Author's Note: Here's the helping of BBRae I said about... drama ahoy though... pft, you didn't think I'd do fluff just yet, did you?
To (Guest - Fallynjo): Thank you so much, m'friend! And thanks again. Reviewers like you make up for it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Left.
Right.
Punch.
Dodge.
Monkey barrel.
Beast Boy gritted his teeth as he tapped the buttons of his game. He had been desperate for the new TX gaming device and ever since he got it, this level of Mega Monkeys: Tropical had him absolutely stumped.
With tongue and fang poking out in concentration, he smashed his thumb down on the attack button several times, praying the banana launches would have some effect. The blue monkey boss had him in a corner.
Like all the other times.
Beast Boy wasn't one to get too frustrated with a game so easily but this had him stuck for weeks now and he was losing the mission a lot. He frowned as the blue gorilla brought out a coconut bomb and grinned at his character.
Suppressing a yowl of vexation, Beast Boy squeezed his eyes shut and pulled a face at his device, shaking with comical rage. As the animated words, 'Game Over' popped up on screen, he noticed the flashing battery, signalling that it was almost out of juice.
With a sigh, he flipped the switch of the TX and dropped it to his chest, slipping his hands under his head.
He'd try to best the level again later.
Beast Boy stared up at the dark ceiling above and for the first time noticed the tiny crescent moons carved into the eggplant plaster. He quirked a smile and opened his mouth.
As he turned his head, he found himself shutting up.
His eyes skimmed over his girlfriend who was currently floating with her legs crossed at the end of her bed. He watched her, surprised at how still she remained during meditation.
He felt a thump from within his chest. It was strange to consider how they used to be and yet in such a short space of time, they had realised feelings and mutual likes and dislikes. It was somewhat unnerving.
Beast Boy blamed Robin and Starfire; spreading their feels all over the joint.
He inwardly chuckled. Beast Boy supposed, deep down, he had always known there was something there with Raven, even if it had taken a while to fully grasp. He would always choose to tease her the most. It was as if he enjoyed her getting pissed at him but it wasn't exactly the case.
In a strange way, he liked to get a reaction out of her because it meant she was conversing with him and he had her attention. It was the wrong type of attention of course but, it had led him to how they were today, after all. He must have done something right, considering she had reciprocated his feelings.
Still, the changeling couldn't help but find humour in how things had panned out so far. But, he liked knowing there was a hell of a lot of truth in the phrase 'opposites attract'.
There was something else that made him understand how deep his emotions ran when it came to Raven. The thump in his chest wasn't just a loving reaction.
It was the Beast.
Animal instinct was a humdinger of a trait. He couldn't explain it but he was fairly certain the Beast had chosen Raven a long time ago. Why else would he have manifested into that thing in order to protect Raven?
That was when he really had to consider what it was exactly that Raven meant to him. It had scared him a little as well, to be frank. He had gone to such extremes just to protect Raven. Sure, she was his friend and he'd do anything to protect his friends but... there was something innately different back when all that happened.
There was this primal feeling whenever he was around Raven; something inside of him that latched onto the idea that Raven was his and he understood what it was.
Imprinting was highly common within the animal kingdom so he guessed it wasn't much of a shocker that it would occur for him too, considering he could be every animal known to man in a single heartbeat.
Though, he liked the idea of that. He liked the idea of having someone he would always recognize as a true mate; not some other life form to literally mate with but someone who matched perfectly well with someone along the lines of emotions and trust.
Beast Boy smiled softly, deciding to let her continue in peace.
Chewing his lip, he glanced back up at the roof of Raven's room. They had plans to spend time together but the changeling had told Raven to continue with her meditation and that he would just quietly hang out for the time being.
But, now that his TX had died, boredom was setting in fast.
He took the chance to look around Raven's room. He could hear her quiet breathing in the background as his eyes drifted over all the different types of items in the dark room.
Against the walls were stacks and stacks of books. Shelves upon shelves were full of dust covered hardbacks. Beast Boy grinned.
She was very predictable. He would be more surprised if there were no books in Raven's room. At first glance, they all looked the same but he knew that there were all kinds residing on the bookcases.
Novels, poems, scripts, spell books, fiction and non-fiction.
She had a broad variety to say the least and that wasn't even counting the range of genres she had over there.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered if she had a comic or two. After all, who was to say he wasn't rubbing off on her?
Beast Boy gave into a light laugh, staying quiet enough not to cause Raven to stir.
