Hey everyone! Here's chapter two in Regress! Hope you enjoy :)
Allen Blaster: Awesome, thank you! I really appreciate it! And sorry about the double response with the PM and now this; I forgot that I tend to reply to reviews on the following chapter rather than through private messaging haha :)
Fiery Pancake: Thank you! It will somewhat mirror Childlike, considering the similar themes and topics, but is still different. The reason why I choose to build up Beast Boy and Raven's relationship in the way I did is because, although I want there to be BBRae in this fanfic, I don't want it to be the central aspect of the story. Their relationship is definitely important in this story, but I didn't want it to overpower the other themes. I'm sorry you're disappointed, but I'm glad that you admire it nonetheless. I'm glad you look forward to the rest of the story and I hope you enjoy it! :)
DarkDremora4: Haha, exactly! I thought it'd be a funny thing to add haha. I'm so glad that you enjoyed Childlike and I really hope that Regress is a good read for you too! Thank you! I'm glad that these topics are coming across well. In this story, the topics will be a bit more in-depth and graphic, but I don't think it's overdone. I tried to keep the scenes as realistic and believable as possible. I write about these topics with the purpose of education and to destigmatize them, rather than to just add gore. And as for your question, that's a very big possibility. I'm trying to keep their relationship an important aspect in the story without having it become the central topic, but there will definitely be BBRae throughout. :)
Please keep reading and reviewing! :)
Later that day, once Beast Boy had calmed down enough to approach the matter further, the team came together to try to figure out a plan of action. Raven had updated Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg on what happened with Beast Boy and why he panicked, with his permission of course. She told them everything that he had told her regarding how the village is where he grew up, how the disease he contracted was indeed Sakutia, and how he knew Dr. Register.
When Beast Boy saw his teammates again, he apologized for running out on them like he had earlier, to which they told him that it was alright and that he didn't need to apologize. They then sat down as a group to figure out the plan of action.
"When we fly in," Robin started, "we shouldn't fly directly into the village. We need to land somewhere just outside of the area so that we don't disturb the citizens too much."
"I can land the T-ship in a clearing in the jungle about a mile or so away from the village," Cyborg announced. He had been studying the area in which they would be traveling to and knew that there was a relatively large clearing that would be suitable for the T-ship.
"Good idea, Cyborg," Robin said, agreeing with his teammate. "Once we get there, we need to track down Dr. Register. Gather information from the citizens and try to figure out as much as possible about the disease outbreak."
"He may be choosing specific victims to infect. We should try to see if there is a pattern in victims so we can try to break the pattern," Raven interjected, to which Robin nodded.
"And for the patients who are already infected, we need to try to administer as much treatment as possible, see if we can save them," Robin said.
"But Robin," Starfire began, "it said that it is a fatal disease. How can we treat it?"
"I'm not sure, but it can't hurt to try," he responded.
"I can try to heal them," Raven added.
"And I can do chemical analyses on the patients to see if I can reverse the effects at all," Cyborg stated.
"Sounds like a plan," Robin announced, pleased with what the team had come up with so far. "We need to start packing so we can leave soon. Can everyone be packed and ready by 6?" The teen's nodded and set off to go pack individually.
Beast Boy reached his room quickly, and as soon as the door shut behind him, he stared at the dark room before him numbly.
How can I go back there?! I'm not allowed…they'll never accept me…
He headed over to his closet and pulled down a large suitcase. He began to fill it up with a few sets of his uniform, as well as other necessary articles of clothing.
Maybe they've changed? I mean, it's been years since I've been there...maybe they don't care anymore…?
He walked over to his desk and starting rummaging through the belongings in the drawers. He pulled out a small first aid kit and a few other random items that he thought may be necessary on the trip. As he was about to finish going through the drawers, his hand ran across a thin, smooth surface. He grabbed the item, holding it in front of his face. It was a picture of him with his parents when he was a child; it was from before the illness, before the accident, before the shame, before anything and everything went wrong.
Doesn't matter how many years go by…doesn't change a thing. I'll still be outcasted, still be blamed…
He put the photograph in his suitcase, safely tucked in one of the smaller compartments. He breathed in deeply as he zipped the compartment closed, releasing it out slowly. He headed over to the stereo that was set on the corner of his desk and turned it on. Music began to pour out of the speakers, tickling his ears with the beats. He turned it up louder and felt the vibrations that left the speakers and rattled his desk, as if the desk was dancing to the sounds of the drums. Music was a perfect escape, and one that had the capacity to help in almost any situation. It was there to express moments of happiness, moments of love, moments of rage, and perhaps most importantly, moments of pain and sadness. The lyrics that were there helped to express emotions in ways that he couldn't, and the rhythms and beats spoke to his soul in a way that he had never felt before.
Being finished with packing and having time to kill, he went over to his bed and laid down on his back, letting the music speak to his mind and soul and drown out his thoughts. He soon fell asleep though, completely loosing track of time, until he was awoken by a loud banging on his door.
"Yo! BB! We're ready to leave! You packed?" Cyborg yelled through the door.
Beast Boy, somewhat disoriented from being startled awake, walked over to his stereo and turned it down, then completely off.
"Yeah, I am. I'll be down in a sec, okay?" Beast Boy responded.
"Okay," Cy said as he walked away from his door, leaving Beast Boy alone once again. He took a deep breath, grabbed his suitcase, and walked towards the door.
Well, I guess it's now or never. Can't avoid it forever…
He opened the door and started heading downstairs to where they would be taking off in the T-ship. When he arrived, he found Cyborg, Robin, Raven, and Starfire there and waiting for him.
"'Bout time, grass stain. Thought we'd have to leave you behind," Cyborg laughed, joking with him.
Beast Boy laughed nervously in response, trying to seem as lighthearted as possible.
"Hehe, sorry," Beast Boy responded as he neared Cyborg, who patted him on the shoulder.
"Is everyone ready to go?" Robin asked as he looked at his team. Everyone nodded. "Okay, let's head out."
The five teens entered the T-ship, getting into their designated compartments before taking off into the night.