hi everyone! thanks for sticking around for the 2nd chapter. i love you guys. this chapter is kind of odd, because a) it isnt about one particular scene and b) it changes povs midway through. hope you still enjoy it.
also! i have quoted john green in this passage. i just couldnt think of a better way to describe raven. see if you can spot the quote! (its obvious, his writing is so much better than mine.) i do not own teen titans!
I keep my eyes open and awake the next morning as I sit at the counter, my tofu-breakfast growing cold in front of me. Cyborg ducks and weaves around my figure, wielding several cooking pans full of bacon, and though my nose twitches with irritation I remain in my spot. Finally, he stops to stare at me, his eyes wide and nostrils flared.
"Yo, Beastie, are you gonna eat that?" He demands, gesturing to my plate. "If not, move! I got some breakfast to make."
"Yeah, just give me a minute." I say, my eyes on the door across the room. There is a pause before he shrugs and continues on with his cooking. Another minute passes, and I begin to reluctantly dig into my scrambled-tofu dish. Before long, my fork is scraping against the plate. I sigh and rise, bringing my plate over to the sink.
"You wanna play some video games later, Cy?" I ask as I make my way over to the door. He glances up from his huge plate of food, his mouth full as he speaks.
"Yah, sure!" He exclaims, bits of bacon flying out everywhere. I shoot him a grin before turning to the door. To my surprise, the door swishes open for me and there stands Raven. Her hood down, she wears a slightly surprised look on her face as she regards me. Then she quickly regains posture and moves past, murmuring a quick "good morning". I feel a giant smile spreading across my face despite the cold attitude she had developed toward me, for there on her right hand is a glimmering silver ring.
The rest of the week passes by in a blur. For some reason, villains lie low and the city is submerged in a peaceful trance. I take the time to relax, engaging in daily video-game contests with Cyborg and Robin or taking naps on the common room couch. I even take time to hang out with Star. The one person I do not see much the whole week is Raven.
She always comes in glimpses. It's not like I don't want to see her, it's just that we are also headed away from each other. When I go to get pizza with Robin, she's off to the garage with Cyborg. When I'm playing video games, she's meditating. When I'm awake she's asleep, and vice versa. It makes me kind of miss her, even though she sleeps a couple rooms from me.
We are finally left alone together on Thursday afternoon, 6 days into the "lazy-week". Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire are out running errands, and the tower is quiet. It is just the two of us in the living room, sitting on opposite sides of the couch. I look at her, watching as she flips a page in her book over. Her silky strands of hair obscure some of her face, but not enough to conceal her pale grey skin and violet eyes. I drain in the way she looks, like it's something I feed on, something I need.
"Something you want, Beast Boy?" She inquires without looking up. I shake my head, and then realize she isn't watching me and reply.
"No, I just haven't seen you in a while." Raven glances up at me.
"I guess so." She says, closing her book. "How have you been?" The words are very formal and stiff out of her mouth. I chuckle, and she raises an eyebrow.
"Why so formal? We're still friends." I say, and she smiles very slightly. Just the sight of her mouth curving up melts me like butter. That smile could stop wars and cure cancer.
"No, I'm just wondering how you are." I shrug, pushing down the warm feelings associated with her.
"Good, I guess. Bored. I kinda miss our daily routines." She scoffs.
"Just wait until things pick up again. Then you'll be complaining that you're tired and worn out." Laughing, I scoot closer to her.
"Okay, yeah. But still. Right now, I'm missing the bad-guys." There is a pause. "How about you?"
"What?"
"How are you?"
"Oh. I'm fine." I lean in, waiting for an elaboration that doesn't come. Gently nudging her with my shoulder, I draw another few words from Raven. "Everything's the same." I nod my head and let my gaze drop to her slender hand resting on the book.
"How's the ring going?" At this she glances down, moving the ring so it shimmers in the afternoon light.
"Surprisingly well." She chokes on her next words, almost as if she doesn't want to say them. "You have... good taste." Puffing out my chest, I shoot her a bright smile, putting my hands on my hip.
"Baby I know."
"Please tell me you didn't just call me baby." I wink at her and Raven sighs, tucking a strand of her violet locks behind her ear. "Some people never learn." Keeping my eye-contact with her, I slowly lean back and rest against the back of the couch.
"So what do you prefer, Baby or Rae-Rae?" I question, eyebrows waggling.
"Must I pick just one?" She answers sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Laughing in response, I stand up and stretch out my arms.
"I'm gonna get something to eat. Want something, Rae-Rae?"
"I've lost my appetite."
(A/N okay, i really hate when authors do POV switches because i find them to be lazy. however, i honestly cant think of any other way to express this so i have to do a short POV switch. im sorry!)
RAVEN POV
"I've lost my appetite." I say, and he smiles crookedly at me before turning away. My hands reach for the book left forlorn on the couch pillow, but my eyes wander elsewhere, resting on Beast Boy's departing figure. It's so graceful and fluid, the way he moves. So catlike. Twitching my head, I tear my eyes from his body and continue to stare at the closed book on my lap. The gold lettering of the title shines in the afternoon sun, and I lift a hand and trace each swoop and curve.
And suddenly I realize my ring is light pink. I snap out of my trance and lift my hand close to my face, inspecting it. The raven is a bubblegum pink, like one you might see at a baby shower. I tilt my head and put my hand down. What is that emotion anyways? Discarding my book, I jump up and exit the common room, following the corridors down to my room. The door swishes open and I glide towards my dresser, where the pamphlet that came with the ring sits.
Pink: Honey, you're in love! This color signifies attraction to somebody you're interacting with. The brighter, the more head over heels.
The pamphlet slips out of my hand and lands gently on the ground, and I stare at it, the gears of my mind whirling as I try to process what was going on. Finally, I dismiss the thoughts, shaking my head. These types of things were always wrong. I can't rely on them.
Right?