Hello Everyone this is nekotenshihime. I wanted to apologize for waiting so late to update. The reason is I'm still in college and with all the hw and projects and getting writer's block on later chapters, I have not had the time to update. But I have good news, I'm on Spring Break this week, so I'm updating 3 or 4 ch.s as a way to say, "I am Sorry!" Thanks again, and please read and review. It helps me so much and makes me feel like somebody wants to read this. Here is chapter 5
Chapter 5: A Day at the Beach
Beast Boy woke up twitching from his dream. Terra snuggles into Beast Boy's soft green fur and he purred deep in his chest. Robin stretches and yawns as Starfire's eyes flutter open. Raven glances at Beast Boy as he purrs at Terra and Blackfire yawns.
"How is everyone?" Cyborg sighs and yawns.
"Good morning friends. How did everyone sleep?" Starfire asked.
"Hi Star. I slept well which is a surprise. How are you Blackfire?" Raven replied.
"Good morning. What's for breakfast?" Blackfire inquired.
"Ask the chiefs I'm not a regular in the kitchen except to drink tea. I have to warn you though, Starfire's cooking is weird. I respect that Beast Boy doesn't eat meat so he respects that I don't eat fake meat."
Robin and Starfire hug each other for a brief moment before stomachs start rumbling. Cyborg sighs as he walks over to the kitchen. The others expect to see his cooking buddy right next to him but B.B. is preoccupied now. Terra still hasn't woken up and with her snuggling into Beast Boy's thick green-black fur and his purring growls she might not be getting up any time soon. Robin walks to the kitchen ready to help CY. Raven thinks back on what happened last night. She couldn't help but remember Terra and Blackfire's low mumbles in the middle of the night it was obvious they had nightmares.
"So Beast Boy you gonna let me cook breakfast today? It's fine by me. I'll whip a nice home-town country breakfast with bacon, eggs, grits, and buttered biscuits. Delicious!"
Beast Boy did not hear a word Cyborg said. His main concern is to take care of Terra. Robin strolls out of the kitchen confident the "chiefs" wouldn't burn down the living room. He began a search on the computer for alien technologies in particular capture devices. Once again he is frustrated because of little beneficial results. Starfire is about to suggest they all go somewhere fun when Terra wakes up and says the first thing that comes to mind.
"Good morning everyone how did you sleep? Stupid shackles I wish we could just melt Blackfire's wrists through the metal and be done with you."
The Teen Titans freeze in their tracks. Cyborg is the middle of flipping a few strips of bacon as he holds the pan sizzling in his hands. Robin freezes with his fingers over the keyboard. Raven opens her eyes from mediating and glances at Beast Boy who is still a wolf. Blackfire and her sister are stunned that the answer could be so simple.
"Will it work?" Blackfire asks to break the silence.
"We won't know until we try. It goes without saying that we have to be careful but there is a good chance this could work. What do you think Raven?" Robin asks.
"I'm willing to try if Blackfire is" Raven says.
"Okay I'm ready" Blackfire says giving Terra a 'thumbs up' to encourage her and herself.
Starfire holds her sister's hand as Raven takes a deep breath. She hoped this would work and Blackfire would not end up without any wrists or worst her wrists stuck between the shackles. The Titans hold their breath as Raven chants and the familiar black energy surrounds Blackfire's wrists. With Raven holding Blackfire's wrists and Starfire holding the shackles; a quick pull and Blackfire is free! The Titans give a huge shout of joy. Starfire brings her older sister into a bear hug. Robin and Cyborg give each other high-fives. Beast Boy pushes his nose into Raven's hand and she strokes his fur. Terra jumps up and down and hugs first Blackfire, and then Beast Boy and Raven last. The Titans gasp when Raven smiles and shakes Terra's hand. Beast Boy shifts back into a boy and declares,
"Who wants tofu waffles?"
Cyborg replies with a grunt, "Man nobody wants tofu waffles! That's why I made some bacon, eggs, biscuits, and top it all off with homemade grits. So who's hungry?"
Beast Boy groans at the mention of "bacon" so he decides to make his waffles with soy milk and a few slices of wheat French toast. Terra asks,
"So do we get to pick what breakfast we like or do we have to stick with one or the other?"
"If you eat it we'll cook it" Robin says with a wide smile. "Starfire what were you going to ask earlier?"
"Perhaps with such grand weather we could make the journey to the beach of white sands and ocean waves for a day of… fun?"
