Ohh boy, do I feel like a physical train wreck right now. Thanks for all the good reviews as it's helping me forget how sick I am. Anyway, on with the show... (NOTE: Before anyone says 'How could she not be scared of this movie when Wicked Scary actually scared her? I look at this way...Wicked Scary would be a big blockbuster horror movie with a HUGE budget, where as the one her and BB go see is probably one of those el' cheapo ones that use ketchup for blood. Think of Wicked Scary as the new War of the Worlds while the one in this story is Plan 9 From Outer Space.) PS – This is the second to last chapter
Raven had never been to the Jump City Megaplex before and sizing up the behemoth that it was she could understand why. The loud, beeping, flashing monstrosity was an overload to her senses...blinking lights, the noisy arcade, loud cell phone conversations and the like wasn't helping her keep her focus.
"This isn't just about just you," she reminded herself "it's about you AND Beast Boy." and followed the eager green young man to the front counter to purchase their tickets. Raven reached into her back pocket to produce her money (she never owned a purse) to pay for her ticket...but was stopped by Beast Boy.
"Dude, it's cool, I got it." and promptly ordered two tickets. Raven was stunned by such a gesture from Beast Boy of all people. "Beast Boy...I'm impressed." she said honestly, surprised he didn't make her pay due to him forgetting his wallet or running out cash suddenly. "So what exactly are we seeing?" in all the excitement of dinner she had forgotten to ask.
"Rae, you're gonna love this one! Cyborg and...uhhh...whats-her-name saw it last week and they loved it." he said, his obvious excitement showing through.
"Whats-her-name? You mean Stephanie?" she inquired.
"No, it wasn't Stephanie. He was seeing Stephanie last month." Beast Boy said.
"Was it Megan?" Raven asked.
"Wasn't Megan. She had some of Starfire's cooking and never came back." he said, scratching his head trying to remember the girl's name.
"Sarah?"
"Yeah! That's her name! Yeah, Cyborg and Sarah saw it and they both loved it."
Raven rolled her eyes at the thought of the The Many Women of Cyborg, surprised he even remembered what the movie was about. "So what is the movie then?" she asked, starting to have her doubts about Beast Boy's choice in movie flicks.
"Dude, prepare yourself for the most awesome, the most amazing, the most awesomely, fantastical movie to ever fantastic an awesome...REVENGE OF THE AXE MANIAC 17!" he squealed, his arms waving madly with a frantic enthusiasm that resembled that of a drowning Chihuahua.
Raven just stared back at him, shocked, but really not all that surprised. "So, you're taking me to Revenge of the Axe Maniac 17...for our date tonight?" she said flatly. Beast Boy nodded.
"Aren't you excited? Splatterhouse Magazine rated it 3 out of 4 bloody heads!"
"I'm sure Splatterhouse Magazine is the epitome of good cinema." she said monotone.
Beast Boy scratched his head in confusion "Wait," he said "are you being sarcastic again?"
"No. Of course not. I'm never sarcastic to you, remember?." she replied, trying to fight the smirk that wanted to spread on her face. Beast Boy seemed more confused, still scratching his head lost in thought. Raven merely sighed before grabbing him by the wrist to lead him into the theater.
The theater was dark with the only light coming from the flickering of the projector, but it was enough for Raven to find them some seats towards the back of the room. "You're so gonna love this, Rae. And don't worry, if you get scared, you can always hold on to my arm." Beast Boy said, trying to sound as smooth as possible.
"I'll consider the offer." she replied dryly, mentally preparing herself for the train wreck of a movie she was about to endure. Though Beast Boy was right about one thing, someone definitely grabbed on to the other's arm, but it wasn't Raven grabbing Beast Boy. Beast Boy grabbed Raven's arm...several times.
"Dudddeeee!" he hissed under his breath at one point in disbelief. "He totally cut her head off with an axe!" Raven sighed, feeling the circulation being cut off in her right arm by his vice like grip. "How can you possibly be scared? You can clearly see the head is made of rubber, and the blood looks to be ketchup." she said, keeping her voice down.
Beast Boy didn't respond to her question, just winced at another gruesome scene involving an obviously rubber knife. "...and besides," she added "you're cutting off the blood in my arm." Beast Boy blushed out of embarrassment and let go of her Raven's arm. Then almost by instinct, he reached forward to grab her hand and gently clasped in his, his eyes never leaving the screen.
Raven looked down to see her slender ashen fingers intertwined with his green hand and...it felt good. Really good. She gripped his hand a bit tighter to see how he'd respond and just as she had hoped, he returned the pressure, his eyes still zeroed in on the big screen. The rest of the movie seemed to zoom by for the pale empath, as once her hand made contact with Beast Boy's the evening seem to be on fast forward.
An hour and a half or so later the movie had come to an end, it's surprise ending (it was all a dream!) was finally revealed, leaving Beast Boy awestruck at such a shocking twist and Raven rolling her eyes at how predictable it was. Beast Boy climbed on to his moped, adjusting his goggles and scarf as Raven fastened his helmet on herself.
