Duality (n) – a dual state or quality
Beast Boy was on his rock, his feet dangling over the edge and his hands playing with loose stones next to him. He had been there for a good half-hour, long enough to draw the attention of the empath. She was mildly interested when he didn't show up to breakfast, and then concerned enough to go searching for him when he didn't interrupt her while she read.
She picked her way over the rocky landscape, purposely making a decent amount of noise so as to alert him to her approach (not that his heightened senses couldn't smell the tea and lavender that seemed to be permanently part of her scent).
"I'm too animal to be human, and too human to be any animal. Is there a word for that?" Beast Boy asked softly, not looking at her. He flicked a pebble into the water. Raven settled herself next to him, floating above the rocks cross legged.
"Duality," she said after a moment, just as softly. "Cyborg feels it too, it's why he builds things."
"Do you feel it?" he asked, waiting for her to close up and tell him to stop worrying. He glanced at her, his head cocked to the side. He watched the emotions flicker through Raven's eyes. Hesitation, a little anger, sadness, then finally, resolve.
"Sometimes. Robin and Star are always so sure of themselves. And when they're tired of being heroes, they can slip into real life easily. The three of us can't. That's when I feel it the most." Raven tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and stared at the waves crashing on the rocks just beyond their spot. Beast Boy opened his mouth to say something when the alarm went off. He sighed and stood up, then reached a hand down to Raven. She took it and teleported them to the T-Car.
"Duality," he said, almost as if tasting it. Just as the door to the garage opened, he glanced at Raven next to him and whispered a quick "thanks." If the others heard, he would say it was for the teleporting. He was sure he saw a small smile and a nod from Raven before she turned away.
The next morning, a new box of tea was sitting on the kitchen counter and the water was already in the kettle. A small green kitten was asleep by the window in a patch of sun. Smiling to herself, Raven fixed her tea and settled on the couch to read.
When the rest of the team entered the room, they noticed the new box of tea, Raven, and the small kitten. Only now, the kitten was next to Raven, enjoying her absentminded petting while she read. Robin and Star glanced at each other while Cyborg shrugged and went towards the kitchen to fix breakfast. No one wanted to ruin the peace while it lasted.