Fan Fiction ❯ Power of Denial ❯ Heart on His Sleeve ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, unfortunately. Any views or opinions expressed in this fan-fiction are strictly those of the author, me. The latter statement is probably just a formality, unless I somehow work my love of all things Canadian (GO CANADA) into this fan-fiction. This fic spawned from a post I made on a RaeBB message board I occasionally frequent. I want to start a fourth fic so badly now that I have this great idea, but I just wouldn't have the time. Now that I'm back from college orientation, I'll make time. I hope. For those of you who are waiting for an update on After the End, I missed the last one because of some computer problems I spent 3 days with tech support to fix.

 

Please Read and review. Constructive criticism wanted.

 

Chapter 6: Heart on His Sleeve

 

Cyborg listened to the muffled sounds of Robin cursing behind the closed door to the common room, grinning widely. He could not believe his luck. For months now, he had been plotting ways to get Robin and Starfire alone in close quarters, and the little cupid thing now perched on hi shoulder did his work for him. With any luck, the two bound Titans will let their guard down for just a moment and something would slip that would put an end to this will they will they not crap Cyborg had to painfully endure since the day Robin and Starfire met.

 

But best of all, Robin's and Starfire's situation was a sure fire way to cheer Beast Boy up at least a little bit. Cyborg was sure that the fact that something had happened that as not related to the changeling in any way would make him feel better. He only hoped that Beast Boy had changed out of his ripped uniform already. That was a sight he could live without seeing again, or even seeing for the first time for that matter.

 

A soft snicker coming from his shoulder reminded Cyborg of the winged presence that traveled with him. Glancing over at the chibi cupid that, unbeknownst to him, was Speedy, Cyborg's eyes wet wide in terror at what his little companion was doing. Somehow, in the insignificantly short time he was perched on Cyborg's metallic shoulder, the little cupid had managed to uncover the secret compartment on his upper arm that no one else in the world knew about. It was there that he kept the one thing that always spurred him to fight harder in battle. It was that one thing that brought hope into his heart that one day his dreams would be realized. It was that one thing that the chibi Speedy now held in his hands as he smirked wickedly.

 

Cyborg narrowed his eyes angrily. “Give that back you little thief,” he spoke coldly with a venom never before heard from the metallic Titan dripping from is voice. Swiftly, he made a grab for the small square item, but the winged Speedy was too quick for him and Cyborg soon found himself chasing his target down the hall, completely passing Beast Boy's room without regard. There was a desperation in Cyborg that he rarely felt as he chased Speedy down. He needed to get that object back, or else he could be blackmailed for the rest of eternity, and he was not about to sit through that kind of torture.

 

Eventually, Cyborg managed to corner Speedy at the edge of the hallway. There was nothing but a wall beyond the point where the little cupid now floated, and behind him, Cyborg stood glaring daggers at the little guy. Sighing in defeat and because his fun had finally ended, for now that is, the chibi Speedy slowly floated over to the massive Titan and reluctantly passed on the object he had stolen. Cyborg quickly swiped the object away from the thief, and with all the care and gentleness in the world, he slowly placed the picture of a certain pink haired villain he had taken of her back into his secret compartment and slammed it shut. Soon after, the cybernetic teen felt a gentle nudge at his side, and he looked down to see the chibi cupid Speedy softly shoving his elbow into Cyborg's side while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

 

“Oh knock it off you little twerp,” Cyborg laughed as he shoved Speedy away from him, “and forget what you saw while you're at it. Go bother someone else. Better yet, why don't you go make Robin and Starfire even more uncomfortable? Get some roses and candles or something, okay? Make one of them crack.”

 

The chibi cupid suddenly stood straight up on the ground and did a very incorrect military salute before flying back towards the common room as fast as his little angelic wings could take him, leaving Cyborg to his previous task of cheering Beast Boy up with the once in a lifetime opportunity that the little cupid had given them. Reminding himself to put a lock on that compartment as soon as he could, Cyborg began his short journey back to Beast Boy's room. Before long, Cyborg found himself standing before the giant sliding door marked Beast Boy, with the familiar sensation of the fear of the horrors within.

