"Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos. Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos," Raven repeats to herself as she floats a few feet from the roof's floor. "Ugh," she sighs to herself. "Why can't I concentrate!" A picture of a certain alien flashes in her mind. "She isn't even here! Get it together, Raven. You can't deal with her new infatuation with you without a clear head. Now come on," the young empath scolds herself as she starts to close her eyes again for the thousandth time that day. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos. Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos." She scrunches up her eyebrows, trying harder to concentrate.
"Azarath." "I am holding your hand, friend Raven!" "Metrion." "why did she take us for lovers?" "Zinthos." "I am cuddling you." Raven grumbles, trying harder to focus. "You didn't tell me they were dating." "Azarath." "Why was her hand so soft in mine? Why did I grab her hand at all?" "Metrion." "Why did she wrap my arms around her hips? Why didn't I throw her to the floor?" "Zinthos." "AND WHY CAN'T I CONCENTRATE!" She screams as she covers herself in black energy, her eyes starting to glow red. She lowers herself to her feet then sighs, trying to calm down. "This isn't working." She looks around the roof shaking her head. "Maybe I just need a change of scenery."
Raven floats down the side of the tower then lands on the sandy earth. She starts to walk down the beach, listening to the waves attack the shore.
"How am I going to explain this to her," she whispers to herself as she starts to rack her brain of the one thought that is causing her so much frustration in the first place. "She knows about couples I'm sure. I mean she has a mom and dad, right? Or...Maybe Tamaran is different than here though. Maybe they just mated without dating? Or maybe," she starts mumbling all sorts of ideas to herself as she walks further along the beach.
"That much talking to yourself can't be good," a voice remarks from behind. Raven almost jumps out of her skin as she turns around quickly. "You're off your game today, Champ. Usually you'd sense me before I even left the tower."
Raven sighs as she looks towards her teammate. "I guess you could say that. What brings you out here?"
"Well I saw you out here directing ships and figured I'd come see if you needed a lighthouse," the metal man produces a spotlight out of his shoulder for comedic effect. "But seriously, I saw you out her on your fifth lap around the island throwing your hands up and yelling at yourself. Are you sure you're alright?" He plops down on a rock and motions for her to sit down too.
"It's just…nothing," she takes a seat in the sand.
"I know something is up. One, you're not floating right now. I've never seen you physically sit on the ground in your life. Two, you tried to maim me and Beast Boy with no reasoning-"
"That's normal," she interrupts.
"Maybe Beast Boy! But not me. Three, you said something was up with Star but never told any of us what was up, and four, cuddling and hand-holding doesn't seem like a Raven activity. So spill it." The small girl remains silent. "Come onnnnnn, it'll make you feel better!"
She turns to Cyborg and sighs, "promise this stays between us."
"Raven what's-"
"Promise!" She snaps viciously.
Cyborg almost falls off the rock. "I promise I promise!"
"I'm sorry. I'm just on edge is all. I didn't mean to come off that way."
"Is it not a meditating kind of day?" He asks, trying to get her to open up.
"It wasn't working," she sighs then snaps out, "I just kept thinking about that naive little alien!"
"Woah woah, Rae, it's okay. Just start from the beginning." "Gee guess I better walk on more than eggshells."
"You know that gift you built her?" She asks, turning to face him.
"Uh yeah?" He replies, wondering what this could have to do with her anger.
"Well, she used it. That's the problem."
"I'm sorry?" She just sighs in response.
He sets a hand on the distressed girl's shoulder. "You can tell me what it is. I want to help. I don't like you upset, actually, I don't think anybody likes you upset." He makes Godzilla roars and noises for dramatic effect as Raven gives him a small smile.
"She googled us."
"I was there for that. Then what happened?"
"She must've stumbled upon a picture of me and her or something because…"
"Because?" He leans forward very interested.
"Because she ended up on "how to deepen your relationship with your woman partner" and now she thinks that best friends and lesbians are the same thing. She's trying this whole list of things to deepen our friendship, but it's things like kissing and cuddling and… yeah. So i'm at a loss..."
