iWell, suffering a bit from writers block, but I'm doin' my best. Let's see where Chapter 5 carries takes us. Has BB got the nerve to say what's on his mind? Will Starfire have to take things to drastic measures? What will Raven think? Find out now....or in future chapters...or whenever....GO!
Chapter 5-On This Day
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos, on, why can't I just concentrate? I've meditated hundreds of times before, so why can't I now? Past few days have been so difficult, and now Beast Boy is being friendly with me, this is all I need. The frosting to the cake of my problems."
Raven sat in her room, trying to meditate before going out for a trip to the mall with Starfire and...him. For awhile now she had been having visions of a particular green boy. In the vision Beast Boy is standing before her, and begins to slowly walk towards her. As he does so, Raven feels herself slowly begin to move as well, only away from Beast Boy, as she is taking careful strides away from the green changeling. So it's a seemingly endless walk until Raven finally snaps out of it.
Yet some of her visions are just of Beast Boy in general. Just them...not even doing anything in particular.
"Why have I been thinking about him? The only reason a person thinks of another is...worry...or maybe...no that can't be. He's just Beast Boy and we're just teammates and that's all I want to see him as! Yet he's been...nice...no it's too risky, too much is in the way and too much is on the line...I can't!"
Suddenly Raven felt the presence of someone approaching her bedroom seeing as she was all worked up, and now her senses were ready to fight. Almost angry that she could have sworn she felt something special for a certain someone.
"Excuse me Raven, may Beast Boy and I enter?"
"Oh no, is it already time...." in."
"Hello Raven." Starfire stepped on Beast Boy's foot hoping it would trigger a 'hello' out of him.
"Ow! Um...I mean hiya Rae, um ready to go to the mall, or uh..."
"Yes let's go."
At the mall, they passed by various shops, all filled with hundreds of items. Many of the clothes shops caught Starfire's eyes. It was music and video games for Beast Boy...but what about Raven, what was there that could draw Raven's attention enough for Beast Boy to move in. Seeing as how things were, he decided to break the silence.
"So are there any shops you guys want to go to in particular?" Starfire gave Beast Boy a cheerful grin before speaking up.
"Well I would like to stop at some of the shops that sell clothes, and maybe other beauty enhancers."
"Cool, well how bout' you Raven?"
"Eh...yeah lets look at some clothes for awhile."
Beast Boy looked around the guy's half of the store, sorting through sizes of clothes that caught his eye when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was none other than Starfire with a few stacks of clothes in her arms.
"Tell me, does this look alright?" Starfire began pressing different outfits against her body to show to Beast Boy.
"Lookin' good!"
"Wonderful!" Starfire shouted happily as she began folding the clothes back up. She stood up on her toes and looked around the store to find their third companion. Starfire spotted Raven over near the darker colored clothing, and didn't look too enthusiastic to be out shopping. Not that enthusiasm was something the telepath experienced often. "Beast Boy, I believe you should go over to Raven and see how she is doing. Maybe she needs help in deciding what clothes to purchase."
"Ah...yeah maybe, if she doesn't tell me to get away from her."
"No she will say no such thing, just try."
Beast Boy heaved out a heavy sigh and rubbed his hands together. "Here goes!"
Raven wasn't too interested in buying any new clothes today, and she was already very picky when it came to picking out street clothes, and this store didn't carry much of what she liked.
"Hm...this is a nice style shirt but its too light, this is too revealing, this"
Raven lifted another shirt in front of her face and stared at it when a certain voice spoke out to her.
"Hey Raven, how goes the shopping?"
"Oh, it's fine..."
"Doesn't sound like you're fine."
"I dunno, I'm not really up for getting clothes right now...and this store..."
"Cramps your style?"
"That's one way to look at it..."
"Well how about I help you?"
Beast Boy began looking through the racks of clothes around Raven hoping to find something Raven would like.
"You a hat kinda girl?"
"No I prefer hoods."
"Ah right, duh that's your crime fighting outfit."
"You know, I really don't have to buy anything, I'm just looking to pass time really."
"Cool, this one is nice...how bout it?"
Beast Boy lifted up a black shirt that shimmered a faint red tint in different parts on the shirt, in gash marks shapes. Raven's eyes lit up for a moment.
