Teen Titans in Crete Part 3

"Ai ai ai!!!" Voices echoed outside the window. Raven turned over, shifting restlessly in her sleep as the noise entered her dreams. "Oy Oy Oy!!" She woke up and looked at the clock. 5:30am. She groaned. 'Not now!' she thought, turning over onto her side. Beast Boy lay with his arms folded behind his head. He gazed up the ceiling. "You awake too?" Raven asked sleepily. Beast Boy nodded.
"They've been at it for over an hour now," he replied, "It's a wonder you've been able to sleep this long."
"Uggh… why this morning?" moaned Raven, clutching her head and screwing her eyes shut in frustration. Beast Boy put his arms around her and drew her closer to him. She buried her head in his chest and tried to block out the noise of the marauding football fans. After about fifteen minutes the noise gradually began to die down as the drunken fans gradually became comatose with their binge drinking.

* * *

Raven woke up and looked at the clock. 9:30am. Much more like it. She got up and walked out into the main room of the apartment. Starfire was curled up on the other sofa, holding a glass full of white fizzing liquid. Raven walked over to her and sat down beside her, thankful for her friends return to soberness, "You ok?" she asked, rubbing Starfire's shoulder. Starfire started to shake her head and stopped, wincing. She put one hand to her temple and gulped down the white fizzy liquid in one. She shuddered. "I don't know what came over me," she moaned, "Sorry."
"For what?" asked Raven.
"I kissed you, I totally made you feel uncomfortable and I nearly put Beast Boy in danger when I was wandering about," she said, her eyes sparkling with tears, "Robin must have been so embarrassed."
"It's ok, he'll understand," said Raven consolingly, putting her arm around Starfire's shoulders, "You weren't yourself."
"What happened to me?" asked Starfire, "I feel so wretched."
"You were drunk. That happens when you drink too much alcohol," explained Raven.
"If that's what happens, then I never want to drink again," groaned Starfire, putting her head in her hands, "Uggh, the inside of my mouth tastes like the slime of a Gordanian Narkelveg!"
Raven touched her fingers to Starfire's temples and murmured a spell. Starfire felt her tensed muscles relax and the feelings of nausea and lethargy leave her. She turned to face Raven. "Thanks," she said, smiling.
Beast Boy and Robin walked out of their respective rooms and found the two girls whispering together so as not to wake Cyborg. It did not matter as Cyborg woke up a couple of minutes later. "How are you feelin' Star?" asked Robin. Starfire tensed up slightly, "Fine!" she said, "Sorry I put you through so much trouble last night." She hung her head in shame. Robin sat down on the other side of Starfire and put his arms around her, drawing her to him, "It wasn't your fault," he murmured consolingly, "you weren't yourself." She leant against him, happy that all was forgiven. Raven went off to her room to get changed.
"Anyone up for breakfast?" asked Beast Boy standing behind the counter. He took down some cooking utensils and a large frying pan. Raven walked out of her room, wearing her T-shirt and skirt, her sunglasses hanging round her neck. Beast Boy opened the door to the fridge and frowned. "Jeez, I forgot. We still have to get the food." Raven raised her eyes to the ceiling. She picked up her bag from the corner and walked to the door, "I guess we'd better head down to the store," said Raven. Someone had to go with Beast Boy to make sure he got proper food.
They walked out into the bright morning sunlight. Dust whirled about their feet as they walked down the hill to Hersonissos. The air was hot and dry. Geckos scuttled over the rocks and the noise of the cicadas in the trees was deafening. Raven smiled. It was a rare moment when she could be completely alone with Beast Boy. While looking the other way, she quietly slipped her hand into Beast Boy's hand. Beast Boy said nothing, but a smile crept across his face as they walked on. A green lizard eyed the odd couple as they walked by, paying them no heed. They reached the supermarket at the foot of the hill and walked through the sliding doors. Packets and cartons of all shapes and sizes were stacked high on the shelves and a freezer spilled out comfortingly cool air. Beast Boy grabbed a shopping basket and together they walked around the store picking up items from shelves and putting them into the basket. "We've got to get some cereal," said Raven, picking up two packets of cereal and putting them into the basket. Beast Boy picked up a carton of milk.
