Disclaimer: I have no ownership of Teen Titans
Chapter 24
"I can not believe we saw a lion!" said Starfire.
"I can't believe it was the same one Beast Boy fought twice!" said Sarah.
"Yeah, I didn't think lions could glare, but if looks could kill B'd be dead right now," Cyborg laughed.
"He's just still sore from losing to me," said Beast Boy, coolly. "What about the antelope? Did you guys like them?"
"Oh yes!" said Starfire. "They were most beautiful."
"I can't believe how graceful they are," said Sarah.
"What about you, Robin?" asked Beast Boy. "What animal did you like?"
"The giraffes were impressive," said Robin. "It was nice to see them in their natural habitat rather than a zoo."
"All animals look better in their natural habitat, dude," said Beast Boy.
"Beast Boy!" Raven called out, quickly walking over to them. She'd just left King Tawaba's hut and was glad to see him.
"Hey, how's your headache?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, it's fine," she said quickly. "I need to talk to y-"
But her sentence was interrupted when Aiyana suddenly came up behind her and grabbed her. She began screaming at her in Swahili and tossed her into a nearby hut, scaring the occupants inside.
"Whoa!" said Beast Boy. "What's going on?" He asked this in both languages.
"She's a pale witch!" Aiyana screamed, pointing at Raven. "She wants to ruin everything!"
"I am not a pale witch!" said Raven in Aiyana's tongue, getting back to her feet. "And do not touch me again!"
"I'll touch you if I want to!" said Aiyana, grabbing Raven again and throwing her into the dirt. "This is my home and you don't belong here!"
"Aiyana!" said King Tawaba, who'd finally arrived on the scene. "What're you doing? Stop this at once!"
While Aiyana paused and turned towards the king, Beast Boy quickly went to Raven and helped her up. Other than a few scrapes and getting a bit dirty, she was alright.
"What's going on?" asked a confused Robin.
"Aiyana doesn't like me very much," said Raven, dusting herself off.
"Sir, you must expel her from the village!" said Aiyana to her father. "Do you really want her to take Garfield away from here? He's been like a son to you!"
"You're causing a scene!" King Tawaba scolded her. "And you have no right to lay hands on anyone, do you hear me?"
"But something has to be done about her!" said Aiyana. "You promised me that Garfield would be mine!"
"Is that what this is all about?" said Beast Boy. "You attacked Raven because of that? What's wrong with you?!"
"She's trying to steal you away from me!" said Aiyana. "She's nothing but a pale witch!"
Beast Boy frowned, grabbed Ravens hand, and began to walk away with his four confused friends following after him. Aiyana was left bubbling with anger and would've gone after them if not for King Tawaba, who placed a hand on her shoulder and then led her back to his hut for a stern talking to. They stopped at a well so she could wash her scrapes that had been covered in dirt.
"What the hell was all that about?" asked Cyborg.
"It's a bit complicated," said Raven. "And a bit personal."
"Are you alright?" asked Starfire.
"I'm fine," said Raven.
"Thanks for not sending her into another dimension," said Beast Boy. "Even though she deserves it."
"I didn't want to be a pale witch and prove her right," said Raven with a slight smirk.
"Pale witch?" said Sarah.
"That's Aiyana's new name for me," said Raven. "Beast Boy, I need to talk to you."
"Oh, uh, okay," said Beast Boy. "You wanna take a walk?"
"That would probably be best," said Raven. The four watched as the two headed off together. Sarah smiled and gave a small sigh.
"What's with you?" asked Cyborg.
"Nothing," she said. "I just think it's great that they're in love."
"What?!" the other three exclaimed.
Once a good distance away from the village Beast Boy gave up on the 'we're just friends' act and let her true feelings out.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Yes, I'm fine," she assured him. "She just pushed me around a little."
"I never thought she'd actually lash out at you like that," said Beast Boy. "I'm sorry about all of this."
"What do you have to be sorry about?" said Raven.
"Well, I'm the reason she attacked you," said Beast Boy. "Though, I'm kinda confused as to why she chose that moment to do it."
"I think I know why," said Raven. "I think she figured out I've found a way for the two of us to be happy."
"You have?" he asked. "What is it?"
"Well, let me ask you something, first," she said. "What means more to you, passing the trials or living here?"
"I guess living here," said Beast Boy. "But if I wanna live here I gotta complete the trials."
"Not necessarily," said Raven. "According to King Tawaba if you don't pass the trials then you can't live with the tribe anymore. But that doesn't mean you can't still interact with them on a daily basis. You just can't live within the village."
"So… I could, like, live at the waterfall and still go to the village everyday?" said Beast Boy.