"Actually...that's nice...now why didn't I see that before?"
"What can I say? I got the touch." Beast Boy said smugly. Raven just shook her head trying to block a grin from poking out.
"Well before I actually get it...maybe I'll try it first."
"Sure."
Raven walked over to the changing rooms. Beast Boy watched her as she walked away. Beast Boy walked over near the changing rooms and leaned against a wall near the rooms. Starfire walked over to where Beast Boy was standing, still with some clothes in her arms, only a bit less than before now that she had chosen what to get.
"So, how are things going with you and Raven in purchasing clothes?"
"Pretty good actually, I found a shirt she likes, she's trying it on right now." Beast Boy tilted his head in direction of the changing room he was standing near. "You can try on your stuff too...see if it's right."
"Hm...perhaps. Ah Raven, I see you have a new shirt on, do you plan to purchase it?"
Raven stepped out of the hallway to the back where changing rooms were, and was standing there with the black shirt with red gash mark design on it. It fit snuggly, clinging to the curves of body.
"Not too bad, good fit, a bit like something a girl would be wearing to a dance...but passes for street clothes. I really like the red, nice effect. Good pick Beast Boy, think I will get it...um...Beast Boy?"
"Eh...oh, allow me Rae, I'll get it for you!"
"Wh-what? N-no I'll pay for it, just helping me find it was enough."
"Not in Beast Boy's book little lady, I'm so buying that for you and there's nothing you can do to change my mind!"
"Oh..."
"There he goes again...he's doing me more favors..."
So Starfire had a good handful of clothes, Raven had a new shirt, and Beast Boy had another his satisfaction that he did another nice thing for the women of his dreams, and best of all, she even said she liked it. Now to do something about his irritating stomach, it was already about 11:45, lunchtime.
"Say, are you two hungry?"
"You know now that I think about it...I am."
"Yes, let us get something to eat."
Beast Boy gave a second to think and thought of his favorite thing right along with tofu. "How's pizza?"
"Oh yes, yes pizza is a good idea, Raven you want pizza don't you?"
"Sure why not."
"Alright, so where do we go after we finish up eating?" Beast Boy said through some pizza.
"I did see maybe a few stores I'd like to look around while we were coming here."
"Cool, we'll be sure to go, what about you Star?"
"Oh, I was just going to wander the mall alone and see what I can find."
Beast Boy paused a moment, he didn't like the tone Starfire said "alone" in.
"What, you won't be joining us?"
"No, I'm just going to walk around, so it'll just be you two...only...shopping...that is if it is alright with you two."
"No that's fine if that's what you'd like, we can meet up back here whatever time is good, maybe five?" Raven said as she took a sip of her drink. Not really taking notice of what was going on.
"Oh yes, five is good, well, guess you two will be shopping for a few hours won't you then?"
"Huh...oh...yea I suppose." Raven still not sure of what exactly was going on. Beast Boy on the other hand knew exactly what Starfire was doing and was now freaking out a bit.
"Uh, I have to go...uh...wash my hands...um like now. Don't you too Starfire?"
"Actually not at the moment...I..."
"No I think we really should!" Beast Boy jerked his head in Starfire's direction when Raven wasn't paying attention. She got the message.
"Oh yes come to thinking of it, I believe I must wash my hands at this current time."
"Yeah, like over there! Rae we'll be right back."
"Uh...sure." "Sheesh, never seen anyone so eager to wash their hands, must be a mental thing...either that Beast Boy wanted to tell Starfire something...whatever." Raven shrugged off the thought after that. Meanwhile with our conversation with Beast Boy and Starfire, let's say Beast Boy was a mess and leave it at that.
"Star what are you doing exactly?"
"I intend to give you alone time together."
"Yeah, that "alone" and "together" isn't good."
"Why, what is wrong?"
"Well, I'd definitely be more at ease if someone other than just Raven was there."
"But do you not have feelings for her?"
"I do."
"Then this is a good time, it shall be wonderful for the both of you, it's all you need. Not only that, you shall also see more of what she likes. I know what I am doing, trust me. A Tamarinian and a female's intuition is never wrong, and I happen to be both.
"You sure?"
"Indeed, it will be enjoyable for the both of you, perhaps you could even....what is it...ask her out?"
