Here is the long overdue Chapter 8. I hope you enjoy
Cyborg was scratching his head with a look of disbelief and Nightwing's jaw hung open with his lecture finger hanging in the air with his Starfire-will-not-go-with-you speech hanging on the tip of his tongue. Apparently Changeling wasn't the only one confused by the archer's choice. The only people who weren't shocked were Aqualad, as he was digging into his to go bag that Arsenal tossed to him with what Changeling could assume had the Atlantean's real food, Starfire who was all a giggles with excitement, and Raven who only stared on in boredom with her arms cross.
That was suspicious.
Arsenal smirked at their leader's expression. "I'm sure you know that old saying about opened mouths and flies."
His mouth closed but the changeling could still see Nightwing's confusion as his leader turned to Aqualad. Aqualad paused in his uneaten burger as the attention was shifted on him.
"Did you know anything about this?"
The Atlantean shook his head and turned his attention back on his burger. "No, I'm just as shock as you guys. Years of living with the guy gets you accustomed to his antics. If I reacted every time I'd probably have whiplash and locked jaw by now."
"But, I do not understand." Starfire looked at her friends as she continued, "Why is everybody so confused? This seems to be a very simple decision."
It was Cyborg who answered the confused princess, "Star, we were just ready for Arsenal to declare you the best partner and having to listen to Nightwing argue while that little temple vein of his pulses after everything Arsenal says."
Changeling stifled a laugh as Nightwing turned his glare to the cyborg. His leader looked ready to refute when Starfire continued questioning.
"I believe I still don't understand. While I would love to defend the planet that I have strong feelings for, this mission requires the use of the stealth, does it not? I would assume that Boyfriend Nightwing would be the best choice for this mission since he likes to call himself the Super Master of the Sleuths."
There was that brief pause as Starfire's words sunk in before an outburst of laughter erupted from Cyborg and Changeling. Tears streamed down their faces as they fell over and gripped each other.
"Dude, you told her you're the Super Master of Sleuths?" Cyborg pulled himself from the changeling and began slapping his knee. "Was Super De Depur Master of Sleuths already taken or did you have to shorten the name so it wouldn't be such a mouthful?"
Changeling wiped at a tear as he added, "Dude that is so lame."
Just watching Nightwing rub the back of his neck in that telltale sign that he was embarrass was enough to send them over again. "I told her that when we were still getting to know each other and I was trying to impress her, but Starfire does have a point. Why wasn't I your first choice, Arsenal?"
The archer shrugged before answering, "Truthfully, you were my first choice Wonder Boy. Years of detective skills and sleuth training from the Dark Knight himself, you were definitely my first choice." Arsenal smirked as he placed a hand on a smugly smiling Nightwing. "Then I realized that was way too much testosterone, especially when Raven here is the Mistress of Shadows herself."
Arsenal sauntered away from the leader and his munching Atlantean teammate as he crossed the room to sit on the couch beside Raven, his legs crossed and his arm spread out behind her. "And there's also the fact that I just know she wouldn't mind coming with me to Colombia."
Arsenal's last sentence made the Changeling sit straight and fixate his glare on him. Who was he to insinuate that he knew Raven? Those two probably had, what, two conversations with each other at the most. Arsenal shouldn't know anything about her nor try to hint that he does. Really, Changeling didn't know what was setting his emotions off the most: the words coming out of the archer's mouth or the fact that he was sitting so close to Raven that their scents were mixing together in that same way it did at the bookstore, except now it was so prominent that the Beast's growl was rumbling in the back of his throat.
Yea, it was probably scent thing.
And it wasn't like the archer was going crazy with his flirting skills as he usually does with Starfire. That was probably a good thing. The Beast was just angry at their close proximity, which Changeling still didn't understand. Arsenal choosing Raven proved absolutely nothing. She could be counted as the girl version of Nightwing when it came to sneaking around and blending in with the shadows. There was also the fact that he was still convinced that Arsenal would be right after Starfire as soon as they returned from their trip.
