A Raven-Colored Past
July 7th, 2004
- - -
Sephiroth folded his hands in front of his face and watched as the council members around him yelled and screamed at each other. He sighed deeply and let them argue for a few minutes longer before he stood up and commanded silence.
"What are we going to do, Sephiroth?" Tegh asked, looking at the council leader with worry. "No one wants a half-breed as our queen… yet we are unable to defy the law that Trigon set before us."
"I know, Tegh…" Sephiroth said in a strained voice as he returned to his seat, the other council members following his lead. "I am aware of the situation… and trust me, I will take care of it."
'Although I'm not sure how…' he added silently.
"Sephiroth, sir," An older member of the council spoke as he stood up. "Forgive me for saying so but… could her companion be used as a sort of leverage? Raven mentioned that he was a friend, and perhaps we can use him to our advantage…"
"Hm…" he replied, holing his chin in his hand and contemplating silently. "Yes… yes, it seems the two of them do share a bond of some sort."
An epiphany came to Sephiroth at that very moment. Raven shared a bond with the green Top-Worlder… she shared a deep bond with him… meaning…
Sephiroth stood up in a flash and nodded curtly to the other members. "I will take care of this problem, but give me some time to think it over." He bowed shortly, before walking out of the room.
'Raven loves that green Top-Worlder… I know it!' Sephiroth thought angrily as he rushed down the halls to his study. It was in that room that he would find what he was looking for. 'I knew that he loved her, but I wasn't aware that the feeling was mutual… not until he mentioned it…' He threw open the door to his study and stormed in.
'This is going to make everything a lot harder than it has to be…' Sephiroth sat at his desk and pulled a dagger from its golden box. 'But I am willing to go to any ends to achieve what I want… and I want Raven!'
- - -
It had been a day since the council incident, and Beast Boy now found himself sitting at a table, across from Raven, in the library. He was dumbfounded as to why there was a library in hell, but didn't really press the issue. Instead he looked at the hundreds of thousands of shelves that were piled with books and books on all sorts of various and obscure subjects, ranging from the history of Azarath, to the best way to prune a rosebush. It was slightly disturbing, to say the least.
As was the silence.
…
Yep.
…
Perfectly silent…
Perfectly disturbing…
"It's too quiet…" Beast Boy whispered, looking up at Raven. She peered angrily over the edge of her book at him, then set it down on the table.
"It is a library, and some people like it quiet, Beast Boy," She remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"I know…" Beast Boy whined slightly. "But… come on it's just the two of us in here. It's not like we're gonna bother anyone."
"Some people like the quiet," Raven repeated angrily. "Hint hint."
"Oh…" Beast Boy looked a little sheepish. "Sorry… I'll let you read… I just… ya know… wanted to talk, or something…" His gaze darted nervously around the dark, shadowed walls.
Raven sighed deeply, then closed the book and propped her head up with her hand. "Something is bothering you, isn't it?"
Beast Boy jerked slightly in surprise, then shook his head. "No…"
Raven raised her eyebrow again, giving him a skeptical look. "Oh?"
"Okay… I hate that look." He muttered before continuing. "I'm just so confused about everything… I mean… everything."
Raven pushed the book aside, signaling to Beast Boy that he had her full attention, and that she was willing to carry on a conversation. "Everything with my marriage? Azarath? The world? Human existence? What?"
Beast Boy smirked as he realized Raven was becoming more humor-prone. He bit his lip and thought for a moment, hoping he wasn't going to offend Raven or anything of the like. "Well, not just your marriage…" He shifted a bit uncomfortably at the word. "But Sephiroth said that we shouldn't be friends with a half-demon… and that it was dangerous." Beast Boy looked away feeling a bit foolish at asking such a bold question, and calling Raven a half-ling. He hoped she wasn't insulted.
Raven blushed deeply and looked away, feeling Beast Boy's gaze slowly return to her. "Well… he's right."
"What?" Beast Boy looked completely confused. Why shouldn't he be friends with Raven? What was the problem? Just because she was half-demon didn't mean that they couldn't be friends… right?
"Remember how I said a union between a human and a demon is forbidden?" Beast Boy nodded as Raven looked at him in ignominy. "The reason it is forbidden is that my powers become unstable, which is why I have to keep my feelings under control. If my powers become too out of control… I can destroy the world…" She looked away, blushing slightly. "I never told anyone because I felt you would see me as a threat and… and not be my friends." Raven swallowed hard. "I hadn't had friends in a long time…"
Beast Boy was in shock as he stared at Raven's face, coated in shame. She never told anyone the extent of her powers… and hearing it frightened him deeply, but also made him love her more. Her fear of rejection meant that she was human, not the emotionless girl most had come to know.
"I wish you would have told us before, Raven…" Beast Boy said, leaning forward and placing his hand upon her own. "We would have understood your needs far better."
Raven's face grew an even brighter red and she looked away again. "I was going to tell you… but after a while it became easier to live a lie."
"Don't live a lie, Raven… everyone loves you for who you are, and you shouldn't be ashamed of it." Beast Boy smiled supportively at her.
