Behind The Scenes 5 - Family Reunions
Left you all on a cliff edge last time... and for a long time lol. Let's go!
"Dad? M-Mommy?"
'Oh no...' Raven thought, her gaze flicking between a shell-shocked Beast Boy and the grinning simulations of his parents. His deceased biological parents. At a loss for what to do next, Raven did the only thing she could: she gave in to the ache in her skull and let the scripted dialogue spill from her lips, moving to greet her "in-laws". There were some passive-aggressive moments between her and the mother-in-law. How cliche. There was a lull and the fake parents seemed to pause, obviously waiting for their son to speak his lines. He stood and watched with wide, watery eyes. Finally, after the longest five seconds Raven had ever experienced, his face contorted in pain and he began to recite his lines. Sorrow bloomed in Raven's chest, watching her friend speak lightly and casually while tears fell from his horrified eyes.
The scene only lasted a few minutes but the time was interminable. The moment they were released, Beast Boy collapsed to the floor, wracked with grief. Raven froze for a fraction of a second before moving to his side, sparing a glance at their guests - they were unmoving, staring at nothing. Cautiously, she reached out and laid a hand on Beast Boy's shoulder. His sobbing stopped and his entire body tensed, causing Raven to flinch and back away. Slowly, he raised his head and faced her. Her heart broke, seeing him look so lost, so... bereft. She returned her hand to his shoulder and tried to smile as he stared over her shoulder at the things wearing his parents' faces. He growled and rubbed his face, clambering to his feet. Raven tried to say something, she really did, but now words seemed good enough. Eventually, he beat her to it.
"It isn't them," he mumbled. Raven stepped closer to hear him better.
"Beast Boy?" she said, quietly. He turned to face her, looking stronger but weary.
"It isn't them. These things aren't my parents. They don't act right, don't sound or smell right. It isn't them," he reiterated.
"It isn't them," Raven agreed, her hand still on his shoulder. Beast Boy glanced back at the fakes and then back at Raven.
"I'm gonna punch Control Freak in the face for this," he said, plainly. Raven forced a playful smirk.
"The line starts with me, Beast Boy. I'm sure he can take two punches." Beast Boy almost smiled. Almost. He furrowed his brow and stared at the floor for a long moment, speaking without looking up.
"Raven, I'm gonna ask a favour, something I wouldn't normally ask of you," he said, seriously. Raven squeezed his shoulder.
"Name it," she said gently. He looked up at her.
"Can I... can I have a hug, please? I know you don't normally go in for that sorta thing but I kinda need some human contact y'know and-" his rambling ceased when Raven gingerly wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. His eyes closed, shedding some new and relieved tears. He began to mutter to himself. "You're here. You're here. I'm not alone. I'm not alone." Raven didn't interrupt him, simply concentrating on holding her friend and making sure her powers didn't... wait. She had no powers. For once, she allowed her feelings to swallow her up as they did everyone else. They had no idea how long they were stood there but, after a time, they both began to feel the pain in their heads.
"Beast Boy..." Raven warned.
"I know," he grumbled. They released each other and Raven found herself heading to the kitchen, accompanied by the eerily silent fake mother-in-law. She realised with a gasp that Beast Boy and the other fake were staying behind. One look at him and she knew he had known he was going to be left alone with the thing wearing his father's face, so much like his own if he had remained human.
"They aren't real!" she called back as she reached the door. "I'll be with you soon." He nodded grimly before she lost sight of him.
CONTROL FREAK'S LAIR
Family was a sore spot with all of the Titans. Control Freak had no way of knowing that, of course. Still, he realised he had pushed some pretty dangerous buttons from the looks he was getting. Starfire hovered an inch from the floor, arms folded and legs together, looking everything like the warrior queen she had almost become, eyes glowing in contempt. Robin was... he wasn't sure what he was doing or how he was doing it but Control Freak was terrified of him. A part of his brain was screaming at him to run and hide, that Robin was determined to kill him! He closed his eyes and logically concluded that Robin didn't kill. Would never kill. When his eyes opened, Robin was still staring at him.
"Please don't kill me!" he squeaked. Robin didn't answer. Didn't threaten him. Didn't assure him his life wasn't in danger. Didn't smile or laugh or snarl or frown. He just stared while Control Freak melted into a gibbering wreck. Cyborg was still analysing the schematics of Control Freak's replica mother box, his hands gripping and twisting and bending the edges of the metal workbench he was using, all while occasionally glancing at the TV where Beast Boy and Raven happily greeted copies of Beast Boy's parents.
THE CAMPER RESIDENCE
Beast Boy collapsed on the sofa, glancing sideways at the copies of his parents. They had gone still again and he and Raven were, for the time being, free of the show. He was so tired. Raven perched on the arm of the sofa next to him, placing her hand on his shoulder again. She didn't speak a work but that show of support, of solidarity, was enough. He sighed deeply and placed his hand over hers in silent gratitude. She smiled down at the sight of their hands, not intertwined but simpy touching. She rarely allowed herself to enjoy physical contact and, even though she knew it might make going back to that habit more painful, she surrendered to the simple joy of the sensation. Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door jerked her from her introspection. The fake in-laws were animated and looking at the door in what was supposed to be comic confusion. Beast Boy, in his role as Tom, gave "Lucy" a questioning look before he got up to answer the door. Raven knew who it was and had been bracing herself for the moment since Beast Boy's parents had shown up. The door opened and Raven swallowed the bittersweet feelings that arose in her at the sight of Arella, her necessarily distant mother. They had never been close as Beast Boy had with his parents, even though she knew that she and her mother both wished they could have been. Still, the regret and grief she felt now was powerful. She braced herself for what she knew must come next but she, for one, was surprised at her reaction.
