-2 Sorry if this chapter is a bit dry. It was mostly filler before the next chapter. I'll try to get it up as soon as I can! Just please hang in there! The conclusion is coming up! Love you all and as always, read and review appreciated!
-EK
It had been nearly two months since the 'Giving of the Animal Friends' (as Star liked to put it) and the Tower had never seemed so full of life and happiness.
To Cyborg's grateful surprise, Sprocket, the turtle, loved car rides. He assumed it was because the little guy craved for speed though was limited to being a confined in a shell. This made the robot love him more. He could only relate to the turtle since he himself was restricted to his mechanical constraints. He hugged at his shelled companion thoughtfully before inviting the reptile on a test run in the T-Car.
"Let's go, little man. Time to check the new and improved, quantum quality rocket boosters!" His call was complete with a single arm striking straight into the air. "Buckle up, Sprocket! GO TIME!"
Elsewhere in the Tower, Starfire had been delighted with all the things Cat liked to do. Namely, scratch. Upon discovering that her feline friend had loved to claw at things, Star had introduced Cat to her drapes, bed, carpet, spare boots, the commons sofa, and Beast Boy's Infernal Blood Monkey Man life-size replica. With each tattered article, the alien princess gave a pleased applaud for the cat, gushing along the lines of, "Oh, Cat. What a joy you bring in shredding! Please, make me more smaller ribbons!"
On any other day, Robin would have scolded Star, though soothingly. More of informing really. But today, Robin was preoccupied with Sparrow. He had spent the whole weekend with the noble bird, training him through evasive maneuvers and retrieval challenges. Though he had insisted he was doing it for the benefit of the team, the remaining Titans had known that their leader just adored his new pet. Robin hadn't noticed though. He was currently teaching his avian how to ring a bell when prompted. How this was for the team's sake, no one knew.
Beast Boy was wandering the room corridor when he caught sound of talking from Raven's room. His ears perked up towards her entrance, mentally pleading for no other voice to escape. It had been months since the Malchior incident though the changeling secretly hoped the dark sorcerer wouldn't return. He pressed his lobe against the door, and after a few moment's more, heaved a breath of relief when no male voice sounded. Curious still, the devious shape shifter lingered a bit longer by the doorway, and using his keen animal senses, made out the monologue from the other side.
"'Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! -- tear up the planks! -- here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous heart!'"
Thump. A book was shut.
"That's enough Poe for today, Logan."
Logan?
"We'll try the Pit and the Pendulum tomorrow."
Logan. Beast Boy's eyes grew wide, he had unknowingly started to bite at his lip. Raven named her fish Logan?
It was then that Beast Boy heard another surprising noise. Footsteps. Almost immediately, he sprang from the door to the far end of the hallway as a cheetah, terrified that Raven would discover his eavesdropping though ecstatic of his own discovery. As soon as he made it to the Tower gym, he returned to his usual goofy form, breathing furiously from his recent marathon run. Instantly, his mind jumbled with thoughts. Hopeful thoughts. Did Raven mean to name it after me? I mean, it wasn't really 'after me,' I guess. But… She must've thought of me. His heart skipped at the notion.
To his disapproval, a familiar voice interrupted Beast Boy's fantasizing. Gah, Robin.
"Hey, Beast Boy. Cyborg and I are gonna head over to the east coast."
"Awesome! Can I co-"
"You'll be able to watch over Sprocket and Sparrow while we're gone, right? I'd hate to leave them with the girls."
There was no way Beast Boy could escape the request. Robin had practically assigned him a mission. Both boys knew that leaving the animals in the care of Star or Raven would result in… they'd rather not think about that.
"Good. I trust they'll be in the utmost care." A firm hand met the changelings shoulder. "Be back in a few days!"
And with that, Cyborg appeared aside the Boy Wonder, a smile pressed against his stretched face. "Bee wants me to help with their security system." The android was beaming very similarly to his 'look-at-the-big-juicy-meat-steaks-I-just-cooked'-face.
With no more than a "Cya, BB!" the pair was off.
Not so bad. Just a bird and a turtle. Piece of cake.
"Oh, friend Beast Boy. Would it bring the trouble to you if I inquired as to you watching over Cat and the fish of Raven?" Star floated from behind the beastly Titan, clutching a brightly colored handbag as Raven emerged from the alien's shadow. Emotionless.
"We're going to the mall of shopping," Raven informed through a tight grimace. The demon held a small, plain coin purse. "For sales."
Beast Boy tried his best to stifle his laughter. For his sake. "Um, sure."
"Thank you, friend!" Starfire offered a gratuitous hug; Raven gingerly touched at her throbbing temple. Shopping? she mouthed to Beast Boy.
"We'll be back within the glornak hour," Star gushed as she reached the entranceway.
"That's tomorrow morning," came from Raven. Her expression still hung defeatedly. Beast Boy had assumed that it was Star's coaxing that brought Raven to join her mall trolling.
Before the changeling could manage a proper good bye the girls had already departed for their shopping adventure.
Looks like it's just me and the fuzzballs.
BBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBRBBR
A loud thud filled the commons room, disrupting Beast Boy from his midday nap. He uncovered himself from the blankets he had been nestling in and, glancing to the floor, spied a fallen GameStation controller. It took a moment for the shifter to remember he was the only Titan occupying the Tower as well as his duties. Rubbing at his still-dazed eyes, he set off to tend to the team's furries.
After a rather heated romp with Sparrow, Beast Boy, now covered with feathers and bird seed, paced onward to Cyborg's room. That bird's as stubborn as his owner, the changeling concluded. Comparatively, tending to the turtle was a lot less of a hassle as he only had to change the water. Sprocket wagged his little tail in delight as he dipped into his fresh water, sending a faint splash in Beast Boy's direction. The shifter smiled at this before heading towards Star's room. Reluctantly, he approached the tiny domed building, giving a hesitant eye inside. The litter box. Beast Boy nipped at his tongue in disgust. Here goes, he prodded himself. He clutched the pan in his fist while trying his best to keep his breath and swiftly, so very swiftly, he tugged at the plastic, sweeping it into Starfire's trashcan in one fluid motion. Quickly, he released his breath and filled the pan back with the gritty sand and continued his way to the door. He managed to reach the entrance when a discreet noise played upon his senses.
"Urp."
A large worm-like creature wriggled from the receptacle.
"Silkie? What are you doing in Star's trashcan?"
The alien pet just smiled whole-heartedly at the bewildered Titan before releasing another satisfying belch.
"Ew, you are Starfire's trashcan," Beast Boy realized as he peered into the spotless can. Silkie merely licked at the sides happily.
What an animal.