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Next chapter we are proud of, but got to build up to these things.

We hope you enjoy what we have been cooking up...

Chapter 6

They got to the middle of the week quickly, Robin wanting to capitalise on the teams recent improvements and pushed them hard in training. Despite not being as committed as he made out, Beast Boy still made progress. Raven's improved control showed as well when battling robots, not being set on the obstacle courses as Robin and Cyborg had yet to work out how to create one she couldn't just phase straight through.

She had accidentally given Starfire the impression that her increased control was down to a combination of reduced Trigon influence and a new, super comfy cushion. This came back to haunt her as her teammate was now wanting to know where she had gotten this "wondrous seating device" from and Raven had eventually given into her unending demands to go cushion shopping with the princess after she returned from Gotham.

Not knowing any of this, Beast Boy was surprised when she dragged him into a dark corner after training, expecting some more loving, but quickly getting confused when a panicked Raven started shaking him and, in a harsh whisper, demanding where the blazes one got a damn cushion from. She hated shopping, with a passion, too many people, but she was in too deep with her lie.

The shaking got harder when her green companion burst out laughing at the simply bizarre nature of the situation, if she wasn't trying to be subtle she would have been screaming at him about it not being funny. When they had calmed down enough to talk properly, Beast Boy agreed to help her find a cushion on his next 'training flight' tomorrow.

To try and help, he pulled her into his arms, she didn't stiffen like she used to, but it took a few moments before she hugged him back, latching onto the adoration she felt coming from him and burying her hooded face in his shoulder. He chuckled to himself and let her take her time as she regained her composure, revelling in her closeness and scent, as he knew she would be to his emotions. Eventually, as much as he hated to interrupt their moment, he reminded her that the others would be looking for them soon, knowing how important it would be to her.

The rest of the day progressed as normal, Beast Boy spent relaxing playing Cyborg as the latest racing game, while Raven sat in her usual spot working her way through her latest gem. Despite the trouble earlier in the week, since the gorillas everything had been fairly quiet, even if they were no closer to working out who had sent them, so the team enjoyed the downtime after all the drilling.

Raven was particularly happy as her suggestion to Starfire that Robin had been overdoing it had lead to the leader being kidnapped and dragged out for a day of 'the walking and the relaxing'. If a certain duo could keep it down, it would be a perfect day of reading.

Oh, who was she kidding, it was nice to have them around and relaxing, not winding each other up, just enjoying themselves, it helped her mood as she soaked it all up and smiled softly, hidden behind her book.

All the training had caught up with the entire team and no one stirred early the next day. Except Raven, but she made so little noise it was impossible to tell when she was even in the building at times. Floating down the corridors back to her room, levitating her breakfast and tea with her as she returned to her sanctuary.

Having eaten, she meditated, her holoring and communicator close to hand as she awaited his signal. It was around 11 when he emerged, grabbed some breakfast and finally let her know he was on his way, along with a list of places that might bear the prize she sought. She was just glad Starfire hadn't asked to see the damn thing, as that would have been harder to explain.

Aside from a brief stop at the food court of the mall, they spent the rest of the morning and all afternoon searching. The mall had variety but nothing special, so they had branched out, sneakily using their powers to criss cross the city as Raven's search became more and more frantic.

They did eventually find a local independent shop that had a cushion she deemed comfy enough to present to Starfire, though sitting on dozens all day had left her a little numb. The advantages of being able to float she grumbled to herself as they finally left with her purchases in hand, one for her and one to pacify any questions about shopping trips in the future.

Almost like he sensed her mood, she felt arms wrap around her waist, bringing her to a stop against him and warm lips on her cheek. Blushing and just about preventing herself from gasping, her foul mood was derailed by the simple show of affection, letting him take her hand again as they roamed the city for a little longer, before heading back home.

That evening, the pair of them were at it, smashing cars to pieces and shouting in victory or defeat. Mostly defeat for Beast Boy, he just couldn't compete with the cybernetically enhanced hero when it came to reflexes. It did however give Raven an idea of how to pay Beast Boy back for his help today, as dealing with an irritated empath all day would not have been easy.

It started off with small things, little nudges to Cyborgs arms and head as they played, peering over her book she could see the slight confusion on his face. As he didn't need to look at the controller anymore, she next moved onto risking pressing a button with her soul self, just the one, but at such a point that he slid out of control in the game and Beast Boy took the lead, but couldn't quite claim the race.

It almost became a game for her, distracting Cyborg and messing with his controller, seeing what she could get away with. He was becoming more aware of something, but seemed to be more distracted by Beast Boy bouncing up and down as he finally won a race. She didn't see him glance once at her, after all, why would she help Beast Boy win.

Mostly because it was so much fun, she admitted to herself, beginning to get an idea of why those two had spent years engaged in prank wars, which she had thankfully been excluded from after the time she had dangled them off the roof and made them swear it.

After the fifth race in a row won by the green hero, Cyborg snorted with disgust and went to play with his car. The last two she hadn't even done anything, Cyborg had been so distracted than he had lost easily.

Returning to focus properly on her book, she looked up a few minutes later when a shadow blocked out her light and looked up to the face of a grinning Beast Boy.

"What did you do?" he asked, the grin getting wider as she blinked in surprise, not realising he had caught her. "I could feel your amusement for the last few races and you didn't turn a page either."

"What… How?" she stuttered, trying to deny it, but knowing the growing link had given her away.

"Happy is hard to ignore when you know what to listen for, as for the book, super hearing baby" he laughed, flicking his own ears in amusement.

"Fine…. I wanted to pay you back and it was… fun" she growled, hiding behind her book, before the shadow vanished and she looked up in confusion. Feeling something on her lap, she looked down to find a green purring kitten curled up there, making himself at home again. "You're lucky you're cute" she grumbled to him, levitating to face the window while she continued to read, so no one would see her little green ball of fluff. Using her powers to hold the book up to read, while her hands were in her lap, it looked like she was doing her meditative reading again if anyone walked in, but this time being used to hide something.

"Hey Raven, have you seen Beast Boy lately?" Robin asked as he wandered in looking for his fellow titan.

"Not since he went after Cyborg to proclaim his victory at whatever game they were playing" Raven replied in her usual monotone, Robin sighed and rushed off, knowing how carried away they could get over their video games.

"That was mean Rae" purred her lap, Beast Boy finding it oddly soothing to be petted and stroked by her like this, even if it was taking advantage of her love of cats more than a little.

"Yes the big manly man who's being an adorable little kitten right now, I'm sure the others will love to hear about that." He didn't even have to look up to see her smirking, he could feel it, but he happily surrendered to more head scratches as a compromise as his purring increased.