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Chapter fifty! Hoo-ah! You have raspberry lemonade to thank for me getting it written.
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Raven's transition from sleep to awake was a smooth, inconspicuous one. For a moment, she wasn't exactly sure if the ceiling high above her was part of her dream world or the real world, and then the disorientation of sleep drained away and she sat up.
Through the large windows that took up most of her far wall, she could see the sunrise. The bay was colored a bright, fiery orange by the sunrise, and the warm orange light bounced off and reflected into her room, filling the usual darkness with a soft, cheery glow. Raven shuddered at the strange transformation, staring at the light on her hands. Her skin didn't look like her own. It looked like Starfire's. It looked so alive…healthy…vibrant….set to life by the soft glow of the distant sunrise.
"Maybe he'd like me better if that was really me," Raven muttered, slipping out of bed. For once she was eager to get out of her room. It might have had something to do with the fact that she had a sudden, strong urge for a cup of herbal tea. She hurried through the door and down the still-dark hallway, which was untouched by the morning light and still smelled like nighttime. Her trek was quick, and it took almost no time at all to reach the large double doors that led into the living room.
This room too was filled with the strange orange glow. It had been a while since Raven had seen an orange sunrise. She moved across the room and into the adjoined kitchen, eager to get her tea, but when she walked into the small alcove she realized that she was not alone. Standing near the stove was the short, unmistakable form of Beast Boy. He didn't look surprised to see her, and he was holding a steaming mug.
"Hi," he said shyly, looking at the mug in his hands rather than at her face.
"Hi," Raven answered, a familiar warm bubble rising in her chest at the fact that he was speaking to her. Beast Boy stood silently for a moment, looking like he was trying to solve a huge dilemma in his mind.
"I…made you some tea," he said finally, softly, holding the mug out to her like an offering. Raven's eyes widened slightly and her cheeks warmed with delight.
"You…you did?" she asked, taking the cup from him and squeezing its warm weight against her palms. Beast Boy nodded, seeming a bit more sure of himself. Raven blushed. "Thank you," she said softly, a warm, tingly feeling filling her chest and stomach as she gave him a shy smile.
"No problem," Beast Boy said, looking at his feet. "Do you…want to sit down?"
Raven nodded and moved over to the table, sliding into the booth-style seat. Beast Boy took a seat too, though not too close to suggest anything further than awkward conversation. There was a long silence. Raven raised her tea tentatively to her lips and took a sip. A medley of tastes flowed over her tongue. Chamomile, peppermint, Echinacea, and just the right balance of sugar and herbs to keep it from being too sweet. She smiled. Beast Boy knew her all too well. He had gotten it perfect.
"This was really nice of you," she said softly. "It's wonderful."
Beast Boy smiled. "Any time." he said, and then he only allowed silence to reign for a moment this time before speaking once more. "Anyway…I just wanted to say…I'm sorry for being such an asshole to you. I was messed up and I…I'm just really sorry. It's not exactly the greatest apology in the world and…I know I don't really deserve to even be able to talk to you right now, but…I'm just…sorry."
Raven was touched so deeply that it took her a moment to respond…she just sat there soaking up the glory of an apology when she knew she was really the one who owed one. "It's OK," she replied carefully. "I don't blame you. You were under a lot of stress…I understand." now came the hard part. "And I wanted to apologize, too. For…for not thinking of your feelings and for being completely selfish. I was the one who was wrong here, and you were just reacting to it in the way that was natural for you." she waited for a moment, tense, terrified, wondering if even the mere thought of forgiveness from him was asking for too much.
Beast Boy considered her carefully for a moment, looking almost invasively into her eyes for a beat of silence. Raven could see the workings of a very careful decision going on behind those deep emerald eyes. It was as though his entire life was being decided by the careful musings that were happening behind the calm, placid face. "I forgive you," he said softly, slowly, but surely, still staring at her face, a tiny smile working its way over his cheeks.
Almost shocked, Raven stared at him blankly until a smile came over her lips. Relief poured over her entire body and filled her with warmth as though she were sinking into a steaming bath. "I'm glad." she paused. "Beast Boy?"
"Yes?" Beast Boy asked her. Raven took several breaths, preparing herself for the worst.
"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go…on a date with me," Raven breathed. Beast Boy went beet red.
"Uh…sure," he said, feeling as though this was the first time anything had happened between them at all. It all seemed very cosmic, Raven actually asking someone on a date. Asking him on a date. "When?"
"Tonight? We could meet in the living room at…seven? We could go for pizza." Raven asked nervously, gripping her warm mug tightly in anxiety.
"Sounds good," Beast Boy said, shaking slightly. He stood up. "OK then, um…I'll see you at seven."
