"Are you ready?" Beast Boy smiled at the quizzical look Raven gave him. He laughed and jumped into the air to turn into a giant eagle.
"What?" Raven walked up to him, as the changeling landed on the roof. Beast Boy spread his wings out and got lower to the ground. "Do…" Raven paused, "do you want me to…" Beast Boy motioned with his head towards his back. She carefully stepped past his wings and sat on his back. She sighed as she thought, What have I gotten myself into. As Beast Boy shot into the air, Raven grabbed some of his feathers to hold on to. She let herself think for a moment about how soft his feathers were.
The sky glowed bright as they flew over the city. The summer sun shined warm as it began to turn the sky into dusk. Raven closed her eyes and lifted up her head. The wind rushed past her, making her hair and cloak flow behind her. She intertwined her fingers in his feathers, and felt her blood pump a little faster. It felt nice to fly without using any energy of her own. While Beast Boy flew to their destination, Raven had time to think.
Terra. He was always so happy with her. Why did it matter to her anyway? Why did she care if Beast Boy and Terra got back together? When they hugged, what was it she had felt? It couldn't be jealousy. What was there to be jealous of? Raven sighed. Why did it matter? Beast Boy would only see her as the cold goth. But, he had been so nice lately. Maybe…no. She hadn't been herself.
She couldn't let Beast Boy in. He couldn't see what was haunting her. No one could. She was ashamed at her fear of the dreams; the blood. She had enough to worry about without Terra on her mind. She refused to come between Terra and Beast Boy. She would be her regular self again, and she wouldn't let Terra bother her.
Beast Boy flew down and landed in front of her favorite coffee shop. He changed back into a human and beamed at her. "So?" he asked smiling, "how was the flight?"
"Tolerable," she replied coldly. She wouldn't tell him how her pulse raced when she felt how soft his feathers were, how she really had like flying on his back, and how she decided she would be as distant as ever to keep him away from her. Beast Boy looked crestfallen. He had hoped she would enjoy it. Raven walked into the shop, Beast Boy on her heels.
"Herbal tea, please," Raven said to the person behind the counter. He looked to be a teenager, with black hair and a black skull shirt (some of you may know him as goth-boy).
"You can sit down, Rae, I'll bring it to your table," the boy said as Beast Boy fished out money from his pockets. Raven smiled at him and went to sit down. Beast Boy came and sat across from her.
"So, you know that guy?" Beast Boy asked, a bit irked that they had been so casual with one another.
"Yeah," Raven glanced over to where he was making her tea, "we met at that party Blackfire took us to. Then a few months later he started working here."
"Oh." Beast Boy sat for a moment before remembering his news. "Hey Raven, guess what?" He perked up as he recalled what happened at the beach, "You know how Terra wanted to stay at the Tower for a while? I asked Robin and he said it was okay. Isn't that great?" he grinned at her.
"Wonderful," she said in her monotone voice. Terra? Staying with them? That wasn't that bad. She could deal with it. The worker came up to the table and handed her a steaming cup of tea.
"Hey, Rave," he said smiling, "tonight's open mic night. You gonna grace us with your poetry? Or maybe sing a little song for us?"
"I don't sing, Matt," she laughed, "How many times have we had this discussion?"
"Fine," Matt gave in, "deny the world your talent." He noticed someone waiting to order and left them alone.
"You sing?" Beast Boy asked, not willing to admit to himself he was envious of Matt's friendship with Raven.
"No," she said sharply, giving him a hard look. She regretted it a little when he looked away, hurt and a little sad. "Beast Boy…" He glanced up at her, a wounded look in his eyes. "I didn't mean…" she trailed off.
"It's okay," he said as he stared at the table. Raven took a drink of her tea. "Is it good?" he asked. She nodded absently. "I'm sorry I messed up your tea earlier."
"Really, it's okay," Raven said as she took another drink, "I haven't been here in a while anyway." She took a long swallow of her tea and looked down into the empty cup. The tea had helped clear her mind. She glanced out the window to see the sun making it's way past the horizon. It would get dark soon. She stood up and looked down at Beast Boy. "We'd better get going," she said.
As they walked to the door she turned and waved to Matt at the counter. Matt blew her a kiss causing her to blush as she walked out. She went outside and was startled by Beast Boy's gaze. "So, you and Matt are pretty close, eh?" he asked, a cold anger in his voice.
Raven shrugged, "We're friends." She turned and started walking back to the tower.
"Raven!" Beast Boy called out chasing after her.
"What?" She glared at him.
"I thought I was going to fly us home."
