AN: I do not own Teen Titans. Please refrain from reviewing until the end of the story. Thank you.

Chapter 5

The squeak of the breaks and the bus jutting to a stop was what woke the two out of their peaceful slumber. Both had stiff necks and felt a bit discombobulated, but were well rested nonetheless. It took a moment for them to remember where they were and what was going on. Raven ended up leading her groggy teammate off of the bus and around the congested station. She got them a taxi that took them to the motel they'd be staying in for the night.

It wasn't the most luxurious of motels but it wasn't rundown either. It seemed well kept, all of the signs were lit and the windows in the reception room were clean, and the people walking around seemed decent. They made their way to the front desk and Raven proceeded to get their room while Beast Boy tried to shake the after effects of his nap off.

"Hi, how can I help you?" asked a middle aged woman behind the desk.

"I have a reservation for a room," said Raven, handing her ID over.

"Okay just give me a moment," said the woman, typing one finger at a time. It was apparent she was intimidated by the technology but doing her best to put on a brave face. Finally she smiled and grabbed a key from behind her. "Alright, here you go. Your room number is 210 and you're all set!"

"Thanks," said Raven, taking the key and grabbing her bag.

"Uh, Raven," said Beast Boy, following her out, "You do realize you only got one room, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, uh, don't you think that's kind of a problem?"

"No."

"But if we only have one room that means…we're gonna…sh-share a bed? No, you'd never do that. So that must mean…oh no! You're not gonna make me sleep outside, are you? Look I'm sorry I was whining on the bus, okay? Please don't make me sleep out here. Without my powers I'm kinda feeling vulnerable. What if someone tries to mug me? Can't I just sleep on the floor? Or in the bathroom? I promise I won't peek at you when you're changing. That's the last thing I'd ever want to do. Uh, that's not to say that I think seeing you changing would be gross or anything. Not that I want to see you changing. I just mean-"

"Beast Boy."

"Y-Yeah?"

Raven opened the door to their room and crossed her arms. He peeked inside and saw that the room had two single beds. Now he understood why she didn't change the arrangement she'd made previously with the motel. He felt rather foolish, not to mention embarrassed, for how he'd rambled on and said so many things that really didn't need to be said. They made their way inside and each claimed a bed.

"So how many busses are we taking tomorrow?" he asked, throwing his bag on his bed.

"Three," she replied, taking off her shoes and opening her bag. "In between the first and the second is when we're going to the tea sanctuary."

"Speaking of tea, I'm hungry," he announced, feeling his tummy growl impatiently.

"There isn't any room service here," she said, removing her hoodie. "I'm pretty sure I saw a convenience store next door. Here." She handed him her Titans charge card. "Try not to get too much junk. And get me some instant soup."

"How're you gonna cook instant soup?"

"There's a coffee pot in the lobby. I can boil water there."

"Cool, I never would've thought of that. Okay I'll be back before you can say Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Pollywog." And with a wink and a cheeky grin he was out the door, a pillow hitting where his head had just been.

He found the convenience store across the street and, after nearly getting hit by a car, made it inside. He began to look around the snacks that were being offered, looking for something that would fill him up. He loved junk food as much as the next guy but he wanted an actual meal. That bus ride was long and his sandwich hadn't kept him full long. He found a small section of real food and there was a frozen section of microwave meals. And, to his luck, there was a microwave in the store for the costumers to use.

He grabbed a few different things and went up to pay for them. "Hey dude." The man working gave him an odd look but began to ring up the food anyway.

"Uh…on your way to or from a party?" the man asked.

"No," Beast Boy replied, wondering why he was being asked such a question. "Why, do I look it?"

"Well you're covered in green skin pain so…" the man shrugged.

"Oh! Oh, yeah, um it's nothing," Beast Boy grinned, which showed off his fangs. The man cocked an eyebrow but didn't ask anything further.

After paying for his purchase the changeling used the microwave to cook half of the meals he'd bought. He hoped Raven would be impressed with what he'd managed to find and make. She wasn't easily impressed, especially with him, but if he could manage to not get a snide remark out of her he'd be happy.

After another close run in with a car as he crossed the street, he made it back to the motel. He grew a little scared when he forgot which room was theirs but finally Raven opened the door and waved him over.

"What took you?" she asked, locking the door behind him. "I could've said Azarath Metrion Zinthos enough times to achieve enlightenment in the time you were gone."

"I know it took a while but you're gonna be happy when you see what I've got," he said, putting the plastic bags down on the small table. "It was really good timing that you looked out here when you did. I couldn't find the room to save my life."

"That's why I looked out the door," she said. "That was actually the fourth time I'd looked outside for you. I thought you'd gotten lost on your way back."

"Well lucky for you I didn't. And I hope you're hungry cuz I made us an amazing meal you're not gonna believe was bought from and made in a convenience store." He began to take the food out of the bags and set it up. Within a minute the small table was covered with hot proper food. "Okay so we've got two cups of oriental flavored ramen soup, a small cheese pizza, French fries, and two slices of hot apple pie. Can you believe you can make all of that in the microwave? Oh, and I got some apples, a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jelly for breakfast and to make us snacks to bring on the bus tomorrow." He placed his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. "So did I do a good job or what?"

Raven looked around the table. Beast Boy's pride began to melt away the longer it was silent. Finally she pulled one of the chairs out and said, "A very good job."

Hearing her say those four words made Beast Boy feel as though he'd just been praised by Batman. "R-Really?"

"It's hot, it's not entirely junk, and you even thought ahead to tomorrow," she said, carefully opening the box containing the rice. "I'm genuinely surprised. So, again, good job."