Cyborg nods as it all starts clicking into place, "So that's why she's been so close to you. So you're trying to think of a way to tell her they're not the same thing without hurting her feelings?"
"In short, yes. I ended up snapping on her when she grabbed my hand the first time. Then she just looked at me with these big sad eyes, and I just couldn't tell her, Cyborg! I just couldn't!" Cyborg tenses up as the rocks around him start to turn black. "Then I tried to tell her in her room, and she just was so happy and smiling and carefree! She was so excited about us going shopping for Jinx's birthday and all this stuff! Then on the couch she was so content and happy and warm! She just cuddled up to me without a care in the world, and I couldn't ruin that! I just couldn't! What am I supposed to do?" She shrieks out in distress.
"You can uh start with putting me down," Cyborg jokes as his seat is floating a few feet above the ground.
"I'm so sorry!" She blurts out as all the rocks drop around her.
Cyborg lands on the ground with a thud and simply laughs, "you're fine, Raven. It happens. But her doing all this stuff, how does it make you feel? Cause it's obviously affecting you pretty roughly. Like her grabbing your hand? Why did you get so upset?"
"Because, she was just so naive and carefree about it. All those people in the mall were giving us looks she was oblivious to. All the teasing she could get for just not understanding something."
"That's how you feel for Starfire. Now how did it make you feel?"
Raven stays silent as she hugs herself.
"You don't have to tell me," he softly states. They sit in silence for a few minutes.
"Vulnerable," she finally whispers out. "I've never had anyone try to get close to me like that. I didn't know how I was supposed to act. Even if it wasn't meant to be romantic, I still had that defense that I needed to guard myself. I trust Starfire I do," she starts.
"But it's different trusting someone with your heart. I get it, Raven." Her metal friend finishes. "What about when she sat in your lap?"
"Every sense I had was screaming at me to shove her in the floor, but I just didn't. I couldn't tell you why. Then she just wrapped my arms around her, and I just couldn't move. It would've made her so sad."
"And the no meditating?"
"I've been racking my brain over this Starfire thing. She's so naive that she doesn't understand that what she's doing is wrong."
"Well, what's so wrong about it?" Cyborg asks, looking at his smaller friend.
"Are you crazy? She doesn't like me like that, and I don't like her like that. Neither of us want this to be romantic, but she's doing romantic things. That's what's wrong with it."
"Want to hear what I think?" Raven nods. "Now you can't hit me now." She nods again. "I think you do like Starfire." Raven opens her mouth to argue.
"What was breaking your concentration with meditation?" He asks before she could yell at him.
She steps down. "Her voice kept playing in my head, and I kept seeing those emerald eyes, and her warm smile, and…" she trails off.
"And?" He breaks out in a grin.
"And I hate you," she grumbles. "I don't like Starfire, really. I just don't know how to react to attention like this, and as fragile as she is, I have to walk on eggshells already."
"I couldn't imagine what that would be like," he sarcastically remarks with a big grin. Raven playfully hits him.
"Oh can it, Tin Man."
"Listen, all I'm saying is that maybe you like her, or maybe you don't, but you wouldn't be so worried about her feelings and not be able to even concentrate on anything but her if you didn't even think about her like that a little bit. Also, Star may be naive, but she's not dumb. She wouldn't be doing all that to you unless she wanted to, Raven." Cyborg wraps an arm around the much smaller girl. "It's really okay to like her, if you decide that you do that is. She's a catch, who wouldn't like her?"
"You," Raven playfully jokes as she leans into her friend's embrace.
"Hey that's different I'm taken!"
"And don't you have a date tonight?"
Cyborg laughs, "I sure do. I'm in pretty hot water for forgetting her birthday. I'll have to fight your little girlfriend for not telling me. She made me look like a chump!"
"I think you'd lose," Raven replies back.
"Ehhhh probably. Cause if I laid a hand on her you'd come and make me go to the fiftieth dead world or something."
Raven pushes the robot away playfully. "Remind me why I talked to you about my feelings again."
