Sorry this update took a while. It took me a while to get this chapter how I wanted it.
I hope you like it.
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On with the show
Chapter 4: Cambion
2 Weeks after the fire.
"LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" Shouted a very enthusiastic Bumble Bee. The Titans girls, which consisted of Bumble Bee, Starfire and Terra, plus Cyborg's girlfriend, Sarah, began pouring into the common room, but everyone stepped aside for the lady of the hour. Jinx, who was wearing a sash and a tiara that said in big bright pink letters, BRIDE TO BE, echoed Bumble Bee's statement with a whoop and a hollar.
"Come on Titanettes! It's my last night as a single lady!"
Starfire lifted the pink haired bride-to-be into the air with a spin. "Oh yes, then on the morrow you will be joined in the holiest of matromonies to friend Kid Flash!"
Jinx chuckled as she was set down. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but until then, WE PARTY!"
Sarah came up behind the group. "Finally I'll get to see how Superheroes party it up."
"Come and get 'em!" From the kitchen, Terra filled some small glasses full of some alcoholic beverage.
The girls approached ready to get after the shots, but Jinx held back. "Hold on, we can't start without Kole. Where is she?"
Starfire giggled with a sly, knowing look. "She is with her new boyfriend."
Terra gawked. "Really? Well it's about time."
"Wa-wait, whose her knew beau? I wasn't even aware she was interested in anyone. Ya know . . . after Joey." Bumble Bee asked, everyone's faces dropping slightly once the deceased Titan was brought up. But the frowns were turned upside down once the common room doors opened.
In walked the Titan men, consisting of Cyborg, Nightwing, and Kid Flash. They walked in right behind Kole who was arm and arm with her persumably new boyfriend. The "not" Titan, Drake Daniels, had a large smile on his face as he laughed and joked with the young pinkette. The girls in the room turned to the new couple with widened eyes, and grins each thinking the same thing.
It's about time.
Drake and Kole had met before back when Drake was looking for the demon who killed the Titans, since then they spoke on and off, but nothing serious. It wasn't until Drake was hunting down monsters in the Titans North's area that they started getting much closer. Then after a little bit longer of the usual "hanging out's" they decided to become official.
"Geez I didn't think guys would ever get together." said Terra.
Kole blushed. "I blame him." She pulled the knight closer to herself putting her head on his shoulder. He simply rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah." She got to her toes, kissed him on the cheek and joined the other Titan girls who were were being kissed and hugged by their significant others. Except for Terra. She looked past the men hoping to see a familiar shade of green, but saw nothing. She exhaled in sadness and frustration, once again Beast Boy had withdrawn into himself. Why? She didn't know. No one did, but it was just like before when Raven left.
"So where you taking KF for his last night of being a bachelor?" Bumble Bee asked, pulling Terra away from her thoughts.
Cyborg laughed. "Come on now, if your not telling us ya'lls plans, why should we tell you ours?" Cyborg shot.
Sarah slapped her boyfriend playfully with a metallic clink. "Just don't get so waisted you can't even drive."
"I don't think you'll have anything to worry about, Sarah." Kid Flash smirked. "My matabalism is too fast, Cyborg can't get drunk . . . uh Drake-"
"Nope. I don't get drunk either. So the only one we have to worry about getting shit-faced is Nightwing here."
"Oh husband Dick, do not get the trashed." his wife implored.
He laughed, semi-glaring at the others. "I need my wits about me Star, I think I'll be fine."
"Hey, is-er-Beast Boy going with you guys tonight?" Terra asked hesitantly.
The group got quiet, and uncertain. "Well . . . we invited him and all . . ." Cyborg began, but Terra had her answer.
"He's not going. Great." She slammed the bottle of alcohol down in furstration.
It got uncomfortably quiet in the kitchen now, until a spark of pink energy snapped everyone out of their uncomfortable stuper.
"Well let him sulk or whatever. It's party time!" She shot a few more pink fire works into the air to get the party going again, and it worked.
The men headed for the door, until someone from the girls cleared their throat getting their attention. Turning around, Kole was eyeing her new boyfriend playfully with a small smile and her head tilted, and arms crossed.
"What?" he asked innocently. She raised a brow, which only further confused him the other ladies giggling behind her at his stupidity, but finally it seemed to click with him. He closed the distance between them and gave Kole a sweet kiss on her lips, his hand on her lower back keeping her close. Both groups "awe'd" at the new couple, even after they released and he rejoined the group of guys.
"Awe how cute, big bad warrior giving his giwlfwiend a kiss wissy." Kid Flash made kissing noises, but stopped when Drake grabbed him by his throat.
"I may be head over heels, but I can still kill you if I move my thumb a quater of an inch." This seemed to get a laugh out of everyone, even if they were concerend he was going to end him right then and there.