He noticed the ancient looking props around her room too. There were old, delicate candles and relics from Ancient Azarath over by her window.
When he thought about it, he realised that Raven's room was pretty minimal. She didn't have half the kind of clutter that Beast Boy had in his own room.
You couldn't even see the floor of his room.
Beast Boy rapped his fingertips against his stomach and pouted his lips, trying to ignore the one thing in Raven's room was just a tad too creepy for his liking.
On the wall, she had a ghoul like statue hanging up that seemed to be glaring at him and had detailed eyes that had a watching effect. It was like the ghoul face was following him however and whichever way he turned.
Beast Boy glanced away from it, chewing his lip before caving and nervously looking back at it.
He sighed again before closing his eyes, planning to simply ignore it. After a mere second of fleeting imagination, he slowly peeked an eye open.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Sitting upright, he shivered, feeling Goosebumps rush over his arms. Practically all of the horror flicks he'd seen in the past had nothing on Raven's choice in decor.
Beast Boy exhaled, tilting his head from side to side, considering what else he could do to pass the time. He grinned, an idea hatching in his mind.
His eyes narrowed in on her book collection again. He would love to see Raven's face when she stopped meditating to catch him reading, of all things.
Truthfully, he enjoyed reading about spells and magic; not that he would tell her of course. It was too much fun to mess with her and let her believe he had absolutely no interest in reading.
As he shifted to get up from her bed, he felt his ankle knock against something hard underneath her bed.
Holding back an expletive at the jolt of pain, curiosity overtook him.
A mischievous expression filled his face and he cautiously looked over his shoulder at Raven. He knew she didn't like him to rummage through her stuff but he rationalised that she would never know.
If he could remain silent, he could be the master of stealth if only for a few minutes.
Beast Boy held his breath as he crouched down beside her bed and patted around, his hand slipping over something very cold.
Getting a grip of what seemed to be a storage box, he quietly yanked it out to get a better look at it.
The changeling raised an eyebrow as the object came into the light. It was a deep purple chest with dark edging and a pristine wood surface. He peered closer at it, noting the dust that had congregated atop of it, showing whatever was inside had not seen the light of day for some time.
Biting his lip and feeling the sweat on his brow, he reached for the clasps to open the thing up. He scrunched up his face in apprehension, believing there may be a spell or curse on the damn thing.
This was Raven, after all.
He shut his eyes tight as his fingers brushed them and he took the chance, flipping the clasps up.
Beast Boy held his breath before inwardly cheering at having opened the elusive chest.
Leaning over, he stared down into the box.
A book?
He frowned, feeling the excitement fade. All that was inside was a dusty, old book?
He narrowed his eyes at it, a feeling that the object was familiar.
Beast Boy reached inside and opened the book, flipping the pages and scanning the words to get an idea of where he'd seen it before.
Suddenly, realisation hit him like a ton of bricks as the words filtered through from the pages to his brain.
No, a name was what jumped off the paper at him just before a paper rose fell from inside.
Malchior.
Beast Boy felt odd. It was truly strange.
His emotions became stronger and something deep inside of him seemed to twist and shift. His heartbeat and his pulse increased rapidly.
Soon, the curious and playful expression on his face melted away and was replaced with something else entirely.
Beast Boy couldn't understand. That was years ago; what happened with Malchior. That monster had hurt her in a way she had never been hurt before. He used her like she was nothing. Why on Earth would she want to keep a reminder of Malchior?
Did she still look back on it and wish things had turned out differently? Did she wish he was more like Malchior before she learned the truth about his intentions?
Was he not enough to make her completely forget about Malchior?
Anger began to bubble up inside of him; unwanted and completely unexpected. But, it was there.
And it wasn't going anywhere for a while.
Something was clawing away at him and Beast Boy was trying desperately to cling to calm and happy thoughts, feeling insecure over getting angry about something like this.
His skin was getting hotter and he felt the grinding sensation as he gritted his teeth, his breathing becoming deep and intensified.
Something fierce and territorial was building quickly in his chest. He felt his hands trembling as rage started to consume him. He knew it was an animal thing.
Raven was essentially his and nobody else's and this... it felt like some kind of challenge or misguided joke.
And she had hid the fact she kept the book and rose?
He heard a light exhale of breath and a tap as Raven's feet touched the ground again. His back was still facing her but he knew the minute she spoke, that shifting inside of him was cracking.
