Chapter 3: "True Friends"

Later that morning, Beast Boy peeked around a bookshelf in a store, rather comically 'disguised' in a coat and big hat. Several 'goths' were blinking at him, rather surprised to see a normally dressed person looking through one of the occult sections of the book store. His ears perked up as he overheard a couple of them talking, a guy and girl.

"Shouldn't this be in philosophy?" the girl asked, setting a small, thick, black book on the shelf.

The boy shrugged. "I dunno. I think they put it here because it's about witches, you know?"

They moved off, and Beast Boy creeped over, as if sneaking through a high-security lair, and swiped the book off the shelf, looking at it in his gloved hands. Written in gold letters, the book was titled 'Memoirs of Great Witches'. His expression turned thoughtful, and he flipped it open, reading a bit of the first page he saw. Just a bunch of witches talking about life, huh? Would she like it? he asked, shutting the book quietly. Looks spooky enough for her, alright… His eyes focused down the black and gold spine. Finally, he shrugged. I can't find any better.

Hurrying up to the counter, he grinned, setting the book down for the cashier. She blinked at him, and rung it up. "Here you go, sir."

"Thanks!" he squeaked, zipping out of the story with bag in-hand.

(Meanwhile…)

Back at the tower, Robin was lounging on the couch, watching TV. There weren't any alerts, and he was a bit tired, so relaxing seemed like a good idea. Hearing someone enter, he looked back, and saw Rith walking down the steps at the back of the room. "Oh, hey Rith. What's up?"

"Fetching some tea," the boy answered easily, moving to the kitchen.

Robin shut off the TV, and walked over to join him. "I wanted to ask you something. May I?"

Rith looked up, his eyebrows rising. "Certainly." His hands were pulling out tea-bags and pouring hot-water as he faced Robin, and the boy wonder realized Rith's lack of eyes actually let him function better than he would have normally.

Noting the idea, Robin smiled. "Do you intend to keep traveling after we deal with Dr. Gear?"

At this, Rith fully paused. "…I intended to, yes. You have a well organized team here, and I wouldn't want to disrupt it any more than I already will before Dr. Gear is dealt with."

"Well I'm not sure where they all stand on the idea, but I wanted to bring it up with you first. Would you accept it if an offer were made for you to stay on? Become a Teen Titan?"

Rith's shock was clear. "…Become a Titan?" He became awkward. "I'm honored by the idea, Robin, but… wait and decide to offer that after you see more of what I can do. If I cause more disruption than help, it may be best for me to leave."

Robin tipped his head. "Fair enough, I'll keep that in mind. Do the same, please?"

"…Most assuredly," the blind boy finally managed with a bow.

The leader of the Titans smiled again, and moved into the kitchen to get himself a drink as Rith started to work on the tea again. Rith tilted his head, listening for something, and then 'glanced' back to Robin. "…May I ask you about something? If you consider it prying, I won't pursue it."

Curious to learn more about Rith through questions as well as anything else, Robin eased back with his drink. "Sure. Shoot."

"I wished to know if you could tell me anything about Raven and a dragon named Malchior?" He felt Robin's expression flatten instantly. "I apologize. I won't bring it up again."

Robin shook his head. "No, it's alright, I'm just not sure how you found out about that."

"It was accidental."

The gadget-wielding young man chuckled a bit. "Oh, of course… Honestly, that's something Raven should tell you about herself."

Rith tipped his head. "Of course…"

"…You're very interested in Raven."

The blind boy's hands slipped, almost spilling the hot water he was using. "Well she is a mysterious young woman. I imagine you are all quite curious about her. I simply don't know her well enough to quell my curiosity yet."

"Since I didn't answer your question, I won't push the issue, but you're not fooling me."

Rith's brow creased, his back to Robin. "Fooling you?"

Robin chuckled again. "We can all tell you like her."

At last, Rith smiled a bit. "It's that obvious, hm?"