Terra is the one person to brave Beast Boy's veggie-tofu cooking and no one is surprised that she likes it. Blackfire however thought his French toast idea with the soy milk was clever and it didn't taste too bad, even Raven liked it. The Titans decide that going to the beach is just what they all needed after a hectic week. Robin could not believe that someone had convinced Star, Terra, and Raven to buy and wear swim suits. Beast Boy tries not to drool but it's a losing battle because all the girls look "hot"!
Raven is wearing a one piece decorated in dark blue swirls that remind her of clouds and stars. Starfire is wearing a two-piece with a delicate pattern of summer flowers in vivid colors tracing the bra and her underwear. Terra is also in a one-piece with autumn leaves falling, while Blackfire is in a two-piece covered by violet, red-orange flames that weave around her suite in a vine pattern. The boys were stunned to say the least. They never would have believed anyone could get Raven in a bathing suit or get Starfire to wear a two-piece.
Of course a few younger guys try to "hit on" the girls and it is unfortunate for them they find themselves buried head to toe in sand with black eyes. Raven refuses to get in the water but Terra and Beast Boy are not so shy. They leap in the water and then shriek to discover it's not as warm as they hoped. Cyborg is content to set up blankets and be ready to grill some burgers along with B.B.'s tofu-dogs. Robin walks up to Starfire attempting in her words, "Make sand architecture."
"It might help if a little of the sand was wet. Then we can start building the outer walls. Maybe before we leave we can put up a moat."
"I would like to be the assistant to your sand architecture Robin." Starfire says and she blushes hiding behind her wall. Robin is also blushing at how great Star looks in her two-piece. They scoot closer enjoying the sun and listening to gentle waves crashing on the beach. Raven meditates near the grill content to listen to Cyborg's humming while the food cooked. Terra and Beast Boy come running in after taking a swim and ask,
"You know we have enough people. Let's play volleyball okay?"
"Maybe we should eat… Well would you look at that." Cyborg points to the unfinished sand castle and the two figures lying next to it. He whistles as Beast Boy takes a hint and leads Terra away. Raven smiles again and looks at Blackfire her face a mixture of "happy" and "jealous". Her eyes are bright but her lips are curved in a frown. Blackfire shakes her head as if embarrassed by the thought of her little sister's unofficial boyfriend.
"I think the right one will come along for you Blackfire. You just have to be patient."
"Thanks Raven but I admit I am jealous. You ever think about… you know?"
"I have enough problems with my powers. I don't need a boyfriend to complicate things."
"You didn't answer my question," Blackfire says with a small smirk on her face.
"Blackfire you've only heard stories you have no idea what happens when I let my emotions get out of control. People can get hurt, do you think I'm that selfish to ask a guy out, even with the slight chance he would even like me, and I risk hurting him because I lost control for one second? Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I understand but here's one more question and then I won't say anymore. How will you know if you don't try?"
Raven gives a slight chuckle she knew she would find a way to get her to think about it. Seeing Beast Boy around Terra and seeing how Robin was with Starfire it made it difficult to not consider it, even if for a moment. Finding a soul mate would have to wait because out of nowhere a purple mechanical octopus erupts out of the ocean and lunges for Blackfire. Beach goers start clapping thinking it's a show, but when it carries her off they stop clapping and start running away shouting encouragement to their teen heroes. Robin and Star hear the screams and leap to their feet.
No one has the time to get dressed so without thinking about it Robin gives his familiar battle cry, "Titans Go!"
The purple-black octopus streamed through the sky with the Titans close behind. Starfire shot a couple of star-bolts hoping to stun or at least slow it down. Instead of slowing down it picks up speed and then out of nowhere four more octopi rush straight for them. Blackfire's muffled screams are heard across the street. Robin and Cyborg try their Sonic Boom technique. Robin and Cyborg run on opposite sides of a building and when they meet in the middle Cyborg fires his plasma cannon and Robin throws some explosives creating a beam that blasts through at least two of the octopi. Beast Boy transforms into a T-Rex and chomps on the third octopus. Raven and Starfire shoot star-bolts and black tendrils of energy trying with desperation to capture the last octopi.
Somehow it manages to slither out of the way. Starfire is livid with anger right now. She sprints towards the octopus but she has to freeze after a series of gun fire comes straight for her. Robin gasps, bolting for her when another round of gun fire stops him. Raven tries to use her powers to grab the retreating machine but he slips away. Terra distracts it by throwing one of Robin's smoke bombs. The resulting smoke blankets everything in a white cloud. When Raven blows the smoke away she is not surprised to see one mechanical monster flying into the distance. She is surprised to see the last two octopi slithering on the ground trying to get away.
"Well I should know better than to underestimate the famous Teen Titans. Imagine four mechanical octopi and they are still standing; is there anything you can't do?"