"Hey that's my fiance' be gentle with him." Jinx still had a smile on her face even though her future husbands life was in peril.
Drake released him as Cyborg threw his arm over the bachelor's shoulders. "Don't worry, we'll take gooooooood care of him."
"Okay then take care of him somewhere else." Sarah shooed the boys out.
"Yes we must enjoy the shots of Jello, and the police officer who comes and removes his articles of clothing to very fast music." Starfire squealed happily.
"WHAT!?"
The door shut on the men and was locked tightly.
"This is a bad idea . . . " Beast Boy told himself. "Well not my first one, so what the hell." Beast Boy was rubbing his thumb apprehensively over the send button of his phone. One press and the text message would be off, then there would be no turning back. He exhaled, then pressed the send button. He watched his phone load, then send the message. No turning back now.
He jumped when there was a loud pounding on the door.
"Yo BB. Open up." Beast Boy tucked his private phone under his pillow and opened the door for his friends. Cyborg had a mixture of worry, and determination set on his face as he looked down at his best friend. "We're headed out, but we came by for the Titan PARTY ANIMAL!" His friends whooped and hollared on the other side of his door, but Beast Boy was in no mood to go anywhere or do anything, but he knew they had been looking forward to this for a while.
"Uh . . . listen-"
Beast Boy was interrupted by the metal teen. "Look BB, you were given a clean bill of health by me and the hospital, yeah it was scary but you HAVE to move on from it, for goodness sakes it was two weeks ago."
Beast Boy didn't want to do this to them, but he figured he had no choice. "Well Not all of us can just 'move on' after almost dying in a fire, and watching a kid in front of you beg for help and you can barely stand!" Beast Boy slammed the door on his friends, leaving them to stare at the piece of metal in shock.
"We can't be too surpised by this." said Nightwing. "He took it pretty hard."
"He's been taking everything 'pretty hard' these days." Cyborg said with a mixture of annoyance and saddness. He missed his best friend. First it was Raven, now it was this.
"Look we'll bring him back something fun, now lets get going." Kid Flash said, and begrudgingly the group agreed.
Beast Boy sat down on his bed, which had been changed to a queen sized bed a few years back. He hated being short with them, but one, he wasn't in the mood to party, and two he HAD to find that litte girl. He couldn't stop thinking about her and it was making him act depressed and angry again, and he wasn't going to get any piece until he found her again. A buzzing underneath his pillow brought his attention to his phone. Bringing it to his hand and looking it over showed that it was a response to his eariler text message.
Park.
Half and hour.
Beast Boy took a seat on the park bench looking over the lake in front of him. He saw a small group of kids feeding the ducks by the lake, a small smile coming to his face, which quickly faded thinking back to what happened to him and Terra about a year ago. Tears bagen to sting the back of his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away bringing his gaze down to his side at the large bag. Beast Boy suddenly went rigged, he felt the air pressure around him begin to squeeze his chest like a tight blanket, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, a chill running down his spine, and his stomach starting to do flip flops. This could only mean one thing.
He was here.
"Hello darling." A smooth english accent got his attention. The tension around him finally released, but he could still feel an icy chill consuming him. Beast Boy turned to the man who was now sitting next to him. He was staring out into towards the lake with a smirk on his five o'clock shadowed handsome face. He wore his signature black fine pressed suit and shined shoes, his hair combed neatly, and his charming smile wide and ready to charm. He tilted his head to look at the changeling with dark eyes. "You rang?"
Beast Boy took a moment to compose himself. "Hey Landon. I-um, yeah I did. I-er-need your help."
He raised a brow. "If this is about Raven I already told y-"
"No, no, no this isn't about Raven, this is about something else." Beast Boy reached into the large bag next to him and pulled out what was inside it. Landon eyed the burnt pink jacket oddly,
"Oh Beast Boy you shoudn't have." he quipped. "And I didn't get you anything."
Beast Boy glared, then got uneasy again. "Look I know this might sound a little . . . weird, but I want your help in finding the person this belongs to."
Landon continued to stare at the jacket curiously. "You want me, the king of hell and demons, to find a little girl who owns this jacket?"
Beast Boy shuffled under the glare of the demon king nervously, then gave a sheepish smile. ". . . yeah . . . "
Landon looked at the jacket again. "Ok, I'll ask the obvious question. Why?"
Beast Boy shuffled again just looking down at the jacket. "It's complicated . . . "
Landon snorted a laugh. "No, shower sex is complicated. Just tell me why you want me to find this child."
Beast Boy exhaled, he figured he could be sort of honest with the demon king, even if he didn't understand it himself, so he explained it as best as he could.
