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It had taken two full years of asking until Nightwing finally caved in. Two long years of subtle hints, threats and sometimes downright begging and pleading. Their job was a 24/7, 365 days-a-year kind of gig which left little room for anything besides endless training, battling evil, embarking on positive PR endeavours and eating the occasional pizza.
Only after Starfire broke down in tears following a seemingly routine battle with Cinderblock that Nightwing realized his team might need some kind of reprieve from their stressful lives.
A vacation, if you will.
But being the workaholic he was and knowing that villains would never take a rest, Nightwing insisted on no more than one week of vacation a year each. Unpaid, of course.
The Titans should consider unionizing.
The fellow Titans eagerly booked their time away. Cyborg spent his week flirting with women and filling up on steak during the Calgary Stampede. He brought everyone cowboy hats and ended every sentence with “eh?” for a month afterwards.
Starfire was incredibly excited and wanted to do ‘the bumming of the beach’ by dragging a very reluctant Nightwing for a vacation in Hawaii. Despite wearing her smallest bikini and cajoling the masked hero to join her for cocktails at the nightly luau, Nightwing spent the majority of time in his room glued to his laptop working on ‘leads’.
For Beast Boy, this was an opportunity to impress his girlfriend- the dark, the magical, the way out of his league he might as well be in another time zone: Raven. They had only been dating a few months, and Beast Boy wanted to sweep her off her feet with his suave demeanour, excellent language skills and his taste for fine cuisine. He wasn’t fooling anyone-especially the enchantress, but he knew he would at least get brownie points for trying.
The obvious choice was to take her to Paris, the most romantic city in the world. However, when you take down an evil brotherhood that happens to be based in the city, Paris seemed less like a romantic setting and more like a trip down memory lane. It was, in fact, his moment of triumph and as much as Beast Boy would love to parade this around the town, he didn’t think Raven would appreciate such an ego trip.
However, he still thought Europe was a good idea. Old libraries that Raven can get lost in (and maybe find a quiet corner for a make-out session or two), cobbled streets to hold hands on and a rich, vibrant culture they could get lost in. With a full day of seeing idyllic castles and grand architecture and a romantic dinner under a moonlit sky, Beast Boy was hoping the passion of the day would carry over to the night and in particular, to their hotel room. It was still early days but Beast Boy couldn’t think of a more enchanting place than Europe to take this giant leap with the woman he’d been pining after for years.
After careful research Beast Boy settled on 3 days in Prague in the Czech Republic before having a relaxing 4 days in a remote Italian Villa in Tuscany.
Prague seemed to tick all the boxes: a rich history complete with palaces, old town squares and gothic churches for Raven to ogle at during the day and a bustling nightlife with Jazz halls and bars full to the brim of cheap, bohemian beer for the night. Having finally reached adulthood, Beast Boy was very eager to partake in this particular European activity.
And Italy was… Italy! Drinking wine beside his private pool while the wind blew through Olive trees and Raven beside him, in her bikini, about to make him a hearty meal consisting of a lot of pasta, bread and fresh vegetables from the garden. Okay, so Raven’s cooking would probably send him to his nearest ospedale- but he could dream, right?
The first day in Prague was as romantic as he had pictured. They had walked along the Charles Bridge, marvelled at the architecture in the Old Town Square, and even managed to find a vegan restaurant near the astronomical clock. Ending the night, they shared kisses under the stars as they strolled to their hotel room for what he hoped would be an unforgettable (and first) night together.
It was almost perfect. Fervent kisses and first-time confessions had them tumbled on the bed, clad only in their undergarments and silly grins upon their faces. They shyly let go of those small bits of fabric as hands fumbled and breaths were laboured. Lips were bruised from kissing, legs were spread apart and protection was considered. With a hungry kiss, Beast Boy melted into his girlfriend. The moment was now, the moment was theirs, the moment was….
Interrupted.
Beast Boy was only too happy to ignore the jingle of his Titans communicator and continue with his sensual endeavour. His diligent girlfriend, however, took her job very seriously and answered the call after throwing on a hotel robe.
It was Nightwing. Madame Rouge had broken out of her Parisian prison, and guess who were the closest Titans to the site?