"Exactly," said Raven. "Of course, you'd never be considered a man by the tribe, but you'd still get to live here. And… we could be together."
Beast Boy felt his mind race and he had to take a moment to organize everything inside of his head. He'd never realized that if he didn't complete the trials the only punishment, other than always being referred to as a boy, was that he couldn't live in the village. He wouldn't be exiled; he'd just have to change his address.
"Oh my God," he said. "This solves everything!"
"Now, wait a moment," said Raven. "I want you to really think about it."
"What's there to think about?" said Beast Boy, taking her hands. "This is the answer!"
"But what about the trials?" said Raven. "After all your hard work, are you really going to give it all up? You killed an animal for God's sake! I want you to be absolutely satisfied with your decision. This isn't a solution; it's just another possibility for you to choose. I really want you to think it over, okay?"
"Raven, I don't need a bunch of dumb trials to tell me that I'm a man," said Beast Boy. "And if they don't consider me a man after I completed all but one of the trials then it's their loss. I can survive on my own, protect myself and others, build a pretty damn good hut for shelter, provide food, I care more about others than myself, and I have no problem admitting that I'm in love. If that doesn't make me a man then I don't what will."
"Y-You love me?" she asked.
"Of course I do!" said Beast Boy. "And you… you love me too, right?"
Raven smiled and said, "Yes, I love you, too."
Beast Boy smiled back and said, "Then I know what I want to do. But, are you sure you want to stay here with me? Forever? You'd have to give up being a superhero."
"I know that," said Raven. "And I also know that I could do far more good for your tribe than I could for Jump City. Besides, you know I've never liked being in a crowded area. Upper Lamumba is the perfect place for me to be. Not to mention it's absolutely ideal for meditating."
"And you don't mind living in a little cave behind a waterfall?" he asked.
"Actually, I've found a slightly better place," she said. She then wrapped him in her dark energy and took off into the air. She flew over the jungle until she found the clearing she'd created. She landed and released him.
Beast Boy stumbled out of Raven's grasp and, after getting his bearings, looked around. He was quite confused as to where he was.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"A few days ago when you told me you had to marry Aiyana I came out here and cried," said Raven. "Releasing my emotions like that caused, well, this."
"Wow," said Beast Boy. "You flattened everything!"
"I'm aware of that," said Raven, rolling her eyes.
"So, why'd you bring me here?" he asked.
"I think we could live here," she said. "We could build our self a home. Hopefully something a little better than a hut."
"But I only know how to build a hut!" said Beast Boy.
"We'll manage," said Raven. "We can make our self a comfortable place here. That way our secret spot will remain secret and we'll still be close to the village so you can go there whenever you want. What do you think?"
Beast Boy took a look around again and smiled. "I think this is perfect," he said, kissing her and then holding her close to him. "I feel at home already."
Raven smiled and closed her eyes as she absorbed his touch. "So do I," she said softly. "How're we going to tell the others?"
"Oh yeah," said Beast Boy. "Forgot about them."
The two made their way back to the village feeling quite nervous about how their friends were going to react to the news. Of course, as soon as they made it back to the hut they were already being given odd looks from everyone but Sarah.
"You guys okay?" asked Beast Boy. "You look a little… off."
"We need to know something," said Cyborg. "And you two have to be completely honest with us."
"Uh, okay," said Raven.
"Is it true what Sarah says?" said Starfire.
"I don't know," said Beast Boy. "What'd she say?"
"She said you two are in love," said Robin.
"Only because it's obvious!" said Sarah.
"Please, tell us the truth," said Cyborg.
Beast Boy and Raven looked at each other then, both blushing intensely, said, "Yes, it's true."
"I knew it!" said Sarah, jumping into the air victoriously.
"Oh, this is glorious news!" said Starfire.
"When the hell did this happen?!" said Cyborg. "We've only been here a couple days!"
Raven and Beast Boy sat their friends down and explained how it all began with the letters. They told them the entire story and included every single twist, turn, and complication. Of course, they left out the secret spot so it could remain secret, but improvised to make everything work.
"Wow," said Cyborg. "That's, uh, that's one hell of a story."
"It is the most romantic love story I have every heard!" Starfire swooned.
"So, I'm losing another Titan to Upper Lamumba, huh?" said Robin.
"I'm afraid so," said Raven. "But I'm sure you'll manage."
"So, what're you guys going to do about Aiyana and King Tawaba?" asked Sarah.
"I'm gonna have to tell them that I'm not finishing the final trial," said Beast Boy. "I don't know what Aiyana's gonna do, and I really don't care. I just hope King Tawaba isn't too disappointed with me."
"If he's the type of man I think he is then he won't," said Raven.
"I sure hope you're right," said Beast Boy.