" . . . and I don't know . . . I can't stop thinking about her. And I know you don't get this, since you don't have feelings or anything like that, but . . . when I saw her . . . for the first time in YEARS I've felt . . . happy." Beast Boy glanced at Landon, who was simply staring back and forth between him and the jacket. Landon was impossible to read, but finally he took the jacket.
"I guess there is no harm in me finding the little one." Landon stood up with an elated Beast Boy still seated.
"Really! Sweet! Oh I owe you big time Landon!"
Landon chuckled. "Oh believe me my young green friend, you WILL owe me."
Beast Boy suddenly went slightly pale. "Oh-um-whatdoyou . . . want?"
Landon, still chuckling, eyed the changeling. "I'll be doing it for free. After all you are a capable young man, whom I would LOVE to have in my debt."
Beast Boy still looked slightly nervous, but gave a short nod. Landon smiled once more, then once again Beast Boy felt the air around him tighten then release once Landon vanished in a puff of black mist. Beast Boy leaned forward putting his head in his hands, already regretting his decision, but he wasn't lying to Landon. Seeing that little girl really was the first time he was happy and it was worth and if he could find her and figure out why she made him so happy, whatever the price, it was worth it.
Café' in Jump City.
Raven HAD to get out of her apartment. She had been suspended from her job at the library for two weeks for just taking off, which was both good and bad for her. Bad because she wasn't making money, and just being home all day, but good because she could be with Farah, who was slowly getting herself back to normal after the fire. For the first few nights she woke up screaming from night terrors so Raven moved her into her room, she still woke up screaming, but at least Raven could easily comfort her with her empathic powers. It was only the last few days that Farah was finally getting back to her normal, bubbly, hyper, fun loving self.
Of course the fact that she didn't have to go to daycare was helpful for her personality too.
But by now Raven just needed some time for herself. Luckily it was the weekend so James was off of work, so she asked him to watch her while she went out for some time to herself. For Raven this meant tea at her favorite cafe', a good book, and most importantl . . . quiet.
Until . . .
"Hello darling."
Raven froze. She was so engrossed in her book and in the silence that she didn't register the uneasy feeling in the air, the chill running through her body, and the feeling of someone sitting right in front of her. But the sound of the thick british accent told her EXACTLY who was sitting with her. She lifted her eyes and sure enough she found the handsome face of the demon king.
"Fancy a chat?" Raven rolled her eyes. "And before you try the whole 'I think you have the wrong person' excuse. Just so you know I can feel your power a mile and a half away. So . . . yup." His charming smile grew wider at his victory.
She slammed her book shot before setting it on the metal table. "How did you find me?" she asked shortly.
Landon shrugged. "Technically I never lost you."
Raven was about to question him further, but a waitress came by. "Can I get you something hon?" she asked Landon.
"Just some Camomile tea darling." He smiled a white toothy smile that could light up a barn causing the young brunette waitresses knees to buckle slightly.
She blushed and responded with a squeaky, "C-coming right up." She scurried off back inside the cafe' leaving the two alone again.
Raven leaned forword. "What do you mean 'you never lost me'?" Her eyes narrowed darkly, but Landon was unphased.
He leaned back in his seat. "As I mentioned before I can feel your power no matter where you go. So when Drake and the Titans asked me to help, it only took me about an hour to find you." Raven tilted her head in confusion, he had known where she was this whole time? "Let me guess," he did his best to immitate her gravelly, yet beautiful voice, "why didn't you tell my team where I was?" He went back to his normal accent. "Because I don't care much for drama and I didn't want to be in the middle of it."
The waitress came back with his tea, once again giving a nervous smile at the charming man. He thanked her and sipped his tea. "So this whole time . . . " Raven was still in shock that she wasn't able to hide from everyone, but he left her alone. Why? Then another question. "Wait!" She leaned forword again whispering. "Do you know about . . . "
He looked up to her. "Farah? Of course I do." he said matter-of-factly sipping his tea. Raven's heart stopped, but he continued, "don't worry. I've known about your child ever since she was conceived." Now she looked at him with confusion. "No I wasn't watching you that night. Personally I didn't think cabbage patch had that kind of marksmanship. But whenever a Cambion is concieved, I as the king of the hell, know about it." Once again he spoke casually as if he was talking about the weather.
"C-Cambion?" she breathed.
Landon looked up from his tea. "The offspring of a demon and a human. Happens quite often actually."
Raven's heart was beating a mile a mintue. "My daughter is not-"
"No she's not. Just because she is the offspring of a demon dosen't make her one, but she's not entirely human either. Her father is a shape shifter for crying out loud. It really is facinating though. The child of a half-demon and a shape shifter? Mmm."
