AN: *deep sigh* hi.

I'm sorry this took so long to update, but I have a life outside of fanfiction, which includes UCAS applications, university open days and a part time job. Sorry!

To avoid any confusion, yes I have deleted all my previous stories. Sorry to any Gwuncan Tail fans (if there were any lol) but I'm sure you can understand why I had to remove those monstrosities from existence.

Another thing – new pen name! pixie-tail at your service!

Get it? Like the anime ahahahahaha im such a loser.

And so, without further ado, enjoy the newest chapter of a story I'm actually reasonably proud of so far!

The automatic door slid open with a soft hiss, and Changeling stepped back into the medical wing. The room was a quiet expanse of white curtains, gently bleeping moniters, and soft snores. It was a peaceful, relaxing room fully stocked with everything, from machines that were highly advanced breakthroughs in biomedical engineering science, to aspirin tablets.

And empty beds.

"Starfire!" The alien princess started awake, jumping from the chair she had curled up in. "Raven's gone!"

Panic had settled in Changeling's chest, heavy in his throat. Had Raven been taken? Had Angel snuck in and kidnapped her?! Before the shape-shifter could yell again, Starfire placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head.

"Friend Changeling, Raven is not missing." Starfire spoke calmly, firmly, her diplomatic side shining through.

"Then where-"

"Friend Raven is in Nevermore." Starfire cut Changeling off quickly, gesturing to the mirror on the bed Raven had previously been in.

"Oh." Changeling felt stupid for not noticing earlier. "Heh, my bad! I'm just worried about her, y'know?" The green hero rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Starfire stifled a yawn in response, and Changeling immediately felt guilty for waking her. He tried to make up for his blunder. "Hey, Star, why don't you go get some rest? I can stay here with Raven."

The alien princess shook her head, and attempted to argue with Changeling, when another yawn escaped from her lips. With a sleepy smile, she looked up at her once short teammate.

"Perhaps that is a wise idea. It is much appreciated." Starfire turned to leave, but stopped when she reached Changeling. Without warning, she wrapped the green hero in a bone-crushing bear hug.

"We have missed you, friend Garfield."

Trying his best to suck oxygen into his rapidly collapsing lungs, Changeling just managed to choke out a reply. "I missed you guys too, Star. It's good to be back." With a nod, Starfire released him, and he gratefully sucked in lungfuls of air. She continued on her way to the door, stopping once more as she reached the exit.

"Raven, in particular, was anxious for you to return."

At that Changeling's face turned a darker green, and he turned around to stutter a reply, only to find the doorway empty, Starfire's laughter echoing from the hall.

With Starfire's parting words twisting in his mind, Changeling turned his attention to the bed currently occupied by Raven's hand mirror. Taking a seat next to the neatly made bed, he let his thoughts wander down the same path they'd naturally followed for the last few months, the one with a massive sign post labelled "RAVEN".

It was true Changeling had had a crush on the half-demon for some time now, pretty much since he first met her. The adventures they had shared together had brought them closer over time, until Changeling was sure he was never going to be anything other than a friend to Raven. The dark girl was always so careful and guarded about her emotions, and so Changeling had eventually learned not to push his luck and accept what he was given. And if Raven was never going to give him anything other than friendship, then he was fine with that. Happy with it, even.

Well, maybe not quite.

But if she was happy, then so was he.

Actually, for the brief moment he'd seen her earlier, it seemed as if she was. Happy. Visibly, audibly happy. She even laughed, for god's sake. And nothing blew up! Nothing smashed, cracked, shattered, imploded, the world didn't end, the Tower was still standing and nothing was damaged – except Changeling's heart, which had thrown itself so violently against his chest it was now aching inside of him. He swore the damn thing missed a beat when she smiled at him, laughed with him.

He groaned, throwing his head into his hands.

"Damn it Raven," Changeling murmured, "What are you doing to me?"

It was at this point a familiar scent drifted to him. One of vanilla, paper and ink, and something deeper, something inhuman. Something that had his immediate attention.

Changeling's head snapped up, his eyes fixing on the face that had been haunting his thoughts for months. He immediately began to search her for injuries, his eyes scanning up and down her body. He noted with surprise that she'd healed.

"Entering Nevermore is essentially a higher form of meditation," Raven began, sensing his confusion. "Therefore, if necessary, it can double as a healing trance."

Changeling nodded in understanding, but continued to search her with his eyes.

