Heyhey!
So, after a wedding in Canada, filing as a sole trader and figuring out how to work a macbook, I'm here!
But also this was a difficult chapter for me to write and I hope I did a good job of it. The whole scene worked in my head; getting it on paper was harder.
Much thanks to my Beta labreck01!
Review Responses:
Mr. Guest - So sorry this took so long! But I appreciate your enthusiasm and will tell you that I already share some of your ideas :)
Sperance - Haha, Raven doesn't know what to think :) So, a time-skip is basically just passing just starting a chapter with '6 months later' or something like that. Skipping a period of time during the narrative, which I'll have to implement to some degree during this.
McDiggity - Everything could use more cowbell :)
FF8cerberus - Mate, it's Batman. Intimidation is like, his thing.
TenTailedAnarkyBeast - Haha, Beastboy optional ;) Awesome name by the way :D
Jimmy1201 - Bang on Jimmy, internet cookie for you.
twistedpremise - Thanks, I really liked the reporter scene. So much so that I reckon I'll be using Mr. Sharpe again sometime. Yeah, I'm struggling with Robin too to be honest, tough to get the balance right.
Sturm and Drang - I really appreciate that dude, means an awful lot being told you're improving as a writer. This chapter is the real acid test for that though. Hardest thing I've had to write yet. Let me know what you honestly think!
theluckyshot - I did look at your story list mate. It was as impressive as it was intimidating.
I am very happy that you have such a high opinion of my writing. I'm pretty sure the beginning was rocky to say the least but I did put a good bit of time into the plot and it's gratifying to have it applauded.
The grammar is killing me! Well, was killing me. On my old computer I had an unlicensed version of Word that did not include spell check. Now I have supersleeksexy mac though and am loving it! So hopefully no more stupid mistakes.
I'm a big fan of Cassie too and it's all because of an author named jarec on this site. You've probably read his saga (if not, definitely a must) and his use of Cassie was inspiring. Literally. I laughed at your Raven opinion as I feel the same way, but am glad the writing is good enough to question it :)
It was indeed a super review and was in part the catalyst to get me writing just before my holiday. So thank you :D
Haebris - Thanks dude, means a lot! The timeskip is intimidating me too, because if I forget something or want to add in another scene, I'm scuppered. Careful planning required. Glad the characterisation was good though :)
The Flying Frog - Thank you Mr. Frog, I liked the interview scene myself! I hope I can bring about a successful finale for the three characters, that's probably the point I'm most worried about to be honest.
I'm afraid you got a long wait sir. Up to you decide is the chapter is of relative quality :L
003586dog - You sir! You are a gentleman and a scholar!
On to the Chapter!
Chapter 27: Stuck In the Middle With You
Two weeks she'd prepared for this.
Two weeks spent finding a suitable location, preparing diversions and waiting for an opportunity.
But as Raven hovered in a small glade some three miles east of Wayne Manor, she was well aware that she had no idea what to do once her plan came to fruition. She had meditated on the reunion she was planning to force on him. Tried to predict how he would react and then prepare accordingly. But the fact was, Beastboy was always unpredictable. Undoubtedly more so, given the current situation.
She just didn't know what was going to happen. Didn't know if he'd attack her or ignore her after realising she had effectively kidnapped him. Especially when she remembered the state he'd been in last time she'd seen him.
And that scared her.
But the thought of returning to that Tower. To the dictatorial Robin, the subdued Starfire, the cold Cyborg. To the bed she hadn't had a full nights sleep in for months.
That idea was far worse.
She needed this. Whatever this was.
Raven knew that guilt was a prominent cause for her compulsion to see him. Hours had been spent agonising over that fact that she, a powerful empath, in all their years together, had failed to pick up on the tornado of negative emotion Beastboy had displayed that night. Yes, she actively tried to give her teammates the privacy of their own minds. But still, she should have noticed... something!
She breathed out, emptying her lungs along with the thoughts in her head. The demons of self-hatred and accusation had been tormenting her fiercely, feeding off of her self-imposed guilt. But she was done lying to herself.
Guilt wasn't the only reason she was here.
Giving her head a small shake, Raven emptied her mind. This needed to be done. Whatever happened would happen. She could trust Beastboy.
Right?