Raven couldn't seem to calm her heart while her mind was taking in this outpouring of information. "Does anyone else know about her?"
Landon looked at her. "How do you mean?"
"My team? Villains?-"
"Mm no, they don't know about her, but many of my fellow . . . associates, know about her existance."
Raven's worry was becoming anger. "How can you be so casual about this?"
Landon shrugged. "Simple. I've had the finest of the finest of my hell hounds and soldiers standing guard this whole time, and anyone whoever came within a hundred yards of you or your child with ill intent was killed on the spot. Luckily mister Montgomery dosen't qualify." he said refering to James.
Raven wasn't sure to how handle this information. On the one hand, demons knew about the existance of her daughter, but any that did were dead. Landon was protecting her and Farah?
"Why have you been protecting us?"
Landon finished his tea. "Well I've taken quite a shine to you, and your child is just a delight, so why wouldn't I want to protect you? However you should know that her FATHER is now aware of her presence." Raven figured as much. Even she could feel the connection between Farah and Beast Boy after the fire. In fact Farah had been drawing pictures of him with her crayons.
Raven had one more question though. "Carnus . . . does he know about Farah?"
He nodded grimly. "Yes, but you don't have to worry about him. Carnus won't harm a child."
"You sound so sure about that?"
"Of course I am. It's one of MY laws. I save my more . . . inventive punishments for those that harm a child. Normally Carnus dosen't frighten easily, but he seems to respect that one."
The two remained quiet for a moment, the waitress coming by once to see if they needed anything. Finally Raven asked, "So what now? Are you going to go back and tell my team about her and I?"
Landon seemed to think about it for a moment. "Tell you what darling. I'll keep my mouth shut, on one condition." Raven grimaced, what could he POSSIBLY want from her? "I want to meet Farah. Formally."
Raven's eyes went wide. "Abso-" She wanted to tell him to screw off, but at the same time what could he do to her? He had been trying to keep them safe, he wouldn't want to harm her. She thought about it for a moment longer. "Could you possibly help keep her hidden, like I am?"
Landon nodded. "I can improve the warding yes."
Raven thought about it for a bit longer, before finally saying yes. "Be at my apartment tonight at six. You can stay for half an hour and thats IT."
Landon raised his hands. "Your the boss. I'll be there with bells on. Cya then darling." Landon winked at her then vanished from sight. Raven stayed at her table for another thirty minutes obsorbing all of the information before leaving.
What had she gotten herself into?
Ten minutes to six
Raven sat on her couch staring at the blank TV screen, Farah was on the floor coloring yet another picture of Beast Boy. One thing Raven noticed about the pictures she drew of him was that he didn't have any ears, maybe she didn't see them? Raven leaned forword.
"Farah honey do you know who that is?" she asked.
Farah didn't look up from her coloring. "He's the superhero who saved me."
Raven waited a moment but Farah didn't continue. "Is that it? Do you know his name?" Farah shook her head, blonde curls bouncing about her face.
Then she sat up rubbing her belly, scrunching her face. "Mommy my tummy feels funny." Raven could see small goosebumps on her daughters arms, and she too was feeling the same thing. She sighed, but surprisingly she heard a knock at the door. Huh. She was expecting him to just zap himself inside. Farah got to her feet in a hurry and ran for the door, but she was still to short to reach the handle, thank goodness. She hadn't told her that Landon was coming. She figured that he would come, see Farah, then leave, but even she had to know that it was never that simple with Landon.
Raven shoved her daughter behind her leg and she opened the door. Sure enough the demon king stood there with a smile on his face and a dead plant in his hands.
She raised a brow at him. "Really?"
He looked down at the plant, trying to put on his best "hurt" face. "What I'm not good with plants. For some reason they tend to die on me." She rolled her eyes then stepped aside to let him in, the little girl cautiously eyeing the stranger in her home. Landon set the dead plant on the table and looked around the little apartment. "Cozy."
"Sorry it's not a five star place like your used to." she said with her arms folded.
Landon turned to face her. "Oh darling, five star is still to low for me." Landon's eyes traveled down Raven's body to her leg were Farah's single violet eye was watching him with curiosity, and facsination. Landon crouched down, but still wasn't eye level with the little girl. "Well hello dear." She blinked a few times before poking her head out a little further from behind Ravens leg.
"You talk funny." she said sweetly.
Landon snickered, but Raven looked down at her. "Farah that's rude, say your sorry."
"She's fine. It's just my accent darling." He extended her hand to her as if to shake hers. She looked at it nervously, but then reached her little hand for his. "My name is Landon dear," he brought her smaller hand to his lips, "your humble servent." he gave her a small kiss on the top of her hand, causing her to giggle and pull her hand back rubbing it on her pajama pants.
"Ew! Cooties!"
This time Raven couldn't help but laugh as Landon stood. "She's adorable Raven."
Before Raven could respond there was another knock at the door. Farah once again ran for the door, but Raven was puzzled. She wasn't expecting anyone else, so who was-. She gasped. It was Saturday night! Pizza night with James!
James on the other side of the door knocked again, Farah bouncing in front of it excited for who was on the other side. At least she remembered it was pizza night.
"Hold on." Raven went to the door, shooing Farah aside and opening the door. James was standing there with a couple of pizza's and some soda.
"Hey Adi. Pizza time."
"Look James it's-uh-can you come back in a little bit?" Seeing his confusion she continued, "it's just that, I forgot, and-"
"Aderyn darling. Don't shoo the young man away when he has food." Raven groaned slightly, James looked at her with confusion then looked passed her into the apartment.
"Uncle James! This is my new friend mister Landon!" Farah pulled Landon into his line of sight, James looking very unsettled, Raven being able to feel his jealousy.
Raven opened the door wider so James could come inside. "James this is Landon, he's . . . a friend."
"Oh friend is so formal," Landon pushed past her with his hand extended towards James, "Little Adi here is like a daughter to me."
James seemed relived by that. "Oh-um-it's nice to meet you." As they shook hands. Landon took the pizzas putting them on the table. "So how do you know Adi?"
"Her father and I used to work together."
Raven nearly choked when she heard that. "Oh really? I thought your father passed away?" he asked Raven.
"Oh he did. You see, we ran a business together and once the old man passed away I took over the business. Nasty bit of business, but like I said, Adi is practically family."
James nodded. "Well why don't you join us for dinner then?" he asked.
Raven was silently shaking her head, but Landon, and Farah, responded with a yes.
Once everyone was eating James and Landon began to talk business. Clearly Landon was able to charm anyone, not just women.
"So what's your business?" James asked.
"Well I own and manage a few rather large pieces of property down south, and we are constantly looking for new tenents and renters to fill those contracts and unoccupied spaces. It's all about that bottom line am I right?"
Wow, Raven thought. Landon is a fantastic . . . "not" liar.
"Man!" James said in intrest and facsination. "Do you have any spaces available-"
"NO!" Raven said out loud bringing the eyes of both of her dinner guests, and Farah to herself. "I mean-uh-we shouldn't talk business at dinner."
Landon smiled. "Adi is quite right. I haven't seen her in some time, so we'll save business for another time."
The rest of the evening passed without incident, but then Farah was getting tired and needed to be put to bed. James said a quick good-bye leaving just Landon and Raven.
She exhaled while putting her head into her hands, thankful that the evening was over.
"Well he was delightful." Raven lifted her head.
"Who knew you were such a good liar." she said.
He just shrugged. "Hello. Demon king remember?" She nodded with a roll of her eyes "Speaking of. I have to get back to my kingly duties." He stood up from the table. "Give the darling my regards." He handed Raven a slip of paper.
"What's this?" She asked.
"The ingredients you'll need to create the warding that will keep you hidden from anything in creation. You and your daughter will be safe, but I'll still have my lads patrolling around, making sure anyone and anything that knew of your daughters existance is dead."
Raven nodded muttering a thank you, but when she looked back up again, he was gone.
Beast Boy stared out the window of the Titans public office with a grumpy expression on his face. He wasn't so much grumpy with WHY he was there, but more grumpy that he was sent there against his wishes. Still his friends meant well.
"Beast Boy?" the women sitting across from him addressed. Beast Boy didn't turn his head to look at her, but twitched his ear letting her know he heard her. "We've been here for about five minutes. Is there somewhere you'd like to start?" Once again Beast Boy didn't face her, but shrugged his shoulders.
Nightwing was finally fed up with Beast Boys attitude and finally called in a professional to come and talk with him. Black Canary, or Dinah Lance, was an old friend of Nightwing's and counseled him many times back in the day whenever he was struggling with mental issues, or issues with the Batman, etc. He called her in to talk with Beast Boy, but of course didn't tell him about it, because he would have stomped his feet and thrown a fit, which he nearly did, if Robin hadn't told him to behave himself like he was a four year old. Begrudgeingly he sat down to talk with her, and by talk that meant staring out the window with a scowl.
The beautiful blonde Justice League member wore her signature leather jacket, leotard bewstair combo, fishnet leggings and black boots, all of which reminded Beast Boy of Raven.
Finally Beast Boy spoke. "I'm sorry Robin called you here. Your just waisting your time after all."
She smiled. "I always have time for Rob-Nightwing, and his friends." Beast Boy didn't respond again, but she was patient. "Your behavior is worrying your teammates and friends, dosen't that concern you?" He shrugged. "What about Terra? She is probably more worried then anyone."
