AN: Second installment today, thanks a lot for all the reviews. Finally a longer chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans
The restrictions created by your subconscious are not to be underestimated.
"When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you."
Chapter 14 – Crushed
As usual, Raven had woken up at the crack dawn. No nightmares had plagued her sleep, no dreams flitted through her mind. Raven was extremely thankful for her undisturbed night. The sun was shallow in the sky, sending pink and orange light over the city, which clung against the surface of the clouds. Yawning, Raven stepped out of her bed, landing her bare feet of the cold floor of her room. She wasn't sure whether to go out into the common room as she usually did. She had little doubt that Beast Boy would confront her when they were alone. And still, seeing him would not relax her mind. She wasn't sure what to do with Beast Boy, she knew he would persist until she admitted something. Perhaps she should have a light conversation about the matter, to resolve it. Though last time she had tried to do that, her plan had ended in total failure, she thought to herself. Raven shook her head, annoyed at the position Beast Boy had pushed her into. She walked away from the door, deciding against joining the other Titans in the common room.
Strangely, Beast Boy had woken up only a few minutes after the sun had raised its head over the horizon. He had had a restless night, unable to get his and Raven's argument out of his head. He was horrible at putting things out of his mind. He stepped out of his bed tiredly, walking out into the common room, hoping that Raven was there. He really needed to talk to her, he still hadn't gained a straight answer from her. She had said that their near kiss had been a mistake, and seemed happy to leave it at that. Beast Boy couldn't understand how she could. Why did Raven have to be so secretive and hidden, what was so hard about giving a straight answer, thought Beast Boy vexingly. He looked around the common room. Raven was nowhere in sight. Maybe she was avoiding him, he thought. With a great sigh, Beast Boy collapsed onto the couch, gazing out of the window at the sun slowly illuminating Jump City.
The door to Robin's room slid open and the leader of the Titan's stepped into the common room, taking a quick glance around.
"Good Morning Beast Boy" said Robin, slightly startled at his presence.
"Hey" muttered Beast Boy, without turning around.
"You're up early" replied Robin.
"I had trouble sleeping" said Beast Boy despondently.
"Because of your argument with Raven?" inquired Robin curiously.
Beast Boy turned around, glancing at Robin, his mouth rigid.
"What happened last night?" asked Robin.
"Raven and I argued" answered Beast Boy.
"Evidently, but what did you argue about? Did you tell her about… your feelings for her?" questioned Robin, sitting beside the green changeling.
"No" muttered Beast Boy bluntly.
Robin remained silent, looking at Beast Boy expectantly. After a wordless moment Beast Boy spoke.
"It's a long story, don't ask" sighed Beast Boy.
Robin nodded his head, knowing better than to push Beast Boy. If he did persevere, he knew Beast Boy would easily out-persist him.
"Well a few words of advice. You have to be patient around Raven, don't go confronting her after an argument" piped up Robin, trying to help his companion.
Beast Boy merely grunted, still watching the slow and steady movement of the sun. The doors to the common room slithered open, revealing a cheery Starfire.
"Morning of goodness friends!" Starfire cried jovially.
"Morning Star" replied Robin enthusiastically a smile curving across his mouth. Robin proceeded to make breakfast for his fellow Titans. Starfire chattered brightly with Robin, the two standing next to each other beside the stove. Beast Boy smelt the wafting scent of pancakes. Getting up from the couch, Beast Boy headed for the doors, to leave the cheery couple to themselves. He walked solemnly out of the common room, without Robin or Starfire even noticing. Beast Boy had no doubt that Raven was awake, there had never been a time where she had woken up past the sunrise. He still could barely believe that he had nearly kissed Raven. He had nearly kissed those delicate lips. And Raven hadn't pushed him away. Beast Boy sighed to himself, could it be possible they could ever be together? He pushed the thoughts out of his head, Raven would never hook up with him, one could only hope. He looked up, finding himself in front of Raven's door, wondering why his legs had automatically taken him outside of her room. Without thinking, Beast Boy knocked on her door, unsure what he would do when or if it opened.
Raven heard the soft tapping at her door and she stood up, hoping that she would night find a green boy standing outside of her door. She slid her door open to a mere crack, seeing the torment of her mind standing in front of her.
"What do you want?" muttered Raven.
