"Cimmerian Sunbeams"
Chapter I
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Radiant amber hues flooded the sky. The underside of the clouds blushed with fiery vermilion shadows. These saturated pigments coated the atmosphere in a gloss of soft idleness. Dawn felt weightless, an intangible perfection within its own. The mesmerizing illusion often went overlooked, as the tower's inhabitants had a fancy for sleeping in. One in particular, however, frequently admired the view. Something about the undisturbed temperament of early morning appeased her. From the window, the seascape illustrated an astonishing scene, the water highlighted in a rainbow of reds. Everything felt so untouched, so ethereal. It was this time of day she felt the most composed.
She sat at the kitchen table, her palms enclosing hot cup of chamomile tea. With one hand, she swept a tress of lavender hair out of her face. It was much too early in the morning for one to be up sipping tea, but she wasn't bothered. She preferred being awake with no one else astir. Content, she listened to the aerial silence, her favorite noise. Gracefully, she brought the warm cup to her lips and sipped the smooth elixir. She treasured the feeling of the saccharine silken liquid traveling down her throat. Everything was sublime. Or at least it seemed so.
Something caught her attention; she could tell not right away what it was. She set the cup down and listened sharply. Her eyes narrowed and she spoke. "Beast Boy," she said, pronouncing the name idly.
A scuffle was heard beneath the couch. A small green mouse scampered into view. It reconstructed itself into Raven's green teammate. "Raven," he said quietly and apprehensively. "How'd you know it was me?"
"I sensed your presence," she stated plainly. "Now tell me. What are you doing hiding under the couch at nearly five in the morning?"
Beast Boy rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly, avoiding eye contact. "Actually, I wanted to—"
"Good morning everybody!" an exuberant voice chirped. Starfire stood in the doorway. Her lengthy auburn hair was in disarray, and her pink silk nightie ended at her thighs.
"You're up early, Beast Boy," a male voice affirmed, behind Starfire. Raven caught sight of Robin behind her, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The ebony-haired boy yawned. He snaked an arm around the Tamaranian Princess' waist and pulled her body against his. "Good morning, Star."
She laughed, timidly. "Have we not said the good morning before, friend Robin?" He chuckled faintly and grazed her neck from behind. "Robin…"
Raven observed the circumstances from a distance and took another sip of tea. She eyed Robin with reprehension, though he failed to notice.
He let the girl go, and she continued to amble into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. "Does anybody else crave the juice of orange this morning?" she asked.
"I'll have some," Robin answered.
"Me too," Beast Boy added.
Starfire placed the juice on the table, and brought over a few cups. The team took their seats at the kitchen table: Robin next to Starfire, Beast Boy next to Raven. The dark girl hadn't a glimmering why Beast Boy chose to sit next to her. She was aware that Robin and Starfire had already taken the obtainable seats on the opposite side of the table, but still; sitting in such close parameters of Beast Boy didn't make Raven feel any more comfortable.
"Hey, what's with the party and why wasn't I invited?" a fifth voice said. Cyborg walked in. "Why are we up so early?" he asked, after a yawn.
"Don't ask me," Raven replied in a low voice.
"Perhaps because today is going to be a beauteous day!"
The lavender-haired-girl looked at Starfire, unsure how the ginger-haired one could maintain such terribly positive outlook. Raven considered it for a moment, allowing her mind to wander. Even if she tried to think of something so affirming and sunny, it wouldn't be long before she found something dark to bring it down. Raven certainly wasn't one to look on the bright side. She wondered what exactly went through her teammates mind as she contemplated such cheery thoughts.
"So what's for breakfast this morning, Beast Boy?" Cyborg asked, his arms folded across his chest and a smirk on his face.
"What we should have for breakfast every morning. Tofu," Beast Boy answered with a grin.
Raven put her cup down. She knew exactly what was to come.
"Well that's too bad, 'cause I'm cookin' some sausage."
She rested her elbows on the table, and positioned her pointer and middle fingers on her temples. She could already feel a migraine forming.
"What if I don't let you cook sausage?"
Cyborg laughed. "And what exactly are ya gonna do?"
The green boy narrowed his eyes, and stood from the table. "You know what I'm gonna do."
"Go ahead. Nobody's stoppin' ya!" Beast Boy moved toward Cyborg, his eyes on the package of sausage on the counter behind Cyborg. "It's right there ..." he sang, tauntingly.
Raven rose from her seat and strode out of the kitchen, leaving poor Robin and Starfire to endure their teammates' endless banter.
Once their squabble was over, and Cyborg was happily frying sausage on the stove, Beast Boy took notice that there was one less person in the room. "Where'd Rae go?" he asked, looking around.
"She walked out a while ago," Robin told him, shrugging his shoulders.
A look of grief passed across Beast Boy's face. "Oh," he replied, dejectedly. He shook off the thought and padded into the living room to play video games.
- - -
Raven rested against the wall in her room. She picked up a corner of her cloak and ran it through her fingers. She grabbed a book that was on the top of a stack beside her, and opened it against her lap. Her eyes wouldn't fully adjust to what was written in the book; her mind was roaming elsewhere. She thought of Beast Boy, and why he was awake so early, hidden under the couch like that. Of course her first instinct was that Beast Boy was being immature and spying for the hell of it, but it seemed less plausible when she considered the next option. He seemed to be about to ask her something, she pondered. He almost looked like he was… blushing. Raven's eyes widened. Beast Boy? The thought of her green-skinned teammate having romantic feelings for her caught her surprise.