 

From a certain point of view, the changeling's room was far more horrifying than Raven's. For Raven's room, it was Raven herself that most were afraid of. Her glare could freeze the veins of thousands in mere seconds, with the exception f Beast Boy who on most occasions was not fazed until Raven actually was forced to verbally abuse the little grass stain. Yet, Beast Boy's room was almost the exact opposite. The person inside was not to be feared, but the room itself was horrifying. It was only a year ago that the Titans had battled a horrifying mold monster that had come to life underneath the bottom bunk of the changeling's bed, who tried to eat Beast Boy in his sleep. It was one of the weirdest fights Cyborg had ever been in, and he did not want repeat performance, so he hoped that the emerald changeling at least straightened up his room once in a while.

 

Hesitantly, Cyborg raised his arm to the door and knocked softly three times, hoping that it would be Beast Boy that opened the door. However, no response came from within the room of his best friend. Raising an eyebrow in concern, Cyborg tried again, this time harder than the last. Still no answer came, and his mind was beginning to run frantic with the thousands of evil possibilities related to Beast Boy's room. “Beast Boy,” Cyborg yelled in fear. “Open up, dawg. Are you okay in there?”

 

“Go away,” the sound of Beast Boy's muffled voice reached Cyborg's ears. The changeling's voice was filled with an uncharacteristic amount of fear and despair, which only made Cyborg worry even more.

 

“What's wrong, Beast Boy?” Cyborg asked quickly. “Are you still upset about what's been happening today, or… OR IS THE MOLD MONSTER BACK AGAIN?!? Don't worry, BB. I'll save you from its moldy evilness.” Swiftly, Cyborg brought his hand up to the security terminal next to Beast Boy's door. With a mere thought, several wires detached from his fist and connected to the terminal, automatically activating the override sequence. Beast Boy's frantic, muffled please for Cyborg to stop paws the only thing the metallic Titan heard during this process, but he ignored them thinking that some great evil was forcing Beast Boy to say those things. He was not about to let some biohazard kill off his bet friend.

 

Suddenly, the door to Beast Boy's room slid open, and Cyborg rushed in with both sonic cannons raised and fully active. Yet to his surprise, the room was silent, except the heavy fearful breathing of Beast Boy who was crouched in the farthest corner of the room. At first glance, the only thing that seemed wrong in the room was the way Beast Boy was acting. But it did not take long for his electronic brain to register that something was different about the changeling, something severe. Cyborg's eyes shined with the laughter that he forced himself to hold in.

 

“Beast Boy,” Cyborg spoke as calmly as he could, which was no small feat considering the circumstances. “Y-Your uniform, i-it's p-”

 

“I know,” Beast Boy spoke softly interrupting his fellow Titan. The last thing he wanted was to hear the horror which he already knew.

 

“What happened, BB?” The mechanical Titan asked in confusion.

 

“I don't know,” Beast Boy shot back. “I got here after I left you guys, I come in here, go to grab a new uniform, and they were all like this, and before I knew it, the one Starfire ripped had turned this way also. If I had any other clothes, I'd wear those but my uniforms are the only thing I have. So, for now at least, I'm stuck in…. this color.”

 

Cyborg was silent for a while, still trying to hold back his laughter. He owed it to Beast Boy to lay off the jokes for a while. Te last thing he wanted was to push him too far. However, one statement lingered in his mind, and forced its way out of his mouth. “But it's pink.”

 

“I know,” the changeling grumbled.

 

“With a red stripe down the middle,” Cyborg continued, unable to hold back.

 

“Way to state the obvious.” Beast Boy's eye was now twitching and he was ready to explode at any moment.

 

“And it has -”

 

“I AM WELL AWARE OF THE HEARTS ON THE SLEEVES!” Beast Boy yelled as loud as he could at Cyborg, causing his voice to ring throughout the tower. Taking a deep breath, the green Titan tried his best to calm himself down before he spoke again. “I would rather not be reminded of anything whoever is doing this does. I'm not going to let them ruin my life, but I would like to be alone for a while. So, please leave.”