'It doesn't matter,' she thought, brow furrowing, 'I need him to...to...stop whatever the Trigon's going on with me. Azar, I can't remember the last time I did something this wreckless.'
Raven took a deep breath, feeling her uniform tighten across her chest. She made a mental note to see about getting it resized.
"Alright," she said aloud, closing her eyes lightly. "Let's do this."
Three hours later, after very carefully extending her soulself out in tendrils, she had isolated Beastboy and waited for the shadows to become dark enough to transport him. She had to do this quickly.
'Now or never.'
...
'Please...please don't hate me...'
Raven released a pulse of power into her chosen shadow as she tracked Beastboy with her soulself, at the same time opening a portal in front of her.
Out of that portal fell a yelling green teen.
Upside down.
Beastboy had no time to twist in the air and tried to land his on his outstretched arms. Unfortunately they were all but spent and folded under him as soon as they hit the ground. This, of course, meant his head was the next to impact, taking almost the entirety of his impromptu fall.
He crumpled into an unconscious heap in front of a stupefied Raven. In an instant, whatever composure she had fled and all that remained was a sleep deprived, emotional and fearful girl.
"Beastboy!"
In an instant she was on her knees beside him, supporting his limp head on her lap.
"Beastboy! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-here, I'm going to heal you, You're going to be fine!"
Her small hands glowed a translucent blue as she touched each of his temples, unheeding of his sweat soaked hair and face.
Her heart thumped as she waited, breath baited, eyes wide.
Raven's gaze swept over his familiar features, unable to appreciate seeing them again in her distress.
Then his eyes fluttered open.
He blinked blearily, eyes uncomprehending and Raven felt relief spread through her chest.
"Uhh...Didn't even see that one coming, Cass."
Raven froze.
She suddenly became acutely aware of his head resting heavy on her lap. Of the thick, wet strands of coarse hair lightly brushing her bare, goosebumped thighs. Her hands gently supporting his jaw and the top of his head, absently tracing patterns into his damp skin with a mind of their own.
Shit.
Could she knock him out again? Move away before he finally-
"Ra..Raven?!"
His head hit the ground again.
"Oomph! Owww, the hell's going on?"
With some effort, he pulled himself up into a sitting position, still trying to get rid of the dense fog in his head. He was in a small open space, thick grass beneath him, thick trees surrounding him; a thick twilight gloom hanging over the place.
And across from him, a familiar figure. Hood up and eyes unusually wide.
"I-I was just healing you. You fell out of the portal and-"
"...Raven?"
"-Your head, you were unconscious and-"
"Raven!"
"-Just thought-"
She was cut off when a green boy appeared in front of her and wrapped arms around her tightly. Raven gasped audibly, caught completely by surprise.
For an instant, she simply felt the weight of his body against hers. The hint of warmth spreading from his skin to hers where their necks almost touched. The melding of their shapes together by his clasping hands. The closeness and the safety.
Then it was all gone. Raven opened her eyes at the sudden loss of touch, unaware that she had closed them.
Beastboy stood awkwardly away from her, hand rubbing the back of his neck in that way of his that triggered so many memories in Raven's mind. He did look odd in normal workout clothes though. It seemed unnatural.
"Hehe, sorry about that. I'm just so glad to see you! What are you doing here?! How are you even..."
Beastboy trailed off as his gaze settle on Raven, who suddenly felt very exposed.
"Wait, you can't have transported me without knowing where to find me unless you knew where I was and if you knew where I was then you knew where the batcave is and if you know where the batcave is then you-You know Batman's identity?!"
He breathed deeply, dumbstruck from the revelation. And lack of oxygen.
Raven felt a tickle rise in the back of her throat. She fought it back down but recognised the easing in her chest. Beastboy was the same as he always had been. Contentment settled down in her chest.
"A fascinating look into the thought process of Beastboy." She said dryly, rolling her eyes.
Beastboy stared at her a moment before grinning widely. Azar, it was good to see that smile again.
"Hey, judge me on the conclusion, not the method!"
Raven raised an eyebrow, enjoying falling back into their bantering.
"Wow," she said blankly, "a decent comeback. Batman really can work wonders."
Beastboy pulled an annoyed face at her.
