Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans™, You've Got Mail (starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan), or any of their respective characters. I also do not own the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. However, I do own this story in its non-profit entirety. Similarities to other works are merely coincidental.
Author's Note: I mention Kleenex™ and Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. Guess what? I own neither.
Response To Reviews:
Miss Poisonous—Thanks! It's great to know that you like them.
scathac's warrior—Hey, I get them all the time.
AnimeDutchess—Lemon? Heck no. I flinch even writing swear words for a PG story. I couldn't write a lemon! (Sorry to disappoint you, if that was what you wanted.)
biolightning—Saw your question and plea for an answer, and I guess I owe one for not explaining how I came up with the names. Yeah, 'veggiezoo' is easy to understand for Beast Boy, but anyway…
As you probably know, a raven is a bird, famous for its appearance in Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem, where all it could croak was, "Nevermore." Obviously that's where the name for the "Nevermore" episode that takes place in Raven's head was found. 'Wings', again, as you know, applies to birds (because they have them, duh). Anyway, Raven sometimes has a bit of a soft, 'whimsy' side to her. Thus I created the screenname 'whimsywings'.
moo—About the yelling…depends on what my reviewers want, and depends on how deeply I let them fall in love, hint hint.
bob—Learning Czechoslovakian, huh? I happen to be Slovakian, and it would have to be a miracle for me to actually do a cartwheel. I am horrible at them. Shoot, I'm off topic. Anyway, thanks for such an enthusiastic review! And I'll do my best to surprise you.
Martson—You thought that was funny? Really? I didn't think anybody would laugh, thank you!
romantic-raven—I'm so flattered! You honestly think I'm that good a writer? (envelops in bone-crunching Starfire hug) You just made my day, and I mean it.
Kit-Kat43—I am glad you think that Chapter 4 was so great! I thought I might have been a little on the sappy side, but whatever…I know, doesn't it just drive you up the wall to see Robin and Star so ignorant of the fact that there is chemistry there! So annoying. Same goes for Beast Boy and Raven. Thanks!
You've Got Mail!
Written By JMPchick
6. Beast Boy Proves That Campbell's Really Does Help
"See? There ain't a body, be it mouse or man, that ain't
made better by a little soup."
Cook, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
I forgive you for standing me up. I forgive you for standing me up. The words played over and over in Beast Boy's head, drilling a mental tattoo into the base of his brain. Try as he might, the green elf couldn't forget what she had said. She, Raven, the emotionless Goth…forgave him, Beast Boy, the lame joker? Forgave him for breaking her heart? Forgave him for standing her up? The words whirled through his head.
:TT:
The next day, Raven did not appear early in the morning as she always did, steaming mug of herbal tea in hand. An almost painfully quiet breakfast was endured by the other four, and it nearly hurt to see Beast Boy and Cyborg peacefully…not arguing? Beast Boy came extremely close to eating a sausage link, he was so distracted. Close, but not enough to actually swallow it. Unfortunately, as Cyborg put it.
When Starfire, as usual, floated to Raven's door at noon to meditate, she cheerfully knocked and called softly, "Raaaven. You have not descended to the room of commons to consume the nourishing meals of the day, and we are very concerned. Is your health failing? Are you weeping, because your heart has been—'stomped upon'? Are you feeling up to par?"
There was a loud, pointed sneeze on the receiving end of the conversation, and Raven shouted, "NO!" Some sniffling. Then, "Please, Star…just go away. I'm sick."
Starfire gasped. "You are ill! Shall I deliver to you the healing chicken noodle soup?"
"No," Raven repeated firmly. She sneezed again. "Don't come in. The virus I've contracted is contagious, and I don't want you sick either."
Though the simple action went against all sympathetic Starfire protocol, the scarlet-haired alien sadly floated away, leaving Raven to cough her throat raw and sniff into several boxes of Kleenex.
:TT:
"Hey, where's Raven?" Robin asked, glancing up for the first time since he began playing Mega Ultra Grand Prix 8000 with Cyborg.
"She has succumbed to the infectious common cold," replied Starfire, from the kitchen where she was eyeing the furry blue food and trying to decide which was most edible.
"Raven's sick?" Cyborg's fingers mercilessly pummeled the GameStation controller.
"Apparently." Starfire shoveled a heap of fuzzy cheesecake onto a paper plate and cut off a chunk with her plastic fork, daintily transferring it to her mouth. "She refused my request for entrance to her bedchamber, and would not meditate with me. I believe she is currently dozing."
"Has anybody brought her chicken noodle soup?" said Robin. There was a violent smashing noise that grated the eardrums of all who were within earshot. Cyborg BOOYAH!-ed.
Starfire shook her head, unable to speak with a mouth full of cheesecake. She suddenly spat out some indigo-colored fluff, gasping with disgust.
Cyborg doubled over in laughter, and Robin chuckled quietly.
:TT:
Raven may have been unable to freely express emotions and socially interact with the confidence of a "normal" person, but it did not mean she never occasionally fell prey to bad health. Damn this sickness, she thought bitterly. It kept her in bed the entire day, unable to muster the little energy it took to arise and float downstairs for even the smallest sustenance. She found herself thinking longingly of herbal tea for the several hours she lay fitfully snoozing. Her nose was red and irritated, and her eyes puffy. While it was true that she did not want Starfire ill either, she also held some pride in her pale complexion and orb-like violet eyes and would be ashamed to be seen in this condition.