"You know… your insight on this whole trip amazes me," Raven said, looking strangely at him. "When did you start using your brain?"
Beast Boy smiled jokingly at her. "When you forced me into it by all your intellectual remarks. It's really hard to know what you're talking about sometimes."
The dark girl laughed lightly. "I'm glad I was able to help you in some way."
"I'm still trying to decide if you helped or hindered me." He smirked playfully at her and Raven just shook her head.
It was strange how close the two of them had become in the past few days. Anyone who knew both Beast Boy and Raven would have proclaimed Beast Boy dead on the first day of such an excursion… but Raven found herself liking Beast Boy more and more. He wasn't the complete fool he let everyone belive. There was a lot about him that was shrouded from the normal eye; which almost bothered her, but at the same time it intrigued her.
Beast Boy stood up and began to wander the shelves of the library, letting Raven enjoy her book in the silence she asked for. But Raven was unable to engage in her reading. She looked at the pages for a long while, eyes unfocused as she thought about… well, about Beast Boy.
Chancing a glance at him over the edge of her book, she felt her face get warm. What had happened to the goofy green boy that she had come to know and hate? Instead he was replaced with an insightful goofy green boy. She was sort of captivated by this new Beast Boy… he made her feel… loved. Raven's face burned a brighter red and she returned to the pages of her book, hiding her face from view.
He couldn't love her! Beast Boy hated the way Raven was always irritated with him, and frustrated with him, and mad at him! But at the same time… Beast Boy had never shunned away from her, he always continued to approach her, talk to her, and try to make her feel special. As if he felt Raven needed to be treated special.
'Oh no…' Raven thought, her eyes going wide in surprise. 'He does love me!'
Beast Boy turned and walked down another aisle of shelves, scanning the spines for something interesting to read. Raven watched him intensely, trying to figure out exactly when this had happened… and why she felt more surprise than anger or frustration. Why exactly wasn't she upset about this?
"Hey, Raven?"
She snapped out of her gaze and looked over at Beast Boy, feeling her face continue to burn red. "Yeah?"
"Ah…" he blushed slightly then shook his head and turned away. "Never mind."
Raven just continued to gaze at him for a long while. What was it about him exactly? She wasn't mad that he loved her… in fact she was kind of happy. She liked the attention she received from him, and the way he made her feel special and protected. That didn't mean that she loved him too, did it?
Raven chuckled and shook her head. There was no way that she could love Beast Boy. Sure he was a good friend and all, but they were just too different. He had his video games and television, and Raven had her books and meditation.
'Friends…' She thought, a sad smile peeling across her lips. 'We're friends.'
Beast Boy looked over his shoulder at her. "Raven? Are you okay? You look a little sad…" He approached her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Something troubling you?"
Raven shook her head, feeling color rise to her cheeks. "No… not really…" She stood up and smiled a little at him. "Hey, Beast Boy?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks… for coming with me…"
Beast Boy grinned at her. "What are friends for?"
Raven sighed and stood up, holding her head. "I'm feeling a little tired, I think I'll lay down for a bit."
Her green companion nodded. "Sure… I'll be here in the library."
Raven gave a start and looked strangely at him. "Why…?"
"Cause I know you'll come back here sometime… and I think I found a book I like." He grinned at her. "Surprisingly enough."
"I'll say…" Raven smiled at him. "Well… I'll see you in a little bit." She started for the door, then turned around and watched him pull a book from the shelf. "You never cease to amaze me, Beast Boy…" she whispered before exiting the room.
The hall felt warmer then usual and lulled Raven into a slight stupor as she treaded the ground to her room. Her mind wandered slowly back to the green boy she left alone in the library, and her heart floated in her chest as if it wanted to fly away. What was it about him…? He was just a goofy friend of hers, nothing more nothing less, right?
"Raven…" The scent of burnt wood yanked Raven from her stupor and she whipped around to face the chiseled face of Sephiroth. She felt her blood boil as she stared into those dark, sinister eyes. Why had she not noticed his presence before hand?
"What do you want?" She hissed, eyes narrowing at him.
"Only to have a friendly chat with my betrothéd." He motioned to a stone bench a few feet away. "Care to join me?"
"I'm not friends with you…" Raven snarled before turning away and starting down the hall again.
"You're just making this more difficult for me…" Sephiroth said coolly. Raven stopped in her tracks and turned around slowly, staring at him with confusion. "Besides… I have a bit of a bargaining chip that might interest you…"
Raven's eyes narrowed at the male, curious as to what he meant. "What 'bargaining chip'?"
"You…" Sephiroth began to circle the dark maiden, but continued to speak conversationally to her. "Have broken your oath to Azarath." Raven noticed that he avoided the subject of his bargaining chip, just like the snake he was. "You have tempted a male into passion, lust, and even…love. Now normally, this male would be exterminated in order for you to keep your chastity to me… but I have noticed something."
"What does this have to do with your 'bargaining chip'?" Raven snarled, becoming irritated with his shadowed games.
