Chapter 8: Blind trust Beast Boy broke out of his thoughts when Tezumi turned to her pie and lifted her fork.
"Itadakimasu!" she beamed and dug her fork into the dessert and Beast Boy watched her shove a rather large piece into her mouth.
Her eyes sparkled like two chocolate covered stars. "Mmh, sugoi," she cried in ecstasy and Beast Boy looked dumbfounded at her as she finished her cake in mere seconds.
"W-wow, you eat even faster than Starfire finishes a bottle of mustard – and that's something," Beast Boy mumbled and started with his own pie.
He watched out of the corner of his eyes as Tezumi longingly stared at her plate. "You…want seconds?" he asked and the look of confusion returned to her face. "You want another pie?" he asked, pointing to his plate with his half-eaten sugary pastry.
She nodded vehemently and he suppressed chuckling at her before he ordered another one.
"I guess you now know what 'pie' is," Beast Boy said, stressing the word 'pie'.
She nodded lightly. "Wakarimashta. Sugoi desu," she said, her mouth already watering again.
"I know, right?" Beast Boy said, knowing whatever she said, it had to be something good about the dessert by the way she ate almost like an animal.
The lady returned with Tezumi's second pie and like with her first one, she finished the dessert in the blink of an eye.
"You know, if Raven or Starfire ate like that, I'd probably have a sick stomach just watching them."
"Nani?" she asked, not understanding what he said.
"Never mind," he smiled and paid for the desserts. "That was a nice 'talk'. I wouldn't mind doing something like that again," the shape-shifter mumbled, trying to swallow his embarrassment.
Beast Boy stood up and he felt a hand on his arm.
"Matte kudasai," Tezumi mumbled.
"What's wrong?"
She gently shook her head before she patted his seat.
"I really can't take another pie. Neither my stomach nor my budget can take it," he said, scratching his head nervously.
"Iie, Beast Boy."
"Then what is it?" he asked, seeing that she shook her head again.
She sighed before she stood up. "Ikimashou!" she smiled and took his hand and pulled him out of the coffee shop.
They stopped outside and Tezumi pointed in front of her.
"So what do you want again?"
"Deto!"
"But didn't we do the talking already?"
"Iie. Deto," she repeated and slowly Beast Boy knew what she wanted and the heat to his face returned twice as strong.
"So you want to see Jump City, huh?"
Tezumi smiled, wondering if he understood her implication.
"I guess I wouldn't really like being watched by a half-demon anyway. Alright, you got yourself a tour. Where do you want to go first?" he asked but only received a confused look from the girl. "You know what, just trust me and I'll make sure you'll have fun," he grinned at her and suddenly he remembered his date with Terra.
And tonight…he might enjoy himself again too.
They walked through the streets as a gentle evening breeze brushed through trees and bushes. And the shape-shifter realized that only couples seemed to wander in the streets and he glanced at her hand that was only a hairsbreadth away from his.
"Nandesuka, Beast Boy?" she asked and Beast Boy turned back to the street.
"N-nothing. Oh, how about this place?" he asked and they stopped in front of the dance club.
She looked unsurely at the sign. "Shirimasen," she mumbled but the changeling wasn't impressed.
"Come on! It's fun and I really want to see some of your moves," he beamed and dragged her into the building of blaring music and blinding lights.
Tezumi narrowed her eyes, trying to adjust to the glaring lights in the dark hall.
The dance floor was filled with teens and Tezumi reluctantly tried to stay behind but the changeling wouldn't let her and dragged her to the middle of the dance floor.
"Now let me see what you got," Beast Boy shouted over the loud music but Tezumi didn't bother to reply.
She kept her eyes on the people around her and she crossed her arms, not liking to be in such crowded places – she wanted to be alone.
And loud beats from the overhead speakers and the pink and blue lights that flashed through the hall made her feel edgy.
Tezumi turned back to the shape-shifter but closed her mouth before she managed to get a word out when she saw that he had already started dancing to the blaring music. "Come on!" Beast Boy encouraged her. "Just one dance and then we'll ditch this place, ok?" he said, lifting one finger while still swaying from side to side.
Tezumi remained silent but after he made no move to stop dancing, she reluctantly joined him, swaying lightly while tapping her foot. "That's all you can do?" the changeling taunted.
Tezumi frowned at the grinning shape-shifter and swayed her arms as well before she did a turn, causing her skirt to fly up for a moment.
Beast Boy found himself grinning at her but Tezumi didn't see him since she was dancing with her eyes closed when suddenly she bumped into something hard from behind.
"Oh," the girl exclaimed before a rather large hulk turned to face her.
