Chapter 87

Beast Boy PoV

After months of effort, I had finally done the impossible. Achieving what none before has accomplished. And that was…

Making an official Titan Game Night!

My quest started after beg-asking Law for a bit, until he finally relented. In which he would allow it…as long as every other Titan member was in accordance. Which was a way of saying that I had to have everyone sign off on it if I wanted them to show up.

Cyborg, Starfire, Kid Flash and Meg-uh, Miss Martian, were the easiest to convince. Cyborg and Kid Flash were already gamers, and were interested in playing and teaching the others the path of gaming like a pro. Miss Martian and Starfire didn’t really seem to understand the whole thing, but were curious enough to want to find it out.

And I was able to get all of them to agree to it in just one day. The others however…they were much, much harder to sell on the idea.

Artemis knew about games, but wasn’t all that interested in them. Preferring to instead to either practice in the field outside the tower with Ravager, or to walk around the city casually.

Sometimes I forget that a few of the others actually have lives outside of being a Titan. That they still have a family and stuff.

I think that’s something that kind of bounds us all in a way. In a kind of…found family sort of way. I think that’s why it’s so easy to get along with Cyborg and Law. Cyborg is a bit cagey when the topic comes up, but it’s obvious something happened there, and Law never even had a family.

Er…anyway! Enough of those depressing thoughts! Where was I?

Oh right. Artemis.

After a week of attempting to ask her, it was becoming clear that the more I did so, the more she seemed against the idea. Instead of gradually wearing down, she simply got increasingly stronger. Like she was increasing the difficulty level each time.

So, I had to switch tactics. She wasn’t interested in the games I was, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have any interest in them whatsoever. I did happen to remember that a few weeks ago she had showed interest in one of the Forza games Cyborg had been playing. At the time I had thought she was just making conversation…but maybe that was how to get her interest!

And after another week of careful planning, I had set up a trap in order for her to try out Forza for herself. At first, she was pretty disinterested in the whole thing, but quickly got into it. Frowning when she lost, and then gradually smiling victoriously when she won.

And that’s how I got her vote.

Four to go. And each one would be more difficult than the last.

Zatanna was nice, but she was more interested in board games than actual video games.

…I wouldn’t say it to her face, but I think a part of it was that she could use her powers to cheat discreetly. And that wasn’t just an out of the blue accusation! As I remember a game of Monopoly where she conveniently had pulled a $500 out of nowhere.

Not only that, but she also liked to watch movies in the living room. Which meant the time spent on Titan Game Night would be competing with her time in the living room. I mean, there wasn’t a schedule or anything on who could use it or anything, but there was still some like…unspoken rules, you know?

However, it wasn’t completely hopeless. There was still one trick up my sleeve to use, and that was…Zatanna’s love for cute things!

So, I showed her only the most cutesy and cartoony games I had on hand. As well as turning into a kitten in order to sweeten the deal.

…Which honestly was pretty nice. Being pampered on someone’s lap wasn’t a bad feeling at all.

And that was enough to secure Zatanna’s vote.

Galatea was a much harder sell.

She had no apparent interest in video games as a whole. Seeing it as almost a complete waste of time and refusing to even try out most things. Beg-Asking her constantly for a week didn’t even help. Heck, she was even harder to convince than Artemis, because at least Artemis got angry and cared. Galatea on the other hand was completely ambivalent about the whole thing.

Dang it, if only they introduce games to her in Cadmus!

But there didn’t seem to be a way to get her interest. In fact, the only thing I was able to get her interested in was Dragon Ball…which was pretty much the only show she actually cared enough to watch.

It was kind of funny. She’s never been afraid to show how she felt, but it was on another level when she was watching it. It was almost like she believed she could change the outcome by talking out loud and reacting to it.  

Sometimes I’d watch with her, but it was usually Law who kept her company. Either sitting beside her, or more often than not being carried under her arm or kept at arm’s length.

Wait…Dragon Ball…that’s it!

Galatea wasn’t interested in fighting games until I finally showed her a Dragon Ball themed one. She immediately chose to fight as her favorite character which was…Frieza? For some reason?

I didn’t really get it, but it made her happy. And due to her being new to fighting games, she lost the first few matches, causing her to get annoyed pretty quickly.

Only for her to crush me in the third match and be ecstatic.

At the time, I hadn’t realized the monster I had created until I was forced to play four more hours of the game with her. Constantly getting beaten repeatedly by Galatea who was only getting better with each match. The only reason I was able to finally leave was because I introduced the online feature to her.

And with that, there was only two left.  

Convincing Ravager had been the absolute worst part of it all. She quickly figured out what I was trying to do, and had no real interest in video games. Even so, apparently, she wasn’t unfamiliar with them either, but she didn’t elaborate on that.

There weren’t any tricks to use against her, and she decided to completely flip the script against me. That is, she’d agree on one condition.

I’d do everything she asked for a complete month.

At the time, I hadn’t realized how hard she’d work me. At worst, I thought I was looking at doing all of her chores, but it didn’t just end there. If someone wasn’t cooking that day, then I was the one who was going to have to do it. If she needed a drink, then I go grab it. If there wasn’t a nearby place to put her drink, then I had to hold it until she was done with it.

