Raven sits in her room, candles lit, the book of Azar open, and her steady chant taking over the room. She sat, floating in air, chanting slowly to the beat of her heart.
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
She stops for a second and listens: A door slides shut with a thud that echoes through the empty house. Foot steps into the kitchen. The refrigerator opening, then closing. The rummaging through plates. A chair pulling out. And silence as the occupant eats his food. Cyborg is home from his races; it must be nine. Raven opens her eyes and looks to the clock on her dresser behind her. It's nine o'clock. A plate is dropped into the sink and the steady thud, thud, thud of Cyborg as he walks up the steps chimes in.
"I'm home." He says enthusiastically as he passes Raven's door. Then she listens as he walks further down the hall. A door slides open, then shut. There is a beep as Cyborg hooks himself up to his machines to recharge and sleep. Then the house is silent again. Raven closes her eyes once again and she begins to float in the air, chanting slowly to the beat of her heart.
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
She pauses after a while and opens her eyes. A door slides shut with a thud that echoes through the house. Light laughter accompanied by a slightly deeper laugh float through the house. One is flying through the air, the other walks soundlessly – as is his nature. Robin and Starfire are home from their date to the movies; it must be nine thirty. Once again, Raven turns to look at the clock on the dresser behind her. It's nine thirty. The two come up the stairs. Starfire flies into her room, which closes with a thud.
Robin stops at Raven's door, "We're home. Are you alright?" He sounds concerned, like he always does when he talks to her. Yes, she's been into his mind. Yes, he's saved her countless times. Yes, he was their leader. No, he didn't have to worry about her. She was a big girl.
"I'm fine." Raven said in her monotone voice as she shut her eyes again. Robin turns and there is a soft thud, thud, thud as he walks back to his room. Raven listens as his door slides open, then closed. The house is silent again. Raven closes her eyes again and continues her meditation. Floating in the air and chanting slowly to the beat of her heart.
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
Azarath Metreon Zinthos
She stops and looks at the clock. It's eleven. But she never heard Beast Boy come in. A small sense of worry comes into her. But she shrugs it off and stands up, closing the book of Azar. With a wave of her hand, the candles go out and place themselves back on their shelves. Raven lets go of the book of Azar, which slides gently onto her desk, and she removes her cloak; putting it next to her bed. Climbing into her bed, Raven looks up at the ceiling and says in a whisper, "I hope Beast Boy is alright." A ping of worry for Beast Boy comes, then, Raven suddenly feels relief wash over her and she drifts off to a dreamless sleep.
Beast Boy laughs as he gets off of the roller coaster at his favorite theme park. But he stops and wishes he wasn't alone. He wished Raven had agreed to go with him; he wished she would just relax for one day, and have fun with him. "Why does she hate me?" Beast Boy asked himself as he walked down the sidewalk on his way home. She told him once she didn't hate him, and he knew she had meant it. But for somebody who doesn't hate him, she sure didn't act it much.
"Why is such a wonderful little boy like you alone on such a wonderful night?" A voice asked. Beast boy looked up suddenly, but didn't see anybody.
"Who's there?" Beast Boy shouted.
In response, the voice only replied, "No friends for the little boy? No little girls to join in the fun with the wonderful boy?"
"Who are you! And what do you want!" Beast boy shouted into the night.
"Why, I only want to help, little boy. I want to make sure that a wonderful boy, such as yourself, has a wonderful girl to stay with."
"What are you talking about?" The shifter demanded.
"Come with me, if you want to finally have the girl you have so long been longing to have." The voice said as a bright light appeared in front of Beast Boy.
Beast Boy hesitated. He girlfriend sounded pretty good to him right about now.
"What's the matter? Don't you want your little gem?" The voice taunted as the light swerved and went down the street.
"Wait!" Beast Boy shouted, running after it. He wanted a girlfriend. He knew who the light was talking about, and he wanted her to be his girlfriend. He always had. He had wanted to tell her so many times that he loved her… but how could he… when she acted so much like she hated him.
"Follow, and she will be yours."