Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.

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Three more days had passed and finally the call came from Gotham: Arkham Asylum was ready for the blond changeling. Raven sighed in relief as Beast Boy's twin unnerved her beyond reason. While she was still furious that fate had replaced her boyfriend with the monster still locked away in the cell there was something about the young criminal that she found … enticing.

Raven shook the thought away before taking another sip of her herbal tea. She was seated at the dining table where the Titans shared their meals, reading the morning paper, anything to distract her from the fact that no one would be sitting in Garfield's chair that morning.

She flipped to the science section of the paper and saw an article that caught her eye. It was a report from a high profile university's psychology department. They had received a generous grant from a widely circulated women's magazine to research if there was any truth to the popular belief that women in general preferred "bad boys" over "nice guys". Raven began to read the article, confident that the study would debunk that ridiculous myth.

Much to her chagrin, it did not and in fact it confirmed the opposite. It chronicled that women were usually drawn to "jerks" over "nice guys" because they perceived the jerks to be strong and self confident. It even went further to explain that women would pick a homely jerk over a handsome nice guy.

Raven tossed the paper away, muttering under her breath, and it landed next to Cyborg, who quickly glanced at the article.

"I take it that you don't agree with the study, do you Raven?" He asked.

"Of course not, the whole premise is preposterous." She answered in a clearly annoyed voice. "Why would an intelligent woman prefer a jerk?"

Cyborg grinned.

"It would explain a lot." He replied.

"So you believe this nonsense?" She snapped at him.

"Oh come on Raven, don't tell me that you don't find our prisoner intriguing?"

She hissed her reply. "He's a self centered jerk, and an evil criminal to boot. What could I possibly see in him?"

Cyborg stroked his chin before replying.

"Maybe some traits that BB lacks, like being assertive."

The tin man knew that the off handed remark was a mistake as soon as it came out of his mouth. Raven scowled at him before bursting into tears. Cyborg's bionic ear was able to hear the compressor in the refrigerator crack, followed by several light bulbs exploding.

"HOW DARE YOU!" She shrieked. "How dare you compare Gar to that monster! How can you even think that I might like that fiend more than my Gar?"

Cyborg raised his hands apologetically.

"I didn't mean it that way Raven, really. Of course BB is a better guy than him."

"That's not what you said! You implied that I should be attracted to him over Gar!"

Cyborg paused before replying.

"You're right Raven. I'm sorry, I was being a jerk."

Raven turned away from him. "Just get him out of here, please." With no warning she phased into the floor and disappeared.

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Beast Boy was resting on the king size bed Raptor had Cyborg install in his cell. He was playing with the GameStation that she gave him that morning. That and the small fridge full of pop and snacks made his imprisonment a little more bearable. He was still sleeping in the cell; even though Raptor's open invitation to bunk with her was still good. Nevertheless he had spent a lot of time outside his cell with Raptor; in fact they had shared breakfast that morning. She actually ate the same thing he did: imitation eggs and bacon, made out of tofu of course.

That he was in his cell this close to dinner was unusual, at least it was given what had happened the past few days. He and Raptor had shared dinner each of the previous 7 evenings and then she would take him out somewhere. Somewhere lonely and uninhabited of course, as she was a fugitive wanted by the law. Tonight however was different as the Hive-5 had gone out to 'make a withdrawal' at a local bank.

The absurdity of his situation had not escaped Beast Boy's attention. He was for all practical purposes dating Raven's evil twin sister. And to make things worse, he was warming up to her. Of course he had promised himself that he would only allow the ridiculous arrangement to go so far. He was making the best of a bad situation, he reminded himself. He hoped that the Hive-5 would be captured and that when the Titans came to inspect their hideout that they would find him in the cell and he would then be able to convince them that he wasn't a villain. He knew it was a long shot, but at the moment it was all he had to go on.

As he continued focusing on beating his own high score on in the game he was playing the doors to the cell block slid open. He didn't look up as he was in a critical section of the game. He then heard the force field shut off, its low frequency hum disappearing.

"Hang on Raven, I'm almost done." He said absentmindedly as he continued to play.

"Raptor's in the infirmary, broccoli face. You're coming with me, now!" Cyborg barked at him.

Beast Boy dropped his controller and leaped off the bed.

"Is she hurt? What happened to her?" He asked with a clearly anxious voice.

"Just come, and don't try anything stupid. Both of my thermal blasters are charged."

The changeling followed evil Cyborg out of the cell block. He was led down hallways in an unfamiliar section of the Hive-5's lair. Within a few minutes they were at the infirmary's entrance.

"She asked for you, don't ask me why." Cyborg informed him, his voice dripping with contempt. Cyborg opened the door and let Beast Boy enter first.

Raptor was lying in a med station bed. She was wearing a hospital gown and had an IV in her arm. She looked pale even by her own standards and had an oxygen mask on her face. Blackfire was tending to her and Beast Boy was able to see stitches on Raptor's stomach before the Tamaranian applied some clean bandages to them.

"What happened?" Beast Boy asked breathlessly.

"Bad luck happened." Blackfire announced. "A bank guard appeared out of nowhere and shot Raptor in the gut, 3 times. She lost a lot of blood, we almost lost her."

