Title: A World Without You

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

Pairing: Primarily Raven/Beast Boy

Summary: Beast Boy and Raven have never gotten along, but when Beast Boy accidentally finds himself able to travel through parallel dimensions, he learns what life would be like if Raven meant something to him. Raven/Beast Boy. Chapter 2: Raven has problems of her own.

Disclaimer: Teen Titans is not owned by me…just the worlds are. Oh, and any new costumes Raven manages to get. The song "If You Should Try to Kiss Her" is sung originally by Dressy Bessy.

Author's Notes: Chapter 2's finally up! Wow, chapter one got a lot more feedback than I ever expected. Thanks, guys! This story was borne rather randomly, so hopefully it doesn't fail to disappoint in the following chapters.

To ultraviolet4ever: I like marshmallows, thanks!

To Insane clutz 4 ever: You'll see.

To RavenFanatic01: The only way to learn how to write a fanfic is to start writing and keep getting feedback on what you write (your own as well as other people's…don't be afraid of constructive criticism!). Also, reading helps since you can look at other author's styles and learn from them while trying to develop your own style. That's just my advice.

A World Without You

Chapter Two: If You Should Try to Kiss Her
Location: The Teen Titans Universe As We Know It
(…which will be known hereafter as 'THE Universe')

At last, Vortex ran through the portal, and Raven froze in quiet shock as the vortex dwindled to a close, taking with it the demanding pull that kept the Titans from moving into action.

A few more seconds passed and Robin's voice came from somewhere saying, "Is everyone okay? Cy?"

"I'm fine." Cyborg said in reply, walking up the street to Robin while surveying the damage from the portal.

"Raven?"

Raven pulled herself from her position behind the building. "Fine." She murmured, collecting herself.

"Beast Boy?"

Raven felt guilt and shame well up from somewhere deep inside since she knew Robin's reply would go unanswered. She had tried to save him from the portal, but her strength failed her. Who knows where Beast Boy was now? She opened her mouth to report her teammate's status.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Beast Boy's unexpected voice came from the spot where the portal had been exactly. Raven's guilt was quickly replaced with relief. "Where's Star?"

"With me." Robin said in tight voice. "We're good."

In silence, they rode back to the Tower. Robin's aura of fury and disappointment over their having let Vortex escape barred any chance of conversation between the Titans. Not that Raven would have participated anyway.

Almost losing Beast Boy was enough to keep her from making a commentary about their entire battle. It was unnerving, Raven thought, the way she had grown so attached to her teammates that she worried about them constantly. Even though Beast Boy was annoying, she wouldn't try her hand at living life without him as a teammate. It was how she felt about everyone else as well.

She had been lucky today.

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…Or maybe, not so lucky after all, Raven amended.

Two unlucky things happened when they arrived at the Tower. First, Robin had gathered the whole team and had given them all a lecture so stern and a training session so taxing that Raven was sure she wouldn't be able to look Robin in the eye for a week out of shame. Second, after Raven had grabbed a book and her favorite tea to relax that evening, Beast Boy decided to interrupt her in a way she found utterly alarming.

It went as such:

"Rae."

That was usually Cyborg's nickname for her, so Raven was somewhat startled when she looked up from her book to see Beast Boy standing in front of her.

"Yes?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"No." She replied, and turned back to her book hoping that that was the end of things for tonight. Beast Boy seated himself next to her.

"I mean, really?" Beast Boy asked, scooting closer to her.

He tugged the book from her hands, and she sent him a menacing glare.

"Well, if you keep stealing my books like that, yes." Raven frowned. Beast Boy sent her a pleading look. "I'm not mad at you. Can I have my book back please?"

"Why are you ignoring me?"

"I'm treating you the way I always treat you." Raven replied, confused.

"That's not true, and you know it. If you're mad at me, then just say so."

"But…But, I'm not."

"Rae…" He said, drawing the syllable out dramatically.

"Beast Boy…" She replied, drawing her syllable out warningly.

He shrugged. "Well, if you're not mad at me, then..."

With one hand, he drew her closer to him, and with the other, he lifted her chin up.

"Beast Boy, what—" She began to protest.

And, he kissed her.

Kissed her as if he had a hundred times before.

Raven stepped back, feeling awkward and out of place.

"Good night." Beast Boy said, giving her a playful smile and sauntering out the door.

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Raven left the living room after he'd gone, teleporting into her room.

What the hell was that?

What the hell was he thinking?

He had kissed her. Kissed her!

Well, if she hadn't been mad before, she certainly was now. She should kill him. Stab him with a knife. Throw him telekinetically to the other side of the universe. She was mad.

And the worst part was, she didn't know if it bothered her more that he kissed her or if it bothered her more that she liked it. Or perhaps, she didn't like it, but for some reason the kiss felt…

There was no other way to describe it, but the kiss felt familiar. As if he had done it before. Knew exactly where in the small of her back his hand went… Knew at exactly what angle the kiss should be… Knew how to make it...nice. For her. Specifically for her.

She shook her head.

She was going crazy. Or maybe everyone was.

Beast Boy certainly was.

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Raven hated confrontations with friends, and by the time she went to sleep, she had decided that if this would be the last time Beast Boy kissed her, Raven (with time and therapy) would gladly have come to dismiss it as a moment of insanity and move on with the rest of her hectic life.

Beast Boy had different ideas, and kissed her again the next day.

Tired of being in her room, she had intended to lounge around in front of the television, making sarcastic comments to the boys about their video gaming antics while pretending furiously to read a book of spells she had recently acquired.

This never happened.

Instead, when the door slid open and the normally bad-tempered Raven emerged, she was promptly greeted with a cheerful, "Good evening, Rae."

"Beast Boy." She nodded curtly. "What are you up to?"

"Going to the living room." He replied, stepping towards her. "You?"

"Also, going to the living room…" Raven retorted, pointing in the general direction. Beast Boy flashed her a smile and took another step towards her, pinning her between the doorway and himself. Raven moved away, only to hear the door 'swish' close behind her, effectively sealing her escape. She gulped and, to her chagrin, felt her cheeks turn a dull red. "…to read."

"Why?" He asked, voice lowered as his head bent towards hers. He pressed his lips to her mouth, pulling back a moment later.

"I…uh…" Raven stammered, her brain frantically trying to decide whether to answer his question or to smash him into a wall.

He kissed her again while she fumbled.

"I…I like books." Raven stammered when he pulled away.

"Ah, okay." He nodded patronizingly while giving her a mischievous grin. "I'll see you in the living room, then?"

"Yes." She said quickly, satisfied she could answer that question.

"Bye-bye, Rae."

He sauntered down the hall.

And, Raven felt like an idiot.

A/N: I always love starting new stories; the story always seems so promising. Anyway, as I've said before, I really would like to improve and shape my writing style, so any REVIEWS or CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM would be great (or email me at: triandrusicewing at hotmail). Thanks!