They had only been a team for four weeks-four weeks of living with these...otherwise insufferable people that had somehow claimed Raven as one of their own-and the most annoying one, that Beast Boy, had already fallen in love. If not for her empathic powers, Raven probably wouldn't have been able to notice how much he secretly cared for the alien girl. His affection was unmistakable, though-nothing tasted quite like love did; kind of like pure bleach-and when Raven did manage to observe her teammates interactions, small details became crystal clear. Whenever Beast Boy would jump to get the alien something before she even finished her sentence, or how he tried desperately to look older and more mature than fourteen when she was around.
It was funny; Beast Boy was good at burying his feelings. Raven was sure that she was the only one aware of his crush, and she kept that to herself. In fact, Raven was suprised that Beast Boy, who was normally so hyper and happy and annoying, was so good at pretending not to feel anything towards Starfire.
Or towards Robin. It was apparent that Starfire enjoyed Robins' company more so than any of the other Titans; and the feeling was mutual. Raven could tell for herself, but one didn't need to be an empath to see that. Beast Boy certainly could. And he absolutely hated it, hated being carelessly tossed aside when their team leader entered the room, hated how Starfire thought Robin was sweet and caring and kind and funny, hated how Robin was taller and stronger and two years older than he was.
Yet, for some strange reason, he did not hate Robin himself. Raven was perplexed by this, but again, she kept this to herself-she was pretty sure the team didn't even know she could taste emotions. Which was, possibly, for the best.
Yes, Beast Boy resented the attention Starfire showered Robin with, and he grew jealous of the leader as well. But he laughed along with the best of them, pretended that all was well, when really, he was simmering with envy. He would sulk whenever he had the chance to be alone, but as soon as another Titan came by, he would switch his emotions at an almost bipolar speed. He was good at lying, good at looking like he didn't care at all. But it was eating him up inside, and Raven knew it. And she couldn't get involved.
No one knew, not even Beast Boy, that she was monitoring his emotions constantly out of pure curiosity. He was such an interesting specimen, always feeling this, and hiding that, and acting such and such. Amusing was too cruel of a word to describe why Raven was paying such close attention to him, but it was the only thing that could convey her sudden interest.
She would keep an eye on him, see what might come of all this. But no matter what, she reminded herself, she could not get involved.
No matter how emotionally desperate he became, no matter how cruel it was not to influence his feelings without him knowing, she could not put herself in the midst of this...strange, one-sided attraction.
Only pain would become of it.