A/N: Just for those of you who may not know, I did not create Sarah Simms. She is in fact a character from The New Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go. I always felt like she should have been involved in more stories because in my opinion she was such a nice person with a huge heart. Anyway! On with the story!
I do not own Teen titans, Ivy or Harley. Once more that credit belongs to DC Comics and Warner bros. I also stole the batman jokes from online.
Chapter Three: This is how you make me feel.
The hustle and bustle of the airport was outstanding and incredibly loud. People were pushing past other people, all but kneeing them to get to their suitcases and get out the place. The air conditioning was nothing more than stuffy and did little to cool the body heat and numerous bodies in such a close proximity. There was yelling from one side of the room to the other, people slamming down their tickets on the counter and screaming at the attendant behind it. The stale smell of coffee and over priced eatery mixing with the nauseating smell of body sweat and bad moods lingered in the air. It was enough to make anyone moody and cranky. Well, almost anyone.
Cyborg stood frozen in place as a thousand appropriate greetings were rushing through his mind. He was nervous and swore he could feel his heart start to beat against his mechanic chest. Shifting uncomfortably he uttered several different phrases to himself and held the forget-me-nots closer to his person.
"Hello Sarah, you look lovely! No that's stupid… Yo Sa-aaa-Rah! You be lookin fine, mommy! … Defiantly no. Yo Sarah! Long time no see! These are for you! Guh! What is wrong with me! I'm as bad as BB!" He hung his head and let out a soft sigh starting to feel slightly defeated.
"Victor!" His head shot up just in time to see a rush of strawberry blonde hair and to feel arms wrapping around his neck. Quickly moving the flowers to the side, he wrapped an arm around her back and let all his cares slip away. Slowly his other arm wrapped around her and he pulled her close as they stood there for a few minutes, simply enjoying the embrace. "Oh Vic! I missed you so much! I have such much to tell you and I can't wait to see the kids again and and and… I just missed you so much Victor, so very much."
"Yeah Sarah… I missed you too." Finally she pulled back from him and kept him at arms length to give him a quick look over. Her lips pouted out and she seemed to give serious thought to his appearance. Cyborg could feel his cheeks start to flush and doubts start to rise up from his mind. Maybe she was having second thoughts; maybe she wanted to end it right here and now after realizing he was really a freak. That he was nothing more than a man not able to be anything but a machine. All doubts washed away however as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Still the same handsome man I remember! Though you do seem taller." He blushed and let his gray and red eyes move to watch the ground. She seemed to chuckle at the shy action.
"Gee Sarah, you're just as pretty as I remember too… Oh! These are for you!" The girl with the high up ponytail blinked as the half robotic teen held up a basket of flowers. Now it seemed it was her turn to blush as she took the basket and held it close, smelling the sweet scent of the blue flowers.
"Oh Vic! Forget-me-nots! And they're still in soil and everything!"
"Yeah the lady at the shop said that way the seeds will fall and you can replant them as you like! There was even a story behind em! Somethin' about god and the flowers meaning remember me and… somethin'…" The shorter girl smiled and nodded her head. Even though she knew the story she had decided to let him tell it, after all he had learned it to impress her.
"They're lovely, Vic… thank you very much." She leaned on her toes and softly kissed his cheek and once more the teen boy began to blush. Chuckling she looped an arm around his own and lead him over to the baggage area. "Come on lets get my things and we'll head to my house and you can tell me all about saving the city!"
"Sounds good… I thought maybe we could pick something up on the way back, talk for a bit, you know? I don't want you to overexert yourself on your first night back and all."
"Oh? Do you have plans for us tomorrow that I need to be well rested for?" Blue eyes smiled up at him with a hint of coy seduction and amusement behind them. Instantly Cyborg began to blush again and rub the back of his head, chuckling nervously.
"I thought a movie and a nice dinner! That's all!" She laughed and hugged the mechanic arm closer to her, shaking her head.
"Oh Victor, you're so easy and fun to tease. That's one of the many reasons I love you." He smiled and glanced away as they moved to the baggage area. Yeah he had defiantly missed her.
The green teen hummed to himself as he dug through the refrigerator, trying to find where his best friend had hidden his tofu products. One would think that having to dig through the mess of food, shift the bottles of condiments, and push away dead animal flesh wrapped in salafram was enough to upset a vegetarian. Okay so he was slightly irked but he was in too good of a mood to let something so minor wreck it. So he hummed and finally found what he was looking for.
