Chapter 5

Raven carefully put the light bulbs in the cart, and Beast Boy countered by dumping a large box of waffles on top. She looked at him in exasperation, and apparently, he could tell, because he slowly picked it up, like it was a bomb ready to blow. Raven lifted the light bulbs, equally slow, and put them in the children's seat of the cart. Fortunately, they weren't broken, despite the way Beast Boy plopped the waffles on top. "Do you really need that much?"

Beast Boy spun a bag of oranges, and tied it. "The more the merrier."

Raven's brow rose again. "A little at a time."

He looked at her gamely, and responded with another cliché. "Better to be safe than sorry."

Ready for that one, Raven crossed her arms, leaving Beast Boy to push the cart. "Less is more."

Beast boy flinched. "Ooh! Nice one!"

Raven's brows cocked, and she lifted the list out of her leotard. "What do we have now?"

Beast Boy quickly surveyed the cart. "Coffee, Herbal tea bags, soda, milk, soy milk, peanut butter, cheese, butter, banana's, jelly, bread, oranges, waffles, light bulbs --- I have no idea why those are in the produce department by the way, --- mushrooms, and lettuce." The bagged items from Tech Tech Today were in the cart as well, since they didn't want to carry them throughout the whole store.

Raven drew her finger down the list. "Alright then…we'll have to go to the meat section now."

Beast Boy looked mildly sick for a moment, and he began to walk off. "I'll be back later."

Nodding in acceptance, Raven got behind the cart, and pushed. She had meant what she said when she told Beast Boy that she respected his decision to not eat meat. And she wasn't going to make him do something that made him that uncomfortable. She checked the meats on the list, noticing most of it was in Cyborg's handwriting. Shaking her head, Raven began to mentally cross things off the list.

After getting the meats, she found Beast Boy in the spices section, two large boxes of tofu in his hands. Raven had inspected the item at the bottom of the list numerous times, but she still couldn't decipher it. Giving in, she pushed the cart up to Beast Boy, and passed him the list. "Any idea what this says?"

Beast Boy looked at the list as he put his item in the cart. "Um…no."

"This thing here sort of looks like an 'I'."

Beast Boy leaned in, and a thought came to him. He quickly changed into a spider, and used his four sets of eyes to inspect the words carefully as he landed on the paper. After about three seconds there, he jumped off the paper, and changed back to normal in mid-air. When he reached his feet he was scratching his head "All I could make out was 'had'."

Knowing that wasn't it, Raven leaned forward, and squinted to read the writing, and found that she recognized the penmanship. "This is Starfire's handwriting. No wonder it's so hard to read."

Beast Boy read over her shoulder. "Kaaay…now that we figured that out, what does it say?"

Raven's eyes became slits as she attempted to read. "'Ice cream please, the Superman, has disappeared.'" They looked at each other for a moment, and blushed slightly. "Oops," Raven said.

Beast Boy smiled, trying to lighten her mood. "Well, at least there's always more of that stuff."

Raven looked down, and dropped the list. Without saying a word, she pushed the cart. As hard as it was to admit, she had bonded with Beast Boy last night. And if shopping for ice cream was the price she had to pay…well, very well then.

This brought her back to her vision. Things in her visions only appeared as flashes before her eyes. The first flash was of black and fuschia colors; then she saw Beast Boy but he appeared far away; the next flash was of Beast Boy, much closer now, in an environment that seemed very similar to her mind; the last flash was of Beast Boy, his palm facing her upside-down, one eye closed, and his lips were pursed, like he'd just blown a kiss. She had to say, she didn't know what that scenario presented for the future, but she decided to let it go, while remaining cautious for the portrayed events. As Beast Boy regained his steps, and began walking in front of her, Raven shook her head. This whole thing was probably due to her uncontrollable emotions and hormones. That was it. It would all blow over!

Once they had gotten the ice cream, they went the purchasing lines and put the items on the conveyor belt. The person ringing up their items was a boy about their age with a snake tattoo on his left bicep, a pierced lip, a ring on each finger, and a beard that only circled his mouth. "Hey, you guys are the Teen Titans!"