Then I had to set up all of her targets for her to practice on. And then change them out when she was finished with them. Then I had to do her laundry. Then I had to wipe down her weapons.

Though she quickly took me off of that one after I tried washing her guns in the dish washer. I’m still not really sure why…

Then there were the pranks. I wasn’t sure why she had something out for Law, but she really didn’t seem to like him. Ravager was constantly thinking of ways to get at him.

…And to be honest, the pranks were pretty funny. With only half of them actually getting a reaction that wasn’t just an unimpressed look from Law. He also seemed to quickly catch on that it wasn’t me who was coming up with the pranks, and getting into snide sounding arguments with Ravager. Which would eventually devolve into them sparring against each other.

Which probably wasn’t the best in the long run, but it did give me a breather so…it kind of worked out?

After a long grueling month, Ravager finally gave me her support. Adding that she was actually impressed that I was able to go through all of that, which got me to smile.

Well, she didn’t say it exactly like that, but that’s what she meant. I could tell.

…Probably.

Then there was the last and greatest opponent I had to face. Raven.

She wasn’t social with the majority of the Titans. Instead, she just clung to the inside of her room until there was a mission, to eat, or to…float quietly in the air for some reason.

She could be more ambivalent about most things than even Galatea. She also didn’t have any interest in games in general. Not even something like chess. Who reads books but doesn’t play chess!? Isn’t that like a guaranteed thing for smart people or something?

Out of everyone, she was the hardest to take down. Just thinking about it was like attempting to take down Gaius in Shadow of the Colossus for the first time. That stunning realization when you realize that you had to fight that.

And there was no ace up my sleeve when it came to her.

I had to use everything at my disposal. I asked her at every available opportunity. I did her chores without her even asking. I helped cooked her food which…she wasn’t really a fan of, but it’s the thought that counts!

I even went into her room while she was out and cleaned up her room. Which…she was not nearly as happy as I thought she’d be. Actually, she was pretty angry for some weird reason.

…It probably didn’t help that one of her costumes had shrunk in the wash, but that only happened afterwards. Still, not exactly my best moment.

Then she began to completely ignore me. Pretending I wasn’t there even during patrols. Which forced me to think of an entirely different plan. If I couldn’t convince her, then maybe someone else will!

Cyborg and Kid Flash agreed easily enough. Cyborg seemed to make progress, whereas Kid Flash’s attempt seemed to anger her. Or at least I think that’s why he was thrown across the hallway.

Law refused, saying it wasn’t his place which was terrible. As if there was anyone who convince her to do…well, anything really, he was probably the best person to go to. Starfire helped, but I wasn’t sure how well. Neither did Starfire, for that matter.

Eventually, after narrowing down the list, there was only one person left I could ask. Zatanna. She was the only other person that actually hung out around Raven…sometimes. Periodically. For…magic training? I think?

Something like that? I actually don’t remember them ever going to the training ground or anything. They just usually talk about…stuff.

Zatanna refused several times, but was eventually worn away enough and gave in. Leading to Raven finally responding. One of her eyes seemed to twitch periodically as she stared at me with an ambivalent expression.

“…You’re not going to give up, are you?”

…Honestly, at this point I was all out of ideas. So, if this didn’t work…probably? But I knew that was the wrong answer here, so I didn’t say it.

“Yes!”

Raven sighed. Closing her eyes for a few seconds as a large grin found its way on my face. I knew that resigned look anywhere.

She was going to cave!

I flinched as Raven brought up three fingers in front of my face. Peering at them before looking back at her in confusion.

“…Three conditions. Number one, you will never, ever go into my room again. If you do, I’ll won’t just let it go again. Do you understand?”

I nodded repeatedly and gave her the thumbs up to show I did, but that only seemed to cause her to sigh.

“Number two, you will stop harassing me and trying to get me to do other stuff. I don’t want to, nor do I care to try anything new. And that goes double for your cooking.”

…Well, that was just rude. Ravager didn’t complain, and she’s like…well, I probably shouldn’t finish that sentence.

“Number three. I will only attend. I will not play any of the games. I will only watch.”

“What!? Then what’s even the point?”

I cried out, which caused Raven’s eyes to narrow. I couldn’t lose here, or everyone’s sacrifices were all for nothing!

“Three games, and then you don’t have to play anymore.”

“…No.”

She was playing hard ball huh? Then I had to bring out the big guns!

“Two games, and you don’t have to talk to anyone.”

She seemed to at least think about that one before shaking her head. Alright, I can work with that. Uh…uh…hmm…

“One game, and you can immediately return back to your room afterwards.”

“…”

She paused at that. Her eyes narrowing further and further as she contemplated that. The glare that was focused on me…or maybe it was just her normal expression? Either way, it intensified in a pretty rare manner before finally she came to a decision.

“…Fine.”

“WOOHOO!”

I cried out in joy, bringing my arms into the air as I had finally done the impossible. I had created…Titan Game Night, and it was going to be AMAZING!

…It would probably be a good idea to record it and post it on Youtube. Ooooor…I could livestream it with Cyborg’s help!

Oh man, I just know this was going to be good!

“Thanks Rae!”

Raven seemed to cringe.

“…Four conditions.”