"Cause I helped you realize you like Star," he sticks his tongue out playfully. "But seriously, if you do get more confused or just want to run by me how you're going to tell her she's not a lesbian, come find me, alright?" He stands up then ruffles her hair. "Where is she anyway?"
"I actually don't know. Figured one of you did. What? Hoping she could tell you Jinx's favourite flower too?"
"Hey now I know that one! It's tulips. Or is it daisies…"
"Every girl likes roses," she states, smiling.
"Thanks Raven, I'll look into that." He starts off towards the tower.
"Hey Cyborg," she calls after him as he's walking away. He pauses his walk. "Thank you." He gives an affection wave over his shoulder as he continues up the path.
She watches him disappear then sighs to herself, "let's try this again." She floats into the air, deeply breathing as she tries to get lost in the wave's barrage to the shoreline. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos. Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos." She feels her mind start to ease some. "As much as I hate to admit it, that talk did ease my nerves a little."
"Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos."
"Friend Raven, am I interrupting?" Raven opens one eye to look at her redheaded interruption.
"Speak of the angel and she shall appear." "Where have you been all day?" Raven asks, opening up both eyes.
Starfire beams as she floats crossed legged in front of the other girl. "So you missed me as well!"
"As Well?"
"I had journeyed to Seizar Rein 6 the horror planet!" She grabs the bag around her shoulder then extends it to Raven. "I went to obtain you this!"
Raven arches an eyebrow as she takes the bag. "You've been in space all day?" The Tamaranian nods with a big smile, urging Raven to hurry up. "Don't worry I'm opening it. My bad for wanting to hear about your day." She pops open the buttons on the bag then slides out a book. She glances at the title in confusion.
"Ancient Secrets of the Shadow Realm," Raven reads out loud. "How? This, this is in Azarathian."
"There is a marketplace on Rein 6 full of horrific treasures from all kinds of worlds! I went in hopes of finding you something you would like, once the vendor told me he received that from an Azarathian, I bought it immediately! It is to your liking?" Raven stares at the book, thumbing over its cover. "Raven?" She asks again, looking at the silent girl.
In a rare act of emotion, Raven tackles the larger girl into a hug. Starfire gasps as she hits the sand. "You're so thoughtful," Raven whispers as she holds tighter onto Star's middle. Starfire quickly wraps her arms around the smaller girl happily.
"Most joyous! I am so glad it is to your liking!"
"How far away did you fly to get this?" Raven asks, resting her head on Starfire's chest.
"Just a few quazars!"
Raven softly chuckles, "that sounds far."
"I can travel faster than the speed of light, Raven! It only took a few hours for there and back. I departed this morning right before our friends woke," the alien explains.
"Well, I really do appreciate the gift. I will definitely read it," Raven smiles up at her friend then soon realizes how she had tackled the other girl, "I'm sorry," she quickly blurts out as she floats off of Starfire.
Starfire just beams in response, extremely happy her friend enjoys the gift. "Do you wish to meditate alone, Raven? Or may I join you?"
Raven nods in response as the alien girl floats by her side. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos," they both chime in unison. Raven listens to her partner's chant and starts to relax, a calmness washing over her. The background noise starts to fade away as she meditates for the first time all day.
"She went all the way to another planet just to get me a book. How can one person be so nice? Do I have to get her something now? What would I even get her that could match this?" Raven racks her brain as she throws herself onto her bed. "And why did I throw myself at her today? God she probably thinks I'm an idiot cause I tackled her over some book… but she put so much thought into getting me this book. I haven't seen a book in my language since home…" Raven sighs heavily. "Home." Raven's face lights up with an idea. "That's it!"
"Hey Raven, lunch call," Robin yells through the metal door. Raven floats over to the door and swipes it open.
"Hey Robin? You guys can eat without me."
"Is there a reason? Or is it cause you know Beast Boy has his tofu dogs in there," he asks playfully.
Raven smiles at the joke, "I'm actually going to visit another dimension for a little bit, so if my communicator doesn't work, you'll know why."
Robin nods, "thank you for not worrying us, unlike a certain someone else," he jokes.
Raven gives a soft smile, "yeah going to space without a word edgewise probably wasn't her smartest decision."
