Well hello there again.
First off, massive props to JasonVUK who reviewed each and every chapter in one session. There is nothing more gratifying and encouraging to a writer to know people are enjoying their work.
Thank you JasonVUK, you're a legend.
And as usual, thanks goes to my awesome Beta - labreck01.
Review Responses:
SmolderingNight – Hopefully, this chapter will answer your question. Thanks for reading!
HereForTitans – I am glad to be back as well! And I did have a very nice day, thank you! Same to you :)
TheFlyingFrog – Thank you very much good sir. In regards to Robin, I am definitely exaggerating with him. I don't think for a second the Robin from the show would act like this. I've taken several liberties with him, but tried to make his development as realistic and plausible as possible.
Thanks for the encouragement and feedback mate!
Sperance - I felt the same way about Robin. I mean, there's no doubt I'm exaggerating those characteristics in this. But they were there to start with.
I won't say much, but the two will be seeing each other again.
Thanks for the encouragement dude, I shall endeavor to deliver.
Onwards and upwards!
Chapter 21: Galvanize
"I look like I've just been in a firefight with Robocop."
"Robocop?"
"Yeah. You know, half man, half machine super policeman? Shoots people a lot in very unfortunate places?"
"Superhero policeman? What city work in?"
"No, no, like the movie? Robocop?"
"Oh, not heard of it."
"Ah, well he shoots people a lot."
"Just red paint, no limbs missing, not dead."
"Yeah but- well you know...never mind."
Beastboy and Cassie were currently walking away from the firing range in the batcave. Beastboy had been downrange with nothing but a pair of goggles. Cassie had been up range with a high powered paintball gun.
"Lasted longer than thought, did well."
"It was alright when they were only going 200 feet per second, 300 was harder but 500 hundred was impossible. And it hurt like hell!"
"Thinks that hurt? Wait until spar with Batman."
"Can't say I'm looking forward to that."
They reached the low structure that contained the bathrooms and showers of the batcave.
"Be fast, reflex test over but agility testing next."
Beastboy groaned in acknowledgement but didn't waste energy complaining. He slowly made his way over to a line of utilitarian showers and stripped off the white jumpsuit he had worn for the test.
He held it at arms length and tried to pick out any white. He failed.
After struggling out of his sweat soaked underwear and immediately feeling better, he ambled over to a stall and was soon blissfully caught in a hot spray of water.
'Hasn't gone too badly so far.' He idly thought under the steaming stream. 'Can't believe it's not even lunch though! Man, these guys do get a lot done in a day.' Beastboy stretched leisurely, feeling the stress and tension start to dissipate from his body.
He could feel excitement in his belly. 'This is pretty awesome, like. I'm going to be training with the Batman! I mean, I'm sure it's probably going to suck and all, but it's sooo going to be worth it when I'm a badass, bone-breaking Beastboy!'
He was startled when an image of Robin popped into his head. And he half flinched at himself.
'Damn, I keep forgetting Robin lived and trained here like I'm doing.' The excitement turned sour in his stomach. 'I don't really want to end up like him though. I won't end up like him!'
Beastboy had had mixed feelings towards his team leader over the past few years. He still followed Robin's order and did what he was told for the most part but more out of a sense of obligation and a desire to maintain peace in the tower than out of a respect for the leader.
He had never really forgotten about the Beast incident. It always sat in the back of his mind when interacting with Robin, both in social and professional situations. Robin had become inevitably associated with doubt, with danger. Distrust. Suspicion. Betrayal.
Beastboy shifted beneath the shower, turning the temperature up slightly.
He couldn't kid himself. He was under no illusions when it came to Robin. The animal side of him had lost all respect and trust when the leader had betrayed him. It was that simple. You don't turn on your pack. Beastboy had treated Robin the way the alpha was meant to be treated. But the alpha had in turn burned him.
The human side of him focused more on the social side of the relationship. Beastboy had always looked up to Robin as a powerful sidekick that had made it in a tough world. He had always thought of Robin as a friend, a older brother even. Surly, unpredictable and certainly willing to lay the law down on his younger brother, but at heart someone willing to put themselves in the line of fire first.
Beastboy sighed into the steam around him and felt a rare moment of heaviness fall on his chest.
Perhaps he had just been naive. Perhaps he had just been childish. Perhaps he had been so caught up in hero worship that he didn't see what was right in front of him.
It raised serious questions about his future.
There was no telling what was going to happen with his training with Batman. What could emerge at the end of it. Or whether or not anything was going to come from it or not. But as things stood at the moment, Beastboy wasn't sure just how long he'd be able to keep operating under Robin in the Titans.
And that worried him.