Having a feeling he was going to regret it, Beast Boy donned his uniform (after a quick, cold shower), and after a longing look at the grand bed he had just vacated, he headed out the door and into the night with his (almost) lover by his side.
Turns out, Madame Rouge had a personal vendetta against the Titans and was hell-bent on getting revenge. It is a tale as old as time- and honestly, a little cliché. Have these bad guys ever walked into a library? A little research, a new narrative for their schemes, perhaps? Just a suggestion.
With Rouge leaving destruction in her path, Beast Boy and Raven followed her around the corners of Europe until, with their fellow teammates, they managed to trap her in Venice. Once she was secured and the continent saved, the Titans were allowed to recover in Venice’s best three-star hotel for exactly three hours of rest and recovery. Girls in one room, boys in the other.
The city may be sinking but Beast Boy’s hopes were not as he discovered that he and Raven still had one night left in their villa only hours away.
No, for those who were asking, Nightwing couldn’t offer the days back they had lost. No, they would not get another vacation for the year. Seriously, union reps, are you hearing this? A committee needs to be organized here post haste.
Although they were bruised, beaten and tired, Beast Boy was adamant about enjoying what little time they had left of their holiday and didn’t even need to give her ‘the face’ before Raven quickly agreed. They made it to their picturesque villa and sunk into their large, romantic canopy bed to nap for an hour.
Sixteen hours later, they were woken by a very angry AirBnB host who cursed them in rapid Italian for bringing mud onto his new, plush carpet. Beast Boy grudgingly paid for the extra cleaning but still swore he couldn’t see any mud on either of their shoes or said carpet.
The couple headed home, and although it wasn’t the idyllic, romantic setting he was hoping for, Beast Boy and Raven consummated their love between the sheets on the bottom bunk of his bunk bed.
The bunk bed was quickly replaced within a matter of days.
One year later, and despite their ups and downs, Beast Boy and Raven remained steadfast in their devotion to the other. It also meant they could plan their yearly (still unpaid) vacation together as a couple.
There were a few arguments about this one. Both agreed that they were still determined to go back to Europe to enjoy the history and the people, but while one wanted the solitude of a small town or village, the other wished for the excitement of a large city. You will be forgiven if you thought Raven would be the one to crave the seclusion and Beast Boy who wanted the bustling nightlife but throughout their courtship, both had come to realize how they craved not only the other’s happiness but saw the potency and the enjoyment in the things the other desired.
Beast Boy, being the more brash of the two, would not be swayed as not only did he long for the quiet solitude of the country, but he had a cunning plan up his sleeve and felt that a small, reclusive place would be the best location for the pair to discuss furthering their relationship to the next level.
While it was still early for diamond rings and declarations of intended matrimony, Beast Boy knew the time had come to have that conversation that committed couples tend to dread: where they would live.
You see, although they had been teammates and housemates for many years now, Raven and Beast Boy still shared separate living accommodations. One night would be spent in his, the other in hers, and though their belongings would ultimately flit from room to room, there was little structure to the arrangement. Beast Boy wanted some permanency to the situation and wanted to show his partner that he was committed to her and their future. In his mind, by having the conversation away from the tower and any other distractions, they could discuss the topic practically, without sentiment, and analytically list the positive and negative attributes of each room to make a fair and joint decision on the topic. He knew there would be plenty of arguments as Raven was as stubborn as a mule, and he wasn’t going to give up his King-sized bed without a fight, but he rather hoped that all disagreements would be settled horizontally and in every room their rented place would contain.
The argument went back and forth.
She said London, he said London Derry.
She said Barcelona and he said a yard to enjoy a Corona.
She said Budapest and he said somewhere they can stay undressed.
She said Limerick and he said… (c’mon reader- does this one have to be rhymed for you? You get the idea).
With all the headbutting and Beast Boy’s inevitable innuendos, other residents in the tower took notice of the discussion and loudly voiced their opinions. Most ideas were odd, often edging on ludicrous (Ibiza got a hard pass from both parties), but it was Nightwing who gave a suggestion which perked their attention.
“What about somewhere in Scotland? A nice cottage close to Glasgow but far enough away to enjoy the clean air and the green countryside,” he had suggested over a cup of his morning coffee.