"But seriously, what the hell? What are you doing, knocking me out and...and kidnapping me!"
"I didn't knock you out, you did that yourself. What, did you fall into the portal face first? And why didn't you catch yourself or do a combat roll or something?"
"Oh don't even go there! I've been doing mile long laps on my hands all damn day! And suddenly the ground disappeared from under me! I don't even remember what happened next!"
"You faceplanted that rock. You should be proud, you nailed it."
What was she doing antagonising him?! She had come here to...to...well not to do this anyway!
Raven held up her hand as he opened his mouth indignantly.
"But you're right. I did sort of kidnap you and I do know Batman's identity. And Robin's."
Beastboy's face went blank. "How?"
Raven sighed and looked around, suddenly needing some space. Spotting a tree just beside her, she sat down and leant up against it. She watched Beastboy approach warily. She could sense his mood. A joyful yellow tinged with a blue caution. He was suspicious and she supposed he had every right to be. But it made her nervous.
She told him of her trip into Robin's mind and Batman's subsequent interrogation. Beastboy listened closely as he sat on the grass in front of her, leaning back on his hands and wondering at the weird situation.
"What's the unbreakable vow?" He asked when she had finished.
"A vow you can't break."
He rolled his eyes. "Well yeah, I got that. Want to explain why?"
Why was she still messing with him? And since when had their roles been reversed? With her annoying him and him rolling his eyes?
"Uh-hum, It's simple really. A magically binding promise."
"And if you told me Bats' name right now?"
Raven cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "Bats?" She drawled.
He looked annoyed. "Crap, I need to stop doing that. He gets pretty pissed when I call him that."
The tickle rose in her throat again.
"You call the Batman...Bats?"
"Not intentionally!" Beastboy protested sulkily, staring at the grass. "It just sorta'... comes out. Last time I called him that, he hung me from the ceiling by my feet and treated me like a piñata. He called it evasive manoeuvring training."
The tickle rose higher but met tightly pressed lips. So it migrated higher and forced its way out Raven's nose in a soft snort.
Beastboy's head snapped up at the sound and Raven fought to keep her face blank.
"You-you laughed."
"I did not laugh." She denied strongly.
"You sorta' laughed!"
"I sneezed."
"No way! Okay, maybe it wasn't real laughter, but you expressed happiness!"
He shook a finger at her threateningly, hope in his eyes. She felt the denial rise up in her. The old verbal stab she resorted to when feeling exposed or vulnerable. But she hadn't come her to cut him down like she usually did. And she didn't want to either.
Unbidden, the image of the inhuman roar that haunted her nights flashed in her mind.
She had almost forgotten about his... episode that had kickstarted this entire misadventure. Seeing him now, head cocked in trumped up victory and hope; it was impossible to imagine that somewhere beneath his gleaming eyes lay a dormant agony.
She wanted to alleviate it. To give him something.
"Well... it was funny."
"…"
It was slow. It was awed. It was real.
The smile that spread up his face. Not massive and toothy. Instead, soft, genuine and unbelieving. His eyes lit up and seemed to dance with joy; glowing from within instead of merely reflecting outwards. His whole face lifted, ears literally.
It was...mesmerising.
Raven tore her eyes away from the sight as warmth blossomed in her chest. The sight was eliciting far too many emotions. The knowledge she could bring about such happiness in him was unnerving. She needed space.
Beastboy, in a rare moment of tact, or simply not knowing what else to do, cleared his throat and returned to topic.
"Ehh, so this vow. What happens if you break it?"
Raven replied quickly, thankful for the return to safe territory.
"I die."
Beastboy's eyes bulged at the straightforward answer.
"What?! Why would you agree to something like that?"
"It was the most elegant solution to the situation. I knew he wouldn't rest until he had silenced me or ensured my silence. It wasn't worth fighting."
Beastboy's eyes still looked troubled.
'Just drop it. Please.'
"But you would hate that."
"...Hell."
Beastboy's eyebrows suddenly shot upwards. That couldn't be good.
"If I remember right, this was only a few months before...your birthday...right?"
How did he do that? How did he take something so small and use it to get inside her head? Her heart?
The words were in her throat. Loaded, ready to shoot him down. Again.
But his face held no pity. No sympathy even. Just understanding.
She nodded. Once.
