The Teen Titans watched in horror, as Beastboy was hit directly by Warps blaster. They had been battling the villain, and losing, before Beastboy had frozen in place.
Eyes wide open, he sucked in a deep breath of air. Open to attack, and Warp took it. They watched as their friend was consumed in a shockwave explosion. Screaming out.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
"Beastboy!" They yelled.
He propelled backwards, through the wall of the museum. Even Warp stood frozen at the damage he inflicted on the young boy.
In a desperate attempt to flee, Warp opened a portal and made to run. But three attacks from the cyborg, alien and demon blew the ground between him and the portal. Sending him back, his travel being disrupted.
They screamed for their fallen friend. Attacking Warp with a ferocity they didn't have before.
Robin watched them attack wildly, before running to the hole in the wall, in search of his teammate.
He ran, almost tripping over the rubble that was the wall, and what must have been a large display on the other side. He saw movement.
"Beastboy!"
He ran to him, pulling away the debris that covered his weakened body.
Blood… running down his face. But he wouldn't panic, he needed to help. Not get emotional. But the green boy tried to rise up.
"Don't! Stay down, I'll need to administer first aid to you. I just need-"
"Robin…"
He stopped, to look Beastboy in the face. Even with a stream of blood pouring down, he was… relieved?
"Don't talk. I'll call-" He was interrupted
Beastboy shook his head.
"I-I'll be fine…" God he hurt. All over. From the travel, from being hit by Warp. He spasmed trying to stand up.
"You're bleeding! Stop trying to get up. Lay down so you can heal!" Robin scolded him, but he shook his head again.
"I'll heal." He was in his old body, it wasn't conditioned like when he was older. Not up to par with his healing ability, but he could still replicate it, just at a slower rate.
"Aaahhhh!"
Their eyes opened wide.
"Cyborg!"
"Victor!"
Garfield tried to situate himself. He'd been traveling backwards so fast, he was disoriented. The memories he saw began to jumble, but they were in the museum. And Warp was here, so they were in the early years of the team being together. But he couldn't stop to think, he needed to get up.
"The others…"
"They're fighting Warp, but with his tech, I don't know if they can beat him. Stay put and-"
"No." He finally stood up on shaky legs, he ignored the blood that ran from his forehead. His suit was charred in some places. He couldn't let them fight Warp, and they wouldn't let the villain just walk away. Warps tech was too strong, if he was pushed too far, he'd hurt them. Just like he did to him.
"Warp…" he asked.
"He already attempted to escape, but the others destroyed the portal before he could jump through."
*BOOM!*
They froze.
"They d-destroyed his portal…" he stared at Robin.
Not understanding why his teammate was scared, he nodded.
They blew up his portal. He came to their time, then lost his second travel…
He only had one portal left… if he failed traveling again… failed in getting the clock. He'd go berserk, only out of desperation, to not get stuck in the past. Like he did in the other reality.
He grabbed Robins sleeve.
"Don't worry about me! Protect them! We can't let him hurt-"
*Crash!*
They stared wide eyed as Raven was blown through a wall up ahead. She flew back and impacted the opposite wall.
She crumbled to the ground, unconscious.
"Raven!" Robin yelled.
But Garfield stood there. Because as much as it hurt to see her lying in the ground, he knew she would go into her meditation. She'd heal herself. She didn't need him to fret over her… even though he wanted to run and hold her.
Realizing the danger Starfire was in, Robin launched himself to the other room. They heard a cry from the red head, as Robin ran and he stumbled to the hole he flew through.
She was being electrocuted. From the same device that had shocked Cyborg before. Robin, with a battle cry, charged Warp with his bo staff. Almost within reach, Warp fearfully created a shield that blocked Robin.
Then Warp pushed his defense, some of his shield dispersed, but the remaining portion of the shield pushed Robin against the wall. Slamming him into it, but it didn't fade away, it squeezed him. And his growls slowly turned to screams as he was being crushed.
Sweat and tears were on Warps face. The suit may still have power to attack and defend, but the man was running on pure adrenaline. Fear ran rampant through him. Fear that he would be captured.
Starfire collapsed on the floor, exhausted from the electricity that coursed through her, but the sound of Robins agony drew her attention. She looked up, and saw Robin at an awkward angle. His arm and leg were bent backwards as he cried out. She gathered what little strength she could, and screamed as she flew to Warp.