It was the perfect destination, and the pair booked a small cottage on the edge of Sterling, close to castles and Outlander-esk landmarks, but also within a short drive to the bustling, cultural hub of Glasgow.
They arrived to rain but nothing was going to spoil Beast Boy’s mood. The bottle of scotch he paid extra for was on the table, he had seen Raven sneak in that sexy red number he liked and he had already had a gander at the sofa in the living room- it looked robust enough to endure everything he planned to do on it tonight. He just needed to get his girlfriend to be on the same page.
The kisses he gave her were not the clumsy, bashful ones of the year prior, but the sultry, seductive ones of a confident and generous man.
Raven enthusiastically responded with vigor and Beast Boy couldn’t stop the smirk that formed on his lips. He privately thought that his girlfriend must be part succubus as her appetite was almost, if not more demanding, than his own.
“You know the red thing you like?” she whispered into his ear, taking him further down the lustful path he was already on. Her words were laced with exquisite want as her tongue ran up the sensitive cartilage and he shivered.
He hummed in acknowledgement to her question as the image of Raven’s ethereal figure in the garment appeared in his mind’s eye. The way the silk spilled over her delectable curves was something that Beast Boy would not forget anytime soon.
“Well,” her tongue continued down his jaw and her breath was hot on his neck. “I might have bought one in green.”
She might have well said she was covered in vegan chocolate.
“Put. It. On. Now,” he growled at her.
With a faint giggle, she grabbed her bag. She eyed the couch that Beast Boy was earlier assessing and with a pointed look at her boyfriend, went upstairs
Beast Boy quickly adjusted himself before moving to pour himself and his girlfriend a glass of whiskey. As the amber liquid trickled into the glass Beast Boy had to stop himself from actually pinching his arm. He was in love with a sex goddess whom he hoped would be willing to share her bedroom with him for now and maybe even always.
Lost in thoughts of long legs and the wet lips between them, he absentmindedly answered his communicator which he had opened automatically at its sharp ring.
“Hmm?” he said, looking at the staircase his very hot and very horny girlfriend had just gone up.
“Beast Boy. You arrived in Scotland- That’s good. I’ve got bad news, I’m afraid.” Beast Boy was pulled from his daydream of smeared lipstick and knotted hair by Nightwing’s grim salutation.
“No way, ‘Wing,” he said with determination. “We just got here- I’ve just poured myself a glass of Auchentoshan and Rae has gone upstairs to get dressed in something I plan on taking off with my teeth. Whatever is wrong, it doesn’t need us.”
The sigh that Beast Boy heard over the communicator made him slump his shoulders. Nightwing had a way of making you feel guilty for saying no and he had a feeling that tonight's plans were about to go up in smoke.
“I know you’re on vacation but we are overrun here with just the three of us and the issue happens to be localized to an area not far from you in Scotland,” Nightwing sighed.
“Sorry, dude- I really am. But I have plans for this week and unless you tell me the Loch Ness Monster is terrorizing the kilted masses of the Scottish Highlands, I’m going to have to say no.”
Nightwing was silent on the other end of the line.
Beast Boy’s jaw hit the floor.
“No fucking way, Dick. Are you shitting me right now?”
“We aren’t exactly sure it is the Loch Ness Monster but something of that description has been spotted multiple times around Inverness and other towns. We can’t confirm its location exactly- it has been rather elusive and the destruction is swift- but our accounts all point it to be eerily similar to…” Nightwing hesitated and seemed to squirm in his seat. “The fabled Loch Ness monster.”
Beast Boy could only gawk at his communicator.
“Gar?” his girlfriend’s soft voice broke him from his mystified stare and he turned to see Raven’s luscious curves covered by her uniform and long cloak. She must have heard Nightwing’s assignment from upstairs and quickly donned her uniform. He sighed at the sight. Her self-sacrifice and selflessness were some of the many things he loved about her but when his pants were tented in an almost painful way and he knew it wasn’t going to get the pleasure that he was so eager for, he wished that she would be a little bit selfish- just this once.
As his gaze roamed over her, allowing himself a quick moment to picture the creamy skin under the uniform, he noticed that in her fingers she clutched the emerald green lace. He felt himself dip in disappointment and knew that he wouldn’t be seeing the drool-worthy sight of her in it tonight.
