Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but it's a nice show anyway.
Review Responses:
A/N: A few people commented on the lack of damage when Raven was sobbing into Beastboy's shoulder. All that happened was a shattered teacup, a cupboard opening by itself and slamming shut, and the hallway's lights all breaking as they walked by. The thing is, Starfire feels everything to the fullest, and she was panicking completely in "Switched". Raven's powers would have been activated to the fullest amount possible by accident, and did not actually level the city block. Accidental energy releases seemed to simply melt, throw around, or bend random nearby objects or people. I tried to keep this in mind as I wrote the scene. I may have understated it, but doing much more would anger the rest of the Titans, as replacing a one-of-a-kind island and tower is a bit steep of a repair bill.
Change-Of-Heart2: I like Terra a bit, she helped add a bit of seriousness and depth to the second season. Glad you liked the story so much, it's always nice to be able to invoke emotion in others.
ShadowStar21: Glad you liked it!
Mrs. Myxztipik: Glad you liked this chapter, but I hope you liked the others as well. Updating now!
Regrem Erutaerc: Trigon's value in the show is exclusively rage, but he also hates Raven quite a bit, at least the sane, human side of her. So I wanted him to attempt to mess up her relationship with Beastboy. Having someone to confide in does make her calmer, and that would certainly anger Trigon.
MOOgoestheCHICKEN: Glad you liked the chapter. Putting me on the Author Alert list means that you get emails sent to you whenever I write a new story or update an old one. If you want to watch for new chapters without having to look at FFN, then it makes sense to do so.
Mint Dragon: That's quite a compliment! I'm glad you like my style, and I'll keep updating as much as possible.
Christina: I've explained the damage bit in the Author's Note above. Glad you liked the scene though, I liked it as well.
The Big Fisch: Yep, the comics are nice. Once my ethernet connection is fixed, I might be able to get the entire series as one big two gigabyte chunk. I'm just surprised at the number of reviews that this story is getting, with so few chapters and so little development. I'm glad everyone likes it so much.
Supreme Mystic Dragon: Glad you liked the chapter. It's always weird to mention people who are in the comic but not in the show, but I wanted to show how repressed Raven's life had been. Trigon is perhaps overstated in chapter 4, and he's used less in 5 and 6. He was just scaring her, but she is aware that her powers require emotional control. I addressed the damage thing in the author's note, above.
Jakked-up: Glad you love the story! I thought this chapter was cute as well.
Slayergirl1362: No problem, you don't have to review every chapter, I won't be insulted. I like spending time adding detail to Raven's thoughts. She's the only character who's internal monologue is shown in this fic, and so I try to do it well. Glad you like it.
Mango Sam: Glad you loved the fic, and glad you look forward to the next chapter. Here it is!
Pharoh of the Skies: Glad you found my story as well. Hope you like the next chapter!
An Empath's Burden
Raven's eyes snapped open as a knock at her door woke her. She then winced as the bright light in her room hurt her eyes. The morning was bright and sunny. She stood up, feeling light and refreshed, the calm and happiness from last night still lingering. She stepped towards the door, and was halfway there before a voice rang out.
"Raven? Are you ok? The lights in the hallway are all broken. Did something hap-" The door slid open at Raven's touch, and revealed Robin standing there, with a look of concern.
"I'm fine, Robin. It was an accident, nothing more." Raven's face wore that look of praticed indifference, and her voice was calm and clear. But still, Robin raised an eyebrow.
"I know that you have trouble with your emotions. By the look of your room, you've had a lot of trouble." Robin was observant, as always. It was a trait that she always admired, and sometimes despised. She didn't want her recent losses of control to come to his attention. Robin had a way of overcompensating for any problem he was faced with.
"It's under control. Your concern is touching, but unneccessary." Raven still stared at him, deadpan, her eyes piercing his soul. She knew that her gaze could unnerve people, so she often glared at anyone that she no longer wished to speak to.
"Well, I'll leave you alone then. Just remember that no matter what it is, the Titans are here to help you. You're a good friend, and an important part of the team. We all care about you." Robin waved, not wanting to irritate Raven by touching her for a handshake, and walked away from the door, heading towards his room.