"You can't be serious?! Now that's just jumping the gun, I can't ask her out, not yet!"
"Then when?"
"I-I dunno, but not now."
"Then just go shopping together."
"Alright, I trust you, lets go back before she suspects anything."
"Ah yes, we don't want that."
Beast Boy and Starfire returned to their seats, Raven had already finished up her slices and was waiting patiently. Starfire picked up her things that rested near the table.
"So, back here at five then?"
"Yeah."
"Alright, I shall see the both of you then." And Starfire left the two there...alone sitting at their table. "Well I'm ready to go around some more if you are Beast Boy."
"Sure, let's go."
The two walked around for awhile until they stopped in front of an incense shop, a strange aroma was given out from the store, naturally incense was a nice fragrance, but when you aren't use to it, and when you have so many going at once, and so many different scents, it makes you feel funny. In this case, that was how Beast Boy was.
"Whoa, that stuff is strong. Is this one of the shops you wanted to check out?"
"Yes, isn't nice? The scent is actually quite soothing. Perfect for my meditation. Come on."
"Huh...well this certainly is a new thing outta' Rae...she seems like a little kid in a candy store."
Beast Boy had lost sight of Raven in the store, she had already rushed off to the deeper parts of the store to find a scent suitable for her taste.
"Shoot, she darted off so fast man...is this really what she wants to look around for, smelly, sniffy sticks?! Ah well, I won't pester her about it, what ever you're into is cool I guess." Beast Boy lifted a box of incense to his nose for a quick smell. "Gross this one smells awful, who would want to smell this while chilling out dude?!"
Beast Boy eventually caught up with Raven, and already she had a few boxes in hand ready to buy.
"Having fun are we?" Beast Boy said with a smirk.
"I guess you could say that." Raven picked up another box and looked at it a moment and smelled it.
"Uh...won't that stuff like mess you up if you like smell it too much Rae?"
"Well they're not markers or anything."
"Yeah but I mean..." "Smell!" Raven lifted up a box into Beast Boy's face. "Dah, hey what the...hmm that's not bad actually...lemme see."
"You see, incense isn't bad after all."
"Yeah I think I want to buy this one too, just wanted another opinion."
Raven took back the box and looked at it for a moment. "Hm...can't say I like the the name of it though...Passionate Afternoon Pink...I hate pink." Raven flipped the box over and began reading the back.
"Passionate Afternoon Pink, a perfect fragrance for you and that special someone. A scent that is often used amongst lovers to enhance love making and..."
"Uh you know what, this is enough, I'll just get these!" Raven quickly shoved the box to the back of the shelf hoping that would send her emotions and thoughts away for good, but didn't work to well seeing as Beast Boy was standing right next to her with a confused look on his face.
"What's up? Why not get that too, that one smelled good..."
"I don't like it anymore...it brought up some...thoughts."
Raven quickly went over to the counter to buy the things she had picked out, leaving before Beast Boy even had the chance to say a word. He walked over to her direction but she had already paid for everything and was heading out the door and sat down at a bench in the main halls of the mall. Beast Boy slowly took a seat on the bench next to hers hoping she wouldn't turn around and send him to kingdom come.
"W-was it something I said?"
"N-no..."
"Mind if I sat next to you then?"
"No, you can."
Beast Boy moved over next to Raven, he looked carefully at her face, she had a very sad depressed expression on her, as if ready to begin crying.
"What's wrong then, I thought we were having a good time."
"We were...we are...I'm enjoying us hanging out and all, just..."
"Just?"
"Something I'm thinking about that's bothering me."
"What is it?"
"Nothing important...don't worry about it."
"Well that's no good, you're just gonna make me worry even more Rae. You know you don't have to hide your problems from me, you already got to see that when I went into that noggin' of yours."
"I know, but this is a bit different, it's something that you can't really have any control over...no matter how you look at it."
There was a frightening long pause between the two. Beast Boy was too lost and confused to be sure of what to say. While Raven was so busy fighting her own personal feelings.
"We're not gonna let this ruin our fun now are we? This is too fun of a day to just end like this!"
Raven was stunned by what she had heard Beast Boy say, his words felt warm to her and had meaning to them.
"Come on Rae, we'll check out some other stores you wanted to see!"