Stumbling in, Beastboy turned to the corner of the room, and saw Cyborg with his back leaning against the wall. His body was shaking, possibly because the electricity short circuited his systems. He struggled to get up, with a trail of blood dripping from a head injury. But his body wouldn't budge. He was no longer in control.
'Change… I have to change…" he told himself.
But it hurt.
And it was slow!
Why was it slow?!
He could change, but he felt everything. His bones. His muscles, all in slow and agonizing pain from attempting to shift. He'd reached out to amoebas… only to realize he never released any into the air, that this 'Beastboy' didn't have the skill or practice to do such a thing.
He tried to release something. Anything. Any animal that could attack Warp, distract him so they could fall back.
But nothing.
A cry caught his attention. He looked up to see Starfire and Warp in an arm grapple. Warp was holding the clock, in desperation. He'd rather have it, and not need it. Then suffer the consequences if his third portal failed or was interrupted. Robin was released from the shield that crushed him, and he collapsed to the floor with his own cry, as his limbs hit the debris.
Starfire should have overpowered Warp. The suit may have given him a small boost in strength, but the Tamaranian was stronger. She could have easily lifted and tore him from the suit. But his attacks, and the electricity that coursed through her had to have weakened her, because she struggled to hold him in place.
Starfire thrusted forward, and Beastboy eyes widen.
The vortex regulator…pointed right at her chest!
"Star!" He stumbled forward. He couldn't change, but he also couldn't let her get hit by the regulator.
Through the pain that coursed through him, he charged at the two. He hobbled, as fast as he could. To get her away from Warp, he had to separate them.
The regulator had one travel left. If Starfire was hit, she'd be transported. There'd be no way to know if she would come back. Not if Warp stayed, and overpowered him, like he did the others.
He stumbled, and fell to the ground. Growling loudly through the pain that shot through him. Why?! Why couldn't he transform with ease like before. He worked his body, which began to change, then more pain coursed through him. His vision was getting blurry…
He'd pass out if he kept trying to change.
The blasters on Warps chest piece opened, but the alien girl kept bringing his arms inward. Which put the clock in harms way. She was losing strength, and would collapse any second, but she still held on to the arm holding the clock with what little grip she had. With as much strength that he and the suit could gather, he pulled the arm holding the clock as far back as he could. Giving him a wide open shot.
They charged up.
Starfires eyes opened wide.
"No!" Robin and Cyborg yelled.
"AH!" Warp yelled as he was tackled from the side. No longer being pulled forward, Starfire flew back, and watched as Warp and Beastboy sailed across the floor. His blasters shot upwards, blowing the roof open, and causing debris to rain down on the two.
The suit was almost out of power. With fear and dread filling every sense of Warps mind. With the small chance of running and using his last portal to escape. With the changeling glaring darkly at him in his eyes, beyond reason…
Warp smashed the clock into Beastboys face.
And Beastboy yelled, bleeding from the edges of his eyes, reaching out to throttle him.
And hit the vortex regulator.
*swoosh*
Warps eyes opened wide as Beastboy was hit by the black beam, reaching forward, he grabbed the boy by the collar.
Then they were both pulled through the portal.
"Beastboy!"
His eyes were shut tightly. He not only had pain coursing through his body, now he had it in his face and eyes. But he still held onto Warp with a death grip. They were flying, and his vision was blurry, but he could make out… clocks.
Hundreds of them, of all shapes and sizes, that he could see from his watery and bloody eyes.
"LET GO!" Warp yelled.
He needed to shake off the changing. He set a course for one hundred years, and he didn't need this nuisance clinging to him. His blasters opened from his suit.
Beastboy growled, and guessed where Warps face was. He leaned back, pulling Warp just above himself. He pulled his fist back, and socked Warp in the mouth.
*BOOM!*
They both screamed from the force hitting them. He yelled as the weakened blaster hit him directly, and with a last ditch effort to cling to Warp, he reached out…
And grasped the vortex regulator.
"NO!" Warp yelled, blood trailing from the edges of his mouth, as he was blown back. Thrust ahead through the portal to its end. And Beastboy was shot downward, yelling from the pain of the blaster.
No longer traveling down the straight path, Garfield fell, until a white light consumed him.
"Aaaahhhh!
*slam!* *shatter!*
…
…
…
He groaned, and rolled to his side. Everything hurt. He just covered his head before hitting the ground. Glad that he didn't crack it open upon impact.