 

Cyborg's jaw dropped at Beast Boy's deadly serious tone. He had never heard him speak like that, but he could not go along with the changeling's wishes just yet. He had a job to do, and Robin and Starfire would probably find a way out sometime. He had to get Beast Boy in there so he could cheer up soon.

 

“There's no way I'm gunna let you stay in here all depressed all day, dawg,” Cyborg spoke sternly as he placed a comforting hand on the changeling's shoulder. “Besides, nothing that's happened so far has been all that bad. It's not worth secluding yourself like this over. I'm going to cheer you up if it's the last thing I do, and there is something in the common room that is guaranteed to bring that smile back to your face.”

 

“What about the fact that Raven probably hates me now,” Beast Boy shot back with pain leaking from his words, completely ignoring Cyborg's statement about the common room.

 

Cyborg shook his head. “She doesn't hate you, BB.”

 

“Doesn't she?” The changeling asked in despair. “You saw the way she ran after you got us out of that net. I'm the last person she'd want to be in a position like that with. She ran from me, Cyborg. She couldn't stand to even look at me after that. She hates me, but I can't stop loving her. I won't even try to stop bugging her because of it. I can't let go, even if she hates me.”

 

Cyborg stood therein silence pondering exactly how he should respond to his best friend's theories. He could easily see the fragile state of mind the emerald Titan was in, and he could not risk saying anything stupid in front of him. That's a pretty screwed up point of view you've got there, dawg.” So much for not saying anything stupid. Beast Boy glared at his metallic friend, mere seconds away from verbally berating his teammate. “Don't get me wrong, BB. You probably have every right to think that, but from where I was standing, you're wrong. I saw her face before she ran, and you know what I saw? Shock, not anger. Wouldn't you say all of that happened pretty fast? Who wouldn't be shocked? And, you have to take into account that Raven isn't one for physical contact unless she instigates it. So, trust me when I say she's not mad at you. A little confused and embarrassed, maybe, but definitely not mad. It wasn't even your fault, so don't jump to conclusions.”

 

Beast Boy looked away in silence. It's never easy to admit you are wrong, but for Beast Boy, it was always the hardest thing in the world. He'd rather just change the subject than to admit it. “So, you said that there was something in the common room that would cheer me up? Unless you've ripped the wings off that miniature cupid thing, I don't see how it's going to work.”

 

Cyborg grinned as wide as his mouth would allow (and then some) as the image of why he came to get Beast Boy in the first place returned to his mind. With his previous train of thought lost in the recesses of his mind, a sense of urgency came over him. He had to get Beast Boy in the common room fast. “Oh, it's a surprise that I just know you'll love. I won't say what it is exactly, but that little cupid dude did something that would hopefully put an end to what you, Raven, and I have had to painfully endure since day one. And, what's even better, is that what that cupid did has absolutely no effect on you whatsoever. There's no connection to you at all.”

 

“Really?” Beast Boy asked with hope ringing in his voice. “That's awesome. I have to see it now! Just promise me that you'll help me shut Robin and Starfire up about my uniform, okay?”

 

Cyborg laughed. “I don't think that will be a problem, dawg. For now, you're off the hook.” With that, the two teens rushed off to the common room, and to a sight that would no doubt able leave them in awe… as well as leave them a perfect opportunity for blackmail. `Life is sweet,' Cyborg thought laughing mentally.

 

llllllllllllllllllll

 

Darkness swelled around this lone area of Raven's mind, and the only light emanating within it was the soft glow of the numerous pools of liquid fire gathered on the sides of the path. One would think that the pathway would be one's safe haven from a fiery death that awaited them below, but that would only lead one to their own downfall. The pathway was weak and far from solid. Just a mere step in the wrong place would send an ill prepared traveler to their demise. Fortunately enough, this dark emotion's domain did not receive many visitors, if any at all. Yet, today was different.