"Come on Beast Boy, you'd better get some ordinary milk as well," sighed Raven, "You know the others don't drink soya milk." Beast Boy chuckled before picking up another carton of milk and adding it to the basket. After paying for the food they walked back up to the apartment.

* * *

The sunlight reflected off the surface of the water and many coloured recliners dotted the edge of the pool. Starfire and Robin splashed about in the water, diving beneath the surface and reappearing several feet from where they had disappeared beneath the surface. Raven had just set down her towel on a recliner in the shade and was standing by the edge of the pool. "Come on in, friend Raven," called Starfire, "the water's fine!"
"I don't think so Star!" replied Raven. Starfire turned away, disappointed, and returned to diving into the pool's depths.
Raven failed to notice the little green mouse eyeing her from underneath her recliner, a wicked look in its beady eyes. Suddenly Raven cried out as a green blur dove at her. Beast Boy grabbed her around the waist and together they jumped into the pool. Raven broke the surface, spitting the chlorinated water from her mouth and pulling her sopping wet purple hair from her eyes. "Bleeaaaggh!!!" spat Raven, "Beast Boy, you're going to PAY for that! Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!!!" Beast Boy looked up in dismay at the mini tidal wave as it engulfed him, throwing him back several feet. He turned into a fish and swam underneath the tidal wave and surfaced on the other side. He laughed with glee at Raven's retaliation. His smile faded when he heard Starfire's voice from behind him.
"Friend Beast Boy," said Starfire, her cheeks going slightly pink, "aren't those your swimming trunks?" She pointed at a pair of purple swimming trunks floating on the surface. Beast Boy's ears turned bright red. Raven sniggered behind him, swimming up behind him.
"You know, I'm gonna take a look," she teased, smiling at Beast Boy's obvious discomfort.
"Oh no you don't!" cried Beast Boy, grabbing Raven by the shoulders as she went to go beneath the surface. She laughed as he grasped her shoulders, his face breaking into a grin as the moment passed, "Don't you dare," he said, as he backed away and turned to wade over to his trunks. He grabbed them and pulled them on hurriedly which is quite difficult when you're under water. When he finally got them on he turned to find Raven leaning against the side of the pool, still smiling widely. He leaned on the wall of the pool beside her. "You know that I'm gonna need some revenge!" he said, grinning wickedly. Without any warning the game began again. Beast Boy turned into a dolphin and sprayed water at Raven's face and, taking advantage of her confusion, tackled her beneath the surface of the pool. They floated down towards the bottom of the pool, Raven hammering playfully at Beast Boy's shoulders as he held onto her tightly.
Suddenly she made signs that she needed to return to the surface. Beast Boy obliged and swam back to the surface with her. She broke the surface coughing and spluttering. Fearing he had gone too far, Beast Boy swam over to apologize to her. Too late he realised he had been tricked and she dove at him pushing him below the surface of the water. He turned into a fish and swam through her fingers. He swam around her, tickling her relentlessly with his fins. "No fair!" she laughed, trying to brush him away and missing.
They played like that for several more minutes before climbing, exhausted, onto the side of the pool. Beast Boy, now in the form of an otter, shook his wet fur before resuming his human form. He smiled broadly at Raven and went over and sat down on the recliner next to Raven's. He leaned back on the warm plastic and breathed a sigh of pleasure. He winked at Raven who had pulled out her book and responded with a small smile.
Cyborg had gone to the bar to buy drinks while Starfire continued to dive below the surface of the pool, enjoying the feeling of the water covering her head and the feeling of weightlessness usually only felt while flying. Robin was looking out over the ledge at the horizon. The sky seemed to melt seamlessly into the sea and the olive trees echoed with the chirping of the cicadas in the land below the ledge. A few minutes later Starfire emerged from the water, her skin shining with droplets of water as she walked over to the ledge and stood beside Robin. She followed the line of his gaze out over the sea and smiled. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "Beautiful," she murmured. She kissed him on the cheek before leaning against him. He ran his fingers through her coppery hair and kissed her full on the lips.