"Ah HA! You thought you could hide from me but I found you and now you must face the wrath of… Dun dun DUN! The frying pan!" Beastboy turned around and set the tofu burgers on the counter, making a small little rap beat. "Gonna fry me some to-to-tofu! Mix it up in my… umm... bowl...u! Gonna be sitting nicely in my tummy! After I finish-"
"This rap that's so crummy?" The changeling turned around to see three of his team members standing in the doorway of the common room. Each one of them was wearing a look of amusement across their face.
Green ears shifted downwards as a blush of embarrassment swept across his face and he rubbed the back of his head.
"Rapping isn't really my style so…"
"You suck at it?" Emerald eyes meet with the empath that had spoken in the first place, blue-violet eyes seeming to laugh. Slowly his smile spread across his face and he leaned against the counter.
"I may not be much of a rapper, Rae, but I'm one hella of a lover." He wiggled his eyebrows and her smile faded to a look of annoyance.
"I'll be in my room." His hand out stretched to stop her but only fell as the violet haired beauty made her way from the room.
"It was… a joke." Emerald eyes landed on the ground until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Glancing up he saw the boy wonder with a sad smile along his face.
"I'm sure she's just tired."
"Oh yes friend Beastboy! I am sure that friend Raven just needs the timing of the rest! Until then would you like to see what boyfriend Robin and friend Raven bought for me?!" The cheerful smile of the alien princess was planted on her face as always and Beastboy could feel some of his sadness wash away. With a small smile and a nod of his head, Starfire was squealing and flying back over to the door. However, she would not be able to show Beastboy what she had gotten until later because it was at that moment that Raven had walked into her room
"BEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST BOOOOOOOOOOOY!!!!!!!!" The scream made all three teens cringe and instantly the green teen was ducking behind the counter. Doors to the common room swished open to reveal a very pissed off looking Raven. The black aura spilled from her eyes as she stomped angrily at her soon to be dead teammate, trembling behind the counter.
"N-N-Now Rae, I-I-I can explain." Started the changeling as his hands waved in self defense in front of him. Seeing that she was still advancing he took the next moment to duck behind the boy wonder; Starfire watching from the door with a puzzled look on her face. Raven stopped mere inches away from Robin, trying to figure out how to spare the causality from a cruel fate.
"Explain? EXPLAIN! What the HELL were you doing in my room! You are never to go into my room uninvited! We have been through this!"
"Bu-but Rae… you didn't even ask why I was in your room!" To this the empath actually looked taken aback. She didn't know if he was serious or just stupid. As quickly as the anger had vanished it was back and by tenfolds.
"Why? WHY?! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN WHY!?" The tofu hamburger exploded and by the looks of things the microwave was next. Beastboy eeped and ducked behind Robin, the boy wonder starting to become increasingly nervous as well. "There is no why! THERE IS NEVER A REASON! NEVER!" Quickly Starfire flew in front of Robin just as it seemed as if Raven was going to rip him apart to get to Beastboy.
"Friend Raven please! I am sure that friend Beastboy has a very good reason for invading your personal sanctuary. Isn't that right friend Beastboy!" Three sets of eyes moved to the shaking green teen that quickly shook his head in a nod. Raven was not buying it. Blue-violet eyes glared daggers at the hiding teen and she went back to plotting how to get around her two teammates.
"See Raven! It's alright no need to destroy the place. Now Beastboy why don't you apologize and tell Raven why you were in her room." The young empath seemed to let the boy wonder's words affect her as she stood with her arms crossed across her chest, a scowl still on her face. Seeing that he was now the center of attention and that Raven no longer wanted his demise, the green teen slowly stopped trembling and moved in front of Robin. He rubbed the back of his neck and went to speak but nothing came out. Raven was not impressed and the clearing of her throat indicated so.
"I… that is… I'm sorry Rae." His eyes flickered to land on her own and she watched him with an annoyed look on her face. However, when his eyes seemed to shimmer with embarrassment and sorrow she could do nothing but sigh in both irritation and forgiveness.
"Forgiven… but why were you in my room in the first place. You know how it makes me feel." Beastboy shifted and glanced backwards at the boy wonder and the cheerful alien princess.
"It's er… it's kinda personal Rae but if you like I can show you." She raised an eyebrow and watched as the taller teen kept his gaze on their fellow team members. Sighing in defeat she rolled her eyes and gave a slight nod of her head.
"Fine, whatever. What is i-" She was cut off as the green changeling grabbed her by the arm and bounded off to her room. Starfire and Robin stood in the kitchen, one of them smirking and the other looking rather puzzled.
"He is not wishing to share?"
"It's a private thing Starfire. Beastboy is trying to impress Raven and we just have to make sure to stay out of their way." Starfire's eyes slowly began to widen in understanding and happiness.