Beast Boy snickered. "Yeah I bet. Worried I'm not paying attention to her."
Finally, she thought to herself. He's talking. "Do you think she's needy?"
He snorted. "I tell her I need space and all she does in whine and cry that I'm not paying attention to her, but then she just goes and spends time with someone else like Aqualad." She noticed the subject of Aqualad was a touchy one, but at least he was talking.
"Why do you need space?"
He looked away from the window at her, wondering if she had just asked that. "I just do." he snapped.
Black Canary backpeddled a bit. "You say Terra spends time with Aqualad rather then with you? Why does that bother you so much?"
He scoffed again as if the answer to her questions were obvious. He returned his gaze to the window. "He's always prancing around here like he's the cock of the walk, like he's so much better then me and everyone else. Well so what if he's good looking, and a better hero. I don't care."
She was quiet for a moment, wanting to pick her words carefully as to not offend him, or worse. "Beast Boy, what are you feeling right now?"
He chuckled. "I don't know . . . angry?"
She shook her head. "Anger is more of a secondary emotion. We feel something else BEFORE we feel angry. Maybe saddness, jealousy, guilt, but they will lead to anger."
Beast Boy looked at her, this time in actual thought. He searched himself to see how he was feeling. "I . . . don't know what I feel."
She nodded, once again, they were getting somewhere. "When you talk about Aqualad, you immediately get defensive and angry. Now when you think about Aqualad take a moment to ACTUALLY think about what you are feeling."
Beast Boy did as he was told, thinking about all of the times he saw the Atlantean. He didn't hate him, so that wasn't it. They were actually okay friends, it just bothered him that Terra seemed to like talking with him more. She and the Atlantean had a different relationship then he and Terra did. True they were boyfriend and girlfriend, but with Aqualad it felt like she REALLY confided in him, things she never told him.
"I guess I feel . . . jealous maybe . . . " She nodded then motioned for him to continue. "Um . . . I mean, he's good looking, he's an awesome hero, he has a better relationship with Terra then I do . . . "
"What kind of relationship does she have with him?" He tilted his head not really understanding the question. "Well your her boyfriend and you have a certain relationship with her, what is her relationship with him?"
He looked at the floor in thought, but also to get out from her piercing gaze. "I don't know . . . they like have a deeper connection or something . . . I don't know it's like he gets her . . . "
"And you don't?"
"Well I get her . . . but lately . . . I don't know. When we first met we talked all the time, then when she came back we picked up were we left all . . . but . . . "
Once again they were quiet.
"Have you forgiven her for her betrayal?"
He snapped his head up slightly defensive. "Of course I have!"
"Has she forgiven herself?" Beast Boy opened his mouth to speak, but honestly he didn't know. She leaned forword, an action that made him blush and turn away since it exposed a generous amount of her cleavage. "Beast Boy guilt is a TERRIBLE thing, that has driven people to basically give up on life. This can come from drugs, alcoholism, or just going through the motions of everyday life. My guess is that your relationship with Terra is just on auto-pilot, because all she sees when she looks at you is the boy she let down, the boy she betrayed. This has nothing to do with you. Maybe she is just trying her hardest to fix the mistakes she made, and this is the only way she knows how to do it."
"By being in a relationship with me? So what it's just one long apology or pity relationship?"
"I didn't say that. I believe you both have very strong feelings for each other, but I don't believe they are romantic feelings, I just think you two WANT them to be, and in the end your both FORCING something on the other that in the end will ONLY end badly."
Beast Boy listened to every word and let them sink into his brain and into his heart. Maybe she was on to something. The talked for another forty-five minutes before she had to leave, but made another appointment to be back next week. He smiled at her as she left the tower, his head still mulling over the outpouring of information he needed to think about. His teammates wanted to ask him how it went, but seeing him deep in thought it was obvious he didn't want to be bothered.
He spent the next little while in his room until his phone began beeping. It was a text form Landon.
Tomorrow.
Same park.
11:00 AM.
XOXO
Landon.
The next day. Jump City Park.
"Your friend Landon seemed nice." said James. He and Raven were sitting on a park bench watching Farah from afar while she stood by the lake feeding the ducks. She squealed and laughed happily as the waterfowl faught for her little pieces of bread. They would look up to her and quack and she would quack back, making it an adorable sight. So much so Raven wasn't paying attention when James spoke.
"What? Oh yea he's alright. I guess he grows on ya."
He laughed a bit then looked back to Farah while she talked with her new "friends". "When are you going back to work?"
"Tomorrow thank goodness. The hard part is going to be finding someone to watch Farah. There is another daycare taking in the kids from the fire, but it's like ten minutes out of my way." she groaned at the thought.
