AN: Sorry for the slightly late update, had sport. Hope you enjoy this chapter, a longish one.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans
"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves"
Edna Buchanan
Chapter 29 – Meet the Titans
The sun had fallen low, and merely the whisper of orange glow could be made out in the twilight evening. Raven walked carefully to the Tower, carrying the weight of her task upon her shoulders. Thoughts ran rife through her head as she prepared herself to tell her fellow Titans of her relationship with Simon. She definitely wasn't looking forward to it, especially seeing the expression on Beast Boy's face but it had to be done. She wondered if everyone was actually home at the Tower, hoping that they were to quickly end the anxiety that seemed to grip at her. With a sigh she paused before the door to Titan's Tower, looking up at the rearing height of it. Pushing back any doubts, Raven walked in, ready to reveal all to her teammates.
Beast Boy was sitting next to Cyborg playing video games, his thoughts wondering, not focusing on the screen. He could find no solution for the problem that had been presented to him, Raven had been taken from him, and now somehow he had to get her back. How could he prove to her that her powers couldn't hurt him? It wasn't something that he really knew, but all he wanted was Raven, back in his arms. He turned his head when he heard the door to Titan's Tower open, and his heart shuddered at the sight of Raven.
"Yo Rae" cried Cyborg, pausing the video game to look up at the empath.
"Hello Raven" muttered Robin, his eyes narrowing at the sight of her. He had still been trying to deduce what she had talked to Beast Boy about.
"Hey" replied Raven, looking around the room, and her eyes stopping at Beast Boy. Hopefully her scheme would work, hopefully she would see him with another, smiling one day.
"What's up?" asked Cyborg, seeing the look on Raven's face.
Raven sighed, looking down. "I've got something to tell you all…" started Raven. The other Titans gazed at her with bated breath. Beast Boy stared at her, hoping what he thought was going to happen, wouldn't.
"I'm going out with someone" murmured Raven. There was utter silence. Raven looked around at the shocked faces of her friends, and she shuffled her feet nervously, unsure how to break the awkwardness of the situation.
"You're going out with someone…? You're going out with someone!?" exclaimed Cyborg in disbelief.
"Glorious! What is the going out?" asked a slightly confused Starfire.
"Dating" muttered Robin, not turning to face Starfire, his eyes still glued to Raven. "Who's the boyfriend?" questioned Robin, his face dark.
"Someone called Simon" replied Raven nervously, hoping she would not have to suffer much from the reactions of her friends. Starfire looked elated, which was expected. Cyborg was looking confused, yet still managing to put on a happy face for her. And as expected Robin had not taken the news well. His eyes had a dangerous look about them, and she worried about what he was thinking. She turned her head, her eyes meeting Beast Boy's. He was crestfallen, as if having taking a blow with which one could never recover from. His eyes portrayed sorrow, hurt and pain, that rebounded between him and Raven. She pulled her eyes from his, keeping her mind focused on what she had to do, on Beast Boy's welfare.
"That's great" cried Cyborg, smiling at Raven.
"Indeed this is most wonderful" squealed Starfire, attempting to hug Raven, who sidestepped her.
"When will we meet this 'Simon'?" muttered Robin, rolling Simon's name around his tongue as if it were something disgusting.
"Um… I asked him to come over tomorrow" answered Raven cautiously, looking at Robin.
"Tomorrow!?" exclaimed Cyborg.
"We must quickly prepare" cried out Starfire, wanting to make a good impression on Simon.
Raven kept silent, looking at her feet. She heard a shuddering breath issue from her left, and she turned her head, seeing Beast Boy sweep swiftly out of the common room. She felt her heart shake in its ribs, as she watched him leave the room.
Beast Boy ran the last length to his room, shutting the door and breaking down on the floor, his body shuddering as tears started to well up to his eyes. He held them back, forcing them back where they came from. Raven hadn't been lying, she really had been going out with Simon to be with Simon rather than to push Beast Boy away. He couldn't believe it, she had left him for another guy. Beast Boy closed his eyes, trying to shut out his thoughts. It was no use; memories of his time with Raven flew through his mind, and his heart burned with pain as he realised that she was gone forever. He would never get her back, it really was over. There was a soft knock at his door.
"Beast Boy…" came a voice. He knew that voice, he'd recognise it anywhere. It was a voice that caused his stomach to flutter and heart to quicken, a voice he would always miss.
"Come in" Beast Boy replied quietly, getting up from the floor. Raven stepped into his room, her cloak trailing behind her, and she looked at Beast Boy with sad eyes.
"Are you okay?" asked Raven softly.
"I'm fine" muttered Beast Boy, turning away from Raven so she wouldn't see the lie in his eyes.
"I know you're not" murmured Raven.
"What do you want?" asked Beast Boy not unkindly.
"I want you to be okay" replied Raven softly.