She laughed.
Beast Boy, even through the haze of their scripted actions, looked at her with wide and astonished eyes before he turned to greet their final guest and understood her merriment.
Trigon sauntered in, wearing a white shirt, a pink sweater vest and pants . His expression was pleasant and he winked one of his shining yellow eyes at his daughter. He spoke casually to Beast Boy and his fake father about mundane things like golf and lawns, all with sulphurous smoke leaking from his nose and mouth. The image was certainly... memorable. Throughout the entire scene, Raven smiled in faint amusement.
CONTROL FREAK'S LAIR
Cyborg watched with amazement as Trigon arrived to visit his friends. More amazing was Raven's obvious mirth, something he was glad for. Raven still feared her father, even in death. Hopefully, this image of him might diminish that fear. Shaking his head, he returned to his work.
THE CAMPER RESIDENCE
Exhausted and finally free of their guests and of the script, Beast Boy and Raven sat wearily on the sofa.
"Well... that was something," Beast Boy said. Raven smirked at his understatment.
"Yes. Definitely something." Beast Boy seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking again.
"I'm... I'm glad you parents weren't... uh... that you didn't..." he said, grasping for the words.
"You're glad I didn't have it as bad as you?" Raven finished for him.
"Well... yeah," he agreed. Raven closed her eyes and leaned back.
"That picture of Trigon the Terrible is going to stay with me for a long time," she laughed.
"No..." Beast Boy murmured, getting her attention. "No, I meant your mom. I was worried you..." He trailed off there, unsure what to say. Raven took his meaning, however. Her smile shrank and her eyes shone with sadness.
"I do miss my mother, though we weren't close. We always regretted that we couldn't, for our own safety, of course. It's an old hurt, one I came to terms with years ago. Still, seeing her in such a way was... unpleasant," she admitted. Beast Boy's face fell a little.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. Raven turned to regard the boy. He was clearly distraught by his own experience and still found time to worry about her. She was suddenly and extremely grateful to have met him. Her hand stretched out to his arm.
"You're a good friend, Beast Boy. And a good person." At her words, he smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head and looking away from her. Once he had recovered from his embarrassment, he spoke again.
"I'm kinda frazzled. Wanna get ready for bed before the migraine fairy comes and makes us?" he asked.
"No more scenes down here?" she asked. He shook his head, confidently.
"Nope. Straight to the bedroom." Raven shrugged.
"Sure, why not?" The pair of them stood and began ascending the stairs, Beast Boy in front. Outside the bedroom door, Beast Boy stopped, almost causing Raven to collide with him. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong before she noticed his posture: his fists were clenched, his shoulders were hunched... he was trembling.
"I... I was starting to forget them," he muttered. He whipped around to face Raven. She saw the unshed tears glittering in his eyes. He looked angry. "I only have a couple of pictures... and they aren't too great. I was starting to forget what they really looked like. Now I see them in my head like that, being driven like a damn car!" he said, harshly. The tears began to flow as he stood there, helplessly. Raven was slow to act but eventually realised what to do, what she should already be doing. She put her arms around him again and hugged him close. He slumped against her and cried and cursed into her neck. She stroked his hair and mumbled what he hoped were soothing words into his ear. He had calmed down considerably when they were forced to separate by the weight in their minds. Beast Boy pulled away and stared wordlessly at Raven: he didn't know what he could say that would express his gratitude. She merely smiled at him sympathetically and indicated the door.
"You first," she said. He smiled, self-consciously, before nodding and entering. He later called out to Raven, letting her know she could follow. He hid in the bathroom as she changed. She took her own turn in the bathroom and, as the weight pressed harder, they each climbed into the beds. Once again, they went through the banter and jokes, followed by another obvious moral-of-the-story before the weight pressed again, sending them to sleep. Beast Boy sleepily reached out toward Raven and, equally disoriented, Raven reached back. Their hands touched for a moment before they fell, each of them turning away in their sleep.
CONTROL FREAK'S LAIR
Cyborg hissed in frustration. Robin stepped closer to speak to him.
"Problem?" he asked quietly. Cyborg nodded.
"Yeah. I can follow the schematics, same as Control Freak. But I don't fully comprehend what everything does. I could build it with the right parts but I couldn't begin to explain how it works," he admitted. He looked Robin in the eye. "I think we need a consulation." Robin's brow arched.
"A consultation? With who?" he asked. With a bitter smile, showing he couldn't quite believe what he was about to say, Cyborg answered.
"With a god."
Boooom! Stuff getting heavy now! Some of you may guess which character I'm gonna call on next, some of you may be surprised. If you think you know, all I ask is that you don't guess in reviews. Might accidentally be a spoiler! lol Anyhoo, read and enjoy!
-Jack