Beast Boy felt the soft wings of butterflies fluttering within his stomach upon seeing Raven, the object of all his thoughts and fantasies.
"Uh… Would you like to come out? Breakfast is nearly ready" answered Beast Boy, recovering from the feeling of euphoria that had swept by him when he had heard her voice.
"No… thanks, I'm not hungry" replied Raven softly, relieved that Beast Boy hadn't confronted her about why she had leant into their almost-kiss.
"Oh… that's cool" murmured Beast Boy. His green eyes were gazing into Raven's violet ones. He had always thought that her eyes were one of her most stunning features. In the dark they were filled with dark violet. Midnight blue weaved through the layers of purple, as if the very night had been sown into her eyes.
"I'm going back inside now…" said Raven quietly, cracking the silence.
"Alright" breathed Beast Boy.
Raven stepped slowly into her room, closing the door behind her. It had been a civil chat, and thank Azar that it hadn't progressed into conflict. She had been staring into his green eyes, which seemed to glow with their own radiance. She never had really observed his physical appearance much, but she noticed how Beast Boy had become more muscular than she had previously remembered. He looked… good. Did you just say that, Raven thought to herself. She had no idea where the thought had come from. But she had to admit it, he did look good. Raven couldn't believe she was thinking about like this. Maybe she did have feelings for him, she thought. She shook her head. It just didn't make sense, how could she possibly fall for Beast Boy. He annoyed her to no end, and they were just so… different. Raven palmed her head. Why was she wondering whether she had feelings for Beast Boy? She couldn't have feelings, and especially not for Beast Boy. Breathing out softly, she sat on her bed, wondering whether Beast Boy would ever leave her head.
Beast Boy was in the common room, having recently finished his tofu sandwich. He stared bleakly at Robin and Starfire chatter away. Beast Boy wondered if he and Raven could ever have a conversation like the couple did. He doubted it, Raven would never talk like Starfire, and Beast Boy would never talk like Robin. He heard the common room doors open and saw Raven step in, her violet hair sliding down the side of her face and rippling softly with her every step. Beast Boy felt his heart quicken, and a sudden lurch in his stomach.
"Morning" said Robin, quickly glancing over at the empath.
"How wonderful of you to join us" cried Starfire, upon sighting her friend.
"Hey" muttered Raven in her gravely voice, turning slightly, before looking out the window.
"Hey Raven" murmured Beast Boy, feeling his heart pounding exuberantly against his ribs.
"Hey Beast Boy" replied Raven softly, gazing down at the changeling, who sat on the couch. The pair stared at each other, not noticing Robin's eye on them.
"Um… good day today" said Beast Boy quietly, breaking the silence and the compelling gaze between them.
"It is" murmured Raven, looking down. She turned around swiftly, heading to the kitchen to make tea.
Beast Boy turned around, his face impassive though his mind was a flurry of action. You idiot, Beast Boy scolded himself. Of all the million things to talk about, you had to talk about the weather. He could have said anything, anything at all yet he had come up with a comment on the weather. He looked out the window, seeing the sun reaching its peak in the sky. It was nearly lunchtime. Beast Boy found it funny how time seemed to pass so quickly when you don't think of anything. Suddenly the loud blare of sirens resounded throughout the tower, interrupting his thoughts.
"Trouble" muttered Robin predictably.
The three Titan's ran out of the tower, getting ready for the fight ahead of them. Robin ran to the garage, hopping onto his motorcycle. Starfire leapt up into the air, flying to the trouble zone. And Beast Boy, stood by the Tower door, glancing into Raven's eyes with a soft look, before running out of the tower and morphing into an eagle.
Raven watched the Beast Boy leave the tower. The final look he had given her had been heart stopping. She sighed, hoping that Beast Boy would be okay. Now that there were only three of the Titans fighting, she knew that it would be tough for them. If Beast Boy got hurt, it would be her fault. She had left the team, depriving them of much needed help. But she couldn't fight she reminded herself. With the risk of losing control again, and killing thousands of innocent people how could she fight? And why had she singled out Beast Boy in her concern? Raven let out a growl of frustration in her head. She was thinking about Beast Boy again, why couldn't she get that green boy out of her head? Slumping quietly onto the common room couch, Raven grabbed her book, hoping that literature would be able to relieve her mind of distracting thoughts.
