Chapter 11: Mending the Rifts
"…but Mento was like 'You disobeyed an order' and was angry, even though I'd basically saved the world by destroying the machine and saving the team. After that, we got in a huge argument, and that night I ran away. I had no idea where to go, but I had the idea to go to Hollywood, 'cause Rita had told me about the place from her acting days. I tell ya, the trip to the USA gave me a whole new respect for albatrosses." Beast Boy smiled at that. "I guess I was lucky I didn't run in to any storms on the way over. Anyway, when I got to America, I had no money, no contacts, nothing."
"So how did you get here?" Raven asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by Beast Boy's story.
"Well, I snuck into places as a rat or something and stole food, and flew west. I slept in trees as a squirrel or something. I was never gonna stay in Jump, just get directions. But then I saw this meteor thing crash into the centre of town. I went to have a look and the rest is history."
Raven blinked slowly. Over the last half an hour she had learned more about Beast Boy than she had in the last five years, and the thought worried her. How in Trigon's name had Beast Boy turned out like he had?
"Rae?"
"Yes?"
"Are you okay? 'Cause you've been sitting there blinking for the last five minutes."
"Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. Just…"
"What?"
"It's a little overwhelming."
"Well, all superheroes have tragic pasts. Kinda comes with the territory. You should know all about that."
Raven smirked at that. That was true enough. "But look how I turned out."
Beast Boy looked confused. "Smart, caring and generally awesome?"
It was Raven's turn to look puzzled. "That's what you think about me?" Wow.
"Well, yeah." Beast Boy stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"It's just, I was thinking more along the lines of uncaring, jaded, cruel and sarcastic."
Beast Boy shook his head and turned to her. "Rae, if you were really that bad, would you have become a superhero? I mean, that's like the ultimate charity work. Yeah, you're sarcastic, but that's just your sense of humour. Cruel? Not really. I mean, if you were really cruel you'd follow through on your threats to send me to a dimension where the bean curd eats you. And as for jaded, you're not even remotely green."
Raven tried to articulate her thoughts. "It's just that…" her hand found its way to Beast Boy's shoulder. "thanks."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Beast Boy smiled. "No worries. Now let's go see Starfire."
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Starfire sat on one of the tall stools at the kitchen, watching Robin make coffee.
"...Robin?"
"Yeah?" Robin didn't turn his head, engrossed as he was in spooning the correct amount of granules into the percolator.
"Do you think that we shall return to normal soon?"
"I hope so. Why?"
"This feels like the rekmas."
"The what?" Robin turned to look at her.
"Do you not remember? I explained the concept one blorthog. It is when close friends begin to drift apart."
Robin nodded in remembrance. "I remember. But we've been through troubles before. Remember when Cyborg and I had an argument, and he quit? He came back soon enough. We're all still on the same team this time."
Starfire smiled. "Which of the two times are you referring to?"
Robin was about to reply when he door slid open, revealing two vertically challenged heroes.
Starfire squeaked and dived behind the imagined safety of Robin's cloak. Robin resisted the urge to let her hide, and stepped aside. She needed to do this.
"Starfire?" Beast Boy sounded far from angry. Far more like worried, and a little guilty.
Starfire's only response was a small whimper, and she flinched under Beast Boy's gaze.
"Starfire, I'm really sorry for flipping out like that, and I'm sorry if it scared you. It's just that it was kinda rude of him not to ask, and-"
Starfire interrupted. "No! You do not understand! It was I who gave Cyborg the idea in the first place!" She shook Beast Boy by the shoulders frantically, before realising what she was doing and let go with a cringe.
Beast Boy processed this information. Starfire had told Cyborg to look into his past. That was unexpected. However, getting angry all over again would be more than counterproductive- it could break the Titans apart. So, Beast Boy swallowed his unfamiliar feelings, and turned to Starfire.
"It's alright. I forgive you." Starfire looked at him like he had grown an extra head. "Just, you know, ask next time, okay?" Beast Boy said with a grin. Starfire nodded slowly and looked up to see Beast Boy standing with his arms splayed and a sheepish grin on his face. "Hug?"
Starfire complied, careful not to break any ribs. After a few seconds, they broke apart, Beast Boy noticing Raven nodding in approval, and Robin doing the same, although he did look a little annoyed. The sight of him reminded Beast Boy of the conversation Raven and he had shared earlier.
"Dude, can I talk to you for a second?"
Robin nodded slowly, and the two of them walked over to the couch and sat down.
"First up, dude, you got to learn about privacy, man."
"Beast Boy, I-"
"I know, I know, dude. Just remember that next time, okay?"
Robin smiled. "Deal. Anything else."
"Yep. This whole incident mean's I'm gonna be changing."
Robin frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm gonna have to listen to my instincts more."
"Is this going to hinder your job?" Robin asked, wondering where this was going.
"Not too much. It just means that I'm gonna sleep 'till midday all winter, stuff like that."
Robin nodded. "We can deal with that. Is this thing with the Beast gonna bite me in the ass?"
Beast Boy smiled. "Only if you screw up big time."
"What do you mean? Is the Beast jealous?"
Beast Boy shook his head. "No, dude, jealousy is a human thing. The Beast has like four emotions; Angry, Happy, Sad, and Lust. That's it. You're Alpha now, it accepts that. But if you screw up bad, don't be too surprised if it starts gunning for leader again."
Robin nodded. "Alright. Do you think you can see Cyborg now? I hate to think what we'd do if a criminal attacked right now."
Beast Boy frowned at the thought. "I'll go see him now."