Ch 2
Afternoon had come as Beast boy woke up but instead of putting on his suit right away, he gazed at his body in the mirror. Honestly his own body made him sick. He knew if anyone saw it, they would be disgusted. The scars, bruises, and needle marks made his body look like a distorted map. He sighed and put a fresh suit on before walking out the door.
The kitchen was empty, and it was the way he liked it. He could eat in peace and not have to argue with Cyborg about meat. After breakfast he joined his friends in the living room to see Robin and Cyborg playing video games, Starfire taking care of silkie, and Raven just coming down from her mediation to see him come into the room. She was the only who had noticed.
"Hey Raven," said BB as he sat next to her on the love seat. "How's mediation going?"
"Fine. How are you doing? I know what Adonis said to you hurt you."
"You didn't tell Robin anything, did you?"
"No," she smirked, "if you don't tell him that I sent Adonis to another dimension."
"Dude, you are awesome. I'm definitely not telling Robin. That jerk can rot wherever he is."
"Beast boy."
"I don't want to talk about Raven. He hurt my feelings. It's no big deal. I'll get over it."
"My door is always open if you want to talk. I promise whatever we talk about stays between us."
"Are you becoming my psychiatrist now Rae?" he joked.
"No, I just don't like to see any of my friends hurting."
"That's sweet Rae. I'll keep it in mind and if you ever need to talk to me about anything, I'll be here for you to."
"I know Beast boy," she said as Beast boy's communicator went off.
"Well I better see who it is. See you later Rae," said BB as he disappeared down the hall and out of sight.
Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg had stopped what they were doing when BB's communicator went off. The room became silent and each Titan wondered who was calling Beast boy.
"I wouldn't worry until he tells us about the call," said Cyborg.
"What makes you think he will?" asked Raven.
"Beast boy is our friend. He would tell us if he's in some kind of trouble."
"I don't know Star. It might be something he has to deal with on his own," said Robin.
"That's crap and you know it Rob. Look at what happened when we let you deal with Slade on your own, or Raven thinking she could just handle the end of the world without us. I think there's been enough of people thinking they can do things on their own. We're a family man."
"I agree with friend Cyborg."
"You make a good point Cy," said Robin. "Lets see what he's willing to tell us," he said as BB came back through the door and ready to head out."Everything ok Beast boy?"
"Yeah, I'm going out for a while don't wait up," he said as the door slid behind him.
Robin looked to Raven, and she understood what he wanted her to do. She sighed. "Fine, but if I get caught, I'm blaming this whole thing on you."
"Understood," said Robin. "Hurry up, you don't want to lose sight of him."
"You do remember I'm an empath, right? Besides I have to change my clothes and scent or else he'll find me."
"Oh right. Good thinking Raven," said Robin.
Raven rolled her eyes as she walked down the hall, opened the door to her room, looked in her closet, and sighed. 'Well here goes nothing,' she thought. After a few minutes of looking, she found something to wear, sensed where Beast boy was, created a portal, and stepped right into it.
"The mall, really," said Raven as she made her way out of a dark hallway and into light. She was sensing the emotions of her green friend as she heard a couple walking and talking behind her.
"You sure your parents will even wear these clothes? I mean they're so use to what they're wearing now Violet," said the male voice.
"They're just not use to traveling the world like we are. I'm sure they'll adjust Craven," said the female voice.
"You know I think your sister would like it here in Jump City."
"Are you kidding Craven? Arella Roth would be so uncomfortable around all these people," she sighed sadly. "I miss her so much Craven. I know she wouldn't have loved the mall, but she would come with me to make me happy. She was a great big sister," she said as Craven put his arm around her.
Raven stopped in her tracks, causing the couple to bump into her. "Oh uh sorry," said Raven as she turned to the couple. "I got distracted."
"Oh, it's ok sweetie," said Violet. "What's your name?"
"Raven."
"What a beautiful name," said Violet. "Are you all right?"
"Forgive my wife her heart is very big," said Craven.
"You mentioned a woman named Arella Roth. Do you have a picture of her by any chance?" asked Raven.
"Oh yes," she said as she took a picture out of her wallet and handed to her.
