Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
The bus's diesel engine groaned as it pulled away from the bus stop. The sky was a dark, dull gray as the rain poured down as hard as ever. Beast Boy was at the back of the bus and he watched the bus stop slowly slip away into the distance as the public transport began to make its way around the bay. He saw Raven standing sadly with a blank expression on her face. He waved good bye to her one more time and she reciprocated the gesture as she slowly crossed the street back towards the access tunnel. She could have phased back into the tower but chose to walk back to the access tunnel instead. He saw that she had dropped her bird shaped shield and was getting soaked as she watched the bus vanish into the morning mist.
Soon he could no longer see her and instead he focused on the Tower, which stood like a sentinel watching over the city. The only lights on were in the common room. Cyborg was probably making himself some breakfast. His focus switched to the southern part of the tower, where his and Raven's rooms were located. The cold, hard surface of the bus seats contrasted with the softness of Raven's bed and with how soft and warm she was herself. Beast Boy found himself wishing that he was still curled up with her in her cozy bed, with his arms still wrapped around her as when he woke up. He could still smell her unique scent, that sweet lavender smell he had grown used to and associated with her.
He turned away from the Tower and shook off the thought, focusing instead on where he was going. He was going to ride the bus all the way to the other side of town, past city limits and get off at the Kit Carson state park bus stop. According to the bus schedule it was going to take 90 minutes to get there, what with the never ending stops to collect and release passengers, so he settled in for the trip. Raven had offered to take him to the canyon's entrance, but he declined her offer insisting that he would be fine.
The bus slowly made its way around the bay, slowly filling up with damp passengers, all of whom took furtive glances at the green faced man wearing a waterproof poncho sitting at the back of the bus. The bus didn't fill up that wet and cold morning and the passengers kept their distance from him. Most of them disembarked in the downtown area and he had the bus mostly to himself for the rest of the journey.
It was still raining as he reached his stop. There was a mom-n-pop pancake restaurant across the street from the park's main entrance and he was lured in by the aroma of fresh buttermilk griddle cakes and decided to have some while he waited for the storm to pass. The restaurant was small and looked worn and threadbare, which he knew meant that they great food. He sat at the small counter and a matronly waitress, identified by her nametag as 'Madge' took his order. While he waited he saw an abandoned copy of the local paper lying on the countertop. There was a photo of Robin and Starfire on the front page of the local news section, accompanied by some fluffy article speculating on when they would announce their engagement.
"Here you are hon." Madge announced as she placed a double stack of pancakes, no doubt the last hot meal he would be having for quite a while, in front of him along with a large glass of orange juice and a big mug of hot chocolate. His backpack was stuffed with MREs, Meals Ready to Eat, which would be his sole source of nourishment for a while. He wasn't looking forward to eating those, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about hunting, at least not right away. He savored his syrup drenched breakfast and ate all 10 of the pancakes that had been served to him. It was still raining after he finished his meal and after debating what to do next he decided that the rain wasn't going to stop and he might as well get going. As he pulled out his wallet out Madge shouted out to him from the other end of the counter.
"No charge hon. It's on the house."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Don't you remember?" The cook called from inside the kitchen. "We were being robbed by a gang when you and Miss Raven showed up and saved us."
At first Beast Boy looked perplexed but then he remembered.
"That was two years ago!"
"Sure was hon. I must say you've turned into quite a handsome young man. So are you and Miss Raven going out?"
"Uh, yeah, we're good friends."
The cook came out of the kitchen. He was also middle aged like Madge. Beast Boy remembered that they were married and owned the restaurant. "You mean she isn't your girlfriend?" The cook asked.
"No. Not really."
"Well that's a shame!" Madge interjected. "She really likes you, you know. I could tell even back then."
"You could? You gotta be kidding me! She hated me back then."
Madge chuckled. "No hon, she didn't hate you, she was just self conscious and shy. Lots of girls are like that."
Garfield shook his head in disbelief. Madge and her husband guffawed.
"So where are you headed Beast Boy? Looks like you're going camping." The cook asked.
"Actually, I'm going into the canyon lands."
The couple looked at him in collective surprise. "What on earth for?" Madge asked.
"I'm looking for someone who's hiding out in there. At least I think she's hiding out there."
"This wouldn't happen to be a blond girl?" Madge asked.
Beast Boy pulled a small photograph out of his jacket pocket and showed it to the couple.
"Why that's Miss Raven. Isn't that sweet, you brought a framed picture of her with you." Madge gushed.
"Oops, wrong picture." He said as he fumbled through his pockets, eventually producing another picture.
"Is this her?" He asked as he showed them an old picture of Terra.
The couple looked and nodded. "That's her all right." Madge replied. "She told us that she lives in the canyon."
"She's filled out a little since then, if you know what I mean son." The cook added as he traced a woman's figure with his hands in the air.
"Rodney! Is that all you can think of?" Madge admonished her husband.
Beast Boy was elated.
"When did you last see her?"
"A few weeks ago hon. She used to come here almost every morning for breakfast, but she hasn't been by since."
Beast Boy slipped his poncho back on and grabbed his backpack by its frame.