Her hair fell to her chin, longer at the front, shorter at the back, and he felt a surge of satisfaction that she'd kept her hair in the same style. He remembered once telling her he liked her unusual cut, and she had blushed almost imperceptibly. Changeling felt his ego inflate slightly at the memory.

Her face had matured, but the pointed chin, arched eyebrows and high cheekbones still reminded him of an elf. Her wide eyes were the dark violet he remembered, her eyelashes long enough to fan an ancient Egyptian queen. Her lips were fuller, he noticed, a definite pout to them now.

Changeling had to supress a growl as his eyes travelled further down Raven's body. Her uniform clung tighter to her curves than he remembered – or perhaps it was the curves themselves he didn't remember. Without her cloak, the empath's leotard left her body temptingly uncovered. The fabric stretched tight across her breasts, wrapped around her tiny waist before ending suddenly at the top of her legs, just below where her hips flared out, leaving inches and inches of flawless pale grey skin on show.

Did Raven look this good before he left? Changeling couldn't remember ever being this distracted by her – not even by her legs, which he had previously paid an awful lot of attention to in his adolescence.

"Changeling?"

"Mhm?"

The empath sighed.

"Garfield, you're staring."

At the sound of his name on her lips he snapped awake, dragging his eyes from her figure and shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Meeting her gaze, he chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. Raven simply sighed and shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Kicking her legs over the edge of the bed, Raven made to stand. In an instant, Changeling too was on his feet, arms outstretched to support her. Shaking her head, Raven pushed his arms away gently.

"I'm fine Garfield, honestly." She stood up slowly, freezing when she realised that Changeling was now towering above her. Slowly, she looked up at his smirking face and blinked once, twice. Then Raven scowled, turning away from her teammate. Carefully gathering up her ornate hand mirror and wrapping it in the black cloths, she grumbled under her breath, easily audible with Changeling's advanced hearing. Glancing up at him once more, she saw his triumphant grin and glowered darkly.

"Damn it."

Changeling chuckled, following behind the new shortest member of the team as she stalked out of the medical bay.

He trailed behind her down the corridor, hands shoved in his pockets as he gazed around at his surroundings. The corridors seemed so much smaller and narrower that he remembered, but it was home. Changeling sighed happily, a grin playing on his face. Raven chuckled.

"Good to be back?"

His gaze switched to the girl in front of him, her head turned to look at him over her shoulder.

"You have no idea."

Raven froze as she felt his affection wash over her in warm, hazy waves. She hardly realised that she'd stopped dead in the middle of the hallway until Changeling bumped gently into her back. Now that, she knew he'd done on purpose. The shapeshifter had cat-like reflexes, and he wasn't that close behind her when she stopped.

But Raven found that she really didn't mind the shapeshifter's sneaky trick, especially now that he was pressing himself so carefully against her, gently placing his hands on her sides to steady her.

"Rae? You ok?" Raven could have purred as she felt his voice rumble in his chest, vibrating against her back. She leaned back against him slightly, and let out an inaudible sigh. Changeling's arms slipped around her waist, and he lowered his head to bury his face in the crook of her neck. She could feel his quiet surprise and warm affection, as she expected, but beneath that Raven could sense something darker. Curious, Raven closed her eyes, focusing in on the emotion in order to figure out what it was. She regretted it almost as soon as she began.

It was dark, hot, undeniable lust. It burned like the embers of a fire, nestled in his very core. It had the power to consume him, to devour Changeling whole if he let it. Raven knew that flame well; it resided in her own soul, the same as his.

With a gasp, Raven's eyes shot open, and she tore herself away from Changeling's arms. She didn't look at his face – she couldn't – but she could feel his confusion, embarrassment, and – Azar, amusement? This was funny to him? His low chuckle confirmed the empath's suspicions.

"Sorry Rae," he murmured, "I didn't mean to upset you… I just missed you."

Raven was suddenly very aware of the fact that she wasn't wearing her cloak, and had no way of hiding her furious blush.

Azar, Raven, get it together! Deep breaths, deep breaths…

The lightbulb above them shattered.

Damn it! Ok, escape plan! Distract Changeling, then run.

"Uh, Raven? Are you-"

"We're having a movie night in the common room later," Raven quickly interrupted. "I'll see you there."

And with that, she teleported out of the corridor, leaving behind one elated, if slightly confused, Changeling to replay their embrace over, and over again in his memory.

Here, have some fluff, angst, and horny teenagers.

Feel free to let me know what you think, leave a review, send me death threats, whatever you feel like.

Love,

Pixie xo