"Oh! They are initiating the course of the dating!" Robin chuckled and shrugged a shoulder.
"Something like that." She squealed and bounced up and down, grabbing Robin's hands in hers.
"Oh let us go and cheer them on boyfriend Robin!" He shook his head and she stopped bouncing to give him a look of slight annoyance and sadness. "And why ever not?"
"They need to be alone Starfire. We have to respect that. I'll tell you what though. Let's watch a movie, your pick." Her smile reappeared on her face and she flung herself over to her boyfriend, arms wrapping around his neck. He stumbled back a bit and smiled to hug her close, patting her back. "Okay okay! I need to breath, Star… no seriously, that's a bit too tight." She let him go and smiled sheepishly as the boy wonder started to cough for air.
"I am sorry I am just… happy you wish to do the hanging of the out with me some more…" He smiled once the oxygen had returned to his body and took her hand in his, leading her to the couch.
"I'm glad you want to hang out with me too Star."
Her eyebrow twitched as she watched from the hallway as the green teen stumble about her once clean room. He stumbled over a book and collided with a candle holder, catching it before it fell over. With a nervous chuckle he set it back up straight and pointed over to desk by the only bookshelf in the room he had yet to knock over.
"I was going to clean this up… I was but I didn't know where things went…"
"How did you even make such a mess?" She spoke the words out from clenched teeth and he gulped loudly. He was hoping things wouldn't end up with a bigger mess of green teen on the verge of adulthood all over the place.
"I er… I was bringing you something and I kinda tripped." She blinked slightly.
"Wait what?" Before he could answer a triumphant laugh filled the air and he was bouncing back over to her.
"See! Here! This is for you!" He smiled sheepishly with his eyes closed as a blush crossed his face. Gradually blue-violet eyes moved from the beaming changeling down to what he held in his hands. Her heart began to race and she could hear Affection and Happy sighing in awe. He held in his hand the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. The bright colors of purple and blue danced and intermingled with each other in a circle of colors and fragrances that swept the distance between the two teens. The outer layer of the petals a bright color of purple or blue as they faded out to a white center, leaving a bright yellow strip in the middle. In the middle of the sea of purple and blue flowers sat the same flower in a brilliant glory of pure white. She could feel the smile already appearing on her face.
He slowly cracked an eye open when he realized she hadn't tossed the flowers back into his face. Quite the opposite actually, she was standing there with a dumbfounded look and smile across her face. Smiling he felt the blush deepen on his cheeks and watched her expressions as she slowly touched the petals of the flowers.
"You… you got me flowers?"
"Irises actually…" She smiled up at him and he could see the look of happiness across her face. That's when she realized she was smiling like a giddy schoolgirl and quickly she let the smile fall, reminding herself to reel it in. His smile wavered a bit as he saw her slipping back into her stoic mood.
"Why?"
"Huh?" She glanced up at him with her blue-violet eyes and watched him carefully.
"Why did you get me flowers?"
"Irises…" She felt her eyebrow lift as he danced around the subject but decided to let it slide.
"Yes. Why did you get me irises?" He started to shift uncomfortably and the air of annoyance left her as she saw something she rarely saw. A speechless Beastboy. Her head tilted to the side as he rubbed the back of his head and tried to find the words.
"The iris flower is unique… it has a history, you know?" She nodded a bit as his eyes met with hers to see if she was listening. Emerald eyes glanced away again as he felt his heart begin to race. "A lot of the time it can get over looked or confused for the more popular flower the lily… being cast aside or even forgotten… You see… I mean… what I'm saying is that you're like the iris, Rae. You're beautiful and that is, I mean…" He sucked in a big breath of air and let it all rush out, emerald eyes locking on hers. "The iris means faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration and I feel all of those for you! I have faith that you'll always be there for us! For me! Hope because I hope one day you'll give me a chance! You're the smartest and wisest person I know! I even think you're smarter than Cyborg and he's half machine! Half machine, Rae!You're so brave and any guy would have to be off his rocker not to admire you or like you! And I may do some crazy things, Okay a lot of crazy things but that's not because I'm crazy it's because I like you Rae, like a lot!" He started panting and finally calmed down enough to gauge her reaction.
She stood there with a dumbfounded expression spread across her face. She could feel her emotions running around, each with a different opinion, each trying to voice their opinion at the same time. Yelling mentally to get them to shut up she shifted underneath the green teens gaze and went to talk, a squeak the only thing to come out. They both blinked at that and she mentally slapped herself for it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she shifted a bit and glanced down at the irises.
"Beastboy-"
"No." She blinked and looked up at him confused.
