Cyborg, Nightwing, Starfire and Jinx were watching some TV, proclaiming it was now the beginning of summer as it was June 21st. It was certainly reaching that point where temperatures were getting to their typical summer temperatures, and clouds were at their rarest. However, Beast came in, looking frustrated. He was rubbing his head like he had a headache.
"Something wrong dude?" Cyborg asked.
"I'm trying to think of something special to give Raven for a special date I want to take her out on, since it's the beginning of summer. But I don't know what to do!"
"Well, I can tell you what you shouldn't do." Jinx brought up. "Don't go for the done to death cliches of chocolates, teddy bears and poetry. She'll likely see those coming a mile away and teleport out of there."
"Yeah, originality is what's most certain to work." Richard agreed.
"But what can be originally done?" Starfire inquired. "Given that humans have come up with all sorts of ways to approach romantically with their gestures, is there no more ways to be original?"
"In a sense, but not like what you're thinking Star." Jinx told her friend. "It doesn't have to be something totally invented the first time, it just can't be an overused gimmick. Think of something... with a deep connection between the two."
"Something that is shared only between the him and the her?"
"Bingo." The female metahuman snapped her fingers with a smile.
"Something special only she can have." Beast pondered. He then progressively smiled. "Yeah, yeah yeah! Like a song! Can you guys help me with coming up with words?"
"Count me out." Jinx said. "I'm not much of the kind of romantic that you'll be needing. See ya." The pink haired witch got up and went to find Luna.
"Count us in dude. We'll help you find them words. Follow me." Victor led his best friend to the kitchen. "A song needs to tell Raven that you love her more than anything in the world."
"I do bro!"
"More than food?!" Cyborg opened up the fridge to reveal an array of food.
"Yeah bro! A snack is an instant, and love is forever!"
"We'd better test that just in case! Do you love her more than these red grapes?!" Beast snatched that and plunged it all into his mouth, and pulled only the branches out.
"I do!" He said while chewing.
"You do love her more than this good orange?!" He asked more intensely. Using his fang to peel the skin off like an apple or potato, Garfield ate the thing whole.
"I do!" He responded before spitting all the seeds into a bin like a machine gun. Cyborg took an apple and crushed it in his hand.
"Applesauce?" Beast turned into a dog and licked it all up.
"Mmhmm." The changeling answered before turning back into human. "I love Raven than all the fruit based foods!"
"Alright, now we're getting somewhere! Get ready, for this is about to get hard!" Taking hold of his buddy, Cyborg flew them over to a fast food all you can eat buffet. "Now, do you love her more than these here pizza, sugary cereal, doughnuts, jelly beans, popcorn, potato chips, french fries, milkshake and finally... this twelve, I say count them, TWELVE LAYER CAKE!"
"AAAAHHH! That's so much food dude! But you know what? I loves my Rae more."
"Then prove it!" Turning into a green tabby cat, Garfield began to eat.
"Mmm, I love her more than pizza! Mmm, love her more then doughnuts... love Rae... love my bae more than popcorn... my mama wins... Raven rules..." And upon reaching the cake, the changling managed to eat it all, leaving him one engorged, stuffed, mordidly obese cat. It was taking all his concentration on transforming a stomach big enough to hold all that food, and even then he was about at his limit. "...It's all about my baby!"
"You really do lover her!" Cyborg said as he wiped away a tear. "I'm so happy for you."
"I really do-" Beast threw up into one of the seats next to him that Victor thankfully couldn't see.
"It is not enough to love the Friend Raven more than the food stuffs, you must also tell her the feelings when you think the thoughts of her." Starfire told her friend changeling, whom had a bulging belly but otherwise have mostly recovered as he walked through the city with her as she floated. "Tell me, what nice things that give you the nice thoughts of her?"
"Hmm, I don't know. There's a lot of things and yet I don't know what they are." As he said that, Beast panted a bit as he held a hand to his eyes. "Man, this nice warm summer day sure isn't helping my full stomach and lethargic brain." That's when he got the idea with a gasp. "I'm thinking of her!"
"It seems the summer time makes you think of her. What else?" Something picked up the attention of his nose, and trailed it to a dumpster they were passing by.
"Definitely not a dumpster." He said in recoil.
