Raven got up around half five, deciding that she would go ahead with having extra training with Beast boy, along with talking to Starfire for advice about asking the changeling out on a date. She planned on making sure that she'd get at least an idea on how to confess to the green hero within the week ahead of them. The first thing on her mind however, was breakfast, leaving her bedroom in pursuit of something tasty.
Before entering the common room, she heard the sound of the electric waffel maker being turned on, sensing the presence of a certain green titan. Peeking around the corner, she witnessed to see Beast boy making homemade waffles, completely drizzled with honey. The smell of fresh cinnamon tickled her small nose as she moved closer, clearing her throat to notify the green shape-shifter that she was there, and obviously not make him jump eight feet in the air.
"Morning Rae, you hungry?" Beast boy gave a small smile, taking out two plates for each other.
"Starving. You're up early, you having trouble sleeping?" Raven asked as she sat down, watching him place the golden waffles onto the plates, adding some blueberries and additional honey.
"Now and then yeah, night terrors really leave me unsettled so it explains why I either have a long lie in, or of course getting up at ridiculous o'clock." He answered as he served the plates of waffles, earning him a small thank you from the empath.
"You wanna talk about your night terrors? I won't judge you if it's something bizzare." Raven looked into his green eyes, sensing reluctance to tell her about them.
He took a deep breath, counting to five. Then he begun to explain.
"The dream involves Trigon. . . It's when I gave you that lucky penny before you became the portal for him. But he actually wins the fight, he kills the team one by one, and no matter how hard I try to move, I'm paralysed. Then he approaches me, and I try reaching out to you Raven. . . but you can't hear me. . . you simply bow before your dad and then you. . . you. . .-"
Beast boy felt his eyes stinging, and although he knew it was just a bad dream, it still had a bad effect on him.
"Gar. . . May I ask what I did in this nightmare?" Raven shifted herself beside the changeling, slowly taking his hand to show that she was here to help him.
"You kill me. . . then I wake up sweating like hell. If I feel too unsettled, I'll put my earphones in, and listen to music to relax myself. Sometimes it helps, other times I just cry my eyes out, and even though I hang out with you without an issue. . . I still get a little scared of you, even though you're one of the most kindess soul out there." He managed to explain his nightmare to Raven, who understood everything about it.
"Is that another thing you think about? When you become the beast I mean." Her voice sounded more caring than her usual monotone.
He nodded in silence and then the two quietly ate their breakfast, and by the time they both finish and clean up, Raven faced the changeling, ready to ask that important question.
"Would you like to help me train today? I wanna learn more ways of countering so I don't get grabbed by creeps like Adonis so easily."
"What like now Rae? I mean sure, if that is what you want." Beast boy said, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"I appreciate it Gar. Oh and have you taken your medication yet?" She raised an eyebrow to empathise her question.
"I'll take them now, just so I don't forget later on." He replied with a small grin, popping another two of the pills before walking with Raven to the training room.
For over two hours, the duo practiced and practiced various types of counter attacks, not just with human sized targets but larger ones too, thanks to Beast boy's shape-shifting abilities. With a mix of both close quarters combat, and the use of magic, Raven was managing to avoid being grabbed by the changeling's gorrila form, improving her speed and timing. By the time they were both finished, they both flopped to the ground, completely exhausted from their training.
"Geez. . . you know how to wipe me off the floor Rae Rae. You literally take the breath out of me." Beast boy puffed out before dragging himself off the matress, fetching two water bottles out a small backpack he brought with him, passing one to Raven who thanked him.
"You're too hard on yourself. You stood your ground extremely well throughout the whole thing, and besides it lets us learn more ways of fighting back more easily as a team, and by ourselves." She said before taking a large gulp of water, the ice cold liquid was refreshing indeed.
After hitting the showers, the duo made their way into the common room, finding Starfire, Nightwing, and Cyborg eating their breakfast.
"There you two are! We've prepared a most joyus breakfast for all of us, please help yourself." Starfire exclaimed with delight, enjoying her bowl of cereal.
"Actually we already ate Star, we were both doing some extra training earlier, and we could use a small rest." Raven said as she floated onto the large couch, using her powers to grab a book from the shelf, beginning to read.
"Enjoying your murdered breakfast Cy?" Beast boy coldly said to his metallic friend, pointing accusingly at him.
"Well if it beats your tofu, then absolutely! I ain't giving up the finest thing on the planet." Cyborg smiled back, and soon their little debate of meat vs tofu commenced, but for Raven, she missed it when Beast boy would playfully banter with the metal man.
The empath slammed her book shut, sending it back to the shelf before getting up to approach the happy alien princess. Tapping her shoulder lightly to grab her attention.
"Oh hello friend Raven! Is there something you need assistance with?" Starfire asked, practically floating at this rate.
"Could we have a private "girl talk" Kori? I require some helpful advice." Raven quietly asked, only for her friend to squeal with joy, making her wince.
"Absolutely! Let us have the "girl talk"!" Starfire urged her friend to follow her to her bedroom. Raven took a deep breath before she began to follow her.
Nightwing shrugged it off, switching back to the newspaper, filling in a wordsearch puzzle for a change. Cyborg finished his breakfast before getting himself up, his yawn was loud enough for the whole city to hear.
