Disclaimer: I own neither the setting nor the plot. I mean, neither the setting nor the characters. Though probably not the plot either, seeing how disgustingly unoriginal this fic is.
Review Replies: Do you have any idea HOW HAPPY you guys make me? My grin is threatening to split my face in half, which could be painful. Not that I mind, as long as you write more reviews! Weeble Wobble Chic, are you serious? I mean, I thought the last chapter was one of my worst, not one of my best! Lain the Fluff-Master, nice of you to notice the lack of Starfire and Robin after I mention it! Hee. Speaking of non-updated fics, I'm waiting on The Sweet Hereafter! I refuse to comment on the fact you wrote a RavenRobin story, in respect that people have their own opinions (Grr). Dana1313, thank you!! Change-Of-Heart2, glad you liked it! SxStrngSamurai13, yes, it was Love. I prefer to call her Affection, though. TigerCat, wow! One of the most flattering reviews I've gotten! RavenForever: Heh, I know. I can't believe it took so long...so sorry! Darkfire, thanks for the link, and the chocolate, and the roses. EvilSpirit: Continuing...(grin) Macabeak: Anytime. Spandexmonkey- Yes, who are you to talk? You, who for some reason did not update "Shattermouth", even though it's really cool, and sniff I asked you to...Ry, yeah, those two are my favorite characters, which is a big reason I love them together...thank you for your good wishes. I love you guys.
Author's Note: Nothing really happens in this. Raven and Starfire talk, and that's...about it. Sorry, no Beast Boy and Raven interaction in this one, though he is definitely mentioned...I wasn't planning on this chapter, but I figured Starfire had to come in somewhere, and it's a good way to introduce the next chapter, where I'm considering actually placing Robin in, since he's also been grossly neglected. Not that I care. I just like his hair. Okay, so there ought to be about...(counts)...three chapters left. Perhaps four. I know, I know, I said like, two, but I added a few situations. Heh, sorry.
Timeline: Day after "Purple Strawberries" (Chapter Eight). Two days after "Sweet Dreams" (Chapter Six).
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Chapter Nine: Girl Talk
"Raven?"
Raven carefully opened eye. Her door was slightly ajar, and she caught a glimpse of green eyes and red hair. "Yes?"
"May I come in?"
"For what?" Her voice was tight. She hated being interrupted in meditation.
"I have something for you...and I wish to 'girl talk' with you about something. Perhaps we could meditate afterwards? If you wish to, of course."
"Well...sure, come in."
Starfire beamed and stepped into the room, holding white box. She sat gingerly on the bed as Raven sank down from the air to land next to her.
"What's this?"
Starfire silently handed the box to Raven. Raven opened it slowly, not quite knowing what to expect. Inside was a neatly folded leotard and cape identical to Raven's in everything except for color; this new one was a fresh, pure white.
"Wow..."
Starfire seemed very excited. "Oh Raven, will you try it on? I would very much like to see if it fits!"
"Sure..." Raven was nearly speechless. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting to be in the box, but this was not it. Starfire slipped quickly out of the room while Raven changed. When she reentered, it was to find Raven staring into the irregularly shaped mirror above her dresser.
"Oh, I knew it would fit!"
"How did you know the right size? And where did you get this?"
Starfire looked away. "When we switched bodies, I took the liberty of checking the sizes of your clothes...I knew you would most likely not let me otherwise, and I thought it could come in useful for the future...If you ever told us your birthday, I thought perhaps I could get you a new outfit of clothes! You do not often dress up."
"No...I uh, guess not. But where-?"
"There is a very nice tailor downtown, I think he is the one who fixed your uniform that time I damaged them during training?" Raven winced slightly at the memory of the starbolts hitting her in the stomach unexpectedly, also managing to singe a hole in her uniform. It had been one of their first training sessions as a team, when the Teen Titans had been newly established. Raven had been forced to find someone to fix them, since that had been her only outfit at the time. She had many more made by the same tailor, since she didn't wish for the same experience. "When I informed him of your new circumstances, he was delighted to help!"
Raven had an odd look on her face, like she wasn't quite sure how to react. "Well, thanks Star. That was really...thoughtful."
Starfire took Raven's hesitation and expression as disappointment, and her face fell. "Oh, you do not like it?"
"No, no! I think it's great. I just wasn't expecting it. Just...well, thank you." Now the other girl's expression lit up. "Oh, marvelous! I shall have the tailor make many, many more!" She bounded happily out of the room, Raven staring after her. Dealing with the alien's enthusiasm was rather like surviving a very, very cheerful hurricane, and the quieter girl leaned heavily onto the dresser. She stole another glance at the mirror, and couldn't help but feel a little pleased at this new look. She hadn't gotten a chance to see herself in white before, having not been that way anywhere other than her mind, but she wasn't too unhappy with the effect. It showed she didn't have evil in her anymore, something that had more than once kept her up at night and made her feel a little unworthy of being in the Teen Titans, a fact she didn't admit to anyone other than herself, because of her pride and the nagging fear they would begin to feel the same.