Beast Boy, who loved talking with fans, leaned on railing to the conveyor belt and grinned. "Two of us anyway. We try to keep a low profile."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Boys."

The cashier and Beast Boy continued to chat, luckily the cashier managed to ring up their groceries while speaking. When he finally tallied to up the total, he did a finger technique similar to that of the cashier at Tech Tech Today. What, did they learn that at cashier school? (A/N: Anybody ever notice that?)

"Okay, $43.95, and do you want any of the soda out of the bags so you can drink it?"

Beast Boy shook his head. "Nah, thanks anyway dude." So far so good.

He handed them the bags, and Raven grabbed one extra just so she could make a quick about-face and start walking out. The cashier slyly patted Beast Boy's arm. "Isn't it impolite to make your girl carry the load, man?"

Raven visibly flinched, and her shoulders were hunched up to her ears in the attempt to contain herself. Beast Boy rushed to explain. "Um…she's not my girl! Raven and I are just friends!"

The punky kid let out a sarcastic snort. "Right, and Cyborg's a vegetarian." He laughed, but that quickly turned to a nervous chuckle when Raven turned around, very slowly, and looked at him with four viciously red eyes.

His eyes widened, and he shrunk back. "Uh…sorry…my mistake! An honest mistake!"

A little upset at Raven's reaction to the poor guy's honest mistake, Beast Boy tossed Raven a look, and handed the guy the amount due, having left-over change. "Thanks dude, we'll see you later." Grabbing whatever bags Raven didn't pick up, Beast Boy ran out to catch up with Raven, who was already out the door, trying to blow off steam. He knew from experience that it wasn't a good idea to mess with Raven when she was mad, but he didn't plan to mess with her, just talk.

"Raven! Raven wait up!" Once he finally caught up to the blue cloak, Beast Boy tried to look at her eyes, and upon seeing the normal, and somewhat pleasant deep blue color, he relaxed. "Hey, he didn't mean anything personal."

Raven kept up her angry, stomping pace. "Do you realize that's the second time today?"

Beast Boy shrugged, and lifted counting fingers. "So? Number one, we shouldn't care what other people think; and number two, you said it yourself it was just an assumption."

Raven looked up at him as they stopped abruptly. She spread her arms, plastic grocery bags hanging from them like Christmas ornaments. "Number one, you always care about what people think of you, or else you wouldn't try so ridiculously hard to be funny; number two, it wasn't the assumption, it's the fact that more than one person actually might consider us a couple."

Beast Boy held up his index finger as if to argue her point, but the black shield enveloped them, and he immediately went to his knees to keep himself from getting sick. When they finally arrived in the main room, Beast Boy rose to his feet, and followed Raven after she dumped the bags on the counter. "Number one, I only try to make people laugh because I'm a people pleaser; number two we're not, and we see other people, so what are you worrying about?"

The other Titan's watched the duo fight as they left the room. They looked at each other, shrugged in unison, and continued on their previous activities.

Raven pushed her hood back as she continued on the path to her room. "Number one, that means you care what people think; number two, you're right we don't see each other! But we don't see other people either!"

The door to her room hissed open, and she turned around to face him, apparently waiting for it to close in his face. But he instead kept it blocked open with his hands. "Number one, it means that I care about peoples feelings; number two, we could see other people, so long as they fit the conditions!"

"What conditions?"

His elf ears drooped in sadness. "You forgot?" Raven shifted her eyes, then helplessly held out her hands. Beast Boy looked completely crestfallen, but he held up a finger. "Be right back." In an anime flash, he was back, hiding something behind his back. He sheepishly pulled it out, revealing a spoon.

Remembering, Raven inhaled deeply, and looked down, he handed her the spoon, and as ridiculous as it was, she accepted. He pulled out another spoon, and through wordless understanding, they clinked again.

(Later.)

Raven grinned gamely. "Well lightening beats your rain Beast Boy." She crossed her arms, confident she had him beat.

