I own nothing. Happy BBRAE WEEK!

OOC, AUish I guess.

The prompt is Tender Moments.


Raven's POV

I ran into my room, undoing the clasp around my neck. I threw my cape into the corner. Yanking open my drawers, I pulled out black sweats and a dark red tank top. I pulled my leotard off quickly, leaving it crumpled on the floor. As I pull my legs through my sweats, I swallow, trying to keep the tears from falling.

Do not cry.

I yank my top on, trying to keep my hands from shaking too much. I walk over to my closet and pull a black hoodie from the closet. I shove my arms in, only stoping to wipe my eyes of the water that was threatening to spill.

Fuck.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

I flinched. I dropped to the floor to grab my black boots from under the bed. I shove my feet in, trying to get them on as quickly as possible.

"RAVEN! Open up!", Robin shouted through the door, "We need to discuss what happened out in the field!"

"Friend Robin, maybe we should wait before we do the analysis of the fight.", Starfire suggested.

I managed to get both boots on, but couldn't calm my hands enough to do the laces, so I just shoved them in the sides. I stood up, walked to the door, and pulled my hood up.

BANG! BANG!

Robin yelled, "Raven! I'll get Cyborg to break down this door if you do not open it in the next sixty seconds!"

"Man, don't drag me into this.", Cyborg muttered. I could tell he wasn't as close to the door as Robin was.

I inhaled, trying to keep my emotions in line. I opened the door.

"RA- shit!" Robin scrambled backwards, obviously surprised I opened the door so quickly. I walked quickly past him and the others, keeping my hood up, trying to avoid making eye contact with any of them.

Just make it to the roof.

"Where do you think are going? We need to talk about what happened!" Robin ran after me. The others following at a slower pace. I could feel the apprehension in them.

"No." I said quietly, trying not to give away the fact that I am about to be a sobbing mess if this interaction goes on much longer. I was reaching for the handle, when I felt Robin pull on my shoulder.

Anger filled me, suppressing my sadness for the moment. I whip around, my second set of eyes appearing, "DO NOT TOUCH ME!" I hissed. Robin recoiled, the others were watching. Their expressions were a mix of sadness, confusion, and anger.

Embarrassment brought back the misery I was originally feeling. I turned around and walked out the door to the roof. I continued walking till the roof ended, my power of flight kicking in. The only reliable form of my magic when I am this upset. I flew with no destination in mind, the wind pulling the tears from my eyes. I kept flying until I was over a forest, stopping at a cliff that looked over the greenery.

I sat on the edge, pulling my legs up to my chest. I stared out into the comforting green, letting my emotions wash over me. My tears blurring the landscape into one big green blob. The anger at myself and Robin, the guilt I feel for the lost civilian, the regret of hurting my friends. The unhappiness, that I have been suppressing since I was brought back to life, came back with a vengeance. I gasped as I sobbed into my knees. I was so distracted by my own misery I didn't notice that someone had found me.

I felt earth shift as someone sat down near me, not touching me but close enough that I could feel their warmth. I turned my head to see who it was.

Beast Boy? Shock fills me. He wasn't looking at me, just staring out into the trees, his legs hanging over the edge, arms by his sides. I turned back to the trees, my sobs slowing down as I focused on his emotions. He was feeling pain, sadness, relief, and something I could not name. It was warm, so I honed in on it, letting it spread through my body. I wiped my eyes with my sleeves.

With my breathing under control, I cleared my throat, "How did you find me?"

"That's easy, Rae.", Beast Boy said, but gave no answer.

I ignored the nickname. "Why did they send you?" I asked, my hood falling while as I turn my head up to look at him. He was still staring at the tree line with a small smile on his face.

"Nobody sent me. I came because I wanted to." He replied, the little grin turned into a frown.

"You wanted to?" I mumbled, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. He came to make sure you're okay, then you make him feel like shit. Good going.

"Yes. I wanted to make sure you were okay." He paused, turning to meet my eyes, the grin coming back, "Are you okay?"

I let out a huff through my nose as a small smile slid its way up my face. As his eyes roam my face, his expression softens and that warm feeling grows stronger, taking up the majority of his emotions.

"Rae?" Beast Boy raises an eyebrow at my lack of response.

I blink and look down at my hands. "I am fine." I reply, my voice monotone.

He sighed, "I've known you long enough to be able to tell when somethings up. Ever since the Trigon shit, you've been acting different."

I gave him a look.

"You know what I mean. At first, you were happier, more expressive, but then you seemed... I don't know. Tired? Empty?" He confessed, shrugging at me.

Who would have thought he would be the one to notice?

He takes in my surprise. "I know everyone thinks I'm oblivious but I'm not all the time. Not when it's important."

