Here we are again! I'm glad I could update so fast this time! My writer's block is effectively UN-blocked, so I can write freely for awhile! Now, where were we? Oh yeah… I don't own Teen Titans!

BARCODE

PART 17: Fire

Beast Boy, having turned back to normal as soon as they'd reached the T-car, slept peacefully with his head on Raven's shoulder. She looked at him sideways for a long time, but her expression softened after a little bit. He'd fought hard, Robin had told her. B-406 was dead now, though that guy with the lighter was nowhere in sight. They'd checked the whole base, called in the swat teams to arrest people, and all that other stuff… but the main boss was gone.

"So… what're we gonna do about the base there?" Cyborg asked softly, as not to wake Beast Boy.

"I'll tell you." Raven raised her hand and made a sharp crushing motion. The base, with an earth-shaking rumble, imploded into itself. As though it had been sucked into a black hole, only a large sphere of garbage remained, and a big hole to accompany it. Robin and Cyborg's mouths fell open, looking in the rear and side-view mirror. "Don't worry." Raven said in a monotone. "The police and SWAT were ordered out hours ago. Just drive us home." She looked down at Beast Boy, who's head had fallen into her lap. He curled up, and grew fur on his face and body. He had his tights no more… so an animal transformation was a good thing.

"Meow…" he'd become a kitten again. Raven almost instinctively pulled him into her lap, sitting Indian-style. She felt his purring vibration her legs, and she absently stroked his back while looking out the window. She thought about a lot of the things in the silence on the way home. The sun was rising, but they'd spend the whole day sleeping. Why couldn't villains and the like work on daylight hours like everyone else did?

They were nearing the tower. Cradling the green kitten to her chest, Raven and the others made their way inside. Getting a small, quick meal in while the kitten slept on the couch, the Titans split up for the night. Raven remained in the common room for a short time with her half-eaten apple. She couldn't have tea because the caffeine would keep her up even more. Robin's story echoed in her mind. Beast Boy taking down the other changling, all on his own… The others had gotten the opportunity to look for her.

Raven went and sat on the couch next to him, feeling very tired. She took another bite of her apple, chewing slowly. So… this was what it was like to have a family. Very carefully monitoring her emotions, she allowed herself a small smile. Maybe she'd stick with the Titans for a while. Sure, all the rest were boys and were bound to be perverted at some point or another… but she could trounce them for any violations. As far as she could tell, she was the most powerful by far. But… she wasn't invincible. Raven took another bite of her apple. They'd jumped to save her as soon as they could, and had succeeded with flying colors. The main bad guy had gotten away, but didn't they all at some point? They were her family… yeah…… Raven barely had the time to swallow before the apple tumbled out of her hand to the floor. She fell into the deep, heavy sleep of recovery. One that would last until morning.

The green kitten awoke next to her, looking around. Spotting the dark girl sleeping peacefully, he went over and curled up in her lap again. Beast Boy wondered, though not with words in his mind, what was going to happen now. His rival was gone, and only her master remained. Would he attack them tomorrow? A week from then? A month? A year? Would he disappear altogether? This other person that went by the name of Garfield? The one who'd inspired his own name? Having himself and another person in his life named Garfield was a little confusing for him… but they couldn't be mixed up so easy.

He was a Titan. That's what Robin had called him. He was… home, with his family, where he belonged. Purring softly as not to wake Raven, Beast Boy returned to dreamland just as quickly as he had come.

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Raven awoke the next morning to find a little ball of fluff in her lap, and a rather harsh ache in her neck. She'd fallen asleep on the couch with her chin on her chest. With a soft groan she shifted, a little achy all over. Having slept in such an awkward position, she needed to stretch badly. Picking up the green kitten slowly, she set it on a pillow on the other side of the couch. When it did not stir, she stood and stretched. A rather embarrassing number of bones popped, and she quickly stopped. Only boys were supposed to do stuff like that… and with all that crackling, she would surely wake him… Deciding on a shower, Raven went about her morning routine.

By the time she returned refreshed, groomed and with a fresh set of clothes, everyone was up. The rain had cleared, and currently Beast Boy (in a new set of tights) was basking in the morning sun. It warmed him greatly, but only made him sleepy. Going and making his breakfast, under Raven's watchful eye, he sat down next to her at the table and smiled. A small array of fruits and a glass of milk. He was improving, that was for sure. Robin said something about a cereal episode earlier, but she saw he was more intent on fruit at the moment.

The morning was relatively quiet. They'd all only slept for a few hours since it was so late when they got home, but super heroes had to be ever vigilant of trouble. Cyborg and Robin fought back and forth on the video game screen for a long time while Raven read on the love seat. Rest and relaxation… that's what they all needed after a night like that… "Hey don't eat that!" Cyborg shouted. Raven looked up, finding Beast Boy trying to eat a game controller. "We said play not eat!" Cyborg and Robin were both trying to pry it out of his mouth. He was stubborn, as though it were a fun game of tug-a-war.