Beast Boy answers with a low menacing growl that makes the ground rumble. The speaker steps forward and no one is surprised to see that mystery girl with the blue-violet-and-hazel rimmed eyes. The girl steps out of the shadows of a nearby alley content and at ease. The Titans are left thinking,
'Does anything ever make her nervous? Is she some kind of super girl that never loses her cool?'
"What do you want?" Raven asks hovering in the air her hands and muscles tense for another grueling fight. The girl shakes her head, as if Raven was a little girl throwing a temper tantrum and she was waiting for Raven to calm down. One of her attitudes that ticked off Beast Boy so much was the fact that she always seems so disinterested. As if it is a burden or so troublesome for her to even acknowledge you, you'd think she was the most arrogant person you ever met.
Terra trots over dismayed that she couldn't save her new best friend. However she realized getting into a fight with this girl would not save Blackfire and she was about to point this out when,
"It's good to see you again Terra. I am sorry I didn't get here earlier; I would have loved to help you out but I was busy this morning. I know you're all wondering how I found you so fast; that can wait for later. Do you mind if I talk to Terra alone for a minute? I promise I won't hurt her."
Beast Boy leaps onto the girl in the form of a green black stripped tiger roaring in her ears. Cyborg or Raven are about to tell her "No way! Leave us alone!" Beast Boy eyes turn a shade of red-orange that could make Slade widen his eye in fear if for one second. The girl stares back at him while her lips quiver in fear. Beast Boy growls again lifting his paw to slash her across the throat but Terra's hand over his paw stops him.
No one says anything. They knew if anyone should be nervous about talking to this crazy girl alone it should be Terra. Beast Boy couldn't understand why she would want her to be spared. Terra shakes her head with a smile on her face that holds a surprising amount of warmth considering the circumstances.
"No way Terra we can't let you talk to this crazy girl alone! We can't trust her as far as we can throw her."
"I know that Cyborg but if she has information about Blackfire then we have to hear her out. This is not the time to be mortal enemies. Blackfire needs all the help she can get." Terra smiles while holding Beast Boy's tiger paw. His growl is full of menace as he whisks his paw away to stand next to Terra refusing to take his eyes off of her. Robin has his staff out ready to fight. Raven is still hovering tense; Starfire paces the street jerking her head from side to side. The girl dusts off her silver shirt that follows the curves of her upper body. Her navy blue jeans hug her legs and calves giving her a "slim and trim" look. Her short curled light pink hair doesn't seem to go with her outfit but her hair isn't a bright pink so maybe it matches the shirt.
"If you have something to say to Terra you can tell all of us, or will that be a problem?"
"Why that's no problem at all Robin. If I were being honest I'd have to say I love your outfits; you look like you're ready for a day at the beach. However, I came here to warn Terra not socialize, so I guess I should get to that." The girl points to the shadow of alleyways located behind the General Market and in between the local bakery. A traffic guard blows his whistle, holding his arms out in an attempt to direct the traffic and oncoming crowd anxious to figure out what is going on. A small group of law enforcement officers step out of the shadows with a familiar figure in the lead. All the Titans tense even more seeing their "dear old friend" Ramon.
Ramon signals to his officers with a wave of his hand to surround the crowd. These are the same cops that supported Ramon's decision to keep Terra locked away while she was in jail. Ramon gives the Titans a brief smile but it makes them shudder at his expression. The look of utter disdain, disgust, and consuming anger on his face doesn't shock them. The Titans knew he hated Terra what they didn't know was how deep his hatred was. Ramon then does something foolish he walks right up to the Titans with handcuffs in his left hand.
"I don't have a lot of time so I'll say this. He and his buddies over there were here the last time you fought those Musk-a-dorks; they believe Terra was involved with the criminals. He is here to arrest Terra again. Do not believe for a second he will take no for an answer."
"Okay fine. We'll just have to convince him she wasn't there. We'll tell him it was her twin sister. That could work right?"
"Ha! That's hilarious Cyborg! You think you can stop him? Be my guess, but if you can't I would consider getting your dear friend Terra out of here now."
Beast Boy watches in anger and frustration that this man would dare hurt one of his friends. Transforming into a Raptor he roars, causing Ramon to halt. Raven is getting worried Beast Boy has a slight grip on his emotions, but if he loses control it may cause more trouble in the future. Terra grabs one of Beast Boy's reptilian claws slipping her fingers through his claws. Raven breathes a small sigh of relief when she notices his killing intent decreasing; yet it spikes after Ramon is eye to eye with him. Beast Boy growls by exposing his sharp white fangs. Ramon takes a step back, wise of him, until he reaches into his holster and pulls out a gun.