Beast Boy, having one card left, looked at the deck in dismay. "Oh, man! I can't believe you played that!" Raven reached out for the card pile, but Beast Boy put his hand over hers. She rose a brow. He said, "I can't believe you PLAYED LIGHTENING," and dropped a card.

Tornado stared up at her. Upset, and surprised at her loss, her eyes widened, and she leaned back. "I'm out."

Humming in triumph Beast Boy's head bobbed back and forth. "I didn't think you'd actually play this."

Raven stood, talking while she folded her chair. "We've played it before."

Beast Boy tried to help her by folding his own chair after he stuffed his winning cards in his pocket. "Yeah, but you usually don't do one-on-one."

Raven opened her closet to put the chair inside, and looked at Beast Boy, who was kicking the poor chair madly in an attempt to close it. When he suddenly changed into a gorilla and brought up his hands to slam it, Raven rushed over, and folded the chair. "Well, consider this an unusual occasion."

Beast Boy changed back to normal, and looked a little mad at the chair. Watching Raven, he began to wonder why virtually no one made moves on her. She was really pretty, her hair was smooth, and she had very nice blue…sort of purple eyes. Plus…her figure didn't even leave a little bit to be desired.

WHERE IN THE HECK DID THAT COME FROM??? Raven turned to him, and he blushed, turning around so she wouldn't notice. He was just trying to think of compliments for her.

But seriously, why hadn't anyone tried? But as he really began to think about it, she didn't have much of a chance. She was a super heroine with a clearly busy life-style; she lived in a big tower with her friends, and as far as everyone knew, her social life was a nil. He looked over at her, the blush gone. Like he told her, love-pie was big enough for everyone to get a slice. Beast Boy beamed evilly as an idea hatched in his brain.

Recognizing that conniving smirk all too well, Raven leaned back a little. "Okay, why are you smiling like that? WAH!" She shouted that because Beast Boy had grabbed her hand, and was now yanking her about the Tower, trying to get to the main room.

Once they arrived, Beast Boy shouted, "Is anybody doing something important?" Before anyone could answer, Beast Boy said at the top of his lungs, "Good! Because WE ARE GOIN TO PARTY!"

To Raven's surprise, everyone seemed willing to go. "Cool!"

"Oh, wonderful!"

"Lead the way dawg!"

(In the T-car.)

Raven sat, uncomfortably squashed between the two most cheerful people she'd ever met. "And the Meebdar finally remembered…ARDNIB!"

"Hahahaha! Good one Star! Haha!" Beast Boy clutched his stomach and wiped away a tear.

Raven turned to him. "Do you even get it?"

Beast Boy dropped his hands, while still trying to laugh. "Are you kidding? Do I get it!? Hahaha…no."

Starfire looked downcast, but Robin tried to explain from his place upfront. "It's okay Star, you can explain the joke later. We've made it."

Beast Boy hopped out of the car, trying to get the feeling back into his legs. Raven got out, and looked up at the club. There were flashing lights of yellow, blue, green, and pink coming from the inside, but it didn't have a name. "Looks like the place Blackfire took us to."

Cyborg pointed somewhere to the right, and Raven saw the words 'The Wash'. (A/N: This author has been watching WAY too much Spongebob…)

"Oh."

Once they got inside, Raven was surprised to see that instead of pounding rhythms and grinding teenagers, a few people were dancing, and there were even more sipping drinks at the little booths. The maitre d' led them to a private and rather large booth in the corner. After she picked an item from the menu, Raven took more time to observe the club. It wasn't entirely dim, as the lights flashing from the floors were very bright. The people dancing seemed like teenagers who didn't revolve their entire lives on their hormones. Hallelujah…

A waitress came over, and she smiled upon seeing their faces. "Teen Titans, wow! We don't usually get celebrities in here! What'll ya have?"

"Three large Cokes please!"

"Is your tea brewed?"

"Yes miss Raven."

"Then a glass of regular tea please."

"I'd simply like a straw please."