Raven watched him as he walked away. They all cared about her. She knew this already, it wasn't the same as how Beastboy cared about her. Beastboy. She wondered what he was doing, and her mind instinctively reached out, finding him asleep in his room, dreaming happily. She didn't pry into his dreams, instead just happy that he was still feeling well. She closed the door to her room, then grabbed a towel out of her closet, heading towards the shower.
A few moments later, she was standing in her room, leotard back on, brushing her drying hair. The shower had been refreshing, waking her fully from the night's sleep, and also making her realize how good she felt today. After crying last night, all of her bottled emotions had been emptied, she didn't feel them gnawing at her shell, trying to get out. She didn't even need to meditate this morning, she felt calm without it.
A knock came at her door, and she placed the brush on the Book of Azar, which rested on her bed. There was no shelf space left in the room to keep a brush. It had luckily been in the bathroom when the dream had struck. She opened the door, and Beastboy was there, smiling happily.
"Hi Raven! How'd you sleep?" Beastboy walked into the room, feeling pretty bold since last night's encounter. Raven noted the boldness, happy that he felt so comfortable around her, but also still nervous about getting close to someone. She watched as he crossed the room, then sat down on her bed, for lack of any other place to sit. She walked over as well, sitting next to him on the bed. She reached out with her powers, locking the door.
They both sat there for a few moments. Beastboy was grinning at her, and she was nervously trying to deal with the awkward situation. She had a boy in her room, that she... was attracted to. She phrased things carefully in her mind, trying not to overdo it. He may be attracted to her as well, but she didn't know. He was, however, probably her closest friend on the planet right now, so it seemed like they should be action more naturally than this.
Beastboy's grin didn't fade, however. "You didn't answer. How'd you sleep?"
She looked towards him, unable to help a small smile at his grin. "Very well, actually. Crying was... tiring."
"Robin asked me if I knew anything about the broken lights. I told him no. I think he could tell I was lying, but I'd rather lie to him than tell him what happened, if you didn't want him to know."
Raven nodded slowly. "It's probably best that he not know about it. He asked me as well, I told him it was simply an accident. He told me that I should turn to the Titans if I needed them, that you all cared for me."
Beastboy radiated happiness. "They... we all do. You know that, Raven."
She turned towards him, and placed her hand on top of his. "Bestboy, I need to talk to you about something."
She could feel his nervousness, and a spark of giddiness at her touch. He was also curious, wondering what she was going to say. In the back of his mind, she still sensed... guilt. Presumably over being in a situation like this so soon after Terra.
She still kept her hand on his, feeling like she needed a touch to make what she was going to say sound more sincere, to make it sink in a little more. She closed her fingers around his, and began to speak.
"Beastboy, I need you to stay quiet and not interrupt me, since this is hard to say. I want... I want to date you. It's strange for me to feel attracted to someone, and I'm not sure if I will be able to handle it for long. What I wanted to say was..."
She paused for a moment, trying to compose her words, and her bubbling emotions. A gentle squeeze from Beastboy's hand helped to calm her, and she looked back at him, continuing.
"The problem is... I can't feel emotions too strongly, or I cause destruction. Crying on your shoulder last night only broke a few things, but that was because I'd spent most of the day trying to meditate and get over your previous rejection. If it had happened on a normal day... I'm not sure what would have happened. I guess I'm trying to tell you that if we date... I might not be the most loving girlfriend."
Raven felt strange saying 'girlfriend' in reference to herself. It was hard to say all of that, but she knew she had to, and so she'd simply spoken it without thought and without regret, until she'd finished. Now, she felt awkward and unsure. Beastboy seemed to be thinking deeply, and she still felt his hand holding hers. Far from being calming now, it was causing more emotion. She tried to suppress it, and was making good progress by the time Beastboy spoke.
"Raven... It's... I don't know that I can date you. Terra." Beastboy's voice was full of regret. He sounded almost sad that Terra was causing him to reject her. She could feel a mixture of regret, guilt, and buried happiness in him.
"Terra was a good person, at least towards you, Beastboy. She would want you to move on. We will wait on a decision, perhaps, until tomorrow."