Raven just smiled. "Sure."
"Alright, well then let's get going!"
"Um Beast Boy?"
"Yep?"
"You worry about me?"
"W-what? Well sure Raven, I mean..."
"Alright...and you're really having fun just hanging out with me?"
"Of course! Hm...wait you enjoy us hanging out too?"
"I-...yeah, I do."
"Well let's go look around more."
"Okay."
"Funny...how it feels like we're going out right now...but then we really aren't...maybe Star was right...I should tell her. Yeah I'll do it this afternoon!"
"Okay, I want to check out this store."
"Huh, what store is this Rae?"
"My style."
"Hm?" Beast Boy looked up to the top to see the name of the shop. "Hot Topic. I never heard of it..."
"You'll like it. Let's go!" Raven grabbed Beast Boy's wrist and dragged him into the store.
"Well you sure are in a good mood."
"What, I can't have a good day once in awhile?"
"N-no of course I'm not saying that, just don't see this side of you too often you know?"
The two searched around for more clothes, and what made it even better was that they both were able to find things they both liked. The rest of the time they spent together going around the mall was fun for the both of them, it was like this for the rest of the day. For once it seemed like Raven had finally let go and went all out in having a good time rather than being her usual quiet depressing self. Her powers hadn't even destroyed anything, regardless of all the things she was feeling.
The same went for Beast Boy, he was having too much fun, and was too happy by the fact he was with Raven to care she was a bit...different. Or the fact that she had said something was on her mind. Though what did cross his mind, was how it was possible for Raven to be so different, what could trigger something so intense for her. Happiness is definitely something that is hidden in Raven.
As everyone says, time flies when you're having fun. This was no exception. It was getting close to five. The time Starfire said she'd meet up with them. Raven was paying close attention to the time pretty much the whole time.
"Beast Boy, it's close to five we should head back."
"What already, we were just getting into the whole walking around thing!"
"Yeah I know, but we have little choice..."
"Yeah you're right, okay let's get moving then."
By the time they had gotten back, there was no Starfire in sight, so they decided to just sit and wait up for her. They had found another comfy bench to sit down at. Beast Boy had an urge of telling Raven then and there just exactly how he felt for quite a long time. If there's one thing that's for sure, silence has a pretty good sense of humor and always strikes you and the most horrible times.
"Uh...Rae..."
"Hm...what is it?"
"Well...I...Thing is, have you ever thought that maybe some things are better left as...they are...or never discovered?"
"Oh...well that would depend on what it is."
"Have you even felt that way though?"
"Yes, countless times."
"Well then...like what?"
"Things such as my past...troubles with my father, my emotions, things I've seen in my life...some of those things make me as bitter as I am now."
"I don't think you're bitter."
"Oh come on, I'm the most bitter to you out of everyone."
"You weren't today, you were the exact opposite, sweet..."
"Don't let it go to your head...so what do you feel is something that shouldn't be known?"
"Well...I."
"What?"
"Raven, the reason I brought this topic up is...because I wanted to tell you...I uh..."
"Yes?"
"Beast Boy, Raven!"
?!
Starfire was running a little late at meeting up at five, but she just wasn't late enough for Beast Boy's taste. Then again Starfire showing up, in a sense saved him as well.
"Oh hey Star, how did your day go?"
"Oh it was very good. How did you enjoy your time shopping?"
"Uh it was good."
"Wonderful...I am sure Robin and Cyborg are wondering where we are by now, perhaps we should go back to the tower?"
"Yeah let's go back then."
While the three walked out of the mall Beast Boy and Raven walked next to each other. Starfire walked ahead of them, she could already see that they had a good time together. Her plan was working out perfectly.
"Um...Beast Boy?"
"Yeah?"
"What...were you about to say before Starfire showed up?"
"Oh uh...I was about to say...I really had fun today, just us hanging out."
"Oh...I did too."
Finally, done with Ch.5. Yes I'm such a bum, booooo! Well we could be looking at what may be the end soon...maybe...though I do think the story , yes? We need an obstacle to be overcome. Don't worry, even if I do add something in there I'll still give you all the ending you've all been waiting for. We'll see soon enough won't we? Mwah hahaha! Erm... . Sorry if this chapter isn't so great. Make sure you watch the new season of episodes!