*rattle*
He froze, and felt the ground around him. He opened his eyes slowly, thankful it was evening. The sun wasn't out to hurt his…
Evening…?
And it was cold. It wasn't cold when they had fought Warp. He raised himself to his hands and knees. Waiting for what little vision he had, to focus, and tried to calm his breathing.
Slowly, he could see through the tears and the blood.
The regulator… destroyed…
Smashed into pieces.
And the clock…
Pieces remaining that travelled with Warp and him…
Through the portal…
The last one…
…
…
…
He clenched the asphalt.
And sobbed.
He laid in the ground for… he didn't know.
The streets were quiet. With light snow that blanketed the city. No one was outside, due to the cold and the late evening. He crawled to the edge of the street, and tucked himself in an alley.
His breathing evened, but his tears still poured from his eyes.
He made it back…
But couldn't stop time from reversing.
He lived his life again… but backwards.
Everything.
Every moment of his and his family's life.
And he felt every emotion.
Their challenges
Their struggles.
Their pains and heartaches.
…
But also their joy.
And happiness.
Their love for each other.
To the sound of that clock chiming, echoing through his head… like a laugh. And even though his body smiled, and joked, and laughed on the outside. He cried and screamed on the inside.
Then it stopped.
And he was free…
With the clocks final ticking.
And he was shot.
Weakened by everything that he had experienced these past days.
And now his body hurt.
But it was a pain that ran much deeper than muscle and bone…
He hugged his chest in the cold, then centered himself. It would hurt, but he had to heal. So he struggled, but was able to separate some dna from his body. His younger self wasn't used to his type of shifting, but he didn't have the strength to get up and move about.
It was fire along his skin. When they left his body. He clenched his teeth, but bared the pain. He sent out amoebas, to collect any vegetation from the area. The trees had no leaves, but any bushes or grass living would help him.
So he lied down in the alley, and rested his eyes as they collected calories and energy for him.
*honk* *honk*
His eyes opened. He was covered in a light blanket of snow.
He heard the sound of a buses engine rev up. Then the sound of cars driving along the snowy streets.
He'd fallen asleep in the alley.
He felt… a little better. The amoebas must have drip fed him while he was out.
"Clear the alleys. Make sure there's no trash or hoodlums about."
He heard a man's voice, then multiple footsteps outside the alley. They were headed his way. So he rose up shakily, and with intense struggle, shifted to a small bird before flying to the roof of the building.
He collapsed to the roof in his small animal form, before shifting back to his human self.
"You hear that?" One said.
"… it must be nothing." The other said, looking around the area. He raised his radio and spoke into it. "It's clear. They cleaned them the other day."
The radio responded to the two men.
"Finish tapping off the rest of the alleys, then meet up near the stage for your first break."
"Copy." He said.
Then Beastboy looked over to see the two men roll out caution tape at the entrance of the alley. Then the two left and headed to the Main Street. He looked out to the streets.
They were plowed. And shoveled clean.
Any pieces from the clock and regulator… were gone.
He lied there on the roof. Looking out to Jump City. Some buildings he'd never seen built along the street. Models of cars driving down the road, that didn't look familiar.
The portal.
He was flung to the future…
He knew, when he was crawling on the streets, but now he was seeing it right in front of him.
He looked down the street. To a large stage that was being set up. Workers were at every corner, finishing the last of the decorations. A large banner overhead.
"Welcome the New Teen Titans."
His heart sank.
New…
He started to shake, he clenched his eyes shut, and lowered himself on the roof. The cuts along his eyes had healed, so the tears flowed freely down his face.
He stayed there, until the sounds of people began to grow.
He finally looked up, and over the edge.
People were arriving. Cars were starting to back up, and traffic was underway. Jump City residence and visitors were walking along the sidewalks to the stands and stage.
"I hear the new team is going to be led by a girl."
"Are they all from Jump City?"
"Cmon, let's get close to the stage!"
He stayed there, listening to the people chat and gossip about. Not knowing what to do.
"Batman's going to honor the new team, just like last time."
His eyes opened wide.
Batman… Bruce Wayne. He was here, in Jump City.
He picked himself up, and staying low to the roof, slowly jumped and ran closer to the stage. Taking his time not to over tax himself. Nearby were hotels and suites, which had to have been used by official guests and celebrities. He dodged and hid from police officers that were stationed on top of the buildings.
Searching from roof to roof, he finally saw a black sedan parked outside a hotel.
Wayne Enterprises.