He looked down.
She looked down.
Silence in the glade.
"So it's great to see you and stuff Rae, it really is. But what do you want? Why are you here? Where even is here?"
Beastboy had never been one for awkward silences.
Raven, on the other hand, was suddenly wishing the awkward silence would come back.
"I..."
He was looking at her, expecting a ready made answer. Eyes curious, solitary fang exposed in a faint smile, body relaxed, spirit shining.
And Raven suddenly knew why she had come.
"I..."
Phrasing it, on the other hand, was more difficult than realising it.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing."
Raven internally winced. That had came out more sentimental than she had wanted. She watched carefully as Beastboy's eyebrows disappeared into his fringe. She suddenly felt the need to justify herself.
"You were...in a bad way last time I saw you and...and it worried me. I just wanted to...to..."
Damn. This is what she got for elaborating.
She forced herself to look at his face.
She had never needed her empathy powers to read him. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Or face, more specifically. As he was currently proving.
Emotions were running across his face, one after the other. Shock, happiness, surprise, joy; she guessed results of her...confession? Whatever it was. Intermittently guilt, despair, regret and shame flitted through his eyes; no doubt his remembering of his time as the Changeling.
What drew Raven's eye the most however, was the darkening green, faintly red tinges to his cheeks. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Beastboy blush. Nothing seemed to embarrass him. Why was he embarrassed now?
'Of course. It's obvious he would be embarrassed about the incident.'
Again, the desire to reach out, to ease and help rose in her. The words were out before she could think them through.
"I had to know you were okay."
That seemed to just make it worse as Beastboy looked away towards the ground.
Damn.
This wasn't how it was meant to be.
They had an... agreement... of sorts worked out. An understanding.
Yes, they got on each others nerves. Poked fun, annoyed, made fun of each other. But it was all done with the knowledge that it wasn't serious. Neither meant to hurt the other; those days were behind them. Their relationship was based on an unspoken foundation of mutual acceptance. If she needed him, he would be there –Malchior. He needed her, she would be there – Beast. The bickering and arguments was just the reassurance that they understood each other.
But it had always been unspoken. Unacknowledged that they had seen each other at their lowest points.
But now...
It wasn't unspoken anymore.
'Here comes the joke. 'Oh, Raven you do care!' Azar, I can't believe I said that. This is-'
"Thank you."
Raven looked up, suddenly aware of the torn up grass in her hands.
Beastboy sat there. Not a trance of humour in his face. Just a look of such open gratitude, embarrassment and vulnerability Raven felt her heart tighten in her chest. Tears glistened at the edged of his eyes.
Maybe...
Maybe that understanding wasn't entirely mutual.
'Well, he knows now, no point in thinking about it, just don't look at his face, say something, say something, say something-'
"As to where we are," Raven stated, moving her eyes around the glade as her heart pounded, "We are 3.4 miles North by NorthWest of Wayne manor."
Beastboy didn't reply immediately, too busy surreptitiously wiping his eyes.
'And again with the awkward silences.'
"I bet you scouted this place out at least a dozen times." Beastboy chuckled, shrugging off his mood like a snake sheds its skin.
"Only four." Raven defended. "Don't exaggerate."
"I'm surprised it wasn't more."
"I'm surprised you know what a dozen is."
"I don't. It just sounds like a lot."
The tickle was back.
"It sounds like a lot? What does that even mean?"
"I dunno, it's also fun to say."
"Uh-huh. And how do you not know what a dozen is?"
"How do you NOT not know what a dozen is?"
"Because I'm not an idiot."
"I'm sorry, are you using the medical term 'idiot'?
"What?"
"The term 'idiot' is used by doctors for someone with an IQ of less than 30."
"I…I didn't know that."
"If you were using that meaning, then no, I would agree, you are not an idiot. If you meant the everyday meaning then I would have to disagree."
"…"
"Boom! Beastboy 1, Raven-"
"Like four million." She interrupted, more annoyed than she should be but also pleasurably surprised. "How do you know that? Or did you make that up?"
Beastboy chuckled, "Now who's exaggerating?" he said with another heartfelt grin that had Raven making sure her hood was up. "And how do you not know what idiot really means?" He said with a raised eyebrow and sideways grin.
