Last Rites by UndyingShadows
Chapter Eight
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Teen Titans or anything else herein that is owned by someone other than me.
Raven
I've knocked on his door three times now and he hasn't answered yet.
I know for a fact he's in there - and in quite a bit of pain. I can feel it.
I pass through the door - he won't mind under the circumstances. I hope.
"Beast Boy?" I try to say it loudly but my voice fails me. It's...impossible.
The room is almost spotless.
Okay...that's a slight exaggeration. There are still a few things on the floor, and some stains I doubt will ever come out, but...I can move without having to wonder which years pizza I just stood in.
He hasn't answered, so I call again. "Beast Boy? Are you in here?"
This time I get a response, from the corner.
"Don't say you're not impressed."
He sounds exhausted, and seems to be having trouble speaking...I'm pretty sure there was a hint of pride, as well.
I turn to face him. Big mistake.
He's slumped in the corner, eyes closed and breathing heavily. His face is pale. I think.
"What's up, Rae?" Is all he says.
What's up? Only the fact that we haven't seen you in three days, and you've managed to drag yourself to the brink of death, again!
"You haven't been out in a while. I thought you might like to talk - and yes, I am impressed."
I take his by the wrists and pull him up, slowly. He's not very heavy...he stopped eating again.
Then I help him over to his bed and lay him down.
I levitate cross legged beside the bed, and wait for him to say something.
"Thanks..." Is all I get.
"Why did you clean up?"
"I didn't want you guys to have to do it, after..."
He sounds like he's going to cry.
That's alright, let him. He needs to.
"I see...why did you do it alone?"
He chuckles, just a little.
"If you didn't know, would you have said yes?"
"But...I know. You could have asked me."
"Thought you'd say no."
He...what? He thought i'd refuse to help him?
That's what he said.
...But...I would've...
Yeah...'cause you know he hasn't got long.
I told him if he needed me...
Indeed. However, consider how often you've threatened him with death when he has mentioned you in a situation involving his room.
...Do I really do it that often?
Well, it was over a thousand at last count, that was three years ago. Before I got...sidetracked.
...'sidetracked?' All I have seen you do is sleep.
...Yeah. Sidetracked...
But...am I that mean to him? Why does he try so hard, then?
...Who cares? Ask him.
"I...would've helped you. You shouldn't have done it yourself, in your condition."
He opens his eyes, and looks at me. He looks...afraid?
"Why not? What's the point in looking after myself, when I know i'm gonna die?"
"...Maybe you won't die."
I don't believe it. I wish I did.
"Nice of you to say it, but we both know I will."
"I choose not to believe that...you aren't allowed to die."
That makes him smile a little.
"Nice to know that you'll miss me, Rae."
"Stop talking about...that..."
"Fine. What do you wanna talk about?"
"...Do you know why you lost it?"
"...Sakutia. It causes a fever, fevers lead to...well, this time it was me getting delerious."
"...I see. Do you know what it made you think?"
He looks a little sad. "I...everyone thought I was weak, you all...wanted me to die. I wanted to prove I was strong - stronger than anyone else. Guess I thought the best way to do it was to take out Dr. Light..."
Poor Beast Boy...he's so sad...he hates himself...do you think he's weak? How did we give him that idea? I knew we were being too mean...
"Do you really think you're weak?"
"I...don't know. Sometimes."
"...Such as?"
"I don't wanna talk about that, Rae."
"Fair enough."
Then comes awkward silence.
Beast Boy
It's nice to be out here, with the others.
Starfire made me taste something called gle...khle...
Starfire made me taste something she made, anyway. She said it was for Raven's birthday. I didn't tell her that it isn't for another few months.
Robin tried to make me train with him - I would've had to do it, but Raven decided 'for no reason' that she wanted the gym to herself. Robin's smart enough not to argue.
Cyborg's playing a game - he insisted on single player after I beat him twelve times.
Usually i'd be making brilliant jokes or stealing the control...not tonight. I'm happy just to watch them be them.
Maybe tomorrow i'll...
Uh...
Eh. We'll see. Nothing that involves cleaning, anyway.
End of Chapter Eight.
Notes: This is just a chapter to make the story a little longer - sorry about that. There isn't much Beast Boy in this one, simply because I don't feel like writing from his point of view. I'm not making this a romance - I only suggested it to begin with at the constant insistance of a friend I won't name - I'm quite relieved - I'm terrible at that sort of writing. Anyway, if you like it, good. If you hate it, thanks for reading it anyway and if it helped you waste some time then it served its purpose.