Raven sat quietly as Beast Boy hurriedly reassured her that his last sentence came out wrong. That he was 'like, totally,' cool with their no emotions thing, and that he wasn't saying he wanted her to be his - that was just the weird intrusive 'thought-thingy' that would go through his mind anytime she wore his stuff. And that he knew it was all just a physical, hormonal, 'fuck-buddy' relationship that they had going on.
He then ended his tirade by grabbing Raven's left breast and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"See? This is all I want!"
Raven couldn't even manage to glare as she slapped his hand away. The whole conversation was just too ridiculous.
Beast Boy opened his mouth to continue, but thankfully the beeping of their communicators interrupted him.
Relief washing over her, Raven quickly snatched the device from her bedside table. She flipped it open, ignoring the way her teammate rested his head on her shoulder as they both read the message.
"Shit," they groaned in unison.
Every second Thursday of the month, Robin would force the team to hold a sort-of press conference in the park, updating the police force of the recent criminal activity while simultaneously reassuring the citizens that their city was in good hands.
And because Raven had been too preoccupied with dreading Friday, she had completely forgotten to be annoyed by this.
"Ugh, is Rob gonna make me wear a suit again?" Beast Boy whined, dramatically throwing himself back onto the empath's bed.
Raven closed her communicator and set it back on the table, before laying down beside him. "Not as long as you wear something half-way decent," she deadpanned, ignoring the way he began to tangle his fingers in her hair. "Though, I don't think you own anything that isn't torn or covered in pizza-stains. You truly are disgusting."
Beast Boy snorted in amusement. "That hasn't stopped you from wearing all my shit," he mumbled.
Raven elected to ignore him. Instead, she sat up from her bed, shooting the changeling a glare as he quickly untangled his hand from her hair. Summoning her cloak from its hanger beside the door, she wrapped it around her naked form, before making her way towards her closet.
"You should probably go get ready," she mused, her hand leisurely sifting through the few clothes she kept hung. "Otherwise Robin will pick out your outfit."
She listened as Beast Boy let out another groan. "Fine."
Raven stood beside Starfire as she combed through her damp hair, feeling all too refreshed after a quick shower - though she suspected the quickie with Beast Boy contributed to her relaxed feeling, as well.
Regardless, she was clean, centered, and sort of impressed with herself as she eyed her outfit once more. After always having to borrow something from Starfire to wear (and it was always pink - why was everything the girl owned pink?), Raven finally allowed the alien to take her shopping. And, in a small department store of her choice, the empath was able to buy a few key pieces that would abide by their leader's dress code, while also being something she liked.
Today's outfit was a simple navy-blue button up, with black leggings and black flats. It said, 'mature, demure, and understated' - or, at least, that's what Starfire had said. The redhead herself was sporting a bright, floral sundress with unbelievably tall wedges, though Raven doubted Starfire would be walking in them much. Meeting fans was always a most 'joyous' occasion for the alien, and she couldn't ever seem to keep her feet on the ground.
Raven, on the other hand, dreaded the civilian interactions. Her 'fans' were always creepy and sweaty. Plus, they only ever mumbled at her, or stared. She often found herself wishing she had Beast Boy's fans - cute kids who were too shy to say anything, but lit up with joy at just the sight of her. Though, the shapeshifter always put on a little show for the children, changing into dinosaurs and elephants and whatever their curious minds could come up with.
"May I do your makeup, friend?" Starfire asked suddenly, pulling the empath from her thoughts.
Raven blinked in confusion, letting her teammate's words sink in. "What? No," she quickly responded, shaking her head. The girl was relentless. "Tomorrow, Starfire."
The alien smiled knowingly. "Very well, Raven. Tomorrow."
"Alright, any questions?"
An avalanche of voices fell down upon the Titans as reporters and fans all attempted to get their attention. Raven stood farthest from the podium, her arms crossed over her stomach as her eyes squinted from the flashing lights of all the cameras.
Robin surveyed the crowd, before pointing at a female reporter dressed in a blinding-yellow blazer. "How about you start us off?"
The peroxide-blonde grinned. "Stacy Stephenson, JCTV News," she began, her voice vaguely familiar to Raven. "Should the recent escape of Cinderblock from Jump City Penitentiary be of any concern?"
Raven rolled her eyes. Duh, she thought bitterly.
Beast Boy apparently shared her mild annoyance as he scoffed incredulously. "Oh, big, hulking bad-guy made of literal cement? No, no reason to be alarmed," he muttered under his breath. Raven quickly elbowed him in the ribs, sending him an amused glare.
"Shut up, Beast Boy," she hissed, her eyes darting back towards the crowd as a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, he is known to be a repeat offender, so I would definitely be cautious," Robin answered, straightening his tie. "But his escape is being looked into."
"And he's kinda hard to miss," Cyborg interjected, leaning over Robin to reach the mic. "So, if any of y'all see him moseying down Main Street, feel free to call us," he added with a wink.