"You change around her. As soon as she walks into the room, you get quiet, and she's usually under your full attention." Robin sipped his drink.

The cloak-attired boy took a sip of his tea at last. "I underestimated you, Robin. I hadn't thought you were watching me so closely as that."

"It's my job to keep track of things, especially when they might affect my friends."

Rith nodded, and sipped his tea again, holding it with both hands. Pleased with the warmth, he set it down, and turned around to let Robin look at his face. "I simply wish for her happiness. I don't assume it includes my presence in her life."

"That's why I like you," Robin agreed with a sincere grin. "You not so different from Raven yourself. Well disciplined, calm, but you're more comfortable in your own skin."

Rith flicked his eyebrows as if shrugging. "I never had reason to doubt my nature. For Raven, that is a rarely attained gift."

The black-haired boy became serious. "You're right… She's afraid she'll hurt the people she cares about, just being who she is."

Rith pulled his cup from behind himself, sipped it, and held it low. "Because she thinks in terms of 'what' she is. Sadly, I sense she feels little from other perspectives, despite your best efforts. I mean all of you," he emphasized with a subtle nod.

Robin sighed faintly, remembering Slade's return. We didn't do much to fix that problem… They'd all just been batted aside. Slade found her, and whatever she'd feared of that day had happened.

The alarm sounded, and the room flashed red. Robin shot away from the kitchen, leaping over the couch, and landed touching the controls on the main console at the far side of the room. Rith joined him as the screen switched on. Starfire flew in, Cyborg charging after her, and Beast Boy hopped out of another door… a hat still on his head. Raven floated in, hood up, and watched.

Robin watched the view with the others. A metal works was being assaulted by a large, humanoid robot, at least two stories tall, bulky, mostly silver, with glowing red wires visible in the joints. It looked vaguely like Cinderblock. Rith tensed at the sounds. "A robot?"

The leader nodded, and twisted around. "Alright, Titans. Let's stop that thief and track down his boss!"

"Yeah, baby!" Cyborg yelled, charging out of the room with Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven in tow. Robin hurried off, Rith running in his wake, staff raised.

"How large was the machine?" Rith asked quickly.

Robin realized the boy couldn't see anything on the screen. "Tall, building height, and bulky."

"With visible wires?"

"Yep."

"Dr. Gear alright."

(Later…)

Red optics glistened sharply as the silver behemoth pried open a hangar inside the massive warehouse, bars of metal pouring out. Workers were still fleeing the building as it started to grab fist-fulls of metal in its claws. Aside from the overall bulk of its mass, the robot was sharp and sleek, with a predatory slant to its design. A full jaw of sharp teeth waited beneath the red eyes.

"Caught with your hand in the candy jar!"

The robot whirled around, dropping the metal, and found the Teen Titans posed at the entrance, Robin at the front with his staff behind him, Cyborg, cannon ready, Beast Boy braced for action, and Starfire and Raven floating behind them, energy glowing in their eyes. With them was Rith, his staff held at his side.

The robot remained still for a moment as a filtered voice boomed from its closed mouth. "Ah, Rith. Shacked up with the locals again, I see. A better group this time," the snide, older voice mocked.

"Mock me as you wish, Doctor, but offending my hosts is just rude."

The robot spread its legs. "Oh dear. How ever will I make amends!" the doctor's voice shouted as plates opened all over the machine's body, missiles bursting out and spiraling at the Titans.

"Titans, go!" Robin yelled, and leapt into the fray, somersaulting as blast-discs flew out of his hands, staff gone.

Cyborg charged, blasting away, Beast Boy rushing into a small bird and flitting through the barrage. Starfire let her eyes blaze through swaths of them, then blurred her fists at more, blowing them up individually. Raven flew ahead, her hands rising forward. "Azarath metrion zinthos!" Black energy engulfed her hands, and shot out like lightning, absorbing dozens of missiles before they flew into each other, exploding harmlessly before she flew through the smoke like a wraith.