Beastboy looked at her. She felt confusion in him. She decided to explain.
"The one-month anniversary of her death. No one else is likely to do anything special, but you and I should go and see her again. Perhaps... Perhaps another visit will help you decide what you need to do."
Beastboy looked down at the carpet, trying to decide. She felt him turning his options over in his head, she felt hopeful that he would agree to at least give her a chance. It was strange to put the decision so much in someone else's hands, but it took both of them to make a relationship.
Beastboy turned towards her, and grinned an honest grin. "Ok. I think that's a good way to tell if I'm ready. Until then, I guess... I want you to know that I feel the same way. I want to date you too, you're such a nice person, and you care so deeply for everyone here, and I'm just glad you can see me as more than a goofy green guy."
Raven smiled, a true, happy, honest smile. She could feel his happiness at her reaction, and she laid her head on his shoulder once more. She felt happy herself, but it was a guarded happiness, and not powerful enough to release her powers. They sat there like that for a few moments, when yet another knock on the door interrupted their reveries.
"Friend? The lighting tubes in the hallway are broken. Have you become uncalm?"
Beastboy turned towards Raven, grinning stupidly. Raven stood up, still holding Beastboy's hand, and led him towards the door. She let go of his hand, then opened the door, revealing the nearly orange alien girl. Starfire wore a look of quiet concern, then surprise as she saw Beastboy standing in Raven's empty room.
"Tell me, why is your room empty? And why is Beastboy in here as well?" Starfire floated into the room, looking around curiously. Raven sighed as she entered, tired of everyone poking into her room recently.
"It's fine, Starfire. I had a momentary lapse of control last night. It won't happen again." Raven's voice was calm, but she tossed Beastboy a smile, showing that it wasn't only a loss of control. He grinned back.
Starfire smiled at the two people in front of her. "And Beastboy? He is here due to concern as well?"
Beastboy nodded. "Yep, I came by because I care about Raven. She's fine though, so don't worry. In fact, she and I were about to go make breakfast for everyone, right Raven?"
Raven shot him a look of irritation, but followed him as they walked out into the hallway. She watched Beastboy and Starfire walking ahead of her, talking about tofu and breakfast. Starfire was always keenly interested in Earth's flora and fauna, and was drilling Beastboy on soy plants. Beastboy didn't seem to know enough to satisfy her, but Starfire still smiled anyway.
Raven realized that she was lucky to have friends like the Titans. Despite the constant irritation that they all caused, they were here for her when she needed them. It was a nice feeling, realizing that her friends were so important to her. The last few days had opened her mind to a lot of new thoughts and feelings, and she was happy that she and Beastboy had gotten closer.
It was all due to Terra. If it had not been for her, there would have still been nothing to talk to Beastboy about, and they would have never grown close. She owed a lot to that traitor, despite her hatred of her. Terra had caused everyone on the team a lot of pain, but hopefully, in the future, Terra would accidentally bring Raven and Beastboy some happiness.
The day passed quickly for Raven. Cooking breakfast was oddly fun, working with Beastboy and with tofu to create something at least semi-edible. With Raven helping to cook, Cyborg complained less about the tofu, not wanting to upset her. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal over all.
After breakfast, Raven retired to her room, meditating more out of habit than necessity. She spent the day reading and relaxing, trying to keep her mind off of Beastboy and their upcoming decision. It wasn't long before it was dinner time.
Dinner was cooked by Robin, who was a mediocre cook in all regards. They had fairly simple spaghetti, nothing special, but not bad either. Everyone talked and laughed as they ate, Raven even smiling at some of the jokes. She felt better recently, as if releasing a little smile or talking a little would not ruin her control. Everything seemed brighter when she allowed just a bit of emotion, and she enjoyed it.
After dinner, she once again went to her room, meditating once more before the night. She was calm, controlled, everything was fine. She laid down to sleep some time later, her anxiousness about tomorrow safely buried deep inside of her.
Raven woke early the next morning, feeling the same as usual. She quickly got up, took a shower, and got ready for the day. She thought forward to today's visit with Terra. It seemed strange, to visit what amounted to a statue. However, she did realize how important Terra was to Beastboy, and wanted him to be happy to date her, not doing it out of pity.
