Ch. 5: Beach Side Stories
Tara couldn't help but think over the last couple of days-really, the last couple of weeks. Several weeks ago she had reinstated her lost friendship with three of the Titans; the past 2 days she had become close enough to Raven, that she considered her sister of sorts. Still, she was keeping a set distance away from BB (or Gar to Raven. Apparently she was the only one who was allowed to call him that. Tara had already made that mistake…). Dealing with him was going to be her hardest hurdle…
Tara was still having issues wrapping her head around the fact that Raven and BB happened to be a couple now. Sure, she remembered that the two of them had shared a close bond (i.e. having each other's back in battle, BB going out of his way to make her feel more welcome around the others, Raven reading to BB before it was lights out, etc, etc), but otherwise they were complete opposites!
But then again Tara knew full and well why the dark sorceress had developed feelings for the Changeling, for it was the same reason she had fallen head over heels with him: He cared. He was someone who would do anything to make his love happy, feel like they belonged, and most of all to cause them to laugh (she wondered if he had yet to cross 'Make Raven laugh' off his list of lifetime accomplishments). Tara looked stared off into space, as she recalled on how the scene at the library had ended.
-Two days earlier-
"I'm sorry. I didn't feel that it was right to hide who I was from you, but after what Cy and Star told us about you, Gar wanted to wear our rings in public." Tara eyes widened-not at being deceived (she had seen it coming, believe it or not) but that the slightest hint of emotion was still evident in Raven's voice even after had dropped. It was one full of sorrow and regret… Tara shook her head, more in understanding then nothing else. "No, it's I understand. From what BB told me the last time we met, I look a lot like an old friend of his."
Raven calmed down at this, the worry dissipating quickly as she nodded, "He's right you know, you do remind me of her. Same face, hair, and eyes. I might even be so bold as to say that you have the same golden aura that possessed." And then this were Raven gave a knowing smile that caused Tara's eyes to widen. "But if you did happen to be her, then I should say that I understand your reasons for staying hidden now. That the past is the past, and cannot be undone-"
At this Tara's head dropped in shame, but her chin was lifted to Raven's still smiling face. "But it can surely be forgiven." Tara's mouth dropped in shock. Did that mean Raven-Raven, of all the Titans- had forgiven her? Before she can ask, Raven stretches catlike in her seat, cracking both her back and neck in the process. Then, with a determined look worthy of her brother, Raven said, "Enough dreading on what happened long ago, and focus on the present. How would you like to go to the beach with my family?"
If you didn't know, Raven doesn't take to well to 'no', so here she was lying on a blue beach towel on Jump Beach. Behind her was Raven, who happened to be doing reading (really what else would she be doing at the beach?) under a blue umbrella in a lavender two piece bikini. "You alright?" came the Gothic girl's voice, still monotonous to the everyday passerby but held a hint of worry only heard by her friends. (Tara, even though it had been a couple of days, could pick up traces in emotion Raven's voice depending on how it rose or fell).
Tara blinked, her surroundings coming back into focus after being lost in thought. She nodded absently, shaking away the memories of the previous days as she replied, "I'm fine, don't worry. Just thinking about how surreal all of this is…" She trailed off, not bothering to finish the thought as she brought her eyes back to what she had been previously watching: the rest of the Titans playing sand volleyball, Cyborg and BB versus Star and Night.
What Tara offhandedly asked next caused Raven to look down from her book- "Why is BB wearing a long sleeved shirt out here in this heat? I mean I know that it's unbuttoned and white, but I don't understand how he's not hot." Tara turned her head in time to see Raven's eyes first narrow in anger and then instantly softened out of sympathy. "Let's just say that he's covering up some of his pre-Titan life with his sleeves. Out of sight, out of mind right?"
Both knew that what she was illogical and stupid, seeing as they had both been in instances where that was clearly not true, but it was Raven's way of dropping the subject. At that exact second, the Beast in question was now running to the girls eagerly, as if he had heard them. Really, the game had been lost, Cy and BB's brotherly team up completely ineffective against Star and Robin's well practiced team work (huh, one wonders what else they've been practicing…)