According to Channel 6 News, this summer was one of the hottest to ever hit Jump City. People in the city were grumpier than usual, with everyone annoyed at the very idea of being outside under the July sun. Even crime was at an all time low, as villains did not want to be outdoors either.
Even with the overwhelming heat, Raven found herself leaning into the sweaty body of Beast Boy in the alleyway just behind Jump City Movie Theatre. What am I doing? Raven said in her head. Her back was pressed against the brick wall, and his fingers ran through her short blue hair. She only wanted to focus on his soft, yet dry lips that pressed against her own. Not her first kiss by any means, but it was her first with him. Raven was so very aware of his hands. One was wrapped around her waist, resting on her lower back and holding her close to him. The other removed itself from her hair, tracing down her side.
She opened her eyes just as Beast Boy moved to her neck, his lips rough against her soft skin. His hands found her thighs, lifting her just slightly and using the wall to balancing her as he positioned himself between her legs. Raven glanced around the alleyway, aware of just how public they really were. If another pair of teens had the same plan - a late night movie followed by making out in the alley, they would be caught. One cellphone photo or snapchat video, and the two young Titans would be on every news station and tabloid magazine cover in Jump City.
Beast Boy didn't seem share this concern. He moved back to Raven's mouth, tracing her lips with his tongue, requesting permission to enter. His hands moved carefully now, and she could feel how deliberate each gentle motion was. He traced up her side with his right arm, holding her up with his left. His right arm lingered just on the side of her chest, and he moved his thumb slowly, brushing over her against breast. When Raven didn't stop him, he slid his hand over. He only moved above her leotard, each motion more hesitant than the last.
They were in the alleyway for almost an hour when finally Beast Boy pulled away. He lowered Raven down, his arm outstretched against the wall, and his head tucked to rest on his own shoulder. He reached up, his fingers holding Raven's face, and he gave her a soft, gentle kiss. "I've wanted to do that for a long time," Beast Boy said. He smiled, brushing her hair back. With the summer temperature and their heated activity, Raven's hair was beginning to stick to her face. She gave a small smile in return. Her fingers rested on his chest, tracing the symbol of his uniform.
"We should head back," Raven said. Even with her signature monotone voice, she couldn't hide the reluctance to leave the alleyway.
"Yeah," Beast Boy agreed. He took a step back, this time running his fingers through his own hair, then adjusting his shorts. "How do you want to do this?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Raven replied.
"Like, you head back first and say you saw a movie, and I'll come back fifteen minutes later saying I was at the arcade? Or do you want to hang out in the city for a bit and I'll head back first?" Beast Boy asked.
"Oh," Raven replied. "I didn't realize we would need an elaborate story."
Beast Boy laughed. "It doesn't have to be elaborate. Just something to throw off the scent. You go ahead and head back first. I actually do want to go for a walk for a bit."
Beast Boy leaned in, kissing her again and then shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts as he left the alleyway, leaving Raven standing alone in the shadows of the theater.
Raven stood outside Starfire's door, wondering if she'd regret this decision within seconds. Starfire would be far too eager to hear all about the evenings make out session. As excited as her friend would be, Raven didn't truly want to have the conversation. She only wanted a second opinion on how the evening ended, and Starfire had far more dating experience than Raven did.
She knocked on the door. Raven could hear whispers and Starfire's giggles inside, followed by a lot of fast, shuffled movement. When the door opened, Starfire stood with her hair frizzier than usual. Her fingers were quickly brushing it back into place. Behind her, Robin was seated on her small pink armchair, staring fixedly at a book that was written in Tameranian - a fact Raven was sure Robin did not intend when he grabbed the book as a rather obvious cover for the couple's activities.
"Hey-y," Raven said in an unusually friendly tone.
"Raven!" Starfire greeted Raven with her usual enthusiasm.
"Sorry to, uh, interrupt your…uh, reading," Raven said. Robin raised his eyebrows in response, but continued to stare at the page. "I was actually hoping we could talk?"
"Of course!" Starfire pulled Raven inside. "Robin - you must go."
"What? Why?" Robin asked, looking up.
"Because it is the Earth tradition that if we are to have the girl-time then we must banish you from the room," Starfire replied.
Raven smiled. "Robin can stay."
Robin closed the Tameranian book, putting it down on Starfire's end table. "Do I want to stay?" Robin asked hesitantly. "I mean - is it all just, girl stuff?" Robin cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Well…" Raven said slowly. "It's about a guy."
"Oh, wonderful," Starfire replied. She flew over to her bed, sitting on top of it with her legs crossed, eagerly awaiting the rest of the story. Raven glossed over the details but summed up the story with how she made out with a guy behind the movie theater. She intentionally neglected to say who the guy was.
"Wow," Robin said when she finished. "I mean -"
"Do you like him very much?" Starfire interrupted. "Shall you see him again? Do you do the sex, or you stopped at kissing?"
