Shamandalie
By Trollhammer
Disclaimer: I own nothing yada yada yada
Chapter Two
Later at the tower...
Cyborg stood anxiously outside Raven's door, trying to think of what he was about to say...or more or less how he would say it without incurring the young empath's rage, given her lack of patience for small talk. He realized what he was about to do may be the most foolish thing imaginable, but he couldn't bare to watch Beast Boy suffer like a love-sick puppy. Suddenly, the door slid open and a pair of accusing eyes glared at him from beneath a dark blue hood. He let out a small yelp and jumped back slightly.
"Was there something you wanted?" she asked half irratebly.
"How'd you know I was-?"
"I could hear you whispering."
Cyborg rubbed the back of his neck and blushed slightly. Then he quickly became serious as he focused on the burning issue.
"Raven, can I talk to you? In private? Please?"
Raven immediately noticed the concern in his voice and deduced that this wasn't another one of Cyborg and Beast Boy's reduntant schemes or pranks...this was genuine. She nodded slightly and opened the door wide enough to let him in. Cyborg looked around the room uneasily, remembering what happened the first time he entered Raven's inner sanctum.
"Do you mind if I sat down?" he asked politely, motioning to a nearby chair.
"Of course not."
"Thanks."
Raven sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed while Cyborg pulled a simple wooden chair up a small distance in front of her. He sat down and closed his eye for a few seconds, trying to find the right words.
"I can tell this is something that's bothering you greatly...just take your time." Raven reassured, pulling her hood down.
That made Cyborg relax a little...and then he began.
"Raven...have you noticed anything out of the ordinary about Beast Boy of late?"
"Since when was Beast Boy ever ordinary?"
"I'm serious, Rae."
There was a brief silence as Raven scalded herself for her sarcasm towards her friend when something was clearly wrong.
"No...I haven't noticed anything. Why?"
"Because I have. I've noticed the way he looks at you when he thinks no-one's watching, the way his eyes sparkle when you walk into a room...hell, half the time when I whup his butt on the Gamestation now, it's because he's daydreaming while you're sat reading."
Raven looked at him nervously and shifted uncomfortably on her bed.
"What are you trying to say Cyborg."
"You know what I'm trying to say Raven. Beast Boy...likes you."
"W-well of course he does, we're good friends and-"
"No Rae...I mean he...'likes you'...likes you."
Raven's eyes widened and she stared at her bed sheets, trying to take it all in. Cyborg could have sworn that, even in the dim light and amongst the black glowing object floating around the room, he saw Raven shrink slightly into herself.
"He...he can't...we're complete opposites!"
"Opposites sometimes attract." Cyborg reasoned.
"Can you be absolutely sure?"
"Raven...I know my best friend." he said gently, "And right now, he's in pain. He's in pain because he's too afraid to tell you himself. Deep down I think he knows you two would never work...but I think he's in denial. I may be mostly machine Rae, but I still have a heart...and I know full well what love can do to people. I don't want the team to suffer, but above all else, I don't want to see my friends getting hurt. I thought it would be best if you heard it coming from me rather than from Beast Boy, since we both know he can't handle himself very well when he loses his nerve."
Raven nodded.
"I understand...and I appreciate you doing this Cyborg. Thank you."
He smiled gently.
"What are friends for?"
There was another momentary silence.
"Just answer one thing for me though...just to be certain." he asked grimly.
"I know what you're about to ask...but ask me nonetheless."
Cyborg shuffled onto the edge of his seat and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
"Is there any chance at all of you and BB ever hitting it off?"
Raven averted her gaze as she thought long and hard. She tried to imagine any and every possible scenario where she and Beast Boy could wind up as compatible partners. After a while, she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. She looked back to Cyborg.
"I'm sorry, but...I can never see it happening."
Cyborg nodded and sighed sadly.
"Oh man...BB's gonna be crushed...how do I tell him?"
"I'm not sure that would be such a good idea. We've seen him fly off the handle over matters of love before."
Cyborg grimaced as he remembered Terra.
"Yeah...you're right. But I can't just say nothing. He's been beside himself ever since we met Derek this afternoon."
Raven looked at Cyborg like he'd sprouted a second head
"Beast Boy's jealous of Derek?"
"Little guy looked like he was gonna die on the spot when you two were joking around."
"But...we're just friends."
"I know...but remember, BB's part animal...and that animal sees Derek as a threat because he's a lot more compatible with you than he is."
Raven sighed again.
"I can see your point."
"So I can't just stand back and say nothing...I've gotta stop BB from ruining his life."