All he wanted was a week away from the hero business so he and Raven could get some time alone- was that too much to ask for?
“We should go,” Raven whispered, touching his arm as she put the saucy number back into her bag.
Beast Boy stared longingly at the suitcase as if willing the lingerie to fly back out of it and attach itself to her. He would, of course, strip her of her burdensome clothing and watch the show with great pleasure.
As if sensing his disappointment, Raven wrapped her arms around her lover and held him in a tight embrace. Beast Boy squeezed her back and kissed the top of her head. Her scent gave off only the tiniest hints of the arousal he could smell on her earlier and he knew the moment was well and truly over. If he was lucky, then they would catch this mythical creature quickly so they could get back to the cottage and back to his plans for the holiday.
As if he wasn’t low enough, the thought that this could delay his asking of Raven to move in with him made him feel even more bitter about the mission and he let out a long, loud, moan.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Raven said, hearing his disappointment. “It comes in other colours- orange, purple, blue, pink… why don’t I buy one in every colour for next time?”
Gar laughed at his girlfriend’s misinterpretation of his sigh.
“You’d look horrible in orange,” he snickered as he lovingly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“An excellent incentive for you to take it off faster.”
She leaned into him and kissed him deeply as his laugh vibrated through his body. He struggled with it, but pulled away quickly, knowing that if he spent another second with her tantalizing lips next to his, he would have no choice but to start kissing in those places he knew she liked.
Cupping her face into his large hands, he couldn’t help but gaze into her beautiful indigo eyes, and he felt a sharp pang as he thought about why he wanted to take her on this holiday in the first place. Now that they were just about to start another mission, he didn’t have time to ask her his question.
Raven frowned, undoubtedly feeling the change in his emotions. “What’s wrong, Gar?”
Beast Boy sighed, “I was going to use this vacation to ask you something. Something…important to me.”
Raven studied him, her eyebrows drawn close together and her nose wrinkling in confusion. “What is it?”
“I wanted to ask you to move in with me,” he said, stroking her face with his fingers.
With a confused smile, Raven shook her head, “We already live together, Gar.”
“I know Rae, but we still have separate rooms. I want us to be in one room… together. I want everyone in the tower to know that it is OUR room and I want them to have to buy earplugs for every time they walk past.”
Raven raised her eyebrows at her boyfriend.
“For all the noise I’m going to have you make on a nightly basis,” he chuckled, bringing his usual lightness to an otherwise weighty topic.
Raven rolled her eyes but the smile in the corner of her mouth made Beast Boy know she was amused and most importantly, attentive.
Deftly making the change back to the thoughtful one at hand, Beast Boy grasped Raven’s petite hands into his calloused ones. “Yes, I want you in my bed but more importantly, I want Beast Boy AND Raven to be etched permanently into our door. Our room, our place, our future. It's you for me, Rae- no one else.”
Raven gave one of her thoughtful stares that made Beast Boy want to cower under such a weight but he was steadfast in this decision and wouldn’t be intimidated. Most men would have buckled or hesitated with such a woman gazing at them so intently but Beast Boy was young and in love and knew that his sentiments were pure.
He just hoped she didn’t throw him out into the nearest loch for the noise comment.
It had only been seconds but they ticked by agonizingly slow for Beast Boy. He watched with trepidation as his girlfriend as she licked her lips to speak. “You hearing this, Nightwing?” Her lavender eyes never left his green ones.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Nightwing sighed through the communicator.
“Good,” she smiled, eyes still locked with Beast Boy’s, “then you are witness to it. Take my name off my door and put it on Gar’s. I want all of my stuff packed in boxes and put into Gar’s room for when we get home.” She whipped her head to the communicator and scowled at the flustered man on the screen. “You owe us that at least, Dick.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Just get to these coordinates in the next 10 minutes. Nightwing out.”
It was a good thing that Nightwing closed communication down when he did as the shiny-eyed grinning couple had just launched themselves into the other's arm and were making out so passionately, that Casanova himself would have blushed.
When the pair finally came apart (with curiously, less clothing than they had when they started), they were only 15 minutes late for Nightwing’s assignment and both were sporting red faces and joyous, yet bashful expressions.
Those jubilant emotions were quickly wiped from their systems once they saw the destruction that was before them, and both reached for the other's hand in quiet apology.
