A deep-throated chuckle struggles at the back of my throat, straining to be free, but i must refuse it.
That would be counter-productive.
Hah!, see, Raven? I am smart!
She's been tutoring me on my vocabulary...
Ok, so I've had to use the dictionary a few times to get some of her insults, and things just kinda went off from there. But still, in a way.
Focus, beast boy.
That's right, i'm supposed to be going around checking my friends' calendars, to see if they've remembered my birthday's this month. A week and three days, to be exact.
I'll be eighteen.
That makes me a man in this country. Although, i've already gone through the rites of passage ceremonies of the Zulu tribe that raised me after... painfull memories there... The tribe that raised me until... there too... The tribe that adopted me.
Mabey i can continue the tradition set by Richard 'Nightwing' Grayson and change my codename and uniform? But to what? I wonder...? I'll think of something.
Believe it or not, I'm actually older than Raven, though only by a few months. Two and a half to be exact. I'm taller than her too, thanks to my recent growth spurt, by three whole inches.
She still scares the crap out of me. Always will, I suppose. Her powers, like mine, are limited by imagination alone. And, futhermore, like me, her imagination is very well suited to her powers. I should know, I've got the bruises to prove it. Wanna see 'em?
Speaking of Raven, here's her room. And she's still inside, I can hear her heart beating through the wall. Slow, too slow for sleep. She's deep in trance.
Hmm, how to do this? I could ... No, she'd never belive that. Mabey... no, just as bad... OH!, I know! I'll just... Yeah, that'll work. At least this idea has precedence, and, thus, credibility. Ok, Garfield, let's get to it!
I make my way out to the kitchen area of the common room. Let's see, she likes it with a drizzle of honey, and a spoon of cream. But alas, I digress, I'm getting ahead of myself. First, to make the tea. Wow, that dictionary is really helping. Glad I followed her to that bookstore and bought one. It's helped me understand the guy's a lot more, and though no one's asked, I'm sure they've noticed the refining that my vocabulary has been undergoing.
Nightwing appreciates how much less he's got to 'dumb-down' his stratagems.
Starfire thinks it's simply wondorous that i can share new words with her, expanding her own 'specialized' vocabulary.
Cy's just glad that i use terminology a tad more intricate than the now infamous 'eye-ball-pizza-thingy.'
But Raven, ah, my sweet Raven, she gets a frequent surprise from the resident grass stain every time I'm able to actually respond to her high-minded remarks in kind. It helps that I read more than just the dictionary. I've started with some graphic novels, which are basically really long comics! So, now, I know more big words, and I know how to use them, and use them well.
That should do it. tea's ready
Now to simply bring it back to her room, and set it on her dresser, and then strike up a conversation, with the subtle pretext of serruptitiously checking her calendar for any incriminating reminders.
Knock, knock.
The bed in her room gives a slight creak, inaudible to most people, but, then, i'm not most people, am I? Foot-falls, just as delicate, trace the well traveled path from bed to door, "I've made some earl grey. Thought you might like a cup."
"Well, it's not my usual cup of tea, but I suppose it's the thought that counts, right?" an obsidian aura engulfs the ferrite obstacle and her door is swallowed by the wall that is it's second home.
"Persactly. and I'm just brimming with good intentions." just cause I know big words don't mean I'm not Beast Boy. I ease into the small, genuine smile that I reserve for her. She appreciates the fact that I don't try so hard when it's just us.
The unmistakeable sound of an exasperated sigh bridges the sparse distantance between us. A good sign. She's much less animated when she'd preferr I keep my distance. I step forward to her dresser, placing her mug of the recent brew thereupon. ---- a new favorite word
"You also seem to be brimming with mischief, and if I didn't know you better, I'd warn you against whatever you've got planned, but I know it wouldn't do any good."
"My plan, or the warning?"
"I'm tempted to say both."
Identical smirks appear on both our mouths, accompanied by twin sparks in each set of eyes. Sometimes, we argue; Sometimes it's witty banter; And sometimes, we actually just talk like people that are as close as they come. I preffer to avoid the first, enjoy the second, and relish the third. Our conversations are like a mine-field of flowers.
I send a casual glance about the room as I seek her calendar. Black X's mark days already in the books, so to speak, but the object is otherwise unblemished. Naturally, she keeps all the important information in her organizer. I forgot that tidbit. Ultirior motive aside, I decide to re-ignite the conversation out of the companionable silence that settled around us in the interrim.
"Any interesting plans for the day? Well, aside from denying my blatant awsomeness, as usual?"
"Mind that sweeling ego. You may not fit back out my door. Then I'd just be forced to eject you through my window. And to answer the question, yes, I've got plans, star cornered me into a trip the mall."
She visibly shudders at this notion, as do i, though we both know that she secretly enjoys her and star's little excursions. Neither one of us would dare voice this understanding, of course. That'd be one of those proverbial mines mentioned earlier.
"I'll pray for you, then"
"To whom?"
"Whoever will listen." I reply with a wink, "and I'll keep a thermos of your favorite blend nice and piping."
"I think the tea would benifit me more than the prayers."
"You misunderstand: the prayers where intended for my benifit, not yours."
"Ah, how silly of me, actually believing you cared enough to beseech the didvine on my behalf. My mistake. It will never happen again."
I smile at the sarcasm in her raspy voice. she knows how much I care. how much I am requited in that care, I do not know.
"Apparently, there's a hole in my mug somewhere, because I'm out." I said, mock-examining the object in question.
"Don't blame the poor cup. It held the tea for as long as it could before you drank it."
"Fair enough; though i suppose this is my cue to leave. I assume you'll need all the meditation you can get before Starfire wakes up, eh?"
"Yes, I will. Thank you very much. For the tea and the company. Your behavior is improving." A smirk of a smile graces her features before she continues "I'll have you trained yet."
"Cute; Not a gut-buster, but funny." I offer a gentle chuckle as i exit her sanctuary.