Raven looked at the picture, and her eyes widened. It was her mother happy and smiling with her sister's arm around her. She had never seen her mother smile. Ever since she was born, Arella had never smiled at her.
"Raven," said Violet. "You know my sister?"
"She was my mother," Raven said as she lowered her hood so the couple could get a good look at her face.
Violet didn't know what to say. She knew this girl was not lying. There were features in her that she saw in her sister. 'Arella had a daughter? Why didn't she tell me?' She suddenly felt overwhelmed as she felt her feet giving way but not before her husband caught her and then sat her down on a bench.
"Violet, are you-?" asked Craven.
"I can't believe she wouldn't have told me about you," said Violet.
"She didn't tell me I had any family either, and I know why. She was ashamed of who my father was and so am I."
"I wouldn't have cared if your father had been Trigon the terrible, I still-She looked at Raven. "He was Trigon," she said as she nodded.
"He raped my mother, and I was born," she said when she felt Violet embrace her.
"I still don't care. I would have loved you anyway. I would have helped Arella take care of you."
"She gave birth to me, but she never loved me or raised me. She couldn't."
"What do you mean?" asked Craven.
"I'm half demon. My powers came from Trigon. I have to keep my emotions under control, or I could really hurt someone. My feelings for my mother were becoming too dangerous, so I was taken away and taught by the monks of Azarath how to control my emotions."
"Oh sweetie I'm so sorry," said Violet.
"It's ok. My life now is better. I can express a little bit more emotion now then when I first got to earth."
"That's wonderful so do you have any plans?" asked Craven.
"Um, oh shoot I'm suppose to be meeting a friend," said Raven. "How about tomorrow at 7PM? I can sense your emotions and come to you."
"Sure, that would be great Raven," said Craven as he hugged Raven briefly. "Wow, I just can't believe it."
Violet smiled. "It's amazing. Well we'll see you later Raven. Oh and you don't mind if Azar and Haven join us? They're your grandparents. I'm sure they would be happy to meet you."
"Sure, sounds great," said Raven.
Raven went back to the task at hand while keeping the fact that she just met her family in the back of her mind. She found BB at the food court talking to the Doom Patrol. 'Hm, it must be serious if they came all the way to Jump City?' she thought.
"So, what's this all about Steve?" asked BB. "Not that I'm not happy to see all of you but-
"This needed to be said in person Beast boy," said Mento.
"Nicholas Galtry has finally been captured," said Rita. "He's being tried here in California."
"Why would I care?" said BB in a cold voice that Raven had never heard before.
"We know he did something to you Beast boy. You've never told us what," said Rita.
"And with good reason Rita. The guy is insane. Why would I want to tell anyone what he did to me?"
"Kid, your testimony could be the last nail in the coffin to burry this guy forever," said Cliff.
"What is he being tried for?" asked BB.
"The mistreatment and experimentation of animals," said Larry.
"I'm sure they have enough on him to put him away for life," said BB.
"Damn it Beast boy, it's time to stand up like a man and face your fears," said Steve. "It's time to grow up."
"You have no idea what I've been through in my life and if you came here to just criticize me, then why did you even bother coming?" asked BB.
The pain was hard to bare for Raven as she slid to the ground. She was trying to get her breathing back under control, but his emotions were so overwhelming.
"We care about you Beast boy. Whatever weight you've been holding on your shoulders for years is heavy, we think it would be good for you to testify and let that part of your past go," said Steve.
"You all feel this way?" asked BB.
"When I first heard the news about him, I remembered all those times when you were little and you'd wake up from a nightmare, screaming his name," said Rita. "I tried my best to comfort you, but I knew every time you left that anything I said couldn't help you. This could help you Garfield."
"You're wrong. It will only remind me of what happened. I can't go back there. I'm afraid of what will happen. The Titans would know, everyone would know what I am. I-I have to go," said BB as he stood up from his chair.
"Just think about it kid, promise us," said Cliff.
"Yeah, we're here until the trial's over so if you need to talk, we'll be here," said Larry.
BB smiled. "Thanks guys, I think I need to be alone now," he said. "See you later," he said as he walked away.