CHAPTER 7: THE NIGHTINGALE'S SONG

Thomas's eyes darted from left to right nervously. Beast boy could almost feel Raven's anticipation, though from the outside, she seemed completely at peace. He wondered what Thomas was looking out for and he instantly felt nervous. Was it forbidden to tell people the Captain's story? What if they were caught right now?

Beast boy did not think that this was a good idea. Some things are just not meant to be told. He was about to open his mouth when Raven shot him a look. Beast boy gulped down on the words he was about to say. Apparently, Raven could feel his nervousness too.

Finally, Thomas locked eyes with Raven and leaned forward. He began in a low, urgent whisper "It started on one fateful night …

Th' Ruby Daggers was fightin' wit' th' Death Skulls aft discoverin' a few lootin' on our ship at night. This was th' first time we've met th' bastards.

We killed one o' thar scallywags in th' process o' tryin' t' get them off our ship 'n this turned into war. More pirates came out o' th' Skull's vessel, jus' anchored beside us, 'n th' onslaught began.

Th' Captain 'n his beauty, Katherine was fightin' on th' fore lines. They led us wit' much determination 'n courage. However, despite us winnin', th' Skulls managed t' kidnap Katherine when th' Captain wasn't lookin'.

Th' Death Skulls handsomely left but then sent us a message fer ransom 'n tellin' us t' meet them at a certain point fer th' exchange. But since we were raided quite thoroughly, we hardly 'ave enough t' pay fer Katherine.

Time was runnin' out 'n day by day, th' Captain grew more anxious 'n depressed. Finally, he thought o' somethin'! He still had his, 'n Katherine's life savin's, tucked away safely in a mighty secret room ...

Th' Captain opened a seemingly empty treasure chest. Then from inside, I guessed he had a key or somethin' but he unlocked a sort o' secret compartment. Then, he reached in 'n loot out all th' gold, then baggin' it.

However, wha' he didn' loot out was a red diamond rin'. Th' gift Katherine gave th' Captain when they were married. 'n 'twas also a mighty, mighty special day too.

Movin' on, th' Captain exited th' secret room 'n prepared th' ship t' meet th' Skulls. Jus' afore they were goin' t' set off, George, our only Cabin lad had word from another message th' Skulls jus' sent that Katherine was no longer ... alive.

She had been killed when tryin' t' escape. Devastated, th' Captain threw away all th' possessions o' Katherine 'n all that reminded 'im o' her. Even th' red diamond rin' was gone. He also moved out o' th' previous cabin, which be th' one ye 'n Beast lad are currently occupyin'.

That was also th' day when th' Captain swore t' kill every pirate o' th' Death Skull. That was when, we became enemies fer life."

Thomas finished and looked quite out of breath. Every pirate in the room waited with abated breath, waiting for Raven or Beast boy to react.

"That makes sense." Raven nodded, thinking logically, "So that was why he welcomed us on board. We reminded him of Katherine, and we escaped the Death Skulls. But where's the room and the treasure chest?"

"We dunno. That's all th' Captain ever told us. Oh, 'n act as if ye dunno anythin' about this. It took us weeks t' know wha' happened 'n even so, he was reluctant t' tell." said Thomas quickly.

The pirates nodded in agreement.

"You said something about the day they were married, why was it so special?" Beast boy wanted to know.

The skinny pirate jumped in to explain that on their wedding, a nightingale appeared and sang from a beam atop of them. It started to sing when Katherine was giving the Captain the red diamond ring. It made it all the more symbolic.

"Fer us pirates, th' nightingale be a symbol o' love in it's truest, purest form." Thomas concluded.

Then, Beast boy gave a loud yawn. He was suddenly feeling tired and very, very sleepy. He almost always is, if someone tells him a story before bedtime. That was how his mother got him to sleep at night in the past.

Everyone else agreed that it was time to rest for the night. Raven stood up to join Beast boy. But as they were walking to the stairs that would lead to their cabin, they accidentally bumped into the smallish Cabin boy - George, who was mopping the decks.

"I'm so sorry!" Beast boy said hurriedly.

"It's alright. It's dark … and the moon's not out tonight." George picked himself up and said in a small, quiet voice. He was neither afraid or angry, just calm.

He hesitated for a while before asking, "Are you going back to your cabin?"

Raven and Beast boy nodded.

"The pirates probably didn't know but … it's haunted." George said, in a voice almost as soft as a whisper.

"What?" Beast boy jumped.

"I clean in every room of this ship. Sometimes, I hear strange thumping noises from below your cabin floor." George continued and Raven and Beast boy actually had to lean in to just make out his words.

"Occasionally, I even hear a faint voice moaning, 'Hugh'."

At this point Beast boy was shivering head to toe. Raven frowned, "And it doesn't bother you?"

"If there is a ghost there. It didn't hurt me. Just … makes noises," then, he added, "I've grown used to it by now. I thought you should know about this if you're going to sleep there tonight."

Beast boy wasn't so sure if he wanted to even sleep now, despite George assuring them whatever's down there was harmless.

