Sorry if this one gets off topic. I had an interesting experience involving my friends paying me to devour things of…questionable edibility (the one mentioned being the tamest of them all). Anyway I felt it necessary to put a little of this into the story and it ended up being most of the chapter. I still think it's ok though. Hope you like it! Don't forget: R&R!
I don't own Teen Titans or any of the characters blah blah blah. Copyright's going to be my slow, bloody demise.
Chapter 2: Bed and Breakfast
He embraced her tightly, his arms around her shoulders. Her arms slowly slipped around him and she rested her head on his shoulder nuzzling his neck.
"I love you." he whispered so softly he wasn't sure she had heard it.
There was a long silence. He was just about to repeat what he said, when she hugged him tighter.
"I love you too." she said quietly.
He felt a smile spread across his face. And, although he couldn't feel it, he knew she was smiling too. Then he felt a wet spot forming on his shoulder. She was crying. He gently pushed her away and held her a little closer than an arm's length. She was indeed crying. Tears were streaming down her face, but strangely, she was smiling. Confusion swept over him.
"Wha…why are you crying?" he asked with a serious look of concern on his face.
She stared at him, still openly weeping.
"You're the first person to ever say that to me."
She threw her arms back around him and hugged him so tightly he could barely breathe. He exhaled sharply, but didn't ask her to ease up. He simply put his arms back around her and held her gently. Eventually, she loosened her death grip on his torso and pushed away from him gently. She put her hand on his chest, keeping the other around his middle, and looked up at him. Their faces were only inches apart. They both smiled at each other, their eyes locked. Her smile slowly faded as her gaze intensified. He felt his face doing the same. She slowly leaned in. Her eyes closed and her lips-
"BOOYAH!"
Beast Boy's snapped open. Sunlight was coming through the half open shades of his bedroom window, revealing several piles of clothes and an impossibly high stack of pizza boxes, probably not all empty. He rolled over so he was facing the wall. He groaned and pulled the blankets over his head, wanting to go back to sleep.
Uh...what a dream. Man, why'd Cy have to go and yell like that. I was so close. Just a few more seconds and…
He let out a long frustrated sigh.
…oh well.
He got up and put on a pair of purple shorts and a white tank top. Then idly scratched his head and rake his fingers though his hair. Absentmindedly turning into a dog, he stretched and yawned. Changing back to his normal form, he walked out of his room, down the hallway, and into the living room. He saw Cyborg on the couch and Robin and Starfire at the breakfast table. He walked over to the couch.
"What's with all the noise man?"
"Oh, sorry BB." Cyborg said grinning up at Beast Boy. "Didn't mean to wake you up. I got a new high score in Death Match IV (yes, it's made up) and couldn't help but give the ol' victory yell."
"No problem, I probably should've gotten up anyway."
"Hey you wanna do a couple versus matches?"
"No thanks. Maybe later."
Beast Boy wearily walked to the kitchen and got some cereal from a cupboard and soy milk out of the fridge. He then grabbed a bowl and spoon and walked over to the table. He set everything down on the table and took the empty seat next to Starfire. He began pouring his cereal, when he noticed that Robin had a look of bewilderment on his face. Beast Boy looked to his left and saw Starfire dunking jalapeños in ranch dressing and then raspberry jelly and gobbling them down like they were candy (I do not recommend trying this). She then washed it down with a long swig from a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper. Even though he had seen this girl chug mustard, he still found this unsettling. After setting down the now empty soda bottle, she let out a belch that shook the tower. Smiling contently, she finally noticed the two boys staring at her.
"There is something the matter with my new found victual delight? They are even more delicious than the mustard!" she said he smile growing even wider.
Beast Boy was about to say something about how disgusting that was, when he realized that it was perfectly vegetarian.
Nothing had to die to bring Starfire this joy, except my appetite of course, so what harm could come of it? In fact…
"Hey Star! Mind if I try one?"
Robin was shocked by this, but Starfire squealed with glee. "Of course you may friend! Let me prepare one for you!"