"Just come back, alright? Let us know when you return to our realm of existence." He waves her off as he takes off down the hall.
Her door slides shut as she turns around. "Well," she closes her eyes as a portal manifests in front of her, "let's go home." She slowly steps through as her dark room soon becomes a place flooded with light.
Raven blinks a few times adjusting her eyes to her new surroundings. "Azarath," she whispers as she glances around at all the buildings. She shakes her head, "You came here for a reason. Stop sightseeing." She floats off down the shining streets. "It hasn't changed a bit from when I last saw it. Why haven't I been here sooner?" She heads down a familiar street as she ends up in a grassy field. "Hasn't changed a bit." She floats to the center of the field, scanning the ground.
"I think Star would like it here," Raven softly chuckles to herself, "and if I told Beast Boy I came from such a beautiful place, he wouldn't believe me. Robin thinks I'm a spawn of hell I'm sure." She smiles as she starts to imagine all her friends in her dimension with her. "Focus Raven." She walks farther, looking for her certain plant. "There." She kneels down and runs her fingers over a flower's petals. "Angel Irises. Exactly what I came for." Raven starts to pluck several of the flowers out of the dirt. She smiles at the white bouquet happily. "Pretty. She'll love them." She starts to stand up when some bright red flowers catch her eye in her peripheral vision. "Demon Roses, that would be a nice contrast right?" She leans over and picks a few of the roses to add to the bouquet. "Or would she like Hell Daisies or Godly Lilies or Heavenly Roses or or" she sighs. "These. Are. Fine," she states to herself.
"Or maybe… I should get all five types." She grumbles as she floats off through the field. "Godly Lilies are this way I guess." "Does Starfire even like flowers? Come to think of it I don't think I've ever seen he receive flowers. Maybe I'll be the first? Or maybe she'll hate them. Come on, she's Starfire she'd like it if I got her toothpaste." She snaps out of her thoughts when she sees a small pond up ahead. "I knew it!" She smiles to herself, proud of her lasting knowledge of her home. She slowly walks up and leans over, adding a few purple lilies to the bunch of flowers.
"Hell Daisies are…" she trails off, trying to remember. "Guess I got proud of myself too early," she mumbles. "They grow near trees, I think." She says to nobody in particular as she heads off to the forest in the distance.
"Hey Bonnie, where's Clyde?" Jinx remarks as she walks into the living room.
"Who is this Bonnie?" Starfire inquires, looking around the room.
"Eh nevermind. Where's Cy?"
"Right here babe!" He chimes, popping into the room. "And Raven's out and about doing something."
"When did friend Jinx ask about Raven?" Starfire asks, looking at the couple in confusion.
"Eh nevermind," they both respond in unison.
"If she wasn't a villain, I'd say you two were made for each other," Robin remarks from the couch.
"You'll warm up to me, boy wonder," Jinx remarks with a playful grin.
"I think there's a jail cell warming up for you right now," he remarks in response.
"I'm not even being evil today, meanie." She turns to the green shapeshifter on the couch, "what are you playing?"
"Skyrim!" He exclaims happily, "But I can't beat this giant for the life of me! I need his mammoth's tusks!" He grumbles as he dies again.
Jinx walks over and leans over the back of the couch looking at the screen. "You're in Riften, right? Just go and get one off the bedroom table from the Black-Briar Meadery. Easy access and no fighting a losing battle."
Beast Boy blinks a few times, "there's no way it is that easy. I've been at this for twenty minutes where were you twenty minutes ago!"
Jinx breaks out laughing.
"Black and gold, how hard can it be to spot?" Raven thinks to herself as she scans the forest floor. "I'm three out of five at least. This is going quicker than I thought it would." "I wonder if Cy ever got Jinx those flowers," she laughs to herself. Her mind starts to drift to their talk on the beach. "She wouldn't be doing all that to you unless she wanted to" "Could Star really like me?" "Well, what's so wrong about it?" "There's no way in Azarath she likes me. She just got herself confused with that stupid article." "But it's different trusting someone with your heart." Raven shakes the thoughts out of her head, "what am I saying? I don't even like Starfire."