It would be logical, especially because of Beast Boy's recent behavior. Spying on her, not starting arguments as much, and sitting next to her whenever possible. She blinked. This would make plenty of sense. It seemed a bit conceited to think such a thought, but it seemed to fit. What if it were true? Eventually, he'd ask her out. What would she say? Certainly not yes! She didn't see him that way. Sure, she cared for him very much, possibly more than she let on, but never enough to date him. Date Beast Boy? Never! She laughed inwardly at the idea. This, of course, had to be only in her mind. Beast Boy didn't really like her that way … did he? The thought bothered her a bit. Eventually, she pushed the idea out of her mind … or at least as far away as she could get from it. Raven drew in her knees and looked at the book. Before she finished reading the first page, a knock arrested her focus. This caused her to freeze in place. A part of her was worried that it might be Beast Boy returning to ask his question. Slowly, she swallowed and asked, "Who is it?" possibly a little harsher than she had intended.
"It is your friend Starfire. May I enter?"
The anxious bubble in her stomach dissipated. "Err … sure." She replied, sounding a little too relieved. Raven opened the door using her telepathy and Starfire stood in her doorway, her hair much neater than earlier.
"Greetings. Do you wish to today journey to the mall shopping?"
Raven rolled her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like shopping?"
The smile on Starfire's face disappeared instantaneously. "Then you do not wish to spend the 'girl time' with me today?"
"It's not that, it's just that I don't enjoy shopping."
"Then perhaps we may partake in another one of the popular activities included in the 'girl time'?" She pulled a long white piece of paper out of her pocket. "I have created a list!"
"A … list?"
"Yes! We can …" her eyes scanned the paper. "Play the game of board, do the reading of magazines, the painting of our nails, the coloring of a book, the brushing of our hair, the baking of a cake, the…" Starfire continued.
Raven remained silent for a moment as she tried to take it in. Then, an idea struck her. "Star … why don't we just go for a nice peaceful stroll outside?"
"That can be arranged as well!" Starfire exclaimed, letting the list float to the floor. "I shall prepare myself, and I will find you in the living room!"
Raven smiled subtly at her friend's earnestness and reached for the list. Her eyes ached from looking at the large quantity of things she'd never even consider doing. Gently, she folded the paper, and slid it behind her stack of books in hopes that Starfire would get no further ideas. After putting her book atop that stack, Raven changed into some comfortable clothes and exited her room. Just as Starfire said, she was waiting in the living room. "I'm … ready?" Raven said, looking at her excessively pleased friend.
"Where are you two going?" Robin asked.
"We are going to participate in the time of girls by taking a stroll outside on such a beautiful day!"
"Great," Robin said, smiling. He drew Starfire in for a kiss on the lips, but she turned her head swiftly, letting his lips touch her cheek instead.
"We must be going! In case it rains!"
Robin turned to the window. "But Star, there's not a cloud—"
"Goodbye friends! Come on, Raven!" she said hastily, taking Raven's hand. She rushed out of the room and into the elevator.
"Wow. What was that?" Raven asked.
"What was what?" asked Starfire, in alarm.
"That. With Robin."
"I saw nothing out of the ordinary that just happened, did you?"
"Uhm …"
The elevator door opened and they walked in the stretching hall to the door leading outside of the tower. Once they were outside, Starfire took a deep breath of the clean air and she seemed to be much more at ease. "Do not you love it outside?"
"Uh, sure it's great," Raven replied, impetuously. "Starfire, can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can!"
The lilac-haired girl paused, thinking a moment on exactly how to phrase it. "Are you… happy with Robin?"
Starfire glanced downwards. "Happy …?"
"Well …I've noticed that you don't seem to … like him romantically."
Starfire sighed. "I care very deeply about friend Robin. He means a lot to me … as do you, Beast Boy, and Cyborg. I do not care for Robin more than I care for anybody else. Once, I believed that I did, however, lately, I feel nothing."
"Ah. As I suspected."
The taller girl immediately stopped. "Please do not tell this to him!"
"I won't, Star, calm down. You know you do need to tell him sometime."
"Yes …" she resumed walking again. "I know that I do, but … I do not wish to hurt him. He most definitely likes me as a girl-friend, and I intend not to upset him."
"I understand."
Starfire began to fidget her hands nervously. "How was it that you found out?"
"It's obvious. When he kisses you, you don't kiss back … or when you do, you don't look like you want to," Raven explained.
"Oh …"
They walked wordlessly for a moment, both searching their mind for something to say. Finally, Raven broke the ice. "Starfire … why are you always so … happy?" It seemed like such a deep question and doubtless it was. Raven felt bizarre asking, but she felt guilty for not thinking of anything to talk about.
"I am joyous because …" she sighed. "Just look around you, Raven! Look at the colors, breathe the air, feel the freedom."
"Er … I do that every day and yet I fail to see what makes it all so wonderful."
"Do not misunderstand me, Raven … my planet is just as beautiful as this one is, but we cannot do as we wish. You remember last we visited Tamaran, yes? They were going to force me to marry that … monster. You remember, yes?"
"Yeah …"
"This planet, you can do as you wish. You need not a permit to do everyday things. You can love whom you wish. On my planet … we do not have that opportunity."
Raven nodded. "I think I understand." She felt a twinge of jealousy within. To be as carefree as Starfire must be great, she thought. Raven was anything but carefree. In fact, that might be the exact opposite of her. She looked down at her feet and thought for a moment. 'This planet you can do as you wish.' Raven felt another twinge. She knew what Starfire wanted to do, and at this moment, Raven was the one preventing her from doing so. "Hey Star," Raven said, grabbing her friend's arm. "Wanna … go to the mall?"
"Glorious! You have changed your mind!" Starfire exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her friend tightly.
"Uhh … Starfire? You're… hurting… me."
"Oh! I am sorry!" exclaimed the taller girl. She released her binding grip. "Let us begin the journey to the mall shopping!"
tbc.