"Hey there love birds," boomed Cyborg from beside them, carrying a couple of drinks. Robin and Starfire jumped a foot in the air, letting out a yell each. "Got your drinks," said Cyborg, grinning at the young couple, obviously enjoying the effect his surprise entrance had had on them. Cyborg then walked away, laughing to himself. He performed the same trick on Beast Boy and Raven, causing Raven to fall off of Beast Boy's recliner. Cyborg walked away, chortling and immensely enjoying himself. Starfire walked over to Raven and helped her up. "Revenge?" she asked, holding out her hand.
"Revenge!" confirmed Raven and shook Starfire's outstretched hand. The four of them huddled together, discussing the best method of revenge before settling on a plan. Cyborg settled down on the recliner and lay back with his sunglasses on and his arms folded behind his head, watching two young women out of the corner of his eye. He got up and walked over to the drink's bar where the girls were talking together.
"One pina colada please," said Cyborg, leaning one arm casually on the bar. The bar maid poured out the drink and handed it to him. He winked at the two women who giggled. Raven gathered together her powers.
Splash! The drink that Cyborg had been holding suddenly broke, spilling the contents of the glass all over his shirt. The girls walked away laughing and whispering. Cyborg looked back over his shoulder and saw the other titans helpless with laughter. Even Raven was smiling a wicked smile.
"Nice one Rae!" said Beast Boy.
"Yes, truly wondrous, friend Raven," said Starfire clapping her hands together.
Raven smiled mischievously, "Maybe now that we're not being troubled by the Metal Menace, maybe we could have a little chat," she said, grabbing Beast Boy's arm and pulling him away. Beast Boy saw the wicked twinkle in Raven's eyes and followed her. Starfire turned back to Robin. He smiled at her and together they walked back over to the ledge where their drinks were sitting. Cyborg seemed to have learnt his lesson and spent the rest of the afternoon reading a magazine by the pool.
Before long the sun had set and they were heading down to Hersonissos for dinner. "Where do ya want to go tonight?" asked Cyborg, speaking for the first time since the incident at the bar. They walked along the coast, admiring the sparkling waves glowing orange in the sunset and the boats bobbing about near the horizon. The sound of children playing and cats yowling filled the streets. A bell tolled somewhere in the distance, the sound echoing over the hills. Starfire took out her camera and started taking photos of everything from the sunset over the ocean to a cat slinking along the pavement. She even managed to get a picture of Beast Boy bent down on one knee kissing Raven's hand. "HEY!" yelled Raven, trying to grab the camera from Starfire. Starfire leapt backwards up onto a pillar. "Don't think that just because you're up there makes you any safer," called Raven, not entirely seriously. She gathered together her energy and attempted to levitate the camera out of Starfire's hands but Starfire clung on tight and was lifted along with the camera. Raven brought the camera along with Starfire down from the pillar until they came to rest in front of her. "Hand over the camera!" commanded Raven. Starfire shook her head, "We have to capture all kinds of moments. "Hand it over," Raven repeated. Starfire reluctantly handed over the camera. She pulled a face at Raven who caught her off guard by clicking the shutter, capturing Starfire with her tongue out and her eyes crossed. "HEY!" she yelled, "you can't keep that!" she said.
"We have to capture all kinds of moments," said Raven, imitating Starfire's voice.
"No fair!" said Starfire, pouting.
"So is life," said Raven, smiling. Starfire looked shyly at Raven, ashamed of her previous reaction. She smiled and Raven smiled back. 'This holiday must be doing Raven a lot of good,' thought Starfire.
"You think so?" asked Raven, reading her thoughts. Starfire blushed, "Yeah, I do!" she replied. They ate their dinner in a restaurant by the sea.
"Let's go see what the nightlife's like!" said Beast Boy, getting to his feet after they paid the bill, "I bet there are loads of cool places."