"What?" He seemed to be blushing at his abrupt interruption and drug his toe into the carpet of the hallway.
"It's not… I mean that is… I want you to call me Garfield, Gar for short." She arched an eyebrow, seriously confused.
"Why?" The green teen slowly moved to close the distance between them, peering down at the young empath's eyes.
"I'm not a boy anymore, Rae. I'm not that same child I once was and I want you to know that. I want you to see that I've grown up and I can be the man that you want me to be… I know you like me Rae, I mean… I guess it's a strong hope that you do and I know you like me for who I am I just… what I'm saying is that I want you to see I can be the mature adult we both know I am." She couldn't speak, couldn't even think. Even her emotions had seemed to shut up for the time being. So they stood there in the hallway, watching each other and waiting for her to reply.
"Beas… I mean Gar." He smiled and she could feel her knees go weak. "I… you don't have to change for me." He blinked and she slapped herself for tackling the wrong subject first.
"I'm not… I'm just willing to show you more of me, all of me, Rae." She nodded and he watched her closely, his eyes catching the blush on her cheeks.
"…These flowers will need to be taken care of… they're still in soil…"
"…Okay, I can help you with that, the lady at the store gave me tips on a card…"
She nodded her head and he arched an eyebrow, trying not to smile as he leaned against the frame of the doorway.
"Is that all you have to say?" She could hear the amusement in his voice at seeing her so flustered and she kicked herself for it. Shifting a bit she squared her shoulders and tried to keep from blushing even more.
"Garfield Logan… I will take the time to decide what move I wish to make and when I am ready, if I am ready for what you ask of me I will let you know." The amusement in his eyes was gone and he stood there looking both disappointed and determined.
"I see… I await your decision then Miss. Roth. If you excuse me." He handed her the irises and started to move around her. Raven stood there for a moment before turning to watch the green changeling walk away. Letting out a small sigh she started to move into her room only to stop as she heard him down the hallway. "By the way Rae, you are worth fighting for and waiting for and this is far from over." Blue-violet eyes watched him and she could see the smile of determination on his face. He winked and started to walk away, waving a hand behind him. "Sleep well Rae, have the most pleasant of dreams."
'Ooooooooo, we are in so much trouble and I think I like iiiiIiiiiiiiittt!' Happy screeched with a loud laugh and Raven could feel her cheeks flush. This was not going to end well. Her and Gar? The kid made the stupidest of jokes, was immature, not funny, and always pestering her. 'Hahahaha you just called him Gar! You like him! Yoooooou like him!' 'Oh shut UP!' she screamed to Happy as once more the girl fell over in what sounded like a giggle fit. Grumbling she moved into her room and let the door swish behind her. Glancing around she frowned at all the books scattered about. She held up a hand and let the black aura cover the bookshelf and the books, starting to move everything back into place. After a few seconds she moved and placed the pot of irises on the desk and stared at them for awhile.
A small smile slide across her face and she stroked the violet petals. He had put thought into the gift, not only thought but affection. Affection for her. 'Maybe… just maybe this won't be so bad after all.' She thought to herself as she heard Affection sigh contently. 'He really is very considerate.' She nodded in agreement and found herself thinking of the green teen that had grown on her years ago and was now growing into something more.
Robin tried not to frown and grumble as they sat on the couch watching Lady and the Tramp. Disney movies were not exactly his idea of a good time or a good flick. He much preferred a good old fashion kung-fu movie or action flicks. However, he had told Starfire that she could choose the movie and if nothing else, he was a man of his word. His eyes moved to land on the alien girl beside him and all his displeasures slipped away at seeing how her eyes lit up at the screen when the grey scrawny dog rolled the meatball over to the Crocker spaniel. He couldn't help but smile as she squealed and clapped.
Though he had a hard time voicing it, he always enjoyed spending time with Starfire. She was his rock that kept him sane, the only person who checked on him in his moments of obsession. She meant more to him than she would ever know and he could ever tell. So instead of words he tried to do nice things for her, tried to express his sentiments in actions. A walk through the mall, a movie, taking her to see fireworks. No matter how small some of them may seem, there was always a good intention behind them. His arm slipped around her shoulders and she blinked in surprise for only a second. Lime green eyes met his and she smiled joyfully up at him before she leaned against him.
"Oh boyfriend Robin, thank you for such a wondrous evening."
"Anytime Starfire… maybe we can do something again tomorrow?" Her eyes lit up and she stared up happily at him.
"Oh yes! That would be most glorious!" He smiled at her and her smile slowly turned into something else. He could feel his cheeks start to flush as a shy, yet entrancing look crossed over her face.