Beast Boy flew through the air, seeing the commotion below. Starfire and Robin had already engaged the villain. It was a huge hulking monster, who had smashed up an entire street. Beast Boy began to descend, and quickly morphing into an elephant over the monster's head. With ease it held him up and threw him at his fellow Titans. Turning back into his human form, Beast Boy flew in the air, bowling over Robin. The villain grabbed Starfire by her leg and threw her with all its strength. She flew across the city, out of sight. Robin let out a gasp of shock, and quickly turned around running back to help Starfire.
"Can you deal with this guy until Starfire and I come back?" asked Robin briskly.
"Sure thing" replied Beast Boy, narrowly dodging a huge arm. He was fighting alone, against a huge monster that looked a bit like Cinderblock, except he was black. Beast Boy retreated a little, and suddenly the black villain turned on its heel, running into a side street. Beast Boy took chase, turning into the side alleyway. There was no one there, only darkness. He saw a shadow flash across the back wall, and he sprinted down the alleyway. He found himself in a dark uninhabited square, where darkness reigned. Grey cement walls surrounded the area, the only point of exit was the side alley. Shadows enveloped the area, covering the entire square in darkness. Barely an inch of the sun could be seen, only one circle was free from the shadows. Beast Boy heard a noise from behind him, and he turned around fearing what he might see. It was Raven.
Beast Boy stepped back in shock. "Raven, what're you doing here?" cried Beast Boy in surprise.
Raven took one step towards Beast Boy, looking him in the eye.
"Raven?" said Beast Boy, confused at her silence.
Suddenly she landed at punch to his face, knocking him back a few feet.
"What the hell was that for" exclaimed Beast Boy angrily, holding his nose.
Raven took no notice to his words, punching him again, and again. Beast Boy's nose was dripping blood, leaving a small puddle on the ground. Beast Boy had no idea what was going on, he was being punched by a friend, one of his best. He didn't dare fight back, but his mind was a flurry of confusion and disarray.
"Wha?" murmured Beast Boy, taking another punch to the face. He stumbled backwards past the small patch of sunlight. Raven followed, her face impassive. By some unknown miracle Raven's entire form turned black, before seeping back into colour. Beast Boy blinked his eyes confusedly, there was something… fishy about what had just happened. But his mind was too incoherent to understand as Raven kicked him, smashing his communicator and sending him into the wall. It couldn't be Raven, he thought to himself, but if it was he couldn't fight back. How could he hurt the one who he cared for must? He stumbled sideways, watching Raven wearily. She landed another kick on Beast Boy, his breath exploding from his throat. She passed through the patch of light again, her entire form masking itself in black before returning to its usual colour. So he hadn't imagined it, Beast Boy thought to himself, she had turned… black. The same kind of black the monster had been. That would explain it, thought Beast Boy excitedly, that monster thing had been a shape-shifter and it had assumed the form of… Raven. He turned back to 'Raven' with his revelation in his mind.
"You're not Raven" muttered Beast Boy softly.
The shape-shifter remained silent, walking towards the changeling.
Beast Boy pulled back his arm, preparing his punch, but when the villain came he couldn't do it. He could never imagine hurting Raven, and doing it to an image of her was… not as easy as he had thought. The shape-shifter punched him in the face. Without pause it punched again, and again, no reprieve. Beast Boy felt his head snap back over and over, his head screeching out in pain. Every attempt he made to attack 'Raven' he would falter. He couldn't fight back, interrupting thoughts restrained his arm, and held back his legs. He was helpless. And he just stood there, with the shape-shifter smashing his face into a pulp. Blood dripped freely from his nose, and fell uncontrollably from his mouth. He fell to his knees, he did not have the will to fight, he just wanted to be done with it. Seeing even an image of Raven massacring him had broken his spirit, and he didn't care anymore. Pain was all he felt, as each hit landed blood spilled ruthlessly out of his mouth. Beast Boy slumped onto the ground, it was over.
Without warning a blue beam shot through the air, slamming into Raven. All Beast Boy could see was flashes of images. Everything rushed by his eyes, surreal, non-existent. There was a light. Something moved, everything was a blur. There was Cyborg. There was Robin. There was Starfire. And then there was nothing.
AN: Sorry for that last fight scene, it was a bit dodge, but I tried my best. I've never been a fight scene sorta guy. Hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and have a nice day. Thanks again for the reviews.