A/N: WELCOME BACK to another installment of, "Sabrina is shit at writing and takes ten million years to get her mojo flowing again!"
Thank you all for your recent comments/reviews/follows! Holy crap!
daniele583 : How could you not be mad at him! I'd tear him apart too..
bearhow : Better late than never I guess! Thank's for understanding and I hope you like the new chapter :)
Other commentators: I LOVE YOU ALL
Without any further babble I hope you all enjoy the new chapter!
[No, I don't own the Teen Titans... that would be rad, though]
Ch. 6: Cover
"Beast Boy…" The green skinned-hero shuddered as a voice echoed behind him.
"Cyborg? You almost gave me a heart attack dude!" The red, glowing light from Cy's robotic eye practically floated towards him. The cybernetic man's metal boots tapped the wooden floors and sent clanking noises down down the hall. Beast Boy tried to level his heart rate with the beating of the footsteps, but he couldn't.
"Easy there Green Bean, what's goin' on?" Cyborg's voice danced off of the walls as his face, flushed with concern, neared Beast Boy.
"Dude… really?" The changeling's voice cracked.
Crossing his arms, Cyborg nodded at Beast and raised an eyebrow.
"Man, there's something up with Raven and no one seems to care around here." The green boy's voice was hushed as he looked down at his tattered gloves and started picking at a frayed hole on his palm.
Cyborg cleared his voice and practically chuckled.
"You'd be surprised man…" He started, "I built this dang tower from the ground up. All security detail, every wire, every camera; even the damn upholstery in our livin' room.."
"What the hell does that even mea-"
"Listen, dude. No one gets in, or out without me knowin' ahead of time."
The changeling's feral eyes narrowed on the brown, human one of the cyborg's.
"So?"
"So Grass Stain," Cyborg sighed and ran his hand over his chin. "I was on ma way over here to find you."
Huh? The green boy stood in silent disbelief.
"You know Raven better than anyone. Even Robin dude. That's why I needed to talk to you."
"Get on with it, will ya!?" Beast Boy became feverishly impatient.
"Easy man, listen. I don't think Raven is here anymore. And quite frankly I'm worried too."
"What!? I've been saying this for the past, like hour and no one even-!"
"I know, I know dude. I also know about her unhealthy bathroom trips at night, and her poor sleeping schedule, and everything in between. Even you, man. You were helpin' her, protectin' her. Better than I could have, even after forcing her to take time off after…" Cyborg sighed. "The last incident with Slade."
The emerald boy's wide eyes glistened in the fluorescent lights. His breathing slowed, almost matching the calm aura radiating from Cyborg. His elven ears relaxed ever-so-slightly and he allowed his hands to rest at his sides.
"Obviously I couldn't help what damage Slade had caused to her. Hell, she wouldn't listen to us even if we tried." Cy's voice became low, and conspicuously hushed.
"I think she's trying to figure this out on her own Beast Boy." Even though part cyborg, his voice was incredibly pained and tense. "She doesn't deserve to be alone."
He reached his robotic arm outward and allowed his palm to face the ceiling. Beast Boy didn't breathe as he felt a lump form in his throat.
Emerald eyes followed down the length of Cy's robotic appendage and to his cybernetic hand.
"A ring? Dude, I don't think proposing to her is gonna help the situat-"
Cyborg let out a thunderous laugh which practically shook the entire tower.
Wiping a tear from his eye the cyborg attempted to elaborate.
"Naw dude, not just any ring." He leaned his face closer to the beast's. "A 'holo-ring'."
"Halo - Ring?" Beast boy crossed his arms and stared at the cyborg.
"Holo-ring. No one knows of it's existence. Until now."
The changeling scrunched his eyebrows as Cyborg raised his. "It's still a prototype technically, but I reckon it'll get the job done. Watch."
Beast Boy stepped back as Cyborg slipped the ring on his pinky finger.
"Everyone's version will display a different image, but this one is programmed specifically for you, man."
Beast Boy's eyes grew wide with curiosity and disbelief. The cyborg who stood in front of the changeling just seconds before, now looked like a physical replica of what Garfield Logan was supposed to look like.