Beast Boy looked up into her violet eyes that seemed to suck him in. He remained silent, lost in the everlasting trails of violet that seemed to surround him.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this Beast Boy" whispered Raven, before leaving his room. Beast Boy sat sadly on his bed, his heart bursting with pain, but he held back the tears that wanted to flow. He lay down upon his bed, his thoughts and memories consuming him.
Raven slowly crept under her bed covers. She had done the right thing, she told herself, feeling regrets and doubts creep under her mind. She couldn't kill Beast Boy, it was a necessary sacrifice, and it was working, but why did she regret her choice so much? Raven scrunched her eyes closed, trying to clear her thoughts. She had to make sure she appeared in good relations with Simon the next day. She had to force herself to love him, or at least duplicated it satisfactorily. Raven sighed, she just wanted the entire affair to be over with… but she had an entire lifetime more to spend in this situation. With thoughts swirling through her head, Raven drifted off to sleep, awaiting the day to come.
The birds were chirping and a new sun had risen, its morning rays blasting through Jump City and the windows of the tower. Raven woke up, her mind glad for the dreamless sleep she had received. Walking sluggishly out of her room, Raven headed for the common room. She had a long day ahead of her, and hopefully everything went well. She hoped Simon wouldn't be too tough to handle, and that Beast Boy wouldn't… She just wished that everything could just go smoothly. Raven shook her head, things were bound to go wrong, and she had to be ready for anything. She sipped a cup of coffee, wanting something stronger to wash away her thoughts. The door to Robin's room slid open, and the team leader walked out, his head turning slightly to face Raven, before sitting down at the kitchen table to read the newspaper.
"Good morning Robin" greeted Raven, raising an eyebrow at how her leader had not greeted her as usual.
Robin merely grunted in reply, scanning the headlines. Raven rolled her eyes, and returned to her coffee, looking out the window, wondering when Simon would arrive.
"What happened?" asked Robin abruptly.
"What…?" started Raven before being interrupted.
"Between you and Beast Boy. What happened?" his head turning to face Raven.
"I… I didn't cheat on him" murmured Raven, having been expecting Robin to have confronted her sooner or later.
"I didn't say you did" muttered Robin.
"I can't really tell you Robin, I… it's complicated" replied Raven quietly.
"God damn it, Raven. I'm sick and tired of hearing that from you" cried Robin angrily.
"I can't say anything else" murmured Raven helplessly.
"You can tell me the truth" exclaimed Robin.
Raven shook her head. "The then was between me and Beast Boy. The now is between me and Simon. I'm sorry Robin, but unless you're the next, you won't be getting answers about things that you aren't a part of" muttered Raven.
Robin opened his mouth to say something before he was interrupted with the sound of the common room doors sliding open.
"Yo guys, you ready for Rae's big day?" exclaimed Cyborg, cutting through the conversation between Raven and Robin.
"It's not my big day" muttered Raven, before walking out of the room.
"Sheesh, what's up with her?" asked Cyborg curiously.
"That's between me and Raven" muttered Robin, scowling at the null results of his conversation with Raven.
"Sorry man…" muttered Cyborg, backing away from what he knew was a pissed off leader.
Raven returned to the common room holding a book, and she sat down delicately on the common room couch, her eyes not leaving the pages that lay in front of her. It wasn't long before all the Titans had woken up, and the Tower truly came to life. Raven still sat engrossed in her book, ignoring the occasional banter from Cyborg, smiling calls from Starfire, dark glares from Robin and sad gaze of Beast Boy. She heard a noise and looked up out of the window, seeing Simon standing outside, ready to walk in. Raven stood up, and walked out of the Tower, while her friends were too busy preparing for Simon's arrival.
"Hey" said Simon nervously, looking at Raven.
"Hello Simon" replied Raven, looking at him. He had dressed up for the event, trying to make himself look presentable at the very least.
"Um… so should we go in?" asked Simon, looking at Raven.
"Yes… I guess. But I should warn you, don't expect to be greeted with open arms by everyone… and if you aren't then don't be upset" murmured Raven.
Simon nodded, and the pair walked into the Tower. The other Titans were so busy making food, or cleaning up that they didn't even notice the pair who walked in.
"Uh… guys" called out Raven softly. All the Titans looked around, causing her to blush slightly. She never really liked to put personal things forward to other people besides herself, but there was always a first time for everything. The four Titans whipped around and walked swiftly towards Raven and Simon, dropping what they were doing.
"Yo… Simon was it?" greeted Cyborg, putting his hand out.
"Hello Cyborg" replied Simon, shaking his hand, remembering his name from what Raven had told him about her friends.
"Greetings Simon!" cried Starfire, pulling him into a humongous hug of joy, before stepping back.
"Uh… hi" greeted Simon, rubbing his back. He turned next to Robin, where he met an icy glare.
"Hey Robin" cried Simon, laying out a hand to shake.
Robin looked at Simon with dark eyes. His pupils flickered from Raven back to Simon. "Hello" he muttered, leaving his hand unshaken.