Further down the street they came across a small night club. The walls were grey stone and the roof was grey slate. Dead looking trees stretched their bony fingers imploringly towards the sky and candles glowed on either side of the oaken front doors. In neon letters above the door were the words, 'Crypt O' Nite Club.'
"Creepy," said Raven, "perfect." They walked inside. Candles lined every wall on stands or sitting on the window sills. Much of the club was given over to a massive dance floor where loads of people were dancing wildly to the music pumping from the speakers dotted around the room. Another area was given over to a bar which Starfire completely avoided, her experiences of the previous night all too fresh in her mind. They all walked over to the dance floor. Starfire and Robin started a lively dance over near the wall while Cyborg did the robot. Beast Boy danced alone while Raven stood over at the side, looking slightly awkward.
"Come on Rae!" said Beast Boy enthusiastically, beckoning for Raven to join him.
"This is so pointless," said Raven, looking down at her feet.
"A lot of the best things in life are," said Beast Boy going over to stand beside Raven. Just then the DJ changed the song. A slow dance song emanated from the speakers and the lighting dimmed, filling the room with shadows that danced on the walls and lent the atmosphere a romantic feeling. Beast Boy held out his hand, "May I have this dance?" he asked. Raven looked at him sardonically, but her eyes portrayed her true feelings. She sighed and took his hands with a mock look of exasperation on her face, "I bet you don't even know how to dance!" she smirked.
"Says who?" laughed Beast Boy. He put one hand on her waist and took her hand with his other hand, steering her onto the dance floor. All other feelings seemed to melt away as she danced, her gaze fixed on Beast Boy's green eyes. She felt as if she could sink into their brilliant green depths. They danced in smooth circles around the dance floor keeping in time with the music. Raven leaned up and kissed Beast Boy, causing his ears to turn slightly pink. He held her to him breathing in the scent of herbal tea and the scent of her hair. She leant her head on his shoulder breathing slowly and evenly. She closed her eyes and felt more relaxed and calm than she had felt in years.
Starfire looked at the pair with sparkling eyes. "I am so glad that friend Raven has finally found someone she can be close to," she said, "They look so right together." Robin held out his hand to her.
"What do you say we follow their example?" asked Robin, smiling. Starfire beamed and took his hand. Before long there were two couples dancing on the dance floor, swaying with the music. Grinning a mischievous grin Starfire put her arms around Robin and together they floated a few feet above the dance floor. Starfire leant against him, planting a kiss on his lips, smiling flirtatiously at him. He grinned back, running his fingers through her hair. Slowly they floated back to the ground, Starfire leaning against Robin's chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. She sighed with pleasure, feeling his arms holding her close to him, feeling safe.
Cyborg looked over at them from the bar. His friends had changed a lot since he had first met them. When Raven first came to the tower she would not allow anyone to touch her let alone hold her so tenderly. She would have more than likely thrown Beast Boy into another dimension if he'd tried to kiss her back then.
Robin used to be so concerned with fighting crime that he was completely oblivious to Starfire's attempts to gain his love. Things have changed a lot, ever since that trip to Tokyo. Starfire's love had finally won out.
Beast Boy hadn't changed that much except his jokes might have gotten even lamer. However, he has definitely grown up a bit. His new found relationship with Raven is proof of that. Beast Boy now spends a lot more time reading a book in the common room or listening to the poetry that Raven read to him. Raven seems to enjoy the afternoons spent explaining the art of poetry to the green shape shifter, her rare smiles becoming more frequent.
The song ended and the two couples made their way off the dance floor. Starfire was holding onto Robin's arm, looking wide eyed with tiredness yet happy beyond words.
They walked slowly back to the apartments. The air was still and muggy. Raven wiped a trace of sweat from her brow. "Something tells me we might have trouble sleeping tonight," said Beast Boy. He pulled at the collar of his shirt. He turned into a dog and sat there with his tongue lolling out over his jaws. Only Starfire seemed untroubled by the heat. "What a beautiful night?" she said, looking up at the sky where the stars twinkled like diamonds and the moon shone, orb-like, in the night sky. A few purple looking clouds scudded across the sky and the crickets chirped in the trees overhead. The green eyes of the ginger cat they had seen earlier glinted by the gate.