He was so happy he had to find something to do so that he could turn away from her and not let her see the large smile he was wearing. He'd never been so happy that her powers were on the fritz or he'd be mortified that she could feel how happy she'd made him. He got napkins and plastic utensils out of one of the bags and, after composing himself, turned back to her and placed it all on the table.

"So if the bus is leaving at eight tomorrow when do we have to get up?" he asked as he took a bite of rice.

"We're leaving at seven so I'm getting up at quarter of," she said and blew on her soup.

"But it's a ten minute ride to the station," he pointed out.

"True but we have to pick up my ticket and buy you one," she said. "And with how busy the station was last night I imagine it's going to be just as packed today. That means waiting in a long line. And if we're the first ones at the gate that means we get a better choice of seats on the bus."

"You know you can buy tickets online and print them out," he said. "I bet I could talk the woman at the front desk into letting me use the computer and print out our tickets for us."

"I don't think she'd let you do that," she said, slurping up her noodles as subtly as she could.

"I bet I could charm my way behind the desk," he smirked, more to himself than her. He did love a challenge. "And it doesn't hurt to try, right?"

"I suppose not," she shrugged. "And it would be nice to avoid picking up the tickets and dealing with…people."

"So do I have your blessing?" he asked with a crooked smile.

She gave him an unimpressed look then said a simple, "Sure."

After enjoying their convenience store dinner Raven gave Beast Boy the ticket information he'd need then popped in the shower, she needed one after the shrubbery incident earlier that day. He headed down to the lobby to see if he could get at the computer at the front desk. He wasn't just going to print out their tickets, he was going to visit Shmickapedia and find out as much as he could about Raven's favorite book series, Ashen Splendor. He was just thinking up ways to get on the woman's good side when he spotted someone else behind the desk. A man who looked to be quite busy on said computer. That just about dashed the changeling's hopes. But he'd ask all the same and see if the guy could do him a solid.

"Hey dude," he said with a smile as he approached the desk. "I don't suppose you'd do me a huge favor and let me use this computer."

"No," the man said without looking up from the monitor. Beast Boy's ears fell as did his hopes. "There's a communal computer over in the corner." He pointed, again not looking up. "It's a dollar for ten minutes."

"Cool," the green teen perked up. "Printer?"

"Ten cents a page," said the man.

"Sweet!" Beast Boy cheered. "Can you charge all of that to the room?"

"If you'd like," the man replied then sniffed indifferently. He reached around the desk, grabbed a card, then handed it to him. "Pop this card in and it'll monitor how long you use the computer and how many pages you print. Just remember to take it out and give it back to me when you're done. What room are you in?"

"210," Beast Boy smiled and took the card. He practically skipped over to the computer and sat himself right down. He popped the card in and the screen, that had been locked, was overridden and he was given access. He went to Shmickapedia and brought up the Ashen Splendor page. He read through it as quickly as he could, he didn't want to charge too much to the room or Raven would become suspicious, and did his best to grasp the material. He was able to get through the bulk of the first two books and was certain he could at least hold a conversation about them. Knowing his time was running short he brought up the bus site. He found the route they wanted then proceeded to order another ticket and print them both out.

But he stopped.

And a terribly horribly brilliant idea emerged from his brain. It occurred to him that now that he was no longer stowing away in Raven's luggage he couldn't just part ways with her once they reached her destination. She'd ask questions. She'd find out the truth. So how was he to get to Empire City now? Well he'd just thought of a way. With a few clicks he changed busses, which would put them on a more direct route to Civic City rather than Empire.

"Raven's not gonna be happy when she finds out about this," he said to himself. "I'll have to come up with some excuse so she doesn't think it's my fault. But I've gotta get to Empire City. I'll have to make it up to her someday in the far far future where we can look back on this and laugh. Well I'll laugh…if I'm still alive."

Though he was thinking positively it didn't help the guilt that had settled deep in his stomach. He hated doing this to Raven. She didn't deserve to have her vacation altered. But what other choice did he have? Concede to Aqualad and be transferred to the Titans East? He was sure Raven would give up one vacation in order to keep him…actually she probably wouldn't. Especially if she found out that Aqualad would be coming to live with her and the team. That thought made him terribly annoyed and made up his mind. With a click he purchased the tickets and printed them out.

He returned the card to the man behind the desk and headed back up to their room. Raven was brushing her wet hair and had changed into her pajamas. He'd never seen Raven in pajamas before and couldn't help chuckling to himself.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

He opened his mouth to tell her how there was a communal computer but paused. His quick mind instead said, "Great! The woman printed them out for me. She was a little confused but I talked her through it."

"Well that's good news," she said. "We'll leave at 7:30 then. I'll set the alarm for quarter past."

"Ugh, that's still so early," he sighed and grabbed his bag to get out some night clothes. He then realized that he hadn't bought anything at the thrift shop that was pajama-like. "Aw, man, what am I gonna wear to bed?"

"Just wear a tee-shirt and your boxers," she said plainly and turned down her bed.

"You expect me to walk around here in my underwear?" he asked, slightly shocked she, of all people, would suggest such a thing.

"No, I expect you to sleep in your underwear," she said. "Wear your pants until you go to sleep."

"Ah, gotcha," he said. "Wow, I gotta admit, you scared me for a second there."

"In what reality would I ever want to see you walking around in your underwear?" she asked flatly and climbed into her bed.

He frowned and turned away from her to take his shoes off. "Bet you wanna see Aqualad in his underwear."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing."