Must... disclaim... my... story! Can't... forget... to put... disclaimer!

Beast Boy was going to kill Jinx. Or at least have Raven do it.

The former-villain and her totally whipped boyfriend had turned their casual lunch outing into an all-day-event, resulting in the two of them missing training while the changeling and empath awkwardly waited. Since it was pre-programmed for a group assault, the two of them couldn't do it alone, and Robin was going to get an alert that nobody did the course.

And Beast Boy really didn't want a lecture from Robin.

"We'll just explain the situation - I'm sure he'll understand," Raven mused dryly, giving the course an unimpressed look. "Besides, it's not as if this is anything new."

Beast Boy nodded in agreement, though he was sort of looking forward to training. All his pent-up frustration with his teammate was really getting to him, and he needed to release it. Also, he knew Raven needed to release some of her aggression, and he really didn't want to be her buddy for that.

"How about we call it a night?" she suggested suddenly.

Turning to face her, Beast Boy gave her a confused look. "But it's not even dinner yet," he replied slowly, completely baffled.

But she merely snorted in amusement, before grabbing onto his forearm. "I'm not really hungry."

He barely had time to blink before he found them standing in her room. He then barely had time to open his mouth when he suddenly found himself on her bed, with her beside him. But it wasn't exactly an intimate position - she had pushed him down, resulting in him landing on his stomach, while she slowly laid herself beside him on her back.

Separating his face from her comforter, his expression contorted into a scowl.

"What the hell, Rae?"

She gave him a sideways glance, before shrugging nonchalantly, the fabric of her cloak sliding against her blanket.

"Starfire and I always flop onto the bed like this. I was just trying to get into the correct mindset," she explained, before rolling onto her side and propping her head up with her arm.

Beast Boy observed her warily, taking up a similar position.

"Mindset for what?" he asked hesitantly.

A small blush rose to her cheeks, causing his stomach to flutter wildly, despite himself. Attempting to stifle down those unwanted feelings, he tried to focus on what she was saying.

"Well, I know that this isn't a part of our arrangement, but I figured it was more so a 'friends' kind of thing," she began timidly, her other hand idly tracing patterns between them on her comforter.

"What?" Beast Boy pressed, feeling a little giddy with the prospect of her admitting their friendship aloud. He had been having his doubts earlier, and though he knew that she was still using him as a means to release her emotions, she was at least sugar-coating it with the word "friendship."

She seemed a little hesitant on speaking, and he noticed she was expertly avoiding eye contact as she let out a muted sigh. "Can we maybe have a little... girl-talk?"

Beast Boy's face dropped into a look of disbelief, as his eyebrows slowly furrowed together. Girl-talk? Was that seriously what she needed to call it? He was all for talking, but he could really do without the name - if Cyborg ever got wind of this, he'd never let him live it down. Hell, he'd never let himself live it down. Sure, girl-talk as a punishment was fine, 'cuz it was being used to prove a point. But girl-talk for the hell of it? He had to draw the line somewhere.

"Does it necessarily have to be girl-talk? Can't it just be... friend-talk? Or... just talking? Can't we just talk?"

Raven stared at him blankly for a solid minute, before rolling back onto her back. "Why do I even bother," she deadpanned, running her hand down her face in exasperation.

"Awe, come on, Rae," Beast Boy groaned, adopting a similar position. "We can talk, if you want. I'd just prefer if we called it something else."

His eyes traced random lines on her ceilings, waiting for her response. The idea of talking to her sounded great, and he hadn't meant to change her mind by complaining. He just didn't want to be considered a girlfriend.

"But there is a very big difference between girl-talk and just talking," she replied, somewhat shyly. "Talking can be about anything, but girl-talk is much more specific and... personal."

Hearing her explanation piqued his interests a bit, but he was still reluctant to agree. "Well, talking can get all deep and meaningful, too," he pointed out. "I mean, guys can have those kind of conversations, and we don't call it girl-talk. We call it... Well, we don't have a name for it. It's just talking."

He turned his head towards her as he finished speaking, making up his mind that it didn't matter if she insisted on calling it girl-talk; just so long as she was talking to him. He knew it was kind of immature to change the name, anyway - though he'd deny ever willingly participating in it.

She was still staring up at the ceiling, her mouth drawn in a tight line and her eyes somewhat vacant. He wasn't sure why, but her expression kind of scared him. Whatever it was that was on her mind, it must have been pretty serious.

"I'm sorry if I've done something to upset you," she spoke suddenly, turning her head to face him. Her hair fell into her face at the action, but she quickly tucked it behind her ear.

Beast Boy blinked in confusion at her random apology, before a sense of understanding hit him, followed by sheer terror. Had she been sensing his feelings?!

"What do you... mean?" he asked hesitantly, drumming his fingers on his stomach nervously. He could have sworn she said she'd never actively read his emotions, and that it was only his aura she felt. And he really doubted that his aura had changed so drastically, just 'cuz he was a little pissed off today.

"I can tell you're upset," she began gently, already raising several red-flags in his mind, "and I think I have an idea of what I've done, and I'm sorry."

Beast Boy felt trapped by her intense gaze, finding himself unable to look away. It was like she was peering into his soul, finding any and every bad thing she had ever done to him, and begging for forgiveness.

He didn't like it.

"Well, how can you tell I'm upset?" he snapped, before closing his eyes in frustration.

"Do I really need to explain?" she mused lightly. Opening his eyes, he saw that she was smirking at him; a look that, despite how angry he could get with her, always made him smile back.

"I'm just kinda confused, is all," he admitted, feeling a blush rise to his cheeks. "Like, you say we're friends, but you never want to do anything with me, unless it benefits you or something."

Raven furrowed her brows slightly, letting his words hang in the air for a moment.

"I... I hadn't realized," she confessed, her eyes clouding over slightly. "I know it's no excuse, but I'm still getting the hang of this 'friendship' thing, and I'm bound to suck at it from time to time."

Letting out a curt laugh, he gave her a pointed look. "But all of us have been friends for years - how much time do you need to 'get used to it'?"

"As much time as you're willing to give me," she replied shyly, giving him a small smile.

He couldn't help but grin back, before cautiously removing his hand from his stomach and inching it towards hers. He tentatively brushed the tips of his fingers against hers, and when she made no sign of disapproval, he slowly intertwined their fingers.

"Take as much time as you need, then," he offered softly, feeling his heart skip a beat as her smile grew. He knew that his actions would be seen as an extended olive branch, and nothing more, but the fact that they were willingly holding hands made his heart pound in his chest. The only time they ever really touched was when Raven needed his "help", so the fact that she was allowing him to be so close was amazing. It was like she truly did care; that there was something between them - even if it was just friendship.

She cared about him; enough to notice when he was upset, and even apologize for it.

But as his mind continued to find reasons why everything was suddenly so amazing, it also pointed out a few things that kind of hurt. Like, the fact that she solely regarded him as a friend. There wasn't much hope that she felt anything more - he knew that. She had made it blatantly clear that there were no feelings involved in their arrangement. And sure, he was okay with it at first, but he should have known better.

He should have remembered how easy it was to fall for her, despite how different they were. He should have remembered all the pain he felt when she'd deny even his friendship, and close herself off. And he should have remembered that she was fully capable of doing it again.

But in that moment, he decided to push away those feelings, and focus on the now. Raven was smiling at him, holding his hand, and proving that he wasn't just a means to an end. He was her friend.

The sudden beeping of his communicator knocked him from his trance, and caused her to rapidly pull her hand away, as if it had been burned. Sitting up quickly, and ignoring the way his heart sunk at her reaction, he went to answer his communicator, only to have it be consumed by dark energy and thrown across the room.

"What the hell, Rae?!"

But instead of looking bashful, Raven was sending him a furious glare.

"You almost answered that - in my room!" she exclaimed, the sudden volume of her voice making him jump.

Not realizing the apparent severity of the situation, Beast Boy knitted his brows together in confusion. "So?"

"So?" Raven repeated, outraged. "Tell me; how exactly would you explain being in my room?"

Realization dawned on him slowly, before a sheepish smile crept onto his face. "Heh, my bad - hadn't really... thought that through, I guess," he shrugged.

He watched as Raven's lips silently chanted her mantra, before she sighed in exasperation. He knew that he had almost made things extremely difficult for them, but he felt she kind of overreacted. He kept that to himself, though. Obviously.

