toss her cloak on the floor, toe her boots off, and arrange the comforter. Just before he reached the door, she said "Gar?" He turned. She lifted the covers. "Stay."
Robin sat at the computer, running the surveillance footage of the fight over and over, quiet and intense. After a few hours, Cyborg came in and leaned down to watch with him. "All fixed?" Robin asked absently.
"I'm good," he replied shortly, pulling over a chair. They watched a full run through together.
"Thoughts?" Robin asked.
Cyborg shrugged. "He's stronger then Star, a lot stronger; and she's stronger than I am." Robin nodded agreement. "Hard to hurt. He wasn't wearing the Kevlar as armor."
Robin nodded agreement. "He probably just wanted the most durable stuff he could find."
"Yeah. The last thing a guy wants to happen in the middle of a fight is to put his business in the street, you know?" Robin gave an entirely perfunctory smile. "It got shredded but he wasn't hurt."
"That we could tell," Robin said. Cyborg looked at him and raised one eyebrow. "OK," Robin said, "it didn't hurt him." He regarded Cyborg and decided that since the older Titan was essentially second in command, this might be a teachable moment. "What else do you see?"
Cyborg knew exactly what Robin was doing. "Well, physically... damn. He might be on par with Wonder Woman. He's fast but not skilled. He couldn't lay a glove on you. He said he weighed half a ton. Highly dense tissues. Damn hard to hurt. That's one bad dude."
"Tactically?" Robin asked.
"He took out Raven first," Cyborg said. "He did it fast and didn't play around with her. With the rest of his, he took a first pass and didn't lay us out. Then, when he came back, he kind of did." He stopped and nodded. "Raven can beat him," Cyborg said with certainty, "and he knows it."