It was during this final frown that the shower temperature went from comfortably hot to ice cold in a split second.
Cassie pulled her ear away from the door. She didn't need the contact to hear the high pitched yowl come from inside the bathroom unit.
'Perhaps should have told him about hot water timer.'
30 minutes later Beastboy and Cassie were in yet another corner of the expansive batcave gym. The area was filled with gymnastics equipment; trampolines, parallel bars, still rings, a vaulting and pommel horse, a balance beam and other various equipment.
Beastboy spent the next two hours running through drills on every piece of equipment. Cassie directed him in what moves and maneuvres to try on each item, while videoing everything on a small, handheld camera. Batman would view the footage later.
Finally Beastboy fell from the balance beam after over rotating on his third backflip and hit the crash pad on his back with a squelch of sweat. He fought for breath as a head entered his vision.
"Well that went well." Beastboy struggled out in between gasps.
Cassie looked confused, "Not really."
Beastboy's oxygen starved brain couldn't think of a response to that.
"Anyway, done now. Let's get lunch."
Soon they were tucking into another sumptuous meal prepared by Alfred, although again the butler was nowhere to be found.
Beastboy tried not to let his feelings show on his face as he watched the teenage girl opposite him tear viciously into a turkey leg. Apparently he didn't do a very good job.
"Problem?" Cassie asked after a massive swallow.
"Eh, no, nothing, not at all." Beastboy garbled quickly before filling his mouth with some sort of delicious enchilada. He felt her eyes burn into him as he stared at his plate.
"Lying." She said simply after a moment.
Beastboy sighed through his full mouth, but felt the familiar satisfaction at his lie being seen through. He enjoyed the secret power of people believing he was a terrible liar. It made them all the more vulnerable to being lied to.
It may not have been something he was proud of, but it was a necessity of his life and he did take some sort of perverse pride in his ability to indirectly deceive.
"It's nothing, I just don't eat meat and don't really like watching people eat it." He added a half shrug to his downcast eyes before glancing up to see the effect of his display. He couldn't help but feel a faint stirring of nervousness at what he saw.
The blind acceptance he was used to seeing in the eyes of his audience was most definitely absent in Cassie's demeanor. He met her gaze however, making sure to wince apologetically.
"Lying."
The calm statement sounded so sure and factual coming from the girl's mouth.
"Well, it's also the smell to be honest. It makes me kinda sick if it's too strong."
He waited nervously for her response, feeling like a pit was opening up in his stomach.
Cassie studied the boy opposite her intently, the food in front of her completely forgotten.
Something was off.
"Truth," She said slowly and Beastboy felt the tension drain from his body, but made sure not to let it show in his eyes.
"But still lying."
Beastboy slowly moved his eyes to meet hers, desperately trying not to let himself panic. He withered slightly under the intense chocolate brown stare.
"What do you mean? How can you tell the truth and lie at the same time? And why would I lie?"
He instantly reprimanded himself, 'Damn, said too much!'
"Best lies begin in truth. Tell part truth, part lie. Believable that way. And why lie? Only you know."
Beastboy's eyes hardened just the slightest. His goofy exterior and amateur manipulation wasn't going to fool this girl. 'I should have seen this coming. She's been reading me like a book since I've gotten here.' He placed his elbows on the table on his chin forwards on his hands, eyes never leaving his opponent. His face was curious.
"What makes you think I'm lying or would have any reason to lie?"
"Don't think. Know. Mouth can lie, body can't."
"What?" His curiosity wasn't faked anymore.
"Words can be false. Body is always true. Body talks more than mouth can."
"You're talking about body language, I've always found it fascinating." Said Beastboy seriously,
"Yes," continued Cassie, "From early age, I watch people..." She trailed off as Beastboy leant back into his chair.
"There, just told me how you felt with body while mouth said nothing."
Cassie leaned forward as well, mimicking his earlier pose, all the while keeping solid eye contact with a progressively nervous Beastboy. "This power position. Lean forward, intimidate, scare, take seriously, tense, concentrate. Tells me you are nervous, that you are trying to control talking.
She relaxed into her chair, falling into the same position Beastboy was currently in. "This relaxing position. Relieved, calm, happy that talking has changed subject. Tells me last guess I make you lying was right. I very good at reading body. Only few people can control body so much that I cannot read. You tell me everything with movement."
Beastboy just stared.
"Example, you showing signs of surprise or shock. Hands in front of body, eyebrows raised, eyes widened, mouth relaxed. You surprised but more..."
She studied him a moment longer. Beastboy was beginning to feel more and more like a specimen under a microscope. Cassie continued thinking aloud.