That was it. He lowered himself to the floor of the roof, and concentrated.
He needed to change…
But he struggled. And his powers felt… far away from him. Once again, he felt his bones and muscles begin to shift. He clenched his teeth and shook. He was in agony, but he finally shifted into a bird.
He took off, then began to fall. He struggled to fly. The ease of flight left him, and he flapped his wings in desperation. He spun and was getting dizzy. He finally hit the side of the building, and his small bird form rolled on the exterior window seal.
He laid there. Breathing harshly.
He was losing focus, so he stayed still to fill his small lungs with air.
Finally, his small body rose. And he had to stumble to the window. Looking inside, he saw employees rushing through the hallways, most likely in preparation for guests and visitors for the event.
He guessed Batman would have a window overlooking the Main Street, so he hobbled over to the ledge, and carefully leapt to the next window. Then the next. When those windows showed workers, or people in business attire, he leapt down to the lower floor. He travelled two floors down, and was about to collapse.
Until finally.
Through the window, he saw a large man. Tall, and wide in stature. Although he was hunched over, looking the opposite direction into his luggage.
He prayed this was him, and with the little strength he had, he tapped his small beak on the glass.
And collapsed.
Bruce Wayne looked up from his luggage. He had heard a small tapping, looking around the room. A sounded like… glass.
He slowly rose from the bed, and shuffled to the window.
He pulled the curtains to the side and looked through the window, down the street and out to the cars and pedestrians down below. He was about to turn, then looked down.
A bird… a small GREEN bird.
His eyebrows knitted together. He gently unlocked the window, and slid it open. He looked down to the small animal. It's little heart racing.
Then his eyes began to widen.
He softly scooped the bird in his hands, and walked back to the bed. Almost there, the bird began to kick, and roll in his hands. Then finally, it leapt from his hands and fell to the floor…
And Teen Titans Beastboy crashed to the ground.
"B-Beastboy." Bruce said in shock.
He rolled on the floor, trying to situate himself. Taking a few breathes, he finally sat on his behind and looked up.
To Batman.
An older Bruce Wayne.
The two stared at each other in shock.
Beastboy took a shaky breath. And Bruce stepped forward.
"Garfield…" and he froze at Batman using his real name.
"Where did you come from? How are you here?"
Bruce had a suspicion when he saw the GREEN bird, but he thought the probability was less likely. But it turned out to be true. It was Beastboy…
The missing Titan.
He, was the same age as when he disappeared. Not a day older. His suit was burnt around the edges, from his battle with Warp years ago.
"H-How…" Garfield stuttered. But Bruce knew he was shocked also.
"Beastboy… where have you been?"
"How long..?" He asked. And Bruce knew exactly what he was asking. With a solemn look, he answered the young boy.
"… twenty years."
It was like he stabbed the boy in the heart. The pain and hurt that spread across his face.
"You… travelled to the future." He said.
Garfield nodded with his head lowered.
Bruce could only stare at the boy, that missed the last twenty years of life.
"The others… w-where are they?" He asked.
"They're here." He answered him.
Bruce shuffled to the bed, then grabbed the cane he used in private to move about the manor and rooms. He went to Garfield, and slowly lowered himself to the ground. He joined the boy, and reached out to squeeze his shoulder.
"They looked for you Garfield…"
He remembered that day. The call from Robin, when his team was bested by a villain from the future. When one of their own was taken from them. He travelled to Jump City, to find four broken and exhausted teens. Heart broken that their friend was gone, with no way of knowing how to get him back.
So they researched, and investigated. They didn't know who the villain was, other than the name Warp. They did a background check on the clock that he attempted to steal. But only fragments of the clock remained, the other pieces traveling through the portal that sent the two away. Despite the ancient texts that described the clock, Raven and the magic users of the Justice League couldn't utilize its pieces, their power being released when it was destroyed.
Warp said he was from the future , a hundred years. So through magic, they reached out to find him…
And they did... some parts of him.
"They reached out to you, but they couldn't grasp you… a hundred years. They could find small fragments of your powers… your soul self as Raven said, but they couldn't pull you to them. No matter how hard they tried."
"…" Garfield sat, listening to the older man.
They sat in silence, then Garfield looked up to Bruce.
"What happened… when I was gone?"
Bruce grimaced, not knowing how to tell the boy. He had the right to know what happened to his team. The boy lost more years than he was alive.
"We should call the others, and-"
"Please… tell me." He begged.