"And Beast Boy I've already met. Hey…" said Simon quietly, looking at the green changeling. Beast Boy just gazed at Raven with sad eyes, his head too full of thoughts, his heart too full of emotions. He wanted to smash Simon, to beat him up until he could never get up again. They were selfish urges, driven by his anger and sorrow for losing Raven.
"Oh… hey" murmured Beast Boy quietly, seeing Simon had been waiting for an answer.
"Sit down" said Cyborg, pointing at the couch. All six of them sat down upon the couch, an awkward silence ensuing.
"Tell me Simon…" muttered Robin, the name coming out disdainfully. "How did you come to meet Raven?" he asked.
"Um… I was out at the uh… mall and I saw her in a store and I talked to her for um… a short while" answered Simon, his palms sweaty.
"Oh at the mall. Sounds like an absolutely fabulous place to meet" replied Robin darkly.
"Yeah uh… it was" replied Simon, fidgeting.
"How long have you been seeing Raven?" interrogated Robin.
"Only like a um… week or uh… something" answered Simon.
"Wow. You're relationship sure started fast" muttered Robin, the other Titans remaining silent, letting their leader do the questioning.
"Yeah…" said Simon.
"Do you have any indication why?" asked Robin.
"Why our relationship grew so fast?" replied Simon.
"Yes" said Robin, his eyes narrowing.
"Um… I dunno maybe we just get along well" answered Simon.
"Personally, I think it's a bit fishy" said Robin.
"Oh… um, do you?" said Simon, feeling uncomfortable.
"Oh yes I do. Don't you?" asked Robin.
"Not at all" replied Simon, glancing swiftly at Raven, before turning back to Robin.
"Do you think you really have a relationship at all?" inquired Robin, his eyes dark. Beast Boy looked up at Robin, wondering why he harboured such thoughts against Simon.
"Of course I do" said Simon.
"Do you want to know my opinion on the matter?" asked Robin quietly.
"Um… is it something that I'd like to know?" inquired Simon, biting his lip.
"No… no I don't think you'd like it at all" muttered Robin, his voice deadly quiet.
Simon gulped, and took in a sudden breath.
"Anyway, besides what Robin's got to say, welcome to Titan's Tower" exclaimed Cyborg, giving Robin a funny look.
"Oh um… yea, it's great to be here" replied Simon.
"It was great meeting you, and we hope you come visit us some time" said Cyborg, ushering Simon out of the Tower after his rather quick visit.
The Titans all sat down on the couch. Raven glared angrily at Robin, who returned the stare.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing Robin?" cried Raven furiously.
Robin remained silent looking her in the eye.
"You…" growled Raven, but she stopped the rest of her sentence. This was his payback for not telling him the truth, for not answering his questions. So he suspected the truth about her relationship between her and Simon. And he had made it clear to her and everyone. She glared at him with killer eyes.
"Robin…" murmured Beast Boy carefully.
Robin finally pulled his gaze from Raven. He had done what he had because he knew Raven had to account for her actions. Whatever she had done she had broken Beast Boy's heart, whether she had cheated or not, she had hurt a fellow member of his team, and he was not happy. He didn't like outsiders intruding into Titan affairs, most especially if the intrusion was to the detriment of one of the Titans.
"What is it Beast Boy" replied Robin.
"You didn't have to do that" Beast Boy murmured.
"Of course he didn't have to do that. Why the hell did he do that in the first place?" exclaimed Raven. Starfire and Cyborg sat on the end of the couch, backing away from an argument which they were on unsure ground.
"You know why I did that Raven" muttered Robin.
"Revenge?" inquired Raven.
"Not for myself" replied Robin.
Raven's eyes flicked towards Beast Boy before returning to Robin.
"Robin…" started Beast Boy.
"I told you to stay out of this Robin" cried Raven.
"She's right. This is none of your business" agreed Beast Boy quietly, glancing at Raven.
Robin closed his eyes, before opening them wide. "You guys better sort something out" he muttered, before standing up and leaving for his room. Cyborg and Starfire looked at each other confused, but quickly followed suit, and left for their rooms.
"Raven…" murmured Beast Boy.
"Not now" whispered Raven. She stood up and swept out of the common room. Beast Boy looked down at his feet, his heart aching. Raven had left him, she had slipped from his fingers and fallen into another's. Robin was rampaging through their affairs. He, himself, was all alone. Beast Boy sighed softly. Things were getting out of hand, what could he do? How could he fix things, mend things, put things right. It would have been better if he had never fallen for Raven, then none of this would have happened. Beast Boy shook his head, no he couldn't regret falling for Raven. Those moments with her had been something that no one would trade for something else. Things were spiralling madly, and he couldn't stop them. He knew something was going to happen, something bad. Things were out of control.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, more to come. Thought I'd chuck in a direct relation to the title of this story. Hope you all have a great day, and thanks everyone for the reviews. I recently gained 'Edgar Allan Poe Complete Tales & Poems', and I must say some of his poems are lovely. Anyway, enough rambling, goodbye for now and be ready for some action.