The crowd laughed at the robotic titan's joke, before the excited rumble of questions started back up. Gently pushing the two men out of her way, Starfire floated towards the mic, smiling brilliantly.
"Yes, you sir, with the most glorious mustache!" she beamed, pointing at an older gentleman with an impressive amount of hair on his upper lip. The man blushed at the alien's words, before clearing his throat.
"Yes, um, Mark Dwalls, Jump City Times," he announced, shuffling through a few papers in his hands. "My readers would like to know if you guys will again be hosting the annual charity ball?"
Starfire's smile faded slightly. "Oh, no. I am afraid we are not doing the hosting this year," she answered, her shoulder's drooping. "But we will be in attendance!"
"Unfortunately," Raven griped, earning a jab to her ribs as Beast Boy playfully elbowed her.
"Shut up, Raven," he mocked, his stupid smile making an appearance.
The press continued with their questions for another half an hour, each titan answering a few. Raven was relieved that they all stayed on the topic of crime - in the past, reporters would occasionally ask about their personal lives. And, well, Raven found it rather personal.
But as the questions came to a close, and a line began to form by the stairs to the stage, Raven's relief ebbed away. She surveyed the fans warily, seeing only two or three that she would politely avoid.
Security let up a small group of kids first, who excitedly sprinted towards Beast Boy and Starfire.
As the crowd thinned, so did Raven's patience. She had successfully dodged most of her fan boys, but was eventually cornered by a rather repulsive guy. He was slightly emaciated, with stringy hair and the smell of cigarettes clinging to his black trench coat. He was talking too low for her to hear him clearly, but she did catch a few words that made her skin crawl.
Luckily, Beast Boy's hearing was much better than hers, and he was able to discreetly alert Cyborg to the situation.
Raven almost smiled at the way the guy backed off once her brotherly titan stepped in. She gave Cyborg a grateful nod, before her eyes darted towards Beast Boy.
But, what she saw made her heart all but stop.
He was talking to a girl, about their age, with long, dirty blonde hair and glowing, tanned skin. She was the epitome of a California surfer chick, with a valley-girl accent and short-shorts.
"Aw, yeah - go BB!" Cyborg cheered quietly. Raven wasn't as thrilled.
But as she felt her powers pool in her fingertips, she slowly began to chant her new mantra. It wasn't like her and Beast Boy had agreed to be exclusive or anything - she just forgot that, well, she wasn't the only one who found him attractive. But as the girl continued to flirt, she could see the changeling slowly back away, shaking his head with a sympathetic smile.
The power slowly dissipated, though Raven wouldn't call the feeling that washed over her relief.
"What the hell?" Cyborg scoffed, loud enough to catch the attention of their green teammate as the blonde slunk away. "Are you crazy, man?" the robotic titan continued as Beast Boy made his way towards them.
But the changeling merely shrugged. "Not my type, dude," he answered simply, though his eyes avoided Raven's.
Again, it wasn't relief that she was feeling. It was merely... surprise.
"Uh, 'not your type'?" Cyborg repeated incredulously. "How is blonde, fit, and cute as hell not your type?"
Again, Beast Boy shrugged. "Eh, she wasn't that cute," he offered.
Cyborg continued to stare at him in disbelief, before shaking his head as he walked away. Beast Boy was still avoiding Raven's curious gaze, though she decided not to say anything. At least, not yet. She needed a little more time to sort through her thoughts.
Not his type, she mused to herself, before following after their teammate.
Getting lunch was almost instantly suggested as they piled into the T-car, and soon the titans found themselves at their favorite pizza joint. After putting in her order, Raven immediately sought out the shadiest spot on the patio, ignoring the sunny table Robin and Starfire were sat at.
Lowering herself onto the stiff, plastic chair, Raven quickly adjusted the umbrella with her powers, not allowing a single ray of sunshine to touch her skin. Mentally kicking herself for not bringing a book, she propped her elbows onto the table, resting her chin in her hands as she absently people-watched while mulling over her teammate's interaction with the cute fan. It wasn't until Beast Boy brought her their food that she snapped back to reality.
"Oh, thank you," she mused, pleasantly surprised as he plopped her plate down in front of her. A slice of cheese pizza, with a small side salad.
"Yep," Beast Boy grinned, before surprising her again as he sat himself next to her. She eyed him suspiciously as he took a bite of his veggie-lovers slice, again avoiding her stare.
Her eyes darting towards her other teammates, she watched as Starfire heaped a spoonful of mustard onto her own pizza, while Robin attempted not to gag and Cyborg shook his head, still sending Beast Boy the occasional disappointed look.
"Cy won't stop pestering me about the blonde," the changeling explained, obviously sensing Raven's confusion at their seating arrangement.
"Oh," she said simply, idly stabbing at her salad with a fork. "'Not your type', huh?" she mused after a moment.
