Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
Chapter 2 – Affection.
The wind had picked up and the waves lapping on the shore now had white caps. Beast Boy was now lying on his back, resting on the rock's hard and heated surface. The sun warmed his face as he remembered his nineteenth birthday.
It had been a low key affair, only attended by his four teammates, unlike the year before when the Titans East and most of the honorary Titans had joined him in celebrating his passage into legal adulthood when he turned 18. While that celebration had been a lot of fun he had actually looked forward to the simpler celebration the following year.
Beast Boy woke up. As he stretched in his bed he noticed that it was 11 AM. IT wasn't really all that late, considering that the Titans had been out late the night before, trying to catch Red-X. They had foiled his attempted jewelry theft, but as always he managed to elude capture and escaped.
As Beast Boy remembered last night's mission he heard a loud thumping on the door.
So that's why I woke up.
The door slid open and Cyborg charged into the room, and immediately grimaced.
"B! You said you were gonna clean up this dump!"
Beast Boy rolled over in his bed, facing away from the tin man.
"I'm not gonna buy us that Gamestation 720 until you clean up your room man!" He said as he pulled the curtains wide open.
Beast Boy rolled back towards Cyborg, squinting at the now brightly lit room.
"What?"
"Hey don't look at me like that! It's Robin's orders anyway."
"You gotta be kidding!"
"Sorry man. Anyway, why haven't you got up yet?"
The changeling sighed. "Cuz we were out chasing Red-X until 3 AM."
"Have you forgotten already? It's your birthday man!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll celebrate later."
"B! The party's ready to begin, but we don't have a birthday boy."
"Cy!" He replied in an irritated voice. "It's only 11 AM. Why so early?"
"Man! Did you already forget? The Mayor has a banquet for us tonight; you know to celebrate Johnny Rancid's capture. If you want a party, it starts in 15 minutes."
Beast Boy clambered out of his bed, dressed in a pair boxers with tiger stripes on them and a sweaty T-shirt.
"Ok, I'll get dressed."
"Oh no, you're not going like that. You smell like a zoo."
Beast Boy rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll shower. You're such a nag Cy."
"Hey! If you want to get a birthday kiss from Star, you'd better be clean!"
Starfire was flitting around the commons room, adjusting the countless decorations she had spent the entire morning putting up. Raven watched her with a blank look on her face.
"Starfire, would you please stop fretting. The decorations are fine, if perhaps over the top. Not that Beast Boy minds that."
"I just wish for everything to be perfect for our friend."
"Starfire, you know that all he wants to do is stuff his face with cake and ice cream."
"Oh Raven, for once you should try to participate in the fun!"
"What do you think I'm doing here? Anyway, birthday parties are pointless. It's not even the day we actually came into existence."
"Yes, Raven." Starfire replied as SHE rolled her eyes. "That would be the day of our conception. We all know. You say the same thing every time we celebrate a birthday."
Starfire sighed.
"Why must you be the kill joy Raven? Beast Boy is your best friend. Is it too much to ask that you be happy for him today?"
Starfire's remark stung and Raven did not reply immediately.
"I'm often happy for him. I just don't see why I have to force myself to be happy on what is clearly a contrived and artificial celebration."
The Princess glared at the sorceress.
"You are truly clueless Raven." And just as she said that Robin entered the common room, carrying the birthday cake that Cyborg had baked the day before and stored in the commercial sized refrigerator they had in the pantry.
"So where's the birthday boy?" He asked as he carefully lowered the 9 layer cake with 3 flavor frosting onto the table.
"Cyborg went to do the rousing." Starfire replied.
Robin grinned. "That should take a while. So what did you ladies get him?"
Starfire giggled. "I went to the Build-A-Bear store at the mall and made a green bear with a Doom Patrol costume."
"That sounds very … cute." Raven commented.
"I got him a gift card to the new vegetarian restaurant that opened on the boardwalk. What did you get him Raven?" Robin asked.
"I got him a book." She replied in her monotone.
"A book?" Robin replied, unable to hide the dismay in his voice. "You got Beast Boy … a book?"
"Yes." Raven replied in a clearly irritated voice. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"No." Starfire replied. "It's just it seems to be an … unconventional gift for him."
Raven now looked even more irritated.
"So you're saying he's too stupid for books?" she hissed.
"Of course not." Robin replied. "But you know him, books aren't his thing."
"We'll see about that." She replied as the doors slid open and the two missing Titans entered the room.
Raven immediately noticed that Beast Boy's hair was damp.
"So Cyborg made you take a shower?"
The changeling frowned.
"I was going to take one anyway Raven."
"Yeah, like next week." She droned back at him.
Beast Boy rolled his eyes and moved towards the goodies table that Starfire and Robin were putting the final touches on.
"Whoa! Cy! You made me your 9 layer cake!"
"Nothing but the best for my favorite buddy!"