"Yeah," Raven said. Beast Boy gave her nod. "Seven," he repeated, giving her a slight smile and heading for the kitchen door. "See you then."
Raven watched him go, fully aware that a childish grin was coming over her face. Looking around to make sure no one was there to see her disgrace herself, she did a quick pirouette and gave a small squeak of pleasure. And then she slapped herself lightly and shook her head, heading off toward her room once more with the wonderful mug of tea clutched in her palms.
And somewhere within the hidden world of Raven's mind, in the places where decay and pain had once reigned supreme, a figure in a bright pink cloak danced along with her like an excited schoolgirl.
XXX
"Somebody's in a good mood," Dextra said. Raven opened her eyes and beamed with a vigorous nod. "Wow. What happened to put you on cloud nine there, cowboy?"
"I've got a date," Raven said, aware of how remarkably strange it sounded coming out her mouth. For as long as she could remember, those words had never passed her lips for any reason.
"That's great!" Dextra said, clapping her student jovially on the back. "Who with?"
"Beast Boy," Raven said, marveling at how wonderful it was to say his name.
"Alright! He forgave you?" Dextra asked. Raven nodded with an enormous grin that was not entirely normal to be seen on her face. "Hoo-ah!" Dextra gave a whoop of triumph and grabbed Raven's hand, lifting it into the air above their heads like Raven had won a wrestling match. "And the champion is…RAVEN!"
"Things aren't exactly back to normal, though. This is just a date…it's not like it's our wedding or anything."
"It might as well be!" Dextra exclaimed. Raven smiled and shook her head. "So, what are you wearing?" Dextra asked, giddy like a teenage girl in the presence of Brad Pitt.
"What? I was just going to wear this…" Raven said, realizing she had not thought of this before.
"Good idea," Dexra told her. "It's not something you should worry about. Stuff like that is just a pain in the ass. And you don't really seem like the kind of person who would need to worry about any of that stupid pre-date shit. He likes you already, so you've passed the 'trying to make him not hate me' phase."
Raven gave a sigh of relief. "I really don't know anything about any of this. I've never done this before. There's so much I never even thought of."
"Just be yourself. How hard can it be?" Dextra asked, stretching her arms. "You don't need to worry about anything. Just have fun. I can tell you're pretty much excited beyond all reason."
"With a little bit of nervousness thrown in," Raven agreed.
"It'll be fine. Just don't worry about it. Have fun," Dextra told her. Raven nodded. She realized that Dextra was the first thing lime a mother figure that had taken any role in her life since she'd left Azarath. She had not seen Arella much over the past few years, and it had been getting a little hard to remember what it felt like before. It gave her an almost painful feeling of nostalgia, which she shook off quickly.
"Well, come on. Let's get on with the training. We've still got an hour left of meditation to do. I'm not going to spend it squealing like an infatuated preteen," Raven said, crossing her legs once more and levitating a few inches off of the ground.
"That's my Raven," Dextra said with a chuckle, joining Raven in the stance. "Now, remember what we talked about? You've been taught to restrict your emotions, when in fact we need to do the opposite. Your emotions are going to help you gain better control if you embrace them and use them to your advantage as you meditate to center yourself better. You're happy right now. Let's use that to your advantage. Focus on your emotion and let it fill your senses, find your center, and…."
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos…"
XXX
Beast Boy leaped onto the sofa and stood on the cushion, bending his arms and spinning them in circles as he rotated his hips, his little victory dance. "Oh yeah, oh yeah!" he chanted, raising his arms up over his head and shaking them around. "Hoo-yeah!"
"Somebody's in a good mood," came a voice from behind him. Beast Boy gave a squeak and shot up into the air, coming back down onto the sofa with a thud. He looked up from his upside-down position on the cushion and glared at Cyborg, who was laughing.
"Jeez Cy, you could at least warn a guy!" he said, sitting up and rubbing his head.
"Sorry. I couldn't resist. Why you jumping around like a crazed monkey anyway, BB?" Cyborg asked. Remembering the source of his joy, Beast Boy stood up again.
"Cy, Raven asked me on a date!" he said excitedly, launching himself at the robot. Cyborg caught him around the waist and set him down on his shoulder.
"That's great!" he said excitedly, holding his hand out for a high-five, which Beast Boy enthusiastically gave him. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks!" Beast Boy was positively glowing.
"So, you excited?" Cyborg asked.
"Of course I am!" Beast Boy whooped, hugging his friend around the neck. "It's gonna be awesome! She doesn't hate me! We are gonna have so much fun!"
"You bet you are!" Cy said, poking Beast Boy's nose. "You know, I think this calls for a celebration…"
"SUPER BRUNCH EXPLOSION!" the two of them screamed at the same time, scrambling over each other to get to the kitchen first.