I gazed back out to the vegetation and breathed in. I start picking at my fingernails, a bad habit that gets worse when I get upset. I could feel my throat constricting as I get ready to tell Beast Boy an issue I have been struggling with for months.

"Do you know why I became a superhero?" I questioned, not looking directly at him. I saw in the corner of my eye that he shook his head.

"Well, I did it for selfish reasons. I thought that if I spent my life saving lives then, when father took over the world and killed everyone, I would not feel as bad. But then, I turned 16, Trigon took over the world, we took it back, and everything went back to normal. I was-" A gloved hand covered my grey ones, to stop further damage to my nails. I stared at our hands, "-happy at first. The anger was not as intense as it used to be. I could feel more emotions without my magic causing damage."

I pulled off his glove, a spike in his emotions showed he was... embarrassed? I played with his hands, not picking at them as I had my own. Just tracing them. Focusing on the feel of his skin.

I continued, "All my life, I thought I was going to die on my sixteenth birthday. I never thought I would have the option of a long life. I thought I would be a titan till death. But I was revived. And now, I have the opportunity of a long life."

I took a deep breath, folding our hands together, my small ones, sandwiching his big one. I turn to look him in the eyes, noting the tears in both of our eyes.

"I don't know if this is what I want." I confess. A teardrop falls from my eyes, landing on our hands. "The constant fighting, training, it's all so... draining. But I don't want you... or the team to think that I am a bad person."

It was silent for a moment before I was crushed in a hug. His arms went around me and my head was tucked under his.

He replied, "You are the best person I know. You are such an amazing person that it makes me want to be better. To try harder, so I could be worthy in your eyes."

I searched his feelings for any sign of disception and found none. He was being totally honest. He truly believes that I am a good person, not even good! The best person he knows! I wrap my arms around him and reciprocate the hug, shoving my head further into his neck. Trying to use his belief in me, to glue the broken pieces of me back together.

"There's nothing wrong with not wanting to be a superhero. You don't have to fight crime to make you worthy of your life. You, out of everyone in the galaxy, deserve to be happy, even if it's not with m- us. The Titans."

"It is not like I am unhappy with you guys. It's just..." I trailed off, suddenly embarrassed about what I wanted to do with my life.

"It's just what, mama?" He probed, the smile in his voice was back.

I frown at the nickname but continued, "I have read about all these places in my books and I want to see everything. With my own eyes. I want to travel and experience what makes humanity so special. Being in the Titans, I have seen the worst of humans, albeit with some exceptions. But, I want to know what it's like to live a normal life and have passions outside of beating villains up or training to fight villains."

I contemplate on whether I should continue. I have said this much, might as well. Here goes my deepest secret.

"I want to love myself. So, when I look in the mirror, I can be proud of the person looking back at me. I don't want to rely on others' approval of me to make me feel worth something." I let the tears continue to fall as I wait for his response. His grip tightens, as if his arms could make me whole again. How I wish it could be that easy.

"It breaks my heart that you don't see you the way I do. You're perfect in my eyes. And I know there's nothing I can say to make you love yourself but..." His words slow down, he inhales. "I will always be here for you. No matter what. I will always love you." He kisses the top of my head. I pull away as I realize the truth in his words. That the unknown feeling he has, is love, for me. I stare in his eyes, that were slightly red from the tears that he was trying, and failing to hold back.

I start, "Beast Bo-."

"Garfield. That's my real name.", he interrupts, "Or Gar. Not a fan of the full name."

"Garfield, I can't love you when I don't even know how to love myself." He looks down, the tears falling faster. "However, I do know that you are one of the most important people in my life. I enjoy being around you. You understand me better than myself and you are my best friend. I cherish our relationship. I am sorry that this is all I can give you right now."

He nodded, wiped his eyes, and looked up at me. His lips pulling up at the end. "Don't be sorry. I meant what I said. I will love you, no matter what. You're friendship is more than enough."

A weight was lifted off my shoulders. I lean back into his arms and look back over the forest. A comfort, knowing that no matter what, I have Garfield supporting me. His arms pulled me closer. I let myself embrace his love. And let it pull my own emotions back up. An idea popped into my head.

"So Garfield?" I smirked, "What would it take for you to come with me?"

I listened to his heart as I waited for his response.

"Damn it, Rae." The smile shinning through his words.


A/N: Thank you to everyone reading this. This is my first time doing a ship week and I was very nervous but here we are. Let me know what you think!

Yes I know I didn't address what happen happened to the civilian but, to me, it wasn't really important to the story I wanted to tell. It was more of a catalyst that led to Raven and Garfield opening up to each other.

Sending love and positive vibes your way!