Hello readers!
I know, I know it's been too long, but I haven't forgotten about this story! Feel free to re-read the past few chapters to refresh yourself on the story. Thankfully they are pretty short.
On with the show! Hope you enjoy.
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Disclaimer: I'm sure there is some sort of alternate universe where I own the Teen Titans...this is not one of them
Chapter 7
It had been one week. One week since the night that Raven decided to trust me enough to let me take her to an island far away to watch the shooting stars.
There was a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts I had to process to make sense of the recent events.
I decided to start off small. I couldn't help Raven with whatever inner turmoil she faced, but I could at least help her complete the latest addition to her bucket list: getting to know me better.
It was a lot harder than it sounded. My past is hard to bring up, difficult to even get myself to accept. The only two people who truly knew about my past were my adoptive parents Rita and Steve, but I hardly think that counts since Mento is literally a mind reader. I've never had to bare my heart open to someone and the fact that I was considering it now…it scared me.
I guess this is how Raven must feel when I pry.
I don't think I have a choice though, and really, I don't have anything to fear. I trust Raven more than anyone. If anyone knows about the importance of secrets it's her. Besides, I was doing this to help with whatever trouble she was in. Baring my soul to her is worth it. Everything is worth it for Raven.
I decided to do it as soon as possible, and now was the perfect time to do it. Cyborg had gone off to some sort of advanced engineering convention, Robin was off patrolling, and Starfire decided that today was the perfect day for a shopping spree. Raven and I rarely had the tower to ourselves, and I decided to make the most of it.
I ran to the kitchen and prepared her a cup of her favorite, and slowly made my way to her room.
"Hey Raven? You there?" I asked nervously. My hands were trembling slightly, sloshing the tea around in its mug.
The door opened immediately and there stood Raven. Her normally calculating eyes brightened ever so slightly at the sight of me, and I tried hard not to blush and forget why I was here in the first place.
"I—uh I made some tea."
She raised her eyebrow curiously, probably wondering why I was here.
"Thanks," she muttered quietly, before taking the mug from my hands.
She must have sensed my nervousness. "Beast boy are you okay?"
"Well actually, I was trying to—well umm, you see I thought it would be good to…umm well…"
I was not off to a good start.
Raven sighed, annoyed, with my ramblings, "Just spit it out Beast Boy."
"Can I come in?"
She stared at me for a few seconds looking me up and down questioningly. My heart thudded loudly, hoping that the past few days of trusting each other were enough for her to hear my out.
Finally, she nodded and moved over to let me pass. Breathing a sigh of relief, I made my way to her bed, noticing her journal and a pen propped up against one of her big blue pillows.
"Writing some more things in there?" I asked, smiling at her.
"I'm trying to fit them all in a schedule. I think I wrote too many things."
"Too many things in a bucket list? Nonsense! You have a lifetime to finish them all, Raven. Besides, you have me to help you!"
She did not look convinced, and instead rolled her eyes before sitting on the bed next to me.
"It doesn't matter, some of them were pretty pointless anyway," said quietly, frowning down at her journal.
It wasn't until those words that I sensed her troubled mood.
"Hey, look at me," I told her, gently lifting her face up to meet mine. "The things you want to do aren't stupid. Actually, I think it's really cool for you to want to try so many new things."
I didn't expect Raven's powers to slowly leak out of her and cover small objects in her room causing soundless miniature explosions around us. I didn't expect that same power to cover her bucket list journal, and burst it into a million tiny shreds of paper. And I certainly did not expect for her usually blank and hard eyes, to begin to glisten with soft tears.
I immediately went into panic mode. Did I say something wrong? Was she okay?
I had only seen Raven cry once in my entire life, and that was because a bloodthirsty dragon shattered her heart. As far as I could tell, there was no reason for her to be crying right now, but it definitely meant there was something seriously wrong.
"Woah Raven! What's wrong?"
My usual carefulness around Raven went right own the window and I did the only thing I could think to do to calm her down: I grabbed her by the shoulders, and held her tightly against me, letting her silently sob into my shoulder.
If you had told me that today I would be lying on Raven's bed, with her curled up next me while I comforted her between soft tears I would have told you that you were insane. Yet somehow, here I was, holding my beautiful, scary, mysterious, and suddenly vulnerable friend Raven in my arms. Not that I was complaining…but what the hell was going on?
She only cried for about fifteen minutes, muttering nonsense like "I tried to make it right" and "I just wanted to feel normal" and "I wish luck existed." I said nothing but continued to hold her.
It was another thirty minutes before her breathing slowed back to normal and I could feel she had calmed back to her usual self. She held on to me the entire time, eventually laying her head on my chest and wrapping her shaky nervous arms around me. Still I said nothing, but I softly began running my fingers through her dark hair, amazed and confused about what had just happened.
It was another twenty minutes before she spoke. "I'm sorry for that."
I only chuckled softly "Raven you don't have to apologize for crying. Besides, I'm perfectly happy being here for you whenever you need me. We're friends, remember?"
"Why are you here, anyway?"
"Well actually I came to help you cross out another item from your bucket list."
"It doesn't matter anymore. It's ruined," she grabbed a handful of the shredded paper and threw it in the air like confetti."
"Come on Raven, just because it's not down on paper anymore, doesn't mean it's any less important. Besides I came to talk to you about my past. You said you wanted to know more about me."
"Your past? Beast boy I really appreciate it, but you don't have to-"
I cut her off before she could finish, "I want to."
She was quiet for a few seconds and she began getting up, off my chest and out of my arms. I held her tightly, unwilling to let her go. She looked at me curiously, and I looked back at her, my eyes pleading.
She must have understood; she is an empath after all. It was her turn to comfort me.
She put her head back on my chest, her hair tickling my nose slightly, and she held me close.
"I guess I've never told anyone my story. I don't like to talk about it, but I want to tell you."
"I was born in Africa as Garfield Mark Logan…"
It was easier telling Raven my story than I expected. Her slow, steady breathing comforted me. Her thin fingers began tracing invisible patterns on my chest, calming me.
When I finished my story we both remained silent.
Just two vulnerable, scared kids, with horrible pasts, holding on to each other like it was the end of the world.
Eventually the soft voices of our teammates could be heard around the tower, they must have all gotten back.
It was time for Raven and I to leave our little bubble of safety. We both stood up off the bed and walked side by side to the door. Whatever apprehension we held towards each other in the past was completely gone. Our relationship wouldn't be the same again, and some how I knew she knew that. I guess that's what happens when two people become comfortable enough to be completely vulnerable with one another.
The soft hiss of the automatic door sounded as it opened in front of. We looked at each other for a second; one long second of complete trust and understanding, and then I left, feeling more at peace that I had in a very long time, thinking that everything was going to be okay.
I didn't know how wrong I was.
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That's it for this chapter. Only about one or two more to go before the end.
Please read and review, I hope you enjoyed!