"Starfire… I-" She placed a finger on his lips and his heart started to soar. Slowly her head leaned in and her eyes closed. Tilting his head he followed suit and moved in to close the distance between them. Well he would of if the door to the hallway hadn't chosen that moment to swish open.
Robin all but threw Starfire to the floor as he jumped off of the couch and stumbled to land behind it. Beastboy raised his eyebrow at the flushed boy wonder and the confused look of the alien girl on the couch.
"Dude… I interrupt something?"
"What? No way! I was just… we were just… that is…movie." The green changeling arched an eyebrow and decided not to say anything. So instead he shook his head and moved into the kitchen to try and find something new to eat.
"Dude I don't even want to know, I'll just grab something to eat and be out of your hair." Robin nodded his head and sent Starfire a look of embarrassment and an apology. She responded with a small chuckle and a nod of her head. She was always so forgiving of his ability to get shy about his affection in front of others.
The alien princess moved off of the couch and flew over to her teammate that was rummaging through the fridge, slamming things around.
"Did it not go well, friend Beastboy?"
"Well it could of gone better… but I'm not giving up. I won't…" She blinked and tilted her head to the side. Beastboy didn't notice and decided on just making a sandwich. "Now where did I put that bread…?" The green eyed beauty floated around him and reached up to take the bread from the top cabinet, handing it down to him. "Thanks."
"You know Beastboy, Raven is probably just a bit surprised. I mean you came on pretty fast."
"Dude, I so did not. I gave hints and clues for years. Years dude! I waited for her through the whole Malchior thing, I waited for her through the whole stupid, 'oh no my powers will go berserk if I feel anything' fiasco and even then I dropped hints. So you know what Rob? I'm calling bull on your line of thinking!" He slammed the bread down on the counter and Robin and Starfire exchanged glances as the boy wonder's look seemed to say, 'your turn Star'.
Moving forward, the princess placed a hand on her green friend's shoulder and received an enraged look. She smiled and soon he felt himself calming down, sighing a bit at his action.
"I believe what boyfriend Robin is trying to say… is that friend Raven is going through a time when she has finally allowed herself to start to feel something. She is making the… how do you say… change through one division of her existence to another."
"Transaction?"
"Transition, she's not a bank."
"Whatever." Muttered the green teen as Starfire only nodded and went on after the interruption from the two boys.
"She is… afraid to do of the positioning where she is not in but out. You must be the massive person and show her that you are willing to accept her and love her."
"The massive? You mean bigger person?" She smiled and nodded her head. Beastboy stood there for a moment before slowly nodding his head in agreement. They were right, Raven wasn't always the best with emotions and often when she said one thing it could mean another. Not to mention she hadn't actually said no. He replayed the way she smiled and blushed as he handed her the flowers. The way she couldn't speak and even seemed impressed with him and his smile returned to his face. "Yeah… you're right. Okay tomorrow I show her just how serious I am and how I'll be the stronger person for the two of us!"
Robin only shook his head and couldn't help but smile. This was either going to be a disaster or the best thing to happen to both of his teammates. He really hoped it was the last one.
Beastboy finished up his sandwich and took a big bite, emerald eyes glancing around before he leaned in close to his two friends.
"Okay I'm onna eed your elp or morrow."
"Sure thing Beastboy… just stop talking with your mouth full." The green changeling swallowed and let out an uncomfortable laugh.
"Opps, sorry dude."
Later that night the oldest teen came home, humming and dancing his way through the door. He had just had the best evening of his life. His girlfriend was back in town and they had spent over half of the night talking, laughing, and just hanging out. They had picked up burgers and fries on the way back to her mom's place and she had told him all about her first semester at college and the friends she had made. She even made plans for him to come over to the dorms so he could see and meet them. They talked about him saving the city and latest development of love among the tower. She had been a little surprised to find that Beastboy had fallen for Raven but after awhile she had nodded and said she could see it. That was Sarah for you, always able to look at things from more than one point of view. They had watched a romance movie (her choice, not his) and then an action one to make up for the girlishness. After awhile she had fallen asleep and he had stroked her hair until he realized it was going on two in the morning. So he had put her to bed, kissed her softly and said his good nights.
"Booyah! Who's in L-O-V-E! Cyborg! Who's got a hot little chickadee to call his own. Cyborg! Who… is totally embarrassing himself in front of a friend…"
"Cyborg?" The half robotic teen could only chuckle as he made his way over the young empath sitting on the chair by the counter. Even though it looked as if she was troubled, apparently his little dance had caused some type of amusement to cross her face.
"Sorry Rae, didn't think you still be up so late."
