The change between the two was not quick or sudden, it was hardly noticeable if you looked at it day by day. The change was not surprising or alerting, and was beautiful if you looked at how far they'd come. The change was comfortable, and brought on with no resistance, built over time through patience and a desire for it to happen. The change Between Changeling and Raven, growing from co-workers, and barely friends, to an inseparable bond, was the start of a wonderful story.
It began so softly, so sweetly, so quietly, when Beast Boy was alone and wandering the tower with nothing to do. He came across Raven alone on the roof, reading a long novel. It began kindly, and graciously, and genuinely, when Raven sensed his lone demeanor and asked if he's like to join her. He returned with a few graphic novels and comic books. Raven rolled her eyes but smiled at how the selection was just so perfect to him. She fanned out her cloak and moved it to the side, motioning for him to sit beside her, despite all the space the roof had to offer.
Thats where the bond began, but it strengthened when they began to meet every few days to read together. Beast boy remained calm, and when he spoke it was soft, as not to disrupt the half-demon. Raven remained open to slight conversation and even initiated once in awhile. When he was more relaxed like this, he actually had a calming aura to him, one Raven began to welcome more and more.
They engaged more outside of their little book club as well, sitting next to each other on movie nights with the team. When they fought criminals, it was always done with a watchful eye of each other. They'd go to the library once a month together, and on the way home, stop at the comic book store. Raven recommended books she thought he might enjoy and he actually gave them a shot.
The biggest change to the relationship they shared came one quiet mid day. Starfire and Robin were on the roof, and Cyborg was playing Video games in the common room, So Raven and Beastboy agreed to meet for their reading in his room. She ventured to the door, book tightly encased to her arms against her chest. She raised a fist to the door, and the sound on the other side made her stop. The feeling emanating from the room turned her cold. Sniffling and sadness. She burst in the door to a very surprised Changeling, tears still fresh on his face.
He wiped them away and jumped up at her, examining the look of extreme concern on her face. "Are you okay Rae?" He questioned, placing his finger between the pages of his comic and closing the book. She composed herself for a moment, relaxing her face back to emotionless, and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide her embarrassment from losing her cool. "I should ask you that, you're crying."
He let out a small chuckle, and held up the Spiderman comic book. "Gwen died." Her eyes went back and forth between the booklet and his face, trying to detect any humor. He lowered the comic and opened to the page his finger was saving. Sensing her confusion he turned the illustration toward her. "I've read this one five times now, and it still always get to me." He admit to her, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's just a comic book, how emotional could it be?" She questioned as he eyes gazed over the page, taking in the graphic image of the dead young blonde in the vigilantes arms. He gently took the book from her hands, and flipped a few more pages, explaining as he did so. "I know it's not a novel like you read, but…" He handed it back to her, for her to examine the picture of the superhero crying, and shouting to his villain, that he had killed the girl he loved. "I can feel his pain, you get to know the characters, and start to sympathize with them, especially being heros ourselves."
It was true, just from the view pages she'd seen, she could feel her emotions start to swell. Reading about a character death was always shocking in her books, but now in Beast boys comics the drawings made the image vividly clear and shocking. "What if I ever lost someone like that?" He began again, sadness in his voice. She looked up at him, voice soft and understanding, but still curious and concerned. "Who would you lose?"
He averted his eyes for a moment, trying to gain control of his tear ducts as the thought manifesting in his head seemed all too real and depressing. Finally he looked back up at her, "What if I lost you?"
There was pure astonishment on her face, unaware that to her to he could be so saddened by her death. She hid her emotions again, and tried to think of a sarcastic comeback, but realized, it would not be the proper time. Instead she put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and looked him straight in the eye. "You're not going to lose me, If I ever need you to save my life, I know you will."
The smile on his face made her heart practically melt, and they sat down together, Raven on the bottom bunk of his bed, and Beastboy on the floor right at his side. The rest of the evening was met with completely silence, but a happy one. That is where the bond really started to grow stronger, where their friendship took on a whole new form of need in each other. But like I said, this is just the start, of a wonderful story.
Let me know what you guys think, I plan on writing more for this story, a short few chapters like this. I want it to eventually become BBRae, with some involvement for the rest of the characters. Review and let me know if you like it!