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The ChangeChapter Two: A New Difference
April 12, 2004
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Raven looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Usually she avoided looking in this mirror at all costs, but tonight it seemed appropriate. After all, who knew how long she would have before Starfire took advantage of her?
She backed away to view herself fully, then let the towel around her drop to the floor. She instantly blushed and turned away from the mirror to take a deep breath. It had been years since she looked at herself in the nude. Ever since she began 'growing' she had stopped looking at herself, not wanting to see what the results would be.
And this was the result…
She turned back to the mirror and studied herself.
Raven had never considered herself a tomboy, but at the same time she never attempted femininity. She had always tried to run a middle course, just trying to keep everyone happy.
'Perhaps…' Raven thought to herself. 'It's time for me to try something different.' She sighed and wrapped the towel around her again. 'I'm eighteen now and I've never worn a dress… I've never had a guy hit on me… except that guy at the warehouse, but he doesn't count. Show tunes? What a nut-case.'
"Raven?" It was Beast Boy.
"Yeah?" She asked, walking to the door.
"Star wants you to come to her room when you're done."
"Alright."
"Okay, just letting you know."
Raven paused as she listened to the sound of his receding footsteps. Glancing back in the mirror, she wondered what Beast Boy thought of her; what he would think of her once Starfire was done.
Raven shifted uncomfortably as her eyes scanned her face, then swept over her body again. It had taken her two years to accept that she had feelings for the green boy, and now that she had accepted them they would only grow worse. However, no matter how much she may feel for him, a relationship could never be. Something would blow up or levitate, and Raven didn't want to hurt anyone. Keeping everyone safe was far more important than her own happiness.
'I give up.' Raven sighed deeply. 'I guess I should go meet with Starfire… as much as I don't want to.' She redressed herself quickly before opening the door and walking out. She slowly meandered down the hall in order to face the pink fuzzy doom that would greet her behind a door marked 'Starfire'.
"Huh?" Beast Boy looked up at Robin in surprise, as the masked Titan sat next to him on the couch.
"Yep, that's what Star told me anyway." He shrugged and grabbed a handful of popcorn from Cyborg. "I'm surprised the tower hasn't colapsed yet. Raven's power's are probably on the brink."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Beast Boy yelled, jumping up and glaring at his companion. "She'd doesn't need a make over! There's nothing wrong with Raven! I think she's per-" He stopped mid-rant, blushed brightly, then sat back down. "Never mind."
Cyborg shook his head and sighed. "Listen BB, you've gotta chill. I don't think Starfire meant any harm. I honestly think she's just been watching too many of those teen romances they show on Fox Family."
Robin nodded in agreement. "Yesterday she watched She's All That, Never Been Kissed, Dirty Dancing, and You Drive Me Crazy all in one sitting. Quite frankly, I was amazed."
Beast Boy made a face. "Still… That doesn't give her an excuse to destroy Raven."
Robin smiled and shook his head. "Dude, BB. I think everything's gonna be all right. Starfire's not going to turn Raven into a walking ball of pink fluff. She's smarter than that."
"I actually think it'd be pretty funny to see Raven all dolled up," Cyborg commented, shrugging. "It'd certainly be change to see her look prissy."
"I like Raven just that way she is," Beast Boy brooded angrily. "And I think she's pretty as herself."
"Well of course you do, you-" Cyborg stopped quickly as he saw Robin furiously shaking his head and mouthing 'no'. It was a bad idea to let Beast Boy know that everyone else knew about his feelings for Raven. "Never mind."
Beast Boy raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What were you going to say?"
Cyborg shrugged nonchalantly as his mind raced for an excuse. "I was just going to say you pay a lot of attention to Raven."
Beast Boy blushed and looked down at the floor. "Well… yeah. I just feel sometimes like she's sheltered herself too much from the team. I don't want her to be left out…"
"That's just the way she is, BB. It's cool." Robin stated.
"Mm…" Beast Boy looked away sadly.
"Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy?"
All three of them turned to see Starfire standing in the doorway, smiling brightly at the male portion of the Teen Titans.
"Yeah, Star?" Robin asked.
"I am pleased to present to you, the newly made-over… Raven!"
::Crickets Chirp::
Starfire glared angrily into the hall. "Raven, do not be alarmed! You are beautiful!"
"This was not part of our agreement!" came Raven's rather irritated voice. "There is no way I am going to parade myself around like some sort of beauty queen!"
Starfire sighed, then grabbed her arm and drug Raven into the living room.
"Wow…" Cyborg commented. He let out a low whistle in surprise. "You look…"
Raven glared at him.
"Never mind…"
Beast Boy personally thought Raven looked amazing. She was dressed in a white, ruffled mini-skirt, lacy blue camisole, and a pair of thong stilettos. Her hair was curled into tight little ringlets, and pinned back with butterfly clips. Her make up was done perfectly enough to accentuate all the physically beautiful features on her face.