Another salvo blew up around Rith as he dashed through with Robin, their staffs snapping into missiles to get rid of more. With the Titans almost upon it, the robot groaned with a heavy, metallic exhale, and charged to meet them, shuddering the warehouse with its steps. Robin snapped a trio of blast-discs at it, but the machine blocked with its left arm, a glowing blue shield flaring to life and blocking the explosives flawlessly. The robot swept down with its right arm, catching Robin as he leapt in, staff out, sending him flying off from the blow. Rith braced to a halt, gathering sound for a blast as Starfire cried in dismay, flying to catch Robin, the others rushing up behind Rith.

The blind boy almost attacked when the machine aimed its right arm down at him, and a small gun popped out of the back of the fist, blasting a cone of distortion at Rith. He reeled back as it struck, grabbing his ears and stepping wildly from side to side, completely disoriented. "I've learned a few lessons from you after all, Rith!" the doctor's voice called with dark glee.

A loud roar made the robot look up, into the jaws of green T-Rex, which snapped around, swinging Cyborg off the ends of it tail. His feet planted into the robot's face. "Booyah!"

It reeled back, Rith collapsing to all fours, his staff clattering to the cement beside him.

"Thanks!" he managed, holding his head with one hand.

Starfire let Robin down on the other side of the warehouse, and Cyborg blasted the robot back another step with his cannon. "No problem. Let's show this tin-can who's boss!"

Raven swept past them and rose up, her arms out to either side, hands raised. The robot moved to strike her with its fist, but her eyes blazed, and it was encased in shadow, restraining it as Raven focused.

Rith retrieved his staff and stood up, looking to the battle with controlled alarm. "Raven! Careful! That machine is quite strong!"

Suddenly the robot burst free, Raven gasping from the pain of her soulself being so disrupted, and grunted when its hand clamped around her body, her hood falling down her back as she winced, grabbing at the thumb and finger around her waist. Blast-discs, star-bolts, sonic beams, and even a charging Rhino berated the robot instantly, but it just skidded back, and held Raven toward the team. Dr. Gear laughed. "Well, well. You might want to stop attacking before this one gets hurt, Titans!"

"I don't think she likes being grabbed."

Raven twisted around as she was held, looking over her shoulder to see Rith lean down over the robot's shoulder, looking it in the optics with a firmly angered façade, staff free in his left hand.

Dr. Gear gave a cry of shock, but Rith leapt free as the robot reeled, distortions swirling around his body, and rammed the far end of his staff across the machine's optics. A shock-wave pulsed out with a deep, powerful tone, the cement below and the walls breaking as the ring-wave struck them. The robot's optics shattered as it reeled, and Raven was free of its grasp. She flew back, watching Rith with the others as he dropped to a low stance, facing the stumbling, roaring machine.

Cyborg whistled. "A sonic boom focused into his hit. I wouldn't wanna be on the receiving end of that."

Raven pulled her hood up again. "This thing is getting on my nerves," she muttered darkly, and then shot off. Rith's eyebrows rose with concern as she rushed past him, the robot recovering enough to aim its fists down at the team, beam-cannons rising out of its open forearms on their tops. She swept her arms up and over together, dozens of bars glowing with blackness and twirling up to her summons. "You wanted metal? HAVE SOME!" she yelled, snapping her arms down, her body curling with her cloak as the darkened bars shot past her like razor-discs. Several flew at each charging cannon, ripping into them and finally slicing them off at their bases. The robot roared, screeching as its weapons fell off, exploding on either side of it violently, shaking the entire facility.

Raven's eyes flared with panic as it charged out of the smoke, claws grasping for her. She shot back as Starfire bolted in. A two-fisted slam across the robot's face knocked it to the side, her eyes blazed into its chest, and her fists rammed a beam-blast into the same spot as it stumbled back.

