(RAVEN'S PERSPECTIVE)

I twisted and turned in my bed.

"Ugh. It's one in the morning and I still can't sleep." I sat up and held my head.

I gazed around at the prancing shadows, the bands of moonlight, the bookshelves, and the mirrors.

I had on a purple tee and grey sweatpants. The most comfortable thing to sleep in and I still could not sleep.

For a while now, I had trouble sleeping at nights, I don't know what it was.

Even after an hour of meditation or reading I still would experience broken sleep. I didn't know what I was thinking or worrying about. Even so, a bitter wrench formed more and more as time went on.

I flipped off the covers and went out for some milk. I walked stealthily in the corridor and a tumbling sound rekindled in my ears.

"Hello?"

I turned on one of the ceiling lights.

"Oh! Hi."

I was startled by the male in the couch.

"Hey, you can't sleep either?" he asked.

His voice was bland and sluggish.

There was discomfort wrapped around each syllable he spoke.

"Not quite. What's up with you?" I walked to the fridge and poured some milk into a cup.

"Nothing, I feel sweaty that's all. I have a slight headache, too, but I'm good."

I made my way to the couch and sat next to my friend.

His green hair was disheveled and his eyes were weighted down by black bags. He had a blanket wrapped around his body as well.

"Sweaty? The heat isn't on. Maybe take off the blanket?" I muttered.

"It's fine. It started a couple days ago. I don't know. I'm cold, so I'm bundling up." Beastboy whispered.

I shyly reached for his basil forehead.

"Hmmm." I frowned.

"What?" he looked at me curiously.

"You feel a little warm, it's probably just a low grade fever. The sweating doesn't make sense, though. Your temperature isn't burning hot." I reasoned.

"The chills that come with it makes no sense either." Beastboy said.

I felt slightly uncomfortable being out of my uniform in front of my friend, but he wasn't in his either. Beastboy was wearing jersey shorts and a white tee.

Something about that, just us being out of the regular setting already set the scene. It eased the tension a bit.

"Chills, too? I don't know Beastboy and you said that it started a few days ago?"

"Yup." he shivered.

"Is that why you can't sleep?"

"Pretty much. What's keeping you up?" his emerald eyes were dilated.

"I don't know too well myself. For the last couple of weeks I've had some rough nights." I admitted.

"Is it your father? Or your mother? Did something happen that we don't know about? That I don't know about?"

I paused and recollected my thoughts.

"Trigon has been gone from my mind since I defeated him. There's not a trace of him left in me of course, except the demon powers and heritage stuff. Besides that, no. I don't think about him much, and if I do, I read and meditate. Those haven't seemed to help anything either."

"Huh, strange." Beastboy replied.

"I don't talk to my mother like that. She doesn't really like me. I don't blame her, I mean I wouldn't want to mother a child of the lord of evil. I probably remind her of that every time she sees me. Because of me she was also bent on suicide. I wouldn't want such a reminder."

"Raven, it's none of your fault. It may seem like it is but trust me," Beastboy touched my hand gently.

"It isn't. I'm proud of you, you know?"

I raised my eyebrows in confusion and withdrew my hand.

"Defeating your father and growing from that. You've matured pretty well from it. As your friend, I remember first meeting you and how afraid you were to open up and be yourself. I don't know if you realize it or any of the Titans do but, you've come a really long way. Look, you're talking to me right now without giving me a wedgie with your magic."

Both of us chuckled, then a blush formed in my cheeks, and I evaded eye contact.

"No problem. Anything else you think that might trigger your restless nights?" Beastboy glanced at me.

"I really don't know, I can't put my finger on it at all. I have a nervous gut feeling. Like my stomach twinges and I get clammy hands, as if I were going on stage or something. Every night I get less sleep. Starfire asked if I was okay the other day. She said I didn't look like myself and maybe I don't but... I'm anxious and I have no clue why."

I sipped my milk.

"Raven, you know you're my friend right? And you can tell me anything." Beastboy grimaced.

"Yes, I know that."

Talking to Beastboy felt great.

I felt relaxed and less conserved.

I always felt that way when I talked to Beastboy, but I never had chats like this with him often.

I knew how mature he could be and how quickly he could put away his comical nature.

"I just want you to know I'm always here to listen to you. I know people say 'nothing' or 'I don't know' because they feel like it is not worth discussing." Beastboy said.

"I'm sorry. I have really weird trust issues. I don't like opening up."

"But you can with me, I don't have no one to tell any secrets to." Beastboy grinned weakly.

"Thanks. Um... Beastboy, I wanted to say that I am sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything." he looked muddled.

"I did. The day we played Uno and stuff, I was rude. I'm always rude to you, I really am. I don't mean it at all. I know you probably get tired of it after a while." I tapped my slender finger on the glass.

"Yeah, I will admit I do, but I'm sure you get tired of me, too, so it's cool."

Beastboy took a napkin from beside him and dabbed his damp face.

"I do. But some days feeling tired is what I need most." I locked my eyes with his jasper pools.

His eyes were utterly empyreal.

I felt like I was seeing the brightest comet and the deepest hole in the universe.

It was as if the planets and moons revolved around his eyes gracefully.

They were so shadowy, yet so luminous.

I was getting lost, really lost, but I think I liked it.

The way Beastboy's untidy hair unraveled out of his head and down the sides of his face. His strands were like evergreen swirls that varied in pattern.

His smile, too.

It's so youthful, it twinkles, and suits his laugh perfectly.

"Me, too. I just don't like being pushed around and underestimated, that's about it. Other than that I'm chillin' like a villain. But um... Raven?" his grin faded away.

"Yes?"

"We both grew from a place and in a world where we are forced to believe we must be sorry for who we are. We shouldn't. Personalities may clash from time to time, but mixtures are what make the World's recipe." Beastboy fanned himself then covered himself up more.

I was concerned at the way his body was reacting.

"Do you want me to keep you company?" I finished my drink.

"Sure, if you want." Beastboy yawned.

"Don't be sorry for who you are. There's someone out there who really likes who you are, how you are, why you are. Someone who is willing to love you just for that."

I moved the glass to the floor as his warm head hit my lap.

It felt abnormal for him to be in such a position. I was always a distant person but I liked Beastboy's touch. I gently leaned my back into the cushion and played with his tender curls. I wiped sweat from his temples and rubbed his trembling back.

I also learned, maybe, I loved him, too.