He thought back to when the boy disappeared, his talks with Dick about his leading the Teen Titans. After a few seconds, he spoke.
"I assisted your team in taking down Slade."
Garfield didn't look too surprised, the boy must have known that Slade was too strong and cunning to be bested by his team.
"An enemy by the name of Brother Blood, attempted to steal and control your friend Cyborg."
Again, he didn't look too surprised. Which confused him. He didn't know how to approach the next topic.
"What about Terra… and Trigon?" He asked.
Bruce's eyes opened wide, how did he know?
"How do you know about Trigon?"
But Garfield continued to stare at him, and he knew, that wasn't important right now.
"Raven defeated her father. When I helped the team after your disappearance, I asked the magical department of the Justice League for help. After an argument with some of the members and Zatarra, past prejudice towards her was lifted. We and your team helped her the best we could, and she ultimately won against Trigon."
"…"
"As for Terra Markov, she retired from being a super heroine, and is living a private life… with therapy."
"… The Brotherhood?"
This, he had no trouble telling the boy. He had a history with The Brain and his team of Villains.
"They're dead."
Garfield looked at him surprised.
"When news that you disappeared became public, the Doom Patrol flew straight to Jump City."
Garfield was hanging on his every word.
"I met them briefly, although I knew Steve Dayton from previous business relations. They were furious, and Rita Farr was heartbroken that you were gone. They all were. They tried to help anyway they could, but they had no expertise in your predicament."
"…"
"Losing you. The Teen Titans, and the Doom Patrol grew close. And with the Justice League's help, the three of us were able to defeat The Brain. But in a last ditch effort to escape, the base they held up in self destructed, and we fled without any casualties."
"So we searched, and they waited. We all waited. But we couldn't bring you back…"
"…"
"You have a brother…" Bruce told him. And Garfield stared wide eyed at him.
"Rita and Steve, sometime after we lost you, they got pregnant."
Bruce watched as the boy absorbed the news. Not only about the events he missed, but the news that he had a brother from his adopted parents. Hoping that Garfield could be reasoned with into joining back into society.
"Garfield… Let's get the others. They need to see you. Your back and-"
Garfield shook his head.
"…"
"My friends… my family?" A tear fell down his cheek.
"Are they happy..?"
"It's not about that… you-" he was interrupted again.
"Are they?" The boy pressed.
That look, on Garfield Logan's face. It told him to… just answer the question. He didn't want sympathy, or reasoning. He wanted an answer. And Bruce thought back to the moments he had with the Teen Titans, with Steve and Rita Dayton these past few years.
"…"
"… yes, they are."
And the boy rose up, shakily, but head held high. He slowly marched to the window.
In a last ditch effort to pull back the boy, he slowly rose up himself, and said.
"They miss you."
And Garfield looked out the window. To the buzz and excitement of the people. To the laughing and hollering citizens of Jump City down below. Wrapped up in their coats, bracing the cold, and happy to see the new heroes. He turned to Bruce Wayne.
"I miss them too… thank you."
Garfield leaned over the window seal, and with intense concentration, changed into a bird and flew out the window.
Bruce stared where the boy was a second ago.
*knock* *knock*
"Bruce" Dick asked.
He opened the door, and walked in. Seeing his father standing and looking out the window.
"Is something the matter?" He asked.
Bruce turned to Dick Greyson, and looked the man in the face.
This man. No longer the young hero 'Robin the Boy Wonder.' But the hero Nightwing, just a few years away from his own retirement fighting crime. He wasn't the boy that shed tears over his friend, that sacrificed himself to save Robins young love, and later wife, Queen Koriand'r.
In a sense, he could understand Garfield. Because the man before him, wasn't Beastboys leader Robin anymore. All of them, we're no longer Garfield's.
They grew up… and it would kill the young boy to be a part of their world.
"Just preparing… this will be the last honor I give to the New Teen Titans. You and the last leader, will have to do the honors for future hero generations after today."
Dick smiled.
He reached forward, and placed his hand on his father's back. They headed to the door, and closed it behind him.
Garfield crashed onto the cliff. He rolled over, and threw up what little matter was in his stomach, that the amoebas collected.
They no longer came to him.
He laid on the stone floor, looking out to the ocean.
'...wooosh' '...wooosh' '...wooosh'
To Titans Tower.
Shining like a beacon of Hope, like the first day it was built.
He rested, and evened his breathing.
After sometime, he sat up.