The knock at her door surprised her, but she didn't show it. She firmly fixed the clasp of her cloak around her neck, then walked towards the door. It opened, showing Beastboy.
"Hey Raven. I figured you'd be up by now. Want to go before Robin tells us to start training or something?" His voice was laden with sadness, and his aura was both sad and nervous. There was a big choice to be made, and neither of them wanted to face that choice just yet.
Raven nodded, her face still empty. She wanted to make sure she didn't influence his decision by physical contact. She simply followed as he led her to the rooftop, then took flight as he changed into a bird and flapped noisily into the morning air. It was cool out, crisp and wonderful as they flew towards the one remaining entrance into the underground lair where Slade had controlled Terra.
They landed near the barred entrance into the cave system. Jump City had paved over the holes in the streets, repaired the holes in floors, and closed the holes in the park. This remote area was the only remaining entrance, and it was covered in heavy steel bars. Beastboy changed into a mouse, scurrying down through the bars, then changing back into a human, descending quickly into the cave. Raven pressed her hands against the metal, then slid through, phasing through the bars easily. The two teenagers walked quietly down into the earth.
It was quite a long way. Their footsteps echoed in the silent cave as they pressed on, the darkness illuminated only by the flashlight Beastboy had brought. The cave floor was mostly even, since it was by no means a natural cave. Finally, they turned a corner, and saw the pit leading towards the inner sanctum. Raven levitated as she floated gently down, and Beastboy changed into a mountain goat, hopping nimbly from rock to rock, eventually meeting her down at the bottom. He changed back into a human.
They stepped past the destroyed steel door, the impressions of a mammoth's tusks still on the side. The second door was still stuck open, and they proceeded into the large chamber beyond. The floor was slick, cooled lava flow. There were pieces of shattered glass and twisted metal strewn about, a testament to the epic battle that had claimed Terra's young life. They stood before the statue, and the flashlight's beams illuminated Terra's features.
They stood, silently staring up at her. It was strange, her angelic stance and calm face, frozen for eternity in stone. The room was cool and dark, all semblance of a volcano long since removed. Raven turned her gaze to Beastboy. He was staringup at the statue, his eyes moist. He seemed to be speaking to himself, or perhaps to her, but his mouth wasn't moving enough for her to read his lips.
She allowed him his privacy, choosing not to encroach on his mind. She closed her eyes, thinking to Terra, not willing to speak.
Terra, If you can hear this, then you are probably wondering why I would visit you. Beastboy... loves you still. He is often affected with sadness and grief over your death, and when he is, I have tried to be there for him. I... wish to be with him now, Terra. Your betrayal and subsequent death have brought Beastboy and I closer, and now I worry that he will never feel comfortable dating me. Please, if it is whithin your power, send some hint that he should let you go, that he should give me a chance. I also must let your memory go. Goodbye, Terra.
Raven opened her eyes, feeling strange about the near-prayer to Terra. She knew about the spirit world, she and Starfire had attempted a few times to contact it. However, she was unaware of Terra's location. She may be dead, she may simply be trapped inside the stone. Still, she prayed, hoping that Terra could hear.
She turned her head, looking once more at Beastboy. He noticed the movement, and looked at her as well. He placed the flashlight on the pedastal in front of Terra, and reached out, taking her hands in his. They stared into eachother's eyes for a moment. Raven could see all of Beastboy's uncertainty and regret in his eyes, but also... he was happy to have found someone to be with. They stood, doing nothing for a few more seconds. Finally, Beastboy spoke.
"Raven, I... I've made a decision." His voice was confident now. The decision had been made, though she couldn't tell what had been decided.
"Yes, Beastboy? What have you decided?" Raven felt her own nervousness boiling inside her, weak enough not to cause a energy release, but strong enough to be discomforting. She still stared into his eyes, awaiting his answer.
A/N: You'll have to await his answer as well. Raven and Beastboy both have problems to resolve before they can become a couple, but it's getting closer to fruition. I'll update the fic in another day or two, sorry for the slowish updates, but things keep happening around here. Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you soon!
