Rachel stared out of the porthole in the submarine. The water outside looked uninviting …dark, murky and cold.
"Are we there yet?"
Garth gently caressed the newly grown gills on her neck. Her hand snapped up and pushed his hand away.
"Sorry, I forget you're not used to them yet."
"It's OK, I'm sorry I overacted, they just feel … weird."
Rachel resumed staring out the porthole. Her already pale complexion became even more ashen.
"Rach … are you OK?"
She stepped away from the porthole. "It's nothing, just … bad memories … I've always been afraid … correction … Raven's always been afraid of drowning, therefore so am I."
Aqualad nodded. "I remember, the T-Ship was demolished and Beast Boy saved them. But Rach, you have gills now, you can't drown."
Without thinking she stroked her gills. "I know, but I've only had them for a few hours and I've never used them before. What if the spell is flawed and they don't actually work?"
He leaned forward and placed his hands on her hips, drew her close to him and kissed her tenderly.
"I'm sure they'll work just fine … look … we're almost there."
Rachel turned her attention to the porthole and saw Atlantis glowing below them.
"It's quite a sight." She murmured. "Garth, this is going to be terra, or should I say "mare incognita" for me. You'll need to be patient with me."
"It will be different, that much is certain. But I think you will enjoy living under the waves with us … with me."
She smiled at him. "With you at my side I know I will."
Within a few minutes the fish shaped submarine came to a halt and a dull thud resonated through the ship's hull. They were now on the ocean floor, almost 3000 feet below sea level. Since it was nighttime the ocean was illuminated only by the lights of the nearby underwater city and the sub's own lights.
"Ready, Rach?"
She nodded anxiously. "As ready as I'll ever be."
They stepped into an airlock and the heavy metal door shut behind them with an authoritative thud. Rachel had changed into a heavily insulated unitard that matched the one Aqualad wore, which was to help keep her comfortable in the deep ocean. A loud clunk echoed in the airlock and to her dismay it began to flood with water. As it rose around her legs she shuddered.
"I know it's cold. You'll get used to it." He reassured her.
Cold didn't begin to describe the water. Freezing was a better description. She could only imagine how cold it would feel had she not been wearing the insulated suit. Soon the water temperature was the least of her worries as the water level in the airlock surged and continued to rise. She felt his hand on her shoulder.
"Remember what I told you."
He was referring to his instructions on how to breathe underwater using her brand new gills. He made it sound so simple: inhale and expel. He explained that her epiglottis would close to keep the seawater out of her lungs. It sounded too simple. To her it seemed like telling some who had never ridden a bicycle that all you had to do was peddle and look forward, and that everything else would take care of itself. As if.
Within moments the water had reached her neck. "I guess it's now or never." She said in an unsure voice.
"Relax Rach, you're gonna be fi …"
His words were cut off when the surging water covered her head. Soon the airlock was completely flooded. She could once again hear his voice as he drifted in front of her. It sounded muffled as it travelled through the dense water.
"Ok Rach, let's do this nice and easy. Open your mouth. Once you get the hang of this you'll be able to breathe through your nose."
She opened her mouth and felt the water flood into it.
"Ok, good, now, and I know that every fiber in your body will instinctively resist, go ahead and inhale."
Rachel summoned every ounce of courage she had. Her fear of drowning was very real as she remembered when the T-Ship disintegrated, leaving Raven to drown in the deep. Raven panicked that time and for good reason, it was only through Beast Boy's quick thinking that the team was saved, as he morphed into a whale and scooped them up in his mouth. Raven never thanked him saving her life, and in her usual bitchy demeanor she complained that he needed breath mints. Raven never told anyone just how terrified she felt when they were trapped in the deep but Rachel did remember and she felt that same panic swell in her mind.
You have gills now, you can breathe underwater. She reminded herself. While her intellect agreed, her instincts screamed "No way." Summoning all her will power … she inhaled … and felt the water exit through her gills. She repeated the procedure, several times.
"See? You're a natural." He beamed at her.
Rachel laughed. "I can breathe underwater! In your face, Gar!"