"Hang on, Star, slow down." Robin put a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. He continued with, "Raven's not..." but his voice trailed off as both girls had turned to him: Starfire with a small glare, and Raven with a raised eyebrow.
Robin looked between them for a moment before asking: "What?"
"That is why this talk is for the girls," Starfire replied. "Raven can have the sex if she wishes - with whomever she wishes."
"I just meant that - I mean," Robin stumbled.
"I've had sex before, Robin," Raven said firmly.
Robin blushed, but Raven didn't. There was an awkward silence, and then Robin scratched the back of his head. "Okay. That's cool. With who?"
Starfire flopped back on her bed dramatically. "The point has been missed."
"Sorry!" Robin replied. "I don't know - we've never talked about this stuff!"
Starfire sat back up, looking at Raven. "Do you have the feelings for this guy?"
"I don't know," Raven replied. "That's what I wanted to talk about. I thought… - I liked everything we were doing, and I thought I liked him and that he liked me but…"
"But?" Starfire asked.
"Well, when we were leaving... he said we should leave separately to avoid being seen together. Is that - do you think that's weird?" Raven asked.
Starfire said "yes" as Robin simultaneously said "no".
"He should be very lucky to be seen with you," Starfire said. "It is most strange that he would choose to hide."
"The media runs with this stuff though," Robin replied. "They've been hounding Starfire and I for weeks now."
"Didn't seem like a problem when we were making out in an alleyway," Raven said. She helped herself to a seat at the edge of Starfire's bed.
"Maybe just give him some time?" Starfire suggested.
"You are kind of a celebrity, he might have just been overwhelmed, ya know?" Robin added.
Raven nodded, knowing that couldn't have been the issue, but she didn't want to say more just yet.
Starfire leaned forward. "So was he a good kisser?!"
Raven shook her head. "Alright, alright. Conversation is over."
"No no!" Starfire with a laugh. Robin put his arm around his girlfriend, laughing as well.
Raven stepped out of the shower, wrapping the towel around her body. The mirror was covered in steam, and she wiped it away to see her reflection in the glass. It only took two minutes to brush her short hair out, splitting the part down the middle. She slipped out of the bathroom silently, moving down the hall to her bedroom.
She moved through her nightly routine, pulling on a fresh leotard to sleep in and hanging a fresh cape up by her door. The old clothes went into the laundry bin. Raven pulled back her sheets just as a knock came from the door.
"Yes?" Raven called.
"It's me," Beast Boy replied.
Raven summoned her cape from across the room and wrapped it around herself before she opened the door with her magic. Beast Boy stepped in, letting the door close behind him.
"I just wanted to say I really enjoyed going out with you tonight," Beast Boy said.
Raven nodded. "Thanks. I had fun too."
Beast Boy stood awkwardly for a moment. "Alright well, I should - I mean, it's late. I will see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Raven replied. Obviously she would, they were on the same team. They lived in the same tower. They would have to see each other tomorrow. And every day after that.
"Cool," Beast Boy said. He turned to leave.
"Wait," Raven said, stepping forward for a second. She wanted to ask the question that was circling in her mind since she left that alleyway earlier this evening. What are we? It was so cliche, so ridiculous. In truth, she would be fine either way. Dating would be great, if that's what he wanted, but if not, she just wanted to know. "Hold on," Raven said. She wanted to phrase the question in a way that wouldn't seem pathetic.
Beast Boy lingered, stepping closer to her as he waited. His hand found her face, a finger gently stroking down her cheek. "What's on your mind?" he asked.
Raven took a deep breath. "I just want to know what this means to you."
Beast Boy nodded in reply. "I like you, Raven."
"I like you too," Raven said.
"Well, that's what it means." Beast Boy laughed. He kissed Raven softly.
Raven pulled away first. "It is late," she said quietly. "We should go to sleep."
Beast Boy nodded, kissing Raven's forehead. "Goodnight. Sleep well."
Beast Boy went to the door, pressing his ear to it for a minute to listen. Finding silence in the hallway, he winked at Raven before slipping out. The door shut behind him automatically. Outside the large window beside her, Raven watched lights around the city begin to go out. She slipped into her bed, wrapping her sheets over her shoulder. She was still confused. It was hard to tell what this meant for them, if anything. Still, she was happy.
Authors Note:
Hi there!
A little bit about me: I am a full time writer and poet. My main work at the moment is the Teen Titans "Beauty and the Beast" retelling. The first chapter is already up, and there will be weekly updates starting mid-late August 2017. Unlike the Beauty and the Beast Retelling, this project is more for fun and I write it as I go.
Thank you for reading, and I very much appreciated reviews if you have a moment to leave one :) Even better, visit my profile to find the link to my writer page so you can follow my career (the best way to support my writing!).