 

Today, three cloaked emotions braved the dangers of the realm of Raven's final emotion. Well, Love and Wisdom braved it. Timid had to be carried while she curled up in her cloak hoping that it would shut out the world around her. Wisdom led the group, knowing exactly where it was safe to step. Love followed cradling Timid in her arms close behind. Her body still ached from her fight with Denial, but she had regained enough strength to safely hold onto Timid as they crossed a worn out looking stone bridge over a small river of lava below. With each step, Timid gripped tighter onto Love for comfort. Needless to say, Timid was terrified.

 

“I-I don't like this place,” Timid stuttered as she buried her hooded face deep into Love's chest. “L-Let's go back before we make h-her mad at us. She won't like v-visitors, especially not me.”

 

“Everything will be alright, Timid,” Love said soothingly while doing her best to give the frighten emotion the best hug she could from the position they were in. “I'm here with you and Wisdom's just up ahead. You're not alone Timid, so you don't have to be afraid. We'll protect you.” The purple clad emotion smiled down at the grey cloaked likeness of her, which only caused Timid to recoil slightly out of fear that her smile meant something bad.

 

“S-She is going to hurt us,” Timid began to sob softly into Love's leotard. “She doesn't like anyone. It isn't safe here. Let's go back.”

 

“We can't go back now, Timid,” Love tried to sound as comforting as she could to the trembling girl in her arms. “After all, the center of her realm is just up ahead. It won't be long now, so you just close your eyes and relax. Everything will be fine.” The trio continued to walk further into the domain of the dark emotion, but Love could still feel Timid's uneasiness, so she did the only thing she could to try and take her mind off of where they were, talk.

 

“You know,” Lobe began and Timid jumped in her arms at the broken silence, “I never did thank you for bringing me to Wisdom. I don't know how bad off I would be if you hadn't helped her patch me up. So, thank you, Timid. I really appreciate it, and I fully understand why you had to take my cloak off. You don't ever have to be afraid of what I think of you. So, do me a favor an-” Love stopped herself right before she and Timid ran into the now still Wisdom.

 

“What's wrong?” Love asked confused at why Wisdom had just stopped so suddenly.

 

“Rage is not here,” the brown cloaked emotion stated simply. “She has never to my knowledge left her realm, but she is not here.”

 

“Are you sure?” Love asked in disbelief. “I mean, she could just be at another corner of-”

 

“No,” Wisdom sighed. “This is where she chooses to stay in her realm. She should be here, and if she is not, it could only mean one other thing.”

 

llllllllllllllllllll

 

“YESSS!” Happy squealed in delight. After Denial had finished with Love, she had returned to her troupe of gathered emotions to create more chaos in the tower, all the while making it seem she was the nice one. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. His uniform. Denial, you are so awesome!”

 

“I must commend you for the hearts on his sleeves,” Knowledge smiled slightly. “Very Shakespearean.”

 

“You guys are too much,” Denial laughed joyfully. “You don't have to keep complementing me. You're going to get me all full of myself.” `As if I am not already.' “Tone it down, guys. I'm doing this for you.”

 

“But the point is that you are the one doing it,” Brave spoke up grinning. “It's not like we have the power to do any of this.”

 

“True,” Denial agreed, “but I -”

 

“We all think what you're doing is great,” Rude purposely interrupted Denial snickering.

 

“Thanks,” Denial continued, “but I can't take all the credit. You all-” A lone fist appeared out of nowhere and collided roughly against the jaw of Denial, sending her tumbling to the ground. All of the surrounding emotions stepped back in fear of the sight now before them. Denial was grounded, and a red cloaked emotion with burning eyes of anger towered over her.

 

“Hello Rage,” Denial said as she rubbed her chin and struggled to her feet.

 

“Goodbye Denial,” Rage spat coldly, glaring daggers at the black cloaked emotion before her. “I will not sit back and allow you to usurp the role I was born to play. Rage will consume Raven, not you. This ends now.”

 

Denial smirked at the furious, hate filled version of Raven standing before her. “I'd like to see you try.”