"Watch where you're dancing! Next time I won't give you a warning," the large teen bellowed and Tezumi frowned at his apparent impoliteness.
"Baka," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that? Say it once more and I'll make you choke your words," the hulk shouted and lifted a fist.
The Asian girl narrowed her eyes at him before she poked out her tongue at him.
Beast Boy pulled her back. "How about we just forget about this? I really don't want to see why he looks this big," he said worriedly and turned away with her.
"Don't tell me you chickened out? You better run back to your mommy and I don't want to see your faces here again," the hulk shouted angrily and Beast Boy was starting to get annoyed.
"Don't act like you own this place," the changeling said and turned to face the angered teen, only to see a fist flying his way.
In the blink of an eye, he was pulled back and he stared in awe as Tezumi easily caught the flying fist in her palm.
"Damare!" she muttered before with apparent ease, she threw him over her shoulder.
Beast Boy jumped back before the giant teen fell to the floor. "I didn't know a girl like you…can lift dudes as big as elephants. Do you do workout often?" he asked in admiration.
Without another word, Tezumi pulled the shape-shifter out of the club and away from the crowd of stares.
"Okay, I guess we have to skip dancing. Let's see what the next stop is," Beast Boy said and they continued their stroll through the city.
Tezumi was silent for a long while and Beast Boy saw that her eyes kept going left and right and once she had stopped by an alley and looked like she expected someone.
But she quickly resumed her walk when an elderly man and woman came out of the alley.
"Are you waiting for someone?" the changeling asked carefully and Tezumi looked at him in confusion. "I mean are you looking for a friend?" he asked, secretly hoping that it wasn't like that.
Tezumi glanced over his shoulder before she cried out and pointed behind him. "Kanran-sha!"
The Titan looked behind him in confusion.
And his eyes opened wide when he saw a colorful Ferris Wheel blinking brightly in the distance. "Oh, you mean the Ferris Wheel?" he asked and once again his thoughts drifted back to Terra and a blush crept on his face, remembering what they almost did on that same ride.
And suddenly he wondered if Tezumi wanted to go there for the same reason but he shook his thought away.
They barely understood each other!
He turned back to Tezumi and she nodded at him and he felt his heart speed up. "Next stop, the Theme Park," he grinned at her.
It didn't take them long to arrive at said place and Tezumi dragged the shape-shifter impatiently from one ride to the next.
First they went on the bumper cars, Tezumi even managing to throw Beast Boy out of his car since he refused to use the safety belt. Next, they went on the roller coaster ride and Tezumi laughed every time they would speed down a slope. Then, they took some photos in the photo booth and Tezumi soon joined the shape-shifter in making funny faces but always managed to stay close to him, once even casually wrapping one of her arms around his waist.
But, of course he didn't mind.
And last, they went on the Ferris Wheel and once again did the shape-shifter see the rock user in his mind.
And he wondered if Raven had been right – did he take Terra too seriously?
Was Terra right about him getting hurt?
He did feel sad after all, sitting in the same ride where he almost shared his first kiss with his first crush.
And Slade managed to get inside his head once again, his sadness giving rise to anger.
"Doshimashta ka?"
Tezumi's voice broke him out of his thoughts and he saw that she glanced at his clenched hands in worry.
"I…just remembered something. Nothing serious though," he laughed nervously before he felt her hands on his, realizing that she had moved closer to him.
His hands relaxed and Slade's image faded into the background as her warmth seeped through his gloves.
And the warmth spread through his body like ripples in a pond.
"You know, I was here once. I was with someone I really liked…and I know she liked me too…but someone managed to make her…hate me and my friends but she turned on him in the end and sacrificed herself. But when she came back…she said she didn't remember me or anything that happened to her. And that someone – Slade – managed to come back…and I don't know what he did to her but he told me to stay away from her."
Tezumi looked at him in confusion.
"I was here with Terra," he murmured and pointed to the seat they were sitting on and understanding crossed her face. "And I asked her why she agreed to come out with me and she said she wanted to spend time with me."
He looked up at her and smiled. "And I wonder if that was your reason you wanted to come out on this date," he said and looked questioningly at her.
There was a short moment of silence as they looked at each other.
"I guess I should remind myself not to talk too much," he laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Just forget-"
"Daikirai," she murmured and the shape-shifter saw a smirk play on her lips.
"Could you repeat that?" Beast Boy asked, hoping he would understand the meaning once she said it again.
Tezumi remained silent and leaned closer to him and suddenly his heartbeat doubled in pace, realizing what was about to happen.
The shape-shifter leaned in as well before closing his eyes, feeling her grip tightening on his hands.
