(A/N) I just had this weird memory of a scene from "Spies Like Us". Anyway, some of you asked questions…here are the answers: The Halfa Wannabe, OK, so you didn't ask a question, but you did post the first ever Cliff Notes™ style thing for one of my stories…and it was funny. Emerald Venom, yeah, R&B, but at least he was a decent performer. He even did a back flip at the end of his song. But it was pure chaos…500+ people were let in before we closed the doors, and then some idiot thinks it's a good idea to pop open an outside door and let a small crowd in. We kicked him and his small crowd out. Being really stupid, avoid it. And your second question, what? Oh, well, I'm one of those weird-os that likes all the Titans and wants them to all live happily ever after. Elissar, it's good because good business for the rink means more people who might play hockey here. I don't get any money from the event, and I don't own the place or any part of it, I just really love this place (it's where I played in my first organized league) and I want to see it flourish. I also skated here when I was in elementary school…I wasn't quite as tall then, 'cause young people grow.

Disclaimer – If I owned the Teen Titans…no…I'm sorry, but everybody does this kind of a disclaimer. It's so tired. Instead, I'll declare what I'll do since I DON'T own the Teen Titans. I'll write fan fics. Kinda obvious.

The Annotated Raven – December 22nd

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10:00 p.m.

So, this is the end of the first week since Cyborg put his (anything but a) plan into action. I wouldn't be able to tell anything had changed if what happened today hadn't happened.

During the week Beast Boy's been just as normal as he ever gets…sort of. I keep getting a weird vibe from him. I can't tell what it means; I just know it's making me nervous. Take last Tuesday for an example. He asked me if I wanted to go to lunch with Starfire. Why didn't Starfire just ask me herself?

I got suspicious about it and checked my room after I got back. Beast Boy was trying to look innocent while playing video games. I didn't find anything, but it still doesn't explain why it felt like a set up.

But today…I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling because I've never felt this before. Affection says it's nothing new; it's just a large dose of several emotions mixed together. I asked her which ones and she said it was gratitude, affection, relief, awe, and timidity. She said there were others too, but that those were the main ones.

I want to describe what he did really well so that I can remember it like I do right now whenever I read this. This morning, I woke up early, like I usually do, and when I went into the common room I was surprised with the sight of Beast Boy already up.

What made it even stranger was that he was reading…intensely. I must have startled him, because he jumped a little when he heard me set the kettle on the stove. He tried to hide his book, so I naturally wanted to see what it was. He protested a little, but I just snatched it from him with my powers.

I was smiling at him as it came to me; he looked cute in his defeated stance with his ears drooping. But instead of gloating more, I almost had a panic attack. He was reading the Book of Azar. When I asked him why he was reading it he put one of his hands behind his head like he does when he's nervous and told me that he was thinking about everything. He said that he felt ashamed that Malchior could understand me so easily, while he had such a hard time at it.

He told me he was sorry that he ever thought I was creepy. He said he had said it because of how little he actually understood about me. He was reading the book to fix that. He wanted to understand me so that some jerk outsider couldn't just come in and take advantage of how badly my own friends understand me. Those were his words.

Then he said that he wasn't done, but that he was making progress. He said that the part he just read was about chakras. He thinks it's cool that mine actually does all the things the book said it's supposed to. Then he asked why I have one, since my powers are the results of my parentage (he didn't use that word) and my training in magic.

I explained how it's not a normal gemstone and how it is basically the thing that allows me to keep control while at the same time lets me release my powers. I was very glad he figured out that it was all about self-control.

I thought that all of this was very sweet of him and touching that he wanted to understand that much more about me, but what made it all so special was what he said after we were done talking about what he'd read.

He said that he had discovered two things in trying to learn more about my powers and first home. "First, I found out that you're a lot more powerful than anybody else on the team. I guess you don't use it all 'cause you're kinda scared of your powers." I couldn't answer anything after he said that because it's true. But, rather than let me just feel exposed he went on, "The other thing I learned was that nobody was allowed to get close to you…not even your mom." He looked like he was ready to cry. I was about to explain why and then leave, but he started talking again. "I wish that I could've met you then. I wouldn't have let them treat you like that. I don't like it when adults don't treat kids with love…even when it's just because they're scared. Can I ask you a question?"

He kind of caught me off balance with that because he sounded so hurt for me, like he really did want to change what had happened. Since I didn't know what he was going to ask, it made me really nervous and I just nodded for him to continue.

"Can I give you a hug?"

I've never been asked anything like that before. Whenever I felt like hugging someone it was usually because of how strongly I was feeling right then, and I don't let people just touch me, so it was unexpected. I just nodded again and he stepped forward and pulled me gently into his arms. As it was happening I realized what it felt like…it felt like someone was holding me after I'd hurt myself. I've never had that feeling before…that feeling that someone thought the most important thing in the world is making me feel better. I didn't even know that it really did matter to me that much, but he kept saying how he was sorry that I had lost my parents too.

When he did that, I couldn't help it, I cried. I just let those bottled in feelings out and cried for the loss of parents that either wanted me for their own gain or kept me away for my own safety. I'm glad we're close to the same height, because I wanted to hide my face and his shoulder is just right for that. Thinking back on it now, the only thing that might have been better about that moment, would have been if he knew how I feel about him.

The rest of the day we just hung out. He got me my tea, and I didn't complain when he did his victory dance during his video games. It was nice; I just wish that it went deeper than him being a very good friend. At least he said things that feel like he thinks of us as more than just friends. I hope the illusion lasts longer than the last couple of times.

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(A/N) I really like liver. Sure, most people don't, but I'm not most people. I'm just me. Mi re do re mi.