Authoress' Notes: I'm baaack. Scary isn't it? Anyways, sorry it took so long, I've been on a Kim Possible kick lately and was having trouble writing this. Hmm, wonder what BB and Rae are up to tonight. Time to find out . . . After this short break.

P.S. Rae might be a little OOC, but I had to move the plot along somehow.

Replies to anonymous reviewers:

Firstly, thank you everyone for reviewing. It really means a lot to me that you take the time to write . . .err, type down your thoughts. Thanks:D

BrianDarksoul: Thank you, I was hoping it wouldn't be boring. Wasn't expecting thought-provoking, but I'm glad it is. Bogard Brothers, haven't heard of them in a while. Red cordial seems a likely candidate though. . . ;)

Regrem Erutaerc: Thanks for the kind review, that info was very helpful in this chapter, otherwise I would have made a pretty embarassing mistake. I could have sworn Lazy was one of her emotions separately . . . As for BB's bilingual state, I just figured it would be cool for him to have two. I wasn't being particularly choosy which came first. Sorry if it bothered you, but rest assured it's nothing important to the plot. :) I hope you like this chapter too.

Alright, on with torture . . .(cough) I mean show, yeah show.

Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 4: Music and Moonlight

"Hey Rae. You up for a movie?" Tonight's project seemed to be a small metal bracelet, one he'd been tinkering on since that night in the kitchen a month ago.

Raven shrugged, "Sounds fine. Need any help?"

"Yeah, could you hand me that circuitry board? Anyways, how about this movie about a guy who pretends to be a girl nanny so he can be with his kid?" Raven shrugged again and moved to the teapot. Why was he bothering? That bracelet couldn't work. Sure the theory was sound, just block the impulses her emotions sent, and the lab data checked out okay, though she would have to ask Cyborg about those pictures of Bee later . . .

Still, it couldn't work. Not ever . . .

Beast Boy frowned. Something was up with Raven. Well, upon reflection, something was always up with her, but ever since they started this project to keep her powers in check, she had been acting weird. Defeated almost. Movie huh? Maybe it was time for a change . . . "Hey Rae?"

"Yes?" She sat down in front of him with two full mugs, curious despite herself.

"How about some music instead? Something soft." He tagged on in a rush as she opened her mouth to decline.

"Alright." What was the idea with the music? Sure, it was a welcome change, but . . . She smiled, internally at least, the gesture slowly becoming easier for her. Strange that. His room was too bright for music though. Maybe, just this once, she could put that huge stereo to good use. Raven stood up, hesitating. Could she trust him?

To his credit, Beast Boy remained silent, knowing she was struggling. If he had hurt her . . . he'd never forgive himself. She'd had too much of that. He'd love to hold her right now, help her, but considering he'd already apparently screwed up . . . Mentally kicking himself, he watched Raven hopelessly. He knew he would screw up. He always did . . .

Raven glanced at the floor, the tiny gold bracelet glittering in the lamp light. If she were honest with herself, she was confused. The bracelet, the tea, everything they had been doing for the past couple of months, none of it made sense. The pale empath scowled. She abhorred being confused. Why was Gar doing this? Yes, she knew he wanted her to be happy, but what about him? People always wanted something. Then again, Gar wasn't people, he was Gar. And sometime, somewhere along the way, that had begun to make a difference. A lot of difference. Enough difference to do a crazy thing like what she was about to do. "Gar?"

"Yeah Rae?" They locked eyes, Raven startled at the change in Gar's. They looked . . . different, desperate. The hope ever present in his eyes had shrunk to a shred. Somehow Raven knew she didn't really have a choice. Bringing the hope back into his gaze took on sudden importance, putting a smile on his face a sudden duty, and for once in her life, she didn't know why. None of her emotions were prompting her. For now it was just Raven and just Gar and just this strange feeling . . . and just one thing she could do. "Let's listen in my room. Better acoustics, not to mention stereo." she said with a disparaging glance at his stereo system. Mission accomplished. Eyes once again bright with a blazing hope, he nodded.