Beast Boy let out another groan. "Ugh, really? I thought you of all people would let it be," he admitted, his voice playful, yet pleading.
Raven shrugged. "Honestly, I should be the one most concerned with it," she reasoned, still stabbing at her food. "What with... our thing."
The changeling nodded, only half-listening as he took another bite.
"I mean, I don't want to be the reason you're not dating anyone," she continued, her monotone barely above a whisper.
Beast Boy scoffed at her statement, slightly choking on his food. She watched as he swallowed it down, before finally gracing her with his full attention.
"I like what we have," he insisted, lowering his voice as well. "Like, I don't really want a girlfriend right now, and I definitely don't need one, either," he continued, his eyes darting around the patio as he leaned his head closer to hers. "I mean, shit, it's not like I'm not getting any."
He then placed his hand on her thigh, wiggling his eyebrows.
Raven rolled her eyes, putting a little distance between them as she brought her fork to her mouth. "You'd eventually 'get some' if you started dating a girl," she deadpanned, shoving a small bite of salad into her mouth as she shook away his hand.
Beast Boy chuckled at her phrasing, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, I'm not that patient," he admitted, tugging on the collar of his black dress shirt (courtesy of Robin, of course).
Raven swallowed her salad, giving her teammate a pointed look. "If you had a girlfriend, she'd probably kiss you."
Again, her teammate only laughed. "Isn't tomorrow Friday?" he teased, leaning towards her again. She was a little surprised he had even mentioned Friday - she had figured he would continue to avoid the topic. It was kind of... embarrassing, if she were to be honest.
But Raven kept her composure, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly. "Alright, let me rephrase that: she'd probably want to kiss you."
"Ouch," Beast Boy winced, though she could still hear the humor in his voice. They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate their lunch, both of them ignoring Cyborg's occasional huff of annoyance from two tables down.
"You know, Aqualad was thinking about asking you out," Beast Boy blurted suddenly, his eyes widening at the realization of what he had accidentally said. Raven soon wore a matching expression.
"What?" she asked, somewhat breathlessly.
Her teammate sunk into his seat, his eyes avoiding hers once more as he took a large gulp of soda.
"Uh, yeah..." he laughed after a few seconds, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Like, a few months ago, I think? He was on the rebound after that Atlantean chick dumped him, and kinda brought you up during one of our 'guy's nights'."
Raven waited for him to continue, feeling rather flattered. "Oh?"
Beast Boy let out a nervous chuckle, sinking further into his chair. "Yeah, he was all like 'what do you guys think of Raven?' and then, you know, we all unanimously agreed that you were smoking hot - except Cy - he was all 'nah, man, she's like my baby sister!' and then Robin was like 'she's basically my sister, too, but I can still admit she's a beautiful girl', but, Cyborg was just not having it."
Raven blushed slightly, surprised to hear the word 'beautiful' used to describe her yet again. What, she'd been called that three times now, in less than a week?
But Beast Boy continued, not noticing her flushed appearance. "And, well, anyways, when I got up to get another soda, Fishdude followed me and was all 'so, you and Raven seem to be pretty close'," he wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, though she merely arched hers, "and I'm like 'uh okay' and then he asked me if he should ask you out."
Raven's face adopted her preferred, neutral expression, waiting for Beast Boy to finish his story. But when he only popped the last bite of his pizza into his mouth, the empath let out an exasperated sigh.
"Well, what did you tell him?" she pressed.
A nervous smile tugged at Beast Boy's lips. "I, uh... I told him you were a lesbian."
Raven sat back in her chair, blinking slowly, before an amused scoff escaped her. "A lesbian?" she repeated.
Beast Boy at least had the decency to look ashamed. "I don't know, dude! I panicked!" he whispered, his voice rather shrill. "Like, it was right after we started messing around, and I didn't want Aquadude swooping in and wooing you!"
Raven shook her head fondly.
"And like, you're welcome, by the way!" he added, crossing his arms before him. "The guy smells like fish."
Raven could have laughed. "So? You smell like barnyard," she quipped.
Beast Boy huffed, crossing his arms before him. "Yeah, well, would you rather kiss a fish, or, like, a cute little lamb?"
But the empath could only shake her head, resisting the urge to smile. "Neither," she answered.
Beast Boy wasn't satisfied. "Aw, come on! Gun to your head: fish, or lamb?"
Raven's smirk broke through. "I'd take the bullet."
Her teammate let out another groan, clearly exasperated. "Ugh! Okay - gun to Starfire's head: fish or lamb?"
Rolling her eyes, Raven turned her attention back to her half-eaten lunch. Beast Boy was playing dirty.
"...Lamb," she answered eventually, her voice steady, but quiet.
Beast Boy had the sense not to gloat, though Raven could still see his signature, toothy grin from the corner of her eye.
Aaaaand another update because I have no life! Also, check out my new oneshot! That'd be sweet!