9. Cat

It was hot.

So damn hot.

A battle from last night had knocked out the tower's electricity. Their backup generators worked, sure, but they were designed to power the most essential items first, for example, security, and the air condition apparently didn't fall into that category.

That's how Beast Boy found himself curled under the shadows of the common room couch. It was cooler down there and the relentless warmth in the air was steadily putting him to sleep. His little cat ears twitched at the sound of the common room doors sliding open. He heard no footsteps so came to the only logical conclusion. It was either Starfire or Raven. He shifted his tiny cat body still in the throes of sleep, absolutely refusing to leave the pleasant coolness beneath the couch.

The sound of the television made him lean towards the idea of Starfire more. He opened his eyes just the slightest and was surprised to see two sets of feet settle on the floor in front of the couch, grey and orange. Beast Boy found himself moving, slinking quietly against the floor, hidden from view, before settling behind Raven's bare legs and closing his eyes to sleep.

The sound of the television was nothing but muffled background noise as he drifted in and out of sleep. Eventually the conversation between the two Titan girls started to make sense to his half asleep self.

"Star, why are you hovering an inch above the couch?" Raven was saying.

"Ah, well you see, I find that when it's hot my skin tends to stick to the seats," Starfire said matter of fact. "It is quite uncomfortable."

There was silence for a while as Beast Boy assumed Raven mulled this over. "Happens to me too."

"Sincerely?" Starfire said and Beast Boy's eyes fluttered open just the slightest when he felt the air shift. Starfire must have leaned towards the purple haired girl. "I was not sure if it was due to a quirk with my skin or-"

"No, it makes sense," Raven said. Beast Boy's slit cat eyes watched long grey legs cross themselves before shutting them again, trying to find sleep once more. This conversation wasn't enough to keep his interest.

"It must be worse for you, friend Raven!" Starfire's voice floated down to him. "You have much more skin of your lower limbs exposed than I do."

"Sometimes I'll just sit on my cloak," Raven admitted and with that Beast Boy lost himself to dreamland.

.

The next time he awoke he was pretty sure he almost died. He yowled loudly, scattering across the floor as it felt like the ceiling was about to fall on him.

"What the-" Cyborg's voice boomed as the cybernetic teen got up from his place on the couch to peer down below. A green cat stared back at him from the darkness, fur standing up straight, eyes dark. "B, what the hell are you doing down there?" The cat just cried angrily before curling back up, staring at him with lazy but suspicious eyes. Cyborg understood. "Sorry, I've been working on the electricity. It should be up and running soon. Just taking a break."

Beast Boy yawned.

"Well, you know you could help me. It would be faster," Cyborg said with a snort, still on his hands and knees as he conversed with his changeling friend. Cat Beast Boy just blinked. "Yeah, you're right. You'd just mess things up." Beast Boy hissed, swiping at him with sheathed claws. Cyborg laughed. "Remember the time you tried to put me back together and made a cyborg chicken?"

It seemed as though the cat was thinking and then it huffed and began to groom himself.

"Stop that, you'll get a hairball," Cyborg chastised.

"Cyborg, are you talking to the floor?"

Beast Boy's cat ears perked up as Robin walked into the common room.

"Nah, just B. He sought haven from the heat under the couch."

Soon enough masked eyes appeared beside Cyborgs.

Robin nodded in approval. "Smart."

Beast Boy meowed.

"How'd you find him?" Robin asked. He knew that sometimes if Beast Boy didn't want to be found, he wouldn't be. The boy could turn into any animal. He was probably one of the most versatile when it came to ability than all of them.

"I almost crushed him," Cyborg stated candidly.

"What?" Robin exclaimed, looking at the oldest Titan.

"I'm a big guy!" Cyborg defended. "I sat on the couch and it just caved a bit under my weight, okay, jeez. Don't shame me."

If a cat could snort Beast Boy definitely did.

"I think he's been sleeping under here all day," Cyborg said, watching as the cat closed his eyes once more.

"He has."

Beast Boy's eyes opened again at the latest voice, his nose twitching as he took in the new scent. Now purple eyes appeared in the middle as Raven bent down between the other two boys.

Beast Boy mewled softly, raising his head in interest.

"And how'd you find out?" Robin asked. "You felt his emotions?"

Raven shook her head. "He was sleeping. And he's a cat. His emotions were rudimentary at best."

Beast Boy meowed indignantly.

"Starfire turned off the television when she had left," Raven continued, undeterred. "And after a couple minutes of silence I heard…well, purring."

The cat Beast Boy whined as if embarrassed.

"Oh please tell me he was curled up by your feet," Cyborg started eagerly, a mischievous grin slowly taking over his face.

"Shut up," Raven said, stretching out her hand toward the edge of the couches shadows. Immediately Beast Boy stood and padded his way over to her. After she had a good hold under his belly she lifted him up and let him settle against her chest. "I'll be in my room. Fix this air condition. Please."

Beast Boy purred as she walked out of the common room, her fingers gently stroking the fur on his head.

Now, Beast Boy always ran a few degrees hotter than most humans because of his incredible metabolism and in this moment he was really glad Raven ran a few degrees cooler. He tilted his head up and dared to briefly run his tongue along the underside of the empaths chin.

She glanced down at him.

"Don't push it."

Beast Boy's purr merely intensified.


Author's Notes:

This takes place pre relationship but post confession. (Beast Boy's confession).

I don't know about you guys but there's been a heatwave lingering where I live the past few days and that's what inspired this silly but fun little one-shot. I was really feeling Cyborg having a one sided conversation with cat Beast Boy lol. I hope you guys like it!

I'm thinking about a more serious one-shot next called Stubborn. You know the drill! Please review and I'll get it out ASAP.