"What does BB have to do with it?" Aqualad asked.
She waved her hand dismissively. "Oh nothing, he just likes to brag that he was the only one on the team who can breathe underwater."
He grinned at her. "Ready to see Atlantis?"
"You bet!" She replied.
The airlock's exterior hatch opened and they swam out into the ocean. Atlantis was about a mile away, but there was something blocking their path. It was a young couple, who were floating in front of the hatch. He was dark skinned with blond hair and she was fair skinned with red hair.
"Kaldur! Tula!"
Rachel's face fell when she remembered that Tula was Aqualad's ex-girlfriend. It didn't help that Tula was gorgeous. How come ex-girlfriends were never plain and ordinary looking, she wondered? Why were they always gorgeous knockouts?
I'm an ex-girlfriend, and I'm plain and ordinary. Well, maybe not ordinary, I am gray and I do have purple hair.
Tula swam up to Rachel.
"So you're Garth's new girlfriend! He never told us you were so pretty! Welcome to Atlantis." Tula greeted Rachel as she handed a pair of flippers to her. "You might need these at first, especially since your feet aren't webbed.
Rachel accepted the present from the "Aquagirl" and extended her hand in greeting, which both Kaldur and Tula accepted, shaking her hand in the style of surface dwellers. After the pleasantries were extended, Garth addressed his friend and his former girlfriend.
"You didn't have to come out here to greet us."
"It was necessary, and the King requested our presence here himself."
"I don't understand." Aqualad remarked. "We know our way to the city from here, a child could do it."
Kaldur'ahm placed his hands on Garth's shoulders."The King wished to know that you arrived safely from the surface world."
"Arrived safely? Kaldur, is there something going on that I don't know about?"
The dark Atlantean nodded grimly.
"There is bad news. But now that you are here you will be safe."
"Kaldur, stop talking in riddles!"
Tula swam up to Garth and wrapped her arms around him. "We were so worried."
"Worried about what?" Rachel interrupted.
Kaldur sighed. "There is no easy way to say this … Deathstroke has returned."
"No!" Garth gasped. "You're joking, right?"
"Deathstroke, who's that?" Rachel asked.
Kaldur nodded his understanding of her question. "Deathstroke was before your or Miss Raven's time. What I mean is that he disappeared before the Titans were formed."
"That still doesn't explain who he is and why you're so afraid of him." She replied.
"Forgive me, Miss Rachel. Perhaps it would be best if the King explained this to you. What is important is that you are now safe here in Atlantis. Deathstroke has never been known to operate in the ocean,"
Tula helped Rachel slip on her flippers and the quartet swam off to the domed city of Atlantis.
-( scene break )-
The scene at CJ's Barbeque was lively and the aromas were heavenly. Cyborg and Reggie entered what had been their favorite hangout when they were in high school.
"What do you want, Vic? My treat."
Cyborg grinned. "You know what I like."
"The triple meat explosion, with coleslaw, mashed potatoes and beans." Reggie replied. "And a Dr. Pepper to wash it down."
"Hey man, you remembered!"
"Of course I do, it's also my favorite. You grab a table first and then I'll go order … I see one right over there, reserved just for us."
Cyborg looked in the direction Reggie was pointing. There were no free tables.
"Uh Reg, I think someone snagged our table, cuz I don't see any free tables."
"Look again, Vic, and look slowly."
Cyborg did as he was prompted. As he stared at the tables someone waved at him. His eyes widened and his face broke into a smile.
"Shawna? It's Shawna Jones!"
"You got that right Vic, now go sit down with her while I get us some grub."
Cyborg cautiously approached the table. Shawna was an old high school friend. She wasn't the prettiest girl at the school but she wasn't ugly either and they had dated a few times and she had a smile that was infectious. And unlike the other girls he dated, the so called popular and pretty ones, she didn't shun him after the accident that transformed him into Cyborg.
As he reached the table they exchanged a hug. She gave him a curious look.
"Vic, it's great to see you, and speaking of which, you look like your old self." She remarked.