"Oh I almost forgot to ask. How was your date with Sarah?" The Titan's leader asked, still focusing on the puzzles on the paper.
"Ooh do tell us Cy. Did you have a good time?" Beast boy asked whilst grabbing a glass, filling it with almond milk.
"It went fantastic! She's wanting to go on another one at some point. I think we've hit it off really well, and the best part is she digs the car, and LOVES cheesecake." Cyborg couldn't help but gush about his date, with the changeling rolling his eyes but nevertheless, he was happy for him.
"You want a hand or anything today Cyborg? I got free time and I'm bored as hell." Beast boy asked as he drank his milk, leaning on the counter.
"Wanna help me with the shopping today? I'll get you more of those vegan burgers if you'd like?" The metal man stood up, finishing off his milk.
"Sure bro, I'll help." The green hero happily accepted his friend's offer, drinking all of his almond milk quickly before joining his best friend in a little journey to the city for food shopping, leaving a content Nightwing on his own, but he didn't mind.
"Should I call my birdarangs wingdings? or nightstars?. . . " He thought as he moved on to the crossword puzzle.
Starfire's room had changed a bit during her time as a titan, now owning a queen sized bed, less decorations and a little area designed for her pet Silkie, who was happily eating away at the leaves with mustard on top. Raven sat on the bed with her legs crossed, letting her friend paint her finger nails with various colours.
"Star. . . how do I ask someone out?" The empath asked nervously, only for the princess of Tamaran's eyes lighting up with over enthusiastic joy.
"Well friend Raven, who is the person that you wish to show your interest in them? Have you been thinking about them alot lately?"
"I've been thinking about him for months. I tried getting over it a while back, but I can't help but smile whenever I think about him. My only worry is that he doesn't feel the same way as I do, and I also don't wish to ruin our friendship if it goes wrong. . ." Raven explained as best she could, without mentioning that she was in fact talking about Beast boy.
Starfire smiled before placing her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I know that you like friend Beast boy Raven. I've seen the way you look at him, and you two have spent a lot of time together lately. I won't tell anyone about this, it's what the earth people call "under lock and key"." The alien girl said whilst smiling away, giving the empath a small hug to reassure her that her secret is safe.
"So what should I do? I haven't a clue on the whole dating thing." Raven voiced her worries, only for her friend to shush her in a friendly manner.
"I'll help you, do not panic. You're highly attractive, you're a wonderful person, and you share alot in common with Beast boy more than you think you do. I've seen the way he smiles at you too, when he comes to you for comfort for when he's down, and recently when he saved you from Adonis. I strongly think he has what they call "the hots" for you." Starfire finished explaining as best she could, prompting the empath to not feel as worried.
"I appreciate your help Kori. But I must ask, how did you figure it out?" Raven asked, wondering how her friend knew.
"It doesn't take a detective to know when two people have "the feelings" for each other, although Dick couldn't pick it up as fast as I could." Starfire giggled, causing the empath to crack a smile, and giggle too.
Meanwhile Beast boy and Cyborg were on route to do food shopping, listening to some Daft Punk whilst making their way.
"So green bean, what made you want to come along to help me out? Lemme guess, you want to know if Sarah's got a friend don't you?" Victor said as he focused on the road, thankfully traffic wasn't bad.
"Haha. . . Well actually I wanted some some advice on talking to a girl I like." Garfield said, looking out his window.
"Well since I AM the man for the job, I'll help you out. So whose the blonde beauty that's caught your eye this time?" The metallic hero asked his best friend as he turned a corner.
"For one, she isn't blonde. Two, I've liked her for a very long time, and I honestly don't know how to tell her that." Beast boy looked down, thinking about if he wanted to reveal who he liked.
"The way I see it BB, you'll find the right words to tell her how you feel. I know it doesn't sound like much help, but I do know that Raven will listen to you." Cyborg said, giving a sideways glance to his friend.
"Yeah well she. . .wait WHAT!?" The changeling was shocked to hear his friend say that, completely taken aback.
"I'm no detective grass stain, but it's kinda obvious between you two. The times when she helps you vent, the times you go out with her without the others, hell even your fight with Adonis was proof enough." The metal man explained how he figured it out.
"Oh man. . . what am I gonna do? I don't know what to say to her-" Beast boy was cut off by Cyborg's hand over his mouth, leaving him baffled.
"First off, don't panic. Second, you'll find the right words for her in your own time. Finally, don't leave it for too long Beast boy. Just take your time when you're talking to her, and remember if it doesn't work out, she'll still look out for you because you're our best friend."
The green shape-shifter took in the words that his friend was saying, he hadn't dated anyone for a long time, even after Terra. Completely shocked by the revelation, he remained silent for the remaining duration of the ride to the supermarket, thinking on how he should approach Raven.
One thing for sure however, both Raven and Beast boy feel the same way about each other, but how will they say it is a whole other battlefield. A battlefield that's a lot more easier than they both think, all they need is a little push to set things in motion.
"Alright. I'll confess to her this week, that's my goal for the next few days." Beast boy smiled at his new resolve, unbeknownst to him that the empath was thinking the exact same plan.
End of Chapter V
Author's Notes
Do not worry guys, the next chapter will involve the confession. But how will the duo react? Well that would be a spoiler alert.
Thank you for reading this story. I'll see you in Chapter VI when I find the time and ideas to put into it.