"Raven…" Beast Boy whispered. "You look… you look gorgeous!"
Raven's face burned a bright red as Cyborg's popcorn exploded. This was bad! This was bad! She must discourage his feelings, and now!
"You don't know what you're talking about, Beast Boy," She hissed, turning away from him.
The green boy's face fell. "No…" he whispered sadly. "I guess not…"
Robin looked at Beast Boy, then Starfire who looked surprised at Raven's choice of words.
"I'm done parading myself, can I go now, Starfire?" Raven asked angrily, crossing her arms over her well-endowed chest and glaring at her fellow Titan.
Starfire looked surprised, then angry. Then even angrier… Robin had only seen her like this once, when he was forced into that date with Kitten… Uh-oh, this was bad news for Raven.
"Ra-" Robin began, but Star beat him to it.
"Not until you apologize to Beast Boy!"
A heavy, surprised silence flooded the room. Robin's face fell into his hands. This was bad, this was very bad.
"What?" Raven asked in shock, her eyes wide. She'd never heard Starfire yell at her before.
"You!" Starfire pointed at the dark Titan. "You have been getting meaner and meaner to poor Beast Boy and I never hear an apology from you! He compliments you and does favors and all you do is criticize and ridicule him! It's not fair! We have a name for people like you, you Dathnar-gorg!"
Raven's face fell in shock. "W-what?" She'd never seen Starfire so angry, and worst of all, she was angry with her!
"Dathnar-gorg!" Starfire yelled again. "Apologize!"
Raven looked at Beast Boy, then at Starfire. "He doesn't deserve my apology! He never does anything right, all he does is annoy me!" She yelled back at the alien girl. 'Not true, not true, not true…' was all her mind kept repeating to her. She had to do this, to keep everyone safe!
Starfire glared at Raven, her eyes glowing bright green. "Then you do not deserve my attention, Dathnar-gorg!" With that Starfire stormed out of the room.
No one uttered a single word as everyone stared at the door Starfire had just exited. Several long minutes of silence passed. Never had Starfire been truly angry with a member of the team. She had been upset, yes, but never angry. Raven must have deeply insulted Starfire for her to become so mad.
"Perhaps…" Robin finally braved the silence. "I should go talk to her…"
"Uh… good idea," Cyborg said carefully. He turned to Raven and shrugged. "Maybe you better lie low for a while. At least until Robin gets this cleared up."
Raven looked shocked and angry at the same time. This wasn't her fault! She couldn't let Beast Boy know that she liked him, otherwise her emotions would go crazy, things would blow up, and there would be mass chaos. "Are you blaming this on me?"
Cyborg held up his hands in defense. "Dude! Chill, Raven. I'm not blaming anyone, but Star is mad with you."
Raven's lips pressed into a thin line and she stormed away in a huff of anger. "It's not my fault!"
Cyborg shook his head and sighed deeply. "This is too much for my circuits."
Robin knocked softly on Starfire's door. "Star? It's me Robin, can I come it?"
There was a moment of silence, then: "You are permitted to enter."
The masked Titan opened the door and walked into the room. There were clothes and make-up lying around, as well as Raven's cloak and leotard. Starfire pushed the pile of objects on her bed onto the floor and motioned Robin to have a seat. He sat down next to her slowly and waited for the silence to lift.
"I have made a mess of things, haven't I?" Starfire asked without looking at him.
"No." Robin said firmly. "I think you said some very important things tonight, Starfire."
The redhead looked up in surprise. "How so?"
"You were right about Raven, she's been too mean to Beast Boy and it's not right. I think you did the right think by telling Raven the truth."
Starfire sighed deeply. "But, I have made her angry with me."
Robin wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Raven can't stay angry forever… especially not when she knows you're right. It just may take some time for her to realize that."
Starfire blushed slightly, then leaned into Robin's embrace. "I suppose you are right… but Raven's treatment of Beast Boy is completely unnecessary, especially when he is so much in love with her."
Robin smiled slightly. "Like I am with you?"
Starfire bolted upright, and looked at him in surprise as her blushed turned several shades darker. "Have I misheard you, Robin?"
"No." He smiled. "You heard me just fine, Star. I love you… I have for a few years now… and I guess it's been too hard for me to tell you how I feel." He blushed slightly and turned away.
Starfire tackled him with a hug. "I love you as well, Robin!"
Robin laughed slightly. "I'm glad to hear it, Starfire…"
"May we now engage in the motion to putting our open mouths together?"
Robin's cheeks burned brightly. "Uh… I'd love to kiss you, Starfire."
::Grins:: Heheheheheeeee, ahh, anyway… that's the end of the second chapter, I hope you enjoyed it and all.
I don't own Teen Titans, 'cause if I did I would have drowned Terra by now! Ja ne!