Hidden Emotions
By Fireruby
Disclaimer: ^^; I don't own Teen Titans. But, gosh, don't I wish I did!
Chapter 1: Ponderings
The Teen Titans had just come
back from yet another long, life-threatening battle. They had, of course, won. So…
obviously… they'd gone out to party afterwards. Now, however, they were back
home, and settling back into their usual routine.
Cyborg sat down on the couch and flipped on the TV and game station. Robin sat
down next to him and grabbed both the controllers off the floor, tossing one to
Cyborg. Starfire sat down next to Robin, anxious to watch the virtual mêlée.
She couldn't help but smile as Robin's hand accidentally brushed over hers.
Raven, never really one for video games, had gone into the kitchen to fix them
all some drinks.
Beast Boy, however, was clearly exhausted. After returning home, he had almost
immediately headed up to his room, yawning and comically rubbing his eyes.
3 3 3
Beast Boy sighed and stretched out on his bed. Missions usually made him like
this. After all the clue solving, fighting, and celebrating, he felt utterly
done in.
He let out another deep sigh and snuggled his head into his pillow. He winced
and swiftly pulled his head back up as he felt a sharp object poke through the
cotton and jab his head.
After a few moments of lazily groping under his pillow, he pulled out the
object underneath it. It was a small, framed picture. He smiled, remembering
placing it there the day before. Inside the wood-carved frame was a picture of
the team, standing together. United. Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy and
Raven.
Raven…
As much as he wouldn't want to admit it, just thinking about her made his heart
flutter. He wasn't sure just what it was about her that made it feel like he
did. Sure, she was always calm and collected… smart and cool… and her powers
were amazing… but there was something else… he couldn't explain it… when he was
around her, he felt safe… Even when they were in a fight, or when she was
acting bitter… He knew he could trust her, and it was good to know. It almost
made him feel like nothing could go wrong… like everything was right in the
world… Like everything was right with him… and… like he could always feel free
to be himself…
It confused him. He'd never felt anything like this before.
He had confided his feelings to Robin only a few weeks ago, making him swear
not to tell "for the sake of their friendship." Robin hadn't been as much help
as he'd hoped. The team's leader had simply shrugged and told him, "I've
heard love can do strange things to a person. Maybe that's why you feel so
confused. I'm sorry."
The words still rang in his head.
Love can do strange things…
Love can do….
Love….
Love?? Was that really what he was feeling for Raven?
He couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same about him.
He suddenly snapped out of his thoughts, shaking his head. Duh! Of course
not. Stop thinking that way, man. Raven's too together… collected… serene… how
can I describe her?……. Perfect, I guess…. He blushed intensely at this
thought, even though he knew no one could hear what he was thinking. That's
the word, though. Perfect. And… she's completely out of my league.
3 3 3
Raven set out 5 glass mugs.
She poured Robin and Cyborg chocolate milk, knowing that they would want the
sweet liquid to rejuvenate them. Especially during their match. It was almost
funny how competitive the two were.
She poured Starfire the last of the orange juice, adding in a dab of the new
condiment Star could not get enough of; mustard. She shuddered.
Tamaranians. She didn't think she would ever understand how their taste buds
worked.
After preparing Starfire's… 'drink', Raven set out a kettle of tea for herself,
hoping it would help calm her nerves a little. As she set about making it, she
thought about what she'd be preparing next…
Beast Boy's mug. She contemplated this for a moment. Beast Boy could be a
little complicated. He had specific tastes. He loved juice, but that wasn't an
option; they'd run out of the orange juice just two minutes ago, and the
pitcher of Kool-Aid was gathering some sort of… blue, mold-ish substance. This
was a bigger problem then expected, since he refused to eat or drink anything
that came from animals. That included milk, which was pretty much the only
edible drink they had available. No more of that fake milk of his was left…
We really need to go shopping…
She
pondered this a moment more before letting out a resigned sigh and pouring him
some of her tea. She hoped he didn't disapprove of it too much.
It was stupid, she knew that, but… she didn't want to ever disappoint him. She
never wanted to make him feel anything but happiness. To see him without his
goofy grin… Without his constant laughter and blissfulness… It hurt her. A lot.
And she had no idea why.
She needed guidance… Not that she'd ever tell anyone about it.
But…
her secret was not an easy one to keep. Despite her powerful self-control,
there were times when she couldn't contain her wandering thoughts… And that
worried her.
She thought back to a week ago. Cyborg and Robin had been arguing over
something trivial once again, and Starfire was desperately trying her best to
put a stop to the argument. Since the other titans were occupied, Raven and the
green-skinned clown were left eating breakfast together… alone. Well, if you
could call it "eating breakfast together". Beast Boy was enthusiastically
chowing down his tofu eggs, while Raven quietly sipped at her herbal tea. No
words were exchanged. She was looking down at the table, when she spotted him
out of the corner of her eye. Staring at her. Her head had quickly snapped up,
meeting his gaze, wondering if he'd wanted to say something. Unexpectedly, he
had turned a lovely shade of red and quickly returned to his meal.
Seeing him act like that… gazing at her, blushing when she noticed… it gave her
a strange feeling. It made her feel light-headed, her heart sped up and her
stomach felt like it was doing loop-de-loops. It was strange - and for her,
very dangerous. She decided to get to the bottom of it.
Later that day, she had dived into her meditative mirror, to search for the
reason. She had searched through many of her different 'sides', when she
noticed something very strange. There was a new side to her mind! Well…
if you could call it that. This new dimension was incredibly different from the
others. Not it's own entirely, but a grand mix of every corner of her mind. It
was the crossroad to the many colors of her personality.
Raven
had wandered over to the new section, only exploring a few moments before
coming face to face with her new side. The girl, of course, looked almost
exactly like her. But, there was something very different about her face. She
looked utterly elated… her eyes danced with her every movement. Her cloak was a
beautiful mauve color that almost seemed to give off it's own faint light.
"Who… are you?" Raven had asked the girl.
She'd seemed to think the question was a little silly. "I'm Raven."
Raven nodded. "Of course. I mean… well… how are you?"
This time the girl smiled gaily, twirling around a little as she spoke.
"I'm in love."
Raven shook her head sharply, cutting off her reminiscing. Concentrate,
girl. You are fixing drinks. Don't daydream or the
other will think something is amiss. Besides… even if you really did… love Beast Boy… he could never love you in return…
Stony, sarcastic, sharp, strict Raven… how could he ever love someone like you
when he's so bright… kind… cute… sweet… funny… She sighed, shaking her
head. Those words weren't enough to describe him. What's a good word for
him? …. Perfect. Her cheeks actually went pink from the impulsive thought.
For a moment she had to struggle fiercely with herself, trying not to let her
powers slip out with her sudden embarrassment.
When the emotion finally left her she sighed and lifted up all five mugs, using her powers to carry them back to the Titan's living room. That's the word, though… He is too perfect for me. And…. He's entirely out of my reach.
(AN: o_o OMG. Thank you, mi/ri for catching my mistake. I'm surprised no one else commented on it! ^^;; *feels so stupid*)