They say down at the table. "It's a holographic illusion; I'm still a walking pile of nuts and bolts."
"Don't put yourself down Vic. You're a Teen Titan."
He snorted derisively. "I was, the team's been disbanded."
"I saw that on the news. What happened?"
He frowned unhappily.
"I'm not liberty to talk about that … but I can say it's great to see you Shawna. I have to say, you've really bloomed since I left. You're quite the babe now."
She laughed. "Yeah, just because I'm not flat anymore, huh?"
"Hey, you weren't flat."
She grinned. "I know, during our Junior year you kept staring at them in class."
"You caught me staring once and you're never gonna let me live that down, are you?"
"Well, I might … if you take me out on a date." She asked coyly.
"Consider it done, little lady. And this time I promise not to stare."
She pouted. "You won't? I was hoping you would."
They both burst out laughing as Reggie returned with a tray loaded with food and drinks, which he handed out to his friends and himself. He sat down at the table and picked up his paper glass of Dr. Pepper, raising it as if making a toast.
"To old friends and good times!"
"Cheers!" They replied.
Cyborg sniffed the pile of meat on his platter: beef brisket, pork and shredded chicken. Each table had an old cardboard beer sixpack box, which contained six plastic containers of barbeque sauce. He grabbed the one labeled "Hot-n-spicy" and slathered it over his meat and took a bite.
"Oh man, that is good!" He moaned happily. "You wouldn't believe what passes for barbecue in Jump City.
"Let me guess, they make it out of tofu!" Shawna giggled before digging into her own plate.
Cyborg snickered. "It's not that bad, they do use meat, although the grass stain does actually eat tofu with barbecue sauce."
"The grass stain?" Reggie asked.
"You know who I'm talking about … Beast Boy."
Shanna giggled. "Beast Boy's kind of cute, does he have a girlfriend?"
Cyborg stabbed his food with his fork and huffed.
"He does, can you believe that? I don't have a girlfriend and he does. He's a runt, he's green, has pointy ears and fangs … and he's had two girlfriends in Jump and I've had none."
"I'm available Vic, just say the word."
The Tin Man laughed. "I already said I'd date you."
"You did!?" Reggie snickered. "Man, you don't waste any time, do you?"
Cyborg smiled. "You guys have no idea of how much I've missed you."
"Then don't ever go back. Stay here in Metropolis." Shawna remarked. "Stay and I'll have your babies."
"Getting desperate, Shawna?" Reggie taunted her.
"Shut up Reg! You're just jealous that no girls want to have your babies, cuz you're ugly."
"Just so you know, I've turned down marriage proposals." Reggie retorted.
"Yeah right, you mean like from your buck toothed cousin LaFawnda." Cyborg interjected.
"Hey, LaFawnda isn't buck toothed!"
The three friends were laughing and bantering so loudly that they didn't notice when a man entered the restaurant. The other patrons did and lowered their voices when they saw who it was. They didn't notice until he addressed Cyborg.
"Victor Stone?"
The three turned to see who it was. Shawna and Reg became wide eyed. Victor merely stood up and extended his hand, which the visitor shook.
"Yo, Supes, nice to see you. I'm guessin' you didn't come here to grab a bite."
The iconic Metropolis superhero, attired in his signature red and blue costume and gape, placed a hand Cyborg's shoulder.
"You need to come with me, Mr. Stone."
"But I just got here, is something wrong?"
"I'm afraid so. Deathstroke has returned. We need to leave immediately; your presence here is placing you and your friends in danger."
Cyborg cursed. "I thought that dude was dead."
"I'm afraid he's very much alive, and I have more information about him. But this isn't the place to talk."
Cyborg turned to his friends. "I'll be back when this gets sorted out. Shawna, you and I are so going on that date. Let's go Kal."
The two superheroes exited the restaurant and stopped outside on the sidewalk. Victor slammed his rings together and once again looked like Cyborg , the Teen Titan. The Man of Steel grabbed him under his arm and they took flight together and were soon gone.