The Titans then proceeded through the cliché but most required traditions of a good birthday party. They all donned silly cone shaped hats (except for Raven, who of course refused), they sang 'Happy Birthday' to Beast Boy (Raven did sing along, reluctantly as she insisted she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket). Beast Boy then cut the cake, giving the first piece to Raven, then to Starfire, Robin and Cyborg. He then cut a huge piece for himself.
As Cyborg had promised, Starfire gave Beast Boy a birthday kiss. Unlike in years past, when it consisted of a sisterly peck on the cheek, the princess gave the changeling a luscious and lengthy kiss square on the lips. As she pulled away she saw out of the corner of her eye that Raven was fuming as Cyborg whooped and Robin sulked. Beast Boy looked stunned.
"So I take that was my birthday present, right Star?"
The princess giggled. "Yes, but there are more."
"More kisses?" Robin yelped.
She shook her head with an amused expression on her face.
"No boyfriend Robin. That was the only kiss he will get."
"Well that's a relief." Raven said in a sarcastic voice. "We wouldn't want the boy blunder getting jealous."
Cyborg laughed. "So aren't you going to give him a kiss Raven?"
"I don't do kissing." She replied. "Why don't we get to the presents and get this over with?"
Starfire sighed loudly.
"Yes." She said sarcastically. "Let us be done with this unpleasant event."
Beast Boy just grinned and sat down on the circular couch. Robin handed him an envelope, which the changeling opened. It contained a humorous birthday card and the gift card Robin had told the others about.
Beast Boy thanked him and then took another envelope, this time from Cyborg. It too contained another comical birthday card and as Beast Boy opened it a key fell out. He caught it mid air and immediately recognized it. It was for the T-car.
"No way dude! You mean I can drive the T-Car now?"
Cyborg nodded.
"Yup. I finally trust you with my baby."
As Beast Boy stared at the key Starfire stepped forward and handed him a brightly wrapped box that had a green ribbon and bow wrapped around it. There was also an envelope stuck to it which he pulled off and opened. It contained a sweet and cutesy birthday card. He would have expected nothing less from her. He then tore open the box and pulled the green bear out and laughed.
"It's perfect Star, I love it!" He stood up and hugged her, giving her a peck on the cheek when he released her.
Now all eyes were on Raven. She extended her left hand, which glowed with her dark energy. A nearby closet opened and a large box floated out of it. It was wrapped in green paper with a simple purple bow on it. The gift box floated towards Beast Boy and gently landed on his lap.
He carefully tore the wrapping off the box, which turned out to be a wooden box with a hinged lid, which he flipped open. His eyes grew wide with surprise as he reached inside and removed its contents.
"Rae." He said in a choked up voice. "It's beautiful."
He placed the large book, titled "The Illustrated Zoological Encyclopedia, Volume 1" on his lap and opened it carefully. The thick tome had over 1000 glossy pages, full of text and gorgeous pictures of all sorts of animals. Volume 1 covered 'A' through 'C'. Beast Boy carefully flipped through the pages, mesmerized and only after a few silent minutes did he finally put the book down on the coffee table. He then stood up and walked over to the grey sorceress, throwing his arms around her.
At first she tensed up but then relaxed and wrapped her arms around him as well, rubbing his back while her head rested on his shoulder. She briefly looked up and saw the other 3 staring, all three sporting goofy grins. She gave them one of her signature 4 eyed glares and they all quickly looked away.
Beast Boy released her from his bear hug and cupped her face with his gloved hand. He then drew near and pecked her on the cheek. Somewhere in the distance a light bulb exploded. Raven then surprised everyone and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
It was his best birthday ever. There was nothing like a little affection to make a good day into a great one.
Beast Boy sat up on the rock and stared out at the ocean. Raven eventually completed the set for him and it still occupied at place of honor in his bookcase. It was certainly one of his most prized possessions.
And that's chapter 2.
Mail bag is smaller than usual, but hey, it's only the second chapter.
Novus Ordo Seclorum – "I just like where this is going so far. It is a serious subject and deserves the spotlight."
This story has been trying to get out for some time. I hope to not disappoint when I'm done.
Jose Ramiro Acosta Perez – "Quite nice start"
Thanks! I hadn't heard from our MD in Cancun for while. Glad to see you are still around.
Melvis Monroe – "Looks like you missed, this story takes place in the cartoon universe but its posted in the comic section."
Oops! Thanks for the heads up! I have since moved the story to the correct section.
The Mighty One – "the plot is great, the settings are magnificent to set the tone, the dialog is key but not the main key to telling a story, and the descriptions are really awe inspiring."
Oh my! I'm blushing!
Titanfan45 – "I like what I've read so far and I'll bet you do a great job on it even though you seem uncertain."
It's always a little scary to venture into unknown territory. Which is why I will never write poetry. Way too scary!
