I get a little deep into the imagery here. The whole chapter actually takes place over a 10-15 minute period. I've gotten some good feedback about paying close attention to the details though, so I figured you guys wouldn't mind. R&R please. Enjoy!

I don't own the Teen Titans or any of the characters. I'm so sick of doing this! If the right to the use of cartoon characters in harmless fanfics was an ice cream flavor, it'd be pralines and dick (a little tribute to the Wayne's World fans out there).

Chapter 4: Beauty and the Beast Boy

They reached the top of the stairs and Raven pushed open the door without even slowing down. The cool dusk air and gentle glow of twilight washed over them. They continued running until Raven began to slow as they approached the edge of the roof. Beast Boy slowed down too, still staying just behind her. Raven stopped at the edge and turned to face Beast Boy.

"So what are we doing up here?" he asked with a perplexed look on his face. "I thought we were going to get something to eat."

"We are." she said with a small smile. "I thought flying would be a little more fun though."

Beast Boy smiled widely. He sprinted towards the edge of the roof and jumped just before reaching it. Changing into a falcon, he began a vertical dive down the side of the Tower. Pulling up, he executed some ascending back flips and started circling their large home. He kept a steady climb until he was about twenty feet above the roof. Looking down he saw a pile of clothes next to a smiling Raven.

Hey! Wait a minute...OHHH MAN! I guess my normal clothes don't change with me.

He flew down behind the outcropping formed by the stairs leading to the roof and changed back into his normal form.

Smooth Gar. Real smooth.

"Uhhh…little help here?" he called to Raven.

"Did you mean to do that?" she asked laughing.

"NO! Of course not! I didn't know that could happen! I've never tried changing in anything but my Doom Patrol uniform. Just give me my clothes."

"Nice boxers." She said almost sarcastically as she levitated Beast Boy's lucky shorts out of the pile.

"HEY! J-just give'em back!" he yelled blushing.

"Calm down. They're kinda cute." she said as she levitated the rest of his clothes around the corner of the outcropping to where he was standing.

"Y-you really think so?"

"Just get dressed 'tiger'." she said still laughing a little.

After getting redressed, he came out from behind the outcropping still looking a little embarrassed.

"Well that could've gone better." Beast Boy said looking at the ground just in front of Raven's feet and scratching the back of his head. Raven just shook her head and gave a little laugh.

"Need a lift?" she asked as a black aura enveloped a piece of sheet metal and floated over to him.

"Uh, sure. Thanks." he said sheepishly as he stepped up onto the makeshift platform.

"Don't sweat it."

They began to fly towards the city. Raven kept Beast Boy floating right next to her. He kept looking straight ahead with his hands in the kangaroo pouch of his hoodie.

"Sorry 'bout that Rae." he said quietly

"I already said don't worry about it. It's not like I expected perfection."

Beast Boy's already troubled look darkened significantly.

Of course. What else would she expect from a goof like me? I can't do anything right!

"I mean, if you were perfect I'd probably hate you." she said not noticing his pained expression.

Beast Boy's face instantly brightened.

"I can't stand people like that. Even though you make mistakes, you don't mind taking the blame. Plus its stuff like that that makes me laugh, which as you probably know, doesn't happen…well ever." she said looking over to him with a small smile (sorry I keep with the 'small smiles' and stuff of the like. I just can't picture Raven having a big smile on her face).

"Well you picked the right guy then!" he said smiling widely. "Cus stuff like that happens to me three times before breakfast everyday."

"As I recall, it was you who picked me." she said coolly still smirking.

"Well I…you coulda…see it was...shut up!"

There was a short silence before they both started laughing. It was only for a few moments, but Beast Boy treasured it. He was glad that he could get the person he considered to be the loneliest being on the planet to laugh. She returned to looking forward to concentrate on her flying. They had just started to fly over the city.

I didn't think Raven was capable of smiling. Now I don't think I can picture her any other way. I still can't believe I got her to laugh…twice! I almost feel bad about not asking her sooner. I just left her in the dark. Damn it Gar. The answer was there the whole time, and you wasted precious time tryin' to 'sort out your feelings'. Well, better late than never I guess. Still...

Beast Boy looked at her, almost as if for the first time. She flew with her body parallel to the ground beneath them, her arms at her side and her head tilted back. The gentle breeze blew her hair back so he could clearly see her face, which was normally obscured beneath her hood. Her normally listless violet eyes now shimmered brightly in the fading daylight. That same light made features that he had never even noticed before as clear as day. Her arms were slender and sleek. While not muscular, they definitely had a potential to unleash a great amount of force. While her legs were not visible, Beast Boy had seen them when she wore her normal unitard. They were long and graceful. They too were not muscular, but the same as her arms, gave the impression of being able to unleash a vast amount power if necessary. While these characteristics made Raven alluring, they were also evidence that she was not a force to be trifled with, even without her powers. Many people found this intimidating, and up until recently so had Beast Boy. Now, however, he actually found this quality attractive. Her midriff, exposed just below the bottom of her shirt, looked smooth, but not soft. It looked as though her stomach would be firm to the touch even if there was no prominent bulge of abdominal muscle. Her entire figure in general seemed to be composed of a single, flawless curve. The magnificence of her many other features would simply be demeaned by putting mortal words to them (and between you and me, I'm reaching my eloquencial limit here).

My god. How could I have never seen this?How could anyone ignore this kind of beauty?

Raven turned and saw him staring at her. She blushed and quickly went back to concentrating on her flying.

"You know, you look really nice Raven." he said softly.

"Wha- Didn't we do whole 'complimenting each other on how good we look thing' already?" she asked still blushing a little.

"Yeah, but before I just kinda stuttered out 'wow'. Even now, 'nice' doesn't seem to be nearly enough."

"Stop it Garfield." she said laughing nervously.

"I just-"

"We're almost there." she said quickly cutting him off.

What's up with her?

They began their descent towards a dark alleyway. Raven set down and then slowly lowered the sheet metal that Beast Boy was standing on. The alley was about 35 feet long and 10 feet wide. It was nestled in between two decrepit looking buildings. It wasn't paved either. The ground was just compacted dirt with weeds sprouting everywhere along the sides. There were no weeds along the center indicating that that area was regularly traversed. Beast Boy had no idea why anyone would come here at all, to say nothing of coming here regularly. Two dumpsters were at the end of the alley and did little to improve the appalling ambiance that this alleyway already emanated.

"This is where we're eating?" he asked skeptically as he stepped off the steel plate.

"Well actually we're eating in there." she said motioning to a thick, rusty, cast iron door with a small light fixture over it. There was a white sign over the door that read, in black old English gothic lettering, 'Amontillado'. "It'll be way more dismal in there."

"All right, one: why would you want it to be more depressing? And two: it can get drearier than this alley?"

"You have no idea." she said smiling at him slyly with a mischievous yet reassuring look in her eyes.

Beast Boy just took a deep breath and then smiled at her.

"Lead the way."

Take the plunge Gar.

Hope you guys liked it! If you think the imagery takes away from the main story, please tell me! I'd like to think that it actually enhances the story, but my opinion is kind of biased. The next chapter should be along soon! Expect mucho awkwardness! Peace and Love!