The waitress gave Starfire an odd glance, and Robin leaned towards her, and whispered something in her ear. Giving Robin an even odder glance, the waitress went off the retrieve their orders. No sooner had she left, than two girls came over. A blonde girl wearing a zap-blue halter and a black skirt with a silver chain slung across the middle. And a redhead in a slinky black spaghetti strap one piece with rose-strapped high heels. "Hey, aren't you guys the Teen Titans?"

Beast Boy leaned back slyly. "In the flesh."

The girls gave each other an excited glance. "Wow, you guys rock! You've saved the city like, so many times. How do you manage to break away long enough to have a social life?"

Since none of them really had an answer, they merely stayed quiet while the waitress came back with their requests. "One tea, three Cokes, and…once mustard bottle."

Giggling like an eager child on Christmas morning, Starfire accepted the mustard, and began to sip, making the three people observing the table twitch.

"So…uh…since we do, we gather you guys don't come here often?"

Robin stopped sipping from the straw, and said, "It's actually the first time we've been here."

The tall blonde gracefully pushed her hair back like Cher, and smiled at Beast Boy. "You wanna dance Beast Boy?"

His eyes widened, and he looked around the table, trying to make sure that they were talking to him, even though they said his name.

"No silly! We're talking to you do you want to dance with us?"

Beast Boy looked at them, surprised. "Uh…sure."

The two girls giggled in delight. "Awesome! We get to dance with the coolest Titan!"

This stunned Beast Boy, who was in the process of getting up. "Say what? Me? The coolest Titan?" His eyes sparkled with happiness.

The girls laughed. The redhead spoke to him like it was all too obvious. "Well DUH! You've got awesome powers, you're seriously cool, and you're totally FUNNY!"

His lips were trembling in happiness, and the changeling looked ready to cry. "Me? I'm funny?"

At this, the teenagers burst out laughing, and shouted in unison, "Well DUH!" Still laughing, they grabbed Beast Boy's arms, and dragged him to the dance floor, leaving the other Titan's spellbound.

"Who'dha thought BB had such eager fans?" Cyborg said strangely.

Raven, who was looking at the dance floor with indifference, said, "Who'd have thought Beast Boy had fans?" For really no reason other than it was expected.

Starfire, who was finished with her mustard, yanked on Robin's arm. "Come Robin! I have never danced this type of dance before!"

"Uh…Star, I'm not one for…AHH!"

A young techy geek came over to Cyborg, and even though Raven had helped Cyborg on occasion, she didn't understand the lingo they were speaking. Upon seeing Raven's discomfort, Cyborg went off to talk with the guy somewhere else, leaving Raven alone with her tea.

Beast Boy clapped, and rose his hands in the air, swaying his hips. The girls that came to their table had a lot of friends, most of them dancing around Beast Boy. Not that many people danced with him, but he knew how to boogie!

He laughed with the girls, and since he was getting rather thirsty, he looked over at his table, and his ears drooped again when he saw Raven. She was quietly sipping tea, minding her own business. Beast Boy almost slapped himself. He'd thought up this whole thing so he could get Raven out and try to help her have fun. Instead he had taken off and left her all by herself. Grinning, Beast Boy held up his hand to the several girls dancing around him. "Be right back ladies, I want to get a friend of mine over here."

Raven wiped the condensation from her glass, and folded the napkin. A gloved hand landed on the table. She looked up, and pulled her hood down. "Aren't you a little busy with your fans?"

Beast Boy's brow rose, and he put his fist on his hip. "I'm never too busy for a friend."

Beginning to realize what he had in mind Raven crossed her arms and leaned into the booth. "I don't dance."

"Not before you didn't!" Again, he grabbed her arm, and yanked her away.

"Beast Boy, seriously, I don't think---"

Once he had her completely on the floor, he let go, and held up his palms in a helpful shrug. "Come on Raven! Dancing's fun," he started rotating his fists as he moved his feet. "Once you get your groove."

This state of affairs wasn't exactly her best position. Playing it cool, she crossed her arms again. "I don't groove either."