"Eyebrows not straight up, Instead come close together as well. Upper eyelid move up, lower flatten out. Lips flat, mouth corners pulled back."
She eyed him intently as he leaned further back slightly in his chair, giving her a final sign.
"Afraid."
There was silence for a moment as both teens regarded each other. The food continued to cool between them, utterly forgotten as the attention of both was fixated on the other.
Beastboy felt like his brain had frozen. He had no defense against this. Everything would come out, every secret laid bare, there was nothing he could do, nothing he could say, she would pick him apart piece by piece by piece by p-
"Relax Beastboy, relax."
His eyes snapped to hers.
"Have nothing to fear from me. know value of secret. Won't push or demand anything from you."
Beastboy's felt all the air leave his lungs explosively. 'Oh God, that was getting dangerously close to a panic attack. Pull yourself together, idiot! You signed up for this!'
"Thank you." He spluttered out.
Cassie contemplated him seriously.
Batman was not one to hold back. He wouldn't be so lenient or forgiving. If Beastboy was struggling with just her, there was no telling what he would be like with the master of the house. Thinking about it worried her.
He seemed so... fragile.
She wanted to help him. Wanted to make this easier for him. And to do that, she knew she needed to relate to him. Make him trust her. And in order to do that, she knew she needed to communicate effectively. But what if she messed up and accidentally ended their new relationship before it even really began?
Cassie took a deep, calming breath. Worrying was not something she did very often. She would rather do something than agonize over how she would do it or what the ramifications would be if she failed.
'Learn by doing.' She thought resolutely.
"Beastboy."
The green boy looked up at her, obviously still wary.
"Why you here?"
He quickly looked down at the table.
"To get better."
"How?"
"I don't know. Batman will-"
"Batman will ask questions. And will get answers."
"..."
"He need to know you to help you. He need to know everything about you. I know it frightening. I know you afraid. I know don't want to talk about self, about past."
Beastboy's head snapped up to meet her gaze.
"How do you know that?" he whispered in awe.
Cassie inadvertently shifted in her seat and shifted her gaze down and to the side, well aware of what her body language was conveying, but knowing he wouldn't be able to read it.
"Went through it myself." She said simply. "Years ago. Came to Batman with problems. He offer to fix. But needed to know everything about me. Everything. It was... hard. But I trust him and he help me a lot..." She trailed off again before regaining her composure and fixing Beastboy with a steady gaze.
"But need to trust. Need be no fear. It hard, but need be done."
Beasboy stared, slack jawed at the girl.
She was right.
Dead right.
He was afraid.
Terrified.
Of his past.
Of himself...
But he needed to rise above it.
Needed to face his fear.
Needed to trust.
But could he?
He saw no deception in the girl's eyes. Just a warmth and understanding. He felt a shiver run down the back of his neck and along his spine.
This was really happening.
He said he was in. The words had been said with a determination in his heart but a lack of true understanding in his head.
He understood now.
He had spent years with his titan 'family,' but had never opened up to them. Never really trusted. Never told any of them anything. But then again, no one had ever asked. No one had every shown any real interest. Granted, no one liked to talk about their pasts in the tower. But maybe that wasn't a good thing.
And now here he was being asked to trust in a girl he had just met and a man dressed as a bat.
Could he do it?
Beastboy blinked, coming out of his inner monologue and realizing that his eyes hadn't left Cassie's and hers hadn't left his.
He licked his dry lips.
And made a decision.
Time to trust.
Time to grow.
'Time to get something out of this.'
"I heard once that trust is a two way street. How about this; a question for a question?" Beastboy broke the silence with a lopsided grin.
Cassie looked taken back, at both his question and his change in demeanor, "What you mean?"
Beastboy leaned back in his seat and threw a piece of carrot in his mouth. "You want to know why I don't eat meat. I want to know why you have trouble speaking. A question for a question." He swallowed and eyed her playfully, as if daring her to accept.
She returned the gaze thoughtfully. She didn't enjoy talking about herself. She hated talking about her past and worried about what he may think of her if he found out about some of the things she had done.
But on the other hand, she wanted to find out more about him. He was so intriguing. She had been guessing earlier when she said he was lying. He was so hard to read. It made him all the more mysterious. And those emerald eyes seemed to get bigger by the second...
"Was never taught to speak."
Beastboy blinked in surprise. He hadn't really been expecting it to be that easy. It took ages to weasel anything out of Raven and even then he had never gotten any straight answer. To be given something so easily and freely was really quite refreshing.
"What do you mean? Like your parents didn't let you talk?" He leaned forward, picking up his knife and fork again.
"No. Mean no one teach me how to speak. And when tried to, was punished."