"Thanks folks! Thanks for everything. I think I'd better get going."
No amount of rain was going to stop him now. He waved good bye as he hustled across the rain slick highway and ran through the state park's main entrance.
Raven was lying on top of her bed, staring at the ceiling. It was still dark and gloomy outside and the rain pounded on her bedroom windows as if demanding it be allowed to enter. She had dried herself off and changed into a fresh leotard and cape. Starfire was sitting on a bulky recliner, silently rocking herself while keeping company with her grey friend.
"I suppose I had this coming to me Starfire. When you really think about it, I deserved this."
The Tamaranian stood up."Raven! Do not speak such things. You have done nothing to deserve this."
Raven snorted, still staring at the ceiling. "Do you want to know how pathetic I am Starfire? Let me tell you." She paused as she reconsidered what she was about to say. "I offered to be his lover if he would stay with me. I offered him no strings attached sex. And you know what?" She paused again. "He turned me down. Oh Azar, I'm such a loser." She sobbed.
Starfire gave her friend a cross look. "Raven! You are not a loser. Friend Beast Boy loves you too much to accept such an ill advised offer. Besides, you are still a virgin, am I correct?"
"Yes." She replied weakly. "And I'll probably still be one when I die of old age."
Starfire giggled. "I would not be so sure of that."
"Yeah, right. The boys are just kicking my door down to ask me out on a date. Everyone is just dying to date creepy Raven." She paused and sighed before continuing. "You know, he's the only boy I've ever kissed Starfire. And probably the only one I ever will kiss."
"You could do the worse." The Tamaranian replied.
"You mean like lose him to Terra?" She growled. "What do you wanna bet he'll make love to her?"
Starfire once again placed a comforting hand on Raven's shoulder. "You must have faith in our friend Raven. He will do the right thing."
"And what if the right thing is to take her as his mate? Then what do I do?" Raven cried out. A light bulb could be heard shattering somewhere in the room.
"I do not know, my friend. But we must have faith." She replied sadly.
"What should I do Starfire? Fight for him, let him be, what?"
The Tamaranian became very quiet, which Raven quickly noticed.
"Starfire, what's wrong? Did I say something?"
"Friend Raven." She replied in a very serious tone. "I used to wonder the same about Robin. I have not told anyone this, but back in Tokyo Robin broke my heart."
Raven went bug eyed.
"What? When did this happen?"
"It was shortly after we were told by the police that Broshugan was a myth. Robin and I spent the day together, having the fun. At the end of the day I proposed to Robin that we have a romantic relationship, and he said no, that we were heroes and did not have time for that."
"You have got to be kidding! You mean you poured your heart out and he dumped you?"
"Uh-huh"
"And he conveniently had a change of heart at the end of our mission, right?"
"That is correct. Except that I believe he was sincere."
Raven frowned.
"You know what Starfire? Men suck! They can all go to hell!"
Starfire giggled.
"No Raven, they do not suck. But they are complicated and very hard to understand."
"They say the same thing about us."
"Perhaps men and women are both complicated. But Robin is especially so."
"Can't live with them, can't live without them?" Raven joked.
Starfire giggled. "We have a similar saying on Tamaran. It goes like this…"
Raven interrupted her friend. "It's OK Starfire; I'm not really in the mood for a lesson in Tamaranian today."
"Of course, forgive me my friend."
"There's nothing to forgive, but I need your help."
Starfire brightened. "How may I help you Raven?"
Raven looked at her alarm clock. "He won't be contacting me for another 11 hours. There won't be any missions today, not with this weather. I need something to do, or I'll go crazy waiting for him."
"Perhaps you could meditate?"
"Not for eleven hours. I'm not sure I could mediate at all now."
"Then let us do the painting of the toenails and the braiding of hair! Then we can go to the mall and maybe have some lunch afterwards. Is this agreeable to you?"
Raven smiled. "Under normal circumstances I would say no, but these aren't normal circumstances."
"Glorious! Let us go to my room, for I have everything we need there."
"Starfire?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have black nail polish?"
Beast Boy marched into the State Park while the frigid, relentless rain continued to hammer him. The park was as empty as a graveyard on a cold night, every single campsite was unoccupied. The park was large, over 20 miles across. He hoped that perhaps a park ranger would swing by in a Jeep and that he could hitch a ride with him; but he had no such luck as he walked down the lonely road that lead to the canyon land's entrance. The slog in the rain was slow as the gravel road lead steadily uphill. Rather than shut out his surroundings as he walked Beast Boy listened. He could hear some rabbits scurrying through the undergrowth back to their den as he approached. He heard some blue jays chirping, huddling from the storm. He was still one with nature, his animal instincts were alive and well in spite of his transformation.
It was almost 2:00 PM as he reached the ranger station at the far end of the park. He had been greeted by several large signs, one as big as a billboard, which warned would be explorers that the Canyon Lands were a restricted area and off limits to civilians. As he walked into the ranger station with his poncho hood still raised he startled its lone occupant, a young female ranger who was reading a magazine while standing behind a counter.
"May I help you sir?" she asked, the look on her face betraying the surprise of having an unexpected visitor during the stormy morning.