"Cyborg!" Robin shouted, tossing a blast-disc into the air.

"Bomb delivery coming right up!" Cyborg called back with a grin, aiming his cannon with practiced finesse, and firing briefly.

The blast-disc was caught, rammed into the hole Starfire made in the robot's chest, and blew up inside. Steam and smoke gushed out of the robot's neck and shoulder joints, but it recovered, and charged the team again. Raven landed in front of the others, feet spread as her cloak billowed back, and pulled her hands back on either side. Dark power swirled to her call, wind pulsing across the cement from her body. Her arms snapped forward with a building shout, and a beam of power erupted into the monstrous machine's front, ramming it off its charge, instantly forcing it to step back, claw feet skidding and scratching off the cement. Raven gritted her teeth, her frustration bleeding into her power. "Just break!"

Rith hurried up on her flank, the others rushing to do so as well, and he sensed the mark just starting to form on her forehead and hands. He could only sense the vague lines they etched in her skin. He distorted the sound near her ears to mimic his voice.

"Markings on your skin…"

Raven's eyes widened, her power vanishing abruptly as she stared down into her hands, the marks' reflections in her lavender eyes glowing, like the one on her forehead. She was distracted from the dark reminder by a mass ripping past her, and she looked up, the marks vanishing, to see Rith slam his staff into the robot's chest bodily, a mid-length ram-attack with the wooden weapon, his entire body curled up behind it from the impact.

A green elephant charged past her next, and rammed the robot back with a blaring cry of triumph as Rith backflipped, landing tightly in front of Raven. He growled in frustration himself. "He must have moved the power core. The wounds you all inflicted on the chest should have felled the machination by now."

Starfire and Robin joined Cyborg in blasting the robot a few more steps back with their respective weaponry as Raven looked to Rith. "What does the power core… feel like?"

"A cylinder shape, a great deal of heat, surrounded by coolant vents, and numerous wires connecting to the top and base," Rith listed off rapidly, looking to her as he realized what she was planning.

She stood still and straight, head bowed as her body remained hidden within her cloak. "Azarath…" the nature of the machine became real to her mind, its inner workings moving and showing their form to her, "metrion…" a hidden piece, nestled within vents and wires, became her focus. Her arms suddenly snapped forward, hands clawing toward the robot, "zinthos!"

The robot shuddered, and dark mass shot out of the hole in its chest. Dr. Gear gave a cry of dismay, but the feed died, and the machine collapsed with a dying moan where it stood. Hovering on Raven's left, just beyond her raised left hand, was the darkened power core. Everyone focused on her, a bit surprised at the abrupt defeat of the machine, and Rith was the first to smile as Raven let the core drop heavily to the cement at her feet. She smiled a bit, but it was soon gone for her usual calm expression.

"Nice!" Beast Boy exclaimed, leaping closer to the blind boy and Raven.

"One power core, C.O.D., courtesy of Raven!" Cyborg called out, grinning. "Booyah!"

Starfire flew up with Robin. "Glorious attack, Raven! Truly, you showed that robot who was the boss!"

"No kidding. Great work," Robin added.

Raven was blushing a little, but quickly shook her head. "Just doing my part. Rith told me enough to find the power core."

Beast Boy grinned. "Awesome! You two are the demolition duo!"

Raven's brow creased faintly at the term, and she abruptly remembered the resurgence of the marks on her body. Rith spoke before the silence turned awkward. "She used a precise technique to end a problem before more people got hurt, but I take your meaning, Beast Boy," his left eyelid squeezed in an unmistakable mimic of a wink. "Sorry I wasn't much help."

"You kidding?" Cyborg asked, smiling still. "You gave that thing one heck of a whooping with your staff, Rith, my man. That sonic ram was alright. I gotta have five for that!" he explained boisterously, offering his flattened palm.