Reggie blew a long whistle. "Being a superhero has to be so cool! He's like on first name basis with Supes! That is so bad ass!"
Shawna shook her head. "You heard what Superman said … Vic's in danger."
-( scene break )-
"Who's Deathstroke?" Raven asked.
"Not here." Freddy whispered. He flagged the waitress down and asked if they could get the meals to go. "We need to get back to your house. My car is parked nearby."
To Raven and Beast Boy's dismay, Freddy knew the way to their house, which they thought was a tightly guarded secret. As he pulled up on the driveway Beast Boy hopped out and entered the passcode on the exterior keypad. The garage door opened and Freddy pulled his car in and parked it next to their rental.
"Wisdom of Solomon?" Raven asked as she emerged from the car.
Freddy answered as he hobbled out of the car with his cane.
"You mean how did I know where you lived? Actually, Bats told Cap."
"Batman knows where we are?" Raven asked in a cross voice as they entered the house.
"He ought to know, he owns the house."
Raven frowned. "I should have known that he was behind this."
"He meant well, Raven. The house is very secure; it was perfect for you guys."
"And yet they sent you here." Beast Boy remarked. "To protect us. Raven and I are superheroes, you know? We can take care of ourselves."
"Like I said … Deathstroke has returned. The only reason I'm here is because there is strength in numbers. Of course, in this form I'm not much help, so if you'll just step back I'll take care of that."
Freddy hobbled away from them and stepped outside. He stopped and leaned on his cane.
"Captain Marvel!" He shouted.
Even though the nighttime sky was clear and cloudless a lightning bolt appeared out of nowhere and struck the crippled teen. A small explosion was heard and he was surrounded by a cloud of smoke, which quickly dissipated, revealing a tall, muscular teenager wearing a sky blue spandex costume. He had golden boots and a matching golden sash tied around his waist. He wore a half cape, white in color with gold trim. And on his chest was Shazam's insignia, the golden lightning bolt.
Beast Boy stared astounded at Captain Marvel Jr. Raven cleared her throat.
"I'll admit that was impressive. So what powers do you have, Freddy?"
He grinned. "The same ones as Cap: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the courage of Achilles, the power of Zeus, the stamina of Atlas and the speed of Mercury."
"Impressive … now, would you mind telling us who the Deathstroke is and what it is that he wants with us?" Raven droned in her monotone.
Freddy nodded. "You guys are familiar with Slade, right?"
"Familiar? Dude! He's our arch-enemy!"
"I know. I also know that Robin's been trying for years to figure out who Slade is, where we came from. Well, the Justice League just figured it out, and the news isn't good." Freddy remarked.
"Let me guess, Slade used to be this Deathstroke character." Raven sneered. "We can deal with Slade."
Freddy shook his head. "You don't understand. I see that you guys have never heard of Deathstroke the Terminator. It's understandable. He vanished before either of you became Titans. I know that the Doom Patrol didn't concern themselves with him, so that explains why Beast Boy hasn't heard of him either."
"Would you please get to the point?" Raven growled impatiently.
Freddy glanced at the changeling and thought to himself: She's your girlfriend? It's your funeral, Beast Boy.
"Deathstroke was one of the Justice League's most difficult opponents. While not a meta human, he is the product of a military experiment gone awry. The goal was to create a serum that would turn an ordinary man into a super soldier."
"You mean like Red Star?" Beast Boy interrupted.
"Yes and no. Red Star was meant to be a mere brute, a soldier who would follow orders. He was also atomic powered. Deathstroke, or as he was known in army, Slade Wilson, was given super human strength and agility. His mental faculties were also enhanced, incredibly so. Deathstroke was a true genius. But there was an unfortunate side effect to the serum."
"It turned him into a villain. How predictable, and yet governments around the world keep trying to create the perfect soldier, and failing spectacularly." Raven remarked dryly.
"Correct. Anyway, Deathstroke became an assassin for hire. He was the best in the world. He murdered countless people around the globe: politicians, billionaires, religious leaders, etc. No one was safe, not even super heroes, and it was said that if Deathstroke was hired to kill you that you were as good as dead. This especially worried the US government, who created him. They eventually turned to the Justice League for help."