Beast Boy hung his head to the right, giving her the come-on-you-can-do-it look. She didn't like that. She didn't like this! It was true she didn't do dancing, but with her stupid hormones acting up, she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to---

Before she could say anything, Beast Boy was pulling her cloak back behind her shoulders, and to her shock, put his hands on her hips, forcing them to wiggle. "Come on, you can do it! It's all in the hips."

Raven blushed, and tried to get the hang of it. Maybe if she attempted to dance, then he'd leave her alone. She raised her fists, and slowly started to sway, finding it a little awkward with Beast Boy holding her. "That's it! Now just listen to the beat." Beast Boy seemed to blend in with the people here. He was having fun, was relaxed, and was pulling off some interesting moves. Where did he get that energy? Her feet twisted strangely as she tried to dance. Frustrated, she let out a grunt.

Upon observing the trouble she was having with it, Beast Boy put a hand on her shoulder. "Raven relax, don't move so stiffly. Just go with the flow, and move to the music."

Sighing, Raven closed her eyes, and listened to the rhythm until it was only her, and the melodic sound. Letting out a breath she relaxed, letting her shoulders drop. As if by magic, Raven put her arms in the air, and her hips started swaying. A very tiny smile emerged on her face, and her feet started tapping back and forth. "Whoo! Work it Raven!"

Unknowingly, her steps led her back into someone else, she tried to turn around, but that person had their back to hers. She didn't know who it was until she saw the elf ears. His face turned to look at hers. "You're doing it Raven! You're dancing!"

To her surprise, he turned around, took her hand, and spun her. Before she knew what was happening, she found her back against his chest, and was blushing furiously when she noticed how close their faces were. His face was happy, and his eyes were closed, so he must not have known. Her knees were ready to give, and she thought for sure that her temperature went up a few notches. Since when did the little grass stain have such an effect on her?

(At someone else's table.)

"So, can you really change into anything?" A girl with a lavender stripe dyed into her black hair asked Beast Boy.

He rubbed his nails on his shirt in a no-big-deal sort of way. "Well, I don't like to brag."

A girl with ultra-curly, bright red hair leaned forward in interest. "Even a cat? Or a horse?"

Getting up from his seat, Beast Boy changed into a horse, rising up on his hind legs and neighing. Then he changed back to normal, hopped up on the table, and changed into a cat, who walked in a circle, then did a back flip.

Ever the skeptic, Raven said, "I thought you said you didn't like to brag?"

The bat gave her a mad look, and he jumped back into his seat beside her, and wrinkled his cat nose at her before changing back to normal. "You're just jealous because I'm unbelievably cool."

The girls at the table burst out laughing. "You two seriously need to stop flirting so much!"

Raven perked up at this. "Excuse me?"

The blonde from before flapped out her hand. "Well come on! It's like, when are you gonna stop playing games, and just get together already!?"

Raven's jaw dropped to the table, and Beast Boy dropped a sweat, a nervous smile floating on his face at his companions angered expression.

"Totally! You guys are such a cute couple! You have the public's approval! Start dating already!"

Raven's eyes turned red, and Beast Boy covered her mouth, knowing there was going to be a very mean reply if he didn't stop her. "Uh…well actually ladies we're only friends, and we can see that our other friends kind of need us right now, we've gotta go! Thanks for the dance! Bye-bye!"

They hopped outside, where Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire were conveniently waiting for them. "What took you two so long?"

"Nothing! We were just talking to people. Come on! Let's get going!"

"What's the rush?"

"Nothing, it's okay. NOW GET MOVING!"

Beast Boy still had an iron-clad grip on Raven's mouth, and once they were in the car together, he finally let go. She was obviously still pretty mad. He took her hand, and stroked it nervously. "Raven, come on, maintain, it's okay."

She took a deep breath, and at once the red eyes disappeared. Turning to look at him, Raven said, "How many times has it been now?"

The corner of his mouth went up. "It's okay Raven. So long as we know we're not, then what does it matter?"

Raven looked out the window. Why was she suddenly feeling so strange around Beast Boy? And…why did she suddenly care what others thought? They knew they weren't a couple...

Her dark eyes turned to the understanding green ones of her friend. Why did it matter?