"Wouldn't the Captain have said something about this?" Raven inquired, "It was his cabin, right?"

George shrugged, "The thumping and moans only started when he moved out."

Beast boy whimpered. Raven rolled her eyes. She thought, for a boy who could change into the most powerful, strongest animals on the Earth, he had a very little to no courage.

"I think you dropped this." Raven said, bending down then picking up a rolled up piece of parchment.

George's eyes widened for a moment and snatched back the parchment hastily. He shoved it deep in his pockets and for a second, Raven thought she saw fear flash in his blue eyes.

"I need to go." George picked up his mop and bucket of water and hurried off in quick footsteps.

Raven wondered what that was all about but decided to let it go. She had questioned enough for one night. It was time for sleep to take over. Perhaps in the morning, or when she's most likely to be lying awake tonight, she could think of something to get her and Beast boy back in their own time. Surely, the Titans are worried and are trying to find a way for them to go home.

Even though now, it seems, home seems like a very, very, very distant world to her.

Beast boy trailed closely behind Raven. How can she stay so calm at times? Really, it infuriated him sometimes. It seemed so unfair how she can stay in control so well whereas he …

They were almost reaching the door to the staircase when something darted in front of him.

Squealing, Beast boy stumbled and grabbed Raven's shirt to keep from falling. But that only resulted in the both of them tumbling down to the deck.

"What is it now, Beast boy?" Raven snapped as he shoved him off.

Suddenly, sweet, musical chirps filled the air. And the two of them were silenced. Beast boy focused his ears to the sound and turned his head to face whoever's doing that lovely melody. His green eyes could just make out, something small perched on the ship's side railings.

It was a bird, and though Beast boy couldn't see what bird it was, he already knew it from the singing. It was a nightingale.

"Look there." Beast boy whispered as he pointed out to Raven where the nightingale was, keeping his voice low and soft as George did. He hated to disrupt the musical melody. Nightingales really do have that special gift for singing. And it is so rare for humans to hear their sweet voices sing.

Wait, a nightingale? Something clicks at the back of Beast boy's head.

"Fer us pirates, th' nightingale be a symbol o' love in it's truest, purest form."

Shivers of a different kind ran down Beast boy's back. Could this mean something? Could nightingales be drawn to true love, fly to where it's present and sing out lovely melodies for whichever couple's lucky enough to hear?

But as far as Beast boy's concerned, he can see no true love here. He and Raven are the only two people on the deck right now. The only two listening, entranced to the nightingale's song.

But wait again! The nightingale couldn't be suggesting that he and Raven … It probably just made a mistake. But even when he told that to himself over and over again in his mind, he somehow knew that this little visit wasn't really an accident.

He wondered if Raven's figured out what this meant. He glanced at her for a fraction of a second before staring down at his feet. As usual, she was wearing her neutral expression, but with a tinge of pleasure, joy. No, she did not figure out what this meant. All she was doing was enjoying the song! Perhaps, she didn't even know what bird it was!

Speaking of the bird, the nightingale ended with a few last short, sweet bursts of musical notes and then flew off.

Raven stood up and brushed away the dust on her. He could see a trace of a smile on her relaxed face. Beast boy thought sadly, this must be the most beautiful thing she's heard in years.

He then took her mood to his advantage and asked, "Raven, did you know there was a bird perched there?"

"The nightingale? Yes … it just sang." Raven stated the obvious.

Beast boy gulped. So she did know what bird it was.

"Do you … umm … remembered what Thomas said about the nightingale?" Beast boy tugged at his collar nervously.

Raven stopped short at the door, "The nightingale is the truest, purest form of love. Yes, I remember. Why are you acting so strange?" she turned and faced him, arms crossed.

Beast boy wanted to scream at her. How can she not know what this all mean? And he thought she was smart!

But he managed to hold himself back in time and choked out, "It appears, when … true, uh, love is present. And there was no one out there but the Two. Of. Us."

Raven frowned in confusion, clearly not understanding. Just when Beast boy was about to shake her in frustration however, she finally widened her eyes in realisation.

"Oh."

That was all? Just a single two-lettered word? He'd been expecting something bigger. Something more … well, earth-shattering?

Raven laughed nervously, "Beast boy, you are so naïve! You can't have really believed what Thomas said!"

But Beast boy's frightened eyes, hysterical expression, gaping mouth and dead silence told Raven that he truly did.

But it's just a myth! Raven cried in her mind. It cannot be true. And the fact that the nightingale sang in front of them, of all people, it's obviously not true as they're just friends. But instead, Beast boy somehow seems determined to think that they are lovers. Groaning inwardly, she placed both hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Beast boy, trust me. This all just proves that it's a myth. I can't believe you're implying … you're implying that we are …" Raven looks away for a moment, "… more than friends."

Beast boy gulped again. That was exactly what he was thinking. Then, Raven's hands slid back to her sides and she resumed her neutral, calm expression.

"Let's go inside and forget about this." she said through gritted teeth, "It's all nonsense."

Beast boy knew she was trying to convince him but he seemed more like she was trying to convince herself.

But he wasn't entirely sure.