"So...did you have a good time?" he asked her, curious of her response. She replied by smiling and wrapping her delicate arms around his mid-section to hold on to for the ride home. "I had a wonderful time, Gar." she said softly. "Thank you."
Beast Boy felt shivers run down his spine and swallowed big as he revved up the Tidwell and made his way back to the Tower.
It was shortly after midnight when they arrived back home, everyone having turned in for the night. There was a note in the OPs room for Beast Boy...
"BB – I managed get an antidote for your room and everything is back to normal. The smell is gone. KEEP IT THAT WAY! -Robin"
He sighed slightly to himself as he read it. "I guess...my room is back to normal." he said, his voice sprinkled with a sense of depression. Raven paused as she felt like she had just swallowed a large sack of concrete that was now festering in her stomach. "Oh..." was all she managed to croak, her voice sounding just as defeated as his.
Beast Boy gave a bummed smile before taking Raven by the hand. "C'mon...I'll walk you to your room..."
Starfire lay in bed with her body next to Robin's. His arm was wrapped around her waist with both of them breathing softly in the night air. She slowly awoke from her peaceful slumber and while rubbing the sleep from her emerald eyes, she realized she was thirsty. So thirsty that only a drink of freshly squeezed glorg juice could satisfy her. She delicately removed Robin's arm from her waist and kissed him softly on the forehead as she sat up to make her way to the kitchen. She never left the room, however, due to the fact that as soon as she opened her door just a crack she saw Raven and Beast Boy back from their date.
Starfire quickly let out a loud gasp and closed the door suddenly, waking Robin from his sleep. "Star...fire?" he asked, turning a lamp on from a nearby stand.
Starfire could barely contain her excitement, speaking in a hushed voice as to not alert Beast Boy and Raven to her presence. "Friends Beast Boy and Raven have returned from the date!" she said. "And they appear to have had a simply wonderful time!"
Robin's eyes widened at this, saying "You mean she didn't kill him? Wow...I guess I owe Cyborg $20 then..."
Beast Boy stood with Raven in front of the door to her room, both of them simply staring at each other. "So...I'm glad you had a good time." the green prankster said quietly. Raven smiled back at him, her voice just as soft as his. "Yeah...me too." she said, her amethyst eyes seemingly glistening in the moonlight.
Then, almost as if in slow motion, Beast Boy leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers.
"WOOO HOOO! He did it!" Love hollered happily, prancing around the rocky area as in she were in a ballet.
"Are...are things going to blow up now?" Timid asked nervously.
"Actually, no." Knowledge replied. "Due to the fact we are no longer bound by Trigon's influence, she is free to use as much as she wishes. She finally trusts herself now."
Love didn't seem to care about any of this, just merely singing and dancing, laughing to herself. "All I know is that I for one am happy to have the hunk of green man meat to ourselves!"
Starfire gasped even louder than before at what she was viewing. She had Robin's door cracked open slightly and was spying on Raven and Beast Boy, Robin peaking as well. "They...are kissing!" she said with hushed amazement. "How glorious that they are in love!" she added dreamily.
Robin was still in disbelief. "He's...kissing her? And she hasn't throttled him yet? It's official, Star...the end of the world is here." Starfire gave him a playful smack on the back of his head. "Hush!" she commanded "And let us watch this joyous expression!"
At first Raven didn't do anything, just stood there while Beast Boy's lips were being pressed against hers. The kiss was soft and gentle, almost as if he were testing to see how she would she respond... and at first, she didn't know how to. Then she felt something...
She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt like a dam bursting open with flood waters...like Heaven's gates themselves had opened, filling her with emotions and desires she never thought possible.
She suddenly reached for BB, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Taking the invitation, he responded by wrapping his own arms around her slender waist, his hands rubbing up and down her side and back, embracing her in a passionate kiss.
Raven soon felt her back up against her door as her mouth opened slightly, with Beast Boy returning the favor. The two love struck Titans stood there drinking in each other's affection, till finally Beast Boy pulled away for air, his face the biggest grin it has ever been before.
"Did...did you just see what I just saw?" Robin asked, his voice quivering slightly. Starfire's eyes were large and shimmering with excitement, abruptly closing the door and flying straight in the air with joy. "They have engaged in the kissing ritual!" Starfire exclaimed with a girly enthusiasm.
Robin just sat down on the edge of the bed, scratching his messy black hair. "I have now seen everything..."
"So I guess this means we're...official?" Beast Boy asked with a hushed anticipation. "Officially what?" the now blushing empath replied, enjoying messing with him like this.
Beast Boy scratched the back of his neck, a nervous habit of his, and said his next words slowly and carefully. "Officially...a couple?"
Raven just smiled. "Sure, why not?" she said. Beast Boy felt like he was going to through the roof.
"...and I guess I'll be sleeping here from now on?" again testing the waters of his new relationship.
"I don't see why not." she replied, and then smirking slyly she added "But keep your hands to yourself, ok? Any funny business and you'll find yourself sleeping in the harbor." and led Beast Boy by the hand to their room for a well deserved night's rest.