Raven

Hot Spot. Argent. Aqualad. These will be the new teammates stationed with us in our next post. I have nothing to complain about; I do not feel badly for any of them listed, and if anything, Aqualad will at least be a rather nice specimen nice to gawk at. But they still aren't Starfire, Cyborg and Robin. I haven't realized how much we've grown until the reality of the situation hits me. We are heroes, and other places need us. It isn't likely that the original five will always be together. I hate the thought, but once I think about it, I can't get rid of it.

I sit at the kitchen table and try not to feel too overwhelmed by the emotion in the air as Robin breaks the news to the other two. At first they aren't quite sure what he's just said, and I get bombarded with shock and sadness on all sides. The looks on their faces are even worse. They understand, but that doesn't make it any easier on them. Beast Boy places a gloved hand over Star's naked one, giving a big warm smile. It seems to comfort her some.

"Six months is a long time," Cyborg mentions after a pause. "I mean, I get it, but is that long really necessary?"

"Hopefully not," Robin answers, sounding careful. He doesn't want to start an argument if he can help it. "It's just an estimate. They really need help over there, and it's been incredibly quiet here. The time might be cut in half, might not. Could be extended, even." He probably shouldn't have added on that last part, but it soars over his head.

"We can not just all go there and send some here?" Starfire suggests, hopeful.

"It's handy to trade around Titans and learn new strategies." Robin shrugs. "This was as good a reason as ever to do that, too. With any luck, Beast Boy and Raven will come back with even better skills than before. Something new to the table for all of us. Everyone was chosen at random, also, so don't assume anyone wanted to leave, either. It's a fair swap."

It's silent for several uncomfortably long seconds. Starfire takes her hand away from Beast Boy, and Cyborg seems a bit ticked but more or less just down.

"We're family," I pipe up, surprising everyone. Beast Boy gives me a look of something similar to admiration, dark eyes clashing with mine. I glance away hurriedly to avoid further embarrassment. "I know this is going to be hard. But we've been through worse. Much worse. This is for the best and it would be childish to refuse on account of our feelings. Citizens come first. Of course, that said, I'm really going to miss all of you." Smiles all around. I flush. "Don't touch my room while I'm gone."

"We'll miss you too, Rae," Cyborg comments, amused with me and looking at me in a fond way. My big brother. I appreciate him and I tell him so.

"And I guess we might miss you too, BB."

"You'll all miss me the most," Beast Boy scoffs, leaning back in his chair with crossed arms. "Deny it all you want, but you will!"

Honestly, it was probably true, but for the sake of it, they agreed with much sarcasm. "It is going to be so quiet when you are gone," Starfire sighs to him, and then to me, "And I will not enjoy being the only girl around."

"When do you leave?" Cyborg asks Beast Boy, who just shrugs. He apparently forgot to ask, in his excitement.

"In a few weeks or so," our leader cuts in, offering out more information than he had to me before. It seems he has settled on a few things since then, earlier this week. "A new tower is being built on the water. That's where you'll be headed, along with Hot Spot, Aqualad, and Argent."

"Aquadude is coming?" Beast Boy yelps, the corners of his mouth tugged upward as far as they can go.

I see the glint of his fangs and wonder if they ever cut the inside of his mouth. I blink the random thought away and turn my attention back to Robin, who nods. I already knew about Aqualad, and I'm quite looking forward to seeing the fish boy again. Now, that's a gentleman. Beast Boy could learn a thing or two from him, I think. I want to say it, but I'm not in the mood for jokes or stings. My teammates' underlying sadness pulls at me.

The conversation goes on for a while, dissolving into gossip about our new 'mates and plenty more I'll Miss You's and Talk To Us Often's. My attention fades away from the actual talk and to the way Beast Boy is acting. It's very cheery, and almost believable. I can sense he is beginning to reevaluate this trip and what it means. There is growing regret in his eyes the longer he speaks with his friends. To them, it might not be visible, but to me it is like looking through freshly wiped glass.

I frown and worry about how he will adjust when we leave. I'm not fooled. It will be easier for me than for him.

The weeks go by much too fast.

There are definitely tears in Beast Boy's eyes as we part from the rest of the Titans and head for the airport, but I don't comment on it, and I know he thanks me for it. All the same, he never manages to actually cry. He takes in one long breath and lets it out and he's done. I'm impressed but still hovering near him for as much support as I can possibly offer with my very withdrawn self.

We're dressed casually, me in a black sweater and black jeans complete with vans. My hair is long and down, covering a lot of my face if I look away or peer down. I'm pale but that isn't anything extraordinary. I could almost pass as normal. My companion doesn't have that sort of luck, being green and all. All the same, he tries to cover himself up in a bulky jacket and pants, covering up everything except his hands and head. It's supposedly cold in New York right now.

We don't have a lot of luggage, just some of the things we cherish most. For me, books and some of my favorite clothes and my uniform. The rest will be taken care of and purchased when I get to the new tower. I've no idea what Beast Boy packed, but he's traveling even lighter than me.

It's a long, quiet wait. A few years ago I would have expected him to talk to me while we went through security and sat and waited for our flight. But he's just as solemn as me sometimes these days, and especially today. It's weird to be leaving our friends behind, knowing we won't be back for a long time. A very long time, minus a few visits if we're lucky.

He asks me if he can sit by the window once we board and I let him, of course, even though I feel safest in a corner. The amount of stares and friendly smiles we get total to almost a hundred while the rest of the passengers find their seats. I rub my eyes. We got up at six in the morning and it's somewhere around nine right now. I barely slept the night before and Beast Boy's quietness, plus his occasional yawning, tells me it was probably the same for us both.

We get a friendly old woman to sit next to us for the first flight, and she goes on and on about how safe she feels having us on the plane. I've learned to be grateful at times like this, even when I want to be left alone.

It's a long day.

Eating doesn't feel important, but Beast Boy suggested it before the last flight and I'm really relieved when we find our final seats. My stomach is full and now I think I'm ready for a nap. He lets me in the corner seat without me even asking. I guess he noticed my discomfort. I silently thank him and lean my head back, closing my eyes. It isn't long at all before we're taking off. I wake up while we ascend, faintly jolted, but I fall back asleep when we level out.

I wake up to our descent with a weight on one of my shoulders. I open an eye and peek, seeing green. Beast Boy's head is resting against me and I can tell he's asleep, and incredibly comfortable. I don't know how long we've been positioned like this but I can't bring myself to care too much. I'd be outraged if it was a stranger, but I can deal with him or any of my other teammates.

"Uff," he grumbles under his breath when the plane drops too fast for a moment. He shoots up awake, the weight on my shoulder lifted. He cover his eyes until they readjust and his vision loses its blurriness. "I always hate this part," he says, referring to the descent. "It's so different from doing it myself."

"Agreed," I say.

I hate how much time it takes to get off the plane and claim our bags, but I just keep telling myself that I'll be happy when I'm in my new room and can rest for a while. Mostly, just get used to my new surroundings. The people here are so fast. We've been traveling for around eight hours or so, and we're moving a lot slower than them. This seems to just be routine for many of the people in the airport. Probably business people. Not a lot of people stare at or recognize me, but plenty are giving Beast Boy the look.

He doesn't care or he pretends not to.

Once outside, it isn't but a moment before I see a familiar face waiting for us, also dressed casual. But it looks so weird and out of place that I hesitate before I manage to wave.

Beast Boy perks up. "Aquadude!"