Raven X Chapter 9

Raven Age 14

Beast Boy wandered through the streets of Jump City, riding his moped.  It had been his birthday present last year from Captain America, too big to brign into the party room.  He'd gotten it when they had left.  It had certainly made travel easier for him and Raven.

They were wandering the city seperately.  Raven's idea.  She said it would make things go faster.  He wasn't so sure about that, but he wasn't going to argue with her.

Suddenly he heard a commotion nearby.  Sounded like some kind of fight.  Glancing in the direction, he saw smoke rising.  SUddenly his blood went cold.

Raven was that way.

Turning his moped, he hit the turbo.  As he approached, he saw who he recognized as Robin duking it out with some kind of alien chick.  He knew Robin was a hero, so not the threat.  He wouldn't normally have gotten involved, but Raven was nearby.  SHutting off his moped, he leaped off of it, turning into a billy goat, using his added momentum to slam the girl back a ways.  He changed back and turned to Robin.

"Need some assistance?" he asked.  Dude, why'd he come out sounding like Pops?

Robin blinked at him.  "And...you are?"

"Name's Beast Boy.  You'd be Robin, right?"  About to say more, Beast Boy felt his instincts go off, and turned.

The alien chick was about to chuck a bus!  THinking fast, he dodged, and saw someone catch the bus before shoving it aside.

"Dude!  WHo's here messing up my neighborhood!" shouted the stranger.  Beast Boy's nose told him this person was at least half-machine.  Explained his strength.

The alien girl smashed the ground, making a shockwave.  Part of the brace on her arms fell off, and she started shooting some kind of energy blasts.  Beast Boy did his best to evade.  SOmething told him direct confrontation wouldn't help here.

Robin, unfortunately, didn't have those instincts.  "I won't lose this fight!" he snarled as he charged into battle.  Then the dark shadow rose up, blocking his charge.

Beast Boy knew who that was.  ABout to turn and shout out to her, he heard her voice in his mind.

*Pretend you don't know me.*

He felt crushed.  He could barely think.  He barely registered most of the rest of the fight and mission, content to just follow orders when Robin took command.  When the aliens showed up, he let his mouth - and body - react on automatic, so he didn't give his best showing.

So, in the major fight against the bad aliens, he found himself knocked aside by their leader.  Then Raven came to his defense.  He couldn't really think much then, so he just stood there, and let her hold him up.

Then the battle came to it's climax, when it looked like they were going to be beaten...

"Get away from my friends!"  Raven's eyes glowed.  "Wasai Inaha Bet!"  Her magic exploded outward, blasting the aliens off their feet and sending the ship crashing into the ocean.

After the battle, on the island, Beast Boy heard her voice in his head again.

*What's bothering you?*

*...why did you say to pretend not to know you?*

*Is THAT all?*  He heard her chuckle in his mind.  *Beast Boy, you know I have a bit of future sight.  I could see what was forming here when the five of us came together, and I figured it would be easier on both of us if we weren't paired in the others mind from the start.  Now come on, be yourself already.*

Smiling internally, he heard Cyborg - who he had said was like Iron Man 2.0 - say, "Somebody aught to build a house out here."

Letting himself smile, he said, "Yeah, if you like sunshine, and the beach."  He lightly elbowed Raven as he said the last bit.

When she chuckled slightly, he felt his heart lift.  Maybe this would be good...for both of them.

End part 1