Chapter 2:

In Which Beastboy Angers a Maggot and Learns the Consequences of Monologues

Beastboy:

"DUDE WE'RE GOING ON A CRUISE!"

He was ecstatic after hearing the news from Cyborg who had received the tickets via email from a contest he had entered. After Cyborg announced it all the Titans had gathered around him to hear the details.

"It's a month long cruise in the Bahamas and we're stopping at a lot of the islands for a couple days." Said Cyborg reading it off the email he had printed out earlier. His brow wrinkled slightly in confusion as he read the date of departure. "Turns out it leaves tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow!" said Robin obviously annoyed.

"Hehe…I guess that's what happens when you don't check your email too often…" Said Cyborg, a sweat drop rolling down his face. Robin glared at him, but Beastboy could tell that he was still pleased to be going on a cruise.

"This is gonna be so friggin' awesome!"

Beastboy jumped up on the counter, pretending to ride it like a surfboard while Star came over and watched his antics curiously.

"It's gonna be sun, surfing, and margaritas from now on!"

"Dude," said Cyborg "first off 'A' you can't tan 'B' I don't think you've been within a hundred feet of a surfboard and 'C' your too young to drink."

"Please tell me" asked Star confused "what is this 'cruise' and 'margarita' of which you speak?"

"Only the most awesome experience of a lifetime" Beastboy said waving his arms at her in emphasis. He lost his balance in the process and fell, landing on Silky who cried out in protest. The moth larvae proceeded to get his revenge on Beastboy by latching onto one of his fingers with sharp teeth. Howling in pain, Beastboy shook his hand frantically to free it from the maggot's death grip.

"What he means" said Robin walking over and ignoring the cursing Beastboy "is it's a big boat that you travel on and you visit different places. Basically a boat trip. The later is a beverage."

"But not just any boat trip!" said Beastboy popping up again his hand now free from Silky's mouth. "This is a huge boat with a swimming pool and waterslide and a…"

"All you can eat midnight buffet!" finished Cyborg with a grin on his face. He could almost taste it now. As if on cue, the pancake on the ceiling lost its grip and fell straight on his head with a sickening splat. Cyborg gave Beastboy the evil eye out from under the mess that was now dripping down his face.

"Hey you got a little something right there." Said Beastboy pointing at his cheek.

"And your gonna get a little something right there!" Yelled Cyborg pointing his sonic cannon at Beastboy's face.

"Eep! Well I… gottagopackseeyabye!"

And with that Beastboy ran out the door before another word could be said. Leaning against the wall of the hallway, he took a deep breath and wiped his forehead.

"That was close, well I better go tell Raven about the…"

"Tell me about what?" came a familiar monotone voice.

BB looked over to see Raven standing beside him, a hand resting on her hip. 'A nicely shaped hip' he thought. 'I wonder what she looks like without that stupid cape on…'

"You do realize that my face is up here?"

Beastboy blushed and looked up meeting her eyes hesitantly. She stared at him and he saw an eyebrow go up in question.

"Didn't you hear?" He asked suddenly becoming excited, "We're going on a cruise!"

Raven's reaction was to pale and bring her hand to her forehead as if soothing an approaching migraine.

"Does that mean I have to be stuck with you on a boat in the middle nowhere for….how long did you say?"

He felt slightly hurt at her remark and his smile drooped into a frown. Why was she so upset about being with him? Surely she didn't hate him that much. Or at least he hoped not.

"It's a month long cruise in the Bahamas" he replied rubbing his arm suddenly feeling shy now.

"Well you'll have to inform the others that I won't be going." She said impassively and with that, turned to go back to her room.

"Oh come on Rae! A little sun could do you good!" He chuckled and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from leaving. Immediately he felt her tense under his touch. 'What is with her today?' he thought.

"I can't go" she said turning around to face him again, her face was composed but her eyes looked caught between panic and anger.

"Why?"

"Because I… I don't have a bathing suit"

It was a lame excuse and they both knew it. He saw her cheeks redden slightly and wondered what her real reason was. Her defenses were down now and she had lost that dominance that she usually had over him, maybe he could bring the truth out of her. Naw, this was Raven he was dealing with, best to play it safe.

"Aw, c'mon Raven. What's wrong with going on a cruise? I mean I'm sure they got one of those meditation groups for people like you."

"People like me?" The eyebrow went up again and he once again knew she had him under her control.

"Ya! I mean no! I mean well I guess that was sorta stupid but Raven you gotta come! It's going be a once in a life time experience!" He ended exasperated and slightly out of breath. She sighed defeated, like it was pointless to argue with him, which it probably was.

"I'll consider it but don't get your hopes up." And with that she turned away from him, her cloak flying up for a brief moment before settling down to hide her once more. To hide her from him. That's all she ever seemed to do. How many secrets did she have? How many lies had she told? Everything about her was almost unreal. Beastboy felt that if he reached out and touched her she would shimmer and disappear like smoke through his fingers. She was the untouchable, the ultimate mystery, and the more he realized this, the more he wanted her.

This time he let her leave, watching her walk down the hall towards her room. She never looked back at him, but he knew she felt his eyes follow her every step down the corridor. She rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.

"Beastboy you're an idiot!" he said out loud once she was out of earshot. "Now she'll never come!" He turned around and banged his head on the wall in frustration. He felt like an idiot in Raven's eyes, and in his own.

"People like you! I mean come on what kind of guy says that? A green freak that's who!"

"Like her much?" came a familiar voice from behind him.

"Waah!" cried Beastboy flipping around and covering his face protectively "Robin! I didn't hear you come… wait how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long" replied the boy wonder "just long enough to realize you got it bad for her."

"I do not!….ok fine maybe just a little… ok so I'm head over heals! Just promise you won't tell!"

He looked pleadingly at Robin who smiled coolly back at him. Was that a face he could trust perhaps?

"Yes, but under one condition" said the dark-haired boy turning serious as Beastboy breathed out in relief, "you under no circumstances are to fool with her emotions. She's unstable as she is, so don't make it harder for her."

Beastboy nodded gratefully, pumping his hand and grinning broadly.

"You can count on me!" With that Beastboy saluted and skipped down the hall towards his own room. 'I'll get her to come one way or another' he thought. 'Charm don't fail me now!'

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Hope you enjoy it! I already have the next few chapters typed up so you can expect updates almost daily.