"Yeah… I um, have a lot on my mind." He moved over to the fridge and started to look through it, making a face as Beastboy's tofu was the first thing he saw.
"Want to talk about it?" She arched an eyebrow as he started to dig around the refrigerator and place the tofu eggs in a hidden spot behind the milk.
"Gar gave me flowers."
"Gar?" She blushed and glanced away, Cyborg seeming amused at how quickly she had picked up on saying his new nickname.
"Yes Gar. He wants me to call him that and I shall, now do you want to talk about this or not?" He couldn't help but smile and held up his hands as if to ward off a blow.
"Whoa whoa, sorry. Go on. So Gar gave you flowers." She only sent him a quick glare at the emphasis he put on the name.
"Yeah and he… well he admitted feelings for me and I… I'm still not sure what happened. There was silence and then something about him fighting and waiting for me…" She stared at the cup of tea and let out a soft sigh.
"Do you like him?"
"What?" Blue-violet eyes moved to land on the older teen in front of her. He was starring at her from across the counter with a look of well practiced indifference on his face.
"Do you like him?" Raven could feel herself start to shift uncomfortably on the chair. She went to say no, went to say he was annoying and rude and was always bothering her. That his jokes were stupid and most of the time he acted like a child. That he… that he made her smile and that he went through the effect to get her to laugh. That he was caring and sweet and so ready to protect her in battle. That the way his eyes seemed to sparkle when he smiled at her sent her on a frenzy of admiration and envy. That his food smelled awful but it was so sweet how he always tried to cook for her anyway. The way he always tried to include her, even from the beginning. How he had fallen for her in spite of everything and how she had fallen for him… apparently despite everything.
She grumbled and burrowed her face into her hands. When had she fallen for him? When in the world did they even have time? Cyborg only stood there and arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yes… Yes Cyborg… despite everything… I like Gar… I Raven… like Garfield Logan. Azarath help me." Cyborg couldn't help but laugh and she sent him a half-hearted glare. "What?"
"Sorry Rae. Just surprised it took ya so long. I mean come on. We all get on your nerves but BB has been the only one you've ever actually lashed out at. He's the only one you spend time with whether you want to or not. He's the only one who even makes you laugh!"
"Okay I get it. It was apparently obvious. I just… I don't know if I'm ready." Cyborg smiled and moved over the young empath. Sitting down beside her he tore off a small part of his sandwich and offered it to her.
"Of course you don't Rae, you're just starting this while feeling thing. Sure you've dated before but what you're stumbling into is going to be big. You've put yourself out there before and he hurt ya so there's also that. That doesn't mean you run though Rae and let's be honest here… BB isn't going to let ya keep running for too much longer." She nodded and took the offered piece of the sandwich, picking at it before actually taking a bite.
"I know…He shouldn't have to…" Cyborg smiled and took a bite of his sandwich.
"Just take it slow Rae, one step at a time is all any of us can ask for and all any of us can give at times. Just know that he's a great kid, both of ya are and I for one think when things get straighten out. Ya'll make a great couple and hey I would know. I'm an expert on dating!" He winked and she smiled weakly, rolling her eyes. Chuckling the older teen finished up his sandwich in two more bites and headed towards the door to the hall.
"Hey Cyborg…" He turned around and she seem to think over her words before she sent him a small smile. "Thank you… your words have helped a lot…"
"Any time Rae. Sleep well."
"You too." He walked out of the common room and she turned back to her tea and her thoughts. Take it slow. It sounded like a good idea and one she would love to follow through on. In fact, she would. She had been unhappy and alone for so long and the influence of her father was no longer there. She could be free to love and maybe this time, she had found the right guy. Smiling to herself she finished up her tea and walked off to get some rest.
She studied the piece of paper in front of her, arching an eyebrow at the girly cursive on it. Off in the distance a dog barked and the sounds of sirens rolled across the night sky. The smell of sewage and rotten wood lingered in the air. This had better be the right place or she was going to give that teen more than a mere headache.
Her associate balanced herself on one of the wooden pillars that lined around the run down magic shop. The black and red ears of the cap dangling upside down as baby blue eyes glanced around the place. She pushed herself upwards and landed with ease next to the shorter red head that gave her an annoyed look. She only shrugged and smiled awkwardly at her friend.
"Sorry Red. Gotta stay in shape, ya know."
"Right. Just get the door, it's late and I want to get this over with."
"Anythin' ya say, Red!" The jester pulled a large mallet out of hyperspace and walked over to the large wooden doors that were blocked by two large boards crossing in an X shape. She placed down the mallet and spit on her hands before picking it up again. Sticking her tongue out of the corner of her mouth she reeled back and let loose on the door with a very loud 'WHACK'. The doors flew backwards in splinters and large chunks of wood to hit the floor. Eyes looked up and over to see two slender forms walk through the new hole where a door once stood.