Her train of thought was interrupted when Starfire burst into the room again. "Oh, Raven I-!" Seeing her friend's startled look, she checked herself and backed up a step. "Oh dear. I am sorry! I should have knocked, it was thoughtless of me- but I nearly forgot I have something of some importance to discuss with you..."
"All right. About what?" Raven looked coolly at Starfire. It apparently unnerved Starfire a bit, because she shifted a little uneasily.
"Weeeellll..." She dragged the word out, and Raven's suspicions were suddenly aroused at the obvious attempt to stall. "You know Robin and I are going on our first official 'date' tonight. We have been 'together' for a few days, but I am not sure you knew. We had been quite worried about you not waking up, so we have not had the chance to go out yet. He is taking me to the cinema."
"Okay." Raven waited patiently for the point.
Starfire swallowed and glanced at Raven nervously. She took a deep breath. "I wish you and Beast Boy to have what Robin and I have."
"Excuse me?"
"It is quite apparent that Beast Boy cares for you in a...different way than he does for the rest of us. It is also apparent, though not as much so, that you return these feelings."
Raven asked slowly, "What makes you think that?"
"Because it is the same way I feel for Robin, and he for me."
There was a long silence. Then, "Beast Boy doesn't have a crush on me, Star. And I don't have a crush on him, okay?"
"Raven, we are friends! You do not have to deny your feelings."
"I'm not denying my feelings," said Raven unconvincingly. Somehow she found it hard to lie to Starfire. "And well, even if I did- which I don't- there is no way Beast Boy likes me in that way. I'm not...his...type, or whatever. Let's leave it at that."
Abruptly Starfire stood up, accidentally knocking over a small group of candles on the bedside table, the candlesticks landing with a resounding crash. Starfire didn't even notice, and Raven silently thanked the gods the candles weren't lit. "Raven, why must you be so blind? Beast Boy was by your side every minute you were not awake! He made Cyborg check you over time after time when you would not awake, and he was the one who was so concerned that he went into the mirror to find you! Why can you not see that he cares for you in the same way you care for him!" She raised a hand sharply to cut off Raven's retort. "I do not see why you feel the need to lie to me Raven, but it hurts me. I will forgive you, however, if you simply speak to Beast Boy and make your feelings known, for he is the only person as blind as you." Her face was flushed with emotion, and she had to take a deep breath before once again sitting down. Earnestly, she took Raven's hand. "I merely wish you two to be happy, and I'm afraid that neither of you will take the chance for it."
"I am hap-"
"Raven! Even if you are content to let this go on, I am not, and will not rest until you and Beast Boy are happy, whether you like it or not." Raven would have smirked at this contradiction if she weren't so worried about what Starfire might make her do. Starfire pointed firmly toward the door. "You will go now, and speak to Beast Boy."
At that moment they heard yelling and the faint sound of scuffling, and the thump of a door slamming. They looked at each other, puzzled. "Should we go help?"
Raven shrugged. "Let them be. I'm sure they'll get over their weirdness someday." There was the sound of a toilet flushing, and another muffled yell. "Er...or not."
Starfire looked down at the floor as if she expected it to suddenly yield to her gaze, and show them what was progressing downstairs. It was uncooperative, so she turned to Raven again. "Well...perhaps we should wait." At Raven's relieved look, she narrowed her eyes. "On second thought, perhaps you ought to go now. Just so I know you will not try to get out of it."
"Didn't you say you wanted to meditate? We could try to contact spirits again..." Never, thought Raven dryly, had she ever expected to be so eager to communicate with dead people.
"No, we can do that later."
"Can't I have a minute to gather courage? Prepare myself for the mortification in store?"
"No, you will only end up gathering fear." She ignored Raven's remark of already having enough of that. "You must go now, while determination is fresh!"
"What determination?" Stalling for time, Raven lifted the candlesticks Starfire had knocked over and placing them back on the table with her powers, allowing two broken ones to drop into a small barrel. "Just remember, I blame you when Beast Boy decides I'm insane and that he no longer wants to be my friend."
"Do not worry, Raven, nothing will go wrong!" proclaimed Starfire, cheerful once more. She pushed Raven through the doorway, and Raven heard the click of the lock.
After a moment, there was a sudden realization.
"She just locked me out of my own room."
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Final Author's Note: YES! I'm going to Martha's Vineyard this weekend...hee. Also, I got Linkin Park's 'Meteora' because I got a good report card last term, and it totally rocks... Anyway, this chapter was disgustingly boring, I know, but it's a good lead up to the upcoming chapter. So...review!