"I know you mean well Cyborg, but right now, as much as you may not wish to hear this, I think it would be a good idea for now to keep this between ourselves...maybe talk to him at a more...appropriate time."
"How will I know when that time comes?"
"Trust me...you'll know. Now you'll have to excuse me...this has all been very stressful. I need to meditate."
"Sure thing Raven...I'll leave you alone." He said, replacing the chair.
He opened the door and was about to leave.
"Cyborg?"
He turned back once more, noticing Raven's back was now turned to him.
"Yeah?"
"If the worst comes to happen from all of this...tell Beast Boy I never wanted to hurt him."
"You got it Rae."
And with that, he was gone. Raven sighed and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She closed her eyes and did her best to concentrate...
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos...Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos..."
Later that evening...
The five Titans were indulging in their regular activities within the commons room of Titans Tower; Cyborg and Beast Boy were compeating head-to-head on the Gamestation, Raven was sat in the corner reading one of her books, Starfire was in the kitchen creating some culinary catastrophy, and Robin was sat at the dining table pouring over case files and various newspaper clippings and photographs. Although the room was bustling in what had almost become customary fashion, there was a tension in the air. The Titans weren't used to many visitors...and this one had already stirred up mixed feelings before he'd even stepped through the front door. Although she was calm and subdued, Raven couldn't help but be pleased at the thought of a friend paying a visit...since she had never had many friends outside of the tower. It would be nice to have a...normal friend. As the seconds turned into minutes, the knot forming in Beast Boy's stomach was becoming more apparent, due to his lack of focus on the game and the uncommon tension on his face. He kept reassuring himself that this Derek was just a friend and nothing more...maybe he'd even like the guy. But paranoia continued to gnaw away at the back of his mind...and Cyborg could see it as plain as day. He looked over at his best friend and could tell he was cracking up...and it hurt to watch him come undone before his eyes. But he knew that this wasn't the time. He just nudged him and pretended everything was okay.
"Come on BB, focus dude!"
Beast Boy, having been snapped out of his trance, feigned confidence and bravado.
"Oh, it's on now!" he said half-heartedly.
Just then, the front door sounded and five heads propped up. They checked the security moniter, and surely enough, there stood Derek.
"I'll get it." Raven called over her shoulder, already on her way out of the room.
The four remaining Titans waited anxiously for her to return with her guest. They could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed, until the low hum of the elevator indicated they were on their way back up the tower. Finally, the doors slid open and the two of them emerged.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Derek greeted monotonously.
Robin walked over and shook hands with the teenaged Goth.
"Hey Derek, pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." he replied sincerely...or as sincere as a monotonous voice could sound.
Before Derek knew what was happening, his vision was obscured by purple clothes, orange skin and big green eyes.
"Greetings new-friend Derek! I am Starfire! Although I am sure Raven has already told you as much."
"Er..." he stammered, looking over at Raven, who was hiding beneath her hood, trying to surpress a chuckle, "...yeah, she's spoken of you on a couple of occassions."
'That's putting it politely.' Raven thought to herself.
Cyborg wandered over with Beast Boy in tow and extended his own hand.
"Yo Derr, what's up?"
He accepted his hand and shook it firmly.
"It's cool...but er, I'd prefer Derek if you please."
"Oh, sure...sorry." Cyborg grinned with the slightest tint of pink in his cheeks.
Beast Boy popped up from behind Cyborg and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Dudes, check it out; heavy metal meets heavy metal."
As if at the drop of a hat, the room went deathly quiet as everyone glared at Beast Boy, who winced and turned away from their stares, knowing his latest attempt at humor had fallen on deaf ears...until he heard a light-hearted chuckle from Derek. Surely enough, when he looked back, everyone else was looking at him in surprise.
"I like that, that was funny."
He looked over at Raven.
"You don't give this guy enough credit."
Raven rolled her eyes and sighed. Just as Beast Boy was about to celebrate his new-found sense of triumph, Starfire shoved a plate of...something under Derek's nose.
"Please new-friend Derek, you must try some of my-"
"That's okay Starfire, there's a pot of tea brewing in my room." Raven interjected, pulling Derek away as quickly as she could through the doors.
"You have a kettle in your room?" Derek whispered.
"Just keep walking." she replied as the doors shut behind them.
The four Titans looked at each other before Starfire lifted her plate.
"Would anyone else care for a taste?"
The three boys turned about sharply and wandered off, whistling nonchalantly to themselves. Starfire sighed and pouted at her creation. She took the spoon and began to chew on a morsal of it...before her face turned an unhealthy shade of green.
TBC