Smile

It was a fairly average day for the residents of Jump City's Titans Tower. The morning had brought a light sprinkling of crime, just enough for the five teens to break a sweat. Naturally, the villains were apprehended successfully.

Lunchtime found them having a congratulatory meal at their favorite pizza restaurant. Of course, no meal with the Titans was complete without an argument over appropriate toppings.

Now late afternoon, the superheroes were all engaged in their customary activities. Such a good, albeit ordinary, day left them all feeling quite content.

Cyborg was lovingly upgrading various speakers in the T-Car, relaxing after what he felt had been a productive day kicking butt and taking names.

Robin was working, as he was the most responsible – which consequently also made him the most uptight. Truthfully, he was diligently attempting to work, but was finding it impossible to think clearly thanks to the alien beauty who had graciously volunteered to help him.

Beast Boy was enthusiastically playing the Game Station, bouncing on the couch with every shot he fired at the army of zombies. Surprisingly, this behavior had not earned him a reprimand from the sofa's other occupant – a quietly reading Raven.

Everyone knew Raven always read, so no one bothered to give her a second glance. If they had, they would have realized her eyes were not moving and she was not her usual calm self.

Something important must be on her mind, if it was enough to distract her from reading. She was indeed thinking, and attempting to convince herself to speak of these thoughts to the changeling.

"Beast Boy?" she asked suddenly, her tone slightly annoyed, though she hadn't meant for it to be. He paused the game quickly, expecting a not-so-polite request to either sit still or shut up.

"Yeah?" He asked, turning to face her cautiously. She had such an odd mixture of scents coming from her, it was impossible for him to tell if she was angry or not. He watched curiously as she closed her book with a snap and met his eyes determinedly.

"Beast Boy, I don't know what to get you for your birthday," she stated, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. He certainly wouldn't have guessed that's what she would say.

"So could you please just tell me something you want, and I'll get it? And don't give me any of the 'it's the thought that counts' nonsense," she finished, crossing her arms as if daring him to argue with her.

"But it is the thought that counts, Raven!"

"Not to me," she answered shortly. Beast Boy frowned at her lack of sentimentality.

Before he could argue with her further, an idea popped into his head. He could definitely think of something he wanted from her. Although it was true that he would honestly love any gift from her.

"Actually, there is something," he began with a smile. "Do you remember the first time we met?" She raised an eyebrow at his unusual and seemingly unrelated question.

"Yeah, so?" she said flatly, shrugging slightly.

"What I want for my birthday is the same thing you gave me then," he said happily. Raven stared at him blankly, not following his thinking at all. He was always so hard for her to understand.

"Uh…"

"A smile, Raven," Beast Boy said quietly with a small smile of his own. Her eyes widened, and Beast Boy could smell her embarrassment.

"That's it?" she questioned hesitantly. He nodded encouragingly at her. She rolled her eyes, hoping to distract him from the blush she felt on her cheeks.

Beast Boy prayed she would agree. After all, he had picked something that didn't have to be bought at a crowded store. He knew she wasn't fond of those.

He couldn't think of anything else that he would rather receive from her. He loved it when she smiled. It was soft, gentle, cautious – characteristics normally never attributed to her.

After a moment, she seemed to accept his request and gave him what she thought was a genuine smile. It was so rare for her to truly smile, she wasn't entirely sure what it was supposed to feel like.

Apparently, she had gotten it right, because Beast Boy's face lit up with a splitting grin.

"Thanks, Raven," he said sweetly, watching as she blushed even more under his stare.

"You're an idiot," she murmured, hiding back behind her book as she heard him chuckle.

XXXXXXXX

I love having Gar embarrass Raven – so cute.