"I didn't mean to snap at you," she began stoically, giving him a blank look. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Rae," he smiled, hoping she wouldn't sense the part of him that was a little pissed-off. "I almost did something totally stupid; as usual!"

He attempted to lighten the mood with a joke, but she continued staring at him with a deadpan expression. He really hated when she'd look at him like that - it was hard enough trying to figure out what she was thinking as it was; he didn't need her staring at him blankly added on top. Even though she tended to do that often.

She looked as if she were about to speak, but the sudden beeping of her communicator made them both jump. He watched her slowly reach for it, undoubtedly composing herself before answering it.

Closing her eyes and sighing, she waited a moment longer, before flipping it open.

"Raven speaking."

"Hey there, Rave," Robin's voice rung out, sounding none too pleased. "Mind telling me why I got an alert that nobody attended training this evening?"

Beast Boy couldn't see his leader's face, but there wasn't a doubt in his mind that it was contorted into some kind of scowl.

Raven opened her mouth to respond, but the boy wonder wasn't finished.

"And why nobody is answering their communicators? I'm gone for a day, and it's like you've all turned into Beast Boy."

The changeling was about to protest, but a sharp look from the half-demon silenced him, and he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be in the room. Furrowing his brows angrily, he folded his arms across his chest and pouted in silence.

Raven quickly looked away from him and back towards the screen of her communicator. "Well, you'll have to take missing training up with Jinx; apparently, her and Kid Flash had gone out for lunch, and they haven't returned," she mused dryly, giving Beast Boy a fleeting look. "And I'm not sure why those two aren't answering, but the last time I saw Beast Boy, he said he was about to hop in the shower."

Beast Boy felt a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he listened to Raven cover for him. Not answering Robin's call really wasn't that big of a deal, but the fact that she didn't want him to get in trouble made his stomach flutter. She was lying for him - like a true friend.

"Ugh - I knew Jinx was gonna cause more trouble than it's worth," Robin growled angrily, to which Beast Boy nodded in agreement, despite his leader not knowing he was even there. "How have things been? Have you guys had many alerts? Are you working well together?"

Raven rolled her eyes at the series of questions Robin threw out, before giving their leader a pointed look. "Things have been fine, and, surprisingly, we haven't had a single alert," she deadpanned. "Though, you've only been gone a day. Relax, Robin - Beast Boy and I have everything under control."

Again, Beast Boy felt a fuzzy feeling throughout his body at Raven's words, but made no outward reaction besides a toothy grin, which she elected to ignore.

"Not a single alert?" Robin repeated in disbelief, opting to ignore Raven's last statement. "Not one? There must be some kind of conspiracy; everyone has probably teamed up with Sl-"

"Or everyone heard Jinx is in town," Raven interrupted in her monotone, her face blank. "Not everything is a conspiracy, Robin."

Beast Boy suppressed an impressed chuckle at how easy it was for Raven to derail their leader's obsessive tendencies. He was also pretty sure Jinx being in town was the reason everyone was on their best behavior. The pink-haired heroine had a reputation for delivering a serious ass-whooping.

Robin must have figured the same thing, for all he had to say was a defeated, "Yeah, maybe..."

Seemingly pleased with herself, Raven gave their leader a smirk, before smoothly changing the subject. "So, how long til you get to Tamaran?"

Beast Boy's ears perked up slightly, intent on getting an update on Starfire.

"We should arrive sometime tomorrow," Robin replied, sounding a little off-put by the subject change. "Star's been doing good - Cy sealed off her compartment, but we can still see each other and communicate through our headsets, so she's not completely isolated."

"That's good," Raven drawled, while Beast Boy let out a silent sigh. He had been worried that the alien would feel like a prisoner during the trip, so it was nice to hear she wasn't locked away for Robin's safety.

"Anyway, I'll call you guys tomorrow with an update, and again when they figure out what's wrong with her. Keep the city safe, and make sure Jinx's communicator is on," he ordered, his voice almost a growl. "I need to speak with her."

"I'll give her the message," Raven smirked, obviously pleased with the thought of the former-villain getting chewed out. "Talk to you tomorrow."

"Alright - Robin out."