"That would be for the best." Leaving the city towards the beach area, Beast liked how the sand felt in between his toes.
"Ooo ooo ooo! This is making me think of her!"
"The toes in the sand."
"Noted." An old sticky guy then came out of a bathroom that was nearby, and both were a little repulsed. "Not the bathrooms."
"Right."
"Howdy!" The old man greeted them as he walked by. By the time Beast thought of Raven at the carnival rides, he had all he needed with Starfire's help in making a good list.
"Yo, I really gots some good words for this song now! I think she's going to really like my thoughts!" Beast told his titan leader, Nightwing.
"Mhmm, yeah. Cakes and summertime are fine, but words aren't going to mean much if we don't delve into the emotion."
"Like paranoia?"
"Yes, but something better. You need to show that you have the upmost faith in your love. But what you said could be used as a tool." Throwing down a smoke bomb, Garfield coughed and waved the smoke out of his face to see he was in a therapy setting, likely in Nightwing's room... somehow. "First, tell me about your deepest insecurities when it comes to Raven."
"Sometimes I thinks when wes hang out, all of the sudden she leaves for something without telling me what."
"Leaving for no explained reason. That's odd. What could she be doing?"
"I don't know dude."
"But you'll trust she'll come back right?"
"Yes.
"Do you have faith that you'll both will always be there even if you're separated?!"
"Yeah dude! We always have each others backs! And we'll always find each other when we needs each other the most!"
"And how does that make you feel!"
"I love and trust my Rae so much it makes me go Cray!" He gasped. "Ah, I found the emotion! My bae drives me Cray! Thanks Nightwing!"
"Glad I could help." He shrugged.
"I thinks I gots enough to start writing yo! If you'll excuse me, I've gots work to do. But first..." Going towards Raven's room, he knocked on it to which Raven opened the door.
"What?"
"Hey mama. I was wondering if you'd like me to take you out on a date? Sunset." The half-demon blushed and she turned away, trying to keep a smile and giggle down.
"Re-really? This is a little out of nowhere Gar."
"Please Rae, I came up with something just for the two of us. I think you'll love it."
"You did?" She asked, and after thinking about it, she nodded. "Alright."
"Cool. Wear your civilian clothes. I just want us to enjoy a date together as completely normal. Or as normal as you can with people like us." The two lightly laughed.
"Okay. I'll get myself ready." Raven closed the door, and Beast went off to get everything ready.
With a knock on her door, Raven opened up to see Garfield in a white t-shirt, his cargo pants and his old sneakers. Raven was wearing her skull jacket, a black skirt and low heels. He noticed this time her shirt was of the band Flatline which she got back in Gotham from the metal concert.
"You look as stunning as ever in black, Rachel." He complimented his girlfriend with her civilian name, to which she blushed.
"Thanks. You look good as well Garfield."
"Well, shall we go then Rach? This date will be all about you." The sorceress blushed even deeper. "Where do you have in mind?"
"The carnival. We can eat there before going onto the Ferris Wheel. I figure you'd like one of the calmer rides." Raven appreciated how much he thought about what she liked as they walked to have Cyborg drive them to the pier. Upon arrival, Cyborg called out to them,
"Have fun you crazy love birds!" He then drove off, leaving the young adults to blush in slight embarrassment.
"Given the kind of shows he watches, I could see him as the embarrassing dad." Garfield joked, to which Raven nodded.
"Yeah. But I'd take one that's a bumbling idiot who humiliates me on a daily basis then my real dad any day. Even if Cy is more of an older brother to me. And he's better than all my actual brothers as well." She frowned, caught thinking about her family. Taking hold of the tip of her chin, Beast turned her face towards him.
"Hey, let's not focus on bad relatives. Right now is just you... and me." The half-demon female gulped as she stared into his eyes.
"Okay." Leading his date to the outdoor eatery, she would learn he made a reservation, and the table already had a small pizza and a vanilla milkshake. "Wow. Is this for us?"
"Actually, this is entirely for you. Cy made me eat like 5000 calories to see how much I love you over food. I ate a 12 layer cake along with more junk, so I probably shouldn't eat for the next two to three days." He then became confused. "Wait, where was I going with this? Oh yeah. I ate a whole bunch of food, and I maintained my love over all that." That caused Raven to dryly chuckle.
