An Old Fire
1112 Words
Groaning Raven sat up, "f**k!?" She whispered touching her head, "Tea maybe?" A deep voice mumbled. Turning a little Raven let in a sharp intake of breath seeing Beast Boy casually sitting in a chair in the corner. Accepting the hot tea he offered, Raven sipped and felt her headache die almost instantly. "Whoa." Beast Boy smiled, "Thanks. Come, let's get you some breakfast."
Sipping her tea, Raven followed. But the moment she stepped outside of her room she was shocked again, "WHOA." Beast Boy laughed amused, "Yeah I know why the f**k am I in Japan?" On the outskirts of Japan on a rolling hill in a beautiful traditional three-story home Beast boy had done well for himself.
Sitting at the table, Cyborg was getting repairs from one of Beast Boy's friends, Starfire was patching up Robin, who was sporting a busted knee and an arm that got knocked out of the socket. Starfire was okay, her alien healing boosting any bruising or injuries she had sustained.
Raven sat at the table and eagerly grabbed a beignet as she drank the rest of her tea.
When Beast Boy came in behind her everyone stared at him as his friend stood from helping fix up Cyborg, "Alright man all good." The huge man grumbled dapping Cyborg up and looking at Beast Boy, "See you later man?" Beast Boy looked at Wolfie knowingly, he knew the Wolf Shifter wanted to ask him what the f**k was up with these weirdos.
But Beast Boy had to find that out for himself.
"I'll catch you."
When Wolfie was gone Beast Boy waited and then..."So you've been here this whole time?" Cyborg asked softly. "Yeah. I like anime, I like Chinese girls, and I like listening to K-pop. Not a fan of sushi but that's not all they cook here!" Cyborg chuckled and Robin smiled fondly, "You look good B."
Beast Boy sat down, "You guys don't. Want to tell me what's going on?" Robin scoffed bitterly, "You left... we...we didn't know the effect of losing the ray of sunshine...and most valuable part of the reason why we were a team. We were supposed to be your family...you had been to us. We couldn't get our s**t together after you left. And I almost just got us killed. Or worse..." He trailed off guilty looking at Starfire.
Starfire looked down ashamed, "I have dishonored our friendship, you were kind, even though you are different you are still of this earth. You will always be more welcomed than I. I'm sorry for being so...entitled bitchy to you." Beast Boy shook his head before whispering, "Star you don't owe me an apology." Cyborg shook his head in angst, "Don't lie. We all do."
Beast Boy sighed, "Dude..." Cyborg looked Beast Boy in the eye, "We did wrong by you. We punished you for growing up, something we did countless times. I'm sorry." Beast Boy sighed honestly not in the mood to cut open the old scars and looked at Robin and Cyborg, "Eat up, stay as long as you like. I don't care."
Stopping he faced them, "And it's just Beast now."
Raven didn't know how to approach Beast after that.
He was even more different than when he had started to change in Titans Tower. Now he was a stranger, a green man with his carefully controlled expressions and dark green eyes watching them like they were the enemy.
And maybe in a way they were.
But Raven didn't want to be Beast's enemy, she wanted nothing more to tell him how badly she missed him when he was gone. How horrible she felt when he left.
How much she realized she needed him far too late.
Sitting down in his living room on the L shaped couch, she curled up watching some Japanese soap opera. Not understand the over dramatized scenes, Raven blankly studied the tv until she felt someone's presence. Looking up to see Beast standing in the doorway, Raven looked at him wide eyed.
"Oh hi." She whispered shyly sitting up.
Beast sighed and came to sit with her, "I've been wondering something since you appeared to me." Raven nodded for him to go on, "Why did you need me more than anyone else? Another Titan, or someone who was actually in a position to help you?"
Raven scoffed, "You did help me. You summoned me here giving me the strength to get us out of there." Beast nodded not relenting, "Yeah but you said what they were doing put you on lock down mentally. Like ALS, unable to move but still with functioning brain activity. Somewhere in you while you were in mortal peril instead of trying to figure away out you wanted to see me. You came to me. Why?"
Raven sighed, "Because...it was only happening because we fell apart. The team, you leaving. It hit us much harder than we could have realized. And because of that, I just needed to see you. Tell you goodbye," Standing Raven looked to Beast sadly, "There was no telling what they were going to do to my body and I knew you'd blame yourself and I didn't want that weighing on you Gar,"
Beast looked over at Raven as she sniffled and tucked a strand of her long purple hair behind her ear, "You grew your hair out. It looks nice." Raven grinned with a little blush on her cheeks, "Thanks." Beast sighed shaking his head hating himself for loving the smile gracing her face. For missing it so much.
Raven stood and walked to his floor to ceiling window in his living room over looking Japan. "This is a beautiful home Beast, you've out done yourself." Beast grinned appreciative of the comment and smiled, "Thank you Raven. It's appreciated." Raven grinned, "Of course."
When she looked out on the sun setting on Japan she opened the door stepping out on the front porch. Walking to the railing, the soft wind blowing through her hair as her gem stone shined on her forehead. Walking up behind her, Beast looked her over in the long silk shirt of his she was wearing.
Sighing as she turned and smiled at him Beast wondered idly if her missing him was anything like how he missed her.
Beast remembered the days leading up to his leaving with so much brewing in his mind. Things had been changing between them. They had found a common ground, a hot, intense common ground where both of them seemed to be on a low simmer for the other.
Did the flame die out or was it possible they were just getting started?
- Writer
