Author's Note:

I warmed up for starting a real romantic fanfiction starring Beast Boy and Raven by doing my first one, "Hurt Me", which was kind of nothing more than a series of me writing whatever I wanted, chapter by chapter. Not the greatest, I hope this will be better. I'm excited. This is my favorite pairing, and this is my second fanfiction ever written. I hope to receive a warm welcome into the community. I've definitely been influenced by you all.

This will be a short chapter but the ones after will not be, pinky promise.

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, obviously. Onward.

Beast Boy

When Robin tells me that I'm getting assigned to a special mission across the country, I practically squeal with excitement.

This is almost like a real vacation. It's the closest I'll ever get to one, honestly, so I'm determined to make the absolute most of it. I'm about to throw all my shit in a suitcase and leave ay-ess-ay-pee. I don't even care for him to tell me where it is I'm going, just fuckin' send me there! I'm tired of Jump City and the baddies running around in it, doing the same old thing, every day, all year long. It's so taxing.

Since the Brotherhood, life has been good, but it has also been extremely boring.

I love my little family, but I need something new. I've been longing for that something, like a dog smelling a female in heat a mile away. I just want to get out. I think my team leader has noticed, and this is why he's finally granted me some time off. Technically not time off, but you couldn't tell me that. I'm young, freshly twenty, and desperate to get some new action.

"Beast Boy, let's be serious about this. It's a mission, not playtime. You are not going to get there and go sightseeing. You have a job to do."

I don't even want to hear what it's about. He's going to spoil my good time, I just know it. I keep my grin pasted to my face, at least thankful that he's telling me this to my face and alone. I feel a twinge of guilt at the realization that Cyborg and Starfire are going to be pretty crushed that I'll be leaving for a while. (Hopefully a long enough while to get all this energy out of my system).

"You'll be spending six months in a new post. It's just a new sort of swap we're going to try out. There's an influx of new villains, but not here. That's the issue. You'll be teamed up with a few other members of the Titans across the globe in New York."

I howl and Robin winces, hands slamming over his ears. "You won't regret it, Rob! I promise! Dude, New York? It's gonna be so awesome!"

"Yeah, well, not so awesome for us. It's going to be hard to readjust to losing two of our team members for a while, but I suppose it's not like we have the need for extra staff around here right now. Just, you know. We'll miss you guys."

I pause in the middle of doing a little victory dance. "Two? Who's going with me? Cy?!" Not a vacation? Please! This was definitely a vacation!

"Raven."

My throat is suddenly rather dry. "Ah, Robin, that might not be the best idea?" Raven and I are close, but she can only take so much of my personality. I tend to have to distance myself from her now so that I don't get on her nerves too much anymore. Here Robin was, suggesting he stick the two of us together for six months, likely in a tiny little apartment or something. I didn't see that going so well.

"She'll keep you in line," Robin smirked. "I trust that it'll be a much more productive stay with her on the new team."

I twiddle my thumbs and wonder if he hit his head earlier. "Does she know? Please don't make me tell her. I don't want to get fried before we even leave, or off on the wrong foot already."

"She already knows, Beast Boy."

I open my eyes. I'd had them closed, waiting for the "no" that never arrived. "Seriously? And she's okay with it?" I splutter.

"You two have been teammates for years. I know you're different, but you're mature now. You're young adults, and I expect that has changed a few things." I ponder at all of this while he continues, tentatively laying a hand on my shoulder. I look up to find that I'm certainly not short anymore, but I'm still not very tall. I kind of hate it whenever I feel inferior. "Besides, listen. She really appreciates how calm you've gotten. Well. Compared to how you used to be," he laughs fondly. "She knows you at least try not to get on her nerves now."

Fair enough, then. I feel pretty good about myself now, and I'm back to feeling ecstatic. I'm going on a new mission slash vacation with one of my best friends.

Raven is so chill and kind of adorable in a really timid way, but she's also very intelligent and I know she will make a great asset to the team. If she doesn't assume the position of leader, I'll be surprised. She's strong, and knows when to kick my ass for me and when to let me kick my own.

I'd say that's about as good as a leader can get.

Raven

My attempts at meditation are futile.

I'm on edge. I don't know how I'm going to handle the coming months. My space will be limited, and I don't even know who else will be on the team, other than my humorous green friend. I'm not looking forward to the goodbyes, either, and certainly not when we have to break the news to Cyborg and Starfire. Cyborg and Beast Boy have been inseparable since the start, and Star and I have connected over the years, being the only girls.

I suppose I'll miss all of them, regardless.

I'm just glad I'll have a friendly face with me, even if I'm sure I'll want to punch that friendly face half of the time. I catch myself smiling and I wipe it away as soon as I can, as if someone might see. While I'm locked up in my room. In the dark.

Someone knocks, and it's insistent, fast, energized. I know exactly who it is. I could tell by the signals he was sending out as he made his way to my door.

I wave my hands and candles light up across the room. I'm floating above my bed, but slowly lowering myself into the blankets. I make sure I'm decent, pulling my hood up over my head to shadow my eyes as I call out for my visitor to come in.

"We're going to New Yooork!" is the first thing out of his mouth, and he races across the room to stop in front of me and take me into his arms in a crushing hug. It's incredibly close and very intimate. I'm greatly aware of my chest being squished against his, but as far as I can tell, he doesn't mind or feel ashamed. He greatly appreciates me. It radiates off of him in waves. I feel a bit flattered, and clear my throat.

He steps away, hands up in a sign of good will, grinning sheepishly. "Rae, this is gonna be great."

"I hope so," I say. It comes out cold and flat, but his eyes meet mine and seem to hear a different tune. He has always been the one who is most afraid of me, and yet I feel most understood by him also.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," he offers, crossing his arms and taking a stance against invisible foes. He falters under my glare and laughs in embarrassment, rubbing his neck. "All right, more than likely it'll be you protecting me. But we'll get through it and make the best of it. I'm determined. It'll be the time of our lives, trust me."

I already did, but I told him I would anyway.