Review Responses:
A/N: A few people commented on the lack of damage when Raven was sobbing into Beastboy's shoulder. All that happened was a shattered teacup, a cupboard opening by itself and slamming shut, and the hallway's lights all breaking as they walked by. The thing is, Starfire feels everything to the fullest, and she was panicking completely in "Switched". Raven's powers would have been activated to the fullest amount possible by accident, and did not actually level the city block. Accidental energy releases seemed to simply melt, throw around, or bend random nearby objects or people. I tried to keep this in mind as I wrote the scene. I may have understated it, but doing much more would anger the rest of the Titans, as replacing a one-of-a-kind island and tower is a bit steep of a repair bill.
Change-Of-Heart2: I like Terra a bit, she helped add a bit of seriousness and depth to the second season. Glad you liked the story so much, it's always nice to be able to invoke emotion in others.
ShadowStar21: Glad you liked it!
Mrs. Myxztipik: Glad you liked this chapter, but I hope you liked the others as well. Updating now!
Regrem Erutaerc: Trigon's value in the show is exclusively rage, but he also hates Raven quite a bit, at least the sane, human side of her. So I wanted him to attempt to mess up her relationship with Beastboy. Having someone to confide in does make her calmer, and that would certainly anger Trigon.
MOOgoestheCHICKEN: Glad you liked the chapter. Putting me on the Author Alert list means that you get emails sent to you whenever I write a new story or update an old one. If you want to watch for new chapters without having to look at FFN, then it makes sense to do so.
Mint Dragon: That's quite a compliment! I'm glad you like my style, and I'll keep updating as much as possible.
Christina: I've explained the damage bit in the Author's Note above. Glad you liked the scene though, I liked it as well.
The Big Fisch: Yep, the comics are nice. Once my ethernet connection is fixed, I might be able to get the entire series as one big two gigabyte chunk. I'm just surprised at the number of reviews that this story is getting, with so few chapters and so little development. I'm glad everyone likes it so much.
Supreme Mystic Dragon: Glad you liked the chapter. It's always weird to mention people who are in the comic but not in the show, but I wanted to show how repressed Raven's life had been. Trigon is perhaps overstated in chapter 4, and he's used less in 5 and 6. He was just scaring her, but she is aware that her powers require emotional control. I addressed the damage thing in the author's note, above.
Jakked-up: Glad you love the story! I thought this chapter was cute as well.
Slayergirl1362: No problem, you don't have to review every chapter, I won't be insulted. I like spending time adding detail to Raven's thoughts. She's the only character who's internal monologue is shown in this fic, and so I try to do it well. Glad you like it.
Mango Sam: Glad you loved the fic, and glad you look forward to the next chapter. Here it is!
Pharoh of the Skies: Glad you found my story as well. Hope you like the next chapter!
An Empath's Burden
Raven's eyes snapped open as a knock at her door woke her. She then winced as the bright light in her room hurt her eyes. The morning was bright and sunny. She stood up, feeling light and refreshed, the calm and happiness from last night still lingering. She stepped towards the door, and was halfway there before a voice rang out.
"Raven? Are you ok? The lights in the hallway are all broken. Did something hap-" The door slid open at Raven's touch, and revealed Robin standing there, with a look of concern.
"I'm fine, Robin. It was an accident, nothing more." Raven's face wore that look of praticed indifference, and her voice was calm and clear. But still, Robin raised an eyebrow.
"I know that you have trouble with your emotions. By the look of your room, you've had a lot of trouble." Robin was observant, as always. It was a trait that she always admired, and sometimes despised. She didn't want her recent losses of control to come to his attention. Robin had a way of overcompensating for any problem he was faced with.
"It's under control. Your concern is touching, but unneccessary." Raven still stared at him, deadpan, her eyes piercing his soul. She knew that her gaze could unnerve people, so she often glared at anyone that she no longer wished to speak to.
"Well, I'll leave you alone then. Just remember that no matter what it is, the Titans are here to help you. You're a good friend, and an important part of the team. We all care about you." Robin waved, not wanting to irritate Raven by touching her for a handshake, and walked away from the door, heading towards his room.
