Beast Boy's Past

By: Keiko Kanani

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Teen Titans.

Chapter 1: Love

*This is the newly edited Chapter 1

It's been one year since Beast Boy has last seen "Tara," or at least, the girl that wasn't Tara, but looked like her. It was all complicated to Beast Boy. The day after that, the mysterious white creature they had been fighting disappeared. Everything was so confusing at that, Beast Boy tried to just forget everything.

During this time, the Titans had grown up a little. Cyborg had developed less bulky and more efficient machines for his robotic body parts. Robin had finally reached Starfire's height. Starfire was slightly more educated than before. Raven had grown out her hair. Beast Boy had lost the squeakiness to his voice and also grew a couple inches.

A lot had changed for them, but a lot also stayed the same. Starfire and Robin were still dating. Cyborg still obsessed about his car. Beast Boy and Raven still fought every once in a while. Or at least, they used to.

To be perfectly honest, Beast Boy was utterly confused with Raven. He couldn't understand her. Like usual, she was gloomy and aloof, but lately, she's been avoiding him. She never looks him in the eye and she flees to her room whenever he gets close to her.

"Did I make her angry?" Beast Boy pondered. They hadn't fought in months, but maybe he did something without realizing it. The green teen frowned. Girls were confusing. Tara was straight-forward, but Raven was like a riddle. You had to figure out what she was thinking. "Wait, why am I comparing her to Tara? It's not like I think of Raven like I think of Tara… or do I? I mean Raven has matured and she so beautiful now. Not that she wasn't beautiful before! I mean I've always thought she was really pretty ever since I first met her. A little scary, but still very pret- Gah! What am I thinking!"

Beast Boy sighed and slumped further into the couch he was sitting on. "Curse you teenage hormones!" The Titan resumed flicking through the TV channels as he continued thinking. "If I really want to be honest, I guess I kinda like Raven. She has moments of kindness and she's so compassionate. And pretty. Especially her eyes. I've always liked the color purple…" His thoughts continued to drift when he heard someone enter the room. He turned around to see the person he was just thinking about.

Raven was silent as she poured herself another cup of herbal tea. She had been in her room all day until now. Beast Boy watched her intently staring at her delicate hands and dark eyes. Suddenly, Raven looked him in the eyes and Beast Boy quickly turned away. His green face turned red with embarrassment. The teen had turned away so quickly that he failed to see the faint blush on Raven when she also turned away.

Silence proceeded when as Raven was about leave the room Beast Boy called her. "Raven?"

She stiffened at the sound of Beast Boy's voice. "Yes?"

"Can we talk?" he asked in a pleading voice.

Raven remained quiet before answering, "I have to meditate, so we can talk later."

"But you've been meditating ALL day!" Beast Boy snapped. He stopped and calmed down before continuing. "Sorry. It's just I really need to talk to you."

Raven stood there before a raven shadow engulfed her sending her to her room.

"Raven!" Beast Boy called out, but she was gone. "I must have really screwed up if she doesn't even want to talk…"

…

Meanwhile, Raven leaned against her door. Her heart was beating faster and she tried taking deep breathes. "The reason I need to meditate so much is you."

She calmed herself and sat crossed-leg on the floor thinking about a certain green Titan. She honestly didn't know when she had developed a deep liking to Beast Boy. "I guess I always thought of him fondly, but I never liked him THIS much. Is it because he got mature? He has been considerably less annoying and he is almost as tall as me now. And his voice got deeper. And he got cuter. WAIT! What am I thinking?"

Raven slapped her forehead with her palm as she inwardly sighed. "Stupid teenage hormones! I can't stop thinking of him, but he probably doesn't even like me like that! After all, I'm sure he still likes Tara." Raven sighed once again. She really couldn't focus these days.

Knock, knock.

Surprised, Raven opened the door to her room to see Beast Boy standing uncertainly at the door with a tray of two cups filled with herbal tea. She kept an expressionless face, but she mentally face palmed. "I'm so stupid! Of course it would be Beast Boy, I just kind of left him alone in the kitchen." Raven asked in a steady voice. "Hello Beast Boy."

"Umm… You kind of just left your tea back there, and I thought I should pour myself a glass so we could talk." The green teen smiled nervously as he tried to look at Raven's eyes. She still was avoiding his gaze, and when she remained unmoved, Beast Boy sighed.

"Look, we really need to talk. So can I come in?"

Raven reluctantly opened the door. "Crap. He's in my room now. I can't keep running, so I guess we really should talk." Beast Boy entered the dark room lit by only candles.

"You know, there are windows for a reason. It's so you can use them." Beast Boy commented, but she remained silent. He sighed again. "Yeah, making fun of her method of lighting is a great way to start a conversation. I'm so stupid!"

"Are you mad at me?" he asked.

Raven was surprised to hear that, and she looked at him with confusion more prominent on her face. "No. Why would you ask that?" Her eyes only lingered on him for a second more before she turned away. She felt heat crawling up her face. "Why can't I look at him? He's no different than before. He just grew up a little in the past year… He's just taller, more mature, cuter-" Her thoughts stopped abruptly, and her face grew hotter. "WHY DO I KEEP THINKING THAT!" Luckily, she was still turned away from Beast Boy. Why was she acting like this? It was so unlike her. She didn't get flustered over boys! Yet, she couldn't help herself…

Beast Boy was oblivious to her conflicting emotions as he stepped closer. "I think you're mad at me because you won't look me in the eyes anymore." He lightly pushed Raven's shoulder so that she was facing him. Raven was too caught up in her own thoughts that she let herself be turned around. Her eyes widened when they were met with Beast Boy's.

There was a moment of silence.

"Are you blushing?" Beast Boy was shocked. "Why is she blushing? They were just talking, and then she finally looked at me for more than half a second and now she's blushing… Wait, is it because of me?" "Are you blushing because of me?"

Raven's face told him yes although she said nothing, and he asked, "Why?"

The Titan turned away as anger and embarrassment rose up inside her. "Just get out."

"No!"

"Get out!"

"I'll get out as soon as you tell me why." His tone was stubborn and stern.

"Fine, I'll tell you! It's because I like you. Now get out." She muttered. Suddenly, she was spun around and met with Beast Boy's intense gaze. "You can't tell me to get out."

"Why not?" she hissed angrily. Beast Boy stared at Raven for a second. Her deep violet eyes were lit up in indignation. Her face was flushed a deep scarlet from embarrassment or anger, he couldn't tell. It might have been both.

He closed his eyes and calmed himself down. He slowly opened them as he whispered, "Because I like you, too."

…

TADA~! To my past readers: hoped you like this newer version! To my new readers: hoped you liked it! It took me awhile to finally settle down and write this, but when I did, I finished in 2 hours! Hooray~! Maybe the rest of the next chapters will go like this. Hope you enjoyed it~!

Love,

Kika

PS. Got questions/comments? Please review and I'll personally respond!