Review Replies: Do you have any idea HOW HAPPY you guys make me? My grin is threatening to split my face in half, which could be painful. Not that I mind, as long as you write more reviews! Weeble Wobble Chic, are you serious? I mean, I thought the last chapter was one of my worst, not one of my best! Lain the Fluff-Master, nice of you to notice the lack of Starfire and Robin after I mention it! Hee. Speaking of non-updated fics, I'm waiting on The Sweet Hereafter! I refuse to comment on the fact you wrote a RavenRobin story, in respect that people have their own opinions (Grr). Dana1313, thank you!! Change-Of-Heart2, glad you liked it! SxStrngSamurai13, yes, it was Love. I prefer to call her Affection, though. TigerCat, wow! One of the most flattering reviews I've gotten! RavenForever: Heh, I know. I can't believe it took so long...so sorry! Darkfire, thanks for the link, and the chocolate, and the roses. EvilSpirit: Continuing...(grin) Macabeak: Anytime. Spandexmonkey- Yes, who are you to talk? You, who for some reason did not update "Shattermouth", even though it's really cool, and sniff I asked you to...Ry, yeah, those two are my favorite characters, which is a big reason I love them together...thank you for your good wishes. I love you guys.
Author's Note: Nothing really happens in this. Raven and Starfire talk, and that's...about it. Sorry, no Beast Boy and Raven interaction in this one, though he is definitely mentioned...I wasn't planning on this chapter, but I figured Starfire had to come in somewhere, and it's a good way to introduce the next chapter, where I'm considering actually placing Robin in, since he's also been grossly neglected. Not that I care. I just like his hair. Okay, so there ought to be about...(counts)...three chapters left. Perhaps four. I know, I know, I said like, two, but I added a few situations. Heh, sorry.
Timeline: Day after "Purple Strawberries" (Chapter Eight). Two days after "Sweet Dreams" (Chapter Six).
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Chapter Nine: Girl Talk
"Raven?"
Raven carefully opened eye. Her door was slightly ajar, and she caught a glimpse of green eyes and red hair. "Yes?"
"May I come in?"
"For what?" Her voice was tight. She hated being interrupted in meditation.
"I have something for you...and I wish to 'girl talk' with you about something. Perhaps we could meditate afterwards? If you wish to, of course."
"Well...sure, come in."
Starfire beamed and stepped into the room, holding white box. She sat gingerly on the bed as Raven sank down from the air to land next to her.
"What's this?"
Starfire silently handed the box to Raven. Raven opened it slowly, not quite knowing what to expect. Inside was a neatly folded leotard and cape identical to Raven's in everything except for color; this new one was a fresh, pure white.
"Wow..."
Starfire seemed very excited. "Oh Raven, will you try it on? I would very much like to see if it fits!"
"Sure..." Raven was nearly speechless. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting to be in the box, but this was not it. Starfire slipped quickly out of the room while Raven changed. When she reentered, it was to find Raven staring into the irregularly shaped mirror above her dresser.
"Oh, I knew it would fit!"
"How did you know the right size? And where did you get this?"
Starfire looked away. "When we switched bodies, I took the liberty of checking the sizes of your clothes...I knew you would most likely not let me otherwise, and I thought it could come in useful for the future...If you ever told us your birthday, I thought perhaps I could get you a new outfit of clothes! You do not often dress up."
"No...I uh, guess not. But where-?"
"There is a very nice tailor downtown, I think he is the one who fixed your uniform that time I damaged them during training?" Raven winced slightly at the memory of the starbolts hitting her in the stomach unexpectedly, also managing to singe a hole in her uniform. It had been one of their first training sessions as a team, when the Teen Titans had been newly established. Raven had been forced to find someone to fix them, since that had been her only outfit at the time. She had many more made by the same tailor, since she didn't wish for the same experience. "When I informed him of your new circumstances, he was delighted to help!"
Raven had an odd look on her face, like she wasn't quite sure how to react. "Well, thanks Star. That was really...thoughtful."
Starfire took Raven's hesitation and expression as disappointment, and her face fell. "Oh, you do not like it?"
"No, no! I think it's great. I just wasn't expecting it. Just...well, thank you." Now the other girl's expression lit up. "Oh, marvelous! I shall have the tailor make many, many more!" She bounded happily out of the room, Raven staring after her. Dealing with the alien's enthusiasm was rather like surviving a very, very cheerful hurricane, and the quieter girl leaned heavily onto the dresser. She stole another glance at the mirror, and couldn't help but feel a little pleased at this new look. She hadn't gotten a chance to see herself in white before, having not been that way anywhere other than her mind, but she wasn't too unhappy with the effect. It showed she didn't have evil in her anymore, something that had more than once kept her up at night and made her feel a little unworthy of being in the Teen Titans, a fact she didn't admit to anyone other than herself, because of her pride and the nagging fear they would begin to feel the same.
