Several years earlier.
"Excellent news, friend Raven! I believe the Google has successfully identified your present affliction."
Raven's eyebrow reflexively arched. What got in Starfire's head that made her think she was ill?
"I'm not sick." Her tone of voice made it seem as if it was almost framed as a question. The Tamarian's face became curiously frightened.
"Raven, are you unaware of your condition? It is almost as if you become a completely different person at certain times."
Was this her idea of a practical joke? She wasn't exactly a master of human social customs, Raven thought. "I'm not sure I understand."
Starfire took a seat beside her. Clearly, this was no laughing matter. "Do not worry, Raven, this condition is not fatal and entirely treatable. I suffered from a similar state of circumstances around friend Richard, so I will be able to help you remedy its effects."
Now she was starting to get perturbed. "Which is?"
"Your crush for our mutual comrade, Beast Boy."
Being an expert in the Thespian arts, the empath was able to maintain her confounded expression in spite of the way her friend's accusation made her stomach sink. Not only was the idea that she held anything more than tolerance for the changeling entirely outlandish, the mere suggestion that she liked him was without question the most patently ridiculous idea in the universe. To make certain that this idea was crushed before it became truly nefarious, Raven would have to act swiftly.
"Excuse me?" Her venomous tongue was well known among her teammates. "What possessed you to reach the conclusion that I liked him?"
As if she was a prosecutor in the case of her life, Starfire brought forth a sheet of paper. "According to Doctor Web, M.D, your actions betray your words," Shockingly blunt for the alien. "As he states, the physical symptoms of suffering from a crush include an increased heart rate and an increased level of anxiety in proximity to the recipient," In spite of her stoic expression, Raven acknowledged that her friend's words held a degree of truth. Discussing Beast Boy in this context brought forth the familiar thumpathumpathumpa she felt whenever he was around.
"In addition, patients may also experience unintentional stuttering and the misuse of words or phrases, the dilation of pupils, and I believe this is the most prominent of your symptoms, redness of the face, or blushing."
That final part was correct, the empath conceded. Despite his oafish nature, Beast Boy held the ability to be rather charmi-
"I appreciate you looking out for my well-being, Starfire, but I think you're completely off-base here," Her skills as an actress made lying under pressure rather easy. It also took her mental focus away from her musing about Garfield. "I don't like Beast Boy. In fact, I barely tolerate his existence," Perhaps against her own willpower, her voice become progressively more hoarse as her defense continued.
A tiny, knowing grin found its way onto Starfire's face, as the redness that decorated Raven's face gave a great deal of credence to her hypothesis. "It is quite normal to feel these things, Raven, and there is nothing wrong with admitting that you appreciate Beast Boy's company more than most. He is, as the human colloquialism dicates, quite the catch. He is endlessly kind, extremely humorous, attracti-"
Before Starfire could finish that last thought, Raven deliberately used her powers to tear the duplicitous sheet of paper in two. "I do not have a crush on him."
Her smile only growing in magnitude, Starfire brought forth a second sheet of paper. "Some, particularly adolescents, are susceptible to becoming overly defensive or angry when confronted with the idea of holding affection for the recipi-"
And thus, Raven was gone.
Not wanting to experience another moment of embarrassment, Raven decided that she would have a drink and spend some time meditating. She had quite a bit to filter through.
"How's it hangin', Rae?"
"I don't really have time to chat, Beast B-" After turning around to, as usual, chastise him, her eyes widened in horror and her heart jumped in her chest at the sight of a shirtless Beast Boy.
"Is everything okay?" He inquired, genuinely concerned for his friend's health.
Unable to immediately form a cogent retort and too distracted by the disconcerting knowledge that Beast Boy had such a toned, well-sculpted stomach and chest, she once again phased through the floor despite not knowing where it would lead her. Anything would be better than turning into a stuttering, blushing mess in front of Beast Boy.