Rith smirked, and slapped the metal palm with a little 'addition' from his power, making a sharp crack that made the others jump. Cyborg laughed. "Booyah, baby!"

"I agree," Robin said as the tone calmed a bit, still smiling. "I think you're a great addition to the team, Rith. I think Dr. Gear will be sorted out in no time."

Cyborg jerked a thumb back at the ruins of the machine. "Yeah, I'll start hacking into what's left of his brain and figure out what we can from this little shindig."

A soft alarm sounded from their various communicators suddenly. Robin whipped his out. "The vault!"

Rith's eyebrows flared up. "Red X?"

Robin just started running for the exit. "I doubt it's anyone else."

Raven lifted off the ground, Beast Boy turned into a bird, and Starfire picked up Cyborg. Raven was just picking Robin up when a blast shot past all of them, rippling clothes and hair alike.

Beast Boy squawked in alarm, and Raven looked up with serious surprise. "Rith…"

Cyborg gawked. "I didn't know he could fly!"

Robin just pointed up and ahead. "Let's just get back to the tower! We have to stop Red X if we can!"

And they took off together, rushing back to the tower. As they flew, Raven turned pensive. Rith had cut in, letting her avoid attention during their conversation just then, and his alarm at hearing about Red X was almost more grave than Robin's own. Helping Cyborg fly to the tower, her expression softened from its hardened discipline. …I think he's earned a little trust at this point… And warning her about the marks the way he had… it let her keep them private from the others. She almost sank a bit as her worries and guilt swirled in her mind. I can cut him some slack, but don't be stupid… I can't afford to drag more people into my problems, nice or not. And she flew on.

(At the Tower…)

Red X flickered into existence on the roof of Titan Tower, chuckling to himself. "When opportunity knocks, it's best to pay attention." He touched the buckle on the belt, and hopped off the ground, just starting to glide off into the air. He grunted, pain exploding across his stomach as he flew back, crashing onto the roof. He rolled back, almost reaching the other side of the wide expanse before picking himself up and looking back to see Rith standing low to the ground, legs spread, staff behind his back, his right arm held forward and braced.

"…You hit hard, kid," Red X muttered hoarsely, the first sign of real irritation in his voice.

Rith wasn't smirking either. "I try to keep my force in response to the task at hand. I don't underestimate someone I'm confronting. Take the belt off and leave it now, and I won't bother pursuing you."

X chuckled again, setting his hands on his hips. "Do you think I'm going to listen to you now that I can actually use all my tricks?"

"Your decision," Rith answered with a simple shake of his head.

X flickered, and Rith shot off the ground, air blasting from his wake. X appeared ducking a swipe from Rith in the middle of the roof, on the helicopter landing pad. Rith twisted and landed, running at X again. X dodged a few sharp swipes, and sent his palm at Rith's face, but Rith proved as adroit, and sent the butt of his staff up at X's face after pulling his head outside the blow. X vanished, but Rith simply snapped his right foot to the side, and X flew back, doubled over. He skidded to a halt near the edge, leaning toward Rith. "You know what you're doing, I'll give you that."

Rith stood up, folding his staff under one arm as the wind pushed his hair and clothes to the left, X's cape lashing in the same direction as he faced him. The thief suddenly snapped his arms forward, black balls flying loose. Rith shot to meet them, and X muttered 'whoa' as he watched the spheres detonate… and the explosions rush into a trail for Rith, building around his staff as he pulled back for a hefty swing at the thief's head.

X ducked the swipe, Rith following it through to the point of aiming the staff off the left, but the sonic wave behind it grabbed the thief, whose eyes flared, and finally yanked him off the ground, sending him flying to the far edge of the roof. He let his legs flop down before picking himself up, Rith bracing back into a stance. "…Nice trick, kid…" Red X admitted quite sincerely, rubbing his back.

At last, the blind boy smirked a bit. "Not bad yourself, but we've done this already."

X tipped his head. "That we have."