Raven stared.
Beastboy stared back.
"You made that up didn't you?"
"No! …Maybe. Probably…most likely.
"You seemed pretty sure."
"Hey, I rarely know what I'm talking about. I just look and sound like I do."
"Why does that not surprise me?"
The two met eyes, both privately relishing the verbal sparring.
"So," Beastboy managed with an excited smile, "How are things going back home? Barely surviving without me I'm sure?"
He was expecting an extravagant eye roll, relating exactly how she felt on his importance to the team without a word. What he didn't expect was for Raven to looked back down at the ground and start picking strands of grass again. Raven did not fidget or did not make small talk and she most certainly did not reveal her feelings or emotions so freely.
She wasn't acting like herself and that alarmed him.
What could possibly make Raven act in such a way?
"It's...different." She said slowly, addressing a piece of grass she slowly tore in half. "Cyborg has been pretty down lately and Starfire has been...changeable. Robin...has been difficult to deal with recently. He' s changed quite a bit since you left." She didn't want to let him know the true extent of what was going on. There was no point in making him worry while he was training. Azar, since when had she cared about other people's feelings?
"Yeah, I'm sure he isn't too happy about the rampage… or me staying with Batman… or the press problems it's caused… or-"
"Beastboy, shut up."
Beastboy did shut up. Did those words really just come out of Raven's mouth?
"Robin's problems are his own. You made your decision and the team stands behind you."
'Well most of us.'
Beastboy was looking down again. "It…it wasn't easy. Hasn't been easy. I miss you guys. I-I just wish I hadn't screwed up so badly."
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up, startled.
Raven looked back, eyes steady and so very, very purple.
'Her hand,"'Beastboy thought, amazed he could form any coherent thought at all,'is so cold.'
"It happened and now you're doing something about it. Don't think about Robin or anyone else. You're doing this for you and I admire that."
Beastboy googled at girl. Opened his mouth. Closed it again.
Raven hadn't moved.
"Train hard. Come home soon. Understand?"
Beastboy nodded mutely.
Raven nodded once and pulled back. "Good."
Silence in the glade.
"Well I've got to get back. Probably best if I don't kidnap you again, wouldn't want Batman to notice.
Beastboy shook his head mutely.
Raven shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, take care."
She stepped into the portal behind her.
"Wait!"
She turned back.
Beastboy stood, eyes wide and sincere.
"Thank you Raven."
'His shoulder,' Raven thought as she entered the blackness, 'Was so warm.'
The room looked like something straight of Cyborg's dreams.
It wasn't particularly big, but every surface, including the walls and parts of the ceiling were covered in electronics.
Massive screens bathed the collection of computers, switches, units and processors in an unnatural, pale blue light. Gadgets and gizmos cluttered any available workspace alongside keyboards and computer mouses. It was a hacker's Disneyworld.
At the centre of the technological wonderland there was a large, comfortable chair that also featured several flashing lights, input panels and various screens.
The room was filled with a crunching sound as the girl on the chair took a bite from some sort of nutritional bar. She barely registered the flavour as her eyes pierced through a pair of rounded glasses to fix on the various displays in front of her.
She slowly chewed as she focused on one particular screen, showing what appeared to be a live physical breakdown of an athlete. Oxygen levels, core temperature, breathing rate and various other, more complicated readings.
She stared intently, considerable brainpower devoted to the subject behind the displays. She had requested he not know of her existence. Far easier to remain the anonymous overseer than be acquainted with someone so…sensitive.
A reading or two skyrocketed and another collapsed entirely.
Her hands were instantly on the keyboard, typing with a practised genius, finding out what had happened.
Once she activated the tiny microphone hidden on the chip concealed on the clothing given to the subject, she knew what to do.
"Oracle to Batman, you should be listening to this…"
Yahoo!
This is the first major interaction between BB and Rae in the story. Only took about a 100,000 words.
It was more difficult than I thought and I tried to get the tone bang on, but the truth is I don't know how well I did.
Please, let me know.
One last thing, do you guys like the review responses at the beginning of the chapter? Or would you prefer private messages? I'm good for either, but I think it may be distracting. Heck, I don't know how many people actually read them.
Anyway,
Sayonara, (Yes! Thought of another one!)
CJB