"Holy shit dude…" Beast boy began circling the new person now standing in front of him. Same height, same build…
The replica boy's dirty brown hair, swept messily across his fair-skinned forehead. Bright green, wide eyes stared back into a surprised changeling face. The boy's shoulders were slouched ever-so slightly as a loose-fitting black t-shirt hung free from his broad shoulders. Dark washed jeans were long enough to ruffle on the wooden floor and cover a good majority of the red-converse sneakers he was wearing.
A huge-toothy grin greated Beast Boy's face as he circled back around.
"What do ya think? Sexy, huh?" Cyborg raised his new arms in a grand gesture to show off his new bod.
"Incredible Cy…" Beast Boy's mouth hung open as Cyborg removed the ring from his finger.
"I don't know Rae as well as you do, but I know if you go 'n try to find her she'll keep hidin' if she sees you. Or me, or anyone else." Beast Boy absorbed everything Cyborg was saying. His heartbeat became almost visible through his uniform, his hands shook slightly with anticipation and anxiety.
"I'm worried about her too dude. But I'm also worried for you. Who knows what the kinda game Slade is playing, but something's not right. You should find Raven man, just make sure she's okay. This ring is gonna give you the cover you need to hide in plain sight; plus it'll make anyone trying to find you harder too."
A shudder ran down Beast Boys spine and his fingertips twitched with adrenaline.
"Cy…" The beast whined.
"Dude listen, I'm not gotta tell Robin, or Star this plan either, got it?" Green ears perked up at this thought. "If Robin knew what was going on, he'd go full psycho and most likely scare her away even more with his frantic search-party ideals. Until we know where Raven is, and what's going on, for now, this is between us, got it?"
Beast Boy's mouth was completely dry. So much was going on through the changeling's mind he couldn't form the words he desperately wanted to. Anxiety and fear for Raven's well being rattled his core, a crushing sense of desperation to find her coursed through his adrenaline-spiked blood, confusion and turmoil over what the hell was even going on fogged the space between his ears …
"Yeah, got it."
"Alright then, man." The cyborg reached out one hand to grab Beast Boy's wrist, and used the other hand to place the holo ring in Beast's open-palmed glove. "I'm gonna cover you whatever happens. Whenever you decide to leave, come back, whatever I've got your back here, dude."
"Understood."
Beast Boy removed one of his tattered gloves and slid the chilled metal ring over his finger. He could see his exhausted, sunken eyes in the reflection.
Stepping forward the emerald boy wrapped both arms around the broad bust of the cyborg's.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it string bean."
The empath kneeled in horror. Her head hidden behind her hands, her eyes covered by pale, bloodied fingers. The warmth of the sun was blazing hot on the back of her ashen neck. Violet clumps of hair dangled helplessly on either sides of her head.
I'm going crazy. Why.
The sorceress allowed herself to lose it. She allowed her emotions devour her. Hopelessness, frustration, fear, everything made her soul writhe for answers, explanations, for peace.
Her torn jeans allowed her knees to scrape and abrade against the abrasive concrete.
As her silent sobs racked her body and caused her stomach to practically convulse she could feel the environment around her begin to wake up from its daze.
Cars began humming again, chattering people began their early morning bustle to work…
How the hell is Slade doing this...such control over everything, over me.
"I don't understand." The empath whined into her hands and allowed warm, slowed breathes to enter her lungs.
Suddenly, she felt the ground below her start to vibrate with the weight of someone walking close.
A warm, firm hand then began to rest on her upper back; the feeling of their hand began to almost physically pull the empath out of her own mental daze.
"Dude...a-are you okay?" A strange, male's voice cracked.
Dun Dun DUNNN
Thank you all so much for reading! This was probably one of the easiest chapters to write (thank goodness) and I'm feelin pretty good now, finally with how I plan to pace the rest of the story out. Be forewarned: it's gonna be a long doozy with a possible... *cough cough* sequel!?
*Evil Laughter*
Anywho, please feel free to follow/review! I love reading what people think, and I'm in love with all the support I've gotten thusfar!
As always, I shall see you soon!
~SabrinaLee