Using her powers to scoop up his parts and their tea mugs, Raven led the way, smirking inside at the irony.

"You know, it's kinda ironic," Beast Boy began, smirking himself "Using your powers to carry parts of a device to suppress your powers."

Raven was again surprised, something she was scarily almost used to. In fact, this whole thing was something she was getting used to, becoming as normal as her morning tea. Oh, well, c'est la vie . . . Raven blinked. Where had that come from? Gar must have been rubbing off on her. Either that or Knowledge was loose again . . .

Stopping in front of the titanium door bearing her name, another tendril of dark power shot out and opened the door before she stepped in, Beast Boy right behind her. The deep purple tones set her at ease and before she knew it, she had flopped down on her bed, tea cups and parts whirling in lazy circles before resting on the floor.

Raven looked relaxed, Beast Boy noted quietly, a little in awe. Not out of control, but relaxed. A flick of her hand turned on the stereo, soft strains of piano fluttering out. Raven nearly smiled. Rude was one of her safer emotions, as she usually couldn't be bothered to cause trouble.

It would be okay to relax, just for tonight. Besides, if she lost control Gar was right there, ready to fix whatever might break, maybe even her. The main question was could he. Could he fix her, broken as she was? Smiling she recalled his words from beforehand, "We can still try." Maybe, in the end, that was enough.

Beast Boy sipped his tea in silence, afraid to break the spell of calm that had spread over the room. He smiled, she probably hadn't even noticed she put sugar in his tea, just the way he liked it. It would be just like her. She always concentrated on how she hurt people and forgot how she helped them. Maybe someday that would change. Until then, he could always keep reminding her. "Hey Rae, thanks."

The empath looked at him in confusion. "For putting sugar in my tea." Both of them knew he was talking more than sugar.

'Thank you for trusting me.'

"You're welcome." Raven returned softly. Slowly but surely Raven's maybes began to disappear.

"You know, you're not the only one with an alias." she begain nonchalantly.

"Sure, nobody names their kid Cyborg." Beast Boy pointed out, reaching for a nearly microscopic bolt.

"Thank you Captain Obvious." Which was as close as Raven ever came to laughing. "I meant me though."

Beast Boy glanced up questioningly, "Your real name's not Raven."

Raven shrugged. "Not on Azarath."

Carefully he sat up, trying to not screw things up. "So what is it?" Quietly, carefully, in almost a whisper.

With no idea why they were whispering, she answered, "Metrion."

"Metrion." He liked it. "What does it mean?"

"Light within." She scoffed. What a lie.

"It suits you." Beast Boy commented thoughtfully.

"Suits me . . .?"

"Sure. Anyways, it's past midnight, so we'd better get to bed." Before he made more of a fool of himself. Raven nodded absently.

"Night, Metrion." Somehow, it didn't seem like a lie when he said it.

"Gar." The changeling in question turned back to look at her, for the first time in a long time seeing a flicker of hope, small and weak but existant, in her violet eyes.

"Good night." Maybe he had a chance after all.

Disclaimer: Of course I own Teen Titans. I also have a lovely bridge in Brooklyn I could sell you if you're interested. (note sarcasm)

Authoress' Notes: Well, another chapter complete. Any survivors? Firstly, big thanks to Axel-of-the-Fantasy, who is responsible for this much better edited chapter. Rejoice, for someone sane is looking over these chapters. In any case, about Raven's name, I figured it wasn't fair that only BB got a secret name, so Rae gets one too. As for its meaning, I have to clue what metrion really means. It was just meant as a way of reflecting BB's thoughts in regards to her character, nothing important to the plot. Poor BB, walking on eggshells. Well, maybe a little hope will help. By the way, for fans of my other TT fic, Return to Gotham, that's my next project, so be on the look out! See ya minna-san!

Sword of Romance