Raven rolled her eyes, a fleeting feeling of amusement on her face before she returned to her book. The day went by in a blur of resting… Beast Boy's English lessons… pizza for dinner… a perfect, peaceful day. (Even bad guys seemed to be taking that sunny day off.) Raven was impressed with how much the green teen had improved while she was away, and caught him reading a dictionary for almost an hour. God, his thirst for knowledge and the ability to speak were incredible. Well, you couldn't really blame the guy. He just wanted to understand everything around him, be a more social individual.

Later that day, Raven found him on the roof. "Beast Boy?" she said his name as she approached, pulling her hood back. He turned and looked at her, the wind rustling his green locks. She'd given him a quick haircut a little while back, before the whole secret base thing had come about. But, it was already growing back out again.

"Raven." He said her name in greeting, though his eyes were not bright and shining as usual. "How are you?" He strung a basic sentence together for her, and she allowed a small smile to crawl across her face.

"Okay, I guess." Raven replied, coming and standing next to him. "How are you?"

"I feel…" he looked at her with unsure eyes, and she could tell that he was trying to find the right words. His eyes raced back and forth, as though he were reading an invisible book. She waited patiently, and finally, "Strange." Was the word that he picked. "I feel… fire." He said.

"The stove again? I told Cyborg to remember to keep you away from it while it was on." She took one of his hands, seeing if he'd burned it. He chuckled lightly, shaking his head no. "Are you sick or something?" Feeling rather protective of him, she reached to touch his forehead.

"I feel… great… fire." He took her hand and placed it on his chest. She could feel his heart beating madly, and roses bloomed on Raven's cheeks. "What is this?" he asked her, holding her hand to his chest. "It aches, Raven."

Raven opened her mouth to speak. Then, she closed it. Then, she opened it to try again, but failed a second time. She felt one of his hands working its way inside her cloak, and around her waist. He was looking at her with those eyes. Those very same eyes she'd seen, way back when he was wild in the forest… those lustful eyes that yearned for affection. But no, she was Raven… she couldn't… her emotionally triggered powers… ohhhh… Raven's throat let out the sound of a fully seduced female, and felt his lips brush hers. The door to the stairwell exploded off its hinges,flying offthe roof at a hundred miles an hour. Raven flinched, trying to pull away. He wouldn't let her, and pressed his lips hard against hers. His grip tightened, and she let out a soft moan of helpless lust. Her powers sparked and crackled in the air as his hands wandered her back and shapely thighs. Her cloak defied gravity, rustling in a breeze that wasn't there. God, she couldn't let it happen… her emotions… Beast Boy… ohhh… A second moan escaped her and she leaned into him.

The kiss broke, and Titan's Tower shuddered on its foundations. Raven gasped for air, still forehead to forehead with him. Beast Boy smiled at her softly, nudging her neck with his nose. The very cement they stood on cracked. God, didn't he care that her powers were destroying things at random because of him? His kissing and his touching and… ohhh… He nibbled on her earlobe, and finally whispered into her ear, "Goodnight, Raven." Nudging her only once more, he let go of her.

The warmth of his body left her, and he was gone down the stairs. Raven was left alone, wondering what the hell had just happened. She cupped both of her cheeks in embarrassment and slight confusion. Why had she let him? Why? Now she felt lost and confused and…… strangely satisfied? Where had that come from? The numb, fizzy feeling on her lips told of brief lust and pounding hormones. She heaved a slow sigh, trying to put her powers under control again. The blazing black aura pulsed in the air around her, wrenching hard to break free. She gave a soft moan, holding her temples. Sinking to the ground in the lotus position, she sat there to meditate until sundown. She didn't dare use her powers to levitate, for her powers were already on edge.

Was she… was she in lust with him? That face... those slender muscles... that spicy smell his skin carried… the scent of sweat, earth and a few other things. It was masculine to her hormone-driven senses. His yin to her yang. He'd almost driven her over the edge… God… Raven began murmuring in her three-word mantra. She had to be calm. Be calm… be calm… "Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos…" she whispered, trying not to tremble at the feel his lips had left on hers.

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Darkened eyes watched Titan's tower. They would pay. It was almost time. He was almost ready. B-001, also called Garfield Logan, was almost ready to attack them. And he'd start the attack with…

Yay! They kissed! Huzzah! Will Raven keep him from kissing her again? Will Beast Boy ever be allowed near the stove while it's on? What will happen when B-001 attacks? Will I ever stop asking all these dumb questions? Probably not. LOL! Well… who knows? Not me! I'm kinda making this up as I go along! Hahahaa! Oo; Next time on BARCODE, it's "Jailbreak!" See you there!