"Who are you?"
The shorter female only smiled and started to move towards him, hips swaying in a seductive manner. She walked a few more paces and leaned her weight onto her right leg, crossing an arm over her stomach. Resting an elbow on the back of her hand that crossed her stomach she eyed the form in front of her. A finger played with a strand of red hair as she talked softly and seemed to let out a purr that caused his heart to race.
"I hope you don't mind, we let ourselves in. We have a few questions and I need you behaved. We don't want to have to get rough."
"Or do we?" He didn't have time to reply as the jester pulled something from out of one of her pockets. The face of the mallet flipped up and the next thing he knew there was a flash of red and then stars. The laughter of the two women echoed from the walls as they stood over the fallen person. "Gee some people can't roll with the punches." They laughed even harder until they heard clapping coming from behind them. Blinking the two females turned around to see a blue man in the abandon countless rows of seats. Slowly eyes drifted back down to where the man had once laid and saw nothing. The redhead's fingers curled into fist and she whirled around to eye the room, noticing there were a few differences now.
"Har… When we came in were we on a stage?"
"Iunno Red, but I do love to perform!" Before she could stop her, her associate was leaping and flipping across the stage, landing on the edge with a ta-dah pose. The man didn't applaud and only started tsking as if the acrobatic show was nothing more than that of a rookie. She pouted and then a light bulb went on in her head. Waving her arms around in front of her face she tried to tell him to give her another chance. "Okay stop me if ya've heard this one."
"Stop, I've heard this one." Harley shot Ivy a look and the redhead only shrugged. With a toss of her fiery red hair she started to walk off of the stage, if no one was attacking just yet there was no reason for her to sit around like a waiting duck. "What? I've heard all your very bad jokes."
"Yah yah, well I wasn't talkin' to ya!" She turned back around to the blue man sitting in the seats and started to wave her arms around again. "Okay okay! How many caped crusaders does it take to screw in a light-bulb? NONE! They like the dark." She heard a groan from the side of the stage but laughter in the seats ahead. Her smile widens and she held up her hands to cause her one attentive audience member to quiet down. "What does Batgirl wear to bed? Her Dark KNIGHT gown! I gotta a million of em!"
The redhead rolled her eyes and glanced around to find something more important or better to do. That's when green eyes saw the stairs leading down to the audience seats. A slight smirk spread across her features and she slide unnoticed from her spot on the side of the stage. If Harley wanted to perform fine, but like hell if she wasn't going to use this to her advantage. She sneaked away from the stage and started to walk around the bleachers, tossing leaves here and there, all the while the blue man laughing at the performing jester on stage.
"What happened when Batman and Robin got run over by a steam roller?
They became Flatman and Ribbon!" She bowed at the waist as applause broke out from the seats. " No no yer too kind! ReEEaaaly!" Baby blue eyes looked up to see Ivy sneaking closer to the blue man applauding in the seats. Smirking she stood up straight and cleared her throat, waving the 'audience' to quiet down. "Okay last joke of the evening! What's black, blue, green, and red all over!" The blue man in the audience only shrugged and the clown girl smirked, pointing at him. "You after we get through with ya!"
He didn't struggle as the vines flew forward from every angle of the theater. They crashed and thrashed against the old weaken plastic seats, red cushions flying from the impact. The green vines circled and squeezed at the slender older male as he only seemed to struggle a second before watching as the two females advance.
"Gee Mister for someone so blue, you sure do seem to be going green! Huh? Huh?" The redhead rolled her eyes and shook her head. She needed new friends.
"I just can't believe he liked your jokes. Who would have thought that would work?"
"Gee Red, no faith. " The redhead only shrugged and turned her attention back to the man.
" I presume?"
"Depends, my love. Who wants to know?"
"Let's just say we're… mutual friends." She flipped her fiery hair over her shoulder and sat down, a vine coming up to give her something to sit on. The clown girl only laughed and jumped into a handstand on the back of one of the seats, watching the man upside down.
"Ya see guy, we kinda need a little info on this Mal..Mal… Malabar-"
"She means Malchior."
"Yeah him! And you're just the guy with the info!" She twisted her body and came down to kick her legs underneath her, landing a few feet in front of him. Leaning in she pointed at herself and squinted an eye at the blue magician in front of her. "Don't make me hafta get ruff on ya! I'm not just a pretty face and a great make-up artist!" She moved her face mere inches away from his own, sending a serious look and glare right at him. "I'm also a comedian!" Ivy groaned and rubbed her face for another countless time in one evening.