Her train of thought was interrupted when Starfire burst into the room again. "Oh, Raven I-!" Seeing her friend's startled look, she checked herself and backed up a step. "Oh dear. I am sorry! I should have knocked, it was thoughtless of me- but I nearly forgot I have something of some importance to discuss with you..."
"All right. About what?" Raven looked coolly at Starfire. It apparently unnerved Starfire a bit, because she shifted a little uneasily.
"Weeeellll..." She dragged the word out, and Raven's suspicions were suddenly aroused at the obvious attempt to stall. "You know Robin and I are going on our first official 'date' tonight. We have been 'together' for a few days, but I am not sure you knew. We had been quite worried about you not waking up, so we have not had the chance to go out yet. He is taking me to the cinema."
"Okay." Raven waited patiently for the point.
Starfire swallowed and glanced at Raven nervously. She took a deep breath. "I wish you and Beast Boy to have what Robin and I have."
"Excuse me?"
"It is quite apparent that Beast Boy cares for you in a...different way than he does for the rest of us. It is also apparent, though not as much so, that you return these feelings."
Raven asked slowly, "What makes you think that?"
"Because it is the same way I feel for Robin, and he for me."
There was a long silence. Then, "Beast Boy doesn't have a crush on me, Star. And I don't have a crush on him, okay?"
"Raven, we are friends! You do not have to deny your feelings."
"I'm not denying my feelings," said Raven unconvincingly. Somehow she found it hard to lie to Starfire. "And well, even if I did- which I don't- there is no way Beast Boy likes me in that way. I'm not...his...type, or whatever. Let's leave it at that."
Abruptly Starfire stood up, accidentally knocking over a small group of candles on the bedside table, the candlesticks landing with a resounding crash. Starfire didn't even notice, and Raven silently thanked the gods the candles weren't lit. "Raven, why must you be so blind? Beast Boy was by your side every minute you were not awake! He made Cyborg check you over time after time when you would not awake, and he was the one who was so concerned that he went into the mirror to find you! Why can you not see that he cares for you in the same way you care for him!" She raised a hand sharply to cut off Raven's retort. "I do not see why you feel the need to lie to me Raven, but it hurts me. I will forgive you, however, if you simply speak to Beast Boy and make your feelings known, for he is the only person as blind as you." Her face was flushed with emotion, and she had to take a deep breath before once again sitting down. Earnestly, she took Raven's hand. "I merely wish you two to be happy, and I'm afraid that neither of you will take the chance for it."
"I am hap-"
"Raven! Even if you are content to let this go on, I am not, and will not rest until you and Beast Boy are happy, whether you like it or not." Raven would have smirked at this contradiction if she weren't so worried about what Starfire might make her do. Starfire pointed firmly toward the door. "You will go now, and speak to Beast Boy."
At that moment they heard yelling and the faint sound of scuffling, and the thump of a door slamming. They looked at each other, puzzled. "Should we go help?"
Raven shrugged. "Let them be. I'm sure they'll get over their weirdness someday." There was the sound of a toilet flushing, and another muffled yell. "Er...or not."
Starfire looked down at the floor as if she expected it to suddenly yield to her gaze, and show them what was progressing downstairs. It was uncooperative, so she turned to Raven again. "Well...perhaps we should wait." At Raven's relieved look, she narrowed her eyes. "On second thought, perhaps you ought to go now. Just so I know you will not try to get out of it."
"Didn't you say you wanted to meditate? We could try to contact spirits again..." Never, thought Raven dryly, had she ever expected to be so eager to communicate with dead people.
"No, we can do that later."
"Can't I have a minute to gather courage? Prepare myself for the mortification in store?"
"No, you will only end up gathering fear." She ignored Raven's remark of already having enough of that. "You must go now, while determination is fresh!"
"What determination?" Stalling for time, Raven lifted the candlesticks Starfire had knocked over and placing them back on the table with her powers, allowing two broken ones to drop into a small barrel. "Just remember, I blame you when Beast Boy decides I'm insane and that he no longer wants to be my friend."
"Do not worry, Raven, nothing will go wrong!" proclaimed Starfire, cheerful once more. She pushed Raven through the doorway, and Raven heard the click of the lock.
After a moment, there was a sudden realization.
"She just locked me out of my own room."
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Final Author's Note: YES! I'm going to Martha's Vineyard this weekend...hee. Also, I got Linkin Park's 'Meteora' because I got a good report card last term, and it totally rocks... Anyway, this chapter was disgustingly boring, I know, but it's a good lead up to the upcoming chapter. So...review!