"Maybe it's time you get a car." he suggested.
She laughed. "I don't even kind of have enough money for that, and I know you don't either so don't even bother trying to say you do."
He laughed. "Just a suggestion is all."
She shrugged. "I'll need to look at bus routes or something."
It grew quiet between them as they watched Farah by the lake, then Raven noticed James initiate, what Beast Boy called, a playa move. He faked a yawn and a stretch then casually let his arm drape over the back of the bench, and thus his arm around her. She felt him tense, unsure of how she was going to respond to this gesture, but so far she hadn't shrugged the arm off so it was a start. Then she did something that COMPLETELY shocked him.
She scooted closer to him. A tree in the distance becoming a victim to her powers.
Seeing Beast Boy made Raven realize two things. One Beast Boy wasn't going to just show up on her doorstep and everything would be great again, and two, she missed him SO much it hurt. Every time Farah drew a picture of him, she wanted to forget all of her pain and run to him, and thank him for saving Farah, then there was Farah. All the questions she would have, all the questions Beast Boy would have. All the questions her team would have. It was these thoughts that kept her away from him, and letting her know she had to move on, and who better to help her then this man next to her that cared for her and loved Farah like a father. That was good enough right? Sure he had a thing against meta humans, but she was sure if they started something he would overcome his prejudice for her.
James blush at the close proximity of the young women. She was so warm against him, it was like a dream. He had been crushing on her since the moment he laid eyes on her, now she just might be ready to give him a chance.
"So . . . uh . . . would you like to-um-go out sometime?"
Raven smiled. He had asked her a thousand times before, but this time she was ready to say, "Yes."
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and began stuttering again which she only found adorable. They were so lost in their own moment they hadn't noticed Farah chase after a runaway duck and out of sight.
Beast Boy looked at the clock on his phone again. Landon was ten minutes late. He was never late. He pocketed his phone and looked around. No english guy, no weird feelings, just him and the park goers. A few joggers, some moms with their kids, a little girl chasing a duck, a guy playing catch with his dog, a lady painting-
WAIT! THAT GIRL!
Beast Boy stood up from the bench, ignoring the head rush standing to fast gave to him, and stared at the little girl. It was her! The girl he saved from the burning building. She was chasing after a duck making quacking noses. It was the most adorable thing he had ever seen, SHE was the most adorable thing he had ever seen. The feelings of love and hope and warmth were coming back. He had to talk to her, but how?
Beast Boy shifted into a duck and began quacking loudly hoping to get her attention, but only got the attention of the duck she was chasing. It all worked out though since the duck was heading towards him and she followed close behind. He shifted back to normal and sat on the bench trying to look casual. The duck came up to him and began nipping at his shoes, the little girl right behind the duck.
She looked up at him, making his heart stop. Those eyes! They're amazing! They're just like . . .
"Your the superhero! Your the superhero! Your the superhero!" Farah was jumping up and down pointing and shouting as loud as her little lungs could shout, drawing the attention of some of the pedestrians.
Beast Boy laughed. "Yes I am, it's-uh-nice to meet you." Not really knowing what else to do he held out his gloved hand to shake hers.
She looked at it oddly then scrunched her face, once again melting his ice cold heart. "Your not gonna kiss my hand are you?" she asked.
That was a weird question. "Um . . . no. I just wanna shake your hand."
She thought about it then with a smile reached for his with her own.
"My name is Beast Boy." he introduced.
"Be-ast B-oy." she said slowly as if commiting it to memory. "That's a funny name."
Once again he laughed. "No, no. That's just my superhero name."
"Oh . . . well what's your not superhero name?"
"You can call me Gar." Usually Beast Boy never wanted anyone to know his real name, but there was no hesitation as he spoke with her. "Now what's your name?"
"Far-rah. Farah Taylor." she said slowly.
"Oh wow that's a beautiful-"
She gasped and pulled her hand away. He wondered if he did something wrong, but then she started jumping and hollaring excitedly again.
"YOU HAVE POINTY EARS! YOU HAVE POINTY EARS! YOU HAVE POINTY EARS!"
Once again he was getting odd looks from those around him and he tried to calm her. "Yes, yes I do."
"I do to!" She ran closer to him moving her hair out of the way to show him her ears. Sure enough they were pointed.
"Oh wow thats-" Beast Boy's heart stopped and his lungs stopped working.
Pointed ears?
Purple eyes?
No . . . it can't be . . .
"FARAH!" Farah and Beast Boy jumped when they heard the frantic sounds of a women calling her daughters name. Farah looked down the path to see James and her mother looking for her. With a smile she sprinted to Raven who had an expression of worry and anger on her face. "Farah!" She knelt down and wrapped her arms around her. "You know your not supposed to run off!" she scolded. "What were you thinking?!"