Then rose up.
And hobbled to his lunchbox.
He pulled away at the rocks, and finally, lifted the rusted container from its home.
He opened it, and the lid broke off. Its contents fell to the floor.
A rancid bottle of barbecue sauce.
A bottle of hair gel, hard as a rock.
Shriveled up… something's that were once nuts.
A teabag… turned to dust.
…
A book with its pages faded and deteriorating. A joke book…
It fell with the spine coming apart, and the loose pages scattered across the rock floor. He stared at it…
Until color caught his attention.
He slowly reached down, and picked up…
A picture.
His picture.
Mark, Marie and Garfield Logan.
…
He lost it… a long time ago. After their deaths. When his heartache blocked everything that happened afterwards. From his last moments in the village, to the time he was in the United States.
He turned it over.
Mark 35, Marie 32 and Garfield 8
…
His picture was never signed…
…
The brooch.
This wasn't his picture, but young Garfield's.
He held the picture to his chest.
And listened to the waves.
'...wooosh' '...wooosh' '...wooosh'
He closed his eyes, and reached within himself.
His powers… were almost gone.
After this… he'd never change again.
He had one last transformation left...
…
"Twenty years…"
"Haha!"
He walked slowly towards the stage.
"I'm so excited!"
By luck, the people shifted, and he made his way through, without crashing into others.
"I wanna see the leader, I heard she's cute."
He felt someone bump against him.
"I'm sorry sir!" They bashful said.
He smiled, and waved them away.
…
He stopped. He was close enough.
"Thank you everyone! I hope you've all been having a wonderful afternoon!"
"YEAH!"
"WOO!"
The crowd screamed and laughed. They clapped with excitement.
"Not only do we celebrate today, for the winter holidays!" The people hollered. "But we also celebrate the heroes that have defended our beautiful, Jump City!"
The people cheered.
"Our THIRD, yes folks, our third generation of young heroes, that defend us from not only the common thugs that have risen up, but the global and even galactic enemies that threaten our lives!"
The people clapped, showing respect to those that brave such dangers.
"Once again, we have one of the Justice Leagues former leaders in attendance, Batman! Please welcome, Mr. Bruce Wayne!"
He raised his eyebrows, not knowing that The Batman released his personal identity.
"So here to introduce the next generation of the Teen Titans, are the original members that protected our home, and their families."
The people clapped loudly, and he watched his old team, walk from behind the curtain.
They aged… wonderfully.
He smiled.
Dick and Kori walked out holding hands, with a little girl that must have been three, carried and hugging her mother's shoulder.
Victor, with who he assumed was his wife. Two young twin boys walking before their parents.
Raven… and Garth. With a young girl that looked so much like her mother. And a small boy that looked so much like his father in her arms.
All of their children… were beautiful.
Just by looking at them… he loved them already.
He wondered if Dick and Kori's daughter had her mother's sincerity, and her father's bravery.
If Cyborgs sons took after their father, if they were kind and well educated.
Raven's children. If the two were free to express themselves.
Small tears escaped him.
No matter what… they were PERFECT in his eyes.
Dick walked to the front of the stage, no longer hidden behind his domino mask, and took the mic from the mayor with a smile.
"I'd like… to thank everyone. For being here today, to witness the next generation of The Teen Titans."
Workers began to exit the curtain, carrying a table draped in cloth.
"One of us… couldn't make it today. And they couldn't make it, when we honored the second generation of crime fighters."
The people grew quiet, some lowering their heads.
The workers pulled the cloth from the table, and along it…
Photos. Of the first Teen Titans. But one in the group, stood front and center in the pictures.
Him.
Beastboy.
Garfield remembered, he'd never taken a portrait photo. No one on the team did. If there was a photo of a Teen Titan, it was taken with the group. Either after they stopped the bad guys and saved the day, or at a press event.
He recognized that photo of him. It was after they had stopped the HIVE 5. The first real super villains of Jump City. The photo was taken by the press when they were questioned about villains with powers coming to the city.
There wasn't a 'true' photo of him.
Of Beastboy.
Just a zoomed in cropping from a newspaper.
Some clapped, but everyone was quiet.
His team lowered their heads, but their children looked out to the people in wonder.
"I spoke for the team, the last time we gathered to honor our new heroes. And I'm happy to speak a-again…" Dick needed a moment.
He saw them sway with their heads down.
He saw Kori shed tears.