Why he had to comfort himself with this thought, Changeling had no idea.
What was really bothering him was the way Raven reacted to this, or more so her lack of reaction. She had yet to move away from Arsenal's close contact and she didn't seem to be in a hurry to either. Her arms may have been crossed but she wasn't gripping at her forearms as she normally does when something was irritating her. Her eyebrow wasn't twitching as it normally does when people are being too loud or just downright annoying her. Lastly, her glare didn't hold the anger that he wished it did. In fact, it didn't look like she was glaring at the archer at all. Sure there might have been a small twitch, but if anything she looked slightly amused.
And he hated that…
"I'll be packed and ready to go by tomorrow morning."
Along with her actually agreeing to go on the mission with Arsenal. That really had the Beast irritated. He didn't really have time to connect with his more primal self's feelings as a squeal from Starfire broke through his psyche. A spur of red, orange, and purple zoomed into Raven's space, stopping just short in front of the sorceress with her hands clasped and a huge grin on her face.
"Oh this is most glorious! I shall assist in your packing Friend Raven." Starfire flew out of the common room and out of the door. Raven removed herself from the couch and made her way from the living room and Aqualad took this time to ball up his empty bag as he made his way to the kitchen.
"With that settled, I'm going to call in to Bee and let her know the situation and then I'll be out of your hair."
Nightwing followed and engaged the Atlantean in a conversation leaving Arsenal, Cyborg, and Changeling on the common room's couch.
"So," Cyborg started as he turned his attention to the Changeling, making sure to emphasize on the lingering 'o', "how did your makeup date with Rae go? You got there on time, right?"
Changeling wanted to bang his head into the nearest wall. How could he have forgotten that he told his best friend about going to meet with Raven, and that he would give him the details when he got back? And what exactly was he going to say? Yea the truth is the best answer and he was definitely going to give his best friend the truth, but he wasn't ready to get the disapproving look that accompanies the disappointed head shake. There was also the matter that Raven will be leaving and while they are fully ready to fight without her, he didn't think he'll be on his top game if all he could worry about is how upset his teammates must be with him. More importantly, he wasn't sure how he'll be able to focus when his mind is more focus on how upset Raven is with him. He could feel himself starting to stress as he rubbed the back of his neck as he avoided the cyborg's gaze.
"Well, uh…?"
'Leave it to Cyborg to pick up on his behavior so quickly' he noted as the cyborg gave him the suspicious eye. "Don't tell me you showed up late again. What was it: five minutes, ten, thirty? Stop me if I go too high."
If only it was that low.
Changeling opened his mouth, ready to admit defeat and just give up when he was interrupted.
"Everything went fine, Cyborg. He showed up late and we got in an argument, but it wasn't anything serious and I had a good time as I waited. Other than the lateness and our small argument, it was a fine evening."
They turned their attention to Raven as she made her way out of the kitchen with a box of tea that they can assume was going on the trip with her. Cyborg scrunched up his face at the part of the changeling showing up late and the two having an argument, but then he released the tension with a small chuckle. "It's a shame that you still showed up late, about at least y'all had a good time afterward and that's all that matters."
Cyborg got up and stretched as he groaned, "I'm going to go tinker on the T-car for a little while. Come join me when you're done with your packing Rae, if you want to that is," and he took his exit into the elevator to the garage.
Arsenal furrowed his brows in a subtle action that even Nightwing may have a hard time picking up their downturn, but that wasn't what was plaguing Changeling's mind. He didn't even notice. He was more focus on one thought:
Why did Raven just lie?
And so that is Chapter 8. Sorry for the long wait. I went on a family trip two weeks ago and last week I was just lazy. I had Chapter 8 written earlier and wouldn't you know it, my battery comes out my laptop and my unsaved chapter 8 was deleted. It's okay because I figure that this one is much better. Tell me what you think. Please read and review.