"Beast Boy?" She commented, softly, "I've finished with meditation... what did you feel like doing?"
He didn't reply. He didn't trust himself.
"Hello? Earth to pinhead?" He could practically feel her rolling her eyes, "What're you even doing?"
Beast Boy stood up and spun around to face her so quickly that Raven physically jumped back, the intensity of his expression a shock to her system.
"Why do you still have this?" He snarled, something else taking the reins,
Many emotions flitted across Raven's face in the space of a second. She blinked at him, confused and surprised by this behaviour he appeared to be showing.
Then, her emotions led to one that was all too familiar.
She narrowed her eyes, "What are you doing with that?"
"Answer my question. Why do you have it?"
She curled her lip in displeasure, "That is none of your business. How dare you go through my stuff. You know how I feel about my privacy."
He took several deep breaths and Raven felt a little concerned and a little fearful,
"I said... why?" He repeated, in a low, dark voice,
She watched him, "And... I said, it's none of your business."
"Yes it is! I'm your boyfriend!"
"That doesn't entitle you to snoop through my things, Beast Boy. You don't own me."
"Yes I do!" He roared, baring his fangs and stepping closer to her.
Raven flinched, more worried than scared. This wasn't like him at all.
He growled and shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts and failing.
Whilst distracted, Raven slipped the book from his grasp and set it down on the bed, taking the moment to read his emotions. They were going haywire. Anger and frustration and pure negativity were coursing through him. There was no happy and no calm anywhere to be seen.
She decided to keep her cool and react rationally. One of them had to at least, especially with what she was reading from him. It was extremely disconcerting.
"Why do you have it!?" He yelled, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides now that the book wasn't there.
Raven swallowed the lump in her throat, hoping she could alleviate whatever this was.
"I don't have to answer that. I don't have to explain why I have certain things from my past." She replied in an even tone.
His eyes flared with indignation, "He broke your heart, Raven! Why would you ever keep something of that asshole!?"
"It reminds me of a time that made me stronger as a person, in the end-"
He sneered, "Bullshit! You don't have anything else like that around here and there's plenty of things that have happened to you that have made you a stronger person! Why this!?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, "Why are you acting like this!?"
Beast Boy looked lost for a moment, not having an answer prepared, "B-Because... do you wish I was more like him!?"
Raven blanched, "What?"
"You heard me."
She rolled her eyes, wondering if the attitude was coming from something stupid, "You're being ridiculous."
He stepped up to her so much that they stood nose to nose, "You're not denying it."
Raven's eyes trailed over him, convinced this was something beyond petty reasons and insecurities.
"You won't hurt me." She breathed, certain of that at least.
His eyes darkened and he huffed, brushing past her and causing her to stumble back ever so slightly.
"Beast Boy-"
"I don't understand why you would keep something from someone who betrayed your trust like he did!"
Raven felt an involuntary thud in her chest and couldn't stop herself from biting. If he was going to throw something like that in her face, she could throw it right back at him.
"Oh?" She said, coldly, "Like Terra did?"
He bristled and his eyes slowly found her face, "What're you talking about?"
"Do you still have the heart shaped box you made for her?"
"What?"
Her expression darkened, "Don't pretend you didn't hear me." She paused, "Do you have it?"
"That isn't the point!"
Raven shook her head, "So, it's one rule for me but another for you?"
"That isn't what I'm saying! Don't put words in my mouth, Raven!" He shouted, heaving in breaths and pacing in front of her door.
The empath felt the reeling emotions pouring from her boyfriend and felt the anger distinguish again. She couldn't put her finger on it; why was he getting so angry?
He would never get like this usually. He would normally query it and probably follow it up with a poorly executed joke that Raven would try to ignore.
This reaction was not him in the slightest.
She took a single step forward, her tone calm, "Beast Boy... you need to calm down, alright? You can't think there's a difference in what Malchior did and what Terra did because... there isn't."
The thing had him like a puppet and the restraint he had been holding onto completely and irreversibly snapped like a fragile piece of string.
"Yes it is. Terra at least had feelings for me to begin with and before she betrayed us. Malchior never cared about you. He used you like a pawn and you were too stupid to see that he did it."
Raven felt very empty and cold in an instant. Those words struck her more than a physical blow from him ever would. Words were like knives; weapons that you couldn't even shield yourself from.
She felt emotion build up but forced herself to believe this wasn't Beast Boy. Something was wrong with him. There had to be a reason.
