Shadows

by: IHOP

Chapter 6 - Fighting and An Explanation

The dark mass covered Raven, and she reappeared in a deep green cage on the other side of the cavern. Beast Boy was thrown clear from the force of the emergence of the mass. He quickly jumped to his feet and came face-to-face with (duh) a huge, dark green monster. (sort of a combination of Plasmius and Wildebeest in appearance)

The monster lunged after Beast Boy, but he quickly retaliated, transforming into a hawk and flying into the air. When he had flown as high as possible, he changed into an elephant and dropped on top of the monster.

This only stunned the creature for a moment, and it threw Beast Boy into a wall. The force of his impact (he was still in elephant form) on the wall cracked part of it, and something appeared to be behind it.

After resuming his normal form, he peered through the crack to see none other than Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg (trapped, of course). He was about to say something, when the monster charged at him.

Suddenly, Beast Boy (of all people) had an idea. He waited for the moment just before the monster would make contact, then transformed into a mole and burrowed out of the way.

In the meantime, the monster crashed into the wall, thus freeing the three Titans.

"Titans, go!" Robin shouted his trademark battle cry and he, Starfire, and Cyborg began to fight the creature.

---------------------------------------

Beast Boy took this opportunity to go to Raven, who was still detained in the cage. He transformed into a mouse to fit through the bars, then resumed his normal form.

Upon finally seeing a friendly face, Raven immediately threw her arms around Beast Boy. She tried to control her emotions, but she could not stop a small tear from rolling down her cheek.

Beast Boy returned Raven's embrace and stroked her gently to comfort her.

After a minute, Raven pulled herself away. She looked at Beast Boy, then turned away with an expression of guilt. She finally resigned herself to the fact that she was done fighting what she had denied before.

"Beast Boy, I--" Raven tried to speak, but Beast Boy stopped her.

"It's okay," he assured her."You're gonna be okay."

"But I have to tell you," she hesitated."I created that monster."

"What do you mean?" Beast Boy's eyes widened, not so much from surprise as from the realization that his earlier suspicions may have been correct.

"The book. That monster, the barrier around the Tower, everybody disappearing, everything was created by my--"

"Let me guess... your jealousy?" Beast Boy finished her sentence for her, a smug grin creeping onto his face.

Raven stared in disbelief. Then she blushed and turned away. "You figured it out?"

Beast Boy smirked in an I-Told-You-So way. "Still think I wouldn't understand anything?"

Raven laughed to herself and returned the smirk. "Okay, I stand corrected," she said dryly.

Beast Boy then became uncomfortable. "Umm, actually... I have something to say, too."

There was a short pause as Beast Boy figured out how to word what he was going to say. Then he spoke again.

"Umm, well... I was feeling kind of depressed a few months ago. I was just... confused. Every now and then I would lie on my bed all day just to think."

At this thought Raven gave Beast Boy a skeptical look. Still he kept going without stopping.

"I thought about what could make me so upset, how I could feel so lonely when I had so many friends... then I thought about all of my friends. They're all important to me, but still something was missing... then I thought of you."

Raven was surprised at this last statement and she had to look away to hide her chagrin.

"Well, I mean, when we first met, we never seemed to get along. But for some reason I still wanted to get to know you. And being with you has changed my life. Everything in my life used to be about just having fun, but I never stopped to realize that having fun doesn't have to be non-stop action. Sometimes I can enjoy myself by just relaxing, or even reading... okay maybe not reading... well, what I mean is, we're good friends now, right? And sometimes, I feel like we can be... more."

Raven looked up at Beast Boy with widened eyes. "I didn't realize..."

"I kind of always had a feeling. I mean, it was only a while ago that Ireally discovered just how much I cared, and I wanted to tell you. But it wasn't until I read that book that I realized you..." Beast Boy's voice suddenly trailed off as he realized what he was about to say. "...felt the same way?" His statement had become a question, and he looked at Raven with a nervous smile.

Raven nodded sheepishly. "I never wanted to believe it because I wasn't supposed to feel any strong emotions. But the feeling's always been there, somewhere, growing and growing inside me. I hate to admit it, but you make me feel stronger, more confident..."

Then she was speechless. Her expression became grim again. She glanced around, her eyes finally meeting Beast Boy's once more.

He put his hand on Raven's shoulder. There was another pause.

Finally, Raven smiled and rested her head on Beast Boy's chest. And there was warmth in the cold world of Raven's mind.

---------------------------------------

Meanwhile, the other three Titans were still battling the monster, and it seemed that they were about to lose. Then, all of a sudden, the monster began to glow. The light grew brighter and brighter until it was finally blinding. After a moment, the light faded away, and the monster was gone. The cavern changed, as well. It was brighter somehow, and lit by light blue flames instead of green. A supernatural warmth radiated the air.

And all of this happened when Raven smiled.

---------------------------------------

All right, there's Chapter 6, but it's not over just yet!

Stay tuned for Chapter 7!

Review please.