Victor holding himself together, while his wife hugged his arm.
And Raven… calm. Eyes closed, like she was meditating, but solemn.
Garth squeezing her hand.
"Thank you, Garfield… for being a hero. Thank you, for being our friend. Thank you… for protecting Starfire, my wife." Dick shed some tears.
"Where ever you are… Thank you for being a Titan."
He watched his team walk to the table, and they stood before it. They lowered their heads, and gave a silent prayer.
Everyone clapped, and cheered.
His arms raised slowly, and he clapped to.
But his heart… hurt.
Because they called him a friend.
A Titan.
…
But not a brother.
He…
Never became a best friend to Victor, a brother in arms…
Never became the little brother to Kori, who she dotted on jokingly…
Never gained the respect of Dick, for being who he was. Not just a martyr.
And.
…
Raven, never fell in love with him…
…
Dick returned to the front of the stage, and Bruce joined him.
Bruce raised a mic.
"Before, the Justice League, kept themselves away from the young heroes… the Teen Titans. We feared, that young heroes, we're not ready for the responsibilities of crime fighting, without the supervision of older and more experienced crime fighters. But we were wrong…"
"Young heroes, are as brave as our protectors. Be they officers of the law, fire fighters, first responders, and many more that protect and serve the city… our nation… and our world."
"So we of the Justice League, admitted being wrong. And made the vital connection, between all groups that fought to protect our lives. Be they civilians, or super heroes."
"So please, honor with us, the next generation of heroes."
Heroes he didn't recognize, they must have been in their mid to late twenties, ushered in young teens to the stage.
They must be the second, and third generation.
The people clapped, and he turned away. He walked away from the stage.
He saw them… with his own eyes.
-
Flashback
"Star…"
She turned around, and looked at Beastboy.
"Yes, friend."
They had all left the common room, after spending time together. They had just battled Warp earlier, and they wanted to be together, after hearing about their future.
She saw the pain across his face, and floated to him. She knew how much it hurt him, to hear about what became of the team.
"It's… not gonna happen. Right?"
She told them about the future. And even though he made a big deal about him going bald and fat… he really felt devastated about the team breaking up.
Hearing that they were sad… and alone… all hope lost, when Starfire left them.
It cut into him, so deep.
"…"
She smiled.
"Never friend. We have each other now. And we will have each other always."
He smiled a small smile.
She said, life was hopeless and empty, when she disappeared.
He prayed that future never came true…
-
Flashback End
It looks like his prayer was answered. That future never did come true.
The future was bright.
And happy
… without him.
…
"Oof." He stumbled slightly.
"I'm so sorry!" A lady said.
He caught himself, and despite his earlier thoughts, he smiled.
"It's okay. I spaced out, it's my fault."
"Don't apologize, I was running because I ran out of copies."
"Copies?"
"Yeah, I've been handing them out to the public. I'm trying to stir interest in our community groups activity."
Looking hopeful, she eyed him.
"Do you know about the time capsule event we have in Jump City?"
He smiled. Did he know?
"I do. You look familiar…"
She smiled.
"I look like my mom, that's what everyone says. Did you know her? She's the senior director, and I took over for the time capsule charity events."
He raised his hand, and reached into the button shirt that he… borrowed.
"She gave me this." He smiled.
A small pink ball. WINNER.
Old and worn from time.
She laughed.
"You still have that? My mom asked her friend to make those ages ago. Why did you never turn it in?"
He looked bashful, and gave a sad smile.
"I… did a lot of running around. I lost track of time…"
A look of sympathy crossed her features. So he perked up with a smile.
"Is it still good? The token?" He held it up.
She took on a thoughtful pose.
"Mmm…"
He smiled.
"You got something to give to the capsule?"
His smile strained.
"Eh…"
He searched the pockets of the pants he… borrowed.
Then he felt something, and pulled it out.
A penny.
He raised it up, and laughed.
"A penny? You're such a weirdo." She chuckled.
"Hey, it's good luck. You got a paper and pen?"
She raised her eyebrow, then gave him a flyer for today's event, along with her pen.
He thanked her, before moving to the side, and holding the paper to a post. He began to write on the back.
"Good… luck… to you… and your… future. From ME." He smiled.
And she smiled.
He folded the flyer into a tiny envelope, and slipped the penny inside. He tucked in the top, and offered it and the token to her.
She laughed and took both.
"Weirdo…" she smiled at him.
He smiled back.
One chapter left…