They both vanished for a heart-beat, and appeared together, Rith hopping and swiping, X ducking and sweeping with his leg. They finished landing and standing, facing each other, staff raised to two blocking hands, stalled. The wind rustled their clothes and Rith's hair once more. X chuckled, and tapped Rith's staff, but suddenly ducked with a sweep. Rith lost one foot from under himself, and X palmed him in the chest. Rith flew back, tumbling to the edge of the roof as X leapt back, touching his belt and starting to float. He gave a finger-salute. "See ya around, kid!"

But he turned around to widen his eyes at a star-bolt and fly back, flipping down to his feet as the Titans came flying in. Raven sent a blast of her soulself at him, Cyborg firing his cannon, Starfire blazing away from her eyes, and Robin threw several blast-discs. Beast Boy, still a bird, dove at X himself. Red X backflipped away from their barrage, landing on his feet near the edge, a little to Rith's left. Rith spun on his back, flicking his staff at the other boy's legs, but X somersaulted over it, pressed down briefly, and leapt back into the air just as Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy landed.

"Adios!" X called back, and finally vanished over the edge of the tower.

Rith flipped onto his feet, 'looking' out to the sky with a frustrated glare on his face. Robin and the others ran or flew up to him, the fliers landing. Cyborg whistled. "You can put some speed behind ya, Rith! What were you clocking?"

The boy jerked, as if surprised to turn and find them there. "Sorry… About the speed of sound," he answered with a light smile.

Cyborg chuckled. "Figures. Seems like you can do just about anything if sound is involved."

Rith shrugged. "I do what I can figure out."

Robin was grave for a moment, but smiled to Rith. "Well at least we have some proof for your side of the story. We knew X would show up again at some point…"

The staff-toting boy sighed himself. "I'm sorry I didn't get the belt back. …And, technically speaking, this could just be a very extreme coincidence, and I still could have tried to take the belt this morning, of course," he added with a self-deprecating smirk.

Beast Boy shook his head. "Dude, why do you keep saying stuff like that?"

"Just making sure I don't seem 'too eager to be trusted'," he answered easily, still smiling.

Raven exhaled. "I think this day is done. I'll be in my room." She turned, her cloak rippling behind her legs as she let her hood down and walked into the tower.

Rith followed her departure softly, and then focused on the others. "Cyborg, want me to come with you to secure the robot's remains?"

The half-robotic boy grinned. "Sounds like a plan, Rith. Come on, I'll get to show you my wheels!" He stopped, thought, and raised a finger with a blush and fresh grin, "You'll get to feel its shape!"

Rith laughed sincerely, nodding. "Sounds good. Lead on."

They left quickly, and Starfire put a hand on Robin's shoulder as he looked off seriously, where X had vanished. "It is not your fault, Robin."

He nodded a bit, and turned, smiling at her. "I know, but it's still a problem we'll have to deal with. Let's go inside." Starfire, Beast Boy, and he walked into the tower as well, the sun drawing near to the horizon as the door shut behind them.

(Later…)

Raven sat on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees under her chin as she looked down at the floor, worried and weary. The robot had just frustrated her, threatening her friends and taking so much damage without stopping, but it was still enough to make the markings appear. She shivered, squeezing her body together as her eyes clenched. Memories of the rooftop, with Slade grabbing her, burning the vision into her mind, onto her skin. She would almost rip her skin off if she thought it would stop anything.

So alone, she felt so alone. Her friends couldn't help her, they would only get hurt. She cared for them, enjoyed their company, and wanted to help them fight the evils in the world, but… if she was going to be one of the worst evils in the world, what was she doing? She gritted her teeth against the images of them turned to stone, struggling forever against manifestations of her power. Lakes of fire, ruined cities… her father roaring in triumph.

