Going to the Dogs
Chapter Three
(Do you realize that you just gave the equivalent of ruffling my hair?)
He never saw that pillow coming.
Thoughts, and used as a dream. (Telepathy/Dog Speak)
Beastboy whined slightly, trotting off to somewhere, where he wouldn't run into virtual poles, where he wouldn't get hit pillows, or get stuck in dog morph.
It had been one hell of a day.
"BEASTBOY!"
What had he done now?
"Come, you stupid dog!"
Oh, reeaall nice Rae. Treat me like a dog. Yeah. If I wasn't in love with you I'd hate you.
Beastboy went into the kitchen, where Raven was sitting with an ancient, dusty volume.
"I think I know how to change you back."
His heart leapt. Dog morph was getting tiring…and hard to control.
"But it's very risky, and it takes a week to prepare."
A week! I can't stay like this for a week!
(Tell me more.)
"I'd like to," Raven chuckled softly, "But I can't. I don't even understand this."
(Then, do we have a problem?)
"No." Raven snapped, "I'll just need to go over this a few times."
(You don't have to bite my head off, Rae.
"And you don't HAVE to call me Rae! My name is Raven, how hard is that to understand?"
Anger flared up inside his chest.
(And maybe, just maybe, I WANT to call you Rae! Perhaps it's some… stupidly little nickname I've got for you! Is that so hard to understand?)
Raven winced inwardly.
She didn't want him yelling at her.
If it were possible, he was still glaring at her.
"I'm sorry."
What?
Raven closed her eyes, as though apologizing pained her.
"I'm sorry, okay? It's just been a bit of a rough day."
(A rough day for you? Well, excu-uuuse me, but I think being stuck in a morph tops whatever you've been going through!)
And with Raven's look, he instantly regretted saying that.
(Fine, I'm sorry, okay?)
Raven grumbled something.
"Well, I have to find some herbs that are pretty rare and that you can't find in Jump City." She concluded, stroking the page of the book, "And then there's some preparing period, and then there's some specific times to pick things… it's a freaking nightmare, to put it so bluntly."
(Can I help?)
His earnest tone surprised her.
She glanced at him, secretly adoring the tilt of his head.
Raven pretended to skim the book for an answer.
Yeah, I know he can help. I want him to help.
Am I going crazy?
I want his help.
"Yes, you can."
(YES!), was the joyful cry inside her head, and he let out a happy, excited woof at exactly the same time.
Raven inwardly smiled, but kept her deadpan expression on her face.
There really wasn't any point to showing her emotions now, was there?
Beastboy curled up on the sofa, snoring contentedly.
He was chasing something.
It was running, not wanting to be caught.
A bolt! A black bolt!
Swerve. Avoid it.
Growl.
Stop.
Assume the wrestling position.
Snort.
Woof.
Start running again.
Woof again.
And again.
Let that blue thing know that it's not getting anywhere.
Run faster, you've almost got it!
TACKLE THE THING!
It's unexpectedly soft and warm, and it falls to the ground.
Run up to it.
Look at it.
Snort once.
Then lick it in the face over and over and over…
Until it giggles?
No, there's not supposed to be any giggling.
"…boy…"
Growl.
That voice isn't supposed to be there.
"Beast-"
Snort dismissively.
Licking the wriggling blue laughing thing is more entertaining now.
Show affection towards it...
...By rolling over, falling down,and landing on its head.
"Beastboy."
No.
Go away, you stupid voice.
And go back to nuzzling the lump of blue.
Now, go back and-
BAM.
(Owww…) Beastboy moaned, falling with a thump off of the couch.
He glanced up at Rae.
Play with me! Play with me! Playplayplay-
He growled in confusion.
And earned a rap on his head.
"Beastboy, it's only me." Raven sighed, and sticking out her hand to him. "Here, smell me if you don't believe me."
(No, I believe you, Rae,) He said, a confused tone to his voice, (It's just that the dog nature awakened for a little bit. I'm fine now.)
"Alright."
Raven's hesitating- something is up.
(What is it, Rae?)
"I really need to go to the grocery store. And they allow dogs."
(You want me to go to the grocery store with you?)
"Yeah, I do."
(Don't you think a girl in a large blue cloak with a green dog in tow is gonna seem suspicious? Or, at least, strange?)
"I'm not going in my cloak."
Huh?
"I'm going in causal clothes, and I'm going to buy dog food for you, and one herb for me."
And some tea, too.
Because I'm gonna need it.
If it was possible, Beastboy was looking horrified.
(Raven, do you know how much attention we'll attract?)
"Don't worry, I'm all prepared."
The grin on her face would've sent him scurrying for cover, if he was in his right mind.
(Do I even want to know?)
"I don't think so, Beastboy, I don't think so…"
His fears were confirmed.
His potential girlfriend was crazy.
FINISHED!
FINALLY!
Thanks to those who reviewed. I'll respond to this chapter... and last chapter... later...
And like Jimmy the Gothic Egg says, it's short, deal with it.
Because I just broke the writer's block I've had since July.
Review. The next chapter just might contain some hyperactive BB/Rae shippers in Jump City Park, if I feel like it.