Freddy sighed before continuing.
"The Justice League threw everything they had at Deathstroke. A lot of people thought that it was gonna be a slam dunk, but it wasn't. Deathstroke is as cunning as he is ruthless. Eventually the League caught up with him and almost captured him. He leapt from a cliff, in an attempt to escape, but his body was never found. That was when he vanished, so the league gave him up for dead. It wasn't for another 10 years that Slade appeared in Jump, after your team formed. Since Slade operated so differently the League assumed that whoever he was that he called himself Slade as a tribute to Deathstroke."
"The League didn't make the connection?" Beast Boy asked.
"Slade has an entirely different M.O than Deathstroke. Plus he setup shop in Jump City. The League figured that he was a lightweight wannabe, who chose your backyard because he didn't want to deal with the league. The Titans kept him at bay and the League kind of forgot about him."
Beast Boy frowned. "We aren't lightweights!"
"I never said you were, but you were newbies back then. But it's only now that we realize what happened with Deathstroke. He reinvented himself. League psychiatrists think that he actually has multiple personality disorder, another side effect of the serum. His Deathstroke personality was pushed into the background and instead he became Slade, a genius criminal mastermind. He was no longer content with being an expensive hit man, and decided that he wanted to conquer the world."
Raven interrupted. "And now you're saying that his Deathstroke personality has reasserted itself."
"Exactly. There have been intelligence reports from the field that this has happened. The League regards Slade as your dominion, but Deathstroke, he's our responsibility."
"And we're in danger because …" Beast Boy asked.
"Deathstroke is the ultimate assassin. I'm not saying that you guys can't deal with him, but you don't know him or the way he operates."
"And you do? I seem to recall that you're brand new to super hero business." Raven challenged him.
Freddy tapped the side of his head. "Wisdom of Solomon. Plus I'm as strong as Superman. Between the three of us we can fend off Deathstroke if he attacks us."
"So you're moving in with us?" Beast Boy asked. "We were hoping to have ... you know … some 'us' time."
Freddy blushed. "Uh … I'll do my best to give you guys your privacy."
A stylish grandfather clock with an art deco style began to chime. It was midnight.
"Why don't you guys hit the hay? I'll keep watch tonight." Freddy smiled bashfully.
Raven nodded. "Thank you Freddy … but when will you rest?"
"As long as I'm Cap Jr. I don't need to sleep."
"That's right, stamina of Atlas … thank you … we'll see you in the morning." Raven said as she hooked her arm into the changeling's and they walked off to their bedroom.
-( scene break )-
The master suite in the house was stunning and it had the biggest bed they had ever seen. The entire team could sleep in it and still have room to spare. The sound of a sonic toothbrush hummed in the bathroom. When it stopped it was followed by the sound of swishing water. Moments later, wearing an oversized T-Shirt, Raven emerged from the bathroom. Beast Boy was resting on the bed, reading a graphic novel. Raven sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Gar, we have come a long way, haven't we?"
He put his book down and sat up on the bed.
"What do you mean?"
"You know … it wasn't that long ago when I said that we couldn't be together, and now … I can't imagine not being with you."
He shimmied over to her and sat at her side. He was wearing those silly dinosaur pajamas he loved so much.
"I can't imagine not being with you."
She took his hand and squeezed it gently.
"I know I'm not a great catch. I've treated you like dirt over the years. I know I'm moody, bitchy and quick to anger, plus I have all kinds of hang ups … I guess I'm what you might call 'very high maintenance'."
"Don't say that Rave."
"But it's true. You on the other hand, are everything that I'm not: you're sweet, tender, loving and above all you're forgiving."
"Raven, you're a great girl, I'm lucky to have you, I don't deserve you."
She vigorously shook her head.
"No, I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. And I don't want to lose you, to miss my opportunity."
He looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
She didn't answer, but instead she pulled him into a kiss. Their tongues met and danced with each other. Happy moans escaped from both of them, until they finally separated. He looked into her four crimson red eyes, which as expected made their appearance.
"Gar, do you love me … even though … I am what you see?"
"You know that I do. You know that I love you."
Raven stood up in front of him. To his immense surprise she dropped onto her right knee while she held his hand.
"Garfield Mark Logan … will you marry me?"
Beast Boy stared at her stunned. He leaped to his feet and lifting her he wrapped his arms around her.
"I will!" He shouted.
They resumed kissing, which they did for the longest time. Finally they released each other to catch their breath. He looked happily into her four eyed face. She took a small step back from him, cupping his face in her palm.
"Gar … I'm ready."
"You're ready?"
Raven grabbed the bottom of her long T-Shirt and began to pull it up.
…
On the other side of the continent, a finger pushed a button and a video screen went dark.
Alfred Pennyworth was under direct orders from the Dark Knight to keep an eye on the Chromatically Challenged Couple™ at all times. But he couldn't. Some things were sacred, and the first time that a man and a woman physically consummated their love for each other was especially sacrosanct. As a gentleman, he could not watch that, less he become a despicable voyeur. Should Master Bruce chastise him later for dereliction of duty, it would be the Dark Knight himself who would receive a tongue lashing from his loyal confidant.
Alfred smiled. Seeing the marriage proposal was also intrusive, but it was heartwarming as well.
"To be young and in love." He hummed to himself as he rose from the surveillance console and disappeared into the shadows in the Batcave.
-( scene break )-
Some nice fluff at the end for the BBRae shippers.
And now, the mailbag!
Rosalind du Coudray
Oh goodness...oh my...this story keeps getting better! You're definitely one for cliffies, ne?
I love cliffies!
krostovikraven1
i would feel vey iitate if i knew i was beig watched at evry corner in m house, but thats Batman. has eyes everwhere hahaha. so the news are running, Deathstroke is after them, i cant wait to see what wll they do. and how is Rachel doing ? pls update soon
Bats is just concerned for their safety. But Alfred knows better.
Hairul The Nightrage Beast
Well Force I've to say I got something for you if you wanna read about the epic duel between Deathstroke and Nightwing, you can buy the Nightwing Renegade TPB and trust me bro, that's by far the best ever storyline between Dick and Slade and Dick showing Rose what an asshole Slade is. Well gotta call Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Speedy as well as Jericho for back up since it's Deathstroke we are talking.
I'll have to look for that one. I've noticed that back issues of Nightwing graphic novels are in short supply and command premium prices. But I will look into it
Avandra the Mary Sue Slayer
Why do I get the feeling that Deathstroke is going to appear way before the Titans expect him? It looks like our heroes won't be apart for long!
Stay tuned
gyhy
I find the fact that Batman rigged BB and Raven's new pad with cameras hilarious. I also enjoyed reading Alfred's reaction to Starfire's dietary preference as well as her table manners. I do wish however that you had put in a little more BBxRae fluff.
I hope you found this chapter's fluff to be satisfying
bluedog197
WHOA WHOA WHOA hold on now batman got footage of raven and beastboy in the hottub dude that is so spying. anyway funny part with the mustard and starfire gotta hand it to you best story so far keep updating
Thanks!
glittergurl022
This is going to get good i can feel it) glittergurl022
You must have Raven's empathic powers!
Jason9000
...Okay I'm lost. Does Slade have a multi-personality disorder? Why does everyone act like he's two different people? Only difference is one is a gun for hire and the other is a criminal mastermind? You're making it sound he switches his personality based on who he's playing as. You'd think that Slade would keep his skills after retiring from his merc days. He'd have destroyed the Titans on day one. Also wouldn't Batman have found out who Slade was after he heard of Slade's attack on Jump?
Dang! You're good! You guessed it!
titanfan45
Bruce Wayne is their landlord..not suprised as he always is ten steps ahead of everyone else. Poor Alfred, guess he'll just have to learn to think of yellow mustard in a different light.
I can't imagine Alfred serving hot dogs in the manor.