Her eyes snapped open, her hair relaxing down from her power flaring instinctively, the books and trinkets all around her room slowly calming from the powerful rattle she'd sent through the chamber. Raven sank her face into her hands, letting her legs down over the edge of the bed. I have to stop this somehow. I don't want to hurt my friends! I don't want to destroy the world! Slade's cold voice whispered in her mind. "You can't stop it…" Her anger, her rage, she could feel it in her head. What you have concealed you will become! Raven gritted her teeth, grimacing. Nooo… I won't hurt my friends! I won't! I WON'T!

She gasped, feeling as if she'd just woken up somehow, acutely aware of how quiet her room was, her heart rushing in her ears, her breath roaring behind her eyes. Raven swallowed, and blinked, realizing she had tears in her eyes. She quickly rubbed them away, and let herself sink back onto her bed. Right then, she was just… so… tired… Her eyes drifted shut, and she fell asleep.

(Later…)

Less than an hour later, Beast Boy quietly eased down one of the halls in the tower, widely shifting from foot to foot, the book he'd bought gripped securely in his left hand. Finally reaching his goal, he stopped, stood still, and stared at the door with growing dread. He straightened, pulled his shoulders back, and cleared his throat, suddenly thinking to hide his gift, so he pulled both hands behind his back. Now that he was there, he wasn't so sure giving Raven the book was such a good idea. He'd probably picked the one book she would hate. Sure, it seemed like something she would like, but what did he know? Then again, could she really get more angry with him? He doubted it.

So, with a deep breath, he reached out… and knocked.

Raven's eyes opened. She hadn't budged an inch since falling asleep. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, eyeing her door sourly before pulling her hood up.

The door fractionally slid open, Raven's hooded head peeking through. "What?"

Beast Boy grinned, blushing and awkward. "H-hiya, Raven! I just, um… wanted to…" he found his hands, and pulled the book out to show her, "give you a present."

He could see the shift in her eyes as they focused down on the book. "…Why?" she asked, her voice softened, clearly taken unawares.

The green-skinned young man remained awkward, but his voice was sincere. "Well… I can't ever make you smile or cheer up with my jokes, so…" He sighed. "Honestly, Rith gave me the idea. But," he started quickly, "I picked it out and got it myself, I swear!"

Raven pulled her hood down, letting the door open completely. "You just bought me a present… to cheer me up?" Her voice remained softly puzzled.

Beast Boy nodded. "To try anyway… Here. I hope it's okay…" He pushed the book to her, offering.

Raven took it gently with both hands, her fingers tracing over the cover as she looked at it quietly. Beast Boy wasn't sure if this was the effect he wanted, so he scratched the back of his head, smiling. "W-well… I'll leave you alone now. Sorry if I interrupted anything." He dipped his head and lanked away, hoping to avoid any flare of her temper.

She looked up with her softened eyes in mild alarm, her guilt swelling abruptly in her chest. Her hair rippled as she moved out of her doorway.

"Beast Boy!"

He froze, and turned around, only to jerk with surprise as Raven grabbed onto him with a hug, the book still held in her right hand. He was too shocked to respond immediately, but then relaxed a bit, and reached his arms up to return it. He patted her on the back gently as she buried her eyes in his shoulder.

"The book's fine… Thank you, Beast Boy…"

Sympathy grew in his usually goofy expression. "You're welcome, but I was trying to make you smile, not upset you like this."

She shook her head, and stood back… smiling faintly. "It worked… better than you think. Thanks…" she let her voice trail off quietly.

Beast Boy grinned, blushing with glee. "Awesome!" He laughed at himself. "Don't worry, I won't crack any stupid jokes."

Raven actually laughed a bit. "Don't let me stop you. Have a nice evening, Beast Boy."

"You, too!" He waved rapidly, and trotted off, very pleased indeed.

Raven looked down at the book in her hand with a soft smile lingering on her face. It actually looked half-way interesting, too. She hugged it to her front, closing her eyes for a moment. Thank you, Beast Boy…