And this time he wouldn't let anything stop him!
"Itadakimasu!" she beamed and dug her fork into the dessert and Beast Boy watched her shove a rather large piece into her mouth.
Her eyes sparkled like two chocolate covered stars. "Mmh, sugoi," she cried in ecstasy and Beast Boy looked dumbfounded at her as she finished her cake in mere seconds.
"W-wow, you eat even faster than Starfire finishes a bottle of mustard – and that's something," Beast Boy mumbled and started with his own pie.
He watched out of the corner of his eyes as Tezumi longingly stared at her plate. "You…want seconds?" he asked and the look of confusion returned to her face. "You want another pie?" he asked, pointing to his plate with his half-eaten sugary pastry.
She nodded vehemently and he suppressed chuckling at her before he ordered another one.
"I guess you now know what 'pie' is," Beast Boy said, stressing the word 'pie'.
She nodded lightly. "Wakarimashta. Sugoi desu," she said, her mouth already watering again.
"I know, right?" Beast Boy said, knowing whatever she said, it had to be something good about the dessert by the way she ate almost like an animal.
The lady returned with Tezumi's second pie and like with her first one, she finished the dessert in the blink of an eye.
"You know, if Raven or Starfire ate like that, I'd probably have a sick stomach just watching them."
"Nani?" she asked, not understanding what he said.
"Never mind," he smiled and paid for the desserts. "That was a nice 'talk'. I wouldn't mind doing something like that again," the shape-shifter mumbled, trying to swallow his embarrassment.
Beast Boy stood up and he felt a hand on his arm.
"Matte kudasai," Tezumi mumbled.
"What's wrong?"
She gently shook her head before she patted his seat.
"I really can't take another pie. Neither my stomach nor my budget can take it," he said, scratching his head nervously.
"Iie, Beast Boy."
"Then what is it?" he asked, seeing that she shook her head again.
She sighed before she stood up. "Ikimashou!" she smiled and took his hand and pulled him out of the coffee shop.
They stopped outside and Tezumi pointed in front of her.
"So what do you want again?"
"Deto!"
"But didn't we do the talking already?"
"Iie. Deto," she repeated and slowly Beast Boy knew what she wanted and the heat to his face returned twice as strong.
"So you want to see Jump City, huh?"
Tezumi smiled, wondering if he understood her implication.
"I guess I wouldn't really like being watched by a half-demon anyway. Alright, you got yourself a tour. Where do you want to go first?" he asked but only received a confused look from the girl. "You know what, just trust me and I'll make sure you'll have fun," he grinned at her and suddenly he remembered his date with Terra.
And tonight…he might enjoy himself again too.
They walked through the streets as a gentle evening breeze brushed through trees and bushes. And the shape-shifter realized that only couples seemed to wander in the streets and he glanced at her hand that was only a hairsbreadth away from his.
"Nandesuka, Beast Boy?" she asked and Beast Boy turned back to the street.
"N-nothing. Oh, how about this place?" he asked and they stopped in front of the dance club.
She looked unsurely at the sign. "Shirimasen," she mumbled but the changeling wasn't impressed.
"Come on! It's fun and I really want to see some of your moves," he beamed and dragged her into the building of blaring music and blinding lights.
Tezumi narrowed her eyes, trying to adjust to the glaring lights in the dark hall.
The dance floor was filled with teens and Tezumi reluctantly tried to stay behind but the changeling wouldn't let her and dragged her to the middle of the dance floor.
"Now let me see what you got," Beast Boy shouted over the loud music but Tezumi didn't bother to reply.
She kept her eyes on the people around her and she crossed her arms, not liking to be in such crowded places – she wanted to be alone.
And loud beats from the overhead speakers and the pink and blue lights that flashed through the hall made her feel edgy.
Tezumi turned back to the shape-shifter but closed her mouth before she managed to get a word out when she saw that he had already started dancing to the blaring music. "Come on!" Beast Boy encouraged her. "Just one dance and then we'll ditch this place, ok?" he said, lifting one finger while still swaying from side to side.
Tezumi remained silent but after he made no move to stop dancing, she reluctantly joined him, swaying lightly while tapping her foot. "That's all you can do?" the changeling taunted.
Tezumi frowned at the grinning shape-shifter and swayed her arms as well before she did a turn, causing her skirt to fly up for a moment.
Beast Boy found himself grinning at her but Tezumi didn't see him since she was dancing with her eyes closed when suddenly she bumped into something hard from behind.
"Oh," the girl exclaimed before a rather large hulk turned to face her.
