Last Rites by Undying Shadows
Chapter Two
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Teen Titans or any of the characters or locations herein.
Raven
I'm on the roof of the tower, looking out over the city and waiting for the sunrise.
I came up here to meditate - although I don't need to do it anymore, since Trigon is no longer a threat, but I never broke the habit.
Up until a few days ago this was the only place I could get a little peace and quiet, away from Bea...uh, all the noise.
It's quiet, not too cold and very calm. So why can't I relax?
Alright, Raven - listen to me.
You do not miss the constant, mindless droning that spews from Beast Boys mouth.
Hey, come on. Even you gotta admit that he doesn't bother you half as much, now.
...Still to much. I do not miss the const -
You really shouldn't lie to yourself. It isn't good for you.
I do not mis -
Yes, I amm afraid that you do. Why do you not go and see him?
I DO NO -
Um...Ya know we aren't gonna go away, right? So ya can stop trying to drown us out.
...Please?
Nope. You should be a little more considerate, ya know?
What do you mean by that?
Woah...are we really that stupid? Thought we were the smart one?
...That isn't funny.
Well, I thought it was, kinda...
...Get to the point.
She means that, taking into consideration all that Beast Boy has done for you, it is only right for you to be worried about him and is suggesting that, perhaps, you go and speak with him. I concur.
If Beast Boy wants my help, he can come to me. I haven't once forced my problems - most of which he causes - onto him. If he comes to me, i'll gladly help him.
Yes, I know. But he does not.
...What are you talking about?
Consider Robin's words, for a moment. Every time that Beast Boy approaches you, you tear him apart before he opens his mouth, always assuming that he will tell a joke. Have you once, recently, allowed him to speak?
It isn't the same. I know when he wants to tell jokes - I can feel it.
Indeed, but -
Look, Rae, you know that, we know it - He doesn't. All he knows is that every time he trys to say anything to ya, ya say something mean. He doesn't know that you can tell what he's gonna do!
But...he knows i'm an empath. Surely he -
Do you honestly thing that Beast Boy knows the full extent of your abilities? I am inclined to believe that, to him, empathy means that you know when he is becoming, for example, enraged or sorrowful. I doubt that he realises that you are able to take what he is feeling and use it to learn his intentions.
...You're right.
Certainly. I am rarely wrong.
So you're a modest one, too, huh?
...Silence.
Before I get to enthralled in seeing if Knowledge knows how to debate with Rude, I rise, and turn.
They're right. I need to make things right with Beast Boy.
Beast Boy
This has gotta be the longest I ever stared at a door.
It has to have been five minutes, by now.
But I can't help it. I don't wanna go in there and face them.
The looks on their faces when I tell them i'm fine...
S'pose that'll either be anger or disbelief.
No. I've gotta stop it or i'm gonna chicken out.
Hey, maybe they didn't notice! Maybe all those visits to my room were coincidence!
Maybe they didn't notice that I haven't annoyed them in five days.
Maybe i'm crazy...
Oh well. I'm here now, and I am not climbing all those stairs again.
I step through the door as it slides open - man those doors are cool - and prepare to face my destiny.
Okay...maybe just a lecture.
But there's noone else in the room. Well, Silkie's sleeping in the corner - I'm guessing he ate Raven's cushion - but he isn't gonna bother me.
I'm hungry...I need food. Then I need to sit down and watch some TV.
I head over to the fridge to get some tofu, before I remember that I don't have any left.
Fruit, then.
I grab an apple and fall onto the couch.
Can't say I ever noticed just how painful it is to walk from my room all the way down here.
Wait a sec - if noone's here, where are they?
It's...thursday? No, wednesday.
So...Cyborg's probably upstairs, sleepin' or checking over the security system.
Starfire...wednesday's her mall day, and she likes to be there a bit before it opens, usually about two hours. Someone would've been dragged along, and I didn't hear Robin in the gym.
That just leaves Raven, and that's easy. She's making use of me not being around, so she's either on the roof or in her room.
Good, maybe I can pull this off without having to try and fool our human lie detector. She always, without fail, knows when someone's lying. Must have something to do with feelings. Funny how Raven's the expert on feelings.
"...Good morning, Beast Boy."
Uh...maybe it was just my imagination.
Yeah, 'cause Raven only ever comes down real early in the morning...around sunrise...to get some...tea.
Well, I messed that up.
Don't panic. Just be happy.
"...Can't you hear me, Beast Boy? Or are you just trying to avoid talking to me?"
Wow, that was even faster than normal.
I smile and sit up, ignoring my need to cry.
Then I turn and look at her.
She's standing in the doorway, hands on her hips and hood up.
I don't need to see her eyes to know that she's looking at me.
And frowning.
Okay, just say something clever and get yourself out of this.
"Oh...uh...hey..." Oh, well done. I'm brilliant.
"I...didn't see ya there...what's up?"
She sighs, and walks over to me.
I really hope she just wants to tell me what an idiot I am.
She sits across from me, on the other end of the couch and lowers her hood.
You can tell by her hair that she was on the roof, but it's her eyes that have my attention.
This is the first time in a while they haven't been narrowed at me.
She looks...worried.
"You haven't been out of your room in nearly a week, Beast Boy. Are you alright?"
Hey...she called me Beast Boy, not idiot or loser or...brainless...type...guy?
It must be a trick.
"I'm fine, Rae. I just noticed you staying in your room all the time and wanted to see what was so great about it."
Oh. Bad time to get defensive, worse thing to say.
Now she's glaring.
"That isn't funny, Beast Boy. I've been...a little worried about you. What's wrong?"
Man...she let me keep my eyeballs. She really is worried.
Alright, one more shot.
"Thanks, Rae - but it's nothing. I just had...a cold?"
Yeah, cause she'll believe that.
That was my last chance. Now she's gonna threaten me, or hit me.
But she doesn't. She just moves to beside me, reaches out, and forces me to look her in the eyes.
I could swear that there are tears forming in them.
"I'm only going to ask you once more, Beast Boy. I know that I haven't been very nice to you, lately, but you're my friend."
She pauses for a moment, and looks away.
"I want you to tell me the truth. I understand if you can't, but if you can't be honest with me...then you can't claim to be my friend, anymore."
Then she looks back at me, her face, her eyes, as cold as impassive as ever.
Oh man...why does Raven have to be the one who knows when i'm lying.
I can't...lose any more friends. I have to tell her the truth.
End of chapter two.