Raven watched him as he walked away. They all cared about her. She knew this already, it wasn't the same as how Beastboy cared about her. Beastboy. She wondered what he was doing, and her mind instinctively reached out, finding him asleep in his room, dreaming happily. She didn't pry into his dreams, instead just happy that he was still feeling well. She closed the door to her room, then grabbed a towel out of her closet, heading towards the shower.
A few moments later, she was standing in her room, leotard back on, brushing her drying hair. The shower had been refreshing, waking her fully from the night's sleep, and also making her realize how good she felt today. After crying last night, all of her bottled emotions had been emptied, she didn't feel them gnawing at her shell, trying to get out. She didn't even need to meditate this morning, she felt calm without it.
A knock came at her door, and she placed the brush on the Book of Azar, which rested on her bed. There was no shelf space left in the room to keep a brush. It had luckily been in the bathroom when the dream had struck. She opened the door, and Beastboy was there, smiling happily.
"Hi Raven! How'd you sleep?" Beastboy walked into the room, feeling pretty bold since last night's encounter. Raven noted the boldness, happy that he felt so comfortable around her, but also still nervous about getting close to someone. She watched as he crossed the room, then sat down on her bed, for lack of any other place to sit. She walked over as well, sitting next to him on the bed. She reached out with her powers, locking the door.
They both sat there for a few moments. Beastboy was grinning at her, and she was nervously trying to deal with the awkward situation. She had a boy in her room, that she... was attracted to. She phrased things carefully in her mind, trying not to overdo it. He may be attracted to her as well, but she didn't know. He was, however, probably her closest friend on the planet right now, so it seemed like they should be action more naturally than this.
Beastboy's grin didn't fade, however. "You didn't answer. How'd you sleep?"
She looked towards him, unable to help a small smile at his grin. "Very well, actually. Crying was... tiring."
"Robin asked me if I knew anything about the broken lights. I told him no. I think he could tell I was lying, but I'd rather lie to him than tell him what happened, if you didn't want him to know."
Raven nodded slowly. "It's probably best that he not know about it. He asked me as well, I told him it was simply an accident. He told me that I should turn to the Titans if I needed them, that you all cared for me."
Beastboy radiated happiness. "They... we all do. You know that, Raven."
She turned towards him, and placed her hand on top of his. "Bestboy, I need to talk to you about something."
She could feel his nervousness, and a spark of giddiness at her touch. He was also curious, wondering what she was going to say. In the back of his mind, she still sensed... guilt. Presumably over being in a situation like this so soon after Terra.
She still kept her hand on his, feeling like she needed a touch to make what she was going to say sound more sincere, to make it sink in a little more. She closed her fingers around his, and began to speak.
"Beastboy, I need you to stay quiet and not interrupt me, since this is hard to say. I want... I want to date you. It's strange for me to feel attracted to someone, and I'm not sure if I will be able to handle it for long. What I wanted to say was..."
She paused for a moment, trying to compose her words, and her bubbling emotions. A gentle squeeze from Beastboy's hand helped to calm her, and she looked back at him, continuing.
"The problem is... I can't feel emotions too strongly, or I cause destruction. Crying on your shoulder last night only broke a few things, but that was because I'd spent most of the day trying to meditate and get over your previous rejection. If it had happened on a normal day... I'm not sure what would have happened. I guess I'm trying to tell you that if we date... I might not be the most loving girlfriend."
Raven felt strange saying 'girlfriend' in reference to herself. It was hard to say all of that, but she knew she had to, and so she'd simply spoken it without thought and without regret, until she'd finished. Now, she felt awkward and unsure. Beastboy seemed to be thinking deeply, and she still felt his hand holding hers. Far from being calming now, it was causing more emotion. She tried to suppress it, and was making good progress by the time Beastboy spoke.
"Raven... It's... I don't know that I can date you. Terra." Beastboy's voice was full of regret. He sounded almost sad that Terra was causing him to reject her. She could feel a mixture of regret, guilt, and buried happiness in him.
"Terra was a good person, at least towards you, Beastboy. She would want you to move on. We will wait on a decision, perhaps, until tomorrow."
