Dames and Demons:
Part Two
Raven sipped her tea quietly listening to the chatter of her friends around the table. Starfire had insisted on making Robin's lunch since he could not use one of his arms. The alien beauty was bustling around the kitchen humming to herself. Every now and then she'd throw a smile in Raven's direction and the dark girl would smile back. The girl's mood was infectious.
"You want anything Raven?" Cyborg asked as he made a ham sandwich and watched Starfire out of the corner of his eye.
"No thank you." Raven replied wrapping her hands around her warm mug. She opened her empathic senses and let her friend's contentment flow through her troubled mind. A soft sigh escaped her lips. But in the midst of the happiness she tasted the vinegar tartness of confusion. Raven opened her eyes slowly. She had a good guess as to who that was coming from.
"Where are you going friend?" Starfire asked as Raven pored out her tea and walked towards the common room doors.
"I need to talk with Beast Boy." Raven replied disappearing into the hallway.
Raven tapped softly on Beast Boy's door with her knuckles. She still felt a little lightheaded and was glad her friends had refused to let her heal them. She probably would've passed out.
"I'm not hungry Cyborg!" Beast Boy's high voice yelled through the barrier of steel. "I'll be down in a few minutes okay?"
Raven gathered her strength and opened a vortex so she could walk through the door. Stepping through she almost tripped over a pile of… something.
"Oh… hey Rae." Beast Boy greeted sitting up a little bit. He was sprawled out on his bottom bunk still in jeans and a tee shirt.
Raven looked around the room for a moment then shook her head "I thought most animals were neat freaks." she commented.
The changeling shrugged "They are; I'm just lazy." he wrinkled his nose "Besides cleaning supplies don't smell to good with a dog's nose."
The half demon's mouth twitched into a smile "No," she agreed "I'd imagine that they don't smell very good."
There was a long silence then Beast Boy swung his legs over onto the floor "You didn't come in here to comment on my room, Rae. What's up?"
Raven sighed and sat in the desk chair, (after she'd removed several objects from the seat of course) "I just wanted… I wanted to thank you. For stopping me."
"You would've done the same thing for me." Beast Boy said with a shrug "… And while we're apologizing… I'm sorry for the way I stopped you. I just couldn't think of anything else."
Raven studied her hands for a long moment "I… I wasn't angry with you for what you did, Beast Boy." she whispered "There's no need to apologize."
The shape-shifter scratched the back of his neck "I know… it just seemed… awkward. I mean… we're just friends…" he looked up at Raven "Aren't we?"
"I don't know. Since Trigon was cleaned from my mind, I have trouble sorting out my feelings."
"What do you mean?"
Raven sighed "My empathy is stronger than ever. When I walk into a room I can immediately tell what all of you are feeling. But I can't come close to telling you what I'm feeling."
Beast Boy nodded solemnly "Ya… look Raven… what I did… I don't think I would have done it if there wasn't some sort of feeling behind it."
"That's what I'm worried about."
"Huh?"
"Sometimes I manipulate emotions. Like when we're fighting I take away people's fear so they won't panic. But this time I'm afraid I did it to you." she turned away a small tear falling from her eye "I don't want for you to fall for anyone unless it's real. I've done that and it's not fun by a long shot."
Beast Boy nodded again "Well Raven, I think that you're already getting a little better. I mean you're not holing up in your room and you're admitting you have a problem. That's a start."
"But how do we know if it's real? I… I think I have feelings for you but I don't want to make you think you do just because I want you to."
The changeling stared at her blankly her a moment then started laughing "I have no idea what you just said."
"This isn't funny Beast Boy!" Raven exclaimed, but a smile was twitching over her face. She let out a snort of laughter then a giggle. Soon she was laughing right along with Beast Boy.
After a moment their laughter died down. Beast Boy wiped his eyes and leaned against a bedpost with a happy sigh. Raven smiled at him and tucked a leg underneath her body "You should smile more often Raven." Beast Boy said quietly
"Why?"
The shape-shifter raised his green eyes to meet her violet ones, he grinned showing off his sharp fang-like canines "Because you look really pretty when you do."
Raven blushed and looked at the floor "Did you always think I was pretty?"
"'Course not… I've always thought you were beautiful."
The dark Titan was as red as a cherry. Beast Boy reached out and held her hand in his "Raven, I've always had a crush on you. Even before the whole Trigon thing."
"Beast Boy…" Raven breathed quietly. "Are you really sure? I don't want you to get hurt because of something I did."
A gloved finger covered her lips "If it wasn't real I wouldn't have been so worried about you today. And you wouldn't be so worried about it." he leaned down and pressed his lips to Raven's reaping a small gasp of surprise from the smaller Titan. He slipped a hand behind her head and stroked her hair softly. After a moment Raven relaxed and leaned into the kiss.
Slowly Beast Boy pulled away, he pressed his forehead's to Raven "Do you still think it's fake?" he whispered.
Raven shook her head "No," she whispered almost breathless "Nothing so pure could be fake."
"What?"
"Emotions have a taste to me." Raven explained "You taste like pure honey. Confidence, happiness, and… love."
Beast Boy smiled "I love you Raven."
"I love you too… and it's real."
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