"You don't say? You see." With a large cloud of smoke and visible letters that read 'Poof' in the air, her vines fall down to the ground. Quickly the redhead stood up and started to search about the room before green eyes landed on the man standing on the stage. "I'm a magician!"
Slowly Harley's face lit up and she started to clap, bouncing up and down like a child at Christmas. It had been so long since she had been to a real live magic show! She didn't even think they had them anymore! Well except of course for Mistah J's but those always ended more with large smiles than any actual magic.
"Oh yay! I love magic tricks! Pull a bunny from your hat!"
"Harl! Not Now." She hissed out as the clown girl winced and chuckled shamefully.
"Sorry Red." She turned back towards the man on stage and pointed. "You! You'll do a magic trick and pull a bunny from your hat now or we'll rough ya up! Better Red?" The plant lady slapped her forehead and shook her head. One again the thought of getting better friends crossed her mind. The blue man started to laugh and they watched him as he shuffled cards and walked back and forth across the stage.
"My dear ladies I can do more than simply pulling a rabbit from my hat. I can turn you into a rabbit! I can take this very world and flip it upside down! I am the great! Marvelous! Master Mumbo!" A large flashy sign appeared above the blue man's head, a doppelganger of himself dressed like a woman standing beside it with her arms posed to show off the flashing name. Harley's eyes seemed to widen and she resumed bouncing up and down, squealing all the while.
"Ah Red didja hear that! We could be cute little bunnies!"
"Har, remember why we're even here…" The clown slowly started to stop bouncing and nodded, putting her serious face on again.
"Alright Mister Dumbo! We ain't playing around no more! We want info on Malabar and we want it now!"
"Malchior! MalCHIOR! Harley! Not bar!" The clown ignored her and kept pointing.
"Are you going to give us what we want or are we gonna have to exchange gags!" The blue magician seemed to think it over for a second and shrugged.
"Sure. I can do that for you. Some evil dragon thing broke the little magic weaver's heart. Bragged about it a lot from what I hear he's in another dimension now. After the huge battle no body really bothered to bring him back. Real cocky little wanker too. Would just go on and on about how gifted he was. If he was so gifted though, I ask you, how did Rorek get out earlier than him and have a little family, huh? Easy. The little cocky fire-breather was just all talk. The only thing he really did was manage to waddle his little book away from their sight one day and teleport for some magical girl to find."
The two girls seemed taken aback and just stood there. Glancing at each other they shrugged and Harley put away her mallet, Ivy shrinking her vines back down to nothing more then leaves.
"So what you're saying… is there's no way to bring the kid back?" The magician shrugged at the redhead's question and started to play with his cards. Harley squealed and clapped as the cards started to circle each other in the air before com-busting into doves.
"You could but I don't know why you would want to. The Titans have fought the big dragon and defeated it."
"I see… can you tell me more about this... Rorek character?" He rolled up his sleeves to reveal nothing underneath it before reaching into his hat and pulling out a head that looked exactly like his own. Harley started to roll on the floor and clap even more.
"From what tall dark and scaly told me he went back to his village, got hitched, had a family that was taught the ways and were assigned to watch over the book. They've been searching for millenniums but gave up and just went back to their little hick village."
"I see… well we know you can do parlor tricks but can you do anything else?" His eye twitched and he watched her, all his tricks halting in mid air. The clown pouted and glanced back between the two.
"My dear… I can do far more than your little mind could imagine."
"Oh I don't know I have a very creative mind that comes up with more than something like 'Is this your card'. So you see. I'm rather skeptical of your words." Flicking a hand the vine came up underneath her and she sat down on the lush green plant, starting to pick at her nails.
"I can do more than card tricks, little lady!"
"Now that's something I'll have to see to believe. Right, Harl?" She smirked and winked at the clown girl who had been lying down on her back, resting on her elbows to watch the conversation. Picking up on the way this conversation was going she smirked and rolled backwards to jump up on her feet.
"Yep. Talk is cheap! Just like the villains and their outfits in this town." He glared and the clown only smirked and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Alright then. Name something and I'll show you just how great the mighty Mumbo is!" The two women met each others gazes and let a wide smirk spread across their lips.
A/N: What could Beastboy be plotting? Can Mumbo really do more than card tricks? When will we see Terra again? How much longer before Harley leaves? Will I ever let Robin actually kiss Starfire? Some of these answers will be solved in the next chapter! Stay tuned and keep reading and reviewing, please! On a sidenote, I had way too much fun with the exchange between Harley and Mumbo, even without all of Mumbo's bad puns.