Their vacation was over before it had even begun.
It had taken four days to track down Gizmo and his new gang of miniature tech-whizzes and put them into the hands of the local authorities. Turns out while the goons had been destroying towns and cities in a high-tech holographic and robotic Loch Ness monster, Gizmo had been doing a sling of robberies during the commotion. By that time, the rest of the Titan crew had been called, and it took the team a further four days to finish the debris clean-up and paperwork that followed Gizmo’s arrest and extradition.
International paperwork can be a bitch.
Poor Beast Boy never did finish that bottle of Auchentoshan, and a very happy Vrbo renter walked away with what he saw as a very generous tip.
Another year passed, and despite the bet Cyborg and Speedy had taken so many years ago, Beast Boy and Raven still lived comfortably in their room in the tower. Their names, etched into the steel so nicely, were almost harmonious with the other, and the general public, as well as some Titans themselves, forgot that they ever were the squabbling teenagers who were at each other's throats all those years ago.
Indeed, Beast Boy had been so deliriously happy in his relationship with Raven that he was ready to take it to the next level. Oh yes- you heard that right- Beast Boy was going to take her to a beach at sunset and do the whole get-down-on-one-knee-with-a-diamond-ring-while-she-covers-her-mouth-in-surprise… thing. Then, he was going to spin her around while she cried those happy tears - the whole shebang.
Luckily, their annual vacation was coming up and Raven heartily agreed that she wanted to be away from potential disaster and away from people. Third times the charm and all that. A remote beach would be the perfect vacation spot for the pair.
While Beast Boy quietly shopped at the jewellers, Raven researched villas in the sun. She didn’t think that it would be a big deal to use the Titan's main computer as it was a public space for the team. She did not need a laptop or even a mobile phone- her communicator did all that and more so it seemed logical to do her research on the common room’s main screen.
Naturally, this got the attention of the tower's other residents.
It was Starfire who talked to the pair about one of Bruce’s private islands in the Caribbean and she had Raven and Beast Boy quickly hooked on the idea. Who could deny an island completely to themselves, miles away from all civilization? Certainly not our empath and shape-shifter.
And so they arrived at the sun-soaked, pristine beach with a state-of-the-art villa full to the brim of fresh fruits, vegetables, clean white linen and everything a person could need for a week-long vacation.
And this time, they were smart. This time, they left their communicators at home. There were to be no interruptions on this holiday- Beast Boy was sure of it.
Locating the large, luxurious master bedroom, Beast Boy plunked his suitcase on the bed, darkening the pristine white linen with a mud mark and not caring one bit.
“I’m gonna get into my swimming trunks, Rae and I don’t think I am going to wear anything else this entire week!” He enthusiastically declared as he zipped open his bag and pulled out his gaudy Hawaiian trunks.
“Oh?” came the sultry voice of his girlfriend behind him, “I didn’t plan on wearing anything at all this week.”
Surprised at this, Beast Boy turned around, and sure enough, there she stood, pale skin seeming to shimmer in the midday sun and not a stitch of clothing seen.
Beast Boy’s mouth started to water as he took in her toned curves and perky breasts. He was well acquainted with his girlfriend's worship-worthy body, but every time she stood before him in all her naked glory, Beast Boy couldn’t help but be that wide-eyed kid who couldn’t quite believe that a hot goddess wanted to be naked in front of him.
His Adam's apple bounced as he swallowed. He didn’t even try to contain his lusty emotions as he knew she would feel every single one and revel in them all. He smirked as her eyelids fluttered - two could play at this game.
As if pressing a button, Beast Boy switched from slightly bewildered to what Raven called a smouldering lumberjack. Without taking his sinful eyes off hers, he pulled his shirt over his head and quickly became free of his pants.
He watched as Raven did an appreciative once-over at his body. Her roaming stopped when she saw the needy, primal look that Beast Boy knew was in his eyes. The usual animal-loving, tofu-eating vegetarian was channelling his carnivorous apex alpha male. He was hungry, and she was his prey.
So, she did what any creature low down on the food chain would do.
She ran.