Starfire took the biggest jalapeño she could find and began swirling it in the bowl of salad dressing.
"Are you sure about this Beast Boy?" Robin asked with a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Why not? It's vegetarian, and we always assume the things Star eats are gross before we even taste them. Maybe the reward is worth the risk."
Robin thought about this a moment and said "Huh. I guess you're right. I never really thought about it. You know what? Starfire, set me up too."
"Yeah! That's the spirit!" Beast Boy said cheerfully. "I mean, the worst thing that could happen is…well…us both dying long horrible deaths. Right?"
"Uhhh…yeah." Robin muttered nervously.
Starfire began laughing, overwhelmed by how open-minded her friends were being. "I shall begin preparing one for you at once! Here is yours Beast Boy!" she said smiling as she handed him the jelly and ranch dressing covered pepper and then bounding off to the fridge again.
Beast Boy eyed Starfire's new snack warily. He then shrugged and popped it into his mouth. Robin stared nervously as Beast Boy began to chew. Beast Boy paused for a moment with a look of horror in his eyes. His eyes rolled back in his head as he fell forward, his forehead hitting the table.
"Star! Quick!" Robin yelled rushing over to Beast Boy
Starfire came back to the table, another jar of peppers in one arm and a bottle of Dr. Pepper in the other. She gave Beast Boy a cursory glance and then smiled at Robin.
"Oh. Do not worry Robin. He simply neglected to complete the process." She said calmly walking over and pulling Beast Boy's head back. She unscrewed the top of the Dr. Pepper bottle and began to pour the contents into his mouth. Beast Boy sat up quickly with a huge smile on his face.
"WOW! THAT"S INCREDIBLE!" Beast Boy yelled. "The Dr. Pepper really brings the taste together! Now I see why you like these so much Star!"
Starfire laughed and smiled widely when he said this.
"I am most pleased that my discovery has brought you joy! Would you like another?"
"Yeah! Thanks Star! Next time we have a movie night you gotta make a huge plate of these! Raven might even crack a smile after trying one!"
Starfire laughed again at this. None of the Titans had seen Raven smile on more than one or two separate occasions, and even then it was short-lived and because it was usually at Beast Boy's expense, so the prospect of seeing Raven smile out of actual happiness was really exciting to them.
If only they knew…
Beast Boy grinned to himself. Before last night, he didn't think it was possible for anyone, save Starfire, to smile that much in such a short time. And this was Raven they were talking about; the queen of darkness, the master or morbidity and depression. Who'd have thought she was only looking for someone to open up to? They all suspected that she valued being alone. It was weird to them at first, but after a while they got used to it and simply didn't question it anymore. Beast Boy's grin faded.
If only we had known...
Just then Raven floated into the living room. Everyone, except Cyborg who continued to play videogames, stopped what they were doing and watched her come in. She stopped in the middle of the room, looked down at the floor, and took a deep breath.
"G-good morning everyone."
Robin's mouth fell open and Starfire was shocked for a moment, but then smiled widely. There was a blood curdling death cry as the controller slid out of Cyborg's hands and the TV flashed Game Over. Beast boy couldn't do anything but smile.
"Morning Rae." he said softly but assuringly.
"Most glorious of mornings to you as well friend Raven!" Starfire replied excitedly.
Robin just stared with his mouth agape. Cyborg never even turned around. He simply sat there staring as the game instant replayed his characters brutal and bloody demise at the hands of the CPU player. Raven looked up. She was blushing a little as she looked at Beast Boy and gave a little smile. She quickly blanked her face as Starfire came over and gave her one of her usual bone-crushing hugs. Raven didn't return the hug, but simply rolled her eyes. Starfire didn't mind. It had already been a big day of firsts. After being released Raven moved quickly into the kitchen probably to make her usual morning cup of herbal tea. Beast Boy watched as Raven gracefully glided across the floor, her tight unitard accentuating her form and her cloak billowing majestically behind her. He grinned to himself.
This is gonna be an interesting day.
Hope you liked it! A little bit of an interlude in the story, but it felt right. R&R please!