However Farah was not the least bit worried about her mothers yelling, in fact she had an odd smile on her face. Farah grabbed her mothers hand. "Mommy, mommy, mommy, I met the superhero!"
Raven forgot her anger and worry. "O-oh?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah he's right-" she spun around towards the bench were Beast Boy was sitting, but he was no longer there. Farah whipped her head around in all directions looking for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. "B-but h-he was right there . . . " Her eyes suddenly began to tear up and she was on the verge of sobbing.
"Hey, hey it's okay." James scooped the little girl up in his arms. "What do you say we get some ice cream huh?" Farah wiped her eyes and nodded, but she continued to look for the green man.
Raven hung back extending her powers over the immediate area to see if she could find Beast Boy. Nothing. After a thorough scan he was nowhere. She wasn't sure if she was relieved of saddened by this fact. The look of heartbreak in Farah's eyes when she saw he was gone cut into her own heart as well, but she couldn't worry about him now. He was gone and Raven was moving on.
What she wasn't able to see was the small flea, that was so small Raven wouldn't have found him with her powers. Watching this women walk away, Beast Boy knew without a shadow of a doubt that this WAS Raven.
Farah was humming to herself as she played with one of her many stuffed animals, Raven was behind her brushing her wet hair.
"Farah sweety?" Raven asked.
"Hmm?"
"What-uh-what do you think about uncle James?"
Farah shrugged. "I like him. He's funny, and he takes us places, and he buys me stuff." Raven nodded slightly smiling. She figured she'd get that kind of reponse from a three and a half year old. "Why? Don't you like him?"
"Oh of course I do sweetie." Raven finished with Farah's hair and began to tuck her in, now that she was comfortable with her own bed. They exchanged good night kisses and hugs then Raven left her alone in her room.
It was now eight o'clock so Raven had the next couple of hours to herself. She was about to get to the couch with a book, but there was a knock at the door. It was late, and no one should be at her door, so she reached her senses out to see who it was, but she wouldn't have to. Instantly Beast Boy appeared on the other side of her door, startling her, apparently three seconds was way to long to wait. He must have snuck under her door as an insect like he had done many times before back at the tower. His emerald eyes scanned the room and landed on Raven.
"R-Raven?" he breathed.
She was still in to much shock to correct him, or lie that she wasn't this "Raven" but he didn't wait for her. He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her neck in a tight squeeze. Again she was startled, but she felt herself melt away into his arms, she had been dreaming about this moment for years, and now it was finally here. HE was here. He had found her. She was back in his warm embrace, his natural musk flowing over her. It smelled of the forest and something like cinnamon. What she didn't expect though was to hear him crying.
"Your alive." he sobbed. "I knew you were alive." That seemed to puzzle her, of course she was alive. She left a note saying she just needed space. Why would they think she was dead?
He pulled away, his glistening jade eyes looking her over. Yes she was still wearing the holo ring, but there was no doubt in his mind that this was her. He memorized the shape of her body. The shape of her legs, her arms, her stomach, her breasts, her behind, everything. He knew the shape of her round beautiful face, her scent. Oh GOD her scent. Lavender, herbal tea, and something that reminded him of sugar cookies. He could drown himself in it. Four years, and he finally found her. Alive.
He moved to hug her again, but she held him back. There was no point in telling him he was wrong, but she was still confused.
"Beast Boy what are you doing here?" It was the only thing she could think to ask.
Beast Boy whiped his eyes and nose on his sleeve. "Sorry I just . . . your . . . friggin' alive!"
"Yeah I get that. Why would you think I wouldn't be?"
Beast Boy looked at her like she had asked a dumb question. "Seriously? You disappear off the face of the earth with nothing more then a note for four freakin' years? How can we NOT think you were dead?!"
Her stomach dropped. "T-they thought I was dead?"
Tears started to come back to his eyes. "We all did. We even had a little funeral and everything. We thought Carnus got to you somehow."
Raven's mouth stopped working. Her teammates had been suffering with the fact that she MIGHT be dead this whole time? How could she do that to them?
"But I didn't though. I knew you couldn't be dead." he smiled a weak sad smile.
She smirked at the thought, but she was still feeling guilty that she had put her friends through so much pain the last four years.
Once Beast Boy had composed himself there was something else he needed to ask. Sure enough looking around the apartment he saw photos of the little girl who filled his heart with life. Farah, the most beautiful sounding name in the world. The little blonde girl with the pointed ears and purple eyes.
"Raven." he said sternly. He walked to a photo hanging on the wall grabbing it gently, one of just Farah sitting on a table with a large toothy smile on her face. He held it to Raven. "Is this my daughter?"
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Thank you and good night!