Beast Boy approached the wounded sorceress very cautiously. As he reached her side she slowly opened her eyes. After blinking several times she focused them on him. She then gave him a very weak smile.

"Gar, you came." She whispered through the oxygen mask.

"Rae, why aren't you in a healing trance?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Blackfire asked.

The changeling glared at the Tamaranian.

"Where I come from Raven has healing powers. She can heal herself and others from all kinds of wounds."

Blackfire snorted. "If she can do that she's never told us."

Beast Boy looked apprehensively at the sorceress.

"You just rest Rae and you'll recover."

"Don't leave me." She pleaded weakly.

"I'm not going anywhere, Rae."

She feebly reached for the oxygen mask and pulled it off.

"I love you Gar." She croaked.

Beast Boy cupped her face in his hands and gave her a very long and tender kiss.

"I love you too Rae."

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Raven walked into the Tower's detention center, her hesitance was clearly visible in her stance and posture. Robin, Starfire and Cyborg were already there, as were officers from Gotham PD, who were led by Harvey Bullock. Raven kept her distance while the blond changeling stared at her.

"So this is the punk?" The portly detective asked, clearly unimpressed with the prisoner he was charged with taking back to Arkham Asylum in Gotham. "He's just a kid, what's all the fuss about?"

Raven spoke up in a clearly irritated voice.

"Don't underestimate him." She hissed. "His powers match Beast Boy's and he's a psychopath."

"So yer saying he's evil?" Bullock asked. "What is he, some kind of demon?" Bullock taunted the sorceress.

"Watch your mouth Bullock!" Robin barked at him.

Bullock laughed in reply.

"Listen kid, if I'm not afraid of the Bat I ain't gonna be afraid of you."

Starfire's eyes glowed a bright green and starbolts formed on each of her hands.

"You will not insult my friends. I do not care if you are a policeman, I will not tolerate it."

Bullock shrugged. "Eh, don't get yer knickers in a knot cutie, I meant no disrespect."

"I accept your apology detective." She replied in a terse voice.

Bullock turned back to face Robin.

"Ok, let's assume this guy is as dangerous as you say he is, how do we get to Gotham?"

The blond changeling listened in on the discussion from his cell. He sized up the fat detective and the four cops. He locked eyes with Bullock and grinned. He felt like a fox getting ready to raid the chicken coup.

"We've prepared something to help you." Cyborg answered as he tapped a button on a nearby control panel. Suddenly the cell was flooded with a strange orange colored gas. The changeling began to cough and within seconds lost consciousness, falling to the floor. Cyborg then pressed another button and the force field disappeared. Robin entered the cell and producing a large syringe gave the changeling a shot. Satisfied he had given him a full dose he tossed the syringe into the trash.

"So what did you give him?" Bullock asked.

"It's an inhibitor for his powers. He'll wake up in a few hours but his powers will be gone for at least 72 hours, more than enough time to get him to Arkham."

"Whatever." Bullock replied. "Just don't get used to me being your errand boy. I'm only doing this because the commish asked me to as a special favor."

"We didn't ask for Gordon to send you Bullock." Raven replied.

"Raven's right." Robin added. "And we'll come back for him when we're ready to do the interdimensional exchange."

Bullock nodded at the burly sergeant who was the leader of the uniformed police contingent. The four officers entered the cell and the two younger ones picked the blond changeling up under his arms and dragged him out. Raven watched them nervously as they walked past her, unable to take her eyes off the young man.

The Titans followed the police to the Tower's garage where an armored car awaited them. The police loaded the still unconscious teen's body into the rear of the vehicle. Bullock, the sergeant and another officer climbed into the back while the two other officers climbed into the cab in the front.

"Don't let anything happen to him." Raven admonished them. "We're gonna need him later to perform the exchange."

"Don't worry doll face; he's as safe as if he were in his mother's arms." Bullock replied. Raven gave him one of her signature four eyed glares. Bullock shuddered as he slammed the rear doors shut.

"Do they all have to be freaks and whack jobs?" He remarked to the sergeant as the armored car pulled away.

"What do you think detective?" The policeman replied as they all began to laugh.

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Beast Boy rested in the bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

BB, have you lost your mind? He castigated himself. You can't have feelings for this girl, you just can't. She's a criminal, a violent criminal! She robs banks and hurts people. She murdered Slade!

The changeling closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead with his palm.

Sure, she looks like Raven, talks like Raven and she's crazy about me. But so what? That doesn't change anything.

He rubbed his eyes and sighed.

Who am I kidding? When she was shot four weeks ago I was worried sick she wouldn't make it. What was I thinking telling her I loved her?

He scratched his scalp, clearly puzzled with the current turn of events.

Does she really love me? How can I be sure? And even if she does, so what? I can't love her back, she's a criminal.

"Gar, are you OK? I'm sensing a great deal of turmoil. What's the matter?"

Beast Boy wrapped his arms around the gray skinned girl who was lying next to him in the bed.

"It's nothing Rae."

"Are you sure Gar? I don't want anything to spoil this perfect night we just shared. Now why don't you just close your eyes and go to sleep?"

Raptor snuggled up next to the changeling, delicately running her hand along his exposed figure, tracing it with her index finger.

"Rae, how am I supposed to sleep if you keep caressing me like that?"

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A shorter chapter this time. The next one will be longer.