Author's Note

Well this is a fun little story that popped into my brain. I don't know how long it will be. I haven't written in so long so bear with me! Please read and review. Tell me anything. Did you love it? Hate it? Was it worthy of your precious time? Should I keep going? All comments are greatly appreciated.

With love,

Your friendly (sometimes) neighborhood Chaotic Coffee Bean

Disclaimer: I'm sure there is some sort of alternate universe where I own the Teen Titans...this is not one of them.

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Chapter 1

It started off with little things.

She indulged in soda rather than water during dinner. One time I saw her pick out a comic book in the bookstore rather than her usual 500+ page novels.

Slowly, very slowly, she moved on to bigger things out of her comfort zone.

First she started refereeing our stink ball games, even if it was only for one round. One time I caught her watching a comedy I chose for movie night, rather than read one of her novels on the corner of the sofa. She would volunteer to hang out with Starfire at the mall, something we all knew she loathed.

The others didn't notice, but I did. No one noticed her more than I did.

After all, I'm the one that practically risked being thrown into another dimension -Raven's personal favorite threat she saved especially for me- whenever I tried to include her in our daily activities. At first I thought that she was finally getting comfortable in her own skin. Us, Titans, we are not what you can call normal teenagers. We are outcasts, mutants, aliens, orphans, freaks. But I always felt that Raven and I were the least likely to fit in to society. We were the outcasts within our little group of outcasts.

Starfire was an alien, but she was unbelievably strong, intelligent, and insanely beautiful. Robin was smart, handsome, and a billionaire. Other than the fact that he was trained by Batman, he was just an ordinary guy. Sure, Cyborg was half metal, but he grew up the most normal of us all. Before his accident he was a lady's man, a football star, the son of a famous scientist.

But Raven and I? We were different. Not only is our appearance…. well strange, to say the least, we grew up secluded from what a lot of society valued.

It's true, I don't know a lot about Raven's past, but I could tell she was like me. Hiding pain deep, deep inside. I tried covering it up with my jokes and laughter, and she tried to suppress it and hide herself away from us, her friends.

Ever since I met her I knew we were the same. Damaged. Alone.

That's why I tried so hard. So freaking hard to get her out of her shell. She is my hope for feeling normal and like I'm not alone with this beast inside me. But she always rejected me!

Couldn't she see that we are the same? It killed me seeing her push us away and hold her secrets so tightly in her mind. I wanted to have someone like me to experience life with…and Raven, well, she's perfect!

That's why I was so surprised when I realized she was coming out of her shell and experiencing new things. Had all my efforts of including her with in our little family paid off? This was my chance at telling her how I feel about her!

Finally!

But then I really paid attention.

She had a different look in her eyes. One of fear and anxiety.

For years I had studied that beautiful pale face of hers trying to decipher her thoughts. I have to admit, she made a solid effort at trying to hide what she was feeling, but she could never fool me, I knew her too well.

I could see the change in how she carried herself, almost as if she was waiting for the world around her to collapse, and every time that I saw her trying something new, she had the saddest look in her eyes. I wanted to ask her what was up with her, lately. I knew it would be a lost cause. Raven never told us what she was feeling, but at least she'd know that I was there for her.

I finally had my chance to confront her really late one night.

It was stormy out, and the thunder always put me on edge. When you've got hearing like mine, thunder, roaring winds, and the sound of rain constable knocking on your window, is not the most soothing sound to sleep too.

Might as well get a midnight snack, right?

I made my way to the Tower's kitchen with the thought of oatmeal cookies and soy milk on my mind. I smelled her as soon as the heavy metal doors slid open.

She was on the sofa wearing her pajamas with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She also happened to be soaking wet.

As soon as she saw me, she froze, and her eyes betrayed her emotion of slight panic of being caught.

"Beast Boy? What are you doing here?"

"Couldn't sleep."

I walked closer to her.

"Umm Raven- Why are you all wet?"

Silence. Of course she wouldn't answer me, Raven never answered what she considered personal questions. But I was not about to give up. Now was the perfect time to investigate what was going on with her.

I stared at her straight into her eyes, and she stared back at me harder, probably hoping her cold look would make me go away. Nope. Not this time.

I continued to stare at her, waiting for her answer. I could hear the slight thumping of her heartbeat slowly, slowly getting faster. Even in the darkness, I could see a blush creeping into her cheeks. And then there it was. That flash of fear and sadness in her eyes.

It only lasted a second, and if I hadn't been staring at her so closely I would have missed it.

"What's been up with you lately Raven?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well…you've been trying new things lately, hanging out with us more, and that's great! But…"

"There's a but? I seem to recall you pestering me to participate in more activities with the team. Are you protesting against that now?"

"Well…," I hesitated.

"Good night Beast Boy, "she drawled before she got up and walked towards the door. Her soaking wet clothes left a trail of water after her.

No! I couldn't let this chance at finding out what was wrong escape! If only I had prepared some sort of speech or something. If only I had known I would have this perfect opportunity. I've never been known as the best talker and I couldn't risk the chance of Raven deciding I had nothing important to say and leaving. I racked my brain for anything to say.

"I know you've been scared."

Raven froze. Her heart thumped louder in her chest, and I could smell her anxiety thick in the air.

"You're trying new things but you're scared. And sad. I can tell."

She slowly turned to face me.

"I'm the one that's the empath, remember?" she scoffed. I could tell she was trying to put on a brave face, but her eyes betrayed her.

"Something's wrong. Isn't it? I know you try to hide it Raven, but I can tell. You know, you're not as good as hiding your emotions as you think you are."

I expected her to walk to away, as usual. Or maybe roll her eyes and tell me I was stupid and imagining things. Hell, I would even expect her threatening me for being too nosy in her personal life, but she didn't do any of those things.

Slowly, she took a few steps closer to me and reached for my hand. Her fingers were wet, icy, and trembling. I never noticed her hands were so small. She gave me a small sad smile.

"You know, people don't really give you enough credit Beast Boy. You're not as dense as you let others believe."

Before I could react, she opened a portal and walked through it. My hand fell limply to my side from where she had held it. Her hand had been freezing, but her touch left me feeling uncomfortably warm.

It took a second to make sense of what exactly had just happened. Had she just complimented me? Did she really just hold my hand? Everyone knew she hated physical contact. That girl acted so strangely sometimes.

At least there was something I knew for sure. There was something wrong with Raven, and I was going to find out what is was.

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Short, I know….but here it is!

Please let me know how you like it, so I can continue.