Beastboy looked at her. She felt confusion in him. She decided to explain.
"The one-month anniversary of her death. No one else is likely to do anything special, but you and I should go and see her again. Perhaps... Perhaps another visit will help you decide what you need to do."
Beastboy looked down at the carpet, trying to decide. She felt him turning his options over in his head, she felt hopeful that he would agree to at least give her a chance. It was strange to put the decision so much in someone else's hands, but it took both of them to make a relationship.
Beastboy turned towards her, and grinned an honest grin. "Ok. I think that's a good way to tell if I'm ready. Until then, I guess... I want you to know that I feel the same way. I want to date you too, you're such a nice person, and you care so deeply for everyone here, and I'm just glad you can see me as more than a goofy green guy."
Raven smiled, a true, happy, honest smile. She could feel his happiness at her reaction, and she laid her head on his shoulder once more. She felt happy herself, but it was a guarded happiness, and not powerful enough to release her powers. They sat there like that for a few moments, when yet another knock on the door interrupted their reveries.
"Friend? The lighting tubes in the hallway are broken. Have you become uncalm?"
Beastboy turned towards Raven, grinning stupidly. Raven stood up, still holding Beastboy's hand, and led him towards the door. She let go of his hand, then opened the door, revealing the nearly orange alien girl. Starfire wore a look of quiet concern, then surprise as she saw Beastboy standing in Raven's empty room.
"Tell me, why is your room empty? And why is Beastboy in here as well?" Starfire floated into the room, looking around curiously. Raven sighed as she entered, tired of everyone poking into her room recently.
"It's fine, Starfire. I had a momentary lapse of control last night. It won't happen again." Raven's voice was calm, but she tossed Beastboy a smile, showing that it wasn't only a loss of control. He grinned back.
Starfire smiled at the two people in front of her. "And Beastboy? He is here due to concern as well?"
Beastboy nodded. "Yep, I came by because I care about Raven. She's fine though, so don't worry. In fact, she and I were about to go make breakfast for everyone, right Raven?"
Raven shot him a look of irritation, but followed him as they walked out into the hallway. She watched Beastboy and Starfire walking ahead of her, talking about tofu and breakfast. Starfire was always keenly interested in Earth's flora and fauna, and was drilling Beastboy on soy plants. Beastboy didn't seem to know enough to satisfy her, but Starfire still smiled anyway.
Raven realized that she was lucky to have friends like the Titans. Despite the constant irritation that they all caused, they were here for her when she needed them. It was a nice feeling, realizing that her friends were so important to her. The last few days had opened her mind to a lot of new thoughts and feelings, and she was happy that she and Beastboy had gotten closer.
It was all due to Terra. If it had not been for her, there would have still been nothing to talk to Beastboy about, and they would have never grown close. She owed a lot to that traitor, despite her hatred of her. Terra had caused everyone on the team a lot of pain, but hopefully, in the future, Terra would accidentally bring Raven and Beastboy some happiness.
The day passed quickly for Raven. Cooking breakfast was oddly fun, working with Beastboy and with tofu to create something at least semi-edible. With Raven helping to cook, Cyborg complained less about the tofu, not wanting to upset her. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal over all.
After breakfast, Raven retired to her room, meditating more out of habit than necessity. She spent the day reading and relaxing, trying to keep her mind off of Beastboy and their upcoming decision. It wasn't long before it was dinner time.
Dinner was cooked by Robin, who was a mediocre cook in all regards. They had fairly simple spaghetti, nothing special, but not bad either. Everyone talked and laughed as they ate, Raven even smiling at some of the jokes. She felt better recently, as if releasing a little smile or talking a little would not ruin her control. Everything seemed brighter when she allowed just a bit of emotion, and she enjoyed it.
After dinner, she once again went to her room, meditating once more before the night. She was calm, controlled, everything was fine. She laid down to sleep some time later, her anxiousness about tomorrow safely buried deep inside of her.
Raven woke early the next morning, feeling the same as usual. She quickly got up, took a shower, and got ready for the day. She thought forward to today's visit with Terra. It seemed strange, to visit what amounted to a statue. However, she did realize how important Terra was to Beastboy, and wanted him to be happy to date her, not doing it out of pity.