XXX
Raven was trying not to allow herself to walk with a spring in her step as she left the training room and headed down the hall toward her bedroom. The dark hallway could have been a sunny meadow for all she knew. She felt so strange. Raven was usually strict with herself about feeling Joy, but today she couldn't seem to contain herself. Beast Boy had always done this. She had always had trouble restraining her emotions when she was around him, whether it was Joy or Rage…or Love. He made her want to…feel.
Raven's thought ended abruptly when something rather solid manifested itself from around a corner in the hallway that seemed to come up randomly, and Raven almost ran right into it. She gave a girlish squeak of shock and leaped backward, hands lifting in front of her and glowing with black energy in defense.
"Raven?" a voice asked, and Raven saw Starfire's face looking rather perplexed. "What is the matter? I have offended you?"
Slightly embarrassed, Raven lowered her hands as they returned back to their normal color. "No, Starfire…you just startled me," she explained. "I wasn't really paying attention and you just kind of came out of nowhere."
Starfire smiled. "I am joyous that you are not angry with me!" she said, clapping her hands together as though she had just accomplished a difficult task. "Tell me, where are you heading?"
"I was just going to my room…" Raven said, pointing over Starfire's shoulder.
"There will be time for that later! Cyborg and Beast Boy have elected to engage in the explosion of the super brunch!"
"And you want me to come with you." Raven stated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!"
Raven shrugged. "Alright," she said, surprising Starfire. "Let's go, then." she steered herself in the opposite direction of where she had been gong and Starfire followed her.
The two females walked silently side-by-side for a few moments.
"You are very happy today," Starfire said. Raven quickly pushed the involuntary smile that had been on her lips away and turned her head to face the Tamaranian.
"What makes you say that?" she asked.
"On Tamaran, our joy brings us the glorious gift of flight when we feel it. I believe I can feel you…flying on the inside. It is a feeling that is strong and not easily disguised. Tell me Raven, to what do we owe the pleasure of having you joyful?"
Raven allowed the smile to come over her face once more, deciding she didn't really care about it right now. "This morning…Beast Boy….apologized to me. And so I apologized to him. And he forgave me."
"Splendid!" Starfire said loudly, stopping in her walking to grip her friend in a vice-like hug. Raven didn't mind as much as usual, and allowed herself to be squeezed. "And so things are…better between you two?"
"We're going on a date."
Starfire gave a squeal of delight and squeezed Raven harder. "Glorious!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, I suppose it is. Starfire…you're crushing my lungs."
"Oh. Raven, I am sorry," Starfire said apologetically.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it," Raven assured her as they began walking once more.
In the kitchen, Raven was not at all surprised by the sight that met her eyes. Robin was standing off to one side, looking happy and concerned for the wellbeing of the kitchen all at once. Beast Boy and Cyborg were in the process of making what looked like breakfast, but could have been anything else for all Raven knew because it was moving too fast to make out. The food was flying everywhere, from frying pans onto the table, from bowls and plates into frying pans, and from hands to random spots all over the room.
"I hate it when they get like this," Robin said with an amused shrug.
"Yo, Cy, watch where you're putting that sausage!" Beast Boy said loudly, grabbing a pan full of slightly burnt tofu eggs from the stove before they started smoking and flaming.
"Then you watch where you're putting your tofu! You got it in my bacon!" Cyborg replied.
"Well maybe if you weren't putting your bacon so close to my tofu, it wouldn't have happened!" Beast Boy said. It seemed like an argument, but both Titans were smiling as they spoke.
"Oh, excuse me! I'll put my bacon somewhere else, then!" Cy exclaimed, grabbing a strip of bacon from a plate on the table. He leaped over to Beast Boy and seized the collar of his shirt, pulling the stretchy uniform outward to make a gap between the skin and the clothing and shoved the strip of bacon down Beast Boy's uniform.
"EEEK!" Beast Boy squealed, flailing his arms around blindly. The mass of tofu eggs in the frying pan he was holding flew out and soared in a graceful arc across the kitchen. Cyborg watched it fly in horror as Beast Boy pulled the bacon out of his uniform and threw it at Cyborg's face.
The tofu eggs honed in on their target and hit straight-on like a heat-seeking missile. The lump of pale yellow food splattered onto Raven's face. Beast Boy turned at that very moment and stared straight at the Azarathian with tofu crumbling down off of her face.
"Oh shit," he muttered. "Raven, I am so sorry!"
Raven just looked at him for a moment. And then she lifted her hand and pulled a chunk of tofu eggs from her cloak. She stared at it, and then looked back up at Beast Boy. And then she smiled.
And then she started laughing.
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More soon!