Oh reader, we have read this all before, have we not? The primal, sexual urges of a man who is (what we can assume) probably an animal in bed and his mate, a demi-demon whose sexual power matches his own. Yes, reader, it has been read before but remember- although there are a lot of strange things in this wide world, there are also certain things. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west, men will perpetually mansplain to more qualified women, and Beast Boy and Raven are creatures of their primal instincts who enjoy each other. A lot. Who are we but to bear witness to it? With envy, one can presume.
Raven’s quick steps had her lover following her to the sand where the soft sound of the breaking waves was unheard over the delicate moans of the couple. Beast Boy pulled his girlfriend down onto the hot sand, not caring about the odd places on his body he would soon find the stuff. It was only her in his arms, her kissing him back, her coughing behind him…
Wait… that wasn’t right.
Beast Boy quickly and regretfully wrenched himself away from Raven’s lithe body and stared straight into the dark eyes of an Atlantean.
“What the actual fuck, Garth?” Beast Boy attempted to cover his modesty as Raven squeaked and teleported herself back into the villa.
To his credit, Aqualad had turned away from the spectacle and now faced the blue, glittering ocean.
“I’m sorry!” he said, still facing away from the angry changeling. “The Titans couldn’t get a hold of you, so Nightwing told me to come to this location and get you!”
Beast Boy scowled at the sound of his leader's name. “What do you want,” he growled, having an inkling as to what Aqualad was about to say.
“Trident is up to his tricks again only this time, we haven’t been able to catch him and this time, he’s killing innocent Atlanteans. I need both of your abilities to apprehend him.” He at least had the decency to sound regretful.
Beast Boy stared hard at the tropical paradise around him. He had planned it all. It was going to be perfect. All he wanted to do was ask the love of his life to be his wife and then celebrate over and over (and over, if he could) again. Was that too much to ask? Did the universe have something against him?
As if she knew he had been thinking about her, Raven was there by his feet, clad back in her cloak.
“Here,” Raven softly said as she pulled him to his feet. “Put this on.” She handed him his uniform with a soft, sad smile.
The disappointment rolled off the changeling as he stepped into his Kevlar suit with gritted teeth. Lives were at stake, so of course he was willing to help, but he couldn’t help but think of that lonely ring tucked away in his pocket and how pretty Raven’s hand would be if she were to wear it.
Said hand found his arm and gave it a loving squeeze. It was a gentle reminder that she felt his pain and that she, too, regretted their predicament.
God, he loved this woman. Not being engaged to her for a second more made him unreasonably angry, and he pulled her into a tight, desperate embrace.
She giggled slightly as he felt her melting into his arms. “Don’t worry- you can give it to me after.”
“Oh babe,” he smirked as he pulled her away from his chest. “I’m definitely going to give it to you,” he rumbled as he nuzzled her cheek and seductively gripped her jaw.
“No,” Raven responded with a light chuckle, “I mean the ring.”
Beast Boy froze mid-kiss. How did she…
Raven smiled and bit her lip when she saw the confusion on her boyfriend’s face. “I’ll say yes, you know,” she whispered into his ear.
Giving him a light peck on his cheek, Raven quickly stepped out of his arms and started following Aqualad into the waves.
Beast Boy stood rooted to the spot. Did he… Did she just…
With a grin that lit up his face like fireworks in July, Beast Boy clambered after his girlfriend (or should we say fiancée?) and lifted her into his arms as he spun her into the air in jubilation. At least the guy got one thing he wanted from the vacation. She even cried those happy tears.
As the pattern seems to have been going, it took several days to track down Trident and stop his nefarious plans. By the time Beast Boy and Raven made it back to the idyllic villa, it was already occupied by the young Damian Wayne and his girlfriend, Nika, who had snuck away for their own romantic holiday.
And no, again they did not get their vacation back nor did they get paid for their ‘trip’ under the sea. One does feel like a broken record but seriously Titans, it's been three years of this. Say it with me reader- UNIONIZE!
Nevertheless, Beast Boy gave Raven her ring, and the pair were so ecstatic about their engagement that they were more than happy to head home and share their joy with their closest friends and family.
After all, there would be other vacations.
Nightwing was agitated. He had just ended a call from his father figure and mentor, Batman, who wanted the Titans to conduct a covert mission in an upscale resort in Mexico. There were rumours that a famous Mexican cartel was trafficking young women through its expensive doors but the Mexican government wasn’t keen on breaking their precarious stalemate with the big guns.