"No way you got the third word of the fire breath shout this early!" Beast Boy shrieks on awe.
"The courier brings you letters where all the shouts are!" Jinx remarks, "And how long have you had this game?"
"Listen," The shapeshifter starts.
"Exactly," The villainess finishes. "Let me show you what cave it's in."
"Uh Beastie? We kind of had a date tonight," Cyborg grumbles in annoyance.
"It'll be quick, babe," she remarks as she takes the controller from the green guy.
Cyborg sighs as he sits on the barstool. "I'll be here, I guess."
"You are looking under the weather, friend Cyborg," Starfire states, stirring the water boiling on the stove.
He turns to the alien girl, "you don't look too happy yourself."
"Raven has been gone quite some time is all," the alien replies as she adds tea bags to the pot.
Cyborg smiles to himself. "Field Test!" "You missing Rae?"
Starfire turns to face him, "I am worried for her well being, and yes, her presence is yearned for. Do you not miss her as well?"
Cyborg's grin widens. "Well, yeah, but it's a different kind of miss."
"There are different kinds of missing?"
"Like what do you miss her for?"
Starfire's brow furrows as she stares at her robot friend. "I do not understand?"
"What are you missing Raven for? Like uh what about her are you missing? Or you just making her favourite tea for your health?" He asks, motioning towards the boiling pot.
"My health is fine?" The robot shakes his head in response. Starfire flies over to the stool beside her friend, sitting down. "I simply miss her presence, friend Cyborg. She is off somewhere we do not know doing things we do not know of, and she could be in danger or worse!"
"Gee can these girls think of themselves instead of each other for once?" "Weellllll, what do you miss about her?" He leans forward on his palms, very interested in his little experiment.
"There!" Raven leans down, pulling a few flowers from the tree's trunk. "Four out of five." She glances at the shimmering bouquet with pride, "she's going to love these." She walks through the trees, glancing up at the sky. "Heavenly roses should be close by. I wonder how long I've been here? It doesn't feel like long," she softly laughs to herself, "plot twist, I've been gone for days."
"You can't go and worry us like that!" She mocks, impersonating Robin. "Dude you went missing for some flowers?" She remarks in her Beast Boy voice. "You were gone all of the fort of nights!" She mocks with a smile. "She said she missed me when she was gone earlier, right? I wonder if she's missing me now…" Raven sighs, getting the thoughts out of her brain. "White and light blue roses Raven. Focus. They literally sparkle. There is no reason for you to not to find them easily." She looks at her feet then grumbles, "And there's no reason for you to not realize you've been walking through them for," she looks back, "a few feet."
She kneels down, plucking several of them from the earth. "I think of Starfire for two seconds, and I miss a literal shining object. What's wrong with me?"
"Can I not just miss her being with me? Why must I miss pieces of her?" The alien tilts her head to the side as the robot sighs.
"Maybe Raven is right. Maybe Star is just confused." "So uh where'd you go today?" He asks, getting off the awkward subject.
"I went a few quazars away to the horror planet!" She exclaims, flying over to the boiling tea on the stove.
"Sounds far. What were you all the way over there for? Doesn't sound too inviting," Jinx asks from the couch.
"I was getting Raven a gift!" She stirs the pot while humming happily.
"OR MAYBE THEY'RE GAY!" "What'd you get her?" The robot asks very quickly.
Starfire turns to face him, "I obtained a book from her home for her!"
"That was very thoughtful of you," Robin says, not moving his eyes from the TV.
"Did she like it? What was it about?" Jinx asks, slaying the dragon on the screen.
"I haven't read it yet, but I do love it," The half demon remarks from the top of the stairs.
"Knock much?" The villainess remarks, turning to face Raven, "awww are those for me? You shouldn't have."
Raven offers a small smile, "good cause I didn't."
"What are those?" Beast Boy asks, pausing the game. He jumps over the back of the couch and runs up, inspecting the glowing flowers.
"They're so angelic-looking," Jinx replies, running her thumb over the red and black petals of the rose. "Why are there so many kinds? What are they?"
