Chapter 4: In the night, in the dark
It was late, around 1:00 AM, when all the Titans finally went to bed. The sky was black as pitch, with diamond stars jutting out of the darkness. The silence of Jump City almost overwhelming to the few awake…
Beast Boy closed the door and stepped onto the roof. The night breeze blowing swiftly, causing a certain chill in the air, along with his already present, chilling feeling of dread. Terra was waiting for him. She stood by the edge of the roof, the wind blowing her hair. She turned and smiled as she saw him.
"You came."
His heart beat fast.
"Uh, yeah. Terra, look, I-"
"Beast Boy," she said, her expression now serious. She reached out and took his hands.
"There's something I need to tell you."
"Terra-"
"Something I've needed to tell you for a long time."
Beast Boy stopped trying to speak, seeing it was going to be a while before he'd be able to get a word in edge-wize.
"Beast Boy, ever since I met you, I knew I'd never meet anyone like you again. And when Slade came… I'm sorry; I lost track of priorieties. I never should've let my own nervous dependancy come before my friends. And I never really had the chance to appologize before… it happened… so, I'm sorry. I think the others have forgiven me, but I wanted to know how you…"
"I forgive you, Terra."
She smiled again.
"But, Terra-"
She hushed him, sweetly.
"That's not all. There's one more thing I have to tell you, and I hope I haven't missed so much you won't understand, but Beast Boy, I-"
"Terra!" he muttered, though he seemed to be losing his voice for some reason.
"I love you."
Beast Boy just stood there, an almost sad expression on his face, though perhaps it was too dark for Terra to see it.
"It's okay, Beast Boy," she said, stepping a little closer to him. "I know this is a lot to take in. I don't need an answer right away."
With that she leaned forward with her eyes closed, and Beast Boy started to do the same.
But then he stopped and pulled away from her.
"Beast Boy, what's wrong?" Terra asked, sounding a little surprised.
Beast Boy sighed, confused with all his mixed emotions, then turned back to Terra.
"Terra, look. I-"
For a moment she looked confused, then realization seemed to dawn on her.
"Oh. Oh, okay. Sorry, I didn't know you and Raven were-"
"No! That's not it at all!" Beast Boy corrected quickly.
I don't think…"It's just…" He sighed. "Look, I just think we need to take things a little… slower. Okay? I mean, you just got back, and… Terra, I don't like saying this, believe me, but… I'm not sure how I feel right now. Okay? I mean, it's just been so long and… and I really, really need to figure out where I am right now before anything 'happens'. Do you understand? I'm sorry, really, I'm just… a little lost right now. And-"
"And a relationship isn't exactly what you need on top of everything else. Don't worry, Beast Boy, I understand," Terra finished for him and smiled again, though she did seem a little disappointed.
Okay, don't worry about it, Terra. He just needs some time to remember. Once he does, he'll remember how we used to be. He'll come around. I just need to be there for him and try to understand what he's going through. We just… kind of have to start from square one again…
"It's no problem," Terra said again.
Beast Boy still looked unconvinced.
"Really, don't worry about it. You're right, we need some time to re-get-to-know-each-other. It's fine," she insisted.
"Okay. Thanks, Terra. I'm guess I'm just still in shock since you came back and everything."
She nodded, that somewhat-forced smile still plastered on her face.
After a very, very awkward silence, Beast Boy finally said, "Look, it's getting late; maybe we could get together another time and catch up with each other?"
"Sure. Good night."
Raven was awakened by a knock on the door.
Slowly, she got out of bed, slid her cloak on over the black, v-neck leotard with transparent sleeves she had worn to bed.
As soon as she opened the door, Beast Boy came rushing past her into the room.
"Hey! What the-"
"Close the door," he said. Raven could see he was a little shaken. She closed the door.
"Beast Boy, what's wrong?"
"Okay, I know it's really late, but I really need to talk to you."
Not knowing what to say, Raven nodded. They sat down on her bed.
"Terra again, huh?" Raven guessed.
"Well, yes and no. Raven, what I'm about to ask you is really personal and-"
"I won't tell anyone."
"Oh, I know. But… God, this is really weird to say… but how do you know you're in love?"