He hesitated as he thought about who to send. He and Kory had just gone on an Arctic cruise (busting a diamond smuggling operation in the process) and he couldn’t send Cyborg- his civilian girlfriend made it difficult to put them in any kind of operation. He supposed he could call the Titans East or maybe one of the other Titans he was in constant contact with, but this particular case needed more finesse than he suspected they were capable of.
It just left the changeling and his sorceress fiancée. They had been engaged for nearly a year now and still seemed just as happy as the day they came back from that island in the sun.
Nightwing winced as he thought about that week. A small part of him felt bad for the last few “vacations” they had taken. It had never been his intent to interrupt their holidays, but when Rouge genuinely broke out of prison, and the love birds happened to be in the vicinity… well the idea was firmly placed in his head, and he couldn’t deny the appeal that it had.
Almost a year later and weeks before they even spoke of another holiday, Nightwing had been given intel that Gizmo had been seen lurking around the highlands of Scotland. He knew the bite-sized urchin was up to something, but with no concrete evidence to prove it, they had to wait it out. It was rather easy to gently nudge the half-demoness and the green Titan into picking that area for their next vacation and unsurprisingly, some suspicious activity started to occur. Was it his fault that Gizmo happened to come out of the woodwork just as their holiday was starting?
The island was what he felt most guilty about. All it took was a simple conversation with his girlfriend, who gleefully told the couple about the private island. How was he to know that Garfield planned on popping the question on its sandy beaches?
He had heard from the Justice League and Aquaman that although they had been concerned with Trident’s behaviour, they didn’t foresee any need for assistance from the Titans. Under Batman’s suggestion, however, he had “placed” Raven and Beast Boy at the island safe house in case the situation escalated and they needed reinforcements. How was he to know that Trident would start a murderous rampage?
He wiped his weary hands down his face and sighed. The couple were due for their yearly vacation in only a couple of weeks and had been surprisingly quiet about it. He wouldn’t be able to openly talk about this resort- they were on to him and wouldn’t fall into that trap again, but he had his ways.
They didn’t call him the Boy Wonder for nothing, after all.
Six weeks later, Nightwing was very happy.
He had just received a call from the FBI who were thrilled with Beast Boy and Raven’s recent human trafficking bust in Mexico. Many lives were saved that day, and the luxurious Resort (which was found to be run by the cartel), was being bought by Wayne Enterprises. It now meant that trusted people would be hired to take over the business. Bruce was also thrilled as the Mexican government wanted to sell it quickly, so he got it surprisingly cheaply. Another excellent source of revenue for ensuring Batman has all of his gadgets. Batmobiles were expensive to keep, after all, and billionaires needed lucrative businesses in order to stay billionaires.
All in all, Nightwing wanted to pat himself on the back. Not only did his team save lives, but they managed to do it without him being caught for nudging them in that direction. He didn’t think of himself as particularly sneaky per se, but superheroing was a full-time job, and he was a little bemused at the fact that only he was the one who saw this. They would see that it was for the best. Eventually.
Putting his feet up on the desk, wondering if he should allow himself a celebratory drink for this accomplishment, his eye caught sight of a very large, very heavy brown envelope on his desk.
Intrigued, he gingerly ripped the top of the envelope and pulled out pages and pages of what he could guess was professional jargon. Sighing to himself, he rubbed his eyes. He was just about to toss it to the side for another day when a particular word seemed to almost leap off the page and he nearly dropped the papers in surprise.
With a firmer grip, he balked in astonishment, not quite believing what he was reading.
Quickly flipping through the pages, he saw the word again, and again, and he had to put down the papers to keep his brain from racing too fast with all this shocking information.
Eyes wide, mouth open, any joviality he had felt earlier was gone, and in its place was a numb bafflement.
He sat for a few minutes this way, completely and utterly dumbfounded.
Finally finding his bearings, Nightwing flipped through the files to find a particular piece of paper. Until he saw it, he couldn’t believe this was happening.
After only a few seconds he found what he was looking for. Lo and behold, all Titan's signatures, bar his own, were present. Strangely, Raven’s and Beast Boy’s being the last and largest signatures didn’t surprise him one bit.
The Titans were unionizing.