A piece of broccoli slid off of Beastboy fork as it froze on the way to his mouth.
"You were punished for trying to speak as a little kid?!" He asked incredulously. 'Who would be twisted enough to do that? And why?'
"Yes." Cassie replied simply, taking a drink.
"Why?"
"Already answered question. Now you answer mine." She stated with one raised brow.
Beastboy frowned in annoyance and felt apprehension rise in his throat. He pushed it down and nervously cleared his throat.
"I don't like meat because... eh... it's sorta hard to explain." He glanced at her apologetically.
Cassie kept on chewing, her face formed in polite attention.
"Emm, I guess it really comes down to meat- and you never tell Cyborg this- eh, meat... tastes too good..."
Cassie raised her eyebrows slightly, "Don't like meat because enjoy it too much?"
"Oh no, I don't enjoy it! I don't enjoy it all... The thing is," he rolled his shoulders slightly, "eating meat kinda changes me... sorry I'm not explaining myself very well, hehe." He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Take time." Cassie leaned over the table and started loading her plate up again.
"Okay, how do I put this?" Beastboy wondered aloud. He was feeling surprisingly good talking about this. He felt like a load had been lifted off of his chest. He felt like he could walk on air.
"So the animal kingdom is made up of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores." He elaborated at the look on the girl's face. "Animals who eat meat, animals who eat plants and animals that eat both. He continued at Cassie's nod of understanding."
"It's a defining characteristic in animals; whether or not they eat meat. You have to understand that food is one of the three most important things to every animal, including humans to some extent. The other two being survival, which is dependent on food anyway, and of course mating.
"There are fundamental differences between carnivores and herbivores. I mean, a very large part of the animal kingdom is omnivorous but even then most mainly eat one way or the other-"
"Beastboy, don't change subject."
He glanced towards her nervously. "Sorry," He said quietly, "Old habits."
"Don't be nervous, won't judge." She gave him a gentle smile.
"Eh, so anyway... yeah, differences. The difference is one attacks and kills and the other defends themselves. Carnivores have claws and fangs to kill, herbivores have horns and weapons like that as well, but use them to defend themselves. The entire mentality is different. As a hero, I need to stay away from that carnivore attitude and eating meat... well eating meat brings out those instincts in me."
"Really?" Cassie put her spoon down. It seemed absurd.
"Yes! I mean, it just tastes and smells so damn good!" Cassie saw the gleam in his eyes as they devoured the rest of the turkey leg on her plate. "But I know that giving into that instinct will only make it stronger and more dangerous in the future."
"In what way? You talk from experience?" Cassie asked gently, not wanting him to stop talking.
Beastboy tore his eyes away from the meat and flinched ever so slightly. "I'm afraid I've already answered your question." He said with a wide grin, showing many gleaming white teeth.
'There again. Smile appear too quickly, stay too long, no crease around eyes, bottom teeth visible. Definitely fake , progress made. Now not time to push.'
"Okay. So you saying eating meat make you more like carnivores."
"Yes."
"And carnivores bad because?"
Beastboy sighed before answering. "There's nothing wrong with carnivores. They are a perfectly natural part of the world. The problem is that when I eat meat, characteristics associated with carnivores become more prominent in me. Namely, the desire and instinct to hunt and kill. In my line of work that's a dangerous thing."
Cassie blinked. She had some trouble understanding that. Not because what he was saying was confusing but because she was unfamiliar with some of the language he was using. He sounded... intelligent, smart. She never would have expected him to come out with a short speech like that.
However, something about what he was saying didn't quite ring true with Cassie. But she didn't think she'd fully understood everything he had said. Plus, she knew that the green teen was going to be a complicated puzzle to unravel from the start. She would need to make a point of her suspicions to Batman though. Beastboy wasn't the only one with instincts.
"Alright, enough talk. Rest now. Back in gym in thirty minutes." Cassie pushed her chair back, stood up and made for the door to the manor without another word.
"Eh, one second!" Beastboy's hurried after her only to catch his foot on his chair leg, sending him clattering face first onto the cold floor.
"Uhhh, such a fail." He groaned aloud as he rolled onto his back. 'Maybe she didn't hear that.'
Her face entered the top of his vision, thick black curls falling around her face like curtains.
'Nope, guess not.'
"Yes?" She asked pointedly, a small smile on her face.
"I was, uh, going to ask you, emm, what we'll be doing?"
Cassie tilted her head above him. "Don't know. We see when Batman get here."
She disappeared.
Thoughts?
Good direction? Bad direction?
What do you guys want to see more of?
Pace a bit slow?
Let me know!
CJB