He would never say that to her.
But, none of that stopped her from recoiling back like he had indeed hit her.
Raven swallowed the lump in her throat, determined to let her own emotions wait.
Suddenly, Beast Boy released a deep throated snarl with a hint of pain. He groaned and pressed his palms to his temples, as if trying to the block out whatever was causing this.
The sorceress cautiously stepped closer, reaching a hesitant hand out and against his shoulder,
"Beast Boy-"
He growled and tore away from her, like her touch had burned him. He bared his teeth as he panted, something indescribable in his forest green eyes.
"Don't touch me!" He shouted before moaning again, "Stay... away..."
Raven felt for her communicator, only to realise it wasn't on her person. She blinked, her eyes concerned and compassionate. Her heart was thudding in her chest, bewildered over what was happening to the most happy-go-lucky person she knew besides Starfire.
"Can't... be around you." He hissed, before stomping towards her door and throwing it open and marching through it in fury.
As her door whooshed shut, she deeply exhaled, letting it all rush out like she'd been holding it the entire time. She rested a hand against her chest and felt her heart bounce around her ribcage.
That was so out of the ordinary. Beast Boy hardly ever got angry, like ever.
And especially never like that.
What had happened?
Bam.
Smack.
Grunt.
Beast Boy growled, low in his throat as the punching bag violently swung back and forth. He stared at the thing with daggers, a part of him wanting to tear it to pieces with his teeth.
He morphed from a bear into a gorilla, throwing more strength into his punches than he had been, his knuckles becoming bruised and bloody.
Gritting his teeth so hard that they were scraping against each other, he felt one of them crack.
With another yowl, he slammed his fist into the bag, breaking the skin a little more.
He felt the anger coursing through him. The logical part of his brain had whispered to him; to go to the gym and work through this random mood swing.
However, whenever his thoughts drifted back, he felt his blood boil and another right hook erupted from him.
Beast Boy puffed, his shoulders rising and falling at an alarming rate, even as he reverted to his human form once more.
"Whoa, what'd the bag do to you, B?" a voice chuckled,
The changeling felt vibrations in his chest as Cyborg wandered into the gym.
He squeezed his eyes shut, "Don't. Not in the mood."
Cyborg rolled his eye and continued to approach him, "Pft, what, Raven catch your tail in a book or something-"
Beast Boy bellowed out a deep throated roar, bringing his arm all the way back just to smash it against the punching bag so hard the chains pulled before snapping completely, the bag flying across the room and slumping over at the wall.
His breathing was haggard and he felt control slipping through his fingers like sand.
Cyborg furrowed his eyebrows, "Man, what-"
With a grunt, Beast Boy staggered forward, desperately clutching at his head and whimpering.
Suddenly, the changeling found himself morphing into something else completely.
His fur grew and his size increased tenfold, his fangs turning to tusks of sorts.
Cyborg could only watch in shock as Beast Boy's form changed into the one they never thought they'd have to see again or at least not under the same, emotion based circumstances.
The Beast.
The cybernetic man stared up at his best friend with wide eyes, barely able to move. They had stemmed this. It had been under control.
Hadn't it?
Beast Boy sneered and turned to face Cyborg, narrowing his eyes at his prey.
"BB... c'mon... listen to me... I ain't fightin' you man!"
He bared his teeth and jolted, taking a swipe at Cyborg who managed to jump back just in time.
"B! Beast Boy!" Cyborg shouted, hoping to get through to him, "Gar!"
He broke into a sprint with Cyborg reluctantly raising his sonic cannon to his best friend,
"C'mon, BB! Don't make me-"
He was cut off as Beast Boy swiped at his head, scraping the metal of the walls whilst Cyborg rolled out of the way.
Cyborg gritted his teeth as he got to his feet once more,
"If this is what I gotta do to snap you out of this..."
Taking a breath, he lifted his arm, aiming his sonic cannon expertly this time. His trajectory was steady and at the ready.
"I just hope you don't have bruises after, man."
With that, he fired the shot at his best friend.
Author's Note: Something's wrong with our favourite jokester...
I know the term is supposedly "Drywall" in America but I used plaster because the former just didn't sound right when talking about a ceiling. I don't know. Americans, explain it to me.
It was funny actually; I went back and watched a scene from Fear Itself because it shows Raven's room off when she wakes up from the lightening. Did well to aid me in accurately referencing and detailing Raven's room. Good job, Teen Titans.