She sneezed vociferously, making her body jolt halfway out of the warm bedcovers. Raven cursed vividly and snuggled down to nap again when a booming rap sounded at the door. Raven's eyes narrowed in annoyance and she shouted, "What!"
"Um, Rae?" Raven winced at the nickname. The one person on Earth with a such a whiny quality in his voice, the one person probably with green hair and eyes.…
"What, Beast Boy?" She sniffled a little.
"Erm…I brought you chicken noodle soup?" He sounded tentative (I don't blame him, she thought dryly) and eager at the same time. "I was—uh—wondering if I could bring it in to you. Nobody else volunteered."
Liar, said Raven to herself. Still, she was famished, and unusual appearance or no, she needed food badly. "Come in, then."
She sensed hesitation and shock. "You're letting me come in? You're allowing me to enter your room? You're trusting me with such a privilege? You're going to—"
"Shut up, Beast Boy, and bring me the soup," she said loudly.
The door slid open with a whoosh, and in strode Beast Boy, who looked as though he expected to be slapped at any given moment. There was a vase with a daisy, she noted; highly unusual. He was trembling so much the spoon, bowl, and cup of tea were rattling noisily against the tray. Raven rolled her eyes, expecting him to spill it. When he didn't, and set it down carefully in her lap, he hurriedly stepped away and almost tripped over a mound of books. His hands automatically shot up to protect his face.
Raven ignored her clumsy visitor and hungrily devoured the soup. She sighed in satisfaction and sipped her tea. She raised a hand to telekinetically transfer the tray to the floor, but Beast Boy stood up quickly and said, "There's no need for that, you're probably tired," and hastily lifted it.
She tried to feel grateful, but could only feel well-earned exhaustion, and nestled down further into the bedclothes. Her own bodily warmth enveloped her, and her eyes closed as she prepared for a nap. Remembering she had a visitor, she sat up again and immediately felt dizzy. Her memory became fuzzy at the edges, and she furrowed her brow as she said, "Why are you here again?"
Pathetic answers raced through Beast Boy's head and he opened his mouth to say, "To bring you soup." Then a different one popped into mind, and he said softly, "I want to be your friend." He handed her the daisy and tucked a stray strand of silky violet hair behind her pale left ear.
Raven smiled, and he added, "Well…you take care, alright?" Beast Boy pulled the comforter closer to her and left, savoring the rare smile he had received.
:TT:
BLEEP-BLEEP-BLEEP-BLEEP!
The Titans rushed to the common room, anticipating some catastrophic emergency. Instead, they found a smug Cyborg and Beast Boy with grins on their faces and hands behind their backs.
"There is some disastrous crisis?" Starfire inquired urgently when she landed next to them. "There are civilians who require our rescuing?"
Beast Boy shook his head, still looking conceited and eager. "Nope! But I rang the alarm for a good reason, and before you can protest, you gotta hear me ou—"
"Beast Boy," interrupted Robin in a warning voice, "this better be good."
"Dude, chill," said Beast Boy soothingly, with a palms-up. "The True Master was right, you take things way too seriously. Loosen up a little. Besides, Cyborg allowed me to ring it."
Raven cocked a pencil-thin eyebrow. "And I suppose you rang it just to hear the beeping and have us dash in here for fun," she intoned dryly.
"Nuh-uh," replied Cyborg superiorly. "I authorized the alarm. It's a good reason, like B said."
"Do tell." Robin crossed his arms in annoyance.
"Ladies and Boy Wonder, we present to you"—Beast Boy paused for thrilling effect—"WICKED SCARY II!"
Starfire gasped. "The sequel to the most horrific movie we have ever witnessed? It cannot be true! It is, as you Earthlings say, too magnificent to be a valid statement!"
"But it is," Cyborg returned dramatically. "And you know what that means…"
"POPCORN AND WE WATCH IT!" Beast Boy shrieked in delight.
"I shall pop the corn!" Starfire cried and proceeded enthusiastically to the kitchen. Raven sighed and followed her with a less-than-fervent expression and apathetic mutter of, "And I'll grab the soda." Ten minutes later, the team was seated tensely on the sofa, huddling next to each other in captivated fear, unable to tear their faces away.
Halfway through the movie, Beast Boy was curled up next to Raven, crouched slightly under her cloak. Starfire was clutching Robin's hand tightly and practically on top of him, emerald eyes agog and watching the screen intently. Robin was smiling and terrified at the same time. Drool was dripping out of Cyborg's mouth as he gazed in awe and fright at Wicked Scary II, gripping the popcorn bowl securely. Raven subconsciously tilted her head slightly against Beast Boy's, and slowly he raised an arm and gingerly placed around her shoulders. She felt his warmth and unknowingly leaned backward to rest on him. Neither of the two opposites pulled away.
THIRTY-ONE reviews! OMG! (sings and dances ludicrous victory dance) Thank you so much! I never dreamed my story would be this popular. Anyhoo, like I promised, Beast Boy and Raven fluff. Yet still they deny their feelings. Bit of a cliffhanger?
P.S.—I promised I'd deliver a Beast Boy and Raven fluff chapter, so here it is. How do you think I did? This was a particularly difficult one to write. COMING UP NEXT: Raven and Beast Boy get closer, a songfic chapter in which Raven still denies her feelings.
JMPchick