"I'm getting there Raven… just wait," he paused for effect, smiling maliciously at her. "I have noticed that the feelings you have drawn out in this male have… dare I say, also been drawn out it you? That his feelings of passion, lust, and love are also yours for him… this, Beast Boy?"
Raven took a step back, everything slowly registering in her mind. He knew she cared for Beast Boy… and he was planning to use it against her. "Let him go!" She yelled helplessly.
"Now," Sephiroth continued without noticing that Raven spoke. "As I said before, I would normally exterminate Beast Boy… but this would draw out your full potential of power… and we can't have that. So, here's my proposition… you marry me, and in a few years I'll let you advocate. You refuse to marry me, and I'll kill Beast Boy… your love."
"No!" Raven gasped, taking a step back. "You wouldn't do that!"
"You shouldn't have left him alone in the library…" Sephiroth sneered angrily at her. "He did put up quite a fight..." He motioned with his hand and a red bubble came forward, holding Beast Boy inside he looked at Raven helplessly, silently wishing that she didn't see him like this. He was supposed to protect her, not the other way around.
"No…" Raven whispered in shock. "Let him go!"
"If you marry me without a fuss." Sephiroth replied shortly.
"Raven don't!" Beast Boy yelled through his giant bubble. "Don't listen to anything he says! I'll be fine, I promise!"
Raven looked from the bubble to Sephiroth, then shook her head slowly. There was only one choice in order to keep everyone safe. Now matter how much she didn't want for it to happen, it had to.
"Fine, I'll marry you…" Raven's head fell in defeat. "Just please… don't hurt Beast Boy…"
"Oh… I won't." He let the bubble dissipate, and Beast Boy fell to the ground in a heap of green limbs. Raven ran to his side, checking to make sure he wasn't fatally injured or wounded. He seemed to be all right… but his gaze was filled with the deepest kind of pain. The kind of pain that made even Raven want to cry.
"Would you two like a moment of privacy?" Sephiroth sneered victoriously. "To say your last good-byes?"
"Go away, Sephiroth…" Raven snarled, holding back her tears as she looked from Beast Boy's face to Sephiroth's sinister smile.
"I'll take that as a yes…" Sephiroth turned and strolled away slowly. "I'll be back in a few minutes, my wife." And he disappeared into the darkness.
Raven helped Beast Boy to his feet and they stared at each other sadly, each one not knowing what to say next. Finally Beast Boy spoke.
"I'm sorry I failed you, Raven…" He whispered in a strained voice. "I guess I'm not as good a bodyguard as I thought I was."
Raven shook her head, feeling her throat become tight and tingle from holding everything back. "You did what you could… but this was inevitable. Sephiroth wanted to marry me and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted."
"You shouldn't have done that," Beast Boy stated firmly, looking at her in slight confusion. "Everything would have turned out okay, at least you would have been safe."
"Everything would not have been okay, Beast Boy. He was going to kill you… and I couldn't bear that." Raven looked away sheepishly, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. "I could bear loosing you… knowing that you and I were no longer in the same world…"
"Raven…" Beast Boy asked confusedly, wrapping his arms around her trembling body. "What are you talking about? We're always together… we're friends, and we don't ever really leave each other."
Raven smiled at that prospect, she realized now that she hadn't protested when Sephiroth claimed that Raven loved Beast Boy. Actually, the thought was… well, it was welcome. She loved Beast Boy… after all he had done for her on this trip and before… she realized she loved him. And that was okay with her.
"Hey, Beast Boy?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
Beast Boy pulled away for the embrace and looked at her in shock. "What?"
"I love you… and-"
Beast Boy stopped her from saying anymore, hearing it once brought absolute meaning into his life. Hearing twice made him want to kiss her… which he did. Quite deeply, might I add.
Slowly, he pulled away from her and smiled at her. "I love you, too…"
Raven looked up at him, tears suddenly pouring from her eyes. Beast Boy felt his own eyes begin to water as he watched the girl he love cry. Nothing more was said between them, they both knew this was the end…
- - -
OF COURSE THIS ISN'T THE END!
You really didn't think I'd end it there, would you? Come on! I'm a sucker for happy endings! Beast Boy will come back… don't you worry!
I wanna apologize to every author whose stories I've read. Great and wonderful stories like:
Closer
Playing With Fire
Things Unsaid
The Sweet Hereafter
Etc.
My computer has been dying a horrible terrible death, in which case I had to switch to using my laptop for the Internet, and my laptop isn't doing much better than my desktop. One of the set backs is that I am now unable to leave reviews due to how old my laptop and its OS are. So… I APOLOGIZE! I've REALLY wanted to leave reviews because I've been reading some AWESOME fan fictions lately… but I CAN'T and it SUCKS! So I'm SORRY!!! TT
Okay… well, after that…
I don't own Teen Titans, dur!
NEW STORY!
Dirty (A Humorous Raven and Beast Boy Ficlet)
Beast Boy discovers several trashy romance novels in Raven's possession … need I say more?