"Maybe, I'd rather walk," Raven scoffed.
Beast Boy insisted, "But after that battle,"
She turned on him, "I can take care of myself. I don't need you taking care of me. Why don't you just fly home now, and leave me alone," she yelled.
Beast Boy froze. He stared at her as she walked away from him. Raven squeezed her eyes shut. She had to keep him out. Terra was coming back. He liked her better. She opened her eyes as the changeling ran in front of her. "What is your deal?" he yelled at her, his face getting close to hers. "I try to be nice, all day, and this is what I get? I make you pancakes, I try so hard, and what do you do? You flirt with some guy right in front of me!" Beast Boy wasn't really sure why he said that last thing, but he saw it hit its mark.
"I wasn't flirting," Raven answered coldly. "And why do you care anyway? Maybe, I didn't want you to try so hard, did you ever think of that?" She glared at him, "Maybe, I just wanted to be alone." She used what little empathic strength she had to teleport back to the Tower. Beast Boy stood there for a second, still angry and hurt, before changing into a bird and flying back home.
Raven looked around her room. The carpets were stained with blood, that she knew wouldn't come out. She couldn't sleep here tonight, but where else could she? She could probably stay with Starfire, the alien would love having a sleepover. She decided it wouldn't be that bad, and went to go ask if she could. But, what if, when she woke up…that thing came back. She paused on her way to Starfire's room. She couldn't endanger her friend like that. If it came she could fight it. That's what she should have done in the first place.
Her mind made up, she went to Starfire's room and knocked on the door. No answer. She must be in the control room. Raven began to walk there.
Beast Boy landed on the roof, his anger festering. As he walked to his room Cyborg was walking by. "Hey, man," he said, "where've you been?"
"Nowhere," Beast Boy replied as cold as Raven ever was.
"Hey, I was just askin'," Cyborg trailed off as Beast Boy walked away. Before going to his room, he went to the kitchen and scarfed down some food. He went to his room and sat down on his messy bed. Why had Raven acted like that? Why had he? It didn't matter. He soothed himself with the thought of Terra coming back, and drifted off to sleep.
Raven walked into the control room, where Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire were watching T.V. "Raven," Cyborg began, "What's up with BB?"
"How should I know?" she snapped, and sat down next to Starfire, who was snuggled up against Robin. "Starfire," she began warily, "I was wondering…can I stay with you tonight?"
Starfire's eyes began to glow, "Like a party of slumber?" Raven nodded. "Oh, of course friend! We shall have glorious fun! We can have the girl talk, and do each others hair and," she trailed off, excitement shining from her eyes. Raven sighed. She was in for quite a night. "I shall make some popping corn, then we shall commence with the party!" she exclaimed as she flew off into the kitchen. In a few minutes she retuned carrying a huge bowl full of popcorn. She floated over in front of the couch. "Good night friend Cyborg," she smiled as she flew over to the boy wonder. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night Robin," she whispered.
"Good night Star," he said as he watched her fly out the door. "Have fun Raven," he interjected as Raven followed Starfire down the hall. Robin leaned over to Cyborg, "Why would Raven want to have a sleepover with Starfire? She hates doing girly stuff."
"I have no idea, man," Cyborg said, "but I guess that means you will be a little lonely tonight."
"Shut up, Cy," Robin said, hitting him over his head, "you know we haven't..." he trailed off.
"Dude, you need to chill," Cyborg said rubbing his head where a bruise was forming, "It was a joke."
Raven walked into Starfire's room and was amazed, again, at the amount of purple. Starfire took out some large, fluffly, purple, throw pillows and setteled them on her arge circluar bed. She sat on one side and put the popcorn in the middle. Raven drifted over and sat on the other side directly across from her. She used her magic to call over a throw pillow, and greatfully leaned against it. Starfire giggled, "Now, we shall begin the girl talk!"
Raven looked over at her. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could talk to her. Starfire might understand what was happening to her. She might understand her feelings towards Beast Boy... Her thinking stopped. She didn't have feelings for Beast Boy. She grabbed a handfull of popcorn, and settled in for a night of girl talk. "So," she started, "are you and Robin officially a couple?" She laughed a little at the small blush onStarfire'sface. Raven smiled an almost invisible smile, as she listend to the alien talk about the love she had found for the team leader. Yeah, maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.
Sorry, the chapter ended kind of abruptly. I promise there will be more girl talk in the next chapter. One thing I should clear up, in the last chapter Raven fought without her cloak on. I probably should have made that clearer, but Beast Boy took it off for her to go swimming, and put it back on gave it back to her later. Hope you like this chapter:)