"I'm going into the canyon lands. I'm here to check in." the hooded stranger replied. He could see the look of mild exasperation on her face.
"I'm sorry sir, but entry to the canyon lands is restricted."
Beast Boy lowered his hood and the ranger was surprised a second time.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir; I didn't know it was you. Say, isn't the creepy girl usually with you?"
He rolled his eyes before answering. "Her name is Raven, she isn't creepy and I'm alone today." He growled.
"Of course." She replied as she pulled out the registration book for him to sign in. "I will need to see your police ID." She added apologetically.
Beast Boy signed in as the park ranger made a photocopy of his Titans ID card. She soon came back and returned his ID.
"May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?"
"I'm looking for someone." He replied.
She filled in a few spaces in the book and replied without looking up.
"You're looking for the Geomancer?"
He nodded. "Have you seen her?"
She shook her head. "None of the park rangers have. Some canyon land visitors claim to have seen her though."
"Really? Where?"
"All over. But no one's had a good look at her. Just glimpses. Maybe they just saw a mirage."
"I don't think so." He replied.
The ranger chuckled. "If anyone can find her, maybe you can. Robin and the creepy … I mean Raven tried, but came back empty handed."
"Anything else I should know about?"
"There are some boy scouts in the canyon. They had a permit, signed by the governor herself. If you could keep an eye out for them, I would appreciate it."
"No problem. Anything else?"
"Watch out for poachers. We've had a few incidents with them. They're aggressive and well armed."
"Poachers?"
"Believe it or not, they've pretty much picked the canyon clean of all the mutant creatures. There was a second giant scorpion. They killed it and made off with its pincers and stinger. There aren't enough rangers to patrol the canyon lands, so they pretty much do what they want."
Beast Boy grunted. "I'll keep an eye out for them."
"Thank you Mr. Logan. And good luck with your search."
"Sure. Take care."
He turned and unceremoniously left the ranger station.
Raven and Starfire entered the courthouse silently, trying not to draw attention. Even though they were both dressed conservatively in what some might call 'female business attire' they still stood out like sore thumbs and were hounded by the press as they approached the courtroom, which they entered trying to ignore both the reporters and their flashing cameras.
"Miss Raven! Do you think Mumbo should go to prison?" A young make reporter asked.
"No comment." The sorceress replied.
"Is it true that Mumbo is a misogynist?" A young female reporter asked.
"No comment." She replied as she approached the courtroom doors.
"Is it true that you and Beast Boy were a couple but broke up this morning?"
Raven paused and did a double take at the impertinent reporter, giving him a prolonged death glare.
"No comment." She replied once more as she and Starfire entered the courtroom, leaving the pesky reporters behind.
"Remind me to phase us straight to the car when this is over." She asked the Tamaranian.
The two female Titans seated themselves behind the prosecutors and exchanged greetings with Mark Dutton.
"Bad news." He whispered to them. "This judge is very lenient with wackos. We have our work cut out for us if we're going to keep him out of a sanitarium."
"Great." Raven muttered sotto voce.
Starfire was looking curiously around the court room, as it was her first time ever inside one. She saw the bailiff escort Mumbo, AKA Tom Kenny, to the defense table. Raven felt a growl form in her throat as she saw him and only quieted down when Starfire placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.
Soon enough the judge arrived and the bailiff called everyone to attention. The hearing began quickly and the defense was able to produce a slew of expert witnesses that testified that Mr. Kenny was indeed delusional. The prosecution's witnesses fell flat and Dutton in a desperate attempt put Raven on the witness stand. The defense attorney, Diana Chalmers, was skilled at her craft and was easily able to discredit Raven by making her contradict herself when she cross examined her. The sorceress made a mental note to never help Miss Chalmers if she ever needed rescuing from the creeps she defended. Still Raven never betrayed her anger and calmly returned to her seat.
Ten short minutes later the judge pronounced Mr. Kenny unfit to be tried and remanded him to state board of health to be institutionalized. Mark Dutton requested that Mumbo be sent out of state to Arkham Asylum due to his recent violent action against Raven. The judge denied his request, which meant that Mumbo would be sent to a low security mental hospital, from where he would no doubt escape.
Starfire was grinding her teeth in anger, furious with what passed for justice in Jump City. Raven remained stoically still until the illusionist walked past her on his way out of the court room. He smiled and winked at her. Internally Raven was seething and with no warning she quickly opened a telepathic link to the Houdini wannabe.
Mumbo, I know you're going to escape from the hospital and I have a word of advice for you: do not come back to Jump City. If you want to know what will happen to you, just ask Dr. Light what I did to him when you meet him in the hospital.
Raven immediately severed the telepathic link, but not before briefly giving Mumbo one of her signature glowing red eye glares. The illusionist freaked out and began to scream in panic while pointing at Raven.
"She threatened me, did anyone see that? She said she'd do to me what she did to Arthur Light!" He squealed as the bailiffs dragged him out the door.
"You now can stop acting crazy Kenny!" One of the guards admonished him. "The hearing's over." He told Mumbo as they dragged him out the door. Starfire saw a small smile appear on Raven's face.