"They're all the flowers that grow in my home. The black and gold ones are Hell Daisies, the red and black roses are demon roses, the blue and white roses are heavenly roses, the white and gold ones are Angel Irises, and the purple and white ones are Godly Lilies," she explains as she points to the different flowers.
"There's no way something this pretty comes from Halloweentown," Beast Boy remarks. "Maybe the demon roses, but that's it."
"Azarath is actually the realm of peace and tranquility," Starfire replies, flying up with a purple mug.
"You remembered that?" Raven asks in surprise, a little touched.
"Of course!" Starfire exchanges the flowers for the mug then smiles happily. "Now for whom are these for, Raven? Or was your trip home just for the sickness?"
Raven smiles as she takes a sip from the mug. "Herbal tea? She's just being thoughtful today, huh?" "They're actually uh for you."
Cyborg breaks out in a giant grin as Starfire tilts her head in confusion. "What have I done to deserve such lovely plants?"
"You just got me a gift, so I got you one," Raven replies with a tinge of awkwardness as Starfire just stares.
"Much gratitude, Raven!" She quickly tackles the smaller girl in an embrace.
"Star!" She yelps as the mug flies out of her palm. She quickly envelopes it in black, making it appear on the counter.
"I am so sorry!" Star starts to spill out apologies.
"Don't worry about it," she shrugs off the incident then offers her arms out. "You uh wanted a hug?" She states, trying to offer a smile.
Starfire smiles wide as she grabs the smaller girl tightly, cracking her back. "I must go put these in the vase immediately! How long will they survive for?"
"They'll expire when I do," Raven replies, hiding her pain as Starfire flies out of the room happily.
"Weren't you supposed to break her of that instead of giving her flowers?" Cyborg remarks with a huge grin.
"Oh shut it. It was a thank you for her getting me that book." She stretches out her back as he raises an eyebrow. "I'm serious!"
"Who you convincing, Raven? Me or you?" He replies, earning a glare from the demon.
"Don't you have a date you're late for?" She grumbles, heading up the stairs with red ears.
"She's on a date with Beastie right now," he replies, following the girl to the hall. "So," he starts with a giant smile, "Azarath?"
"I just went for flowers as a thank you gift," she dryly replies, leaning back against her door.
"And flowers from the street vendor wouldn't have been as good? You had to go alllll the way home?"
"Are you nosy or just bored?" she snaps out.
"Can't I be both? Now, street vendor flowers not good enough?"
"They wouldn't have been as personal as the gift she gave me."
"Yeah she just went across a whole galaxy for you, but she doesn't like you or anything," he mocks, earning a hit from the demon girl.
"Again, we don't like each other."
"Listen all i'm saying is," he starts.
"Friends Cyborg? Am I interrupting?" The alien asks, walking down the hall towards the pair.
"Not at all! I was actually just about to leave," he shoots a playfully wink to Raven, "Jinx should be ready by now." He waves a goodbye to Starfire.
"Have fun!" Star cheers as Cyborg disappears into the living room. She turns to the smaller girl and smiles. "I apologize if I have interrupted something."
Raven shakes her head no, "he was just asking about where him and Jinx should eat tonight."
Starfire beams, happily. "Most joyous then! I was just simply looking for you to thank you again for the lovely plants." She quickly steps forward and softly embraces the other girl.
Raven blinks a few times in surprise. "No crushed ribs or back breaking?" She slowly wraps her arms tightly around Starfire, holding her close. "Just a hug...this is actually kind of… nice." "You're welcome, Starfire. It's the least I could do after you flew all that way for me something."
"The book from your home seemed like it belonged with you!" Starfire leans her head back so she can look in her friend's eyes. "Raven?"
"Hm?" The demon asks, quickly dropping her arms from the larger girl's body.
"May you tell me more about where the flowers came from?" Star asks, stepping back as well.
Raven raises an eyebrow, "you want me to tell you more about Azarath?"
Starfire smiles excitedly, "If it is not the bother?"
Raven smiles back at her, "Come on in," she states, her door sliding open.