"C'mon Beast Boy, I know it's in here…" Raven sifted through his collection of DC Comics and National Geographics. She knew he'd taken her Book of Azar, as he'd suddenly developed an interest in her ancient origins. Sitting on his bed, he watched his teammate sort through his belongings. So far her search had stayed superficial, and he was fine with that, as long as-
"Wait!" He cried, rushing before his nightstand drawer. "You-you can't look in here."
Amethyst eyes narrowed. "If you're hiding my book in there, you're only making it more obvious."
He shook his head fiercely, blocking the drawers with his waist. "I'll find your book and give it back, alright? Just.. Can you leave now?"
Watching his face closer, Raven crossed her arms. He was definitely hiding something.. And Raven was suddenly positive it wasn't her book. Beast Boy was only this insistent when it came to vegetarian barbeque, but almost never this serious. Lifting a brow, the petite sorceress made it clear she was firm in her stance.
"What's in your dresser?"
"Nothing; don't worry about it." Beast Boy responded, voice stubborn as hers. "Just get out of my room, Raven." She cocked a hip. "Now."
The empath sighed. As much as she'd like to say she couldn't care less what dirty little secret he was hiding…. He was her teammate, one of her closest friends. The waves of anxiety and cowardliness rolling off of him weren't meant to be ignored. But Beast Boy was headstrong as a bull, nostrils flaring as emerald eyes glared. Whatever was in that drawer, needed to come out. Raven sighed. She didn't like to play this card, but it was her last resort.
"Beast Boy, you'd better show me what's in there, or I'll tell Robin."
Fierce eyes turned worried, and he bugged at her words. "You wouldn't…" He gasped, gripping the edges of the nightstand. Raven only frowned harder, as if to say, try me. "Fine," Beast Boy muttered, standing aside.
Flicking a finger at the drawer, Raven pulled it open gently. Microscopic medication seemed insignificant, until Raven read the label on the tiny orange capsule. Antidepressants? She shook the bottle lightly. Only three pills were left, although the medication was only prescribed a week prior.
"Gar, this medication is supposed to last you a month…"
Shrugging goofily, Beast Boy offered his weakest excuse. "I uh, I've been extra sad lately?"
"What could you possibly be sad about?" Raven retorted. "You're always cracking terrible jokes and laughing at inconvenient times; seem like a stupidly happy person to me." She set the pills on the dresser and reapproached her friend.
"You have no idea…" He muttered, glaring at the ground. Memories flooded his brain, and he tried to sort out the best way to tell her how apathetic he'd been lately. How nothing in this world mattered anymore, how everyone he'd loved, he'd lost.
"Enlighten me then, Gar." Raven whispered, tilting his chin to meet her eyes.
"It's just been hard lately, you know? Ever since…. Well, you know. No one to love, or to love me." He shrugged. "It's alright," Eying the pills he spoke again. "I have these."
"What the hell, Garfield." Raven snapped. "No one to love you? No one to love? What about us, your team? The team whose sworn to save your ass, no matter what." Words bubbled inside her, unable to be deflated. A spiteful tone escaped like an erupting volcano. "You have no right to be depressed."
Beast Boy glared at the girl. "You have no idea, Rae!" Kicking his bedpost, wooden leg snapped. "You don't know me at all," he muttered, collapsing on his now lopsided bed. "And I don't what you to." Ouch. Raven winced at his words. He was trying to block her out. Of all people, she would know how that worked. Burying his face in a pillow, he spoke again. "Just.. Get out of my room."
"I won't-"
"Raeeeeee," his shout was muffled by the soft cotton. Lifting his head, he tossed the green fluff at his friend. "Out, now."
"No, Gar." Raven moved closer to the bed, daring to sit on the edge as he buried his sons in the mattress. "I know that I don't understand what you're going through. But.. I can. If you'll let me?" The empath tentatively reached out for his shoulder, stroking his back soothingly. "Let me inside your mind, Gar." She whispered. "I can help you."
"I just wanted an escape…" He blinked into his pillow, tears wetting it mercilessly. Memories pounded at his mind; his transformation, the boating accident, abuse, the feeling of alone, the feeling that nothing in his life would ever be the same…
His wave of intense emotion flooded her mind. Raven felt her eyelids squeeze shut, a pounding headache edging at her peaceful mind. Pressing a hand to her temple, Raven tried alleviating the pain of his worst memories. But with no avail; as his mind was stubborn, continuing to consume hers with dark thoughts. Violet irises snapped open. So that's what was happening. All of his problems, all his woes, frustrations of his childhood… They'd resurfaced and swallowed his sanity. So much so, that now, he just didn't care.
This kind of sadness wrenched at her heart. Naturally, she'd had her share of gloom and depression, her father was the destroyer of the universe, after all… But this melancholy feeling left her hollow. Raven, she was used to this feeling. The sanity of being alone. But he was just opposite. He thrived on others and the feeling of acceptance, of people needing him. Beast Boy truly believed he had no one… And he almost didn't care. Almost.
"Garfield," casting her teammate a sidelong glance, after making an rash decision. He could sense she wasn't fully open with him, only adding to his confused misery. "Garfield, you know I'm an empath…"
A muffled grunt spoke into the pillow. "Yeah Rae. Not in the mood for one of your… Pep talks."
Pep talk? Pep was the last word that would ever describe her. She rolled her eyes for the millionth time since she'd entered his room.
"No, Gar." Prodding his shoulder, the green boy rolled lazily onto his side. Eyes glassy and red, his teammate looked like a fuzzy version of herself. Resting a hand tentatively on his hip, Raven stayed along the mattress edge. "I'm an empath. But you're empathetic." She smiled softly, not able to push the adorable look of his confusion from her mind. "So, tell me how I feel about you."
Fingers trailed from his hip, along his torso, his jawline, until they rested on his temple. Raven did her best to express her thoughts, making it obvious as possible that she cared deeply for her friend.
"I… I feel… You care about me, Rae?" She nodded calmly, eyes resting on his damp ones. "Here I thought you couldn't care less…" He mumbled, fighting a smile from his lips. Raven ran her hand back down his waist, lingering longingly over his neck.
"Well… I thought you should know. And now that you do, do us both a favor and don't bring it up." She half teased, monotone returning to her voice.
Beast Boy winked.
"You know what else I feel?" Garfield placed a large hand over hers, bringing her fingers back to his chest, right over his heart. "I think you have a crush on me." Violet eyes averted, a sudden stutter forming in her throat. Beast Boy grinned widely, canine sparkling with excitement. "Dontcha, Rae?"
Raven just blushed.
