Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. You probably knew that.
* * *
Raven sat in her room, trying to clear her head.
Couldn't they just drop it? It was bad enough to have Beast Boy following her all day long; now Robin had got into the act. What was next? Threats from Cyborg? They were all blind. But how could she be any clearer?
"Raven?" The voice floated in from the hallway. "Are you okay?"
Raven glared at the door in annoyance. She wanted to be alone, but she was certain Starfire would keep pestering her until she responded. Oh well. At least it wasn't one of the guys.
"Hold on," she said, and walked toward the door. If Starfire was going to cheer her up with a Poem of Unlimited Joy, they could do it elsewhere. Her room didn't need any joy.
Raven opened the door and fixed Starfire with a questioning glance.
"I just wanted to see that you are well," explained the alien. "Is there anything we can talk about?"
"I don't think so."
"Oh, but something is bothering you! Robin says the talking-it-out is the best way to solve problems," insisted Starfire. "Of course, there is always the kicking of butt," she added.
Raven gave a half-hearted smile:
"That wouldn't work in this case."
"Then we must talk. Come!" cried Starfire, grabbing Raven by the wrist and nearly dragging her down the hallway.
A few moments later, they were situated in Starfire's room: Starfire was sprawled over the bed, and Raven was sitting in the middle of the floor, evidently trying to avoid being tainted by the joyful atmosphere.
"Tell me what's troubling you, friend Raven."
It was clear to Raven that stonewalling would get her nowhere.
"It's Beast Boy," she said, hoping she wouldn't have to elaborate.
"Is he serving tofu again? I have told him that I shall be the cook here."
"It's not that," said Raven. Time to spell it out. "He wants to go on a date with me."
"And you do not want this?"
Starfire was just as bad as the rest, reflected Raven.
"It's not about wanting," she explained for the third time. "You know how emotion affects my powers. I can't get involved."
Thankfully, Starfire seemed to understand.
"Then you should explain it to them."
"Tried it."
Starfire thought for a moment.
"Together, we can convince them!"
Raven's eyes widened imperceptibly.
"What?"
"Not now, friend Raven! I am concocting a glorious plan!"
Before she knew what was happening, Raven was in the hallway. A low giggling could be heard in Starfire's room.
As she went back toward her room, Raven grew worried:
Robin and Beast Boy were arguing one side. She and Starfire were allies against it. There was no question: this divisive issue was trouble for the Teen Titans. And there was only one factor left.
Raven turned from her doorway. Her expressionless face betrayed none of the determination she felt inside.
She walked toward Cyborg's room.
* * *
Raven sat in her room, trying to clear her head.
Couldn't they just drop it? It was bad enough to have Beast Boy following her all day long; now Robin had got into the act. What was next? Threats from Cyborg? They were all blind. But how could she be any clearer?
"Raven?" The voice floated in from the hallway. "Are you okay?"
Raven glared at the door in annoyance. She wanted to be alone, but she was certain Starfire would keep pestering her until she responded. Oh well. At least it wasn't one of the guys.
"Hold on," she said, and walked toward the door. If Starfire was going to cheer her up with a Poem of Unlimited Joy, they could do it elsewhere. Her room didn't need any joy.
Raven opened the door and fixed Starfire with a questioning glance.
"I just wanted to see that you are well," explained the alien. "Is there anything we can talk about?"
"I don't think so."
"Oh, but something is bothering you! Robin says the talking-it-out is the best way to solve problems," insisted Starfire. "Of course, there is always the kicking of butt," she added.
Raven gave a half-hearted smile:
"That wouldn't work in this case."
"Then we must talk. Come!" cried Starfire, grabbing Raven by the wrist and nearly dragging her down the hallway.
A few moments later, they were situated in Starfire's room: Starfire was sprawled over the bed, and Raven was sitting in the middle of the floor, evidently trying to avoid being tainted by the joyful atmosphere.
"Tell me what's troubling you, friend Raven."
It was clear to Raven that stonewalling would get her nowhere.
"It's Beast Boy," she said, hoping she wouldn't have to elaborate.
"Is he serving tofu again? I have told him that I shall be the cook here."
"It's not that," said Raven. Time to spell it out. "He wants to go on a date with me."
"And you do not want this?"
Starfire was just as bad as the rest, reflected Raven.
"It's not about wanting," she explained for the third time. "You know how emotion affects my powers. I can't get involved."
Thankfully, Starfire seemed to understand.
"Then you should explain it to them."
"Tried it."
Starfire thought for a moment.
"Together, we can convince them!"
Raven's eyes widened imperceptibly.
"What?"
"Not now, friend Raven! I am concocting a glorious plan!"
Before she knew what was happening, Raven was in the hallway. A low giggling could be heard in Starfire's room.
As she went back toward her room, Raven grew worried:
Robin and Beast Boy were arguing one side. She and Starfire were allies against it. There was no question: this divisive issue was trouble for the Teen Titans. And there was only one factor left.
Raven turned from her doorway. Her expressionless face betrayed none of the determination she felt inside.
She walked toward Cyborg's room.