"Well I'm glad I'm above food." But even though she said that sarcastically, he could tell it pleased her a bit. He knew he had to try harder though. As they sat down, she noticed it had black olives. "My favorite topping."
"Yeah. If you think I'd forget what your favorite topping is, I'd be offended."
"Well, I can certainly tell that you put a lot of thought to make sure I enjoy this. Thank you."
"Anything for you mama." Garfield said seductively as he held her hands. She looked away with a goofy grin and bright blush, taking the milkshake to sip on it so that her smile wasn't too obvious. "That milkshake yummy Rachel?"
"Yeah, it is." After a moment of silence as she ate some of her pizza and sipping some more milkshake, Beast asked,
"Can you believe we managed to remain a couple for so long Rach?" Thinking about it, Raven closed her eyes. He waited patiently before she answered.
"Yes, but it took a long while to get there. Long ago, I had to remind myself every once in a while that I have my own life that's beyond what father wanted. After Trigon's first defeat, I looked at myself everyday in the mirror, to see that I had a whole life ahead of me now. When we got together, it was like that feeling, but instead of freedom, it was love. Granted, we started off cautiously, but you eventually proved yourself, and I went back to reminding myself in the mirror what I had now. Like change is something I just don't expect. The last time was when I accepted my demon and gained the ability to express myself. Each time, the reality settled into me more and more, and I looked into the mirror less and less for the sake of reminding. I don't need it. This is my life. This is beyond my initial dreams by the widest margins. I'm so glad this is the result of everything up to now."
"Yeah, me too bae." Garfield replied. The two leaned forward to kiss each other. Once she was finished, Raven stood up.
"Excuse me." Going to the bathroom, Beast waited. He sat there looking out into the red and pink colored sea as the waves washed under the pier floorboards under him. He just sat there, thinking about past events. Their first coffee trying things out, their first kiss as a couple after Gaea was trapped away, becoming Justice League Junior members together... it feels like a lifetime has already passed. "Hey Gar." Raven called to him, referring to his name in an affectionate way.
"Hey Boo." She giggled at that.
"Boo? That's a new one."
"Figured I'd call you something different. Shake it up." Once Raven finished her meal, the two went to the Ferris Wheel, and wound up in the same position that Robin and Starfire sat years ago when the team was just starting out. There just weren't any fireworks this time. "Well, check this as another win off the relationship list. Getting the top of the wheel." He laughed.
"Now all we need is a giant chicken toy to make me the luckiest girl in the world." Raven sarcastically said, reminiscing on what they did the last time they went to the carnival.
"We don't need a giant chicken for that, even if seeing you with another one would give me a laugh." Garfield wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I think we're already the luckiest couple in the world." Even though he's been making her blush repeatedly throughout the date, the half-demon blushed once again even deeper. When they got off the Ferris Wheel and walked down towards the beach, Raven spotted a blanket there in which they sat on, taking their shoes off to dig their toes in the sand.
"This has been... really nice." The sorceress said, having loved this date.
"And that ain't the end mama. Check it." Taking a guitar and recording out from behind a strategically placed rock, and began to sing as he stood up and performed in front of her with musical accompaniment.
"It's all about my baby yeah it's all about Rae and if I don't gots my baby all I do is go cray. It's all about my baby yeah it's all about Bae. And if don't gots my baby all I do is go cray. Summer time toes in the sand. Carnival rides baby hand in hand. Sharing pizza and a milkshake too. Yum yum yummy baby. I love you." Raven was mesmerized by how well put together this song was for her.
"Yeah baby, I trust you. Even if we're apart I know what to do. I never feel alone in my heart inside, and you exactly know the reason why! Doctor Doctor help me help me my heart is going cray! I love you so much I need my Rae! Things are swirling, spinning crazy, I can't think without my baby, I just might be going crazy! I love you more than the grapes and the oranges and applesauce. Than pizza and potato chips and popcorn because. I love you more than lemonade and seven layer cake. Than lollipops and candy drops and a vanillaaaa shake. And I know that you're the one. And I know that we're just one. Ahhhh." Once he finished, Raven was on the verge of tears, holding her hands over her heart.