"Watch where you're dancing! Next time I won't give you a warning," the large teen bellowed and Tezumi frowned at his apparent impoliteness.
"Baka," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that? Say it once more and I'll make you choke your words," the hulk shouted and lifted a fist.
The Asian girl narrowed her eyes at him before she poked out her tongue at him.
Beast Boy pulled her back. "How about we just forget about this? I really don't want to see why he looks this big," he said worriedly and turned away with her.
"Don't tell me you chickened out? You better run back to your mommy and I don't want to see your faces here again," the hulk shouted angrily and Beast Boy was starting to get annoyed.
"Don't act like you own this place," the changeling said and turned to face the angered teen, only to see a fist flying his way.
In the blink of an eye, he was pulled back and he stared in awe as Tezumi easily caught the flying fist in her palm.
"Damare!" she muttered before with apparent ease, she threw him over her shoulder.
Beast Boy jumped back before the giant teen fell to the floor. "I didn't know a girl like you…can lift dudes as big as elephants. Do you do workout often?" he asked in admiration.
Without another word, Tezumi pulled the shape-shifter out of the club and away from the crowd of stares.
"Okay, I guess we have to skip dancing. Let's see what the next stop is," Beast Boy said and they continued their stroll through the city.
Tezumi was silent for a long while and Beast Boy saw that her eyes kept going left and right and once she had stopped by an alley and looked like she expected someone.
But she quickly resumed her walk when an elderly man and woman came out of the alley.
"Are you waiting for someone?" the changeling asked carefully and Tezumi looked at him in confusion. "I mean are you looking for a friend?" he asked, secretly hoping that it wasn't like that.
Tezumi glanced over his shoulder before she cried out and pointed behind him. "Kanran-sha!"
The Titan looked behind him in confusion.
And his eyes opened wide when he saw a colorful Ferris Wheel blinking brightly in the distance. "Oh, you mean the Ferris Wheel?" he asked and once again his thoughts drifted back to Terra and a blush crept on his face, remembering what they almost did on that same ride.
And suddenly he wondered if Tezumi wanted to go there for the same reason but he shook his thought away.
They barely understood each other!
He turned back to Tezumi and she nodded at him and he felt his heart speed up. "Next stop, the Theme Park," he grinned at her.
It didn't take them long to arrive at said place and Tezumi dragged the shape-shifter impatiently from one ride to the next.
First they went on the bumper cars, Tezumi even managing to throw Beast Boy out of his car since he refused to use the safety belt. Next, they went on the roller coaster ride and Tezumi laughed every time they would speed down a slope. Then, they took some photos in the photo booth and Tezumi soon joined the shape-shifter in making funny faces but always managed to stay close to him, once even casually wrapping one of her arms around his waist.
But, of course he didn't mind.
And last, they went on the Ferris Wheel and once again did the shape-shifter see the rock user in his mind.
And he wondered if Raven had been right – did he take Terra too seriously?
Was Terra right about him getting hurt?
He did feel sad after all, sitting in the same ride where he almost shared his first kiss with his first crush.
And Slade managed to get inside his head once again, his sadness giving rise to anger.
"Doshimashta ka?"
Tezumi's voice broke him out of his thoughts and he saw that she glanced at his clenched hands in worry.
"I…just remembered something. Nothing serious though," he laughed nervously before he felt her hands on his, realizing that she had moved closer to him.
His hands relaxed and Slade's image faded into the background as her warmth seeped through his gloves.
And the warmth spread through his body like ripples in a pond.
"You know, I was here once. I was with someone I really liked…and I know she liked me too…but someone managed to make her…hate me and my friends but she turned on him in the end and sacrificed herself. But when she came back…she said she didn't remember me or anything that happened to her. And that someone – Slade – managed to come back…and I don't know what he did to her but he told me to stay away from her."
Tezumi looked at him in confusion.
"I was here with Terra," he murmured and pointed to the seat they were sitting on and understanding crossed her face. "And I asked her why she agreed to come out with me and she said she wanted to spend time with me."
He looked up at her and smiled. "And I wonder if that was your reason you wanted to come out on this date," he said and looked questioningly at her.
There was a short moment of silence as they looked at each other.
"I guess I should remind myself not to talk too much," he laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Just forget-"
"Daikirai," she murmured and the shape-shifter saw a smirk play on her lips.
"Could you repeat that?" Beast Boy asked, hoping he would understand the meaning once she said it again.
Tezumi remained silent and leaned closer to him and suddenly his heartbeat doubled in pace, realizing what was about to happen.
The shape-shifter leaned in as well before closing his eyes, feeling her grip tightening on his hands.
And this time he wouldn't let anything stop him!