Beast Boy watched as Raven snapped her communicator shut, before turning herself to face him. She stared at him quizzically for a moment, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

"Yeah?" he asked hesitantly, unsure of why she was looking at him so intently.

"I'm..." Raven began, seemingly weighing what she was about to say in her head. "I'm sorry for what Robin said about you."

Somewhat surprised by her words, a small, confused smile tugged at Beast Boy's lips. Sure, what Robin said had stung a bit, but he knew that his leader was only speaking from experience. The changeling tended to lose his communicator often, as well as think up any and every excuse not to go to training. He knew Robin wasn't being completely serious.

"It's fine, Rae," he insisted with a grin. And it really was - he was actually kind of grateful for the boy wonder's words. Otherwise he wouldn't have heard Raven come to his defense.

"No, it's not."

He was a bit taken aback by the hostility in her voice, and it was then that he noticed she looked rather upset; as if the insults were directed at her or something. But before he could assure her that he didn't take their leader's words to heart, Raven was suddenly directly beside him, before she started pulling him into a... a hug?

Beast Boy felt himself freeze as the empath wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her chin atop his shoulder. Having her this close wasn't necessarily new to him, but the hesitant manner she was acting with was. Sure, she often looked flustered during their little makeout sessions, but she was always confident with how she moved. Now, it felt like she hadn't a clue what she was doing.

"Uh?" he blurted, completely flabbergasted.

"I'm expressing my feelings through this kind gesture, Beast Boy," she drawled, sounding a bit peeved. "The least you could do is humor me."

Slowly lifting his arms from his sides, he tentatively wrapped them around Raven's small frame, a bewildered expression plastered on his face. They were hugging.

He felt his face flush as Raven pulled him closer, obviously intent on getting the message through to him. But if anything, it made him more confused; why the hell was this happening?

"There, that wasn't so hard," she muttered, though he wasn't sure if she was talking to him, or to herself. As she began to pull away, he let his arms fall limply to his sides once more, as his brows knitted together in complete confusion.

"What?" she deadpanned, seeing his expression.

Unsure of what to say, Beast Boy cleared his throat awkwardly. How was it that a hug from her confused him more than a kiss? They had hugged before, so it wasn't like a foreign concept or anything - and yet, it was beyond weird.

"W-why..?" he spurted out, managing to find his voice, even if it was fleeting.

He was surprised to see Raven look away bashfully, which only fueled the complete insanity of the situation.

"You looked like you needed a hug," she shrugged, her monotone faltering slightly. She continued avoiding eye contact, and instead stared at her lap.

Beast Boy couldn't stop a small smile from spreading across his lips, though he knew she couldn't see it. But, if he wasn't mistaken, it sounded like Raven had just admitted to doing something nice for him - something that didn't directly benefit her.

She was concerned about his feelings being hurt, and expressed those thoughts through a hug - something she didn't seem to thrilled on doing, but did it anyway. For him.

Maybe he was looking at their situation all wrong; maybe she was being a good friend, and he was just too confused to notice. Maybe his feelings for her were clouding the way he was seeing things. Maybe he was the one in the wrong.

But as he weighed those thoughts in his head, he realized bitterly that it probably wasn't the case. No matter which way he diced it, everything came back to the same conclusion: Raven was using him, and he was only telling himself otherwise.

Poor BB - hopefully he's just being bitter and not thinking clearly! I mean, Raven seems to enjoy his company, even when they're just talking or hanging out. Maybe he's just overreacting?

Oh well - we'll find out soon enough. I already know how I'm ending this, and there's only about 4 or 5 chapters left, so this isn't going to be a million chapters long, like all my other stories lol.

Anywhoo, we've passed 200 reviews and 100 follows, which is amazing! You guys are fantastic - thank you! And a big thank you to every one of my readers, as well! Just seeing the view count go up makes me giddy! Oh, and this is a little random, but... I'm getting tired of not having a cover for any of my stories, so I'm totally up for suggestions! I am a bit picky though, and I want something recognizably BBRae, but not something that's been used countless times. Something kinda simple, I guess. Also, permission from the artist is preferred - so if you know someone who doesn't mind their artwork being used for covers, leave their name/information; I'd love to check them out!

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this slightly drama-fied chapter, and feel free to leave a review! :P