"Gar-Garfield. That-that was so much. That means so much."
"I put the real reals into anything when it comes to you bae. Only you." He replied as he sat down next to her. She hugged him, which he was surprised somewhat since she doesn't usually initiate hugs, but he happily returned it. The next thing that they did was kiss with all their passion. Watching them far away at the tower were their friends with telescopes as victory alarms went off and they cheered at a successful date. Nightwing even shot off a champagne bottle cork with fizz flying out while Cyborg yelled,
"Way to go my dude!" Once the two kissing titans stopped, they lightly laughed at how much they were being romantic with each other.
"That was some song you sang."
"Yeah, I wish the whole world could sees how much I loves you. I bet it would top the charts."
"Well, I know how much you love me. Just don't leak it out. That's our love song."
"Hmm, alright. I love you Rae Rae."
"I love you too Gar." They laid down on the blanket, snuggling each other until it became late dusk.
After breakfast, Raven and Beast were staring at each other lovingly, still feeling the love from last night.
"Man, for some reason, it's like a whole other dream that just came true mama. That was the best date ever."
"Yeah. It felt... right in every single way." They were about to kiss again when the two felt their friends nearby, likely spying on them. The empath groaned. "Alright guys, come on. I can feel your giddiness."
"And I can smell it too, fools!" Beast added. The other titans came out of the hallway, clearly very excited.
"Sorry. It's just rare to see you two this affectionate." Cyborg giggled. "We just want to see it all before you guys go back to how you normally act." Starfire nodded rapidly in agreement.
"Oh yes! I am in love of the romance as the girl that goes to the school."
"Just like when we went on our best date." Nightwing said, resting his arm on her shoulders to which the alien girl giggled as she leaned into him.
"And you Jinx?" Raven asked her.
"Better than nothing." The pink haired witch shrugged with her arms crossed, though she was smiling. "I'm normally not one to spy on a couple like a creep, but even you two are too sweet for me to ignore."
"Indeed, you are just the too romantic." Starfire laughed, to which Raven rolled her eyes, finding her reaction typical. Birdarang and Boom Box then came in, and the floating weapon shouted,
"Hey titans, check who made the tops on the music board!" Changing channels, Boom Box said,
"And shooting up all the way to number one in less than a day, it's for all you Teen Titans fans in Jump City, here's the hottest hit song, "It's all about Rae".
"It's all about my baby yeah it's all about Rae and if I don't gots my baby all I do is go cray." All of them gasped, but none more so than Raven as she became irritated.
"Why is our song on the radio?" She asked her boyfriend.
"Wait, I didn't do this bae! I promised I wouldn't!" He said defensively with his hands up, feeling her gaze turn deadly.
"Well apparently this is contradictory proof that promise has been broken! How could you do this?!" She screamed before angrily teleporting to her room. Beast just stood there, tears welling up as he started to hic with crying.
"Man, I'm sorry things turned south buddy." Cyborg said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"This is not the juicy romantic drama I wanted to slurp up." Starfire said solemnly. Jinx looked down, not enjoying this as well.
"That was a bit harsh."
"Beast, did you really do this?" Nightwing questioned with concern, to which the changeling lashed out.
"Of course not fool! I didn't fiddle by spreading it! Now she hates me and it's not even my fault!" He went from rage to sorrow as he collapsed onto the floor. "Please, ya gots to help me!"
"Don't worry dude. We'll do all that we can." Cyborg assured as he went to the couch to turn on the console. "Alright, so using my tech, the song first appeared on Jump City's radio channel Crazy 52.9. Apparently it was sent anonymously by a sound file. Tracking it back to its source... and... there! I have the location of where the song was published!"
"I'll get Raven." Jinx said as she went to the half-demon's room. She knocked, and a demonic voice bellowed out.
"GO AWAY!"
"Rave, it's me Jinx. Beast didn't leak your song. We tracked it down to who really did it. You feel like sending this jerk into a dimension of his worst nightmare?" The witch stood there before a teary eyed Raven opened the door.
"So it really wasn't him?"
"No. I wouldn't ever think he'd go behind your back like that." Raven looked down, her tears trailing down her face.
"No. Why? Why did I yell at him?" Raven cried as she hugged her fellow dark titan.