The knock at her door surprised her, but she didn't show it. She firmly fixed the clasp of her cloak around her neck, then walked towards the door. It opened, showing Beastboy.
"Hey Raven. I figured you'd be up by now. Want to go before Robin tells us to start training or something?" His voice was laden with sadness, and his aura was both sad and nervous. There was a big choice to be made, and neither of them wanted to face that choice just yet.
Raven nodded, her face still empty. She wanted to make sure she didn't influence his decision by physical contact. She simply followed as he led her to the rooftop, then took flight as he changed into a bird and flapped noisily into the morning air. It was cool out, crisp and wonderful as they flew towards the one remaining entrance into the underground lair where Slade had controlled Terra.
They landed near the barred entrance into the cave system. Jump City had paved over the holes in the streets, repaired the holes in floors, and closed the holes in the park. This remote area was the only remaining entrance, and it was covered in heavy steel bars. Beastboy changed into a mouse, scurrying down through the bars, then changing back into a human, descending quickly into the cave. Raven pressed her hands against the metal, then slid through, phasing through the bars easily. The two teenagers walked quietly down into the earth.
It was quite a long way. Their footsteps echoed in the silent cave as they pressed on, the darkness illuminated only by the flashlight Beastboy had brought. The cave floor was mostly even, since it was by no means a natural cave. Finally, they turned a corner, and saw the pit leading towards the inner sanctum. Raven levitated as she floated gently down, and Beastboy changed into a mountain goat, hopping nimbly from rock to rock, eventually meeting her down at the bottom. He changed back into a human.
They stepped past the destroyed steel door, the impressions of a mammoth's tusks still on the side. The second door was still stuck open, and they proceeded into the large chamber beyond. The floor was slick, cooled lava flow. There were pieces of shattered glass and twisted metal strewn about, a testament to the epic battle that had claimed Terra's young life. They stood before the statue, and the flashlight's beams illuminated Terra's features.
They stood, silently staring up at her. It was strange, her angelic stance and calm face, frozen for eternity in stone. The room was cool and dark, all semblance of a volcano long since removed. Raven turned her gaze to Beastboy. He was staringup at the statue, his eyes moist. He seemed to be speaking to himself, or perhaps to her, but his mouth wasn't moving enough for her to read his lips.
She allowed him his privacy, choosing not to encroach on his mind. She closed her eyes, thinking to Terra, not willing to speak.
Terra, If you can hear this, then you are probably wondering why I would visit you. Beastboy... loves you still. He is often affected with sadness and grief over your death, and when he is, I have tried to be there for him. I... wish to be with him now, Terra. Your betrayal and subsequent death have brought Beastboy and I closer, and now I worry that he will never feel comfortable dating me. Please, if it is whithin your power, send some hint that he should let you go, that he should give me a chance. I also must let your memory go. Goodbye, Terra.
Raven opened her eyes, feeling strange about the near-prayer to Terra. She knew about the spirit world, she and Starfire had attempted a few times to contact it. However, she was unaware of Terra's location. She may be dead, she may simply be trapped inside the stone. Still, she prayed, hoping that Terra could hear.
She turned her head, looking once more at Beastboy. He noticed the movement, and looked at her as well. He placed the flashlight on the pedastal in front of Terra, and reached out, taking her hands in his. They stared into eachother's eyes for a moment. Raven could see all of Beastboy's uncertainty and regret in his eyes, but also... he was happy to have found someone to be with. They stood, doing nothing for a few more seconds. Finally, Beastboy spoke.
"Raven, I... I've made a decision." His voice was confident now. The decision had been made, though she couldn't tell what had been decided.
"Yes, Beastboy? What have you decided?" Raven felt her own nervousness boiling inside her, weak enough not to cause a energy release, but strong enough to be discomforting. She still stared into his eyes, awaiting his answer.
A/N: You'll have to await his answer as well. Raven and Beastboy both have problems to resolve before they can become a couple, but it's getting closer to fruition. I'll update the fic in another day or two, sorry for the slowish updates, but things keep happening around here. Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you soon!