Starfire knelt down and beckoned to the cat, "Here kitty, here kitty kitty!" crooned Starfire as the cat slunk over to her, rubbing its furry body sinuously about her legs. It meowed softly, turning its emerald eyes to look into her face. She tickled it under its furry chin and it purred a rumbling deep purr most different from its tiny meow. "How cute!" murmured Starfire, stroking its back. Beast Boy morphed into a green cat and stalked up beside Starfire and mewed softly to the cat. The cat mewed in reply. Beast Boy turned back into his human form. "He says his name is Cronus," said Beast Boy, oblivious to Raven's weirded out look.
"Cronus?" said Starfire, looking up at Beast Boy.
"Cronus was the name of the youngest titan who was the father of the Greek gods and was the god of time and the ages," explained Beast Boy. Raven looked surprised at Beast Boy's knowledge. A few moments later she said, "I hate to break up this lovely moment," she said sarcastically, "but I'm tired. Can we go back to our apartment?"
Starfire smiled, "Sure friend Raven," she replied, putting the cat down onto the cobblestoned path. They walked back into their apartment and got ready for bed. Before long, they were all asleep except Raven who sat reading a book. Typical, after having complained about needing sleep her brain refused to let her sleep. She sighed, putting the book down on the table and laid her head on the pillow. The air in the room was warm and muggy. When sleep clearly wasn't going to come she got up and padded out into the kitchenette and opened a cupboard. She pulled out a pack of herbal tea bags and a cup. She filled the kettle and set it to boil. She leant against the counter, listening to the crickets outside the window. A bat swooped past, screeching in its high pitched voice. Even though she wouldn't openly admit it, Raven was enjoying herself. This was just what she needed. A whole two weeks without having to worry about Mad Mod, Cinderblock or Madame Rouge. The kettle behind her clicked as it reached the boil and automatically switched itself off. She poured the water into the cup and dipped the tea bag into the water. Twists off steam drifted up from the cup and Raven held it to her lips, breathing in the scent of the tea. She blew softly on the green liquid before taking a sip.
"AIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Startled by the outcry Raven dropped the cup which tumbled to the ground and smashed, spilling the contents onto the linoleum floor. Raven dove behind the counter, focusing her energy, ready to guard herself at a moment's notice. She looked over the top of the counter before realising that the shriek she had heard came from Starfire and Robin's room. She raised her hands, black orbs forming in front of her palms as she advanced towards the door. "Hey, "are you ok in there Star?" she asked tentatively, pushing the door open. Starfire lay with the covers up round her chin, staring wide eyed over at the other side of the room where Robin stood, holding a jar in one hand and moving closer to the corner. Raven followed his gaze and saw a giant amber and brown creature with long hairy legs and antennae to match. Robin brought the jar down on the cockroach but it scuttled out of reach seconds before the jar hit the ground. It scuttled over towards the bed. Starfire screamed before flying up out of the bed and zooming over beside Raven where she hovered behind her best friend, trembling and clutching at the shoulder's of Raven's nightdress. Raven summoned her powers and a black orb appeared around the cockroach. She levitated it into the jar Robin was holding who quickly covered the opening with a brochure the holiday rep had left behind. He carried the jar over to the window before shaking the jar over the edge of the window sill. A few seconds later a resounding THWACK was heard as the cockroach hit the cobblestoned path below.
"You can let go now," said Raven. Starfire obeyed, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry I disturbed your sleep," said Starfire, blushing and giggling slightly.
"That's ok," replied Raven, "I wasn't sleeping anyway. I can't sleep." With that she yawned, sleep overcoming her at last. Starfire put an arm around her friend's shoulders. "I do not think you will have trouble anymore," she said, guiding her sleepy friend towards Raven's bedroom door. "Goodnight friend Raven," she called after her as Raven walked back into her room and lay down on her bed. Within minutes everyone was asleep again, untroubled by any more cockroaches.