"Love makes emotions volatile. When you feel betrayed, it hurts more than it should, and you make knee jerk reactions."
"What-what can I do to make it up to him?" Pushing her friend slightly away so they could look at each other in the face, the metahuman replied,
"An apology would be a good start." Sniffing, Raven nodded.
"Ye-yeah. You're right. Thank you."
"No prob." Jinx said as they hugged again. Going back to the living room where Cyborg and Starfire sat with him to give him comfort, Jinx nodded to Raven. She sighed as she went to her boyfriend, whom looked up at her.
"Garfield, I'm... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have suspected you broke our promise. I'm normally the most level headed of us all, and I blew up in your face. Can you forgive me?"
"Aw mama, of course I forgives you." He said as he stood up to hug her. She gave a staggered sigh of relief as she hugged him back.
"Awwww." Starfire and Cyborg said. Jinx smiled as well. Separating, Beast asked,
"So Rave, want to go and show him what happens when he messes with us?" The half-demon smiled.
"Yes." Going to where their song was posted, the titans found it was a coffee shop with computers. Beast sniffed the chair and got some scents, one he easily recognized. Following the green blood hound, they soon came up to a house.
"Titans, GO!" Barging in through the door, the titans found the culprit, whom was Control Freak.
"Whoa, whoa! Hey, I haven't even done anything illegal yet!"
"You posted our special song onto the web for the world to hear!" Raven pointed at him. "That wasn't your song to share!"
"Oh, like it's my fault you made such a wonderful song?!" He returned the accusatory tone towards them, especially Beast and Raven. "I was just minding my own business, spying with a drone at where to commit my next crime and get a new slew of movies when I saw you guys on your date. I followed at a safe distance and when you sang your song?" The fat villain squealed. "It was one of the best songs ever! I just had to share it! I don't know why you'd hoard the song to yourselves!" Garfield was not amused.
"Thanks for the compliment on my song, but I wanted to give something to her that was only for her, and you ruined it!"
"So what are you going to do? Send me to court? Prison? I'll just break out again."
"Oh, I think you deserve something a little harsher than that." Raven said with a devious smile as her eyes turned red and two more popped open. Beast also smiled as he turned into a gorilla.
"Oh yeah, you felt our love, but now you gonna feel the pain too." Control Freak started to panic as he tried to activate a get away jetpack, but Jinx zapped his chair so it would snap, and the villain screamed as he flew into the wall under the stairs, his head stuck in it.
"We'll wait outside. Enjoy." The pink haired witch giggled as she and the others left to let the two have at it on the dazed villain as he pulled his head out of the wall. Seeing that he was going to get beat up more than usual, he groaned,
"Oh crud."
Control Freak was crying in agony as he was bloodied, beaten, had a neck brace, and was suffering lingering nightmares in his head as he was sent to the hospital while the couple were back to normal.
"Got that angst out yo system mama?"
"Yeah, that was a great outlet." The sorceress sighed.
"Hey Rae, I've gots another song I made a while ago if you'd like to hear it. We can go to your room."
"Okay." Opening a portal, the two went to her room, along with another portal dropping a guitar into his hands, and he began to strum.
"You can't fade away. The way I feel for you, there ain't no word I can say. For what I'd do for you and every single day, I make it through this game called life. It's always filled with pain and strife. Reality will cut you like a knife, it ain't right! But with you by my side we will win this fight, in the battle of dark and light! Oh take my hand hold it tight! When we dance I feel alright! By your side is where I'll be. Endless love won't fade you'll see. When you walk you walk with me. Raven together let the light shine. By your side is where I'll be! Endless love won't fade you'll see! When I walk you walk with me! Together let the light shiiiiine. Yeeeeeah." Raven loved it as her eyes sparkled.
"Wow. That was beautiful. Just like your other one."
"Yep, and this time now way ain't anybody gonna take it away from us." Laying his guitar down, Beast and Raven laid down on her bed, and snuggled.
A/N: I have to say, this is probably my favorite chapter I covered in season 4. I also like when I made the Garfield the Cat pun. That was fun. Hey, that rhymed. "Let me know what you think of the chapter, and the changes I made for the BBRAE song since I replaced paranoia and trust.